The Banta Bowl – Lawrence Vikings
Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl 1201 E John St Appleton, WI 54915
Year Opened: 1965
Capacity: 3,634
The Name Behind the Gift
Originally known as the Lawrence Bowl when it opened in 1965, the Banta Bowl was made possible by an anonymous gift from George Banta Jr. ’10, an alumnus of Lawrence College. The name behind the donation was only revealed upon his death in 1978, at which point the name was changed in his honor. The field itself is named after Ron Roberts, who coached the Vikings for 30 years – Roberts brought the team to back-to-back league titles in the 1960s, and then added three more in a row from 1979-1981, winning six Midwest Conference championships in total.
The Banta Bowl is nestled comfortably in one of the ravines that are common in the Appleton, Wisconsin area. The 3,634-seat facility has grandstands on both sides of the field, along with the Gilboy Athletic Center behind the north end zone. The athletic building houses the football locker room, concessions, restrooms, and the ticket office.
Food & Beverage 4
The Banta Bowl has food trucks at the main entrance, including local favorite Cousins Subs as well as Mexican and Asian cuisine. There is also a regular concession stand attached to the Gilboy Athletic Center which sells burgers, hot dogs, chips, candy, and bottled soda and water.
The quality of the food is high – the prices are higher at the food trucks, but so are the portion sizes and quality. At the main stand, hot dogs and burgers (both with actual grill marks) cost $4 and $5 respectively, while drinks and snacks are only $2 to $3.
Atmosphere 3
The atmosphere is not over the top at the Banta Bowl, but you should have a great time. There is shade on the south end of the home side, especially as the afternoon wears on, thanks to trees at that end which slightly overhang the seats. The Vikings also have a great mascot, an antelope wearing a Viking helmet; the college’s crest features an antelope, but the Vikings name won a 1926 contest to rename the old 'Blues' nickname. As a result, Lawrence’s current athletic branding incorporates both traditions.
In addition to operating a small team gear stand attached to the Gilboy Athletic Center, the staff also hands out stickers, pom poms, and buttons as fans enter, which is a nice touch.
Neighborhood 3
The Banta Bowl sits on the banks of the Fox River in Appleton, WI. The surrounding trees provide a wonderful setting, and there are also walking and biking trails along the river that pass right by the stadium, so fans can take a pleasant stroll before or after the game.
There are several great restaurants on the riverfront, but if you want to catch some other football action before or after the Vikings game, check out Mill City Public House, loaded with massive TVs and loud audio. Stone Arch Brewpub is another option with more of a live music and trivia vibe, but it does offer its own microbrews.
There are several hotels in the area, the most well-known probably being Hilton Appleton Paper Valley attached to the conference center. And if you happen to want to check out any historic sites, look no further than Hearthstone Historic House Museum, the first home in the world powered by a Thomas Edison hydroelectric station.
Fans 4
There may not be very many fans at the Banta Bowl during a typical game – aim for homecoming weekend if you want the best vibe – but the fans who are there are ALL IN! The fans are loud and raucous, constantly catcalling the referees and letting the coaches have it after a bad play. You will likely see a few fraternity members standing at the railing leading this charge, as well as a solid student section near the middle of the home side.
Access 5
The Banta Bowl is not far from I-41, so it's pretty easy to get to no matter whether you are coming from the north, south, east, or west. And once you get to the stadium, you can park for free a mere few hundred feet from the stadium, even on a busy day like the homecoming matchup.
Moving around the stadium is pretty easy as well – you can walk across the plaza behind the north end zone to get to either grandstand, and there are more than enough bathrooms to accommodate the crowd. There are also no lines at the concessions, even during the busiest games.
Return on Investment 5
For only $5 per person admission, attending a Lawrence Vikings football game at the Banta Bowl is well worth it – you really can’t go wrong. Concessions are also super cheap, especially if you visit the main stand instead of the food trucks; the burgers and hot dogs are top-notch and very filling. Parking is also free.
Extras 3
The scoreboard is the basic no-video kind, but the giveaways they have at the main entrance are a nice touch, and the staff plays some really great music during breaks in the action, the kind that makes you want to get up and dance. And while the stands are all metal bleachers without chairbacks, being able to find shade under the trees without having to truck in your own lawn chair is amazing.
Final Thoughts
If you are in the area, you should definitely go over and check out the Banta Bowl. It is a wonderful stadium on the D3 scene, which you won’t regret checking out. Go Vikings!
