Why the Left Field Lounge will Always be Great

Maroon and White Nation contributor Cooper Ashcraft defends the changes that will be made to Dudy Noble Field and the Left Field Lounge and tells you why you should embrace the renovations.

Over the last few days I have been noticing that a lot of folks on twitter have been declaring a “funeral” for the Left Field Lounge this weekend. As many of you know, Dudy Noble Field will be undergoing major renovations this off season. The first step in these renovations will be reconstructing the area in the outfield known as the Left Field Lounge.

The Left Field Lounge began in the late 1960s with just a few fans driving their cars and trucks up to the left field fence to watch the games. It quickly evolved into the ultimate tailgating experience across college sports as fans began bringing grills, tables, and coolers full of drinks to their seats in the outfield. At the time, fans would have to set things up before the games and dismantle everything when it was over. Over the years it has evolved into homemade “rigs” are set up at the beginning of the year and taken down when the season ends. These rigs include trucks, trailers, and motor homes with bleachers built into them to allow larger amounts of fans to congregate in one area.

Dudy Noble is one of the most unique experiences in all of college baseball. Mississippi State’s ballpark has been consistently labeled as one of the best places to watch a college baseball game. Even ESPN the Magzine has named the Left Field Lounge as one of the country’s best tailgating experiences in years past.

Over the next two years, Dudy Noble will undergo renovations to make it virtually unrecognizable from today. A lot of fans are unhappy with how the Left Field Lounge will look, but I’m here to tell why it will be just as great or even better.

One of the major motivations for the renovations is the injury hazards that the homemade rigs create. Currently, if one of the rigs were to malfunction, the university would be liable to be sued for the damages. In the future, the university will be supplying permanent deck areas that will be able to be rented out for the season. This will hopefully help with making the lounge safer and will be able to protect the school.

The area that stands out to me the most about the renovation plans is the addition of the “Left Field Lofts”. The Lofts will give fans an experience never thought imaginable before. Each loft will include 1,000 square feet of living space that will include two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, common area, and a porch that overlooks the stadium.

I can’t help but notice so many folks saying things like “the Left Field Lounge is done” or “it will never be the same”. Well I have news for you, you’re right it won’t be the same, but it certainly isn’t done. The lounge has the opportunity to improve, as long as the fans in left field embrace it.

The Left Field Lounge has changed drastically over the last forty years or so, but I never heard people complaining about changes until now. Why is that? I feel like people put too much stock into the rigs. The rigs don’t make the the Lounge what it is, the people do. I’ve heard many stories from opposing players about being fed chicken wings and ribs in between double headers, and then being hounded by the same folks as soon as the game starts. That doesn’t have to change, but ultimately it’s up to the people.

The Left Field Lounge may change aesthetically but the atmosphere doesn’t have to. Dudy Noble will no doubt be the premier park in college baseball in a few years, so I just hope fans will give it a chance before writing it off completely.

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