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nojnotslar
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Grade your facilities |
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In an effort to keep discussions going here give all your school's facilities individual (i.e. gyms, soccer fields, baseball fields, etc.) and a cumulative
grade, plus give your school a progress report grade for any plans in the works for new/improved facilities.
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TitanCzar |
#1 | |||
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CSF:
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gauchoadam |
UCSB | #2 | ||
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CURRENT FACILITIES:
CU Stadium (Baseball): Caesar Uyesaka Stadium, has had minor improvements over time like a new scoreboard, a locker room and a pitching / batting practice facility. The new AD coming from Oregon State understands the importance of baseball and would like to put UCSB back on the baseball map. Till such time, there isn't really any concessions, bathrooms, sky boxes, or anything notable when it comes to operations. The stadium reminds me of Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield, where there wasn't any real plan at any one time to build something. However, the sightlines from the ground and above are unique, which gives it a slight boost on my rating. d+. Softball Stadium: If there wasn't a scoreboard at the end of the field, you would think it was either a practice facility, or a Rec Sports field. However, the field is kept in a little better shape than the baseball field. C- Pauley Track & Field: The bleachers are rotting away. The track itself is okay. But without any facilities for the teams fans etc. the track receives a very poor rating. d- Harder Stadium (Soccer) A few years ago, I believe they replaced it with some of the best grass / turf for soccer. They recently replaced a number of bleachers and there should be a number of improvements to the press box in time for hosting the college cup. The atmosphere is obviously amazing when packed. However, the stadium hasn't received any notable renovations since when it was first built. B Thunderdome (Basketball, W. Volleyball): Atmosphere when packed, A+. Atmosphere when dead, C-. I'm obviously biased, because I enjoy banging on the wooden bleachers. They've made a few improvements, new sound system, slight paint job inside etc. Some opposing fans think its a dump, others are neutral, which is why I give it a... B- Rob Gym (M. Volleyball) The floor may have been touched up a number of years ago. But, I don't think anything else has really changed since it was built. C Tennis Courts (W. Tennis) A few old courts that the women's tennis team call home. d. Tennis Courts (M. Tennis) They play on some new courts closer to the Rec Cen. No seating and that it's not a complex, lowers the score. B Campus Pool (M/W Water Polo, M/W Swimming) I think the water polo teams gave up playing there a number of years ago because it wasn't regulation depth for water polo. Not sure if it's metal or wooden bleachers with all of the rust around it. The area is schedule for demolition sometime in the future. F ICA Building (Athletics Administration) I think there are still some projects like a Wall of Fame in the mix for the building. I have mixed reviews. I don't think it houses a significant study area for the athletes. Yet, it has its own theater and other cool rooms / areas. It has some interesting architecture from the front, but looks normal (even really nice) from the back. Because you have to walk inside for the ticket office, I give it a B+ / A- FUTURE PROJECTS: Aquatics Center: This one seems to be THE project on the works for UCSB Athletics. I saw on the main tuition / registrar costs page that students' have already begun paying some if not all of the costs for the center. It looks like it'll be really nice, likely in hopes to host some championships or at least regionals. Because of the small scale though, I give it an A- Indoor Practice Facility: Not sure where or when this would ever be built. But it's on the idea blocks. No rating because designs, sketches haven't been made. OVERALL: D+, C-, D-, B, B-, C, D, B, F, A-, A- GPA: 2.02 Overall Avg. Grade: C
Last Edited By: gauchoadam 06/15/09 9:23 AM.
Edited 2 times.
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Nacho Man.ucsbgauchos |
Re: UCSB Facilities | #3 | ||
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Adam ... I jog on UCSB's track a few times a week ... you obviously never have. It is falling totally apart. Crumbling. Holes all over the running surface.
It is an F-minus. The whole facility is a joke. If there are no plans to fix it, I say drop track and field. It is a complete embarrassment to the university.
You also rated the Thunderdome much too high ... I also play basketball there every once in a blue moon, and it's like playing on concrete. The floor is rock hard -- tough on the knees and ankles and backs. The whole facility needs a little more flash. It just feels like a big, old gym. You also rated Cesar Uyesaka Stadium too highly. It lacks so much for the fans, especially. In fact, your ratings were bloated for most of UCSB's facilities, except the pool. I guess you can't go lower than an F. But I'm pretty sure the water polo teams still play there. |
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TitanCzar |
#4 | |||
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I do think there is a huge difference between the atmosphere at games and the actual facility.
Yes, the Thunderdump is a dump. But the UNC game brought back the atmosphere of the late 80's, when the Thunderdome had a great atmosphere. The Bren is a nice facility. But there is no atmosphere at that place.
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ucr88 |
UCR | #5 | ||
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Basketball/Volleyball: D+
It is what it is, a great facility for student recreation/intramurals that was never designed or intended to be a full time D1 gym. Capacity is more than enough for our crowds, but it just has that "borrowed" feel and doesn't feel like a true home gym. Seats are set too far back so it doesn't even have the nice in your face atmosphere like CSUN and CSF where their front row is practically in arm's reach of the court. Scoreboards are lame. At least we finally got real scorer's tables last year and were able to retire the cheap folding tables on the sidelines. If this is going to be our permanent home, then let's make some immediate, affordable improvements such as a new scoreboard, better seating, and do something about those ugly light blue end zone walls that look terrible in photos and on TV. If this is still a "temporary" home, then let's see a plan and timeline for the replacement. Baseball: B- Lights, ample seating, nice comfortable seats down the 1st and 3rd base lines, uncomfortable bleacher seating behind home plate that needs to be upgraded. Nice unobtrusive screen behind home plate, easy to watch a game from there compared to the chain link fence/crossbar maze blocking the view from the center seats at CSF. Grass and infield have looked very well maintained the last couple of years, but some weird dips and slants in the outfield. Good sound system. Ugly old scoreboard. Topnotch clubhouse. Softball: B+ I've never watched a game here or seen any other Big West facilities, but the playing field and grandstand is just 5 years old and looks nice to me. Soccer: A- Brand new field, nice new scoreboard, new goals, new lights. I don't know how the players feel about the artificial turf vs grass, but the field looks terrific and they apparently went all out to get the best possible quality turf and cushion. Smallish grandstand, but more than adequate for our needs. Tennis: B- Still looks new and nice, small amount of seating but I'm sure it's plenty. Track: F------ A complete mess. Haven't been able to host meets for a few years now due to all the holes in the track. Bleachers are closed off and condemned. A real shame, especially in contrast to the much improved track athletes and coaching staff that we now have. Good Cross Country course, however, that has hosted 4 of the last 7 Big West championships. Overall: C Plans in the works: Events center. With the state budget mess and crash of the inland economy, I'd give UCR basketball better odds of making the Final Four than seeing this built within the next 10 years. SRC expansion Not sure what the timeline is on this. It include plans for a swimming complex, but I don't know if it will be capable of hosting competitive swimming/water polo.
Last Edited By: ucr88 06/15/09 8:49 PM.
Edited 1 time.
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highlanderrunner |
#6 | |||
Plans in the works: And by the likes of Long Beach and Fullerton, it doesn't seem like it will be funded through a student referendum... |
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Kirk SR |
CSUF Facilities | #7 | ||
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Baseball - Turf and infield have been redone, making this one of the better playing fields in the BW. Locker room needs to enlarged and padded outfield walls
need to be added. A real press box would be a great addition. Seating is great... except for those horrible poles behind home plate. Czar's grade of B
seems a little low, but the removal of the poles alone would surely raise the grade to a B+ or A-.
Softball - Among the better softball facilities that I have seen. We host two big tournaments each year and attract the top teams in the country. Doubek VIP Room offers a great view of the field. We are blessed to have two fields next to each other for tourneys. Turf was in great shape all year. Basketball - I will take Czar's C grade and run! Not as dark as it used to be, but it sure isn't bright either. Soccer - Great place to watch a game. I would argue that it is one of the best soccer facilities in the western United States. Turf upgrades prior to the start of last season have considerably improved the playing field. Hopefully people will continue to water the field. It looked great two weeks ago. B+ Track - After having a F- track for the last several years, a new track was recently installed and we were able to host our first track events in years. Portable bleachers are kind've tacky, but function for what we currently require. It is not the Loker Track Stadium by any means, but the actually running surface is nice, and our team seemed to perform better because of it. C+. Tennis - Who knows? Who cares? |
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aggie6thman |
UC Davis Facilities | #8 | ||
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The Pavilion: B There are some minor improvements that can be made to make the Pavilion one of the best places to play in the Big West. Fortunately for us,
it is currently undergoing a $5 million dollar make over. Some changes that you can expect are new seating on the lower section of the arena, a new removable
floor, and they are going to blow out the concrete between the middle and lower levels so you can walk all the up from the floor.
Dobbins Stadium: B- Lights would be a MAJOR plus and the seats are somewhat uncomfortable, but Dobbins is an otherwise nice place to watch a game. Capacity right now allows us to host a regional, but the lack of lights won't allow it to happen. Also, no locker rooms are present on site, players have to come dressed to the field. Aggie Soccer Stadium: C The turf looked like a patch-work quilt last season and I don't know why. Also, the capacity is very low for the crowds that we have been drawing the last two years. Coach Schaffer has done a great job with the team and I think they deserve to get a much needed addition. Lights would also be a plus to help draw even bigger crowds. Marya Welch Tennis Complex: A Brand new facility that opened just a few years ago has plenty of seating and large scoreboard. Schaal Aquatic Center: A+ Hosted the women's water polo finals a few years back. Great facility with lights, locker room, the works. Located just south of Aggie Stadium. LaRue Field: C+ The department just added a new scoreboard in center field. I know the softball team is raising funds to try and make some improvements. Permanent seating would be nice along with locker rooms for both teams. Overall though not a bad place to watch a game. |
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gauchoadam |
Since Cal Poly hasn't chimed in | #9 | ||
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Since Cal Poly hasn't chimed in, I thought I would give it a shot.
Mott Gym: Reminiscent of an old WWII bunker or hangar, this facility is definitely showing its age. The few positives are a number of chairback seating and ~3,000 seating capacity. C-/D+ Alex G. Spanos Stadium: Well at least one side of it... I've heard the Mustang Village side stadium is really nice with skyboxes, chairback seating etc. The confined field can be a positive or negative depending on the player and coach. I also heard there was going to be a new scoreboard built. The negatives are that the rest of the seating is pretty much portable or part of the older stadium. B- Bagget Stadium (Baseball): The only thing missing is some extra seating and maybe some VIP boxes. Otherwise, I've heard the field is in great shape and its a great place to watch a ball game. I'm guessing there are concessions and restrooms. B+ Janssen Field (Softball): Similar positivies and negatives for the baseball field. Appears well designed and maintained. A- Mustang Tennnis Complex: Haven't really seen much of the complex the times that I have visited. Judging from the facilities page, I'll give it a B because of lack of seating, scoreboards and ammenities. Track & Field: From my understanding there might be a lot of wear on the field from multiple sports & programs that used to practice or play there. Not sure about seating, ammenities or the actual track, so I'll be pretty subjective and give it a C+ Anderson Aquatic Center: From what I've seen and remembered it looks worse off than Mott Gym (if I'm thinking of the right facility). |
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dodgerdarin |
LBSU's facilities | #10 | ||
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Pyramid A-/B+ great place to watch a game. If Seth would've stayed and it got built out A+
Blair Field B+ because of all the history and the new scoreboard. Without it C+ Softball C Mediocre. Should be higher but fumbled. Tennis Center A- due to it's nice design, scoreboard and being brand new. Needs a clubhouse. Track and Field F Water Polo D- Upgrade needed promptly Soccer Field D only because of the man it's named after. Sad isn't it? Overall facilities are C+ but will improve quicker than anybody in the Big West when our president pulls the trigger. |
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No33pc |
UCI facilities | #11 | ||
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Since no one has posted re UCI, I will give my impressions:
Overall, I would say playing surfaces and public viewing/comfort rates a B -- Coaches offices, locker rooms, behind the scenes facilities (except Baseball) rate a C-. |
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Nacho Man.ucsbgauchos |
Adam, explain to me ... | #12 | ||
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... Why you consider the 3,000 seating at Cal Poly's Mott Gym to be a plus.
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gauchoadam |
Nacho: Mott 3,000 | #13 | ||
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Seating 3,000 is generally better than seating 1,500.
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Nacho Man.ucsbgauchos |
Mott-ley Gym | #14 | ||
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3,000 is good because it's more than 1,500? That's like saying that Rosie O'Donnell is sexy because she's not as gross as Roseanne Barr.
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Pacificness |
UOP Facilities | #15 | ||
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UOP:
Upcoming facilities: A UOP recently broke ground on the Jannsen-Lagario multipurpose gym adjactent to the Spanos Center. It will house practice facilities for basketball and volleyball and will feature 3 basketball courts that will divide into 9 volleyball courts. It will also feature a competition court with seating, training rooms, and locker rooms. This will replace the ancient South Gym which has no restrooms, no central air, low ceilings, old lights, and an awful stench. |
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moballer1193 |
#16 | |||
aggie6thman wrote:I agree with most of these but these are some of the grades I would change- Dobbins Stadium- D+ Not having locker rooms suck. Players have to go to the Pavilion to get dressed out. The benches are the least comfortable seats I've ever sat in. Add in 100 degree weather and the benches are unbearable to sit in. Aggie Soccer Field- D+ There are no locker rooms which causes problems because the opposing team has to go behind some trees at halftime for somewhat privacy. It's really small, could use another side of bleachers and the grass needs to be maintained a lot better. |
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gouci |
Regrade | #17 | ||
No33pc wrote:As someone that has actually step foot on UCI's tennis courts and have seen most of the other Big West tennis facilities I'm doing a regrade. Tennis courts = A- - There are 2 rows of courts each with grandstands seating a total of 500, at least twice as much seating capacity as any other in the Big West. The UCI men's and women's teams are the only Big West schools to have hosted in the past ITA western regionals. - The 2 rows of courts are separated by a walkway with drinking fountains, benches and landscaping. Most Big West rows of courts are side to side separated by a fence. - The main courts have lights, umpire chairs and signs listing the tradition of UCI tennis. - The only thing lacking is a scoreboard which really isn't a big deal. ARC (Anteater Recreational Center) = A+ - Workout heaven. - 110,000 sq. ft at a cost around $50 million that's nicer than any regional sport clubs by 24 Hr. Fitness, LA Fitness, Balley's, Spectrum Club etc. - Includes a rock climbing wall, 2nd floor indoor track, racquetball courts, basketball courts, etc. - Offer a Bod Pod (high tech capsule that measures your body fat), cooking classes, dance classes, etc. - Outside is a Olympic size pool, softball fields, soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, obstacle course, etc.
Last Edited By: gouci 06/20/09 12:49 AM.
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Eateralum86 |
UCI's Facilities | #18 | ||
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The Bren Center: A- Volleyball and basketball are played here and is very good for both players and viewers. Locker room dated, but adequate and in same
building. It's held-up pretty good over the 20+ years of pretty heavy use for many types of non-sporting events. Good viewing from all comfortable plasic
chairbacks. The beer garden for basketball games is a plus - and the way we usually play - a must!
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Towknie |
#19 | |||
Eateralum86 wrote:Does that mean no more beer in the stands? I haven't been to a game since probably 2000, and we could still drink in our seats. In the 90s, they sold beer on the floor. That was fantastic. |
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Eateralum86 |
Beer and Basketball at the Bren | #20 | ||
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Towknie: Yes, you can still take beer to your seat at the Bren. In fact, it's a must for most games. The Beer Garden is just a place where you can
mingle before and during games, as well as get all the food as in the other concession stand without the lines of the non-beer drinkers. Open to home and
visiting team fans.
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