Shotwell Stadium

Shotwell Stadium was built in the late 1950s, using Rice Stadium, the site of Rice University football games, as a model. It was initially named the Public Schools Stadium. The first game played in the Stadium was in the fall of 1959. Shortly after the first season, the stadium was renamed Shotwell Stadium, after the late P.E. “Pete” Shotwell, a longtime football coach at Abilene High School.

Shotwell Location Map

Until the summer of 2002, there were few changes in the stadium except for normal maintenance and upgrades. In the spring of 2002, the Abilene ISD Board of Trustees approved an exclusive vendor contract with Abtex Beverage Corporation, which provided funding for major renovations to the stadium. The initial upgrades included the installation of SafePlay turf, the latest generation of artificial playing surface for athletic fields. The new turf, drain system, access ramps, goalposts, and other changes were completed in late summer of 2002, in time for the 2002 football season.

In August 2003, as a result of corporate sponsorship, a state-of-the-art scoreboard with an integrated color animation screen was installed on the north end. The south end scoreboard was upgraded and integrated with the new scoreboard. As a result, Shotwell Stadium became one of only a few high school stadiums in Texas with two scoreboards.

Preliminary plans for additional renovations call for paving the parking lots, remodeling the dressing rooms and adding a new pressroom. The end goal is to offer an attractive and functional high school athletic stadium.

Notice to Media: Shotwell Stadium now has wireless Internet capability.

Also, see a schematic of available parking.

Shotwell Stadium is located at State Highway 36 at Loop 322.

For additional information about Shotwell Stadium, please contact the Athletic Office - 325-671-4078.

(Information courtesy of www.aisd.org)