The Glass Castle

Official Review by Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey Co-Founder

In 1946, University Stadium, on the campus of the University of Toledo, was renamed The Glass Bowl, both for the city's glass producing industry, and for the glass components that were a part of the stadium's first renovations. Today, if you were unaware of the name, you might assume it to be "The Castle Wall Bowl," or "The Jagged Rock Bowl."

The capacity sits at just over 26,000, and it can be a very noisy venue when full. The stadium itself is surrounded by a stone wall that seems straight out of The Shawshank Redemption, but gives the exterior a great deal of charm.

Food & Beverage    3

There's not a lot here, but enough to get you through the game. Hot dogs ($3), Polish Dogs ($4), and nachos ($3) are on the menu. I went with the pizza from Gino's at $3 a slice. If you wanted to be fancy you could describe it as Neopolitan style, but it's probably more accurate to describe it as a thin, greasy slice of pepperoni pizza, like you may remember from your own college days. That is to say, it was satisfactory, but not necessarily good.

Pepsi products are available at $3 for a 20-ounce bottle, or $4 for a larger 32-ounce cup. Lines get long at halftime, so if you're hungry, sneak away a little early. That way, you can get your food, and be back in your seat in time to watch the marching band perform.

Atmosphere    3

The nice thing about a small stadium is that it becomes fairly manageable to fill. And once you have a full venue, the energy and noise naturally gets amped up. The student section was there early, filled up the section behind the endzone completely, and remained loud, especially when the opposition was backed up in their end of the field.

Neighborhood    3

Near the stadium, but probably a drive rather than a walk, is Arnie's. They have 15 beers on tap, including some interesting options like Great Lakes Brewery selections. The thick menu consists of fried appetizers, "world famous wings," pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, and a few salads. There are at least 20 big screen TVs, and it is apparent pretty quickly that this sports bar is a good place to have fun and get your drink on. Visitors are greeted with a sign reading, "What happens at Arnie's stays at Arnie's." The place kind of has that nasty bar smell, and they were woefully understaffed when I was there a few hours before game time. The bartender (I think her name was Kelly) was working her butt off, so this was more a case of poor management than it was about bad customer service. After 45 minutes of waiting, I had to miss the opportunity to see if the world famous wings lived up to their boastful moniker.

Next door is El Nuevo Vallarta, where I had a very different experience. Fantastic service from the second I walked through the door. As you may expect, they have a full menu of traditional Mexican entrees. I tried the Fajitas Rancheros, a combination of carne asada, chicken, and shrimp fajitas. There are several TVs if you want to watch some sports, and you can easily have a few drinks here. This gets the nod if you're in the neighborhood.

Another place to spend some time before a game, if you would rather take in some culture, is the Toledo Museum of Art. With over 30,000 works of art, you may be surprised at its size and selection of famous pieces. It also happens to be free of charge, so there's no doubt that you will find a good bargain.

Fans    3

Because the Glass Bowl is such a small venue, it can feel packed and loud pretty easily, but it can also be pretty disappointing if there are a lot of empty seats. This was a topic of conversation by several fans in my seating area. Toledo was opening against a well-respected, big conference opponent in Arizona, with the game being televised nationally on ESPN, and the consensus seemed to be, if the place wasn't packed for this game, then it never would be.

By game time however, the stadium was full, the student section thoroughly engaged, and the alumni were rising and falling with the pulse of the game. The enthusiasm quickly left the stadium as the game very quickly became one dominated by the visiting team.

The small marching band, always a critical component to a good college atmosphere, was a bit disappointing, but probably ranks as an average squad.

Access    4

There is a parking structure that is a short walk from the stadium. Your path will take you past the basketball arena, Savage Arena. There is also a small lot immediately in front of the stadium with some spirited tailgating. One vehicle you should be sure to find is the "Jambulance," a fully-equipped, tailgating jewel. Find the owner, Pat Ryan, and he may just give you a closer look at the pre-party treasure.

Inside, you'll find restrooms to be adequate, but not great. Lines are manageable even at peak times like halftime.

Return on Investment    4

The most expensive ticket in the Glass Bowl will only cost you $24. With such a small venue, you'll have a good view of the action, and this is definitely a good value. Parking in the nearby garage is only $5, and you can find a pizza, hot dog, or some nachos all priced at $3. The point is, the trip will by no means break up your entertainment budget. You can have a full experience with only two twenty dollar bills in your pocket.

Extras    3

I'll award an extra point for the unique exterior architecture of the Glass Bowl, which makes you feel as if you are crossing a moat or scaling the castle walls.

I was also impressed with the student section, who roamed out of the nearby Greek row of fraternity and sorority houses, and into the game with faces and bodies painted, charged up for the night's game.

On a personal note, I was proud to see the photograph of my cousin, Jim Swaney, hanging amongst the "Varsity T Hall of Fame." Jimmy was someone I never knew really well, but looked up to both figuratively and literally, even though I never saw him play basketball.

Final Thoughts

Toledo provides a good small program football experience. I really like the small stadium, and how easy it is to navigate through the campus. Most of all, it is a good value for someone who just needs to fulfill a desire to see some FBS college football.