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Martin Stadium - Home of the Washington State University Cougars

About Martin Stadium

After the Rodgers field grandstand and pressbox were destroyed by fire in 1970, construction began on Martin Stadium, named after former Washington Governor Clarence D. Martin. The Cougars began playing in the new stadium in 1972, but parts of Rodgers Field existed until the East endzone seats were replaced in 1999.

Opened:
September 30, 1972
Opening capacity:
22,600
Current Capacity:
32,952
Surface
FieldTurf
Renovated
1975, 1979, 1999, 2006, 2012

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Martin Stadium stories

News >  Spokane

Photos Then & Now: Cougars’ playing field

Washington State University’s Martin Stadium first took shape as Soldier Field in 1892 and became Rogers Field in 1902. In 1970, some of the football stadium’s 1930s-era wooden bleachers were destroyed by fire, only a year after a blaze destroyed bleachers in the University of Idaho’s Neale Stadium. For the next two years, the Cougars played home games at Spokane’s Joe Albi Stadium while the Vandals played at the still-damaged Rogers Field.
Sports

John Blanchette: Cougars’ grand unveiling

PULLMAN – Darryl Monroe is one of the players who have been allowed to kick the tires on Washington State’s new Cougar Football Complex, and here’s what he likes best: “When you come in here, you just want to win,” the junior linebacker said. “You smell victory.”
Sports

Construction continues, but upgraded stadium ready for Cougars’ home opener

PULLMAN – The RVs pulled into town on Thursday, the customary time of arrival prior to a Washington State home football game. That much hasn’t changed. But plenty in and around Martin Stadium has transformed since the Cougars last played there in November, signs of WSU’s facilities upgrades nearly everywhere you turn. The Cougars (1-1, 1-0 in Pac-12) host Southern Utah (2-0) at 3:30 p.m. today in their home opener.

Sports

Cougars have happy housewarming with close win over EWU

PULLMAN – There were differing opinions about whose hands rescued Washington State from agony. Deone Bucannon, who was part of the scrum in WSU’s end zone on the final play of its 24-20 win over Eastern Washington on Saturday, swears the final pass was batted away by Marquess Wilson, the standout receiver who was on the field as part of the Cougars’ prevent defense.
Sports

Blanchette: Welcome to WSU’s mini cathedral

A magazine devoted to Pac-12 football currently on newsstands includes a photo essay on the conference’s stadiums. The title – “The Cathedrals” – seems a tad high-flown, especially if you’ve had a late-night security guard escort through the parking lot at Memorial Coliseum or recall that not long ago administrators at Washington were panhandling the Legislature with the plea that Husky Stadium was unsafe for human habitation. And, yes, Martin Stadium is included, though its sliver of the magazine spread would more accurately be labeled, “Roadside Chapels.”
Sports

Martin Stadium facelift nearly complete

PULLMAN – Maybe Washington State athletic director Bill Moos appreciates his department’s newest creation because he’s so aware of its predecessor’s shortcomings. Addressing reporters on the third floor of the almost-completed press box and premium seating structure on Martin Stadium’s south side, his back to the field, views of the sprawling Palouse landscape to his left, Moos said what anyone who’s ever covered a game at Martin Stadium already knew. “We literally, in my opinion, came from the outhouse to the penthouse,” Moos said after leading a media tour of the new facility with associate athletic director John Johnson on Friday. “And really, that’s what we’re attempting to do with all of Cougar athletics.” This isn’t a bad way to start. The new, $65-or-so million structure dominates Martin’s landscape. The shiny, posh, three-level behemoth that will ultimately be completed in fewer than nine months of construction includes about 1,900 new premium seats spread among 21 suites, 44 loge boxes and 1,300 club seats, as well as a new press box.
Sports

Martin Stadium remodel gets go-ahead

PULLMAN – The Washington State University Board of Regents, meeting in Spokane on Friday morning, gave their final approval for the Martin Stadium remodeling project to go forward. The regents approved the design of the project on the south side of the stadium and the selling of up to $80 million in bonds to pay for it.
Sports

Martin Stadium ready for Phase III

PULLMAN – Late Saturday afternoon, Washington State University safety Chima Nwachukwu leaped in the east end zone of Martin Stadium and intercepted a Southern Methodist pass, all but ensuring the Cougars’ 30-27 overtime victory. Seventy hours later athletic director Jim Sterk stood in nearly the same spot and announced the school was leaping forward with the stalled Phase III renovation of Martin Stadium.