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Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field
Quick Facts
Physical Address: 250 Champions Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Capacity: 24,877
Debuted: 1975
Surface: FieldTurf
Attendance Record: 26,239 (Oct. 28, 2023 vs. Old Dominion)
First Game: Oct. 12, 1974 (JMU 41, Bridgewater 13)
Take a self guided tour of the Bridgeforth Stadium here.
Game Day Interactive Map
History of Bridgeforth Stadium
Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field is home to the James Madison University football Dukes. The facility was built in 1975, enlarged in 1981, and in 2011 completed a major $62 million renovation that increased seating capacity to 24,877, added multiple amenities and made it one of the premier facilities to accompany what is already one of the best game day atmospheres among college football peer institutions.
The first phase of the construction began the week following the conclusion of the Dukes' 2009 season. The first phase included the demolition of the west stands and reconstruction of the lower level of a two-tiered structure. Fans enjoyed the usage of the lower tier, which also includes new restrooms, convenient concession areas, and a fan store, during the 2010 season. The second phase started soon after the final whistle of the Dukes' last home game (Nov. 13) of the 2010 season. By August of 2011, the project had increased the seating capacity with a second deck and by constructing permanent seating behind the north end zone. The second phase also included the building of a 1,000-seat club level, 16 suites and a press, communications and operations facility, which brought the total height of the facility to 134'6".
In the summer of 2019, JMU upgraded the stadium's turf, installing a new FieldTurf synthetic system accompanied by a new design prominently displaying the JMU block logo at midfield. The FieldTurf Revolution 360 has been an industry leader in synthetic surfaces as the choice of more than 300 professional and collegiate organizations in North America. It features optimal durability, resilience and feel to maximize athletic performance and safety. The Revolution 360 product is a newer generation of the original FieldTurf Revolution turf, previously installed in Bridgeforth Stadium. The turf was updated in 2022 to mark JMU's transition to the Sun Belt Conference.
In 2004, the facility was enhanced by a new video scoreboard on the north end zone. That scoreboard was dismantled after the 2010 season to make room for the permanent seating, and a new and much larger (24' by 60' / 480 x 1200 pixels) Daktronics video scoreboard was installed in the south end zone above the Plecker Athletic Performance Center. Renovations in 2015 improved television configurations for the facility to optimize the experience of linear broadcast partners, while the playing surface was replaced in June of 2019. The primary video board and sound system were replaced and upgraded in summer of 2021 while adding a ribbon display above the East Side Box.
The stadium's club area remains in regular use throughout the year for Athletics and non-Athletics campus events. The East stands include offices and meeting spaces for multiple JMU Athletics programs. Bridgeforth Stadium also hosts multiple non-Athletics events throughout the year, such as the Parade of Champions hosted by the Marching Royal Dukes.
The stadium is named for William E. Bridgeforth of Winchester, Va., a long-time JMU supporter and board of visitor member whose family remains very active with JMU. The playing field, which is Field Turf, is named for Harrisonburg-area businessman Zane Showker, a long-time JMU supporter and university board rector and for whom JMU's business school facility is named.
The facility originally functioned as a multisport venue with field hockey, lacrosse, track and field and soccer. It became an exclusively football facility in 2003 and had its flat turf surface replaced with an in-fill synthetic surface in 2006, which was later replaced and upgraded again in 2013. JMU also completed improvements to its practice venue, located on Duke Drive, in 2011.
Top-10 Attendance Figures
26,239 - JMU 30, Old Dominion 27 (10/28/2023)
26,159 - Marshall 26, JMU 12 (10/22/2022)
26,069 - Richmond 59, JMU 49 (10/24/2015)
26,064 - JMU 31, South Alabama 23 (9/30/2023)
25,993 - JMU 30, Villanova 8 (10/14/2017)
25,838 - App State 26, JMU 23 OT (Nov. 18, 2023)
25,742 - JMU 31, Richmond 7 (10/1/2011)
25,484 – Elon 27, JMU 24 (10/6/2018)
25,330 - JMU 28, Maine 10 (9/23/2017)
25,298 - JMU 21, New Hampshire 0 (10/28/2017)
Stadium Map
Directions
From the South
- Interstate 81
- Exit 245, Port Republic Road/James Madison University
- Turn left to travel west onto Port Republic Road
- Merge over into far right lane and make first possible right onto Bluestone Drive at the second stoplight (the first stoplight will be at the entrance/exit ramps for travelers on I-81 south)
- Proceed on Bluestone and past Showker Hall; at stop sign, take a left onto Champions Drive; the football complex will be on the right; parking deck, which requires a pass on game day, located at the end of Champions Drive
From the North
- Interstate 81 to one of two exits:
- Exit 245, Port Republic Road/James Madison University
- Turn right to travel west onto Port Republic Road
- Remain in far right lane and make the first right onto Bluestone Drive
- Proceed on Bluestone and past Showker Hall; at stop sign, take a left onto Champions Drive; the football complex will be on the right; parking deck, which requires a pass on game day, located at the end of Champions Drive
-or-
- Exit 247, Route 33 West
- Quickly cross lanes to prepare for a left-hand turn onto M.L.K., Jr. Way (Historic Cantrell Ave.) at first stoplight
- Proceed on M.L.K., Jr. Way (Historic Cantrell Ave.) to a second stoplight
- Turn left at the light onto Paul Street
- Make the first right onto Duke Drive (parking options are available soon after turning onto Duke)
- Proceed on Duke to stoplight at Bluestone Drive; take a left onto Bluestone; at stop sign, take a left onto Champions Drive; the football complex will be on the right; parking deck, which requires a pass on game day, located at the end of Champions Drive
Parking
Click here for more information
