Welcome to spring!
It is spring, isn't it?
Well, it seemed to be last weekend for at least a few sunny hours when I looked out my window and realized that my JP could be put off for another day.
So I grabbed my mitt, called a friend and headed out to Clarke Field to watch the baseball team take on Columbia while I stood on the hill and had a catch.
It was up on the hill overlooking the field that I realized that each Princeton athletic facility has its own flavor and that the atmosphere at an event is based not only on the fans, but also the field or building which houses it.
So, here are my choices for the places where I like to watch games the most here on campus.
1) Baker Rink
Pros: There is no cooler, more overlooked sporting event at Princeton than a hockey game, and much of the credit goes to Baker Rink. It's small, it's loud when the student section is filled and the balcony has the best views in the entire house.
Baker also has a feeling of nostalgia about it. With the wooden rafters and the old memorabilia in the trophy case you can almost feel Hobey Baker '23s ghost lurking in the hallways.
Cons: The only two cons I really can think of about Baker are the fact that the student-townie ratio at the games is decidedly in favor of the townies, and the extremely low temperature of the rink. Bring a coat and gloves no matter what the temperature is outside.
2) DeNunzio Pool
Pros: Two of the most fun, exciting events I have attended at Princeton took place in this building. The first was a men's water polo game in 1999 when a full house at DeNunzio rallied the Tigers to a 10-9 win after junior Jon Pharris made a save as time expired. The other was the H-Y-P swim meet this year, when the building rocked for three days as cheers echoed off the walls as Princeton swept the event.
The crazy people at the events and the echo chamber that intensify every sound make DeNunzio a great place to check out an event, whether you are a fan of water sports or not.
Cons: Put away that jacket that you wore at Baker. DeNunzio, like most pools, has the environment of the Amazon Rain Forest. The seats are also not meant for spending long hours watching events — bleachers with no backs are not the ideal situation.
3) Clarke Field
Pros: My destination last weekend is on the list mostly because there is no better way to spend a sunny afternoon than sitting on a hill watching a baseball game. The baseball team is having another solid season, and the way that the field is in a valley with the stands looking down guarantees that everyone has a good view of the action on the field.
Cons: Bring your sunscreen and shades. It's hard to find any real problems when you're sitting watching baseball.
4) Jadwin Gym
Pro: Jadwin's on the list solely due to the fact that basketball is my favorite sport to watch on campus. The student section has a good view of the court and the orange-clad crowd makes the games the best way to spend a Friday night during the winter.
Cons: Playing basketball in an airplane hangar is not ideal. Sound disappears and it's hard to get any real atmosphere when you can't see or hear the majority of the fans.
5) Princeton Stadium
Pros: While the majority of students don't know it, Princeton Stadium is a very good place to watch a football game. The most recent major addition to the athletic landscape, the Stadium is modern, comfortable and a beautiful place to sit on a Saturday afternoon and watch a football game.
Cons: The student section in the south endzone is empty — all the time. There is very little excitement or noise at games whether it is 41-0 or 41-40.
While nice facilities are a plus for any sports program, the real heart of a program isn't in the buildings — its in the players and fans that inhabit them for a few hours each competition.
So, these are my five favorite places on campus to go watch sporting events at Princeton.
What are yours? Send your favorites to The Sports Department and we'll print the best answers next week in the sports section.
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