FireDaveLee
Grizzled Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2009
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Was a fun weekend in DC. Just a few random thoughts:
-Checked off Big Ten stadium #13 off my list; only Rutgers to go.
-Stayed downtown & took the green line up to College Park. Was pretty slick & they had shuttle buses waiting at the stop, dropping you right off at the stadium. If people go the next time, staying downtown is definitely a workable option.
-Two small replay screens, and it didn't seem that they played replays that often. Next time I'm at TCF & I get frustrated with the scoreboard, I'll try to calm myself by saying "Relax: it could be Maryland."
-Kind of an interesting stadium layout, to say the least. Just one deck on the one side & end, and then the 3 levels on the visitors side. I thought the visitors seats were OK, compared to what I've gotten some other times through the U at other venues.
-The whole practice field was converted to a student tailgate. Of course, the student section was at the opposite end of where they were. One thing they seemed to do is tailgate a lot more on grassy areas, whether it's kind of by their car or they walk to them. I guess I don't really think that's much of an option for Minnesota. I think it would be a blast if everyone was tailgating on Northrup mall, but it really doesn't make much sense with it not super close to the stadium. I think MN's tailgating scene is much more festive.
-Not exactly a football atmosphere or really much football excitement. I got as many Richard Pitino questions as I did football questions from Maryland fans. But they are in the process of constructing a new indoor facility, so looks like they are wanting to pump in some money to become competitive. The only time their fans really seemed to get loud was when they were trying to beg for a DPI on the Gophers when things just weren't working for them. Probably frustration from all the holding penalties called on them (along with that, there could have been A LOT more holding penalties called on the Terps in the 4th quarter; seemed like they almost got tired of calling them).
-To me, it seems like they have quite a few of the same problems as Minnesota in terms of attracting that football fan base. Around DC, I hardly saw anyone wearing anything Maryland related.
-One cool thing I liked that they did: You buy a souvenir sized soda for $6, but then it had a sticker on it which allowed you 1 free refill that could be redeemed during the game.
-For band fans: their band was nothing special.
Football wise, it's not a must-see atmosphere compared to others in the conference. But I liken it to Northwestern in terms of it's a good trip to go on due to the big city factor. I literally could spend an entire day in simply the War exhibit in the American History museum. But I didn't run in to one bad Maryland fan, a few welcomed me for making the trip, and while I think some of their fan base is disappointed in the tradition they lost leaving the ACC, I think the football fan base is excited that they're going to get to see Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State & Michigan State on the schedule yearly, with most likely 2 of them being at home.
-Checked off Big Ten stadium #13 off my list; only Rutgers to go.
-Stayed downtown & took the green line up to College Park. Was pretty slick & they had shuttle buses waiting at the stop, dropping you right off at the stadium. If people go the next time, staying downtown is definitely a workable option.
-Two small replay screens, and it didn't seem that they played replays that often. Next time I'm at TCF & I get frustrated with the scoreboard, I'll try to calm myself by saying "Relax: it could be Maryland."
-Kind of an interesting stadium layout, to say the least. Just one deck on the one side & end, and then the 3 levels on the visitors side. I thought the visitors seats were OK, compared to what I've gotten some other times through the U at other venues.
-The whole practice field was converted to a student tailgate. Of course, the student section was at the opposite end of where they were. One thing they seemed to do is tailgate a lot more on grassy areas, whether it's kind of by their car or they walk to them. I guess I don't really think that's much of an option for Minnesota. I think it would be a blast if everyone was tailgating on Northrup mall, but it really doesn't make much sense with it not super close to the stadium. I think MN's tailgating scene is much more festive.
-Not exactly a football atmosphere or really much football excitement. I got as many Richard Pitino questions as I did football questions from Maryland fans. But they are in the process of constructing a new indoor facility, so looks like they are wanting to pump in some money to become competitive. The only time their fans really seemed to get loud was when they were trying to beg for a DPI on the Gophers when things just weren't working for them. Probably frustration from all the holding penalties called on them (along with that, there could have been A LOT more holding penalties called on the Terps in the 4th quarter; seemed like they almost got tired of calling them).
-To me, it seems like they have quite a few of the same problems as Minnesota in terms of attracting that football fan base. Around DC, I hardly saw anyone wearing anything Maryland related.
-One cool thing I liked that they did: You buy a souvenir sized soda for $6, but then it had a sticker on it which allowed you 1 free refill that could be redeemed during the game.
-For band fans: their band was nothing special.
Football wise, it's not a must-see atmosphere compared to others in the conference. But I liken it to Northwestern in terms of it's a good trip to go on due to the big city factor. I literally could spend an entire day in simply the War exhibit in the American History museum. But I didn't run in to one bad Maryland fan, a few welcomed me for making the trip, and while I think some of their fan base is disappointed in the tradition they lost leaving the ACC, I think the football fan base is excited that they're going to get to see Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State & Michigan State on the schedule yearly, with most likely 2 of them being at home.
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