Stadiums Of FSU's ACC Foes- Lane Stadium

The last time FSU visited Lane/Worsham stadium was in 1989 when the Noles defeated the Hokies 41-7. Billed as the toughest place in college football for opponents to play by one football service, the Hokies claim that they have one of the best playing surfaces in the nation.

The stadium is now enetering its 42nd season as an arena of collegiate football competition. Lane Stadium/Worsham Field has gone through numerous changes, renovations and additions. But through it all, it has always been regarded as one of the finest places to watch - and toughest places for opponents to play - a college football game. Stadium capacity is 65,115. The first win in the stadium was in 1965 when the Hokies defeated William & Mary. The first televised game in the stadium was between the Hokies and FSU in 1966 when the Hokies bested the Noles 23-21.

On Sept. 5, 1992, Worsham Field was officially dedicated in honor of Wes and Janet Worsham, longtime Hokie supporters from Kilmarnock, Va. The Worshams pledged $1 million to the university's Second Century Campaign. The Campaign raised over $18.6 million, almost $1.7 million more than the original goal, thanks to the support of people like the Worshams.

The stadium is named for the late Edward H. Lane, a graduate of the university and a former member of the Board of Visitors. Lane headed an educational foundation project which raised more than $3 million for the original construction. Lane's personal donation was the first received by the fund.

The original cost was $3.5 million, compared with $3.2 million spent for the addition on top of the east stands. The stadium's original capacity was 40,000, but the addition, completed in 1980, raised that number to 52,500 and later renovations raised the total to its current 65, 115 seating capacity. Tech became the first collegiate football team to have a new state-of-the-art GreenTech ITM natural grass sports field system. Lane Stadium was just the third playing venue to possess this type of playing surface, joining Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales and Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands.

The system also provides excellent drainage. Irrigation lines run through pockets underneath the trays and 22 air vents under the field are connected to a vacuum system which will draw water from the trays onto the asphalt. The water then flows into large drains on either side of Worsham Field. The trays, in combination with the vacuum system, can handle up to 16 inches of rain an hour.