Sooners to celebrate 100-year anniversary of OU Memorial Stadium during 2024 season

The Palace on the Prairie has a milestone anniversary this season as Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium turns 100 years old this season.

A century of Oklahoma football has been played in this historic venue since it first opened in 1925. The stadium opened as a 16,000-seat facility at a cost of around $300,000. It was named in honor of the university personnel who died in World War I.

Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, like many 20th century college athletic facilities, has gone through a number of evolutions over the years, the most recent improvements being completed in 2016 with the total enclosure of the south end zone seating bowl. Current seating capacity is just over 80,000.

The Sooners have won 82 percent of their games played at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium with an all-time record of 418-86-15. All seven of their national championship season have been played in this stadium, considered one of the best venues in all of college football.

OU will be honoring the many memories and historic accomplishments that have occurred in the history of the stadium throughout the summer and into and during the 2024 football season, Oklahoma's first as a member of the Southeastern Conference.

The celebration activities actually began last month with a 100-day "Stadium Scrapbook" countdown to the season kickoff on Aug. 30 against Temple. According to a press release issue by the OU athletic department, "OU's football social media accounts will spotlight an interesting fact or a significant moment, performance or record that helped shape the history of one of the country's most recognized collegiate stadiums."

During the season, the school will celebrate the 100th year of the stadium with a series of themes for each of Oklahoma's seven home games of the 2024 season.

Temple on Aug. 30 -- Remembering the Barry Switzer era of Sooner football.

Houston on Sept. 7 -- Activities will focus on the Bud Wilkinson era.

Tulane on Sept. 14 -- Will highlight the Bennie Owens era.

Tennessee on Sept. 21 -- The spotlight will be on "record performances" in the 100 years of the stadium.

South Carolina on Oct. 19 -- "Sooner Magic moments" is the theme.

Maine on Nov. 2 -- "Fan-favorite moments" is the featured theme.

Alabama on Nov. 30 -- The Bob Stoops era (1999-2016) will be features.

Additionally, a microsite will be created on Soonersports.com, and over the summer the site will be used to spotlight the 99 years of the stadium's history.