Photo courtesy of Kiko Gaspar Communications On Wednesday, February 7 the NFL announced that the Philadelphia Eagles would play as the designated team for the league’s historic first regular season game that will be played in Brazil, during the 2024-2025 season as part of the NFL International Series . Their opponent will be announced with the unveiling of the 2024 schedule sometime in the spring.   The first game in the International Series was held on October 2, 2005 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico in a contest between the Arizona Cardinals  and the San Francisco 49ers .   This year’s game is historic for several reasons – first is that this is the first NFL game to be played in Brazil, and second, the game set for September 6, 2024 will be the first time the NFL has scheduled a regular season game on a Friday night since the 1970 season opener, with the then St. Louis Cardinals taking on the Los Angeles Rams .   “Hosting the first NFL game in Brazil and South America is both a significant challenge and a tremendous honor – monumental occasion for our country, highlighting our importance on the global stage," said Gustavo Pires, a prominent figure in São Paulo's events and tourism sector in a news release. “Hosting the iconic Philadelphia Eagles in our city is [also] a true honor”.   São Paulo is the host city for this year’s contest which will be held at Corinthians Stadium, the home stadium of the SC Corinthians; the venue served as an official site for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and also was used during the 2016 Summer Olympics. This game is also significant for Brazil, as it will be held on the eve of the country’s Independence Day.   The Brazil game is a landmark for the NFL’s international efforts, especially its ongoing expansion into South America. Opening Week 1 of the regular season on foreign soil is a unique way the league is highlighting its international growth and global ambitions – as Brazil is home to 38 million residents, the opportunities for the NFL are obvious. Photo courtesy of Kiko Gaspar Communications   “With projections of over $60 million injected into our local economy, this event underscores São Paulo's potential to host major international sporting events,” Pires said. “As a city renowned for its vibrant culture and passionate sports fans, São Paulo eagerly anticipates the opportunity to showcase our warm hospitality to the world”.

The “Fastest Short Track on the Planet” is finally set to be on the big stage. On Tuesday, it was announced that the Iowa Speedway will host a NASCAR Cup Series race for the very first time. The NASCAR-owned track is located in Newton, Iowa, about 35 miles east of Des Moines. The announcement, made by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, NASCAR Hall of Famer and track designer of the Iowa Speedway, Rusty Wallace, NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski, and many other luminaries was the culmination of a long wait by NASCAR fans in Iowa who had heard rumors of a Cup race since the speedway’s opening. The 7/8-mile Iowa Speedway opened in 2006 and has hosted numerous races over the years. Currently, the track is home to an ARCA Menards race (Calypso Lemonade 150) in June, and a two-race IndyCar weekend in July. The speedway had previously hosted NASCAR Xfinity Series races from 2009-2019, but the 2020 race was canceled due to Covid and the race league hasn’t returned since. The Cup race, expected to bring in about $100 million to the surrounding community, will be part of a three-day race weekend in June, 2024. The event will begin with an ARCA Menards race on Friday, June 14, followed by an Xfinity race on Saturday, June 15, and the Cup race on Sunday, June 16. Follow my sports journeys on Twitter and Instagram : @stadiumjwriter

Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey If you ever attend a sporting event at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, you can walk down the street and find another piece of sports history in town, namely a tribute to one of the greatest racehorses of all time, Secretariat. To celebrate the birthday of the horse known as Big Red, March 30, 2024 was proclaimed as Secretariat Day, and a plaza honoring the Triple Crown-winning equine was dedicated. The ‘Racing into History’ monument, created by Jocelyn Russell, includes a statue of Secretariat racing at full speed, as well as brick facades on two sides showcasing the horse’s successes. The monument is located at the corner of Railroad Avenue and England Street in downtown Ashland, about 10 miles from Meadow Stable, where Secretariat was born in 1970. Penny Chenery, Secretariat’s owner and manager of his racing career, operated Meadow Stable at the time, and with the help of her father, Chris, bred the horse through a match between the 1957 Horse of the Year Bold Ruler, and the 1973 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Somethingroyal. Chris Chenery grew up in Ashland, attended Randolph-Macon College, and later founded Meadow Stable. The operation was sold in 1973 after Chris passed away, but visitors are still welcome to tour the historic barns and pastures – the site is now known as Meadow Event Park, and also hosts the annual State Fair of Virginia. Secretariat won 16 races out of 21 starts in his career, including most famously all three races in the 1973 Triple Crown – the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont. Secretariat was the first horse ever to run the Derby in under 2 minutes, a feat that has only been accomplished once since. More impressively, however, his records in all 3 races still stand today, over 50 years later – Secretariat’s largest margin of victory was winning the Belmont by 31 lengths. Secretariat was retired to stud at the end of his three-year old year, and his name now appears in the pedigrees of many modern champions, and he has also sired many leading broodmares. The great horse passed away in 1989 from laminitis, but thanks to the efforts of his fans, Secretariat’s memory can now live on forever in Ashland.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 ACU Soccer Field 1 W Firestorn Way Phoenix, AZ 85306 ACU Soccer Field website Arizona Christian Firestorm website Year Opened: 2024 Capacity: 500 A Desert Gem The ACU Soccer Field is the home pitch for the Arizona Christian University Firestorm soccer programs, nestled in the heart of Glendale, Arizona. The university was founded in 1960 as Southwestern Conservative Baptist Bible College before ultimately becoming Arizona Christian University in 2011. The university moved to its Glendale campus, which holds the unique historical distinction of being the former Thunderbird Field, a World War II pilot training base. This move allowed for the development of quality athletic facilities. The Firestorm are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and primarily compete within the Great Southwest Athletic Conference (GSAC). The ACU Soccer Field itself is a relatively new addition, built as part of the new campus's athletic complex construction, which took place in the years following the campus's move. Food & Beverage 2 There are no concessions at the venue, but there are many campus dining options literally a few paces away, so we will give them some credit there. Atmosphere 2 There is one small grandstand next to the playing field and a very simple scoreboard, so the atmosphere is fairly basic. It is a purist's soccer experience. Neighborhood 4 For travelers looking to dine outside of the campus's quick-service options, the surrounding area offers several appealing choices, with a strong recommendation going to the nearby Someburros restaurant for its popular Mexican food offerings. Beyond dining, the city of Peoria is close by, providing plenty of additional activities and entertainment to explore before or after a game. Fans 3 The typical attendance, comprising mainly family, friends, and a solid base of local students, creates a close-knit and supportive environment. It is basic, but the fan support is decent. Access 3 Getting to the ACU Soccer Field is straightforward, as the venue is conveniently located on the Arizona Christian University campus in Glendale. The school’s position offers relatively easy access from major roadways in the area, which is a significant plus in the expansive Phoenix metropolitan area. Parking is generally available on the campus itself, making the arrival process painless and quick, a luxury not always afforded to travelers visiting larger venues. Since the stadium is part of the overall campus facility, navigating to the field is simple, often aided by campus signage and the clear layout of the athletic complex. For those relying on public transport, options may be more limited, but for the typical driving sports traveler, the access is good. The simplicity of getting in and out of the game, paired with the proximity of the small grandstands to the field, makes for a stress-free experience from the moment of arrival until departure, allowing you to focus completely on the match. Return on Investment 3 While the games sometimes feature a small charge for entry, this cost remains negligible, and I've also found some games where entry is simply complimentary, which is fantastic. For a few dollars, or even for free, you get to witness authentic collegiate competition, making this an ideal, high-value stop. . Extras 2 The overall school spirit is embodied by the official mascot: The Firestorm, a mythical phoenix bird. The most compelling 'extra' is the sheer historical significance of the campus itself. The land was formerly Thunderbird Field, a World War II pilot training base, which adds a profound layer of history to every match played here. Final Thoughts The ACU Soccer Field is a perfect stop for the sports traveler seeking an authentic, intimate, and budget-friendly collegiate soccer experience.

On July 3, 1974, Ralph Legeman passed away, a day after his 70th birthday. The Evansville-based architect had designed general buildings since 1922, but would later innovate a new direction of building basketball gymnasiums throughout Indiana and Illinois. His contributions to the high school basketball game go unnoticed, but the facilities thankfully do not. If you ever attended a high school basketball game at New Castle, Boonville, Connersville, Indiana, or Jacksonville, Murphysboro, Herrin, Illinois, you are sitting in one of the 37 Legeman gymnasiums. A design that was implemented in many small-town high schools that were revolutionary at the time of their construction. We call them the sunken gym design today; back then, they were called 'underground bowl gyms' or, as a few school officials referred, "wing-dings". However, after initial hesitation by school officials, Legeman was able to convince schools that his innovative basketball gym would be the way to go in basketball-starved towns of Indiana and Illinois. Three-fourths of a century later, it's not hard to find them. I never met Legeman, nor have there been an array of articles honoring his dedication to the game of basketball, but when you sit in one of his designed structures, it's easy to see why they became popular. They were inexpensive, provided unobstructed views, the main concourse allowed additional seating and a running track during school hours, plus multiple exits through the various doors after the game. His concept was used first in Herrin, Illinois, where school officials were looking for a cost-effective gym to hold a high capacity of fans to replace its aging gymnasium. In 1946, Legeman woke up in the middle of the night during a thunderstorm and copied down his thoughts on a piece of paper. The next day, staff at his architectural firm came up with the blueprint that would soon be tested at the high school. His design would allow fans to enter at street level, not interrupt the action on the court below, and players would enter through a tunnel at courtside from an adjoining building, not to run into people. In case of an emergency, fans walk up the aisle through copious exit doors - much more efficiently than hurrying down aisles to the exits. A 6,000-seat building could be emptied within 7 minutes. The president of the Herrin school board was a civil engineer, saw the possibilities that the gym could have for his school, and agreed to have the radical new gym built. The gymnasium opened in November 1949 with 10 rows of bleacher seating in an octagon pattern; soon, other school officials began asking Legeman to consult and design a similar venue. By next year, four more would be constructed in Owensville, Indiana; Norris City and Murphysboro, Illinois; and an additional gym for Herrin Junior High School. "It's something that we're really proud of," said Herrin basketball coach Sayler Shurtz on a podcast for Clubhouse Athletics. "When they built the new school, the gym was so important that they built the school around it." The Owensboro Bowl was the first in Indiana, with a capacity for 2,000 people. The venue helped the school wrangle the sectionals away from other schools and attracted 12,228 fans for five games in 1951. The gym would be the host site for the tournament for five seasons before the games moved to Princeton in 1955. Huntington Memorial Fieldhouse still houses the Southridge Raiders. Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey. His second gym in Indiana would be the Huntingburg Memorial Fieldhouse, dedicated in November 1951. It is the largest of its kind, with a capacity of 6,002 and 17 rows of seating. The cost was between $250,000 $350,000 to build. In comparison, the Kokomo Memorial Gymnasium cost $680,000 in 1949. “Without a doubt, this new Memorial Gymnasium is the latest thing in modern design and is the most outstanding building in this area. It must be seen to be fully appreciated,” a local sports writer stated at the time. “Without a doubt, this new Memorial Gymnasium is the latest thing in modern design and is the most outstanding building in this area. It must be seen to be fully appreciated,” a local sports writer stated at the time. The in-the-ground design allowed the bleacher seating to be built directly onto the sloping dirt side of the excavation, saving money on building stands for the bleachers and making them impossible to collapse because they rest on the ground.  The new gyms were also a source of pride within their community. Many high schools were moving away from the “cracker box” style of gyms that would overflow with people during the basketball season. New Castle moved from the tiny Church Street Gym that held 1,800, built in 1924, to the New Castle Fieldhouse that sat 9,352 people, making it the largest high school basketball gym in the world. Orleans High School was proud of its new building that opened on Valentine's Day in 1958. A description of the gym is as follows from that year’s yearbook.  “Comfortable bleachers provided seats for 2,000 persons in the 130 by 154 room. Above them, temporary bleachers can be set on the broad concrete walkway. Vision obstructed by a post is a thing of the past as the view of the floor is completely unobstructed. A good P.A. system, tiled dressing room, attractive public restrooms, concession booths, and the tunnel ramp, which ends the need for players or officials to mingle with spectators--all these and much more-- add up a gym that should be adequate for years to come.” Legeman patented his stadium construction design in 1956, and by the end of the decade, 28 gymnasiums would be constructed using his blueprint. The majority of the designs were from schools in Southern Illinois from east to west in Indianapolis and south in Indiana.  A new court for the JHS Bowl, Photo Courtesy of Jacksonville High School The JHS Bowl in Jacksonville, Illinois, continues to be used with pride for the Jacksonville Crimson. It was funded through $188,00 in public funds and opened in November 1952. It is considered one of the most prominent buildings and one of the most distinguished in the Midwest.  It has hosted a myriad of events, from professional wrestling and boxing matches to MMA fights, and is home to the Class 1A Super-Sectional tournament. “Our guys love playing at The Bowl,” said former head coach J.R. Dugan. “The history of the teams that have played here and all the different events that have gone on here has always made the place exciting. I feel like we have one of the best gyms in the state, not a bad seat.”  Legeman’s last gym in Illinois was the Duff-Kingston Gym in Eldorado. The 4,850-capacity facility opened on February 15, 1958, and was later renamed in honor of basketball standouts Mike Duff and Kevin Kingston. They were members of the Evansville basketball team tragically killed in a plane crash on December 13, 1977. The annual Eldorado Holiday Tournament has taken place since 1964. The influx of people is an economic boom to the town that, in three days, becomes the center of basketball in southeastern Illinois. A total of 26 games are held during the tournament, featuring 16 teams with crowds of up to 4,000 for the championship tilt. “Duff-Kingston Gymnasium is a proud focal point of our town,” stated school AD Greg Goodley, who added that the tournament is a must to attend every year. “It is one of a kind in high school sports, with the ability to allow 5,000 people to view a game and for everyone to have a great seat or even have a great view standing round the top of the gym.” Warm-ups at the Duff-Kingston Gymnasium, Photo Courtesy of Eldorado High School Booneville Stadium in Indiana has become a mainstay in the community since its construction in 1958. The 5,650-seat gym pried away sectional games from Lynnville High School, which had its sunken gym constructed in February 1952. Booneville attracted 8,255 people to sectional games in 1959, while Lynville attracted 6,822 to the same amount of games the year before.  High School Athletic Director Kevin Davis said the building is a community icon. It has hosted the Harlem Globetrotters, and President Bill Clinton; it is a great place for shooting baskets. However, its sunken court design does lead to some fine tutelage when it comes to the maintenance of the gym, like screwing in a light bulb. “We can't easily get a lift or equipment down on the floor to fix lights or redo the floor. The gym is shut down for a couple of days if we want to do any bulb replacement or fix a light fixture. People do not realize how much manpower and work it is to fix a bulb.” Sadly, Loogootee, now known as the Jack Butcher Sports Arena, would be the final facility designed after Legeman's vision in 1968. A new kind of gym would become the rage heading into the 1970s called the “box gym” that would feature two levels of seating with roll-out bleachers and stair-cases allowing fans to move to the upper level from an exterior concourse. Many of these gyms still hold a lot of passion for people years after they stopped operating. The old North High School Gym in Evansville was dedicated in 1957 and would be home to the Huskies until the new school opened 9 miles north in 2012. The move also included a new gymnasium with a capacity of 3,457. The Academy for Innovation Studies Diamond Branch would move into the old campus and use the gym for storage.  The former Owensville Bowl is now a museum of sorts, Photo Courtesy of the REH Center The Owensville Bowl would host basketball until 1974 after the school merged with three others to form Southern Gibson. The building was saved from the wrecking ball in 1992 and turned into the REH Center a year later. It is the oldest of its kind in Indiana and is busy from November 1 to the end of March hosting church basketball leagues, pick-up games, senior walkers, sale auctions, town meetings, volleyball, and parties. The gym is also a museum, and its walls are plastered with a collection of memories from the old high school. It includes old varsity jackets hanging on the walls, photographs, game day programs, yearbooks, newspaper clippers, and trophies. For a gym that is no longer in use, it still provides a service to its community.  The West Gym at Center Grove High School is almost 70-years-old and was replaced by the Vandermeer Gym in January 1996. The gym was constructed along with a new school in 1956 and held 4,000 people in a community, which at the time had a population of 5,000. The West Gym was saved as an auxiliary gym and is used for volleyball and freshman basketball games. Occasionally, it returns as the home of the varsity team when scheduling conflicts or during county tournament games. The annual. throwback game draws a big crowd to the West Gym at Center Grove, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey. The gyms sold themselves due to low cost and it allowed many small communities the opportunity to afford them for civic pride, to attract more players to basketball, and to host sectional and regional tournaments. Many of the gymnasiums were larger than the communities they were built in according to L.V. Phillips, Indiana High School Athletic Director in 1956. "Indiana basketball didn't need a shot in the arm, but these fine new gyms in communities that have been able to afford them have done it anyway. Basketball all over the state already feels like a stimuating effect. We thought that nothing new could be added, but it has been." Many are still in use, and only two have been razed: Roberts Stadium, the former home of the University of Evansville basketball program, and Ridgway, Illinois. The gym in Lynnville, Indiana appears to have been turned into apartments or storage as of this writing. The Racer Arena on the campus of Murray State has been the home to its volleyball team and the second-largest of its kind in college sports. He must have been proud of his design since in 1965 he similarly designed his home in Evansville. The house is still standing and has the trademark trusses on the exterior of the structure. An image exists through Google . Ralph Legeman passed away almost 50 years ago, and he is somewhat of an unknown man, but his buildings are not. It is hard to tell the story of high school basketball in both states without mentioning his sunken gym courts. How many folks know that they are a result of one man's dream? They are his legacy for many basketball communities in the two states. His first innovative gym design will celebrate 75 years of celebration next November, and even if you don’t remember his name, you won’t forget his basketball gyms. Not bad for his 'wing-dings'. ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter  and his YouTube channel.   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

A trip to the Penske Racing Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, isn't just a detour; it's an immersion into a dynasty. Tucked away discreetly, this gleaming shrine to speed immediately establishes the weight of its contents. Walking through the glass doors, the atmosphere shifts from the dry Arizona heat to the cool, precise, and highly polished world of Roger Penske's legendary organization. More than just a collection of old cars, this museum chronicles a staggering half-century of dominance, housing the tangible evidence of over 600 major race wins, crowned by a record 20 victories at the Indianapolis 500. The layout encourages a reflective walk through history, where every trophy case and perfectly preserved tire tells a story of meticulous preparation and unparalleled competitive spirit. It is the hallowed ground for anyone who appreciates the business, engineering, and passion behind high-octane motor sports. The heart of the journey lies in the magnificent car collection, which vividly illustrates the breadth and versatility of Team Penske’s success across multiple disciplines. From the roaring muscle of NASCAR to the sleek, open-wheel mastery of IndyCar, the exhibits trace a remarkable arc of racing innovation. Center stage are legendary machines, including Joey Logano’s 2015 Daytona 500-winning Ford Fusion, a testament to the team’s versatility, and the iconic 1979 Penske PC 6, the machine that delivered Rick Mears his first of four Indy 500 triumphs. Viewing the cars up close, one can appreciate the technical details that defined each era. The sheer number of championship banners and memorabilia surrounding the vehicles makes it feel less like a museum and more like a high-speed hall of fame, perfectly preserving the legacy of "The Captain." Whether you’re a lifelong motorsports fan or simply seeking a compelling sports pilgrimage in the American Southwest, the Penske Racing Museum offers an inspiring and educational experience, made all the better by the fact that admission is FREE. It is easily accessible in North Phoenix, making it a perfect mid-day stop. The physical address you'll need is 7191 East Chauncey Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85054. You can generally find the doors open for visitors Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and on Sundays from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. If you are looking for a quick bite, note that the associated café operates on weekdays from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM, but is closed on weekends.

Photos by Jack Quinn, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.71 Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium 920 Paul W Bryant Dr Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Alabama Crimson Tide website Bryant-Denny Stadium website Year Opened: 1929 Capacity: 100,077 It’s All About Bama When you take the exit towards Tuscaloosa you’ll come upon a quaint small southern town that merely sits in the shadow of a cathedral that is Bryant-Denny Stadium. The massive bowl carries countless stories of success at the highest level of college football. The Alabama Crimson Tide have ruled the SEC and college football in general for many years, recently hosting opponents in their 100,000+ seat stadium, which is always buzzing on gamedays since it was expanded in 2010. Bryant-Denny is a full bowl-shaped stadium with a lower bowl and an upper deck that is disconnected into four large parts, one on each side of the field.   Food & Beverage   5 Bryant-Denny Stadium has no shortage of places to buy food and drinks during the game. Outside of the regular stadium food offerings, the venue has a World of Beer stand with extra items such as the “Denny Dog” and a German pretzel. In addition, the Poppin’ Sisters Popcorn stand offers fans the opportunity to buy gourmet popcorn in many different flavors. For drinks, fans can enjoy Coca-Cola products of their choice alongside domestic beer options that have prices around $12 to 15 per can. If you want an ice-cold water while you watch the Tide roll, make sure to grab it early, as concessions will run out of bottles fairly quickly, especially in the upper sections. Overall, you can’t go wrong with a Denny Dog and a drink of your choosing, to keep your stomach satisfied during four quarters of thrilling football.   Atmosphere   5 Be prepared to chant “Roll Tide” after every Alabama first down and see those patented red and white pom poms waving all around you. And if you’re not a country music fan, you soon will be, as the stadium tunes certainly are the songs of the southland. The layout of the stadium is an upper and a lower deck, with the students and the Alabama band situated on the south end. You’ll be faced with bench seating and generally be experiencing a sellout crowd at least for the first few quarters of the game. Despite the large capacity of the structure as a whole, the view from the upper sections is not a bad one at all. The videoboard situation is a unique one with four medium-sized boards, one at each corner of the stadium in between the lower and upper bowls; this is different than the typical two boards above either end zone, or one big one on one side only. The promotions during the game typically highlight other Alabama athletic teams, as well as student highlights such as the homecoming court. The band does a fantastic job of spelling out the letters B-A-M-A by sprinting to predetermined spots all at once, and they perform the alma mater song beautifully. Other entertainment factors include the LED light show that can be seen during night games, particularly during the singing of “Dixieland Delight” when the lights go red and the fans sing along to the words (and add a few questionable phrases of their own). Other singalong hits include Sweet Home Alabama and Friends in Low Places. As far as seating is concerned, if you want to avoid the sun as much as possible sit on the north to northeast side of the stadium. Or if seeing the logo right side up is important to you, then look for seating on the east side. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house, regardless of how big the stadium feels.   Neighborhood   5 Bryant-Denny Stadium is located on the southwest side of the University of Alabama’s campus, and is surrounded by various apartment buildings, fraternity houses, and academic facilities. The main strip is a short 5-minute walk away, as are stores to get groceries and gas. Tuscaloosa is a fabulous college town highlighted by the main strip of University Boulevard, containing bars, restaurants, and shopping. After the game ends, the police do a great job of controlling the crowd and the cars, making the boulevard safe to roam about on. There are plenty of great places nearby to get a bite to eat, just a few of which are Avenue Pub, Dreamland BBQ, and Urban Bar & Kitchen. There’s also a wide variety of fast food options littered throughout the strip. For game night entertainment, check out The Houndstooth for a vibrant outdoor/indoor experience, Galletes for a more nightclub situation, or Lookout for a nicer rooftop environment. Don’t let the long lines scare you away from a fun night out in Tuscaloosa, ideally after an Alabama victory! For lodging, there are numerous hotel chains in Tuscaloosa to book a room at, as well as tons of Airbnb opportunities outside of downtown. If you’re flying to the game, you’re most likely headed through Birmingham, which is not a bad option for lodging as well, being about an hour’s drive away from Tuscaloosa.   Fans   4 The Alabama fanbase is one of the most passionate there is…but also one that expects victory every single Saturday. Don’t take the rating here the wrong way; 100,000+ fans screaming at the opposing team during a 3rd-and-long is quite the scene. However, contrary to some other SEC environments, the Tide fans lean more toward sitting down for most of the game rather than getting active and into every play. Nevertheless, when Bama fans want to make life miserable for the opposing team, they certainly have the ability to do so. And with the stadium at full capacity nearly every single Saturday, the one critique that could be placed on the shoulders of these fans is their energy on all the non-game-altering plays. With that being said, one of the best traditions in college football is hearing the roar of Dixieland Delight echo across the bowl during a timeout in the 4th quarter of a tight game.   Access   4 Access into Bryant-Denny Stadium itself has its ups and downs, as you might expect with a place that holds as many fans as it does. Going through the gates can be congested, and it’s recommended you head toward your seat well before kickoff. One of the best features of Bryant-Denny, though, are the spiral ramps at each corner of the stadium; these thick passageways are perfect for a sea of people to walk up to get to their seats. Transit into the stadium is hit or miss as well. If Ubering into the area you may not get as close as you want to, so preparing to walk around 5 to 10 minutes is encouraged. If attending a game during homecoming weekend or another university event, road closures may play a role in transportation into town, as well. While Ubering as close as you can get to the facility is recommended, you can park near Bryant-Denny as well, if you get there early enough to snag one of the few open spots. There will typically be makeshift signs detailing the price to park on someone’s lawn or outside of their residence, and street parking is also available, again with early arrival recommended.   Return on Investment   5 You come to Alabama to see where legends are made, and the fan experience certainly gives you a taste of that firsthand. The sheer size of the venue where the Crimson Tide take on their opponents is enough to get an audible “wow” out of anyone who sets foot inside. With prestige comes price, of course, and tickets to a conference game, for example, can reach up to $150 for the upper bowl and $300 for the lower. However, if you are smart with parking, lodging, and food you should be able to make your trip well worth it.   Extras   5 The stadium opened with a 55-0 win over Mississippi College in 1929. Bryant-Denny is 5th in the SEC in stadium capacity behind Texas A&M , LSU , Tennessee , and Texas . When full, the stadium would qualify as the fifth largest city in Alabama.   Final Thoughts When the Tide are rolling, you can feel it. There’s a reason the SEC runs through Tuscaloosa each and every year, and you can feed off that energy, excitement, and success. Alabama is a bucket list college football experience not just for Bryant-Denny Stadium, but also for Tuscaloosa as a town, and the pageantry involved with one of the most successful programs in college football history.

Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Climate Pledge Arena 334 1st Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109 Seattle Kraken website Climate Pledge Arena website Year Opened: 1962 / 2021 Capacity: 17,151 Seattle’s Sustainable Green Jewel The Space Needle might be the most visited attraction in Seattle, but Climate Pledge Arena is quickly becoming a must-see venue for sports fans and concert devotees. The arena, now in its fourth year of operation, is the newest National Hockey League building, and this month will become the home to an expansion women’s hockey team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). The Seattle Torrent will host its first home game on November 28. The goal of the arena is to be the most progressive, responsible, and sustainable in the world. It was named after The Climate Pledge, founded by Amazon and Global Optimism in 2019. The building is powered 100% by on and off-site renewable energy from both the Alaska Airlines Atrium roof and above the 1st Ave N. Garage. 1,300 on-site solar panels are generating 440,000 kWh annually. Climate Pledge is novel for many reasons, and yet it's a rebrand of an older facility. The arena located north of downtown Seattle sits in a 74-acre entertainment complex known as the Seattle Center. It was the site of the 1962 World's Fair, and from 2018 to 2021, the arena underwent a $1.15 billion redevelopment (with no city funds allocated) that preserved the original exterior and roof of the Key Arena. The venue was declared a Seattle Landmark in 2017 and listed on the Washington Heritage Register as well as the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. The new building has a capacity of 17,151 for ice hockey and 18,300 for basketball (home to the 4-time WNBA champion Seattle Storm ). Throw in some concerts and other events and Climate Pledge is busy as it hosts about 200 dates per year. The City of Seattle and OVG (Oak View Group) have signed a 39-year lease with two, eight-year renewable options for a potential lease of 55 years. Food & Beverage 5 Climate Pledge offers a wide array of food and beverage choices with an emphasis on seafood.  The food choices include: 1st Avenue Nachos, Ballard Pizza, Bavarian Meats, Big Chicken ($14.75 for the original sandwich with pickles), Bristol Bay Chowder, Casa Escobar, Dumpling House, For the Grazers, Mercer Street Mac & BBQ, Molly D Burgers, Prohosky Prohosky, Sound Pizza, Hempler’s (chicken tenders and fries is $17.25) and Poke Bop. Stadium Journey recommends the Salmon Sandwich on a brioche bun ($16.99) from Bristol Bay. Beverages include Starbucks (of course), Emerald City Smoothie ($14.99 for fruit supreme or berry berry), 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Bar Northwest, and Coors Light Center Ice, Kraken Rum Bar, Jack Daniel’s Bar, Modelo Bar, and PNW Craft Beer Wall. CPA also features a few vending machines for soft drinks featuring Pepsi products. A 16-oz Aquafina is $7.49. The best deals for beer are a 16-oz Coors Banquet Can for $8.99, and Aslan Tidebreaker West Coast IPA is $9.99. Four food and beverage stores are equipped with Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology with Amazon One to make the in-arena shopping experience more efficient and cut wait times.  The combination of this concept and many different food courts does make the wait for food and beverages bearable in between periods.  The bathroom lines are another story. The goal is to have 75% of food ingredients come from within a 300-mile radius. House wines and craft beer are sourced from Washington or Oregon. If you choose soft ice cream, Mister Softee is the provider. A souvenir ice cream mask is $13.49, a regular cup is $10.99, and a kids cone is $7.99. Unlike many arenas, Climate Pledge typically offered most food choices on both the first and second levels. Atmosphere 4 The crowd gets hyped by a DJ who pumps some electrifying tunes during the pre-game warmup. The arena has an organ, but it does not get a tremendous amount of use. The Kraken fits right in with the lore of a city with a long maritime heritage. This month, the team unveiled a third jersey with the logo crafted in tonal black-on-black stitching, making it nearly invisible, like a predator lying in wait. The Kraken is a mythical giant octopus that lives in Puget Sound and has magic powers. The team has incorporated the octopus into a distinctive ice blue S logo with a single red eye. Keeping with the local theme, the goal horn is the defunct MV Hyak ferry's whistle, and the goal song is a modified version of the song Lithium from local legend Nirvana, with Let’s Go Kraken added. The arena has two six-sided scoreboards, one over each zone and not over the center ice area. The boards, which are higher than most NHL jumbotrons, were designed not to stress the architectural design of the original roof and not to interfere with sightlines. The dual scoreboards are clear and allow most seating areas to see the screens. The only negative is that the boards do not display which players are on ice during play. Neighborhood 5 CPA is located within the Seattle Center, home of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Its neighbors include the iconic Space Needle, which has a revolving rooftop restaurant, as well as the Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Museum of Pop Culture. The monorail system comes through the museum on its way to its final stop at the Space Needle. As fans approach the arena on foot, it resembles more of a suburban neighborhood with some greenery in the area. The building looks small from the outside since about half of the seating area is buried underground. The glass windows let in plenty of natural light, and spectators can see some of the seating area and the scoreboard from certain locations outside the building. There are many places to stay within walking distance of the Climate Pledge Arena, including Hyatt House, Hampton Inn and Suites, Four Points Sheraton, and The Maxwell Hotel. A few places to pregame include The Uptown Hophouse, Agave Cocina & Tequila, and the Queen Anne Beerhall. Fans 5 The building has been sold out for every home game for the past three seasons. The Krakheads are an enthusiastic bunch, but on this visit, they did seem to lose a bit of steam in the third period. The ice is illuminated first in sea blue and then changes to bright red as the PA announcer blares “This is Kraken Hockey” and follows it up with “Welcome to the Deep,” and the crowd roars as the Kraken take the ice. During the anthem sung by Tommie Burton, the fans enthusiastically yell “SEE for SEA” and “RED GLARE” . A celebrity, loyal fan or sports personality leads the surge as fans yell “Let’s Go Kraken” leading into the opening faceoff. Then the Seattle Kraken mascot, a sea troll named Buoy, takes over and starts banging his drum to lead the fans in the Let’s Go Kraken chant throughout the game. Buoy is inspired by the Freemont Troll sculpture. The Kraken have a group of cheerleaders better known as the Sea Squad who entertain and urge the fans on before the start of each period and during breaks in the action. The Kraken have only made the playoffs in one of their first four seasons, but that has not dampened enthusiasm. The Lair is the Team Store, which is only open on game days, and was packed on this visit. New coach Lane Lambert will attempt to lead them back to the postseason. Jessica Campbell enters her second season with the Kraken as an assistant coach after becoming the first full-time female assistant coach in NHL history to work behind the bench during the regular season. The building does not enforce the puck-in-play policy that some NHL venues enforce, not allowing fans to return to seats until there is a stoppage in play. That rule can be good or bad depending upon the beholder, as hockey is conducive to continuous action and often has few whistles. into a new NHL franchise, they also wholeheartedly buy into what the Climate Pledge Arena is trying to do. Access 4 Climate Pledge is one of the only venues in the country to offer free public transportation to games and other ticketed events. The goal is to have at least 25% of attendees use public transportation. Fans can also ride bikes and scooters to the facility. There are many protected bike lanes surrounding the arena. Bike Link Bicycle lockers are available in the 1st Ave N Garage on a first-come, first-served basis. Scooters can be parked in one of the designated sidewalk zones. The Seattle Center Monorail is a 90-second ride between downtown and Seattle Center. From the Seattle Center station, it is just a short walk to Climate Pledge Arena. Parking downtown and taking the Monorail is the fastest option to get to and from the event. Sound Transit offers an excellent light rail service that runs from the SeaTac Airport to the University of Washington campus. Riders going to a Kraken game would simply exit at the Seattle Center Station and cross the street to the monorail system. The monorail runs directly to the Seattle Center (90-second ride), where it is a leisurely walk over to CPA. For drivers, there are three main parking garages nearby. They are located on 5th Avenue, Mercer Street, and First Avenue North. Each garage has electric vehicle charging stations. Parking ranges from $25-45, depending upon the lot and location. The arena has seven access points (one is for press only and one for patrons needing an accessible entry), and the process was easy. ​​Entry 1 is the most used public entry located on the southwest corner of the arena off of the Alaska Airlines Atrium, facing 1st Ave N. Gates open 90 minutes before the starting time. Reusable (non-glass) water bottles are permitted and must be no larger than 32oz and empty upon entry. Upon entering the arena, fans are in the 100 level, which is really the mid-level or upper concourse. Walking down leads to the lower level sections 1-26 (lower concourse), and the 200 level is up above. Most of the lower-level seats are subterranean, while the concourse and main south entrance at the Alaska Airlines Atrium are at ground level. The only negative is that the scoreboards cannot be seen from the upper rows of both the upper and lower bowls. Return on Investment 3 Seattle is an expensive city, and the same can be said for prices at Climate Pledge. The arena ranked as the 7th most expensive according to the Fan Cost Index in 2024. The cost to take a family of four was $528.35 for four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas, and parking. Without a doubt, tickets and food are costly. On the secondary ticket market, the prices for a Kraken game can go for less than $100 in the upper level and about $125 and up, but that is for weeknight games. Seattle’s emphasis on farm-to-table food is great, but it does elevate prices. Kraken owner Samantha Holloway did listen to fans and lowered season ticket prices for many seats coming into this season. The team also offers a 25% reduction on food and drinks for full and half-season ticket holders. Extras 4 Seattle won a Stanley Cup before the inception of the Kraken. In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans defeated the Montreal Canadians to win the Stanley Cup, and a banner hangs from the rafters to commemorate that Cup. Ironically, Seattle was competing for a second Stanley Cup in 1919, when the series was canceled due to the breakout of the Spanish Flu pandemic. CPA features wider concourses and the Living Wall, a visual of 25-30 different species of plants native to the Pacific Northwest, which stretches 200 feet long and 14 feet tall. The wall is located next to the Club entrances. Going green is befitting of the Emerald City, and it seems to be working. From the bathrooms, no fossil fuels to renewable energy, to reducing waste, and is impressive. The arena features Sue Bird and Lenny Wilkins statues outside the main entrance. Wilkens, who coached Seattle to an NBA title in 1979, was the first person inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame three times: Player (1989), Coach (1998), and Olympian (2010). Wilkins recently passed away at age 88. Bird played her entire career with the Seattle Storm and led the team to four WNBA titles. Bird is a five-time Olympic gold medalist. Final Thoughts The Climate Pledge Arena features excellent sightlines, a solid sound system, and the combination of new and old works well to make it one of the more unique buildings in the National Hockey League.  Its ability to make it sustainable is another huge plus, and it is definitely worthy of a stadium journey. Follow Greg Venuto’s stadium journeys on Twitter @VenutoGreg and Facebook .

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Hart Center Arena at Luth Athletic Complex 1 College Street Worcester, MA 01610 Holy Cross Crusaders volleyball website Hart Center Arena website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 3,600 Crusader Volleyball’s Second Home   The Reverend Francis J. Hart Recreation Center is part of the Luth Athletic Complex, a multi-purpose facility located on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA (pronounced “Wustah” by locals). Reverend Hart was the guiding force behind intramural athletics at the College for more than 40 years, and his legacy is honored in this athletic center. John and Joanne Luth donated $32.5 million to the college in 2015 towards expanding and renovating the athletic department. Their donation largely funded the massive renovations to the complex in 2016. The Hart Recreation Center houses not only the Holy Cross basketball arena , but a 1,400-seat hockey rink , a six-lane swimming pool with separate diving area, rowing tanks, racquetball and squash courts, a full-sized gymnasium for competition or practice, a sports medicine center, an auditorium, the college’s strength and conditioning facilities, office and meeting space. Behind the Hart Center is a full-size track, practice fields, soccer field  and a lighted turf field   which service numerous varsity sports and intramural programs. The Holy Cross volleyball team plays the majority of their matches in the Coach George Blaney ’61 Gymnasium, a 300-seat gym located right across the hall from the Hart Arena in the Luth Complex. The school moves marquee games that may feature larger crowds to the larger basketball arena. During the 2025 season, the Crusaders played seven matches in the Blaney Gym and five in the Hart Arena. Volleyball started at Holy Cross as a club sport in 1974, just two years after the college became co-ed. In 1976 the program became a varsity sport, going 3-10 at the Division Three level. In 1982 the Crusaders elevated to Division One, competing initially in the MAAC conference and then the Colonial Conference, the predecessor to the Patriot League, where Holy Cross continues to compete today. The Crusaders have yet to qualify for the NCAA tournament.   Food & Beverage 1   A pair of concession stands are located in the main lobby. Unfortunately, these are usually not open for Crusader volleyball games. Even during Stadium Journey’s most recent visit, when a women’s hockey game was happening on the other side of the lobby, they remained shuttered.   Luckily, there are some vending machines located a bit past the concession stands in the main lobby. Bottles of Pepsi products and some snack foods are sold in these machines. Also, fans are allowed to bring in their own snacks to enjoy during the match.   Atmosphere 3   College volleyball is a sport that is growing in popularity in leaps and bounds. It’s fast-moving, filled with action, and even five-set matches don’t take a real long time. Holy Cross supports the action on the court with a solid, if unspectacular, game presentation. There are video boards on either end of the gym that display graphics, videos and basic game information. The excellent sound system is put to good use with music during play stoppages, and the PA announcer provides game information while injecting a little energy into the proceedings. Unfortunately, with a large gym that is largely empty, it can be a bit hard to understand him at times.   While there is a decent crowd on hand at the Hart Center, the facility is just too large. While this allows fans to spread out, it does dampen any noise made by the fans in attendance. Volleyball fans do tend to be a boisterous bunch, as are the teams themselves. The antics of the players on the benches can be quite entertaining.   Neighborhood 3   Worcester is the second largest city in all of New England, but has never enjoyed much of a reputation as a destination location. That all began to change when the city announced that the Pawtucket Red Sox would be moving to the brand-new Polar Park , located just 2.5 miles from the Holy Cross campus.   Holy Cross is located in southwestern Worcester about three miles from downtown. There isn’t much in the immediate area of campus in terms of dining or lodging options, but the city of Worcester contains many excellent options.   Worcester’s acclaimed “ Restaurant Row ” on Shrewsbury Street is home to over forty different eateries, shops and salons. It’s a favorite destination for locals looking to enjoy a night on the town. Fans will find additional options in the downtown area around the DCU Center . The up-and-coming Canal District, anchored by the new Polar Park , is rapidly growing and worth a look. Likewise, fans looking for lodging options should head downtown, as there is nothing around Holy Cross.   Traditionally overshadowed by its neighbors in Boston and Providence, Worcester is carving out its own niche as an affordable, attractive alternative to those cities.   Fans 2   Since the Blaney Gym only seats 300, games that may attract larger crowds are moved next door to the larger Hart Arena. For the 2025 season, the five games held in the larger gym averaged 189 fans, with a high of 341 present for the season finale and Senior Day. Compare that figure to the average of 146 fans who showed up for the seven matches played at Blaney Gym.   Volleyball crowds in the northeast generally fall into what we here at Stadium Journey call the “friends and family” category. The majority of the fans in the stands have some sort of connection to the players on the court, and as a result are very knowledgeable about the team and very passionate in their support. Volleyball fans are very enthusiastic and vocal throughout a match, and Crusader fans are no different. While vocal, this is not a rowdy crowd. You’ll find fans of both teams coexisting peacefully in the stands here in Worcester.   Access 4     The Holy Cross campus is located in southwestern Worcester, at the junction of Interstate 290 and Route 146. Hart Recreation Center is located at the southern edge of campus atop Mount Saint James, adjacent to many of the school’s athletic facilities. There is a large parking lot adjacent to the arena. The College of the Holy Cross’ location gives it spectacular views of the city below.   2016 renovations greatly expanded and modernized the facility. Fans enter into a bright, modern lobby. All the center’s facilities share a concourse, which is where you’ll find the concession stands, restrooms and Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame. Long gone are the 70’s style carpeting, trophy cases and stained-glass windows of the old Hart Center.   The Hart Center Arena is located to your left as you enter the building. Fans will enter the arena at floor level. Only the seats on the north side of the court are utilized for volleyball matches. Lower-level seats consist of molded plastic bleachers. There are three rows of individual plastic stadium seats at the top of the lower level, and metal bleachers make up the balcony seating. All seats at the Hart Center are painted purple and enjoy great views of the court.   Return on Investment 5   There is no charge to attend a volleyball game at Holy Cross, even when marquee games are moved from the Blaney Gym to the Hart Arena. Parking is free in the large lot adjacent to the Luth Complex, and with no concessions on site, you won’t have to reach for your wallet even once when taking in a Crusader volleyball match.   Extras 1   Extra points are awarded for the sense of history here at the Hart Center. A bronze statue of the school’s most famous athletic alumnus, Bob Cousy, greets visitors, and the Holy Cross athletic Hall of Fame is filled with names of Crusader greats.   Even though all the banners in the Hart Center Arena honor the school’s basketball team, we’ll still award an extra point for all the sporting history that happened at this small school back in the day.   Final Thoughts   While the Hart Arena is not the primary home of Holy Cross volleyball, it’s a more than adequate place for the Crusaders to set up shop for their marquee games. If anything, it might be too big for their needs.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Cressy Field 285 Old Westport Rd Dartmouth, MA 02747 UMass Dartmouth Corsairs football website Cressy Field website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 1.850 Corsair Football at Cressy Field The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (better known as UMass Dartmouth) is one of five campuses in the University of Massachusetts system. It is located in the town of Dartmouth on the South Coast of Massachusetts, in between the cities of Fall River and New Bedford. The university has an enrollment of about 8,000 students, about half of whom live on campus. The school offers 123 undergraduate programs and 32 graduate programs. Cressy Field, Umass Dartmouth's multi-purpose outdoor stadium, is named in honor of Peter H. Cressy, Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth from 1993 to 1999. In addition to the football team, Cressy Field serves as home to the men’s and women’s soccer teams, field hockey, and lacrosse teams. Football was first played at Southeastern Massachusetts University as a club sport in 1985 (the school changed their name to the UMass Dartmouth when it was merged into the UMass system in 1991). The team originally played at Sargent Field (now named Paul Walsh Field ) in New Bedford. In 1988 football was upgraded to a varsity sport to coincide with the opening of Cressy Field on campus. The Corsairs have qualified for the NCAA Division Three tournament three times in their history, most recently in 2024. UMass Dartmouth has also played in five postseason bowl games Food & Beverage 3 A huge upgrade in the concessions experience was undertaken late in the 2025 season, as food trucks were brought in to replace longtime concessionaire Chartwells. Chartwells handles the campus' catering, and traditionally served up a menu of basic, traditional stadium fare. A pair of local food trucks offered up a diverse, high-quality menu for hungry Corsair fans. Boston Trolley Dogs served up giant gourmet hot dogs topped with pulled pork, chili and more, along with chicken fingers, fries and other snack items. Supa Dupa served up BBQ sandwiches and nachos with a variety of meat toppings. If you visit Cressy Field during their annual Blue and Gold Game, in addition to the usual concessions, a beer tent is located adjacent to the football field. At this time, it's not clear if the food trucks are a permanent addition to the UMass Dartmouth game day experience or just a temporary change for the last couple of games on the 2025 schedule, but judging by the lines at the food trucks, this was a big hit with the fans. Lines at Food Truck at Cressy Field. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Atmosphere 3 You wouldn’t expect an elaborate gameday presentation at a small venue like Cressy Field, and you won’t get one here. Still, all the elements you would expect to see at a college football game are found here. The school's cheerleaders and pep band perform throughout the game. Music plays over an excellent sound system during play stoppages, adding noise and energy to the festivities. A scoreboard in the south end zone provides basic game information, and the PA announcer adds a lot of energy to the proceedings without being too over the top. There’s a pretty good turnout from the student body and a really good turnout from the players’ families. As you might expect, they are really into the game. For a D-3 game, this can be a pretty loud place. As the Corsairs program has enjoyed success over the past few years, the game day experience and fan support has grown along with it. The squad currently enjoys one of the longest home winning streaks in all of college football, having won 26 consecutive games as of the end of the 2025 season. They have not lost a home game since 2019, before the pandemic. Neighborhood 3 UMass Dartmouth is a self-contained campus located in the suburban town of Dartmouth, MA, in between the cities of Fall River and New Bedford on the state’s south coast. Route 6, which is lined with businesses, eateries, and lodging options, is a mile from campus. Visiting fans looking for a bit of local flavor may be disappointed with the endless suburban sprawl of big box stores and restaurant chains, but if you are good with these options, there’s plenty to be found. A complete visitor’s guide to the area around campus can be found here . Stadium Journey’s favorite spot to visit after a Corsairs football game is Buzzards Bay Brewery, located about a ten-minute drive from Cressy Field in neighboring Westport. Buzzards Bay offers up a variety of excellent craft beers, and on most weekends the brewery features live music and food trucks at their site on a converted farm. Max's Burgers and Cask 'N Pig BBQ are other excellent options nearby. Visiting fans coming to the area may not wish to spend a whole lot of time in either Fall River or New Bedford, two cities struggling with some of the issues facing many poor cities in the northeast. Still, there are places of interest in both cities. Fall River is home to Battleship Cove, the largest collection of World War II naval vessels in the world. Also nearby is the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast/Museum, located in the same house where the infamous murders took place in 1892. The museum is open for tours and fans of the macabre can even spend the night at the house. The New Bedford Whaling Museum focuses on the history of the Whaling industry and features a walkable downtown with cobblestone streets near its working waterfront. There are plenty of attractions in the area for visiting fans. Boston is located about an hour away to the north. Cape Cod is located a half-hour to the east. Providence is a half-hour away to the west, and Newport, with its Gilded Age mansions, is 45 minutes away. The Jolly Roger Flies at Cressy Field. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Fans 3 The crowd at a UMass Dartmouth football game can vary greatly depending on the day of the week, weather and opponent, but a typical crowd numbers between 1,000-2,000 fans per game. For the 2025 season the Corsairs averaged 1,400 fans per game. There's a good turnout from the student body at football games, and a lot of support at the school between all the different Corsair teams. One of the great things about going to games at smaller schools is the connection that so many in the stands have with the players down on the field. With many of the players in the game coming from local towns, a great percentage of the fans in the stands consist of families and friends. The fans here create a lot of noise and energy as they support their team. Access 3 Cressy Field is located on the southern end of the UMass Dartmouth campus, alongside the University’s other athletic facilities, including the Tripp Athletic Center . The town of Dartmouth is located in southeastern Massachusetts, in between the cities of Fall River and New Bedford. Located about an hour’s drive south of Boston, the campus is easily accessed by car, as it is located just a few miles from Interstate 195. Fans utilizing public transportation will take SRTA’s number 14 bus that runs hourly between Fall River and New Bedford. Schedules can be found here . UMass Dartmouth has a unique layout, with the majority of the buildings on campus located within a single ringed road that circles the campus. Visitors to UMD will enter on the north side of campus and drive around to the athletic complex on the south side of campus. Parking is available in one of the many lots that ring the campus. To help fans access the Cressy Field more easily, the school has instituted shuttle service from the parking lots to the football field. Several manicured paths will guide fans through a grove of trees to the football field. Seating is comprised of metal bleachers on either side of the field. There is plenty of room around the field for fans who wish to stand and take in the action. Portable restrooms are located on the north end of the field as well as in the nearby Tripp Athletic Center . UMass Dartmouth Corsairs during the National Anthem. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Return on Investment 4 All ticketing at UMass Dartmouth is done electronically through the HomeTown Ticking app. Cash is not accepted at Cressy Field. Tickets are sold as general admission for ten dollars. Seniors and youth receive a two-dollar discount. With free parking and inexpensive concessions, a visit to Cressy Field is an affordable entertainment option for southeastern Massachusetts football fans. Extras 1 An extra point is awarded for the unique setup and architecture of the UMass Dartmouth campus. The school was named in 2013 by Travel and Leisure as one of the ugliest campuses in the nation. The campus was designed by famed architect Paul Rudolph in the early 1960s in the Brutalist style. To contrast the school’s buildings from the outside world in an attempt to create a social utopian environment, most of the buildings on campus are made entirely of concrete (béton brut) and feature irregular features which attempt to create a more communal atmosphere. Many visitors to campus describe it as resembling a prison. It may be better described as a bunch of gray concrete spaceships parked in a giant open field. Either way, it's a most unique campus. Claire T. Carney Library at UMass Dartmouth. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia. Final Thoughts One of the more entertaining Division Three football experiences in New England can be found at UMass Dartmouth. After the game, take a tour of one of the more interesting campuses in the nation. In a region dominated by Gothic architecture, this Brutalist campus in the middle of the southeastern Massachusetts woods certainly stands out. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Fans will experience something new at LMCU Ballpark in 2026. The West Michigan Whitecaps announced a Drink Rail Section, offering comfort, space, and plenty of socializing during the season. ​The new area replaces bleacher section 125 and features mesh swivel seating with a drink rail, dedicated wait staff, ample space, and prime views from the third-base line. ​“This upgrade has been discussed internally for a couple of seasons as we conducted our master plan for LMCU Ballpark, " said Whitecaps Community and Media Relations Manager, Nate Phillips. “The Drink Rail Seating was a concept that was a more recent development, instead of more box seats, in response to what our fans have been asking for.” Individual Drink Rail Seats will be priced at $28 per game, with 5-game and 10-game ticket plans, as well as group opportunities, available for fans who wish to purchase seats for multiple games and larger gatherings. Mesh seating has become popular in other ballparks around the country, in Las Vegas, Indianapolis, and Erie, Pennsylvania. “The new mesh seats are designed with optimal comfort for beating the heat,” Phillips added. “No more sticking to that hard plastic seat on hot, humid, Michigan summer nights.” The Whitecaps are also upgrading all remaining  reserved sections from traditional bleacher-style benches to individual box seat chairs, completing a ballpark-wide transformation to modern seating. ​​Fans can also expect unique sightlines and hospitality areas at the stadium next season. The team is working on future phases of the LMCU Ballpark Reimagine Project and will share developments when they become available. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter   @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Sean MacDonald and Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Crisler Center 333 E Stadium Blvd Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Michigan Wolverines website Crisler Center website Year Opened: 1967 Capacity: 13,751 Michigan's House of Hoops The University of Michigan Wolverines are known for their football program, which holds the most wins of any in the country. But that doesn't mean that basketball is given short shrift. Although the Crisler Center, home of the Wolverines' hoops squad, sits in the shadows of The Big House, the program itself has much to be proud of, including a beautiful venue that should not be missed by stadium visitors. Named after former football head coach and athletic director Herbert “Fritz” Crisler, Crisler Arena was built in 1967 as the existing facility at Yost Field House (now Yost Ice Arena, home of Michigan hockey) was not large enough for the crowds. Those fans wanted to see star player Cazzie Russell, so Crisler is nicknamed The House that Cazzie Built. Russell went on to be the New York Knicks first overall pick in the 1966 draft and won the 1970 title with the team. A massive renovation led to the venue being renamed to Crisler Center, giving the Wolverines an arena that is competitive with any in the conference. Keeping that traditional college basketball feel and balancing it with modern amenities and decor. There is a lot of history here, too, both good and bad. In 1989, Steve Fisher took over the program before the NCAA Tournament, and the Wolverines ran off six straight wins to become National Champions for the first and only time. A few years later, the Fab Five era kept the Wolverines in the national news, though a scandal destroyed the reputation of the program, costing them conference championships, appearances in the 1992 and 1993 Final Fours, and the 1997 NIT championship. Rebuilding after the probation was long and arduous, but the school is back where it belongs, with 12 tournament appearances since 2009, including two trips to the Final Four, where they were the runners-up (ironically, their opponent in 2013 was Louisville, which had to vacate their title due to yet another scandal). These days, the Crisler Center is a lively place to see some quality college basketball. How does it measure up in other ways? Read on to find out.   Food & Beverage 4 All of the athletic venues at the University of Michigan have the same concession provider with similar offerings at similar prices. Crisler Center has a single concourse with 15 major stands. The most common is Wolverine Classics, which offers hot dogs and stadium sausages that are provided by Dearborn Sausage Company, and they are very good. Snacks include a soft pretzel for $6.5 (add $2 for the cheese cup) and popped maize instead of popcorn, a shoutout to the school colors of Maize and Gold. A frozen Icee is $7.25, and you can also get a box of Champions Cookies for $9. Buddy's Pizza, famous for Detroit-style pizza, offers a four-square pepperoni or cheese pizza going for $16.  Big House BBQ has loaded BBQ Nachos for $15, the same price as a BBQ Chicken Sammie, which is the most appealing option. Another common option is Flock, where a chicken tender basket is $13.24; add just 75 cents for the Hot Honey variety. Chips and Cheese are $7, while an order of fries is $7.50. Coca-Cola products are on offer in various sizes. A souvenir beverage mug is $12.25, a 32-ounce souvenir cup soda is $9.50, and a 20-ounce bottle of pop is $6.5. Bottled water will cost $5.50, while hot chocolate or coffee is $5. Alcohol is now available here, with a 16-oz. can of beer ranging between $12.25 and $13.50, while a canned cocktail goes for $16.25. Overall, although food and beverages are rather expensive, it is of higher quality than fare found in similar stadiums. If you’re staying in Ann Arbor, though, better to save your appetite for the large selection of excellent restaurants found downtown. Atmosphere 4 Originally opened in 1967, Crisler Arena was once like many of the other facilities built in that era: a round structure lacking windows and natural light. It has undergone three renovations over the years to bring the facility up to modern standards, with the most recent leading to the renaming of the venue. The exterior of Crisler Center is smart-looking with brown brick and the famous block M markings.  Entering from the east will probably give fans the grandest entrance, ascending an escalator to the main concourse, where you will be greeted by the cheerleaders. Around the concourses, the details are obvious with simple yet effective touches like high-quality flooring with verses of the fight song etched in. Around the walls, there are displays for each of the varsity teams that Michigan sponsors. There is little to no exposed concrete. The feeling is inviting and warm, which is a far cry from where it once was. The large display on Cazzie Russell entitled “The House that Cazzie Built” enlightens fans to some of the Wolverine basketball history. Inside the seating bowl, fans are greeted with two levels of navy blue, modern, comfortable stadium seats. The court runs from north to south, and a large video board hangs above center court. The rafters are littered with banners for Big Ten Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.  Proudly hanging in the south end is the 1989 NCAA National Championship banner. Directly across from the championship banner are the honored numbers of Bill Buntin, Cazzie Russell, Phil Hubbard, Glen Rice, and Rudy Tomjanovich.   Sight lines at Crisler are excellent, also, and the east side of the building is the spot to be for fans hoping for that perfect picture of the center logo. The student section, known as 'The Maize Rage', sits in Sections 18-28, with overflow going to Section 30. Some seats in Section 28 are sold to the general public, so if you sit there, you are right in between the students. Game day at Michigan is a real college experience.  Most of the music is provided by the band. The cheerleaders and pep team add to the atmosphere on the court.  The game is not overproduced, and there is not a ton of advertising. Overall, there is a great feeling to Michigan basketball. Neighborhood 5 Downtown Ann Arbor is within walking distance, and you will find a great variety of excellent restaurants, bars, shopping, and breweries around. Zingerman’s Delicatessen is a favorite spot and is featured on ESPN as the local place to go, and would be a perfect early morning stop if you want to get supplies for a gourmet tailgating party. Places like Ashley's and Arbor Brewing Company's Corner Brewery provide excellent full-service options as well. If you like Italian food, then Mani Osteria and Bar comes highly recommended, especially if you want something a little more upscale. Frita Batidos serves up tasty Cuban-inspired food. The Blue Nile serves up Ethiopian food, which is both unique and delicious. If you want to enjoy a cheaper option, the New York Pizza Depot offers a few specials throughout the week. Kids will love the Ann Arbor Children’s Museum, while adults might prefer the university's Museum of Art. Both should be inspired by the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology or the Museum of Natural History. All are within walking distance of each other and the sports complex. Hotel accommodations can be found clustered near I-94 just to the south of the stadium, but expect to pay a hefty sum to stay here. If you’re flying in, the Detroit airport is about 20 miles to the east along I-94, and there are plenty of hotels there for a much better rate. Another alternative is to stay in the northeast corner of the city along Plymouth Road.   Fans 5 Michigan basketball fans are passionate, and that showed as over 10,000 showed up for an exhibition contest that we attended. Even more impressive were the students, who filled their sections and were raucous from start to finish. The crowd was into the game and cheered loudly when things were going their way. They also showed remarkable patience during a game that dragged on far too long due to some heavy-handed officiating. Access 4 The Crisler Center is in central Ann Arbor, equidistant from I-94 and Highway 23, the main expressways around the city.  Getting to Crisler Center, as with all Michigan athletic facilities, will require some travel through the city. Considering that this town welcomes over 110,000 fans for Wolverine football games, getting 10,000 in and out of Crisler Center is not too difficult. There are some parking options, with the Pioneer High School lot being the cheapest at $20. However, you should be able to find free parking on a neighborhood street not too far away, or leave the car downtown where meters are not enforced after 6 p.m. Even then, expect traffic on Main Street, which is a single lane in each direction, with lights and crosswalks all the way. Remember that no bags are allowed at any Michigan sporting event, which makes entry quick and painless. Getting around Crisler Center is not too difficult, as the single concourse is more than wide enough and the washroom facilities are spotless.   Return on Investment 4 Michigan Wolverines basketball offers a solid return on investment. Ticket prices vary depending on the opponent, ranging from $13 for non-conference foes to $28 for those in the Big Ten. However, in many cases, the secondary market will offer better value. SeatGeek is the official reseller and has the most inventory, as well as an excellent seating map, so you can see exactly where you will be sitting. The atmosphere is terrific at Crisler, and fans will not be disappointed with the experience. Extras 4 A point for the historic displays in the east concourse. Take a moment to examine all of them, including the Hall of Honor on the glass. A point for the history lesson about Cazzie Russell, a name that more basketball fans should learn. Another point for the incredible display around the entire concourse dedicated to each varsity squad that wears the Maize and Gold. A final point for the hardwood photographs depicting Great Michigan Moments. Final Thoughts Basketball may not be the first thought when it comes to Michigan athletics. However, the Wolverines have been a great team recently, with appearances in the National Championship final to prove it.  Crisler Center has seen some significant improvement, and fans will not be disappointed in their experience at the House that Cazzie Built.  It may not be a basketball bucket list item, but the Michigan Wolverines will provide a pleasant surprise for the stadium traveler.

Photos by Jack Quinn, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Faurot Field 600 E Stadium Blvd Columbia, MO 65203 Missouri Tigers website Faurot Field website Year Opened: 1926 Capacity: 62,621 SEC Football in the Midwest Faurot Field is nestled on the south end of the University of Missouri’s campus. The stadium is named after the legendary coach Don Faurot, who helped lay the sod at the original field back in 1926. Faurot Field is famous for its horseshoe shape, with a grass section highlighted by a white “M” behind the north end zone. This area, which is currently under construction, will have a very similar look and feel as before upon completion.   Food & Beverage   4 Faurot Field offers the classic college stadium food and beverages, with plenty of options spread evenly throughout the concourse. Outside of the usual suspects, Faurot is also equipped with a Dickey’s BBQ Pit stand, as well as an Andy’s Frozen Custard stand. In addition, fans of the typical stadium menu will find a plethora of burgers, dogs, and nacho options. Stations for beer are littered throughout, with Bud Light being the title sponsor of the stadium. Feel like submerging yourself into the MU culture as much as possible? Go find a signature cocktail called “The Drink”, a name derived from current head coach Eli Drinkwitz. Or for non-alcoholic options, fans can enjoy all the usual Coca-Cola products.   Atmosphere   3 The environment created at Faurot Field is vibrant, loud, and full of passion. Unfortunately, however, Missouri plays in the SEC, and when it comes to the rest of the conference, this stadium isn’t quite up there among the elites of the sport. Nevertheless, attendance in recent years has been very good, with consistent sellouts every Saturday. The construction on the north end creates a gap in the overall environment, but you can tell the fans here are determined to make up for that small loss in seats. The student section is strategically located behind the visiting bench, and even from across the stadium their presence is surely felt. The hit song “Welcome to the Jungle” ushers the home team onto the field before kickoff, a fitting intro for the Tigers and their faithful fans. In addition, it is common to hear one side of the stadium yell “M-I-Z” and the other side respond “Z-O-U” after a first down. The Missouri Waltz is also a great tradition, led by the wonderful band urging the fans to “wave the wheat” slowly in each direction to the beat of the music (this song may or may not contain an obscene remark towards rival school Kansas ). While a night game is always ideal, if you are attending during the day the southeast side will get most of the sun. Lastly, the university does a great job promoting other sporting events going on at Missouri, with announcements occurring at multiple points during the games, in case visiting fans wanted to attend another event.   Neighborhood   4 Faurot Field is situated on campus in an area with a few other sports buildings, with the academic quad not too far away. The parking lots that surround the stadium are commonly used for tailgates by alums and students. Some of the hot spots in terms of food nearby in Columbia include Shakespeare’s Pizza, Gumby’s Pizza, and Heidelberg. In addition, East Broadway Blvd contains everything a visitor needs in terms of restaurants, bars, and other entertainment. The main hotel here outside of the typical chains is the Tiger Hotel, though it may be fun to snag an Airbnb somewhere outside of town instead, as the neighborhoods that line campus appear very put together.   Fans   4 These days with the Tigers on the rise, Faurot Field is at capacity for almost every game day. The crowd is certainly engaged at the beginning and can create a very loud and intimidating environment for any team. The Tiger faithful will stay in their seats even when they are losing, with the singing of “Mr. Brightside” at the beginning of the 4th quarter potentially contributing to that. In general, the fans are very nice here and a family environment can be found if so desired; I am not sure the same can be said across the rest of the conference.   Access   5 With Faurot Field situated on the edge of campus, Uber is the most recommended form of transportation to the stadium; there are a few parking garages in the area, but they fill up quickly. There may not be an easier entry system into a football stadium in the entire SEC, than can be found here. Ticketing and gate entry is a breeze and with so many entry opportunities, you only need to allow for 5 minutes or less to get to your seat. The same can be said about moving around the stadium, with the wide concourses and double lane ramps.   Return on Investment   3 The Missouri game day cost is exactly what you would expect from a non-top tier SEC school. Ticket prices for average seats can range anywhere from $70 to $170 depending on how good either team is playing that given week. The overpriced stadium food and drinks certainly show at Faurot Field, as they do in most places across the country, but the walkability of the campus/town may save you some money on transportation and parking.   Extras   3 The renovations to the stadium will be done in 2026, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of the facility. At 62,621 Faurot Field is 13th in the SEC in capacity. The signature “M” that is set to return to the north end zone in 2026 is made of large white stones.   Final Thoughts Faurot Field is a less talked about stadium in the SEC, and most assume it doesn’t have the real southeastern aspects that the other schools do. But, there’s no doubt about how much SEC pride Tiger fans have, and if you pay close enough attention, the hints of a Saturday-down-south culture can certainly be found.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey, and Pima Athletics Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 West Campus Aztec Gymnasium 2202 W Anklam Road Tucson, AZ 85709 West Campus Aztec Gymnasium website Pima Aztecs website Year Opened: 1971 Capacity: 1,000 A Desert Gem Pima Community College, established in 1966 when the citizens of Pima County, Arizona, approved the formation of a junior college district, has grown into a vital multi-campus institution in the greater Tucson area. The West Campus, where its athletics are centered, officially opened to students in the fall of 1971. The college’s athletic teams, known as the Aztecs, compete in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) as part of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The Aztecs have a strong tradition across various sports, consistently fielding competitive programs that are frequently ranked nationally. The West Campus itself is architecturally significant, having been built between 1968 and 1970 with a bold, exposed reinforced cast-in-place concrete design. It is nationally recognized for its innovative, Brutalist-inspired aesthetic, which interacts beautifully with the desert topography. The mascot of Pima Community College is the Aztec, which is a powerful and respected symbol across the campus, though the mascot's in-person appearance for fan interaction at smaller regular-season matches is not guaranteed. Food & Beverage 4 There is a very small concession stand at the gym with a very large menu offering menu items at a very decent price. Atmosphere 3 Stepping into the Aztec Gymnasium, a visitor is immediately struck by the purity of the sporting environment. This is a classic, mid-century college gymnasium design, where the court is the undisputed focus and spectator seating is kept tightly against the sidelines. The structure is intimate, which is its greatest strength, ensuring that the visual and auditory experience is maximized for every fan. The bleacher-style seating puts you right on top of the action. Neighborhood 4 Tucson, Arizona, is the second-largest city in Arizona as well as the county seat of Pima County. In the metro area, over one million people live. For those looking for local flavor, the immediate area has a variety of quick dining options. A short drive will bring you to local staples like Filiberto's Mexican Food, which is a popular regional chain for quick, satisfying Mexican fare, a must-try for travelers looking for authentic Southwestern flavors. The entire Tucson area is rich in history and culture, offering unique attractions like the Mission San Xavier del Bac, a historic Spanish Catholic mission just a short drive from the college. This proximity to both urban amenities and untouched nature means the venue serves as a great launchpad for exploring the unique character of Tucson before or after the game. Fans 3 The crowd is predominantly composed of players’ family members, friends, and other Pima students who are genuinely invested in the success of the Aztecs. Access 3 Reaching the West Campus Aztec Field is straightforward and stress-free for the average visitor. The facility is easily accessible, located on the northern part of the sprawling West Campus. One of the most significant fan advantages is the plenty of parking nearby, which means the typical sports travel headache of searching for an expensive, faraway spot is eliminated. Being located on a college campus means the infrastructure is designed to handle student and staff traffic, and this translates into an easy arrival for event attendees. Given the venue's location near major Tucson roadways, getting to and from the site, even from downtown or other parts of the city, is a relatively simple drive. The ease of access and ample, free parking are a tremendous convenience that greatly improves the overall game-day journey. Return on Investment 3 Costs are a bit high with general admission at $10. You need to pay with cash or Zelle, which is a unique mix of options. . Extras 2 Pima has a history of national success, and this level of consistent excellence means you are watching a truly elite program. Another unique fact is the prominent presence of the surrounding Brutalist-style architecture of the main West Campus buildings, which were designed by renowned architects and have been featured in national architectural journals. This architectural detail makes a trip to the Pima campus a unique cultural experience in addition to a sporting one. Final Thoughts Pima Community College provides an outstanding, high-value opportunity to see nationally-ranked junior college athletics in a beautiful, accessible setting. The experience is intimate, authentic, and focused on the pure love of the game, making it a highly recommended stop for any true sports enthusiast traveling through Tucson.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 McKale Memorial Center 1 National Championship Dr Tucson, AZ 85721 McKale Center website Arizona Wildcats website Year Opened: 1973 Capacity: 14,688 Bear Down at McKale The McKale Memorial Center, the venue hosts men’s and women’s basketball for the University of Arizona, as well as volleyball and gymnastics. There are also many offices located throughout the venue for various Wildcats athletics. The McKale Center opened in 1973 as a replacement for the Bear Down Gymnasium. Bear Down is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was the “Adams College” gym in the 1984 blockbuster film Revenge of the Nerds. McKale Center was named after J. F. “Pop” McKale, who was the Arizona athletic director from 1914 to 1957. The court itself at McKale Center bears the name “Lute and Bobbi Olson Court” after the legendary Arizona head coach and his late wife. There was a recent renovation to McKale that included the installation of the center-court scoreboard, two LED banners along each sideline, new seating and concessions areas, and relocation of bathrooms to the exterior concourse. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand for volleyball matches with a nice, but limited menu. Prices are fairly high. Atmosphere 3 Although the venue is not the newest one out there, the renovations have made sure that the McKale Center is a perfect, modern venue for high-end sports. The scoreboard and other displays are what this level of play should have. Volleyball matches will usually have part of the arena blocked off by a large curtain. The venue is pretty interesting in terms of accessing the seating bowl. There is not one main entrance but a series of tunnels and hallways, often through office areas, to get you inside the venue. Neighborhood 4 Tucson, Arizona, is the second-largest city in Arizona as well as the county seat of Pima County. In the metro area, over one million people live. McKale Center is located on the southeastern corner of the campus near Arizona Stadium, home of the university’s football team. There are many restaurant options near the venue. If you want to venture away from campus, we also recommend Mercado San Agustin and the MSA Annex. In that area, Seis Kitchen is a great Mexican restaurant. The Aloft Tucson University is a hotel very close to the McKale Center. We can also recommend the Loews Ventana Canyon resort if you want to go a bit higher end. Fans 4 The Arizona Wildcats boast one of the most dedicated and famously spirited fan bases in all of collegiate sports, and their passion for the volleyball program is evident from the first point. The crowds attending matches at McKale are consistently knowledgeable, demonstrating a sharp understanding of the tactical game and reacting with genuine excitement to critical defensive efforts and strategic plays. Access 3 Being located on a crowded urban college campus, parking will be a bit difficult. There are many lots and garages, all at varying price levels. Please plan and either buy parking ahead of time or be very aware of your parking options before heading to the game. There is a good public transportation option in Tucson's Sun Link Streetcar system that stops very close to campus. A good option is to park at the Mercado San Agustin mentioned above and take that option to the game. Return on Investment 3 For a big-time program, the admission prices can vary by the match and are not the cheapest around. Concession prices are also fairly high. . Extras 4 The unique and varied entrances to the seating bowl are an extra all on their own, but it also offers a fan a way to check out the various displays of past team successes for all the programs that play in the McKale Center. Check out the Lute Olson statue and display. The varied food offerings, especially southwestern items, are a nice touch. The external concourse, added during recent renovations, allows a nice meeting spot for fans. Final Thoughts The University of Arizona Wildcats is a well-known program, and the McKale Center is a great venue for a high level of play.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 The Works Field House Memorial University of Newfoundland 17 Westerland Rd St. John's, NL A1B 3R7 Memorial Sea~Hawks website The Works Field House website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 1,400 Sea~Hawks on the Coast Memorial University of Newfoundland was established in 1825 and is the only university in Canada's final province.  The school has over 19,000 students. Athletic teams at Memorial began playing other schools in the 1950s and played their first basketball season in Atlantic University Sport (USports' eastern-most conference) in 1973.  They were originally named the Memorial Beothuks, after the indigenous people of Newfoundland, but adopted the Sea~Hawks moniker in 1990.  Basketball success in the AUS has been fleeting for the Sea~Hawks, who have made it to the semi-finals on six occasions, but have never made it to the finals or competed for a National Championship. Home for the Sea~Hawks is The Works Field House.  Located on campus, The Works Field House acts as the practice and game venue for basketball and volleyball, and also services track and field and a host of other recreation and training facilities.  It is a unique facility and serves the university well. Food & Beverage 3 There is a small snack bar-style concession behind the east side seating area.  There is also a cafe-style seating area beside the concession.  The menu includes pizza, hot dogs, chocolate, popcorn, candy, soda and Gatorade.  For fans from out of the province, one of the unique flavours of Crush soda may be of interest.  Pineapple and Birch Beer are very popular flavours in Newfoundland.  Beer, wine and liquor is also surprisingly available at Sea~Hawks games. Atmosphere 3 The Works Field House is a unique facility in USports and doubles as the indoor track and field facility for the Sea~Hawks, so it is an actual fieldhouse in the sense that it refers to a large indoor facility that supports outdoor activities.  The exterior of the Field House is not unattractive.  The rounded roof with green ends sits atop a brown brick and tan block exterior.  The main entry at the southwest corner is two stories of green glass that allows plenty of natural light into the facility.  Upon entry, fans are met with a small box office window for ticket purchases before heading upstairs to the main viewing area.  The Field House contains a 200 metre track, on which everything in the building works.  An elevated, 360-degree walkway leads to a variety of recreation and training equipment.  At the south end of the track is the basketball court.  The other two-thirds of the track are curtained off and contain other courts and recreation areas in the middle.  The basketball court is south-north oriented with retractable seating on the east and west sides.  The south end of the Field House has the main scoreboard as well as championship banners from other Memorial teams.  The seating consists of 12 rows of padded, fold-down seats.  The top four rows of seating are molded, plastic benches.  The best view is from the east side, which provides the proper view of the centre-court logo, and is where the majority of fans sit. The gameday production at a Sea~hawks game is very simple.  There are, surprisingly, no announcements for players who have scored in the game.  At the game that was reviewed, the PA announcer began to announce scoring, but stopped very early in the first half.  There are no real promos at the game.  There is definitely a community feel in the stands, and it is a bit of a throwback as kids would play on the court during halftime, a practice that was popular in other USports basketball venues but has all but been eliminated. Neighbourhood 4 The Works Field House is located on the campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland in the University Area neighbourhood of St. John’s.  St. John’s is a city of over 110,000 people and is the biggest city and capital of Newfoundland and Labrador.  There are a few spots for pre and post-game food and drinks that are not too far away.  The Bigs Ultimate Sports Grill, Pops Diner, The Pantry Cafe and Guv’nor Inn and Pub are some options.  Heading to Downtown St. John’s will give fans a ton of original options and has the Newfoundland feel to it.  The Newfoundland Regiment of the QMJHL is new to the city in 2025 and is the other main sports option.  St. John’s is a terrific tourist destination, especially early in the season.  Some other tourist options include Signal Hill, Jelly Bean Row, The Rooms and Johnson Geo Centre.  The Mile One memorial for Canadian hero Terry Fox is a must see when in St. John’s as well.  For fans looking to stay in the area, heading downtown to the Delta or Hilton are good spots to stay. Fans 3 Assessing fans for USports basketball is very difficult as the teams and league do not publish attendance figures.  All games are doubleheaders with the women’s teams so that may have something to do with the lack of attendance figures.  Memorial Sea~Hawks games appear to be well attended.  The game that was reviewed saw a healthy number of fans populating the east side stands.  Sea~Hawks fans are pretty quiet and reserved throughout the game and do not get terribly excited about much.   Access 5 The Works Field House is located on the campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland in the University Area neighbourhood of St. John’s.  It is on the east side of Westerland Road, between Prince Philip Drive and Elizabeth Avenue.  Getting to campus is not very difficult.  It is 1.5 km south of the Trans Canada Highway and 2 km west of Downtown.  There is plenty of free parking on site, at the south end of the Field House.  For fans interested in public transit, there are buses that enter campus and travel Westerland Road.  Fans should consult the Metrobus website for fares, schedules and maps.  With the Field House being so spacious, it is not difficult getting around the facility.  The washroom facilities are adequate for the facility. Return on Investment 5 USports basketball is very affordable and Memorial Sea~Hawks offer some of the cheapest tickets in the league.  Tickets for the Sea~Hawks are doubleheaders with both the women’s and men’s teams and go for $8 per person.  The concession prices are good and the parking is free.  This all adds up to a very affordable evening with some quality basketball on the court. Extras 1 An extra mark for the perseverance shown by Memorial University towards their basketball programs as the Sea~Hawks are the most remote team in the country. Final Thoughts Taking in a Memorial Sea~Hawks game while in St. John’s is a great way to add to a Newfoundland vacation.  The Sea~Hawks provide a solid product on the court and are among the most affordable tickets in the country.  It may not be the first idea a fan gets when heading to the east coast, but it should definitely be considered. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Alumni Stadium 1282 N Dupont Highway Dover, DE 19901 Delaware State Hornets website Alumni Stadium website Year Opened: 1957 Capacity: 7,193 Fear the Swarm! Delaware State has been a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) since its founding in 1970. The MEAC is made up of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) located between Florida and Delaware. Delaware State is the smallest of the MEAC schools with a little over 3,600 students and was ranked 9th among all HBCUs by U.S. News & World Report in 2014. It opened in 1891, eventually to be named Delaware State College, and later changed to a university in 1993. One of their most unique programs is the university-based flight school, and it also has a fine business school. The Hornets football team plays at 7,193-seat Alumni Stadium, which is also their track and field venue. They are a four-time conference champion and made their first-ever FCS playoff appearance in 2007 losing to in-state rival Delaware. The team has had its ups and downs over the years. In 2007 they were named Black College National Champions, a mythical championship shared with Tuskegee University. The lowest point in the program’s history came on November 9, 1980, when Delaware State lost to the Portland State Vikings by a score of 105-0 in the most lopsided loss in Division I-AA Football history. Food & Beverage 3 There’s not much going on at Alumni Stadium in terms of official food stands, at least not consistently. If you check the grandstand by the main entrance, you’ll see two food stands that are often empty and unused. However, the local vendors usually save the day. You’ll find food trucks and local setups out on the grassy areas surrounding the track. You may find a stand offering popular quick-service chicken tenders, which is always a reliable option for a quick bite. A more official-looking stand in the northwest corner may also be open, serving up a fish dinner with two sides, along with a classic funnel cake, Hot Dogs, and Italian Sausage. Atmosphere 4 The stadium has a very unique atmosphere. At first glance, it looks like a pretty poor facility. There are high schools with better stadiums. And the track around the field makes views feel pretty far away. The south stand is mainly bleacher seats with a few areas with seatbacks. The north stand is entirely bleacher seats with no seatbacks. But the crowd is into their team. The band fires up the sound and gets everyone into the action. The stadium alone deserves a low rating, but the atmosphere makes up for the lack of facilities. The stadium also has a multi-media display system, featuring a high definition video screen and scoreboard that enhances the action. Neighborhood 3 You won’t find a quaint college town neighborhood here. Alumni Stadium sits right off the very busy DuPont Highway. From your seat, you can see the Dover Mall and the Dover International Speedway. I once even heard a stock car screaming around the track while walking up to the stadium. A produce store sits right next to the north stand, with another still open store nearby, so you’re good to go if you need pet supplies. The area is good if you need food and sustenance before or after the game. You'll find popular chain dining options nearby like Raising Cane's and Qdoba, which offer quick and familiar fare. For something a little heartier, Mission BBQ is a solid choice for post-game food. The area is filled with chain restaurants and big-box stores, making it convenient but decidedly unromantic. Also, construction is currently underway on a southern outpost of the Canadian coffee chain, Tim Hortons, which is definitely being built right up the road, promising Timbits and Double-Doubles soon. Fans 4 The fans are enthusiastic, even when the team isn’t meeting expectations. The excellent band, cheerleaders, and dance team help keep the energy levels high and the fans engaged. Access 4 The university is right off of a major road in DuPont Highway. A toll road, Route 1, takes you most of the way north to Wilmington is also nearby. Dover is about a one-and-a-half-hour trip from Philadelphia or Baltimore, and at least two hours from Washington DC. It seems close by on a map but is isolated at the center of the Delmarva Peninsula. If venturing to a shore destination such as Ocean City, Maryland, or Rehobeth, Delaware, then Dover may make a quick, enjoyable stop, but as a destination, it is not the easiest location to travel to. Watch out for NASCAR weekends when traveling in the area; those weekends are not recommended unless you have no other options, as traffic can pile up, so leave yourself additional time in those cases. There may also be tolls unless you are already on the eastern shore or the Delmarva region. If traveling from the DC and Annapolis area you will have to pay tolls across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. If going around the top of the bay from Baltimore you will have to pay very hefty tolls on either Route 40 or I-95. And coming from Norfolk you will need to pay for the Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Parking is easy as you will be directed by university police to various lots around the campus. It is free except for the annual homecoming game where parking will be $20 or if you choose to park right by the stadium. Return on Investment 3 Normal ticket prices run from $10 to $25. Homecoming gets a price bump from $30 to $40. Youth tickets are typically $5 (or $10 for homecoming), with seniors (62+) paying $10. With free parking (most days), the price seems just about right for the overall experience you’ll have. . Extras 1 There is not much to this stadium. The lack of official food seems weird, but the local vendors offer some great food at a great value. This is the one true extra here at Delaware State University. Final Thoughts While many high schools boast far better facilities than Alumni Stadium, the passionate crowd, great atmosphere, and fine quality of play ensure that a visit to Delaware State football is a good time for any fan.

Photos courtesy of Gregory Koch Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 E.B. Henderson Sports Complex 4200 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20008 UDC Firebirds website UDC Turf Field website Capacity: 300 Firebirds of Fury The University of the District of Columbia, known as UDC for short, is a historically black college (HBCU) and the only public university in the District of Columbia. The school was founded in 1851 and is located in the Van Ness neighborhood in Northwest Washington. The school's athletic teams are known as the Firebirds and compete in Division II of the NCAA, in the East Coast Conference. The Firebirds' soccer team plays on a turf field that is also home to the school's lacrosse program. The naming of the field in various sources is inconsistent, with it being referred to as the UDC Turf Field, the UDC Soccer Field, the UDC Sports Complex, and the UDC Soccer/Lacrosse Complex. To make matters even more confusing, the sign outside says Firebirds Field, yet another possible name. We will keep it simple for this review and call it the UDC Turf Field. The field was renovated in 2024, adding bleacher seating for 300 fans as well as lights and a new scoreboard/ Food & Beverage 1 There is no concession stand at the UDC Turf Field. However, there are vending machines selling drinks in the lobby of the E.B. Henderson Center next door if you get thirsty. Atmosphere 3 UDC Turf Field is a small, intimate facility with seating for only a few hundred fans in some bleachers, which are extremely close to the action. You will be able to hear the chatter on the field between coaches, players, and referees. A scoreboard is located behind the right goal, and cleverly repurposes space that is used for penalty time in lacrosse to instead show corner kicks and shots on goal for each team. A UDC soccer game is a very basic experience with few bells or whistles. You are basically here to watch soccer. and not much more than that. Neighborhood 4 The UDC campus is located in the Van Ness neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C. You will find many places to eat or drink nearby, including Sfoglina Italian and Pho 14. The Tenleytown neighborhood is about a 15-20 minute walk away heading west on Van Ness Street, and offers even more options. Fans 3 UDC draws a decent crowd consisting mostly of friends and family of the players, with occasional locals and alumni. Many of the fans are family members of the visiting team as well. Although it isn't the largest crowd, the fans are quite involved, cheering on their team the best they can from start to finish, showing a spirit you don't always see at this level. Access 5 Getting to the UDC campus is very easy, whether you are driving or taking public transit. The Van Ness-UDC Metro stop on the Red Line is located right next to campus, an easy walk from the stadium. You can also park in the campus garage, a short walk away, entering off Van Ness Street. Parking in the garage is officially $8 for 1-3 hours and $12 for 3-6 hours, so depending on how early you get there, expect to pay somewhere in this range. That being said, when Stadium Journey visited, the parking pay machines were down and the gate was up, allowing us to park for free, so you may get similarly lucky. We visited a game in October 2025, and the machine seems to have been down since at least December 2024, when we attended a basketball game there and parked for free then as well. So the chances of being able to park for free may be higher than previously thought. If they ever fix the machine, you're going to have to pay, though. Once you park, you will walk up a flight of stairs to the main campus, and the stadium is around the corner up another small flight of steps to the gate. There are no restrooms at the field itself, but there are some next door inside the Henderson Center, which are open during soccer games and more than sufficient for the crowds. Return on Investment 2 Tickets are $7 for UDC soccer, which is a very high price to pay for Division II college soccer. They can only be purchased on the Hometown Ticketing app, although there is a QR code to scan at the gate if you do not buy in advance. Parking may also be quite expensive, assuming they manage to charge for it, making a UDC soccer game an expensive event for the level of play this is. It certainly won't break the bank, but pretty much everything else at this level will cost you less. Extras 1 Check out the statue of a firebird near the entrance to the stadium, honoring UDC's unique mascot. Final Thoughts UDC's soccer stadium provides an intimate but fairly basic experience for watching a game. The price tag is unfortunately quite high for this level of play, but it's a nice enough stadium, so fans still may want to check out a game here.

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 13-27. Approaching W.B. Mason Stadium. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Food & Beverage 3   W.P. 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) 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. For such a new facility, the basic scoreboard in the north end zone looks quite outdated.   Ace roams the stands at W.B. Mason Stadium. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Neighborhood 2   Stonehill College’s suburban location and sprawling campus belies its location in a bustling area with many dining and lodging options for visiting fans. State routes 123 and 138 intersect at the southwest corner of campus. Both routes are pretty busy local roads, lined with strip malls filled with the usual national chains alongside a few local eateries in both directions. 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 school should check out the Residence Inn by Marriott right by Route 24.   More information about local accommodations, restaurants and attractions can be found here .   Fans 2   Even with W.P. 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 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.P. 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.

Photos by David Hegler, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Legacy Stadium 1830 Katyland Dr Katy, TX 77493 Map It Katy ISD Tigers Athletics website Legacy Stadium website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 12,000 Katy's Legacy Stadium When it first opened in August 2017, Katy’s Legacy Stadium was the most expensive high school football stadium in America, demanding a whopping $70 million to be completed. While the massive 12,000 capacity stadium hosts numerous teams such as Morton Ranch and Paetow, one tenant in particular stands out among the rest: Katy High School. Since 1959, the Katy Tigers have won nine state championships (winning twice since moving into Legacy Stadium) while practically being a feeder system for the NFL with alumni such as Andy Dalton, Eric Heitmann, and Danielle Hunter.  The Katy Tigers have a long tradition of a terrific ground attack and a stout defense, arguably the cornerstones of the purest form of the game. In that regard, despite the massive fortress and the surrounding spectacle throughout the game, going to a game at Legacy Stadium brings one back to the roots of the game. Back when it was about beating the other man across from you through muscle and will, and not through an aerial circus.  Food & Beverage 4 Legacy Stadium has a wide variety of food and beverage options from local eateries such as Hungry Howie’s (pizza), Sun City Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, and Chick-fil-A. The prices are pretty standard, with each offering a small selection of their menus, such as 32-ounce lemonades for $7, chicken sandwiches for $7, and personal pizzas for $6.50.   As you wait in line, you can watch the game from the reasonably sized flat screen atop the large brick and cement concession stand. This is a rarity for most of America, as high school football stadiums rarely do this outside the Lone Star State. This only goes to show that everything is bigger in Texas.  Legacy Stadium - TV Screens Above Concessions, Photo by David Hegler, Stadium Journey Atmosphere 4 It was homecoming on this particular night, but one can surmise that the atmosphere is always this festive whenever the Katy Tigers take the field at Legacy Stadium. What first caught this author’s attention was when he was told that, in Texas, no one ever crosses to the other side. EVER. While one can assume that this is standard for all high schools in America, they would be wrong. Although they set up separate stands for home and away crowds, they often intermingle at the concessions. That’s not the case for Legacy Stadium, where even the concessions are separated in the massive stadium.  Shortly after Katy begins each half by running through a banner, their fans clap along to their fight song. Flag bearers play a huge role as they run across the field after each touchdown, the flags depicting their national and state titles flailing in the wind.  Still, while it seemed like the schools were at war, as the game dragged on in the second half, the camaraderie became apparent on the field. The bands battled it out in song in between plays, and the cheerleaders skipped arm in arm around one end zone to the other side of the field. Neighborhood 3 As a Houston suburb, Katy can seem both big and small. The neighborhood resides right next to I-10 and, at times, can feel cramped, but once you reach Legacy Stadium, it is clear that everything revolves around the town’s football teams. In fact, Legacy Stadium isn’t the only stadium in town. Just across the parking lot rests Rhodes Stadium, an older, smaller stadium that still brings that old Texas charm to the game.  As a suburb of Houston, Katy is a great place to stay if you are in town for Houston-centric activities such as taking in an Astros , Texans or Rockets game. Katy has several hotels that are more affordable than the many scattered over downtown Houston. The best hotels in the city are located in the outlets of Katy Mills, right next to a massive Bass Pro Shop. These include Springhill Suites by Marriott , Country Inn & Suites by Radisson  , and Hilton Garden Inn Houston West Katy . If you would like a bite to eat before the game, there are lots of choices to choose from in Katy, such as Texas Tradition, Charley’s Cheesesteaks and Wings, Oh Mmm Gyros Katy, and the Cheesecake Factory. Fans 3 The fans are a dedicated bunch, all clad in red and very serious about the game. They clap along to the school fight song at the beginning of each half and cheer when appropriate. They are a respectful bunch who are there to embrace all that their beloved state encompasses. The school’s pep squad helps in the pageantry by selling a wide assortment of game-ready items to the fans, painting the stands with red and white. Access 3 The parking lot is vast and free. While traffic getting into the stadium is a bummer, if you wait a minute after the game, it clears up quickly. There are multiple entrances, and it is possible to have an Uber drop you off. Once inside, it may be easier to find a place to sit on the upper deck. The bathrooms are spacious and clean, too. Return on Investment 4 If you love studying other cultures, then high school football just may be for you, as every team comes with its own identity and aura. That being said, the $10 this author spent on the ticket was invested well, as it wasn’t just a ticket to a game, but a portal into a different dimension. Everything that this author thought he knew about high school football was multiplied. Whether it was the double-deck stands, the massive marching bands, or the flatscreens on top of the concession stands, everything was bigger. Extras 4 Most high schools have a band, but again, everything is bigger in Texas. Katy is no exception. Whether it was Katy or Paetow, both schools put great emphasis on their bands before, during, and much after the game, each putting on a lengthy performance after the contest, with both teams taking turns saluting their respective fight songs before going off to find their families.  The scoreboard is a large one, packed with a variety of sponsors' logos while featuring one of the cleanest resolutions in high school sports.  Speaking of videos, the flat screens atop the concession stands are a true rarity in high school football. But not in Texas. In fact, many of the newer stadiums in Tomball and Allen have the same feature, giving fans the unique opportunity to watch the game as they wait in the long lines.  Once the game was over, lights beamed from the base of the stadium’s base giving Legacy Stadium a red hue. In the night’s darkness, the stadium truly stood out in this instance.  Legacy Stadium - Red Hue at Night, Photo by David Hegler, Stadium Journey Final Thoughts As this author walked through the stadium, the phrase “everything is bigger in Texas” continued to bellow in his head. Indeed, Legacy Stadium is a cathedral compared to most high school football stadiums, and, as a cathedral, it does a great job at highlighting all that is great about the culture. The bands are good-sized and very lively, the stadium has twice as many levels as most high school stadiums do, the videoboard is of terrific quality and monstrous, and the product on the field is top-notch for that region. There isn’t even a running track around the field as the stadium is clearly dedicated to the gridiron.  With the Cowboys AT&T Stadium  in Arlington and the Astros Daikin Park  in Houston (to name a few), the Lone Star State has truly done a magnificent job at making stadium building into an art form, and this ideology bleeds out beautifully into the high school level.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 McKale Memorial Center 1 National Championship Dr Tucson, AZ 85721 McKale Center website Arizona Wildcats website Year Opened: 1973 Capacity: 14,655 Bear Down at McKale The Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team is a nationally prominent program that calls the McKale Center home. Technically the McKale Memorial Center, the venue hosts men’s and women’s basketball for the University of Arizona, as well as volleyball and gymnastics. There are also many offices located throughout the venue for various Wildcats athletics. McKale Center opened in 1973 as a replacement for the Bear Down Gymnasium. Bear Down is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was the “Adams College” gym in the 1984 blockbuster film Revenge of the Nerds. McKale Center was named after J. F. “Pop” McKale, who was the Arizona athletic director from 1914 to 1957. The court itself at McKale Center bears the name “Lute and Bobbi Olson Court” after the legendary Arizona head coach and his late wife. There was a recent renovation to McKale that included the installation of the center-court scoreboard, two LED banners along each sideline, new seating and concessions areas, and relocation of bathrooms to the exterior concourse. McKale Center is the second-largest arena in the Pac-12 conference after Utah's Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. Arizona gets larger attendance than the Utah venue and has a long streak of leading its conference in attendance in conference history. Food & Beverage 4 The food and beverage score is higher than one would initially think. There are not much food stands in the renovated venue, but the ones that are there off a great variety of food options, including many alcoholic options. Owing to its southwest location, McKale Center has many options such as Burros and Sonoran Dogs. Prices are fairly good, especially for the high caliber of the venue. Atmosphere 5 The University of Arizona is serious about basketball. No matter the successes (or downfalls) of other sports, basketball is the king at this Tucson school. McKale Center is packed with students and local fans for all games. The ZonaZoo is the boisterous student section along the north baseline. Students line up before the game for a good spot in this section. There will be many chants and screams from this section during the game. There is also a good pep band and cheerleaders to enhance the noise. The fans do stand at the start of each half until a basket is made. Although the venue is not the newest one out there, the renovations have made sure that the McKale Center is a perfect, modern venue for high-end basketball. The scoreboard and other displays are what this level of play should have. The venue is pretty interesting in terms of accessing the seating bowl. There is not one main entrance but a series of tunnels and hallways, often through office areas, to get you inside the venue. Neighborhood 4 Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in Arizona as well as the county seat of Pima County. In the metro area over one million people live. McKale Center is located on the southeastern corner of the campus near Arizona Stadium, home of the university’s football team. There are many restaurant options near the venue. You can’t go wrong with places such as Frog & Firkin, No Anchovies, Gentle Ben’s Brewing, or Dirtbags. If you want to venture away from campus we also recommend Mercado San Agustin and the MSA Annex. In that area, Seis Kitchen is a great Mexican restaurant and Beaut Burger is a great Vegan burger restaurant. Burgers at Beaut are so good, you may not even realize it is not real meat. The Aloft Tucson University is a hotel very close to the McKale Center. We can also recommend the Loews Ventana Canyon resort if you want to go a bit higher end. Fans 4 McKale Center is filled for every game. Basketball is a big deal in Tucson. The student section will be loud and crazy, while the older fans will more likely cheer in a more orderly manner. Access 3 Being located on a crowded urban college campus, parking will be a bit difficult. There are many lots and garages, all at varying price levels. Please plan and either buy parking ahead of time or be very aware of your parking options before heading to the game. There is a good public transportation option in Tucson's Sun Link Streetcar system that stops very close to campus. A good option is to park at the Mercado San Agustin mentioned above and take that option to the game. Return on Investment 3 With the basketball team being such a big deal, prices will tend to be high. Dynamic pricing is used, so you will have to research carefully the particular game you wish to attend. . Extras 4 The unique and varied entrances to the seating bowl are an extra all on their own, but it also offers a fan a way to check out the various displays of past team successes for all the programs that play in the McKale Center. Try to check out Arizona’s Hall of Champions and the Lute Olson statue and display. The varied food offerings, especially southwestern items, are a nice touch. The external concourse, added during recent renovations, allows a nice meeting spot for fans. Final Thoughts The University of Arizona Wildcats is a well-known basketball program and the McKale Center is a great venue for a high level of play.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Tinsley Center 325 Plymouth St. Bridgewater, MA 02324 Bridgewater State Bears men's basketball website Tinsley Center website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 1,000 Bridgewater Basketball   Bridgewater State University is one of nine state universities in the Massachusetts Public Higher Education System. It was founded in 1840 by Horace Mann as the Bridgewater Normal School. As one of the first schools in the nation established to train teachers, it is considered by many to be the “Birthplace of teacher education in America” and has one of the most prominent Teaching and Education programs in the country. The university currently has an undergraduate enrollment of just under 10,000 students, with an additional 2,000 students enrolled in graduate programs.   The Tinsley Center is an 84,000 square-foot facility that opened in 2002. It serves as home to the school’s basketball and volleyball teams. Athletic Department offices, classrooms, laboratories, and a walking/jogging track are also contained in the facility. It is named in honor of Adrian Tinsley, who was the first female president of the college, serving from 1989-2002. She oversaw the expansion and modernization of the school as it transitioned from a college to a university. Under her leadership, Bridgewater State became the second-largest public school in Massachusetts.   Basketball teams have represented Bridgewater State since 1905. Today, the Bears compete in Division III’s MASCAC Conference, consisting of teams from around the state of Massachusetts. The Bears men’s basketball teams have qualified for the NCAA D-3 Tournament eight times, reaching the sweet sixteen in 2009. The women’s team has qualified for the NCAA tournament twelve times. Game action at Tinsley Center. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Food & Beverage 2   There is a snack bar in the lobby of the Tinsley Center, named “The Bear Trap.” They take the “snack” very seriously here, as the featured items served are nachos and popcorn. Assorted candy, chips, protein bars, and the like round out the selections. Fans looking for a cold drink will find cans of Pepsi products and water. A pair of nearby vending machines offers up Gatorade and more snack items. No item at the Bear Trap costs more than five dollars.   Atmosphere 2   The game day atmosphere at the Tinsley Center is pretty standard for a small school. There isn’t a lot of technology to be found here, so you won’t find a lot of bells and whistles to distract you from the action down on the court. Even when there is a big crowd filling up the bleachers at the Tinsley Center, there isn’t a whole lot of noise at a Bears basketball game.   You’ll find much that is familiar here at Bridgewater State. The cheerleading squad lines up along the near baseline, performing throughout the game. Although the pep band has been present in the past, they were not in attendance for the Bears’ 2025 season opener. The sound system is put to use with music during play stoppages, and the PA announcer does a solid job of providing game information, although he was very hard to understand during Stadium Journey’s visit. Simple scoreboards hang on three sides of the court, displaying basic game information. This is an old-school presentation that looks much like it must have when the building first opened. Bridgewater State University Athletics Hall of Fame at Tinsley Center. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Neighborhood 3   The Tinsley Center is located about a mile from the Bridgewater town commons, which is where you’ll find most of the action in this small town. Visitors looking for a place to eat before or after the game will have to take a short drive to find most of the local options. Most of the choices in the area are fast-food chains, but locals recommend several other choices, including Barrett’s Alehouse, Emma’s Pizza, Gonzalez House, or the local outpost of 99 Restaurant. There are no lodging options in the immediate area around campus. Visitors will have to check out the areas closer to the highways.   Fans visiting Bridgewater from out of town will likely want to continue to Boston, located 25 miles to the north, or Cape Cod, about 30 miles to the southeast, for more dining, lodging, and points of interest. Also located nearby are the coastal towns of Plymouth and New Bedford.   Fans 3   As is the case at most small schools in the area, you won’t find a huge crowd at the Tinsley Center. The average BSU crowd numbers between 200-300 fans, with many of those in attendance having a personal connection with the players down on the court. You’ll be sure to find family members from both teams in attendance, along with a decent turnout from the student body. With the majority of the Bears’ schedule consisting of teams from nearby towns in Massachusetts, you are likely to find some fans of the opposing squad in attendance. BSU Bears lined up for the National Anthem. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Access 3   Bridgewater State University is a town of just under 29,000 residents located in southeastern Massachusetts. Boston is located about 25 miles north, and Providence is located about 30 miles west. Bridgewater State University can be found in the north-central part of town, about a mile from the town common.   Driving is the primary method for getting to campus, as Route 24 and Interstate 495 both pass just a few miles away from campus. Visitors utilizing public transportation will find the Bridgewater MBTA Train Station on campus most convenient. Complete transportation information to the BSU campus can be found here .   Tinsley Center is located on the northern edge of the Bridgewater State University campus in the Swenson Athletic Complex . Parking for basketball games can be found adjacent to the football stadium, which will require a short walk to arrive at the Tinsley Center. A small lobby contains the snack bar, restrooms, and the BSU Athletic Hall of Fame. The gym will be on your right as you enter.   All seating consists of wooden bleachers, which run along one side of the gymnasium. There is also limited seating on either end of the court. A walking/jogging track runs along the second floor overlooking the court and also serves as a standing room area. In a small gym like this, all seats feature excellent views of the action.   Return on Investment 5   Admission to a Bears game costs eight dollars. All seats are general admission. Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the football stadium. Concessions are inexpensive, with no item costing more than five dollars. A game at Bridgewater State is an inexpensive entertainment option for local basketball fans. As an added value, many nights the men’s and women’s teams will play doubleheaders at a single admission price. BSU Bears huddle up before the game. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Extras 2   Banners honoring all Bridgewater State championship teams, tournament appearances, and notable achievements across the school’s 22 varsity sports hang around the facility.   The school’s athletic department Hall of Fame is located right outside the gymnasium, displaying the hardware won by the school over the years.   Final Thoughts   While the Tinsley Center is a basic facility, it provides a solid home for the Bridgewater State Bears. Small gyms such as this can be found throughout the country, providing quality competition at an affordable price. Those of you who don’t consider lower levels when watching college sports might want to reconsider. Don’t sleep on Division Three sports!   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Mullett Arena 411 S Packard Drive Tempe, AZ 85281 Arizona State Sun Devils website Mullett Arena website Year Opened: 2022 Capacity: 5,000 A Desert Hockey Home Arizona State University, established in 1885 in the bustling desert oasis of Tempe, Arizona, has evolved from its humble beginnings as the Territorial Normal School into one of the nation’s largest and most innovative public research institutions. The Sun Devils compete in NCAA Division I, primarily as members of the Pac-12 Conference, but their burgeoning Ice Hockey program has blazed its own trail, carving out a respected niche in the sport. Stepping into this new era is the state-of-the-art Mullett Arena, which opened its doors in 2022. This venue is a game-changer, not just for ASU hockey but for the entire college hockey landscape in the Southwest. Designed with an intimate, modern sensibility, the 5,000-seat arena ensures every fan feels right on top of the action. It is a stunning, singular venue that immediately anchors the future of hockey in the Grand Canyon State, solidifying the team’s commitment to competing at the highest level while also serving as a central part of the campus's athletic architecture. The Arizona State Sun Devils men's ice hockey team is a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), having officially joined for the 2024-2025 season after competing as an NCAA Division I independent for several years. The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) includes the following schools, besides Arizona State University, Colorado College (Tigers), the University of Denver (Pioneers). Miami University (RedHawks), University of Minnesota Duluth (Bulldogs), University of Nebraska Omaha (Mavericks), University of North Dakota (Fighting Hawks), St. Cloud State University (Huskies), and Western Michigan University (Broncos). The conference is scheduled to expand to 10 teams with the addition of the University of St. Thomas (Tommies) beginning in the 2026-2027 season. Food & Beverage 4 The prices here trend toward the higher end of the college venue scale, yet there is a standout item that offers a surprisingly great value proposition. For the visiting fan, a slice of the arena's pizza stands as a must-try. This isn't your typical paper-thin piece; the $14 slice of pizza is truly enormous, essentially constituting multiple standard servings merged into one colossal meal. It’s a satisfying, hearty reward for the price, providing enough fuel to last through all three periods of action. Beyond this singular value star, the concession stands deliver the necessary variety of gameday staples, ensuring you never have to venture too far from the ice to grab a classic snack or beverage. The selection is modern and efficient, built to handle a quick rush between periods without sacrificing quality, providing a streamlined experience that enhances the overall gameday flow. Atmosphere 5 The moment the puck drops at a Sun Devils hockey game inside Mullett Arena, the atmosphere is electric, embodying the kind of intense, localized energy that only a 5,000-seat building can generate. The arena's modern, tight design works in perfect concert with the crowd's enthusiasm, trapping the sound and creating a deafening, unified roar that is genuinely intimidating for visiting teams. This intimate, bowl-like configuration, you are never more than a handful of rows away from the action, enhancing the sensory immersion. Mullett Arena Interior, Photo by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey What elevates this college hockey experience further is the venue’s fascinating past: it also served as the temporary home for the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes from 2022-2024, imbuing it with a distinct professional polish that few college barns can claim. This combined pedigree of top-tier professional use and passionate student support for the college program creates a unique, high-octane environment you simply cannot replicate anywhere else in the Southwest. Neighborhood 4 The location of Mullett Arena is a major win for the traveling enthusiast, placing the venue right in the heart of the ASU campus, adjacent to the dynamic city of Tempe. This is a university town setting that is ripe for exploration before and after the game. Step out of the arena, and you are immediately positioned to explore Tempe's bustling Mill Avenue, a lively hub of restaurants, bars, and unique shops that caters perfectly to a gameday crowd. For those seeking authentic local flavors not found inside the arena, the surrounding area offers a vibrant tapestry of casual and upscale dining experiences that capture the Southwestern spirit. The arena is integrated into the larger ASU Athletics Village, next to the Desert Financial Arena, which provides a seamless, sports-centric district feel. This strategic placement makes the entire gameday pilgrimage easy, allowing visitors to park once and enjoy both the natural beauty of the Arizona landscape and the vibrant life of a major university town, all within an easy walk of the arena. Fans 5 Sun Devil fans bring a tangible passion to Mullett Arena, demonstrating why the program has become such a rapid success in a non-traditional hockey market. The crowds are a perfect blend of die-hard hockey aficionados and an energetic student body, all unified under the banner of the maroon and gold. They are vocal, knowledgeable, and ready to make noise for sixty minutes, turning the intimate confines of the arena into a formidable fortress. You will see dedicated supporters in the stands wearing everything from replica jerseys to the classic gold pitchfork, ready to unleash the famous "Fork 'em Devils!" cheer. This loyalty is clearly driven by the team’s rapid ascent in the college hockey ranks, giving the fans a real sense of pride and ownership over their program and making them incredibly invested in the outcome of every single game. The intensity and engagement of the Arizona State faithful is infectious, making you feel like a welcomed part of the Sun Devil community the moment you take your seat and adding a palpable sense of urgency to the competition. Access 4 Getting to Mullett Arena is refreshingly simple for a major metropolitan area, making the travel day much less stressful for the visiting fan. The arena is strategically positioned in Tempe with excellent connectivity to major interstate highways, particularly the Loop 202 and I-10, providing straightforward routes for those driving in from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) or other parts of the Valley. Once near the campus, parking is typically available in multiple adjacent university lots and structures, which are well-managed for gamedays. The layout of the arena itself is highly conducive to smooth entry and exit, further aided by its integration into the greater ASU Athletics Village. For those who prefer public transport, the Valley Metro Rail system offers stations nearby, providing a convenient, cost-effective, and traffic-free way to reach the heart of the action without having to worry about traffic or parking logistics. Regardless of your chosen mode of transportation, the arena’s location emphasizes accessibility, proving that thoughtful design can make a massive difference in the gameday experience. Return on Investment 3 Ticket prices vary depending on the opponent, and we have seen fairly high prices for most games. This is not the type of venue you can just walk up and get a last-minute ticket. Extras 3 The ASU Spirit Squad and the powerful sounds of the Sun Devil Marching Band’s drumline are frequently on hand, injecting constant energy into the stoppages of play and enhancing the sense of school pride. The true star of the show is the legendary mascot, Sparky the Sun Devil. This beloved figure is a constant, visible source of fun and school spirit, and his dedication to the team is quantified with a unique fan interaction: Sparky performs push-ups for every ASU goal scored, matching the total number of goals to date for that game, leading to some truly memorable displays. Adding to the venue's distinctive identity is the Mountain America Community Iceplex, a separate rink attached to the facility that is used for practice and community skating, highlighting the venue’s commitment to growing the sport in the region and ensuring its legacy extends beyond the team itself. Final Thoughts Mullett Arena is the rare venue that manages to feel both state-of-the-art and incredibly intimate, perfectly balancing a modern aesthetic with old-school college hockey passion. It is an essential pilgrimage for any NCAA hockey fan traveling through the desert, proving that the sport is truly thriving under the Arizona sun.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Algoma Central Arena @ Canada Games Park 2021 Canada Games Wy Thorold, ON L2V 4Y6 Brock Badgers hockey website Canada Games Park website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity :1,200 Brockey Night in Canada Brock University is a public research university in St. Catharines, Ontario, and boasts over 19,000 students.  It was established in 1964 and is named after Sir Isaac Brock, a British General who died at the Battle of Queenston Heights during the War of 1812.  Brock is well-known for their Sports Administration program, which boasts the likes of NHL General Manager Kyle Dubas amongst its alumni.  The Brock Badgers began playing hockey in 1967 as part of the OIAA.  The Badgers joined what is now the OUA in 1971.  They have made four appearances in the University Cup and played for the Queens Cup on four occasions, earning silver three times.  In 2022, the Badgers moved from their previous home, Seymour-Hannah Sports & Entertainment Centre in St. Catharines, to the brand new arena at Canada Games Park across the road from campus in Thorold. Built for the 2022 Canada Games hosted by the Niagara Region, Canada Games Park offers some indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including the Algoma Central Arena, where the Badgers play.  The indoor facilities, including Algoma Central Arena, are found in the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre.  Canada Games Park is owned by a unique consortium consisting of Brock University, the City of St. Catharines, the City of Thorold, and the Regional Municipality of Niagara. Food & Beverage 3 The main concession stand is found in the common lobby of the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre.  The menu is fairly simple and includes typical snack bar items.  These include hot dogs, sausage, chips, chocolate, candy, cookies, muffins, and Dip’n Dots.  Coke products, slushies, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and water are soft drinks that are available.  A small selection of beer, cider, and seltzers is also available. Atmosphere 3 Canada Games Park is a large property with both indoor and outdoor facilities.  The indoor facilities are found within the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre, which is a low-profile, sleek building featuring plenty of glass and a dark gray siding fascia.  The green grass on the roof is evident as part of the environmental design of the building.  Inside the facility, the vastness is evident immediately.  The most prolific of the indoor facilities is the Algoma Central Arena, which is the main arena for both hockey and lacrosse and supports a capacity of 1,200 fans.  Algoma Central Arena is on the west side of the building, and fans will enter from the south end of the arena. Naming rights for the arena are held by Algoma Central Corporation, which operates a fleet of marine carriers.  In 2024, a totem pole was moved from a park in St. Catharines and now has a home inside the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre. Inside the arena, an aura of newness and cleanliness prevails.  The ice runs from north to south, with all of the seating found on the west side.  Grey, plastic arena seats offer fans a degree of comfort not found in many buildings in this league.  The floor on the south end is raised higher than the arena floor.  The east side features a metallic grating, which gives the arena a fresh and clean look.  On the wall in the northeast corner are championship banners for the St. Catharines Athletics of the OJLL.  Unfortunately, there are limited markings showing Algoma Central Arena as the home of the Badgers.  A banner under the window on the east side and the centre ice logo are pretty much the entirety of the markings.  Fans enter at ice level in the southeast corner of the arena, where ticket sales and ticket scanning occur.  At the entry, there is a trophy case which had some Brock jerseys. Also found in the trophy case is the Steel Blade Classic trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the annual Homecoming Game played at Meridian Centre.  It is a decorative sword, patterned after the sword carried by artillery soldiers during the War of 1812, in a wooden case.  Another trophy case houses a set of medals from the 2022 Canada Games and a model of a ship from the Algoma Central fleet.  Also on the southern wall, fans will find information placards on the Welland Canal and Algoma Central Corporation.  A simple score clock hangs above centre ice as well. The gameday production at a Badgers game is very simple.  The speaker system is very good, and it is easy to understand the announcements. Neighbourhood 4 Canada Games Park is located at the north end of the City of Thorold, immediately south of St. Catharines, and part of what is considered the Niagara Region.  There are some spots for fans to get a pre- or post-game meal.  These include In Piazza, Cracker Jack’s, and the Overtime Pub.  For fans looking for other sporting experiences, Algoma Central Arena is shared by the St. Catharines Athletics  of the OJLL; however, their schedules do not overlap.  The Badgers also field other teams on campus, including basketball .  The nearby Meridian Centre in St. Catharines is the home of the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs  and CEBL’s Niagara River Lions.  It is a very short drive for fans to get to Niagara Falls, which has a plethora of tourist options, including the Horseshoe Falls themselves.  This is a must-see for fans new to the area.  Hiking on the nearby Bruce Trail may also be of interest.  For fans wishing to stay near Canada Games Park, the Four Points Sheraton is right there. Fans 3 It is difficult to assess USports hockey fans as the Badgers have not published any attendance figures for the 2024-25 season.  The game that was reviewed, the third home game of the 2025-26 season, welcomed 200 fans to the game.  Attendance reporting for the current season has been inconsistent.  That being said, Brock has a reputation for strong fan support, especially when it comes to taking their fans on the road, with the school periodically organizing road trips and providing a group of loud and rowdy students to a road game.  The Steel Blade Classic, an exhibition hockey game played at the Meridian Centre as part of Homecoming, routinely sells out.   Access 5 Canada Games Park is located on the north side of Thorold, immediately south of St. Catharines.  It is surrounded by Lake Moodie to the east of Merrittville Highway and Isaac Brock Blvd. Getting to Canada Games Park is very easy.  Highway 406 is due east of Canada Games Park and is the main north-south artery for the region.  There is free parking on site, and enough that finding a spot should not be an issue. For fans wishing to take public transit, some buses run along both Merrittville Highway and Isaac Brock Blvd.  Fans should check the Niagara Region Transit  website for fares, schedules, and maps.  With its modern design, traversing the Algoma Central Arena and Walker Sports and Abilities Centre is not difficult at all and the washroom facilities are adequate for the facility. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for the Badgers are $15 for adults, with discounts for seniors and youth.  Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the door.  Parking is free at Canada Games Park, and concession prices are decent.  The quality of play on the ice is strong, and Brock routinely ices a competitive team.  Overall, the Badgers provide a solid return on investment for the sports fan. Extras 2 An extra mark for Michael Nicholson, who became the 1st black player to captain a Canadian college in 1969. An extra mark for the Steel Blade Classic, which has become one of the premier USports hockey games in the country. Final Thoughts Taking in a Brock Badgers hockey game will give the fans the opportunity to catch a consistently competitive hockey team play in a bright, clean, and comfortable setting.  It is worth checking out the Niagara Region and Brock University for a bit of Brockey Night in Canada. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads , and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Scotiabank Arena 40 Bay St Toronto, ON M5J 2X2 Canada Toronto Maple Leafs website Scotiabank Arena website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 18,800 Leafs Forever There are few sports franchises in the world that are as iconic as the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Their brand is intertwined with Toronto and Canada in a fashion that is only enjoyed by the truly historic and elite franchises.  Founded in 1917 as the Toronto Arenas, the Leafs have a rich history and revered place among the “Original Six” franchises.  The testament of this history is found in the eleven Stanley Cup banners that hang in the rafters, nine after the team was rebranded as the Maple Leafs in 1927.  The Maple Leafs juggernaut is helmed by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), a unique conglomerate formerly owned by corporate rivals Rogers Communications and Bell Canada and Larry Tannenbaum.  In 2024, it was announced that Rogers was buying out Bell to the tune of nearly $5 billion, essentially giving Rogers full control of the Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto Marlies, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts and Scotiabank Arena.  This does not include the Rogers Centre and Toronto Blue Jays, which Rogers owns separately. The venerable home for the Leafs for decades was the “Cashbox on Carlton,” Maple Leaf Gardens.  In 1999, the Leafs moved closer to the lake, directly west of the CN Tower to the former Toronto Canada Post Delivery Building, which is currently known as Scotiabank Arena. It is difficult to argue that there is a better-located facility in the NHL, and the building is constantly changing for the betterment of the fan experience.  All that remains is for the Leafs to get that elusive Stanley Cup back under the blue and white banner. Food & Beverage 5 Scotiabank Arena offers a culinary experience that is as good as any franchise in sports.  MLSE is very conscious of the concessions that it offers and the Scotiabank Arena website provides a comprehensive accounting of all of the options.  All of the expected staples are available, usually found in the Food Junction stands.  Also new to Scotiabank Arena are a few grab and go areas.  There are many specialty stands throughout the area that take the culinary experience to the next level.  Some of these include Cherry Street BBQ, Chingchein Rice Dog, Kibo Sushi, Hogtown Gourmet Hot Dogs, Hot Stove Carve, Molson Canadian Brewhouse, Pizza Pizza, The Poutinerie, St. Patties, Tim Hortons and Wicked Carib.  There are also a number of premium dining experiences as well as six different bars.  Overall, it seems that there is little a fan could want that is not on the menu. Atmosphere 5 Scotiabank Arena provides one of the best atmospheres in the NHL.  Located on Bay Street, the Scotiabank Arena really should be approached from the west, which is Maple Leaf Square.  The main entrance from the square features a massive videoboard above the entrances.  Maple Leaf Square is the location where fans of the Leafs and Raptors congregate to watch the game outside during the playoffs.  Highlights of the Scotiabank Arena exterior are the “Search Light Star Light Spot Light'' structure, which is actually part of the original Air Canada Centre logo, and Maple Leafs’ Legends Row.  The most honoured Maple Leaf players are immortalized in a series of bronze statues that not only cross eras but seemingly interact with each other.  Frank Mahovlich, Wendel Clark, Dave Keon, George Armstrong, Johnny Bower, Red Kelly, Charlie Conacher, Teeder Kennedy, Tim Horton, Turk Broda, Syl Apps, Mats Sundin, Borje Salming and Daryl Sitler are all part of the fantasy team. The summer of 2025 saw a significant renovation to Scotiabank Arena, which sometimes seems to be perennially under construction. The lower level concourse was a focus for this round.  LED ribbon boards, and a refresh of the concourse improves the cleanliness of the arena.  At Gate 5, a new production area for the pregame show, Gate 5 Live has been completed and the Union Station gate now has an innovative LED ceiling for fans to marvel at as they enter.  The concourse does have a modern fresh look, however, the tunnel entries to the seating bowl, which used to feature a variety of pictures of important Scotiabank Arena moments have been replaced with a benign, uniform mosaic consistent with the Scotiabank Arena brand.  The most recent renovation also included a revamping of the 500 and 600 level suites.  Up next is the 300 level concourse amongst other changes.  The full renovation rundown can be found on the Scotiabank Arena website. When entering the two tier seating bowl, fans are bombarded with the history and accomplishments of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  The two early Stanley Cup banners from the Arenas in 1918 and 1922 as the St. Pats, hang at the north side of the arena, starting from the east.  These are followed to the west by the nine Maple Leafs Stanley Cup banners including 1932, 1942, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1962, 1964, and 1967.  Each banner features a picture of what the trophy looked like when presented that year.  On the opposite, south side hang the banners of the retired numbers for the Maple Leafs.  Hockey legends Frank, Mahovlich, Wendel Clark, Dave Keon, George Armstron, Charlie Conacher, King Clancy, Ace Bailey, Red Kelly, Johnny Bower, Turk Broda, Hap Day, Bill Barilko, Tim Horton, Teeder Kennedy, Syl Apps, Mats Sundin, Borje Salming Darryl Sittler and Doug Gilmour all have a home here.  These banners have an appropriate home right in front of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Gondola, where the various press sit.  The ice runs from east to west with the perfect center ice picture coming from the south side. The Maple Leafs also provide a solid game day production, which deftly melds the tradition with the modern.  LED projectors are used liberally in the pregame to show images on the ice surface.  The updated 600 level has a permanent home for the in house DJ, Summerknocks, who takes song requests on social media.  Organist Jimmy Holmstrom plays throughout the stoppages in play.  Each game the Leafs honour a member of the military with a spotlight and a member of the Leafs Alumni presenting a jersey from the stands.  The Leafs mascot, Carlton, interacts with fans and shoots t-shirts into the crowd and participates in promotions.  The Leafs are flanked by minor hockey players swinging their flags as the home team enters the ice.  Overall the Leafs’ production is not over the top as it is in some other markets and feels that it is just about at the right point.  Neighbourhood 5 Scotiabank Arena has a prime location that is second to none in the National Hockey League.  Scotiabank Arena is located right in the heart of the excitement in Toronto, one of the top tourist cities in North America.  Toronto is a vastly cosmopolitan city that offers just about anything that visitors could want. The restaurant scene in Toronto is fantastic and there are a multitude of pre and post game spots for food and drink within mere steps of Scotiabank Arena.  Real Sports is located right in Maple Leaf Square as is e11even.  The Loose Moose, The Fox, Miller Tavern, Taverna Mercatto, and Kellys Landing, to name a few,  are all great options that are within walking distance.  A unique dining experience fans could choose to partake in is at the top of the CN Tower which features excellent food and the best view of the city there is.  Toronto is also a sports fan haven as there are a ton of other sporting options.  Scotiabank Arena is shared with the Toronto Raptors  of the NBA.  Just down the road is Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays  of MLB.  Heading west along Lakeshore Blvd. will bring fans to Exhibition Place which has BMO Field and Coca-Cola Coliseum on the grounds.  These are the homes of the Toronto Argonauts , Toronto FC  and Toronto Marlies .  A pilgrimage to the old Maple Leaf Gardens may be of interest.  The hockey  and basketball  teams of Toronto Metropolitan University can be found here.  Just north is the University of Toronto where the Varsity Blues have a variety of athletic teams including hockey , basketball  and football . There are plenty of other tourist destinations in the immediate area.  The CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium are worth checking out.  The Eaton Centre is an iconic Toronto shopping destination and there are always events going on at Harbourfront.  However, any fan reading this review must take a trip to see the hallowed Hockey Hall of Fame .  Just a few blocks from Scotiabank Arena, it is arguably as good as Cooperstown and warrants multiple trips. For fans wishing to stay near the Scotiabank Arena, the Westin Harbour Castle is close.  However, any downtown option will be on the pricey side. Fans 4 Toronto Maple Leaf fans are among the most loyal and ardent in the NHL.  The fanbase has ached for a Stanley Cup since the last one was won in 1967, but the attendance at Scotiabank Arena and Maple Leaf Gardens before that, has never fallen off.  At the time of writing, at the beginning of the 2025-26 season, the Leafs averaged almost 18,600 and ranked 6th in the league.  The previous two seasons, the Leafs averaged over 18,000 fans per game and ranked in the top 10 in the league.  Leaf fans are a notoriously quiet group and have a reputation as being more corporate than raucous.  It is not unusual for the opening faceoff of the game or a period to be met with a half-full lower bowl.    Access 4 Getting to the Scotiabank Arena by car will force fans to traverse the Toronto traffic, which can be a real challenge.  The Lakeshore is quite far from Highway 401 in the north, so using Lakeshore Blvd or the Gardiner Expressway to travel east or west along the lake will be required.  There are plenty of parking options around which can be found for $20 or more.  The real travesty is that the City of Toronto has not taken any lessons from other cities when events are put on.  Upon exiting Scotiabank Arena, Toronto Police are not present aiding in the movement of traffic, leaving drivers on their own to get out of downtown.  On the plus side, public transit downtown is very good.  Union Station is attached to the Scotiabank Arena.  TTC subways and GO Transit trains along with Via Rail trains can be found here.  Fans should check the TTC or GO Transit  websites for maps, fares and schedules. Getting around the Scotiabank Arena is not terribly difficult, however fans need to keep in mind that there is rarely less than a full house in the arena and intermissions will be congested.  Washroom facilities are more than adequate, but will have lineups during intermissions as well.  With security protocols and procedures in constant flux, Stadium Journey strongly suggests visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs  and Scotiabank Arena  websites for the most up to date security information before heading to the arena. Return on Investment 3 The Maple Leafs are possibly the most expensive experience in the NHL.  For the 2023-24 Fan Cost Index, the Leafs topped the charts with over $700 on the index.  For a comparison, the NHL average was just $432.  Tickets for the Leafs are generally hard to come by, other than the secondary market.  Dynamic pricing does make pinning down a price difficult, however, for a mid-week game, against an opponent that would not be considered premium, standing room starts at $85.  Seats in the upper bowl start at $115 and seats in the lower bowl start at $200 and travel north to around $425.  Although concessions are top notch, fans will still pay premium prices.  Parking is not cheap downtown either.  Make no mistake, the experience at a Leafs game is solid, but fans will definitely pay for the privilege. Extras 3 An extra mark for the new Scotiabank Arena Tours which give fans a look behind the scenes that they have never had before at Toronto’s premier arena. An extra mark for Joe Bowen, the iconic Toronto Maple Leafs broadcaster who has been the play by play voice of the team since 1982.  The 2025-26 season will see the curtain fall on his legendary career and one final “Holy Makenah!”, his personal catchphrase. An extra mark for the continued rivalries the Leafs have with so many teams including the Red Wings, Senators, Sabres and of course, the Canadiens. Final Thoughts All hockey fans should consider making a pilgrimage to see the Toronto Maple Leafs and extend the trip to see the city of Toronto and especially the Hockey Hall of Fame.  Scotiabank Arena remains among the premier venues in the league and MLSE has done a spectacular job keeping the arena relevant for the last two decades and continuing to revamp and upgrade the experience. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena 55 Parkside St Minden, ON K0M 2K0 Haliburton County Huskies website S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena website Year Opened: 2020 Capacity : 390 Sled Dogs The Haliburton County Huskies are a bit of a curiosity in the OJHL.  The most northern team, located in the town of Minden in Haliburton County, the Huskies are not too far from the most southern teams of the adjacent Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL).  They also have one of the smallest population bases in the league and the smallest arena capacities.  However, they are located in Haliburton County and have been there since 2021, and are the pride of the area.  The current Huskies were founded as the Oshawa Crushmen in 1965 as a Junior B franchise.  They were purchased by hockey’s Primeau brothers, Wayne and Keith, and renamed the Oshawa Fury after their equipment company.  They were moved to Whitby in 2008 and then eventually sold and moved to Haliburton County.  The Fury moved to Junior A and the current OJHL in 1998.  The current owner of the Huskies is Paul Wilson. Home for the Huskies is the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena.  A newer facility, built in 2020, the arena is named after Sinclair George Nesbitt, who was Reeve of Minden and also held a number of administrative roles in the area.  The arena has a small capacity of 390 and shares space with the Minden Hills Community Centre. Food & Beverage 2 Nesbitt Arena has a small snack bar upstairs, adjacent to the Blueline Club.  There is a lack of a visual menu and price list, but a small selection of snacks is available, including chips, cookies, soda, chocolate, coffee, and hot chocolate.  The Blueline Club is across the hall, above the lobby in the west end, and serves a variety of alcoholic beverages. Atmosphere 3 S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena is part of the recreation complex.  It definitely has a Northern Ontario look to it.  The main entry is an attractive grey brick under a peaked canopy with wooden support beams.  The rest of the exterior is a mix of brown brick, grey siding at the top, and windows.  Once inside, the Northern Ontario vibe continues with attractive wooden beams supporting a peaked atrium, accented with grey brick.  Fans are met with a temporary ticket table as well as a number of tables with Haliburton County Huskies swag.  Trophy cases dedicated to the Huskies are right at the door and are also found upstairs, where the main entry into the arena is found.  A hockey stick from local NHL product Cody Hodgson is among the most treasured artifacts.  The upper trophy case features a Haliburton Huskies leather jacket from their 1971 Junior D Championship team.  To the left of the main entry is a framed jersey for the retirement of Huskies’ Patrick Saini, who holds the franchise record for scoring. Inside the arena, fans are struck with a significant temperature drop.  Nesbitt Arena is one of the coldest rinks anywhere.  The ice surface is west-to-east oriented, with the seating found only on the south side.  The small nature of the community is really felt in the seating area, as there are only three rows of plastic arena seats.  Standing room with drink rails is also behind the seating.  The seating area is elevated high above ice level, giving the arena great sightlines.  Fans are also able to stand behind the glass at ice level.  The Blueline Club is the perfect place for fans who can’t handle the cold temperatures.  The Haliburton Highlands Sports Hall of Fame is of note on the south wall.  A little exploring will find the 1970-71 Junior D Haliburton Huskies, who won the area’s only junior championship, Cody Hodgson, and favourite son, Bernie Nicholls.  A simple hockey score clock hangs on the east wall to the left of a large Huskies banner.  The ceiling is light coloured aluminum siding.  This is of note because the acoustics are not terrific in the arena.  Announcements can be difficult to understand.  Overall, the arena is bright and clean and looks brand new. Neighbourhood 3 S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena is located in the town of Minden, part of the greater Haliburton County.  It would be considered right in the middle of cottage country.  Minden Hills, being only a town of almost 7,000, options for food and drink in town are fairly limited.  Some options include Boshkung Brewing Co., Mark’s Restaurant, Swan’s Thai Cuisine, Mulligan’s Pub, and Burnt Crust Pizzeria.  The Huskies are really the only game in town for the sports fan.  Haliburton County is definitely an outdoor area, so many other tourist options are tied to the outdoors.  Minden River Walk, Minden Boardwalk, and Nature’s Place Interpretive Centre are options.  There are a few independent inns and motels for those who wish to stay in the area. Fans 4 The Haliburton County Huskies occupy one of the smallest arenas and smallest population centres in the OJHL.  Keeping that in mind, the fan support the team enjoys is significant.  At the time of writing, early in the 2025-26 season, the Huskies averaged 418 fans per game.  This is higher than the seating capacity of the arena and ranked 4th in the OJHL.  The Huskies consistently rank in the top five in average attendance per game.  There were 385 fans at the game that was reviewed.  The fans at Haliburton County are fairly quiet and reserved, and not atypical of Ontario fans.   Access 3 The S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena is located in the Town of Minden, in the Township of Minden Hills in Haliburton County, which is pretty huge. The arena is just west of Highway 35, which is a two-lane highway.  During the autumn, the drive into town will be gorgeous with all of the changing leaves; however, driving in during the winter could be more problematic with winter conditions.  There is plenty of parking on site, and parking in the lower lot where the main arena entrance is found is advised.  There is no public transit option in Minden.  The amenities in S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena are very good, and it is one of the cleanest arenas that one will find in this league.  The arena is very cold, and there are no gas heaters above the seating area.  When choosing a seat, fans should be aware of stickers on seats delineating reserved seats for season ticket holders.  The washroom facilities are good, and other than the temperature, the arena is very comfortable. Return on Investment 5 Haliburton County Huskies hockey provides an excellent value for the sporting dollar.  Tickets for the Huskies are $15 for adults, with discounts for students and seniors.  Tickets are available at the door,, and cash or card is accepted.  Parking is free at the arena.  The product on the ice is solid, and the facility is clean and comfortable.  Haliburton County also provides a small-town feel to the production that is fairly unique and refreshing for the OJHL.  Overall, the Huskies are a great experience for the dollar. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Minden Hills Recreation Complex, which includes S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena as a community hub. An extra mark for the community focus and small centre in Haliburton County, unique in the OJHL. An extra mark for the beautiful autumn colours that fans can enjoy when driving into town during the appropriate season. Final Thoughts Although it may be the smallest centre in the OJHL, the Haliburton County Huskies are putting together a big-time experience.  S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena is one of the cleanest, brightest facilities in the league and fans will have a wonderful time at a Huskies game.  Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by James Clotfelter, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Five Star Stadium 1327 Stadium Dr Macon, GA 31207 Mercer Bears website Five Star Stadium website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 10,200 Football in the Core of the Peach State Founded in 1833 and renowned for its doctoral research, Mercer has served the South and is the oldest private institution in the state of Georgia. The Mercer Bears football team has certainly had a strange timeline in its existence, or more accurately, nonexistence. Originally known as the Mercer Baptists, the school first fielded a team in 1891 but did not consistently have a team until 1906. Mercer dropped its team for both World Wars, but unlike the first, it did not reinstate the Bears after the Second World War. It wasn’t until 2013 when the Bears made their return to College Football in the newly built Five Star Stadium, and now in 2025, they find themselves as one of the premier programs in the SoCon. Food & Beverage 4 The food options at Five Star Stadium are about what you would expect for a college football game. All the basics can be found at the five brick-and-mortar concession stands, two of them on the visitor’s side, and three along the home stand. In addition to the basics, nestled in the southeastern corner of the stadium is a BBQ smoker with sandwiches and nachos, adjacent to a very popular Kona Ice Truck. Fall Line Brewing has two tents with local draft beer on draft, one smaller one on the away side, and a larger tent on the home end. There is also a wine tent alongside each Fall line tent offering standard pours in addition to frozen wines. Atmosphere 3 The University puts a solid effort into creating the gameday experience, which begins way before the gates even open.  There is a large green space adjacent to the stadium where the university puts on a sponsored tailgate. The combined effort of fans and local vendors, and the school creates a fun pregame atmosphere for both families and warm keg-drinking college students alike. Five Star Stadium’s brick facade does a perfect job of blending into the beautiful Mercer campus. The stadium itself is entirely bleacher seating with backs, with two tiers along the home side, and a single tier along the away side. They do the job and provide quality sightlines from any angle. In the endzones are two grass hills, the fans often populate instead of bleachers, with the south endzone providing shade on the sweltering Georgia early-season games. The student section and Mercer band reside on the away side, leaving the home side to alumni and locals alike. The Bears will play a hype video before the team exits the locker room. It is nothing notable, but it certainly gets the job done. During the game, there will be small promotions sponsored by local businesses, and the music played in breaks is not loud by any standard. It does not feel like the stadium is able to hold in too much noise, as it was pretty quiet during the game, but that could have just been due to the opponent, as the Bears were clearly the dominant team after five minutes of the game. Neighborhood 4 The Mercer campus is beautiful. Clean orange brick is the foundation for seemingly every building on campus, and there are plenty of green areas and lots for tailgating. All of Mercer’s athletic facilities (baseball, basketball, softball, soccer, etc.) are in the vicinity of the football stadium. The walk downtown is about 25 minutes from the stadium; it is nothing bad, and the sidewalk is well-maintained. If willing to make the walk, Fall Line Brewing in downtown Macon is an excellent before or postgame location. In terms of beer, their black IPA is unique and amazing, and the kitchen in the back makes a mouthwatering Ruben. Downtown is littered with local restaurants, so you will certainly find something that suits your fancy by merely looking at Google Maps. There is a Hilton Garden Inn right next to the stadium on campus, but no stress if it is fully booked on gameday. Macon is the largest city in central Georgia, so hotels and Airbnb are plentiful. Be sure to check if any events are happening at the Macon Coliseum, as it is home to the SPHL’s Macon Mayhem and many concerts. Fans 3 Mercer is the largest school in central Georgia, and has a prominent local and alumni support alike. So far this season, the Bears are averaging 9,252 fans per game, putting them at 90% capacity average on the season. Marquee conference games obviously have a larger draw than others. While they do tend to show up in numbers, the fans that do attend are not the loudest in the country by any means. It feels like a very relaxed, family-like atmosphere at the game. On that note, the student turnout was the only disappointing aspect of the crowd. Granted, we shouldn’t knock the crowd on their intensity in this game, because they were playing a far lesser team, and it never really felt like a competition. Access 4 Getting to and around Five Star Stadium is a seamless process. The campus and stadium are right off I-75 on “Mercer University Drive”. Once you take this exit, there are many street signs that direct you to different game day parking options, all very close to the stadium, and be sure to bring cash, because all parking is $10 and is cash only. On the Mercer athletics website, there is also a parking map if you have a specific parking lot or area in mind. The stadium concourse is one level, simple and spacious, allowing for easy access to all points in the stadium. There are three restrooms along the home side at two in the away end, just like the concession stands. Across from a home side concession stand, there is a “Bear Wear” window selling official Mercer apparel. Return on Investment 4 A Mercer football game doesn’t necessarily have to hurt the wallet; it is very affordable compared to other teams in the state. The SoCon certainly isn’t the premier conference in FCS, but it is far from the worst, and at this moment in time, the Mercer Bears are one of the top teams in the country. Ticket prices start at $8 for berm seating, $25 for general admission away end, $25 reserved upper, $35 reserved lower, and $35 ADA. If you don’t mind sitting on the berm, the $8 is of great value, but if you prefer a bleacher, then I recommend going for a reserved upper ticket, as the sightlines are great and you get a little breeze. Concessions are more than reasonable; cheeseburgers and hot dogs are the most expensive at $6, nachos are $5, and smaller snacks, waters, and drinks round out at $4. As mentioned before, be sure to bring $10 cash for parking. It isn’t anything insanely cheap, but for the experience, the price proves to be well worth it. Extras 2 There is not much in terms of extras for the stadium. It does seem a little strange that the press box is on the away end, which seems to be unique to Five Star Stadium. Final Thoughts Mercer has done a very impressive job of making Mercer a football school, and the city seems to reflect the same buy-in.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 GCU Arena 3300 W Camelback Rd Phoenix, AZ 85017 GCU Antelopes Volleyball website GCU Arena website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 7,000 It's Canyon Time Grand Canyon University is a large private Christian university located north of downtown Phoenix, AZ. 20,000 students attend the physical campus, with another 70,000 doing so online. The university opened in 1949 and has been located in Phoenix since 1951. Grand Canyon University has been controversial in that it has held a for-profit status for many years. The school is trying to shed that status, but so far, the federal government is not convinced. That for-profit status has made some other colleges unhappy about Grand Canyon playing NCAA basketball, although recently, much of that controversy has been cooling. Grand Canyon University offers over 200 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs through its nine colleges. Grand Canyon University is a member of the NCAA Division I, with most sports participating in the Mountain West Conference. The school's mascot is the Antelope. One of the most famous alumni is comedian Bill Engvall, while businessman Jerry Colangelo is maybe the person most known as having a Grand Canyon affiliation. The Global Credit Union Arena, most often referred to as the GCU Arena, was opened in 2011. Just over three years after opening, GCU Arena closed on March 3, 2014, to undergo a massive remodel that saw an addition of 2,000 more seats. Food & Beverage 3 The arena has two concession stands for volleyball matches, offering a decent amount of food offerings at a very good value. Pepsi is the cola brand of choice, and there is no alcohol sold. Atmosphere 4 It is quite weird that a new arena went through a massive remodeling so soon after it opened, but the additions made a very good arena even better, as well as larger. The new upper deck addition did create some weird things in the GCU Arena. The upper deck itself has some support straps that hang into view, but luckily, they don’t impede views much. There is a band, cheerleaders, and a team mascot who liven the place up a bit. There are nice scoreboards and video boards around the venue to enhance the experience. Neighborhood 3 Grand Canyon University is located in a very urban and sometimes rough neighborhood. There may not be too many local establishments that a sports fan will enjoy in the direct area, so it may be best to do those kinds of things away from the arena. The university claims to have lowered crime rates in the area, as well as increased property prices. The university also does a good job of engaging and working with the local neighborhood to try to become a good neighbor. You may want to look at options in downtown Phoenix for pre- or post-game options. Fans 4 The crowds are not nearly as intense as for basketball games, but you will still see a pretty decent crowd that stays engaged and active throughout the match. Access 4 The university is located north of downtown along 33rd Avenue. The access to the area is good, and the free parking at either the large garage off of 33rd Avenue or other nearby parking lots makes getting to a game fairly easy. Security checks are outside of the arena itself and make it an easy way in to the venue. Return on Investment 5 The Antelopes offer fairly cheap tickets, sometimes far under $20. With the decently priced concessions and the free parking, the return on investment here is strong. . 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. Colangelo was a star basketball player at Illinois as well as being identified with the United States Olympic Team. A vault of Bibles is buried underneath the center court. The unique upper deck and related seating make for some interesting extras to see here at the GCU Arena. There is a very good team store located at the entrance level of the arena. Final Thoughts GCU Arena is a gem of an arena that offers a great volleyball atmosphere.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Sweeney Field 5600 City Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19131 St. Joseph’s Hawks website Sweeney Field website Year Opened: 1929 Capacity: 3,000 Hawks Soccer in Philly Located on the campus of St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sweeney Field has been home to ten different Hawks sports teams for almost a hundred years of use. Today, the stadium hosts the Hawks' soccer and lacrosse programs as well as track and field meets. This review will focus on the experience at a soccer match. The stadium has undergone many renovations over the years, most recently in 2013 when it was extensively expanded. At the same time, it was renamed after Sean Sweeney, a member of the Board of Trustees and a benefactor who made the expansion possible. Food & Beverage 1 There is no concession stand at Sweeney Field. Vending machines are available in a student lounge in adjacent Mandeville Hall. There is also a "provisions shop" that appears to sell food, but this was closed on weekends, including when we went, as it is targeted at students and not many of them are in academic buildings then. Atmosphere 3 Sweeney Field is a pretty basic stadium with several rows of bleachers. Fans enter from the top and can walk down to wherever they want to sit. Light poles may obstruct some of the action as they are located in front of some of the seats. However, this is easily avoidable. St. Joseph's is legendary for their mascot, The Hawk, who shows up and flaps his wings for the entire game, never stopping. The mascot's motto is "The Hawk Will Never Die," and he is indeed present at soccer matches, flapping his wings. However, when we attended, he left early, possibly due to the weather. Neighborhood 4 St. Joseph's is one of Philadelphia's Big Five colleges, and Sweeney Field is located on the Hawk Hill campus in Philadelphia, near the western edge of the city. St. Joseph's straddles the line between Philadelphia and Merion Station, with Sweeney Field falling just inside the city limits. Merion is considered part of Philadelphia's Main Line, a wealthy area on the west side of the city. Despite The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air giving West Philadelphia a bad rap (figuratively speaking - we have nothing against the theme song), this is one of the nicest parts of the metro area. You will find many restaurants and hotels along Route 1 (known as City Avenue as it passes by the campus, but several other names in different places), a short walk or drive from Sweeney Field. You will find everything from pizza to Mexican to delis to classic Philadelphia cheesesteaks. It's a more suburban feel than downtown, but it's a nice enough place to hang out before or after a game. Fans 4 Sweeney Field seats about 3,000 fans, which is far too big for the crowds the Hawks typically draw. When we visited, only a few hundred fans were in attendance, many of them from a youth sports group that had shown up as a big group. Many of the fans are friends and family of the players or are alumni themselves. It is good to see former players still interested in the team they once played for, but it would be nice to see bigger crowds at such a large stadium. Access 4 The St. Joseph's campus is easily accessible from I-95 and I-76, and Route 1 runs right through campus, so you should have no trouble getting here. Parking is available in large lots next to the stadium for free, and in the Hawks Landing Garage across the street for about $3-$5, depending on how long you park for. Restrooms are available adjacent to the stadium in Mandeville Hall. They were more than spacious enough for the soccer crowds on the Saturday when we visited, but on a weekday when there are students in the building attending classes, it may be different. Return on Investment 5 There is no charge for admission to regular-season games at Sweeney Field, though the policy may vary for Atlantic 10 or NCAA postseason events. Parking is free as well. Overall, a St. Joseph's soccer game is an excellent value. Extras 2 The legendary Hawk mascot is worthy of an extra star here. His endless wing-flapping is an impressive feat for the person in the costume. A second star for the Hawk statues on either side of the bleachers at the top of the seating area, watching over the field like sentries. A third and final star for a merchandise table selling Hawks athletic gear. Final Thoughts Sweeney Field is a nice soccer stadium, but unfortunately is far too big for the crowds the St. Joseph's Hawks draw. There is a lot of potential here, and if fans would show up in larger numbers, this would be an even better place to watch some college soccer.

With this episode of the Stadium Journey podcast, recorded on April Fools Day, we look at some of the biggest fools in sports.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         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 Monday on our social media streaming channels.