Stadium Report Cards: American Airlines Arena

Our friend Nick, who has done places like Marlins Ballpark, and Citi Field went to a Heat game and hooked us up with a report card.

Team: Miami Heat
Location: Miami, FL
League: National Basketball Association(Eastern COnference)
Built: 1999
Capacity: 19,600
My event: Regular Season Game vs Atlanta Hawks

1. Outdoor Design

The arena was beautifully designed. I like the feature on the roof, although you can not see it, of the American Airlines plane with the lights. Miami chose a great location for the arena right along Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami. You have a tremendous view of the Miami skyline. What really impressed me was the media mesh on the window of the main entrance. It covers up 12 window panes so it's big and it's beautiful and also very clear quality. The palm trees also gave it that Miani feel. 9/10 

2. Indoor Design

The concourses were nice and easy to navigate. The team store was not that big but that wasn't a big deal to me. The lower bowl is what stuck out to me. The red and orange color scheme that creates a flame was very impressive. Not a bad view pretty much anywhere you sit since it is a small arena. Still nicely done.  9/10

3. Prices

Normal prices for a sporting event. My friends and I got our tickets from stubhub for $30 otherwise they would have been $48. Food prices were typical as well. Souveniers from the team shop were lower than usual which was nice. Overall average prices.  7/10

4. Food

The Triple A provides a variety of food and drink options. From your typical pizza, burgers and hot dogs to choices of latin food. Nice variety although I didn't get to try it all.   8/10

5. Staff

Staff was a hit or miss. Some were enthusiastic and nice but others just seemed like they did not want to be there. They opened the doors a little later than normal, arguing with each other over who was going to stand next to whom so that got annoying. The concession attendants were nice and helpful as was one of the ladies doing the surveys whom was very nice to me. As I was leaving though one staff member was rude to me. I wanted to take a picture of the bay at night and she was nasty about it. Put a small damper on my night.   6/10

6. Cleanliness

Really clean arena and well kept. No complaints whatsoever.  8/10

7. Parking

Parking wasn't too bad. Typical prices but very accomidating. The only down side was leaving due to heavy traffic it was hard to get out but it is afterall Downtown Miami. No major complaints.  7/10

8. Atmosphere

This was the element I was anticipating the most and man did Heat fans deliver. Even on a Monday night in December the fans turned out and I don't hold it against them for being a little late to the game, for the arena did not really fill till midway through the first quarter, due again to traffic but the fans still came out and boy were they loud. They let the Hawks have it and supported their team. A LeBron alley-oop sent the crowd into a frenzy. The crowd was also very encouraged to make noise and have fun. The Heat fans did not dissapoint. 10/10

9. Playing Surface

The court design was nice. No issues with the court.  8/10

10. Scoreboard
                               
A unique design to the scoreboard. It featured 4 big screens in a circle and 8 small screens above the big ones. In the center was a design that looked at first like an octopus but after a closer look was a sun with heat waves coming off of it that featured the lighting of the heat colors.  8/10

So overall that's a 80. I believe it, the Atmosphere should be nice, and the architecture is top notch.

New Tampa SSS?

via mlssoccer.com

In Monday's State of the League address, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said that if the league is going to expand to the Southeast, better stadiums are a must.

By Wednesday afternoon, plans for a soccer specific stadium "in the heart of Tampa" — where the South begins or ends, depending upon what direction you're heading — backed by a slew of soccer folks and, apparently, the municipality itself, had suddenly come to light.

According to report at The Offside Rules, a group called VSI Flames, Inc., in conjunction with PRI Development Partners LLC, unveiled their vision of a 28,888 seat (expandable to 40,000) soccer-specific stadium that they intend to build in downtown Tampa by 2016. The location reportedly would be near the Ice Palace, where the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning play, and the available land is owned by Lightning owner Jeff Vinik. Vinik is also a board member of Liverpool FC.

In the interim, there are plans for a modular stadium and a USL Pro expansion franchise to begin play in 2013. The team would become the second lower-flight franchise in the Tampa Bay area, as the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL just finished their third season across the bay in St. Petersburg.

The project website, with the headine "MLS Franchise in Tampa," is unambiguous about the overall intent:

"It is the stated intention of VSI to deliver and provide the soccer facility projects as detailed throughout this website in order to achieve its long term goal of securing an MLS franchise in the heart of the Tampa Bay community and in doing so will firmly put Tampa back on the world soccer map."

The list of VSI investors is impressive, including former English Premier League players Mark Hughes and Ian Wright, as well as current players Shawn Wright-Phillips, Mikel John Obi, Stephen Warnock and Danny Collins.

VSI's original foray into US soccer came back in 2011, when they partnered with Florida club West Florida FC Flames to create a youth academy. They also have an academy in Portugal.

Calls to VSI and PRI were not returned at the time of publication.

As you could expect, I'm super pumped about this. I would love to see pro soccer in Tampa, ran by functioning owners unlike the Mutiny. Also note the NASL champion Rowdies aren't the team pushing this. I think the best move IF this gets built is hook up with the Rowdies and have a community effort. Also the USL is based in Tampa, so that explains the team.

Ft. Lauderdale Strikers' SSS

Via mlssoccer.com

I remember, back in 1998, when the Miami Fusion (RIP) hosted D.C. United and then-head coach Bruce Arena at the newly refurbished Lockhart Stadium.

"This is great," Arena said in the pregame interview on ESPN (or ESPN2, I don't remember which). "Now we need a dozen more like it."

A decade-and-a-half later, there's more than a dozen not just "like" Lockhart, but "significantly better than" the storied old facility out in Fort Lauderdale. And while the Fusion are long gone, the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers have been reborn and are thriving in the (also reborn) NASL, North America's second division.

On Tuesday, Strikers owners Traffic Sports announced that either Lockhart will get another facelift, or they'll just build a brand new soccer-specific stadium of their own.

“Traffic Sports has given me a mandate to seek a permanent, first class home for the Strikers,” said Tim Robbie, newly named managing director of team personnel and stadium development, in a press release. “Our top priority is to work with the city of Fort Lauderdale to renovate Lockhart Stadium as part of the overall development of the area.

"However, we are prepared to explore any and all options for a new soccer facility in the South Florida area. Given the numerous meetings and conversations I have had on the matter, I am optimistic our efforts to find a worthy, long-term home for the Strikers will be successful.”

If "Tim Robbie" sounds familiar, it's because he's the son of Joe Robbie, the first owner of the Miami Dolphins. In 1987, Joe was able to put together a financing package that culminated in the construction of Joe Robbie Stadium, now known as SunLife Stadium (and still home of the NFL's Dolphins).

This all comes on the heels of MLS Commissioner Don Garber's State of the League address last week, in which he said that for southeastern expansion to happen in MLS, better stadiums are a must. Almost immediately following that, a new Tampa group announced its own plans for a soccer-specific stadium, an eventual MLS franchise, and a USL Pro team in the interim.

For now, however, the Strikers seem content to give it a go in the NASL.

“It’s an honor to serve as the president of one of the most historic soccer franchises in America,” said Tom Mulroy, who succeeds Robbie in that role. “It’s very exciting to become president of the clubwith the growth of the NASL and to have the opportunity to work side by side with Tim Robbie to fulfill this commitment of establishing a permanent home stadium for the Strikers. I am thrilled to be part of it all.”

I like to think this is because of the Tampa stadium plans that were announced. The team plays at a less than half empty Lockhart Stadium now in the NASL. I like to think that the MLS will just expand and US soccer just goes nuts.

Queens MLS Stadium

Via mlssoccer.com

NEW YORK — We've heard MLS officials present the proposed stadium plan for a second expansion team in NYC to press gatherings and on media conference calls.

But for the first time on Tuesday night, MLS Commissioner Don Garber and league president Mark Abbott showcased the project to more than 500 locals at a townhall meeting held at the Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Park, just a stone's throw away from the proposed construction site. They also took some hand-written questions from those in attendance.

"I am a Queens guy," Garber told the crowd, which included a vociferous representation of the Borough Boys supporters club. "Like many of you, my family, my parents, my grandparents came to this country and they moved to Queens. This is where I spent the majority of my childhood … I know when my grandparents first came here they probably could never have dreamed that a kid from Queens could be sitting here today talking to all of you about fulfilling our dream, our dream of having this great game having a home right here in New York City."

The Commissioner proceeded to give the crowd an outline of the 100-percent privately financed stadium plan: the timeline, the 2,100 jobs it would create, the $60 million in annual economic activity and the promise of community service.

In addition, there was a detail about the stadium's capacity that was likely new to some following the story.

"We’re looking to build a 25,000-seat stadium," Garber said. "Sometime in the next 30 years, because we believe that this will be a popular team, we are looking for the right to expand it to 35,000 seats. We will not take any more land. We will not have to raise any roofs and we will not have to build it any higher."

The impact to the park itself was also a major topic, with MLS reiterating its plan to relocate the park space acre-for-acre — a "commitment by contract" — and renovate the popular soccer fields that are in desperate need of a facelift.

"[Local players] complain, 'Why don’t they fix the fields?'" said Luis Montoya, president of the Big Apple Soccer leagues, which play on the fields. "It's simple. [The park] doesn’t have money to do it. Now this problem is over."

Montoya was one of a number of representatives from various local organizations, who attended to show their support. They ranged from union chiefs (union workers gave the loudest cheer during Garber's address), Chamber of Commerce representatives and even the head of the Queens Hispanic Pastors Association. Queens high school championship teams also made the trek.

Local elected officials addressed the audience and expressed their interest in learning more about the final terms of the financial deal with New York City and the specifics of the replacement park land.

But many of those same officials still voiced their support for a stadium plan that would not only change the face of soccer in New York City. But it could also change the face of the league, according to Garber.

"Our goal is to be one of the top soccer leagues in the entire world by 2022. This team and this stadium will help us achieve that," Garber said. "You can’t be a dominant soccer league without having a dominant team in the largest and most important city in the world."

During the MLS championship game, the Commissioner said that NYC would be the 20th team, so take that how you will. The new Cosmos will start playing in the NASL next year. The team will play the 2nd half of next season, due to not having a playable roster, or stadium deal. 

News!

I have report cards for the FSU basketball arena, and Miami Heat arena for you all. Also new posts about soccer specific stadiums, and a few other arenas. I have finals, but soon my friends.

Big things in Brooklyn

So the Nets opened up their shiny new home in central Brooklyn this past week. The team was supposed to play the Knicks, but Hurricane Sandy came through and pushed back the home opener to the Minnesota game tomorrow. The team has played a few preseason games, but nothing that counts

The arena has a weathered rust look, which I heard was actually stronger than a non weathered one due to the layers of metal(or something). I kind of think it's ugly, but it's a modern ugly. Also I love Brooklyn, so it's fine. All these scoreboards take up the nooks and cranies of the stadium.

BUT THATS NOT IT. The Islanders announced plans to move to Brooklyn in 2014. They figure, since their arena in Uniondale isn't good, moving to a place where current fans could still go is better than shipping to Seattle, or Kansas City. They didn't build the arena to fit hockey, so it'll be a bit weird. But this stadium will be a landmark in Brooklyn soon enough, and it looks way cooler than MSG. If anyone is in Brooklyn and goes to a game, feel free to do a report card. I would love to hear about it.

Stadium Report Card: Carter-Finley Stadium

I drove about 11 hours total with my dad to see my #3 team in the country lose to his college.

Team: NC State Wolfpack Football
Location: Raleigh, NC
League: Atlantic Coast Conference
Built: 1965(renovated in 2003)
Capacity: 57,583
My event: Regular Season Game vs Florida State

1. Outdoor Design

The school has a large architecture school, so it totally makes sense that it looks state of the art. This was the south side along the sidelines, this is where the pressboxes and everything were. This side and the east side were fairly new, but the north side we sat in you could tell was from the 60s. Still really nice. 7/10  

2. Indoor Design

It was different than what I'm used to which is a HUGE bowl, but the way it was layed out was nice. You could see everything going on at the stadium, and it had nice views to the outside of the stadium. 8/10

3. Prices

Our ticket was 65, which was sold to us by a guy who couldn't make the game at 8. Through FSU, I would've gotten the same deal and sat in the FSU section. The tickets seemed a little high, but the food prices were pretty cheap 5/10

4. Food

Fine Carolina barbecue, and then a selection of stadium food. Also a shout out to the stadium for giving you a cup with ice with your bottle of drink.  6/10

5. Staff

They were orderly and nice, even if I was wearing a FSU shirt! Everyone there was super cool.  8/10

6. Cleanliness

I thought it was actually really clean too. No complaints, seemed just right. 7/10

7. Parking

The stadium splits it's parking lot with the PNC Center, where the Hurricanes/basketball team plays their home games. That was a pretty big development. On top of that, there is a close business park where you can tailgate for about 10 bucks, but my dad and I got there early and parked for free along the road. No traffic on the way out either! 9/10

8. Atmosphere

One thing I can say is that they did leave only down 16-0. About 1/5th of the stadium emptied out, because the fan base is particularly pessimistic. But as soon as they started completing passes and wearing down the D, the fans came alive and it was cool to see. 7/10

9. Playing Surface

No problems with footing that I can remember, Thompson slipped a few times while running, but I think that was his fault. It was pretty clean and treated well. 8/10

10. Scoreboard
                               
The scoreboard was just a small little thing on the West side of the field, but it got the job done. As far as presentation, the PA announcer wasn't great, and the sound was meh. 6/10

Carter Finley gets a 71. Not a bad score at all. I honestly truly liked the stadium, despite the outcome. It was a really fun trip to take, and everyone was so nice. It might be because I wasn't an asshole about my team like some people can be, but I would recommend this stadium if you're ever close on a Saturday.

Minnesota Vikings Stadium News

Heard about this on the blog http://stadium-love-.tumblr.com/

Via the Penalty Flag 

Long have the Minnesota Vikings needed state funding for a new place to call home, now they have the architect and concept images of what future NFL stadiums could represent. 

According to TwinCities.com, Dallas-based HKS Inc., which designed the new Dallas Cowboys stadium as well as Lucas Oil in Indianapolis, was hired to build the $975 million facility for the Vikings in downtown Minneapolis. 

“Those two facilities are among the greatest in the world, and we’re very, very excited about taking what they’ve learned and what they’ve done and improving upon those projects and bringing that to Minnesota,” said Lester Bagley, the Vikings’ vice president of public affairs and stadium development. 

HKS will be paid $34 million, which includes payments to sub consultants as well. Drawings of what the new stadium will look like will likely be unveiled in January or February of next year, officials said. 

HKS was a joint pick by the team and the public stadium authority that was created after the Legislature approved $348 million in state money for the project. 

The Vikings are contributing $477 million, and the city of Minneapolis will pitch in $150 million. The facility will replace the Metrodome, the team’s current home on the eastern edge of downtown. It is expected to open in 2016. 

The authority released two conceptual designs Friday showing HKS’s ideas for the Vikings facility, but Kelm-Helgen said the stadium would likely look very different from those drawings. She said that beginning in October, the authority will have several meetings to hear how the public would like the stadium to look.

I mean, damn. Look at that concept.

New Rays Stadium Proposal

The Rays are back at it again sorta

 A group of developers proposed a new Rays stadium located in the business park named Carillon in north north St. Pete near the airport. The proposal is on the other side of the highway from my concept, if you need help visualizing. This one would cost roughly $600 million, with the developer putting up $150 million and the Rays believed to be willing to put up another $150 million. The Rays, aren't involved with this particular plan. It's just something a developer has come up with. 

St. Petersburg's City Council held a special two-hour meeting Friday to hear the proposal and hopes to get a new stadium built in St. Petersburg, as opposed to across Tampa Bay in Tampa. The proposal is beautiful, and planning to have around 35,000 seats. Actual businesses will be built into the side of the ballpark. The plan is to have business go on during the day, and then come gametime the parking lots around the stadium to be cleared and be available for parking. On top of that, Disney-style trams will go around making the walk not bad. Plus the renderings are pretty.

Many people want them to build the stadium in downtown Tampa. Thing is, the developers did a study on population and travel time and found that in this location across the bay from Tampa would have the most people within 30 minutes. So all of Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Pete could essentially drive there in a half hour. Sound familiar? But the Rays should take this seriously, the proposal is still in the St Pete city limits, and there is already bars and businesses all around that could host fans before and after games. 

I just hope this gets done coming from a huge fan.

Ancient Hockey

In June, Erste Bank Hockey League (Austria) team Medveščak Zagreb announced that it would play a pair of games in September inside the Pula Arena, a Roman amphitheater in Croatia built between 27 B.C. and 68 A.D. At one time it seated about 20,000 spectators as gladiators did battle until emperor Honorius banned the fights in the 5th century. 

I mean, just look.

Stadium Report Card: Doak Campbell Stadium

Team: Florida State Seminoles Footbal
Location: Tallahasseee, FL
League: Atlantic Coast Conference
Built: 1950(renovated a bunch)
Capacity: 82,300
My event: Regular Season Game vs Murray State

1. Outdoor Design

The stadium is massive. The entire outside is made with brick, with different sections on each endzone where the Athletic Department, movie department and financial aid all are. But as far as sports looks, it's a classic old intimidating stadium  9/10

2. Indoor Design

The inside is massive. Normally when you go inside a stadium, it seems more cozy and smaller than you would thing. The Doak is gigantic. A huge bowl with tall press boxes. The student section is in the north, with the band in the south. 8/10

3. Prices

Students get in free, but to bring a guest is 40 bucks. Then, for bigger games like Clemson coming up, it's more. I gave this a 5, just because I know it's worse in other places, but it's premier college football. 5/10

4. Food

Typical stadium food. They had stuff set up, like ChickFilA, but nothing crazy. 6/10

5. Staff

The staff is good! they get you in as fast as they can, and are pretty lenient. There's no regulation where students can sit, but they keep a watchful eye.  7/10

6. Cleanliness

Very clean. The only things I see are left from people during the game. 7/10

7. Parking

They have a few big lots and parking garages near the stadium, but really, more people end up going than the available spots. I walk to the stadium, which is about a mile, but parking is generally bad up here to begin with. 6/10

8. Atmosphere

I've been to all sorts of games. But I can honestly say the college football atmosphere here is the best ever. Nothing is like looking around, and seeing 80,000 people do the tomahawk chop. The constant yelling, and Chief Osceola planting the flaming spear in the ground make this the best. 10/10

9. Playing Surface

It is always well kept! Even when the horse goes, people are there to pick up. The field art is great too. 8/10

10. Scoreboard

Just a small scoreboard that gets the job done on the north endzone. Not bad. 7/10

So that's a 73! The parking and prices brought it down the most, but I love going here. I'm gonna go to the Wake game tomorrow. Then in a few weeks, my dad and I are going to Raleigh when FSU plays NC State. 

Amon G Carter Stadium

Original Post

TCU opens the 2012 season against Grambling State on Sept. 8 2012, in the first game at Amon G. Carter Stadium after its $164 million rebuild. 

 Built in 1930, Amon G. Carter Stadium has not undergone a major renovation since 1956. The renovation will allow TCU to enhance the game day experience for all fans by improving accessibility and crowd flow, enhancing seating to provide better views of the field, and significantly improving concession stands, elevators, restrooms and lighting. Tours will be available to the public from 1:30 - 3 p.m. on Sept. 6. 

 The re-developed Amon G. Carter Stadium will feature suites, club seats and improved fan amenities in many areas – new and more comfortable seating, wider concourses, new and improved restrooms and concession areas, handicap accessible accommodations, elevators and escalators and new lighting. Additionally, the stadium will feature a new press box. 

 Renovations began on the west side and north end zone following the 2010 season. Renovations for the east side began following the 2011 season and were completed in time for the opening game.

 This year marks TCU’s 82nd season playing at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The 2012 season is also TCU’s inaugural season in the Big 12 conference.

More pictures here

TCU article

MiLB Ballpark News

Sorry! I've been busy with college, but I'll post some stuff while I'm in the laundry room for all of you.

Today, the Charlotte Knights broke ground on their new stadium set to open in 2014. The team has been trying to move into Charlotte for a while now, but they only recently got a deal and started digging today. The team has been playing in the close by Fort Mill, SC in Knights Stadium since 1990. The stadium was originally built with a large area behind the outfield to maybe bring a major league team to the area. no such thing has happened, so they pulled the trigger and built a new AAA ball park. Now they just need to rebrand!

Read more

 On a similar note, the Birmingham Barons will play in their new downtown stadium starting next year. The team has been playing in Hoover, Alabama(Just south of B-Ham) since 1987, but the Barons themselves have played in Birmingham since 1885. The new stadium will have the skyline behind the 3rd base line, and will be a good stadium in the Southern League.

Read More

What's funny is that both teams are moving downtown, and affiliates to the White Sox.

60 million dollar HS stadium

Ever wonder what a 60 million dollar high school football stadium looks like? Well you can see it above. This is the deadspin article.

 You're looking at a recent photo of Eagle Stadium, in Allen, Texas, a northern suburb of Dallas. The stadium, three years in the works, will seat 18,000 when it opens later this month. It's got two luxury suites, a pro-quality press box, a 3,400-square-foot HD video scoreboard—and tickets will be just $10 a game for the all-bleacher seating. This is Texas football.

 According to Fox Sports Southwest, Eagle Stadium is only the fifth-largest high school field in the state, though that includes an MLS arena, two 1930s WPA projects, and Memorial Stadium in Mesquite, which is shared by five schools. So actual single-purpose prep stadiums don't get any bigger or nicer than this one.

 The old 14,000-seater apparently wasn't big enough anymore, which is mind-boggling to someone whose 3,000-student high school didn't even have a home field. Allen faced some criticism as the stadium was built in the midst of shrinking funding and an education budget shortfall. But the cash came straight from residents, in the form of a 2009 bond measure that passed with 63 percent—and also included funding for a performing arts center.

More pictures

Stadium Report Card: Progress Energy Park

Team: Tampa Bay Rowdies
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
League: North American Soccer League
Built: 1947 (rebuilt 1976)
Capacity: 7,227
My event: Regular Season Game vs FC Edmonton

1. Outdoor Design

The stadium has a lot of cement on the inside and outside. It seems like it was rebuilt in the 70s. I think the vertical beams that keeps the roof up look cool, but there isn't much to it.  5/10

2. Indoor Design

It looked a little better inside. The overhang is huge, and covered almost all the stands. The top 15 rows were bleacher seats with a back rest. There is a small berm down the right field line. But looking out, it's absolutely beautiful. The stadium is right on the water, and in the middle of downtown which has a lot of cool views. 6/10

3. Prices

I payed for myself, my sister, and a friend. I wanted to get berm tickets for 12 dollars, but they don't sell them at the door. I was stuck with getting 3 16 dollar general admission tickets. I feel as if that was pretty high. Especially since it came out to 48 dollars. The Rays games are cheaper, and they're a pro team. Food prices weren't bad, but still. 4/10

4. Food

I saw just typical ballpark food, which you had to pay with cash only. 5/10

5. Staff

Didn't get to see that much of them. One guy who was managing the close seats asked to help us find our seats, which was general admission so we could sit anywhere.  7/10

6. Cleanliness

I thought it was pretty clean for an old stadium like this. There were a few peanut shells, but overall I was impressed.  7/10

7. Parking

There is a big lot infront of the stadium, then a long the side streets you could park and pay the meter. We went out in a marina across the street and parked for free in public parking. Next game I go to, that's where I'll park  8/10

8. Atmosphere

This was the best part. The Rowdies' supporters group is named Ralph's Mob(for the nickname of the original's Rowdie mascot) and they were fantastic. They had a chant for every situation, had drums, and people in penguin costumes. 9/10

9. Playing Surface

They are the only team to use the stadium, so the entire field is grass. It was in really good condition. Along the walls was a dirt warning track, but the grass was nicely manicured I thought. 8/10

10. Scoreboard

You can see it in this picture, it hasn't been updated since the rebuilding. I wish they had a video board up because after a really good play, you wouldn't get to see it again. The first half score was kept in the first inning box, and the second half was in the second inning. The timer was underneath the board. 5/10

So overall that is a 64. It's a really nice stadium for a thing like this. I would love it if they renovated it a little with nicer seats and a video board. They still do baseball there sometimes, but it makes a solid soccer stadium I thought.

Permanent Outdoor Hockey!

It was bound to happen eventually. Here is the article from Yahoo

If you're in the crowd of people who believe the idea of playing outdoor hockey games is overdone, you're not going to like what the Williamsport Outlaws of the Federal Hockey League have planned for the 2012-13 season. 

Having just relocated from New Jersey to Williamsport, the Outlaws are currently without a rink and needed somewhere to play their home schedule. While local officials are working out those details, the Outlaws announced on Tuesday that they plan to play their entire 30-game home schedule outside at Historic Bowman Field, home of the Williamsport CrossCutters, a New York-Penn minor league baseball team. 

From WNEP16: 

Williamsport's city council still has to approve the lease with the new hockey team that won the league championship last year in New Jersey. The Outlaws' coach says the team hopes to get about 2,000 fans per game. If you are wondering if there is a chance warm weather or rain and snow could postpone outdoor hockey games. The answer from officials is yes but they said they are prepared to deal with whatever comes late Fall, early Winter. 

From when their season kicks off on Oct. 24 until their final home game on Jan. 21 (Williamsport ends their season with a 15-game road trip), the Outlaws will rent the rink at Bowman Field, which is owned by the city. No word on what happens should the team qualify for the FHL playoffs to defend their title. Public skating will take place when the rink isn't in use by the team, according to WNEP. 

The rink will reportedly cost the Outlaws between $200,000-$225,000 to build and operate, $15,000 to rent the field from the city and between $12,000-$15,000 to fix the infield once the season is over. The team will need to average around 2,000 fans per game in order to make the venture economically feasible. The possibility also exists of renting the rink out to local high school and college teams to help off-set costs. 

Meanwhile, the Crosscutters aren't too happy having to share their facility with another team and have filed a Right to Know request to get all the details of the agreement between the Outlaws and the city.

I feel like it was going to happen eventually, but the fact that they relocated there without an arena is pretty stupid. I really hope it's cold enough, because this summer has been so hot.

NEWS

So I got back from my Tallahassee-Indiana-New York road trip!

I saw all the stadiums on the FSU campus, so this year expect a bunch of stadium report cards. We drove on through to Indiana to visit family. I wanted to go to a Indianapolis Indians game, but they weren't home when I was there. We flew to New York, where I saw the Mets play at Citi. That ballpark is GREAT. My favorite ballpark so far. We have a report card, so I haven't posted yet! On the 4th of July we went to Coney Island, and were outside the Brooklyn Cyclones stadium where I got a shirt, but didn't see inside.

It's right on the board walk, so it was cool watching the fireworks there.

I also saw MSG up close, and Yankee Stadium from the air! We didn't go by the new Brooklyn arena, and the Islanders play really far away. Also, no New Jersey even though the Giants/Jets/Red Bull play RIGHT there.

So sorry for the lack of posting, I just havent thought of what to do! I want to go to a Rowdies game before I leave for college, so I might. Also the Olympics are this weekend, so I'll post the stadiums soon. My dad and I also are trying to work out going to Raleigh when Florida State plays his NC State in October. I could hook you guys up

Inside the Park Soccer

This weekend was a huge weekend in exhibition soccer! European teams gearing up for the 2012-13 season stormed North America with players trying to earn a spot on the teams they play for. But the thing is, 3 of the games were in some unique places

Toronto FC 1-1 Liverpool FC 

Rogers Centre, Toronto

 The English team came over to play Toronto in the Rogers Centre. Normally, TFC plays at BMO Field. But the team opened up the roof(for most of the game) at the Blue Jays' home park. Over 45,000 people showed up to the game! The Jays went on a New York/Boston Road trip, and will be back Tuesday

AC Roma 4-0 Zagłębie Lubin

Wrigley Field, Chicago

Chicago has large Italian and Polish population, which is why they faced two teams from both countries in the "Friendly at the Confines". AC Roma had American Bobby Bradley in his first game for the Italian club, which whooped the Polish team. They scored in the first minute, too. The broadcast said the attendance was around 22,000. The Cubs are in St. Louis, and will go to Pittsburgh before they come home.

Chelsea FC 1-1 Paris St. Germain

Yankee Stadium, New York

The last match was in the Bronx. 38,000 people saw the European Champions Chelsea play Paris St. Germain that has bought a bunch of players in the offseason. Chelsea scored with less than 10 minutes left. The Yankees are in Oakland and Seattle before they go back.

I watched each of these games, and it was really cool to see in these stadiums. The last two were part of the Herbalife World Football Challenge. Chelsea plays the MLS All-Stars in Philly Wednesday on ESPN 2, right after THIS game at 6:30. Liverpool and Roma will play at Fenway! I'll post pictures after

New Redwings Arena?

The Detroit Red Wings are moving ahead in their hopes of building a new downtown arena and have selected an architect, according to a report by Sports Business Journal.
SBJ's Don Muret cites three sources in saying the Red Wings have hired HKS, an international firm headquartered in Dallas. HKS will work with Chan Krieger NBBJ, a Boston architect specializing in urban developments, according to Sports Business Journal.
HKS officials did not comment and Karen Cullen, a corporate spokeswoman for the Red Wings, told Muret there was nothing new and added "our organization has been on record saying we’d like to have a new arena in downtown Detroit."
HKS was co-designer of American Airlines Arena in Dallas.
According to Sports Business Journal, the Red Wings would like their new arena to seat 18,000 and the team has explored multiple sites downtown.
Joe Louis Arena, owned by the city of Detroit, is 33 years old.

 So finally the Redwings can move into a new shiny arena, on the day I post a Redwings concept on my other blog. I posted about it before, so I'm happy they might move out of their old arena.

I copied the story from here.
http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2012/05/report_red_wings_choose_archit.html

Stadium Report Cards: Marlins Ballpark

It's been far too long since we've had one of these.

Team: Miami Marlins
Location: Miami, Fl
League: Major League Baseball(NL East)
Built: 2012
Capacity: 37,442
My event: Regular Season Game: Tampa Bay Rays

1. Outdoor Design

I was amazed the first time I saw the park and it wasn’t just how big it was, we were still on I-95 when we could see it, but also how beautiful it looks. The exterior is mostly glass going all around with the retractable roof but it is still beautiful looking. The team store located by the box office could have been a little bigger but it was still nice and included memorabilia from the first game. 8/10

2. Indoor Design

It was very nice inside. The concourses were spacy and even included the bobble head museum which was cool to see. There is not a bad seat in the stadium even if you are in the outfield. Then of course the infamous home run centerpiece was cool to see in person, very colorful. From our seats we could also see the Clevelander in left field by the Marlins bullpen. From what we saw it has everything the actual Clevelander has including dancers and a pool. 8/10

3. Prices

Prices were no major issue. Our seats were on the first base line in the upper level for only $20 each. The view was great. Typical ballpark food prices so it wasn’t too bad. 7/10

4. Food

There were a variety of choices from burgers, pizza and even a small section called “Taste of Miami” which is a unique concept of Miami based cuisine. I didn’t get to try it but a friend of mine felt he overpaid for such a small amount of food. 6/10

5. Staff

Staff was very friendly and talkative. I wanted to get a picture of the aquarium tanks behind home plate and the staff there allowed me to do so. I couldn’t get too close but still that was very kind of them. 8/10

6. Cleanliness

Being a new park I did not expect cleanliness to be a problem. 9/10

7. Parking

Parking was expensive if you parked in the ballpark lots. We parked in a lady’s yard for only $10 and we were right across the street from the park. 7/10

8. Atmosphere

The atmosphere was not very good. 60% full and half of the fans were Rays fans. I can’t be too harsh for this particular night was the same night the Miami Heat played the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the East Finals so most of Miami was at that game or outside American Airlines Arena. Those who were there did cheer their team on though so I give them credit 6/10

9. Playing Surface

 

The grounds crew did a good job keeping the surface of the infield neat. Nothing majorly special otherwise. You can see some of it in this picture of the home run sculpture 8/10

10. Scoreboard

Nice scoreboard but kept malfunctioning. It was off for a good four innings before power was restored. Nice and clear when it was working. 7/10

So overall that is a 74, knocked down by atmosphere. I still want to go to a game there, and it will be one of the best in the majors for a long time.