The rowdy fans, party atmosphere and always competitive LSU football team helped Tiger Stadium recently be voted as the fan’s top stadium in the country and ranked among the top 10 stadiums overall.
“The Sporting News” ranked LSU’s 91,600 person stadium No. 6 behind two of LSU’s biggest rivals, University of Tennessee and the University of Florida.
Neyland Stadium, home of the Tennessee Volunteers, was No. 1 on the poll followed by Notre Dame Stadium at No. 2 and UF’s Florida Field, also known as “The Swamp,” at No. 3. Texas A&M’s and Washington’s stadiums were in front of LSU at four and five respectively.
In a Live Vote poll on the MSNBC Web site, Tiger Stadium was voted No. 1 receiving 26 percent of the vote. Texas A&M’s Kyle Field was No. 2 with 21 percent.
“The Sporting News” ranked the stadiums by the setting, structure, history and fans.
The stadiums are an “integral part of what makes college football unique,” according to the MSNBC Web site.
“The mystique, the history, the fans. It creates an atmosphere that is basically unmatched in college football,” said LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette.
Playing at night is a big tradition at LSU, Bonnette said. It adds a lot to the atmosphere at game time.
“Any time you can play at home, it is an advantage for any team,” Bonnette said.
Matt Hayes, who responded on the NBC Web site, said “Tiger Stadium is more juiced at night and the place just seems louder.”
The NBC Sports Web site said, “Of all the stadiums in the country, few can match the architectural and aesthetic genius of Tiger Stadium.”
Civil engineering freshman Timmy Borne said Tiger Stadium is one of the worst places to play if you are the opposing team.
Representatives from schools around the country agree Tiger Stadium is a tough place to play.
“First of all, there is enthusiasm in a lot of SEC stadiums. LSU is extremely involved on a night game; they have a good advantage at home,” said University of Tennessee Sports Information Director Bud Ford.
Ford said he is not surprised Tennessee is at the top. He said Neyland Stadium is almost always among the top stadiums.
LSU’s stadium has come to be known as Death Valley because of how loud the fans get, according to the NBC Web site.
In 1988 in a game against Auburn, the crowd noise caused an earth tremor that registered on a seismograph meter in LSU’s Geology Department.
Notre Dame Stadium is considerably different from Tiger Stadium. It is a true bowl stadium and has about 11,000 fewer seats than LSU.
It is considered a “throwback stadium of sorts,” said Notre Dame Associate Sports Information Director Lisa Mushett. There are no advertisements or media boards in the stadium.
“I have never been there, but I have talked to players about Tiger Stadium, and they say it one of the toughest places to play,” Mushett said.
The uniqueness of the stadium helps fans have a good game-day experience, Ford said. At Tennessee, there are traditions that add to the enthusiasm of the day.
“Neyland is one of only two stadiums in the country that can be reached by water,” said Ford.