Robins Stadium
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| 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 |
| Opened | September 18, 2010 |
| Construction cost | $28 million |
| Architect | BCWH Architects McMillan, Pazdan, Smith |
| Structural engineer | Dunbar Milby Williams Pittman & Vaughan |
| Services engineer | Thompson Consulting Engineers |
| General contractor | Hourigan Construction |
| Tenants | |
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Richmond Spiders (football, soccer, lacrosse, track & field) |
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E. Claiborne Robins Stadium is an 8,217-seat multi-purpose stadium at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia. 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. 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. In 2002, the stadium's track was completely rebuilt, and in 2003 was named Fred Hardy Track in honor of the longtime Spiders coach. The playing surface was changed from natural grass to synthetic FieldTurf in 2004. 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.
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. 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." 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.
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