The Big House, the biggest and most well known stadium in the Big Ten. It has also left it’s mark on many tournament opponents. The Fans’ love for the stadium is only rivaled by their love for the Miners themselves, and even that at times is debatable. The Big House wasn’t always as Big or impressive as it is today.
The modest beginnings of the Big House. Originally built with Blue Astro-Granite to insure that it would always be remembered by anyone who had to play on the pitch, this idea was later changed. The Big House at this time had a capacity of 30,000. Now much in comparison to todays Big House. There was also no advertising in the stadium, an Ideal concept but one that would be financially impossible when the upgrade plans were put into place.
The Big House made it’s debut on the tournament scene at Underworld Cup ’06, where the Miners played 4 of their 5 matches at the stadium and went 3-1 there on their way to winning the tournament.
After winning the Underworld cup the team had some extra money from the winnings, and had garnered enough fame that the Big House just wasn’t Big enough for their plans any more. It was decided that for the team to continue growing their reputation on the tournament scene, they would have to have an even bigger and more impressive stadium. This would also lead to bigger Gate receipts, which could be used for traveling expenses to get to more tournaments. Some of the more traditional thinking Union workers were also eager to get rid of the Blue Astro-Granite. They saw it as a cheap gimmick that a championship caliber team shouldn’t need. So work began on the New and improved Big House, the Astro-Granite was ripped up and replaced by the more traditional Extra hard Grey Astro-Granite. More seating was also built around the stadium, as well as upgrades to the dugouts. Also for the first time the Scoreboards and information zone boards were put into place. While the team did gain a lot of money from their tournament win it was still necessary for them to depend on advertising
money in the stadium to help with some of the upgrades. But it was considered a fair trade off after the impressive structure began to take shape. The Miners had a home they could now truly be proud of.
Pictures of the new improved Big House. Several small changes would be made but the main features became staples of the Miners. The Big House would become infamous on the tournament scene and many opponents feared stepping into it.
The popularity of the Miners, and of their Big House would continue to grow. It was not uncommon for them to sell out every seat in the place and have crowds of people outside the stadium listening to the game. So yet again another opportunity for growth presented itself. But the elder union workers weren’t eager to upgrade again. They felt that the team had gained great success in the Big House the way it was, and if something isn’t broke why try to fix it.
But there was one Dwarf who wouldn’t be denied his vision, Sir Rummery secretly began gathering sponsorship to build his version of the Big House. The new sponsors weren’t aware that Rummery wasn’t speaking for the Miners at the time and were eager to get on board with the successful team. The Norsca Ironhorse company agreed to be the official sponsor of Da 40 Miners Deathroller, and were the first to put some money in Rummery’s fund. Soon after Guiltless Drought Beer were eager to be the official traveling brew of the team. Then came the biggest sponsorship, from Riddelf who became the official footwear of Da 40 Miners, and almost solely funded the new stadium project. Rummery with all his funding commitments made one last plea to the Elders to allow him to build the new stadium. He presented them with a well laid out plan that even included scale models of the project. While the Elders were impressed with his work, and were fond of the idea they denied his request. They claimed that they could not approve of such a frivolous use of the space for the stadium let alone the Union Workers time. Rummery would not be denied, he told his sponsors that everything was a go, and then proceed to hold secret meetings with some of the Union workers. The Union Workers agreed to work on the project in their own time, and had the new stadium done in record time. One of the biggest stadiums in the Old World
was built in record time and in secret, an impossible goal had been achieved.
Just before the team left for the Underworld Cup in ’08 Rummery showed his work to the Elders. They were blown away, they
couldn’t imagine how he was able to make this happen. They forgave his treachery, and even agreed to spend some of the teams
money to finish upgrading the stadium into Rummery’s ultimate vision.
Da Miners would proudly play in the newest Big House at the Underworld Cup, but as soon as they got home work began on making
it their home. It has been said that this version of the Big House is so amazing that Da 40 Miners will play there forever, as they
can’t imagine a way to improve on what they now have.
The completed Big House, ready to host Da Miners into the future. The Big House Located in the Mine’Shakin Mountains
Capacity 110,000 Screaming Dwarves Completed in Late ’08
A Home to Champions!
Sir Rummery himself. He will always have his
choice of seats at the Big House.
After all this it is hard to believe that the Big House was not done growing. But from Stout’s own journal’s we will let him tell the story of the next
addition.
The New Big House was completed. Lifetime fan and season ticket holder Stout Youngblood was joyous (excepting, of course, the
corresponding increase in the COST of season tickets. NOTE to self, add Master Xtreme to book of grudges). After watching his team play in the
New Big House, he started to notice the team was doing the unthinkable: Losing. No longer were they the great team of old.
Stout, not being the sharpest axe of his clan, thought long and hard on this new turn of events. He dismissed all the rumors of union troubles, team restructuring and contract disputes. He knew something else was the cause…he just did not what the cause was. Many moons waxed and waned before Stout came to the oblivious conclusion: Da Forty Miners were losing due to evil runes causing them to lose favor with Nuffle. But what could he do? He was only a mid-level Runelord. Many more moons waxed and waned before it hit him…quite literally. Watching his team at Lil’ Zlurp ’08, a spiked ball spiraled off the field and hit him in the head and he ‘saw the light’. Doing the unthinkable, he left before the end of the game and made his way to the local Temple of Nuffle. Soon he was converted into the Cult of Nuffle and joined the Reformed Church of Nuffle. He then explained his bold plans to the other RCN cultist and soon work began on what would be known as the “Big House Tower of Nuffle”. When completed, the BHToN would dispel any and all the evil spells or runes cast towards his beloved team. During its long and arduous construction, the Forty Miners would move to a ‘new’ Big House and their losing ways would end. Not to be deterred, Stout and the RCN would continue construction on the BHToN. Finally, construction was completed and the BHToN was presented to Xtreme, Franchise owner of the Da Forty Miners. Elated (especially since it was free, the cheap old b@st@rd), he accepted this new great asset and set about making some improvements of his own.
addition.
The New Big House was completed. Lifetime fan and season ticket holder Stout Youngblood was joyous (excepting, of course, the
corresponding increase in the COST of season tickets. NOTE to self, add Master Xtreme to book of grudges). After watching his team play in the
New Big House, he started to notice the team was doing the unthinkable: Losing. No longer were they the great team of old.
Stout, not being the sharpest axe of his clan, thought long and hard on this new turn of events. He dismissed all the rumors of union troubles, team restructuring and contract disputes. He knew something else was the cause…he just did not what the cause was. Many moons waxed and waned before Stout came to the oblivious conclusion: Da Forty Miners were losing due to evil runes causing them to lose favor with Nuffle. But what could he do? He was only a mid-level Runelord. Many more moons waxed and waned before it hit him…quite literally. Watching his team at Lil’ Zlurp ’08, a spiked ball spiraled off the field and hit him in the head and he ‘saw the light’. Doing the unthinkable, he left before the end of the game and made his way to the local Temple of Nuffle. Soon he was converted into the Cult of Nuffle and joined the Reformed Church of Nuffle. He then explained his bold plans to the other RCN cultist and soon work began on what would be known as the “Big House Tower of Nuffle”. When completed, the BHToN would dispel any and all the evil spells or runes cast towards his beloved team. During its long and arduous construction, the Forty Miners would move to a ‘new’ Big House and their losing ways would end. Not to be deterred, Stout and the RCN would continue construction on the BHToN. Finally, construction was completed and the BHToN was presented to Xtreme, Franchise owner of the Da Forty Miners. Elated (especially since it was free, the cheap old b@st@rd), he accepted this new great asset and set about making some improvements of his own.
