The Project

There's no doubt that Merlo Field is a premier player's venue; it is among the best soccer pitches in the country and its quality has attracted dozens of professional and international teams to the University for soccer "friendlies." It's also well known for its stadium design. Created in the image of British soccer stadiums, Merlo Field heightens the fan experience, putting fans right on the sidelines to create a friendly environment for the home team, a distraction for the visiting team, and enhance the player-fan relationship. The next step is upgrading the Clive Charles Soccer Complex to become a premier soccer venue -- one that offers all the amenities to fans on the sidelines, and players on and off the field.


On the Sidelines

Merlo Field is top-quality, but even the best have room for improvement. Upgrades planned to the Clive Charles Soccer Complex to improve the fan experience on game day include:

  • New ticket booths and entry gate for quicker entry.
  • New paved and wider concourses and covered meeting areas.
  • Improved concession areas.
  • New restrooms in the complex.
  • The Clive Charles Plaza, a permanent memorial to the legendary coach.
  • A Pilot story wall featuring photography, text, and reflections.
See the plans!


On the Field

To be used by Pilot soccer players, visiting international and professional teams, intramurals sports, and summer camp youth, a synthetic practice field—“FieldTurf”—offers all-weather playability, low maintenance, and unlimited playing time. Perfect for training during Portland’s rainiest months of November and December as the Pilots’ fine-tune their skills for post-season play. Tough enough to withstand more than 2,000 soccer-cleated feat of summer camp attendees. Accessible for intramural soccer, football, Frisbee and more.

FieldTurf offers a faster playing surface than grass, greater cushioning to prevent serious injuries, and a competitive edge for athletes to get used to the nuances of playing on turf vs. grass.

Learn more!

In the Locker Room

Built in 1984, the women’s locker rooms had been used by more than 1,500 student-athletes. Adequate when built 20 years ago, the space became woefully undersized for the number of women it accommodated and it did not meet Title IX compliance standards. The new locker space has three separate locker areas (for soccer, volleyball, and track), private shower and toilet facilities, and cushioned flooring.

See the plans!
Track the building progress.