Capacity: 1,400
Built: 2001
Playing Surface: FieldTurf
Aptly named Stoeber Field at Alumni Stadium for the outpouring of financial support from Thiel alumni, the facility – which opened with the Tomcats’ first game of the 2001 season against Capital University – was officially dedicated during Homecoming weekend on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2001. Alumni Stadium envelops Stoeber Field, named after legendary Thiel coach Jack Stoeber.
Alumni Stadium underwent renovations in the summer of 2012, as the original FieldTurf was replaced in favor of synthetic grass
Sportexe, the same turf used by the SEC's (Southeastern Conference) Arkansas Razorbacks and the NFL's (National Football League) Baltimore Ravens.
Competition-level lighting, installed by Qualite Sports Lighting, LLC, was added to the facility in 2013.
Some highlights of Stoeber Field at Alumni Stadium are the red brick entrance and ticket booth area, a wrought iron gated entrance, a hospitality center which houses a memorabilia shop and concession stand, and seating for 1,400.
The stadium is also the home for the Victory Bell, which was originally part of Ridgeway Hall, a farmhouse that was bought by the College in 1876 and enlarged in 1881 to be used for the dining hall. The bell was used to call students to meals and later to announce athletic victories. After Ridgeway Hall was razed in 1955, the bell was placed on its own stand near where Ridgeway Hall stood until the mid-1970s. After that it was moved to the Passavant Center, where it was used to call students to worship.
Stoeber Field at Alumni Stadium will receive a turf upgrade in the summer of 2024. Thiel College's Department of Athletics has partnered with FieldTurf for the renovation project, which is expected to be completed by July. A global leader in artificial turf with more than 20,000 field installations worldwide, FieldTurf is the top choice of professional and collegiate programs across the country. Classic HD, the turf system that will be installed at Stoeber Field at Alumni Stadium, is aesthetically pleasing and carefully crafted to maximize durability and safety. The cost of the project is estimated at $550,000.
Rent Alumni Stadium
Alumni Stadium is available for rental to a variety of groups and organizations for a reasonable cost from May through July. Contact the Coordinator of Special Events, at 724-589-2240 for more information.
