Ranking the Stadiums of the MVFC [Archive]

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TheBisonator

July 14th, 2011, 05:11 PM

Just the MVFC teams for 2011, I didn't include USD yet. I have personally been to a couple other of these stadiums, I haven't been to them all, but I have looked at multiple pictures of each stadium online over the years.

I'm going to be highly critical of every stadium I list, so please don't construe this as smack.

1) Southern Illinois - Saluki Stadium. I wish the thing wasn't made of so much prefab steel, but I just LOVE the orientation that the seats are placed, and the fact it is the newest facility that contains all of the newest necessary bells and whistles means amenities at this place are most likely the best. Great looking new turf, awesome scoreboard, and the Saluki fans fill that place up for almost every game. I can't wait to watch NDSU play at this place (just online, though) this year.

2) North Dakota State - Fargodome. Not counting the fact that new lights are being put up now, and new turf is being put in next year, there is still a lot that can be improved from this place. The lack of a permanent team store at the facility really sucks. It just looks dingy from a lot of places due to the dark-shaded concrete, but I bet that the old lighting had a lot to do with that. It was built in a way that it can't be easily expanded, which sucks. The scoreboards are becoming outdated. The fans themselves can leave a lot to be desired a lot of times (knitters/book readers). Great aspects: best tailgating in the MVFC, probably top-5 in the FCS. Very convenient place for the players - Everything related to the team is located there. new locker room facilities, offices, training rooms, equipment room/laundry.

3) Youngstown State - Stambaugh Stadium. Too lopsided, that's the only complaint I have about this place. One side seats like 16,000+. but the other side only seats 4,000? What's the deal with that? Definitely the best press/club/suite level in the conference. Close competitor for 2nd with the Fargodome.

4) Northern Iowa - UNI Dome. A better version of the DakotaDome at USD, a more timid, older cousin of the Fargodome (if the FFD was round). Almost seems like the field is too close to the sidelines, as you can't even see the near sideline in some places. Great new scoreboard, great job constructing walkways all the way around the dome, and the fact that it connects to the McLeod Center adds to the place.

5) Missouri State - Plaster Field. Kind of shotty student side bleachers, but the main grandstand on the home side is awesome, and I really like the design. Nice new scoreboard, but I really do NOT like the design of the new student/club side. Something like that should not have the first row be so far up from the ground. I wish the home side was cloned and put on the visitors side.

6) Illinois State - Hancock Stadium. Good: Intimate surroundings, close to the field. Weird: Off-center press box. Bad: Visitor sidelines bleachers that are perched up on that berm. Kind of Michigan Tech-like. Room for improvement for this place, but it's a competative facility.

7) Western Illinois - Hanson Field. I've seen it on TV and online, looks just like the stadium of a rich suburban Chicago-area high school. Rebuilding half the place definitely helped. Hanson would be ahead of ISU Red's place with just a new pressbox. Addition of new field turf this summer makes WIU in competition for the 6th spot, but not right now.

8) Indiana State - Memorial Stadium. You guys took away one half of the stadium some time ago, and now it's just one-sided and usually only has a few thousand fans in it for a game. It's built better than SDSU's, so I put this one ahead of the Jacks' place.

9) South Dakota State - Coughlin-Alumni Stadium. Sorry Rabbits, I know that new end zone facility is nice and all, and you have probably the best scoreboard in the conference, but the state that your facility is in is just too much for a lot of football fans to handle. Those east side bleachers would be condemmed 15 years ago if they were located in Minnesota. Worst field surface in the conference also. I REALLY hope you guys start soon with your rebuild of that place.

Any other thoughts??

MSUBear42

July 15th, 2011, 10:14 AM

1) The Ice Castle- YSU's Stambaugh
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/youngstown-state-penguins-arnold-d-stambaugh-stadium/stadiumaerial.jpg
As far as one-sided stadiums go, Stambaugh is near the top.

2) Saluki Stadium- SIU
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/southern-illinois-salukis-mcandrews-stadium/salukistadiumsellout.jpg
MSU hasn't played there yet, but it sounds like they did a great job with this stadium.

3) Briggs Field at Plaster Sports Complex- MSU
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/missouri-state-bears-plaster-sports-complex/Missouri-State-2.jpg
We are lucky to have such a nice stadium for how bad we have been. The place can get loud if/when the crowds actually show up.

4) The Fargoshed- NDSU
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/north-dakota-state-bison-fargodome/Faroodome-3.jpg
Hear mixed reviews on the F'dome. Some say it's nice while others say it's getting run down, hard to argue with the crowds, though.

5) Hancock Stadium- ISU
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/illinois-state-redbirds-hancock-stadium/Hancock-Stadium-3.jpg
Went to a game here a while ago and really enjoyed it but ISU fans think it has gone way down hill.

6) UNI Dome- UNI
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/northern-iowa-panthers-uni-dome/1_lfr-3f3d3748d3dce8b1d3fc8bdf5d2e7603.jpg

7) C.A.S. -SDSU
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/south-dakota-state-jackrabbits-coughlin-alumni-stadium/cas.jpg
I was excited when they first joined the MVFC for this stadium, but I have heard a ton of complaints about how dilapidated it has gotten. I know when MSU played their first game at CAS there was standing water on the press box tables and dead bugs all over the place

8) Hanson Field- WIU
http://image.cdnl3.xosnetwork.com/pics15/640/MR/MRMOACGBLYYJONL.20071029192401.jpg
They put some money into it, but it still looks like a glorified HS stadium.

9) Memorial Stadium- ISU
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/indiana-state-sycamores-memorial-stadium/memorial-stadium-1.jpg
I don't think I need to explain why Memorial is last...

Twentysix

July 15th, 2011, 10:28 AM

SIU's field looks nice, just based on the pictures i would put that at #1.

I have only been to
Fargodome
Unidome and
CAS, And i would rank them in that order.

MSU Doesn't look like top 3 to me. Why is MSU so high?

WIU and MSU have the only tracks in the MVFC yuck.

1. SIU
2. Fargodome (It could use updates, but its not rundown in the least)
3. Ice castle
4. UNI Dome
5. Hancock (Appears to be a much more uniform sightline around the field)
6. Dakotadome
7. Briggs field
8. CAS (Visitor side is a pos, and the lack of cement almost everywhere in the entire parking facility/stadium is terrible mostly when raining)
9. Hanson Field
10. Memorial Stadium

If you are talking about playing surface I would assume the fargodome ranks towards the bottom atm.

Professor Chaos

July 15th, 2011, 10:33 AM

I've never been there so I'm honestly just asking but what's the great appeal of the Ice Castle? I've heard good things about it from a lot of old school Gateway conference folks but I've been unimpressed watching the Bison games there on TV. If you ask me, having never been to any of them, both SIU and MSU have better looking stadiums (even with the track around the field at MSU).

On another note, it's tough to rate the domes at NDSU and UNI against the outdoor stadiums in the rest of the conference.

On another another note, the Fargodome will be joining the 21st century with synthetic turf being installed next summer.

Redbird Ray

July 15th, 2011, 01:23 PM

Go ahead and put Hancock down at the bottom now. We just recently removed 3,500 seats from the south endzone because they were deemed "unsafe" by the state. That, combined with the fact that our ahole fire marshall doesn't want people sitting on the grass berm areas any longer, and we will now officially have a new stadium capacity of about 10,000. Not cool. Everyone that follows Redbird football is really pissed about it. On the other hand, we have a somewhat decent chance at selling out the season, so if any of you are coming to Normal this year, get your tickets sooner rather than later xlolx

Our new AD swears that a temporary solution to raise capacity will be forthcoming.

DFW HOYA

July 15th, 2011, 01:26 PM

Memorial Stadium isn't as bad as everyone makes it to be.

darell1976

July 15th, 2011, 01:50 PM

SIU's stadium looks awesome, I hope if UND ever goes back outside they model their stadium like SIU's. CAS needs an upgrade. Is that a shelterbelt between the parking lot and the stadium?? As for the Fargodome congrats on the new turf, its hard to get things done to a stadium when your school doesn't own it (Fargo owns the dome) and as long as the fans pack the place which is always the case no need for a new dome (or outdoor stadium).

BearsCountry

July 15th, 2011, 02:06 PM

I wish we had the space that SDSU has around their stadium. They got the potential to build a very nice stadium.

BearsCountry

July 15th, 2011, 02:09 PM

MSU Doesn't look like top 3 to me. Why is MSU so high?

It is a really nice stadium that the pictures here don't really do it justice.

UNIFanSince1983

July 15th, 2011, 02:09 PM

WIU and MSU have the only tracks in the MVFC yuck.

Actually we have a track too (Of course ours is underneath the turf). xthumbsupx

RabidRabbit

July 15th, 2011, 02:25 PM

I wish we had the space that SDSU has around their stadium. They got the potential to build a very nice stadium.

Board of Regents just allowed SDSU to proceed on study of how to build/expand CAS. Likewise, USD received approval for a BB/VB arena, so that the 'Yotes won't be playing in the Dakota Dome. Also will allow for the Dakota Dome to add seats to the west side for FB, which will bring the USD Dome into the 15-18K capacity. SDSU has replaced the shelterbelt on the north with an excellent FB training facility and coaches offices. As well as building a new stadium, SDSU will be establishing an indoor 80 yd + sports center for the spring sports, and football to use. May even see use for the SDHSAA 9-man FB games. CAS will get a 1000 person south (EZ) stands this fall. Moving the band, and some others to the south stands, opening up season tix area between the 20-40 in the main stands.

CAS is in its 50th year of games, without a significant upgrade. Badly needed. But the natural turf field is one of the few left in the conference.

Jacked_Rabbit

July 15th, 2011, 02:30 PM

I wish we had the space that SDSU has around their stadium. They got the potential to build a very nice stadium.

The SD Board of Regents recently gave SDSU the "official" approval to move forward with generating private funding for the new stadium and indoor practice facility, so the wheels are officially in motion (even though this process has been under way for quite some time). We hope to be playing in the new stadium within the next 7 years, I believe.

Not that it makes any difference in the overall rankings, but the photo of Coughlin-Alumni below is rather outdated. The trees pictured on the left side of the photo (North end zone) have been replaced with the multi-million dollar Dykhouse Student-Athlete Center, which houses our coaches offices, meeting rooms, weight room, and locker room. This has been a huge upgrade, and has really helped to enclose the stadium - or atleast give it that feel. We are also currently in the process of installing semi-permanent bleachers in the south end zone, underneath the large video board, which should add to the overall capacity. That said, the visitors on the east side desperately need to be replaced. That is primarily why I would rank this stadium in the bottom three of the conference.

The fact that Twentysix ranked the Dakota Dome #6, however, is the most rediculous thing I've ever heard. That place is garbage, and is very similar to playing football in a large high school basketball gym... That was the only glaring mistake I've seen on here so far, but I really like the idea of this thread. Sorry - just needed to get that off of my chest.

Twentysix

July 15th, 2011, 02:33 PM

The SD Board of Regents recently gave SDSU the official approval to move forward with generating private funding for the new stadium and indoor practice facility, so the wheels are officially in motion! We hope to be playing in the new stadium within the next 7 years, I believe.

Not that it makes any different in the overall rankings, but the photo of Coughlin-Alumni below is rather outdated. Where the trees are pictured on the left side of the photo (North end zone) has been replaced by the Dykhouse Student-Athlete Center. This has been a huge upgrade, and has really helped to enclose the stadium - or atleast give it that feel. We are also currently in the process of installing semi-permanent bleachers in the south end zone, underneath the large video board. That said, the visitors on the east side desperately need to be replaced, which is why I would rank this stadium in the bottom three of the conference.

The fact that Twentysix ranked the Dakota Dome #6, however, is the most rediculous thing I've ever heard. That place is garbage, and is very similar to playing football in a large high school basketball gym... Sorry - just needed to get that off of my chest.

Don't hold anything back, get it off your chest.

Notice I said based on pictures in what I posted.

Jacked_Rabbit

July 15th, 2011, 02:34 PM

Board of Regents just allowed SDSU to proceed on study of how to build/expand CAS. Likewise, USD received approval for a BB/VB arena, so that the 'Yotes won't be playing in the Dakota Dome. Also will allow for the Dakota Dome to add seats to the west side for FB, which will bring the USD Dome into the 15-18K capacity. SDSU has replaced the shelterbelt on the north with an excellent FB training facility and coaches offices. As well as building a new stadium, SDSU will be establishing an indoor 80 yd + sports center for the spring sports, and football to use. May even see use for the SDHSAA 9-man FB games. CAS will get a 1000 person south (EZ) stands this fall. Moving the band, and some others to the south stands, opening up season tix area between the 20-40 in the main stands.

CAS is in its 50th year of games, without a significant upgrade. Badly needed. But the natural turf field is one of the few left in the conference.

JINX!!!! Looks like we were both on the same page at the same time, Rabid!

Jacked_Rabbit

July 15th, 2011, 02:35 PM

Don't hold anything back, get it off your chest.

Notice I said based on pictures in what I posted.

Completely understandable - no hard feelings. That said, where was the picture of the Dakota Dome? xrolleyesx

Twentysix

July 15th, 2011, 02:37 PM

Completely understandable - no hard feelings. That said, where was the picture of the Dakota Dome? xrolleyesx
http://www.d2football.com/stadiums/southdakota(fcs)/t64/
http://www.usdcoyotes.com/info/images/facilities/football.jpg
Honestly from the pictures it looks almost identical to the UNI dome. But I know that its smaller.

The d2 website is giving me red x's so you will have to click the links.

MSUBear42

July 15th, 2011, 03:22 PM

It is a really nice stadium that the pictures here don't really do it justice.

Yeah, I wasn't really sure which picture to post...

http://www.missouristatebears.com//pics8/640/TE/TEVWMTWVORWIVGZ.20080722170657.jpg

TheBisonator

July 15th, 2011, 03:24 PM

I just can't believe the OP ranked the Fargodome #4.

BTW, I started a thread on this yesterday that no one replied to.

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthread.php?86839-Rank-the-stadiums-of-the-MVFC

Mods, can you merge these threads??

TheBisonator

July 15th, 2011, 03:25 PM

Nobody responded to this thread yesterday, then another one was started when it sank.

merge these??

Redbird Ray

July 15th, 2011, 04:30 PM

Based purely on aethestics, here's how I would rank our stadiums:

1) SIU - classic horseshoe design, most modern stadium in the conference
2) YSU - big stadium that is usually pretty full as well, has the most FBS feel to it of any stadium in conference
3) NDSU - Nice design and size for FCS, full of passionate fans, needs new turf
4) MSU - West stand is impressive size for FCS
5) UNI - Reminds me of Idaho's Kibbie Dome, great gameday atmosphere
6) WIU - Sort of does look like a glorified HS field, but the new east side is nicer than what ISUR, SDSU, ISUB has on their east sides.
7/8/9) ISUR/B,SDSU - Put em in any order you want. These stadiums all need a lot of work. All three schools have done some smaller scale things to improve the things, but when you have 50 year old stadiums with hardly any upkeep, it shows.

I would still put ISUR's tailgating in the top half of the conference xnodx

MSUBear42

July 15th, 2011, 04:57 PM

johnson

July 22nd, 2011, 12:46 PM

1.
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/youngstown-state-penguins-arnold-d-stambaugh-stadium/stadiumaerial.jpg
Youngstown State

2.
http://cache.nmn.speedera.net/pics4/400/LY/LYBGOESFAWWUOBN.20050304211311.gif
North Dakota State

3.
http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/wp-content/gallery/southern-illinois-salukis-mcandrews-stadium/salukistadiumsellout.jpg
Southern Illinois

4.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Football_Stadium.jpg/400px-Football_Stadium.jpg
Missouri State

5.
http://www.unifootballcamps.com/images/UNI%20Dome%20Pic%20001.jpg
Northern Iowa

6.
http://pictures.replayphotos.com/images/ILST/lg/illinois-state-university-football-green-field-of-illinois-state-football-ilst-f-x-00030lg.jpg
Illinois State

7.
http://image.cdnl3.xosnetwork.com/pics18/400/EZ/EZEKUPHCQAUBQEC.20071126161316.jpg
South Dakota State

8.
http://www.stadiumsusa.com/images/thumbs/3ef3a853b0a58155622ac557b0c3f2258188efc2.jpg-590x1000.png
Indiana State

9.
http://stadiums.findthebest.com/sites/default/files/542/media/images/image_42.jpg
Western Illinois

UNIFanSince1983

July 22nd, 2011, 01:42 PM

That's fine, but I don't understand how you could rate the UNI Dome that high??

I am not saying you are wrong, but have you been to the UNI-Dome? Especially in the last couple of years since we upgraded the north endzone, and got the new turf?

clenz

July 23rd, 2011, 03:46 PM

I am not saying you are wrong, but have you been to the UNI-Dome? Especially in the last couple of years since we upgraded the north endzone, and got the new turf?
Take the roof off and it's a top 5 FCS stadium

clenz

July 23rd, 2011, 03:48 PM

Oh, and as for the Ice Castle....the only reason people rate it so highly is because of the number of people it holds

It's cramped into the smallest area of any of the MVFC stadiums, and very much like ISUb's. The only difference is the "visitor" side

DJKyR0

July 23rd, 2011, 03:49 PM

darell1976

July 23rd, 2011, 07:50 PM

One thing I'm down on with the Fargodome is the lack of NDSU stuff in there. The championship banners are way too small to be hanging from the center rafters, there's zero NDSU stuff along the walls, the seats need to be NDSU-colored, the lighting is getting upgraded, and we're getting new (hopefully NDSU-loaded) turf. I like the relationship NDSU shares with the 'Dome but I wish it were a solo NDSU affair.

Do you think its because it is owned by Fargo and not NDSU... the Alerus is the same way barely any UND stuff. If the college is the primary money maker it should have the school colors and logos throughout the building. The only Bison logo around the Fargodome is the Stop-N-Go.

DJKyR0

July 24th, 2011, 02:43 AM

Do you think its because it is owned by Fargo and not NDSU... the Alerus is the same way barely any UND stuff. If the college is the primary money maker it should have the school colors and logos throughout the building. The only Bison logo around the Fargodome is the Stop-N-Go.

That's exactly the reason. The 'Dome has a gazillion other things going on inside of it, monster truck rallies, concerts, antique shows, you name it. It's a civic center that football is played in, basically.

Houndawg

July 24th, 2011, 08:51 AM

Grizzaholic

July 24th, 2011, 08:54 AM

Take the roof off and it's a top 5 FCS stadium

Uhhh...Clenz. Just a moment of your time.

No it isn't.

Thanks.

Grizzaholic

July 24th, 2011, 08:55 AM

That's because they're D2 banners.

But they count because they are part of the football dynasty/conglomerate/tradition/etc..that is NDSU.

darell1976

July 24th, 2011, 09:13 AM

But they count because they are part of the football dynasty/conglomerate/tradition/etc..that is NDSU.

But they won a GWFC title, so that counts...doesn't it?

DJKyR0

July 24th, 2011, 01:23 PM

That's because they're D2 banners.

I've seen the championship rings from the 80's teams, they're just as impressive as today's are. Doesn't jive. They're big banners and would look great if placed in a walk-in type area, but because they're spread out across the length of the field and way up in the rafters they look small as heck.

da_Bison

July 24th, 2011, 01:29 PM

But they won a GWFC title, so that counts...doesn't it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owNO5s3eln4

Hammerhead

July 24th, 2011, 08:44 PM

The new lighting system for the Fargodome should help the gameday and TV experience. Maybe it's the dark green roof, but it always seemed like I was watching the game in my basement.

clenz

July 24th, 2011, 11:01 PM

Maybe it's the dark green roof, but it always seemed like I was watching the game in my basement.
They did that to make NDSU fans like Lakes and JBB feel like their parents basement. It's the only way to get them out of them.

Pen Guin

August 1st, 2011, 02:25 AM

I will be biased. However, to answer your question about why YSU:

1. The stadium is mostly on one side yes. The stadium seats 23, 500 ...18k on one side & 5.5k on the other.
2. The larger side is quite large. It about 5 stories, and houses quite a few facilities. It has 4 basketball courts, the main weight room and one of the smaller. The press & coaching facilities are first-rate. New lockers are nice: http://ysupenguins.com/forum/index.php/topic,6194.msg54460.html#msg54460 . The circular area that sticks out is the DeBartolo Club. It is a upscale restaurant an lounge. Used to host events and is opened to loge-members during games. The public can attend press events held there.

Debartolo Club: http://www.ysusports.com/information/facilities/images/stadium_club/index
Loge and Press area: http://www.ysusports.com/information/facilities/images/loge_complex/index
Inside: http://www.ysusports.com/information/facilities/images/inside_stambaugh_facilities/index
Playing area: http://www.ysusports.com/information/facilities/images/stambaugh_stadium_gallery/index

3. My favorite is the Hall of Gridiron Glory ...fans are greeted with a great deal of history. The Sears trophies are enclosed in glass cases & quite a site

4. The top thing is the game atmosphere itself. Visiting teams are greeted with an end-zone of 4 championship flags, 3 runner-up flags, OVC & Gateway championship flags. The fans understand the game. They understand the concept of the 12th-man very well. In fact, many refs and opposing coaches hate to go there for just that reason.

frozennorth

August 1st, 2011, 03:09 AM

The location of the suites in the fargodome is pretty strange, and it does feel like a giant cave. Shoulda built it bigger. Otherwise a decent stadium.

DJKyR0

August 1st, 2011, 03:54 AM

They did that to make NDSU fans like Lakes and JBB feel like their parents basement. It's the only way to get them out of them.

For what it's worth, the basement quality is easy to appreciate after you've been drinking since 6 am. At that point you're starting to get hung over and the lack of bright lighting is a godsend.

Gil Dobie

August 2nd, 2011, 08:27 AM

I liked early season game when NDSU played at Dakotah Field, but when the winds of November come, I enjoy the Fargodome. I've been to Lambeau field in December and January, but nothing was colder than Dakotah field when the winds picked up. It was great to be able to warmup in the BSA at the half. Fargo isn't big enough to have a building with a retractible roof.