Overview

Riggs Stadium was added to Clemson’s Athletic Program in 1987 and has continued to flourish over the years as the program continues to grow. The construction of a 6,500-seat grandstand provides top-tier accommodations for fans and players, along with the revitalization of the Bermuda grass field, making Riggs Field one of the nation’s finest. 

Several features of the stadium, which cost about $1 million, help make it unique. Locker Rooms for both teams are located underneath the stadium, as is a dressing room for the game officials. Teams and officials emerge onto the playing field through two concrete portals that lead from the locker rooms. The fans are also treated to several advantages in the stadium. Concessions and restrooms are conveniently located inside the indoor tennis facility next door. Facing the permanent stands is a $60,000 scoreboard that measures 24′ by 16′ and contains a computerized message center. This display center informs fans of player numbers, statistics, and upcoming athletic events. 

Riggs Field served as the site of the NCAA soccer championships on December 5-6, 1987, the first time the championship game was contested on a campus site of one of the participating schools in the Final Four. A crowd of 8,332 witnessed Clemson win its second NCAA crown as the Tigers defeated San Diego State, 2-0. The attendance at this game was the largest to see a NCAA soccer championship game.

In 1988 and 1994, the ACC champion was determined at Riggs Field, as Clemson played host to the annual ACC Men’s soccer tournament in November. It was also the site of the 1996 women’s ACC Championship. 

Named for Walter Merrit Riggs, Clemson’s president from 1910-1924, and the University’s first football coach, Riggs Field has been a friendly home to various Clemson athletic teams, dating back to 1915. Clemson’s football team compiled a 57-17-6 record during its 27 years at Riggs Field, while the men’s soccer team’s current record here is an amazing 241-44-19 (.824). The Lady Tigers are 38-8-2 (.813) in their four years of existence. The baseball team won 70 percent of its games there when the baseball diamond was part of the complex.

Riggs Field was dedicated on October 2, 1915, as Clemson and Davidson fought to a 6-6 deadlock in football. The soccer stadium’s dedication took place on Sept. 20, 1987, before the Wake Forest contest. The Tigers were 3-1 winners in this game.

Locker Rooms

The Game Day locker rooms are strategically located beneath the stadium seating, specifically designed to provide seamless access to the field when it is time for the game. These facilities are frequently occupied both prior to and after games, facilitating the close proximity of players and fostering an atmosphere intended to heighten their adrenaline levels. Moreover, these spaces offer a convenient setting for reviewing and refining final plays before taking on their opponents.

Amenities Include:

• Individual Lockers
• Seating Space
• Bathrooms & Showers

Press Box

The Press Box is located between the stadium stands, allowing unobstructed vision to the staff reporting on the game. An advantageous addition was made in the form of a camera deck that extends from the box, providing ample room to obtain an unobstructed view of the field below. Typically, this is where all of Clemson’s Sports Communications, members of ACC Network, and other forms of media coverage are located during game time to ensure they have the proper access to the event as it takes place, along with access to stats as they are happening. A press room with numerous phone lines for the working media is available in the indoor tennis facility adjacent to the soccer field.

Soccer Operations

As recently as September 2020, both the Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams received an upgrade in the form of their own operations facility. The Soccer Operations Complex, located across the road from Doug Kingsmore Stadium, provides the players with several amenities and access to a practice field that can be utilized all year round. This complex is approximately 13,000 square feet, allowing ample space for both teams to share.

For more information on the Soccer Operations Complex, click here.