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The Annual "Ballparks that are better than Hoover" Thread.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:05 pm
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:05 pm
For some odd reason, this is where the SEC has chosen and continues to choose to hold its crown jewel of a baseball tournament. The only college tournament that can boast more talent than Omaha.
Apparently, the biggest selling point is.... parking.
Below is a short list of the many many stadiums that are superior. Feel free to add your own submissions:
Truist Field - Charlotte, NC - 10,200
No, I don't care it's not in the SEC footprint. It's driveable from everywhere in the east minus Mizzou plus the Alabama schools.
First Horizon Park - Nashville, TN - 10,000
One of the more centralized locations in a great city.
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark - Oklahoma City, OK - 9,000
It'll be in the footprint next year. Former host of the Big 12 tournament and the perfect set up to host the SECT with lots of hotels and stuff to do in Bricktown.
Dell Diamond - Round Rock, TX - 11,631
Let's see how much pull tu has. This is basically their backyard.
Blue Wahoos Stadium - Pensacola, FL - 5,038
Is it too small? Probably. Do I care? Nope. We could all drive from our beach houses on 30A or Gulf Shores. Just throw up some temporary seating LF.
Apparently, the biggest selling point is.... parking.
Below is a short list of the many many stadiums that are superior. Feel free to add your own submissions:
Truist Field - Charlotte, NC - 10,200
No, I don't care it's not in the SEC footprint. It's driveable from everywhere in the east minus Mizzou plus the Alabama schools.
First Horizon Park - Nashville, TN - 10,000
One of the more centralized locations in a great city.
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark - Oklahoma City, OK - 9,000
It'll be in the footprint next year. Former host of the Big 12 tournament and the perfect set up to host the SECT with lots of hotels and stuff to do in Bricktown.
Dell Diamond - Round Rock, TX - 11,631
Let's see how much pull tu has. This is basically their backyard.
Blue Wahoos Stadium - Pensacola, FL - 5,038
Is it too small? Probably. Do I care? Nope. We could all drive from our beach houses on 30A or Gulf Shores. Just throw up some temporary seating LF.
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Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:08 pm to Farmer1906
I went in 2013. I loved it there. Stop trying to change shite and blame it on your better half
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:08 pm to Farmer1906
quote:
Apparently, the biggest selling point is.... parking.
RV parking, specifically. LSU fans freaked out when moving to Regions Field was even mentioned
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:13 pm to Farmer1906
Trustmark Park in Pearl (Jackson, MS) is smack dab in the middle of the SEC footprint. It will be empty starting next year (Braves moving out). And it has plenty of parking and restaurants and safe hotels immediately adjacent to it.
Let's make this happen.
Let's make this happen.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:15 pm to Farmer1906
Rather see it go back to campus
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:16 pm to Bama Bird
quote:
RV parking, specifically. LSU fans freaked out when moving to Regions Field was even mentioned
Yeah there is ZERO parking around Regions Park. It's a joke...especially during a work day.
Birmingham's favorite thing to do is build stadiums (Protective, Regions Park, and now a new ampitheater) with zero foresight on parking.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:16 pm to No Colors
I agree
Hoover has served it's purpose
Big 12 uses Globe Life
would be sweet to get Braves to let sec use that field or plenty of minor league parks to choose from
SEC has also been fortunate with the weather
only indoor venues would be Arlington or Houston
Hoover has served it's purpose
Big 12 uses Globe Life
would be sweet to get Braves to let sec use that field or plenty of minor league parks to choose from
SEC has also been fortunate with the weather
only indoor venues would be Arlington or Houston
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:18 pm to Farmer1906
I know this is the annual bitch about Hoover thread, but all the stadiums you recommended are either out of or on the periphery of 2024-25 SEC footprint or have a smaller capacity than the Met.
Also, big selling point for the Met is that it is an entire complex with multiple fields, so teams can be warming up or taking BP while another game is going on.
As a stadium by itself, I think there are a lot better options than the Met, but once the total package is evaluated Hoover wins hands down for the SEC to have its conference tournament.
Also, big selling point for the Met is that it is an entire complex with multiple fields, so teams can be warming up or taking BP while another game is going on.
As a stadium by itself, I think there are a lot better options than the Met, but once the total package is evaluated Hoover wins hands down for the SEC to have its conference tournament.
This post was edited on 5/20/24 at 4:23 pm
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:20 pm to Farmer1906
I covered it for years and remember well the move to Hoover and what we, at the time, thought was a MAJOR upgrade .... but I agree, it's time to shake things up a bit and move it around some.
And I'll add this with no malace or intent .... but, over the years, Alabama and Auburn has realized a huge advantage (in terms of crowd support) with this tourney in Hoover every year.
The two have often exceeded rightful lower half expectations thanks to home crowd advantages. The data supports that contention and again, I don't hold that against either program, but the fact remains ... it matters to the lower seeds' chances.
And I'll add this with no malace or intent .... but, over the years, Alabama and Auburn has realized a huge advantage (in terms of crowd support) with this tourney in Hoover every year.
The two have often exceeded rightful lower half expectations thanks to home crowd advantages. The data supports that contention and again, I don't hold that against either program, but the fact remains ... it matters to the lower seeds' chances.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:21 pm to No Colors
quote:Smaller capacity than the Met, no adjacent practice fields, it doesn't have TWELVE dressing rooms, and it is in the Jackson metro area, although Pearl, Ridgeland, and Brandon aren't shitholes like Jackson proper.
Trustmark Park in Pearl
Nice centrally located place tho.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:23 pm to nicholastiger
Houston has grass so major edge there.
I think it would be cool to have 2 stadiums at once. You could do the bigger draws at MMP while having the lesser ones at Costelation in Sugar Land. Its only 20 miles down the road.
I think it would be cool to have 2 stadiums at once. You could do the bigger draws at MMP while having the lesser ones at Costelation in Sugar Land. Its only 20 miles down the road.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:23 pm to Farmer1906
quote:So like a 2 hour drive in Houston rush hour traffic.
Its only 20 miles down the road.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:27 pm to Farmer1906
Farmer, how many times have you attended the SEC Tournament?
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:28 pm to Farmer1906
quote:Lol I hate to break this to you, but you know that there are also college baseball teams that don't play in the SEC, right?
The only college tournament that can boast more talent than Omaha.
The 8th place team in the SEC is not a guarantee to be better than the eighth best team in Omaha
ETA: oooooof struck a nerve with this one. Seems like y’all know I’m right
This post was edited on 5/20/24 at 5:46 pm
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:29 pm to Murph4HOF
quote:
Nice centrally located place tho.
Why does this matter? Football Championship is never centrally located and the basketball one rarely is either. The SEC has grown so large that even centrally located venues are not drivable for the outer teams. Just south of Memphis is the new center of the SEC. That's like a 7-hour drive from Athens.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:33 pm to Farmer1906
frick off Aggie. You sons of bitches have just become whiny, insufferable counts. The SEC has made many bad decisions. The worst was letting Texas A&M join.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:34 pm to Farmer1906
quote:2 teams vs. 14.
Football Championship is never centrally located
And BHM/ATL is centrally located for everyone who didn't used to play in the Big 12.
quote:Holly Springs, MS: Home of the 2025 SEC Baseball Tournament
Just south of Memphis is the new center of the SEC
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:38 pm to captdalton
quote:
frick off Aggie. You sons of bitches have just become whiny, insufferable counts. The SEC has made many bad decisions. The worst was letting Texas A&M join.
Aggies tell us Texas is arrogant and will try to run the conference.
Which is exactly what Aggie is and does.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:40 pm to Farmer1906
I agree on Pensacola. It would be an amazingly fun trip for all involved if they had more seating. Hell, I wish they would do it anyway but I get the financial aspect of things.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 4:40 pm to scrooster
No stay at hoover..nice awesome safe family oriented central etc.
Omaha like dimensions
Omaha like dimensions
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