Grady Woodfin Cole Field – West Georgia Wolves
- David Welch
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43
Grady Woodfin Cole Field Carrollton, GA 30117
Year Opened: 1967 Capacity: 500
We Run Together
The University of West Georgia, located in Carrollton, is approximately 50 miles west of Atlanta and just over 15 miles from the Alabama state line.
Baseball at West Georgia began in the early 20th century, shortly after the university was founded as the Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School in 1907. The program was eventually discontinued, but baseball returned in 1950 under Coach “Shag” Welch. That year’s schedule featured games against local junior colleges and Class D teams from the Alabama-Georgia League.
West Georgia made the jump from NCAA Division II to Division I in the 2024–25 season, joining the Atlantic Sun Conference. Before the move, the Wolves competed in the Gulf South Conference (1983–2024) and the NAIA Georgia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1974–1982). Though the program has produced only a handful of professional players, its most notable alumnus is Rick Camp, who pitched for the Atlanta Braves. Camp is most remembered for hitting a game-tying home run in the 18th inning against the New York Mets in a July 4th game, which stretched into the early hours of July 5th.
The current baseball field at West Georgia opened in 1967, replacing the original field where the school’s Humanities building now stands. Significant upgrades in 1991 gave the field its modern form, and it was soon thereafter named Cole Field.
Food & Beverage 1
The concession stand is built into the back of the grandstand and offers a limited menu: hot dogs and nachos with cheese sauce and jalapeños, plus basic snacks like chips, candy, and popcorn. Beverages include Coca-Cola products and Dasani bottled water. The concessions here will do in a pinch; there is just not much variety to be found. Alcohol is not sold at Cole Field.
Atmosphere 2
Cole Field has a simple, open design. Aluminum bleachers extend from just short of each dugout, with the central section covered and featuring backrests. A few fans choose to sit on the hillside down the first base line, or bring tailgating chairs to sit beyond the outfield fence. The sun sets behind third base, making seats on that side more comfortable for late-day games.
There is no video board to display player statistics, just basic inning by inning line score and ball-strike-out information. The overall game atmosphere is as simple as it could be among present day baseball experiences.
Neighborhood 4
Cole Field is centrally located on West Georgia’s campus, and backdropped by The Coliseum, home of Wolves basketball and volleyball, and surrounded by several of West Georgia’s administrative buildings; the location does help promote a college campus feel.
Cole Field is less than 2 miles from downtown Carrollton, which is sneaky exciting – it has several shops, restaurants, and a brew house. On weekends the area is frequently bustling with activity, from the local eateries to town events. Maple Street, which runs along the front of the West Georgia campus toward downtown, also has several restaurants along its length.
Fans 2
Typical attendance numbers run in the 200 to 300 range. Unfortunately, even with the stadium in the heart of campus there is not much of a student turnout to support the Wolves. Many of the attendees appear to be family members of the players, or community members with younger children.
Fans are supportive, cheering strikes and jeering called balls, but do not necessarily create an atmosphere that would create a home field advantage.
Access 3
The West Georgia campus is in Carrolton, in the outer reaches of metro Atlanta. For those heading to West Georgia from outside the immediate area, getting to Carrolton can be a bit of a challenge, as many will likely be using Interstate 20. For weekday games this can take more than a handful of patience, as Atlanta traffic is notorious for its unpredictable and uncooperative nature.
Once on the West Georgia campus, two parking lot sit across the street from Cole Field; the parking is just a short walk away from the venue. There is not much to Cole Field, either – wheelchair ramps access the grandstand on either side of the press box, while a single walkway runs in front of a seating area that rises up approximately ten rows.
Return on Investment 4
Attending a game at Cole Field is a wonderful opportunity for families to get out and take in college baseball at practically no cost. There are no tickets to purchase, parking is free, and concessions are reasonably priced. All-in-all, West Georgia baseball allows you to take a family of any size out for practically nothing – the primary investment is simply the time spent at the ballpark.
Extras 1
A plaque on the exterior of the grandstand honors Grady Woodfin Cole – Cole’s son, E. Woodfin Cole, was a major contributor to the renovation and expansion of West Georgia’s baseball facility. In return for his generosity, the younger Cole requested that the stadium bear his father’s name; the elder Cole played baseball at West Georgia’s predecessor, the Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School.
Final Thoughts
There is not a lot to Cole Field, and the university recognizes the limitations of the facility – they have been in the process of trying to relocate the baseball stadium to the blossoming athletics neighborhood on campus, but the process has been slow. Until the day comes when the Wolves baseball stadium is relocated, West Georgia baseball will be a bit limited in what it can offer from an overall fan experience. In the meantime, though, the Wolves baseball experience is a good, affordable family event.
Comments