College isn’t all about academics. It’s also about making connections and having fun. One of the ways college students unwind and show their school spirit is by supporting their schools’ sports teams. Being a spectator is even more enjoyable at these state-of-the-art college stadiums.
University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium
Built in 2009, the football stadium at the University of Minnesota was the first college stadium to receive LEED certification. The LEED environmentally friendly building ratings recognize green building projects based on five different categories, including water and energy efficiency. The huge TCF Bank Stadium’s reflective roof deflects sunlight, helping the building maintain a steadier indoor temperature. The lighting, plumbing and elevators are all energy efficient, helping this stadium that holds more than 50,000 fans reduce energy costs.
University of Louisville’s Soccer Stadium
The state-of-the-art soccer stadium at U of L was unveiled in 2014 and provides modern amenities for fans and players alike. With room for more than 5,300 spectators, this stadium has a training center with a large warmup area, an education room, equipment rooms and lounges for the players. The training center is only accessible using fingerprint security. The natural grass field provides an ideal playing surface, and 300 linear feet of video boards let fans see all the action.
University of Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium
Kinnick Stadium opened as Iowa Stadium in 1929 and has seen several renovations over the years. One of the most notorious features of the stadium is its pink locker rooms, which were implemented by one coach who thought the color would make opponents more passive. Even the urinals are pink, and the tradition has continued through the renovations. It’s not the pink locker rooms that make this stadium so state of the art, however. A high-tech press box was built in 2004, and a modern sound system was installed at that time. The playing surface was upgraded in 2009, and in 2013, $8 million was devoted to upgrading the stadium’s sound and video systems.
Stanford Stadium
Stanford Stadium was the first to implement free Wi-Fi, in 2011, when it partnered with AT&T. The university took advantage of the popularity of smartphones to make it easy for fans to instantly view replays and see player statistics while watching games in person. Spectators can also use mobile devices to get into the stadium; the ticket gates are now enabled to accept electronic tickets.
Texas A&M’s Kyle Field
One of the most exceptional college stadiums, Kyle Field went through a $450 million renovation from 2013 to 2015. It is now the fourth largest stadium in the NCAA and the largest stadium in the SEC. The three-tiered stadium has a 4,000-square-foot video board, one of the biggest and best in the United States.
Cheering on your college or university’s players at a home game is a great way to become more involved in campus culture. While simply attending a game can bring on the adrenaline, these high-tech stadiums make the experience even more exciting and entertaining.
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