History
The field opened in 1893 as Marshall Field and was renamed Stagg Field in 1913. It was home to the Chicago Maroons, reached a capacity of 50,000 and hosted national track championships. The university discontinued football after the 1939 season.
On December 2, 1942, Chicago Pile-1, built in a squash court under the west stands, achieved the first man-made self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. The stands were demolished in August 1957, and much of the site is now occupied by Regenstein Library.
Why it matters: Site of Chicago Pile-1, the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction (1942), and longtime home of the University of Chicago Maroons.
Timeline
- 1893Opened as Marshall Field[1]
The field opened in 1893 as Marshall Field and hosted the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships that year.
- 1913Renamed Stagg Field[1]
The field was renamed Stagg Field.
- 1939University ends football[1]
The University of Chicago discontinued football after the 1939 season.
- December 2, 1942
Chicago Pile-1, built in a squash court under the west stands, achieved the first man-made self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.
- August 1957Stands demolished[2]
The stands, including the west stands above the reactor site, were demolished in August 1957.
- February 18, 1965National Historic Landmark[1]
The reactor site was designated a National Historic Landmark.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[2] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Much of the site is part of the University of Chicago's Regenstein Library; a quadrangle with Henry Moore's sculpture Nuclear Energy marks the Chicago Pile-1 site.[1] |
| Surviving remnants | One original gate is reused at the current Stagg Field several blocks northwest. |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Teams & events
| Chicago Maroons | Western Association |
|---|
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Other names | Marshall Field (1893–1913); Old Stagg Field |
|---|---|
| Location | Block bounded by 57th Street, University Avenue and Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois |
| Venue type | Stadium |
| Sports | Football, Track & field |
| Level | NCAA |
| Opened | 1893[1] |
| Last used for sports | 1939[1] |
| Demolished | August 1957[2] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Final capacity | 50,000[1] |
| Capacity notes | Final capacity of 50,000 after expansions. |
| Closure | The University of Chicago discontinued football after 1939. |
Documented details
Sources
- Stagg Field, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, current land use, events, opened
- Chicago Pile-1, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: coordinates, demolished, events
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.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.