I've never been to any of these besides Michigan Stadium. Has anybody been to these other stadiums? Do they have great atmosphere? I do think the Big House has great atmosphere. Remember, this is not a question about the toughest place to play (i'm sure LSU would be on that list, the swamp maybe, etc).

http://img3.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/f85c40566b.jpg

I've been to Beaver Stadium (Penn State) and it is seriously awesome.

It's up in the mountains (very scenic), and they get up to 100K in there (I think).

One side of the stadium yells "We are" and the other answers with "Penn State".

Sure, it's a dumb chant, but the effect is pretty cool.

Great tailgating there, too.

I saw Brady QB the Wolves to a 4th quarter comeback win that I'll never forget.

edit: Wiki entry...


Beaver Stadium is located on the campus of The Pennsylvania State University and is home to its college football team, the Nittany Lions. Named for James A. Beaver, a former governor of Pennsylvania and president of the University's board of trustees, the stadium currently has a capacity of 107,282, making it the second largest stadium in the United States, third largest stadium in North America, and the sixth largest stadium in the world, smaller than Michigan Stadium by only 219 seats. Due to its large size, Beaver Stadium is widely known as one of the toughest venues for opposing teams in collegiate athletics. Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN says that Penn State has the "Best Student Section in the Nation" and Gameday at PSU is "The Greatest Show in College Sports".

Some interesting facts about Michigan Stadium:




-Michigan Stadium opened (in 1927) at the corner of Main Street and Stadium Boulevard with a capacity of 84,401—the largest college-owned stadium of any team in the nation.

-Despite the grandeur of the new home, many journalists and fans questioned how the new stadium would affect Michigan’s home field advantage after having gone 88-14-2 at Ferry Field.

-On Oct. 1, 1927, Michigan played Ohio Wesleyan in the first game at Michigan Stadium. The game was a success as Michigan started the scoring on a 28-yard pass from Louis Gilbert to tight end Kip Taylor and prevailed easily, 33-0. The new stadium was dedicated three weeks later against Ohio State on Oct. 22, 1927. Though Michigan spoiled the dedication of Ohio Stadium five years earlier, the Wolverines blanked the Buckeyes 21-0 before a capacity crowd of 84,401 at Michigan Stadium.

-In 1930, the University took advantage of new technology and installed electronic scoreboards at both ends of the stadium, becoming the first stadium to use electronic scoreboards for official game time.

-With the end of World War II in 1945, Michigan Stadium was dedicated to all the men and women who gave their lives for the United States. A bronze eagle was placed at the southwest entrance of the stadium in their honor.

-The Wolverines continued to draw crowds in the 80,000 range for 20 years, and in 1949 plans were drawn up to increase the size of the stadium. The most ambitious of the plans called for the addition of a top deck entirely around the stadium, increasing capacity to 125,300. Permanent steel stands around the stadium complex were finally settled upon, allowing for the seating for 97,239 fans. Michigan also replaced the temporary wooden bleachers erected in 1927 with permanent steel ones. In its first game in the enlarged stadium, Michigan drew a then-record capacity crowd to the game against Michigan State. In the first season of official NCAA attendance records (1949), the final tally showed Michigan leading the nation in average home attendance with 93,894.

-On Oct. 6, 1956, Michigan Stadium hosted over 100,000 people for the first time as a capacity crowd saw Michigan State defeat Michigan, 9-0.

-Based on evidence that artificial turf could withstand any type of weather and required less maintenance than grass, the Regents of the University of Michigan approved the installation of artificial turf at Michigan Stadium. In July 1969, a total of 88,285 feet of Tartan Turf were installed at a cost of $250,000. In its first game on the new surface, Michigan defeated Vanderbilt, 42-14.

-In 1974, Michigan led the nation in average attendance, as it has done every season since, except 1997.

-In the summer of 1973, several rails in the stadium were removed, and bleacher seats replaced the box seats in the first three rows. This change allowed for six hundred additional seats in the stadium, increasing capacity to 101,701. In 1974, Michigan led the nation in average attendance, as it has done every season since, except 1997.
Michigan’s shutout of Purdue on Nov. 8, 1975 began its current streak in which the Wolverines played every home game in front of more than 100,000 fans.

-Michigan resurfaced the field with artificial turf in 1975 and 1982. Michigan played its last home game on artificial surface against Minnesota on Nov. 17, 1990, winning, 35-18, bringing the Wolverines' artificial turf home record from 1969-90 to an impressive 119-18-3.

-Michigan rewrote the NCAA record books in 1998, setting single-game and season attendance marks. Construction on the stadium finished prior to the season-opener, raising the capacity to its current 107,501. With the added seating capacity, the Wolverines set an NCAA single-game attendance record of 111,238 vs. Michigan State on Sept. 26, 1998. Michigan finished the six-game home slate in 1998 with a season average of 110,965 fans per game, breaking Tennessee’s NCAA record.

-The Wolverines led the nation in average attendance for the fifth straight season and 28th time in past 29 years during the 2002 season. Michigan had an average attendance of 110,576 fans at its seven home games. The season total of 774,033 fans at the “Big House” set a new stadium record but ranked third in NCAA total attendance behind Penn State (857,911) and Ohio State (827,904), which both played eight home games.
Notice MSU spoiled their first 100,000 crowd

We have a guy locally named Kevin Kugler who also does CF for Westwood One radio.
He called Michigan his favorite place so far, with his beloved Lincoln Nebraska a close second.
Another local hack here, the beat writer, puts UM in his top 5 with Notre Dame, Lincoln, and, as he says, any other SEC venue when the big dawgs are playing each other.

Michigan's >Stadium< is amazing. Michigan's atmosphere is horrible! They are criticized for that all the time. The large number of alumni that sit on their hands in addition to the design of the stadium which goes outward rather than up makes for a less than ideal atmosphere. I've been there twice and I was surprised at the lack of noise level given the large amount of people. The reason why it is a tough place to play is because of the team, not the atmosphere.

I can see why somebody would be impressed if they've never been elsewhere because they don't have anything to compare it to. I strongly recommend visiting another stadium Chris, you'll be surprised. I hear the atmosphere at Penn State and Ohio State are faaaaaar greater. Nobody competes with the SEC in this category.

I remember a few years back Jickboy34 coming back from a MSU-UM game at Spartan Stadium. Jickboy is about as die-hard as they come when it comes to Michigan. He said the atmosphere was unbelievable and he'd willingly go to a game there anytime just because of the atmosphere alone. State can't compare in size of stadium, however you get the 2nd largest student population behind you and pack a stadium and it gets nuts! Far better of course when the team is doing well.

I've been to the BH once, and was repeatedly told to sit down and be quiet. I will not go back.

Haha. It depends on what you consider "atmosphere"

Obviously a loud stadium does not factor in or they wouldn't even be in the poll. Teams like Penn State and LSU would be on there.

When they talk atmosphere, I think they mean the stadium, scenery, etc. Clearly the noise was not the criteria.

I've been to the Big House when it has been very loud and other times notsomuch.

The quietest I ever experienced is when Donovan McNabb came in with his Syracuse team and totally pwned.

Chris:
I agree. They are talking total atmoshphere, not just the ringing going on in the heads of Sparties.

Haha. It depends on what you consider "atmosphere"

Obviously a loud stadium does not factor in or they wouldn't even be in the poll. Teams like Penn State and LSU would be on there.

When they talk atmosphere, I think they mean the stadium, scenery, etc. Clearly the noise was not the criteria.

Oh, well that would change things. However, I can't imagine rowdy fans and noise level not being included in atmosphere. Seems like the fans are more than half of the atmosphere because they create it.

Michigan Stadium is fantastic inside. I don't like how it isn't within a campus though. I like the campus tailgating feel.

In 2005, the Bad Year, I attended the Penn State and Ohio State games. The tailgating was OK, kind of elitist, actually (like it probably is at any college). Two buddies and me from the Big 10 board at the News went to the PSU game to protest Lloyd Carr. We had alot of fun, actually, but again, the tailgating seemed somewhat subdued. Maybe people thought we were weirdos, because we had Kevlar Army Hlemets painted like the UM football helmets, and held up some goofy signs about Lloyd and Co. Anyway, during not just the PSU game but the OSU game, I was amazed at how quiet 110,000 people can be for extended periods of time. And yes, old farts (and even some young farts) who get disgruntled if you stand up and yell alot. (Fuck them pricks).
Overall, a pretty good atmosphere, lots of fun (if you make it yourself), and GODDAAMM, for crissakes, STOP drinking beer for at least four hours before gametime so you don;t have to take a wizz in one of the two restrooms in the whole stadium.

This may be a stretch, but have any of you guys ever been to Ralph Wilson Stadium for a Bills game. My father and I went to a game last December Vs. San Diego and the atmosphere there was livid. They are some deidcated fans in Buffalo. Not very classy, and the stadium is in the middle of nowhere, but they love their Bills and the players feed off they're energy, although it hasn't really amounted to too many wins.

And its frigid damn cold there in December too...

I'll admit, The Big House may not be the loudest place (mostly due to the design) but it's tough to top 110,000 people watching a football game for atmosphere. You hear "The Victors" and over 100,000 have fists in the air, you see the Wolverines take the field and touch the banner, on 4th downs the band plays the punt song as everyone tomahawk chops, you see the massive wave in the 3rd quarter that goes all the way around, then slows down, then speeds up, then is split in 2 different directions and who can forget 50,000 people yelling GO! And 50,000 people yelling BLUE! It makes for an absolutely amazing atmosphere if you ask me. I've been to MSU and Northwestern for U-M games and I've got to go with The Big House for atmosphere. MSU was pretty loud and rowdy, but it wasn't the experience of The Big House to me. (call me biased) And Northwestern was a joke. Michigan Stadium is not the loudest place, but there's more to atmosphere than just noise.

I'll admit, The Big House may not be the loudest place (mostly due to the design) but it's tough to top 110,000 people watching a football game for atmosphere. You hear "The Victors" and over 100,000 have fists in the air, you see the Wolverines take the field and touch the banner, on 4th downs the band plays the punt song as everyone tomahawk chops, you see the massive wave in the 3rd quarter that goes all the way around, then slows down, then speeds up, then is split in 2 different directions and who can forget 50,000 people yelling GO! And 50,000 people yelling BLUE! It makes for an absolutely amazing atmosphere if you ask me. I've been to MSU and Northwestern for U-M games and I've got to go with The Big House for atmosphere. MSU was pretty loud and rowdy, but it wasn't the experience of The Big House to me. (call me biased) And Northwestern was a joke. Michigan Stadium is not the loudest place, but there's more to atmosphere than just noise.

I'll call you ridiculously biased. The punt song, the tomahawk chop, the wave, etc. is done at every college stadium on Saturday. The Big House sits in the middle of the city, not on campus. You don't get the true college atmosphere when you are there. You don't get the atmosphere of walking through campus, hearing the band warm up nearby, hearing the students chanting on the way through, walking through the fall leaves smelling grills all around you at work. Once you get inside, numbers is all Michigan can claim because it is not loud and not rowdy whatsoever. There is more to atmosphere than noise, but all those classic college football atmosphere elements that you get on campus are not there with Michigan because of their location. This poll must have been done in AA or something because the swamp, LSU, etc. not being involved is comical.

The middle of the city? What? It's nowhere near down town (which would be cool actually). I agree it's not near central campus. That is a downfall. But how can you do that when the campus is actually located in the middle of the city? Imagine if MSU's campus was down town Lansing. You wouldn't have the stadium on campus there either. There are probably a lot of major NCAA teams playing outside their campus. Miami doesn't play on campus (they play at the Orange Bowl, and then Dolphin Stadium next year, which are both far away). Pitt plays at Hienz Field.

I'm sure there are quite a few that I don't know off hand. Anytime you have an old university in a big city it's hard to fit all that in the downtown area. Schools like USC aren't really in downtown LA, so they probably have a lot easier time securing land for the campus. I'd rather have a university that is actually down town and have campus life mixed into the town than have the entire university in the middle of nowhere.

Mt Pleasant wasn't a stellar down town, but it still sucked to not be able to walk to the down town area from campus. CMU is a very nice campus, but it's really on the edge of town.

I think it's nice to have the entire AA downtown close by to central campus. You can walk to anything from your dorm or apartment. MSU has that too with EL, but it's not the same as Lansing either.

I'm not blaming them for not putting it within their campus, just explaining that it takes a great deal away from that special college campus atmosphere that I enjoy so much.

Unbiased I would say Texas A&M, home of the 12th man and where 30 thousand show up in the middle of the night just to yell.

Biased, ND has the whole touchdown Jesus thing, the tradition, the band, its perfect.

Tre, I didn't know your favorite team, the Mean Machine, played on a college campus.

Unbiased I would say Texas A&M, home of the 12th man and where 30 thousand show up in the middle of the night just to yell.

Biased, ND has the whole touchdown Jesus thing, the tradition, the band, its perfect.

Yeah, I've been to Notre Dame and they have a special atmosphere there. It just has a unique feel to it. I like it alot.

Tre, I didn't know your favorite team, the Mean Machine, played on a college campus.

hu hu, I didn't know you had a bball team. hu hu Lame.

if you walk to the big house from campus, your walking through student housing damn near the entire way. and you'll see tons of kegger parties going on pre-game. and i always had a blast at the tailgates. but i almost never went to the games after my freshman year. its a long boring tradition that is way overrated, imo. lame maybe, but i'd rather watch it in the living room or at the bar and get sauced while watching it. i did sneak into the stadium one time during the summer and pretty much explored every inch. very cool.

the worst stadium i have seen is purdue's. their campus sucks too. although i wouldnt be shocked if NW's was worse.

Indiana's stadium is just horrible.

A cold, empty (even during games) concrete disaster.

Our stadium was pretty weak too, but it is a MAC team afterall. The campus is top notch IMO, but their were not a lot of fans at CMU games, despite it being free. I went to %90 of the games and I think it was nice and sunny maybe 2-3 times. Perhaps that factored in, or perhaps the 3 wins seasons did a little more to keep the crowd away.

osu has this:

http://www.dormwars.com/329/Ohio_State_girl_stripping_(camwithher).html

sorry for the tease, though.

Finally have to step in with a lil spek for UW. As you walk to the stadium, there are miles of red, brats, and most importantly, beers. Once you are approaching the stadium there are not beer bong, beer hookas along the street which you are welcome to partake in. Then into the stadium after a hooka or two (of beer) and playing some catch on the street. The crowd of almost 90k is rawkus and lets opposing players know it. Best two minutes IMO of any crowd is entering the 4th quarter when they play 'Jump Around'. I was there the first time they did that (against Michigan) and afterwards they stopped the PA from playing it for a couple weeks to consult engineers and ensure the stadium could take it because the crowd went so wild.

Maybe other stadiums have better overall atmosphere, but thats my short story.