Machinery rumbles, old stands crumble

Rubble reflects progress for University of Richmond football.

Fresh off its Football Championship Subdivision title, UR recently started the on-campus stadium ball rolling with demolition at the site of the coming facility. The Spiders have played home games off-campus since 1929 and are scheduled to do so for the final time in 2009.

In the footprint of First Market Stadium, which is adjacent to the Robins Center, an on-campus stadium with a capacity of 8,700 will open for the 2010 season. In the past few days, the 3,000-seat concrete bleachers at First Market Stadium were destroyed.

"We are preparing the site to be a full construction site in May," said David Walsh, Richmond's deputy athletic director. Until then, the track and FieldTurf playing surface will be usable.

Richmond Athletic Director Jim Miller said the concrete from the torn-down bleachers will be transformed into fill material useful for other on-campus construction projects.

In 2009-10, the Spiders' soccer teams, track team and women's lacrosse team will need alternative sites for games and meets, according to Walsh, in part because there will be no lighting at First Market Stadium. It's likely those events will be held off campus, he added.

The football team is expected to continue practicing at First Market Stadium, at least for some of the 2009 season. The new stadium is projected to be completed late in the summer of 2010.

The first event scheduled at the new stadium is Richmond's third football game of 2010. The Spiders will open that season at Virginia, then go on the road the following week for their Colonial Athletic Association opener. Elon is tentatively scheduled to play at UR in the third week.

Though UR officials said that the facility remains First Market Stadium, it's possible the name could change between now and the new facility's opening.