"I think for the foreseeable future we'll probably be there," Mara said. "There are some coaches who believe in taking the team away. Who knows what the next coach will want?"
meaning TC will be the coach for the foreseeable future
Albany was a trip from anyone from NYC, and required a plan up front, etc. I would often make a weekend, go to camp, Saratoga Track, etc. This year, I went twice to camp, but could have easily been zero, as I just waited until the last minute to make my plans.
I don't think the set-up is that bad - seating was far, but was better than Albany, and the autograph area was better for kids.
The truth is that I don't think they could handle 70,000 fans there like Green Bay, so maybe some little things like the helmet thing could be pretty cool.
We would make a overnight trip out of it. Meeting other fans at the hotel, restaurants and bars was alot of fun for us. I also liked walking around the fields for better view.
I went to the MetLife twice and I hated it. I have no plans to go back. Im not sure what they can really do to make better. Its watching practice from a parking lot..a parking lot.
Getting to MetLife is a slog. The traffic is always ridiculous, no matter which way you go, and if you leave a little late and get caught in rush hour, kiss several hours of your life goodbye.
Plus, it's pretty hard to see what's happening and nearly impossible to get decent pictures with that huge fence in the way.
Albany was a longer drive for me, but one long drive and I could stay a few days at a local hotel and see a bunch of practices. It was a much more pleasant atmosphere.
I guess the current setup makes more sense from a team practice standpoint, although given the shitty play in the pre-season, it's not like you'd really know it.
as a die-hard fan, moving it from Albany was a huge mistake
we had the real makings of a family tradition of going up to camp for three or four days. it was great. it was the practice, the whole atmosphere and actually going up to Albany where there wasn't an overwhelmingly huge contingent of fans made it even better.
no intention to go to Met Life stadium just for practice. there is just no way the meadowlands off Route 3 can have the same feeling.
You didn't get backpack searches in Albany. The sightlines are better, and it's more laid back. You got to get right next to players, not behind some 15 foot chain link fence.
And nothing compares to the old "Autograph Alley".
I understand why they left. But, I'm not shocked at the low attendance. In Albany, you were drawing Giant fans from Upstate NY, Mass., Vermont, Conn., NYC and the Metro area...who could golf, hit up the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, relax at Lake George, go to Saratoga for the races (which I think was the original attraction for the Maras!). The Giants were something special in Albany, there was nothing (other than Saratoga) that would draw people away.
In the metro area, Baseball is king in August...would you rather bring kids to camp, or to see a live baseball game that counts?
Timex/Quest was never designed to hold fans for camp. The Giants FO has done a great job, but it's just not as pleasant an experience as seeing them in a college environment. And if they are afraid of holding a session at Met Life, why not FIX the turf (or switch to grass again, using the tray system). Players should never have to worry about the surface they are playing on.
Used to have a nice 2 hour drive on 90 through the berkshires from NE CT. This year, I was home on vaca from Atlanta and went down from my parents house in Woodstock, CT with my dad and friend. I swear we spent a total of 7.5 hours on the road, watched 2 hours of practice from a terrible vantage point in the hot sun, and drove back home.
Why throw that in there?
meaning TC will be the coach for the foreseeable future
I liked going to camp in Albany. I have no plan to go to camp in New Jersey. It doesn't feel like training camp to me and it's a miserable drive.
I don't think the set-up is that bad - seating was far, but was better than Albany, and the autograph area was better for kids.
The truth is that I don't think they could handle 70,000 fans there like Green Bay, so maybe some little things like the helmet thing could be pretty cool.
I went to the MetLife twice and I hated it. I have no plans to go back. Im not sure what they can really do to make better. Its watching practice from a parking lot..a parking lot.
Plus, it's pretty hard to see what's happening and nearly impossible to get decent pictures with that huge fence in the way.
Albany was a longer drive for me, but one long drive and I could stay a few days at a local hotel and see a bunch of practices. It was a much more pleasant atmosphere.
I guess the current setup makes more sense from a team practice standpoint, although given the shitty play in the pre-season, it's not like you'd really know it.
no intention to go to Met Life stadium just for practice. there is just no way the meadowlands off Route 3 can have the same feeling.
There's nothing to do in albany
And nothing compares to the old "Autograph Alley".
I understand why they left. But, I'm not shocked at the low attendance. In Albany, you were drawing Giant fans from Upstate NY, Mass., Vermont, Conn., NYC and the Metro area...who could golf, hit up the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, relax at Lake George, go to Saratoga for the races (which I think was the original attraction for the Maras!). The Giants were something special in Albany, there was nothing (other than Saratoga) that would draw people away.
In the metro area, Baseball is king in August...would you rather bring kids to camp, or to see a live baseball game that counts?
Timex/Quest was never designed to hold fans for camp. The Giants FO has done a great job, but it's just not as pleasant an experience as seeing them in a college environment. And if they are afraid of holding a session at Met Life, why not FIX the turf (or switch to grass again, using the tray system). Players should never have to worry about the surface they are playing on.