UNC Renamed Stadium to Honor Soccer Legacy

The university renamed its soccer and lacrosse venue in June 2026 to celebrate the program's storied history.

Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Soccer

UNC Renamed Stadium to Honor Soccer Legacy

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In June 2026, the University of North Carolina renamed its primary soccer and lacrosse venue to Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium. The decision formalizes a new partnership between the athletic program and the private organization Play2Dream.

Why it matters

The partnership aims to connect the university's highly successful soccer program to the local community in Chapel Hill. It focuses on providing mentorship and fitness opportunities to underserved youth through the involvement of UNC student-athletes.

The UNC women's soccer program holds a record of 23 national championships since its founding in 1979. The facility renaming also highlights Play2Dream, a private organization founded in 2009 that has previously sponsored children through The Wish Project.

The players

Anson Dorrance

He is the long-standing coach who founded the UNC women's soccer program in 1979.

Kathleen Welsh

She is a co-founder of the Play2Dream organization and a philanthropist who actively integrates children's feedback into playground design.

Gary Loveman

He is the co-founder of the Play2Dream organization alongside Kathleen Welsh.

The details

The facility renovation includes a locker room space equipped with a kitchenette and a disco ball to support the team. Players from the women's soccer program facilitate the initiative through their leadership council, while co-founder Kathleen Welsh incorporates child feedback into community space designs.

1979: Anson Dorrance founded the UNC women's soccer program.
2009: Kathleen Welsh and Gary Loveman founded Play2Dream.
Christmas 2025: Kathleen Welsh sponsored 105 children through The Wish Project.
June 2026: The stadium was officially renamed Dorrance Field.

Season Trajectory

This collaboration signals a shift in how the university integrates its championship-winning programs with local outreach efforts. By branding the stadium, UNC links its competitive history to a model of social mentorship that could influence how future student-athletes engage with the Chapel Hill community.

The new partnership establishes a direct pipeline for student-athlete involvement in local youth fitness programs. Local residents in Chapel Hill can expect more structured opportunities for underserved youth to interact with university players on and off the field.

The takeaway

This initiative demonstrates how university athletic programs can leverage their facilities to create tangible social impact. Supporters and local families can monitor upcoming campus events to participate in the mentorship opportunities provided by the team's leadership council.