Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
FAU Baseball Stadium 777 Glades Rd. Boca Raton, FL 33431
Year Opened: 1991
Capacity: 2,000
Boca Baseball
Though one of the most successful teams in Florida’s college baseball ranks, FAU rarely draws nightly sellouts. Despite this, their home field offers a comfortable setting, with the biggest draw being the affordability of going to a D1 college baseball game with the whole family while on a tight budget.
Food & Beverage 4
The food options are actually quite varied for college baseball and the price points are great. Nothing costs more than $5 which is great for a family or large group. At the high end of the price slider are bratwursts, chicken sandwiches, pulled pork, and fried oreos at$5 each. Next, you will find burgers, fries, chicken nuggets, and quesadillas for $4. Nachos, italian ice, and large bags of sunflower seeds run $3 while hot dogs, peanuts, churros, cracker jacks, and small bags of sunflower seeds run $2. Drinks range from $1 to $3. Beer will run you either $5 for domestics or $6 for imports.
Atmosphere 3
The smaller crowd sizes tend to keep the pumped up energy you would look for at a college athletics event on the lower side, but you still can get the place rocking with a few big plays on the field. The fans who show up are a good mix of students, family & friends, and alumni. The seating is elevated in the main grandstands, giving you a higher view behind home plate than most baseball stadiums where the first row is at or just slightly above plate level. The appearance of a water treatment facility in the outfield is a bit of an eyesore though, and depending on the direction of the wind, can bring a slight chemical smell to the air. Along the left and right field lines are two big berms that give fans the best view of the action, with the right field berm being shaded by big palm trees.
Neighborhood 4
Boca Raton is a beautiful part of Palm Beach County. In addition, FAU's campus is clean, South Florida-esque in appearance, and overall visually appealing. Not far from the campus is a beautiful strip shop that plays host to a P.F. Chang's, J. Alexander's Restaurant, Shake Shack, Whole Foods, Barnes & Noble, and more. Equidistant to the east of campus is the Atlantic Ocean. There, you can find a beautiful beach, as well as the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, where visitors can get a look at some of coastal Florida's natural habitats and inhabitants, thanks to boardwalks through the mangroves and natural butterfly gardens.
Near the beach, hotels are easy to find. What Boca Raton lacks in nightlife more commonly found in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, the area more than makes up for in relaxation. In addition, Palm Beach International Airport isn't far from Boca Raton, with Fort Lauderdale and Miami less than an hour away, as well.
Fans 3
The fans who show up tend to be sport knowledgeable, and the alumni who come are more than willing to tell you the stories of how the team played when they went to FAU. The lack of crazy rowdiness may cut back on the energy one may want in a college baseball game, but it also makes this a great place to bring kids without worrying about the words they may be hearing shouted at the referees.
Access 5
Getting to FAU is easy to do. Unlike several sports teams or colleges where the campus stadiums are miles away from the highway exits, FAU is quite literally bordered by I-95 in Boca Raton. Also, just a few miles west is the Florida Turnpike. Once off the exit from I-95, the FAU campus is immediately visible. Parking is quite plentiful, and even if you get stuck in a lot or garage that is a little further from the stadium, the walk is not very far and is through a beautiful campus.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets for FAU baseball are relatively cheap, starting at $5 for pre-sale and $7 for walk ups, with those prices rising to$12 for premium games. Group tickets can be purchased for as low as$1 each for groups of 50 or more. This low price point added to the low price of concessions means you get a lot of bang for your buck, especially when looking to take the kids out for a night of baseball.
Extras 2
FAU’s owl mascot wanders around the games from time to time, entertaining kids in attendance. The school also usually has some sort of giveaways, whether they be team posters when you enter the stadium or through games played in between innings with the fans. Finally, the stadium features a dog area for those fans who want to bring their furry friends to the game. The left field berm is marked for fans with dogs, allowing you to still have a great view of the field while being allowed to bring Fido along with you.
Final Thoughts
The FAU baseball experience is solid and simple, making it a great choice for families. The facility may not be the biggest or most opulent, but its affordability is hard to argue with. If you’rein the area, one should consider an Owls baseball game, especially if visiting another of the nearby FAU sports facilities for another game that same day.
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