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Where LSU athletic facilities rank in the SEC...

Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:21 pm
Posted by TigersOfGeauxld
Just across the water...
Member since Aug 2009
25057 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:21 pm
Football - Tiger Stadium, Capacity: 102,321 Rank in SEC: 1.


Simply put, the finest facility in which to watch a game in the SEC. Great sightlines, with plenty of exits in the stands. Which means not only do you have a great seat, but you spend less time away from your seat than anywhere else in this conference. The most chair back seating and total premium seating...which insures that LSU does very well in dollars per seat per game. The new South End Zone addition raises the bar for how end zone additions should be done...club, suites, general seating, standing room only space, it's all there. The proximity to restrooms and concessions is unrivaled by any other end zone addition. Tiger Stadium really needs to have the concourses renovated, and Alleva has expressed the desire to add more restrooms, particularly for women. A unified, cohesive look for the exterior would also be welcome.

Basketball - Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Capacity: 13,215 Rank in SEC: 7



I rank it in the middle of the conference facilities and that might be generous. The old girl is definitely showing her age and is in need of either renovation or replacement. Still, it's right in the middle of the pack in terms of capacity, it has excellent premium lounge spaces, and the attached practice facility is top notch. The main need is for premium courtside seating I.E. suites and/or club seating, which it does not have. It could also use a new video board, and a general sprucing up.

Baseball - Alex Box Stadium, Capacity: 10,326 Rank in SEC: 2



What The Box does well, it does very well. Great sightlines, shaded stands, suites, club seating, and standing room only space are at or near the top in the conference (and the country) in those categories. Where The Box has fallen behind is in terms of seating and and attention to detail. Really past time for the metal bleachers to be replaced, more chair back seating added, and the craptastical batter's eye upgraded. It's getting about time for upgrades to what is arguably LSU's second most important athletic facility.

Track and Field - Bernie Moore Track Stadium, Capacity: 5,680 Rank in SEC: 3



Third largest track stadium in the SEC by capacity. Was voted ASBA Outdoor Facility of Year in 2012. The layout is outstanding, with the team weight room, club house, and locker rooms close by. The main stands are in need of refurbishing, and LSU should consider adding additional permanent seating, instead of erecting temporary stands for special events like when hosting the SEC championships.

Indoor Track & Field - Carl Maddox Field House, Capacity: 3,000 Rank in SEC: 3



In terms of size and amenities, it is one of the best facilities in the SEC, and in the country, particularly after it's recent renovation. For the first time, LSU Track and Field enjoys both men's and women's locker rooms and team meeting rooms inside. While a beveled track is the desired goal, the renovations were done with the idea that the facility would serve a dual purpose to the state as refugee center in case of natural disasters. The outside could use refurbishment, preferably to bring it more in line with the rest of the campus in terms of looks.

Softball - Tiger Park, Capacity: 1,289 (seats); 2,489 (w/ OF berm) Rank in SEC: 2



A fantastic place to watch a softball game. Great sightlines, great amenities, wonderful interaction with the players. Anyone who watches a game here is hooked on the experience. The place could use additional premium seating, which would help out the bottom line. In fact, I'd like to see LSU add premium seating at all non-revenue sports, and put together a package deal for spring sports.

Soccer - LSU Soccer Stadium, Capacity: 2,197 Rank in SEC: 3


It's a nice facility for it's size, and it's very well done. Nice landscaping. Would be nice to have chair back seating, and perhaps a shade for the stands. But LSU has done a good job here.

Tennis - LSU Tennis Center, Capacity 2,000 Rank in SEC: 2



LSU tennis goes from worst to first in terms of number of indoor courts. Few schools around the country have as many indoor courts as LSU, six. It also has one of the largest outdoor courts, with twelve. The new facility, still under construction, will be a gem. It's very well laid out, with an extremely logical design, allowing easy access to any court. The LSU athletic department is on a roll in terms of designing new facilities.

Golf - The University Club 7,700 yard, Par 72 Championship-Caliber, 300-acre course Rank in SEC: 3



One word: SPECTACULAR! A fantastic golf course.

Edited for clarity.

- end of part 1 -

This post was edited on 5/29/15 at 3:16 pm
Posted by TheDeathValley
New Orleans, LA
Member since Sep 2010
17165 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:24 pm to
Whose baseball and softball stadium is #1?
Posted by Brageous
Member since Jul 2008
107724 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:26 pm to
Golf course too low, PMAC too high.

Alex Box is number two behind Tiger Stadium. FACT.
Posted by Hester Carries
Member since Sep 2012
22445 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:26 pm to
What are the criteria? Quality? If so, Tiger Stadium is nowhere near #1. Atmosphere? Well then yeah.

That being said, no matter which you use. The Box is numero uno.
Posted by LSUTygerFan
Homerun Village
Member since Jun 2008
33232 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:31 pm to
last
Posted by ell_13
Member since Apr 2013
85067 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:31 pm to
Looks like the rankings are by capacity...

ETA: Nope... he actually put his own numbers on it.
This post was edited on 5/27/15 at 1:36 pm
Posted by harry coleman beast
Left Field
Member since Aug 2008
52210 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:35 pm to
I like how the PMAC is second and the picture you chose has the practice facility blocking it. Well played
Posted by TigersOfGeauxld
Just across the water...
Member since Aug 2009
25057 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:36 pm to
- Beginning of Part 2 -

Golf - The Mary and Woody Bilyeu Golf Practice Facility Rank in SEC: 1



No better practice facility in the SEC. One of the reasons LSU is the reigning SEC mens golf champions.

Swimming and Diving - The Natatorium, Capacity: 2,200 Rank in SEC: 14



Where to begin. It wasn't the best when it's built, and time has seen every school in the SEC build one better, with the exception Alabama, and the Tide have done a better job maintaining their facility. No air conditioning, you can see the outside from the inside through the cracks in the walls, and it's completely and entirely antiquated in terms of design. There is literally nothing good that can be said about this facility. Renovating it wouldn't help. Only a wrecking ball would improve it.

Edited for clarity.

That concludes part 2. Your thoughts?

This post was edited on 5/27/15 at 7:57 pm
Posted by MetryTyger
Metro NOLA, LA
Member since Jan 2004
15606 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:37 pm to
quote:

Hester Carries
Where LSU athletic facilities rank in the SEC... by Hester Carries


What are the criteria? Quality? If so, Tiger Stadium is nowhere near #1. Atmosphere? Well then yeah.




(This is expanding on Geauxlds OP:)

'Quality' is a rather vague, very general term.
Quality as far as what? Aesthetics?: - probably Bryant-Denny and Kyle.
Cohesiveness and matching style/stands?: Sanford, Razorback, Wms-Brice, Davis-Wade, Mizzou, UK



But Tiger Stadium might have best 'Quality' as far as:
Sightlines, number of exits in the stands, the most chair back seating and total premium seating.
The new South End Zone addition raises the bar for how end zone additions should be done...club, suites, general seating, standing room only space, it's all there. The proximity to restrooms and concessions is unrivaled by any other end zone addition.
Also, the outside improvements and grounds rival Alabmaa's in beauty.



Could be improved:
Tiger Stadium really needs to have the concourses renovated, and Alleva has expressed the desire to add more restrooms, particularly for women. A unified, cohesive look for the exterior would also be welcome.



This post was edited on 5/27/15 at 1:40 pm
Posted by lsupride87
Member since Dec 2007
95503 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:37 pm to
I would put the new tennis facility #1. Yes UGAs outdoor environment may be better, but the fact we have 6 full indoors with bleacher access behind all 6, puts LSU #1
Posted by TigersOfGeauxld
Just across the water...
Member since Aug 2009
25057 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:38 pm to
quote:

Whose baseball and softball stadium is #1?


Baseball, Baum. Softball, Carolina. When Texas A&M builds theirs, we will fall behind the Aggies as well.
Posted by lsusteve1
Member since Dec 2004
41940 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:39 pm to
My rankings:

Tiger Stadium - Top 4
Alex Box - 1
PMAC - 8
Tiger Park - 1
Tennis Facility - Top 4
Bernie Moore - 3
U Club - 2

Fans - 1
Posted by More beer please
Member since Feb 2010
45053 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:43 pm to
quote:

3. Baseball - Alex Box Stadium, Capacity: 10,326 Rank in SEC: 2



Eat a dick OP
Posted by TigerNE
Everett, MA
Member since Jul 2013
1096 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:46 pm to
Isn't ranking track facilities a little like ranking a pile of No. 2 pencils?

Posted by goatman1419
Prairieville,LA
Member since Jan 2007
3070 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 1:58 pm to
Baseball mafia full melt in......3.......2........1
Posted by ell_13
Member since Apr 2013
85067 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 2:02 pm to
Why?

USC > LSU
Posted by TigersOfGeauxld
Just across the water...
Member since Aug 2009
25057 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 2:08 pm to
Anyone who thinks The Box is ahead of Baum at this point is wearing homer glasses. A case could be argued for Carolina Stadium being ahead as well. Both of those stadiums feature full chairback seating, and far better attention to detail. Baum already has more suites than The Box, and is adding more.

When/if Mississippi State gets done with the Dudy Noble Field reno, we'll slip behind that stadium, too.

All I'm saying is, while The Box is pretty great, LSU can't stand still. The numbers are almost certainly there to justify an expansion to The Box. I'd say adding seating for another 2,000 fans would be accommodated with ease by our fan base. And I'd bet large LSU could sell more suites as well.



Edit: Here's the proposed Baum Stadium renovations:

This post was edited on 5/27/15 at 2:18 pm
Posted by Hester Carries
Member since Sep 2012
22445 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 2:16 pm to
Im trying hard to figure out what people found so disagreeable about my statement. I can only guess that people think that Tiger stadium is a very high quality stadium.

Id like to preface the following opinions with 2 statements:
1)I lack no affinity for TS. Its one of my favorite places.
2)Ive attended 70+ consecutive games (as have many here, not a brag) and worked as an undergrad in a job that gave me free roam of the entire stadium and would say that ive been to every square foot of that place.


That being said, the stadium is 90 years old and in some place indistinguishable from fricking Alcatraz. Its not a 5-star quality stadium. Its a landmark and a hell of a venue. But its not #1 quality wise.

And the only reason i even brought that up was to segue into the fact that Alex Box is both the best in atmosphere and quality.
Posted by Yammie250F
Member since Jul 2010
904 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 2:18 pm to
I've been to both Alex Box and Baum stadium and I would rank Baum a little ahead of LSU as far as fan friendly. Every seat is a chair back, even along the foul lines to the poles and they are angled to where they are facing home plate. Also, with the hill or berm or whatever they call it behind left field, you pay $3 general admission and you can bring all the food and drink you want. It has picnic tables and BBQ pits.

You are also allowed to enter the concourse and sit where ever there is an empty seat in the main stands without paying extra. Thats minus the food and drink of course.
Posted by SlapahoeTribe
Tiger Nation
Member since Jul 2012
12104 posts
Posted on 5/27/15 at 2:19 pm to
quote:

Baseball mafia full melt in......3.......2........1

I've been to a number of other parks, some SEC some not, and I'd be hard pressed to give the Box an outright #1 ranking. It's not that I can pick another park that is physically better (maybe give the Box a number one with an asterisk?), but there are things that LSU could and should do to improve the park:

- I sit in chair backs, but I'm still disappointed that we don't have chair backs throughout.

- And the traffic is absolutely abysmal. Whatever moron it was that decided that having six major parking lots were to be serviced by only one two-lane road needs to be castrated so that he doesn't contaminate the rest of the species.

(Some people complain about the batter's eye and the advertisements but neither of those have ever bothered me; to each his own.)

That being said, the Box is the #1 atmosphere for baseball! I wouldn't want to watch a game anywhere else.
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