Hancock Stadium

File:ISU vs Drake at Hancock Stadium.jpg

Opened in 1963 and named after Illinois State's former athletic director Dr. Howard Hancock. In 1969, Hancock Stadium became Illinois' first college stadium that featured artificial turf as its playing surface. The artificial turf was replaced most recently in 2010 and a new scoreboard was installed.{{cite web |title=Hancock Stadium - Turf Replacement|url=http://www.facilitiesplanning.ilstu.edu/projects/projects/Hancockstadium.shtml|publisher=Illinois State University|access-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203054423/http://facilitiesplanning.illinoisstate.edu/projects/projects/Hancockstadium.shtml|archive-date=February 3, 2010}}

For many years, Hancock Stadium was the home of the Illinois High School football championships. The games moved in 1999. As new bid took place in 2022. Hancock Stadium is hosting the Illinois High School State Football Championships from 2023-2028.

In 2000 the Kaufman Football Building was opened. This facility is now the home to the players and coaches. In recent years, Redbird football has enjoyed a resurgence of spirit and success, all bringing attention to the ailing facility. Under the leadership of athletic director (Gary Friedman) and university president (Dr. Al Bowman), plans detailing the Hancock Stadium Stadium renovations were unveiled in 2013.

The plans boast upgrades to the design of the new east-side grandstand, bleacher-back seating on the new east-side grandstand, concourse, new concession and restroom facilities, premium seating options, including 500+ chairback club seats, 5,500 sq. ft, indoor club accessible to club seat holders and 7 suites, press level above the indoor club, Redbird Team Store, where fans can purchase ISU gear, a new ticket office, and a new sound system and scoreboard (if funding allows).{{cite web|title=Why Build|url=http://www.goredbirds.com/hancockrenovation/why-build.html|publisher=Illinois State University Department of Athletics|access-date=September 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921190912/http://www.goredbirds.com/hancockrenovation/why-build.html|archive-date=September 21, 2013}} Newly renovated Hancock Stadium's capacity is 13,391 The estimated cost of the Hancock Stadium renovation is $20 million.{{cite news |title=ISU's Hancock Stadium to Get $20 Million Upgrade|first=Randy|last=Reinhardt|url=http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/article_7cd25714-e938-11e0-ae62-001cc4c002e0.html|newspaper=The Pantagraph|location=Bloomington, IL|date=September 27, 2011|access-date=September 21, 2013}}

In the summer of 2011, the south bleachers of the stadium were removed to potentially start the first phase of renovations. Also fiberglass bleachers are a thing of the past, as new metal bleachers were installed on the west side of Hancock Stadium in August 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://wjbc.com/tags/hancock-stadium/page/4/|title = Hancock Stadium panoramic photos for sale|date = 7 October 2015}}

The design of the new east-side grandstand takes into account possible future growth and expansion.

• List of NCAA Division I FCS football stadiums

{{Reflist}}

• [http://goredbirds.com/sports/2014/5/12/Facilty_hancock_stadium.aspx? Hancock Stadium - Illinois State Athletics]
• [http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/09/25/sports/doc46f9a5b61d8bd846885364.txt Zenger, Bowman have big plans for Hancock]

{{Illinois State University}}

{{Illinois State Redbirds football navbox}}

{{Missouri Valley Football Conference venue navbox}}

{{Illinois college football venues}}

Category:College football venues in Illinois

Category:Illinois State Redbirds football

Category:Sports venues in Bloomington–Normal

Category:Sports venues completed in 1963

Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in the United States

Category:1963 establishments in Illinois