Spec Martin Stadium
{{Short description|Stadium in DeLand, Florida}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Spec Martin Stadium
| nickname =
| image = File:Spec Martin Stadium.jpg
| fullname =
| location = 260 East Euclid Avenue, DeLand, Florida
| coordinates = {{coord|29.020124|-81.300010|type:landmark|display=inline, title}}
| broke_ground =
| built = 1941
| opened =
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = City of DeLand, Florida
| operator = City of DeLand, Florida
| surface =
| construction_cost =
| architect =
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor=
| project_manager =
| main_contractors =
| former_names = DeLand Municipal Stadium (1941–1973)
| tenants = Stetson Hatters football (NCAA) (2014–Present)
Central Florida Warriors (USA Rugby League) (2014–2017)
| seating_capacity = 6,000
}}
Spec Martin Stadium is a 6,000 seat football stadium located in DeLand, Florida. Spec Martin Stadium currently hosts Stetson Hatters football, DeLand High School Bulldog football and was the host of the Central Florida Warriors rugby league team.{{cite web|title=Spec Martin Stadium (City of DeLand)|publisher=sportsvolusia.com|url=http://www.sportsvolusia.com/facilities/deland/specmartin.stml|accessdate=August 1, 2017}} The stadium was known as DeLand Municipal Stadium from is opening in 1941 until it was renamed in 1973.{{cite news |author= |title=DeLand Stadium Gets $9,327 Works Grant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91616244/the-orlando-sentinel/ |newspaper=Orlando Morning Sentinel |location=Orlando, Florida |date=April 17, 1941 |page=3 |access-date=January 1, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news |last=Hubert |first=Deven |title=DeLand High Students Get Report Cards Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91615756/the-orlando-sentinel/ |newspaper=Volusia Sentinel Star |location=Orlando, Florida |date=November 16, 1973 |page=4 |access-date=January 1, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
History
The stadium had served as home of the Stetson University Hatters football team before the school discontinued its football program in 1956, and in 2013 it once again featured Hatters football when Stetson started play in the Pioneer Football League after a 57-year hiatus.
=Renovations=
As part of Stetson's re-entry into college football, Spec Martin Stadium underwent significant renovations, including a new press box, handicapped and premium seating areas, and new locker room facilities.{{cite web |url=http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20130724/NEWS/307239960 |title=Spec Martin Memorial Stadium project coming 'down to the wire' |last=DEFEO |first=ANTHONY |work=News-JournalOnline.com |date=July 24, 2013 |accessdate=May 27, 2015 }}
Notable events
On February 2, 1985, the stadium hosted a USFL exhibition game pitting the newly-relocated Orlando Renegades against the defending (and eventual) champion Baltimore Stars. About 3,000 fans showed up to watch the Renegades win, 16-10."A starry-starry start for Renegades", Orlando Sentinel, February 3, 1985, page C-1
Spec Martin was a filming location for the 1998 film The Waterboy starring Adam Sandler. In the movie, the stadium depicted the home field of the fictional South Central Louisiana State Mud Dogs.{{cite web|title=The Waterboy - Filming Locations|publisher=IMDB.com|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120484/locations?ref_=tt_dt_dt|accessdate=August 10, 2017}}
The stadium hosted a qualifying match between Canada and Jamaica for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup on December 8, 2015. The match ended in an 18–18 draw; neither team qualified for the World Cup, as they both lost qualifying matches to the USA.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rlef.eu.com/wcq/report?RLE00000665|title=Canada 18-18 Jamaica|publisher=RLEF|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014183405/http://www.rlef.eu.com/wcq/report?RLE00000665|archive-date=October 14, 2017 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rlef.eu.com/wcq/report?RLE00000666|title=United States 34-24 Canada|publisher=RLEF|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304055108/http://www.rlef.eu.com/wcq/report?RLE00000666 |archive-date=March 4, 2018}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110623073114/http://www.deland.org/Pages/DeLandFL_Parks/Parks/Martin Deland.org]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110501131159/http://www.news-journalonline.com/news/local/west-volusia/2011/03/15/stetson-football-returning.html News-journalonline.com]
{{Stetson University}}
{{Stetson Hatters football navbox}}
{{Pioneer Football League venue navbox}}
{{Florida college football venues}}
Category:College football venues in Florida
Category:College lacrosse venues in the United States
Category:Stetson Hatters football
Category:Rugby league in Florida
Category:Rugby league stadiums in the United States