Palmer Stadium: A Legacy Etched in Concrete and Memories
Princeton University's football history is deeply intertwined with the story of its stadiums. For over eight decades, Palmer Stadium stood as a hallowed ground for Tiger fans, a place where legends were made and unforgettable moments unfolded. Although replaced by the modern Princeton Stadium in 1997, Palmer Stadium continues to evoke nostalgia and remains a significant part of Princeton's athletic heritage.
The Birth of a Stadium: A Concrete Vision
In the early 20th century, Princeton University sought to create a dedicated home for its football team. The university hired celebrated architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh to design its football stadium just over a century ago. A pivotal decision was made to construct it from reinforced concrete instead of more expensive masonry. Financed by Edgar Palmer, class of 1903, who named the arena in memory of his father, Stephen S. Palmer, the stadium was built in just four months by the George A. Fuller Company. Workmen were divided into two sections: one assigned to the east side of the stadium and the other worked on the west.
The result was Palmer Stadium, a horseshoe-shaped structure that could seat 45,725 spectators. The stadium's design featured an end zone with an unobstructed view of Carnegie Lake. Palmer Stadium opened on October 24, 1914, with a game against Dartmouth, which Princeton won 16-12. Like Harvard Stadium, it was horseshoe-shaped (which was modeled after the Greek Olympic Stadium), but was wider, including a full-sized track around the football field.
Decades of Glory and Deterioration
Palmer Stadium quickly became the epicenter of Princeton football. It hosted countless games, witnessing periods of undefeated glory, memorable heroes, and storybook moments. The stadium became one of the two oldest college stadiums in the United States and played a significant part in the growth of the game.
However, the decision to use reinforced concrete ultimately proved to be a fatal flaw. By its eighth decade, Palmer Stadium was showing severe signs of decay. Its walls were crumbling, and orange and black netting was installed in some sections to protect fans from falling debris. The stadium was in incredible disrepair and structurally unsound.
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Legendary Games and Unforgettable Moments
Palmer Stadium was the stage for numerous legendary games, often played in challenging weather conditions. One such game occurred on November 23, 1935, when the Tigers faced Dartmouth in near-blizzard conditions. Despite the storm, a crowd of 56,000 people packed the bleachers to watch Princeton win 26-6. This game became known as the "twelfth man" snowstorm game because a local cook ran onto the field and lined up on Dartmouth's defense in the fourth quarter.
Another memorable game took place in 1950 when Princeton defeated Dartmouth 13-7 despite hurricane-force winds. The storm ripped tar paper off the press box roof, causing water to leak through, and the press box swayed noticeably. Nevertheless, nearly 5,000 Tiger fans braved the elements to watch Princeton complete its perfect season.
Bill Robinson ’39, who covered the team as a sportswriter for 28 years, documented the celebrated history of the Tigers’ home turf, recalling his fondest memories of the longtime home of the Orange and Black as it entered its swan song. Approaching the stadium from Lake Carnegie, a fan could see large yachts along the bank of the Delaware and Raritan Canal, with white-coated stewards serving guests in nautical “tailgate parties” on the yachts’ fantails. One of the great games of that era, which I happened to see and which more than ever confirmed my ambition to come to Princeton, was 1932’s 20-0 victory over Columbia (which went on to win the Rose Bowl) by coach Fritz Crisler’s undefeated team. Its most memorable moment was a 55-yard punt return by swift seat-back Gary LeVan ’36, at the end of which he juked past Columbia’s all-everything hero, Cliff Montgomery, to score, leaving Montgomery flat on his face on the track after a missed tackle. The most memorable game of that 1935 season was the Dartmouth game in the home finale. There had been a tremendous build-up, as both teams were undefeated, and the all-time record crowd of 56,000 was packed into every corner and boosted by the temporary stands in the end zone. The game was played in a blinding snowstorm, the weirdest atmosphere I ever remember at a game. The snow prevented people in the upper rows from even seeing the field.
The End of an Era: Demolition and Remembrance
By the mid-1990s, the deterioration of Palmer Stadium had become irreversible. After the Tigers played Dartmouth-and lost 24-0-on the field for the last time, Palmer Stadium was torn down in 1996, after serving as the home of Princeton football and track for 82 years.
Despite its physical demise, Palmer Stadium's legacy lived on. An alumni advisory committee, including former players Dick Kazmaier and Cosmo Iacavazzi, was formed to ensure that the new stadium would honor the memory of its predecessor.
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A New Chapter: Princeton Stadium
In 1997, a new, state-of-the-art stadium was built on nearly the same footprint as Palmer Stadium. Designed by "starchitect" Rafael Vinoly, the $45 million structure seats 27,773 spectators and offers a safer, more comfortable experience for fans.
Princeton Stadium maintains Palmer's historic horseshoe design while still allowing seating on four sides. The wall-building, which surrounds the seating area on three sides, is one of the most unique features of the stadium. The public address system is a Turbosound Flashlight loudspeaker system, the same system that has been installed in NFL stadiums in both Oakland and Green Bay.
The new stadium was built with more than just football Saturdays in mind. Instead it stands as an extension of the campus, and its goal is to be integrated into the daily life of the University. The stadium concourses are always open, and the facility has served as a meeting and banquet place for many constituents.
In 2007, FieldTurf was added to the stadium, thanks to a generous gift from alumnus William C. Powers '79. The field was dedicated as "Powers Field" in his honor. A state-of-the-art video scoreboard, which offers in-game replays, interactive fan entertainment and a professional-style pregame introduction, was also introduced. A video board was later added and a new turf surface was installed prior to the 2016 season.
Enduring Memories and Lasting Impact
Although nearly two decades have passed since the demolition of Palmer Stadium, many still remember it fondly. It was at Palmer that Dick Kazmaier '52 became a Princeton football legend, leading the Tigers to an 18-1 record between 1949 and 1951 and winning the Heisman Trophy. Dean Cain, who went on to star in the Superman series, set a record for interceptions at 12 in one season while playing at Palmer Stadium.
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Gary Walters, who graduated in 1967 and served as Princeton's athletic director from 1994 until retiring, recalls Palmer Stadium as "holy ground" for the football world. Pulitzer-Prize-winning author John McPhee, who grew up in Princeton and was the son of the football team's doctor, admires the current stadium but looks back fondly on the old.
Bob Surace, the University’s head football coach, a 1990 graduate who was on the Tigers team from 1986 to 1989, considers himself fortunate to have played at Palmer Stadium. “You’re walking into a stadium that so many unbelievably great players have played in before you,” he said. “It’s so special that you’re in the same spot that Dick Kazmaier or Cosmo Iacavazzi or Pink Baker, who played on the Team of Destiny in 1922, came before you. He (Baker) came to almost every practice in my freshman year.
Palmer Stadium has been gone since 1996. But in the centennial year of its construction, it evokes memories for so many.
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