SECU Stadium
College Park, MD · College Football
Founding membership for Terps fans. Free, verified, permanent.
- Member cap
- 51,802
- Cost to join
- Free
- Verification
- Email + Phone
- Status
- Open
— verified members.
Venue encyclopedia
Independent, no paid placements
What attending a college football game at the College Park, MD venue is actually like: seating, arrival, weather, food, and the seats we'd point a friend toward (or away from).
- Opened
- 1950
- Capacity
- 51,802
- Roof
- Open-air
- Orientation
- Open-air on-campus stadium (SECU Stadium, long known as Maryland Stadium and Byrd Stadium). A traditional bowl with a large lower seating deck wrapping the field and press/premium levels along the west side; the newer end-zone and club additions frame one end. The field runs roughly north-south with open sightlines across the bowl.
Neighborhood
On the University of Maryland campus in College Park, just inside the Capital Beltway about eight miles northeast of downtown Washington, DC. The stadium sits in the heart of campus with academic buildings, the student union, and Route 1 (Baltimore Avenue) and its college bars and restaurants a short walk away. This is a campus stadium in a DC suburb, so game day pulls a mix of students, alumni, and Washington-area fans.
What it feels like
A Big Ten Saturday with a DC-area flavor. Tailgating fills the campus lots for hours before kickoff, the student section brings the noise, and the Mighty Sound of Maryland marching band and the state-flag color scheme give it a distinct red-white-black-and-gold identity. The bowl is intimate enough that a full house feels loud, and rivalry weekends against nearby Big Ten and old ACC foes bring the campus to a boil. The proximity to Washington means plenty of alumni roll in from the city.
Seating tiers
Lower bowl / sideline
Rows 1-40Wraps the field along both sidelines; the midfield sideline sections are the premium seats and closest to the action.
Club / premium (west side)
Chair-back and indoor club seating along the press-box side with shade and shorter concourse lines.
Upper deck / sideline
Rows 1-25Elevated sideline seats with a full view of the bowl and the field; strong value.
End zone
Behind the goal posts; home to the loudest student-adjacent sections and the cheapest seats.
Sections we'd pick
- Lower sideline near midfield on the west (press-box) side for shade and the best straight-on view of the field
- Upper deck along the sideline for the full bowl view at a strong price-to-sightline ratio
- The student section end for the loudest, most energetic atmosphere if you want the college-crowd experience
Sections we'd skip
- East-side lower sideline for early-season afternoon kickoffs, which sit in direct sun and heat
- Deep end-zone corners, where the angle down the field flattens the view of far-side play
Arrival
- Primary route
- The Capital Beltway (I-495) to US Route 1 (Baltimore Avenue) into College Park; campus drives and University Boulevard feed the stadium lots.
- Rail / transit
- The Washington Metro Green Line stops at College Park-University of Maryland station; on game days a campus shuttle bridges the roughly mile-and-a-half gap to the stadium, so Metro plus shuttle is a real option from across the DC area.
- Rideshare
- Designated drop-off zones on the campus streets near the stadium. Post-game surge is common as the campus lots empty at once; walking toward Route 1 for a pickup trims it.
- Parking
- 12,000 spots across 15 lots , median $25 . Prepay recommended.
- Walk to gates
- ~12 minutes (median)
- Notes
- Parking is campus permit lots and garages that open for tailgating hours before kickoff. Pre-pay or secure a permit through the athletics site for the closer lots; general lots fill on marquee dates. Many DC-area fans take the Metro-plus-shuttle combo instead.
Weather and timing
Roof
Open-air
Open-air. Early-season September games in the DC area are hot and humid; bring sun protection and water. November games can turn cold and windy, so layer up late in the year.
Food inside
Concessions lean on Maryland's Chesapeake identity: Old Bay-seasoned options and crab-forward items alongside standard stadium fare of burgers, dogs, and regional craft beer. Look for the crab-fry and Old Bay stands for the local-color pick.
Food and pre-game outside
Route 1 (Baltimore Avenue) along the campus edge is lined with college bars and restaurants a short walk from the gates. The campus tailgate lots are the main pre-game scene, and downtown DC is a Metro ride away for a fuller night.
Accessibility
ADA seating with companion seats on multiple levels and accessible routes from the main gates. Accessible parking in campus lots near the entrances; request the closest when you secure a permit. The College Park Metro station and platforms are accessible, and the game-day shuttle serves the stadium.
Worth knowing before you go
- Arrive early to tailgate; the campus lots open hours before kickoff and the pre-game scene is a big part of the day.
- The Metro Green Line plus the campus shuttle is the easy way in from anywhere in the DC area.
- Bag policy is limited, typically a clear-bag policy; check the current sizing on the team site before you go.
- Cashless throughout the venue.
What Terps fans get
- A permanent member number that reflects when you joined. The lower the number, the higher your standing — forever.
- Priority access to seat opportunities at SECU Stadium. Seniority determines order. No luck involved.
- First look at every new perk, partner offer, and member event — founding members always hear before anyone else.
- Founding Member status. This tier closes when the roster fills at 51,802. It doesn't reopen.
Terps fans: your spot is waiting.
Free founding membership. Verified by email and phone. Your member number is permanent — the earlier you join, the higher your standing. One College Football membership per fan.
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