Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Paladin Stadium 1300 Duncan Chapel Rd Greenville, SC 29613
Year Opened: 1981
Capacity: 16,000
One Team, One Family, One Furman
Across the scope of college’s Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the Furman Paladins have been one of the preeminent programs, having qualified for 20 FCS (or I-AA) playoffs, tied for fifth most at that level. The Paladins have also made six trips to the semi-finals, with two championship game appearances, claiming the FCS National Championship in 1988.
Paladin Stadium opened in 1981 when Furman moved on campus from Sirrine Stadium near downtown Greenville, just off the original site of Furman’s campus; this had been Furman’s football home from 1936 until 1980, as well. Prior to Sirrine Stadium, the Paladins played at Manly Field on the old campus, and initially at the athletic grounds of Augusta Road. Furman would play South Carolina’s first intercollegiate football game in December of 1889 against in-state rival Wofford.
Food & Beverage 4
Concessions here go a bit beyond typical stadium offerings. As expected, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and soft pretzels are on the menu, but the addition of burgers, brats, and pizza help make the menu a bit more appealing. A handful of food trucks serving mostly sweet treats also help support the in-stadium offerings – food trucks sell frozen treats, handmade confections, Hawaiian donuts, and shaved ice.
Alcoholic beverages run the gambit from Natural Light and Budweiser products to multiple selection from Asheville’s Wicked Weed. Individual servings of both red and white wine are also available.
Atmosphere 4
As is tradition with most college football experiences, tailgating is a major part of the game day experience. Starting 2 1/2 hours before kickoff, the fields around the northern end of the stadium start to come alive. Clad in Furman’s purple and white, tailgating encampments sprout up just steps from the stadium. The area directly outside of Champions Gate is home to the Furman Fan Zone, with pregame concerts, food trucks, and inflatables.
Paladin Stadium, which houses Stone Field, is nestled into the Furman campus forestry, backdropped by the spire of the Daniel Chapel, with Paris Mountain in the distance. Like many stadiums throughout the south, such as Georgia, Auburn, and South Carolina to name a few, Stone Field is also bordered by shrubbery on each side – this goes a long way in creating a classic stadium feel.
The home side of the field is quick to receive shade for afternoon kickoffs, and also provides a comfortable experience. The space between the 40-yard lines is individual chairback seats, while bleacher seats with back support extend to the 35-yard lines. It certainly is a treat to have so much comfort built into the home side seating area; the visiting side is not as punchy, as their seating is just aluminum bleachers.
Throughout the 1st half of the game, the focus of entertainment during stoppages in play is focused on the Paladin Regiment, Furman’s marching band, as they fill most of the downtime with short performances. The second half of the game sees dead ball entertainment move more toward on-field games and scoreboard ads, until the band fully reorganizes after their halftime performance.
Both ends of the stadium have entertainment options for fans of all ages – the grassy area of Champions Walk Grove has a handful of inflatables to help keep kids occupied, while the southern turfed area has a Wicked Weed biergarten, lawn games, and a carnival-themed food truck. This end of the stadium is also home to a lot of organic fun for Furman’s younger fans, for example children using disassembled cardboard boxes to slide down the steep hillside, or wrestle over footballs from field goals and extra points that sail into the area.
Neighborhood 3
Located on the northern reaches of Greenville, South Carolina, Furman is roughly where the city turns into suburban neighborhoods, before becoming more rural as the suburbs give way to the mountains of South Carolina.
Furman’s campus covers a sprawling 750 acres. Beyond the academic, residential, and athletic facilities, Swan Lake, a walking trail around it, and even a golf course open to the public are all within the campus’ confines. Miles of biking trails also run adjacent to campus.
If approaching Furman from the back side, Highway 25 has several food trucks serving various types of Latino food, while the approach from Highway 276 has chain restaurants.
Greenville is regularly recognized as one of America’s best small cities. Downtown is just over six miles from Furman’s campus, and is full of breweries, high quality restaurants, and hotels. Greenville is also well known for its public art installations and the popular Falls Park. Early season games could also be paired with a Greenville Drive baseball game at Flour Field, while for games later in the season, checking out the Greenville Swamp Rabbits schedule might also be option.
Fans 4
Approximately an hour prior to kickoff, fans with cowbells in hand line Champions Walk as each unit makes their way towards the field for final game preparations. The walkway is crowded and definitely supportive of the Paladins, as they make their way to the gridiron.
There is no denying the support the Paladins enjoy – over the last few seasons, Furman has averaged roughly 10,000 fans per game, which is one of the top 25 draws in FCS, ranking just behind The Citadel in the Southern Conference.
Access 3
Furman is north of downtown Greenville; it can be a bit of a challenge to get to, as there is no direct interstate access to the facility. Two major thoroughfares, US Highways 25 and 276, run along either side of campus – the challenge is that even after exiting I-185, there are still 10 miles of surface streets and traffic lights to contend with.
GPS directions for Paladin Stadium commonly take you through the rear entrance to campus, along Duncan Chapel Road. This entrance is designated for permit holders, however, so if you need to pay for parking it is better to enter through the campus’ main gate on Poinsette Highway (US 276) – this entrance provides the easiest access for day-of-game parking. These lots are also just a short walk from the stadium, for both home and visiting fans.
There are three main points of entry to Paladin Stadium, each easily accessible from any of the parking lots. Visitors will likely want to park in the lot adjacent to Daniel Chapel, which leaves a short walk to the visitor entrance to the stadium. The permit lots to the east are a short walk to either of the two entrances at each corner of the home side of the field. For the most part, the interior of the stadium is as straightforward as can be to navigate, but the most direct way to access the attractions of the south end zone is walking down the rather steep hillside – that area is also accessible via the service road that runs just outside the facility.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets can be purchased online starting as low as $25 with no additional fees added, which is always appreciated.
While a handful of programs throughout the Southern Conference offer free parking, Furman does charge $15. It is always nice to be able to save a few dollars by not having to pay for parking, but considering parking at other venues can run $20 or more, $15 doesn’t seem all that unreasonable.
Concessions prices run as expected here, compared to similar facilities.
Extras 4
The walls of the home side concourse recognize Furman football legends Jerome Felton, Stanford Jennings, Jeff Blankenship, and Louis Ivory, along with coaches Bobby Johnson, Jimmy Satterfield, and Dick Sheridan.
In keeping with the traditions that make college athletics a special experience, the Furman pregame festivities leading to kickoff include the singing of Furman’s alma mater – it is always nice to see appreciation of the university the team represents.
The Paladins are led on to the field by a knight/dame on horseback across the field. Throughout the first half of the game, the pair greets visitors under the scoreboard.
As the season stretches into the end of October and early November, the changing of the leaves provides a beautiful backdrop for college football in the fall.
Final Thoughts
Football at Furman gives fans a high-quality college football experience, from well before gates open through the end of the game, all in a beautiful setting. All of this enhances the contest on the field, typically involving two highly ranked Southern Conference teams. The spirited atmosphere paired with everything that surrounds the game definitely adds up to a classic, college football experience.
Commentaires