Tuesday, September 22, 2009
ESPN NFL Stadium rankings
The new Dallas Cowboys stadium is making a lot of people say "Wow," and ESPN recently wrote up their Wow rankings of stadiums. This concept is a neat way to rate stadiums. Stadiums getting the highest number of Wows were Cowboys Stadium, Lambeau Field, Lucas Oil Stadium, and Heinz Field. The images of Cowboys Stadium make this selection obvious. Lambeau's history also makes it a shoe-in. The interesting airy look of a semi-domes stadium in Indianapolis makes Lucas Oil Stadium a nice selection. And finally, the riverfront setting of Heinz Field is hard to beat. It would be difficult to argue with those selections.
On the other side of the spectrum are 2 stadiums getting 0 wows....the Metrodome and Edward Jones Dome. I guess that football should be played in the great outdoors.
I also want to comment on my trip to FedEx field on Sunday to watch the Redskins play the Rams. From the outside, this stadium is somewhat interesting, but once you step inside, the interest level decreases dramatically. Drab and narrow concourses pack in the 90,000+ patrons of the stadium. The interior lacks any dramatic flair, with simple wraparound seating, an uninteresting club level and press boxes, and no views to speak of. The surroundings of Landover, MD don't leave much of interest, though the large swaths of parking are appropriate for tailgating. Of course, getting more than 20,000 cars into and out of the area can be a nightmare. ESPN ranking: 3 wows. It's hard to argue with that ranking as well. The large number of fans is impressive, but the interior of the stadium is certainly lacking in architecture.
On the other side of the spectrum are 2 stadiums getting 0 wows....the Metrodome and Edward Jones Dome. I guess that football should be played in the great outdoors.
I also want to comment on my trip to FedEx field on Sunday to watch the Redskins play the Rams. From the outside, this stadium is somewhat interesting, but once you step inside, the interest level decreases dramatically. Drab and narrow concourses pack in the 90,000+ patrons of the stadium. The interior lacks any dramatic flair, with simple wraparound seating, an uninteresting club level and press boxes, and no views to speak of. The surroundings of Landover, MD don't leave much of interest, though the large swaths of parking are appropriate for tailgating. Of course, getting more than 20,000 cars into and out of the area can be a nightmare. ESPN ranking: 3 wows. It's hard to argue with that ranking as well. The large number of fans is impressive, but the interior of the stadium is certainly lacking in architecture.
