It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the East Texas A&M University Lions football team, East Texas A&M men's and women's Track and Field, and the Commerce High School Tigers Football team of the Commerce Independent School District.

The stadium was built in honor of the 78 East Texas A&M alums and students who fought and died during World War II.

The stadium was renamed Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium was formally changed in November 2017 in honor of longtime Lion football coach Ernest Hawkins.

[3] The stadium was opened and dedicated on Sept. 23, 1950 with a game against regional rival the University of North Texas.

[9] In addition to football games for East Texas A&M and Commerce High School, it also hosts college and high school track meets, including the University Interscholastic League's Conference 4A Region II track meet, which is a precursor to the Texas High School State Track meet in Austin.