Walter P Moore Structured University of Phoenix Stadium Hosts College Football Playoff Championship

For the second year in a row, the College Football Champion will be crowned at a Walter P Moore designed facility. Walter P Moore was engineer of record for State Farm Stadium (formerly University of Phoenix Stadium) that is hosting tonight’s championship matchup between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers at 8:30 PM Eastern time on ESPN. This one of a kind facility opened in 2006 and features an inclined retractable roof and the first rolling field at a North American sports facility. 

The 100,000 square foot retractable roof is supported by two Brunel trusses each spanning 700 feet. Over half of the roof was assembled on the ground and then lifted into place as one piece. The 5,400 ton lift was the largest single lift in North America at the time. The rolling field allows a natural grass field to grow in full sunlight outside the stadium while the interior of the stadium simultaneously functions as a multi-use event center.

The College Football Playoff Championship game is the latest in many championships State Farm Stadium has hosted including:

2015 – Super Bowl XLIX

2011 – BCS National Championship Game

2008 - Super Bowl XLII

2007 – BCS National Championship Game

Additionally it will serve as a host site for the Copa America Centario in 2016 and the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four.

Moore State Farm Stadium news here.