B1G Stadium Rankings (AthlonSports.com)

Submitted by Ron_Lippitt on
Admittedly, I don't know a whole lot about Athlon Sports, or their ability to credibly rank anything college football related. However, I find it hilarious that any reasonable sports magazine could compile a list of the top stadiums to watch a football game in the country -- let alone the B1G -- and position Michigan Stadium at Number Five, behind both Nebraska and Penn St. This cannot be serious.

http://btn.com/2013/06/13/athlon-where-does-your-big-ten-stadium-rank/

My unbiased ranking factoring in fan total experience is:

1. Michigan Stadium

2. Ohio Stadium

3. Camp Randall Stadium

4. Beaver Stadium

5. Kinnick Stadium

6. Spartan Stadium

7. Memorial Stadium (Nebraska)

8. Ross-Ade Stadium

9. TCF Bank Stadium

10. Memorial Stadium (Indiana)

11. Ryan Field

12. Memorial Stadium (Illinois)

Btw -- for those of you who have the opportunity to choose between attending a game at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, or go with your wife to shop for linens at Bed, Bath & Beyond -- that's seriously a toss-up.

BeatOSU52

June 13th, 2013 at 9:40 PM ^

My personal opinion but I would say since about 2005 to present, there has been a much better effort as a whole to make Michigan Stadium louder (or less qiuet if you want to put it that way) than it used to be.    I don't think it's near as quiet as some non-Michigan fans claim it is.

E. Gordon Gee

June 13th, 2013 at 5:16 PM ^

I agree with him. I think he has a pretty good list on hand in terms of stadium rankings. I can't argue for or against Michigan being 5th since I haven't been there yet (maybe this year?), but it would be interesting to know if these rankings were made with the renovations at Michigan in mind. Several people I know have previously said it doesn't get loud in the Big House but with the renovations aver its gotten a lot better and enjoyed their gameday experience. Of course this isn't the only metric used to evaluate a stadium or gameday experience* as traditions, tailgating, restaurants and more all factor in. I've been to 5 of 12 Big Ten Stadiums (Ohio State, Purdue, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa) and I think Camp Randall may be the best of the ones I've visited. 

*In addition to this, another metric I personally use that is left out is running/biking paths. You can't beat running along Lake Mandota in Madison early in the morning...

Perkis-Size Me

June 13th, 2013 at 7:14 PM ^

I know this is all pretty subjective, but come on man, Nebraska Memorial Stadium is worlds better than Kinnick or Spartan Stadium. I know its not the loudest, but as far as the overall package goes, I'd put Nebraska top 3 with UM and OSU.

HELLE

June 13th, 2013 at 7:49 PM ^

Based on their criteria of fans and game day experience, I think their rankings are pretty accurate. If you are talking just the best stadium. Michigan wins hands down.

HELLE

June 13th, 2013 at 7:59 PM ^

is right up their with Nebraska. Both should be in the top five. You are right on top of the field at Kinnick. Both have great fans but Nebraska is a pain to exit. They have one exit for every 4 sections. It took forever to get out of there.

chewieblue

June 13th, 2013 at 10:32 PM ^

We all love the Big House, but it is FAR less hostile than Ohio, Happy Valley, Camp Randall, Kinnick and Lincoln.  If they were ranking it on how enthusastic/hateful the fans are toward the enemy, I could see us in sixth.

For overall venue, surroundings, tradition and experience... of course we are #1.

Really though, who has time to give a shit about rankings like this?

energyblue1

June 14th, 2013 at 11:17 AM ^

What are their measures though? 

 

IMO the measure should be for 3 types of games... 

#1 Biggest Rival game, what is the atmosphere or what ever the biggest game every year is....

#2  What is the normal atmosphere for a conference game, the avg game say iowa or northwestern, solid opponent.

#3  What is it for the gimme games....   is the place dead or are the fans still rocking.....

 

Pennst has the best atmosphere for a big night game, and imho that is best in the country.  That said, I think Michigan's night game for ND was better than Osu's big night game for Texas or Usc... that said, Osu has a great atmosphere and nobody can deny that.

I will say this, Pennst has the most fun fans in cf, I have been around them for games at Michigan and seen them at Happy Valley and they have a good time.  Osu fans are just overall pissy either way...  good atmosphere but man they live and die with each individual play... and their games against bad opponents that place is a tomb...and most are.

 

Michigan  #1, osu/nd  environment is entirely different, namely osu... far more intense for a home game against either of these teams.  #2  Very middle of the pack in the bigten for an avg home game...crowd gets loud for 3rd downs and intimidating but why not on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and even 4th down...  Seriously...      Osu/nd crowd is intense every play, every down....but not for the avg team....         #3   Lets never play eastern again...nobody wants that game and fans barely stand for the victors...   I don't care what they say, in 2007 the attendance was not 100,000, I would put it closer to 80,000..........so middle of the pac of bigten teams here as well.

 

Michigan, basically for Big games....   is up with Pennst, and Ohio st for best envirionments....for #2 and 3 avg about #5.... 

 

Bigten overall

#1 big game environment..  Pennst, Michigan, Ohiost and Nebraska as tops...

#2 avg conf opponents      Wisconsin, Pennst, Ohio st, Nebraska, Michigan, Iowa in order...

#3 Wisconsin, Nebraska, Pennst, Ohio st, Michigan, Iowa....

 

Jmo but those are the order and it changes based upon opponent... Measureing Pennst's biggest night game to a noon game for michigan against iowa is not a measurement of environment...    Otherwise just compare same game situations...