University of Wisconsin La Crosse Athletics

Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex

Construction on the $16.6 million Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex began in June 2008 after the completion of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) State Track Meet, which has been held at UWL since 1990.  The 2024 WIAA State Track Meet marked the 34th year of UWL hosting the event.

UWL hosted its first event at the new facility May 14, 2009 with an National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Track & Field Qualifying Meet.

UWL hosted the 2018 NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The 2018 meet marked the fourth time (1986, 1997, 2013, 2018) UWL has hosted the national outdoor track & field championships.  The three-day championships features nearly 800 competitors, the largest single site for the number of competitors in any of the championships hosted by NCAA Division III. UWL will host the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. 

UWL hosted the NCAA Football Championships in 2023 (First Round, Second Round, and Quarterfinals) and 2024 (First Round).

The stadium is named to recognize the accomplishments of Roger Harring, who led the UWL football team from 1969 to 1999. Harring, who was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005, won three national championships and 15 conference titles at UWL.  

 

The Eagles' football and track & field squads host their home events at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. 

UWL's soccer and lacrosse teams also call Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex its home.  The soccer/lacrosse field is a lighted facility with a seating capacity of 500.  

UWL hosted the NCAA Soccer Championships in 2022 and 2023 (First and Second Rounds).

The sports complex was funded in large measure by private dollars and is a partnership between UWL (faculty & staff, students and alums), local schools and the community.  The stadium has a seating capacity of 6,250 seats, plus expanded locker rooms, restrooms, concessions and training facilities. 

Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex also features recreation, intramural and athletic practice fields, and the Bob Hetzel Fieldhouse. 

Hetzel retired in July 2024 after 17 years of as UWL's Vice Chancellor for Administration & Finance. The 144,000-square foot facility located east of Roger Harring Stadium opened in 2023 with Hetzel instrumental in bringing the project to fruition. UWL’s women’s and men’s track & field teams opened the building with its intra-squad meet on January 14, 2023 with the initial regular season competition held on Saturday, January 21, 2023 with the UWL Pat Healy Classic.
 
The Hetzel Fieldhouse includes a 200-meter NCAA competition track, featuring eight sprint lanes and six running lanes. It also includes an all-sport surface infield, walking and jogging track on the second level as well as space for 1,500 spectators. Netting can be dropped down to separate from the infield, allowing both spaces to be used simultaneously.
 

It also features women’s and men’s team locker rooms and showers, equipment storage, rooms for team meetings, training and multipurpose space as well as an office suite and athletic training room. Exercise equipment is also available to students on the second floor overlooking campus.

The Hetzel Fieldhouse is used by intercollegiate athletics, student recreation and the classroom teaching by UWL’s Exercise & Sport Science Department.

An enhanced Veterans' Hall of Honor in the stadium celebrates, in a very public way, the contributions of America's veterans. 

Originally owned by the city of La Crosse and named Fairground Football Field, the stadium was dedicated and renamed in honor of veterans from all wars in 1948.  After the university bought the facility from the City of La Crosse for $1 in 1987, a major renovation was financed by the State Building Commission to improve the structure and exterior appearance of the stadium.  The new facility was dedicated at a special program September. 12, 2009. 

For questions regarding Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex (football, outdoor track & field, soccer, lacrosse, please contact: Carly Sprouse, Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities & Events.

Forms/info:
Surplus property procedures:   http://www.uwlax.edu/FPM/Surplus-Property-Procedures/
Facilities request form:   https://uwlacrosse.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_42Ezti0TzzYBrco