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Bob DiSpirito Field at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium is the home field for all Slippery Rock University football, field hockey and lacrosse games. The stadium is also used for select home soccer games and includes the Jerry Bejbl Weight Training Center, the Bill Lennox Track and the Field Hockey and Lacrosse complex.
The stadium debuted as N. Kerr Thompson Stadium in 1974 and has been home to The Rock football team since that season. Over the past 10 years the stadium has seen massive upgrades to make it one of the best facilities in western Pennsylvania.
In 2003 the grass surface was replaced by artificial turf and lights were installed at the stadium, allowing for the first night football game to be played. Since then, The Rock's football team annually plays at least one night game, while the men's soccer, women's soccer, field hockey and lacrosse teams all play multiple night games as well.
The last renovation to the field came in the summer of 2012 when the 10-year old turf was removed and replaced by a new synthetic field surface that has the real feel of grass. The surface, called GameDay Grass 3D, was installed by Astroturf and made its debut the opening weekend of the 2012 season.
The stadium is named after two of the legends in Slippery Rock football history in head coach N. Kerr Thompson and current head coach and former quarterback George Mihalik, whose name was added to the stadium in 2011.
The field itself is named after another former Rock legendary football coach, Bob DiSpirito.
The Rock's football team enjoys the comforts of a large locker room at the stadium, while the coaches also have meeting rooms and a separate locker room.
Along with the weight room, full service athletic training facilities are featured on both sides of the stadium. One is located directly next to the football locker room, while the other is in the field hockey and lacrosse building. That building also houses the locker rooms and coaching offices of both of those teams.
Before the stadium was completed in 1974, Slippery Rock's football team played on the field at Old Thompson Stadium, which is now used as a recreational field next to Morrow Field House. The stadium was originally scheduled to be completed in 1972, but massive flooding forced the project to be delayed.
Slippery Rock is annually among the top schools in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in home football average attendance. In 2012, The Rock topped all PSAC schools with an average home attendance of 5,907, which included two crowds of more than 8,000 fans.
Tailgating is allowed in the paid parking lots outside the stadium on football game days. Tailgaters are allowed in the lots three hours before the game and two hours after the game, but must attend the game and cannot tailgate during the game. Click Here for complete tailgating guidelines.
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Open Date |
1974 |
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Last Update |
2012 |
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Surface |
Artificial (Astroturf GameDay Grass 3D) |
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Capacity |
10,000 |
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Sports |
Football, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer |
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Directions |
From I-79, take Exit 105 (Slippery Rock). Turn left at the stop sign at the end of the exit ramp and follow State Route 108 north into Slippery Rock. At the traffic light, turn right onto Main Street. Follow Main Street to the second traffic light (Keister Road). Turn left onto Keister Road and proceed to the flashing light.
At the flashing light, turn left and proceed to the dead end. At the dead end, turn right. Take the second right, Stadium Drive (Eisenberg Classroom Building will be on your left, West Lake Parking Lot on your right). Follow Stadium Drive to the stop sign (you will pass the Abersold Student Recreation Center and James Egli Field on your left and Jack Critchfield Park on your right). Mihalik-Thompson Stadium will be directly in front of you. Turn left at the stop sign to get to the public parking area, which is on the lower level directly ahead of you.
Please note: Parking on the upper level of the stadium is reserved for the handicapped, game day staff and VIP parking. |
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