Al F. Caniglia Field Explained

Stadium Name:Al F. Caniglia Field
Location:Omaha, Nebraska
Coordinates:41.2571°N -96.0073°W
Opened:October 1, 1949
Renovated:2013
Reopened:October 26, 2013
General Contractor:Hellas Sports Construction (renovation)
Owner:University of Nebraska Omaha
Operator:University of Nebraska Omaha
Tenants:Omaha Mavericks men's soccer
Omaha Mavericks women's soccer
Seating Capacity:3,097

Al F. Caniglia Field is a stadium located on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. Beginning on October 26, 2013, it became home of the Omaha Mavericks men's and women's soccer teams. Caniglia Field seats 3,097 fans and features 1,390 chairback seats and VIP boxes. The field features a 21-foot by 42-foot LED video board and scoreboard. The Omaha soccer pitch, installed by Hellas Construction, is the only NCAA Division I field to receive the prestigious FIFA Recommended 2-Star certification.[1] The state-of-the-art soccer-specific turf features a lower grain that allows the ball to move faster and an infill of ground coconut husks and cork to keep the on-field temperature lower.[2]

History

The stadium was the former home of the NCAA Division II UNO Mavericks football and track teams. Prior to playing at Caniglia Field, in 1927, businessmen formed the North Omaha Activities Association in order to redevelop Saratoga School's playing field into a football field for the university's football team. With new bleachers built to accommodate a crowd of 1,000 spectators, the Saratoga Field was home to Omaha's football team until Caniglia Field opened.[3] The first game was played on Caniglia Field on October 1, 1949, against Northern Illinois.[4] Omaha discontinued varsity football in 2011.

The stadium also hosted two NAIA Division II football playoff games in 1990, including the national championship game, during Peru State's sole championship-winning season.

Notes and References

  1. News: Nelson. Andrew. Upgrades for Omaha soccer gives fans something about which to get excited. February 17, 2016. The Gateway. University of Nebraska Omaha. April 12, 2014.
  2. https://www.omavs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31400&ATCLID=209293705 Caniglia Field
  3. https://www.unoalumni.org/About_Us/Flashback/Archive/238/index.asp Saratoga Field
  4. Web site: 2007 Football Media Guide . UNO Athletics . February 19, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080207051823/http://gomavs.unomaha.edu/media_guide.php?sport_name=football . February 7, 2008 . live .