Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
Segra Field 42095 Loudoun United Drive Leesburg, VA 20175
Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 5,000
Glory to DC
Old Glory DC joined Major League Rugby in 2020, playing its home games at Cardinal Stadium on the campus of the Catholic University of America. Unfortunately, that inaugural season was cancelled after only a few games due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March. Old Glory returned the next year, but moved to the suburb of Leesburg in Northern Virginia, about an hour outside the District. The team plays its home games at Segra Field, which is also home to Loudoun United of the USL Championship.
Food & Beverage 5
Segra Field has a wide selection of food and beverage available at Old Glory DC games. A few permanent stands sell an extensive variety of alcohol as well as soft drinks, bottled water, and snacks. However, for the best food selection, fans should check out the multiple food trucks parked on the concourse. Options may vary by game but there will always be three or four different trucks to choose from, all offering an excellent choice of options. Prices can bit a bit high, as one might expect from a food truck, but they are serving good food that is worth the price.
Atmosphere 4
An Old Glory DC game can be a full day of fun for fans, with several curtain raisers involving college or youth teams played before every home game. There is also often a band playing music on the concourse pregame for fans to enjoy, creating the possibility for hours of fun before the OGDC game even starts. As for the stadium itself, there are seats on both sidelines, all chairbacks, plus a few rows of bleachers behind one endline and some luxury suites behind the other. There is a very small scoreboard in one corner and a portable videoboard in another that is on the back of a truck, but to actually see them from some parts of the stadium can be challenging. The PA announcer does a great job of engaging the fans and keeping them entertained throughout the match.
Neighborhood 2
Segra Field is located in the middle of a county park, and there are really no restaurants or things to do in the immediate vicinity, nor is there anyplace to stay, unless you count the county jail. Your best bet is to head a few miles into downtown Leesburg, where there are plenty of places to eat, visit, and stay. This can be about a ten-minute drive, but it’s really your only option.
The Leesburg Public House and Tarbender’s Lounge are popular places to grab a drink and a bite to eat. Those looking for something other than a bar may want to check out Melt Gourmet Cheeseburgers or the Leesburg Diner, although the latter is only open for breakfast and lunch. There are many good options in Leesburg, but the fact that all of them are so far from the stadium really brings this rating down.
Fans 3
Although Old Glory does not always publish official attendance numbers, they typically draw a couple thousand fans a game, which is about average for Major League Rugby. The fans who attend are engaged and can be seen in "OG-DC" chants throughout the game. Many of them are fans of the teams that played in the curtain raiser games and decided to stick around, but others are just there to see Old Glory. Regardless of why they come, they are a small but passionate core fan base that rallies around the team.
Access 3
Segra Field is difficult to access and difficult to get around. although the situation has improved since the stadium opened. Fans will most likely find themselves taking Exit 3 off the Dulles Greenway (State Route 267) and then proceeding a few miles to the stadium. Part of the trip involves narrow roads, which are unlit and very dark at night, and there is even a one-lane bridge you have to cross. Parking is free, which is an improvement since previously there was a charge for it. If the lots fill up, there is auxiliary parking across the street.
Keep in mind the Greenway and the Dulles Toll Road (as Route 267 is known east of Dulles Airport) both charge tolls, and you can expect to pay around $10 each way to get here from Washington, D.C. or other locations inside the Beltway. If you’re coming from closer to Leesburg, the toll will be less.
Once you are in the stadium, it does not get much better. The concourse is basically just asphalt with temporary lighting, and to get to your seat, you need to walk up all the way to the top of the section and then back down to your seat. This does not seem very efficient. There are permanent restrooms located in repurposed shipping containers, and while they are large enough for the crowd, they are very cramped.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets start at $20 for seats behind or close to the end lines, and go up to $55 to sit at midfield. While $55 is a bit pricey for this level of rugby, the fact that less expensive tickets are available mitigates that. Parking is free, and while concessions can be expensive, the food you get is still good value food for your money. Throw in the chance to see several games on top of the Old Glory one and this is an excellent value.
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Extras 4
One bonus star for the ability to see several curtain raisers and get three or even four matches for the price of one.
There is a team store on the concourse near the entrance.
A third bonus star for the live music pregame and a fourth for the pregame opportunity to meet players on the concourse for autographs or selfies.
Final Thoughts
Rugby is a small but slowly growing sport in the United States and Old Glory DC is no exception. They have a small but passionate and loyal fan base, and as the sport continues to grow in this country, so will the atmosphere at an OGDC game.
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