With the announcement of the North Dakota State Bison playing a baseball game at U.S. Bank Stadium, my mind wondered how the new stadium will fair for baseball. And in the bigger picture, does playing a sport in a stadium designed for another sport work?
The news of the baseball game broke just days after it was announced there will be a football game at Target Field. This will be the first football game at the home of the Minnesota Twins. The Bison were rumored to be part of this game, but scheduling conflicts meant they would not take part. Instead, the largest college football rivalry in Minnesota will be the game, St. Johns and St. Thomas.
The Bison are still in discussions about a game in Minneapolis, but it will be a year or two out. But, football on a baseball stadium? This could be interesting. The New Era Pinstripe Bowl has been played at Yankee Stadium the last few years. It is a cool location, but there are a few issues with the set-up.
The shape of the field is not conducive for a football field, and the wall are very close. It is just a little too cramped. My real issue is player safety. It is very easy to imagine a player slamming into a wall at a high speed. As a spectacle, it is pretty cool though. I do wonder how the view is from the nosebleed seats, but are they any worse than usual?
As for a Bison game in Minneapolis, there are still plenty of issues to go with it. It may trap the students at the game so they can’t leave. This is still a way off, but the thought is there.
The baseball game is interesting, and I really want to see how it works at the new stadium. There is not enough information to see if it will work, so that opinion is on hold. Baseball works well enough when walls can be reconfigured in a football stadium. I still am a fan of the Metrodome, and that place didn’t seem to have many problems with the transition.
The biggest issue I see with that game is the stadium will likely be pretty empty. I expect a crowd, yes, but you can’t fill that stadium with a college baseball game.
Honestly, I don’t have issues with these events. It is when small field games try to go into big stadiums, like basketball and hockey. Last year’s Final Four was not fun to watch. Hosted at NRG Staduim in Houston, it was just not right.
The camera is too far away, as are most of the seats and the seats that are close are at floor level or a bit under. That works if there are five or so rows, but not 20. I could barely see from the back of the student section last year at Bison games which were on the floor.
As for hockey, the same issues arise. The rink is too small, and just makes it odd. Don’t get me wrong, I love watching the Winter Classic. It makes sense for hockey to be played outside for certain occasions, but there needs to be snow on the ground and cool weather. Playing an outdoor game in Los Angeles is not a good idea.
TCF Bank was a good host for a hockey game. Firstly, because Minnesota fans are crazy and will suffer through the cold. Secondly, it just felt right to have an outdoor game in the State of Hockey. It is tough to describe, but it just was.
At the end of the day, playing sports in stadiums designed for other sports is a novelty. It should be that way. One-off games for spectacle need to be just that. Cool ideas, but let’s not ruin the game in the process.