Which City in the Southeast has the best collection of sports stadia?

[SouthmoreAvenue]

Originally Posted by dollaztx

I think we can all conclude it being between Dallas & Houston and between these it's as follows:

Cowboys Stadium > Reliant (no doubt about it)
MMP = Ballpark (warehouse/aircraft manufacturing facility vs the copycat)
AAC > Toyota Center

Now who has the best NHL, MSL facilities?

well NHL doesn't count because they usually don't have their own venue.
Wow, a new sports league formed? oh, you meant MLS, right?

[SRG]

Dollaztx...I don't think that JerryWorld is "by far" better than Reliant. You're talking about the runner-up for best NFL stadium that happens to be located inside Houston's Inner Loop, and not in BFE Arlington. That's a close race and honestly I'd rather have a Reliant situation by far, although the Crackboys Stadium is by far the best actual stadium. I think Dallas' real strong point is the AA Center. There you by far have the best NBA arena in the middle of Victory. It puts the Arlington suburban stadiums to shame IMO, and it's also better than the Toyota Center, which is still one of the better arenas.

[Smallville]

I voted for Charlotte because I live in NC. My vote was biased for sure, I admitt it, lol. Charlotte can't compare to Houston, Dallas or Atlanta at this point. But the TWC arena and BOA stadium are uptown so that helps with urbanism in the city. Hopefully in the future Charlotte will get a MLB team. Maybe in the next 20 years. If they do they will build that stadium uptown as well.


I am a Carolina Panthers fan as well as a Cowboys fan so I am loving the Cowboys new diggs. Go Panthers and Cowboys!

[UrbanEssence]

There may be no doubt that the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium(i find it a little amusing that 2/3 of Dallas' stadia being discussed here don't have naming rights) is better than Reliant Stadium, but there is also no doubt that Reliant Stadium isn't far behind.

[Nic]

It's between Dallas and Houston in my opinion. Both have great stadiums and arenas in all their sports. I'd give Dallas the nod with it's football stadium and basketball arena, while Houston is the clear winner with it's ballpark.

All in all Dallas has the better facilities, although Houston has their facilities in better locations. If the Dallas football and baseball stadiums were in the city, or at least served by decent mass-transit systems it would make it easier to pick Dallas. I'll still vote for the "Big D", but at least for me it's very close with these two.

[dollaztx]

Originally Posted by SouthmoreAvenue

well NHL doesn't count because they usually don't have their own venue.
Wow, a new sports league formed? oh, you meant MLS, right?

Yes, I mess up every now and then when I respond through my phone. I was just having fun a bit regarding NHL and the fact that the Dynamo dont have a stadium. I must admit though that once their new stadium is built it will make Pizza Hut Park look like s__t.

[Seattlelife]

I've never been to either stadium, have visited Houston and enjoyed it though, but I don't understand how most people say Minute Maid Park is clearly better than the Ballpark at Arlington. I understand likeing one over the other, but how is MMP clearly the winner over the Ballpark at Arlington? From what I've seen on tv I've never liked MMP, and the Astros are my 3rd favorite team in the league behind the Mariners and Angels. I've never really cared for the Rangers but have always like their stadium.

[bythebayou]

Originally Posted by Seattlelife

I've never been to either stadium, have visited Houston and enjoyed it though, but I don't understand how most people say Minute Maid Park is clearly better than the Ballpark at Arlington. I understand likeing one over the other, but how is MMP clearly the winner over the Ballpark at Arlington? From what I've seen on tv I've never liked MMP, and the Astros are my 3rd favorite team in the league behind the Mariners and Angels. I've never really cared for the Rangers but have always like their stadium.

Sure, on tv, most stadia is going to look the same as they don't usually show the exterior often.

I like the Rangers Ballpark too, a breath of fresh air in Texas. But MMP is superior in so many ways. They don't share many similarities, so i can see why some will always prefer the other,but most people will end up preferring MMP.

Just look at some of the pictures already posted....(just copied+pasted them on my photobucket from this thread)

[Hia-leah JDM]

Originally Posted by SRG

Dollaztx...I don't think that JerryWorld is "by far" better than Reliant. You're talking about the runner-up for best NFL stadium that happens to be located inside Houston's Inner Loop

Really? Thats debatable. So you're telling right up until Cowboys Stadium was built, Reliant was the best in the NFL? Reliant is a love-hate type of place. RJS and Qwest field give it a run for its money.

And even though it's in Houston's Inner Loop, it ain't too much to brag about.
Yeah it's 5 miles out downtown but it's surrounded by parking lots, a highway, office parks, strip malls, townhomes and gated apartment complexes. It might as well be in Sugar Land.

[Ganis]

Cowboys stadium has Plazas! PLAZAS people, Thats new for American Stadiums!



Most stadiums are surrounded by parking lots. This one is semi surrounded.

Ball Park in Arlington

Glory Shots!

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[Ganis]

Ready for football in Arlington... almost

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[SRG]

Originally Posted by Hia-leah JDM

Really? Thats debatable. So you're telling right up until Cowboys Stadium was built, Reliant was the best in the NFL? Reliant is a love-hate type of place. RJS and Qwest field give it a run for its money.

And even though it's in Houston's Inner Loop, it ain't too much to brag about.
Yeah it's 5 miles out downtown but it's surrounded by parking lots, a highway, office parks, strip malls, townhomes and gated apartment complexes. It might as well be in Sugar Land.

In case you didn't realize Reliant is accessed by light rail and backs up to the Texas Medical Center..

[Seattlelife]

I'm still going with the Ballpark at Arlington. Minute Maid is a nice park and all, but it's just not my cup of tea. I don't like retractable roofs. I actually don't like Seattle's Safeco Field either. The Ballpark at Arlington, according to the pics I've seen, has both a better interior AND exterior. The BPA's terraces in center field are better than Minute Maid's train track, left field wall, center field flagpole hill, and the retractable roof. And that deep red brick exterior with with the green metal up top is beautiful from the outside.

Of course this is all subjective.

[ThirdCoastSkyline]

Originally Posted by Hia-leah JDM

And even though it's in Houston's Inner Loop, it ain't too much to brag about.
Yeah it's 5 miles out downtown but it's surrounded by parking lots, a highway, office parks, strip malls, townhomes and gated apartment complexes. It might as well be in Sugar Land.

Sure it may be surrounded by parking lots but its also next to the Astrodome aka The 8th Wonder of the World, a CONVENTION CENTER, and an ARENA.





And with MetroRail access, you can go into Downtown, Midtown, The TMC, which is really just behind it, and the Museum District, which includes The Houston Zoo.






And other pictures.

[WeimieLvr]

Originally Posted by Ganis

Cowboys stadium has Plazas! PLAZAS people, Thats new for American Stadiums!

Plazas aren't new for American stadiums...

Georgia International Plaza, connecting the Georgia Dome and Philips Arena.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/23401994@N00/3823084055/

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/2340199...n/photostream/

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/2340199...n/photostream/


Plazas at Turner Field
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/40375323@N06/3713421336/

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisguy62/553591416/

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/spinch/565081040/

[WeimieLvr]

Originally Posted by Ganis

Turner Field has history of being the uglyst Olympic stadium EVER.

Oh really? According to who? You I presume...I'm wondering how many times you vistied Olympic Stadium in Atlanta...I'm betting ZERO.

The unfounded criticism has very much to do with the backlash and hate stemming from Athens not being awarded the Centennial Games and not much to do with actual stadium design. The Atlanta Games and the stadium were among the most successful in history. The Olympic stadiums following 1996 (Athens, Sydney, Bejing, London) have entered a new era of design as well as astronomical cost, but continue to suffer from the same old problems after the Games are over. Atlanta's Olympic Stadium doesn't.

I hope you do realize that modern Olympic Stadiums go back to 1896. I'm sure there have been some that even you would think were uglier than Atlanta's Olympic Stadium - which by the way has little to do with the design of Turner Field.

[SouthmoreAvenue]

Originally Posted by WeimieLvr

Plazas aren't new for American stadiums...

Georgia International Plaza, connecting the Georgia Dome and Philips Arena.

Now correct me if im wrong, but im pretty sure the GA Int. Plaza was built for the olympics, so technically it doesn't count as this thread is for Pro-Sports Stadia, which during 1996, Atlanta's Olympic stadium wasn't Turner Field just yet.

As for plazas, most stadiums have small ones, but generally not to the extent of Dallas' Cowboys Stadium, but plazas nonetheless.

Reliant Park has Carruth Plaza. (not sure if i spelled it right)



And MMP has KBR Plaza.

[WeimieLvr]

Originally Posted by SouthmoreAvenue

Now correct me if im wrong, but im pretty sure the GA Int. Plaza was built for the olympics, so technically it doesn't count as this thread is for Pro-Sports Stadia, which during 1996, Atlanta's Olympic stadium wasn't Turner Field just yet.

As for plazas, most stadiums have small ones, but generally not to the extent of Dallas' Cowboys Stadium, but plazas nonetheless.

Okay, I'll correct you. Georgia International Plaza has nothing to do with Turner Field...it sits between the Georgia Dome and Philips Arena. I'm not sure exactly when it was constructed, but it's been there as long as I can remember and definitely predates the 1996 Olympics (what does it even matter WHEN a plaza was constructed - it's still a plaza).

Whatever the thread name, your statement that plazas are "new for American stadiums" was incorrect. They aren't new at all as I'm sure several American stadiums have plazas around them - no matter what size they are.

[SouthmoreAvenue]

Originally Posted by WeimieLvr

Okay, I'll correct you. Georgia International Plaza has nothing to do with Turner Field...it sits between the Georgia Dome and Philips Arena. I'm not sure exactly when it was constructed, but it's been there as long as I can remember and definitely predates the 1996 Olympics (what does it even matter WHEN a plaza was constructed - it's still a plaza).

Whatever the thread name, your statement that plazas are "new for American stadiums" was incorrect. They aren't new at all as I'm sure several American stadiums have plazas around them - no matter what size they are.

hmmm...you didn't correct me, i was right the plaza was built for the olympics, and NOT for a pro-sports stadia so its slightly irrelevant, but it still is a plaza, like you said.

Now, let ME correct YOU, i didn't make any statement regarding new plazas for stadiums. That was by ANOTHER user, NOT ME. Scroll up, and youll find where you messed up.

[Nic]

Originally Posted by WeimieLvr

Oh really? According to who? You I presume...I'm wondering how many times you vistied Olympic Stadium in Atlanta...I'm betting ZERO.

This may not be the ugliest Olympic Stadium ever, but it's pretty bad in my opinion.