ASU, UA stadiums rank 8th, 9th in Pac-12
Jun 20, 2014, 6:00 PM | Updated: 6:00 pm
A group of experts, including former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel and ex-Colorado coach Dan Hawkins, placed Sun Devil Stadium eighth and Arizona Stadium ninth in a ranking of Pac-12 football stadiums.
In the subjective poll, the group of 10 was asked to consider “general atmosphere, fan support, home-field advantage, amenities, tailgating, the surrounding campus and the college town” in its criteria for the ranking.
The full ranking in order is as follows: Oregon, Washington, UCLA, Colorado, USC, Cal, Utah, ASU, Arizona, Stanford and Oregon State (tie) and Washington State.
The poll was highly variable, with ASU ranking as high as fourth and as low as 11th, and Arizona placing between fourth and last.
With new money from television sources such as the Pac-12 Networks, schools can afford to upgrade stadiums in the so-called “arms race” in college athletics.
ASU plans to renovate its stadium and has already removed seats from the north end zone. Cal and Washington each played recent seasons outside their home stadium while it was being worked on. The Wildcats also recently improved their stadium by adding a new video board.