Facilities in the SEC

[BigAL413]

I've been to games at the following places: Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, LSU, Florida

Nobody can compete with the LSU crowd. The stadium is big and imposing.

Florida has a nice stadium, and when everybody does the gator chomp it's pretty cool. Still, Florida fans seem to think it's more imposing than it really is.

.

You need to go to Tennessee..LSU might be loud, but Neyland Stadium this year after they took the lead vs. Bama was deafening. Their stadium is huge and a giant bowl which prevents sound from leaving, it is by far the biggest home field advantage in the country and I wish Alabama would close the south endzone to create the same effect

 

[BIGBAM]

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=551079
detailed info about Neyland

 

[BIGBAM]

Whats the deal with Michigan? According to the rivals link I listed their expanding again to 108,000! Do they have some kind of inferiority complex
where they think they have to have the biggest stadium in 1a? I mean at what point do they stop just building more crap on top of the current crap? Their stadium is just one big boring bowl with a viewpoint as if youd be looking down at earth from the moon seeing dots running around.
I dont believe that anyone anywhere can sellout a stadium at 108,000 every single Saturday. The state of Mich and their fanbase isnt that big even though
Im sure they have one of the biggest group of fans.

 

[AthleticTrainer]

I was at every game this year, and I have to say that Tennessee had the best home field advantage. But as for the question of facilities in the SEC I think we are as you could say "the Capstone of the SEC".

 

[rtr1973]

Michigan's project is much more a renovation than an expansion (well, they are adding some suite & club seats). They averaged 110,029 this season (102.35% of their 107,501 capacity).

 

[BAMA1979]

As far as stadiums go, Alabama has the best in the SEC in my opinion. I've been to all of them except Kentucky and Georgia. LSU and Tennessee might have larger stadiums, but I don't think they are as nice. I've found LSU's stadium to be dirty and not well maintained. Tennessee's capacity is larger partly because they have bench seats that are extremely close together. I think our suites, press box, scoreboards, etc. are the best in the SEC. This might not be popular, but I've always thought that Aubarn has the best grass field (they should though).

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I don't think that closing in the south EZ will contain the sound like UT and other "bowl" stadia. The gradual slope back of the old part of BD prevents the shape ever being similar to Neyland. There, even the lower parts are sharply sloped, which is what enables them to get that "bowl" feel...

 

[RollTide007]

From going to the Florida and Tennessee games this past year, I have to say that I was a little disappointed. Both stadiums seemed like they could use some major ranovations, especially Tennessee's.

As far as quality goes, I think Alabama wins that one, hands down. The addition of the north end zone upper deck and the two jumbotrons and ribbon boards along with the landscaping and interior work puts it on top.

Seems like I heard not too long ago that aTm was looking at expanding their stadium to 120,000, did anybody else hear that?? I thought it was crazy at the time and still do.

 

[cmmiller711]

Before. The 104,729 number is the capacity according to the 2006 NCAA attendance statistics (Sum Stad Capacity / Number of Games), but they actually averaged 105,789 per game (or 101.64% of capacity).

If a south end expansion were to mirror the north end (added 8400 seats), we'd be around 100,500.

we could add more seats than that though because they wont add the stadium club area... they wouldnt cut into the student section would they?

 

[TurningTide]

You need to go to Tennessee..LSU might be loud, but Neyland Stadium this year after they took the lead vs. Bama was deafening. Their stadium is huge and a giant bowl which prevents sound from leaving, it is by far the biggest home field advantage in the country and I wish Alabama would close the south endzone to create the same effect

I have to disagree with you here. I've been to TN many times and LSU once. TN does get really loud, but when the LSU team entered the field, they immediately took the cake. Hands down. It's their claim to fame, historically, in the SEC. They're the loud fans.

 

[TurningTide]

we could add more seats than that though because they wont add the stadium club area... they wouldnt cut into the student section would they?

I think they'd make three levels of skyboxes if anything...

 

[rtr1973]

we could add more seats than that though because they wont add the stadium club area... they wouldnt cut into the student section would they?

Considering that "The Zone" (club area) generates a tremendous amount of revenue ($1500 per seat/per year + the price of tickets) and the north one sold out quickly, I'd be surprised if they didn't duplicate it in the south end.

 

[FreeBro]

Alabama seating capacity (92,138) is 3rd in the SEC about 360 seats less than LSU Tiger Stadium and Tenn. has just over 104,000.

They did NOT even do construction on their last two capacity increases, did they? They just repainted the seats and made them more narrow. At least, that is what I've been told. They must have some narrow hips at UT.:BigA: :BigA: :BigA: :BigA:

 

[USCBAMA]

Here in Columbia we refer to Neyland stadium as "The world's largest double-wide". It is big and can be very loud, but overall it is quite the dump. Don't get me wrong, the campus surroundings and atmosphere are great, but the stadium itself is sad. Supposedly they are looking to make improvements.

Don't forget USC, especially for overall facilities. Gamecocks have the nicest b-ball arena in SEC and are about to break ground on a new $25 million, 8,000+ seat baseball stadium that should be among the best in the country. Football stadium is probably middle of the pack in SEC, but Steve Spurrier has just convinced the AD, BOT, & boosters to begin a major improvement campaign to athletic facilities that includes major improvements to the football stadium.

 

[StoneMtnDew]

Here in Columbia we refer to Neyland stadium as "The world's largest double-wide". It is big and can be very loud, but overall it is quite the dump. Don't get me wrong, the campus surroundings and atmosphere are great, but the stadium itself is sad. Supposedly they are looking to make improvements.

Don't forget USC, especially for overall facilities. Gamecocks have the nicest b-ball arena in SEC and are about to break ground on a new $25 million, 8,000+ seat baseball stadium that should be among the best in the country. Football stadium is probably middle of the pack in SEC, but Steve Spurrier has just convinced the AD, BOT, & boosters to begin a major improvement campaign to athletic facilities that includes major improvements to the football stadium.

Wel, the Gamecocks got demolished by a very mediocre Georgia team by 24 last night, so a lot of good that nice bball stadium is.

 

[gmart74]

S.Car. is horrible. I went there once and it was trailer park, followed by police station, followed by flea market / county fair parking lot and then one hell of an ugly stadium. On top of that, once you get in you have to hear that garbled strangled rooster noise 1000 times. I mean seriously, that sound effect is a joke right? It might be the most annoying, yet additionally most embarassing sound effect I have ever heard at a college stadium.

 

[FatherTide]

IMHO the best stadium for comfort and overall appeal is Bryant-Denny close second is between the Hedges.

As for Neyland it is the most overrated piece of (bleep) ever!!!!!!!!! Actually the place is dangerous for the fans. I have a friend who broke a leg inside the stadium walking down the steep steps. A safety rope is needed for anyone to reach the upper deck without risking their life!!!!!!!!!! Funny thing is she was told that that sort of incident happens often. As for the seating measurements being 18 inches (maybe)? You get to know your neighbor at a UT game let's just leave it at that.

Bottom of the barrel: Vandy! Stadium is ridiculous. The TSSAA recently moved the high school state championships to MTSU to have better facilities for the players and fans.(The locker rooms are too small to accomadate a football team and equipment....some players have to dress outside of the locker room.

 

[blackumbrella]

i have ot give credit to redskins owner dan snyder for his approach to the non-football aspects of the sport. bc he can't just steinbrenner together an all-star team, he's put together an all star coaching staff, where there is no salary limit. sounds familiar. he also plays artificial crown noise through fedex field's audio system. i wouldn't be opposed to such a thing, since, as has been mentioned, our crowd is typically less than lively.

 

[StoneMtnDew]

Going from the student section to general seating was a shock. The crowd at Bryant-Denny is pathetic. We are 12 time national champs and yet most people sit on their hands. When I pay $100 to go to a game I darn well expect to shout and stand up and act like a fan, not a statue. If I want to sit and be quiet I'll watch the game at a library, when I GO I want to be part of an experience.

 

[AlpinVol]

You need to go to Tennessee..LSU might be loud, but Neyland Stadium this year after they took the lead vs. Bama was deafening. Their stadium is huge and a giant bowl which prevents sound from leaving, it is by far the biggest home field advantage in the country and I wish Alabama would close the south endzone to create the same effect

i have a friend who is an SEC official and has called in almost every stadium and says the LSU was by far the loudest. UT's can get loud but there is the over 90 crowd thay elects to nap during the third quarter sometimes...

I've been to Arkansas and didn't like how the seats extend past the endzone by a good 20 yards or so. The campus was really nice though.