BACKGROUND
Located in southern Akron, the Rubber Bowl was a stadium that primarily hosted football games. In 1939, a movement was started that prompted Summit County to build a stadium in the city of Akron, and later that year, construction for the horseshoe-shaped stadium began. After a year of development, the Rubber Bowl was opened in 1940 and hosted a state music and drilling competition, the opening events, in June. The Akron Zips football team began playing their games there and played their first game on October 5, 1940. In 1971, the University of Akron purchased the stadium for a total of $1 from the city. The Zips would continue to play a total of 323 games at the stadium up until 2008. The stadium was also used by many other teams for games, including Akron high school football teams, the Kent State Golden Flashes football team, the Cleveland Rams and Cleveland Browns of the NFL, and other sporting events.
The Rubber Bowl was also used as a performance venue, where they hosted the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1944. Several music groups including Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Rolling Stones performed there in the 1970s. During the 1980s, Jon Bon Jovi, Van Halen, the Scorpions, Metallica, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bob Dylan, and Grateful Dead all performed there during tours. The stadium hosted the Veterans Memorial Jam concert featuring Aretha Franklin, Ringo Starr, and Three Dog Night in 1997 and Ozzfest in 1998.
With the Rubber Bowl in disrepair and being located several miles away from the university campus, the University of Akron began considering the feasibility of constructing a new stadium on campus. Of course, these plans threatened the Rubber Bowl, leaving future plans for the field unknown. In 2007, plans for the new stadium began, with construction and the opening taking place over the next two years. In result, the stadium closed in 2008 and became abandoned. Over the next several years, the Rubber Bowl was purchased by a marketing group called Team1 with plans to convert the stadium into an entertainment center or start USFL games there, but plans of that seemed to fall through. As of September 22, 2017, the city of Akron has announced that they plan on demolishing the stadium.
The Rubber Bowl was also used as a performance venue, where they hosted the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1944. Several music groups including Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Rolling Stones performed there in the 1970s. During the 1980s, Jon Bon Jovi, Van Halen, the Scorpions, Metallica, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bob Dylan, and Grateful Dead all performed there during tours. The stadium hosted the Veterans Memorial Jam concert featuring Aretha Franklin, Ringo Starr, and Three Dog Night in 1997 and Ozzfest in 1998.
With the Rubber Bowl in disrepair and being located several miles away from the university campus, the University of Akron began considering the feasibility of constructing a new stadium on campus. Of course, these plans threatened the Rubber Bowl, leaving future plans for the field unknown. In 2007, plans for the new stadium began, with construction and the opening taking place over the next two years. In result, the stadium closed in 2008 and became abandoned. Over the next several years, the Rubber Bowl was purchased by a marketing group called Team1 with plans to convert the stadium into an entertainment center or start USFL games there, but plans of that seemed to fall through. As of September 22, 2017, the city of Akron has announced that they plan on demolishing the stadium.
THE MISSION
Members: Brandon Greavu, Jacob Andrews, Seth Richards, Christian Grimm, Joey Crowl
Date: February 18-19, 2017
Report: After a semi-successful trip to Edwin Shaw Hospital on the late night of February 18th, 2017, we traveled north up into Akron to visit the Akron Rubber Bowl. We arrived to the abandoned football stadium some time around midnight and parked on a little drive on George Washington Boulevard east of the stadium (according to the map below).
However, there was a large stone wall separating the inside of the stadium from the outside. We were able to climb on top of the wall and get a glimpse of the inside. The drop was too far and could risk an injury, so we decided to climb back down and find another way in. But suddenly, we saw a flashlight in the middle of the field, and we continued to notice several other people inside. We quickly got down to find another way in, and as we looked over, we noticed yet another group of people walking down towards the field. They looked over and noticed us as well, and they took off running. We started running after them until they lead us to a large entrance into the stadium at the north side. They stopped, out of breath, and we started talking to them. Turns out they're just another group of explorers who thought we were cops or something.
As we entered the Rubber Bowl, the field turf was tore up and the bleachers were crumbling to pieces. There were about 3-4 other groups present, a total of about 10 other people. Almost all of them were about our age and were pretty friendly. We were all able to fully explore the stadium — the field, the stands, the press-box, etc. We brought a football with us and were throwing the football back and forth on the field. When we went to check out the press-box, there was no staircase or ladder to get up there. Instead, there was only a rope that was tied about 25 feet above us. With the teamwork of the other explorers, we were able to climb up the rope to the top of the press box. We eventually climbed down and figured it was time to leave.
We said goodbye to the other groups, and went to the top of the stands to the east. We sat at the top for about 15 minutes and enjoyed the Akron city lights until we decided to get going. We climbed on top of the wall and walked along it until we got to where our car was. Overall, the Rubber Bowl was such a unique place as it's not something we would usually go to, and while we didn't encounter anything paranormal, we still had a fun and interesting experience.
Date: February 18-19, 2017
Report: After a semi-successful trip to Edwin Shaw Hospital on the late night of February 18th, 2017, we traveled north up into Akron to visit the Akron Rubber Bowl. We arrived to the abandoned football stadium some time around midnight and parked on a little drive on George Washington Boulevard east of the stadium (according to the map below).
However, there was a large stone wall separating the inside of the stadium from the outside. We were able to climb on top of the wall and get a glimpse of the inside. The drop was too far and could risk an injury, so we decided to climb back down and find another way in. But suddenly, we saw a flashlight in the middle of the field, and we continued to notice several other people inside. We quickly got down to find another way in, and as we looked over, we noticed yet another group of people walking down towards the field. They looked over and noticed us as well, and they took off running. We started running after them until they lead us to a large entrance into the stadium at the north side. They stopped, out of breath, and we started talking to them. Turns out they're just another group of explorers who thought we were cops or something.
As we entered the Rubber Bowl, the field turf was tore up and the bleachers were crumbling to pieces. There were about 3-4 other groups present, a total of about 10 other people. Almost all of them were about our age and were pretty friendly. We were all able to fully explore the stadium — the field, the stands, the press-box, etc. We brought a football with us and were throwing the football back and forth on the field. When we went to check out the press-box, there was no staircase or ladder to get up there. Instead, there was only a rope that was tied about 25 feet above us. With the teamwork of the other explorers, we were able to climb up the rope to the top of the press box. We eventually climbed down and figured it was time to leave.
We said goodbye to the other groups, and went to the top of the stands to the east. We sat at the top for about 15 minutes and enjoyed the Akron city lights until we decided to get going. We climbed on top of the wall and walked along it until we got to where our car was. Overall, the Rubber Bowl was such a unique place as it's not something we would usually go to, and while we didn't encounter anything paranormal, we still had a fun and interesting experience.
LOCATION
Address: 890 George Washington Boulevard
Akron, Ohio 44312
Coordinates: 41°02'21.9"N 81°27'22.0"W
Status: Abandoned
Akron, Ohio 44312
Coordinates: 41°02'21.9"N 81°27'22.0"W
Status: Abandoned
GALLERY
The pictures displayed below were taken by members of the group during the first mission (February 18, 2017).