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NKU Soccer Stadium
The Norse men's and women's soccer teams host their home matches on Northern Kentucky University's campus at the NKU Soccer Stadium. Located in the front of campus adjacent to Truist Arena at Northern Kentucky University, the stadium welcomes Norse fans and the community alike.
NKU Soccer Stadium opened in August of 2009. Installed by The Motz Group in spring 2019, the soccer stadium turf offers a 120-yard by 75-yard SportGrass competition surface. Also added in 2019 were two 100-meter track lanes and a jump pit for the Norse track and field teams. With bleacher seating, the stadium is well-equipped to seat 1,000 spectators, plus additional space for standing room for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. The stadium also contains several other amenities including four team locker rooms, an officials' room, an office suite for the men's and women's soccer coaching staff, press box, athletic training facility, and a laundry and equipment storage area.
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The Jeanna Goettelman Funk Suite, located above the seating area overlooking the field, is a 1,000-square-foot multi-purpose space for both soccer programs, alumni and the athletics department. The space was renamed in 2021 in memory of NKU women's soccer player Jeanna Goettelman Funk thanks to a $250,000 gift provided by her husband Rich Funk. Funk was a member of the NKU women's soccer program for three years from 2004-06 and was soon thereafter diagnosed with brain cancer. In the winter of 2009, Funk met with NKU women's head coach Bob Sheehan and voiced her goal of returning to NKU to complete her fourth year of soccer and earn her degree while still battling her diagnosis. Although Funk was not cleared to return to play in the year of 2009 due to further health complications, Funk returned to play soccer in the fall of 2010 thanks to her fight and work ethic to return to the University.
Outside soccer competition and group rentals are regularly supported by the facility. The artificial surface also provides NKU's other outdoor teams a more favorable practice ground, particularly in the early spring months.
Norse men's soccer team won the Division II National Championship in 2010. In 2016, the NKU Soccer Stadium hosted the University of Kentucky in a men's soccer exhibition competition, which attracted a stadium record 2,522 fans.
NKU SOCCER STADIUM ATTENDANCE RECORDS
1. 2,522 - Â NKU men vs. Kentucky (exhibition) -- Aug. 21, 2016
2. 2,188 - NKU men vs. Kentucky (exhibition) -- Aug. 16, 2015
3. 1,934 - NKU men vs. Kentucky (exhibition) -- Aug. 17, 2014
4. 1,462 - NKU men vs. Kentucky (exhibition) -- Aug. 25, 2013
5. 1,270 - NKU men vs. Kentucky (exhibition) -- Aug. 17, 2012
6. 1,104 - NKU women vs. Xavier -- Sept. 4, 2012
