First Market Stadium
Encyclopedia
E. Claiborne Robins Stadium is a 8,700-seat multi-purpose stadium
at the University of Richmond
. It is currently home to the Richmond Spiders
men's football
, men's and women's soccer, women's lacrosse
, and men's and women's track and field
teams. Known for many years simply as the Soccer/Track Complex, the facility was renamed First Market Stadium in 2001 in recognition of a major gift 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 Spider coach. The playing surface was changed from natural grass to FieldTurf
artificial turf
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.
on September 18, 2010.
37.580892°N 77.5368047°W
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
at the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
. It is currently home to the Richmond Spiders
Richmond Spiders
The Richmond Spiders represent the University of Richmond, a member of the NCAA's Division I and a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference for all sports except football and women's golf, which participate as members of the Colonial Athletic Association....
men's football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, men's and women's soccer, women's lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, and men's and women's track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
teams. Known for many years simply as the Soccer/Track Complex, the facility was renamed First Market Stadium in 2001 in recognition of a major gift from First Market Bank
First Market Bank
First Market Bank was a federal savings bank founded and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. It offered a full range of both retail and commercial products as well as mortgage, trust and investment services. The bank also employed more than 300 people...
. In 2002, the stadium's track was completely rebuilt, and in 2003 was named Fred Hardy Track in honor of the longtime Spider coach. The playing surface was changed from natural grass to FieldTurf
FieldTurf
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
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.
Moving Football On-Campus
The Spider football team played its home games at City Stadium, which was named University of Richmond Stadium from 1988–2010, for over 80 years. The stadium is located approximately three miles from the campus,. As the stadium aged and demand grew for an on-campus facility, plans were proposed for expanding First Market Stadium in order to accommodate the football program. The plans called for an expansion to 8,700 seats and an opening date for football of 2010. In excess of $25 million was committed to the project by the university and donors, including a $5 million gift from the Robins Foundation. Demolition on the old stadium began on December 20, 2008, coincidentally the day after the Spider Football team won the school's first National Championship. With the 2 events coinciding, some were prompted to comment "Some teams tear down goal posts when they win a championship, Richmond tore down a stadium." The facility will continue to serve as the home of the soccer, lacrosse, and track and field programs along with the football program. The first football game at Robins Stadium was Richmond's overtime win over Elon UniversityElon University
Elon University is a private liberal arts university in Elon, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Elon College, it became Elon University on June 1, 2001. The campus is a botanical garden and features oak trees, brick sidewalks, fountains, and lakes...
on September 18, 2010.
External links
37.580892°N 77.5368047°W