Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86
Jack Manley Wellness and Athletic Center 800 S. Rolling Road Baltimore, MD 21228
Year Opened: 1972 Capacity: 1,000
Cardinals In A Dome
One of the largest colleges in Maryland is largely unknown outside of the area. The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) has an annual enrollment of greater than 72,000 students. Created in the 1990s by a merger of Essex Community College, Dundalk Community College, and Catonsville Community, the new college kept each of those three main campuses, along with a bevy of extension campuses around the suburban Baltimore County area. The three colleges shared a common board of trustees for years but previously operated independently. Essex, Dundalk, and Catonsville have each kept their own distinct athletic identity.
CCBC Catonsville began in 1957, operating out of nearby Catonsville High School. The college is located on the site of the historic Knapp Estate. There is still the manor house of the estate, as well as ruins of various historic buildings scattered around the hilltop campus.
The school mascot is the Cardinals and they play ten sports. They are a member of Region XX of the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference.
The basketball program runs out of the Jack Manley Wellness and Athletics Center which also includes two additional basketball courts, five regulation volleyball courts, a four-lane 160-meter running track, and an eight-lane pool.
Food & Beverage 1
There are no food options except for some snack machines. There is a closed concession stand behind the seats and along one of the walls but it appears unused most of the time, although it does have a concession price list posted.
Atmosphere 2
There is a decent atmosphere under the Jack Manley Wellness and Athletic Center dome. The PA announcer does a good job, the fans are reasonably loud, and at the game we attended there was a cheerleader group offering some atmosphere.
The basketball court is a rubberized surface and not the preferred hardwood court. The court sits at the center of the arena, with even the small grandstand floating out inside the venue’s running court. There is a very large amount of extra space around the basketball floor. There is only a single set of stands opposite the benches and scoring table.
Neighborhood 3
CCBC Catonsville is a suburban community college with its main neighbor being the high school and nearby University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). You will have to venture a bit far from campus for any food or drinks.
Downtown Baltimore is roughly a 15 to 20-minute drive down I-95. Catonsville's main street, Frederick Road, is filled with many food and drink options. Nearby Arbutus will also be a good source of options. We like Sorrentos in the downtown section of Arbutus for a good sub or cheesesteak before the game.
Fans 3
The attendees at most games are family members or other athletes. There may be a few residents who attend the games.
Access 4
The CCBC Catonsville campus is easy to access, as it is located off Route 166 / Exit 47B of I-95. There is plenty of free parking on the campus. If classes are in session you may expect to park a bit further away from the dome.
Return on Investment 5
The games are free to attend. That, along with the free parking, means that you can attend a good-level JUCO program at no cost.
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Extras 2
Walk around campus and see the solar panels that have been added to many parking areas on campus. All of the CCBC campuses have added these and expect to get more than a quarter of their electricity from solar. This 5.1-megawatt project is expected to generate 6.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year and joins the 16.1-megawatt array at Mount St. Mary’s University in an effort by local colleges to expand solar usage.
There are many banners and plaques scattered around the Jack Manley Wellness and Athletic Center displaying the various personal and team accomplishments of Cardinals athletes.
Final Thoughts
The Jack Manley Wellness and Athletic Center serves as a decent venue for sports and classes, but currently, it is an outdated venue for any level of intercollegiate sports. Even so, the experience here is lively and fun.
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