Memorial Stadium Blows

[bluemolson14]

I have to admit, after going to Lincoln for the first time this past Friday, I really think Memorial is a nice stadium, aesthetically speaking. And their concession choices were pretty good as well. But that is where my admiration for the stadium ends.

We sat in section 41 with a good chunk of the Iowa fans and stood in a bottle neck in the upper concourse for around 20 minutes just waiting to get into the stands. What a joke, and it was that way all around the stadium.

When the engineering brainbanks at Lincoln designed that stadium, was their goal in building extremely narrow walkways an effort to make their fans comfortable when returning to their trailer homes? It was diffucult in walking up and down the aisles with one person, much less two going opposite directions.... Or it could also be that almost every row had a fat Husker sitting on the end of each row, overflowing into and subsequently partially blocking the aisles. Not to mention that their is no under the seat room to put your drinks, bags etc as the seat end directly above the cement moldings...Both unlike Kinnick

Either way, a cluster to navigate that stadium, before, during and after the game. I realize that squeezing the dollars out of each and every game is important, but they should seriously consider taking out around 2000 seats, to make the game days more enjoyable.

Any thoughts?

 

[iowachief]

I thought it sucked too. It looks like a castle from the outside but the gameday experience sucks. The ramps going in and out were like herding cattle. We entered the stadium through the endzone entrance. I ordered a Pepsi then proceeded to the bathroom to **** and juice up the Pepsi. I then came out of the bathroom to meet the old lady and find our seats. We realized we were in the wrong endzone, so we proceeded down the concourse to the other endzone. All of a sudden we hit a dead end. We had to get our tickets out to be scanned out to go outside and go to another entrance around the corner. We went to be scanned in and the wouldnt let me bring my "Pepsi" back in even though I had just bought it inside. I then had to dump it so I wouldnt miss kick off. We went to be scanned back in and their little scanners said our tickets had already been used. After arguing for a few they finally let us back in to be herded up the ramps to our seats. Terrible design of the stadium and very much makes you appreciate the simplicity of Kinnick.

 

[HawkeyeMcNutt]

I thought it was a fairly good atmosphere and a nice historic stadium to watch a Big Ten game. I was unimpressed and somewhat surprised at the lack of tailgating, however.

It is kind of weird though that they have four separate stands that aren't connected.

Some of the sight lines behind us were horrific though, don't ever sit sidelines higher than row 35!!

 

[ShockRerun]

I thought it sucked too. It looks like a castle from the outside but the gameday experience sucks. The ramps going in and out were like herding cattle. We entered the stadium through the endzone entrance. I ordered a Pepsi then proceeded to the bathroom to **** and juice up the Pepsi. I then came out of the bathroom to meet the old lady and find our seats. We realized we were in the wrong endzone, so we proceeded down the concourse to the other endzone. All of a sudden we hit a dead end. We had to get our tickets out to be scanned out to go outside and go to another entrance around the corner. We went to be scanned in and the wouldnt let me bring my "Pepsi" back in even though I had just bought it inside. I then had to dump it so I wouldnt miss kick off. We went to be scanned back in and their little scanners said our tickets had already been used. After arguing for a few they finally let us back in to be herded up the ramps to our seats. Terrible design of the stadium and very much makes you appreciate the simplicity of Kinnick.

Read your ticket and it wouldn't be a problem

 

[HawkForce]

Read your ticket and it wouldn't be a problem

I had a security guard tell me to just exit the stadium and walk around and re enter....it is apparently a common instruction....But WHO builds a stadium where the four grandstands are not connected by a "concourse" Weird weird stadium.

 

[KCHawkeye]

Sounds wierd to me. A major venue like that needs to be connected internally, somehow.

 

[HeneryHawk]

Could it be a stadium that has been added on to continously(like PSU),and continuity would have required extensive engineering and reconstruction(and more $$$$$)?

 

[HawkeyeMcNutt]

Could it be a stadium that has been added on to continously(like PSU),and continuity would have required extensive engineering and reconstruction(and more $$$$$)?

Obviously. In addition, Nebraska is adding another 5000 seats for 2013

 

[KnightHawk9]

I agree, I was annoyed at the 10 minutes it took to walk up the spiral path up to our seats. Of course, you had to walk back down if you wanted to use the restroom or get concessions.

Also was unimpressed by the lack of tailgating. It was worse than Purdue the week prior.

 

[HawkPhreek]

I was in the club section was very nice and to my surprise the fans were good to.

 

[Tvismylif]

All of the complaints listed have been noted by others before you, so don't feel like you are the only ones. Part of it is the fact that the stadium has undergone quite a few renovations, but none of which included better traffic patterns, except on the west side when they added to the concourse. I would assume the new east side addition will do somewhat of the same. However, for the average fan, no plans I have heard of for improving anything.

 

[rchawkeye]

Sat in the south end zone, 80 rows up. Also thought the organization was a bit goofy. Not easy to get in and out.

However, loved the view and atmosphere. 85k so close to the field. Loud stadium.

I generally don't like Nebraska fans, but came away with a slight change of heart. The guy next to me was both intelligent and objective. Yes, that's right. I told him he was the only one I had ever met. He laughed.

Still want Nebraska to never win another game.

 

[Billso]

I generally don't like Nebraska fans, but came away with a slight change of heart. The guy next to me was both intelligent and objective. Yes, that's right. I told him he was the only one I had ever met. He laughed.

Still want Nebraska to never win another game.

LOL. Some change of heart. That's the spirit!

 

[rchawkeye]

Should have heard the arrogant fan on the radio after the game. Talked about how Nebraska fans shouldn't be happy with a win over lowly Iowa. Talking about glory days, etc.

Yep, just a slight change of heart.

 

[TylerSash]

Anyone been to Michigan State before?

The traffic bottleneck to get out of the visitor's section in the upper deck took nearly 30 minutes to clear out last time I was there.

I seriously doubt Nebraska's situation is any worse than that.

 

[Haverhill]

I've been to Memorial before too. The West side (Pressbox) is nice but the other three sides are very underwhelming. I'd say that even stadiums at Wisconsin and Michigan State are better than Memorial.

 

[Billso]

The worst part about Memorial Stadium is that it's full of Nebraska fans.

 

[HawkForce]

The worst part about Memorial Stadium is that it's full of Nebraska fans.

And that its in nebraska.....

 

[hawkinn3]

The best part is the line that goes all the way to the top rows of the stadium for people trying to leave during halftime for food/bathroom that doesn't thin out until the beginning of the 3rd.

 

[CAARHawk]

It's a a maniacally brilliant plan to get and keep fans in their seat.

Why is there no tailgating? Because everyone knows that it will take a full quarter to take a leak, gotta keep that bladder nice and empty.

Plus, no Kinnick after halftime fan letdown. Well, except the opposing fans that foolishly hydrated and are now stuck in the rat maze or trying to get back in the stadium.

I can hear Osborne's evil laugh right now.