Roth Report
Lane Stadium/Worsham Field
The Virginia Tech football team has enjoyed over a decade of success, going to 13 straight bowl games. A big part of that success is the home-field advantage the Hokies enjoy at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field.
Billed as the toughest place in college football for opponents to play by Rivals.com, the Hokies play on not only one of the best playing surfaces in the nation, but with the new south end zone and west side additions, the Hokies compete in one of the best stadiums in the nation.
Now entering its 42nd season as an arena of collegiate football competition, Lane Stadium/Worsham Field has gone through numerous changes, renovations and additions. But through it all, it has always been regarded as one of the finest places to watch - and toughest places for opponents to play - a college football game.
Another New Look
The third in a series of upgrades was completed prior to this season. Following the completion of the 2004 season, the old press box was removed and the structure was filled in to match what was built up during the 2004 season. A new press area on the west side, toward the south end zone with a dining area and improved overall facilities is just the tip of the iceberg. In addition, the fencing that surrounds the stadium was removed and the area on the west side exterior of the newly renovated stadium was landscaped with walkways and a weekday parking lot for ticket patrons as well as Hall of Fame and Hokie Club visitors. Additional luxury suites, a new President's area, four private club seating areas, new concession stands, a new ticket office, new athletic fund offices, an Athletics Hall of Fame and a new student academic services area are also included in this project. In the summer of 2003, $1.9 million was raised to fund the planning of the west side expansion. That money allowed for the groundbreaking of the west side project - another magnificent addition to the stadium. This project marked the third part of a three-phase project at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field. Ground was broken in November of 2004 for the latest project and crews began building around the existing press box, laying the above and below-ground settings, as well as removing the two light towers on that side of the stadium. Last season, the inside of the stadium was also given a new look as Hokie Stone was added to the walls in each of the end zones so there's no question as to where the game is being played for fans watching on television. Also, new kicking nets were installed in both end zones and a new video board - 1/3 larger - has replaced the old one on the existing scoreboard. New lights that will double the candlepower and reduce shadows on the field were added as part of the renovation. With all of these additions and improvements, Lane Stadium will keep up its reputation as one of the best places for college football. The South End Zone
Last season was the fourth played by the Hokies with the intimidating South End Zone facility capturing the noise at Lane Stadium. The season was marked by tough competition and record-setting crowds as fans filled all 65,115 seats for all six games. Prior to the 2002 season, Tech added 11,120 seats in the south end zone to enclose that end of the stadium. The double-deck structure is similar to the Cleveland Browns' "Dawg Pound" section and has bleacher, bench-back and club seats. The structure is enclosed, but has gaps between the existing structure and the new one. This is because of new building codes and a desire to get fans closer to the field. Below the south end zone stands are several new features. There is a football visitor's locker room which can be divided and used for other sports' visiting teams in the winter and spring. There is also the June Oblinger Shott Media Center, which houses a press room, a press conference area, three radio rooms, a darkroom and several storage rooms.
The outside of the facility also received a new look, making the entrance more inviting. Walkways and landscaping give the south and west sides a more appealing entrance for fans and teams.
Another recent addition to the facility is the turf and drainage system that was replaced in the summer of 2001. In the winter of 2003-04, a heating system was installed to keep the Bermuda grass at an optimum temperature during the winter months.
This innovative system is in place in just a handful of other stadiums in the world and makes Worsham Field one of the finest playing fields around.
A Winning Tradition
On Sept. 22, 1994, Tech won its 100th game in Lane Stadium in memorable fashion before a national television audience on ESPN with a 34-6 win over rival West Virginia. On Nov. 1, 2003, Tech upset No. 2 Miami 31-7 to pick up its 150th win all-time at Lane Stadium, marking the highest-ranked opponent the Hokies have ever defeated. Tech's overall record at Lane Stadium is 161 wins, 64 losses and six ties in 41 years of play. The Hokies are 87-27-1 at home during Coach Frank Beamer's tenure at Virginia Tech and more impressively, are 69-13 in Blacksburg the last 13 seasons. Tech finished with an all-time record of 32-9 in BIG EAST games played at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field and won 25 of its last 31 conference games at home. Last season, Tech went 5-1 at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field on its way to an 11-2 season and a Gator Bowl title. Highlights included a win over No. 15 Georgia Tech, a win over No. 13 Boston College on a Thursday night ESPN broadcast and Tech topping North Carolina on Senior Day. This season, Tech hopes to continue its home stadium tradition as a tough group of foes make the trip to Blacksburg. Georgia Tech, Duke, Virginia and Clemson will be the four Atlantic Coast Conference home games for Tech. Non-conference opponents Northeastern, Cincinnati, Southern Miss and Kent State also visit Lane Stadium, providing fans with eight great games this season.
Lane and Worsham
On Sept. 5, 1992, Worsham Field was officially dedicated in honor of Wes and Janet Worsham, longtime Hokie supporters from Kilmarnock, Va. The Worshams pledged $1 million to the university's Second Century Campaign. The Campaign raised over $18.6 million, almost $1.7 million more than the original goal, thanks to the support of people like the Worshams. The stadium is named for the late Edward H. Lane, a graduate of the university and a former member of the Board of Visitors. Lane headed an educational foundation project which raised more than $3 million for the original construction. Lane's personal donation was the first received by the fund. The original cost was $3.5 million, compared with $3.2 million spent for the addition on top of the east stands. The stadium's original capacity was 40,000, but the addition, completed in 1980, raised that number to 52,500. The relocation of bleacher seats dropped the total capacity to under 50,000. Lane Stadium, featuring a modern lighting system and a seating capacity of 66,233 for this season, ranks as one of the nation's finest collegiate football facilities. Before moving to Lane Stadium, Tech played its home games in Miles Stadium, which had a seating capacity of 17,000. The late Stuart K. Cassell proposed the new stadium as a part of a general plan for a number of new facilities for the university. Through the Years
Original construction of Lane Stadium began in April, 1964, and was completed four years later. The Hokies did not wait for completion, playing their first game in the stadium on Oct. 2, 1965. Tech defeated William and Mary, 9-7 that day with only the west stands and the center section of the east bleachers completed. Official dedication ceremonies took place Oct. 23 before a 22-14 win over Virginia. Through the years, the stadium has seen several changes and renovations. In 1982, the lighting system was added to the facility. The system was first used in Tech's nationally-televised 21-14 Thanksgiving Day victory over Virginia that season. The game was broadcast on WTBS and was the first-ever nationally televised game from Lane Stadium. Prior to the 1989 season, Lane Stadium underwent further improvements. Tech received a donation of 16 flags with the "VT" logo for the stadium. Lane Stadium also received a new paint job which included the addition of maroon and orange stripes around the inner walls of the facility. In 1991, a new scoreboard bearing BIG EAST Conference logos replaced the old scoreboard at the south end of the stadium while a new auxiliary scoreboard was placed at the north end. In the spring of 1994, renovations were completed on seven lower sections of the east stands. Renovations included replacing concrete risers and the addition of wheelchair seating. Before the 1994 season, plaques bearing retired jerseys of Tech heroes Bruce Smith, Carroll Dale, the late Frank Loria and Jim Pyne were added to the wall in the north end zone. With the addition of the north end zone seats, the four retired numbers now fly on flag poles above those stands. In 2002, three more flags - those bearing the names and numbers of Frank Beamer, Michael Vick and Cornell Brown - were added after retiring their jerseys, but not their numbers. Last year, a banner for center Jake Grove was added to that collection. Prior to the 1998 season, the oldest bleachers were replaced with new locust wood and the stands were waterproofed and top coated. On the east side, the roof on the former visitors' locker room was replaced along with the wooden bleachers in the three sections above the dressing room. Also, additional handicapped seating was added. In addition to the seats in the north end zone constructed before the 1999 season, the interior block walls and concourse tunnels were seal-coated to match the exterior of Cassell Coliseum and the Merryman Center. Before the 2000 season, a new scoreboard, complete with "Hokievision" was installed behind the north end zone bleachers. The south end zone construction project eliminated the old wooden bleachers in that area. But the north end zone bleachers were expanded down to the field, adding close to 600 new, permanent seats to make the north end zone look similar to the new south end zone. This is where The Marching Virginians - one of Tech's two marching bands - sit. These moves cut the capacity to 53,662. Prior to the 2000 season, approximately 3,000 permanent bleacher seats were added in the north end zone and prior to the 1999 season, 2,100 permanent seats were added in the same end zone. And in 2003, permacaps were installed over all the wooden seats to enhance fan comfort. The past two years, fans saw new conference logos around the stadium as the Hokies made the move to the ACC. Record Crowds
Enthusiastic crowds at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field have helped the Hokies to some big wins during their resurgence under Coach Frank Beamer. Tech tied a single-season attendance record last season by averaging 65,115 spectators per contest for the third year in a row. With the new additions, renovations and conference affiliation, as well as goals of being one of the top teams in the country, hopefully, the 2006 home schedule will be just as successful in drawing record-setting crowds to Lane Stadium/Worsham Field - home of the Hokies. Hokies' Turf a First for a College Football Stadium
Virginia Tech's continuing efforts to compete at the highest level produced another first for the Hokies. Three seasons ago, Tech became the first collegiate football team to have a new state-of-the-art GreenTech ITM natural grass sports field system. Lane Stadium was just the third playing venue to possess this type of playing surface, joining Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales and Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands. That system got its greatest test on national television in 2003 when Tech took on Texas A&M in the midst of Hurricane Isabel. Despite pouring rain and high winds, the field held up magnificently, drawing rave reviews from players, coaches and media members covering the game. GreenTech, Inc. of Richmond, Va., installed the modular turf system in 2001. It features 4,600 4-by-4 foot trays sodded with a Bermuda grass surface and placed on pedestals two-to-three inches above an asphalt base. The system also provides excellent drainage. Irrigation lines run through pockets underneath the trays and 22 air vents under the field are connected to a vacuum system which will draw water from the trays onto the asphalt. The water then flows into large drains on either side of Worsham Field. The trays, in combination with the vacuum system, can handle up to 16 inches of rain an hour.
The third in a series of upgrades was completed prior to this season. Following the completion of the 2004 season, the old press box was removed and the structure was filled in to match what was built up during the 2004 season. A new press area on the west side, toward the south end zone with a dining area and improved overall facilities is just the tip of the iceberg. In addition, the fencing that surrounds the stadium was removed and the area on the west side exterior of the newly renovated stadium was landscaped with walkways and a weekday parking lot for ticket patrons as well as Hall of Fame and Hokie Club visitors. Additional luxury suites, a new President's area, four private club seating areas, new concession stands, a new ticket office, new athletic fund offices, an Athletics Hall of Fame and a new student academic services area are also included in this project. In the summer of 2003, $1.9 million was raised to fund the planning of the west side expansion. That money allowed for the groundbreaking of the west side project - another magnificent addition to the stadium. This project marked the third part of a three-phase project at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field. Ground was broken in November of 2004 for the latest project and crews began building around the existing press box, laying the above and below-ground settings, as well as removing the two light towers on that side of the stadium. Last season, the inside of the stadium was also given a new look as Hokie Stone was added to the walls in each of the end zones so there's no question as to where the game is being played for fans watching on television. Also, new kicking nets were installed in both end zones and a new video board - 1/3 larger - has replaced the old one on the existing scoreboard. New lights that will double the candlepower and reduce shadows on the field were added as part of the renovation. With all of these additions and improvements, Lane Stadium will keep up its reputation as one of the best places for college football. The South End Zone
Last season was the fourth played by the Hokies with the intimidating South End Zone facility capturing the noise at Lane Stadium. The season was marked by tough competition and record-setting crowds as fans filled all 65,115 seats for all six games. Prior to the 2002 season, Tech added 11,120 seats in the south end zone to enclose that end of the stadium. The double-deck structure is similar to the Cleveland Browns' "Dawg Pound" section and has bleacher, bench-back and club seats. The structure is enclosed, but has gaps between the existing structure and the new one. This is because of new building codes and a desire to get fans closer to the field. Below the south end zone stands are several new features. There is a football visitor's locker room which can be divided and used for other sports' visiting teams in the winter and spring. There is also the June Oblinger Shott Media Center, which houses a press room, a press conference area, three radio rooms, a darkroom and several storage rooms.
The outside of the facility also received a new look, making the entrance more inviting. Walkways and landscaping give the south and west sides a more appealing entrance for fans and teams.
Another recent addition to the facility is the turf and drainage system that was replaced in the summer of 2001. In the winter of 2003-04, a heating system was installed to keep the Bermuda grass at an optimum temperature during the winter months.
This innovative system is in place in just a handful of other stadiums in the world and makes Worsham Field one of the finest playing fields around.
A Winning TraditionOn Sept. 22, 1994, Tech won its 100th game in Lane Stadium in memorable fashion before a national television audience on ESPN with a 34-6 win over rival West Virginia. On Nov. 1, 2003, Tech upset No. 2 Miami 31-7 to pick up its 150th win all-time at Lane Stadium, marking the highest-ranked opponent the Hokies have ever defeated. Tech's overall record at Lane Stadium is 161 wins, 64 losses and six ties in 41 years of play. The Hokies are 87-27-1 at home during Coach Frank Beamer's tenure at Virginia Tech and more impressively, are 69-13 in Blacksburg the last 13 seasons. Tech finished with an all-time record of 32-9 in BIG EAST games played at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field and won 25 of its last 31 conference games at home. Last season, Tech went 5-1 at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field on its way to an 11-2 season and a Gator Bowl title. Highlights included a win over No. 15 Georgia Tech, a win over No. 13 Boston College on a Thursday night ESPN broadcast and Tech topping North Carolina on Senior Day. This season, Tech hopes to continue its home stadium tradition as a tough group of foes make the trip to Blacksburg. Georgia Tech, Duke, Virginia and Clemson will be the four Atlantic Coast Conference home games for Tech. Non-conference opponents Northeastern, Cincinnati, Southern Miss and Kent State also visit Lane Stadium, providing fans with eight great games this season.
Lane and Worsham
On Sept. 5, 1992, Worsham Field was officially dedicated in honor of Wes and Janet Worsham, longtime Hokie supporters from Kilmarnock, Va. The Worshams pledged $1 million to the university's Second Century Campaign. The Campaign raised over $18.6 million, almost $1.7 million more than the original goal, thanks to the support of people like the Worshams. The stadium is named for the late Edward H. Lane, a graduate of the university and a former member of the Board of Visitors. Lane headed an educational foundation project which raised more than $3 million for the original construction. Lane's personal donation was the first received by the fund. The original cost was $3.5 million, compared with $3.2 million spent for the addition on top of the east stands. The stadium's original capacity was 40,000, but the addition, completed in 1980, raised that number to 52,500. The relocation of bleacher seats dropped the total capacity to under 50,000. Lane Stadium, featuring a modern lighting system and a seating capacity of 66,233 for this season, ranks as one of the nation's finest collegiate football facilities. Before moving to Lane Stadium, Tech played its home games in Miles Stadium, which had a seating capacity of 17,000. The late Stuart K. Cassell proposed the new stadium as a part of a general plan for a number of new facilities for the university. Through the Years
Original construction of Lane Stadium began in April, 1964, and was completed four years later. The Hokies did not wait for completion, playing their first game in the stadium on Oct. 2, 1965. Tech defeated William and Mary, 9-7 that day with only the west stands and the center section of the east bleachers completed. Official dedication ceremonies took place Oct. 23 before a 22-14 win over Virginia. Through the years, the stadium has seen several changes and renovations. In 1982, the lighting system was added to the facility. The system was first used in Tech's nationally-televised 21-14 Thanksgiving Day victory over Virginia that season. The game was broadcast on WTBS and was the first-ever nationally televised game from Lane Stadium. Prior to the 1989 season, Lane Stadium underwent further improvements. Tech received a donation of 16 flags with the "VT" logo for the stadium. Lane Stadium also received a new paint job which included the addition of maroon and orange stripes around the inner walls of the facility. In 1991, a new scoreboard bearing BIG EAST Conference logos replaced the old scoreboard at the south end of the stadium while a new auxiliary scoreboard was placed at the north end. In the spring of 1994, renovations were completed on seven lower sections of the east stands. Renovations included replacing concrete risers and the addition of wheelchair seating. Before the 1994 season, plaques bearing retired jerseys of Tech heroes Bruce Smith, Carroll Dale, the late Frank Loria and Jim Pyne were added to the wall in the north end zone. With the addition of the north end zone seats, the four retired numbers now fly on flag poles above those stands. In 2002, three more flags - those bearing the names and numbers of Frank Beamer, Michael Vick and Cornell Brown - were added after retiring their jerseys, but not their numbers. Last year, a banner for center Jake Grove was added to that collection. Prior to the 1998 season, the oldest bleachers were replaced with new locust wood and the stands were waterproofed and top coated. On the east side, the roof on the former visitors' locker room was replaced along with the wooden bleachers in the three sections above the dressing room. Also, additional handicapped seating was added. In addition to the seats in the north end zone constructed before the 1999 season, the interior block walls and concourse tunnels were seal-coated to match the exterior of Cassell Coliseum and the Merryman Center. Before the 2000 season, a new scoreboard, complete with "Hokievision" was installed behind the north end zone bleachers. The south end zone construction project eliminated the old wooden bleachers in that area. But the north end zone bleachers were expanded down to the field, adding close to 600 new, permanent seats to make the north end zone look similar to the new south end zone. This is where The Marching Virginians - one of Tech's two marching bands - sit. These moves cut the capacity to 53,662. Prior to the 2000 season, approximately 3,000 permanent bleacher seats were added in the north end zone and prior to the 1999 season, 2,100 permanent seats were added in the same end zone. And in 2003, permacaps were installed over all the wooden seats to enhance fan comfort. The past two years, fans saw new conference logos around the stadium as the Hokies made the move to the ACC. Record Crowds
Enthusiastic crowds at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field have helped the Hokies to some big wins during their resurgence under Coach Frank Beamer. Tech tied a single-season attendance record last season by averaging 65,115 spectators per contest for the third year in a row. With the new additions, renovations and conference affiliation, as well as goals of being one of the top teams in the country, hopefully, the 2006 home schedule will be just as successful in drawing record-setting crowds to Lane Stadium/Worsham Field - home of the Hokies. Hokies' Turf a First for a College Football Stadium
Virginia Tech's continuing efforts to compete at the highest level produced another first for the Hokies. Three seasons ago, Tech became the first collegiate football team to have a new state-of-the-art GreenTech ITM natural grass sports field system. Lane Stadium was just the third playing venue to possess this type of playing surface, joining Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales and Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands. That system got its greatest test on national television in 2003 when Tech took on Texas A&M in the midst of Hurricane Isabel. Despite pouring rain and high winds, the field held up magnificently, drawing rave reviews from players, coaches and media members covering the game. GreenTech, Inc. of Richmond, Va., installed the modular turf system in 2001. It features 4,600 4-by-4 foot trays sodded with a Bermuda grass surface and placed on pedestals two-to-three inches above an asphalt base. The system also provides excellent drainage. Irrigation lines run through pockets underneath the trays and 22 air vents under the field are connected to a vacuum system which will draw water from the trays onto the asphalt. The water then flows into large drains on either side of Worsham Field. The trays, in combination with the vacuum system, can handle up to 16 inches of rain an hour.
Information taken from the 2006 Virginia Tech Football Media Guide.
