Photos by Richard Smith Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
Evelyn Dyke Schroedl '62 Tennis Center 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd. Towson, MD 21286
Year Opened: 2021
Capacity: 250
Home Of The Gophers
Goucher College is a former all-women’s college located in Towson, Maryland, a northern suburb of Baltimore. The college opened in 1885 as the Women’s College of Baltimore City changed its name to its current name in 1910 and went coed in 1986.
Goucher moved to its present suburban location northeast of the county seat of Towson in Baltimore County in 1953. The college is named in honor of its founding member, John Goucher, and his wife, Mary Fisher Goucher. Goucher College is a private co-educational liberal arts college. It was originally affiliated with the Baltimore Conference of Methodist Episcopal Church but currently has no real church affiliation.
The college has approximately 1,480 undergraduate students studying in 33 majors and 1,200 students studying in graduate programs. Notable alumni include Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps Margaret G. Kibben, Maryland State Delegate John A. Olszewski, Jr., and frequent John Waters actress Mary Vivian Pearce.
Goucher athletic teams are known as the Gophers. The college competes in NCAA Division III as part of the Landmark Conference.
The Evelyn Dyke Schroedl '62 Tennis Center opened in 2021. It is the home of men’s and women’s tennis teams. Funded by a donation from former Goucher registrar Evelyn Dyke Schroedl, the facility features a total of 12 courts, allowing for men's and women's tennis matches to occur simultaneously. Four courts are lighted allowing for nighttime play. There are also additional recreation courts and a couple of courts that have been transformed into outdoor roller hockey or box lacrosse.
Food & Beverage 0
There is no permanent food stand at the tennis center. Fans should make certain to eat before or after the game as this arena is not a good place for food concessions.
Atmosphere 4
There are a couple of simple grandstands but most people will just stand and watch the various game actions. There is not much else in terms of atmosphere. There is no PA or scoreboard to keep track of action.
Neighborhood 4
The Goucher College campus has been used for a few scenes in the Netflix series House of Cards, so expect to recognize the stone buildings from a few scenes there. Towson is a semi-urban environment with a large shopping mall and numerous restaurants in the area.
Try the Charles Village Pub in the heart of downtown Towson for good food and drinks. Some other great options are The Crease, Glory Days Grill, Sushi Hana, and Zia’s.
Baltimore is also a quick drive away. Check out the Federal Hill neighborhood, south of the Inner Harbor. There are a few fun restaurants and bars here.
Fans 3
There will be very few fans at most meets as the complex is behind the Decker Athletic Center. Expect most fans to be friends or family.
Access 4
Goucher is located right off the Baltimore Beltway/I-695. The only negative is that Towson is a busy area and traffic can be bad at some times. The college itself is pretty and quite suburban. You will find plenty of parking close to the complex, although a night game may mean that parking could get tight at times.
Return on Investment 5
There is no admission charge so the return on investment is quite good.
Extras 2
Goucher College has a little athletics hall of fame located in the Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena lobby. The pretty little campus is a nice extra in itself.
Final Thoughts
The Evelyn Dyke Schroedl '62 Tennis Center is not a place you will normally search for an amazing sports experience, but if you happen to be in the area it is a cheap way to enjoy a game of tennis.