By Jason Erickson

Fifteen years ago, Jared Sumsion stood on the edge of a worn soccer field with a few colleagues and a big idea. Clyde Field, as it was known, had just received a new playing surface, but it lacked the infrastructure to match the growing success of Utah Valley University's soccer program. All it had was a chain-link fence around the field, a few benches for the players, and a limited number of bleachers for fans to sit. Funding was tight. But belief was abundant.

"We didn't have enough seats. We didn't have any money. But we knew we had something special," said Sumsion, now UVU's Director of Athletics.

That moment planted the seed for what would become one of the most ambitious projects in UVU Athletics history. On Aug. 15, the Wolverines will open the doors to UCCU Stadium, a state-of-the-art, $30 million fully-fundraised soccer-specific facility that now stands as a symbol of growth, ambition, and belief realized.

A Vision Years in the Making

The stadium's story is deeply personal for Sumsion, who was involved in every stage, from fundraising and design to recruiting support from Utah Community Credit Union (UCCU). When he became athletic director in 2019, he began pitching a bold vision of what UVU Athletics and UVU Soccer could become.

"I remember walking the campus with Richard Hirst from UCCU, laying out this vision for a stadium that would serve not just our teams, but the entire community," Sumsion recalled. "This wasn't just about facilities, this was about elevating Utah Valley."

"Richard didn't immediately tell me I was crazy like I thought he would. He simply said, 'I love the idea of building something that will stand the test of time and further deepen UCCU's relationship with this mighty university.'"

The vision even made its way onto a napkin. While attending the WAC Basketball Tournament at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Sumsion met with Richard, UCCU's Jordan Perry, and Utah Valley associate athletic director Matt Potts to talk through possibilities.

"We were in one of the upper-level suites at Orleans," Sumsion recalled. "I pulled out a napkin and just started sketching what this could look like — how the stadium could tie into the ballpark, the UCCU Center, and what kind of impact it could have. It started as an ambitious idea on paper, but what we have built together is so much more — and I still have that napkin to this day as a reminder of where it all began."

Through more than 50 meetings with UCCU, a series of renderings, and countless revisions, the project gained momentum. In April 2024, UVU officially broke ground, thanks in large part to a $28.5 million gift from UCCU, the largest single donation in school history.

"This stadium, for me, is all about community," said UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez. "This is an investment in student success."

"UCCU Stadium is more than a place to play soccer," Tuminez continued. "It's a symbol of what's possible at Utah Valley University. It reflects our commitment to excellence, to community, and to providing our student-athletes with a world-class experience that prepares them for life beyond the pitch."

Designed with Purpose

Unlike many collegiate soccer venues, UCCU Stadium was built with both student-athlete and fan in mind, and nearly every detail tells that story.

One of the most intentional design choices was relocating the stadium to the west side of the field, sparing fans from the blinding glare of the late-afternoon sun while also maximizing freeway visibility for branding. The space constraints required creative solutions, resulting in a vertical design that now includes over 500 elevated reserved section seats, eight luxury suites, multiple shaded plazas, a press box and broadcast booth that is better than most MLS facilities, the Wolverine Den team shop, two full-service concessions stands, and a student party deck in the south end of the stadium.

"When you walk through it, it feels like a professional venue," Sumsion said. "We're talking Premier League-level locker rooms, a team room, massive video board, and even heaters for fans in the late fall on the concourse and in the suites. They're as nice as anything you'll find at pro venues in this state."

The stadium also features a massive video board made possible through a sponsorship with Aptive, and a separate static scoreboard to ensure game info is always visible, even during halftime or media breaks.

"Our goal from the beginning was to create a soccer venue that delivers an unforgettable experience for players and fans alike," said Kyle Borchert, vice president of Method Studio, one of the project's lead architects. "From the sightlines and sound barriers to the energy of the student section, every element of UCCU Stadium was designed to elevate the matchday atmosphere while honoring the campus environment."

A Home for Champions

Beyond the seating and structure lies the heart of the stadium: the student-athletes. Inside the facility, a Hall of Champions now displays the trophies, accolades, and legacy of UVU's growing soccer tradition, a daily reminder for players of what's been achieved and what's still possible.

"This is something our student-athletes see every day," Sumsion said. "It honors our past and inspires our future."

That future looks bright. In the past three seasons, UVU women's soccer has captured three straight WAC regular season titles, earned a historic at-large NCAA Tournament bid, and led the nation in scoring. The men's team has already made NCAA history of its own and continues to compete with national powers under head coach Kyle Beckerman.

"We're incredibly proud to call this beautiful stadium our new home," Beckerman said. "This marks a new chapter for our soccer programs, and we can't wait to step on the field and play in front of our amazing fans. The energy and support they bring will make this place truly special."

UVU head women's soccer coach Chris Lemay echoed that sentiment, noting the impact the new facility has on everyone who steps inside.

"I think the best way I've described it to friends and family is that this has been talked about for a long time," Lemay said. "When they broke ground, it was really exciting, and I had very high expectations that it would come together as a first-class project. But they've exceeded all expectations, especially in the details. I've told a lot of people, I can talk about this stadium for a long time, but until you go in it, you truly won't understand just how well it's been done and what a statement it is. A statement to our players, to the university, and to the community about the investment Utah Valley is making in soccer."

He continued, "We feel a real responsibility to put a good product on the field, to entertain our students and our community, and we're going to take a lot of pride in representing ourselves well in such a fantastic facility."

More Than a Stadium

For UCCU President and CEO Justin Olson, the investment goes beyond athletics.

"This partnership is about investing in people; students, families, and the broader Utah Valley community," Olson said. "UCCU Stadium will be a gathering place for excellence, for competition, and for connection. We're proud to help bring this vision to life."

With the 2025 WAC Women's Soccer Championship already set to be hosted at the new venue and future Big West Conference championships in sight, the stadium is poised to become a destination not just for UVU fans, but for the wider college soccer landscape.

And for Sumsion, it's the realization of a vision that began with a thriving university, a strong foundation of success, and big dreams.

"I still walk through the stadium and think, 'I can't believe this is happening,'" he said. "We've built something that will outlive all of us, a place that matches the caliber of our student-athletes, and a legacy that will last for generations."