Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
Esbjornson Gymnasium North Campus Drive Glassboro, NJ 08028
Year Opened: 1963 Capacity: 1,150
Glassboro Profs
Rowan University is a public university in Glassboro, New Jersey. Founded in 1923 as Glassboro Normal School, it was formerly known as Glassboro State College from 1958 until 1992 and Rowan College of New Jersey from 1992 to 1997. The university has an enrollment of just less than 20,000.
Rowan University has 18 sports teams. They are a member of the NCAA in Division III, competing in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). The teams are named the Profs (short for Professors, a nod to the university's 1923 opening as a school to train educators), and the mascot is named Whoo RU.
The most successful team at the school is the Profs football team, which is regularly a contender for the national title, having gone to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl five times (1999, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1993) and the national semifinals in 1992, 1997, 2001, 2004, and 2005.
Esbjornson Gymnasium, also known as "Esby Gym", is home to Profs' basketball, swimming and diving, and volleyball. The venue was named after Roland A. Esbjornson, a physical education professor, athletic director, and head coach of basketball and baseball at Glassboro State College.
Opened in 1963, Esby Gym was updated with new bleachers in 2008.
Food & Beverage 2
There is a nice concession stand in the gymnasium's lobby. Prices are incredibly cheap. You won’t want to make the limited options your main meal, but at the same time, your wallet will be happy.
Atmosphere 3
The venue is a pretty basic small college gym with seats on both sides of the court.
Many of the games, such as the one we attended, are doubleheaders with the women's teams so you may see many fans come and go.
When students are in session, especially during weekday games, there will be much more of a student presence which will make for a better atmosphere.
Neighborhood 4
Glassboro is a borough within Gloucester County, New Jersey. It is considered to be within the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
Glassboro is crisscrossed by several major roads. These include County Route 553, Route 47. and Route 55, while U.S. Route 322 (much of which is also Mullica Hill Road) passes from east to west. There is no current passenger train service to Glassboro but the proposed Glassboro–Camden Line, an 18-mile (28.97 km) diesel multiple unit (DMU) light rail system is planned to stop nearby.
Fans 3
The fans are about what you expect for a small college venue. The students can make it better at the games they attend.
Rowan is a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference which has all of its current full members are public universities in New Jersey (SUNY New Paltz will join the NJAC as a full member, becoming the NJAC's first-ever full member located outside of the state of New Jersey). This means that fans from other schools, and especially parents of the athletes, are very likely to be in attendance.
Access 3
Rowan is easy to get to, but since it is a major university you should research ahead of time your best entrance to the campus. If attending a weeknight game during the semester give yourself a bit of time.
We like to use the entrance near 500 Joseph L Bowe Blvd.
Return on Investment 4
Attending a Rowan game is about on the same price level as high school athletics. Tickets can be had for $5 at the door.
Parking is free but check on parking regulations, especially for weeknight, in-semester games.
Extras 3
The lobby is filled with cases of all the awards for the various Profs teams.
Rowan/s various sports fields are located right by the gymnasium and worth a visit to check out.
There are cool owl-branded tables in the lobby next to the concession stand.
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