Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86
Alumni Stadium
100 Institute Rd
Worcester, MA 01609
Year Opened: 1914
Capacity: 2,000
Worcester Engineers Football
One of the oldest football programs in the country plays at tiny Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a school of just over 7,300 students. Founded in 1865, WPI was one of the first engineering and technical colleges in the United States. Today the school offers degrees in over 50 programs across several disciplines. WPI is consistently ranked as one of the top colleges in the nation.
After attempts to start association football (soccer) and rugby, WPI’s first American football team was fielded in 1882. By 1887 football was a varsity sport. Despite some early success by the team, WPI leadership refused to let the team enter a conference with other top small-college New England teams. Would WPI have been a member of the Ivy League if this alternate reality happened? We’ll never know.
Today, the Engineers compete in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) alongside several other small but prestigious area colleges. WPI has won three conference titles and competed in one NCAA tournament (1991) and four bowl games.
The Engineers football, field hockey, soccer, and track and field teams play at Alumni Stadium, which is dedicated to honoring all the alumni who funded its construction. The playing field has been devoted to H. Carr and Sons, a local construction firm headed by WPI alumnus James Carr. Renowned architects the Olmsted Brothers were hired to design the facility. It debuted on November 14, 1914, with a 14-0 victory over the RPI Engineers.
Food & Beverage 2
There is a small concession stand at the north end of the stadium, located at the entrance to the parking garage. A limited menu, including pizza slices, assorted snacks, and drinks, is sold here. On the plus side, no item costs more than four dollars. All proceeds raised by the snack bar benefit the other WPI athletic teams that work the stand.
Atmosphere 2
The atmosphere at a WPI football game is typical of what you will find at other small facilities in the area. This is a laid-back, reserved experience, one that is very appropriate for a school known for its engineering programs. Even though this is hardly a rowdy scene, all the elements are in place at Alumni Stadium.
The school’s pep band and cheerleading squad highlight the festivities, with the band providing all the music throughout the game. Those fans who arrive early might be surprised to hear that the music of choice blaring out of the speakers is metal. The sound system is of good quality, providing clear sound to the fans sitting in the bleachers. During the game, the PA announcer does his job in a workmanlike fashion. Over-the-top shenanigans just wouldn’t fit in here. A small scoreboard in the south end zone provides basic game information.
Neighborhood 4
WPI is located on Boynton Hill and is self-contained and separated from the adjacent neighborhood. Institute Park borders the campus on the north side. Adjacent to the park are several notable restaurants, including Fix Burger Bar, Ralph’s Diner, and the Oak Barrel Tavern. Lodging options close to campus in the downtown area include Hampton Inn and Suites and Courtyard Worcester. The Worcester Art Museum and the Salisbury Mansion are located on the school’s campus.
Fans looking for dining or shopping options on the residential south side of campus can head to nearby Highland Avenue, where The Boynton and Sole Proprietor highlight the local offerings. Downtown Worcester and Shrewsbury Street, home of Worcester’s legendary “Restaurant Row,” are just over a mile from campus.
Fans looking for sporting options in Worcester can check out the DCU Center, home of the ECHL’s Railers or Polar Park, home of the AAA Red Sox. There are 14 colleges in and around the city, but Holy Cross is the city’s only Division One program. Among the facilities, there are Fitton Field and the Hart Recreation Center.
Fans 3
WPI draws impressive crowds to their games at Alumni Stadium, particularly when compared to other D-3 schools in the area. Announced crowds often surpass 1,500 fans. Stadium Journey attended the Engineers’ 2024 home opener on a beautiful September Friday night, with an announced crowd of 1,848 in attendance. This figure feels entirely accurate.
In addition to drawing a large number of locals and alumni, there is a very good turnout from the student body, many of whom gather on the large berm on the east side of the field. You can be certain to see a good number of opposing fans in the stands, as the Engineers’ schedule is filled with local squads. The only thing holding back this score is that this crowd is fairly quiet and restrained, despite the personal connections many of the fans have with the players on the field.
Access 3
Alumni Stadium is located on the western edge of the WPI campus, alongside the school’s other athletic facilities, including Harrington Auditorium. WPI sits atop Boynton Hill, just a short drive from downtown Worcester. Driving is the primary method to arrive at WPI, as Interstate 290, which bisects the city, runs just a mile from campus. Fans using public transportation can take Worcester Regional Transit Authority’s 31 or 825 busses, which both run along Park Avenue behind the stadium.
Parking is located on the north end of the facility in a garage underneath the Rooftop Fields Complex. The garage is more than large enough to handle a typical Engineer football crowd. If you wish to avoid the garage, there is on-street parking in the neighborhood. Strangely, also located in the parking garage is the concession stand and visiting locker room.
Be aware that there is a security check in effect before entering Alumni Stadium. Fans can bring in a sealed bottle of water, but bags are not allowed. All seating at Alumni Stadium consists of a large grandstand on the west side of the field. Metal bleachers without backs stretch virtually the entire length of the field, giving fans plenty of good vantagepoints. A standing room is available on either end of the grandstand. The large hill on the east side of the field is a popular place for students to hang out, particularly when there’s a large crowd in attendance.
Restrooms are located in the WPI Sports and Recreation Center in the northeast corner of the facility. The restrooms are far from the grandstand and are very small, so plan your trip there wisely. Also, when you leave the bathroom, you’ll need to go back through the security check in the parking garage to re-enter the game. I guess WPI security is concerned with fans stealing toilet paper from the bathrooms.
Return on Investment 5
Tickets to WPI football games are sold as general admission for five dollars. However, since you need to purchase the tickets online through Hometown Tickets, they end up costing $6.49. Parking in the garage adjacent to Alumni Stadium is free. No item at the concession stand costs more than four dollars. All in all, a trip to see the Engineers is a very affordable entertainment option for central Massachusetts sports fans.
Extras 1
WPI is one of two colleges in the nation that has a goat for a mascot. Gompei the goat, named for Gompei Kuwada, a member of the class of 1893 and the school’s first goatherder, is immortalized in two statues on campus. One, of a charging goat, is located near the entrance to Alumni Stadium. The other statue, The Proud Goat, can often be seen wearing a sweater in the winter.
Photo Courtesy of Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Final Thoughts
Many people fail to realize that Worcester is the second-largest city in all of New England. There are 14 colleges located in and around the city. One of the most fabled of these institutions is Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Alumni Stadium has served as a solid home for the Engineers football team for over a century.
Comments