[5] In the early 1970s, there were only two stadiums in the Fresno area, Ratcliffe and McLane, which made scheduling of local football games difficult.

Bob Goss, chairman of the athletics booster organization the Bulldog Foundation, said in 1973: "I feel strongly the community of Fresno not only needs a new stadium, but can afford it, and is willing to get going as soon as possible on a drive to raise a part of the money.

[6] A stadium steering committee was established in 1977, led by local businessman Leon Peters, looking to make the project a reality.

A second round of bidding offered better results and the local Robert F. Fisher Company was awarded the construction contract.

But the program still had problems scheduling high-profile opponents, and a stadium expansion was proposed as a way to mitigate those issues, as well as boost recruiting efforts and revenue.

[8] Bulldog Stadium enjoys a reputation of having one of the premier home football environments among universities outside of the so-called "power conferences".

For Fresno State football games, both end zones are designed in a red-and-white checkerboard pattern, similar to the University of Tennessee's orange-and-white at Neyland Stadium.

[13] The consulting agency formed by alumni brothers Derek and David Carr played a pivotal role in the negotiations of the deal.

The decision triggered a backlash on social media, with some area residents saying Valley Children's was "squandering funds" and others lamenting the addition of more advertising to the in-person stadium experience.