In 1919, W.S. Shields, a University of Tennessee trustee and President of the local bank, provided the money for a new stadium for the football program. Completed in 1921, the stadium was originally known as Shields-Watkins Field after Shields and his wife Alice Watkins. The first of 16 expansions of the stadium began in 1926 when a grandstand that could seat 3,600 was constructed. The same year, famous Vols head coach Robert R. Neyland began his tenure as head of the football program.
Additions to the stadium have continued over the years. In 1929, an additional 11,060 seats were added on the west side, 12,000 seats on the east side in 1938, and stands were constructed in the south endzone by the 1948 season. Shields Watkins Stadium was renamed Neyland Stadium in 1962, after the famous Vols head coach. Also prior to that year, the first of the upper deck was constructed on the west side and also included a modern press box. Additional seating was added in the north endzone and upper deck before the 1966, ‘68, ‘72, and ’80 seasons increasing the seating capacity at Neyland Stadium to 91,249. In 1987, 42 luxury suites were added to the stadium and an additional 78 were added prior to the 2000 season. The last large addition to Neyland Stadium was completed before the 1996 season when 10,642 seats were added in the north upper deck bringing the capacity to 102,544. Artificial turf was at the stadium from the 1968 season until 1993 when it was replaced with grass. #Knoxville #NCAA #Neyland #Neyland_Stadium #SEC #SouthEastern_Conference #Stadium #Tennessee #Tennessee_Volunteers #Vols #Volunteers
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