Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex

Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex is a multi-purpose sports facility located on the campus of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Opened in 2022, it serves as the primary competition venue for the Hawaiʻi Rainbow Wahine soccer team and the Hawaiʻi Rainbow Warriors and Hawaiʻi Rainbow Wahine track and field programs. The complex represents a significant upgrade in athletic infrastructure for the University of Hawaiʻi System, providing a dedicated, modern home for these NCAA Division I programs.

History

The complex is built on the site of the former Lower Campus Practice Field, a long-used but basic training area for various University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa teams. Planning for a dedicated facility gained major momentum following a landmark $5 million donation from the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation in 2017, which catalyzed further fundraising efforts. The project broke ground in 2018, with G70 serving as the lead architectural firm, and was completed in 2022 at a cost of approximately $30 million. Its naming honors the legacy of Clarence T.C. Ching, a prominent Hawaiian philanthropist and businessman whose family foundation has supported numerous educational and community initiatives across the State of Hawaii.

Facilities

The centerpiece of the complex is a FIFA-regulation soccer pitch surfaced with state-of-the-art AstroTurf, designed to withstand the tropical climate of Honolulu. Surrounding the field is a nine-lane, competition-standard track surfaced with Mondo material, certified for hosting championship meets. The venue includes permanent grandstand seating for 2,500 spectators, with infrastructure allowing for temporary expansion. Supporting facilities include team locker rooms, officials' rooms, a dedicated sports medicine area, a press box for media coverage, and integrated lighting for night competitions. The design incorporates local architectural elements and prioritizes accessibility.

Notable events

The complex hosted its inaugural event in 2022, a Hawaiʻi Rainbow Wahine soccer match. It served as the host venue for the 2023 Big West Conference Women's Soccer Tournament, bringing several member institutions like Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara to Mānoa. The track has hosted several Big West Conference track and field championship meets, attracting athletes from schools such as Long Beach State and UC Irvine. It also regularly hosts the HHSAA state high school track and field championships, featuring top prep athletes from across the Hawaiian Islands.

Management and operations

The complex is owned by the University of Hawaiʻi System and operated by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Athletics Department, under the direction of the Athletic Director. Primary scheduling priority is given to the NCAA activities of the Hawaiʻi Rainbow Wahine soccer and track and field teams. The facility is also made available for use by other University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa student groups, for intramural sports, and for rental by approved external organizations, such as the HHSAA, under specific permitting agreements managed by the university.

In popular culture

While a relatively new venue, the complex's striking design against the backdrop of the Koʻolau Range has made it a visually distinctive location on the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus. It has been featured in promotional videos for UH Mānoa athletics produced by Spectrum Sports and local news outlets like KHON-TV. The facility is also a key setting in coverage of major local sporting events by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and is frequently showcased during broadcasts of Hawaiʻi Rainbow Wahine soccer games on ESPN+.

Category:Sports venues in Honolulu Category:University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Category:Soccer venues in Hawaii Category:Athletics (track and field) venues in the United States