There are some great sporting venues in Ohio.  I left some off the list that I thought just didnt cut the snuff in order to make the list.  No offense to those cities/venues...there is just some great competition here.

I live in the nati, love the nati, breathe the nati...but...damn there is nothing like an OSU game at Ohio Stadium....O-H

^Agreed....I was torn apart between Ohio Stadium and PBS.  Both are great IMO.  However, I have never attended a game at Ohio Stadium (unfortunately), so that gave the edge to PBS...not too mention its architecture is phenominal!

Ohio Stadium, by far.

 

Though for the "modern" stadiums, definately Paul Brown for football and Jacobs Field for baseball.  Though I kinda like Akron's minor league stadium as well...

Oh, and best arena easily goes to Nationwide Arena.

i have a hard time debating ohio stadium.

 

also, since uncle rando thinks only one HS stadium is worhty, can i at least get a pic or two of it (please don't turn this into a image spam fest).

 

and no Q? Not saying i like it, just wondering why it wasn't there....

 

and hell 5th/3rd field in toledo is nice too.

The futon in my apartment has to be one of the best sports venues if we are talking Madden football on PS2!

also, since uncle rando thinks only one HS stadium is worhty, can i at least get a pic or two of it (please don't turn this into a image spam fest).

 

and no Q? Not saying i like it, just wondering why it wasn't there....

 

I went ahead and added Fifth Third Field (Toledo) to the list because of some outcry.  I have never been to Toledo so I am not aware of the 'great' venue that exists there.  Forgive me for being ignorant.

 

I'm guessing you mean Quicken Loans Arena (by 'Q').  And I chose not to include it because I didnt want to simply list every major league venue in the state. I wanted to choose the best of each particular kind of sport (my reasoning behind Crew Stadium).  However with the recent construction of venues, in the state, I had to include multiple football and baseball.

 

I also would not have even touched on HS venues, minor league, or even collegiate for that matter unless they really proved their worth.  We all know about Ohio Stadium, but I had to include 'The Pit' since it was ranked as one of the best venues, in America, to watch a HS football game.

 

Here is the story for more info:

'The Pit' at Elder

 

Address: 3900 Vincent Ave., Price Hill

Opened: 1937

Phone: 921-3744

 

The front yard of Elder High School holds a special place in hearts that bleed Purple on the west side.

 

"The Pit" is perhaps the best-known icon on Cincinnati's west side, a place that inspires loyalty and fond memories for Panther fans young and old.

 

The first game was played there in 1937 (the Panthers beat Woodward 12-6) and the concrete bowl was finished 10 years later. Generations of Elder fans have been part of the winning tradition here - and have made the trip here a family tradition of their own.

 

Elder High School and its football team are the purple thread that binds Price Hill's tradition. Loyal fans are known to fly or drive thousands of miles to see games there.

 

On game nights, the Pit experience actually begins on the streets of Price Hill, with fans streaming through the neighborhood toward the stadium. Seats on the Elder side are at a premium.

Quote: "It's one of the highlights of the year. As much as you like to talk about The Pit, there are only five or six times a year you can go there. You hold onto those times and the rest of the time you drive by, look at that big, empty Pit and say, 'Boy, that was fun.' " - Mark Bengel, class of '78.

Quick fact: The Pit has been named by USA Today as one of the 10 great places to watch high school football in America.

 

http://www.cincinnati.com/local/westside/E70html_05202003__GNWthepit_Other.html

Well hell, you might as well add Akron and Dayton's minor league stadiums, as both are equally as "good" as Toledo's (and older).

 

And Quicken Loans...and Cintas...and...and...

And hopefully, when Columbus moves downtown, we won't even be having a discussion of "best minor leaque stadium" since it should trump everything.

 

Very true......and ColDay... sorry about leaving out Daytons 5/3 Field, but my recent visit there just average.  I felth that the stadium was great and was made to look old and fit in contextually.  However, there were parts that were lacking (main entrance, surroundings, seamless flow with urban form).  Good baseball field nonetheless, but not GREAT.

 

Not to mention my recent addition of 5/3 Field (Toledo) has so far netted ZERO votes.

^well when you have ohio stadium versus 5/3rd if you pick anything else you are a homer.

Uncle Rando,

 

Following your logic..If you include the Pit, then you have to include Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon.  It is also nationally-ranked. Personally, I'd keep the high schools out of this. How could you compare OSU to Elder??

 

Its hard to honestly vote against the Horseshoe.  I would remove that as an option so we could all argue over who has the second best venue.

Well hell, you might as well add Akron and Dayton's minor league stadiums, as both are equally as "good" as Toledo's (and older).

 

I disagree (my opinion), and I think the average baseball fan would too. Toledo Fifth Third Field was ranked top in the country by Newsweek. And we're comparing apples to oranges since Toledo is Triple-A and the other ones are lower leagues...

 

The average baseball fan would also look at both Fifth Third Fields and think "wow, they look very similar!"  Because they are, in terms of smallish warehouse district, nice atmosphere, etc.  I generally look at it more realistically, as all three (Dayton, Akron, and Toledo) all have very similar ballparks (though I'd argue that Akron's is my favorite).  For example, a non-Ohio-biased outside source who has an opinion would say...

 

Canal Park Akron Ohio B+

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/akron/akron.htm

 

Fifth Third Field Dayton Ohio A

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/dayton/dayton.htm

 

Fifth Third Field Toledo Ohio A-

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/toledo/53tol.htm

 

Granted, one should never take a review-site seriously, but it is an outside perspective (though, again, I prefer Akron's over Dayton's and Toledo's).

 

But yes, when Huntington Park in Columbus is built, it should annihilate the other three.

I checked out the ballpark reviews site. It refers to Jacobs Field as a "retro park". I love Jacobs Field, but what is retro about it? I think that its cooler than many of the new retro parks because it uses a unique architectural style and doesn't try to replicate the past in some disney-esque fashion.

 

The guy also says that teh drum guy is annoying. WTF-everyone loves the drum guy (John Adams)!  Additionally, the writer's architectural credentials are severely called in to question when he states that he prefers surface lots to parking garages.  Off with his head!

Well, the "retro-parks" are simply modern flashbacks to the older parks, like Wrigley and Fenway.  Jacobs Field is certainly a "retro-park," though one of the better ones.  The ultimate one is Camden Yards.  Oy...God bless it.

When is the Columbus stadium supposed to open? Any ideas yet? What are they expecting for capacity? I realize we probably already have threads on this, I'd just appreciate it if you could point me in the right direction.

 

I forget the thread (as I am the "lazy" one out of the Admins/Site Owners) but just use Search :).

^yeah, I agree. Jacobs is not exactly "retro," but takes a few elements from it. Things that make Jacobs different include the vertical light poles. Real, retro parks would have the old school lights.

 

If anyone is retro, it's Camden Yards.

 

Nevertheless, Jacobs is an outstadning baseball venue with a great skyline view.

 

I can't understand how Camden Yards can be called "retro" yet not Jacobs Field.  Besides seeing obvious Indians-bias, I can't rationally see how Jacobs Field isn't retro.

Well, the "retro-park" is a "modern" park.  It is a throwback to the Fenway and Wrigley days, just with a modern twist (thus, retro).  The use of brick or any material is simply minor, in regards to the actual design of the stadium.  Since retro is a fashion, decor, design, or style reminiscent of things past.

Uncle Rando,

 

Following your logic..If you include the Pit, then you have to include Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon.  It is also nationally-ranked. Personally, I'd keep the high schools out of this. How could you compare OSU to Elder??

 

NO, you absolutely do not have to include PBTS in Massillon.  That place is a dump and a half and I dont think that many would disagree (not to mention the awesome use of crap-o-turf).  The only reason that place would make it onto any list would be because it is the Hall of Fame field.  If it were not for that then it would be no different than Welcome Stadium in Dayton.

 

As for the comparison of OSU to the Pit...you're right.  However, this is a personal opinion poll.  If you are someone who LOVES hs football and is a diehard Cincinnatian (many forumers are)...then you might select the Pit over OSU.  As I stated Ohio Stadium is, most likely, the best hands down.  However, I have never attended a game there so I would not know...therefore the best IMO would have to be PBS.

i think retro simply implies almost any new construction of the last 10 years dating back to camdem. Its the new cookie cutter stadium of the 60 (three rivers, riverfront, astrodome, philly's old one)

I live in the nati, love the nati, breathe the nati...but...damn there is nothing like an OSU game at Ohio Stadium....O-H

 

-I-O!

with municipal stadium long gone, it's the osu 'shoe for football hands down. i can always get a muni stadium flashback just by going to a yankees game (similar elements, same clev-based stadium builder osborne).

 

for mlb it's easily the jake. and yes its retro. really it's retro-retro (a copy of retro camden). and please no bringing detroit into this or any fan will burst into tears. i think ts (cough, i cant even speak its name outright anymore) was the best baseball park in the country.

 

for minor league baseball it's....

 

hehe!

 

 

Ohio Stadium, hands down.  One of the best venues in the country to watch a sporting event.