Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57
Jordan Field
65 North Harvard St.
Boston, MA 02134
Year Opened: 2010
Capacity: 2,500
Lax in the Shadow of the Stadium
Jordan Field opened in 2010 as Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium. It was renamed for Gerald Jordan, class of 1961 alumnus and graduate of Harvard Business School in honor of a donation to renovate the field in 1015.. Mr. Jordan, who played football at Harvard during his undergraduate days, founded the Gerald R. Jordan Jr. Foundation, which provides funding for Revere residents who attend Harvard. Today Jordan Field is home to Harvard’s men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse teams.
Harvard fielded its first lacrosse team in 1878, winning the first intercollegiate lacrosse tournament in 1881. The Crimson won 13 national championships in the pre-tournament era.
In the NCAA tournament era (since 1971), Havard has won four Ivy League championships, most recently in 2014. The Crimson have appeared in seven NCAA tournaments, most recently in 2022. They have reached the quarterfinals on three occasions.
Food & Beverage 2
There is a single food truck tucked in behind the bleachers to serve hungry Crimson fans looking for a bite to eat during the game. Chicken fingers and french fries are served here, along with a selection of snacks and drinks.
Coca-Cola products are featured at Jordan Field. A selection of adult beverages are sold at this stand as well, including Sam Adams, Corona and Coors Light.
Atmosphere 2
This may be due to the cold weather during Stadium Journey’s visit, but the game day atmosphere at Jordan Field was a bit less that what might be expected considering the big crowd present for this game and the close result on the field.
Much of the noise created on this day came from the stands, as lacrosse fans don’t usually need much encouragement to get into the action. The physical limitations of Jordan Field ensure that there’s not a whole lot of extraneous action to distract your attention from the field. There’s no room for a lot of extras here. A simple scoreboard in the south end zone provides score and time, music plays over a decent sound system, and the PA announcer provides game information and sponsor reads without being too over the top.
The game is the focus here at Harvard. That’s not a bad thing by any means, it’s just a little less than the norm these days.
Neighborhood 4
Jordan Field is located on the school’s athletic complex alongside its other sporting facilities, including Harvard Stadium, Lavietes Pavilion, O’Donnell Field and Bright-Landry Hockey Center. The complex is not located in Cambridge on the Harvard campus proper, but on the other side of the Charles River in neighboring Allston, within the Boston city limits.
While there is little in the way of attractions on the Allston side of the Charles, Harvard Yard is less than a mile away across the Anderson Memorial Bridge and up John F. Kennedy Street. Harvard Square, lined with shops and restaurants, is right here, too. This is hardly the bohemian center that it was in the days of yore, but there is no shortage of dining choices in the area. Stadium Journey recommends trying a burger and a shake at Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage.
The Harvard campus is one of Boston’s top attractions in its own right. Take a walking tour of the campus if you are so inclined, and take a picture in front of the statue of John Harvard, as thousands of others have done. Remember to rub his shiny shoe, it is rumored to bring good luck.
If you’re visiting Harvard from out of town and would rather explore the city of Boston, downtown is just a few miles away. Visitors looking to enjoy the working class charm of Allston and Brighton will find no shortage of bars and restaurants a short drive from the arena.
Fans 4
Harvard draws good attendance numbers for lacrosse, especially when you consider that they play in the northeast, where the weather can be really bad during the first couple of months of the season. The Crimson annually rank in the top 20 nationally in terms of attendance. A look through recent box scores show crowds of over 3,000 to be a regular occurrence here at Harvard.
Stadium Journey visited Jordan Field on a cold and windy afternoon in early March with a wind chill of 25 degrees. Still, a crowd of close to 2,500 showed up to watch the Crimson host Michigan.
Lacrosse fans are a different breed, and those at Harvard fit the mold well. They are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and vocal. Some fans are not shy about tailgating before the game, nor are they adverse to continuing the party once the game starts. No need to worry, lax fans are also very friendly. You can feel safe at Jordan Field, even if you’re sporting the opposing colors.
Access 3
While Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA, Jordan Field is located across the Charles River, in the Allston section of Boston. Also located here are most of Harvard’s other athletic facilities.
Even on its best days, the city of Boston is a difficult city to drive in. The best way to get to the Jordan Field is to take Storrow Drive to the Soldier’s Field Athletic Complex. If you must drive to a Harvard lacrosse game, bring along someone who knows the crooked streets of Boston well. Parking is located throughout the athletic complex, with small lots tucked into every available space in between the numerous facilities here.
The recommended method of travel to Harvard is the subway, or “T”, as it is called locally. The Harvard Station MBTA stop is a 10-minute walk from Jordan Field. Several bus routes also stop at Harvard Station. The 66 and 86 busses stop directly in front of the athletic complex. For more information, fares and schedules check out the MBTA website.
Jordan Field runs from southwest to northeast. Fans enter Jordan Field via an entrance on the eastern side of the facility. A paved walkway leads to the metal bleachers that run along the opposite side of the field. The bleachers sit atop a large berm, which raises them a good ten feet above the ground. There is a walkway along the front edge of the bleachers, so it is advised that you avoid the first couple of rows if possible. There are berms on three sides of the field for fans who wish to stand or sit and take in the action.
There are no permanent rest room facilities at Jordan Field. There is a row of port-a-johns behind the bleachers for fans to use during the game. With only one concession point of sale, time your trips for a snack wisely.
Return on Investment 2
Tickets to Crimson lacrosse games are sold as general admission seats for twenty dollars. Parking in the lots at the Soldiers Field Athletic Complex will cost you another ten dollars. Concession prices are also a bit higher than you might expect at this level of sports. If comparing the cost of a Harvard lacrosse game to other Division One lacrosse facilities in New England, a Crimson game is much more expensive.
Extras 1
The years the Crimson have won the Ivy League title and qualified for the NCAA tournament are listed on the wind screens behind the goals.
Final Thoughts
A Harvard lacrosse game at Jordan Field is just what you’d expect at a small Ivy League facility; a simple, no frills presentation where the game is the focus.
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