The stadium, which originally seated approximately 20,000 spectators, was dedicated on November 4, 1972, when the Chippewas defeated Illinois State University, 28–21, before a Homecoming crowd of nearly 17,000.

[6] In June 1983, CMU's board of trustees voted to rename the facility Kelly/Shorts Stadium in honor of Kenneth "Bill" Kelly, who coached the Chippewa football team to a 91–58–2 record from 1951 to 1966.

A two-tiered press box, locker room, and nine guest suites also were included in the expansion project.

The original artificial turf, the first to be used in the state of Michigan, has been replaced three times, most recently in 2016 when it was changed from Astroturf to FieldTurf.

The stadium has also been used as a site for other events, including high school football playoff games, concerts, and graduation ceremonies.