The University of Virginia's College at Wise Athletics

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Beaty-Richmond Field at Carl Smith Stadium

Beaty-Richmond Field at Carl Smith Stadium has been the home of the Highland Cavalier football team since 1999 and the lacrosse team since the program's first season in 2015.

The stadium, named for Wise native Carl Smith, started construction in 1999 and opened to the public on Sept. 11, 1999 when UVA Wise (playing under that name for the first time as the name was changed from Clinch Valley College on July 1, 1999) defeated West Virginia Tech 49-19.

The "Field of Dreams," as it was called, came into its modern configuration slowly. For the first couple of season fans sat on the grassy hillsides to either side of the field. In 2001, 500 bleacher seats were installed on the visitor's side, followed next season by seating for 2,600 and stadium lights. In 2003, the Humphreys-Thomas Field House was complete, followed by the Ramseyer Press Box in 2004. The completed facility was officially dedicated on September 10, 2005, when the Highland Cavaliers hosted Chowan.

The field was named Beaty-Richmond field on May 17, 2002, in honor of Lelia Maude Beaty-Richmond and her sister, Sarah Beaty. Beaty-Richmond was a long-time supporter of the school and was officially named the "Number One Fan" to all the UVA Wise teams during her lifetime. She died in April, 2002

Lacrosse has called the field home since the program's inception in 2015, when they hosted Tennessee Wesleyan in the program's home opener on March 24, 2015.

The playing surface was updated in over the winter of 2022-23 to a Field Turf XT Dual Slit Film Turf System as part of an upgrade of the football, baseball, and softball facilities. Lacrosse used the surface for their 2023 season, followed by football later that year.

Sitting at an elevation of 2,495 feet above sea level, the field is the highest football / lacrosse field in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In football, it is the third highest college field East of the Mississippi River, trailing only Appalachian State (3,333 feet) and Concord (2,550 feet) in elevation. It is tied for the fourth highest football field (high school or college) in Virginia with Rural Retreat High School, and trails Grayson County (2,625 feet), Floyd County (2,540 feet) and Bath County (2,515 feet). For lacrosse, the field is the second highest lacrosse playing field in the Eastern United States, only trailing Lees-Mcrae College's Tate Field (3.680 feet) in altitude.
 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIRST HOME FOOTBALL GAME AT CARL SMITH STADIUM