Photos by Gregory Koch Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Hesse Field on the Great Lawn 107 Larchwood Ave West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Year Opened: 1993
Capacity: 1,000 (estimated)
Soccer on Daddy Warbucks' Great Lawn
Located just a mile from the Atlantic Ocean and 50 miles from New York City, Monmouth University is right in the heart of New Jersey. Hesse Field on the Great Lawn is located on Monmouth's campus and is home to the Hawks' men's and women's soccer teams.
The stadium is located in the shadow of The Great Hall, a historic mansion that formerly belonged to F.W. Woolworth Company president Hubert Templeton Parson and his wife. Monmouth University acquired it in 1955 and it is currently preserved as a historic landmark. Movie buffs may recognize The Great Hall as the building used for Daddy Warbucks' mansion in the 1982 film Annie.
The Great Hall is also known as Shadow Lawn, and is not to be confused with The Great Lawn adjacent to it. Hesse Field is the soccer stadium located on The Great Lawn, which served as a campus quad surrounded by various buildings. There is an additional grassy area behind the stadium that is also part of the quad.
Food & Beverage 1
Concessions are sold out of a tent outside Edison Hall, behind the goal that will be on your left as you are sitting on the bleachers. The options are very limited here, with only bottled water, soda, and a few assorted packaged snacks such as chips, candy, and cookies. Fans can bring their food as well, and it is best to do so or eat before or after the match. The good news is that nothing costs more than $2, but bear in mind only cash is accepted.
Atmosphere 4
Hesse Field on the Great Lawn features metal bleachers along one sideline, on the opposite side of the field from The Great Hall. There is also a small hill on the mansion side of the field that some fans like to sit on. Wherever you sit, you will be up close and personal to the action at all times. A scoreboard to the right of the seating area also shows shots, saves, and corner kicks for each team, but the labels are illegible at night.
The setting on a campus quad in the shadow of a historic mansion does make for a unique place to watch a soccer game, and between the setting and the crowds (more on that later), the atmosphere here can be quite enjoyable. However, because of all the grass and trees in the area, there can be a lot of bugs flying around for night games, especially early in the season before the first frost. We recommend you bring bug spray, although most of the bugs don't bite and are just nuisances.
Neighborhood 4
Located just a mile from the Jersey Shore, there is plenty to do in the vicinity of Monmouth University's campus. Although it is in a residential neighborhood, the beaches of Long Branch are just a five-minute drive away. While these won't be helpful later in the season when the temperature of the air and ocean is chilly, it is extremely popular early in the season, over Labor Day Weekend before it cools off. Long Branch and West Long Branch offer numerous restaurants, serving everything from tacos to pizza to Portuguese. While it is more lively when the weather is warm, it can be nice to experience the area without the crowds later in the fall.
Fans 4
Monmouth soccer averages about 400 fans a game, filling the bleachers on The Great Lawn quite well. There are the usual friends and family, but also many locals, some of whom have kids who play youth soccer. College soccer is a bigger sport at Monmouth than at many other schools, and it has an accordingly large fan base. While you don't have the roar of the crowd you might see at a professional soccer venue, the fan spirit is quite good for this level.
Access 3
Monmouth University is about 15 minutes off the Garden State Parkway via Exit 105 or a 90-minute train ride from New York City. There is a small parking lot right next to the stadium, but according to the Monmouth athletic website, fans are not permitted to park here and must instead park in the main campus lot near Kessler Stadium and the OceanFirst Bank Center. home of Monmouth football and basketball respectively. Parking is free as long as there is not an event at either of those venues. If there is, refer to their respective parking policies.
You will want to park as close to the basketball arena as possible, then walk under one of the breezeways that connect the buildings along the academic quad. Turn to your left and walk around Edison Hall (or cut through it you can) and Hesse Field on the Great Lawn will be up ahead on your right. It is about a five-minute walk in total.
All that being said, we did observe some fans parking in the lot adjacent to the stadium, and they did not seem to encounter any sort of problems. Park here at your own risk, or use the main lot and walk if you want to avoid any potential trouble.
Restrooms are available in Edison Hall. Enter through the door near the concession tent. Note that players also use these doors to get to or from the field, so if they are entering or exiting (such as at halftime), you will need to wait for them to do so.
Return on Investment 5
Admission to Monmouth regular season soccer games is free, parking is typically free as long as nothing else is going on, and concessions are quite affordable, albeit very limited. With the gorgeous campus settings and great crowds, a Monmouth soccer game is an excellent value.
Extras 2
One bonus star here for the setting of the stadium next to a historic mansion.
A second star for the banners behind one goal honoring Monmouth's conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.
Final Thoughts
Hesse Field on the Great Lawn is in a location that is truly worthy of its name. The Monmouth soccer program has built up some loyal fans over the years, and between the crowds and the setting, a Monmouth soccer game on The Great Lawn is a great way to spend a fall afternoon or evening.
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