E. Claiborne Robins Stadium

E. Claiborne Robins Stadium
Former names First Market Stadium; Soccer/Track Complex
Location 238 Boatwright Drive
Richmond, VA 23173 USA
Owner University of Richmond
Operator University of Richmond
Capacity 8,217 (2017–present)
8,700 (2010–2016)
Surface FieldTurf
Construction
Broke ground October 25, 2008[1]
Opened September 18, 2010
Construction cost $28 million[2]
Architect BCWH Architects
McMillan, Pazdan, Smith
Structural engineer Dunbar Milby Williams Pittman & Vaughan[3]
Services engineer Thompson Consulting Engineers[4]
General contractor Hourigan Construction[5]
Tenants
Richmond Spiders
(football, soccer, lacrosse, track & field)

E. Claiborne Robins Stadium is an 8,217-seat multi-purpose stadium at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.[6][7] It is currently home to the Richmond Spiders football, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, women's soccer, and women's track and field teams. The men's soccer team played there until 2012, when the university discontinued the program.[8] Known for many years as the Soccer/Track Complex, the facility was renamed First Market Stadium in 2001 following a donation from First Market Bank.[9] In 2002, the stadium's track was completely rebuilt,[10] and in 2003 was named Fred Hardy Track in honor of the longtime Spiders coach.[9] The playing surface was changed from natural grass to synthetic FieldTurf in 2004.[11] On September 16, 2009, the University of Richmond announced that First Market Stadium would be renamed E. Claiborne Robins Stadium to honor the legacy of E. Claiborne Robins, Sr. and his historic philanthropy to the school.[12]

Moving football on campus

From 1928 to 2009, the Spiders football team played its home games at City Stadium, located approximately four miles from campus. (City Stadium was renamed "University of Richmond Stadium" in the 1980s until reverting to its original name in 2010.) As UR Stadium aged and demand grew for an on-campus football facility, proposals sought an expansion and modernization of First Market Stadium to accommodate the football program's competitive needs. The university and donors combined to commit more than $25 million to the project, including a $5 million grant from the Robins Foundation.[13] Demolition on the old stadium began on December 20, 2008, coincidentally the day after the Spiders football team won the 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship – the school's first national title in any sport. The timing prompted observations that "Some teams tear down goal posts when they win a championship; Richmond tore down a stadium."[14] The football team began play at Robins Stadium in the 2010 season, christening their new venue with a 27-21 overtime win over Elon University.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Homecoming Weekend". The Alumni Magazine. 2008. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  2. ↑ University of Richmond Alumni Magazine – Winter 2010: Around the Lake: Construction stays on track
  3. ↑ "U of R - Robins Football Stadium". Dunbar Milby Williams Pittman & Vaughan. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  4. ↑ "LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)". Thompson Consulting Engineers. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Awards". Hourigan Construction. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ Woody, Paul (3 November 2012). "As Richmond soccer ends, players face difficult choices". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  9. 1 2 First Market Stadium/Fred Hardy Track
  10. ↑ Track Renovations Complete
  11. ↑ New FieldTurf In First Market Stadium Unveiled
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ "Robins Foundation awards $8 million to University of Richmond for on-campus stadium and Westhampton Center". University of Richmond Newsroom. 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  14. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-16. Retrieved 2009-10-27.

Coordinates: 37°34′51″N 77°32′12″W / 37.580892°N 77.536805°W / 37.580892; -77.536805

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