Environment is a phrase routinely heard when discussing school soccer, significantly when evaluating the sport to its skilled counterpart, the NFL. The stadiums wherein the video games are performed present a lot of that ambiance.

Whereas many NFL stadiums, significantly the newer ones, appear and feel the identical each Sunday, school soccer stadiums have distinctive personalities. Some are gigantic, whereas others are a bit extra intimate. All are particular to those that name them house, however some are higher than others.

With the Huge Ten including 4 new faculties and stadiums, it felt like time to rank the buildings the 18 groups within the league name house. I’ve ranked them primarily based on their ambiance — the indefinable vibe you get from each place. Whether or not it is awe-inspiring measurement, the followers who fill them, or the tailgate scene, it is almost unimaginable to objectively outline the very best of the very best.

Properly, until you are me, it’s. I’ve executed it, and I am certain you’ll all agree that my rankings are immaculate.

1. Penn State – Beaver Stadium

The sheer measurement of Beaver Stadium (106,572) is spectacular sufficient, however the sound its occupants produce when the place is packed is eardrum-shattering, significantly if it is a white-out sport at evening. One other issue that generally goes unconsidered however makes a huge impact is that, for essentially the most half, the stadium is in the course of nowhere. That makes it the one present on the town in quite a lot of methods, and that ensures the individuals who present up are excited to be there.

2. Washington – Husky Stadium

I can already see the offended messages from Huge Ten followers outraged that I might embody this newcomer so extremely, however belief me. When you go to the place, you will get it. Husky Stadium’s total capability of 70,138 ranks ninth within the league, however few buildings are as loud. The stadium’s design retains the sound from escaping, and the view of the bay and the sailgate scene are unmatched wherever else within the league. It is a welcome addition to the league.

3. Michigan – Michigan Stadium

The primary time I noticed Michigan Stadium from the surface, I used to be unimpressed. For a spot referred to as “The Huge Home,” it did not look too massive. It wasn’t till coming into that the scale of the place slapped me within the face. Over 107,000 individuals fill the stands on Saturdays within the fall, and there’s no escaping them. Opponents are utterly surrounded, and the closest seats are virtually on the sidelines with the gamers.

4. Oregon – Autzen Stadium

Like fellow newcomer Husky Stadium, Autzen is a extra intimate venue in comparison with conventional Huge Ten stadiums. With a capability of 54,000, it is one of many smallest stadiums within the league, however it’s not the scale of the canine within the struggle; it is the scale of the struggle within the canine — or, on this case, the duck. You are surrounded, and the 54,000 individuals inside are as loud as anyone within the nation, they usually’re very near the sphere.

5. Ohio State – Ohio Stadium

Buckeyes followers will probably be livid about this, however whereas Ohio Stadium is big (capability of 102,780), and Buckeyes followers are a number of the most passionate (a pleasant approach to name any person insane) within the nation, it is at all times bothered me how distant the followers are from the sphere. There’s an excessive amount of house on the sidelines. Which may be greatest for the protection of visiting groups, however it’s not excellent for neutrals like myself.

6. Iowa – Kinnick Stadium

Kinnick Stadium will get loads of deserved love for “The Wave” custom of waving on the children within the Stead Household Youngsters’s Hospital, however it’s additionally an awesome place to look at a soccer sport. Even for a fan of a visiting group, I assure you that you will have time in Iowa Metropolis. Simply do not count on many factors to be scored in the course of the sport.

7. Wisconsin – Camp Randall Stadium

There’s nothing fairly like seeing the look within the eyes of any person visiting the press field at Camp Randall for the primary time initially of the fourth quarter when the stadium begins to shake to the tune of Home of Ache’s “Soar Round.” It may be a bit scary however in a enjoyable means. That mentioned, the ambiance exterior the stadium is usually extra satisfying than the within.

8. Nebraska – Memorial Stadium

There most likely is not a nicer fan base within the Huge Ten than Nebraska’s. Cornhuskers followers will make a customer really feel at house, and although they need your group to lose, they need you to get pleasure from your go to and luxuriate in a runza. If the soccer group had higher success in recent times, Memorial Stadium could be nearer to the highest 5, if not in it. Possibly it will get again there quickly?

9. USC – Los Angeles Coliseum

There are two completely different LA Coliseums. There’s the stadium that’s rocking and stuffed with celebrities when the Trojans are good, and it is the cool place to be seen. Then there’s the model with too many empty seats when the Trojans aren’t at their greatest. Nonetheless, even when full, I can not rank it larger than a lot of the stadiums above it as a result of there’s an excessive amount of house between the followers and the sphere.

10. Minnesota – Huntington Financial institution Stadium

It is the second-smallest stadium within the league, solely greater than Northwestern’s previous and soon-to-be-constructed new stadium, however it’s additionally the most recent stadium within the league. I perceive why some followers do not prefer it a lot, however I discover the place charming and cozy. After all, I have not been there when it is extraordinarily chilly, and the best way the stadium is constructed, the wind chill could possibly be a major problem at occasions.

11. Michigan State – Spartan Stadium

We have now reached the portion of the rankings the place the standard of this system has a big impression on the stadium ambiance. When Michigan State is at its greatest, Spartan Stadium may be as loud as any stadium within the league. However when the Spartans are struggling, it may be uninspiring.

12. Illinois – Memorial Stadium

Renovations in recent times have made Memorial Stadium a extra nice place, and the tailgate scene exterior is healthier than you assume. The issue is the group cannot put collectively profitable seasons constantly, which makes it troublesome to generate an unimaginable gameday setting.

13. UCLA – The Rose Bowl

I really feel the necessity to level on the market’s a distinction between The Rose Bowl on New 12 months’s Day when it is the host of The Rose Bowl, and The Rose Bowl on a Saturday in September when UCLA is internet hosting any person from the Mountain West. Sure, it is a historic stadium in an exquisite setting, however it might really feel like a mausoleum in the course of the common season when the Bruins are struggling. There are quite a lot of issues to do in Los Angeles, and you’ll want to be good to persuade followers to go up on different issues to return to your video games.

14. Rutgers – SHI Stadium

I’ve by no means been to a Rutgers sport, however I keep in mind how unimaginable the ambiance felt on tv almost twenty years in the past when the Knights started profitable beneath Greg Schiano. Given the struggles since becoming a member of the Huge Ten, there’s been an comprehensible apathy from followers in recent times, so I can not rank it any larger than this, however the potential is there.

15. Purdue – Ross-Ade Stadium

It is not one in every of my favourite locations to look at a soccer sport, sorry! The U-shaped design of the seats and decrease profile do not do a lot to create a raucous ambiance, and like most locations, the standard of the group taking part in there issues, too. It is virtually the antithesis of Mackey Enviornment, the place the basketball group performs.

16. Maryland – SECU Stadium

One other Huge Ten stadium I’ve but to go to, so I am compelled to rank it primarily based on the way it comes throughout on tv and from what those that have been there inform me. It is smaller than Ross-Ade, and like Ross-Ade, it isn’t in-built a means that helps with the acoustics. Even when Maryland is profitable the place feels quiet on tv.

17. Indiana – Memorial Stadium

There are a bunch of things that work in opposition to Indiana’s Memorial Stadium. Visually, it isn’t a lot to have a look at, although current renovations have been an enchancment. It is small and barely stuffed with rabid followers. Usually, when the stands are packed, it is because of guests making the journey. Lastly — whereas they’ve had some good seasons currently — by and huge, Indiana’s soccer group hasn’t produced the sort of on-field success that pulls followers to the video games.

18. Northwestern – A apply area

The Wildcats will play on a apply area in 2024. It is on the shore of Lake Michigan, in order that’s cool. However once more, it is a apply area. There isn’t any means I can rank it larger than final, although we’ll see how issues change when the Wildcats open their new stadium down the highway.