Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Alumni Stadium
26 Lang Way
Guelph, ON N1G 2M7
Year Opened: 1970
Capacity: 8,500
Gryphon Pride
In 1964 an amalgamation between the Ontario Agricultural College, Ontario Veterinary College and MacDonald Institute formed the University of Guelph. The modern post-secondary institution welcomes over 29,000 enrolled students and sits in Guelph, Ontario, between Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo.
The OAC fielded its first football team in 1950 as the Aggies and would eventually become the Guelph Gryphons. Typically a contending program, the Gryphons have brought home the Yates Cup as OUA conference champions four times (1984, 1992, 1996 and 2015) and the Vanier Cup as USports National Champions in 1984.
Home for the Gryphons is Alumni Stadium. Opened in 1970, and able to accommodate 8,500 fans, Alumni Stadium has seen a number of changes over the years to make it one of the best football facilities for USports in the country. The latest renovation included a football pavilion with the largest donation coming from former coach Stu Lang, giving the Gryphons a new wrinkle for recruiting. The University of Guelph does as much as possible with Alumni Stadium, and it is definitely a point of Gryphon Pride.
Food & Beverage 3
Alumni Stadium does not offer a distinct concession stand within the facility. However, the University of Guelph does create a unique “tailgate party” atmosphere on the opposite side of Lang Way during games. A number of food trucks are in the square for fans to purchase food. It is accessible during the game as well.
For the game that was reviewed, a Domino’s Pizza food truck and Mexican cuisine food truck were in attendance. There are also trucks run by UofG food services. They offer hot dogs, chips, soda, ice cream, chocolate, soft serve ice cream, freezies, pretzels and mini donuts. Fans in the tented business/accessible seating are able to purchase alcohol.
Atmosphere 4
The University of Guelph had done just about everything possible to make Alumni Stadium as good as it could possibly be. The main grandstand was built in 1970, but has been well maintained with a full on black paint job with a massive Gryphons logo and other red and yellow accents. It is not massive as compared to the huge stadiums in the NCAA, however it does have a presence.
The field is oriented from north to south and the grandstand is on the west side. Lang Way is west on the other side of the grandstand and is closed off for the tailgate party, which is accessible after passing security and ticket scanning at the north side of the grounds. One spot of note outside the stadium is Champions Corner. Located at the northwest end, outside of the grandstand, Champions Corner features an embedded plaque for each championship the Gryphons have brought home, across the entire athletic department.
A feature such as this is unique to Guelph and not found at other universities in Canada. On gameday, large inflated sock people welcome fans to the game from Champions Corner. A small play field towards the south provides some pregame activities for fans to enjoy. Also a photo op at the “Proud To Be A Gryphon” sign will complete the experience.
One of the player entrances into the stadium is labeled “Gryphon Door” sure to make Harry Potter fans happy. A temporary table selling Gryphons swag is a spot to stop as well as having a seat at the massive Gryphons branded Muskoka Chair should be done before entering the stadium.
Inside the field, the attention to detail remains with the grandstand well maintained with 33 rows of aluminum benches across five sections. The field is surrounded by a full running track, pushing fans a little further from the action on the field than is ideal, however, it is not a big deal. The east side of the field has berm seating, which should be open for the biggest games of the season.
The Gryphons also actively honour former players with honoured numbers on the east fence, visible from the grandstand. Players with honoured jerseys include Sam Benincasa, Mark Brown, Parri Cici, Steve McKee, Mike Hudson, Gerry Organ, Mike Shoemaker, Kyle Walters, Jeremy Oxley, Nick Fitzgibbon and Mike O’Shea. Although many schools honour past players in their athletic hall of fame, it is truly unique to view such honours from the grandstand.
Gameday also features a number of flags in the northeast corner for Gryphons who have won major awards. The northeast corner also features Celebration Corner, with a large bell. It looks like this is a new development and not part of the gameday production for the game that was reviewed.
The gameday production at a Gryphons game is not overly unique. The Gryphons mascot, Gryph, can be found roaming the crowd and interacting with fans and cheerleaders. The cheer team does help rile up the crowd and cheers from the sidelines. On Gryphon touchdowns, a student will run a lap of the track with a flag in tow, finishing off with 10 pushups which are counted down by the crowd and PA announcer.
Neighbourhood 3
Alumni Stadium is located on the campus of the University of Guelph, south of downtown. The immediate area is surrounded by campus buildings, residences and athletic facilities. There are Tim Hortons and Starbucks locations on campus, but for fans wishing to find something with more substance, they will have to travel either north or south. Some options that are not that far include Guelph BBQ, The Fat Duck, Bardo Guelph, Boathouse Tea Room or Royal Electric Bar.
There are other sporting options to be found in Guelph. The Gryphons field a full complement of teams including hockey and basketball, which are on campus, just south of Alumni Stadium. During the summertime the Guelph Royals of IBL take the field. However, probably the biggest draw is the Guelph Storm of the OHL, who play downtown at the Sleeman Centre. Other tourist options in Guelph included the Guelph Civic Museum, University of Guelph Arboretum, River Run Centre and the birth home of “In Flanders Fields” author, John McCrae. Across the road from Alumni Stadium is Cutten Fields golf course. For fans wishing to stay near the university, the Delta is a good option.
Fans 3
Attendance for Gryphons football is very elastic, usually with anywhere from 1,000 to 8,000 fans. Some factors include weather, and number of students on campus. The homecoming game routinely sells out, however a game in late August, like the one that was reviewed, will have limited support due to the students not yet being on campus. A Thanksgiving weekend game is also going to attract a limited number of fans. The fans in attendance are supportive and can get loud at appropriate times.
Access 4
Alumni Stadium is located at the north end of the campus of the University of Guelph, surrounded by Lang Way, Ring Road and College Avenue. Campus is south of Highway 7 and east of Highway 6 and it is not too difficult to get to, however, travelers will have to drive a bit through the city.
Parking can be found across College Ave, east of the stadium on Ring Road, or south of the stadium near the hockey arena. Parking should be free on gameday. For fans who wish to take public transit, there are Guelph Transit bus stops on College Ave and Gordon Street. Fans should consult the Guelph Transit website for fares, schedules and maps.
Getting around the stadium is not too difficult, however the stairs in the grandstand and accessing the washrooms underneath may not be easy for those with mobility issues.
Return on Investment 4
Gryphons football tickets go for $20. University of Guelph students are free, staff are $5 and youth are $10. VIP tickets run for $25. Tickets will be $5 more expensive when purchased at the stadium on gameday. Concession prices are decent and parking should be free. The Gryphons put together one of the best gameday atmospheres for university football in Canada and catching a game will have fans leaving with a sense they got their money’s worth.
Extras 3
An extra mark for the Gryphon Door.
An extra mark for raising the facility bar in USports football.
An extra mark for Alumni Stadium being the home for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL for one season while Tim Hortons Field was being built.
Final Thoughts
The Guelph Gryphons football program and their home at Alumni Stadium show that a USports football program can take a step to the next level and provide an atmosphere worthy of the school. Whether student, alumni, fan or visitor, taking in a game at Alumni Stadium will definitely leave fans with a sense of Gryphon Pride.
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