E. Claiborne Robins Stadium

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]

E. Claiborne Robins Stadium

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[3]
Services engineer	Thompson Consulting Engineers[4]
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

Aerial view in 2023

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

• List of NCAA Division I FCS football stadiums

References

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

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