Spratt Memorial Stadium commences its 36th season of operation in 2014. The stadium has been home to Missouri Western football since 1979, when the Griffons opened the facility with a 44-0 victory against Dana (Neb.) College. The stadium is named in memory of avid Missouri Western supporter Elliot “Bub” Spratt. Spratt Stadium’s initial cost of construction was $850,000. Lights were added to the facility six years later. The Griffons played their first night game at Spratt on September 4, 1985, defeating Missouri - Rolla, 24-15. In the last eight years, the stadium complex has undergone major renovations with the installation of a ProGrass synthetic field turf in 2006 and increased seating capacity to 7,200 following the renovation of the visitors side seating in September of 2009. In addition to football, the Spratt Stadium complex is the home of Griffon women’s soccer, the Kansas City Chiefs Summer Training Camp and the St. Joseph High School Football Jamboree. It was formerly the host of the Missouri State High School Eight Man Championship. Prior to occupying Spratt Stadium, Missouri Western played its home football games at Noyes Field, a city-owned facility in St. Joseph. The Griffons hosted seven football games last season and went 6-1 at home, which included the first home playoff victory in Spratt Stadium. The Griffons went 5-0 in 2003, 4-0 in 2006 and 6-0 in 2010 at home. The Griffons’ largest crowd of 2012 came on September 15 in a 38-14 victory over the University of Nebraska-Kearney. In 2011 the crowd of 8,881 against #3 Northwest Missouri State on November 5 was the third largest home crowd since 1989. In 2009, the game against Northwest Missouri State drew a record crowd of 10,129 fans at Spratt Stadium. That broke the previous all-time attendance record which was set in 2007 as 9,007 fans saw the Griffons take on Northwest. Last season the Griffons averaged 4,740 fans per home game. Page 8 #GOGRIFFS
Missouri Western 2014 Football Media Guide
To see the actual publication please follow the link above