NSIC Stadium Rankings

[Twincitiesmav]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

Ouch

Northern St. will move up quite a bit once new stadium is finished. The tailgating and fan atmosphere is great! But in terms for the stadium itself, meh....

[Twincitiesmav]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

Auggie has the best stadium in the conference because of the massive grandstand and pressbox helps. The endzone berm is a nice feature! The stadium is ready for D1 if Auggie decides if they'll go that route or not. Only thing they need is LIGHTS and turf needs to be replaced.

SMSU has the most impressive grandstand of the schools but not as well rounded as Augustana's. No locker rooms, scoreboard operating room is in the endzone and essentially there is no visitors side.

UMD has the impressive view of lake Superior and has the modern game day experience. The size of the stadium is appropriate for the size of the school. The big eyesores are the visitors side and the visiting coaching booth is REALLY crammed for such a modern stadium.

BSU also has the breath taking view of the lake. While the stadium is old, the game day experience is authentic and more simple which is refreshing.

Upper Iowa's pressbox is the most current in terms of flash and has a massive scoreboard. Visitors side is definitely one of the nicer ones in the NSIC. The stadium is smaller but fits to how small Upper Iowa as a university.

Winona St as a opposing team you feel like your playing in a dog cage with the student section right in your face in the endzone. The view of the bluffs is nice! The pressbox, while modern, looks like it was put up in a hurry and didn't take the time to build it to stand out from the rest.

Mary plays in a very well rounded stadium that has modern amenities and great viewing! However Mary is ranked lower because the idea they share the facility with other teams doesn't sit well for me and the fan atmosphere isn't there.

Minot St. They've made some nice upgrades to the stadium and has a nice open concourse! The view of the city is nice either for day/night games. They're aren't higher only because the tailgating and atmosphere is really lacking.

St. Cloud St. is very spacious that has a nice view of the river. But no visitors side is weird and the stadium looks like one large slob of concrete from a distance.

Wayne St. will move up a little as they're getting a new pressbox but its nice they are keeping the historical grandstand instead of demolishing it. Other then that it doesn't have much to offer.

Northern st (see above)

Minnesota St. I could have them ranked higher but I despise old Blakeslee so much I could also rank it lower, but didn't because the tailgating and fan atmosphere is rock solid! The only thing I will say positive about the Blake is that theres no bad seat in the house and your right by the action! Grass field is a bonus! However that pressbox is so bad that it looks abandoned and that the high school I went to has a better pressbox. It just amazes me for how good we are and all of the support we get we can't muster the funds for a new stadium. I'm shocked it hasn't affected recruiting.

The only thing going for moorhead is that they have a nice turf field but nothing else. But the turf field has a big billboard on both sides so that doesn't do it for me.

CSP is nothing more then a High School stadium. The seats are high and very far and the huge track makes it a lot worse. The visitors side seating is very sketchy.

Crookston - uhhhhhhh they have a grass field??? I guess?

[KRRAJOHNSON]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

If Southwest's visitor's side was halfway decent it would be #1. I like the overhang for when it is rainy or cold.

I'm very new to the NSIC (my son is entering his second year at USF) and I would have a hard time arguing with your statement. The visitor stands were rough, but the home stands were awesome. A great atmosphere for last year's game.

[Twincitiesmav]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

I forgot about USF, silly me! From just looking at it the grandstand is impressive because it has double deck seating and is nice and open. But if you look closer in the pressbox it is incomplete (my guess is they ran out of funds to finish?). The pressbox is filled with cubicles for coaching booths and there're two doors that if you open, will lead you to your death.

[Otis Day]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

I forgot about USF, silly me! From just looking at it the grandstand is impressive because it has double deck seating and is nice and open. But if you look closer in the pressbox it is incomplete (my guess is they ran out of funds to finish?). The pressbox is filled with cubicles for coaching booths and there're two doors that if you open, will lead you to your death.

Bingo.

[Stanger86]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

From what I understand, the entire area beneath the stadium is vacant. Was supposed to be locker rooms etc. so players from both teams wouldn't have to walk two blocks to the field, but somehow the budget got...

Again, I think they built it so that it could be part of a future Phase 2 project (whether or not it ever happens is another story. I don't think it was a last second cut from the first phase, but rather meant for Phase 2. Phase 1 was to get the bare bones of the structure built.

I actually think it's cool to watch the team make their entrance into the stadium.

[MrMustang]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

Only have not been to Bemidji, Moorhead, and Crookston. Ranking more as a fan than player...

SMSU
Augie
UIU
USF
WSU
Kato
UMD
BSU
Minot State
Mary
St. Cloud
Wayne State
Northern State
Moorhead
CSP
Crookston

I actually like the visitor's berm at SMSU instead of bleachers. I like the green grass and natural bowl feel. Similarly, I like Augie's endzone berm. I give the nod to top stadium to SMSU though due to the open concourse and the suites having an outside seating area. USF's suites are all enclosed as well; I wish the Bob had the patios on the north and south sides of the press box/suites as it was designed to. Top 4/5 sounds about right for us. Open concourse, easily accessible tailgates.

UMD was nothing special to me, unless you move it up for one big reason. Endzone beer garden.

UIU I feel is super underrated. Beautiful at night when the sun sets. Intentionally built small, well built and cool architecht

The WSU cracker box makes for a great atmosphere and after the remodel looks the part.

Kato. Admittedly, I'm partial to the ol Blake. Endzone berm, fans right on top of you, great sight-lines, place can get loud, and that glorious natural grass. All this makes up for the press box, porta potties, etc.

Bemidji has the lake. Cool. I couldn't decide between beer or the lake, went with the beer.

Minot. Haven't been back since they finished the rest of the stadium but was making progess. But why not Minot.

Mary. Multipurpose. The Howard Wood Field of Bismarck. Kinda cool nestled into the hill but very meh.

St. Cloud. You can see the river. But not as cool as a lake. Also the one-side thing feels weird.

Wayne. I know they're remodeling but again a fairly benign stadium. I mean the grandstand is old and has some history?

Northern. See Mary, minus the cool hill. Easy to tailgate and still watch the game though; I greatly enjoyed this feature. Will dramatically move up the list when their new one opens.

Moorhead. Haven't been. Doesn't sound like I'm missing much.

CSP. Yawn. The visitors bleachers are terrifying and frequently had more USF fans than CSP fans in the stadium. Also the home bleachers being so tall and narrow is weirdly off-putting.

Crookston. Yeaaaaa.

From a fan perspective, SMSU's is the best by quite a bit. I have been arguing this for some time.

The biggest reason is the open concourse and the VASTLY superior suites. big, lots of room and outdoor stadium seating safe from the weather. The best of both worlds in the suites.

also, the stands are under the overhang and it matters if the weather gets iffy

Been to Augie many times -- like it a lot as well. But the suites aren't even close.

SMSU has solid tailgaiting as well.

The next best tailgaiting I have experienced was at Upper Iowa -- they were great hosts!

[MrMustang]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

Overall, most of the stadiums are pretty good.

I have enjoyed St. Cloud, Wayne, USF, Augie, Moorhead, UMD, CSP, Winona, Upper Iowa, Northern, Mankato, Bemidji , Crookston as an visitor.

All but Mary and Minot (which I plan to remedy shortly)

All except for Crookston are fine

Some issues I have encountered,

Mankato -- big kids on the block had freaking porta potties -- really? brutal

You don't appreciate how nice and modern SMSU Stadium really is until you go walk through a pile of mud to go to a porta potty.

Kato has great sightlines, but that is it.

Northern new place will be great -- they do things right. Current place too damn windy and open.

But like I said, all but UMC are just fine

[laker]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

Overall, most of the stadiums are pretty good.

Mankato -- big kids on the block had freaking porta potties -- really? brutal

You don't appreciate how nice and modern SMSU Stadium really is until you go walk through a pile of mud to go to a porta potty.

Kato has great sightlines, but that is it.

MSU flat out needs a new stadium. Not a remodeling, but new. Can they find one or two major donors to help with it? I sure hope so. Wait until the opener and you'll see the support beams that they put up this summer. So now rather than have the stadium collapse someone will fall down those steep stairs, unless they have railings set up by then.

Do it right. Put up a new one. Name it after some rich family. I'm a capitalist, I have no problem with that.

[vikingfaithful]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

One has look back 10 years to appreciate progress in stadiums.

Augie. From Howard Wood to beautiful KO.

BSU. Lots of work done

Duluth. Big re-do Press box I believe.

Minot. Major enhancements.

Northern. beautiful new stadium on the way

SMSU. Great new stadium.

UIU. Wow nice atmosphere.

USF. New stadium, around a dozen years ago.

Wayne. Major work done in phases.

Hope I'm not forgetting anybody. Someday that little purple and gold cracker box will be gone at MSU.

[Twincitiesmav]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

MSU flat out needs a new stadium. Not a remodeling, but new. Can they find one or two major donors to help with it? I sure hope so. Wait until the opener and you'll see the support beams that they put up this summer. So now rather than have the stadium collapse someone will fall down those steep stairs, unless they have railings set up by then.

Do it right. Put up a new one. Name it after some rich family. I'm a capitalist, I have no problem with that.

I bet you get this question asked a lot but when do you think realistically do you see MSU get the deed done on a new stadium/ facility?

[laker]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

I bet you get this question asked a lot but when do you think realistically do you see MSU get the deed done on a new stadium/ facility?

Not for the foreseeable future. Men's and women's hockey are fully funded, along with men's and women's basketball. That seems to be the direction that things are going. Hopefully they will be announcing an effort to build a new locker room when the season starts. It should be obvious that a new stadium is needed- that press box is an embarrassment. But who is going to front the money?

Winona is fully funded for football scholarships. That would be at the new level of 36. MSU-Moorhead is also there. Who else will attain that level? My guess is Augustana and Sioux Falls. Maybe Upper Iowa? UMD is in the same boat as MSU as far as the focus on hockey- even more so now after another national title. You can only keep up just so long when you are at 28 or really any number lower than 36. That will have to be the next focus for the Mavs to get to that level.

[MStateMaverick]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

No doubt the priority of Division I men's and women's hockey at Mn State has a lot to do with the lack of progress in updating football facilities. Even so, it might be understandable if football was consistently uncompetitive. But the program has been among the most successful in the NSIC since joining the NSIC in 2008. I doubt there are many, if any, institutions in Division-II that have had similar success to MSU over the past decade that have such an outdated stadium to play their home games in.
As mentioned, at the very least MSU needs to get their scholarships to conference maximum as soon as possible; also carry on with necessary upgrades such as the locker room project. These should be realistic objectives in the very near future.

[longroad]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

Have not been to many of the stadiums. Those we have visited were during the recruiting process, spring games, game day, etc. Augie, USF, UIU, Winona, and SMSU.
From a pure stadium standpoint SMSU was probably the nicest. What sold my son on UIU was the atmosphere under the lights. Cozy and loud.

[Twincitiesmav]

Re: NSIC Stadium Rankings

Not for the foreseeable future. Men's and women's hockey are fully funded, along with men's and women's basketball. That seems to be the direction that things are going. Hopefully they will be announcing an effort to build a new locker room when the season starts. It should be obvious that a new stadium is needed- that press box is an embarrassment. But who is going to front the money?

Winona is fully funded for football scholarships. That would be at the new level of 36. MSU-Moorhead is also there. Who else will attain that level? My guess is Augustana and Sioux Falls. Maybe Upper Iowa? UMD is in the same boat as MSU as far as the focus on hockey- even more so now after another national title. You can only keep up just so long when you are at 28 or really any number lower than 36. That will have to be the next focus for the Mavs to get to that level.