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.

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

Tulane's Stadium Proposal

Tulane is in the process of raising money for a new on-campus football stadium. The stadium will seat 30,000 fans. It will be the first on campus stadium since the mid 70s, when was used for not just Tulane, but the Saints and  Super Bowl 4 & 6.

Some things I noticed from the renderings, they have a party deck in one of the corners, which is unique. There is also a scoreboard in a corner of the endzone. The whole stadium is completely enclosed, and sort of is like a soccer specific stadium. The concourses empty at field level, and the fans have to climb up. 

I think it will be a nice stadium, and get the team out of the Superdome. If you want to read up on the stadium, here is the official website! http://www.tulanestadium.com/

Tulsa Basketball

Interesting find, but Tulsa's basketball arena's new scoreboard is different than any other arena I know of. The scoreboard is elongated along the length of the court. It resembles the scoreboards at Cowboys Stadium, and BC Place.

I'm willing to bet that this starts a new trend in arena scoreboards.

Future Report Cards

Last week, I was accepted into Florida State University, so naturally, the best part will be posting stadium report cards for you all. Here are just the major facilities that will soon have a post about them.

Doak Campbell Stadium

 Dick Howser Stadium

 Donald L. Tucker Center(Basketball)

New Baylor Plans?

A few weeks ago, Baylor announced the plans of building a new on-campus state of the art football stadium. The stadium will replace Floyd Casey Stadium. Floyd Casey is off campus, and one of the smaller ones in the Big 12 at 50,000 seats. This whole thing was being led by head coach Art Briles, who wants the hot Bears to have an on campus stadium so their students can be closer to games.

A few things. The open ended stadium will have a view of the river, and campus. There will be a pedestrian bridge from Baylor, across the river to land that the University purchased from the city of Waco. Pedestrian bridges are great, any Titans fans would know. You park once at a major location(ie Baylor, Nashville), and walk to the stadium. After the game, you walk back, without having to move your car.

Lastly, it will be roof, which very few teams have. But some shade in September in the middle of Texas isn't a bad thing.

Populous does the best work on stadiums, no denying that.

Cal Bears Stadium

For the 2011 season, the Cal Bears have been playing at the Giants' AT&T Park. The reason for this is, one, they're renovating their own stadium. And two, it is the only professional stadium not currently in use. Since 1923, Memorial Stadium hasn't been renovated. It's stood the same, for nearly 90 years. They finally decided to make minor updates and turn this...

Into this.

The first part of the renovation was to redo the student facilities and locker rooms. Next, they redid both endzones, and pressbox side. The west side was completely demolished, except for the outer wall and redone. Also, they put expansion joints on earthquake safe blocks because in 1923, they built the stadium on a fault line... But it's all good and it's a nice renovation to one of those old Pac 10 stadiums you see in California.

#HailState

Who likes twitter? Mississippi State does. In an attempt to get a trending topic, they put #HailState in the endzone, hashtag and all. Anyway to draw attention between the match up between the 5-6 Bulldogs and the 2-9 Rebels. The nameplates will also have HailState on them. No word on hashtags for that one.

Here's my personal twitter if you want it.
https://twitter.com/#!/MichaelDanger94

My Road Trip!

Here are pictures of stadiums that I took on my trip, I will do some posts about it soon. I didnt take a picture of Bridgestone Arena, and Rupp Arena.

UT-Chattanooga Football


Chattanooga Lookouts


Tennessee Titans


Vanderbilt Football


Western Kentucky Football


Bowling Green Hot Rods


Louisville Football


Churchill Downs


KFC Yum! Center


Louisville Slugger Stadium


Kentucky Football


Tennessee Football

Stadium Report Cards: Rosenblatt Stadium

Team: Rosenblatt Stadium
Location: Omaha, NE
League: NCAA
Built: 1948
Capacity: 23,145 (College World Series games)
My event: numerous CWS games from 1996 to 2010

I finally sat down to write this up for my hometown ballpark. Well, the old one, that is. I based this off of College World Series games, as that is what the Blatt was known for. The oldest ticket I can find is from 1996, but I based my report off the most recent version of Rosenblatt.

1. Outdoor Design

It is a nice looking stadium, but it is very obviously pieced together and not planned out.
6/10

2. Indoor Design

The concourses were small and cramped. The seats were somewhat uncomfortable. Overall comfort was not great.
5/10

3. Prices
Fairly reasonable, but not great. The NCAA has jacked up the prices on everything but it wasn’t terrible at the Blatt.
6/10

4. Food
The Blatt had the best fresh squeezed lemonade in the world. After that, it was still great. There were many great ballpark foods, plus unique items like ice cream and Famous Daves. Quite delicious!
8/10

5. Staff
If you’ve never been to the Midwest before, the friendliness of the staff might surprise you. I didn’t notice this until I went on vacations and such, but everyone here is so outgoing and friendly. Rosenblatt is no different, everyone loves to help out and talk. The staff seemed a little stricter the last couple years though.
7/10

6. Cleanliness
Well, its about what you would expect for such an old stadium. Not too good.
3/10

7. Parking
There really wasn’t much parking right by the stadium. Most people had to park across the interstate and walk.
4/10

8. Atmosphere
The CWS atmosphere is one of a kind. It truly one of those things you just have to experience for yourself. Rosenblatt was special.
10/10

9. Playing Surface
It really started to get bad toward the end, but they kept it up.
6/10

10. Scoreboard

The latest edition of the left field scoreboard was great. Huge, great graphics.
10/10

According to my math, that equals a 65.

Non BCS Stadium Expansions

So two of the biggest BCS Busters in history, Boise State and TCU will renovate their stadium.

In late August 2010, new expansion plans were revealed for Bronco Stadium. The first stages will include adding a new facility to the north endzone, which will house the football offices, weight room, training room, equipment room and locker room. This would also include a 13,200 seat grandstand. The later stages of the expansion plan include: removing the track, lowering the field, and adding 3,300 seats in front of the first deck of the stadium; completing the south endzone horseshoe; building an east side skybox; and renovating the east side concourse. BSU's only holds 33,500 people, when it probably could hold much more. The expansions may be divided up into as many as six phases. The total cost for all planned expansions is around $100 million. The total seating capacity for a fully-expanded Bronco Stadium is estimated to be around 53,000. The Boise State athletic director aims to have the north endzone complex open in time for the 2013 season.


On Monday, August 16, 2010, TCU announced a $105 million renovation of the west side and north end zone of Amon G. Carter Stadium to better enhance football fans' experience, upgrade amenities and transform the historic Fort Worth icon into the "Camden Yards" of collegiate football stadiums.
Work on the renovation, which is funded by donor support, began with the implosion of the west stands on December 5, 2010. It will be fully completed in 2012.

Design Weber State's Football Field

http://www.weberstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8600&ATCLID=205072702&KEY=&DB_OEM_ID=8600&DB_LANG=&IN_SUBSCRIBER_CONTENT=

This year Weber State will be installing a new turf football field at Stewart Stadium and now it's your chance to be involved in the project.

Weber State is looking for design ideas for the new field. The top design selected will be included in the pool of other designs used by the university to make a final design. The person submitting the top design will also receive two season tickets to the 2011 Weber State football season.

Download the Field Design Sheet and hand draw/color in your field, or submit your own unique artwork.

You can submit your entries in three ways:

• Email: weberstatesports@gmail.com
• Deliver to the WSU Athletic Offices on the 2nd floor of Stewart Stadium
• By mail: Weber State Athletics, 2701 University Circle, Ogden, UT 84408.

Include your name, phone number, and email address with your design. Ideas must be submitted by January 20, 2011 for inclusion in the contest to win season tickets.

Get your ideas ready and help design the new football field for the Wildcats.

So someone linked this to me, and I thought it'd be a good chance to make a football field. I don't really expect to win. I mean, it'd be cool if I do but what would I do with season tickets to a team in Ogden, Utah. Here is my entry!

Stadium Report Cards: TCF Bank Stadium

Our friend TC comes through for us!

Team: Minnesota Golden Gophers Football
Location: Minneapolis, MN
League: Big Ten
Built: 2009
Capacity: 50,805
My event: Regular season game, vs Southern California

1. Outdoor Design

It's beautiful. The brick exterior matches both the basketball and hockey arenas which are right next to TCF Bank Stadium. The only thing I wish they did was use gold lettering like they do on other venues.
9/10

2. Indoor Design

The inside layout is nice as well. I like how the seats are maroon and gold and spell out "MINNESOTA" on both sides. The stadium is in the shape of a horseshoe, and at the "top" of the horseshoe there's a charming little plaza with some shrubs and things, it's also where the main scoreboard resides.
8/10

3. Prices
The prices are a little on the expensive side, if you ask me. We sat in the upper level and the tickets were $60, which is at the most pretty fair. But $5 footlongs cost $10 there, so you tell me if that's right
6/10

4. Food
The food is just regular stuff. I had a brat and kraut, which was tasty.
8/10

5. Staff
The staff was really, really nice. Everyone was really helpful and friendly. There's this museum area that you need to show your ticket to enter and exit, and my friend didn't have his but they let him in anyway.
9/10

6. Cleanliness
It rained the previous night, so the ground around the seats had some puddles. Other than that everything was clean as a whistle, like every stadium should be.
8/10

7. Parking
There are lots surrounding the stadium, but they seemed like a pain to get into. The traffic is horrible so getting out was also a struggle.
4/10

8. Atmosphere
Sports Illustrated put free magazines in everyone's seats, so after every touchdown people would toss them in the air and it was raining SI's. That was pretty cool. But other than that no one was really into it during the 4th quarter when the Gophers were done for.
6/10

9. Playing Surface.

The field is turf, and it looks pretty good compared to the condition of other turf fields. They outline the numbers in maroon, which I like, the rest of the field was pretty standard.
8/10

10. Scoreboard

This thing is awesome! It's one of the largest in college football, I think in the top 5. There's also a smaller one on the other side of the field, which has closed captioning.
10/10

That is a 76/100 which is pretty good. The aesthetics like parking brought it down.

Take me out to the Bowlgame

Here is a little look at some MLB stadiums that hosted a college football game. In the same weekend, Northwestern and Illinois played at Wrigley, with Notre Dame and Army hooking up in the Bronx. As far as I can remember, those games are the only regular season games played in a converted stadium. 5 current MLB stadiums hosted a bowl game in the 2000s. Here are 4 of them, because Sun Life Stadium hosing a football game isn't that special, because they have one nearly every weekend.

Northwestern-Illinois @ Wrigley Field


Notre Dame-Army @ New Yankee Stadium


Beef O'Brady's Bowl @ Tropicana Field


Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl @ AT&T Stadium


Former International Bowl @ Rogers Centre


And finally, for one year in 2000, the Insight Bowl was played at Chase field.


I might do a post on the new Qatar Stadiums for you all! Comment, please.