The REAL Reviews Part 4: Memorial Field

DARTMOUTH

If you haven't visited Memorial Field since the 80s or 90s, you've missed one of the most extensive makeovers-without-building-a-whole-new-stadium transformations in the league. 

Gone are the away stands that seemed to go as high as the stratosphere, and in their place is the Floren Varsity house atop much reduced seating, including some premium chair back seats. 

On the home side, the home stands have been reinforced and improved, and the press box has been completely modernized from its old, summer camp bunk-like past.

I'm focusing first on the non-controversial aspects of the changes, but it should be noted that the resulting reduction in seating capacity from 22,000 to 11,,000 angered a lot of Dartmouth fans who thought the shrinkage would present recruits with the picture of a small-time program that was in retreat. 

Of course, the program's impressive resurgence over the last 13 years or so proves that the changes to Dartmouth's home haven't done any damage at all. 

As far as the fan experience goes, the changes have been a total positive. The beat-up concrete steps and hard-to-navigate corners on the home side are gone. Aluminum bleachers have replaced some of the less comfortable concrete seating, etc. 

On the away side, you can usually sneak into one of those chair back seats, but it's comfortable anywhere you sit.

Like just about every other Ivy stadium, you're out of luck when it snows or rains at Memorial Field, with no cover available. So you've been warned.

You almost never see pics of the outside of Memorial Field, but here it is

Dartmouth provides plenty of tailgating space, it's just not right next to the stadium and that angers some of the fan base. But there is a very well-placed tent inside the stadium that the Friends of Football folks use to host a nice reception every home game. (Brown has copied that idea a bit with tables and seating beyond one of the end zones, and Columbia has tried something similar recently beyond the North end zone. But neither use a tent). 

Parking opportunities are good and you can even find very cheap municipal parking in Hanover a short walk to the stadium. (Actually, I feel like I've parked for free each of the six times I've visited. 

As I mentioned in the Cornell review, Hanover is remote but not as remote as you might think. Boston is close by and there's not as much travel required on rural roads to get there like you face when going to Ithaca from any direction. 

Memorial Field is very centrally located to the heart of the town of Hanover, (even Franklin Field isn't as close to Center City Philadelphia), so when you're there, you're there. 

Hanover has plenty of nice restaurant and bar options and there's some of those country-like antique and clothing boutiques you'll see in a lot of New England. Leaf watchers are in a prime spot in the area, especially during October home dates. 

Columbia has played Dartmouth during the same part of the season forever, but that doesn't mean the weather can't really be different on the same week from year to year. I've been generally warm at games at Memorial Field (1991, 2007, 2017), soaked (2009), and absolutely frozen (2013). You have to be prepared for anything. 

Food choices could be better. There is a decent-sized concession area on the road side, but there are a lot of missed opportunities in that area because it's spacious. I'm envisioning BBQ pits, etc. 

The press box and media experience is much improved since the renovation. I don't remember the food provided to the media being very special or poor in any way, but I' sure it's fine. 

I feel like the dream scenario for a visit to a Dartmouth football game is to get there Friday early afternoon, go for an outdoor walk in nature, enjoy a meal and stay overnight at the Hanover Inn, wake up early for a bicycle ride, get an early lunch in town, and go to the game. 

After that, the more urban-minded crowd may want to hit the road for a Saturday night in Boston. But it's up to you.