Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium - West Virginia Mountaineers

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57

Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium 1 Ira Errett Rodgers Dr Morgantown, WV 26506

West Virginia Mountaineers website

Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium website

Year Opened: 1980 Capacity: 60,000

Take Me Home, Country Roads

Opened in 1980, the new stadium replaced the original Mountaineer Field that existed since 1924. This new stadium was originally to be called Mountaineer Stadium, but the fans ignored this and called it New Mountaineer Field, with the “new,” eventually falling into disuse. Mountaineer Field was constructed in 1980 on the former site of a golf course between the Law School and Medical School buildings. The old stadium, on the downtown campus, was razed in 1987. The seating area of the facility was renamed “Milan Puskar Stadium” in 2004, after a $20 million donation to the university by the founder of Mylan Pharmaceuticals.

Mountaineer Field has a capacity of 60,000. The largest crowd ever was 70,222 for the November 20, 1993 game against Miami.

John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Road” is a staple at the stadium. His September 6, 1980 visit for the stadium grand opening is still in the memories of many fans.

Morgantown is the county seat of Monongalia County, West Virginia. Situated along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia and has a permanent population of around 30,000 people.

WVU has a great rivalry with the University of Pittsburgh, located not far away from Morgantown. Since Pitt is part of a different athletic conference than West Virginia, a yearly rivalry game has become increasingly difficult to schedule.

Food & Beverage 3

There are many concession stands found around all parts of the complex, and the variety is better than in past years. Lines are generally short and the food is of decent quality, although the prices seem a bit high. Funnel fries, Philly cheesesteaks, and pepperoni rolls are some of the normal offerings.

Atmosphere 4

The stadium can be either one of the most exciting stadiums around, or fairly quiet. It really depends on how the team is doing. The alcohol sales can make the crowd louder, especially for night games.

The Pride of West Virginia (the WVU Marching Band) is a great marching band. They play Hail West Virginia (WVU fight song) and Take Me Home Country Road, as well as marching out to the pattern of the complicated state map. They are fun to watch.

Another highlight for the fans here is watching the Mountaineer mountain man shoot his gun after each West Virginia score.

The stadium features a nice scoreboard and has the usual high level of features seen in college football.

Neighborhood 4

The stadium is located on an old golf course so it is not surrounded by many businesses. You will have to venture away from the area to get food and drink unless participating in the healthy tailgate scene.

Morgantown, at its heart, is a small, mountain town. That means you will need to navigate many small, windy, and hilly roads as you drive around town. WVU is known as a party school, so there’s always that.

If looking for things to do before or after a game I would wander to downtown Morgantown. It has seen a renaissance and offers a wide choice of dining and bars. Boston Beanery is one of the more popular locations. Kegler’s Bar is another nice choice.

Fans 4

The state of West Virginia doesn’t have a single major professional sports team so they love their Mountaineers. Saturday football is a big deal. Even when the crowd gets a bit quiet, the crowd regularly approaches full capacity. The ubiquitous WVU logo can be seen everywhere throughout the stadium.

The student section is slow to arrive for early afternoon games. It may take an hour into the game before their seating area fills, although they may just be standing in line for beer.

Access 3

Plan ahead for parking. Parking can be a major hassle. There are plenty of lots, but because of the small, windy roads, traffic can be a nightmare right before games. One option is to park at the WVU Coliseum and hike it to the stadium. A shuttle that used to take fans from the Coliseum is no longer available. Also look into coming into Morgantown from the southeast, as it is easier than from the south, north, or west. Be sure to plan ahead.

If you can, try out the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT), which is a university-operated monorail that takes students between the main campus and the downtown campus. The system started operation in 1975. PRT will run for at least an hour after the end of the event. Due to Covid, it may be for students only at this time, but check it out just in case.

Return on Investment 3

The level of competition is high. West Virginia University is a major Division One school and is in the Big 12. That means that they play a high level of competition such as Texas Tech and Baylor. Prices can be high, depending on the particular team they are playing.

Extras 4

Check out the West Virginia University Hall Of Traditions to see the history of this football program.

The John Denver and “Country Roads” love is a cool extra.

The marching band is one of the finest around and deserves some extra love.

The Mountaineer mountain man is such a tradition around here that it is easy to love this interesting icon.

Final Thoughts

Mountaineer Field is a very nice college football stadium. The prices and hassle of dealing with parking and traffic in a small town can make it a tough visit, but the overall atmosphere is still worth a trip.