City Stadium is a municipally owned athletic venue at 3201 Maplewood Avenue in Richmond, Virginia, built in 1929 just south of the city’s Carytown district. For decades it served as the home field for University of Richmond football before the Spiders moved on in 2009, and today it continues to host live sports as the longtime home of the Richmond Kickers.
Known briefly as University of Richmond Stadium between 1983 and 2010, the venue has quietly become one of the city’s most enduring sports landmarks. From college football Saturdays to minor-league soccer nights and even a World Cup qualifier, City Stadium has stayed in near-continuous use for nearly a century.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Richmond Kickers (USL League One), Richmond Ivy SC (USLW)
- Location: Richmond, Virginia
- Opened: 1929
- Capacity: 22,611 full capacity; about 6,000 for current soccer configuration
- Owner: City of Richmond
- Notable Fact: Hosted a 1998 World Cup qualifier between the U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago
From College Football to Pro Soccer
City Stadium opened in 1929 at a construction cost of about $80,000 and spent its first eight decades centered on University of Richmond football, hosting the Spiders from 1929 through 2009. In between, the stadium also welcomed a string of professional and semi-pro football tenants during the 1960s and 1970s, including the Richmond Rebels, Mustangs, and Roadrunners.
Since 1995, the venue’s primary tenant has been the Richmond Kickers, who play in USL League One on a Patriot Bermuda grass surface scaled down to a roughly 6,000-seat soccer configuration within the larger bowl. The Richmond Ivy SC joined as a second tenant in 2024, further cementing the stadium’s identity as a dedicated soccer home.
A Record Night and a World Stage
City Stadium’s biggest crowds came from college soccer rather than football. Between 1995 and 1998 it hosted the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship, and the 1995 semifinal drew an announced 21,319 fans, a record turnout for the venue. That same era saw the stadium step onto the international stage when it staged a 1998 World Cup qualifying match between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.
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City Stadium FAQs
When did City Stadium open?
City Stadium opened in 1929 in Richmond, Virginia, at a reported construction cost of about $80,000.
Who plays at City Stadium today?
The Richmond Kickers of USL League One have called City Stadium home since 1995, joined in 2024 by Richmond Ivy SC.
What is City Stadium’s capacity?
The venue holds about 22,611 at full capacity, though it is typically configured for roughly 6,000 spectators for current soccer matches.
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Photo: Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.