Stadium Central

A recent trip to Dallas took me to three college football stadiums. This entry will review the home of the Horned Frogs from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. Located on the TCU campus south of downtown Ft. Worth, Amon Carter Stadium was originally opened in 1929, making it one of the older stadiums in the NCAA. The stadium holds 44,000 spectators and the playing surface is natural grass.

Amon G. Carter Stadium, Texas Christian University
Visual Appeal: 8
Fan Friendly: 7
Settings and Surroundings: 5
Quirks: 8
Blend of Classic and Modern: 7
Total: 35

Amon Carter Stadium possesses a classic look but does not feel outdated. As people look with fondness at old baseball parks such as Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, so will college football fans look with fondness at this stadium. The seating bowl wraps completely around the field, and an upper deck sits atop the West Stands. This upper deck is supported with columns that obstruct the view of some fans in the lower deck but which allow for upper deck seating that is close to the field. The impressive structure fits in well with the entire stadium, a contrast to some other upper decks that appear to be an ill-fated attempt at boosting stadium capacity. The press box on top of the upper deck must make announcers feel as though they are in the clouds, as this upper deck is extremely steep (see picture below). This stadium possesses an intimacy that is a product of its old-time design and features.

These classic features, however, are balanced by a concourse on the south side of the stadium that separates the stadium from the football offices. These new buildings possess the weight training facilities for the Horned Frogs and make one realize that this is a football program that is not fading away, a feeling that may be brought about by the age of its stadium.