[cjg11582]

I have not visited all of these places but will attempt to be objective in listing them just from second hand experiences and impressions I got from watching games on TV. This factors in everything from crowd involvement, to architecture to history. I am biased towards The Shoe so I will leave it out of the equation:

1) Neyland Stadium (Tennessee)
2) Camp Randall (Wisconsin)
3) Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Florida)
4) Auzten Stadium (Oregon)
5) Sanford Stadium (Georgia)
6) Beaver Stadium (Penn State)
7) Jordan Hare Stadium (Auburn)
Tiger Stadium (LSU)
9) Memorial Stadium (Texas)
10) Lane Stadium/Worsham Field (Virginia Tech)

Any oversights on my part? Anyone had a great experience at a stadium I left off the list?

[rmjvol]

I've only been to a handful of college football stadiums so I'm not going to list a top 10. I will say that Neyland is awesome. I've sat in pretty much every area and never been disappointed in the game experience.

And I can say that the best college football stadiums are waaaaay better for gameday than the best of the new NFL football stadiums.

[cjg11582]

NFL stadiums do seem a tad redundant in terms of there design. Where lies the innovation or uniqueness? Obviously there are exceptions but I would much rather attend a college football game over an NFL one.

[legend]

I don't see any stadiums on your list that have Touchdown Jesus watching over the game!

[DrCool]

Even thought the stadium itself is a bit ugly Husky Stadium at the University of Washington has one of the best settings in the country. The stadium overlooks Lake Washington and instead of traditional tailgating people float their boats right up by the stadium and do their tailgating there.

>>And I can say that the best college football stadiums are waaaaay better for gameday than the best of the new NFL football stadiums

But that is because you are stuck watching the Titans. Come up to Seattle in the fall and I will take you to Qwest Field and show you what a real NFL stadium should sound like.

That said I would love to go to Neyland Stadium sometime for a big time SEC game against Florida or Alabama or something like that. 100K+ people screaming and cheering would be a sight to see.

Also another college stadium you might be missing is Kyle Field at Texas A&M. Some pretty unique traditions there.

[ThePundit]

This is an uninformed opinion from a non-college town but I love the Rose Bowl. Nothing like those New Years Day Rose Bowl Colors around 5PM flashing across my TV as I'm recovering from my hangover.

[desertrat]

1) Husky Stadium in Seattle tops my list.
2) Memorial Stadium Lincoln Nebraska
3) Memorial Stadium Norman, Oklahoma
4) Autzen Stadium Eugene,Oregon
5) Death Valley Baton Rouge, La
6) The Swamp Florida Gators
7) Notre Dame Stdium
The Big House Ann Arbor, Michigan
9) The Horseshoe Columbus, Ohio
10) Neyland Stadium Tennessee


There are many others deserving of this list but this is my biased opinion.

[cjg11582]

Limiting to ten is difficult. But two stadiums I have visited and was dissapointed with the atmosphere, seating arrangement and (though not related to the stadium directly) the tailgating:

The Big House: I have been there twice. Once when OSU won (2001) and once when we lost (2003). My low opinion of them is probably semi-related to my OSU affiliation, but let me justify. I am not sure why but The Big House was somewhat docile for the two games I was there, particularly the first one. The explanation for this is beyond me, by my theory is the stands stretch so far off of the field that the noise projected by the fans is not condensed enough. The design of the stadium is very unique, there is literally nothing like it (And I cannot say that about The Shoe because its not really shaped like a horseshoe anymore) But I do not think that giant bowl shape is conducive to a great home field advantage. I went to the Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville last October and that stadium was louder than the Big House. In short, if your stadiums decibel
level is exceeded by that of a neutral field game, then your home field can only be so intimidating.
The tailgating scene I think is important, because the experience immediately before the game directly correlates with with the with the experience inside the stadium. UM does not cater to this mentality. To start off, there is seemingly not a bar within a mile of the stadium. Now I am not implying that I have to be bombed before a game, but to have a few drinks while watching gameday in a public venue is something that isn't necessary, but certainly enjoyable. Maybe gameday is in Ann Arbor and you want to go hang out around there. Well, they put it on a golf course. Not only is there no easy entrance to said golf course (hundreds of people are squeazing through a tear in a fence with a series of trees and bushes to dodge right next to the tear) but once you are inside the confinement of the golf course it is still a par 5's walk away. Not exactly accomodating. Now you may be thinking I went to both games in scarlet and gray and was harassed so it was improbable that I would tailgate comfortably; and you would be wrong because I went neutral both times. It seems unneccesary to deal with irrational behavior just so I can wear a gray hoody with three letters on it.

Kyle Field- This won't be difficult to keep more succinct. But the people down at A&M just creeped me out a little. It wasn't one particular incident or anything just a general demeanor. There are fans, then fanaticism, then lunatics; and Aggie fans exceed it all. Behavior like that should not be condoned. I'll try to explain it with an analogy: If college football were a girl, she would file a restraining order against College Station. The one game I attended was against Texas, they were routed and common consensus was still to act absolutely beligerent. So I guess it would be more understandable if the team was/were any better.

[Lefty Noob]

I get a lot of Big Ten exposure here in Ohio, but to me it seems as though the Big House, the Horseshoe and Happy Valley need to be on EVERYONE'S list. Florida State with their tomahawk chops also seems like it'd be a tough place to play.

Of course, I'm not really able to give an informed, first-hand opinion. The only place I've ever seen a game is up in Alliance, with the D-III Mount Union Purple Raiders during one of their 90s title runs.

[wvuauthor]

I think that Lane Stadium/Worsham Field (Virginia Tech) is overrated. I have been to several WVU vs. VT games their and have never been that impressed. The atmosphere is great, but I did not care for the stadium itself.

[KENVOL]

I am an SEC fan so I'll leave them out. But the Big 12 is pretty outstanding. Go to a game at Neb. or Ok. and I've never been there but I've heard that Colorado is just outstanding. OK, I have to say Tennessee also.

[wvuauthor]

Has anybody ever been to a game at Penn State? I was their one time in the late 80's for a WVU game, and it was wild...

Does anybody else have an experience at PSU?

[tidejunky]

When they finish the construction before this season begins Bama may be able to scratch its way onto this list. From what I understand they are going to have some High Tech stuff to match the closure of the North endzone and an additional 10,000 or so seats not to mention the 20 something new skyboxes.

[rmjvol]

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[mervinout]

Originally Posted by wvuauthor

Has anybody ever been to a game at Penn State? I was their one time in the late 80's for a WVU game, and it was wild...

Does anybody else have an experience at PSU?

yup i saw them playing northwestern a few years back when they were stinking the joint up, but the atmosphere was great, tailgaiting was a little different them im use to be all in all it was a great expierence but i had more fun at osu on gameday. That place was tons of fun on gameday