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Air Force Falcons-More Than A Game

Official Review by Rich Kurtzman, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

Air Force's Falcon Stadium is unique in many ways.

Nestled near to the Rocky Mountains, Falcon Stadium's backdrop to the west is second to none. It's truly a beautiful sight to behold.

But juxtaposed to that is the fact that the stadium sits on the US Air Force Academy campus, where cadets are trained to learn how to fight for their country.

It's unique because when you pull up to the boundaries of the campus, many soldiers stand where parking lot attendants usually would, and they usher you through the entrance. It's unique because massive planes decorate the campus, and greet you as you come and go. It's unique because of how desolate the land around the main road seems to be""there's not much to see other than nature, which is a bit weird to say considering you find yourself on a military base.

Attending a game at Falcon Stadium is special because of the thousands of cadets that call it home, and it's interesting to see the servicemen and women on their phones, talking with friends, and lounging around. This is their leisure time, a time to get away from all the rigors of training to be in the Air Force, and you can see them having fun and being relaxed.

Built in 1962, the stadium holds 46,692 fans and at 6,620 feet above sea level, it's the second highest stadium in Division-1A college football.

Throughout the years, Air Force has added many interesting decorations. There's a massive falcon statue outside the east stands, along with five large statues that commemorate when the stadium was built, and numerous flags of all the Mountain West Conference teams.

The stadium has gone through multiple renovations, including permanent lighting in 2002, a video screen jumbotron above the south stands that was added in 2004, and in 2006 the school installed field turf to take over for their previous natural grass surface.

Yes, Air Force's Falcon Stadium is a fun place to take in a game, and because of its uniqueness, it's a must-see for any sports fan.

Food & Beverage    5

For an older stadium, the food available is phenomenal.

At first glance, it seemed there was only one food vendor located under the student section on the east side of the stadium, it couldn't be further from the truth. The south and north ends of the stadium is where all the fantastic food is located as people line up in large numbers to get their hands on some.

Air Force invites in many local vendors to sell their tasty treats to hungry football fans and the variety was off the charts.

There are four different massive grilling sections with everything from turkey legs to spicy polish dogs, bratwurst, chicken on a stick and more. This particular game, I bought a foot long spicy polish dog, which was served hot off the grill and in a fresh bread bun. The dog was delicious, and I added a side of french fries and a Gatorade to complete the meal for $14. Yes, it was a little pricy, but well worth it in the end and I was full for hours after eating all that great food.

But if grilled meats aren't what you're looking for, there's also a gyro stand, a place to pick up smoothies, fresh-popped kettle popcorn and sweet funnel cakes. Even mini donuts are available.

And while Falcon Stadium receives five stars for their food and drink, it should be noted that alcohol is not available within the stadium, although many fans were seen drinking in the parking lot.

Atmosphere    3

The atmosphere at Falcon Stadium is fun, but not what one would expect from a college football game. Games are certainly family oriented and the number of families and children of all ages was a bit overwhelming.

Undoubtedly, this is the thing to do on a Saturday in Colorado Springs, and everyone was having a great time.

And while there's not much historical significance in terms of big games, the stadium is decorated with numerous plaques and statues dedicated to servicemen and women, adding yet another special piece to the stadium.

Neighborhood    5

This rating may be a bit misleading, but the uniqueness off the neighborhood is enough to warrant the high marks.

No, you won't find lots of bars or restaurants in the direct vicinity of the stadium grounds""you won't hardly see anything as you approach the facility""and that's what makes it so special.

You're actually on a military base to watch a football game, where else can you find that?

A friendly member of the Air Force greets you as you enter the base, peacefully wielding his assault rifle. As you drive, it feels more as if you're in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains than on a military base, as all that's visible from the road is open-looking fields and lots of trees. Besides the massive planes that are propped up by both entrances, which are just plain cool to look at as you cruise by.

As for restaurants and bars, there are a plethora of them little more than two miles away in the Springs.

A Second Cup is a bar-restaurant with over 20 taps of cold beer and they offer wildly good chicken wings.

Three miles from the stadium is All American Sports Cafe, a sports bar that is also known for their tasty wings and other bar fare.

Of course, there are lots of mainstream choices as well, including Chilis, Carl's Jr., P.F. Changs, Texas Roadhouse and more. Being the second biggest city in Colorado, the Springs has nearly anything one could want as far as food goes before or after the game.

Fans    3

The people at Air Force's Falcon Stadium are good fans. They are intelligent and knowledgeable about the game.

They enjoy yelling "first down" in unison when the team earns one on the field, and after touchdowns, they all count off as the cadets do pushups in the back of the north end zone.

And while they are fun and lively fans, the family atmosphere isn't what you'd expect at a college football game.

One would expect to see some rowdy and drunken fans in the stands, but they are nowhere to be found. This isn't necessarily a negative depending on who you are, but the lack of wildness by the fans hurt what could have been an even bigger home field advantage.

Access    2

Since the stadium is located on the Air Force base, there are only two entrances and exits to the facility. Yes, it's located just west of I-25, but the exits could have been better marked and long lines to the stadium persist before games.

The nice thing, though, is that parking is abundant and free for fans, always a nice added bonus.

Bathrooms are few and far between, located on the northeast and southeast corners, along with one at the 50 yard line on the east side of the stadium. Be ready to wait for a bit for bathrooms and drinking fountains, which can be found outside bathrooms.

Return on Investment    4

Tickets are relatively inexpensive for Air Force football games, and range from $5-$50, depending on where you want to sit.

But because Falcon Stadium isn't massive, you can see from anywhere and have a good time watching Falcons football for a cheap price.

Extras    3

Because there are so many families that attend, the Air Force Academy sets up playing areas for children to play in bouncy castles or just run around in open grass. There are also small gliders inside the stadium for fans of all ages to explore.

Air Force's band is amazing""the best band performance I've ever seen in real life""they play in tune, in unison and play many songs at halftime. Believe me, this is one halftime performance you'll want to sit and watch.

And Air Force has the only live mascot in all of college sports, as an actual falcon descends from the top deck of the stadium to swoop down to his handler who is located at the 50 yardline, over and over again.

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