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The Monon Bell Classic, one of the oldest rivalries in college football played between Wabash and DePauw since 1890, will be take place at a neutral site for the first time since 1922 — at Ball State's Scheumann Stadium in Muncie.
The move comes as the football stadium at DePauw, where the 2026 Monon Bell was set to be played, is being demolished to make way for a new, ritzy, state-of-the-art athletic facility.
Historically, the game has alternated each year between Greencastle and Crawfordsville, but the location isn't what makes the Monon Bell special, says Stevie Baker-Watson, associate vice president for student wellness and Theodore Katula athletic director at DePauw.
“The Monon Bell Classic has always been about more than a football game," Baker-Watson said in a statement. "It is a celebration of one of the greatest rivalries in college athletics and a tradition that brings together generations of DePauw and Wabash alumni, students, families and fans."
Scheumann Stadium seats about 22,500 people, while Wabash's Little Giant Stadium has a 3,600 capacity and DePauw's former stadium seats about 3,000, opening up spots for people who have not been able to get tickets before.
But "to preserve the traditional environment," DePauw is the designated home team and will occupy the home side of the stadium, while Wabash will be the visiting team and Scheumann Stadium "will be strictly between both sets of fans," says the schools.
The primary football parking lots surrounding Scheumann Stadium will also be made available for gameday tailgating festivities. Tickets for the 132nd Monon Bell Classic Nov. 14 will go on sale in September.
An $80 million gift from an anonymous donor and alumnus of DePauw was announced in October by the university, which said it was one of the largest single gifts in DePauw's nearly 200-year history and among the most significant in NCAA Division III athletics.
DePauw is using the money to tear down its football stadium to make way for a 70,000-square-foot athletic facility named Blackstock Stadium and Performance Center.
Construction began in June with the demolition of the historic Blackstock Stadium. The new stadium and athletics performance center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2028.
More: Meet the Brad Stevens of DIII football, Indiana native Matt Walker (and Stevens' friend)
Although DePauw is hosting its other four 2026 home games on a temporary setup at Nick Mourouzis Field, the crowd sizes of the Monon Bell required a larger venue to safely accommodate all fans.
For those who can't make it to the game, the Monon Bell will be broadcast live on the ISC Sports Network. Local alumni telecast viewing parties will be announced by October.
More information about ticket sales, premium seating, parking and other logistics will be shared in coming months at www.depauwtigers.com.
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Monon Bell game heads to neutral site for first time in 104 years: Think big and chirp chirp
Continue reading...
The move comes as the football stadium at DePauw, where the 2026 Monon Bell was set to be played, is being demolished to make way for a new, ritzy, state-of-the-art athletic facility.
Historically, the game has alternated each year between Greencastle and Crawfordsville, but the location isn't what makes the Monon Bell special, says Stevie Baker-Watson, associate vice president for student wellness and Theodore Katula athletic director at DePauw.
“The Monon Bell Classic has always been about more than a football game," Baker-Watson said in a statement. "It is a celebration of one of the greatest rivalries in college athletics and a tradition that brings together generations of DePauw and Wabash alumni, students, families and fans."
Scheumann Stadium seats about 22,500 people, while Wabash's Little Giant Stadium has a 3,600 capacity and DePauw's former stadium seats about 3,000, opening up spots for people who have not been able to get tickets before.
But "to preserve the traditional environment," DePauw is the designated home team and will occupy the home side of the stadium, while Wabash will be the visiting team and Scheumann Stadium "will be strictly between both sets of fans," says the schools.
The primary football parking lots surrounding Scheumann Stadium will also be made available for gameday tailgating festivities. Tickets for the 132nd Monon Bell Classic Nov. 14 will go on sale in September.
Why DePauw can't host 2026 Monon Bell
An $80 million gift from an anonymous donor and alumnus of DePauw was announced in October by the university, which said it was one of the largest single gifts in DePauw's nearly 200-year history and among the most significant in NCAA Division III athletics.
DePauw is using the money to tear down its football stadium to make way for a 70,000-square-foot athletic facility named Blackstock Stadium and Performance Center.
Construction began in June with the demolition of the historic Blackstock Stadium. The new stadium and athletics performance center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2028.
More: Meet the Brad Stevens of DIII football, Indiana native Matt Walker (and Stevens' friend)
Although DePauw is hosting its other four 2026 home games on a temporary setup at Nick Mourouzis Field, the crowd sizes of the Monon Bell required a larger venue to safely accommodate all fans.
For those who can't make it to the game, the Monon Bell will be broadcast live on the ISC Sports Network. Local alumni telecast viewing parties will be announced by October.
More information about ticket sales, premium seating, parking and other logistics will be shared in coming months at www.depauwtigers.com.
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Monon Bell game heads to neutral site for first time in 104 years: Think big and chirp chirp
Continue reading...
