View source for Alumni Memorial Field

{{Short description|Stadium in Lexington, Virginia}}
{{other uses|Alumni Stadium (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Foster Stadium|the baseball stadium in [[San Angelo, Texas]]|Foster Field}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| name                = Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium
| nickname            = Alumni Memorial Field
| image               = [[Image:2008-0831-VMI-AlumniMemorialField.jpg|275px|Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium]]
| former_names        = 
| location            = North Main Street<br>[[Lexington, Virginia]] 24450
| coordinates         = {{coord|37|47|20|N|79|26|6|W|type:landmark|display=inline, title}}
| broke_ground        = 
| built               = 
| opened              = 1962
| renovated           = 2006
| expanded            = 
| closed              = 
| demolished          = 
| owner               = [[Virginia Military Institute]]
| operator            = Virginia Military Institute
| surface             = [[Bermuda Grass]] 
| construction_cost   = $250,000
| architect           = [[HOK Sport]] (renovations)
| capacity            = 10,000
| tenants             = [[VMI Keydets football]]<br/>VMI Keydets track and field
}}

'''Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium''' is a 10,000-seat [[multi-purpose stadium]] in [[Lexington, Virginia]], United States. It opened in 1962.  It is home to the [[Virginia Military Institute]] Keydets [[American football|football]] [[team]].

==History==
Alumni Memorial Field was built and completed in 1962. The cost was approximately $250,000, funded by the [[General Assembly of Virginia]] and VMI Alumni Association.<ref name="vmikeydets1">{{cite web|url=http://www.vmikeydets.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9800&ATCLID=1357385 |title=Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium - Home of VMI Keydets Football - VMIKeydets.com - The Official Site of Virginia Military Institute Athletics |publisher=VMIKeydets.com |date=2006-09-29 |access-date=2015-07-26}}</ref> Fiberglass seating was installed in 1974.

In 2006, many improvements were made to the stadium. A new scoreboard with a [[jumbotron]] was added, along with new concourses, restrooms, and locker rooms. It totaled for a cost of $15 million.

==Features==
After renovation to the stadium in 2006, Alumni Memorial Stadium features permanent ticket booths, new concourses, restrooms, and locker rooms. It has a capacity of 10,000, with 54 rows at {{convert|173|ft}} high. The playing surface is [[Bermuda Grass]].

==Tradition==
Before every VMI home game, the VMI Corps of Cadets marches from their [[barracks]] onto the field while the VMI Regimental Band plays "[[Oh Shenandoah|Shenandoah]]", along with a cannon called "Little John" firing at the start and end of the game and after every VMI score.<ref name="vmikeydets1"/>

==Record crowds==
[[File:Foster Stadium VMI.jpg|left|thumb|Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium during a game between VMI and Samford in October 2019]]
On September 15, 1973, VMI fell to [[Navy Midshipmen football|Navy]] 37–8 in the largest crowd in Alumni Memorial Field history, with an attendance of 10,000. Just three years earlier on October 31, 1970, before 2,400 spectators, VMI fell heavily to [[Davidson University|Davidson]] 55–21 in the ''smallest'' crowd in Alumni Memorial Field history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vmikeydets.com/pdf8/708636.pdf |format=PDF |title=2010 VMI Football Record Book |publisher=Vmikeydets.com |access-date=2015-07-26}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA Division I FCS football stadiums]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.vmikeydets.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9800&ATCLID=1357385 VMI Keydets]

{{VMI Keydets football navbox}}
{{Southern Conference football venue navbox}}
{{Virginia college football venues}}

[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1962]]
[[Category:College football venues in Virginia]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Lexington, Virginia]]
[[Category:VMI Keydets football]]
[[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in the United States]]
[[Category:1962 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:College track and field venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Athletics (track and field) venues in Virginia]]
[[Category:VMI Keydets sports venues]]


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