Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43
Doyt L. Perry Stadium 1610 Stadium Dr Bowling Green, OH 43403
Year Opened: 1966
Capacity: 23,724
Flying at the Doyt
Doyt L. Perry Stadium ("The Doyt") was built in 1966, and used to have a capacity of over 30,000 before the stands in the north and south end zones were removed to make way for the Sebo Athletic Center (north side) and suites for the boosters (south side). The venue currently has a capacity of 23,724, but was designed to add an upper deck, so more seats could be added on the east and west. The Doyt currently has the second-lowest capacity in the MAC, ahead of only Ball State’s Scheumann Stadium. Doyt L. Perry Stadium was named after the Falcons coach during the 50s and 60s.
Food & Beverage 3
Doyt L. Perry Stadium concessions offer all of your standard fare, including several brands of beer, which is a bit of a unique item at a college football game.
The main stands on the east and west sides have pizza, hot dogs, burgers, brats, and Italian sausage ($4-$5.50 per item), in addition to snacks like nachos, pretzels, popcorn, peanuts, Cracker Jack, and candy ($3-$5.50 per item). You can also find kettle corn for $2 up to $20 for a gigantic portion. Note that different stands offer different items, so try the next standover if you don't find what you are looking for at first.
Beverage choices include Coke products (in plastic bottles or from the fountain), bottled water, PowerAde, and coffee/hot cocoa from Tim Horton's. Drinks range in price from $3 to $5, and you can expect beer to cost $6.50 for 16 ounces. Beer offerings include Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Redd's Apple Ale, Smith & Forge Hard Cider, and Leinenkugel's Harvest Patch Shandy.
Atmosphere 2
Doyt L. Perry Stadium is a decent-looking stadium, with a few modern features, but it is not very big and does not draw a lot of fans.
Both grandstands have metal bleachers, except for a thin strip of chair back seats a few rows up all along the east, and in sections 11-17 on the west. There is also a section of the pink chair back seats halfway up sections 13 and 15 on the west, and these are much better than the others because the seats are spaced far enough apart to give you plenty of elbow room, so I recommend those. Note that the sections on the east side have even numbers, while the sections on the west are odd.
The band performs before the game and at halftime and does a couple of classic formations such as spelling out B-G-S-U. Also, whenever Bowling Green gets a first down, you will hear a recording of a falcon screeching. This occurs many, many times during a typical game, and is a unique touch.
You will also hear a small cannon going off after every BGSU score, and at the end of each quarter, courtesy of the ROTC. Bowling Green has a pair of mascots (Freddie & Frieda), but they are strangely absent for most of the game and seem only to make an appearance when the team comes out of the tunnel.
Make sure you pay attention during the game because the video operator does a terrible job with replays - a lot of times they aren't even shown, and when they are it is usually only once, and often from a lousy angle.
See a quick tour of the venue here:
Neighborhood 2
There isn't a lot going on in Bowling Green, Ohio besides the university, but there are a couple of attractions if you want to kill some time before or after the game, and there are some decent restaurants.
The Stones Throw on Wooster Street is a classic Irish pub that has live music on Saturdays, and drinks specials daily. Reverend's Bar & Grill, also on Wooster, is a little more traditional, but offers some unique items such as fried goat cheese cakes and plantain chips, in addition to classic fare like wings and burgers, all with religiously-themed names. Reverend's has a wide selection of regular and craft beers on tap.
If you need something to do before or after the game, there are a couple of attractions such as the Bowling Green Wind Farm or Simpson Garden Park (botanical gardens). The botanical gardens are open from sunrise to sunset every day.
Fans 2
At Doyt L. Perry Stadium, the fans who show up are loud, wear school colors, and are very supportive of their team, but there aren't very many of them.
At a typical game, the stadium might only be one-third full. The west stands are mostly filled in, but the east side is practically empty. With a capacity of less than 25,000, that amounts to less than 10,000 in attendance, so the staff needs to do something to increase the draw.
Access 3
Doyt L. Perry Stadium is right off I-75, about two hours north of Columbus, so it is easy to get to and the stadium can easily be seen from the freeway. Parking is relatively cheap at $10 per car, but it consists of grass fields on the east side of the stadium, which is manageable but not ideal, especially if it is a rainy day when you attend.
There are gates on both sides of the stadium, and the concourse behind the grandstands is very wide and thus easy to move around. Will Call for most fans is located on the east side, which is convenient from the parking lots, but there are ticket booths on the west side if you didn't buy your tickets beforehand.
Return on Investment 3
Depending on how much you pay for tickets, attending a game at Doyt L. Perry Stadium may be worthwhile.
Like some other teams, ticket prices for BGSU football vary by the game. Prices typically start around $19 for the sections furthest from the field but can get as low as $6 for certain games, or as high as $28 for the annual battle with nearby rival Toledo. The stadium never sells out though, so you might be able to find cheaper tickets through a third party. And, since it likely won't be full, you can always buy the cheap seats and move closer.
Extras 2
One point for the free giveaways at the entrances, such as BGSU rally towels. A second point for the chair back seats on the east side, possibly the most comfortable seats you will ever find at a football game, given all the extra elbow room.
Final Thoughts
Doyt L. Perry is a decent stadium, and BGSU has done a good job trying to modernize it - they just need more fans. More attendance would enhance the experience, so until then, you might want to save this venue for when your favorite team comes to town.
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