Finley Stadium - Chattanooga Mocs
Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Finley Stadium 1826 Carter St Chattanooga, TN 37408
Year Opened: 1997
Capacity: 20,668
All Aboard for Mocs Football
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs play at the FCS level of NCAA Division I competition. They are members of the Southern Conference, which includes nearby rivals East Tennessee State University, Western Carolina University, and Furman University.
The Mocs have won seven Southern Conference football championships over the years. They have been to the FCS playoffs five times.
The Mocs are the only NCAA program that has the mockingbird for its mascot. The mockingbird is the state bird of Tennessee. The athletic program chose to shorten the name to “Mocs”, explaining its choice of the bird as a mascot because “it is known for protecting its turf, while showing spirit and determination”. The Mocs also include train imagery in their athletic programs due to the school’s proximity to the world-famous Chattanooga Choo Choo.
The home of Mocs football is Finley Stadium. It is named after W. Max Finley, the CEO of Rock Tenn, who was a UTC alum and a key backer in the building of the stadium. The stadium is located on land formerly occupied by a Rock Tenn plant. The field is named Davenport Field, in honor of Gordon L Davenport, another UTC alum and CEO of Chattanooga-based Krystal, who was also a major backer of Mocs athletics.
The stadium is owned by the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County.
Food & Beverage 4
The food and beverage program at Finley Stadium offers a mix of stadium standards and Chattanooga favorites. There are seven permanent concession standards and a revolving set of food trucks to meet the dining needs of Mocs fans.
Locally based concessions include Chestnut Bakes (pizza, popcorn, beer and sodas), Mac’s Subs and Fries (cheesesteaks, subs) and the MAX Grilleworks (hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, sodas, beer). Other local stands include Miller’s Lemonade, Kettlecorn Man, and Abuelita’s Seasons.
The Fort Finley Market is a grab/go format stand that features snacks, sodas, and beer. All concession stands feature Coca-Cola brand sodas.
Concessions prices are very reasonable, as the Mocs tend to try to keep gamedays affordable for the locals.
Alcohol is available at Finley Stadium for fans over the age of 21. This includes more than 25 domestic and local craft beers, canned cocktails, and wine.
Atmosphere 5
Finley Stadium offers a great gameday experience. It starts with all the tailgating experiences at the First Tennessee Pavilion, where you can be fed, fired up, and befriend other Mocs faithful. After the Mocs Walk and pep rally, it’s just a short walk to your seats in Finley Stadium.
Once inside the stadium, you’ll enjoy great sightlines, as the stadium has a very intimate feel, despite its capacity of just over 20,000. During breaks in the action, head to one of the very convenient concession areas along the concourse and check out the Wall of Champions, which covers the Mocs' long history of success.
Halftime allows you to take a break from the action and time to enjoy the performances of the Marching Mocs.
You can complete your gameday experience by visiting many of the nearby attractions available in the Chattanooga area. It is a compact city, with a wide variety of hotels, restaurants, and nightspots located just a few miles from the stadium.
Neighborhood 4
Finley Stadium is in the Southside neighborhood of downtown Chattanooga. This area offers plenty of entertainment options, several restaurants and some of Chattanooga’s top tourist attractions.
Entertainment options include Southside Social, Chattanooga Brewing and Naked River Brewing. Restaurants nearby include The Flaming Rooster, Pizza Brothers Southside, and Feed Table & Tavern. Lodging near the stadium includes the Hotel Kinley and the Hyatt Chattanooga Southside. Chattanooga attractions near Finley Stadium include the Tennessee Aquarium and the Tennessee Riverwalk. Erlanger Park, the new home of the Chattanooga Lookouts, is just a few blocks away.
Fans 4
The majority of the University’s fans live in Tennessee, making it very easy for them to attend Moc’s athletic events.
Pregame activities are centered around the First Horizon Pavilion, a 55,000-square-foot covered space located just across Carter Street from the stadium. Although tailgating is allowed in any of the parking areas, the pavilion is considered the main area to congregate before games.
The First Horizon Pavilion offers food vendors, entertainment, a children’s play area, and a team store. The Mocs football team arrives 2.5 hours before the kickoff and does a Mocs Walk through the pavilion to Finley Stadium. There is also a pregame pep rally featuring the Mocs cheerleading squad, the Marching Mocs band and the team mascot Scrappy. These groups lead the fans across Carter Street and into Finley Stadium in a parade 45 minutes prior to kickoff.
The student body tends to gather down the street from the First Horizon Pavilion in a zone known as the “Moc Block”.
Access 5
The home of the Mocs is easy to reach via I-24 or I-75, as they intersect in the Chattanooga area.
From the south: Take I-75 north out of Georgia, then get on I-24 West. Take I-24 West to US 27 North. Take exit 1 (Main Street). Turn left on Main, then right on Carter Street. Finley Stadium will be straight ahead of you.
From the north: Take I-24 East to US 27 North. Take Exit 1 (Main Street). Turn left on Main, then right on Carter.
On game days, fans can also use the free Downtown CARTA Electric Shuttle to get to Finley Stadium. This shuttle stops at multiple locations throughout the downtown area. The shuttle will drop off/pickup fans at the corner of West Main and Chestnut, just a block from the stadium.
Parking lots serving Finley Stadium open six hours before kickoff. There are 1,200 parking spaces in the Gold Lot, with four parking garages within a short walking distance of the stadium.
Pregame activities at the First Horizon Pavilion get underway four hours before kickoff.
There are six gates into Finley Stadium. Stadium gates open 90 minutes before kickoff.
Return on Investment 3
Ticket prices at Finley Stadium are in line with most FCS-level programs at General Admission prices of $22 Adults/ $11Children for General Admission seating. Padded Reserve Seating is $23 Adults/ $27 Children.
Parking at stadium lots (Gold parking) is $15.
Extras 3
Finley Stadium hosted the FCS National Championship Football Game from 1997 through 2009.
Finley Stadium also serves as the home pitch for Chattanooga FC soccer matches. They play at the MLS NEXT Pro level of competition.
Chattanooga offers a wide variety of attractions for a city of its size. Be sure to make your trip a long weekend to enjoy the many restaurants, nightspots, and other activities in the area.
Final Thoughts
A football weekend in Chattanooga should be on everyone’s bucket list. The game day experience is terrific, and there are loads of things to do both before and after the game. The scenery is lovely on a crisp fall afternoon. Best of all, Chattanooga offers a much more affordable experience than larger cities like Atlanta or Nashville.
