Limerick Field - Alexandria Reds
- Gregory Koch
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
Photo by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
Limerick Field 1800 Limerick Street Alexandria, VA 22314
Year Opened: Capacity: 500 (estimated)
Soccer Reds at Limerick
The Alexandria Reds are a lower-division semi-professional soccer team based out of Alexandria, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. As is common at this level of soccer, there are several teams fielded under the Reds' banner. The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) plays in Spring and Fall, the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) plays in summer, beginning before the Spring UPSL season ends, and the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) is a lower-division women's league. This review will focus on the NPSL experience, although there are often doubleheaders involving multiple Reds' teams.
The NPSL, together with the UPSL and the confusingly named USL League Two, comprise the fourth division of American soccer. They are the highest level that is not fully professional, and consist mostly of current college soccer players and recent graduates. The pay is structured in a way that allows current athletes to retain their amateur eligibility if they are competing in the NPSL over the summer.
In the past, the Reds have split time between the Hummel Bowl on the campus of Episcopal High School and Limerick Field, a municipal field run by the City of Alexandria. However, in 2026, the Reds will play all their home games at Limerick Field while Episcopal High School is used as a training facility by the Croatia national team before and during the World Cup.
Food & Beverage 0
There is no food or drink for sale at Limerick Field. Fans are free to bring their own.
Atmosphere 2
The seating layout at Limerick Field is unusual due to the location of the field. Much of the space on the Limerick Street sideline is taken up by the AlexRenew water treatment building so there is only seating on about a third of the sideline towards the goal furthest from the entrance. Rather than bleachers or chairbacks, the seating is amphitheater style and you will be sitting on stone or grass. Many fans also bring their own seats and place them along the grass in the seating area or along the walking path by the fence at field level. Some will stand at field level as well. You will have a good view of the action from anywhere in the stadium but it is a bit of an odd setup.
There is no permanent scoreboard at Limerick Field. Instead there is a small portable scoreboard at the fourth official's table at midfield on the far sideline. It is difficult to read the score and almost impossible to read the time, especially as you get further up in the seating area.
At an Alexandria Reds soccer game, the focus is on the action on the field. Other than hydration breaks and halftime, there isn't much time for anything else, and even if there was, they're not doing anything. The PA announcer announces starting lineup and goalscorers and thanks the team's sponsors, but that's about it.
Neighborhood 4
There is not much in the immediate vicinity of Limerick Field. There is a small shopping center down the street but mostly this area consists of condos and the AlexRenew water treatment plant.
However, the Old Town is only a few blocks away and is one of the nicest parts of the entire metropolitan area. Visitors will find riverfront views and streets lined with restaurants, shops, and more. As Alexandria is a very diverse area, you will find ethnic food of just about every nationality, whether it’s Bolivian, Salvadoran, or Italian. Il Porto Ristorante has fantastic Italian food and is conveniently located just up King Street from Pop’s Old Fashion Ice Cream, where you can finish off your meal with homemade ice cream.
Hotels are ample in supply as well – check out the Old Town or Crystal City areas.
Fans 3
A few dozen fans attended the Reds game that Stadium Journey visited, and considering this is the fourth division of American soccer, these are typical crowds. The fans are almost exclusively friends and family of the players or local Alexandrians. The Reds NPSL team has connections to the Alexandria Soccer youth program, so some families with kids who play locally will come to check out the Reds games. You will see a few fans of visiting teams as well, although they, like the Reds, tend not to have large fan bases.
Access 5
There are many different ways to get to Limerick Field. If driving, fans can park in the fenced off lot on Bartholomew Street for free between 5:30 PM and 10:30 PM on weeknights and between 6 AM and 10:30 PM on weekends. These hours should cover all Reds home games unless you arrive extremely early for a weeknight game. There are some QR codes in the lot to scan to make an optional donation to help cover the sewer bills of Alexandrians who can't afford them, but you do not need to do so. If this lot fills up, you will need to park on the street, which will cost $1 per hour up to $5 per day. However, it will rarely do so. Fans should not park in lot on Hoofs Run Drive as that serves the nearby businesses and parking there for soccer may result in your vehicle being towed. Signs clearly indicate where you should not park, so just follow them and you should be fine.
Fans can also take public transit to the game. The Eisenhower Avenue station on the Yellow Line is about a 10 minute walk away, while King Street-Old Town on the Yellow and Blue Lines is about a 15 minute walk. Select Amtrak Northeast Regional trains stop at the Alexandria station adjacent to the King Street Metro station. So does Virginia Railway Express, but as VRE only runs during rush hour, it will not be particularly helpful in getting you to or from a Reds game.
Restrooms are available through doors in the side of the AlexRenew building. You do not actually enter the main part of the building to use the restrooms - the doors from the outside put you directly in there. These restrooms are sufficient for the small crowds the Reds typically draw.
Return on Investment 4
Admission to Reds games is just $5, payable upon entrance to the stadium, and parking is free as long as you don't need to park on the street. Overall this is a great value. However, there isn't enough here to earn the top score.
Extras 3
One extra star for the fountains outside Limerick Field along Limerick Street.
Look for the sign by the entrance describing the history of the site as well as the intricate water treatment technology underneath the field.
The unusual seating layout here is worthy of a star as well.
Final Thoughts
If coming to a Reds game, keep in mind this is fourth-division soccer and set your expectations accordingly. This is, as you would expect, a fairly simple fan experience. You get to watch soccer up close and have an enjoyable summer afternoon for a low price, and it's hard to argue with that. Limerick Field is one of the more unique facilities in the NPSL in terms of the stadium itself but the fan experience is about what you'd expect. Soccer purists and seasoned groundhoppers will enjoy a Reds game but those looking for the flashier experience you see at higher levels will be sorely disappoointed.
