The End of an Era

More than 30 years ago, Eastern's alumni got together with citizens of Richmond in a drive to help build a new football stadium for the school. Donations were made to purchase cement and by 1937 the Maroons opened their football season in a "modern" plant designed to seat an almost - unheard-of 5,000 fans for one game. Later, the seating expanded to 8,500 for Eastern ' s home games . This was Hanger Stadium. It was to be the site of many innovations in football. Within its confines Ohio Valley Conference football grew to a position of respect among college division leagues in the nation. And as football grew, more attention was focused on Eastern.

By 1967, as many as 15,000 people had taxed the stadium for one football game . Not big by major college standards, but too much for a tiny stadium designed to accommodate a small teachers' college.

This fact - coupled with more exposure on the national level- prompted the announcement of a new physical education complex which will seat more than 18 ,000 for home football games.

But this new complex is an entirely new concept. Aside from its capacity for football, the new multi-purpose plant will serve nearly 2,000 studenb simultaneously in classes. It also will house offices for the departments of physical education, military science and law enforcement .

Dr. Robert R. Martin explained plans for the nine-story structure this way: "In light of the fact that a football stadium is used only five or six times a year, we feel that the right approach is to construct an academic building which will serve a dual purpose."