Rock Chalk Park Stadium - Kansas Jayhawks

Photos by Xander Loosvelt, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86

Rock Chalk Park 6100 Rock Chalk Dr Lawrence, KS 66049

Kansas Jayhawks website Rock Chalk Park website

Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 2,500

---

A Decade of Stories in Lawrence

In 2014, the inception of Rock Chalk Park was the start of a new era for Kansas sports. Though basketball and football were easily the sports that got the most attention, this new stadium laid out a brand new home for the other Jayhawk sports teams that rivaled the popular Memorial Stadium and Allen Field Fieldhouse.

While the stadium serves as home field for Kansas softball, track and field, and tennis, no group is more

synonymous with Rock Chalk Park than Kansas soccer. The addition of this stadium was a revolution for

the team and fanbase that needed a new place to call home, and over the last 11 years, it has developed

into one of the premier college soccer stadiums.

As a whole, the park is one of the top facilities in collegiate sports. As primarily a soccer stadium, the last decade has seen a multitude of NCAA tournament games, including the one I attended, players receiving

national recognition, program records being set, attendance numbers reaching new heights, and so, so

much more.

Food & Beverage 3

Rock Chalk Park offers a better-than-average concession experience with high-quality snacks as well as

quick and easy service. However, it’s dragged down a bit by its lack of a wide variety of food and drink

options, the slightly high prices, and the absence of specialty items.

The stadium as a whole has three places for concessions with around five to seven total lines that all offer

similar products. They have mostly traditional stadium food with the addition of a few items that help bring

the Lawrence feeling out, including burgers and pork sandwiches, both priced at $12, but don’t quite meet

the criteria for “specialty” items. The stands accept credit and debit cards, and the prices are a little

higher than most would hope for from traditional concessions, especially at a soccer game.

The stadium serves a multitude of sodas, with Coke and Pepsi being the major brands served, as well as

a decent variety of other non-alcoholic drinks. There is a small variety of alcoholic beverages, all served at

$10 as well as two craft beer options in Wheat and Pale Ale.

The stadium's hot dogs ($6) or pretzel bites ($7) are the way to go if you're looking for a cheaper, fulfilling

snack while watching the game, but in all honesty, any of the options will leave you satisfied if you can get

past the initial surprise of the higher prices.

Atmosphere 5

The atmosphere of Rock Chalk Park from entry to exit provides a unique experience that brings the Lawrence community comes together.

For starters, the stadium is beautiful - one of the most underrated venues in college soccer. All seats are located on the west side of the stadium with proximity to the field, with seats being on either side of the

tunnel at midfield, while benches line the outer sections, and an outer blue wall on the grass separates the

field of play from the greens, where fans are allowed to sit to watch the game from an alternative view.

The wall is lined with painted banners of past conference championships and the NCAA tournament

appearances, as well as Kansas flags and colors flying on the poles that line the east side of the wall.

Outside of just the aesthetic, there’s entertainment throughout the game. Music blasts on the speakers in

big moments, the Jayhawk band plays throughout the game, the PA announcer is on the microphone to

hype up the crowd at all the right times, and there’s even a halftime race between condiment costumes.

The end of games always concludes with the team and fans singing the fight song and Rock Chalk chant,

a tradition at all KU sporting events that gets a more personal touch at the park. Even if at some point you

need a break, Wi-Fi is available for all and runs at a high speed.

The best seats in the house are easily, well, the actual seats with backrests. The benches are fine and

give you just as good a view, but the real seats with cupholders near midfield provide the most comfortable experience as well, putting you at the center of the action. There are no premium seats or suites, but the layout of the stadium seating strengthens the fandom and provides a tough environment for opposing teams.

Neighborhood 3

Rock Chalk Park is located in the northwest corner of Lawrence, away from the university and downtown

activities, but still easily accessible from anywhere in the city. Its more isolated location makes it very safe

for drivers and walkers alike, though from most places in town, you’ll end up driving. Though its separation

from the rest of Lawrence adds to its charm, it may be just a little more separated from the other areas of

Lawrence than desired by tourists.

While there are no restaurants within walking distance from the stadium, Morningstar’s New York Pizza and

J. Wilson’s are both high-quality restaurants that highlight an overall, pretty solid selection of food in the

area. After a good meal, take a drive and check out the Dole Institute of Politics, or take a tour of the

University of Kansas, while you have some free time, to get the true feeling of what it means to be in a

college town.

Outside of soccer, KU has just opened up its brand new football stadium, David Booth Memorial Stadium is just around the corner from the historic basketball venue, Allen Fieldhouse, where you can also spend some time and take a tour. There may not be a plethora of attractions, but what the city has to offer is well worth your time.

For a short walk to the stadium, Stone Hill Lawrence is the place to stay. To be near the other attractions the city has to offer while simultaneously staying close to the park, Tru by Hilton is right in the middle of everything the city has to offer. Want to stay in the heart of the University of Kansas? The Oread is at the end of Jayhawk Boulevard and serves as the de facto university hotel. If those places aren’t your groove, take your pick of any Lawrence hotel. All lodging options are high quality with a great reputation, and no matter what, you should come away with a very hospitable experience.

Fans 5

Well, this one certainly gets a leg up from the fact that the park recorded its highest attendance ever at the

game I attended. In fact, over the course of the year, they’ve had multiple record crowds, and in the past

couple of years, the seats have begun to routinely fill up closer and closer to capacity.

Rock Chalk Park is home to a passionate fanbase that refuses to let an opponent forget their presence. They are loud every time something positive happens for the home team, showing a constant level of involvement that you don't see just anywhere. There's a plethora of kids running around the wall and grass to follow the ball, and even fans sitting on blankets in the grass to add to the feeling of family that the stadium manages to bring out of everyone.

Fans are in their seats, off their phones, tuned in, and never leave until no time remains on the clock. Even after the clock strikes zero, most stay and wait to sing the fight song and the Rock Chalk Chant with the team. This is a fanbase that really cares for their team’s success, and they embody what a home crowd should be like, even with their smaller size.

Access 4

The stadium overall allows for an easily accessible experience, ranging from parking to entry to movement, but the actual travel to get to Lawrence is a challenging and somewhat annoying experience.

Bad news first: You're not getting a direct flight into Lawrence. The easiest way to get to Lawrence is flying into Kansas City International, then renting a car to make the hour drive to the city - yes, renting a car is necessary. In the long run, it saves money since Rock Chalk Park is separated from the Lawrence attractions, and there aren’t any mass transit options to the stadium.

All that said, everything else surrounding the park’s accessibility is nearly flawless. The parking lot in front is huge, and there are more than enough spots. Try and park closer to the front middle for a shorter walk, but no matter what, it’ll be a quick process in and out since traffic is light thanks to its more isolated location. If needed, you can also find accessible parking towards the northeast side of the lot, as well as a drop-off area in front of the entry point.

The gate of entry is on the east side of the stadium and adjacent to the parking lot. Getting in is a quick and easy process - they’ll scan your mobile ticket, check your bag if you have one, and off you go. There is a clear bag policy for bags exceeding a 6-by-9 size, but anything smaller is allowed as long as it passes a light security check.

Once you're inside, you’ll find it’s very easy to move around Rock Chalk Park. You can see the game from anywhere inside; the concourse is easy to navigate, and there’s accessible seating at the top of the concourse that isn’t far removed from the field of play. The best part? The restrooms are nice, clean, and well-kept by the staff. The stadium is highly accessible for all and provides an easy experience, no matter which part you choose to spend your time in.

Return on Investment 4

Rock Chalk Park provides a unique, friendly, community-driven experience that is worth the money you’ll

spend to get in and enjoy the experience to the fullest.

The tickets for the game I attended cost about $13, but for a regular game (non-NCAA tournament) that number is more than likely closer to $10. Parking is free, so no need to worry about pulling out the wallet the second you drive in, and depending on the specific concessions choice, you're spending somewhere

between $20 - $25 for food.

Essentially, on the high end, you're looking at spending around $40 for a full game experience at Rock Chalk Park, a more than reasonable amount for what the experience offers. The concessions may be priced a little higher than hoped, but considering the food and drink are high quality, the lower ticket prices and overall entertainment value of the play on the field, your money is well spent on a night watching Kansas soccer.

Extras 3

Though Rock Chalk Park doesn’t have a whole lot of program-specific activities to do inside the stadium, It still gets the extra points boost for having a variety of other Easter eggs and a unique layout.

The stadium includes a Rally House for KU merchandise on the entry path, and a lot of room for kids to run around on the green surrounding the field, banners of former players in the air, and friendly, knowledgeable staff who can assist with a variety of needs.

And just re-emphasize this, parking is free.

Final Thoughts

Rock Chalk Park, as a soccer stadium, is a one-of-a-kind experience for soccer and Kansas sports. In a

rare occurrence, I can confidently say there is not a single bad thing about Rock Chalk Park. When the

biggest gripes are that the food may be slightly overpriced and that the city, not the stadium, is difficult to

travel to by plane, it’s clear that the stadium has given people a lot to love about it.

As the Kansas soccer program has begun to improve over the last couple of years, the team has continued

to attract more fans, and the experience has gotten better and better. At the pace they’ve seen this

season, seating expansion may be coming for Rock Chalk Park in the next few years - a testament to the

well-rounded stadium experience that has continued to keep fans wanting more and coming back.