Woodsboro Bank Arena at the Ronald J. Volpe Athletic Center - Frederick Flying Cows
- Gregory Koch
- 11 hours ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Woodsboro Bank Arena at the Ronald J. Volpe Athletic Center 601 Blazer Trail
Frederick, MD 21701
Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 1,600
Moo-rvelous Basketball at the Barn
The Basketball League, known as TBL for short, is a low-level minor league basketball league, a step below the G-League, with 40 teams competing across the United States. One such team, the Frederick Flying Cows, was founded in 2023. began play in 2024, and plays their home games at Woodsboro Bank Arena on the campus of Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.
Although the quality of play on the court in the TBL isn't anywhere near the NBA, nor is it even on par with the G-League, the teams are independently owned (unlike the G-League clubs which are owned by their NBA affiliate) so the experience is often more similar to what you would see at the minor leagues in other sports. TBL teams often have zany uniforms, similar to what you saw in the NBA in the 90s, and family friendly entertainment.
Food & Beverage 4
There are several concessions options at Flying Cows games, and while the selection isn't the widest, the food is quite food. A food truck from Glamourview Creamery is parked right outside the arena, and fans are allowed to leave and re-enter to get food from the truck and bring it in. Of course, being a creamery, it offers frozen custard and floats, with slushies and a blendi (a mix of slushie and custard) also available. It does offer meals as well. Walking tacos, a prime rib burger (two beef patties with cheese) and a frenchie burger (with swiss cheese and grilled French onions) as well as grilled hot dogs and chili dogs are available. Custard will cost $5-$8 depending on the size and comes in a cup or cone. The burgers will range from $10-$13 but are delicious, juicy, and worth the money.
A selection of Glamourview Creamery products is also available at a stand inside the arena, including hard serve ice cream (different from the frozen custard they sell at the truck), and milkshakes, dubbed Milkshake's Milkshakes after the mascot. The milkshake is also fantastic and very rich, sweet, and creamy. We would recommend it to fans. The same stand also sells soft drinks, bottled water, and assorted candy and chips, including Milka, an imported Swiss chocolate bar. An adjacent stand sells ice cream cookie sandwiches made with Glamourview ice cream. The menu proclaims the ice cream and milkshakes to be "Udder-ly Sweet", one of many cow puns you will experience at a Flying Cows game.
Alcoholic beverages are available in a bar upstairs on a balcony overlooking the court, but must be consumed while standing there. They cannot be brought back downstairs. Many of them have cow-related punny names such as the Mooscow Mule.
Atmosphere 5
Woodsboro Bank Arena is a small gym on the campus of Hood College, a Division III school. However, the Flying Cows have managed to leave their own mark on the arena, something that does not always happen in these shared gyms. There are a handful of chairback courtside seats, with the remainder of the seating are being general admission plastic bleachers. You will have a great view of the action wherever you sit, as this is a small and intimate venue.
The team does not let you forget that they are the Flying Cows, with a mooing sound being heard over the PA system at big moments and the PA announcer unleashing a hurricane of cow puns. From telling fans to "moo-zy on down to the concession stand" for food to reminding fans of how udderly fantastic a Flying Cows game is, this will be a recurring theme all night.
During breaks in the action, the team holds fan contests on the court, including some quite unique ones such as seeing who can do the best Chewbacca impersonation and who can slide a mattress furthest down the court in a relay race by jumping on it and sliding down.. Kids really enjoy participating in these, and fans enjoy watching.
Just as you would see in an NBA arena (but unlike in college) instrumental music is played during the game itself over the PA system. The Cows have a mascot named Milkshake, who is a cow in a cape, as well as a dance team called the Cow Belles (yet another cow pun.)
Two scoreboards in the corners of the venue show player stats in addition to basic information such as the clock and score.
Neighborhood 3
The Hood College campus is located adjacent to a residential neighborhood about a mile from Downtown Frederick. Downtown offers a range of different options, from Maxwell's Burgers and Shakes to the popular brewpub Brewer's Alley. Francis Scott Key's grave is also located in Frederick, and history buffs may want to check it out.
Fans 4
Although the Flying Cows don't typically sell out the arena, they do draw good crowds,, particularly considering this is a low-level basketball league. The fans in attendance will come dressed in Flying Cows merchandise and bring their cowbells to ring during big moments in the game when they want to make some noise to urge the team to victory. The cowbells can get quite loud and contribute to the unique atmosphere at a Flying Cows game.
Some fans here are season ticket holders who come to every home game. Others are checking out the Flying Cows for the first time. As they are still are still a relatively new team, they continue to grow their fan base, but they have already developed a large and passionate following.
Access 3
Frederick is located just off of a major highway (I-70), and Hood College is located within a residential neighborhood. Parking is available in several lots on campus, with signage pointing you in the right direction to park for a Flying Cows game. You may have to walk a few minutes to get to the arena, but no more than that.
Entering Woodsboro Bank Arena will put you in a lobby, with Flying Cows banners high above your head and a team store offering cow-themed and team merchandise on your left. You will walk down to the end of the hall and go through the doors on your right to enter the gym.
Restrooms are available by the door you enter the gym through and are clean, spacious, and more than sufficient for the crowds.
Keep in mind the arena is cashless so be prepared to pay by credit card.
Return on Investment 5
General admission tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for children. Discounts are available on gameday only to military, seniors, and Hood College students and faculty with ID. Military and seniors get in for $12, Hood faculty for $10, and Hood students for $5.
Concessions are typically priced and are of high quality so you get good value for your money.
Parking is free as well.
The team store features low prices and regularly offers discounts on top of that.
Overall, a Flying Cows game offers an excellent value for a family-friendly basketball experience.
Extras 3
One bonus star here for the giant inflatable cow outside the arena welcoming fans as they come in and providing a popular photo spot.
A second star for the team store in the lobby, selling Flying Cows merchandise, including the ever popular cow onesie, a favorite of fans of all ages.
A third and final star for all the cow puns you will experience here. From the PA announcer unleashing them constantly, to the concession items mentioned earlier, to promotion names such as "P.J. & Moo-vie Night" and the "Moo-au", the Flying Cows certainly have fun with the cow theme.
Final Thoughts
A Frederick Flying Cows basketball game can be great fun for the entire family at an affordable price. While the quality of play on the court is not the greatest, that is of little importance to those who attend. The whole crowd has fun ringing their cowbells, rooting for the Cows, and taking in a game here. Fans of basketball, those looking for a family friendly entertainment experience, and even those who just like cows will all want to moo-zy down to a Frederick Flying Cows game for a moo-velous, udderly fantastic experience.
Comments