E. Claiborne Robins Stadium is an 8,217-seat multi-purpose stadium at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.[6] It is 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.[7]
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| Former names | First Market Stadium Soccer/Track Complex |
|---|---|
| Location | 238 Boatwright Drive Richmond, Virginia 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[4] |
| Services engineer | Thompson Consulting Engineers[3] |
| General contractor | Hourigan Construction[5] |
| Tenants | |
| Richmond Spiders (football, soccer, lacrosse, track & field) | |
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 |