Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is an open-air stadium located off the campus of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Opened in 1959, it serves as the home stadium of the Navy Midshipmen college football and lacrosse teams, and was the home of the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse. The stadium is also the host of the Military Bowl.
The stadium's opener was a 29–2 win over William & Mary on September 26, [1959 United States Navy|Navy Midshipmen football team|1959], and its current seating capacity is 34,000. The attendance record is 38,803, set in 2023 during Navy's 17–6 loss against Air Force on Prior to 1959, Navy played its home games at Thompson Stadium, which seated only 12,000. Its site on campus is now occupied by Lejeune Hall, the venue for the United States Naval Academy's water sports.
The stadium hosted soccer games as part of the 1984 Summer Olympics. In April 2018, D.C. United of Major League Soccer played a regular season game versus the Columbus Crew. Annapolis Blues FC of USL League Two started playing home games at the venue in 2023 while the team was members of the National Premier Soccer League, including setting a league regular season attendance record in their first game.
Memorial
The stadium serves as a memorial to the Navy and Marine Corps; it is dedicated to those who have served as upholders of the traditions and renown of the Navy and Marine Corps of the United States. The thousands of memorial bench-back and wall plaques are intended to serve as a reminder, as well as the list of numerous battles involving the Naval and Marine Corps forces since the early 1900s.Renovation
In 2004, the stadium underwent a partial renovation—the expansion of the west side press box—by 360 Architecture with ABS Architects acting as the local/Associate Architect.From 2005 to the present, ABS Architects has designed and developed the expansion and ongoing renovations, including the renovations of the stadium's processional entrance that the Brigade of Midshipmen march through on game days. Additionally, ABS Architects lowered the playing field to increase stadium capacity, designed club seating and associated club lounges, private suites, additional stadium seating, accessibility enhancements, updated restrooms, concessions and stadium operation facilities, new banquet facilities, and renovated locker room facilities.
Playing surface
For its first 46 years, the stadium's playing field was natural grass. Prior to the 2005 football season, the grass field was replaced with FieldTurf, an infilled synthetic turf. The field runs northwest to southeast, with the press box along the southwest sideline. The elevation of the field is approximately above sea level.Jack Stephens Field
The field at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is named "Jack Stephens Field", for Jackson T. Stephens, whose gift aided the renovation of the stadium, the Class of 1947 Legacy project to benefit the Academy's Museum, and other Academy projects.1984 Summer Olympics
Several first round matches in the association football tournament at the 1984 Summer Olympics were played at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.| Date | Time | Team #1 | Result | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
| July 29, 1984 | 19.30 | 2–2 | Group A | 29,240 | ||
| July 30, 1984 | 19:00 | ' | 2–1 | Group B | 15,010 | |
| July 31, 1984 | 19:00 | ' | 1–0 | Group A | 14,508 | |
| August 1, 1984 | 19:00 | ' | 1–0 | Group B | 20,000 | |
| August 2, 1984 | 19:00 | 1–1 | Group A | 28,114 | ||
| August 3, 1984 | 19:00 | 2–4 | ' | Group B | 24,430 |
Ice hockey
On March 3, 2018, the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2018 NHL Stadium Series, an outdoor regular season hockey game on an ice surface constructed at the stadium.| Date | Away team | Score | Home team | Attendance |
| March 3, 2018 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2–5 | Washington Capitals | 29,516 |