View source for Carnie Smith Stadium

{{Short description|Football stadium in Pittsburg, Kansas, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
|name            =Carnie Smith Stadium
|nickname        ="The Jungle"
|logo_image      =
|logo_caption    =
|image           =Carnie Smith Stadium.jpg
|caption         =Aerial view of Carnie Smith Stadium
|fullname        =Carnie Smith Stadium, Brandenburg Field, Prentice Gudgen Track
|former_names    =Brandenburg Stadium (1924–1986)
|location        =[[Pittsburg, Kansas]]
|coordinates     =
|broke_ground    =
|built           =1923
|opened          =1924
|renovated       =1989
|expanded        =2001, 2006
|closed          =
|demolished      =
|owner           =Pittsburg State University
|operator        =Pittsburg State University
|surface         =Mondoturf installed July 2012
|scoreboard      =Jungletron at a cost of 1.7 million dollars
|cost            =$100,000
|architect       =
|project_manager =
|structural engineer=
|services engineer=
|general_contractor=
|main_contractors=
|capacity        =8,343 (standing room to at least 11,910)
|suites          =24
|record_attendance=11,910 (October 20, 2012; Homecoming)
|dimensions      =
|acreage         =
|tenants         =Pittsburg State University Gorillas ([[NCAA Division II]]) 1924-Present}}

'''Carnie Smith Stadium''' (formerly '''Brandenburg Stadium''') is the football stadium for [[Pittsburg State University]] in [[Pittsburg, Kansas]].  The stadium is nicknamed "The Jungle" (after the school's mascot, the gorilla), or "The Pitt."

==History==
Built in 1923, the stadium was originally named for the college's third leader and first president, William Aaron Brandenburg.  In 1987, it was renamed for [[Carnie Smith]] who led the school to [[NAIA National Football Championships]] in 1957 and 1961.  The playing surface is still named Brandenburg Field.  The school extensively renovated the stadium in 2000 ($5.8 million overhaul), in 2006 ($2.5 million renovation to the west end, including the addition of eight [[luxury box]]es, and in 2008 ($1.7 million addition of a [[video board]], the largest in [[NCAA Division II]]).

Unlike most Division II stadiums, there is an auxiliary game clock installed in the north end zone, meaning teams driving in that direction no longer need to turn around to the main scoreboard in the south end.

==Attendance==
Average attendance at football games in the stadium since 2000 has been around 7,800.  A 2001 game against [[Northwest Missouri State University]] drew a then record attendance of 11,862, prompting Pittsburg State to play future games at [[Arrowhead Stadium]] in Kansas City with more than 26,000 attending a game in 2002, a Division II record.

During the 2012 football season, the Gorillas packed more than 10,000 or more fans into Carnie Smith Stadium three times, including a season-high 11,910 fans for Homecoming on Oct. 20 – the largest home crowd in school history.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pittstategorillas.com/news/2013/2/4/FB_0204131839.aspx?path=football |title=Pittsburg State Gorillas - Pitt State Ranked Fifth in NCAA Division II in Home Football Attendance in 2012 |access-date=2013-05-09 |archive-date=2015-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923060755/http://www.pittstategorillas.com/news/2013/2/4/FB_0204131839.aspx?path=football |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The stadium averaged 10,055 fans per game (126% capacity) during the 2012 season.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pittstategorillas.com/documents/2013/2/4/II_AVGATTENDANCE.pdf?id=171 | title=2012 NCAA Football Attendance Rankings }}</ref>

==Other uses==
The stadium has been the home to numerous [[Kansas State High School Activities Association]] state championship games, home games for Pittsburg High School and St. Mary's Colgan High School, and is currently in the rotation for the Kansas Shrine Bowl all-star game with Emporia, Wichita and Hays. From 2018-2020, it is also the host site for the National Junior College National Football Championship.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100915064038/http://www.pittstategorillas.com/home/men/football/carnie-smith-stadium.dot Official site]
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{{Pittsburg State University}}
{{Pittsburg State Gorillas football navbox}}
{{Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football venue navbox}}
{{Kansas college football venues}}

[[Category:Pittsburg State Gorillas football]]
[[Category:College football venues in Kansas]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Pittsburg, Kansas]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1924]]
[[Category:1924 establishments in Kansas]]