Breese Stevens Field - Forward Madison FC

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86

Breese Stevens Field 917 East Mifflin Street Madison, WI 53703

Forward Madison FC website

Breese Stevens Field website

Year Opened: 1926

Capacity: 5,000

Full Mingo

Breese Stevens Field was built in 1926 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal through the Civil Works Administration. Over the years, the stadium has seen a wide range of uses – it first served as the home of the Madison Blues, a minor league baseball team that played as a Chicago Cubs affiliate in 1942. In 1982, the ballpark welcomed the Madison Muskies, the Class A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, for their inaugural season in the Midwest League.

Today, Breese Stevens Field is best known as the home pitch of Forward Madison of USL League One, but it also hosts the Madison 56ers of the United Premier Soccer League, Madison East High School athletics, the Madison Radicals of ultimate frisbee, and soon Madison’s entry into the USL Super League, a top-tier women’s professional soccer league.

Madison’s unofficial slogan, Keep Madison Weird, has been fully embraced by Forward Madison. The club’s crest features a flamingo, one of the last birds expected to be associated with Wisconsin’s northern climate, a deliberate nod to the city’s tradition of plastic pink flamingos. In 1979, the University of Wisconsin’s satirical Pail and Shovel Party planted more than 1,000 flamingos on Bascom Hill, the campus’ main quadrangle, in a prank that became an enduring symbol of Madison’s quirky spirit. From that tradition emerged Forward Madison’s nickname, the Mingos.

Food & Beverage   5

Breese Stevens Field offers a wide variety of gameday food and drinks, blending local favorites with classic stadium fare. The south end of the stadium has more traditional stands built into the stadium’s original grandstand, while the north end features a food hall vibe with several options housed in converted shipping containers.

Fans can enjoy entrees like the Wisconsin Double burger on a pretzel bun, bacon Munster cheeseburgers, chicken tender baskets, bratwurst, hot dogs, and a vegetarian Southwestern sweet potato burger. Tacos with pork carnitas or smoked chicken with crema, onion, and lime, and loaded nachos with optional meat provide fresh, customizable choices, while Tamale Land serves shredded beef, chicken and cheese, or green chili and corn tamales. Snackables include Wisconsin cheese curds, French fries, Bavarian pretzels, ice cream novelties, and an assortment of candy.

One of the most creative touches is the ‘Promotion/Relegation’ stand, where menu items compete head-to-head, with the more popular of the two remaining on the menu while the other is dropped.

Beverage options range from Pepsi products, Gatorade, and lemonade to Bubblr sparkling flavors such as Cherry Guava and Pitaya Berry, along with bottled water. Alcoholic offerings include draft beers like New Glarus Spotted Cow, Bell’s Oberon Ale, Leinie’s Tropical Hazy IPA, and selections from local breweries such as One Barrel Brewing and Lake Louie Brewing. Canned cocktails and Wollersheim wines, including Blushing Rose, Prairie Fume, and Scarlet Fume round out the drink menu.

By blending regional specialties with traditional favorites, the menu at Breese Stevens Field provides fans with a well-rounded selection of choices.

Atmosphere   4

Breese Stevens Field is certainly a historic relic from a time of stadium design gone by. The Mediterranean Revival design was constructed with brick and locally sourced stone from Hoyt Park in Madison, then finished with terracotta tile. The south end still reflects its baseball roots, where the former grandstand has been repurposed into the Baer Balcony, a ticketed, covered group seating area.

Most seating runs along the west sideline, with VIP field suites opposite, while the north end belongs to The Flock; Forward Madison’s supporters’ section, known as The Flock End, packs the bleachers behind the goal, where many fans stand right along the ad boards, about as close to the action as any fan could hope for.

The Flock brings a festive atmosphere that rivals many larger soccer venues. Weekend matches often include pregame tailgates and a march to the stadium, while weekday games have a more relaxed vibe. In years past, the Flock added to the atmosphere with a pyrotechnic smoke display, bellowing from a large cauldron resembling a coffee mug marked Wake the Flock Up. That tradition appears to have been discontinued, and while its absence does not ruin the experience, it is a small disappointment since such displays help create a more international soccer feel.

Beyond the antics of The Flock, there is not much in the way of in-game entertainment or fan engagement, but soccer’s non-stop pace doesn’t naturally lend itself to breaks in the action anyway, other than a hydration break when the temperatures are high. In truth, the flow of the match is engaging enough that it is refreshing to simply enjoy the game in its uninterrupted form.

Neighborhood   4

Located on the Madison Isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, Breese Stevens Field serves as a buffer between the Tenney-Lapham neighborhood and East Washington Avenue, one of the main arteries into downtown Madison. In recent years, the area has seen significant development, most notably the modern Galaxie High Rise Apartments, which have several balconies draped with banners supporting the Mingos. Across the street, additional projects include new condominiums, office space, and restaurants, as well as Hotel Indigo and the Moxy hotel, both within walking distance of the stadium.

Directly west of the venue are two of Madison’s well-regarded restaurants, Little Tibet Madison and Hot Lunch, while to the south, Salvatore’s Tomato Pies (Livingston) offers another local favorite, and the ground floor of the Galaxie features LJ’s Sports Tavern and Grille just steps from the south gates.

Madison is not short on points of interest, in general. Less than a mile from Breese Stevens Field is the Wisconsin state capitol building, which offers self-guided tours; the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison is on the opposite side of the isthmus, which borders the shores of Lake Mendota. In the summer months, Madison also hosts the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League, a summer collegiate baseball league. Lastly, just outside Madison in Middleton is the National Mustard Museum, a quirky stop many visitors are sure to relish.

Fans   4

Forward Madison is known for its passionate and loyal supporters – that energy is led by The Flock, a collection of five supporters’ groups: Los Rebeldes de Mingo City, AccessiMingos, Featherstone Flamingos, La Barra 608, and Mingo Ladies.

The atmosphere, however, extends well beyond the supporters’ section. Throughout the stands, fans proudly wear flamingo-themed prints, shorts, shirts, and scarves in the club’s vibrant light blue and pink.

This area’s passion for their Mingos is reflected in their attendance – Forward Madison consistently ranks in the league’s top third, drawing an average of roughly 4,000 fans per match and standing among the most well-supported clubs in League One.

Access   3

Parking is available in any of the eight lots around the stadium, with the Galaxie lot offering the most convenience. Early arrivals can find a decent amount of street parking nearby.

Fans are asked not to park in the neighborhood west of the stadium; street parking along East Washington Avenue or on nearby side streets to the east is encouraged instead. Other lots and garages are promoted on game day as well, and the team also promotes fans to take advantage of the bike valet at Gate 8 along Mifflin Street.

Breese Stevens Field features only three points of entry, which can lead to long lines when the gates first open. Once the initial rush passes, however, entry becomes relatively smooth.

Historic stadiums often come with constraints that limit potential improvements. At Breese Stevens Field, the only way to move from one end of the pitch to the other is via a walkway that passes directly in front of fans along the touch line, blocking the view for those in the front rows. Limited pathways and blocked sightlines make moving around the stadium one of the most noticeable drawbacks to the overall experience.

Return on Investment   4

Tickets start at $22 for entry to the supporters’ section at the north end of the stadium; this might feel slightly high, but demand for tickets keeps pricing at this level.

The club does not operate any parking lots. Instead, fans are directed to nearby privately owned garages, with spaces generally available for around $10 per car. Street parking is free, though the club asks visitors to avoid parking in the neighborhood directly around the stadium. Still, it is more of a neighborly request than an actual parking restriction. Street parking along East Washington Street, or on side streets on the east side of the stadium, is suggested instead.

Concessions and apparel can feel pricey compared with other aspects of the match day experience. Fans can get better value with ticket packages under $25, which often include a drink, a snack, or even a Forward Madison scarf. Planning with these packages is an easy way to enjoy the full experience without overspending.

Extras   3

Forward Madison features one of the most extensive team stores in League One. Flamboyance, as it is called, occupies a large portion of the area beneath one side of the original grandstand.

A kids' play area has been part of the stadium experience in years past, though it does not appear to be consistent, and seems to have been replaced in some areas by tented group outing spaces. Instead, a mini petting zoo offers a rare attraction compared to most sporting events, drawing not just children but plenty of adult visitors, too.

Stonework just outside the southeast entrance commemorates the stadium as a CWA project; such historic pieces are increasingly rare, and their preservation makes them worth noting.

Final Thoughts

It can be difficult to maintain a historic stadium as a comfortable venue for sporting events while also preserving its historical integrity. Breese Stevens Field does a good job of retaining its historic charm while still providing a terrific setting for professional soccer.

There are aspects of the experience that could be improved, not because they overly detract from fans’ current enjoyment, but simply to make the overall visit more comfortable. Nevertheless, Forward Madison and the community have completely adopted the Mingos mentality, which embraces the fun and “weird” side of Madison’s personality as a city.