History with ‘Hud’: From early racing to soccer, the storied history of Legion Stadium
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Thousands of vehicles pass by a nearly 100-year-old stadium complex each day as they drive up and down Carolina Beach Road. But the landmark has undergone numerous changes over the last century.
Legion Stadium was built in the 1930s during the Great Depression as a 6,000-seat venue. It has been the hub of Wilmington’s sports scene since the very beginning. Automobile racing was the first major entertainment offered, continuing to pick up in popularity through the 1940s.
Motorcycle racing was added to the mix in the late 1940s. While records from the 1950s and 1960s are somewhat bare, racing continued until the early 1970s when the race track disappeared from Legion Stadium. The horse racing facilities were also torn down, with the focus turning to football and baseball.
Soccer was added to the mix in 2003, with the Wilmington Hammerheads FC coming to Legion Stadium. The team played games here until 2016.
While major events and automobile races are long gone from Legion Stadium, the venue remains an important piece of Wilmington’s sporting history.
Meteorologist Matthew Huddleston (‘Hud’) has always had two major loves – weather and history. While you can watch him talk about weather each evening on WWAY, he looks forward to bringing you a little piece of history each Thursday on WWAY’s website.
To read other History with ‘Hud’ segments, click HERE.
