Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wake Forest brings spirit and tradition to the landscape of college football. Open in 1968 as Groves Stadium, the newly named Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium features two high rising slabs of concrete that border the length of the field. Hillside seating closes the south end giving a cozy touch to a grand venue. Smaller in capacity compared to its ACC rivals, the Demon Deacon fanbase can make this place rock.
Tailgating sets up deep into the parking lots that surround Allegacy Stadium. License plates that read “GO DEACS” and “DEACMOBL” indicate an intense devotion to the team. Pregame festivities are highlighted by The Deacon Walk featuring the Wake Forest team arriving to the stadium and circling the famous Deacon statue. Fans gather for the spectacle enriched by the band, mascot, and cheerleaders. “O Here’s To Wake Forest” proudly rings through the air, and gameday begins.
The Demon Deacon mascot complete with top hat, white hair, bow tie, and coat tails is one of college football’s most unique symbols. He distinctively stands out, which only enhances his popularity. Once seated in the stadium, fans adjust their view toward the tunnel where the Demon Deacon makes his entrance onto the field by way of a roaring motorcycle. The team follows behind as the gridiron battle looms, and the energy of the old gold and black radiates throughout the stands.
With a victory, the action shifts to The Quad where rolls of toilet paper become the symbol of success. With Wait Chapel in the backdrop, fans blanket the trees on Hearn Plaza in a frenzy of celebration. Draping the heart of campus with these familiar streams of white has been a tradition here since the 1950s. Few places can match such an expressive postgame tradition.
Winston-Salem is a charming campus town with proud fanbase. Football Saturdays bring together the Wake Forest loyalists as they cheer on their beloved Deacs. Allegacy Stadium fills with black and gold and transforms into a cauldron of energy on gameday. While it may not immediately come to mind as a football school, Wake Forest shows that the capacity of a venue does not directly equate to the ardency it produces.
