B1G stadiums ranked

Zstatman

Zstatman

Well-Known Member
I saw this tweet and agree with it:


Big 10 CFB Hype‏ @Big10_CFBHype


Best Big 10 Stadiums: @LSJNews

1. Iowa
2. Wisconsin
3. Michigan
4. Nebraska
5. Ohio State
6. Minnesota
7. Michigan State
8. Penn State
9. Northwestern
10. Indiana
11. Illinois
12. Maryland
13. Rutgers
14. Purdue
Thoughts??
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Zstatman said:
Thoughts??
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Thoughts are that it’s pretty ridiculous. All you have to see is their ranking of B1G coaches to know they don’t watch football, but I digress...

Re the stadium rankings, I love Kinnick and it’s my biased favorite by far.

But anyone who’s been to Penn State for a night game and doesn’t think it’s the most impressive experience in the Big Ten is high. I was there for the beat down a couple years ago and I hated that part, but when 110,000 people started in with Sweet Caroline anyone has to admit that it’s quite the fucking deal. Their tailgate setup in the open spaces is second to nothing I’ve ever been at, pro or college, and all of this goes down in a town that’s about 1/6th the size of Iowa City in the middle of nowhere. Regardless of what anyone thinks about it being the top spot, it’s nowhere close to 8th.

Nebraska is an absolute snooze fest. It’s like a douche bag-ridden version of Carver Hawkeye Arena, and I was even there a few times back when they were winning all the time.

Wisconsin’s one and only gimmick is Jump Around, after that it’s just a run of the mill big stadium.

Same thing with Michigan State.

Michigan is extra horrible because the view is so bad. It’s got that Rose Bowl-esque shallow angle seating and the stands are so far from the field to begin with that you feel like you’re watching the game from a different county.

Minnesota—excellent stadium with a great experience ruined by, well...the Gophers and Pajama Fleck.

Never been to OSU so I can’t comment on that one, but NW should be in 18th place out of 14. There’s about a thousand people there after halftime, which I guess is a benefit because you can literally hear teams in the huddle. It sounds like a Tuesday afternoon scrimmage.

Either way these people and their dumb twitter account have never been to a Big Ten home game.
 
Sure, I'll go with Iowa at number 1. However, in ranking anything in Big Ten football, Rutgers must be dead last, stadium is no exception. Also, I've been to Nebraska. Unless you're a concrete contractor, it's not that special.
 
Kinnick deserves it's lofty perch. The front rows are about as close to the field as the law will allow and they pitch steeply from there. The sightlines are top notch. It is an easy walk to the stadium for many students.

I remember sitting down near the field behind Iowa's bench for the 1988 Ohio State game. You could see offensive lineman Greg Aegerter throw his helmet at the bench in disgust as the offense came off the field, blood trickling down the bridge of his nose. You could see Deven Harberts trying to clear the cobwebs after he got laid out by an OSU defensive back. On another series the offense was about to go back on the field. Linebacker Brad Quast was imploring Chuck Hartlieb to "get em going Chas." Jeff Skillett missed a field goal early in the fourth quarter. Dan McCarney was going nuts on the sideline saying that the kick was "good by two feet." Fry went for a late field goal to tie the game. Defensive back Greg Brown muttered "F".

It was a fascinating collage of game within the game tidbits that you probably wouldn't be able to hear anyplace else-because you wouldn't be sitting close enough to hear.

Wisconsin's band puts on a nice show before and after the game for those who are into that type of thing, though I have never stayed for their infamous "fifth quarter." There are plenty of places in Madison for a fifth quarter, or for a fifth for those who care to imbibe in the strong stuff. The problem with Camp Randall is the steep incline if you tailgate immediately north of the stadium in one of the lots towards University Avenue. Then there are endless switchbacks if you are in the upper deck.
 
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The changes that have been made to Kinnick have really helped. I think the new North End Zone is really classy.

I can't wait until they enhance the east and south sides........

Hen, might as well get a new press box as well.....
 
Zstatman said:
The changes that have been made to Kinnick have really helped. I think the new North End Zone is really classy.

I can't wait until they enhance the east and south sides........

Hen, might as well get a new press box as well.....
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The new north endzone is loud as hell, in my opinion they should bite the bullet and do the south mirror image. If that was done I would feel Kinnick was a legit top three stadium. The proximity of fans to the field is unmatched.

If they have the money for lawsuit settlements the BOR can green light the endzone renovations.
 
Fryowa said:
Thoughts are that it’s pretty ridiculous. All you have to see is their ranking of B1G coaches to know they don’t watch football, but I digress...

Re the stadium rankings, I love Kinnick and it’s my biased favorite by far.

But anyone who’s been to Penn State for a night game and doesn’t think it’s the most impressive experience in the Big Ten is high. I was there for the beat down a couple years ago and I hated that part, but when 110,000 people started in with Sweet Caroline anyone has to admit that it’s quite the fucking deal. Their tailgate setup in the open spaces is second to nothing I’ve ever been at, pro or college, and all of this goes down in a town that’s about 1/6th the size of Iowa City in the middle of nowhere. Regardless of what anyone thinks about it being the top spot, it’s nowhere close to 8th.

Nebraska is an absolute snooze fest. It’s like a douche bag-ridden version of Carver Hawkeye Arena, and I was even there a few times back when they were winning all the time.

Wisconsin’s one and only gimmick is Jump Around, after that it’s just a run of the mill big stadium.

Same thing with Michigan State.

Michigan is extra horrible because the view is so bad. It’s got that Rose Bowl-esque shallow angle seating and the stands are so far from the field to begin with that you feel like you’re watching the game from a different county.

Minnesota—excellent stadium with a great experience ruined by, well...the Gophers and Pajama Fleck.

Never been to OSU so I can’t comment on that one, but NW should be in 18th place out of 14. There’s about a thousand people there after halftime, which I guess is a benefit because you can literally hear teams in the huddle. It sounds like a Tuesday afternoon scrimmage.

Either way these people and their dumb twitter account have never been to a Big Ten home game.
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NWs stadium has sucked since the 1970s...or earlier. My parents were alums, as was one of my sisters (she was also a pom-pom girl there for a couple seasons). A ton of money, lots of fancy food/drink at their tailgates. Evanston is close to Chicago and on Lake Michigan. And yet, the stadium is probably worse than a lot of HS stadiums in football-crazy towns in Texas, Florida or Ohio. It just flat-out sucks.

Camp Randall is fine. Until the wind starts whipping up off the lake. Which begins in September. And ends in June. Do NOT go there in short sleeves fo a game that starts after 1pm. But Madison's bar scene is first-rate, certainly on a par with Iowa City.

Indiana is "take-it-or-leave-it", stadium-wise, but it's a beautiful campus.
 
Northside Hawk said:
Kinnick deserves it's lofty perch. The front rows are about as close to the field as the law will allow and they pitch steeply from there. The sightlines are top notch. It is an easy walk to the stadium for many students.

I remember sitting down near the field behind Iowa's bench for the 1988 Ohio State game. You could see offensive lineman Greg Aegerter throw his helmet at the bench in disgust as the offense came off the field, blood trickling down the bridge of his nose. You could see Deven Harberts trying to clear the cobwebs after he got laid out by an OSU defensive back. On another series the offense was about to go back on the field. Linebacker Brad Quast was chortling Chuck Hartlieb to "get em going Chas." Jeff Skillett missed a field goal early in the fourth quarter. Dan McCarney was going nuts on the sideline saying that the kick was "good by two feet." Fry went for a late field goal to tie the game. Defensive back Greg Brown muttered "F".

It was a fascinating collage of game within the game tidbits that you probably wouldn't be able to hear anyplace else-because you wouldn't be sitting close enough to hear.

Wisconsin's band puts on a nice show before and after the game for those who are into that type of thing, though I have never stayed for their infamous "fifth quarter." There are plenty of places in Madison for a fifth quarter, or for a fifth for those who care to imbibe in the strong stuff. The problem with Camp Randall is the steep incline if you tailgate immediately north of the stadium in one of the lots towards University Avenue. Then there are endless switchbacks if you are in the upper deck.
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What a weird little season 1988 was. 3 ties against MSU, Mich and OSU.
 
NCHawker said:
That would be hard to say, their each outstanding in their own way.


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Cut the bullshit!

Whose fans made Bo Schembechler cry like a bitch when Jim Harbaugh couldn't hear the snap count? Where did Danan Hughes make a snow angel? Who delivered the crushing blow to Jim Harbaugh's playoff hopes in 2016? Where did all this take place?!

...that would be Kinnick, sir...

Of COURSE, it's Kinnick!
 
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guffus said:
What a weird little season 1988 was. 3 ties against MSU, Mich and OSU.
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The losses may have been weirder. Hawaii, Colorado, Indiana, then an absolutely uninspired performance against NC State in the Peach Bowl.

Turnovers, penalties and injuries were the typical trio that doomed that season. That, and being the preseason #1 in Sport Magazine.
 
hawkeyebob62 said:
Cut the bullshit!

Whose fans made Bo Schembechler cry like a bitch when Jim Harbaugh couldn't hear the snap count? Where did Dana Hughes make a snow angel? Who delivered the crushing blow to Jim Harbaugh's playoff hopes in 2016? Where did all this take place?!

...that would be Kinnick, sir...

Of COURSE, it's Kinnick!
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Don't forget what we did to Penn State's 2008 season, not to mention how that game was the springboard that propelled us to 2009 and, for a while, 2010.
 
hawkeyebob62 said:
The losses may have been weirder. Hawaii, Colorado, Indiana, then an absolutely uninspired performance against NC State in the Peach Bowl.

Turnovers, penalties and injuries were the typical trio that doomed that season. That, and being the preseason #1 in Sport Magazine.
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And missed fg's.

Jeff Skillett, a freshman bestowed with the somewhat daunting task of replacing Rob Houghtlin, missed late field goals that would have won Hawaii, MSU, and Ohio State. Rob and Tom Nichol were sorely missed that season. We nearly stole Colorado when Merton Hanks blocked a punt and recovered for a TD, then gave it back on a late fumble. A turnover on downs at the one was a killer against Michigan, but they returned the favor by fumbling at our goal line.

Everyone remembers the 2009 Indiana game on Halloween as being like a page out of the twilight zone. That whole 1988 season was a twilight zone, and led to numerous Hayden Fry clothing store jokes.
 
Fryowa is correct. As biased as we all are, we have to bite the bullet and accept the fact that Penn State's night games are epic. Nothing else in the B1G even comes close. #8 ranking is a joke.

That said, all bias aside, I do think Kinnick is top 2 or 3. Our night game atmosphere is outstanding, and the wave and recent renovations are big fan experience improvements. Plus, we are routinely ranked by players as the most difficult road games for opponents.

Madison is an outstanding college town, but, the stadium itself is overrated. That field looks like it came out of the Uni-Dome circa 1989.

After the top 4 or so, it's basically a wash.
 
PSU’s stadium, from the outside, looks it was built from an erector set. Ugly. ILL stadium should be condemned. Mich and Neb...over rated. No character. MSU should put in escalators. It’s a half day trip to the visitor seats and restrooms are impossible to find. And their fans stink. Indiana is ok. Maryland and Rutgers should be ashamed. Purdue=boredom.
NW is ok. I can ride the Metra to within a block of the venue and two blocks away is a great sports bar. I hate to admit it, but MN’s new digs are really nice. OSU was pretty impressive, but their fans are arrogant jerks. Bucky: Butt ugly, no parking or shuttle service, bottle neck for vehicles, no tailgate area to brag about, and the seats are so narrow it’s crazy and there is NO legroom. My fishing buddy gives me 4 ticks 30 rows up on the 45 yard line and I still hate going there. Kin nick...love both the south ez, where I sit and the new north. Great legroom and seats a little wider. Sight lines are just fine and to be able to use the words “intimate experience” with 70,000 people is quite a trick. The outside puts every other BT venue to shame.
 
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