How The Rankings Were Calculated: First and foremost, each of the Top 25 must offer a unique experience – an experience where one exits the ballpark with a big smile and says, “Now (or Wow), that fun, that was a little different.” And whether it’s the fan atmosphere, the ballpark seating or design, or a combination of both, plus history and tradition, these are some of the key qualities that make up the ones you’ve just got to see with lots of unique character – and why.

Top 25 Best College Baseball Stadium Experience

1. Charlie Baum Stadium – Fayetteville, Ark. (University of Arkansas Razorbacks)
2. Alex Box Stadium – Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Louisiana State University Tigers)
3. UFCU Disch-Falk Field – Austin, Texas (University of Texas Longhorns)
4. Hawks Field at Haymarket Park – Lincoln, Neb. (Univ. of Nebraska Cornhuskers)
6. Olsen Field – College Station, Texas (Texas A&M University Aggies)
13. Reckling Park – Houston, Texas (Rice University)
17. Dan Law Field – Lubbock, Texas (Texas Tech University Red Raiders)
19. Baylor Ballpark – Waco, Texas (Baylor University Bears)
25. Cougar Field – Houston, Texas (University of Houston Cougars)

Design and seating sure, Baylor belongs on the list, but actual atmosphere sucks big time with students showing up with their books to study

Design and seating sure, Baylor belongs on the list, but actual atmosphere sucks big time with students showing up with their books to study

Never been to the Disch, but from watching games from there on TV it doesn't appear to match Olsen for atmosphere.

The disch is ugly and has no atmosphere, not sure how its even in the top 10.

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3. UFCU Disch-Falk Field – Austin, Texas (University of Texas Longhorns)

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This list has no credibility! Dewsch Falk is a cesspool!

even horn fans laugh at how pathetic the disch is. It's a great atmosphere if you want to hear straight **** ***** **** ***** comments all day long.

Disch Faulk and Cougar Field should not be on the list.

Baylor's outfield wall always makes me laugh. I'm glad ours isn't filled with crap.

Do they still play on carpet @ the dish? That place is a dive and this list is an absolute joke.

Been to all those places...Pretty, yes, but no RAGGIES....OLSEN RULES!!!

The Box is pretty damn cool. The Disch sucks something awful. I can't remember the name of the park, but Mississippi St. is pretty cool too. I also don't know if they still play there, but the little band box that Okie State used to play in was pretty cool. They used to play "You dropped a bomb on me" by the Gap Band whenever someone would go yard. The fans would yell "Hit one <fill in the blank name>! I wanna dance!"

Am I the only person (Baylor fans included) that likes the ads on the outfield wall at Baylor Ballpark?

I think they give the place a certain kind of character- not unlike Ebbet's Field.

(Note: I am NOT, repeat NOT, comparing Baylor Ballpark to Ebbet's Field. I am merely saying that the ads give Baylor Ballpark a certain charm that is similiar to the character given to Ebbet's by their ads and whatnot.)

Baylor had the option to remove the ads several years ago when they padded the outfield wall. It sat empty for about 1/2 of the non-conference slate and looked completely boring.

To each his own I suppose.

Haymarket Park? it's been open for 5 years of so. C'mon that has to make it low on history & tradition

Reckling Park? it's like a morgue when they're playing the WAC/C-USA tomato cans on the weekend

Olsen Field is top 3

along with LSU and MSU

University Federal Credit Union Disch Falk Field

Baum is the best college baseball stadium I've been in, but the atmosphere at Olsen is superior.

I have a real problem with one ballpark being ON this list while another is OFF this list.

Baylor Ballpark was built using the plans originally used to build Auburn's Plainsman Park. If you want honesty, check out the Baylor baseball media guide from the first year the Baylor Ballpark was open... on the inside front cover is the ballpark filled. How can that be, since the park was brand new? I'll tell you how -- they used a photo of Auburn's Plainsman Park. I know this because the sports info contact for Baylor baseball back then told me so.

So if it is simply the stadium, the nod has to go to Plainsman Park because it is the original, not the carbon copy.

If the ranking is based on atmosphere, I've been to both and Baylor's fans and atmosphere don't come close to those of Auburn.

I'm sorry, ranking people, but if the Baylor Ballpark is in the Top 20, then Plainsman Park should be in the Top 10 -- no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Oh yeah, and I've been to 20th-ranked Tigue Field in Lafayette, La., and experienced the crowd of about 400, so where does the atmosphere come from in this awfully designed stadium? Another one in the rankings that needs to be dropped.


Mark Leddy '92
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There is nothing sweeter than hearing "The Ballad of Big John" at an A&M baseball game. Ah, the memories of April 16, 1989.

BaylorGuy,

I think the ads on the OF wall make it look cheap. Same goes for any park with ads on the wall. Baylor Ballpark is very nice but the ads seem to take away from it.

To each his own I guess. I love the ads on the outfield wall. It gives it an "old-time" feel.

I've never been to any of the SEC stadiums, but Olsen has to be up there with them and has to be ahead of Disch. That's a no-brainer.

The Box, while a crappy park, is awesome. I hope the new Box doesn't take away from the experience. MSU is good as well. Olsen is great. I have no problem with Tech being on the list. Baylor is a little iffy.

Disch sucks. This a poll about atmosphere, not winning. If it was about good teams, Texas would be up there, but this is about ballparks.

Plainsman Park is a ridiculous omission:

http://auburntigers.cstv.com/facilities/aub-facilities-basebl.html

Disch-Falk doesn't deserve that ranking now, but when they finish the renovations next fall, it will be the nicest college stadium in the country. (OK, maybe not because it still won't have grass, but at least they are putting in FieldTurf.)

Cornerboy,

Partially incorrect.

The Baylor Ballpark was built throughout (and finished) during the 1999 season. It was complete before the 2000 media guide came out (which was the first year for the stadium according to the books). So, yes, they did have a picture of a fully occupied Baylor Ballpark before the it "officially" opened in its first year.

Although Baylor Ballpark was designed by the same group that designed Plainsman Park, and therefore had a very similiar look to it, there are quite a few differences in the plans.

The crucial and basic design elements are nearly identical, but that's about it. The main reason for the design changes was the Baylor Ballpark has a capacity of 5,000 whereas Plainsman only had a capacity of 3,000 (at the time). This allowed a lot of different elements to be implemented in Baylor's facility that were not possible in Auburn's park.

In addition, the exteriors are also different aesthetically, although the exterior design of Plainsman Park was almost directly translated to Getterman Stadium, Baylor's softball park that was built at the same time as Baylor Ballpark.

At any rate, you have to give Baylor Ballpark the nod over Plainsman simply for the river backdrop at BU. Plainsman just has a giant wall, not unlike that of Fenway.

The fact that Tulane is on that list makes it a joke. I have been to many games at Turchin, and the only fans that show up are 50 and 60 year old men. The fact that he included Tulane is ridiculous.

You know the way to grandma's house!
R.I.P. Buddy D

The guy lost all credibility when Arkansas is number 1. Seriously, half turf half grass. What a joke.

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I love the ads on the outfield wall. It gives it an "old-time" feel.

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I agree. I've heard comments previously about how teams with ads on the walls (mainly directed at MLB) are "selling their soul" to corporations and have no respect for the game and its integrity. I dare say that folks making those sort of comments have never looked at any pictures from the old days of baseball. Every minor league park ever built in America and all the famous old major league stadiums, places like like Shibe Park, Crosley Field, Forbes Field, and the Baker Bowl had ads plastered everywhere possible, far more than any park today.

[This message has been edited by WestTxAg06 (edited 3/15/2007 9:38p).]

The Green Monster only got that name when they removed the huge advertisement from the top half of it.

A year or two ago, SI On Campus named Olsen Field the best place to watch a game in all of college baseball. They got it right.

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A year or two ago, SI On Campus named Olsen Field the best place to watch a game in all of college baseball. They got it right.

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The person that wrote that "article" was a student at A&M. It would be like a writer at the Daily Texan writing an "article" for SIOC saying that the Disch was the best.

Disch-Falk should not be in the top 10. LSU should be #1.

I live in Baton Rouge now and went to several games at Alex Box last year. It's a poor layout, imo, but the atmosphere is great because there's always 7500+ fans, even against patsies. It probably helps that over 90% of them are drinking daiquiris in the stands.

[This message has been edited by sodiumacetate (edited 3/17/2007 11:34a).]