What would be your ideal lacrosse venue in perfect world?

[Ravaging Beast]

That raises another question I've always wanted to ask - Which MDIA teams have gotten to play in their football stadiums over the years?

I don’t know if it counts, but UCSB plays several games a year at the UCSB football stadium (Harder Stadium). The UCSB football team has been undefeated since 1994. I don’t know how many people have seen the documentary on HBO about the Super Bowl I. The field that the Packers practice on is Harder. It’s nothing compared to big time stadiums, but it should count.

[CSUalum32]

Josh,

did you play in the CSU/BYU game in CSU's stadium a few years back? I was in High School and went to check out the game, I bet it was alot more memoriable for the Cougars, but man, that was FUN! It would be cool to play another game in a football stadium like that.

Another fun part of that game was the look on my mom's face after some of the CSU fans comments. What a crazy bunch

i think you are referring to the game at Hughes stadium in 2002. Yeah we actually got to play in the football stadium, only non-football event in a long time (maybe forever, but i am hoping they will open the stadium up for more events, but doubtful because of all the "fixing up" i guess you could say). Yes probly better for the BYU fans. i agree that game was a great time and opportunity for both teams despite the results.

i would be surprised if that was the only time your mom left a CSU game with a shocked look on her face that tends to happen.

[OAKS]

Personally on the east coast I'd rather play in [...] Homewood

I'd have to say amen to that, at least for historical and lax reasons. Being lucky enough to play there in high school and in college, I can't say I would have rather played anywhere else. Just wish that storm hadn't come in vs. Texas as we might have had a few thousand Hopkins faithful stay and watch. Definitely one of the top highlights of my playing experience.

[CSUalum32]

My favorite place was always Field 1 at the Anheuser Busch complex. . .

But only in odd years, right???

Better the odd years then none right? understandable why you like that field alex, what? twice on that field

[yourmom]

Lindenwood gets to use the Football stadium. It is still being renovated but its a blast to play on. I believe the GRLC playoffs will be hosted there.

[laxfan25]

Last year Michigan and Michigan State played their CCLA matchup in East Grand Rapids, MI at the high school. EGR has two artifical turf fields and the HS has the turf with long grass and rubber pellets.
The game was at the end of a lacrosse festival day with lots of high school games capped by the EGR-Forest Hills rivalry, whcih preceded the M-MSU game. Since Grand Rapids has a lot of grads from both places, when the local media put out the word that they were playing each other right in town it brought out a huge crowd. The stands were packed - I estimate they had at least 7,000 fans there. I'm sure they've never played in front of that many people before!
The field is also on a lake - it was a beautiful day with a nice sunset. This was the best confluence of field, fans and teams I've seen, and I think the teams would agree.
It was so much fun they're going to do it again this year. In fact, EGR won the right to host the CCLA tournament there in late April, so a lot more teams can enjoy the atmosphere!
It is a nice advantage for Calvin as well, since the field is about a mile from their campus. No travel costs - right Andy?

[Kevin OBrien]

I know Davidson in the SELC B gets to use their football stadium...it's about the size of a high school's stadium though....

[tamu33]

Back in the day when Kyle field had turf... the Aggies played several games in their football stadium

[tamu33]

My favorite place was always Field 1 at the Anheuser Busch complex. . .

So low alex.... only a few teams have played on field one... but I would have to say, when I was playing that it would have been the best field to play on because it meant that we were still alive in the tourney.

[Andy Sharp]

The East Grand Rapids fields are nice, they've got stands, turf (with permanent lacrosse lines), fences on all sides, bathrooms, concessions, and come with a lakeside view.

How many of you have dreamed of building the perfect lacrosse facility? I know I have, I've even gone so far as to sketch it out. If I were ever to win the lottery, it'd be my primary investment.

Mine's got an 8,000 seat stadium, sunken down in the ground with overflow grass seating all along the end lines and a 5 story hotel overlooking one end and a restaurant (primarily bar) at the stretching along the other. It is turf of course, maybe even navy, with nothing but lacrosse lines in white. Above the stands on one side are luxury sky-boxes and the other has press boxes with a permanent seat for Quint K. and mandatory spots for ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and ESPN cameras. There is also a helipad for Chris Berman & Tom Jackson to fly in for the big games.

Next to the stadium is a pair of full-size indoor fields (not domes, we're talking an industrial strength building). They are right next to each other with seating for say 3,000 elevated above the fields on each of the far sidelines, but in between them is an elevated platform for the scorer's tables that you can walk underneath. It's got a clear floor, so instead of taking a knee by the table, you'd actually be under it. There is of course a large net separating the two fields, but this could easily be pulled back while a panaramic scene of 100 player lacrosse camps are run throughout the winter months. One key factor to construction . . . all end line walls in this building are built to be flat, no bumps/cracks, and slightly canted for ideal ball rebounding, but during real games a net drops down to limit rebounds. Coaches, imagine 240 yards of 30-foot windowless walls!

Oh, and there are several other turf and a couple grass fields outside also, to host 16 team national tournaments and all. Note, the onsite hotel has clusters of bunk rooms for whole teams to stay.

I've walked the location of my dream facility; it's where the three big roads meet in Grand Rapids, Michigan on the SW corner of East Beltline and I-96/196. But I am sure with a big enough lottery win I could build it in your hometown as well.

[beckner11]

Even though no one really knows about our football team, we get to play some of our games in the stadium. Its a nice change to be on the turf.

As for ideal venue...I've always just dreamed of playing in front of a sold out stadium, with fans just going crazy from all the action! I guess you could throw that stadium in the mountains, with that rainbow in the background for the added effect.....

aww, thats gonna make having to go back to the fields that we have to use very sad!

[comatose]

Mine's got an 8,000 seat stadium, sunken down in the ground with overflow grass seating all along the end lines and a 5 story hotel overlooking one end and a restaurant (primarily bar) at the stretching along the other. It is turf of course, maybe even navy, with nothing but lacrosse lines in white. Above the stands on one side are luxury sky-boxes and the other has press boxes with a permanent seat for Quint K. and mandatory spots for ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and ESPN cameras.

You basically just described Homewood Field in Baltimore (minus the grass seating, navy color, and luxury sky boxes - unless you count the people who are watching from the buildings surrounding the field)

[Andy Sharp]

You basically just described Homewood Field in Baltimore (minus the grass seating, navy color, and luxury sky boxes - unless you count the people who are watching from the buildings surrounding the field)

1. My turf's got the rubber infill
2. I don't want to give others the opportunity to run circles around my field (Track)
3. While games beneith Diamond Head are nice, my field (the game) commands the focus of all inside. Homewood's got too much else going on for my eyes, though its history is tough to compete against.

I forgot to mention, there is also a box lacrosse stadium onsite.

[Pinball]

Clemens Stadium Collegeville, MN "The Ideal "

FieldTurf (the rubber pellet stuff, long blades)- Check
Natural Bowl- Check
8,000 seat- check (but can handle 18,000+ with standing room, the best part is that number has been reached in the past)
Luxury Boxes- check
Press Boxes- check
Sweet Logo- Check
Indoor facility next to it- Check
Nothing but pine forest, lakes and blue skies around you- Check
SI's "top ten place to watch a college football game (im sure they meant to put lacrosse game)"- Check
Football lines and a track- are there but thats only strike one

We practice on it, but games have been a different story though. This year will hopefully be different, we are crossing our fingers and praying. If you can't tell i kind of like it stadium.

[laxfan25]

You basically just described Homewood Field in Baltimore (minus the grass seating, navy color, and luxury sky boxes - unless you count the people who are watching from the buildings surrounding the field)

1. My turf's got the rubber infill
2. I don't want to give others the opportunity to run circles around my field (Track)
3. While games beneith Diamond Head are nice, my field (the game) commands the focus of all inside. Homewood's got too much else going on for my eyes, though its history is tough to compete against.

I forgot to mention, there is also a box lacrosse stadium onsite.

I just spent the afternoon at the Lacrosse Museum and Hall of Fame, adjacent to Homewood Field. It's the first time I've seen it. Surprising small ("intimate", some might say), but you can almost feel the ghosts around the place. The museum is OK, but what's kind of weird is to see equipment I grew up playing with in a museum! My old Bacharach Rasin D stick (wood), the original STX plastic stick (had and broke several - they were very brittle), my old helmet....man, I'm not THAT old!
Here I thought I was escaping the Michigan cold and snow for a couple days, and its 26 degrees with snow on the ground here too!