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re: Mega stadiums
Posted on 8/19/14 at 9:07 am to Cheese Grits
Posted on 8/19/14 at 9:07 am to Cheese Grits
I don't know if I would label Kenan Memorial Stadium as "dinky". It's an on campus facility (middle of campus) with a seating capacity of 65k and state of the art facilities for the fans, press and players.
For the SEC, I like VHS for similar reasons.
On an even smaller scale, I like that Tulane is building a small on campus facility vs playing in the 75% empty Super Dome.
For the SEC, I like VHS for similar reasons.
On an even smaller scale, I like that Tulane is building a small on campus facility vs playing in the 75% empty Super Dome.
3
Posted on 8/19/14 at 9:11 am to dlc83
quote:
I like that Tulane is building a small on campus facility vs playing in the 75% empty Super Dome.
The students aren't happy about it because they won't serve alcohol like the dome did and there's literally zero parking for that stadium and infrastructure is inadequate to get people to and from games..
Posted on 8/19/14 at 9:14 am to dlc83
quote:
I would label Kenan Memorial Stadium as "dinky".
In the ACC it may be a mega stadium
In the SEC it would be dinky
In the B12 it might be #3 behind Texas and Oklahoma
in the B1G it might be in the middle
In the PAC it would be middle to big
Depends on the conference.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 9:15 am to kingbob
quote:
there's literally zero parking for that stadium and infrastructure is inadequate to get people to and from games..
lucky for them, no one goes to their games
Posted on 8/19/14 at 9:17 am to dlc83
Neyland and The Swamp were amazing in the 90's when the teams were battling for the east, it was just unreal.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 9:20 am to dhuck20
quote:
How old are they?
Immaterial. I know 18-25 year olds that only tailgate now and watch the game at a sports bar with 70 TV's. Also, the 40 and older crowd doesn't like the obnoxious drinks and concession lines and traffic of 100k spectators.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 9:30 am to dlc83
I think the trend of the mega-stadium build out might slow unless there is a major change in the economy.
I hope that Auburn does not spend huge $ on trying to get more folks packed in to JHS. I'd rather see a much nicer gameday experience than 95k sitting on seats designed for 85k.
Rant- I'm tired of the piped in noise between every play, sponsor announcements, long concession lines, fat people taking up 2 seats, pushing parking and tailgating further away from the stadium. I hate that where I parked for years is now $$$$ on gamedays. I guess I'm getting old.
I hope that Auburn does not spend huge $ on trying to get more folks packed in to JHS. I'd rather see a much nicer gameday experience than 95k sitting on seats designed for 85k.
Rant- I'm tired of the piped in noise between every play, sponsor announcements, long concession lines, fat people taking up 2 seats, pushing parking and tailgating further away from the stadium. I hate that where I parked for years is now $$$$ on gamedays. I guess I'm getting old.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 9:37 am to dlc83
It's really all about the stadium fitting the school.
SMU built a smaller, on campus stadium that is nice and allows for a school specific venue and they have a chance to fill a few games a year and it has been great for them. Baylor's new stadium (though about the same size as the previous) should do much better with a better location on campus and modern amenities.
Still, there is nothing like a big time stadium that is packed and excited for a game. If a school has the demand to pull it off it is a true experience and if some of those schools had smaller stadiums it would just mean a lot of fans wouldn't be able to see games.
There is no doubt though that fan expectations of stadiums are changing though. If you are going to spend the money to go to games (much of which is far beyond the ticket price, especially the face ticket price) then people expect more than just sitting a long way from the field and trying to follow the action. They want good food and drinks. They want nice restrooms. They want well thought out access. They want jumbotrons. They want wifi and phone connections that allow them to stay connected. They want to ability to have club access and comfortable seating.
When every game is on TV and for less than the price of a season ticket package to many SEC schools you can have a monster 1080HD TV in your living room with your own beer and food or you can essentially do the same thing at the tailgate a school better be providing "more" if they expect people to come to games. Fortunately for the SEC it appears that most of the mega stadiums are going in that direction. A&M has made it a huge priority to have technology as a cornerstone of the new Kyle. Others are doing so as well.
SMU built a smaller, on campus stadium that is nice and allows for a school specific venue and they have a chance to fill a few games a year and it has been great for them. Baylor's new stadium (though about the same size as the previous) should do much better with a better location on campus and modern amenities.
Still, there is nothing like a big time stadium that is packed and excited for a game. If a school has the demand to pull it off it is a true experience and if some of those schools had smaller stadiums it would just mean a lot of fans wouldn't be able to see games.
There is no doubt though that fan expectations of stadiums are changing though. If you are going to spend the money to go to games (much of which is far beyond the ticket price, especially the face ticket price) then people expect more than just sitting a long way from the field and trying to follow the action. They want good food and drinks. They want nice restrooms. They want well thought out access. They want jumbotrons. They want wifi and phone connections that allow them to stay connected. They want to ability to have club access and comfortable seating.
When every game is on TV and for less than the price of a season ticket package to many SEC schools you can have a monster 1080HD TV in your living room with your own beer and food or you can essentially do the same thing at the tailgate a school better be providing "more" if they expect people to come to games. Fortunately for the SEC it appears that most of the mega stadiums are going in that direction. A&M has made it a huge priority to have technology as a cornerstone of the new Kyle. Others are doing so as well.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 9:38 am to dlc83
I think 70-80 is ideal, just from a gameday logistics standpoint. I have seen the increase in fan noise from a 50k seat stadium to a 76k seater. It is noticeable. After about 60k seats, I think the main thing is making a stadium nice. Give me chairbacks or give me death.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 9:42 am to kingbob
quote:quote:
I like that Tulane is building a small on campus facility vs playing in the 75% empty Super Dome.
The students aren't happy about it because they won't serve alcohol like the dome did and there's literally zero parking for that stadium and infrastructure is inadequate to get people to and from games..
I didn't realize this.
Plan on checking out the new digs for the Ga Tech game.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 9:52 am to slacker130
quote:
I'm tired of the piped in noise between every play, sponsor announcements, long concession lines
Add ribbon boards and jumbotrons to that list. If I wanted to be annoyed by flashing lights I would just become a crack dealer. If I wanted to watch a big TV I could just go to my local bar. The main reason to go to games is the actual game and to hang out with the folks who may have been sitting around you for generations. The more ticket prices go up, the more these folks have been replaced by corporate drunks and ambulance chasing lawyers.
The smell of sweet bourbon and fried / grilled things are a major reason you want to experience a live game.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 9:54 am to Mizzou to my Lou
Actually, upon further research, it appears as if they may serve alcohol throughout the stadium, if so, huge win for them and their students who can walk/ride bikes to the games.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 10:01 am to kingbob
Students should be really happy
Most don't need parking they can walk or take the street car. They can drink before the game like normal fans now. You aren't going to the game to drink and get drunk when a beer costs you $8 and a mixed drink is $13
Most don't need parking they can walk or take the street car. They can drink before the game like normal fans now. You aren't going to the game to drink and get drunk when a beer costs you $8 and a mixed drink is $13
Posted on 8/19/14 at 10:11 am to plazadweller
I like where Sanford is at. It's still sitting big at 92k but it hasn't scarificed it's unique qualities for the sake of more seats. I'm downright in love with being able to see Campus and the bridge from anywhere in the stadium. I think Tennessee fricked up when they bowled their stadium in so that you could no longer see the Tennessee hills. Auburn still has somewhat of an open feel like Sanford, too.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 10:13 am to dlc83
I think big stadiums are huge competitive advantages for the home team. LSU and Bama don't lose too often at home in those coliseums.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 10:14 am to tylerdurden24
quote:
I think Tennessee fricked up when they bowled their stadium in so that you could no longer see the Tennessee hills.
Id rather have a bowl. You can see the hills and mountains when you're tailgating.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 10:21 am to plazadweller
100k isn't normal? 
Posted on 8/19/14 at 10:21 am to schwartzy
quote:
LSU and Bama don't lose too often at home in those coliseums.
Bryant Denny is nice, but I don't think it's anywhere close to the competitive advantage (outside of the refs and holding calls) of Death Valley.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 10:23 am to VFL1800FPD
A full Bowl makes it feel like a big time stadium. I don't get the hate on neyland. I think it is a great stadium.
I never took Kyle field seriously because of this fact. That open endzone with the bleachers made it feel bush league. Same thing with Texas. Open endzones get a big points deduction for me.
I never took Kyle field seriously because of this fact. That open endzone with the bleachers made it feel bush league. Same thing with Texas. Open endzones get a big points deduction for me.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 10:23 am to Crowknowsbest
quote:
Not empty, but I agree with your general thought. I'm generally outspoken in wanting UGA to spend to improve facilities, but I'm glad UGA seems to be staying out of the stadium expansion game for now.
Agreed... Sanford Stadium at 92,746 is perfect for our school & fanbase. The stadium is small enough that even if we go thru a coupla lean years the Season tickets are always sold out & our demand is always higher than the supply so that keeps Hartman Fund contributions coming in...
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