Plaster Stadium

[Webbzone]

Curious how folks liked/disliked Plaster vs. The Dome. As a west-sider, it was great to not have to travel 4-5 hours. The stadium felt much louder and the atmophere was great (Harrisonville/Kearney) game anyway. Appeared the turnout was much higher? I hope we continue playing there for awhile.

 

[old_spartan]

The games move to Columbia next year.

 

[Uncle_Fester]

I had only been to the championships at the dome twice, and the last one was three or four years ago, but I didn't remember it being as loud as I heard Plaster today. The Trinity fans were mostly in the Bear Band section and they seemed loud. Kearney filled up more than three times as much bleacher space but it didn't seem louder, just more constant.

Then again, the last time I was in Plaster was a Pitt State game and they didn't have the cement bleachers on the student (east) side then.

 

[mofootballcoach]

I thought it was the best venue for the state championships. Very loud and fans were close to the field. What an awesome atmosphere. I think mizzou will be too big and the fans too far away.

 

[knockemofftheball]

Great atmosphere, how many State games have been played in Mo, that would reach capacity at Plaster? It was rocking for both games today. Great venue, MSHSAA needs to make it happen there for a long time.

 

[anon_utvqikut1knht]

I miss the creature comforts of the Dome BUT NOT the parking and street level stuff. Had a fantastic time and very pleased to see both sides in the C4 title game cheering for their teams AND showing great sportsmanship once the game was done. I was frankly surprised at the loudness in an outdoor venue and thought it had more of a high school championship feel than the cavernous Dome. Also agree would prefer the games not move to CoMo.

 

[Tanman65]

I never liked the dome being 80+ degrees. Don't know how players feel about it, but seemed to be harder to hydrate and lots of cramping in the games I've seen there. Going from outdoors in November to playing it that heat has to be tough. Was very happy with plaster. And it less than an hour drive for me!!!! Bonus

 

[Jr4038]

I talked to a MSU event worker and he thought MSU got the title game for two years then it switched to Mizzou! He thought they were going to start a cycle and switch every two years!

 

[catch_21]

Parking was quick and easy. There seemed to be a little confusion on opening times as many Lamar fans were let in, but then were removed and had to wait for gates to officially open at two. Excellent atmosphere. Being that close to the field was great.

Only complaint, and it's pretty minor, was the flow of the parking lot afterwards was pretty stagnant. It took us over an hour to get from our spot onto Grand St. I've never been to a MSU game so perhaps that's the norm. There seemed to be people trying to flow both ways on all lanes, and with really the only one exit at the stoplight in front of the stadium it made things pretty slow. Police finally showed up and started helping with the flow. I would imagine that is something that next year or years to follow will be remedied.

 

[gbrett5]

Great location for the games. Easy access and great atmosphere. Never know from year to year about the weather but weather is part of football.

 

[Mitsurugi san]

Only complaint, and it's pretty minor, was the flow of the parking lot afterwards was pretty stagnant. It took us over an hour to get from our spot onto Grand St.

This is easily solved if you turn south when exiting the parking lot instead of north (I was able to avoid all that mess )

 

[TheRealNev]

I've been on the sidelines and in the stands for many Mo State football games and the atmosphere in last nights Lamar/Trinity Catholic game was the most electric I've felt.
The energy was positive on both sides (I stood on the TC side).
Fans supported each other after the game.
MSHSAA did a great job setting up the field presentation and the overall size of Plaster was sustainable for the number of fans without too many empty seats.
And the weather held up nicely.
In the Dome - the fans seemed too far out of reach, the crowd was muffled, there was too much open space/seats, and it is hard for players to adjust to the climate of playing a dome.
My support goes to MSHSAA in keeping the game at Plaster for years to come.

 

[blkdayz]

I thought it was a great place to have the games. I went to a couple in the Dome and while it's nice to be indoors, I thought that the games were much better to watch at Plaster. Nice call MSHSAA, I would like to see them keep them there for a while. I think Mizzou will have a much different feel. I agree it will be too big and you will be farther from the field. I sat in the upper deck both days and it felt like you were right on top of the field. Excellent place to watch football.

 

[millerbleach]

If Mizzou and Arkansas keep playing their "rivalry" game on Thanksgiving weekend, you can't have it in Columbia regularly. The same could be said of Plaster if) MSU gets turned around enough under Steckel to make the FCS playoffs and host.

 

[MoSooner69]

I really liked it being in Springfield. We will see how it does in Columbia next year... I know the talk is of it continuing to go back and forth... but at least officially havent they only decided for this year and next?

 

[old_spartan]

I'm curious how hotel arrangements were. And costs.

Columbia gouges you to death. I know in basketball MSHSAA gets a decent rate for teams, but any other activity down there is ridiculous.

 

[Mister_Wizard]

I'm curious how hotel arrangements were. And costs.

Columbia gouges you to death. I know in basketball MSHSAA gets a decent rate for teams, but any other activity down there is ridiculous.

I found rates to be similar to any time of year - $100 to $120 per night for the nicer places. If you used the special promo code of "ATHLETE" you could get a room for about $20 less.

 

[Mitsurugi san]

If you used the special promo code of "ATHLETE" you could get a room for about $20 less.

LOLOLOLOLOL!!!

 

[wcfanfourever]

We

I found rates to be similar to any time of year - $100 to $120 per night for the nicer places. If you used the special promo code of "ATHLETE" you could get a room for about $20 less.

only complaint I have is they needed a lot more concession stands open. Had to stand in line forever, don't be messing with the food!!!

 

[winningisahabit2]

Had a great room at the Doubletree that included breakfast..... senior rate

 

[Rufus R. Jones]

Interesting to hear people's thoughts. I'll always prefer being inside for 6-7 games. We were spoiled with the Dome. Too cold to sit all day and night without seeking some relief. I'm not very tough these days.
I loved the view from the upper deck on the west side. Tried the east side Friday night, too many people. Can't stand watching games around very many people. Too easily distracted, can't focus. EDIT: And at times, I'm too vulgar and volatile to be around people I don't know. Upper deck was perfect, and lines at concessions and bathrooms were nearly non-existent. Gave me a chance to chat up the concession stand workers. I need new friends.
Felt closer to the field than the dome, which is cool.
Had a great hotel, not especially cheap, but the places we usually stayed in StL had gotten to where they were robbing people, so I had no problem with Springfield rates.
Pretty much stayed in this year, so can't comment on Nitetime Adult Activities Options. I'm sure there's plenty of fun and trouble available, being a large college town.
Parking was ok. Used to not driving all weekend in St.L. Kind of liked driving around a little. Found a couple of good places in town to feed (Tip: check out Rama Thai- the lovely and charming Sonia will make sure you're taken care of).
For revenue purposes, MSHSAA may want to evaluate allowing people with ticket stubs (no stamp) in and out. Ripe for corruption. Sorry, I think like that.
Nothing we can do about the weather. There's gonna be some bad years, way worse than this. Felt bad for some of the under-dressed, mainly adolescent youngsters. Ok, not that bad.
Had a good time with good friends, met some new people, laughed hard, bitched about officials, enjoyed some refreshments, viewed some good football (although a lack of elite-type teams this year, IMO. Not trying to stir the muck, just an opinion after watching 20 or so years of title games), and enjoyed a new experience. The players all seemed to have fun and get some good exercise, which is the whole point, obviously.
Columbia will be good next year, I'm sure. Look forward to returning to Greene County in the future. It's always neat to get to see, in person, where our state gasoline taxes go.
Sorry for the ridiculous length of this post. If you're still reading, you will get a mention in the forward of my upcoming novel. Just hit "Like."

 

[Cards1968]

^^^^^^^^ Posts like these are what we have left from what it used to be like around here. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Rufus R. Jones]

^^^^^^^^ Posts like these are what we have left from what it used to be like around here. Thanks for sharing.

Cards1968, you're gonna make me cry. Hope the whole 1968 family had a great holiday.

 

[msubearssuperfan1]

I don't think of Springfield as being a college town. Maybe people from KC and the StL view it that way, but I sure don't. MSU has next to no impact on Springfield outside of the immediate campus area, which is one (of many) problems MSU has as a school. I do think of Columbia as being a college town (ditto Lawrence).

 

[Rufus R. Jones]

I don't think of Springfield as being a college town. Maybe people from KC and the StL view it that way, but I sure don't. MSU has next to no impact on Springfield outside of the immediate campus area, which is one (of many) problems MSU has as a school. I do think of Columbia as being a college town (ditto Lawrence).

That's fair. I do think it is viewed as one by many people around the state. I used the term in an attempt to be succinct. I was trying to reference "any place where there are many young adults who enjoy altering their normal mental state or level of consciousness."

 

[Mitsurugi san]

SGF is certainly a college town; a bit of a conservative college town, but a college town nonetheless, with not just MSU, but Drury, Evangel, and to a lesser extant BBC, CBC, and OTC...

...in a town of only 160,000 people, 50,000 of them are college students (I looked it up ); so definitely a college town, just a bit more buttoned down and conservative than most

 

[Rufus R. Jones]

SGF is certainly a college town; a bit of a conservative college town, but a college town nonetheless, with not just MSU, but Drury, Evangel, and to a lesser extant BBC, CBC, and OTC...

...in a town of only 160,000 people, 50,000 of them are college students (I looked it up ); so definitely a college town, just a bit more buttoned down and conservative than most

Yeah, except for the damn hippie college kids that come down from Bolivar. That's what that free thought stuff will get ya.
Sorry, not wanting to hijack webbzon's thread about the stadium and games.

 

[msubearssuperfan1]

If you'd take MSU out of Springfield, you'd barely notice. But take Mizzou out of Columbia, you'd shut down 75% of the town. Just the way I see it. Springfield existed long before Southwest Normal School No. whatever was founded in 1905. I just don't view MSU as a college town. Sorry. I think of it as the third largest city in Missouri. We've got 162,000 people here year-round. The college kids make it about 185,000. CBC has shut down, by the way. Only BBC is a going concern. Or maybe it's the other way. I could never get those two straight. One is on Kearney (still going) and one was by Hillcrest (the one that has been shut down).

Back to Plaster, I love the upper level seating on the west side. It feels as if you're hovering right over the field. Perfect viewing.

 

[MoSooner69]

If you take MSU out or Springfield there would be a HUGE difference.

 

[Mike*Honcho]

Springfield wasn't much of a town before the colleges showed up. It had 6500 people in 1880, fewer than Marshfield today. I'm sure the colleges/universities helped with growth.

Just a few facts (old, from 2006, but still relevant):

Springfield Missouri Higher Education (11 institutions):
- $3.3 billion in additional economic activity in the five-county metropolitan area;
- $1.1 billion in additional household income for the Springfield area labor force; and
- 38,500 jobs throughout the region, both full and part time, in addition to the approximately 26,200 employed by the survey respondents. Together, these 64,700 jobs in metropolitan Springfield account for about one-quarter of the region’s economy.

As a reference the "largest 49 employers tracked by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce have a total of almost 62,000 employees."

 

[Mike*Honcho]

Mizzou has 33,000 students to MSU's 24,000. Mizzou has ~6000-6500 postgraduate students, so about 27,000 undergrads. I didn't find a breakdown for MSU.

So no, MSU does not have a significantly larger undergraduate student population.

 

[freezeoption]

I was there for the two games Friday and the first two games Saturday, I brought my cold weather gear and stayed pretty warm, but it still wears on you, I didn't do the third game Saturday cause I said it was enough, next year 8 man and class 6 will be in springfield and the other games will be in Columbia, plaster is a great stadium and the parking is a breeze but the concession espeacially on the west side is terrible, the top on the west side is the place to be, I always had season ticke

 

[msubearssuperfan1]

Maybe our definition of what makes a college town is a little different. Columbia, Lawrence, Boulder all seem like college towns whereas Springfield has always seemed more like Topeka, Cedar Rapids, and Peoria to me. I don't know how much Arkansas State impacts Jonesboro.

 

[LombardiHalas]

I stayed at University Plaza for $89 per night. Like Rufus, I was used to the confines of the dome (never missed a championship since 1996). I enjoyed the view from my seats and I also thought the atmosphere and crowd were the best I have seen. Leaving the parking lots sucked if you went west. I found the alt route by where they parked the busses and exited from the east side. The east side part of the stadium had little to no line at concession and I took the elevator up and down to my seat. I'm a lazy ass. I enjoyed it as much as any. If its 32 degrees with a 20mph North wind, I may have a different take

 

[Rufus R. Jones]

Enjoyed this post. Thanks for sharing.
Where did you stay, if you don't mind me asking?

Townplace Suites by Marriott or something. 2009 National Ave

 

[shoot90draw]

I need new friends

At least you have friends. My life has become so small and meaningless in the last few months, chatting up concession workers actually sounds fun

 

[Big Ape Conf.]

They missed out on allot of concessions because a large number of people weren't willing to wait in the lines.

 

[bhunt95]

Sounds like stadium was a great experience. Location is the only negative I see by not being more in central of state for us way up north.

I also think MU too big for the championships.

What about CMSU in Warrensburg? Been awhile since i been there. not sure on capacity, quality of facilities though.

 

[shortbutfat]

Sounds like stadium was a great experience. Location is the only negative I see by not being more in central of state for us way up north.

I also think MU too big for the championships.

What about CMSU in Warrensburg? Been awhile since i been there. not sure on capacity, quality of facilities though.

 

[shortbutfat]

Yes sir. Sure did. Had uncles going through Sikeston schools around the same time your dad and uncles went through and they had some really good football teams according to the locals.....I think your dad played in the CFL if I am not mistaken. Really enjoyed last weekend in Springfield. Didn't dress for 25 degree weather Friday/Friday night and was uncomfortable most of the time but a great football atmosphere made up for it. Sat on the west side with my brother and friend (both coaches) in the full back seats. Just enjoyed the view and once again atmosphere (even with the sub par conditions) much more than the dome where I was fortunate to officiate a couple of games and watch many championship games. We too stayed at University Plaza (at around $120.00) about 3 blocks from the stadium but decided to drive with the help of a parking pass.....

I was really looking forward to the Saturday games and a little warmer conditions. Just gloomy weather but a dandy Class 3 game. Lots of penalties but good Missouri small school football to me. Proud for Monett (my perceived underdog) to beat a class team like Maryville. After that game we decided to head to BWW before the Class 1 game started and have a few beers and lunch. Started watching the Michigan/OSU game and well the few beers turned into many and we decided to make the 3 plus hour drive instead of staying for the last 2 games which I'm kind of glad ended up blowouts.

For what its worth I really like a smaller venue for the championship games. St. Louis just didn't have the atmosphere or the view and I think Faurot will be much the same. Springfield was very affordable and the restaurants are 2 minutes away.