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Think of the thousands of seats in Rynearson that have NEVER been sat on - especially those that inexplicably curl partially around the South end zone.

Gentlemen,
Complaining of concrete is calling the kettle black. Is Waldo made of something other than? I've been to Kalamazoo many many times, and did not see that many examples of outstanding architecture. The curl that MajorHoople finds inexplicable, was so that in the future if additional seating were added, it would fit into the horse-shoe look for the stadium.
I understand your feelings for your alma mater, but just because one writer in the United States says it's the best venue in the MAC, doesn't mean that it is. It is one person's opinion, and that's all it is.

(06-05-2014 09:49 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  The curl that MajorHoople finds inexplicable, was so that in the future if additional seating were added, it would fit into the horse-shoe look for the stadium.

Good example of foresight-future planning and capital outlay there.

Quote:just because one writer in the United States says it's the best venue in the MAC, doesn't mean that it is. It is one person's opinion, and that's all it is.

Yes but it's opinion of an unbiased professional who has been to most if not all MAC stadiums and published in a national magazine with wide circulation.

Lets be honest. Being the best venue in the MAC is like saying broccoli is better than cauliflower. In the end, it really doesn't matter because everybody would rather eat steak, pizza and ice cream.

Since this thread started I've been trying to think of which MAC stadium I actually like best and I cant come up with one, INCLUDING WALDO. Seems like I can find a positive and negative about all of them.

They've made some great improvements to Waldo over the years, but parking and the pregame atmosphere suck.
In Mt P, the pregame tailgating is a great party right next to the stadium, but at least recently, the place is half full for the game and has a pole barn for locker rooms.
EMU, well its EMU. And if you only put 500 fans in the stands its worth talking about.
The Glass Bowl in Toledo is a dump.
Miami might have the most picturesque campus I have ever been on. But the football field is basically just a slightly bigger high school stadium with kids making out under the bleachers.


My guess is that we are all going to be partial to our own stadium just like we are our own team. Bottom line, there are things to love and hate about every stadium. And the venue and atmosphere increase by leaps and bounds when your team actually wins. So lets hope for that.

(06-05-2014 07:47 AM)bronco47 Wrote:  Also Kalamazoo in general has a strong base in good architecture, something you won't see much of in Ypsi.

That's absolutely not true. Ypsi has some amazing architecture for such a small town. The ladies library, the ladies literary club (women really liked to read back in the day I guess), the Hutchinson mansion, the gilbert mansion, the water tower, the old train station (before it was destroyed), etc. Having lived in both places, I believe the city is actually very much like Kalamazoo, just quite a bit smaller.

Winning has nothing at all to do with the caliber of the venue.

Akron easily has the best stadium in the MAC, and they've done nothing but lose since they left the worst venue in the MAC.

It's not that hard to rank the stadiums. You look at the actual facility and throw in the surrounding topography.

I totally disagree with the people who love tailgating parking that circles the stadium. Nothing unique about a stadium surrounded by asphalt parking.

The TSN College Football writer (from Buffalo NEWS) wasn't writing about architecture or "symmetry."

Or even if stadium helps team win.

Just best place in MAC to watch a game.

Waldo is a wonderful place to watch a game.

I agree, 100%.

The thing about a stadium itself - just like locker rooms, meeting rooms, weight room, indoor facility, equipment, practice fields, everything - is it helps convince recruits (and parents) of school's commitment to program and support it gets from community, alumni, et al.

But it's not the be all, end all.

Bottom line it comes down to the people (coaches, support staff, PLAYERS, etc.) and what happens between the white lines of stadium - whatever it looks like.

(06-05-2014 07:51 AM)Nacho Wrote:  

(06-05-2014 07:47 AM)bronco47 Wrote:  Also Kalamazoo in general has a strong base in good architecture, something you won't see much of in Ypsi.

The sensibility is different, much more sophisticated.

What are you talking about? This image below shows the high quality of the architecture (so many more examples!) in Ypsi and symbolizes the feelings I get in my phallus when thinking about EMU.

I guess you love looking at your reflection and that's why you posted this picture, right?

(06-06-2014 10:38 AM)Nacho Wrote:  

(06-06-2014 09:56 AM)emu79 Wrote:  I guess you love looking at your reflection and that's why you posted this picture, right?

Are you saying I'm a dick?

I believe he is, and he is complimenting you on your symmetry!

I've been up to Waldo a number of times over the years. I think you guys have a nice venue. Personally, I'm not a fan of the style of the architecture, but that's just personal taste. It is nice and it is well done. But, I think the architects made one mistake and that's the visitor side stands. They should have designed in a landing about half way up. If you are seated down low, that walk to the top is a leg burner! There's no way to fix it, so it is what it is. The home side is nice. Years ago I sat right in there amongst ya and the view was great. Y'all gave us some good natured sh!t, but it was OK--we won.

I haven't been up there in several years; I think I might try to make it this year, though. Maybe I'll even sit on the Bronco side again...

(06-08-2014 11:09 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote:  I've been up to Waldo a number of times over the years. I think you guys have a nice venue. Personally, I'm not a fan of the style of the architecture, but that's just personal taste. It is nice and it is well done. But, I think the architects made one mistake and that's the visitor side stands. They should have designed in a landing about half way up. If you are seated down low, that walk to the top is a leg burner! There's no way to fix it, so it is what it is. The home side is nice. Years ago I sat right in there amongst ya and the view was great. Y'all gave us some good natured sh!t, but it was OK--we won.

I haven't been up there in several years; I think I might try to make it this year, though. Maybe I'll even sit on the Bronco side again...

Yeah, it is a long walk up up those steps. Next time, sit on the visitor side in the visiting fan section. Less climbing and a good view of the cheerleaders and goal line action. Close to the carnival food trailer too.

I used to run those stadium steps for conditioning in the Summer.

When Waldo was built the Press Box side was for students (including marching band) because they all lived on East Campus and walked down the hill-over Oakland Drive to stadium. So it was built to accommodate the student body without regard to "leg burning."

Other side was for faculty, townspeople, and visitors who would be arriving mostly via Stadium Drive.

There are 35 rows of seats on the student side, and around 55 rows
on the press box side. Roughly the same amount of rows that you will find at MSU not including the upper deck.

I suggest you try Kelly Shorts visitors side. You'll only have to climb 19 rows to reach the top, it's almost always empty, and you can get some shade from the luxury "tent suites" located next to the concession stands. Plus you'll have a lovely view of the state of the art "took shed" locker rooms and the bouncy house inflatable helmet. If you want to partake in some dining afterwards there's a strip mall near by with an Arby's.