Anybody Else Not Very Impressed With Husky Stadium? (Seattle: college, best)

[MaikeerinWA]

I don't remember seeing a track while watching televised football games at Aloha Stadium either. Not sure Hawaii even has a track and field program anymore.

Tracks around major-college football stadiums are very rare, and not very desirable from a football perspective.

I am not a fan of UW football, but I'm definitely impressed with the results of the project, based on what I've seen in the newspaper and TV. And UW fortunately took bids on the project when the economy was in the doldrums and construction costs were relatively low. Good timing.

[Andy]

D1-A football stadiums with tracks:

Boise Stadium - Boise State
Wallace Wade - Duke
Memorial - Kansas
Rynearson - Eastern Michigan
UB Stadium - Buffalo
Mackay Stadium - Nevada


The list of stadiums that had tracks, but had them removed, but still have the seats pushed away from the football field is large. Husky Stadium no longer has a track, no longer has a the large "track gap" that many college football stadiums have.

[cocaseco]

Originally Posted by OHW

Mizzou doesn't have a track.

Technicly you are right, its a road. Though same effect of keeping the fans back. I think i was actually thinking of Southern Missouri, but like I said that was just off the top of my head.

Correct Hawaii doesnt have one, not sure where I was thinking of.

Point was that the post saying there was none, is incorrect. There are several and they are relatively rare. I think there are a few more that arent even listed but i just cant think of them at the moment.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by cocaseco

Correct Hawaii doesnt have one, not sure where I was thinking of.

Hawaii's used to be able to transform into a baseball stadium. Certain seating sections were (are?) mobile.

[SaltyDawg]

Uh, if you're not impressed with Husky Stadium, you likely haven't been to very many stadiums.

The setting is unmatched. The Rose Bowl setting is always breathtaking, but days like today, when the lake is full of boats, Rainier is out, and there are 70k insane Husky fans in the square miles around the stadium, it's pretty much peerless.

Some gripes are warranted, though: they inexplicably do a horrible job of showing scores from other games (you'd presume that UW fans are college football fans in general), the stats board is gone and they don't bother providing regular statistical updates despite having spectacular video boards all over the place, and I detest the 'ribbon' board of ads that circles the stadium, though I get that it's the new normal. It was distractingly bright when it got dark.

Most other college programs are 'great stadiums' because of the tradition of the program, not because it's a beautiful place or a great facility. Washington has setting, history, and now an actually high-end stadium to match it.

[pw72]

Fox Sports 1 didn't really highlight the remodeled stadium tonight during their coverage of WA decidedly beating ranked Boise State. However, those with a keen eye could see the differences. Nice field to fan ratio, and a definite graphic surround, plus the new sports center on the west end. Nice job, UW, a major upgrade that isn't over the top.

[DevanXL]

Yeah this is totally unimpressive.

[Bimmerfanboy]

Originally Posted by pw72

Wow, critiques before the first game played there. Perhaps a few of you have an agenda?

Look, the main critiques of the old Husky Stadium have been resolved. That is good enough for me.

Let me summarize:

The field is now much closer to the fans. The track has been removed, the field is actually lower in the bowl, as to allow fans to be more on top of the action.

The press box is now not up near the Moon, now closer to the middle of the stands.

There are luxury or "near luxury" suites available, which is important to football revenue.

The west grandstands are now modern and with a better view. Heck, this actually is better for "visiting" fans.

The home locker room is majorly improved. The visiting locker room isn't, but who cares?

Sorry, but yes, this new Husky Stadium is great. Perhaps not over the top like Oregon, but it doesn't need to be.

I wasn't at the game yesterday but heard good things about the new stadium. I'll have to make to a game to see for myself.

[Bimmerfanboy]

Originally Posted by OHW

As someone who's been to games at UW and Michigan in the past 4 years, trust me, Husky Stadium is better. Michigan's stadium doesn't even get as loud as Kansas'. Aesthetically it's great, but functionally, it's very mediocre.

And as someone who has sit way up in the nosebleeds of Nebraska's Memorial Stadium end zones more times than I can count, sitting in the end zones isn't all it's cracked up to be. Be happy that you guys have a good, loud, beautifully set stadium that 80% of college football programs would kill for.

Michigan Stadium is awesome and it has the largest capacity of any college football stadium, heck it's capacity is greater than Cowboy Stadium (115,000 was the record). It's amazing on game days. I wish I were at the Notre Dame night game 2 years back.

[Bimmerfanboy]

Originally Posted by Andy

D1-A football stadiums with tracks:

Boise Stadium - Boise State
Wallace Wade - Duke
Memorial - Kansas
Rynearson - Eastern Michigan
UB Stadium - Buffalo
Mackay Stadium - Nevada


The list of stadiums that had tracks, but had them removed, but still have the seats pushed away from the football field is large. Husky Stadium no longer has a track, no longer has a the large "track gap" that many college football stadiums have.

None of the schools you listed have respectable college football programs, besides Boise State. Anyhow, I'm glad the track is gone.