Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Kirkwood Sports 1220 River Rd New Castle, DE 19720 Delaware City FC website Kirkwood Sports website Year Opened: 1974 Capacity: 200 City's Home Delaware City FC is a semi-professional soccer team based in New Castle, Delaware. The team is a Major Arena Soccer League 3 (MASL 3) member. MASL3 is a North American indoor soccer league that serves as the developmental league of the Major Arena Soccer League and MASL2. The league started in 2020. The Major Arena Soccer League started in 2008, and Major Arena Soccer League 2 started in 2017. Delaware City FC operates out of the Kirkwood Sports Complex in New Castle, Delaware, for its Major Arena Soccer League 3 (MASL3) indoor soccer schedule. The complex, situated directly off of Route 9, is a multi-purpose recreational facility that primarily serves as a hub for local and regional sports, featuring numerous outdoor fields and a full indoor turf arena. T The indoor turf arena features limited fixed seating, which ensures a distinct, close-quarters viewing experience focused purely on the immediate action of the indoor game. The complex’s mission is centered on community and athletic development, giving the venue a practical, utilitarian character for competitive soccer matches. Food & Beverage 1 There are simple and basic concession offerings located in the venue. One should plan on eating or drinking before or after the game. Atmosphere 3 This is a normal indoor recreation field that we see all over the country. It is a simple setup with very little seating. There are a couple of rows of stands near the arena glass. There will be many fans standing around as well. Neighborhood 3 The Kirkwood Sports Complex is located in New Castle, Delaware, an area with convenient access to commercial zones that provide dining and retail options. The immediate surroundings of the complex are primarily commercial and industrial, but a short drive opens up established dining spots in New Castle and the neighboring town of Bear. For classic American fare, nearby options in Bear, Delaware, include places like Border Cafe, which offers a full-service experience. New Castle itself, a historic Delaware city, features independent dining. One such option is Zingo’s, a local favorite offering hot and cold Italian sandwiches and pizza. This variety allows traveling fans to combine the MASL3 match with a regional meal either before or after attending the game. Fans 3 Many of the fans are friends or family members of the players. The intimacy of the indoor arena means that the support is visible and audible to everyone on the field. Due to the limited capacity, the impact of each cheer and reaction is magnified within the small space, creating a direct connection between the spectators and the action. Access 4 The Kirkwood Sports Complex is easily accessible, located directly off Route 9 in New Castle, Delaware, which provides clear connections to major interstate highways such as I-95 and Route 1. This central location in Northern Delaware makes the venue a convenient travel point for both regional fans and visiting teams. The complex provides multiple outdoor parking areas designed to accommodate the facility’s many indoor and outdoor events. Return on Investment 3 The general admission ticket price is $20.00. It is a bit much, but a new, growing organization needs all they can get. The limited seating and layout of the indoor turf arena ensure that every ticket is effectively a prime seat, placing the spectator extremely close to the field without obstructions. Extras 2 A unique fact about the venue is its primary function as a community resource, serving as a regional hub for youth and adult recreational leagues year-round. A second unique fact is the specific architecture of the indoor facility: a massive 20,000 square foot indoor turf surface designed for year-round training and competition, a purely functional design that is distinct from a dedicated spectator arena Final Thoughts Delaware City FC is a simple sporting event to watch, but it gives the Delaware area a nice minor league type of affair to enjoy.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Mary Brown’s Centre 50 New Gower Street St. John’s, Newfoundland/Labrador, A1C 1J3 Newfoundland Regiment website Mary Brown's Centre website Year Opened : 2001 Capacity : 6,287 Regiment on the Rock The Canadian Hockey League returned to Newfoundland to start the 2025 season.  The franchise that would become the modern-day Newfoundland Regiment was established in 1968 as the Rosemont National.  In 1971, the team moved to the Montréal suburb of Laval, where they remained until 1998.  As the Laval National, they were the host to a young Mike Bossy, and as the Laval Voisins they saw a young Mario Lemieux tear up the Q.  The franchise moved east to Bathurst, New Brunswick, in 1998 and became the Acadie-Bathurst Titan .  The Titan took home the ultimate prize, earning the 2018 Memorial Cup. Due to a tiny market and insufficient attendance, the Titan continued east until they could go east no more, settling in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.  The Regiment is not the first attempt at QMJHL hockey in St. John’s.  The expansion St. John’s Fog Devils played on the East Coast from 2005 to 2008 before moving to Montréal and eventually becoming the current Blainville-Boisbriand Armada .  The Regiment took its name from the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, an infantry division of the Canadian Army.  Their logo, featuring a caribou, is similar to the military unit’s badge. Home for the Regiment is Mary Brown’s Centre.  Built in 2001 and originally known as Mile One Stadium, Mary Brown’s Centre is the largest sporting venue in Newfoundland and Labrador.  It is owned by the City of St. John’s and has been home to AHL hockey, primarily the St. John’s Maple Leafs and St. John’s IceCaps. Food & Beverage 4 The concession options at Mary Brown’s Centre are strong for a junior hockey venue.  There are a few different concession outlets.  The most prevalent, of course, is the Mary Brown’s Stand that offers the signature fried chicken and taters options that have been famous through the franchise that originated in St. John’s.  There are a couple of other concession stands that offer concession items.  Options include Ziggy Fries, pizza from Boston Pizza, onion rings, poutine, and nachos.  Local favourites like fries, dressing, and gravy are also available.  For those with a sweet tooth, Nanaimo bars and local favourites, oat cake and apple flips, are available.  There are a variety of beer options found at Mary Brown’s Centre, many from the unique beer vending machines found in the concourse. Atmosphere 4 Built in 2001, Mary Brown’s Centre has successfully withstood the test of time and remains a viable junior hockey venue.  The exterior is attractive with brown brick and red accent siding with a silver sign backing above the main entry.  Entering from the outside brings fans right into the concourse.  Mary Brown’s Centre is not dissimilar to many other junior hockey venues with its single concourse.  In the concourse, which is on the dark side, is a series of memorial plaques in a military display, keeping a military motif going.  Inside the arena, the ice surface is north-south oriented, and the best spot to see the centre ice logo is from the west.  Above the seating bowl on the west side is the press box, which is named after Newfoundland and Hockey Night in Canada legend Bob Cole.  To the north of the centre scoreboard are banners honouring the Newfoundland Growlers 2019 Kelly Cup Championship and Brad Gushue and his team winning the 2017 Canadian Curling Brier.  Unfortunately, no markings or anything memorialize the St. John’s Fog Devils.  The seating bowl consists of 18 rows of plastic, arena seats with cupholders in the armrests. The Newfoundland Regiment gameday production is on a bit of a higher level than most junior hockey experiences.  The Regiment does an excellent job of honouring the Regiment name, military heritage, and adding just the right amount of Newfoundland culture.  The team enters the ice through a pair of doors painted to look like a trench with sandbags, and the ice level cannon welcomes the team.  The song that is played before the Regiment’s opening faceoff is The Excursion Around the Bay, by the Derina Harvey Band, a local favourite with a definitive local flavour.  Before the Canadian National Anthem, the performer sings “Ode To Newfoundland,” the provincial anthem.  The puffin mascot, Buddy Jr., takes part in promotions and interacts with fans in the crowd.  The 50/50 raffle is of note in Newfoundland as it is notorious for large sums given the relative crowd size. Neighbourhood 5 Mary Brown’s Centre is located in Downtown St. John’s.  It is heaven for foodies as there are a ton of original local bars and restaurants within a 10-minute walk of the arena.  Some of them include O’Reilly’s Irish Newfoundland Pub, St. John’s Fish Exchange, Trinity Pub, the Celtic Hearth, Adelaide Oyster House, Birdie Green Sleeves, Newfoundland Embassy, and YellowBelly Brewery.  St. John’s is a wonderful tourist destination with the harbour just steps from the arena and the Terry Fox Mile One Memorial just minutes from downtown.  Other tourist options include Signal Hill, Cape Spear, and The Rooms museum.  It is definitely best to visit St. John’s early in the hockey season, as the weather can be a bit precarious in the winter.  The Newfoundland Rogues of The Basketball League also play at Mary Brown’s Centre.  Senior hockey and Junior A hockey are also popular in St. John’s.  Memorial Sea-Hawks  basketball can be found north of downtown on the campus of Memorial University.  The Delta and Hilton are just steps from the arena and good choices for a spot to stay downtown. Fans 5 Admittedly, this review is early on in the life of the Regiment, but thus far, the support in St. John’s has been terrific.  At the time of writing, the Regiment was averaging almost 5,000 fans per game, which ranks them third in the QMJHL behind much larger arenas and cities in Quebec and Halifax.  At the game that was reviewed, there were more than 5,100 fans in attendance.  St. John’s fans are not very loud and pretty reserved, but engrossed in the game.    Access 4 Mary Brown’s Centre is located in Downtown St. John’s, north of Highway 2.  It is nearly 4 km south of the Trans Canada Highway.  Due to the relatively small size of St. John’s, with only 110,000 people, getting to the arena is not that difficult.  It is between New Gower Street and Livingstone Street.  St. John’s has some significant hills, which should be kept in mind, specifically if travelling north of downtown.  There is no parking on site; however, there are a few parking garages in the area.  For those interested in public transit, there are buses east of New Growers on Water Street.  Fans should consult the Metrobus website for fares, schedules, and maps.  Getting around Mary Brown’s Centre is not too difficult; however, the concourses are not huge and do fill up during intermissions.  Washroom facilities are adequate for the arena. Return on Investment 4 There is pretty good value in taking in a Newfoundland Regiment game.  Tickets begin at $25 for the upper corners and go up to $33.  This is a bit on the high side for the QMJHL.  Discounts are available for youth, seniors, and military.  Parking will cost in the area, but should not be too much, and concession prices are about what one would expect.  The product on the ice is high quality and comes with a good balance of modern sports event and Newfoundland flair. Extras 3 Two extra marks for the crazy support that Newfoundlanders have for the 50/50 draw.  At the game that was reviewed, the 50/50 draw, which is new for each game, hit over $30,000.  There is even a portrait of Murray Chaplin in the concourse.  Murray was an institution at Mary Brown’s Centre, selling 50/50 tickets, before his passing. An extra mark for the Mile One Marker, where Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope in 1980.  The original name of Mary Brown’s Centre was Mile One Stadium, which is a nod to that as well as an acknowledgement of St. John’s as the easternmost point in Canada. Final Thoughts The newest member of the QMJHL has hockey fans talking.  There are high hopes for the return of hockey to Newfoundland, and the results are being seen at the turnstile.  Hopefully, the Newfoundland Regiment will have a long and successful reign at Mary Brown’s Centre despite the travel challenges it brings to the league.  Hockey on the Rock is a necessity, and Junior Hockey is the perfect fit. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads , and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Toyota Arena Tokyo 1-3-1 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan 135-0064 Toyota Arena Tokyo Alvark Tokyo website Year Opened: 2025 Capacity : 10,000 The Arena with the New Car Smell When thinking about sports in Japan, baseball will always be top of the list, as the games are accessible and some players are well known, either because they used to play in MLB or are about to. Sumo and its traditions appeal to those with a deeper interest in the country, while soccer's J.League is gaining followers, helped by the Samurai Blue's success on the world stage. But what most overseas fans don't realize is that there is a thriving basketball league in Japan, one with 55 teams across three divisions. Known as the B.League, most of its clubs play in smaller municipal gyms across their region, so doing stadium reviews is not very meaningful. Recently, however, a new arena opened in Tokyo as a more permanent home to a team there, and as Stadium Journey happened to be in town at the time, we decided to pay a visit. Known as Toyota Arena Tokyo, it is the new home of Alvark Tokyo, a club that has been around since 1948. Located in the fashionable Odaiba area, it hosted its first game in October 2025 and has Alvark fans excited for the future. It might not be as thrilling as a new NBA arena, but it still has a lot to offer. Food & Beverage 5 Unlike the gouging that occurs in North American venues, stadium food in Japan is reasonably priced and comes with the quality that you expect. The main concourse has many options, at least one of which should tempt even the pickiest fan. One stand is called Fast Break and has an American Snack Bowl (chips and dip) or Mexican Snack Bowl (tortillas and salsa) for 600 yen (at the time of writing, $1 = ~150 yen, so 600 yen is about $4). They also have cups of Häagen-Dazs for the same price. Another stand is Hatago Aomi, where rice balls are between 350 and 450 yen, while a cup of chanko nabe (a sumo staple) is 800 yen. Juicy fried chicken is a bargain at 650 yen, with a tuna and salmon rice bowl somewhat more expensive at 1,200 yen (again, just $8). Meal Mates offers a Kansai-style beef bowl for 1,500 yen, the same price as a Nagoya-style miso-katsu bowl. Chicken tenders are 700 yen here, and they even have fried shrimp for 750 yen. There are many other options, so get there early and walk around before choosing. Soft drinks are Pepsi products and generally cost 400 yen, while draft beer starts at 900 yen ($6), with a special Alvark brand red brew (a beer dyed red) going for 1,200 yen and not recommended. There are also highballs for just 800 yen. ​ Atmosphere 4 The area surrounding the arena can be quite dark at night, but as you approach, its lights provide plenty of guidance. The building has been constructed on a small hill, so you have to go up some stairs to get to the main entrance, where you will also find the box office. Fans line up to enter, which does take some time. I recommended heading to Miraie, the bar just next to the bottom of the staircase, where you can relax while the queue subsides, with beer going for 900 yen. There is a large screen that will show highlights of previous Alvark games. Toyota Arena Tokyo Miraie Bar, Photo by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Inside, the main concourse can be a little crowded. There is an upper concourse as well that is only for a certain portion of the upper bowl. Capacity is 10,000, and the team is selling very well early on, meaning that there are few empty seats for moving around. Seats are numbered sequentially from 1 to over 600, depending on the row. Seat numbers are painted on the aisle floor next to each row, so it is quite easy to find your location. All seats are black and padded and very comfortable, with drink holders as well. There are suites, but they are part of the lower level, so the upper level is relatively close to the floor. Trash in Japan is highly organized, and you can see that in the number of receptacles around the concourse. They even have staff members there to help you, as it can be quite confusing if you don't live in Japan. During the game, it can get quite loud, though repetitive, with constant calls of 'Defense' when the opposition has the ball. During the breaks, there are promotions and the like, but they are fairly easy to tune out. The center-hung scoreboard is rectangular and of extremely good quality for video replays. The mascot is Rook, a giant red teddy bear, who cavorts along the baseline. Alvark, by the way, is another of those weird team names that dominate sports in Japan. It originates from the Arabic word 'albarq', meaning 'lightning'. Furthermore, 'AL' signifies 'The', 'V' stands for 'Victory', and 'ARK' is, well, 'ark'. Together, they symbolize "an ark that carries victory". Neighborhood 5 Toyota Arena is in the Odaiba area, a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay across the Rainbow Bridge from central Tokyo. During the 1990s, the area was redeveloped into a major commercial, residential, and leisure area, and it is now a major tourist destination. There are dozens of things to do here, from shopping malls to arcades to museums, movie theaters, and even beaches. Hundreds of restaurants can be found serving all types of food, while there are also several fancy hotels here, though I would recommend staying closer to the center of the city and spending the day in Odaiba. Fans 4 I was amazed that nearly 10,000 fans were on hand for this game, as in previous visits to basketball in Japan, the crowd rarely exceeded 2,000. No doubt the attraction of the new arena contributed to the crowd, but everyone still knew enough about the game to cheer at the right time and contribute to the atmosphere. And as always, they were exceedingly polite and cleaned up after themselves, a welcome tradition when compared to the disgusting messes left at arenas in North America. Big Crowd at Toyota Arena Tokyo for an Alvark Tokyo Game, Photo by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Access 4 The arena is located next to Aomi Station on the Yurikamome line, but there are a few other stations nearby, too. Use Google Maps or a local Japanese transit app to figure out the best way to get there from wherever you are staying. I can't imagine driving here and would strongly recommend you avoid doing so. There was a large and long lineup before the game, which I avoided by going to the bar as mentioned earlier. This is really the only issue with access to the venue. Inside, the concourse seems a bit narrow, but there was no problem getting around, probably because most fans were already sitting in their seats before the game. Halftime did prove a bit tough to complete a full circuit of the concourse, but concession and restroom lines were mostly non-existent and moved quickly when present. Return on Investment 4 The team employs dynamic pricing, and to complicate matters, there are 46 (yes, forty-six!) price points along with five game tiers depending on the day of the week and the opponent. That's 230 potential prices to enumerate, and obviously, I will not do so. To buy tickets online, you need to create an account, which, as a tourist, is probably something you are not willing to bother with. Fortunately, the box office is open before the game and will sell you a hard ticket, explaining the location on a seating chart. For the game I attended, the cheapest ticket was an astounding 10,400 yen, about $67.50. There were slightly cheaper options, but they had sold out in advance. However, for some upcoming games, tickets are as low as 3,000 yen, about $20, a reasonable price. Given the low price of food and the unique experience provided, this is still a worthwhile place to visit if you happen to be in Japan during the fall or winter. Extras 2 Alvark is sponsored by Toyota (the team was originally called the Toyota Pacers before becoming Toyota Alvark in 2000, finally dropping the company name in 2016). There is a small corner with some uniforms and shoes on display, though these seemed to be for current players rather than past stars. Another point for impressive architecture, something that is slowly becoming the norm with new stadiums in Japan. Final Thoughts Overall, Toyota Arena is an impressive venue that has few problems despite having just opened. Traditionally, Japanese sports venues were purely functional, but this has been changing over the past. A couple of decades as, fan comfort and extra amenities were understood to be critical to the experience. If you are in Tokyo during the season, see if you can get to an Alvark game and add this new stadium to your list.

Photos by Xander Loosvelt, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Rock Chalk Park 6100 Rock Chalk Dr Lawrence, KS 66049 Kansas Jayhawks website Rock Chalk Park website Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 2,500 A Decade of Stories in Lawrence In 2014, the inception of Rock Chalk Park was the start of a new era for Kansas sports. Though basketball and football were easily the sports that got the most attention, this new stadium laid out a brand new home for the other Jayhawk sports teams that rivaled the popular Memorial Stadium and Allen Field Fieldhouse. While the stadium serves as home field for Kansas softball, track and field, and tennis, no group is more synonymous with Rock Chalk Park than Kansas soccer. The addition of this stadium was a revolution for the team and fanbase that needed a new place to call home, and over the last 11 years, it has developed into one of the premier college soccer stadiums. As a whole, the park is one of the top facilities in collegiate sports. As primarily a soccer stadium, the last decade has seen a multitude of NCAA tournament games, including the one I attended, players receiving national recognition, program records being set, attendance numbers reaching new heights, and so, so much more. Food & Beverage 3 Rock Chalk Park offers a better-than-average concession experience with high-quality snacks as well as quick and easy service. However, it’s dragged down a bit by its lack of a wide variety of food and drink options, the slightly high prices, and the absence of specialty items. The stadium as a whole has three places for concessions with around five to seven total lines that all offer similar products. They have mostly traditional stadium food with the addition of a few items that help bring the Lawrence feeling out, including burgers and pork sandwiches, both priced at $12, but don’t quite meet the criteria for “specialty” items. The stands accept credit and debit cards, and the prices are a little higher than most would hope for from traditional concessions, especially at a soccer game. The stadium serves a multitude of sodas, with Coke and Pepsi being the major brands served, as well as a decent variety of other non-alcoholic drinks. There is a small variety of alcoholic beverages, all served at $10 as well as two craft beer options in Wheat and Pale Ale. The stadium's hot dogs ($6) or pretzel bites ($7) are the way to go if you're looking for a cheaper, fulfilling snack while watching the game, but in all honesty, any of the options will leave you satisfied if you can get past the initial surprise of the higher prices. Atmosphere 5 The atmosphere of Rock Chalk Park from entry to exit provides a unique experience that brings the Lawrence community comes together. For starters, the stadium is beautiful - one of the most underrated venues in college soccer. All seats are located on the west side of the stadium with proximity to the field, with seats being on either side of the tunnel at midfield, while benches line the outer sections, and an outer blue wall on the grass separates the field of play from the greens, where fans are allowed to sit to watch the game from an alternative view. The wall is lined with painted banners of past conference championships and the NCAA tournament appearances, as well as Kansas flags and colors flying on the poles that line the east side of the wall. Outside of just the aesthetic, there’s entertainment throughout the game. Music blasts on the speakers in big moments, the Jayhawk band plays throughout the game, the PA announcer is on the microphone to hype up the crowd at all the right times, and there’s even a halftime race between condiment costumes. The end of games always concludes with the team and fans singing the fight song and Rock Chalk chant, a tradition at all KU sporting events that gets a more personal touch at the park. Even if at some point you need a break, Wi-Fi is available for all and runs at a high speed. The best seats in the house are easily, well, the actual seats with backrests. The benches are fine and give you just as good a view, but the real seats with cupholders near midfield provide the most comfortable experience as well, putting you at the center of the action. There are no premium seats or suites, but the layout of the stadium seating strengthens the fandom and provides a tough environment for opposing teams. Neighborhood 3 Rock Chalk Park is located in the northwest corner of Lawrence, away from the university and downtown activities, but still easily accessible from anywhere in the city. Its more isolated location makes it very safe for drivers and walkers alike, though from most places in town, you’ll end up driving. Though its separation from the rest of Lawrence adds to its charm, it may be just a little more separated from the other areas of Lawrence than desired by tourists. While there are no restaurants within walking distance from the stadium, Morningstar’s New York Pizza and J. Wilson’s are both high-quality restaurants that highlight an overall, pretty solid selection of food in the area. After a good meal, take a drive and check out the Dole Institute of Politics, or take a tour of the University of Kansas, while you have some free time, to get the true feeling of what it means to be in a college town. Outside of soccer, KU has just opened up its brand new football stadium, David Booth Memorial Stadium is just around the corner from the historic basketball venue, Allen Fieldhouse , where you can also spend some time and take a tour. There may not be a plethora of attractions, but what the city has to offer is well worth your time. For a short walk to the stadium, Stone Hill Lawrence is the place to stay. To be near the other attractions the city has to offer while simultaneously staying close to the park, Tru by Hilton is right in the middle of everything the city has to offer. Want to stay in the heart of the University of Kansas? The Oread is at the end of Jayhawk Boulevard and serves as the de facto university hotel. If those places aren’t your groove, take your pick of any Lawrence hotel. All lodging options are high quality with a great reputation, and no matter what, you should come away with a very hospitable experience. Fans 5 Well, this one certainly gets a leg up from the fact that the park recorded its highest attendance ever at the game I attended. In fact, over the course of the year, they’ve had multiple record crowds, and in the past couple of years, the seats have begun to routinely fill up closer and closer to capacity. Rock Chalk Park is home to a passionate fanbase that refuses to let an opponent forget their presence. They are loud every time something positive happens for the home team, showing a constant level of involvement that you don't see just anywhere. There's a plethora of kids running around the wall and grass to follow the ball, and even fans sitting on blankets in the grass to add to the feeling of family that the stadium manages to bring out of everyone. Fans are in their seats, off their phones, tuned in, and never leave until no time remains on the clock. Even after the clock strikes zero, most stay and wait to sing the fight song and the Rock Chalk Chant with the team. This is a fanbase that really cares for their team’s success, and they embody what a home crowd should be like, even with their smaller size. Access 4 The stadium overall allows for an easily accessible experience, ranging from parking to entry to movement, but the actual travel to get to Lawrence is a challenging and somewhat annoying experience. Bad news first: You're not getting a direct flight into Lawrence. The easiest way to get to Lawrence is flying into Kansas City International, then renting a car to make the hour drive to the city - yes, renting a car is necessary. In the long run, it saves money since Rock Chalk Park is separated from the Lawrence attractions, and there aren’t any mass transit options to the stadium. All that said, everything else surrounding the park’s accessibility is nearly flawless. The parking lot in front is huge, and there are more than enough spots. Try and park closer to the front middle for a shorter walk, but no matter what, it’ll be a quick process in and out since traffic is light thanks to its more isolated location. If needed, you can also find accessible parking towards the northeast side of the lot, as well as a drop-off area in front of the entry point. The gate of entry is on the east side of the stadium and adjacent to the parking lot. Getting in is a quick and easy process - they’ll scan your mobile ticket, check your bag if you have one, and off you go. There is a clear bag policy for bags exceeding a 6-by-9 size, but anything smaller is allowed as long as it passes a light security check. Once you're inside, you’ll find it’s very easy to move around Rock Chalk Park. You can see the game from anywhere inside; the concourse is easy to navigate, and there’s accessible seating at the top of the concourse that isn’t far removed from the field of play. The best part? The restrooms are nice, clean, and well-kept by the staff. The stadium is highly accessible for all and provides an easy experience, no matter which part you choose to spend your time in. Return on Investment 4 Rock Chalk Park provides a unique, friendly, community-driven experience that is worth the money you’ll spend to get in and enjoy the experience to the fullest. The tickets for the game I attended cost about $13, but for a regular game (non-NCAA tournament) that number is more than likely closer to $10. Parking is free, so no need to worry about pulling out the wallet the second you drive in, and depending on the specific concessions choice, you're spending somewhere between $20 - $25 for food. Essentially, on the high end, you're looking at spending around $40 for a full game experience at Rock Chalk Park, a more than reasonable amount for what the experience offers. The concessions may be priced a little higher than hoped, but considering the food and drink are high quality, the lower ticket prices and overall entertainment value of the play on the field, your money is well spent on a night watching Kansas soccer. Extras 3 Though Rock Chalk Park doesn’t have a whole lot of program-specific activities to do inside the stadium, It still gets the extra points boost for having a variety of other Easter eggs and a unique layout. The stadium includes a Rally House for KU merchandise on the entry path, and a lot of room for kids to run around on the green surrounding the field, banners of former players in the air, and friendly, knowledgeable staff who can assist with a variety of needs. And just re-emphasize this, parking is free. Final Thoughts Rock Chalk Park, as a soccer stadium, is a one-of-a-kind experience for soccer and Kansas sports. In a rare occurrence, I can confidently say there is not a single bad thing about Rock Chalk Park. When the biggest gripes are that the food may be slightly overpriced and that the city, not the stadium, is difficult to travel to by plane, it’s clear that the stadium has given people a lot to love about it. As the Kansas soccer program has begun to improve over the last couple of years, the team has continued to attract more fans, and the experience has gotten better and better. At the pace they’ve seen this season, seating expansion may be coming for Rock Chalk Park in the next few years - a testament to the well-rounded stadium experience that has continued to keep fans wanting more and coming back.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Lee and Penny Anderson Arena 2260 Summit Avenue St. Paul, MN 55105 St. Thomas Tommies website Lee and Penny Anderson Arena website Year Opened: 2025 Capacity: 4,000 The Tommie Finally Have Home Ice! The University of St. Thomas is a Catholic liberal arts college located in St. Paul, MN. It was founded in 1885 and has a student body of 11,000. The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, has one of the oldest collegiate ice hockey programs in the country, as it first fielded a team during the 1920-21 season. The program started at the Division III level, where it was a powerhouse, as the Tommies won 34 conference titles, made 17 NCAA Tournament appearances, and were National runners-up on two occasions. The program originally played in outdoor rinks at multiple sites, with team members pitching in to shovel snow, patching the ice, and assembling the rink walls themselves. Often, the ice would begin to melt or chip away before the games ended, forcing an early termination of the contest. This situation continued until the 1960s, when the team began a nomadic journey to various off-campus indoor rinks in the Twin Cities area. These rinks included the Cow Palace in South St. Paul (1962-63), Aldrich Arena (1963-1970), the St Paul Academy (1970-1976), the State Fair Coliseum in St. Paul (1976-2003) and the St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights (2003-2025), which is a high school academy linked with the University of St. Thomas. The team transitioned to the Division I level of competition in 2020, and this facility had a capacity of only 1,000 seats, making it the third smallest rink based on capacity in Division I hockey. The Tommies' schedule was often difficult to maintain, as they had to work around the ice time available at each of the six sites. Nearly a century after the St. Thomas Tommies hockey program started, they finally have an on-campus arena home ice facility of their very own. The Lee and Penny Anderson Arena opened in time for the 2025-2026 hockey season. The $175 million facility will host men’s and women’s hockey and men’s and women’s basketball. It will also be home to concerts, career fairs, and commencement ceremonies, as well as other community events. In addition to the main rink and seating area, the Anderson Arena also houses practice facilities and locker rooms, sports medicine suites, training rooms, team meeting areas, a ticket office, a team store, and several concession areas. It has a capacity of 4,000 in its ice hockey configuration, 5,300 in its basketball configuration, and 6,000 in its concert configuration. Food & Beverage 4 There are five concession stands at the concourse level of the lower seating bowl. These are behind the 103,110,112,116, and 123 seating sections. They include two Grab and Go stands, a pizza stand, a cheesesteak stand, and a stand featuring grilled items. A sampling of prices at these stands includes hot dogs ($7), brats ($10), nachos ($9), popcorn ($6), ice cream ($6), and candy ($5). The pizza selections include pepperoni, cheese, and BBQ, which are all priced at $16. Cheesesteaks are all priced at $16 as well. The Grill stand offers a burger basket with fries, as well as chicken tenders with fries for $17. Beverages sold at all stands include Pepsi brand sodas ($5), Gatorade ($6), and bottled water ($5). The premium seating areas have their own food service areas, including the Legacy Club and Reuben’s. Food in the premium areas ranges from buffets to snacks, desserts, and both sodas and alcoholic beverages are available. Alcohol is available for purchase by fans who are 21 years or older. There is a two-drink limit per order. Atmosphere 5 The new arena offers premium seats on the upper level of the seating bowl. These seats include the Legacy Club, the Capital Club, and Reubens. There are 12 loge boxes on the second level. Four additional private suites are available at the ice level along the glass at the base of the lower seats. The lower seating bowl encircles the ice. The seating bowl features a silver, white, and purple color palette… the team colors for St. Thomas. The facility offers an impressive electronics package, with a center-hung scoreboard/videoboard and ribbon boards lining the facing of the second level of seating. The energy level is decidedly higher than the Tommies have experienced at their off-campus venues of the past. Neighborhood 5 The University of St. Thomas campus lies in a residential neighborhood that lies just east of the Mississippi River. Its well-manicured campus does not overwhelm the homes that surround it. Lee and Penny Anderson Arena mirrors the existing Collegiate Gothic architectural style of the buildings that surround it on the University of St Thomas campus. Its exterior is constructed of Kasota limestone, and it features some bas-relief carvings of both hockey and basketball images on the exterior. The University of St. Thomas campus is located at the corner of Cretin, Summit, and Grand Avenues. Both Summit and Grand Avenues are main thoroughfares in St. Paul. The streets are lined with an impressive number of Victorian homes. There are several restaurants located just a few blocks east of the St. Thomas campus. These include Davanni’s Pizza, Groveland Tap, Carmello’s Spaghetti Room, and the French Meadow Bakery and Café. The nearby Tiffany Sports Lounge is the official sports bar for St. Thomas Athletics. Nearby lodging includes the Quality Inn St. Paul/Minneapolis/Midway, the Hampton Inn and Suites Downtown St. Paul, and the Radisson Hotel St Paul Downtown. Fans 4 The alumni and students are thrilled to have the games now on campus and have filled the arena for both basketball and hockey contests. The student section is behind the goal at one end of the rink, and they do everything they can to distract the visiting team’s communications. The school pep band is seated in this section as well, keeping the energy level high throughout the game. There are no cheerleaders at the hockey contests, but the Tommie Cat mascot does make an appearance for the pregame and between-period activities. St. Thomas Tommies Pep Band, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey The upper-level premium seating area seems to be the domain of the school alumni and the families of the players. Fans can purchase team spirit gear at the Tommie’s Locker Room Store behind section 103. While it offers a wide range of Tommie gear, it gets quite congested between periods, so plan to visit before the first puck drop. Access 4 Parking is available at the on-campus Anderson Parking Facility, as well as the McNeely and Frey parking facilities. To ease the limited parking on campus, a ticket purchase for hockey games comes with a free Metro Transit pass. This also goes towards reducing the carbon footprint of the facility. Fans enter the facility through the Iverson Atrium, which features murals of both Minneapolis and St. Paul, with the University of St. Thomas shield between them. Doors at the facility open one hour before the puck drop. Premium seat holders have a separate entrance and can enter the building 60 minutes before the game. There are elevators available for fans who have difficulty negotiating stairs. The concourses at both the main seating level and the premium seating level are wide and allow for a good flow of fans, even during the busy times between periods. Restrooms are also plentiful around the concourses. Return on Investment 3 Parking at one of the campus parking facilities can be pre-purchased for $13 on game days/nights. Fans also get a free Metro Transit bus pass to access the campus via mass transit if they choose. This is offered as a part of the agreement between the school and the residential neighborhood that surrounds the campus to reduce traffic congestion on game nights. Tickets run from $82 for premium level seating to $52 for along the glass seats and $36 for seats at the ends behind the nets. The University of St. Thomas partners with SeatGeek as its ticketing partner. While Anderson Arena offers a wide variety of food and beverages at its concession stands, the prices are much higher than if purchased at a convenience store or a fast-food restaurant. The Lee and Penny Anderson Arena operates as a cashless venue. Extras 4 The arena is named for Lee and Penny Anderson, the main benefactors of the facility, who contributed $75 million towards the total $175 million cost of the building. The building has applied for LEED Silver Certification due to its numerous energy-saving features. The Tommies are members of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. (CCHA) There is a timeline display along the main concourse that features the many off-campus sites that have hosted the St. Thomas hockey program. Final Thoughts The opening of the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena is a major component of the University of St. Thomas’ Athletic Department’s move to the Division I level of NCAA sports. The arena serves as the home of the hockey and basketball programs for both the men’s and women’s teams.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 New ASU Stadium 500 Harris Way Montgomery, AL 36106 Alabama State Hornets website New ASU Stadium website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 26,500 Montgomery Sting The Alabama State Hornets play their home games at New ASU Stadium (or simply ASU Stadium) in Montgomery, Alabama, about a mile away from the Cramton Bowl, home of both the annual FBS Camellia Bowl and the annual FCS Kickoff game. The venue opened in 2012 and currently seats twenty-six thousand five hundred, but is expandable to fifty-five thousand if needed. The four highest attended games at ASU Stadium have all been against in-state rival Tuskegee, where the current attendance record of 27,858 came in 2019. In fact the first game ever at the facility was also versus Tuskegee, on Thanksgiving Day in 2012 and resulting in a two-point win by the Tigers, which represents the second-highest attendance ever at the stadium of 27,500. The tradition of having a Thanksgiving game at the facility (which the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL also follow) was renewed in 2021, billed as “Turkey Day Classic 21”. Food & Beverage 5 ASU Stadium has fabulous concessions options available to fans – while the main stands in the concourses along both sidelines have a more limited menu, offering only hot dogs, wings, nachos, popcorn, chips, and packaged candy, as well as bottled soda, bottled water, and frozen lemonade, where the facility excels is with the array of food trucks behind the southeast end zone, including half a dozen vendors offering items such as gelato, funnel cake, barbecue, mixed drinks, wings, etc. There is also a Dippin’ Dots stand on the home side. The most expensive items are the food truck selections (prices vary) and the wings and nachos from the main stands ($9 and $8, respectively), but everything else at the main stands comes in under $4, so it is possible to feed a group without hurting your wallet too much. Atmosphere 4 Three things make watching a Hornets game at ASU Stadium a great experience – the first is the PA announcer, who is really into the game and very excitable; he really helps draw the home crowd into the game with his loud, boisterous game calls. The second is the atmosphere around the stadium – the tailgating scene is very impressive with tents and grills galore set up outside the facility, and the street next to the stadium closed down and packed with rabid Hornets fans. Tailgating Outside New ASU Stadium, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey The third thing, though, which is a real treat, is watching the Majestic, Mighty, Marching Hornets perform at halftime – most HBCUs have great marching bands, but the Hornets take it to the next level with multiple formations, including spelling out the word “Blues” as a tribute to the popular music genre, and four drum majors who dance with swagger and pizzazz. The Marching Hornets are accompanied by the Stingettes and the Honey-Bees, the ASU dance team and cheerleaders, who also both give great performances. For some games you may also be lucky enough to see two HBCU bands perform at halftime, depending on who the Hornets’ opponent is that day. Neighborhood 4 ASU Stadium is located on Alabama State’s campus and mostly surrounded by other campus building and athletic fields, but is bordered on the north by I-85, with Jackson Hospital located on the other side of the freeway within sight of the sports venue. As such there isn’t much in the way of restaurants or hotels in the immediate vicinity, but from a historical perspective there are plenty of museums and attractions nearby, given the history of the city of Montgomery. The state capitol is not far away, and you can also find the first white house of the Confederacy and the Dr. Martin Luther King home/Dexter Parsonage museum. More well-known are several other civil rights museums, including the Rosa Parks and Freedom Ride museums, which are definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. And for the music and literary fans among us, there is also the Hank Williams museum and the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald museum. Fans 3 Most games at ASU Stadium draw between 10,000 and 15,000 fans (about 50-60% full), with only a few contests here drawing 20,000 or more (most notably games against Tuskegee). Attendance of course depends on how well the Hornets are doing at that point in the season, as well as who their opponent is for that day. The fans who are here, however, tend to be pretty into the game, and you will see plenty of ASU gear in the stands and in the concourse. Many fans tend to come into the game late (since they are still partying outside during kickoff), so expect to see the stands most full around the middle of the second quarter. For games again local opponents you will of course see plenty of attendees wearing the opposing team’s colors, sitting on the visitors side. Access 3 Getting to ASU Stadium is pretty simple given that the venue is literally right next to I-85, but concessions lines are pretty long in the concourses, so you might try heading over to the other concourse, or to the food trucks in the end zone, to see if you can find a shorter line. It also helps if you get to the game early and get your snacks before most of the fans arrive from the tailgates. There are plenty of bathrooms to accommodate the crowd, however, and there is plenty of room in the stands, so you should be able to sit pretty much wherever you want – the tickets do have assigned seats, but since the stands are usually only half full or less you don’t necessarily have to sit where you are supposed to. Fans also also welcome to sit in the berm, on the hill behind the northwest end zone. There isn’t really any parking right next to the stadium unless you have a pass, but there is plenty of parking to be found along Carter Hill Road (on the south side of the stadium) for $20 or less depending on how far you want to walk – the $20 parking is the closest I found, and wasn’t too bad of a distance from the facility. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for ASU Hornets football start at $25, which is a pretty good deal for college football – I have rarely seen tickets at this level go for under $20, so $25 is not bad, and a lot less than other FCS stadiums. Given the experience you will have including the PA announcer and the halftime performances, I think this is a pretty solid return on investment for your sports dollar. Extras 3 ASU has a great mascot and a nice facility that is new enough not to look dated. There are tents with club seating behind the southeast end zone, and the bleachers are raised a little above the field to make it easy to see the action. There is also a large scoreboard behind the northwest end zone which makes it easy to see replays even from the far side. Final Thoughts ASU Stadium is definitely worth a visit – the modern facility may not have everything you would want at a sports venue, but it is a great place to spend a fall afternoon, and allows fans to get really close to the action. If you are in the Montgomery area, make time to cheer on the Hornets – go ASU!

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Veterans Memorial Stadium 338 Veterans Stadium Dr Troy, AL 36081 Troy Trojans website Veterans Memorial Stadium website Year Opened: 1950 Capacity: 30,470 We Are Trojans, One and All In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy was the spark that ignited the Trojan War. In southern Alabama, the name Troy carries a different kind of battle. Each fall, Troy University takes the field with the same pride and determination that defined the legendary city. Veterans Memorial Stadium transforms into a modern battleground, where the Trojans defend their home turf on Saturday afternoons throughout the season. Troy University has a football history that stretches back to 1909, when the program first took the field as Troy State Teachers College. The team competed at the small college level for decades, as members of the Gulf South Conference. Photo by David Welch, Stadium Journey The program’s first major national success came in 1968, when Troy captured its first NAIA National Championship. The athletics program would jump to NCAA Division II status in 1971 and would see a second national title follow in 1984, and a third in 1987. Under legendary coach Larry Blakeney, who led the program from 1991 to 2014, Troy made the jump to Division I-AA (now FCS) in 1993, and then to Division I-A (now FBS) in 2001, joining the Sun Belt Conference. Since moving to FBS, Troy has become a consistent contender in the Sun Belt, winning multiple conference titles and making numerous bowl appearances. The program has produced NFL talent and established itself as one of the stronger “Group of 5” programs, blending a proud tradition with a growing national profile.   Food & Beverage   3 Concessions around the stadium aren’t overly adventurous, but they easily take care of any mid-game hunger or sweet craving. The main menu sticks to the familiar staples – hot dogs, burgers, and nachos – with a bit of variety added by the pizza slices offered at the stands on the stadium’s south end. The south end food truck is the clear fan favorite, dishing out midway-style fried options that draws a long line which doesn’t seem to get much shorter the entire game. Alcohol selections include the usual domestic choices and strawberry or lime Ritas, plus a couple of local pours from Folklore Brewing & Meadery; their Troy-branded Trojan Ale, a session blonde, and Blakeney’s Brew, an amber honoring 2025 College Football Hall of Famer Larry Blakeney, add a welcome touch of local flavor.   Atmosphere   3 Veterans Memorial Stadium has a primary seating horseshoe where the main level is built into the ground level, with each side topped by an upper level of seating which runs the length of the field. The completion of the North End Zone Facility in 2018 enclosed the stadium, giving it a cozier feel. Each side features a second deck, with a slight overhang on the home side. Seats tucked underneath that overhang lose sight of the main scoreboard on the north end, though the smaller video board in the southeast corner helps fill the gap. Most of the seating consists of aluminum benches, except for the home side upper level, which offers individual seatbacks between the 25-yard lines. Photo by David Welch, Stadium Journey The stadium has two video boards: a large one above the Allen E. Owen III Terrace on the north end and a smaller board in the southeast corner. The north board also provides basic yardage totals, while ribbon boards along both upper decks offer simple in-game stats. A major boost to the atmosphere comes from Troy’s marching band, “The Sound of the South,” which remains front and center throughout the game. At a time when many stadiums lean heavily on pre-recorded music, the band here is still a driving part of Troy’s game day identity. Media breaks are filled with fan engagement moments and tributes to both Troy legends and current athletes, keeping the energy steady from start to finish.   Neighborhood   3 Veterans Memorial Stadium sits within the main athletics neighborhood of Troy’s campus, bordered by Trojan Arena  and baseball’s Riddle-Pace Field . Troy’s town square is about a mile and a half from the stadium, and while the immediate area is not packed with entertainment, Troy and the rest of Pike County offer more than thirty historical markers, highlighting everything from the birthplace of congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis to local war memorials and pieces of the region’s story. Downtown Troy may be small, but it provides a solid mix of shops and eateries that see a noticeable uptick in foot traffic on game days. Fans can find southern comfort food at B Graves, burgers at The Corner, Italian fare at Franchesca’s, Cajun dishes at Bayou La Roux, and the ever-popular Mama Goldberg’s deli. In addition, within a block of the square Moe’s serves up BBQ and Flo’s Kitchen offers casual American plates, giving visitors a nice range of choices despite the compact footprint.   Fans   3 Troy is a town of about 19,000 people, with roughly 33,000 in all of Pike County, so the Trojans don’t have a massive population to pull from. Even so they average around 25,000 fans per game, placing them in the upper half of the Sun Belt and showing just how strong the local support can be. Photo by David Welch, Stadium Journey The student section deserves particular credit, packing in behind the visiting sideline and giving Troy a genuine home-field boost.   Access   4 Troy, Alabama sits in something of an oasis when it comes to interstate access. US-231 is the most direct route into town, whether coming off I-85 east of Montgomery or connecting from US-29 after heading down from I-65 to the west. Around campus golf carts are the preferred method of transportation. They are a noticeable part of Troy’s game day culture, and that extends beyond football; Troy baseball games often see long rows of carts parked beyond the outfield fence. The stadium is not walkable all the way around, but the main seating areas are easy to reach. The home side features ramps leading to both the field level and upper deck, making those sections accessible and manageable for fans with mobility challenges.   Return on Investment   4 General admission seats start at just $20, which feels right in line for a Sun Belt matchup and offers solid value for a full college football Saturday. Stadium parking comes in at $25, slightly on the high side, but not far off what many comparable programs charge. Lots just off campus can also be found for a bit less, giving fans a more budget-friendly option if they do not mind a short walk. Concession prices are also reasonable, making it easy for fans to grab a drink or quick bite without feeling like they are overspending. When you factor in the quality of the atmosphere, the strong turnout, and the overall game day setup, the total cost of attending a Troy game lands in a very fair place, especially for families or fans looking for an affordable college football experience.   Extras   3 Long before the gates of Veterans Memorial Stadium open, fans gather just beyond the right center field fence in the Green Davis Tailgating Terrace for grilling, music, and the early buildup to game day. It is a lively scene that stretches well into the afternoon and sets the tone for the experience inside. Around the stadium, graphics highlighting Troy’s Sun Belt championships and their three National Titles (1968, 1984, and 1987) give fans a quick look at the program’s proud history; this is a simple but effective nod to the Trojans’ legacy. Photo by David Welch, Stadium Journey T-Roy, the ever-present Trojan mascot, makes his rounds early as well, popping up throughout the tailgate area outside the main gates. His pregame appearances add a fun, familiar touch before fans stream into the stadium.   Final Thoughts Football at the Group of 5 level can be hit or miss when it comes to the game day experience, but a day at Troy University rarely disappoints. While the campus is somewhat remote and local entertainment options are limited, the pregame tailgate more than makes up for it. Fans can enjoy live music, inflatables, and the traditional Trojan Walk through the Green Davis Tailgate Terrace, plenty to keep everyone entertained leading up to kickoff. Once inside Veterans Memorial Stadium, the overall experience delivers everything fans would expect from a classic college football day: spirited fans, a lively atmosphere, and the energy of Troy football that fills the venue.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey You are not alone if you have never heard of a Spanish dog. The spicy, tangy sauce does not originate from Spain but was created somewhere in the United States. However, it has a strong connection with the city of Logansport, Indiana, making it possibly the “Spanish Dog Capital of the World.” Various locations serve a Spanish dog, from drive-in root beer stands to sit-down restaurants. All prepare their sauces daily and with secret recipes. The tomatoey sauce resembles a coney or chili sauce--but don’t dare call it that--it is Spanish sauce, and that is how it’s been as far as anyone remembers. Brenda Graham has been one of the owners of Brenda and Kim’s B&K West for almost 40 years and produces close to 40 pounds of the sauce. She has never known any other name for the meat sauce that is ladled over anywhere from 3,500 to 3,800 hot dogs on a busy day. “It was called that when I worked at B&K 40 years ago. I’m thinking the name comes from the fact that it doesn’t have beans; it’s not chili sauce. That is just speculation. I honestly have no idea why it is called that.” The Berry Bowl menu offers Spanish sauce on hot dogs and nachos. The uber-regional style of hot dogs can be traced back to 1935 to a Hastings, Nebraska, story in The Morning Spotlight, where it mentioned that Spanish hot dogs were served following an American Red Cross meeting. The following year, an advertisement in the Kokomo Tribune highlighted that it was “now in Kokomo for the first time” at an Izzy & Don restaurant on 1510 North Washington Street. The ad ended by telling readers: “They’re different. They’re good. Take a sack home.” The connection to Logansport started in 1937 with several ads in the Pharos-Tribune newspaper archives online. There are at least 38 different mentions of independent shops: long-lost establishments included, Ricci’s, Logan Double Dip Shop, Butch’s Bar-B-Que, Lenon’s, Klinck Drive Inn, and The Spanish Hot Dog Stand on Eighteenth and Market Streets. The hot dogs cost a nickel. The sauce was also sold at grocery stores to prepare at home with ground beef. They were then popular at various eateries 30 minutes away in Kokomo. After World War II, a popular root beer stand would popularize the Spanish dog in the Midwest. Melvin and Mary Bergerson launched the first B&K Root Beer Drive-In in Wabash, Indiana, in 1940. It soon expanded and reached a peak of 238 independently owned establishments in neighboring Michigan and Ohio. The locations were also known for homemade draft root beer served in a frosty mug. According to The Great American Hot Dog Book, Mary “devised the special B&K Spanish sauce recipe” that was a milder version of a coney sauce at the Wabash, Indiana, location. Many believed that Mary coined the name to describe its sweet, tangy, and somewhat spicy flavor profiles that may have included some of the B&K homemade root beer. However, the name had been used since at least 1937 in Logansport and sold well before the first B-K location opened in 1940. The Spanish sauce is not a sauce but a combination of hamburger meat and tomato sauce, or ketchup, along with spices and onions. An item called the Spanish burger was sold in parts of the country as early as 1912, and it is most likely that someone ladled it over a hot dog soon after, adopting the name. Due to the popularity of B-K stands, many other chains began developing their versions throughout the state during the 1950s and 1960s. However, in Logansport, it spread to other non-B-K stands that continue to sell them to this day. The Sycamore Drive-In is known for its ice cream creations but has its version of the Spanish sauce. The Sycamore Drive-In has been offering them on its menus for over 70 years; the restaurant is known for its homemade custard, along with attractive items named coffee whip and tally ho. “The name Spanish sauce has been around since the time we opened in 1948, and we have stuck with it since then,” stated owner Bailey Graham, his sauce is slightly different from other locations. “Just like certain regions of the U.S. people refer to Spanish dogs as coney dogs, we have always referred to them as Spanish dogs.” The Spanish dog is prevalent in Logansport, and one can choose from other locations: Mr. Happy Burger, Charr-Bett Drive-In , and the Bob-O Link Drive-In , a few miles north in Royal Center. A collection of ads for Spanish Hot Dogs dating back to 1937. The home of the Logansport High School basketball team, the Berry Bowl even has a homemade recipe that is uncommon for a high school concession stand. The volunteer staff stated that it’s one of its best sellers, but many come from out of town and ask about the sauce and its name. “Growing up, I just figured everyone said Spanish dogs,” added Logansport basketball coach Steve Isaacs.” We had two B&K stands in Logansport, and they called them that too. A lot of people here have their special recipes for Spanish sauce.” Is there a difference between coney sauce and Spanish sauce, since they are used interchangeably at many B-K locations? According to Titus Ruscitti, who runs his website Smokin’ Chokin’ and Chowing with the King, there is a difference. “Most Spanish sauces I’ve tried have more tomatoey than most coney sauces. It is the same thing with chili in the Midwest. It’s always very tomatoey. I would say they’re different. I’ve mostly only seen Spanish sauce in Indiana. I know there are spots in Ohio, but I see it regularly in the area a little north of Central Indiana but a little south of NW Indiana.” Gene's is located 75 miles southwest of Logansport in Anderson, Indiana, but uses the term Spanish Hot Dog. A handful of B&K locations are open from March to October in Muncie, Peru, Marion, Kokomo, Wabash, and Troy, Ohio, that feature either a Spanish or coney dog on its old-fashioned menu boards with a few exceptions. The Wabash location offers both sauces for its hot dogs, but according to staff members, it is the Spanish sauce that is more popular. The Rochester and Troy locations refer to the two sauces by the same name. The Kokomo location uses the term coney dogs. The name was not coined, but popularized at B-K locations after World War II; it became a popular item in various locations in the Midwest throughout the 1950s, while for some reason, it spread to other establishments in Logansport and became part of the populace lexicon, but no many other nearby towns. To most people, it has been the name used their entire lives. “Spanish sauce has a reputation here in Logansport,” added Graham, who uses the sauce to cover nachos, fries, and sausage sandwiches. “We have people come in from Kokomo, Lafayette, and even from Kentucky just to try a Spanish dog, just because they can’t get them where they live.” Is Logansport the “Spanish Dog Capital of the World”? Perhaps that might be a bold statement, but with at least five locations in the area spooning their homemade recipe over hot dogs and nachos, it may be somewhat hard to argue another town that deserves such a distinction. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter  and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 The Arena at Innovation Mile 14157 CJ Way Noblesville, IN 46060 Noblesville Boom website The Arena at Innovation Mile website Year Opened: 2025 Capacity: 3,400 Noblesville Boom Explodes onto the Scene The Arena at Innovation Mile houses the NBA G-League’s Noblesville Boom, offering modern design, amenities, and an intimate setting that brings fans close to the action. ​Opened in November 2025, the city-owned Arena serves as the focal point of Innovation Mile, envisioned as a year-round destination blending economic, cultural, and entertainment activities to create a vibrant district. ​More than just a new venue, it’s a statement—an energetic showcase of what a next-generation minor league arena can be. From the moment you walk through its glass-lined entrance, the Arena promises an experience that’s equal parts excitement, community, and big-league ambition. Food & Beverage 4 There are plenty of high-end options on the main concourse that include grab-and-go options, small kiosks,  and traditional concession stands. Fans will enjoy everything from a hot dog, cold beer, chicken sandwiches, and barbecue nachos. The two full-time concession stands are on the northeast and northwest sides of the upper concourse: Hometown Eats and the Deer Creek Cafe. ​ Fans can enjoy cheese and pepperoni pizza, along with an Italian melt sandwich that is made exclusively for the venue. There are also double smashed burgers and chicken tenders that include a side of fries. Other menu options include barbecue nachos and sandwiches featuring pulled chicken or pork. Prices range from $11.99 to $14.99. ​ The traditional items include hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, popcorn, soda, and alcoholic beverages. A Chick-fil-A kiosk sells sandwiches and waffle chips, and sweet treats include cotton candy, caramel apples, and the Harvest pretzel with chocolate, marshmallows, and graham cracker crumbles. These prices range from $3.99 to $12.99. ​ Fans can purchase 20-ounce cans of macro and micro beers at the grab-and-go area. The options include Miller Lite, Coors Light, Bud, Michelob Ultra, along local Sun King Pale Ale. White Claw, Angry Orchard, High Noon, and Sun Cruiser canned cocktails are available. ​ Atmosphere 4 ​The Arena offers seating for 3,400 people and is among the smaller venues in the G-League. However, in an area where it competes with the NBA, college, and high school basketball, it might be the ideal size. The facility offers perfect views from all of its seats, easy access around the concourse, and a friendly staff to assist with any questions. ​ The main entrance and lobby are among its best features. The glass lobby welcomes fans inside an area where two escalators bring them up to the seating bowl. Large LED screens flank the area, with images of the team logo and the starting lineup, making it the true home of the Boom. ​ There is not a bad seat in the house, and many levels of the concourse are wide enough to move traffic along and get a vantage point of the court. The seats are soft and cushioned, a giant video board keeps stats and displays information throughout the game, and fans can enjoy a look at future Pacers players. ​ The game day staff throws out t-shirts throughout the game, bangs a giant drum before the game, and Bobby the Bobcat, the official team mascot, gets the crowd going, waving a giant Boom flag. He also makes his way around the court, giving high-fives and taking photos with fans of all ages. Neighborhood 4 The Innovation Mile District is a rapidly developing corridor on the southeast side of Noblesville, designed as a modern hub for sports, technology, entertainment, and community growth. Anchored along a one-mile stretch of East 141st Street, the district blends sleek, future-focused architecture with the welcoming, small-town character that the town is known for in the area. ​ However, less than a mile away is the Hamilton Town Center . The outside mall features a collection of familiar shops, along with a selection of eateries that include Chuy’s , which specializes in Tex-Mex cuisine, and Ford’s Garage f or burgers, wings, and pub food. There is also Houlihans , Livery , and Stone Creek Dining Company . ​ About five miles south on I-69 is the Fishers Event Center, which is home to the   Indy Fuel ECHL  team, the   Indy Ignite Major League Volleyball   team, and the   Fishers Freight Indoor Football League . The seasons crisscross one another, making it an option for a sports weekend in the Northeast Suburbs of Indianapolis. ​ Fans 3 The team has played only a handful of games in Noblesville, but it is safe to say that the local populace will embrace the Boom. Opening night was a sell-out, and games have been well attended since. The G-League team provides the opportunity for Pacer fans to see future players in the small court and another entertainment option away from downtown. Access 3 The arena is designed with the main entrance at ground level and the main concourse on the upper level. Escalators and elevators take patrons to the seating bowls, and a majority of the aisles are big enough for easy access to concession areas and individual seats. ​ There is a parking deck next to the arena, along with an unpaved parking lot to the south of the building. There has been some congestion with traffic before and after the game, but that could just be first-night jitters. The traffic flow will improve over time. Return on Investment 3 The average price per ticket on the   website TickPick   is between $23-$29, depending on the night. A few games can be below $20, but it will depend on the time of purchase. The cost to park at the game is $7, but if you purchase in advance on the ParkWhiz  website , it is a dollar less. ​ Food prices are similar to other venues of its caliber, especially down the street at the   Fishers Event Center . A double smash burger and fries is $13.99, while a can of macro beer is $8.99. A hot dog is $6.49. It is a cashless venue. Extras 2 The main entrance and lobby are quite elegant and feature plenty of LED visuals and lighting.  The team colors are the same as the Pacers, blue and gold, but also teal. The third color provides a nice little pop to the arena. Final Thoughts The Arena at Innovation Mile is the perfect size for an NBA G-League franchise and offers a different experience to other venues in the league. The proximity to the parent Pacers club will make the Boom a fan favorite for years to come.

Photos by Ashvin Lad, Stadium Journey Wintrust Arena FANFARE Score: 4.00 Wintrust Arena 200 E Cermak Rd Chicago, IL 60616 DePaul Blue Demons website Wintrust Arena website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 10,387 New Home of DePaul Basketball Doesn't Disappoint Wintrust Arena, located in Chicago’s McCormick Square area in the South Loop neighborhood, opened officially on October 14, 2017, with its first official sporting event taking place on November 11, 2017. The arena is the new home to both DePaul University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams of the Big East Conference, and it will be the future home to the WNBA’s Chicago Sky starting in 2018. The arena, which broke ground on November 16, 2015, for $173 million, offers a very intimate setting with a seating capacity of 10,387. Wintrust is a great stadium with excellent vantage points, comfortable seating, an array of food and beverage options, and a fun atmosphere located in the middle of a growing area in Chicago. Food & Beverage 5 Between the 21st Street Express, the Cermak Grill, and the BBQ stand, Wintrust Arena offers a good, high-quality, and tasty mix of traditional stadium as well as fast casual food, along with a variety of beverages, including beer and liquor. As the main entrances are on the south side and on the east, via the walkway from the adjacent hotel, fans tend to be drawn to the first concession stand they see, the 21st Street Express on the east side of the arena. This causes longer lines and a slower level of service, yet friendly nonetheless. Moving to the north side of the arena, fans will walk past a pop-up bar selling beer and liquor on the east side, and then another bar in the northeast corner, which has a shorter line. On the south end stand both the Cermak Grill and the BBQ stand, which are away from the higher traffic areas and provide shorter and faster concession lines. All stands accept cash, credit, and debit. Note that concession stands on the second level may not be open if attendance is small. However, concession stands are spread out enough, allowing fans to get to their seats from the main level to the second level in a short amount of time. Traditional stadium food such as hot dogs (both the Demon Dog and a Chicago-style dog), sausages, and brats, as well as popcorn and nachos, can be found at the 21st Street Express. The Cermak Grill offers up two different kinds of burgers, chicken tenders, and pizza. And next door to the Cermak Grill is the BBQ stand that sells outstanding brisket, pulled pork, and sausage sandwiches. Pro Tip – get the coleslaw on top of the sandwiches and not on the side! The array of menu items allows for both affordable and higher-priced food options. The sausage sandwich loaded with coleslaw is a must-try. The major soda brand at Wintrust Arena is Pepsi, which is available in fountain style. There are also sports drinks, water, and juices that are available in bottles. Miller Lite, Coors Lite, and Blue Moon are available at the concession stands as well as the two pop-up bars. The pop-up bars also offer an assortment of mixed drink options. Atmosphere 4 Wintrust Arena provides a very intimate atmosphere that allows fans to be on top of the game. With a very modern look on the outside, Wintrust Arena is a two-level stadium with a standard bowl seating layout on the inside. The seats are very comfortable with decent legroom and rows high enough to provide good sightlines for even the shortest of fans. The only issue with the seats is the cupholders, which are too small for a jumbo-sized fountain drink. The court, which is very close to the seats, displays a nice rendering of the Chicago skyline, which faces the east side of the court (opposite the team benches). Wintrust provides a large scoreboard above the court and ribbon scoreboards on each end of the court, all of which are very visible in-game stats. This may not hold true once the WNBA’s Chicago Sky start playing, but for the DePaul games, don’t expect much in-game entertainment or promotions, outside of the cheerleading team’s performance during time-outs. However, the DePaul mascot, DIBS the Blue Demon, does make his way around the arena with much fan engagement. The in-game sound is at a perfect level to drive enthusiasm yet allow for normal level conversations with your seat neighbor. With the close proximity to the court, there really is not a bad seat in the house. To get engaged with the student section, look to sit in the Demon Deck, which is the second level on the north end of the arena. The best view of the skyline rendering on the court would come from the east side of the arena, either on the main level or the second level, facing the benches. Seats in the main level will provide for more convenient concession access as the second level stands may be closed if there is a small attendance. Neighborhood 5 Located just a few miles from Chicago’s central business district, Wintrust Arena, located in the McCormick Square area of Chicago’s near south side, is in the midst of a transformation from being solely an area for convention goers at McCormick Place to a destination for food, sports, and entertainment. Already minutes from Chinatown, the area is seeing a rise in hotels and restaurants, and the city added an “El” stop for convenient access via public transportation. The area provides plenty of parking options via street parking or garages, but it is very accessible via the CTA Red Line (15-minute walk from the Cermak/Chinatown) and Green Line (7-minute walk from McCormick Place) stops. Located just miles from the central business district, there are plenty of restaurant options to serve any fan’s palate. If looking close to the arena, one can venture a mile west into Chinatown, where some of the local favorites include MingHin, Phoenix, and Szechuan Cuisine. Closer to the arena, one can find some of the best fried chicken and seafood in town at Chef Luciano’s. Other options include Windy City Ribs for BBQ, Pizano’s for pizza, and even White Castle. The surrounding hotels also include restaurant options inside their properties. For the craft beer fanatic, Lagunitas Brewery is just a few miles away in the Pilsen Neighborhood. There are many attractions and entertainment venues to keep you busy outside of sports. Nearby attractions include the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, the Art Institute of Chicago, Navy Pier, Willis Tower Observatory, and the John Hancock Observatory. One can also utilize Big Bus Tours as a quick and convenient method to see the city in a “hop on, hop off” manner. The Theater District is just a few miles north and hosts several Broadway shows via “Broadway in Chicago.” There are plenty of hotel options at various price ranges. For convenience's sake, there are currently two hotels that are within walking distance to Wintrust Arena – the Hyatt that is connected to McCormick Place, and the new Marriott Marquis, which offers a walkway from the hotel directly into the arena. Additionally, there are three new Hilton properties that are under construction, a few minutes away. Fans 3 The fan base at Wintrust Arena is a mix of students, academia, and casual sports fans. With the arena being off campus, it may be difficult for it to consistently draw a large, passionate student fan base. Typical attendance may see the arena filled at 80% capacity, with this going up as schools in the area visit, such as Notre Dame, or a consistently top-ranked team like Villanova. The crowd engagement is consistent throughout the game. You may see the crowd perk up on big plays, but otherwise, it’s an audience that is paying attention to most of the game. The student section, The Demon Deck, shows the most excitement throughout the game. Access 5 Wintrust Arena is one of the most accessible stadiums in Chicagoland, in terms of getting to and from as well as moving around within. Public transportation options include the CTA bus, CTA elevated train (The “L”), METRA commuter train, and Divvy bike ride share. CTA Bus Routes: No. 3 King Drive is the most popular. Running north-south along Michigan Avenue, it drops off at Michigan and Cermak. No. 21 Cermak Road runs east/west and also stops at Michigan and Cermak. No. 4 Cottage Grove runs north-south along Michigan Avenue. It also drops off at Michigan and Cermak. CTA L Lines: Green Line to the McCormick Place stop, which is 2 blocks west. Red Line to the Cermak/Chinatown stop, which is 4 blocks west. The cost of a CTA ride is $2.25 with a $0.25 transfer fee if the transfer is done within 2 hours of the initial ride. Cash and Ventra Card (for purchase at L stations) are accepted forms of payment on a bus, whereas only Ventra Card or the Ventra App is acceptable for the L. METRA Commuter Train: The Electric line runs from Millennium Station near Randolph Street in downtown Chicago to McCormick Place’s South Building. Divvy Bike: Divvy is the local bike sharing program with hundreds of stands all over the city, including one at 2301 S King Drive and another one near the Green Line station. Parking is available in 3 different lots at nearby McCormick Place – Lot A, Lot B, and Lot C, with Lot A being the closest to the arena and to the pedestrian bridge at the Marriott Marquis. Traffic flow may be slow if there is a convention going on at the same time as a game. Otherwise, traffic in that area should be good. Lot A - 2301 South Prairie Ave is a 6-level garage priced at $23 for up to 16 hours and $36 for 16 to 24 hours. Lot B, aka 31st Lot – 3050 South Moe Dr, is an outdoor lot for $15 flat rate. Lot C – Fort Dearborn Drive is an underground lot for $23 flat rate. There may be street parking options along the side streets of Cermak if a fan has the patience to drive around looking for one. There are three points of entry into Wintrust Arena – the main gate on the south side, an entrance on the north side, and a walkway from the neighboring Marriott Marquis on the east side. During the cold winter months of college basketball, entry via the Marquis, allowing for an indoor wait, is recommended. This entrance and the main entrance, however, tend to move quickly with efficient security checks and ticket scanning. A fan looking to purchase a ticket at the arena can find the window just a few feet from the main entrance on the south side. Note to those looking to save money from an online convenience fee by buying in person – there is a $3 “facility fee” for buying at the ticket window. While a compact setting, the concourses are wide enough to handle normal traffic flow, with the main level offering partial views of the court as a fan walks around. There is one bottleneck area, which is on the main concourse on the southeast corner, where the escalators from the lower level main entrance, pop-up merchandise stand, an entrance from the Marquis, the restrooms, and a concession stand all converge. The upper level, with fewer seating options, shows a better flow. Accessibility and seating for fans in need of assistance are more than sufficient, both in the seats, moving around the concourse, and in the restrooms. Return on Investment 4 The overall return on investment for a visit to Wintrust Arena is a good one when considering transportation to and from, ticket price, concessions, and the quality of play at times on the court. For men’s basketball, DePaul offers variable pricing based on the opponent. For marquee matchups, prices range from $24 to $250, and for other games range from $18 to $200. Plan to spend between $15 and $18 for an entrée and a large fountain soda. From $2.25 on public transportation to a high of $23 for parking, pricing for transportation is very reasonable. Merchandise is priced well, but can probably be found for less at DePaul’s downtown campus store. Groups of 15 or more can save $5 per ticket. In addition, a Big East-only ticket package can be purchased. Cost savings can be found by taking public transportation to and from. Extras 2 For a winter sport like basketball, being able to enter via the pedestrian bridge from the Marriott Marquis is very appealing. In addition, the neighborhood, with the arena as its new anchor, will continue to grow as new restaurant and hotel developments take off.

Photos by Greg Venuto, Matt Fiedler, and Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 John J. Lee Amphitheater 70 Tower Parkway New Haven, CT 06511 Yale Bulldogs basketball website John J. Lee Amphitheater website Year Opened: 1932 Capacity: 2,532 An Ageless Wonder in New Haven A relic, a throwback, a mini Palestra are some of the thoughts that come to mind as you enter John Jay Lee Amphitheater on the campus of Yale University, founded in 1701. Payne Whitney Gymnasium is hardly your typical basketball structure. The gymnasium is housed in a 9.5-story tower building, which looks more like a cathedral and includes a third-floor swimming pool, fencing facilities, and a polo practice room. The building is home to many teams, including basketball, fencing, gymnastics, squash, swimming, and volleyball. I t is the second-largest gym in the world by cubic feet and contains 12 acres of indoor space. The facility is the 8th-oldest Division One facility in the nation. Matthews Matthews Arena (Northeastern University) in Boston is the oldest, but it will be torn down in 2026, which will make Rose Hill Gymnasium at Fordham University in the Bronx the oldest (opened in 1925). The building, designed in Gothic Revival style, was donated to Yale by John Hay Whitney, class of 1926, in honor of his father, Payne Whitney. The exterior walls are made of brick faced with stone. Basketball has been played at Yale University since 1896. Payne Whitney Gymnasium, renamed John J. Lee Amphitheater in 1996, has been the home of the Lady Yale Bulldogs of the Ivy League since 1973. Yale named the venue in honor of alumnus John Lee ’58, who set a number of Yale records in basketball and helped lead the Bulldogs to the first official Ivy League Championship. Food & Beverage 2 There is a concession stand just outside the entrance to John J. Lee Amphitheater. It offers the stadium essentials. In terms of beverages, fans will find Coca-Cola products and no alcohol, as this is an on-campus venue. There are also two vending machines as you enter the lobby area, filled with snacks and drinks. Although the prices are reasonable ($5 for hot dogs or popcorn and $4 for soda or water), eating before or after the game in New Haven is the best decision. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere at JLA is unique. While the building is not a cathedral in the true sense, it is a cathedral of basketball. The arena is all about the sounds and sights of the game as fans are close to the action with mostly unobstructed views. The stuffed original Handsome Dan, the Bulldog mascot of Yale and the first college mascot in the United States, resides in a glass cabinet near the entrance to the building. The lobby features two cases which honor John J. Lee and Yale basketball, and a souvenir stand. Upon entering the facility, there is a tribute on the left wall to Yale athletes who reached the professional ranks in men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. There are twin video boards elevated above each baseline of the arena that display the relevant information. Statistical information is at a minimum, and no replays are shown. The ceiling does not contain any banners, and a track lighting system illuminates the court. There are four banners, one in each corner of the building, to commemorate the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams, gymnastics, and swimming. Neighborhood 5 New Haven, the third-largest city in the state, with a population of around 135,000, has branded itself as the Pizza Capital of the United States, but it has so much more. The city is also home to great entertainment and culture from the Shubert Theater (opened in 1914) to The Connecticut Children’s Museum, the Yale Peabody Museum (free admission), the Yale Art Gallery, and the The Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center can all be found in New Haven. The food scene is hardly limited to pizza, with some great establishments such as Geronimo for southwestern fare, Mecha Noodle Bar for Dumplings, Ramen, and Pho, Villa Lulu for Italian, Pacifico for Latin, and, of course, for burgers at Louis’ Lunch since 1895 and Prime 16 (also noted for its craft beers and specialty cocktails). Of course, a stop at a pizza shop is mandatory. Old school Frank Pepe’s or Sally’s Apizza on Wooster Street are the mainstays, but the newcomer to the scene, Zeneli, is making its mark on the same block. The only caveat is that New Haven can be a bit sketchy at night, so be vigilant. Fans 2 The women do not draw big crowds, with about 400 to 600 spectators in the building per game. The team has not been over .500 since 2021-2022 and has never made the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs have only won the Ivy League title once, in 1979. The good news is the arena can get loud with not many fans in the seats. The sound reverberates inside the old building and makes for a better atmosphere. Yale averaged only 538 spectators per game last season. Access 4 There are a lot of ways to get to New Haven. The city itself is located off the busy I-95 and I-91 interchange. There are several free parking lots in the area around the arena. There is also parking on the side streets that surround the arena. As you enter the lobby, make a right to find the entrance to the John J. Lee Amphitheater. Taking public transportation is another way to get to New Haven. Union Station in New Haven is only eight minutes away from the John J. Lee Amphitheater by car, but a 35-minute hike on foot. If coming from NYC or Boston, you can take the Amtrak to Union Station or Metro North if coming from local towns, and then Uber or Lyft to the arena. Once inside, the layout of the seats is unique. Fans enter the building in the upper portion of the arena and walk down to the lower seating area. There is also the option to stand and watch the game from above in the balcony, which affords a fabulous view of the action. There are steep stairwells, which give off the look of an old high school building, to access the club seating and upper balcony behind each basket. The club seats and lounge are on the opposite side as you enter. The only thing that detracts from the accessibility is that the bathrooms are located downstairs. The good news is that the bathrooms are spacious and clean. Return on Investment 5 Going to see a Yale women’s basketball game is an experience that will not punish the wallet. Tickets range from $8 for general admission to $15 for a court-side seat. The arena offers mostly wooden seats (not the most comfortable) with ample leg room. The original brown seats are a throwback to the past and actually have wires under each seat to stash your Stetson or top hat. There are benches down low for students and the band. There are several free parking lots (Lot 78 on Ashmon Street is a great option) around the arena, but there is also street parking. Be mindful of parking meters on the street, as most meters are in effect until 9 p.m. except on Sunday. Extras 2 One point is awarded for the experience of attending a game at the John J. Lee Amphitheater. It’s old in a good way. Fans are close to the action and can appreciate the sport without too much else getting in the way. Lee Amphitheater was selected as one of college basketball’s historic venues by ESPN The Magazine in 2011. Another point is given for the excellent food scene of New Haven. It’s almost a requirement to sample some pizza either before or after the game. But cuisine from almost any country is readily available. New Haven is one of the first planned cities in the US, founded by English Puritans in 1638 and established in 1640. Final Thoughts Lee Amphitheater has to reach bucket list status for all sports fans.  The uniqueness and no frills atmosphere give spectators a glimpse of the past, and the city of New Haven provides plenty of entertainment and educational opportunities to complement the experience. ---- Follow Greg Venuto’s stadium journeys on   Twitter  and   Facebook

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Mississippi Coast Coliseum 2350 Beach Blvd Biloxi, MS 39531 Biloxi Breakers website Mississippi Coast Coliseum website Year Opened: 1977 Capacity: 9,150 Welcome to Breaker Bay It’s a new era for hockey on the Gulf Coast. The Sea Wolves have sailed off, and from the warm waters of the Gulf has emerged something new – the Biloxi Breakers, the newest franchise in the FPHL. Hockey’s roots along the Mississippi Coast trace back to 1996, when the original Sea Wolves took the ice as one of the ECHL’s most exciting teams. From 1996 to 2005, and again from 2007 to 2009, they electrified fans at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, packing the stands nightly and delivering a Kelly Cup championship in 1999, a remarkable milestone for a market few expected to embrace hockey. Hurricane Katrina eventually brought that era to an end, though the Sea Wolves made a brief return before the Mississippi Surge carried the torch. The Surge competed in the SPHL from 2009 to 2012, keeping hockey alive on the Coast until their closure left the Coliseum without a home team for nearly a decade. A flicker of hope returned in 2021 when a series of sold-out neutral-site FPHL games in Biloxi proved the passion for hockey still burned strong along the coast. The Sea Wolves were reborn in 2022, but the revival was marred by ownership instability, revolving coaches and players, and inconsistent front-office leadership. Despite fan loyalty, the product on the ice never quite matched the glory days of the original franchise. Then, finally, after the 2024–25 season, new ownership stepped in, ushering in a fresh new identity for Gulf Coast hockey: the Biloxi Breakers. The name pays homage to the power and beauty of the Gulf itself, the waves that crash and reform endlessly along the shoreline: a symbol of strength, renewal, and motion. Just as those waves carve new paths into the sand, the Breakers aim to carve a new legacy in the Gulf Coast’s hockey history.   Food and Beverage   3 The Coliseum has six permanent concession stands, though only two are typically open for Breakers games. The primary stand, Gulf Coast Eats, offers a familiar arena menu – burgers, chicken tender baskets, nachos, jumbo pretzels, hot dogs, and popcorn. Two bar areas on the concourse also provide a wide range of drink options, including canned cocktails, domestic beers like Miller Lite and Coors Lite, and premium selections such as Blue Moon, Truly, Flying Llama IPA, Modelo, Corona, and Yuengling. Coca-Cola products serve as the arena’s soft-drink choices. The concourse also includes two food carts; the first offers mac and cheese bowls or brisket and pulled-pork sandwiches, for fans wanting something more substantial. The other, The Penalty Box, highlights Southern-style desserts like bread pudding and peach cobbler. You can even cap things off with a Barq’s root beer float – a fitting option, considering Barq’s was famously created just down the road, also in Biloxi.   Atmosphere   3 The Breakers play at the 9,150-seat Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. The large, beige, stucco building opened in 1977 and has become a symbol of the Mississippi Coast. The Coliseum is often featured in aerial shots of Biloxi along with the city’s impressive casinos and the historic Biloxi Lighthouse. The venue is the typical mid-sized city’s civic center of the 70s and 80s, lacking some of the amenities found at some of hockey’s newer arenas. Regardless, the Coliseum is still the largest arena in Breaker’s 14-team conference. The ice faces north and south with a two-level seating bowl, as well as a wraparound concourse so you can walk around the entire arena. There are no suites or club levels; instead, the floor level features four makeshift suite areas on the south end of the venue. The north side features a seating area with high-end stools and cocktail tables. The concourse on the first floor also features a merchandise stand which sells a few items, such as shirts and pucks, but definitely not as much merchandise as they had back in the Sea Wolf days. When the Sea Wolves returned, they brought back all the nostalgia of the original Sea Wolves.  The Breakers brought a lot over from the Sea Wolves days, like the playing of Europe’s “The Final Countdown” at the start of the 3rd period. In addition, the iconic Sea Wolf mascot Hook has been brought back in the same mascot costume from the original franchise, except now he dons a blue Breaker shirt. Hook is a constant presence at Breakers games and is always seen in the crowd. Hopefully, in a few years, the Breakers will get their own ‘wave’ type mascot, who will roam around the Coliseum with Hook.   Neighborhood   5 Hockey, beaches, and casinos – Biloxi offers a mix you won’t find in many hockey towns. This small coastal city is known for its world-class casino scene and legendary seafood. Though Biloxi was wiped off the map by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the city has rebuilt and reinvented itself, earning back its nickname “Vegas of the South.” Today, the Coast has 10 casinos, each with its own personality, making the Coast and Biloxi a popular destination for travelers across the Southeast looking for a lively but affordable getaway. Mississippi Coast Coliseum sits just a few miles from Casino Row, and because Biloxi is so close together, that’s only about a 10 to 15-minute drive. Even better, the arena is less than 100 yards from the beach; close enough to walk over from the shoreline and be inside for puck drop within minutes. And while the Mississippi Sound’s waters aren’t quite as clear as those along Florida or Alabama’s Gulf Coast, the area still offers plenty to do – boat rides to the barrier islands, excellent fishing, and wide sandy beaches perfect for a pregame stroll. Directly across from the coliseum is Beauvoir, the beautifully maintained final home of Jefferson Davis. Built in 1848, the estate sits on 52 scenic acres that include a museum, cemetery, and veterans’ home. Every October, the grounds host a large Civil War reenactment that draws visitors from across the region. Just down the road stands another Biloxi landmark, the Biloxi Lighthouse. Erected in 1847, it remains one of the city’s most recognizable symbols and is open for daily tours. Along with these historical treasures, Biloxi boasts a diverse dining scene, from upscale steak and seafood houses inside the casinos to casual beachfront eateries and locally loved seafood spots throughout downtown and the coast. Biloxi doesn’t have a large number of traditional chain hotels, as most of the lodging options are tied to the casinos or the upscale beachfront hotels. If you’re looking for budget-friendly accommodations, however, head just north to D'Iberville, located right off I-10; it offers several familiar chains and lower-cost options, while still keeping you close to the Coast.   Fans   3 In their final season, the Sea Wolves averaged around 2,100 fans per game, ranking 9th in the FPHL. Years of losing, constant roster changes, and front-office issues clearly took a toll. With the arrival of the Biloxi Breakers, however, the franchise finally gets a reset, and early signs point toward improvement. New sponsors now line the boards, including local casinos and Beauvoir, and the team’s weekly YouTube show is even filmed at the Hard Rock Casino, giving the organization a more polished feel. Breakers games attract a wide mix of fans: local families, military members, casino visitors, snowbirds, and longtime supporters wearing everything from old Sea Wolves jerseys to throwbacks from former I-10 ECHL teams like the Pensacola Ice Pilots (now Ice Flyers ), Mobile Mysticks, Jackson Bandits, New Orleans Brass, and Baton Rouge Kingfish. NHL jerseys are common too, showing the crowd’s genuine knowledge of the sport.  The Coliseum also blocks the upper level off for Breakers games, forcing the fans to sit in the lower bowl; that’s something they did not do for Sea Wolves games. The in-game experience is solid. Danger, the emcee, keeps the crowd engaged with contests like hockey cornhole, trivia, and finish-the-lyric challenges. During a recent game, a Breakers player recorded a hat trick, and fans continued the tradition of tossing hats onto the ice. With a stronger roster and more stability than the final Sea Wolves teams, the Breakers appear to be heading in a positive direction, both on the ice and in the stands.   Access   3 Biloxi is kind of off the beaten path, about an hour and a half east of New Orleans and about an hour west of Mobile. The Coliseum is located on Beach Blvd/Highway 90, about 8 miles south of the interstate. Navigating the side roads from the interstate to the beach can be kind of confusing, not to mention the closer to the beach you get, the worse the traffic will get. The best exit for the arena would be to take Cedar Lake Road at Exit 44, then travel south for about 8 miles until you hit Pass Road, one of the main roads through Biloxi. Pass Road runs east and west and will often have traffic congestion and road work going on – from there, turn south onto Beauvoir Road, and the Coliseum sits to the right. You could also take the scenic route on Highway 90/Beach Blvd; this route runs east and west over 50 miles through eight small coastal beach towns, with Biloxi located right in the middle. This highway runs along the beach, and on the way, you’ll pass casinos, seafood restaurants, small towns, and historic sights; I recommend this route if you have a lot of time. Parking can be kind of hectic when there is an event going on at the convention center attached to the Coliseum. There is plenty of parking around the property and even a parking garage, but the grounds are huge, so you may have to walk a bit if you park in the back lots, if there is another event going on next door.   Return on Investment   3 Tickets are easy to come by for Breakers games and are a great bargain – seating is separated into two sections: the lower bowl, plus four rows of removable bleachers in front of the seating bowl. All the tickets to sit in the lower bowl are general admission, priced at $19 each. Concession prices are kind of high, but in today’s day and age, concessions at arenas are always high. However, factoring in the great views from anywhere in the Coliseum and the Breakers always putting on an enjoyable experience, I consider this a great return on investment. You are also getting to see the only professional hockey team in the state of Mississippi.  Few places offer the chance to stroll along the beach in 70-degree winter weather and be inside watching hockey less than ten minutes later, but that’s exactly what you can do at most Breakers games.   Extras   4 One extra for the Breakers, keeping a bit of Sea Wolves legacy alive – they’ve brought back Hook, the original mascot from the team’s earlier era. Mississippi Coast Coliseum is also stepping into the college hockey scene in 2025, as the home rink of the Tulane Men’s Club Hockey Team; with no dedicated ice facility in New Orleans, Tulane now plays its home games in Biloxi. In fact, just a few days before the Breakers game I most recently attended, Tulane faced off against the LSU Club Hockey Team on this very ice. A local nonprofit, New Orleans Hockey, has been instrumental in growing the sport across the Gulf Coast by organizing pickup games and operating the Gulf Coast Hockey League, a full-service amateur league that also calls the Coliseum home. Together, these efforts are strengthening hockey’s presence in both the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the New Orleans region, momentum that could eventually help bring a professional team to New Orleans. If you’re interested in ghosts and the paranormal, then the Mississippi Coast Coliseum is supposedly haunted. The Coliseum is less than 50 years old, but it was built on the site of an old orphanage that was located here in the 1940s; before that, it was part of the property of Beauvoir next door. That fact, factored into the cemetery located right off the property, has only increased ghost sightings even more on the grounds of the Coliseum. In fact, in 2022, the Sci-Fi Channel’s Ghost Hunters even visited the Coliseum and found tons of evidence supporting the claims that it is haunted; the convention center and the south side of the building are the parts of the building with the most activity, so be on the lookout for ghosts if you attend a Breakers game. Mississippi Coast Coliseum has also been the Coast’s premiere indoor entertainment venue for many years, as it is the largest indoor multi-purpose venue in Mississippi south of Jackson. The venue has hosted a ton of events over the years, including postseason conference basketball tournaments, WWE and WCW events, NBA preseason games, and an indoor football and soccer team, as well as concerts such as Guns N’ Roses, Allman Brothers, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, Ray Charles, Aerosmith, Elton John, Johnny Cash, and Kiss. Another extra just for how far this region has come since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. With the Biloxi Shuckers playing in a beautiful ballpark downtown and hockey returning to the Coast, Biloxi is becoming a minor-league sports destination on top of already being a top-notch entertainment destination, despite being a small town with less than 50,000 people. It’s been interesting watching the city return to its former glory compared to how this place looked 20 years ago.

The Colorado Summit of the Ultimate Frisbee Association has rebranded this week to the Colorado Apex , debuting a new logo featuring a mountain and a bear, with a color palette inspired by Colorado's landscape. ​ “The color palette was inspired by the striking colors of Colorado,” said Apex general manager Timothy Kefalas. “The brilliant shades of the columbine (state flower), the vibrant hues of expansive sandstone formations, and the snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains.” ​ Co-owner Ivy Byun sketched out hundreds of versions before finalizing the new logo, using simple lines to represent the Apex in three ways: the apex of a triangle, the apex of a mountain, and a bear, one of Colorado's apex predators. It is set against a vivid sky and tranquil waters that reflect the mountain scape. The name change follows the new NWSL Denver Summit FC 's unveiling of its name on July 25. The similarity between the names led the Ultimate Frisbee club to initiate a fan vote, ultimately yielding eight finalists . Team ownership then reviewed the various names and ultimately decided on the Colorado Apex as the new name based on the state's rich biodiversity to its robust aerospace industry. ​ “Apex seemed to be the most all-encompassing name, symbolizing the grandeur of nature and the persistent strive for excellence,” added Kefalas. ​ The club had not considered changing its name before the arrival of the soccer club, but added that they “were really excited for the name and we were excited to welcome them to Colorado and pass the name along to them.” They also hope to collaborate with as they grow in the Denver and Colorado Community. ​ The Apex will continue to play at Marv Kay Stadium in Golden, Colorado (the oldest football stadium west of the Mississippi River). The league winners of the best game day experience in 2023 and 2024 will offer an in-house band, kid-friendly activities, and a beer garden. The food and beverage options will include local craft beer and food truck vendors, with the natural aesthetics surrounding the stadium. ​ “For 2026, we plan nightly themes for all six of our home games, fun fan-activities for our half-time celebrations, and a new kids' 'passport' program to encourage young ones to engage more with the players,” added Kefalas. ​ The Apex aims to finalize jersey designs and open pre-orders for replicas by January 1st. Other finalists' names were Element, Embers, Mint, Stampede, Gold, and Cosmos. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter   @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photo by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Today, many fathers and sons will play catch before the game at a ballpark. In the past, I have seen the local baseball team invite fans onto the infield as part of the afternoon promotions. No matter how young or old you are, you have time to share a moment with the person who introduced you to the game of baseball. However, in my case, that wasn’t my father. He hated the game. It is not his fault; he grew up in Costa Rica, where the game is as niche a sport as team handball is in the United States. Perhaps that is a bit too extreme. San Jose boasts a 4,000-seat ballpark constructed in 1955 , but that is nothing compared to the popularity of baseball in nearby Panama and Nicaragua. The game trails soccer for the passion of many Ticos. When he lived in San Francisco as a teenager, he told me about attending San Francisco Seals games. He never understood what was happening, but would attend games with friends in high school. He would still ask if the Giants play at Seals Stadium and if the 49ers play at Kezar Stadium (he attended games when they played in the AAFC)! He was a bit out of date with these teams' home venues. It would lead to uncomfortable circumstances when you are 10 years old and want your father to take you to the ballgame. When he took my older brother to Yankee Stadium , he called the box office and asked what sport they played. When he arrived at the stadium, he pulled out a copy of The Bible and ignored the action on the field, much to the dismay of my brother. The same thing happened several years later when he took me to Shea Stadium to see the New York Mets. Instead of The Bible, he brought a book called Russia Imperial Power: 1700-1917. I had taken it out of the library for a book report that would later get misplaced despite countless letters from the Woodbridge Public Library. Miraculously, it was found a decade later, used as a prop for the bed in the guest room. My father took me to several ball games on family trips, including the Kingdome in Seattle, the SkyDome in Toronto, and the Astrodome in Houston. When I was older, he would drop me off at the game and pick me up 2-3 hours later in front of the entrance. It was done without cell phones. Unlike most fathers and sons, I had a dad who wasn’t going to sit and watch a game or share any stories about it with me. My father visited his first NBA game in 2021. He enjoyed basketball more than baseball. During a game in Burlington, Vermont, at Centennial Field . He tried to understand what was happening, but didn’t understand why the play stopped when a foul ball was hit. I earnestly explained that it was not within fair territory, but he kept insisting that the ball was hit and that the batter should be running. However, there was one time my dad enjoyed a baseball game. It was during a Hudson Valley Renegades game at Heritage Financial Park , then known as Dutchess Park. What I thought was another day of my dad reading a book or asking questions about the game turned out to be the closest I came to a typical father-and-son day at the ballpark in the United States.  The game took place on a Tuesday afternoon in July when local area camps brought their kids to the ballpark. Children ran around the concourse, throwing water balloons or shooting one another with water guns. My dad was shocked to see it, but he enjoyed seeing the children having fun. In essence, it reminded him of what he did when he was their age. He kept telling me to look at the kids throwing buckets of water from the second level and how happy they were. We then made our way to the press box, and this is when his face lit up. I brought my computer to the game, and he jumped on the internet to search for information on the web. He was planning to travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina, later that year and was looking up places to stay.  It was as if he had a digital copy of Russia Imperial Power: 1700-1917 with him again. Things got better; there was food and drink in the press box. He grabbed cookies, fruit, and pastries. Then, my father began talking to a gentleman next to him who was around his age. The two men in their late 70s reminisced about their youth, getting older, their health, and not much else about baseball. I began to wonder who was having a better time at the game. Toward the end of the game, my father ventured out to the concession stand to grab a coffee, which was half the price. Once he found out that other items were half off, he grabbed a pretzel, a hot dog, and then ran with excitement to let me know if I wanted anything. I laugh at this because this is how I react with my wife when there are discounted glasses of wine at a restaurant we are dining out at.  He then drank his coffee and watched members of the Renegades pour buckets of water from the upper level down on the happy campers on the main concourse. Like many who attend minor league baseball games, he was infatuated with everything else taking place but the baseball game. On the ride home to New Jersey, he told me he had a great time and would like to go back to another game (words I never thought he would utter about a baseball game). A soccer match was more my father's way to spend an afternoon. Today, as many of us celebrate Father’s Day, it will be the first time without my father. A few months ago, he passed away at the age of 95. It was sudden, and I had spoken to him three days earlier. We had been talking a lot during the final few weeks due to the sale of an apartment complex he owned.  Only a week before, he answered the phone with an exaggerated hello, but sounded a bit more tired the last time we talked. His mind was still sound at his age, but his heart gave out quickly. It has been surreal not to have those weekly conversations with him.  My father was close to 100 years old, and I knew it could be any time that I would hear the unfortunate news. He enjoyed life without any health problems or the need for a lot of medication; he was only taking blood thinners and heartburn medicine. However, he had a few setbacks in the past 5 years: COVID-19, deteriorating sight in one of his eyes, and a broken hip, which was sustained when he stood on a table to change a light bulb. What would possess a 90-year-old man to stand on a table to change a lightbulb is anyone's guess. I have many fond memories of my father: his views on religion, his ability to speak five languages, traveling the world with him, his sense of humor, and his love of soccer. It also includes one day in the Hudson Valley, where my father was a baseball fan.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Bobcat Stadium at Sim Cooley Field 70 Stadium Circle Ellisville, MS 39437 Jones College Bobcats website Bobcat Stadium at Sim Cooley Field website Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 5,500 Bobcat Football in the Free State of Jones Jones College was founded as Jones County Agricultural High School in Ellisville, Mississippi, in 1911. It became a junior college in 1927 and, after decades of growth and modernization, re-branded as Jones College in 2018 – though it remains legally recognized as Jones County Junior College. Today, the school serves an eight-county district in South Mississippi and enrolls roughly 4,000 students, competing as one of 14 programs in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC), one of the most competitive JUCO conferences in the country. Football began here in 1924, when the school was still operating as a high school and playing at a modest on-campus field. Six years later, in 1930, Busch-Young Field opened, becoming the long-time home of Bobcat football. The venue would witness generations of players, coaches, championships, and postseason triumphs – but it would also serve as the backdrop for one of the most important moments in Mississippi junior-college sports history. In 1955, Jones made national headlines when he traveled to Pasadena, California, to face Compton Junior College in the Junior Rose Bowl, becoming the first all-white Mississippi college football team, at any level, to play an integrated opponent during the segregation era. The Bobcats fell in the game, but the trip marked a breakthrough moment for Southern athletics and remains a defining chapter in the school’s legacy. The Bobcats rose to national prominence in the decades that followed, particularly under legendary head coach Sim Cooley, who led the program from 1961 to 1987. Cooley delivered five state championships, consistently fielded national-contender teams, and cemented his status as one of the winningest coaches in junior-college football history. The pinnacle came in 1968, when Jones completed an undefeated season and captured its first – and to date only – NJCAA National Championship. Over its storied football history, Jones College has amassed 13 state/MACCC championships and appeared in 11 JUCO bowl games, further solidifying its reputation as one of the nation's premier junior college programs. Busch-Young Field remained the heartbeat of Bobcat football for 72 years, until a fire in 2002 destroyed the historic stadium and football facilities. Coincidentally, the program was already planning a move to a larger, modern venue at the front of campus that would open the following year. In 2003, Bobcat Stadium opened its gates, ushering in a new era for Bobcat Football. The field was officially dedicated to Sim Cooley in 2006, and today Sim Cooley Field at Bobcat Stadium stands as one of the premier gameday environments in Mississippi JUCO football, continuing the tradition of excellence that has defined Jones College for over 100 years.   Food and Beverage   3 The food scene at Bobcat Stadium is simple but dependable, anchored by a single concession stand attached to the athletic offices in the north end zone. Fans will find all the basics here: burgers, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and chips – nothing fancy, but everything you’d expect from a classic JUCO game day setup. Prices are reasonable, portions are solid, and bottled Coca-Cola products make up the drink options. Season ticket holders and booster club members can sometimes upgrade their experience by accessing the hospitality tent in the north end zone, where a full buffet-style spread is typically offered before kickoff.   Atmosphere   3 Bobcat Stadium at Sim Cooley Field may appear straightforward in design, but it offers an intense and uniquely southern JUCO football atmosphere. Tucked along the back side of campus near the school’s athletic complex, the venue follows a traditional high school and community college layout, with a north–south field layout and open end zones framing each side. Fans enter primarily through the south end zone, where the ticket office and athletic department offices are located. On select game days, this area transforms into a lively pre-game zone, with a tailgate tent reserved for season ticket holders, boosters, and alums. The setup also often features a full buffet-style spread and refreshments, creating one of the more impressive hospitality experiences you'll find at the junior college level. Seating stretches along both sidelines on uncovered metal bleachers. The visiting section occupies the west sideline with roughly 15 rows, while the home grandstand on the east sideline rises to around 30 rows, topped by a two-story press box. From the top rows, fans can enjoy excellent views of campus and the surrounding athletic facilities. The home side seating bowl is especially striking with alternating garnet and gold sections, as well as a matching garnet windscreen wrapping the field, both reinforcing the Bobcat identity. A trimmed hedge runs along the home sideline, giving the field a classic “between-the-hedges” feel, which is unique at this level. In addition, behind the north end zone sits a sizeable LED board displaying replays, highlights, and Jones College promos, adding to the modern presentation. Also adding to the atmosphere is one of the premier marching bands in junior college athletics, the Jones College Typhoon. Their booming brass, crisp percussion, and pre-kickoff entrance set the tone early, and the band fills breaks in the action with a steady soundtrack that makes the stadium feel alive from whistle to whistle.   Neighborhood   3 Jones College sits in the charming small town of Ellisville, with a population of just over 3,400. Ellisville is one of the state’s oldest towns, and its historic character gives it plenty of personality. Just a few blocks from campus, downtown Ellisville features a classic Southern courthouse square surrounded by brick buildings, which look much like they did a century ago. Just off campus in downtown you can find several restaurants, including Casadores Mexican Grill, offering everything from Mexican favorites to sizzling fajitas. Alternatively, Harp & Hound provides a cozy pub-style setting with draft beers and comfort food, and after dinner, you can stroll across the square to Bennie & Mae's – the local ice cream shop that’s a favorite stop. Antique hunters and vintage lovers should make time for the Carpenter Bros. Emporium of Wonderful Whatnots, a two-story treasure trove open on weekends only. Dig through vinyl records, collectibles, and quirky finds; this beloved shop has even earned national attention thanks to an appearance on HGTV’s Home Town, filmed just down the road in Laurel. In addition, history buffs and thrill-seekers alike won’t want to miss the Amos Deason House. Built in 1845, this home became famous after a Civil War skirmish took place there in 1863, resulting in the death of its owner. Today, the property is known as one of the South’s most haunted homes and has been featured on paranormal TV shows. Free tours are offered on Saturdays, and the dramatic events that unfolded here helped inspire the 2016 film Free State of Jones, starring Matthew McConaughey. For hotels, there are none in Ellisville, but a short 20 minutes either way will put you in either Hattiesburg or Laurel, where you can find plenty of lodging.   Fans   3 When you come out for a Bobcats home game, one of the first things you notice is the intimate, community-driven feel of the crowd. The Bobcats average about 4,000 fans per home game, as the visiting side often fills up as well – JUCO football is huge in Mississippi. The fan base here is made up of students, faculty, alumni, and residents from Ellisville and surrounding Jones County. On game night, you’ll see groups of high school friends, local families, and long-time supporters who’ve followed the Bobcats through good and bad seasons. In a town of about 3,400 people, that kind of turnout means the whole community shows up in spirit. You will also see a lot of visiting fans, as the Mississippi JUCOs travel well to away games.   Access   3 Ellisville sits in a sweet spot along I-59, almost perfectly halfway between Hattiesburg (population around 46,000) and Laurel (population roughly 18,000). If you’re coming in from either direction on the interstate, the easiest route to campus is Exit 85; take that exit and follow the winding road into campus. Then, after a short drive through the trees, the stadium appears on the back side of campus, tucked beside the school’s other athletic facilities. Parking is plentiful and free, with the largest cluster of spots located near the baseball stadium right next door. Additional campus lots are also usually open on game day, so finding a space is rarely an issue. Inside Bobcat Stadium, seating is general admission except for the chairback section at midfield on the home side. Fans are free to move around as they please, and you can easily walk between the home and visiting sides to get different sightlines, or to soak in the atmosphere from both fan bases.   Return on Investment   3 With $10 for general admission, tickets here are a steal for this level of football – you’re getting a front-row look at some of the most competitive JUCO schools in the country. In addition, concessions here won’t drain your wallet, parking is simple, and the stadium’s layout lets you roam freely from the home bleachers to the visiting side without any hassle, giving you multiple vantage points of the game. Also, with the sheer influx of talent into Mississippi JUCO football, you never really know who you’re watching. Just a few years ago, Stetson Bennett was slinging passes for the Bobcats in 2018 before becoming a back-to-back national championship quarterback at Georgia . That’s the kind of return on investment you get for ten bucks: future stars, big-time plays, and a game day experience that feels way bigger than the price tag.   Extras   4 The Bobcats have produced 17 NFL Draft picks in their history, including three first-rounders. Their most legendary alum is quarterback Jackie Parker, one of the greatest players in CFL history. A three-time Grey Cup champion, Parker is enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame for his Mississippi State career, as well as honored in the Jones College and NJCAA Halls of Fame for his brilliance in Ellisville. Jones has also sent major standouts to the NFL, such as former Packers Pro Bowl receiver Javon Walker and Super Bowl XXXIX MVP Deion Branch of the New England Patriots . Entering the 2025 season, two former Bobcats are active in the league: Stetson Bennett, a two-time national championship quarterback at Georgia , and Washington Commanders  defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw. Another extra for the key chapter in Jones College’s football history, which came in 1955, when the Bobcats traveled to California to play Compton Junior College in the Junior Rose Bowl. Compton’s roster was made up largely of Black players, making Jones the first Mississippi college football team at any level to compete against Black athletes. A historical marker commemorating that groundbreaking game now stands on campus in front of A.B. Howard Gymnasium , home of the Bobcat basketball program. Another extra for the program is the Jones College Typhoon Band, one of the most celebrated ensembles in all of junior college football; if Jackson State’s  Sonic Boom of the South is the gold standard at the Division I level, then the Typhoon Band holds that same stature in the JUCO ranks.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Meg Minard, Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Turf Paradise 1501 W Bell Rd Phoenix, AZ 85023 Map It Turf Paradise website Turf Paradise website Year Opened: 1956 Live Racing Phoenix Turf Paradise, a live horse race track in the northern part of Phoenix, AZ, is a fun way to spend an afternoon and lose (or win) some money.  The track offers live racing from November to early May, Mondays through Thursdays, with races generally one Saturday per month.  It also offers Off-Track Betting year-round with races simulcast on monitors, and kiosks ready to take your money. Turf Paradise opened its doors in January 1956 and claims to be the first organized professional sports franchise in Arizona.  I suspect some of baseball’s Cactus League aficionados would disagree, but maybe spring training wasn’t organized when it first started in AZ in 1947. Watching some live races is exciting and something a bit different to do when visiting Arizona.  Food & Beverage 2 .Although the website notes several food options at the track, I found them somewhat difficult to locate during my visit. The upstairs clubhouse offers table service, with each table equipped with its own TV for watching the races. Guests can order directly from the menu and have food and drinks delivered, though a $5 service fee is added to the bill. Alternatively, you can head to the bar near the betting machines to order and carry items elsewhere on the property. On the ground level, before exiting to the outdoor grandstand, the Triple Crown Grill serves cookies, chips, candy, bottled soft drinks, water, beer, and other beverages priced between $2 and $8. Outside, two tiki bars with shaded seating are set up in front of the grandstand bleachers, and they’re especially popular with racegoers. Overall, dining options are limited, so I recommend planning to eat before or after your visit to the track. Atmosphere 4 Turf Paradise is a fantastic spot to people-watch, soak up the warm Arizona sunshine, and feel the thrill of live horse racing. On a typical day, you’ll see 8 or 9 races of varying lengths, each lasting about 1 to 5 minutes. The track features both dirt and turf surfaces, with trucks shifting the starting gates depending on the race distance—anywhere from 300 yards to a full mile. Arrive early and you can watch the grounds crew meticulously prepare the track: raking, watering, and raking again to ensure perfect conditions. The announcer’s clear, engaging voice keeps fans informed, calling out scratches, noting overweight horses, and offering insights on the contenders in each race. Seating options range from indoor to outdoor. Indoors, you’ll find the air-conditioned clubhouse with food service, as well as a large auditorium-style space with tablet armchairs. Outdoors, there are bleachers, picnic tables and benches near the tiki bars, and plenty of open areas to relax. Nice Crowd at Turf Paradise, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey While the interior spaces show some wear, the outdoor grounds are striking—lined with beautiful trees, freshly painted signage and gates, and colorful flowers and greenery around the stables and winner’s circle. Visitors can get remarkably close to the horses as they’re led around, or stand right at the fence to catch the action. The pounding of hooves as the horses thunder toward the finish line is a remarkable experience. Neighborhood 3 The race track is located in north Phoenix, about 20 miles from downtown. It sits along Bell Road, a busy corridor lined with plenty of dining and drinking options a few miles east or west. Right across Bell Road, you’ll find familiar fast-food chains such as McDonald’s, Long John Silver’s, Schlotzsky’s, Filiberto’s, and more. For a taste of local flavor, Bobby-Q BBQ Restaurant—renowned for its ribs, brisket, and steaks—is a standout choice nearby. If you’re craving authentic Mexican cuisine, Los Reyes de la Torta is an excellent pick just 1.5 miles away. Beer enthusiasts will appreciate Lake Pleasant Brewing Company, a local independent brewery three miles north of Turf Paradise. For accommodations, several budget-friendly hotels—including Comfort Inn, Red Roof Inn, and Motel 6—are conveniently located just over a mile away at the intersection of I-17 and Bell Road. Mid-range and upscale options can be found a little farther out. Sports fans will find plenty to enjoy within a 30-minute drive during horse racing season. The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals , MLB spring training facilities for the Brewers , Mariners , and Padres , and the NBA’s Phoenix Suns are all within easy reach. Grand Canyon University, about 20 minutes south, also offers men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball , and baseball , depending on the season. Golfers will appreciate the abundance of courses within five miles of Turf Paradise, with Cave Creek Golf Course being the closest. And for a cultural highlight, the highly acclaimed Musical Instrument Museum lies just 20 minutes east of the track. Fans 2 At Turf Paradise, you’ll find every kind of horse racing fan. Some know the horses and jockeys and follow their racing trends. Others come for the fun of a group outing or special event. You’ll see seasoned bettors alongside newcomers eager to try their luck.  It’s easy to strike up a conversation with other attendees. The excitement peaks as spectators cheer while the horses charge toward the finish line. Crowds are fuller on Saturdays, while weekday races offer a more relaxed atmosphere. Access 3 Getting to Turf Paradise is straightforward by car—it’s located about a mile east of I‑17 and two miles south of Loop 101. The drive from Sky Harbor Airport takes roughly 20–30 minutes. Public transportation is available via bus route 19; exit at 19th Avenue and Bell Road, then walk about 0.3 miles. Valley Metro provides fare and schedule details at https://www.valleymetro.org . Ride‑share options like Uber and Lyft are also widely available in Phoenix. A large, free parking lot sits next to the grandstand along the northwest side, and the track has two entrances. Note that both the indoor and outdoor seating areas lack handrails, which may pose challenges for those needing support on stairs. Designated accessible seating is available inside, and the approach from the parking lot to the outdoor viewing area is level and accessible. The paddock viewing area is busiest during the first few races, but crowds thin out as the day progresses. Weekday races generally offer a more relaxed, spacious atmosphere. Restrooms are dated but kept clean.  They are functional, though not likely to impress more particular visitors. Return on Investment 5 For just $5, guests can enjoy multiple, exciting horse races. Programs are available for $3 and add extra value to the experience. Beyond the races themselves, visitors can see the horses up close before they compete and share in the post‑race excitement at the winner’s circle. Of course, your betting results may affect your perception of the overall value. Pre-Race Parade at Turf Paradise, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Extras 2 I recommend picking up a program—it helps track bets, make notes, and gather race details. The track also provides a ‘How to Bet’ pamphlet, a great resource for newcomers. Staff members are friendly and make you feel genuinely welcome, and want to return. Final Thoughts From fall through spring, Turf Paradise delivers early afternoon racing excitement in Phoenix. Guests can enjoy the thrill of live horse races, the paddock, and winner’s circle celebrations—all at an affordable price, with the chance to leave a winner.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Wrigley Field 1060 W Addison St. Chicago, IL 60613 Northwestern Wildcats website Wrigley Field website Year Opened: 1914 Capacity: 41,649 The Friendly Confines…of Football Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois, about 20 miles north of downtown Chicago. The football team occasionally plays home games at Wrigley Field, normally home to the Chicago Cubs . Wrigley opened in 1914 and is known as the “Friendly Confines”.   Food & Beverage   5 There are plenty of food and beverage options available at Wrigley Field during Northwestern football games.  All the stands are open, and you can even buy canned beer from vendors who walk around the concourse, especially in the upper level. The best thing about the concessions here is that you can buy a basic hot dog for about $9, but then add all the fresh toppings necessary to turn it into an authentic Chicago-style dog – tomato wedges, peppers, a pickle spear; you name it. In addition to the hot dogs, you can also find chicken tenders, burgers, Italian beef (another Chicago classic), pizza, nachos, Bison hot dogs, and ice cream in a souvenir batting helmet, as well as pretzels, peanuts, popcorn, Cracker Jack, fries, and chips. For drinks, you can choose from bottled Coke products; import, domestic, or craft beer on tap or in cans, Gold Peak tea, Gatorade, or Dasani bottled water. Prices are high as you might expect, this being a pro stadium – think $16 for a burger with fries, $8 for peanuts, and $19 for a large import draft beer.   Atmosphere   4 Wrigley Field has a great atmosphere during Northwestern football games – during my last visit, the stadium was jam-packed, although there were many more visiting fans than purple-clad fans, given the Wildcats are maybe having an off year on the field. There are tons of different seating options – the back half of the 200 and 400 levels are covered, which is a nice touch to keep out of the weather, especially for noon kickoffs. The 400 level may have some obstructed views, however, depending on where you sit. There are some pillars in the way, and also speakers hanging down, making it a little hard to see. The seats are also very tight, so even though they are chairbacks, they are not very comfortable. Or if you want to sit really high up, check out the Wrigley Rooftops. The Wildcats bring some of their bells and whistles with them to Wrigley, including their mascot and cheerleaders, as well as purple smoke and flags for when the team comes onto the field, but not as many banners, nor as much Northwestern signage, as you would see at their real home field. There are several giant scoreboards, however, including one behind the south end zone attached to the front of the Gallagher building, making it easy to see replays.   Neighborhood   5 There is plenty to see and do in downtown Chicago, starting with an ice-skating rink and numerous restaurants literally right outside the stadium, as well as several stores for shopping, including the Cubs Store and a Motorola (cell phone) dealer. One great thing about Wrigley Field, at least during Northwestern football games, is that they let you leave and re-enter the stadium after scanning your ticket, so you can visit the Cubs Store or get a bite to eat during halftime. Restaurants within sight of the stadium include Swift Tavern, Steingold’s Bagels & Nosh (try a Babka, they are delicious), Budweiser Brickhouse (which has rooftop seating), and Smoke Daddy (BBQ), as well as several others. Budweiser Brickhouse is inside the Gallagher building, and would be an especially great place to hang out and watch other games before or after the Wildcats game, given its rooftop seating, not to mention the giant screen on the front of the building you can use for viewing. You could also just stand on the street, or in Wrigley Field’s courtyard, and watch from there. For attractions within a few miles of the stadium, check out Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo, or Navy Pier, which is near the Harry Potter Shop Chicago. In terms of hotels, there are plenty in downtown, although those tend to have higher prices. If you are flying in, I would recommend staying in Schaumberg, about 10-15 minutes west of the airport, where you can find great hotels for less money – Country Inn & Suites is my current go-to. By the way, if you are looking for real Chicago-style deep dish pizza, go no further than Giordano's – their pizza is so good we went there twice while I was in town for the weekend. Also, try their broken cannoli, basically a deconstructed cannoli with the cream piled in the center and broken shell pieces used for dipping; a lot easier to eat than the regular version, and great for sharing. I would not recommend Gino’s East. If you aren’t feeling like pizza, I would recommend Italian beef from Buona’s, although many other restaurants in the area offer it as well, including Giordano's.   Fans   3 Wrigley Field will likely be a sellout during Northwestern Wildcat football games, so there is plenty of atmosphere and fan noise. The trouble is that NU is not one of the better teams in the conference, at least not lately, so you might see many more visiting fans than home fans, making it seem more like an away game for the ‘Cats than a home one.   Access   3 Wrigley Field is a block away from the Addison train station (elevated, not subway); in fact, you can see trains passing by the stadium during the game. Taking a train would be a great option if you don’t want to pay for parking, although traffic is not that bad on a Saturday. If you do want to drive, you can pay $70 or so to park in someone’s apartment building spot a block from Wrigley Field, or park further away for less money and walk. There are plenty of public parking surface lots and garages, although I never recommend garages – it takes too long to get out of them afterward. Once you get inside the stadium, moving around is not that easy, especially during halftime, when you will face long lines. It is better to hit the bathrooms or concessions before the game starts, or at the end of the first/third quarters. One other thing I didn’t like is that the stairs are very steep, almost overly so, making them a little tricky to walk up and down. You also cannot walk all the way around the stadium; there is no walkway on the west side, so depending on where you come in, you may have to walk all the way around. The nice thing is that there are a lot of entrances, so getting in and out is not bad.     Return on Investment   3 Wrigley Field is a nice venue, and Chicago is a great city to visit. For a Northwestern football game, however, you might pay $100 or more for a ticket here, since the game will most likely be against a conference foe, and parking costs more for these games too. Alternatively, you can visit the facility and the city another time for a Cubs game and pay a lot less. So, unless you are a stalwart Wildcats fan, that might be a better play. Concessions will cost the same either way.   Extras   3 There are baseball statues outside Wrigley Field, which make for a great photo op, and great Christmas decorations already up during contests in November. Northwestern also has a special red-white-and-blue flag logo “N” painted at midfield, in celebration of military appreciation month centered around the Veteran’s Day holiday in November. I am not sure whether it is used in other months, as well.   Final Thoughts As mentioned, Wrigley Field is a nice venue, and Chicago is a great city to visit. If you are a football fan, I definitely recommend seeing a football game here at least once, as it is a unique experience to see gridiron action at a baseball stadium instead of a regular football field. That said, Wrigley does have some access issues, and costs will be higher for football here than for baseball. So, if you just want to see the venue, waiting until the baseball regular season may be preferred.

It’s the end of the year episode, and the gang talks about their favorites from the year 2022: the best games, venues, facilities and biggest surprises. All that and more on the year-end finale podcast for 2022! You can find all of our fantastic video content on Stadium Journey's YouTube page. For audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast, visit HIAC Talk Radio.

This week, the podcast crew airs their grievances and talks about what grinds their gears in the sports world. Audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast can be found by searching HIAC Talk Radio wherever you look for your favorite podcasts. Video simulcasts of all the Stadium Journey podcasts can be found on Stadium Journey's YouTube page . Join us live as we record every other Tuesday at 7 PM Eastern at danlaw.tv .

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Dominico Field at Christie Pits 750 Bloor St W Toronto, ON M6G 3K4 Toronto Maple Leafs website Dominicio Field at Christine Pits website Year Opened: 1969 Capacity: 1,000 The Leafs of the Pits On January 11, 2022, Toronto lost Jack Dominico after 82 years of life. Jack was a mainstay at Christie Pits, home of his beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs were founded in 1969 by Dominico and hockey’s Alan Stanley. Eventually, the team would be taken over by Jack and his wife Lynne. The founding of the Maple Leafs was in response to the Toronto Maple Leafs of Minor League Baseball relocating to Louisville, Kentucky. Jack was the driving force behind the Maple Leafs, a truly unique experience in big city Toronto, which is a mainstay at Christie Pits Park. The Leafs are a community team that does not sell tickets. It is free for fans to walk up and stay for a while. Sundays at 2 o’clock at Christie Pits was Jack’s time. The impact of Dominico on both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the amateur Intercounty Baseball League is so significant that the field at Christie Pits bears his name, as does the league’s championship trophy. The Leafs, as of this writing, remains owned by the estate of Jack Dominico and are run in his stead. The City of Toronto-owned Dominico Field at Christie Pits has been the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs since its inception in 1969. Truly a neighbourhood ballpark that you could find yourself playing on if you were lucky, Christie Pits Park offers the neighbourhood several facilities. The Maple Leafs provide the simplest of experiences that should be embraced by baseball purists. Food & Beverage 2 The food options at Christie Pits are pretty limited. The green snack bar building is beyond the centerfield fence. A small selection of items can be found there including hot dogs, chips, ice cream, soda, Freezies, soda, water, and Powerade. Pepsi products are the soft drink available at Christie Pits. Concession prices are not out of line, but are also not overly cheap. The possibility of an ice cream truck or food truck parked on Christie Street is there. However, the public park nature of Christie Pits allows fans to bring their food to the park with no problems. Atmosphere 2 Dominico Field is a neighbourhood ballpark. It is pretty much bare bones and there is not much in the way of amenities. Dominico Field is named after former owners Jack and Lynne Dominico, who were driving forces behind the Maple Leafs for decades. The ballpark is located at the northeast corner of Christie Pits Park. The park is sunken at that corner of the park which offers some significant hills, which many fans use for seating. Some fans will sit on benches at street level and others will sit on the three rows of bleachers around the backstop. Other fans will sit on the lawn chairs they have brought with them beyond the outfield fence or on the other side of the foul territory fences. Attractive signs for the park are found at street level as well. There is a press box built into the hill, behind the plate which has a simple, digital scoreboard above it. Other than the sign dedicating the field to the Dominicos, there is nothing insinuating any history or the eight championships earned by the Maple Leafs. The gameday atmosphere is very simple. Players do have some walkup music and local radio host, Roger Lajoie takes care of the PA duties. There are some raffles where tickets are sold, but that seems to be the extent of the promotions. Fans should keep in mind that the Maple Leafs are a family-owned, volunteer-driven organization that does not have much in the way of bells and whistles. Hearing the sounds of the game is paramount and a Maple Leafs game is good for old-school fans who enjoy the purity of the experience. Neighbourhood 4 Christie Pits Park is located in the Christie Pits neighbourhood of Toronto, northwest of downtown. It is a very cosmopolitan neighbourhood and there are several options for pre-game food or drink within walking distance. Christie Pits is bordered by Koreatown and Palmerston–Little Italy on the south. Burdock Brewery, Seoul Shakers, La Bella Managua, and Daldongnae Korean BBQ are all within walking distance, on Bloor Street. For fans who can’t seem to find what they are looking for near Christie Pits, a quick hop on the subway will bring fans to Downtown Toronto which seems to have a near limitless number of selections. Toronto has a ton of sporting options which fans can also take advantage of. The Toronto Blue Jays of MLB play at Rogers Centre. Scotiabank Arena is home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL and Toronto Raptors of the NBA. Exhibition Place is the grounds where BMO Field, home of the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL and Toronto FC of MLS; and Coca-Cola Coliseum, home of the Toronto Marlies of the AHL can be found. The University of Toronto fields a full complement of varsity teams as does Toronto Metro University. Of interest may be the Varsity Blues’ football , basketball and hockey teams. Checking out Toronto Metro’s hockey and basketball teams at the former Maple Leaf Gardens is also a must. There are plenty of other things to do in the city that are a short subway ride away. Checking out Casa Loma, Royal Ontario Museum or the CN Tower is fun. The Hockey Hall of Fame is also downtown along with Ripley’s Aquarium. During the later part of the IBL season the Canadian National Exhibition is on and worth checking out. For fans wishing to stay near Christie Pits, The Annex is probably the closest, however, the best bet would be to stay at one of the many hotels downtown. Fans 2 It is very difficult to assess fans in any of the Intercounty Baseball League experiences as attendance figures are not published. Assessing the fans of the Maple Leafs is even more challenging due to the structure of Christie Pits. There are no tickets sold and no boundaries to keep fans in once they are at the ballpark. That being said, it seems that fan support for the Toronto Maple Leafs is on the low side. There are some hardcore fans and regulars. For the game that was reviewed, there was a group of fans who excelled at trash-talking the opponents. Access 3 Dominico Field is located at Christie Pits Park in the Christie Pits neighbourhood of Toronto. Christie Pits is located northwest of downtown Toronto and is on the subway line. Christie Pita is not the easiest place to get to by car. It is located a pretty significant distance from all major highways and traversing the city streets of Toronto will be required to get there by car. The parking situation is also a challenge. Street parking can be found in the neighbourhood and other options with a parking app may be found. The best way to get to the park is by taking the subway. The TTC, Christie Station is at the corner of Bloor and Christie, just steps from the park. Buses are also available along Bloor. Fans should check out the TTC website for fares, maps, and schedules. The sunken nature of the park can make it a little challenging for people with mobility issues to get to. The hill is quite steep and although there is a walkway behind home plate it is not the easiest to travel. Return on Investment 5 The investment at a Toronto Maple Leafs game is minimal at best. Tickets are not sold at Christie Pits. Fans can pick their spot to sit for free, whether it is on the bleachers or the berm. Extras 2 An extra mark for the significant contributions to Intercounty Baseball from former owners of the Maple Leafs, Jack and Lynne Dominico. The championship trophy is named in honour of the departed owners, the Dominico Cup. An extra mark for the true community nature of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the host of volunteers who make the team run. Final Thoughts The Toronto Maple Leafs of Intercounty Baseball is a truly unique experience in Toronto. It may be a little too simple for many, but for baseball purists who don’t enjoy all of the bells, whistles, and sirens, it could be just right. The price is perfect and it is still run today the way Jack Dominico would have wanted. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 .

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Jack Couch Baseball Park 400 East Ave Kitchener, ON N2H 1Z6 Kitchener Panthers website Jack Couch Baseball Park website Year Opened: 1967 Capacity: 1,400 Over 100 Years of Panthers The Kitchener Panthers are one of the founding franchises in the Intercounty Baseball League, which services Southern Ontario. An amateur baseball league featuring collegiate and former professional baseball players, the Intercounty League has shown surprising staying power among the changing landscape of baseball in Canada. Kitchener originally began as the Panthers and played as the Legionnaires and Dutchmen before reverting to the Panthers as the moniker in 1960. They are truly a community team and are a not-for-profit organization that is run by a community Board of Directors. Home for the Panthers is Jack Couch Baseball Park. Although not the flashiest of IBL stadiums, it has served its purpose since 1967 and sits on the grounds of the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex. The park is named after Jack Couch, who was involved with Kitchener baseball for over 40 years. Food & Beverage 3 Concession options are pretty basic at Jack Couch Park. The main structure does have a concession window where soft drinks and light snacks are available. There is a tent where beer and seltzer’s are available as well. Any food that is more substantial would need to be purchased from a food truck if there is one on sight. If a food truck is not on site, a BBQ with hot dogs and sausages is present. The rules regarding bringing outside food into the park are pretty loose and many fans bring in their own small cooler bags. Atmosphere 2 Jack Couch Park is part of the larger Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex. The Auditorium, which is home of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, is on the other side of the parking lot. The ballpark is a very basic design. There is a permanent structure housing the concession window, washrooms and press box behind home plate. Seating consists of seven sets of aluminum bleachers. The field is a typical symmetrical baseball design and the proximity to the players and bullpens is very close. The sounds of the game are front and centre and hearing the comments and conversations of players, umpires and fans is part of the atmosphere. There are some sightlines issues as the backstop consists of full, chain-link fencing and the posts can provide some obstructed views. On the fence behind the concession stand on the north side of the diamond are banners for the Panthers Hall of Fame. Inductees include Harry Psutka, Rich Jack, Court Heinbuch, Bob McKillop, Gary Ebel, Tom McKenzie, Paul Knight, Bruce Klaehn, Kevin Curran, Randy Curran, Jason Rausch, Brad Hagedorn, Scott Medvin and Jeff Pietraszko. Some of the Panthers Hall of Fame members also have Major League Baseball experience. The Panthers have also won thirteen league championships (1941, 1950, 1952, 1957, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001) but any commemoration of these championships is not apparent. Upon entry into the park, a rock with the dedication of the diamond to Jack Couch is prominently displayed on a rock. The gameday atmosphere is fairly simple. On field promotions are not overbearing, if there are any. The main promotion is the 50/50 draw. The Panthers run a tight ship and remind fans that baseballs that are hit out of play are the property of the team. This is not an uncommon practice for Intercounty Baseball Retrieved baseballs can be exchanged for a freezie at the concession stand. Neighbourhood 3 Jack Couch Park is part of the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex and located in the Auditorium neighbourhood in Kitchener, east of downtown. The neighbourhood is predominantly residential and there is not much in the way of food and beverage options within walking distance. StrykerZ Kitchen & Bar is a short walk west on Ottawa Street. A Tim Hortons and Dairy Queen are also found in the same plaza. Continuing west to King Street will bring fans to downtown proper and more options. Crabby Joe’s, TWH Social, The Rich Uncle Tavern and McCabe’s are decent options. The hidden gem is probably The Grand Trunk Saloon on Ontario Street, but all will require some travel. For fans interested in other sports options, the Dom Cardillo Arena inside the Auditorium is home to the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, however, their schedules rarely cross. Other options include some USports options found at Wilfrid Laurier or the University of Waterloo just across the border in the twin city of Waterloo. For another cultural option, checking out TheMuseum on King may be of interest. Staying near the Auditorium is best done at the Walper Terrace or Crowne Plaza in Downtown Kitchener. Fans 2 It is very difficult to assess the fan situation in the Intercounty Baseball League. For most games the attendance figures are not published. However, it is fair to say that the Panthers attract an average crowd compared to their compatriots in the league. This is only a couple hundred fans at the most. For the most part the fans are diehards or friends and family. Promotions like the KMBA appreciation night will bring out a larger crowd. Access 4 Getting to the Auditorium Complex is best done by car. There is plenty of free parking to be found there and it is conveniently located at the Ottawa Street exit off of the Conestoga Parkway. Fans should consider the possibility of fly balls in the parking lot before selecting a spot. Fans wishing to take public transportation can catch the Grand River Transit bus on Ottawa Street. A bus trip or significant walk will be required to bring fans to the nearest Ion LRT station at Borden Street. Fans should check out the GRT website for fares, schedules and maps. The ballpark is fairly spread out and getting from spot to spot is not difficult at all. The washroom situation is a little cramped, but not terrible for the number of fans who are usually in attendance. Return on Investment 4 The investment in a Kitchener Panthers game is not huge at all. Adult tickets go for $12 with discounts for high school students and seniors. Elementary School students can get in for only $2 and preschoolers are free. Ticketing is done online for the most part. Concession prices are very reasonable and parking is free. The baseball on the field is good quality and fans will have a good time at the game. Extras 2 An extra mark for being a charter member of the Intercounty Baseball League dating back to 1919. An extra mark for the community ownership and operation of the team. Final Thoughts A trip to see the Kitchener Panthers is a good way to spend a summer evening or weekend afternoon. The team has been around for over 100 years, survived the pandemic and are still charging to an IBL title. If in Waterloo Region in the summer months, take some time out to catch the Panthers. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 .

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 David E. Hastings Stadium at Exhibition Park 70 Division St Guelph, ON N1H 2B7 Guelph Royals website David E. Hastings Stadium at Exhibition Park website Year Opened: 1925 Capacity: 1,400 Intercounty Royalty In 2022 the Guelph Royals returned to the Intercounty Baseball League. After a 2020 coronavirus absence and opting for another year off in 2021, when the remainder of the IBL teams opted to play, the Royals have filled the void in Wellington County for summer baseball. The amateur IBL, Ontario’s highest caliber baseball outside of the Toronto Blue Jays has been around since 1919, and Guelph’s entry was there at the beginning. Taking the field for the first time in 1861 as the Guelph Maple Leafs and can trace some ownership back to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame member George Sleeman. Sleeman also founded Silver Creek Brewery, which was reincorporated by his grandson to become Sleeman Brewery, an iconic cornerstone in Guelph. In 1919, after a brief hiatus, the Maple Leafs would join the newly founded Intercounty Baseball League with Kitchener, Galt, and Stratford, and go on to win the first three league championships. After a few name changes, Guelph would settle on the Royals moniker in 1965. The Royals are currently owned by Shawn Fuller and boast nine league championships. The home of the Guelph Royals is currently David E. Hastings Stadium. Located at Exhibition Park, Guelph has played at this particular location since 1925. The current Hastings stadium has been refurbished numerous times with the current grandstand opening in 1987. The stadium is named after David Hastings who was a baseball player from 1943 to 1968 and played for a number of years in the Intercounty Baseball League. He was also the mayor of Guelph from 1958 through 1960. He was only 27 at the time of taking office. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions at Hastings Stadium are very affordable. The concession stand has a very simple menu with hot dogs, popcorn, caramel corn, peanuts, freezies, chocolate bars, and sour keys. A variety of soft drinks are available including both Coke and Pepsi. For fans wishing for an alcoholic beverage, there is a beer garden on the third base side of the grounds. Alcohol must be consumed in the beer garden area and is not permitted in the grandstand. Atmosphere 3 Hastings Stadium is located in Exhibition Park. It is fairly typical of Intercounty League facilities that at no point hosted affiliated Minor League Baseball. The baseball grounds are very wide open and spacious, enclosed by a fence on the other side of the nearby hockey arena on the park grounds. The centerpiece of the stadium is the main grandstand which is not dissimilar to the grandstand in Brantford. The grandstand houses the pressbox and maintenance sheds as well as the seating area. The exterior of the grandstand is covered by aluminum siding pretty much everywhere that one might put on their home shed. Team logos and recognition of the championship teams in Guelph (1919, 1920, 1921, 1932, 1970, 1993, 1997, 2003, and 2004) are displayed prominently on the backside of the grandstand exterior. Bleachers and chairbacks are both available in the grandstand, which has a capacity of 1,400. The surrounding area of the ballpark features some massive mature trees and there are plenty of opportunities to watch the game from various perspectives. Picnic tables are available and there is plenty of space for fans who wish to bring their own chair. A new, classic baseball scoreboard can be found beyond the right-centerfield fence. The outfield does have a couple of unique features. The dimensions are symmetrical with 325’ down each of the lines and 369’ to straight away centrefield. However, rather than a curved outfield fence, the centrefield fence is a straight line that meets the right and left field walls at 393’. The outfield fence is also an attractive, yet very unique wooden style. The gameday production in Guelph is very simple. The focus is on the game itself and there are not a ton of bells and whistles and promos to distract the patrons. Basically, the only promo is the 50/50 sale. The sight lines in the park are excellent and the atmosphere is simple and family and community-focused. Neighbourhood 3 David Hastings Stadium is part of Exhibition Park, which is located in the Exhibition Park neighbourhood of Guelph. The park also has other ballparks, walking/running trails, tennis courts, and soccer and football fields. The rest of the neighbourhood is fairly residential, but a short drive will bring fans to some spots for pre and post-game libations. Polestar Hearth, Fixed Gear Brewery, and Park Eatery are good choices. Guelph does offer a number of different sporting options. The Guelph Storm of the OHL and Guelph Nighthawks of the CEBL both play downtown in the Sleeman Centre. The University of Guelph also fields a whole host of athletic teams. The football Gryphons play at Alumni Field , the hockey Gryphons play at the Gryphon Centre Arena and the basketball Gryphons play at the Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre . If possible, fans should consider trying to catch the annual Frosty Mug game at the Sleeman Centre which pits the Gryphons against the rival Laurier Golden Hawks. Heading east to Downtown Guelph will offer some other things to do including whatever is playing at the River Run Centre. Heading out about 5 km to Woodlawn Road will offer fans the best opportunity to find a place to stay in Guelph. The Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Inn can be found there. Fans 3 It is very difficult to evaluate fans of the Intercounty Baseball League as attendance figures are not published. That being said, the 2022 season seems to have a decent following. That could be because of the presence of former Toronto Blue Jays player Dalton Pompey, or the return of the Royals after a two-year hiatus. Either way, the Royals seem to be drawing a couple of hundred fans per night, which is more than the friends and family crowd that can often be found at Intercounty games. Access 4 David Hastings Stadium is located in Exhibition Park, which is located in the Exhibition Park neighbourhood of Guelph. Exhibition Park is west of Downtown Guelph and not terribly difficult to get to. The park is west of Highway 6 by a couple of blocks, so a little driving through the city will be necessary. The stadium is at the north end of the park and there is plenty of free parking near the stadium the park. Patrons should be considerate of not parking too close to the stadium for fear of their car getting plunked by a foul ball. For fans who wish to take public transit, there are buses available on London, Westmount, and Woolwich Roads which will require a small walk to the stadium. Fans interested in public transit should check out the Guelph Transit website for fares, maps, and schedules. The accessibility of the stadium is pretty good. Although there are stairs to get into the grandstand, of course, there are plenty of areas where fans with mobility issues can watch from. There are washrooms accessible from the outside in the nearby hockey arena which provide enough service for the crowd at hand. Thankfully, portable toilets are not found at Hastings Stadium nor are they relied upon. Return on Investment 4 As will all Intercounty Baseball League experiences, the Guelph Royals offer tremendous value for little money. Tickets for the Royals are $10. Parking is free and concessions are very reasonable. The game day experience is pure and simple and fans will not drown in endless promotions or distractions. Extras 2 An extra mark for the longevity of the Guelph Royals having been around for over 100 years and being a founding member of the Intercounty Baseball League. An extra mark for winning the very first IBL championship in 1919 (as well as the next two). Final Thoughts It is nothing but a positive to have one of the cornerstone franchises of the Intercounty Baseball League back on the diamond. The Guelph Royals have been welcomed back with open arms after a covid hiatus. David Hastings Stadium is as competitive as any stadium in the IBL and has some unique features. Taking in a Royals game will, no doubt, satisfy sports fans desiring a pure baseball experience without all of the bells and whistles. Royalty has its privileges. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 .

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Arnold Anderson Stadium at Cockshutt Park 35 Sherwood Dr Brantford, ON N3T 1N3 Brantford Red Sox website Arnold Anderson Stadium at Cockshutt Park website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 2,000 There’s Baseball in Brantford Too The city of Brantford, Ontario is known for hockey and telephones. The home of both Wayne Gretzky and Alexander Graham Bell also boasts some baseball acumen. The Brantford Red Sox of the Intercounty Baseball League are not only the oldest team in the league but they are also the most decorated. The Red Sox, which share the same name and look as the more famous Major League team, were founded in 1911, a few years before the beginning of the IBL. They would join the league in its third year in 1921. The Red Sox have been a staple in the Brantford community ever since and have rewarded their fans with fifteen league championships including a record six in a row. The Red Sox are currently family owned and operated by Connie and Rick Pomperleau. Home for the Red Sox is Arnold Anderson Stadium at Cockshutt Park. Named after a local radio announcer, Arnold Anderson Stadium is part of the larger Cockshutt Park which groups a number of softball and baseball diamonds just south of the Grand River. The park, formerly Agricultural Park, was gifted to the City of Brantford by the Cockshutt Family and former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Henry Cockshutt, in memoriam of their father, Ignastius Cockshutt. Food & Beverage 3 Arnold Anderson Stadium has a bit of a different setup where the concession stand is behind the main grandstand and press box at ground level. To get to the concession stand, patrons must exit the stadium past the ticket desk, which requires a hand stamp. Concession options are about what can be expected for an IBL venue. Typical ballpark bbq items are available including burgers, sausages and hot dogs. Nachos, popcorn and chocolate bars are also available at the snack bar. Soft drinks are available in both bottles and cans and both Pepsi and Coke products are in the cooler. There is a beer tent past the third base stands where basic domestic brands can be found. Of note, alcohol may not be consumed in the main stand behind the plate, but only in the beer garden picnic tables and the first and third base bleachers. The prices are decent and the quality is surprisingly high with BBQ items coming fresh off the grill. Atmosphere 3 Arnold Anderson Stadium is part of a larger Cockshutt Park which has other recreational baseball diamonds. The stadium itself is a bit of a piecemeal structure with a permanent grandstand behind home plate which includes the press box and concession stands and washrooms on the opposite side. The main grandstand features acknowledgement of the past successes the Red Sox have enjoyed, including 11 pennants and 15 league championships, the most recent occurring in 2013. A dedication stone for the park in honour of Ignatius Cockshutt, a local philanthropist, sits handsomely in a garden outside the main concession. On the opposite side there is a dedication to the Brantford Red Sox team of 1959 through 1963. The exterior of the main grandstand is an attractive light colour with red trim. It definitely offers something a little different from other IBL venues. Home plate at Arnold Anderson Stadium faces due west, which can offer a bit of a predicament for batters from the setting sun. However, Red Sox home games are traditionally welcoming of an 8 pm first pitch to accommodate sunsets. To the immediate left of the main grandstand is a portable ticket table, which is the entry point to the stadium. Hand stamps are required as the concessions and washrooms are outside the gate. On the fence to the left is another unique Red Sox feature as the honoured numbers of Bill Leconte, Jimmy Wilkes, Ron Stead, John Lockington, Ted Baker, Spud Bush, Frank Parker, Larry Ellins, Bill Gibbs Sr., Stan Lipka and Dave Dix are displayed. Accompanying them are honours for builders Mike Calbeck, Rogers Davis and Larry Pennell. Inside, the stadium has three main parts with the main grandstand as a permanent structure with the press box at the top and plastic, fixed seating. Permanent clubhouse and dugout structures are separate from each other and the main grandstand. Past the dugouts are simple, aluminum bleachers. Proximity to the players at Arnold Anderson Stadium is very close and the bullpens are just past the bleachers. Possibly the worst feature of Arnold Anderson Stadium from a fans perspective is the backstop and fencing. As opposed to soft mesh, typically found at most ballparks, Arnold Anderson Stadium has chain link fencing. Behind the backstop provides one of the worst views as the posts for the fencing are quite thick and the view for fans in the grandstand is quite often obstructed. The gameday presentation has a local community feel to it with simple promotions including a program prize draw and 50/50 draw. Thankfully, the numerous announcements requiring foul balls to be returned to the concession stand, which is not uncommon for Intercounty Baseball, have been toned down to a more friendlier version offering some enumeration for baseballs. Neighbourhood 2 Arnold Anderson Stadium is located in Cockshutt Park. The park is located south of the Grand River in the West Brant neighbourhood of Brantford. The neighbourhood around the park is mostly residential with a couple of spots that fans may want to check out. The Brantford Artisian Market is close and the Mash Paddle Brewing Company and Spool Gourmet Poutine & Mac ‘n Cheese can be found in there. Otherwise, fans will want to head downtown for more variety. There are not really any other sporting options in Brantford. Junior B hockey can be found in the winter months. There are plenty of parks and recreation spaces in the West Brant neighbourhood. Fans who wish to stay in Brantford will need to head north of the Grand River where the Best Western and Comfort Inn are found. Fans 2 The Intercounty Baseball League does not readily publish attendance numbers, therefore assessing the fans category for the Brantford Red Sox can be difficult. Under Covid-19 regulations, the gameday capacity at Arnold Anderson Stadium is listed at 175 people. It doesn’t seem, however, that the fans in attendance are drastically fewer than in previous years. There are probably a couple hundred fans in the stands in Brantford, which is not in the top echelon for the IBL. It is a friends and family atmosphere with some hardcore fans. There is a community fee in the park, but often it is whisper quiet in between plays and that low rumble of chatter is not audible. This does give fans the opportunity to hear the true sounds of the game including players and umpire comments and conversations. Access 4 Getting to Arnold Anderson Stadium is very easy. Cockshutt Park is located south of Highway 403, the main artery into the city. There will be a few local streets to traverse, but that won’t be an issue. The park has plenty of parking available, which is free. For fans wishing to take public transit to the game, there are buses available south of the park on Colborne Street. Fans should check out the Brantford Transit website for fares, maps and schedules. Return on Investment 4 The Brantford Red Sox, as with other Intercounty Baseball experiences, offers some of the most affordable situations in all sports. Tickets for the Red Sox go for $10 and are available at the door or before the game, online. Students and seniors go for $7 and youth $5. Kids 5 and under can get in free. The parking at Cockshutt Park is free and the concession prices are very affordable. The final product that you will find at a Brantford Red Sox game is a simple version of baseball that harkens back to a previous era and focuses on the game, rather than all of the bells and whistles. Extras 2 An extra mark for Brantford Red Sox alumni, and honoured member Ron Stead. Ron is an honoured member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and played with the Red Sox for almost a decade, earning numerous league titles. He would play more than 15 years in the IBL. An extra mark for the unequaled success that the Red Sox have enjoyed. Final Thoughts A trip to the Brantford Red Sox will bring fans back to baseball’s simpler times. A family environment with an uncanny quality in concessions, there are aspects of going to a Brantford game that will make fans wonder why it isn’t like this everywhere. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 .

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Athletic Kulture Stadium 2100 Nursery Rd Minesing, ON L9X 1A3 Barrie Baycats website Athletic Kulture Stadium website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 2,000 Vintage Baycats Editor's Note: The Baycats announced a three-year naming rights contract with local gym Athletic Kulture, to begin with the 2025 season. On the doorstep of Ontario’s Cottage Country, the City of Barrie lays claim to the seven-time Intercounty Baseball League Champion, Barrie Baycats. An expansion team in 2001, the Baycats stormed the IBL and dominated, winning six championships in a row from 2014 to 2019. Relatively young compared to the majority of clubs in the amateur baseball league in Ontario, the Baycats have fit right in with the rest of the teams and remain competitive into their twentieth season as part of the league. The home for the Baycats is located just outside of the city limits of Barrie in the town of Minesing at the Barrie Community Sports Complex. Vintage Throne Stadium is part of the complex and is a fairly simple stadium. Vintage Throne Barber Shop purchased the naming rights to the stadium in 2022. The Baycats consist mainly of players who work regular day jobs and commute into Barrie for baseball as well as some college players. The Barrie Baycats is a non-profit organization that is run by a Board of Directors. Checking out a Baycats game is a great way to spend a summer evening or weekend afternoon. Food & Beverage 3 Concession items at the Barrie Baycats are decent. The lone concession stand offers favourites including hot dogs, burgers, chicken fingers, fries, and poutine. Chips, assorted candy, freezies, slushies, and pre-packaged ice cream treats are also available. Bottled water, Coca-Cola products, Gatorade, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate round out the beverage options. On the first base side of the stadium, in the right field, a beer tent sells a variety of beer from Muskoka Brewery among others. The Baycats also feature Baycats Brew in partnership with Collingwood Brewery. Atmosphere 2 Vintage Throne Stadium is part of the greater Barrie Community Sports Complex. The stadium itself, like many in the Intercounty Baseball League, is a fairly simple permanent structure with several semi-permanent bleachers. The main structure behind the home plate houses locker rooms, washrooms, concessions, and the press box. Light brown brick with blue trim and a red roof make the main structure fairly attractive. The seating area consists of the main bleachers behind the plate. Two sets of bleachers are on either side of the main bleachers and a few sets of portable bleachers can be found on either side down the lines. The stadium is surrounded by greenery and has a real Northern Ontario feel to it. The dimensions of the field are symmetrical with 325’ down each of the lines and 405’ to the deep centre. The fence contains plenty of advertising and lets visitors understand that the Baycats are truly a local team. A unique feature at Vintage Throne Stadium is the video board above the simple scoreboard beyond the right field. This feature does put Vintage Throne Stadium ahead of many of its IBL brethren. The Baycats lay claim to an astonishing seven league championships, however, there is nothing of note to share this information with fans on either the inside or outside of Vintage Throne Stadium. This is unfortunate. Some Intercounty League stadiums feature chain link fences behind the plate to protect fans from foul balls. This often provides obstructed views behind the plate. Vintage Throne Stadium features the mesh that is more prevalent in major and minor league parks that is far easier to see through. The gameday presentation at a Baycats game is fairly simple. The Baycats do broadcast games on the radio and YouTube and commentators are at the top of the bleachers, out with the fans. There are a few simple promotions and nothing too over the top. Music played between innings and before the game is a healthy mix of classic rock and country. Neighbourhood 2 Vintage Throne Stadium is part of the Barrie Community Sports Complex. The complex is quite large and features numerous other baseball and softball diamonds as well as other sports fields. The complex is on the edge of the limits of Minesing, which is a very small town. The car is going to be necessary to get anywhere. Fans wishing to find something to eat in Minesing should consider Cicco’s. However, the best bet is to head into Barrie and find a place for some food or drink. The Flying Monkeys Taproom, McReilly’s, and Pi are all good choices. Barrie is located right on the shores of Lake Simcoe and there are plenty of beaches within the city that are great in the summer. Fans who head west instead will hit Georgian Bay with more freshwater beaches. There are also plenty of fishing opportunities to the north. The Simcoe County Museum is the closest attraction to Vintage Throne Stadium. Sports in the area are limited to the winter season when the Barrie Colts take the ice at Sadlon Arena. Fans 2 Assessing fans in Intercounty Baseball is very difficult. Attendance figures for games are not normally published. Fans in Barrie are typically quiet. It seems that there are around 100 fans in attendance per game. The fans are a healthy mix of friends and family as well as die-hard regulars. It is fair to say that attendance at Baycats games is not out of line with other IBL clubs. Access 4 Getting to Vintage Throne Stadium is not very difficult by car. Located off Highway 26, on Nursery Road, northwest of Barrie and east of the town of Minesing. Traffic will not be an issue and there is plenty of free parking in the Barrie Community Sports Complex. The main hiccup for getting to Vintage Throne Stadium is that there is no public transit that gets to the sports complex from either Barrie or Minesing. This is not the biggest deal in the world, because getting to Barrie or Minesing is pretty much done by car also. Washrooms are found around the front of the stadium, on the outside, and are pretty small, however, they will do for the size of the crowd in Barrie. There is plenty of space around the ballpark and a variety of seating and standing options. However, bleachers are what fans can expect, unless they bring their chairs. Return on Investment 4 The Barrie Baycats, like the entire Intercounty Baseball League, is a very affordable endeavor. Regular-priced tickets are $10 and seniors can expect a $2 discount. Kids 12 and under are free. Parking is free and concession prices are very reasonable. The product on the field is solid and the production is pretty simple. Overall, a Barrie Baycats game is a great way to spend a summer evening or afternoon. Extras 3 An extra mark for the video board, a unique feature in Intercounty Baseball. An extra mark for the remarkable success the Baycats have enjoyed during their 20-year existence. An extra mark for the strong sense of community and non-profit nature of the Baycats. Final Thoughts Catching a Barrie Baycats game will not blow you away with the glitz and glamour. The ability to truly catch the sounds of the game and to go back to when baseball was simpler is a definite plus. With a very affordable experience, a Barrie Baycats game at Vintage Throne Stadium is a great way to pass a summer evening or afternoon on the doorstep of Cottage Country. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 .

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Covenant Health Park 500 East Jackson Boulevard Knoxville, TN 37915 One Knoxville SC website Covenant Health Park website Year Opened: 2025 Capacity: 6,355 Old City, New Home One Knoxville Sporting Club started on the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid. Competing initially as Knox Pro Soccer, the club played its early seasons at Regal Stadium on the University of Tennessee campus. After two years of building momentum, they stepped into the professional ranks by joining USL League One for the 2023 season. The next major leap came in 2025 with the opening of Covenant Health Park, a new stadium shared with the Double-A Knoxville Smokies and positioned at the center of a growing mixed-use district. One Knox has also built out a full development pipeline; Two Knox competes in the USL Academy summer league and the USPL fall league, and 2025 saw the addition of a women’s team in the USL W-League. Together, these programs strengthen the club’s footprint and help cultivate a loyal, citywide supporter base.   Food & Beverage   5 Food and drink options are abundant throughout Covenant Health Park, with a strong mix of stadium classics and local flavor. Forks on First anchors the main concourse with burgers, hot dogs, and chicken tenders, including standouts like the Smoky Mountain Burger topped with bacon, pimento cheese, crispy onions, and BBQ sauce. Coop 865 leans into Southern comfort with chicken and waffles, chicken mac & cheese, and a Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich, while Knox Smoque adds a barbecue lineup of pulled pork, brisket, mac & cheese, fried pickles, and kettle chips. For fans after something fried and indulgent, Ballpark Bites serves mozzarella sticks and loaded “Rocky Tots,” while Barley Me Pizza delivers fresh slices nearby. Additional carts around the stadium round out the selection with tacos, cheesesteak, and specialty hot dogs. Self-service drink refill stations help keep lines short – a small but effective improvement that more stadiums should adopt. The craft beer scene is the real standout at Covenant Health Park, however. Alliance Brewing, Schulz Brau, Ebony & Ivory, and Uxl Beer Co. lead a deep lineup of local options, joined by Iron Forge Brewing’s Smokies-branded Light Lager and offerings from Gatlinburg Brewing. Altogether, fans can choose from roughly 50 beers across nearly 20 regional breweries, plus canned cocktails, seltzers, and wine. Lastly, two full-service bars complement the concourse – The Backstop behind home plate has mixed drinks, while Modelo Watering Hole in right field offers a lively, social spot throughout the match.   Atmosphere   4 Covenant Health Park sits within a developing mixed-use district, flanked by apartments and condominiums, with plans for restaurants and retail to fill out the surrounding area in the future. As expected with a baseball-first design, the stadium presents a few challenges for soccer. Lower-level seats offer excellent proximity to the action, but fans along the near touchline may have to turn slightly to track play toward the closest goal. In addition, some of the group areas that work well for Smokies games do not translate as fully for soccer, leaving portions of the stadium’s amenities underutilized on match day. The Tennessee-shaped scoreboard is a fun, uniquely local feature. It delivers a clean live feed along with score and clock, but its baseball-oriented layout, without broader match stats, can feel sparse for soccer and a little out of place. Despite these quirks, the One Knox atmosphere at Covenant Health Park remains enjoyable. The design limitations are noticeable but never significant enough to detract from the overall experience. Other than some difficult sightlines, the only other knock on the stadium’s use for soccer is that it lacks branding that would make it feel more like a home for the soccer team. It is a small detail, but it does not overwhelmingly impact the actual enjoyment of the match.   Neighborhood   5 The area directly around Covenant Health Park is still a bit of a work in progress that is slowly coming together. Apartments beyond left field and the Delaney Condominiums in right are nearing completion. Additional spaces accessible from outside the stadium are expected to become retail and restaurants. The stadium is within walking distance of Knoxville’s Old City district, known for its vibrant bar and restaurant scene, as well as the nearby Market Street neighborhood, which offers excellent dining options and hotels. The area is also known for its nightlife, which should still be bustling following a game, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. One of the top barbecue restaurants in the area, Barrelhouse BBQ Smokehouse, is a popular spot for One Knox supporters. Other nearby attractions enhance the experience of a game day visit. The University of Tennessee is less than three miles away, making it easy to catch a college baseball or softball game. The Knoxville Ice Bears of the Southern Professional Hockey League may also be in season, while for basketball fans, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame is just down the road. Knoxville was also home to the 1982 World’s Fair – probably nothing celebrates The Fair more than the 266-foot tall Sunsphere on the grounds of World’s Fair Park. The neighboring Knoxville Convention Center is also home to the World’s Largest Rubik's Cube. The area just north of Covenant Health Park  does feel a bit concerning, so having a bit of a heightened sense of awareness if heading in that direction might be advisable.   Fans   3 One Knox is among the better-supported clubs in League One, drawing more than 3,000 fans per match. However, while the crowd maintains a steady buzz throughout the game, it rarely reaches the level of an intimidating home-field advantage. The club’s supporters group, The Scruffs, is modest in size, and their chants come in waves, energized at moments, quieter in others, but are always present. Overall, the One Knox fanbase shows up consistently and engages when the action demands it, especially on big plays. Still, the atmosphere leans more social than fervent; the stands tend to hum rather than roar. The support is solid, but doesn’t have quite the relentless, high-energy environment some other clubs in the league generate.   Access   3 Weekday matches at Covenant Health Park can be difficult to reach, as traffic on the highways into Knoxville and on the surface streets near the stadium slows significantly around rush hour. Arriving early is almost essential to avoid missing the kickoff. Parking close to the stadium is limited, with much of the on-site space reserved for accessible use. The city-operated garages at Sumner Place, Langley, Locust Street, and Market Square offer $7 parking and a free shuttle to and from the stadium, though the convenience varies. Alternatively, less publicized but often closer are several privately operated lots throughout the Old Town district, which provide additional parking options. The main entrance sits at the corner of West Jackson Avenue and Patton Street, with secondary gates along West Jackson. The concourse wraps fully around the stadium and is wide and easy to navigate, though certain sections sit noticeably farther from the field.   Return on Investment   5 One Knox tickets routinely come in under $20, right in line with the league average. Parking prices swing based on how close you want to be, with the official $7 garages offering value but requiring a bit of extra walking or a shuttle ride. Inside the stadium, concession prices match what you would expect for League One: fair, if not memorable. Taken together, the full cost of attending a One Knox match lands on the affordable end, especially for a club with this level of support.   Extras   3 The Chick-fil-A Kids Zone is a large children’s play area tucked beneath the apartments that form one of the stadium’s exterior walls. It is a genuinely helpful feature for families, and an easy place for parents to take their kids when staying in their seats gets tough. One Knox also does well in creating personal moments between the club and its supporters, especially younger fans. After the final whistle, players celebrate with The Scruffs before circling the field to offer high-fives, photos, and autographs. It is a small club tradition that goes a long way in making the experience feel welcoming and connected. One Knox and its players do a wonderful job creating a bond with their fans in a way only soccer clubs can; it almost seems as if the players don’t leave the field until every fan, young and old, has had an opportunity to get a picture taken or get some kit signed.   Final Thoughts The move to Covenant Health Park gives One Knox a facility with far more fan comforts than most League One venues, both inside the facility and throughout the developing neighborhood around it – it is a clear upgrade in overall amenities to their prior home. Still, the baseball-first design introduces a few unavoidable quirks; chiefly, the uneven sightlines and some oddly angled views of the pitch. Even with those drawbacks, though, the matchday experience remains one of the better ones in the league, offering a polished environment that stands out at this level.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 A.C. Jordan Arena 14000 Jericho Park Rd Bowie, MD 20715 Bowie State Bulldogs website A.C. Jordan Arena website Year Opened: 1973 Capacity: 2,200 Bulldogs In Bowie Bowie State University is a public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) located in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Bowie State is Maryland’s oldest historically black university and one of the ten oldest in the country, opening in 1865. In 1963, Bowie State College was officially named and in 1988 became a university. It is now a member of the University System of Maryland. The school has 22 undergraduate majors, 19 master’s programs, and two doctoral programs. A few members of the singing family, the Braxtons, have attended Bowie State. Christa McAuliffe, one of the seven crew members killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, got a Master’s degree at Bowie. The sports team at Bowie is called the Bulldogs. They compete in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, at the NCAA Division II level. The A.C. Jordan Arena is a part of the larger Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex and has a stated capacity of 2,200 although not all the seats seem to ever be in use. Food & Beverage 2 There is a simple food stand but I was fairly impressed. One would have had no problem grabbing a hot dog, nachos, or another snack at this well-stocked stand. Atmosphere 3 The arena seems like a small version of the Towson Center, the former home of the Towson University athletics program. There are many architectural similarities, with the exterior entrance and other interior features being identical. With both being opened in the 1970s, there must have been some state contracts in play here. There is an external box office in front of the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex to buy tickets. The venue holds 2,200 but it looks like only one side of seating is being used. Not sure if this has always been the case, or if it is a holdover from Covid. You will enter the arena at court level and proceed to your seats by way of the endlines. On both sides, there are lower and upper sections of seats, with the upper deck having a slightly obstructed view of the sidelines of the basketball court. The PA announcer was very hard to make out and the sound could often be distorted. There was a cheer/dance squad to enhance the atmosphere. There is no overhanging scoreboard, but there are video boards on both ends of the arena. They do not display much in terms of info, with both showing the video of active game action rather than stats. Neighborhood 3 There is nothing too exciting about the residential Bowie neighborhood near the university. Not too far away is a major highway (US Route 301) and is near many shopping centers and fast-food restaurants. Baltimore is 30 miles away, DC 18 miles away, and Annapolis 15 miles away, so you should not be limited by the uninspiring suburban choices right near the school. Poncho n’ Pepe’s Cantina in Crofton doesn’t have the most exciting food selection, but is a colorful restaurant with many foods and drink specials for pre and post-game gatherings. Rip’s Country Inn is a longtime family restaurant that is very close to the stadium. If you need solid quality good food, this is a great option. Comfort Inn on Crain Highway is a decent hotel option. Fans 3 Bowie has a decent number of resident students, but there is also a good commuter student base, so the attendance from students may differ from game to game. The fans who attend seem to do a good job of providing a good atmosphere for the teams. Access 3 Access is good at Bowie State. Sitting near US Route 301, US Route 50, and State Route 3, one should have no problem getting to the game. Traffic can be a bear at times, as this intersection is right between the triangle of Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington, DC. Plan a little leeway in timing for early evening games. Parking is close to the complex, although if classes are in session you may have to walk further away. Return on Investment 3 The ticket prices are not too bad starting at around $20. The Division II caliber of play makes this an okay value. . Extras 2 There are a couple of nice display cases in the lobby displaying past successes of various Bowie State athletic programs. Many banners are hanging from the roof of the A.C. Jordan Arena that continues the display of athletic success. It is nice to see the many bowing banners, as that is one of Bowie State’s most successful teams. Final Thoughts The arena here at Bowie State University is not fancy, but the good level of Division II basketball put on display here at this nice venue is worth the small price of admission.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 GCU Arena 3300 West Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ 85017 Grand Canyon University website GCU Arena website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 7,000 Gee, See You at GCU at GCU Grand Canyon University is a large private Christian university located northwest of downtown Phoenix, with over 100,000 students enrolled, most of them online. It is considered a for-profit school, which leads to some controversy; fellow Phoenix school Arizona State refused to play GCU in any sport, reversing that decision in 2020. The school is trying to change its status, and the legal battles are still playing out, but that is beyond the scope of this review. The school has a thriving athletics program and recently moved to the Mountain West Conference after 12 successful years in the WAC.  The school's mascot is the Antelope, with the teams more commonly referred to as Lopes (the school's parent company trades on the NASDAQ with the symbol LOPE).  Basketball is where the school has enjoyed the most success, with four trips to the tournament, including an upset win over St. Mary's in 2022. The team plays at Global Credit Union Arena, with the GCU acronym matching that of the school in a nice coincidence. It was opened in 2011, and when the school jumped to Division I, the arena was closed for a massive remodel that saw the addition of 2,000 more seats.  These days, the arena is known for its lively student section, and we recently revisited to see how things are doing now that the school is in the Mountain West. Food & Beverage 4 There are five concession stands here, and each one has a specialty item. The first one you will encounter is on the lower level just inside the main entrance. It serves basic fare such as hot dogs ($4.50), brats ($5.50), pretzels ($6), hamburgers ($6/$7 with cheese), with nachos their specialty item (chicken for $9.50, carne asada is a buck more). Go upstairs to encounter four unique stands on the main concourse, with one at each corner.  At Purple Greens Bowls, for example, a California Roll with 10 pieces is only $6.49 while a spicy tuna roll is a dollar more. You can also build your own Poke bowls for $8.49, with chicken or steak as your protein choices. Another option is Loaded Lope Fries, where one pound of fries is topped with two chicken tenders, jalapenos and ranch, and purple cheese. It probably needs to be shared, but at $10, it is one of the best deals I have seen. Wetzel's Pretzels has Wetzel's Bitz (pretzel bites) for $6, and you can get a dipping sauce for $1.50. The other two concessions are Qdoba Burritos and Canyon Pizza Company. Snacks are available, with popcorn running $5, while theater candy is $3.50. It's hot in Phoenix, so you might want to grab an ice cream bar for $4 or a Dibs Cup for $5. Pepsi provides the soft drinks, with a bottle going for $4, the same as a small fountain soda; if you need more, the large version is $5. Bottled water is only $3, while Gatorade is $3.50. Alcohol is not served here. Atmosphere 5 Upon entering, you are at the northeast corner, and you can walk into the arena at floor level, from where you can enter the seating bowl from below. Most fans choose to take the stairs or escalators to reach the carpeted concourse. The arena is rectangular, with concessions at each corner. There are two levels of seating here, with the upper section having just five rows. But it sits right on top of the court, and I preferred being up here, as you get a much different angle. You can also stand here and move around as you wish. One sideline is filled with the student section, who are among the loudest and most active in the country. They were singing and dancing from well before tipoff, adding a lot to the atmosphere. The arena is very compact, so any noise they make reverberates around the entire gym.  The band takes up nearly an entire baseline section as well. This is a school that really turns out for its team, and the band and the students work together to put on a show.  Neighborhood 2 GCU is northwest of downtown Phoenix, mostly surrounded by residential areas. Few eateries off campus are within walking distance, and those are in strip malls. Better to drive back downtown or to another area to enjoy a more relaxing sit-down meal.  In terms of lodging, the Phoenix area has several quality hotels in its various neighborhoods, such as Scottsdale, Tempe, and Mesa. All of these are quite far from GCU (at least 30 minutes by car), but those are better than trying to stay near the venue. There's a lot to do in the city as well. Phoenix is the capital of Arizona, and the State Capitol is one tourist attraction worth visiting; outdoor enthusiasts can hike Camelback Mountain for sweeping views of the city. Of course, the Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns also play locally during the fall and winter. Fans 5 That student section, called the “Havoc”, deserves a place alongside all great student sections in the country. It may even be at the top of that list. They are loud and proud throughout the entire night. We also saw the students rush into the arena, run up the stairs, all in search of the best seat. It was quite a sight.  GCU Band, Photo by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey The students stand so there are more bodies than seats in that section, and attendance is regularly above the 7,000 capacity.  The other fans in the arena are nearly just as joyous and engaged as the students. They may not dance and sing as much, but they clearly know the game and enjoy the basketball experience.  Access 4 There are limited transit options here, which is not surprising, as Phoenix is definitely not a transit hub. The campus is located west of I-17 along Camelback Road. Parking is free in the 31st Avenue garage, from where the arena is a short walk away. Getting out is quite easy as you turn west onto Camelback and then perform a quick U-turn to get back to the Interstate. Inside, the concourse is very spacious, and you can get around easily. Concessions can be a bit busy before the game, but if you get there early, you will have no problem. Restrooms are plentiful, and I did not see any lines while I was there. Return on Investment 5 Tickets here are very reasonable, with some games starting at just $5 for general admission (that's during the holiday break, so the student section might be a bit less enthusiastic), while a non-conference game is just $10 for standing room. When the conference foes come to town, prices go up to $15-20. With that said, check the secondary market, which often has tickets for less than face value and a guaranteed seat. When you combine free parking, affordable food, and a unique, energetic atmosphere, this is a venue well worth your time and money. Extras 4 The Jerry Colangelo Museum is located next to the arena and showcases items from the businessman’s life and career in and outside of basketball.  A vault of Bibles is buried underneath center court. The Quad Lawn out front is filled with activities and seems to be a hub before the game itself. It's worth getting there a bit early to check it out. There are two WAC trophies on display on the lower level, a wistful reminder of the team's achievements before the move to the Mountain West. Final Thoughts Overall, GCU Arena is a fantastic basketball venue, with a great student section, excellent concessions, and easy navigation that makes moving around simple. Arizona State might overshadow Grand Canyon University, but if you are visiting Phoenix in the winter, consider a trip to Global Credit Union Arena. Perhaps we will see you at GCU (at GCU)!

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Delaware Stadium 605 S College Ave Newark, DE 19716 Delaware Blue Hens website Delaware Stadium website Year Opened: 1952 Capacity: 18,500 Blue Hen Pride When you travel down the busy I-95 corridor along the East Coast, you may have driven close by to one of the most successful college football programs in history and didn’t even know it. Stop by the University of Delaware, located in the small city of Newark, and experience some history in action. The Delaware Blue Hens have won six national championships during their over 100-year history. These victories occurred in 1946, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1979, and 2003. The 2003 championship took place in Division I-AA, the precursor to the current Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The other championships happened in Division II and various versions of the former College Division. The Blue Hens used to play at the FCS level, but as of 2025, they have moved to the Conference USA of the FBS level. Delaware Stadium opened in 1952 and currently holds 18,500. That is in stark contrast to the 9,000 it had during its 1952 opening season, as well as a max of 22,000 between 1998 and 2018. The stadium is part of the David M. Nelson Athletic Complex, which includes the Bob Carpenter Center, Bob Hannah Stadium, Fred P. Rullo Stadium, the Fred Rust Ice Arena, and the Delaware Field House. The stadium's field is known as Tubby Raymond Field. Recent renovations have added some needed improvements to the facility. Food & Beverage 3 The stadium features traditional stadium fare alongside local favorites and campus-run specialty options. General concession items include the All Beef Hot Dog ($5), Cheeseburger ($8), Pizza slice ($5), and Nachos ($5). Chick-fil-A sandwiches are also available at certain stands. A few unique, pricier items are available, such as the Crab Pretzel ($14). Bottled water and soda are consistently priced at $4. Beyond the basics, campus-run food trucks and specialty stands offer variety. Desserts By Dana provides premium options like Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake ($7) and various parfaits ($6). The UDairy Creamery truck (often decorated in cow print) offers gourmet, homemade ice cream made from the university’s own cows, including signature flavors like "Blue Hen Tracks." For savory fare, the Fry Box 2.0 trailer offers classic stadium fried foods like chicken fingers, boneless wings, and fries, and is particularly convenient for students as it accepts Meal Exchange (UD dining plans). My favorite food stands here are the ones in the northeast corner. The staff there seems to be generally older than the college-aged employees of some of the other stands, and they are extremely friendly. Stop in here for most available items, but most especially for the $4 funnel cake (the price of which is consistent with the $4-$5 range for many extras). Regarding alcohol service, Delaware follows specific State liquor laws. A key rule is that persons under 21 are not permitted to enter the designated line for alcohol service, even if only buying food or non-alcoholic items; they must use food-only lines. Crucial details to note are the location restrictions and limits: Alcohol is not permitted in student sections or for leaving the stadium. Sales are limited to two alcoholic beverages per person, per visit until the end of the 3rd quarter, and sales conclude entirely at the start of the 4th quarter. Atmosphere 4 There are four sets of grandstands. The east and west stands are considered the main stands, with the west stand serving as the home stand. A small general admission section is near the north end zone, with a slightly larger section near the south end zone that houses the student section and band. The general admission seats in the north end zone will have a hard time seeing the video board, as it sits askew behind those seats. The video board is new for 2022. Once inside, you will notice how close to the field you will feel. Game action is very close, as there is no track and the sidelines are very close to the stands. Sitting in the general admission seats even allows you to celebrate with players after scoring plays. Pretty much all seats in the stadium are bleacher-style, except for part of the renovated west stands. Prepare to be uncomfortable, unless you rent a seat cushion from the school or bring your own. Neighborhood 4 Newark (pronounced here as New-Ark) is a great college town. Numerous food options on East Main Street will fill you up before or after a game. Parking on East Main Street is always a bit of a problem. There are many public lots, but note that they may be behind buildings and hard to find. Many restaurants offer validation for the public lots. If you do not want to fight for parking, head the opposite way from downtown Newark and towards the gigantic Christiana Mall area. Right before getting there is Border Cafe, designated only with a large “EAT” sign. Their large and varied menu offers great Tex-Mex & Cajun options at a pretty low price. Try the catfish fajitas with a side of jambalaya. Numerous dining and lodging options are prevalent around the Christiana Mall area, although if in search of lodging, one should look at the Embassy Suites located across from the baseball stadium . Around the corner from the arena, behind Rust Arena , is the campus-run UDairy Creamery. Stopping for a pre or post-game ice cream cone is a must. Fans 4 The team is having a resurgence, and the fans have been packing Delaware Stadium, often to capacity. The fans at Delaware Stadium know their football and expect big things out of their program. The two main grandstands, as well as the small general admission stand, are generally filled to just under capacity for most games, especially Parents & Family Weekend, Band Day, and Homecoming. The student section in the south end zone can be noisy due to the band sitting there. But unfortunately, the students do not always show up in large numbers. They get into the games for free, but still don't always attend. The stadium is far from most student housing, so attending a game must not be top of mind for most students. The band keeps the crowd entertained throughout the game and even enters many seating sections for fan interactions. The crowd will also chant “BLUE!” “HENS!” at various parts of the game. Access 5 Delaware Stadium is easy to reach and is only a couple of miles off Interstate 95. You may have to pay some tolls, although locals will know how to avoid them as much as possible. Coming from points south on I-95, getting off at Maryland Route 279 will avoid the toll pretty easily, and it is a short drive to the stadium. Parking is $20, and there are plenty of options. The best choice may be the large lot right off of Chestnut Hill Road near the track and field throwing pits. Use 190 E Chestnut Hill Rd in your GPS for reference. Tailgating is a big-time event at Delaware. Up to four hours before games, you can expect to see the grills and cooking options spread out in all parking lots. The number of tailgaters is more in line with much larger and recognized programs around the country. It is serious business here in Newark. Return on Investment 4 Single-game tickets now have a lower starting price point in the FBS era. Tickets can be found starting as low as $8-$11 on the official site for some general admission seats, which is a significant change from the previous $25 starting price. Prices for better sideline seats will be higher. Advance single-game parking passes are typically available online starting at $20, with the price increasing for day-of-game purchases and premium lots. I am giving some credit because of the caliber of play you will see in the new Conference USA. The north section's general admission seats are the best value. Because of the closeness of the field, you will almost feel like you are part of the action during end zone plays. Just watch out for errant throws coming your way. It can be an intense environment for fans. Extras 4 Former University of Michigan halfback David M. Nelson came to Delaware in 1950 as head coach. Nelson brought along the winged helmet design made famous by the Wolverines to every place he coached. The unique design is still in place today and is quite a sight, although it can be easy to confuse it with Michigan. In 15 years at Delaware, Nelson had an 84-42-2 record, with one National Championship in 1963 and a bowl win over Kent State in the Refrigerator Bowl. The northwest corner of the stadium has three busts depicting Nelson, William “Bill” Murray, and Harold “Tubby” Raymond, three of the most iconic and famous coaches the program has ever had. The University of Delaware Marching Band is one of the most engaging college bands around. Do not be surprised to see the tuba section running through your section, or the cymbals crew dancing around various parts of the field and stadium area. Delaware Band Half Time Show, Photo by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Men may also experience a truly unique and bizarre “attraction” in one of the bathrooms, in the southeast corner of the stadium. Instead of urinals, men do their business against a large marble slabbed wall. Well, it certainly is convenient. Or horrifying. I’m not sure which. This writer had heard this attraction was gone, but we did witness this live and in action… Final Thoughts Delaware Stadium is a simple facility, but it offers the fans a close-to-action spectacle with one of the most successful college football programs around.

Photos by Jude Hannahs, Stadium Journey. Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Joe Burrow Stadium 1 High School Rd The Plains, OH 45780 Athens High School Bulldogs Athletics Website   Joe Burrow Stadium Website   Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 3,500 Old Athens High will win over all… Upon learning more about where Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow grew up and what the culture was around him, one quote in particular has always stuck with me regarding sensational athletes and how they came to become professionals.  It’s a quote from Jason Reitman’s “Up in the Air” (2009), a comedy/romance film starring actors George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga, and other notable faces. Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a man who specializes in employment-termination assistance for a human resources consultancy firm.  In a scene where Clooney’s Bingham and Kendrick’s Natalie Keener inform a man named Bob (played by J. K. Simmons) that he has been fired from the company he works for. Understandably, Bob is infuriated at the thought of Bingham and Keener trying to console him after losing his job. Bingham then asks Bob a question: “You know why kids love athletes?  Bob responds with a sarcastic answer, but then Bingham reassures him of the real answer. He says, “Kids love athletes because they follow their dreams.” I believe this same sentiment can be applied to the effect Burrow had on the students around him as he went through and eventually graduated from Athens High School in 2015. I also believe that it can still be applied even today with the various student athletes that attend Athens High School.  When someone like Burrow comes from a small town like Athens with the illustrious high school and collegiate career he’s had so far, it’s almost like a wondrous fairy tale. But it’s reality, and it’s a reality that many devoted fans of the Athens Bulldogs are proud to have experienced when he was there. In December 2019, the Athens City School District Board announced it would rename its football stadium following Burrow’s Heisman trophy win.  All these years later, the Bulldogs have been rebuilding a team and winning culture in Burrow’s absence. They proudly take the field knowing that one of their recent alums was able to make it to the big leagues, and even if they cannot accomplish that, they play as if they can. Food & Beverage 4 Right off the bat, the concessions provided for fans who watch the football games do not have a wide or interesting list of choices. For some people, that’s a negative, and for others, that can be a positive.  Hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, nachos, the regular assortment of candy, the regular assortment of soda, bottles of water, and hot chocolate are what visitors can typically order when they are looking for something to either eat or drink while watching Athens play.  Sometimes basic concessions like that are all someone needs. They may not be the peak of food and drink quality, but they serve their purpose. Atmosphere 4 Any team, regardless of sport and size, with a wide fanbase will almost guarantee a good atmosphere. Joe Burrow Stadium is no different, and the advancements in improving every aspect of the stadium make for a better viewing experience.  Whether a game is played during the day or at night, one can still feel the enthusiasm and energy expressed by the players, coaching staff, and fans watching in the stands. Neighborhood 2 Joe Burrow Stadium can be found in The Plains, Ohio, which is a census-designated place in Athens County. It’s only about a fifteen-minute drive from Athens, Ohio, and Ohio University, and as of the 2020 census, the population was 3,140 people.  From an outsider’s perspective, there’s not a lot about The Plains that is particularly interesting or fosters excitement. The stadium and its presence make up for an area that is rather, well, plain in what it provides to its residents and those passing through. Fans 3 Athens High School competes in the Tri-Valley Conference (TVC) along with six other local school districts. Without a doubt, they have the best fanbase in their entire conference. Their regular fans and the students who participate in the school’s student section are top-notch.  However, one thing that should be taken note of is when the Bulldogs are in range of losing a game. Fans, whether they are regulars or students, have had a tendency to leave the game when they see that their team isn’t doing well.  This isn’t something exclusive to the Athens Bulldogs only, as there are a lot of high schools, colleges, and professional fanbases that commit this act as well. Fans should stay till the end if their team is either winning or losing, in my opinion. Athens’ fans are still great, but this does reflect poorly on them.  Access 3 Getting to and finding parking at Joe Burrow Stadium is tricky, to say the least. For a high school football stadium, it’s actually pretty good with how many vehicles it can park and have on its property. The tricky part is trying to leave the stadium after the game is over.  Last year, when I was reporting on a game the Bulldogs had won, I found it extremely difficult to leave the area and get back home at a reasonable time. I couldn’t imagine when the people behind me got back to their homes, respectively.  For anyone who may want to watch the Bulldogs in person at Joe Burrow Stadium, they need to be aware of this after a game has concluded. Return on Investment 5 Compared to other schools, the prices for tickets for a football game at Joe Burrow Stadium are actually quite generous. For one adult ticket, it only costs $7. Of course, children and senior citizens get tickets that are priced lower, as they should be. Extras 5 Before it was renamed to Joe Burrow Stadium, it was called Scott Riggs and Family Stadium. The full name of the complex before the change was Scott Riggs and Family Stadium R. Basil Rutter Field.  The former part of the title was named in honor of a major donor who contributed to the rebuilding of the stadium after an EF2 tornado damaged it in 2010.  Final Thoughts There isn’t much else I have to say about Joe Burrow Stadium that hasn’t been said at the beginning of this piece. It was a pleasure to report on the Bulldogs the previous two seasons, and getting to watch them perform in the facility like that made the covering experience increased my enjoyable.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 W.B. Mason Stadium Blessed Basil Moreau Dr North Easton, MA 02356 Stonehill Skyhawks football website W.B. Mason Stadium website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 2,400 The Sky’s The Limit   Many who follow college sports in New England were surprised when tiny Stonehill College, a school with an undergraduate enrollment of 2,500 students, announced in April 2022 that they were elevating their athletic programs to the Division One level and becoming a member of the Northeast Conference. The private Catholic school is located in North Easton, Massachusetts on the original estate of Frederick Lathrop Ames Jr. It was founded in 1948 by the Congregation of Holy Cross.   W.B Mason, a business supply company headquartered in neighboring Brockton purchased the naming rights for the facility. The company, led by CEO and Stonehill alumnus Leo Meehan, pitched in $1.5 million of the $4 million construction cost of the stadium. The playing field is dedicated in honor of Tim “Cogs” Coughlin, a class of 1980 alumnus and member of the Stonehill football team, who lost his life in the attacks on the World Trade Center. In addition to serving as home to the Skyhawks football team, W.B. Mason also serves as home to Stonehill’s field hockey, lacrosse and track and field teams.   Stonehill has sponsored football teams since 1988, using the nickname “Chieftains” until 2005. Stonehill football competed in Division Three until 1996, when they moved up to Division Two, staying there until 2021. The Skyhawks joined the Football Championship Subdivision’s Northeast Conference (NEC) in 2022. Since moving to Division One, the Skyhawks have compiled a record of 14-28. Approaching W.B. Mason Stadium. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Food & Beverage 3   W.B. Mason Stadium lacks permanent concession facilities. A tent is set up for Skyhawk football games beyond the north end of the grandstand operated by Bon Appetit Dining Services. The menu here features stadium standards, with a few rotating specialty items (i.e. cheesesteaks and bratwurst) thrown in to expand the menu on a given day. Coca-Cola products are featured at Stonehill athletic events.   In addition, a beer garden operated by nearby Shovel Town Brewery is located just beyond the north end zone. They feature a selection of their excellent microbrews, including a special collaboration with Stonehill athletics, Hillhaus, an Oktoberfest Marzen.   Atmosphere 3   Fans who have been visiting Stonehill regularly since the program’s elevation to Division One in 2022 will have observed the evolution of the gameday presentation at W. B. Mason Stadium, including the development of some Stonehill traditions and the overall improvement of the gameday experience. The staff have incorporated some giveaways and fan involvement into the gameday, such as having younger fans in attendance challenge Ace the mascot to a dance contest, students kick field goals for a television, and more. The music and PA announcements are slick and professional, and while this is certainly a small-school experience, it’s a fun time.   There does not seem to be a dedicated student section at W.B. Mason Stadium, but there is an active tailgating scene and enthusiastic fanbase. If you arrive early to the stadium, the parade of fans heading to W.B. Mason from the parking lot at McPhadin Library right before kickoff is very amusing. The sound system is quite good, and as mentioned before, the music and PA announcer add a lot to the atmosphere. The cheerleading and dance squads perform throughout the game. The school has installed a brand-new scoreboard in the north end zone during the 2025 season. While it looks much nicer than the old one, it doesn't offer any new features.   Ace roams the stands at W.B. Mason Stadium. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Neighborhood 2   Stonehill College’s sprawling campus keeps it hidden away from the hustle and bustle happening just beyond the campus borders. Stonehill is located on the Brockton/Easton town line, and state routes 123 and 138 intersect at the southwest corner of campus. Both roads are pretty busy commercial routes, lined with businesses, strip malls and plenty of dining and lodging options for visiting fans. Stadium Journey recommends checking out Stoneforge Grill or Brach’s Grill and Tap for your pre- or postgame meal.   While you may not find many attractions in the immediate vicinity of Stonehill, Boston is located just a half hour’s drive to the north. Visiting fans will find no shortage of things to do there. Fans looking for lodging options close to campus should check out the Residence Inn by Marriott located just off Route 24.   More information about local accommodations, restaurants and attractions can be found here .   Fans 2   Even with W.B. Mason Stadium’s rather small capacity, the entire undergraduate enrollment could fit inside. So, it’s not surprising that there are not huge crowds at Skyhawk football games, but average attendance since the program’s elevation to Division One has hovered at around 2,000 fans per game. Crowds over the years have tended to start off big and decrease over the course of the season.   There’s a decent, if not overwhelming, turnout by the student body. The majority of the fans in attendance appear to be locals, many of whom have a connection to the players down on the field. With the NEC’s compact geographic footprint, you’ll be sure to see a good number of visiting fans in the stands.   An interesting characteristic of a Stonehill crowd is that they are late arriving. Tailgating is allowed in the parking lots near the stadium right up until kickoff, and it seems that a good percentage of the fans in attendance keep the party going until the last possible minute. It’s pretty interesting to see the foot traffic increase along Blessed Basil Moreau Drive as kickoff time approaches. Stonehill game action at W.B. Mason Stadium. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Access 4   Stonehill College is located in suburban Easton, MA, directly to the west of the city of Brockton and 25 miles south of Boston. The campus is easily accessible, as both Interstates 495 and 93 lead to Route 24, which runs north-south just a mile from W.B. Mason Stadium. The stadium is located on the western edge of campus, adjacent to some of Stonehill’s other athletic facilities, including Lou Gorman Field  and the Sally Blair Ames Athletic Complex.   Fans will find ample parking in the lot in front of the McPhaidin Library located a short walk from the stadium, as well as several other parking lots scattered around campus. All of the lots are just a short walk to the stadium. The entrance to W.B. Mason Stadium is located on the southeast corner of the facility, with the grandstand on the opposite west side of the stadium.   Seating consists of a single grandstand that runs the length of the field. The center sections contain individual molded plastic seats, with the rest of the seating consisting of metal bleachers without backs. This new grandstand is fully ADA compliant and easily accessible for all fans. Fans looking for an alternate viewpoint can take advantage of the standing room along the southern edge of the field.   Unfortunately, the presence of a track surrounding the football field pushes the seats a bit further from the action. This is a common feature of the multi-purpose fields that are found at smaller schools. Rest rooms are located in the Sally Blair Ames Athletic Complex, with additional port-a-johns available behind the grandstand.   Return on Investment 5   Tickets to Skyhawks games are sold as general admission, with tickets priced at $15. Seniors 65+ and students can purchase tickets for $10.   Parking is free in the lots near the stadium. With inexpensive concessions, an afternoon at a Stonehill football game is a very affordable entertainment option for southeastern Massachusetts sports fans.   Stonehill Athletics Hall of Fame in Sally Blair Ames Field House. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Extras 1   An extra point is awarded for the Stonehill Athletic Hall of Fame located adjacent to W.B. Mason Stadium in the Sally Blair Ames Field House. During games the team store is also set up here.   Final Thoughts   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.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.