Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86
Campus Field 5151 Park Ave Fairfield, CT 06825
Year Opened: 1997
Capacity: 3,334
The Independent Pioneers
Sacred Heart University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was founded in 1963 and was the first Catholic school in the United States to be staffed by laypersons. Today, Sacred Heart is the second largest Catholic university in New England, offering 80 degree programs at the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate level to its 10,500 students.
Sacred Heart University has hosted football teams since 1991. The Pioneers originally played in Division III, moving up to Division II in 1993 and then up to the FCS subdivision of Division I in 1999. In 2024 the Pioneers dissolved their longtime membership in the Northeast Conference, joining the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Unfortunately, the MAAC does not sponsor football, which has forced the Pioneers to compete as one of two independent teams in the FCS. No plans have been announced regarding future affiliation.
Campus Field, which opened in 1997, is located adjacent to the William H. Pitt Center. In addition to hosting the school’s football team, both of the Pioneer lacrosse and track squads call the facility home.
Sacred Heart won or shared six conference championships during their time in the Northeast Conference. They have appeared in the FCS playoffs four times, most recently in 2021, losing in the first round every time. Two Sacred Heart alumni, Jon Corto and Julius Chestnut, have played in the National Football League.
Food & Beverage 3
There is a pop-up tent in the entrance lot run by SHU Dining that handles concessions at Campus Field. The menu offered here is pretty basic, with burgers, dogs, chicken fingers and sausage sandwiches available. Snacks, including fries, nachos, pretzels and assorted candy can also be found here. Cans of Pepsi products are sold. Fans looking for an adult beverage will have to proceed to the Outpost.
The outpost is Campus Field’s beer garden. Located in the southwest end zone, all fans can access this area for an additional ten-dollar charge. A variety of beer and wine is sold here, as well as special menu items. During Stadium Journey’s recent visit, for example, the special item was a loaded baked potato.
Without a doubt, the most popular concession items at Campus Field were the gigantic specialty cookies from Crumbl. Their signature pink boxes could be seen all over the facility.
Atmosphere 3
The game day atmosphere at a Sacred Heart football game is a fun one, but not one that is over the top or overly loud. Fans are into the game and the social activities on tap, but this is not a place where visitors would feel intimidated. The feel at Campus Field is more like a backyard barbeque than a big-time college football game.
The Sacred Heart Marching Band, cheerleaders and dance squad are on hand to perform throughout the game. Party areas at either end of the field add to the atmosphere, and the PA announcer adds a bit of energy to the proceedings without being too over the top. The video board in the southwest end zone provides graphics and basic game information, but unfortunately is not utilized for replays.
Neighborhood 3
While Fairfield is a really nice place to live (in fact, towns in Fairfield County are regulars on any “Best Places to Live in the United States” list), it’s not exactly what you would consider a destination location. The Sacred Heart campus is located in a residential area, with few lodging or dining options in the immediate vicinity. The Trumbull Mall is located a mile from campus, complete with the usual chain offerings, such as the Cheesecake Factory.
Adjacent to the Sacred Heart campus is the Discovery Museum and Planetarium. This attraction features rotating exhibits and interactive educational displays. Right next door to Campus Field is JP’s Diner, a 50s style full-service restaurant which is open on game days.
The Sitting Duck Tavern is a popular local watering hole, and there are numerous options in downtown Bridgeport, located just a few miles away. Visiting fans will find no shortage of lodging or dining options along Route One, the main business thoroughfare in the area, and Interstate 95.
Fans looking for sporting options in the area will find plenty of options nearby. Sacred Heart teams play basketball at the Pitt Center, baseball at Veterans’ Memorial Park and hockey at the beautiful Martire Family Arena. In addition, Fairfield University is just five miles away, with the Leo Mahoney Arena hosting the Stags basketball team. The Bridgeport Islanders, the top farm team of the New York Islanders, play downtown at Total Mortgage Arena.
Fans 3
Campus Field’s posted capacity is a meager 3,334. Their listed average attendance for the 2023 season was 6,346. Even with these inflated numbers, the Pioneers still rank smack dab in the middle of the nationwide FCS attendance rankings, landing at number 59. Stadium Journey visited Sacred Heart on the school’s homecoming day on a beautiful September Saturday afternoon, with an announced attendance of 4,869. Through three games in 2024, average attendance is 4,025. I’m not saying these numbers are inflated, but there are plenty of empty seats to be found around Campus Field. Something here just doesn’t feel right.
The fans who pack Campus Field week after week are here to enjoy the community feeling cultivated at Sacred Heart. This is a low-key party atmosphere. Fans aren’t going to be overly rowdy, but they will support their Pioneers passionately. The crowd here is small-school football at its best. Party areas such as the Outpost in the southwest end zone and the fancier President’s Tent in the northeast end zone add to the party atmosphere and certainly boost attendance. There’s a good turnout from the student body here, but no organized student section to be found.
Access 3
Sacred Heart University is located in suburban Fairfield, Connecticut, a town of about 60,000 residents in the southwest corner of the Nutmeg State. The campus is situated in the northeast corner of the city, directly across the street from neighboring Bridgeport. Sacred Heart is easily accessed by either the Merritt Parkway or Interstate 95. Traffic in this part of the state is usually quite heavy, so you may have to allot extra time to arrive at Campus Field. Fans using public transportation will be glad to know that the Greater Bridgeport Transit (GBT) number 4 bus routes from Bridgeport’s busy Amtrak station to a stop right at Sacred Heart’s front entrance on Park Avenue.
Parking for Pioneer football games can be a challenge, particularly when a large crowd is present. Most of the spaces near Campus Field are reserved for VIPs and those who pay for the privilege. Free parking is available in the South Garage, about a quarter of a mile from the field, and the North Lot, about a half mile from the field. At least the scenery on this attractive suburban campus is worth the walk. Unfortunately, signage isn’t clear on campus and many of the roads are blocked off. If parking in the South garage be aware that you must enter the garage on the second level on the side of the garage, not the street-level entrance, which is reserved for President Tent ticket holders.
Fans enter Campus Field at the northeast corner of the facility. The concession stand, ticket office and team store are all set up in the parking lot here. Seating at Campus Field consists of metal bleachers on either side of the field. The home (east) grandstand is raised several feet off the ground, allowing fans to look over the mass of people on the sideline. The presence of the track around the field pushes spectators back a bit further from the action. Rest rooms are located in the adjacent Pitt Center and the Bobby Valentine Health and Recreation Center.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets for Pioneer football games are affordable, priced at $20 for reserved seats and $15 for general admission seating. Fans wishing to access the Outpost beer garden can do so for an additional $10 fee.
Parking is free in the South Garage or North Lot. Concessions are reasonably priced, with most items costing six dollars or less. Overall, a visit to Sacred Heart football is an affordable entertainment option for local sports fans.
Extras 1
Banners hang on the exterior wall of the adjoining Pitt Center honoring all the championship teams that call Campus Field home, including the 6-time NEC conference champion football Pioneers.
Final Thoughts
The affiliation shuffle that took place in college football this past offseason also affected teams at the lower levels of the sport. Playing as an independent hasn’t seemed to affect the game day experience at Campus Field. This is a fun place to catch a game that would be a nice addition to any local FCS conference looking to add a team.
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