Riddle-Pace Field – Troy Trojans

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57

Riddle-Pace Field Luther Dr Troy, AL 36081

Troy Trojans website

Riddle-Pace Field website

Year Opened: 1931

Capacity: 2,000

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One Troy

Baseball has been played at Troy University since 1911, but the school would not have a dedicated baseball facility until 1931, when Pace Field was built. Originally members of the Alabama Intercollegiate Conference, which would later become the Southern States Conference, the Trojans joined the NCAA in 1970 as part of the College Division, which eventually evolved into Division II in 1973.

Troy quickly emerged as a Division II powerhouse, making seven College World Series appearances and winning back-to-back national titles in 1986 and 1987. The Trojans transitioned to Division I in 1995, playing first in the Mid-Continent Conference, then the Atlantic Sun, before settling in their current home, the Sun Belt Conference.

From the late 1930s and throughout the 1940s, the then-simply named Pace Field was home of minor league baseball, serving as the home to the Class D Troy Trojans, who were also known as the Troy Tigers and Troy Dodgers, of the Alabama-Florida League and Alabama League. The most notable player to play at Pace Field at this time was Joe Dobson, who enjoyed 14 major league seasons with the-now Cleveland Guardians, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago White Sox.

Food & Beverage   4

While the concessions options are not really eye-popping here, the burgers, hot dogs, sausages, and brats are all hand-grilled, providing a nice extra touch. Other staples like soft pretzels, popcorn, chips, candy, and the always-welcome stadium pickle round out the menu; off-menu items such as BBQ pork nachos also make an occasional appearance.

Beverages include Coca-Cola products, Powerade, and Dasani bottled water. Beer offerings are limited to Bud Light on tap, as well as Michelob Ultra, Bud Light seltzers, and the Troy-branded Trojan Ale.

Atmosphere   4

Riddle-Pace Field’s brick exterior and glass rotunda complement nearby Trojan Arena and the student recreation center perfectly, really giving the baseball stadium a classy appearance.

The field’s layout is similar to that of Sun Belt rival Georgia Southern’s J.I. Clements Stadium – the 30-foot right field wall protects the short 310-foot line, before widening out to a standard 400’ to straightaway center. What right field gives up, left field then takes back with a monster 340-feet down the left field line. A large scoreboard which provides extensive game and player information is melded with the right field wall.

When considering seating options, there is not a lot of relief from the hot Alabama sun, but the higher you sit in the grandstand, the better. Field level seats are cushioned and much more comfortable, but offer little relief from the sun.

Mid-inning breaks are filled with music and an occasional contest played with a selected fan or Troy baseball trivia question. There are occasional ad reads, but they do seem to be kept to a minimum.

Neighborhood   3

Riddle-Pace Field is nestled in the athletics cluster of Troy’s campus on the northeastern edge, directly neighbored by football’s Veteran’s Memorial Stadium, which can be seen just beyond the third base side of the stadium.

There is not a lot nearby in terms of entertainment, but Troy and surrounding Pike County have over thirty historical markers that recognize the birthplace of congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis, as well as war memorials and the area’s historical story.

The Troy town center has a small collection of shops and eateries. Even though the downtown area is not all that expansive, it does offer quite the collection of options; B Graves’ southern dishes, Burgers at The Corner, Franchesca’s Italian cuisine, Cajun food at Bayou la Roux, and popular southern college town chain Mama Goldberg’s deli can all be found. In addition, BBQ at Moe’s, plus casual American dishes at Flo’s Kitchen, are all within a block of Troy’s town square.

Fans   4

Attendance numbers might not completely tell the story of fan involvement at Troy baseball games, as the fence from center field to the left-field foul pole is chain-link, allowing fans to watch the game from outside of the stadium. This gathering is affectionately known as "Doubles Alley". Here, tailgaters in golf carts and UTVs gather to take in the game, heckle the outfielders, and honk in celebration of Trojan runs. This set up does encourage students to remain outside the stadium, taking a bit away from the in-stadium fan involvement.

Inside the stadium, much like the “Yankees’ Roll Call”, Trojan fans have a unique call for each of the players, which they chant at the top of the 1st inning and again when the players come to the dish for their first plate appearance.

Access   3

Troy, Alabama is in a bit of an oasis when it comes to interstate access. US Highway 231 has the most direct access to town from I-85 east of Montgomery, or you can use US-29 if coming from the west on I-65.

A decently sized parking lot sits outside the front gate of Riddle-Pace Field, while two smaller lots are just beyond the right field fence. Lines begin forming outside the lone stadium entrance an hour before first pitch, but after the initial push entry is quick and easy.

The concourse under the grandstand is spacious and allows for easy movement of fans, as well as enough space for fans to navigate and others to wait in line for drinks or concessions. The seating area is easily navigable, but due to barriers for premium seating in the RBI Club, some rows do seem to be a bit more challenging to get in and out of than necessary.

Return on Investment   4

General admission seats run $10, with home plate tickets going for $15 and field level seats going for $25, before a $3 service charge per order. When factoring in the lack of parking fees, it does seem to balance the overall cost of attending a game at Riddle-Pace Field, though general admission ticket prices can fluctuate depending on the opponent – some non-conference games can have general admission tickets as low as $1, while games against SEC foes begin at $30.

Concessions prices are very reasonable, possibly even a touch under what might be expected at most college ballparks.

Extras   3

A historical marker just outside the stadium’s main gate recognizes the history of Riddle-Pace Field. In addition, under the grandstand, banners and graphics recognize the team and individual accomplishments of past Trojan teams and players – banners pay tribute to the program’s conference championships, NCAA Regional and College World Series appearances, and many other honors, while support pillars display photos of Troy’s All-Americans.

The left-center field gap, dubbed Doubles Alley, keeps a running total of the number of doubles the Trojans have hit throughout the season.

Final Thoughts

When considering college baseball at what is typically considered the “mid-major” level, the Sun Belt likely is the most competitive conference, with its top teams able to compete with many teams from larger conferences.

The atmosphere that fills the air at Riddle-Pace Field is without a doubt an extremely festive college baseball experience, that would be enjoyable for even the most casual baseball fan to experience.