Sun Belt Conference stadiums appreciation thread
The Sun Belt has been getting a lot of respect lately regarding the quality of its football programs, but what has flown under the radar a bit has been the high quality of the stadiums across the league.
I’ve taken it upon myself to review and rank the Sun Belt stadiums in tiers below. It's very scientific.
**Tier 1**
Appalachian State, Kidd Brewer Stadium [https://appstatesports.com/images/2021/5/25/KBS\_Pano.jpg?width=1000&height=563&mode=crop](https://appstatesports.com/images/2021/5/25/KBS_Pano.jpg?width=1000&height=563&mode=crop)
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more picturesque location for a stadium, and since moving to FBS they’ve improved it a ton. It was loud and rocking last weekend as well.
Troy, Veterans Memorial Stadium [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/The\_Vet\_12.jpg/1280px-The\_Vet\_12.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/The_Vet_12.jpg/1280px-The_Vet_12.jpg)
A great college football stadium. The new end zone looks awesome. Big, imposing press box and it looks like the fans are right on top of the action. Not much wrong here.
James Madison, Bridgeforth Stadium [https://jmusports.com/images/2019/8/6/236283\_Aerial\_Bridgeforth\_Stadium\_Zane\_Showker\_Field\_1002.jpg?width=1000&height=563&mode=crop](https://jmusports.com/images/2019/8/6/236283_Aerial_Bridgeforth_Stadium_Zane_Showker_Field_1002.jpg?width=1000&height=563&mode=crop)
This is one of my favorite stadiums in the country. It’s so weird and quirky and perfectly college football. P5 football on the home side, HS football on the visitor. Great setting and beautiful campus as well.
UL-Lafayette, Cajun Field [https://ragincajuns.com/images/2015/1/15//UL\_vs\_Southern\_2014\_Arial\_Photo.jpg](https://ragincajuns.com/images/2015/1/15/UL_vs_Southern_2014_Arial_Photo.jpg)
They’ve been doing some cool improvements to this stadium in recent years, including putting stands where a grass berm once was. It’s on the bigger side for the Sun Belt.
**Tier 2**
Arkansas State, Centennial Bank Stadium [https://astateredwolves.com/images/2015/9/12/CRZBQGNADPUQBWH.20150913035556.jpg?width=1416&quality=80&format=jpg](https://astateredwolves.com/images/2015/9/12/CRZBQGNADPUQBWH.20150913035556.jpg?width=1416&quality=80&format=jpg)
Another rock-solid stadium. Sunken field with grass berms, showcase home/alumni side. Hard to find anything to critique about this one.
Coastal Carolina, Brooks Stadium [https://goccusports.com/images/2019/8/26/20190621\_Brooks\_POI\_MOV\_00\_02\_24\_16\_Still004.jpg](https://goccusports.com/images/2019/8/26/20190621_Brooks_POI_MOV_00_02_24_16_Still004.jpg)
Definitely on the smaller side, but it’s turned into a good homefield advantage. The press box has kind of a horse track feel to it. The teal turf obviously is distinctive as well.
Georgia Southern, Paulson Stadium [https://www.collegegridirons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/paulson17950.jpg](https://www.collegegridirons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/paulson17950.jpg)
Another sunken field with grass berms at the “Prettiest Little Stadium in America.” I’ve heard the tailgating scene is awesome. Certainly looks like there’s plenty of room for expansion, too.
Southern Miss, M.M. Roberts Stadium [https://www.collegegridirons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/roberts17950.jpg](https://www.collegegridirons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/roberts17950.jpg)
Looks like it’s a very steep, two-tiered stadium with the fans right up on the action. Another really neat new end zone complex with luxury boxes. I recall the USM defenses of the 2000s being very stout.
**Tier 3**
Marshall, Joan C. Edwards Stadium [https://herdzone.com/images/2018/9/24/Joan3.jpg?width=1000&height=563&mode=crop](https://herdzone.com/images/2018/9/24/Joan3.jpg?width=1000&height=563&mode=crop)
Just a lovely, classic stadium. Classic horseshoe shape with I assume the football practice facilities building in the end zone. Showing her age a little bit in spots.
Old Dominion, S.B. Ballard Stadium [https://odusports.com/images/2019/11/21/LowerResODUfootballBallard46.jpg?width=1000&height=563&mode=crop](https://odusports.com/images/2019/11/21/LowerResODUfootballBallard46.jpg?width=1000&height=563&mode=crop)
Intimate, two-tiered on each side with a really cool end zone club facility. Video scoreboard in the corner is a bit odd.
South Alabama, Hancock Whitney Stadium [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/HWS\_2021.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/HWS_2021.jpg)
Kind of has an MLS feel to it like Toyota Stadium for FC Dallas. Really neat terracing in the end zone with the scoreboard.
Texas State, Bobcat Stadium [https://img.athleticbusiness.com/files/base/abmedia/all/image/projects/2014/02/gallery/slideshow/011A-613-AB\_Bobcat.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=586&q=70&w=879](https://img.athleticbusiness.com/files/base/abmedia/all/image/projects/2014/02/gallery/slideshow/011A-613-AB_Bobcat.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=586&q=70&w=879)
Another horseshore design that’s undergone a lot of renovations over the years. Was previously two tiered on each side before they close it off. Looks like they’ve got some renovations planned for the open end zone as well.
**Tier 4 - Needs improvement**
Georgia State, Center Parc Credit Union Stadium [https://www.collegegridirons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/gsu17950.jpg](https://www.collegegridirons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/gsu17950.jpg)
It’s definitely pretty awkward looking, but of course has a ton of history after hosting the Braves for a couple decades and the Summer Olympics
UL-Monroe, Malone Stadium [https://ulmwarhawks.com/images/2018/7/16/ULMvSU\_02\_Malone\_Stadium\_resized.jpg](https://ulmwarhawks.com/images/2018/7/16/ULMvSU_02_Malone_Stadium_resized.jpg)
Very awkward (unique?) design. Home/alumni side is very tall, visitor/student side has a second deck that’s bigger than the lower deck. Definitely needs some work to catch up to the rest of the league.
Also see: Wide World of Stadiums video with Google Maps views.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz\_e77je3T4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz_e77je3T4)