Best and worst conference stadium wise

[Sycamore51]

I'm sure this has been a topic before, but what conference is the best for stadiums and which is the worst? The MVC has great football, but except for SIU I wouldn't say great stadiums. Looking at pictures I would say maybe the SoCon has some of the best, but the old Ivy League isn't bad either. I would have to say the Pioneer Leagues is the worst, but Drake, Dayton, and Morehead aren't bad at all.

[darell1976]

Best--Big Sky!!!
Worst--Pionner League

[TheRevSFA]

Southland has some good and bad. SFA, Sam, UCA, NW State, UCA have great fields for games. McNeese is tops.

But then you have Nichols and Southeast Louisiana bringing up the rear

[asumike83]

It'd be hard to go against the Ivies for best.

[danefan]

CAA has some pretty nice stadiums. Everyone but UNH and Nova that is...

http://www.udel.edu/sportsinfo/facilities/2010DEStadium.jpg

http://jmusportsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/brideforth-overhead.jpg

http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics32/800/RB/RBLXIOTATMRILRZ.20101230151319.jpg

http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/oldd/graphics/facilities/foreman_field_at_sb_ballard_stadium.jpg

http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics32/800/JH/JHJQURQDDJHLSZR.20110828184706.jpg

http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/towson-tigers-johnny-unitas-stadium/Johnny-Unitas-Stadium-1.jpg

[Sycamore51]

JMU's is right up there with Montana in my book. Who's the last stadium in the CAA picture set? That is a tiny little stadium.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Ivy League, without question.

[danefan]

JMU's is right up there with Montana in my book. Who's the last stadium in the CAA picture set? That is a tiny little stadium.

Its Towson. Seats about 12,000. Pretty nice stadium though. Just a bad picture

http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics32/800/XX/XXLCWNBNXVJEKMU.20110427212340.jpg

[katstrapper]

Sam Houston is adding upgrades to Bowers. A new video board is going in to replace the other one, all new chairback seats for this season. The future will bring an upgrade to the press box to include more suites and another level. An events center is planned as well which will close in the south end of the stadium and connect to press box and suites.

[TheRevSFA]

Sam Houston is adding upgrades to Bowers. A new video board is going in to replace the other one, all new chairback seats for this season. The future will bring an upgrade to the press box to include more suites and another level. An events center is planned as well which will close in the south end of the stadium and connect to press box and suites.

SFA has the plans for almost the same thing. We are taking the field house and moving it closer to the field...as opposed to how far away it is.

[Gringer1]

I think the SoCon, CAA, and Ivy have the best. It is hard to pick a winner out of them though. The Ivies have some of the biggest, but also some of the oldest facilities. The SoCon has really nice stadiums like App, Chatty, and GSU. I think Samford's is the only dinky little stadium in the conference. The CAA has some nice digs like JMU, ODU, and Deli Where. It also has some real slums like Villanova though. William and Mary has a very pretty and historic stadium, but it is kinda small and the visiting coaches can't even see half of the field from the press box.

As for the worst, I think the Pioneer is your winner; Jacksonville's Milne Field is a skid mark on the entire FCS's underpants.

[blueballs]

I think the SoCon, CAA, and Ivy have the best. It is hard to pick a winner out of them though. The Ivies have some of the biggest, but also some of the oldest facilities. The SoCon has really nice stadiums like App, Chatty, and GSU. I think Samford's is the only dinky little stadium in the conference.


The Citadel's stadium has just been remodeled and is one of the better facilities in the division. Also, since Jerry Richardson is a Wofford alum and the Panthers do their camp there, Wofford has really nice- albeit small- facilities too.

[Apphole]

SoCon is VERY polarized. App, Chatty, GaSo (Gap) Citadel, fElon, Wofford (Gap) Furple (Huge gap) Sammy, WCU

[carney2]

Since the question was phrased as best conference, not best stadium, the Ivys are head and shoulders above everyone else. Even the worst of the Ivy stadiums - probably Columbia and Dartmouth, and maybe throw in Brown - would get pretty good grades elsewhere in FCS.

[McNeese75]

SFA has the plans for almost the same thing. We are taking the field house and moving it closer to the field...as opposed to how far away it is.

While you are at it, have them put some damn restrooms that are not 2 miles from the stands, xlolx

[Gringer1]

SoCon is VERY polarized. App, Chatty, GaSo (Gap) Citadel, fElon, Wofford (Gap) Furple (Huge gap) Sammy, WCU

Western has a nice field house. Aren't they working on a stadium enhancement project of some sort?

[Apphole]

Western has a nice field house. Aren't they working on a stadium enhancement project of some sort?

Their basketball arena IS their field house. I thought the same thing until I learned this and then I got a big laugh. One of many that day in the Whee'

[UAalum72]

The Northeast Conference easily has the smallest stadiums on average, but at least (when Albany's stadium opens by next year) all will have been built or rebuilt within the last twenty years.

[HailSzczur]

[QUOTE=danefan;1786992]CAA has some pretty nice stadiums. Everyone but UNH and Nova that is...

I was just about to say that CAA probably has the biggest range of any conference

[apaladin]

SoCon is VERY polarized. App, Chatty, GaSo (Gap) Citadel, fElon, Wofford (Gap) Furple (Huge gap) Sammy, WCU

Don't see why you would rate FU below Elon and Wofffy when it's twice the size of both. Granted it needs some upgrading(coming next year) but still better than Elon and Woffy.

[TheRevSFA]

While you are at it, have them put some damn restrooms that are not 2 miles from the stands, xlolx

We only move them for McNeese fans. It's an amazing project that taps into our budget every 2 years.

[CropDuster]

FU has a trough to piss in...

[Apphole]

Don't see why you would rate FU below Elon and Wofffy when it's twice the size of both. Granted it needs some upgrading(coming next year) but still better than Elon and Woffy.

It's just so old man. It was like the third world. It stuck out especially since the rest of the FU campus is so nice looking. If it makes you feel better, I'll remove the (gap) between FU and the other 3. I loved parking withing a hundred yards of the stadium last year though. Wish we could have left with a W/7th straight SoCon championship...

[DFW HOYA]

You know it's the off-season when this thread pops up again.

Yes, Montana and App have great stadia. Milne Field and Georgetown's MSF are not. Next topic.

[Bogus Megapardus]

35 Stadiums You Wouldn't Be Caught Dead In (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/858807-college-football-26-stadiums-you-wouldnt-be-caught-dead-in)

[bigCasu]

FU has a trough to piss in...

Which is slighty better than the wall The Citadel has on the visitors side.

[CID1990]

The Citadel's stadium has just been remodeled and is one of the better facilities in the division. Also, since Jerry Richardson is a Wofford alum and the Panthers do their camp there, Wofford has really nice- albeit small- facilities too.

We did save the piss wall, though. Heck i have been known to walk over to the visitors side just to shake hands with the unemployed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk while driving on the interstate and brushing my teeth.

[FargoBison]

Except for NDSU, UNI and SIU most of the stadiums are pretty average in the MVFC and a few are absolute dumps.

That said I guess Ill State and SDSU plan on fixing their dumps and turning them into solid stadiums.

[WH49er]

35 Stadiums You Wouldn't Be Caught Dead In (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/858807-college-football-26-stadiums-you-wouldnt-be-caught-dead-in)

Georgia State should take note:

"The Temple Owls play their home games at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

It might seem strange to see “The Linc” on this list, considering its primary tenant—the Philadelphia Eagles—has a wonderful game-day experience for everyone who attends home games.

So why does Temple appear on this list?

There's just something painful about seeing a football game being held in an NFL stadium that's a quarter full—or less."

[GSUhooligan]

SoCon

Georgia Southern
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/13124435.jpg

Appy State
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ_h28qpgWg6ppLTckPl60zH2IuXMWlo jZ1BqgwdkRo4adluGMOhuTwwFNU

Citadel
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/south_carolina/charleston_hagood1.jpg

UT-C
http://www.utc.edu/Administration/Alumni/images/finley.jpg

Elon
https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/TRImages/rhodesStadiumElonFootball.jpg

Furman
http://www.furmanpaladins.com/tickets/Photos/PaladinStadiumA.jpg?max_height=196&max_width=587

Samford
https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/TRImages/Seibert%20StadiumSamford%20U.jpg

Wofford
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Gibbs_Stadium.jpg/300px-Gibbs_Stadium.jpg

Western
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/north_carolina/cullowhee_whitmire1.jpg

[Apphole]

Georgia State should take note:

"The Temple Owls play their home games at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

It might seem strange to see “The Linc” on this list, considering its primary tenant—the Philadelphia Eagles—has a wonderful game-day experience for everyone who attends home games.

So why does Temple appear on this list?

There's just something painful about seeing a football game being held in an NFL stadium that's a quarter full—or less."

Oh no! Turning on his own brood. These GaSt fans really don't have many allies at all, no matter how similar other schools are.

[GSUhooligan]

Eastern Washington
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/washington/spokane_albi1.jpg

Idaho St.
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/idaho/pocatello_holt2.jpg

Montana
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/montana/missoula_grizzly1.jpg

Montana St.
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/montana/bozeman_bobcat1.jpg

N. Arizona
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/arizona/flagstaff_walkup_skydome.jpg

N. Colorado
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/northern-colorado-bears-nottingham-field/Nottingham-Field-4.jpg

Portland St.
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/oregon/portland_pge2.jpg

Sac St.
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/california/sacramento_hornet.jpg

Weber St.
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/utah/ogden_stewart1.jpg

[Apphole]

SoCon



In a couple of years...

Georgia Southern
http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt35/gsuwinsudont/265368_195184640539605_100001442123552_578555_3005 701_o.jpg

http://www.gata.com/gataimages/cozystadium.jpg

Appalachian State
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/560343_10150610177872224_681937223_8844711_2024178 526_n.jpg

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/389322_10150653282982224_681937223_8984755_1569924 808_n.jpg

[Bam]

35 Stadiums You Wouldn't Be Caught Dead In (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/858807-college-football-26-stadiums-you-wouldnt-be-caught-dead-in)

So true about the Blundering Turds of Marhell. Huntington, WV is the armpit of America!

[Sycamore51]

Here's how I'm ranking them, mostly based off of pictures:
1) SoCon
2) IVY
3) CAA
4) SWAC
5) MEAC
6) Big Sky
7) Southland
8) MVC
9) Big South
10) OVC
11) Patriot
12) Pioneer
13) NEC

That's just how I see it. Most have great ones, and most have crap holes. I almost put the HBC's 1 and 2 because the have some great old stadiums, but like the IVY League schools they are old. Montana State and JMU may be my favorites with Jacksonville and St. Francis pulling up the *** end.

[TheRevSFA]

Southland

McNeese
http://katfans.com/facilities/cowboys.jpg

SFA
http://katfans.com/facilities/sfaportopotty.jpg

Sam
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics32/0/EL/ELPKYRHXQQYTLZU.20110113212545.jpg

Northwestern State
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/northwestern-state-demons-harry-turpin-stadium/Harry-Turpin-Stadium-3.jpg

UCA
http://cdn3.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/1404813/248512_10150191262326580_111051716579_7531167_8108 111_n_large.jpg

Lamar
http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/lama/graphics/provost-stadium-wide-635.jpg

SE LA
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/southeastern-louisiana-lions-strawberry-stadium/strawberry-1.jpg

Nicholls State
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2519/3742451653_a992cb106e.jpg

[BucBisonAtLarge]

The Ivy League... even the new digs at Princeton are done right.

[Uncle Rico's Clan]

[QUOTE=GSUhooligan;1787097]Eastern Washington
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/washington/spokane_albi1.jpg

I'm pretty sure that is Joe Albi stadium in Spokane. I think ewu used the stadium for home games against the Griz, but haven't done so in years. They have that terrific red turf now.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

The Patriot League Stadiums are better than some believe. The only thing that might set the PL back a bit is the disparity between the haves and the have not, G-Town. I personally don't think JCF is that bad for what it is.

Lehigh's Goodman Stadium
http://i.turner.ncaa.com/dr/ncaa/ncaa/release/sites/default/files/files/1021-natn-Goodman-Stadium.jpg

Lafayette's Fisher Field
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/lafa/sports/m-footbl/auto_player/2943908.jpeg

Holy Cross's Fitton Field
http://goholycross.com/information/directory/facility_photos/fitton-fb.jpg

Colgate's Andy Kerr Stadium
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/colgate-raiders-andy-kerr-stadium/Andy-Kerr-Stadium-1.jpg

Bucknell's Christy Matthewson Memorial Stadium
http://www.fieldturf.com/images/sized/images/installs/Bucknellweb-420x280.jpg

Fordham's Jack Coffey Field
http://images.wikia.com/whitecollar/images/6/64/JackCoffeyField.jpg

Georgetown's MSF
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5aDKqsf1RVE/SpSMgdAzrwI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/yTpXuof1UQU/s400/msf5.jpg

[HailSzczur]

Which is slighty better than the wall The Citadel has on the visitors side.

I always liked that about the bathrooms in Franklin Field that it seemed like William Penn built, back before they renovated it. Something about pissing on a wall always seemed fun. Maybe it was cause I was young, or maybe it was because our stadium was actually a little bit better for once.

[WH49er]

In a couple of years...


Appalachian State
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/560343_10150610177872224_681937223_8844711_2024178 526_n.jpg




Why exactly does App insist on building dorms right at the main gate?


From the looks of it, seems like it would just create one big cluster****.

[Apphole]

Why exactly does App insist on building dorms right at the main gate?


From the looks of it, seems like it would just create one big cluster****.

Several reasons: Help with funding (two birds, one stone), lack of room elsewhere, noise containment ect.

It's certainly a bit "pieced together," but it still suits our needs and I honestly do like it. This building as an acoustic barrier along with the new end zone seating opposite the giant hill on the other endzone should make KBS as load as anywhere else in the country. It should look really good in keeping with the continuity of the other countless buildings that have been renovated or constructed in the last 5 years. In the beautiful mountain setting, I find it hard to believe that anyone actually visiting would think anything negative about it.

[asumike83]

Why exactly does App insist on building dorms right at the main gate?


From the looks of it, seems like it would just create one big cluster****.

As Apphole mentioned, a lack of space is one factor. I actually kind of like the way it looks. As I recall, these are going to be the athlete's dorms. I think it would be pretty cool, as a football player, to wake up and look at the football stadium every morning.

[Apphole]

And there won't be a track! xhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxh urrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhur rayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurra yxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayx xhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxh urrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhur rayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurra yxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayx xhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxh urrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhur rayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurra yxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayx xhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxh urrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhur rayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurra yxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayx xhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxh urrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhur rayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurra yxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayx xhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxh urrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhur rayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurra yx

[carney2]

Here's how I'm ranking them, mostly based off of pictures:
1) SoCon
2) IVY
3) CAA
4) SWAC
5) MEAC
6) Big Sky
7) Southland
8) MVC
9) Big South
10) OVC
11) Patriot
12) Pioneer
13) NEC

That's just how I see it. Most have great ones, and most have crap holes. I almost put the HBC's 1 and 2 because the have some great old stadiums, but like the IVY League schools they are old. Montana State and JMU may be my favorites with Jacksonville and St. Francis pulling up the *** end.

That's a heluva shot in the dark. How many have you actually seen? How many have you been in? About as many as me, I'm guessing. In any event, I'm not liking your list all that much. The Ivys may be "old," but they are priceless. Yale Bowl, Harvard Stadium, Princeton Stadium, Franklin Field, and even The Crescent at Cornell are, as a group, without equal in FCS America. Patriot league stadiums, as a group, belong in anyone's top 5 and not pushing the cellar dwellers. Methinx you may be factoring seating capacity too much into your equation. If true, the Ivys still win.

[kdinva]

As for the worst, I think the Pioneer is your winner; Jacksonville's Milne Field is a skid mark on the entire FCS's underpants.

Add Chuck South's place to this "list"............although I do hope their plans for upgrading (they supposedly broke ground in November for a new field house/locker rooms in one end zone. Can't find any photos to validate) go forward, and their place is better by 2015 or so........

[asumike83]

And there won't be a track! xhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxh urrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhur rayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurra yxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayx xhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxh urrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhur rayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurra yxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayx xhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxh urrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhur rayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurra yxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayx xhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxh urrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhur rayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurra yxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayx xhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxh urrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhur rayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurra yxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayx xhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxh urrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhur rayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurrayxxhurra yx

Can't be gone soon enough for me. All the renderings have permanent structures that would clearly make having a track impossible. Any idea where it is planning to be relocated? I know a new field hockey facility is being built along with KBS expansion in the next go-round, wonder if they'd put the track around that.

[Apphole]

Can't be gone soon enough for me. All the renderings have permanent structures that would clearly make having a track impossible. Any idea where it is planning to be relocated? I know a new field hockey facility is being built along with KBS expansion in the next go-round, wonder if they'd put the track around that.

The University needs to buy the old Watauga High school. There's already a track and field area for god sakes (we would substantially upgrade it though). The rest could be used for some Graduate/phd programs. Dare I say a Law School!?

[Bogus Megapardus]

athlete's dorms


Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that the NCAA has prohibited athlete-exclusive student housing for quite some time.

Does anybody here have athlete's dorms on their campus?


EDIT - I see now that there is a proposal afoot to bring back the concept of athlete's dorms:

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/02/ncaa_takes_a_crack_at_slimmer.html

[Sycamore51]

That's a heluva shot in the dark. How many have you actually seen? How many have you been in? About as many as me, I'm guessing. In any event, I'm not liking your list all that much. The Ivys may be "old," but they are priceless. Yale Bowl, Harvard Stadium, Princeton Stadium, Franklin Field, and even The Crescent at Cornell are, as a group, without equal in FCS America. Patriot league stadiums, as a group, belong in anyone's top 5 and not pushing the cellar dwellers. Methinx you may be factoring seating capacity too much into your equation. If true, the Ivys still win.
I believe one of the first things that I stated was that it was mostly based off of pictures. I'm no expert, that's why I posed the question to those who have seen many more stadiums than I have.

[HailSzczur]

That's a heluva shot in the dark. How many have you actually seen? How many have you been in? About as many as me, I'm guessing. In any event, I'm not liking your list all that much. The Ivys may be "old," but they are priceless. Yale Bowl, Harvard Stadium, Princeton Stadium, Franklin Field, and even The Crescent at Cornell are, as a group, without equal in FCS America. Patriot league stadiums, as a group, belong in anyone's top 5 and not pushing the cellar dwellers. Methinx you may be factoring seating capacity too much into your equation. If true, the Ivys still win.

I would rank the PL stadiums (-Gtown and Fordham) along the lines of most of the SOCON and CAA stadiums, bar JMU and App St. I've had the pleasure of checking out Christy Matthews, Fitton, Fisher, and Goodman back on the college searching circuit and they look fantastic in person. The pictures of Fisher and Goodman especially I don't think do them enough justice. I hope one day I get to see a game there, which could possibly be sooner rather than later if some of the 200 conference realignment scenarios work out.

I know its not the best quality, I took it from my phone, but the view from field level that day was amazing (to Lehigh fans, don't worry I didn't go on the field, I was just on the sidelines and behind the end zone)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/46149_1497600354765_1076808058_1455563_6258439_n.j pg

[Go...gate]

Since the question was phrased as best conference, not best stadium, the Ivys are head and shoulders above everyone else. Even the worst of the Ivy stadiums - probably Columbia and Dartmouth, and maybe throw in Brown - would get pretty good grades elsewhere in FCS.

What he said.

[asumike83]

Hard to mess with the Ivies when it comes to stadiums:

http://news.yale.edu/sites/default/files/imagecache/video_photo_main/Yale_Bowl.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2770/5846866783_cb6d196e64_z.jpg

http://cdn204.psbin.com/img/mw=650/cr=n/r7kis56lxbeb39wv.jpg

http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~svemuri/franklin.jpg

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

The IL without a doubt has the best stadiums in FCS. It's not really debatable imo.

[grayghost06]

Agreed on the Ivies- though having a Major College football heritage certainly helped. The Yale Bowl is about as athestically pleasing as you can get. We owe the adaptation of the forward pass due to the width limitations of Harvard Stadium. Franklin Field just oozes sports history. I do miss the old horseshoe at Princeton though.

[Mountaineer#96]

Baised but it has to be the SOCON.....not just b/c of this:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics32/640/YX/YXNNVYGQXWMAQBP.20120305031704.jpg

but The Citadel, UTC, Elon, Wofford are all sporting some really nice digs......

[DFW HOYA]

I do miss the old horseshoe at Princeton though.

For those who never saw Palmer Stadium:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6043/6303253644_71bc5b11ff_z.jpg

[MplsBison]

In a couple of years...

Appalachian State
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/560343_10150610177872224_681937223_8844711_2024178 526_n.jpg


Take that!, ASU middle and long distance track athletes!

Let's see you run through a stadium! Ha ha!

[Sader87]

For those who never saw Palmer Stadium:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6043/6303253644_71bc5b11ff_z.jpg

My one and only game at venerable Palmer Stadium, I witnessed HC (via a Darren Cromwell lateral to Tim Donovan)defeat Old Nassau on a game ending kickoff TD return 30-26 in 1988...good times.

[asumike83]

Take that!, ASU middle and long distance track athletes!

Let's see you run through a stadium! Ha ha!

xlolx

I believe the track will be removed in that phase of expansion, but that was funny though!

[Apphole]

Take that!, ASU middle and long distance track athletes!

Let's see you run through a stadium! Ha ha!

Funny thing is, when the temp EZ seats are in place now during football/outdoor track season, they still run the damn thing. Dibs on lane 6! xlolx

[lionsrking2]

Southland has some good and bad. SFA, Sam, UCA, NW State, UCA have great fields for games. McNeese is tops.

But then you have Nichols and Southeast Louisiana bringing up the rear

I would disagree with that ... we may have the smallest stadium as far as capacity but it's a nice stadium, with good atmosphere and a great place to watch a game ... with the removal of the track and new turf going down, it will be even better ... much better place to watch a game than SFA or Sam Houston IMO, neither of which have atmosphere due to the track and stands being too far from the field.

[blaw0203]

Its hard to overlook the SWAC. Once Alabama State and Texas-Southern's new stadiums are complete later on this year, the SWAC will rival the best of FCS! TOP NOTCH!xsmiley_wix

Alabama State - will open on Thanksgiving 2012
http://www.convergencedesignllc.com/uploads/galleries/slideshow/Aerial-small.jpg

Alabama A&M - Louis Crews Stadium
http://galileo.aamu.edu/financialAid/VirtualTour/images/louiscrewspicmiddle.jpg

Alcorn State - Jack Spinks Stadium
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/17637009.jpg

Arkansas Pine-Bluff - Golden Lion Stadium
http://www.nelsonarchgroup.com/sitebuilder/images/goldenlionstadium7-311x192.jpg

Grambling University - Eddie Robinson Stadium
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/louisiana/grambling_robinson.jpg

Jackson State - Veterans Memorial Stadium
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/north_america/united_states/mississippi/jackson_memorial1.jpg

Southern University - AW Mumford Stadium
http://cache.comcorpusa.com/465/0/crop/nbc33tv/media/wvblxefsrvcjxxp_20120131215615.jpg

Texas-Southern - will open Fall 2012
http://theoriginalwinger.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/dynamo-stadium-0509.jpg

[crossfire07]

I would disagree with that ... we may have the smallest stadium as far as capacity but it's a nice stadium, with good atmosphere and a great place to watch a game ... with the removal of the track and new turf going down, it will be even better ... much better place to watch a game than SFA or Sam Houston IMO, neither of which have atmosphere due to the track and stands being too far from the field.

Lamar has a nice place to watch a game.Their big screen is pretty awesome.If someone else in FCS has one better, I want to see it.

[CrusaderBob]

The real measure of a stadium is not what it looks like from the air, but what it's like to actually watch a football game and so I really do not like stadia with tracks around the football field, because you feel removed from the action.

With less than 10 yards from the edge of the stands to the sideline, I think Fitton Field is a great place to watch a football game. This picture is from a reporter covering the Lafayette vs. Holy Cross game a couple of years ago when HC won the PL championship. The view is from the press box at the top of the home side.

No better place to watch a game. And if you're down closer to the sideline, you can hear virtually everything on the field and on the sidelines. Not always a good thing when the kids are young! :D

http://blogs.mcall.com/.a/6a00d8341c4fe353ef0120a69ec362970b-500wi

[The Eagle's Cliff]

The Ivy's have the nicest, biggest stadiums I'm sure. I always disqualify the Ivy's in FCS discussions because they're in FCS for different reasons than the rest of the classification. The classification was created to limit scholarships for financial reasons (because the "Small Colleges") couldn't be competitive with the big boys who had no limit at the time. The Ivy's choose to limit themselves, but their financial resources are greater than most schools in the country I would guess.

[TheRevSFA]

I would disagree with that ... we may have the smallest stadium as far as capacity but it's a nice stadium, with good atmosphere and a great place to watch a game ... with the removal of the track and new turf going down, it will be even better ... much better place to watch a game than SFA or Sam Houston IMO, neither of which have atmosphere due to the track and stands being too far from the field.

I look forward to seeing the new turf at Strawberry. I'm crashing at your house this year.

[FormerPokeCenter]

I would disagree with that ... we may have the smallest stadium as far as capacity but it's a nice stadium, with good atmosphere and a great place to watch a game ... with the removal of the track and new turf going down, it will be even better ... much better place to watch a game than SFA or Sam Houston IMO, neither of which have atmosphere due to the track and stands being too far from the field.

SELA is a cozy place to watch a game....I kinda like it, actually...in the SLC, I'd rank Northwestern's as the most picturesque...The upper deck thing is cool......McNeese's is the most user friendly, in my opinion, with plenty of concession stands, bathrooms, ease of parking, etc....SFA's and SHSU's are kinda interchangeable, to me...SELA and UCA are both small, but nicely done.....Nicholls is the only one in need of a major upgrade, from my perspective....and that's not a knock on Nicholls....they're just chronically underfunded. But, I think they do the best job of maximizing what they have....

The nicest FCS place I've seen is App State....picturesque campus, great stadium...nice environmnet....

The SWAC does have some great stadiums. Crappy football, but nice stadiums to watch it ;)

[TheRevSFA]

SELA is a cozy place to watch a game....I kinda like it, actually...in the SLC, I'd rank Northwestern's as the most picturesque...The upper deck thing is cool......McNeese's is the most user friendly, in my opinion, with plenty of concession stands, bathrooms, ease of parking, etc....SFA's and SHSU's are kinda interchangeable, to me...SELA and UCA are both small, but nicely done.....Nicholls is the only one in need of a major upgrade, from my perspective....and that's not a knock on Nicholls....they're just chronically underfunded. But, I think they do the best job of maximizing what they have....

The nicest FCS place I've seen is App State....picturesque campus, great stadium...nice environmnet....

The SWAC does have some great stadiums. Crappy football, but nice stadiums to watch it ;)

if SFA would just get rid of the track. Sam too.

I would agree with you that Turpin is the most picturesque...McNeese has the best tailgating though :D

[TheRevSFA]

I would disagree with that ... we may have the smallest stadium as far as capacity but it's a nice stadium, with good atmosphere and a great place to watch a game ... with the removal of the track and new turf going down, it will be even better ... much better place to watch a game than SFA or Sam Houston IMO, neither of which have atmosphere due to the track and stands being too far from the field.

Can you get some photos of the renovations to Strawberry? I could barely find anything online to post for a decent picture...

Plus I am going to update the SFA fan site with photos of SLC Facilities..so anything SELA would be appreciated (Football, Basketball, The Pat)

[Bogus Megapardus]

I always disqualify the Ivy's in FCS discussions because they're in FCS for different reasons than the rest of the classification.


Interesting. I guess it depends on your perspective. To me, Ivy literally defines FCS football. Ivy initiated the notion of intercollegiate football in the first place, and they keep it true and simple.

Every stadium on every college campus in America in one way or another is fashioned after an original Ivy stadium.

Harvard - The U-shaped coliseum design.
Yale - The bowl design.
Penn - the multi-tiered design.

And believe me, anyone who plays Penn or Harvard on a regular basis would have a hard time disregarding their abilities as perennial FCS powerhouses.

[chattownmocs]

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/389322_10150653282982224_681937223_8984755_1569924 808_n.jpg

This must be a joke. A gigantic motel in the shape of male genitalia?

[Apphole]

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/389322_10150653282982224_681937223_8984755_1569924 808_n.jpg

This must be a joke. I gigantic motel in the shape of male genitalia?
Wanna know how I know you're gay
http://feefeern.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/inkblot.gif?w=500

[FormerPokeCenter]

McNeese has the best tailgating though :D

At least we're still doing SOMETHING right! ;)

[Uncle Rico's Clan]

[QUOTE=blaw0203;1787255]Its hard to overlook the SWAC. Once Alabama State and Texas-Southern's new stadiums are complete later on this year, the SWAC will rival the best of FCS! TOP NOTCH!xsmiley_wix

Do you know what the capacity at Alabama State and Texas-Southern's new stadiums?

[asumike83]

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/389322_10150653282982224_681937223_8984755_1569924 808_n.jpg

This must be a joke. A gigantic motel in the shape of male genitalia?

Yeah... you might want to see a Doctor about that. Really shouldn't be a 45-degree angle anywhere down there.

[Sammy94]

Do you know what the capacity at Alabama State and Texas-Southern's new stadiums?

It's not TSU's stadium. It's a stadium being built for the Houston Dynamo (soccer) that TSU will use. Seats 22,000.

http://www.houstondynamo.com/stadium

[Apphole]

Here's my rankings:
1) IVY
2) SoCon
3) CAA
4) Big Sky


5) W
6) H
7) O
8)
9) C
10) A
11) R
12) E
13) S

[blaw0203]

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/389322_10150653282982224_681937223_8984755_1569924 808_n.jpg

This must be a joke. A gigantic motel in the shape of male genitalia?

Im not a fan of ASUs stadium, but I LOVE THE RE-DESIGN! The building looks great around it and adds a dramatic effect. It puts you in the mindset of entering some type of collesium or thunderdome battle arena with the tall covered entrance flanked with the multi-level buildings.

[blaw0203]

[QUOTE=blaw0203;1787255]Its hard to overlook the SWAC. Once Alabama State and Texas-Southern's new stadiums are complete later on this year, the SWAC will rival the best of FCS! TOP NOTCH!xsmiley_wix

Do you know what the capacity at Alabama State and Texas-Southern's new stadiums?

Alabama State's Stadium will seat 30k; Texas Southern's will seat 22k; Alabama State is building their stadium free of tax dollars, the school has secured financing on their own to build it. Texas Southern's stadium is a joint venture with the Houston Dynamo's. The school and the state kicked in money to the Houston Dynamos so that TSU could call the new stadium home.

I believe that besides the Ivies, the SWAC has the largest average stadium capacity of any FCS conference. The SWAC easily ranks amongst the top three concerning FCS conferences with the best stadiums.

Alabama A&M - Louis Crews Stadium - 21,000
Alabama State - New Alabama State stadium - 30,000
Alcorn State - Jack Spinks Stadium - 22,500
Arkansas–Pine Bluff - Golden Lion Stadium - 12,500
Grambling State - Eddie Robinson Stadium - 29,800
Jackson State - Veterans Memorial Stadium - 62,000
Mississippi Valley State - Rice–Totten Field - 10,000
Prairie View A&M - Edward L. Blackshear Field - 6,000
Southern - Ace W. Mumford Stadium - 29,000
Texas Southern - New Stadium - 22,000

Total - 244,800seats
Average - 24,480seats

Here is a virtual tour of the new ASU stadium. It is pretty nice and will definitely be one of the best in FCS!

http://www.newasustadium.com/virtual-tour.php

[chattownmocs]

Im not a fan of ASUs stadium, but I LOVE THE RE-DESIGN! The building looks great around it as well.

That building looks atrocious. I'm not sure a worse looking building could be designed to sit right there.

[Sycamore51]

Here's my rankings:
1) IVY
2) SoCon
3) CAA
4) Big Sky


5) W
6) H
7) O
8)
9) C
10) A
11) R
12) E
13) S

So who do you have at number 8?

[Dane96]

FYI- Alabama State is looking for financing to make up the budget overruns, which were huge; the State will be footing that bill. The Dynamo received less 2% of total stadium costs from TSU; paltry.

[Uncle Rico's Clan]

It's not TSU's stadium. It's a stadium being built for the Houston Dynamo (soccer) that TSU will use. Seats 22,000.

http://www.houstondynamo.com/stadium

That makes a little more sense, the picture didn't look like a traditional football stadium, I thought it looked more like a soccer stadium when I saw that picture.

[blaw0203]

FYI- Alabama State is looking for financing to make up the budget overruns, which were huge; the State will be footing that bill. The Dynamo received less 2% of total stadium costs from TSU; paltry.

The state of Alabama doesnt pay for athletic facilities. Per the most recent reports, Alabama State has already secured financing to cover budget overruns, and construction is slated to end on schedule for a thanksgiving opening.

I saw the design for UAlbany's new stadium. Im glad that the state of New York is finally building you all one, it just wouldve been better if it could seat more than a paltry 6,000 fans.

[TheRevSFA]

The state of Alabama doesnt pay for athletic facilities. Per the most recent reports, Alabama State has already secured financing to cover budget overruns, and construction is slated to end on schedule for a thanksgiving opening.

I saw the design for UAlbany's new stadium. Im glad that the state of New York is finally building you all one, it just wouldve been better if it could seat more than a paltry 6,000 fans.

It fits Albany's current attendance

[blaw0203]

It fits Albany's current attendance

OUCH! Now that was harsh!xlolxxlolxxlolx

[MplsBison]

The state of Alabama doesnt pay for athletic facilities. Per the most recent reports, Alabama State has already secured financing to cover budget overruns, and construction is slated to end on schedule for a thanksgiving opening.

I saw the design for UAlbany's new stadium. Im glad that the state of New York is finally building you all one, it just wouldve been better if it could seat more than a paltry 6,000 fans.

The state of Alabama doesn't have any money, period. They don't allow gambling, they have many poor, rural residents and those who do have money have paid off the baptists in government into slashing taxes.

[Apphole]

So who do you have at number 8?

Space, Underscore? You decide. It makes no difference to me.

[TheRevSFA]

Space, Underscore? You decide. It makes no difference to me.

Chattanooga is upset that your list didn't read as follows:

1) The Mecca
2) Ivy League
3) SoCon
4) CAA
5) Big Sky

[Bogus Megapardus]

Space, Underscore? You decide. It makes no difference to me.


How about, "The F" at #8?

[Apphole]

Chattanooga is upset that your list didn't read as follows:

1) The Mecca
2) Ivy League
3) SoCon
4) CAA
5) Big Sky

xlolx "That building is disgusting! The ugliest, most penisy building I've ever seen!"

If that very same building was on Chatty's campus, I'm sure he would see it was the prettiest, most penisy building he's ever seen.

Either way, he's thinkin' penis

[HailSzczur]

Interesting. I guess it depends on your perspective. To me, Ivy literally defines FCS football. Ivy initiated the notion of intercollegiate football in the first place, and they keep it true and simple.

Every stadium on every college campus in America in one way or another is fashioned after an original Ivy stadium.

Harvard - The U-shaped coliseum design.
Yale - The bowl design.
Penn - the multi-tiered design.

And believe me, anyone who plays Penn or Harvard on a regular basis would have a hard time disregarding their abilities as perennial FCS powerhouses.

I completely agree, but how do you get Ivy League out of this :D?
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/329/475/Jacksonville_display_image.jpg?1316573891

[DFW HOYA]

To be fair, Jacksonville has fixed it up a little...

http://www.earthplacemarks.com/placemark.aspx?id=11121

[PAllen]

I completely agree, but how do you get Ivy League out of this :D?
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/329/475/Jacksonville_display_image.jpg?1316573891

Practice Field

[TheRevSFA]

I completely agree, but how do you get Ivy League out of this :D?
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/329/475/Jacksonville_display_image.jpg?1316573891

It's uh..in a bowl?

[HailSzczur]

It's uh..in a bowl?

Toilet bowl?

[Bogus Megapardus]

I completely agree, but how do you get Ivy League out of this?


Practice Field


It's uh..in a bowl?

Perhaps it is more in the concept than it is in the execution. xchinscratchx

[Mr. C]

35 Stadiums You Wouldn't Be Caught Dead In (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/858807-college-football-26-stadiums-you-wouldnt-be-caught-dead-in)

Typical of Bleacher Report, that was a really DUMB list.

[Squealofthepig]

Typical of Bleacher Report, that was a really DUMB list.

Agree - here's a recap for anyone who doesn't want to read through it, the author is saying: "I'm a big goddamned pussy and I don't want it to be hot, or cold, or to be touched, or to have few fans, or be anywhere where there is even a remote chance of something bad happening to me!" It's like Woody Allen considering being a football fan and deciding, no, definitely not.

[asujch]

[QUOTE=Uncle Rico's Clan;1787361]

Alabama State's Stadium will seat 30k; Texas Southern's will seat 22k; Alabama State is building their stadium free of tax dollars, the school has secured financing on their own to build it. Texas Southern's stadium is a joint venture with the Houston Dynamo's. The school and the state kicked in money to the Houston Dynamos so that TSU could call the new stadium home.

I believe that besides the Ivies, the SWAC has the largest average stadium capacity of any FCS conference. The SWAC easily ranks amongst the top three concerning FCS conferences with the best stadiums.

Alabama A&M - Louis Crews Stadium - 21,000
Alabama State - New Alabama State stadium - 30,000
Alcorn State - Jack Spinks Stadium - 22,500
Arkansas–Pine Bluff - Golden Lion Stadium - 12,500
Grambling State - Eddie Robinson Stadium - 29,800
Jackson State - Veterans Memorial Stadium - 62,000
Mississippi Valley State - Rice–Totten Field - 10,000
Prairie View A&M - Edward L. Blackshear Field - 6,000
Southern - Ace W. Mumford Stadium - 29,000
Texas Southern - New Stadium - 22,000

Total - 244,800seats
Average - 24,480seats

Here is a virtual tour of the new ASU stadium. It is pretty nice and will definitely be one of the best in FCS!

http://www.newasustadium.com/virtual-tour.php

That looks awesome! It def will be up there with the best of em' once it's completed!!

[asumike83]

Typical of Bleacher Report, that was a really DUMB list.

Seriously... your list of 35 stadiums you wouldn't be caught dead in includes L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Bryant-Denny, Ohio Stadium and The Big House?

Jesus. xnonono2x

[Skjellyfetti]

Ivy League, SWAC, etc. don't count. They're FCS in name only.

Great stadia, though. xthumbsupx

[TheBisonator]

Agree - here's a recap for anyone who doesn't want to read through it, the author is saying: "I'm a big goddamned pussy and I don't want it to be hot, or cold, or to be touched, or to have few fans, or be anywhere where there is even a remote chance of something bad happening to me!" It's like Woody Allen considering being a football fan and deciding, no, definitely not.

When the author wrote that Auburn's 88,000-seat Jordan-Hare stadium was "a nice little stadium", I stopped reading.

[The Eagle's Cliff]

Interesting. I guess it depends on your perspective. To me, Ivy literally defines FCS football. Ivy initiated the notion of intercollegiate football in the first place, and they keep it true and simple.

Every stadium on every college campus in America in one way or another is fashioned after an original Ivy stadium.

Harvard - The U-shaped coliseum design.
Yale - The bowl design.
Penn - the multi-tiered design.

And believe me, anyone who plays Penn or Harvard on a regular basis would have a hard time disregarding their abilities as perennial FCS powerhouses.

My opinion isn't meant as a slight to the Ivy's at all. I'm just saying that the Ivy's CHOOSE to separate themselves in football from the rest of the NCAA save an occasional OOC vs a geographic neighbor. I'm well aware of and pay homage to the Ivy's place in American Football History, but Ivy is the only way to categorize those schools. They're unlike everyone else in the NCAA.

[asujch]

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/389322_10150653282982224_681937223_8984755_1569924 808_n.jpg

This must be a joke. A gigantic motel in the shape of male genitalia?

where did you find this?

[bojeta]

Seriously... your list of 35 stadiums you wouldn't be caught dead in includes L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Bryant-Denny, Ohio Stadium and The Big House?

Jesus. xnonono2x

Uhhh.... How many of you have been to L.A. Memorial Coliseum?? I know it was built for the Olympics and all, but the seats are HORRIBLY cramped, parking is a nightmare, hoodlums extort money from patrons on their way to the stadium and you often cannot take children to events due to the horrific behavior of fans!!! So, my last experience with the Coliseum (LA Raiders vs SF 49ers) was my last!!

[major095]

Here's how I'm ranking them, mostly based off of pictures:
1) SoCon
2) IVY
3) CAA
4) SWAC
5) MEAC
6) Big Sky
7) Southland
8) MVC
9) Big South
10) OVC
11) Patriot
12) Pioneer
13) NEC

That's just how I see it. Most have great ones, and most have crap holes. I almost put the HBC's 1 and 2 because the have some great old stadiums, but like the IVY League schools they are old. Montana State and JMU may be my favorites with Jacksonville and St. Francis pulling up the *** end.

Not that old....at least in the swac. texas southern is moving into their new home with the houston mls team. bama state will be in their stadium in november. AL A&M has Crews which is fairly new, arkansas pine bluff stadium, and alcorn were recently built, mississippi valley renovated last year. southern just did an endzone addition. the only school that hasn't built in the last 20 years or so is prarie view and they are try to build momentum for their new on campus facility.

[asumike83]

where did you find this?

It was in a pamphlet given out at the Yosef Club meeting here in Charlotte last week. Piss poor quality though. I couldn't find a scanner and just took a picture of it on my phone. I really like the way it looks. The big screen in the end zone will be nice and I love the Block A over the entrance to the dorms.

[Skjellyfetti]

Do not like.

Incorporating dorms into the stadium so we could use state money is a bunch of bull****. The state funds we do have are stretched too thin right now to provide for the educational mission of the University. If we want to expand the stadium we need to do it the right way. And we're still in debt from our last expansion.

It also looks like the dorms would block out Howard's Knob from the West Side stands. No thanks.

[Go...gate]

The real measure of a stadium is not what it looks like from the air, but what it's like to actually watch a football game and so I really do not like stadia with tracks around the football field, because you feel removed from the action.

With less than 10 yards from the edge of the stands to the sideline, I think Fitton Field is a great place to watch a football game. This picture is from a reporter covering the Lafayette vs. Holy Cross game a couple of years ago when HC won the PL championship. The view is from the press box at the top of the home side.

No better place to watch a game. And if you're down closer to the sideline, you can hear virtually everything on the field and on the sidelines. Not always a good thing when the kids are young! :D

http://blogs.mcall.com/.a/6a00d8341c4fe353ef0120a69ec362970b-500wi

Always have thought that Fitton was a great place to watch a football game.

[SDFS]

Uhhh.... How many of you have been to L.A. Memorial Coliseum?? I know it was built for the Olympics and all, but the seats are HORRIBLY cramped, parking is a nightmare, hoodlums extort money from patrons on their way to the stadium and you often cannot take children to events due to the horrific behavior of fans!!! So, my last experience with the Coliseum (LA Raiders vs SF 49ers) was my last!!

L.A. Memorial Coliseum - only for a day game.. night game no way.

[asujch]

It was in a pamphlet given out at the Yosef Club meeting here in Charlotte last week. Piss poor quality though. I couldn't find a scanner and just took a picture of it on my phone. I really like the way it looks. The big screen in the end zone will be nice and I love the Block A over the entrance to the dorms.

nice, was the expansion elaborated on more at the meeting? I know it is part of the "Campaign for Appalachian," but I don't know any sort of time frame in which it will be completed. I feel like once KBS is fully expanded it'l look like Illinois Memorial Stadium. http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/ill/graphics/08wall-vseiu-d-1280.jpg
http://www.athletics.illinois.edu/facilities/facilities/memorial/images/gallery01.jpg

[crossfire07]

App is going to get rid of the track and put seats in its place? Cool deal.

[asumike83]

nice, was the expansion elaborated on more at the meeting? I know it is part of the "Campaign for Appalachian," but I don't know any sort of time frame in which it will be completed. I feel like once KBS is fully expanded it'l look like Illinois Memorial Stadium.

The Campaign for Appalachian was discussed, although there was no timeframe given in terms of when the expansion will be done. The campaign is for $200M and last I heard, $135M had been raised. Obviously, it will depend on how fast we can reach our goal but I hope we can get going in the next 12-18 months. If our final product ends up looking ANYTHING like that, I will be thrilled!


App is going to get rid of the track and put seats in its place? Cool deal.

My understanding is that the track is going to be removed but I'm not sure we will be adding any more seats along the sidelines in it's place. In order to do that, we would have to lower the field and it is too rocky below ground for that to happen. The end zone seating will be placed over where the track currently sits though, so they will be right on the field.

[asumike83]

Do not like.

Incorporating dorms into the stadium so we could use state money is a bunch of bull****. The state funds we do have are stretched too thin right now to provide for the educational mission of the University. If we want to expand the stadium we need to do it the right way. And we're still in debt from our last expansion.

It also looks like the dorms would block out Howard's Knob from the West Side stands. No thanks.

Was not aware of that aspect of it, I thought it was all going to be funded by the current campaign. I do like the expansion renderings but not if it is at the expense of academic funding.

For what it's worth, there was another rendering showing the view from the south end zone and it does not appear that the view of Howard's Knob will be blocked.

[Gringer1]

Nobody likes getting their knob blocked.

[ASUMountaineer]

Nobody likes getting their knob blocked.

Well played.

[muskets]

Just catching up with a post from very early in this thread.

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/images/SeamusLight/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by Sycamore51 http://www.anygivensaturday.com/images/SeamusLight/buttons/viewpost-right.png (http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthread.php?p=1786998#post1786998)

JMU's is right up there with Montana in my book. Who's the last stadium in the CAA picture set? That is a tiny little stadium.



Its Towson. Seats about 12,000. Pretty nice stadium though. Just a bad picture

http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics32/800/XX/XXLCWNBNXVJEKMU.20110427212340.jpg

http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/oldd/graphics/facilities/foreman_field_at_sb_ballard_stadium.jpg

I think that's ODU's Stadium. I always thought it was aesthetically pleasing. Kind of looked like the Big Sombrero before ODU put in the end-zone bleachers and suites. You got to think that ODU will be doing something stadium wise in the next few years.

[Cocky]

Alabama State has the nicest stadium in FCS except for JSU of course.

[Twentysix]

Alabama State has the nicest stadium in FCS except for JSU of course.

That looks pretty good, I like some of the Ivy stadiums better though, and Wa-Griz.

Penn, Harvard and Yale all have neat stadiums.

[thebootfitter]

That looks pretty good, I like some of the Ivy stadiums better though, and Wa-Griz.

Penn, Harvard and Yale all have neat stadiums.
Yeah... That's pretty neat.

[Grizalltheway]

Yeah... That's pretty neat.
Wow, what a beaut!

[Twentysix]

http://www.convergencedesignllc.com/uploads/galleries/originals/ASU%20int_bowl_nite%203312_sml.jpg

For those of you to inept to google (looking at you gray hair).

[813Jag]

Alabama State has the nicest stadium in FCS except for JSU of course.
Really nice place plus I like the fact that my team is 1-0 there.

[msupokes1]

Wow that is nice

[moosbah]

The league with the most football fields with tracks around them has the worst fields. Done.

[DFW HOYA]

The league with the most football fields with tracks around them has the worst fields. Done.

If only Georgetown had a track around its field! Imagine a Top 20 men's and women's track program without a track of its own to practice on, much less hold a meet.

[The Ville]

Yes from going to Alabama State's stadium to open the season I can say how nice it really is for any Non-BCS school especially FCS level.

Obviously pretty fond of Jax State's 24,000 Burgess-Snow Field. And to the App State stadium, I like the concept... maybe little design tweaking. JSU has dorms around 2010 expansion of stadium. But no they wouldn't be athletic dorms, NCAA cut that out years ago.

[NHwildEcat]

Hey, we are getting light next year!

And the turf is nice...just EVERYTHING around it needs to be torn down and rebuilt.

[Panther88]

the only school that hasn't built in the last 20 years or so is prarie view and they are try to build momentum for their new on campus facility.

Prophetic post ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^. :)

Let's revisit this.

[JSUSoutherner]

Prophetic post ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^. :)

Let's revisit this.
This does seem like a good topic to come back to visit.

A lot has changed since 2012.

[BadlandsGrizFan]

This does seem like a good topic to come back to visit.

A lot has changed since 2012.

One thing hasnt changed...Washington Grizzly is still heads and tails above them all!!!!

[Go Green]

Even the worst of the Ivy stadiums - probably Columbia and Dartmouth, and maybe throw in Brown - would get pretty good grades elsewhere in FCS.

With Cornell tearing down the visitor's stands at Schoellkopf Field, and not putting anything up to replace them.... they will get the title of worst Ivy stadium soon enough.

http://cornellsun.com/2016/03/10/west-schoellkopf-stands-torn-down-due-to-underuse-disrepair/

Really a shame, but Cornell just hasn't had its act together in a while for football.

[No_Skill]

One thing hasnt changed...Washington Grizzly is still heads and tails above them all!!!!

Coldest and loudest stadium I've ever driven past...and that was in June.

I didn't get a very good view from the interstate, do you have any photos?

[eiu1999]

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22855&stc=1

I've always hated our stadium...the damn track

[ElonFirefighter]

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22855&stc=1

I've always hated our stadium...the damn track


In other news.... Students pass out trying to rush the field. One student was quoted saying "I'm fine with my cross campus walk to class but that run from the stands to the field is just too damn long."

[ytownchief22]

Youngstown State is building a new Multimedia center on top of the east side of the stadium (visitors stands) thanks to a 1 million dollar donation. It will allow all the broadcasting (Home, Away, Possible ESPN) and replay functions to move to that side. Will be done for the 2017 season.



http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22857&stc=1





http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22856&stc=1

[Panther88]

In other news.... Students pass out trying to rush the field. One student was quoted saying "I'm fine with my cross campus walk to class but that run from the stands to the field is just too damn long."

xlolx Too funny xlolx. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww :D

[BestDaneSinceHamlet]

Where's the BOFO?

[UNIFanSince1983]

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22855&stc=1

I've always hated our stadium...the damn track

So if you are on the small side not only do you get a track between you and the field, but also a pole vault runway. That is crazy far.

[ST_Lawson]

So if you are on the small side not only do you get a track between you and the field, but also a pole vault runway. That is crazy far.

All "far side" tickets come with complementary binoculars.

[JSUSoutherner]

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22855&stc=1

I've always hated our stadium...the damn track
No wonder the Southerners have never been to EIU. They don't want blasting the stands any further away from the field than they already are.

Seriously though, I haven't seen a single stadium with a track where I thought "that looks good". Tracks to me look so highschool-ish.

[OhioHen]

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22855&stc=1

I've always hated our stadium...the damn track

That's not a stadium - it's a set of bleachers next to the field.

[Go Green]

Seriously though, I haven't seen a single stadium with a track where I thought "that looks good". Tracks to me look so highschool-ish.

Have you been to Franklin Field?

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Ivy/Pennsylvania/

[KPSUL]

Depends on your criteria for best and worst stadium. To me it is primarily where can I get a seat with the best view of the game. But other factors include the distance you have to park from the stadium and the quality of the food served inside the stadium and the gameday atmosphere. I've been to all the CAA stadiums except for Villanova and Albany. My favorite is Delaware. In my opinion, JMU is overrated. Sure it looks like an FBS stadium from Interstate 81, but unless you are a season ticketholder you are not going to sit anywhere near the field on the FBS looking /home side of the stadium. I just booked tickets to the Delaware Game on OCT 1st (Family Day) and there was nothing available over there except up high and adjacent to the end zone. I prefer the visitor side but the closest reserved seat you can get is about the 20, and they sell out that section pretty fast. The majority of the sections on the visitor side are student or general admissions. They stick the visiting team allocation adjacent to the endzone where you can't even see the video board which is RIGHT Behind the goalpost on top of the field house. Gameday atmosphere is very good and JMU has a the best band in the CAA, but your seats are likely to be mediocre to sucky if you are not sitting in one of the better season ticketholder sections.

UNH is going to be a whole different experience now, for UNH season ticketholders, occasional fans, and visiting team fans. although visiting players will still be welcomed in the same old ratty locker room.

[TheValleyRaider]

With Cornell tearing down the visitor's stands at Schoellkopf Field, and not putting anything up to replace them.... they will get the title of worst Ivy stadium soon enough.

http://cornellsun.com/2016/03/10/west-schoellkopf-stands-torn-down-due-to-underuse-disrepair/

Really a shame, but Cornell just hasn't had its act together in a while for football.

I don't remember those stands being particularly problematic when I went to a game. Granted, the last time I went to Cornell for a football game was 10 years ago, but still. I imagine the press box will stay?

Lafayette's visitor side, before they did the renovations, now those I remember being unsafe

[Schism55]

Franklin Field looks awesome from the outside, from the inside not so much.
Track around your field looks like amateur hour and overwhelmingly kills your fans ability to impact the game.
Also EIU, that **** is too funny.

[JSUSoutherner]

Have you been to Franklin Field?

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Ivy/Pennsylvania/

I like the architecture. Hate the track.

It's like a well dressed man in a tux, but he's wearing one of those colorful hats with the propellor on top.

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22860&stc=1

It just makes it so I can't take it as seriously. It's a personal bias for me more than anything.

[andthehomeofthe-BIZON-]

I like the architecture. Hate the track.

It's like a well dressed man in a tux, but he's wearing one of those colorful hats with the propellor on top.

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22860&stc=1

It just makes it so I can't take it as seriously. It's a personal bias for me more than anything.

Agree I think it looks aged but classy. Minus the track that is.

[kdinva]

Don't know if this is posted elsewhere, I tried to sort average stadium seating by Conf: (from Wikepedia)

Big Sky: 14,546
Big South: 8,419
CAA: 10,982
Ivy: 31,219
MEAC: 15,500
MVC: 15,725
NEC: 3,414
OVC: 20,568 (chart has Tenn. St. playing in the Titans' stadium)
Patriot: 12,207
Pioneer: 7,187
SoCon: 13,101
Southland: 11,942
SWAC: 24,303

[kdinva]

Virginia State Univ. (D-2 near Petersburg) has a similar stadium, except the "home" side has the LJ and PV pits there..........

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22855&stc=1

I've always hated our stadium...the damn track

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Don't know if this is posted elsewhere, I tried to sort average stadium seating by Conf: (from Wikepedia)

Big Sky: 14,546
Big South: 8,419
CAA: 10,982
Ivy: 31,219
MEAC: 15,500
MVC: 15,725
NEC: 3,414
OVC: 20,568 (chart has Tenn. St. playing in the Titans' stadium)
Patriot: 12,207
Pioneer: 7,187
SoCon: 13,101
Southland: 11,942
SWAC: 24,303

And if it wasn't for Georgetown that number would be considerably higher. The PL is home to a solid collection of stadiums minus the Hoya's digs. Even Fordham's Jack Coffey Stadium is reasonably nice given the schools location.

[JSUSoutherner]

Don't know if this is posted elsewhere, I tried to sort average stadium seating by Conf: (from Wikepedia)

Big Sky: 14,546
Big South: 8,419
CAA: 10,982
Ivy: 31,219
MEAC: 15,500
MVC: 15,725
NEC: 3,414
OVC: 20,568 (chart has Tenn. St. playing in the Titans' stadium)
Patriot: 12,207
Pioneer: 7,187
SoCon: 13,101
Southland: 11,942
SWAC: 24,303
Tennessee State splits time between Nissan Stadium and Hale Stadium. Hale has a 10,000 capacity.

[Son of Eli]

The Ivy League stadiums are the best. I've been to all of them except Cornell's. My favorite is Princeton's, but you can't beat the Yale Bowl, Harvard Stadium or Franklin Field for history. Any serious college football fan should make a pilgrimage to these shrines of college football.

[Milktruck74]

Don't know if this is posted elsewhere, I tried to sort average stadium seating by Conf: (from Wikepedia)

Big Sky: 14,546
Big South: 8,419
CAA: 10,982
Ivy: 31,219
MEAC: 15,500
MVC: 15,725
NEC: 3,414
OVC: 20,568 (chart has Tenn. St. playing in the Titans' stadium)
Patriot: 12,207
Pioneer: 7,187
SoCon: 13,101
Southland: 11,942
SWAC: 24,303

Number of seats is a bit misleading. I'd much rather see a 10000 seat stadium filled to capacity, than 15k fans in a 30k stadium. I just think about GSU playing in the Ga Dome, even if they blow up and get all 30,000 students to attend a game, they are still going to be empty.

[Go Green]

I'd much rather see a 10000 seat stadium filled to capacity, than 15k fans in a 30k stadium. .

That's exactly what Dartmouth was thinking when we reduced capacity of Memorial Field from 25K to 11K in recent years. Since 2000(ish), we only have been drawing low five figures once a year.

But we did get our first "sellout" in decades against Yale last season on a beautiful mid-October Saturday on our homecoming. Kicked the **** out of them, too. :)

[OhioHen]

Franklin Field looks awesome from the outside, from the inside not so much.


Franklin Field is a great place to watch a track meet - I really miss going to the Penn Relays like I could when I lived on the East Coast. I can see from experience where it would be a difficult venue for football fans.

[Schism55]

Franklin Field is a great place to watch a track meet - I really miss going to the Penn Relays like I could when I lived on the East Coast. I can see from experience where it would be a difficult venue for football fans.
This. I was fortunate enough to go to the Penn Relays one year, fantastic experience.

[Son of Eli]

That's exactly what Dartmouth was thinking when we reduced capacity of Memorial Field from 25K to 11K in recent years. Since 2000(ish), we only have been drawing low five figures once a year.

But we did get our first "sellout" in decades against Yale last season on a beautiful mid-October Saturday on our homecoming. Kicked the **** out of them, too. :)


I was at that game. I thought the setting was beautiful but the stadium was too small. Needs another four thousand seats to be just right.

[Bearkats94]

SFA has the plans for almost the same thing. We are taking the field house and moving it closer to the field...as opposed to how far away it is.

Hook the logging truck up to it and drag it over closer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Anthony215]

Overall I'd probably say the CAA with impressive facilities at Richmond, JMU, Albany, Stony Brook, Towson & UNH's renovated stadium. I actually like Rhode Island's stadium as well contrary to others views. Villanova needs serious upgrades since the township won't ever allow them to build a new stadium or expand their current stadium. The new endzone Howie Long building is a nice addition but the home side leaves much to be desired.

[Longhorn]

Don't know if this is posted elsewhere, I tried to sort average stadium seating by Conf: (from Wikepedia)

Big Sky: 14,546
Big South: 8,419
CAA: 10,982
Ivy: 31,219
MEAC: 15,500
MVC: 15,725
NEC: 3,414
OVC: 20,568 (chart has Tenn. St. playing in the Titans' stadium)
Patriot: 12,207
Pioneer: 7,187
SoCon: 13,101
Southland: 11,942
SWAC: 24,303


Not sure where you pulled your stats concerning official stadia seating from, however the avg. of "official" seating capacity for the CAA is 12,333, and that includes Rhode Island's sorry excuse of a stadium with a capacity of 6,555. With the recent renovations to many of the CAA schools, only Richmond (8.7), Albany (8.5), and the previously mentioned RI (6.555) are under 10k, and at least Richmond and Albany are new.

[Tribe4SF]

Overall I'd probably say the CAA with impressive facilities at Richmond, JMU, Albany, Stony Brook, Towson & UNH's renovated stadium. I actually like Rhode Island's stadium as well contrary to others views. Villanova needs serious upgrades since the township won't ever allow them to build a new stadium or expand their current stadium. The new endzone Howie Long building is a nice addition but the home side leaves much to be desired.

Renovated Zable Stadium at W&M.

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22900&stc=1
http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22901&stc=1

[KPSUL]

QUOTE=Tribe4SF;2353364]Renovated Zable Stadium at W&M.

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22900&stc=1
[/QUOTE]

I already liked Zable, looks great now! Was anything done to improve the parking situation?

[kdinva]

Not sure where you pulled your stats concerning official stadia seating from,.

I said plain as day, info via WIkipedia.........

[SFA 93]

Ivy: 31,219
SWAC: 24,303
OVC: 20,568 (chart has Tenn. St. playing in the Titans' stadium)
MVC: 15,725
MEAC: 15,500
Big Sky: 14,546
SoCon: 13,101
Patriot: 12,207
Southland: 11,942
CAA: 10,982
Big South: 8,419
Pioneer: 7,187
NEC: 3,414