Drake Stadium - Drake Bulldogs

Photos by James Hilchen, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14

Drake Stadium 2719 Forest Ave Des Moines, IA 50311

Drake Bulldogs website

Drake Stadium website

Year Opened: 1925

Capacity: 14,557

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Drake Bulldogs

Opened in 1925, Drake Stadium plays host to Drake Bulldogs football and hosts the annual Drake Relays, one of the biggest track and field events in the nation. The stadium underwent a significant renovation in 2005 where capacity was decreased from 18,000 to its current capacity of 14,557. At the conclusion of the Bulldogs season in 2015, the dated scoreboard was taken down and replaced with a more modern board. The new Daktronics video board measures 24 feet high by 38.5 feet wide and allows for far more freedom for the video team to show replays and various other graphics.

The Drake Relays gather the greatest athletes from around the country on an annual basis. Among the competitors who have competed in the relays are: Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, and Gwen Torrence. Following the 2016 relays, a new track was installed and is constructed of the same material used for tracks in the Beijing and London Summer Olympic games.

The football field is named after Johnny Bright, a Drake alum and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. The Drake football team has won 13 conference championships. The team is also significant historically as being one of the participants in the first ever night game at Soldier Field (Chicago) in 1930 (against Oregon). The Bulldogs compete in the Pioneer League. Drake Stadium is the largest stadium in the league.

Food & Beverage 3

The stadium largely just has the basics that are found at all games. Hot dogs, burgers, popcorn, candy, etc. are all available. A welcome addition in 2025 is a food truck. Yannis Grill serves up Greek food and they do it well. This is the highly recommended option. For the kids, Kona Ice (snow cones) has a truck there also.

Coke is the soda of choice at Drake Stadium. The stadium also sells beer now. Bud, Busch, Michelob Ultra, Modelo, and Coors Light are available along with some microbrews.

Atmosphere 2

The best way to get in the college football mood is to take in the tailgating. Although a smaller group than larger colleges, a spirited crowd gathers before every game enjoying food and drinks before kickoff.

Once inside the stadium, there really isn’t much to get excited about. The football field sits in the middle of the track. As such, fans sitting in the front row are still far away from the action due to eight running lanes separating them from the sidelines. The stadium is large and combined with the small crowds, any excitement is minimal.

The new scoreboard is located on the north side of the stadium. If you are looking for shade, your only option is sitting behind the south end zone. Don’t worry about requesting a seat; everything is general admission and there are only smatterings of people that take advantage of the shade.

The Drake band sits on the west side near the press box while the cheerleaders entertain the crowd.

Neighborhood 4

The Drake neighborhood is undergoing a rejuvenation and there are plenty of great places to go before or after a game. Lucky Horse Beer and Burgers is a couple blocks south of the stadium and a very short walk. Lucky Horse serves up quality bar food and lots of drink options. Across the street from the Lucky Horse is Dough Co Pizza. Dough Co offers both gluten free and vegan crust, if desired, and if you are with a hungry bunch, they offer a massive 26 inch pizza.

At the Drake Diner, hometown cooking/comfort food is the specialty and everything on the menu is tasty. Drake Diner also offers up decent sized portions so you won’t be left hungry if eating here before the game. For day games, I highly suggest hitting Waveland Café prior to game time. The café is about 2 miles from the arena. Waveland serves up some of the best breakfast in Des Moines. It’s open until 2 PM daily and can be packed, so give yourself a little extra time…it’s worth it.

If you are just looking for a drink, head to Peggy’s Tavern, just west of the stadium. Peggy’s is a Drake staple and hugely popular amongst the locals. In town for a day or two? Just south of campus is newly opened Home2 Suites (a Hilton hotel).

Downtown Des Moines is about a five-minute drive East of the Drake Campus and has every food imaginable and plenty of other places to stay.

Fans 3

The fans that show up to support their Bulldogs are a loud bunch. That is not necessarily reflected in the atmosphere as the stadium is so large as compared to the crowds. Nevertheless, those that do show up are well invested in the game and are cheering throughout.

Access 4

Drake Stadium sits at the edge of the Drake campus near a residential area. Located just a few blocks off I-235, the stadium is easy to get to. There are numerous parking areas around the stadium. Inside the stadium, concourses are open and easily maneuverable. Restrooms are clean and more than sufficient for the small football crowds.

Return on Investment 4

You can get tickets starting at $17. Given most all the stadium is general admission, you can sit anywhere you want which is nice. Parking is free for football games, so combining that with reasonable concession prices and a decent ticket price, you get a good return for your money.

Extras 2

On the south side of the stadium there are banners celebrating the accomplishments of Bulldog football.

Take a look around the concourse on the west side. There are plaques and other signage of some of the athletes and records of the Drake Relays.

Final Thoughts

Drake Stadium doesn’t match the atmosphere of some other college football in Iowa and the Bulldogs would be better off in a stadium built specifically for football. However, you can have a fun time watching college football in a fun town without breaking the bank.

Follow all of James' stadium journeys on X @stadiumjwriter. Email: james.hilchen@stadiumjourney.com