Jack Coffey Field - Fordham Rams

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86

Moglia Stadium at Jack Coffey Field 441 E Fordham Rd Bronx, NY 10458

Fordham Rams website

Jack Coffey Field website

Year Opened: 1930

Capacity: 7,000

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Moglia

Fordham University has one of the oldest college football programs in the country, having started it back in 1882. The school’s football squad, the Rams, currently competes in the Pioneer League of the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), and currently plays its home games at Moglia Stadium at Jack Coffey Field, which is located in The Bronx, New York. One of the Rams’ rivalries is with nearby Columbia University, located in Manhattan – Jack Coffey Field is only about 3 miles away from Lawrence A. Wien Stadium, home of the Ivy League’s Columbia Lions.

Jack Coffey Field opened in 1930 and holds 7,000 fans in a single grandstand on the north side of the field.

Food & Beverage   4

Jack Coffey Field offers a decent selection of concessions at its main stand under the seating, in fact a wider selection than you might find at similarly sized venues. Drinks include hot cocoa, coffee, bottled soda, bottled water, Minute Maid, and PowerAde, all of which cost under $5. Snacks include packaged candy, chips, popcorn, pretzels, and nachos with cheese, with snacks costing between $3 and $7, while main dishes include hot dogs, burgers, and chicken sandwiches. The main dishes cost up to $10, but are quite tasty and of high quality.

What sets the concessions here apart, is, there is a grill set up on the concourse, only a hundred feet or so from the main concessions stand, which offer a special item for each game – during my most recent visit it was bacon, egg, and cheese served on a hoagie roll.

Atmosphere   2

The Rams offer an average game day experience, including t-shirt tosses, games for the kids during breaks in the action (such as kids racing against the costumed mascot, Ramses), fun music played over the loudspeakers, cheerleaders, and a dance team. The Rams band is very small, and doesn’t play very much during the game (you can spot them in the stands easily thanks to their maroon and white striped shirts). I also didn’t see the band perform at halftime; only the dance team did. At halftime they also had kids from a local flag football league play a game on the field.

Jack Coffey Field is unique in that the school’s baseball stadium, Houlihan Park, is right next to the football field, such that the turf field serves as the outfield during baseball games. Thankfully the two seasons do not overlap, as there is no way both games could be played at the same time.

Neighborhood    4

There are plenty of restaurants and shopping in The Bronx, as you might expect, and much more in the wider area that is New York City. The closest major attractions are the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Gardens, less than two miles from Fordham University’s campus – further away attractions include Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, and many more. The state of New Jersey is right across the Hudson River from The Bronx.

Fordham University is a closed campus, much like a gated community, meaning you will have to pass through a guard gate to get onto campus; you will have to show your ticket to the guard, in order to be let onto campus for the football game.

One thing to be sure and try when in town is New York style pizza, or Sicilian pizza, which are two different things (Sicilian is closer to deep dish, but not as moist – the crust is fluffy, more like focaccia). Take it from me; real New York style pizza tastes better than copycat pizzas claiming to be New York style, and Sicilian is even better.

Another interesting feature local to the area are black squirrels, which you may not have ever seen if you are from the south or western United States.

Fans   2

The stands will likely be pretty empty during the average Fordham football home game, especially in years when the team is not doing so well on the field. Also since there is only one grandstand, any visiting fans will be on the same side as home fans.

Access   3

I mentioned above that Fordham is a closed campus, and you probably already know that New York City has a LOT of traffic. Depending on where you are coming from, it is possible to get to campus via public transportation, but that means a train first and then a bus, since there is no train station close to this area. You may be able to get a taxi to the game, again depending on where you are staying, but you will probably have to rely on an Uber getting back, since there aren’t many cabs in the area. The traffic will also probably be worse after the game (late in the day) than before the game (early in the day).

Note that since Fordham is a closed campus, a rideshare or taxi can only get you close, meaning a little bit of a walk to get to the stadium. Unless you are affiliated with the university, you won’t be able to bring your car on campus.

Return on Investment   3

Tickets to Fordham football games cost about $13; you can also buy season tickets for around $100 if you want to attend all the games. The experience is perfectly fine for this level, although I was disappointed that the concessions and team gear stand both closed at the end of the third quarter.

Extras   2

Jack Coffey Field has plenty of signage for the team, and the maroon color scheme really pops. There are also banners/posters along the wall surrounding the field, showcasing current players (at least there was on Senior Day, which is the game I most recently attended here). The staff also recognized former football players and cheerleaders during that game.

Final Thoughts

Attending a Fordham Rams football game at Jack Coffey Field is a pleasant experience, and the prices are pretty reasonable considering you are in New York City. You shouldn’t expect anything over the top, but on the plus side you can get really close to the action, and enjoy an intimate setting where football is the focus, and you won’t have to fight large crowds and long lines while at the game.