#KnowTheO: Al Caniglia Field

Located on the east side of Dodge campus, Al F. Caniglia Field opened in the fall of 1949 as the home of the Omaha University football team.

Caniglia Field served as the home for the football program for 62 seasons before being renovated for the Maverick men’s and women’s soccer programs.

The first football game played at Caniglia Field was on October 1, 1949 where the Mavericks suffered a 27-8 defeat to Northern Illinois.

The stadium is named after the program’s 12^th head football coach in school history, Al Caniglia. Cangilia coached the Mavericks in 1960-73 and finished as the fourth-winningest coach in program history with a 74-55-5 overall record.

Caniglia Field underwent a facelift in 2012 to become the home facility for the Omaha soccer programs. The old football surface was replaced with an artificial surface that received a FIFA 4-star rating, the highest rating of any college facility in America.

The infill is a unique blend of cork and coconut husk that enhances playability and decreases field temperatures. At the time, it was the only NCAA Division I field to receive the prestigious FIFA Recommended 2-Star certification.

Creating a unique fan experience, Caniglia Field features one of the largest LED videoboards in a soccer-only college facility, measuring 21 by 42 feet. The soccer stadium has 3,000 seats along with VIP boxes located on the first level of the press box.

“Our soccer facilities, including Caniglia Field, are in the upper echelon of Division I athletics and provide an incredible on-campus atmosphere for students and fans in Omaha,” said Omaha head women’s soccer coach Tim Walters. “Caniglia Field has been a great tool to help us draw students from all over the country.”

In the summer of 2019, Caniglia Field was named one of the top 11 places in the nation to experience college soccer after the NCAA polled college soccer fans for their favorite places to watch the sport.

“To be selected as one of top places out of the over 500 men and women’s Division I soccer programs in the country is terrific,” added Omaha head men’s soccer coach Bob Warming. “We are certainly proud that this is our competitive home.”