History in the Making

The capacity crowd that will assemble to watch the No. 1 Sooners open the 2003 season against North Texas on August 30 will likely be the largest ever to witness a sporting event in the state of Oklahoma.

The addition of some 8,000 seats, all on the east side, have taken the capacity of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to approximately 81,000. The $74 million first phase also added 27 sky suites. The largest sports venue in the state of Oklahoma got larger over the summer.

It's Football Time In Oklahoma!
Public address announcer Jim Miller will use that phrase to raise the curtain on game day in Norman. It's no idle welcome. With a capacity of approximately 81,000, Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium represents roughly 2.3% of Oklahoma's population.

Doesn't sound like much? Consider that of the 27 states that are inhabited by at least three million people, none can house a greater percentage of its population in a college football venue. In fact, with no population restriction, only five other college venues (Arkansas, Hawaii, Iowa, Nebraska and West Virginia) are capable of seating a larger percentage of their state's population.

Interestingly, of those five, only West Virginia and Iowa have more than one I-A school in the state and both have two. Oklahoma, of course, has three with Oklahoma State and Tulsa. On game day, Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium becomes Oklahoma's fifth-largest 'city' behind Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman and Lawton.

OU's Largest Home Crowds
The 10 largest crowds to watch Oklahoma play at home were mostly recorded in the early Eighties. Seating capacity was reduced later in the decade with the addition of sky suites on the west side and accommodation of ADA standards. The new east side upper deck has pushed seating capacity above 80,000.

If you're lucky enough to be among the capacity crowd expected for the 2003 season opener on August 30 -- be prepared to make history.

Crowd	Home Game
1. 76,758	vs. USC - Sept. 25, 1982
2. 76,565	vs. Nebraska - Nov. 26, 1983
3. 76,520	vs. Ohio State - Sept. 17, 1983
4. 76,406	vs. Oklahoma State - Oct. 23, 1982
5. 76,385	vs. Iowa State - Oct. 3, 1981
6. 76,198	vs. Oklahoma State - Nov. 24, 1984
7. 76,129	vs. Kansas State - Nov. 6, 1982
8. 76,022	vs. Oklahoma State - Oct. 18, 1986
9. 75,992	vs. West Virginia - Sept. 11, 1982
10. 75,989	vs. Nebraska - Oct. 28, 2000

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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