Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Kibler Field
108 Gibson Ave.
Chestertown, MD 21620
Year Opened: 2006
Capacity: 2,000
On The Shore
Washington College is a college in Chestertown, Maryland which was granted its charter in 1782. It is the 10th oldest college in the United States and one of the few to have received support from George Washington to honor him. The original desire was to have this college as the Eastern Shore Campus of a public “University of Maryland” with Annapolis’ St. John’s College the Western Shore counterpart. That obviously did not happen.
Each year, Washington College awards the nation’s largest undergraduate literary prize. Since 1968, the Sophie Kerr Prize has been presented to one graduating senior who demonstrates the greatest literary promise.
Washington has had sports since the 1800s, with the baseball team dating back to the 1870s, likely the oldest team on campus. Men’s teams are known as the Shoremen; women’s teams are known as the Shorewomen.
Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium has been named by Lacrosse Magazine as one of the top 10 venues for collegiate lacrosse. The current stadium was built in 2006, but the location has been the site of lacrosse at Washington for many years.
Food & Beverage 2
There are only simple food options at the stadium, but you can expect temporary options on occasion.
Atmosphere 4
A few years back Lacrosse Magazine mentioned this stadium as one of the “Ten Best Venues for Collegiate Lax” and was the only Division III venue on the list. Their quote was: “Traditionalists may still call it Kibler Field. It was one of the coziest places to see a game. The school modernized the facility, building an impressive grandstand that includes an indoor dining/viewing level above the bleachers.”
This is one of those special sports locations that a fan of any sport should attend, even if not a lacrosse fan. The simple grandstand is nothing special, but it still exudes a special atmosphere. There is a track around the stadium.
Neighborhood 4
Chestertown is a town and county seat of around 5,000 in Kent County, Maryland, and is located on what is known as Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It is 1.5 hours from Baltimore and Philadelphia.
The nearby downtown district of Chestertown is full of history and sites for visitors, along with some nice shopping and dining. BAD Alfred’s Distilling, the Evergrain Bread Company, and Play It Again Sam are good spots for dining.
Check out the High Street Town Dock and see if there are any charter boat trips through companies such as the Chester River Packet Company.
Wilmer Park and the nearby area around the Hodson Boathouse at Washington College makes for some nice waterside walking on a nice day.
Fans 3
Washington College has many fans who gather for lacrosse games. The college teems with them and they bring their cheers and support to great levels.
Access 3
The actual town of Chestertown is not an issue getting around and accessing, but the problem is how isolated from major urban areas the town and college are. You will have to go way out of your way to visit Washington College.
There may also not be much parking on campus as it is a historic campus and if there are many events going on, the available spots could be hard to find. Leave yourself plenty of time to find a good spot. The North Commons area may be a good place to start, but make sure to follow parking guidelines, especially for weekday events during regular school semesters.
Return on Investment 5
Games are free to attend unless it is an NCAA tournament event. For the low cost of attendance, the return on investment is great.
Extras 2
There is a multi-purpose room on the skybox level of the stadium that is used for various events.
Just the fact that this is one of the top 10 venues for collegiate lacrosse, makes it special and is extra.
Final Thoughts
Lacrosse is a popular sport in Maryland, and at this oldest college in the state, lacrosse is king, so a visit to Kibler Field At Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium is worth a visit.