Annual Croquet Match At St. John’s College
The Annapolis Cup, an annual croquet match presented by PNC, returns for the 41st anniversary of the competition between St. John’s College (Johnnies) and the U.S. Naval Academy (Midshipmen) on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Johnnies have won 32 out of 40 matches against the Midshipmen. Tickets go on sale to the general public on March 3.
The tradition is a community highlight that began in 1983 with the Johnnies facing off against the Midshipmen of the U.S. Naval Academy in a friendly but fierce rivalry for the Annapolis Cup and bragging rights as the best croquet team in town. According to legend, the rivalry began in 1982 when the U.S. Naval Academy commandant spoke with a St. John’s freshman and remarked that the Midshipmen could beat the Johnnies in any sport. “What about croquet?” the Johnnie retorted. He later proposed the match to a group of Midshipmen to foster better relations between the schools. The croquet match is more than a sporting event. The community comes together to celebrate the arrival of spring. Picnicking at the game is as much a tradition as is croquet.
After a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Naval Academy graciously hosted the Annapolis Cup with St. John’s College for the first time in 2022. The tradition returned to the St. John’s College campus on April 15, 2023. Last year, the two schools marked the event’s landmark 40th anniversary, and St. John’s celebrated with a special alumni tent, a dedicated webpage detailing the tradition, and a short documentary film. The resulting victory for St. John’s brought the overall record to 32 wins for Johnnies and 8 for the Naval Academy’s Midshipmen.
This is the second year in a row that PNC will be exclusively presenting the Annapolis Cup. The event will be attended by approximately 4,000 members of the St. John’s, USNA, and Annapolis communities. Tickets go on sale to the general public Monday, March 3. Visit sjc.edu/croquet for more information. Tickets will not be available on the day of the match.
All attendees, including children, must have a ticket to enter the event. When you arrive, please make sure you have access to the QR code you were sent via email; this is needed to access the event area. The entry gates will close at 4 p.m.
What to Know About the Croquet Match
Picnic food and sealed, nonalcoholic beverages are allowed. No outside alcohol is permitted. Coolers and bags are subject to inspection. Grills of any type or size are not allowed. Food and beverages (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) will be available for purchase through vendors on campus. Water refill stations will be available. Guests are encouraged to bring an empty refillable water bottle.
Guests are not permitted to set up or reserve spaces before 10:30 a.m. on the day of the match. Only lawn chairs, blankets, strollers, and tables lower than two feet are permitted around the match site. Tents, large umbrellas, or grills are not allowed. Signs, regardless of size, are also not permitted.
Guests must remove all items from their spaces and leave trash and recycling in designated areas. All personal items must be removed from the campus grounds by 7 p.m. Event details and frequently asked questions.
Photos from St. John’s College
