Stadium Central

The home of the North Carolina State Wolfpack is the subject of today's stadium ratings. This stadium has undergone significant renovations in the Chuck Amato era to add capacity and to bring some luxury to this stadium located at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.

Carter-Finley Stadium, North Carolina State University
Visual Appeal: 7
Fan Friendly: 6
Settings and Surroundings: 4
Quirks: 5
Blend of Classic and Modern: 6
Total: 28

North Carolina State has recently spent significant money to update Carter-Finley Stadium and, in so doing, has created an intimate venue where fans surround the field to provide what should be an intimidating atmosphere for the Wolkpack gridders. The football training facility is located in the Murphy Center behind the South Endzone. This classy building serves as a strong backdrop behind the South stands and provides an interesting visual. The plaza in front of the Murphy Center creates a gathering point for fans and affords excellent views of the stadium. As part of the West Stands, the Wolfpack Towers that were completed before the 2005 season impressively house the press box and luxury suites. While no such suites are present on the East Stands, the towers in no way provide an incongruant imbalance at the stadium. The newest renovation for this stadium encloses the North Endzone below the impressive scoreboard. The East Stands still have an older look, but the renovations to this stadium have successfully created a unified and classy structure for the Wolfpack.
The stadium is intimate enough so that all seats provide an excellent view of the field. Walkways provide easy access to most sections of the stadium, even though the concourse below the East Stands is a bit outdated.
The drawback to this stadium lies in its location. The stadium is located several miles from the NC State campus and sits in the middle of the North Carolina fairgrounds and across from the RBC Arena. While this setting leads to excellent tailgating, it takes away from some other interesting settings in which the stadium blends into its surroundings.
As for quirks, the renovations have not led to any unusual features at Carter-Finley. The Murphy Center and Wolfpack Towers are impressive, but there are no defining characteristics that set this stadium apart from others. The modern look provides a clean and classy stadium; the older Carter-Finley did not possess much classic ambiance, so the renovations have made the most of what is already there.
Carter-Finley is certainly one of the nicer stadiums in which I have seen a game. The stadium provides an excellent viewing environment given the seats that are so close to the action. The presence of the Murphy Center and the glorious Wolfpack Towers bring a touch of class to this stadium in Raleigh.

A story on NorthJersey.com suggests that Rutgers is considering an expansion of their 41000 seat stadium based on sellouts this year that have arisen from the success of the Scarlet Knights; the story by no means suggests that these plans are imminent, but merely suggests the fact that Rutgers officials may consider doing so. I was struck upon a visit to the stadium in 2004 that the stadium renovation that took place in 1994 clearly was carried out with an eye to the future. As can be seen in the picture below, it is clear that there is significant space between the lower and upper decks that can be filled in at a later time with luxury suites, a club level, or a mezzanine section.

The University of Louisville revealed tentative plans for an expansion of Papa John's Stadium. The stadium, opened in 1998, currently seats 42,000. The expansion would increase the capacity to 63,600 seats by lengthening the lower deck, adding a second deck to the East Stands, and building 45 new luxury suites. The proposed expansion would also include the addition of 2400 club seats. Cardinal Stadium has chairback seating throughout, a rarity in college football stadiums. The plans are still being investigated to determine the feasibility of filling the new seats. The expanded stadium could be ready for the 2009 season should plans go forward.

Here is the third entry in college football stadium ratings, the newly named stadium in College Park, MD that plays host to Terrapin football games. The agreement between Chevy Chase Bank and the University of Maryland provides naming rights to the regional bank in exchange for $20 million that will go towards renovation of the stadium.

Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium, University of Maryland
Visual Appeal: 4
Fan Friendly: 5
Setting and Surroundings: 4
Quirks: 7
Blend of Classic and Modern: 4
Total: 24

The current stadium for the University of Maryland towers over the area surrounding College Park, with night games lighting up the sky in the residential neighborhoods of this suburb of Washington, DC. The stadium has obviously gone through a series of renovations, with the simple horseshoe-shaped lower seating bowl forming the basis of the stands. Behind the visitor's bench is a large upper tier that was added in the mid 1990's. While I typically am drawn to asymmetric stadiums, as demonstrated by my evaluation of Bobby Dodd Stadium, the large upper deck creates a major imbalance at this stadium. On the other side of the stadium, the lower level of seats is backed simply by a press box. While this press box is substantial in size, it is dwarfed by the opposing stands.
Another feature of this stadium that takes away from the visual appeal is the emptiness behind the East endzone. At this location lies the Gossett field house that houses football offices and locker rooms. Beyond this structure lies the baseball field, football practice fields, parking garages, and other campus buildings. The openness of this area prevents an intimate feeling in that part of the stadium.
The fan experience is minimized by this openness and the shallow pitch of the lower seating bowl that takes the fans far from the action. The upper deck does put fans on top of the action, but one must be very careful in navigating the steep incline. Wide concourses behind the West Endzone are nice features that are uncommon in college football stadiums. Overall the stadium is easy for spectators to get in to and out of.
This stadium provides no interesting sites or surroundings. Situated on a suburban campus, there are no views of note, nor are there any local areas of keen interest. A walk over to the Route 1 corridor, housing the typical college joints, or a stroll through the Comcast Center (where the Terrapin basketball teams compete) are the extent of the surroundings of note.
As for quirks, this stadium certainly has them. As mentioned previously, there are distinct seating areas on the four sides of the field. The classic horseshoe seating bowl behind the West end zone, the large upper deck on the North side, the simple press box reminescent of a smaller stadium behind the South stands, and the football field house on the East form the four sides of the field. A unique Marland touch is on hand in front of the field house, with a bronze Terrapin sitting to be tapped by Maryland players before entering the field of play. These seating areas, however, don't seem to work as a complete whole. It will be interesting to see how planned renovations that are to take place in 2009 and 2010 will help create a unified look for the stadium.
Byrd Stadium certainly maintains some of the bits of classic football stadiums, most notably the horseshoe shaped bleachers that are a classic, if not outdated, look. Flashy luxury boxes and club level seats haven't taken hold in a significant manner (which is not necessarily a bad thing). The stadium does lack a certain newness that is seen in other stadiums and could certainly use some sprucing up. It will be interesting to see how the planned renovations will introduce modern comforts while preserving some of the classic character of Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.

Here is the second installment of my effort to rate college football stadiums that I have seen.

Bobby Dodd Stadium at Grant Field, Georgia Tech
Visual Appeal: 8
Fan Friendly: 8
Setting and Surroundings: 10
Quirks: 8
Blend of Classic & Modern: 9
Total: 43



Bobby Dodd Stadium can be considered to be the Wrigley Field of college football. The feature that makes this stadium unique is its setting in Midtown Atlanta. The view of the Atlanta skyline from the stadium at a night game is a captivating urban landscape that is unmatched in college football. Other stadiums, such as Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, LA Memorial Coliseum, the Metrodome, and Rice Stadium may sit in large cities, but the view from Bobby Dodd keeps the television crews coming back for those night games.
In addition to the view, the setting in midtown Atlanta forces the stadium to fit into a crowded area. This stadium is not one that sits in the middle of vast parking lots, but it cleverly meshes into the brick-faced dormitories and academic buildings adjacent to it. The south side of the stadium serves as a welcome point to the campus from Midtown and Downtown Atlanta.
While not the largest stadium at a capacity of 55,000, the intimate setting creates a great viewing experience for fans. Two tiers of seats lie behind each sideline and the North End Zone. Seats behind the visitors bench lie on top of the field, evincing thoughts of Wrigley Field. The newer decks behind the home bench and the North End Zone lie further away from the field and bring fans further from the action.
When it comes to quirks, this stadium has many. The stadium has undergone several revisions over the years, the last one completed before the 2003 season. This gradual set of revisions have contributed to the interesting architecture, as has the fact that the stadium is tightly bounded by the campus, the athletic association's building, and campus buildings on the South and West Sides. The Athletic Association's building, the Edge Center, presents an interesting challenge in that it juts into a corner of the stadium.
Some may look at Bobby Dodd Stadium and be disturbed by the piecemeal look to it. The West Stands are not connected to any of the other (supposedly because of issues that would have arisen in the last renovation in bringing that section up to codes related to persons with disabilities), and asymmetry abounds in that each side of the stadium has a distinct look. Just as baseball stadium architects are embracing such asymmetry, I too find interest in these quirks.
Bobby Dodd Stadium really does provide a unique setting for college football in an intimate environment that provides a great viewing experience for fans. Its blend of history and modern amenities is evidenced by the fact that it is the oldest on-campus stadium in Division I-A and that the recent renovations added club level seats, luxury suites, and a gleaming press box.
As one can see from the scoring, Georgia Tech's stadium is certainly one of my favorites. It will be interesting to see how the others compare. Stay tuned. : )

According to an article in the Contra Costa times, the Oakland A's will keep the tarp over the upper deck seats in McAfee Coliseum unless they reach the World Series. The tarp reduces the capacity to a little more than 34,000 from the approximately 50,000 that could be seated without the tarp. Such a technique to reduce seating capacity is also in use by the Florida Marlins and Jacksonville Jaguars.
At Alltel Stadium, approximately 9000 seats were taken out of service before the 2005 season for Jaguars games in an effort to prevent local television blackouts. Tarps are placed over 8 sections in the upper deck. These sections lie along each sideline near the endzones. These covers reduce the seating capacity from 76877 to 67164.

In looking at the game on Thursday between NC State and FSU, one can see that the seats behind the North End Zone at Carter- Finley stadium appear to be done. Does this seating, which creates a continuous lower seating bowl, end the renovations that have taken place at this venue? The renovations included a classy new press box/suite tower (Vaughn tower), new football facilities, and a continuous lower bowl that wraps around the field and produces an intimidating band of red-clad Wolfpack supporters on all sides of the field.

I am unable to find updated images, but some construction photos are shown here (the "Red Zone"). The new seating chart does show the enclosed endzone seats.

Last week, I posted some criteria for rating college football stadiums. Let's give those criteria a spin by rating stadiums at which I have attended games. I will give each stadium a score from 1-10 on each of the five categories listed:
1) Visual Appeal
2) Fan Friendliness
3) Setting and Surroundings
4) Quirks
5) Blend of History and Modern Amenities

We'll start alphabetically. It should be noted that some of these stadiums were visitied many years ago and have likely changed. Additionally, the mind may be a bit foggy with some of the details.

Alumni Stadium, Boston College:
Visual Appeal: 8
Fan Friendliness: 8
Settings and Surroundings: 6
Quirks: 6
Blend of History & Modern Amenities: 6
Total: 34

Alumni Stadium scores highly because of the way that it puts the fans so close to the action. The first row of seats feels as if it practically starts on the players' bench. Two tiers around all sides put the upper level on top of the field and provides excellent sight lines. All sides fit together very well, and the entire structure has a clean and modern look to it. The brickwork on the outside and inside of the stadium provide a classy touch that sets the stadium well in the bucolic campus in the midst of the hustle that defines the Boston suburbs. The stadium, however, does not have many other defining features that give it a "Wow" setting. There are no views of note, and, while the stadium is quite visually appealing, its symmetry leads to few interesting quirks. The open corners in the second level, however, provide an airiness. Alumni Stadium is certainly a gem, a venue that is quaint and intimate.

This past weekend, I visited Lane Stadium at Worsham Field for the Virginia Tech-Georgia Tech game. This stadium presents the greatest college atmosphere that I have yet to see. I had been to this stadium about 5 years ago and was less than impressed with the design. It looked like an oversized high school stadium, with simple bleachers rising up from the field on both sides and behind the endzones, and a less than impressive press box on one side. What a difference 5 years makes! To begin with, suites and a renovated press box create an impressive topping off of the West Stands. The new end zone seats create 2 tiers that tower over the South End Zone. The North End Zone wraps around the field and creates an imposing presence when the students are going crazy. The East Stands still simply rise from the field in one level, but the uniqueness of the four sides present neat visuals. Sitting high in the East stands, I was able to get great views of the entire place (see picture below). The sun beating down creates a nuisance for the opposing team, but created a beautiful scene as the sun set. One can only imagine the beauty of the far-off hills as the leaves are changing.

Around the stadium, Virginia Tech did a nice job by using the stones that are prevalent throughout the campus. The entrance to the West Stands give a classy front door to the rocking stadium.