Kinnick Stadium History

A native of Curlew, Iowa, and a graduate of Emmetsburg High School, Drake University and the University of Iowa, Paul W. Brechler served as the business manager for the UI Department of Intercollegiate Athletics in 1946-47. In 1947, he was named director of athletics. In fact, at age 36, he was the youngest director of athletics in the history of the Big Ten Conference. Brechler administered one of the many golden eras in intercollegiate athletics at the UI. He was the individual responsible for the hiring of some of the greatest names in the history of the Hawkeyes including Forest Evashevski, Bucky O'Connor, F.X. Cretzmeyer, Dave McCuskey and Don Klotz. During his tenure, University of Iowa teams won three Big Ten football championships and two Rose Bowl games, made two appearances in the Final Four in men's basketball, and won Big Ten championships in four additional sports. Numerous student-athletes earned all-Big Ten and all-America honors and many advanced to participation in the Olympics.
 

Brechler also was responsible for expansion of the UI's athletics facilities. He directed construction of the Athletics Office Building adjacent to the UI Fieldhouse and the UI's award-winning Finkbine Golf Course and clubhouse, and expanded seating capacity and constructed a new press box at what was then known as Iowa Stadium. Brechler's career in intercollegiate athletics included stints as the commissioner of the Skyline, West Athletic and Rocky Mountain conferences, and director of athletics at the University of California. He is a member of the Des Moines Register Sports Hall of Fame, the National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors Hall of Fame, and the University of Iowa Varsity Club Hall of Fame.

Taken from http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/090206aab.html

Kinnick Stadium, home for the Iowa football team, served its 84th season of hosting Hawkeye football games in 2013. One of the 25 largest college owned stadiums in the nation and one of college football's finest facilities, Kinnick Stadium is routinely filled on Saturdays each fall. A two-year, $90 million restoration and renovation project for the stadium was completed prior to the start of the 2006 season. The project, which was the largest such undertaking ever for Iowa athletics, includes an entirely new south end zone and a new press and hospitality facility. The end zone project, which included new locker rooms, training room and media facilities for the Hawkeye football team on game days, was completed prior to the 2005 season. The Paul J. Brechler Press Box, a completely new four-level press and hospitality facility, opened for the 2006 season. The facility extends the full length of the west side of the stadium. It includes 47 private viewing suites and over 1,000 club seats. The renovation also provides a new entry plaza to the south entrance, wider seats throughout most of the stadium, new and upgraded restroom facilities and concession areas and an upgraded sound system. It also raised the official capacity of Kinnick Stadium to 70,585.

Taken from www.hawkeyesports.com