Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86
Haynes Family Stadium
University Dr
Northfield, VT 05663
Year Opened: 1921
Capacity: 3,000
On the March in Norwich
The Norwich Cadets football team competes in the NCAA’s Division III as part of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference, aka NEWMAC. Their home football field is Sabine Field at Haynes Family Stadium, which is also used for the university’s soccer and lacrosse teams, as well as occasionally for rugby. The facility was dedicated in 1921 and is named after a former alumnus who donated money to purchase some of the land the university sits on.
Food & Beverage 1
There is a food truck behind one end zone, with only four items on the menu – hot dogs, smash burgers, fries, and canned sodas. The fries are $4 and taste great (they are the thinner, crispy kind), but the hot dogs are overpriced at $7, and the burgers are pre-made, so they are not the best.
Atmosphere 5
This section is where Norwich football stands out – the school is America’s first private military college, and the student body of cadets makes its presence known at football games here. For starters, you can watch the cadets march into the stadium by company, with company banners held high, after which they participate in the pre-game festivities.
The march-in is something to see and is just as spectacular at Haynes Family Field as it would be at any other military school. It might even be better here, as the cadets at Norwich wear white, which pops nicely against the backdrop of green.
But the military fanfare does not stop there – not even close. The area around the field is also decked out with military paraphernalia, including a small F-16 overhanging the team gear tent. But by far, the most impressive sight is behind the far end zone, where you can find a propeller from the WWII Flying Tigers, an anchor, and a full-size (yes, you read that right) Sherman tank! What could be better than that?
Fans are welcome to walk up and get a closer look at the tank and other items and can enjoy snapping some photos. Note that these mementos are not just for fun; they are here to honor Norwich cadets who moved on to serve in the Air Force, Navy, and Army Armored Corps.
Neighborhood 2
Norwich is confusingly not located in the Vermont town of Norwich but instead is in Northfield, which is about 50 miles north of Norwich. The campus and football field are a bit off the beaten path, being a few miles from Interstate 89, the closest major highway.
There are a few small restaurants in town – an ice cream food truck down the street from campus seems to be pretty popular, but there are no hotels in town (the closest is probably 8 or 9 miles away, near the aforementioned interstate). There also aren’t any attractions nearby, mostly parks and waterfalls, although there is a history museum about 10 miles away. And if you are looking for something a little kitsch, you can find North America’s largest zipper in Barre, VT, about 14 miles from Norwich University.
Fans 2
The stands are pretty empty at your typical Norwich Football game, although the fans who are there cheer loudly and try to will their team to victory. I didn’t notice much traffic at the team gear stand, however.
Access 4
Depending on where you are coming from, it might be a bit of a trek to come to tiny Northfield, VT. However, once you get to the facility, the access could not be easier – there is a parking lot right next to Haynes Family Stadium, and you are allowed to re-enter the venue at your leisure if you need to walk out to your car, for example. Note there are no tickets, digital or otherwise, just hand stamps for all entrants.
There is also plenty of room to move around the plaza where the team gear store and concessions are, and fans are welcome to walk around the stadium to sit on either side or to take pictures of the tank or other military items on site.
Note there are no bathrooms inside Haynes Family Stadium itself, but there are bathrooms just behind one end zone in the armory building, less than 50 yards from the main stands.
Return on Investment 4
Norwich football is a pretty no-frills sort of experience, but they do have cheerleaders and a great mascot (he even has a saber). The cost is only $6 to get in, which is as cheap a price as you will probably ever see for a sporting event – this cost is well worth it for the military memorabilia alone, especially the full-size Sherman tank. My best advice, though, is you might want to eat before you come if you are looking for more variety or something more filling than what the food truck has on offer.
Extras 2
I mentioned the cadets and mascot already, as well as the military memorabilia, but another great plus is how close you can get to the action here. Some fans watch from the grassy area behind the end zone or stand along the fence that surrounds the field – either of these locations can make you feel like you are really in the thick of things.
Final Thoughts
Though a football game at Haynes Family Stadium is a no-frills type of experience, it is cheap and low-harassed as well – there are no big crowds to fight, and it is easy to move around. Some fans might miss the energy of 50,000+ of your closest friends cheering along with them, but if you simply love the game of football, you can have a great time here and see some great military artifacts to boot.
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