Reason for removal of seats was primarily the cheap construction practices, etc., when HC initially constructed. State Board of Regents pared the project down significantly: initially proposed the facility was to seat closer to 12,000 and area was to be AIR-CONDITIONED!! After opening the lower seats, which were RETRACTABLE, began to have problems, i.e., mechanism didn't work, finally had to be scrapped. Then, the floor had a tartan surface, which soon developed flaws, etc.
During Rockefeller admin. state found money to upgrade and expand Mountaineer Field. MU sought funds to make upgrades, correct problems at HC, to no avail. Like campus facilities overall, MU has never been given sufficient funding to maintain and upgrade its capital plant, including HC. Nearly 40 some years, and facility is in many respects same as it was on opening night.