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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    Northern VA

    We're Number Five!!!

    Fox Sports has a big story up on the best sporting venues in the US.

    And CIS is number 5! Yankee stadium gets the top nod, then Lambeau, Augusta National, and Wrigley. They have us ahead of Fenway, Churchill Downs and MSG. The write-up gives a nod to the Crazies too.

    http://community.foxsports.com/blogs..._United_States

    Do you agree with their top-10? Any others that should be in there?

    Cheers!


    -BDBD
    Last edited by -bdbd; 07-09-2008 at 08:04 PM. Reason: forgot the link

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    That's a cool list; thanks for the heads-up. I have no real quibbles with it, save for the fact that Indy could perhaps supplant Daytona.

    To boot, I have been to five of the top six. While I don't suppose I'll ever make Lambeau, I think that's a pretty good haul for my first 25-plus years.

  3. #3

    Pebble Beach

    I'm biased against the west coast (blame ex-wife #1) but having been to Pebble Beach and Augusta I think Pebble beach is a more beautiful course. Being right by the ocean makes it that much more magestic. But I guess since they hold the US Open there once a decade perhaps and The Masters is every year I can see how it came out ahead.

    Since the list is US only I can't quibble with it much. But having seen professional soccer matches in person in Barcelona and Rome even though I'm not a fuutbol fan the rowdiness is something to behold.

    Wilson which track makes you feel more part of the action, Daytona or Indy? (Only race I've ever been to was North Wilksboro)

    Oh and having seen the Kentucky Derby in person I can easily see how it could be top 5. They had these drinks called Rattlesnakes (kind of like a White Russian) and after about 15 I was escorted off the grounds for repeatedly yelling at one of the jockeys how much cocaine he was smuggling in his giant burro.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Quote Originally Posted by Latta6970 View Post
    Wilson which track makes you feel more part of the action, Daytona or Indy? (Only race I've ever been to was North Wilksboro)
    I've actually not been to Indy, but I feel very confident in saying that it simply has more personality than Daytona. For starters, it remains the original venue, albeit with considerable alterations. Some of those alterations, however, have immeasurable charm, most notably the single line of original paving bricks that run across the finish line and receive a kiss from winning drivers and crews (actually a rather recent tradition). Daytona's "heritage course," if you will, the original route, ran along the beach, and the current venue is thus not the real McCoy in a certain sense. It is mainly cool simply because it's [Scottish accent] FRIGGIN' HUGE! [/Scottish accent]. But even though it hosts "The Great American Race," I'd argue that Indy is at least as American, since it hosts both of the two main US series (even more legit following the recent open-wheel reunion). Moreover, the Brickyard 400 is probably NASCAR's second-biggest race (and if I'm not mistaken, its biggest paycheck), so it's not like that's much of a dropoff either. I have now convinced myself even more thoroughly: it should be Indy.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Denver, CO.
    Never been to Yankee Stadium, so I can't compare it to Wrigley or Fenway. I'll take the writer's opinion.

    Not sure why Michigan Stadium is there (full disclosure: Ohio State fan here). The design of the stadium is so open and spread out that you don't really feel like you're at a football game. I was last there in 1997 when #1 Michigan beat #4 Ohio State to win the B10 and go to the Rose Bowl for a shot at a national title. It was a big game, but you wouldn't know it. Just within the Big 10, Camp Randall, Beaver Stadium, and Ohio Stadium are better atmospheres. Even Folsom Field in Boulder is a better atmosphere when it's full.

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by wilson View Post
    I've actually not been to Indy, but I feel very confident in saying that it simply has more personality than Daytona. For starters, it remains the original venue, albeit with considerable alterations. Some of those alterations, however, have immeasurable charm, most notably the single line of original paving bricks that run across the finish line and receive a kiss from winning drivers and crews (actually a rather recent tradition). Daytona's "heritage course," if you will, the original route, ran along the beach, and the current venue is thus not the real McCoy in a certain sense. It is mainly cool simply because it's [Scottish accent] FRIGGIN' HUGE! [/Scottish accent]. But even though it hosts "The Great American Race," I'd argue that Indy is at least as American, since it hosts both of the two main US series (even more legit following the recent open-wheel reunion). Moreover, the Brickyard 400 is probably NASCAR's second-biggest race (and if I'm not mistaken, its biggest paycheck), so it's not like that's much of a dropoff either. I have now convinced myself even more thoroughly: it should be Indy.
    An even greater minus for Daytona is the fact that the original beach course was at Ormand Beach, not Daytona.

  7. #7
    Been to Yankee Stadium and Lambeau, we're better than both. A few statues, a few leaps..whatever, nothing beats the thundering roar as the Devils take their court.
    Beats Wrigley, too...and Augusta.

    For crying out loud...WE'RE #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  8. #8

    Agreed

    Quote Originally Posted by weezie View Post
    Been to Yankee Stadium and Lambeau, we're better than both. A few statues, a few leaps..whatever, nothing beats the thundering roar as the Devils take their court.
    Beats Wrigley, too...and Augusta.

    For crying out loud...WE'RE #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I've never even been to Yankee Stadium or Green Bay, but one thing I can say about both from seing them on TV is there is a huge difference game to game at those venues. If it's the playoffs or say the Yanks are playing the Sox the crowd is loud and proud. I think one of the things that makes Duke so bloody special is the fans and students tend to be vocal and rowdy whether the foe is UNC or UNC Pembroke.

    The worst sports venue I ever saw a game was the OMNI.

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Latta6970 View Post
    I've never even been to Yankee Stadium or Green Bay, but one thing I can say about both from seing them on TV is there is a huge difference game to game at those venues. If it's the playoffs or say the Yanks are playing the Sox the crowd is loud and proud. I think one of the things that makes Duke so bloody special is the fans and students tend to be vocal and rowdy whether the foe is UNC or UNC Pembroke.

    The worst sports venue I ever saw a game was the OMNI.
    Gotta say... in my opinion, not so much. At least for the 'preseason' games. Anything in ACC is great, but a lot of OOC stuff at Cameron is just okay. Especially around the holidays. It is still pretty good... just not anywhere near what a UNC game is... Not even in the same category.

    Going to my first Yankee's game next Saturday with my dad (who grew up a Yankee's fan, especially of Mantle). I will try to post my thoughts of it afterwards. I had to make sure to take him to a game before they tore down the stadium.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Ashburn, VA
    Quote Originally Posted by rockymtn devil View Post
    Never been to Yankee Stadium, so I can't compare it to Wrigley or Fenway. I'll take the writer's opinion.

    Not sure why Michigan Stadium is there (full disclosure: Ohio State fan here). The design of the stadium is so open and spread out that you don't really feel like you're at a football game. I was last there in 1997 when #1 Michigan beat #4 Ohio State to win the B10 and go to the Rose Bowl for a shot at a national title. It was a big game, but you wouldn't know it. Just within the Big 10, Camp Randall, Beaver Stadium, and Ohio Stadium are better atmospheres. Even Folsom Field in Boulder is a better atmosphere when it's full.
    Really? I was at the Big House in 2005 when Mich. came back in the last 2 minutes with a full length drive against Minnesota to win - seemed like a pretty good atmosphere.

    Oh if only Duke football could be like that experience on day...

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Los Angeles
    I can't find much fault with this list. I'd move Madison Square Garden up a few notches, replace Daytona with Indy, and have slight thoughts about Wrigley vs. Fenway.

    And, of course, with my prejudice showing.....Cameron should rate higher than #5.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Connersville, IN
    i live in Indiana and have been to Indy many times and have also been to Daytona, but not during any race. However, I think you have to go with Indy as better than Daytona. The kissing of the bricks after winnning along with the drinking of the milk is one probably the greatest racing tradition.

  13. #13
    I think Yankee Stadium is getting a little too much love because it is about to get torn down. While Fenway and Wrigley are both unique and still original, Yankee Stadium has gone through entirely too many makeovers to be put in the category with either of those or Cameron Indoor. If the Yankees didn't play there (and granted, that's a big factor in determining how great a venue is) it wouldn't be this big a deal. Just my two cents.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
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    Atlanta, GA
    Quote Originally Posted by dcarp23 View Post
    I think Yankee Stadium is getting a little too much love because it is about to get torn down. While Fenway and Wrigley are both unique and still original, Yankee Stadium has gone through entirely too many makeovers to be put in the category with either of those or Cameron Indoor. If the Yankees didn't play there (and granted, that's a big factor in determining how great a venue is) it wouldn't be this big a deal. Just my two cents.
    The total overhaul of Cameron (inside and out!), seats atop the green monster, lights at Wrigley... haven't they all had major makeovers? What have they done to Yankee stadium (I've never been) to put it in a higher makeover category than the others?

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    I moved. Now 12 miles from Heaven, 13 from Hell
    Quote Originally Posted by Edouble View Post
    The total overhaul of Cameron (inside and out!), seats atop the green monster, lights at Wrigley... haven't they all had major makeovers? What have they done to Yankee stadium (I've never been) to put it in a higher makeover category than the others?
    It received a major overhaul in 1975-76, which completely changed the seating bowl. While some of the original structure stayed, much of it was stripped to the bare steel. They rebuilt the upper deck, making it higher and further back, so that they could remove the columns on the lower level. You can see the difference in the pictures from before/after. They also changed the field dimensions (it used to be 467' to center, for instance.) This is a lot more than what Fenway has done, or Cameron. It's more like what Georgia Tech did to Alexander, or State/Virginia/Evil Ones did to their football stadiums.

    Regarding the list, I think Madison Square Garden's too high. The current building doesn't have a lot of charm, and it's "only" forty years ago. If calling what they've done to MSG as renovations means that the Garden in Boston should count, too. (This comes from a native NYer.)

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    I moved. Now 12 miles from Heaven, 13 from Hell
    Quote Originally Posted by dcarp23 View Post
    I think Yankee Stadium is getting a little too much love because it is about to get torn down. While Fenway and Wrigley are both unique and still original, Yankee Stadium has gone through entirely too many makeovers to be put in the category with either of those or Cameron Indoor. If the Yankees didn't play there (and granted, that's a big factor in determining how great a venue is) it wouldn't be this big a deal. Just my two cents.
    I'm biased, since it's the first ballpark I can remember going to and remembering details of the game (such as Rocky Colavito was the winning pitcher, and to those baseball fans here that go back far enough, that is not a mistype.) But I'd put Yankee Stadium above Fenway and especially Wrigley. One is the size, another is the history. Yankee Stadium was the first Stadium, rather than field or park, in baseball. Princeton's old football field (now gone) had a longer history, but Michigan, or Notre Dame, or any stadium like those, would be higher rated.

  17. #17
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    Feb 2007
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    Ashburn, VA
    Quote Originally Posted by snowdenscold View Post
    Really? I was at the Big House in 2005 when Mich. came back in the last 2 minutes with a full length drive against Minnesota to win - seemed like a pretty good atmosphere.

    Oh if only Duke football could be like that experience on day...
    Oops - it was 2004, not 2005. For those of you Michigan fans who might happen to remember...

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Northern VA

    Thumbs down Yankee Stadium gets it largely on sentimentality in its last few days

    I think they gave YS the #1 status purely on winning tradition and "last year" sentimentality. I've been theover a dozen time (and have been to a majority of the top-10) and never really thought of it as a really good "pure venue." I vote more on personality, charm and maybe comfort. The Yankee fans don't help the YS status atop this list, to nothing of that neighborhood. It lacks the charm of the smaller stadiums and amenities of the modern ones.

    I liked Wrigley and Fenway, and even Camden Yards, better for waching a game.

    I also think Michigan got a top-10 status influenced heavily by sentiment over their status as the biggest, as well as the winning tradition. Personally I'd favor Notre Dame over Mich., as I got my first glimpse there this past season for the Duke whipping in front of Touchdown Jesus. Obviously they to have a lot of winning tradition and legendary characters, and landmarks/traditions like TD Jesus, the Golden Dome and the team walk from pre-game chapel up to the stadium a few hundred yards with the patway lined 4-5 deep by encouraging fans. But the best thing there was outside and inside the stadium me and my Duke-clad friends were greeted repeatedly with a smiling "Welcome to Notre Dame."

    I wish the Boston Garden was still in use to get certain top-10 status. I think Cowboy Stadium (Dallas, NFL) would get serious top-15 consideration. Of course I know a few KY fans who won't like Rupp's exclusion...

    Overall, other than Yanee Stadium's #1 status, and maybe Mich over ND, I don't have any huge issues with the list.

    Who else do you think deserves "top-15" consideration? (IOW just missed the top 10)

    Cheers!

    -BDBD

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    I moved. Now 12 miles from Heaven, 13 from Hell
    -BDBD, I'd second the comments about Notre Dame. Given how we were treated there, it's hard to ever root against them (unless playing Duke, of course.) I haven't been to Michigan, so I can't compare. But ND's way better than Tennessee, which I thought was so-so given its reputation.

    For baseball, Camden Yards is the tops in the new bunch of stadiums, since so many since it opened have tried to copy what they've done. Just for that, it could definitely rank in the top 10-15. I again disagree about a couple of your comments about Yankee Stadium. If you rate modern amenities high, then you better pull Cameron off the list.

  20. #20
    I'd rank them Wrigley > Fenway > Yankee. Although I live in Chicago I'm not a huge Cubs fan. I grew up rooting for the Yankees, so if anything I'd be biased in favor of Yankee Stadium.

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