Despite claims from Harvard University, Penn’s Franklin Field is recognized as the oldest collegiate stadium currently used for football. The stadium officially opened on April 20, 1895, at 33rd and Spruce Streets with the inaugural Penn Relays.

A Hub for Sport and Society

Franklin Field was more than just a sports venue; it quickly became a prominent meeting place for Philadelphia’s high society. The stadium hosted not only athletic competitions but also served as a social center for the city’s elite.

Early Years and Championship Success

In 1894, a surge of applications from children of newly affluent families to Ivy League universities fueled a desire for institutions to distinguish themselves. Penn’s Athletic Association, recognizing this, saw a state-of-the-art sports facility as a way to attract these prospective students.

Penn alumnus and multi-sport athlete, Geyelin, spearheaded the construction of Franklin Field, providing a showcase for the university’s track and field and football teams. During its inaugural year, Penn’s football team achieved a significant milestone, winning its first national championship against Cornell with a resounding 46-2 victory.

Evolution and Innovation

In 1922, following Geyelin’s death, Franklin Field underwent a major renovation. The original wooden stands were replaced with brick and concrete, and a second tier was added, making it the first two-tier college stadium in America. This expansion solidified the stadium’s iconic horseshoe shape.

A Pioneer in Sports Broadcasting

Franklin Field was a pioneer in several aspects of college sports. In October 1895, it became the first field to utilize a scoreboard during a college game. Furthermore, the first college football game was broadcast from Franklin Field in 1940.

More recently, Franklin Field hosted the first ESPN College GameDay broadcast at a Football Championship Subdivision school in 2002 and the first Ivy League Women’s Lacrosse tournament in 2010. From 1958 to 1970, the stadium was also home to the Philadelphia Eagles, and even hosted the 1960 NFL Championship game, where the Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers.

Maintaining the Legacy

“That’s semantics,” said Mike Mahoney, the director of athletic communications at Penn. “We built ours with track and field in mind and we are a few years older than Harvard. We have the oldest stadium that’s being used today for college football.” Franklin Field continues to host the Penn Relays and serve as a vital part of Penn’s athletic tradition.