E. Claiborne Robins Stadium
Aerial view of the stadium in 2023 | |
Interactive map of Robins Stadium | |
| Full name | E. Claiborne Robins Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names | First Market Stadium Soccer/Track Complex |
| Address | 238 Boatwright Drive Richmond, Virginia United States |
| Owner | University of Richmond |
| Operator | Richmond Athletics |
| Type | Stadium |
| Capacity | 8,217 (2017–present) 8,700 (2010–2016) |
| Surface | FieldTurf |
| Current use | Football Lacrosse Track and field |
| 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[4] |
| Services engineer | Thompson Consulting Engineers[3] |
| General contractor | Hourigan Construction[5] |
| Tenants | |
| |
| Website | |
| richmondspiders.com/robins-stadium | |
E. Claiborne Robins Stadium is an 8,217-seat stadium at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.[6] It is home to the Richmond Spiders football, men's and women's lacrosse, and women's track and field teams.
The men's soccer team played there until 2012, when the university discontinued the program.[7]
History
Known for many years as the Soccer/Track Complex, the original 2,000-seat facility was renamed First Market Stadium in 2001 following a sponsorship from First Market Bank (now Atlantic Union Bank).[8]
In 2002, the stadium's track was completely rebuilt.[9] In 2003, it was named the Fred Hardy Track in honor of the longtime Spiders coach.[10] The playing surface was changed from natural grass to FieldTurf, an artificial turf, in 2004.[11]
Due to the age and off-campus location of City Stadium, where the Richmond Spiders football team played its home games, demand grew for an on-campus football facility.
The university and donors committed more than $25 million to a renovation of First Market Stadium, including a $5 million grant from the Robins Foundation in early 2008.[12][13]
Renovations on the 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.[14]
On September 16, 2009, the stadium was renamed E. Claiborne Robins Stadium to honor the legacy of E. Claiborne Robins Sr and his historic philanthropy to the school.[13]
The football team began play at Robins Stadium in the 2010 season, they won their first game 27-21 in overtime over Elon University.[15]
Attendance records
| Rank | Attendance | Date | Game Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1T | 8,700 | November 12, 2016 | 8 Richmond 31, Delaware 17 |
| 1T | 8,700 | October 15, 2016 | 6 Richmond 23, 13 Villanova 0 |
| 1T | 8,700 | October 1, 2016 | 6 Richmond 31, Towson 28 |
| 1T | 8,700 | September 24, 2016 | 7 Richmond 38, 23 Colgate 31 |
| 1T | 8,700 | September 10, 2016 | 2 Richmond 34, Norfolk State 0 |
| 1T | 8,700 | November 21, 2015 | 14 Richmond 20, 7 William & Mary 9 |
| 1T | 8,700 | September 19, 2015 | 22 Richmond 42, VMI 10 |
| 1T | 8,700 | November 15, 2014 | 14 Richmond 20, 25 James Madison 55 |
| 1T | 8,700 | November 23, 2013 | Richmond 31, 19 William & Mary 20 |
| 1T | 8,700 | November 2, 2013 | Richmond 27, Albany 10 |
| 1T | 8,700 | October 26, 2013 | Richmond 32, 8 Towson 48 |
| 1T | 8,700 | September 28, 2013 | 22 Richmond 21, Maine 28 |
| 1T | 8,700 | August 31, 2013 | 15 Richmond 34, VMI 0 |
| 1T | 8,700 | November 10, 2012 | 20 Richmond 23, Delaware 17 |
| 1T | 8,700 | November 3, 2012 | 22 Richmond 39, Rhode Island 0 |
| 1T | 8,700 | October 20, 2012 | Richmond 35, 2 James Madison 29 |
| 1T | 8,700 | September 29, 2012 | Richmond 37, 4 Old Dominion 45 |
| 1T | 8,700 | September 8, 2012 | Richmond 41, Gardner–Webb 8 |
| 1T | 8,700 | November 19, 2011 | Richmond 23, William & Mary 25 |
| 1T | 8,700 | October 22, 2011 | 18 Richmond 22, 9 Maine 23 |
| 1T | 8,700 | September 24, 2011 | 5 Richmond 43, 11 New Hampshire 45 |
| 1T | 8,700 | September 17, 2011 | 6 Richmond 34, VMI 19 |
| 1T | 8,700 | September 10, 2011 | 9 Richmond 21, Wagner 6 |
| 1T | 8,700 | November 6, 2010 | 20 Richmond 13, 22 James Madison 10OT |
| 1T | 8,700 | October 23, 2010 | 16 Richmond 28, Towson 6 |
| 1T | 8,700 | September 25, 2010 | 5 Richmond 13, 7 Delaware 34 |
| 1T | 8,700 | September 18, 2010 | 9 Richmond 27, 7 Elon 21OT |
See also
References
- ^ "Homecoming Weekend". The Alumni Magazine. 2008.
- ^ "University of Richmond Alumni Magazine – Winter 2010: Around the Lake: Construction stays on track".
- ^ "LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)". Thompson Consulting Engineers. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
- ^ "UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - Robins Football Stadium" (PDF). University of Richmond.
- ^ "Awards". Hourigan Construction.
- ^ "Robins Stadium" (Press release). Richmond Spiders. February 9, 2015.
- ^ Woody, Paul (November 3, 2012). "As Richmond soccer ends, players face difficult choices". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
- ^ O'Connor, John (September 17, 2009). "UR's on-campus stadium will carry Robins' name". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
- ^ "Track Renovations Complete". Richmond Spiders (Press release). September 24, 2002.
- ^ "Robins Stadium". Richmond Spiders.
- ^ "New FieldTurf In First Market Stadium Unveiled". Richmond Spiders. August 13, 2004.
- ^ "Robins Foundation awards $8 million to University of Richmond for on-campus stadium and Westhampton Center". University of Richmond (Press release). January 3, 2008. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
- ^ a b "Congratulations Class Of 2009!". Richmond Spiders (Press release). May 10, 2009.
- ^ "A New Day". University of Richmond. August 2, 2010. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
- ^ "E. Claiborne Robins Stadium – Richmond Spiders". Stadium Journey.