View source for Husky Stadium

{{short description|Stadium at the University of Washington}}
{{About|the University of Washington stadium|other uses|Husky Stadium (disambiguation)}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Huskie Stadium]], the home football field of Northern Illinois University}}
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name         = Husky Stadium
| nickname             = ''"The Greatest Setting in College Football"''
| image                = Husky Stadium - March 19, 2016.jpg
| image_size           = 250
| caption              = Stadium grandstands and field as seen in 2016
| address              = 3800 Montlake Blvd NE
| location             = [[University of Washington]]<br />[[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[United States|U.S.]]<!--98105-->
| coordinates       = {{Coord|47.6503|-122.3016|display=inline,title|region:US-WA_type:landmark}}
| image_map         = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=10|type=point}}
| pushpin_map       = USA#Washington
| pushpin_relief    = 1
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the [[United States]]##Location in [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| pushpin_label     = Seattle
| broke_ground         = May 17, 1920<ref name="hsenr">{{cite journal |date=February 24, 1921|title=Build Large Earth-Fill Stadium by Sheerboard Method|journal=Engineering News-Record |volume=86 |issue=8|pages=326–327|location=New York City|publisher=McGraw-Hill|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M78cAQAAMAAJ|access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref>
| opened               = November 27, 1920<br />August 31, 2013
| renovated            = 1950, 1987, 2013
| expanded             = 1936, 1950, 1968, 1987
| closed               = 
| demolished           = 
| operator             = University of Washington
| surface              = [[AstroTurf]] 3D3 (2021–present)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.astroturf.com/washington-huskies-ready-to-go-all-out-with-new-astroturf-installation-at-husky-stadium/|title=Washington Huskies Ready to Go All Out with New AstroTurf Installation at Husky Stadium|date=April 29, 2021}}</ref> <br />[[FieldTurf]] (2000–2021)<br />AstroTurf (1968–1999)<br />Natural grass (1938–1967)<br />Dirt (1920–1937)
| architect            = [[Bebb and Gould]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Husky Stadium Historic and Cultural Resources Report|url=http://f2.washington.edu/cpo/sites/default/files/file/husky-stadium-draft-seis-p9.pdf|publisher=The Johnson Partnership|date=November 1, 2010|access-date=December 2, 2012}}</ref><br>[[360 Architecture]] (2012&nbsp;renovation)
| general_contractor   = [[Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging&nbsp;Company]]<ref name="hsenr"/>
| tenants              = [[Washington Huskies football|Washington Huskies]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]])<br>(1920–2011, 2013–present)<br />[[Seattle Seahawks]] ([[National Football League|NFL]]) (1994, 2000–2001)
| publictransit        = {{rail-interchange|seattle|link}} [[University of Washington station|Univ. of Washington station]]
| construction_cost    = [[United States dollar|$]]600,000<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|600000|1920}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}<!-- dollars-->{{inflation-fn|US}})<br />{{nowrap|[[United States dollar|$]]280 million<ref name="Jude">{{cite news |title=New, Improved Husky Stadium Ready to Shine |first=Adam |last=Jude |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/specialreportspages/2021660818_huskystadium25xml.html|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=August 24, 2013 |access-date=September 1, 2013}}</ref> (2013 renovation)}}
| former_names         = 
| seating_capacity     = 70,083 (2014–present)<ref>{{cite web |title=Sean Constantine out for 2016 season with broken ankle, plus a season-ticket update|url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/college/pac-12/university-of-washington/article97473442.html|publisher=Tacoma News Tribune|access-date=September 12, 2016}}</ref>
'''Former capacity''':
{{collapsible list|
* 70,138 (2013)
* 72,500 (1987–2011)
* 58,000 (1968–1986)
* 55,000 (1950–1967)
* 40,000 (1936–1949)
* 30,000 (1920–1935)
}}
| website = {{url|https://gohuskies.com/sports/2013/7/2/208568068.aspx|ghuskies.com/stadium}}
}}
'''Husky Stadium''' (officially '''Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium''' for sponsorship purposes) is an outdoor [[American football|football]] [[stadium]] in the [[Northwestern United States]], located on the campus of the [[University of Washington]] in [[Seattle]], Washington. Originally named University of Washington Stadium, it was renamed Husky Stadium following the 1970 football season. It&nbsp;has been home to the [[Washington Huskies football|Washington Huskies]] of the [[Big Ten Conference]] since [[1920 Washington Sun Dodgers football team|1920]], hosting their football games. It also briefly hosted the [[Seattle Seahawks]] of the [[NFL]] in [[2000 Seattle Seahawks season|2000]] and [[2001 Seattle Seahawks season|2001]] while [[Qwest Field]] (now Lumen Field) was being constructed.

Aside from football, the university holds its annual commencement at the stadium each June. It sits at the southeast corner of campus, between [[Washington State Route 513|Montlake Boulevard Northeast]] and [[Union Bay (Seattle)|Union Bay]], just north of the [[Montlake Cut]]. The stadium is served by the [[University of Washington station|University of Washington]] [[Link light rail]] station, which provides rail service to [[Downtown Seattle|downtown]], [[Rainier Valley, Seattle|Rainier Valley]] and [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport]]. It is also accessible by several bus routes.

The stadium underwent a $280 million renovation that was completed in [[2013 Washington Huskies football team|2013]].<ref name="Jude" /> Its U-shaped design was specifically oriented (18.167° south of due east) to minimize glare from the early afternoon sun in the athletes' eyes.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{Cite web |url=http://gohuskies.cstv.com/facilities/husky-stadium.html |title=University of Washington – Official Athletic Site: Facilities |access-date=2007-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929125644/http://gohuskies.cstv.com/facilities/husky-stadium.html |archive-date=2007-09-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The stadium's open end overlooks [[Lake Washington]] and the [[Cascade Range|Cascade Mountains]], including [[Mount Rainier]]. Prior to the 2013 renovation, its total capacity of 72,500 made it the largest stadium in the [[Pacific Northwest]] and [[List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums|one of the largest]] college football stadiums.

Renowned for its [[#Loudness|loudness]], Husky Stadium holds the record as the loudest college football stadium ever recorded.<ref name=ESPNdecibels>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwE2LyzOvqc|title=Loudest College Football Stadium?|date=October 25, 2009 |publisher=YouTube|access-date=July 28, 2012}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Construction of Husky Stadium on University of Washington campus, Seattle, October 30, 1920 (MOHAI 8804).jpg|thumb|left|The stadium under construction in 1920]]
[[File:Aerial Husky Stadium November 2011 - 1.jpg|thumb|left|An aerial view of Husky Stadium as seen the day before the start of the 2011 renovation project. "Go Huskies" and the "W" logo were painted on the north and south decks in September 2008.<ref>[http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/090608aal.html Washington-BYU Postgame Notes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222040534/http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/090608aal.html |date=2012-02-22 }}</ref>]]
The original stadium was built in 1920 by [[Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company]] with a [[seating capacity]] of 30,000.<ref>{{cite news|last=Condotta|first=Bob|title=Will tickets to new Husky Stadium cost a lot more?|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/huskies/2015876084_uwfb11.html|newspaper=The Seattle Times|date=August 10, 2011}}</ref> It replaced [[Denny Field (Washington)|Denny Field]], located at the north end of campus, south of NE 45th St. and 20th Ave NE.  Husky Stadium's first game was the concluding game of the [[1920 Washington Sun Dodgers football team|1920]] season, a 28–7 loss to [[1920 Dartmouth Indians football team|Dartmouth]] on November 27. On July 27, 1923, the stadium was the site of [[President of the United States|President]] [[Warren G. Harding]]'s final public address;<ref name=erg23>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WFxXAAAAIBAJ&pg=6860%2C4930474 |work=Eugene Daily Guard |agency=United Press |title=President is set against exploitation |last=Martin |first=Lawrence |date=July 28, 1923 |page=1}}</ref> he died in [[San Francisco]] six days later.

The capacity of the lower bowl was expanded with the addition of 10,000 seats around the rim in 1936. In 1943, 35,000 people watched a demonstration of a mock WWII bombing raid, showing how local forces would respond in an attack. The Seattle fire department and emergency response teams rescued mock victims and buildings constructed on the field that were exploded as [[Lockheed P-38 Lightning|P-38 planes]] flew overhead to demonstrate how citizens should react.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mock bombing raid is held at Husky Stadium in Seattle on June 13, 1943.|url=https://www.historylink.org/File/8260|access-date=2020-06-14|website=www.historylink.org}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=The War: Stories From The Northwest: WWII {{!}} The Bombing of Seattle {{!}} Episode 113|url=https://www.pbs.org/video/the-war-stories-from-the-northwest-wwii-the-bombing-of-seattle/|language=en|access-date=2020-06-14|archive-date=June 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614040428/https://www.pbs.org/video/the-war-stories-from-the-northwest-wwii-the-bombing-of-seattle/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=History in Motion: The Bombing of Seattle {{!}} seattlechannel.org|url=https://www.seattlechannel.org/history-in-motion-episodes?videoid=x26592|access-date=2020-06-14|website=www.seattlechannel.org|language=en}}</ref> The first of the stadium's iconic covered grandstands was constructed in [[1950 Washington Huskies football team|1950]], adding 15,000 seats to the south side.<ref name="hs50add">{{cite news|title=Seattle History: The first time Husky Stadium came down|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/12/22/seattle-history-the-first-time-husky-stadium-came-down/#2238-1|newspaper=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|date=December 22, 2011|access-date=November 12, 2012|archive-date=March 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306075939/http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/12/22/seattle-history-the-first-time-husky-stadium-came-down/#2238-1|url-status=dead}}</ref> Several thousand additional seats were added in 1968. 

In [[1987 Washington Huskies football team|1987]], 13,000 seats were added with the construction of the north grandstand.<ref name=hs8504>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kGpfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4061%2C1449046|newspaper=[[Lewiston Morning Tribune]]|agency=Associated Press|title=UW Regents Approve Plans for Husky Stadium Addition|date=April 20, 1985|page=2C}}</ref> Similar to the south stand, this structure included a cantilevered steel roof covering a portion of the lower seats. The project made headlines on February 25, 1987, when the grandstand collapsed during construction as a result of miscommunication between the workers and the contractor, which led to the premature removal during the intended replacement of several support cables.<ref name="Manno">{{cite web|last1=Manno|first1=Dominic|title=University of Washington Football Stadium Addition Collapse (1987)|url=https://failures.wikispaces.com/University+of+Washington+Football+Stadium+(Manno)|website=failures.wikispaces.com|access-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref> Although there were no casualties, property damage ranged from $500,000 to $1 million and resulted in setbacks; however, the stadium addition was completed in time for the start of the [[1987 Washington Huskies football team|1987 Husky football season]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lange |first=Greg |date=January 18, 2001 |title=Husky Stadium collapses on February 25, 1987. |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/2947 |work=HistoryLink |access-date=March 24, 2023}}</ref><ref name=hs8702>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y1xWAAAAIBAJ&pg=3711%2C4515435|newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]]|title=Section of Husky Stadium Collapses|date=February 26, 1987|page=A-1}}</ref>

Husky Stadium was a primary venue for the [[1990 Goodwill Games]], where the crowd saw an address by former [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]], as well as an address by [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]], and a performance by the [[Moody Blues]] & [[Gorky Park (band)|Gorky Park]]. The stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the track & field competition.

Husky Stadium was the temporary home of the [[Seattle Seahawks]] for five games (two preseason and three regular season) in [[1994 Seattle Seahawks season|1994]] while the [[Kingdome]] was temporarily closed for repairs to its damaged roof. After the demolition of the Kingdome in March 2000, the Seahawks played at Husky Stadium for the [[2000 Seattle Seahawks season|2000]] and [[2001 Seattle Seahawks season|2001]] seasons before moving into Seahawks Stadium (now [[Lumen Field]]) in [[2002 Seattle Seahawks season|2002]].

The playing field at Husky Stadium was originally dirt, which was then replaced with natural grass in [[1938 Washington Huskies football team|1938]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/huskies/333325_stadium27.html|title=Husky Stadium Aging Not So Gracefully|newspaper=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]}} {{Dead link|date=January 2012|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> In [[1968 Washington Huskies football team|1968]], Washington became one of the first major college teams to play on [[AstroTurf]] at home; at the time, the [[Houston]] [[Astrodome]], [[Neyland Stadium]] in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]], and [[Camp Randall Stadium]] in [[Madison, Wisconsin]], were the only other major facilities with artificial turf. The AstroTurf field was replaced in [[1972 Washington Huskies football team|1972]], [[1977 Washington Huskies football team|1977]], [[1987 Washington Huskies football team|1987]], and [[1995 Washington Huskies football team|1995]].<ref name="Linde">{{cite web|last1=Linde|first1=Richard|title=From rocks to turf: "'Did you ever see a field grow rocks?'"|url=https://www.4malamute.com/stadium2.html|website=4malamute.com|access-date=March 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630023350/http://4malamute.com/stadium2.html|archive-date=June 30, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[FieldTurf]], a new variation of synthetic turf, was installed in [[2000 Washington Huskies football team|2000]] at a cost of $1,074,958. The new turf features enhanced drainage and reduced abrasion through the use of synthetic fibers that are tufted into an infill of sand and rubber. The project was funded by [[Seattle Seahawks]] owner [[Paul Allen]], who used Husky Stadium as a temporary home venue during the construction of [[CenturyLink Field]]. The first of its kind in the NFL, the surface was so popular with the players that the Seahawks, who had planned to use natural grass at their new stadium, instead installed their own FieldTurf surface.<ref name="fieldturf.com">{{cite web|title=PAUL ALLEN PAYS FOR NEW TURF AT HUSKY STADIUM|url=https://www.fieldturf.com/fr/artificial-turf/artificial-turf-news/paul-allen-pays-for-new-turf-at-husky-stadium|website=fieldturf.com|access-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref> The FieldTurf at Husky Stadium was replaced with a newer one after nine seasons in 2009 at a cost of $350,000.<ref name="Pac-12 Conference">{{cite web|title=Washington To Replace Husky Stadium Playing Surface|url=http://pac-12.com/article/2009/04/17/washington-replace-husky-stadium-playing-surface|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325201740/http://pac-12.com/article/2009/04/17/washington-replace-husky-stadium-playing-surface|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 25, 2017|website=pac-12.com|access-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref>

In addition to the new playing surface, the Seahawks made other improvements to Husky stadium in preparation for its tenure as an [[National Football League|NFL]] venue for two seasons. A larger scoreboard debuted in [[1998 Washington Huskies football team|1998]], with a {{convert|23|x|42|ft|adj=on}} "HuskyTron" video screen.  Improved lighting for television, including corner lights, was added in [[1999 Washington Huskies football team|1999]], and official NFL goalposts (optic yellow, {{convert|40|ft|1|abbr=on}} in height) were installed in [[2000 Washington Huskies football team|2000]].

The Husky Stadium end zones were painted gold during the 1980s and early 1990s; the new AstroTurf in [[1995 Washington Huskies football team|1995]] changed them to purple. They became natural green with the installation of FieldTurf in [[2000 Washington Huskies football team|2000]], which lasted until 2009 when they reverted to gold for one season. Purple end zones returned prior to the [[2010 Washington Huskies football team|2010]] season, and were temporarily painted black for the Huskies' first "blackout" game against [[2010 UCLA Bruins football team|UCLA]] on November 18.

On September 3, [[2015 Washington Huskies football team|2015]], [[Alaska Airlines]] purchased naming rights to the field, which changed its official name to "Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium." The agreement, worth $41 million over 10 years, became the largest of its kind in college athletics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-husky-football/uw-alaska-airlines-agree-to-naming-rights-deal-for-husky-stadium/|work=Seattle Times|title=UW, Alaska Airlines agree to naming-rights deal for Husky Stadium's field|date=September 3, 2015|access-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref>

The [[Washington Interscholastic Activities Association]] (WIAA) will hold the Washington state championship games for [[high school football]], called the Gridiron Classic, at Husky Stadium on a trial basis in December 2023. Announced by the WIAA in June, it will mark the return of the annual games to Seattle, which last hosted them at the Kingdome in 1994; the university granted significantly discounted venue fees for the WIAA, with the latter hoping for a long-term agreement if the games are successfully held.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Joyce |first1=Nathan |title=WIAA moves state football championship to Husky Stadium on trial basis |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/high-school/wiaa-moves-state-football-championship-to-husky-stadium-on-trial-basis/ |access-date=June 7, 2023 |work=The Seattle Times |date=June 6, 2023}}</ref> The games were previously rotated among three [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce County]] high school venues after the WIAA elected to move them out of the [[Tacoma Dome]] in 2019 amid rising costs and impaired sight lines from the latter's 2018 renovations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Manley |first1=Jon |title=Why Husky Stadium? WIAA leader explains reasons for moving state football championships |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/high-school/article276147816.html |access-date=June 7, 2023 |work=[[The News Tribune]] |date=June 6, 2023}}</ref>

===The Wave===
{{See also|Wave (audience)}}
[[File:2009-0919-USC-UW-StormtheField.jpg|thumb|Ecstatic [[Washington Huskies football|Washington Huskies]] [[college football]] fans storm the field at Husky Stadium in celebration after defeating the heavily favored No. 3 [[USC Trojans football|USC Trojans]] in a 2009 upset]]
Many claim that the first [[audience wave]] originated in Husky Stadium on [[Halloween]] [[1981 Washington Huskies football team|1981]], at the prompting of Husky band trumpeter Dave Hunter,<ref name="espn">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/18888/its-settled-where-the-wave-first-started |title=It's settled: Where The Wave first started |work=Espn.com |date=2013-03-01 |access-date=2016-09-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Daven Hiskey |url=http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/07/wave-started/ |title=Who Invented the Sporting Wave? |publisher=Todayifoundout.com |date=2014-07-15 |access-date=2016-09-21}}</ref> although it is documented to have begun at the Oakland Coliseum two weeks earlier during an MLB playoff game. Contrary to Hunter's account, former Washington yell leader [[Robb Weller]] has also claimed credit for the first wave.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washington.edu/news/archive/uweek/awards2008/42265 |title=Best and Brightest 2008 &#124; University of Washington Recognition Award Recipients |publisher=Washington.edu |access-date=2016-09-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2002/aug/29/who-started-wave/ |title=Who started the wave? |publisher=San Diego Reader |date=2002-08-29 |access-date=2016-09-21}}</ref> Weller was the guest yell-king during the Huskies' homecoming football game against [[1981 Stanford Cardinals football team|Stanford]]. His initial concept for the wave was for it to travel vertically, from the bottom of the stands to the top, within the Husky student section.<ref name="espn" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/wave/061027 |title=ESPN.com: Page 2 : Please, don't blame me for this |publisher=Espn.go.com |date=1981-10-15 |access-date=2016-09-21}}</ref> When the stunt was met with limited interest, he then decided to reverse the movement of the wave to travel from top to bottom. This failed miserably, as it was necessary to turn backward to see the wave progressing downward. Weller then gave up and returned his attention to the game. However, a fan named Omar Parker sitting on the open (east) end of the stadium at the student side started yelling "sideways". Weller did not hear him, but then many students tried to initiate a "sideways" wave on their own. After a few attempts, and more yelling of "sideways" by students, Weller took notice. He instructed the crowd to stand as he ran past. He moved along the track toward the open end of the stadium, explaining to the student crowd what he would do, then ran along the track toward the closed end of the stadium, in front of the student section. The stunt caught on after a couple of tries and continued around the entire stadium, and was then repeated throughout the rest of the game and the season. Longtime UW band director Bill Bissell also claimed co-creator credit with Weller, suggesting that the wave was devised by both of them prior to the game. The following week Bill Scott (known as "Bill the Beer Man") started the wave in Husky Stadium and also at the [[Seattle Seahawks]] game in the Kingdome.

===Loudness===
[[File:Apple Cup Crowd 1.jpg|thumb|Capacity crowd in the south stands at the 100th [[Apple Cup]] in [[2007 Washington Huskies football team|2007]]]]
Husky Stadium has long been recognized as one of the loudest stadiums in the nation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Ted|title=Getting to know the new Husky Stadium |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/pac10/post/_/id/24135/getting-to-know-the-new-husky-stadium|newspaper=ESPN|date=August 11, 2011}}</ref>  This is in part due to the stadium's design; almost 70% of the seats are located between the end zones, covered by cantilevered metal roofs that trap the sound.<ref>[http://gohuskies.cstv.com/facilities/wash-husky-stadium.html Husky Stadium listing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213170143/http://gohuskies.cstv.com/facilities/wash-husky-stadium.html |date=2007-02-13 }} at official Huskies athletic site</ref>

On occasion, the high decibel levels at Husky games along with fans stomping their feet in the bleachers cause television cameras to shake. During the night game against #12 [[1992 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]] on September 19, [[1992 Washington Huskies football team|1992]],<ref name=hwneb>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=elJWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2176%2C4678875 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |last=Wojciechowski |first=Gene |author-link=Gene Wojciechowski |title=Huskies whip Nebraska for 17th straight |date=September 20, 1992 |page=1E}}</ref><ref name=strk17>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v1tWAAAAIBAJ&pg=5395%2C7195544 |work=Spokesman-Review |last=Sherman |first=Ed |title=Streak at 17: Huskies roll over Huskers |date=September 20, 1992 |page=C1}}</ref><ref name=wbhus>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DplfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3593%2C1187720 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |agency=Associated Press |title=Washington boils Huskers |date=September 20, 1992 |page=1B}}</ref><ref name=flyhign>{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1992/09/28/127237/flying-high-again-with-a-29-14-victory-over-nebraska-defending-national-co-champion-washington-proved-it-will-be-in-the-chase-for-another-crown |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Jenkins |first=Sally |author-link=Sally Jenkins |title=Flying high again |date=September 28, 1992 |page=22}}</ref> [[ESPN]] measured the noise level at over 130 [[decibels]], well above the [[threshold of pain]]. The maximum recorded level of 133.6 decibels, according to ESPN, is the highest ever recorded at a college football stadium.<ref name=ESPNdecibels />

===Tailgating===
[[File:Husky Stadium tailgate van.png|thumb|Tailgating at Husky Stadium prior to the [[2019 Washington Huskies football team|2019]] Apple Cup]]

The north and south parking lots are packed with cars for [[tailgate party|tailgating]]. Husky Stadium is unusual in that fans can travel to football games by boat, known locally as "sailgating" (other stadiums with this feature include [[Neyland Stadium]] at [[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee]], [[Heinz Field]] at [[Pittsburgh]], and [[McLane Stadium]] at [[Baylor Bears football|Baylor]]). There can be upwards of 12,000 people out on Lake Washington next to Husky Stadium during game days.<ref name=autogenerated2>[http://stats.washingtonpost.com/cfb/story.asp?i=20071010155457251988104 Tim Booth AP Sports Writer]</ref> Before kickoff, the Washington crew team offers shuttles to anyone that wants to go to and from the boats and docks for the game.<ref>[http://www.idahostatesman.com/boisestatefootball/story/151085.html IdahoStatesman.com]</ref>

Fans also gather at the Dempsey Indoor Facility just north of the stadium for Husky Huddles. After the game, the Tyee Sports Council and the University of Washington Athletic Department put on events where fans can gather and hear analysis of the game from Washington coaches and Husky Legends, and listen to the Husky Marching Band.

===2011–2013 renovation===
[[File:Aerial Husky Stadium April 6 2012.jpg|thumb|right|Renovation in April 2012]]
[[File:UW vs USC at Husky Stadium, September 2019.jpg|thumb|right|Photo from student section in West endzone during Husky game in September 2019]]

Husky Stadium had developed numerous structural problems over the years as a result of standing for nine decades in Seattle's moist weather, particularly in the lower bowl. In November 2011, Husky Stadium began a $261 million renovation,<ref name=CondottaNewHusky /> the largest single capital project in the university's history.<ref>{{cite news |last=Thiel |first=Art |title=Thiel: UW Stadium Funding Near Goal Line|url=https://sportspressnw.com/2110589/2011/thiel-uw-stadium-funding-nearing-goal-line|newspaper=Sports Press Northwest|date=August 10, 2011}}</ref> Home games were played at [[CenturyLink Field]] during the [[2012 Washington Huskies football team|2012]] season while construction took place.<ref name=CondottaNewHusky>{{cite news|last=Condotta|first=Bob|title=New Husky Stadium: on time, on budget |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/huskyfootball/2018987898_huskystadium25.html |newspaper=The Seattle Times|date=August 24, 2012}}</ref> The [[Apple Cup]] in [[2011 Washington Huskies football team|2011]] was moved to CenturyLink (Qwest Field through 2011) to advance the start of the project by several weeks.

The new Husky Stadium was developed by Wright Runstad & Company, designed by [[360 Architecture]], and constructed by [[Turner Construction]] company. The steel decking was supplied by Profile Steel. The new stadium is the first and primary income source of a completely remodeled athletic district which includes a new $19 million [[Husky Ballpark]], a new track and field stadium, renovated soccer stadium, $50 million basketball operations and practice facility and recently completed projects such as the Husky Legends Center, the [[Conibear Shellhouse]] and Alaska Airlines Arena renovations, and the construction of the Dempsey Indoor facility. This major remodel of the athletic village coincided with construction for an [[University of Washington station|underground station]] for a northern extension of the [[Link light rail]] system and a replacement of the [[Evergreen Point Floating Bridge]].

The renovation project incorporated a new grand concourse, press box, video and audio system, and football offices, as well as new and improved amenities, concession stands, and bathrooms. The track that had enclosed the playing field was removed, and the field itself lowered by four feet to make room for additional seating closer to the sidelines. The student section was relocated from the north sideline to the west end zone, and the temporary bleachers in the east end zone were replaced with a permanent structure featuring field-level suites. The addition of box suites reduced the seating capacity from 72,500 to 70,138.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/pac12/2013/08/29/husky-stadium-university-of-washington-renovations-debut-boise-state/2725873/ "Husky Stadium to debut after $280M renovation". ''USA Today'']. Associated Press. August 29, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.</ref>  Despite the reduction in capacity, the renovated stadium is expected to be as loud as its predecessor.<ref>Gall, Braden [http://athlonsports.com/college-football/ranking-pac-12s-college-football-stadiums Ranking the Pac-12's College Football Stadiums]. [[Athlon Sports]], 2013-06-13.</ref> Additionally, new parking garages were constructed and facilities throughout the athletic village were renovated.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=uwfacilities01&date=20061201|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]] |first=Bob |last=Condotta|title=UW Athletic Director Unveils New Husky Stadium Drawings|date=December 1, 2006}}</ref>

==NFL exhibition games==
[[File:Husky stadium from Lake Washington.JPG|thumb|Looking west from [[Union Bay (Seattle)|Union Bay]] in 2015]]
Before the arrival of the Seattle Seahawks in 1976, Husky Stadium hosted 12 NFL preseason games between 1955 and 1975. The [[San Francisco 49ers]] played six times at the stadium, the most of any team. Other teams to make multiple appearances include the [[New York Giants]], [[Los Angeles Rams]], [[Cleveland Browns]], and [[Arizona Cardinals|Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Andrew|last=McKillop|url=http://www.footballgeography.com/nfl-exhibition-games-played-at-neutral-sites/|title=NFL Exhibition Games Played at Neutral Sites » FootballGeography.com: Includes Non-League Away Games and/or Games Played at Non-League Stadiums|publisher=FootballGeography.com|access-date=August 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828024246/http://www.footballgeography.com/nfl-exhibition-games-played-at-neutral-sites/|archive-date=2013-08-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At one point after the [[1970 NFL season]], [[Ralph Wilson]] came close to moving the [[Buffalo Bills]] from dilapidated [[War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo)|War Memorial Stadium]] to Husky Stadium.<ref name=mtexp>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19710115&id=ezMsAAAAIBAJ&pg=4930,2267693|newspaper=Spartanburg (SC) Herald |title=Memphis, Tampa express interest in Buffalo Bills |agency=Associated Press |date=January 15, 1971 |page=14 }}</ref> The threat of relocation prompted the developers in the Buffalo suburbs to construct Rich Stadium in [[Orchard Park, New York|Orchard Park]] (later Ralph Wilson Stadium and now [[Highmark Stadium (New York)|Highmark Stadium]]), which opened in 1973. The Bills have resided there ever since.

==Other sports==
Husky Stadium was among several local venues considered as a potential temporary home for a [[Major League Soccer]] team in the mid-1990s. The University of Washington offered to let a prospective team, including the [[Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)|Seattle Sounders]], use the stadium for two years if a plan to build a permanent soccer stadium was in place.<ref>{{cite news |last=Knight |first=Bill |date=September 23, 1994 |title=New soccer league meets with the Sounders today |page=F3 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hadley |first=Jane |date=July 16, 1994 |title=ML soccer covets Husky Stadium |page=D2 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> Husky Stadium was also considered as a potential [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] venue, but lacked a suitable grass surface;<ref>{{cite news |last=Newnham |first=Blaine |date=June 5, 1997 |title=Members of soccer teams, and they also cast ballots |page=C1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> it was also a candidate venue in the unsuccessful [[United States 2022 FIFA World Cup bid|U.S. bid]] for the [[2022 FIFA World Cup]] alongside Qwest Field.<ref>{{cite news |last=Romero |first=José Miguel |date=April 10, 2009 |title=Qwest Field could play host to a World Cup match |page=C3 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/qwest-field-could-play-host-to-a-world-cup-match/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=June 2, 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums]]
* [[Lists of stadiums]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Further reading===
* {{cite news|last=Condotta|first=Bob|title=Huskies hope this facelift takes them back to the top|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/take2/2015870752_the_start_of_a_new.html|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=August 10, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011013938/http://seattletimes.com/html/take2/2015870752_the_start_of_a_new.html|archive-date=October 11, 2014}}
* {{cite news|last=Condotta|first=Bob|title=Will tickets to new Husky Stadium cost a lot more?|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/huskies/2015876084_uwfb11.html|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=August 10, 2011}}
* {{cite news|last=Condotta|first=Bob|title=UW athletic director unveils new Husky Stadium drawings|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/sports/2003456124_uwfacilities01.html|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=December 1, 2006}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{official website}}

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{{succession box
| title = Home of the [[Seattle Seahawks]]
| years = First half of 1994<br>2000 – 2001
| before = [[Kingdome|The Kingdome]]<br>[[Kingdome|The Kingdome]]
| after = [[Kingdome|The Kingdome]]<br>[[Lumen Field|Seahawks Stadium]]
}}
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