Best atmospheres in the valley

[Jazz]

Wanted to get everyone's opinion on who has the best atmospheres around the Valley and why?

Here's a few in no order


Central Grizzlies - Dominant on team on the field (intimidating). No arguing that. Very uneasy feeling walking into that stadium for whatever reason. Think Oakland Raiders at home. Can get loud.

Sanger Apaches- High School football at its finest. Electric crowd. Usually do not have intimidating looking teams, as they just arnt very big, they play with their hair on fire. The whole town is always there. Very Fresno State like.

Clovis High - Tradition at its finest. The fire truck before the game, the history of the great Cougar teams of the past hanging. That's home field advantage!!! Reminds me of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at home.

Fowler - This might come as a shock to most but Fowler is a GREAT place to watch a game on Friday nights. Don't wear wear any nice shoes out there, although. Pretty loud on big plays. Louisiana Tech comes to mind.

The four schools you mentioned all have stadiums with no track around them.  To me that is a huge difference to begin with.  Then you add a vibrant fan base and it equals a true home field advantage. When you roll into Sanger on game day it's just a different vibe in the town. There is no visitors side, both sides are screaming at you.  Snack bar is above average. Centrals home side and student section sells out every game.  Only problem there is their visitor side is so huge, so that side rarely gets half full. But, their student section and music from the cheer team and band, plus their community is relentless.  Good tri tip sandwich.
Fowler when they are winning is like Sanger light. Fans are all over you and the tacos are damn good.
Clovis is the OG for high school stadiums to me.  It was the first stadium I remember walking in and thinking is this a college?  The major knock I have here and Clovis in general is poor snack bar.  Yes, they have restaurants that put up kiosks, but I can have panda express any time.  I want a greasy burger or taco with my high school football.

[D-Rod]

Sanger and it's not even close. Plus they have no track so the crowd is literally on top of the teams.

[TeddyKGB]

it seems that you guys talking about Sanger, Central, Fowler and LaMonica never made it to a game at Griffith Field... That had a home field advantage like very few.
The old Stadium had no track, visitor side accommodations where second to none, the cold nachos where as good as any you can get at AM/PM after 2 am...

[Darth Backer]

it seems that you guys talking about Sanger, Central, Fowler and LaMonica never made it to a game at Griffith Field... That had a home field advantage like very few.
The old Stadium had no track, visitor side accommodations where second to none, the cold nachos where as good as any you can get at AM/PM after 2 am...

Speaking of average...

[MooseKnuckle]

it seems that you guys talking about Sanger, Central, Fowler and LaMonica never made it to a game at Griffith Field... That had a home field advantage like very few.
The old Stadium had no track, visitor side accommodations where second to none, the cold nachos where as good as any you can get at AM/PM after 2 am...

Having played at Griffith, Sanger, Central, Lamonica, Buchanan multiple times in each... When the Apaches are even just decent NO ONE SHAKES A STICK at how crazy it is in Sanger man. The fans can legit flick boogers on the other team if they wanted to. I know it's hard to comprehend because  the orifices on your face are clogged with oil infused poopoo but Sanger's stadium and fans are second to none, and this is coming from a Central guy. Don't get me wrong, Griffith packed back in 05 was impressive but it's still not on sangers level. To back that up, if you went to a Bako game on friday you'd see what like 1-2,000 maybe 3,000 people in a pretty large stadium. Sanger, even with the peewee team they're fielding this year, is still standing room only with about 5-6,000 people. The Sanger fan base is loyal through thick and thin, good and bad teams. They aren't like the fair weather dodger fans you guys have down in Bako. They show up EVERY SINGLE GAME and the whole city is practically shut down.

[izne1home]

In the late '70s, a buddy of mine's little sister was nominated for the Sanger High Homecoming Queen.  We got there late and the game was sold out.  We weren't exactly in our right minds and figured it would be a good idea to hide under one of the float trailers (which was draped to the ground with decorations) in the staging area, sneak into the stadium under the float, then bust out and run for it during the ceremony. 

We thought it was hilarious, but apparently those Sanger fans take their homecoming festivities seriously.  They acted like we'd crashed their grandma's funeral.  We were turned in by the mob and escorted to the gate by two of Sanger's finest.  I probably shouldn't have worn by Bullard letterman's jacket. 

The next thing I remember was sitting in Sambo's Restaurant on Blackstone and McKinley around 5 am, trying to remember where I parked my car. 

Even though the fans lack a sense of humor, my vote goes to Sanger. 

[TeddyKGB]

you are correct in Bakersfield if you aren't winning the people do not show up...

[izne1home]

you are correct in Bakersfield if you aren't winning the people do not show up...

There are a lot of factors that go beyond loyalty.  Small one-school town fans are usually 2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation graduates so every game is like a family and friend homecoming, and equally important, there is probably nothing else to do within 10 miles in any direction.  Winning is great, but it's not the primary reason they go to the game. 

BHS fans on the other hand, probably don't have many relatives who graduated from high school, and there are honky-tonk strip joints on every corner.  Lots of competition for the entertainment dollar in Bako.   

[Bear in the Air]

Current or ever?  Hard to argue with Sanger now.  But, 1980's, Lamonica Stadium,  for any Clovis vs Clovis West game.  Standing room only, brought in extra bleachers behind the end zones, sky divers, fireworks. 

[RoadDawg]

Sanger is tops... but both Dinuba and Kingsburg can also produce a great atmosphere when their teams are winning.   I was very surprisingly impressed with Paso Robles a few years ago too.  Common theme, nearly all are one school towns. 

[CleverUserName]

Current or ever?  Hard to argue with Sanger now.  But, 1980's, Lamonica Stadium,  for any Clovis vs Clovis West game.  Standing room only, brought in extra bleachers behind the end zones, sky divers, fireworks.

Don't forget Rogers Helicopters flying over with Cheerleaders in tow...

Those were the days

[tru guru]

Having played at Griffith, Sanger, Central, Lamonica, Buchanan multiple times in each... When the Apaches are even just decent NO ONE SHAKES A STICK at how crazy it is in Sanger man. The fans can legit flick boogers on the other team if they wanted to. I know it's hard to comprehend because  the orifices on your face are clogged with oil infused poopoo but Sanger's stadium and fans are second to none, and this is coming from a Central guy. Don't get me wrong, Griffith packed back in 05 was impressive but it's still not on sangers level. To back that up, if you went to a Bako game on friday you'd see what like 1-2,000 maybe 3,000 people in a pretty large stadium. Sanger, even with the peewee team they're fielding this year, is still standing room only with about 5-6,000 people. The Sanger fan base is loyal through thick and thin, good and bad teams. They aren't like the fair weather dodger fans you guys have down in Bako. They show up EVERY SINGLE GAME and the whole city is practically shut down.

Ouch.  That's gonna leave a mark.........

[The Eye in the Sky]

Ouch.  That's gonna leave a mark.........

Did you see the video of the Sanger fan getting arrested at a Pee Wee game. Pretty sad, but funny as hell. I was trying to find it on Twitter again to show my employees but could not.

[Sixtynine]

Going to Clovis Cougar games growing up in the mid-late 90s/early 2000s is as good as it got for me

Sanger is up there too

[tru guru]

Did you see the video of the Sanger fan getting arrested at a Pee Wee game. Pretty sad, but funny as hell. I was trying to find it on Twitter again to show my employees but could not

I did not.  But I imagine that is quite common nationally in the current youth sports environment.....

[TeddyKGB]

I did not.  But I imagine that is quite common nationally in the current youth sports environment.....

it's terrible, there are always clips of brawls at youth sporting events...some of them remind me of the CW booster club parties

[izne1home]

Current or ever?  Hard to argue with Sanger now.  But, 1980's, Lamonica Stadium,  for any Clovis vs Clovis West game.  Standing room only, brought in extra bleachers behind the end zones, sky divers, fireworks.

Sanger was doing what they're doing now when the Clovis Cougars were playing football at Clark without facemasks. 

[izne1home]

it's terrible, there are always clips of brawls at youth sporting events...some of them remind me of the CW booster club parties

My grandson is playing youth football in the Valley Elite league.  It is pretty hardcore.  Like the old days, with none of this school district be polite to the refs nonsense.  They even play under the lights sometimes.  We were scheduled to play Sanger, at Sanger, a couple of weeks ago.  Some of Sanger's key players were hurt so their coach decided to forfeit the game. 

The only brawl I remember at a TD Club party was that night TeddyKGB suggested some of the moms play Drunk Twister.  It was all fun and games for the first 15 minutes...

[hardhitter23]

Ill have to say Sanger and Central.... Especially when you start talking about school student section and spirit

[Jazz]

Ill have to say Sanger and Central.... Especially when you start talking about school student section and spirit

If you ever sit on the home at Central you will also notice even the cheer squad has more football knowledge than most.  They play situational music clips during various time of the game.  For example when the refs throw a flag on the opponent the cheer team plays blows the whistle, and they have a dance to it.  The student section goes nuts.  They have clips of music for pretty much every game situation ie: pics, TD's, penalties against Central. No dead time on their side of the field.

[Jazz]