There are always fun and interesting threads circulating Twitter prompting you to identify your favorite this or favorite that or top 5 this or that. Recently, one was sweeping through my feed in which you identified your first, last, best, and worst stadiums. I've been fortunate to attend a ton of venues so I figured I'd share this for various sports…
MLB
FIRST: Arlington Stadium
I don't really remember this but I know it was the first baseball park I went to at the big league level. Frankly, I only have faint memories of my first game at The Ballpark in Arlington, but I at least remember the opponent and some details like pitchers etc.
LAST: Globe Life Park
Last game of the year. It was a great sendoff to the park I grew up attending and the place my love for baseball truly manifested. I got to call my first big league game in that park and experienced so many other special experiences. While I'm excited for Globe Life Field, the old home will always be special.
BEST: Wrigley Field
From the feel of the ballpark to the fans and the surrounding environment, Wrigley is my favorite. There are so many great ones, both new and old, and I'd even say there are far more great ones than even so-so ones, but Wrigley, for me, is the mecca. The whole experience is really special. Sit in the bleachers. Be prepared to enjoy Wrigleyville before and after and save room for some deep dish!
WORST: Oakland Coliseum
…or whatever it is called these days. It is actually a good spot for broadcasters from a sightline standpoint, but the park itself is without update and it doesn't help that for a standard game it is empty. It also loses points for being in the middle of nowhere.
NBA
FIRST: Reunion Arena
My first sports home. I got the chance to go to an event there a couple years after the Mavs and Stars moved and I couldn't believe how small it was. That was part of the beauty, though, and certainly a part of the energy. It got LOUD there. Miss that place.
LAST: Talking Stick Resort Arena
Attended a Suns-Lakers game at Spring Training. It is what it is. Not a bad spot, but not my favorite.
BEST: Staples Center
Sadly, I've not been the Madison Square Garden yet. The mystique of Staples for a Lakers game is cool. My college years in L.A. overlapped with Kobe's peak and a couple of titles so the energy in and around that building was cool. The game presentation of darkening the stands and spotlighting the court is unique.
WORST: The Palace at Auburn Hills
It was just a place to watch a game and nothing more. The Pistons also stunk when I went so that probably didn't help.
NHL
FIRST: Reunion Arena
The decibel level during those playoff runs was un-freaking-believable.
LAST: Gila River Arena
The Coyotes aren't a bad team but people in the area just don't go and support them. It's empty there.
BEST: Joe Louis Arena
I haven't been to all the Canada spots. While Joe Louis wasn't the best in terms of how updated it was, the history and the passion in that building was really cool. One of my regrets, speaking of hockey in that area, is that I've not been to a good at Yost Arena, home of the Michigan Wolverines hockey. Apparently it is INSANE!
WORST: Honda Center
Just kind of a building that hosted hockey…
NFL
FIRST: Cowboys Stadium
It was a hot game against the Bears and a fan a row behind me, as we baked in the sun, passed out. Later in the game, a Bears fan fought…another Bears fan. The Cowboys won…I think.
LAST: AT&T Stadium
It doesn't have the same energy or atmosphere that others do but for what Jerry wanted it to be, he knocked it out. It is larger than life and I feel like everything was done pretty well.
BEST: Lambeau Field
Arrowhead is a close second, but there's just nothing like Lambeau. Get there on Friday night and go to Bart Starr's restaurant. Spend Saturday at the casino and the dedicate all of Sunday to tailgating and football. It is as pure of a place as there is.
WORST: Cowboys Stadium
I don't know…No emotional connection there for me and it always seemed so dirty.
NCAA FB
FIRST: Cotton Bowl
I was very delayed in attending a college football game, at least to my memory. Around the time I was 12 I went to a Red River Shootout game (Yes, it was still "Shootout" then…I think). OU blew out Texas. The red-orange split is cool.
LAST: AT&T Stadium
Went to The Big 12 Title game
BEST: Notre Dame Stadium
This was not an easy choice. Michigan Stadium, Beaver Stadium (Penn State), Memorial Stadium (Clemson), and Ohio Stadium (Ohio State) are all awesome. This Fall, COVID-pending, I'm heading to Baton Rouge for LSU. But, for now, Notre Dame leads the list. My first of two experiences there was first a USC blowout win over Notre Dame during what was an emabarrasingly poor year for Notre Dame. Despite that, their fans were loud, loud, loud throughout and that band and that fight song are both special.
WORST: Most neutral site early-season games AND Reser Stadium
The early-season neutral site game typically doesn't fill the facility—at least the generic ones in Arlington—and doesn't have the same college feel to it. I also hate Oregon State's Reser Stadium because of a Thursday night game during my sophomore year at USC in which they pulled off a huge upset—USC's only loss of a dominant year—and cost the Trojans a national title appearance.
NCAA BB
FIRST: Capital One Arena
HoHome of the Georgetown Hoyas, I caught a Georgetown-St. John's game. Iverson and Artest. It was pretty cool.
LAST: Grand Canyon University Arena
GCU isn't a known hoops commodity but their hoops environment is nuts.
BEST: Allen Fieldhouse
I've been to Cameron and I think Allen just barely edges it out. There are several moments where you get chills in the pregame presentation. The fans are nuts and the atmosphere is outstanding.
WORST: Gill Coliseum
Oregon State finding its way on the list…again.
