University of South Florida athletic facilities

Last updated

The University of South Florida athletic facilities are the stadiums and arenas the South Florida Bulls use for their home games and training. The University of South Florida currently sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and has 11 facilities in the designated Athletics District on or adjacent to its Tampa campus, one on its St. Petersburg campus, and one elsewhere in Tampa. 18 of the 19 teams have some sort of facility in the USF Athletics District.

Contents

The Claw

The Claw was the home golf course used by the USF men's and women's golf teams, and was also used by the men's and women's cross country teams. It was located across Fletcher Avenue from USF's main campus in Tampa. [1] The course was named for a tree on the 14th hole with a large, claw-shaped branch. [2] The Chowdhari Golf Practice Center is also located at The Claw.

The Claw was also open to the public and is described as one of the most challenging golf courses in the Tampa Bay area. [3]

The Claw closed on September 5, 2023, due to massive annual losses and disrepair. [4]

Corbett Stadium

Corbett Stadium is home to the Bulls men's and women's soccer teams. It has over 1,000 seats, plus space for over 3,000 more on the grassy berms that surround the field. Corbett Stadium opened in 2011 and replaced USF Track and Field Stadium as home to the USF soccer teams. [5] Corbett Stadium also hosts the USF football team's annual spring game. [6] The stadium is named after Dick and Cornelia Corbett, both of whom are USF alumni, who at one time owned the original Tampa Bay Rowdies. [7] It is adjacent to the Lee Roy Selmon Athletic Center and Frank Morsani Football Practice Complex. [8]

The stadium's amenities include: [9]

Corbett Stadium will be the home for USF's women's lacrosse team when they begin play during the 2024–25 school year. [10] This is planned to be a temporary arrangement and the lacrosse team will eventually have its own stadium. [10]

The Corral

The Corral is used by the USF volleyball team and is connected to the Yuengling Center. The smaller arena has two entrances: one separate from the Yuengling Center entrances (albeit adjacent to Gate A) and one which it shares with Gate D of the main arena. It spans 11,500 square feet with a capacity of up to 1,000 fans. [11] The Corral opened after a renovation in 1995. Prior to this the volleyball team played in the USF Gymnasium, now called the Campus Recreation Center.

Donald A. Haney Landing Sailing Center

The Donald A. Haney Landing Sailing Center is USF's only athletic facility on their St. Petersburg campus, located on Bayboro Harbor in Tampa Bay. It opened in 1997 with the creation of the varsity women's sailing team. The center is used both for practice and for hosting meets. Sailing classes are available to both students and the general public through the center. [12] The facility is named after the late former USF St. Petersburg Student Services Director, who was a sailing enthusiast. [12]

Raymond James Stadium

The USF football team plays at Raymond James Stadium, home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. USF is one of only five FBS teams to play their home games in a current NFL stadium (the others being Miami, Temple, Pitt, and UNLV). Raymond James Stadium is located 13 miles away from the Tampa campus. The stadium has a capacity of more than 75,000 fans including a 12,000 seat student section in the north end zone, making it the largest stadium and largest student section in the American Athletic Conference when at full capacity, but seating for most games is limited to the 100 and 200 levels which brings the total capacity down to around 45,000 (though the student section still has a 12,000 seat capacity for all games). [13]

In early 2016, the stadium was given an extensive facelift. The most notable improvement was the replacement of the 2,200-square-foot (200 m2) video displays with state of the art, high visibility 9,600-square-foot (890 m2) video displays in both the north and south end zones along with the addition of a new 2,300-square-foot (210 m2) video tower in each corner. The original sound system and the stadium's luxury boxes were also upgraded. [14]

USF is in the process of constructing a smaller, on-campus stadium with a capacity around 40,000 with a scheduled opening for the 2027 NCAA Season. [15]

USF Baseball/Softball Complex

Panorama of the USF Baseball Stadium USFBaseballStadium20230319.jpg
Panorama of the USF Baseball Stadium

The shared baseball and softball complex opened in 2011 after the baseball team's old Red McEwen Field was reconfigured (home plate in the new stadium moved to where right field was in the original stadium) to add space for a new softball field adjacent to the baseball field. The stadiums share an entrance, concourse, and the Donaldson Deck, a party deck where fans can view both fields at the same time. [16] The shared entrance is adjacent to the Yuengling Center from the other side of Bull Run Drive and the baseball stadium is across Elm Drive from Corbett Stadium and the Lee Roy Selmon Athletic Center.

USF Baseball Stadium at Red McEwen Field

The baseball stadium includes step-down team dugouts, bullpens, covered batting cages, a press box and a 1,500 seat spectator grandstand with a shade canopy, an elevated, shaded hospitality deck and service amenities. The overall capacity of the stadium is 3,211 and is designed to accommodate additional seating that will enable USF to host NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals (the NCAA requires a capacity of at least 3,000 for a stadium to host baseball regionals and super regionals; the old stadium only had a capacity of 2,500).

Panorama of the USF Softball Stadium USF Softball Stadium.jpg
Panorama of the USF Softball Stadium

USF Softball Stadium

The softball stadium is directly south of the baseball stadium and has 800 seats, plus space for over 800 additional fans on the berms surrounding the field. It also hosts the USF Softball Hall of Fame, which is separate from the USF Athletic Hall of Fame. [17] Softball is USF's only sport with the distinction of its own hall of fame. The playing field is 190 feet in left and right field, 210 feet in left-center and right-center, and 230 feet in center.

USF Track and Field Stadium

The USF Track and Field Stadium was built off of Genshaft Drive (originally Maple Drive) in 1978 to host the Bulls men's soccer team. It hosted the men's soccer team from 1978 until 2010 and the women's soccer team from its inaugural season in 1995 to 2010. It is currently used by the Bulls men's and women's outdoor track & field teams, and has been since they were founded 1991. The 4,000-seat stadium has hosted several events throughout the years including Lamar Hunt US Open Cup matches, the Conference USA and Big East soccer tournaments for both men and women, the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship semifinals and final in 1990 and 1991, and C-USA and American Athletic Conference track and field championships on multiple occasions. The track was remodeled in 2008 to include a new state-of-the-art Mondo surface. It is the same surface used at the Olympic Games and is considered the fastest, safest and most durable track surface in the world. [18]

USF Varsity Tennis Courts

The USF Varsity Tennis complex was established at its current location at the corner of Holly Drive and Genshaft Drive in 1977 with six courts. It has seen numerous improvements since its conception, with  several changes and additions. In 1996, six new hard courts were added, making a total of 12, which allowed convenient practice and match scheduling to accommodate both the men's and women's tennis teams. In 2012 a new surface was installed on each of the courts, and a new grandstand was added in the center of the complex which can view each of the courts at once. [19] All 12 courts are individually fenced in to prevent interruption of play. [20]

Yuengling Center

The Yuengling Center, formerly known as the USF Sun Dome, serves as the home to the USF men's and women's basketball teams and has since 1980. It is also used for USF's commencement ceremonies. The 55,000 square foot multipurpose facility, which includes a 10,500-seat basketball arena and the adjacent volleyball arena (the Corral), has seen over $43 million in renovations since 2000, including replacement of the original Teflon inflatable roof with a permanent structure, and numerous interior upgrades and improvements. [21] The building is LEED Silver certified. [22]

The arena hosts approximately 300 different events each year, including sporting events, concerts, home and garden shows, trade shows, religious services and conventions, ethnic festivals, rodeos, bull riding competitions, youth sports camps, professional wrestling, boxing, taekwondo tournaments, gymnastics and cheerleading competitions, commencement ceremonies, lectures and political rallies among other corporate, community and university events. [23]

On June 12, 2018, USF announced that the D.G Yuengling & Son Brewing Company had purchased the naming rights to the facility and renamed it the Yuengling Center, effective July 1, 2018. Yuengling has a brewery roughly two miles from the USF Tampa campus. The deal is slated for 10 years. [24]

Practice and other facilities

Campus Recreation Center

The Campus Recreation Center is mainly used as a gym for USF students, but it is also used by the men's and women's track and field teams to practice for indoor track because of the three lane 200-meter track inside. Due to the small number of lanes and lack of indoor field, the area is unsuitable for hosting meets.

The center, at the time called the USF Gymnasium, was also the home of the USF women's volleyball team from their first season (1972) until The Corral opened in 1995, plus the USF women's basketball team from their founding in 1972 until the Sun Dome opened in 1980, as well as during the 2011–12 season when the arena underwent renovations. [25] It also hosted three men's basketball games in the 1978–79 season. [26] When configured for USF basketball games, there is space for around 1,500 fans.

Chowdhari Golf Practice Center

The Chowdhari Golf Practice Center is an indoor training center located at The Claw which includes a simulator and access to a driving range. The facility opened in 2013 and is one of USF's six LEED certified buildings. [22] It is named for the donors of the project: USF Foundation Board Member Dr. Shaukat Chowdhari and his wife, Dr. Antonina Chowdhari, whose son Adam played for the men's golf team. [2]

Frank Morsani Football Practice Complex

The $4 million Frank Morsani Football Practice Complex opened in 2011 and features three full size fields, two made of natural grass and one made of artificial FieldTurf, plus an additional 40-yard turf area for drills. [27]

In February 2021, USF announced plans to add an indoor practice facility to the complex. The facility, called the Porter Family Indoor Performance Facility, was completed in fall 2022. [28] Highlights of the facility include: [29]

The indoor performance facility is also used by other teams, including women's lacrosse. [30]

Lee Roy Selmon Athletic Center

Opened in 2004, the Lee Roy Selmon Athletic Center is the main hub for USF Athletics. In 2012, the facility was dedicated to the late Lee Roy Selmon, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former Director of USF Athletics. [31] Selmon is considered as the "Father of USF Football". The 104,000 square foot facility houses all USF sports teams, except for men's and women's basketball, sailing, and volleyball. The building features a large strength and conditioning center; a sports medicine clinic; the USF Athletic Hall of Fame; coaches offices; locker rooms for men's and women's soccer, baseball, softball, and football; most of the athletic department's trophy room (though some teams' trophies are kept at their own facilities); and an Academic Enrichment Center complete with a computer study lab, a library, study lounges, and academic counseling. [32]

Pam and Les Muma Basketball Center

The basketball practice center opened in 2011 as a two-story, 51,000 square foot facility that provides both the USF men's and women's basketball teams with their own practice courts overlooked by the coaches' office, locker rooms, offices, film rooms, and player lounges, plus offering a shared training room and strength and conditioning facilities. The facility also has: conference rooms, a 4,100 square foot multi purpose area, and an underground tunnel with direct access to the Yuengling Center. [33]

Related Research Articles

The USF Track and Field Stadium is a track and field stadium that was built in 1978. The stadium is currently home to the men's and women's track and field teams from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. It also hosted the school's men's and women's soccer programs from 1978 and 1995 respectively through the end of their 2010 seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampa Bay area</span> Region in Florida, United States

The Tampa Bay area is a major metropolitan area surrounding Tampa Bay on the Gulf Coast of Florida in the United States. It includes the main cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. It is the 17th-largest metropolitan area in the United States, with a population of 3,175,275 as of the 2020 U.S. Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuengling Center</span> Indoor arena in Florida, United States

Yuengling Center is an indoor arena on the main campus of the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa, Florida. Construction began in November 1977, and it opened in November 1980. It is located in USF's Athletics District on the southeast side of campus, and is home to the South Florida Bulls men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams, as well as USF's commencement ceremonies and other school and local events. With 10,500 seats, it is the third-largest basketball arena by capacity in the American Athletic Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O'Connell Center</span> Multipurpose sports facility of the University of Florida

The Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, also known as the O'Dome, is a 10,500-seat multi-purpose arena located on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida. The facility is named for the sixth president of the university, Stephen C. O'Connell, who served from 1967 to 1973. The facility is located on the northern side of the university's campus, between its football field, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, and the James W. "Bill" Heavener Complex athletic training center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa State Cyclones</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Iowa State University

The Iowa State Cyclones are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Iowa State University, located in Ames. The university is a member of the Big 12 Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 16 varsity teams in 12 sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of South Florida</span> Public university in Tampa, Florida, US

The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university with its main campus located in Tampa, Florida, and other campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. It is one of 12 members of the State University System of Florida. USF is home to 14 colleges, offering more than 240 undergraduate, graduate, specialist, and doctoral-level degree programs. USF is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and is designated by the Florida Board of Governors as one of three Preeminent State Research Universities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers</span> Athletic program of Louisiana State University

The LSU Tigers and Lady Tigers are the athletic teams representing Louisiana State University (LSU), a state university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marshall Thundering Herd</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Marshall University

The Marshall Thundering Herd is the intercollegiate athletic collection of teams that collectively represent the Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Thundering Herd athletic teams compete in the Sun Belt Conference, which are members of the NCAA Division I. The school's official colors are kelly green and white. The Marshall Thundering Herd have won 3 NCAA national championships and one NAIA national championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akron Zips</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Akron (Ohio)

The Akron Zips are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, United States. The Zips compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East division. Akron sponsors 17 varsity teams across six men's, 10 women's, and one coed NCAA sanctioned sports. The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level of competition for college football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Florida Bulls</span> University of South Florida athletic team

The South Florida Bulls are the athletic teams that represent the University of South Florida. USF competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the American Athletic Conference for all sports besides sailing, a non-NCAA sanctioned varsity sport which competes in the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association within the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association. The current athletic director is Michael Kelly, who has held the job since 2018. The school colors are green and gold and the mascot is Rocky D. Bull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Dakota State Jackrabbits</span> Athletic teams representing South Dakota State University

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are the 19 intercollegiate teams representing South Dakota State University that compete in the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. SDSU is currently a member of the Summit League, the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the Big 12 Conference and Varsity Equestrian. The university won numerous conference championships and several national titles including the NCAA College Division national title in men's basketball in 1963 and the NCAA Division II national title in women's basketball in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights</span> Athletic program of the University of Central Florida

The UCF Knights are the athletic teams that represent the University of Central Florida in unincorporated Orange County, Florida near Orlando. The Knights participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I as a member of the Big 12 Conference. Since men's soccer is not sponsored by the Big 12, they play in the Sun Belt Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War on I-4</span> Rivalry between the South Florida Bulls and UCF Knights

The War on I-4 is a college rivalry between the University of Central Florida Knights and University of South Florida Bulls. The rivalry is best known for its college football matchup which originated in a series of football games played from 2005 to 2008 and now takes place on Thanksgiving weekend, the de facto "rivalry weekend" for FBS football. From 2013 to 2023, when both schools were part of the American Athletic Conference, the schools began competing annually in all sports both schools sponsored. In 2016, the schools officially adopted the "War on I-4" as an official competition series. Each year, the team with the most wins across all sports receives a gold trophy styled after an Interstate 4 (I-4) road sign with the logos of each school. The winner of the annual football game also receives a similar trophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampa Spartans</span> Athletic teams representing the University of Tampa, located in Tampa, Florida

The Tampa Spartans are the athletic teams that represent the University of Tampa, located in Tampa, Florida, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Spartans compete as members of the Sunshine State Conference for all sports besides beach volleyball and track and field, which compete as independents. Tampa has been a member of the conference since 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in the Tampa Bay area</span> Overview of sports opportunities in the Tampa Bay area

The Tampa Bay area is home to many sports teams and has a substantial history of sporting activity. Most of the region's professional sports franchises use the name "Tampa Bay", which is the name of a body of water, not of any city. This is to emphasize that they represent the wider metropolitan area and not a particular municipality and was a tradition started by Tampa's first major sports team, the original Tampa Bay Rowdies, when they were founded in 1975.

The South Florida Bulls men's basketball team represents the University of South Florida in NCAA Division I basketball competition, where they are currently a member of the American Athletic Conference. They are currently led by head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim, who was hired after Brian Gregory was fired following the 2022–23 season. The Bulls play their home games at the 10,500 seat Yuengling Center on USF's campus in Tampa, Florida. USF has won two conference championships and has reached the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament 3 times in their history, with their best finish coming in 2012 when they made the round of 32.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Citadel Bulldogs</span> Sports teams of The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina

The Citadel Bulldogs are the athletic teams that represent The Citadel. All sports participate in the NCAA Division I except football, which competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Since 1936, varsity sports have competed in the Southern Conference. The Citadel fields teams in sixteen sports, nine for men and seven for women.

The South Florida Bulls track and field program represents the University of South Florida in the sport of track and field. The program consists of separate men's and women's teams and competes in the American Athletic Conference within NCAA Division I. Both of the Bulls track and field teams are coached by Erik Jenkins, who also coaches the USF cross country teams. The teams practice and host outdoor meets at the USF Track and Field Stadium. While the university sponsors indoor teams as well, the university does not have an indoor track facility suitable to host meets. There is an indoor track in the Campus Recreation Center which the teams use for practice, but it has no space for indoor field events or spectators.

The South Florida Bulls volleyball team represents the University of South Florida in the sport of women's volleyball. The Bulls compete in the American Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I. The team plays their home games at The Corral inside the Yuengling Center on USF's campus in Tampa, Florida. They are coached by Jolene Shepardson who was hired after the 2019 season. The Bulls have reached seven NCAA women's volleyball tournaments and won a combined 18 regular season and tournament conference championships in their history, the most of any women's team at USF.

The South Florida Bulls lacrosse team will represent the University of South Florida in the sport of women's lacrosse beginning in spring 2025. They will compete in the American Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I. The Bulls will play their home games at Corbett Stadium on USF's Tampa campus, which they will share with the USF men's and women's soccer teams. It is the university's newest varsity sports team and the first new USF team since football was established in 1997. It will be the first new women's team in an NCAA sport at USF since women's soccer in 1995.

References

  1. ↑ "Bulls to Host USF Invitational Saturday at The Claw". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  2. 1 2 Company, Tampa Publishing. "USF breaks ground on new golf facility". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2021-07-23.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  3. ↑ "The Claw at USF". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  4. ↑ "USF is closing the Claw golf course. Some worry what will happen to the land". 3 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "Tampa Bay Sports Commission". Tampa Bay Sports Commission. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  6. ↑ "USF spring football game remaining on campus". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  7. ↑ Rowdie, TB (2011-10-11). "TAMPA BAY ROWDIES APPRECIATION BLOG (1975 to 1993): Rowdies Snap Shots - Dick and Cornelia Corbett". TAMPA BAY ROWDIES APPRECIATION BLOG (1975 to 1993). Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  8. ↑ "USF campus map" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "Corbett Soccer Stadium". USF Athletics. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  10. 1 2 "USF to Add Women's Lacrosse in 2023-24". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  11. ↑ "The Corral". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  12. 1 2 "USF dedicates sailing center at Bayboro". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  13. ↑ "About the Stadium | Raymond James Stadium". 2013-07-30. Archived from the original on 2013-07-30. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  14. ↑ "Bucs reveal first portion of $140M Raymond James Stadium makeover". ESPN.com. 2016-08-26. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  15. ↑ "USF releases first renderings of new on-campus stadium, announces $6 million gift". usf.edu. University of South Florida. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  16. ↑ "USF Baseball Stadium". USF Athletics. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  17. ↑ "2020 Softball Media Guide (PDF)" (PDF). USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  18. ↑ "USF Track & Field Stadium". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  19. ↑ "Athletic Facilities". USF Athletics. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  20. ↑ "Varsity Tennis Courts". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  21. ↑ "USF Sun Dome renamed Yuengling Center". Bulls247. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  22. 1 2 "LEED Projects | USF Facilities Management". www.usf.edu. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  23. ↑ Center, Yuengling. "About | Yuengling Center". www.yuenglingcenter.com. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  24. ↑ Moriarty, Morgan (2018-06-12). "USF's basketball arena is now sponsored by Yuengling". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  25. ↑ "2011–12 Women's Basketball Schedule". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  26. ↑ "University of South Florida 20th Century Volume II: 1978–1979" (PDF). USF.edu.
  27. ↑ "Frank Morsani Football Practice Complex". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  28. ↑ "USF moving forward with plans to build indoor practice facility". WFLA. 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  29. ↑ "USF Unveils Plans For Indoor Football Center". WUSF Public Media. 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  30. ↑ "Indoor Performance Facility". www.gousfbullsmp.com. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  31. ↑ "USF Names Building Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center". USF Athletics. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  32. ↑ "Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  33. ↑ "Pam and Les Muma Basketball Center". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.