The Magic of Playing in Stadiums

[Reginald Rutledge]

The other day, my wife and I had a discussion about the game of miniature football. One of those topics that my wife is very knowledgeable on is miniature football. Her 23 years of living with me has not been in vain (I hope). She was there when I built my first Rose Bowl. She's been to the hospital when I had to have my thumb sewn back on after an accident involving a stadium project. She's seen the evolution of the stadium from it's crude form to now. She's read the letters of people asking for the secrets on building stadiums. She's seen the letters from the Rose Bowl Committee demanding me to take the Bowl down or the NFL and its forever harassing letters. So she's seen a lot of what I do. In my time, I have built nearly every NFL Stadium there is. To me, its a work of art, a necessary pleasure to enhance my interest in the game. So with my pursuits in other arenas (no pun intended), she asked me a direct question "Reg, aren't you tired of this?" and "Is this the last one?"

No one knows the time spent creating these stadiums. Shucks, when most are sleeping and dreaming, I am hard at work being kept up by the motivation of wanting to see the end product. I saw a coach had asked the question about "Playing in Stadiums" a couple of weeks ago.

I did not respond because it was just not something I wanted to elaborate on. But as I get ready to retire from that part of the game, I can safely say that was probably my greatest thrill from the game (building stadiums).

The magic of playing in a stadium is something you can not quite put into words. It is the ultimate challenge for me in the game of miniature football! Imagine, knowing you have to tailor your game around playing in the Los Angeles Coliseum, or FEDEX Field or Bank of America Stadium or any of those stadiums. There is so many things you have to account for when playing in a stadium, it is unbelievable! There are certain strategical places where you should run up the middle, off tackle or around end. There are times that you want to run a sweep just to get the next play set up properly. There are places on the field, you better not throw the ball! If you do, the angle could come into effect. Playing the game without the stadium offers little or no challenge to me. I want to be the elements of the stadium.

When you play outside under the lights, there is no other spectacular setting! Hearing the crowd scream in the stadium and watching the scoreboard adds a type of realism that nothing else brings to the game.

Not only this, the stadium was the #1 way that guys were recruited to play in the DFW League. It was the marketing coupe that brought all the cameras to my house as often as I need be. It was the reason I was able to establish friendships and relationships with NFL writers and NFL Hall of Famers. It was a marketing magnet!

But more than anything else, to know I could wake up at 3:00 in the morning and go to my football room and turn on the light and hear the roar of the crowd was all I ever wanted in the game. If I could bring that to others as well, that was just gravy. When I see one of my stadiums on ebay, it reminds me that the owner had no way of appreciating it like I do. For them, all it was was simply a means to an end, a business transaction. But for me, it remains the most magical part of why I play the game. It's not to be around others or even win but to discover the final element of bringing realism to the game. There was truly magic in playing in stadiums.

Reg

[Coach K-LO]

I want to go to Reggie's World this fall!!!!!!!

Thank You Reg for everything you have done for me this year....you are truly the best in miniature football....and also one of the handfull of people in this hobby that keeps there word...

[TVsCHACHI]

so, so, so beautiful!

When do you plan on starting construction on the new DALLAS Stadiums? flg$
Thanks,
Erick

[ghardmon]

All I can say is wow, that is truly amazing. Everytime that I see your work It just keep amazing. That the reason I am going to have you make Heinz Field for me. you keep doing what you are doing, you are the best at it.

Greg

[daghstrydr]

Reggie, I just wish that I could have the creative mind that you do, keep up the work. Best wishes Leonard

[Reginald Rutledge]

When you're trying to bring people to the game, the stadium is something/an item that seals the deal. I am thankful that I was blessed with the ability to look at something that others think is junk and turn it into something recognizable.

I wish others could have seen the importance of what it could have done for their leagues. Wherever we go, the crowds are huge! The stadium lends credibility to an otherwise, another board game.

So if any of you are thinking of coming to Texas for the Super Bowl, this will be the best time to watch guys who are well adept at playing in stadiums. The quality of play will be very high and we will show you that stadiums are highly playable.

Reg

[artlax]

Your posts always pump me up. I am traveling - on holiday with the family right now - but can't wait to get back and work on some things in my workshop.

Thanks for this Christmas gift - of raising the level of interest and excitement.

sntht$

[tbuc]

Reg brings out allot of intresting points about playing in a stadium but I would like to add that sense getting back into the hobby my goal has been to experience all ELF has to offer. This past month I was able to pick up a Raymond James Stadium (Bucs are my favorite team) that Reg built about 6 years ago. Never seeing one of his stadiums in person I drove 11 hours one way to pick it up. I will have to say it is the best investment I have ever made concerning this hobby. There is nothing like walking into the room and seeing the stadium and the players on that field. Many times I wake up at night and just go in there and turn on those stadium lights and it just lights up the field and the glow of the lights shines out of the stadium just like in real life. I just sit there in peace and all the excitement and love for the game just overwhelms me without ever turning on the board of touching a player. I think many of us have felt that way (or experienced that high that the game gives us) many times playing the game. You make that impossible pass that goes for a touchdown or that runner puts a move on some players and he goes all the way for a TD. Those special plays or that paint job or that first player you ever designed. That is the feeling I am speaking about. With my stadium I get to experience that feeling any time of day as many times as I want. That is what a stadium does for me. What many get to experience a few times playing the game because of Reg I get to experience daily.
I am currently updating the stadium with pictures to follow in a few months. I will say as I have been updating the stadium I have the up most respect for Reg for the effort and time that goes into making one of these stadiums.

So what’s the big deal about a stadium?

For me it’s if I never play a game again I have reached the pinnacle of the ELF experience without even turning the game on.

Reg – thanks for giving me that ultimate ELF experience.

In fact my goal is to now work toward purchasing a few more stadiums.


Merry Christmas to all sntht$
Mark