Joan C. Edwards Stadium - Marshall Thundering Herd
- Jude Hannahs
- Sep 30
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 30
Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43
Joan C. Edwards Stadium 2001 3rd Ave Huntington, WV 25755
Year Opened: 1991
Capacity: 38,016
Here comes the Thundering Herd…
Marshall University fans are passionate about college football. At first glance, Marshall might not seem like a school known for its loud, energetic football spirit.
Without context, one might mistake Marshall games for Ohio State, given the enthusiasm and cheering from the fanbase. They are among the most exciting teams to watch in the Sun Belt Conference and the Appalachian region.
Marshall offers everything you want from a smaller Division I school. Producing NFL legends like Randy Moss and Troy Brown, the Thundering Herd is formidable—especially at home.
Food & Beverage 4
When it comes to concessions, there’s nothing much that isn’t different compared to any other basic assortment of food and drink at another university’s stadium. But that isn’t a bad thing either. You have your typical choices of pretzels, nachos, pizza, and hot dogs.
If you’re the drinking type and at least the age of 21, then there are many opportunities to fetch a nice, refreshing beer like Bud Light or Miller Lite. If alcohol doesn’t suit your fancy, then there are other options like Pepsi products and the old reliable water.
Atmosphere 5
While not a ginormous stadium compared to others, Joan C. Edwards Stadium still feels there’s more in attendance than there actually is. Everyone, Thundering Herd fans and the visiting opponents, is on the edge of their seats waiting to see what play happens next.
It doesn’t matter if the Herd are up 20 or down 20, their fans will likely still be cheering at the top of their lungs. It’s the type of crowd and atmosphere every athletics department of any school or organization would want.
Neighborhood 5
No matter how big they are, a lot of universities in the Appalachian territory have the same vibe as backyard high school football games. Going to the game is a big event, even if someone is not a fan of the sport in general.
The general traffic and getting in and out of Huntington before and after the game is not particularly difficult. It may be a little slow getting back home after the game, but that’s to be expected with sports events in general.
Fans 5
What else needs to be said about the fans that hasn’t been said already? The best fanbases are ride or die, no matter how their team is performing. That certainly describes the fans of the Thundering Herd.
They are almost as fun to watch as the football players themselves. Many of them don’t leave the game until the final buzzer. Recently, the Herd hosted Eastern Kentucky and easily took a 38-7 victory. The fans were just as loud, if not louder, from the beginning of the first quarter to the final minutes of the last quarter.
Access 3
One criticism of Joan C. Edwards is how difficult it is to find somewhat decent parking upon arrival. Huntington locals and students are going to fill up the main parking lots pretty quickly, so it’s best to get there pretty early to find a good spot.
If not, visitors will have to resort to finding a spot located at any of the nearby parking garages. When I went, I had to pay $20 for a garage, which is not terrible compared to far more egregious prices a university could charge.
Return on Investment 4
Like all collegiate teams, tickets vary from time to time depending on the sport and the opposing team. On average, the resale price for a ticket to watch a Marshall Thundering Herd home football game is often cited in the range of $30 to $40.
The lowest get-in price begins as low as $13, whereas premium seating (VIP suites and certain club seats) can range anywhere between $200 $1,000. For just a standard seat at a non-premium home game, fans can expect to pay around $25 to $45 if they purchase tickets directly in advance.
Extras 5
Joan C. Edwards Stadium was named after Joan C. Edwards, a jazz singer and philanthropist who, along with her husband James F. Edwards, donated a large sum of money to Marshall University.
Also, the stadium itself is named after Ms. Edwards, while the actual playing field is named after her husband. The tragic 1970 plane crash was ultimately made into a sports drama titled We Are Marshall (2006) starring A-list actor Matthew McConaughey as Coach Jack Lengyel.
The film follows him as he arrives on the scene at Marshall University in 1971 and his determination to rebuild a winning culture amongst a grieving community.
Final Thoughts
If you’re ever passing by and want to watch some competitive college football, the Thundering Herd at Joan C. Edwards Stadium is just for you. My overall experience driving to, watching the contest, and driving home, reflecting on it, resulted in a splendid way to end my Saturday evening.
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