Stadium Reviews

Simply put, Fenway Park is the standard against which all other ballparks are measured.

Gillette Stadium is only a temporary stay for the Legacy as they await the completion of their home in Boston. It’s far too large for their needs, and the gameday experience suffers as a result. But it’s great to see the women get to play on the same stage as the men, even for a little while.

Stonehill baseball at Lou Gorman Field is baseball presented at its purest form. There is little here to distract one from the action down on the field. If you’re an old-school fan, you’ll be a fan of Lou Gorman Field.

While the crowds of 20,000 that used to visit Worcester for baseball games are a distant memory and the glory days of this program are a thing of the past, you can’t ask for more than catching some quality baseball in this charming little park. And the chances of another scoreboard exploding have to be minimal.

As a facility, there’s not a whole lot going on at Cushing Field to set it apart from other lacrosse fields in the area. That being said, it’s a solid, if basic, place to catch some lacrosse action on a nice spring afternoon.

Overshadowed by the history and nostalgia of its predecessor, the original Boston Garden, and by the flash and size of new venues across the league, the TD Garden is largely viewed as a middle of the pack venue. However, with its devoted fanbase, excellent location, and improved amenities, the Garden has become a first-rate venue in its own right.

Stonehill is one of several small northeastern schools that decided to take the leap to Division One despite the changing landscape of college sports. W.B Mason Stadium may not be an overly impressive facility, and women’s lacrosse certainly doesn’t get the attention that other spring sports get, but a Skyhawk lax game is an affordable, entertaining way to spend a nice spring afternoon.

The term “bandbox” is often used to describe small ballparks, but not hockey rinks. If we were to co-opt the term to use for hockey, it would describe The Bentley Arena perfectly. This cozy facility with its eco-friendly design is a hidden gem in the crowded Boston hockey scene.

Kuzniewski Field is a basic facility where you can catch some quality lacrosse without spending a ton of money.

The Cabot Center is by no means a suitable permanent home for the Husky basketball teams. But compare this facility to other small gyms in the area, and it doesn’t really come up short. As Northeastern’s new athletics home is built, the sturdy Cabot Center will ably hold down the fort for the next two or three seasons.

The Clark Athletic Center, while looking very much a product of its time, still offers traveling fans a chance to take in quality basketball at an affordable price. While far from the bright lights of big-time college hoops, small gyms like this make for interesting Stadium Journeys. Don’t sleep on Division Three sports!

The Beanpot is a bucket list item for any sports fan, whether or not you follow college hockey.

What's the best way to recover from a Super Bowl hangover? Beans!

UMass Dartmouth offers an entertaining night of basketball at an affordable price. Fans who like their hoops with a side of architecture may wish to visit UMass Dartmouth for another reason entirely. A tour of the Paul Rudolph-designed campus can be just as interesting as the action on the court.

While Hetland Arena is no more than a serviceable home for the Corsairs, UMass Dartmouth hockey fans are advised to keep their eyes on the horizon. There are whispers in the air of big things coming in the future for Corsair hockey.

Several smaller schools in NCAA’s Division One have built shiny new arenas for their hockey teams recently. Meanwhile, the Crusaders soldier on at the Hart Center. While not as flashy or modern as many area rinks, it’s a solid place for the Crusaders to call home.

Springfield is an original AHL city, but it looked like their time in the league was done when the Falcons left town. That all changed when a new team and new ownership arrived, reinvigorating interest in minor league hockey in the city. The MassMutual Center may have a definite 70s vibe to its design, but the game day experience here is all new.

While Pieri Gymnasium may not be much to look at, it boasts a pretty impressive history for such a small facility. As Dean College grows their athletic program, this old barn will be sure to see more history made in the future.

The Hart Center is one of the nicer small basketball facilities in this part of the country. Watching a Crusaders game is an affordable experience in an intimate setting. While Holy Cross no longer competes among the giants in the sport, college basketball historians will enjoy looking around the Hart Center at the reminders of the Crusaders’ glory days.