Photos courtesy of Gregory Koch
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
Cardinal Stadium
4900 Bates Rd NE Washington, DC 20011
Year Opened: 1985
Capacity: 2,000
Fear the Catholic Cardinals
Located in Washington, DC, the Catholic University of America is the only pontifical university in the United States. For those who are unaware, a pontifical university is a college established by the Vatican and dedicated to the purpose of religious studies.
The CUA's athletic programs are known as the Cardinals and compete at the Division III level in the Landmark Conference. Catholic's basketball team plays its home games at Franny Murray Court, inside the Raymoind A. DuFour Center on the school's campus. The building opened in 1985 and also contains athletic offices and a weight room.
The arena itself was heavily renovated in 2017 with the addition of a new floor and chairback seating.
Food & Beverage 1
There is no concession stand open inside the DuFour Center. There are, however, some vending machines in the lobby selling snacks, drinks, and bottled water. A sign says not to bring food or drink into the arena, but this is ignored by everybody. It is likely referring to those who practice on the court itself. You should be fine bringing it into the stands.
Atmosphere 4
Franny Murray Court at the DuFour Center features several sections of bright red chairbacks seats along each sideline. You will be up close to the action no matter where you sit, and the small gym helps trap in the energy. The Cardinals have a mascot, who appropriately is a costumed cardinal, who makes regular appearances at their games. There is also a pep band which is quite large for the Division III level, and a cheerleading squad which entertains the crowd before the game and during timeouts, and leads cheers from behind the baseline during the game itself.
The experience at a Catholic University basketball game is on par with many small Division I colleges. That this is happening at Division III is quite impressive.
Neighborhood 4
Catholic University is located in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, D.C. This neighborhood is sometimes called "Little Rome" due to the large number of Catholic institutions. In addition to CUA, there are several other Catholic high schools, colleges, and other institutions, as well as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
There are certainly other places to go in Brookland as well. Busboys and Poets is a popular bookstore, coffee shop, and restaurant located across Michigan Avenue from the south side of campus. The Brookland Pint is a popular bar serving beer and burgers. The Brookland Grill on 12th Street is a more affordable option.
Fans 4
Catholic University draws good crowds for the Division III level. While the DuFour Center won't be completely full, they regularly draw several hundred fans to the small gym. The crowd is both knowledgeable and loud, and they are proud of their team. It is a good mix of friends and family of the players and some locals as well who have a connection to the school. As the Landmark Conference covers a small geographic area, there will often be a good number of away fans as well.
While the crowds will never match those at Division I, they are good for the Division III level. With the small gym and low ceiling, it can get quite loud in here.
Access 5
There are many options for arriving at the DuFour Center. There is a parking lot adjacent to the arena, and if that fills up, ample parking is available elsewhere on campus. There is a charge for parking, payable through the FlowBird app at $2/hour, which is not an unreasonable charge in the middle of a large city.
If wanting to use public transit, you can also take Metro's Red or Green Line to Fort Totten or the Red Line to Brookland-CUA. Both are about a 15 to 20-minute walk from the DuFour Center. Keep in mind there may be track work on weekends leading to delays or closed stations - check the WMATA website and plan accordingly.
Restrooms are available in the lobby of the DuFour Center and are generally a sufficient size for the crowds.
Return on Investment 5
Admission to Catholic University basketball games is $8, and although men's and women's tickets are sold separately, either ticket is good for both games of a doubleheader, should the teams play one. Tickets are digital only, purchased through the HomeTown ticketing app.
Parking is a reasonable price for D.C., and whatever food you buy from vending machines won't be more than a couple dollars. Overall, a CUA basketball game is an excellent value for the experience you're getting.
Extras 2
Look for the trophy case and Catholic University Athletics Hall of Fame in the lobby of the building. Each of them are worthy of an extra star here.
Final Thoughts
Although Catholic University competes at the Division III level, the experience at a basketball game here is still outstanding. You might mistake it for a small Division I value with the way the matchday goes. The crowds are great, the pep band is outstanding for this level, and a modern, spacious lobby contains many displays of team and school history. The DuFour Center and a Catholic University Cardinals basketball game can be a hidden gem for hoops fans in D.C.
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