Frank B. Fuhrer ’48 Field - Allegheny Gators
Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Frank B. Fuhrer ’48 Field 204 Park Avenue Meadville, PA 16335
Year Opened: 1949
Capacity: 3,700
It’s Chomp Time!
The Allegheny Gators of Meadville, Pennsylvania compete in NCAA Division III football, playing in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC). The team plays its home games at Frank B. Fuhrer ’48 Field, and the team’s logo is very clever, incorporating a gator tail as the right side of the “A” in Allegheny.
The team won the 1990 NCAA Division III National Championship, with a 21-14 overtime victory over Lycoming College.
Food & Beverage 5
The food and beverage scene at Fuhrer Field is quite unique – because of the new football operations center being built right next to the home stands, concessions are different now than they were in the past. What you will find is a food truck near the main entrance, offering dirty sodas and build-your-own fries topped with different things, such as chicken or cheese. There is also a small stand selling items such as chips, candy bars, soda, and bottled water.
In addition to these two options, there is also a beer garden next to the home stands – IDs are checked, and you can’t take alcohol outside of the garden. Canned alcohol costs $5, or you can buy soda or bottled water for $2.50.
The most unique feature, however, is the free food provided by the alumni association, handed out from a row of tents as you walk through the main entrance. On my most recent visit they had walking tacos, three varieties of Italian sausage (including vegan), and a chips and dip bar. These items were only provided through the end of the first quarter, but it was a nice change from having to pay an arm and a leg for stadium concessions.
I did notice long lines at the aforementioned food truck, despite the free offerings elsewhere – the dirty sodas and topped fries apparently are very popular items.
Atmosphere 4
The Allegheny Gators offer a great atmosphere for football. There are stands on both sides of the field, as well as tented seating behind one end zone for volunteers and donors. The crowd noise is very loud, and I saw a lot of fans wearing Gators gear.
The facility recently went through a series of upgrades, most notably resurfacing the track surrounding the field and updating the exterior of the press box – the latter looks amazing, with a dark blue background accented with bright green gators.
Neighborhood 3
As you drive down a rural road in Pennsylvania, past a Mennonite church and a few houses here and there, suddenly you will see a football stadium pop up right in front of you – a welcome sight in an unexpected location. Unlike many college sports venues, Fuhrer Field is not on campus, nor surrounded by other athletic fields, but instead is the only campus building in the vicinity. This makes it easy to have parking right next to the venue.
Downtown Meadville is about two miles away, offering several sports bar-type options to visit before or after the game, such as TimberCreek Tap & Table or Triple Deuce Saloon. There are also two bed and breakfasts, but if you are looking for typical national chains you will have to head over to I-79 about four miles away.
Fans 4
Allegheny fans are stellar – they cheered loudly when good things happened for the Gators, and loudly booed the referees when bad things happened. The home stands were only somewhat full, but many fans also watched from the beer garden and the tented area behind the end zone, or stood along the fence line watching the game from there.
Access 3
Meadville, PA is a little off the beaten path, so make sure you watch for deer if you happen to be driving in the morning or evening. Getting there is not difficult though – it just may take some time depending on where you are coming from.
Once you get to the facility, on the plus side there is parking right next to the field, either on the back side in a paved lot for alumni and VIPs, or on the front side on the grass, which can get a little muddy if it happens to be damp that day. Parking is free, though, as is attending the game itself.
The only other potential challenge is the bathroom situation – there are bathrooms on the far side behind the home stands, so it may be a bit of a walk if you happen to be sitting on the other side. This situation should improve shortly, however, when the construction finishes up.
Return on Investment 4
There is no cost for admission, no cost for parking, and concessions are cheap (or even free). I would definitely recommend attending an Allegheny Gators game if you are in the area, or even if you have to drive a couple of hours. Their logo is great, the crowd is a lot of fun, and you won’t find amenities like this at most small football stadiums – how many of them have a beer garden, for example?
Extras 3
The Gators have a team gear stand behind the press box, and while I did not see a band or a mascot, they do have cheerleaders performing near the sideline on the home side. I think a mascot would be a great addition; I think the creative staff here would do something cool with one.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed my trip to Meadville to see the Gators – I love their logo, the press box exterior is fantastic, and it is easy to move around the stadium. This is absolutely an above average facility in the D3 football world.
