James M. Shuart

Kevin Crowley

Every September, Hofstra's football team takes the field for the home opener for another promising year. What they do not know is they are playing in the stadium of a great president for their university.

James M. Shuart Stadium, the home of the Hofstra's football team, is named after one of the University's great presidents, James M. Shuart. Shuart held the position from 1976-2001. In August 2002, 12 months after his presidency the stadium was officially dedicated to Shuart.

Shuart, who attends every home game held in the stadium, has a long association with Hofstra. He graduated from the university in 1953. Shuart’s family holds great honor in knowing how respected Shuart is in the Hofstra community.

Brendan Flagler, Shuart’s grandson, says about his grandfather “To this day he is still so proud of the Hofstra community and loves to watch how much they have grown throughout his time with the University.” Elizabeth Flagler, Shuart’s daughter, said about her father “Growing up it was so exciting to see how much my father cared about all the students. Most parents say they have two kids they have three kids, my father use to say he has a whole university full of kids.”

The stadium was extended from 7,000 to a 15,000 seat capacity. The stadium also includes a brand new lighting system for a TV broadcast, a new Athletic Department building, two new entrances, additional parking, souvenir areas, two locker rooms, and two new brand new scoreboards. Making the stadium the largest outdoor sports and entertainment complex on Long Island.

Shuart told Hofstra.edu, "The renovation and expansion of the Stadium provides our students, alumni, visitors and friends with a first-class facility in which to practice, play or watch their favorite sport, it is one of the top on-campus intercollegiate sports facilities, indoor or outdoor, in the New York metropolitan area."

The stadium has opened itself for not only Hofstra events, but all events involving the Long Island community. Both Nassau and New York State High School championships for football and lacrosse are played in the stadium. It has also hosted NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championships Quarterfinals, the Outback Steakhouse Long Island All-Star Football game, the Long Island Lizards of Major League Lacrosse, and many Long Island high school championship games.

Although maximum capacity is 15,000, the largest two totals for attendance are 12,292 and 10,510. The 12,292 came to see Hofstra play John Hopkins in a quarterfinals lacrosse match in 1999. In 2001, the 10,510 fans came to see Hofstra and Syracuse play.