NEYLAND STADIUM   

                                               

      

The present day Neyland Stadium, Shields-Watkins Field had its beginning in 1919. Col W.S. Shields, president of Knoxville's City National Bank and a UT trustee, provided the initial capital to prepare and equip an athletic field. Thus, when the field was completed in March of 1921, it was called Shields-Watkins Field in honor of the donor and his wife, Alice Watkins-Shields.

 

The stadium, apart from the field it grew to enclose, came to bear its own distinguished name - Neyland Stadium. It was named for the man most responsible for the growth and development of Tennessee football - Gen. Robert R. Neyland, who served as head coach from 1926 to 1952, with two interruptions for military service.

 

After retiring from the coaching ranks, Neyland was athletic director until his death in 1962. He was the guiding force behind additions to the stadium's capacity and is the one most responsible for the winning tradition that Volunteer fans have come to expect over the years. The latest addition to the facility is the Neyland Stadium Press Box and Executive Suites, officially opened Sept. 5, 1987. Located atop the West Upper Deck at Neyland Stadium, it replaces one built in 1962.

First game: Sept. 24, 1921 - Tennessee 27, Emory & Henry 0. Dedication game as Neyland Stadium: Oct. 20, 1962 - Alabama 27, Tennessee 7. First game on artificial turf: Sept. 14, 1968 - Tennessee 17, Georgia 17. Final game played on artificial turf: Nov. 27, 1993 - Tennessee 62, Vanderbilt 14. First night game at Neyland Stadium: Sept. 16, 1972 - Tennessee 28, Penn State 21. Record Attendance: Sept. 16, 2000 - Tennessee Vs. Florida. 108,768.

Capacity: 104,079 - 2nd largest football stadium in the country. Has undergone 15 additions/renovations since West stands were built in 1921, seating 3,200. Latest additions (North stands) added 10,499 seats in 1980. Press Box/Executive Suites were renovated in 1987. North Upper Deck in 1996 added 10,583 seats. East Side Luxury Suites were added in 2000 which netted an additional 1,800 seats.

Attendance: Since attendance records were first kept beginning in the 1950 season, more than 20.2 million fans have watched Big Orange football at Neyland Stadium. Average attendance has been on a climb since 1950, when an average of 24,910 saw eight home contests.

Tennessee success at Shields-Watkins Field: In 79 seasons, the Vols are 383-89-17, a winning percentage of .801.
Consecutive home games without a loss: 55, beginning in September 25, 1926 with a 13-0 victory over Carson-Newman, and ending October 21, 1933 with a 12-6 loss to Alabama.
Consecutive home wins: 30, beginning December 8, 1928 with a 13-12 win over Florida and ending October 21, 1933 with a 12-6 loss to Alabama.
Consecutive home losses: 4, beginning November 13, 1954 with a 14-0 loss to Florida and ending October 8, 1955 with a 13-0 win over Chattanooga; beginning Sept. 10, 1988 with a 31-26 loss to Duke and ending with a 10-7 win over Boston College.
Winning seasons: Tennessee has had 70 winning seasons in 79 years at Shields-Watkins Field, including 35 undefeated years at home. The last team to go undefeated at home was the 1998 squad, which was 6-0 at Neyland Stadium.

Largest College Stadiums

  1. Michigan Stadium, University of Michigan (107,501)
  2. Neyland Stadium, University of Tennessee (104,079)
  3. Beaver Stadium, Penn State University (93,967)
  4. Tiger Stadium, LSU (91,600)
  5. Ohio Stadium, Ohio State University (91,470)

                       

 

                      

     

SEATING CHART OF NEYLAND STADIUM