Thursday, August 07, 2008

The Best: Stadium name

That, as you're well aware, is The Colosseum in Rome, where they no longer host sporting events, but is the first real athletic stadium known to man. They also used to have death matches there (fine, gladiatorial contests) to which people cheered. Savage, those Romans.

Not only is it a monument to sport, it also has a great name: The Colosseum. Such a nice ring to it. It just sounds good.

Which brings us to today's topic: What stadium -- professional or collegiate -- has the best name. Not: Which is the best looking, but which one sounds the best.

Not included on this list are Quicken Loans Arena (Cleveland Cavaliers), Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers) or any other stadium with a bank sponsor, for that matter.

We also don't want to take into account the things that have happened at the stadium. Whether it's a classic (Yankee Stadium) or a more modern one (Great American Ballpark) doesn't matter to us. Frankly, we think Great American Ballpark has the better name of the two.

Some ground rules to keep this from getting out of hand:

- No nicknames. As cool as "The Swamp," "Death Valley" and "The Horseshoe" are, they don't count in this little game of ours.
- Currently-used facilities only. No old names. Mile High Stadium and Candlestick Park were aptly-named homes until they gave way to corporate sponsors.

We think that's it. Here's our list.

5. Camden Yards (Baltimore Orioles)
4. The Palace of Auburn Hills (Detroit Pistons)
3. Freedom Hall (Louisville basketball)
2. Camp Randall Stadium (Wisconsin football)
1. Soldier Field (Chicago Bears)

Now you play (but no gladiatorial slaying. That wouldn't be very nice).

23 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:16 PM

    Arrowhead (K.C. Chiefs) is pretty good. And it works with the team name. That's like a bonus.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous10:58 PM

    i always thought the great western forum was a great name.

    ReplyDelete
  3. now that it's no longer corporately (is that a word?) sponsored, Candlestick.

    And if you want to not count that: Great American Ballpark (Cinci) -- yeah, it's a corporate name, but it's a very fitting name for a baseball stadium.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dammit, didn't notice you guys put Great American" in the post...I'll go Lambeau Field in its place

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Pit
    New Mexico Lobos Home Court

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous6:23 AM

    The Polo Grounds

    Mile High Stadium (none of that Invesco crap)

    Candlestick Park

    The Spectrum

    Wembley Stadium

    Wimbledon (private, yes)

    Daytona Speedway

    ReplyDelete
  7. You gotta like The Swamp in Gainesville and The Pyramid in Memphis. Two of my favorites.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Since the naming rights have been whored out for so many American stadia, there aren't many cool names stateside.

    My favorite is Craven Cottage - Fulham Football Club. But, when it comes to English Football grounds, it's a "take your pick" situation.

    Also one of the coolest is La Bombonera - Club Atlético Boca Juniors. While a nickname, nobody calls it by its official name...just like Qualcomm Stadium will always be The Murph.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You mean Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (University of Oklahoma) didn't make the cut? For shame.

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's pretty clear that almost none of you read the post/know how to follow rules.

    I always thought it was funny that there was a Taco Bell Arena. Hinkle Fieldhouse...actually pretty much any Fieldhouse is a cool name.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous7:43 AM

    How about the old Cow Palace in Sacramento???

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous1:55 PM

    camden yards No. 5?

    that's pretty much the worst pick since 'small hands' alex smith

    ReplyDelete
  13. How has nobody mentioned Madison Square Garden? It's a miracle that place hasn't sold out to a sponsor.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Cow Palace is in Daly City (near SF), not Sac.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have to agree with Bokolis, the best stadium names are not in the U.S., they are foreign soccer stadiums:

    England:

    Craven Cottage
    Old Trafford
    Stamford Bridge
    White Hart Lane
    Anfield
    Stadium of Light
    Pride Park
    The Valley
    Kingsmeadow
    Goodison Park
    Deepdale
    Gigg Lane
    The Moss Rose
    Haig Avenue Ground
    Vicarage Road
    Fratton Park
    Bucks Head
    Bramall Lane
    Elland Road

    Scotland:

    Ibrox
    Hampden Park
    Easter Road Stadium
    Fir Park
    Borough Briggs

    Wales:

    Ca'er Castell
    Cwmbran
    Belle Vue
    Y Traeth
    Bridge Field

    Italy:

    Marc'Antonio Bentgodi

    Spain:

    Camp Nou
    Santiago Bernabeu
    Vicente Calderon
    Silvestre Carrillo
    Insular de Miraflores
    Itaxes Gane

    To name just a few . . .

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous9:51 AM

    The soccer team called Sunderland is by far the best the stadium of light also white heart lane is cool

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous12:08 PM

    The Ballpark in Arlington

    ReplyDelete
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  21. Anonymous11:54 AM

    Best: El Monumental (River Plate), Nou Camp, Azteca Stadium, Bryant-Denny Stadium, Pula Arena, Gibraltar Stadium.

    Cool names: Fortex Stadium, Metropole Stadium

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous11:57 AM

    Pizza Hut Park

    ReplyDelete