Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
Maryland Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex 8483 Paint Branch Drive
College Park, MD 20742
Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 1,400
Turtle Lax
The Maryland Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex is exactly what it sounds like – a stadium which is home to the University of Maryland’s field hockey and women’s lacrosse programs. It opened in 2003 across from the Xfinity Center, and was renovated several times, most recently in 2023.
The Terrapins' women's lacrosse program is one of the most successful in the history of the sport, having won a whopping 14 NCAA Championships, plus one in 1981 which predates NCAA sponsorship of the sport. The men's lacrosse program does not play here, but rather plays at the far larger SECU Stadium, which is also home to the football team.
Food & Beverage 2
There is a food truck called Feed the Turtle just inside the entrance of the stadium, which offers a basic menu. Hot dogs are the only option that can be a meal, although several snacks are available, including candy, chips, fries, cracker jack, peanuts, and popcorn. Bottled water and fountain soda are also available. Hot chocolate can be purchased on cold days as well. Prices are reasonable, with nothing costing more than $5.
Atmosphere 3
There is one set of bleachers at the Maryland Field Hockey & Women's Lacrosse Complex, consisting of about five rows of seats all along one sideline. The other sideline contains the press box and team benches. Every seat will put you right up and close to the action. A large scoreboard and videoboard is located to the left of the bleachers, in the corner.
There is not much going on here besides the game itself, although there is a marketing table and the occasional promotion to get fans involved. The pep band has appeared at some games in the past, but was not there during Stadium Journey's most recent visit.
The team relies on the crowd to create some of the atmosphere here. As mentioned below, expect a large but not necessarily raucous crowd here to help improve the fan experience somewhat.
Neighborhood 3
College Park is a small college town with enough in the immediate area to get by but is nothing special. There is a bowling alley a couple of miles away, and a bunch of chain restaurants within walking distance. If you’re looking for some local color, College Park Diner is a favorite with residents and students alike and serves up comfort food 24 hours a day. Looney’s Pub on Route 1 is a sports bar with dozens of big-screen TVs for your viewing pleasure. A couple of hotels are located nearby, including a Marriott just off campus, and The Hotel on campus. (Yes, the on-campus hotel is called The Hotel. Not a very creative name).
That being said, if you’re looking to do more than eat and sleep, your best bet is to head down to the Metro station and take the Green Line into D.C. It’s about a 30-minute ride to downtown. Once you’re there, there’s so much to do and most of it is free.
Whether it’s visiting one of the historic monuments and memorials, visiting one of the numerous museums, or simply walking outside on the National Mall, there’s something for everyone. All government-run attractions are free to the public, though some privately-run ones are not. Just keep in mind if you want to tour the Capitol or White House, you will need to reserve that ahead of time.
Fans 4
The Terrapins draw pretty good crowds to women's lacrosse games, and the stands will be mostly full on a typical matchday. That being said, despite being large in number, the fans struggle to get loud at times. Although they will cheer Terrapins' goals, they are for the most part quite subdued. Occasionally you will hear some people cheering the team or yelling at the refs, but this crowd is not nearly as raucous as its numbers would indicate.
Access 4
There are parking lots located both across the street from and next to the Complex. The one next to the field is completely free to park at after 4 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends, which should cover the vast majority of matches between them. The one across the street is split between free parking during those hours and paid parking, the latter of which is available to visitors 24/7 and should be utilized if visiting for a weekday afternoon game. The numbered spaces are paid and can be parked in 24/7 for $3/hour, while the unnumbered ones are free but cannot be parked in on weekdays before 4 PM.
The other thing to keep in mind is that if the Terrapins have a home basketball game the same day as the lacrosse match, the parking situation can be completely different, so check the Terrapins’ website for additional information if that is the case.
Return on Investment 4
General admission tickets are just $10 per game. Concessions are reasonably affordable, and parking will be free for most games. As a result, a Maryland women's lacrosse game has good value for fans.
Extras 1
Free programs are available at the marketing table. That's about the only extra here for most games, although there may be the occasional promotion or band appearance.
Final Thoughts
The Maryland women's lacrosse program is one of the most storied programs in the sport. Despite this, they play in the small confines of the Maryland Field Hockey & Women's Lacrosse Complex, while the men play in the big stadium across campus. The crowds here are large, and can get loud at times, but this stadium seems out of place and disappointing for such an elite program.
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