The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Baseball is known for their different stadium dimensions.  Now, arenas and football stadiums are not changing actual dimensions, but they are altering some characteristics, like color, sidelines, and interesting things inside the stadium itself, like Tampa's giant pirate ship.

I am in favor of this kind of stuff.  While I don't always like the result, when it works out, it really works out and makes the place have its own, unique feel.

Here is what's big lately:
(http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/633239/2011-january-13-23-26-46.jpeg.pagespeed.ce.pid5sazvmr.jpg)

This is Oregon's new basketball court, designed by Nike to look like you're laying on your back in the forest, looking up at the sunny sky through the trees.  I think it's kinda cool, but I'm not in LOVE with it.

Other examples:
The Ivy wall in Wrigley
Boise's Blue Field
I saw a college basketball game where the benches were sunk 2 steps, like a baseball dugout.

So, the question I pose:
What are some of your favorite and least favorite examples of this?  Pictures appreciated.

That basketball court is USDA choice grooviness...

I also dig on the Boise St. football field, but can only watch about 10 minutes at a time without suffering permanent retina damage.

I'll have to look for it, but a high school, I think in Texas, put in a red turf football field.

I saw that recently.  Was it not college?

We've been working on visiting every MLB stadium in the US.  So far we've been to 7 of them.  I try to find one unique "feature item" at each stadium.  Sometimes, its difficult...

Wrigley - the ivy wall, duh
Camden Yards - the warehouse in right field
Tropicana field - the gigantic tropicana neon sign or perhaps the crooked roof?

I wish our stadium had something cool about it.  Sadly, I think that will soon be the lame flat hideous canvas roof...

Found it.  It is a high school.

(http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_prep_rally__2/ept_sports_prep_rally-555937253-1294790061.jpg?ymtGoYEDxCYsAiNJ)

http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Texas-school-unveils-nation-s-first-red-turf-hig?urn=highschool-306272

I have faith in the team that's working on the stadium.  It's already considerably better than it used to be, and I've heard other things mentioned, like moving the seats closer to the field on the sidelines, which would be HUGE.  They just have to wait for the Marlins to be gone.

My wife and kids took me to Camden 2 years ago for my birthday. I had the choice between there or the new Mets stadium. I know this is silly but it was so cool to me to be able to take the train right to the stadium and then back to my buddy's house. I am so used to fighting traffic to every sporting event I go to.

Actually both a high school & college have done it.

(http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0PDoX9B5D5NtgoA_q2jzbkF/SIG=1257oa8kv/EXP=1296053697/**http%3a//monke.areavoices.com/files/2010/12/Red.jpg)

I hadn't realized the Oregon court had that design. I caught a glimpse on ESPN one day and wondered, what the hell was that supposed to be?"

I was thinking more USFS.  I don't really think of food with that court. 

Even better in that area is heading to a Nats game. you get off the Metro and you're a half block from the stadium. It's awesome

"USFS Choice" just doesn't hold the cliche' value as "USDA Choice."

And who mentioned a food court?

That Oregon court is pretty cool I had not seen it until now.

I have not found any articles to support this, but a friend told me that players were getting headaches from playing on that court.  If so, good strategy!

I'd like to see a camera shot of that court from 6 feet off the floor, rather than 40-50 feet up in the stands, just to see what effect the graphics would have on the players' eyes...does it distract them? MDoes it mke it harder to frame up the rim for a jumpshot? Find a fast-breaking teammate out on the wing, etc...

That depends...if both the home and visiting team are getting headaches it ain't much of a good strategy.  If the home players have gotten use to it and are now immune to it, then yeah...good home field advantage. 

new mexico's pit  is awesome

This sounds bogus.  Even if the players are saying it, I doubt it's really happening -- it's probably a false positive.  The reason I say this is because when you play on outside courts, they get big algae/dirt stains on them.  Sometimes they are huge.  They don't make a pattern of trees, but it's an uneven look.  I've never heard of anyone getting a headache.  Besides, you don't look down at your feet when you play basketball.  You look ahead.  I bet if you were playing on the court, you wouldn't even really notice it.

^ I couldn't find any complaints about it except from people who said it was hard to watch on tv.