Kidd Brewer Stadium

There is a brick tower at one end with a large Appalachian letter on it. The main stand is covered, but the opposite side is open bleachers that look out onto the tree line. A running track rings the pitch, which is artificial turf. The colours on the field are black and gold, and the end zones read Mountaineers and Appalachian State. A scoreboard sits on the far side, visible from the road that circles the grounds.

The pitch itself is not the point. The point is the way the stadium holds the noise. The slope keeps the sound from drifting away into the hills. When the visitors play in driving rain, the water runs off the grass and into the valley, which is a problem for some grounds in this region but not here. The surface drains quickly. The stands are close enough to the action that you can hear the linesmen, even if the wind is howling.

The original seats are still there, tucked under the concrete. They were restored rather than replaced, so the old feel is preserved in the lower sections. The new work is visible in the press box and the video board, but the brickwork remains the same. The road that loops around the stadium is lined with cars on game days; there is no value left at that number. The fans park in the lots below and walk up the paths. It is a climb, but not one they complain about. The mountain is part of the experience, not just a backdrop.