- Aaron S. Terry
InfoCision Stadium - Akron Zips
Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71
InfoCision Stadium 375 E Exchange St Akron, OH 44304
Year Opened: 2009
Capacity: 30,000
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Zipping Into Akron
Opened in 2009, InfoCision Stadium is home to the University of Akron football team and holds 30,000 fans. It replaced the almost 70-year-old Rubber Bowl, which holds slightly more, but was expensive to maintain, and is located six miles from campus. Because of poor on-field performance, the Zips have had trouble filling InfoCision Stadium; in fact, it has the lowest average attendance of any FBS program.
Food & Beverage 4
InfoCision Stadium offers everything you would expect from a sports venue, including a wide selection of beer.
Most of the concessions can be purchased from the main stands on the east and west sides, but there are a couple of satellite stands, such as Chick-fil-A. The main stands offer hot dogs, hamburgers, Italian sausage, and Papa John's pizza, as well as nachos, peanuts, french fries, pretzels, Shearer's potato chips, candy, funnel cake fries, and Cracker Jack - these items cost between $3 and $6.
Regular drink options include bottled water, Coke products from the fountain, Powerade, coffee, and hot cocoa, and can be purchased from the main stands. In addition, a wide variety of beers, including Bud, Bud Light, Stella, Great Lakes Brewing Company, Heineken, Corona, Yuengling, Shock Top, Goose Island IPA, Beck's, Red Hook Longhammer IPA, and Mixx Tail Hurricane/Long Island can be found at the main stands, or satellite stands that only sell alcohol. Bud Light, Shock Top, and Yuengling are on draft, while the others are in bottles or cans (Bud Light is available both ways).
Atmosphere 3
The experience at InfoCision Stadium is rather low-key, mostly due to the small crowd, but the venue is family-friendly and easy to get in and out of.
Unlike most smaller football stadiums, InfoCision Stadium doesn't have real seats in either end zone (most football venues have them in at least one). The north side contains part of the football facility, while the south side has a berm (grass) - a handful of fans might stand here during the game, but this is space, except for the video board. There is a nice walking path on both ends making it easy to move around, and fans along either sideline can easily see the big screen.
Most of the seats on the east and west are metal bleachers without chairbacks, but two small sections have chairback rails - one in the middle on the east side (lower level), and the other in the middle on the west side (upper level). Four different companies have naming rights to parts of the stadium, so you will also see some branding in various locations. See a quick tour of the stadium here:
There are some inflatables set up in the north end zone for the kids, which is a nice feature, and they also have some alcohol-free sections you can sit in. The mascot even visits with the fans at their tailgates outside the stadium, and the staff also sometimes has giveaways, such as bobbleheads. However, these promotions don't always work well because there are too few fans and far too many giveaways, especially late in the season as the weather gets colder.
Neighborhood 3
There are several restaurants across the street from the south end zone (all of which can be seen from inside the stadium), and there is at least one great attraction nearby - the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Located near InfoCision Stadium are 69 Taps and The Score Draft Room, as well as several fast food places, all an easy walk from the stadium, so there are several options for before or after the game. Some of them even support the Zips by displaying kangaroo statues in front of their buildings.
And if you are in town for the weekend, there are some great attractions nearby, including the Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, the Akron Zoo, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (in nearby Canton). While not in Akron proper, the Hall of Fame is worth a visit if you have never been, so if you are coming to a Zips game, make sure to plan a time for a visit.
InfoCision Stadium is located near the I-76/I-77 interchange, so there are plenty of hotels within a few miles of the stadium, depending on your budget and preferences.
Fans 2
Even for the biggest game of the year (the Wagon Wheel game versus cross-town rival Kent State), ticket sales might only be around 15,000, and actual attendance will be far lower (more in the 5,000-8,000 range). Some of the fans are pretty into it, but you won't see very many wearing team gear, and there isn't much noise, except during the most exciting plays (or the most egregious officiating calls).
In 2014-15, the Zips had the lowest attendance of any FBS program, and as a result, you will notice that several of the concession stands are closed during games, and the team store (which is open) is practically deserted.
Access 4
Thanks in large part to the low attendance, getting in and out of InfoCision Stadium is a breeze. You can park literally across the street from the field for $10, and the large, modern bathrooms have plenty of sinks and stalls. The concourses are plenty wide, and there are walkways on both the north and south which make it easy to get around - you can even stand there and watch the game if you would rather not sit.
There are gates at each corner; the ticket office is on the southwest side near the team store. There is a bus station about a mile from the stadium, but parking is so easy it probably doesn't make sense to take public transportation unless you don't own a car.
Return on Investment 2
The cost to attend an Akron football game is probably too high, given the experience. Tickets start at $20, which is not low enough to garner high attendance. And while parking is certainly reasonable at $10, concessions are a little on the high side compared to similar venues.
You are better off just buying your tickets at the door, to save on Ticketmaster and other fees, since the stadium will not sell out, and you can pretty much sit wherever you want. You might also try buying them on the secondary market.
Extras 1
John Heisman coached at the University of Akron (formerly known as Buchtel College) back in 1893-94, and there is a statue honoring him behind the south end zone.
Final Thoughts
An almost brand-new stadium, but with very low attendance, attending a game at InfoCision Stadium won't give you a high-energy experience. But, if you are looking for something to do that is low-key and hassle-free, like taking the family or some friends to a game, this is an easy way to do it. Or, seeing a Zips game might be a good option as an add-on to a weekend in the area (such as a visit to the Pro Football Hall of Fame), but it doesn't necessarily need to be the main event.