College Football has over 400 teams in Division I, Division I-AA, Division II, Division III, and NAIA competition

Here are JUST 33 houses of gridiron in which they play:

University of Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Stadium - Ann Arbor, Michigan - 107,501
aka "The Big House"

http://www.ticketcity.com/images/venue/michiganstadium.gif

http://www.vsba.com/projects/fla_archive/images/6902slide.jpg

http://members.cox.net/dgeerdes/images/pics/Big%20House%2004.jpg

Penn State University
Beaver Stadium - State College, Pennsylvania - 107,282
aka "Happy Valley"

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Big10/PennState/aerial2.jpg

http://www.nlclub.com/images/ClubSeat/club_seat1.jpg

University of Tennessee Volunteers
Neyland Stadium - Knoxville, Tennessee - 104,079

http://bus.utk.edu/ivc/forecasting/images/neyland.jpg

http://smokeys-trail.com/neyland-2001.jpg

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/SEC/Tennessee/aerial.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~eschiebel/images/NeylandInside.jpg

The Ohio State University Buckeyes
Ohio Stadium - Columbus, Ohio - 101,568
aka "The Shoe"

http://www.collegecharlie.com/files/ohio_stadium2.jpg

http://www.seatdata.com/images/venue_ohio_stadium/samples/sample.jpg

http://z.about.com/d/columbusoh/1/0/I/2/shoe03.jpg

University of California Los Angeles Bruins
Rose Bowl - Pasadena, California - 92,542
aka "The Grandaddy"

http://www.lvaa.net/i/rose-bowl-large.jpg

http://www.grahamowen.com/images13/heli-Rose-Bowl-close.jpg

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ucla/facilities/rosebowl1-lg.jpg

University of Alabama Crimson Tide
Bryant-Denny Stadium - Tuscaloosa, Alabama - 92,000

http://www.thpi.com/bama/bryant-denny2.jpg

http://www.law.ua.edu/prospective/tour/bdstadium.jpg

University of Georgia Bulldogs
Sanford Stadium - Athens, Georgia - 92,000

http://www.uga.edu/atsc/sanford-stadium.jpg

http://www.seatdata.com/images/venue_sanford_stadium/samples/sample.jpg


University of Southern California Trojans
LA Memorial Coliseum - Los Angeles, California - 92,000

http://www.concacaf.com/competitions/goldcup/2005/downloads/LA_MEMORIAL_COLISEUM/Coliseum2.JPG

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/california/los_angeles_memorial2.jpg

Louisianna State University Tigers
Tiger Stadium - Baton Rouge, Louisianna - 91,600
aka "Death Valley"

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/SEC/LSU/aerial.jpg

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://web.engr.oregonstate.edu/~shechter/lsu.visit/lsu.visit-Images/7.jpg&imgrefurl=http://web.engr.oregonstate.edu/~shechter/lsu.visit/lsu.visit-Pages/Image7.html&h=600&w=800&sz=184&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=Ug4YNZDfyscTIM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtiger%2Bstadium%2Blsu%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26hs%3DUGd%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DX

University of Florida Gators
Ben Hill Griffin Florida Field - Gainsville, Florida - 90,716
aka "The Swamp"

http://www.bushwood.org/stadium_north_air.JPG

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/fsu/galleries/m-footbl-112903/stadium-112903-lg.jpg

http://amerika.nu/sport/gators/This_Is_The_Swamp_700x525.jpg

Auburn University Tigers
Jordan Hare Stadium - Auburn, Alabama - 85,612


http://www.westerngroup.com/images/projects/1117125082433-9-08-1.jpg

http://www.seatdata.com/images/venue_jordan_hare_stadium/samples/sample.jpg

University of Texas Longhorns
Royal Memorial Stadium - Austin, Texas - 84,084

http://www.me.utexas.edu/history/tailgate/images/stadium2004.jpg

http://www.me.utexas.edu/history/tailgate/images/stadium.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/sunvevo/dkr.jpg

Florida State University Seminoles
Doak Campbell Stadium - Tallahassee, Florida - 82,300

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/ACC/FloridaState/aerial.jpg

http://www.seatdata.com/images/venue_doak_campbell_stadium/samples/sample.jpg

University of Oklahoma Sooners
Gaylord Memorial Stadium - Norman, Oklahoma - 82,112

http://www.your-oklahoma-tickets.com/graphics/stadium1.jpg

http://www.flintco.com/images/image_large_ou_gaylord.jpg

http://sooner.nmn.speedera.net/pics27/0/XL/XLCQMKWALKCZLVT.20060209221358.jpg

Texas A&M University Aggies
Kyle Field - College Station, Texas - 80,650

http://www.city-data.com/cpicv/vfiles207.jpg

http://encyclopedia.quickseek.com/images/Aerialkylefield.jpg

http://www.chron.com/content/news/photos/01/09/23/a&m.jpg

University of Wisconsin Badgers
Camp Randall Stadium - Madison, Wisconsin - 80,321

http://madison06.dci.org/images/randall/overhead.jpg

http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ferrugia/Stadium%20fisheye.jpeg

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/sports/gen/img/aug04/camp800.jpg

Clemson University Tigers
Memorial Stadium - Clemson, South Carolina - 80,301
aka "Death Valley"

http://www.anmed.com/images/anmedfp/clemson-memorial-stadium.jpg

http://www.seatdata.com/images/venue_memorial_stadium_clemson/samples/sample.jpg

University of South Carolina
Williams Brice Stadium - Columbia, South Carolina - 80,250

http://augustasports.com/images/headlines/110300/huddle/04.jpg

http://www.seatdata.com/images/venue_williams_brice_stadium/samples/sample.jpg

University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Stadium - South Bend, Indiana - 80,232

http://www.notredametix.com/images/stadium.jpg

http://www.seatdata.com/images/venue_notre_dame_stadium/samples/sample.jpg

http://sportsmed.starwave.com/media/ncf/2002/0711/photo/s_jesus_i.jpg

University of Nebraska Cornhuskers
Memorial Stadium - Lincoln, Nebraska - 74,031

http://www.dlrgrouphighereducation.com/he/portfolio/sports/Umemorial/Memorial-1.jpg

http://www.randymalick.com/Husker-photo-album/memorial%20stadium%20pic.jpg

Arizona State University Sun Devils
Sun Devil Stadium - Tempe, Arizona - 73,379

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/asu/sports/m-footbl/auto_action/223667.jpeg

http://media.scout.com/Media/HS_Basketball/26_SDSRACD.JPG

http://www.osu.edu/download/images/bowlgame/bigpics/fiesta06_04.jpg

http://www.lindsayandjeff.com/newalbum/albums/Spring_Training_03/113_1397_IMG.sized.jpg


University of Washington Huskies
Husky Stadium - Seattle, Washington - 72,500

http://www.dimensional.net/images/Husky_stadium.jpg

http://www.washington.edu/alumni/columns/march02/images/place_stadium.jpg

University of Miami Hurricanes
Orange Bowl - Miami, Florida - 72,319

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/BigEast/Miami/aerial.jpg

http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/past/orange250.jpg

Michigan State University Spartans
Spartan Stadium - East Lansing, Michigan - 72,027

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Big10/MichiganState/aerial.jpg

http://www.seatdata.com/images/venue_spartan_stadium_mi/samples/sample.jpg

University of Arkansas Razorbacks
Razorback Stadium - Fayetteville, Arkansas - 72,000

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/arkansas/fayetteville_razorback1.jpg

http://dgold.info/pix/bigsmith2004-09-25razorback.jpg

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Hokies
Lane Stadium - Blacksburg, Virginia - 65,115

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/virginia/blacksburg_worsham1.jpg

http://www.chartertn.net/nonprofit/vtalumni/images/Students-VTvsMiami2003.jpg

Yale University Bulldogs
Yale Bowl - West Haven, Connecticut - 64,269

http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/nyg/Yale.jpg

http://fussballtempel.net/concacaf/USA/Yale_Bowl.jpg

University of Mississippi Rebels
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium - Oxford, Mississippi - 60,580

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ole/nonsport/facilities/VHSaerial2002-lg.jpg

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/SEC/Mississippi/aerial.jpg

University of Oregon Ducks
Autzen Stadium - Eugene, Oregon - 53,800

http://www.cs.uoregon.edu/~tomb/aviation/photos/autzen.jpg

http://www.goducks.net/images/facilities/autzen/lg/autzen4.gif

University of Colorado Buffaloes
Folsom Field Stadium - Boulder, Colorado - 53,750

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Big12/Colorado/aerial.jpg

http://www.thedailycamera.com/extra/folsom/110.jpg

University of Texas El Paso
Sun Bowl - El Paso, Texas - 52,000

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/sunvevo/sun.gif

http://www.collegegridirons.com/cusa/sunmain.jpg

http://www.ticketcity.com/images/ncaa_football/stadium_sunbowl.jpg

University of Hawaii Warriors
Aloha Stadium - Honolulu, Hawaii - 50,000

http://satftp.soest.hawaii.edu/space/hawaii/images/oahu/stadium.ap.677x350.jpg

http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/assets/images/articles/162_main_1.jpg

Army Black Knights
Michie Stadium - West Point, New York - 39,929

http://sportsmed.starwave.com/media/pg2/2003/0924/photo/100_03338.jpg

http://www.clarkcompanies.com/Site%20Revision/images/Large%20Project%20Photos/Michie%20Stadium.jpg

http://www.usma.edu/Tour/images/MichieStadium.jpg

Harvard University Crimson
Harvard Stadium - Cambridge, Massachusetts - 30,898

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/massachusetts/boston_harvard1.jpg

http://www.tailgatershandbook.com/images/har3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/sunvevo/harv.jpg

Nice, but Arizona State's nickname is two words.

Bamalama's new expansion is looking good. Pics at their official site.

Very nice, always like to see the States College stadiums, I envy the NCAA set up very much.
I've often imagined what stadiums could be used in a Rugby exhibition in the states like England vs France or the southern powers Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Obviously the NFL stadiums could not fit the rugby field in properly without the end zones and the sidelines being under the sightlines. Rugby field are over 20 yards wider than American football fields for those who didn't know (68m wide by 116m to 140m long)

Some college grounds seem big enough though, like the Harvard stadium (cos of the former track) and Jordan Hare Stadium. Only NFL stadium I can think of that could fit a rugby field with satisfactory views would be Dolphin stadium because of it's wide width.

Nice, but Arizona State's nickname is two words.

Oops!

I even have one of my degrees from ASU. I'll fix it later when i'm not drunk :)

I know its very unlikely given FIFA's current standards but if the USA did ever host a WC again I'd love to see a few of these host matchs(espeically Ohio and Neyland).

amazing.
I couldnt believe collage football was so massive.

I like the one in Athens, Georgia...looks good (and not Im not being bias :D)

It looks like there are no steps up the tiers which makes it look really really packed I think they all look fantastic.

I've always wondered what kind of view you have from the top of the upper deck at Kyle Field. That has to be an interesting experience as you are like 25-stories up, at least.

http://encyclopedia.quickseek.com/images/Aerialkylefield.jpg

I've always wondered what kind of view you have from the top of the upper deck at Kyle Field. That has to be an interesting experience as you are like 25-stories up, at least.




It sucks. Trust me. I've sat near the top of the monstrosity behind the endzone, and the brilliant aggie engineers built it so that your sightline is cut off about 2 yards into the endzone. Good thing Texas always kicks their ass, so by the 3rd quarter we can move down to vacted seats closer to civilization.
:)

awesome photos! I love college stadiums.

I don't like college american football stadiums that much. Those stadiums are like European stadiums from '70ies.

Very cheap looking stadiums...they cannot even afford roofs!!!

At least we can build durable steps.

I don't like college american football stadiums that much. Those stadiums are like European stadiums from '70ies.

Right, except many of these were built in the 1800s to 1940s. Read up on college football and its stadiums/traditions before you make yourself sound like even bigger of an idjit.

Oh, and Euro stadiums of the 70s look absofuckinglutely nothing like these. LMAO.

At least we can build durable steps.

shame you can't build durable Skyscrapers though!!! Your humvees ain't too good either!! 2570 and countin!!!


http://www.schupes.com/bimtoday/images/timebomb.jpg

Take your shit out of here MasterBlaster you fuckin' donkey.

--I am always amazed by the size of these stadiums.

I didn't start it (see below). If you Yankees can't take it back then don't dish it out!!

At least we can build durable steps.

I said BOOM BOOM BOOM!

I didn't start it (see below).

yes ... yes you did .... see below

Very cheap looking stadiums...they cannot even afford roofs!!!

If you Yankees can't take it back then don't dish it out!!

nah. we can take it. i know you're a vile piece of shit anyway.


I said BOOM BOOM BOOM!

weak.

socrates ... here to ruin another great thread. fuck you, your cunt wife, and your little bitch of a kid. You fucking suck.

Northwestern University Wildcats
Ryan Field - Evanston, IL - 47,130 - built in 1926

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/4163/ryanbigke0.jpg
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/7313/34577244northwesternryanfieldqo5.jpg

yes ... yes you did .... see below





nah. we can take it. i know you're a vile piece of shit anyway.




weak.

socrates ... here to ruin another great thread. fuck you, your cunt wife, and your little bitch of a kid. You fucking suck.

So a comment about a roof is worthy of a reply mocking innocent dead people??? Are you a redneck by any chance?


p.s - your redneck mum smelt good.......mighty fine!

Texas Tech University Red Raiders
Jones AT&T Stadium - Lubbock, Texas - 53,000

http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/text/graphics/jones-sbc-wide-300.jpg

http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/text/graphics/jones-sbc-corner-300.jpg

Stadium Facade

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Big12/TexasTech/front.jpg

Marching Band does Cingular Ad

http://webpages.acs.ttu.edu/judarlin/cingularad.jpg


EDIT: If you are having a problem w/that Astroturf, it no longer exists. See new turf HERE. (http://texastech.scout.com/2/549933.html)

Oklahoma State University Cowboys
Boone Pickins Stadium - Stillwater, Oklahoma - 51,000(will change)

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Big12/OSU/interior2.jpg

http://www.tedandreneemaxwell.com/images/Boone%20Pickens%20Stadium%20South.jpg

Once Complete:

http://users.california.com/~csuppes/NCAA/Big12/OSU/newaerial.jpg

Factoid: due to the pro league cardinals long term lease of sun devil stadium it is college football's best stadium.

Kansas State University Wildcats
Wagner Field - Manhattan, Kansas - 50,300

http://www.skylinepictures.com/Kansas_State_University_ksu2_large.jpg

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Big12/KSU/aerial.jpg

http://www.k-state.edu/maps/buildings/KFS/kfs.jpg

http://www.k-state.edu/images/home/gallery/football.jpg

http://www.justinpaulbrown.com/photos/K_State_2004/100_0444.jpg

University of Kansas Jayhawks
Memorial Stadium - Lawrence, Kansas - 50,300

http://www.ljworld.com/photos/2003/12/07/kustadium.jpg

http://www.spdome.com/images/xStadium_Overall5.jpg

http://etc.lawrence.com/galleries/images/fbbest2004/hires/smintro.jpg

The one time they won a game :)

http://etc.lawrence.com/photos/kumu092703/posts4.jpg

http://etc.lawrence.com/photos/kumu092703/lores/posts5.jpg

http://etc.lawrence.com/photos/kumu092703/posts3.jpg

KU's unofficial mascot: Jaba the Hutt

http://etc.lawrence.com/photos/baylor1003/lores/ManginoandKU%20fans.jpg

Baylor University Bears
Floyd Casey Stadium - Waco, Texas - 50,000
aka A&M'S Daddy Stadium (stadiums in Lubbock, Norman, Austin and more use the same name)

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Big12/Baylor/aerial.jpg

http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/bay/graphics/bay-stadium-600.jpg

http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/bay/graphics/floyd-casey-036-600.jpg

Back when pigs used to fly:
http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/bay/graphics/bay-spirit-1.jpg

University Of Missouri Tigers
Faurot Field - Columbia, Missouri - 62,000

http://users.california.com/~csuppes/NCAA/Big12/Missouri/aerial.jpg

http://map.missouri.edu/images/buildings/memorial-stadium.jpg
http://www.amasis.com/diamondvision/missouri/missouri-1.JPG


http://www.missouri.edu/~fitchma/Faurot%20Field.jpg
http://becking.com/forsale/football/Nebraska2003/aerial_0126.jpg

http://www.amasis.com/diamondvision/missouri/missouri-7.JPG

Iowa State University Cardinals eh...Cyclones
Trice Stadium - Ames, Iowa - 50,000
aka Butt Ugly

http://www.collegegridirons.com/big12/images/trice105.jpg

http://www.chem.iastate.edu/bcce/graphics/JackTriceStadium2.jpg

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~tinlin69/tricecrowdbanner.jpg

One observation I found while posting the rest of the B12 members 40ACRES failed to mention.....Our conference is behind on stadium capacity.

Hey 40Acres, do you know if any of the other B12 members are making any adjustments to their stadia?

I can't believe they are college football stadiums. This may sound dumb, but are they owned by the college?? 100 000 people for a college stadium. We have nothing like this down here (nor do we need it with our population)

They are very impressive.

One observation I found while posting the rest of the B12 members 40ACRES failed to mention.....Our conference is behind on stadium capacity.

Hey 40Acres, do you know if any of the other B12 members are making any adjustments to their stadia?

Texas is increasing to 90,000+ by 2008

http://www.bevosports.com/images/dkr_expansion.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y295/olewinston97/dkr-expansion-4.jpg

http://encyclopedia.quickseek.com/images/Texas_Memorial_Stadium.jpg

Oklahoma State ... their upgraded stadium is gonna look fantastic!

Nebraska just expanded their stadium last year:

http://www.darthhusker.com/2005photoday/stadium01.jpg

http://www.darthhusker.com/2005photoday/stadium03.jpg

http://www.darthhusker.com/2005photoday/stadium09.jpg

http://www.darthhusker.com/2005photoday/stadium07.jpg

http://www.darthhusker.com/2005photoday/stadium18.jpg


Supposedly, Texas A&M wants to upgrade to 110,000, which is hugely unlikely because their athletic department is a disaster right now, are begging for former season ticket holders to renew, and frequently getting their asses kicked my Baylor and Iowa State, not to mention being wolloped frequently by Texas. They are having a difficult time getting 75,000 to their 83,000 seat stadium.

http://www.fanblogs.com/091804kyle1.jpg



Those are what i can think of off the top of my head.

Nice Big 12 representation.

Thanks 40 and let me say "HOLY GOD!" to y'alls expansion plan. I heard something about ATM's expansion and I also hear doubts about the plan. I'm sure the plan will bare light once they get competitive again, god forbid :) .

Did some searches and found that Tech will be expanding after next season. Heard something about 8,000 seats and a facade on the east. If only we could afford to do the whole enchilada like Okie State. Plans were canceled this month to add an upper deck and parking garage due to raising construction costs. I’m actually happy that they are taking their time.

http://redraiders.com/stadium/images/jones2LR.jpg

http://redraiders.com/stadium/images/jones3LR.jpg

That's a nice stadium for Tech.

Another Tech Pic:

http://www.worldjeremy.com/images/stadium2.jpg

RSG: Yes, most universities own their football stadiums. Some schools whore out naming rights to companies like AT&T or United Supermarkets for a little extra change. While I personally think it's a decent idea, some fans frown on it. These fans tend to be elitest and believe other stupid things like paying $2 million for a coach that can't take your team to a bowl.

socrates ... here to ruin another great thread. fuck you, your cunt wife, and your little bitch of a kid. You fucking suck.
Woah horsey. The person you are arguing with is not Socrates.

Did you get your degrees from ebay?

http://www.docwillys.com/sitebuilder/images/0039_Redneck-BBQ_Frame-220x172.jpg

http://cgi.ebay.com/REDNECK-DIPLOMA-Redneck-University_W0QQitemZ9504098977QQcategoryZ1467QQcmdZViewItem

I'm surprised you've kept that screen name as long as you have. We'll take care of that.

And to make this post topical, here is renderings of Stanford University's new stadium

http://stanfordstadium.com/images/stadiumseatmap.jpg

http://www.stanfordstadium.com/images/PressBox2nd011206_01.jpg

http://www.stanfordstadium.com/images/PressBox4th011206_01.jpg

*here are.

Bryant-Denny Stadium expansion opening 2006
capacity 92238 first opened in 1929
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/8282/bdssouth0aq.png

That 40Acres is one moonshine drinkin, shotgun shootin dumb-ass Redneck....I wonder if he thinks I'm 'welly' this time? Hooolllllyy Shhiiiitttttt

Did some searches and found that Tech will be expanding after next season. Heard something about 8,000 seats and a facade on the east. If only we could afford to do the whole enchilada like Okie State. Plans were canceled this month to add an upper deck and parking garage due to raising construction costs. I’m actually happy that they are taking their time.

http://redraiders.com/stadium/images/jones2LR.jpg

http://redraiders.com/stadium/images/jones3LR.jpg

If San Diego State was thinking of making a new stadium, hopefully, they can take notes from Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. A mission-style or Petco Park-esque exterior would fit with the Moutain West Conference member's surroundings.

Bryant-Denny Stadium expansion opening 2006
capacity 92238 first opened in 1929
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/8282/bdssouth0aq.png

I wonder what alabama's infatuation is with emulating all things Texas A&M. First, it was Bear Bryant, then it was copying the yell leaders, now, it is the monstrosity in their endzone that resembles A&M's pathetic "Zone"

http://encyclopedia.quickseek.com/images/Aerialkylefield.jpg

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/ajilling/TAMU02/Endzone.jpg


Here is a picture of the University of Texas' ultimate 115,000 seat buildout:

http://www.bevosports.com/images/futureDKR_lg.jpg

I wonder what alabama's infatuation is with emulating all things Texas A&M. First, it was Bear Bryant, then it was copying the yell leaders, now, it is the monstrosity in their endzone that resembles A&M's pathetic "Zone"

Not to mention some of the people they have in common:

http://www.firedennisfranchione.com/FranTAMU.jpg

sure they're big, but they're not very good

sure they're big, but they're not very good

What about Europe? Are the fans afraid of the rain or weather? That's why most American stadiums have limited roofs. The air flowing into them can change the outcome in the game. Go watch a windy outdoor American Football game, and you'll see why.

sure they're big, but they're not very good

good as in? If you mean fancy general seating areas, then yes, they are basic. These programs have plenty of money to build a Reliant if they really wanted to. That's not the object in college football, where basics of the game are paramount. More basic rules, less pumped in flash with more traditional pageantry. Basic uniforms, etc.

On the other hand luxury areas of college football stadiums >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the world. They're not only designed for corporate endeavors, but also to woo donations from "fat cat" alumni.

Franklin Field ( Penn ) :
http://sportslineinc.com/track_gallery/Penn_Track.jpg
http://www.destinationpenn.com/images/ffield.jpg
Harvard stadium :
http://www.skypic.com/sports/5-5704.jpg
Yale Bowl :
http://www.tailgatershandbook.com/images/yale4.jpg
Wien stadium ( Columbia ) :
http://www.clarkcompanies.com/Site%20Revision/images/Large%20Project%20Photos/Columbia%20University.jpg
Brown stadium :
http://publish.netitor.com/photos/schools/brow/genrel/facilities/brow-faclitilies-stadium.jpg
Schoellkopf stadium ( Cornell ) :
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ny/tompkins/postcards/scstad.jpg
Memorial field ( Dartmouth ) :
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~sportpub/memorial2.jpg
Princeton stadium :
http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Ivy/Princeton/newaerial.jpg
http://www.falascamechanical.com/images/Princeton-Stadium.jpg
http://www.klaus-block.de/prsb.jpg

Franklin Field still looks cool, despite being old. Princeton has the only modern stadium in the Ivy league.

`The Harverd stadium is also classic mop

can somebody explain what "ivy league" means?

can somebody explain what "ivy league" means?

It means the prestigious universities, the american versions of oxford and Cambridge.

I would guess the name is linked to old ivy-clad structures.

Its probably where team sport began in the US just as it did in british public schools and universities. Only in Britain school sport died out, certainly as a spectator sport, when clubs and profesionalism came along.

In the 1800´s top cricket and rugby events in Britain were school and university fixtures.

can somebody explain what "ivy league" means?

The Ivy League is a group of 8 of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the US. While it originally was an athletics league, the term today symbolizes the heritage and academic prestige of these universities. These universities are known to be among the most exclusive, selective, and expensive in the US and the world.

Brown University - Providence, Rhode Island
Columbia University - New York, New York
Cornell University - Ithaca, New York
Dartmouth College - Hanover, New Hampshire
Harvard University - Cambridge, Massachusetts
Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey
University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Yale University - New Haven, Connecticut

I like the Harvard stadium

More pics of Harvard Stadium :
http://bryan.parno.net/fall02/harvardyale/big/Stadium.jpg
http://www.nothings.org/photos/2001/2001-08-15-P8152797.jpg
http://www.everythingharvard.com/images/photo2003.jpg

My take on college stadiums is that they're often (but not always) visually spoiled by their piecemeal development. Very few seem to have a uniform or cohesive design. One of the few that has had (Byrant-Denny) then seemingly goes out of its way to interrupt the aesthetic it had created. What was wrong with carrying on the second tier behind both endzones to create a 'finished' effect? Does that invite criticism of being a cookie-cutter?

For all its enormity, Beaver Stadium suffers from this syndrome, as does DKR (although the current imbalance will to a large extent be rescued if the final 115,000 masterplan comes to fruition).

Maybe someone will try to tell me that it's not an issue of budget or planning but a physical manifestation of the 'back-to-basics' philosophy of the college football experience. While I don't doubt that its selling point is its integrity, an antidote the corporate, polished, pricey NFL, I don't see why this has to translate to the architecture.

To me, Ohio Stadium has a very strong identity and it looks all the better for it. Old-style bowls like Michigan, Pasadena and the Coliseum seem to best reflect the stripped-down approach that the fans always cite. The only place you would see these old style crater-style grounds outside of the USA was in the old European Eastern Bloc (Leipzig, Warsaw and St. Petersburg spring to mind), and even there they've been replaced - well two of those three have (I'm not sure St. Petersburg has).

I still feel that of all the sports in the world, only US College football has the abundance of money, the promise of demand and even the will to spurn current never-mind-the-width-feel-the-quality trends in stadium design. If one of the Universities wanted to, they could truly create a super-stadium that pushes the boundaries of capacity as far as it can go. Like a 4-sided DKR with curved ends the old upper deck running right the way around. Something that gets close to a 150,000 capacity.

They all seem to be doing a good job of getting to 90-100,000 and precluding themselves from going further.

More pics of Harvard Stadium :
http://bryan.parno.net/fall02/harvardyale/big/Stadium.jpg
http://www.nothings.org/photos/2001/2001-08-15-P8152797.jpg
http://www.everythingharvard.com/images/photo2003.jpg

Off topic history:

Since this stadium couldn't expand, the modern-day passing rules for (American) football were put in.

http://www.nothings.org/photos/2001/2001-08-15-P8152797.jpg


You'd think with all the money sloshing around at Harvard, they could install a few seats! Considering they're housing some of America's (and the world's) most pampered arses, there is nowhere less appropriate for a stadium which is an incitement to a mass outbreak of haemorroids.

:-P

The Ivy League is a group of 8 of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the US. While it originally was an athletics league, the term today symbolizes the heritage and academic prestige of these universities. These universities are known to be among the most exclusive, selective, and expensive in the US and the world.

Brown University - Providence, Rhode Island
Columbia University - New York, New York
Cornell University - Ithaca, New York
Dartmouth College - Hanover, New Hampshire
Harvard University - Cambridge, Massachusetts
Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey
University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Yale University - New Haven, Connecticut



kingdomca and asohn,thanks.Can you also explain why these Uni's have smaller staduims than the others?.Are they smaller Colleges?

kingdomca and asohn,thanks.Can you also explain why these Uni's have smaller staduims than the others?.Are they smaller Colleges?


generally they are considerably smaller then the big state schools and most public universities. Also their major sport programs are usually not very good nationally (with lacrosse a possiable exception) since they have tougher academic standards for their student athletes so they don't often get the better athletes.

generally they are considerably smaller then the big state schools and most public universities. Also their major sport programs are usually not very good nationally (with lacrosse a possiable exception) since they have tougher academic standards for their student athletes so they don't often get the better athletes.

thanks for that,always found it strange that you could get a scholarship to College based on being able to run very fast in a straight line
if we had the same system in the UK,i might have got a University place.Instead purely because i'm as dumb as an ox,i was barred from entry.. :)

Bryant-Denny Stadium could not be continued in the original design because the 2 current upper decks were not identical. One had luxury suites and the other had the press box and an extra small seating level, making for a height difference of six feet between the 2. Since the new deck would not be able to connect with both of the other two, they left a gap between the new one and the old ones, and created a slightly different, yet similar design.

Your Beaver Stadium pics are out of date, also we can get in 109,000+

http://clarinets.bands.uiuc.edu/Pictures/PennState/images/ar_jpg.jpg

http://www.miamidolphins.co.uk/images/nflarticles/RoadTrip2004---Penn-State-k.jpg

http://www.alexanderbuilding.com/images/gallery_images/51BeaverStadium.jpg

http://userpages.umbc.edu/~cowan1/2003-09%20(Sep)/beaver%20stadium.JPG

http://naproom.mu.nu/pics/beaver-stadium-lg-thumb.jpg

Someone find the old thread? It had so many good pictures

You'd think with all the money sloshing around at Harvard, they could install a few seats! Considering they're housing some of America's (and the world's) most pampered arses, there is nowhere less appropriate for a stadium which is an incitement to a mass outbreak of haemorroids.

:-P

that should stop questions about bench seating in college stadiums. Its a tradition thing, nothing to do with money.

My take on college stadiums is that they're often (but not always) visually spoiled by their piecemeal development. Very few seem to have a uniform or cohesive design. One of the few that has had (Byrant-Denny) then seemingly goes out of its way to interrupt the aesthetic it had created. What was wrong with carrying on the second tier behind both endzones to create a 'finished' effect? Does that invite criticism of being a cookie-cutter?

For all its enormity, Beaver Stadium suffers from this syndrome, as does DKR (although the current imbalance will to a large extent be rescued if the final 115,000 masterplan comes to fruition).

Maybe someone will try to tell me that it's not an issue of budget or planning but a physical manifestation of the 'back-to-basics' philosophy of the college football experience. While I don't doubt that its selling point is its integrity, an antidote the corporate, polished, pricey NFL, I don't see why this has to translate to the architecture.

To me, Ohio Stadium has a very strong identity and it looks all the better for it. Old-style bowls like Michigan, Pasadena and the Coliseum seem to best reflect the stripped-down approach that the fans always cite. The only place you would see these old style crater-style grounds outside of the USA was in the old European Eastern Bloc (Leipzig, Warsaw and St. Petersburg spring to mind), and even there they've been replaced - well two of those three have (I'm not sure St. Petersburg has).

I still feel that of all the sports in the world, only US College football has the abundance of money, the promise of demand and even the will to spurn current never-mind-the-width-feel-the-quality trends in stadium design. If one of the Universities wanted to, they could truly create a super-stadium that pushes the boundaries of capacity as far as it can go. Like a 4-sided DKR with curved ends the old upper deck running right the way around. Something that gets close to a 150,000 capacity.

They all seem to be doing a good job of getting to 90-100,000 and precluding themselves from going further.

i just think you simply don't understand college football. Example. Oilman T. Boone Pickens recently donate a few hundred million dollars to Oklahoma State's football program. Are they trying to build Reliant Stadium? nope. That's simply not what its about. I know that its something different from the outside and likely hard to understand. I wish for a little more conventional from the stadiums, but not too much. Too much uniformity is boring and architecturally causes a need for ornamentation. I prefer the functional oddities of an Autzen Stadium or Soldier Field.

that should stop questions about bench seating in college stadiums. Its a tradition thing, nothing to do with money.

I know, I know!

Can you not see the irony, though? The most expensive academic institution in the world invites its clientele to sit on bare concrete because of its Greek-influenced, corinthian values and traditions.

Of course, I'm familiar with the concept. In the UK, we have lots things that are shit because of tradition - but then we also have lots of things that are shit because [whoever] can't/won't pay more for better facilities. American tourists who encounter this usually think this is 'quaint' and because it's 'England', it's okay.

Conversely, it's very rare to see things kept deliberately shit for the sake of tradition in the US - and especially ironic when it's somewhere where there's enough money to buy a small country. Bench seating is fine. But no actual seating at all?! Probably only Harvard could get away with that.

i just think you simply don't understand college football. Example. Oilman T. Boone Pickens recently donate a few hundred million dollars to Oklahoma State's football program. Are they trying to build Reliant Stadium? nope. That's simply not what its about. I know that its something different from the outside and likely hard to understand. I wish for a little more conventional from the stadiums, but not too much. Too much uniformity is boring and architecturally causes a need for ornamentation. I prefer the functional oddities of an Autzen Stadium or Soldier Field.

Maybe I understand it more than you think I do - from the outside.

I would never have mentioned Reliant as to do so confuses the issue as it represents more than just architectural uniformity. It also carries connotations of modernity which I know is not necessarily the 'point' of college sport.

I understand and admire the fact that college culture rejects the polished sophistication of the NFL. I appreciate that it is about the stripped-down experience with bench seating, old-fashioned parades without the cup-holders, WiFi access, etc. etc.

I was just bemoaning the fact that there doesn't seem to be a plan to push the boundaries of capacity, even in the long term, beyond UT's intended 115k. Where extensions are built, they often appear out of place almost to the extent of being ad hoc in their design.

I take your point about functional oddities, albeit a personal view borne of aesthetics. I'm not sure you can compare Soldier Field's daring attempt to break conventions with, say, Kyle Field's ugly pragmatism and describe them both as having 'functional oddities' as if they are in any way comparable. Of all the venues above, I would say that Neyland is the most comfortable with its completed style. As I also intimated earlier, the same could be said to be true of the old single-tier 'bowls' at Ann Arbor, LA and Pasadena.

Imagine Beaver Stadium with its rounded endzone 2&3 tiers extended throughout. Imagine the numbers it could accommodate. With its unclad supports, it would still retain its credentials. And yet from the experience of other college stadia, its next extension is more likely to be a different shape. Like Texas, it might be for reasons of planning conditions. Or like Bryant-Denny, it may be through lack of foresight in the construction of the previous elements.

I'm not criticising the colleges for this. They all have hugely impressive monuments to their sporting and cultural prowess. I'm just surprised that at least one of them hasn't appeared to pursue a 'sky's-the-limit' model which has the potential to be greater than all of them.

@EADGBE

I have a season ticket at Beaver Stadium and I think you will find that if it was rounded the whole way the experience would be ruined. Out of the exposed corners you can see Mount Nittany and Downtown State College. I really like open corners on stadiums as you can feel the full setting, Highbury is a good example.

http://usera.imagecave.com/zaqattaq/dtwhiteout.jpg

http://xfe.xanga.com/a1f876e14343016639164/b11974613.jpg

I have some more pictures of Beaver Stadium

http://usera.imagecave.com/zaqattaq/n9321722_30208872_1442.jpg

http://usera.imagecave.com/zaqattaq/tritier.jpg

http://imagearchive.psu.edu/albums/batches/beaver_stadium1.jpg

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/8/8a/250px-Campus_078.JPG

http://www.wpsu.org/ourtown/statecollege/Paterno.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Shermian/College-scapes/IMG_0093.jpg

http://sportsmagick.com/images/prods/9918.jpg

[QUOTE=EADGBE]Maybe I understand it more than you think I do - from the outside.
[quote]

From reading that post, no. You(and others) are simply not grasping things. the points I should make.

a.) All of these big schools have 'buildout' plans. You get to a point of efficiency for a given era. College football is reaching that now like European soccer and the NFL already have. You're already seeing a new emphasis on things besides seating capacity for the huge stadiums. So the buildouts aren't planned at 200,000. The schools aren't growing to the point where that's needed for 100 years or more.

b.) The ridiculous notion of comfort, views and symmetry somehow being related is just that...............a notion. Neyland loses a lot vs some of the other stadiums. If designed today, the last expansions of Neyland would have looked completely different. It should be a stacked type design. The overall design reflects expansions before the modern era. I bet it gets an Ohio Stadium like makeover.

shit and tradition aren't the same. To think the big college stadiums are shit as you say is simply a wrong impression. They are just old and have benches, but are very well maintained.

It means the prestigious universities, the american versions of oxford and Cambridge.

Nah, mate, it's the American version of the Russel Group in the UK, innit? It's a hell of a lot more than Oxbrdge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Group#The_members

Cool, I went to a "Russell Group" university :). Doesn't have quite the same cachet as "Ivy League" though...

What gets me is how far down the top universities in the UK list some of the Russel Group ones are.

Ranatanamo,

Maybe I don't understand, or maybe we're just having a discussion about aesthetics, in which case we will both think we're right - and I can respect that.

I still have my views, many of them based on the (possibly naive) notion that this is a quite unique situation in world sport where both demand and funding are seemingly in abundance. It seems incongruous to me that the supply of extra seating to harness this demand is not done in a more organised fashion in order to maximise future capacity. In a nutshell, the laws of supply and demand come first.

I'm not sure I accept unreservedly your point that all stadia have a buildout plan, even though I'm sure many do. If that was truly the case though, then somewhere in the corridors of Penn State or Alabama there must be 10-plus-year-old buildout models (like the one we've seen of DKR) showing them exactly as they are today. I simply can't believe that these very different elements were all planned deliberately from the very start.

If they're not deliberately built differently, then surely future extensions are compromised in terms of either size or aesthetic.

Fundamentally, we are just viewing the situation from different perspectives. Mine is one of marketing and economic rationale, whereas yours I would say is one of design and architectural considerations.

Zaqattaq,

Great pics! I do take your point about the design of Beaver Stadium having other features to consider, like the way it incorporates the surrounding scenery - which may or may not have been deemed important enough to incorporate into its design over the years. I tend not to share your personal preference for open corners but again, that's just an issue of aesthetics.

BTW, I hope this hasn't come across as criticism of Beaver Stadium. I'm sure it's even more imposing in the flesh (so to speak) than it appears on the pictures and it must have a fantastic atmosphere when it's full.

I have a few slightly mischievous questions. Which of the two endzone extensions do you prefer? Would you rather they both matched? Finally, is it as big as it can be - or how many fans do you think it could be extended to accommodate, given the chance?

EADGBE,

The two stadium extensions came a decade apart. The north one in 1991 and the two tier south extention in 2001. As for preference the new two tier one is much more comfortable as it has NFL style stadium seats. It also features a large restaurant and other amenities which face Mt. Nittany. It is hard to really explain but the mountain has sort of a sacred value for the fans which is why I would not want to see the view restricted. I have to say I also like the two different endzone extensions as it adds character. If you look at the luxury boxes on the east side vs the old press boxes on the west you can see how the stadium has been built up over the years.

I cannot see the capacity rising higher in the near future but they may eventually have to rebuild the east and west stands; they do seem quite rusty in some parts

I do not think I higher capacity is really needed though, for big games extra stands are added in the concourses. The largest ever attendence was 110,753 in 2002 which is higher than there is actual seats.

Here is a shot I took yesterday from downtown

http://usera.imagecave.com/zaqattaq/DSC00158copy.jpg

The size of these things impress me, but not the style. Im a fan of stadiums that offer more of a closed feeling, like a box. Even a limtied roof would do wonders, and it would help the game, since the noise would bounce back in.

Im a fan of Estadio Azteca as a big stadium. Not a bowl, but also offers the huge size.

Dartmouth's stadium looks ridiculous. :laugh:

thanks for that,always found it strange that you could get a scholarship to College based on being able to run very fast in a straight line
if we had the same system in the UK,i might have got a University place.Instead purely because i'm as dumb as an ox,i was barred from entry..
Actually, Ivy League universities do not offer academic merit or athletic scholarships. All money given to students is based on student-need (and all Ivy League universities are need-blind, meaning they do not look at how much money you need to determine your acceptance, as almost all the Ivys have greater than $1 billion in endowment.)

kingdomca and asohn,thanks.Can you also explain why these Uni's have smaller staduims than the others?.Are they smaller Colleges?
Yes, most are smaller than your general state school. Smallest is Dartmouth at around 4000 undergraaduates, Princeton has around 5000, largest is cornell at around 20000 undergraduates).


Also their major sport programs are usually not very good nationally (with lacrosse a possiable exception) since they have tougher academic standards for their student athletes so they don't often get the better athletes.
Well, better athletes tend to go to better athletic schools. THats a major deterrant. IF you are on the top of an Ivy recruit list, you wouldn't have a problem getting into the school. (Of course, you wouldn't get athletic money either, another problem with many athletes.) Ivies are generally good at hte sports no one cares about...ie crew, lacrosse, fencing, field hockey...

Im a fan of Estadio Azteca as a big stadium. Not a bowl, but also offers the huge size.

credibility out the window. sorry.

Ranatanamo,

Maybe I don't understand, or maybe we're just having a discussion about aesthetics, in which case we will both think we're right - and I can respect that.

I still have my views, many of them based on the (possibly naive) notion that this is a quite unique situation in world sport where both demand and funding are seemingly in abundance. It seems incongruous to me that the supply of extra seating to harness this demand is not done in a more organised fashion in order to maximise future capacity. In a nutshell, the laws of supply and demand come first.

I'm not sure I accept unreservedly your point that all stadia have a buildout plan, even though I'm sure many do. If that was truly the case though, then somewhere in the corridors of Penn State or Alabama there must be 10-plus-year-old buildout models (like the one we've seen of DKR) showing them exactly as they are today. I simply can't believe that these very different elements were all planned deliberately from the very start.

If they're not deliberately built differently, then surely future extensions are compromised in terms of either size or aesthetic.

Fundamentally, we are just viewing the situation from different perspectives. Mine is one of marketing and economic rationale, whereas yours I would say is one of design and architectural considerations.



I think you have that backwards, as far as our perspectives go, which again shows the fundamental misunderstanding here. Let's use Penn State as a function of college football economics. Take away the upper decks and luxury box areas and you have a pretty basic stadium. You have a team with basic(very basic, LOL) Uniforms that slightly change every 30 years if that. Older paternal type coach. Basic grass field. These are the economic fundamentals of college football. The jerseys sell no matter what. Students, alumni and fans love the school over players and jersey style. Huge contrast to professional sports in the U.S. These fans don't have to be wowed to attend games. Decent effort by the team is usually enough. So the base basic bowl reflects that aspect. Now we switch to the larger decks and luxury boxes. These have to be nicer than what is seen in your average professional stadium. These areas are all about generating donations for the athletic programs in addition to your standard executive backroom dealings. Seats have to be closer to the field, Design has to be very current. It often creates something differentiated from the basic bowl. It is therefor purely economic, and is part of my contention that Neyland could be more effectively built. A solid two tier bowl looks the best, there should likely be lots of suites in the endzones and closer decks. That's economic. Its functional. Creating Emirates Stadium does nothing for this economic model. It just traps you into a set number of suites and the more costly proposition of having to dig down to create more of what you need. Don't let the uniform looking buildout( yes these schools have extensive buildout plans in and outside of the stadiums) of DKR fool you. The new decks and seating are built to get suites closer to the field in bigger numbers. You simply have a school surging in many areas( economically, academically, student body, alumni population, international reputation for research) that at the same time is expanding fan base in a growing state. They will enclose the stadium when more luxury suites are needed. In 50 years, they'll draft another buildout or new stadium based on those new needs. Its ultra economic and much less wasteful than having to build a new stadium every 30 years( that's where pro sports is right now to keep up with the joneses) Church.

credibility out the window. sorry.

Ah of course, only your noble opinion is valid.

^ guys, lets keep this civil

Regarding DKR, when the east side upperdeck was planned and built, there was an ordinance in place that kept it from matching the larger west side upperdeck. It had to do with sightlines and whatnot. Austin is the capital of Texas and there were laws about sightlines to the capital building. I believe that those are now gone.

But I don't mind it. I find beauty in things that aren't symmetrical. To me, if DKR had been totally enclosed with the same size upperdeck all the way around, it'd be too plain. Now it'll stand out. It's like a signature.

In 2 years, DKR will be one of the best looking stadiums in the country.


I also find stadiums with exposed supports and walkways ugly. Tennessee's Neyland has a horrid exterior. Penn State's stadium looks like it was built with an erector set in places. But I like that stadium overall. The bowl stadiums are ok, but I don't like the architecture. People like them because of their history and mystique more than anything.

Oh, I forgot to add that I do agree in part with EADGBE about the piecemeal look of some of these stadiums. A lot of these were built back in the 1920's or so. Instead of starting over with a new stadium, the universities renovate and expand them. Some places look no further than added seats. They don't think about how it's going to look (Texas A&M's Kyle Field). It's almost like they build it in pieces in different locations, then bring them all together in one place to create a stadium.
Even Ohio Stadium is a bit off. The horseshoe is great, but that endzone structure is just kind of stuck in there.

I think the powers at Texas have taken the right approach with DKR. The orange brick facade on the east side will be used on the new north endzone expansion as well. I'm holding out hope that they will put the same brick on the west side as well. Right now, it's just gray concrete. I'd like for it to match in that regard.

shit and tradition aren't the same. To think the big college stadiums are shit as you say is simply a wrong impression. They are just old and have benches, but are very well maintained.

I know they aren't the same thing, but tradition is often used as mitigation when something is shit. Probably more often here than anywhere else!

Of course, I am sure the facilities are perfectly maintained - that's not what I meant by 'shit' - which I admit is rather a flippant description.

For many years the argument went that yes, the old Wembley was shit, but hey, it was a monument to its past, so you had to put up with it. A better analogy of Harvard's stadium would be something like The All England Club at Wimbledon, circa 10 years ago. The wholly inadequate capacity of the old Court #1 and the resolute refusal to contemplate a roof on Centre Court, in defiance of the unpredictable British summer were both glaring problems it faced. Even so, for years and years, Wimbledon's charms, character and tradition compromised advances in spectator comfort and value that other venues would not dare to ignore.

All I'm saying is that if it was anywhere else in the US than Harvard, the seating amenities would not be compromised by the sense of tradition (and it looks more like 'bench-style' bare concrete to me than actual benches). This in a nation that has such high standards on this area that it replaces an iconic stadium like Mile High with a better version 200 yards away. That's the other huge irony here.

I know these old institutions are staid and even embrace their lack of modernity as part of their brand, but even Wimbledon has built a proper Court #1 and should have the Centre Court roof done for next year. I'm struggling to think of an organisation with a reputation for being more fuddy-duddy than The All England Club, so it seems to me that Harvard really is going out of its way to put tradition before spectator amenity.

Harvard is a college. Not a private corporation. Why they hell should they really be putting spectator amenity above tradition when it's primary job is EDUCATION.

It ain't Manchester United or Real Madrid for a reason. ;)

Harvard is a college. Not a private corporation. Why they hell should they really be putting spectator amenity above tradition when it's primary job is EDUCATION.

Actually, the Athletic Departments for universities and colleges ARE private corporations, and are financially autonomous from the institutions of higher learning of which they represent.

For example the University of Texas funds its entire athletic department of 16 sports (scholarships, field maintanance, stadium upgrades, coaches salaries, staff, etc), including Football, basketball, baseball, golf, swimming&diving, tennis, track&field, volleyball, softball, women's basketball, women's golf, women's tennis, women's soccer, women's swimming&diving, women's track&field, and rowing from donations, merchandise, bowl game money, tv revenue, and ticket sales.

Colleges and universities are very much in the business of sports marketing, especially when it can globalize their brand and bring people to their university. You should check out the stats sometime on college applications following an NCAA Football or Basketball championship. I bet U of Texas and U of Florida had a gigantic spike in applications.

Harvard is a college. Not a private corporation. Why they hell should they really be putting spectator amenity above tradition when it's primary job is EDUCATION.

It ain't Manchester United or Real Madrid for a reason. ;)





if its primary job is education(i thought sport was part of education)why bother having sports facilities at all?

if its primary job is education(i thought sport was part of education)why bother having sports facilities at all?
Sport is a part of well being. Or are athletic facilities non-existant in Brit universities. And if they are present, are they luxurious settings or more humbling reflecting different motivations from professional sports, or a more humble affair? ;)

Actually, the Athletic Departments for universities and colleges ARE private corporations, and are financially autonomous from the institutions of higher learning of which they represent.

For example the University of Texas funds its entire athletic department of 16 sports (scholarships, field maintanance, stadium upgrades, coaches salaries, staff, etc), including Football, basketball, baseball, golf, swimming&diving, tennis, track&field, volleyball, softball, women's basketball, women's golf, women's tennis, women's soccer, women's swimming&diving, women's track&field, and rowing from donations, merchandise, bowl game money, tv revenue, and ticket sales.

Colleges and universities are very much in the business of sports marketing, especially when it can globalize their brand and bring people to their university. You should check out the stats sometime on college applications following an NCAA Football or Basketball championship. I bet U of Texas and U of Florida had a gigantic spike in applications.
Fantastic. We are not talking about the U of T, but of the Ivy Leagues, where the focus of the university is justifiably on education, not like some other schools. Frankly, do you want a student in your university whose sole motivating factor is "well, like, I saw your team won and I thought it would rock to go to a university that has a good ping pong team, as this will really like, make me have a good job and stuff :crazy2: "

Sport is a part of well being. Or are athletic facilities non-existant in Brit universities. And if they are present, are they luxurious settings or more humbling reflecting different motivations from professional sports, or a more humble affair? ;)



I'll let you know when i've worked out what the f*ck you are talking about

Fantastic. We are not talking about the U of T, but of the Ivy Leagues, where the focus of the university is justifiably on education, not like some other schools. Frankly, do you want a student in your university whose sole motivating factor is "well, like, I saw your team won and I thought it would rock to go to a university that has a good ping pong team, as this will really like, make me have a good job and stuff :crazy2: "

I was just using Texas as an example. What is said applies to all Universities.

Harvard, Yale, Penn, etc very much advertise their sports programs in which they are good at. They would MUCH rather offer tuition to a stellar lacrosse player, basketball player, or football player with an above 4.0 GPA than someone who is not. Having recognizable sports is one way to gain free advertising for your university.


Frankly, do you want a student in your university whose sole motivating factor is "well, like, I saw your team won and I thought it would rock to go to a university that has a good ping pong team, as this will really like, make me have a good job and stuff :crazy2: "

Whether you think its just or not, it most certainly happens ... perhaps not as obvious as "I saw your team won [...]", but it definately markets the university and increases its visibility.

I'm somewhat of a college athletics freak, so beleive that i know what i'm talking about.

It was only a tongue-in-cheek comment that the most privileged arses in the richest country on earth are forced onto concrete seating with all the mod cons of a Greek amphitheatre. Almost any other stadium of any significance in the Western world would have to address the issue and install seats of some form or other. Only Harvard's unique esteem allows this situation to exist/persist.

It's since spiralled into some sort of debate about the historic nature of the institution of Harvard, the role of sport in education and the role of commercial activity in the American University system. I think there's a severe oubreak of missing-the-point, here.

I have nothing against Harvard, America or its College system. In fact, I admire the way that NCAA is a pseudo-professional entity. I wish our universities had a fraction of their facilities and funding. I was just highlighting what I thought to be a massive irony. Maybe irony is one thing we do far better here in the UK...

It's since spiralled into some sort of debate about the historic nature of the institution of Harvard, the role of sport in education and the role of commercial activity in the American University system. I think there's a severe oubreak of missing-the-point, here.


Dude, this entire website is a case study in severe "missing-the-point-itis", "douchebag-aphoma", and "chronic off-topic-rrhea"

Wow !
Great pics! Hugely impressive monuments.
Sky is the limit!

With all due respect 40, Bear Bryant was a Bama alum. We didn't so much "steal" him from A&M as much as he came home.

The north endzone expansion of Bryant Denny Stadium was done the way it was because of the issues mentioned earlier. The new addition makes the stadium look MUCH larger from the inside and actually gives it an imposing feel. The exterior of the new expansion is even nicer. The exterior of the north end zone is stunning. I agree with everyone on Neyland too. It's a great setting and a loud stadium but it's basically a giant erector set. You get the feeling the whole stadium would come down if you loosened one bolt or screw on that giant tinker toy.

I'm a big fan of Beaver Stadium (Penn State). That stadium looks good when it's full. I also like Sanford Stadium at Georgia a lot too. Anyone who has been in Athens and riden along the drive along the open end of the stadium knows what I'm talking about. It has a really cool configuration.

Speaking of Bryant-Denny Stadium, here are some post construction photos.
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/3/36/400px-Bds_night_aerial_cropped.jpg
http://origin.xosn.com/pics25/1024/IN/INMANBAYXYAZHIX.20060906143452.jpg
http://ourstudentsourfuture.ua.edu/images/sidephoto_13.jpg

anybody got new pictures of Stanfords new stadium

http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/26/26/4/77/25/2291477250037037243ZWsxuN_th.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2291477250037037243ZWsxuN)
http://thumb18.webshots.net/t/59/759/5/80/29/2484580290061492298LGVABE_th.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2484580290061492298LGVABE)
http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/34/34/8/17/93/2817817930037037243izyKGz_th.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2817817930037037243izyKGz)

but seriously, why there's no roof on most of them. i'm not even talking from the perspective of aesthetics, i've heard that college games generate a good atmosphere, certainly better than nfl, so the roof could improve it further and make the ground moody if you know what i mean. do they consider something like an advantage of home support when they build them stadiums or it's not that important in america?

They just don't want them. Leave them to it or we'll have another bout of transatlantic "you just don't get it" exchanges.

but seriously, why there's no roof on most of them. i'm not even talking from the perspective of aesthetics, i've heard that college games generate a good atmosphere, certainly better than nfl, so the roof could improve it further and make the ground moody if you know what i mean. do they consider something like an advantage of home support when they build them stadiums or it's not that important in america?

Home support, crowd noise, atmosphere etc. etc. are regarded as extremely important. In some cases the stomping and screaming of the fans are registered by nearby labs as earthquakes. This can have a huge effect on opposing teams by intimidating and distracting them.

I don't see how adding a covering would change that fact, or somehow make people scream and stomp more...

One thing that really adds to a college football game in America for the fans is the elemental factor. If it's raining, stadiums will still sell out, and the fans will watch in the rain - just as the players will play in the rain. It's a very unifying experience that just has to be experienced to be believed.

I'm not saying "you don't get it" or whatever... I'm just saying it's different, and we like it that way.

http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/26/26/4/77/25/2291477250037037243ZWsxuN_th.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2291477250037037243ZWsxuN)
http://thumb18.webshots.net/t/59/759/5/80/29/2484580290061492298LGVABE_th.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2484580290061492298LGVABE)
http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/34/34/8/17/93/2817817930037037243izyKGz_th.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2817817930037037243izyKGz)

much appreciated

In some cases the stomping and screaming of the fans are registered by nearby labs as earthquakes.

Anybody remember which year where Baton Rouge registered an earthquake? All I know is it was an Auburn-LSU game.

One thing that really adds to a college football game in America for the fans is the elemental factor. If it's raining, stadiums will still sell out, and the fans will watch in the rain - just as the players will play in the rain. It's a very unifying experience that just has to be experienced to be believed.

I'm not saying "you don't get it" or whatever... I'm just saying it's different, and we like it that way.

I remember in 2000 when Alabama played Auburn at Bryant-Denny, it was sleeting during the game, in which Auburn unfortunately won 9-0. Even in the sleet however, there were still over 83000 in a sold out stadium, and everyone was out in the sleet watching. Even with the bad result, it was still one of my more memorable experiences.

The weather also adds a little bit of a strategic effect for the teams involved.

Home support, crowd noise, atmosphere etc. etc. are regarded as extremely important. In some cases the stomping and screaming of the fans are registered by nearby labs as earthquakes. This can have a huge effect on opposing teams by intimidating and distracting them.

I don't see how adding a covering would change that fact, or somehow make people scream and stomp more...

adding a roof improves acoustics by not letting the soundwaves escape the stadium.

One thing that really adds to a college football game in America for the fans is the elemental factor. If it's raining, stadiums will still sell out, and the fans will watch in the rain - just as the players will play in the rain. It's a very unifying experience that just has to be experienced to be believed.

I'm not saying "you don't get it" or whatever... I'm just saying it's different, and we like it that way.

i never really considered something like that, yeah i guess the unification is a good reason, it's just that i like when the ground is dark, you know when floodlights are on, you don't see the back rows when standing on the pitch, it creates an impression that stand extends to infinity, even more so if it's raining or there s a fog

Amazing stadiums.So many of them too.

Some of my favorites that I didn't see represented:

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, N.C.
Kenan Stadium - 60,000
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/47614735_3ab3d51430.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danishkim/47614735/

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/319058652_7281d8f054.jpg?v=0http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/2344865366_82deeeb2ae.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovesher/319058652/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/24803471@N06/2344865366/


University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA
Scott Stadium - 61,500
http://www.nmnathletics.com.edgesuite.net/pics21/300/UN/UNBRNRAKUKHTGQR.20070802152102.jpg
http://www.virginiasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=17800&KEY=&ATCLID=1134404

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/61459262_261cfeb270.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/32/40583433_3636dfb2f7.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsxman50/61459262/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/d0/40583433/


Georgia Institute of Technology - Atlanta, GA
Bobby Dodd Stadium - 55,000 (oldest Division I football stadium)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/116/302002958_f244d7686a.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattandcarla/302002958/in/photostream/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2306/1656580533_26c0d20e1c.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/35/104274712_66f152d4fc.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11664768@N08/1656580533/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/financebuzz/104274712/


Wake Forest University - Winston-Salem, N.C.
BB&T Field - 32,000 (one of the smallest in NCAA Division I)
http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/wake/graphics/groves-07-400.jpg
http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/facilities/wake-groves.html

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2548280860_e08b291d7d.jpg?v=0http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2547461045_fa99f6cc96.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrjincks/2548280860/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrjincks/2547461045/


N.C. State University - Raleigh, N.C.
Carter-Finley Stadium - 60,000
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Carter-Finley_Stadium.jpg/800px-Carter-Finley_Stadium.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Carter-Finley_Stadium.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/82/251789907_c20de329d2.jpg?v=0http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2141844196_88db601e35.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/christopherskillman/251789907/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/nguzzo/2141844196/

Some of my favorites that I didn't see represented:

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, N.C.
Kenan Stadium - 60,000
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/47614735_3ab3d51430.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danishkim/47614735/

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/319058652_7281d8f054.jpg?v=0http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/2344865366_82deeeb2ae.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovesher/319058652/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/24803471@N06/2344865366/


University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA
Scott Stadium - 61,500
http://www.nmnathletics.com.edgesuite.net/pics21/300/UN/UNBRNRAKUKHTGQR.20070802152102.jpg
http://www.virginiasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=17800&KEY=&ATCLID=1134404

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/61459262_261cfeb270.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/32/40583433_3636dfb2f7.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsxman50/61459262/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/d0/40583433/


Georgia Institute of Technology - Atlanta, GA
Bobby Dodd Stadium - 55,000 (oldest Division I football stadium)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/116/302002958_f244d7686a.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattandcarla/302002958/in/photostream/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2306/1656580533_26c0d20e1c.jpg?v=0http://farm1.static.flickr.com/35/104274712_66f152d4fc.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11664768@N08/1656580533/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/financebuzz/104274712/


Wake Forest University - Winston-Salem, N.C.
BB&T Field - 32,000 (one of the smallest in NCAA Division I)
http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/wake/graphics/groves-07-400.jpg
http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/facilities/wake-groves.html

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2548280860_e08b291d7d.jpg?v=0http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2547461045_fa99f6cc96.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrjincks/2548280860/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrjincks/2547461045/


N.C. State University - Raleigh, N.C.
Carter-Finley Stadium - 60,000
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Carter-Finley_Stadium.jpg/800px-Carter-Finley_Stadium.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Carter-Finley_Stadium.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/82/251789907_c20de329d2.jpg?v=0http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2141844196_88db601e35.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/christopherskillman/251789907/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/nguzzo/2141844196/

i sense an ACC fan :lol:

Well...a North Carolina native too. My favorites aren't the largest capacity stadiums, but a couple of them are beautiful, no? :)

Kenan and BB&T in particular are often noted to be among the most picturesque college stadiums in the nation.

Well...a North Carolina native too. My favorites aren't the largest capacity stadiums, but a couple of them are beautiful, no? :)

Kenan and BB&T in particular are often noted to be among the most picturesque college stadiums in the nation.

beautiful?? well i guess thats why you left out wallace wade stadium haha

Bobby Dodd isn't nearly the oldest DI stadium though, Harvard's stadium dates back to 1903.

Bobby Dodd isn't nearly the oldest DI stadium though, Harvard's stadium dates back to 1903.

Hes probably talking about D1-A schools, of which Georgia Tech is a member, as opposed to D1-AA, which Harvard is a member.

True, true. Wake Forest's expansion/renovation turned out nice by the way. I still remember that blast-video when the old pressbox was gone in like 5 seconds :D

Bobby Dodd isn't nearly the oldest DI stadium though, Harvard's stadium dates back to 1903.

My bad...the oldest Division I-A stadium, built in 1913 and expanded multiple times. If you've ever seen a game there it's age is obvious...

^ ^ ^ Re: Bobby Dodd Stadium at Grant Field.

My web name shows where my allegiance lies, obviously, but as an architecture grad from that great school I'm so sad to see how they've butchered the facility since 1987. The renovations have been based on cost savings (read: cheap) and lack of land, since the campus is in the heart of Atlanta. Compounding the issues, however, is that the subsequent products erected on the site haven't maximized space (IMO), made future expansion all the more difficult, and essentially killed the atmosphere.

The last renovation raised capacity from 48k to 55k, but since the bulk of the cost included a renovation of the old east stand (seats behind columns, no plumbing), the new north stands (behind the end zone) had to be done on the cheap. This prohibited any graceful coordination with the historic west stand or a renovation of the Edge building, and resulted in the grotesque monstrosity seen here. Those upper seats are so far from the other end zone it's truly sad.

http://www.ncaawiki.com/images/thumb/7/7a/Bds.jpg/300px-Bds.jpg

Apparently they couldn't physically connect to the historic west stands or else federal law would've also required very expensive upgrades for compliance with disability accommodations. Apparently the powers that be couldn't at least try to visually match those stands, however, and create the appearance of a graceful bowl. The running joke has since been that GT went from playing in a glorified high school stadium to just the ugliest stadium in D1 football. :ohno:

I'm not going to be that much of an ACC homer as Weimie but I do feel that Scott, Kenan (The Pines!) and Groves (BB&T) stadiums are among the most picturesque going. Not only are the facilities themselves very nice, but the surrounding area and overall campus grounds are quite beautiful. Games at Wake Forest are a pleasant treat, IMO.

NCSU's additions to Cater-Finley are also very good, but they need to fix up the concession area behind the other long stands. Bathrooms are not so nice there.

Was I being a homer? I did grow up in Winston-Salem and I'm a life-long Wake fan, but I just wanted to add some stadiums where I've seen a few games over the years that hadn't been mentioned. The only other one not yet mentioned that I've visited is at East Carolina University...Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium - 43,000. Go Pirates!

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/ConfUSA/EastCarolina/aerial.gif
http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/ConfUSA/EastCarolina/index.htm

http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/ecu/graphics/auto/dowdy-ficklen.jpg
http://ecupirates.cstv.com/facilities/ecu-facilities-dowdy.html

Was I being a homer? Not a zealous one, but you did pick stadiums only from the ACC and, to be honest, very few in the conference would qualify as "cathedrals" of the game. The spirit of the thread is to recognize the game's greatest venues, not just list every facility available. Groves Stadium is really nice, but not something that a die-hard fan HAS to see before he dies. See where (I believe) we're headed?

To wit, Dowdy-Ficklen is among those that doesn't "fit in" here. I'd say the true cathedrals of the college game would be thus:

Yale Bowl
Harvard Stadium
Franklin Field (Penn)
Beaver Stadium (PSU)
Michigan Stadium
Ohio Stadium
Notre Dame Stadium
Rose Bowl
Husky Stadium (Washington)
Michie Stadium (Army)
Memorial Stadium (Nebraska)
Memorial Stadium (Oklahoma)
Memorial Stadium (Clemson)
Royal Memorial Stadium (Texas)
LaVell Edwards Stadium (BYU)
Doak Campbell (FSU)
Bryant Denny (Bama)
Sanford (UGA)
Neyland (Tenn)
Tiger Stadium (LSU)

Honorable Mention
Bobby Dodd Stadium at Grant Field (GT)
Vaught Hemingway (Ole Miss)
Kyle Field (TA&M)
Camp Randall (Wisc)
Kinnick Stadium (Iowa)
Jordan Hare (Auburn)
Sun Devil Stadium (ASU)
LA Coliseum (USC)
Kenan Stadium (UNC)
Scott Stadium (UVA)
Folsom Field (Col)
Spartan Stadium (MSU)
Ben Hill Griffin (UF)


Sure there are plenty of others that are large and have great atmospheres, but may (IMO) lack the history, setting or the grand architecture for me to include them right now. Take Williams Bryce for SC, or Ross Ade for Purdue as examples. If you're going to establish a top tier, however, there has to be something more than just being big or even having a great team. I'm also fortunate enough to say I've had the pleasure of going to 13 of the sites on my two lists!

Surely others will disagree, but that's the fun of such discussions, no? :cheers:

An historically significant story about Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (ECU is Conference USA):

On November 14, 1970, the visiting Marshall University Thundering Herd lost a game 17-14 to the Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, which ended with Marshall quarterback Ted Shoebridge controversially being called for intentional grounding on the last play of the game. Later that evening, while on approach to Huntington Tri-State Airport, the plane, which had been chartered to transport the Thundering Herd to and from Greenville, crashed, killing all seventy-five people on board.

On December 11, 2006, a plaque was erected at the visitors' entrance to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. It depicts the memorial fountain on the Marshall University campus.

I didn't realize there was definitive identity for a stadium to be considered one of the Cathedrals. One could be included for it's size (Cathedrals are big), it's beauty (Cathedrals are beautiful), it's status (Cathedrals are holy), etc...so I posted some pictures of stadiums where I've seen games and stadiums that I consider important and of Cathedral stature.

And it really depends on which team one is a "die-hard" fan of...if you're a die-hard Vanderbilt fan you'll want to see Vanderbilt Stadium before you die and you might not give flip about Sanford Stadium. It's all relative...I simply added a few that hadn't been mentioned thus far that I consider important, but I apologize if the photos I posted caused any heartache. :)

Was I being a homer? I did grow up in Winston-Salem and I'm a life-long Wake fan, but I just wanted to add some stadiums where I've seen a few games over the years that hadn't been mentioned.

Im a Wake alum and a football and basketball season ticket holder. Nice to see another fan. The new renovations have really improved the looks of the stadium. The best part is the new statue of the demon deacon:
http://www.jonhair.com/handler.cfm?cat_id=18342&cat_id=18344&cat_id=18348&lls_inline_frame_flag=Y&med_id=28627

Of the other college football stadiums Ive been to, Clemson is very big and loud, that stadium and the atmosphere is amazing, especially the new additions, however watching your favorite team get clobbered by the tigers isnt all that fun. Scott Stadium is a neat place. And as much as I dislike the Tar Heels, Kenan is a cool stadium.

Another college football stadium Ive been to is one of america's most interesting and historic multi-purpose stadiums, Bowman Gray Stadium, there is a 1/4 mile oval track surrounding the football field which has been hosting stock car races every saturday night during summer since 1949 (this is the minor leagues of NASCAR), the NASCAR grand national series (now Sprint Cup series) also raced there in the 60s. The stadium also hosted the Wake Forest Demon Deacons from 1956 until the construction of groves in 1967, and is now the home of the Winston-Salem State Rams football. Ive never seen a football game there but I have been to two races there and really enjoyed it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/bdogg187/800px-BowmanGray.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/bdogg187/bgstadium2.jpg

Hats off to you guys as Wake fans. I've always enjoyed my trips there and have yet to meet a Deacon fan I didn't like. Grobe is a great coach and I wish that program continued success. If only the school were a little larger...
I didn't realize there was definitive identity for a stadium to be considered one of the Cathedrals.

...

It's all relative...I simply added a few that hadn't been mentioned thus far that I consider important, but I apologize if the photos I posted caused any heartache. :) Fair enough. I agree that it's all in the eye of the beholder. Some of those I listed I truly have no interest in seeing myself. The point I was trying to make is that in the traditional message board context when someone refers to "the cathedrals of (insert sport here)," they're trying to identify the upper tier of those structures as represented by general consensus. Seemingly every year one media outlet or another ranks stadiums, especially for college football, and usually one of the grandest if referred to as a cathedral as a measure of reverence. And heaven knows I've participated in this type of discussion for nigh 18 years or so. Thus I've always interpreted the phrase via this metaphor - There are thousands of churches across the country, but only a limited number of cathedrals.

So, I'm certainly with you on saying it's all a matter of taste. I was simply trying to define that "limited number" as I suspect the majority of fans would call it. It's all good.

:cheers: Cheers.

Hats off to you guys as Wake fans. I've always enjoyed my trips there and have yet to meet a Deacon fan I didn't like. Grobe is a great coach and I wish that program continued success. If only the school were a little larger...
Fair enough. I agree that it's all in the eye of the beholder. Some of those I listed I truly have no interest in seeing myself. The point I was trying to make is that in the traditional message board context when someone refers to "the cathedrals of (insert sport here)," they're trying to identify the upper tier of those structures as represented by general consensus. Seemingly every year one media outlet or another ranks stadiums, especially for college football, and usually one of the grandest if referred to as a cathedral as a measure of reverence. And heaven knows I've participated in this type of discussion for nigh 18 years or so. Thus I've always interpreted the phrase via this metaphor - There are thousands of churches across the country, but only a limited number of cathedrals.

So, I'm certainly with you on saying it's all a matter of taste. I was simply trying to define that "limited number" as I suspect the majority of fans would call it. It's all good.

:cheers: Cheers.

I only posted 5 stadiums...that's a pretty limited number - it's not like I tried to show every college football stadium. So is it only the size of stadiums that makes them so revered? It seems like almost all of the prior ones in the thread were the largest in existence.

You said that history and tradition plays a part in a stadium's cathedral status, and it seems like it's more related to the football programs rather than the stadiums alone...so here is some history associated with my less-important cathedrals:

The South's Oldest Rivalry - Nickname for the annual UNC-UVA that was first played in 1892. The teams have played 112 times.

Victory Bell - the traveling trophy awarded to the winner of UNC-Duke (one of 3 Victory Bells in college football). The two teams have met 93 times beginning in 1889.

Wake Forest 6, North Carolina 4 - score of the first intercollegiate football game played in the state of North Carolin...October 18, 1888.

1945 - the first Gator Bowl football game, where Wake Forest defeated South Carolina 26-14 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Brian Piccolo - Wake Forest running back who led the nation in rushing and scoring and was 1964 ACC Player of the Year. His cancer struggle and death was made famous through the movie Brian's Song.

Georgia Tech - one of the Top 20 winningest Division I-A programs, was also the first team to win all four of the historical big four bowls - the Orange (1940), Sugar (1944), Cotton (1955) and Rose (1929). Tech's 22 bowl wins ranks 8th overall.

John Heisman - Heisman Trophy namesake, coached Georgia Tech to it's first (of 4 total) National Championship in 1917.

Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate - title of the Georgia Tech-UGA rivalry game, first played in 1893. The winner controls the Governor's Cup for the rest of the year.

War of the Broken Oar - Clemson-Georgia Tech rivalry game dating back to 1898.

Commonwealth Cup - UVA-Virginia Tech rivalry game that began in 1895.

Im a Wake alum and a football and basketball season ticket holder. Nice to see another fan. The new renovations have really improved the looks of the stadium. The best part is the new statue of the demon deacon:
http://www.jonhair.com/handler.cfm?cat_id=18342&cat_id=18344&cat_id=18348&lls_inline_frame_flag=Y&med_id=28627

Of the other college football stadiums Ive been to, Clemson is very big and loud, that stadium and the atmosphere is amazing, especially the new additions, however watching your favorite team get clobbered by the tigers isnt all that fun. Scott Stadium is a neat place. And as much as I dislike the Tar Heels, Kenan is a cool stadium.

Another college football stadium Ive been to is one of america's most interesting and historic multi-purpose stadiums, Bowman Gray Stadium, there is a 1/4 mile oval track surrounding the football field which has been hosting stock car races every saturday night during summer since 1949 (this is the minor leagues of NASCAR), the NASCAR grand national series (now Sprint Cup series) also raced there in the 60s. The stadium also hosted the Wake Forest Demon Deacons from 1956 until the construction of groves in 1967, and is now the home of the Winston-Salem State Rams football. Ive never seen a football game there but I have been to two races there and really enjoyed it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/bdogg187/800px-BowmanGray.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/bdogg187/bgstadium2.jpg

I became a forced WFU fan because my Dad graduated from Wake...it's a tough fanship with the other 3 Big Four schools and their throngs of fans throughout the state. After moving to Atlanta, I found that if you live outside of N.C. the Tarheels become easier to like...I think the reason many people hate UNC is because of the fans themselves - and every redneck in every corner of the state is a Carolina fan (much like UGA, UF, UT, etc. fans).

I went to a high school football game at Bowman Gray Stadium back in the 80's...West Forsyth alum here. :) It's definitely a neat old-school stadium that I hope isn't being torn apart by those races over all those years.

its college football time again!

Penn State vs Oregon State

snrpHC1N5fY

As a recent addition to the "hoosier nation" was a bit surprised to not see I.U.'s stadium not on here.

As a recent addition to the "hoosier nation" was a bit surprised to not see I.U.'s stadium not on here.

well Indianas not really a football powerhouse, but here you go

http://www.meanfactor.com/psu/stadiums/bloomington_memorial1.jpg

well Indianas not really a football powerhouse, but here you go

http://www.meanfactor.com/psu/stadiums/bloomington_memorial1.jpg

:ohno::ohno::ohno: My God that is terrible.

:ohno::ohno::ohno: My God that is terrible.

The stadium is currently undergoing an expansion to the north end zone:

http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/ind/graphics/cc-north-endzone-facility.gif

http://newsinfo.iu.edu/pub/libs/images/usr/2149_h.jpg

:ohno::ohno::ohno: My God that is terrible.

It's identical to lane stadium at Virginia Tech before they expanded.

this is where the stadium is at right now...
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh292/jkramb/therockxb2.jpg

It's identical to lane stadium at Virginia Tech before they expanded.

this is where the stadium is at right now...
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh292/jkramb/therockxb2.jpg

:yes:

That's the difference between fifteen consecutive winning seasons for one program and only two in the same time span for the other.

To wit, Dowdy-Ficklen is among those that doesn't "fit in" here. I'd say the true cathedrals of the college game would be thus:

You left out the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Unforgivable.

I love this college stadiums, they are amazing :drool:

To wit, Dowdy-Ficklen is among those that doesn't "fit in" here.

East Carolina's stadium "fits in" a little better now I think...

What's the deal with that track around Indiana's stadium?

:ohno::ohno::ohno: My God that is terrible.

Why is that terrible?

Great thread. The Rose Bowl and Husky Stadium are my favorite!

What's the deal with that track around Indiana's stadium?

There is no track around Indiana's stadium. Indiana has a very nice track and field stadium about a 10 minute walk from there.

You left out the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Unforgivable.I wouldn't say unforgivable, and it was a toss up for me. The Cotton Bowl is a special place, but as an architectural structure I certainly don't think it's worthy of the same reverence as, say, the Rose Bowl. In the end I only picked stadiums that are home fields for some program as I feel that raises the relevance of their stature. But I freely admit that's just my opinion. If anything, the bigger crime would likely have been the absence of the Orange Bowl from my original list.
East Carolina's stadium "fits in" a little better now I think...Because of two upsets over above average programs in rebuilding years? I'm guessing most knowledgeable cfb fans outside the southeast couldn't identify it as ECU's home field or suggest that it's architecturally prominent. Again, it's a nice facility but no where near the stature of Michigan, Notre Dame and the like.

It's identical to lane stadium at Virginia Tech before they expanded.

this is where the stadium is at right now...
I'm sorry to see such a grand addition seemingly isn't helping to spur more interest in the program, as the Hoosiers are still struggling with attendance this season. At least they've raised the bar architecturally.

Which makes my regrets for GT all the stronger. :bash:

Husky Stadium is supposed to undergo some expansion... the master plan is to eventually turn the stadium into a complete bowl with 100,000+ capacity sometime in the far future, but right now they're only taking it one step at a time.


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/20061201/450WASHINGTON_FACILITIES_FOOTB.jpg

Why do most American Stadiums have one open end? Surely the atmosphere would suffer because the sound lost from this side...

^^ I like having open or scaled down end zones for stadiums. Sometimes it gives a good vista, it puts more of the seats in the middle of the field where one can see more of the action, and it allows for more unique asymmetrical seating configurations.

Why do most American Stadiums have one open end? Surely the atmosphere would suffer because the sound lost from this side...

not at all...if your fans are passionate enough it shouldn't matter. besides, endzone seats suck.

not at all...if your fans are passionate enough it shouldn't matter. besides, endzone seats suck.

Thats probably 90% of the answer... plus, stadiums tend to have open spaces especially if they're in downtown (to have a great view of the skyline) or by a waterfront... either way, the views are good. Not that it should matter in a game, but its a nice addon. :D

Because of two upsets over above average programs in rebuilding years? I'm guessing most knowledgeable cfb fans outside the southeast couldn't identify it as ECU's home field or suggest that it's architecturally prominent. Again, it's a nice facility but no where near the stature of Michigan, Notre Dame and the like.


No, knowledgeable fans WOULD recognize the unique purple and yellow team colors and the Pirates nickname.

I noticed that two upsets is enough to have haters trashing the ACC, but it isn't enough to get respect for an 80 year old football program that has been ranked in the top 10 and has a 50,000 seat stadium. You're very "me"-centric with your cathedrals...remember they aren't cathedrals of college football to everyone - I have no desire to see a game in Michigan's stadium with all it's stature (I've been to Neyland, same thing, and it sucks).

Oh, Virginia Tech and West Virginia - then ranked #8 and #14 - are rebuilding? There's always some lame excuse for winning or losing when you aren't supposed to.

No, knowledgeable fans WOULD recognize the unique purple and yellow team colors and the Pirates nickname.The team colors? Sure. The stadium? Not so sure. But that's largely due to the Pirates level of exposure. Most folks on this coast probably couldn't pick out the stadiums for programs like Arizona, Utah, Texas Tech, Kansas State, etc.

I noticed that two upsets is enough to have haters trashing the ACC, but it isn't enough to get respect for an 80 year old football program that has been ranked in the top 10 and has a 50,000 seat stadium. You're very "me"-centric with your cathedrals...remember they aren't cathedrals of college football to everyoneI've no issue with differences of opinion and I don't pretend mine is the definitive answer. People like what they like. In my first post on this thread I said that when people present this type of listing it usually implies a tiering of that category: ie Which ones are more recognized and celebrated than others? So I offered my interpretation based on that approach. While I recognize ECU is a fine program with devoted fans that doesn't mean I see Dowdy Ficklen as being in the same category as The Horseshoe, the Rose Bowl, etc. But again, that's just me. If I've offended, my apologies as it was unintended.

As for who's riding the ACC over two upsets, I must have missed that and could only assume it stems from the fact the ACC has struggled out of conference for a few years now. I wish it were otherwise, believe me, but it is what it is and my Jackets haven't helped the cause.

Oh, Virginia Tech and West Virginia - then ranked #8 and #14 - are rebuilding? There's always some lame excuse for winning or losing when you aren't supposed to.Again, I'm not taking anything away from ECU's accomplishments. They were underdogs in both games, erego those wins were upsets. But now most pundits are questioning whether the Hokies and/or Mountaineers might not be that good. VT has turned to a freshman QB and is replacing several offensive weapons. WVU is retooling some key defensive positions while breaking in a new coaching staff. Maybe they aren't rebuilding to the level of 6-6 seasons, but they weren't picked for national title contenders either.

Nearly every year several teams ranked in the preseason turn out to be flops, while others rise from the ranks of the unwashed. VT and WVU might go on to win their conferences, but it also may not be surprising for them to lose 2-3 more games each. Does that mean ECU is a bad team? Hardly, I think they're a strong candidate for the CUSA title and BCS berth. But let's not haul off and give them the national title, either. There's plenty of football to be played, still. (yay! :cheers:)

No, knowledgeable fans WOULD recognize the unique purple and yellow team colors and the Pirates nickname.

I noticed that two upsets is enough to have haters trashing the ACC, but it isn't enough to get respect for an 80 year old football program that has been ranked in the top 10 and has a 50,000 seat stadium. You're very "me"-centric with your cathedrals...remember they aren't cathedrals of college football to everyone - I have no desire to see a game in Michigan's stadium with all it's stature (I've been to Neyland, same thing, and it sucks).

Oh, Virginia Tech and West Virginia - then ranked #8 and #14 - are rebuilding? There's always some lame excuse for winning or losing when you aren't supposed to.

Virginia Tech IS rebuilding, despite what you may think. Sorry.

Thats probably 90% of the answer... plus, stadiums tend to have open spaces especially if they're in downtown (to have a great view of the skyline) or by a waterfront... either way, the views are good. Not that it should matter in a game, but its a nice addon. :D

see the point there, strange thing to understand from an English point of view though. In our football stadiums the "end zones" as you call them is the traditional place for fans who like to sing to congregate. I would have thought having fans all around the edge of the pitch creates an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams.

I suppose with all the stops in play you have in American football a nice view is handy... and in the UK, where football grounds are traditionally built in working class areas there's not many beautiful vistas to be had!

Is it always been the case? I suppose it's handy for concerts as well

^^
Most of the classics on this thread seem to be a bowl, or at least have stands on both ends.

Husky Stadium looks out toward Lake Washington, and the foothills of the Cascade Mountains beyond. The view is beautiful, especially on sunny days (which are much more likely early in the season). Hundreds of boats moor in the water beyond the stadium, as well, so there is justification for leaving that end open. As for the other end, looking toward campus and hospital, not really necessary.

But you're right; the stoppage of play leaves a lot of time to look off-field.

see the point there, strange thing to understand from an English point of view though. In our football stadiums the "end zones" as you call them is the traditional place for fans who like to sing to congregate. I would have thought having fans all around the edge of the pitch creates an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams.

I suppose with all the stops in play you have in American football a nice view is handy... and in the UK, where football grounds are traditionally built in working class areas there's not many beautiful vistas to be had!

Is it always been the case? I suppose it's handy for concerts as well

I think that in Europe, fan intimidation has a lot to do with visuals (fans jumping around, waving banners, chanting..ect.)... while in the U.S. the only major factor from the fans in Football games is NOISE. Sometimes the crowds go crazy... sometimes they stand completely still... but either way, they're going to be yelling their ass off (in Football, the player's ability to speak to eachother is KEY.... when the opposing team doesn't let you hear yourself, it gets pretty hard to formulate a play)

Look at this stadium for example, quest field.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/43/86690244_6a8123d485.jpg

Even with an open end, the fans get so loud, the players can't even hear themselves (on 1:44 you can see the first example)). Notice how agitated some players get.

lx05Hl4CMlU

to continue with the noise discussion, i dont know how many times ive posted this video on this site to show how american football fans operate, but no other video shows it like this. No roof, no real bowl shape, just really really loud fans. Even if you dont understand the game, which im sure many of you dont, you should be able to understand how the crowd is a factor in the game.

and im not even a Clemson fan

XaJwiOjt9fE

Clemson has some pretty interesting acoustics though. The stands are really steep, and the shape seems to funnel the sound towards the field. Not to take anything away from the fans they are out of control, but that certainly seems to be the case. The same is true with Husky Stadium in Seattle (when the fans bother to show up anyway).

Stadiums of the Southeastern Conference. Many of these are among the largest in the country and the world.

Bryant-Denny Stadium, 92,138. Opened 1929. Alabama Crimson Tide. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m309/timNem_2006/Bryant-Denny_NightAerial-UH06-2copy.gif
http://www.yarbroughandassociates.com/New%20Images/bryant%20denny%20aerial%20shot.gif
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/1304292064_7b79bfd0f6.jpg?v=0

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, 76,000. Opened 1938. Arkansas Razorbacks. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/arkansas/fayetteville_razorback1.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/09-02-06-RRS-Ozarks.jpg/800px-09-02-06-RRS-Ozarks.jpg

Jordan-Hare Stadium, 87,451. Opened 1939. Auburn Tigers. Auburn University, Auburn, AL
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Jordan_hare_stadium.jpg/250px-Jordan_hare_stadium.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/0892.JPG

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, 88,548. Opened 1930. Florida Gators. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Ben_Hill_Griffin_Stadium.jpg/800px-Ben_Hill_Griffin_Stadium.jpg
http://www.collegecharlie.com/stadiums/Fla_stadium_aerial.jpg

Sanford Stadium, 92,746. Opened 1929. Georgia Bulldogs. University of Georgia, Athens, GA
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/SanfordStadium.jpg
http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/SEC/Georgia/aerial.jpg

Commonwealth Stadium, 67,606. Opened 1973. Kentucky Wildcats. University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
http://bp2.blogger.com/_t50DKAMf3WA/R7SE-D5A42I/AAAAAAAAABQ/4m5kYdyio4c/s400/commonwealth.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/80/238976500_dc141c5cc1.jpg?v=0

Tiger Stadium, 92,400. Opened 1924. LSU Tigers. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
http://members.cox.net/renegade_sith3/miscjunk/lsutigstad5.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Tiger_stadium.jpg

Davis Wade Stadium, 55,082. Opened 1914. MSU Bulldogs. Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/41/93734196_97d494b3bd.jpg?v=0
http://bp1.blogger.com/_nO-cHGSciks/RzfhYXQfy6I/AAAAAAAAAJc/boW3tltxMhw/s400/MSU-UA+2007+east+crowd.jpg

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, 60,850. Opened 1915. Ole Miss Rebels. University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/VaughtHemingway1.JPG/800px-VaughtHemingway1.JPG
http://www.vaughthemingway.com/img/vaught-hemingway-5.jpg

Williams-Brice Stadium, 80,250. Opened 1934. USC Gamecocks. University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Williams-Brice_Stadium.jpg/800px-Williams-Brice_Stadium.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Williams-BriceStadium-1998.JPEG/800px-Williams-BriceStadium-1998.JPEG

Neyland Stadium, 102,037. Opened 1921. Tennessee Volunteers. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/history/Vignettes/Vignet162.gif
http://barrydean.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/neyland-stadium-pic.jpg

Vanderbilt Stadium, 39,790. Opened 1922. Vanderbilt Commodores. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/vand/graphics/vand-stadium-night.jpg

Vanderbilt Stadium looks so out of place among those giants. Vandy is the only private school in the SEC isn't it?

Arkansas has a secondary stadium too. War Memorial in Little Rock.

It always amazes me how some college football stadia with capacities larger than most in the NFL still have so much room for expansion (usually at one or both end zones).

Rentschler Field (40,000)
East Hartford Ct
UCONN Huskies
Opened 2003 and is one of the newest stadiums in college football, this stadium was also made to be Expanded.
http://www.skycamphotos.com/skycam/slides/Rentschler%20Field-33.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5dA9IBocn6Y/R2dPXOdllUI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/kufSXg4XoS0/DSC00932.JPG

Rumored to be the home of a UFL team.

While this project has its own thread, it's also pertinent to this discussion as well.

Here are some fairly recent photos of the U.S.'s newest college stadium, the Gopher Football stadium (aka TCF Bank Stadium) under construction on the University of Minnesota's East Bank campus. This will also serve as the temporary home of the Vikings when the Metrodome is replaced.

Opens on September 12, 2009. 50,000 seats, expandable to 80,000 with the addition of a 3rd tier. Cost is $288.5 million. Also includes new facilities for the U of M Marching Band.

The traditional collegiate design is based on the old Memorial Stadium (aka "the Brick House"), demolished in 1992.

View from SE showing brick colonnade:

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7831/umstadiumpan01cj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7222/umstadiumconstr01ck5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The names of all 87 Minnesota counties are inscribed in stone in the colonnade in alphabetical order:

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2708/umstadiumconstr06qj2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The colonnade also contains arched entryways:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/813/umstadiumconstr04la1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The open (west) end of the bowl, showing the structure of the main scoreboard. The HD-X LED scoreboard will measure 48 x 108 feet - the 2nd-largest in college football. This is also the site of a new entry plaza made possible by a $10 million gift to the University by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8795/umstadiumpan02af8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Concrete seat decks are being installed:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6223/umstadiumconstr03ci0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

View of the computer model, looking toward downtown Minneapolis:

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/8471/tcfstadiumrender02yz6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Site Plan:

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/5817/tcfstadiumsite01hk0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Rumored to be the home of a UFL team.

Yea i heard about that just last week that would be pretty sick but im skeptical if the UFL will ever even play a game.

Vanderbilt Stadium looks so out of place among those giants. Vandy is the only private school in the SEC isn't it?

Arkansas has a secondary stadium too. War Memorial in Little Rock.

Vanderbilt is the only private university in the SEC...the small enrollment (6,500) somewhat dictates the smaller stadium, but that doesn't always hold true i.e. Clemson University: enrollment 14,000/stadium 80,000+.

Tulane, a private university, was a founding member of the SEC and left in the 1960s.

Almost every conference has its small, private, wealthy universities that place a generally higher priority on academics...

BCS Conferences:
Big 12 - Baylor
ACC - Wake Forest, Duke, Miami
Big Ten - Northwestern
Big East - Syracuse (other privates don't compete in football)
Pac-10 - Stanford, Southern Cal

Non-BCS Conferences:
Conference USA - Tulane, Rice, Tulsa, Southern Methodist
Sun Belt - all public
WAC - all public
Mid-American - Temple
Mountain West - Brigham Young, Texas Christian

With the exception of USC, BYU, and Syracuse, the private schools have the smallest enrollments and play in the smallest stadiums in their conferences - but also have the multi-billion dollar endowments - far more than most public universities (Rice, Tulane - smaller schools, big stadiums).

^^All the SEC stadiums are huge now, but I'm guessing they didn't start out that way. Anyone have pictures of what the stadiums looked like before all the expansions that made them giants.

For an example, Folsom Field at U of Colorado started out something like this in the 20's:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b7/Colorado_Buffaloes_1920s.jpg

but has grown to this today:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Folsom_Field_club_and_suite_level_2007.jpg

Neyland Stadium, University of Tennessee
1938
http://www.thevib.com/neyland38.jpg
http://www.thevib.com/Neylandshouse.html

1948
http://www.thevib.com/neylandstadium59.jpg
http://www.thevib.com/Neylandshouse.html

1968
http://www.thevib.com/neyland68.jpg
http://www.thevib.com/Neylandshouse.html


Grant Field in Atlanta, Georgia Tech vs. UGA, 1940
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/2894217960_68a01c8ca8.jpg?v=0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10054722@N07/2894217960/

:ohno::ohno::ohno: My God that is terrible.

Why? Indiana is a BASKETBALL state and IU is a basketball school.

Why? Indiana is a BASKETBALL state and IU is a basketball school.

I'm talking about the aesthetics of the stadium. Minnesota is a hockey state but that new football stadium looks very good. Indiana could have done better. Doesn't have to be massive. But something decent. To be fair. Texas is a football state and Kyle Field at Texas A&M is fugly.

Here's the history of Bryant-Denny Stadium, home of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Opened in 1929 as Denny Stadium
Capacity 12,000
http://alabamafootball12.tripod.com//sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/timeline.jpg
By 1937, 6000 more seats were added to the opposite sideline to bring the capacity to around 18,000.
In 1946, endzone bleachers were added, and the grandstands had been expanded. Capacity was at 31,000.
http://alabamafootball12.tripod.com//sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1946.jpg
Expansion of the grandstands to 61 rows in 1961 brought capacity to 43,000.
Completion of the bowl in 1966 brought the capacity to 60,000.
http://alabamafootball12.tripod.com//sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1966.jpg
In 1988, the west upper deck was added, bringing the capacity to 70,123.
http://alabamafootball12.tripod.com//sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1988.jpg
http://www.bobbivin.com/pictures/stadium.jpg
In 1998, the east upper deck was added. This upper deck made the stadium symmetrical, but it was not identical, and was therefore 6 feet higher than the west upper deck. New capacity was at 83,818.
http://www.thpi.com/bama/bryant-denny3.jpg
In 2006, the north endzone upper deck was opened, bringing the capacity to its current total of 92,138.
http://c.myspace.com/Groups/00017/27/85/17125872_l.jpg
There is a strong possibility of a south endzone expansion that would bring the capacity over 100,000 in the very near future. The school president recently delayed this because he felt it was not appropriate given the current state of the American economy.

Great construction photos

It always amazes me how some college football stadia with capacities larger than most in the NFL still have so much room for expansion (usually at one or both end zones).Most collegiate stadiums have bleachers instead of individual seats, and those bleachers are often packed very tightly. The NFL stadia are all striving for premium seating conditions with individual seats (with backs), cup holders, more leg room, etc. NFL stadia also feature a lot of intricate architecture to incorporate a variety of suites, luxury boxes, etc, that require more structural elements per seat and ultimately reduce capacity (comparably, speaking).

Almost every conference has its small, private, wealthy universities that place a generally higher priority on academics...

BCS Conferences:
ACC - Wake Forest, Duke, Miami

Non-BCS Conferences:
Mid-American - Temple
You forgot Boston College for the ACC, meanwhile Temple has been a public university since about 1960. Temple, Pittsbugh and one other historically private university became State-related public research universities for Pennsylvania, sharing similar status to PSU. It helped Temple raise its enrollment (now about 38k) but in exchange the school became a host of many base-level general education majors that damaged its academic profile. It very much resembles a city college in some respects and is surrounded by a rough part of the city, sadly.

My bad on BC and Temple...I knew BC was private, but simply left it out. I didn't realize Temple was public.

havnt seen anything on here about beautiful and historic Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa with a capacity of 70,585. a very unique and old stadium built in 1929. its built halfway into the ground on top of a hill next to the university of iowa hospital. named after iowa's only heisman trophy winner Nile Kinnick it was formerly known as Iowa Stadium. its not the biggest but it does get very loud at kinnick i am a regular visitor there for iowa homegames. a unique part of this stadium is the fact that only 6 feet of grass seperate the fans from the playing field. and the pink visitor locker rooms which is a tradition started by the former head coach Hayden Fry. it has gone through several renovations over the years, the most recent taking place during the 2004/2005 season which replaced the south endzone "temporary" bleachers with a new grand stand, a new score board and video replay system and a brand new press box which includes new luxury suites and 250 club seats.

http://www.absolutedsm.com/images/Iowa%20City%20Photo%20Page/U%20of%20I%20Campus/kinnick_B.jpg
http://www.collegefanz.com/servlet/JiveServlet/previewBody/2243-102-1-2182/kinnickstadiumbn6.jpg

Very cheap looking stadiums...they cannot even afford roofs!!!

Here are the colleges that could afford roofs (domes).

Syracuse, FBS (carrier dome)
Tulane, FBS (superdome)
Minnesota, FBS (HHH dome, building outdoor stadium)
Georgia State, FCS (staring play in 2010 @ Georgia Dome)
Northern Iowa U. FCS (UNI dome)
North Dakota State, FCS (Fargodome)
U of North Dakota, D-II (Alerus Center)
University of South Dakota, D-II (DakotaDome)
Idaho, FBS (kibby dome)
Idaho State, FCS (Holt Arena)
Northern Arizona U. FCS (Walkup Skydome)
Northern Michigan University, D-II (Superior Dome, worlds largest wooden dome)
East Tennessee State University, quit playing football in 2003 (Memorial Center)

Here are the colleges that could afford roofs (domes).

Syracuse, FBS (carrier dome)
Tulane, FBS (superdome)
Minnesota, FBS (HHH dome, building outdoor stadium)
Georgia State, FCS (staring play in 2010 @ Georgia Dome)
Northern Iowa U. FCS (UNI dome)
North Dakota State, FCS (Fargodome)
U of North Dakota, D-II (Alerus Center)
University of South Dakota, D-II (DakotaDome)
Idaho, FBS (kibby dome)
Idaho State, FCS (Holt Arena)
Northern Arizona U. FCS (Walkup Skydome)
Northern Michigan University, D-II (Superior Dome, worlds largest wooden dome)
East Tennessee State University, quit playing football in 2003 (Memorial Center)
its not that they couldnt afford domes they could have if they wanted them. thats just how the stadiums were built. a lot of the college stadiums are pretty old and have been built and expanded on over the years. minnesota for example used to play outdoors but their old stadium was outdated so they moved to the metrodome, tulane doesnt have their own field so they play at the superdome, northern iowa has a dome because it made the most sense for them. its a multipurpose use arena/football stadium used for basketball, wrestling, high school, and college football. the same can be said for the syracuse carrier dome.

We dont want roofs were not a bounch of pussys like in Europe we enjoy the elements.

I'm currently living in Austria, and roofs over the stands make a lot more sense in Europe. It rains a lot in the fall and winter. It doesn't rain nearly as much in the states except in a few areas.

I'm currently living in Austria, and roofs over the stands make a lot more sense in Europe. It rains a lot in the fall and winter. It doesn't rain nearly as much in the states except in a few areas.

In places where they do receive rain, they STILL do not need a roof. People don't understand the best football games are games in elements. The best game I ever attended was in the rain and it drizzled basically the entire night. Had alot of fun with my classmates.

We dont want roofs were not a bounch of pussys like in Europe we enjoy the elements.

Right... lets start a pissing contest over this....

"Americans are tougher because our college football teams play outdoors. Unlike European college football teams... which... you know..."

College teams usually make their money on shear volume of people coming to games rather than big spenders buying up luxury boxes. If you look at a number of the new pro stadiums, they either have retractable roofs or domes:

Phoenix Stadium
Lucas Oil
New Cowboys stadium
Ford Field
Reliant Stadium
The new Vikings stadium
Cleveland Browns stadium had a proposal for adding a retractable roof

Universities could afford retractable roofs or domed stadiums, but the first priority of any university is academic. Athletics are and always have been extracurricular...so it would really, really have to be strongly justified before a school could throw that kind of money into a stadium for one sport - justified like at Syracuse with the heavy snowfall.

There are several universities with billion-dollar-plus endowments. Yale is $22 billion, Stanford is $17 billion, University of Virginia is over $4 billion - big separation between many private and public universities.

Universities could afford retractable roofs or domed stadiums, but the first priority of any university is academic. Athletics are and always have been extracurricular...so it would really, really have to be strongly justified before a school could throw that kind of money into a stadium for one sport - justified like at Syracuse with the heavy snowfall.

There are several universities with billion-dollar-plus endowments. Yale is $22 billion, Stanford is $17 billion, University of Virginia is over $4 billion - big separation between many private and public universities.

Athletic budget has no correlation with university funds. They are two completely separate entities. I couldn't imagine the uproar if a university was employing a $3 million coach on university funds or upgrading the stadium for $45 million when a couple of libraries and an student union could be built for half the price.

The cost of the latest addition to DKR-TMS should tell anyone that these schools can afford roofs if that's what they want. Non retractable roofs aren't that expensive anyway.

Rutgers in NJ is expanding its football stadium. They say it'll be ready to go for the fall of 2009

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3534/3297786033_3a39afcc91_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3537/3297785911_ebd74e0006_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3367/3298612392_c41ced16d7_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/3298612244_1b36022286_b.jpg

I wish they would have extended the upper level aound the already enclosed end. The open end was really picturesque, and there is just something about horseshoe layouts for football.

I wish they would have extended the upper level aound the already enclosed end. The open end was really picturesque, and there is just something about horseshoe layouts for football.

I don't think there's enough room to do that. If you look at this picture, there's a street behind that end that looks like it would keep them from wrapping the upper deck around.

http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/rutgers/AN/stadium.jpg

It would be a tight fit, but I think it's possible, then again it is more expensive and those seats wouldn't be too good. It's just getting a little too typical with current renovation.

Ive always enjoyed watching that stadium on TV, but my only problem is the distance of the stands in the end zone to the field.

Here's Kansas Memorial Stadium.
Lawrence, Kansas
University of Kansas Jayhawks
Capacity 50,071 (Record 52,230)
Opened 1921

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mwFjiUDeAn0/RpFCBozeZUI/AAAAAAAAB9M/sES1xfbiNc0/s720/100_1466.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2994718085_f58d7495b0_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/19/121230574_95b9de8ac6.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2676688282_ebd242bff6.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2065/2041517407_97da67106c.jpg

I'm talking about the aesthetics of the stadium. Minnesota is a hockey state but that new football stadium looks very good. Indiana could have done better. Doesn't have to be massive. But something decent. To be fair. Texas is a football state and Kyle Field at Texas A&M is fugly.That's why its being renovated.

http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/c-capital/spec-rel/north-endzone-facility.html

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/50/pict0019v.jpg
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5459/pict0024p.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/3018025960_bf0579051f_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/3053503377_05003369e7_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3276719045_dbac0b2c18_b.jpg

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v341/151/77/284004324/n284004324_2865658_6144.jpg


http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v341/151/77/284004324/n284004324_2865662_7302.jpg


http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v341/151/77/284004324/n284004324_2865670_9709.jpg


http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v341/151/77/284004324/n284004324_2865669_9395.jpg

Just thought I would add some from the homecoming game :)

i really like this college stadium.

can somebody explain what "ivy league" means?

When the Ivy League was created, there were four schools. The number four in Roman Numerals is "IV".

When the Ivy League was created, there were four schools. The number four in Roman Numerals is "IV".

While that is one theory, there is another that cites the term "Ivy League" first being used by sportswriters before the Ivy League was even an official conference to describe the ivy covered walls on many of the old buildings at the schools.

http://badgerherald.com/news/2003/03/03/origins_of_the_term_.php

Anyway you look at it, though, it is pretty interesting stuff!

Something to add to the roof thing. I once heard of a study that showed that, in America, fans tended to mute their boisterousness when there was a roof over them. They tended to be louder and more active when they didn't think they were indoors.

I can relate to that. I find roofs over the stands to be so terribly depressing. It just kills your spirit to not be able to look up and see the sky whilst knowing you are at an ostensibly "outdoor" sporting event.

Something to add to the roof thing. I once heard of a study that showed that, in America, fans tended to mute their boisterousness when there was a roof over them. They tended to be louder and more active when they didn't think they were indoors.

I can relate to that. I find roofs over the stands to be so terribly depressing. It just kills your spirit to not be able to look up and see the sky whilst knowing you are at an ostensibly "outdoor" sporting event.

that makes no sense...

Is that why Seattle is the loudest stadium in the NFL?

My god, no roof arguments. No one cares.

A roof on a college football stadium really doesn't make any sense. Syracuse plays in a dome because the venue doubles as their basketball arena. Same for the Kibbie Dome in Idaho. Otherwise, even in the harsher climates, there just isn't much of a need. The college football regular season wraps up in mid to late November so the threat of serious cold or snow is limited. Besides, after spending hours outside the stadium tailgating on a beautiful Fall afternoon, who wants to walk in and sit under a roof for 3-4 hours?

Anyway, some cool pics of DKR in Austin that I found on another site...

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/4439/dkrpano55818225587419u.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2688/4150821455_6e0c743627_b.jpg

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/1151/img1417893small.jpg

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/8379/joejamailentrance.jpg

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/7923/dkrhdrshaggy2.jpg

Looks ugly when empty, with all those discolored bleachers...

Looks ugly when empty, with all those discolored bleachers...

so

Looks ugly when empty, with all those discolored bleachers...

those would be licensed seats. They get removed at the end of the season...I think.

TCF Bank Stadium (cap. 50,085), Minneapolis, MN:

http://www.architechweb.com/Portals/2/ATWeekly/0909/A_0909_ATW_TCF_lg.jpg
http://dev.gophersportsproperties.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/DSC_12332.jpghttp://www.southernbleacher.com/images/facilities/universities/football/MN_Minneapolis/minneapolis4_l.jpg

Bright House Networks Stadium (cap. 45,301), Orlando, FL:
http://ncaafootball.com/image_lib/stadiums_centralflorida.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1385/1389655444_6371b75b2d_b.jpg

FIU Stadium (cap. 23,500 but expandable), Miami, FL:
http://www.southernbleacher.com/images/facilities/universities/football/FL_FIU/fiu1_l.jpghttp://www.southernbleacher.com/images/facilities/universities/football/FL_FIU/fiu2_l.jpghttp://www.southernbleacher.com/images/facilities/universities/football/FL_FIU/fiu3_l.jpghttp://www.southernbleacher.com/images/facilities/universities/football/FL_FIU/fiu4_l.jpg

Stanford Stadium (cap. 50,000), Palo Alto, CA:
http://www.southernbleacher.com/images/facilities/universities/football/CA_Standford/standford6_l.jpghttp://www.southernbleacher.com/images/facilities/universities/football/CA_Standford/standford2_l.jpghttp://www.southernbleacher.com/images/facilities/universities/football/CA_Standford/standford3_l.jpg

InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (cap. 30,000), Akron, OH
http://www.gozips.com//pics21/440/AU/AUMHFEDOONPZBHB.20100129222928.jpghttp://assets.sbnation.com/assets/150565/summa.jpghttp://weltybldg.com/images/projects/51/zBy6aRh6X8tLkOjzXcn28w.jpghttp://weltybldg.com/images/projects/51/gVE-c-zE6I82DAPVpgVf2g.jpghttp://weltybldg.com/images/projects/51/CtJm-vUTLeBOLFmVAws_ng.jpg

An upside of college football stadia is that they don't, to the extent of my knowledge, sell naming rights. For instance, I couldn't imagine Beavers - Citibank Arena.

Nonetheless, I'd find very cool if they updated those stadia even at expense of seating capacity. And it would be "uttermost cool" to have a college football stadium with a roof, a complete one, suites that could be used to attract faculty and staff to the games and even some kind of nerd club, where people wiht GPA > 3.9 could go for free and have a good time with snacks and that on. It would be very interesting.

A few more:

Gerald J. Ford Stadium (cap. 32,000), Dallas, TX
http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/10153270.jpghttp://www.southernbleacher.com/images/facilities/universities/football/TX_SMU/TX_Smu1_l.jpg


Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium (cap. 30,000), Tulsa, OK
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/tuls/sports/m-footbl/auto_player/3415490.jpeghttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/tuls/sports/m-footbl/auto_player/3415491.jpeghttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/tuls/sports/m-footbl/auto_player/3415486.jpeghttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/tuls/sports/m-footbl/auto_player/3415488.jpeg

Stanford Stadium (cap. 50,000), Palo Alto, CA:
http://www.southernbleacher.com/images/facilities/universities/football/CA_Standford/standford6_l.jpg
http://www.southernbleacher.com/images/facilities/universities/football/CA_Standford/standford2_l.jpg
http://www.southernbleacher.com/images/facilities/universities/football/CA_Standford/standford3_l.jpg

They just recently finished a complete renovation of Stanford Stadium. I think prior to the 2006-2007 season. A great renovation, but lost a lot of history in the process.

http://www.richp.com/pics/aerial-05-18-02/stanford-stadium-5-18-02.jpg

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Pac10/Stanford/aerial.jpg

An upside of college football stadia is that they don't, to the extent of my knowledge, sell naming rights. For instance, I couldn't imagine Beavers - Citibank Arena.

Nonetheless, I'd find very cool if they updated those stadia even at expense of seating capacity. And it would be "uttermost cool" to have a college football stadium with a roof, a complete one, suites that could be used to attract faculty and staff to the games and even some kind of nerd club, where people wiht GPA > 3.9 could go for free and have a good time with snacks and that on. It would be very interesting.

Some of the newer ones do sell the naming rights (Ex. Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium.) but you are right that generally, college stadiums do not sell the naming rights.

They just recently finished a complete renovation of Stanford Stadium. I think prior to the 2006-2007 season. A great renovation, but lost a lot of history in the process.


Renovation?

It looks like a brand new stadium...

Renovation?

It looks like a brand new stadium...

It basically is. They kept some of the foundation, a scoreboard and a few other things, but 98% of the stadium is brand new.

An upside of college football stadia is that they don't, to the extent of my knowledge, sell naming rights. For instance, I couldn't imagine Beavers - Citibank Arena.
Three of the five stadia in the post before yours sold their naming rights.

The old ones mostly don't, but many of the newer ones do.

Hi all, just a thought here, can we combine all the College construction threads into one or would it be too big?

Seems they are rarely kept up to date and are often missed all together.

Right now there are a few new football stadiums under construction and plent under expansion. Not to mention basketball arenas, hockey arenas, baseball, etc.

If nothing else maybe we can use this to post links just to make things easier.

Indiana University Memorial Stadium
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/149695/995_0051.JPG
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/149695/995_0051.JPG
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/149595/995_0035.JPG
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/149595/995_0035.JPG
http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2009/06/27/20090627-233932-pic-175228276_t607.jpg
http://media.courierpress.com/media/img/photos/2009/06/27/20090627-233932-pic-175228276_t607.jpg
http://www.ratioarchitects.com/assets/uploads/IU_Memorial_Stadium.jpg
http://www.ratioarchitects.com/assets/uploads/IU_Memorial_Stadium.jpg

^^ so good to see this get done

If there's any school whose football program is long overdue for a pick-me-up, it's IU...

The IU additions looks amazing. I love the look of that building part in the center of the upper deck, what's that part used for, just a lobby?

Nice update to the stadium, now if only our team was any good...

that addition completely changes the character of the stadium, instead of looking like an oversized highschool stadium, it now looks like the home of a respectable college program, if only the team can make the same transition.

The central building is used for many purposes. They host events and dinner in there occasionally.

btw...Our recruiting class is absolutely awful again so I wouldn't expect anything fantastic from IU. I have faith in the progress of the young basketball team though.

Maybe the stadium upgrade will help get recruits, before the new end it wasn't exactly appealing. Now it looks good.

Wait, Indiana has a football team?

Nippert Stadium (cap. 35,097), Cincinnati, OH:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jXUFutT_AgE/SBynBtRK0KI/AAAAAAAAAEY/ZO1umNqHY9I/s1600/CInci%2BOverhead%2BShot.jpghttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/cinn/sports/m-footbl/auto_player/3681570.jpeghttp://cmsimg.nky.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=AB&Date=20091126&Category=SPT0101&ArtNo=911270314&Ref=AR&Profile=1064&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

Expansion:
http://www.trahanarchitects.com/images/project/photo/nippert.01.jpg
http://www.trahanarchitects.com/images/project/photo/nippert.02.jpg
http://www.trahanarchitects.com/images/project/photo/nippert.03.jpg

Well that would be different, not really a fan, but at least its interesting. a slightly more regular upper level might make more sense visually, though the site certainly has its difficulties. Any word on how press/premium seating is gonna be integreated. Or on likelyhood or timeline.

Michigan Stadium (cap. 109,901), Ann Arbor, MI:
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/0522/ncf_g_michigan_stadium1_600.jpg

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (cap. 82,112), Norman, OK:
http://www.hok.com/xml/work/project/UnivofOK_FacilitiesAnal_NASH/images/1_1_print.jpg
http://www.stadiumbleachers.com/Images/Projects/Football/Football%20College/Memorial%20Stadium%20OU/OU_Memorial_Stadium_Football_1.jpghttp://www.stadiumbleachers.com/Images/Projects/Football/Football%20College/Memorial%20Stadium%20OU/OU_Memorial_Stadium_Football_2.jpg

Mountaineer Field (cap. 60,180), Morgantown, WV:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_nGZDrC2R3Po/SKjPnoODHzI/AAAAAAAAANc/zc7Ym-yv7hk/s1600/mountaineerfieldi.jpg
http://www.ovis.net/~vslider/Images/WVUPittOpeningPlayA1.jpg

Sun Bowl (cap. 50,426), El Paso, TX:
http://www.utep.edu/venues/venues_images/Sun_Bowlcp.jpghttp://admin.utep.edu/Portals/999/sunbowl_mtn.jpghttp://www.katfans.com/facilities/sunbowl.jpg

Rice Eccles Stadium (cap. 45,017), Salt Lake City, UT:
http://ncaafootball.com/image_lib/stadiums_utah.jpghttp://www.fussballtempel.net/concacaf/USA/Rice-Eccles_A.jpg

Bronco Stadium (cap. 32,000), Boise, ID:
http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/WAC/BoiseState/aerial.jpg

Bulldog Stadium (cap. 41,021), Fresno, CA:
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/fres/nonsport/facilities/bulldog-stadium-1.jpg

Autzen Stadium (cap. 54,000), Eugene, OR:
http://tom.nosleep.net/photos/autzen.jpg

University Stadium (cap. 40,000), Albuquerque, NM:
http://www.newmexicobowl.com/uploads/images/stadiumWEB.jpg

Sam Boyd Stadium (cap. 36,800), Las Vegas, NV:
http://ncaafootball.com/image_lib/stadiums_unlv.jpg

Papa John's Cardinal Stadium (cap. 42,000), Louisville, KY:
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/lou/sports/genrel/auto_original/2489941.jpeg

Absolutely love Autzen.

My favorite college venues are

1. Michigan Stadium
2. Notre Dame Stadium
3. Rose Bowl
4. Autzen Stadium
5. Tiger Stadium (LSU)

Papa John's Cardinal Stadium (cap. 42,000), Louisville, KY:
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/lou/sports/genrel/auto_original/2489941.jpeg
With the new upper deck addition:

http://uoflcardgame.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/PJCS-July1620101-455x304.png

http://uoflcardgame.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/PJCS-July1620101.png

I like college football stadiums, but one thing I never get is what it's used for besides it's 4-6 games per season?

I like college football stadiums, but one thing I never get is what it's used for besides it's 4-6 games per season?

5-8 games in the fall. It'll host football practices, marching band practices, marching band competitions sometimes, sometimes soccer games, sometimes track & field, sometimes concerts, etc.

But, yeah. Sometimes they'll see only 5-8 REAL events a year. But they usually pay for themselves in that limited # of games.

I'm glad you pointed that out. It helps to show how crazy we get over college football.

I like college football stadiums, but one thing I never get is what it's used for besides it's 4-6 games per season?

- It doesn't really matter because they are paid for by the athletic program revenues themselves and alumni donation. So IF they were only used for those games, it would be the business of the school. They aren't really as concerned with hosting 100 events per year like a pro venue with a municipal or single private owner might. You also usually have the dilemna that for large concerts, there's simply not the metro population, or they're in a metro with multiple large venues. But any newly renovated or new venue has plenty of use. They are, IMHO, the most luxurious stadiums with the most under the stands of any stadiums out there. When you see a new expansion at a college stadium, there's usually a lot more than meets the eye, and far more than what you see at a new soccer or even NFL venue.

- As for actually uses, I will use Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial stadium as an example.

Under the west stands/suites is a club, trophy room for all sports, ticket office for all sports, Full classroom building and All athletic administration departments. This building is called Belmont Hall. When a decision comes down for Texas athletics, we as Texas alumns and students often say its "coming/came down from Belmont".

Under the east stands, there's also a large club that hosts many events throughout the year, that serves very upscale food. There are also some offices there, and the largest team shop(team merchandise)in the stadium is there and is comparable to those you see in NFL stadiums.

Under the new north stands is a student union with different commercial food and drink places and a large lounge. On the second floor there's a health and excercise science museum open to the public and he associated offices. There are also 2 large stadium clubs. Stadium clubs at any stadium that has a decent one is used year round. DKR has 4.

On the north end of the stadium behind the small stand is the Moncreif-Neuhauss complex, which houses all the football offices, team museum, locker room, and full training facilities such as weightroom, speed room, training room etc. Football is a year round sport, with year round training, so the complex is used all year.

On the field, colleges do some offseason training in their stadiums, but very little. They also host football camps most months, not to mention spring football(for those unfamiliar, teams are allowed a month of full pad training during the spring) which usually has 3-4 scrimmages open to the public and a spring game at the end of spring practice. Besides that there are usually some high school playoffs.

Nippert Stadium on gameday.

http://ncaafootball.com/image_lib/stadiums_cincinnati.jpg

http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx127/3reppom/Nippert12.jpg

http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx127/3reppom/picasabackground.jpg

http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx127/3reppom/Nippert20.jpg

They are still looking into renovation and expansion but have hired a different firm to perform the study. More than likely it will look nothing like the design that commandant posted. Unfortunately no one knows what it will look like or when or if it will be built.

Autzen Stadium:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Autzen_Stadium.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/3421619395_a31025fe7a.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2455/3703228834_a12e71eaf5.jpg

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (cap. 82,112), Norman, OK:
http://www.hok.com/xml/work/project/UnivofOK_FacilitiesAnal_NASH/images/1_1_print.jpg
http://www.stadiumbleachers.com/Images/Projects/Football/Football%20College/Memorial%20Stadium%20OU/OU_Memorial_Stadium_Football_1.jpghttp://www.stadiumbleachers.com/Images/Projects/Football/Football%20College/Memorial%20Stadium%20OU/OU_Memorial_Stadium_Football_2.jpg

That's what I like to call stadium expansion gone wrong. It looks so weird and unbalanced. Asymmetric is fine, but not that.

That's what I like to call stadium expansion gone wrong. It looks so weird and unbalanced. Asymmetric is fine, but not that.

Think you're crying over spilt milk. What's wrong with it? If the two upper decks matched, you'd be fine with it?

Think you're crying over spilt milk. What's wrong with it? If the two upper decks matched, you'd be fine with it?

I just don't like it. It looks like the upper deck isn't as long as the first one which looks weird. I just don't like how obvious it is that they pieced it together like that.

I just don't like it. It looks like the upper deck isn't as long as the first one which looks weird. I just don't like how obvious it is that they pieced it together like that.

I think it would look pretty good if they would just fill in the two open corners of the lower bowl

They are still looking into renovation and expansion but have hired a different firm to perform the study. More than likely it will look nothing like the design that commandant posted. Unfortunately no one knows what it will look like or when or if it will be built.

I think their best bet would be to build an upper deck on the current press box side identical to the current one. Then build a new press box and suite area over the current upper deck and connect it to the Lindner center. I would imagine the upper deck now holds something like 10,000, so adding an identical one would bring the capacity up to 45,000.

I drew something up on Sketch-up real quick (I'm no good on Photoshop lol) to try to explain it a little better.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4797/nippert.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/372/nippert2.jpg

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7522/nippert3.jpg

I just don't like it. It looks like the upper deck isn't as long as the first one which looks weird. I just don't like how obvious it is that they pieced it together like that.

It looks weird in person too. Very unbalanced like the stadium can tip over. It will probably be alright as future expansions take place. We thought the same thing about DKR before the North Endzone.

as a Season ticket holder for OU football for The last 10 years,I guess I can see what you guys are saying,I just have never noticed,I just enjoy The capacity crowds and the atmosphere!ohh and btw The official capacity is listed at 82k but there have been plenty over 87k!

I just don't like it. It looks like the upper deck isn't as long as the first one which looks weird. I just don't like how obvious it is that they pieced it together like that.You mean the upper tiers are different lengths from the lower tiers, or that the two upper decks appear to have different lengths from each other?

From all the pictures I've seen both upper decks are the same length and they essentially match the length of the field. If the open corners are bowled in to match the closed end of the stadium, you'd see the same extension out of the lower tier for several yards before angling towards the end zone seating, creating the same effect on either side of the upper tiers.

As to the one upper side having a different form than the other I think that becomes forgiven if/when the lower tier is bowled in, but I'm not entirely against it as is. Each new addition had different objectives than the other.

One man's opine.

What is y'all opinion on the idea of having a national championship for the college teams?
Similair to the NFL with a grand finale?

What is y'all opinion on the idea of having a national championship for the college teams?
Similair to the NFL with a grand finale?It'd be nice, but the problem is the structure of college football, with so many teams, an odd number of conferences and so few games. I'd love a tournament for conference champions but that gives you 11 teams and an issue for dealing with independents, and I sure as hell am not giving Notre Dame a free pass to the playoffs every season. I'm also against anything that has too many at large berths, because you'll be tainted by the same political bickering about who should or should not get these despite the fact it will be the same handful of SEC/Big Ten schools every time. It's different compared to the hoops tournament, where such debates are over the 12th-14th seed and the 5-7th team selected from a conference. In football you'd be talking about picking 1-5 at large bids for a 12 or 16 team event, so those berths would be MUCH more valuable and could just as easily exacerbate the imbalance of power we see today.

Personally I'm in no rush to identify a singular, official national champion. I say make a smaller 1A division and let them just play bowls but not offer any "national title" games. It's always fun to debate and it's possibly the best way to keep the sport going with so many different power teams, as compared to pro sports where there's a much shorter list of perennial contenders.

It'd be nice, but the problem is the structure of college football, with so many teams, an odd number of conferences and so few games. I'd love a tournament for conference champions but that gives you 11 teams and an issue for dealing with independents, and I sure as hell am not giving Notre Dame a free pass to the playoffs every season. I'm also against anything that has too many at large berths, because you'll be tainted by the same political bickering about who should or should not get these despite the fact it will be the same handful of SEC/Big Ten schools every time. It's different compared to the hoops tournament, where such debates are over the 12th-14th seed and the 5-7th team selected from a conference. In football you'd be talking about picking 1-5 at large bids for a 12 or 16 team event, so those berths would be MUCH more valuable and could just as easily exacerbate the imbalance of power we see today.

Personally I'm in no rush to identify a singular, official national champion. I say make a smaller 1A division and let them just play bowls but not offer any "national title" games. It's always fun to debate and it's possibly the best way to keep the sport going with so many different power teams, as compared to pro sports where there's a much shorter list of perennial contenders.

16 or bust

all conference champions and if an independent has at least 9 wins, they get one of the at large spots. Also, if a conference champion has less than 7 wins, their spot becomes at-large bid for another team.

How 'bout the winner of the bowls?

How 'bout the winner of the bowls?

Every scenario i've heard makes the bowls part of the playoff. Also, if you held the playoff after the bowls, the season would be too long, it would possible be longer than the NFLs, which isn't good. College football is meant to be played from september through january.

There are fifteen weeks in the college football season. All regular season games (including conference championships) end the first week of December (2010 regular season games end December 4th). If you have a 16 team tournament, the final three weeks in December could be used to determine which two teams play for the National Championship. The eight teams eliminated in the first round, plus the four teams eliminated in the second round of the playoff could be chosen to play in the non-BCS bowl games after they have been knocked out of the tournament. The final four could split the four BCS Bowls (for example Sugar and Orange are used for the semi-finals, Rose Bowl determines the National Championship, and Fiesta used to determine a third-place like the FIFA World Cup). This would give teams an opportunity to win three titles in one season (conference, semi-final bowl, and national championship). The only problem with this scenario involves fans traveling to the games.

Every lower level of NCAA football, and every level of every NCAA sport has a tournament of sorts. The complaints about fan travel, length of season, etc. etc. aren't enough to stop them.

There is no logical argument against it. Many have shown that there is even MORE money to be earned by schools in a tournament setup than the current post-season.

As a fan of a team at the top level, but still not "in the big boys club" I would like for us to have a chance to prove it on the field (after enough time with access, I believe we could rival any team out there). The tournament setup could possibly widen the gap that is already there, but I'd rather have the chance to show our worth.

16 or bust

all conference champions and if an independent has at least 9 wins, they get one of the at large spots. Also, if a conference champion has less than 7 wins, their spot becomes at-large bid for another team.I just can't abide by having so many at-large bids. I'm the kind of guy who gets irked when a team that couldn't win its conference/division wins the "national title." Something not right about it and why I really appreciate the double round robin schedules played in most soccer leagues.

There is no logical argument against it.My only concern would be the possible downside for fan travel to 4 neutral site contests, and I sure as hell wouldn't want to play at someone else's house like they do in other divisions. Unlike basketball, which can get by with fewer fans and has much lower traveling costs, it would seem weird if an early round playoff game between Florida and Bowling Green, played somewhere like Nashville, didn't sell out. And the travel costs for football teams, bands, cheer squads, etc is outrageous. However...
Many have shown that there is even MORE money to be earned by schools in a tournament setup than the current post-season.I believe it, but the "problem" isn't how much money but rather how it's dispersed. Under the bowl system the power conferences control the system and the money, but in a playoff the NCAA cashes in and the distribution would give the have-nots a chance to close the gap. I honestly think the power conferences are leaving that extra possible money on the table under the notion that a true playoff would be beginning of the end of their reign as a tight clique of athletic powers.

16 or bust

all conference champions and if an independent has at least 9 wins, they get one of the at large spots. Also, if a conference champion has less than 7 wins, their spot becomes at-large bid for another team.

I am a fan of the 8 team scenario. The six winners from the majors and two at large bids to be voted by rankings. Fighting over who should be given the last two spots will still give heavy weight to the ranking system and will create more intense debate then who would get one of four spots or more.

That way you still give all the powerhouses a chance without including many of the pretenders. It also makes the conference championships and winning your conference meaningful. In a 16 team scenario winning your conference becomes superfluous.

^^ The only game played at a neutral site would be the grand finale.
A Super Bowl for college sports.

Year one it could be at a NFL stadium, year two at a college stadium and soforth.

^^ The only game played at a neutral site would be the grand finale. The problem is college football's season makes it difficult to gauge who should be deserving of such an advantage. While NFL teams play comparable schedules, that's not always the case here. Plus how would you decide who hosts: The same flawed polls that are actually more of the problem than the BCS system? By record, knowing teams will pile on the cupcakes outside of their conference in hopes of padding their record?

I wouldn't be against this idea, but IMO it would be as flawed and/or imbalanced as the current system.

That being said, a 1A national title game would be a huge draw!

It is really so lame. I think a true NCAA div 1 playoffs could eventually rival the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl even and yet we are still up with this charade system.

Back in the mid-80s when I got drawn into the whole stupidity of it I figured they can't be crazy enough to go on another 10 or 20 years with this same system. Really it will come down to fans protesting by telling the networks they are not going to watch their charade games until broadcast a real championship.