Ogden Stadium
Location668 17th Street
Ogden, Utah, U.S.
Coordinates41°14′14″N 111°57′43″W / 41.23722°N 111.96194°W / 41.23722; -111.96194
Capacity20,000
SurfaceDirt
Construction
Broke groundJune 9, 1930 (1930-06-09)
OpenedAugust 15, 1930 (1930-08-15)
Website
ogdencity.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Ogden-Pioneer-Stadium-35

Ogden Stadium, also known as Ogden Pioneer Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located within Lorin Farr Park[lower-alpha 1] in Ogden, Utah. The stadium itself seats around 20,000, but is not currently used for any of the four "major" United States sports.

History

Citizens of Ogden, including representatives of the American Legion and Elks organizations, incorporated a committee in April 1928 to coordinate construction of a stadium.[2] In February 1929, cost was estimated at $65,000.[3] The following month, the City of Ogden agreed to support the effort, along with Weber Junior College and local school boards.[4] The stadium was initially scheduled to open in the fall of 1929, with a college football game between the BYU Cougars and the Agricultural College of Utah (now the Utah State Aggies).[5] In August, $75,000 was raised via bond sales, with the first game moved back, expected to feature Weber Junior College and the McKinley School of Honolulu in late October.[6] In mid-October, during the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the city effectively took over the stadium effort by creating a stadium board and agreeing to finance construction.[7]

Construction of the stadium began on June 9, 1930.[8] The stadium was completed during the summer of 1930, and was first used on August 15, for a fireworks show and big bands to celebrate the start of an athletics meet sponsored by the Union Pacific Railroad.[9][10] Lighting was in place weeks later, as the Utah State freshman squad defeated Weber Junior College in a night game on October 10.[11]

The stadium hosted various college football contests, including games with the Idaho State Bengals, Nevada Wolf Pack, and Utah Utes. It was also used as a boxing venue, featuring champions such as Max Baer, Ezzard Charles, Gene Fullmer, and Joey Maxim.

Current usage

An annual event held here is "Hot Rockin' 4th", an annual event held around the Fourth of July, which includes demolition derbies and exhibition of monster trucks and rock crawlers.[12] Country music performances and a small funfair and a classic car show are held in conjunction with the Hot Rockin' 4th event.

The stadium also plays host to the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, which is held every year during the week of Utah's Pioneer Day.[13]

Notes

  1. ↑ Pool scenes in the 1993 sports film The Sandlot were filmed at the Lorin Farr Community Pool near the stadium.[1]

References

  1. ↑ "Where Was The Sandlot Filmed?". endlesspopcorn.com. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Ogden Stadium Files Papers to Incorporate". The Ogden Post. April 20, 1928. p. 7. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Ogden Bowl Plan Moves". The Salt Lake Tribune. February 13, 1929. p. 12. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Ogden Stadium Planners Win City Backing". The Salt Lake Tribune. AP. March 22, 1929. p. 15. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Aggies and B. Y. To Open Ogden's New Stadium". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. May 29, 1929. p. 13. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Ogden Raises Funds Needed For New Bowl". The Salt Lake Tribune. AP. August 15, 1929. p. 15. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Ogden Decides to Finance Stadium". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. October 18, 1929. p. 5. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Work Commences In Construction of Ogden's Stadium". The Salt Lake Tribune. June 10, 1930. p. 12. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Fireworks at Ogden Stadium Booked Friday". Standard-Examiner. Ogden, Utah. August 14, 1930. p. 16. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "All Ready for Fireworks at Park Tonight". Standard-Examiner. Ogden, Utah. August 15, 1930. p. 10. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Aggie Freshmen Defeat Wildcats on Slippery Field". Standard-Examiner. Ogden, Utah. October 11, 1930. p. 5. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Hot Rockin' 4th 2015". ddleague.org. 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo & Celebration". ogdenpioneerdays.com. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
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