The Salem Stadium, the hub of the James E. Taliaferro Sports and Entertainment Complex, became a part of Salem’s landscape October 1967. For more than 40 years the 7,000 seat facility has welcomed a who’s who of entertainment’s brightest stars to its stage including the likes of Bill Cosby, Kenny Chesney, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Def Leppard and Larry The Cable Guy.
Salem Stadium currently is the home of the NCAA Division III men’s basketball Final Four, but its round ball roots go all the way back to the old American Basketball Association when Dr. J, Julius Erving, played in the arena as a member of the Virginia Squires.
Salem Stadium has been the home of the NCAA Division III Football Championship game since 1993. Since the Stagg Bowl debuted in southwest Virginia, the stadium has undergone a number of improvements to better accommodate both players and fans, including new lights, an expanded press box and the installation of synthetic Field Turf prior to the 2007 game.
The field has hosted a number of overflow sports crowds, but the biggest turnout occurred on October 27, 2008 when republican vice-presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin attracted a crowd of more than 16,000 to a political rally.
One of the Stadium’ most important features is its parking. There are more than 4000 free parking spots at the Taliaferro Complex, giving patrons easy access to shows and events.
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