Shirley Clements Mewborn Softball Field - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86

Shirley Clements Mewborn Softball Field 935 Fowler Street Atlanta, GA 30332

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets website

Shirley Clements Mewborn Softball Field website

Year Opened: 2009

Capacity: 1,500

Up with the White and Gold

Major cityscapes often do not have the feel of cozy college campuses, and while the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology in midtown Atlanta will never be confused with a sleepy college town, it can easily feel a world away from the fast-paced lifestyle of one of the nation’s major cities.

Georgia Tech softball began in 1987, as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) playing just north of campus at Glenn Field. The softball Yellow Jackets would move on-campus in 2009 with the opening of Shirley Clements Mewborn Softball Field – Clements Mewborn was a pioneer for women at Georgia Tech, as one of the first two women to graduate from Tech, and the first woman to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Tech Foundation.

Food & Beverage 4

Concessions at Mewborn Field go a bit further than what has come to be expected from stadium menus. Ever present are the stadium staples of hot dogs, nachos, and pretzels, but the addition of pulled pork nachos, pulled pork sandwiches, and mac and cheese from local Williamson Bros. B-B-Q adds a bit of a local option. For more snacking choices, popcorn, peanuts, and a selection of candy are also available, as are the official snacks of Georgia Tech – the Microbites plant-based chocolate chip cookies and the Megabite oats, almond, and chocolate chip snack bar.

Beyond the typical domestic beer choices, alcoholic beverage options include the Georgia Tech branded “Ale of an Engineer” and “Helluva Lager” from New Realm Brewing, as well as their “Hazy Like a Fox” IPA. NÜTRL vodka seltzer, Stella Rosa, and Line 39 individual servings of Sauvignon Blanc are also available.

Atmosphere 3

Mewborn Field does provide multiple seating options, with general admission bleacher seats on both sides of the home plate area, as well as individual reserved chairback seats in the grandstand directly behind home plate. A small section of field level seats is also available. Grassy knolls behind each dugout also end up being popular areas as the game reaches the later innings.

The field does play to the minimal collegiate dimensions: 190’ down the lines and 220’ to straightaway center field. Just beyond the left field fence is a somewhat of a smaller-sized scoreboard that displays typical information – inning-by-inning line score, ball-strike-out counts, and player statistics and photos.

The game presentation is much as has come to be expected at most similar-level softball and baseball games. Sound effects and audio drops are used in an attempt to engage fans to make some noise, though fans are spared from a barrage of ad reads during half-inning breaks. Instead, music or a handful of games are hosted by the in-house host.

There are theme nights throughout the season that help bring an extra element of entertainment to the evening, but the majority of the promos seem to be concentrated toward the middle innings without much lead up to the theme of the night.

Neighborhood 5

Shirley Clements Mewborn Softball Field is within the main cluster of Georgia Tech’s athletic facilities on the north side of campus. Just beyond the outfield fence lies O’Keefe Gym, home of Yellow Jacket volleyball, while nearby there is also McCamish Pavilion, where Georgia Tech’s men’s and women’s basketball teams play. Set against the backdrop of the midtown Atlanta skyline, Mewborn Field is unmistakably in the heart of the city, sitting adjacent to Atlanta’s Downtown Connector.

For dining options, a variety of restaurants can be found just across I-75/85 via the 5th Street bridge. Just off the northwestern edge of campus is Antico Pizza, renowned for its Neapolitan-style pies. Also within a mile is The Vortex, known for its specialty burgers, while a traditional pregame stop for many Georgia Tech fans is The Varsity; known for its classic drive-in style, fast service, and tagline, “What’ll ya have…What’ll ya have?”. The Varsity serves up burgers, chili dogs, onion rings, fries, and frosted orange shakes, or “F.O.s” to the restaurant’s regulars.

For additional entertainment, Centennial Olympic Park is only a short distance from Mewborn Field. The park features several popular attractions, including the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame, and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta.

Fans 3

Yellow Jacket fans do a good job filling out their stands, even when in direct competition with Tech baseball that plays a block away. Fans are engaged with the ups and downs of the game, but other than a core of student supporters they do not necessarily create a definitive home field advantage; it would also be nice to see a large student presence.

Access 3

Getting to Georgia Tech’s campus may pose some challenges, but knowing some of the workarounds can ease some of the traffic frustrations.

Tech’s campus is conveniently located off Atlanta's Downtown Connector just off 10th Street in midtown Atlanta. However, keep in mind this intersection is often highly congested, especially during the evening commute. For fans coming from the northwest side of Atlanta via I-75, moving to the right at first sight of the “16th, 14th, and 10th Street” exit sign will alleviate difficulties in merging at the last moment; easy rule of thumb – when in doubt, merge right. For those on I-85, taking the opportunity to turn right onto Techwood Drive can also help avoid congestion on the exit ramp. Unfortunately, fans arriving from the south via the Williams Street exit may not experience the same relief from backups along 10th Street.

The recommended parking lot for the arena is the McCamish lot (E65) located just north of Mewborn Field. GPS directions may lead to a gate that is frequently closed, however, so use the entrance on Fowler Street instead, which provides easy access to this parking lot.

While Atlanta does have a serviceable subway system, MARTA, the most accessible stop for the athletics neighborhood is still a half mile walk away from the softball field.

The two entrances into Mewborn Field sit atop a significant-sized hill; those who may need the assistance of a ramp will want to access the gates on the third base side of the stadium.

Return on Investment 4

Tickets are highly affordable, starting at just $10 for general admission and $12 for reserved seating. With no parking fee in the adjacent lot, the overall cost to attend a game remains low. Concession prices are a bit inflated, but not outrageously when considering typical stadium food and beverage rates.

Extras 3

It could not be a true Georgia Tech sporting event without the presence of beloved Tech mascot Buzz. Buzz is heavily involved in playful mockery of the visiting team, takes endless photos with fans, and dances to stadium music.

The exterior of the seating area recognizes the history of Georgia Tech softball – included are the eight Yellow Jacket Athletic Hall of Famers, as well as a rundown of the team’s on-field and academic honors.

The traditions of Georgia Tech athletics are alive and well at Mewborn Field. Instead of the traditional “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the fifth inning stretch, fans join in the Georgia Tech “Budweiser Song” – a spirited anthem used across Tech’s sports to energize the crowd during the final stretch of the game.

Final Thoughts

Mewborn Field offers a charming college softball experience nestled in the heart of bustling Midtown Atlanta. The venue also reflects Georgia Tech’s strong athletic traditions while providing a relaxed and fan-friendly environment. Those coming to Atlanta to catch a softball game at Georgia Tech will certainly enjoy both a comfortable and entertaining experience.