HISTORY:
Olympic Stadium was constructed in time to host the 1976 summer games,
however a worker’s strike left the facility unfinished when it opened on July 17. It
was the site for the opening and closing ceremonies as well as track and field.
Following the Olympics, the Montreal Alouettes began play there that September
and remained a tenant until 1997. They continue to utilize the stadium for playoff
games. The Montreal Maniac soccer team called “The Big O” home from 1981 until
1983.
The Expos played their first game at Olympic Stadium on April 15, 1977 and it
served as their primary home through 2004. The playing surface was artificial until
1989 when a new Astroturf carpet was installed and that was replaced in 2002 by
Astrograss. FieldTurf was put in for the Expos final season just two years later.
The tower which was designed to support the retractable roof was not completed
until 1987. Malfunctions in the lifting and lowering process resulted in the roof
being permanently sealed in 1992. The original orange roof was removed in 1998,
making Olympic Stadium again susceptible to the elements until the current blue
roof was installed later that season.
A new floor was also installed in 1998 and a renovation of the facility in 1991
resulted in the elimination of 12,000 seats. That September however, a 55-ton
concrete beam at the stadium collapsed and forced the Expos to play their
remaining home games on the road. By the time they returned the following April, a
new scoreboard and sound system was in place as were new seating areas above
the left and right field walls.
The cost of the building has surpassed $1 billion Canadian dollars and as such
led to the nickname, “The Big Owe.” It has however hosted a variety of sports and
events such as concerts and trade shows. Five CFL Grey Cups have taken place
here as has the 1981 National League Championship Series and the 1982 Major
League Baseball All-Star Game.
The Expos played their final game at Olympic Stadium on September 29, 2004, a
9-1 loss to the Florida Marlins.
(JM)
Olympic Stadium was constructed in time to host the 1976 summer games,
however a worker’s strike left the facility unfinished when it opened on July 17. It
was the site for the opening and closing ceremonies as well as track and field.
Following the Olympics, the Montreal Alouettes began play there that September
and remained a tenant until 1997. They continue to utilize the stadium for playoff
games. The Montreal Maniac soccer team called “The Big O” home from 1981 until
1983.
The Expos played their first game at Olympic Stadium on April 15, 1977 and it
served as their primary home through 2004. The playing surface was artificial until
1989 when a new Astroturf carpet was installed and that was replaced in 2002 by
Astrograss. FieldTurf was put in for the Expos final season just two years later.
The tower which was designed to support the retractable roof was not completed
until 1987. Malfunctions in the lifting and lowering process resulted in the roof
being permanently sealed in 1992. The original orange roof was removed in 1998,
making Olympic Stadium again susceptible to the elements until the current blue
roof was installed later that season.
A new floor was also installed in 1998 and a renovation of the facility in 1991
resulted in the elimination of 12,000 seats. That September however, a 55-ton
concrete beam at the stadium collapsed and forced the Expos to play their
remaining home games on the road. By the time they returned the following April, a
new scoreboard and sound system was in place as were new seating areas above
the left and right field walls.
The cost of the building has surpassed $1 billion Canadian dollars and as such
led to the nickname, “The Big Owe.” It has however hosted a variety of sports and
events such as concerts and trade shows. Five CFL Grey Cups have taken place
here as has the 1981 National League Championship Series and the 1982 Major
League Baseball All-Star Game.
The Expos played their final game at Olympic Stadium on September 29, 2004, a
9-1 loss to the Florida Marlins.
(JM)
SEATING CAPACITY:
58,000 (1977)
46,406 (2004)
DIMENSIONS:
Left Field 325 ft / 99 m
Left-Center Field 375 ft. / 114 m
Centerfield 404 ft / 123 m
Right-Center Field 375 ft / 114 m
Right Field 325 ft / 99 m
Backstop 53 ft / 16 m
HEIGHT OF OUTFIELD WALL:
12 ft (padded since 1989)
ATTENDANCE:
1977 1,433,757
1978 1,427,007
1979 2,102,173
1980 2,208,175
1981 1,534,564
1982 2,318,292
1983 2,320,651
1984 1,606,521
1985 1,502,494
1986 1,128,981
1987 1,850,324
1988 1,478,659
1989 1,783,533
1990 1,373,087
1991 934,742
1992 1,669,127
1993 1,641,437
1994 1,276,250
1995 1,292,764
1996 1,618,573
1997 1,497,609
1998 914,717
1999 773,277
2000 926,272
2001 619,451
2002 812,045
2003 1,025,639
2004 749,550
58,000 (1977)
46,406 (2004)
DIMENSIONS:
Left Field 325 ft / 99 m
Left-Center Field 375 ft. / 114 m
Centerfield 404 ft / 123 m
Right-Center Field 375 ft / 114 m
Right Field 325 ft / 99 m
Backstop 53 ft / 16 m
HEIGHT OF OUTFIELD WALL:
12 ft (padded since 1989)
ATTENDANCE:
1977 1,433,757
1978 1,427,007
1979 2,102,173
1980 2,208,175
1981 1,534,564
1982 2,318,292
1983 2,320,651
1984 1,606,521
1985 1,502,494
1986 1,128,981
1987 1,850,324
1988 1,478,659
1989 1,783,533
1990 1,373,087
1991 934,742
1992 1,669,127
1993 1,641,437
1994 1,276,250
1995 1,292,764
1996 1,618,573
1997 1,497,609
1998 914,717
1999 773,277
2000 926,272
2001 619,451
2002 812,045
2003 1,025,639
2004 749,550
FIRSTS:
Game: 4/15/-77 – Philadelphia 7, Montreal 2
Umpires: Frank Pulli, Dutch Rennert, John Kibler and Nick Colosi
Managers: Danny Ozark, Philadelphia; Dick Williams, Montreal
Starting pitchers: Steve Carlton, Philadelphia; Don Stanhouse, Montreal
Ceremonial First Pitch: Raymond Daviault, Gus Dugas, Tim Harness, Georges
Maranda, Ron Piche, Claude Raymond and Jean-Pierre Roy
Batter: Jay Johnstone
Hit: Dave Cash
Run: Greg Luzinski
RBI: Dane Iorg
Single: Dave Cash
Double: Dane Iorg
Triple: Garry Maddox, 4/16/77
Home Run: Ellis Valentine
Grand Slam: Mike Ivie, 5/20/77
Stolen Base: Ellis Valentine, 4/17/77
Win: Steve Carlton
Loss: Don Stanhouse
Shutout: Don Stanhouse, 4/19/77
Save: Bill Atkinson, 4/16/77
Hit by pitch: Don Stanhouse hit Steve Carlton
Wild pitch: Joe Kerrigan, 4/16/77
Balk: Steve Kline, 6/6/77
No-hitter: Charlie Lea, 5/10/81
Game: 4/15/-77 – Philadelphia 7, Montreal 2
Umpires: Frank Pulli, Dutch Rennert, John Kibler and Nick Colosi
Managers: Danny Ozark, Philadelphia; Dick Williams, Montreal
Starting pitchers: Steve Carlton, Philadelphia; Don Stanhouse, Montreal
Ceremonial First Pitch: Raymond Daviault, Gus Dugas, Tim Harness, Georges
Maranda, Ron Piche, Claude Raymond and Jean-Pierre Roy
Batter: Jay Johnstone
Hit: Dave Cash
Run: Greg Luzinski
RBI: Dane Iorg
Single: Dave Cash
Double: Dane Iorg
Triple: Garry Maddox, 4/16/77
Home Run: Ellis Valentine
Grand Slam: Mike Ivie, 5/20/77
Stolen Base: Ellis Valentine, 4/17/77
Win: Steve Carlton
Loss: Don Stanhouse
Shutout: Don Stanhouse, 4/19/77
Save: Bill Atkinson, 4/16/77
Hit by pitch: Don Stanhouse hit Steve Carlton
Wild pitch: Joe Kerrigan, 4/16/77
Balk: Steve Kline, 6/6/77
No-hitter: Charlie Lea, 5/10/81
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Olympic Stadium