triplesevn
30 Apr 2005, 06:19 PM
I have a passion for stadiums & architecture like no other. So you would think that I could not wait for the new Emirates Stadium in Ashburton Grove and Wembley to open it's doors to the masses of Arsenal fans awaiting to catch a glimpse of their team. I am actually a Manchester United fan/supporter and love my "theater of dreams". Or do I really love it? But when it comes to stadiums, I don't play team favorite.
I have traveled world wide and visited as many stadiums as possible. In my country, the USA, I have visited nearly every big city stadium out there. From Hockey and Football to Baseball and Soccer. I have grown to dislike many of the stadiums in the US. Big beautiful houses they are, fan friendly they are not. Or at least for the 20 thousand plus that can't get the lower bowl seats.
Over the past several years, I have grown to love European stadiums. The atmosphere has been top notch but the stadiums are what they are, stadiums to watch an match or event. They allow you to be entertained by the team or event for what you paid for. You have the feel your apart of it! But that love is soon fading as time goes by and new multi use, giant 60,000+ stadiums pop up.
The day Highburry closes it's doors, will be one of the saddest days for me. As one of the remaining "big team" older stadiums left in England, will continue to lose them for every team. What I'm getting at is, too large, is not so great! Highburry to me, was rated my number one stadium next to Notre Dame's Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. The crowed is on top of the event. Ask yourself this question. What is the use of paying $30 plus and up to sit so high up you need binoculars to watch the game? In all of the stadiums I have been to, there's only one large seater that comes to mind in which you still felt the presence of the game. University of Michigan. It's actually the largest stadium in the US and one of the largest in the entire world. Yet, it's design keeps you in the game no matter where you sit. The Rose Bowl in LA is very smiliar to Michigan as well but not quite.
In 2002, I attended WC Korea/Japan. I had great seats for a couple of matches as I expected since I paid top price for them. Then, I got "nose bleeder" seats in two games in which again, I paid the top price for the tickets. I was so upset, that I refused to watch the game. After a bit, my friend talked me into watching and just give my support to the Team. I remember asking, how can I do that if we are sitting 8 rows from the top and screaming at the top of my "deep" voice, only the usher/guard in our area can hear me! My camera, which I used a 200mm telephoto and Aspherical lens could barely zoom in enough to actually take a picture of a goal mount cross little alone an upclose pic of a player.
Well, this was FIFA's great idea of screwing people out of money of course. I paid for the Cat 1 seats. But FIFA regards anything with in the parameters of the field length wise, lower or "upper" decks to be priced as Cat 1. How they can do this? Well, they're FIFA! I sat in the corner of the stadium, 8 rows from the top!
It appears the architecture monsters here in the US have made the crossing of Oceans, world wide. With Arsenals new stadium, the atmosphere that was sought out world wide will be gone. Sure, the chanting will go on but that feel. That special feel you could only get from sitting atop the field will no longer be there. That cannot be replaced!
I can't wait to visit both the new Stadiums in London. Emirates and Wembley but I can wait forever to watch a game there! Wembley will be one of the worse stadiums in terms of fan friendly as far as I'm concerned. I can see already the average fan will sit so far away from the game, your better off watching it from home or if you still want to pay your money just to be there, then sit in one of the restaurants and watch it on TV!
Luckily for now, the US will assume the role in the sport of Soccer/Football for having excellent fan friendly stadiums. With the new HDC in LA, Columbus, and several of the newer stadiums being built and future ones down the road, all will need is a fan base to fill up those places and have the same energy level as in Europe. With out the flares and fights of course. But at least when you pay your $50 bucks, your getting what you pay for even if the game is rubbish! Cause you can smell the grass. Read the names and numbers on the back of a players jersey. Actually see the ball and it's true height when kicked up in the air.
I hope to see at least one more match at the old Highburry before it's too late. Because no other stadium on Earth can match it's presence as apart of the game.
I have traveled world wide and visited as many stadiums as possible. In my country, the USA, I have visited nearly every big city stadium out there. From Hockey and Football to Baseball and Soccer. I have grown to dislike many of the stadiums in the US. Big beautiful houses they are, fan friendly they are not. Or at least for the 20 thousand plus that can't get the lower bowl seats.
Over the past several years, I have grown to love European stadiums. The atmosphere has been top notch but the stadiums are what they are, stadiums to watch an match or event. They allow you to be entertained by the team or event for what you paid for. You have the feel your apart of it! But that love is soon fading as time goes by and new multi use, giant 60,000+ stadiums pop up.
The day Highburry closes it's doors, will be one of the saddest days for me. As one of the remaining "big team" older stadiums left in England, will continue to lose them for every team. What I'm getting at is, too large, is not so great! Highburry to me, was rated my number one stadium next to Notre Dame's Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. The crowed is on top of the event. Ask yourself this question. What is the use of paying $30 plus and up to sit so high up you need binoculars to watch the game? In all of the stadiums I have been to, there's only one large seater that comes to mind in which you still felt the presence of the game. University of Michigan. It's actually the largest stadium in the US and one of the largest in the entire world. Yet, it's design keeps you in the game no matter where you sit. The Rose Bowl in LA is very smiliar to Michigan as well but not quite.
In 2002, I attended WC Korea/Japan. I had great seats for a couple of matches as I expected since I paid top price for them. Then, I got "nose bleeder" seats in two games in which again, I paid the top price for the tickets. I was so upset, that I refused to watch the game. After a bit, my friend talked me into watching and just give my support to the Team. I remember asking, how can I do that if we are sitting 8 rows from the top and screaming at the top of my "deep" voice, only the usher/guard in our area can hear me! My camera, which I used a 200mm telephoto and Aspherical lens could barely zoom in enough to actually take a picture of a goal mount cross little alone an upclose pic of a player.
Well, this was FIFA's great idea of screwing people out of money of course. I paid for the Cat 1 seats. But FIFA regards anything with in the parameters of the field length wise, lower or "upper" decks to be priced as Cat 1. How they can do this? Well, they're FIFA! I sat in the corner of the stadium, 8 rows from the top!
It appears the architecture monsters here in the US have made the crossing of Oceans, world wide. With Arsenals new stadium, the atmosphere that was sought out world wide will be gone. Sure, the chanting will go on but that feel. That special feel you could only get from sitting atop the field will no longer be there. That cannot be replaced!
I can't wait to visit both the new Stadiums in London. Emirates and Wembley but I can wait forever to watch a game there! Wembley will be one of the worse stadiums in terms of fan friendly as far as I'm concerned. I can see already the average fan will sit so far away from the game, your better off watching it from home or if you still want to pay your money just to be there, then sit in one of the restaurants and watch it on TV!
Luckily for now, the US will assume the role in the sport of Soccer/Football for having excellent fan friendly stadiums. With the new HDC in LA, Columbus, and several of the newer stadiums being built and future ones down the road, all will need is a fan base to fill up those places and have the same energy level as in Europe. With out the flares and fights of course. But at least when you pay your $50 bucks, your getting what you pay for even if the game is rubbish! Cause you can smell the grass. Read the names and numbers on the back of a players jersey. Actually see the ball and it's true height when kicked up in the air.
I hope to see at least one more match at the old Highburry before it's too late. Because no other stadium on Earth can match it's presence as apart of the game.