Bridgeforth Stadium

Coordinates: 38°26′7″N 78°52′23″W / 38.43528°N 78.87306°W / 38.43528; -78.87306
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Bridgeforth Stadium
Bridgeforth Stadium in 2016
Map
Former namesMadison Stadium (1975–1981)
JMU Stadium (1981–1989)
LocationChampions Dr.
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
OperatorJames Madison University
Capacity24,877 (2011–present)[2]
15,694 (2010)
15,778 (2008–2009)
13,559 (2001–2007)
12,500 (1981–2000)
5,200 (1975–1980)
Record attendance26,239 (October 28, 2023 vs. Old Dominion
SurfaceAstroturf, 1975–2005
FieldTurf, 2006–present
Construction
Broke ground1973
OpenedSeptember 20, 1975[1]
Expanded1981, 2011
Construction cost$62 million (expansion)
ArchitectHKS, Inc. (Sports Design – expansion), Moseley Architects (Architect of Record – expansion)
Tenants
James Madison Dukes football (1975–present)

Bridgeforth Stadium is a football stadium located on the campus of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The stadium is home to the James Madison Dukes football team. The playing surface is named Zane Showker Field.

With a seating capacity of 24,877, Bridgeforth Stadium is currently the 12th largest stadium in the Sun Belt Conference.

History[edit]

Bridgeforth Stadium in 2007, before its expansion

Originally named Madison Stadium, it was built in 1975 and had a capacity of approximately 5,200.[3] The stadium was originally designed as a multi-purpose facility, and hosted football, track and field, lacrosse, and field hockey events. In addition, the stadium contained indoor racquetball courts, several classrooms, support space for the JMU ROTC program, and administrative offices for JMU varsity athletic teams and media relations. In 1981, the stadium then called JMU Stadium, underwent its first expansion which included a second set of seats giving it a total capacity of more than 12,000. The stadium was again renamed in 1990 for William E. Bridgeforth, former member of the JMU Board of Visitors. In 2003 the field was named in honor of JMU benefactor Zane Showker (whose name is also on the building for JMU's School of Business). In 2004, the university added a new scoreboard with video replay features, which was dismantled after the 2010 season as part of a significant renovation of the entire facility. It was replaced by a much larger video scoreboard behind the south endzone. In 2006, the existing artificial turf was replaced with FieldTurf. The stadium is situated in the Lakeside area of campus, and is adjacent to the multimillion-dollar Plecker Athletic Center and a five story parking deck.[4]

A statue of the school's mascot, Duke Dog, sits on the stadium's exterior.

Renovation[edit]

A major stadium renovation and expansion project began in December 2009. The expansion included the demolition of the then existing west stands, removal of the track, and the construction of a $62 million, two-tiered complex in its place.[5] After completion in August 2011, Bridgeforth Stadium's seating capacity was raised to 24,877 permanent seats. In addition to increased seating, the expansion included the construction of a larger video and scoreboard, the addition of 17 suites, a club lounge with chairback seating, and increased stadium lighting. All total, the completion of the Bridgeforth Stadium and Zane Showker Field complex, including the Plecker Athletic Performance Center and parking deck, represents an investment of approximately $90 million.

On September 10, 2011, the Dukes played for the first time in the newly expanded stadium. In front of a sellout crowd of 25,102 fans, the Dukes defeated the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State University by a score of 14–9.

Notable games[edit]

Some of the recent notable games in JMU history that have been played at Bridgeforth Stadium are:

  • The 20–13 victory over University of Delaware in 2004
  • The 2008 35–32 victory over Appalachian State
  • The 38–35 victory over Wofford in the first round of the 2008 FCS playoffs
  • The 31–27 victory over Villanova in the second round of the 2008 FCS playoffs
  • The 2010 victory over the FCS #1 William and Mary, 30–24
  • The 14–9 victory over Central Connecticut State in the 2011 debut of the newly renovated Bridgeforth Stadium
  • The 27–26 double overtime victory over William & Mary, the 31–24 come back victory over William & Mary
  • The 2015 59–49 loss against Richmond in front of a record 26,069 fans on the heels of a visit from ESPN's College GameDay
  • The 2015 38–29 win over Villanova clinching JMUs first CAA football title since 2008.
  • The record setting 84–7 win over Rhode Island in 2016.
  • The 2016 55–20 win over New Hampshire in the FCS Second round
  • The 2016 65–7 win over Sam Houston State in the FCS Quarterfinals
  • A 30–8 win over Villanova in 2017 on the heels of a return visit from College GameDay
  • A 51-16 win over South Dakota State in the 2017 FCS Semifinals to send JMU to their second consecutive FCS National Championship Game
  • A 44-7 win over Middle Tennessee in 2022 in their first game as a member of the FBS subdivision of football and as a member of the Sun Belt Conference
  • The 2022 26-12 loss against Marshall set a new single-game attendance record of 26,159 fans in their second home game as a member of the Sun Belt Conference
  • A 30-27 win over Old Dominion on October 28, 2023 saw a new Bridgeforth Stadium attendance record as 26,239 fans saw James Madison's 11th consecutive victory
  • A 26-23 OT loss to Appalachian State University in front of 25,838 fans following College GameDay's third visit to Harrisonburg and first visit after JMU's FBS transition during the 2023 season saw the team's 13-game winning streak come to an end. This loss led to the University dropping plans for a lawsuit against the NCAA over bowl eligibility.[6]

Largest crowds[edit]

Rank Attendance Date Game result
1 26,239 October 28, 2023 #25 James Madison 30, Old Dominion 27
2 26,159 October 22, 2022 Marshall 26, James Madison 12
3 26,069 October 24, 2015 #11 Richmond 59, #4 James Madison 49
4 26,064 September 30, 2023 James Madison 31, South Alabama 23
5 25,993 October 14, 2017 #1 James Madison 30, #11 Villanova 8
6 25,838 November 18, 2023 #18 James Madison 23, Appalachian State 26
7 25,742 October 1, 2011 #9 James Madison 31, #10 Richmond 7
8 25,484 October 6, 2018 #10 Elon 27, #2 James Madison 24
9 25,330 September 23, 2017 #1 James Madison 28, Maine 10
10 25,298 October 28, 2017 #1 James Madison 21, #17 New Hampshire 0

Panorama[edit]

A panorama of the stadium
A panorama of the stadium

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Archived Document". Archived from the original on 2014-12-07. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  2. ^ "Game Preview Capsules for ODU, JMU, Norfolk State". Richmond Times-Dispatch. August 31, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  3. ^ The Hillside Gang James Madisum University Retrieved July 21, 2011
  4. ^ "Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." James Madison Athletics Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  5. ^ "JMU Debuts Football Stadium Expansion - NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and Weather". Archived from the original on 2017-07-06. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  6. ^ "JMU Won't Proceed with Lawsuit". Retrieved 2023-10-22.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bridgeforth Stadium and Zane Showker Field.

38°26′7″N 78°52′23″W / 38.43528°N 78.87306°W / 38.43528; -78.87306

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