American Legion Memorial Stadium
(ca. 1936)
American Legion Memorial Stadium first introduced the City of Charlotte to major spectator sporting events.
310 North Kings Drive, 1321 Charlottetowne Avenue, Charlotte 28204
Built in 1936, the American Legion Memorial Stadium was the first major spectator sports facility erected by the City of Charlotte. As the city’s population experienced significant growth in the first half of the twentieth century – from 18,091 in 1900 to 134,052 in 1950 – so too did the popularity of amateur and professional spectator sports increase dramatically in the 1920s and 1930s. The need for an outdoor sports facility capable of satisfying that demand quickly became apparent to Charlotte leaders. Congress’ 1935 decision to create the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as a means for providing jobs for millions of unemployed Americans provided the impetus for the new stadium.
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Eager to benefit from available federal dollars, Charlotte officials led by Mayor Arthur E. Wearn had already secured $70,000 from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and the Civil Works Administration in 1934 to begin work on a stadium in Independence Park. Despite considerable public opposition to the City's acceptance of money for such a project, members of the American Legion Hornet’s Nest Post Number 9 became strong proponents of an outdoor sports facility. They envisioned the stadium as a memorial to Mecklenburg County residents who served the United States during World War I. That patriotic proposal turned the tide of public opinion. In June 1934, Charlotte City Council voted to name the facility American Legion Memorial Stadium.
At the behest of recently elected Charlotte Mayor Ben Douglas and the City Council, an application was submitted to the WPA in November 1935 for the completion of the stadium. The application was approved before the end of the year, and construction began in January 1936. Work continued for eight months and was quickly expedited upon news in June 1936 that President Franklin D. Roosevelt planned to visit the Queen City in September to make a major public address in the new stadium. Construction was completed by September 1 in time for Roosevelt’s September 10 appearance, making him the first speaker in the new facility.
American Legion Memorial Stadium hosted its first of many college football games two weeks later on September 26, 1936, pitting the University of North Carolina against Wake Forest College. In what the Charlotte Observer described as “by far the largest (crowd) ever to see a football game in Charlotte,” UNC prevailed 14-7. The stadium has since hosted numerous high school and collegiate football games, including the Shrine Bowl from 1937 through 2000, as well as professional wrestling matches, marching band competitions, and concerts and other performances by entertainers. Professional sports teams that have called the American Legion Memorial Stadium home have included the Charlotte Lightin’ and Charlotte Independence soccer teams, the Charlotte Hounds lacrosse team, Anthem Rugby Carolina, and the Super League Carolina women’s soccer team.