Crew Stadium 2.0 - Construction News and Notes

Discussion in 'Columbus Crew' started by LaMacchia, Oct 6, 2019.

  1. MLSinCleveland

    MLSinCleveland Member+

    Oct 12, 2006
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Club:
    Cleveland C. S.
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It might, however, lead to the closest general parking being a bit closer if it the garage can absorb some of the premium parking.
     
    Kryptonite repped this.
  2. kgilbert78

    kgilbert78 Member+

    Borussia Mönchengladbach
    United States
    Dec 28, 2006
    Cowlumbus, OH
    Club:
    Borussia Mönchengladbach
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Still true tho....
     
    RafaLarios repped this.
  3. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite Fancy Title Here

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Exactly.

    Get there early and expect there to be traffic because, duh, it's a large event in a downtown area.

    It's 15-20 minute walk from the far southeast of the Arena District to the stadium. That's hardly a challenge for kids/families.

    Some people are just spoiled.
     
    Tobias C and Kyle Crew repped this.
  4. speedye1

    speedye1 Member+

    Dec 31, 2002
    So for normal fans I agree, but the C suite who are dropping 100k on boxes or field seats don't want to walk a mile to catch a game. These folks are spoiled and able to pay for it.
     
    Kryptonite repped this.
  5. LaMacchia

    LaMacchia Member+

    Jul 12, 2008
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They're not spoiled, they just like to complain because they have nothing better to do.
     
  6. LaMacchia

    LaMacchia Member+

    Jul 12, 2008
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    @Ch(Elsey) Here's my non-parent advice for your first match:
    • Park at the either the Marconi or Neil Avenue garage (reserve parking online here about a week ahead of each match).
    • Arrive at the parking garage about an hour before you'd like to be in the stadium (not an hour before kick), this will give you time to meander to from the garage to the stadium, taking in the Nationwide Blvd atmosphere on Crewsmas, and maybe swing through the tailgate if you're so inclined.
    • My recommendation - knowing a) it's your first time in the building, b) you have kids who will want to take it all in, c) you're going to be emotionally overcome from the moment you walk under the tracks to the moment you find your seats - is that you plan to be at the stadium gate an hour before kickoff. As soon as you scan your tickets, get yourself a beer (there will be 4-7 vendors literally right there) and take your time walking from the front door to your seats.
    • Pro-tip: Walk along the south side of the stadium and then make the turn left on the west side. This will take you past the trophy room where you can get some selfies/photos will all of the Cups & Shields we've won.
    • When you get to the North End, have a seat in the Bier Garden and just watch the people for a few minutes. Smell the smells, hear the sounds, see the excitement and joy on the faces.
    • Then, when you're ready, enter the Nordecke through the main entrance. If you want the full on, old-school loud & rowdy experience: Go down.
    • If you want a more chill experience, like what you had the last few years in the House Lamar Built: Go to your right & up. The higher & further west you go, the more chill it becomes. For reference, I made my home under the ".com" in the big Lower.com sign, about 5-7 rows from the top. Good people up there, too.
    • The pre-match festivities start about 20 minutes before kickoff and are going to be have some new components this year. Soak all of that in. Even though you're there for the soccer, they've put a lot of work and professionalism into making the event feel like a big-league event. It's paying off and, personally, gives me chills like the pre-match at Hunt Park never did.
    • When the time comes: Take note of the warm water in the bathrooms.
    • After the match, don't leave right away. But you already know that.
    • When you get back to your car roll down all the windows (weather permitting) and blast Toto's Africa as you make your way out of the garage.
    Let me know if I missed anything or you have more specific or follow up questions.

    Enjoy your first time, and make great memories with your kids. Y'all are going to be blown away by the experience.
     
  7. TKyle

    TKyle Moderator
    Staff Member

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Dec 28, 2014
    Nordecke’s Porch
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well done, LaMacchia. Well done.
    I’d merely add that the new Nordecke is standing only, but the upper left corner (ie the upper west corner) has the benches in the “down” position for those who want to be in Nordecke but would prefer to sit. There are some usual suspects (like me) who often sit up there.
    There’s a Schmidt’s under Nordecke and a Hot Chicken Takeover (that I’m pretty sure has a vegetarian offering) in the NW corner. Unless you’re going to stop at the Swenson’s at Polaris on your way down!
     
    Ch(Elsey) and MLSinCleveland repped this.
  8. LaMacchia

    LaMacchia Member+

    Jul 12, 2008
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I should specify here that I mean to make this trip inside the stadium. Enter the stadium through the main gate at the southeast corner, the first entrance you see.
     
  9. LaMacchia

    LaMacchia Member+

    Jul 12, 2008
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thank you, I figured I had some goodwill tax to pay for starting some bullsh*t over the last few pages.

    Also: I didn't leave the part about benches out on purpose for any specific reason, but I did leave it out because we can never predict what each new year brings.
     
    TKyle and Ch(Elsey) repped this.
  10. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite Fancy Title Here

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Exactly.

    Those who pay the big bucks should definitely be well-pampered. There's a very good reason suite levels are climate controlled, have private entrances, ridiculously-nice food options, in-suite restrooms, etc.

    It would be interesting to have seen what the initial feedback was regarding the original boxes at HCS. Remember, those were open-air at first. No doors, just a rope closing it off from the concourses.
     
  11. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite Fancy Title Here

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    "Pro-tip: Walk along the south side of the stadium and then make the turn left on the west side. This will take you past the trophy room where you can get some selfies/photos will all of the Cups & Shields we've won."

    Psst. I think you meant right. An excellent guide though. A+.

    A little birdie told me that the MLS Cup there is
    Spoiler alert! (open)
    not the one lifted in 2008, but a replica.
    We don't need to tell the kiddos that, however.

    Che -- As a bonus, there's all sorts of food/drink options on the south side of the stadium. TBH, there's a plethora of options all over, but there seems to be more there than anywhere else. Or maybe it just seems like such since I don't get down there much.
     
    Ch(Elsey) repped this.
  12. speedye1

    speedye1 Member+

    Dec 31, 2002
    Would this be a team or Nordecke leadership decision? I enjoy a halftime break off the feet.
     
  13. Bill Archer

    Bill Archer BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 19, 2002
    Washington, NC
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    After you visit the hardware, keep on going straight (north) all the way to the exit in the northwest corner, from whence you can leave the building and show the kids the team Ring of Honor. Of course you wont be able to get back in to watch the game, but its pretty much the only way the kids will ever see it.

    This will give you a chance to tell them tales of McBride and Sigi, and explain that Hejduk was a fine player but is mostly there because some trust fund asshole thought he was a cool guy.

    Then you can have discussion of how anyone could be so stupid and clueless that theyd put the Ring in pretty much the only place in the stadium that its guaranteed not to be seen.
     
  14. catfish9

    catfish9 Member+

    Jul 14, 2011
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I prefer to teach them economics at Betty's. Exhibit A: How does one sell PBRs at such a low price?
     
  15. jairadballerina

    jairadballerina Member+

    Sep 15, 2004
    C-Town
    This is a great list and I'll add since my kids are about the same age as @Ch(Elsey) I'd mention that the pregame festivities are loud. It's been said on here and I didn't notice it much until we brought my kids and some of their friends and a few of the friends were bothered by it. There's just a lot going on with the music and the supporters all around for the younger ones to understand (one of the kids was 10 and started to cry because of the overwhelming stimulus). After a few moments they were fine but something I didn't expect to deal with compared to the old stadium.
     
    Ch(Elsey) repped this.
  16. catfish9

    catfish9 Member+

    Jul 14, 2011
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I've seen this similar reaction from kids at various sporting events, concerts, large public gatherings. The complaint that things are too loud and/or over stimulating gives me pause for concern about our youth. Is it a function of the increased isolation they seem to have in their lives? The lack of interaction with others? The wearing of headphones to only listen to the movie or game they are constantly playing on their ipads? My nephew who is a pretty energetic and active kid even takes issue with loud noises. He wears ear plugs shooting a pellet gun that is not loud at all. Same with another one of my nephews who is a major gamer and is always buried in his electronics. I also see many kids and even teens who are not comfortable in large group settings. I truly think we have a problem on our hands and COVID certainly didn't help (but isn't completely to blame). Thankfully my kids are mostly grown and we didn't have these issues much but we do struggle a bit with our youngest who is in HS and perfectly content watching movies/TV on her phone or scrolling through social media in solitude without actual interaction with breathing humans - and also now a germaphobe (thanks COVID!).
     
    Bill Archer repped this.
  17. kgilbert78

    kgilbert78 Member+

    Borussia Mönchengladbach
    United States
    Dec 28, 2006
    Cowlumbus, OH
    Club:
    Borussia Mönchengladbach
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'll be honest here--as an "old f@rt", it's much too loud for me and Mrs KG (and we've been to a number of Whiteouts, which are not quiet). It's not just the kids, though you may well also be right about the issues you note here.
     
    Salacious Bum repped this.
  18. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite Fancy Title Here

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #7318 Kryptonite, Jan 30, 2023
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2023

    And all of that can lead you to the discussion of how some facacta nudnik nincompoop who was absolutely out of her gourd had the idea to dream up a "tri-state marketing plan" despite the fact that Columbus is not anywhere near any sort of tri-state area.


    For one, you start with a damn good deal on the lease and/or the bills.

    Two, as proven in Atlanta, if you sell a shitload of something, you don't need to mark the price up. You also may sell *more* of said item *because* the price is so low.

    They're also not anything fancy, nor do they pretend to be. They're not a place where social media "influencers" (wretch) go to see and be seen. You go there, you find your own damn seat and throw a few back after work or before the game. They're not part of a corporate chain where one "concept" pretends to be a dive bar. They're an actual hole-in-the-wall dive bar.

    And it seems there's not too many left, especially in nice neighborhoods.
     
    Sagz repped this.
  19. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite Fancy Title Here

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Regarding noise levels:

    Some of it might be that today's parents are more careful about protecting hearing. I don't necessarily think things like autism have risen, but we're more aware of things that can trigger sensitivities. Today's parents may just be more aware of things that could potentially upset their kids. Even kids at rock concerts have earplugs and headphones.

    With that said, the stadium noise levels could go down a few notches. It's like they forgot that part of the reason for the roof was to keep the noise trapped inside.
     
    Pauncho, Tobias C, TKyle and 2 others repped this.
  20. Tobias C

    Tobias C Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Mar 6, 2014
    Toledo, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'll also vouch for the stadium being particularly loud for kids. I've been to the new stadium twice. My wife and I are fine with the noise but do feel like it could come down a notch. We bring the noise cancelling earmuffs for both my 7 year old daughter and my son who is going on 2. My daughter is notably sensitive and dusturbed by excessively loud noise like fireworks. My toddler son could care less and loves the chaos but hes had a lot of issues with ear infections and has tubes and i prefer to play it safe with him. They just need them for the all the pregame hoopla. Once the game kicks off they're okay without them.
     
  21. DrunkandDisorderly

    Mar 17, 2008
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Now I feel like a neglectful parent. Connor hasn't ever worn any ear protection to games. He has a pretty good idea of when to cover his ears by now.
     
    TyphonInc repped this.
  22. catfish9

    catfish9 Member+

    Jul 14, 2011
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Exactly - The higher the demand the lower the price can be (or potentially vice versa), So long as you can increase the supply

    [​IMG]
     
  23. hardhead

    hardhead Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 19, 2008
    NEO
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    My son loves the stadium experience but both my daughters have both told me they thought the volume was too much. I thought it was much worse in the 2021 season. In 2022 they lowered the PA volume and it made a huge improvement to my experience. I guess enough of us filled out those feedback forms at the end of matches.
     
    TyphonInc repped this.
  24. Bill Archer

    Bill Archer BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 19, 2002
    Washington, NC
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    No question it was worse in 21. I thought they turned it down a notch about half way through the season, but wither way, it's way better now.

    Still plenty loud but you don't have to literally shout directly into someones ear to be jeard.
     
    MLSinCleveland repped this.
  25. west ham sandwich

    Feb 26, 2007
    C-bus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I have a completely different experience with kids. They do NOT want to meander around for an hour. They want to get there, get popcorn, watch game*, go home

    *and this part is iffy, even for my soccer player kid. My non-player kid has zero interest. But also would have zero patience anywhere for the Family Circle type meandering around in circles described by this.
     
    TyphonInc, CybrSlydr and Bill Archer repped this.

Share This Page