Klöckner Stadium and Soccer Facilities
The University of Virginia’s women’s soccer team enters its 26th season of play in Klöckner Stadium, a stadium considered one of the nation’s premier college soccer facilities. In its history, Klöckner has played host to numerous soccer postseason games, including NCAA Tournament games for 25 consecutive years in men’s soccer and 19 seasons hosting NCAA Tournament games in women’s soccer.
The state-of-the-art facility was unveiled on Aug. 30, 1992, when 6,142 sun-drenched fans gathered for a dedication exhibition match between Santa Clara and Virginia’s men’s soccer teams. The rematch between the two finalists from the 1991 NCAA championship game was a fitting matchup to officially dedicate a facility where UVA soccer programs would prove virtually unbeatable in the coming years.
The Virginia women would play their first game in the facility a week later, picking up a 4-1 win over George Washington. It would set the tone for a program that holds a 235-44-19 record and an .820 winning percentage in the facility through 24 seasons.
In 2014, the Cavaliers posted a perfect 18-0-0 record at home, setting a new school record for home wins in a season. Klöckner Stadium has hosted NCAA Women’s Tournament action in 19 of its 24 seasons and holds a 31-10-4 record in NCAA Tournament games at home for a .733 winning percentage.
Built at a cost of $3.4 million, Klöckner Stadium was made possible through the generosity of the Klöckner Group donating $1.2 million to the construction the stadium.
Klöckner, with headquarters in Germany, is an established and well-known industrial conglomerate specializing in steel, machinery, equipment and packaging materials. Its subsidiary, Klöckner-Pentaplast, is one of the nation’s leading plastic film manufacturers. Klöckner operates numerous manufacturing plants throughout the United States, including one in Gordonsville, Va., outside Charlottesville.
“We’re thrilled to play a part in the success of the University of Virginia soccer program,” said Harry J.G. van Beek, Klöckner Capital Corporation President. “As a profitable company, we strongly believe in giving back to the community. World-class teams such as UVA deserve world-class stadiums. On behalf of all the Klöckner companies in the United States, we are thrilled to be a part of championship soccer at UVA.”
The $1.2 million gift from Klöckner went toward completion of the first phase of the Klöckner Stadium project. The project’s first phase included permanent seating in the grandstand for 3,600 (with additional hillside seating for approximately 3,500 people), a regulation-size natural grass field, a full-size practice field adjacent to the stadium, team locker rooms, a press box, an indoor VIP box, scoreboard, concession stands and rest rooms.
The second phase of the stadium project, the installation of a lighting system, was completed during the summer of 1995. The Klöckner Group renewed its commitment to the University as the largest donor to this project. The lighting system provides lighting on the playing field as well as on the walkways leading to the stadium from surrounding streets and parking lots.
In addition to serving as the home of the Cavaliers, Klöckner Stadium allows the University of Virginia to sponsor coaching clinics, state cup and high school championships, conference, regional and national intercollegiate contests and tournaments. It also plays host to United States Soccer Federation events and national team Olympic qualifiers. Klöckner Stadium has also been used as a training site for the D.C. United team of Major League Soccer and has served as the site for the Spring Game for the UVA football team.
In 2004, the facility received a new scoreboard and in 2006 a new video display board was added to the scoreboard.
| Klöckner Stadium Historic Games | |
| First Women’s Game | September 5, 1992 vs. George Washington (W, 4-1) |
| First Women’s Win vs. Ranked Opponent | September 26, 1992 vs. No. 19 Colorado College (W, 1-0) |
| First Women’s ACC Win | October 31, 1993 vs. Maryland (W, 2-0) |
| First Women’s NCAA Tournament Game | November 2, 1992 vs. No. 7 Duke (L, 0-2) |
| First Women’s NCAA Tournament Win | November 15, 1997 vs. James Madison (W, 3-1) |
| 50th Women’s Win | September 5, 1998 vs. James Madison (W, 3-2 ot) |
| First Women’s Win vs. Top 10 Opponent | September 20, 1998 vs. No. 9 Duke (W, 5-1) |
| First Women’s Win vs. Top 5 Opponent | September 26, 1999 vs. No. 5 Hartford (W, 2-1) |
| 100th Women’s Win | August 29, 2004 vs. Miami (W, 4-0) |
| 150th Women’s Win | August 30, 2009 vs. Hofstra (W, 7-0) |
| 200th Women’s Win | October 6, 2013 vs. Clemson (W, 3-0) |
| Total Women’s Record at Klöckner | 246-45-20 (25 Seasons) |
| ACC Record at Klöckner | 79-22-10 (25 Seasons) |
| Steve Swanson Era at Klöckner Stadium | |
| Swanson’s First Win at Klöckner Stadium | September 5, 2000 vs. UAB (W, 1-0) |
| Swanson’s First ACC Win at Klöckner Stadium | September 12, 2000 vs. NC State (W, 3-0) |
| Swanson’s First Win vs. Ranked Foe at Klöckner Stadium | October 4, 2001 vs. No. 19 BYU (W, 3-2 ot) |
| Swanson’s First Win vs. Top 10 Foe at Klöckner Stadium | September 12, 2003 vs. No. 10 Santa Clara (W, 4-1) |
| Swanson’s First Win vs. Top 5 Foe at Klöckner Stadium | October 30, 2009 vs. No. 4 Florida State (W, 1-0) |
| Swanson’s First Win vs. No. 1 Ranked Foe at Klöckner Stadium | October 3, 2010 vs. No. 1 Boston College (W, 3-2 ot) |
| Swanson’s 50th Win at Klöckner Stadium | October 23, 2005 vs. Maryland (W, 2-0) |
| Swanson’s 100th Win at Klöckner Stadium | August 19, 2011 vs. West Virginia (W, 2-1) |
| Swanson’s 150th Win at Klöckner Stadium | September 25, 2014 vs. Wake Forest (W, 5-0) |
Women’s Soccer Locker Room
Prior to the start of the 2007 season, the Cavaliers moved into a new locker room housed in University Hall. The area features not only a dressing area for practice and games, but a player lounge and a film study area. The new home for the team is more than twice the size of its previous locker room.
Directions
Klöckner Stadium
From the East/West: Take I-64 to exit 118B (Culpeper-Charlottesville). Take second exit (sign will say University of Virginia Information Center and Business 250 East) and bear right onto Ivy Rd. At second stoplight, turn left on to Copeley Rd.
From the North: Take Route 29 south into Charlottesville (Emmet St.). Turn right at Massie Rd. Go to the next stoplight and turn left onto Copeley Rd.
From the South: Take Route 29 to Business Route 250 East (sign will say University of Virginia Information Center) and bear right onto Ivy Rd. At second stoplight, turn left onto Copeley Rd.