Stadium Reviews

Now that Stonehill has had a few years to settle into their new surroundings in Division One, it’s clear to see that they’ve made some upgrades to the game day experience at Merkert Gymnasium. With a recent announcement that a new facility is on the way for the basketball and hockey teams, this is a program that is poised for a big jump in the near future.

While the Hart Arena is not the primary home of Holy Cross volleyball, it’s a more than adequate place for the Crusaders to set up shop for their marquee games. If anything, it might be too big for their needs.

One of the more entertaining Division Three football experiences in New England can be found at UMass Dartmouth. After the game, take a tour of one of the more interesting campuses in the nation. In a region dominated by Gothic architecture, this Brutalist campus in the middle of the southeastern Massachusetts woods certainly stands out.

W.B. Mason Stadium is smaller facility which fits perfectly into the fabric of tiny Stonehill College. Now that the Skyhawks are a full-fledged member of Division One, they are no longer a program in transition, but the game day experience continues to evolve.

While the Tinsley Center is a basic facility, it provides a solid home for the Bridgewater State Bears. Small gyms such as this can be found throughout the country, providing quality competition at an affordable price. Those of you who don’t consider lower levels when watching college sports might want to reconsider. Don’t sleep on Division Three sports!

There’s nothing especially flashy or fancy about Driscoll Rink, and it certainly isn’t convenient for fans of Roger Williams hockey, but that doesn’t matter for Hawk hockey fans, who have been waiting almost three decades for a return to the NCAA. Surely there are more permanent plans on the horizon for the Hawks, so stay tuned…

It’s easy to be overshadowed in the crowded Boston hockey scene, but the Tsongas Center is still one of the better hockey rinks in the area, even if it’s often overlooked by its more famous brethren in the area.

TD Garden is never mentioned among the elite venues of the National Hockey League. But a visit to Boston has to be considered on any hockey fan’s short list. The fans, the neighborhood, and the Garden will not disappoint any Stadium Journeyer.

After playing three seasons in the Bridgewater Ice Arena near campus, it was obvious that something needed to be done in order for Stonehill to compete for recruits in hockey-mad New England. While playing in an arena 30 miles from campus is far from ideal, having Warrior Ice Arena as a home nest has allowed Stonehill to schedule nationally ranked opponents while they await their shiny new on-campus home.

Northeastern has been very quiet about what the future holds for the Matthews Arena site, which has led to rumors that red tape has held up the project, or that a renovation is being considered rather than a total replacement. A visit to the Northeastern hockey websites only display the schedules through December, when Matthews is due to close. No matter what is happening next at Northeastern, hockey fans are running out of time to take one last look at this historic rink.

At first glance, Skyhawk Field may not seem like it’s a proper Division One facility. But its charm is in its simplicity. Pull your favorite lawn chair up to the edge of the pitch and enjoy an afternoon of quality soccer in a relaxed setting.

Smith Soccer Stadium is a simple, but attractive facility that suits the needs of the Holy Cross soccer teams well. While you’re enjoying some soccer, you can take in some great views of the city of Worcester below.

It may be difficult to believe, but this concrete stadium in the woods of suburban Massachusetts is actually a trendsetter in the world of stadium design. While the stadium itself doesn’t break any new ground, especially when compared to the new billion-dollar behemoths being built around the NFL today, the live/work/play community surrounding Gillette Stadium has become a must-have feature in many new facility designs.

The Northeast Generals bring affordable, entertaining junior hockey to a part of Massachusetts that contains no shortage of crazed fans.

Elliot Field is another example of a fine facility that may be easily overlooked by fans who ignore the lower levels of college football. While far from the bright lights of big time college football, facilities like this offer quality football at affordable prices.

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

The Cape Cod League is considered to be the premier summer collegiate baseball league in the nation. With one out of every four major leaguers today able to trace their roots to the Cape, the numbers bear out this claim. While the talent is certainly Major League, the feel at the ballparks is small town. A visit to Harwich bears this out, as you may arrive as a stranger, but you will leave as a member of the community.

When we visited Campanelli Stadium early this year, we promised to update you on how the Rox Revival was progressing. Our opinion: The Rox are putting on a great show, but the fans have been slow to respond.

Bullens Field is an anomaly in the Futures League, where the rest of the ballparks are former minor league ballparks. Still, this cozy little ballpark in western Massachusetts has become a good fit in this league, which has enjoyed a quick rise to become one of the better summer college circuits in the nation.

Polar Park has proven to be a very divisive ballpark over its brief history. From the relocation of the iconic PawSox to the price tag for the new facility to the unique look and design of the ballpark, Polar Park seems to have created as many critics as fans. But a closer look at the ballpark shows an incredible attention to detail and connection to community. There's no denying the impact this ballpark has had on the city of Worcester.