S.B. Ballard Stadium

S.B. Ballard Stadium, located off 49th Street, is home to the Old Dominion University (ODU) football team. The stadium is named after S.B. Ballard Construction Company, a long-time ODU benefactor.

History

Backing for a sports stadium at the Norfolk Division was approved in 1935 from municipal funds, the Virginia Emergency Relief Administration, and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) at a cost of approximately $300,000. The facility was dedicated in October 1936 and was named Foreman Field after A.H. Foreman, Chairman of the Norfolk City School Board and the most responsible for obtaining the necessary funds for the stadium. Foreman was also instrumental in advocating for the Norfolk Division. Due to a decrease in funding and other issues, the football program at the division was eliminated in 1941 but the division used the facility to host other athletics games such as track and field, field hockey and baseball as well as concerts and special events. In 1974, Foreman Field was host to over 33,000 people for a four-hour concert featuring the band Crosby, Still, Nash and Young. The facility, however, has had its detractors over the years, most notably James L. Bugg, Jr., president of Old Dominion from 1969-1976, who suggested the university tear down Foreman Field and received harsh criticism over the statement.  An artificial turf was laid in 1979 with funding from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). Prior to the construction of the Ted Constant Convocation Center in 2002, concerts and Commencement ceremonies were held at Foreman Field. In 2006, it was announced that football would return to Old Dominion in 2009. After an extensive renovation, the stadium was named S.B. Ballard Stadium in honor of S. B. Ballard Construction Company, a long-time ODU benefactor.

In 2018, it was announced that ODU would undergo a $65 million reconstruction project for S.B. Ballard Stadium. The project included seating for approximately 21,000 guests, new concessions, larger reserved box seating, and an exhibit about the history of Foreman Field. Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium opened for the 2019 football season.

Resources

1. Old Dominion University Photograph and Multimedia Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Perry Library, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 23529.
2. Building the University, Old Dominion University Libraries Digital Exhibit, 2005.
3. Old Dominion University Athletics Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Perry Library, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 23529.

References

1. Bookman, Steven and Jessica Ritchie. Old Dominion University: A Campus History Series.  Arcadia Publishing. Charleston, South Carolina, 2017.
2. Genard, Giovanna, Old Dominion University Announces Reconstruction Plan for S.B. Ballard Stadium, Old Dominion University, https://www.odu.edu/news/2018/4/stadium#.YWCKbRrMKUk. Accessed 2021 October 8.