These photos chronicle Princeton Stadium construction during October-November 1997. Click on any of the previews to see a larger image.

Work begins in earnest on the visitors lower deck; the low wall in the foreground is the front of the stands, where they meet the field. On the gravel-covered slope, wooden forms shape the seats on which thousands will soon sit. Beyond the seats, the outside wall rises rapidly.

Work on the home sides' seats is progressing ahead of the visitors' (as well it should be). The structures just behind and above the lower deck are the Y-shaped supports for the portals into the upper deck. Behind those supports is the start of the outside horseshoe-shaped wall; soon it will reach the same height as the already-completed section on the left. If you look very closely at the photo on the left, you may spot three white wishbone-shaped supports slightly left of center; they will help support the upper deck.

On the left is a view of the visitors' concourse from the north; the large structure on the left is the first section of the outer wall, and in the foreground are pipes associated with utilities. Just inside the outer wall are the foundations for the Y-shaped supports that will become portals into the upper deck. The views in the middle and right are of the home concourse.

The upper deck's first section (sections 1 and 2, as it happens) is installed by early November, beginning on the home side. At the same time, seating for this side's lower deck nears completion. The photo on the right is a closeup of this section of the upper deck; you can see the small staircases that lead from the top of the lower deck (and the lower concourse level) into the portal used to enter the upper deck.

From the closed end of the stadium, you can see the how the upper deck is supported. A large diagonal concrete beam sits on the Y-shaped supports poured during the Fall. The top of the beam rests on two metal braces that are anchored to outside wall.

This view is from Jadwin Hall; on the right is a close-up showing sections 1 and 2 of the upper deck before the last rows of seats in section 2 are installed. The two metal braces supporting the upper end of the diagonal concrete beams are anchored to the outside wall at about halfway up the wall; these sections of the wall haven't reached their full height yet.

Another of the large concrete beams that will support the upper deck seating arrives on a trailer. (Those of you with season tickets on the home 50-yard line: this is the beam supporting your section!) Construction workers attach cables so a crane can raise it into position. On the right is the view from outside the outer wall, looking into one of the upper deck's portals; just below the portal is an entrance leading to to the top row of the lower deck.

From Jadwin Gym, you can see the long stairs one may climb from the track level up to the stadium's upper concourse level. At the top of the stairs is an entrance into the outside wall; within the wall a series of long ramps allow you to reach the top of the wall, where a gallery will extend around the stadium.

The seating for the upper deck grows rapidly; it arrives precast in sections of several rows at a time. There's a small gap between each row; a horizontal metal bar divides this gap into two smaller gaps. Each row sits on staircase-like notches in the large diagonal beam.

Surfacing of the track was completed in October; in November the lane markings are painted, bringing the track near to completion.

While work proceeds inside the stadium, the outside wall grows steadily; by late November it extends well past the Armory. For each section, first the lower half of the outer wall is erected, then the corresponding upper deck seats are installed, and finally the wall is topped off.

A view in late November from Peyton Hall; the Y-shaped supports are in place along the visitor's side. Also visible are footings for these supports in the (future) closed end of the stadium.