Switchbacks Training Stadium: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 38°53′45″N 104°42′41″W / 38.895826°N 104.711321°W / 38.895826; -104.711321
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Nragain (talk | contribs)
14 edits
No edit summary
 
(32 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox venue
{{Infobox venue
| name = Weidner Field
| name = Martin 'Ed' Ragain Field
| former names = Switchbacks Stadium, Sand Creek Stadium, Coleman Park
| former names = Weidner Field, Switchbacks Stadium, Sand Creek Stadium
| nickname =
| nickname =
| logo_image = Weidner Field.PNG
| logo_image =
| logo_caption =
| logo_caption =
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| fullname =
| fullname =
| location = 6303 Barnes Road,<br> Colorado Springs, Colorado
| location = 6303 Barnes Road,<br /> Colorado Springs, Colorado
| coordinates = {{coord|38.895826|-104.711321|type:landmark|display=it}}
| coordinates = {{coord|38.895826|-104.711321|type:landmark|display=it}}
| broke_ground =
| broke_ground =
Line 17: Line 17:
| closed =
| closed =
| demolished =
| demolished =
| owner = Ragain Sports, LLC
| owner = Colorado Springs, Parks and Recreation Deptarment
| operator =
| operator =
| surface = Grass
| surface = Grass
| scoreboard =
| scoreboard =
| cost = $4,000,000
| cost = $8 million
| architect = Populous Architects
| architect = Populous Architects (overlay)
| project_manager =
| project_manager =
| structural engineer =
| structural engineer =
Line 29: Line 29:
| main_contractors =
| main_contractors =
| capacity = 5,000
| capacity = 5,000
| suites = 12
| suites =
| record_attendance =
| record_attendance =
| dimensions = Grass Pitch 120 x 76
| dimensions = Grass Pitch 120 x 76
| acreage =
| acreage =
| tenants = [[Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC]] ([[USL Professional Division|USL]]) (2015–present) <br> [[Colorado Springs Blizzard]] ([[Premier Development League|PDL]]) (2005–2006)
| tenants = [[Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC]] ([[USL Championship|USLC]]) (2015–2020) <br /> [[Colorado Springs Blizzard]] ([[USL League Two|PDL]]) (2005–2006)
}}
}}


[[File:Switchbacks Stadium.PNG|thumbnail|Switchbacks Stadium Logo (2016-17)]]
[[File:Switchbacks Stadium.PNG|thumbnail|Switchbacks Stadium Logo (2016-17)]]


'''Weidner Field''' is a 5,000 seat [[soccer-specific stadium]] built in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]]. At an altitude of roughly 6,500 feet above sea-level, the stadium has the highest elevation of any normally used by a professional team in the [[American Soccer Pyramid]].
''"Martin 'Ed' Ragain Field"'' is a 5,000-seat [[soccer-specific stadium]] built in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]]. At an altitude of roughly 6,600 feet above sea-level,<ref>{{cite web |title=Security Service Field: Context Matters|first=Dan|last=Fox|url=http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060711&content_id=104479&vkey=news_t551&fext=.jsp&sid=t551|work=[[Baseball Prospectus]]|date=July 11, 2006|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}</ref> the stadium had the highest elevation of any primary home stadium used by a professional team in the [[United States soccer league system|American soccer pyramid]] through the 2020 season. The stadium is immediately adjacent to [[UCHealth Park]].


The [[Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC]] were awarded a USL Pro franchise (now known as the [[USL Championship]]) in December of 2013. On June 14, 2014, the Colorado Springs City Council approved an agreement that gave the Switchbacks a ten-year lease on the site with the right to sell naming rights in exchange for a $3M investment into facility improvements.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/824281.html |title=United Soccer Leagues (USL) |access-date=2014-09-29 |archive-date=2014-09-29 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140929161325/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/824281.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> On March 7, 2016, Sand Creek Stadium had a new name proposal approved by the City of Colorado Springs changing the name to "Switchbacks Stadium". This helped avoid confusion with the name of the nearby [[Sand Creek High School]] and its stadium.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://switchbacksfc.com/city-of-colorado-springs-parks-department-unanimously-approves-sand-creek-stadium-renaming-to-switchbacks-stadium/|title=Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC » City of Colorado Springs Parks Department Unanimously Approves Sand Creek Stadium Renaming to Switchbacks Stadium|last=Ragain|first=Nicholas|website=switchbacksfc.com|accessdate=March 7, 2016}}</ref> On February 14, 2017, Weidner Apartment Homes purchased the stadium naming rights for an undisclosed amount, and the stadium was renamed Weidner Field.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.switchbacksfc.com/news_article/show/757669?referrer_id=2954845/|title=Weidner Apartment Homes Buys Switchbacks Stadium Naming Rights|last=Huber|first=Joel|website=switchbacksfc.com|accessdate=February 14, 2017}}</ref>
After [[Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC]] were awarded a [[USL Pro]] franchise, it was announced on June 14, 2014 that Colorado Springs City Council had approved an agreement that gave the new franchise a ten-year lease on the site.<ref>http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/824281.html</ref>


In 2021, the Switchbacks opened a new 8,000 seat stadium in Downtown Colorado Springs. Ed Ragain and Dean Weidner formed a new partnership to build the stadium, run the team, and operate the facility. Weidner Apartment Homes also purchased the naming rights for the new stadium creating two facilities with the same name in Colorado Springs, [[Weidner Field]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.switchbacksfc.com/news_article/show/1127860 |title=Colorado Springs Switchbacks Name Downtown Stadium Weidner Field |publisher=Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC |date=October 15, 2020 |accessdate=November 2, 2020}}</ref> On June 24, 2022, the City of Colorado Springs renamed 6303 Barnes Rd stadium to "Martin 'Ed' Ragain Field" to commemorate the work and investment made by Ed Ragain and family.<ref>https://coloradosprings.gov/document/parksboardjanuary2022.draft.pdf</ref>
On March 7, 2016 Sand Creek Stadium had a name proposal approved by the City of Colorado Springs Parks Department and the name was changed to Switchbacks Stadium. This happened to avoid further confusion with the name of the nearby Sand Creek High School. <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://switchbacksfc.com/city-of-colorado-springs-parks-department-unanimously-approves-sand-creek-stadium-renaming-to-switchbacks-stadium/|title=Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC » City of Colorado Springs Parks Department Unanimously Approves Sand Creek Stadium Renaming to Switchbacks Stadium|last=Ragain|first=Nicholas|website=switchbacksfc.com|accessdate=March 7, 2016}}</ref>

On February 14, 2017, Weidner Apartment Homes purchased the stadium naming rights for an undisclosed amount and the stadium was renamed "Weidner Field". <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.switchbacksfc.com/news_article/show/757669?referrer_id=2954845/|title=Weidner Apartment Homes Buys Switchbacks Stadium Naming Rights|last=Huber|first=Joel|website=switchbacksfc.com|accessdate=February 14, 2017}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 50: Line 48:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://switchbacksfc.com Switchbacks Website]
* [https://www.switchbacksfc.com Switchbacks Website]
*[https://www.weidner.com/ Weidner Apartment Homes]

*[https://www.weidnerfield.com Weidner Field]
{{USL Venues}}


[[Category:Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC]]
[[Category:Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC]]
Line 60: Line 58:
[[Category:1985 establishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1985]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1985]]
[[Category:USL Championship stadiums]]




Latest revision as of 22:49, 22 January 2024

Martin 'Ed' Ragain Field
Map
Former namesWeidner Field, Switchbacks Stadium, Sand Creek Stadium
Location6303 Barnes Road,
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Coordinates38°53′45″N 104°42′41″W / 38.895826°N 104.711321°W / 38.895826; -104.711321
OwnerColorado Springs, Parks and Recreation Deptarment
Capacity5,000
Field sizeGrass Pitch 120 x 76
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Built1985
Opened1985
Renovated2014–2015
Construction cost$8 million
ArchitectPopulous Architects (overlay)
Tenants
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USLC) (2015–2020)
Colorado Springs Blizzard (PDL) (2005–2006)
Switchbacks Stadium Logo (2016-17)

"Martin 'Ed' Ragain Field" is a 5,000-seat soccer-specific stadium built in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At an altitude of roughly 6,600 feet above sea-level,[1] the stadium had the highest elevation of any primary home stadium used by a professional team in the American soccer pyramid through the 2020 season. The stadium is immediately adjacent to UCHealth Park.

The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC were awarded a USL Pro franchise (now known as the USL Championship) in December of 2013. On June 14, 2014, the Colorado Springs City Council approved an agreement that gave the Switchbacks a ten-year lease on the site with the right to sell naming rights in exchange for a $3M investment into facility improvements.[2] On March 7, 2016, Sand Creek Stadium had a new name proposal approved by the City of Colorado Springs changing the name to "Switchbacks Stadium". This helped avoid confusion with the name of the nearby Sand Creek High School and its stadium.[3] On February 14, 2017, Weidner Apartment Homes purchased the stadium naming rights for an undisclosed amount, and the stadium was renamed Weidner Field.[4]

In 2021, the Switchbacks opened a new 8,000 seat stadium in Downtown Colorado Springs. Ed Ragain and Dean Weidner formed a new partnership to build the stadium, run the team, and operate the facility. Weidner Apartment Homes also purchased the naming rights for the new stadium creating two facilities with the same name in Colorado Springs, Weidner Field.[5] On June 24, 2022, the City of Colorado Springs renamed 6303 Barnes Rd stadium to "Martin 'Ed' Ragain Field" to commemorate the work and investment made by Ed Ragain and family.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Fox, Dan (July 11, 2006). "Security Service Field: Context Matters". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  2. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on 2014-09-29. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  3. ^ Ragain, Nicholas. "Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC » City of Colorado Springs Parks Department Unanimously Approves Sand Creek Stadium Renaming to Switchbacks Stadium". switchbacksfc.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  4. ^ Huber, Joel. "Weidner Apartment Homes Buys Switchbacks Stadium Naming Rights". switchbacksfc.com. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  5. ^ "Colorado Springs Switchbacks Name Downtown Stadium Weidner Field" (Press release). Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. October 15, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  6. ^ https://coloradosprings.gov/document/parksboardjanuary2022.draft.pdf

External links[edit]


Stub icon

This article about a sports venue in Colorado is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Switchbacks_Training_Stadium&oldid=1198075375"