packers11
09-02-2006, 11:09 AM
http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/news/story?id=2569521
The article is very long and there is a little text box on the right that I cannont paste with in this forum... So... Ill just post a bit... Check it out... PACKERS hit top in something :mrgreen:
1. LAMBEAU FIELD, GREEN BAY (Overall score: 78.5)
Peter: It's the most unique sporting place in North America, really. Where else do you have such a small town that can support a pro franchise and do it well, with a season-ticket waiting list of 30 years? They were able to successfully take an older venue, modernize it, and the field still remains the way it looked.
2. HEINZ FIELD, PITTSBURGH (73)
Andrew: I liked the Steel Town tradition. Those people really understand their football. It's really the primary team; it's a Steelers town. You couldn't have asked for a better location, on the site of the old Three Rivers Stadium. It's got that downtown synergy. The Great Hall is the best concourse in the NFL. The tailgating is superb and the overall package works, and they support the team rabidly.
3. RELIANT STADIUM, HOUSTON (72)
Peter: The retractable dome. That was a first, and it follows the tradition of the old Astrodome, the first to have a roof over the place. Also, I like how they improved on the tailigating. A modern, spectacular first-rate stadium. Some of the friendliest welcoming fans in the NFL.
4. GILLETTE STADIUM, NEW ENGLAND (71.5)
Andrew: The fact that they had such a wretched stadium for such a long time, toilets that would barely flush, it would barely serve as a college stadium. To think they would build such a great temple to football is awesome. There are signature elements that are indigenous to the area, which we always like to see. You've got the lighthouse, the arched bridge, the rock formation in the end zone is very cool. The game presentation -- with the Minutemen firing off the muskets is awesome, and the technology enhances the fan experience. Plug in the tailgate scene, and it's a very fan-friendly owner in the form of Bob Kraft. A magnificent football experience with one negative, expect to spend a lot of time in the parking lot getting out.
5. M&T BANK STADIUM, BALTIMORE (71)
Peter: What makes Baltimore so great is that it's a downtown stadium that still gives people the ability to tailgate. They probably do that better than any other downtown stadium in America. They don't forget the city's football history. Some places with a previous franchise don't mention it. In Baltimore, the main plaza has a statue of Johnny Unitas. I like that they didn't forget that when they built the new stadium.
6. LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD, PHILADELPHIA (70)
Andrew: Its technology and the architecture are absolutely splendid. The sports complex is a unique thing, where the four sports are housed in a central complex. Also, the new generation of stadiums have very wide concourses and every amenity a fan could ask for. It's a tough ticket, fans are extremely rabid, and after Oakland, I'd say it's the second-most intimidating place to visit if you're a visiting fan.
7. SOLDIER FIELD, CHICAGO (67.5)
Peter: It kind of broke the mold. Soldier Field went in a different direction. It does have an assymetrical design. I like the Grand Concourse in Chicago. It's a place to be reverent to soldiers in the American military who have come before us. Also, a lot of respect is paid to the history of the Bears. I like how they kept the columns from the old facility for the most part. If I were taking anything away from it, I would have expected more diverse concessions, a bigger team store... stuff like that. All in all, a very unique place.
8. INVESCO FIELD AT MILE HIGH, DENVER (67)
Andrew: The uniqueness of the architecture. A very futuristic place. Interestingly enough, there's not two, but three video boards. They do a lot with the technology to entertain the fans. There's a lot of variety in the concessions. The other venues in Denver -- Coors Field and the Pepsi Center -- are also gastric theme parks. It's hard to find hot dogs and nachos amidst the specialty foods. Fans are very rabid about their team.
9(t). CLEVELAND BROWNS STADIUM, CLEVELAND (63.5)
Peter: I'll always be biased toward a place where fans fought city hall and won. A great fan base, great tailgating for downtown. I also like that the building didn't forget the previous Browns history, and they kept a section for the Dawg Pound.
9(t). RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM, TAMPA BAY (63.5)
Andrew: They've given it a Disneyesque feel with the pirate ship and the little Caribbean village. There's nothing quite like it anywhere. The whole pirate theme makes it a unique football experience. They play the yo-ho music, they raise flags when the home team gets in the red zone, they shoot off the cannons for a touchdown. The weather doesn't hurt, and it's a good tailgating destination.
__________________________________________________ _____________________
Having traveled to each of the NFL's 32 stadiums on the Ultimate Sports Road Trip, Andrew Kulyk and Peter Farrell have seen more stadiums than the Maddencruiser. Here are a few of their observations.
Favorite NFL City
-Green Bay (Andrew)
-Pittsburgh or Kansas City (Peter)
Best Sports Town
-Boston (Andrew)
-Philadelphia (Peter)
Best Concession Offerings, Overall
-Lambeau Field, Green Bay
Best Concession Offering, Single-Item
-Primanti Brothers sandwich, Heinz Field
Most Pleasant Surprise
-Lambeau Field, Green Bay
Peter: "So many places, when they go the renovation route, wind up with a product that's half of the shabby old place and half of the revamped new place, which just doesn't work. In Green Bay, they nailed it."
Biggest Disappointment
-FedEx Field, Washington
Andrew: "As you approach the building, the whole tailgating experience -- there were guys in their pressed Dockers, sipping wine and tapping on their PDA. You wanted the smell of sausage and people tossing footballs. There was none of that. It seemed to be very sterile, very corporate."
Best Concourse
-Coca-Cola Great Hall, Heinz Field
Andrew: "It's such a cool place to be. We made a point of going back down at halftime to eat and just soak up the scene."
-Grand Concourse, Soldier Field
Peter: "It's a place to be reverent to soldiers in the American military who have come before us. Also, a lot of respect is paid to the history of the Bears."
Best Cheerleaders
-Dallas Cowboys
Peter: "They're the originals, the mold that everyone has to copy."
Best Tailgating
-Buffalo Bills
Andrew: "They open the lots to RVs 3-4 days before hand. People do show up Thursday and Friday, and it's a big party scene by the weekend. We've seen hot tubs on flatbed trucks in the middle of January."
Honorable mention: Green Bay, Kansas City
Worst Tailgating
-Philadelphia Eagles
Andrew: "The first time we went to a game there was at the Vet, where they have specific tailgate lots, and we actually saw a guy arrested. He hadn't even lit up his grill, but he had pulled it out and the cops were there within five minutes."
Most Intimidating Fans
-Oakland Raiders
Peter: "When you turn on the TV and see Oakland fans dressed in Halloween costumes with skeletons popping out of their shoulders, these aren't isolated people. They're everywhere."
Best Fight Song
-"Fly Eagles Fly"
Andrew: "The song just gives us chills every time we hear it."
-"Skol Vikings!"
Andrew: "The wild-haired Vikings mascot driving around on the ATV on the field just adds to the zaniness."
The article is very long and there is a little text box on the right that I cannont paste with in this forum... So... Ill just post a bit... Check it out... PACKERS hit top in something :mrgreen:
1. LAMBEAU FIELD, GREEN BAY (Overall score: 78.5)
Peter: It's the most unique sporting place in North America, really. Where else do you have such a small town that can support a pro franchise and do it well, with a season-ticket waiting list of 30 years? They were able to successfully take an older venue, modernize it, and the field still remains the way it looked.
2. HEINZ FIELD, PITTSBURGH (73)
Andrew: I liked the Steel Town tradition. Those people really understand their football. It's really the primary team; it's a Steelers town. You couldn't have asked for a better location, on the site of the old Three Rivers Stadium. It's got that downtown synergy. The Great Hall is the best concourse in the NFL. The tailgating is superb and the overall package works, and they support the team rabidly.
3. RELIANT STADIUM, HOUSTON (72)
Peter: The retractable dome. That was a first, and it follows the tradition of the old Astrodome, the first to have a roof over the place. Also, I like how they improved on the tailigating. A modern, spectacular first-rate stadium. Some of the friendliest welcoming fans in the NFL.
4. GILLETTE STADIUM, NEW ENGLAND (71.5)
Andrew: The fact that they had such a wretched stadium for such a long time, toilets that would barely flush, it would barely serve as a college stadium. To think they would build such a great temple to football is awesome. There are signature elements that are indigenous to the area, which we always like to see. You've got the lighthouse, the arched bridge, the rock formation in the end zone is very cool. The game presentation -- with the Minutemen firing off the muskets is awesome, and the technology enhances the fan experience. Plug in the tailgate scene, and it's a very fan-friendly owner in the form of Bob Kraft. A magnificent football experience with one negative, expect to spend a lot of time in the parking lot getting out.
5. M&T BANK STADIUM, BALTIMORE (71)
Peter: What makes Baltimore so great is that it's a downtown stadium that still gives people the ability to tailgate. They probably do that better than any other downtown stadium in America. They don't forget the city's football history. Some places with a previous franchise don't mention it. In Baltimore, the main plaza has a statue of Johnny Unitas. I like that they didn't forget that when they built the new stadium.
6. LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD, PHILADELPHIA (70)
Andrew: Its technology and the architecture are absolutely splendid. The sports complex is a unique thing, where the four sports are housed in a central complex. Also, the new generation of stadiums have very wide concourses and every amenity a fan could ask for. It's a tough ticket, fans are extremely rabid, and after Oakland, I'd say it's the second-most intimidating place to visit if you're a visiting fan.
7. SOLDIER FIELD, CHICAGO (67.5)
Peter: It kind of broke the mold. Soldier Field went in a different direction. It does have an assymetrical design. I like the Grand Concourse in Chicago. It's a place to be reverent to soldiers in the American military who have come before us. Also, a lot of respect is paid to the history of the Bears. I like how they kept the columns from the old facility for the most part. If I were taking anything away from it, I would have expected more diverse concessions, a bigger team store... stuff like that. All in all, a very unique place.
8. INVESCO FIELD AT MILE HIGH, DENVER (67)
Andrew: The uniqueness of the architecture. A very futuristic place. Interestingly enough, there's not two, but three video boards. They do a lot with the technology to entertain the fans. There's a lot of variety in the concessions. The other venues in Denver -- Coors Field and the Pepsi Center -- are also gastric theme parks. It's hard to find hot dogs and nachos amidst the specialty foods. Fans are very rabid about their team.
9(t). CLEVELAND BROWNS STADIUM, CLEVELAND (63.5)
Peter: I'll always be biased toward a place where fans fought city hall and won. A great fan base, great tailgating for downtown. I also like that the building didn't forget the previous Browns history, and they kept a section for the Dawg Pound.
9(t). RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM, TAMPA BAY (63.5)
Andrew: They've given it a Disneyesque feel with the pirate ship and the little Caribbean village. There's nothing quite like it anywhere. The whole pirate theme makes it a unique football experience. They play the yo-ho music, they raise flags when the home team gets in the red zone, they shoot off the cannons for a touchdown. The weather doesn't hurt, and it's a good tailgating destination.
__________________________________________________ _____________________
Having traveled to each of the NFL's 32 stadiums on the Ultimate Sports Road Trip, Andrew Kulyk and Peter Farrell have seen more stadiums than the Maddencruiser. Here are a few of their observations.
Favorite NFL City
-Green Bay (Andrew)
-Pittsburgh or Kansas City (Peter)
Best Sports Town
-Boston (Andrew)
-Philadelphia (Peter)
Best Concession Offerings, Overall
-Lambeau Field, Green Bay
Best Concession Offering, Single-Item
-Primanti Brothers sandwich, Heinz Field
Most Pleasant Surprise
-Lambeau Field, Green Bay
Peter: "So many places, when they go the renovation route, wind up with a product that's half of the shabby old place and half of the revamped new place, which just doesn't work. In Green Bay, they nailed it."
Biggest Disappointment
-FedEx Field, Washington
Andrew: "As you approach the building, the whole tailgating experience -- there were guys in their pressed Dockers, sipping wine and tapping on their PDA. You wanted the smell of sausage and people tossing footballs. There was none of that. It seemed to be very sterile, very corporate."
Best Concourse
-Coca-Cola Great Hall, Heinz Field
Andrew: "It's such a cool place to be. We made a point of going back down at halftime to eat and just soak up the scene."
-Grand Concourse, Soldier Field
Peter: "It's a place to be reverent to soldiers in the American military who have come before us. Also, a lot of respect is paid to the history of the Bears."
Best Cheerleaders
-Dallas Cowboys
Peter: "They're the originals, the mold that everyone has to copy."
Best Tailgating
-Buffalo Bills
Andrew: "They open the lots to RVs 3-4 days before hand. People do show up Thursday and Friday, and it's a big party scene by the weekend. We've seen hot tubs on flatbed trucks in the middle of January."
Honorable mention: Green Bay, Kansas City
Worst Tailgating
-Philadelphia Eagles
Andrew: "The first time we went to a game there was at the Vet, where they have specific tailgate lots, and we actually saw a guy arrested. He hadn't even lit up his grill, but he had pulled it out and the cops were there within five minutes."
Most Intimidating Fans
-Oakland Raiders
Peter: "When you turn on the TV and see Oakland fans dressed in Halloween costumes with skeletons popping out of their shoulders, these aren't isolated people. They're everywhere."
Best Fight Song
-"Fly Eagles Fly"
Andrew: "The song just gives us chills every time we hear it."
-"Skol Vikings!"
Andrew: "The wild-haired Vikings mascot driving around on the ATV on the field just adds to the zaniness."