2017 Offseason Thread

Techster

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Atlanta United blogger/writer talking about the impact of BDS on the new franchise and how fans will probably miss it:

https://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/20...more-than-a-temporary-home-for-atlanta-united

Given that Bobby Dodd is not exactly an ideal soccer venue, it may seem strange that it has helped create this amazing environment. In an age of new soccer specific stadiums, it is a 104 year-old football stadium with uncomfortable bleachers, a narrow pitch, and is festooned with the white and gold of Georgia Tech. In spite of that, every one of those drawbacks has been turned into a part of creating an unbelievable game day atmosphere.

The incommodious bleachers meant that rather than sitting, every fan in the stadium stands for the full 90 minutes with rapt attention given to the play on the field. The narrow pitch means that the grass literally ends where the stands begin, bringing the supporters right on top of the action. Finally, Bobby Dodd is covered with the red and black of Atlanta United giving it the feel of a true home for the team rather than a temporary one. The end zones and center circle don’t even have Georgia Tech’s logo painted anywhere near them.

The results have been spectacular.

...While the team has achieved much in the first half of its home schedule there is a lot of history to be written. If the main chapters of that history will be told at Mercedes Benz Stadium, the prologue could not have been more ideal as it was written at Bobby Dodd.

There's an Atl United thread in another section, but thought the GT football fans would enjoy reading how fans from another sport have come to love BDS...and IMO, will miss the coziness and ideal location of BDS once games start at the Benz. BDS, IMO, was key in helping a new franchise selling out every home game and setting new MLS attendance records. BTW, I read that Atlanta United attendance at BDS would beat every MLB, NBA, and NHL franchises average attendance.
 

Sideways

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I don't pretend to know anything about soccer but I do know that BDS is one loud place considering that a home game would only have 45,000 or so fans. It must be due to the configuration of the stadium because it has always struck me how much louder it is than you would expect for the size crowd. I have a friend that is a Florida fan and is used to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium's 85,000 plus crowd and when he came to BDS for his son's Parent Weekend he was amazed at how loud it was. He also remarked that the student section at BDS is more, shall we say intense, than what he was used to at Florida even though it was decidedly smaller.
 

pinglett

Ramblin' Wreck
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754
Location
Gainesville, FL
I don't pretend to know anything about soccer but I do know that BDS is one loud place considering that a home game would only have 45,000 or so fans. It must be due to the configuration of the stadium because it has always struck me how much louder it is than you would expect for the size crowd. I have a friend that is a Florida fan and is used to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium's 85,000 plus crowd and when he came to BDS for his son's Parent Weekend he was amazed at how loud it was. He also remarked that the student section at BDS is more, shall we say intense, than what he was used to at Florida even though it was decidedly smaller.
I can confirm that comparison (between Ben Hill Griffin and BDS) with the volume, but with 85,000 fans all wearing orange and blue, there is definitely a more impressive feel to Ben Hill Griffin. Don't get me wrong I love BDS, but being surrounded by a 'sea' of your fans (all wearing team colors, @Supersizethatorder-mutt ) is quite an electric experience.
 

Techster

Helluva Engineer
Messages
18,237
I don't pretend to know anything about soccer but I do know that BDS is one loud place considering that a home game would only have 45,000 or so fans. It must be due to the configuration of the stadium because it has always struck me how much louder it is than you would expect for the size crowd. I have a friend that is a Florida fan and is used to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium's 85,000 plus crowd and when he came to BDS for his son's Parent Weekend he was amazed at how loud it was. He also remarked that the student section at BDS is more, shall we say intense, than what he was used to at Florida even though it was decidedly smaller.

IMO, there's not a better place for sports than BDS at night. Having the Atlanta skyline light up around you as athletes take on their opponents is a gorgeous spectacle. Especially so if BDS is full and the crowd is into it.
 

Whiskey_Clear

Banned
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10,486
If only we could fill it up......what might that do for the gameday experience for our team? For our fans? For our opponents? For perceptions? For recruiting?......

But alas.......though many of us criticize our admin for self handcuffing the program.....Tech fans do the very same thing....by staying home.
 

Sideways

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,589
I can confirm that comparison (between Ben Hill Griffin and BDS) with the volume, but with 85,000 fans all wearing orange and blue, there is definitely a more impressive feel to Ben Hill Griffin. Don't get me wrong I love BDS, but being surrounded by a 'sea' of your fans (all wearing team colors, @Supersizethatorder-mutt ) is quite an electric experience.

Yep. Ben Hill Griffin is quite a place. The loudest I can ever remember it being was when Doug Dickey was introduced (as they always do at Florida) as the Tennessee Athletic Director years ago. The rafters shook with boos. When the Gators played LSU or Tennessee at night boy howdy there was some excitement to be had.
 
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