Sports Fans

I remember when this thing was built. Here is Stambaugh Stadium, and a bit about it courtesy of www.ysu.edu "Ice Castle" Has Been the Home for YSU Football Since 1982     Youngstown State’s football home is something that has been defended well through its first 25 seasons.     The tallest building in the city, the stadium rises high above the Mahoning Valley and offers tremendous views in all directions.     Perhaps that is why Arnold D. Stambaugh Stadium has garnered the nickname the “Ice Castle.”     Over the years, the Ice Castle has been a protected place. Almost four out of five times a visiting program has left Stambaugh Stadium on the losing end of the score.     Only three times in 25 seasons have the Penguins failed to finish above .500. At home in the playoffs, YSU is 14-1 having won 14 straight home games after losing to Central Florida in their first-ever home playoff tilt in November 1990.     Since the 1996 season, the Penguins have posted a stellar mark of 57-17 (.757 winning percentage). Since the 1989 season, YSU is an impressive 102-20-1, including undefeated seasons in 1993, 1994 and 2005. In 1993 and 1994, YSU won the FCS National Championship while in 2005 the Guins won the Gateway title. In 2006, the Guins were 7-1 posting playoff wins over James Madison and Illinois State. The contest against JMU was televised nationally on ESPN2.     The Penguins have won 74.5 percent of their games at Stambaugh posting an impressive 125-41-1 overall home mark in 25 seasons. Nine of the 10 all-time largest Gateway crowds have been at Stambaugh.     One of the finest FCS facilities in the country with a seating capacity of 20,630, Stambaugh has been the home for the Penguins since the early 1980’s.     Many tweaks have taken place to ensure a home-field advantage.     Built in 1982 (17,000 capacity) with seating only on the west side, Stambaugh entered a new era in 1997 when the Stadium underwent a $5.5 million addition.     Prior to the 1997 campaign, the number of loges (luxury suites) was expanded from 12 to 26. The Watson Media Center, one of the best press facilities in FCS, was added onto the second level of the complex. The DeBartolo Stadium Club, which overlooks the city of Youngstown, is located on the main loge area, and is used for meetings, press conferences and luncheons. Also, seating for more than 3,000 was added on the east side to bring the capacity to 20,630, the highest in the Gateway Conference.     In 2000, a sound system was added to the east and west sides.     Twice the playing surface has been replaced, most recently in 2002. That summer, SprinTurf, was installed making the school only one of five FCS schools to play on the syntethic surface. The replacement removed the AstroTurf that was in place since 1991.     YSU’s athletic administrative offices, ticket office, football offices, strength-training facility, football and baseball locker areas, training room and Academic Center are located throughout the complex.     Six racquetball courts and office areas for the ROTC program are in the building as well. The multipurpose complex is also home to the soccer team and intramural events.

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