Marquette Stadium opened on October 18, 1924, at North 36th Street and West Clybourn Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Marquette University’s football team defeating John Carroll College 10-3 in the dedication game. Built for about $175,000, the horseshoe-shaped grandstand quickly became one of the city’s premier athletic venues, seating around 24,000 fans with room to expand to 30,000 using temporary bleachers.
For over three decades the stadium anchored Milwaukee sports, hosting Marquette’s Golden Avalanche football program until the university discontinued the sport in 1960, plus track meets, soccer, and even a brief stint as home turf for the Green Bay Packers in 1952 while Milwaukee County Stadium was still under construction. After football faded from its schedule, the grandstand was torn down in 1976, and the site was eventually redeveloped as Marquette University High School’s Quad Park athletic complex in 1998.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Marquette Golden Avalanche football; Green Bay Packers (1952 season)
- Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Opened: October 18, 1924
- Demolished: 1976
- Capacity: About 24,000 (expandable to 30,000)
- Notable fact: Hosted Jesse Owens and Ralph Metcalfe in the 1934 AAU track meet
A College Gridiron with NFL Ties
Marquette Stadium was built primarily for the Golden Avalanche football program, but its most unusual chapter came in 1952, when the Green Bay Packers played a trio of regular-season home games there because Milwaukee County Stadium wasn’t yet finished. The Packers won two of their three games on that borrowed turf, drawing crowds reported near 21,000 for the biggest matchups.
Marquette’s own football era ended in 1960, when the university cited financial pressures and dropped the sport altogether. The stadium kept hosting high school football, track, and soccer for years afterward, including games for Marquette University High School and the short-lived Milwaukee Panthers program in the early 1970s.
From Olympic Showcase to Vacant Lot
Beyond football, the stadium’s track was a magnet for major amateur athletics. The 1934 AAU championships drew future Olympic gold medalists Jesse Owens and Marquette’s own Ralph Metcalfe, who edged Owens in the 100-yard dash while Owens took the long jump title. The venue also drew a crowd of roughly 22,000 in 1951 for an honorary degree ceremony for General Douglas MacArthur.
With football gone and upkeep costs mounting, the grandstand was demolished in 1976. The cleared site sat largely dormant until 1998, when Marquette University High School acquired the land and built Quad Park, a modern track and soccer facility that continues the property’s athletic legacy today.
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Marquette Stadium FAQs
When did Marquette Stadium open and close?
It opened on October 18, 1924, and its grandstand was demolished in 1976, ending a 52-year run as one of Milwaukee’s main athletic venues.
Did an NFL team ever play at Marquette Stadium?
Yes. The Green Bay Packers played their 1952 home games there while Milwaukee County Stadium was still under construction, winning two of three contests.
What replaced Marquette Stadium?
After the site sat vacant for years, Marquette University High School purchased the land in 1998 and developed it into Quad Park, a track and soccer complex.
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