I have personally been to UF,Auburn, and Bama's stadiums. I liked the atomosphere at UF although the orange inside the stadium was a bit much for me. I also liked Bama's stadium. It's large, loud and a good place to watch football. Auburn's stadium I did not like. Perhaps because it was 11am and it was raining.
We only play one game a year in Birmingham now. We have been trying to get out of that contract for quite some time now. Anyway, I was glad to see so many sec stadiums on the list, but if your a real fan it doesnt matter how your stadium ranks because your loyal to your team. For example tiger stadium will always be the best stadium to lsu fans because they are lsu fans. I am a bama fan so to me nothing beats Bryant-Denny, even if it were not on the list at all I would still rank it #1 in my book.
When I looked at Bama as a high school senior, I remember being turned off by how many games they played in Birmingham. I was unaware that they changed it to just one. That's good for Bama though...
I usually don't pay much attention to these types of lists, since they are inherently subjective and, as such, highly debatable (hence this thread). But, the ratings for "architecture" in Mr. Dodd's "analysis" struck me as confusing. He rates Tiger Stadium's architecture as a 7.5, yet he rates Kyle Field's as a 9, tied for second with the L.A. Colliseum behind the Rose Bowl (9.5). Until a few years ago, Kyle Field was essentially two sides of bleachers bordering an astroturf field surrounded by a track. "The Zone" was unveiled recently which enclosed one of the endzones, added seats and luxury boxes. "The Zone" is a replica of the same design at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, and I believe the same architecture firm designed both. Overall there is no architectural significance or style to Kyle Field whatsoever. I do not know if Mr. Dodd has any architectural experience, either professionally or educationally, but his ratings in this category are questionable. Sanford Stadium, one of the best looking stadiums in the country from an architectural standpoint, rates a 6, Clemson's Memorial Stadium, with its rock that players touch then sprint down the hill into the stadium rates a 5, yet Doak Campbell, which recently added a facade to make the stadium look less erector set-like, rates an 8. Either Dodd has little architectural taste or this category means nothing.
I agree. I guess he wasn't too happy about our expansion. Oh well, I stopped reading Dodd after his pre-season rankings last year.
The view from that bridge next to Sanford has to be one of the best views of a college football stadium in the country from outside a stadium. I haven't seen anything on the addition, but before it the stadium just has a simple, clean look, with lots of red shirts filling the seats. My only complaint was that it seemed difficult to get out of the stadium after Booty's pass in the endzone was batted away.
I agree about the bridge. It is a great view. And they are currently trying to expand on getting out. It is a pain in the butt after a good game. Clemson fans were enraged after last years loss because of UGA taunting during their slow walkout..lol, it was funny as hell for me, bad for them.
