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‘The Rock’ to Celebrate 50th Anniversary on Saturday

A 10,000-seat facility named Conrad Stadium opened on Sept. 15, 1962 and has evolved over the last 50 years into 24,050-seat Kidd Brewer Stadium (inset). Photo courtesy of ASU Athletics

Sept. 13, 2012. In addition to Saturday’s football matchup between Appalachian State University and The Citadel being the Mountaineers’ Southern Conference opener and their second-straight showdown versus a nationally ranked opponent, Appalachian will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first game ever played at what is now known as Kidd Brewer Stadium. 

The 10,000-seat venue that was then named Conrad Stadium opened on Sept. 15, 1962 with a non-conference matchup between Appalachian State Teachers College and Emory & Henry. Despite playing at home for the first time in nearly two years (the Mountaineers did not play any games in Boone while Conrad Stadium was under construction during the 1961 season — they played “home” games in Asheville, Charlotte, Lenoir and Hickory), Appalachian fell to the visiting Wasps, 6-3. 

Two weeks later, the Mountaineers topped Elon, 27-12, for their first win in the new stadium and 215 more Appalachian victories have followed in the venerable venue since. The Apps are 216-63-5 (.769) all-time at Conrad/Kidd Brewer Stadium, which was renamed in honor of Appalachian’s coach from 1935-38 in 1988 and now seats 24,050 fans, 241 percent more than its original capacity.

The Rock, as it is affectionately known to Black and Gold faithful, has become one of college football’s toughest venues for visiting teams. The Mountaineers have won 62 of their last 67 games at The Rock, including 30-consecutive wins from 2003-2007, which was good for the nation’s longest Division I home winning streak at the time (FCS or FBS). The Rock also boasts a current string of 41-consecutive over-capacity regular-season crowds, dating back to the opening game of the 2005 season.

A limited number of reserved seats still remain for Saturday’s 50th anniversary game, which kicks off at 3:30 p.m. at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Tickets can be purchased online at GoASU.com/tickets, by phone at (828) 262-2079 or in person at the Appalachian State athletics ticket office, located in the Holmes Center.