History
Named for Akron's tire industry, the Osborn Engineering-designed bowl opened in 1940. The Zips played there for 69 seasons, and it hosted NFL games, including Cleveland Rams home games and Browns preseason games.
After Akron's last game in November 2008 the university moved to a new campus stadium. The Rubber Bowl changed hands, fell into disrepair and was condemned; demolition began on June 20, 2018, and the remainder came down in 2023.
Why it matters: Akron's major football stadium for nearly seven decades.
Timeline
- October 5, 1940First Zips game[1]
Akron played Western Reserve in the first game.
- November 27, 1952Dallas Texans' only win[1]
The NFL's Dallas Texans beat the Bears 27-23 here in their only victory.
- November 13, 2008Final football game[1]
Akron lost to Buffalo 43-40 in four overtimes.
- June 20, 2018
The city began tearing down the condemned stadium.
The site today
| Physical status | Demolished[1,2] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Grassy hillside; part of the bowl was reinforced as a retaining wall for George Washington Boulevard[1] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Akron Zips | NCAA · 1940–2008 |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Rams | NFL · 1941–1942 · secondary |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Location | 800 George Washington Blvd., Akron, Ohio[1] |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Stadium |
| Sports | Football |
| Level | NCAA, NFL |
| Opened | 1940[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | November 13, 2008[1,2] |
| Demolished | 2023[1,2] |
| Physical status | Demolished |
| Final capacity | 35,202[1] |
| Architect | Osborn Engineering Company[1] |
| Construction cost | $546,000[1] |
| Surface | Grass, later artificial turf |
| Owner / operator | County of Summit / City of Akron |
| Closure | The University of Akron moved to a new on-campus stadium; the vacant bowl deteriorated and was condemned. |
Documented details
- Karl Wallenda walked a tightrope across the stadium on September 15, 1973.[1]
Sources
- Rubber Bowl, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, architect, capacity, closed, construction cost, coordinates, current land use, demolished, opened, teams
- Akron begins demolition of Rubber Bowl, News 5 Cleveland (WEWS). Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, demolished, opened
Research confidence
Key facts on this page (opening, closing, status and location) are each supported by sources, with key dates corroborated by at least two independent sources. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (1)
- Owner: Wikipedia infobox says County of Summit; text says the city of Akron became owner in 2017.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.