The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Building for the Future While Remembering the Past
9/6/2018 8:44:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – It is easy to look ahead. It is easy to look forward and see what is coming. But in order to appreciate what is ahead, one must look back at what was.
For a team that has 370 victories, eight NCAA Tournament trips, and a run to the Elite Eight in 1999, much of that work was done on West Campus Field.
After opening in 1992, West Campus Field served as the home field for the UAB men's soccer team for 24 seasons as the Blazers turned it into one of the most imposing home fields in college soccer.
The facility saw championship play as UAB hosted the Elite Eight in 1999 and the First round of the NCAA Championships in 1999, 2006, 2011 and 2013. The Blazers also hosted the 1999, 2007 and 2012 Conference USA Tournament and witnessed the Green and Gold win the title in 1999.
West Campus Field received national attention in 2002 as the United States National Team trained there and took on the Blazers' men's soccer team in a scrimmage, making UAB the first ever collegiate program to scrimmage the full national team.
The Blazers also took on the United States' U-17 squad in an exhibition match in 2004. West Campus Field served as the training site for the U.S. National Team ahead of the 2015 World Cup Qualifier against Guatemala. UAB also hosted the Colorado Rapids of the MLS in an exhibition game in the spring of 2005.
Additionally, the Blazers have been one of the top draws in NCAA men's soccer. In 2013, a West Campus Field regular season record crowd of 3,205 fans was on hand to witness UAB defeat the 2012 national champion Indiana Hoosiers 2-1, in overtime.
However, all good things must come to an end as was the run of West Campus Field when the Blazers moved down the hill to BBVA Compass Field in 2016, moving onto one of the best surfaces in collegiate soccer. In just three seasons, the field has hosted memorable moments and wins against ranked opponents like the Blazers 2-1 win over No. 15 Kentucky in 2016
As for the future of BBVA Compass Field, it has never looked better. The stadium is undergoing a full renovation, as fans will be treated to a grandstand, concession area, restroom facilities, a ticket office, a state-of-the-art pressbox and a video board. Set to open in the spring of 2019, BBVA Compass Field will serve as the home of Birmingham's newest professional team as the USL's Birmingham Legion will also call the facility home.
UAB returns to action at the 'Under Construction BBVA Compass Field' on Saturday, Sept. 8, when it takes on Kentucky at 7 p.m.
Fans can receive admission into every home men's soccer, women's soccer, women's basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball game for the entire 2018-19 season by purchasing a Gold Card. Contact the UAB Ticket Office, (205) 975-UAB1, for more details.
For more information on the UAB men's soccer team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MSoc) or on Instagram (UAB_MSoc).
For a team that has 370 victories, eight NCAA Tournament trips, and a run to the Elite Eight in 1999, much of that work was done on West Campus Field.
After opening in 1992, West Campus Field served as the home field for the UAB men's soccer team for 24 seasons as the Blazers turned it into one of the most imposing home fields in college soccer.
The facility saw championship play as UAB hosted the Elite Eight in 1999 and the First round of the NCAA Championships in 1999, 2006, 2011 and 2013. The Blazers also hosted the 1999, 2007 and 2012 Conference USA Tournament and witnessed the Green and Gold win the title in 1999.
West Campus Field received national attention in 2002 as the United States National Team trained there and took on the Blazers' men's soccer team in a scrimmage, making UAB the first ever collegiate program to scrimmage the full national team.
The Blazers also took on the United States' U-17 squad in an exhibition match in 2004. West Campus Field served as the training site for the U.S. National Team ahead of the 2015 World Cup Qualifier against Guatemala. UAB also hosted the Colorado Rapids of the MLS in an exhibition game in the spring of 2005.
Additionally, the Blazers have been one of the top draws in NCAA men's soccer. In 2013, a West Campus Field regular season record crowd of 3,205 fans was on hand to witness UAB defeat the 2012 national champion Indiana Hoosiers 2-1, in overtime.
However, all good things must come to an end as was the run of West Campus Field when the Blazers moved down the hill to BBVA Compass Field in 2016, moving onto one of the best surfaces in collegiate soccer. In just three seasons, the field has hosted memorable moments and wins against ranked opponents like the Blazers 2-1 win over No. 15 Kentucky in 2016
As for the future of BBVA Compass Field, it has never looked better. The stadium is undergoing a full renovation, as fans will be treated to a grandstand, concession area, restroom facilities, a ticket office, a state-of-the-art pressbox and a video board. Set to open in the spring of 2019, BBVA Compass Field will serve as the home of Birmingham's newest professional team as the USL's Birmingham Legion will also call the facility home.
UAB returns to action at the 'Under Construction BBVA Compass Field' on Saturday, Sept. 8, when it takes on Kentucky at 7 p.m.
Fans can receive admission into every home men's soccer, women's soccer, women's basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball game for the entire 2018-19 season by purchasing a Gold Card. Contact the UAB Ticket Office, (205) 975-UAB1, for more details.
For more information on the UAB men's soccer team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MSoc) or on Instagram (UAB_MSoc).
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