08/01/2008 7:36 AM - It was a very slow process but the University of Richmond is happy with the results. For the last 18 months, the school has been dickering with neighborhood groups and the city over plans to expand First Market Stadium, the school's seven-year old track facility.

By 2010, the school intends to expand First Market into a 9,000 seat facility that would replace University of Richmond Stadium as the Spiders' home football field. Currently, First Market has just 3,000 seats and is used for soccer and track.

UR Stadium, located a mile off campus, can hold 22,000 spectators but is 79 years old and is deteriorating quickly.

The paln is to make First Market, which is located on campus, into a multi-purpose facility where football, soccer, lacrosse and track and field events can be held.

But before any of these improvements could occur, the school had to make peace with its neighbors and get approval for the Richmond City Council for a special building permit. The latter happened this week. Construction is expected to start this fall and the Spiders are expected to move into their new football home in 2010.