Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
Malcolm U. Pitt Field Lakeview Ln Richmond, VA 23173
Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 600
The Spiders Web
Located on the scenic University of Richmond campus on the edge of the city of Richmond, Malcolm U. Pitt Field is home to the Spiders’ baseball team. The stadium sits in between the Robins Center and Westhampton Lake and has seating for 600 fans. Pitt Field opened in 1975 and has undergone several renovations over the years. A new sound system and scoreboard were added in 2008 and artificial turf was added in 2015.
Food & Beverage 2
There is a small concession stand at Pitt Field located at a window on the first base side of the press box. The only things you can really make a meal out of are nachos ($5) and hot dogs ($3) but there are plenty of snacks available including typical items like peanuts and caramel corn and more unusual items such as trail mix. Soda and bottled water are available as well, with nothing other than the nachos costing more than $4 and most items being $3 or less. Credit cards are accepted, as is cash.
Atmosphere 2
Pitt Field has a rather basic layout of two sets of bleachers, one on each side of the press box/concession stand. You will access the bleachers from a stairway on the side furthest down the lines, while another stairwell on the other side will take you to an area where the press box and concession stand are. None of the bleachers have backs, but people in the top row can lean against the back fence. There is a scoreboard in the outfield which shows a linescore and other basic information. Most prominently, there is a giant Spider logo across the outfield.
The experience at a Spiders game is rather basic – there is the usual music between innings and as baters walk up, and the sound system is decent enough, but beyond that there is not much going on other than the game itself. This can be fun for some fans, but those looking for a bit more excitement like you’d get at a minor league game will be disappointed.
Neighborhood 3
Richmond’s campus is about 20-30 minutes from downtown Richmond, right on the edge of the city limits. In fact, as fans of rival school VCU will love to point out, only about half of the University of Richmond campus is actually in the City of Richmond. The other half is in neighboring Henrico County. If you head down Three Chopt Road, there are a few restaurants and other places available, but your best bet is to head about three miles east on Route 147 to the Carytown neighborhood which has far more options available. We recommend the Galaxy Diner and Carytown Burgers and Fries as your best bets.
Fans 4
Although Pitt Field only seats about 600, the bleachers can get pretty full during the game, particularly the ones on the third base side behind the Spiders dugout. Fans range from those who have been following the Spiders for years to little kids clearly attending their first baseball game whose parents patiently explain the basic rules to them as they watch. Fans can get quite into it, especially after big hits and defensive plays by the Spiders, and most of them stay for the entire game even if it becomes a massive blowout as it did during Stadium Journey’s visit.
Access 3
The Richmond campus is located a couple miles off I-64, the Downtown Expressway, or the Powhite Parkway, depending on where you are coming from. The first route is toll-free but the second two have small tolls. Once you arrive on campus, there is ample parking available in a large lot between the stadium and the Robins Center. Just keep in mind those spaces marked in yellow are within range of home run balls – park there at your own risk or park in the white spaces further away. Note that for early season games on the same day as a Spiders basketball game, the parking situation can be completely different so check the Richmond athletics website to confirm.
Once you’ve parked, however, getting to and around the stadium can be surprisingly complicated. You will need to walk down a small staircase at the back of the lot, down a path, and then up another small incline and staircase to get to the bleachers. To access the concession stand, you will need to walk down yet another staircase at the other end of the bleachers. Restrooms are located in a trailer behind the ballpark. To get there, you will need to walk out of, around, and behind the bleachers to the bottom of the hill, where you will find the trailer in between the back of the press box and the lake. The restrooms are single-occupant so you may have to wait for the previous user, but they are real restrooms, not Port-a-Potties. There is men’s restroom, a women’s restroom, and a unisex one if needed or preferred.
Return on Investment 5
Admission to Spiders baseball is free, parking is free, and concessions are affordable. Depending on where you are coming from, you may have to pay a small toll to get there, but this should not be more than a dollar or two. For a chance to see a live baseball game on a scenic campus with great fans, this is well worth it.
Extras 2
There are free programs in a box to the right of the concession stand.
A second and final star for the giant Spider logo in the outfield, one of the more unique nicknames in sports.
Final Thoughts
Although it only seats 600 fans, Pitt Field is just the right size for the crowd it draws. Although the experience the team puts forth is rather basic, that is made up for by the great fans who come to cheer on their beloved Spiders. From the youngest children to those who have been going to games here since the stadium was built almost 50 years ago, everyone can have a good time at Pitt Field.
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