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Best visitor Stands and Setup??

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HRCJR

Senior
Jun 30, 2014
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We hear often how the visiting bleachers at Brother Rice leave something to be desired. That said, What school has the best setup for visiting fans?

A couple of rules:
Field must be on a high school campus - so no Gately or Benedictince
You may may base your decision of sight lines, comfort, concessions, facilities, etc.


My vote is Loyola Academy.
 
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pjjp

All-Conference
Aug 26, 2001
5,611
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I was going to say JCA, but your rules nullify Joliet Memorial Stadium and their 5,000 seats on the visitor's side, since it is a Joliet Park District facility.

One of my favorites is Marist. The amount of seating is adequate, and the seats are right on the field. It offers a point-of-view that I don't experience at other venues. Fans can easily hear what's said on the sidelines, which some coaches might not like.
 
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MTC Diaspora

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Sep 10, 2013
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I have not been to very many, but I agree that LA is good. I like the convenience of the concessions and facilities on the visitor's side. On the downside, I recall one of their infrequent night games where they had the noisy electric generator for the rented floodlights just to the south of the visitor's stands. That was bothersome.
 
F

Flossisland20

Redshirt
Jun 22, 2014
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Proviso East. The stadium was built before they started putting tracks between the stands and the field. Both sides are great.
 
S

sixersball

Redshirt
Nov 18, 2004
84
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Springfield SHG's visitor's side seats about 2,000, only a short walk from the parking lot/entrance and no track between the field and stands
 
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ramblinman_rivals165935

All-Conference
Jul 18, 2001
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MTC Diaspora said:
I have not been to very many, but I agree that LA is good. I like the convenience of the concessions and facilities on the visitor's side. On the downside, I recall one of their infrequent night games where they had the noisy electric generator for the rented floodlights just to the south of the visitor's stands. That was bothersome.
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I must admit to never sitting in the LA visitors' bleachers, but if you found the generator bothersome, how do you like the roar of the18 wheelers zooming past at 65 mph on the Edens Expy within a stone's throw from your backside?
 
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Wassup13_rivals219252

All-Conference
Nov 9, 2002
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To me the best visitor seats are those which are closest to the field and you don't have to sit in stands that are behind a track and a fence.

I know this is a homer pick, but Montini has the best visitor stands in the state. They are so close to the sidelines that you can hear the hitting on the field and it feels like you are actually playing in the game.

For best setup, I go with Naz. You can stand practically right on the field no matter where you are.

I'm not a fan a the large setups or stadiums. I really don't like them.

Wassup
 
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S

SiuCubFan8

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Jul 27, 2007
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Wassup13 said:
To me the best visitor seats are those which are closest to the field and you don't have to sit in stands that are behind a track and a fence.

I know this is a homer pick, but Montini has the best visitor stands in the state. They are so close to the sidelines that you can hear the hitting on the field and it feels like you are actually playing in the game.

For best setup, I go with Naz. You can stand practically right on the field no matter where you are.

I'm not a fan a the large setups or stadiums. I really don't like them.

Wassup
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St. Francis has the visitors stands inside the track as well.
 
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USD24

All-American
May 29, 2001
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I agree with Montini, if you can get a seat. Last time I was there I had to stand in line before the gates opened and then sit in the stands for 2 hours Before the game started so I could get a seat. It was a great seat, but the visitor stands at Montini can't hold more than a few hundred people
 
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pjjp

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Aug 26, 2001
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USD24 said:
I agree with Montini, if you can get a seat. Last time I was there I had to stand in line before the gates opened and then sit in the stands for 2 hours Before the game started so I could get a seat. It was a great seat, but the visitor stands at Montini can't hold more than a few hundred people
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And therein lies the rub. I know I'm getting old, so if I'm going to take the time to travel to an opponent's facility, I damn well better get a decent seat. I'm surprised some don't like the bigger venues. If a place is going to host a big game that's going to draw a big crowd, it should have adequate seating and access to accommodate it. If it does not, then it is not a good venue, IMO.
 
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mc140

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
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Thornton, HF, Bolingbrook all have very good visitor seating.
 
R

Raider PA man

Redshirt
Sep 22, 2015
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What about LaSalle-Peru? Fellows Stadium has no track inside it and if you sat at the top of the visitor's bleachers, you're about 30 feet from the sideline. Concession is readily accessible at field level behind the end zone, as are the restrooms.

Another one I would consider (but haven't been to) is Pekin. Even with the track between the field and stands, the place seats close to 10k.
 
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J

JFelice

Senior
Sep 8, 2014
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Id say Naz even though the visitors bleachers are pathetic but there is something to be said for standing/seating literally in the endzone or on the sidelines. You can legitimately touch the players.
 
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NazDad

Sophomore
Aug 27, 2012
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Marian Central Cathololic has no track, raised stands so you can see over the players and a press box on the visitors side that you can sit under during monsoon season. The concession set up is great, however you would expect a better Brat that close to Wisconsin.
 
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Wassup13_rivals219252

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mc140 said:
And how many people can fit in those stands?
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I have not estimated it but someone stated 300 in a previous post. For most games I have always been able to get a seat in the visitor section (since the visitor section seats are so much closer to the action then the home side seating) if I wanted it but the standing room on the visitor sidelines is great too just like at Naz.

Montini has hosted many large enrollment schools like Maine South, St. Rita, East St. Louis and Palatine and well traveled teams in the playoffs like JCA and Geneseo and I believe anyone on the visitor sidelines can state they were closer to the action than 90-95% of the visitor sidelines at any other school.

Anything closer and you better have your pads on!

Wassup
 
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L

lesna

Freshman
Jul 12, 2002
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Wassup13 said:
To me the best visitor seats are those which are closest to the field and you don't have to sit in stands that are behind a track and a fence.

I know this is a homer pick, but Montini has the best visitor stands in the state. They are so close to the sidelines that you can hear the hitting on the field and it feels like you are actually playing in the game.

For best setup, I go with Naz. You can stand practically right on the field no matter where you are.

I'm not a fan a the large setups or stadiums. I really don't like them.

Wassup
Click to expand...

You can't be serious about Montini. I think you are blinded by the homerism.

If I ever attend a game there again, I will be happy to sit on the home side, and you can sit on the visitors' side since it is so good. Yes, you are close to the field, but you are also too low to see over the team standing in front of you. You see about half of the field.

Also, the lack of seats is a major problem. How many actual visitors' SEATS do they claim to offer (not counting endzones or standing)? if you don't know, I suggest a glance at the fire code, and then subtract what you claim to be available on the home side and the endzone. If you don't have the facilities to accommodate at least a few thousand visitors, if you are 3a or larger, you shouldn't be allowed to host a playoff game.
 
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Wassup13_rivals219252

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Lesna,

Like I said, for at least 85% of the games held at Montini (including the playoffs), I have gotten a seat on the visitor side with no objects or anybody in the way to see the entire field. This includes games against big schools like St. Rita and Maine South.

Now I know there were a couple of playoff games against JCA, Sycamore and Geneseo whose fans travel well when the visitor stands fill up fast. However, like you said there are stands in the east end zone and many people find standing room around the field without ever going two deep for standing room. They do have the option to open a area in the west end zone but have never needed to open up that area for fans at the game.

Most people I talked to from JCA, Sycamore and Geneseo really enjoyed their experience at Montini and these were fans that were even standing. But like I said, during the regular season I don't have a problem getting a seat in the visitor section.

Which games are you attending at Montini where you are having a problem finding seating or seeing over the players?

Wassup
 
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M

mchsalumni

All-Conference
Sep 24, 2008
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[QUOTE="lesna, post: 32534, member: 186"If you don't have the facilities to accommodate at least a few thousand visitors, if you are 3a or larger, you shouldn't be allowed to host a playoff game.[/QUOTE]

I agree with the bulk of your complaint, but this makes you sound like a 5 year old. Calm down for Christ sake.
 
K

kpjasion

Senior
Oct 12, 2014
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Huntley's whole setup, including a fairly large visitor's side stands, is very impressive.
 
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capnbillhitters

Senior
May 18, 2015
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Proviso West...plenty of parking, plenty of seats, great BBQ on the pit (of course the smoke can stop the game sometimes) and his and her's metal detectors. What more can you ask for?
 
O

Oddy

Junior
Aug 28, 2008
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Stevenson has a lot of seating on the visitor's side, the most I have seen other than a stadium like Hansen or Joliet.
 
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USD24

All-American
May 29, 2001
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I think Providence has a pretty nice set up for the visitors. Decent amount of seating and good tailgating right outside the visitors gate.
 
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JCHILLTOPPERS

Senior
May 29, 2001
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pjjp said:
And therein lies the rub. I know I'm getting old, so if I'm going to take the time to travel to an opponent's facility, I damn well better get a decent seat. I'm surprised some don't like the bigger venues. If a place is going to host a big game that's going to draw a big crowd, it should have adequate seating and access to accommodate it. If it does not, then it is not a good venue, IMO.
Click to expand...

morris aint too shaby
 
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ch02st

Redshirt
Oct 1, 2012
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Benedictine does not have visitor stands so it was not eligible from the get go. For that reason, it's getting my vote despite being DQ'd. All you visitors get the pleasure of sitting side by side with us. Consessions and bathrooms close.
 
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pjjp

All-Conference
Aug 26, 2001
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You are correct. Benedictine is a great facility. Always enjoy going there for Benet games.
 
1

1111SouthFirst

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Oct 7, 2006
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ch02st said:
Benedictine does not have visitor stands so it was not eligible from the get go. For that reason, it's getting my vote despite being DQ'd. All you visitors get the pleasure of sitting side by side with us. Consessions and bathrooms close.
Click to expand...

Don't forget that annoying PA announcer.
 
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F

Flossisland20

Redshirt
Jun 22, 2014
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USD24 said:
And I am sure you can always find a seat!
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Yes, unfortunately your are correct. Also, having watched the 2 Proviso's (East and West) for a long time; this concerns something about Proviso West that most people don't know and that is, if it weren't for the parochial schools (primarily Catholic schools) poaching players from the Proviso district, Proviso West might be the most powerful wrestling, football and basketball teams over the last 10 years. In fact, there was one year in particular a few years back where 4 of the top football players in the state were all from the Proviso West high school district but each one of them was attending a different catholic school.
 
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