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The planning process began on November 2, 1965, when the Whitewater State University Student Council passed a resolution to support a fundraising drive for a new stadium. The official stadium fund drive began on October 1, 1966, led by drive chairman Forrest Perkins, also the head coach of the football team at the time. After three years of planning and fundraising, the stadium received bids totaling 1.2 million US dollars on May 8, 1969, and the Building Commission gave final approval on May 12 of that same year. [3]<\/a> Construction was completed in Summer 1970, and campus held the dedication on September 11 of that fall semester. The new stadium was to seat up to 14,000 fans and feature a press box. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The stadium dedication ceremony was held on September 10, 1970, and featured music artist Neil Diamond. Diamond, a New York native, had been on the scene throughout the 1960s, having achieved top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 by 1970 that included \u201cCherry, Cherry,\u201d \u201cSweet Caroline,\u201d and \u201cHolly Holy.\u201d[5]<\/a> The dedication concert was a big hit, as 7,000 people turned out to see the budding star perform. According to those who attended, Diamond \u201cdid as much moving around on stage as any musical performer ever did\u201d and \u201cshowed all the charisma necessary to hold the attention of such a large gathering under anything but ideal conditions.\u201d[6]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n [1]<\/a> \u201cCostley is \u2018Costly\u2019 in Warhawk 35-10 Dedication Game Loss to Texas Trinity,\u201d The Whitewater Register<\/em>, September 10, 1970.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [2]<\/a> UW-Whitewater Archives and Area Research Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [3]<\/a> \u201cPlans for Stadium Started in 1965,\u201d The Whitewater Register<\/em>, September 10, 1970.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [4]<\/a> UW-Whitewater Archives and Area Research Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [5]<\/a> \u201cNeil Diamond Chart History,\u201d Billboard Hot 100, accessed November 2, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [6]<\/a> Dale Reich, \u201cStadium Dedication Features Diamond,\u201d The Royal Purple<\/em>, September 15, 1970.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This was written by Jacob Ober On September 11, 1970, UW-Whitewater (then Wisconsin State University-Whitewater), a five-year-long process of planning and constructing a new stadium, was completed. The university dedicated the new stadium as Warhawk Stadium (now Perkins Stadium). The … Continue reading ![\"\"\/](\"http:\/\/www.uww.edu\/images\/library\/blog\/PerkinsComplete-1970.jpg\")