Stadium at St. Louis, Missouri
Francis Olympic Field is a stadium at Washington University in St. Louis that was used as the main venue for the 1904 Summer Olympics . It is currently used by the university's track and field , cross country , football , and soccer teams. It is located in St. Louis County, Missouri on the far western edge of the university's Danforth Campus . Built in time for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 St. Louis World's Fair), the stadium once had a 19,000-person seating capacity , but stadium renovations in 1984 reduced the capacity to 3,300 people. It is one of the oldest sports venues west of the Mississippi River that is still in use. Francis Olympic Field now uses artificial turf that can be configured for both soccer and football.
Known at its opening as World's Fair Stadium and then as Washington University Stadium or simply "the Stadium", the venue was renamed as Francis Field in October 1907 for David R. Francis , a former Missouri governor and president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.[1] The word "Olympic" was added in 2019 to reflect its role in the 1904 Summer Olympics.[2] [3]
Francis Field during the 1904 Summer Olympics
The 1904 Summer Olympics (the first to be held in the Western Hemisphere ) were given to St. Louis, Missouri as a result of the efforts of David Rowland Francis , for whom the stadium and accompanying gymnasium are named. Built in 1902, Francis Olympic Field's permanent stands represent one of the first applications of reinforced concrete technology.[4] Both the stadium and its gymnasium are U.S. National Historic Landmarks . During the 1904 Games, the stadium hosted the archery , athletics , cycling , football , gymnastics , lacrosse , roque , tug of war , weightlifting , and wrestling events. The tennis events took place at some dirt courts located outside the stadium.[5]
Following the 1904 Olympics, the stadium became the permanent home of the Washington University Bears , who were formerly known as the Pikers. From the 1920s through the 1950s, the Bears played before crowds of as many as 19,000 people, competing against universities such as Notre Dame , Nebraska , and Boston College , with half of the spectators in temporary wooden stands. The Bears now play as an NCAA Division III team.
In the summer of 2004, Francis Olympic Field had its natural grass replaced with artificial FieldTurf .[6]
Francis Field in January 2009.
Francis Olympic Field is an annual host for the American Cancer Society 's Relay for Life event.[7]
The adjacent Francis Gymnasium has hosted four U.S. presidential debates in 1992, 2000, 2004 , and 2016 and the vice-presidential debate in 2008.[8]
During the 1984 and 1996 Olympic Torch relays , the Olympic Flame passed by Francis Olympic Field on its way to the site of the Olympic Games .[9]
Francis Olympic Field hosted the 1986 AAU/USA National Junior Olympic Games, the first and second National Senior Olympic Games, and the 1985 NCAA Division III National Men's Soccer Championship.
In July 1994, Francis Olympic Field served as a centerpiece for the U.S. Olympic Festival as 3,000 athletes were housed on the campus for the country's top amateur sporting events.
The stadium was used by the St. Louis Stars soccer team from 1969 to 1970 and from 1975 to 1977, before their 1978 move to Anaheim, California , where they became the California Surf .
^ "Washington Stadium Is Now Called Francis Field" . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . St. Louis, Missouri . October 27, 1907. p. 11, part three. Retrieved January 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Francis Olympic Field" . washubears.com . Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2019 .
^ "Francis Field getting 'Olympic' with its name" . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . September 19, 2019. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2021 .
^ "Background on the Washington University Athletic Complex" . source.wustl.edu . June 14, 2004. Retrieved February 7, 2021 .
^ "Spalding's report of the 1904 Summer Olympics" (PDF) . la84foundation.org . New York: American Sports Publishing Co. pp. 222–29, 233–47. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2011.
^ "Washington U. Bears – 2004 Preview" . d3football.com . Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
^ "American Cancer Society – Relay For Life" . acsevents.org . Archived from the original on March 9, 2007. Retrieved June 4, 2007 .
^ Clendennen, Andy (November 6, 2003). "Washington University in St. Louis selected to host a 2004 presidential debate" . source.wustl.edu .
^ "David R. Francis Field" . wustl.edu .
Events and tenants
Preceded by
Host of the College Cup 1962 1965 1967
Succeeded by
Club history Sports facilities Important figures Other topics
19th century 20th century 21st century
19th century 20th century
1900 : Croix-Catelan Stadium
1904 : Francis Field
1908 : White City Stadium
1912 : Stockholm Olympic Stadium
1920 : Olympisch Stadion
1924 : Stade Yves-du-Manoir
1928 : Olympic Stadium
1932 : Olympic Stadium , Riverside Drive at Griffith Park
1936 : Avus Motor Road , Olympic Stadium
1948 : Empire Stadium
1952 : Olympic Stadium
1956 : Melbourne Cricket Ground
1960 : Arch of Constantine , Raccordo Anulare , Stadio Olimpico , Via Appia Antica , Via Cristoforo Colombo
1964 : Fuchu City , Karasuyama-machi , National Stadium , Sasazuka-machi , Shinjuku
1968 : Estadio Olímpico Universitario , Zócalo
1972 : Olympiastadion
1976 : Montreal Botanical Garden , Olympic Stadium , Streets of Montreal
1980 : Grand Arena , Streets of Moscow
1984 : Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum , Santa Monica College , Streets of Los Angeles , Streets of Santa Monica
1988 : Seoul Olympic Stadium , Streets of Seoul
1992 : Estadi Olímpic de Monjuïc , Marathon course, Mataró , Walking course
1996 : Marathon course, Olympic Stadium , Walking course
21st century
2000 : Marathon course, North Sydney , Olympic Stadium
2004 : Marathon (city) , Olympic Stadium , Panathenaic Stadium , Stadium at Olympia
2008 : Beijing National Stadium , Olympic Green Promenade Walking course, Streets of Beijing Marathon course
2012 : Marathon Course , Olympic Stadium
2016 : Estádio Olímpico João Havelange , Pontal , Sambódromo
2020 : Japan National Stadium , Odori Park
2024 : Stade de France , Champs-Élysées
2028 : Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum , BMO Stadium , Grand Park
2032 : Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre , Alexandra Headland
19th century 20th century
1900
Vélodrome de Vincennes
1904
Francis Olympic Field
1908
White City Stadium
1912
Liljeholmen , Mälaren
1920
Antwerp , Vélodrome d'Anvers Zuremborg
1924
Stade Yves-du-Manoir , Vélodrome de Vincennes
1928
Amsterdam , Olympic Stadium
1932
Los Angeles Avenue , Pacific Coast Highway , Rose Bowl in Pasadena , Vineyard Avenue
1936
Avus Motor Road , BSV 92 Field & Stadium
1948
Herne Hill Velodrome , Windsor Great Park
1952
Käpylä , Maunula , Pakila , Velodrome
1956
Broadmeadows , Velodrome
1960
Olympic Velodrome , Via Cassia , Via Flaminia , Via Cristoforo Colombo , Via di Grottarossa
1964
Hachioji City , Hachioji Velodrome
1968
Agustín Melgar Olympic Velodrome , Satellite Circuit
1972
Bundesautobahn 96 , Grünwald , Radstadion
1976
Mount Royal Park , Olympic Velodrome , Quebec Autoroute 40
1980
Krylatskoye Sports Complex Cycling Circuit , Krylatskoye Sports Complex Velodrome , Moscow-Minsk Highway
1984
Artesia Freeway , Olympic Velodrome , Streets of Mission Viejo
1988
Olympic Velodrome , Tongillo Road Course
1992
A-17 highway , Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya , Sant Sadurní Cycling Circuit , Velòdrom d'Horta
1996
Cycling road course, Georgia International Horse Park , Stone Mountain Park Archery Center and Velodrome
21st century
2000
Centennial Parklands , Dunc Gray Velodrome , Western Sydney Parklands
2004
Athens Olympic Velodrome , Kotzia Square , Parnitha Olympic Mountain Bike Venue , Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre
2008
Laoshan Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX) Venue , Laoshan Mountain Bike Course , Laoshan Velodrome , Urban Road Cycling Course
2012
BMX Circuit , Hadleigh Farm , London Velodrome , Hampton Court Palace
2016
Fort Copacabana , Mountain Bike Centre , Olympic BMX Centre , Pontal , Rio Olympic Velodrome
2020
Izu Velodrome , Izu MTB Course , Fuji Speedway , Ariake Urban Sports Park
2024
Vélodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines , Champs-Élysées , Élancourt Hill
2028
VELO Sports Center , Sepulveda Dam , Grand Park , Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park
2032
Sunshine Coast Region , Alexandra Headland, Queensland , Sleeman Centre , Victoria Park
1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s
1948
Arsenal Stadium , Champion Hill , Craven Cottage , Empire Stadium (medal matches), Fratton Park , Goldstone Ground , Green Pond Road , Griffin Park , Lynn Road , Selhurst Park , White Hart Lane
1950s 1960s
1960
Florence Communal Stadium , Grosseto Communal Stadium , L'Aquila Communal Stadium , Livorno Ardenza Stadium , Naples Saint Paul's Stadium , Pescara Adriatic Stadium , Stadio Flaminio (final)
1964
Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium , Mitsuzawa Football Field , Nagai Stadium , Tokyo National Stadium (final), Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium , Ōmiya Football Field , Prince Chichibu Memorial Football Field
1968
Estadio Azteca (final), Estadio Cuauhtémoc , Estadio Nou Camp , Jalisco Stadium
1970s 1980s
1980
Dinamo Stadium , Dynamo Central Stadium – Grand Arena , Central Lenin Stadium – Grand Arena (final), Kirov Stadium , Republican Stadium
1984
Harvard Stadium , Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium , Rose Bowl (final), Stanford Stadium
1988
Busan Stadium , Daegu Stadium , Daejeon Stadium , Dongdaemun Stadium , Gwangju Stadium , Olympic Stadium (final)
1990s 2000s
2000
Brisbane Cricket Ground , Bruce Stadium , Hindmarsh Stadium , Melbourne Cricket Ground , Olympic Stadium (men's final), Sydney Football Stadium (women's final)
2004
Kaftanzoglio Stadium , Karaiskakis Stadium (women's final), Olympic Stadium (men's final), Pampeloponnisiako Stadium , Pankritio Stadium , Panthessaliko Stadium
2008
Beijing National Stadium (men's final), Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium , Shanghai Stadium , Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium , Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium , Workers' Stadium (women's final)
2010s
2012
Coventry Arena , Hampden Park , Millennium Stadium , St James' Park , Old Trafford , Wembley Stadium (both finals)
2016
Estádio Nacional de Brasília , Arena Fonte Nova , Mineirão , Arena Corinthians , Arena da Amazônia , Estádio Olímpico João Havelange , Maracanã (both finals)
2020s
2020
International Stadium Yokohama (both finals), Kashima Soccer Stadium , Miyagi Stadium , Saitama Stadium , Sapporo Dome , Tokyo Stadium
2024
Parc des Princes (both finals), Parc Olympique Lyonnais , Stade de la Beaujoire , Stade de Nice , Stade Geoffroy-Guichard , Stade Matmut Atlantique , Stade Vélodrome
2028
SoFi Stadium (men's final), BMO Stadium , Rose Bowl (women's final), Levi's Stadium , PayPal Park , Stanford Stadium , California Memorial Stadium , Snapdragon Stadium
2030s
19th century 20th century 21st century
19th century 20th century 21st century
19th century 20th century 21st century
19th century 20th century 21st century
Baseball Basque pelota Cricket Croquet Jeu de paume Lacrosse Polo Rackets Roque Softball Tug of war Water motorsports
38°38′52″N 90°18′49″W / 38.64778°N 90.31361°W / 38.64778; -90.31361
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