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Football Stadiums of the Aggies & Rams
In the 116 years Colorado State University has
played football there have been three official
football stadiums/fields for their home games.
The current stadium, Sonny Lubick Field at
Hughes Stadium was opened in 1968. The
other two are but a memory of the past and
little is known about the earliest football fields.
played football there have been three official
football stadiums/fields for their home games.
The current stadium, Sonny Lubick Field at
Hughes Stadium was opened in 1968. The
other two are but a memory of the past and
little is known about the earliest football fields.
Durkee Field 1899-1911
The first official athletic field was constructed in the spring of
1899 when the college athletic association
reorganized and president Ellis left the school. In May 1899 the
area between Agricultural Hall and the
Chemical Building (Today the site of the South College Gym and
Field house) was cleared of trees and
drained of water. The ground was then graded to make a flat
playing surface. With the railroad tracks on the
west and South College Avenue on the east.
This low lying ground was actually a natural stream bed which is
marked today by a tunnel under the railroad
tracks. This stream becomes active when torrents of rain wash
through the campus as was evident in the
devastating flood of 1997 when the South College Gym received
its worst damage.
The newly reformed football team of 1899 played the first games
here on a playing surface made up of
primarily dirt and rocks. In 1901 a graduate from the class of
1900 named Charles Durkee donated money
for a tall wooden fence to be erected on three sides of the field
with the railroad tracks acting as a barrier for
the fourth side.
The 1934 Collegian article notes that it helped keep the
non-paying people out better than the military cadets.
In return for his fence the college named the athletic grounds
"Durkee Field". Bleachers were later added for
spectators to watch the games and military drills.
This field was described by former players and Harry Hughes as
horrible to walk through let alone play
football. The previously mentioned stream would reappear during
wet weather and ran through the playing
field during some games.
Harry Hughes' first football season of 1911 was the last season
football was ever played at Durkee Field.
When the rules of football changed to a 100 yard field, Hughes
used that opportunity to build a better field for
his athletes.
The military continued to drill on Durkee Field for several years
and tennis courts were later added for
women's athletics. In 1925 ground was broken for a new gym
and field house that opened in 1927 and still
stands there today.
1899 when the college athletic association
reorganized and president Ellis left the school. In May 1899 the
area between Agricultural Hall and the
Chemical Building (Today the site of the South College Gym and
Field house) was cleared of trees and
drained of water. The ground was then graded to make a flat
playing surface. With the railroad tracks on the
west and South College Avenue on the east.
This low lying ground was actually a natural stream bed which is
marked today by a tunnel under the railroad
tracks. This stream becomes active when torrents of rain wash
through the campus as was evident in the
devastating flood of 1997 when the South College Gym received
its worst damage.
The newly reformed football team of 1899 played the first games
here on a playing surface made up of
primarily dirt and rocks. In 1901 a graduate from the class of
1900 named Charles Durkee donated money
for a tall wooden fence to be erected on three sides of the field
with the railroad tracks acting as a barrier for
the fourth side.
The 1934 Collegian article notes that it helped keep the
non-paying people out better than the military cadets.
In return for his fence the college named the athletic grounds
"Durkee Field". Bleachers were later added for
spectators to watch the games and military drills.
This field was described by former players and Harry Hughes as
horrible to walk through let alone play
football. The previously mentioned stream would reappear during
wet weather and ran through the playing
field during some games.
Harry Hughes' first football season of 1911 was the last season
football was ever played at Durkee Field.
When the rules of football changed to a 100 yard field, Hughes
used that opportunity to build a better field for
his athletes.
The military continued to drill on Durkee Field for several years
and tennis courts were later added for
women's athletics. In 1925 ground was broken for a new gym
and field house that opened in 1927 and still
stands there today.
Durkee Field Photos- Top is looking south toward the old Agricultural building, Middle is
looking NE in a 1911 game and bottom is looking at the small grandstands that were in front of the
rail road tracks.
looking NE in a 1911 game and bottom is looking at the small grandstands that were in front of the
rail road tracks.
Colorado Field
1912-1967
1912-1967
In 1910 the site of the college experiment station that grew potatoes was
identified as the location where the future athletic field should be built. After
two years of lobbying and with the support of college president Charles Lory, it
was approved in 1912. On May 23, 1912 construction began on
the ground located on the very southern edge of the campus at the time. Students
and faculty, including Lory removed rocks and planted seed to
build the first college football field in Colorado with grass.
Play began in the fall of 1912 with 1,000 seat grandstands being added by the
beginning of football season. A cinder track around the field was later
added in 1914 since Harry Hughes was as much a track coach as he was a
football coach.In September of 1912 the school built a Club House just
east of the railroad tracks on what is now University Avenue on today's campus.
This acted as locker rooms and showers for both the Aggie players
and visiting players.
With a state of the art football stadium the Aggies went on to win eight
conference championships over the next 25 years. The ninth and last
conference championship team to play on Colorado Field was in 1955.
Larger grandstands were built in 1921 and bleachers were added on the east side
and end zones as well over the 55 years Colorado Field served
the Aggies, Rams and Fort Collins High School.
Colorado Field served Aggie Football and Aggie athletics very well. Just south of
Colorado Field a baseball field was constructed and it is the
former location of the baseball field and South half of Colorado Field where Jack
Christiansen Track stands today.
In 1961 Colorado State University did a study to either rebuild Colorado Field
into a major Football stadium or to replace it with a new stadium on
the foothills campus. Because of Colorado Field's location in Ft. Collins it was
decided to build a new stadium away from traffic. The last varsity
game was played on Colorado Field in 1967 and although Junior Varsity football
was played there for a short time, it was torn down due to its age.
identified as the location where the future athletic field should be built. After
two years of lobbying and with the support of college president Charles Lory, it
was approved in 1912. On May 23, 1912 construction began on
the ground located on the very southern edge of the campus at the time. Students
and faculty, including Lory removed rocks and planted seed to
build the first college football field in Colorado with grass.
Play began in the fall of 1912 with 1,000 seat grandstands being added by the
beginning of football season. A cinder track around the field was later
added in 1914 since Harry Hughes was as much a track coach as he was a
football coach.In September of 1912 the school built a Club House just
east of the railroad tracks on what is now University Avenue on today's campus.
This acted as locker rooms and showers for both the Aggie players
and visiting players.
With a state of the art football stadium the Aggies went on to win eight
conference championships over the next 25 years. The ninth and last
conference championship team to play on Colorado Field was in 1955.
Larger grandstands were built in 1921 and bleachers were added on the east side
and end zones as well over the 55 years Colorado Field served
the Aggies, Rams and Fort Collins High School.
Colorado Field served Aggie Football and Aggie athletics very well. Just south of
Colorado Field a baseball field was constructed and it is the
former location of the baseball field and South half of Colorado Field where Jack
Christiansen Track stands today.
In 1961 Colorado State University did a study to either rebuild Colorado Field
into a major Football stadium or to replace it with a new stadium on
the foothills campus. Because of Colorado Field's location in Ft. Collins it was
decided to build a new stadium away from traffic. The last varsity
game was played on Colorado Field in 1967 and although Junior Varsity football
was played there for a short time, it was torn down due to its age.
Views of Colorado Field- Top shows the entire Colorado Field complex with the
original 1,000 seat stands for the football field. Bottom shows the ticket booth and
grandstands built in 1921 to seat over 5,000 fans.
original 1,000 seat stands for the football field. Bottom shows the ticket booth and
grandstands built in 1921 to seat over 5,000 fans.
Sonny Lubick Field @
Hughes Stadium
1968-Present
Hughes Stadium
1968-Present
Built at the base of the hog back mountain with the Aggie "A", Hughes Stadium
has served Colorado State University for over 40 years. The site of not just
football but Rolling Stones and Beach Boys concerts as well, the 30,000 seat
stadium was named after legendary coach Harry Hughes. After great success in
the 1990's, the stadium was expanded and the field renamed in honor of all-time
great coach Sonny Lubick.
Built to seat over 34,000 fans today, temporary bleachers could possibly push
seating capacity over 40,000 if necessary.
Photos show construction in 1967, opening day in 1968, halftime in 1971 and an
overflow crowd in 1994 against the University of Utah.
has served Colorado State University for over 40 years. The site of not just
football but Rolling Stones and Beach Boys concerts as well, the 30,000 seat
stadium was named after legendary coach Harry Hughes. After great success in
the 1990's, the stadium was expanded and the field renamed in honor of all-time
great coach Sonny Lubick.
Built to seat over 34,000 fans today, temporary bleachers could possibly push
seating capacity over 40,000 if necessary.
Photos show construction in 1967, opening day in 1968, halftime in 1971 and an
overflow crowd in 1994 against the University of Utah.
