Finley Stadium - Chattanooga FC Women

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57

Finley Stadium 1826 Reggie White Blvd Chattanooga, TN 37402

Chattanooga FC Women website Finley Stadium website

Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 20, 421

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One City, One Club, One Love

Chattanooga FC (CFC) was founded in 2009 as a men’s soccer team, but has since grown into a multi-team club. Along with its men’s squad, CFC launched a women’s summer semi-pro team in 2014, competing in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). After going on hiatus following the 2018 season during a club reorganization, the women’s team returned in 2022 and continues to compete today. The club will also debut a developmental team, Chattanooga FC 2, in the fall of 2025.

CFC Women plays in the Peachtree Division of the WPSL and are the only team in the five-club division located outside of Georgia. Founded in 1998, the WPSL is the longest-running active women’s soccer league in the country and, with 140 teams as of 2025, the largest.

 

Food & Beverage   3

Only one concession stand is open during CFC Women matches, but the menu covers the basics well; burgers, hot dogs, and fries headline the options. Beverages come from the Coca-Cola line of soft drinks and include Powerade and bottled water. Saturday matches may see a greater variety of food, depending on expected attendance.

Beer choices include Miller Light in cans or Michelob Ultra on draft. Those with a more adventurous palate might be more interested in the Tiny Bomb, or the Hutton & Smith Tectonic Sessions and Ingenous IPAs on tap. High Noon seltzers are also offered for those who prefer something lighter.

Atmosphere   3

Finley Stadium has a split-seating design with individual seating structures along both sidelines. For Chattanooga FC women’s matches, only select sections of the south stands are used, which does a good job concentrating fans into a central location in the stadium, toward midfield and close to the pitch. When considering ideal seats, there is little in the way of a bad seat. Weekday matches seem to have limited seating, but when looking at ticket availability for Saturday matches, those seem to allow access to the grassy berm at the east end of the stadium; this makes sense for a stadium the size of Finley given typical crowd sizes.

Chattanooga FC has done well to make the stadium their own, with branded signage, crest-covered padding, and kiosks promoting both the men’s and women’s teams. UT-Chattanooga, who also use the stadium, has minimal branding during pro match days. The stadium has two scoreboards, one at field level showing basic time and score information, as well as a large video board at the east end with a live match feed and score shown.

The nature of soccer does not create a lot of downtime during the match that would typically be filled with fan interaction pieces, but the drums, horns, and chants from the Chattahooligans, Chattanooga FC’s supporter group, creates an engaging atmosphere for all, even if you are not seated in their section. Also, in line with the area’s railroad history, goals are celebrated with a blast of the stadium’s train horn. This adds a small, but personalized, touch to the experience at Finley Stadium.

Neighborhood   5

Finley Stadium is in the southern reaches of downtown Chattanooga in the West Village neighborhood. The neighborhood that directly surrounds the stadium is in the process of an ongoing renaissance – while it sits along the Tennessee River, West Village was once more of an industrial area with warehouses and foundries, but has now begun to develop into one of the up-and-coming parts of town. For example, First Horizon Pavilion was the one-time Ross-Meehan Foundry, which has now been converted to an open-air events space that typically sees weekend events. Just next door is Naked River Brewing Company, the unofficial pre-match gathering spot for the march down Reggie White Boulevard to the soccer stadium, while to the east is Southside Social, an “eat, drink, play” establishment with bowling and over half a dozen other games.

Soon, the Chattanooga Lookouts’ South Broad District will be less than a mile away, just on the other side of I-24. Not only will this bring another high-profile piece of Chattanooga professional sports to the neighborhood, but along with it will come several shopping and restaurant options – this will complement the extensive entertainment choices that downtown Chattanooga already has to offer.

Downtown Chattanooga is less than five minutes away and is often regarded as one of the top downtown areas in the United States. Attractions there include the Tennessee Riverwalk and Tennessee Aquarium, as well as Coolidge Park with its historic carousel. Dining ranges from upscale restaurants to gems like Main Street Meats, a butcher shop and restaurant combo; North Shore is another hotspot for niche eateries and coffee shops.

Chattanooga has several museums, including the International Towing and Recovery Museum and Hunter Museum of American Art. The city is also rich in historical and cultural points of significance, with landmarks tied to key Civil War battles and the starting point of the Trail of Tears at Ross’ Landing, located just downhill from the soon-to-be-retired home of the Chattanooga Lookouts minor league baseball team, AT&T Field. Just a short walk from Finley Stadium, the Hotel Chalet is on the grounds of the famed Chattanooga Choo Choo, while those a bit more attracted to outdoor adventures might want to check out Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain, or Point Park, all offering stunning views of the city.

Fans   3

Fan turnout for CFC Women matches seems to draw roughly between 1,000 to 1,500 fans, and they tend to be actively engaged from kickoff to the final whistle. However, what is so special about the fan involvement here is the role the supporters' group, the Chattahooligans, play in setting a fun soccer atmosphere throughout Finley Stadium. With a club like Chattanooga FC who has teams that play in various leagues, including MLS Pro Next and WPSL, as well as a team now that will compete in the United Premier Soccer League starting in the fall of 2025, the Chattahooligans come out to support not just one team, but the entire club, even on the road.

Chattanooga FC is a publicly owned organization; this seems to create a deep tie between the fans and the club.

Access   4

Finley Stadium is conveniently located just off I-24, which runs south of downtown Chattanooga. The largest concentration of parking is on the north side of the stadium, with another lot adjacent to neighboring Chattanooga Market.

Chattanooga also has a city-wide bike share program with a bike rack just outside the stadium’s north side, which definitely can be useful for locals or those staying nearby.

For CFC Women matches the only entry point is the gates on 19th Street, closest to Reggie White Boulevard. Fans pass quickly through these gates with little to no wait time. Inside the stadium, access to the stands is a bit restricted, however, since fans are concentrated toward the center of the field, roughly from the 18-yard boxes on each end. While it can be a good place for younger fans to be able to run around a bit, the berm at the east side of the stadium is typically not accessible. Ticket availability for Saturday matches might change this, though, so make sure to check availability ahead of time for potential additional seating options.

Despite not being able to access the entire stadium, access to the seats that are available is simple; they are easy to get in and out of. The only drawback is the pitch is not visible from the concourse.

Return on Investment   4

General admission tickets run just under $13, and reserved seats at midfield just over $16. If available, berm seating costs less than $10. When purchasing tickets, all prices include taxes and fees.

Parking in the lots around Finley Stadium can run $6 to $8, depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend match; Friday games have weekend rates. There is some street parking in the area that is free after 6 pm, so getting to the stadium early can be rewarded with free street parking.

Concessions here are well priced and not subject to super-inflated stadium prices.

Extras   3

Flags representing each of the nationalities of the CFC players fly along the side of the supporters’ section.

After the match, the entire team rushes to the supporters’ section to celebrate and show their appreciation. Gestures like these go a long way in strengthening the bond between the team and the community, fueling the passion that drives every moment on the field.

Chattanooga FC is in the process of completing their headquarters, which will be within walking distance of Finley Stadium – the headquarters facility will feature office space for the club’s staff and coaches, apartments for the players, a training facility, retail space, a restaurant, and a rooftop bar. This development should go a long way in solidifying the soccer atmosphere of the neighborhood.

Final Thoughts

Chattanooga FC’s WPSL team embodies the spirit of a grassroots organization, strengthened by the unwavering support of the community. Despite the challenges of creating an intimate matchday atmosphere in a large stadium, the club succeeds through its deep local roots and authentic connection with fans. The energy and passion of the Chattahooligans also plays a vital role – turning every game into more than just a sporting event, the supporter’s group becomes a reflection of the community’s pride in the Blue.