History
The stadium opened in 1926. SMU moved its games to the Cotton Bowl permanently in 1948, and the NASL's Dallas Tornado played at Ownby from 1976 to 1979. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
After the NCAA's 1987 sanctions SMU returned to a renovated Ownby, playing there from 1989 to 1994. The stadium was demolished in 1998 for Gerald J. Ford Stadium and was removed from the National Register in 2004.
Why it matters: SMU's on-campus stadium, reused after the 1987 'death penalty'.
Timeline
- 1926Opened[1]
The stadium broke ground and opened.
- 1948SMU moves to Cotton Bowl[1]
SMU moved its games to the Cotton Bowl permanently.
- September 27, 1980National Register[1]
The stadium was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- October 1998Demolished[1]
The stadium was demolished to make way for Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
- September 23, 2004Removed from National Register[1]
The stadium was removed from the National Register.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[1] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Gerald J. Ford Stadium, built on the same site |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| SMU Mustangs | NCAA · 1926–1948 |
|---|---|
| Dallas Tornado | NASL · 1976–1979 |
| SMU Mustangs | NCAA · 1989–1994 |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Official name | Jordan C. Ownby Stadium |
|---|---|
| Other names | Jordan C. Ownby Stadium |
| Location | 5800 Ownby Dr., University Park, Texas[1] |
| Venue type | Stadium |
| Sports | Football, Soccer |
| Level | NCAA, NASL |
| Opened | 1926[1] |
| Last used for sports | 1998[1] |
| Demolished | October 1998[1] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Final capacity | 23,783[1] |
| Closure | Demolished for Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the same site. |
Documented details
- After the NCAA 'death penalty' of 1987, SMU decided to move football back to a renovated Ownby Stadium.[1]
Sources
- Ownby Stadium, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, capacity, closed, coordinates, demolished, events, opened, teams
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (2)
- Infobox gives demolition as October 1998; the text says 'late 1998' and the cited article is dated November 6, 1998.
- The text says SMU decided in 1987 to return; the infobox tenancy restarts in 1989.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.