OU’s football team certainly wasn’t the main reason I chose this school, but as a sports lover, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t influence my decision a little bit. My senior year of high school, OU defeated Alabama. The next fall I went to my first game at Gaylord Memorial Stadium and I was blown away by the atmosphere. It is the stadium’s design, in both functionality and beauty, which makes the games so incredible. There is truly nothing like standing with thousands of other students and yelling at the top of your lungs as the home team scores the winning touchdown and fireworks illuminate the entire bowl.

The stadium was first built in 1925 with seats only on the west side. East side seating was added in 1929, and the north side was enclosed in 1949. Later, seats were added to the south side, and by 1975 the west side had an upper deck.

The early 2000s saw the addition of an east side upper deck, and the whole stadium was given an overhaul, including a cherokee gothic exterior. Construction began last year to fill in the south side of the stadium.

Like the reputation of the football team which plays within its walls, the “Palace on the Prairie” stands firm and tall and beautiful – a stronghold against opposition and a home to every Sooner.