Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 CHI Memorial Stadium 1 Stadium Way East Ridge, TN 37412 Chattanooga Red Wolves website CHI Memorial Stadium website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 5,500 Defend the Den Chattanooga joined USL League One (USL1) at the start of the 2019 season with the debut of the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, the city’s second professional soccer team after Chattanooga FC , now a member of MLS Next Pro. In their inaugural season, the Red Wolves played at David Stanton Field on the campus of Chattanooga Christian School, on the city’s south-side. That same year plans were announced to build their own new stadium and surrounding development in East Ridge, Tennessee, just outside Chattanooga. After delays created by Covid-19, CHI Memorial Stadium opened in August 2020. The venue now serves as the home of the Red Wolves men’s team, their USL W League women’s side, and will also host a USL Super League team, part of a new tier-one women’s league launching in the coming seasons.   Food & Beverage   3 Food and drink options are clustered near the stadium entrance. There is space for several food trucks, but during my most recent visit, only one was present, resulting in long lines. Available food is of high quality with apparent variety, but it seems as if the consistency of the options is hit-or-miss. A popular stop is Pelican’s Snoballs, which has a “create your own flavor” setup. For those looking to grab a drink, there are several beer and cocktail stations around the stadium. The two-level Howl Bar in the northeast corner primarily serves from its upper level, and a beer trailer with multiple taps is also set up in the main plaza. Beer selections include Corona, Outlaw Light, Five Wits, Pacifico, Modelo, Blue Moon, and Miller Lite. Cutwater canned cocktails and White Claw seltzers are also available. A separate stand under the seating area offers mixed cocktails. In all, the food and drink options at CHI Memorial Stadium are fine, but it seems an inconsistency in the food truck turnout negatively impacts the eating experience.   Atmosphere   3 CHI Memorial Stadium offers a mix of seating: traditional reserved seating along the near side touchline and general admission bleachers at the north end, along with a safe standing section in the supporters' area and a grassy berm at the south end. There is also a smaller section of seats across the field, but access there does seem to be restricted. One of the more interesting viewing spots is the field-level drink rail, which allows fans to get close to the action. The stadium has one large scoreboard at the south end of the field that predominately shows a feed of the game, but also has a bar across the top of the screen with match time, score, and shots for each team. The stadium itself is a beautiful place to watch a game, though it does have the feel of a venue where they just put up fencing around an open lot.   Neighborhood   3 Located just outside Chattanooga in East Ridge, Tennessee, CHI Memorial Stadium sits beside I-75 just over the Tennessee-Georgia state line. The site was once forested, but in 2019 a $125 million mixed-use development was proposed, which was to include townhomes, apartments, retail space, and a hotel, with the soccer stadium as the center piece of the development. To date though, only a cluster of townhomes has been completed; the rest remains a gravel lot with minimal evidence of further progress beyond earthmovers parked nearby. Across I-75 is Camp Jordan, one-time farm land that has been converted to a multi-sport complex with baseball, softball, and soccer fields, as well as beach volleyball courts, a fishing pond, disc golf course, kayak launches, and a multi-purpose arena that is used for many civic events. The surrounding area has begun to develop with the addition of restaurants, hotels, Topgolf, and Bass Pro Shops. The drawback of the location is its distance from downtown – downtown Chattanooga is just under 10 miles away. While still accessible, it is not the most convenient for visitors seeking a broader urban experience just steps from the stadium.   Fans   3 Attendance numbers may be modest, but Red Wolves fans are loyal and welcoming and quick to compliment the opposing side following the mach. The supporters’ group, while smaller and more subdued than most, brings flags, drums, and smoke bombs to celebrate goals and wins. Whereas some supporter groups can really create a special air in the stadium, the Red Wolves supporters are not able to set that same tone, mostly due to their smaller size.   Access   3 The stadium sits directly off I-75 near the I-24 split. This area can experience heavy traffic, especially near the Ringgold Road exit. GPS often routes drivers to Spring Creek Road, a less direct access point at the rear of the property. However, North Mack Smith Road, although it seems uninviting, is the most straightforward approach. There is a single entrance to CHI Memorial Stadium near the ticket office, leading to a central plaza flanked by food and merchandise areas. A concrete walkway runs behind the main seating area and continues around to restrooms and the grassy berm on the far side of the field. While most pathways are spacious, the walkway atop the touchline seating can become congested with even light foot traffic. The aluminum walkways can also get slick if wet.   Return on Investment   3 Parking costs $13, while tickets range from $14 (supporters’ section) to $21 (general admission). With little difference between seating areas, the supporters’ section offers the best value. Overall, it is an affordable outing, especially for families or casual fans.   Extras   2 Red Wolves mascot Rusty, makes brief appearances before matches and at halftime, but is not a central part of the game-day experience. Postgame, players often stay for 15 to 20 minutes to thank fans, sign autographs, and take photos. This is a small touch that strengthens the club’s community connection.   Final Thoughts The arrival of the Red Wolves introduced new professional soccer energy to Chattanooga, but also sparked some rivalry with the established Chattanooga FC . The Red Wolves provide an entertaining on-field product backed by a loyal and hospitable fan base. However, future growth and sustained success may depend on whether Chattanooga can support two professional soccer teams, and if the progress of the long-promised surrounding development finally materializes, elevating the stadium experience from solid to standout.

After a somewhat longer than brief hiatus Paul and Dave are back! The return of Stadium Journey's Obstructed Views heads into Red Sox Country ... for a Blue Jays Affiliate! How can they make this work? Grab a beer and join Paul and Dave for the latest episode of Stadium Journey's Obstructed Views for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Delta Dental Stadium. You can find Stadium Journey's review of Delta Dental Stadium and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats game day experience here.

Photo by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Beginning July 1st, the Frost Bank Center  – home of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs – will begin the latest round of renovations to the two decades-old facility. The project, which was announced to the public on June 17th, will look to enhance the game-day experience for fans. The effort, which will be privately funded, is highlighted by the construction of a 4,000-square-foot private space that will be called the “Superbox” – this area will offer guests an all-inclusive food and beverage experience. “We’re always paying attention to what our fans tell us, and this project is a direct response to that feedback,” said Max Brodsky, Corporate Communications Coordinator with the Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E). “The Superbox upgrades will improve flow and layout for food and beverage service, while also giving the space an updated look with new finishes, fixtures and furniture.” The Frost Bank Center has been the home arena for the Spurs since 2002. The facility has undergone numerous renovations over the years, including a recent effort to upgrade the venue’s Terrace Club in 2023. “It’s all about creating a better overall experience for our guests,” said Brodsky. “These enhancements are privately funded through SS&E and our partnership with Aramark. They are not connected to any public funding or bond efforts. We expect the refreshed space to be ready for fans to enjoy by the start of preseason this fall.” ---------- Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Fifth Third Park 300 W. Henry Street Spartanburg, SC 29306 Hub City Spartanburgers website Fifth Third Park website Year Opened: 2025 Capacity: 5,000 Look LettUs Cook The 2025 Minor League Baseball season marked the return of affiliated baseball to Spartanburg, South Carolina, for the first time in 31 years with the arrival of the Hub City Spartanburgers. Baseball in Spartanburg dates back to 1904, when the city fielded a team called the Spartans. Over the years the team adopted several names, including the Red Sox and Pioneers, and initially played at Wofford College before relocating to Duncan Park in 1926. In the early 20th century, Spartanburg played independently across various leagues before settling into the South Atlantic League. The city had brief affiliations with the St. Louis Browns (1946) and the Cleveland Indians (1947–1955), but it would be the affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies that lasted 31 years (1963-1994) which would leave a lasting impression on the city, which is still evident today. During the three decades without affiliated baseball, Spartanburg remained active in the sport through summer collegiate leagues, including an earlier incarnation of the Spartanburgers. Now affiliated baseball has returned to Spartanburg; Hub City rejoins the South Atlantic League as the High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers .   Food & Beverage   4 Fifth Third Park does a good job blending traditional ballpark fare with unique, regionally inspired options – Firebox Corner offers not just pepperoni and margarita pizzas, but also a deep-fried version topped with “Fairy Dust” (grated Parmesan), while Bojangles Chicken Crossing serves a small sampling of the southern chain’s menu, including Cajun chicken sandwiches, Chicken Supremes, and Bo’s Bird Dogs. The star of the show, however, is the Spartan Burgers build-your-own burger bar. With nearly 70 available toppings, fans can stick to the basics or get adventurous with options like Nutella, jelly, or Froot Loops; burgers can also include veggie or meat patties. The standout “Spartanburger” is topped with pimento cheese, a fried green tomato, and onion straws, with additional food carts behind home plate specializing in sausage varieties and multiple styles of nachos. The biggest downside of the otherwise strong concessions here is the “grab-and-go” setup – with items being left under heat lamps, it can leave some of the food cold. Though the Carolinas are traditionally Pepsi country, Coca-Cola products are the stadium drink of choice. Other non-alcoholic options include Monster energy drink, Powerade, and fresh-squeezed lemonade from a stand near the left field gates. Adult beverage selections are broad; along with typical domestic beers are craft-style options including beers from New Belgium, Wicked Weed, Sierra Nevada, and Golden Road’s Mango Cart. Seltzers, canned cocktails, and individual servings of wine are also available, and the Cabooze Bar Cart behind home plate offers handmade mixed and frozen drinks. While the beer list is extensive, more local brews would be nice to see.   Atmosphere   4 The Spartanburgers celebrate the city’s railroad legacy with their Hub City moniker, in reference to the city being a hub of railroads in the south. The tracks that run just beyond the third baseline are reminiscent of the early days of baseball, when fields were commonly found adjacent to the town’s train depot. Upon first sight of Fifth Third Park, the neon “Spartanburg” sign atop the stadium, in diner script, pops with city pride. The seating bowl is bi-level; the lower level is individual plastic chairbacks from midway up each line, with mesh-backed seats behind home plate. There are also several additional seating areas, including high top tables, group seating, concourse suites, drink rails, and a grassy berm stretching from left to left-center field. Though the rows are a bit steep, the seating bowl does provide excellent sightlines and plenty of leg room. The outfield wall plays pretty consistent in right, but center field is a poke at 411’. Left field is a touch short at 328’ but it is protected by a wall approximately 15 to 18 feet high. The scoreboard, situated in right-center field uses a 1950s, drive-in themed display to provide game statistics, information on the pitcher’s pitch count, pitch speed, and pitcher and batter individual statistics. Hub City does a good job keeping the burger and railroad themes going throughout the game. Strike outs are celebrated with the ringing of an “order up” style bell, the stadium announcer refers to base runners as “burgers”, and home runs are celebrated with the sounding of a train whistle – this really ties in both themes of the team well; even in-game entertainment pieces use burger-themed contests. Spartanburgers game definitely have an atypical game presentation for baseball, but it goes a long way in creating a fun stadium atmosphere. For example, the stadium’s public address announcer uses the power of the microphone to stir the energy of the crowd with chants and prompts to get loud between pitches. In an era where baseball has become more of a laid-back experience, this approach works well in creating a fun game atmosphere that feels more like a basketball game than baseball. The concourse is kept lively by Steve the Conductor, who makes his way around the concourse dressed in overalls and a conductor’s cap; Steve greets fans and gets them to join him in belting out a loud “Choo-Choo!” rallying call.   Neighborhood   4 Fifth Third Park is a short walk from downtown Spartanburg, an area with an artsy vibe and plenty of personality. Sculptures line the sidewalks and the Spartanburg Music Trail highlights local musicians via QR codes – there are 11 markers, including one honoring The Marshall Tucker Band, most notable for their song, “Can’t You See”. Downtown also has a strong collection of locally-owned restaurants along a section of Main Street, which is closed to traffic so tables can be set up for spacious outdoor dining. Music fills the air day and night, providing both pre and post-game options for food, drink, and music. One establishment of interest in the area is FR8yard, an outdoor bar and music venue that has seats from Duncan Park. Downtown Spartanburg also seems to be in the midst of a revitalization, as empty store fronts appear to be in the process of being filled. The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, Hub City Railroad Museum, and the free to play Sparkle City miniature golf course are all family-friendly points of consideration in the area.   Fans   4 Excitement around town is high with the return of professional baseball. Early attendance numbers over 3,000 fans per game, with crowds swelling to over 4,000 for weekend matchups, especially when rivals like the Greenville Drive  visit. If this trend continues, the Spartanburgers will finish among the South Atlantic League’s top five in attendance this season.   Access   3 Spartanburg is at the junction of two interstates that run though the southeast, namely I-85 which runs regionally from Atlanta to Charlotte, and I-26 that runs from the South Carolina coast in Charleston to Asheville, North Carolina. Fifth Third Park is just south of downtown Spartanburg. Some streets around the stadium shut down leading up to gates opening, so the easiest approach is from the north side of Morgan Avenue. This provides for the easiest access to the multi-level parking deck just beyond the left field confines, and this garage provides direct access into the ballpark. There is also some street parking within walking distance if you arrive early enough; street parking is free after 5 pm. Primary entry points can be found in the right and left field corners of the stadium, with the left field gates being the most popular. There is also a home plate gate, but it is more out of the way, so it doesn’t get nearly as much use as the other points of entry. Even with many concourse level suites and food carts, there is still plenty of room for fans to move around without feeling as though they are packed in shoulder to shoulder. Fifth Third Park is not completely circumnavigable, however – fans can only walk to center field and roughly three-quarters of the way down the right field line. In future years, though, office space and housing will begin to pop up in the open grassy area beyond right and center field, which may help to tie both sides of the field together with one continuous walkway.   Return on Investment   3 Tickets start at just $5 for weekday berm seating, increasing to $8 on Fridays and $10 on weekends and holidays. Fees typically add 21–28% to the ticket price. Parking seems reasonable at $10, but if you are willing to walk, free spots can be found in the downtown area – street parking is free after 5 pm. Concessions seem reasonably priced, in line with typical ballpark prices. Apparel and other souvenirs do seem to be on the expensive side, however, but nothing that isn’t in line with current industry standards.   Extras   4 Mascots Chuck the Burger, an anthropomorphic cheeseburger, and a yet-to-be-named Carolina Parakeet have an on-going playful rivalry that sees the feathered mascot constantly chasing Chuck around the field, concourse, or other parts of the stadium. While not engaged in the chase, both mascots are busy taking countless photos with fans around the stadium, as well as helping host mid-inning games. A display inside the home plate entrance features vintage wooden seats from Shibe Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies  from 1909 to 1970; the seats were later reused at Duncan Park. The display includes photos chronicling Spartanburg’s baseball history, with a separate exhibit behind home plate commemorating the Spartanburg Mill League in the early 1900s. A large children’s play area is located down the left field line, providing a great space for kids to burn off some energy during the game; the climbing wall there incorporates a colorful mural of Spartanburg into its design. There is a specific focus on using art as part of the wow factor at Fifth Third Park, from the mural-covered walls to the baseball-themed chandelier just inside the Home Plate Gate, and the giant bobbleheads placed at each of the outfield gates – all of these add to the artistic beauty of the stadium.   Final Thoughts A new team and stadium usually bring a lot of buzz to a city, and the Hub City Spartanburgers really deliver on that. Fifth Third Park is not just a fun spot to watch baseball; it feels like a celebration of Spartanburg. The diner and railroad themes, mixed with the recognition of the city’s baseball past and artistic vibe, bring into the ballpark much of what has shaped Spartanburg into the city it is today.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Great Dane Stadium 645 Mullinax Road Alpharetta, GA 30004 United Futbol Academy Gunners website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 5,600 United 4 Life In the northern Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, the United Futbol Academy (UFA) Gunners have found a home at Great Dane Stadium, on the campus of Denmark High School. UFA fields teams at the select, elite, and academy levels. The club joined the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) as part of the league’s 2024 expansion. The WPSL is a summer, semi-professional women’s soccer league made up mostly of current or recently graduated collegiate players. Founded in 2010, the Gunners maintain a developmental partnership with Arsenal FC , the three-time Premier League champions; this relationship includes visits from Arsenal staff, who work directly with UFA coaches and players to support technical training and overall development. Food & Beverage 3 Food at Gunners matches is provided by a single vendor, Beto’s Tacos, located just inside the stadium entrance. They offer tacos and quesadillas with chicken, pork, beef, or vegetarian fillings, alongside bottled water and Coca-Cola. Additional drinks, namely Gatorade and more bottled water, are available at a nearby table. While the food is of high quality, the lack of variety is a drawback. The presence of only one vendor limits the range of options for fans. Atmosphere 2 Great Dane Stadium is a typical high school football stadium, featuring a large home section of aluminum bleachers opposite a smaller visiting section; the pitch is encircled by an eight-lane track. The setback created by the track does create a bit of separation from the stands and the match. The stadium’s multi-use nature also results in a busy field, with lines for football, lacrosse, and soccer. There is one traditional scoreboard at the north end of the stadium that tracks match time and score, but unlike traditional soccer timers, the clock counts down rather than up. Also, UFA does not announce substitutions or goals, which can create some disconnect with who is coming into a match, or who may have scored a goal. Neighborhood 2 Denmark High School sits in the far northern suburbs of Atlanta, in southern Forsyth County, where suburban neighborhoods begin to give way to rural landscapes. The school is surrounded by subdivisions with majestic homes, as well as by farmland and undeveloped land. The immediate area lacks much in the way of unique dining or entertainment options, consisting mainly of national chains. Also, despite having an Alpharetta address, the school is actually closer to the town of Cumming, roughly 15 minutes away, which has a developing downtown and several locally owned restaurants. Meadow Woodfire Grill, Dominic’s Wood Fire, and Los Compadres are among the most highly regarded. Fans 2 UFA draws between 100 and 200 fans per match; this seems to be an average turnout in the Peachtree Division, outside of clubs like Decatur FC and Chattanooga FC . Most fans at Great Dane Stadium appear to be family members of players or younger UFA athletes, giving the stands a community-focused, youth-club feel. The supporters are vocal and encouraging, cheering for saves, shots, and 50-50 balls, while voicing frustration at questionable calls. While they bring enthusiasm, the fan base does not quite reach the level of a formal supporters group. Access 3 Great Dane Stadium is in the northern reaches of the Metro Atlanta city of Alpharetta, in southern Forsyth County. The most direct access to the stadium is using Georgia Highway 400, but this route can become extremely congested during the evening commute. Those heading south on 400 receive some relief from commuters, but will still have to contend with a degree of traffic. If using GPS to navigate to the stadium, the directions likely lead to the back of campus, and may not signify the turn into the parking lot, so be on the lookout for your first chance to access parking. Parking is just a short walk to the entry point, which opens into a spacious gathering area and long ramps to access the seating area. Most seating here is limited to just one side of the stadium, which does have the benefit of not facing the setting sun, unlike the smaller visiting bleachers behind the team benches. To help expedite entry into the stadium, you should purchase tickets online ahead of time. Tickets are not available for purchase at the gate; they must be bought online. Though this is not necessarily a hindrance, it is a slight annoyance. Return on Investment 5 Tickets are reasonably priced and in line with other teams in the WPSL. After fees, general admission runs just under $6, with free entry for children. Parking is also free, making it a very budget-friendly family outing. Food prices do seem to be a bit high, but when considering the quality of what is served, the prices appear justified. Extras 2 For young soccer fans with energy to spare, a training pitch near the south end of the stadium becomes a popular gathering spot during games. Following the match, UFA players and coaches show their gratitude to the fans by hosting a meet-and-greet, signing autographs and allowing fans to take photos with players. Final Thoughts While the United Futbol Academy Gunners match day experience may not have some of the extras found at a couple of other Peachtree Division clubs, it is comparable to several of their atmospheres. UFA provides fans with an affordable, family-friendly environment to enjoy summer soccer in suburban Atlanta.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Doran Park 220 Sandwich Rd Bourne, MA 02532 Bourne Braves website Doran Park website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 3,000 Where Stars are Bourne   The town of Bourne has a lengthy baseball history dating all the way back to the 1860’s. Several teams representing Bourne competed in the Cape League throughout the 20th century. In the modern era of the Cape League, generally considered to have begun in 1963, Bourne was initially represented by the Clouters and Canalmen. From 1972-1988 the town of Bourne was without a team after the folding of the Canalmen. In 1988, the Cape League expanded to ten teams, welcoming Bourne and Brewster into the circuit. The name “Braves” was selected to honor the second major league baseball team to call nearby Boston home.   Doran Park is the newest ballpark, opening in 2006 behind the Upper Cape Regional Technical High School. Before moving to Doran Park, the Braves played at various sites in Bourne, including The Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Coady Field. The field is dedicated to longtime Sagamore Beach resident and avid baseball fan George Doran Sr.   Since joining the Cape League in 1988, the Braves have won three championships, in 2009, 2022 and 2023. Some notable alumni to play in Bourne include Pete Alonso, Kevin Youkilis, Mark Mulder, Bill Mueller and Mitch Moreland.   Food & Beverage 4   The Braves operate a snack bar out of a building on the third base side of Doran Park. The menu hits all the expected notes, with hot dogs, burgers and sausage sandwiches the main attractions. For the younger fans in attendance, Lunchables are sold. Items are cooked to order on a small gas grill next to the concession stand. Assorted snacks and ice cream treats are sold at the concession stand. Coca-Cola products are featured. Alcohol is not allowed at Doran Park.   There are a couple of unique items worth mentioning here. Since we’re on Cape Cod, no baseball experience would be complete without sampling some clam chowder. Quahog Republic provides the local treat here at Doran Park. If you’re feeling adventurous, order the “Brave Burger.” It’s a cheeseburger with Uncrustables as buns. Snack bar staff report that not a whole lot of Braves fans are brave enough to order the Brave Burger, but they do sell a few each night.   Atmosphere 3   For baseball fans used to the noise and commotion of your typical major or minor league baseball game, going to a came on Cape Cod will be a shock to the system. Gone are the between inning shenanigans, the annoying mascots and the non-stop distractions present at most ballparks. In the Cape League, the game is the focus. The only extraneous noise you’ll hear at a Braves game are the occasional lineup and sponsor announcements. Any noise at Doran Park is generated entirely by the fans in attendance.   Neighborhood 3   Doran Park is located behind the Upper Cape Regional Technical High School in Bourne on the eastern shore of the Cape Cod Canal. The campus has a very large footprint in a very highly traveled area. There are no places of interest directly adjacent to Doran Park. However, this is Cape Cod, and you won’t have to travel too far to find some excellent dining options, lodging choices and attractions.   If you cross back over the Cape Cod Canal via the Bourne Bridge, you’ll find yourself in the village of Buzzards Bay. Located here are campgrounds, trails, and a bustling downtown scene. You can find some incredible seafood in the many restaurants and clam shacks in the area. A little further down the road is Onset Point, which offers the quintessential Cape Cod experience on the Massachusetts mainland.   Just north of the ballpark, the village of Sandwich offers more fantastic seafood, ice cream and sandy beaches. Just be warned that the traffic in this area can be intense, especially on weekends and during peak tourist season. Give yourself plenty of extra time to get around town, especially if you need to travel over either of the bridges that span the canal.   Fans 3   The combination of success on the field and the completion of the seating areas around Doran Park has helped increase attendance in recent seasons. Over the past three seasons the Braves have averaged over 1,300 fans per game. This has placed Bourne seventh in the Cape League each season, an improvement over previous years when they would typically bring up the rear of the league.   Fans here are typical of those you would find elsewhere on the Cape, with a mix of locals and tourists taking in the action. As with other ballparks in this league, crowds grow as the season wears on into the meat of the tourist season. If you wish to avoid the larger crowds, get to a game in June, before school lets out and the heavy tourist season begins. Part of the fun of watching games on the Cape is the people watching, including the many young fans in attendance chasing foul balls around the facility.   One thing to know about Cape League fans: while they are enthusiastic and knowledgeable, they are hardly cutthroat. The typical Cape League fan is laid back and interested in watching some of the highest quality summer ball in the nation. Great plays by both teams are met with appreciation and applause. Sportsmanship rules the day on the Cape.   Access 4   The most difficult aspect of reaching Doran Park is dealing with Cape Cod traffic during the height of the summer tourist season. Since Doran Park is located close to the only access points onto the Cape (Bourne Bridge and Sagamore Bridge), fans will need to fight the ever-present traffic just to get to the ball field. Once you arrive at Upper Cape Regional High School, access becomes much easier. Doran Park is located behind the school, with parking available in a large lot a short walk from the field.   The landscape around Doran Park has undergone some changes in recent years. It has taken some time, but the berm on the first base (visiting) side of the field has been finished. In front of the model homes that are used to learn HVAC and electric wiring skills is a magnificent, terraced berm. Most fans continue to sit on the third base (home) side of the park, where that berm provides plenty of room for fans to spread out their blankets or lawn chairs. The landscaping and floral designs that adorn the ballpark set Doran Field apart from its peers on the Cape.   The snack bar and rest rooms are located in the building located beyond the dugout. Fans who do not bring their own chairs are able to use the terraces as seating, so there are no metal bleachers to break up the aesthetic here. The team store has been moved from its longtime location underneath the press box to a trailer closer to the parking lot.   One issue fans will have with Doran Park is the fact that there are few unobstructed seats here. Netting runs down both baselines, and thick support poles obstruct views. The dugouts, with their sloping roofs, block more views, and the snack bar takes up some prime real estate on the third base line. For unobstructed views, fans will need to sit far down the baselines, beyond the dugouts and snack bar.   Return on Investment 5   As is the case with all Cape Cod League games, there is no charge for admission at Doran Park. The team will happily accept a donation for admission in exchange for roster sheets, a media guide and a Cape League Magazine. Free parking is also available in the large lot at the high school. Seasoned fans will bring their own refreshments, making it possible to take in the action featuring some of the best collegiate players in the country without spending any money. Even if you purchase refreshments, the prices are reasonable.   Extras 2   In 2024 a total of 415 Cape Cod League alumni played in the Major Leagues. This means that one out of every four players to play in the Majors spent a summer on the Cape. If you are going to a game here, you’re not seeing a few guys who might make it someday, you’re seeing an All-Star game every night of the summer.   Another interesting fact about this field is that much of the work done in building the ballpark, from construction to electrical work to wiring, was done by students. It seems fitting since Doran Park is located at a technical high school.   Final Thoughts   The Cape Cod League is considered to be the premier summer collegiate baseball league in the nation. With one out of every four major leaguers today able to trace his roots to the Cape, the numbers bear out this claim. While the talent is certainly Major League, the feel at the ballparks is small town. This is certainly true in Bourne, where the entire facility has been designed, built and maintained by the students at the technical high school on site.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Guv Fuller Field 790 Main St Falmouth, MA 02540 Falmouth Commodores website Guv Fuller Field website Year Opened: 1964 Capacity: 8,000 Easy Like a Sunday Morning   Organized baseball has been played in the town of Falmouth since before the Civil War. The first report of an organized game in town was reported by the Barnstable Patriot in 1857. Teams representing towns across Cape Cod played against each other throughout the late 19th and early 20th century. Central Park Field, located just steps from the ocean in Falmouth Heights, served as the home of the Falmouth teams until the 1960s. The official “Cape League” began play in 1923. Leagues came and went over the following decades, undergoing numerous forms and with numerous teams representing towns until 1963, when the NCAA officially sanctioned the league.   In 1964 the Commodores moved from the waterfront to a new home at Guv Fuller Field, located in downtown Falmouth. Guv Fuller Field was constructed in the 1930s in conjunction with the Work Projects Administration. The field was dedicated in 1952 in honor of Elmer E. “Guv” Fuller, longtime coach and athletic director at Falmouth’s Lawrence High School. Fuller’s nickname referenced 1920s Massachusetts Governor and Falmouth native Alvin Fuller, who remained a figure in Falmouth High School athletics until his retirement.   In 2004 the baseball diamond was named in honor of Arnie Allen, who began his association with the Commodores at the age of seven as a bat boy. Allen remained with the club for 46 years, serving mostly as the team’s equipment manager. He received the Cape League’s initial Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.   In the modern era of the Cape League, which is generally considered to have begun in 1963, the Commodores have won six titles. Their most recent title was won in 1980. Dozens of Major Leaguers have played in Falmouth over the years. Some of the more notable players to play in Falmouth include Baseball Hall of Famer Pie Traynor, Darin Erstad, Tino Martinez, Jeff Weaver and Adley Rutschman.   Food & Beverage 2    The Commodores operate a concession stand in the old football press box building far down the right field line. A decent menu is served here, with chicken tenders, hot dogs, empanadas, burgers and veggie burgers available. Fans can also grab some french fries, a fried dough, or an ice cream treat to enjoy during the game.   Cans of Coca-Cola products and water are available at the concession stand. You may be wondering, did he just say “cans” of water? Single-use plastic has been outlawed in the town of Falmouth, so cans it is at Fuller Field.   Fans are welcome to bring their own drinks and snacks to Cape League games. No alcoholic beverages are allowed.   Atmosphere 3   The atmosphere at Fuller Field is similar to most Cape League ballparks. Going to a Cape League game is a bit like stepping back in time. Absent is much of the noise and distraction present at so many ballparks today. The game on the field is the focus here. Music is only played between innings, and PA announcements during the game are limited to lineup details and the occasional sponsor announcement. A small scoreboard in left field shows basic game information. Fans looking for some Commodores swag will find a good assortment of gear in the team store behind home plate.   There are some features here at Fuller Field designed to entertain the more casual fan. There is a game area behind home plate featuring a cornhole setup and a fast pitch booth. There is a large video screen on the side of the press box building should you want to catch a replay or find yourself on the broadcast. Team staff roam the crowd selling 50/50 tickets. On the Cape, more than just a cash prize is up for grabs. Several local sponsors put up prizes for the daily raffle. A mascot named Homer, a person dressed in a Commodores uniform with a giant baseball head, participates in the day’s festivities as well.   Neighborhood 5   The town of Falmouth has a year-round population of over 32,000 residents, making it the second-largest municipality on Cape Cod. Fuller Field is located just off of Main Street, tucked in behind the Police Station, Senior Center and Community Center. Downtown Falmouth is less than a mile from the ballpark. Visitors to the area will definitely want to check out the walkable downtown, which is filled with restaurants, shops and hotels. Also located here is a statue of Katherine Lee Bates, the author and poet best known for writing “America the Beautiful.” Be aware that the area will be crowded (and pricey) during the height of the tourist season.   Falmouth Heights is another popular destination in town. In addition to the aforementioned Central Park Field, the town beach is located here, as well as the finish line of the popular Falmouth Road Race. Woods Hole, is located a 15-minute drive away. Ferries to Martha’s Vineyard arrive and depart here, and an aquarium, waterfront restaurant and shops attract summer visitors.   Beyond the town of Falmouth, Cape Cod is filled with popular destinations, world class eateries and first-rate beaches. There’s no wonder this is one of the more popular summer destinations on the east coast.   Fans 3   Going to a game in Falmouth can feel like crashing a private party. It seems like everyone here knows everyone else. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just the close-knit nature of games on the Cape. These games are community events, and many people here have been involved with the teams for most of their lives. With the tight geographic footprint of the league, it’s not unusual to see a good turnout from visiting fans as well. If you would like to avoid the larger crowds and busier traffic of the summer tourist season on Cape Cod, plan to visit earlier in the season, before the tourist crowds hit the area.   The Commodores generally land in the middle of the Cape League attendance rankings each season, drawing about 1,500 fans per game to Fuller Field. You’ll find a mix of locals, tourists, die hard baseball fans and families out to enjoy an affordable evening of entertainment.   Access 4   Fuller Field is located just off of Main Street near downtown Falmouth. Main Street, also known as Route 28, is the main drag that runs along the south coast of Cape Cod from the Bourne Bridge to the Orleans Rotary. The ball field is tucked in behind a municipal complex. The recently renovated parking lot here contains ample parking for the typical Commodores crowd. Visiting fans will find the rest rooms for the facility inside the Community Center. Plan ahead, it’s a bit of a hike from the bleachers.   Fans will enter Fuller Field in deep right field from behind the old football press box. The field is no longer used for football, but the football bleachers remain. The old wooden bleachers have been replaced with new aluminum bleachers. The old press box building is now the snack bar. Most fans will proceed towards the ball field, where both sides of the field contain bleachers and a berm. Many will settle in on the home (first base) side of Fuller Field. The berms here are not as large as at other Cape League fields, and are not terraced, so if you bring your chairs you’ll be looking to sit at the top or the bottom of the hill. Netting runs past the bases on both sides of the field. Seats further down the lines are free from obstructions.   Return on Investment 5   There is no charge to attend a Commodores game. The team will happily accept a donation, in exchange for which they will give you a program, rosters, and Cape League Magazine. Parking is free in the parking lot adjacent to the Community and Senior Centers. If you purchase food at the concession stand, prices are affordable.   Extras 2   In 2024 a total of 415 Cape Cod League alumni played in the Major Leagues. This means that one out of every four players to play in the Majors spent a summer on the Cape. If you are going to a game here, you’re not seeing a few guys who might make it someday, you’re seeing an All-Star game every night of the summer.   Behind the football bleachers in right field is an informational display describing the migratory patterns of the osprey and Falmouth’s Osprey Project, which strives to create safe nesting areas for these birds that are such a symbol of the Cape. If you look around Fuller Field, you’ll see several Osprey nests atop the light poles surrounding the field.   Final Thoughts   While Guv Fuller Field is rarely mentioned as being one of the better fields in the circuit, it shares many features with the most popular ballparks. Fuller Field’s location in downtown Falmouth makes it a destination location in a league filled with them. With all ten teams located within an hour of each other, there is no need to choose just one field during a visit to Cape Cod. It’s entirely possible to visit them all in a short period of time.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Joseph L. Bruno Stadium 80 Vandenburgh Ave Troy, NY 12180 Tri-City Valleycats website Joseph L. Bruno Stadium website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 6,500 The Show at The Joe   The Tri-City ValleyCats were victims of the Great Minor League Contraction of 2021. The team, which began play in 2002, were members of the New York-Penn League from their inception until the folding of the league. During their time in affiliated ball, the ValleyCats qualified for the NYPL playoffs nine times (a league record) and won three championships.   After being bumped from affiliated baseball, the franchise announced that it would be joining the independent Frontier League. In their first four seasons in the Frontier League, the ValleyCats have qualified for the playoffs once, in 2024. Even though the team has been out of affiliated baseball for half a decade, they still boast that 116 players went from “The Joe to The Show.”   The “Tri-Cities” are the three New York Cities that make up New York State’s Capital District: Albany, Troy and Schenectady. The home of the ValleyCats, Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, is located on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. The ballpark is named in honor of the New York State Senator who helped secure funding for the facility.   Food & Beverage 5   The two main concession stands are located on either side of the stadium entrance. Standard arena fare passes through these windows, as the menus in these stands consist of burgers, chicken tenders and hot dogs. All the expected snacks can be found here as well (french fries, nachos, pretzels, cotton candy, peanuts, etc.). There’s a good selection of beverages here, from hot beverages for those cold early-season nights, to a complete selection of sodas and beers.   Where Bruno Stadium shines is in the myriad small stands and food carts that line the concourse down both foul lines. Hungry ValleyCat fans will find anything they may need at these stands and carts, from coal-fired personal pizzas to your choice of traditional soft-serve or Mini-Melt ice cream. Vamos Tacos serves up a variety of Mexican favorites, from empanadas to burritos and tacos, to batting helmets filled with nachos.   Buddy’s Grill far down the right field line grills up sausage and pepper sandwiches, ½ pound burgers, bratwurst and salt potatoes. Down the left field line, Rowdy’s at the Joe and the Sam Adams Corner serve up drinks and snacks with dedicated tables and bar rails overlooking the field.   Coca-Cola products are featured at Bruno Stadium. Fans looking for an adult beverage will have no problem finding what they need at any stand in the ballpark. Check out the Taste of New York stand for wine or Vamos Tacos for margaritas. Fans of craft beer will undoubtedly head towards Brown’s Brewing, where a variety of locally brewed beers are sold, including the ValleyCats specialty beer, ValleyCats Pale Ale.   Atmosphere 4   As is the case with most minor league baseball teams, the staff of the ValleyCats do their best to fill the empty spaces in a ballgame with noise and activity to keep the casual and younger fans in attendance interested. The team holds a lot of the usual between innings games and contests, including dress like a ValleyCat, the pizza toss and more. Fans looking for swag can check out the information booth right by the entrance or the well-stocked team store.   Southpaw, the team’s mascot, roams the ballpark interacting with fans and taking part in the promotions. The sound system is good, and the emcee and PA announcer work in tandem to keep the action moving. There’s a well-stocked kids play area down the left field line for those younger fans needing to burn some energy. One drawback is the constant hum coming from the generator plant located just beyond the left-centerfield fence. It can be quite loud and distracting at times.   Neighborhood 3   Hudson Valley Community College is located in a mixed-use neighborhood on the outskirts of Troy, NY. Fans who haven’t visited Bruno Stadium in a while will notice a lot of new development in recent years.   Directly across the street from campus is a small strip mall containing a few eateries and small shops. A few chain restaurants, including a Chili’s, a Denny’s, a Cracker Barrel and an Applebee’s, are located near I-90. Fans looking to stay near campus will find a Residence Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Suites, and a College Suites nearby.   Fans looking for a bit more local flavor can head to downtown Troy, located a ten-minute drive away, or downtown Albany, a 12-minute drive away. Visiting fans looking to complete the Capital District trifecta will have to take a half hour drive to reach downtown Schenectady.   Fans 4   In 2024, the ValleyCats set a high-water mark for attendance since joining the Frontier League, drawing over 3,000 fans per game. This ranked the team third in the circuit. The strong numbers have continued thus far in 2025. The 3,000 fan milestone is an important one, as it has been identified by team ownership as necessary to ensure the viability of the franchise. However impressive this figure may be, it still lags a bit behind what the ValleyCats drew during their affiliated days. In 2019, the team’s last season in the New York-Penn League, the ValleyCats averaged 3,800 fans per game.   A crowd in Tri-City will look very familiar to fans who attend minor league baseball games regularly. There’s a good mix of dedicated die-hard fans, fans with a personal connection with the team (family members, host families), groups and families enjoying an affordable night of entertainment at the ballpark. There’s a good buzz going on in The Joe, and fans are into the action.   Access 4   Bruno Stadium is located on the eastern edge of the Hudson Valley Community College campus in Troy, NY. The campus, located on the southern edge of the city in a neighborhood with a suburban feel, is easily accessible if driving, as it is located near the intersection of Interstates 90 and 787. Once on campus, fans can arrive at the ballpark via either the North Drive or South Drive entrance. Bruno Stadium is located at the far end of the campus at the top of the hill, just be aware of the speed dips as you navigate campus roads. Fans taking public transportation can take the Capital District Transit Authority’s  85 or 224 buses to campus.   Fans can park in one of several lots located adjacent to the ballpark. The lots closest to the park are reserved for season ticket holders. The entry plaza to The Joe contains the ticket offices and team store. Fans will enter the ballpark directly onto the main concourse behind home plate. This concourse stretches from deep left field around to deep right field. Due to the presence of numerous portable carts and extra stands throughout Bruno Stadium, getting around the ballpark can be difficult at times.   Since The Joe is a fairly large ballpark, fans will have many choices for where to take in the action, including a pair of berms on either end of the seating bowl, bar seating at certain points, and group areas. The park is still intimate enough that all seats have good views of the action. A pair of restrooms are located by the main entrance to the ballpark. They are on the smaller side, but are large enough for the typical ValleyCats crowd.   Return on Investment 5   Tickets for ValleyCat games start at just $8 for berm seats, with prices maxing out at $14 for premium box seats. Waiting until the day of the game to get your tickets will increase the price by two dollars.   Parking is free in the lots adjacent to the ballpark. With affordable concessions prices, a ValleyCats game is a very affordable entertainment option for Capital District baseball fans.   Extras 2   As you enter Bruno Stadium, you will be greeted by a mural listing all the players who played in Tri-City and made it to the Major Leagues. The team is proud to share that 116 players made it from The Joe to The Show. Homer’s Bar, located just inside the entrance to the ballpark, features a great view of the game from behind home plate and a mural displaying all the ValleyCats’ championships.   Final Thoughts   Even though The Joe was a victim of Minor League Baseball’s downsizing, it remains a solid facility, and an excellent addition to the growing Frontier League. Here’s hoping that Capital District baseball fans realize that the ValleyCats remain as entertaining as ever, and that the baseball played on the field might actually be better than what they saw in their affiliated days.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Delta Dental Stadium One Line Drive Manchester, NH 03101 New Hampshire Fisher Cats website Delta Dental Stadium website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 6,000 20 Years at the Tooth   Some ballparks have names that just roll off the tongue. Others have monikers that easily translate into catchy nicknames. Alas, the ballpark in Manchester, New Hampshire has never enjoyed either of these luxuries. Born in 2005 as Fisher Cats Ballpark, the ballpark was re-christened as MerchantsAuto.com Stadium in 2006. In 2011 Northeast Delta Dental insurance entered into a naming rights deal, shortening the park’s name to “Delta Dental Stadium” in 2022. Sometimes referred to as “The Tooth” (but thankfully usually not), the home of the Fisher Cats enters its 20th season in 2025. The Fisher Cats have won three Eastern League championships since moving to New Hampshire from New Haven, CT.   The ballpark was built on the site of the former Singer Park in the Manchester Millyard, a soccer stadium that was also used for circuses, carnivals, and summer concerts. The grounds are notable for being the site where bricks from the Arms Textile Mill are buried. The Arms Textile Mill was the site of the deadliest outbreak of anthrax in United States history.   You may be asking yourself, what exactly is a fisher cat? A fisher cat, or Pekania Pennanti, is a carnivorous mammal native to forests of Canada and northern United States. It is not actually a cat, and is more closely related to the American or Pacific marten. Despite its name, a fisher cat rarely eats fish, choosing to hunt small animals and forage for fruits and mushrooms. A fisher cat is one of the few animals that can successfully prey on porcupines.   While Delta Dental Stadium sits on the banks of the Merrimack River, the river factors very little into the stadium design. The ballpark faces away from the river and it is not visible from much of the facility. The dominating feature of this ballpark is the Hilton Garden Inn, which towers over the field in deep left-center field. Many rooms feature views of the ballpark, and there is a patio from which hotel guests can sit and take in the action.   Food & Beverage 4   The concessions experience at Delta Dental Stadium seems to change annually, expanding and contracting at a whim. During Stadium Journey’s 2025 visit, it appeared that a return to basics was in order.   There are three main stands scattered throughout the ballpark which offer mostly standard ballpark fare, not straying far from your typical hot dog/burger/chicken tender menu. Pizza slices are sold at the big stands, with value meals offered for fans looking to save a few dollars. Smaller carts scattered throughout the concourse augment these stands with specialty items such as Dippin' dots, Mac and Cheese, and gourmet hot dogs.   Bottled Coca Cola products are featured at Delta Dental Stadium alongside a good selection of beer. National brands are featured, as well as local craft favorites from Moat Mountain, and a special brew for the Fisher Cats, Line Drive Lager from Great North Aleworks.   The centerpiece of the dining experience here is the Sam Adams Brewhouse, located at the top of the stairs as you enter the ballpark. Open to all ticket holders two hours before and after the game, the Brewhouse features a seating area that overlooks the field, several high-definition televisions, an 85-foot-long Mahogany bar, and live music on the Tiki bar stage every Thursday-Saturday. The Brewhouse can also be reserved for private functions.   Atmosphere 4   The Fisher Cats offer the typical minor league gameday presentation, starting with a couple dozen first pitches and continuing with distractions aplenty throughout the game. All your typical in-game hijinks can be found here, from grass angels to mascot races. Younger fans in attendance will gravitate towards the Planet Fitness play area at the far end of the concourse, while the adults in attendance will likely head to the social area outside of the Sam Adams Brewhouse, where live music is played before weekend games.   The Fisher Cat staff work hard to provide entertainment for New Hampshire baseball fans. There are tables operated by local vendors scattered throughout the concourse, fast-pitch booths and midway games for younger fans, coloring stations, live music, free programs and more every night of the season.   Neighborhood 3   Manchester is New Hampshire’s largest city, located about an hour’s drive northwest of Boston via Interstate 93. Delta Dental Stadium is located on the banks of the Merrimack River on the opposite side of the river from the highway, just a short walk from downtown Manchester.   Aside from the Hilton Garden Inn and the Sam Adams Brewhouse, which are basically part of the ballpark, there is not much in the immediate vicinity of Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.   Visiting fans looking for places to eat or drink will find no shortage of places in downtown Manchester about a mile from the ballpark. The Red Arrow Diner is perhaps Manchester’s most famous eatery, having been open for close to a century. It’s a favorite stop for politicians campaigning in the area and locals alike. Open 24 hours, it’s known for its enormous portions of comfort food and all-day breakfast.   Less than an hour north of Manchester are the White Mountains, which contain some excellent ski resorts. In the summer many mountain areas convert into summer vacation destinations. Favorite attractions such as Lake Winnipesaukee and the numerous touristy spots along the Kancamangus Highway are just a short drive away.   Fans 3   The Fisher Cats annually finish in the bottom half of the Eastern League attendance rankings, averaging around 4,000 fans per game. Being affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays while located in the middle of Red Sox country is hardly a recipe for success, but the Fisher Cats have a dedicated, enthusiastic fan base.   As is typical in minor league parks throughout the country, crowds in Manchester are a mixture of die-hard baseball fans and families. With the constant on-field shenanigans and things to do for young and old fans alike, there’s solid energy coming from the stands.   Access 4   While Northeast Delta Dental’s location right off Interstate 293 in downtown Manchester would seem most convenient, getting in and out of the area can be difficult. The ballpark is located on a dead-end street with only one way in and out, meaning you shouldn’t be in a hurry, especially when leaving after the game. In fact, many Fisher Cats fans choose to park in the lots further from the ballpark because these lots are much easier to get out of.   After the standard security screen and bag check, fans enter the ballpark via a staircase that deposits them onto the concourse in deep left field.  Located here is the Sam Adams Brewhouse, tiki bar, pavilion, rock waterfall and stage. It’s a great introduction to the park on a busy Friday or Saturday night.   The concourse wraps around the field to deep right field. The open concourse, located at the top of the seating bowl, allows for views of the field from all spots. All the seats here are green plastic stadium chairs, except for the furthest sections in right field, which are made up of metal bleachers. Unfortunately, the seating bowl is not angled towards home plate, meaning seats further down the lines face centerfield. In addition, netting runs the entire length of the seating bowl, obstructing views from all seats. The children’s play area is located at the end of the concourse in right field.   The concourse is somewhat narrow and crammed with tables, booths and carts. It can be difficult to navigate when there is a large crowd in attendance. Restrooms are clean, and large enough for the typical Fisher Cat crowd.   Return on Investment 4   Tickets to Fisher Cats games start at $12 for seats furthest down the lines, topping out at $18 behind home plate. Seats in the Bullpen Patio and Pavilion by the Sam Adams Brewhouse can be found for $24. Check the Fisher Cats website for more deals, including free food when you buy four or more tickets.   Parking in the Fisher Cats lot and SNHU Millyard Garage closest to the ballpark will cost $10. There are cheaper alternatives further from the ballpark across Granite Street, but these lots involve a decent walk. There is some on-street parking near the ballpark and in the downtown area, but these spots are snatched up quickly. Pay attention to the times meters are in effect, as these spots may cost you depending on the time of the game.   Concession prices are generally in line with other venues in the area. Access to the Kids Zone is $5. Delta Dental Stadium is a cashless facility.   Extras 3                                                                                                 An extra point is awarded for the Hilton Garden Inn that towers over the field and the Sam Adams Brewhouse two very unique features in an otherwise plain ballpark.   Three retired numbers hang on the right field fence honoring individuals who never suited up for the Fisher Cats; 42 (Jackie Robinson), 83 (in honor of Manchester police officer Michael Briggs, who was killed in the line of duty) and 29 (local resident and major leaguer Chris Carpenter).   A final extra point is awarded for the superb array of alternate realities trotted out by the franchise. In addition to the Primaries, the original name of the ball club (and in this writer’s opinion, what this team should have always been called), the team also boasts the chicken tenders (Manchester is the birthplace of the classic food favorite) and the space potatoes, which combine the state’s official vegetable with the lore of New Hampshire’s claim to being the site of the first widely reported alien abduction.   Final Thoughts   A Blue Jays farm team in the middle of Red Sox territory has to work harder to keep the fans coming, and the Fisher Cats staff do a great job filling Delta Dental Stadium year after year. While this may not be the most memorable ballpark out there, there’s plenty going on in Manchester to make a Stadium Journey to the Granite State worthwhile.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Jack Ruhr Field 14221 240th St E Miesville, MN 55033 Miesville Mudhens website Jack Ruhr Field website Year Opened: 1961 Capacity: 600 Minnesota's Field of Dreams Take one look at Jack Ruhr Field and it all begins to seep in; the small ballpark located off a state road in tiny Miesville, Minnesota, is just off the beaten path, but close enough to the Twin Cities for a quick visit for any ballpark traveler. It’s the one town ballpark that everyone seems to mention as their favorite, even author Todd Mueller described it as the ‘ground zero for Minnesota baseball” in his book Town Ballparks of Baseball. Miesville has a population of 126 people and a history of baseball dating back to the 1920s when amateur games were played on farmland pastors around town. The current ballpark was constructed in 1961 after the league stipulated the town would lose its ball club if a new stadium was not constructed. A total of 25 local businessmen put up $100 to build a new stadium on five acres of land. What may be the most impressive part of Jack Ruhr Field is that everything from field manicuring, ballpark improvements, concession items, and routine maintenance are handled by a group of dedicated volunteers who rent the ballpark from the city. It costs $40,000 to $50,000 to operate the club and a bulk of that money comes from its annual banquet dinner and a bowling tournament that is held the weekend before the Super Bowl. However, the group has found a myriad of ways to improve the ballpark throughout the years. A recent event that attracted 1,200 customers to “The Jack” was a St Paul Saints barnstorming exhibition. The event helped pay to improve the flooring near the main entrance and concession area. Lights were added to the field in 1994 after being transported 174 miles away from the southwestern part of the state for a price of $15,000. A few years ago, a $25,000 twenty-two-foot scoreboard was erected due to a sponsorship from a nearby Treasure Island Resort & Casino. The Mudhens have captured seven Class B State Championships and have made 26 playoff appearances in the State Amateur Baseball Tournament. The president of the club for the first five state championships was Jack Ruhr, who was also instrumental in the construction and maintenance of the field. In 1990, the stadium was renamed in his honor and a plaque near the concession stands is a reminder of his legacy. Food & Beverage 4 The small concession stand offers cheap prices and the best brats in all of baseball. The smoked brats are specially made for the ball club by Greg’s Meats in nearby Hampton, Minnesota, and cannot be found anywhere else. They are finely ground and seasoned a bit differently than your normal brat. After one bite, it would be hard not to order another one before you leave for the night. The ballpark also has award-winning hot dogs, also made by Greg’s, that are grilled up to perfection. They are locally made and have a natural casing and make a perfect snap when you bite into them. There are also dollar bags of fresh popcorn that some say is the best of the town ballparks. The best part is that the prices are inexpensive with brats selling for $4, hot dogs for $3, hamburgers for $4, nachos for $3, and candy and Coca-Cola products for a buck. There are also six different cans of beers and Mike’s Hard Lemonade on sale for $3. The ever-popular Michelob Golden Light is among the most popular beer choice. Atmosphere 4 The 600-capacity ballpark offers covered grandstand seating behind home plate, open-air bleacher seating down the first base line, and one row of stadium seating between both dugouts. The right field and left field lines offer grass seating, except for a picnic area down the left field line. The outfield walls are decorated with local advertisements with corn fields in the back of the right, adding a “Field of Dreams” quality to the ballpark. St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery lies east of the stadium’s parking lot and Miesville Fire Station on the opposite side. The dirt parking lot offers enough parking space for cars and includes a championship placard of the club’s championships on the way to the entrance of the field. The concession stand is a popular spot located behind the Mudhens dugout; the small space offers a selection of food and it’s hard not to leave full from the tastiness of the brats, popcorn, and beer. There is also an area for team shirts and caps to the right of the area where there is also a memorial plaque to Jack Ruhr. The press box features at times radio broadcasts for both home and visitors, especially if the rival Red Wing Aces are in town for a game. They usually bring in a crowd from just 15 miles down the road. There is also no love lost between these two foes; it’s a storied rivalry. The crowd is friendly, easy-going, and will conjure up a few conversations about baseball with an out-of-town ballpark hunter like myself. When you settle into a game with a beer and brat in hand and find yourself a seat underneath the grandstand, there is not much different than being at a college or professional baseball venue. Neighborhood 3 Miesville is a town of 126 people, but there are two iconic restaurants near the ballpark. Kings Bar & Grill is among the top burger destinations in Minnesota and features well over 75 different types of burgers from the Bat Girl (peanut butter and jelly), Sacrifice (corn beef, sliced ham, bacon, cheddar, and sour cream), and the Pick Off (shredded pork, barbecue sauce, coleslaw, and gouda cheese). It is also a great place for beer and cocktails and an ideal hang-out destination before or after the ballgame. Wiederholt’s Supper Club is under the fourth generation of ownership and just as close to the ballpark. A few of its popular entrees include prime rib, steak, lobster tail, baby back ribs, and chicken Kiev. The fish burger walleye is another popular choice. Miesville is also near the river towns of Red Wing and Hastings, both places offer antique shops, small restaurants, breweries, parks, trails, and scenic views of the Mississippi River. Treasure Island Resort & Casino is the second largest hotel in Minnesota offering 788 rooms, The Lagoon water park and Wave Spa, an indoor and outdoor concert hall, a 24-alley bowling alley, an arcade, and a lounge. Fans 5 There was a high percentage of rain during our visit to the ballpark and the weather had canceled the previous game a few days ago, but the covered grandstand was packed with fans for the 2 pm start. Many of them have been coming to games for many years and have stories to tell about the men who have suited up in a Mudhens uniform. To say they are knowledgeable would be an understatement; they know the game and they know it well. Access 4 Jack Ruhr Field is located on Route 61 and is about a 45-minute drive from the Twin Cities. Its location is off the main interstate, but the state roads of Minnesota get you to town rather quickly. Inside the ballpark, it is easy to get around from the grass seating down both outfield lines. Return on Investment 4 The price of a ticket is three dollars, the parking is free of charge in the dirt lot behind the right field corner, and concession prices are all under four dollars. Watching amateur baseball with a dedicated fan base and enjoying great conversations is well worth the price of admission. Extras 3 Jack Ruhr gets a point for cooking the best brats in all of baseball–minor league and major league. Many of the town ballparks offer locally made products, but the taste of these brats is the best in the business. Jack Ruhr gets a second point for the volunteer support who put in an effortless amount of time to ensure the ballpark is well maintained from cutting the grass, lining up the field, stocking the concession stand, and other routine repairs. Their work pays off for the many visitors who take in a game each summer. Jack Ruhr gets a final point for having Kings Bar & Grill just down the street; if you are planning a night out at the game and then burgers afterward–or before–it does not get much better than baseball, burgers, and beers in Miesville. Final Thoughts When I first traveled to Minnesota two years ago to visit town ballparks, Miesville always came up with my discussions with fans at the other ballparks in the state. My interest further peaked with Todd Mueller’s book a few months later. Perhaps, if you had one town ballpark to visit and you were located in the Twin Cities, Miesville might just be your place. .

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium 931 N 1st St Terre Haute, IN 47807 Terre Haute Rex website Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium website Year Opened: 1978 Capacity: 2,000 The Kings of Baseball in the Wabash Valley Professional baseball has a long history in Terre Haute, dating back to 1884; from 1901-1956, the city regularly fielded minor league teams in the Three-Eye League, a Class B Loop considered one of the finest in the nation. However, midway through the 1956 season, the Terre Haute Huts closed up shop, and a little over a decade later, its ballpark was drastically altered as a football-only facility. For many, it appeared that summer-time baseball would never return, but early this century, many began wondering if some form of baseball could return to the city. Soon, a feasibility study was conducted from a Sports and Recreation class at Indiana State University in 2005, and talk of baseball began percolating again in the Wabash Valley. Around the same time, discussions of renovating the ISU baseball field also developed; within four years, the new and improved Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium debuted for the 2009 season. It was built in 1978 and called Sycamore Field. Warn coached the baseball team from 1976-2006, leading them to six conference championships and an appearance in the 1986 College World Series. The Rex were originally founded by the ISU Foundation in 2010 and sold to six local business people in 2013, who all had ties to the university. Today, it is owned by Wabash Valley Baseball LLC. The name Rex is an homage to Rex Coffee, which was first produced in town by Clabber Girl in 1905. The unique name is a nod to past team monikers, including the Tots, Huts, Stags, Terry-iers, and Awkwards. The Rex have won five division titles and have added two Prospect League titles in 2015 and 2018. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession area near the main entrance of the stadium. There is not an abundance of choices, and prices are from moderate to high. The area is behind the seating concourse and away from the seating bowl. The options include hot dogs, brats, burgers, chicken sandwiches, nachos, and pretzels. They are all offered in a combo form, including a drink and a bag of chips. Pepsi products are sold, and beer is available either on draft or can. Options include Bud and Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, and Bush Light. Hard alcoholic seltzers and Cutwater varieties are also at the concession stand. Atmosphere 3 The stadium incorporates a salmon stucco exterior design and features a main grandstand and aluminum bleacher seating along the first base side. Blue plastic seat back chairs are situated behind the backstop. Fans enter the stadium behind the right field foul line. This is where you will find the box office, concession stand, restrooms, and merchandise tent. The right field bleachers and grandstand are separated by the visiting team's dugouts. There is no bleacher seating on the left field line, but there is access for fans to watch the game along the fence. The stadium expands to 2,000 for Rex games, and the club does its best to provide a minor league-style atmosphere for the fans who attend each game. It is a step back to a simpler type of wood bat ball and does not feature too many annoyances that might strike a chord with traditionalists. The Rex play on a FieldTurf infield and natural grass outfield.  The Rex attracts a pleasant crowd to their home games. A merchandise tent that offers quite a few different styles of attire, from caps to shirts to sweaters with the Rex logo. A kid's bounce house is behind the area, with a few stools and tables overlooking the right field line. Neighborhood 3 The stadium is north of campus and is adjacent to a cemetery. Before renovations, the tombstones were highly visible from behind the outfield walls. The stadium sits on 3rd Street, the main artery of town, where you will find a collection of local proprietors and national restaurant chains. The stadium is nearly three miles north of I-70, where many of these options are, but downtown Terre Haute is close and has the potential to become a burgeoning hot spot in town. The Candles Holocaust Museum and Education Center was created in 1995 by Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes. The impressive museum features holograms of her memories and stories that visitors can view as if she is still with them. The cost is only $8 a person for adults and is well worth your time when in town. The Terre Haute Children’s Museum is also worth a visit with the little ones, $9 for admission. The Sycamore Winery is not too far from the ballpark and is set on beautiful grounds where visitors can enjoy both wine and beer brewed on-site. The best options are nearby downtown. M Moggers is a venerable establishment that offers typical pub food and drinks across the street from the Terre Haute Brewing Company. A tad bit down the road is J Gumbo’s - my destination for cheap eats and creative thinking; try the Black and bleu dip with nachos, bumblebee stew, Cajun nachos, Jean Lafitte po’boy, creole ratatouille. Rick’s Smokehouse & Grill is another option for smoked ribs and pulled pork. Terre Haute is near other Prospect League clubs in Danville and Lafayette. Danville Stadium  and Loeb Stadium  are two other Prospect League facilities offering lovely vibes during the summer months. Another ballpark, Victory Field , is located a little bit over an hour in downtown Indianapolis and is one the best in the minor leagues. Fans 3 The Rex attracts a collection of casual and dedicated fans to the ballpark. Many come out to enjoy the winning baseball by the club, and many others find it a great way to entertain the kids or socialize with friends during the summer months. The ballpark is never fully packed, but they are impressive in numbers at times that bring a livelihood to the place. Access 4 Bob Warn Field is two and a half miles north of I-70. The best way to get there is to exit onto 3rd Street from the interstate and continue north. You will pass the campus to your right, and once you cross over the bridge, the stadium is on your left. The parking is free and close to the entrance of the stadium. Return on Investment 3 Tickets to Rex games are as low as $8 for adults and $5 for youths. The price of a backstop grandstand seat is $10, reserved seats are $12, and scout seats up against the field are $15. There is a charge to park on the paved lot outside the entrance, but ample free parking on the asphalt lot across the street. Food prices consist of $3 regular hot dogs to $8 cans of domestic beers. Extras 2 Bob Warn Field earns a point for offering team programs for $3, including raffle numbers inside for prizes throughout the game. A second point is for the abundant collection of merchandise with the stylish Rex logo. Final Thoughts Whether it's spring college games or summer collegiate wood-bat baseball, Bob Warn Field in Terre Haute is a great spot to enjoy the action. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

The 2024-25 NBA Season was definitely a unique one.  Tremendous regular seasons by  the Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks ushered in a new sense of hope throughout a number of markets in the league and possibly a changing of the guard.  The dominant news of the season was the blockbuster trade between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers centered around Luca Doncic and Anthony Davis.  After being much maligned over the deal, the Mavericks seemed to come out the other end better than expected winning the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and the opportunity to draft Cooper Flagg.  The league would also see a return to Inglewood, California, the former site of the Great Western Forum, home of the Lakers.  This time it would be the Los Angeles Clippers making news with the opening of the innovative Intuit Dome.  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder continued his ascension to stardom by leading the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game, and earning the MVP.  Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings averaged 13.9 rebounds per game to lead the league as well.  Oklahoma City had the best record in the league and made it all the way to the NBA Finals, squaring off against the Indiana Pacers, in a matchup that was one of the most surprising of all time.  The Chicago Bulls lead the league in attendance, averaging 20,079 fans per game. Stadium Journey published the first review of the Intuit Dome this season.  Six other updated reviews were published this season.  The annual NBA rankings at Stadium Journey are based on the FANFARE metric used on the website, where a number of different writers assess the basketball experience based on the categories of Food, Atmosphere, Neighbourhood, Fans, Access, Return on Investment and any extras that the writers experienced.  The stakes are high, with an average grading of 4.07 being earned out of a possible perfect 5.0. This list is just an amalgamation of a number of opinions, and may not be in agreement for all.  Please let Stadium Journey know your opinions on our various Social Media outlets.  How is your list different from ours?  What do we have right?  What do we have wrong? Without further ado, Stadium Journey is proud to present the 2025 Rankings of the National Basketball Associations Experiences. 1. Madison Square Garden - New York Knicks - 4.57 Brian O’Sullivan - While New York City boasts some of the most iconic buildings in the world, including the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center, a trip to the city would not be complete without a stop at Madison Square Garden. Nestled in the heart of the city that never sleeps and opened in 1968, Madison Square Garden hosts a plethora of events throughout the year. From the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show to countless performances by Billy Joel, the Garden seems to be holding a different event each night. In addition to the New York Knicks, the New York Rangers call the Garden their permanent home.  Although each of these events offers its own set of benefits, attending a New York Knicks game at the Garden offers an unparalleled experience. From the passionate fans to celebrities sitting courtside, there is a truly unique and unparalleled atmosphere that surrounds a Knicks game. The hefty price of admission is well worth the priceless experience once inside Madison Square Garden and is a must see for any sports fan. 2. Kia Center - Orlando Magic - 4.57 Chris Green - Take an NBA team, plant it in a beautiful vibrant growing city, and build them a beautiful facility with modern touches that never seem to go out of style, and you have yourself Kia Center, home of the Orlando Magic. Chock-full of quality concessions, comfortable seating, great restaurants and bars nearby, and friendly patrons, you would be hard-pressed to find a venue as enjoyable and inviting for a game of professional basketball. While many may think of Orlando as a city meant for tourists, it is quietly becoming a central hub for sports. 3. Scotiabank Arena - Toronto Raptors - 4.43 Dave Cottenie - The recent news that Vince Carter was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is big for the city of Toronto and the Toronto Raptors.  The location of the very first NBA game with the Toronto Huskies and New York Knicks is finally getting a member of the Hall of Fame. Although Vince Carter played for seven other teams and was technically not drafted by the Raptors, his formative years in the NBA were wearing purple.  Carter’s arrival in Toronto coincided with the moving of the team from the gargantuan SkyDome to the sparkling new Air Canada Centre.  Many Raptor fans credit Carter for helping build basketball in Toronto as well as the rest of the country.  In 1999 the Raptors, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, also owned by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, moved to their current home, now known as Scotiabank Arena.  The building was once the Canada Post Delivery Building and the arena has been renovated several times.  Located in the heart of Toronto, Scotiabank Arena provides the Raptors with a premier venue to play in and has become one of the best experiences in the NBA. 4. Toyota Center - Houston Rockets - 4.43 Eric Moreno - In 1971, the then San Diego Rockets relocated to Houston, giving the Lone Star State its first NBA franchise. Over the ensuing decade, stars would emerge that would help bring legitimacy to Space City’s squad, including Hall of Famers Elvin Hayes and Moses Malone, who would guide the Rockets to a conference championship in 1981.  The 1984 NBA Draft would bring Houston Cougar alum Hakeem Olajuwon, and “The Dream” would team up with fellow future Hall of Famer Ralph Sampson – the duo would be known as the “Twin Towers” – to lead the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals. It would be under the guidance of former player Rudy Tomjanovich and Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler that Houston would break through, capturing back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995.  At the start of the 2003-04 season, the Rockets moved into their new state-of-the-art home in downtown H-Town, Toyota Center. Stars such as Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, and James Harden have taken the court at Toyota Center, and recent seasons have seen a rise in the team’s fortunes. Through the ups and downs, Toyota Center has kept up with the times and is still a premier spot in the NBA. 5. Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia 76ers - 4.43 Pete Dowell - Wells Fargo Center was built in 1996 and is part of the Philadelphia Sports Complex Special Services District that consists of Wells Fargo Center home of the 76ers NBA & Flyers NHL, Lincoln Financial Field home of the Eagles NFL & Temple Owls NCAA, Citizens Bank Park home of the Phillies MLB and Xfinity Live! (A mega hang-out spot for before, during, and after any game). Wells Fargo Center is the current home of the Philadelphia 76ers and houses the legacy of three past won NBA championships, nine past won Eastern Conference titles, five past won Atlantic Division titles, and the potential of future glory from trusting in a process.  The 76ers started their NBA journey known as the Syracuse Nationals in 1946 and didn’t take on the name of Philadelphia 76ers until an ownership change, a franchise move to Philadelphia, and a contest to name the team in 1964. Walter Stalberg basketball fan and contestant in naming the 76ers won the name the team contest for his submission of the Philadelphia 76ers. The name Philadelphia 76ers is a nod to the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 in Philadelphia. 6. Rocket Arena - Cleveland Cavaliers - 4.43 Lloyd Brown - When the Cleveland Cavaliers opened their 2019-2020 season, they sported a new name for their home court as well as a massively renovated house. Rocket Mortgage Company took over the naming rights from Quicken Loans over the summer, and the arena completed a two-year, $185 million renovation designed to open the arena up more to the surrounding area, and to provide wider concourses and more concession offerings to its fans. The most readily apparent change is the adding a large glass enclosed atrium, which reflects the downtown skyline and brightens up the inside corridors of the facility. A large concession and social area with seats and tables has been added at the south end of the arena.  In addition, the upper concourse is now opened up to allow fans to go 360 degrees around the arena for the first time ever. Previous renovations have included the installation of new seats throughout the seating bowl, the adding of a center-hung video board nicknamed “Humongotron” due to its immense size (31 feet high and 56 feet wide on the side panels) and new graphics and signage. 7. Kaseya Center - Miami Heat - 4.43 Lloyd Brown - The HEAT is by far the most successful franchise in South Florida since the club was founded in 1988. They have won the NBA titles on three occasions (2006, 2012 and 2013), been Conference Champions five times and Division Champions 13 times . Today they are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the NBA. Attending a HEAT game is as much of a social occasion as attending a basketball game. While seeing the red-hot HEAT compete on the court, you are just as likely to be seeing an “A List” of celebrities sitting courtside. While the sight lines to the court are excellent, the social amenities offered at Kaseya Center are just as impressive. 8. Chase Center - Golden State Warriors - 4.29 Lloyd Brown - The Golden State Warriors have been one of the most dominant NBA teams over the last decade, as they have won six titles, including three in the last five seasons. They also hold the record for most regular season wins with 73. Coach Steve Kerr has an astounding winning percentage of .880 with the team. The 2019-2020 season has added yet another home court advantage for the team, as they moved into the Chase Center, their new home on the shores of San Francisco Bay. The 18,062-seat arena is the first 100% privately financed professional sports facility in generations. Chase Center is the Warriors fourth home in the Bay Area since relocating from Philadelphia in 1962. It replaces the Oracle Arena in Oakland, the team’s home since 1966. 9. Moda Center - Portland Trail Blazers - 4.29 Lloyd Brown - The Portland Trail Blazers are the longest running professional sports franchise in the Pacific Northwest. The name “Trailblazers” was chosen by a wide margin in a fan poll in recognition of their pioneering efforts to bring not only basketball, but other pro sports to the region. Although they have only one NBA Championship in their 50-year history, they have won numerous Northwest Divisional titles and have gone to three Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately, over the years they have faced either the Lakers or the Warriors in their prime over this period, or they likely would have more league championships. As it is, they have succeeded where two Pacific Northwest teams, the Seattle Supersonics and the Vancouver Grizzlies have failed. Portland is known as the “Rip City” a phrase coined by their original announcer for the many “swishes” shot by the smooth shooting teams of the early years.  The Moda Center has served as the home of the Trail Blazers since 1995. It was originally known as the Rose Garden, in homage to two other basketball shrines, the Boston Garden and Madison Square Garden. The name was changed in 2013, as GPS and local tourism guides found the name confused visitors who were in town to visit Portland’s world-famous International Test Gardens during the annual Rose Festival. 10. Ball Arena - Denver Nuggets - 4.29 Matt Finnigan - The NBA’s Denver Nuggets have had just one home in their 21st Century existence: downtown Denver’s Ball Arena.  Since this Millennium started, the Nuggets struggled to find a mix of players to elevate them to one of the Association’s top teams. Who can forget high first-round draft selections like 2002’s  Nikoloz Tskitishvili (5th overall) or 2015’s Emmanuel Mudiay (7th overall)?  All sarcasm and nostalgia aside, the Nuggets history at Ball Arena has not been a disaster.  Far from it.  The team enjoyed successful runs after drafting Carmelo Anthony third overall in 2003 and trading for Allen Iverson at the start of the 2006-2007 season.  Lately, the Nuggets have emerged as one of the NBA’s top teams.  They drafted a little-known Serbian center, Nikola Jokic, in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft (41st overall).  “The Joker” became one of the great steals in draft history.  He won NBA Most Valuable Player honors in 2021 and 2022, seemingly recording triple-doubles on a nightly basis and passing like a point guard.  Jamal Murray, the Nuggets’ seventh pick in the 2016 NBA Draft out of the University of Kentucky, has given the Nuggets a second superstar.   11. Golden 1 Center - Sacramento Kings - 4.29 Lloyd Brown - The history of the Kings franchise has been one of a vagabond existence. It began as the Royals in Rochester, NY, then moved on to Cincinnati for several years. Its next home was split between Kansas City/Omaha and resulted in a name change to the Kings to avoid confusion with the baseball Royals. In 1985, it relocated to Sacramento, hoping to break the seeming jinx of being a small market franchise competing against the larger metropolitan areas. The team is now celebrating its 35th anniversary in California’s capitol city. However as late as 2010, the team was rumored to be moving to either Anaheim or Seattle due to an unsatisfactory arena arrangement and a losing record.  That changed in 2016, as the city and a new ownership group opened the Golden 1 Center as the anchor for the new Downtown Commons (DOCO) district in downtown Sacramento. The 17,608-seat venue replaced the aging Sleep Train Arena (formerly ARCO Arena). The arena features 10,000 lower level seats with 34 luxury suites and 48 loft style suites. The remaining 7,000 upper level seats are steeply pitched so that the sight lines anywhere in the arena are excellent. 12. American Airlines Center - Dallas Mavericks - 4.14 Michael Davis - American Airlines Center (AAC) is a multi-use arena located in the Victory Park area, which is just north of the historic West End in downtown Dallas. The venue is home to the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA and the Dallas Stars of the NHL. The AAC, as it is commonly referred to by local sports fans, opened its doors on July 28, 2001, with ‘An Evening with the Eagles’; the same year, the Mavericks and Stars opened their 2001 season in American Airlines Center. The seating capacity for basketball is 19,200, or up to 21,146 including standing room. The venue is a beautiful building made of brick, limestone, and granite with signature arches, but the arena’s sweeping facades and smooth arch design can easily get lost in the Victory Park buildings. The American Airlines Center is a primary venue for the Dallas area, hosting year-round sporting events and live entertainment. Besides the Mavericks and Stars, American Airlines Center has also hosted the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, Big 12 basketball tournament, NCAA women’s Final Four, and the 55th NHL All Star game. 13. Delta Center - Utah Jazz - 4.14 Lloyd Brown - Some of the best Jazz to be experienced in the Salt Lake City area is not found in an intimate nightclub, but in an 18,300-seat sports arena found only a few blocks from Temple Square. The Delta Center (formerly the Vivint Smart Home Arena) has served as the home of the Utah Jazz since 1991. The Delta Center was the arena's original name when it debuted for the team.  As you would expect, the arena has undergone frequent renovations during its more than 30 plus years of existence.  These occurred in 2002 (to prepare it for the Winter Olympic Games), 2010, and 2016. The renovations that began in 2016 have changed the arena's appearance and fan experience, at a cost of more than $125 million. 14. Frost Bank Center - San Antonio Spurs - 4.14 Eric Moreno - Founded in 1967 as the then Dallas Chaparrals in the now defunct American Basketball Association (ABA), the San Antonio Spurs have become one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. Becoming one of the best organizations in all professional sports, the Spurs set an NBA record of winning at least 50 games a season from the 1999-2000 season to the 2016-2017 season.  Along the way, the Silver and Black won five NBA Championships, buoyed in part by a slew of Hall of Famers and all-time greats such as Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginóbili, and Head Coach Gregg Popovich. The last four of the Spurs championships were captured while the club has called the (now named) Frost Bank Center its home. 15. Gainbridge Fieldhouse - Indiana Pacers - 4.14 Marc Viquez - Gainbridge Fieldhouse completed a three-phase renovation that transformed the Indiana Paces home into a modern facility with all the amenities of the 20s. Morris Bicennential Plaza is located outside the main entrances and features a full-size basketball court for fans to shoot, dribble, and play a little basketball. The court converts to an ice skating rink during the winter months. The "Sphere" is a reflective, dome-like sculpture with an interior video screen that is ideal for photos. There are several murals and sculptures in the plaza, including a bar area for grab-and-go drinks.  Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers, debuted November 6, 1999, as Conseco Fieldhouse. It would be known as Bankers Life Fieldhouse until September 2021. The seating capacity has increased from 17,923 to a whopping 20,000 - making it the 5th largest in the NBA. 16. TD Garden - Boston Celtics - 4.14 Paul Baker - The Boston Celtics are the most successful franchise in NBA history, having won 18 championships, 23 conference titles and 35 division championships during their time in the league. The team has qualified for the playoffs 61 times. 49 individuals associated with the team have been enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame.  The TD Garden is the home of both the Celtics and the NHL’s Boston Bruins. When the facility was under construction in the mid-1990s, plans stated the arena would be located “just north” of the Boston Garden. “Just north” ended up being nine inches away. The privately financed facility was built for $160 million in 1995. 17. Smoothie King Center - New Orleans Pelicans - 4.14 Matt Colville - For most people when it comes to New Orleans, they think the Crescent City is a football town. After all, this is the South, and New Orleans has a love affair with the Saints and LSU football that remains unmatched by most major cities. However, for some people New Orleans can be considered a pretty big basketball town as well, and like the long and winding Mississippi River that runs through the city, New Orleans has a long and winding history with hoops that rivals its football history. From 1979 to 2002, New Orleans would be without a professional basketball team, but the city would have plenty of great basketball moments – it was in New Orleans where Michael Jordan won his first championship, as his UNC Tar Heels won the college tournament in 1982. It was also where Indiana coach Bob Knight would win his third and final championship in 1987, and where UNC coach Dean Smith would win his second and final championship in 1993; ultimately the Crescent City has hosted seven Final Fours as of 2024.  The newest era of basketball in New Orleans began in 2002, when the Charlotte Hornets moved here and began play at Smoothie King Center, located right next door to Caesars Superdome. Re-named the Pelicans in 2013, the Pels have added another chapter to New Orleans' rich and storied sports history thanks in part to names such as Baron Davis, Jamal Mashburn, Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, and now Zion Williamson, who have all donned Hornets/Pelicans jerseys over the last 23 years. 18. Paycom Center - Oklahoma City Thunder - 4.00 Dave Cottenie - In 2005, Oklahoma City partook in what can only be described as an NBA audition. With the devastation of Hurricane Katrina displacing the New Orleans Hornets, the team found a temporary home at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.  Two seasons of NBA basketball in the Sooner State proved to be a runaway success and the relatively small market in OKC would not be a hindrance to NBA basketball in the future.  Oklahoma businessman Clay Bennett would swoop in and purchase the Seattle SuperSonics to relocate them to Oklahoma City.  The Thunder were blessed with some serious young talent early on and made some strong playoff runs in front of some rabid crowds, making the move to Oklahoma City seem like the perfect spot for the NBA. Home for the Thunder is Paycom Center. Originally the Ford Center and later the Chesapeake Energy Center, Paycom Center was built in 2002 and is located on the edge of Bricktown in downtown Oklahoma City.  19. Fiserv Forum - Milwaukee Bucks - 4.00 Marc Viquez - The Fiserv Forum has been the home of the Milwaukee Bucks since the 2018-2019 NBA season. The $524 million multi-purpose venue has a capacity of 17,500 for basketball and connects multiple neighborhoods and districts that include The Brewery, Milwaukee Waterfront, Old World 3rd Street, and Wisconsin Center. It also borders the “The Deer District” entertainment center.  The forum has a unique design that features “a swooping roof and extensive glass to evoke Wisconsin’s natural beauty and Milwaukee’s rich heritage of industry and craftsmen.” The design was inspired by the bountiful rivers, lakes, and forests of the region. The interior offers soft, white colors and rich zinc hues along with darkly colored seating to allow the court to stand out. The design of the interior structure also has a somewhat unfinished look or resembles a barrel of some type. The curved portion looks like a finely contoured piece of wood and includes strips of window panels that produce natural lighting at each level of the building. There are more windows above the main entrance that emulate green lighting at night. 20. PHX Arena - Phoenix Suns - 4.00 Lloyd Brown - The Phoenix Suns and the PHX Arena recently celebrated their 30th Anniversary as the outpost for NBA basketball in the Southwest. The facility opened in 1992 as the America West Arena and has gone through numerous name changes over the years. It became the Footprint Center in 2022. The arena holds 17,071 in its basketball setting.  PHX Arena hosts a wide variety of events in addition to the Sun's games. It serves as the host facility for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA and the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). It has also hosted boxing matches, rodeo competitions, UFC events, WWE events, and music concerts, featuring such stars as Rod Stewart, Billy Joel, and Elton John. 21. State Farm Arena - Atlanta Hawks - 3.86 Dave Cottenie - The Hawks have been part of the Atlanta sports landscape since 1968 when they moved from St. Louis.  The Hawks were founded as the Buffalo Bisons in 1946 and moved to Moline, Illinois to be the Tri-Cities Blackhawks after just 38 days.  In 1951 the team moved to Milwaukee and dropped the Black to become just the Hawks and stayed until 1955 when they moved to St. Louis.  Their only appearance in the NBA Finals saw them victorious in 1958 behind the massive scoring of Bob Pettit.  Key to the Hawks development was the purchase of the team by Ted Turner in 1977.  The Hawks were Turner’s first venture into sports and he owned them until 2004 when they were sold to Time Warner.  The Hawks had some success in the eighties with Dominique Wilkins, their best player in franchise history, but unfortunately they could not get past Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.  Currently the Hawks are mired in mediocrity under the ownership group led by Tony Ressler, who purchased the team in 2015. 22. United Center - Chicago Bulls - 3.86 Marc Viquez - The Chicago Bulls moved into the United Center for the beginning of the 1994/1995 NBA season, at the time Michael Jordan was still retired and playing baseball but would rejoin the team later on that year and help usher in a string of three more NBA championships from 1996 to 1998. Twenty years later after his retirement, it is hard not to notice MJ’s accomplishments throughout the building and how magnetic that era was to the fans in Chicago.  The United Center replaced the iconic Chicago Stadium which debuted in 1929 and had been the home to the Bulls since its inaugural year in 1966. The plan to build the multipurpose arena was created by Chicago Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf. The cost of construction was $175 million and would have a capacity of 23,129 for basketball. The arena was also designed with an Art Deco style much like its predecessor providing a nod to the past and progress toward the future. 23. FedExForum - Memphis Grizzlies - 3.86 Lloyd Brown - he Grizzlies NBA franchise started in 1995 as the Vancouver, BC Grizzlies. The franchise relocated to Memphis, TN, in time for the 2001-2002 NBA season. For the first three seasons in their new Southern home, the Grizzlies played at the Pyramid Arena in downtown Memphis as their new home at the Fed Ex Forum was being built.  The Grizzlies have been playoff regulars in recent years. The fans call the team's style of play incorporates the “Grit and Grind Grizzlies.” This means they use a high-pressure defense and get to an advantageous spot to take a shot. They have the talented  Ja Morant to take the Grizzlies deep into the postseason. The team is adamant about beating at home as they boast an 85 % likelihood of winning the game on their home court. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the NBA. 24. Spectrum Center - Charlotte Hornets - 3.71 David Welch - The NBA would return to Charlotte in 2004 with a new identity, the Charlotte Bobcats, and a promise of a new arena. Charlotte would christen what is now Spectrum Center in 2005. Since their return, the Hornets and previously the Bobcats, have seen spikes of success, but have found sustaining it a challenge.  The Hornets now have a new ownership group in place, led by former Hornets minority owner Gabe Plotkin and former Atlanta Hawks minority owner Rick Schnell. The two have voiced their concerns about some of the shortcomings of the franchise, and how they plan to address them going forward. 25. Crypto.com Arena - Los Angeles Lakers - 3.71 Lloyd Brown - The Crypto.com Arena is the center of the LA indoor sports universe, as it serves as the home of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA, the LA Kings of the NHL and the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA. The arena opened in 1999 and has a seating capacity of 19,079 for basketball and 18,118 for hockey.  As you would expect in Hollywood and the home of TV shows, the Crypto.com Arena excels in production quality. The sound system and lighting quality in the arena far exceeds what you would find at other arenas. One of the reasons for this are the vast number of concerts held at the arena, featuring the top artists in the world, many of whom are local residents as well. They tend to be very demanding of the technical crews, and Crypto delivers. You’ll want to make sure to be in your seats prior to the National Anthem, as the Lakers have very dramatic pregame introductions. 26. Little Caesars Arena - Detroit Pistons - 3.71 Dave Cottenie - The public address announcer for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA takes great pleasure when the Pistons get possession of the ball after it goes out of bounds.  The sweet sounds of John Mason’s “Dee-troit Bas-ketIball” is as iconic in the Motor City as the Bad Boys themselves. However, since the seventies the Pistons were the victim of a bitter ownership feud between Pistons owner Bill Davidson and Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Illitch. When the Red Wings moved out of Olympia Arena, the Pistons protested what they viewed as poor conditions at Cobo Arena and moved out of Detroit proper to Pontiac to play in the ridiculously massive Pontiac Silverdome. In 1988 the Pistons would leave Pontiac for a more appropriate venue in Auburn Hills at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Palace was a terrific venue for the Pistons and they would see their greatest franchise moments there including their three NBA Championships and over 300 consecutive sellouts.  With the Pistons changing ownership to Tom Gores after the death of Bill Davidson, and the Red Wings building a new arena, the opportunity presented itself to move back downtown after four decades away. Mike Illitch was always a proponent of bringing businesses back downtown and he always put his money where his mouth was. Little Caesars Arena is the new home for both the Red Wings and the Pistons and is just on the other side of the Fisher Freeway from close neighbors Ford Field, Comerica Park and the Fox Theater.  John Mason has joined the Pistons and his iconic call can still be heard throughout basketball games. It may be a bit of an unfamiliar locale, but it is still Detroit Basketball. 27. Barclays Center - Brooklyn Nets - 3.71 Sean MacDonald - The 17,732-seat Barclays Center christening took place November 1, 2012, with the Nets hosting the Knicks in what was billed as the first game of a new crosstown rivalry. It marked the first time since the Brooklyn Dodgers left for Los Angeles after the 1957 season that the borough was home to a major professional sports team. It also returned the Nets franchise back to New York for the first time since the franchise left for New Jersey after the 1976-77 season. Given its incredibly accessible location on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn on top of nine subway lines and the Long Island Railroad, Barclays Center should be a good rival to Madison Square Garden as a premier New York entertainment venue. In the end, however, it doesn’t quite measure up. 28. Intuit Dome - Los Angeles Clippers - 3.57 Andrei Ojeda - When it comes to hosting some of the big names of professional sports, the City of Inglewood, minutes from LAX, is no stranger. From 1967-1999 The Forum was the home to the Los Angeles Lakers as well as the Los Angeles Kings. During that span much of The Forum’s glorious history would be provided by the 80’s Showtime Era Lakers, winning 5 of their 6 Forum era championships from 1980-1988 while attracting countless Hollywood celebrities, most notably Jack Nicholson and Dyan Cannon.   As both the Lakers and Kings would move to DTLA at the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena), the Clippers, who would play their home games at the nearby L.A. Sports Arena from 1984 -1999 after moving from San Diego, would join these two powerhouses.   During their time at Crypto, the Clippers were often regarded as the third tenant, resulting in several occasions with unfavorable afternoon tipoff times. As the team was turning a corner, the Clippers would not be void of controversy due in large part to former owner Donald Sterling.  Even with the Clippers recent run of success, try as they may, even going as far as to cover the Lakers championship banners with banners adorning current players, Crypto.com Arena would always be associated with the Lakers. In comes present day owner Steve Ballmer. Ballmer would be the billion dollar mastermind that would eventually give the Clippers a home they could truly call their own. 29. Target Center - Minnesota Timberwolves - 3.57 Lloyd Brown - The Target Center has served as the home court for the Minnesota Timberwolves since it opened in 1990. It is in the Warehouse or Northloop District of downtown Minneapolis. The arena holds 18,500 in its basketball configuration. One of its most unique features is its “green” roof, which is covered in native Minnesota prairie plants, and captures water and melting snow that would otherwise wind up in the nearby Mississippi River.  The Target Center has undergone frequent renovations in recent years, with a major two-year upgrade in 2016-2017. This renovation included a new HD video board and a completely new glass atrium lobby that really opened the facility to the street. The arena is also unique in that it has two entry levels, with one at street level and a second that attaches to the Minneapolis Skyway System. The renovations also brought a great deal of light into both the lobby area and the concourses, brightening up what was a very enclosed structure.  Numerous picture windows are now in place to provide stunning views of the Minneapolis skyline. 30. Capital One Arena - Washington Wizards - 3.14 Gregory Koch - Capital One Arena opened in 1997 as the home of the Washington Wizards, replacing the aging Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. However, the Wizards have thus far been unable to match the rise in popularity experienced by their co-tenant, the Washington Capitals. In addition to hosting these two teams, Capital One Arena plays host to Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Optimist Park 805 Northclift Drive Raleigh, NC 27609 Raleigh Red Oaks website Optimist Park website Baseball Beneath the Red Oaks The Raleigh Red Oaks are a summer collegiate baseball team playing in the Old North State League, which features 24 teams, all but one off which are located in North Carolina. The Red Oaks play their home games at Optimist Park, a city park in Raleigh. Adjacent to the main stadium are several other baseball fields used by youth organizations, as well as a swimming pool, a climbing wall, and more. The Red Oaks were originally known as the Oak City Gliders, but came under new ownership in late 2024 and changed their name to the Raleigh Red Oaks. The team leans heavily into squirrel imagery, as is depicted in their logo. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand located out of a snack shack at Optimist Park down the first base line. It mostly sells snacks such as candy, popcorn and chips, although hot dogs are also available. To drink, you can choose from bottled water, Gatorade, soda, or non-alcoholic beer. Prices are reasonable, with nothing costing more than $5. Fans can also bring their own food and drink, with the exception of alcohol. This score does get brought up a notch by the food promotions the Red Oaks sometimes stage to supplement the menu. This could be anything from bringing in a local food truck to giving out free donuts. Check the Red Oaks' social media for more details. Atmosphere 4 The Red Oaks' baseball field is located in a secluded, woody area of the larger municipal park that, like the baseball field itself, is called Optimist Park. There is wooden, amphitheater style seating on ledges behind home plate, and many fans elect to bring their own chairs and sit at the top or bottom of the seating area as well. Wherever you sit, you will have an excellent view of the action, although not necessarily a comfortable one. You will be watching through a fence rather than netting, but it is not particularly obstructive. A scoreboard in right-centerfield shows the linescore and other basic information. The Red Oaks have several promotions in between innings to keep fans engaged, such as dancing to the Y.M.C.A. song. There are also several promotional nights throughout the year such as 80s Night which offer extra fun, so check the team's social media for more information on when those are planned. Fans are not permitted to keep foul balls, but can return them to the concession stand for a free popsicle. Kids love chasing after balls to claim their prize. Neighborhood 3 Raleigh is a nice enough city, but Optimist Park is located in a residential neighborhood far from most of the action. If you head south along Six Forks Road a few miles towards I-440, you will find that the North Hills area has a lot to offer. From steakhouses to burgers to tacos to sandwich shops, you will find a lot to eat or drink here. It is a few miles from the stadium, but you will likely go through it on your way to and from the ballpark coming on or off the highway. Fans 3 The Raleigh Red Oaks will draw a hundred or so fans for a typical home game, which given the small size of the seating area is a reasonable crowd. The fans can get involved at times, but at other times it will be pretty silent here. The Red Oaks have a loyal but small fan base that is passionate, yet friendly. Since kids under 12 get in for free, you will find a lot of families here, but people of all ages attend from the very young to the very old and everywhere in between. Access 2 Optimist Park is located in a residential neighborhood a few miles off I-440 and several other interstates that serve Raleigh. Follow the signs on Northclift Road to the Red Oaks parking - GPS apps will frequently misdirect you to the wrong area of the park but the signs will get you where you need to be. The lot should not fill up, but if it does, you can park in one of the others. Restrooms are located back by the parking lot, a couple minutes walk from the seating area. They are clean and sufficient for the crowds, but it will take a few minutes to walk there so plan accordingly. Return on Investment 5 Admission to Raleigh Red Oaks games is just $10, with kids under 12 getting in for free. Parking is free and concessions are highly affordable, if limited. Overall, a Raleigh Red Oaks game is an excellent value. Extras 2 Look for the merchandise table selling Red Oaks gear right next to the concession stand down the first base line. A second star for all the friendly and helpful staff. Final Thoughts The Raleigh Red Oaks have made their quaint home at Optimist Park. A visit here is a chance to see a baseball game in a scenic, bucolic, and unique setting at an affordable price. While it may not be as fancy as many other ballparks in the area, Optimist Park is still a great place to spend a warm summer's night watching some baseball.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Trustmark Park 1 Braves Way Pearl, MS 39208 Mississippi Mud Monsters website Trustmark Park website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 8,480 Trustmark Park Just Got Muddy In early 2024, it was announced that the Mississippi Braves would be leaving Trustmark Park and relocating to Columbus, GA, ending a two-decade run of Double-A baseball in the Jackson metro area. The announcement left a gaping hole in the hearts of baseball fans in Central Mississippi, and a void at Trustmark Park. Since its opening in 2005, Trustmark Park has given Mississippians a front-row seat to the rise of the Atlanta Braves’ brightest stars. Over the past two decades, fans in small-town Pearl got to watch the likes of Brian McCann, Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuna, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Max Fried, and Spencer Strider hone their craft on their journey to the show. The stadium became a proving ground for the South’s Baseball Team, the Atlanta Braves, and a cherished part of Mississippi’s sports identity. So, when the Braves announced their departure in 2024, it delivered a gut punch to the Jackson area’s sports scene, a region all too familiar with losing professional baseball. Before the Mississippi Braves there were the Jackson Mets (1975–1990), who packed up for Binghamton, and the Jackson Generals (1991–1999), who moved to Corpus Christi. Each exit left a void, but none of those losses felt quite as personal as losing the M-Braves. But out of the mud on the banks of the Pearl River, something new rose up to take the field. The Mississippi Mud Monsters of the independent Frontier League began play at Trustmark Park in May 2025, stepping in to fill the void left by the departing Mississippi Braves. The new team’s name pays tribute to the legendary catfish that lurk in the rivers and lakes of Central Mississippi, a region that proudly calls itself the “Catfish Capital of the World.” Now, an exciting new brand of baseball has taken over, and Trustmark Park didn’t just fade into silence – it just got a little muddier.   Food and Beverage   3 Trustmark Park features four full-service concession stands on its open-air concourse, meaning you never miss one pitch of the action. Ghoul’s Grill (1st base side) and Frank N’ Stein’s (behind home plate) feature the usual hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage dogs, and nachos with prices all below $10. Creature’s Kitchen, also behind the home plate area, features catfish and shrimp po’ boys for $8, or you can get a basket of catfish and shrimp for $9. Creature’s Kitchen also features a lighted picnic area with tables and umbrellas for you to sit down and eat your grub. Alternatively, on the first base side you can get Huey Magoo’s famous hand breaded chicken tenders – Huey Magoo’s is a new chicken joint started by some Ole Miss students, who call it the Filet Mignon of Chicken; it is also the official chicken of the Mud Monsters.  You can get their tasty tenders and fries on the first base side, but just make sure you dip them in Magoo’s Sauce. There is also the State Farm Bureau Grill, a full-service restaurant in right field, and only open for select games. Pepsi is the official soft drink provider of the Mud Monsters, while for alcohol selections there are plenty including premium and domestic beer. Nearby Southern Prohibition Brewery in Hattiesburg and Lazy Magnolia provide their local beers, offering plenty of their specialties and IPAs. Or if you need more choices, Frank N’ Stein’s has the largest selection of alcohol and beers on draft. One other thing to take note of is the Mud Monsters sell their own brand of hot sauce called “The Drip”. You can purchase a bottle of this hot sauce in the team store – with its Mud Monsters-themed bottle it makes a great collector’s item.   Atmosphere   4 From the moment you arrive at Trustmark Park – now proudly known as “The Swamp” – it’s clear the stadium has fully embraced its new identity. Gone are the tributes to Braves Country; in their place, bold Mud Monsters signage welcomes fans at every turn. The iconic Ronald Acuna mural at the main entrance has been replaced with a massive, eye-catching giant catfish, setting the tone before you even step inside. Throughout the stadium a swamp-inspired theme takes over, with green and black accents painted across the railings, wall pads, concession stands, and even the bathrooms, transforming the ballpark into a true home for Mississippi’s newest team. It’s remarkable to think Trustmark Park is just over 20 years old, considering how well it has aged. From the moment you step inside it’s evident the ballpark was ahead of its time; built during the early wave of modern stadiums that prioritized open-air, wraparound concourses and fan-friendly layouts. The park features two main entrances, one behind home plate and the primary entrance in right field. As you enter through the right field gates, you're immediately greeted by a spacious team store and a lively Fun Zone packed with inflatables. That concourse stretches from right field to left, offering uninterrupted views of the field from nearly every angle – whether you're grabbing a snack, browsing the team store, or watching your kids at the Fun Zone. With a seating capacity of 8,480, Trustmark Park is the second-largest ballpark in the Frontier League, yet its design ensures an intimate feel. All seats sit below ground level, tucked beneath the concourse, giving fans clear sightlines and ensuring there truly isn’t a bad seat in the house. One of Trustmark Park’s most fan-friendly features is its thoughtful design for comfort in the Mississippi heat. Nearly half the seats in the lower bowl benefit from the shade of the press box and the 24 luxury suites above, offering relief from the sun and shelter from the frequent summer downpours. The concourse is fully covered as well, providing protection from the elements throughout the stadium, with the lone exception being the open-air picnic area behind home plate. With dimensions of 335 to left, 402 to center, and 332 to right, Trustmark Park isn’t exactly a hitter’s paradise. The ball tends to stay true with minimal wind interference, making home runs hard to come by. Down the left field line, a shaded picnic pavilion offers table seating with umbrellas and a great view of the enclosed bullpen. Towering above center field is a massive HD videoboard measuring 28 feet by 68 feet – officially the largest in the Frontier League – delivering crystal-clear replays and crowd prompts, while beyond the outfield the backdrop is mostly residential, with a scattering of homes and a quiet road lining the edge of the facility’s view.   Neighborhood   3 Located just three miles east of downtown Jackson, Trustmark Park sits in the Jackson suburb of Pearl, right off Interstate 20. When it opened in 2005 the ballpark was the center of attention in what was once a wooded, undeveloped stretch of land. In the years since, however, the venue helped transform the area into a lively commercial hub, with shops, restaurants, and retail destinations cropping up around it. Directly across the street fans can explore The Outlets of Mississippi, the state’s largest outdoor shopping center featuring over 75 stores. From athletic gear at Nike and Under Armour to fashion finds at Forever 21, Coach, and Marshall’s, there’s something for everyone just steps from the stadium gates. In addition, next door is Bass Pro Shops and a Sam’s Club, while across the street sits Cavender’s Western Wear. And if you can't get enough Huey Magoo's inside Trustmark Park, there is another of their locations just across the street. You can also take the service road from Trustmark Park over to Exit 48 at Bierdeman Road; while most of the options there are familiar chains like Cracker Barrel and Waffle House, Frisco Deli is a family-run spot known for its hearty sandwiches and laid-back atmosphere. For nearby nightlife, your best option in the neighborhood is Alumni House, a relaxed bar inside the Holiday Inn next to Bass Pro Shop, great for unwinding with a drink after the game. Just steps away, Bass Pro itself offers a uniquely themed restaurant and bar, complete with towering fish tanks and large aquariums. There are also plenty of hotels lining the I-20 corridor in Pearl, so you don't have to venture into Jackson to stay overnight. For a livelier nightlife scene, your best bet is to head about 15 minutes west to Jackson’s Fondren District, known for its eclectic bars, live music, and artsy vibe. Also, while you're in the area don’t miss the chance to explore some of Jackson’s historic landmarks, including the old and new Capitol buildings and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. And of course, if you're heading to a Mud Monsters game, make time to sample some of the best catfish Central Mississippi has to offer. Around the Jackson area local favorites include Harvey’s Fish House in nearby Brandon, Jerry’s Catfish House in Florence (you’ll recognize it by the giant igloo-shaped dome), and Cock of the Walk up at the Reservoir, known for its riverfront views. Or, do you want a true hidden gem? If so head about 30 minutes south to Mendenhall and track down Eason’s Catfish House, a no-frills, hole-in-the-wall spot – just remember the deeper into the woods you get, and the more run-down and rustic it looks, the better the catfish they serve.   Fans   4 Despite attendance slipping in the final years of the Mississippi Braves’ run in the Southern League, a loyal core of diehard fans still showed up night after night. Baseball has always had a strong pulse in Mississippi, and the departure of the M-Braves left a hole many thought couldn’t be filled. But then came the Mississippi Mud Monsters; in their debut season the Monsters have taken the field – and the community – by storm, drawing about 2,000 fans per game and proving there’s still plenty of life at Trustmark Park. Freed from the constraints of being a Braves affiliate, the Mud Monsters have carved out a unique identity of their own. With more creative freedom than a typical minor league club, they’ve embraced quirky, fan-friendly promotions that keep things fresh every night. Their mascot – a giant, lovable catfish named simply “Fish” – has become a fan favorite, constantly roaming the concourse and stirring up excitement during on-field contests. Also, in true off-the-wall Mud Monsters fashion, there’s even a pickleball court set up on the concourse, and fans can grab custom paddles from the team store to squeeze in a quick match while catching the game. The Mud Monsters have fully embraced their fishy identity, with plenty of catfish-themed contests between innings and throughout the concourse. Nearly every Saturday home game features a giveaway; at the most recent one fans received fishing bucket hats, personally handed out by a few of the players themselves. It’s also not uncommon to see players mingling with fans on the concourse, signing autographs, snapping photos, or even grabbing a bite at the concession stand. It all adds up to a charming, small-town baseball atmosphere, something that was often missing during the M-Braves era. So far, the Mud Monsters have been a home run with fans, and there’s hope this new independent team becomes a long-term staple in the Magnolia State.   Access   4 Getting to Trustmark Park is a breeze – if you’re coming from out of town, your best routes are I-20 or Highway 49. The ballpark sits just off the I-20/Highway 49 interchange at Exit 48 in Pearl. As you're driving along the interstate, you’ll spot the stadium nestled next to the giant Bass Pro Shop and the Outlets of Mississippi, right before the I-55 exit into Jackson. Once you take Exit 48, head north on Highway 49 for about half a mile. Then, hop onto Highway 80 and take the first right onto Bass Pro Drive. From there, Trustmark Park will come into view just ahead. Parking is very simple; the ballpark is surrounded by a massive lot with plenty of space, so finding a spot is rarely an issue. Parking is free here as well, which is always a plus. Once inside, the layout is spacious and fan-friendly. The wide concourse allows for easy movement without crowding, and there are drink rails and standing room areas throughout where you won’t block anyone’s view of the field. Even with a few concession stands closed during certain games, lines tend to move quickly and the staff keeps everything clean and organized.   Return on Investment   3 Tickets are easy to come by here, as Mud Monsters games rarely ever sell out. Sigle game tickets can be found for as low as $12 to sit on the outfield berm and in the general admission section, or up to $16 to sit in chairback seats behind home plate, extending to the first and third base dugouts. There are also 3 pavilions available to rent – the first and third base party decks and the picnic pavilion down in left field. I consider this a good return on investment – when the M-Braves left we didn’t know if baseball would continue at Trustmark Park, so just being able to still see baseball here is a plus. The small town feel and fun, fish-themed atmosphere is definitely something that wasn’t evident before.   Extras   4 Being able to play pickleball during Mud Monsters games is a plus; as far as I know this is the only minor league ballpark in the country with a pickleball court on the concourse. Also, if you’re looking to explore a slice of Jackson’s professional baseball past, a visit to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame – just five miles up the road – is well worth your time. It’s a must-stop for any sports fan and makes for a perfect pregame detour before heading to a Mud Monsters game. Inside you’ll find a dedicated exhibit on minor league baseball in Mississippi, featuring historic items like the original front office desk and chair used by J. Con Maloney, longtime owner of the Jackson Mets from 1975 to 1990. The museum also showcases vintage jerseys, trophies, and memorabilia from teams like the J. Mets, Jackson Generals, Mississippi Braves, and other clubs that have called the Jackson area home. One of the most anticipated events at Trustmark Park is the annual Governor’s Game between Ole Miss  and Mississippi State , a rivalry clash that always draws a packed house. Southern Miss  also typically makes an appearance each season, and tickets for any of these marquee college games tend to sell fast, as well as at a premium. In addition to hosting high-profile showdowns, Trustmark Park has been the home field for the Belhaven Blazers  baseball program since 2022; Belhaven University, a small NCAA Division III school, is located in downtown Jackson. And of course, another plus for all the past Braves players who have come through Trustmark Park on the way to the show. Over the years, fans in Pearl got a front-row seat to watch the rise of Braves greats like Ronald Acuna, Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Max Fried, and Spencer Strider, and the Mud Monsters are definitely continuing the legacy left behind by the M-Braves.

The stars will be in alignment in the Atlanta area from July 12-15 as Truist Park will host the 2025 MLB All Star Week. The celebration gets underway on Saturday, July 12, with the All-Star Futures Game at 4pm in Truist Park. The two teams will feature some of the top high school and college baseball prospects with former Braves legend Andruw Jones and Hall of Famer Chipper Jones leading the two squads. The Futures game will be followed by  the Legends Celebrity Softball Game. Sunday, July 13 is set aside for the Gatorade All-Star Workout Day. Fans will have the opportunity to watch batting and fielding practice as both the American  and National League All-Star squads prepare for both the All-Star Game and the always exciting T-Mobile Home Run Derby. Monday, July 14 at 8pm will find a full house at Truist Park, as individual players will go through head-to-head competition to see who can hit the most home runs, as well as the longest home runs, Fans should bring their gloves, as balls will surely be flying out of the park on a regular basis that evening. The headline event, the 2025 MLB All Star Game, gets underway at 8pm in Truist Park. This will be the 95th edition of the Midsummer Classic, and the third to be played in Atlanta. The previous games in Atlanta took place at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium and Turner Field. This year’s All-Star Week has one additional game scheduled as a pre-event. Atlanta is home to several HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), as well as being the hometown of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. The HBCU Swingman Classic will be held on Friday, July 11at 7pm in Truist Park. The game will pit top players from the both the SWAC AND MEAC athletic conferences against each other. The event will also feature a Divine Nine Step Show, as well as musical performances from two HBCU bands. All Star Weekend also features the Capital One All-Star Village at the Cobb Galleria Centre. The Galleria Centre is linked to Truist Park and the Battery Atlanta by a pedestrian bridge over I-285. The All-Star Village will feature dozens of interactive baseball activities, including batting cages as well as several skills-based competitions. Many MLB alumni will be on hand to sign autographs, pose for photos and to lead clinics for the kids. Mascots from most of the MLB teams will be in attendance to entertain the crowds as well. The All-Star Village will be a one stop shopping opportunity for all sorts of baseball memorabilia. Several ballpark food vendors will have stands set up in the Village to take care of fans appetites. The All-Star Village will be open from 10am-8pm on Saturday and Sunday, and 10am-6pm on Monday and Tuesday. Fans will also want to visit the stores, shops, restaurants and entertainment sites located in the Battery Atlanta, which is located just outside of the gates for Truist Park. This is a baseball-themed mixed-use facility with great food, nightlife and unique shopping opportunities that is open throughout the year. The Nike MLB Draft will take place in the Battery Atlanta on July 13. Tickets and other information about the 2025 All Star Weekend are available at www.mlb.com/all-star-week . Photos by Lloyd Brown and David Welch, Stadium Journey

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Tommy Baker Field 930 Marietta Highway Canton, GA 30114 Georgia Impact website Year Opened: 1957 Capacity: 4,000 Paint the Town Pink Georgia Impact is a soccer club based in Cherokee County, Georgia, fielding both boys’ and girls’ teams at the select, elite, and academy levels. The club joined the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) as part of its 2023 expansion, marking the return of the league to Georgia following Peachtree City MOBA’s departure in 2021. The WPSL is a summer semi-professional women’s soccer league with players comprised mostly of collegiate players or recent college graduates. Georgia Impact plays its home matches at Tommy Baker Field, located on the campus of Cherokee High School. The field was built in 1956 when the school opened and was dedicated in 1958 to Tommy Baker, a student who had been stricken with polio and tragically passed away after a wheelchair accident at the school. The club has a partnership with Rangers Football Club of Scotland, which provides training support through visits from Rangers Academy staff who work directly with Georgia Impact coaches and players.   Food & Beverage   3 A traditional high school concession stand is located beneath the main stands on the home side of the field, offering standard fare, hot dogs, pizza slices, chips, candy, canned Coca-Cola products, Powerade, and bottled water. As the stadium is located on public school grounds, alcohol is not served. A tent on the concourse also serves hand-grilled tacos and quesadillas. For something sweet, cups of watermelon with Tajín and Chamoy are available. In addition, the Kona Ice truck, with its endless flavors of shaved ice, is a hit with kids, especially as the match winds down.   Atmosphere   3 Tommy Baker Field is a standard high school football facility that is used for multiple sports. The turf is lined for football, soccer, and lacrosse. This does create a busyness to the pitch, but is rather standard for most high school facilities. With field houses at each end of the field, it gives the stadium a rather cozy feel. The nearside touchline is very close to the elevated seating area, creating obstructed views of plays along the sideline. Because of this, sitting either in the front row of the lower section of seating, or as high up as possible, will allow you to see action close to the stands. The stadium has just one scoreboard that is used to show match time and score, which is topped with a modest-sized videoboard that plays a live feed of the game, though that screen can be hard to follow the action on. The match presentation follows basic soccer customs, including kids walking out onto the pitch with the players for pre-match introductions. Half time of the match features skills competitions from Impact’s younger teams, as other members of the program fire t-shirts into the stands with their t-shirt cannon.   Neighborhood   3 Tommy Baker Field is on the campus of Cherokee High School. The field seems a bit out of sight directly behind the school’s basketball gymnasium. Cherokee High School is on Marietta Highway, the main thoroughfare through Canton. Dining along this route includes typical national and regional chains, but one location of interest might be Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q, one of Atlanta’s highly regarded barbecue spots. For more of a small-town vibe, downtown Canton is a five-minute drive from the stadium, with local coffee shops, boutiques, and restaurants. The Mill on Etowah, a 120-year-old cotton mill once owned by golf legend Bobby Jones’ grandfather, has been converted into a lively community space with green space, a stage and visual screen, Reformation Brewery, and retail spaces. Beyond this area, Canton offers fewer attractions for visitors, but The Mill provides a vibrant local feel.   Fans   2 (Note: This latest review was conducted during a significant rainstorm, which likely affected attendance.) There is no formal supporters’ group here, though younger players in the Georgia Impact system take on that role in spirit, banging on snare drums and occasionally setting off smoke bombs. However, this support is not sustained enough to strongly shape the match day atmosphere. For the most part, the fans at Tommy Baker Field appear to be family members of players, or the families of players in Georgia Impact’s pipeline. The team doesn’t seem to have been able to tap into the community much as of yet, though this does not necessarily lessen enjoyment of the contest.   Access   3 Cherokee High School is accessible via Interstate 575 from Atlanta, or from Highway 515 north of Canton. Traffic coming from the north is rather inconsequential, but if coming from the south, 575 can be a patience tester due to the influx of rush hour traffic during the evening commute to the suburbs. If using GPS to navigate to Tommy Baker Field, the directions likely lead to the less convenient parking lot. Instead, using the entry point at the traffic light and parking next to the gymnasium leaves the easiest access to the stadium. Inside the stadium, a walkway runs behind the home bleachers, connecting both ends. The field-level concourse divides the upper and lower seating sections. While the away side bleachers behind the benches are accessible, most fans sit on the home side.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets purchased online are reasonably priced and in line with other WPSL teams. After fees, general admission runs just under $11, with free entry for children. Parking is also free, making it a very budget-friendly family outing. Concession prices are what would be expected at a high school concession stand, e.g. $3 for pizza or a hot dog. The grilled tacos and quesadillas cost more, but offer good quality and value.   Extras   2 Following the match, the team throws miniature signed soccer balls into the stands. Though this seems like a small gesture, it goes along way in creating excitement with the younger fans in attendance. Georgia Impact has done well to try to ingrain itself locally; the team has hosted club bonding events and watch parties for the community at Reformation Brewery at The Mill on Etowah.   Final Thoughts Among the Georgia-based teams in the WPSL’s Peachtree Division, Georgia Impact appears to have a strong foundation and a clear vision for growth. Its women’s team plays an important role in advancing the professional pathway for female players in the region. With Cherokee High School preparing to relocate and the current campus transitioning to a career academy, it remains to be seen whether Tommy Baker Field will continue to serve as home to the Georgia Impact. Regardless, the club seems well-positioned for continued development and deeper community engagement as it continues to grow.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Finley Stadium 1826 Reggie White Blvd Chattanooga, TN 37402 Chattanooga FC Women website Finley Stadium website Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 20, 421 One City, One Club, One Love Chattanooga FC (CFC) was founded in 2009 as a men’s soccer team, but has since grown into a multi-team club. Along with its men’s squad , CFC launched a women’s summer semi-pro team in 2014, competing in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). After going on hiatus following the 2018 season during a club reorganization, the women’s team returned in 2022 and continues to compete today. The club will also debut a developmental team, Chattanooga FC 2, in the fall of 2025. CFC Women plays in the Peachtree Division of the WPSL and are the only team in the five-club division located outside of Georgia. Founded in 1998, the WPSL is the longest-running active women’s soccer league in the country and, with 140 teams as of 2025, the largest.   Food & Beverage   3 Only one concession stand is open during CFC Women matches, but the menu covers the basics well; burgers, hot dogs, and fries headline the options. Beverages come from the Coca-Cola line of soft drinks and include Powerade and bottled water. Saturday matches may see a greater variety of food, depending on expected attendance. Beer choices include Miller Light in cans or Michelob Ultra on draft. Those with a more adventurous palate might be more interested in the Tiny Bomb, or the Hutton & Smith Tectonic Sessions and Ingenous IPAs on tap. High Noon seltzers are also offered for those who prefer something lighter.   Atmosphere   3 Finley Stadium has a split-seating design with individual seating structures along both sidelines. For Chattanooga FC women’s matches, only select sections of the south stands are used, which does a good job concentrating fans into a central location in the stadium, toward midfield and close to the pitch. When considering ideal seats, there is little in the way of a bad seat. Weekday matches seem to have limited seating, but when looking at ticket availability for Saturday matches, those seem to allow access to the grassy berm at the east end of the stadium; this makes sense for a stadium the size of Finley given typical crowd sizes. Chattanooga FC has done well to make the stadium their own, with branded signage, crest-covered padding, and kiosks promoting both the men’s  and women’s teams. UT-Chattanooga , who also use the stadium, has minimal branding during pro match days. The stadium has two scoreboards, one at field level showing basic time and score information, as well as a large video board at the east end with a live match feed and score shown. The nature of soccer does not create a lot of downtime during the match that would typically be filled with fan interaction pieces, but the drums, horns, and chants from the Chattahooligans, Chattanooga FC’s supporter group, creates an engaging atmosphere for all, even if you are not seated in their section. Also, in line with the area’s railroad history, goals are celebrated with a blast of the stadium’s train horn. This adds a small, but personalized, touch to the experience at Finley Stadium.   Neighborhood   5 Finley Stadium is in the southern reaches of downtown Chattanooga in the West Village neighborhood. The neighborhood that directly surrounds the stadium is in the process of an ongoing renaissance – while it sits along the Tennessee River, West Village was once more of an industrial area with warehouses and foundries, but has now begun to develop into one of the up-and-coming parts of town. For example, First Horizon Pavilion was the one-time Ross-Meehan Foundry, which has now been converted to an open-air events space that typically sees weekend events. Just next door is Naked River Brewing Company, the unofficial pre-match gathering spot for the march down Reggie White Boulevard to the soccer stadium, while to the east is Southside Social, an “eat, drink, play” establishment with bowling and over half a dozen other games. Soon, the Chattanooga Lookouts’  South Broad District will be less than a mile away, just on the other side of I-24. Not only will this bring another high-profile piece of Chattanooga professional sports to the neighborhood, but along with it will come several shopping and restaurant options – this will complement the extensive entertainment choices that downtown Chattanooga already has to offer. Downtown Chattanooga is less than five minutes away and is often regarded as one of the top downtown areas in the United States. Attractions there include the Tennessee Riverwalk and Tennessee Aquarium, as well as Coolidge Park with its historic carousel. Dining ranges from upscale restaurants to gems like Main Street Meats, a butcher shop and restaurant combo; North Shore is another hotspot for niche eateries and coffee shops. Chattanooga has several museums, including the International Towing and Recovery Museum and Hunter Museum of American Art. The city is also rich in historical and cultural points of significance, with landmarks tied to key Civil War battles and the starting point of the Trail of Tears at Ross’ Landing, located just downhill from the soon-to-be-retired home of the Chattanooga Lookouts minor league baseball team,  AT&T Field . Just a short walk from Finley Stadium, the Hotel Chalet is on the grounds of the famed Chattanooga Choo Choo, while those a bit more attracted to outdoor adventures might want to check out Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain, or Point Park, all offering stunning views of the city.   Fans   3 Fan turnout for CFC Women matches seems to draw roughly between 1,000 to 1,500 fans, and they tend to be actively engaged from kickoff to the final whistle. However, what is so special about the fan involvement here is the role the supporters' group, the Chattahooligans, play in setting a fun soccer atmosphere throughout Finley Stadium. With a club like Chattanooga FC who has teams that play in various leagues, including MLS Pro Next  and WPSL, as well as a team now that will compete in the United Premier Soccer League starting in the fall of 2025, the Chattahooligans come out to support not just one team, but the entire club, even on the road. Chattanooga FC is a publicly owned organization; this seems to create a deep tie between the fans and the club.   Access   4 Finley Stadium is conveniently located just off I-24, which runs south of downtown Chattanooga. The largest concentration of parking is on the north side of the stadium, with another lot adjacent to neighboring Chattanooga Market. Chattanooga also has a city-wide bike share program with a bike rack just outside the stadium’s north side, which definitely can be useful for locals or those staying nearby. For CFC Women matches the only entry point is the gates on 19th Street, closest to Reggie White Boulevard. Fans pass quickly through these gates with little to no wait time. Inside the stadium, access to the stands is a bit restricted, however, since fans are concentrated toward the center of the field, roughly from the 18-yard boxes on each end. While it can be a good place for younger fans to be able to run around a bit, the berm at the east side of the stadium is typically not accessible. Ticket availability for Saturday matches might change this, though, so make sure to check availability ahead of time for potential additional seating options. Despite not being able to access the entire stadium, access to the seats that are available is simple; they are easy to get in and out of. The only drawback is the pitch is not visible from the concourse.   Return on Investment   4 General admission tickets run just under $13, and reserved seats at midfield just over $16. If available, berm seating costs less than $10. When purchasing tickets, all prices include taxes and fees. Parking in the lots around Finley Stadium can run $6 to $8, depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend match; Friday games have weekend rates. There is some street parking in the area that is free after 6 pm, so getting to the stadium early can be rewarded with free street parking. Concessions here are well priced and not subject to super-inflated stadium prices.   Extras   3 Flags representing each of the nationalities of the CFC players fly along the side of the supporters’ section. After the match, the entire team rushes to the supporters’ section to celebrate and show their appreciation. Gestures like these go a long way in strengthening the bond between the team and the community, fueling the passion that drives every moment on the field. Chattanooga FC is in the process of completing their headquarters, which will be within walking distance of Finley Stadium – the headquarters facility will feature  office space for the club’s staff and coaches, apartments for the players, a training facility, retail space, a restaurant, and a rooftop bar. This development should go a long way in solidifying the soccer atmosphere of the neighborhood.   Final Thoughts Chattanooga FC’s WPSL team embodies the spirit of a grassroots organization, strengthened by the unwavering support of the community. Despite the challenges of creating an intimate matchday atmosphere in a large stadium, the club succeeds through its deep local roots and authentic connection with fans. The energy and passion of the Chattahooligans also plays a vital role – turning every game into more than just a sporting event, the supporter’s group becomes a reflection of the community’s pride in the Blue.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Durham County Memorial Stadium 750 Stadium Drive Durham, NC 27704 Tobacco Road FC website Durham County Memorial Stadium website Year Opened: 1958 Capacity: 8,500 Soccer on Tobacco Road Tobacco Road FC, based in Durham, North Carolina, competes in USL League Two, the fourth tier of soccer in the United States. USL League Two is primarily an amateur and semi-professional league featuring players 23 or younger, and most players are college-age or have recently exhausted their college eligibility and are hoping to receive a professional contract. Tobacco Road FC plays their home games at Durham County Memorial Stadium, an 8,500 seat facility that opened back in 1958 and was renovated in 2010. The stadium also hosts several other local high school and college teams, including Shaw College football , who plays their home games here despite being located in neighboring Wake County. Food & Beverage 2 There are several concession windows at Durham County Memorial Stadium, although only one was open when we visited and it closed at halftime. This stand served a pretty basic menu consisting of candy, popcorn, hot dogs, cookies, soft drinks, and bottled water. The cookies are called "Frisbee cookies", have sprinkles, and are quite large. Prices are reasonable with nothing being more than $5. Both cash and card are accepted but there is a $1 processing fee for using a card. There was also a sign on the concourse directing fans to a stand that supposedly sold fried Oreos, but no such stand existed in the direction the arrow was pointing. There was a tub containing soda bottles underneath the sign that someone could theoretically take and drink for free, although we don't recommend this as they had been sitting out in the Carolina heat for quite some time and were probably gross. Atmosphere 2 There are large sets of bleachers on each side of Durham County Memorial Stadium, although only one side is open for Tobacco Road FC games. With only a couple hundred fans in attendance for a typical home game, even this one set of bleachers is far too large, with the crowds spread out over a great distance. The setup is typical of a stadium from the 1950s in that it is a mix of concrete and metal. While this is a throwback to another era of stadiums, it was not an era known for having the best stadium designs. A running track surrounds the field, so even the front rows are not particularly close. They are also elevated, which is not a bad thing given the viewing angles. Since Durham County Memorial Stadium, hosts many different sports, there are a lot of different lines on the field. Just remember that soccer is the yellow ones and ignore the others. The field is oriented east-to-west rather than north-to-south like most other soccer stadiums. This means that the sun sets behind the goal on the left as you face the field and there will be no shade anywhere in the bleachers in the evenings until the sun sets. The sun will also be in your eyes as you look towards that goal, so bring wear a hat and sunglasses. It does provide some pretty spectacular views of sunsets though. There is not a whole lot going on here other than the game itself. Fans sitting up close will be able to hear the coaches at the nearby benches shouting at the players and referees and everything that is going on on the field. A scoreboard behind the goal to the right of the bleachers shows only the clock and team scores, although it pretty large for this level and seems capable of showing more elaborate things if they wanted it to. Neighborhood 3 Although Durham is a fine city, Durham County Memorial Stadium is located on the northern fringes of it, far from Downtown and the heart of the action. Duke University Hospital is right next door, but there is not much in the vicinity that you would actually want to visit. There are some chain places on nearby Roxbury Street, as well as Koumi Japanese Restaurant, but we recommend driving about ten minutes south to Downtown Durham where you will find many more options. Downtown is a fantastic area, but the fact that is so far away from the stadium with not much in between means the rating here is purely average. Fans 2 Tobacco Road FC drew a couple hundred fans for the game we attended, spread out throughout the giant set of bleachers. This is far from ideal, and those fans who did attend were mostly silent throughout the match. There was one kid in attendance blowing a noisemaker and squeezing a squeaky toy to cheer on her team, but other than that, it was very quiet. Part of this is that the layout of the stadium is just not conducive for good crowds, but even taking that into account, the crowd atmosphere here is not good. If Tobacco Road does start to draw crowds, there are plenty of seats to put them in here, but right now they are not. Access 4 Durham, North Carolina is easily accessible via I-85, I-885, and I-40, with Durham County Memorial Stadium located on the northern edge of the city. A large parking lot is available on the south side of the stadium. It is half-gravel, half-paved, but the paved part never fills up so you shouldn't have to drive on the gravel. There is a giant pothole in part of the lot that is roped off, preventing fans from getting through that part of the aisle, but you should be able to go around. Although there appear to be several gates to the stadium, most of them are actually exit only. You will enter on the left end by what are signed as ticket booths, although you actually buy your ticket at a table in the stadium itself if you did not buy it online beforehand (more on that in the next section.) There are several restrooms in the stadium which are more than sufficient for the crowds Tobacco Road FC draws. If they ever come close to selling out the stadium, the restroom capacity might pose a problem, but they do not have to worry about that right now. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Tobacco Road FC games are just $10, an excellent deal. You can buy online in advance, but the single game ticket will not list any particular home game. Just show the receipt at the table as you come in and they will let you pass. Concessions are very affordable as well, if limited, and parking is free. A Tobacco Road FC game is an excellent value overall, but there isn't enough here to earn the top score. Extras 0 There are no real extras here unfortunately. Final Thoughts A Tobacco Road FC game isn't the fanciest experience, and Durham County Memorial Stadium is a classic 1950s stadium with little charm, but a visit here can still be a fun way to spend a summer night watching soccer at a low price. The team has potential to do a lot more than they are currently doing, and we hope that they will find opportunities to grow the fan experience here.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey If you fancy yourself in Louisville for the day, leave sometimes for an evening at the races. During June, fans can watch four races, hear live music, and enjoy food specials at Churchill Downs.  Twilight Thursday At The Downs opens at 5 PM and allows visitors the opportunity to walk around the spacious grounds, along with taking in the ambiance of the historic racetrack. The tickets are $10 at the box office, and the parking is free of charge. Eight races take place, and in between fans, can grab a bite to eat at one of the rotating local food trucks in The Paddock. Each week is different, but four trucks are parked near table tops. Along with the trucks, fans can enjoy $2 domestic beers and a selection of cocktails, with many featuring bourbon from Woodford Reserve. Live music is performed on the Paddock stage. Once it is post-time, visitors make their way to the general seating area of the Paddock, where they will place bets as low as 10 cents. The first race starts at 5 PM, and the last starts at 8:23 PM. As the thoroughbreds near the finish line, the roar of several thousand fans spread out in the box seats comes alive with anticipation. Many hope to go home a few dollars richer, but many enjoy the ambiance of the historic racetrack that has been housing horse racing since 1875. In between racing, fans can get an up-close look at the horses near the track. It is not uncommon to pet a few on the head as they make their rounds around the dirt track. Also, don’t hesitate to ask a few locals about the historic venue; they will be more than happy to give you information. The Southern hospitality is on display, and many show up wearing pink and yellow dresses along with large floppy hats. Once it is over, grab a souvenir at the gift shop near the entrance. The large store has a lot to choose from shirts, shot glasses, plaques, glasses, posters, and large floppy hats for men and women. The best part is that traffic moves smoothly out of the parking lot after the event has concluded. Other special events at Churchill Downs during the Spring Meet Events from May 8 to June 28 of this year include Downs After Dark on select Friday nights, Teacher Appreciation Day on June 19, and Stephen Foster Day on June 28.  When you have concluded your tour of the Louisville Slugger Museum, tasted enough bourbon at the Evan Williams Experience, or dined out somewhere in NuLu, head over to Churchill Downs for a nightcap. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Acrisure Stadium 100 Art Rooney Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Pittsburgh Steelers website Acrisure Stadium website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 65,500 Black and Gold and Loved All Over If there are Meccas in the National Football League, one is undoubtedly located on the northern banks of the Ohio River in Pittsburgh. The Steelers, the oldest team in the American Football Conference and seventh-oldest in the NFL, are beloved in the city, and its fandom spreads around the world. Heinz Field, named for another Pittsburgh icon, the HJ Heinz Company (yep, the ketchup people), opened in 2001 and is just as much of a landmark as the US Steel Building, being visible from just about any entry into the city. With six Super Bowls wins, numerous Hall of Famers, and one of the most devoted fanbases in all sports to its credit, the Steelers have made sure that they have a home worthy of its history. Note: Heinz Field's name changed to Acrisure Stadium in July 2022. Food & Beverage 4 Heinz Field doesn’t attract foodies, but you can find a wide variety of food and drinks in the stadium. There’s something to everybody’s taste, from the old standbys of peanuts, popcorn and beer to local favorites like Primanti Brothers and Burgatory. Visit Hickory Bridge BBQ Co. for their famous nachos, or grab a sausage sandwich at Franco’s Gridiron Sausage Stand, named for Steelers legend Franco Harris. If the long lines at the concession stands discourage you, download the Steelers’ official app, available for iOs and Android. You can order food and beverages, including beer, from selected stands, pay, and be notified when your order is ready. A domestic beer and hot dog will run you roughly $21. Note that all Heinz Field concessions stands are currently cashless, but there are cash-converting machines on every stadium level. Atmosphere 5 At Heinz Field, there’s not a bad view in the house. No matter where you sit in one of the 65,050 seats, you’ll find it roomy and comfortable, and you’ll have no problem following the game. Unlike some stadiums, the upper deck is easily negotiable for those with balance issues. If you come early in the season for a one o’clock game, bring sunscreen because there’s not much shade. If you want an upgraded game experience or are coming with a larger group, premium suites include food, drink, and amazing views. Heinz Field has an excellent LCD scoreboard with frequent in-game updates. Although the team has a mascot, Steely McBeam, you’re not going to see too much of him, if at all, and outside of the Steelers drum corps, which plays outside the stadium and inside before a game, the Steelers are the main attraction. Nope, no cheerleaders, sorry. Then there is “Renegade,” a Heinz Field tradition. When a game is on the line, usually at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the scoreboard goes dark, and the haunting Styx classic begins. Everybody sings it, including the players. The scoreboard starts showing massive Steelers hits, pulsing along to the song’s drumbeats, and when Dennis DeYoung screams YEEEAAH the place goes insane. Even opposing teams’ fans get goosebumps. Of course, it helps that when “Renegade” is played, the Steelers almost always win, so there’s that. Neighborhood 5 Pittsburgh’s North Shore neighborhood, where Heinz Field is located, will have its share of black-and-gold-clad Steelers fans milling about on game days. There are several nearby hotels such as Holiday Inn Express and Springhill Suites by Marriott, and as far as restaurants go, The Foundry’s excellent brunch and North Shore Tavern’s “steak on a stone” are draws. However, the tailgate scene for Steelers games is one you should thoroughly check out. Concert venue Stage AE, roughly a five-minute walk from the stadium, is the site of a massive tailgate party hosted by local radio station WDVE, with food trucks, live music, games, and big-screen TVs to watch the game–it’s the next best thing to being inside the stadium. In fact, Heinz Field’s tailgate scene is so good that a ton of people who aren’t even going to the game show up to take advantage of the lively, friendly atmosphere. Fans 5 When it comes to loyalty to their team, you’re not going to find more devoted fans than Steeler Nation. Pittsburgh visitors immediately notice that people in Steelers gear are everywhere , no matter if it’s football season or not. Inside Heinz Field on game days, you’ll see so much different gear you’ll be like, “really, a Steelers logo is on that ?” Everyone will be armed with the famous Terrible Towel, which will be waved almost nonstop through a game, and chanting HERE WE GO STEELERS HERE WE GO just about as nonstop. When the Steelers are in the red zone, Heinz Field will be so loud it can actually be heard in the Strip District of the city, two miles from the stadium. Access 5 Heinz Field has its own exits from Interstates 376 and 279 and local routes 28 and 65. Stadium parking passes can be bought along with tickets, starting at $20 and going significantly up from there. You can find much less expensive parking via ParkingPanda.com and SpotHero.com around the neighborhood and across the river downtown. Port Authority buses have several routes to the stadium, and the Allegheny light rail (T) station is a half-block away, with fares starting at $2.50 one way. The T is free if you stay downtown, so keep that in mind when making lodging reservations. Inside the stadium, wide concourses and ramps abound, with plenty of escalators and elevators as well. Restrooms are clean and in good condition, with wheelchair-accessible stalls. Return on Investment 4 Going to an NFL game is an expensive endeavor, and attending a Steelers game is no different. Even upper-level seats will run in the area of $150 through standard ticket outlets, and get jacked up on third-party sites. Throw in parking and food, and it’s hard not to wince when the bill is totaled. Heinz Field, though, offers such a fun experience whether or not you’re a Steelers fan that its worth is acknowledged. It’s routinely ranked as one of the best NFL stadiums, and even if you’re there as an opposing team’s fan, you’ll have a good time. Extras 4 The Great Hall is a shrine of Steelers achievement, with all six Lombardi Trophies on display, and its exhibits are an excellent journey through not only Steelers history, but also the NFL’s. The Steelers’ pro shop is a destination no matter the season, as it’s open year-round. You’ll find Heinz Field’s staff to be helpful and friendly, even as they gently tease opposing fans. Depending on where you sit, you can enjoy a lovely view of the Pittsburgh skyline across the river, and the Three Rivers Heritage Trail that runs past the stadium offers a fun hike to work off all those tailgate calories. Final Thoughts The Steelers are one of the NFL’s most storied franchises, and Heinz Field is an admirable home for it. Well-maintained and inviting as it enters its third decade of existence, it’s the rare NFL fan who wouldn’t like to go to a home Steelers game given the chance. The Steelers put Pittsburgh on the map as one of the best sports towns in the world, and when Heinz Field is filled with screaming black and gold-clad fans on a crisp autumn Sunday, there’s few better places to be.

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Empower Field at Mile High 1701 Bryant St Denver, CO 80204 Denver Broncos website Empower Field at Mile High website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 76,125 The Stadium with a Real Altitude The Denver Broncos are one of the most storied franchises in the NFL. They were one of the teams to join the NFL in the NFL-AFL merger and enjoyed great success , winning championships in both leagues. The team is a two-time Super Bowl Champion and appeared in the game on four other occasions. Empower Field at Mile High Stadium has a seating capacity of 75,125. It features 8,200 club level seats and 144 luxury suites. The seating bowl at the stadium is in the shape of a horseshoe in keeping with the team’s equine-based moniker. It features a ribbon board down each of the sidelines and a huge HD scoreboard at the south end of the stadium measuring 220’ X 40’. Open captioning is projected on 4 ribbon boards in each corner of the stadium for those with hearing impairments. Throughout their existence, the team has played in a venue known as Mile High Stadium in recognition of the field’s presence in the Mile High City and its elevation of 5,280 feet above sea level. This has always been an advantage of the home team, as visiting teams often have difficulty acclimating to the altitude and getting winded easily. The first Mile High Stadium was built in 1948 and served the team through 2001. The present facility opened in time for the 2001 season. In the era of corporately tagged stadiums, Mile High Stadium has been known as Invesco Field (2001-2011), Sports Authority Field (2011-2018), Denver Broncos Field (2017-2018) and its present name of Empower Field since the beginning of the 2019 season. The Mile High Stadium portion of the name has been retained throughout all these changes. This review was done prior to the rechristening of the stadium, when it was still Denver Broncos Field at Mile High Stadium. Food & Beverage 3 Mile High Stadium offers a wide variety of food and beverages to suit all tastes. They include nachos ($5), hot dogs ($5), brats ($9), cheesesteaks ($10), burgers ($9), pulled pork sandwiches ($10), pork belly BLT’s ($15), french dip sandwiches ($12), corned beef sandwiches ($15), chicken tenders ($9), pizza ($7.50), tacos ($10) and tamales ($8). Snacks include popcorn ($5), peanuts ($4.75) and pretzels ($5). The stadium offers Coca Cola brand sodas for $5, bottled water for $7.50, domestic beers for $7, premium beers for $9.25 and wine for $7.50. Atmosphere 4 The Broncos begin building a great atmosphere for the fans before you even enter the stadium. The south end of the complex includes the Sports Legend Mall, which is the ground zero for pregame tailgating. It includes space for vendors, a stage for musical entertainment and the Ring of Fame, which includes plaques honoring the elite Broncos of the past. As you move closer to the stadium you will encounter one of the centerpiece art installations at Mile High. The Stampede features seven bronco horses charging up an elevated stream similar to the waters found in the nearby mountains. Another defining feature at Mile High is located at the northern end of the complex. The Mile High Monument is a miniature replica of Mile High Stadium. It includes exhibits highlighting the defining games and outstanding performances that have taken place inside of the stadium. The pregame Fun Fest takes place here with performances by the Stampede Drumline, the Broncos Dance Team and appearances by the Broncos cheerleaders and Miles the Mascot. Once inside the stadium your eyes will be drawn to the top of the video board in the south end zone. You will see a white bronco raising up on its back legs. This is Bucky the Bronco, a fixture of the first Mile High Stadium that has found a new life at the new venue. You will also notice the stadium seating grid is in the shape of a horseshoe in keeping with the team name. The atmosphere reaches its zenith during the pregame introduction of players. The team is led out onto the field by an Arabian gelding named Thunder, who also charges through the end zone after a Broncos score. The crowd reacts to entry of the team with a demonstration of Rolling Thunder, the stomping of the feet on the metal bleachers, which makes the whole stadium shake. Neighborhood 3 Empower Field at Mile High Stadium is in the Sun Valley neighborhood in between downtown Denver and the Rocky Mountains, just west of I-25. This gives fans in the West stands a birds eye view of the downtown Denver skyline and fans in the East stands a view of the beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop to the stadium. Amongst the stadium’s neighbors are the Pepsi Center, home of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, Elitch Gardens Amusement Park and the University of Colorado Auraria campus. If the schedule works out, you can often attend a doubleheader of a Broncos game followed by a nightcap of an Avalanche/Nuggets game next door. Fans 5 Denver Bronco fans are amongst the most loyal and loudest fans in the NFL. They have sold out the 76,125-seat stadium for every game since its construction. The waiting list for season tickets presently has 85,000 names on it and has an expected wait time of 10-15 years. The fans show their loyalty by their presence in some of the most frigid conditions this side of Green Bay during the November and December portions of the regular season and the playoffs. The Denver fans are known for their bright orange attire as a show of support for the team (it also shows up very well on TV games when there is a blizzard going on). Their capability of creating noise when needed is known as Rolling Thunder and is created by the fans stomping their feet on the metal flooring of the stadium. This causes the stadium to vibrate. Access 3 The home of the Broncos can be easily accessed via I-25 and taking exit 201-C coming from the north or the south. Once off the freeway, finding parking can be problematic as there are only 7,500 spaces at the stadium itself. These typically are reserved for season ticket holders. An additional 15,000 spaces are available at nearby lots serving the Pepsi Center, the Denver Aquarium and the Aurora Campus. The Denver Rapid Transit District (RTD) light rail system is a very popular option, as its C, E and W lines service the Mile High Stadium Station. The stadium is also one of the few NFL venues that can be accessed via bike. The South Platte Bike Trail runs right by the east side of Mile High Stadium. The stadium has more than 360 bike racks available for fans who choose this mode of transportation. Once at Mile High Stadium, it is important to know your seat location before entering the venue. Because of its horseshoe shape, the stadium does not have a 360 degree concourse. You will also find the main concourse to be somewhat confusing, as you enter at one level, then need to go down a level to reach a majority of the food and beverage stands and the lower level of the stands. Empower Field at Mile High Stadium utilizes the same security precautions as all other NFL stadiums. It is best to travel as light as possible into the stadium, with any belongings in a clear plastic bag. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices for Broncos games are amongst the highest in the NFL at an average price of $297.This is due to the decades-long record of sellouts over the years. Sometimes tickets can be found in the $40-$50 range when the game features an opponent with a poor record or a non-traditional opponent from another conference. Parking is $30 in the main Broncos parking lot on a first come, first serve basis, while lots at the alternate lots average $15-$20. The best buy travel-wise is to buy a day pass on the RTD light rail for $6. The concessions prices are about average for the NFL, but they do offer a wider menu selection with many regional favorites. Extras 3 The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame is in Mile High Stadium. It salutes athletes who grew up in Colorado or had their sports careers in the state. Membership covers all sports and includes athletes from high school sports all the way up to the professional level. Empower Field at Mile High Stadium hosts a wide variety of non-Broncos events throughout the year. These include the Rocky Mountain Showdown football game between Colorado State University and the University of Colorado, CONCAF Gold Cup soccer contest and the state championship football games for every level of Colorado high school football. It was also the site of then Senator Barack Obama’s acceptance speech after he was named as the Presidential nominee at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The Bud Light Rooftops are located on the 500 level of both the east and west stands. They offer full bar service and heated high-top tables along with terrific views of both downtown Denver and peaks of the Rocky Mountains Final Thoughts A great team history, great fans, a diverse menu of food and beverage items, along with the natural beauty of the nearby Rocky Mountains makes Empower Field at Mile High Stadium a high priority for anybody’s NFL bucket list. It also makes a great add-on activity for your ski vacation in late fall and early winter. Make sure you arrive early to enjoy the western hospitality and the many pieces of stunning public art that dot the stadium complex.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Huntington Bank Field 100 Alfred Lerner Way Cleveland, OH 44114 Cleveland Browns website Huntington Bank Field website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 67,407 The Dawg Pound Editor's Note: On September 3, 2024, Huntington Bank and the Cleveland Browns announced a 20-year partnership that included stadium naming rights. These rights continue whether the Browns play at their present stadium or move to a proposed domed stadium in Brook Park . It is difficult to argue that there is an NFL fanbase that has endured more heartache than the Cleveland Browns. Founded in 1946 and named after legendary coach Paul Brown, the Browns, more than any other NFL team, would hold steadfast to their traditions. Success came early for the Browns with four AAFC championships and four NFL championships, all before the Super Bowl era, ending in 1964. Outside of Paul Brown, legendary running back Jim Brown has captured the hearts of Clevleanders. However, with the purchase of the browns by Art Modell in 1953, the decline of the Browns would begin. Modell famously fired Paul Brown in 1963 and an ostracized Jim Brown abruptly retired in 1965. The Browns would come close to the successes they enjoyed in the forties and fifties with the Kardiac Kids of the late seventies and a pair of heartbreaking close calls for quarterback Bernie Kosar in the late eighties with trips to the Super Bowl thwarted by “The Drive” and “The Fumble.” With other professional teams in Cleveland gaining new facilities in the nineties, the Browns were left with decrepit, massive Cleveland Stadium, owner Art Modell moved the Browns to Baltimore to become the Ravens in 1995. The NFL immediately recognized the value of the Cleveland market and the steadfast loyalty of the fanbase and announced an expansion team to be granted to Cleveland for the 1999 season. The lynchpin to the Browns expansion team, which would retail all records, trademarks, and championships, was the building of Cleveland Browns Stadium. New Browns owner Art Lerner would see his team take the field in the 1999 season in the new stadium owned by the City of Cleveland with a capacity of over 67,000. The new Browns have not enjoyed much success in the past 23 years. Al Lerner died in 2002. The Lerner Family sold the Browns to Jimmy and Dee Haslam in 2012 and they remain current owners of the team. To go along with a lack of success, the Browns are most known for one of the most recognizable fan groups in the entire NFL, the Dawg Pound. Food & Beverage 4 As with any major sports venue, concessions are at the front of the consciousness of the team. The Browns offer concession options that are on par with other major sports venues. Some options include the Burger Kitchen, Tenders Love & Chicken, C-Town Eats, Michael Symon’s B-Spot, Here We Go Nachos, Meat and Cleaver, and Great Lakes Cheesesteaks. All of the expected stadium items can be found along with some items that will peak the interest of those looking for something more. The unique options at Great Lakes Cheesesteaks are one of the best choices, which include Cleveland Nachos (nachos with parmesan fondue, green onions, bacon, and thyme) and the local favorite, Polish Boy, a brat topped with coleslaw, BBQ sauce fries, and crispy onions. Cleveland Browns Stadium has a large selection of beer in multiple bar areas. Goose Island Beware of the Dawg may be the choice. A curious feature of beverages at Cleveland Browns Stadium is the lack of Coke or Pepsi. RC Cola, 7Up, and Dr. Pepper make up the soft drink selections. Atmosphere 4 The exterior of Cleveland is an attractive, almost modern-looking, silver/chrome siding with plenty of glass. There are plenty of huge player banners that hang from the exterior for fans to see as well. For many years Cleveland Browns Stadium was known under the corporate name FirstEnergy Stadium. For the 2023 season, the name has reverted to Cleveland Browns Stadium. It is obvious that the Browns and/or the City of Cleveland are looking for a new corporate partner for stadium naming rights as there is little to no signage on the exterior that says “Cleveland Browns Stadium.” The Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame can be found on plaques on the exterior of the stadium along Alfred Lerner Way, the hub of pregame activity before a Browns game. Two spots fans will assuredly want to see before entering the gates are the Otto Graham statue in the southwest corner of the stadium and the Jim Brown statue in the southeast corner of the stadium. Entering Cleveland Browns Stadium brings fans into the main concourses, which are fairly spacious and have plenty of orange highlights to give color to the otherwise dark breezeways. Several banners are honoring Browns players who are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Other highlights include a Joe Thomas mural honoring his 10,363 consecutive snaps played in the NFL. Inside the seating area, fans will find the three tiers of seating around the field which runs from west to east. The lower bowl is continuous with separated second and third tiers. The south side is the spot to get that perfect center logo picture, which for the 2023 season was Brownie the Elf. The fascia of the third deck is where the Browns showcase their highest honors. The 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955 and 1964 championships are listed in the southeast corner. The rest of the fascia notes the members of the Browns Ring of Honour, including Paul Brown, Frank Gatski, Leroy Kelly, Bobby Mitchell, Joe DeLamielleure, Mike McCormack, Lou Grozaand new for the 2023 season, and Joe Thomas. Each end of the stadium features large videoboards which are crystal clear. The other main attraction at Cleveland Browns Stadium is in the lower bowl behind the east endzone, The Dawg Pound, the preeminent team supporter section in the NFL, is found there and has found a bit of a life of its own. The gameday production at a Browns game is as good as any in the NFL. In the pregame, the Browns enter from the northwest corner through some bulldog statues with gates. The requisite pyro and smoke machine along with flagbearers and cheerleaders are part of the entry. In the pregame, a guest takes a guitar, painted in the fashion of the visiting team, and smashes it against a podium to the delight of the 65,000 fans in attendance. The Browns mascots, Chomps and Brownie, can be found throughout the stadium, interacting with fans. Neighborhood 5 Despite what seems like a popular narrative, Downtown Cleveland is one of the most underrated areas in the country. Cleveland Browns Stadium is located on the lakeshore, on the northwest side of Downtown Cleveland. There are a ton of options for pre or postgame fare for those who are not tailgating. Some options include Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar, Masthead Brewing Co., Harry Buffalo, Margaritaville, Leather Stallion, and the Winking Lizard. For fans looking for other sporting options, there are plenty. Just up the road at Progressive Field, fans can find the Cleveland Guardians of MLB. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is shared by the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA and Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. College basketball is also not that far away from the Cleveland State Vikings . There are also plenty of tourist options that are not based on sports, including the Great Lakes Science Center, USS COD, International Women’s Air & Space Museum, and the must-see, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For fans wishing to stay near the stadium the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, Cleveland Marriott Downtown, and Doubletree Cleveland Downtown are all close by. Fans 5 Cleveland Browns fans are among the most ardent and loyal in all of sports. In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the Browns have averaged more than 67,000 fans per game. Although that ranks the 19th and 20th in the NFL in 2022 and 2023 respectively, that does account for 100% of the capacity. Browns fans are loud and proud and show up regardless of the weather conditions, which should not be underestimated. The Dawg Pound is also the most famous fan area in the NFL. Access 4 Getting to Cleveland Browns Stadium is not difficult for a downtown stadium. Cleveland Browns Stadium is located along Lake Erie, on the northwest side of Downtown Cleveland. Cleveland Browns Stadium is surrounded by 3rd Street, Alfred Lerner Way, and Erieside Ave with Lake Erie just beyond to the north. The stadium is north of Cleveland Memorial Shoreway and north and west of I-90 so fans will have to traverse the city a bit when coming from out of town. There are plenty of parking options with the Pier to the north and plenty of downtown garages. The best option is to use a parking app and prepay for parking to ensure a spot. For fans who wish to take public transit to the game, there are a few options. The rapid transit and Amtrack and buses are found to the south. Fans should check out the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority website for fares, maps, and schedules. Getting around Cleveland Browns Stadium is not too difficult and washroom facilities are decent. With security protocols in professional sports consistently changing, Stadium Journey recommends fans consult the Cleveland Browns website for the most up-to-date security protocols, including prohibited items. Return on Investment 3 The Cleveland Browns are not a cheap experience, as are all NFL experiences. According to the Fan Cost Index, the Browns are the 17th most expensive experience in the NFL at $593, above the NFL average. Tickets for the Browns begin at $70 and go up to $294 for the lower sidelines. Dawg Pound seats are $189. Concessions are what one would expect for the NFL and parking is going to go for over $20 for sure. Although the return that the Browns give the fans is solid, the steep investment is difficult to get over, as is the case for all NFL experiences Extras 2 An extra mark for the Dawg Pound, a revolutionary fan experience that began at Panorama at the grassroots and has been copied throughout the NFL. An extra mark for the perseverance of the Browns fans as they have struggled with many seasons of non-competitive teams since the team’s return in 1999. Final Thoughts The Cleveland Browns are a solid NFL experience at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Being part of a fanbase that is as ardent passionate and loyal as any in the NFL is an attractive part of the Browns experience. Cleveland is also a great tourist destination and fans will enjoy making a full weekend of it. ---- Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey, and Melissa Kiser Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Paycor Stadium One Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati, OH 45202 Cincinnati Bengals website Paycor Stadium website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 65,535 Who Dey Think Gonna Beat Them Bengals? The Cincinnati Bengals have called Paycor Stadium since the 2000 NFL season. The 65,515-capacity football-only venue was built through taxpayer money to the tune of $555 million. The home of the National Football League’s Bengals has seen recent success at what is dubbed “The Jungle”. The Bengals joined the American Football League in 1968 and played temporarily at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium for two years before relocating to the multi-purpose Riverfront Stadium with the Cincinnati Reds.  They would call the stadium home for 30 seasons before moving a few yards away along the Ohio River to what was then known as Paul Brown Stadium. Paul Brown was the founder and original owner of the Bengals until he died in 1991. The club is still owned and operated by the Brown family. The Bengals have appeared in the playoffs on 20 occasions, capturing 11 AFC Central titles and qualifying for 5 Wildcard spots. The team made three Super Bowl appearances during the 1981, 1988, and 2021 seasons, heartbreakingly losing all three times. Food & Beverage 4 There are various food options at Paycor Stadium, including fan and local favorites. The stadium has 30,328 concessions per square foot, second behind Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Also, the food prices are among the lowest in the NFL. The stadium offers 78 self-service kiosks, 7 self-order and pick-up locations, and 14 grab-and-go stands.  Several highlights include the following concessions: Cincy Burgers + Fries, Kckn Chckn, Nacho Tigre, Tenders, Love & Chicken, and Smoke & Sizzle. All of these establishments offer smash burgers, buffalo chicken tenders, nachos, chicken wings, and chicken tenders. The regional food scene is duly noted with nearby Donatos Pizza, Skyline Chili coneys, and Hudy High Point (named after the long-time Hudepohl Brewery Company). The Queen City Grill sells grilled sausages, brats, and Cincinnati mettwurst (also known as a mett). There are ample spots for beverages, including the Bud Light City Bar, Canopy Catina, The Crown’s Ruler, and Cincinnati Cocktails. The drinking areas, such as The Perch, offer a jungle theme with the Cincinnati skyline in the background. There are also massive east-side and west-side bars that provide fans plenty of drinks from cocktails, beers, seltzers, and wine in a social atmosphere. Atmosphere 4 Paycor Stadium becomes “The Jungle” on gameday and is decorated with murals from local artists, team colors, tiger striping, and team slogans. Fans can also enjoy a lot more greenery that emulates a jungle at various parts of the concourse. Lots open 4-hours before the game around the stadium for tailgating. Pregame at the Banks, between Race Street and Joe Nuxhaul Way, east of the venue. It is home to the Bud Light Tailgate Zone and the Jungle Zone, with live music, interactive games, face painting, and DJ music. Once inside the venue, fans are glued to their seat, focusing on the action on the field, concourses are filled with folks purchasing food and drink, and social areas are packed with fans talking about the Bengals. When the team is winning, the atmosphere is quite festive before, during, and after the game. Neighborhood 4 The Banks is an entertainment district that offers a place to live, work, play, and shop next to the stadium. The neighborhood offers plenty of restaurants, bars, and social spots. There are many to choose from, but favorites include the Christian Moerlein Lager House, Yard House, BurgerFi, and the Jefferson Social. The stadium is a short walk across the river to Newport on the Levee, and enjoy time at one of the following locations: Hofbrauhaus Newport, Strong's Brick Oven Pizza, and Newport Aquarium.  Cincinnati has a few places to visit, including the American Sign Museum, which houses a collection of former neon signs from different businesses past and present, Cincinnati Museum Center, located in the old train terminal and Rhinegeist in the up-and-coming Over-the-Rhine section is a must for one can sit on top of its roof, and enjoy a few beers overlooking the picturesque hills of the city.  Fans 4 Bengals fans are loyal, dedicated, and faithful. They have weathered the storm of mediocre football for several years and are now enjoying a team that has made a recent Super Bowl appearance and is a yearly contender. The “Who Dey” chant is fun to hear at a game and to say aloud while watching a Bengals touchdown or after a victory. Access 4 Paycor Stadium sits along the Ohio River on one side and I 71/75 and downtown on the opposite side. Five bridges from Northern Kentucky take fans by car to the game, and plenty of lots on the Ohio side to park for the game. Traffic can get congested closer to kickoff, but many arrive early for tailgating in the 16-plus lots. The size of the venue makes it easy to navigate during the game and to and from the seating bowl. Halftime crowds create congestion in the upper and lower concourses, and some wait lines can be long, but the 78 self-service kiosks make grabbing a bite to eat or a drink quick and easy. It is also one of three NFL venues that can be accessed by riverboat. The Queen City Riverboats depart Newport, Kentuck,y and sail across the Ohio River to the stadium for a very reasonable cost of $6 round trip. Return on Investment 5 Attending a Bengals game is one of the more economical investments in the league. The Bengals came in at number 10 in NFL concessions in a recent poll conducted by US Betting Report. The average beer price is $5.75, while a hot dog is $5.66. A small beer costs $5.25, the third-best value in the league after Atlanta and Detroit. The average price for a ticket is $131, but less on secondary ticket websites. Games against division rivals, especially Cleveland and Pittsburgh, will fetch a little more, while parking can be as high as $70 closest to the stadium. However, there are cheaper options. The parking lot on East Pete Rose Way, on the west side of Heritage Bank Center, is $15. The cost under I-471 on Eggleston Ave. is between $5-$10, and lots across the Ohio River can cost $10 or less and include a $1 bus ride on Transit Authority Northern Kentucky (TANK) every 15 minutes. Extras 3 Bengals fans earn a point for the “Who Dey?” chant that is said at every game. It comes from the Bengals Fight Song that is played after every touchdown and features the following lyrics. "Who Dey? Who Dey? Who Dey think they gonna beat dem Bengals?"  "Who Dey? Who Dey? Who Dey think they gonna beat dem Bengals?"  "Nobody!"  A second point is for the affordability of food and beverage, tickets, and parking to see the Bengals play football every weekend in the NFL. A third point is for the new decor at the stadium, which includes murals painted by local artists, several aesthetics to fit with the jungle motif, and new social areas for fans at the game. Extras The recent aesthetic changes at Paycor Stadium have been welcoming, and the atmosphere is always colorful before and after a Bengals game. It is one of the best values in the league and even better when the team plays winning football.  --- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Highmark Stadium 1 Bills Drive Orchard Park, NY 14127 Buffalo Bills website Highmark Stadium website Year Opened: 1973 Capacity: 71,608 Saying Goodbye to The Ralph With the merger of the AFL and the NFL, a new stadium was required for the Buffalo Bills to remain part of the league. A move from the old War Memorial Stadium, or Rockpile as it was known, required owner Ralph Wilson to explore some relocation possibilities. This hastened the stadium project and Rich Stadium was built in 1973. The capacity, which was the major drawback at the time, was inflated to the modern-day 71,000. Over the years, owner Ralph Wilson became one of the most iconic in the NFL and the Bills would go on to enjoy some dubious success appearing in four straight Super Bowls in the 90s. After the death of Ralph Wilson, and the scare of possible ownership by Donald Trump, the Bills would settle into the sports portfolio of Terry and Kim Pegula, who also own the Buffalo Sabres among other properties. The naming rights of Rich Stadium would change hands a few times and the stadium would be known by the name of the founder for quite some time. In 2021, the stadium was renamed Highmark Stadium. There is not much time left for the former Ralph Wilson Stadium as a brand new, 64,000-seat, $1.4 billion stadium has been approved and will be built across from Erie Community College in Orchard Park. Food & Beverage 4 The concession scene at Highmark Stadium is decent. All of the expected stadium items can be found including hot dogs, burgers, popcorn, and others available. Some local favorite brands can also be found in the stadium including Dinosaur BBQ, La Nova Pizza, and Buffalo Wings. Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice and on most gamedays, especially later in the season, Tim Horton’s coffee would be the necessary item for warming up. In what most Canadians would find a curious development, the most prevalent beers at Highmark Stadium seem to be Molson Canadian and Labatt’s Blue, for decades fierce competitors. There is plenty available for fans to keep full, however, with such a massive tailgating scene in Orchard Park, many do not worry too much about what is available for eats. Atmosphere 3 Highmark Stadium is one of the simplest in the NFL. The exterior is not overly sophisticated and there isn’t too much about the venue itself that inspires creativity or excitement. The east entry is where the Bills Store can be found and just outside of it, fans will find the 716 sign and a Bills logo on the turf, perfect for photo ops. The Founders Plaza also features a bronze statue of Ralph Wilson which is a spot fan will want to see. On the inside, it is clear why Highmark Stadium is up for replacement. The seating bowl is wide open, not a positive characteristic when the elements of a Western New York winter are factored in. The lower bowl, which is clearly the best place to sit for some protection from the wind, features plastic stadium seats, while the upper bowl has bleacher benches with rounded backs. The field runs from west to east and the main videoboards are found above the east and west end zones. For that perfect fifty-yard line logo picture, fans will want to sit on the south side. The interior of the seating bowl gives fans a massive look at the Bills Wall of Fame. Buffalo legends are enshrined on the facia and include the names of Jack Kemp, Pat McGroder, Tom Sestak, Billy Shaw, Ralph Wilson, Elbert Dubenion, Mike Stratton, Joe Ferguson, Marv Levy, Joe DeLamielleure, Robert James, trainer Edward Abramoski, Bob Kalsu, George Saimes, Jim Kelly, Fred Smerlas, Kent Hull, Darryl Talley, Jim Ritcher, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Steve Tasker, Bruce Smith, Booker Edgerson, Phil Hansen, Bill Polian, Van Miller, Lou Saban, Cookie Gilchrist and (unfortunately) O.J. Simpson. The gameday production is not over the top. At the game reviewed, a local high school marching band performed and four Apache helicopters partook in a flyover. The Bills enter the field from the east, through a number of Bills logo structures that blow smoke and pyro. The cheerleading squad, the Jills has been disbanded for a number of years under suspicious circumstances regarding being severely underpaid. Overall, there is not much that really stands out about the gameday production and there is more of a focus on the game itself, which is not a bad thing. Neighborhood 2 Highmark Stadium is located on the outskirts of Orchard Park, south of Buffalo. All of the lures of Downtown Buffalo is lost on the location of the football stadium. Highmark Stadium is immediately surrounded by parking lots. Although the Bills boast one of the top tailgating scenes in the country, there are very few options for fans before or after the game to get food or drink. The SUNY Erie Community College campus is to the west of Highmark Stadium. A couple of small options include Polked Yolk Abbott, O’Neills Stadium Inn, Danny’s South, and Louie’s Texas Red Hots. A better idea would be to stop in Buffalo proper and find an option there. There are a number of sporting options in Buffalo, but nothing really out as far as Highmark Stadium. Downtown, fans can find the homes of the Buffalo Sabres , Buffalo Bandits , and Buffalo Bisons . Canisius College plays hockey downtown at LECOM HarborCenter and basketball on their campus at Koessler Athletic Center . The University at Buffalo can be found in Amherst, northeast of Buffalo, where the Bulls play on campus. Football is found at UB Stadium and basketball is at Alumni Arena . Fans may also consider the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino downtown. There are a few options for hotels in Orchard Park. The Stadium View Inn and EconoLodge Buffalo are the closest. Fans 4 Buffalo Bills fans have the most fascinating dichotomy. Support for the Bills is stronger than ever with their most recent winning incarnation. Support was always strong for the Bills who have that “little engine that could” mentality, determined to remain afloat with the NFL giants coming from one of the smallest markets in the league. Special attention must be paid to the hardiness of the fans who brave the worst elements in the NFL. On occasions when there is tremendous snow, Bills fans will volunteer to shovel the stands to make the stadium slightly more hospitable. The Bills Mafia moniker has struck a chord in Buffalo and is a badge that is worn with pride. Bills Mafia has claimed hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to various charities, most notably to charitable organizations deemed important by opposing players. The dichotomy comes on gameday, where Bills fans are among the loudest, rowdiest, and most drunk in the NFL. The tradition of destroying tables at the tailgate is no longer newsworthy; it happens so often. Bills fans can be rude, crude, and merciless. Access 2 Highmark Stadium is one of the toughest stadiums to enter and exit. The rural stadium, located west of Highway 219, has few entry points. Due to the early nature of the tailgate, getting into the parking lot is actually much easier than getting out with fans trickling in at different times. Upon leaving after the game, fans should allot at least one to two hours just to get out of the parking lot. It is curious how difficult it is to get out of Highmark Stadium when college venues in similar situations seem to have it all figured out. There is some public transit that Abbott Road and some gameday transit available. Fans who are interested should check out the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority website for fares, maps, and schedules. Getting around Highmark Stadium is not terribly difficult, however, the concourses can get crowded with the weather being an issue and during halftime. Washroom facilities are hit and miss as there are still some washroom facilities that feature the dreaded troughs. Return on Investment 3 With the recent success, the Buffalo Bills have enjoyed comes greater scarcity and cost with regard to tickets. The entire 2022 season stock of tickets was sold out very quickly and tickets on the secondary market are starting at around $130 per ticket. According to the Fan Cost Index for 2022, the Buffalo Bills are well below the NFL average of $590 and are the 27th most expensive experience in the NFL at $520. However, the NFL is an extremely expensive ordeal and the “once in a lifetime” pricing model is a detriment to their experience. Combine the price with the very real possibility of some less-than-comfortable weather and there is plenty to be desired with the return on investment for the Buffalo Bills. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Buffalo Bills galvanizing their existence in Western New York with the approval of the new stadium to be built near the current Highmark Stadium. An extra mark for the members of Bills Mafia making significant financial donations to numerous causes that have affected both Bills players and their opponents. An extra mark for the growing recognition and appreciation of the four Bills Super Bowl appearances in the 90s. An extra mark for Highmark Stadium is the only NFL stadium in New York State. An extra mark LOST for O.J. Simpson is still being recognized on the Bills Wall of Fame. Final Thoughts It will be interesting to see what a brand-new stadium will bring to the Buffalo Bills experience. There were plenty of opposing views as to what the new stadium should look like and where it should be. Until that time, the Bills are still making memories at the former Ralph Wilson Stadium. NFL fans who have yet to visit Highmark Stadium may want to make their way there before it is too late. ----- Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

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

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 American Bank Center 1901 N. Shoreline Blvd Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Corpus Christi Tritons website American Bank Center website Year Opened: 1978 Capacity: 10,000 Corpus Christi Tritons – American Bank Center Known as the “Sparkling City by the Seas,” Corpus Christi, Texas has long been a vacation destination for Texans seeking a reprieve from summer heat, thanks to the cooling waters of the Gulf. The largest city along the Texas gulf coast has also often found itself the home of numerous minor-level professional sports leagues looking to gain a foothold in the Lone Star State. This is especially true of pro arena/indoor football. No less than five teams have called the Sparkling City their home, including the current Corpus Christi Tritons . Founded in 2024 as members of American Indoor Football, they would become inaugural members of the new Arena Football One (AF1) league in time for the 2025 season. Like the rest of their arena and indoor counterparts, the Tritons call the venerable American Bank Center their home. Since opening in the late 1970s, American Bank Center has seen numerous renovations over the years, all with the goal of having this venue remain the city’s premier entertainment venue. Read on to learn more about it.   Food & Beverage   2 I was almost tempted to have this score be an incomplete rather than what I gave it; I have been to multiple events over the years at American Bank Center and have eaten a lot of the food here. This time around, something was a little different. It probably had to do with the game I attended being the last one of the season for the Tritons; none of the concession venues in the upper level were open and only three of the stands on the main concourse were. At these stands you can get chopped brisket sandwiches, popcorn, candy, pepperoni and cheese personal pizzas, nachos, and soft pretzels. Fountain drinks, bottled water, and beer are offered too, and there is also a bar where alcoholic offerings are on the menu. The items they have are fine, so what keeps the score as low as I have it? The reason is I couldn’t buy a hot dog anywhere in the venue – the one true food staple of American sports was not on the menu at any of the open kiosks. This might just be my pet peeve, but it did impact my enjoyment of the event. I know I’ve had them at American Bank Center before, so again, it may have just been the time of the season.   Atmosphere   2 The one true draw in terms of atmosphere at American Bank Center is its location. I would hazard that very few venues in North America allow visitors to gaze out onto palm tree-lined beaches and rolling waves every time they visit. The north side of American Bank Center is also walled with windows overlooking Corpus Christi Bay, and that’s a good thing. Aside from that, there is not much else that would denote this facility as home of the Tritons; this is to be expected though. The team does have a small merchandise table for fans interested in picking up gear, but not much else. Still, come for the view – it is really hard to beat.   Neighborhood   4 American Bank Center is located in Corpus Christi’s scenic downtown; it’s location on Shoreline Boulevard puts it right on the path of virtually all the city’s iconic attractions. Visitors can spend a day at either North Beach or McGee Beach, two of the prime spots in the area. Must see attractions include the Texas State Aquarium, USS Lexington Museum, and Corpus Christi Museum of Science & History. All offer a great opportunity to visit and see some of the best attractions the area has to offer, and are great ways to spend time before or after Triton games. Also in the area is Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks , the double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros . The seasons overlap, so if you plan your visit, you should be able to catch a minimum of two games in Corpus Christi. For places to dine, you’re going to have your pick of fresh seafood options near American Bank Center. These include Railroad Seafood & Brewery, Landry’s Seafood House, and Pier 99 Restaurant. It’s a virtual must when you come to the Texas Gulf Coast to sample some of its legendary seafood; any one of the aforementioned options will get you a great meal, and all are within five minutes of the arena. However, if you want something a little different, I can’t recommend Snapka’s Drive Inn enough. This place is as old school as it gets and features a classic Americana menu with some great Tex-Mex thrown in. For lodging, Shoreline Boulevard offers an abundance of options – these include the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel  and DoubleTree by Hilton Corpus Christi Beachfront . Vacation rentals are also extremely popular in Corpus Christi, so your budget is your only limit here.   Fans   2 This is another area where I’m almost tempted to give the score an incomplete. Since the Tritons are still in their relative infancy, it’s safe to say they have yet to build up a significant fanbase. This is especially true for a city that has seen nearly half a dozen of these types of teams come in, and then fold in short order. That being said, I feel like there was a decent enough crowd at the most recent game I attended. The number was pretty good, but American Bank Center can be especially cavernous, so it felt eerily empty. I think the Tritons will need time to grow fans. Hopefully, this version of the Arena League will be able to sustain itself, and the Tritons will be able to hang around for a while.   Access   3 Corpus Christi is just about a two-hour drive from San Antonio and a little over a three-hour drive from both Austin and Houston. This makes it the most accessible city on the Texas Gulf Coast for visitors. As mentioned, American Bank Center is conveniently located in downtown Corpus Christi. As you approach the city it is unmissable, sitting prominently near the surf line. Corpus Christi International Airport is a short 10-minute drive from American Bank Center. It has daily flights to and from Dallas and Houston, for those not wishing to drive. Once onsite, parking is ample and plentiful in lots around the venue.   Return on Investment   3 Single-game tickets for the Corpus Christi Tritons start at $21 per person, though deals can be found on the secondary market. Parking will cost $15 in the lots at American Bank Center, but concessions are where the bargains truly lie, as the most expensive food items offered top out at just $7. If you’re in the area and looking for an inexpensive way to spend an evening, a Tritons game might be what you’re looking for.   Extras   2 I know that during the season, the Tritons offer several theme nights and giveaways; at the most recent game I attended, however, that was not on the agenda. With that said, the team does offer up a few of the tried-and-true staples of sports, such as their dance team, the Corpus Christi Sirens, and their mascot King Triton. The Sirens are perched in the south end zone and perform during the half, while King Triton can be found on the main concourse before the game, and down on the sidelines during it, for photo ops.   Final Thoughts I’m a football fan, so I will take the game where I can find it. Arena football, even as niche as it is, can still be a lot of fun, especially for younger fans. With that said, I would not put the Corpus Christi Tritons on anyone’s bucket list, yet. However, if they and the new AF1 can make this work, that might change in a few years. With that said, I think you should try to make your way to American Bank Center at some point; it’s still a great venue and the location is hard to beat. Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on X at @EricMoreno6477 .

To paraphrase the great Mark Twain, the rumors of Matthews Arena’s demise may have been greatly exaggerated. Earlier this week, Northeastern men’s and women’s hockey announced that they would be playing the 2025 portions of their upcoming schedules at their longtime home rink. As has been widely reported on Stadium Journey and elsewhere , Matthews Arena is scheduled to be demolished and replaced with a new facility due to structural deficiencies. The facility, which has been in use since 1910, is the original home of the Boston Bruins, the Boston Celtics, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Beanpot Tournament, and has served as home to most of Greater Boston’s college and High School hockey teams at some point in their history. Today, Matthews Arena serves as home to Northeastern’s men’s and women’s hockey teams and the men’s basketball team. In March, Northeastern submitted plans for a replacement for Matthews Arena . The review process and bureaucratic red tape pushed back the demolition and construction timeline, which will now start in 2026. With estimates of total construction time set at 30 months, the new facility will not be completed until the start of the 2028-2029 season. So, what will the Huskies do in the meantime? The men’s basketball team will simply move over to the Cabot Center alongside the women’s team, as they did during the pandemic. The situation for the hockey teams is much more complicated. Although there is no shortage of suitable rinks in and around Boston, coordinating schedules with their tenants will be difficult. Northeastern may have to play a road-heavy schedule for two seasons before moving into their new home. As it stands right now, the final hockey game at Matthews Arena is scheduled for Saturday, December 13 against Boston University. For visiting hockey fans who missed Matthews Arena’s farewell tour in 2024-25, this means, much like so many of our classic rockers, we have another farewell tour and another final chance to visit this grand old barn before it’s no more.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Decatur High School Stadium 310 N McDonough Street Decatur, GA 30030 Decatur FC website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 4,500 Loud and Proud for the Black and Gold Decatur FC is a semi-professional women’s soccer club based in Decatur, Georgia. Founded in 2024, the club competes in the Peachtree Division of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). As of the 2025 season, the WPSL is the largest women’s soccer league in the world, featuring over 150 clubs, and is also the longest-running active women’s soccer league in the United States. The WPSL is part of the third tier of the U.S. women’s soccer pyramid, classified as an amateur and semi-professional league. It serves as a development platform for aspiring professionals, providing high-level competition and exposure during the summer months. Like many WPSL teams, Decatur FC is primarily made up of collegiate players. The club offers these athletes a valuable opportunity to train, grow, and compete throughout the summer and prepare for the start of their upcoming season in August.   Food & Beverage   4 At first glance, the concessions here might seem limited, but a closer look reveals high-quality offerings. Ford’s BBQ serves pork and brisket sandwiches, while vegetarians can enjoy a lentil sandwich; both come with two sides such as potato salad, chips, or slaw. Super EME offers quesadillas and burritos with a self-serve toppings bar that includes onions, several sauces, Pico de Gallo, guacamole, and slaw. Cups of fresh fruit, mango, pineapple, and watermelon are also available, with optional Tajín seasoning or Chamoy sauce. Beverages are a bit of a hodgepodge, with each stand selling their own drinks including Coca-Cola products, ginger ale, Gatorade, bottled water, coconut water, and Capri Sun. Given the stadium is on a high school campus, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that alcohol is not sold at Decatur FC matches. Gourmet popsicles from the popular King of Pops are also available.   Atmosphere   4 Decatur High School Stadium is a multi-purpose facility used for various sports, with football and lacrosse lines visible on the turf in addition to the soccer lines. Bleachers line both sides of the field, with the larger home section on the near side and the smaller, visitor section across the way. Seating on the visitors’ side of the stadium does provide the most relief from the sun, which sets at the far end. Apartments run along the exterior of the far side of the stadium, and fans often gather on balconies to watch from above, creating a unique addition to the atmosphere. The stadium’s scoreboard is tucked into the northwest corner of the facility. The scoreboard shows basic time and score information and is topped with a video board. While it doesn’t have a video feed of the game, the screen is typically used to show graphics of players subbing into the match, or to celebrate goals. Soccer does not have breaks in the action that would typically be filled with in-game entertainment, but Decatur FC has put in a lot of work off the pitch to help create the atmosphere in the stadium. For example, the players and coaches put on weekly free youth clinics, which not only go a long way in growing the game, but also help draw more fans into the stands, so there is more of a buzz during matches.   Neighborhood   5 The City of Decatur is one of Atlanta’s true neighborhood communities. The city square is about a five-minute walk from the stadium; this area is full of locally owned restaurants, brew pubs, and the renowned music venue, Eddie’s Attic. If grabbing a bite to eat, Grindhouse Killer Burger is directly across the street from Decatur High School Stadium, and the Iberian Pig in Decatur Square has a highly regarded Spanish tapas menu. The Brick Store Pub is well known for its extensive beer menu, and the area around the square is also home to numerous boutiques, bookstores, and coffee shops. For barbecue enthusiasts, some of Atlanta’s top BBQ joints like Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Community Q BBQ, and City Barbecue are just a short drive away. Decatur’s charm, walkability, and access to Atlanta also pair perfectly with a soccer outing.   Fans   4 Decatur is a proud community that throws its full support behind its hometown teams. In its first season in 2024, Decatur FC twice set a WPSL attendance record, with its largest attended game drawing 2,126 fans. And if the 2024 attendance is not impressive enough, this season’s opener drew 2,250 fans, again breaking the league record. The city is a strong supporter of the club – not only does the City of Decatur have their name and logo across the front of the kit, but banners are also attached to streetlights around the downtown area. In addition, MLS’ Atlanta United’s supporter groups, particularly the “Footie Mob”, lend a hand to Decatur FC in helping create a festive match experience. The support for Decatur FC runs deep and is one of the reasons the team was awarded WPSL’s “Franchise of the Year” award in its first season.   Access   4 Decatur is a city that prides itself as being Georgia’s most bikeable city; downtown Decatur has miles of protected bike lanes. Public transit is also easily accessible, with a MARTA train station just a short walk from Decatur High School Stadium, making it convenient to travel to matches without a car. Tickets are only available for purchase online, so coming prepared by purchasing prior to entering the venue might help save some time getting through the gates. Once inside the facility, fans enter a somewhat small plaza area where many often gather before heading to their seats – this area is also home to a souvenir tent, so can be a bit congested. From that point, fans can either take the rear walkway to the concession stands or go directly to the field concourse to get to their seats. The rear concourse does completely encircle the pitch, making the smaller far side bleachers behind the team benches accessible. Children tend to use the walkway closest to the school as a play area of sorts, however, so that side can be a touch more of a challenge to navigate.   Return on Investment   4 Adult tickets run just a shade under $13 after fees are added, and children’s tickets are under $7. Members of Atlanta United’s supporter groups are offered discounted tickets. Free parking is available in the school lot just south of Decatur High School Stadium. There is also street parking, and any metered parking is free after 6 pm; with Decatur matches mostly starting at 7 pm, this could be a good option. Parking at any of the pay lots around Decatur’s city square is also just a short walk from the stadium. Concession prices are a bit more expensive than what would typically be expected at this level, but the quality of the food more than justifies the higher prices.   Extras   2 Decatur FC invites its young fans on to the pitch during half time to take shots on goal, or simply to join an impromptu game. Decatur FC has also partnered with local businesses to provide up to 250 free tickets per game for community groups. This goes a long way in building a fanbase, which in turn helps build the excitement around the team and its matches.   Final Thoughts What Decatur FC has done in just its second year in existence is nothing short of amazing. Not only have they built a club that has been successful on the pitch, but has also quickly ingrained itself into the fabric of the Decatur community. The bond Decatur FC has already built with its community is evident, and goes a long way in creating a fun and worthwhile soccer experience down south.

Photos by Michael Rusignuolo, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Meritus Park 50 W Baltimore Street Hagerstown, MD 21740 Flying Boxcars website Meritus Park website Year Opened: 2024 Capacity: 4,000 Replacing a Classic in Style Meritus Park had some pretty big shoes to fill in Hagerstown. The city's former ballpark, Municipal Stadium, was built in 1930 for the Hagerstown Hubs. It provided a home to all the subsequent teams in town for nearly a century until the Hagerstown Suns fell to MLB Commissioner Manfred's contraction axe in 2020.  The ballpark would be demolished two years later.  Plans to bring baseball back to Hagerstown moved quickly, and just four years later, the newly minted team (the "Flying Boxcars," named for the military cargo plane produced locally in the post-war period) and ballpark (named for local healthcare conglomerate Meritus) had their first season in 2024. While nothing can ever quite replace Historic Municipal Stadium, Meritus Park earns high grades, giving fans a modern and welcoming new home to Hagerstown baseball for the future Food & Beverage 4 Meritus Park does a great job of offering a selection of reasonably priced food and drink, with the option to get more fancy if you so choose. The park has a better-than-average food selection, with aeronautically themed concession stands serving up reasonably priced ballpark standards ($3-$12), as well as more expensive seafood and BBQ specialties ($10-$21). There is also a grab-n-go concession by home plate, as well as a cheesesteak cart. There is a wide selection of booze to choose from. Even the regular concessions have a good selection of beers on tap ($6.50-$16), but the two outfield bars are your mecca for adult beverages. The Meinelschmidt Bar, in left field, features a dizzying array of cocktails, beers both local and international, and canned alcoholic drinks, with TV screens to watch the game; while the Power Alley Pub in right-center has a similar spread, with see-through chain-link outfield fences to keep tabs on the game. Coke products are available for non-imbibers. I always recommend trying out local brews, so grab one such as the Antietam High Heat Lager ($9) from one of the outfield bars, and I found the adventurous Brisket Burnt End Sausage ($10) from Skylines on the third-base side worth a try. Atmosphere 5 Meritus Park hits all the right notes as a ballpark, delivering everything you'd want for a visit to a ballgame. The various entrances empty out onto the main promenade that rings the park above the seating bowl. A second level for the press and luxury boxes rises above home plate, running from first base to third base. And the main video scoreboard sits in the left-field corner. The seating area stretches from short left field to short right field, and there are additional areas to sit in the two outfield bars, as well as a reservation-only picnic area in center field. The concession stands are evenly spaced around the park, with a center point at the home plate entrance, where picnic and high-back tables let you enjoy your food if you don't want to eat at your seat. One thing never discussed enough is whether the park is the "right" size. A lot of indie-league parks go whole-hog and build massive ballparks that aren't befitting the realistic crowds you can expect. One thing that Meritus Park has going for it is that this park feels exactly the right size for Hagerstown. Pilot mascot Stryker leads the on-field fun between innings. There are the standard minor/indie leagues races and contests of dubious skill to fill the time, as well as a couple of unique offerings, such as a race between the two sides of the park to pass inflatable donuts the length of their seating areas and a charming(?) alcohol-themed character race sponsored by a local liquor store, a holdover from the late, lamented Municipal Stadium. The areas in the last rows around home plate are your best bet for shade for day games, but most of the seats outside of the outfield will be in the shade for evening contests. There's not a bad seat in the house, so choose wherever you'd like. Neighborhood 3 One's mind doesn't jump to this little burg just over the border into Maryland as a travel destination, but it punches above its weight class. Some of the best places to eat in town are only a few blocks away from the stadium, including Chic's Seafood, The Broad Axe Bar & Grill, The Rhubarb House (soups a specialty), and Schmankerl Stube (Bavarian). In addition to being a Civil War buff's Mecca (just up the road from Antietam and less than an hour from Gettysburg), Hagerstown itself has some things to hold your interest as well, including railway and aviation museums, a kids' museum, a fine arts museum, and a history museum of the town's namesake. Right next to the park is the art installation, the Mural of Unusual Size, which is worth a peak before or after the game. Also, the affiliated Frederick Keys ballclub is about a half hour to the east. The Crown Hotel is right down the street from the park downtown, and new owners seem to have turned around its previous unsavory reputation. A short drive east on Route 40 has a half-dozen hotel options of various price points, as does I-81 a little to the southwest. Fans 4 In their inaugural year, the Flying Boxcars experienced some of the typical ups and downs of a new franchise: Their attendance was up with the novelty of a new park, and their performance on the field was down, as often befalls a new team. While the team is still struggling for wins, the good news is that the bloom isn't off the flower at the gates. The Flying Boxcars remain atop the Atlantic League for attendance, averaging more than 75 percent capacity for each game. Considering a sellout means 1/10th of the population of the city is at the game, that's pretty darn good. The crowd is supportive of their struggling team, but they seem more like a Rockies crowd going to a social event first and a ballgame second. Meritus, like Coors, appears to be the most happening club in town, and I'm sure the owners aren't complaining too much. Access 4 The new park is located in the heart of downtown, just south of Route 40, and it is a breeze to visit and get around. Downtown is well-serviced by I-81 and I-70 for drivers. A small bus service can get you to the park from the surrounding area, there's an Amtrak station downtown and regional airports spotting the area, but the closest major airports are Dulles or BWI.  The main parking for Meritus is the new Hub City Garage, just a block or so from the park, with its own walkway to one of the outfield entrances. It has similar pricing for various parking lots and decks further around downtown. The park has several entrances, so it is easy to get in and never seems to get too crowded. A main promenade circles the park, so there's not much trouble getting around, although a couple of walkways beyond the outfield are a tight squeeze. Return on Investment 5 The team makes it affordable to get in the door, which is important for independent clubs catering to families and social butterflies. Ticket prices are more than fair, running from $16-19 (children under 5 are free). Cheap food options abound ($3 for a basic dog / $5 for a large soda / $6.50 for domestic beer), though the specialty food and drink can get pricey if you choose to go that way. Parking is pretty much $10 in all lots, unless you use one of the unofficial lots, at your own risk. And they even still give away free game-day programs and scorecards. Extras 4 For a new park, there are little details that help make Meritus look more lived-in than you'd expect.  There are the expected modern ballpark amenities with well-stocked team stores and a kids' play area out in right field. Also in right field is a neon statue of the eponymous Fairchild C-119 that lights up during night games. The outfield bars also have bar games for those distracted from the action on the field, and a performance area by the Meinelschmidt Bar sometimes provides pre- and post-game entertainment. With a tip of the hat to history, the Hall of Fame near home plate celebrates big MLB stars that traveled through Hagerstown in their affiliated past, such as Brice Harper, Mike Mussina, and Juan Soto. And a special call-out to Erin Shank at State Farm, who somehow managed to buy a scoreboard sponsorship of every... foul... ball. By the third inning, I could recite her ad copy flawlessly with my eyes closed. It’s a little annoying, but this kind of small-town promotion is part of what makes minor and indie ball so unique. Final Thoughts Meritus Park could never fully replace Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown's hearts and minds, but it brings baseball into the new century there, with a gem of a modern park that seems tailored for its home.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Wild Health Field 207 Legends Ln Lexington, KY 40505 Lexington Counter Clocks website Wild Health Field website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 6,994 The Changing of the Clock in Lexington The Lexington Legends rebranded under new ownership as the Lexington Counter Clocks in 2023. Management renovated the ballpark with new seating, remodeled bathrooms and suites, and lighting. The ballpark also featured changes to the concourse, signage, and the addition of social areas down the first baseline. Counter Clocks Field, formerly known as Wild Health Field and Whitaker Bank Park, opened in 2001 as Applebee's Park and returned professional baseball to Lexington for the first time since 1954. At the time of its construction, the city was the largest market without a baseball team. Fans quickly embraced the franchise, purchasing 1,950 season tickets within hours of going on sale and establishing a new South Atlantic League record. The 6,994-seat stadium was built in an era that saw 77 minor league ballparks built within ten years. Construction of the facility cost $13.5 million and was part of a $23 million complex privately financed by a group of 23 local investors, led by principal owner Brad Redmond. In 2016, the ballpark went through $500,000 in renovations resulting in a wider entry plaza, expansion of the official team store renamed Stache Shoppe, and the addition of the Bullpen Patio. Today, the team operates in the MLB Partnered Atlantic League after being dropped by Major League Baseball in December 2020. The Legends then rebranded as the Counter Clocks for the 2023 season which included major renovations to the ballpark. This has ushered in a new era of baseball in Lexington. The ballpark is a cozy, modest facility that has a much older feel to it than its age. Its location is in a very unassuming part of town, but only a few miles from the nearest interstate or downtown corridors. Then again, there is something wonderfully simple about driving down a small road and having a baseball stadium pop into view on the horizon. Food & Beverage 3 The usual can be found at the ballpark with the addition of a few interesting concession items. A few new editions include the KoBobinit on the third base line offering steak, sausage, chicken, and veggie kabobs with house-made sauces including a siracha-mayo blend, teriyaki, and jerk. Across the way are funnel cakes, corn dogs, and loaded fries for sale. You can also get a big bag of kettle corn or Donatos pizza in this area of the ballpark. Another new edition is the Dickey’s BBQ Pit which is housed down the first baseline where the specialty hot dog and Gold Star chili stand used to be; unfortunately, it was closed during our visit, but Dickey’s logo is plastered on the cup holders throughout the seating area. Another disappointment was The Larry Mac burger that is advertised as coming with two beef patties, jalapeno beer cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato, but when we ordered it, only the cheese was on the burger. A staff member advised us that the ingredients had changed, but were never corrected on the menu board. It is a good thing the beer is inexpensive, Yuengling and Bud drafts sell for $6 and $11, while craft beer from local West 6th (highly recommended) cans are $5. If you are not a beer drinker, Pepsi products are available for $4. The best place to grab a bite to eat and enjoy the game is the Kentucky Ale Tap Room. This full-service restaurant features an air-conditioned bar area and patio view directly behind home plate. Atmosphere 3 The ballpark's design is heavily influenced by nearby horse racing tracks; elements of the sport include steeples and two murals on the exterior of the building. In total, there are eight steeples throughout the ballpark. The ballpark itself features a steep seating bowl with excellent sight lines and a middle concourse providing access to all sections including the Pepsi Party Deck in right field, bleacher seats in left field, and the rather impressive Athena Kids play area behind the left field corner. The 2,000-square-foot Bullpen Patio down the first base line was created for anyone to enjoy the game. The patio replaced a small grassy berm and follows a path of similar “hang out” space at both major and minor league parks. The area is standing-room only and features beer and cocktail service. The Kentucky Ale Taproom sits directly behind home plate offering drafts of their beer and bourbon along with a full-service menu and waiting for staff. The area also provides a partially covered outside patio to enjoy the game. There are numerous promotional nights including Free Parking Mondays, 25 Cent Hot Dog Tuesdays, and Winning Wednesdays. Thirsty Thursdays offer $1 and $3 beer prices with Bark at the Park and Firework Fridays are two popular nights, but if you are with the kids, they get in free on Sunday afternoon. Neighborhood 3 The ballpark is in a rather odd part of town, in an era when ballparks were built in downtown lots or off an entrance ramp of a major freeway, the ballpark was constructed adjacent to a small strip mall 1.5 miles from the I-64 and I-75 interchanges. The best option is to take a drive downtown or to a few other areas around Lexington where one can find great restaurants, breweries, and distilleries. The city is home to two horse racing tracks: Keeneland (thoroughbred) and Red Mile (harness) which offer racing throughout the calendar year. Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm and an educational theme park that offers attractions and is a great place for kids and racing aficionados. The area is in the heart of the Bourbon Trail. Nearby distilleries include Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve, and Lexington Brewing & Distilling (located in town and also features a brewery). Castle & Key is the newest distillery that took residence in the old limestone castle built in 1887. Tours and prices will vary and all include a sample of bourbon on picturesque grounds. Downtown Lexington offers a collection of great restaurants and breweries that include Dudley’s on Short, Bourbon on Rye, Blue Door Smokehouse, Minglewood, and Creaux. Local breweries include Mirror Twin, Country Boy, Ethereal, and West Sixth. A personal favorite place to visit is the Historic Pepper Distillery District, a 25-acre entertainment complex that is less than 4 miles away from the stadium. Originally built in 1869 to produce bourbon, it is home to the James E. Pepper Distillery, Ethereal Brewing, Barrel House Distilling, The Elkhorn Tavern, Crank & Boom Ice Cream, and Wise Bird Cider Co. It is quite a popular place to visit in town. There is also the chance that your visit may coincide with a Kentucky Wildcats basketball game at Rupp Arena or a Kentucky Wildcats baseball game at Kentucky Proud Park . When you include your visit with horse racing, bourbon tours, great restaurants, and other sports, you have enough to do on a very long weekend. Fans 3 Attendance has been around 4,300 over the past few years which is respectable and above the league average. The city endured 47 long years without professional baseball and they have continued to support the team in the college basketball and horse racing-centric city. Access 4 There are 1,200 parking spaces, plus 3,000 more within a 10-minute walk from the stadium. The middle concourse provides easy access to all points and concession stands are brightly lit. The small nature of the ballpark can create a nice tour of the facility if one is interested in taking photos or enjoying the game from different vantage points. Return on Investment 4 The price of a ticket to watch a Legends game starts at $6 for bleachers and bullpen patio tickets; after that, the prices go up and alter on certain days and times. A box-level seat costs $9 in advance, $10 on Friday and Saturday, and $11 on the day of the game. The Counter Clocks have issued daily promotions that include $3 beers and sodas, $2 hot dogs, and ! chips on Tuesday. Thursday nights included $2 domestic and $3 craft beers, Saturday games feature post-game fireworks, and kids run the bases on Sunday games. Extras 3 One star for the mural of Trinity Gay down the first base side of the exterior of the ballpark. The daughter of U.S. track star Tyson Gay was killed in a cross-fire shooting at a restaurant in 2016; she was just 15 years old. The 30-foot mural was designed by Dani Green and includes the words “Pass the Baton.” Another star for the Kentucky Ale Taproom, a great spot to enjoy the game from either inside the bar or on the patio in the back of home plate on the middle concourse. This is one of the best views in the stadium and the middle of all the action. A third and final star for making every Thursday a chance to bring your dog to the game. Whitaker Bank Ballpark is one of many facilities expanding its Bark at the Park program. Fans attending a Legends game have 11-12 dates to choose from a year to enjoy the game with their best friend. Final Thoughts Counter Clocks Field was built in an era where minor league ballparks opened up across the country in record numbers. The stadium brought the pro ball back to town for the first time since 1954 until, like that season when the team ceased operations midway through the year on July 7. The ball club has placed itself among the copious sporting and entertainment options for over 20 years and growing in Lexington. A ballpark that features seats close to the diamond, cheap tickets, and cheaper eats is what minor league baseball used to be and what it should still be for the average fan. ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com