photographs of abandoned places #15

Akron Rubber Bowl

From a distance, Akron Rubber Bowl (L), Derby Downs (R)

People who do not live in Akron, it is a little surprising that a football stadium is next to the Soap Box Derby. They were both built by President Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration. Derby Downs in 1936, and the Rubber Bowl in 1939-40. Capacity is some 35,000.

University of Akron (Zips) played 32 football games between 1940 and 2008. Occasionally the Cleveland Browns played an exhibition game there. One regular NFL game was played there, the Dallas Texans had their only win, Thanksgiving 1952 over the Chicago Bears. Many high school games, and concerts played there. Circuses came, and other shows.

In 2013 the stadium was bought for 38,000 by a company hoping to get a non-NFL professional team. It did not happen.  In 2015 a proposed hip-hop concert fell through. The company did not pay property taxes to the county.

Vandalism has been a problem. Graffiti, some obscene (which prevents sharing of some fotos), some odd (Serbian nationalism) is heavy. Weeds grow in the cement, but not on the field. The 2003 carpet's color has not faded.

I added this edited foto in 2020, the entrance is now gone. In the upper left, i "painted" out an obscene graffito.

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update:  demolition began 20 June 2018