Lewis Field Stadium
Seating capacity: 6,362
Constructed: 1936
Surface: Artificial (New installation in 2013)
Lewis Field Stadium is the 6,362-seat home of the Fort Hays State University football team.
The stadium saw several changes prior to the start of the 2013 season. A brand new artificial playing surface was installed, which plays similar to natural grass. A new look for the field included the FHSU Tiger logo at the 50-yardline and black endzones with gold lettering that reads “Fort Hays” in the north endzone and “Tigers” in the south endzone. The old surface had gold endzones with black lettering. Visible just beyond the southeast wall of the stadium is the brand new Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility, which features a 65-yard indoor field, 5,000-square foot weight room and meeting rooms for the players.
In the summer of 2017, over 2,000 new black folding seats replaced old chair back seats and a majority of the bench seating previously on the west side of the stadium, while stairwells widened and handrails were installed. Following the 2017 season, a new video/scoreboard was installed at the north end of the stadium.
Prior to the 2003 season, a new polyurethane track and lighting system were installed. The new lighting system eliminated shadows on the playing surface. The native limestone structure around the outside of the stadium was refurbished to its natural state in 1993 when 57 years of weathering was sandblasted away.
Lewis Field was constructed in 1936 on what was formerly the Golden Belt Fairgrounds, named in honor of William Alexander Lewis, president of Fort Hays State University from 1913 to 1933. The field is located beside a spacious tree-lined drive and is just a short walk from the campus residence halls and downtown business district.
Dressing rooms, concession areas, athletic training facilities, restrooms and equipment storage rooms are located under the grandstands. A complete remodel of the Tiger locker room was completed prior to the 2006 season with carpet flooring and individual lockers for 90 players.
