Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, OH

Basic Information

Stadium: Doyt L. Perry Stadium

Location: Bowling Green, OH (41.37817, -83.62227)

Owner: Bowling Green State University

Primary sport: football

Year constructed: 1966

Listed capacity: 24,000

Date last visited: October 2022

Stadium information: https://bgsufalcons.com/facilities/doyt-l-perry-stadium/2

Summary Review: 2 stars (out of 5)

Doyt Perry Stadium ("The Doyt," as they call it) was a nice small FBS football stadium many years ago, but these days it is really showing its age.  For one, almost all of the seating is bench seating with no backs, which is hard on those of us with back problems.  Also, when you look up at the press box, you can see that some of the metal is clearly rusted.  I kept hoping that the iron that holds up the stands was in better shape than the iron I could see up there.  Further, the tiny video board looks like it is from the 1980's.  That said, this stadium could be worse.  The stands are built in an arc, which makes you feel like you are sitting closer to midfield than you really are.  Mass parking is literally feet from the stadium, even though it is not free.  The bright orange and white paint scheme gives the stadium a fresh appearance...until you start looking more carefully and see the age and corrosion.  Overall, The Doyt is a well-designed small FBS football stadium that desperately needs some updating.  

Detailed Review:

Gameday Atmosphere: Like many Mid-American Conference football programs, Bowling Green's football program is poorly supported.  Thus, the gameday atmosphere is somewhat lacking.  Bowling Green does have a good marching band.  You can see I-75 from the west stands, so this campus's small interstate town location really comes out.

Seating: a few chairback seats for season ticket holders; otherwise bench seating with no backs

Field View: Both stands are built in arcs, so you feel like you are sitting closer to midfield than you really are.  On the other hand, the grade of the stands is fairly gradual, so you are further from the field than you would expect for a given row.  Overall, the view of the field is decent for most seats given their position.

Audio/Video: The video board is tiny by FBS standards, even for a small FBS stadium.  The audio seemed to work fine; they enjoy blaring 80's rock songs pregame (WO-OAH/LIVIN' ON A PRAYER!).

Concessions/Hot Dogs: They serve mostly the usual fare.  They offer Jet's as a very good and different pizza option.  The hot dogs have the fake smoky taste that I detest, but they also have grill marks.  Is it possible these hot dogs are individually grilled rather than mass-cooked?

Pedestrian Flow: ramps leading to portals give access to the stands, but most of the sidewalks leading away from the stadium are rather narrow.  Thus, traffic flows fairly well unless there is a large crowd.

Parking: all of the grassy areas around the stadium are utilized as paid parking.  For day games you can park at Carter Park just over 0.5 miles away for free.

Yager Stadium in Oxford, OH

Basic Information

Stadium: Fred C. Yager Stadium

Location: Oxford, Ohio (39.51952, -84.73293)

Owner: Miami University

Primary sport: football

Year constructed: 1983

Listed capacity: 24,286

Date last visited: October 2022

Stadium information: https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/2018/6/7/facilities-yager-stadium-guide-15-html.aspx

Summary Review: 4 stars (out of 5)

Yager Stadium is one of several small college football stadiums built in the early 1980's, an era that emphasized function over elegance.  Indeed, the functionality is great: pedestrian and vehicle flow is well-maintained, and the angled stands provide the best possible view from a given location.  The wooded areas to the south and east provide an almost pastoral setting, and that calmness seems to spill over to the fans.  I am a 2-time Miami alum who has watched many games here, and the smaller contingent of visiting fans are often more raucous than the larger contingent of home fans.  Because of my allegiance, this rating may be a little higher than it ought to be, but I have enjoyed every Saturday afternoon and weeknight (for Maction games) I have spent here.

Detailed Review:

Gameday Atmosphere: I watched many games here in the late 1990's and early 2000's.  Crowds at Yager Stadium have always been a little on the tame side, and they have gotten even tamer and quieter:  like many football programs in the Mid-American Conference, Miami does not enjoy the fan support it did 25 years ago.  Miami has an excellent marching band and spirit squad.  I just wish the fans were more into the game.  I do like the wooded area to the east and south, especially when the leaves are changing color.

Seating: Chairback seating near midfield, high on the west side; benchback for most of the rest of the stadium.

Field View: The massive home/west stands are built in an arc, so you feel like you are sitting closer to midfield than you really are.  Thus, all seats provide a good view relative to their location in the stadium.

Audio/Video: They have a loud audio system and a medium-sized video board.  Overall, the audio/video system is about average for a small FBS stadium.

Concessions/Hot Dogs: Concessions offer only the standard fare.  I have always thought highly of the hot dogs here: they are decent sized and juicy.

Pedestrian Flow: Numerous portals allow access to the stands.  There is only one main walkway in/out of the concourse, but it is wide and well-regulated.  Overall, pedestrian traffic seems to flow well here.

Parking: Parking used to be a serious problem here, but the addition of some grass/dirt lots east of the stadium has helped.  There is no free parking anywhere on campus or in Oxford, unless you know the area really well.... ;)