Bridgeforth Stadium Is All Grown Up
JMU has invested a lot of money in athletic facilities over the past few years. The softball complex, new baseball stadium, and other upgrades have been great. Of course the crown jewel is the expansion of Bridgeforth Stadium. We’re still 71 days away from filing into the stadium to kick off the football season, but it’s already looking very impressive from above.
Like everyone else who went to JMU in the 90’s, I am completely blown away by this new stadium project. I went to football games when I was a student, but it was more like something you just did on your way back from D-hall, than something you planned your day around. And if you didn’t feel like actually going into the stadium, you could just peak through the chain link fence in the south end zone. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine what it was like. Luckily I found this picture though.
This picture looks like something from the stone ages. When I first saw it, I assumed that if we zoomed it we’d see students with Sony Walkmen and parachute pants. Upon closer inspection, it appears it was taken during the construction of the parking deck. Which means it’s actually from after I graduated. And I’m not that old. I wonder if it looked even worse when I was on campus.
Parking deck construction started in 98 so it’s at least still 90’s
Wow. Hard to believe the parking deck construction started that long ago. It’s still pretty remarkable to think about how basic the “stadium” was back then.
I also notice the overpass over I-81. That wasn’t there when I graduated in ’97.
tennis courts where there is now parking, no new jmu bookstore