Ferry Field (known as Regents Field before 1902) was the home field for the University of Michigan football team from 1893 to 1905. It was located along South State Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Schembechler Hall stands today. The

Board of Regents of the University of Michigan The Regents of the University of Michigan, sometimes referred to as the board of regents, are constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Michigan who collectively form the governing body of the University of Michigan, comprising the campuses ...

authorized $3,000 in 1890 (equivalent to $,000 in ) for the purchase of land to build a new football field. The following May, they added $4,500 more (equivalent to $,000 in ) "for the purpose of fitting up the athletic field." The facility was simply named "the Athletic Field" upon completion. The first home game at the Athletic Field was a 6–0 victory over the

Detroit Athletic Club The Detroit Athletic Club (often referred to as the DAC) is a private social club and athletic club located in the heart of Detroit's theater, sports, and entertainment district. It is located across the street from Detroit's historic Music Hall ...

on October 7, 1893. The following year in 1894, the Athletic Association change the name of the field to "Regents Field", which it would be known as until 1902. In 1902, Detroit businessman Dexter M. Ferry donated the land immediately north of Regents Field to the university. In June 1902, Regents Field was renamed Ferry Field. When it opened, Ferry Field had a single wooden bleacher section that seated 400 people. The bleachers burned down in 1895 and were replaced the following year with a new covered grandstand seating 800. Because of the demand for tickets, additional open bleachers seating about 6,000 were built adjoining the covered grandstand. The Athletic Association also had "one thousand circus seats and materials for sloping platforms which will permit 8,000 more people to view a football game." Bleachers were later constructed along the south side of the field and the end zones, bringing capacity to over 15,000. The largest crowd ever at Ferry Field was for the second to last game at the old stadium. By one account, 17,000 fans watched the Wolverines defeat

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

in the 1905

homecoming Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States, Canada and Liberia. ...

game. In the 1890s a three dollar membership in the Athletic Association gained students admission to all athletic events. By 1904 a general admission ticket cost $3.00. Michigan compiled an overall record of 87–2–3 at Ferry Field from 1893 to 1905. Between 1901 and 1904, Fielding H. Yost's "Point-a-Minute" teams went 44–0 at Ferry Field, outscoring their opponents 2,821–42. In 1904, the Wolverines beat the undefeated University of Chicago team (coached by

Amos Alonzo Stagg Amos Alonzo Stagg (August 16, 1862 – March 17, 1965) was an American athlete and college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football. He served as the head football coach at the International YMCA Training School (now called Springfiel ...

) at Ferry Field. Portions of the game and several panoramic shots of the field were filmed by the

Edison Manufacturing Company The Edison Manufacturing Company, originally registered as the United Edison Manufacturing Company and often known as simply the Edison Company, was organized by inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Edison and incorporated in New York City in May 188 ...

in one of the earliest successful attempts to film a football game."The Michigan Stadium story" – Regents Field, 1893-1905
/ref> Michigan stadium panorama

References

External links

Edison Film of 1904 Football Game at Regents Field, Part 1

Edison Film of 1904 Football Game at Regents Field, Part 2
{{Michigan Wolverines football navbox Michigan Wolverines football venues Defunct college football venues Sports venues completed in 1893 Defunct sports venues in Michigan 1893 establishments in Michigan Sports venues demolished in 1923 1923 disestablishments in Michigan Sports venues in Washtenaw County, Michigan Demolished sports venues in Michigan

See also

References

External links