Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena - UMBC Retrievers

Richard Smith
Jan 26
3 min read

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71

Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena 1000 Hilltop Cir Baltimore, MD 21250

UMBC Retrievers website

Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena website

Year Opened: 2018

Capacity: 4,654

Retriever’s Home

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County is most commonly referred to as UMBC. Located about 15 minutes west of Baltimore between the suburbs of Arbutus and Catonsville, the university has just under 15,000 students. Sciences and Engineering are among the highest-profile programs at UMBC, with over 50 undergraduate majors and more than 60 graduate programs in total.

The university was established in 1966 and is a sister institution to The University of Maryland, College Park, as well as Towson University and the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore.

Lacrosse and soccer are the biggest sports, along with the amazing chess team. Chess has won the Pan American Chess Tournament 9 times between 1996 and 2009. Former team captain Alexander Onischuk went on to become the United States Champion in 2006. Lacrosse is a usual fixture on the scene and is a common sight in the NCAA tournament. Men’s soccer made the Final Four of college soccer, the College Cup, in 2015, eventually losing on the biggest stage around.

Basketball came behind a few other sports on campus. But on March 16, 2018, the Retriever team became the first 16th seed to knock off a number 1 seed, Virginia, in the NCAA tournament’s history. Now UMBC and the Retriever name are well known to many sports fans.

The UMBC Event Center was opened just a couple of months before that historic win, and it replaced the Retriever Athletic Center (RAC).

Food & Beverage 2

The Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena has extremely average food offerings. There are a couple of concession stands offering a small variety. The concourse is open and has plenty of space for additional offerings.

Atmosphere 3

The arena seems to be designed for concerts and events just as much as for being a sports venue.

The seats are designed in a horseshoe shape with a wall on the east end. UMBC has a video board on that end, but no scoreboard over the court. That seems weird to see, but is obviously a nod to the concerts and events also held here.

The college is often known as a commuter college. They have had more students living on campus in recent years, but students still do not show up in large numbers.

The upper deck is often not used, except for bigger games.

Neighborhood 2

There is no neighborhood around UMBC. The campus is located between the Arbutus and Catonsville neighborhoods of Baltimore County. Downtown Baltimore is roughly a 15 to 20-minute drive down I-95.

Fans may want to stop into some of the shops and restaurants that line Frederick Road in Catonsville for pre-game activities. Taneytown Deli (807 Frederick Rd) has limited hours, but it is the best bet for stopping before afternoon games. For adults, Jennings Cafe (808 Frederick Road) is a nice neighborhood bar. We also like Sorrento's of Arbutus as a nice option.

That quick drive to Baltimore opens up a world of activities and dining options.

Fans 3

The crowds are pretty loud for the medium-sized numbers that they draw. Over time, the arena and the fans have become a good boost to the team.

Access 4

The UMBC campus is easy to access, as it is located off of Route 166 / Exit 47B of I-95. You will be routed directly onto the campus without even going onto any surface streets.

Weekday games, while school is in session, may involve looking a bit harder for parking spaces, although it is doubtful this will be much of an issue.

If you venture around through the nearby towns of Arbutus and Catonsville, you will use area roads like Wilkens Avenue, Frederick Road, and Rolling Road. You may need a GPS, as these roads tend to ramble a bit.