Robert W. Plaster Stadium

"SMS Stadium" redirects here. For SMS Stadium in Fort McMurray, Alberta, see Shell Place.
For the Southwest Baptist University stadium in Bolivar, Missouri, see Plaster Stadium (Southwest Baptist).
Robert W. Plaster Stadium
Former names SMS Stadium (1941-1970)
Briggs Stadium (1970-1991)
Plaster Sports Complex (1992-2013)
Location 1015 East Grand Street
Springfield, Missouri 65897
Coordinates 37°11′51.55″N 93°16′47.18″W / 37.1976528°N 93.2797722°W / 37.1976528; -93.2797722Coordinates: 37°11′51.55″N 93°16′47.18″W / 37.1976528°N 93.2797722°W / 37.1976528; -93.2797722
Owner Missouri State University
Operator Missouri State University
Capacity 17,500 (2014-present)
16,300 (1997-2013)
16,600 (1992-1996)
10,000 (1965-1991)
8,500 (1941-1964)
Surface Synthetic Turf International
Construction
Broke ground 1941
Opened September 19, 1941[1]
Renovated 1991, 2014
Construction cost $60,000
($967 thousand in 2016 dollars[2])
Architect

Hood-Rich Architects (1991 structure)[3]

Hastings+Chivetta Architecture (2014 Renovation)
Tenants
Missouri State Bears football (NCAA)

The Robert W. Plaster Stadium (formerly Plaster Sports Complex and Briggs Stadium) is a 17,500-seat football stadium located in Springfield, Missouri. It is home to the Missouri State University Bears football team.

History

The stadium was built in 1941 as SMS Stadium, a Works Progress Administration project at a cost of only $60,000, before World War II broke out. Its original seating capacity was 8,500. In 1970 it was renamed Briggs Stadium after Arthur Briggs, the school's all-time winningest coach. In 1991 it was renamed the Plaster Sports Complex in honor of Robert W. Plaster, chairman of Evergreen Investments of Lebanon, Missouri. Mr. Plaster donated funds for major renovations of the stadium, including expansion of the stadium to its current capacity, including the addition of an upper deck which seats 8,500, 24 luxury suites holding 10 each, a 40-seat luxury box and a new press box. In addition, a new running track and new artificial turf were installed. The artificial turf was replaced in 2001 with a FieldTurf surface and new field turf was installed in 2006. A new scoreboard was added in 2008. It was determined that at the conclusion of the 2013 football season, the aging student (east) bleachers would be torn down. After the student body passed the B.E.A.R Fee, money was in place to rebuild the bleachers. This stadium renovation will also include the removal of the track as well as the repositioning of the field with a new playing service.

Robert W. Plaster Stadium also includes 12 American handball/racquetball courts, including two courts with spectator seating. The complex also features Health and Fitness, and Athletics Strength and Conditioning centers on the second level of the stadium.

High School Football

For many years Plaster Field held many of the annual Missouri State High School Activities Association state football championship games. In 1996 all games were moved to the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, where they remained through 2015. Following the Rams' move back to Los Angeles in January 2016, the MSHSAA voted to return the games to Plaster Field in 2016 and Faurot Field at the University of Missouri in Columbia in 2017.

References

  1. ↑ "2013 Football Guide". Missouri State Athletics. p. 146. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  2. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  3. ↑ "MSU Plaster Sports Complex". Prestressed Casting Co. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
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