Klöckner Stadium and Soccer Facilities
The University of Virginia’s men’s soccer team enters its 15th season of play in Klöckner Stadium, considered one of the nation’s premier college soccer facilities. In its short history, Klöckner has played host to numerous soccer postseason games, including 33 men’s soccer NCAA playoff games, eight of which were NCAA quarterfinal matches.
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. The rematch between the two finalists from the 1991 NCAA championship game was a fitting matchup to officially dedicate a facility where UVa would prove virtually unbeatable in the coming years.
In what would become a season-long trait, UVa scored on a rebound when Ben Crawley headed in Damian Silvera’s deflected shot in the 62nd minute for the historic first goal at the new field as UVa defeated Santa Clara 1-0 to start its march towards a second consecutive NCAA championship.
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.
UVa played its first night game at Klöckner Stadium on September 13, 1995, against Virginia Tech as 3,358 fans braved a threatening thunderstorm to attend the historic game. Despite a 30-minute first-half rain delay, many fans remained to cheer the Cavaliers on to a 7-1 victory.
UVa finished third nationally in attendance in 1997 after leading the country in attendance the previous two seasons, bringing in 36,545 fans to 17 games in 1996, and 38,685 fans for 15 games in 1995. In 1994, a stadium-record crowd of 7,807 packed the stands and hillsides to witness a 4-1 Cavalier victory over James Madison in the NCAA quarterfinals.
The Virginia men’s soccer team owns a 14-year record of 164-25-10 (.849) at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers finished 8-1-2 at home last year (2005). Virginia is 23-8-1 (.726) in NCAA Tournament games held at Klöckner Stadium during the past 13 seasons, outscoring the opposition 66-31 in those games. The Virginia women’s soccer team owns a 14 year record of 120-31-11 (.775) at Klöckner Stadium. In 2005, the Cavaliers posted a 12-1-1 record at home, setting a new school record for home wins in a season. Klöckner Stadium also hosted NCAA Women’s Soccer action for the eleventh time that season.
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 as the site for the Spring Game for the UVa football team.
In 2004, the facility received a new scoreboard marking the latest improvement to Klöckner Stadium and in 2006 a new state-of-the-art video display board was added to the scoreboard.
| Klöckner Stadium Historic Games – Men’s Soccer | |
| First Men’s Game (Exh.) | Aug. 30, 1992, vs. Santa Clara |
| First men’s Game (Regulation) | Sept. 5, 1992 vs Penn State (W, 4-0) |
| First Men’s Win vs. Ranked Opponent | September 7, 1992 vs. No. 15 Seton Hall (W, 4-1) |
| First Men’s ACC Win | September 13, 1992 vs. Maryland (W, 5-1) |
| First Men’s NCAA Tournament Game | November 22, 1992 vs. Penn State (W, 4-1) |
| First Men’s NCAA Tournament Win | November 22, 1992 vs. Penn State (W, 4-1) |
| 50th Men’s Win | October 25, 1995 vs. Robert Morris (W, 3-0) |
| First Men’s Win vs. Top 10 Opponent | September 23, 1992 vs. No. 8 James Madison (W, 3-0) |
| First Men’s Win vs. Top 5 Opponent | October 15, 1995 vs. No. 4 Clemson (W, 2-1 ot) |
| 100th Men’s Win | November 21, 1999 vs. Princeton (W, 2-1 ot) |
| 150th Men’s Win | September 14, 2005 vs. Longwood (W, 4-0) |
| 200th Men’s Win | September 14, 2010 vs. Marist (W, 2-0) |
| 250th Men’s Win | September 14, 2016 vs. VCU (W, 3-0) |
| Total Men’s Record at Klöckner | 327-70-35 (32 Seasons) |
| Men’s ACC Record at Klöckner | 61-24-10 (25 Seasons) |
| George Gelnovatch Era at Klöckner Stadium | |
| Gelnovatch’s First Win at Klöckner Stadium | Aug. 31, 1996 vs Old Dominion (W, 4-0) |
| Gelnovatch’s First ACC Win at Klöckner Stadium | Sept. 22, 1996 vs Wake Forest (W, 2-0) |
| Gelnovatch’s First Win vs. Ranked Foe at Klöckner Stadium | Sept. 8, 1996 vs No. 5 Saint Louis (W, 2-1) |
| Gelnovatch’s First Win vs. Top 10 Foe at Klöckner Stadium | Sept. 8, 1996 vs No. 5 Saint Louis (W, 2-1) |
| Gelnovatch’s First Win vs. Top 5 Foe at Klöckner Stadium | Sept. 8, 1996 vs No. 5 Saint Louis (W, 2-1) |
| Gelnovatch’s 50th Win at Klöckner Stadium | |
| Gelnovatch’s 100th Win at Klöckner Stadium | |
| Gelnovatch’s 150th Win at Klöckner Stadium | |
| Gelnovatch’s 200th Win at Klöckner Stadium | |
| Gelnovatch’s Record at Klöckner Stadium | 202-42-22 (21 Seasons) |
| Gelnovatch’s ACC Record at Klöckner Stadium | 50-21-10 (21 Seasons) |
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.