Ranking of SEC Facilities

[woo_pig_sooie]

Here's an article about S. Carolina's renovations and a little bit about Arkansas' current facilities.

The article goes on to rank the facilities in each sports. Pretty good read.

http://www.thestateonline.com/news/pdfs/060719_secempire.pdf

[The Ramp]

i've only been to three baseball stadiums and there's no way Ole Miss or MSU has better facilities than Alex Box

[the Prodigy]

I'm wondering when they are going to renovate Donald W. Reynolds Stadium again. I think that they will if Arkansas continues to do well. They can't just keep setting up bleachers behind the North Endzone and South Upper deck and continue to meet the facilities standards they have set for themselves. Pretty much every sports facility on campus is as good as it gets, including the ones provided for the student population.

[AU Blaaaaaaaake]

Auburn's facilities are going to be making a major climb up the ladder soon, with brand new athletic dorms, indoor practice facility, and gym being built. Throw in the new Basketball stadium.. gonna be nice.

[DEHIII]

i've only been to three baseball stadiums and there's no way Ole Miss or MSU has better facilities than Alex Box

Now I haven't been to Alex Box and have only seen it from the outside. However my neighbor/former fraternity brother who is an LSU fan (yes he went to UA but still ranks LSU #1) has told me that the Box is pretty crappy. It has its charm and stuff but that it is not a great facility. He is quite happy with them building Alex Box II. BTW, I have seen the renderings and that place is going to be awesome.

Anyway, correct me if I am wrong about this, which I probably am. As for Alabama's baseball stadium, IMO it is a hunk of junk with no character or charm whatsoever. I wish we would tear down the Joe and start anew. :brick:

[MSUBULLY]

i've only been to three baseball stadiums and there's no way Ole Miss or MSU has better facilities than Alex Box

You have never been to Dudy Noble Field then. It is consistently rated as one of the best places to watch college baseball we have the largest crowds by far and the best game day experience. NO ONE is even close to MSU in Baseball.

[The Ramp]

You have never been to Dudy Noble Field then. It is consistently rated as one of the best places to watch college baseball we have the largest crowds by far and the best game day experience. NO ONE is even close to MSU in Baseball.

you obviously never been to Alex Box where they have led the nation in attendance for 10-odd years, has been rated one of the best places to watch college baseball, and has FAR better game day experience. and I've been to MSU's stadium a LOT. i'm not dissing it, but LSU's gameday is much better. I always pull for State when LSU's not playing them.

[The Ramp]

Now I haven't been to Alex Box and have only seen it from the outside. However my neighbor/former fraternity brother who is an LSU fan (yes he went to UA but still ranks LSU #1) has told me that the Box is pretty crappy. It has its charm and stuff but that it is not a great facility. He is quite happy with them building Alex Box II. BTW, I have seen the renderings and that place is going to be awesome.

Anyway, correct me if I am wrong about this, which I probably am. As for Alabama's baseball stadium, IMO it is a hunk of junk with no character or charm whatsoever. I wish we would tear down the Joe and start anew. :brick:

i'm not argueing this. Alex Box is out-dated and needs to be renovated for sure. but we sucked last year and still packed in the crowds. we still have the best food, best fans, and best tailgating. this isn't my opinion, but visiting fans have told me this. i'm excited for our new stadium, but the old one isn't THAT bad.

[DEHIII]

i'm not argueing this. Alex Box is out-dated and needs to be renovated for sure. but we sucked last year and still packed in the crowds. we still have the best food, best fans, and best tailgating. this isn't my opinion, but visiting fans have told me this. i'm excited for our new stadium, but the old one isn't THAT bad.

Well I think you have the reason why Alex Box was rated lower. It is about the pure facility not necessarily the other activities that go along with it (food, tailgating, festive atmosphere, etc). I also don't think attendance would come into play when talking about facility. If you were talking atmosphere and stuff, then that would come into it.

When I think facilities I think how they look asthetically (sp?), the modern aminities they have available for the players (such as the condition of the locker room, tvs, etc), and practice facilities within the ball park. I don't consider how many people come into the stadium, who has the best food, best fans, or best tailgating outside of the place. That would come into play if we were talking the best game day experience.

[The Ramp]

Well I think you have the reason why Alex Box was rated lower. It is about the pure facility not necessarily the other activities that go along with it (food, tailgating, festive atmosphere, etc). I also don't think attendance would come into play when talking about facility. If you were talking atmosphere and stuff, then that would come into it.

When I think facilities I think how they look asthetically (sp?), the modern aminities they have available for the players (such as the condition of the locker room, tvs, etc), and practice facilities within the ball park. I don't consider how many people come into the stadium, who has the best food, best fans, or best tailgating outside of the place. That would come into play if we were talking the best game day experience.

if that's the case, there's no way Tiger Stadium can be #1 based on pure facilities. it's ancient and built around old dorm rooms. the seating is all benches in the endzone. we have nice luxury boxes but the nose bleed seats hurt my eyes. and the new facade on the new upper deck is hideous. Tiger Stadium is more about the intangibles than appearance IMO

[the Prodigy]

you obviously never been to Alex Box where they have led the nation in attendance for 10-odd years, has been rated one of the best places to watch college baseball, and has FAR better game day experience. and I've been to MSU's stadium a LOT. i'm not dissing it, but LSU's gameday is much better. I always pull for State when LSU's not playing them.

Except of course for this year. Arkansas led the nation in attendance..... in baseball. Arkansas also has the largest Baseball stadium, and according to the above study, the nicest as well.

[WarEagle73]

I know this has been brought up off and on for the last 15 years but I would really like to see Auburn wrap the upper deck around the north end zone.

[the Prodigy]

I know this has been brought up off and on for the last 15 years but I would really like to see Auburn wrap the upper deck around the north end zone.

How much would that increase the capacity by? I know that there is only one way Arkansas does anything like that, and that is if they can put butts in the seats. I'm not trying to start anything. But that is question number one when thinking about those types of things. Is it practical?

[Smithian]

As for the facilities themselves, I have to rank all three of our major sport facilities number one or close to.

Basketball is the best overall facility in the conference ignoring traditon, where is number 2 in the SEC to Kentucky. Both ways, it is Top 5 in the nation.

Football is an NFL type facilitiy. The endzone bleachers are ugly, but there were added to handle extra crowds. There are actual plans drawn up for when needed to close the endzone. It would bring up the total amount of seating to over 80,000, but our football program right now isn't prepared to meet the expectations needed to fill up 80,000 seats. I think it will happen with the next coaching group after two back-to-back seasons like this last one. The Jumbotron is the second biggest in the nation.

Our baseball facility is EASILY the best in the nation. Lead the nation in attendance per game. Also the best overall facility in the nation. Many minor league teams would die for Baum Stadium.

Our track facility is also extremely nice.

That thing won't load for me. I am stuck on dial up for this week.

[the Prodigy]

I'd imagine that it would be more than 8,000 more seats if they closed in the North Endzone. I'm thinking they could easily make DWR a 100,000 seat stadium (not that they could fill it right now). Arkansas already has more box seats than any other SEC school, they wouldn't need to add more, that is the only reason there aren't more seats in the South endzone. Although they would have to put that Jumbo screen somewhere.... the thing is bigger than most school's weight rooms.

[The Ramp]

Except of course for this year. Arkansas led the nation in attendance..... in baseball. Arkansas also has the largest Baseball stadium, and according to the above study, the nicest as well.

i think ya'll broke our 12 year record..bastards

[the Prodigy]

i think ya'll broke our 12 year record..bastards

Ha.... I expect it to continue.... People get in their head they need to be loyal....I'm not a baseball fan, but people around here are crazy about it, College and now HOT minor league....

All I want is to beat LSU ONE MOTHER F-ING TIME.... in Death Valley.... attendance aside.

[The Ramp]

Ha.... I expect it to continue.... People get in their head they need to be loyal....I'm not a baseball fan, but people around here are crazy about it, College and now HOT minor league....

All I want is to beat LSU ONE MOTHER F-ING TIME.... in Death Valley.... attendance aside.


baseball has been huge here since the 90's. i go to all the games, but i'm not a baseball guy either. i go for the tailgating really. i don't even know the rules. but, it's fun to sit with 7,000 of you closest friends.

[Tider27]

So I'm guessing these rankings were made before our full renovations?

Most fans will agree we're near the top now. I mean stepping outside of being a Alabama fan, I think BDS looks incredible.

[WarEagle73]

How much would that increase the capacity by? I know that there is only one way Arkansas does anything like that, and that is if they can put butts in the seats. I'm not trying to start anything. But that is question number one when thinking about those types of things. Is it practical?


It would depend on what they would do with the north end-zone. If they add a bunch of box seats with some regular seating on top it would probably add maybe between 2000 to 5000 (I'm guessing). Closing the north end-zone upper deck would put JHS anywhere between 92,000 - 98,000 seats. My main reason for wanting this expansion is simple...If they did expand JHS then we'd no longer be able to put the Tennessee Techs of the college football world and other cream puffs on the schedule due to the fact they would not be able to get enough people to come and see Auburn beat up on a clearly inferior opponent. I like the fact that we have Kansas State & South Florida coming to Auburn and will have West Virginia come in a couple years. Hopefully they will notice that when teams such as these come to town the stadium is packed and then compare that to how many butts are in the seats when we play the little guys.

[DEHIII]

baseball has been huge here since the 90's. i go to all the games, but i'm not a baseball guy either. i go for the tailgating really. i don't even know the rules. but, it's fun to sit with 7,000 of you closest friends.

I love college baseball, especially going to the games. Now if the SEC would allow beer to be served. When I go to the Alabama game, I hang out beyond right field (i.e. outside the stadium) and watch inside. That way we can grill or whatever and drink. I wish Alabama would bring in some dirt and set up the outfield like what MSU has going on. :brick:

[woo_pig_sooie]

At Baum, people are allowed to drink whatever they want (as long as it's in a cup) in the outfield.
Needless to say, it's very popular with the students.

[Smithian]

The Hog Pen in the outfield has grills, beer is allowed, and a hot tub.

Also, I can't find a good picture, but this year, luxury boxes were added completely down both sides.

The stadium is about as good as it can get unless your're an AAA team.

[Cockfan720]

Here's an article about S. Carolina's renovations and a little bit about Arkansas' current facilities.

The article goes on to rank the facilities in each sports. Pretty good read.

http://www.thestateonline.com/news/pdfs/060719_secempire.pdf

SC is pretty far behind in most of those categories (besides Basketball...which I don't understand why, cuz we have such a sucky basketball program Dave COUGH COUGH Odom)...but I look for us to take some leaps here in the next decade...with the expansion of our football stadium, brand new baseball facility, a brand new athletic hall of fame, and a brand new athletic learning center

thanks spurrier!!