O'Brien Field, home for Panther football and outdoor track, is a 10,000 seat stadium with Hellas Matrix Turf that was installed in 2012. The running surface includes a 400 meter 9-lane track while the rest of the stadium has long jump pits, space for high jump and pole vault and throwing area for shot put.
The field was named after the late Maynard "Pat" O'Brien, former football, track and cross country coach and one of ten 'charter' members of EIU's Hall of Fame.
Originally constructed in 1970, a $2 million 'Reach for the 21st Century' renovation was completed in 1999 with new offices added for coaches, meeting and video rooms, locker room, expanded weight room and athletic training facilities.
Since the stadium first opened as Lincoln Field in 1970, six NCAA football post-season tournament playoff games have been held here. The Illinois High School Association annually hosts its boys and girls state track and field meets here which features nearly 5,000 competitors and over 15,000 spectators. A regional Special Olympics is also held in the stadium each spring.
From 1982-87 the stadium served as the summer home for the former St. Louis Cardinals football team. The 'Brighten O'Brien' capital project added lights and another level onto the press box in 1986.
Check out the new turf installed summer of 2023 (via drone footage)
