Rynearson Stadium has served as the home field of the Eastern Michigan Eagles football team since it opened on September 27, 1969, when EMU upset the University of Akron 10-3 in the stadium’s debut game. Located at 799 N. Hewitt Rd in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the venue is named for Elton J. Rynearson Sr., who coached EMU football for 26 seasons and compiled a record of 114-58-15. Fans and players affectionately call the stadium “The Factory.”
The stadium is best known for its unconventional gray playing surface, one of the few non-traditional field colors in Division I FBS football. In 2024, following a $1 million donation from NFL All-Pro and former EMU standout Maxx Crosby and his wife Rachel, the field was resurfaced and officially renamed “Maxx Crosby Field.” That same renovation removed the shared running track that had long encircled the gridiron, a feature once common among MAC stadiums.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Eastern Michigan Eagles (NCAA Division I FBS)
- Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan
- Opened: September 27, 1969
- Capacity: 30,200
- Surface: Gray FieldTurf, named Maxx Crosby Field (since 2024)
- Nickname: The Factory
- Notable fact: One of the few Division I FBS stadiums with a non-traditional gray playing surface
A Half-Century of Eagles Football
Since its 1969 opening, Rynearson Stadium has anchored Eastern Michigan’s football program through decades of Mid-American Conference play. Originally built with seating for about 15,500, it was expanded in stages, with major seating and lighting additions in 1974 and further east-side seating added in 1992 to reach its current 30,200-seat capacity. The surface itself has evolved over the years too, moving from natural grass to Astroturf in 1991, then to green FieldTurf in 2005, before adopting its now-signature gray turf in 2014. The stadium’s largest recorded crowd came on November 28, 2008, when 26,188 fans, roughly 87 percent of the venue’s 30,200-seat capacity, watched EMU edge Central Michigan 56-52.
For much of its history, the stadium’s football field shared space with a running track, a layout once common across MAC campuses. That changed in 2024 when the track was removed to make way for a dedicated playing surface, part of a broader renovation that also included construction of a separate outdoor track and field complex elsewhere on campus.
The Maxx Crosby Era
In 2024, Rynearson Stadium’s gray turf underwent a full replacement and the field itself was given a new identity. Former EMU defensive standout and Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro Maxx Crosby, along with his wife Rachel, donated $1 million to the university, and the playing surface was officially dedicated as Maxx Crosby Field on June 21, 2024. The gesture tied the stadium’s future to one of the program’s most prominent NFL alumni while preserving the gray-turf look that has made the venue instantly recognizable among college football fans.
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Rynearson Stadium FAQs
Who is Rynearson Stadium named after?
The stadium is named for Elton J. Rynearson Sr., who coached Eastern Michigan football for 26 seasons and led the team to a 114-58-15 record.
What is the capacity of Rynearson Stadium?
Rynearson Stadium currently seats 30,200 fans, following expansions in 1974 and 1992 from its original 1969 capacity of about 15,500.
Why does Rynearson Stadium have a gray field?
EMU installed gray FieldTurf in 2014 to give the stadium a distinctive look, making it one of the few Division I FBS venues with a non-traditional playing surface. The field was renamed Maxx Crosby Field in 2024 after a $1 million donation from the former EMU and NFL star.
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Photo: Eastern sid / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.