In 1938 Football Coach/Athletic Director Paul Brown and School Board member Dr. H.W. Bell proposed construction of an athletic field and stadium for Massillon to the Federal Public Works Administration. The proposal was approved for a cost of $246,000 with the Massillon City Board of Education to bear $96,000 of the price and the federal government the rest. The design included moving the stand cover at the Massillon Field to the west stands of the new stadium. Construction began in December 1938. The field was named Tiger Stadium and was completed for the Cleveland Cathedral Latin game on September 15, 1939 (Massillon won 40-13). Original seating capacity was 21, 345. In 1976 the field was renamed Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
The location is on 50 acres at the extension of Oak Street in Southeast Massillon. There is room for parking 4000 cars. The site now includes an excellent baseball field (Carl "Ducky" Schroeder Field), blacktop area for band practice, a football practice field and Washington High School which was completed in 1992.
In 1980 a levy was passed for major renovation of the stadium. The west stands were reinforced and refaced, temporary type construction of end zone seats was made permanent, track lanes were expanded and improved necessitating that some end zone seating and track temporary seating be removed. Seating capacity in the existing configuration is 18,000 (Home West Stands - 7730, Visitor East Stands - 5570, North End Zone - 1800, South End Zone - 1500, Temporary - 1400).
Press box facilities have been upgraded on the west side of the field and now have a capacity of 40 people. On the east side in 1990 a new press box and other improvements were constructed. There were new concession stands, and modernized restrooms on the first level and two upper levels for press box activities. On level two are conference and meeting rooms and on level three there are accommodations for 120 people to view activities in glass front environment controlled seating.
Other improvements to the stadium have occurred over the years. New lights were installed in 1955, 1977 and 1989, a new public address system was installed in 1989 and brick was replaced on the west stands in 1955. Plastic seat covers were installed in 1968. Orange is the dominant color and on the west side black spells "TIGERS." Locker rooms were modernized in 1994. New scoreboards were acquired in 1967, 1982, and 1993. A 400 car parking lot was added at the north side in 1997.
The first message board was designed and constructed by booster club labor and materials in 1974. This was replaced by a DAKTRONICS animated system in 1993. A new public address system was included in the project.
The playing surface received "Omni-Sand Turf" in 1989 and Astro Turf in 1999. The facility is recognized as one of the best football facilities in the state and is the site of State Football final games.
During the 2004 football season the stadium video display experienced serious electronic problems. It was evident that the eleven year old system should be replaced. The School Board turned the project over to the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club in December 2004. The club formed a committee and began soliciting donors for the $575,000 project.
A contract to go ahead for Daktronics Inc. was executed in May of 2005. The impressive display is 81 feet long and 27 feet 4 inches high, including a 15 feet by 18 feet TV quality video display.
Other features of the project include 25 second clocks, locker room clock, new signage at the seating area entrances and section signs. An independent 8 feet long and 4 feet high message marquee at the intersection 16 th St. S.E. and Lincoln Way East displays messages about school activities and community interest.
Sponsors for the project are:
AULTMAN HEALTH FOUNDATION
MASSILLON CABLE TV
PROGRESSIVE CHEVROLET
FIRST MERIT
MALONE COLLEGE
AULTCARE
BELL STORES
NIKE
SPECTRUM ORTHOPAEDICS
SUPERIOR ’S BRAND
