Metlife Stadium?

There were likely two competing visions as to what the stadium would ultimately be. Yes, they had the budget to really turn it out, but I'm guessing there was a mess of design-related compromises. So the result was a fairly artless, utilitarian monstrosity that pleases no one.

In comment 13973759 BlackLight said:

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There were likely two competing visions as to what the stadium would ultimately be. Yes, they had the budget to really turn it out, but I'm guessing there was a mess of design-related compromises. So the result was a fairly artless, utilitarian monstrosity that pleases no one.

True. It's just sad sometimes how basic this stadium is compared to other stadium's. Also again the fact that this stadium is occupied almost all season long compared to other teams with less revenue. Just wish both team owners made a better design compromise if that was the case, just such a bland stadium

read an article that the cost to build those newer top tier stadiums in the New York/New Jersey area would cost more than double what those owners/taxpayers are paying. The cost of labor and nearly everything is higher in the area compared to say Minnesota. I still think they could have done something a little less lame than the stadium they built but maybe the owners were butting heads, I don’t know.

I never understand why they didn’t put a roof on though. Yes it might take away from the lore of playing in NY in the winter, but I would think the revenue they could have picked up for certain events would have been well worth it. I could definitely be wrong though.

What is the issue?

the color scheme? ok its bland, whats the difference as long as they win

bathroom lines? you get that anywhere

the food? same in every stadium

Someone please explain to me why people have a problem with the venue

to the field, the fact that most fans in premium seats are watching their cellphones instead of the game. The horrendous fact that they charged exorbitant $$$$ for PSLs, the fact hat there was nothing wrong with the original stadium which had better site lines and much more die hard fans. Sorry but the place just out right sucks for the $2 bill price that was paid

Being the reason it’s so basic is over blown. A poor design is a poor design. Sight lines are bad, the upper deck is a mile off the field. Egress has gotten worse and bathroom lines are still long.

I don't hate Met Life. Don't love it either.

The sight lines are outstanding though.

In comment 13973796 cjac said:

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What is the issue? the color scheme? ok its bland, whats the difference as long as they win bathroom lines? you get that anywhere the food? same in every stadium Someone please explain to me why people have a problem with the venue

It’s the worst stadium in the history of sports. Let’s begin. 1. There is a huge bottleneck getting up to the first floor as there are not enough entrances. 2. The ramps are awful. 3. The bud light “gate” does not go to the ground level rendering an entire escalator bay completely empty and useless. 4. They did not have enough bathrooms when built and the bathrooms are still too small. 5. The seats are too far from the field on the higher levels. 6. Walking around the stadium is difficult and interrupted by escalators on the first floor and clubs on the 2nd. 7. There are no open areas behind any seats (compare with Yankee stadium). 8. The lights on the outside were supposed to really glow and be impressive. They don’t and aren’t. 9. No got areas to hang out inside.

It’s a terrible stadium. If you think it’s not, you haven’t been to a good one.

In comment 13973796 cjac said:

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What is the issue? the color scheme? ok its bland, whats the difference as long as they win bathroom lines? you get that anywhere the food? same in every stadium Someone please explain to me why people have a problem with the venue

proximity
transportation (getting out is a nightmare)
cost, psl issue
overall design is stale, unattractive compared to recent venues

I wouldnt be happy.

My seats are lower level in the corner, and i sit in the Mez sometimes. I have zero issues. And i paid the PSL, if the stadium is there for 40 years it adds $15 per ticket per game. in the long run its minimal

none of the things that you guys are complaining about bother me. Not even a little.

I spend the majority of the game in my seat

Conceptually I dislike the overt class segregation at the stadium
The wealthy patrons are treated to a completely different experience than other fans
The access is awful
The old escalators and ramps were so much easier and faster to navigate
The toilet facilities are not adequate
How do you build a new stadium with insufficient room for toilets
The stadium has no identity
There are no quirks it is cookie cutter
The old stadium was loud as the sound reverberated off the underside of the mezzanines
The quality of the construction is poor when compared to other facilities
Visit Dallas or Atlanta and see what a quality stadium is like

This was all about money without much concern for the fans

In comment 13973816 cjac said:

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none of the things that you guys are complaining about bother me. Not even a little. I spend the majority of the game in my seat

yea its fine but there are better expirences

lit up in the colors like in the renderings, that would have been something, but it doesn't. I mean that would have been the one unique thing about the place.

In comment 13973816 cjac said:

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none of the things that you guys are complaining about bother me. Not even a little. I spend the majority of the game in my seat

That's great for you. That doesnt prove your point though. Stadium still blows. I have seats upstairs that I wont even go to more than once a year. And in fact, the experience is so terrible that I'd rather just stay home at this point. Only thing that keeps me going is my tailgate, but now i look for seats downstairs. I never had any issues with my seats upstairs in the old place.

Start with Parking. Segregated parking by PSL is insulting. The lots are also poorly managed.
entry. Still too crowded getting into games, unless you pay a premium for your seats then there is no line. This should have been addressed in the design.
Upper level access. Nightmare. I was at the first game when the pile up occurred at the top of the escalator. They are really lucky no one got seriously hurt. They now push everyone into the concourse to avoid them, which creates more traffic on the concourse, screwing the people at lower levels too. Just poorly designed, I'd like to hear the architects justification for the design.
Bathrooms. When the stadium opened, there wasn't enough in the upper deck. Mind boggling. It was such a big deal for those of us in the alps, that to their credit, they modified the bathrooms to almost double capacity.
Shitty service in upper decks. When they know a stinker game is coming up - which meant the last three games last year - they close services in the upper deck. Want a premium beer? Not upstairs, we close those if the crowd gets thin.

I have no problem with the sight lines or the color schemes. the gameday experience is not as good as it was in Giants stadium though, from the moment I exit the Turnpike, mostly because of poor design and exclusionary policies.

In comment 13973891 BigBlueDownTheShore said:

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lit up in the colors like in the renderings, that would have been something, but it doesn't. I mean that would have been the one unique thing about the place.

That was such a crock. Its so embarrassing. Remember it was supposed to look like Allianz stadium in Munich (?).

The worst part is that before the jets were involved they were planning on building a unique looking brick, retro stadium. Those plans looked fantastic. Only thing they used from them was the practice facility.

This is making me so mad.
this is what we were told it was modeled after - ( New Window )

In comment 13973910 Justlurking said:

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In comment 13973891 BigBlueDownTheShore said: Quote: lit up in the colors like in the renderings, that would have been something, but it doesn't. I mean that would have been the one unique thing about the place. That was such a crock. Its so embarrassing. Remember it was supposed to look like Allianz stadium in Munich (?). The worst part is that before the jets were involved they were planning on building a unique looking brick, retro stadium. Those plans looked fantastic. Only thing they used from them was the practice facility. This is making me so mad. this is what we were told it was modeled after - ( New Window )

I guess the blandness of the stadium is what you get when you hire the company that built Auschwitz. If they had pulled off the outside, I think it would have let the blandness of the inside more acceptable.

I haven't had issues with driving in or out, or bathroom issues. I just don't get how we spent Billions on a stadium that looks like a big tin can.

In comment 13973796 cjac said:

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What is the issue? the color scheme? ok its bland, whats the difference as long as they win bathroom lines? you get that anywhere the food? same in every stadium Someone please explain to me why people have a problem with the venue

Have you seen some of the new stadiums-Dallas, Minnesota,e.g. they make Metlife look like a government building. It's a monstrosity.

I think it's the outside TBH. During the day it looks like a tuna can and at night, those lights don't shine enough.

My seats are in the 100s and I've never had a problem entering/leaving the stadium by the Verizon gate.

The stadium is just super boring. It has no personality. I don't know where the fault lays, but this was supposed to be the Jets stadium... and somehow the Giants/Jets combo ended up looking like a stack of CDs. Giants may have had steered this the wrong way...

In comment 13974112 crackerjack465 said:

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I think it's the outside TBH. During the day it looks like a tuna can and at night, those lights don't shine enough. My seats are in the 100s and I've never had a problem entering/leaving the stadium by the Verizon gate. The stadium is just super boring. It has no personality. I don't know where the fault lays, but this was supposed to be the Jets stadium... and somehow the Giants/Jets combo ended up looking like a stack of CDs. Giants may have had steered this the wrong way...

Although, look at this picture a few times, the CD look may have been from the Jets. You can see the lights in this rendering. The giants just made it circular.

was that most of the contracts were signed before the real estate market collapsed IIRC. So the pricing for everything was based on the top of the market.

In comment 13973897 Justlurking said:

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In comment 13973816 cjac said: Quote: none of the things that you guys are complaining about bother me. Not even a little. I spend the majority of the game in my seat That's great for you. That doesnt prove your point though. Stadium still blows. I have seats upstairs that I wont even go to more than once a year. And in fact, the experience is so terrible that I'd rather just stay home at this point. Only thing that keeps me going is my tailgate, but now i look for seats downstairs. I never had any issues with my seats upstairs in the old place.

This. Upper deck seats at GS were great; upper deck seats at Metlife blow. I appreciate it's fine for you cjac, but for someone who scored upper deck tix once or twice a year - I've just stopped going.

Union rates you have to pay up there to get anything built. The Northeast in general is a shit show to hire people to do anything because the DoL comes sniffing if you a) aren't using locals and b) aren't paying what they consider a fair wage.

In comment 13973808 Rong5611 said:

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I don't hate Met Life. Don't love it either. The sight lines are outstanding though.

Pretty much same for me. I had seats in mezz/endzone corner and the sight lines were great.

my big screen TV-room in Atlanta with leather sofas and free NFL Ticket subscription kicks ass for me every year...

When we were told that it would shine blue/green depending on who was playing, I pictured what they do in Munich with the incredible Allianz Arena. However it fell well short:

Private money, not tax payer money.

Cost over $1 Billion because the cost of goods and services in NY/NJ are super high

Paid with private money.

In comment 13974187 djstat said:

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Private money, not tax payer money. Cost over $1 Billion because the cost of goods and services in NY/NJ are super high Paid with private money.

Wasn't a large debt on the old Giants Stadium forgiven?

In comment 13974165 RinR said:

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In comment 13973808 Rong5611 said: Quote: I don't hate Met Life. Don't love it either. The sight lines are outstanding though. Pretty much same for me. I had seats in mezz/endzone corner and the sight lines were great.

I went to my first game ever against Washington, Week 17 last year. It was 30 below, and our seats were in the upper deck, but I had zero to complain about.

But I have no problem with the upper deck if you are within the first 15 rows. I actually prefer it as you can see the play unfold

In comment 13973809 Justlurking said:

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In comment 13973796 cjac said: 8. The lights on the outside were supposed to really glow and be impressive. They don’t and aren’t. 9. No got areas to hang out inside. It’s a terrible stadium. If you think it’s not, you haven’t been to a good one.

The stadium cost 1.7B, but they went with the $1M lights that look awkward and half-baked instead of the $10M lights that would actually make the effect- which was the entire point of the TunaCan design: to have a reflective and modular facade.

In comment 13974196 Go Terps said:

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In comment 13974187 djstat said: Quote: Private money, not tax payer money. Cost over $1 Billion because the cost of goods and services in NY/NJ are super high Paid with private money. Wasn't a large debt on the old Giants Stadium forgiven?

I don't think anything was forgiven. The state still had ~$100 million in debt on the old stadium. Which they are probably still paying down. And IIRC, the state did pay for the roadway "improvement" around the new stadium, so technically not 100% of funds were private. But it was probably like 95% and far higher then most other stadiums.

In comment 13973796 cjac said:

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What is the issue? the color scheme? ok its bland, whats the difference as long as they win bathroom lines? you get that anywhere the food? same in every stadium Someone please explain to me why people have a problem with the venue

Unlike the old stadium, you can't get to any seat from any gate. This stadium is all about boxed seats and the stadium seating can be a bitch to navigate.

In comment 13974362 HoustonGiant said:

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In comment 13973796 cjac said: Quote: What is the issue? the color scheme? ok its bland, whats the difference as long as they win bathroom lines? you get that anywhere the food? same in every stadium Someone please explain to me why people have a problem with the venue Unlike the old stadium, you can't get to any seat from any gate. This stadium is all about boxed seats and the stadium seating can be a bitch to navigate.

All of the 70s stadiums had great sightlines. Candlestick had excellent views upstairs - only issue was the concourse was way too small.

since 1961. I've been to Yankee Stadium, Yale Bowl, Shea and the original Giants Stadium. I can honestly say from my perspective the fan experience is awful. I recently sold my PSLs and never looked back. A buddy of mine has club seats and pays $450/ea per game. The view is worse (farther from the field) than my former lower deck seats. The lounge area is just OK IMO considering the cost. Parking is further from the stadium unless you spring for VIP then you are near to where the old stadium parking is.

I can honestly say I would still be going to home games if they never built this thing. I understand the premise as the owners make far more money but they screwed the fans in the process.

shea stadium.

in fact it could be big and little brother. who knew NY would have 2 of the worst stadiums ever designed in the same city, but not during the same era?

learn from mistakes says no NY sports bureaucrat ever

For watching a game, it’s fine. To me it is different than baseball, you don’t need to be up and in the concourse you want to watch the game. I get that.

That being said, it’s a crappy stadium if you’re looking for restaraunts or bars to sit at or anything like that. Yankee stadium has those jack daniels or Audi suites and those are cool. Again, different sports but you’d think for a newer stadium it wouldn’t just be a bigger, arguably as advanced place as the old Giants Stadium was. Literally the only upgrade is that it’s new. That’s kind of shitty.

Also... we sit in the lodge section up top... and the person in front of you is basically in your crotch. I could use the persons head as a table for whatever I’m eating, that’s how squished it is at least in the top sections. Sat in section 111 in old giants stadium and had plenty of room.

I understand everything is more expensive in the northeast compared to other cities/states,but again two owner's of New York Team's in one stadium just doesn't add up. One way or the other both teams are profiting from this stadium to be expected. At the end of the day as fans we pay the price. Just sad that current stadium wouldn't standout more or comparable to other newer venues in the league. At the end of the day this doesn't waver my die hard love for the Giants.

last game the concourses were so tight at halftime, you could not move..this is a huge design flaw..and not safe. people are going to get hurt/ killed in and emergency. gave up going to the mens room. we were pinned like sardines. not a safe condition, the entrances are stupid, funnels people to stairs and escalators , once inside the views, and game experience is great... though I miss the red and blue seats of Giants Stadium...

...the lower level sightlines are very similar to the old Stadium, replay boards are a marked improvement, but most importantly - URINALS are much better - don't have to touch hips with the guy next to you.

As flawed as it is, it's an improvement over the old stadium.


And as that goes - I'm still sore they tore it down. That was my fucking HOUSE, man. Saw it built as a kid, we'd ride our bikes out the red road in the weeds behind the Carlstadt industrial zone along 120/503, went to the first football game played there (Rutgers/Columbia), countless tailgates and games. All gone. Yankee Stadium? Gone. WTF. Garden is next, I imagine.

Relax.. we got the GOOD doughnuts today

it was bound to be delivered as an underwhelming product while everyone got their little taste of the profits.

it's being built to price out the regular joe.

Giants wanted an Old time stadium look with Red Brick (think Camden Yards) The Jets wanted a more modern/futuristic look. After a very contentious negotiations, They decided on what you see today. Giants caved a bit to move project along and Woody Johnson also was looking to cut corners.

I knew someone in the design firm that filled me in.

in the old stadium and PSL owner in the new. I am in the lower level and the seats/sightlines are great (albeit 20 rows from field) but overall I am not pleased with the new stadium for a couple reasons. First the old one was AWESOME and I saw no need to replace. From all the memories, the great access (circles were the BEST!) and the great sight lines throughout you did not need to tear it down. That being said, the new stadium in my opinion has horrible access (even at lower level) especially for upper decks. The big screens are nice but if I wanted that I could stay at home. I hate that they do not have a permanent stats panel up somewhere (like the old). It is a scrolling text field that only runs at intervals. The bathrooms are designed horribly with the stalls right at the entrances so all the douche bags stand around blocking the way to the urinals. No TV's in bathrooms and barely a radio call. Lastly, moving to the PSLs changed the fan base and the close knit relationships we made with folks around us is gone. It is very impersonal, everyone has their noses in their cell phones, and selling their tickets to opposing fans to make money. The vibe has changed dramatically. Am actually sorry I purchased the PSL but I have them now and will take a big hit if I try to sell. We make the best of our tailgates and enjoy the games as best we can when the team actually shows up. Last season was the first time we ever sold a game! Hoping this new regime turns it around and they start winning which is the only thing that will make it enjoyable.

I remember games in 2009 when they would show active Giants stadium during games and the size of Met Life was double it. MetLife as it was being built was definitely intriguing to me and I was very disappointed with the final product.

I did not think I would have cared about Giants Stadium going away because I figured it was just a stadium and it made no difference.

For those of you siding with it? I am not understanding here, that whole design is just bad. Are you not supposed to make the newer stadium better than the old?

Weird design on the outside and inside.
Ugly jail cell like colors.
Upper deck is so far away.
The place isnt a joy to visit so other fans just come in and be annoying.
Giants stadium felt like a stadium. I everything looks weird to me in the newer one.

I was hoping at the least the stadium would over some feel for a "home field" advantage.

Nope. Its basically not a factor.
Any row after row 10 in the upper is way up there.

Used to laugh at the teams that hung those fake tarp walls at their stadium looked cheesy. Now its us.

Also stuck in PSL land for the time being. Missed my first game, last season after many a season due to health woes.

In the old stadium people used to pay for parking hit the lot, join the tail gate and buy a ticket, or just hang out and listen to the broadcast. Now with pre paid parking the guys you were fans that at least keep things going in the lot have been erased for the most part.

The push back from people let down as so many others from different fan bases stroll in and act right at home caused additional rifts, tears in the brotherhood of season ticket owners. The anthem situation does not help the healing process.

We allowed the Jets to pull us down to their level on this stadium build.

For some reason, even though there were fully prepared to proceed on their own, once the Jets entered the picture, that vision was replaced by a lot of what the Jets wanted or things to pander to the Jets. Why? I don't know. But, what really irks me is that the Giants vision was estimated at considerably less (nearly half). What about this stadium could be deemed better than any other new stadium, let alone twice as good?

For all that extra money, for example, they can't have LED lighting outside for team coloring? Instead, they have to have guys get up on cherry pickers or something and change colored screens over the lights outside the stadium to change from one team to another. Was this stadium built 50 year ago?

Then the way the stadium is managed. It should be a true partnership, with one shell management company. Instead, we have two different PSL plans, 2 different ticket plans, etc.

I won't even go into all the other things I really don't like about the stadium because it is too long a list. Just leave it at I really don't find anything redeeming about this stadium.

In comment 13974165 RinR said:

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In comment 13973808 Rong5611 said: Quote: I don't hate Met Life. Don't love it either. The sight lines are outstanding though. Pretty much same for me. I had seats in mezz/endzone corner and the sight lines were great.

Maybe for certain seats, but not for most. First, the upper tier is absolutely terrible. In the old stadium, it was still an excellent experience in the upper deck because you were still fairly close to the action and could see. Now, even at the very front of the upper deck, you are too far back and too high. It is a terrible combination. Then you have seats in the corners and end zones that are at a poor pitch, so that even though they are close to the action, you can't see a good deal of it very well.