Joan C. Edwards Stadium

The stadium address is 2001 Third Avenue, Huntington, WV 25703. Third and Fifth avenues carry most east-west traffic; 20th Street borders the west side and becomes part of the game-day pedestrian environment. I-64 approaches Huntington from Charleston and Kentucky, while US 60 serves local traffic.

Driving & Parking

• From I-64
  Use the Huntington exit appropriate to the purchased lot, then approach campus on signed surface streets. Do not assume the closest interstate exit produces the permitted entry.
• Third Avenue Parking Garage
  The garage at 1801 Third Avenue has offered $20 single-game parking through Marshall's ticket system. Advance purchase is the safest plan.
• State Electric lot
  This nearby $20 public option supports Marshall Cheer. The former ACF lot is no longer available for football parking.
• Donor lots
  Big Green parking around the stadium requires the proper season credential. Lot assignments and entrance directions vary by giving level.
• Accessible parking
  Designated inventory is available through Marshall parking and ticket operations. Arrange it in advance and ask about the closest gate and elevator route.
• Thunder Street closure
  20th Street closes six hours before kickoff and becomes a fan corridor. Do not schedule a gate-side drop after the closure begins.
• Lot timing
  The event-specific “Know Before You Go” schedule controls. For a recent noon game, lots opened at 8 a.m.; later kickoffs can use a different window.
• Walkable alternative
  Downtown garages and hotels are within roughly one to two miles. A deliberate walk along Third or Fourth Avenue can be easier than joining the immediate postgame vehicle release.

Public Transit

• TTA Route 10 Marshall Shuttle
  The Tri-State Transit Authority route links Pullman Square, downtown, Old Main, campus and the stadium stop at Third Avenue and 20th Street.
• Saturday schedule
  Route 10 operates on Saturdays, but published times are not tailored to every kickoff. Verify that both the outbound and return trips fit the game.
• Fare
  The standard adult fare is $1, while current Marshall students ride with their university ID. Carry exact payment or the accepted TTA fare method.
• Downtown transfer
  The TTA Center at 13th Street and Fourth Avenue connects the stadium shuttle with other local routes.
• No guaranteed football express
  Marshall does not publish a broad remote-lot bus network comparable to some campuses. Treat Route 10 as scheduled public transit, not an always-running event shuttle.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• No fixed current zone
  Marshall's latest guide does not name an official Uber or Lyft compound. Choose a downtown or outer-campus landmark beyond the 20th Street closure.
• Third Avenue caution
  The stadium frontage remains crowded with pedestrians, police and donor vehicles. Avoid requesting a pickup directly at Gate A or Gate D.
• Downtown meeting point
  Pullman Square or a named Third Avenue business can provide a clearer driver landmark, but confirm that the selected curb remains open.
• Postgame plan
  Walk west with other fans before ordering the car. Demand is concentrated, and moving several blocks away from The Joan improves both safety and driver access.

Marshall's official sequence begins with tailgates and Thunder Street, builds through Thunderwalk and then shifts to Fan Fest on the Recreation Center field. For a noon game, Thunderwalk has begun around 9:40 a.m., with gates at 10. The relative timing changes by kickoff, so use the weekly athletics release.

Tailgating

• West Lot
  Thunderwalk begins at the 20th Street entry closest to Third Avenue, proceeds through this donor lot toward Gate A and exits toward Third. Fans should line the route well before the players appear.
• Thunder Street
  The 20th Street closure creates a pedestrian spine beside the stadium six hours before kickoff, connecting parking, the team walk and Rec Center activities.
• Fan Fest
  The Marshall Recreation Center field hosts free inflatables, food, magic, balloon artists and family activities immediately after Thunderwalk.
• Big Green lots
  Credentialed lots around The Joan hold the traditional Marshall setups. Keep tents and grills within the assigned footprint and preserve emergency lanes.
• Alumni tailgates
  The Alumni Association and university groups host opponent-specific events around the Rec Center and campus. Some require tickets even when Fan Fest is free.
• Play for the 75
  The annual memorial game asks fans to wear black and adds special uniforms and programming honoring the crash victims and their families.
• Weather preparation
  Early dates can be hot and humid; November can be cold and damp. The stadium now has water refill stations, but hydrate before entry as well.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Marshall Hall of Fame Café
  At 857 Third Avenue, this sports-themed restaurant sits on the walk from Pullman Square and naturally suits a first-time Herd visitor.
• Backyard Pizza & Raw Bar
  The local favorite at 833 Third Avenue serves wood-fired pizza, fresh oysters and seafood. It is a convenient downtown-to-stadium stop.
• Black Sheep Burrito & Brews
  At 729 Ninth Street, Black Sheep combines inventive burritos, globally influenced street food, craft beer and occasional live music.
• Bahnhof WVrsthaus & Biergarten
  The German-inspired restaurant at 745 Seventh Avenue offers sausages, schnitzel, pretzels, 33 taps and a large outdoor area.
• Buddy's All-American Bar-B-Que
  At 1537 Third Avenue, Buddy's is closer to campus than most downtown options and serves familiar barbecue before the walk to The Joan.
• Pullman Square
  The downtown entertainment district gathers restaurants, bars and the TTA Route 10 stop. It is also a practical postgame waiting area.

• “We Are … Marshall!”
  One side calls “We Are,” the other answers “Marshall.” The cheer began at Fairfield Stadium in the 1980s and became the university's rallying cry.
• Thunderwalk
  Players and coaches pass through the West Lot tailgates toward the stadium. The Marching Thunder, cheerleaders and green-clad crowd create the essential pregame moment.
• “Sons of Marshall”
  The Marching Thunder enters The Joan playing the official fight song, written by alumnus Ralph A. Williams in 1935.
• Thunderclap
  After every Marshall touchdown, fans rise and join the coordinated clap. Watch the video board and student section for the timing.
• Marco
  The bison mascot has represented the Thundering Herd for decades and circulates through Fan Fest, student areas and in-game promotions.
• Play for the 75
  The annual game nearest the plane-crash anniversary uses black uniforms, memorial graphics and a crowd-wide act of remembrance rather than treating history as ordinary branding.
• Herd The Answer
  In-stadium pregame trivia begins roughly 30 minutes before kickoff on designated dates, another reason to leave the tailgate early.

• “We Are Marshall” Memorial Bronze
  Burl Jones's sculpture is mounted on the west façade. Dedicated in 2000, it symbolizes the life, legacy and resilience of Marshall football.
• Memorial Fountain
  The 13-foot Harry Bertoia sculpture stands outside the Memorial Student Center west of the stadium. Each November 14, 75 roses are placed and the water is turned off until spring.
• Joan and James Edwards names
  The building honors Joan C. Edwards, while the field honors her husband, James F. Edwards. In 2003 it became the first Division I-A football stadium named for a woman.
• 30,475 capacity
  Marshall frames the total as 30,000 “for” 75, carrying the crash victims into the building's active operating identity.
• Dutch Miller Deck
  The two-tier north-end premium platform opened in 2025 with all-inclusive dining and drinks, sideline access and a view immediately above the action.
• The Porch
  Four covered south-end suites debut in 2026 with 20 season tickets each, patio furniture, refrigerators, propane griddles and heaters. Guests control their own menu.
• New LED lighting
  The 2026 system expands entrance, touchdown and night-game effects while modernizing the field presentation.

History & Notable Moments

• Opening comeback (1991)
  Marshall rallied to defeat New Hampshire 24–23 before 33,116 in the first game at the new campus stadium.
• First national championship (1992)
  The Herd beat Youngstown State 31–28 on this field to win the program's first NCAA Division I-AA title.
• Perfect champion (1996)
  Marshall defeated Montana 49–29 to finish 15–0 with Randy Moss and claim another national championship.
• MAC title (2000)
  A 19–14 victory over Western Michigan delivered Marshall's fourth consecutive Mid-American Conference championship.
• Joan C. Edwards naming (2003)
  The stadium received its current name, pairing Joan's identity with James F. Edwards Field.
• Attendance record (2010)
  An announced 41,382 watched West Virginia escape 24–21 in overtime, far above the current seating configuration.
• Purdue upset (2015)
  Marshall defeated the first Big Ten team to visit Huntington, winning 41–31 before 38,791.
• Dutch Miller Deck debut (2025)
  The premium addition and revised north-end seating opened as the latest substantial spectator renovation.

The Joan is a double-deck sideline bowl with the Shewey Athletic Building and premium deck in the north and open hospitality products in the south. The west side holds the press box and primary premium infrastructure; the east includes the student section. Most conventional inventory remains bleacher seating.

• West sections 100–118
  Gates A and B South serve these home-side sections. The press box and suites rise above, and afternoon sun varies by row and kickoff.
• East sections 105–113
  Gates D and F serve the opposite sideline. Students use Gate F and concentrate near Section 113, creating the loudest standing environment.
• South sections 120–130
  Gate C is the preferred entry for this end of the stadium. The new Porch suites add a premium layer to the south-end view.
• Sky Suites and Big Green Room
  Credentialed elevators near Gate B provide access. Ordinary ticket holders cannot use those elevators without the correct ticket or ADA pass.
• Dutch Miller Deck
  The north-end two-tier club offers unlimited food and drink, field access and a premium sightline. The 2026 ticket price is a high-end all-inclusive product, not a standard reserved seat.
• The Porch
  Each of the four season-long suites holds 20 guests around a covered backyard-style setup. The low end-zone view favors atmosphere over a traditional elevated angle.
• Stadium seats
  Personal seatbacks may be no wider than 16 inches and cannot have arms, cupholders or compartments. They must not intrude into a neighbor's space.
• Accessible seating
  Contact the ticket office in advance for wheelchair and companion inventory. ADA elevator passes may be issued for Big Green Room access when appropriate.

Marshall operates cashless ticketing, merchandise and concessions. The recent fan-experience program emphasizes value, quicker transactions, local vendors and water access.

• Stand 12
  New for 2026, the family-priced stand sells $2 hot dogs and popcorn plus $5 pretzels and nachos.
• Two Buck Blitz
  During the first hour after gates open on designated games, participating stands offer $2 hot dogs, popcorn and fountain drinks plus a souvenir cup.
• Food Truck Alley
  Local trucks gather near Gate F at the southeast corner, expanding the menu beyond fixed stadium counters.
• Simply To Go
  Two grab-and-go stands feature lighter and healthier options. Green and White Bytes and Brews on the west concourse provides another quick-service choice.
• Water refill stations
  Guests may bring one sealed or empty clear plastic bottle and use stations throughout the stadium.
• Dutch Miller Deck
  Premium tickets include unlimited food and drinks; confirm alcohol terms and guest-access rules with the specific package.
• The Porch
  Suite holders bring and cook their own menu on the provided propane griddle and stock the refrigerator, a rare stadium hospitality model.
• HerdZone Stadium Store
  The west-side store opens early on home Saturdays and then flips to an interior entrance once gates open. All purchases are cashless.

• Each fan may bring one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches.
• A one-gallon clear plastic storage bag is an approved alternative.
• One small non-clear clutch no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches may accompany the clear bag.
• Necessary medical items are subject to inspection. Contact guest services before game day when a device or supply does not fit the standard policy.
• Backpacks, ordinary purses, coolers and noncompliant bags must remain outside. Marshall does not advertise a secure general bag-check service.
• Stadium seats may be up to 16 inches wide and cannot have arms, cupholders or compartments.
• Outside food and alcohol are prohibited. One sealed or empty clear plastic water bottle is permitted for the refill stations.
• Gates generally open 90 minutes before kickoff, while Gate B opens two hours early for suite holders. A no-bag FastPass wristband may be available after ticket prescan at the Fan Assistance Tent.
• The stadium is tobacco-free and cashless. Leaving requires a separate unscanned ticket and another security screening, so ordinary reentry is effectively prohibited.