College football is an important and iconic aspect of American culture; a source of scholarships and veneration, no one celebrates their young athletes with quite as much vigor as we do. The college experience, synonymous with football and academia, is a social melting pot where young people build lifelong friendships. But the stadiums that host the main events are also an integral part of the experience, forming just as big a part of the culture and local spirit as the athletes themselves, if not more so. Here we will focus on the impressively underwhelming and surprisingly subpar in national college stadiums, the NCAA division, or, based on attendance figures, the FBS. Not all the stadiums on this list are in and of themselves a fiasco, some making the list for being extremely outdated or out of touch with modern football, others made the list for their poorly behaved fan bases or level of service from employees, while others simply host such subpar football that they attract no interest in the sport they host.
Unique And Intriguing American Stadiums
University of California – Los Angeles: Rose Bowl Stadium
We start off with a stadium that has mixed reviews and doesn’t necessarily curry favor with attendants. Nonetheless, the Rose Bowl Stadium, home of the UCLA Bruins, has its place in the list of iconic football stadiums that have played a role in the history of US college football. The parking is an abject nightmare according to many visitors, and the aging facilities do not lend themselves to public favor. It is widely considered best to prepare for a lengthy struggle with the surrounding infrastructure and the facilities of Rose. Those who frequent the stadium advise setting off a couple of hours ahead of schedule, and prepare themselves for a frustrating time dealing with the employees and various lacking amenities one might otherwise expect when paying for tickets to a venue hosting an event. Of course, none of this bodes well for a stadium already under scrutiny, and the home of this college football team is under pressure to up its game and rectify the awful and time-consuming parking situation that plagues those who do attempt to attend games held at the locale.
University Of California
University of Maryland: Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium
Another stadium that suffers a bit in the image department, is the Maryland Stadium which looks a bit worse for wear. The home stadium of the Maryland Terrapins, the venue receives scrutiny for poor upkeep of the amenities. While other stadiums in disarray tend to get the most negative press for their public amenities, Maryland Stadium has seen complaints from players too in recent years. The negative press seems not to focus on the challenges of maintaining a stadium with limited funding. It is very much the case that a stadium and its profitability hinges on the success and popularity of its home team. In this case, the Maryland Terrapins have not been a primary focus for the community or sport as a whole. Perhaps there would be hope in rebranding or a reinvigorated marketing strategy, but the degree to which the team and the stadium have dropped in terms of fan-appeal may be difficult to come back from, although one can hope that the potential exists for this to be an underdog story with a happy ending.
Capital One Field At Maryland Stadium
Marshall University: Joan C. Edwards Stadium
There is more to a stadium than just its upkeep. When you combine poor maintenance with an unfriendly welcome from the locals, you have something akin to Edwards Stadium. The Thundering Herd team sees its share of fanaticism amongst the locals, with many reports of harassment and assault in this locale. Known for an unpleasant reception of fans of visiting teams, the stadium is not a favorite destination for most. It is notable for being the only official college stadium named after a woman, making it all the more unfortunate that the stadium is in such disrepute. Joan Edwards and her husband were major benefactors of the stadium in its heyday. For this stadium and its team to come out on top, the primary changes will have to come in the form of stricter rules and regulations to deter local fans from their poor behavior. This would mean penalties that may see some amount of resistance, but might just save the locale from its reputation which is at this time only becoming worse.
Joan C. Edwards Stadium
Kent State University: Dix Stadium
Home to the Kent State Golden Flashes, Dix Stadium is not as bad as many of the others on this list. It suffers more from a lack of ambition than anything else. The facilities are perfectly serviceable, much reincorporated from the old memorial stadium it served to replace. There is sufficient, if not entirely comfortable, seating; sufficient, if cramped, parking; and sufficient, if awkward, facilities. This echoes the problems that the stadium, with its bleacher-style seating and pragmatic football events, faces as a whole. There is nothing specifically wrong with the locale, it is simply incredibly underwhelming and uninspiring. This stadium and team need a win, a real and meaningful victory to inspire enthusiasm for the local football scene and for the community to take pride in the team and the stadium that they call home. Whereas other stadiums on this list face insurmountable odds in fixing the problems that dog them, all Dix needs is an invigoration of enthusiasm.
Kent State University
Harvard University: Harvard Stadium
This one is perhaps surprising to find on this list. The Harvard Stadium, home of the Harvard Crimsons, is subject to a number of factors that influence the way it is perceived by the football community and fans. Firstly, football is long since not a primary focus for the institution, with other sporting events playing a larger role in the Harvard calendar. While the stadium is unique, and its upkeep is sufficient, it is simply underwhelming by the showy standards of modern college football. The stadium, with its roman-stadium-inspired U layout, is still an architecturally unique structure, whilst offering seating more appropriate to a Colosseum than the flashy modern spectacle that football has come to be. This is a particularly challenging case, with the sport not being a primary focus for the prestigious institution, making large-scale funding, the sort that would be required to rebuild the stadium, unlikely. Perhaps we should learn to accept it for what it is, the way one does with an eccentric but dear relative.
Harvard University
Temple University: Lincoln Financial Field
This is an example of an otherwise great stadium suffering under shoddy administrative problems. A traditional college stadium with the vibe ruined by the fact that it struggles to draw a dedicated or generally pleasant fan base. Being the ‘home’ stadium of the Temple University football team, the locale hosts the Philadelphia Eagles, as well as the Owls, who rent the stadium for their game days. While this is understandably a sound way in which to procure funding, it has left the stadium with a lack of real identity or the loyal fan base that a good stadium needs. For this stadium to see real improvement, it will need to take measures to establish a fan base. This is challenging when an important revenue stream comes by way of renting out to other teams, but the officials in charge will either need to overcome the challenge or find some clever solution to establish the stadium as a fan favorite with its own identity.
Temple University
University of Arkansas: War Memorial Stadium
The Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville sees the majority of the Razorbacks’ games these days. They do still return to the War Memorial Stadium, their original home stadium, for the occasional game. While this is a great move, and a contracted one at that, with an agreement that will see Razorback matches held at War Memorial Stadium until 2024, the problem lies in the facilities themselves. While many appreciate the historic significance of the venue, the upkeep and general facilities make it a less than ideal venue for fans.
University Of Arkansas
Yale University: Yale Bowl
Yale, much like Harvard, doesn’t see the same focus on football as some other U.S. universities. The Yale Bowl is indicative of the same approach taken by Harvard, of maintaining a stadium more for its architectural relevance than its function as a modern stadium. The stadium sees underwhelming crowds, sometimes less than 50 people. The architectural choices made by its original architect, a Yale alum, see the stadium operate sans locker rooms. It didn’t offer restrooms either, until 1930. Although it makes for an underwhelming locale when compared to modern football stadiums, it is historically significant and a must-see. As is the case with Harvard, the Yale Bowl is more a product of the sport not being as big of a priority for the institution anymore. Large-scale funding is unlikely, therefore it may well be the case the stadium remains as is for the foreseeable future.
Yale University
San Diego State University: SDCCU Stadium
This one could have made our list based solely on its naming convention. Short for the San Diego County Credit Union, the institution that owns the naming rights, the SDCCU already suffers from an unmarketable name. A perfectly adequate stadium, the locale faces problems in terms of additional facilities, amenities, and concessions. Said to lack ‘atmosphere’, the stadium has been rebranded to the point of irrelevance since opening in 1967. This led to a lack of funding which sees the massive venue enjoy little to no loyal fan base, frequently failing to fill even half of its capacity of 70,000 people.
San Diego State University
University of North Texas: Apogee Stadium
Colloquially known as ‘Mean Green’, this stadium is home to the team of the same name. This stadium suffers under the team’s poor performance and is an example of the trials facing any venue home to a losing team. Opened in 2011, LEED-certified and boasting modern facilities, the locale has everything you might expect from a modern stadium. The parking is perhaps a sore point, but nothing justifies the lack of popularity this stadium faces except the lack of popularity of the game and its local team’s lack of success.
University Of North Texas
University of Colorado: Folsom Field
In Folsom Stadium we find another example of a field brought down almost entirely by fans and amenities. The stadium itself is in relatively good upkeep if brought down a bit by its age. Built-in the early 1920s the building itself has not seen much in the way of updates. That is however not the real issue that visitors find off-putting. The first major challenge a new visitor must contend with is the Colorado fans. Often intoxicated and obnoxious, they do not present a welcoming atmosphere. The long lines for concessions and facilities with wait times in excess of 45 minutes are another big deterrent.
University Of Colorado
Indiana University: Memorial Stadium
The recently renovated stadium may not be an obvious choice for this list. It is another victim of an unfortunate home team, with the Hoosiers not having a winning season in years. Game days are underwhelming and the lack of expectations makes for a somber atmosphere for those attending a Hoosier game. Reportedly, many in attendance show up for the socializing that goes along with the games, without much interest in the games themselves. Without better performance from the home team, the stadium is unlikely to see improvement.
Indiana University
University of Dayton: Welcome Stadium
Many of the stadiums on our list are plagued by parking problems. This is not the case for the Daytona Flyers home stadium, the Welcome Stadium. Instead, the stadium faces the problem of general shortcomings. With the locale described as a high school stadium at best, its metal bleachers can only hold a crowd of 11,000. Really highlighting the challenges faced by this modest football stadium is that even a recent renovation only really saw the addition of a press box.
University Of Dayton
Jacksonville University: D.B. Milne Field
Another stadium that seems to have suffered by way of not being a priority is the D.B. Milne Field, home of the college football team. The stadium is abysmally underdeveloped, with formal seating only being added in 2014. Even with the seating, the facilities offered are sparse, to say the least, made all the more embarrassing by the fact that even local high schools boast superior stadiums. It may be that because of these deficiencies the locale does not draw big crowds, making for lackluster game days.
Jacksonville University
Simon Fraser University: Terry Fox Field
The home of the Simon Fraser Clan football team, the only NCAA school outside of the U.S., this Canadian stadium is a bit behind in terms of the generally expected amenities that one might find at more famous college football home fields. Recently the stadium saw renovations that added appropriate seating, an upgrade from the hillside that had been used prior. Its high elevation does make for a brisk outing, so warm clothing and blankets are still recommended. This is, in its current state, an uninspiring stadium, however, it is one of few on this list that may yet have the potential to become a fan favorite with continued investment.
Simon Fraser University
University of New Mexico: Dreamstyle Stadium
Yet another stadium that is brought down by the performance of its team, is the Dreamstyle Stadium, home of the Lobos Team, who have not seen a conference title win in over four decades. This is exemplified in the subpar upkeep, in that it is noticeable that underperformance has affected available funding for upkeep and renovation. Whilst a long shot from the worst on this list, the elevation makes it a technical challenge, and therefore not a favorite amongst many visiting teams. These factors all culminate in a stadium that has a lackluster atmosphere on game days.
University Of New Mexico
Washington State University: Martin Stadium
Home of the up-and-coming Cougars, one would expect a little more from Martin Stadium. It is a small stadium by any measure, but a maximum capacity of 33,000 given the exposure its team is seeing is unfeasible. Metal seats in the generally cold weather, inadequate amenities and concessions, and antiquated facade are not the hallmarks of a winning team’s home stadium. Fortunately, it looks as though this one may not qualify for this list for too much longer, as funding brought on by the Cougars’ success should see the locale completely renovated within the next couple of years
Washington State University
Duke University: Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium
Quality over quantity, that is the principle that was missed somehow by the architects and planners behind the recent upgrades to the Wallace Wade Stadium. Home to the Blue Devils, recent upgrades saw the addition of suites and a large video board. With average amenities and no unique selling points, the stadium has been likened to a high-school stadium scaled up disproportionately. The stadium, with its 40,000 capacity is rarely more than half full for games, and the local football teams don’t seem to captivate their audience as much as one might hope.
Duke University
University at Buffalo: UB Stadium
The Bulls call this stadium and its 25-year-old field, home. It is perhaps a contentious addition to our list as many fans rave about the locale. Practicality was not their main concern, and with a capacity of 30,000, it rarely sees half that. The curious feature of a running track encircling the playing field, pushes the stadium back noticeably, making for an uncomfortable and odd viewing experience from the average quality seating in the stadium itself. The team also allows people to use the track as a sort of VIP area, further impeding the view from the stands. The team claims that they strive to offer a family-friendly viewing experience, however, this goal is ill-explained, given the propensity college games and their fans have for dubious language and violent themes.
University At Buffalo
Northwestern University: Ryan Field
Northwestern games see top teams in the country playing on their home field. This only serves to highlight the troubled stadium as even these games do not draw crowds that might bring the venue anywhere near capacity. The Wildcats are a strong contender in the world of college football, and this makes the fact that their home stadium has seen absolutely no renovation in over 20 years all the more jarring. The stadium’s shortcoming comes by way of frustration, as it offers fantastic sightlines, but awful amenities and concessions.
Northwestern University
University of Kansas: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium
Built-in 1920, Kansas Memorial Stadium is one of the oldest in college football. Commemorating the tragic loss of students who lost their lives in WW1. The historic significance is put to shame by poor upkeep. In need of various upgrades, the amenities are a source of complaint amongst visitors. Inconvenient concession stands and a lack of enthusiasm and atmosphere on game days play a further role in the negative perception of the stadium. The seats and views are a further cause for complaint amongst attendees.
University Of Kansas
University of Nevada Las Vegas: Sam Boyd Stadium
Las Vegas is a city renowned for spectacle and showmanship. Odd then that their college football stadium lacks either. Considered a parking nightmare, many people claim to skip big game days solely to avoid the disastrous parking lots. With the NFL Raiders were to use the stadium temporarily in their move to Vegas, a prospect that has at least highlighted the problems and the need for them to be rectified. Sam Boyd stadium also suffers from the team’s lackluster performance over the last couple of years, affecting the budgetary factors that may otherwise allow for improvements.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas
University of Northern Illinois: Huskie Stadium
Not a train-smash, as is the case with some other stadiums on the list, the home stadium of the MACs leaves something to be desired. It is adequate but dated, the comments seem to suggest.
Older infrastructure and operations may seem quaint to some, while others accuse the stadium of being woefully outdated, particularly considering the team’s success. The 1965 built structure supports 25 000, which is a bit of a scant number, however, it could be fortuitous, with demand not really justifying any expansion.
University Of Northern Illinois
University of Tulsa: Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium
A locale close to the hearts of its fans, it does hold a special place in the hearts of Golden Hurricane fans. Skelly Field is a problematic stadium when compared to the expectations of modern college football. Some remark that the diminutive size lends to better views. Parking is the primary complaint with the locals, however, visitors may not see the charms that fans do as a good thing, and the outdated facilities will put some people off. The Golden Hurricanes have had a tumultuous couple of years, with a dip in performance making an impact on the atmosphere.
University Of Tulsa
University of Massachusetts: Warren P. McGuirk Alumni Stadium
With a struggling home team in UMass, the stadium’s diminutive size and limited seating do not go a long way to help with the team’s general image. Game days draw such small audiences that the low, 17 000 person capacity is still too much to fill. The Massachusetts seasonal weather does the locale no favors. The stadium saw some renovations in 2014, however, this has done little for the public’s perception. The lack of adequate bathroom facilities and general amenities as well as the poor performance of the team place this particular stadium on the sympathetic end of our list.
University Of Massachusetts
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte: Jerry Richardson Stadium
One could summarize the challenges faced by this otherwise popular stadium by its capacity. Seating for a paltry 15 000 people, below the NCAA standards and regulations. The stadium was built in 2011, and some believe that its problems arise solely from a lack of forethought on behalf of its planners. The 49ers are a massively successful team who draw huge crowds, packing the stadiums which host them. The limited capacity of their home stadium is therefore not only an embarrassment but a financial loss in lost revenue from ticket sales. There are plans underway to facilitate a further 25 000 spectators, including private boxes. This may see the overall capacity issues negated. Aside from this specific issue the stadium is well-loved and offers a positive experience in the opinion of fans, so with the aforementioned plans implemented, we suspect that this one won’t be a permanent fixture on this list.
The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Ball State: Scheumann Stadium
Scheumann Stadium saw a major renovation in 2007, which saw issues that the stadium may have had in its layout and amenities mostly resolved. Considered to be one of the better stadiums in terms of the seats and decent amenities, this locale suffers, as we have seen with so many others, from the poor performance of its home team. The Cardinals seem to be a team fated to mediocrity. They do not draw adequate crowds to justify the capacity of their home games, and they have been underperforming for years. Not a draw for big-name players, the team does not inspire much in the way of the game-day atmosphere.
Ball State
University of Akron: InfoCision Stadium
The early 2010s saw the InfoCision home team, the Akron Zips, lose a lot of their clout and fan base, with some truly unfortunate drops in performance during those years. One win and eleven losses by the end of the 2012 season meant that only the most loyal fan base remained. The stadium, newly built in 2009, still sees suboptimal levels of support, with low game day turnouts and a meager atmosphere, hardly making for a great day out for spectators. This otherwise fantastic stadium is a case study in how a disappointed fan base and a lackluster team can undermine the value of even the best facilities.
University Of Akron
University of Louisiana-Lafayette: Cajun Field
It is strange for a stadium in a football-loving state to see surprisingly low attendance numbers on game days. This is the case for Cajun Field, home of the Ragin’ Cajuns. The field’s capacity is more than adequate, seating up 40 000 people. There seems to be a disproportionate lack of enthusiasm when it comes to games played at the otherwise functional stadium, hosting a decent enough team. One possible source of the low public turnout and the lack of enthusiasm for those attending a home game is that the stadium is infamously pricey. Not just for the big games, but any event that takes place. This trend is seen throughout the experience, with food and parking is priced way higher than average.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette
University of Idaho: Kibbie Dome
New might not always be better, but this stadium proves that neither is ‘unique’. The 43-year-old stadium is certainly novel. Not only does it seat only around 15 000, but it also has a roof. A domed roof, made of wood. Suffice it to say this is fascinating enough that it is worth seeing at least once, but it does not, as it turns out, make for a great football team. While one could argue on whether the unique stadium and its weather shielding is fantastic or insane, the Vandals are not the draw the odd destination probably deserves. They struggle to keep and attract talent, leaving the team’s performance underwhelming, with fan turnout that reflects exactly that.
University Of Idaho
Miami University (Ohio): Yager Stadium
A college with a fantastic reputation, Miami U is considered one of the top schools in the country. This level of excellence is not, however, reflected in the college football program. Best described as adequate, the functioning team has an equally functional home stadium, Yager Stadium. The lack of enthusiasm is reflected in the often almost empty stands on big game days. The Redhawks have not seen a seasonal win since 2010. The poor performance of the team itself in conjunction with the lackluster field is the best explanation for the lack of popularity this stadium sees.
Miami University
Central Michigan University: Kelly/Shorts Stadium
The Chippewas, the local team who call the Kelly/Shorts Stadium home, have seen a rough couple of seasons, underperforming even by the dampened standards the team is accustomed to. Combine this with the serious issues the stadium faces and it is no surprise why it makes our list. Called outright dangerous by many visitors, the facilities are outdated, and basic safety precautions such as handrails are nowhere to be seen. Small details, like a lack of trash cans, and outdated facilities mean that this stadium will need to see a lot of improvement before making it off this list.
Central Michigan University
Rice University: Rice Stadium
The Rice Owls call this stadium home. Perhaps the ambitious size of the stadium contributes to the desolate atmosphere on game days when the stadium is packed at less than half of its 47 000 capacity. Built-in the 1950s, the stadium is in desperate need of maintenance and renovation. This outdated and under-maintained image has left a poor taste in the mouths of visiting fans, making it a preferred skip for most season ticket fans. The concession stands are another curious issue, often being unable to cater to the crowd, even as the stands are less than half at capacity.
Rice University
University of Memphis: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
A retro-futuristic aesthetic is the bane of this stadium. The look, while popular at the time of construction, has not aged well. This may seem a curious complaint about a detail that does not necessarily impact the quality of the experience of attending a game, but it is so jarring that it puts one off at first sight. Memphis U, the team calling this oddball stadium home, struggle to pull a big enough crowd to fill the stadium to even half capacity, which adds to the extremely off-putting idea that the place is somehow a derelict throwback incidentally still in use. It is also said to be understaffed, and lack necessary safety precautions and plans, making it a potential danger to the safety of visitors.
University Of Memphis
The University of Louisiana at Monroe: JPS Field at Malone Stadium
Another stadium and team from the football fanatic state of Louisiana, Malone Stadium makes the list for being in particularly poor upkeep. The Warhawks who call it home have a small fan base, despite a decent football program, and the poor upkeep of their stadium does their image injustice. Even after recent renovations, the 40-year-old stadium is in bad shape. Said to smell like a sewer. The cutting down of trees is also criticized for being a poor decision in the renovation process. Many feel that the team and the stadium deserve more funding.
JPS Field At Malone Stadium
San Jose State University: CEFCU Stadium
This is a stadium that is not well served by the contrast of its neighborhood. Nestled near some Silicon Valley giants, the run down and the outdated park looks all the worse for it. Home of the San Jose State Spartans, this run-down stadium seems perplexingly underfunded. With no significant renovations taking place since the 1980s, the level of disrepair is striking. Inaccessible seating, a lack of safety precautions, no considerations for the differently-abled These are just a few problems on a list that needs immediate attention.
San Jose State University
Eastern Michigan University: Rynearson Stadium
Another stadium with a running track encircling it, this is just one of the gripes that visitors have with the Michigan based football stadium known as Rynearson Stadium. What makes it sad is that the stadium used to be packed to the brim for Eagles home games. These days they struggle to draw decent crowds even with rivalry games.The stadium simply fails to live up to the expectations of D1 football and leaves those who do visit both frustrated and bemused with the curiously poor design, and the odd field with its misplaced running track that makes one feel you may as well be in attendance at a high school practice game.
Rynearson Stadium
The University of Texas at San Antonio: Alamodome
This one makes the list for a unique reason. It is far, far too big. With a capacity for 64 000 people, no team really has the clout to pull an audience to fill it. It saw 42 000 fans for a seasonal opener, and this still meant that the stadium felt barren and empty. There are too many open seats for an atmosphere of excitement to really build.The thing about that is that for some reason this makes it one of the worst blunders on the list. It is now a failed stadium because of inadequacy or an underperforming team. Rather it is bad because it overshot. The scale and construction offer poor viewing angles in some cases, which is another criticism often raised regarding the stadium, with some feeling it better to watch games from home for that reason.
Alamodome Stadium
University of Hawaii: Aloha Stadium
Aloha Stadium, once a point of pride on the island, has long since fallen into disrepair. The venue looks in bad shape despite the 2016 renovations of $1.2 million. Fans and visitors say that the costly renovations have made little difference that they can see. The home team, The Rainbow Warriors have seen their popularity drop with increasingly poor performances. Officials have planned a complete rebuild of the stadium. Options included three proposals, one of which aimed to downsize the stadium. Whilst it may sound an odd decision at first, it makes sense, as an underfilled stadium is one of the most surefire ways to bring down the atmosphere.
Aloha Stadium
Vanderbilt University: Vanderbilt Stadium
This private institution has seen its share of scrutiny. Primarily it is considered overpriced, far too exclusive, and demographically noninclusive. The pristine campus hosts one of the worst universally disliked stadiums in college football. Built-in 1922, the stadium is best described as ‘unsightly’.With nicer high school stadiums putting it to shame, the Commodores aren’t a sufficient draw to fill the stadium, and even the most prominent games of the season see the crowds dispersed across the otherwise empty seating. It is outdated and uninspiring and deserves the prime spot on this list. Is there a stadium that you think we missed and would like us to consider for this list? Do you feel that we have judged a team or stadium unfairly? Let us know, we are always interested to hear your opinions.
Vanderbilt Stadium