Stadium Central

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. : )