Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium – Huntsville City FC
- Richard Smith
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
Photos by Richard Smith and Clarence Yoder, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
3125 Don Mincher Dr SW
Huntsville, AL 35801
Year Opened: 2023 Capacity: 6,000
Home Of City
Huntsville City FC is a professional soccer team based in Huntsville, Alabama. It is the reserve team of Nashville SC and plays in MLS Next Pro, the third tier of American soccer. The team plays its games at Joe Davis Stadium, a former minor league baseball stadium.
Joe Davis Stadium hosted the Huntsville Stars of the Double A Southern League from 1985 until 2014, and also the Star’s successor Biloxi Shuckers (before they moved) in 2015.
At one point the stadium was referred to as "The Crown Jewel of the Southern League", but near the end of its baseball run was in pretty bad shape.
In 2019 the city planned to renovate the stadium into a soccer-first, multi-use stadium. The stadium's capacity was changed from over 10,000 to 6,000. On May 19, 2023, the stadium hosted its first soccer match, in which Huntsville City FC beat Crown Legacy FC by a score of 2-1.
Joe Davis Stadium is named after a former mayor of Huntsville. There is a rumor that Joe Davis himself did not like the sport of soccer, so we will just leave that tidbit right there.
Food & Beverage 4
HCFC Smash Burgers and Pulled Pork Sandwiches are two of the most well known food options at Joe Davis Stadium. There are, of course, many of the normal food options one would expect at such a venue. Getting food should not be a problem at the various stands around the venue.
Local favorite Yellowhammer Brewing offers many cool options such as the ABV Pineapple Punch, while there is a nice set of rotating craft cocktails also available.
This is the kind of stadium where you can certainly make a meal with the options if you so choose.
Atmosphere 4
The former baseball field has been transformed to a stadium with seats all around the pitch. The traditional grandstand seats from baseball are in one corner but a variety of stands, as well as a lawn area, have been added all around the pitch. There is a small corner section which has bleachers, but the rest of the stadium tends to have individual seats with backs.
There is a fun mascot named Marshall, who is a “cosmic” goat and is named after the nearby NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
Screens and other scoreboards can be found to keep track of the action.
The whole place has a very open/airy feel, with lots of cool places to sit. Being a "soccer specific" venue, it feels like you'd be right on top of the action from most anywhere.
The field is artificial so it can be used for many purposes, so some soccer fans may not really like that detail very much.
Neighborhood 4
Huntsville is now the largest city in Alabama with a population of over 215,000 people.
The area is home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command nearby at the Redstone Arsenal, The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), and the state-owned US Space & Rocket Center. The replica Saturn V at the center can be seen quite aways away, especially on the nearby UAH campus.
The Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment complex is an old factory and mill that houses numerous small artist studios as well as food and drink from options like the Piper & Leaf Artisan Tea Company.
Right down the street from the stadium is the large Back Forty brew hall, which is a great pre-match meet-up spot. For beer lovers, there is also the close by Straight to Ale brewing, Yellowhammer Brewing, and Old 5th Bar at The Stovehouse. The area is a beer paradise of sorts.
Fans 3
This still feels much like a minor league stadium, but a soccer one instead of a baseball one. What that means is that many of the fans come in groups or are families who may not be as invested as hardcore fans may be.
There is still an active supporters section and more serious fans around the stadium who liven the place up.
Access 4
Huntsville is served by several U.S. highways, including 72, 231, 431, and an Interstate highway spur, I-565, that links the two cities of Huntsville and Decatur to I-65.
There is a very large parking lot at the stadium so you should not have to worry about finding a spot. Leaving post-match seemed to be of no real concern.
The team does have a clear bag policy so check the team’s website before attending a match.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets start at a reasonable price around $10 up to over $60.
Parking must be prepaid by a link from the team’s website using the Clutch app. It is not the most intuitive app around so please plan ahead. The price is $11.95. One could park at the far end of John Hunt Park for free and make a trek over but it would depend if the hot summer heat would make it worth your effort.
Food and drink prices are a bit high, but that seems to be expected nowadays.
Overall the value is pretty good because of the reasonable ticket prices alone.
Extras 4
There is a J-2X NASA Rocket Engine which is a focal point in the north plaza / beer garden area of the stadium. Before the start of matches and when the home squad scores a goal it will appear to emit smoke and “celebrate” in its own unique way. There will be a group of fans at each match who are chosen to start that engine.
The team tends to lean into the “Rocket City” aspect of the local area. The night we attended was even Space Night.
An extra on its own is seeing how this former baseball stadium was renovated into a very nice soccer stadium. It no longer seems like a baseball field.
There is a very good team store that also offers online purchases ahead of time with free pickup at matches.
Final Thoughts
Joe Davis Stadium may be known to many as a former baseball stadium, but it now is known as a very fine soccer facility.
