Since becoming the new downtown home of the Columbus Crew in July 2021, Lower.com Field has provided Crew fans with its fair share of exciting games and an elevated game-day atmosphere. One area that Lower.com Field has excelled in is its variety of local and national concession options.
This year’s game day lineup has been enhanced with the inclusion of the Ohio-based burger chain, Swenson’s, a drive-through fast food restaurant that offers a robust menu of cheeseburgers, sandwiches, milkshakes, and crispy sides.
As someone who admits to enjoying the occasional Swenson’s hamburger, I felt it appropriate to test the new Crew acquisition and see if it was ready for the starting eleven.
Pros
The new Swenson’s stand is located in the Northwest corner of Lower.com Field. This means if you’re like me, this location is incredibly close to where you usually stand to watch the Black & Gold
The menu is very straightforward. The world-famous Galley Boy and your choice of fries, onion rings, or another Swenson’s classic, Potato Teezers. (think Jalapeno poppers mixed with a tater tot)
The Galley Boy is a strong burger made up of two patties, toasted buns, melted cheese, and a special sauce (BBQ sauce and tarter sauce mixed together) this means there is no pesky tomato sneaking out of the buns or a bunch of shredded lettuce falling everywhere. A simple blue-collar sandwich that is easy to eat with one hand.
My order was delievred piping hot, and on a frigid night, the steam rising from the foil-wrapped burger was quite the sight. I was blown away by how fresh it tasted, you could have told me I was actually at one of its primary locations in Akron and I would have believed you.
The Teezers are some of the best fast food side dishes this side of the Mississippi. They were hot and spicy and all I wanted in a complimentary side to a standard burger. If you are like me and like something a little different than french fries, give these a shot. They also come with a side of ranch dressing for dipping if that is your thing.
Cons
Swenson’s is usually served to you while you sit in your car. Eating outside of these parameters is an adjustment, but making matters more difficult is the fact the food is delivered to you in a paper box.
In fairness, it is a very sturdy paper box, and if I hadn’t been standing in the north end of the stadium I probably would have loved eating out of this paper box while I sat down and could rest it on my lap.
Alas, I was not sitting calmly elsewhere in the stadium. I was standing in very cold weather wearing large winter gloves trying to hold my food in one hand and eat with the other. All while occasionally chanting or taking a sip of my beer. It was a juggling act that was made worse by the Chicago Fire scoring the first goal of the game shortly after my first bite of Galley Boy.
The other pain point is pretty standard these days. The Galley Boy and Teezers set me back around $18. That is rather steep for a burger and side, but that is life as a sports fan in 2025 even if I desperately wish that wasn’t the case.
Until something major changes, fans are left with the dilemma of spending big bucks on concessions or not indulging in the simple pleasures of game-day food.
I do not usually spend money on food at sporting events because of this exact reason, but my scientific instincts proved to be too much in this instance. I had to know if the new Swenson’s at Lower.com Field was as good as Swenson’s around Ohio.
Conclusion
I have to say, this absolutely holds up to the standard of Swenson’s. The Galley Boy does not get the respect it deserves nationally in the fast food landscape. It is up there with Whataburger and In-N-Out in terms of flavor and satisfaction.
This is not unlike the Columbus Crew themselves, battling every week for national attention and respect. Both have a passionate fanbase that will go to war for their reputations. If this new concession stand at Lower.com Field gets more people on the side of the Galley Boy, then this may be the perfect addition to the Columbus Crew for the 2025 season.
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