Photos by Emma Sutherland, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29
Stoffer Fox Stadium 1150 Fulton St Newburg, OR 97132
Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 2,800
George Fox Football
Located in Newberg, in Oregon’s beautiful wine country, Stoffer Family Stadium provides a great
experience for college football. Built in 2014, the stadium holds 2800 fans and is home to the DIII Northwest Conference George Fox Bruins football.
Food & Beverage 4
Local food trucks at each GFU football game provide several food and beverage options.
While the vendors vary from game to game, you can typically find corn dogs, barbeque, Asian-style
street food, and a local favorite: Hannah’s Popcorn, which sells several different specialty
flavors of popcorn.
Beverage options include water and Coca-Cola products sold by the stadium, as well as various drinks from each of the vendors. The boba tea from Bobablastic is my personal favorite! Alcohol is not permitted at the stadium, and therefore is not served at any of the vendors.
Atmosphere 4
All three of the grandstands at Stoffer Stadium are close to the field to keep you in the game. While the general admission bleachers are not covered, the main grandstand for season ticket holders is covered. Fans are free to move around the stadium, and there is plenty of room at the end zones to stand and watch the game.
The GFU Cheer and Stunt Team, as well as the Drumline, are located in front of the student section and keep the crowd cheering throughout the game.
You may even spot Pennington, the school’s mascot, wandering throughout the crowds and ringing the bell when the Bruins score a touchdown.
Pennington at Stoffer Family Stadium, Photo by Emma Sutherland, Stadium Journey
Neighborhood 5
With downtown Newberg just a 10-minute walk away, Stoffer Stadium is close to several great restaurants and local shops. Newberg itself has been ranked as one of the safest places in Oregon, and with it being extremely walkable, everything you need is within a few blocks.
Newberg provides a wide variety of dining options. A few personal favorites include Thai the Knot (just down the street from the stadium) and Old Town Bar and Grill. Several fast food restaurants are located on the other side of town, which is just a short drive away.
Besides great restaurants, Newberg has several local shops, which include antique and clothing stores. Velour (vintage clothing and decor) and Wine Country Antiques are two of my favorite places to shop. A movie theater as well as a drive-in theater also can be found in Newberg. If you are looking to drive a bit, Portland is about 40 minutes from Newberg and has endless options for entertainment, including the zoo, OMSI, as well as many restaurants and bars.
Options for lodging in Newberg include a Best Western and a Holiday Inn.
Fans 4
Stoffer Stadium is full of excitement on Family Weekend, when student’s families have the opportunity to visit the university and attend the home game Saturday evening. Besides family weekend, each game has a theme where students dress up and pack the student section of the stadium.
While family weekend attendance is more than usual, students and local fans will fill most of the stadium for a Saturday night game. Fans stay involved throughout the game, and if you are near the student section, it can get loud!
Access 5
With Stoffer Stadium being on the smaller side, everything is extremely accessible. The food trucks are located right as you walk out of the stands, and restrooms are located close by in other campus buildings. Fans are welcome to walk around, and there is plenty of room to stand at both end zones.
While there is no longer public transit service in Newberg, the town is small enough to be easily walkable anywhere around the stadium. Uber and Lyft rides are available in Newberg.
Parking is available directly next to the stadium off of Fulton Street. Other parking lots are available around campus off of Villa and Meridian. Street parking is also available near campus, but usually fills up quickly.
Ticketing gates open 90 minutes before games, and the only entry is located between the student section and the main grandstand. Tickets can be bought prior to the game. Getting through security is easy. There's no bag policy, though security personnel do random checks. Umbrellas are not allowed, and seat cushions can be up to 18 inches wide.
Return on Investment 5
With ticket prices being $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 18, seeing a Bruin football game can be an affordable way to spend your Saturday afternoon. There is even a family pack option for $20 which includes 2 adults and kids. Season tickets range from $110-$120, and can be worth it for the covered seating area on rainy Oregon days. Parking on campus or in the neighborhood is free.
Extras 3
Merchandise is available for purchase at games, located just outside of the stadium near the food trucks.
During the autumn months, the GFU campus is full of beautiful fall colors.
And did you even visit George Fox if you didn’t get a picture with Mama Bear, the large bronze bear statue? She is located in the Alumni Plaza on the south side of the stadium.
Mama Bear at Stoffer Family Stadium, Photo by Emma Sutherland, Stadium Journey
Final Thoughts
Bruin Football at Stoffer Stadium is a great way to experience college football with a small-town feel. Newberg is a great community to visit, and the close proximity of the stadium to town makes everything you need within walking distance.
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