Rhoads Stadium

The John and Ann Rhoads Softball Stadium (frequently shortened to Rhoads Stadium) is a college softball stadium located on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It serves as the home field of the Alabama Crimson Tide softball team and is located on the corner of 5th Avenue and Campus Drive on the northeast corner of campus. The Crimson Tide's all-time record at Rhoads Stadium is 316–50 (.863). It is the largest softball stadium affiliated with an individual university with an official capacity of 3,940.[1] After they played their first season at Sokol Park and at Bowers Park for both the 1998 and 1999 seasons, the Crimson Tide opened Rhoads Stadium on February 23, 2000, with a 7–1 victory over the UAB Blazers.[2][3]

Rhoads Stadium
Full nameJohn and Ann Rhoads Softball Stadium
Former namesAlabama Softball Complex (2000–2010)
Location321 5th Avenue
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Coordinates33.213343°N 87.530383°W / 33.213343; -87.530383
OwnerUniversity of Alabama
OperatorUA Athletics
Capacity3,940
Field sizeLeft Field: 200 ft
Center Field: 220 ft
Right Field: 200 ft
SurfaceNatural grass
ScoreboardVideo board and full box score LED scoreboard by Daktronics
Construction
OpenedFebruary 23, 2000
Construction cost$2.2 million
ArchitectRosser International
General contractorN. C. Morgan Construction
Tenants
Alabama Crimson Tide Softball (NCAA)
2000–present

John L. Rhoads was a graduate of the University of Alabama and a long-time partner at accounting firm Ernst & Ernst. He died in 2001.[4]

Events hosted

While the general use of the Rhoads Stadium is the regular season home of the Crimson Tide, it has also played host to a number of different events including multiple post season NCAA and SEC tournaments, as well as marquee exhibition games.

Post season tournaments

Year Event Participants Champion
2001 NCAA Regional Alabama, Chattanooga, Illinois-Chicago, Michigan, Oregon State, South Florida Michigan
2003 NCAA Regional Alabama, Chattanooga, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Massachusetts, Southern, Southern Illinois, Stanford Alabama
2004 SEC Tournament Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee LSU
2005 NCAA Regional Alabama, Arizona State, Hofstra, Mississippi Valley St. Alabama
2005 Super Regional Alabama, Texas A&M Alabama
2006 NCAA Regional Alabama, Florida A&M, Georgia Tech, Mississippi Valley St. Alabama
2006 Super Regional Alabama, Stanford Alabama
2007 NCAA Regional Alabama, California, Florida State, Tennessee Tech Alabama
2008 NCAA Regional Alabama, Chattanooga, Florida State, Jacksonville State Alabama
2008 Super Regional Alabama, Missouri Alabama
2009 NCAA Regional Alabama, Chattanooga, Mississippi Valley State, Texas Alabama
2009 Super Regional Alabama, Jacksonville State Alabama
2010 NCAA Regional Alabama, Alcorn State, Lipscomb, UAB Alabama
2010 Super Regional Alabama, Hawai'i Hawai'i
2011 NCAA Regional Alabama, Chattanooga, Jackson State, Memphis Alabama
2011 Super Regional Alabama, Stanford Alabama
2012 SEC Tournament Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Tennessee Alabama
2012 NCAA Regional Alabama, Tennessee-Martin, Georgia Tech, South Alabama Alabama
2012 Super Regional Alabama, Michigan Alabama
2013 NCAA Regional Alabama, Western Kentucky, South Carolina Upstate, Jacksonville State Alabama - Reference:[5]

Attendance

As the program has continued to grow, attendance at Rhoads Stadium has continued to increase. In 2010, the Crimson Tide established a new single season, NCAA attendance record with 63,271 fans in attendance over the course of their 28 home dates.[6] Their record was subsequently broken by Arizona in 2011 when the Wildcats saw 72,545 fans in attendance over the course of their 28 home dates.[6] Prior to the 2012 season, Rhoads Stadium saw its capacity increase to 3,940, and Alabama reached that capacity for the first time on April 14, 2012, in a 7–5 win against South Carolina to set a new school, single-game attendance record.[7] These attendance records are more easily reached given the only softball stadium with more capacity in the United States is the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium (the home stadium of the NCAA Softball World Series).[1]

References

  1. "Rhoads Stadium". University of Alabama Athletics. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
  2. Deas, Tommy (February 21, 1999). "Nomadic team: Alabama softball will finally have a permanent home". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News. p. D12. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  3. Deas, Tommy (February 24, 2000). "Tide triumphs in home opener". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News. p. C1. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  4. "2018 Alabama Business Hall of Fame Inductees Named". ua.edu. University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business. July 18, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  5. 2012 University of Alabama Softball Media Guide (PDF). Tuscaloosa, Alabama: University of Alabama Athletics Communications Office. 2012. p. 71. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  6. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). "Annual Team Home Attendance Champions" (PDF). 2012 Softball Records. NCAA.org. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  7. "Walk-off heroics from Reilly-Boccia propels softball to 7–5 win". RollTide.com. University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. April 14, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
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