Hyames Field

Hyames Field. Located on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan, this stadium has served as the primary home for the Eastern Michigan Eagles football team since its opening in 1929. Named for Elton R. "Doc" Hyames, a legendary coach and professor at the institution, the venue has undergone significant renovations and expansions over its near-century of operation. It stands as a central fixture for college football in Washtenaw County and a historic landmark for the university community.

History

The stadium was constructed in 1928-1929 on land that was part of the original campus of the Michigan State Normal College, the precursor to Eastern Michigan University. It was named to honor Elton R. "Doc" Hyames, who served as a professor of hygiene and physical education and coached multiple sports, including football, baseball, and basketball, for the Normalites. The initial facility was a modest grandstand, with the first game played in the fall of 1929 against Adrian College. Major expansions occurred in the late 1960s, transforming it into a double-decked concrete bowl to accommodate the university's transition to NCAA Division I competition. Further significant upgrades, including the installation of a new press box, luxury suites, and a video scoreboard, were completed in the early 21st century, culminating in the 2015 replacement of its natural grass with a modern AstroTurf playing surface.

Facilities

The stadium features a continuous two-tiered grandstand that encircles the entire playing field, creating an intimate and loud environment for spectators. The west side houses the primary press box, broadcast booths for media outlets like WEMU and ESPN+, and several luxury suites. The playing surface is a state-of-the-art AstroTurf system, installed in 2015, which is marked for both football and soccer. Beneath the east stands are extensive team facilities, including locker rooms for the Eastern Michigan Eagles football team and visiting squads, athletic training rooms, and equipment storage areas. The venue also includes multiple concession stands operated by Sodexo, public restrooms, and a dedicated gate for student entry.

Usage

The primary tenant is the Eastern Michigan Eagles football team, which competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and hosts all of its home games at the venue. It also serves as the home field for the Eastern Michigan Eagles women's soccer team and the Eastern Michigan Eagles men's soccer team. The stadium is frequently used for Ypsilanti Community High School football games and local Michigan High School Athletic Association playoff contests. Beyond athletics, the facility hosts large-scale university events such as commencement ceremonies, band competitions like the MCBA State Finals, and community events including the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival. It has also been used for concerts and serves as a training site for summer camps.

Notable events

The stadium hosted the 1968 NCAA College Division football championship game, where the Eastern Michigan Hurons competed for a national title. In 1987, it was the site of a historic upset when the Eastern Michigan Eagles defeated the University of Toledo in a pivotal Mid-American Conference game. A memorable 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season game saw a record crowd witness a victory over the University of Akron. The venue has also hosted several Michigan Governor's Cup high school football all-star games. In 2015, the first game on the new AstroTurf surface was a nationally televised ESPN contest against the Old Dominion Monarchs.

See also

* Eastern Michigan University * Eastern Michigan Eagles football * Mid-American Conference * Elton R. "Doc" Hyames * Rynearson Stadium (the stadium's official name since 1975) * Ypsilanti, Michigan

Category:Football venues in Michigan Category:Eastern Michigan University Category:Sports venues completed in 1929