Louis R. Pietzsch founded a public junior college in Beaumont's South Park. He had become intensely interested in the junior college movement while enrolled in summer school at the University of Chicago in 1918, and by 1921, was convinced that South Park should have a junior college.
Lamar University started on September 17, 1923 as South Park Junior College, operating on the unused third floor of the new South Park High School, Pietzsch acted as the first president of the college. South Park Junior College became the first college in Texas to receive Texas Department of Education approval during the first year of operation, and became fully accredited in 1925.
Provost Umphrey Stadium (previously Cardinal Stadium) is a 16,000-seatmulti-purpose stadium in Beaumont, Texas. The stadium, home to the Lamar Cardinals football team, is located next to the Montagne Center on the campus of Lamar University. While primarily used for football, Provost Umphrey Stadium is also a concert venue with seating up to 20,000 for concerts. The stadium was completely renovated in 2009 and is designed to allow for a future expansion to 28,000.
Stadium Features
Main seating areas
The stadium is configured in a predominantly northeast-southwest placement with two sides of seating. Entrance into the stadium is via one of four entrance gates located at the Southwest, Northwest, Southeast, and Northeast of the stadium. Ticket booths are located near the gates. Seating access to each of the stadium sides is provided at street level through a covered concourse. Concessions, six areas in total, as well as twelve rest room facilities are located in the concourse area. In addition, flat screen televisions are located throughout. Large photographic murals from games in the earlier days of the stadium are mounted on the concourse walls.
The lone Bluegrass Bowl was held here in 1958. Cardinal Stadium was home to the Louisville Raiders football team from 1960 through 1962. It was the home to two minor league baseball teams in Louisville: the Louisville Colonels in 1968-1972 and the Louisville Redbirds in 1982-1999. It was to be the home of the American LeagueKansas City Athletics when their owner Charles O. Finley signed a contract to move the team to Louisville in 1964, but the American League owners voted against the move. The Kentucky Trackers of the AFA played at Cardinal Stadium 1979-1980. It also served as the home of the University of Louisville football team from 1957-1997 and their baseball team 1998-2004. It was also used heavily as a high school football stadium, hosting state championship games from 1964-2002, including hosting all four state championship games played annually 1979-2002. Several local schools also played some games in Cardinal Stadium prior to 1998, including the annual St. Xavier-Trinity rivalry featuring the two major boys Catholic high schools in the city.
The stadium seats 3,500 and boasts a state-of-the-art synthetic FieldTurf surface and a Daktronics scoreboard, installed in 2007. Bleachers are located on the eastern side of the stadium and is separated from the playing field by an eight-lane track.
Virtual Tour. Welcome to the Provost Umphrey Stadium at Lamar University!
Our Cardinal Football team is proud to call Provost Umphrey Stadium our Home. Our stadium can seat 16,000 cardinal fans, including a state of the art scoreboard, a covered concourse area for concessions, a spirit bell, and many other amenities.
SO grab your tickets and LU Merchandise and come out to the Provost Umphrey Stadium and join us for some Cardinal Football!
published: 06 Feb 2021
Vincent Beck Stadium | Lamar University
Virtual Tour. Welcome to Vincent- Beck Stadium home to our Lamar University Cardinal Baseball team!
Our facilities can hold over 3,300 people and include Astroturf, covered batting cages, and locker rooms. The Stadium features a 3-foot high brick wall that extends from dugout to dugout behind home plate. The field also includes a 20-foot tall "batters' eye" in centerfield and foul poles down both the right and left-field lines.
Grab those peanuts and Crackerjacks and come cheer on the Lamar University Cardinal Baseball Team at Vincent-Beck Stadium
published: 24 May 2021
Cardinal View at Lamar University
Here's a preview of what Cardinal View will look like.
Learn more at lamar.edu/cardinalview
published: 08 Jul 2019
Lamar University Athletics Facilities Tour
We may be stuck inside right now, but we won't be forever. Take a look at our beautiful facilities!
#WeAreLU
published: 03 Apr 2020
CFA Stadium Spotlight Lamar Cardinals
This College Football America Stadium Spotlight features Provost Umphrey Stadium, the home of the Lamar Cardinals.
published: 16 Aug 2017
Lamar University Cardinals kick off football season with game against Idaho Vandals
Lamar's next home game is on September 9, 2023 against University of Louisiana Monroe.
published: 01 Sep 2023
Lamar University Football adds 12 to squad
Lamar Cardinals sign 12 new players to help bolster the team offensively and defensively.
published: 08 Feb 2024
Welcome to Lamar University
published: 30 Jun 2021
Lamar University Cardinal Football - Weber Intl
First kick off for Lamar at home in 20 years. LU! @ Provost Umphrey Stadium. Lllllllllllll U!!!!!!!!
published: 12 Sep 2010
Inside Lamar University Cardinals #1 | EightLane News
Lamar Cardinals Matt Johnsen and Joe Wade take us around Lamar University and show an insight into it's fantastic facilities.
Virtual Tour. Welcome to the Provost Umphrey Stadium at Lamar University!
Our Cardinal Football team is proud to call Provost Umphrey Stadium our Home. Our st...
Virtual Tour. Welcome to the Provost Umphrey Stadium at Lamar University!
Our Cardinal Football team is proud to call Provost Umphrey Stadium our Home. Our stadium can seat 16,000 cardinal fans, including a state of the art scoreboard, a covered concourse area for concessions, a spirit bell, and many other amenities.
SO grab your tickets and LU Merchandise and come out to the Provost Umphrey Stadium and join us for some Cardinal Football!
Virtual Tour. Welcome to the Provost Umphrey Stadium at Lamar University!
Our Cardinal Football team is proud to call Provost Umphrey Stadium our Home. Our stadium can seat 16,000 cardinal fans, including a state of the art scoreboard, a covered concourse area for concessions, a spirit bell, and many other amenities.
SO grab your tickets and LU Merchandise and come out to the Provost Umphrey Stadium and join us for some Cardinal Football!
Virtual Tour. Welcome to Vincent- Beck Stadium home to our Lamar University Cardinal Baseball team!
Our facilities can hold over 3,300 people and include Astr...
Virtual Tour. Welcome to Vincent- Beck Stadium home to our Lamar University Cardinal Baseball team!
Our facilities can hold over 3,300 people and include Astroturf, covered batting cages, and locker rooms. The Stadium features a 3-foot high brick wall that extends from dugout to dugout behind home plate. The field also includes a 20-foot tall "batters' eye" in centerfield and foul poles down both the right and left-field lines.
Grab those peanuts and Crackerjacks and come cheer on the Lamar University Cardinal Baseball Team at Vincent-Beck Stadium
Virtual Tour. Welcome to Vincent- Beck Stadium home to our Lamar University Cardinal Baseball team!
Our facilities can hold over 3,300 people and include Astroturf, covered batting cages, and locker rooms. The Stadium features a 3-foot high brick wall that extends from dugout to dugout behind home plate. The field also includes a 20-foot tall "batters' eye" in centerfield and foul poles down both the right and left-field lines.
Grab those peanuts and Crackerjacks and come cheer on the Lamar University Cardinal Baseball Team at Vincent-Beck Stadium
Virtual Tour. Welcome to the Provost Umphrey Stadium at Lamar University!
Our Cardinal Football team is proud to call Provost Umphrey Stadium our Home. Our stadium can seat 16,000 cardinal fans, including a state of the art scoreboard, a covered concourse area for concessions, a spirit bell, and many other amenities.
SO grab your tickets and LU Merchandise and come out to the Provost Umphrey Stadium and join us for some Cardinal Football!
Virtual Tour. Welcome to Vincent- Beck Stadium home to our Lamar University Cardinal Baseball team!
Our facilities can hold over 3,300 people and include Astroturf, covered batting cages, and locker rooms. The Stadium features a 3-foot high brick wall that extends from dugout to dugout behind home plate. The field also includes a 20-foot tall "batters' eye" in centerfield and foul poles down both the right and left-field lines.
Grab those peanuts and Crackerjacks and come cheer on the Lamar University Cardinal Baseball Team at Vincent-Beck Stadium
Louis R. Pietzsch founded a public junior college in Beaumont's South Park. He had become intensely interested in the junior college movement while enrolled in summer school at the University of Chicago in 1918, and by 1921, was convinced that South Park should have a junior college.
Lamar University started on September 17, 1923 as South Park Junior College, operating on the unused third floor of the new South Park High School, Pietzsch acted as the first president of the college. South Park Junior College became the first college in Texas to receive Texas Department of Education approval during the first year of operation, and became fully accredited in 1925.