Best Sports Venues

[-jk]

The Washington Post asked their sportswriters, columnists and editors to share their favorite sports venues, past and present, as a reminder of what they were like when they were full and loud. (It may be pay-walled; try here.)

Here's the list:

All England Club
Arthur Ashe Stadium
Cameron Indoor Stadium
Carrier Dome
Churchill Downs
Estadio Azteca
Fenway Park
Franklin Field
Hartford Civic Center
Hayward Field
Husky Stadium
Michigan Stadium
Oracle Park
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Pebble Beach Golf Links
RFK Stadium
Rose Bowl
Tiger Stadium
Morgan and Kathy Wootten Gym
Wrigley Field

I've been to three (Cameron, Carrier Dome, and Oriole Park). I'm a little surprised neither the Palestra nor Hinkle made it - I'd certainly put either above the Carrier Dome!

-jk

[OldPhiKap]

The Washington Post asked their sportswriters, columnists and editors to share their favorite sports venues, past and present, as a reminder of what they were like when they were full and loud. (It may be pay-walled; try here.)

Here's the list:

All England Club
Arthur Ashe Stadium
Cameron Indoor Stadium
Carrier Dome
Churchill Downs
Estadio Azteca
Fenway Park
Franklin Field
Hartford Civic Center
Hayward Field
Husky Stadium
Michigan Stadium
Oracle Park
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Pebble Beach Golf Links
RFK Stadium
Rose Bowl
Tiger Stadium
Morgan and Kathy Wootten Gym
Wrigley Field

I've been to three (Cameron, Carrier Dome, and Oriole Park). I'm a little surprised neither the Palestra nor Hinkle made it - I'd certainly put either above the Carrier Dome!

-jk

Must not have made it to the Augusta National.

I guess I’ve hit five:
Cameron
Pebble Beach
Tiger Stadium
Hartford CC
RFK

[budwom]

The Hartford Civic Center? Seriously? Why?

A venue (past) that clearly belongs on that list is the Montreal Forum, former home of the once heroic Canadiens...that place was like a church for hockey fans, people dressed up to go there (at least down in the lower levels). Remarkable place.

p.s. I see the writer who nominated the Civic Center did so because, as a Nutmeg native, it was the closest place for him to see NHL hockey. That's pretty thin...

[uh_no]

Must not have made it to the Augusta National.

I guess I’ve hit five:
Cameron
Pebble Beach
Tiger Stadium
Hartford CC
RFK

augusta and IMS are the two biggest exclusions in my mind. Glad to see hayward field make the list. one of my biggest regrets will have been not getting there for a meet before they gave it the soldier field treatment the past couple years. Monza would be another notable omission.

The whalers left when i was still relatively young, but it surprises me it's remembered so fondly. It's really a crappy stadium.

[Bob Green]

The Washington Post asked their sportswriters, columnists and editors to share their favorite sports venues, past and present, as a reminder of what they were like when they were full and loud. (It may be pay-walled; try here.)

I've been to three (Cameron, Carrier Dome, and Oriole Park). I'm a little surprised neither the Palestra nor Hinkle made it - I'd certainly put either above the Carrier Dome!

-jk

I have also been to three (Cameron, Carrier Dome, and Churchill Downs).

[DU82]

I’ve been to eight.

Some are good choices, but the Carrier Dome? RFK Stadium, one of the worst of the ‘60s concrete donuts? Nope.

[OldPhiKap]

Mercedes-Benz in ATL is better than most of the stadiums named. That place is a palace.

[Rogue]

Cameron Indoor
Wrigley Field
Fenway Park
Oriole, Camden Yard
Augusta National. ( even if it doesn't make the Washington Post, it is a BEST VENUE )

Many golf courses could make this list..

[Tappan Zee Devil]

The Washington Post asked their sportswriters, columnists and editors to share their favorite sports venues, past and present, as a reminder of what they were like when they were full and loud. (It may be pay-walled; try here.)

Here's the list:

All England Club
Arthur Ashe Stadium
Cameron Indoor Stadium
Carrier Dome
Churchill Downs
Estadio Azteca
Fenway Park
Franklin Field
Hartford Civic Center
Hayward Field
Husky Stadium
Michigan Stadium
Oracle Park
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Pebble Beach Golf Links
RFK Stadium
Rose Bowl
Tiger Stadium
Morgan and Kathy Wootten Gym
Wrigley Field

I've been to three (Cameron, Carrier Dome, and Oriole Park). I'm a little surprised neither the Palestra nor Hinkle made it - I'd certainly put either above the Carrier Dome!

-jk

I have five:
Cameron
Arthur Ashe
Carrier Dome
Camden Yards
Wrigley Field

There is however one of the five that really doesn't belong on the list
IMHO the Carrier Dome is just a huge dump.

[uh_no]

I have five:
Cameron
Arthur Ashe
Carrier Dome
Camden Yards
Wrigley Field

There is however one of the five that really doesn't belong on the list
IMHO the Carrier Dome is just a huge dump.

uhhh...do we have to start calling you "Cuomo Devil" now?

[Tappan Zee Devil]

uhhh...do we have to start calling you "Cuomo Devil" now?

No!

The wide stretch of the river from Haverstraw to Piermont is still the Tappan Zee, and, except on the official signs, the bridge is too.

Actually, the bridge should have become the "Pete Seeger Bridge".
Pete did a huge amount of work on cleaning up the river - and, 30-some years ago, my son got rowed out to the Clearwater sitting on Pete's lap while he sang to that group of kids from his preschool.

[sagegrouse]

The Washington Post asked their sportswriters, columnists and editors to share their favorite sports venues, past and present, as a reminder of what they were like when they were full and loud. (It may be pay-walled; try here.)

Here's the list:

All England Club
Arthur Ashe Stadium
Cameron Indoor Stadium
Carrier Dome
Churchill Downs
Estadio Azteca
Fenway Park
Franklin Field
Hartford Civic Center
Hayward Field
Husky Stadium
Michigan Stadium
Oracle Park
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Pebble Beach Golf Links
RFK Stadium
Rose Bowl
Tiger Stadium
Morgan and Kathy Wootten Gym
Wrigley Field

I've been to three (Cameron, Carrier Dome, and Oriole Park). I'm a little surprised neither the Palestra nor Hinkle made it - I'd certainly put either above the Carrier Dome!

-jk

Cameron
Churchill Downs - but not for the Kentucky Derby
Franklin Field
Oracle Park (how many names has that relatively new stadium had?) When I was last there, I saw the Bryce Harper-Hunter Strickland brawl.
Oriole Park
Pebble Beach - visited but did not play
RFK

[uh_no]

No!

The wide stretch of the river from Haverstraw to Piermont is still the Tappan Zee, and, except on the official signs, the bridge is too.

Actually, the bridge should have become the "Pete Seeger Bridge".
Pete did a huge amount of work on cleaning up the river - and, 30-some years ago, my son got rowed out to the Clearwater sitting on Pete's lap while he sang to that group of kids from his preschool.

Oh, trust me, I know. I was being tongue in cheek. I was up that way last week, so it was top of mind. Wikipedia even still calls it by its proper name: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tappan...%80%93present)

[Oh no, not Petway!]

I’ve hit 8: Arthur Ashe, Cameron, Carrier, Fenway, Husky Stadium, Camden Yards, Rose Bowl and Wrigley. The only one I would question is the Carrier Dome. Just don’t see it.

The Palestra and Allen Fieldhouse have to be on the list. Also, if Husky Stadium is on the list, why not Folsom Field? Beautiful setting for football. Others I would make a case for are Augusta National and Dodger Stadium.

[OldPhiKap]

I’ve hit 8: Arthur Ashe, Cameron, Carrier, Fenway, Husky Stadium, Camden Yards, Rose Bowl and Wrigley. The only one I would question is the Carrier Dome. Just don’t see it.

The Palestra and Allen Fieldhouse have to be on the list. Also, if Husky Stadium is on the list, why not Folsom Field? Beautiful setting for football. Others I would make a case for are Augusta National and Dodger Stadium.

Great user name!

As for the National, I may be biased but — if someone can name a person who has been there and did not think it was one of the most over-the-top Experiences they have had, please me know. Because absent a single-shot to visit in a monsoon, I don’t think those folks really exist. (Like Tripping William, who I am convinced is a figment of dd’s imagination).

Most beautiful place you can imagine, cheapest (yet really high quality) concessions you will EVER see at a sporting event. Least-crowded major sports experience you can ever experience.

But I may be biased. Probably seen more events there than any other venue, Cameron included. And I did not miss many games as a student.

And a fun course to play, too — but that’s a different thread.

[uh_no]

Great user name!

As for the National, I may be biased but — if someone can name a person who has been there and did not think it was one of the most over-the-top Experiences they have had, please me know. Because absent a single-shot to visit in a monsoon, I don’t think those folks really exist. (Like Tripp9ng a William, who I am convinced is a figment of dd’s imagination).

Most beautiful place you can imagine, cheapest (yet really high quality) concessions you will EVER see at a sporting event. Least-crowded major sports experience you can ever experience.

But I may be biased. Probably seen more events there than any other venue, Cameron included. And I did not miss many games as a student.

I've been once. Tiger shot a 66. Incredible. I can't imagine what it was like last year on sunday when he won.

[CameronBornAndBred]

The Cameron review trips me out.

"It’s the only venue I have ever sneaked into — skipping endless nights in the legendary tent city by wearing a Domino’s delivery uniform or going through the service entrance carrying a large bag of ice."

When did he graduate?

[OldPhiKap]

I've been once. Tiger shot a 66. Incredible. I can't imagine what it was like last year on sunday when he won.

If you hit it when the azaleas are at peak (harder to do these days), six/sixteen and thirteen are just incredible. But anytime, the roars from around the course are great. They don’t lay out courses like that anymore.

And it’s the only major that is always played at the same location. You can stand at the top of the hill on 15, and stand where Gene Sarazan hit a three-wood for double eagle. Or the memories at Amen’s Corner. Or 16. Or 17. Or 18.

Not to mention “the hidden front nine,” which was never even televised until recent years. The green on 3 is arguably the slickest on the course. Some incredible holes on that side, arguably the harder side. Jack Nicklaus said that if you hit down into the trees on the left of 2, there is a Delta ticket office down there — because you might as well just go ahead and buy a ticket to back home.

Back half is real risk/reward.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

If you hit it when the azaleas are at peak (harder to do these days), six/sixteen and thirteen are just incredible. But anytime, the roars from around the course are great. They don’t lay out courses like that anymore.

And it’s the only major that is always played at the same location. You can stand at the top of the hill on 15, and stand where Gene Sarazan hit a three-wood for double eagle. Or the memories at Amen’s Corner. Or 16. Or 17. Or 18.

Not to mention “the hidden front nine,” which was never even televised until recent years. The green on 3 is arguably the slickest on the course. Some incredible holes on that side, arguably the harder side. Jack Nicklaus said that if you hit down into the trees on the left of 2, there is a Delta ticket office down there — because you might as well just go ahead and buy a ticket to back home.

Back half is real risk/reward.

I'm sort of fascinated by the entire concept of a November Master's tournament.

[budwom]

augusta and IMS are the two biggest exclusions in my mind. Glad to see hayward field make the list. one of my biggest regrets will have been not getting there for a meet before they gave it the soldier field treatment the past couple years. Monza would be another notable omission.

The whalers left when i was still relatively young, but it surprises me it's remembered so fondly. It's really a crappy stadium.

The Hartford Civic Center's major claim to fame was that it was so poorly engineered, the roof collapsed.

When I read the article in the WaPo, I realized it wasn't so much about great venues (as it should have been), but rather personal nostalgia for the writers...