I knew we were in trouble when the police told us to find somebody’s yard and park in it because the stadium parking lot was full. So, with much hesitation we did. The weather was incredible and we were fine and enjoying the game sort of. After the first quarter a hoard of children moved our bench for a better view. The sound system was beyond bad. Nothing said could be understood. The score board was behind every play! The official did not communicate any of the plays to the spectators. The concession lines were 4 deep and not not moving. I have been to better high stadium. There was a man smoking 3 rows in front of us. We left at half time only to find our car blocked in the parking space & people around the space snorting cocaine. Did I mention we pay the guy 20.00 to make sure we were not blocked in the space? The words I’d use to describe the experience are… we survived… we escaped. It is embarrassing for the city of Mobile to host a première event in such an inadequate and run down facility. I would advise watching the Sr Bowl on TV!
John S.
Place rating: 1 Trussville, AL
Major disappointment. City of Mobile was clearly unprepared for volume for the first sell out in University of South Alabama history. Had to wait over an hour for bus ride to stadium and missed kickoff. Arrived more than halfway through first quarter. Heard many say waited longer and arrived later. Not a good first impression when every communication was no parking available near stadium and best option was park at mall and pay to ride shuttle. Second strike was before first half was over all concession stands on the East side ran out of ice and cold bottle drinks. They had ample bottles of water because they began selling directly from the pallets of the warm bottles. Plenty of cold beer on hand but was probably not the best idea in the 95+degree heat. Only option was to go to West side concessions. Third strike after the game went to were shuttle dropped off to be told that pick up was on the opposite end of stadium. After essentially circling the stadium arrived to find departure line just as long as pre-game(roughly 3 blocks or more). Only positive was took about 30 minutes(obviously something done differently than pre-game) to load and didn’t have to wait in direct hot sun as did previously. Not likely to make return trip again.
T F.
Place rating: 1 Mobile, AL
Mobile does a great job with the GoDaddy and Senior Bowls leading up to the game but once the teams and fans get to Ladd Stadium, it all ends. The parking, surrounding neighborhood, concessions, bathrooms, locker rooms and scoreboards are all terrible. Plus during the GoDaddy Bowl, the neighborhood thugs come out and roam the concourses and stands looking for fights and using obscenities. That’s probably worse than the amenities. Ladd Stadium gets one star because of the nice field turf and it has some pretty cool history. South Alabama will bring in some good crowds in 2014 because of Mississippi State and Navy coming to Mobile but they desperately need an on-campus stadium. All that being said I’ll support the Jags and GoDaddy/Senior Bowls by going to Ladd
Cole Y.
Place rating: 2 Pensacola, FL
This is almost like a high school football stadium. You think with events like the Godaddy Bowl and Senior Bowl it would be a better stadium.
Bob G.
Place rating: 3 Mobile, AL
Well, this place probably doesn’t deserve much better than 1 or 2 stars, based strictly on the venue. But the history of the place, and the people who have played here is extensive, and that’s worth something(at least in my book). It’s not located in the best area of town, kinda hard to get to, parking is awful, seating not so great, but an incredible percentage of the NFL have played at least one game here. It plays host to the Senior Bowl each year, as well as the home stadium for the University of South Alabama Jaguars football team, and several high school games and playoffs… oh, and also the GoDaddy Bowl(or whatever they’re calling it this year). South Alabama will probably be better served to have an on-campus football stadium in the future, but it’s hard to deny the history of this venue.
Bobby Y.
Place rating: 1 Cleveland, OH
If you’re saying this is a nice stadium, then you’ve never even been to a high school game. My high school had better facilities than this old place. Well, the bathrooms are disgusting, they lack simple necessities like soap & paper towels. The parking lot is this hybrid patch of grass/concrete. Oh, and the neighborhood is packed with what looks like drug dealing activity and some unsavory characters. «Hide yo’ kids, hide yo’ wife…» I’m later told one of the teams dressed in the tunnels because the locker rooms were so bad… seriously? I know the coach, if he knew that, he’d have put them on the bus and just dressed them back at the hotel. In game the stadium clock wouldn’t work, and the ref had to delay the game for 5 – 10 minutes as he tried to tell the stadium crew, because his wireless mic wouldn’t work! So not only did the clock not work, but the ref’s mic didn’t work so he couldn’t tell them from the field to reset the clock! – Bush League. I think it’s a tie between this place and Legion Field in BHM for worst stadium in ‘Bama.
Angelus H.
Place rating: 3 Tulsa, OK
I watched the Senior Bowl from here… its a nice stadium. not bad… bathrooms were not that clean, but then again, what stadium bathroom actually is?