Memorial Stadium - East Texas A&M Lions

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00

Memorial Stadium 1606 TX-24 Commerce, TX 75428

East Texas A&M Lions website

Memorial Stadium website

Year Opened: 1950

Capacity: 11,582

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East Texas A&M Lions – Memorial Stadium

The now East Texas A&M Lions began their football journey back in 1915. Over the years they have steadily made their climb up the college football ladder to their now home in the Southland Conference, competing at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. Since the Lions first took the field,, they have sent scores of players to the NFL, including Super Bowl champions such as Harvey Martin, Dwight White, and Wade Wilson, and most recently starting quarterback Luis Perez.

East Texas A&M also lays claim to two National Championships, once in 1975 as members of the NAIA and again in 2017 at the Division II level. The bulk of the team’s success has come since they began calling venerable Memorial Stadium their home.

Built in honor of the 78 East Texas A&M alums and students who fought and died during World War II, the stadium opened with much fanfare in 1950; the opening was attended by former U.S. Speaker of the House and East Texas A&M alum Sam Rayburn. It has been renovated numerous times over the years, most recently with the addition of a new home team locker room, lounge and video boards. Read on to learn more about what makes Memorial Stadium unique in the college football landscape.

Food & Beverage   3

Like most small school venues, the concession stands at Memorial Stadium offer up your basic game day fare for fans. Hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and soft pretzels are the main items, along with candy, bottled soft drinks, sports drinks, water, and beer. The highest-priced options run no more than $7.

While there isn’t much in terms of variety, it will get the job done. Also, while the stadium has two stands on the home team side and one on the visitor side, only two of them were open during my most recent visit.

If you’re looking for more, the stadium boasts food trucks in a grassy area near the main concourse. The trucks there during my last visit offered up tacos and Italian ice, which bumps the score up just a bit, in my opinion.

Atmosphere   3

This section (as well as the “Fans” section) almost got an incomplete grade based on my most recent visit, due to the weather that popped up. A lightning delay moved the kickoff back an hour, and it unfortunately dispersed a lot of the crowd that had been tailgating before the game (especially the students).

However, once inside, the history of the stadium shines through, and that’s its selling point. Outside the stadium, there is signage touting the Lions many successes, like their national titles and the many players they have sent to the pros. Inside, you’ll find more of the same, such as the walls being painted with the years of conference titles and player records.

The press box and walls of the upper level of the stadium are adorned with the names of great Lions of the past. The other main attraction is the team store located on the home team side, which sells all manner of East Texas A&M paraphernalia.

Neighborhood   3

For those unfamiliar with Texas geography, there are these isolated ecosystems that are far removed from the major metropolitan areas. These areas aren’t near a big city, yet thrive out there on their own, and that’s what Commerce is like, the place where East Texas A&M is located. The campus is roughly an hour and a half from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, an hour from the Oklahoma border, two hours from Arkansas, and nearly three hours from Louisiana.

Commerce itself is a fairly contained college town. However, there are plenty of things to do for visitors. Museums in the area include the Northeast Children’s Museum, which offers visitors of all age's tons of hands-on learning experiences. Also, the Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum has the twin mission of honoring World War II’s most-decorated American soldier, as well as showing the importance that cotton growing played in the history of this region.

For dining options, there are plenty of local spots within walking distance of the campus. These include Luigi’s Italian Cafe, an award-winning scratch-made Italian kitchen that’s a favorite hangout before and after Lions games. Also, there is Lone Star Eatery Bar & Grill, which offers up wings, burgers, pizza, and steaks, just to name a few of their items.

In terms of lodging, spots near Memorial Stadium include Magnuson Hotel Commerce and the Lion's Den Extended Stay Commerce. The nearby towns of Sulphur Springs and Greenville also offer multiple options, and are only 15-20 minutes from the East Texas A&M campus.

Fans   4

My earlier comment about the weather impacting the fan turnout might have been a little misleading. While the hour-long delay and continuous rain during the first quarter surely impacted the overall number of fans in the stands, the ones who did stay and brave the elements are surely more indicative of the week-to-week turnout at Memorial Stadium.

The fans at the stadium were loud – including a large contingent clanging cowbells throughout the game – and they rooted for their Lions the entire game. Most were decked out in East Texas A&M gear. Last season, the Lions averaged over 8,700 fans per game, which is not too far from capacity. I can only imagine how much larger the crowd would have been without the rain.

Access   2

As mentioned, Commerce is almost a world unto itself. For fans coming in to see a game at Memorial Stadium, your best bet is to arrive via Dallas. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Love Field are each just under an hour and a half away from the facility.

Once you get to Commerce, the campus is easily the most visible attraction in the city. There is plenty of signage directing you to the stadium – just follow the throng and you can’t miss it.

Parking is plentiful in unmarked spots around the campus, as well.

Return on Investment   3

General admission seating for East Texas A&M Lions games starts at just $20 per person. Reserved seating is just $30. These are incredible bargains for a Division I program. The Southland Conference is home to multiple FCS playoff teams each year, and many of them make a pilgrimage to Commerce to play the Lions.

Parking is also a pretty decent bargain at just $20 in select spots. Combining this with the low cost for concessions, fans are in for an affordable treat at Memorial Stadium.

Extras   3

East Texas A&M boasts all the traditional fanfare that’s found at most other colleges in the country. The Pride Marching Band performs from the stands and at halftime and is a great source of pride – no pun intended – for the university. The Lion Dance Team and Cheer Squad can also be found performing at home games. Lastly, Lucky the Lion is the school’s costumed mascot. He is a fan favorite and patrols the sidelines and stands at Memorial Stadium, to the delight of his fans.

Final Thoughts

Despite the weather, I had a great time during my most recent visit to Commerce and East Texas A&M. Memorial Stadium feels like something from another time, in a good way. I love old school stadiums like this; they are true connections to the history of the great sport of college football. If you’re a fan of the sport of football, I would highly recommend making a visit to Commerce, to East Texas A&M, and to Memorial Stadium. I think you’ll come away as impressed as I was.

Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.