Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57
John F. Coughlin Memorial Field
486 Chandler St.
Worcester, MA 01602
Year Opened: 1981
Capacity: 2,000
The Home of Lancer Football
Worcester State University is the fourth largest of Massachusetts’ nine state universities, with an enrollment of over 5,400 students in 80 undergraduate majors and 39 graduate programs. WSU was founded as a normal school in the 19th century before evolving into a state college in the 1960s, becoming a university in 2012.
John F. Coughlin Memorial Field is home to the Worcester State football, soccer, field hockey, and women’s lacrosse teams. An eight-lane track surrounds the field and is used by the school’s track and field teams. The stadium has been the host of state championships in several sports. Upgrades to the facility in 2019 saw the installation of new turf, light, and sound systems as well as a new scoreboard in the north end zone.
John Coughlin was the coach of some legendary Worcester State hockey teams. Under his leadership, the Lancers won the ECAC championship four times (1972, 1973, 1974, and 1977). The 1972 team scored 252 goals in only 24 games. Mr. Coughlin was also the founder of the Worcester Little League and was instrumental in the formation of the Worcester PeeWee Youth Hockey Association.
Football has been played at Worcester State University since 1969, first as a club team, then as a varsity sport starting in 1985. Today the Lancers compete in the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) alongside several other schools in and around Massachusetts. Worcester State has won three conference championships over its history and has played in seven bowl games, most recently in 2011.
Food & Beverage 2
There is a small concession stand near the entrance to Coughlin Field. This stand serves up burgers and hot dogs right off the grill, as well as assorted candy, bottles of Pepsi products, and water. It’s a basic menu, but prices are cheap and the quality is decent.
Atmosphere 2
The game day presentation at a Lancers football game is pretty basic, as you would likely expect at a small facility such as this.
Music plays over a decent sound system throughout the afternoon. The cheerleading and dance squads perform on the sidelines throughout the games but are difficult to hear unless you happen to be sitting near them. Scoreboards on either end of the field display basic game information. The PA announcer doesn’t bring a lot of energy to the proceedings, but that isn’t a knock against his work. His workmanlike delivery fits in perfectly with the surroundings.
Neighborhood 3
Worcester State University is located in the Tatnuck neighborhood of Worcester, a residential neighborhood known as a safe and quiet part of the city despite its proximity to downtown. The name Tatnuck means “up the great hill.” The school does indeed feature several buildings constructed on a steep hill.
While there aren’t many dining or lodging options right around WSU, downtown Worcester is only two and a half miles away. Located here is the city’s famous Restaurant Row, Shrewsbury Street, where dozens of restaurants, shops, and businesses are concentrated along a two-mile stretch of road.
Also located downtown is the DCU Center, home of the ECHL’s Worcester Railers. The up-and-coming Canal District is home to Polar Park, home of the Worcester Red Sox. Even though there are 14 colleges in and around Worcester, Holy Cross fields the only Division One teams. Fitton Field and the Hart Recreation Center anchor the facilities there.
More information about the city of Worcester and things to do around campus can be found here.
Fans 2
The crowds at a Lancers football game can vary greatly in size depending on the opponent, day of the week and weather. Most crowds top out at around 1,000 people, a respectable number for a school of this size. Stadium Journey often refers to crowds of this size as a “friends and family” type of crowd, as the majority of fans in the stands have a connection with the players down on the field. As a result, most of the fans are knowledgeable about the game and boisterous in their support.
Stadium Journey attended the 2024 season opener against cross-town rival Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The announced crowd was 1,150, with those numbers bolstered by WPI fans, who outnumbered Worcester State fans by a factor of two to one.
Access 3
WSU is located in the northwestern part of Worcester, about two and a half miles from downtown and near many of the other colleges located in the city. Detailed directions to the WSU campus can be found here. While most visitors to WSU will drive to campus, the Worcester Regional Transit Authority runs a “college route,” a shuttle connecting Holy Cross, Assumption University, and Worcester State University. WRTA’s number 2 and 6 buses also stop at the entrance to campus on May Street.
Coughlin Field is located on the western edge of the WSU campus alongside many of the school’s other athletic facilities, including Rockwood Field and Lancer Gymnasium. There is a parking lot to the north of the football field which is large enough to accommodate a typical Lancer crowd, with additional parking on the east side of the stadium. With the small footprint of the college, any point on campus is just a short walk away.
Seating at Coughlin Field consists of metal bleachers without backs in one large grandstand. All seats are between the 30-yard lines. There is plenty of standing room along the fence on the east side of the field. This is also where the entrance to the field, concession stand, and port-a-johns are located. Unfortunately, there are no permanent restroom facilities here. The school’s track circles the football field, pushing the grandstand further from the gridiron.
Return on Investment 5
Admission to a Lancers football game costs just five dollars, with seniors and students admitted for three dollars. Youths under 12 years of age are admitted free of charge. Parking is free in the lots adjacent to the stadium. Concessions are inexpensive, with no item priced more than six dollars. Make sure to bring some cash with you, as cards of any type are not accepted at Coughlin Field. You won’t need much.
Extras 1
There is a 50/50 raffle held at each game to raise funds for the other Lancers athletic teams.
Final Thoughts
Coughlin Field is a basic facility that suits the needs of the Worcester State Lancers football team well. What this field lacks in flash, it more than makes up for in value. Fans of small college football will feel right at home here at Worcester State University.
Comments