Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium and Kidd Brewer Stadium: A Tale of Two Fields

Stadiums are more than just structures of concrete and steel; they are the epicenters of community spirit, athletic achievement, and shared memories. This article delves into the histories and unique features of two stadiums: Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium in Jasper, Indiana, and Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina. While geographically distant, both stadiums embody the passion and tradition of their respective communities.

Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium: A Community Hub in Jasper, Indiana

Located in the heart of Jasper, Indiana, Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium stands as a testament to the town's commitment to its athletic programs. As the home of the Jasper Wildcats, the stadium is more than just a football field; it's a place where memories are made, victories are celebrated, and the love for the game is shared among all who step foot on its hallowed grounds.

Recent Renovations and Upgrades

Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium recently underwent a complete remodel, which was nearing completion as of early 2024. While the seating capacity remains around 3,000, the similarities between the past and present essentially end there. An 11,000-square-foot addition on the home side of the stadium significantly enhances the facilities.

Key improvements include:

New Locker Rooms: Two new locker rooms have been added, one for the Jasper Football team and another for the Girls Track team, which doubles as the visitor's locker room during football season.
Coaches' Offices: Dedicated office spaces for coaches have been incorporated into the new addition.
Hydro Room: A specialized "hydro room" features tubs for ice baths, an ice machine, and a water refill station, providing essential recovery resources for athletes.
Expanded Restrooms: Restroom capacity on the home side has nearly tripled, addressing a previous point of congestion.
Rebuilt Bleachers: The home and away stands have been completely rebuilt. The home stands now reach 30 rows high, providing seating from one 20-yard line to the other.
Concrete Concourse: A concrete concourse beneath the home stands offers an ideal gathering space for fans.
Wheelchair Accessibility: The first tier of the stands includes wheelchair access and seating, along with wide walkways and standing room.
Premium Seating: A section of 420 premium seats features Booster Club seatbacks alternating in Jasper black and gold.
New Press Box: A completely rebuilt press box offers separate sections for public address announcers, statisticians, WITZ Radio, and coaches.
State-of-the-Art Concession Stand: A new concession stand with wide retractable doors provides more streamlined service.
Revamped Entrances: The north and south entrances have been revamped, with the south entryway moved closer to the home side.

A Closer Look at the Amenities

The renovations at Jerry Brewer Alumni Stadium focus on improving the overall experience for both athletes and fans. The 36-inch wide lockers in the Wildcats' home locker room are designed to accommodate equipment and belongings while providing better ventilation. An opening between locker bays allows the team to meet and review footage on a large digital display.

The new concession stand, located on the field side of the locker room building, features three wide retractable doors for efficient service. A designated grilling area is marked between the new locker room building and the old facility.

The revamped entrances provide a welcoming atmosphere, with the south entryway now aligned closer to the home side. Concrete slabs for discus and shotput events are located on the right-hand side of the stands.

Kidd Brewer Stadium: "The Rock" in Boone, North Carolina

Kidd Brewer Stadium, located in Boone, North Carolina, is a 30,000-seat multi-purpose stadium known as "The Rock." Standing at 3,333 feet (1,016 m) above sea level, it is the home of the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team.

Early History and Construction

The Mountaineers played at College Field from 1928 to 1961. Kidd Brewer Stadium officially opened on September 15, 1962, as Conrad Stadium, named in honor of William J. Conrad, a former university trustee and R. J. Reynolds executive. The stadium was originally constructed with 10,000 permanent seats.

Pioneering Artificial Turf

Kidd Brewer Stadium holds the distinction of being the first venue in either North or South Carolina to install artificial turf. The Mountaineers and Elon staged the first game on artificial turf in the Carolinas on October 3, 1970.

Renaming and Expansion

On September 3, 1988, Conrad Stadium was renamed in honor of Kidd Brewer, one of the most successful head coaches in Appalachian football history. Brewer served as head football coach of the Mountaineers from 1935 to 1938, compiling a 30-5-3 overall record.

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Seating capacity was expanded to 18,000 following the 1978 season. Completion of an extensive renovation and restoration project on the original 10,000 seats in 1995 readjusted the seating capacity to 16,650. A then-state-of-the-art "AppVision" video board was added in 1999 and enlarged prior to the 2001 campaign.

Recent Developments and Renovations

The most extensive changes at Kidd Brewer Stadium have occurred over the past decade.

Key developments include:

Stadium Complex: Following the 2006 season, the press box was removed to make way for a new 100,000-square-foot (9,290 m2) stadium complex. The complex houses state-of-the-art strength and conditioning and athletic training facilities, as well as extensive locker rooms, academic, office, and meeting space.
East Side Expansion: An additional 4,400 seats were added to the east side stands prior to the 2008 season, bringing the total seating capacity to 20,150.
Premium Seating: In 2009, the Kidd Brewer Stadium complex was completed, increasing the total seating capacity to 21,650 with the opening of additional premium seating, including 18 luxury suites and 500 club seats.
Temporary Bleachers: Prior to the 2011 season, temporary bleachers were installed behind the North Endzone, bringing capacity to 23,150. The temporary section was further expanded prior to the 2012 season, increasing capacity to 24,050.
North End Zone Expansion: In 2016, 2,500 seats were installed in the North end zone, replacing the previous bleachers, along with additional concession stands.
New Video Board: In 2017, a new video board and ribbon boards were installed, with the new board being around three times as large as the former screen.
North End Zone Building: In 2018, App State approved a new north end zone expansion, replacing Owens Field House. The building adds around 1,000 seats to the stadium and accommodates a wide variety of athletics and academic uses.

The Mountaineers' Home Field Advantage

Kidd Brewer Stadium is known as one of the toughest stadiums for visiting teams to play at, as the Mountaineers have a winning percentage of over .750 here. Appalachian carried a 30-game home winning streak, the longest in Division I at the time, before losing to the Georgia Southern Eagles on October 20, 2007.

Future Considerations

According to Farr, artificial turf will cost between $700,000 and $800,000. Farr also recommended updating the 50-year-old stadium with new lockers, concessions, and stadium. The plans call for Phase 1, the artificial turf field, to be completed prior to the 2015 season. Phase 2, improvements to the stadium, to be completed over a period of years beginning in 2015.

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