Franklin Field, the home of the University of Pennsylvania’s football program, is both a Pann staple and a Philadelphia landmark, writes Alexis Garcia for The Daily Pennsylvanian.

The historic Franklin Field is the oldest Division I college football stadium in the country as well as the oldest two-tiered stadium. It is the fourth largest FCS venue with a maximum seating capacity of upwards of 52,000.

The stadium was first built in 1895 to house the running of the first Penn Relays.

The original stadium was named after the founder of the university, Benjamin Franklin. It featured its signature horseshoe shape along with a quarter-mile track, football field, baseball diamond, and indoor training facilities.

Franklin Field has had a multipurpose nature from the beginning. In 1916, it hosted Verdi’s Grand Opera Aida which was performed in front of more than 30,000 people.

In 1922, the stadium became the one we know today. The original wooden bleachers were torn down and the concrete lower tier was constructed. The bowl’s second tier was designed in 1925, creating the historic skeleton that remains unchanged to this day.

Another important year for Franklin Field is 1958, the year when it entered its NFL era when the Philadelphia Eagles began calling it home for the first time.

Read more about Franklin Field, the oldest two-tiered stadium in the nation, in The Daily Pennsylvanian.

_________