E. Claiborne Robins Stadium Explained

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

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]

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
1^T	8,700	November 12, 2016	Richmond 31, Delaware 17
1^T	8,700	October 15, 2016	Richmond 23, Villanova 0
1^T	8,700	October 1, 2016	Richmond 31, Towson 28
1^T	8,700	September 24, 2016	Richmond 38, Colgate 31
1^T	8,700	September 10, 2016	Richmond 34, Norfolk State 0
1^T	8,700	November 21, 2015	Richmond 20, William & Mary 9
1^T	8,700	September 19, 2015	Richmond 42, VMI 10
1^T	8,700	November 15, 2014	Richmond 20, James Madison 55
1^T	8,700	November 23, 2013	Richmond 31, William & Mary 20
1^T	8,700	November 2, 2013	Richmond 27, Albany 10
1^T	8,700	October 26, 2013	Richmond 32, Towson 48
1^T	8,700	September 28, 2013	Richmond 21, Maine 28
1^T	8,700	August 31, 2013	Richmond 34, VMI 0
1^T	8,700	November 10, 2012	Richmond 23, Delaware 17
1^T	8,700	November 3, 2012	Richmond 39, Rhode Island 0
1^T	8,700	October 20, 2012	Richmond 35, James Madison 29
1^T	8,700	September 29, 2012	Richmond 37, Old Dominion 45
1^T	8,700	September 8, 2012	Richmond 41, Gardner–Webb 8
1^T	8,700	November 19, 2011	Richmond 23, William & Mary 25
1^T	8,700	October 22, 2011	Richmond 22, Maine 23
1^T	8,700	September 24, 2011	Richmond 43, New Hampshire 45
1^T	8,700	September 17, 2011	Richmond 34, VMI 19
1^T	8,700	September 10, 2011	Richmond 21, Wagner 6
1^T	8,700	November 6, 2010	Richmond 13, James Madison 10^OT
1^T	8,700	October 23, 2010	Richmond 28, Towson 6
1^T	8,700	September 25, 2010	Richmond 13, Delaware 34
1^T	8,700	September 18, 2010	Richmond 27, Elon 21^OT

See also

• List of NCAA Division I FCS football stadiums

References

37.5809°N -77.5368°W

Notes and References

1. News: Homecoming Weekend . The Alumni Magazine . 2008.
2. Web site: University of Richmond Alumni Magazine – Winter 2010: Around the Lake: Construction stays on track.
3. Web site: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) . Thompson Consulting Engineers.
4. Web site: UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - Robins Football Stadium . University of Richmond.
5. Web site: Awards . Hourigan Construction.
6. Robins Stadium . . February 9, 2015.
7. News: Woody . Paul . As Richmond soccer ends, players face difficult choices . . November 3, 2012.
8. News: UR's on-campus stadium will carry Robins' name . John . O'Connor . . September 17, 2009.
9. Track Renovations Complete . . September 24, 2002.
10. Web site: Robins Stadium . Richmond Spiders.
11. News: New FieldTurf In First Market Stadium Unveiled . . August 13, 2004.
12. Robins Foundation awards $8 million to University of Richmond for on-campus stadium and Westhampton Center . . January 3, 2008.
13. Congratulations Class Of 2009! . . May 10, 2009.
14. News: A New Day . . August 2, 2010.
15. Web site: E. Claiborne Robins Stadium – Richmond Spiders . Stadium Journey.