Best B1G West stadium for a game (other than Kinnick)
- Thread starter Vroom_C14
- Start date
Madison obviously.
Hate to say it all others in the west suck. Lincoln is a death trap.
Hopefully that was tongue in cheek because otherwise you are talking about a stadium that is more FCS than D1.
I think all the stadiums in the West have their own unique attributes and touch to them.
The ones I don't like just so happen to be the ones that are rarely ever filled. Indiana, Purdue, and Northwestern.
Purdue's is essentially a mini horseshoe now with that one section they knocked out, and reduced the capacity to mid-major level, but with a near-replica of Iowa's press box (although I think theirs was built first)......
Indiana's is decent, if not oddly shaped, although the giant walls separating the fans from the field level at certain points seems unnecessary. And then there's the tremendous fan support......
Northwestern is the worst mostly because of its ridiculous shape and the fact that good teams will average at least 30% of the attendance, if not more, every time. The main difference between them and Indiana is that nobody shows up at Indiana. Northwestern still has Chicago going for it.
Minnesota's is nice but it will always feel like they held back. Given that they don't often sell it out anyways, I suppose it doesn't matter, but that stadium just looks like it should hold much more than it does.
Nebraska's stadium is a behemoth, but the fact that it's Nebraska kind of ruins it. Plus their tailgating scene isn't the greatest. There's a reason why their fans travel so well....
Wisconsin's is probably the best (next to Iowa of course
). Top notch tailgating and plenty of seating, although they also manage to fill it up pretty well, too. Winning helps that, of course.....
Lastly is Illinois. Don't want to forget about them. Their remodeled stadium is nice, but they've never had a formidable home-field advantage. The 2000s have also not been that kind to the Illini. It's also an absolute joke that Illinois got the #1 party school. That's not bitterness about Iowa being #2. It has more to do with the fact that there are several schools just within the midwest that are better places to have a good time than Illinois. But Princeton's pencil-pushing data suggests otherwise.........leave it to the nerds to decide.
The ones I don't like just so happen to be the ones that are rarely ever filled. Indiana, Purdue, and Northwestern.
Purdue's is essentially a mini horseshoe now with that one section they knocked out, and reduced the capacity to mid-major level, but with a near-replica of Iowa's press box (although I think theirs was built first)......
Indiana's is decent, if not oddly shaped, although the giant walls separating the fans from the field level at certain points seems unnecessary. And then there's the tremendous fan support......
Northwestern is the worst mostly because of its ridiculous shape and the fact that good teams will average at least 30% of the attendance, if not more, every time. The main difference between them and Indiana is that nobody shows up at Indiana. Northwestern still has Chicago going for it.
Minnesota's is nice but it will always feel like they held back. Given that they don't often sell it out anyways, I suppose it doesn't matter, but that stadium just looks like it should hold much more than it does.
Nebraska's stadium is a behemoth, but the fact that it's Nebraska kind of ruins it. Plus their tailgating scene isn't the greatest. There's a reason why their fans travel so well....
Wisconsin's is probably the best (next to Iowa of course
). Top notch tailgating and plenty of seating, although they also manage to fill it up pretty well, too. Winning helps that, of course.....Lastly is Illinois. Don't want to forget about them. Their remodeled stadium is nice, but they've never had a formidable home-field advantage. The 2000s have also not been that kind to the Illini. It's also an absolute joke that Illinois got the #1 party school. That's not bitterness about Iowa being #2. It has more to do with the fact that there are several schools just within the midwest that are better places to have a good time than Illinois. But Princeton's pencil-pushing data suggests otherwise.........leave it to the nerds to decide.
The best road trips this year are Madison and Evanston. Indiana is a drive. I'd disagree with Thunder about the unfilled stadiums. I like them as I get to sit immediately behind the Iowa bench. Which is pretty revealing as you are able to watch and listen to the coaching staff, and also players, especially their body language.
I have no issue with Lincoln, but the overall college football experience lacks something as it is in the middle of downtown, and the fans are spread out. Frankly, Maryland had a more "classic" feel to me. Nice fall day, and a nice walk through a pretty campus to the stadium.
I also don't have an issue with going to Ames. For the most part, the fans their aren't all bad. That game hust draws out drunken douche bags from both sides, and if you can avoid them, it is tolerable.
The other thing I like about away games is that I don't need to listen to certain Iowa fans talking about how we pulled guards, and should switch to a spread for the next series of downs. As a general rule, those that travel to Iowa games, at least in my experience, have a smidge more football knowledge. Or at least understand even if they're stupid, they should endeavor to not sound stupid.
I've been to all the away stadiums except Rutgers and PSU.
My opinion only. I don't really tailgate any more, and gave up KS parking at home several seasons ago. I'll stop in Covington on the trips to Illinois and Purdue for dinner at The Beef House (which has gone downhill from previous years). Evanston allows me several choices of places to get USDA Prime beef and seafood, as well as a couple of cigar lounges I enjoy in that area. Madison is easy for me to go and come home in the same day. Lincoln is a boring drive. tOSU and Michigan are great football environments, with adequate and easy parking. The trip to Michigan and MSU, predicated on time of the year are pretty. So are the trips to bot PSU and Maryland.
I have no issue with Lincoln, but the overall college football experience lacks something as it is in the middle of downtown, and the fans are spread out. Frankly, Maryland had a more "classic" feel to me. Nice fall day, and a nice walk through a pretty campus to the stadium.
I also don't have an issue with going to Ames. For the most part, the fans their aren't all bad. That game hust draws out drunken douche bags from both sides, and if you can avoid them, it is tolerable.
The other thing I like about away games is that I don't need to listen to certain Iowa fans talking about how we pulled guards, and should switch to a spread for the next series of downs. As a general rule, those that travel to Iowa games, at least in my experience, have a smidge more football knowledge. Or at least understand even if they're stupid, they should endeavor to not sound stupid.
I've been to all the away stadiums except Rutgers and PSU.
My opinion only. I don't really tailgate any more, and gave up KS parking at home several seasons ago. I'll stop in Covington on the trips to Illinois and Purdue for dinner at The Beef House (which has gone downhill from previous years). Evanston allows me several choices of places to get USDA Prime beef and seafood, as well as a couple of cigar lounges I enjoy in that area. Madison is easy for me to go and come home in the same day. Lincoln is a boring drive. tOSU and Michigan are great football environments, with adequate and easy parking. The trip to Michigan and MSU, predicated on time of the year are pretty. So are the trips to bot PSU and Maryland.
Lincoln is a blast because the people there are extremely welcoming and nice.. It caught me off guard the first time I went to a game there. Obviously Camp Randall is a blast too, but with many more ****head fans.
I don't disagree. A dichotomy. Decent fans (for the large part) at both Iowa State and Nebraska, but extremely dysfunctional message board posters.
Love the Hawks and IC, but they do game day right here in Madison, both at Camp Randall and downtown.
So how many ISU games have you been to as an Iowa fan?Some of the biggest aholes in CFB.
All of them in the Ferentz era. Some of their fans are pretty difficult ti listen to. No doubt about that. But so are some Iowa fans, and at the closer road games, and especially when we play at Soldier Field, a percentage of Iowa fans can be just as bad.
I went to games when Mac was there because he is a family friend but have no desire to go back there.
I'd like to check out Camp Randall. I've been through Madison for work, and I ended up at a polka bar drinking beer out of a glass boot. Great town that I'm sure is enhanced by football season. I also want to check out Minnesota's stadium. Looks cool on TV, and I've heard that there are some fun areas around campus.
That would be the Essen Haus. And if any of you are in town some time and the Hawks are on, the Iowa game watch bar near the Capitol is The Rigby. I watch most games there.
Essen Haus! Thanks LunchBox50. That place was fantastic. I'll definitely be going back there. I know what some of your are thinking, "A Polka Bar??" But I'm telling you, this place is amazing and you'll have a blast there. I don't travel that way as much anymore, but I'm hoping to make the trip next time the Huskers are up there (I come in peace, and for good B1G Football Discussion.) I'm actually headed to Lincoln for this years NU-Iowa game. It's my wife's first taste of B1G football. Happy that it will be against Iowa on Thanksgiving weekend.
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