NFL Playbook: Best NFL Stadium

SkinsLaVar · Post by **SkinsLaVar** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 4:58 am

I was watching NFL Playbook and at the end of the show they had a segment for: "What's the best stadium in the NFL?"

-Sterling Sharp said: Lambeau Field- because of all of the hype in the stadium.

-Wilcots said: Baltimore M&T Stadium - because of the screaming 35,000 fans.

-and the other fool said: Lincoln Financial

I was waiting for one of them to say Fed-Ex Field
because:

-it's the largest stadium in the NFL with the capacity of over 85,000 people with 3 rows circling around the entire stadium...sort of like a Roman Coliseum

-85,000 fans screaming can sound mad Loud.....Remember how loud it got when Portis made that 64 yarder for a TD? The ground shook!

NikiH · Post by **NikiH** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:48 am

I was actually impressed by M&T Stadium. Other then the nausiated purple everywhere. It seemed easy to get in and out of, although security jammed everything up Sunday. On an average game I'd hope they'd be more prepared. The stadium itself was pretty nice.

sch1977 · Post by **sch1977** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:58 am

RFK when it was used!!

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:18 am

MT&T was sweet, your right Niki...FedEx just doesn't have that alure to it. It's just a big ring

skinsfano28 · Post by **skinsfano28** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:46 am

FedEx kind of sucks, actually...im really not a fan of going to a redskins eagles game and seeing 70% of the stadium turn green. there have got to be more people like us who represent our team and basically buy up tickets so that there are 80,000 of us and the rest of the fans can represent the wrong side--its sickening to see that this area has no pride in its team, aside from the real fans like us.

Buzz Dog · Post by **Buzz Dog** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:04 am

I agree with you about the Eagles (and Cowboys fans). I always do my part and jackal those guys when they hit Fedex, but unfortunately they usually get the last laugh.

What will make FedEx intimidating as hell will be the pride and rowdiness that comes from supporting a winning team. Boys and Birds fans come to our stadium expecting a big win and for good reason, given our recent history.

I live in Baltimore and must admit that M&T is great, as is the Linc. But... just wait until 85,000 Skins fans get to go nuts on a consistent basis. It will be sweet and no one will want to wear opposing teams colors in our house.

Just goes to show that winning cures absolutely everything.

Redskins1974 · Post by **Redskins1974** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:19 am

skinsfano28 wrote:FedEx kind of sucks, actually...im really not a fan of going to a redskins eagles game and seeing 70% of the stadium turn green. there have got to be more people like us who represent our team and basically buy up tickets so that there are 80,000 of us and the rest of the fans can represent the wrong side--its sickening to see that this area has no pride in its team, aside from the real fans like us.

70%'s a HUGE exaggeration. At most, more like 30% at eagles games, which is still bad. It goes to show that the larger the stadium, the less intimate and more chances for opposing teams. Fed Ex can be a great place, we just need to start winning consistantly to make it the scary place for opposing teams that RFK was.

M&T's not a bad stadium at all. It's a good size and the access is definitely easy.

Long-Time Skins Fan · Post by **Long-Time Skins Fan** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:50 am

I've never heard Fed Ex sound anything like RFK. There is just no comparison. There was something about RFK that made it defining even though there were far less people. Maybe it was the overhang at the top. I think the fans are just much more sedate at Fed Ex. Maybe as the team gets better again the fans will get more intense. We'll see.

BernieSki · Post by **BernieSki** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:58 am

I have been to several stadiums for games; (RFK and FEDEX), Dallas, New Orleans, Baltimore (Memorial & PSInet), Pittsburgh (Three Rivers (loudest) and Hines), LA Coliseum, The Orange Bowl, Aloha Stadium (ugliest), the best however was the Carolina Panthers stadium. If I am not mistaken the same company that built FedEx Field also built the Carolina Panthers stadium.

Jack was in such a hurry to get the stadium built that the little details got missed it could have been the premire stadium in football.

DieselFan · Post by **DieselFan** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 10:22 am

If FedEx field were a car...it would be a Ford. Serviceable, nothing that great about it...certainly not flashy...

It's just okay.

(keep in mind I own 2 Fords...so nothing's wrong w/ that)

ATV · Post by **ATV** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 10:34 am

"Fed Ex can be a great place, we just need to start winning consistantly to make it the scary place for opposing teams that RFK was."

I agree completely. If the Skins were winning like they were in the eighties (or early nineties) the place might become nuts. It could happen. We might see this - FedEx becomes THE nightmare stadium to play in.

poper2 · Post by **poper2** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:34 pm

I sit in Section 439 and most of the fans up there are weak. People around me reading the newspaper, why come to the game. Fans yelling at me to sit down for cheering for the skins. And have you heard this one, "We are white collar fans"? I guess winning might change some fans, but there needs to be a change in fan participation.

skinsfano28 wrote:FedEx kind of sucks, actually...im really not a fan of going to a redskins eagles game and seeing 70% of the stadium turn green. there have got to be more people like us who represent our team and basically buy up tickets so that there are 80,000 of us and the rest of the fans can represent the wrong side--its sickening to see that this area has no pride in its team, aside from the real fans like us.

skinsfano28 · Post by **skinsfano28** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:39 pm

ok 70% was an exaggeration, but you see my point, and i think you have all said what i was trying to say--more fan participation and rowdiness! just not like the eagles fans, who boo santa claus, more like controlled obnoxiousness

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 1:10 pm

I will continue to say I was ashamed by the crowd at FedEx when I went there to see the Packers game. I was furious when I sat there and the stadiukm was louder with the chant "Go Pack GO" than Redskin fans.

I don't think I will EVER give it close the respect I give Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium after that disgusting act by the fans at the game.Come down here, we make actual noise... Without having the other team's fans help.

milkbone · Post by **milkbone** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 1:25 pm

Too many coporate seats filled with people who either don't care or aren't redskins fans. Mix that in with the opposing team fans who always seem to show up with numbers, and FedEx doesn't seem too intimidating...If you want a decent local crowd with some enthusiasum, RFk is pretty sweet during the DC United games.

RedskinsFreak · Post by **RedskinsFreak** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 1:55 pm

From an architechural standpoint, FedEx sucks to the highest degree. That's the brutal truth.

The real fans have been priced out, too many tickets are in the hands of the snooty upper-class who are more concerned with getting their wine glass refilled than with the Redskins trying to convert a third-and-2.

The monster has been created and unleashed.

Redskins1974 · Post by **Redskins1974** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:03 pm

One last thing b/c this topic has been discussed in the past but Donovan McNabb said that Fed Ex is the hardest stadium to play at b/c of the crowd noise. Also, Jon Gruden said he was surprised at how loud it got on the field to the point where he couldn't call plays on the sidelines. Sorry that you all have had a bad time at the games. I, for one, always find the folks in my section very into the game.

NikiH · Post by **NikiH** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:06 pm

I find it absolutely no factor that I attended the Tampa game and the Eagles game. :-$

hkHog · Post by **hkHog** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:16 pm

BernieSki wrote:I have been to several stadiums for games; (RFK and FEDEX), Dallas, New Orleans, Baltimore (Memorial & PSInet), Pittsburgh (Three Rivers (loudest) and Hines), LA Coliseum, The Orange Bowl, Aloha Stadium (ugliest), the best however was the Carolina Panthers stadium. If I am not mistaken the same company that built FedEx Field also built the Carolina Panthers stadium.

Jack was in such a hurry to get the stadium built that the little details got missed it could have been the premire stadium in football.

I agree 100%. My vote goes to the Panthers' stadium, too. It isn't nearly as big as FedEx but there isn't a bad seat in the house. It also helped that before the Super Bowl season you could get tickets on the lower level at about the 30 for $60 or so! That was pretty cool. Also, the stadium is right by downtown Charlotte and even then parking is pretty good.

When the Redskins become a real playoff team then maybe FedEx will make the list. However, I just find the current fanbase far too tame.

Skin Diesel · Post by **Skin Diesel** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:53 pm

I live in Jacksonville. I can tell you that Jaguar fans have many of the same complaints that we do (with the addition of lousy attendance numbers, which is not a problem in DC). NFL football caters to the corporate world, not die hard fans. The best seats are bought up by corporations, who fill them with people who neither understand nor care about football or the home team. Many average fans in the cheap seats become apathetic when the home team loses. It's not unique to the Skins.

I've also been to several games in Tampa, and it's the best NFL stadium I've been in. After all, they fire off a canon from that pirate ship when the Bucs score. It's generally a very fan friendly stadium. I'll be there this year to watch the Skins beat the Bucs. Interestingly, the Skins always have a very strong showing on the road. I've always got plenty of support when I cheer them on in Tampa or Jacksonville.

I've seen the Packers at Raymond James, Alltell and last year at FedEx. They ALWAYS have a large number of fans chanting "Go Pack Go." It doesn't just happen at FedEx, it happens everywhere.

FiveWidez · Post by **FiveWidez** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 4:05 pm

To be honest. I agree with everyone. Some games I feel as if I am the only "real" skins fan in my section (450 by the way). Other times the crowd seems very into the game. Maybe its my own beer factor that confuses me. It seems like so many people I know that are young fans (mid 20's) don't go to the games b/c they don't won't to deal with the parking or the ticket prices (how much more are skins' tickets than other teams?).

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 4:07 pm

To go back to my post earlier, I will say FedEx field is the best stadium I have ever seen, the stadium itself.