Overview
Though Rockne had a chance to coach in the new facility only in its initial season of use, he took a personal hand in its design. The sod from Cartier Field was transplanted into the new Stadium, but Rockne insisted on its use for football only. He kept the area between the field and the stands small to keep sideline guests, as he called them, to a minimum - and he personally supervised the parking and traffic system that basically is the same one in use today.
Originally designed by Osborn Engineering Company - the same firm that designed Comiskey Park in Chicago and New York's Yankee Stadium and Polo Grounds - the total cost of construction exceeded $750,000 and it was patterned on a smaller scale after the University of Michigan's stadium. The 1996 season was the final one played with the customary 59,075 fans at Notre Dame Stadium. A $50-million expansion adding over 21,000 seats was completed before the 1997 kickoff, bringing capacity to its present-day 80,795.It was the success of Knute Rockne's football teams that prompted the addition of the original Notre Dame Stadium to the University's athletics plant back in 1930. The spirit that was imbued by that Rockne era - and has been sustained by seven Heisman Trophy winners and dozens more All-Americans who have competed there - has changed little in eight decades of football at Notre Dame Stadium.unquestionably developed a lore of its own. The stadium, which celebrated its 85th anniversary in 2015, continues to be one of the most recognizable and revered structures in the world of sport.
Notre Dame Stadium, maybe the most renowned college football facility in the nation, now qualifies as one of the most up to date as well, thanks to a major addition and renovations that boosted its capacity to more than 80,000 beginning with the 1997 campaign. The 1996 season was the final one played with the customary 59,075 fans at Notre Dame Stadium. A $50-million expansion adding over 21,000 seats was completed before the 1997 season kickoff. To upgrade on the 1997 renovation, two new scoreboards were installed in both end zones before the 2009 season that utilize the latest in LED-screen technologies.
Arlotta Stadium is the home for the Notre Dame men's and women's lacrosse programs. Construction on the stadium began in August of 2008 and was completed in the fall of 2009.
The state-of-the-art facility features lights and an artificial turf field and has a permanent seating capacity of approximately 2,500 in the west grandstand, including VIP boxes flanking the main team entrance. Additional seating is available on a grass berm located on the east end of the grounds. The stadium offers upgraded and expanded restroom and concession areas, elevator access and handicapped reserved seating on the main concourse level, as well as numerous amenities for both Fighting Irish lacrosse programs (expansive locker rooms with custom-made wood lockers, spacious team lounges with flat-screen plasma TVs and high-speed internet access, and a fully-equipped athletic training center).
The University of Notre Dame Men's Rugby Program plays at the highest level of collegiate rugby in the United States. The Irish compete in 15s play in the fall, and 7s competition in the spring, culminating with the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship, which the team has been a competitor in, since it's inception in 2010. Home matches are played on our attractive, dedicated artificial turf field, Stinson Rugby Field, and all students at Notre Dame and Holy Cross are eligible to join the club.
Alumni Stadium opened its doors for soccer action in 2009. It has a seating capacity of 2,500 in the west grandstand, VIP boxes flanking the main team entrance and grass berm seating on the east end of the grounds; elevator access and handicapped reserved seating on the main concourse level, Concessions are available.