Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium - Anderson Trojans
- Aaron S. Terry
- 10 hours ago
- 4 min read
Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Spero Financial Field at Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium 341 Williamston Rd Anderson, SC 29621
Year Opened: 2005
Capacity: 5,000
New Football Team in SC
Anderson University started its football program in 2024, currently competing in the NCAA’s Division II. As D2 programs go, Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium in Anderson, SC offers a great gameday experience for college football. The venue is also used for lacrosse and soccer, was built in 2005, and holds 5,000 fans, most of whom sit on the home side.
Food & Beverage 4
Spero Financial Field at Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium provides a ton of food and beverage options during home football games, highlighted by a bunch of different food trucks. There are food trucks spread out all along the southwest side of the field, from coffee and smoothies on the east side, near the main entrance, to myriad other options on the west side concourse, next to the Soccer/Lacrosse Fieldhouse (the field is oriented southeast to northwest instead of the typical East-West layout).
There is also a Chick-fil-A table under the main stands, as well as a couple of school-run stands selling pizza, chips, candy, and drinks. Prices are decent at Trojan football games, with bottled drinks running only $3, a slice of pizza costing $4, and most snacks priced at $3. Food truck items will run more, as you might expect, and a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich will cost $7. Nevertheless, the fact that there are numerous low-cost options available is a major plus, allowing you to eat a little without spending a lot.
Note that Anderson is a Christian University, so no alcohol is sold inside the facility.
Atmosphere 4
Compared to similarly-sized venues, Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium offers a great atmosphere on gameday. The fans are really into it, there is plenty of Trojans team gear to be seen, and there is a giant videoboard that is easily visible to those sitting on the home side. The two fieldhouses bracketing the field look stately and brand new, and the staff plays Money for Nothing every time the home team scores, which is a fun and unique song you won’t hear at many other sports facilities.
The football squad also has a team tunnel, which they run onto the field through, which many D2 stadiums can’t boast. The band is on the small side, but they have plenty of cheerleaders. I don’t remember seeing a mascot, but there is a giant (presumably plastic) sword on hand behind the team bench, which is held aloft by a player who makes a great play on defense, such as an interception or fumble recovery – a great tradition which is a nod to the Trojans team name.
Neighborhood 3
Anderson is a small town about 45 minutes south of Greenville, SC. There aren’t a ton of restaurants and hotels in the area, but a few good hangout options for before or after the game include Common House, Doolittle’s, and Carolina Bauernhaus Brewery & Winery.
In terms of attractions, most of the tourist attractions you will find in the area are parks and local museums.
Fans 4
Anderson Trojan fans are really excited to finally have football at their school, and you can tell from the crowd noise. The stadium may not be packed quite to the gills, but the home side is almost full, and there are plenty of fans who watch from one of two small hills (berm seating) on either side of the home stands. You can also see fans watching from the balconies of the two field houses behind the end zones.
The most notable fans are the five or six wearing banana costumes, in the front row around the 10 or 15-yard line. This is apparently a tradition at Anderson, among the students.
Access 4
Once you are inside the facility, moving around is easy; there is plenty of room. There are also plenty of nice bathrooms – real toilets in trailers, no port-a-johns here, which is a real plus; this writer can tell you that for sure.
There also isn’t really an issue with access once you get near the stadium – there are plenty of parking lots around the stadium, some closer than others. Parking costs $11, but be sure to purchase online before the game, so you can get in more quickly; you can also park on nearby streets for free if you are willing to walk a bit.
There isn’t that much traffic, per se, but because this is such a small town, a few extra cars can mean a line waiting to pull into the parking lot, meaning a wait of 5 to 10 minutes, at times. There are local cops directing traffic, however, which helps ease the flow.
The only real drawback to access is the fact that Anderson, SC, is a bit away from the freeway – you’ll have to take local roads, or smaller highways for a good many miles once you get off I-85, to get to the football stadium.
Return on Investment 5
Coming to a game at Spero Financial Field at Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium is well worth it for the gameday atmosphere and wonderful scenery – you will be surrounded by greenery as far as the eye can see. Tickets to conference games start at $16, while tickets to non-conference games may only run $8, with $5 pricing for children. Tickets are available online only, and sometimes sold on EventBrite, which I hadn’t seen before at a football game.
Extras 4
They have a free hydration station (water in paper cups) next to the main entrance, which is a great way to keep fans hydrated at no cost. There is also a Trojan head statue next to the fieldhouse near the main entrance, which might be a great photo op for some. There are also benches dotted around the concourse where you can sit.
There isn’t necessarily much shade on hot days, but there are a few places, such as standing under/behind the scoreboard, or sitting in the top-most rows on the home side in front of the press box.
Final Thoughts
Attending a Trojans football game at Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium is definitely worth the trip – a great D2 football stadium, where you can have a relaxing day, get some low-cost concessions, and get out quickly once the game ends.
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