Is Neyland really this bad??

#1
goldvol

goldvol

VolNation's Lesser Poobah
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#1
According to StadiumJourney.com, Neyland Stadium ranks 40th for "College Football Stadium Experience".
Even stadiums like Appy State and Charlotte are listed above us!

They are basing the rating on the following categories:
*food & beverage inside the stadium
*the overall atmosphere
*the neighborhood where the stadium resides
*the fans
*access to and inside the stadium
*overall return on investment
*and an "extras" category for any unique features

No one can debate all the positives Neyland has to offer.
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Well, apparently it is debated, since you ranked Neyland #40. Apparently #39 teams have more positives than Neyland

Then, they include many of the positives:
tailgating, proximity to the river, spectacular gameday experience before and after the game, fans are friendly...and hospitable, and the stadium is loud, even a crowd of 90,000 on a bad sales day (although the lowest attendance this year was 96,197)
Click to expand...

Now I'll be up front: I haven't been to many stadiums around the country. I know some of you have traveled and seen some stadiums. Still, it's hard for me to believe that Appy State or Charlotte have a better stadium experience than Neyland! What do you think?

2015 FBS College Football Stadium Experience Rankings - Stadium Journey
 
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#2
#2
It can be on big game days, but smaller stadiums = smaller crowds and less hassle to get a soda and snack. However, I would question their measuring of "overall atmosphere" that type of measurement is very subjective. I mean, you have to grow up being a UT fans to actually describe the experience and as for opposing teams, if you are getting your lower posterior handed to them, I guess my experience is not as good :)

I have never had a bad day at Neyland..........bad games, but I have always enjoyed the games, and it really hard to find a bad seat.........Go Vols!!
 
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#3
#3
I don't understand how you can bash the stadium for the neighborhood it's in but then turn around and list it's location as a positive.lol
 
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#4
#4
It listed South Carolina's stadium in the Top 15. Their stadium is off campus on the state fairgrounds. That alone is enough to discredit their criteria. Lame! :no:
 
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#5
#5
Odd list. I can tell you from experience that the Swamp is not better than Neyland after visiting there this year. That automatically made this list null and void in my book.
 
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#6
#6
Well I've been to Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, UGA, and others. My only gripe about Neyland is parking. Everything else is better than those I listed.
 
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#7
#7
The author, Paul Swaney, is one of those Big10 boys.......they slow.


The Big10 is so slow.....they measure their 40-yard dash times with a calendar
 
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#8
#8
If they are using those criteria listed, then yeah, I can see us way down the list. A stadium where the field was leveled and stands erected starting in what, the 1920s, is going to have some serious growing pains 90 years later. So with the modern and fully planned venues, I can imagine a host of stadiums above Neyland.

My criteria for best stadium is wherever the Big Orange are giving someone a beat down. Just me.
 
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#10
#10
Food & Beverage 2
Atmosphere 4
Neighborhood 5
Fans 5
Access 3
Return on Investment 4
Extras 5

There ya go. They had to walk too much, and there wasn't a big enough variety of food for them. I guess if that's what you're looking for when you go to a college football game, Neyland Stadium is a disappointment.
 
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#12
#12
Remember the big write up from the lifelong Oklahoma fan who said that Neyland was the 2nd best experience he had ever had (behind Notre Dame) and he had been to most of the biggest stadiums? This is just another list of a person's opinion based on the subjective criteria of their choosing. Don't take it personally. Most lists I've seen of this kind have Neyland no worse than 10th.
 
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#14
#14
I have been to games all over the USA including every SEC school except aTm and Neyland is right there at the top. Baton Rouge is great. So Carolina is easy parking/tailgating but a horrible stadium for a game. The swamp Is a Royal Mongolian Wesson Oil Party that is piecemeal at best. The Rose Bowl is historic but very "flat" and not a good view. It goes on and on.
 
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#16
#16
i don't have any real issues with the article, obviously there were things that were just more important, and thus weighted heavier. if you read the whole write up, they hit on all the high points as far as all the reasons we would think it would/should be higher on the list.

however, i think all of us know that Neyland, though it has had a facelift, is still a very old, vertical stadium that does require some lap sitting at times.

it seems that the stairs, aisles, concession variety, seating were all weighted very heavily in this ranking.

because of their own admission, you won't find a better "experience" anywhere.

so...in the end....who cares. Knoxville and Nelyand are still awesome on Game day.
 
#17
#17
There are four things wrong with Neyland.

One, the seat area is too small. I am upgrading my tickets for this one reason. My wife is 120 lbs and complains that people are on top of you.

Second, the restrooms are ridiculously outdated. I have been going to the games and have the same seats since 1982 and the bathrooms are the exact same. Really? My son actually likes peeing in a trough which is funny.

Third, the concessions get really stacked up and were terrible. I can honestly say I have seen improvement here in quality and availability. More progression will be nice.

Fourth, complete the exterior renovation. Coming along and looking better and I honestly would rather see interior upgrades over exterior but the big money is not amongst the masses.
 
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#18
#18
vollygirl said:
Food & Beverage 2
Atmosphere 4
Neighborhood 5
Fans 5
Access 3
Return on Investment 4
Extras 5

There ya go. They had to walk too much, and there wasn't a big enough variety of food for them. I guess if that's what you're looking for when you go to a college football game, Neyland Stadium is a disappointment.
Click to expand...

See that's the problem with this list. I don't go to eat concession stand food. We cook everything from steaks to smoked brisket in the parking lot, and grab a smokey dog around halftime. If one of his criteria is concession stand food, this list is useless... I've never went on a trip because of quality concession stand food
 
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#19
#19
I go to App State, and have been to a ton of their games...they are fun for a smaller school but have nothing on Neyland!
 
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#20
#20
goldvol said:
According to StadiumJourney.com, Neyland Stadium ranks 40th for "College Football Stadium Experience".
Even stadiums like Appy State and Charlotte are listed above us!

They are basing the rating on the following categories:
*food & beverage inside the stadium
*the overall atmosphere
*the neighborhood where the stadium resides
*the fans
*access to and inside the stadium
*overall return on investment
*and an "extras" category for any unique features

Well, apparently it is debated, since you ranked Neyland #40. Apparently #39 teams have more positives than Neyland

Then, they include many of the positives:

Now I'll be up front: I haven't been to many stadiums around the country. I know some of you have traveled and seen some stadiums. Still, it's hard for me to believe that Appy State or Charlotte have a better stadium experience than Neyland! What do you think?

2015 FBS College Football Stadium Experience Rankings - Stadium Journey
Click to expand...

Ridiculous...Florida is cited for loud noise but not Neyland where decibel records were set? Plus we have a Petro's...A PETRO'S!!! Those are darn tasty.
 
#21
#21
And Bama's seating area is smaller than Neylands, I've never had to sit sideways in Neyland, but I did at Bryant-Denney
 
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#22
#22
The concourses on the east and south are disasters. Been that way since I started in 1975. The concourse is narrow already and then they just plopped boxes on them for concession stands. Can't move at halftime. If something serious ever happened at that stadium, east and south seating fans would not have a chance to evacuate.

I won't go to the stadium anymore unless I sit in the north end with the more "modern" accommodations. That's why I selected that end for my season tickets.
 
#23
#23
vollygirl said:
Food & Beverage 2
Atmosphere 4
Neighborhood 5
Fans 5
Access 3
Return on Investment 4
Extras 5

There ya go. They had to walk too much, and there wasn't a big enough variety of food for them. I guess if that's what you're looking for when you go to a college football game, Neyland Stadium is a disappointment.
Click to expand...

Bring back the teenage walking vendors with the blue "Hot Dog Vendor $2.00" and red "Coke Vendor $2.00" tee shirts!
 
#24
#24
what's this guys twitter handle?? It's time for #Volnation to rate his article. We should be Top 15 at least. Our gameday experience is loads better than USCe.
 
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#25
#25
also, i'm assuming he's a GA fan, given the tenor of his description of the game he attended. so that might have something to do with it as well.........just sayin'.
 
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