Photos courtesy of Gregory Koch
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
Carlini Field
4900 Bates Rd NE Washington, DC 20011
Year Opened: 2019
Capacity: 1,000 (estimated)
Fear the Catholic Cardinals
Located in Washington, DC, the Catholic University of America is the only pontifical university in the United States. For those who are unaware, a pontifical university is a college established by the Vatican and dedicated to the purpose of religious studies.
The CUA's athletic programs are known as the Cardinals and compete at the Division III level in the Landmark Conference. Catholic's men's and women's soccer teams have called Carlini Field home since 2019. The stadium features an artificial turf field and is named after alumni Joe and Christine Carlini.
Food & Beverage 0
There is no food or drink for sale at Carlini Field, but fans are free to bring their own.
Atmosphere 3
There are several places at Carlini Field where fans can watch the game. Entering the stadium from the parking lot will put you on a plaza of sorts, with various patio-like furniture fans can sit on and watch the game. You will have to arrive early if you want to sit here, as it is first-come, first-served.
You can also walk down the steps from the plaza to a path, then walk down the path and up to a more conventional seating area. The middle section here consists of plastic chairbacks, while the two outer sections are metal bleachers. These seats will put you up close to the action. A scoreboard on the far side shows only the most basic information. There is space for it to show shots, but this was not working when we visited. It can be hard to read the scoreboard in bright light.
There is not much going on here other than the game itself. A Catholic University soccer game is a pretty basic experience, but the unique layout of the stadium brings this score up a bit.
Neighborhood 4
Catholic University is located in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, D.C. This neighborhood is sometimes called "Little Rome" due to the large number of Catholic institutions. In addition to CUA, there are several other Catholic high schools, colleges, and other institutions, as well as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
There are certainly other places to go in Brookland as well. Busboys and Poets is a popular bookstore, coffee shop, and restaurant located across Michigan Avenue from the south side of campus. The Brookland Pint is a popular bar serving beer and burgers. The Brookland Grill on 12th Street is a more affordable option.
Fans 3
Catholic University will draw about a hundred fans to a typical home game, sometimes more, sometimes less. A few games will get two to three hundred fans, while some will get only a few dozen. Most of the fans are friends and family of the players on the field, either on Catholic or the other team.
They are knowledgeable about the players, team, and school and can get loud at times, although at other times, they are barely audible. The regular fans all seem to know each other but are welcoming of others who show up. With people spread throughout the many areas of the stadium, it can seem less full here than it is.
Access 5
There are many options for arriving at Carlini Field. There is a lot next to the stadium with free parking, and if that fills up, fans can park in the much larger DuFour Center lot. However, this is unlikely to be necessary. Fans can also take Metro's Red or Green Line to Fort Totten or the Red like to Brookland-CUA. Both are about a 20-minute walk from Carlini Field.
Despite having CUA in the name, the Brookland station is slightly further from Carlini Field. Although the Brookland station is closer to the center of campus, Carlini Field is on the northern edge, putting it closer to Fort Totten to the north than Brookland to the south. That being said, the difference is so marginal that riding the extra stop on the Red Line to Fort Totten (if you are coming from that direction) would take longer.
Restrooms are available on the plaza by the entrance - the men's room is on one side of the building, and the women's room is on the other.
Return on Investment 5
Admission to Catholic University soccer games is free. Parking is free - a rarity in this city - and you won't pay anything for concessions because there aren't any. Overall, a Catholic Cardinals soccer game is a great value.
Extras 2
One extra star for the many vantage points from which to watch a game.
Look for the banners on the plaza honoring Catholic's soccer championships.
Final Thoughts
A Catholic University soccer game at Carlini Field is a pretty basic experience. Still, the stadium is nicer than most Division III soccer venues (and indeed, nicer than some Division I soccer venues), so there is tremendous potential for Catholic to take advantage of that. A visit to a soccer game here is an enjoyable and underrated way to spend a fall afternoon.
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