S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field - Kennesaw State Owls
- David Welch
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43
S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field 639 S. Hornet Drive Marietta, Georgia 30060
Year Opened: 1951 Capacity: 1,200
Owls, Bring the Fight!
The 2025 season marks the return of collegiate baseball to S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field, which previously served as the home of the Southern Polytechnic State University Hornets; Southern Poly merged with Kennesaw State University in 2015, dissolving the Hornets athletic programs.
As the 2024 Kennesaw State baseball season came to an end, it also marked the end of Fred Stilwell Stadium – the construction of Mickey Dunn Stadium on the same site forced the Owls to relocate temporarily, 10 miles south of their main campus in Kennesaw.
The temporary move comes during larger transitions in Owl athletics; after nearly 20 years in the Atlantic Sun Conference, having moved to NCAA’s highest division after the 2005 season, Kennesaw State joined Conference USA at the start of the 2024 academic year.
Food & Beverage 2
Concession offerings at S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field are standard stadium fare, such as hot dogs, pretzels, nachos with cheese sauce, candy, and chips. Combo meals, i.e. a hot dog and chips, are available but offer no savings over purchasing the items individually. While the food might satisfy a hunger, it is likely not enough to fill an empty stomach.
Regular beverage options include Coca-Cola products, Powerade, and Dasani bottled water, while adult beverages consist of common domestic beers, as well as craft beers including Sweetwater 420, Hazy Like a Fox IPA, and the featured beer, the Kennesaw State branded Owl-In American Lager. White Claw seltzers and Long Drink spirits are also available.
Atmosphere 2
S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field was in a state of disarray prior to the Owls needing a temporary home for the 2025 season. The tarp of the outfield fence was tattered and torn, trees overhung the outfield wall, and the outfield grass was more a patchwork of grass and bare spots. A lot of work was done to bring the field up to collegiate baseball standards, and the results are nothing short of amazing.
The stadium itself is a very straightforward facility – there is no exterior structure to speak of, just an exterior chain link fence. The grandstand sits 8 to 10 feet above field level and is made up of a small bleacher segment of chairback seats flanked by aluminum bleacher benches on each side. A small press box sits directly behind the bleachers, behind home plate. Hillside seating is also available along the first base side of the field, but if you choose to buy tickets in that area, it might be wise to bring tailgating chairs for comfort.
The game presentation is simplistic; there is no videoboard for player stats or promotional ads, but rather just a straightforward scoreboard with inning-by-inning line score and ball-strike-out information just beyond the right centerfield fence. Also, mid-inning breaks are simply filled with music rather than any sort of ad reads or other interactive fan pieces.
Neighborhood 3
Kennesaw State’s Marietta campus is just off the intersection of South Marietta Parkway (120 Loop) and US Highway 41 (Cobb Parkway) that parallels Interstate 75, through the northwest Atlanta suburbs. The area is where chain restaurants and car dealerships begin to transition to the Marietta city center, which is just 3 miles away. Marietta Square is surrounded by several restaurants and highlighted with historic Strand Theater, much more of a town square than a downtown of high-rise buildings.
The backside of campus abuts the neighboring campus of Life University, which commonly hosts one of the nation’s top collegiate rugby programs at Lupo Family Field.
Around the corner from the main entrance of campus is the 24-hour Marietta Diner, which has been featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, while in the opposite direction, 4 miles to the south, is Battery Atlanta, home of the Atlanta Braves, which has numerous restaurants and recreational options itself.
Fans 3
Despite the move 10 miles south of Kennesaw State’s main campus in Kennesaw, attendance numbers at KSU baseball have remained consistent with years past, pulling in roughly 500 fans per game. As might be expected, the off campus location does impact the student involvement a bit; the fans are responsive to the big moments in the game, as well as the excitement shown by the players.
Access 2
Kennesaw State’s Marietta campus is easily accessible from Interstate 75, which runs just to the east of campus, as does US Highway 41 (Cobb Parkway). The main entry point to campus can be found along South Marietta Parkway, locally known as the South Loop. Though this is the ceremonial entrance, with the field at the back of campus, the nearby construction makes this route a bit slow going. The most direct access point is via Polytechnic Lane, just south of the 120 Loop on Highway 41.
Parking at S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field can also be a challenge – the lot adjacent to the field fills quickly, and other lots in the area are small and offer few spaces.
The main entry point to the stadium is located along the first base side, next to the campus gymnasium. Considering that most of the parking in the area is on the third base side, there is a bit of a walk to get to the main entrance. The hillside along the first base line can be a bit steep as well, making its navigation a bit tricky, and even more so in inclement weather.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets start at $7 for standing room hillside access, or $10 for general admission bleacher seats, and online ticket purchases have no added convenience fees. Concession prices are comparable to those at typical college sporting events, and parking is free, making for an overall affordable college baseball experience.
The facility accepts credit and debit cards only, so come prepared.
Extras 1
The Dobbins Naval Air Reserve base is just past the tree line, beyond the campus of Life University – like clockwork every day at 4 pm, Reveille can be heard, followed by the National Anthem. This does create a bit of a quandary; should fans continue to cheer during the middle of a play, or stand at attention until the Anthem is over?
Final Thoughts
It is nice to see a baseball stadium return to use that had its team dissolved, as Southern Poly Tech experienced, even if that return is by the institution that ended baseball on the campus. Though there is not much in the way of amenities to make the experience here more comfortable, baseball at S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field gives fans a decent backup venue for the Owls to use during their 2025 baseball season, without putting an undue burden on the program or its fans. Though it lacks the features now common even at the lower levels of Division 1 baseball, Kelly Memorial Field is a quality fallback facility that many college programs would be happy to call home.
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