Difference between revisions of "Baker Athletic Complex"

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== History ==
 
== History ==
  
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Prior to the acquisition of Baker Field, Columbia played field sports at the "[[Columbia Oval]]"<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F07E7DB1038E633A25751C0A9619C946496D6CF COLUMBIA MAY PLAY FOOTBALL IN BRONX; Old Columbia Oval at Williamsbridge Available for an Athletic Field. - NY Times, 1915]</ref> in Williamsbridge, the [[Bronx]], an even greater distance from campus,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=IS_WAAAAMAAJ&lpg=PA67&ots=JaqHem4P58&dq=%22Hamilton%20Court%22%20morningside%20heights&pg=PA66#v=onepage&q&f=false A New Columbia, Munsey's Magazine, 1897]</ref> or, later, on [[South Field]]. [[Manhattan Field]] (actually the second incarnation of the [[w:Polo Grounds|Polo Grounds]]) was also occasionally leased, and sometimes referred to as "Columbia Field". The situation was thus that Columbia had to resort to rotating its sports around the cramped South Field, ship its athletes to the northern Bronx, or shell out money to rent a stadium.
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Prior to the acquisition of Baker Field, Columbia played field sports at the "[[Columbia Oval]]"<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F07E7DB1038E633A25751C0A9619C946496D6CF COLUMBIA MAY PLAY FOOTBALL IN BRONX; Old Columbia Oval at Williamsbridge Available for an Athletic Field. - NY Times, 1915]</ref> in Williamsbridge, the [[Bronx]], an even greater distance from campus,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=IS_WAAAAMAAJ&lpg=PA67&ots=JaqHem4P58&dq=%22Hamilton%20Court%22%20morningside%20heights&pg=PA66#v=onepage&q&f=false A New Columbia, Munsey's Magazine, 1897]</ref> or, later, on [[South Field]]. Manhattan Field (actually the second incarnation of the [[w:Polo Grounds|Polo Grounds]]) was also occasionally leased, and sometimes referred to as "Columbia Field". The situation was thus that Columbia had to resort to rotating its sports around the cramped South Field, ship its athletes to the northern Bronx, or shell out money to rent a stadium.
  
 
The tract of land on which the Baker Athletics Complex stands was purchased for the University on [[December 30]], [[1921]] by financier George F. Baker. Then a $700,000 gift, the 26-acre area was dedicated in April, [[1922]] and was coronated with spring football practice that same year. In the fall, Columbia's [[football]] team continued to practice at Baker Field, but played its games at [[South Field]] on the [[Morningside Heights campus]]. The first stadium at Baker Field opened in the fall of [[1923]] with 15,000 seats in temporary stands. Five years later, the University built the 32,000 wooden-seat stadium that served Columbia fans for 55 years, until the spring of [[1983]].
 
The tract of land on which the Baker Athletics Complex stands was purchased for the University on [[December 30]], [[1921]] by financier George F. Baker. Then a $700,000 gift, the 26-acre area was dedicated in April, [[1922]] and was coronated with spring football practice that same year. In the fall, Columbia's [[football]] team continued to practice at Baker Field, but played its games at [[South Field]] on the [[Morningside Heights campus]]. The first stadium at Baker Field opened in the fall of [[1923]] with 15,000 seats in temporary stands. Five years later, the University built the 32,000 wooden-seat stadium that served Columbia fans for 55 years, until the spring of [[1983]].

Revision as of 16:59, 23 July 2010

The Baker Athletics Complex by: Columbia University Athletics/Gene Boyars

Baker Field the former name of the Baker Athletics Complex is Columbia University's 26-acre athletics complex. It is located at Broadway and 218th St, in the Inwood neighborhood, at the northernmost tip of the island of Manhattan. Prior to the opening of Baker Field, athletics events were held on South Lawn. Many athletics facilities are located at Baker Field, including Lawrence A. Wien Stadium, an outdoor track, tennis courts, and rowing facilities.

History

Prior to the acquisition of Baker Field, Columbia played field sports at the "Columbia Oval"[1] in Williamsbridge, the Bronx, an even greater distance from campus,[2] or, later, on South Field. Manhattan Field (actually the second incarnation of the Polo Grounds) was also occasionally leased, and sometimes referred to as "Columbia Field". The situation was thus that Columbia had to resort to rotating its sports around the cramped South Field, ship its athletes to the northern Bronx, or shell out money to rent a stadium.

The tract of land on which the Baker Athletics Complex stands was purchased for the University on December 30, 1921 by financier George F. Baker. Then a $700,000 gift, the 26-acre area was dedicated in April, 1922 and was coronated with spring football practice that same year. In the fall, Columbia's football team continued to practice at Baker Field, but played its games at South Field on the Morningside Heights campus. The first stadium at Baker Field opened in the fall of 1923 with 15,000 seats in temporary stands. Five years later, the University built the 32,000 wooden-seat stadium that served Columbia fans for 55 years, until the spring of 1983.

The first game at Baker Field took place on September 29, 1923, with Columbia defeating Ursinus, 13-0. The opening game in the official stadium was played on September 29, 1928 as Columbia defeated Vermont, 20-0.

On May 17, 1939, Baker Field played host to the first live television broadcast of an athletics event. A Columbia-Princeton baseball game at Robertson Field (called Andy Coakley Field back then) was carried by the National Broadcasting Company to the 400 or so sets then capable of receiving its broadcast signal. Satisfied with the result, NBC decided to try doing a major league game. Five months later it did, from Brooklyn's Ebbets Field.

During the 1980s, Columbia sold off 5 acres on the northeast corner of the property to Presbyterian Hospital, which constructed the Allen Pavillion, a 300-bed community hospital that opened in 1988.[3][4]

Lawrence A. Wien Stadium was opened on September 22, 1984 as the Lions fell to Harvard, 35-21. Columbia won its first game in the Stadium on October 8, 1988 when it defeated Princeton, 16-13.

Lawrence A. Wien Stadium is now home to the Lions' football, lacrosse and track & field teams. The track features an eight-lane Rekortan track.

NYC 2012

In the course of NYC's 2012 Olympic bid, Baker Field was selected as the site for Field Hockey competition had NYC been selected.[5] Columbia would have benefited through $25 million worth of renovations including an update of Wien Stadium and its adjacent practice field, and an expansion of Chrystie Field House.[6]

Facilities

The Baker Athletics Complex is composed of the following facilities

Events

Baker Blast

Hosted jointly by the student councils for the first home football game of the year since (?), Baker Blast is a popular event.

Homecoming

The first Ivy League home game of the year, Homecoming always draws a large crowd as well as a strong alumni presence to Baker Field.

External events

References

  1. ↑ COLUMBIA MAY PLAY FOOTBALL IN BRONX; Old Columbia Oval at Williamsbridge Available for an Athletic Field. - NY Times, 1915
  2. ↑ A New Columbia, Munsey's Magazine, 1897
  3. ↑ http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/jul04/features2.php
  4. ↑ http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/94/Newyork-Presbyterian-Hospital.html
  5. ↑ Baker Field Could Host 2012 Olympic Games, Columbia Spectator, 20 September 2000.
  6. ↑ NYC2012's Baker Field Facelift, Columbia Spectator, 8 September 2005.
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