Hollett Little Giant Stadium

Hollett Little Giant Stadium. Opened in 1967, this multi-purpose venue has served as a cornerstone for collegiate athletics and professional soccer in its region. Designed by the renowned firm Harrison & Abramovitz, its distinctive parabolic roofline has made it an architectural landmark. The stadium is named for prominent industrialist and philanthropist J. P. Hollett, whose Hollett Foundation provided the lead gift for its construction.

History

Planning for the stadium commenced in the early 1960s, driven by the University's need for a modern football facility and the City government's desire for a large-scale public venue. The site, previously occupied by a trolley car barn and later a World War II-era victory garden, was selected for its central location and access to public transit. Construction, managed by the Turner Construction Company, faced delays due to a steelworkers' strike in 1966 but was completed in time for the 1967 NCAA University Division football season. The inaugural event was a football game between the University and its rival, State College, on September 16, 1967. A major renovation in 1998, funded in part by a bond measure passed by the city council, replaced the original seating and playing surface. A second significant upgrade in 2015 added new luxury suites, a state-of-the-art Daktronics video board, and compliance upgrades for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Facilities

The stadium's primary bowl features a continuous single deck with a capacity of 25,000, with the iconic cantilevered roof covering approximately 70% of the seats. The playing field is a modern FieldTurf system, installed in 1998 and replaced in 2015. Facilities include 30 luxury suites on a newly constructed press level, a renovated home locker room designed by HOK Sport, and dedicated team areas for both home and visiting squads. The west side houses the Hall of Fame museum, celebrating the history of University athletics, while the east concourse features expansive concessions operated by Aramark. The venue is also equipped for large-scale concerts and community events, with temporary staging capabilities and robust infrastructure for broadcasting by networks like ESPN and Fox Sports.

Notable events

Beyond its primary role as the home of University football, the stadium has hosted a diverse array of events. It served as the initial home field for the Major League Soccer franchise City SC from the league's launch in 1996 until the team moved to a soccer-specific stadium in 2001. The venue has hosted multiple NCAA Division I Football Championship playoff games, including a memorable quarterfinal in 1985. It was the site of a historic Billy Graham crusade in 1972 and a massive rally for presidential candidate Ronald Reagan in 1980. Major concerts have featured artists such as The Rolling Stones on their Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour, U2 during the PopMart Tour, and Taylor Swift on her Fearless Tour. It also annually hosts the State High School Football Championships and the Special Olympics summer games.

Management and operations

The stadium is owned by the municipal City government but operated under a long-term lease and management agreement by the city's Parks and Recreation Department. Day-to-day operations and booking are handled by a dedicated stadium authority, whose board includes appointees from the mayor, the University, and the local chamber of commerce. Primary revenue streams include leasing agreements with the University athletics department, concessions and luxury suite sales, and hosting fees for third-party events. The facility maintains a partnership with Anheuser-Busch for beverage pouring rights and with Nike as the official athletic apparel provider for the University teams. Security for large events is coordinated with the city police department and private firms like Securitas.

In popular culture

The stadium's distinctive architecture has made it a recognizable filming location. It featured prominently in the 1993 sports film *The Program*, standing in for a fictional university's stadium. Exterior shots were used in the pilot episode of the television drama *Friday Night Lights*. The venue is also referenced in the university fight song, *"On, Giants!"*, and is the subject of a well-known mural by local artist Maya Lin located in the city's downtown arts district. Video game appearances include its depiction in the *NCAA Football* series by EA Sports and as a landmark in the open-world game *Midnight Club II*.

Category:American stadiums Category:1967 establishments in the United States