July 14, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -
With the United States bidding for the World Cup in 2018 and 2022, Samford University is listed as a potential training camp for a national team competing in the tournament. Bulldog Field is one of 64 training sites included in the official United States bid book submitted by FIFA.
Over the years, Bulldog Field has been a popular training spot for a number of prestigious national teams. In 2007, the U.S. Under-21 Women's National Team practiced at Samford in preparation for the 2007 Futbol Internacional Tournament. The elite competition was held throughout the state of Alabama, April 22-28.
During its time in Birmingham, the U.S. squad worked out at Samford's Bulldog Field, along with national teams from Argentina, Canada, China and Mexico.
Samford's Bulldog Field is accustomed to playing host to some of the elite soccer players in the world. In 2006, the Mexican National Team played a match in Birmingham and used Samford's facility in preparation.
Bulldog Field has been the home of Samford soccer since the program began in 1997. The Bulldogs have dominated the competition at home and have accumulated a 76-28-15 (.744) record over their first 13 seasons at the facility.
In 2002, the athletics department made the first major additions to the field. In the summer of 2004, permanent bleachers were constructed, expanding the seating capacity to 1,000 fans. Before the 2005 campaign, Samford installed a state-of-the-art scoreboard and recently completed upgrading the press area and team dugouts.
Bulldog Field is Samford's only athletics facility that is not located on its main campus. The field is across Lakeshore Drive between Homewood High School and the Homewood Armory. The field is surrounded by trees, which puts the fans very close to the field and gives the Bulldogs a true home-field advantage.
The Samford University soccer team will begin play in its 2010 campaign on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m., as the Bulldogs square off against the Belmont Bruins in an exhibition contest to be held at Bulldog Field.
