Campus Alert Archive
UVA

A 2-Hour, 17-Minute Lightning Delay and a 9:17 Restart at Scott Stadium

VAsevere stormadvisorymedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

Severe thunderstorms and lightning suspended UVA's season opener against Richmond at Scott Stadium with 4:48 left in the second quarter on August 31, 2024. Fans were advised to leave the stadium roughly 10 minutes before the stoppage, and after a delay of about 2 hours and 17 minutes the game restarted at 9:17 p.m. ET.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
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Institution
University of Virginia
Public R1 · VA
~26,000 studentsUVA Alerts / Scott Stadium PA
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction194 chars
Severe weather is approaching Scott Stadium. Fans are advised to begin leaving the stadium and seek shelter. You may re-enter after the thunderstorms pass. Monitor official channels for updates.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

UVA's inclement-weather policy alerts fans by text, PA, local media and social platforms; reporting noted fans were advised to leave about 10 minutes before play was suspended with 4:48 left in the second quarter.
Reconstructed from press accounts of the advisory; no verbatim official archive was located, so isVerbatimConfirmed is false.
UPDATETwitter/X
Approximate reconstruction207 chars
Tonight's game vs. Richmond remains in a weather delay due to lightning in the area. The stadium remains closed to the seating bowl. We will share a restart time once it is safe. Thank you for your patience.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

A holding update during a delay of more than two hours, while the 30-minute lightning clock repeatedly reset.
Reconstructed wording; isVerbatimConfirmed false.
ALL CLEARTwitter/X
Approximate reconstruction128 chars
Weather has cleared. Play will resume at 9:17 p.m. Fans may return to their seats. Thank you for your patience tonight. Go Hoos!

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Genuine all-clear: it returns fans to seats and sets a firm 9:17 p.m. ET restart rather than maintaining shelter.
Reconstructed text; the exact official wording was not preserved.
Context

Background

Scott Stadium in Charlottesville follows an inclement-weather policy that uses radar tracking and can suspend a game and evacuate the stadium, alerting fans by text, PA, local media and social platforms. On August 31, 2024, the season opener against Richmond was suspended with 4:48 left in the second quarter as UVA led 20-7, and WFXR reported the game entered a lightning delay. After about 2 hours and 17 minutes, play resumed at 9:17 p.m. ET and UVA won 34-13. It was the second straight year the UVA opener was hit by a weather delay.
Analysis

Key Findings

Play was suspended with 4:48 left in the second quarter; fans were advised to leave about 10 minutes earlier
The delay lasted about 2 hours and 17 minutes, with a 9:17 p.m. ET restart
UVA's policy alerts fans by text, PA, local media and social platforms and allows re-entry after storms pass
Alert text is reconstructed from press reporting, so it carries isVerbatimConfirmed: false
Outcome
Play resumed at 9:17 p.m. ET after a delay of about 2 hours, 17 minutes; UVA beat Richmond 34-13.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    UVA football season opener vs Richmond set for 9:17 restart after weather delay - Streaking The Lawn
    streakingthelawn.com
  2. News
    Final: UVA waits out thunder, lightning, dispatches Richmond in opener, 34-13 - Augusta Free Press
    augustafreepress.com
  3. News
    Virginia-Richmond football game enters a lightning delay - WFXR
    wfxrtv.com
Tags
severe-stormlightningweather-delaystadiumvirginiagame-dayevacuation
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion