Thanks to a multi-year gift from the Knowlton Foundation, the facility which serves as home to Augustana's football and track & field programs is now known as the Austin E. Knowlton Outdoor Athletic Complex.
New facilities included in the Knowlton Complex, which opened in the fall of 2013, are Charles D. Lindberg Stadium, the Ken Anderson Academic All-America Club and the Players' Plaza and Viking Patio and Overlook. The Ericson Field playing surface was redone in the summer of 2012 and the Paul V. Olsen Track was installed in 2008.
The Austin E. Knowlton Outdoor Athletic Complex is named in honor of the late Ohio businessman and philanthropist Austin E. Knowlton, who founded the Knowlton Foundation and funded it throughout his lifetime and through a provision in his will. This is not the first time that Augustana has benefitted from the generosity of the Mr. Knowlton. Previous gifts from him include Knowlton's Ohio and Colorado homes, which were sold to fund the Austin E. Knowlton Memorial Scholarship and the Austin E. Knowlton Honors Program, both established in 2004. Those previous gifts came from Mr. Knowlton personally while this one comes from the Knowlton Foundation.
Charles D. Lindberg Stadium
The centerpiece of the Knowlton Complex is Lindberg Stadium, which is located on the north side of the facility. Lindberg Stadium has a three-story grandstand that includes team facilities with a spacious locker room, 110 lockers, training and taping facilities and team meeting rooms on the ground level. There is seating for 1,800 with chair-back seats along the 50-yard line and a designated student section. The second level, which overlooks the football playing field, includes offices for the football coaching staff, a conference room and display and reception areas. The third level houses the Dave Wrath Press Box and suites for entertainment and recruiting.
Ken Anderson Academic All-America Club
A unique feature of the Knowlton Complex is the Anderson Academic All-America Club. This is a lively indoor gathering location with televisions, room to socialize during Viking contests, innovative concessions, and picture-window views of the game-day action. This building features Viking football memorabilia and a display featuring Academic All-Americans. The Anderson Club will be open throughout the year for social gatherings and meetings of up to 80 people.
Players' Plaza
The Players' Plaza provides a new entrance to the Knowlton Complex and serves as a gathering place for fans before and after games. The plaza is located at the Northwest corner of the complex adjacent to the Carver Center and parking lot designed for tailgating during the football season.
Viking Patio and Overlook
A fourth new component of the complex is the Viking Patio and Overlook. This area serves as a place where fans can gather to watch the game from the northwest corner of the field between the Anderson Club and Lindberg Stadium. It includes a concession area and a tremendous view of Augustana's landmark building, Old Main.
The original facility that sits on the south side of the Knowlton Complex was built in 1936, doubled in size in 1962 and is now the visitor's section.
Ericson Field
Located in the far northeast corner of the Augustana College campus, Ericson Field is the football and track home of the Vikings. The field is named after Senator Charles J.A. Ericson who died in Boone, Iowa in 1910.
Charles Ericson was born in the Province of Calmer, Sweden, and moved to America (and Moline) when he was 12. Although he went to school in Moline, Charles hunted and fished in the area where the stadium that bears his name now stands. After moving from the Quad Cities when he was 19, he moved to Mineral Ridge, Iowa where he opened a general store and eventually helped organize the First National Bank of Boone in 1872.
He became interested in politics and in 1895 was elected as a state senator in Iowa. When he died in 1910, Ericson left Augustana College with 260 acres of farmland in Iowa that was also rich in coal. Then he added $13,000.00 to help the school buy land for an athletic field.
He placed three conditions on his gift. The land was priced at $26,000.00 and Mr. Ericson stipulated that Augustana College should raise the other $13,000.00; that the tract of land at Fifth Avenue and 38th Street be purchased since he played there as a boy and that the field be named Ericson Athletic Field.
In the summer of 2002 a new synthetic turf was installed on the playing field and lights were added. The field was resurfaced again in the summer of 2012.
Paul V. Olsen Track
Augustana's nine-lane track was completely resurfaced in 2008, as were the pole vault, long and triple jump and javelin runways. It is a full-pour, polyurethane Tartan surface, which contains 14 percent rubber and 86 percent polyurethane -- the exact same track you will find at the U.S. Olympic Training site in San Diego.
