The University of Nevada, Reno campus is beautiful. It is easy to see why someone would want to attend school here. That is where our Mackay Stadium review begins. As you approach the home of Wolfpack football from the outside, it’s not the worst thing you will ever see.
But it doesn’t quite match the pleasant surroundings. By the time you make your way inside the facility, you can’t help but think it’s not very good. For starters, a running track means anyone sitting along the sideline is far away from the field.
This is not the case for the general admission end zone seats, however. One side has been built in such a way that allows the track to pass underneath it. The other side has just been crammed inside the track parameters. It’s certainly odd to see in person.
As far as seating is concerned, Mackay Stadium has some chairback sections, but chances are you’ll be milling about on metal bleachers. These can get really hot during early-season games and very cold during late-season contests.
Your best bet in terms of tickets is buying general admission and then moving to one of the other bleacher sections. Ushers aren’t too bothered about checking tickets and movement can be done freely in most cases.
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Mackay Stadium has nothing worthwhile in terms of concessions. The bulk of these outlets are found behind each end zone, but you are better off eating before you arrive. There is a Raising Cane’s nearby, although the chicken finger eatery is no longer the novelty it once was.
If you are looking for a trinket to remember your visit, both Silver and Blue Outfitters and the Nevada Bookstore are a short walk from the stadium. Prices are what you’d expect at any other similar shop on a college campus.
My recommendation for getting to Mackay Stadium is to walk from Downtown Reno’s main drag. It’s about 20 minutes away and you can see the Nevada campus during your journey. If you must drive, traffic can be messy as the roads leading into and out of the university weren’t made to handle a large volume of cars. Parking will run you $20 or more.
Mackay Stadium review score: 5
Mackay Stadium isn’t as bad as the home of Nevada basketball (You can read our Lawlor Events Center review here). That being said, it is not very good either. This is a bit of a bummer given how nice the school’s campus is.
Ultimately, a trip to Reno is about much more than simply attending a college football game. Mackay Stadium may not blow you away, but the city is still worth visiting if your team happens to be playing here.
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