Photos by Richard Smith Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Charles Wolf Gymnasium 899 S Richland Ave York, PA 17403
Year Opened: 1970 Capacity: 1,726
Spartan Court
York College of Pennsylvania is a private college located in York, Pennsylvania. The college is located approximately 1 hour north of Baltimore, MD, and 30 minutes south of Harrisburg, PA. The general student population of full-time undergraduates is around 4,000 students. The campus is located on 190 acres in the suburbs of York. The school has been ranked in the top tier of the Best Regional Universities in the North by U.S. News and World Report.
The Spartans athletics program competes at the Division III level in the Middle Atlantic Conferences Commonwealth (MAC Commonwealth) against schools such as Stevenson University, Messiah University, and Alvernia University. The college offers 22 varsity sports.
Charles Wolf Gymnasium is home to the men's and women's basketball squads, the volleyball team, and the wrestling team. There is a sky box entrance from the main lobby and a pair of press boxes along each of the top concourses. We attended during one of the women's games although it was a men's/women's doubleheader so the experience should be the same with both sports.
The gymnasium is located within the Grumbacher Sport and Fitness Center. The main lobby of the Grumbacher Sport and Fitness Center has windows where you can watch much of the game action before even entering the arena. If you are cheap, you may be able to watch the game here, although tickets are cheap enough you might not need to.
Many people do not realize that York, Pennsylvania is rich in history as it was the first capital of the United States, the birthplace of the Articles of Confederation, and where the words “The United States of America” were first spoken.
Food & Beverage 3
There is a café for patrons inside of the Grumbacher Sport and Fitness Center lobby and next to the gymnasium.
The café offers your standard sports venue foods such as hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, and snacks. The café serves patrons at outdoor sporting events (lacrosse and soccer) while also catering to indoor sporting events (basketball). The pricing is reasonable as most food and drink choices are under $5 in cost.
Atmosphere 4
The gymnasium has the feel of an arena for a much higher level of program. If it had more seats it would feel like a Division I level of arena. It is already better in quality than some lower-level Division I arenas.
There are two main stands along the sides of the court with some smaller stands on the baseline.
The fans are loud and proud and the gymnasium has a great atmosphere.
Neighborhood 3
York College is located in York, Pennsylvania. York, known as the White Rose City, is the county seat for York, Pennsylvania. The college is located in the southern portion of York in an industrial portion of the city. It has easy access to Interstate I-83. York City hosts many attractions including the Harley-Davidson regional factory, a minor league baseball team named the York Revolution, the York Barbell Hall of Fame, and a vibrant downtown area including markets, museums, and music venues.
The city of York has only 43,000 residents; you can see many of the sites in and around the city over a short period. There are many historical sites to see such as the Bridge Diorama in Wrightsville, the Haldeman Mansion, and the Myers Mansion. Also, in nearby Lancaster, you can visit the Strasburg railroad and Pennsylvania Amish attractions.
There are many quality places to eat in York, however, many are not within walking or close driving distance to the college. The White Rose Bar and Grill is a popular choice among locals and is located in the downtown part of York. Also, a 15-minute drive from the campus is Wyndridge Farms. The restaurant contains a brewery and is located inside a renovated barn overlooking the York County countryside.
Fans 4
Most fans were wearing green York College fanwear. There were many fans in attendance and many understood the game and were quite enthusiastic. You are also likely to find a good number of fans of the opposing teams as many of the opposing schools are located close by.
Access 3
Grumbacher Sport and Fitness Center is approximately three miles from Interstate 83 on Country Club Road.
The building's location is easy to find on the college's West Campus. The parking is free, and an abundance of such is available to patrons.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets are $6 and paid in the lobby. It is a fair value for a good level of sports.
Extras 2
You will get the feel of a small, private school once you set foot on the campus.
There is a nice York College Athletics Hall of Fame in the building's lobby next to a great climbing wall for students.
Final Thoughts
The athletic facilities are kept in excellent shape and the Grumbacher Sports and Fitness Center is a state-of-the-art facility.