As for as best NKY facilities nothing beats the grass at Scott and Holmes early in the season. Highlands with its closeness to the field has the best atmosphere.

Ryle has the best overall complex in NKY hands down. Only knock would be it doesn't have turf. But it has ample seating, plenty of room on the sidelines, really good food, plenty of restroom access, lots of parking, and the bells and whistles.

 

Newports may be the next best at this point with all the improvements they've made and the ample parking.

 

Dixie's is probably right at the top of the list as well, but parking is an issue.

 

Highlands has a great surface, but seating capacity is tight for big games, as is restroom access. Parking is the biggest knock though.

Parking (Good): Ryle, Campbell Co., Scott, Conner

 

 

Parking (Fair): Newport/NCC, Holmes/HC, SK, Ludlow, Beechwood, CovCath, Boone Co, Dixie, Lloyd

 

 

 

Parking (Bad): Dayton, Highlands, Bellevue

 

 

 

Playing surface (Good): Beechwood, Highlands, CovCath, Holmes/HC, Newport/NCC, Lloyd, Ludlow, Dixie

 

Playing surface (Fair): Campbell Co., Ryle, Boone Co, Scott, SK, Bellevue, Dayton, Conner

 

 

 

 

Playing surface (Fair): Campbell Co., Ryle, Boone Co, Scott, SK, Bellevue, Dayton, Conner

 

SK's surface must have gotten a lot better if its up to "fair." It wa a cow pasture the last time I was there.

SK's surface must have gotten a lot better if its up to "fair." It wa a cow pasture the last time I was there.

 

I didn't think it was bad at all this past year. Of course, it may have gotten worse after I saw it in August/Sept but very green and pretty nice looking actually. (Maybe the cows don't show up until October).

As far as capacity and access, Ryle is great. But the stands are too far from the field and the grass holds up for about a week.

 

Beechwood has an excellent field, but parking isn't fun and seating can be crowded sometimes.

SK's surface must have gotten a lot better if its up to "fair." It wa a cow pasture the last time I was there.

 

Was the last game the '05 game against Conner? I know it was very poor that night but the weather was horrible. We need to bring that Bovine Bingo back from the '80's. I know most seem to knock the parking in Ft Thomas but I always park in the same spot about a 3 minute walk and I usually show up right at kickoff. The worst parking arrangement in my eyes is Dixie, usually not too far of a walk but it make you feel like the "frogger" crossing CovCath highway.lol

Was the last game the '05 game against Conner?

 

No, I've been there a few times in the past few seasons. It appears that its clumpy and I know it doesn't help that middle school teams use it as well.

Was the last game the '05 game against Conner? I know it was very poor that night but the weather was horrible. We need to bring that Bovine Bingo back from the '80's. I know most seem to knock the parking in Ft Thomas but I always park in the same spot about a 3 minute walk and I usually show up right at kickoff. The worst parking arrangement in my eyes is Dixie, usually not too far of a walk but it make you feel like the "frogger" crossing CovCath highway.lol

 

 

Are you kidding? Parking in Ft. Thomas to attend a game is NUTS. I agree if you must cross Dixie (Covcath highway, that was a good one!) highway, it's a challenge. Try driving up Kenton Lands road, there a a few business lots that are available if the parking is full on campus. At least you won't have to dodge cars running across DIXIE highway.

Here's my assessment on the top fields:

 

Best grass fields/complexes:

 

Good:

Ryle- As far as grass fields come, this one is the nicest complex. Plenty of parking, great food, ample seating, and the sound/lighting/atmosphere are always great here.

 

Holmes/HC- probably one of the most unique fields to play at as you actually walk down in to the stadium both players and fans. Scoreboard is in a nice place on the field house where everyone can see it even if you're driving by on Eastern Ave, and the playing surface is always one of the best IMO which is why teams like NCC were using it 2 years ago for their home playoff games.

 

Fair: Scott, Ludlow, Lloyd

 

Bad: Boone, Conner (grass is always 2 feet high and watered down), Sk (just a hard playing surface and no grass in middle of field) Campbell Co (just a horrible playing surface but atmosphere is good), Dayton, Bellevue

 

Turf fields:

 

Highlands: when it comes to playing on turf, Highlands has the best atmosphere around.

 

Dixie: probably the nicest complex in nky but parking is only downfall

 

Beechwood: nice place to play but the stands are too small

 

CCH- nice field but atmosphere just isn;t the same since the games are on sat

 

Newport/NCC: right behind Dixie with all the new upgrades

 

 

OVERALL:

 

Best complex: Dixie

Best place for atmosphere: Highlands

Best stadium with grass: Ryle and Holmes

Here's my assessment on the top fields:

 

Best grass fields/complexes:

 

Good:

Ryle- As far as grass fields come, this one is the nicest complex. Plenty of parking, great food, ample seating, and the sound/lighting/atmosphere are always great here.

 

Holmes/HC- probably one of the most unique fields to play at as you actually walk down in to the stadium both players and fans. Scoreboard is in a nice place on the field house where everyone can see it even if you're driving by on Eastern Ave, and the playing surface is always one of the best IMO which is why teams like NCC were using it 2 years ago for their home playoff games.

 

Fair: Scott, Ludlow, Lloyd

 

Bad: Boone, Conner (grass is always 2 feet high and watered down), Sk (just a hard playing surface and no grass in middle of field) Campbell Co (just a horrible playing surface but atmosphere is good), Dayton, Bellevue

 

Turf fields:

 

Highlands: when it comes to playing on turf, Highlands has the best atmosphere around.

 

Dixie: probably the nicest complex in nky but parking is only downfall

 

Beechwood: nice place to play but the stands are too small

 

CCH- nice field but atmosphere just isn;t the same since the games are on sat

 

Newport/NCC: right behind Dixie with all the new upgrades

 

 

OVERALL:

 

Best complex: Dixie

Best place for atmosphere: Highlands

Best stadium with grass: Ryle and Holmes

 

 

Holmes is real nice. Kind-of UC like

HC has visions of one day having Varsity games at the Rosedale site but first they have to find a way into the facility other than their current option. There has been talk of the trailer park adjacent to the field being purchased and a road opened up from Decoursey, but it seems they are miles from getting that done.

 

This is true. The original plan was to purchase all of the houses around the church across the street from the school and build the field there but it would have been a conflict with the lights and parking being in the middle of a neighborhood.

 

Building the new stadium down at Rosedale IMO is a bad idea though. When the river comes up, HC will have lots of problems with flooding and they are going to have to tear up that whole field of grass and replant Bermuda if they want it to be a nice playing surface. Also, getting there is a hike and there would be a lot of traffic unless as you stated the trailer park is purchased to build a new road.

Holmes is real nice. Kind-of UC like

 

I always liked playing there and being able to actually walk down the steps and in to the stadium. And up until around week 7, the grass looks great and isn;t a bald spot on the field.

I always liked playing there and being able to actually walk down the steps and in to the stadium. And up until around week 7, the grass looks great and isn;t a bald spot on the field.

 

Holmes gets field turf and they have an awsome facility. I agree, it is very UC like. I think field turf could give Holmes that extra little boost in the athletic program it needs to excite the athletic talent they have to really commit.

I always liked playing there and being able to actually walk down the steps and in to the stadium. And up until around week 7, the grass looks great and isn;t a bald spot on the field.

 

I got to watch a game in that stadium a couple years ago. The grass was kind-of dead, but the way the stadium sits down in the hole was very nice. They need visitor stands though. It could make the place really loud. Especially if the host the Rocks.