TUSKEGEE, Ala. – Tuskegee sports fans will soon experience a brighter and modernized game day atmosphere when they cheer on the Golden Tigers at a trio of outdoor venues in the near future.
 
Abbot Memorial Alumni Stadium, Washington Field, and the TU Softball Field will all undergo a significant change, adding stadium lighting to enhance the fan experience. This infrastructural improvement will invariably lead to Tuskegee University hosting its first night games since the institution was founded 143 years ago.

"We're really excited about the new lighting system on these three outdoor fields," said Tuskegee Director of Athletics Reginald Ruffin. "It's a way for us to take the game day atmosphere to another level for our student-athletes, alumni, and the entirety of our fan base. Besides allowing for night games, the new lights will extend practice hours and offer other opportunities. We want everything about our program to be first class, and these new lights will help us continue on that trajectory."

"The decision to illuminate the three athletic fields is a testament to President Charlotte Morris' and the Tuskegee University Board of Trustees' unwavering commitment to enhancing the students' experience," said Dr. Rolundus R. Rice, Chief Operating Officer/ Vice President of Student Affairs. Rice continued, "We will continue engaging all university stakeholders, especially the Tuskegee University National Athletic Association (TUNAA) and the individual donors who continue support our student athletes."   

Not only do student-athletes, spectators, officials and game day staff benefit from the enhanced lighting but broadcasting and production quality ameliorates to NCAA broadcast levels. This improvement is particularly impactful for any upcoming games on the ESPN family of networks and TU's Golden Tiger Sports Network, vastly improving the quality of nighttime broadcasts.

Abbott Memorial Stadium and Washington Field are two of the most historic venues on campus, as the football stadium, formerly known as the Alumni Bowl, held its first game in 1925. The stadium was the first of its kind to be built at any Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the South. The edifice was originally named in honor of the alumni due to the significant contributions that graduates of the institution made toward the construction of the facility.
 
The 99-year-old stadium witnessed upgrades in 1989 and 1991, respectively, with the construction of the field house, followed by another installation of seating, reconstructed press box, and Pepsi Cola scoreboard. Additional improvements started in 2022 with a new turf field and the renovation of "The Shed" and the erection of a new LED video board.
 
After seventy-one years of play in the grand old stadium, University officials formally dedicated the facility by renaming it the Cleve L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium on November 9, 1996 (Homecoming) in honor of legendary Tuskegee football mentor Cleveland Leigh Abbott.  Abbott, the most successful coach in the 106-year history of Tuskegee football, served as the Golden Tigers' head coach from 1923-1954, winning 95 and tying 27 in a 32-year coaching span.
 
Washington Field is the home of Tuskegee Baseball. The facility was named after James B. Washington, the brother of President Booker T. Washington in 1890. James Washington was affectionately referred to as "the Father of Athletics at Tuskegee." He organized the first baseball team in 1892. The baseball team played at Washington Field until it was deemed unplayable in 2012, when the program moved their games to Paterson Field in Montgomery.

In 2016, the Tuskegee Athletic Department and the baseball program began to address upgrades needed to the facility by starting the Washington Field Renovation Project. The project raised upwards of $200,000 and was slated to include six phases of renovations. Updates included renovations to the batting cages, dugouts, bullpens, and both first and third baseline fencing. Renovations also included newly installed infield irrigation and drainage systems, restored infield topsoil and sod, reconstructed pitching mound and home plate, along with a new chain link/netting backstop system. Final touches included the Atlanta Braves gifting a full weather protectant field tarp, a 2020 John Deere Gator for field upkeep, and a brand-new LED scoreboard from Coca-Cola United.

The Tuskegee University baseball program returned home to the facility after nine years of hosting home games in Montgomery as they hosted LeMoyne-Owen College on campus on Saturday, March 21, 2020. The dedication for the renovated Washington Field took place before the first pitch to start the game.  

Work on the lighting project is still in progress but will be finished in time for the 2024-25 academic school year.

How to Follow the Golden Tigers: For complete information on Tuskegee Golden Tigers Football, visit GoldenTigerSports.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and  Facebook.