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!

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 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.

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