WHICH CAA FOOTBALL STADIUM IS THE BEST? We've created the DEFINITIVE (read: subjective) RANKINGS here!

Let us know what you think of the rankings & which stadiums you think should be ranked higher / lower.

As a random side note, both of the W&M Sports Blog brothers (Davey & Kyle) are now living in the Philadelphia area -- meaning we plan to soon see the Tribe play @ Villanova, @ Delaware, and perhaps @ Towson.

RANKINGS: https://wmsportsblog.com/2021/08/18/2021...-rankings/

Disagree on several of these. Unitas Stadium is fine and they consistently draw a majority of seats sold. Last time we played there the crowd was 8000+. Great tailgating on visitor side and great concessions and site lines. Albany's new side is nice but the visitor side is the worst. Metal bleacher with porta-johns behind and no concessions. Delaware's stadium is recently renovated and very nice. UR has really tight stairwells and inadequate restrooms.

I buy tickets from Elon for games the Tribe and dukes play there, and they seem to be upping their game as far as concessions go. I got this e-mail from Elon yesterday:

"Come eat Oysters - Have a Beer - Bring a chair or blanket to spread out safely and comfortably.

Elon fans will have the opportunity to purchase an improved and upgraded selection of food from our concession stands this fall while also enjoying in-stadium beer sales for the first time. A Raw Bar will offer NC shrimp and Carolina gold oysters served roasted or on the half shell, while a Carolina Fish Fry Sandwich with cole slaw, fries and hushpuppies. Pit Beef sandwiches, Joyce Farms grilled chickens and San Giuseppe’s Italian sausage will also be available at the stadium."

A simple answer to better concessions is to have food trucks.

Northeastern's stadium was the best ever.

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(08-19-2021 08:22 AM)Tribal Wrote:  Northeastern's stadium was the best ever.

Six of the 10 stadiums have a track, which is an eyesore and makes the field far away.

I'll admit the Zable renovations look very nice, but it's JMU, Elon, Albany, SB, UD and everyone else IMO.

For me, there’s not a stadium in the CAA that has the surroundings of Zable, center of a beautiful campus, adjacent taverns, restaurants, etc. Numero uno. My only complaint today are the end zone seats. They should never have been removed.

Delaware as example might have an ok stadium in structure but you walk out into fields to your car. Just hope it hasn’t rained recently, otherwise take some galoshes.

I agree with someone else on Towson. That’s a very nice stadium and well suited for tailgating.

The whole track thing never bothered me.

Villanova's stadium is impressive for being first constructed in 1927, but having all the charm of a place built as cheaply as possible in 1995.

Also, Blacksburg is a far, far better Burg than Harrisonburg.

(08-19-2021 11:48 AM)geewizNU Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 08:22 AM)Tribal Wrote:  Northeastern's stadium was the best ever.

Six of the 10 stadiums have a track, which is an eyesore and makes the field far away.

I'll admit the Zable renovations look very nice, but it's JMU, Elon, Albany, SB, UD and everyone else IMO.

Towson??? Track or not, that stadium is a cut above most of what you list above.

(08-19-2021 08:22 AM)Tribal Wrote:  Northeastern's stadium was the best ever.

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And the locker rooms(s) was/were even better. Nothing like two separate floors in basically a townhouse.

(08-19-2021 03:49 PM)Tribe1693 Wrote:  

(08-19-2021 08:22 AM)Tribal Wrote:  Northeastern's stadium was the best ever.

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And the locker rooms(s) was/were even better. Nothing like two separate floors in basically a townhouse.

Training table was on a sidewalk of city street outside that building. Second picture shows the building. First is the visitor side. Once had a conversation through the fence behind that side with a woman who was raking leaves in her back yard.

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Appreciate the article and photos. Never realized how pretty Elon’s stadium was, it’s making me want to take a road trip. The value of a small stadium is that no seat is too far away from the field. I agree that removing the track maximizes this appeal.

What I like about Zable is the classic brick architecture and its location smack in the middle of campus. However its shallow embankment (and perhaps the presence of the track) hurts the sight lines. There is also, inexplicably, a hole where the best seats in the east grandstand should be. Would I pay to remove the track, sink the field, and fill in the missing seats if I could? Yes. That said, in its present condition, it has very good amenities and a certain undeniable charm.

(08-19-2021 05:19 PM)A Quest Called Tribe Wrote:  Appreciate the article and photos. Never realized how pretty Elon’s stadium was, it’s making me want to take a road trip. The value of a small stadium is that no seat is too far away from the field. I agree that removing the track maximizes this appeal.

What I like about Zable is the classic brick architecture and its location smack in the middle of campus. However its shallow embankment (and perhaps the presence of the track) hurts the sight lines. There is also, inexplicably, a hole where the best seats in the east grandstand should be. Would I pay to remove the track, sink the field, and fill in the missing seats if I could? Yes. That said, in its present condition, it has very good amenities and a certain undeniable charm.

We've covered the reason for the cow tunnel a million times. Perhaps we'll host some rodeos to make up the $7mil required for phase one of Kaplan renovation.

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Some of these stadiums are bad because they're old or cheaply constructed or both. But UR is really the only school I know that seemingly intentionally built such a terrible stadium. Every single seat is so far away from the field it's practically like watching on TV.

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(08-19-2021 05:05 AM)NC Tribe Wrote:  I buy tickets from Elon for games the Tribe and dukes play there, and they seem to be upping their game as far as concessions go. I got this e-mail from Elon yesterday:

"Come eat Oysters - Have a Beer - Bring a chair or blanket to spread out safely and comfortably.

Elon fans will have the opportunity to purchase an improved and upgraded selection of food from our concession stands this fall while also enjoying in-stadium beer sales for the first time. A Raw Bar will offer NC shrimp and Carolina gold oysters served roasted or on the half shell, while a Carolina Fish Fry Sandwich with cole slaw, fries and hushpuppies. Pit Beef sandwiches, Joyce Farms grilled chickens and San Giuseppe’s Italian sausage will also be available at the stadium."

I'm not sure I want to eat Oysters from a truck at a football game.


But I agree food trucks are a great solution to add more dining, I think we've had a few at Zable as well. Works well for soccer too, since that stadium doesn't have a concession stand.