2012 Men’s Soccer West Campus Field
THE HOME OF BLAZER SOCCER One of the most imposing home fields in all of college soccer, UAB’s West Campus Field is in its 20th season of service to the Blazers in 2012.
Since that time, the Blazers have a record of 116-36-9 (.748) at WCF. UAB posted a school record 25-match unbeaten streak (24-01) at home that stretched from Oct. 17, 1993 through Oct. 6, 1996.
The facility was expanded in 1999 to include a practice field behind the game surface. This, along with other major structural improvements, have given UAB one of the best overall soccer facilities in the nation.
The facility has seen championship play as UAB hosted the Elite Eight and first rounds of the NCAA Championship in 1999. 2006 and 2011. The Blazers also hosted the 1999 and 2007 Conference USA Championships and the 1994 Great Midwest Conference Championship. First round games of the Conference USA Championship have also been played at West Campus Field.
Prior to the 1998 season, several improvements were made to the facility, including stadium seating for men’s and women’s soccer. The stadium seating holds 1,500 spectators to push the maximum capacity of West Campus Field to over 2,500. “West Campus Field is a tremendous facility,” UAB head coach Mike Getman said. “The addition of the stadium and the practice field area make it one of the top fields in college soccer. We thank all those who were involved in the effort to make the improvements a reality.” UAB’s men’s soccer games returned to campus for the 1993 season.
The field has also received international attention as the United States National Team trained at WCF and took on the Blazer men’s soccer team in a scrimmage in the spring of 2000. UAB became the first ever collegiate program to scrimmage the full National Team. The Blazers took on the U.S. U-17 squad in an exhibition match in 2004 as well. West Campus Field was also the sight for the U.S. National Team’s training for their 2005 World Cup Qualifier against Guatemala. UAB also hosted the Colorado Rapids in an exhibition game in the spring of 2005.
FROM THE NORTH: Take Interstate 65 South to Exit 259B (4th Avenue South). Make the first right immediately after coming off the exit (11th Street South). Cross University (the field is on the right) behind the Best Western Medical Center.
Additionally, the Blazers have been one of the top draws in NCAA men’s soccer. In 2011, a West Campus Field regular-season record crowd of 3,141 fans witnessed UAB defeat ACC powerhouse Clemson, 2-1.
FROM THE EAST/NORTHEAST/BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT: Take Interstate 20 West/Interstate 59 South to Exit 124A (Interstate 65 South). Follow directions above.
The Blazers set an all-time attendance record on Aug. 22, 2009 when they took on Clemson in an exhibition contest to begin the 2009 season. WCF saw an all-time record of 3,481 fans pack the stadium for the 3-0 victory.
FROM THE SOUTHWEST: Take Interstate 20 East/59 North to Exit 124A (Interstate 65 South). Follow directions above. FROM THE SOUTH: Take Interstate 65 North to Exit 259 (University Boulevard). Get in the right lane and proceed one block to 11th Avenue South. Turn right on 11th Avenue South and the field is on the right.
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In fact, over the past nine seasons, the Blazers have finished among the top-50 in the nation in total attendance three times (2003: 25th, 2006: 43rd, 2011: 22nd) and average attendance (2003: 16th, 2006: 31st, 2011: 29th).
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