Brooks Stadium - Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Updated: Nov 2
Photos by James Clotfelter, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
Brooks Stadium 540 University Blvd Conway, SC 29528
Year Opened: 2003
Capacity: 21,000
Feel the Teal at Coastal Carolina
Coastal Carolina Junior College opened in 1954 with a student population of 54, with classes held in the evenings at Conway High School. It wasn't until 1993 that the school gained independence from the University of South Carolina System and became Coastal Carolina University.
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football program and Brooks Stadium were established in 2003, when the program began competing as a member of the Big South Conference.
The name Chanticleers comes from Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, specifically “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale,” while the rooster logo dates back to the 1960s. The logo continues to serve as a nod to the university’s history as part of the University of South Carolina System.
Since 2016, Brooks Stadium and its “Smurf Turf” have served as the home of this young but proud football program and fan base.
Food & Beverage 3
The food and beverage scene is quite limited in variety. “Specialty” items include Chick-fil-A, pretzels, and popsicles. Limited? Very. However, variety is not necessarily the main concern when it comes to food and beverage at Brooks Stadium, because the headliner is the free concessions. Yes, free concessions. Ticket holders can visit the general concession stands and receive up to four items per visit at no additional cost. The options include hot dogs, nachos, soda, water, and popcorn. This is the main draw when it comes to food at Brooks Stadium. While the selection may be limited, the opportunity to grab concessions at no additional cost is a major perk for fans. Even better, the four-item limit applies to each visit, not the entire game. Fans can return to the concession stands as many times as they want, making this a particularly appealing feature for those looking to get the most out of their ticket. With traditional stadium snacks and drinks included, the value lies in the accessibility and affordability of the concessions rather than the variety of specialty food options.
Alcoholic beverages are also available, with patrons able to choose from domestic options such as Chant-themed Bud Light, Miller Lite, Modelo, Coastlines IPA from Tidal Creek Brewhouse, hard seltzers, and Cutwater canned cocktails.
Atmosphere 3
The layout of Brooks Stadium is relatively simple, unlike its teal playing surface. The stadium is divided into three main stands. The east stand houses the home seating sections and press box, while the student section occupies the north end zone. To the south is a sizeable video board and a series of on-field boxes. The west stand features a second deck and seating for visiting fans. The basic all-you-can-eat concession stands and beverage kiosks are scattered throughout the concourses. The east and west stands are not connected by the concourse, but a walkway above the student section provides a route between the two sides. Most seats are bleachers, with the exception of the middle sections along the east sideline, which feature chairbacks.
Coastal does a good job of creating a strong pregame atmosphere. Multiple hype videos play throughout the stadium, some accompanied by synchronized teal LED lights. The most interesting pregame feature, however, is the players' runout. Instead of running through the band, as many college teams do, Coastal puts on a show that is far more—and unapologetically—Myrtle Beach. A line of souped-up, unnecessarily large, and incredibly loud motorcycles forms a tunnel on the field for the players to run through. I can understand how this might seem tacky or unnecessary, but it certainly works.
The atmosphere does seem to take a dip once the game gets underway. Not nearly as much happens during play, aside from promotional contests on the field during television timeouts. These contests seem to serve primarily as a way to keep the student section involved and engaged throughout the game.
Neighborhood 2
Coastal Carolina University and Brooks Stadium are located in Conway, South Carolina, a small town about 10 miles inland from Myrtle Beach. Conway has limited options for visitors, and the campus is somewhat removed from the downtown area. Coastal Ale House and a handful of fast-food restaurants are among the few walkable dining options near the stadium. If you’re looking for a pregame bite, your best bet is to drive into downtown Conway or head toward Myrtle Beach.
Myrtle Beach offers more variety in dining and lodging, but downtown Conway provides more of the local game-day atmosphere that many stadium goers are looking for. Tailgaters begin filling the stadium parking lots three hours before kickoff, giving fans an opportunity to enjoy the pregame festivities before heading inside. However, the stadium's relative isolation and limited walkable options make it difficult to enjoy the surrounding area without a car. While downtown Conway and Myrtle Beach offer alternatives for dining and entertainment, having to drive to find those options takes away from the convenience of the stadium's immediate surroundings. Ultimately, the neighborhood gets the job done for game day, but it lacks the walkability and variety that would make the overall experience more appealing to visiting fans.
Fans 3
We were in attendance for a rivalry game against App State, and the pregame atmosphere certainly felt like one. “F*** App State” chants rang out from the student section before the players had even taken the field, and the stadium was filled quite nicely. Outside of the student section, however, the Coastal crowd was relatively mellow, consisting mostly of locals, alumni, and families enjoying a night out. Fans were welcoming toward visiting App State supporters while still passionately rooting for their own team.
Unfortunately, much of the crowd had dispersed by halftime, which was especially disappointing given how great a game it turned out to be. The student section also thinned out after halftime, further diminishing the energy in the stadium. With fewer students in the stands and much of the crowd already gone, the rivalry atmosphere gradually faded. By the fourth quarter, despite a close and exciting game, the stadium felt relatively lifeless. The pregame intensity showed that Coastal Carolina fans can bring plenty of energy for a rivalry matchup, but the lack of staying power took away from what could have been a much more engaging atmosphere from start to finish.
Access 3
Getting to and around Brooks Stadium is relatively simple. The stadium sits just off SC-544, and plenty of nearby businesses sell parking spaces on their properties. If you prefer to park on campus, the university offers parking in its campus lots for a fee. A map of these lots can be found on the athletics website.
Stadium entry lines move relatively quickly, and once inside, the concourses are wide and the bathrooms are plentiful. Stairs, ramps, and elevators provide access to the 200-level seating. As mentioned earlier, a bridge behind the student section also allows fans to travel between the home sideline and the visitor end of the stadium.
Return on Investment 4
How can you complain about free concessions? That alone would lead many people to give Brooks Stadium a five-star rating. However, I find that the other costs bring the rating down to a four—not because they are outrageous, but because they still add up. For example, $30 for parking in an official university lot seems steep for Sun Belt football, although prices at privately owned lots will vary.
The get in price is also around $30, which is quite reasonable when you consider that free concessions are included. With food and nonalcoholic drinks available at no additional cost, fans can enjoy a full game-day experience without worrying about the usual stadium food expenses. All things considered, Coastal Carolina offers excellent value for Division I college football, particularly for fans who take advantage of the free concessions.
Extras 4
The teal playing surface, otherwise known as “Smurf Turf,” has become one of the most distinctive features in all of college football. While I’m usually not a fan of field-color gimmicks, this one works. The university also pays tribute to notable alumni, including by naming its field house the Mario and Josh Norman Field House. Last but certainly not least, the free concession stands are one of the coolest touches in all of college sports.
Final Thoughts
You can sense the athletic department’s effort to make Brooks Stadium one of the top game-day experiences in the group of six. While the stadium is well worth a visit, particularly for the value it offers, the overall experience still feels like it’s missing something. There’s a strong foundation in place, but I left feeling that Brooks Stadium has the potential to be even more.
