Robertson Stadium History

Opened

Sept. 18, 1942

Closed

Nov. 24, 2012

First Houston Game

Southwest Louisiana 13, Houston 7 – Sept. 21, 1946

Final Houston Game

Houston 40, Tulane 17 – Nov. 24, 2012

First Houston Win

Houston 34, Texas A&I 0 – Oct. 12, 1946

First Game

Lamar High School 26, Dallas Adamson 7 – Sept. 18, 1942

All-Time Home Record

72-44-1 (62.0%)

Dedication

Dedicated on May 3, 1970 in honor of Corbin J. Robertson, chairman of the UH athletic committee for 20 years and driving force behind establishment and success of UH athletics.

Largest UH Crowd

32,413 vs. Southern Miss, 12/3/2011

Largest Crowd

37,981, Dallas Texans vs. Houston Oilers 12/3/1962

Memorable Dates

1942

Public School Stadium opens

Sept. 18, 1942

First Game: Lamar High School 26, Dallas Adamson 7

1946-50

Home of the Cougars

Sept. 21, 1946

First Houston Game: Louisiana-Lafayette 13, Houston 7

1958

Renamed Jeppesen Stadium

1964

Houston 10, Texas A&M 0

1960-65

Home of the Houston Oilers of the AFL

Jan. 1, 1961

Houston Oilers defeat the Los Angeles Chargers 24-16 in AFL’s first title game

Dec. 23, 1962

Dallas Texans defeat Houston Oilers 20-17 (OT) in front of 37,981.

1970

University of Houston purchases Jeppesen Stadium

May 3, 1980

Dedicated Robertson Stadium

1983

NCAA Track and Field Championships

1986

U.S. Olympic Sports Festival

1989

U.S. Outdoor Championships

Sept. 9 1995

Cougars play Louisiana Tech to celebrate opening of Athletics/Alumni Center

1999

Dedicated O’Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium after $6-million gift from John and Julie O’Quinn.

Dec. 1, 2006

Houston hosts the Conference USA Championship, defeating Southern Miss 34-20 for the league title.

Dec. 3, 2011

Undefeated Cougars host Southern Miss in the C-USA Championship, falling 49-28 in front of a record crowd of 32,413.

Nov. 24, 2012

Houston plays its final game in Robertson Stadium and comes away with a 40-17 win over Tulane. The Cougars close their all-time record in the stadium at 72-44-1.

Dec. 3, 2012

Demolition of the 70-year old Robertson Stadium officially begins.

Robertson Stadium Information

• Robertson Stadium was a joint project of the Houston Independent School District (HISD) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a federal agency created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.
• HISD purchased the land (60 acres) now bound by Holman, Cullen (formerly St. Bernard’s street), Elgin and Wheeler Streets for $75,000 – an average of $1,253 per acre.
• Renamed Jeppesen Stadium in 1958 in honor of Holger Jeppesen, a longtime member of the Houston School Board.
• 1960 K.S. “Bud” Adams, new owner of Houston Oilers in the American Football league, signed a lease to play home games at Robertson Stadium. Expand seating from 22,000 to 36,000.
• Cougars play only game between 1951-94 at Robertson Stadium on Friday, Sept. 25 1964, and shutout Texas A&M, 10-0
• Underwent $2 million facelift in 1983 for the NCAA Track and Field Championships and further renovations came in 1989 when Cougar and Olympian Carl Lewis provided new runways and resurfacing of the track which served as his training home.
• Houston played two games on campus in 1996 and three in 1997 before returning to Robertson full-time in 1998.
• As part of $6 million gift from John and Julie O’Quinn, several renovations took place between 1998 and 1999. Capacity was raised from 20,500 to approximately 33,000. The track was replaced with a ring of lower tiered seating and the playing field was lowered nine feet. Seating was constructed in each endzone and 32 luxury suites on both sides of stadium were added along with concession stands and restrooms built in each endzone. A new scoreboard and sound system were installed, as well as new sidewalks, walkway, fencing, patios and interior and exterior landscaping.