More than 8,600,000 fans have watched Rice Owls football at Rice Stadium. Huge crowds were part of the excitement for the Pink Floyd, Eagles and Billy Joel and Elton John concerts in the stadium the last two years. Recently, the stadium has become a major concert venue. In 1974, Rice Stadium was the site of Super Bowl VIII, in which the Miami Dolphins defeated the Minnesota Vikings. At various times, the stadium has served as the home stadium for the Bluebonnet Bowl, the University of Houston, Texas Southern University and the NFL's Houston Oilers. Rice Stadium has been the scene of many exciting moments in the football histories of Rice, the city of Houston and the National Football League. The room is also used for academic, civic and other social events. The walls are filled with the photos of past Owls, forming a fitting site for many team functions. The Owl Club, atop the south end zone, is virtually a historical museum of the great Rice athletes and teams. The Owls and their opponents will also be playing under a new lighting system (which was added in 1995), enabling the return of night games to the stadium.

The next phase of construction, which will be finished in time for the 1996 season, is the expansion of the Rice locker room and renovation of the sports medicine and equipment areas. The 8,000-square-foot complex, newly constructed on the southeast corner of the stadium, is one of the premier college facilities in the nation.

One of the more significant additions to the stadium complex is the John L. Offices for the Owls' coaching staff and football meeting rooms are also located in the stadium. The Owls' locker rooms and the Owl Club at the south end of the stadium were recently renovated, making those areas among the finest in the SWC. The entire Rice football operation is housed in the stadium.

There is no running track around the perimeter of the field, so sightlines and facilities are still as functional today as they were in 1950. Rice Stadium remains unique because it was built for football only. Working 24-hour shifts for the next nine months, Brown & Root completed the stadium in time for the 1950 season opener in late September. The idea for the new Rice Stadium was born.Д«rown & Root Construction was the general contractor for the project and the ground breaking was held in February. Houston's civic leaders decided the old structure was not a proper venue for the South West Conference champions, much less a city with a future so bright. However, old Rice Stadium (now the Rice Track Stadium) seated less than 37,000 fans. In 1949, the Rice Owls fielded one of its greatest teams led by all-Americas Froggie Williams and Joe Watson, won the Southwest Conference championship and the 1950 Cotton Bowl with a 10-1 record. The stadium seats 70,000 fans, a tribute to a university with only 2,600 undergraduate students. It is still recognized as the best stadium in which to watch a football game in Texas. Rice Stadium has proved to be the master of time. One of America's great stadiums, celebrating its 58th season in 2008, is the home of Rice Owls Football. * Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles Tickets

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