What are your favorite sports venues?

[J_Dee]

I'm obviously biased, but of the seven college sports arenas I've been to, Rupp Arena's easily my favorite. I've been to numerous UK home games (mostly in the late '80s to the late '90s -- man I wish I still had the ticket stubs) and some high school tournament basketball games there and the fans have always been great, fun and positive. I've never gone to a BBM -- I don't know if I'd like it, but I may give it a try someday.

High school basketball and high school football: Pulaski County High School rules. I haven't been to a game in a few years, but I've attended more football and basketball games at PC over my lifetime that I can't even begin to remember them all. The football field's great, the fans are always friendly, and in my humble opinion the massive gym's one of the coolest in the state, if not the entire country (and Reggie Hanson helped the Maroons win the basketball state championship in '86).

MLB: I've been to many games at Riverfront/Cinergy Field (mostly from the late '80s to the late '90s and I've seen a lot of all-time greats play there (again, I wish I had my ticket stubs!). I miss that stadium a lot -- as a kid the trip from Kentucky to Cincy felt like an epic undertaking, and Riverfront felt so, so huge. I've not been to the Great American Ball Park nearly as much as Riverfront (I think the last game I went to was around 2017), but it's a really nice stadium, and with Francona managing the team now, I'll definitely be attending at least a few home games next season.

I'm not a college football fan (I've been to one UK home game with an uncle back in the early '90s and one EKU home game in the late '90s) and I've never been to an NBA or an NFL game. I've got absolutely zero interest in attending an NBA game (unless Kentucky ever scores an NBA team -- then I might go to one or two games), but a friend who's a Vikings fan has invited me to go to U.S. Bank Stadium a few times and I might eventually take him up on it. That place looks incredible.

Anyway, what are your favorite sports venues, and how many times have you been to 'em? =)

 

[TheDude73]

I grew up and still am a STL Cards fan, but during my college time in Chicago I went to several Cubs games at Wrigley. Nothing compares (sorry to my fellow Cards fans/Cub haters). Best place to ever see a game.

Fenway was a close second.

Rupp is fantastic when it's rocking, although I really miss the lower level of Lex Center when you could buy beer and play pool in the hours before the game (Yesterday's). The sea of blue going up an down those escalators were a sight to see.

 

[ukcatz12]

Any of the old baseball stadiums are cool. Fenway, Wrigley, Old Yankee Stadium (RIP, the new one sucks). Minute Maid Park is pretty nice too. The Cowboys stadium has a really weird vibe to it, almost like you're watching some sort of post-apocalyptic gladiator type thing (if I remember correctly there's like women dancing in cages or something).

Only college venue I've been to is Rupp unless you count seeing Siena play at the Times Union Center in Albany. Other than that I've just seen the Cats in pro arenas up in NYC. I'd love to get to Phog at some point though, seems like a cool vibe.

 

[DraftCat]

Roughly 5-6 games total at Rupp.... 1 a piece & Florida, Louisville and this year will be Clemson

I've had season tickets to the Bengals for 20 years. Went to SB at So-Fi class stadium. I've been to Cleveland was just okay. I thought Buffalo Bills stadium was a dump but the fans were amazing.

Reds I go to 3-5 games a year. Favorite Baseball Stadiums I've been to is Fenway, Oracle Park, Busch and Kauffman was underrated.

Would love to go to more UK games but it's pretty expensive.

 

[L.O.D.]

Nfl - Lambaeu field
College fball - Notre Dame
Nba - MSG
College b ball - Allen field house or Cameron (sorry Rupp Arena Imo just doesn't measure up I wish it did.

 

[runningbears]

I've been to a LOT of sporting venues in my lifetime.

Hands down the #1 was the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid Spain for Real Madrid.

World Series / Super Bowls / NCAA championship etc got NOTHING on the worlds largest Soccer Club. Almost 100K standing cheering yelling singing for 2 hours still gives me chills when I bring up the video.

Add the tail gaiting experience before AND after the match (they are shooting stuff out of the windows of residences all around the stadium) is like nothing I've seen in the US.

#1 on my list and it's not really even close.

Dr RB

 

[BluPappi81]

Hate the Golden Domers but a game day experience at Notre Dame is memorable.

Butler has a great old fieldhouse for basketball.

 

[catsfanbgky]

Would love to attend a night game down in Death Valley. With the live Tiger on the sidelines. It is just a very cool looking atmosphere.

 

[Deli owl]

My all time favorite venue is my home.

 

[JDHoss]

My all time favorite venue is my home.

I love the concession stand and no wait restrooms at My Home arena and stadium. They serve ice cold beer in bottles instead of plastic cups, and I can get wings, ribs, brisket, tacos, fully loaded nachos, burgers, hot dogs and such. I also love the replay screen that will replay every play I want to see. The reclining seats are really comfortable too, and at halftime they put up other games on the screen, and they do it during timeouts too. 😎

 

[SemperFiCat]

Hate the Golden Domers but a game day experience at Notre Dame is memorable.

Butler has a great old fieldhouse for basketball.

Great Indiana venues. South Bend and Hinkle are neat places, for sure! Another great Indy venue is Victory Field. Just a great ballpark! Everything about it is near perfect for seeing a baseball game. I think it's routinely voted best small ballpark or something.

 

[SemperFiCat]

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 500 needs to be on the bucket list for anyone who hasn't been. It's a long day, but it's a special one. That many people, the sound of the cars, the energy. Beyond impressive.

 

[BluPappi81]

Great Indiana venues. South Bend and Hinkle are neat places, for sure! Another great Indy venue is Victory Field. Just a great ballpark! Everything about it is near perfect for seeing a baseball game. I think it's routinely voted best small ballpark or something.

You’re so right about Victory Field. Spent many a summer evening there when I lived in Indy.

 

[HagginHall1999]

Totally guessing on the games, but went to UK for 4 years and lived in Lexington for a while after. Didn't go a ton as a kid, but went some

Best venue I visited outside of Rupp for bball would have to be Dean Smitch Center.

 

[BluPappi81]

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 500 needs to be on the bucket list for anyone who hasn't been. It's a long day, but it's a special one. That many people, the sound of the cars, the energy. Beyond impressive.

Agreed. My wife and I entertained clients for the 500 for many years. The pageantry before the race, the start and finish is fantastic. After attending for a number of years, after 20 or so opening laps we’d go to the infield for a nap then back to the stands for the finishing laps.

 

[SemperFiCat]

Agreed. My wife and I entertained clients for the 500 for many years. The pageantry before the race, the start and finish is fantastic. After attending for a number of years, after 20 or so opening laps we’d go to the infield for a nap then back to the stands for the finishing laps.

Seeing that amount of people in one place is pretty astounding. I've been to quite a few, and always in the infield with the degenerates, lol. Not sure how people sit in the bleachers and sun all day. I haven't been to the last couple (since I quit drinking). My next 500, I'm going to spend the majority of my day just walking around IMS and taking it all in with my new sober brain.

 

[DreadLox]

Favorite sports venue? Easy. The tennis courts on Hampton Rd in Rocky River, OH. They're right next to Rocky River Middle School now. It used to be Rocky River High a zillion years ago.

Hampton Rd Tennis Courts The link goes to a Google Map Street View image.

When we couldn't get enough people for a real baseball game, we'd play "court ball" -- something you could play with as few as 2 people. A pitcher and a batter. The pitcher stood in the center behind the net. The batter stood in the center of the baseline. If a hit ball hit the back wire fence on the fly that was a double. If you hit it over the fence that was a homer. If you missed a pitch twice, you were out. If you hit it into the tennis net you were called a "banjo hitter" and were also out. Caught fly balls were an out. 3 outs and you changed sides. I have no idea how long the games were supposed to last. No games ever went more than two at bats. Nobody ran the bases because hits were either homers or doubles. Don't ask for more details because I'd be making them up.

The courts were never used for tennis in all the time we lived up there. Almost 70 years ago. I never had more fun playing a sport than playing court ball.

Fun Fact: there used to be a post office parcel storage box right there at the corner. (If you clicked the link.) [edit] I just noticed there's a bare spot that has no grass right where the box stood. How cool is that? [/edit] On warm enough days after a big snow, on my way to school I'd take off my coat and put it under the post box and push snow all around it to hide it, Then, I'd pull the coat out after school let out before I went home. I was an idiot.

If you've clicked the link, that's pretty much how that bit of suburban paradise looked even way back then. The school is different, but the Carnegie Library is the same. The houses are the same. St. Christopher Catholic Church is the same. My old kindergarten across from St. Chris is an adult activity center now. The candy store next to it is a strip mall. There are now 5 6 tennis courts instead of 3 4 so it looks like people in Rocky River play tennis now.

 

[BluPappi81]

Seeing that amount of people in one place is pretty astounding. I've been to quite a few, and always in the infield with the degenerates, lol. Not sure how people sit in the bleachers and sun all day. I haven't been to the last couple (since I quit drinking). My next 500, I'm going to spend the majority of my day just walking around IMS and taking it all in with my new sober brain.

Fun fact on the infield and degeneracy. IMS banned motor homes in the infield when it was discovered some were pimpmobiles.

 

[chroix]

Early mornings on a foggy day at Keeneland. There is no better way to start your day.

 

[The_Answer1313]

Definitely not nearly as iconic as some other places but...........Shea Stadium

Just because most of my childhood was spent there lol. Sure it was a dump but it was our dump lol

 

[jeffky]

Wrigley Madison square garden and lambeau has to be high on the list nostalgia on steroids I have been to two of the three

 

[BC_Wader]

Of all the places I've seen games or concerts, I liked the feel of the old Market Square Arena in Indy. The lighting was perfect for a basketball game as it was directed at the court and the crowd wasn't as visible like you see today. Freedom Hall had the same feel.

 

[CB3UK]

My favorite venue is any MLB stadium. Nothing better than a day at the ballpark.

 

[*CatinIL*]

I've been to Fenway, Wrigley, Busch Stadiums, old and new, Camden Yards several times and Lambeau so I've knocked those out. Went to several games at Crosely Field as a kid so I'm fortunate there.

Going to Fenway was the one I wanted to go to the most and it didn't disappoint. Awesome experience.

GABC and others but they're what-ever. The worst was the dome in StL.

 

[*CatinIL*]

Early mornings on a foggy day at Keeneland. There is no better way to start your day.

It's hard to beat that!

 

[DreadLox]

Early mornings on a foggy day at Keeneland. There is no better way to start your day.

One Spring more than 50 years ago, I was in love with a woman who was a hot walker. I'd go out to the track in the mornings to just hang out to get a chance to talk to her. Beautiful, quietly busy times during that run up to racing season. A lot of the grooms in those days were women -- maybe they still are -- and they were more than aware of why this galoot (me) was out there with nothing to do. "So, come hold these reins while you're just standing around." So, I went in the stall to hold the horse's reins while the groom cleaned out its back hooves.

Later, I learned that, well, maybe you don't go into a stall with a horse that has a tendency to kick its groom.

The track in the morning is a lovely place. Even if you're doing dumb things.