Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Xfinity Center 2001 Paint Branch Dr College Park, MD 20740
Year Opened: 2002
Capacity: 17,950
Fear The Lady Turtles
The Xfinity Center on the campus of the University of Maryland is home to the Terrapins' men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the gymnastics program. The name "Xfinity Center" typically refers to the main arena in the building, which seats 17,950 fans, but can also refer to the entire building, which includes the much smaller Xfinity Center Pavilion on the lower level that hosts the Terps' volleyball and wrestling teams.
The Maryland women's basketball team has made 17 NCAA tournament appearances, including three Final Fours and the 2006 NCAA Championship. They previously competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), but since 2014, they compete instead in the Big Ten.
Food & Beverage 4
The Xfinity Center has pretty much the same classic offerings you’d find anywhere, with main courses including hamburgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, boneless wings, hot dogs, and pizza, as well as side dishes such as fries. Local chain The Greene Turtle has a stand which sells boneless wings and crab cake sandwiches. Fans with a sweet tooth can buy boozy ice cream as well as regular ice cream (by which we mean non-alcoholic, not boring) from the UMD Creamery right on campus. Alcoholic beverages are also available for fans of age.
For those who require kosher meals, there is a certified kosher stand available outside section 121
selling items such as deli sandwiches and falafel in addition to stadium classics such as hot dogs and
popcorn. Note that due to Jewish religious laws, the stand is not open for Friday and Saturday home
games, nor on certain Jewish holidays where food cannot be prepared and/or served.
Due to limited attendance, some stands on the upper level may not be open for women's basketball games.
Atmosphere 5
The seating layout at a Maryland women's basketball game is different than it is at a men's basketball game, and provides the average fan a chance to sit much closer to the action. While the lower bowl for a men's game is typically reserved for season ticket holders and donors unless you buy at inflated prices on the secondary market, fans can sit in the reserved sections here for women's basketball games, and for games with smaller expected attendances, this may be the only area open.
However, with attendance growing in recent years, the Terps will typically open the upper level of the Xfinity Center as well. While these seats are reserved for men's games, they are typically general admission for women's games, although this can change if an unusually large crowd is expected. The lower level seats are very close to the action, and only a few dollars more expensive than the upper bowl, so we recommend sitting here.
A large videoboard overhangs center court and also shows detailed player and team stats. Before the game, the lights in the Xfinity Center will go out for player introductions as fans are encouraged to turn on the flashlights on their phones and point them towards the court. Flames will shoot up from a giant Maryland letter M placed on the court as a hype video plays on the videoboard and players are introduced. This makes for quite an impressive atmosphere.
The Maryland pep band frequently plays during breaks in the action, and a giant Maryland flag above them covers seats behind the basket that are typically empty for women's games, thus simultaneously increasing the Maryland pride and making the arena seem fuller. A mascot, a terrapin turtle named Testudo, roams the crowd and the court interacting with fans and is beloved by all.
Overall, a Maryland women's basketball game is an excellent atmosphere for fans to attend.
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 5
Attendance at Maryland women's basketball games has been growing in recent years, and they now regularly draw over 10,000 fans a game. Games against national powerhouses like Big 10 rivals UCLA and USC may draw 14,000-15,000, while games against lesser teams, especially on weeknights, may draw only a few thousand.
However, in general, the Terps draw good crowds, which are rowdy, raucous, and here to watch basketball. They know their team, and they know the sport of women's college basketball in general. Although Maryland always ranked near the top of the country in women's college basketball attendance, the crowds here have grown in recent years as they have nationwide. Terps fans show every home game why they are some of the top fans in women's college basketball.
Access 4
Another perk of attending Maryland women's basketball games is that it is a lot easier to get here and get around than it would be for a men's game. Parking for a game here is free in the lots immediately adjacent to the arena, and if those fill up, other lots are available elsewhere. You would not be able to park this close for a men's game without making a sizeable donation or buying a pass on the secondary market at a high cost.
You can also take Metro's Green line to the College Park station and take the shuttle bus to the arena, but it only runs every 30 minutes and makes several stops in between, so give yourself a lot of extra time if you do this. It is also a ten minute Uber/Lyft ride from the station, or a 35 minute walk, which may still be quicker than taking the shuttle.
When arriving at the arena, you will need to walk up a large staircase to get to the main entrance. This puts you at the top of the 100 (lower) level. There is also an entrance at street level, but this primarily serves the Xfinity Center Pavilion. If you have a disability and are unable to climb stairs, you can enter here and take the elevator up.
Otherwise, you need to go up the staircase outside. If you do need to use the accessible entrance, let the staff know you are attending the basketball game. Otherwise, if there is a wrestling or volleyball game happening in the Pavilion at the same time as the basketball game in the main arena, they may not let you in the building without a ticket to that game.
Return on Investment 4
Ticket prices vary depending on Maryland's opponent and the day of the week, but max out at only $17-$20 for lower level seats against prime opponents. Parking is also free, and close to the arena, which is a nice plus. The one downside is that concessions are very expensive, and will likely cost upwards of $25 per person for a meal without alcohol, and if you want to drink adult beverages, it will set you back even more. This forces us to bring the rating down a notch.
Extras 3
Look for the trophy case in the lobby of the 100 level with Maryland's 2006 National Championship trophy.
Banners in the arena honor Maryland's men's and women's basketball achievements.
The giant Maryland flag behind the band is worthy of a star here too - Marylanders take great pride in their flag and are not afraid to show it at Terps games.
Final Thoughts
A Maryland women's basketball game at the Xfinity Center combines one of the best fan bases in the country with one of the top arenas. Prices are quite affordable for the whole family to attend and sit up close to the action, and the atmosphere is electric from before the game even starts until the moment it ends. Hoops fans in the D.C. area will definitely want to check out a Terrapins women's basketball game here.
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