Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
Cub Stadium 1600 E Tom Green St Brenham, TX 77833
Year Opened: 1987
Capacity: 6,494
Blinn Buccaneers – Cub Stadium
Tucked away in the Brazos Valley area in east central Texas is the city of Brenham – the city and area are known for three things: being the home of Blue Bell Creameries, being the county seat of Washington County (credited as the birthplace of the Republic of Texas), and being the home of the Blinn College Buccaneers.
The school was founded in 1884 and began fielding a team on the gridiron in 1903. As members of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), the Buccaneers have won the fourth most national championships in history – Blinn wore the crown in 1995, 1996, 2006, and 2009, and during the run to their last title, they were quarterbacked by former NFL great Cam Newton.
The school has also sent countless players to big-time college football programs, and many have gone on to the NFL. A small sample of players that have donned the blue and white of the Buccaneers (aside from Newton) include College Football Hall of Famer Michael Bishop, former All-American Dede Westbrook, and former Super Bowl Champions Quincy Morgan and Eric Brown.
Since the late 1980s, the team has shared a stadium with the Brenham High School Cubs, who are themselves a dynastic power in the state of Texas. This is a special place, so please read on to learn more about it.
Food & Beverage 3
As this is a high school and junior college facility, I would go in with tempered expectations for food and beverage options. However, what Cub Stadium does provide is pretty darn good.
There is one central concession stand located near the north end zone, where you can get all your traditional game day favorites, such as hot dogs (from Sonic Drive-In, no less), nachos, chips, bottled sodas, sports drinks, and water; all of those are very reasonably priced. The key thing Cub Stadium offers that other venues should copy, however, is their “Buccaneer Meal” – this combo allows you to choose a hamburger, two-piece chicken strips from Texas favorite Bush’s Chicken, or the aforementioned Sonic offering (plain or with chili and cheese), along with chips and a drink for $10.
Fans can also purchase snow cones and ice cream sandwiches, which pair perfectly with the early-season weather in this part of Texas during the early months of the season. Lastly, two more points that fans should be aware of before heading to a Blinn game – first, since this is a high school venue, alcohol is not available, and second, cash is still an acceptable form of currency to purchase your food and beverages at Cub Stadium, which is nice.
Atmosphere 2
Since Blinn shares the facility with Brenham High School, there are considerably more accouterments for the regulars than for the Buccaneers (it is named Cub Stadium, after all). The large sign on the press box reads “Welcome to the Prideland” and denotes the Cub's state playoff successes. There is also a Walk of Champions, highlighting Brenham's successes, leading from the clubhouse to the field.
With that said, Blinn does what it can to make the stadium their own on game nights. There are signs and banners with Buccaneer imagery throughout the home team stand, and there is also a merchandise stand near the home team entrance for fans looking to pick up some Blinn merchandise.
Overall, the atmosphere is greatly helped by the large and devoted fan base that attends games; more on them here shortly.
Neighborhood 3
Cub Stadium is located in the middle of a residential area in Brenham. With that in mind, there aren’t any attractions, restaurants, or lodging options in the immediate vicinity. However, as this is a smaller town, you won’t be very far from the stadium.
In terms of attractions, it all starts with Blue Bell – you can visit the creamery Monday through Friday. A visit will allow you to see how the beloved Texas institution is made, taste some samples, and visit the ice cream parlor to get access to even more of their tasty creations.
If you are a history buff and are looking to understand a little more about the history of the region and its importance to Texas history, the Star of the Republic Museum is located on Blinn’s campus. Its mission is to gather and interpret history and artifacts related to this chapter in Texas history. While currently closed for renovations, it should be a stop when it reopens in 2025.
Dining options abound in Brenham – a couple of options worth a stop include Pioneer Smokehouse and Weikel’s Bakery. The smokehouse is housed in an old train depot, which adds to its ambiance, but it’s the food that is the main draw. Serving all the Texas barbecue hits, the Smokehouse is renowned for its brisket and sausage.
Weikel’s Bakery, which has multiple locations in towns around Brenham, specializes in a delicious treat that has become legendary in Texas: the kolache. Fruit and/or fruit and cream fill these sweet treats that are great for breakfast, dessert, or whenever, really. Weikel’s has won numerous awards over the years for theirs, so don’t miss a chance to try them.
Lodging options are plentiful in Brenham, but not really near the stadium Your closest options are going to be Far View Bed & Breakfast Inn and Coach Light Inn Brenham. There are numerous other options, though; you are only going to be limited by your budget.
Fans 4
Attendance figures for Buccaneers games aren’t available anywhere, so what I have to offer up is purely anecdotal. What I can say about the most recent game I attended was that the home team stands were filled, and the vast majority were wearing Buccaneers gear. The fans at this game were also vocal and truly supported their Bucs. I was greatly impressed by what I experienced.
There is a lot to be said about being the proverbial only game in town – it lends to the atmosphere and increases the loyalty of the fan base, especially for a college team.
Access 2
Brenham is in one of the weird pockets of Texas that is not close to any of the major metro areas. Cub Stadium, for example, is an hour and a half drive from Austin and just over an hour from both Houston and Bryan/College Station. It’s going to take some effort to get to a Blinn Buccaneers game.
If you’re coming in from outside the state, your best bet is probably going to be flying into and out of Houston and then driving the rest of the way. There isn’t much in the way of public transportation in Brenham if you don’t want to drive, but ridesharing is still an option. Once you get to Cub Stadium, however, parking is plentiful.
Return on Investment 4
Alright, there is no other way to say it, but Blinn Buccaneers games at Cub Stadium are a bargain, like finding a diamond ring at a dollar store kind of bargain. Tickets for Bucs games are a paltry $5 per person, and parking will only set you back $0 – yes, free parking. For a team that competes in the postseason on an annual basis, you truly cannot beat that price.
When you couple this with the affordable prices at the concessions, Cub Stadium offers fans a great way to experience college football in a fun and historic setting while watching a historically great program in a way that won’t break the bank.
Extras 3
Blinn offers up most of the traditional ceremony involved in college sports – the cheer squad can be found on the sidelines firing up the crowd and giving a hearty “Aar!” (like the way a pirate talks) after each Blinn first down. The Buccaneer Band can also be heard playing before games, during breaks in the action, and at halftime. Also, the dance team – the Treasures – can be counted on to add to the entertainment and game day experience. Beyond that, the rest of the action and entertainment can be found on the field.
Final Thoughts
This was my first visit to Blinn, but I can assure you it won’t be the last. This was college football at its most pure, in a setting that I am imminently familiar with. While I’d never been to Cub Stadium before, it felt like I had, and that was serenely comforting.
If you’re a sports fan, I’m confident you’ll come away feeling the same. While it may take some effort to get here, I would encourage you to add the Blinn Buccaneers to your bucket list – I’m confident you’ll enjoy yourself the way I did.
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Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.
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