Photo by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71
Bevilacqua Stadium 191 Stevens Ave Lancaster, PA 17602
Year Opened: 1935 Capacity: 1,000
Small College At Work
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a two-year technical college located in Lancaster, PA. It was named for Thaddeus Stevens, a nineteenth-century politician, who was a fierce opponent of slavery and discrimination against African-Americans. The college is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Stevens offers associate degree programs in fields such as Cabinetmaking & Wood Technology, Computer Aided Drafting, Collision Repair, and Machine Tool and Computer Aided Manufacturing. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology was named one of 150 two-year colleges eligible to compete for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance in America’s two-year colleges.
Stevens athletic teams are known as the Battlin’ Bulldogs. They compete with other two-year programs under the NJCAA banner and against the junior varsity programs of some four-year colleges.
Bevilacqua Stadium is named for Richard V. Bevilacqua, a former coach and teacher at the school.
Food & Beverage 3
There is a very simple concession stand located under the press box on the home side of the field. Although it is simple the food choices were good and the product of good quality. Hot dogs start at $2 and you can add choli as an option. Burgers were also available. Drinks were available for $2 as well.
The concession stand had one of the better stocked condiments area I have seen for awhile.
Atmosphere 2
There is not much to the stadium. Located at the rear of the Stevens campus the field looks like a typical small town high school football stadium. It may actually be smaller than many Pennsylvania high school stadiums.
When you enter the stadium you need to walk down steps to the track level of the home side of the field. Weirdly enough there is no seating on the home side. You need to walk around either direction of the track to find the only seating structure. You are also free to stand and watch the game at any other location.
The field itself was basic grass, but had a huge area that was just dirt.
There are some picnic tables located near to the press box on the home side of the stadium.
There are no other scheduled activities at the games. A local youth cheerleader program added some excitement.
Neighborhood 3
The stadium is located just east of downtown. There are some rough areas in the area, but overall the city has been making great strides. So make sure to walk around downtown before the game. You may not find too much right near the stadium worth walking around though.
Besides downtown, the main commercial areas of the Lancaster area are the outlets area east on Route 30 and surrounding the Park City Center Shopping Mall north of downtown.
Fans 2
Fans seemed to be mainly friends and family of the students. There were quite a few obvious alumni at the game. It was pretty obvious by their alumni shirts.
Access 4
Lancaster is an easy area to navigate. Routes 30 and 222 are well known, large roads that any tourist visitor to the area will be more than familiar with.
Even though the stadium is located in a busy town, you will seldom find traffic to be too bad. Lancaster is located about a half an hour to the state capital Harrisburg. It is also about an hour and a half to Baltimore, and the same distance to Philadelphia.
There are many parking spaces around the college.
Return on Investment 4
The cost of the game is a mere $5 and the food prices were also very fair. It may not be highest level of college football but the return on investment is quite good.
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Extras 1
Walk around the unique college campus before the game so you can get a sense of the unique programs offered at this college.
Final Thoughts
Bevilacqua Stadium at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is one of the lowest levels of college football one may find. But the games presented here are fun and it is certainly an experience that a true football fan should experience if in the area.