DATCU Stadium – North Texas Mean Green

Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29

DATCU Stadium 1251 S Bonnie Brae St Denton, TX 76205

Year Opened: 2011

Capacity: 30,100

Mean and Green

Since 1890, the University of North Texas has been the largest state-supported college in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the third-largest university in Texas. In its 134-year history, it has grown to become a Tier 1 research university offering 114 bachelor's, 97 master's, and 39 doctoral degree programs.

North Texas State Normal College played its first game against TCU at Eagle Field in 1913. In the 111 years since that first loss, the football program, much like the university itself, has seen great growth. The university changed its name to North Texas State Teachers College in 1923, North Texas State College in 1949, North Texas State University in 1961, and eventually the University of North Texas in 1988.

To mirror these name changes, the football program has grown from its humble beginnings, enjoyed membership in various conferences through the years, including a short stint in Division 1-AA in the late 1980s, and is now a strong member of the American Athletic Conference.

UNT has had the Eagle mascot since early in its history. The “Mean Green” name was credited to the Sports Information Director’s wife in 1966, who would yell, “Go Mean Greene,” either in support of sophomore “Mean Joe” Greene, the program’s most famous alum, or in support of the team’s strong defense at the time.

Built-in 2011, at the convergence of Interstates 35 East and West, DATCU Stadium’s signature winged end zone section towers above the highway and surrounding landscape – the winged shape pays homage to the school's flying eagle logo.

The unique end zone seating is not the only signature feature of the stadium; however, DATCU Stadium also has the designation of being the first collegiate football stadium to be awarded a LEED Platinum Certification, the highest level of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design status. Many renewable resources are used in this venue, including three large wind turbines providing approximately half a million-kilowatt hours of electricity, along with decreasing CO2 and water usage.

Easily accessible from any direction, the stadium is the center of the university’s expansive athletic complex, with ample parking within walking distance of the gate. The game day experience begins outside the stadium on The Hill, which is covered in more detail later. Mean Green football games are engaging and present a budget-friendly option for football fans of all ages.

Food & Beverage 3

There are ample food and beverage options at DATCU Stadium, with over 20 separate concession areas. The sides of the stadium host identical main stands, with options such as burgers, barbecues, hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, pretzels, and Coca-Cola soft drinks. Coors Light, Miller, and Dos Equis beers can be purchased at most concession stands as well.

In addition to the traditional ballgame fare, there are also a few areas for specialty food and drinks. Salvata Salad Kitchen serves healthy wraps, including a veggie option; Beth Marie’s Ice Cream offers several flavors of specialty ice cream in a cone or cup, and 1521 Crafthouse offers many craft beer options. The Wing Pub, a full-service bar, is located in the northeast corner of the stadium, where fans 21 and over can purchase wine and liquor in addition to beer.

To circumvent waiting in line, fans can also utilize the FanFood app and select one of three concession stands from which to order and pick up their food; menus for each mobile concession stand are posted online.

Atmosphere 4

The game day atmosphere starts on The Hill well before kickoff. As the name implies, this area is a large hill just east of DATCU Stadium, behind the visitor stands. On The Hill, fans will find party tents sponsored by fraternities, sororities, businesses, and fans, as well as a DJ, children’s play area, and a live music stage.

In addition to the many sponsored areas, there are multiple food trucks offering plenty of choices to satisfy most anyone’s palate, and at the game I attended most recently, there was a pregame concert by a local band followed by plenty of upbeat music to set the mood for the early evening kickoff.

Just outside the gate on the home side stands a statue of Mean Joe Greene, NFL Hall of Famer and possibly UNT’s most famous alum. Inside the stadium, fans will find merchandise stores on both sides of the stadium and a children’s play area underneath the winged end zone, which includes bounce houses and children’s games. Other items of interest include “Boomer,” the Civil War replica cannon fired after UNT scores, as well as The Mean Green Machine, a 1929 UNT-themed Model A on display during games.

North Texas is known for its music department, so the Green Brigade Marching Band is understandably large and very entertaining. UNT also boasts a championship-level cheer squad and dance team to entertain fans. Scrappy, the mascot, is a fan favorite who stops for every request to pose for pictures and give a fist bump.

The atmosphere is enhanced with many in-game promotions, special recognitions, and crowd participation games. During most TV timeouts, including quarter changes, there is either something taking place on the field or attention being drawn to the large scoreboard for announcements or a contest.

For example, at the last game, I attended, two of UNT’s best football teams of the past, and later UNT’s national champion polo team, were recognized on the field, and there were also three different games on the field, including participants chosen from the crowd, similar to the on-field games played during a minor league baseball game. There were also student winners randomly named on the scoreboard throughout the game, the grand prize of which was a free semester’s tuition.

Neighborhood 3

The University of North Texas is in the city of Denton, 40 minutes north of both Fort Worth and Dallas. With a population of around 140,000, Denton is considered a college town, with many businesses and restaurants catering to two local universities (UNT and Texas Women’s University), their students, and visitors.

Due to the size and location of the DATCU stadium, hotels and restaurants are just a short drive up or down I-35 (2-5 miles from the venue) – that drive can take anywhere from 3-20 minutes depending on the time of day and traffic. The nearest hotel is Hampton Inn & Suites Denton-Rayzor Ranch, with a couple of other choices being Holiday Inn Express, Embassy Suites, and SpringHill Suites.

Within a short drive of campus, there are also dining options that will satisfy any palate and budget – some local favorites include Frosty’s Drive N, Rusty Taco, LSA Burger Company, New York Sub Hub, and Crooked Crust Pizza, but another must stop destination is Buc-ee’s – if you‘ve never experienced Buc-ee’s before, you’ll want to stop and peruse this Texas-sized convenience store, restaurant, dry goods store, and gas station that features immaculate restrooms. Take my advice and grab a bag of Beaver Nuggets and a pulled pork or chopped brisket sandwich for the road, then grab souvenir t-shirts for your family and friends back home.

If you are into the nightlife or beer culture, Denton is long known for its bars, pubs, and craft breweries. You can check out the numerous bars on Fry Street, including Lucky Lou’s and Cool Beans Bar and Grill, across from the UNT campus. Craft Beers can be found in downtown Denton’s Craft Beer District, with many pubs and brewhouses within walking distance – a couple of these are The Bearded Monk and Oak Street Draft House and Cocktail Parlor .

Fans 2

If there is an area that is lackluster about the game day experience, it is the lack of attendance here. With an announced attendance of a little over 27,000 at the game I last attended, the stands told another story – even in the midst of a winning season and the game falling on Family Weekend, the venue appeared to only be at approximately 60% capacity. Despite this, the students' section located behind the visitor bench was involved in the game.

Access 4

Getting into the stadium, parking is straightforward and well-marked, with plenty of signage, traffic control officers, and cones directing the flow. With parking prices as low as $20 if purchased early, fans can find a parking lot in the location of their choice on the DATCU parking website. There is also a specific, well-marked rideshare pick-up/drop-off lot just east of the stadium off Interstate 35 East. ADA parking and ADA-equipped shuttle service are also available for guests requiring such services.

Inside the stadium, fans have access to both sides via a wide concourse that also encircles the winged north end zone. There are also at least three gender-specific restrooms per side, as well as family facilities available. All restrooms come equipped with diaper changing stations, and wheelchair ramps and wide entrances allow for the smooth flow of fans at all times.

Return On Investment 4

Fans attending Mean Green home football games should find that their time and money were well spent. Tailgating on The Hill kicks the day off at little to no cost, with the only investment involving bringing your food and drink or purchasing fare from a local food vendor. Many party groups will even share their tailgate with passersby after simply starting up a conversation.

Once inside the stadium, concessions are reasonably priced, with entree items ranging from $7-$10 on average and drinks $3-$8. One nice amenity is FREE water filling stations; if you choose to bring in an empty 20-ounce water bottle, you can drink all the water desired without spending a dime.

Extras 3

The free water filling stations are worthy of special recognition, especially when many of the games during August and September are in 90+ degrees heat.

College football games, wrought with TV timeouts, can drag on if you don’t have proper game day staff getting the crowd involved – fans here never realize there is a break in the action with all the activities that go on here.

The Hill and children’s play areas are worthy of another point; along with the affordability of the games, Mean Green games are value-filled outings for families with children, especially in a market like the DFW metroplex with so many alternative entertainment options.

Final Thoughts

UNT football presents a fun and engaging game day atmosphere – the lively tailgating scene, quality opponents, and affordable prices create an environment where Mean Green football games can be a destination for many fans. With a student enrollment of over 40,000, it’s puzzling how the general admission sections are not filled, but the absentee students are the ones missing out.

North Texas has the practices and procedures of game day well-oiled and smooth. Despite the most recent game I attended lasting nearly 4 hours due to television breaks, this was hardly noticed because of the on-field games and action on the large scoreboard. I consider DATCU Stadium one of the most accessible and budget-friendly Division I football experiences I’ve attended, and I encourage you to add it to your travel itinerary if you haven’t already been.