Side Show Joe
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I Root For: North Texas
Location: TEXAS
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RE: Rank the Stadiums for 2015
(07-06-2015 03:36 AM)Volkmar Wrote: (07-05-2015 10:13 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote: (07-05-2015 04:57 PM)Volkmar Wrote: (07-05-2015 02:06 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote: In light of Apogee recently being named the "#1 Home Field Advantage in College Football", I feel the stadium deserves to move up on the list.
http://www.underdogdynasty.com/conferenc...-advantage
I don't mean this as a slight to UNT's program or to their beautiful stadium, but that's the biggest load of Scheisse I've seen in a LONG time. UNT has the best home field advantage? SERIOUSLY?!? I'm equally alarmed that you'd actually take something like that seriously.
Btw, I think this whole thread is ridiculous because you can't make any sort of informed choice on which stadiums are best unless you've been to them all in person. And even though I also can't say I've been to all the stadiums in our conference, with regard to where you have the Alamodome, I feel I need to speak on behalf of San Antonio's domed stadium.
It's the most versatile stadium of any of them by far, by virtue of it being a dome. It has hosted a Bowl game for 22 years now, was the home to the San Antonio Spurs for many years, has hosted NFL games, hockey games, the US Olympic Festival, NCAA Basketball Final Fours (3 for the men and 2 for the women), an NCAA Volleyball Final Four, international soccer games, boxing events, three Big 12 Football Championship games, baseball games (Texas Rangers), Professional Bull Riders events, the Bands of America Super Regionals are held there every year in November, major concerts, and I could actually go on and on. And for many, the best part of all is that you're not baking in the heat, you're not sitting in the rain, nor in the cold. And while I get that for some, that's part of the whole experience, for many, they'd rather be indoors in 70 degrees.
If you wanna talk history, yes, Rice hosted one Superbowl, Kennedy spoke there once, and the Oilers played there for 3 years in the 60's. Aside from that and the Owls and Cougars playing there, it's just an old, dilapidated structure that doesn't even BEGIN to compare to the events the Alamodome has hosted in a much shorter span of time because of its versatility. And yes, it's nowhere near as nice a facility as the Alamodome either. The Alamodome is gonna get even nicer also, due to all the renovations they're doing over the next couple years, and is a walk away from the Riverwalk for more after-event entertainment. When you take the sum of all those things, there's no way it should be anywhere aside from AT LEAST the top three, certainly not 6th, and certainly not behind Apogee, though you guys do have a nice facility and I enjoyed very much going up there for our game a couple years ago, despite freezing my ass off in the weather.
Renovations in store...
http://www.mysanantonio.com/real-estate/...to-8243554
I never said it made sense to name Apogee the #1 Home Field Advantage in College Football, but when you are awarded something you can use to market your product you don't say "No thanks". We didn't set the criteria.
As for the Alamodome... It is an indoor football stadium in Texas, and that makes it nice. But, as far as domed stadiums go, it isn't anything special. I can't place it above Rice Stadium or the Sun Bowl. I have not been to all the stadiums in C-USA, but I have been to all of the Texas stadiums. Rice Stadium is an older venue, but she has held up well over the seasons. Aside from the horrible heat of an 11a.m. kickoff in Houston, I loved the stadium. And don't forget, the Bluebonnet Bowl started at Rice Stadium. I'm sure more renovations are coming for the Alamodome, but Rice is also in the process of updating their stadium too.
Everyone gets an opinion. No opinion is a fact. It is all a matter of preference.
"But, as far as domed stadiums go, it isn't anything special" - That would make sense if we were actually comparing it to other domed stadiums. We're comparing the Alamodome to other C-USA stadiums though. It's the only domed stadium in C-USA, is the most versatile by far, has arguably more history in a shorter span than any other, is well kept outside and in, and seats 65,000. Yet you inexplicably have it in the middle of the pack. (lol)
Yes, definitely different strokes for different folks. I can honestly understand some taking the Sun Bowl over the Alamodome because of its unique character and everything (though I've never been there and so haven't seen it in person up close), but I really don't see anything special about Rice Stadium at all from a fan's perspective, or even from a player's. I think most would rather watch or play a game at the Alamodome over a place like Rice, which for starters has restrooms that only a third-world country would be happy with. Unless I'm mistaken, the only renovations they've made to the stadium in over 60 years, even with all the money Rice has, has been an upgrade in the seats to aluminum bleachers (which any high school stadium has), new turf, and a new scoreboard. Wow.
If you're that into old and one-dimensional, I'm sure I can find a rotary phone for you somewhere.
Hey, I'm glad you are happy with the Alamodome. It isn't a bad complex. But, I really don't care how versatile it is. I only care how well it serves as a college football venue. To me, it just doesn't have a great college football vibe. I think Rice and the stadiums I ranked ahead of it do.
As for my inclination for older things... I already have a very nice rotary phone from the 1940's. I also wear a 50 year old Wyler watch. I have a 1965 Ford Fairlane, and a fine collection of pre-WWII 78 rpm records. I'm particularly fond of Al Bowlly and Gene Austin records. I also spend a good deal of time on commissions to sculpt historic people, of which most have been dead for quite some time. And yes, I do prefer older stadiums with great college football history, if they have been well maintained.
I know Apogee isn't old and doesn't have a storied college football history, but it is a great venue in C-USA for college football. And although the metric by which it was selected to be the top home field advantage in college football is certainly questionable, to my knowledge, it is the only stadium in C-USA that has ever received an honor of this kind. So we'll take it, because that is how college football stadiums become historic like Rice stadium and the Sun Bowl.
Again, these are just my opinions.
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