Underrated Venues

[Football is Cool]

With all the talk of grahams stadium I started thinking.. what are some under the radar cool stadiums locally? Lee and Eastsides field both come to mind both are pretty unique with cool atmosphere. Not huge crowds but would be cool to imagine those filled back in the LPD prime. 

[EH31]

Chilhowie is one of my favorite small stadiums. 
 

 

[tornado99]

It’s been a long time, but I was partial to Patrick Henry. It’s likely not always practical, but the concrete-base style stadiums on both sides gives me a nostalgic, stadium-style feel. 
I appreciate some of the external scenery at other local places, such as Honaker, Lebanon, and Tazewell. The negatives there and Richlands are the metal away bleachers.
 

Mitchell Stadium and Ernie Hicks are still my favorite, but for underrated I chose those mentioned.

[redtiger]

I second Eastside and PHs stadiums, both are really nice although a little dated now. 

Thomas Walker has an incredible view of White Rocks behind the visitors stands and a nice enough stadium with newer seating. 

 

[Jags52]

1 hour ago, EH31 said:

Chilhowie is one of my favorite small stadiums. 
 

 

I was going to say Chilhowie. The community really comes out to support and the team usually seems to be a touchdown or two better when playing at home. Gate City is the same way but I would not call that underrated. I think Giles also has a pretty cool enviorment not sure if that one is underrated either. 

[jeffro]

Union for me- the bleachers are the track width from the field-your nearly sitting on sidelines- but the atmosphere is incredible and LOUD!

[Gridiron60]

2 hours ago, jeffro said:

Union for me- the bleachers are the track width from the field-your nearly sitting on sidelines- but the atmosphere is incredible and LOUD!

I tend to agree especially as far as atmosphere, Bullit Park is second to none. 

[stu_bean]

15 hours ago, Jags52 said:

I was going to say Chilhowie. The community really comes out to support and the team usually seems to be a touchdown or two better when playing at home. Gate City is the same way but I would not call that underrated. I think Giles also has a pretty cool enviorment not sure if that one is underrated either. 

Could be due to the clock operator there...

[SW_VA_boy]

22 minutes ago, stu_bean said:

Could be due to the clock operator there...

*James Monroe noises*

[JDHoss]

I'd go with The Cliff at Hurley

[Unchained]

The Eagle's Nest at Rye Cove. Best concessions anywhere:)

[Wolf1207]

The parking sucked by I still miss Ralph Cummins Stadium in Clintwood. 

[Graham32]

On 5/22/2025 at 7:45 PM, jeffro said:

Union for me- the bleachers are the track width from the field-your nearly sitting on sidelines- but the atmosphere is incredible and LOUD!

Gotta agree. When we played Union at Bullit 2023 for the Region I’d never been down there. The atmosphere is second to none, I tell everyone I talk to about HS football that atmosphere was unreal. 

[tornado99]

45 minutes ago, Graham32 said:

Gotta agree. When we played Union at Bullit 2023 for the Region I’d never been down there. The atmosphere is second to none, I tell everyone I talk to about HS football that atmosphere was unreal. 

It’s been a while since I have been to Union, but what I remembered about the stadium itself was small, metal away bleachers. I agree, the atmosphere is second to none, but I credit the fans and team success over the years, rather than the venue. I did enjoy the neighborhood location, making it unique.
 

 

[tornado99]

On 5/23/2025 at 3:55 PM, JDHoss said:

I'd go with The Cliff at Hurley

This always got novelty points for me. It is something to experience, especially for visitors outside the area.

[jeffro]

4 hours ago, tornado99 said:

It’s been a while since I have been to Union, but what I remembered about the stadium itself was small, metal away bleachers. I agree, the atmosphere is second to none, but I credit the fans and team success over the years, rather than the venue. I did enjoy the neighborhood location, making it unique.
 

 

The Graham/Union rivalry adds to it as well

[JDHoss]

7 hours ago, tornado99 said:

It’s been a while since I have been to Union, but what I remembered about the stadium itself was small, metal away bleachers. I agree, the atmosphere is second to none, but I credit the fans and team success over the years, rather than the venue. I did enjoy the neighborhood location, making it unique.
 

 

The Park can get really loud for big games. The first ever Lee v PV game in 89, Appy v PV in 97 and the 23 Graham v Union games were about as loud as it gets for a high school game. I took some video of the Graham v Union game and showed it to some friends who weren't from the area. They couldn't believe the noise level. 

[Unchained]

22 hours ago, JDHoss said:

The Park can get really loud for big games. The first ever Lee v PV game in 89, Appy v PV in 97 and the 23 Graham v Union games were about as loud as it gets for a high school game. I took some video of the Graham v Union game and showed it to some friends who weren't from the area. They couldn't believe the noise level. 

My family lives in upstate New York (Adirondacks and Amish country respectively). The youngest brother founded and coaches the Mohawk Valley Challengers, a special needs flag football team (my nephew is autistic), and I help when I go on vacation there for a month in Septembers. Football there isn't big (hockey there is the sport). I showed his assistant coach a video of Bullitt rocking (played RV that night), and I showed him the game. He was floored by the noise and how hard hitting it was. He said "Holy hell man. I have always heard about football in the South, but damn man! I am going to go there and see one in person, so this year we will have company. I told him that if he enjoyed how hard hitting this game was, he should have been around for an LPD battle. 

[cityofRaven]

2 hours ago, Unchained said:

My family lives in upstate New York (Adirondacks and Amish country respectively). The youngest brother founded and coaches the Mohawk Valley Challengers, a special needs flag football team (my nephew is autistic), and I help when I go on vacation there for a month in Septembers. Football there isn't big (hockey there is the sport). I showed his assistant coach a video of Bullitt rocking (played RV that night), and I showed him the game. He was floored by the noise and how hard hitting it was. He said "Holy hell man. I have always heard about football in the South, but damn man! I am going to go there and see one in person, so this year we will have company. I told him that if he enjoyed how hard hitting this game was, he should have been around for an LPD battle. 

I worked in the North Country of New York years ago and I can vouch for this. The HS football up there for Class 2 size in VA put a very bad Class 1 product on the field. 

The hockey though... so good!

[JDHoss]

Just now, cityofRaven said:

I worked in the North Country of New York years ago and I can vouch for this. The HS football up there for Class 2 size in VA put a very bad Class 1 product on the field. 

The hockey though... so good!

I've never watched much hockey, but I've heard it's much better in person. We don't live too far from the Florida Panthers arena, and I told my wife that maybe next season, we'd take in an exhibition game to see if we liked it. There are a ton of hockey fans down here. 

[SW_VA_boy]

17 hours ago, JDHoss said:

I've never watched much hockey, but I've heard it's much better in person. We don't live too far from the Florida Panthers arena, and I told my wife that maybe next season, we'd take in an exhibition game to see if we liked it. There are a ton of hockey fans down here. 

One of my closest friends of mine, a current teacher at Giles, lived in Miami and also is a big hockey guy.  Said you could always tell when the Canadian teams, especially Leafs and Habs, were in town.  They would say it's cheaper to fly to Miami, get accommodations, tickets to the game, eat, other entertainment, and fly back than it would be for the group just to get in the door in Toronto or Montreal.  

[goose111874]

Rye Cove is my favorite place.  Being from Appalachia it’s hard to beat that small town atmosphere and it’s a bonus your sitting so close to the action 

[Unchained]

19 hours ago, cityofRaven said:

I worked in the North Country of New York years ago and I can vouch for this. The HS football up there for Class 2 size in VA put a very bad Class 1 product on the field. 

The hockey though... so good!

They play football on Saturdays as no fields have lights, and a huge rivalry game will have 300 fans.

[Unchained]

19 hours ago, JDHoss said:

I've never watched much hockey, but I've heard it's much better in person. We don't live too far from the Florida Panthers arena, and I told my wife that maybe next season, we'd take in an exhibition game to see if we liked it. There are a ton of hockey fans down here. 

I am one of few avid hockey fans in SWVA. Loyal to a fault for my sorry Philly Flyers. Being from Roanoke, I grew up watching the minor league Lancers, and my Roanoke Railyard Dawgs won the President's Cup last year:). I was hoarse for a week lol. NOTHING beats hockey as a fan in person, especially front row when you see folks get blasted against the boards and blood and teeth go flying.

[tornado99]

As a player, I thought Virginia High’s stadium was cool. At the time, I never saw black lines on brown Bermuda grass. I haven’t been there in a few years either, but there was very little fan support on each occasion I was there, making the atmosphere underwhelming.