What do you believe is the ideal Stadium for each MLL team?

[temporary1357]

I just want opinions (even on just one team), because it seems like some teams just don't play in places that will bring fans and create a major league experience. I've listed the tentative venues for next year. You can include factors like location, capacity, amenities, rent cost.

Boston: Nickerson Field
Long Island: Mitchel Athletic Complex
Philadelphia: Villanova Stadium (?) (heard rumors about a move to Franklin)
Baltimore: Johnny Unitas Stadium
New Jersey: Sprague Field(?) (who knows where the hell they'll be next year)
Rochester: PAETEC Park
Denver: INVESCO Field
Los Angeles: Home Depot Center Track Stadium
San Francisco: Kezar Stadium
Chicago: Northwestern University (?) (they haven't announced it, but it's hinted)

Since I'm from LA, I'll talk about the HDC. They have an incredible soccer stadium and a great tennis stadium. Unfortunately, their track stadium kinda sucks. At best, it's a high quality high school stadium, all of the seating is bleachers. It does host the US Track Championships every year, so it can handle big league events, but it's nothing like the soccer stadium there. Plus, Carson just isn't a great location. It's more in the lower income part of Southern California (next to Compton) where none of the kids even know what lacrosse is. Further down the coast, even towards San Diego, would've been better. The big plus I guess is that the HDC is owned by the same owner of the MLL franchise, so there will be no rent issues. And besides Galaxy/Chivas reserve team games, nothing goes on at the track stadium.

Off the top of my head, the only half-decent stadiums I could think of that are in better locations are Titan Stadium at Cal State Fullterton and the Santa Ana Bowl at SA College. Titan Stadium is quite a good facility and Fullerton isn't a hard location to get to. SAB is REALLY far from the center of LA, but you'll probably find more lacrosse fans in that area. I don't want to go TOO south or else you may as well call the team San Diego.

[mammothlacrosse]

we will get enough people at Mile High so u dont have to worry about the Denver team

[laxrat22]

ya carson isn't the best area for a lacrosse team but i will enjoy hittin up roscos chicken and waffles after the games

[HdGLaxWarrior]

The Bayhawks should be in M&T Bank Stadium.

[memphislax]

Don't forget the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN. (It's a dream of mine.....)

[Rok629]

The MLL stadiums all should be intimate venues.Holding no more than 10,000 for now at least.The venues should be very fan friendly.

M&T was just way too big for The BayHawks.

Johns Hopkins was and is a great venue for lacrosse games.It has so much history.Though location and parking sucks.

[Lax101]

The Bayhawks should be in M&T Bank Stadium.
They tried, it was a miserable failure. The rent for such a big stadium was a pain, and you can't play in a stadium that seats 50,000 when you can't sit 5,000. It just doesn't work.

and mammoth, no they won't. Mile High seats what...30,000-50,000? You seat that number of people at the NCAA Championships.

And while im at this, for now on:

ALL PEOPLE DISCUSSING IN THIS ARTICLE, DO NOT REFERENCE YOUR HOMETOWN TEAM WITHOUT A DECENT ARGUEMENT TO BACK IT. Those kind of posts always ruin a good discussion like this.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

They tried, it was a miserable failure. The rent for such a big stadium was a pain, and you can't play in a stadium that seats 50,000 when you can't sit 5,000. It just doesn't work.

and mammoth, no they won't. Mile High seats what...30,000-50,000? You seat that number of people at the NCAA Championships.

80,000*

It was just cool though.

[mammothlacrosse]

i never said we would get 30,000 at a game more like 5,000 -8,000 a game but that better then what the rest of the league can do.

[Lax101]

but 5,000-8,000 isnt enough for a stadium that seats 30,000-50,000, look at what happened to M&T Bank.

[temporary1357]

From what I've seen in Colorado Rapids games, you need a minimum of 8,000 just to make 1 side of the lower bowl look decent. INVESCO seats over 75,000. The Rapids new stadium in Commerce City will seat 18,500, which is like PAETEC Park. But I'm guessing CC still has ways to go before it's a good community.

The MLL stadiums all should be intimate venues.Holding no more than 10,000 for now at least.The venues should be very fan friendly.
The problem is many under-10,000 stadiums are total crap, meaning they're not in good locations, they're run down, and they lack basic amenities like bathrooms and concession stands. They are pretty much 2 large bleacher grandstands with enough room for kids to run around for 2 hours.

If only they designed small stadiums like they do in Europe. This is a picture of the Molde Stadium in Norway, that seats only 10,000.
http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/Nor/Nye_Molde4.jpg

Hell, let's go even smaller, this is the Fazanerija Stadium in Slovenia, which seats 5,400.
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/slovenia/murska_sobota.jpg

[lilaxgurl23]

I don't know about Rochester, there's some pluses and minuses. Plus to the new awesome looking stadium, but 17,500 will be hard to fill. Last year in the begining of the season Rochester had a hard time with attendence until the end of the season. Also parking will suck, have to walk from Frontier. But it's a decent stadium

[temporary1357]

I don't know about Rochester, there's some pluses and minuses. Plus to the new awesome looking stadium, but 17,500 will be hard to fill. Last year in the begining of the season Rochester had a hard time with attendence until the end of the season. Also parking will suck, have to walk from Frontier. But it's a decent stadium
Well, they can always close off the endzone seats, because in lacrosse, you really don't need those seats. And you can close off the upper deck too. Then you can aim for a sold out lower bowl on the sideline seats.

[mcdonoghLAX02]

i think Jonny Unitas Staduim in Towson is perfect for the Bayhawks. Its not like a massive staduim that can seat 80,000, but its just the right size. Also i like how u can get up and go to that fun zone place (i think thats its name, idn. correct me if im wrong)

[laxrat22]

i think it looks bad when you have a team playing in a big stadium and only have like the 1st section on one side filled, it almost looks like a joke. like at the first four in L.A. they played at the Depot and they only had one side open and it just felt weird looking across and seeing absolutely no one on the other side of the satdium and that place only hold like 20,000 i think

[Mr. Big]

Quaint, to me, is better. The venue needs the feel of excitement. It also should serve the fans.

[sweet_ceX]

i think philadelphia should play i nthe lincoln center, the eagles' stadium for all you who dont know...

[Lax101]

i think philadelphia should play i nthe lincoln center, the eagles' stadium for all you who dont know...
Read in this thread exactly why that does not work at all.

[OldGoalie]

Philadelphia: Villanova Stadium (?) (heard rumors about a move to Franklin)

Franklin Field is a huge stadium as well, and when I was at Penn, there were never that many people at games. While it's a neat venue to play in, it's certainly not an "intimate" setting, and parking can be a bit of a pain. I think Villanova Stadium is probably one of the better choices given its decent size, ease of parking, and central location on the main line - smack dab in the middle of a bunch of top HS lacrosse programs (Haverford School, Malvern Prep, Conestoga, etc.) that will draw a decent suburban audience. I think it's probably the best current choice out there.

[temporary1357]

Ok, unless an MLL team is owned by an NFL team (like the Denver franchise), don't even suggest NFL stadiums. They may be in great locations and have all the necessary amenities, but they'll have 65,000 empty seats and biggest of all, incredible rent (ranging from $100,000-$200,000 a game with 0% shares of parking or concession revenue). If the MLS almost bankrupted in those places, I doubt MLL could survive a year in them (though Baltimore amazingly did).

[temporary1357]

i think it looks bad when you have a team playing in a big stadium and only have like the 1st section on one side filled, it almost looks like a joke. like at the first four in L.A. they played at the Depot and they only had one side open and it just felt weird looking across and seeing absolutely no one on the other side of the satdium and that place only hold like 20,000 i think
I've never been to a game where people were crowded all on one side, but I've been to an Anaheim Sting game and it felt really pathetic also with people sitting all over the place. I guess there just isn't a great solution for low crowds.

[endoftheline]

When they had the Australian Lacrosse League (basically a state carnival0 i think (not very sure) they filmed from only one side of the ground to show a full crowd.

[ColtsLax]

As far as jersey goes MSU is a terrible venue. Its not really close to anything. They should really have it at Rutgers Yurcak or Princetons Class of 19whatever Field.Both are newer updated venues, Rutgers is right of a major interstate(i278), as is Princeton(195)
For Philly, you think St Joes is too small? because thats a nice surface. Or in baltimore, St. pauls school. ive played on both, great places

[Hooligan]

Until the MLL raises its average attendance figure over 10,000, putting teams in stadiums that house 40,000+ could be a huge publicity mistake. Imagine how horrible things would look when a team has a game on ESPN2, having 4500 strong scattered around a stadium that houses 50,000 people. It could look so sparse, that it would appear that no one was even there. A publicists nightmare.

If the attendance figures raise significantly, then putting teams in these "dream stadiums" would be more feasible. Until then, we're going to have to put up with places like Villanova Stadium, Nickerson Field, and the like. Its unfortunate, and it makes lacrosse look horrible in the eyes of the four major sports, as well as some of the minor ones as well.

Its a growing sport...have patience with it, and lacrosse will be impressive! Maybe one day in Gillette Stadium, Lincoln Financial, and so on...

[temporary1357]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccer-specific_stadium

I've said this many times on these boards, soccer stadiums aren't a bad idea for MLL. Basically, soccer stadiums have 20,000 seats and are built like NFL stadiums (completely enclosed, with enough concessions and parking).

[ColtsLax]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccer-specific_stadium

I've said this many times on these boards, soccer stadiums aren't a bad idea for MLL. Basically, soccer stadiums have 20,000 seats and are built like NFL stadiums (completely enclosed, with enough concessions and parking).

arrr, you cant be thinking the pride will play in Giants stadium with the Metrostars? A true disaster, you lubber :thumbsdow

[temporary1357]

arrr, you cant be thinking the pride will play in Giants stadium with the Metrostars? A true disaster, you lubber :thumbsdow
You're misreading the chart, notice where it says "Former Stadium." Actually, I decided to take that section out, as you're not the first one to make that mistake.

[temporary1357]

arrr, you cant be thinking the pride will play in Giants stadium with the Metrostars? A true disaster, you lubber :thumbsdow
http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_menu/past_future/pictures/future_stadiums/harrison_metrostars.jpg

This is the future home of the Metrostars. It's a $90 million 20k seater. If New Jersey needs a place to play, this is an option. If they close off the upper decks and the endzone seats, it'll make for a pretty good MLL venue.

[temporary1357]

http://www.ben.edu/news/sports_complex/

Bumping this thread up. Looks like the Machine will play at Benedictine. The track around the field kinda sucks, but it's a nice little 3,000 seater that'll be perfect for a new team in a new league. With a venue this compact, they can brag about overflow crowds (or at least I hope so).

[fenwicklax89]

http://www.ben.edu/news/sports_complex/

Bumping this thread up. Looks like the Machine will play at Benedictine. The track around the field kinda sucks, but it's a nice little 3,000 seater that'll be perfect for a new team in a new league. With a venue this compact, they can brag about overflow crowds (or at least I hope so).

they wont have too much trouble filling that. maybe not for each game, but in a small venue like that their obviously not tryin to get mass crowds. its not a bad stadium at just over 1 year old. its a bit bigger than it looks in those pictures too

[WHEELAX2]

ok.. two examples to think on.. both coming from MLL Championships that drew only about 6k each..

Columbus Crew Stadium.. __ we were all packed on one side to make it look there were a lot of people in there.. and still for a championship game, they were only able to fill less than a third of the max

Nickerson field.. __ ok.. a little better venue due to its one-sidedness. and still they weren't able to fill the whole thing...

the MLL doesn't need to play in large venues.. they need to play in stadiums that seat no more than 10k...

(side note... hopkins draws nearly 11k for some home games.. bayhawks are lucky to get 5K)

[fenwicklax89]

ok.. two examples to think on.. both coming from MLL Championships that drew only about 6k each..

Columbus Crew Stadium.. __ we were all packed on one side to make it look there were a lot of people in there.. and still for a championship game, they were only able to fill less than a third of the max

Nickerson field.. __ ok.. a little better venue due to its one-sidedness. and still they weren't able to fill the whole thing...

the MLL doesn't need to play in large venues.. they need to play in stadiums that seat no more than 10k...

(side note... hopkins draws nearly 11k for some home games.. bayhawks are lucky to get 5K)


exactly. benedictine university where the machine will play seats between 3k and 5k. the big venues probably cost a lot more to use so there really is no upside to using one

[stegmakk]

There are some other factors to consider...
Playing at a college field, while cheaper, has some negatives.
The first part (and I am not positive about this) has to do with rules of the college. Can you sell alcohol there? Can you have a pregame party in the parking lot? Can you advertise with beer banners, etc. This is probably the most insignificant issue as it looks as if they are already playing at colleges.
Another more important but less realized issue is credability.NOT within the lax community but among non lax fans. You want the league to get in the spotlight...get it covered on things like the today show, and SI, etc. You want the league to make it big time. Yet there is a stigma about "professional" teams playing in college venues...
If you do so you are either an amateur league/farm team, or are a league that wont last long. It may have no basis...but an observation of others in non lax media lookin in.

Just like the NLL has found a decent partnership with NHL or stadium owners...so should the MLL...maybe with outdoor soccer teams. Maybe with football teams. Just no college campuses.

[temporary1357]

Just like the NLL has found a decent partnership with NHL or stadium owners...so should the MLL...maybe with outdoor soccer teams. Maybe with football teams. Just no college campuses.
This is what I've been saying all along. Even though MLS stadiums are around 20,000, it's pretty much a good middle-place between small-seater but low quality college venues and high quality but monstrous NFL venues. MLS stadiums, IMO, look like pretty much NFL stadiums with 45,000 less seats, they're very professional.

[cannonslax624]

Wow, some definite good ideas here. I, myself, am a Boston Cannons season ticket holder, and am impressed with how well Nickerson Field works as a venue. The stadium is ideal size, one which has been mentioned countless times by everyone posting (about 9500-10000). The stadium is rarely "chock full", but some games do get up as high as 6-7,000, and it really is noticeable. Sometimes I look back and see the crowd really there. Again, as some people mentioned, this just WONT work in an NFL stadium. When you look back and see the crowd, its something that looks GOOD on ESPN2. As Hooligan said, with a huge stadium and 6500 to 7500 people? Embarassing. It could ruin this thing as we know it. I think small stadiums definitely are benefitting more than hurting here. Parking's fine at the Nick, and you can always just take the T in anyways.