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ESPN Insider - Some surprising names make the list of worst facilities in the Power 5
By Travis Haney
Earlier this week, Insider explored the best facilities in major college football. Now we’re examining the other side of things, the worst facilities in the Power 5.
As we get started, note this: In the continual arms race, a stringent competition in which hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year, the “worst” facilities are for the most part not all that bad.
You’ll notice that many of the programs below either have new facilities on the way, or they’re at least talking about improvements. If you want to be competitive in this era, there is no other option.
ACC
Miami
Boston College and Syracuse would have made fine, logical choices, but we picked Miami based on its history -- and, more so, its potential.
Even though Sun Life Stadium is being upgraded significantly, being a 30- to 45-minute ride from its stadium is clearly the biggest drawback for the program. AD Blake James told Insider in December that he’s always on the lookout for other options. Perhaps one is a new MLS facility that David Beckham is reportedly considering. It would be located near the old Orange Bowl, much nearer to campus. The size of it would also be more in line with what “The U,” as a smaller private school, needs as opposed to the stadium it currently shares with an NFL team.
James showed Insider plans for a new indoor facility, a real need considering the amount of rain South Florida receives every year. The team complex has seen work in the recent years; it’s on par with the middle of the ACC.
Miami has traditionally not been willing to spend, but there is momentum toward better commitment. New coach Mark Richt will surely be influential in continuing that trend.
Also: Boston College and Syracuse
There had not been a ton of demonstrated motivation for BC, but the school did recently announce that it will pour $200 million into updates for several sports’ facilities, including football.
Syracuse leaders continue to debate what needs to be done to update or replace the aging (some might say ancient) Carrier Dome, but that conversation has yet to lead to action.
Big Ten
Northwestern
The Wildcats are squarely in the Big Ten’s cellar as of now, but they will not remain there once their eye-popping new lakeside athletic complex is completed. (They’re expected to move in by early 2018.)
The $260 million structure includes an indoor practice facility, as well as new offices and player-support areas. Aesthetically, the building will allow NU to properly take advantage of being near Lake Michigan. The football compound is presently located across campus, nowhere near the water.
It figures to be a massive recruiting boost for longtime coach Pat Fitzgerald, who had to show and sell the previous setup.
Also: Purdue
Work is set to soon begin on a $60 million upgrade that will bring Purdue’s football complex up to speed.
Illinois’ facilities are not much better than these bottom two. Considering all three are on the same side of the division, it says something about the disparity between the Big Ten East and West.
Big 12
Kansas
The Anderson Family Football Complex, situated at the corner of Memorial Stadium, suits the program’s needs. There’s nothing specifically flawed about it, other than most everyone else in the Big 12 has been building gaudier compounds in the eight years since it opened. Even rival Kansas State just completed a $65 million upgrade to its HQ.
KU’s stadium itself is the bigger downfall, really. Improvements have been modest in recent years because, frankly, the capital has not been there for something more expansive. The best thing that has happened lately for KU football is the removal of the track that surrounded the playing surface; that just looked amateurish.
It’s imperative that coach David Beaty -- or someone -- eventually wins some games to boost morale and the administration’s desire to support the program. Then again, the facilities disparity is what makes it more difficult for Beaty to land high-end recruits and thus more difficult to win games. Just another example of how 'round and 'round we go when it comes to haves and have-nots on the Power 5 level.
Also: Texas Tech
There are plans for an indoor facility, but it’s long overdue -- which is no good considering Lubbock’s rapidly shifting weather conditions. The north end zone of Jones AT&T Stadium is seeing some work to increase luxury seating and improve the athletic department offices. The football building, across a small street from the stadium, is functional but hardly flashy.
Pac-12
Oregon State, Arizona and UCLA
These are the conference’s only three schools that haven’t recently redone or added onto their football complexes -- and, guess what, they’re all in the middle of doing so.
The Valley Football Center in Corvallis, Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe and the Wasserman Football Center in Westwood are all under construction and expected to be completed in the next year.
At that point, the Pac-12 will be the most complete facility league, top to bottom, in the country. Even the programs that were relatively far behind -- Utah, Washington State and Colorado -- have all opened new football/athletic hubs in the past couple of years.
One more note on UCLA: Like Miami, its campus is also about a 30-minute drive from its stadium -- but it’s the Rose Bowl, so the sheer beauty involved there negates the hassle.
SEC
Vanderbilt
Being a private school with a less-than-stellar historical record, this selection is no surprise. The 40,000-seat stadium is smaller -- and certainly less elaborate -- than several Texas high school stadiums. VU Stadium has seen $50 million-plus worth of upgrades, but those improvements have already been surpassed by conference foes.
The athletic complex across the street is serviceable -- the well-decorated team meeting areas are pleasant, for example -- and the program’s indoor facility is quite nice. Nashville, as a city, is a big draw for Vanderbilt, but there’s nothing about the school’s facilities that are going to wow recruits compared to others in the uber-competitive SEC.
Also: Florida
This is one that always seems to surprise people, even those who follow the sport pretty closely. The school finally completed an indoor facility last year, and talk continues about a new office and support complex outside The Swamp. There’s still some skepticism about the timeline for that project, those close to UF indicated. AD Jeremy Foley is a reluctant spender, but second-year coach Jim McElwain has already proven persistent.
By Travis Haney
Earlier this week, Insider explored the best facilities in major college football. Now we’re examining the other side of things, the worst facilities in the Power 5.
As we get started, note this: In the continual arms race, a stringent competition in which hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year, the “worst” facilities are for the most part not all that bad.
You’ll notice that many of the programs below either have new facilities on the way, or they’re at least talking about improvements. If you want to be competitive in this era, there is no other option.
ACC
Miami
Boston College and Syracuse would have made fine, logical choices, but we picked Miami based on its history -- and, more so, its potential.
Even though Sun Life Stadium is being upgraded significantly, being a 30- to 45-minute ride from its stadium is clearly the biggest drawback for the program. AD Blake James told Insider in December that he’s always on the lookout for other options. Perhaps one is a new MLS facility that David Beckham is reportedly considering. It would be located near the old Orange Bowl, much nearer to campus. The size of it would also be more in line with what “The U,” as a smaller private school, needs as opposed to the stadium it currently shares with an NFL team.
James showed Insider plans for a new indoor facility, a real need considering the amount of rain South Florida receives every year. The team complex has seen work in the recent years; it’s on par with the middle of the ACC.
Miami has traditionally not been willing to spend, but there is momentum toward better commitment. New coach Mark Richt will surely be influential in continuing that trend.
Also: Boston College and Syracuse
There had not been a ton of demonstrated motivation for BC, but the school did recently announce that it will pour $200 million into updates for several sports’ facilities, including football.
Syracuse leaders continue to debate what needs to be done to update or replace the aging (some might say ancient) Carrier Dome, but that conversation has yet to lead to action.
Big Ten
Northwestern
The Wildcats are squarely in the Big Ten’s cellar as of now, but they will not remain there once their eye-popping new lakeside athletic complex is completed. (They’re expected to move in by early 2018.)
The $260 million structure includes an indoor practice facility, as well as new offices and player-support areas. Aesthetically, the building will allow NU to properly take advantage of being near Lake Michigan. The football compound is presently located across campus, nowhere near the water.
It figures to be a massive recruiting boost for longtime coach Pat Fitzgerald, who had to show and sell the previous setup.
Also: Purdue
Work is set to soon begin on a $60 million upgrade that will bring Purdue’s football complex up to speed.
Illinois’ facilities are not much better than these bottom two. Considering all three are on the same side of the division, it says something about the disparity between the Big Ten East and West.
Big 12
Kansas
The Anderson Family Football Complex, situated at the corner of Memorial Stadium, suits the program’s needs. There’s nothing specifically flawed about it, other than most everyone else in the Big 12 has been building gaudier compounds in the eight years since it opened. Even rival Kansas State just completed a $65 million upgrade to its HQ.
KU’s stadium itself is the bigger downfall, really. Improvements have been modest in recent years because, frankly, the capital has not been there for something more expansive. The best thing that has happened lately for KU football is the removal of the track that surrounded the playing surface; that just looked amateurish.
It’s imperative that coach David Beaty -- or someone -- eventually wins some games to boost morale and the administration’s desire to support the program. Then again, the facilities disparity is what makes it more difficult for Beaty to land high-end recruits and thus more difficult to win games. Just another example of how 'round and 'round we go when it comes to haves and have-nots on the Power 5 level.
Also: Texas Tech
There are plans for an indoor facility, but it’s long overdue -- which is no good considering Lubbock’s rapidly shifting weather conditions. The north end zone of Jones AT&T Stadium is seeing some work to increase luxury seating and improve the athletic department offices. The football building, across a small street from the stadium, is functional but hardly flashy.
Pac-12
Oregon State, Arizona and UCLA
These are the conference’s only three schools that haven’t recently redone or added onto their football complexes -- and, guess what, they’re all in the middle of doing so.
The Valley Football Center in Corvallis, Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe and the Wasserman Football Center in Westwood are all under construction and expected to be completed in the next year.
At that point, the Pac-12 will be the most complete facility league, top to bottom, in the country. Even the programs that were relatively far behind -- Utah, Washington State and Colorado -- have all opened new football/athletic hubs in the past couple of years.
One more note on UCLA: Like Miami, its campus is also about a 30-minute drive from its stadium -- but it’s the Rose Bowl, so the sheer beauty involved there negates the hassle.
SEC
Vanderbilt
Being a private school with a less-than-stellar historical record, this selection is no surprise. The 40,000-seat stadium is smaller -- and certainly less elaborate -- than several Texas high school stadiums. VU Stadium has seen $50 million-plus worth of upgrades, but those improvements have already been surpassed by conference foes.
The athletic complex across the street is serviceable -- the well-decorated team meeting areas are pleasant, for example -- and the program’s indoor facility is quite nice. Nashville, as a city, is a big draw for Vanderbilt, but there’s nothing about the school’s facilities that are going to wow recruits compared to others in the uber-competitive SEC.
Also: Florida
This is one that always seems to surprise people, even those who follow the sport pretty closely. The school finally completed an indoor facility last year, and talk continues about a new office and support complex outside The Swamp. There’s still some skepticism about the timeline for that project, those close to UF indicated. AD Jeremy Foley is a reluctant spender, but second-year coach Jim McElwain has already proven persistent.
