Rynearson Stadium

EMU's Home Football Stadium Since 1969

Rynearson Stadium begins its 50th season at the home venue for the Eastern Michigan University football and track teams in 2017-18. Opened in 1969, the facility is named for the late Elton J. Rynearson, Sr., who coached football at Eastern Michigan for 26 seasons. His teams compiled a record of 114-58-15. In one six-year period, from 1925-30, Rynearson’s teams won 40 games, tied two and lost just four.

The first game played in Rynearson Stadium was Sept. 27, 1969, when EMU upset the University of Akron, 10-3. The stadium was dedicated a few weeks later on Oct. 25, 1969, when EMU lost, 17-7, to the University of Tampa.

Over two million fans have seen EMU play in Rynearson. In 24 of the 49 years, Eastern has averaged more than 11,000 fans per home date. The 1995 season proved to be the record-breaking year for Rynearson Stadium attendance. A single-game record crowd of 25,009 was on hand, Sept. 16, 1996, to watch the Eagles dismantle UNLV, 51-6. That four-game ‘95 season also proved to be a best for season average attendance of 22,602.

Rynearson Stadium is set up for a capacity of 30,200 with the ability to expand for larger crowds. The stadium originally held 15,500, but additional seating and lighting were added in 1974 when the now-defunct Detroit Wheels used the facility for their World Football League games. The additional seating in 1974 brought the capacity to 22,227. During the summer of 1992, seating was added on the east side to bring capacity to the current total of 30,200.

Built for an approximate cost of $1.4 million in 1969, Rynearson Stadium underwent a major renovation project in 1991 and 1992, which included installation of a StadiaTurf field, a new team building, an additional 10,000-plus seats, new bathroom facilities and concession stands, an expanded press box and state-of-the-art scoreboard were added at a cost of approximately $13 million.

The playing field was originally natural grass. A sand-filled artificial surface, StadiaTurf, was installed in 1991. The StadiaTurf surface was replaced in May 1998, by an AstroTurf artificial surface. A FieldTurf surface was installed in the summer of 2005 and replaced again in 2014 when the color was switched to gray.

The press box is located on the top of the west-side stands. A second level was added as part of the renovations in 1991. The working media utilize the lower level while the top level is the University hospitality area for the stadium.

The EMU locker room is located in the team building at the north end of the stadium. The visitor’s locker room is located below the stands on the west side of the stadium.

The Factory Construction Facts
• Construction began on July 14, 2014, and was completed on Aug. 3, 2014.
• EMU is just the second Football Bowl Subdivision team to play on a non-green playing surface. Other non-green football playing fields include Boise State University, University Eastern Washington University, Lindenwood University-Belleville, the University of Central Arkansas and the University of New Haven.
• The field is made up of 86,336 square feet of field turf, 48,340 of whichs dons the "EMU Gray" color.
• The construction crew laid down 268 tons of sand, with 224,474 lbs. of rubber mixed
• On the top layer of the turf, 35,535 lbs. of rubber pellets were laid atop the new playing surface inside Rynearson Stadium.
• The Block E at midfield is 31-feet tall by 26-feet wide
• The two Mid-American Conference logos are 16-feet tall by 17-feet wide
• Each yard-line number on the field is approximately 6-feet tall

Top 30 Rynearson Stadium Crowds
	Attendance	Date	Result		Opponent
1.	26,188 (paid)	Nov. 28, 2008	W,	56-52	Central Michigan*
2.	25,860 (paid)	Oct. 3, 2010	L,	7-42	Toledo*
3.	25,009	Sept. 16, 1995	W,	51-6	UNLV
4.	24,622	Oct. 27, 1990	L,	2-16	Central Michigan*
5.	23,456 (paid)	Nov. 2, 2017	W,	56-14	Ball State*
6.	23,083	Sept. 23, 1995	W,	31-20	Ohio*
7.	23,003	Oct. 22, 1988	L,	24-31	Western Michigan*
8.	22,898	Oct. 7, 1995	W,	34-24	Central Michigan*
9.	22,309	Oct. 23, 1993	L,	20-21	Western Michigan*
10.	22,136	Oct. 8, 1988	L,	6-20	Central Michigan*
11.	21,412 (paid)	Oct. 15, 2016	L,	20-35	Toledo*
12.	21,245	Oct. 6, 1984	T,	16-16	Central Michigan*
13.	21,027	Oct. 7, 1989	W,	31-14	Toledo*
14.	20,348 (paid)	Sept. 18, 2010	L,	14-52	Central Michigan*
15.	20,211	Sept. 5, 1992	L,	9-27	Akron*
16.	20,205	Nov. 14, 1987	W,	38-18	Bowling Green*
17.	20,076	Sept. 22, 1984	L,	13-16	Ohio*
18.	19,963	Oct. 4, 2003	L,	3-31	Western Michigan*
19.	19,654 (paid)	Oct. 25, 2014	L	17-28	Northern Illinois*
20.	19,628	Sept. 27, 2003	L,	13-37	Maryland
21.	19,613 (paid)	Nov. 1, 2014	L,	7-38	Central Michigan*
22.	19,415	Nov. 11, 1995	L,	13-23	Western Michigan*
23.	19,411	Oct. 27, 1984	L,	10-17	Ball State*
24.	19,147 (paid)	Nov. 22, 2016	W,	26-21	Central Michigan*
25.	18,920	Oct. 2, 2004	W,	37-34	Buffalo*
26.	18,764	Sept. 27, 1986	L,	16-20	Kent State*
27.	18,094	Oct. 3, 1992	L,	7-24	Miami*
28.	17,750	Oct. 2, 2004	L,	41-45	Idaho
29.	17,732	Sept. 8, 1990	W,	27-24	Western Michigan*
30.	17,600	Oct. 25, 1969	L,	7-17	Tampa (Stadium Dedication)

Eastern Michigan Athletics