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125-482: Since 2008, the stadium had been mostly vacant, hosting some high school football games. In 2013, the Rubber Bowl was acquired by Team1 Marketing Group Inc. of Canton, Ohio , with plans to renovate and update the structure as the home for a professional football team. Renovation work began later in 2013, but initial plans for a professional team in the revived United States Football League (USFL) fell through. The stadium

250-408: A heavy manufacturing center because of its numerous railroad lines. However, its status in that regard began to decline during the late 20th century, as shifts in the manufacturing industry led to the relocation or downsizing of many factories and workers. After this decline, the city's industry diversified into the service economy , including retailing, education, finance and healthcare . Canton

375-436: A metropolitan area that covers Carroll and Stark counties and had a combined population of 404,422 at the 2010 census . As of the census of 2010, there were 73,007 people, 29,705 households, and 17,127 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,867.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,107.1/km ). There were 34,571 housing units at an average density of 1,357.9 per square mile (524.3/km ). The racial makeup of

500-476: A 2–9 mark in 2014 and consecutive 3–9 seasons in 2015 and 2016. Haynes was fired after the 2017 season , finishing his tenure with a record of 14–45 overall, 9–30 in conference play. Sean Lewis was hired as head coach in 2018 and served for five seasons, compiling an overall record of 24–31 and 19–17 in MAC play. He led Kent State to bowl game appearances in 2019 and 2021, including the program's first-ever bowl win,

625-582: A 34–16 loss at Temple . The Flashes finished third in the MAC East with a 5–7 record overall and 4–4 in the MAC. The 2012 season began with a 41–21 win over Towson at Dix Stadium, followed by a 47–14 loss at Kentucky . Following the loss, the Flashes defeated Buffalo at University at Buffalo Stadium and followed that with a come-from-behind 45–43 win over Ball State in Kent. A 31–17 win over Army at Michie Stadium

750-470: A 35–3 win over arch-rival Kent State in that year's Wagon Wheel game. Akron would go on to win the 2005 MAC Championship with a last-second 31–30 win over Northern Illinois at Ford Field in Detroit . In 2003, the university began exploring the feasibility of building an on-campus stadium to replace the Rubber Bowl, which was in disrepair and several miles away from campus. In 2007, plans were announced for

875-421: A 4–0 conference record. The team finished third in both 1948 and 1949, going 3–0 and 2–0 respectively in conference play. In 1946, the program was revived after the conclusion of World War II under head coach Trevor Rees , who would coach the Flashes to their first era of consistent success. During his tenure, which lasted 18 seasons, the Flashes would post winning seasons in all but 5 of them, 3 of which were

1000-667: A 51–41 victory over Utah State in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl . In 2021 he also led the team to only their second appearance in the MAC Championship game. Lewis left the program in December 2022 when he was hired as offensive coordinator for the Colorado Buffaloes Football Team under head coach Deion Sanders . Kenni Burns was hired as head coach in 2023. In his first season, he led

1125-443: A 6–0 loss under coach Paul Chandler. The first Kent State home football game was held November 6, a 7–0 loss to sister school Bowling Green . The final game of the season was a home game scheduled against St. Ignatius College of Cleveland , but the game was not played and counted as a forfeit win for Kent. The team would not record their first true victory until November 14, 1925, a 7–6 win over West Liberty State College . Outside

1250-614: A dissenting opinion recognizing the constitutional protection of such speech in Abrams v. United States . Justice Louis D. Brandeis was the only other jurist to join Justice Holmes' dissent, and the minority opinion had no effect on Debs' conviction and continued incarceration. The changed mind articulated by Justice Holmes on November 10, 1919 nevertheless had a profound impact on the development of American constitutional law. His dissent in Abrams

1375-464: A dome built over it. On April 2, 2015 it was revealed that the non-profit Minor League Football Team named the Summit County Storm would be playing football in the revived stadium along with its multi-use entertainment. The first event in the stadium under Team1 was scheduled for May 15, 2015, a hip-hop concert and party fest known as LOUD-Fest, produced by a local music company. However, the event

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1500-415: A five years (1965 season)—which was its first at the major college level—and had its longest unbeaten streak since 1956. Strang resigned following the 1967 season, winning his last three games against Louisville, Marshall, and Xavier. Washington University head coach Dave Puddington was hired to replace Strang, and Kent State struggled. The program posted a 9–21 record during Puddington's three seasons,

1625-509: A full-size football field, a six-lane indoor track, and a weight training room named for Kent State football alumnus James Harrison . The building, one of the first indoor football facilities built in Ohio, is also used by several other Kent State athletic teams during the year and is the home indoor venue for the men's and women's track teams. It includes locker rooms for women's soccer, field hockey, softball, and men's and women's track. Dix Stadium

1750-483: A home loss to Louisiana-Lafayette . Hazell's first win at Kent State came on September 24, in a 33–25 win over South Alabama at Dix Stadium . The team then dropped their first three MAC games before defeating Bowling Green , which was the start of a five-game winning streak that included a 35–3 win over arch-rival Akron at InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field , Kent State's first win in Akron since 2003. The season ended with

1875-586: A horseshoe-shaped stadium in southern Akron adjacent to Derby Downs , the home of the Soap Box Derby that had been built in 1936. Construction lasted approximately one year and the first event hosted was a state music and drill competition in June 1940. Dedication ceremonies were held in August 1940 before a crowd estimated between 36,000 and 40,000 the day before the running of the seventh Soap Box Derby. The primary use of

2000-481: A household in the city was $ 28,730, and the median income for a family was $ 35,680. Males had a median income of $ 30.628 versus $ 21,581 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 15,544. About 15.4% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over. Canton's economy has traditionally been primarily industrial, with significant health care and agricultural segments. The city

2125-511: A male householder with no wife present, and 42.3% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age in the city was 35.6 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.6% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of

2250-714: A month following the American entry into the First World War, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Espionage Act of 1917 into law. This Act made it a federal crime to interfere with, among other things, the Selective Service Act or military draft. On June 30, 1918, Debs was arrested and charged with, among other things, “unlawfully, willfully and feloniously cause and attempt to cause and incite and attempt to incite, insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny and refusal of duty, in

2375-651: A new stadium, later known as InfoCision Stadium – Summa Field , with work beginning in January 2008 and opening in September 2009. The final Akron Zips football game at the Rubber Bowl took place on November 13, 2008 against the Buffalo Bulls . The game was nationally televised on ESPN and featured the two teams tied for first place in the Mid-American Conference 's East Division with identical 5-4 (3-2) records entering

2500-404: A period marked by mostly losing seasons and regular coaching changes, with no coaching tenure lasting more than three seasons until 1997. Dennis Fitzgerald , who was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach after James' departure, was able to lead the team to an 8–4 record and second-place MAC finish in 1976 and a winning 1977 season, Fitzgerald was able to continue James' success within

2625-533: A record of 29–53 (.354) overall and 21–35 (.375) in the MAC. Ohio State wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell was hired to replace Martin. Hazell was the first African American head football coach in the history of Kent State football. In Hazell's first season, 2011, the team had two three-game losing streaks, but also had a five-game winning streak in the latter half of the season. Kent State dropped their first three contests, which included losses at eventual BCS national champion Alabama and Kansas State and

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2750-593: A surveyor and devout Episcopalian from Maryland born January 28, 1763. Canton was likely named as a memorial to Captain John O'Donnell , an Irish merchant marine with the British East India Company whom Wells admired. O'Donnell named his estate in Maryland after Canton, China as he had been the first person to transport goods from there to Baltimore . The name selected by Wells may also have been influenced by

2875-483: A total of 8–25. Scesniak died of a heart attack on April 1, 1986. Ohio State offensive coordinator Glen Mason was hired as Kent State's head coach in 1986. In his two seasons in Kent posted two consecutive 2nd place MAC finishes including a 7–4 overall mark in 1987, the Flashes' first winning season since 1977. Following the 1987 season, Mason was hired by the Kansas Jayhawks . Kent State alumnus Nick Saban ,

3000-534: A typical January, high temperatures of over 50 °F (10 °C) are just as common as low temperatures of below 0 °F (−18 °C). Snowfall is lighter than the snow belt areas to the north. Akron-Canton Airport generally averages 47.7 inches (121 cm) of snow per season. Springs are short with rapid transition from hard winter to summer weather. Summers tend to be warm, sometimes hot, with average July high temperatures of 83 °F (28 °C), and average July low of 62 °F (17 °C). Summer weather

3125-508: Is Akron , located 10 miles (16 km) from the Kent campus. The two schools first met in 1923 and have played 56 times through the 2013 meeting. Akron went 11–0–1 in the first 12 meetings in the series between 1923 and 1941, with no games played from 1924–27 and 1937–39. Kent State started a 10-game winning streak in 1942 through 1954, though no games were played during the World War II years of 1943–45 when neither school fielded teams. After

3250-621: Is a lower class I am in it; while there is a criminal element I am of it; while there is a soul in prison I am not free.'" In June 2017 Canton applied for and received a historical marker from the Ohio History Connection , formerly the Ohio Historical Society. The marker is located next to where Debs stood in Canton on the afternoon of June 16, 1918. It commemorates the significance and legacy of his speech at Nimisilla Park, notes

3375-481: Is also home to several regional food producers, including Nickles Bakery (baked goods), Case Farms (poultry), and Shearer's Foods (snack foods). Poultry production and dairy farming are also important segments of the Canton area's economy. Since 2000, Canton has experienced a very low unemployment rate. The healthcare sector is particularly strong, with Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center among its largest employers. Nevertheless, as in many industrial areas of

3500-660: Is bordered by Plain Township and North Canton to the north, Meyers Lake and Perry Township to the west, Canton Township to the South, and Nimishillen Township , Osnaburg Township and East Canton to the east. Annexations were approved in December 2006 extending Canton's eastern boundary to East Canton 's border. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 25.48 square miles (65.99 km ), of which 25.46 square miles (65.94 km )

3625-706: Is chiefly notable for being the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the birthplace of the National Football League . 25th U.S. President William McKinley conducted the famed front porch campaign , which won him the presidency of the United States in the 1896 election , from his home in Canton. The McKinley National Memorial and the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum commemorate his life and presidency. Canton

3750-550: Is considered by many legal scholars to be the canonical affirmation of free speech in the United States. While Debs’ speech in Canton and subsequent conviction ultimately aided Debs in delivering the Socialist Party's antiwar platform, his age and the deleterious effects of prison exhausted his ability as an orator. Debs died of heart failure on October 20, 1926. His obituary in The New York Times recounted his words from

3875-715: Is home to the Canton Centre mall and several retail outlets of varying size. A vein of commerce runs along Whipple Avenue, connecting the Canton Centre area with the Belden Village area. A similar vein runs north from the downtown area, along Cleveland and Market avenues. Connecting Cleveland and Market avenues is a small shopping district on 30th Street NW, and retail lines the Route 62 corridor leading from Canton to Louisville and Alliance . The city's economy has diversified due to

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4000-497: Is home to the TimkenSteel Corporation, a major manufacturer of specialty steel. Several other large companies operate in the greater Canton area, including Timken Company , a maker of tapered roller bearings ; Belden Brick Company , a brick and masonry producer; Diebold , a maker of ATMs , electronic voting devices, and bank vaults, and Medline Industries , a manufacturer and distributor of health care supplies. The area

4125-488: Is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km ) is water. Canton has a humid continental climate ( Köppen climate classification Dfa ), typical of much of the Midwestern United States , with warm, humid summers and cold winters. Winters tend to be cold, with average January high temperatures of 34 °F (1 °C), and average lows of 19 °F (−7 °C), with considerable variation in temperatures. During

4250-464: Is more stable, generally humid with thunderstorms fairly common. Temperatures reach or exceed 90 °F (32 °C) about 10 times each summer, on average. Fall usually is the driest season with many clear, warm days and cool nights. The all-time record high in the Akron-Canton area of 104 °F (40 °C) was established on August 6, 1918, and the all-time record low of −25 °F (−32 °C)

4375-541: Is still reflected today in many different ways, and he remains the namesake of McKinley Senior High School of the Canton City School System. On June 16, 1918, Eugene V. Debs delivered the keynote speech at the annual Ohio Socialist Convention held in Canton's Nimisilla Park. At the time, Debs had been a four-time candidate for president and was considered the country's leading socialist and labor organizer. During his speech he decried America's involvement in

4500-481: Is the third facility the Flashes have called home. From the team's inception in 1920 through the 1940 season, they played at Rockwell Field , which was located adjacent to the original campus buildings on what is now known as The Commons. Rockwell Field was shared with the track and baseball teams and was plagued with drainage and quality issues its entire existence as an athletic field. For seating, it initially had no seating before primitive wooden bleachers were added in

4625-758: The American Professional Football Association (renamed the National Football League in 1922). The attendees included Ralph Hay , owner of the Hupmobile showroom and the hometown Canton Bulldogs , and George Halas , owner of the Decatur Staleys . Jim Thorpe of the Bulldogs was the league's first president. In 2014 a sculpture titled Birth of the NFL was erected in downtown Canton marking

4750-649: The Amtorg Trading Corporation , one of Soviet Russia's buying agencies in the US, for $ 329.000. The company's massive brick factories, which covered more than 20 acres and included an ornate 150-foot clock tower, were demolished to accommodate the construction of Interstate 77 . On September 17, 1920, a meeting was held at the Hupmobile showroom in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Building in Canton to found

4875-539: The Canton Civic Center . Operations were suspended in 2009. The Continental Indoor Football League also has offices in Canton. For the 2023 United States Football League (USFL) season , Canton served as the hub for the New Jersey Generals and Pittsburgh Maulers , with both teams playing their designated home games at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The first official female bodybuilding competition

5000-472: The First World War , saying, “They have always taught you that it is your patriotic duty to go to war and slaughter yourselves at their command. You have never had a voice in the war. The working class who make the sacrifices, who shed the blood, have never yet had a voice in declaring war.” Among Debs' audience at Nimisilla Park were agents of the U.S. Department of Justice . The year before his speech, and

5125-655: The Harris Interactive College Football Poll . The team continued winning, beating Akron in the Battle for the Wagon Wheel game at Dix Stadium, followed by a 48–32 win over the Miami RedHawks at Yager Stadium . The win over Miami set a new team record for consecutive victories in a season at eight and tied the 1973 team for most wins in a season at nine. On November 11, the Flashes were ranked 25th in

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5250-556: The Huguenot use of the word "canton," which meant a division of a district containing several communes. Through Wells' efforts and promotion, Canton was designated the county seat of Stark County upon its division from Columbiana County on January 1, 1809. For most of his adult life, Canton was the home of William McKinley , the 25th president of the United States. Born in Niles, Ohio , McKinley first practiced law in Canton around 1867, and

5375-471: The MAC Championship Game . Following the loss to NIU, Kent State accepted the invitation to play in the 2013 GoDaddy.com Bowl . Kent State fell to Arkansas State in the game by a score of 17–13 to finish 11–3 overall. Darrell Hazell accepted the head coaching position at Purdue on December 5, but Purdue granted Hazell permission to coach Kent State in the bowl game, the first bowl appearance by

5500-659: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The Golden Flashes played their first game in 1920 and since 1969 have played their home games at Dix Stadium . Following the 2022 season, Kenni Burns was selected as head coach for the Golden Flashes. The first attempt to establish a football team was in 1914, one year after

5625-523: The Timken Company and TimkenSteel split, forming two separate companies at the urging of shareholders. The Timken Company relocated to neighboring Jackson Township , while TimkenSteel remains headquartered in Canton. In response to this changing manufacturing landscape, the city is undergoing a transition to a retail and service-based economy. Beginning in the 1970s, Canton, like many mid-size American cities, lost most of its downtown retail business to

5750-511: The Tudor , Georgian , and French-Norman styles built in the early 20th century with amenities such as original brick streets and locally produced street lighting standards. The District features homes designed by several distinguished architects, including Charles Firestone, Herman Albrecht, and Louis Hoicowitz. Canton is the largest principal city of the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area ,

5875-457: The Wagon Wheel . In the days following a 38–3 loss at Western Michigan , which dropped the team's record to 4–7 and 3–4 in the MAC, Doug Martin announced his resignation, effective at the conclusion of the season. The team responded with a 28–6 upset win over the first-place Ohio Bobcats at Dix Stadium to finish with a record of 5–7 overall and 4–4 in the MAC. Martin finished his tenure with

6000-409: The 1930s. At its peak, the bleachers held approximately 3,000 people, with crowds reported for some games as large as 5,000. In 1941, the team moved to the new Athletic Field along Summit Street, a Works Progress Administration project that included separate football and baseball fields, with the football field surrounded by a cinder track. Seating was again provided on primitive wooden bleachers. After

6125-543: The 1931 season, playing in the OAC through the 1950 season except for the 1943–1945 seasons, which were canceled due to American involvement in World War II. Under coach G. Donald Starn, who coached Kent State from 1935–1942, the Flashes would begin to taste success, posting winning seasons in 1938 (6–2), 1940 (8–1), and 1942 (5–3). During their time in the OAC, the Flashes never won a conference title, but did finish second in 1940 with

6250-455: The 1940s, prior to the opening of Memorial Stadium in 1950. The stadium also hosted professional football on a number of occasions: the Cleveland Rams of the National Football League (NFL) played two regular-season games at the Rubber Bowl, one in 1941 and one in 1942, and the NFL's Cleveland Browns used the stadium for 19 preseason games between 1950 and 1973. On November 27, 1952,

6375-442: The 1954 meeting, the rivalry was scrapped due to a lack of competition. It was reinstated in 1972 and has been an annual contest since 1983. In 1992, Akron joined the MAC and the rivalry became a conference game. Since 1946, the two teams have played for the Wagon Wheel . The story goes that John R. Buchtel was searching for a site to start a new college in 1870 near what is now Kent State University when his wagon became stuck in

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6500-418: The 1961-1963 seasons. In 1950, the team opened their first true stadium, Memorial Stadium , by defeating Marietta College 57–0. The next season saw the Golden Flashes join the Mid-American Conference . Rees would guide the team to its first bowl appearance in the 1954 Refrigerator Bowl. Rees coached Kent State from 1946–1963, posting a record of 92–63–5 (.591). Rees retired as Kent State head coach following

6625-409: The 1963 season. Leo Strang took over for Rees in 1964 inheriting a program that had won only eight games the prior three seasons and had endured a seven game losing streak. He compiled a 16-21-2 record over his 4 year tenure, a .436 win/loss percentage. Since 1967, only one other Kent coach with an equal or longer tenure has had a better win/loss percentage. He had Kent's first winning season in

6750-655: The 1970s. In the 1980s, the New Jersey tour of Bon Jovi and the Monsters of Rock Tour 1988 that featured Van Halen , the Scorpions , Dokken , Metallica , and Kingdom Come had stops at the Rubber Bowl. Simon & Garfunkel returned in 1983 in front of a crowd of around 37,000 during their first tour together in 13 years. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers , Bob Dylan , and The Grateful Dead toured together in 1986 and played at

6875-563: The Akron Fire. Sean Mason of Team1 argued that even though InfoCision Stadium is newer, the Akron Fire's ability to generate revenue would be less due to the University of Akron controlling concession and marketing rights, and by buying the Rubber Bowl outright it could also be used for other sporting events and concerts. The Rubber Bowl was purchased by Team1 Marketing in January 2013 for $ 38,000, with several improvements planned such as updates to

7000-480: The BC football program and was expected to do the same at Kent State. Unfortunately, he couldn't. The Golden Flashes followed a 4–7 campaign in 1981 with a winless 0–11 season in 1982. Chlebek was fired following the 1982 season. Utah offensive line coach Dick Scesniak was hired as Chlebek's replacement and, once again, Kent State's football struggles persisted. Scesniak's teams posted records of 1–10, 4–7 and 3–8 for

7125-419: The Flashes since the 1972 Tangerine Bowl . Paul Haynes , a Kent State alum who had previously served as defensive coordinator at Arkansas , was hired as Kent State's head football coach on December 18, 2012. Haynes was the second African American head coach in the history of Kent State football. In Haynes' first season, the Golden Flashes finished with a 4–8 record. Kent State followed that season with

7250-561: The Flashes, then known as the "Silver Foxes" went 0–6–2. The streak began with the second most lopsided loss in school history, an 82–0 loss to Slippery Rock . The streak finally ended with a 6–6 tie with the Indiana Normal School in 1925, the game which preceded Kent State's first true victory. Kent State posted their first winning season in 1928, going 4–2–2. Kent State joined the Ohio Athletic Conference beginning in

7375-496: The Hampden Watch Company quickly became two of Canton's largest employers. In 1888, the companies' first year in Canton, they employed 2,300 Canton residents. In 1890, Canton's population was 26,337. Thanks to these two companies, Canton became an important center for watch manufacturing in the United States. In 1927 the company went bankrupt, finally ceasing operations in the city in 1930. The machinery and tools were sold to

7500-521: The Kent State football program, but left the program after the 1977 season. Ron Blackledge was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach following Fitzgerald's departure. Kent State's struggles continued, with the Golden Flashes posting records of 4–7, 1–10 and 3–8 for a total mark of 8–25. Blackledge was fired following the 1980 season. Succeeding Blackledge was Boston College head coach Ed Chlebek . Chelebek has previously turned around

7625-534: The Kent State-Akron football game. Akron leads the series 35–24–2 through the 2018 season Bowling Green leads the series 60–22–6 through the 2020 season. The Flashes' home field is Dix Stadium, located along Summit Street on the eastern edge of the KSU campus just east of Ohio State Route 261 . The stadium opened in 1969 and has a seating capacity of 25,318. Dix Stadium features a FieldTurf playing surface, which

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7750-510: The Ohio federal courtroom: "At his trial he admitted the charges against him, declaring he would not retract a word he had uttered to save himself from going to the penitentiary for the rest of his days. Before sentence was passed on him, Debs said to the Court: ' Your Honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there

7875-562: The Pro Football Hall of Fame Grand Parade. The festival culminates in the enshrinement of the new inductees and the NFL/Hall of Fame Game, a pre-season exhibition between teams representing the AFC and NFC at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium . Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, used during the regular season by Canton McKinley High School (as well as some other area schools and colleges), was rated

8000-436: The Rubber Bowl hosted a "home" game for the financially troubled and league-controlled Dallas Texans . The Texans recorded their only win in franchise history, a 27–23 victory over the George Halas -led Chicago Bears , in front of approximately 2,500 fans: Halas had been so confident the Bears would beat the lowly Texans that he started his second-string players. The Rubber Bowl has also hosted around 1,500 football games for

8125-415: The Rubber Bowl on September 30, 1961. In 1971, the university purchased the stadium for $ 1 from the city. An artificial surface was installed in 1973, which was replaced with AstroPlay in 2003. On September 15, 1973, before the Acme-Zip game , renown tightrope walker Karl Wallenda walked a wire suspended above the field while the Akron Zips marching band played circus music. The Zips played 324 games at

8250-453: The Rubber Bowl was for American football games. The Akron Zips football team was the primary tenant, and they played their first game in the stadium on October 5, 1940, against Case Western Reserve , getting their first win in the facility November 9, 1940, against Kent State . Prior to playing at the Rubber Bowl, the Zips football teams played at Buchtel Field, a 7,000-seat facility that opened in 1923. The Zips recorded their first sellout in

8375-446: The Rubber Bowl, which featured Bob Dylan performing live on stage for the first time with The Grateful Dead. The stadium also hosted a Veterans Memorial Jam concert with Aretha Franklin , Ringo Starr , and Three Dog Night in 1997 and Ozzfest in 1998. On June 28, 2012, it was revealed that local marketing company Team1 Marketing Group of Canton was pursuing the Rubber Bowl for a potential United States Football League (USFL) team called

8500-484: The United States, employment in the manufacturing sector is in a state of decline. LTV Steel (formerly Republic Steel ) suffered bankruptcy in 2000. Republic Steel emerged and continues to maintain operations in Canton. Hoover Company , a major employer for decades in the region, reached an agreement to sell Hoover to Hong Kong-based Techtronic Industries . The main plant in nearby North Canton closed its doors in September 2007 due to classified reasons. On June 30, 2014,

8625-720: The best of which was a 5–5 campaign in 1969. During the 1969 season, the Flashes also moved into Dix Stadium , which was not fully completed until January 1970. The Puddington tenure was also marked by the Kent State shootings in May 1970, when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a group of university students, killing four and injuring nine. Puddington was fired after the 1970 season. In 1971, Don James took over as head coach. Under James, and with notable players such as Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and former Pittsburgh Steelers middle linebacker Jack Lambert , Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban , and former Missouri Tigers football coach Gary Pinkel , Kent State

8750-595: The city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 80,806 people, 32,489 households, and 19,785 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,932.1 people per square mile (1,518.2/km ). There were 35,502 housing units at an average density of 1,728.0 per square mile (667.2/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 74.5% White , 21.0% African American , 0.5% Native American , 0.3% Asian , nil% Pacific Islander , 0.6% from other races , and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.2% of

8875-427: The city was 69.1% White , 24.2% African American , 0.5% Native American , 0.3% Asian , 1.0% from other races , and 4.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.6% of the population. There were 29,705 households, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.8% were married couples living together, 21.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had

9000-454: The city. Furthering this downtown development, in June 2016, Canton became one of the first cities in Ohio to allow the open consumption of alcoholic beverages in a "designated outdoor refreshment area" pursuant to a state law enacted in 2015. Canton was founded in 1805, incorporated as a village in 1822, and reincorporated as a city in 1838. The plat of Canton was recorded at New Lisbon , Ohio, on November 15, 1805, by Bezaleel Wells ,

9125-468: The company moved to Canton as the automobile industry began to overtake the carriage industry. Timken and his two sons chose this location because of its proximity to the American car manufacturing centers of Detroit and Cleveland and the American steel-making centers of Pittsburgh and Cleveland. By 1960, Timken had operations in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, France, South Africa, Australia and Brazil. The company changed its corporate structure in 2014;

9250-565: The decline of the heavy manufacturing industry . At the heart of this transformation is the Pro Football Hall of Fame , with its multimillion-dollar "Hall of Fame Village" expansion project. This project has been complemented with significant investments by city leaders in urban redevelopment, which continued with the transformation of the Hotel Onesto into the Historic Onesto Lofts. Other urban renewal plans are underway, which include

9375-451: The defensive coordinator at Michigan State from 1983–87, was a finalist to succeed Mason, but he didn't get the position. Former North Carolina head coach Dick Crum was hired to replace Mason. Despite high hopes for his tenure, Crum's Golden Flashes never put together a winning season in three years, compiling a record of 7–26. Crum was fired following the 1990 season. Former Flashes standout Jim Corrigall began in 1994 and became

9500-767: The early 1900s, including the Canton Terriers in the 1920s and 1930s. The Canton–Akron Indians were the AA affiliate of the major league Cleveland Indians for nine years, playing at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium until the team relocated north to Akron following the 1996 season. Two independent minor league teams, the Canton Crocodiles and the Canton Coyotes , both members of the Frontier League, called Munson Stadium home for several years afterward. The Crocodiles, who won

9625-651: The early 1920s. It formally organized in 1923, having previously consisted of two separate companies: the Dueber Watch Case Company and the Hampden Watch Company. In 1886, John Dueber, the owner of the Dueber Watch Case Company, purchased a controlling interest in the Hampden Watch Company. In 1888, he relocated the Hampden Watch Company from Springfield, Massachusetts and the Dueber Watch Case Company from Newport, Kentucky to Canton, Ohio. These two companies shared manufacturing facilities in Canton but remained two separate companies. The Dueber Watch Case Company and

9750-469: The edge of Ohio's Amish Country . As of the 2020 census , the population of Canton was 70,872, making Canton eighth among Ohio cities in population. It is the largest municipality in the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area , which includes all of Stark and Carroll counties, and was home to 401,574 residents in 2020. Founded in 1805 alongside the Middle and West Branches of Nimishillen Creek , Canton became

9875-572: The elements. As part of a statewide initiative, the remaining parts of the Rubber Bowl were demolished in mid-2023 after almost 15 years of abandonment. The movement to build a stadium in Akron began in 1939 when Akron Beacon Journal sports editor James Schlemmer and Akron Municipal Airport director Bain Fulton began a campaign asking patrons to donate $ 1 each. Later that year, the Works Progress Administration authorized construction of

10000-498: The exact location in the Hupmobile showroom where the NFL was created in 1920. On December 6, 1959, the Canton Repository , a local newspaper, called for city officials to lobby the National Football League to create a football hall of fame in the community. Canton officials formally proposed their city as site for the hall of fame in 1961. The NFL quickly agreed to the city's proposal. To help convince NFL officials to locate

10125-418: The first classes were held on campus and four years after the school was founded in 1910. The team played two practice games against local high schools, but was discontinued by the athletic board and faculty to focus on basketball season. While there was hope the team would return for the 1915 season, no team was established until 1920. The team played their first game October 30, 1920, against Ashland College ,

10250-454: The first coach since Don James to coach more than three seasons, lasting four. Although some progress was made, the Golden Flashes best season under Corrigall, a 3–8 campaign, proved to be his last in 1997. Three wins in 1997 were the most wins for Kent State since 1988. Corrigall had an overall record of 8–35–1 in four seasons. Dean Pees was hired in 1998 and suffered through the Flashes' most recent winless season (0–11 in 1998) before leading

10375-415: The football team was restored in 1946 following the return of men from World War II, a drive started in the late 1940s to build a permanent grandstand around the existing field. Memorial Stadium opened in 1950 with seating for 7,000 fans, a new electronic scoreboard, permanent press box, and field lighting. It was expanded multiple times and by 1966 seated approximately 20,000 people. Most of Memorial Stadium

10500-482: The forerunner of the modern National Football League , was founded in a Canton car dealership on September 17, 1920. The Canton Bulldogs were an NFL football team that played from 1920 to 1923, skipped the 1924 season, then played 1925 to 1926 before folding. Canton is the home of the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, which includes a hot air balloon festival , ribs burn-off, fashion show, community parade, Sunday morning race, enshrinee dinner, and

10625-428: The forfeited win in 1920, Kent State would fail to score in their first 14 games, posting a record of 0–13–1 before finally putting points on the board in a 7–6 win against West Liberty in 1923. During that streak, Kent State would suffer the worst loss in school history, a 118–0 loss to Baldwin–Wallace College , also in 1923. Following the 7–6 loss to West Liberty, a new shutout streak began which lasted 8 games, in which

10750-468: The game. Buffalo defeated the Zips 43-40 in four overtimes in front of a crowd of 18,516. For the Zips, it was both the first four-overtime game and the first overtime loss in school history. After the game, a special ceremony with current and former players and coaches was held to honor the 68-year history of the stadium. The Kent State Golden Flashes football team played select games in the Rubber Bowl during

10875-423: The hall of fame in Canton, city officials donated several acres of land on Canton's north side to the project. Local residents also raised almost $ 400,000 to help construct the hall of fame. The Pro Football Hall of Fame formally opened on September 7, 1963. Initially the museum consisted of two buildings, but in 1971, 1978, 1995, and 2013, the Pro Football Hall of Fame experienced several expansions. As of 2013,

11000-541: The high schools in Akron, as well as for Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) playoff games. The Rubber Bowl was also a regular performance venue: the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus gave its first performance since the Hartford circus fire on July 6, 1944. Music groups such as Black Sabbath , Simon & Garfunkel , Alice Cooper , Three Dog Night , and The Rolling Stones played there in

11125-622: The league championship in their inaugural season in 1997, moved to Washington, Pennsylvania, in 2002, and the Coyotes moved to Columbia, Missouri, in 2003, after just one season in Canton. Kent State Golden Flashes football The Kent State Golden Flashes football team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio . The team is a member of the Mid-American Conference East division, and competes in

11250-534: The many speeches at the park by other prominent historical figures, and honors the park's continued importance as a gathering place for the community. The Timken Company has been among the largest employers in Canton for nearly 100 years. In 1898, Henry Timken obtained a patent for the tapered roller bearing , and in 1899 incorporated as the Timken Roller Bearing Axle Company in St. Louis . In 1901,

11375-595: The military and naval forces of the United States.” Debs' trial began on September 10, 1918, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio . On September 12, 1918, a jury found Debs guilty. He was sentenced to ten years in prison. On March 10, 1919, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of Debs' conviction in Debs v. United States . Debs began serving his prison sentence on April 13, 1919, and remained incarcerated until December 25, 1921, when he

11500-457: The mud. The horses pulled the wagon apart and one of the wheels ended up being buried. Buchtel would eventually settle on a site in Akron for Buchtel College. In 1902, while digging for a pipeline in Kent , the wheel was discovered and eventually came into the possession of Kent State dean of men Dr. Raymond Manchester. It was he who suggested in 1945 that the wheel be used as a trophy for the winner of

11625-400: The museum consisted of five buildings, covering 118,000 square feet. Since its founding, over 10 million people have visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "Welcome to Canton" is the official way of saying congratulations to a new enshrinee. Canton is located at an elevation of 1,060 feet (323 m). Nimishillen Creek and its East, Middle and West Branches flow through the city. Canton

11750-417: The museum off-site to libraries, parochial schools, area public schools, five inner city schools and a school for students with behavioral disorders. The city's Arts District, located downtown, is the site of monthly First Friday arts celebrations. Canton has the main branch of Stark County District Library. Canton is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame . The American Professional Football Association ,

11875-686: The number one high school football venue in America by the Sporting News in 2002. This may be partly attributable to the Bulldogs' rivalry with the nearby Massillon Washington High School Tigers . All seven of the Ohio High School Athletic Association state final football games are hosted in Canton at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The Canton Legends played in the American Indoor Football Association at

12000-405: The population. There were 32,489 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

12125-470: The press box, locker rooms, and concession areas, along with new scoreboards and seating. The company announced plans to acquire a USFL franchise; the team was planned to be named the Akron Fire, but in July 2013 it was announced that the league's plans no longer included the Akron team. Team1 announced on April 17, 2014 that the stadium would instead be used as a multi-use entertainment facility and that it would have

12250-527: The press box, new entrance gates, and a ticket office, all completed prior to the 2007 season opener. Phase two included the demolition of the south end zone seats and construction of a new high definition scoreboard, concession area, and plaza in the sound end zone area. Adjacent to the stadium to the north are two natural grass practice fields. Immediately east of the stadium is the Kent State Field House, which opened in 1990. The Field House includes

12375-617: The redevelopment of the downtown Market Square area. Private investment has furthered Canton's transformation, which is illustrated by the multimillion-dollar creation of the Gervasi Vineyard, which draws patrons throughout the region. In furtherance of these development initiatives, Canton was one of the first cities in Ohio to create a "designated outdoor refreshment area" legalizing the possession and consumption of " open container " alcoholic beverages in its downtown area. According to Canton's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,

12500-575: The roadway to collapse. In 2023, the remainder of the stadium was demolished with the hillside portion of the stadium reinforced with concrete to form a retaining wall for the roadway above and transform the structure into a grassy hill. Canton, Ohio Canton ( / ˈ k æ n t ən / ) is a city in and the county seat of Stark County, Ohio , United States. It is located approximately 60 miles (97 km) south of Cleveland and 20 miles (32 km) south of Akron in Northeast Ohio on

12625-485: The roller bearing-producing part of the company was separated from the steel-producing part of the company, resulting in two separate companies. The Timken Company continues to manufacture roller bearings, while TimkenSteel produces steel. Today, TimkenSteel remains headquartered in Canton and employs 2,800 people, most of them in Northeast Ohio. The company makes special bar quality steel, used in applications all over

12750-403: The stadium, which included their first-ever appearance on ESPN in 1986. Other notable games include the highest-scoring game in the stadium's history, a 65–62 victory over Eastern Michigan in 2001, as well as a 65–7 Akron victory over Howard University in 2003. In 2005, the Zips clinched their first Mid-American Conference East Division title and spot in the 2005 MAC Championship Game with

12875-568: The street name (e.g. Tuscarawas St W, 55th Street NE). Typically within the city numbered streets run east and west and radiate from the Tuscarawas Street baseline, while named avenues run north and south. The Ridgewood Historic District is a historic residential neighborhood in Canton that, due to its architectural significance, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on December 19, 1982. The neighborhood consists of preserved, architect-designed Revival style buildings of

13000-435: The structure. Akron announced on September 22, 2017 that the stadium would be demolished. Demolition began in 2018 with the scoreboard and the western portion of the stadium closest to Derby Downs, which included the press box, being razed, while the east and south tiers, which are built into the adjacent hill, remaining. The portion built into the hillside supported George Washington Boulevard, and removal could potentially cause

13125-621: The suburbs. The majority of the Canton area's "box store" retail is located in the general vicinity of the Belden Village Mall in Jackson Township . However, the 2010s saw the downtown area bringing in new cafes, restaurants, and the establishment of an arts district. A few retail centers remain in Canton at or near the city limits. Tuscarawas Street (Lincoln Way), a leg of the Lincoln Highway connecting Canton with nearby Massillon ,

13250-491: The team to a 1-11 record, the worst in FBS college football. Kent State has won one conference championship in school history. Kent State has won two division titles. First doing so in 2012 , and again in 2021 . List of Kent State head coaches. Kent State has appeared in five bowl games, going 1–4. They won their first bowl game in school history by defeating Utah State in the 2019 Frisco Bowl . Kent State's biggest rival

13375-556: The team to a slow recovery. In 2001 Kent State posted their first winning season since 1987 when they were led by quarterback Joshua Cribbs to a 6–5 overall record, 5–3 in the MAC. Pees left Kent State after the 2003 season to take the defensive coordinator job with the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL) under head coach Bill Belichick . Coach Doug Martin was promoted from offensive coordinator and began his tenure as head coach in 2004. His best season

13500-784: The ten-year lease ended. The Canton Invaders of the National Professional Soccer League II and American Indoor Soccer Association played home games at the Canton Memorial Civic Center from 1984 until 1996, winning five league championships. In 2009, the Ohio Vortex became an expansion team in the Professional Arena Soccer League . Operations have since been suspended. Canton has been home to professional baseball on several occasions. A number of minor league teams called Canton home in

13625-497: The top employers in the city are: The Canton Museum of Art , founded in 1935, is a broad-based community arts organization designed to encourage and promote the fine arts in Canton. The museum focuses on 19th- and 20th-century American artists, specifically works on paper, and on American ceramics , beginning in the 1950s. The museum sponsors annual shows of work of high school students in Canton and Stark County, and financial scholarships are awarded. Educational outreach programs take

13750-541: The weekly AP poll, their first time being ranked since November 5, 1973, when they were ranked 19th for one week. Kent State clinched their first-ever MAC East Division title and spot in the 2012 MAC Championship Game with a 31–24 win over Bowling Green at Doyt Perry Stadium on November 17. Following the win over Bowling Green, the Flashes rose to No. 23 in the AP poll and entered the Coaches' and Harris polls at No. 25. Kent State

13875-420: The world. The Timken Co. is now headquartered in Jackson Township , a suburb of Canton, and employs 14,000 people around the world. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and sells bearings, transmissions, gearboxes, chain and related products, and offers a spectrum of power system rebuild and repair services around the globe. The Dueber-Hampden Watch Company was an important employer in Canton during

14000-412: Was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04. In the city the age distribution of the population shows 26.6% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males. The median income for

14125-492: Was also chosen as the site of the First Ladies National Historic Site largely in honor of his wife, Ida Saxton McKinley . Starting in the mid-2010s, Canton began experiencing an urban renaissance, anchored by a growing arts district centrally located in the downtown area. Several historic buildings have been rehabilitated and converted into upscale lofts, attracting hundreds of new downtown residents into

14250-576: Was also ranked for the first time in the Bowl Championship Series standings at No. 23. The team climbed as high as 17th in the BCS standings following their regular season-ending win over Ohio at Dix Stadium on November 23, which clinched their first-ever undefeated season in MAC play and set a record for most wins in a season with 11. They were also mentioned as a potential BCS Buster . Kent State, however, fell in overtime to Northern Illinois in

14375-421: Was condemned in 2017, and partial demolition began on June 20, 2018. By 2020, the south and east tiers, built into the hillside, remained, along with their respective ticket booths, though all wound up in a dilapidated state from damage caused by vandals and weathering. Most of the artificial turf field, last used in 2008, also remained in place during that time, though it had also been heavily damaged by vandals and

14500-429: Was finally able to celebrate its first—and so far only—Mid-American Conference title in 1972 followed by a trip to the 1972 Tangerine Bowl . James coached at Kent State four seasons (1971–1974), posting an overall record of 25–19–1 (.567) which included a 9–2 record in 1973. James left after the 1974 season to accept the head coaching job at Washington . Following the departure of Don James, Kent State went through

14625-567: Was held in Canton in November 1977 and was called the Ohio Regional Women's Physique Championship. For 10 seasons, Canton was home to an NBA G League team, the Canton Charge , which started play with the 2011–12 season and home games at the Canton Memorial Civic Center . The Cleveland Cavaliers had full control over the franchise and relocated the franchise in to Cleveland in 2021 when

14750-411: Was installed in 2005. It was originally a natural grass field until 1997, when an Astroturf surface was installed. From 1997 to 2004, the stadium also hosted the Kent State field hockey team until a new facility for field hockey was built immediately north of the stadium in 2005. Dix Stadium was most recently renovated in two phases in 2007 and 2008. Phase one included construction of a large canopy over

14875-492: Was prosecuting attorney of Stark County from 1869 to 1871. The city was his home during his successful campaign for Ohio governor, the site of his front-porch presidential campaign of 1896 and the campaign of 1900 . Canton is now the site of the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum and the McKinley National Memorial , dedicated in 1907. President McKinley's impact on Canton as his adopted home

15000-476: Was released after President Warren Harding commuted his sentence to time served. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision affirming Debs' conviction was sharply criticized by legal scholars at the time and is generally regarded as a low point in First Amendment jurisprudence. The lead author of the opinion, progressive Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes , later changed course that same term and authored

15125-449: Was rescheduled to another location "due to concerns about the dilapidated stadium". On April 5, 2017 the County of Summit foreclosed on the stadium with plans to allow Team1 to lease the stadium and repurpose it for mixed use entertainment. Team1 gave up the deed on August 29, 2017 allowing the city of Akron to become full-time owners after Team1 announced that they failed to attract attention to

15250-535: Was set on January 19, 1994. Canton's street layout forms the basis for the system of addresses in Stark County. Canton proper is divided into address quadrants (NW, NE, SW, SE) by Tuscarawas Street (dividing N and S) and Market Avenue (dividing E and W). Due to shifts in the street layout, the E–W divider becomes Cleveland Avenue south of the city, merging onto Ridge Road farther out. The directionals are noted as suffixes to

15375-474: Was the 2006 season, which saw Kent State go 6–6 overall and 5–3 in the MAC, finishing second in the East division. Kent State began the 2010 season with hopes of contending for a MAC title, but early losses at Miami and Toledo ended any hope for a title. The team did record its first-ever sell-out at Dix Stadium on October 9 when a crowd of 24,211 watched the Flashes defeat the arch-rival Akron Zips 28–17 to reclaim

15500-498: Was the first victory for Kent State over a non-conference team on the road since 2007. The winning streak reached six, the longest for Kent State since 1940, after a 35–23 win over undefeated and 18th-ranked Rutgers at High Point Solutions Stadium . The win was the Flashes' first over a ranked opponent after entering the game 0–22 against ranked teams. The win earned Kent State votes in the October 28, 2012 AP Poll , Coaches' Poll , and

15625-583: Was used in the construction of Dix Stadium as the Memorial Stadium seating areas were dismantled in 1969 and transported to the current site in a new configuration. Despite the overall lack of success in the program, Kent State has produced a number of standouts including several prominent figures in college football, the Canadian Football League and in the National Football League . 40 Kent State alumni have either played in or are playing in

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