Richardson Memorial Stadium
 | |
| Location |
Queen's West Campus Kingston, Ontario |
|---|---|
| Owner | Queen's University |
| Capacity | 8,500 |
| Surface |
Natural Grass 400m track |
| Opened | 1971 |
| Tenants | |
| Queen's Golden Gaels (CIS football) | |
George Taylor Richardson Memorial Stadium is an 8,500 seat Canadian football stadium located on the campus of the Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. It was built in 1971 and is the home of the Golden Gaels football team. It is named in memory of George Taylor Richardson, a Queen's graduate renowned for his athleticism and sportsmanship who died in World War I. It is the second stadium to bear the name. The original stadium was funded by George's brother, James Armstrong Richardson, graduate and Chancellor of Queen's. The stadium's bleachers were deemed structurally unsafe in May 2013, causing 6,500 seats to be removed.[1] Renovations were completed in July 2013, with a new seat capacity of 8,500 with two new end zone seating sections.[2] In December 2014, it was announced that a new Richardson Memorial stadium will be built on the same site, costing $20.27 million and with a capacity of 9,000 with completion scheduled for late 2016.[3]
Original Field
The original field was located on Union Street at the present site of Mackintosh-Corry Hall and its parking lot. It was opened in 1921 on a piece of land bought from a community of nuns. This field hosted the 1922 Grey Cup. This was the stadium where Franklin Delano Roosevelt received his honorary degree from Queen's on August 18, 1938, and where he made a historic speech that was seen as a departure from American isolationism.[4]
When a new social sciences complex, Mackintosh-Corry Hall was planned, the original stadium was torn down and relocated to the newly acquired West Campus. Many staff, students, and alumni were very upset about the move, feeling that the stadium belonged in the heart of campus, but the project went ahead anyway.
There are plans to move the stadium again, moving it to where the current stadium parking lot is located to the east of the current stadium location to provide better visibility. This planned move calls for adding suites and other facility upgrades but reducing seating capacity to 8000.[5]
Seating capacity was reduced to 8,500 after extensive renovations in 2013.[6]
Soccer
Richardson played host to two World Cup 2006 qualifiers between Canada and Belize in 2004. Canada won both matches 4-0 and progressed to the semifinal stage after Belize had forfeited their right to play a home match due to a lack of infrastructure.
Rugby League
It hosted the Colonial Cup match between the US Tomahawks and Canada Wolverines on September 19, 2010 which was the first international rugby league match played in Canada since 1995.[7]
Rugby Union
On June 9, 2012, Canada played the United States in a friendly match. Canada won 28-25 in front of 7,521 spectators.[8]
Notes and references
- ↑ http://www.thewhig.com/2013/05/03/upper-bleachers-at-richardson-stadium-deemed-unsafe
- ↑ https://twitter.com/QJsports/status/362605365898129408
- ↑ Board approves stadium revitalization from Queen's Gazette, 9 December 2014, retrieved 9 December 2014
- ↑ "Richardson Stadium". Queen's University. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
- ↑ "Field & Stadium Project". Queen's University. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/QJsports/status/362605365898129408
- ↑ http://www.canadarugbyleague.com/news/article.php?id=10052
- ↑ "Carpenter Leads Canada Over US In Kingston". Rugby Canada. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richardson Memorial Stadium. |
Coordinates: 44°13′39″N 76°30′57″W / 44.227583°N 76.515794°W