[3] It is home to the Eastern Illinois University Panthers football and track and field teams.

O’Brien Field is named after Maynard O'Brien who coached football and track at Eastern Illinois University.

In 2009 a state of the art scoreboard was installed on the north end of the field with a video board and new sound system.

The all-time record for the Panthers football team at O'Brien Field is 178–95–3 as of the end of the 2019 season.

The stadium also plays host to the IHSA State Finals in track and field every year.