Tarleton Baseball Complex – Tarleton State Texans

Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71

Tarleton Baseball Complex 101 S Harbin Dr Stephenville, TX 76401

Tarleton State Texans website

Tarleton Baseball Complex website

Year Opened: 1988

Capacity: 1,000

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Texans Baseball

Stephenville is a community of approximately 20,000 people located in north central Texas. Known affectionately as the Cowboy Capital of the World, Stephenville is home to numerous world-renowned horse trainers and top-level professional rodeo athletes, most notably Ty Murray, the nine-time PRCA world-champion cowboy and co-founder of the Professional Bull Riders Association (PBR).

In addition to professional cowboys, Tarleton State University sponsors many other equine-related team events, as well as hosting 17 NCAA Division I sports. Baseball, one of 7 men’s sports at the school, has officially been played on campus since 1904, when they entered a team in the West Texas College League. The Texans baseball program was disbanded from 1960 through 1988, when the school decided to reinstate the team thanks to generous donors and a desire to move the athletic department forward.

Competing at the Division 2 level until 2019, the Texans won two conference tournaments in 2014 and 2018. Along with the rest of the athletic department, baseball began a transition to Division 1 in 2019, which limited post-season participation for a few years, until full membership was granted in the 2024-25 school year. The baseball team made history in 2024 when it became the first baseball program to win their conference tournament during a reclassification period.

The Texans play their home games at the newly completed Tarleton Baseball Complex. Opened in 2025 in conjunction with the softball stadium, the cantilevered covered aluminum stands seat approximately 1000.

Food & Beverage   2

Concessions here are limited, with only a folding table set up under the stands. Drinks offered are Pepsi products plus Dr Pepper, but note there is no Mountain Dew – Starry is the only citrus-based option. Beer, Gatorade, and bottled water are also available, with alcohol options including popular domestics such as Michelob Ultra, Coors Light, Miller Lite, and Bud Light. White Claw, Twisted Tea, and regional craft favorite Revolver’s Texan Rider, which is branded specifically for Tarleton athletics, are also available.

Food options include hot dogs, Chick-fil-A sandwiches, popcorn, and various candy and snacks, such as candy bars and many flavors of chips. I would suggest a Texan Rider with a Chick-fil-A sandwich, with 1 side packet of honey mustard. If you are more traditional, go for the hot dog, but the Texan Rider is a must.

Atmosphere   3

The game day atmosphere at Tarleton Baseball Complex should be considered above average for a mid-major baseball program. There are a few between-inning games involving selected students, including a Whataburger-sponsored dizzy bat race, where the winner receives a goody bag of Whataburger-branded items and coupons. The announcer is excellent, and there is also organ music and other quality sound effects, such as breaking glass for a foul ball and the Pac-Man theme song for stolen bases.

Tarleton fans are fairly loyal to their athletic teams, with baseball attendance averaging around 500 fans per game each season. While this number is not eye-popping, in the world of mid-major NCAA Division I baseball, there are not many schools who consistently bring in fans beyond what is referred to as the “girlfriend and family” crowd. Saturday crowds are usually the largest during a 3-game series, with Friday night and Sunday afternoon bringing smaller numbers due to out-of-town fans needing to travel.

At the most recent game I attended there were several student groups present. While they may not have been there for the first pitch at noon, by the 2nd and 3rd inning the stands were nearly full of purple clad co-eds cheering for the Texans and ragging on the opponent and umpires, as one would expect at any ballpark.

Check the weather forecast before attending a game here – with much of the college baseball schedule beginning in February and taking place in late winter thru early spring in Texas, weather can be a factor on any given day. The field faces north, which means a cold front will bring chilling winds blowing in from right field, directly into the face of those in the home side stands. Simply know the forecast and be prepared with jackets or more in case a weather change is forecast by mid-game; take it from someone who experienced a third inning “blue norther”, as we refer to them in West Texas. The temperature fell by 20 degrees and wind blew into our faces at about 30 mph for the final few innings of an early season game, so our coats and blankets came in handy as we enjoyed the play on the field, even if home runs to right field became virtually impossible, coming to a screeching halt.

Neighborhood   4

Tarleton is set in the center of Stephenville, which is a small town of approximately 20,000 people. The area around campus is mostly residential, with many restaurants and fast food choices within a few minutes’ drive. Your best options include Hard 8 Bar-B-Q, Grump’s Burgers, Don Nico’s Mexican Food, Newton’s Saddlerack, or Caam’s Pizza Restaurant. Should you prefer an old school diner experience, Jake and Dorothy’s is a locally owned joint that dates back to 1948, the place where waffle cut fries were invented and chicken fried steak is the calling card. Just carry cash, as they do not accept credit or debit cards.

There are plenty of hotels to choose from in town; some of the more highly rated choices include Hampton Inn and Suites, La Quinta Inn and Suites, and Best Western Plus, among others. If you prefer short-term rental options, there are several small houses and cabins available in and around Stephenville. On busy weekends, however, availability can be an issue.

Fans   4

Tarleton fans are usually loud and loyal, and baseball fans are no different, but an early Saturday afternoon start is not ideal for college students. The later in the day a game takes place, the larger and more active the crowd is, especially on days when there are fewer other sporting events taking place on campus.

There is a chance that The Purple Poo may make an appearance to show support and lead the crowd in a cheer. The Purple Poo is a secret society of students who are charged with keeping the spirit of John Tarleton and Oscar P alive. The “Poo” is the oldest spirit organization in Texas, formed in 1921 when the school was still a junior college. This special group posts signs of support each week on campus and shows up at most events involving Tarleton teams. When they arrive, they lead the crowd in a special cheer for Oscar P and the Texans. Charged to wear disguises in public throughout their entire time on campus, the identity of each member is only revealed at the end of their senior year.

At the most recent game I attended there was a fairly large number of students present for an early season non-conference game, with many of them actively interacting with the opposing team and umpires during play. There were also several vehicles parked on top of the parking garage across the street for a unique, free view – the measurable number of fans watching from such a unique vantage point shows that the fans are not only loyal, but knowledgeable as well.

Access   4

Stephenville is approximately three and a half hours north of San Antonio via US 281, or three hours from Austin via Interstate 35. From the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex the school is only a little over an hour’s drive. Once in town, the university is easily accessible and ample parking near the gym is available.

There is no commercial air travel into town and public transportation is rideshare only, which is limited at best. The best option if flying into the region is to fly to DFW, Love Field-Dallas, Austin-Bergstrom, or San Antonio and rent a vehicle to drive.

Parking near the field is free, with ample space available. At the last game I attended, there was also a softball game taking place next door, and there was no issue with finding a parking space.

Return On Investment   5

General admission tickets cost $7 with reserved seats being $10. As a bonus, many early season weekend series include doubleheaders, which double the amount of baseball for the same price. For a Division I baseball program that has consistently been in contention for post-season play, ticket prices here are on the lower end of the price range, and free parking makes Tarleton baseball an even better deal.

The cost of your ticket, added to the relatively low cost of concessions here, creates an experience that is definitely a bargain. There are not many baseball programs that produce higher quality play for this price.

Extras   4

The new parking garage and other buildings being built on campus have created a nice backdrop, and the view from home plate out to straightaway centerfield is one of the more picturesque in Texas.

Foul balls here are not supposed to be kept, and the staff highly encourages them to be returned – fans are given gift cards and food coupons when they bring a ball back to the designated location. At the most recent game I attended, fans were able to get Whataburger coupons for returned balls, which theoretically could allow fans to get food for free that is worth more than the amount of money they spent at the ballpark that day.

Free parking is not unheard of for smaller Division I (and lower level) baseball programs, but the proximity and convenience of the parking for baseball here deserves special recognition – there are two large parking lots within 100 yards of the stadium which can hold more vehicles than most baseball crowds would require. These parking lots also have at least five entrance and exit points, allowing for smooth traffic flow in the event of an above average-size crowd.

The restrooms and ticket offices at Tarleton Baseball Complex are in a new brick building that sits between the baseball and softball fields. The facilities are large, clean, and ADA-compliant, with sidewalks connecting all parking areas to the restrooms and both fields.

Final Thoughts

Tarleton Texans baseball, as a fairly new Division I program, is already making a splash, having won its conference tournament in 2024. They consistently play Power 5 schools during midweek games and have plenty of talent on their roster. With a new ballpark and other facilities, this is a great place to watch some quality baseball at a bargain price. In addition, for fans looking to tour multiple ballparks in Texas, Stephenville is not far from many other large colleges and minor/major league stadiums. A day trip into town would also make for a pretty drive and entertaining gameday experience.