martin stadium opened in 1972 on september 30, with a 19-point loss to utah, then a member of the wac, with 20,600 in attendance. two and a half years had passed since the south grandstand and press box of its predecessor, the wooden rogers field, was significantly damaged by fire, a suspected case of arson. the wsu cougars played all of their home games at joe albi stadium in spokane in 1970 and 1971. aside from those two years, the cougars have played at the site of martin stadium since 1895.