The Swamp

The San Diego Seals (National Lacrosse League---Indoor lacrosse) are playing a game on the Miramar runway in February.
https://www.nll.com/news/san-diego-seals-miramar/

I love this Facebook site - full of pictures of old time soccer and stadiums.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/819436598086363

First look inside Allegiant Stadium with the grass "tray" inserted (Raiders will play on natural grass, UNLV will play on artificial turf).

brian wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:50 am First look inside Allegiant Stadium with the grass "tray" inserted (Raiders will play on natural grass, UNLV will play on artificial turf).

Does it roll outside the stadium itself like the Cardinals field does?

phxgators wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:59 pm Does it roll outside the stadium itself like the Cardinals field does?

The same, yes. Only rolls in for gamedays.

Why is UNLV playing on turf? Is it a cost-based choice by them, or a demand by the Raiders so the field isn't trashed the day before their games?

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Wed Jul 15, 2020 2:59 pm Why is UNLV playing on turf? Is it a cost-based choice by them, or a demand by the Raiders so the field isn't trashed the day before their games?

Mostly the latter I think, but the truth is you can't separate one from the other. Even other stadiums that share college and pro teams end up with the fields completely trashed by the end of the year. Philly, Pittsburgh and Tampa's fields have been nightmares at points in the past. Having a turf field for UNLV (and presumably bowl games and other college "classic" games like they do in Atlanta, Houston, etc.) makes it easier to convert the stadium to NFL games for grass. (Why Oakland isn't just playing on turf I couldn't tell you -- probably a Davis thing).

Didn’t know where to put this so I’ll just drop it here.

Nope.

Staples Center to become Crypto.com Arena in a move that has "Enron Field" written all over it.

Over under on how much of that $700 million the owners actually receive.

HaulCitgo wrote: ↑Wed Nov 17, 2021 11:55 am Over under on how much of that $700 million the owners actually receive.

You mean because the deal is for 20 yearly payments of $35M? Yeah, I'd set the O/U on that at around $80M.

HaulCitgo wrote: ↑Wed Nov 17, 2021 11:55 am Over under on how much of that $700 million the owners actually receive.

I wonder if they are paying in Dogecoin.

Immediately I feel like Staples Centre is a much more traditional name!

The Bills stadium (Highmark?) has had a number of names, but I still sometimes call it Rich Stadium, because that's what it was called back in the day. To me, that name has a lot of history...

Despite the fact that it was named after a non-dairy creamer manufacturer.

Staples was actually founded in Massachusetts, coincidentally.

Pop-up stadium built with shipping containers opens ahead of 2022 World Cup

https://www.cladglobal.com/CLADnews/arc ... m=facebook

Baloney wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 12:23 pm Pop-up stadium built with shipping containers opens ahead of 2022 World Cup

https://www.cladglobal.com/CLADnews/arc ... m=facebook

It looks a bit like the stacked mobile home community in Ready Player One.

Stadiums I have been to in no particular order, there may be more, but I was struggling at the end.

From an atmosphere point of view, I have highlighted my top five and also appear to have spent far too much money over the years watching sport.

Principality Stadium Cardiff
Cardiff Arms Park
Stradey Park - Llanelli
Twickenham - London
Wembley Stadium (old and new)
Hampden Park - Glasgow
Celtic Park - Glasgow
Lansdown Road & the Aviva Stadium - Dublin
Parc des Princes - Paris (PSG)
Stade Dennis - Paris
Stade Toulousain - Toulouse
Camp Nou - Barcelona
Santiago Bernabéu - Madrid
Olympic Stadium - Munich
Astrodome - Houston
Madison Square Garden - New York
Prudential Center - NJ
The Meadowlands - NJ
DKR Texas Memorial Stadium - Austin
Stade Aimé Giral - Perpignan
Cardiff City stadium - Cardiff
Elland Road - Leeds
Old Trafford - Manchester
Vetch field - Swansea
Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium - London (QPR)
White Hart Lane - London (Spurs)
Villa Park - Birmingham
Highbury - London (Arsenal)
Boundary Park - Oldham
Lords Cricket Ground - Lords
Grace Road - Leicester
Edgebaston - Birmingham
All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (Wimbledon) - London
New Road - Worcester
Madejski Stadium - Reading
Kassam Stadium - Oxford
Boleyn Ground - London (West Ham)
Kingsholm - Gloucester
Murrayfield - Edinburgh
Edinburgh Rugby Stadium
Myreside - Edinburgh
Brewery Field - Bridgend
The Rec - Bath
The City Ground - Nottingham
Nassau Coliseum - NY
Heinz Field - Pittsburgh
Three Rivers Stadium - Pittsburgh
Civic Centre - Pittsburgh
Fenway Park - Boston
Yankee Stadium - NY

That’s an impressive list.
Here’s my list of the ones I can remember. Makes me feel old that a lot of them are now gone.

At&T stadium San Francisco
Candlestick Park San Francisco
Cow Palace San Francisco
Levi’s Stadium Santa Clara
Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto
Memorial Stadium Berkeley
Avaya Stadium San Jose (Earthquakes)
SAP Center San Jose
San Jose Stadium (San Jose State)
Oakland Coliseum (A’s)
Oakland Coliseum (Warriors)
Dodger Stadium Los Angeles
Jack Murphy Stadium San Diego
Kingdome Seattle
Husky Stadium Seattle
Mile High Stadium Denver
Coors Field Denver
Pepsi Center Denver
McNichols Arena Denver
Folsom Field Boulder
Hughes Stadium Fort Collins
Busch Stadium St Louis
Wrigley Field Chicago
Arlington Stadium Dallas/Arlington
Texas Stadium Irving/Dallas
Madison Square Garden NYC
Old Yankee Stadium NYC
New Yankee Stadium NYC
Brendan Byrne Arena E. Rutherford NJ
Boston Garden Boston
Camden Yards Baltimore
Forbes Field Pittsburgh
PNC Park Pittsburgh
Mosaic Field, Regina SK

OOoh fun.

Baseball
Riverfront Stadium
Great American Ballpark
Wrigley Field
Fenway Park
Progressive Field

Football (NFL/College)
Riverfront Stadium
Paul Brown Field
FirstEnergy
Kroger Field
Cardinal Stadium
LucasOil
Bryant-Denny
Roy Kidd Stadium (EKU)

Basketball
Rupp Arena
Whatever the one in Cincy by the baseball field is called
Freedom Hall
NRG Stadium
Nationwide Arena
(Never seen an NBA game!)

Soccer
Crew Field (or whatever)
Also FirstEnergy

I need to get out more!

Such memories...

Maple Leaf Gardens - Toronto
Air Canada Centre
Exhibition Stadium
SkyDome/Rogers Centre
BMO Field
Varsity Stadium
Varsity Arena (WHA Games!)

Jarry Park - Montreal
The Forum
Olympic Stadium
Molson Stadium

Rich Stadium (now Highmark) - Buffalo
Memorial Aud - Buffalo
Tiger Stadium - Detroit
Silverdome - Detroit
Michigan Stadium (Tour only) - Ann Arbor
Fenway Park - Boston
Madison Square Garden - New York
RFK Stadium - Washington
Capitals Arena (Whatever it's called) - Washington
Municipal Stadium - Cleveland
Comiskey Park - Chicago
Wrigley Field - Chicago
Churchill Downs - Louisville
Oakland Coliseum - Oakland
Dodger Stadium - L.A.
White Hart Lane - London
Easter Road (Hibernian) - Edinburgh

So, college football stadiums or rivalries, who do I need to see play and where before the great defensive tackle up above breaks my starting stretch?

I have seen UT play in Austin, so where does that rank?

Also, having seen the Steelers play in the snow (which was amazing), I feel that watching the Bills or Eagles play in the snow is a must...

UofM/tOSU either location.
Not sure where Army/Navy takes place but that would be a good one.
Iron Bowl - I guess in Tuscaloosa.

Probably easiest if I do this by cities:

Carrier Dome
Yankee Stadium (1976 version)
Shea
MSG

Giants Stadium
Brendan Byrne Arena
Prudential Center
Walsh Gym

The Vet
The Linc
The Bank
Liacouras Center (Temple)
The Pavilion (Villanova)
The Spectrum
Whatever they call the 76ers/Flyers arena now
The Blue Horizon

Beaver Stadium

Camden Yards
Then-PSINet Stadium (for a tour, not a game)

RFK (for Olympic soccer in 1996)

24 Willie Mays Plaza

pruitt2 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 04, 2021 2:08 pm Such memories...

Easter Road (Hibernian) - Edinburgh

Have wanted to go to Easter road for many years, for two odd reasons:

In Ian Rankin's Rebus novels (of which I am a bit of a fan), the protagonist is a Hibs fan and it would be cool to join in with the singing of 'Sunshine on Leith'

Tom 1860 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 05, 2021 6:09 am

pruitt2 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 04, 2021 2:08 pm Such memories...

Easter Road (Hibernian) - Edinburgh

Have wanted to go to Easter road for many years, for two odd reasons:

In Ian Rankin's Rebus novels (of which I am a bit of a fan), the protagonist is a Hibs fan and it would be cool to join in with the singing of 'Sunshine on Leith'

I was there for a game in 1992, before they renovated the place.

What a dump! Crumbling terrace, horrible washrooms, food you wouldn't leave out for a raccoon. Maybe 5,000 people there for a game against Motherwell. Old guy I walked to the stadium with assured me that it would be a bad game because it always was when Hibs played Motherwell.

A Scottish Nostradamus. 0-0 final with no memorable plays, and no real singing or atmosphere at all.

Had a great time though - there were more than a few bottles in the stands that day!

pruitt2 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 05, 2021 8:34 am

Tom 1860 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 05, 2021 6:09 am

pruitt2 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 04, 2021 2:08 pm Such memories...

Easter Road (Hibernian) - Edinburgh

Have wanted to go to Easter road for many years, for two odd reasons:

In Ian Rankin's Rebus novels (of which I am a bit of a fan), the protagonist is a Hibs fan and it would be cool to join in with the singing of 'Sunshine on Leith'

I was there for a game in 1992, before they renovated the place.

What a dump! Crumbling terrace, horrible washrooms, food you wouldn't leave out for a raccoon. Maybe 5,000 people there for a game against Motherwell. Old guy I walked to the stadium with assured me that it would be a bad game because it always was when Hibs played Motherwell.

A Scottish Nostradamus. 0-0 final with no memorable plays, and no real singing or atmosphere at all.

Had a great time though - there were more than a few bottles in the stands that day!

Sounds delightful, no worse than getting pissed on as a small child in the East terrace of the National Stadium watching Wales play rugby...

Tom 1860 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:57 pm So, college football stadiums or rivalries, who do I need to see play and where before the great defensive tackle up above breaks my starting stretch?

I have seen UT play in Austin, so where does that rank?

Also, having seen the Steelers play in the snow (which was amazing), I feel that watching the Bills or Eagles play in the snow is a must...

I went to a Bills game with windchill at -28 F, would not recommend. That was Rich Stadium, also went to Ralph Wilson. They looked eerily similar.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Mon Dec 06, 2021 8:12 am

Tom 1860 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:57 pm So, college football stadiums or rivalries, who do I need to see play and where before the great defensive tackle up above breaks my starting stretch?

I have seen UT play in Austin, so where does that rank?

Also, having seen the Steelers play in the snow (which was amazing), I feel that watching the Bills or Eagles play in the snow is a must...

I went to a Bills game with windchill at -28 F, would not recommend. That was Rich Stadium, also went to Ralph Wilson. They looked eerily similar.

Ha! Same shit hole.

I was there for the coldest game in Bills history against the Raiders. That was where I developed my theory that the colder it is, the more guys pull their shirts off during the game.

Tom 1860 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:57 pm So, college football stadiums or rivalries, who do I need to see play and where before the great defensive tackle up above breaks my starting stretch?

I have seen UT play in Austin, so where does that rank?

Also, having seen the Steelers play in the snow (which was amazing), I feel that watching the Bills or Eagles play in the snow is a must...

A night SEC game at LSU is the answer.

pruitt2 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 06, 2021 10:04 am

The Sybian wrote: ↑Mon Dec 06, 2021 8:12 am

Tom 1860 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:57 pm So, college football stadiums or rivalries, who do I need to see play and where before the great defensive tackle up above breaks my starting stretch?

I have seen UT play in Austin, so where does that rank?

Also, having seen the Steelers play in the snow (which was amazing), I feel that watching the Bills or Eagles play in the snow is a must...

I went to a Bills game with windchill at -28 F, would not recommend. That was Rich Stadium, also went to Ralph Wilson. They looked eerily similar.

Ha! Same shit hole.

I was there for the coldest game in Bills history against the Raiders. That was where I developed my theory that the colder it is, the more guys pull their shirts off during the game.

I know it's the same hole in the ground (literally), I didn't realize it's changed names so many times since I was there. A couple of my friends met us at the game coming back from a bachelor party in Canada. Another friend wasn't going to the game, so I left him keys to my car and pre-ordained a spot to park. Pre-cell phones, and he never found my car. Fortunately we found him and his little brother outside the stadium after the game, huddled around a burning garbage can to stay warm. Being college morons, he was outside in a light Spring-weight jacket and docksiders with no socks. Again, -28 windchill for 3 hours. We were all laughing at him, but he must have been close to hypothermia. I was trying to think why he needed my car instead of the car he came in, but I remembered they came in a 80's Chevy Suburban, so we needed the seats to fit everyone. That was by far the worst vehicle I've ever driven.

There is something pretty special about watching sport in mad weather...

My brother went to Twickenham (England's national Rugby Union stadium, with a capacity of something like 75,000) many moons ago with his girlfriend (now wife) to watch the Middlesex Seven's rugby tournament.

There was a thunder storm throughout the first day of the tournament, that for some reason led to mass streaking. Seemingly endless, hundreds of men and women running naked across the pitch at various points throughout.

The tournament is well known for the odd inebriated streaking moment, but this was tackle out madness.

This morning...



Watched a lot of bad (and sometime good) football from those stands.

Never not amazing

This story came up about a possible Sonics expansion team:

Next step in NBA’s return to Seattle? Oak View Group planning Las Vegas arena in hope of league expansion

And this stuck out to me:

The announcement Wednesday that OVG had acquired 25 acres of land just south of the Las Vegas Strip upon which to build a privately financed, $3 billion entertainment and retail district — including the arena, a casino and a hotel — prompted speculation about NBA plans. It’s been only five years since the opening of T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, and it’s typically viewed as impossible for two all-private professional sports arenas to survive in the same market.

Are they really going to build another all-new arena in Las Vegas? Why couldn't an NBA expansion team play in the T-Mobile Arena?

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Thu Mar 31, 2022 11:54 am This story came up about a possible Sonics expansion team:

Next step in NBA’s return to Seattle? Oak View Group planning Las Vegas arena in hope of league expansion

And this stuck out to me:

The announcement Wednesday that OVG had acquired 25 acres of land just south of the Las Vegas Strip upon which to build a privately financed, $3 billion entertainment and retail district — including the arena, a casino and a hotel — prompted speculation about NBA plans. It’s been only five years since the opening of T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, and it’s typically viewed as impossible for two all-private professional sports arenas to survive in the same market.

Are they really going to build another all-new arena in Las Vegas? Why couldn't an NBA expansion team play in the T-Mobile Arena?

There's no good reason though remember that AEG is part-owner of T-Mobile so that could be an issue.

I don't think you can apply the conventional wisdom about how successful another arena might or might not be in Vegas especially if it had an anchor tenant like an NBA team. Right now, Las Vegas is the only city in the world with five arenas of 8,500 capacity or more within two miles of each other (Thomas & Mack, Michelob Ultra Arena (Mandalay/LV Aces), MGM Grand Garden Arena, T-Mobile Arena (VGK/UFC) and Orleans Arena). There's a new 18,000 seat arena opening at the end of the year behind the Venetian and then possibly this one as well, but all of them stay fairly busy between concerts, sports and occasional private events.

Baltimore has good reason to still be pissed about losing the Colts*, as it was 12 years before they got football back. Seattle has been without basketball for 13 seasons and counting.










*The Colts have now spent more time in Indianapolis than in Baltimore. Don't tell Barry Levinson

brian wrote: ↑Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:20 pm Las Vegas is the only city in the world with five arenas of 8,500 capacity or more within two miles of each other

This sounds utterly ridiculous, but if they're all functioning and making money, good for them. I don't think that model would work in Pittsburgh, but it's a slightly different cultural landscape here. At least, that's what I've read.

The thought of building another full-size NBA/NHL arena is still maddening, tho.

bapo! wrote: ↑Thu Mar 31, 2022 4:34 pm

brian wrote: ↑Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:20 pm Las Vegas is the only city in the world with five arenas of 8,500 capacity or more within two miles of each other

This sounds utterly ridiculous, but if they're all functioning and making money, good for them. I don't think that model would work in Pittsburgh, but it's a slightly different cultural landscape here. At least, that's what I've read.

The thought of building another full-size NBA/NHL arena is still maddening, tho.

Would be all private money so at that point I definitely don’t care. Build an arena on every block. Las Vegas is a definitely a different beast. I know the NCAA is discussing playing the entire women’s hoops Sweet 16 and Elite 8 rounds in Las Vegas which is probably the only city that could pull it off.

Another bit of crazy Vegas trivia that I’ve shared before is that the corner of Las Vegas Bvld and Tropicana Ave alone has more hotel rooms than the entire city of San Francisco.