This isn't directed at you, but just my response. There are a lot of different opinions on the fields and courts and I respect them.
Having said that, I think the Central Arkansas field is bad ass and I also think the Oregon basketball court is bad ass. I know people won't agree with me and that's fine. I feel the designs impart a personality to the fields and arenas. I understand most people think they're gimmicks and that's cool, but I've always liked edgy designs and people that push the edge. "[censored] the norm'" as Rage Against The Machine would say.
It's unfortunate that a team might end up losing a game because of a barely visible half court line at Oregon's court, but that's really a lack of oversight by superiors to not question and discuss that situation beforehand. However, I think the court at Oregon is tastefully done and represents the setting of the Northwestern geography. Granted, I've never been there personally, but from other observations, I think it's appropriate. I like that certain colleges and universities take pride in representing their geographic or cultural areas, like the Buckeyes represent Ohio, the Longhorns represent Texas, the Gators for Florida etc.
Does a purple and gray football field represent Central Arkansas? Not in the same sense, but it does give it a personality. It gives the local community something to talk about and take civic pride in, benefits to a community economic studies can't exactly measure. I think the basketball courts, tastefully done, could see some very cool and cutting edge designs. I think the next step in the FieldTurf renovations is customizing it to give the school another outlet to represent itself to the outside public. We're seeing that already. I also think the purple and gray is a much better color scheme than solid blue or solid red, but I don't mind that universities are experimenting.
