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Favorite stadium designs?
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ncbeta Offline
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Post: #1
Favorite stadium designs?
I was looking at other stadiums around the size of ECU's & comparing the differences in design. I think Stanford has an awesome looking stadium for 50k, would love to see ECU play there. It's possibly my favorite design for its size and purpose.

I know my interest in architecture & design is showing, but does anyone else have some stadiums they admire? It's kind of hard to pick 1 when there are so many different capacities. Maybe post in a category like <20k, 20-29k, 30-45k, 46k-60k, 61-74k, 75-90k, 90k+ (or small, midsize, large.. I just eyeballed the # of stadiums in each range)

Not sure if there are any other "Modern Marvels" nerds like me on this board.... thought it might spark some interesting discussion.
(This post was last modified: 09-17-2013 10:57 PM by ncbeta.)
09-17-2013 10:55 PM
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CougarRed Offline
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Post: #2
RE: Favorite stadium designs?
Stanford used all metal upper grandstands. I'm talking about metal walkways, not just steel support beams. Personally, not my favorite.

I like a complete lower bowl for noise purposes (as opposed to an open horseshoe). It can be squared off like Stanford or curved. Either way, I prefer it as close to the field as possible. There are buffer zones on an NCAA football field, and I like to see the first row as close to the buffer zones as possible.

And I prefer the professional style stadium with several decks stacked on top of each other as opposed to large grandtands that stretch at an angle far away from the field. In other words, who ever is sitting in the 70th row should be closer to the field, even if slightly more vertical, than what you see in some of these monster 1-piece grandstands.

This also allows you to put the premium seating (suites and club level) in the middle of the stadium instead of on top of the grandstand, bringing the high dollar fans much closer to the action.

In all, I'd say TCU got it right with their remodel. I am glad UH is incorporating some of their ideas in our stadium, even though ours will have a totally different exterior look.
(This post was last modified: 09-18-2013 06:12 AM by CougarRed.)
09-17-2013 11:32 PM
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ncbeta Offline
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
(09-17-2013 11:32 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  Stanford used all metal upper grandstands. I'm talking about metal walkways, not just steel support beams. Personally, not my favorite.

I like a complete lower bowl for noise purposes. It can be squared off like Stanford or curved. Either way, I prefer it as close to the field as possible. There are buffer zones on an NCAA football field, and I like to see the first row as close to the buffer zones as possible.

And I prefer the professional style stadium with several decks stacked on top of each other as opposed to large grandtands that stretch at an angle far away from the field. In other words, who ever is sitting in the 70th row should be closer to the field, even if slightly more vertical, than what you see in some of these monster 1-piece grandstands.

This also allows you to put the premium seating (suites and club level) in the middle of the stadium instead of on top of the grandstand, bringing the high dollar fans much closer to the action.

In all, I'd say TCU got it right with their remodel. I am glad UH is incorporating some of their ideas in our stadium, even though ours will have a totally different exterior look.

So something like Washngton huskies stadium as well?

[Image: Screen-Shot-2013-07-12-at-7.47.21-PM.png]
09-18-2013 01:19 AM
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HawaiiMongoose Offline
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
I'm spoiled. My favorite design is one with 100% real, chairback seating. No bleachers.

I'm not aware of many college stadiums with this feature. Hawaii's has 50,000 chairback seats. Not a bleacher in the house.

[Image: IMG_1438%20(1).preview.jpg]
09-18-2013 03:55 AM
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72Tiger Offline
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Re: Favorite stadium designs?
I like Louisville's a whole lot.
(This post was last modified: 09-18-2013 04:44 AM by 72Tiger.)
09-18-2013 04:44 AM
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AngryAphid Offline
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
(09-17-2013 11:32 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  I like a complete lower bowl for noise purposes. It can be squared off like Stanford or curved. Either way, I prefer it as close to the field as possible. There are buffer zones on an NCAA football field, and I like to see the first row as close to the buffer zones as possible.

I remember when Grant Field's East stands were just yards from the
playing field, the opposing team benches were literally set at the base
of a four foot high wall that separated the GT student section from the
benchwarmers/equipment.

In 1974 this proximity caused some problems during a game against Notre Dame.
09-18-2013 05:23 AM
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HP-TBDPITL Offline
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
Agreed with the chairback...I think most college stadiums would benefit from scaling back some capacity to allow chairbacks.

Sure you would lose some seats, but you are more likely to fill the seats you have with chairbacks than bleachers. I think ECU should include replacing benching with chairbacks in all lower level sections (except student section) when it completes its Southside expansion. It may reduce the increase of capacity some, but a stadium with better amenities is more likely to fill. Bleachers are OK for upper decks and student sections, you put them in the category of "you get what you pay for".
09-18-2013 05:36 AM
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lofi Offline
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
(09-18-2013 04:44 AM)72Tiger Wrote:  I like Louisville's a whole lot.
Isn't Papa Johns all chairback is well?
That would be sweet.
09-18-2013 06:08 AM
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BigOwensboroCard Offline
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
(09-18-2013 06:08 AM)lofi Wrote:  
(09-18-2013 04:44 AM)72Tiger Wrote:  I like Louisville's a whole lot.
Isn't Papa Johns all chairback is well?
That would be sweet.

Yes 55K, and more to come with future expansion. Bleachers will never happen in Louisville.
09-18-2013 06:44 AM
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TRest3 Offline
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Post: #10
RE: Favorite stadium designs?
My least favorite would be T A&M where they pile up the endzone seating to the sky. PSU did this too.
09-18-2013 07:15 AM
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CougarRed Offline
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
(09-18-2013 01:19 AM)ncbeta Wrote:  So something like Washngton huskies stadium as well?

I like it now. It's 1000% better than it used to be.
09-18-2013 07:27 AM
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john01992 Offline
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
(09-18-2013 07:15 AM)TRest3 Wrote:  My least favorite would be T A&M where they pile up the endzone seating to the sky. PSU did this too.

i hate T a&m's, but PSU's is freaking awesome
09-18-2013 08:07 AM
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
Rice is old and doesn't have a lot of the amenities. Upper deck you probably still need seat cushions to avoid getting splinters (at least the benches aren't broken like Cal's before their remodeling). But it has the best sight lines of any stadium I've been in. Even in the upper deck in the 70,000 seat stadium you feel close to the action. From the standpoint of the structure of the seats I haven't been in any college or pro stadium that's better.

Georgia is pretty good too for feeling close to the action. But the concourses are way too narrow.
09-18-2013 08:20 AM
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
(09-18-2013 05:23 AM)AngryAphid Wrote:  
(09-17-2013 11:32 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  I like a complete lower bowl for noise purposes. It can be squared off like Stanford or curved. Either way, I prefer it as close to the field as possible. There are buffer zones on an NCAA football field, and I like to see the first row as close to the buffer zones as possible.

I remember when Grant Field's East stands were just yards from the
playing field, the opposing team benches were literally set at the base
of a four foot high wall that separated the GT student section from the
benchwarmers/equipment.

In 1974 this proximity caused some problems during a game against Notre Dame.

Grant Field is one of the bad designs. Its got a lot of obstructed seats because of the poles. It reminds me of the old baseball stadiums like Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Character, but functionality could be much improved.
09-18-2013 08:24 AM
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Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Offline
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
I know we're talking mostly college stadiums and if we're strictly talking college, TCU's looks awfully nice and Baylor's new stadium looks like it is going to be a jewel. Of the college stadiums I have actually been to, Notre Dame Stadium is tough to beat and Michigan Stadium is also cool.

However, my favorite stadium ever was Lambeau Field and it looks even nicer now that they have renovated it again.

[Image: 757895.jpg]

I was there about five years ago and I just liked everything about it from the atmosphere inside the stadium to the bars and tailgating outside of it. I really like going to games at Notre Dame because they are big time and they know it. There are no bush league antics like you might find at lesser accomplished schools. Well, Lambeau Field and the Packers' fans were very much the same. They have a great tradition and a very cool atmosphere and they know it and are very comfortable in that knowledge.

Very impressive experience that I imagine has been bolstered with their latest addition.
09-18-2013 08:24 AM
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
(09-18-2013 07:15 AM)TRest3 Wrote:  My least favorite would be T A&M where they pile up the endzone seating to the sky. PSU did this too.

Their endzone is awful.

Texas used to have a horseshoe north endzone. Had season tickets one year in the corner. You couldn't tell if people were gaining or losing yards. The stadium was originally designed for track as much as football. The north endzone had some beautiful arches, but just wasn't that functional. They removed the track, tore down the north endzone and aligned it for football, so its much improved.
09-18-2013 08:30 AM
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Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Offline
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
(09-18-2013 08:20 AM)bullet Wrote:  Rice is old and doesn't have a lot of the amenities. Upper deck you probably still need seat cushions to avoid getting splinters (at least the benches aren't broken like Cal's before their remodeling). But it has the best sight lines of any stadium I've been in. Even in the upper deck in the 70,000 seat stadium you feel close to the action. From the standpoint of the structure of the seats I haven't been in any college or pro stadium that's better.

Georgia is pretty good too for feeling close to the action. But the concourses are way too narrow.

I have never understood why Rice doesn't drastically reduce its capacity? It is never again going to draw 70K fans for a game. They should follow Stanford's lead and drastically reduce the seating capacity in that stadium. Hell, if I were them I would consider reducing it by half - 40K max. It would give them a much better chance to create some atmosphere, which could only help their recruiting efforts.

I know that they have tarped off the end zones but I mean a real renovation. Also, I understand that such a renovation would be expensive and that Rice is a private school but let's be real for a second and acknowledge that it's freaking Rice University for heaven's sake. They have plenty of money to throw at a project like that.

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09-18-2013 08:32 AM
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
There's nothing wrong with the stadium. It doesn't need a drastic renovation. They are gradually making improvements. They have removed the benches from the end zone so it is technically 47,000. But when they don't have the tarps, you can still sit on the steps the benches used to be on. They have some chairbacks between the 40s on the lower deck. They are reworking the south endzone structure and the Owl Club there. Over a number of years they replaced the old wood benches in the lower deck with metal benches. Not sure if they have done it on the upper deck.
09-18-2013 08:42 AM
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
Rice Stadium would be expensive to downsize. Makes no sense to spend that money without a real return projected. Rice Stadium is a little dated but I enjoyed the game I saw there recently.
09-18-2013 08:51 AM
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1845 Bear Offline
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RE: Favorite stadium designs?
[Image: 204233.jpg]

I am biased but it's pretty sweet.
09-18-2013 08:57 AM
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