Gerald J. Ford Stadium

Gerald J. Ford Stadium is a stadium in Dallas. The stadium is used primarily for football, and it is home to the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs and is frequently used for local high school football games.About Ford StadiumThe stadium is named after Gerald J. Ford (who should not be confused with former U.S. President Gerald R. Ford), a billionaire banker who provided most of the funding for its construction.Outside the northeast corner of the stadium is Doak Walker Plaza, honoring the former Heisman Trophy winner and SMU's greatest football star. The plaza includes a life-sized replica of the Doak Walker Award trophy, awarded annually to the nation's top college football running back. The northwest corner is connected to the Loyd All-Sports Center, which contains locker, training, and office space for SMU athletics, as well as the Spirit Shop, the office of the Alumni Association, and the Athlete Education Center.HistoryThe building stands on the site of the former Ownby Stadium, the school's previous on-campus football stadium. Ownby was demolished starting in late October 1998 in order to clear the land designated for the new stadium. Ford Stadium opened on September 2, 2000 with a football game against the University of Kansas.