I was wondering what people on the board felt were the best arena's to watch indoor soccer around the country. I've only been to 3 so far: the Kiel/Saavis/Scottrade Center naturally, Kemper Arena in KC twice, and I saw a Houston Hotshots game in the summer of '94- can't remember the name of the place in Houston. Also on a side note, does anyone remember a publication called "The Great Indoors" during the NPSL years?
Yes, that was my baby for the better part of 16 years. I decided to fold it over the summer because 1) the AISL was taking all of my time, and 2) it was becoming extremely hard to take the management of the MISL seriously, and it was impossible to cover the league objectively.
Interesting topic. I have watched AISA/MISL1/NPSL/MSL/MISL2 games from the following venues... Milwaukee Auditorium (Milwaukee Wave) US Cellular Arena (Milwaukee Wave) Bradley Center (Milwaukee Wave) The Odeum (Chicago Vultures) UIC Pavilion (Chicago Shoccers, Chicago Storm) Rosemont Horizon (Chicago Power) St. Louis Arena (St. Louis Storm) Keil Center (St. Louis Ambush) Family Arena (2004 MISL All-Star Game) Kemper Arena (Kansas City Comets) Cobo Hall (Detroit Rockers) CSU Convocation Center (Cleveland Force) Hara Arena (Dayton Dynamo) Canton Civic Center (Canton Invaders) Allen County Memorial Coliseum (Ft. Wayne Flames, Indiana Kick) MetroCentre (Illinois Thunder) Probably the best arenas that I can recall are ones that are newer, major-league arenas. This includes the Bradley Center, Keil Center, Family Arena and Kemper Arena. Minor kudos to the CSU Convocation Center, which was very nice for indoor soccer, but not quite there. All of these arenas have comfortable seats, good sight lines and a good atmosphere. It would then be easier to go to the worst arenas from above, which include The Odeum, the Rosemont Horizon, and Hara Arena. The Odeum can’t be considered a professional venue, it just so happens to be where the Vultures played. The Horizon had these horrible wooden seats, and a disappointingly small grade on the first level that made it impossible to see over the person in front of you – and worse, as you trailed the play down the field, you lost more of the field to crowd head. Hara Arena was a joke. I sat in the front row of two games, and the front row was way above the field… it was like looking in a snake pit. They had duct tape holding down the turf, and a really bad PA system.
I have seen Indoor @ UIC Pavilion - Chicago Storm (04-06) Sears Centre - Chicago Storm (06-??) Savvis Center - STL Steamers (3 occasions) US Cellular Arena - Milwaukee Wave (5 occasions) Pavilion was the best for Cosiness The Cell, is designed completely WRONG to see the game from the 300's behind the net, otherwise its a good view. Savvis I always think of it as a better version of the United Center, so Savvis had a GREAT view and comfort in the 100 and 200 levels I think I like the Sears Center the best. I only wish that the 200 level sorta over hung the 100 level a little. I just like little compact arenas cause they generate more noise.
I agree that the original Horizon was just about the worst. After the first Sting game there the crowd almost rioted at the after game party giving it to both sterns,Lee and kenny. The Horizon (since renovated and name changed to the all state arena) was horrible. It had the smallest most uncomfortable seats ever designed. The Sting paid a lot of money to raise the floor hoping to improve the sight lines and it only made it worse. Later in the season they had to put tarps on the first 4 rows becaue people couldn't see the action from there.
Rich, that was a great magazine. I enjoyed when you graded arena's on food, parking, the PA system & so forth. My dad was a subscriber for a long time.
The Omni wasn't bad either. The Atlanta Attack held the league attendace record during the 89-90 season, until the Wave moved into the Bradley Center.
I went to the Horizon once. Staying at O'Hare for business. Nothing to do one night. It was a Tuesday or Wednesday. Had the hotel call over about info. The concierge got into an argument with whomever answered the phone. Why?? He told me that he asked the Sting rep. when did the match start? He answered, "When can your guest get over here? We'll wait for him. ". He wasn't kidding. There must have 50 fans there that night and it wasn't even snowing.
Well of the few I've been to. Milwaukee Wave (Bradley Center, U.S. Cellular Arena) KC Comets (Kemper Arena) Cleveland Force (CSU Convocation Center) Chicago Storm (UIC Pavilion) I'd say the Best and Worst are both in Milwaukee, although the Cell may just seem bad compared to the Bradley center. Walking around the Cell allways reminded me of the London Underground for some reason. Also a note of thanks to mjames1229 for indulging my insistance that we had to do away games if we were going to call ourselves proper supporters and for letting me drag him to the above Arenas.
Chicago Stadium - The absolute best when it came to indoor soccer. The old Checker Dome/The Arena wasnt too bad either. yeah , I know, both gone........but they were still the best!!!
I've been to (for indoor soccer): Baltimore Arena Reunion Arena The Spectrum The Farm Show Hershey Arena Richfield Coliseum Wolstein Center Laredo Entertainment Center (bet no one has that one ha!) Market Square Arena Capital Centre Pittsburgh Civic Arena The Summit Reliant Arena Family Arena The E Center ARCO Arena Veterans Memorial Coliseum Continental Airlines Center (for women's tour) Verizon Center (for women's tour) Canton Checkerdome Kiel Center
you're right about the St.Louis Arena, i really miss that place; saw my first indoor game there when I was 4 or 5. The day the building was imploded was something else; you know what they have there in its place? Office buildings for yuppies.
Quite impressive Syd. Just think, in 2010 when yer summer league gets off the ground you can add 4 cities to this (just kidding my man). Here is my summary: Richfield Coliseum (my all time favorite) Gund Arena (overrated newer arena) The Convo Pittsburgh Civic Arena Palace of Auburn Hills Joe Louis Arena The Aud Marine Midland Arena Bradley Center (a great arena in my book) the Cell Allstate arena (the Horizon) Sears centre (VERY nice) UIC Pavillion Baltimore Arena Farm Show Keil center Kemper Arena Wachovia Spectrum Riverfront Coliseum (cincy) Cincinnati Gardens Nutter Center dayton Convention center (strangest place by far) National car Rental Center (Fla. Thundercats....stellar arena) US Air arena (very dark....great old place now history) Market Square Arena Canton Civic Center Arco arena I think our boy Featsent has us both beat. Ray in Ohio
I haven't been to as many as some of you but I have to say that Chicago Stadium was the Holy shrine for me. Chicago Stadium (Chicago Sting) The Odeum (Chicago Vultures) UIC Pavilion (Chicago Shoccers, Chicago Storm) Rosemont Horizon (Chicago Power) Rockford Metro Center(Illinois Thunder,Chicago Power) US Cellular Arena (Milwaukee Wave) Bradley Center (Milwaukee Wave) Kemper Arena (KC Attack) CSU Convocation Center (Cleveland Crunch) Nutter Center (Dayton Dynamo) Cobo Hall (Detroit Rockers) Canton Civic Center (Canton Invaders) Keil Center (St. Louis Ambush)
I had no idea the Dynamo played in a place called the "Nutter Center". What, is that next door to the "Tampax Arena"? Seriously that's a messed up name.
Nice. The Nutter Center was named after Erwin J Nutter, who I believe was an benefactor of Wright State U, where the Center is located. OK. I'm gonna try and give you my "List" Nassau Coliseum (NY Arrows and NY Express) Madison Square Garden (NY Cosmos-NASL) Meadowlands Arena (Cosmos-MISL) Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo (Buffalo Stallions and Buffalo Blizzard) HSBC Arena, Buffalo (Buffalo Blizzard) Wachovia Spectrum (Philadelphia KiXX) Hartford Civic Center (pre-season MISL exhib) Eastern States Coliseum (Massachusetts Twisters) Baltimore Civic Center/Arena/1st Mariner Arena (Baltimore Blast, Spirit) Du Burns Arena (Baltimore Bays-USL) Greensboro Coliseum (pre-season MISL exhib) National Car Rental Center (Florida Thundercats) Hersheypark Arena (Hershey Impact) Farm Show Arena (Harrisburg Heat) Pittsburgh Civic Arena (Pittsburgh Stingers) Richfield Coliseum (Cleveland Force/Crunch) CSU Convo Center (Cleveland Crunch/Force) Gund Arena (2002 MISL All-Star Game) Canton Civic Center (Canton Invaders-also my office) Dayton Convention Center (Dayton Dynamo) Tri-County Sportsplex (Cincinnati Excite) Game Time Training Center (Cincinnati Excite) Cincinnati Gardens (Cincinnati Silverbacks) US Bank Arena (Cincinnati Silverbacks) Cobo Arena (Detroit Rockers) Joe Louis Arena (Detroit Rockers) Palace of Auburn Hills (Detroit Neon/Safari, Detroit Rockers) Novoletto Rosati Complex (Detroit/Windsor Border Stars) Rosemont Horizon (Chicago Power) UIC Pavilion (Chicago Storm) Sears Centre (Chicago Storm) Bradley Center (Milwaukee Wave) US Cellular Arena (Milwaukee Wave) Wedgbury Indoor Sports Center (Rockford Thunder) St. Louis Arena (St. Louis Ambush) Kiel Center (St. Louis Ambush, 2005 MISL Champ Series) Family Arena (2004 MISL All Star Game) Kemper Arena (Kansas City Attack) Kansas Coliseum (Wichita Wings) San Diego Sports Arena (SD Sockers-CISL) Futbol Rapido Tijuana (SD Sockers vs Seleccion Tijuana exhib) I think that's all of them.
Game Time Training Center? Tri County Sportsplex? Novoletto Rosati Complex? How about my basement? I forgot the Nashville Arena on my list. Was it a neutral site match years ago that I attended?? I am jealous of the Kansas Coliseum and the SD Sports Arena, as well as the St. Louis Arena. No Chicago Stadium Rich that is a surprise. Ray
Old chicago stadium was indeed the best. I remember the sting selling out having 19,000 plus standing room and the noise in the place was incredible.No stadium held in the noise like the original chicago stadium.
Easy there Ray. The NRC and Game Time might not be comparable to the Convo, but they are places where I have seen indoor played in the AISL. I'm glad you brought it up. I also forgot the Gaylord Entertainment Center on my list. I saw the MIL-KC neutral site game there in 2001. Talk about a world-class arena! I went back there over Christmas for a Preds game, and along with the NCR Center in Sunrise, FL, it's one of the two best arenas that I've ever had the pleasure of visiting for any sport. And to answer your question, I really didn't do a hell of a lot of traveling until I moved out to Cleveland in 1993. By then, sadly, there was no indoor soccer at the "Madhouse on Madison". I do remember watching more than a few Blackhawks games on TV, and I could imagine how that building would shake after a Hawks goal or listening to Frank Pellico on the Barton organ accompany Wayne Messmer when he would belt out the National Anthem. For those of you who aren't Chicago-ites, the tradition during the National Anthem at Blackhawks game was to cheer and clap as loud as you could. It would reach a crescendo during the "and the rockets red glare", and again during the final "o say does that star spangled banner yet wave". I bought a tape of Wayne singing the anthem at the Hawk's old souvenir shop on Michigan Ave a few years back. You would literally get goosebumps.