Aloha Stadium

Coordinates: 21°22′23″N 157°55′48″W / 21.373°N 157.93°W / 21.373; -157.93
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Aloha Stadium
NASL) 1977
  • Pro Bowl (NFL) 1980–2009, 2011–2014, 2016
  • Hula Bowl (NCAA) 1976–1997, 2006–2008, 2020–2021
  • Aloha Bowl (NCAA) 1982–2000
  • Oahu Bowl (NCAA) 1998–2000
  • Hawaiʻi Bowl
  • (NCAA) 2002–2019

    Aloha Stadium is a closed multi-purpose stadium located in Halawa, Hawaii, a census-designated place that is a western suburb of Honolulu.[9] It is the largest stadium in the state of Hawaii. As of December 2020, the stadium ceased fan-attended operations indefinitely, and placed a moratorium on the scheduling of new events.[10] It is located next to the Hālawa station of the Skyline rail system.

    Aloha Stadium served as home to the

    AAA Hawaii Islanders of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) from 1975 to 1987, before the team moved to Colorado Springs. Frequent swap meets in the stadium's parking lot often draw large crowds.[11]

    History

    Aerial view in baseball/soccer configuration

    Before 1975, Honolulu's main outdoor stadium had been

    Honolulu International Airport, Aloha Stadium was constructed in 1975 at a cost of $37 million. Constructed of steel, the stadium was nicknamed the "Metal Mecca".[12]
    The baseball field was aligned north-northwest (home plate to centerfield), as was the football field.

    The first sporting event at Aloha Stadium was a college football game between Hawaii and Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) on September 13, 1975.[6] Played on Saturday night, the crowd was 32,247,[13] and the visitors prevailed,43–9.[6]

    The final sporting event held in Aloha Stadium was the 2021 Hula Bowl. The last points scored at Aloha Stadium were a “pick 6” touchdown scored by Carlo Kemp of the University of Michigan.[14]

    The stadium was somewhat problematic for its initial primary tenant, the

    public transportation (TheBus) stopped at the main gate of Honolulu Stadium, the stop for Aloha Stadium was located some distance from the gate. As a result, attendance plummeted and never really recovered—a major factor in the franchise's ultimate move to the mainland.[15]

    Additionally, stadium management initially refused to allow the use of metal spikes on the AstroTurf. During a game in early May 1976, the starting pitcher for the Tacoma Twins, Bill Butler, wore metal spikes to comply with a directive from Tacoma's parent club.[16] In response, stadium management turned off the center field lights, and after 35 minutes, umpires forfeited the game to the Twins.[16] The Islanders protested, claiming they had no control over the lights.[16] However, the Pacific Coast League (PCL) sided with the Twins, citing a league rule that the home team is responsible for providing acceptable playing facilities.[15][17] After the teams ended the season in a tie for first in the PCL's Western Division, Hawaii won a one-game playoff in Tacoma.[18] As originally built, Aloha Stadium had various configurations for different sport venues and other purposes. Four movable 7,000-seat sections, each 3.5 million pounds (1,600,000 kg)[1] could move using air casters into a diamond configuration for baseball (also used for soccer), an oval for football, or a triangle for concerts. In January 2007, the stadium was permanently locked into its football configuration due to cost and maintenance issues.[19] An engineer from Rolair Systems, the NASA spin-off company that engineered the system,[20] claims that the problem was caused by a concrete contractor that ignored specifications for the concrete pads under the stadium.[21]

    Concerns

    There were numerous discussions with Hawaii lawmakers who were concerned with the physical condition of the stadium. There were also several issues regarding rusting of the facility, several hundred seats that need to be replaced, and restroom facilities that need to be expanded to accommodate more patrons.[3] Much of the rust was due to building the stadium with weathering steel. U.S. Steel Corporation suggested the steel would develop a protective patina that would eliminate the need for painting.[22] However, given Honolulu's ocean-salt laden climate, the steel never stopped rusting.[23][24]

    A 2005 study by Honolulu engineering firm Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. determined that the stadium required $99 million to be completely restored and an additional $115 million for ongoing maintenance and refurbishment over the next 20 years to extend its useful life.[25] In early 2007, the state legislature proposed to spend $300 million to build a new facility as opposed to spending approximately $216 million to extend the life of Aloha Stadium for another 20–30 years.

    One council member said that if immediate repairs were not made within the next seven years, then the stadium would probably have to be demolished due to safety concerns. In May 2007, the state allotted $12.4 million to be used towards removing corrosion and rust from the structure.[26]

    Expansion and improvements

    In 2003, the stadium surface was changed from AstroTurf (which had been in place since the stadium opened) to FieldTurf.[2] In July 2011, the field was replaced with an Act Global UBU Sports Speed S5-M synthetic turf system.

    In 2008, the state of Hawaii approved the bill of $185 million to refurbish the aging Aloha Stadium.[27] In 2010, Aloha Stadium completely retrofitted its scoreboard and video screen to be more up to date with its high definition capability. The Aloha Stadium Authority planned to add more luxury suites, replacing all seats, rusting treatments, parking lots, more restrooms, pedestrian bridge supports, an enclosed lounge, and more. There was also a proposal that would have enclosed the four openings in the corners of the stadium to add more seats.

    In 2011, the playing field was refurbished in part due to a naming rights sponsorship from

    Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union signed a three-year $275,000 agreement. As of 2016, the field was known as Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union Field at Aloha Stadium.[29]

    In early 2017, there was a study in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser about replacing Aloha Stadium due to safety concerns and a liability risk. The plan was then to build a smaller 30,000 seat stadium on the existing property and also build commercial development around the stadium. In theory, this would save the state millions of dollars instead of renovating and keep the existing stadium as it was.[30][31]

    In July 2019, Governor of Hawaii David Ige signed Act 268 into law, appropriating $350 million for an Aloha Stadium redevelopment project. The funds were to go toward the construction of a new stadium and land development, including a mixed-use sports and entertainment complex.[32]

    Closure to new events

    A December 17, 2020, announcement by the Aloha Stadium Authority stated that the stadium would be ceasing fan-attended operations indefinitely. The closure was related to financial issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The stadium, built in 1975, was also plagued by maintenance issues in recent years. A 2019 story from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser noted that the stadium needed $30 million in repairs. KHON-TV reported that the stadium would be condemned and was deemed unsafe to hold any crowds at all.[8][33] The scheduling of new events was also halted.[34] In January 2021, the University of Hawaii announced that the Rainbow Warriors football team would play their home games on campus "for at least the next three years".[35]

    New stadium

    The New Aloha Stadium is a proposed 35,000-seat multi-purpose stadium to be built in Halawa, Hawaii, for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football program, with demolition of the old stadium to begin in 2025.[36] The area around the stadium will also include entertainment venues, retail stores, restaurants, housing, hotels, recreational sites, cultural amenities, and green space. It will replace, and be constructed on the site of, the current Aloha Stadium.[37][38][39]

    Events

    American football

    The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors playing at the stadium
    color guard parades the colors at mid-field during the 2007 Pro Bowl
    game

    College football

    Aloha Stadium served as the home field of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors college football program, representing the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, from 1975 through 2020.

    The Hula Bowl, a college football all-star game, was first played at the stadium in January 1976 and returned to the stadium annually through 1997. It was again held at Aloha Stadium in 2006–2008 and 2020–2021. The 2021 Hula Bowl was the last football game held at the facility before the halting of new events.[40]

    Three team-competitive college football

    bowl games were held annually at the stadium: the Aloha Bowl (1982–2000), Oahu Bowl (1998–2000), and Hawaii Bowl
    (2002–2019). The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors appeared in the Hawaii Bowl nine times and the other two bowl games once each.

    Professional football

    Starting in September 1975, the stadium was home to the World Football League's Hawaiians[41][42] who played their last four home games there.[43] The San Francisco 49ers and the San Diego Chargers played an NFL preseason game at Aloha Stadium on August 21, 1976. In August 2019, the NFL returned to the stadium with a preseason game between the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys.[44]

    The National Football League's all-star game, the Pro Bowl, was held annually at the stadium from 1980 through 2016, except in 2010 and 2015.

    Baseball

    The stadium served as the home field for the Hawaii Islanders, a Triple-A team competing in the Pacific Coast League, from 1976 to 1987.

    In

    Seibu Lions of Japan's Pacific League at the stadium.[47]

    Soccer

    On April 7, 1976, the Aloha Soccer Festival triple-header was held at the stadium. In the feature match,

    Pele scored four goals as his New York Cosmos defeated Japan, 5-0, in front of a crowd of 21,705. (In the other matches, the NASL's San Diego Jaws routed the Hawaii All-Stars, 6-0, while the Philippines edged Taiwan, 1-0.)[48]

    Encouraged by the tournament's success, the San Antonio Thunder became Team Hawaii in 1977, bringing the NASL to the Aloha State. Pele and the Cosmos returned on April 13, 1977, as 12,877 watched New York defeat Hawaii, 2-1. (None of Team Hawaii's other twelve home games drew even half of that; they managed only 4,543 per game for the season, and moved to Tulsa in 1978.)

    Aloha Stadium hosted the

    was also held at the venue.

    The United States women's national soccer team was scheduled to play a game against Trinidad and Tobago as part of their World Cup Winning Victory Tour at the stadium on December 6, 2015; however, the game was canceled the day before gameday due to concerns over the turf being unsafe to play on.[50]

    Date Score Competition Attendance
    February 20, 2008 Gamba Osaka Japan 1-0 United States Los Angeles Galaxy 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship 15,128
    Houston Dynamo
    February 23, 2008 Sydney FC Australia 1-2 United States Los Angeles Galaxy 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship
    Third-place Match
    23,087
    Houston Dynamo
    2008 Pan-Pacific Championship
    Final

    Rugby

    On June 2, 2013, the stadium played host to a

    USA 34–10.[51]

    In June, the Brisbane Broncos from the Australasian-based National Rugby League (NRL) competition organized for a rugby league match to be played at Aloha Stadium against NRL rivals Penrith Panthers later in 2015.[52] However, in September the NRL blocked the idea and the game didn't go ahead.[53]

    Date Visiting Score Home Competition Attendance
    June 2, 2013  
    United States
    10–34  Samoa International Friendly
    July 19, 2014  
    United States
    18–12  Samoa International Friendly

    Aloha Stadium also hosted the Aloha World Sevens.[citation needed]

    In 2020 it was proposed that

    Kanaloa Hawai’i, a proposed Major League Rugby (MLR) team, be based at Aloha Stadium after "a few years" in a smaller venue;[54][55] however, MLR and Kanaloa Hawai’i did not reach an agreement for the team to join the league.[56]

    Graduation ceremonies

    Aloha Stadium is also the venue for five public high school graduation ceremonies:

    .

    Concerts

    Date Artist Opening act(s) Tour / Concert name Attendance Revenue Notes
    February 25, 1984 The Police Synchronicity Tour
    November 6, 1995 Eagles Hell Freezes Over Tour
    January 3, 1997 Michael Jackson HIStory World Tour 70,000 These were his only US shows that decade. Also, the first person to sell out the stadium.[57]
    January 4, 1997
    May 3, 1997 Gloria Estefan
    Evolution World Tour
    May 29, 1997 Whitney Houston Bobby Brown Pacific Rim Tour 29,118 / 29,118 $1,634,370 Bobby Brown began the show singing his hit tunes. A disguised Whitney sang background vocals for Bobby. Audience members stated that "she came out and the crowd went wild. She sang very well even though she had a cold. She closed the show with 'Step By Step'."[58]
    January 23, 1998 The Rolling Stones Jonny Lang
    Bridges To Babylon Tour
    54,006 / 60,000 $3,317,190
    January 24, 1998
    February 21, 1998 Mariah Carey Butterfly World Tour 30,415 / 30,415 $1,744,210 [59]
    January 30, 1999 Janet Jackson 98 Degrees The Velvet Rope Tour 38,224 / 38,224 $2,664,000 [60][61]
    February 12, 1999 Celine Dion Let's Talk About Love World Tour 22,381 / 22,381 $1,326,805 [62]
    June 1, 2000 Tube Tube Live Around Special June.1.2000 in Aloha Stadium The band marked their 15th anniversary with their first-ever US show - a day the state commemorated as "TUBE Day".
    February 16, 2002 Janet Jackson Ginuwine All for You Tour 32,211 / 33,511 $1,472,935 This concert was aired on HBO the following night and later released on DVD and VHS as Janet: Live in Hawaii.[63][64] Missy Elliott also made a surprise appearance.
    December 9, 2006 U2 Pearl Jam
    Rocco and the Devils
    Vertigo Tour 45,815 / 45,815 $4,486,532 The band's first concert in Hawaii since 1985. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day was the special guest.[65]
    November 8, 2018 Bruno Mars The Green
    Common Kings
    24K Magic World Tour 113,751 / 113,751 $12,394,580
    November 10, 2018
    November 11, 2018
    December 7, 2018 The Eagles Jack Johnson All the Light Above it Too World Tour
    December 8, 2018 Guns N' Roses Not in This Lifetime... Tour 22,485 / 23,000
    February 15, 2019 Eminem 31,621 / 31,621 $3,089,448

    In popular culture

    In season three, episode three of the

    NCIS: Hawai'i
    (first aired February 26, 2024), Aloha Stadium was the setting for a fictional extreme motorsports exhibition, World of Hyperdrome.

    See also

    References

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    2. ^ a b Masuoka, Brandon (April 29, 2003). "Aloha Stadium surface will be of NFL quality". The Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
    3. ^ a b Gima, Craig (January 27, 2006). "Stadium corrosion creates a $129M safety concern". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
    4. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
    5. ^ Muschamp, Herbert (January 28, 1999). "Charles Luckman, Architect Who Designed Penn Station's Replacement, Dies at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
    6. ^ a b c "Texas A and I crushes Hawaii". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. September 15, 1975. p. 15.
    7. ^ "Aloha Stadium – Trivia". Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
    8. ^ a b "Aloha Stadium to shut down operations indefinitely". KHON2. December 17, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
    9. U.S. Census Bureau
      . Retrieved October 8, 2020.
    10. ^ Kaneshiro, Jason; Wu, Nina (December 17, 2020). "Aloha Stadium says goodbye to UH". hawaiitribune-herald.com. Tribune News Service. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
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    12. ^ Crowley, Kurt (December 20, 2020). "'Metal Mecca' Aloha Stadium Closed Indefinitely". kacmedia.com. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
    13. ^ "Aloha Stadium Swap Meet "About Us" page". alohastadiumswapmeet.net. Archived from the original on May 31, 2009.
    14. ^ Brown, Brandon. "Carlo Kemp Shows Off The Jets, Takes Home MVP Award". Sports Illustrated Michigan Wolverines News, Analysis and More.
    15. ^ a b Kaneshiro, Stacy (July 4, 2009). "Islanders a fan hit during 27-year run". The Honolulu Advertiser.
    16. ^ a b c Borsch, Ferd (May 8, 1976). "Islanders forfeit by 2 feet". The Honolulu Advertiser. p. 1. Retrieved January 23, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
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    21. ^ Kieding, Bob (2012). "Moving Seats". Popular Science (October). Wright's Media: 8.
    22. ^ "STATE BY BRONSTER v. US Steel Corp".
    23. ^ Lewis, Ferd (February 4, 2020). "Aloha Stadium seeks $7.7M or it might have to close sections". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
    24. ^ "Honolulu Star-Bulletin Breaking Stories". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. June 25, 1996. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
    25. ^ "Stadium rust to get $12.4M treatment". The Honolulu Advertiser. May 11, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2009.
    26. ^ Arakawa, Lynda (May 11, 2007). "Stadium rust to get $12.4M treatment". The Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
    27. from the original on November 25, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
    28. ^ "Hawaiian Airlines Grabs Naming Rights To Aloha Stadium Field; SponsorPitch; 08-04-2011". Archived from the original on November 17, 2011.
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    30. ^ "Study recommends smaller venue to replace Aloha Stadium". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
    31. ^ "Report: Aloha Stadium now a 'liability,' cheaper to build new stadium". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
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    39. ^ "Plans for new stadium taking shape". Retrieved September 9, 2019.
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    49. ^ Carlos Alvarez-Galloso, Roberto (December 26, 2007). "2008 Pan-Pacific Championship: Make it more inclusive". MeriNews. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
    50. ^ "U.S. Soccer Cancels Dec. 6 Match against T&T in Hawaii Due to Field Conditions". US Soccer. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
    51. ^ "Tomahawks get ready for match-up with Na Toa Samoa at Aloha Stadium". KHON2. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
    52. ^ "Broncos Panthers To Play Match In Hawaii". triplem.com.au. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
    53. ^ "Exhibition matches are a bad idea in the USA – just look at the Wallabies!". theroar.com.au. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
    54. ^ Dymock, Alan (July 10, 2020). "Professional rugby reaches Hawaii". Rugby World.
    55. ^ "Pacific-owned Kanaloa Hawaii set to join Major League Rugby | RNZ News". July 14, 2020.
    56. ^ Pengelly, Martin (September 4, 2020). "Hawaii team backed by ex-All Blacks will not play MLR in 2021, league says". The Guardian. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
    57. ^ "King of Pop ends Hawaiian tour". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. (South Carolina). January 7, 1997. p. A2.
    58. ^ "The Pacific Rim Tour info". allwhitney.com. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
    59. . Retrieved February 28, 2011.
    60. ^ "Tickets still available for Janet concert". The Honolulu Advertiser. February 8, 2002. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
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    External links

    Events and tenants
    Preceded by
    first stadium
    Host of the
    Hawaiʻi Bowl

    2002–2019
    Incumbent
    Preceded by
    University of Phoenix Stadium
    Host of the NFL Pro Bowl
    1980–2009
    2011–2014
    2016
    Succeeded by
    University of Phoenix Stadium
    Camping World Stadium
    Preceded by
    first stadium
    Host of the
    Pan-Pacific Championship

    2008
    Succeeded by