Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Waldron Family Stadium
College Ln
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
Year Opened: 2006
Capacity: 1,000
Mount Soccer
In between Washington, DC and Gettysburg, PA sits the second oldest Catholic university in America. Mount St. Mary’s sits on 1,400 acres at the base of the Catoctin Mountains. Shockingly the sports teams at university use the Mountaineers moniker.
The soccer team had been around from 1988 through 2012, when it was discontinued for financial reasons. In 2018, the team came back to the campus.
Basketball is one of the biggest sports at the college in terms of success. Mount St. Mary’s has had some success in other sports, most notably track. In the 1988 Olympic Games, Mount St. Mary’s athlete Peter Rono won gold in the 1500 meters run.
Waldron Family Stadium was opened in 2006 and is named in honor of Trustee Emeritus Eugene Waldron, and his family.
Food & Beverage 3
There is a small, but nice concession stand at Waldron Family Stadium. You will not want to have your entire meal at this stand, but if you are in the mood for $2 sodas and $2 hot dogs, then this is the right place.
There are some nice table seating options right in front of the concession stand where you can still watch the game action.
Atmosphere 3
The Waldron Family Stadium is a pretty simple facility with a few sets of grandstands on one side of the field. It offers a nice view at a nice level off of the field. There are seat backs in a few of the sections closest to the press box.
The field is an all-weather synthetic field turf that also is the home to women’s lacrosse and the university’s soccer programs. The stadium also offers great views west towards the rest of campus and the sloping mountains of western Maryland.
To be fair, the game I attended was a rainy, cold, messy affair. I have been to other soccer games at the stadium and they draw better than the one I attended, although not as well as the more popular lacrosse program.
Please note that some of the images in the gallery are of the stadium during a lacrosse game.
Neighborhood 3
There is nothing within walking distance to the campus. You will need to make a short drive into town to find any food or drink options. Emmitsburg is a pretty small town, but does have some interesting places that draw people to the area, besides just the university. The town is the home of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, National Emergency Training Center, and Emergency Management Institute.
Also in the immediate area are some very notable Catholic attractions. It is a Catholic pilgrimage site and is the location of the Basilica and National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton as well as the site of the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. A trip to the area demands a visit to the grotto even if you are not religious. It would be hard not to be impressed with the quiet awesomeness found here.
Nearby Thurmont also has some attractions of its own, including Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin Mountain Park, which contains the presidential retreat of Camp David. Just note if you are hiking in the woods and see signs to turn around or be shot, these are not jokes.
Frederick is about 30 miles away, while Baltimore (60 miles) and Washington, DC (70 miles) are the closest large cities.
Back in Emmitsburg, the best food option is the The Ott House Pub in downtown. This bar and restaurant is a great mix of locals, firefighters, and university students. The food menu will not blow you away but their wings, as well as their hot roast beef sandwich, will certainly hit the spot. Check to see if they have a local beer from Flying Dog Brewery on tap.
Gettysburg is 13 miles north. If you have time to visit the massive amounts of memorials and battlegrounds you should do so. Just plan ahead as crowds are huge at many times of the year.
Fans 3
The fans here at the Mount tend to be knowledgeable, smart and respectful.
Access 4
Sure, Emmitsburg can feel like it is in the middle of nowhere, but it really is not. There is a major highway, Route 15, which divides the campus. This route runs from Frederick in the south, northwards towards Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.
Waldron Family Stadium and the rest of the PNC Sports Complex is located on the east side of Route 15, while the main part of the university campus is located on the west side. A well lit and secured tunnel connects the two parts of campus. There is also plenty of free parking.
Return on Investment 4
Prices are fairly cheap with $8 for general admission. Those are bargain prices, especially for a Division I level sports team. Tickets are available at the gate on game day only.
Extras 3
Check to see if there are any other games in the PNC Sports Complex while you are at a game.
Check out the massive field of solar panel arrays that the university has installed near the athletic complex. The solar farm produces more than 22,000,000 kilowatt hours of emissions-free electricity per year.
The view is another extra. Although not large mountains, more like large hills, the mountains that the university sits along are very nice and offer great views.
Final Thoughts
Mount St. Mary’s Waldron Family Stadium is a simple, but well-appointed venue to watch a good level of soccer action. With extremely fair prices and good concession offerings this stadium is a must visit.