Offseason Stadiums thread

[Brandon Misener]

Re: Offseason Stadiums thread

I have been to all but NSU and Lincoln. UCO was quite a while ago, before they joined the league, and I remember thinking it was nice but don't remember a whole lot else about it.

I don't think there's much separating Curious' top 2 tiers, but I would agree NW doesn't belong in Tier 1 if you're going to make that distinction. MW (chain-link notwithstanding) and UCM are both better IMO.

I put NW's above MW's but we probably have our own biases. There is something that I don't like about the renovation at MW that I haven't mentioned because it would seem petty. But there are a few other reasons I'd rank NW ahead.

Having said that, I wouldn't organize the tiers the same as everyone else.

Top Tier
UCO
Pitt
NW
MW
UCM

2nd Tier
WU
FHSU
ESU
UNK

3rd Tier
MSSU
NSU
LU

I'd probably rank them more like that.

[GreenwoodBearcat]

Re: Offseason Stadiums thread

I wouldn't put NW in that top tier. Their chair back seats are horrible at best. It's like stuffing 10lbs of crap in a 1lb sack trying to sit in those. Plus the fact they don't lift up (like a toilet seat) when someone needs to get out. You have to stand on the chair itself. The video board is good, but not great. The sound system is back to the old days of (Why even turn it on during games cause you can't hear crap). The field is nice and updated, but we must have gotten a crapload of white paint on sale.

[FlyinLion]

Re: Offseason Stadiums thread

I put NW's above MW's but we probably have our own biases. There is something that I don't like about the renovation at MW that I haven't mentioned because it would seem petty. But there are a few other reasons I'd rank NW ahead.

But it's not really an offseason stadium thread unless we hear how cramped the press box is at the renovated Spratt. I also don't think it's petty, as we all place different weight on things.

Spratt looks great in photos, but its functionality leaves something to be desired at times. In addition to the press box, the leg room is tight in the chairback section as Griffan mentioned, and getting over to the new pavilion isn't the easiest either. All very much first world problems though.

[Predatory Primates]

Re: Offseason Stadiums thread

I've only been to:

Pitt
ESU
MSSU
NSU
WU- Pre remodel


When Pitt learns how to play football again, I want to do some others.

[NW Normal]

Re: Offseason Stadiums thread

"I've been everywhere, man." Except Lincoln.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov4epAJRPMw

[northwest missouri state]

[GorillaBred]

Re: Offseason Stadiums thread

1. PSU - even if it hasn't been as well maintained as I wish it had been and it's a lot more of a Mickey Mouse setting these days, it still is the best stadium.
2. UCM - this would've been way lower in the past when the visitors side was so weird. Replacing the useless U-seating in the end zone with the slope and adding a real visitors section was a great upgrade.
3. UCO - I'm not even sure what it is, but I enjoy being in the stadium despite the awful sun in eyes I've had on the visitor side.
4. WU - The stadium itself isn't really as good as the next two by almost any standards. However, it does feel very closed in and the lack of an real multi-lane track has you closer to the field. I put a premium on that.
5. NW - Nice stadium. Biggest advantage over MW is setback of bleachers is a little smaller.
6. MW - Biggest drawback for an otherwise nice facility is that only in Joplin are you farther from the field. I'm not sure what the little pavillion in the end zone supposedly adds. Very forgettable part of the stadium, IMO.
7. UNK - It's fine. It would probably be higher in most conferences. An unremarkable, perfectly serviceable D2 football stadium.
8. Emporia - I really liked this stadium when I was a little kid and went to it, but the visitors/students side seems really trashy these days.
9-11. Hays, NSU, Lincoln -- These are the stadiums I haven't been to. This doesn't necessarily reflect where they belong.
12. MSSU - Just a miserable place to watch a football game, despite the fact that only once in my life has a game there not gone to my liking.

[GRIFFan_Kyle@MoWest]

Re: Offseason Stadiums thread

1. PSU - even if it hasn't been as well maintained as I wish it had been and it's a lot more of a Mickey Mouse setting these days, it still is the best stadium.
2. UCM - this would've been way lower in the past when the visitors side was so weird. Replacing the useless U-seating in the end zone with the slope and adding a real visitors section was a great upgrade.
3. UCO - I'm not even sure what it is, but I enjoy being in the stadium despite the awful sun in eyes I've had on the visitor side.
4. WU - The stadium itself isn't really as good as the next two by almost any standards. However, it does feel very closed in and the lack of an real multi-lane track has you closer to the field. I put a premium on that.
5. NW - Nice stadium. Biggest advantage over MW is setback of bleachers is a little smaller.
6. MW - Biggest drawback for an otherwise nice facility is that only in Joplin are you farther from the field. I'm not sure what the little pavillion in the end zone supposedly adds. Very forgettable part of the stadium, IMO.
7. UNK - It's fine. It would probably be higher in most conferences. An unremarkable, perfectly serviceable D2 football stadium.
8. Emporia - I really liked this stadium when I was a little kid and went to it, but the visitors/students side seems really trashy these days.
9-11. Hays, NSU, Lincoln -- These are the stadiums I haven't been to. This doesn't necessarily reflect where they belong.
12. MSSU - Just a miserable place to watch a football game, despite the fact that only once in my life has a game there not gone to my liking.

I think you might have your facts wrong. MW's Spratt Stadium no longer has a track and the stands are significantly closer to the field than they used to be. When the stadium was almost completely redone a couple years ago, they took out the track and moved the field closer to the home-side stands. It is my understanding that they also moved the visitor stands closer to the field as well since I'm pretty sure those stands can be moved. I was very surprised to hear that anyone would think that our stands are far from the field. The ironic thing about your post is that WU and NW both have tracks while MW does not. "Little pavillion" lol, have you even been there since that was built? I've checked it out and it's pretty cool. There is BBQ and beer over there. That's enough in itself lol. :bulgy-eyes:

[GrifFan]

Re: Offseason Stadiums thread

I think you might have your facts wrong. MW's Spratt Stadium no longer has a track and the stands are significantly closer to the field than they used to be. When the stadium was almost completely redone a couple years ago, they took out the track and moved the field closer to the home-side stands. It is my understanding that they also moved the visitor stands closer to the field as well since I'm pretty sure those stands can be moved. I was very surprised to hear that anyone would think that our stands are far from the field. The ironic thing about your post is that WU and NW both have tracks while MW does not. "Little pavillion" lol, have you even been there since that was built? I've checked it out and it's pretty cool. There is BBQ and beer over there. That's enough in itself lol. :bulgy-eyes:

The relocation of the field and visitor stands (yes, both were moved) improved the sight-lines/atmosphere tremendously, imo.

[Predatory Primates]

Re: Offseason Stadiums thread

Doc wadley isnt the newest or fanciest. But the home stand have some of the best sightlines. row 1 is 8 feet above field and less than 10 yards from field.
row 40 are all very close to the action is still close to game and is like watching a coaches game film.

I have been to 8 other d2stadiums and three d1. And none have same experience in watching a game. Imo.

And I've been at the place when there was above 8k. And it is very loud. Because both stands are very vertical . Hopefully it will be a great crowd again

I agree about the steepness and setup. Reminds me of Tulsa Union

[GrifFan]

Re: Offseason Stadiums thread

I agree about the steepness and setup. Reminds me of Tulsa Union

Mankato's stadium is like that too - it is a great view of the game.

[GorillaBred]

Re: Offseason Stadiums thread

I think you might have your facts wrong. MW's Spratt Stadium no longer has a track and the stands are significantly closer to the field than they used to be. When the stadium was almost completely redone a couple years ago, they took out the track and moved the field closer to the home-side stands. It is my understanding that they also moved the visitor stands closer to the field as well since I'm pretty sure those stands can be moved. I was very surprised to hear that anyone would think that our stands are far from the field. The ironic thing about your post is that WU and NW both have tracks while MW does not. "Little pavillion" lol, have you even been there since that was built? I've checked it out and it's pretty cool. There is BBQ and beer over there. That's enough in itself lol. :bulgy-eyes:

I was there in October. Sat on both sides because of the brutal sun/heat on the visitors side. The home side has good sight lines. It'd probably be the best stadium in most D2 conferences. But even with the track removal (which is partially offset due to the addition of full-width soccer field), it's still a long ways to the field. And I'm 100% standing behind my assessment of the pavilion. If the addition isn't steep bleachers in close proximity to the field, end zones should be left for scoreboards, marching bands and little kids. It just doesn't add anything.

[GrifFan]

Offseason Stadiums thread

I was there in October. Sat on both sides because of the brutal sun/heat on the visitors side. The home side has good sight lines. It'd probably be the best stadium in most D2 conferences. But even with the track removal (which is partially offset due to the addition of full-width soccer field), it's still a long ways to the field. And I'm 100% standing behind my assessment of the pavilion. If the addition isn't steep bleachers in close proximity to the field, end zones should be left for scoreboards, marching bands and little kids. It just doesn't add anything.

[Brandon Misener]

Re: Offseason Stadiums thread

Washburn - 45 feet
Western (old) - 85 feet to sideline. 52 feet to inside of old track.

[GrifFan]

Re: Offseason Stadiums thread

Washburn - 45 feet
Western (old) - 85 feet to sideline. 52 feet to inside of old track.

Yeah, if somebody was talking about the pre-renovation Spratt, distance from the field was an issue. But they moved the field 31 or 32 feet closer, so it's almost exactly the same or a little closer.

Spratt's stands don't go all the way down to field level on either side - maybe that's why it feels more open for GB?