Youngstown State University Football Camps

Facilities

Watson and Tressel Training Site

The Watson and Tressel Training Site is an on-campus facility that offers Youngstown State athletics one of the best indoor complexes in the entire FCS and the Horizon League.

The concept was originally announced in the summer of 2007 when the Tressel and Watson Families presented the University with a $1 million donation.

Through hard work by many, the facility opened for use in the fall of 2011. This indoor facility is vital to the future success of the YSU athletic department. The Watson and Tressel Training Site will provide the most critical ingredient to meet the challenges presented by the opportunity of playing nationally-recognized competition.

Located to the east of Stambaugh Stadium and the YSU Tennis Courts, the Watson and Tressel Training Site features a full-length Shaw Sportexe PowerBlade HP+ synthetic turf system football field, a 300-meter state-of-the-art mondo track surface, two long-jump pits, a high-jump pit, four batting cages, protective netting, a training room and locker rooms.

The seasonal facility will accommodate athletic team practices, intramural sports, campus-wide activities and special events benefiting students, faculty, staff and the community throughout the year.

Soccer, men’s and women’s track and field, baseball, golf, softball and football have the ability to practice in a safer, more comfortable environment. The facility also provides a significantly prolonged practice season to meet the challenge of the elevated level of competition YSU seeks to embrace.

In addition, the Watson and Tressel Training Site has served as a community resource - providing a large, climate-protected venue for local youth organizations and high schools. Area track and field teams utilize the facility for practices. During the winter months, the Watson and Tressel Training Site is open to the public in the evening.

The Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships have been held in the facility in each of the past two years.

In the spring of 2012, a lounge for the track and field program was created. Dressing rooms for the men’s and women’s golf teams are on the mezzanine next to a state-of-the-art putting surface.

This $14-million project was seen as a public/private partnership in that the construction costs would be sought through private philanthropy.

Stambaugh Stadium
577 Fifth Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44555

Youngstown State's football home is a place that has been defended well through its first 29 seasons.

The tallest building in the city, the stadium rises high above the Mahoning Valley and offers tremendous views in all directions.

Perhaps that is why Arnold D. Stambaugh Stadium has garnered the nickname the "Ice Castle."

Over the years, the Ice Castle has been a protected place. Almost four out of five times a visiting program has left Stambaugh Stadium on the losing end of the score.

Only four times in 29 seasons have the Penguins failed to finish above .500. In the playoffs, YSU is 14-1 having won 14 straight since losing their first-ever home playoff tilt in November 1990.

Since 1996, the Guins have posted a stellar mark of 69-24. Since 1989, YSU is an impressive 114-27-1, including undefeated seasons in 1993, 1994 and 2005.

In the past four years, YSU is 28-10 at Stambaugh Stadium.

In 2007, Youngstown State was 6-1 with the lone loss coming by just five points.

In 2006, the Guins were 7-1 posting playoff wins over James Madison and Illinois State. The contest against JMU was televised nationally on ESPN2.

The 2005 campaign was impressive as YSU won all six home games, including two by three points or less.

All-time, the Penguins have won 75.6 percent of their games at Stambaugh posting an impressive 134-44-1 record in 26 seasons.

One of the finest FCS football facilities in the country with a seating capacity of 20,630, Stambaugh has been the home for the Penguins since the early 1980's.

Many tweaks and upgrades have taken place through the years to ensure a home-field advantage and keep it a cutting-edge facility.

Built in 1982 (17,000 capacity) with seating only on the west side, Stambaugh entered a new era in 1997 when the Stadium underwent a $5.5 million addition.

Prior to the 1997 campaign, the number of loges (luxury suites) was expanded from 12 to 26. The Watson Media Center, one of the best press facilities in FCS, was added onto the second level of the complex. The DeBartolo Stadium Club, which overlooks the city of Youngstown, is located on the main loge area, and is used for meetings, press conferences and luncheons. Also, seating for more than 3,000 was added on the east side to bring the capacity to 20,630, the highest in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

In 2000, a sound system was added to the east and west sides. Twice the playing surface has been replaced, most recently in 2002. That summer, SprinTurf, was installed making the school only one of five FCS schools to play on the synthetic surface. The replacement removed the AstroTurf that was in place since 1991.

In 2004, a new scoreboard featuring a Mitsubishi DiamondVision videoboard was installed. The DiamondVision screen consists of 126,464 LEDs to provide an incredibly-clear picture for animations and in-game replays. The board, which was manufactured in Nagaski, Japan, is 17-feet wide by 12.5-feet high.

In 2005, wireless internet was added to the Watson Media Center. The Media Center houses the press area, radio and television booths, public address and PenguinVision.

In 2006, a new concourse elevator became the latest enhancement.

From the summer of 2008 through February 2009, the football office suites were renovated, the loge complex was repainted and all hallways were tiled. New carpet was installed in the DeBartolo Stadium Club. Tile was also installed in the football classroom's and numerous painting makeovers occurred.

Over the summer in 2009, the chairback seats were replaced at a cost of $250,000 while the baseball locker room was moved to its own area out of the football locker area. After the season, a new football lounge was created. It features five couches, three flat-screen TVs and plenty of space for the team to relax.

Following the 2010 campaign, the locker room underwent further updates. A new entrance way was created while a ceiling was added to the main locker room area. Highlighting the ceiling is a hanging "Y" as well as a "Protect this House" a slogan of Under Armour, the official apparal provider of the football program.

YSU's athletic administrative offices, ticket office, football offices, strength-training facility, softball, soccer, football and baseball locker rooms, training room and Academic Center are located in the complex.

Six racquetball courts and office areas for the ROTC program are in the building as well. The multipurpose complex is also home to the soccer team and intramural events. Five basketball courts are in the stadium's gymnasium.

Enter the Youngstown State Football Locker Room

YSU will provide parking to anyone that is participating in Football Camps this summer.
One vehicle per camper, M24 Lot only  (located along 5th Ave, across from Stambaugh Stadium).