Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
L.R. Hill Sports Complex
4251 Powhatan Avenue Norfolk, VA 23529
Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 1,500
Old Dominion Field Hockey
Located on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, the L.R. Hill Sports Complex is home to the Monarchs' field hockey program as well as the women's lacrosse team. The Complex consists of a 1,500 seat stadium as well as an attached 58,000 square foot facility that houses training and weight rooms and athletic offices. Although the name "L.R. Hill Sports Complex" technically refers to both the stadium and the attached athletic facilities, this review will just focus on the stadium itself, specifically the experience at an ODU field hockey game.
Old Dominion is one of the most successful field hockey programs in NCAA history. Their nine national championships rank second only to UNC, although they have not won a title since 2000.
Old Dominion primarily competes in the Sun Belt Conference, but since neither the Sun Belt nor ODU's previous home, Conference USA, sponsor field hockey, the Monarchs have competed as an associate member of the Big East for that sport since 2013.
Food & Beverage 2
There is a small concession stand located in between the stadium entrance and the bleachers, near the restrooms. The menu here is pretty basic. Nachos, popcorn, peanuts, and assorted candy are all $5, with the peanuts coming in a fairly large bag from Texas Roadhouse. Gatorade is available to drink for $6, while water, soda, and hot chocolate are all $5.
Atmosphere 4
L.R. Hill Sports Complex has a beautiful brick architecture in the structures such as the concession stand and the training facility adjacent to the field. The seats themselves are a large set of bleachers without backs, which are pretty close to the field. There is no track or anything else in between, which is always a plus. A large scoreboard to the right of the bleachers in the corner of the field is also capable of showing team stats and video, including a pregame hype video to get the crowd fired up.
Overall, the L.R. Hill Sports Complex is one of the nicer college field hockey venues, both architecturally and in terms of the effort they go to to get fans engaged.
Neighborhood 3
The L.R. Hill Sports Complex is located along a residential street so there isn’t much in the immediate vicinity. However, if you head a few blocks east on 43rd Street to the vicinity of Chartway Arena, there are many options for visitors to enjoy. La Herradura is a popular Mexican restaurant, and Del Vecchios is known for its pizza. If you make the short drive into downtown Norfolk, you will find even more options.
Fans 4
Old Dominion draws a couple hundred fans to a typical field hockey game, which is slightly above average for the sport. The fans who do show up can be quite loud, although many of the fans in attendance when we visited were cheering for the other team. Still, the Monarchs have a good fan base, including a handful of ODU students, despite field hockey not being the biggest college sport. The two decades of Monarch dominance of college field hocky are now almost a quarter century in the past, but they still have a strong fan base.
Access 4
The city of Norfolk is accessible via many highways, including I-64, I-564, I-264, and I-664. The ODU campus is easily accessible from all of them. However, if coming from points north and west of Norfolk, you will likely need to take one of the bridge-tunnels across either the harbor or the bay. These can have long backups at times, particularly later in the season as summer approaches and people start heading to the beach. Be sure to allow extra time to get across.
Once you are on campus, parking is available in Lot 43, directly adjacent to the stadium. Parking is $2 per hour on weekdays, payable via your mobile phone. Follow the instructions on the posted signs, which will tell you how to pay. At least one fan parked in the lot when we visited received a ticket for not paying, so consider yourself warned. On weekends, parking is free.
Restrooms are available in the stadium around the corner from the concession stand and are of a more than sufficient size for the crowd.
Return on Investment 4
Admission to all ODU regular season field hockey games is free. Concessions seem a bit overpriced for what is offered, and the cost to park here on weekdays isn't ideal, but you can visit on a weekend to maximize your value.
Extras 3
Look for the posters and banners honoring Old Dominion's nine national field hockey championships.
The pregame hype video is also worthy of a star here. That's not something you often see in college field hockey.
A third and final star for the marketing table by the entrance with free programs and posters.
Final Thoughts
Although the glory days of Old Dominion field hockey are long over, the Monarchs still have a strong fan base and a top-notch stadium. While field hockey is still a niche sport, those who follow the game will want to check out the L.R. Hill Sports Complex at Old Dominion.
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