Lloyd L. Thornton Stadium - Maryville Scots
Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
Honaker Field at Lloyd L. Thornton Stadium 502 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy Maryville, TN 37804
Year Opened: 1952
Capacity: 3,000
Great Scots
The Maryville Scots of Maryville, Tennessee, compete in NCAA Division III football, playing in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). The team plays its home games at Honaker Field at Lloyd L. Thornton Stadium, proudly repping the orange and garnet.
The facility boasts a great tailgating atmosphere, bleacher seating on both sides of the field, and a small team gear stand. Gameday here also includes performances by the Tartan Band, as well as tent seating behind both end zones — more of the tailgate variety on one end, with the other end leaning more toward the bring-your-own-camping-chair type.
Food & Beverage 2
Thornton Stadium offers very basic concessions, with hot dogs being the only item of substance. However, you can also purchase nachos, pretzels, candy, chips, and ice cream, and the prices are very low — for example, only $8 for a hot dog combo with chips and a drink. Beverages include soda and bottled water.
Many fans eat at their tailgates instead, some even during the game as they watch. And since there is no cost for admission, you can bring your own food and drink inside the facility if you choose.
Atmosphere 4
The Maryville Scots offer a great football atmosphere — the band is entertaining, and the stately brick construction of the facility gives it an old-world vibe, reminiscent of a Scottish noble’s estate.
While there is only a static scoreboard and no mascot that I saw, the color scheme and logo are great. I especially like the downward-pointing claymore serving as the “T” in Scots.
Neighborhood 3
There are plenty of restaurants and hotels in the area to fit your tastes and budget, including the RT Lodge hotel only steps away from Thornton Stadium. But two can’t-miss options in the area are two castles — yes, castles! If you want to continue the Scottish theme, check out Greenback Castle, a quirky handmade spot built from recycled and donated materials that still fits the Scottish architectural vibe with its walls, towers, and turrets.
Millennium Manor Castle, on the other hand, re-creates ancient Roman architecture. Used for medieval-themed tours on weekends, the castle is built out of poured concrete and local Tennessee pink marble.
Fans 5
Scots fans are second to none — the facility is practically overflowing with fans everywhere. Both sets of bleachers are full, but there are also fans sitting behind both end zones, as well as standing anywhere they can find space. They cheer at the right times and stay until the end, even in a blinding rain.
I mentioned the tailgating earlier; besides tailgating out in the parking lot, you will also see tailgating happening all game long behind one end zone, as well as fans sitting in lawn chairs behind the other end zone. You will also see fans standing behind the goal posts watching the game – it is great to see a football atmosphere like this, where there literally aren’t enough seats to hold everyone who wants to come support their team.
Access 4
Getting to Maryville is simple enough; it is about half an hour from Knoxville, the closest big city, and you can get most of the way to campus using I-140.
Once you get to the football field, there is plenty of parking all around, either behind the stadium or in front of it. Moving around the venue is also simple, with short lines at the concessions and bathrooms.
Return on Investment 4
There is no cost for admission, and concessions are cheap. And while the Scots may not offer an over-the-top gameday experience like you might see up the road in Knoxville, it is a great atmosphere on a quaint campus — a much more relaxed, enjoyable vibe than some other football stadiums you may have visited.
Extras 3
The Scots have a team gear stand right next to the home stands, as well as cheerleaders who perform down along the sidelines. You can also sit (or stand) anywhere in the stadium, which is a great way to take in the game from different vantage points.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed my trip to Maryville to see the Scots and the Tartan Band. If you are in the area, I would highly recommend it — here you will find a peaceful, pleasant day of football, surrounded by fans who absolutely love their team. Go, Scots!
