Sports

What makes Stambaugh Stadium so unique in the Mahoning Valley?

Stambaugh Stadium
Stambaugh Stadium

It’s one of the most recognizable sites in the Youngstown skyline.

Storied Stambaugh Stadium, home of the Youngstown State Penguins football team, is regarded as one of the finest football stadiums in the country in the NCAA’s FCS Division.

The towering facility opened in 1982 and has been the site of many historic games by the Penguins over their 41-plus year history.

Nicknamed “The Ice Palace,” the facility seats 21,630 fans and has seen many upgrades and additions during its rich history.

It’s also provided a huge home field advantage for the Penguins who have recorded many memorable regular-season and playoff wins in the venerable stadium, including their four national championship campaigns in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1997. In addition, many YSU players who went on to stardom in the NFL, played on the storied Stambaugh Stadium turf during their collegiate playing careers.

The Penguins, who are members of the rugged Missouri Valley Football Conference, finished 6-1 in Stambaugh Stadium Dike Beede Field last season. That included a 40-7 playoff home playoff romp over Duquesne.

Stambaugh Stadium has also hosted countless high school football games over the years for Youngstown-area teams.\

Read Next

Support our journalists with a tax-deductible donation

Sign up for our Mahoning Matters newsletter

Follow More of Our Reporting on Uniquely Mahoning