Palmer Stadium to be replaced by new venue

Palmer Stadium, home to Princeton football since 1914, will be demolished following the 1996 season to make way for a new $45 million facility, which is not yet named, Princeton University announced last week. According to a prepared statement, engineers deemed the stadium "beyond repair" in 1994 because of corrosion of reinforcing steel rods and erosion of the concrete, despite the fact that they still called it "safe." The Quakers, who have a 12-15 all-time record at Palmer Stadium, will visit the facility for the last time when the two Ivy arch-rivals collide on Nov. 9. Penn coach Al Bagnoli said he would miss the stadium's esthetics. "It's a neat old place," he said. "There's just so much more than a generic-looking stadium." Bagnoli added the new facility might benefit Princeton's football program. "They're going to have a very nice situation," said Bagnoli, who is 1-1 at Palmer Stadium. "It shows a commitment from the school to the program." However, Penn Hall of Famer Bernie Lemonick disagreed with Bagnoli on both points, explaining that Palmer Stadium paled in comparison to Franklin Field. "[Palmer Stadium] seemed to be put up as an afterthought," said Lemonick, a 1951 graduate who played for legendary Quakers coach George Munger. "It was a very crude stadium for people who came to watch." And Lemonick countered Bagnoli's assertion that the new stadium would be a boon to Princeton football. "Fields don't help universities in my opinion," Lemonick said, explaining that quality coaches and weight training are more important in college football. Jim Dunsmore, an offensive and defensive star for the Quakers in 1959 and 1960, recalled Penn's long-standing competition with the Tigers. "It's always been a great rivalry," Dunsmore said. But Dunsmore added that he did not believe Princeton's new stadium would help the Tigers at all. "There's only one advantage -- it's Franklin Field," he said. "That's the greatest stadium in the United States." Jeff Fortna, a linebacker and strong safety who captained the Red and Blue to an undefeated 10-0 season in 1986, said he enjoyed playing at Palmer Stadium. "It was just an exciting atmosphere whenever we went there," said Fortna, adding that he felt Princeton's new stadium would lure "borderline" recruits to Old Nassau. Construction is set to start next spring on the approximately 30,000-capacity facility, with a goal of completing it before the 1998 football season begins. Because the Tigers will be homeless for the 1997 season, the Princeton Department of Athletics is looking into neutral-site venues and playing away games against opponents who, because of the alternating schedule, would normally have games at Princeton. Like Palmer Stadium, the new facility will have a natural grass surface and will host soccer and lacrosse matches. However, the new stadium will not have a track, which is to be constructed on the field between the stadium and Jadwin Gymnasium.

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