Buck Shaw Stadium
Encyclopedia
Buck Shaw Stadium is a 10,300-seat soccer stadium
at Santa Clara University
in Santa Clara
, California
. The stadium is the current home of the Santa Clara Broncos soccer teams and was the former home of the now defunct Santa Clara football team as well as the Santa Clara baseball team. The baseball team moved to their new home at Stephen Schott Stadium
in 2005. The stadium is also the current home of the San Jose Earthquakes
of Major League Soccer
. The stadium's capacity was increased in the winter of 2007 from a capacity of 6,800 to 10,300.
, a former football coach of the SCU Broncos.
Buck Shaw Stadium holds the current record for highest attendance at a women's outdoor collegiate sporting event. In 1996 the NCAA Women's College Cup (Division I soccer finals) was played at Buck Shaw, which had its capacity temporarily expanded to 8,800 seats and sold out both days of the tournament.
The stadium had the distinction of being the official practice field of the Brazil soccer team
for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
. The Brazilians won the World Cup that year. It also played host to the Romanian national team
for their practice prior to that year's quarterfinal match.
In 2006, Buck Shaw hosted three pool matches in the Churchill Cup
rugby union
competition, becoming the first U.S. venue to host matches in the four-year history of the event (all matches in the 2003-2005 editions had been in Canada
). Buck Shaw is the current location of the commencement ceremonies for University California, Santa Clara. It was first used for the undergraduate commencement on Saturday, June 9, 2001.
In 2005 Buck Shaw Stadium was converted from multipurpose to a soccer only facility when the dugouts, baseball infield, and baseball backstop were permanently removed from the stadium. On October 26, 2007, the San Jose Earthquakes
of Major League Soccer
announced that they will play a majority of their home games during the 2008 season at the stadium. Upgrades such as additional seating and bathrooms were added to the stadium in order for it to comply with MLS standards and funded by the Earthquakes organization over the winter of 2008. The capacity was originally to be increased to 12,500 seats from 6,800 permanent seats. Later the expansion was revised down to 10,300 seats. In addition the field was moved closer to the existing grandstand with a small section removed from section 107 to accommodate the shift. Additionally the Santa Clara practice field between the Leavey Center
and Buck Shaw was replaced with an "Italgrass" artificial turf
surface.
Drainage improvements were also be made to the stadium's field in concert with the field crown being removed to produce a flat pitch. A new video scoreboard was added along with additional concession and merchandising stands. General facilities were also modernized or improved including the addition of new lighting, a TV press box, new sound system, and an additional grandstand on the stadium's west side. The new grandstand included all of the seating additions made to the stadium. About half of the new grandstand included tip up seating. Overall the enhancements cost around 4 million USD.
In 2009, the stadium also hosted FC Gold Pride
, one of the seven charter teams
of Women's Professional Soccer
. However, Gold Pride moved to Pioneer Stadium
in Hayward
for the 2010 season.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
at Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
in Santa Clara
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The stadium is the current home of the Santa Clara Broncos soccer teams and was the former home of the now defunct Santa Clara football team as well as the Santa Clara baseball team. The baseball team moved to their new home at Stephen Schott Stadium
Stephen Schott Stadium
Stephen Schott Stadium, or Schott Stadium for short, is the home of the Santa Clara University baseball team, a Division I Baseball team of the NCAA's West Coast Conference...
in 2005. The stadium is also the current home of the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. The stadium's capacity was increased in the winter of 2007 from a capacity of 6,800 to 10,300.
Stadium history
Buck Shaw opened its gates for the first time on September 22, 1962 when it hosted a football game between UC Davis and Santa Clara. The stadium was named for Lawrence T. "Buck" ShawBuck Shaw
Lawrence T. "Buck" Shaw was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach for Santa Clara University, the University of California, Berkeley, the San Francisco 49ers, the United States Air Force Academy, and the Philadelphia Eagles...
, a former football coach of the SCU Broncos.
Buck Shaw Stadium holds the current record for highest attendance at a women's outdoor collegiate sporting event. In 1996 the NCAA Women's College Cup (Division I soccer finals) was played at Buck Shaw, which had its capacity temporarily expanded to 8,800 seats and sold out both days of the tournament.
The stadium had the distinction of being the official practice field of the Brazil soccer team
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
. The Brazilians won the World Cup that year. It also played host to the Romanian national team
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
for their practice prior to that year's quarterfinal match.
In 2006, Buck Shaw hosted three pool matches in the Churchill Cup
2006 Churchill Cup
The 2006 Churchill Cup is a Rugby Union competition, typically between the second teams of various top tier international Rugby nations and the first teams of traditionally less prominent teams, such as Canada and the USA. It first began on June 3, 2006 and ended on June 17. The 2006 competition...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
competition, becoming the first U.S. venue to host matches in the four-year history of the event (all matches in the 2003-2005 editions had been in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
). Buck Shaw is the current location of the commencement ceremonies for University California, Santa Clara. It was first used for the undergraduate commencement on Saturday, June 9, 2001.
In 2005 Buck Shaw Stadium was converted from multipurpose to a soccer only facility when the dugouts, baseball infield, and baseball backstop were permanently removed from the stadium. On October 26, 2007, the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
announced that they will play a majority of their home games during the 2008 season at the stadium. Upgrades such as additional seating and bathrooms were added to the stadium in order for it to comply with MLS standards and funded by the Earthquakes organization over the winter of 2008. The capacity was originally to be increased to 12,500 seats from 6,800 permanent seats. Later the expansion was revised down to 10,300 seats. In addition the field was moved closer to the existing grandstand with a small section removed from section 107 to accommodate the shift. Additionally the Santa Clara practice field between the Leavey Center
Leavey Center
Leavey Center, also known as the Leavey Activities Center or occasionally by its old nickname the Toso Pavilion, is Santa Clara University's indoor basketball arena in Santa Clara, California. It is home to the Santa Clara University Broncos Division I Basketball and Volleyball Teams...
and Buck Shaw was replaced with an "Italgrass" artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
surface.
Drainage improvements were also be made to the stadium's field in concert with the field crown being removed to produce a flat pitch. A new video scoreboard was added along with additional concession and merchandising stands. General facilities were also modernized or improved including the addition of new lighting, a TV press box, new sound system, and an additional grandstand on the stadium's west side. The new grandstand included all of the seating additions made to the stadium. About half of the new grandstand included tip up seating. Overall the enhancements cost around 4 million USD.
In 2009, the stadium also hosted FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride
FC Gold Pride was an American professional soccer club based in Santa Clara, California which participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The club replaced the San Jose CyberRays of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association as the top-level women's soccer team in the San Francisco Bay Area...
, one of the seven charter teams
2009 Women's Professional Soccer season
The 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season served as the inaugural season for WPS, the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States...
of Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
. However, Gold Pride moved to Pioneer Stadium
Pioneer Stadium
Pioneer Stadium is a stadium in Hayward, California. It currently hosts the California State University, East Bay Pioneers soccer and track & field teams. The stadium briefly hosted FC Gold Pride of the Women's Professional Soccer league, until the team was disbanded in November 2010..-External...
in Hayward
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
for the 2010 season.