Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71
Heiges Field House 333 Lancaster Drive Shippensburg, PA 17257
Year Opened: 1971 Capacity: 2,768
Up With The Ship
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Ship or SU) is a public university in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate programs and more than 50 master’s degree programs. Many of the original historic buildings of the campus, including Old Main, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous alumni of the school include Brent Grimes, former National Football League cornerback; Rob Davis, the Director of Player Development of the Green Bay Packers; and best-selling author Dean Koontz.
The Lady Raiders are members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and have been members of the PSAC since its foundation in 1951. The Dixon trophy is awarded to the top athletic program in the 18 universities Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Shippensburg has won the trophy seven times, the most by any PSAC member. The field hockey team at Ship has been the most successful team on campus winning the national championship in Division II twice in the last six years. Football has been a strong team as well. The mascot is “Big Red,” a red-tail hawk wearing a pirate hat.
Heiges Field House was the second-largest wooden-domed structure in the world when it opened. The arena is the home to the school’s volleyball, wrestling, and basketball programs, as well as housing swimming in the attached pool.
From 2004 to 2007, the Red Raiders posted a 37-3 record in home basketball games, which led the students of Shippensburg at the time to nickname Heiges Field House, “The Dungeon.” The arena has a wooden playing surface designed by the same floor designer as the University of North Carolina and the University of Kansas.
The Lady Raiders volleyball team has thrived in “The Dungeon” in recent years.
Food & Beverage 0
There is no permanent food stand open for volleyball games. There may be stands open for certain, bigger games.
Atmosphere 2
For volleyball matches, the team only uses one of the grandstands within the arena. The arena feels very open and has a typical atmosphere for a Division II level school. The field house roof is on perfect display at all times with its cool style and large fans coming from it.
Neighborhood 3
Shippensburg is a nice little town located just to the north of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, as well as the Maryland border. There are a few food and drink options in the immediate vicinity. You can’t go wrong with CJ’s American Pub & Grill for dinner and then stopping by Goose Bros. Ice Cream for dessert. There are other options as it is a small college town with quite a few varieties of places to go. Nearby Chambersburg has many more local and chain options.
Fans 3
Heiges Field House usually does not fill for volleyball games. Most of the crowd seems to be made up of friends or family of the players.
Access 4
Shippensburg is located right off Interstate 81, a major route from the south through to the northeast. Accessing the campus is easy as you get off that main road as it is marked well. The university is located about half an hour from the state capital Harrisburg. It is also about an hour and a half to Baltimore and the same distance to Philadelphia. Parking is fairly plentiful around the university and the field. Parking is usually free but if it is a weeknight when classes are in session, please make sure to check parking regulations.
Return on Investment 5
Tickets and parking are free.
Extras 2
There are many trophy cases in the small lobby that offer a glimpse of the successes of the various Red Raider teams. The roof is a great extra all in its own.
Final Thoughts
Shippensburg plays on a good level of volleyball and the opponents of the PSAC do offer some skilled opponents, which makes a game here a good value for the sports fan.