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{{short description|American football stadium in Jacksonville, FL, US built 1927 demolished 1994}}
{{Infobox
| stadium_name = Gator Bowl
| image =
| caption = The Gator Bowl in 1961
| nickname =
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| construction_cost =
| architect =
| former_names = Fairfield Stadium (
| tenants = {{ubl
|[[Florida–Georgia football rivalry|Florida–Georgia football game]] (1933–1993)
| seating_capacity = 7,600 (1927–1947)<br>16,000 (1948)<br>36,058 (1949–1956)<br>62,000 (1957–1973)<br>72,000 (1974–1983)<br>80,126 (1984–1994)▼
|[[Gator Bowl]] ([[NCAA]]) (1946–1993)
|[[Senior Bowl]] (NCAA) (1950)
|[[Jacksonville Sharks (WFL)|Jacksonville Sharks]] ([[World Football League|WFL]]) (1974)
|[[Jacksonville Express]] (WFL) (1975)
|[[Jacksonville Tea Men]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]]/[[American Soccer League (1933–83)|ASL]]/[[United Soccer League (1984–85)|USL]]) (1981–1984)
|[[Jacksonville Bulls]] ([[United States Football League|USFL]]) (1984–1985)
}}▼
▲| seating_capacity = 7,600 (
}}
The '''Gator Bowl''' was an [[American football]] [[stadium]] in [[Jacksonville, Florida]]. Originally built in 1927, all but a small portion was razed in 1994 in preparation for the NFL's [[Jacksonville Jaguars]]' inaugural season; the reconstructed stadium became Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, now [[EverBank
==Origins==
Jacksonville's first football venue was built in 1927 and 1928 with a seating capacity of 7,600. Known as '''Fairfield Stadium''', its primary purpose was to serve as home field for Jacksonville's three new high schools
On January 1, 1946, the stadium received national attention when it hosted the first [[Gator Bowl]] game. The stadium was expanded to 16,000 seats in 1948, and the structure was renamed the Gator Bowl.<ref>
==College and professional sports
The stadium was the site of the [[
The Gator Bowl hosted the [[1968 AFL All-Star Game|1968]] and [[1969 AFL All-Star Game]]s.
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==The Beatles at the Gator Bowl==
[[The Beatles]] played a concert at the Gator Bowl on their first American Tour on September 11, 1964. When the Beatles found out that the concert was going to be [[racial segregation|racially segregated]] and the Black audience degraded, they refused to play there unless they allowed the audience to be desegregated, as
[[Paul McCartney]] went on record about their disapproval of the situation, and their lack of understanding of segregation in the first place, <ref>Kane,Larry. ''Ticket to Ride: Inside the Beatles' 1964 Tour That Changed the World'',p. 39</ref> while [[John Lennon]] said, "We never play to segregated audiences and we aren't going to start now. I'd sooner lose our appearance money."<ref>Harry, B. ''Lennon Encyclopedia'', p. 269</ref><ref name="BBC">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14963752 BBC News September 18, 2011-The Beatles banned segregated audiences, contract shows]</ref> After city officials relented, the band played to an integrated audience.<ref name="BBC" />
The concert was also notable because it was held the day after [[Hurricane Dora]] struck St. Augustine and Jacksonville. Most of Jacksonville was without electricity and power was not restored for several days. Despite the hurricane, 23,000 fans attended, paying $4 and $5 for tickets. During the concert, [[Ringo Starr]]'s drums were nailed to the stage because of 45 mph winds.<ref>[http://www.dmbeatles.com/forums/index.php?topic=1066.0 Orlando Sentinel: September 13, 2004-DM's Beatles forums/The Beatles blew into Jacksonville once, after Hurricane Dora]</ref>▼
▲The concert
==Near-total demolition==
The historic structure was almost entirely razed in 1994, as part of a massive remodeling effort which essentially built a new stadium.
==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:GatorBowl1948.jpg|View of the audience at the 1948 Gator Bowl
File:Aerial View of the Gator Bowl Stadium During Show at the 1954 Game Between Auburn University and Baylor University- Jacksonville, Florida (5296888516).jpg|Aerial view of the 1954 Gator Bowl
File:BeatlesJAX.jpg|[[The Beatles]] performing at the Gator Bowl in 1964.
File:GatorBowl1967.jpg|1965 Gator Bowl
</gallery>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Gator Bowl navbox}}
{{Senior Bowl navbox}}
▲}}
[[Category:Defunct American football venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Jacksonville, Florida]]
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[[Category:United States Football League venues]]
[[Category:Defunct college football venues]]
[[Category:Defunct college soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:World Football League venues]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (
[[Category:1927 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:1994 disestablishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1927]]
[[Category:Sports venues demolished in 1994]]
[[Category:Jacksonville Bulls stadiums]]
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