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Memphis, TN
Here we note legends-in-their-own-time and landmarks as they transition into history
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Crump Stadium (the original)
1934 - 2006
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| As a Works Administration Project in 1934, the original Crump
Stadium was built at 1275 Linden, adjacent to Central High School. It
became a true landmark in the city both in significance and structural
size. The football arena hosted major college games, including home
games of Memphis State College/University and served as a neutral site
for many other college games. It was the site of big high school games
and home games of Central High School. Orignally built for 7,000, it
eventually seated about 25,000 people. In 1965, the major college games
shifted to the newly constructed Memphis Memorial Stadium (now Liberty
Bowl Memorial Stadium) but for nearly four more decades high schools
continued to play at Crump. After many years of lack of maintenance and
upgrades, Central High administrators and athletic officals argued for
a new staduim. One former coach who had guided Central through decades
of home games at Crump Stadium said that while it might be historic it
had become a "dump." In the end, it was said to have poor lighting
standards, not enough restrooms for modern convenience, inadequate
concession facilities, structural issues, and a malfunctioning
scoreboard. The final football game was played at the original Crump
Stadium in 2004. By order of the Board of Commissioners of the Memphis
City Schools, Crump Stadium was demolished in 2006 and replaced with a
high-school only arena seating 4,000 people which is also called Crump
Stadium. Photos and some information is available at http://www.mallofmemphis.org/Main/EHCrumpStadium |