I've been to two NC State football games at Carter-Finley Stadium, once as a kid and once as an adult. In the latter game, I went to root for my alma mater, Georgia Tech. Tech, ranked 20th in the country at the time, ended up beating State, 31-23. It was a good game on a frigid, early November, Saturday night.
I like Carter-Finley. It's a nice-looking stadium. It has a capacity of 57,583 which currently makes it the 8th largest football stadium in the ACC. NC State fans should thank Chuck Amato for all the renovations that took place at the stadium during his time as head coach (2000-2006). He helped turn Carter-Finley into the modern facility that it is today.
In the Amato era:
1. The stadium was fully enclosed on the north and south end zones to look like a continuous ring/bowl.
2. Four levels of press and luxury/premium boxes were added.
3. The Murphy Center, featuring coaches offices, locker rooms, weight rooms, a TV studio, and a football museum, was added.
I had a great time at the State-Tech game. We were seated in the lower north end zone. The field and stands looked great under the lights and the atmosphere was electric, at least compared to other ACC games I've been to. It could not, however, compare to the one SEC game I went to at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville (University of Florida). UF's game day atmosphere was on a different level; granted, their stadium can hold almost 90,000 fans (88,548). In 2018, Charlotte-based sports writer David Hale ranked Carter-Finley as the No. 4 stadium experience in the ACC (out of 12 stadiums ranked): https://twitter.com/ADavidHaleJoint/status/1011996517731688448. State routinely sells out games.
There are lots of parking lots and tailgating spaces right outside the stadium. We parked in a lot not too far away and visited our friends' tailgate close to the Murphy Center.
All in all, I think Carter-Finley is a good stadium and provides a solid all-around college football experience. read more