S O CCER
Butler Soccer Facilities
BUTLER BOWL Butler soccer now plays the majority of its matches on campus at the Butler Bowl. The Bowl, located next to Hinkle Fieldhouse (510 W. 49th Street), underwent a major face-lift in 2005, with the addition of a new field turf surface and the elimination of more than 17,000 seats. The new field is large enough to accommodate both football and soccer. The Butler Bowl has been home to Butler football for more than seven decades. The stadium was completed in 1928 with a seating capacity for 36,000 spectators. Seating was reduced to 20,000 in 1955, with the addition of the Hilton U. Brown Theatre in the south end zone. The outdoor theater, which was removed in the recent renovation, served as the summer home of widely-recognized Starlight Musicals for more than three decades. Butler’s new all-purpose field is flanked on the east side by a new, apartment-style student housing complex, completed in the fall of 2006.
VARSITY FIELD Butler’s soccer program found a permanent home on campus in 1995 at Varsity Field. A practice facility since the program’s inception, Varsity Field was first used in game competition on Sept. 22, 1991. The Bulldogs celebrated the opening of the new home field by beating Valparaiso 8-0. Since then, the Bulldogs have compiled a 33-7-3 record at Varsity Field.
Two major steps were taken to make Varsity Field a first-class facility in 1994. Thanks to a generous donation by Dr. John McCarroll, an orthopedic surgeon with Methodist Hospital and Butler’s team doctor, the playing field was enclosed. Also, Butler imported covered “World Cup” benches from Sweden, which provide protection from inclement weather. That same year, Varsity Field served as the host for the women’s Midwestern Collegiate Conference championship. Improvements to Varsity Field have continued in recent years. A new scoreboard has been in place for seven seasons, and a new press box was added in 2003. Future plans could include the installment of lights, which would enable all Butler home matches to be played at Varsity Field. The Bulldogs currently use Kuntz Stadium for evening contests. Varsity Field has seating for approximately 1,000 soccer spectators. It is located in the neighborhood of Rocky Ripple, across the White River Canal from Butler’s Holcomb Botanical Gardens, and next to the varsity softball field and Butler’s intramural fields.
Directions to Varsity Field From Northwest: I-65 south to I-465 east, exit I-465 at U.S. 31 (Meridian St.), follow Meridian south to 52nd St., turn right and follow to Lester, turn left and follow to Varsity Field. From North: U.S. 31 (Meridian St.) south to 52nd St., turn right and follow to Lester, turn left and follow to the field. From Northeast: I-69 south (Hwy 37 in Marion County) to 46th St., turn right and follow 46th to Meridian St., turn right and follow to 52nd St., turn left and follow to Lester, turn left and follow to Varsity Field. From East: I-70 west to I-65 north, exit at U.S. 31 (Meridian St.), follow Meridian north to 52nd St., turn left at 52nd St. and follow to Lester, turn left and follow to Varsity Field. From Southeast: I-74 north/west to I-465 north, exit I-465 at I-70 west, follow to I-65 north, exit at U.S. 31 (Meridian St.), follow Meridian north to 52nd St., turn left and follow to Lester, turn left and follow to Varsity Field. From South: I-65 north, exit at U.S. 31 (Meridian St.), follow Meridian north to 52nd St., turn left and follow to Lester, turn left and follow to Varsity Field. From West/Southwest: I-70 east to I-465 north, exit I-465 at 38th St., follow 38th St. east to Meridian St., turn left and follow to 52nd St., turn left and follow to Lester, turn left and follow to Varsity Field.
KUNTZ STADIUM Since soccer became a varsity sport at Butler University, the Bulldogs’ home away from home has been William F. Kuntz Stadium, one of the top soccer facilities in the Midwest. The Bulldogs have used Kuntz Stadium to host night matches, as well as several matches against nationally-prominent foes.
Constructed in 1987 for the soccer competition of the Tenth Pan American Games, Kuntz Stadium rapidly gained a national reputation for its first-class facilities and quality playing surface. The stadium was designed as a soccer-only facility, with both players and fans in mind. Since its opening, Kuntz has played host to numerous amateur, high school and collegiate soccer matches and has served as the site for several international competitions. It also was the home of the Indiana Blast, Indianapolis’ professional men’s outdoor soccer team. Butler’s conference tournament championship has been played at Kuntz Stadium seven times. Located at 1502 W. 16th Street, Kuntz Stadium has seating to accommodate up to 5,000 soccer spectators. Stadium seating is located on both sides of the field, with the press box and locker rooms located on the west side of the championship field. A second field sits west of the championship field. The stadium is located less than five miles from the Butler campus.
Directions to Kuntz Stadium From Northwest: I-65 south to I-465 east, exit I-465 at U.S. 31 (Meridian St.), follow Meridian south to 16th St., turn right and follow to Kuntz Stadium. From North: U.S. 31 (Meridian St.) south to 16th St., turn right and follow to Kuntz Stadium. From Northeast: I-69 south (Hwy 37 in Marion County) to 46th St., turn right and follow 46th to Meridian St., turn left and follow to 16th St., turn right and follow to Kuntz Stadium. From East: I-70 west to I-65 north, exit at U.S. 31 (Meridian St.), follow Meridian north to 16th St., turn left and follow to Kuntz Stadium. From Southeast: I-74 north/west to I-465 north, exit I-465 at I-70 west, follow to I-65 north, exit at U.S. 31 (Meridian St.), follow Meridian north to 16th St., turn left and follow to Kuntz Stadium. From South: I-65 north, exit at U.S. 31 (Meridian St.), follow Meridian north to 16th St., turn left and follow to Kuntz Stadium. From West/Southwest: I-70 east to I-465 north, exit I-465 at 38th St., follow 38th St. east to Meridian St., turn right and follow to 16th St., turn right and follow to Kuntz Stadium.
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