Best Football Venue

[3irty1]

Worst I've been to is easily the Metrodome, best has got to be Heintz field. Heintz is much like lambeau in terms of atmosphere outside the stadium on game day. The parties and tailgaiting rivials lambeau only they are doing it in a metropolitan area. Because of this much of the parking and tailgaiting is on the other side of Roberto Clemente Bridge which everyone eventually crosses to see the game--similar to miller park in general parking but with 10 times the walking.

Inside the stadium everyone was friendly for the most part although their are probably more "pink jersey" fans than at lambeau. Another major difference was that I felt Heinz field was louder and slightly rowdier than lambeau which I liked and the noise didn't stop when the offense took the field the way it does in Lambeau. The crowd at Lambeau is from all over wisconsin and requires that you have money which means you're at least a little responsible. Lambeau also probably has more fans of the visiting team than I saw at Heintz field but thats probably due to the fact that Lambeau is more of a football mecca.

[MJZiggy]

I've been to about a dozen NFL stadiums. (stadiuii?)

I really enjoyed Seattle, Houston, and Tampa.

I didn't really enjoy Minnesota, St. Louis, or Miami.

I found the facilities in Minnesota nicer than they had been explained to me, but the "stadium experience" was just dead. Miami was in the middle of nowhere and it was 3 weeks removed from a hurricane, so it may not have been the best time to be there. St. Louis was a crummy game in the middle of December.

Seattle is always a blast, I've been there at least 8 or 9 times, including the Seahawks/Cardinals playoff game several years ago. Also have seen the Seahawks play in the University of Washington stadium. That was fun too.

Tampa's facilities are wonderful, seats are comfortable, crowd was polite, but again, dead.

Nothing compares to lambeau. I might be a tad bit biased, but maybe not?

I loved Wrigley. We had tix in about the 10th row behind home plate one time, it's always been a blast for me. I didn't like US Cellular field (White sox), but their facilities were far superior in every way. Camp Randall will always have a warm place in my heart. Not sure I'd like it today as a sober adult, but as a drunk college student it was a blast.

Too bad you didn't go to Camden Yards when you were in Balto. Nice place. Nice atmosphere.

[retailguy]

I've been to about a dozen NFL stadiums. (stadiuii?)

I really enjoyed Seattle, Houston, and Tampa.

I didn't really enjoy Minnesota, St. Louis, or Miami.

I found the facilities in Minnesota nicer than they had been explained to me, but the "stadium experience" was just dead. Miami was in the middle of nowhere and it was 3 weeks removed from a hurricane, so it may not have been the best time to be there. St. Louis was a crummy game in the middle of December.

Seattle is always a blast, I've been there at least 8 or 9 times, including the Seahawks/Cardinals playoff game several years ago. Also have seen the Seahawks play in the University of Washington stadium. That was fun too.

Tampa's facilities are wonderful, seats are comfortable, crowd was polite, but again, dead.

Nothing compares to lambeau. I might be a tad bit biased, but maybe not?

I loved Wrigley. We had tix in about the 10th row behind home plate one time, it's always been a blast for me. I didn't like US Cellular field (White sox), but their facilities were far superior in every way. Camp Randall will always have a warm place in my heart. Not sure I'd like it today as a sober adult, but as a drunk college student it was a blast.

Too bad you didn't go to Camden Yards when you were in Balto. Nice place. Nice atmosphere.

Yeah. Trip was too short. we had to do it that way, unfortunately. The good news (through one point of view), is that I travel 4 or 5 times a year to Wilmington, DE. I'll be visiting both Camden Yards, and M&T Bank Stadium soon.

BTW - Amicci's was a great time, and we enjoyed our brief time in the inner harbor. We loved Annapolis, and had a blast in Philly over the weekend. we'll spend more time there too!

I don't think I ever properly thanked you for the travel advice, but I'm very grateful. we did have a blast!

[Airin' Rodgers]

Lots of obnoxious drunks in my section at Ford Field

Weird. There was a really drunk dude in my section too. I had a terrible hang over the next day

Seriously, I had no problems whatsoever

Going to another team's stadium and wearing packer stuff, I expect some harassment. However, I don't expect two 25-28 year old drunk lions fans trying to start a fist fight with my then 12 year old brother.

The playoff game last year was by far my best experience. Other than the expected heckling after the game, Cardinals fans were great

[Tarlam!]

Going to another team's stadium and wearing packer stuff, I expect some harassment. However, I don't expect two 25-28 year old drunk lions fans trying to start a fist fight with my then 12 year old brother.

Well, lemme tell ya. The only time I went to Lambeau (which I adored) was with a couple of posters. One is no longer welcome here.

That one picked a fight with a 12 year old after the game (Pack lost to the Bears). I was ashamed.

The good news is, other REAL fans stepped in and threatened to extinguish our lights. They didn't stand for any crap, just because we were wearing Packer garb.

I'd tell you who the poster was, but we all agreed, what happens in Green Bay, stays in Green Bay.

[swede]

Going to another team's stadium and wearing packer stuff, I expect some harassment. However, I don't expect two 25-28 year old drunk lions fans trying to start a fist fight with my then 12 year old brother.

Well, lemme tell ya. The only time I went to Lambeau (which I adored) was with a couple of posters. One is no longer welcome here.

That one picked a fight with a 12 year old after the game (Pack lost to the Bears). I was ashamed.

The good news is, other REAL fans stepped in and threatened to extinguish our lights. They didn't stand for any crap, just because we were wearing Packer garb.

I'd tell you who the poster was, but we all agreed, what happens in Green Bay, stays in Green Bay.

C'mon. If you don't tell the whole story all we get is a partial story.

[Patler]

Best football venue I have been at? My backyard when I was a kid!

It was a field, really. Farming community with big families, so we could easily get enough boys together to play with 6 on each team, or more, covering about a 5-6 year age range. We had special rules so that receivers were covered by kids their own age, OL and DL had to match ages (determined by how the offense lined up), etc. The younger kids "tackled" an older kid by touch, otherwise it was tackle football with no equipment.

We had even better baseball games in that field (hardball, not softball) because our sisters all played too, and some were pretty darn good. Usually could come up with 8 on a side easily, with the batting team doing the catching!

Do kids even play pickup games anymore? Everything is so organized.

[Tarlam!]

C'mon. If you don't tell the whole story all we get is a partial story.

You're good, very very good, Swede.

[Tony Oday]

Best football venue I have been at? My backyard when I was a kid!

It was a field, really. Farming community with big families, so we could easily get enough boys together to play with 6 on each team, or more, covering about a 5-6 year age range. We had special rules so that receivers were covered by kids their own age, OL and DL had to match ages (determined by how the offense lined up), etc. The younger kids "tackled" an older kid by touch, otherwise it was tackle football with no equipment.

We had even better baseball games in that field (hardball, not softball) because our sisters all played too, and some were pretty darn good. Usually could come up with 8 on a side easily, with the batting team doing the catching!

Do kids even play pickup games anymore? Everything is so organized.

No they dont hell I got a dirty look from a neighbor when my kid went up to their kid to see if they wanted to play...

[MJZiggy]

Best football venue I have been at? My backyard when I was a kid!

It was a field, really. Farming community with big families, so we could easily get enough boys together to play with 6 on each team, or more, covering about a 5-6 year age range. We had special rules so that receivers were covered by kids their own age, OL and DL had to match ages (determined by how the offense lined up), etc. The younger kids "tackled" an older kid by touch, otherwise it was tackle football with no equipment.

We had even better baseball games in that field (hardball, not softball) because our sisters all played too, and some were pretty darn good. Usually could come up with 8 on a side easily, with the batting team doing the catching!


Do kids even play pickup games anymore? Everything is so organized.

No, they don't Partly because it's all so organized and partly because kids don't play outside like that anymore. Either because they're in daycare in the summer or they just stay in. Fortunately, my neighbor is also in the habit of throwing her kids out on nice summer days, so there are 3 of them out there.

[Little Whiskey]

Best football venue I have been at? My backyard when I was a kid!

Do kids even play pickup games anymore? Everything is so organized.

good point patler. I wonder that too. I dont' see kids playing in yards anymore.

[Joemailman]

Maybe they need to come out with a Madden-Backyard Version

"Johnny, run down the middle, and then cut to the outside, and I'll hit you right by the apple tree."

[MJZiggy]

Maybe they need to come out with a Madden-Backyard Version

"Johnny, run down the middle, and then cut to the outside, and I'll hit you right by the apple tree."

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=backyard+football&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=11675028397555043684&ei=JjGNTJ_xIYT6lwe91YBg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDoQ8wIwBA#