Warrior Field - Waterloo Warriors
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Warrior Field
220 Columbia Street West
Waterloo, ON N2L 0A1
Stadium opened: 2009
Capacity: 1,700/5,700
Black and Yellow…
Although the Waterloo Warriors have been playing Canadian university football since 1957, they are one of only six teams in the country that has not been to a Vanier Cup. The fight continues at Warrior Field. Although the Warriors have tasted some success, including Yates Cup Championships in 1997 and 1999, the Warriors have had strings where there has not been much winning on the field. They had a stretch where they failed to make the playoffs from 2004 to 2017 and last had a season with more than four wins in 1998. Even through the tenure of their only Hec Crighton Award winner, Tre Ford in 2021, the Warriors were unable to make it to the next level.
At one time, the former Seagram Stadium, built in 1958, was owned by the University of Waterloo. It was given to the City of Waterloo in 1974 and remained home for the Warriors. In 1992 it was taken over by Wilfrid Laurier University and renovated. This left a less than desirable situation where Waterloo played at the home of their biggest rival. Coach Dennis McPhee pushed the university to build their own home, on campus. Warrior Field opened in 2009 giving Waterloo a home of its own. The latest renovation is the opening of the Feridun Hamdullahpur Field House, which towers over Warrior Field and adds to the atmosphere.
Food & Beverage 2
Concessions at Warrior Field are pretty restricted. University of Waterloo Food Services is on location and provides basic concession options including hot dogs, sausage and burgers. Vegetarian options are also available. Soda and water can also be found at the main tent. Domino’s Pizza also has a presence at the game. Warrior Field provides just enough to get by, however for fans looking for something more, looking elsewhere before or after the game would be the best idea.
Atmosphere 3
Warrior Field provides a very simple structure in a wide open part of campus. Located as part of the Columbia IceField athletic complex, north of Columbia Street, Warrior Field is not an imposing structure. The turf field runs from east to west with a simple aluminum bleacher seating structure on the north side and berm seating on the south side. The most notable feature of the field would be the Feridun Hamdullahpur Field House, which towers over the field, with a large Warriors logo on the facade. The Field House provides washroom facilities and a ticketing office. The simple, digital scoreboard is at the west end of the field along with the flag poles. Warrior Field has a bit of a natural feel to it as it is surrounded by plenty of mature trees.
The Columbia IceField, which is attached to the Field House, offers other athletic facilities as well as the football offices. Outside of the football office, fans can find the Warrior Football Ring of Honour, which includes such Warrior football greats as Mike Bradley, Tom Chartier, John Shoniker and Dave “Tuffy” Knight. It is unfortunate that these honours are hidden away from regular fans and it is not possible to see this on gameday. Also, it would be beneficial for the Warriors to erect flags or banners commemorating the 1997 and 1999 Yates Cup Championships that the Warriors earned. The Warriors have dedicated a rock near the players’ entrance to former Warrior Lam Diing who was fatally stabbed in 2018.
The gameday presentation is fairly consistent with what fans would expect from any OUA football game. The Warriors enter the field from the northeast corner, running through an inflated Warrior helmet. The Waterloo mascot, King Warrior often joins the Warrior cheerleading team on the sidelines. Select games will also bring out the small, but committed Warrior Band to provide music at the east end of the grandstand. The sound system has seen some improvements and announcements by the PA announcer are now easier to hear.
Neighbourhood 4
Two universities, University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, within the vicinity of Warrior Field make the surrounding neighbourhood very interesting.
The University of Waterloo is an urban campus so there are many nearby options. For the most variety, head over to University Ave and select from a plethora of locales and cuisines. Some spots you may want to check out will include Mel’s Diner, Molly Bloom’s and Williams Fresh Cafe. The Bomber is within walking distance of Warrior Field and is the campus pub. The other option would be to head up to King Street where Morty’s Pub is the best among a list of options.
If it is possible to see the Warriors play in the late fall, then celebrating Oktoberfest may be a possibility. The largest North American Bavarian festival brings thousands into town and is a highlight for many of the locals. There are a huge number of events for all ages and not something to miss. Otherwise, a Saturday afternoon Warriors game can lead into a great evening of jazz at The Jazz Room at the Huether Hotel, close to Uptown Waterloo.
On the campus of Waterloo, the Physical Activities Complex plays host to the Warriors basketball team and Columbia IceField is home to the Warriors hockey team. A short walk across campus leads to the campus of Wilfrid Laurier. The former home of Warriors football is now Knight-Newbrough Field at University Stadium and is home to the Laurier Golden Hawks. The WLU Athletic Complex is home to Golden Hawks basketball and nearby Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex is home to the Laurier hockey teams. Across town in Kitchener, visiting fans will most definitely want to catch a Kitchener Rangers hockey game at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
If you are looking for a place to stay in town, Delta Hotels Waterloo is a good option.
Fans 3
USports is guilty of some sporadic attendance reporting. At the time of this review, the first game of 2026, the Warriors welcomed 812 fans to Warrior Field. This game was also before the students were due to arrive at campus for the fall semester. The previous season, the Warriors did not report any attendance results, however they averaged over 1,700 fans in 2024. Attendance is elastic and will change with special events like Homecoming or a home game against Wilfrid Laurier, and weather can have a significant impact. The fans in attendance provide decent support, but there is plenty of room for improvement.
Access 4
Warrior Field is located at the north end of the campus of the University of Waterloo. It is southwest of Highway 85 and a pretty significant distance from the highway. To get to Warrior Field, fans will be required to drive through the city a bit. Warrior Field is on the same plot of land as the Columbia IceField. Driving through the main campus, between University Ave and Columbia Street, is not required.
Public transit options will be left to the GRT buses, of which there are a few that travel in and around the University of Waterloo. The Ion light rail has two stations within a 20 minute walk of Warrior Field. Check the GRT website for schedules and maps.
Parking is available around Warrior Field. There is a pay lot at the Columbia IceField and is predominantly reserved for season ticket holders and tailgate parties. Free parking is available on weekends behind the optometry building to the east of the Columbia IceField. There is more than enough parking if you give yourself a bit of time before kickoff.
The Feridun Hamdullahpur Field House houses a permanent ticketing box office. Tickets may be purchased right at the stadium using cash or credit with relative ease and a small lineup. The Fieldhouse is open during the game to offer permanent washroom facilities. The portable washroom facilities are now much more limited, with one remaining on the south side of the field.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets for the Warriors are very affordable with grandstand tickets going for $12 and tickets for the berm for $10. It is an extra dollar for each to purchase on gameday. Tickets drop to $8 for seniors and alumni and $5 for children. University of Waterloo students are free with proper identification. Parking can be found for free and concession prices are decent. The opportunity to see high quality football on a nice autumn afternoon is definitely worth the cost.
Extras 3
An extra mark for the Warrior Band, which has been running from 1966 and is advertised as “One of the Bands in Canada.” There isn’t really anything like it in the rest of the league.
An extra mark for the student-run nature of a Warrior game. The students run just about all of the aspects of the game, including radio and internet streaming broadcasts.
An extra mark for the rivalry against the Laurier Golden Hawks across all athletic teams. The Battle of Waterloo is better than it has ever been.
Final Thoughts
The Waterloo Warriors continue to provide a good atmosphere for USports football. Hopefully, the Warriors will break through and get to that elusive Vanier Cup and make the Black and Yellow proud.
