Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex - Benedictine University Eagles

Photos by Aaron S. Terry , Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57

Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex Benedictine Dr Lisle, IL 60532

Benedictine University Eagles website Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex website

Year Opened: 2005

Capacity: 3,000

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Eagles in the Sky

Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex is home to the Benedictine University Eagles football team and is located in Lisle, Illinois. The Eagles should not be confused with the Benedictine College Ravens of Atchison, Kansas. The Eagles compete in the NCAA’s Division III; their stadium holds 3,000 fans in a single grandstand on the east side – it was built in 2005.

The football stadium is surrounded by a running track, and the wider facility also includes a baseball field and softball field, so it can be used for multiple Benedictine Eagles sports.

Food & Beverage   1

Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex does have concessions, but only chips, packaged candy, bottled soda, and bottled water – they tend to run out quickly, however, and thus the concession stand may close at halftime.

Atmosphere   2

The atmosphere at Benedictine University Eagles games is okay; nothing stands out especially, but they do play fun music, and the PA announcer is a lot of fun. During my most recent visit, I noticed an issue with the speakers; there was static and fuzziness at times with the sound coming out. The band only has about 7 to 10 members.

As is common with smaller schools, there are lots of visiting fans here due to how close the schools in the conferences are to each other, so the visiting team can easily travel well. As such, during my last visit, the tailgating scene at Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex especially showed a ton of purple in the parking lot, rather than the Eagles' home team red.

The main issue here is that the grandstand is on the east side, meaning you will have the sun in your eyes for games that occur between noon and 6 or 7 pm; more so for mid-afternoon kickoffs. Two small areas at the top of the grandstand may provide a little relief, but not much.

Neighborhood   3

Lisle, Illinois, is located about 40 minutes west/southwest of Chicago; there is a nature museum nearby (on Benedictine’s campus) as well as a theater/IMAX. There are also plenty of restaurants and hotels nearby, a lot of them in Naperville, the next town over. There is also an antique mall in Naperville if you are interested in that sort of thing.

One of the local favorites in the area is Chicago-style deep dish pizza, and if you are looking for that, go no further than Giordano's – their pizza is so good we went there twice while I was in town for the weekend. Also, try their broken cannoli, basically a deconstructed cannoli with the cream piled in the center and broken shell pieces used for dipping; a lot easier to eat than the regular version, and great for sharing. I would not recommend Gino’s East.

If you aren’t feeling like pizza, I would recommend Italian beef from Buona’s, although many other restaurants in the area offer it as well, including Giordano's.

Fans   2

There are a good number of Eagles fans in attendance at Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex football games, but as mentioned above, you may see just as many visiting fans at a typical game. The home fans who are here, though, are very spirited – they follow the game, cheer at the right moments, and do not leave early.

Access   5

Getting to the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex is as easy as any sports venue you might ever go to. Located in such a small town that there is no traffic to speak of, there is also free parking right next to the football field. The concourse is shared with the baseball field next door, and there is plenty of room to move around.

There are tables on the concourse for people to sit at, as well as a giant lawn chair you can sit in; this may be a good selfie opportunity. There is also an elevator if you want to go up to the second level, although it can only hold three people at a time.

Return on Investment   3

Tickets only cost $10 for football at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex, which is a little higher than some other D3 stadiums I have been to, but is by no means exorbitant. Given the sun issues and the potential for running out of concessions, this is likely not a bucket list visit; this facility may be more for those who are Benedictine alums or friends of Benedictine players, or for those whose team is playing in Lisle that weekend.

Extras   2

The elevator is a nice touch; you rarely see those at such small stadiums, and the tables and giant lawn chairs are great amenities as well. The local water tower is also decorated with the school’s colors, which is always a plus.

Final Thoughts

If you are in the area and would like an inexpensive way to spend some time, or just love the game of football, seeing a game at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex may be just the ticket. Not a lot of frills, but a peaceful, no-hassle way to watch the game we all love.