Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43
Ben Cohen Field 2083 Lawrenceville Rd Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Year Opened: 2010
Capacity: N/A
Cohen To Rider Soccer
Located towards the back of the Rider University campus in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, Ben Cohen Field is home to the Broncs’ men’s and women’s soccer and field hockey teams. The turf field opened in 2010 and is named after Rider graduate Benjamin Cohen, whose parents David and Rhonda donated to build the field. This review will focus on Rider women’s soccer. The experience may be similar for other sports played at the field.
Food & Beverage 1
There is a tent located to the left of the bleachers where food and drink is available for purchase. The only meal option is Jersey Mike’s sandwiches for $6. Various snacks such as candy and chips as well as soda, water, and Powerade, are available for $2 each. Fans may also bring their own food and drink into the stadium.
Atmosphere 2
Ben Cohen Field has a pretty basic atmosphere, with a few sets of bleachers on one side of the field near the parking lot that fans can sit in. These bleachers have no aisle so fans need to climb over the seats to get to higher rows. Everything is up very close to the action and provides an excellent view. A small scoreboard is located in the near right corner, which shows the score and other basic information.
There really is not much going on here other than the game itself. If you come here, you come to watch a soccer game but that’s about it. Some people will like that, others won’t.
Neighborhood 3
As Ben Cohen Field is located towards the back of the Rider campus, there is not much else to do in the immediate vicinity. However, if you head back to the main road, you will find several places to eat, hang out, and more. Varsity Pizza is a short drive away and sells great pizza by the slice or as whole pies. The Tastee Sub Shop also seems popular. If you drive about ten minutes into Trenton, you will find many more options as well.
Fans 3
Rider typically draws a couple hundred fans a game for women’s soccer, and while this may not seem like a lot, remember how small the bleachers are. It can get pretty full here. The fans are a mix of friends and family of the players, Rider students, and a few locals who just want to cheer on the Broncs in any sport. The crowd makes its presence known and can get loud at big moments in the game, but there are other times when it is pretty quiet and all you can hear is the action on the field and the occasional side conversation between fans. While students do attend in decent numbers, they tend to hang out with their friends rather than sit in any organized section.
Access 3
Ben Cohen Field and the Rider University campus are accessible via I-295 (formerly I-95 until a few years ago when the designation changed to resolve the infamous gap in the latter.) There are signs directing you to the field once you get on campus if you do not have a GPS. There is a spacious lot in between Ben Cohen Field and the Broncs’ baseball field that fans can park in. There are no real restrooms on site but there are a few port-a-potties. Getting up the bleachers can be complex as noted above, since there is no aisle so you basically have to climb over the seats.
Return on Investment 4
Admission to Broncs’ soccer games is free. However, there is not enough here to earn the top score. Note that admission policies may vary for MAAC and NCAA Tournament events.
Extras 1
Look for the banners honoring Rider’s conference championships in women’s soccer and the other sports that are played here.
Final Thoughts
There is no hiding the fact that Ben Cohen Field is small and doesn’t have the capacity of many other college soccer venues, yet alone soccer venues at a higher level. However, the stadium seems to the right size for the crowds that show up as the bleachers will be fairly full for a typical Broncs home game. While college soccer isn’t the most popular sport at most schools, a trip to Ben Cohen Field can still be enjoyable for those who want to check it out.