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UVU representatives do the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new UCCU Stadium that took place in Orem on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Jay Drowns, UVU Marketing

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UVU midfielder Ruby Hladek addresses the crowd at the groundbreaking for the new UCCU Stadium that took place in Orem on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Jay Drowns, UVU Marketing

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A rendering shows what the new UCCU Stadium will look like when it is completed in 2025.

Courtesy UVU

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UVU head men's soccer coach Kyle Beckerman (left) listens to the speakers during the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new UCCU Stadium that took place in Orem on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Jay Drowns, UVU Marketing

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UVU representatives prepares to do the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new UCCU Stadium that took place in Orem on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Jay Drowns, UVU Marketing

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UVU president Astrid Tuminez celebrates the groundbreaking for the new UCCU Stadium that took place in Orem on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Jay Drowns, UVU Marketing

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UVU midfielder Ruby Hladek and Wolverine head men’s soccer coach Kyle Beckerman have both played on some impressive soccer stadiums during their careers and both say it does make a difference.

“Anywhere that I’ve played that’s has a nice stadium, you go there and you know that they mean business,” Hladek said Tuesday. “You know they’re a good program and that you’re going to have a good game, that they have a stadium for a reason.

“Having more seating and more fans is definitely an amazing thing. You can just have so many people cheering for you and I think that definitely raises the level of game for sure. I think that having all the fans and everything within an enclosed stadium brings the same energy and vibe for all the games. It’s super cool.”

Beckerman said that it’s different, however, when you get a stadium built for your program.

“I remember getting into what was Rio Tinto Stadium at the time (with Real Salt Lake) and in Colorado we had a stadium built,” Beckerman said. “I think what it meant most is that you finally had a home. We’ve always been lucky to have these mountains as the backdrop and now we’re going to put a beautiful stadium to go right along with that. It seems like it’s just going to be perfect.”

Hladek, Beckerman and the rest of UVU celebrated the groundbreaking of the new UCCU Stadium with a ceremony in Orem on Tuesday.

“It is such a cool experience,” said Hladek, who will be a junior this fall. “I think that the energy is just so high and everyone’s so excited, me included. We’re just all so grateful for everyone who has come out here to support us. I just can’t wait. I think we’re going to have an amazing stadium.”

Wolverine director of athletics Jared Sumsion has seen all the work that has gone into making the new facility a reality and so getting to this point was a big step.

“This is the first time I’ve been involved in a major construction project with the state of Utah and to get to this place kind of feels like a Christmas miracle,” Sumsion said. “We’ve had recruits that have all heard about the stadium and we have renderings, but now to finally have a shovel in the ground and be able to move to that next phase is a great place to be.”

Beckerman said that although it was announced almost a year and a half ago, the groundbreaking makes it feel “real” that the stadium is coming.

“It really has a feeling that we’re started,” Beckerman said. “As you can look around, you see there are hard hats and construction going on. They’ve already moved the benches, so you definitely have a feeling this is happening and that’s an exciting feeling. We can’t wait to get out here, pack the stadium, play some games here and just give the community another venue to enjoy soccer or just enjoy a day out in the sun.”

The facility, which is sponsored by Utah Community Credit Union (UCCU), will be situated on the west side of the existing Clyde Field when it is completed next year.

The goal of the new facility is to be one of the premier college soccer venues in nation. With a 22,000-square-foot footprint, the UCCU Stadium will feature amenities designed to elevate the collegiate soccer experience.

Other highlights include state-of-the-art locker rooms, a team lounge, dedicated spaces for visiting teams and officials, an increased capacity of 3,000 spectators through 400 additional chairback seats and covered plaza seating, an MLS-style press box with broadcast capabilities, a new videoboard, and 10 luxury suites.

Hladek and Beckerman both expressed appreciation that the university and sponsors see their programs as worthy of such a big investment.

“I think that for years, UVU has been very underestimated,” Hladek said. “There are other good schools around here. I think that this pledge from UCCU and the school means a lot to us, because I think that we have earned it. I think that we’re going to continue to earn it and just show why we’ve earned it. We will keep being successful, winning big games and winning lots of games, both on our men’s and women’s sides. I think that both programs are very successful.”

Sumsion said UVU is always looking for ways to improve the opportunities for students and student-athletes, and the UCCU Stadium is just the latest example.

“When we set out to do something, we want to do it right,” Sumsion said. “We live in a community that has per capita the highest youth soccer participation in the entire country. So we wanted to do something that supports our programs but supports the community as well. This will end up being one of the finest soccer stadiums in the entire country when it’s done and it’ll put UVU on the map, just like our programs have done.”

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