The Swamp...The Stadium

[Chuckinden]

I posted previously about giving up my season tix for personal reasons and now I am visiting SEC sites that I haven't been to. I went to the Swamp last Saturday and here is my opinion.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is nice, but it didn't blow me away. The inside of the stadium is painted in their orange and blue colors that really brightens up the place, especially in the blazing sun.:fire: They have painted most of the concrete inside the stadium which really looks good. The only chairback seats I saw where in the upper few rows of the endzone where the only covered areas are. Everywhere else appeared to have bench seats with no backs. They certainly have a lot of glass enclosed suites though...probably 75, maybe more.

The inside corridors and the concession areas are fine, but dark compared to Commonwealth due to the stadium being mostly enclosed and not getting any sunlight. The corridors are much more narrow than Commonwealth. Our stadium gets a lot of negativity, but I like it.

The fans were definitely loud and they had plenty of reasons to be that way.

We walked a little over a mile to the stadium (parking was $40, but easy in and out) and what I saw of the campus didn't impress me, but I didn't see enough to give an honest opinion. Grass was beaten down by students and the heat in lots of places I saw.

The fans were fine, except for a few student aged fans that gave us the finger a couple times and called us a few bad names. One was close enough for me to grab him, but he apologized as I reached for him and backed away. One dorm had a banner that probably hung three floors from the top that said, "UK fans can't read this banner". I thought for a banner that size to say only that was lame.
Overall, it was a good experience. Now I head to Bristol Motor Speedway/Football Stadium tomorrow to watch a friend of mine's son play for ETSU. Next up in the SEC is Tuscaloosa if the Cats decide to show up. :smiley:

 

[gamalielkid]

I posted previously about giving up my season tix for personal reasons and now I am visiting SEC sites that I haven't been to. I went to the Swamp last Saturday and here is my opinion.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is nice, but it didn't blow me away. The inside of the stadium is painted in their orange and blue colors that really brightens up the place, especially in the blazing sun.:fire: They have painted most of the concrete inside the stadium which really looks good. The only chairback seats I saw where in the upper few rows of the endzone where the only covered areas are. Everywhere else appeared to have bench seats with no backs. They certainly have a lot of glass enclosed suites though...probably 75, maybe more.

The inside corridors and the concession areas are fine, but dark compared to Commonwealth due to the stadium being mostly enclosed and not getting any sunlight. The corridors are much more narrow than Commonwealth. Our stadium gets a lot of negativity, but I like it.

The fans were definitely loud and they had plenty of reasons to be that way.

We walked a little over a mile to the stadium (parking was $40, but easy in and out) and what I saw of the campus didn't impress me, but I didn't see enough to give an honest opinion. Grass was beaten down by students and the heat in lots of places I saw.

The fans were fine, except for a few student aged fans that gave us the finger a couple times and called us a few bad names. One was close enough for me to grab him, but he apologized as I reached for him and backed away. One dorm had a banner that probably hung three floors from the top that said, "UK fans can't read this banner". I thought for a banner that size to say only that was lame.
Overall, it was a good experience. Now I head to Bristol Motor Speedway/Football Stadium tomorrow to watch a friend of mine's son play for ETSU. Next up in the SEC is Tuscaloosa if the Cats decide to show up. :smiley:

Pretty good description of the Swamp. I was able to see the Florida game at UK last year - Commonwealth -even before all the rest of the stuff and menu changes I have heard about is much superior IMO. Now, if we could just start winning some games. One last point. A large stadium is imposing - but a full stadium at UK can be imposing as well. IF we can ever start winning - Commonwealth can be become a pretty intimidating place too!

Go Big Blue!

P.S. I am making the Tuscaloosa trip also - looking forward to seeing what big time football is all about!

 

[sluggercatfan]

I posted previously about giving up my season tix for personal reasons and now I am visiting SEC sites that I haven't been to. I went to the Swamp last Saturday and here is my opinion.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is nice, but it didn't blow me away. The inside of the stadium is painted in their orange and blue colors that really brightens up the place, especially in the blazing sun.:fire: They have painted most of the concrete inside the stadium which really looks good. The only chairback seats I saw where in the upper few rows of the endzone where the only covered areas are. Everywhere else appeared to have bench seats with no backs. They certainly have a lot of glass enclosed suites though...probably 75, maybe more.

The inside corridors and the concession areas are fine, but dark compared to Commonwealth due to the stadium being mostly enclosed and not getting any sunlight. The corridors are much more narrow than Commonwealth. Our stadium gets a lot of negativity, but I like it.

The fans were definitely loud and they had plenty of reasons to be that way.

We walked a little over a mile to the stadium (parking was $40, but easy in and out) and what I saw of the campus didn't impress me, but I didn't see enough to give an honest opinion. Grass was beaten down by students and the heat in lots of places I saw.

The fans were fine, except for a few student aged fans that gave us the finger a couple times and called us a few bad names. One was close enough for me to grab him, but he apologized as I reached for him and backed away. One dorm had a banner that probably hung three floors from the top that said, "UK fans can't read this banner". I thought for a banner that size to say only that was lame.
Overall, it was a good experience. Now I head to Bristol Motor Speedway/Football Stadium tomorrow to watch a friend of mine's son play for ETSU. Next up in the SEC is Tuscaloosa if the Cats decide to show up. :smiley:

Was there with you and had about the same opinion of BHG...also had a run in with one of their student fans...will be in Tuscaloosa, maybe see you there I'll be in BLUE:football::smiley::sunglasses:

 

[sluggercatfan]

Pretty good description of the Swamp. I was able to see the Florida game at UK last year - Commonwealth -even before all the rest of the stuff and menu changes I have heard about is much superior IMO. Now, if we could just start winning some games. One last point. A large stadium is imposing - but a full stadium at UK can be imposing as well. IF we can ever start winning - Commonwealth can be become a pretty intimidating place too!

Go Big Blue!

P.S. I am making the Tuscaloosa trip also - looking forward to seeing what big time football is all about!

Saw LOTS of empty seats last Sat

 

[UKUGA]

I went in 2006. A pretty good game. Refs stole a big play from us early with a phantom holding call.

I had this guy sitting next to me who was pretty friendly when UF was up big, but would slide away when we cut it close.

At one point we were discussing Tebow, and I asked how close he was to going to Alabama. The guy was incredulous that Tebow didn't give any consideration to Alabama.

I'm at least 100% certain that not only was BAMA in his final 2 or 3, but that he gave an interview about it later.

Some other goof turned around and high - fived me after Florida's first TD. I didn't mind, because at the end of the day, who cares, right?

Well, he cared. After the next possession when he realized I was a UK fan, he started sulking. It was odd.

I was standing in line later to catch the bus to the mall where I had parked. Someone hit me with a nickel or a dime. I picked it up and put it in my pocket.

To think, that was only our 20th consecutive loss to Florida.

 

[Shydog]

I made my first trip to the Swamp also,, parking just as op said $40 about a mile from stadium, easy in and out. FL fans were very loud and enthusiastic the whole game, I didn't get treated bad by anyone, not once! Just a few good natured rubs by students, nothing out of the way.
Stadium not nearly as nice as CWS but of course much much larger.Besides the poor play on our side it was a good experience however,, would never ever ever attend another afternoon , Sept game at that place, never! I can't even describe how hot it was. The visitors side got no shade til very late in the game,, other side of the stadium had shade at about halftime.
Not meant as a knock on the program here but the whole time during the game I keep thinking about how nice and fun it would be to have a football program that we fans could get really excited about like the Gators have,, I was really jealous!