Final Phase of Yale Bowl Restoration Complete

NEW HAVEN, Conn. --  A revered, 95-year-old American sports venue has received a grand entrance fitting its national historic landmark status. The Kenney Center and Jensen Plaza are finished and officially open this Saturday for the Yale-Brown football game at Yale Bowl and the Class of '54 Field. These two additions, to be officially dedicated the morning of the Nov. 21 Yale-Harvard game, constitute the final phase of the $30 million restoration of the facility.

Walking in from a tailgate Saturday, fans will catch a glimpse of the grand, three-story Kenney Center as they leave a parking lot. The Kenney Center replaced the old halftime room and rises up and attaches to the press box.  As they get closer to the perimeter of the Bowl at the main entrance, fans step onto the granite stones that contain the names of every Yale football letter winner since 1872 as part of the Jensen Plaza.

"One of the most storied programs in the history of college football has added to its lore with the addition of the Kenney Center and the Jensen Plaza," said Tom Williams, the Joel E. Smilow '54 Head Coach of Yale Football. "We look forward to adding to the history displayed at both venues."

Athletic Director Tom Beckett added, "This facility and plaza are examples of the strong partnership between the University and our alumni that continues to provide a world-class experience for all affiliated with Yale Athletics."

The Kenney Center contains three team meeting rooms, an alumni area with views to the field and a rooftop terrace that provides a panoramic look at most of the Yale athletic facilities around the Bowl. The Kenney's are the only family to have five members play football at Yale and the only four-brother football combination in school history. Jerome (Jerry) P. '63, Brian R. '61, Robert D. '67 and Richard L. '71 all wore blue and white, while Robert's son, Jeffrey S. '93 also played for the Elis.

Fourteen different historical listings are displayed in the Kenney Center under the following headings:

• Heisman Memorial TrophyWinners
• National Football Foundation-College Hall of Fame Inductees
• All-Americans
• Rhodes Scholars
• NCAA Silver Anniversary Award Winners
• National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes
• National Academic All-Americans
• First-Team All-Ivy Selections
• Asa A. Bushnell Cup Winners (Ivy League MVP)
• George "Bulger" Lowe Award Winners (Outstanding Player in New England)
• Ivy League Rookie of the Year Selections
• Yale Football Captains
• National Championship Teams
• Ivy League Championship Teams

"We were encouraged both by the University's decision to restore and modernize the Yale Bowl, which has been such an integral part of Yale's tradition, and also by the widespread support this initiative is receiving from other former players and alumni," said Jerry Kenney. "My three brothers and I collectively played football for 14 consecutive years for Yale and we've had a next generation player as well, so it has been an important part of our family's Yale experience. Since Yale has contributed so much to our lives and careers, we're pleased to be able to fund this center as part of the restoration project."

The Jensen Plaza, named after Irving '54, Colin '57, Erik '63 and Mark Jensen'67, serves as a perfect place for fans to gather before and after games. Two of the Jensen brothers played for former Yale football head coach Jordan Olivar and earned Ivy League Championship rings. Colin, who had two letters, was part of the 1956 Bulldog squad that went 8-1, was undefeated in Ancient Eight play and cruised past Princeton and Harvard on the way to a title. Erik earned three football letters and was a member of Yale's last perfect (9-0) team in 1960.

"We want to share memories with future Yale athletes and thought this would be a great way," said Irving Jensen, who played on the Bulldog freshman squad. "We had a great experience and education at Yale, which has made my life what it is today. Much of what we learned as athletes at the school has been used in our business. It is very important to make the experience a great one for current and future Yale athletes."

For more information on the Kenney Center and Jensen Plaza, please call Tim Ford at (203) 432-1419.