OT: Worst sporting venues?
Since the OT season is winding down, what are some of the worst sporting venues you've been to or know of?
Obviously ones in Columbus and other B1G cities will be mentioned. This is more specifically for ones outside those awful places.
Joe Louis Arena is turrible. Every seat I sit in, something is wrong with it. Sat down by the glass at the 2013 CCHA Playoff Semifinals and the chair I was in was essentially a rocking chair.
I've seen some amazing Michigan Hockey moments there, but gosh damn that place is just a dump. I have a feeling the B1G selected a rotating tournament that includes Detroit because of the new arena coming.
August 23rd, 2014 at 10:28 PM ^
There's no worse place to watch a game in college football than the upper deck of Spartan Stadium. Players look like ants, it takes an hour to get out of it, there are two bathrooms for the entire thing (conveniently placed at the ends, with one little door in and out)... God forbid it rains, or it's windy...
August 23rd, 2014 at 11:57 PM ^
August 24th, 2014 at 10:52 PM ^
You just described my feelings about Ohio Stadium. By a factor of many, the most obnoxious bunch of assholes at any venue I have ever visited.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:19 PM ^
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August 23rd, 2014 at 8:21 PM ^
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:21 PM ^
For basketball, the Silverdome was the worst. For baseball, I thought Comiskey and RFK were terrible and I hate the new Comiskey.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:23 PM ^
The Cell is basically Comerica if they built it completely above-ground. It's pretty much the worst to have to walk up a thousand flights of stairs to get to your seat, but once you're insice, it's not terrible.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:42 PM ^
not a fan of the vertical seating
August 23rd, 2014 at 11:04 PM ^
But then, I've always had great seats in a club box, and never been in the Upper Balcony.
August 24th, 2014 at 12:20 AM ^
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August 24th, 2014 at 8:14 AM ^
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August 23rd, 2014 at 8:22 PM ^
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:37 PM ^
Spartan Stadium SUCKS. I sat in the upper deck section 105 for last year's game and I was amazed with how outdated the concourse/ramps/bathrooms are.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:41 PM ^
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:56 PM ^
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:04 PM ^
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:43 PM ^
August 23rd, 2014 at 11:08 PM ^
August 24th, 2014 at 1:09 PM ^
But . . . but . . . but, the play in the SEC. A loss there is like a win everywhere else.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:43 PM ^
Before the convo it was a joke.
August 24th, 2014 at 10:17 PM ^
It wasn't pretending to be anything it wasn't. I dated an EMU student while at UM and attended a few games in the Earl Boykins/Derrick Dial years. I had a good time, but it was very much like a really big high school gymn.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:45 PM ^
The Arena Auditorium's (where Wyoming plays basketball) video/audio system is the most laughable system of its sort in sports at that level. The atmosphere is actually pretty awesome, but when the starting lineups music (Alan Parsons, Bulls crap) started I let out a rather loud laugh amid silence by the fans.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:48 PM ^
August 24th, 2014 at 10:48 PM ^
I guess you're not allowed to consider the vile mob that inhabits Ohio Stadium?
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:48 PM ^
Northwestern's bball arena, old crisler circa 2005, Ross Ade stadium, and any MSU venue now that Breslin's getting run down.
August 24th, 2014 at 5:05 PM ^
rundown? Its still one of the top arena's in the league. Nothing fancy, just basketball, the way its supposed to be.
August 24th, 2014 at 11:39 PM ^
Breslin is starting to look dated, especially the concourses. I think it's just middle-of-the-pack in the B1G now. Crisler is definitely nicer now.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:50 PM ^
Also, I believe we have the best facilities in the big ten. Ohio loses points for hockey and PSU loses points for bball.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:52 PM ^
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August 23rd, 2014 at 8:54 PM ^
August 24th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
for an indoor stadium, thought they did a pretty good job. houston too. toronto on the other hand, is terrible.
the tailgaiting at miller is the way to go.
August 23rd, 2014 at 8:58 PM ^
I could not stand baseball in either of those venues.
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:00 PM ^
As far as college venues, I gotta go with Spartan Stadium, what a pile of concrete garbage. And if you're in the upper deck, forget about seeing your car until at least an hour after the game. Illinois' stadium was pretty gross when I went too, but they were renovating at the time.
I haven't been to as many pro places, but the old Mellon arena where the Penguins played was a special kind of weird. We sat under the upper deck in the end zone and couldn't see the scoreboard.
And personally, I've always liked the Joe. Mostly because I have so many great memories there (Red Wings and Michigan) and to me, it represents all the hockey rinks I grew up playing in - no frills, no luxury, gross bathrooms, odd hockey smell. It has served its purpose and I'm excited about the new rink, but a part of me will miss the simplicity of the Joe.
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:04 PM ^
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:14 PM ^
Was one of the nastiest places I've been to see a baseball game. 0/10 would not do again
August 24th, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:37 PM ^
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:37 PM ^
August 23rd, 2014 at 10:03 PM ^
August 23rd, 2014 at 9:55 PM ^
August 24th, 2014 at 1:12 PM ^
We won the '89 Hoops NC there. It will always be beautiful to me.
August 24th, 2014 at 10:42 PM ^
was there in '89, worst ever.
August 23rd, 2014 at 10:04 PM ^
August 23rd, 2014 at 11:12 PM ^
I've turned down several tickets at Wrigley. It is an old dump, with the team having the worst futility of any in Major League Baseball, last winning in 1908. What is particularly annoying is all the drunk yuppie fans in their 20's. The location is good, being in a neighborhood on the North Side. But the location is always bad, because of all the people who go to Wrigley for the experience, the ambiance, and not for the game.
This is kind of a pet peeve of mine. Don't ask me to go to a game with someone who has minimal interest in watching the game. I'm fine with breaking in kids who are learning the game. But going with someone who mostly wants to talk, to people watch, to eat food, to see and be seen, just isn't for me.
The flip side is true too. If the game is good, and I'm with others who enjoy a good game, I really don't care where I am watching it.
August 24th, 2014 at 8:44 AM ^
August 24th, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^
i'm more of a baseball purest, so i can find positives out of the worst teams/games. you never know what can happen. you might see the greatest catch ever, even in a horrible game.
case and point - about 12 years ago, i went to yankee stadium to watch the yanks/phils. the phillies were killing the yankees. it was like 8-1 going into the ninth. probably only a few thousand fans left; including me and my friend. the yankees came back and won. they said it was the biggest comeback since the mickey mantle days.
i was so happy that most of those arrogant yankee fans missed it.
btw - those old yankee hot dogs using a slice of wonder bread were awful.
August 23rd, 2014 at 10:18 PM ^
Just awful for baseball.
But for football? I'd take it over Heinz Field any day.
Not many good comments have ever been made about Three Rivers, Riverfront in Cinci, or the Vet in Philadelphia. Those cookie cutter stadiums didn't last long.
August 24th, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^
all those are bad. but 3 rivers seemed slightly worse to me...for baseball. though i did see a washed up bob walk throw a one-hit shutout.
August 24th, 2014 at 1:17 PM ^
You have to judge them by what came before them. When the Phillies went from Connie Mack which was very old and run down to the new Vet, it was dazzling at the time.
Everything was new and bright and "space age" which still meant something at the time. It was a big deal to go to a Phillies game in the new Vet if you were a kid.
August 23rd, 2014 at 10:24 PM ^