Skip to main content
NCAA FCS

Fitton FieldWorcester, Massachusetts

Holy Cross Crusaders

👥
Capacity
23,500
🏆
Conference
Patriot
📅
Opened
1908
🌱
Surface
Natural grass (Kentucky bluegrass blend)

📖About Fitton Field

Fitton Field opened in 1908 and is the fourth oldest Division I football stadium in the nation, surpassed only by Franklin Field, Harvard Stadium and Kyle Field. Named after Reverend James Fitton, who donated land to found the college, this irregularly shaped three-sided horseshoe has hosted presidents, Hall of Famers, and 12 Patriot League championship teams.

🏛️Fitton Field History

Origins

The stadium was built in 1908 to provide the College of the Holy Cross with a proper athletic facility on the edge of campus in Worcester. Named for Reverend James Fitton, the founder's land donor, it became a cornerstone of New England college athletics.

Major Renovations

1938Capacity expanded to accommodate record crowd of 27,000 for Bill Osmanski's final home game
2005Stadium celebrated 100th anniversary

Notable Moments

1905President Theodore Roosevelt delivered commencement address (pre-stadium)
1923Baseball game drew 22,000+ for Holy Cross vs Boston College
1935Babe Ruth played exhibition game for Boston Braves vs Holy Cross
1938Record crowd of 27,000 attended Bill Osmanski's final home game
1939Ted Williams hit first Red Sox home run in exhibition vs Holy Cross
Nov 2021Holy Cross earned first FCS playoff victory, defeating Sacred Heart 13-10 en route to third consecutive Patriot League title
1964President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered commencement address
Nov 2022Nearly 18,000 fans attended rivalry game vs Fordham, highest attendance since 1980s

🎟️Visiting Fitton Field

Best Seats

The three-sided horseshoe design offers character and charm. Sideline seats between the 30-yard lines provide the best views. The irregular shape creates unique sightlines throughout. With a capacity of 23,500, the stadium can host large crowds for rivalry games.

Parking Tips

Parking is available in campus lots near the stadium. The College Hill location in Worcester provides scenic views. Arrive early for rivalry games - the 2022 Fordham game drew nearly 18,000 fans. Street parking available in surrounding residential areas.

Game Day

Experience one of college football's most historic venues. The stadium has hosted two sitting U.S. presidents and baseball legends Babe Ruth and Ted Williams. Holy Cross has won 12 Patriot League championships, and the atmosphere for rivalry games is electric.

🗺️Local Recommendations

🍽️Restaurants

Volturno's

$$

Popular Holy Cross student favorite known for exceptional pizzas, including margherita with garlic aioli.

📍 1 mile

💡 The margherita pizza with garlic aioli is a must-try student favorite.

Vincent's

$

Local deli famous for meatball subs in the great Worcester debate over best meatball sub.

📍 0.8 miles

💡 Part of Worcester meatball sub legend - students debate Vincent's vs Belsitos.

🎭Attractions

Shrewsbury Street Restaurant Row

Free

More than 40 dining options offering everything from casual pizza to fancy sit-down dinners.

📍 2 miles

💡 Worcester's dining destination - explore before or after the game.

Worcester Lunch Car Diners

$

Historic Worcester Lunch Car Company diner cars found across the city, including the Boulevard, the Kenmore, and Miss Worcester.

📍 Various

💡 Classic New England diner experience unique to Worcester.

Worcester Art Museum

$$

One of the oldest and largest art museums in New England, housing 35,000 works spanning 5,000 years — from ancient Egyptian artifacts to American portraits and European masters — all under one roof in a grand Beaux-Arts building.

📍 0.8 mi55 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609

💡 Youth 17 and under are always free; the first Saturday of each month offers free admission for all. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Elm Park

Free

One of the first municipally purchased public parks in the United States (1854), this 58-acre landscape — designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm — features stone footbridges, a pond, woodland trails, and a free 18-hole disc golf course. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970.

📍 1.2 mi121 Russell Street, Worcester, MA 01609

💡 The Newton Hill section (across Park Avenue) is the wilder, more wooded half and worth exploring; the 18-hole disc golf course is free to play.

Bancroft Tower

Free

A 56-foot granite Romanesque tower built in 1900 by Stephen Salisbury III to honor George Bancroft — Worcester native, historian, and the Secretary of the Navy who founded the U.S. Naval Academy — set on a hilltop in Salisbury Park with sweeping views over Worcester.

📍 1.5 miBancroft Tower Road, Worcester, MA 01602

💡 The grounds and hilltop overlook are accessible daily from sunrise to sunset; the tower interior opens on Sundays in October only (run by Park Spirit of Worcester). Free parking on Bancroft Tower Road.

EcoTarium

$$

A 45-acre indoor-outdoor museum of science and nature — one of the oldest natural history museums in the country (est. 1825) — featuring live animals (mountain lions, bald eagles), an Alden Digital Planetarium, forest trails, and three floors of interactive exhibits.

📍 2.8 mi222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA 01604

💡 Buy tickets online in advance; the seasonal tree canopy walkway and train ride are crowd favorites. Open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 am–5 pm; closed Mondays.

🅿️Parking Options

🅿️

Campus Parking Lots

Free
Lot📍 Adjacent

💡 Several campus lots open on game days. Follow signs from College St to designated visitor parking.

🎉

Fitton Field Tailgate Lot

Free
Tailgate📍 Adjacent

💡 Tailgating is a tradition at Holy Cross. Arrive early for rivalry games - the 2022 Fordham game drew nearly 18,000 fans.

🚗

Residential Street Parking

Free
Street📍 0.3 miles

💡 Free street parking on surrounding College Hill streets. Check for any posted restrictions.

Suggest a Tip

Know a great bar, restaurant, hotel, attraction, or parking spot near Fitton Field? Share it with us.

Stadium Rankings

Fitton Field ranks among the venues tracked on Fan Stamp as the 3rd-oldest.

Closest Stadiums to Fitton Field

Frequently Asked Questions About Fitton Field

What is the capacity of Fitton Field?
Fitton Field has a seating capacity of 23,500.
Where is Fitton Field located?
Fitton Field is located in Worcester, Massachusetts.
What team plays at Fitton Field?
Fitton Field is the home stadium of Holy Cross Crusaders in the Patriot.
When was Fitton Field built?
Fitton Field opened in 1908.
Where are the best seats at Fitton Field?
The three-sided horseshoe design offers character and charm. Sideline seats between the 30-yard lines provide the best views. The irregular shape creates unique sightlines throughout. With a capacity of 23,500, the stadium can host large crowds for rivalry games.
What are the best parking tips for Fitton Field?
Parking is available in campus lots near the stadium. The College Hill location in Worcester provides scenic views. Arrive early for rivalry games - the 2022 Fordham game drew nearly 18,000 fans. Street parking available in surrounding residential areas.
What type of surface does Fitton Field have?
Fitton Field has a natural grass (kentucky bluegrass blend) playing surface.
What stadiums are near Fitton Field?
The closest stadiums to Fitton Field are Beirne Stadium (26 mi), Alumni Stadium (34 mi), Brown Stadium (35 mi), Harvard Stadium (36 mi), Fenway Park (37 mi), Yankee Stadium (147 mi).
How old is Fitton Field?
Fitton Field opened in 1908, making it 118 years old. It ranks #3 among the oldest stadiums in the country.

References

Content sourced from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and official team sites. Additional information verified against public sources.