The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-06

Philadelphia, Pa, June 6-F'rank-
lin Field, the athletic grounds of the
University of Pennsylvania. erected
in 1904 as the first horsesh oe-shaped
stadium in the United States, now is
scene of desoIation- This is because
these famous. old stands. whose ca
pacity has been entirely outgrOWn,
have been completely dem olished.
Upon their ruins there is being erect
ed a new Franklin Field surrounded
by a concrete stadium. with double the
capacity of the old stands and pos
sessing the most up-to-date athletic
equipment in America
The minimum seating capacity OF
the new stands will be $4,000. The
stands will be concrete, and the cost
will be $725,00O.
In order to double the seating ca
pacity the new field will eTnb ody sew
eral radical structural changes in
stadium architecture. The Philadel-
phia City Council has given the uni
versity permission to arcade the side
walks on three sides of the old field
AS the entrances will be from the out
side, instead of at the four corners
of the field as at present, it has been
possible to eliminate the passageway
in front of the present stands. These
changes have given the architect
about IS feet more width for the
base of the stadium Then, seating
surface of the stadium is being con-
structed at a much sharper angle
than in the old stands.
The result is that the new field
will have a capacity of $4,000 per-
sons. practically double that of the
former stands, and without affecting
in any way the athletic field itself. In
other words, Franklin Field will still
retain its triple feature. which has
made it unique in America-that OF
being available for football, baseball
and track games. Practically all the
other big stadia in America can be
used only for football and track.
Will Arcade Sidewalks.
The exterior of the new stadium
will present an appearance of great
architectural beauty and distinction.
Because of arcading the surrounding
sidewalks it has been possible for the
architect to provide series Of
beautiful arches, nearly 80 in num-
Der. surrounding the entire field
their dimensions about 20 feet in
width and 40 feet in height. The
walls, therefore, will present the APP
pearance of a Roman viaduct.
The new field will be further dis
tinguished by the fact that every foot
of available space beneath the stands
will be utilized for the physical edu-
cation and athletic work Of the uni
the most prominent positions under
the north and south stands. They
will contain the most modern equip
ment. In addition, there will be at
least half a dozen training rooms for
the minor sports. There will also be
a rif1er ange, a crew room, where two
eiglt-oared crews may work on the
rowing machines, a large room for
indoor track work. long enough for
broad jumping and high enough for
pole vauIting.
There also will be eight squash
courts and a place for indoor succer
practice. All the rooms beneath the
stands will be heated and lighted
from a central plant. When it is
considered that the new field will be
used for football, baseball and track,
soccer football, lacrosse. and every
foot of space beneath the stands
utilized, it will be seen that the new
Franklin Field will be used to the
limit of it's capacity.
Has Wooden Seats.
Another feature in which the new
stadium will be distinctive is in the