UNCTarheels
08-31-2007, 09:26 AM
Chris Metcalf
sports@livingstonnews.com
As we prepare for tonights opening night of football, I thought it was the perfect time to rate the top six (and bottom six) football stadiums in the LCAA.
There is a total of 18 teams in the LCAA for football, so I figured I’d rate the top six and bottom six, and leave the middle six alone.
Now when I did my ratings on each field, I used this as my criteria:
1) Playing surface; 2) Bleachers; 3) Concession access; 4) Atmosphere; 5) Total package, meaning goalposts, field lines, pylons, press box, security, surrounding track and parking.
Now this wasn’t as easy as it looks — for the top six that is. Now my bottom six was very easy.
The bottom six
18) Clements Field
(Dansville)- Horrible playing surface with outdated cinder track. Two years ago I went to a game between Dansville and Way-Co and I couldn’t see my feet the grass was so high. The goalposts look like something out of a 1920’s stadium. Terrible parking, unless you enjoy crossing a major roadway to get to the playing field. Bleachers I wouldn’t allow my worst enemy to sit on. They are supposed to be getting new bleachers this year but that’s only putting a bandaid over their real problem, which is an awful playing surface. A new scoreboard has helped a bit. At one time this was a great place to watch and play a football game, but times have changed and this field needs a major facelift.
17) Perry- Thank God a new turf field is coming here. Watching a football game at Perry is as painful as having root canal surgery. The lighting isn’t as bad as the field itself but rumor has it that after the third quarter the cars in the parking lot are asked to turn their lights on to help out.
16) Warsaw- The absolute worst grass in the entire LCAA. I’m thinking at this point, the person who planted the grass seed might have played a joke on them — what grass seed??? When it rains, ouch, the turf turns from very bad to downright ridiculous. The stadium itself I like, with a cool concession area behind the home bleachers. The parking isn’t terrible either — but this district needs to solve their grass issues.
The new stadium is certainly better than the old one at the Village Park, but both have something in common, a poor playing surface. The new stadium has a ton of potential, I just hope they do something about that grass.
15) Braves Field (Avon)- This one just got a whole new field of Kentucky Blue Grass put in so this could be the year it gets off the bottom five and makes a move the other way, but the jury will be out this fall. Lack of visiting bleachers also hurts. Concession stand is too close to the home team bleachers and it gets packed during halftime, mostly by people just leaving the bleachers to stretch. Look for this field to move off this list after the season.
14) Lions Field (Wellsville)- The playing surface itself isn’t bad but the lighting is horrendous. The bleachers are a mile away from the field. Don’t be surprised if someone hands you a pair of binoculars when you walk through the gate. The best part of Wellsville’s field is that they have a George Foreman grill on the premises. Next spring they are going to vote on getting a complex similar to Cal-Mum, I hope they get it, because they desperately need it!
13) Knights Field (York)-
I love the brick-style press box, bleachers and the layout of this field. A quality concession stand is built in at the south west end. The “plaza foyer” coming off the field is also a major plus. But the field itself is a sloppy mess, and thanks to their recent school budget vote not passing, that won’t change anytime soon. A new field could put this into the top five.
The top six
1) Cougar Field (HF-L)- There is something about this entire HF-L athletic facility I absolutely love, and the football field is no exception. The best grass in the LCAA — it’s as soft as a baby’s backside when you land on it. The field lines are always perfectly straight and the grass is consistently cut to perfection. A fan friendly concession area that sits in the north endzone is a plus. HF-L security guards wearing their yellow attire always give this field a professional look. HF-L AD Brian Donohue and his maintenance crew (Dan Mastin, Dean Gilbert, Phil Dewey, Brad Borsching) should be proud for maintaining this gem year in and year out. Much the best.
2) Hartwood Park (Le Roy)-
This gets the slight edge over Hamilton Field’s new complex because I’m still a grass guy at heart. Great atmosphere for a Friday night game.
When you think of Friday night football, you think of Hartwood Park and the LeRoy Knights. Solid playing surface and a fan friendly stadium with a ton of tradition. The parking is solid as well. Although I haven’t been in the press box for obvious reasons (maybe this year), I hear it’s nice. I also heard the security over there is pretty tight — I wonder why?
3) Hamilton Field
(Cal-Mum)- People are probably going to think I’m crazy putting this at No. 3, but like I said, “I’m a traditionalist,” I still love the kind of grass that smells. All-purpose facility has excellent bleachers and top notch lighting, which gives fans a really good night of football. Solid press box and concession stand. I’ve always been a huge fan of Hamilton Field because of the history of great teams that have played there.
There’s a definite aura when you pull into that complex. Like I’ve always said, “There’s nothing like a Friday night at Hamilton Field.”
4) Saunders Field(Livonia)-Top notch fieldhouse gives this gem a college-type facility.
Always well maintained with straight field lines and the smell of freshly cut grass takes it to another level. Even on a wet and rainy day, this field can hold its own. Solid concession stand resembles clean look of fieldhouse. Home team bleachers give the Bulldogs’ faithful something to cheer for. Good lighting, great goal posts and a beautiful oval track that surrounds field gives this one a ratings boost.
5) Dunsmore-Latimer Field (Bolivar-Richburg)- Excellent facility with college-like press box and outstanding bleachers. Grass is maintained well. The field sits down from the road which gives it a cool look.
Solid concession area.
6) Maple City Park
(Hornell)-The home of the Red Raiders is quite a sight. Old-school astro-turf isn’t quite state-of-the-art but a recent cleaning shaped it up some.
Huge home bleachers and a spacious press box help the cause. The field itself is lit up nicely and the goal posts look professional. The stadium sits in the middle of the city so the background is appealing.
The halftime band is always a treat.
sports@livingstonnews.com
As we prepare for tonights opening night of football, I thought it was the perfect time to rate the top six (and bottom six) football stadiums in the LCAA.
There is a total of 18 teams in the LCAA for football, so I figured I’d rate the top six and bottom six, and leave the middle six alone.
Now when I did my ratings on each field, I used this as my criteria:
1) Playing surface; 2) Bleachers; 3) Concession access; 4) Atmosphere; 5) Total package, meaning goalposts, field lines, pylons, press box, security, surrounding track and parking.
Now this wasn’t as easy as it looks — for the top six that is. Now my bottom six was very easy.
The bottom six
18) Clements Field
(Dansville)- Horrible playing surface with outdated cinder track. Two years ago I went to a game between Dansville and Way-Co and I couldn’t see my feet the grass was so high. The goalposts look like something out of a 1920’s stadium. Terrible parking, unless you enjoy crossing a major roadway to get to the playing field. Bleachers I wouldn’t allow my worst enemy to sit on. They are supposed to be getting new bleachers this year but that’s only putting a bandaid over their real problem, which is an awful playing surface. A new scoreboard has helped a bit. At one time this was a great place to watch and play a football game, but times have changed and this field needs a major facelift.
17) Perry- Thank God a new turf field is coming here. Watching a football game at Perry is as painful as having root canal surgery. The lighting isn’t as bad as the field itself but rumor has it that after the third quarter the cars in the parking lot are asked to turn their lights on to help out.
16) Warsaw- The absolute worst grass in the entire LCAA. I’m thinking at this point, the person who planted the grass seed might have played a joke on them — what grass seed??? When it rains, ouch, the turf turns from very bad to downright ridiculous. The stadium itself I like, with a cool concession area behind the home bleachers. The parking isn’t terrible either — but this district needs to solve their grass issues.
The new stadium is certainly better than the old one at the Village Park, but both have something in common, a poor playing surface. The new stadium has a ton of potential, I just hope they do something about that grass.
15) Braves Field (Avon)- This one just got a whole new field of Kentucky Blue Grass put in so this could be the year it gets off the bottom five and makes a move the other way, but the jury will be out this fall. Lack of visiting bleachers also hurts. Concession stand is too close to the home team bleachers and it gets packed during halftime, mostly by people just leaving the bleachers to stretch. Look for this field to move off this list after the season.
14) Lions Field (Wellsville)- The playing surface itself isn’t bad but the lighting is horrendous. The bleachers are a mile away from the field. Don’t be surprised if someone hands you a pair of binoculars when you walk through the gate. The best part of Wellsville’s field is that they have a George Foreman grill on the premises. Next spring they are going to vote on getting a complex similar to Cal-Mum, I hope they get it, because they desperately need it!
13) Knights Field (York)-
I love the brick-style press box, bleachers and the layout of this field. A quality concession stand is built in at the south west end. The “plaza foyer” coming off the field is also a major plus. But the field itself is a sloppy mess, and thanks to their recent school budget vote not passing, that won’t change anytime soon. A new field could put this into the top five.
The top six
1) Cougar Field (HF-L)- There is something about this entire HF-L athletic facility I absolutely love, and the football field is no exception. The best grass in the LCAA — it’s as soft as a baby’s backside when you land on it. The field lines are always perfectly straight and the grass is consistently cut to perfection. A fan friendly concession area that sits in the north endzone is a plus. HF-L security guards wearing their yellow attire always give this field a professional look. HF-L AD Brian Donohue and his maintenance crew (Dan Mastin, Dean Gilbert, Phil Dewey, Brad Borsching) should be proud for maintaining this gem year in and year out. Much the best.
2) Hartwood Park (Le Roy)-
This gets the slight edge over Hamilton Field’s new complex because I’m still a grass guy at heart. Great atmosphere for a Friday night game.
When you think of Friday night football, you think of Hartwood Park and the LeRoy Knights. Solid playing surface and a fan friendly stadium with a ton of tradition. The parking is solid as well. Although I haven’t been in the press box for obvious reasons (maybe this year), I hear it’s nice. I also heard the security over there is pretty tight — I wonder why?
3) Hamilton Field
(Cal-Mum)- People are probably going to think I’m crazy putting this at No. 3, but like I said, “I’m a traditionalist,” I still love the kind of grass that smells. All-purpose facility has excellent bleachers and top notch lighting, which gives fans a really good night of football. Solid press box and concession stand. I’ve always been a huge fan of Hamilton Field because of the history of great teams that have played there.
There’s a definite aura when you pull into that complex. Like I’ve always said, “There’s nothing like a Friday night at Hamilton Field.”
4) Saunders Field(Livonia)-Top notch fieldhouse gives this gem a college-type facility.
Always well maintained with straight field lines and the smell of freshly cut grass takes it to another level. Even on a wet and rainy day, this field can hold its own. Solid concession stand resembles clean look of fieldhouse. Home team bleachers give the Bulldogs’ faithful something to cheer for. Good lighting, great goal posts and a beautiful oval track that surrounds field gives this one a ratings boost.
5) Dunsmore-Latimer Field (Bolivar-Richburg)- Excellent facility with college-like press box and outstanding bleachers. Grass is maintained well. The field sits down from the road which gives it a cool look.
Solid concession area.
6) Maple City Park
(Hornell)-The home of the Red Raiders is quite a sight. Old-school astro-turf isn’t quite state-of-the-art but a recent cleaning shaped it up some.
Huge home bleachers and a spacious press box help the cause. The field itself is lit up nicely and the goal posts look professional. The stadium sits in the middle of the city so the background is appealing.
The halftime band is always a treat.