Bulldog Field - Alabama A&M Bulldogs

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57

Bulldog Field Memorial Parkway Normal, AL 35762

Alabama A&M Bulldogs website Bulldog Field website

Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 500

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Be a Dog

The Alabama A&M University Bulldogs are one of twenty Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) competing in NCAA Division I.

The Bulldogs first sponsored baseball in 1947, playing in NCAA Division II as members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), where they remained until 1998. The following year, Alabama A&M transitioned to Division I and joined the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), one of only two conferences composed entirely of HBCUs – the SWAC includes schools from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Alabama A&M has produced a handful of professional players, with the most notable being Cleon Jones, an All-Star and key member of the 1969 World Series champion "Miracle Mets".

Food & Beverage   1

There are no dedicated concessions at Bulldog Field. Occasionally, a food truck may provide options, but fans should plan ahead if they want snacks, or something more substantial, during the game.

Atmosphere   2

There is not a lot to Bulldog Field, a rather modest facility. There are no exterior gates, no press box, and no permanent concessions – just a pair of bleachers set atop a small hill behind home plate. The two sections of bleachers are positioned rather far from the field, creating a noticeable distance between the fans and the action. Barriers stretch from dugout to dugout around the backstop, limiting how close spectators can get. As a result, fans hoping for a closer view often bring tailgating chairs and set up just behind the barriers, for a more intimate game-watching experience.

The playing surface is natural grass, with field dimensions relatively short at 315 feet down both lines. A uniform 8-foot fence encircles the outfield, and some interesting fence angles add a bit of character to the ballpark. A functional scoreboard in right-center field displays player photos, stats, and standard game information.

The game experience itself is rather unremarkable, with little more than walkup songs played, though this is a refreshing break from the constant bombardment of ads and sound effects that seem to have become common. The game is definitely kept as the focal point.

Late afternoon games could create some difficulties, with the sun directly in the face of fans seated in the bleachers; this does create a challenging sun field to contend with. Bulldog Field does not have any lights, so games do have to start early enough to avoid playing in the dark.

Neighborhood   4

Alabama A&M is situated on the northern side of Huntsville. The area surrounding A&M’s campus is within Huntsville, but was named Normal, Alabama in reference to the school’s original name, the State Normal and Industrial School of Huntsville. This area is where the city begins to give way to more suburban and rural surroundings. Bulldog Field is clustered with the rest of Alabama A&M’s athletic facilities, just across Meridian Street from main campus.

The university is about four miles from downtown Huntsville and seven miles from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, one of the city’s most popular attractions. Downtown Huntsville has an immaculate city center with many locally owned restaurants and shops, built around Big Springs International Park, a popular location for many to enjoy the cherry blossoms, feed the koi and ducks, or just enjoy the spring weather. The park is also home to the Huntsville Museum of Art, as well as several hotels.

Huntsville is also a hub of minor league sports – the college baseball season overlaps with the final third of the SPHL schedule of the Huntsville Havoc, as well as the start of the season for Minor League Baseball’s Rocket City Trash Pandas (AA - Southern League) and Huntsville City FC in MLS Next Pro. Despite none of these teams not playing in the immediate vicinity of A&M’s campus, they are all just a short drive away.

Fans   3

The Bulldog fans are extremely supportive, especially the students in attendance. Students will call out the steps of strikeout victims, “left-right-left-right” until they reach the dugout, before letting out a collective “OOOOUUUUUUUTTTT!” as the opposing player walks away – the students might be on the small side in terms of numbers, but it is nice to see their contingent at games.

Access   3

Alabama A&M’s campus is accessible via US Highway 431, which runs north-to-south though Huntsville. Bulldog Field does not have lights, so games must be played during the day, though this does help in alleviating traffic during Huntsville’s rush hour. On the other side of the equation though, fans leaving the game will likely have to contend with the evening rush.

Bulldog Field is a walkup facility, accessible directly from the adjacent parking lot. There is not much of a physical stadium to navigate, but seating is up a small hill, which can be a bit tricky to navigate for those with mobility challenges.

Return on Investment   4

Admission to Alabama A&M baseball games is free, and there is no charge for parking. The only investment fans make is their time, making it an affordable and relaxed way to enjoy college baseball.

Extras   1

The proximity of the baseball and softball fields allow those in the upper row of seating to be able to look over the back of the bleachers to check on the game on the adjacent field, if they are going on at the same time.

Final Thoughts

There is not a lot to an Alabama A&M baseball game when considering the overall game experience, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable one, by any means.

There are early plans in place to begin upgrading Alabama A&M’s baseball facilities, and partnerships have been formed to help guide that vision – this is a first step in improving the overall experience for both the players and the fans of the Bulldogs.