Sports are a big part of college life. From the drunks who serve the students there to show their support for their team and school, soccer can bring out the best or the worst in people. For those who love to watch more than just the NFL, here are some of the best stadiums colleges have to offer.
The upper stadium belongs to Texas A&M. Kyle Field, it’s more than a stadium, it’s an experience. The fans here are so supportive of their team that they stand for the entire game, except when the opposing band plays at halftime. For lovers, fans kiss continuously every time the team scores. And last but not least, the Kyle field is the home of the twelfth man. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of the game without having to endure crushing tackles?
When it comes to home-field advantage, no stadium can compare to Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium. Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia, wows people not with the brute force of a massive stadium, but with knowledge that can drown out the noise of an airplane. Every good stadium has at least one end designed for deafening noise levels and the gated South End Zone at Lane Stadium fits the bill. With more than 11,000 screaming Virginia Tech fans, the section amplifies noise and renders the audible useless. That’s not to mention the isolation factor. With the nearest major airport almost 45 minutes away, the opponents’ fans are never out in force at Lane Stadium.
Home of the Tennessee Vols, Neyland Stadium has a style of its own. For starters, there’s the chessboard end zone. Not many teams have gotten creative enough to come up with something like this. Then the fight song of the Vols. With the crowd constantly chanting it, any new fan will know the words by the end of the game. Some nice stadium attractions include the Tennessee River, where fans arrive by boat and tailgate hours before kickoff and hours after the game. On the other side is The Hill, the historic center of the old UT campus. Towering above it all are the Smoky Mountains, a perfect scenic backdrop for an autumnal Saturday afternoon. For fans who love a good view of things other than the game, this is the place for you.
The fourth is Notre Dame Stadium, the home of the Fighting Irish. In this stadium you will find a little piece of heaven. A short distance from the pitch are large structures such as the Golden Dome, the Grotto, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and the Hesburgh Library which features ‘Touchdown Jesus’ on its side. Notre Dame Stadium was expanded to accommodate fans who could not get tickets. The school has sold out all but one game since 1964. The only game not sold out during that time was a Thanksgiving vs. Air Force in 1973 when students were not on campus. Fans also show their dedication by hosting lively pep rallies on Friday nights. Isn’t this the kind of crowd you want to be with while watching an intense game?
And finally Florida Field, home of the Gators, ranks fifth. Various renovations over the years have contributed to an 83,000-seat configuration unlike a typical bowl. The first level is underground and both end zones are closed. There is no buffer from the field to the stands, which is less than ten feet in some areas, creating a sense of fans at the top of the field and players. The north end zone’s Touchdown Terrace is deafening to opponents, adding an advantage for the Gators. The players go crazy, but the fans are worse. Between the whoops and whoops, fans can hear the person next to them and that’s before kickoff. So if you’re a fan who loves to be obnoxious and loud, this is the stadium for you.
