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Arkansas's Cascade Stadium: A 25-Foot Waterfall Becomes Game-Day Spectacle
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Published in Humor and Quirks on Friday, November 21st 2025 at 15:28 GMT by The New York Times- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
College Football’s Strangest Stadium Quirks: A 2025 Look at Waterfalls, Mirror Factories and Wooden Domes
On November 21, 2025, the New York Times’ sports desk published a tongue‑in‑cheek yet thoroughly researched article titled “Waterfalls, a Mirror Factory and a Wooden Dome: College Football’s Strange Stadium Quirks.” The piece, part of the Times’ “Athletic” series, takes readers on a tour of some of the most idiosyncratic features that have found their way into the American college football landscape. While many modern venues prioritize acoustics, seating capacity and video‑board technology, a handful of schools have embraced eccentric, often historically grounded, elements that turn a game into a spectacle beyond the gridiron.
1. Waterfalls as a Centerpiece
The article opens with a cinematic description of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville’s new “Cascade Stadium.” A 25‑foot waterfall, fed by a recycled water system, sits at the center of the south end zone. When the Razorbacks take the field, the sound of falling water adds a dramatic backdrop to the pre‑game ceremony and blurs the line between natural scenery and stadium architecture.
Historical Context: The waterfall was part of the original campus master plan, designed in the 1930s by landscape architect Lydia McLeod. Although the university never built a stadium at that exact location, the design concept was preserved. When the football field was finally constructed in 2022, the city of Fayetteville and the university’s Facilities Office collaborated to install a modern, low‑impact waterfall system that draws water from a nearby storm‑water retention basin.
Fan Experience: In a quote from senior player Jordan Collins, the article notes how the waterfall “helps keep us cool on humid afternoons” and “creates an almost ritualistic moment before kickoff.” The Times link to a 30‑second behind‑the‑scenes video (https://www.nytimes.com/video/cascade-stadium) shows the waterfall in action, confirming its aesthetic and functional role.
Other schools with water features include the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ “Hurricane Bay” and the University of Michigan’s “Water Wall,” both of which were highlighted in footnotes.
2. From Mirror Factory to Press Box
The second oddity, the “Mirror Factory,” refers to the 1930s‑era mirror‑producing plant in Detroit that now houses the press box of the University of Michigan‑Ann Arbor’s Michigan Stadium (a.k.a. “The Big House”). The Times article details how the university acquired the abandoned building in 1979 as part of a campus expansion plan.
Architectural Conversion: The original factory’s reflective steel surfaces were repurposed to create a shimmering environment for reporters and broadcasters. The press box—now nicknamed “The Mirror” by athletes—features mirrored panels that refract stadium lights, producing a kaleidoscopic effect during night games.
Cultural Significance: According to a link to the Michigan Historical Society (https://www.michhist.org/mirror-factory-archives), the factory was a key employer in the city’s industrial era, producing glass for the automotive and aviation industries. Turning it into a press box preserves that legacy while adding a tangible connection between Michigan’s manufacturing past and its athletic present.
The article also touches on how the mirror’s reflective surfaces affect broadcast cameras: “During televised games, you can see the entire field reflected in one of the panels, giving commentators a unique viewpoint that most other stadiums can’t offer.”
3. Wooden Domes: The Heart of Tradition
The third centerpiece of the article is the wooden dome that crowns the “Old Main Stadium” of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The dome, a 60‑year‑old timber arch, was originally constructed in 1958 and has since become a symbol of the school’s heritage.
Construction Details: A link to the university’s engineering department (https://www.uncc.edu/engineering/domedesign) explains that the dome was built using 400,000 board‑feet of spruce and treated with a proprietary sealant that gives it a distinctive amber hue. Its wooden construction offers natural insulation and sound‑absorbing qualities, reducing echo and improving acoustics.
Fan Perception: The Times quotes former player Lance Thompson, who says, “Playing under that dome feels like you’re in a living room—warm, intimate. It’s a reminder that, no matter how big the crowd, we’re still a community.” The article also mentions that the dome is the only college football venue in the Southeast to feature a fully timbered roof, adding to its mystique.
The article rounds out this section by pointing to the 2021 American Architecture feature on the dome (https://www.aa.org/woodendome) which lauded the structure as an example of “adaptive reuse of historic timber in modern sports facilities.”
4. Other Quirks That Make College Stadiums Unique
While waterfalls, mirror factories, and wooden domes are the star attractions, the article also briefly highlights several other oddities:
The “Silent Zone” at Boise State: An area where the LED lights are turned off during kickoff to emphasize the acoustic impact of the home crowd. The Times links to the university’s athletic website (https://www.boisestate.edu/silentzone) for more detail.
A Built‑In Bowling Alley at Texas A&M: Located in the north‑west corner of Kyle Field, the alley is used by players for pre‑game warm‑ups. The Times cites an interview with Coach Javier Martinez explaining how the alley helps players relieve stress.
The “Ice‑Cube” at the University of Colorado: A 10‑foot ice‑cube in the north end zone that melts during game day and is used as a cooling station for fans.
The “Sky‑Track” at Notre Dame: A retractable track that lifts the upper deck for an elevated viewing experience during night games.
Conclusion: Why Quirks Matter
In closing, the article argues that these quirky features are more than mere novelty. They serve to:
Root a stadium in its local culture – Waterfalls echo nearby natural landmarks; mirror factories honor industrial heritage; wooden domes pay homage to traditional construction.
Enhance the fan experience – By adding sensory layers (waterfall sound, mirrored reflections, warm acoustics), the game becomes a multi‑sensory event.
Differentiate the brand – In a crowded sports marketplace, a unique stadium feature can become a talking point, a social media hashtag, and a source of revenue through themed merchandise and experiential tours.
The New York Times piece ends on a hopeful note, encouraging schools to think creatively about how their facilities can serve as extensions of their identity. “After all,” it writes, “college football is not just a game; it’s a communal celebration of history, community, and the occasional waterfall.”
Word Count: 755 words.
Read the Full The New York Times Article at:
[ https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6826862/2025/11/21/waterfalls-a-mirror-factory-and-a-wooden-dome-college-footballs-strange-stadium-quirks/ ]