Becca's Blog - Stellar Stadiums

The Big House

2004-12-16T13:01:00.000-05:00

The Michigan football team is one of the most well known football teams in history and plays in the most well known college football stadium in the country. For this posting I am not going to talk about the technical aspects of the stadium, which Brian's site covers, but rather the wonder and excitement associated with attending games at the Big House. I grew up a Michigan fan because my dad's parents, my dad, my great and and uncle, and my aunt all went to school here. We used to travel to Ann Arbor for homecoming games sometimes, and those games were my first look into the world of Michigan football. Though I had a good time at the games, and I learned Hail to the Victors quite early, I never really understood what it was all about until I was a student.

I still remember attending my first game as a freshman. It was Michigan versus Washington. It was really hot, and I got insanely sunburnt, but it was an experience I'll never forget. Sitting with my new friends and cheering in the student section was so much better than sitting in the visitors section that the two should never be compared. The stadium is huge, and I was there when it broke the all time record for attendance at the Ohio State game in 2003, but you really feel connected to the thousands of other Michigan fans cheering for the same reasons. The most exciting game, was definitely the Michigan State game this fall. Once again, the temperature was not ideal, I was freezing, but nothing could rival the experience. The tension was so high in the stadium at times and I thought the suspense would kill me during the many overtimes. But looking onto the field and seeing all the other fans equally tense, I knew that it was something I could only experience in the Big House.

My grandfather, a dedicated alumnus and past president of the Alumni Association, bought a brick in the entrance to the stadium. On it are all the names of family members who have graduated from the University of Michigan. I hope that one day my name will be on that brick and forever a part of the Big House. Go Blue!

United Center

2004-12-12T02:34:00.000-05:00

Oh how I miss the days when the Bulls were the best basketball team in the world and Michael Jordan was practically a god. The Bulls play at the United Center, also the home to the Blackhawks. Construction on the United Center began in 1992 and was finished in 1994. The United Center is the largest arena in the United States. The United Center also has some fabulous amenities including and 8-sided video replay scoreboard, theater style seats, 210 suites, a cocktail lounge, and interactive concourse displays to name a few. One of my favorite conveniences is the increased capacity for women's restrooms! It's always unfair that the lines are so long for the women's restrooms and not the men's!

Hopefully the Bulls will one day rule the NBA. Until then, I probably won't be visiting the United Center. (With the exception of Michigan football, I'm a fair weather fan when it comes to sports.)

Comiskey Park

2004-12-12T02:19:00.000-05:00

Comiskey Park has recently been bought and renamed US Cellular Field, however, in my mind and the minds of many Sox fans, it will always be Comiskey Park. Comiskey opened on July 1, 1910. It was designed by Zachary Taylor Davis. The name came from the White Sox owner, Charles A. Comiskey. Comsikey Park was the first baseball stadium to install an exploding scoreboard in the major leagues. Today, the original pinwheels still remain and fans can see fireworks when a home run is scored.

Some interesting tricks were performed to improve the White Sox chances. An area in front of the home plate, termed "Camp Swampy" was soaked with water when White Sox sinkerball pitchers were on the mound, but was mixed with gasoline and clay and burned to make the soil hard if a sinkerball from the visiting team was on the mound. The visiting team bullpen mounds were raised or lowered from the standard height in order to screw up the visiting pitcher. For some time, the grass in front of the shortstop was left long because the Sox shortstop had limited range, but the grass was short at second base because the Sox player at second base had a good range. The length of the grass also depended on the team's defensive outfield. I'm surprised these sort of things were allowed. I doubt they still take place today.

Assembly Hall

2004-12-07T13:56:00.000-05:00

Though I do not attend the University of Illinois - Champaign/Urbana, many of my best friends do. One thing they all say is that going to basketball games in Assembly Hall is an amazing experience. I, of course, know that the experience could in no way rival attending a Michigan football game in the big house, but I decided to find out more about Assembly Hall.

Assembly Hall was completed in 1963 and Illinois won its first game in the new stadium against Northwestern. The building is dome-shaped and is the largest stadium of its kind in the world. The dome has a 400 foot diameter. Also, Assembly hall has no interior supports, but rather is wrapped with 614 miles of steel wire. (Still, not as impressive as the big house.)

Illini consistently brag about the fact that they rarely lose in Assembly Hall. Unfortunately, they do have a basis for their arrogance. Since the first game, the team's win-loss record is 349-107. When attending basketball games today at Assembly Hall everyone remarks on the sea of orange and blue. Like Michigan football fans, Illini basketball fans are dedicated to their team and their stadium.

Soldier Field

2004-12-07T13:41:00.000-05:00

Soldier Field was originally built as a multipurpose sports venue and was originally named Municipal Grant Park Stadium. After World War I the name was changed to honor those who fought. The Bears started playing at Wrigley Field in 1921 and were forced to move in 1970 when the NFL decided all teams must play in stadiums that seat more than 50,000 people. The Bears attempted to buy Northwestern's Dyche Stadium, but lost the bid and ended up at Soldier Field.

Over the years Soldier Field has undergone many renovations. Recently, a very controversial renovation was completed. Many people object to the new, modern design because it is not fitting with the original architecture. Many people have said "It looks like a UFO landed in Soldier Field". The new Soldier Field has many improved amenities but the aesthetics will have to grow on Chicagoans. Hopefully, one day, everyone will love the changed Soldier Field.

Wrigley Field

2004-12-07T13:17:00.000-05:00

I have decided to do a series of postings about famous sports stadiums. My first posting will be about the much-loved Wrigley Field. As a Chicagoan, I know many dedicated Cubs fans who swear that no baseball park is better than Wrigley. With its brick wall covered in Ivy, Wrigley brings people back to the day when baseball truly was the All-American past time. Wrigley doesn't need a fancy modern design to appeal to fans, its a love for baseball that draws them there.

Wrigley field first opened on April 23, 1914 and the first Cubs game played there was on April 20, 1916. The architect responsible for this favorite ballpark is Achary Taylor Davis. The ballpark cost $250,000. In 1914 Wrigley only held 14,000 people, but as of 1998, it holds 38,902 people. Over the past summer Wrigley had some problems with falling concrete in the park but worked to fix it. I'm sure Wrigley will be around for many years. For more information about Wrigley field go to http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/wrigle.htm

Test

2004-11-16T13:22:00.000-05:00

Rebecca Tobin

The OC

I am a student at the University of Michigan.

Rebecca Tobin, rtobin@umich.edu

Drugs found in giant squid

2004-11-16T13:09:00.000-05:00

I read today at CNN's website (http://www.cnn.com) that authorities found 1540 pounds of cocaine hidden in a giant squid. People really will try anything won't they?!