Byrd Stadium to Change Name to Maryland Stadium

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The University of Maryland Board of Regents has stripped the name of a former president ,who actively kept African-American students off the campus, from the college’s football stadium.

On Friday, board members voted 12-5 to change the name of Byrd Stadium to Maryland Stadium, WUSA reports.

Discussions began in September to consider renaming the stadium – removing the name of the late president Dr. H.C. Byrd, who approved of racial segregation.

According to the university’s website, Byrd Stadium is named for the former head football coach who eventually served as university president from 1935 to 1954.

UMD President Wallace Loh likened the stadium to the university’s “front porch,” says WTOP, and as such it should represent the school’s current values of inclusion and diversity.

Loh has recommended that an historical exhibit at the university library could explain the history of Byrd’s legacy.

A student petition submitted last spring asked university officials to rename the stadium because of Byrd’s racial views. The Washington Post says the university’s student government in April supported the petition effort.

Students lobbying for the name changes told Sports Illustrated that Byrd supported separate but equal schools for different races. The student government told the magazine that Byrd “barred blacks from participating in sports and enrolling into the university until 1951.”

Stadium History

The most recent $50.8 million upgrade to Byrd began in November 2007 and included the expansion of Tyser Tower along the South concourse, allowing for the addition of 64 suites. Additionally, mezzanine seating for 440 patrons was added, as well as a University suite for 200 guests.

That expansion, which increased the stadium’s capacity to 54,000, included a state-of-the-art scoreboard on the west concourse. With the work’s completion in 2009, the name of the facility is changed to Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium.

»Photo of Byrd Stadium, courtesy of UMD