Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57
Barcroft Park
4200 South Four Mile Run Dr
Arlington, VA 22206
Year Opened: 1993
Capacity: 500
Colonial Baseball At The Croft
Note: In June 2023, George Washington University changed its team name from the Colonials to the Revolutionaries.
Tucker Field at Barcroft Park is the home of the George Washington Colonials baseball team. It is not located on George Washington’s campus in downtown Washington, D.C. but rather is located across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, in the middle of a county park. The venue opened in 1993, and since then the Colonials have a winning percentage of close to .600 at home. The 500-seat stadium is quaint and a bit out of the way, but is well worth checking out.
The ballpark received a multimillion-dollar renovation before the 2012 baseball season that included synthetic turf, a new bullpen, upgraded concession area, dugouts, and stadium seating. Two years later, school alumnus and a member of the GW Board of Trustees Avrum “Ave” Tucker donated $1 million towards the facility and it was officially renamed Tucker Field at Barcroft Park. Tucker played centerfield for the Colonials when the club played its home games on the Ellipse between the Washington Monument and the White House.
GWU are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference have captured four conference titles along with four NCAA tournament appearances in 1979, 1989, 1992, and 2002.
Food & Beverage 1
No concession stand was open when Stadium Journey visited Tucket Field at Barcroft Park. There is a window that has been used for concession stands in the past, so we are giving it a point here in case it is open sometimes.
Atmosphere 3
Tucker Field at Barcroft Park is a quaint field that seats only 1,000. All seats are behind home plate or immediately adjacent, and are bleachers with backs. There are only a few rows, so every seat is close to the action. A scoreboard in right centerfield shows the linescore, and a newly installed board in left-centerfield is capable of showing lineups and other graphics. There is not much going on between innings other than music, so fans looking for the distractions you’d get at a professional game will be disappointed. However, baseball purists will find The Tuck an enjoyable place to take in a game.
Neighborhood 3
Tucker Field at Barcroft Park is located in a residential neighborhood of Arlington County, so there is not much in the immediate vicinity. However, there are numerous restaurants and other stores a short drive away, either in the heart of Arlington or across the county line in Fairfax County or the City of Alexandria. The City Diner is located on Route 7 and is a local favorite, as is Bob & Edith’s Diner in Arlington. If you’re willing to drive a bit further into Arlington into neighborhoods like Ballston, Clarendon, or Rosslyn, you will find a much wider selection.
Fans 3
Tucker Field at Barcroft Park is a small stadium, and gets the crowds of one or two hundred that are typical for mid majors in this part of the country. Many of those are fans of the away team, but GW fans do show up as well to cheer on the buff and blue. Unfortunately, because the stadium is located so far from campus, few if any students show up to games here. The intimate atmosphere helps mask the lack of attendance, but the Colonials still do not draw well.
Access 4
Tucker Field at Barcroft Park is located off South Four Mile Run Drive in Arlington, just off Leesburg Pike (Route 7) and Columbia Pike (Route 244) in Arlington, Virginia. It is about a 15-minute drive from the GW campus. Free parking is available in a small lot next to the stadium, with overflow parking available if this fills up. Once inside, you should have no trouble finding your way around the stadium, and it is small enough that you shouldn’t have to do much walking. There are restrooms available behind home plate near the entrance, which are small but of a sufficient size to handle the crowd.
Return on Investment 3
Tickets are $6 for adults or $5 for children, which is about standard for this area. Group tickets are available for $4 each if you’re buying 15 or more, and GW students get in for free. The concession prices are about average as well, and parking is free. While a visit to a Colonials baseball game won’t break the bank, its value isn’t anything special either.
Extras 1
There are free programs available at the top of the bleachers with some basic information. That’s about the only extra, the rest of the experience is very barebones.
Final Thoughts
Although many residents of Northern Virginia don’t realize the George Washington baseball team plays so close by, GW does have its fans and they turn out for their games. A visit to a Colonials game can be an enjoyable way for baseball purists to spend an afternoon, but it is far from the carnival-type atmosphere you would get at a professional game or at some colleges which care more about college baseball.