Stokes Stadium/Gardner Track

Truman State University Athletics

Stokes Stadium/Kenneth Gardner Track

Home of the Bulldogs

Stokes Stadium was named in honor of James S. Stokes, a Truman Physics professor. Stokes appointed a custodian of equipment and grounds by President Fair in 1925 and design the stadium in the southend of the campus that was known for being a marsh area.

The Stadium opened in 1930, with Central Methodist spoiling the first game by defeating the Bulldogs by a 12-7 score.

The new home was an immediate success though, as Truman won the next 30 games played in Kirksville, still the longest home winning streak in school history. Since Truman started playing at Stokes stadium, the Bulldogs have an all-time record of 222-120-9, with one of those losses later being forfeited to?Truman.
Stokes Stadium was rebuilt in the summer of 1962 to seat approximately 4,000 spectators.
The concrete structure has fiberglass seats and a press box.

Before the start of the 1991 season, the University installed a ramp system and seating to accommodate individuals with disabilities.

During the summer of 1999, construction was completed underneath the stadium. Restrooms, a ticket booth and concession stands were built, and the surface was leveled.

In the summer of 2005, a new scoreboard with a scrolling message board was installed behind the west endzone.

Locker rooms for home and visiting players are located on the west side of the field in the brick buildings known as the “Bulldog Kennels”. Truman’s
locker room recently received a renovation prior to the 2004 season.

The Kennels were built in 1938 and was designed by Otho Barnett, a faculty member. The north wing, that was constructed in 1953 was orginally built to house 35 student-athletes as a dorm but was converted to a meeting area and athletic training room.

In 2009, Stokes Stadium added a new playing surface when the Bulldogs took the field on Aug. 28th. In partnership with the student athletics fee, private donations and University captial improvments, AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D was installed over the summer to replace the natural grass surface.

The field is surrounded by the state-of-the-art Gardner Track with an all-weather surface constructed in the summer of 1996. It was named in honor

of former Truman player, coach and Director of Athletics, Kenneth Gardner.

Just west of the Stadium is Red Barn Park, where the university holds tailgate functions before games.

Prior to Stokes Stadium, the Bulldogs played on Kirk Field, located in the northeast part of the current campus.

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