The construction of Indian Stadium was finished in 1974 and the Arkansas State football team began play there the same year. The original cost
of the stadium was $2.5 million of which $1.4 million was raised by friends and alumni of the university. The first game played in the stadium was
on September 28, 1974 against Louisiana Tech University and Arkansas State lost 21 - 7. The first victory in the stadium was a 14 - 7 win over
Eastern Michigan University on October 5, 1974. A dedication game was played on November 2, 1974 against Northeast Louisiana University and
Arkansas State won the game 17 - 14.
The stadium originally had a capacity of 16,343 when it first opened. This was upgraded in 1980 to a capacity of 18,709. Further expansion was
completed in 1991, when Arkansas State moved up to Division I and new capacity requirements had to be met to keep up with this status. The
grandstand was double-decked with seats and Indian Stadium had a four level press area that includes the press box and two donor levels:
Happy Hunting Grounds and Chiefs Council. The area also includes a photo deck complete with an area for filming, Visiting Team AD Suite and
coaches booths for both teams. In 2001, a video/scoreboard was erected in the South end zone which cost more than a million dollars to
purchase and construct.
In 2002, more changes came to the stadium. The players and coaches of the school moved into a brand new complex that included office space
for coaches, dressing rooms, meeting rooms, and player lounges. When these areas are not being used by staff and players they are used for
several different purposes. These areas become suites used during football games, academic study areas for players and students, conference
rooms, alumni functions, booster meetings, and recruitment purposes. The complex now houses a place known as the Performance
Enhancement Center. Inside this center there are several different areas that include the Athletic Training Center, Strength and Conditioning
Center, Student-Athletic Academic Success Center, a computer lab, and other various offices and rooms. In 2005, it was announced that
Arkansas State University would replace the natural Bermuda grass field with FieldTurf at a cost of $500,000. However, Pro Green synthetic
grass was installed in Indian Stadium prior to the start of the 2006 season.
The largest crowd ever in attendance at Indian Stadium saw Arkansas State take on the 25th ranked Tigers from the University of Memphis in
2004. The final attendance stood at 30,427 and was designated as a sellout. Arkansas State lost the game 47 - 35. The record before was a
crowd of 29,465, that watched the Indians play the University of Central Arkansas Bears. The best average attendance in the stadium's history
was during the 2006 season when Arkansas State drew an average of 17,882 spectators in the stadium.[citation needed]
The stadium was also used for a very brief period to showcase a game between the two largest high schools in the Jonesboro-area. The game
pitted Jonesboro High School against cross-town rival Nettleton High School. The game was suspended temporarily after Jonesboro won the first
two games in blowouts. The average stadium attendance for these game was over 7,000. The rivalry was renewed for the 2006 high school
football season and the two schools again play in Indian Stadium for the game. Jonesboro won the 2006 game, but it was closer than the
previous games. The final score was 44-38.
