The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-12
OPEN THE NEW FIELD
Greater Northrop Field at State
University Will Be Formally
Dedicated Sept. 10.
Gov. Van SAINT and Prest. Cyrus
Northrop Will Make the
!; /, - Addresses. * 81. a.

The new Northrop field at the state uni
rersity, one of the handsOmest athletic
fields In the country, will be formally ded-,
icated next Saturday afternoon. when the.
1903 football season will be opened. q IS
The ceremony of dedication will be.
made one of the events Of the year in
university athletic circles. Senator Fred
L.. Snyder, president Of the Alumni asso-
citation Of the university, will preside. The
principal addresses Of the afternoon will
be made by Governor Van SAINT and Pres
ident Northrop of the university. The
university band, without which no athletic
event can be a success, will play a prom
inent part in the exercises.
Among the guests Of honor will be the
members of the state legislature and the
members of the university faculty. The
managers and coaches of the leading uni
versity football teams Of the west also will
be invited to attend the dedication.
| The athletic part of the entertainment
| will be provided by the university foot
| ball team and the st. Paul and Mime
apolis Central High school elevens. The
varsity team will play one-haf against
each high school team. The ceremonies
will begin at 2:45 p. m.
The claim made for the new Northrop
field, that it Is one Of the best athletic
fields in the country, will be indorsed by
all who have seen the field within the
last week. The enclosure Is about 700
feet long and about 400 feet wide at the
widest part. brick wall nine feet high
to surround the whole field, is In progress
of construction, and will probably be
finished before next Saturday. This wall
will be surmounted by ornamental iron
work two feet high.
| The big grandstand on the southwest
side Of the gridiron is 40 feet long and
contains twentynne rows Of seats. BY
actual count it will seat a trifle less than
| 5000 persons. The stand is said to be
the highest In the country, us it has q
very steep pitch A brick wall, six feet
high, runs along the front Of the stand.
Bleachers will be erected upon the oppo-
site side of the grtdiron, and the total
/ seating capacity this year will be about
! 1880. II larger crowd than shis is
anticipated, however, temporary bleach
ers, which will increase the seating ca
pac1ty by several thousand, can be erect
ed. 1t Is safe to say that the experience
OF one or two games In the last two
years, when hundreds were turned away,
Will not be repeated for several seasons
The gridiron itself will be as tine as
any in the west when it has hardened
1 The field has nine-inch crown, so that
water will quickly drain OFF after rains
While the needs Of the football team have
been especially considered the require
ments of other branches of athletics have
not been forgotten. A quarter mile run
ming tract with a 2:0-yard straight away
will be ready for the track athletics next
spring. A baseball diamond will be con.
structedA upon the north side of the fiel6
and tennis courts also will be provided
The property value of the field, includ
ing the cost Of the old and new land, the
stands, gridiron, diamond, track, etc. i.
estimated at. 100000. Chicago university.
famous Marshall field excels Northro,
field only in size. Michigan is spending
money like water In improving and beau
tifying Ferry field at Ann Arbor, but al
tho this may be better than the Minnesot;
enclosure In some respects, Northrop helt
has the advantage Of being upon the uni
versity grounds, and still easily accessible
: from the center of town. The uniyersit,
arrnory, where are the training table
lockers, etc., opens directly into the field
marshall field in Chicago is not nearly s.
!. easily accessible from town as fNorthro1
Z field, and Ferry field In. Ann Arbor, a
Wei as Camp Randall at Madison is no
only long way from the university. hi,
Is much more DIFFICULT Of access lfron
town. All in all Northrop field, consider
] ling I, Its location, size and appointments
! rs equal, II not the superior, Of any ath
letic field in the middle west