What's up with Auburn's field? Looks like somebody took a bite out of it. Standard War-Eagle-Tiger-Plainsmen retardation. Also, any clue as to why the Western Division stadiums have such higher capacities?
It's huge. Take a look at the pic in the OP and marvel how big it is. The power alleys at Hoover are 385/385 Compare to SEC: ? - SC, aTm, Mizzou 350/350 - Georgia 335/360 - Auburn 350/365 - Kentucky 358/360 - Tennessee 365/365 - LSU 365/365 - Bama 365/365 - Ole Miss 365/375 - Florida 375/375 - Vanderbilt 375/375 - Arkansas 376/374 - Miss State Compare to some MLB parks: 365/365 - Angels 368/368 - Cubs (Wrigley Field) 370/370 - Rays 362/373 - Astros 364/373 - Orioles 369/374 - Phillies 365/377 - Twins 370/374 - Brewers 370/375 - Indians 370/377 - Nationals 372/377 - White Sox 370/379 - Reds 374/374 - Diamondbacks 375/375 - Blue Jays 375/375 - Cardinals 375/375 - Royals 375/375 - A's 379/383 - Mets 379/383 - Red Sox (Fenway Park) 385/385 - Dodgers
Vandy's is even more unusual. I'd hate to play left field there. They have serious baseball programs that can attract crowds (LSU, State, Bama, Ole Miss). Plus there is no competition from Major League Baseball in LA, AR, MS, AL and damn little from minor league teams unlike the east coast and Florida area . . . or Texas and Missouri for that matter. Arkansas has such poor local recruiting that they traditionally spend a lot on new facilities to attract out-of-state talent.
I have no clue about Auburn's field. It's one I've never visited. I knew it was odd based on some of the televised games but didn't realize how odd. Vanderbilt's "pimple" caught my eye as well. I'd seen that but forgotten about it. I like their park with their own little version of a "Green Monster." The capacity question is a good one. I can only guess and my first thought is age? As example, I know Carolina Stadium was completed in 2009. But I have to consider UofSC has had a successful program for quite some time and their fan base does fill the seats. On the same end, Tennessee went through renovations (twice) in the last decade and they only added "premium seating." It's crazy seeing Miss. State have five times the capacity as Kentucky.
Assuming it was there before construction of the park, I guess it wasn't cost friendly to bury everything? Or move it? Recently when they were widening Bryant Drive they had to deal with water lines that had been in place for decades. That cost A LOT of money. Surely moving electrical equipment like this isn't that cost prohibitive.
Hmmm, I for one love it because of Todd Walker, Brad Cresse, Austin Nola, Mikie Mahtook, Mike Sirotka.....
