Photos by Gail, Dan, and Steve Ohnsman, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Estadio de Roberto Walker Clemente 65 Avenida Infanteria Carolina, Puerto Rico 00985 Gigantes de Carolina website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 12,500 Clemente Stadium The oft-used phrase “Baseball is Life” continues to be true in Puerto Rico.  Estadio de Roberto Walker Clemente is named after Carolina’s native, Roberto Clemente , who beca me famous to all baseball fans as a great player, and even more so, a great humanitarian.  Late in the 1972 season, he became the 11th MLB player to record 3,000 hits.  Sadly, on December 31, 1972, he insisted on flying to Nicaragua to ensure supplies on the plane were properly delivered to the Nicaraguan earthquake survivors.   The heavily loaded plane took off from San Juan, one engine failed, and it crashed off the coast attempting to return to the airport.   The Clemente Stadium was built in 2000 and is l ocated 18 miles east of San Juan and 11 miles east of SJU (San Juan Airport).  Residential and commercial areas surround the park, though it is located off Highway 3.  It features a beautiful exterior with a huge Clemente statue at the entrance  and a large parking lot. Clemente Stadium Entrance, Photo by Steve Ohnsman, Stadium Journey   Hurricane Maria caused extensive damage to Puerto Rico in 2017 .   FEMA funded $18,400,000 to repair and renovate the stadium.   Estadio de Roberto Walker Clemente has hosted MLB games, an d if the Puerto Rican fans have their way, this will become the home to an expansion team in the future.  It is a multi-purpose stadium, home to the Gigantes de Carolina. Food & Beverage 3 The stadium featu res traditional “Criollo” native Puerto Rican food, including multiple versions of fried chicken with French fries ($12), hot dogs topped with potato sticks in a combo ($8), and popcorn ($5).  Coke products and bottled water go for $3.  Miller Lite is (sadly) the only beer offered – one for $4 and three for $9.  Drinks with liquor start at $10; doubles cost $13.  During the championship series, lines were long and required patience.  Wait staff wander the stadium to sell alcoholic beverages but not food.  Overall, the prices are very high for many natives. Atmosphere 4 First – the noise!  Playoff games with a stadium full of fans with whistles, bam bams, horns, and cowbells create a LOT of nois e.  If  you sit in the lower level, the setting for the PA announcer’s microphone must be set at MAXIMUM, and along with the recorded music, the volume hurts one’s ears.  Our solution was to move to the upper deck where life was more peaceful – however, there are no bathrooms nor concession stands there; an elevator on the third base side helps avoid treks on the stairs.  The stadium has plastic stadium seats throughout – no cup holders.  It is time to replace the seats as the paint has worn off the metal arms.   The sunset views in the right field are magnificent.  The scoreboard displays useful information about the players throughout the game.  An unusual factor is that the stadium faces south. Roberto Clement Stadium Sunset, Photo by Steve Ohnsman, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 3 Clemente Stadium was constructed in an open area east of the Rio Grande de Loiza, with commercial buildings closest and then residential areas a quarter mile away.  We enjoyed dinner at Taco Riendo ( Mexican) south of the stadium, along with Sorriso Pizzeria ,  which offers creative pizzas and a full-service bar.  Hotels/lodging are very limited around the stadium – the best bet is hotels near the San Juan airport.   Estadio Yldefonso Sola Morales is about a 50 min drive, so if you’re on the island, visit that one too for some more “Baseball is Life.” Fans 5 Passionate, knowledgeable baseball fans abound in Puerto Rico!  During the league championship series, the experience goes up yet another level.  Local tradition is “the more noise, the better.”  Even battery-powered air horns are enjoyed and respected!  Several fan s tailgate in the parking lot before the games. Access 3 Driving to the ballpark area is quite easy, with two major highways just south.  Entering the parking lot ($4) can be a bit arduous – two or three lanes.  Maps show a bus line with a stop about ¾ of a mile west of the stadium.  San Juan Airport (11 miles) is the nearest airport.  With large crowds, the aisles are often crowded.  The ticket booth is located on the ground level, just to the right of the stairs.  A small trailer nearby offers souvenirs, hats, and shirts.  Restrooms are acceptable.  The Gigantes de Carolina do not have programs for sale. Return on Investment 4 Puerto Rico has a long history of honoring seniors who can buy tickets at half-price, even for the championship series!  I recommend general admission tickets as a better value.  Food prices are on the high side, based on Puerto Rican standards.  . Extras 4 The exterior of the stadium and sunset views offer “photo ops” along with the Clemente statue.  Plenty of parking is available.  Native/criollo food is good.  The scoreboard offers a good level of information.  Fan enthusiasm/knowledge is a plus; the noise volume is a negative. Final Thoughts Clemente Stadium is far and away the most attractive of all the Puerto Rican baseball stadiums.  Once we figured out that the upper deck seats were better for my ears, We enjoyed all four championship series games.  The fans are great.  It's definitely worth a visit.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Mirmow Field 1 Rowe St SE Orangeburg, SC 29115 Claflin Panthers website Mirmow Field website Year Opened: 1948 Capacity: 3,000 The Historic Charm of Mirmow Field The Claflin University baseball team plays its home games at Historic Mirmow Field. It’s an old-fashioned baseball stadium that was constructed in 1948 to house the popularity of the game in Orangeburg, South Carolina. It was said, at the time, that baseball was so popular that “the fans even liked the umpire.” Mirmow would be home to the semi-pro Orangeburg Braves, American Legion Post 4, and high school baseball. It was also the spring training home of the Binghamton Triplets of the Eastern League during its first few years. There have been a handful of young players who wound up in the major leagues that honed their skills here: Herm Winningham, Mookie Wilson, Nate Snell, Bill Spiers, and the late Mark Sharpeson–where a plaque is dedicated in his memory near the entrance. It would be home to minor league baseball for only two years–a quarter of a century after its construction. The Orangeburg Cardinals–managed by Jimmy Piersall and featuring future WWE legend Randy “Macho Man Savage” Poffo—operated as a co-op team in the Western Carolinas League in 1973 before the Dodgers took over operations the following year. The stadium was showing wear and tear even when the minor leagues were in town, but it received a major upgrade when the motion picture Major League: Back to the Minors was filmed for spring training scenes in 1996. A new roof, a fresh coat of paint, and plenty of lush palmetto trees were planted near the entrance to give the historic venue a much-needed update. The Panthers took the field at Mirmow when the HCBU resurrected the sport in 1986 and is one of only a handful of programs that plays in an actual ballpark in its conference. Its location is about a mile and a half from campus and is used as a recruitment tool for student-athletes who want to play in a baseball stadium. There have been renovations to Mirmor Field since our visit. the details are in this link that celebrated the ballpark's 75th anniversary in 2023. Food & Beverage 2 There is a small concession stand in the form of a wooden shelter on the first base side of the stadium, offering a small selection of items that include hot dogs, popcorn, soda pop, and nachos. The standout here might be the fried bologna sandwich for a mere three bucks. It makes for a nice change of pace while watching the game from the stands. If you are looking for a cold beer at the game, you are out of luck; alcohol is not permitted inside the facility. Atmosphere 3 They don’t build ballparks like Mirmow anymore, and it’s a relic of its time when semi-pro and professional baseball flourished in almost every nook and cranny of this nation. It covers all the bases of its era with a wooden grandstand, main entrance lobby, and wooden bleacher seating. There is a small press box on the top of the roof that looks as if it can squeeze in four people at the most. There are a few oddities with the playing field in that its absence of a warning track in the outfield while this may not be a concern for the patron in their seat, it can be for a running outfield attempting to catch a ball near the think, cinder block wall-there is also no padding. There is a two-foot fence down the first and third baselines separating the playing field from the seating area. A few of the seats feature back support, but few wood seats have warped through almost 80 years of service. The twisted, mangled seat adds a bizarre character to the old place, and a typical crowd falls anywhere around 100 people per game for Panthers games. In other words, there are plenty of more areas to grab a seat and watch a game. The mood here for games is to sit back and relax; most fans in the seats are friends or family members, and you can hear the chatter from each dugout. Depending on the time of the day, you might get to see the passing train behind the outfield walls pass by for a bonus. Neighborhood 3 Orangeburg is located about halfway between Columbia and Charleston and offers a small, quaint downtown setting. There is a multitude of chain restaurants near the interstate exit, but the city offers a few local establishments. If you are looking for a local spin on barbecue, stop by Duke’s for pulled pork and fried chicken. The Original House of Pizza offers its style of pizzas, plus salads and chicken wings. Biddie’s Banquet is known for its fried chicken, and Mama’s Kountry Kooking offers down-home style cuisine at affordable pricing, There are a few areas to visit in town including Edisto Memorial Gardens, I.P. Stanback Museum, and Planetarium, and a short drive away is Santee State Park. Orangeburg is about 40 miles away from Columbia and 75 miles from the always-popular Charleston. Fans 2 Attendance for Claflin games is in the hundreds, but with this being the case, it is still a rare treat to watch college ball at this level inside an actual baseball stadium; many of the Panther’s opponents play on small college fields. Average crowds for games are around the low 100 mark but can reach 300 for certain games late in the season. One should expect a very laid-back contest with a college faithful rooting on the home team, not much different from many other smaller college programs. Access 4 Mirmow Field is located 6 miles south of the Orangeburg exit of I-20. The ballpark offers plenty of free parking in the lot that surrounds it. There is one main entrance into the field and plenty of seating underneath the roof of the grandstand. Some seats should be avoided, and one has the opportunity to pick the seat that fits them the best. Return on Investment 3 There are no admission fees for baseball games, and concession prices are around $2 to $3. Making a stop for the Claflin University game might be for the most ardent ballpark traveler, but these types of facilities are a rare breed and, regardless of their condition, should be appreciated for their historic charm. Extras 3 Palmetto trees surround the ballpark, adding a flavorful South Carolina charm to its exterior. Another star for the train that passes by a few yards in the back of the outfield wall, to the discerning eye, it looks as if it hovers slightly. A third and final star is for the ballpark still to be used for baseball (Claflin, American Legion Post 4, and Orangeburg High School). Final Thoughts Mirmow Field might be for the divine ballpark traveler or the history buff who enjoys older buildings. It is a fun place to explore and watch a game, even if its based days are behind when fans would fill up every seat. There could be a bit more done to improve the warped bleachers, and one could imagine what a summer collegiate league could do to promote the stadium. Collegiate and legion ball still prosper, and one can get a good 9-innings for most of the year if they desire. We should be thankful that a place like Mirmow Field is still in existence. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter  and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 L. Dale Mitchell Park 401 W Imhoff Norman, OK 73072 Oklahoma Sooners website L. Dale Mitchell Park website Year Opened: 1982 Capacity: 3,180 There's Only One Oklahoma Baseball L. Dale Mitchell Park is located on the campus of the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. The park has been home to the University of Oklahoma baseball program for over 25 years, having opened on February 27, 1982 with a seating capacity of 3,180. The ballpark was named in honor of former Oklahoma letterman Dale Mitchell, who is the Sooners’ career and single-season batting title holder. The playing surface is field turf and a pitcher’s park, with spacious outfield dimensions of 335 feet down both lines and 411 feet to straight away center. The largest crowd ever at L. Dale Mitchell Park was 4,544 on May 4,1995 against the arch-rival Texas Longhorns. The Oklahoma baseball program has won 23 conference titles and has 36 NCAA Tournament appearances, with L. Dale Mitchell Park hosting the NCAA Regionals in 2006 and 2009. The Sooners have hosted a regional in Oklahoma City on three occasions, and last hosted one in 2004 at Bricktown Ballpark. The program has appeared in 10 College World Series, and won National Championships in 1951 and 1994. Food & Beverage 3 L. Dale Mitchell Park’s concessions are about as basic as you can get for a college venue. There are two permanent concessions stands on the main concourse, one on each baseline called “Ballpark Favorites.” These stands serve exactly what their namesake suggests – stadium favorites such as hot dogs, chili cheese dogs, nachos, popcorn, and pretzels; these items range from $4.50 to $7. The Sooner nachos and chicken tender basket are the highest priced items on the food menu, costing $9 – the Sooner nachos include chili, cheese, and sour cream. There is also a cash only mobile stand, located on the first base side, that offers hamburgers, cheeseburgers, funnel cake, corn dogs, French fries, frozen lemonade, and shaved ice. The ballpark serves Coca-Cola products, including Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coke, Sprite, and water. The price for soda is $6 for the souvenir cup, $4.25 for the regular size, and $5 for a 20-oz. bottle. Bottled water costs $4.50 for the same 20-oz. bottle. Atmosphere 3 The typical college baseball atmosphere is present at L.Dale Mitchell Park, with most of the games held on weekends, affording the opportunity for families and children to spend some quality time at the ballpark. The press box and suites are located behind home plate, and free programs are given out upon entry into the park. There are baseball posters and schedules on the main concourse behind home plate, along with the lineup card for both teams. The home team dugout is located on the third base side of the field. During the game, there are contests between innings, plenty of music, including the singing of “Oklahoma” in the top of the fifth, and the traditional seventh inning stretch song, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” During select games, members of the Oklahoma Pom Squad are present and participate in activities. Neighborhood 3 The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in the city of Norman, Oklahoma. The city of Norman is 20 miles south of Oklahoma City, and has a population of 120,284, listing Norman as the 3rd largest city in the state behind Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The OU campus has a student population close to 31,000. L. Dale Mitchell Park is located on the south side of campus between the Lloyd Noble Center and Traditions Square Apartments. The neighborhood around the ballpark is more residential, with the fast food chain Sonic being the closest restaurant, but there is also a Rudy’s BBQ down the road. The location is secluded; to get to anything with larger crowds you need to go to the other side of campus, to the popular Campus Corner area. The Campus Corner area is on the opposite side of campus from the ballpark, to the north off W. Boyd Street. This area has numerous restaurants, including Oklahoma’s well-known Hideaway Pizza. Volare is another pizza choice that fans seem to enjoy, and The Porch, The Library Bar and Grill, O’Connell’s Irish Pub & Grill, and Seven47 are great drinking holes with food. In addition, Pepe Delgados is a great choice for fans that are looking for Tex-Mex. The Mont is also a good recommendation, located just off E Boyd Street on Classen Blvd; here you can enjoy a brunch on their patio. Also, just north of the Campus Corner area is Main Street in downtown Norman, where I would suggest The Garage for people looking for a great lunch burger. The Oklahoma City area has so much to offer to visitors that a lot of people are surprised when they visit. Bricktown is a great spot for the traveling baseball fan; this neighborhood is home to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark , home of the Oklahoma City Dodgers (Pacific Coast League team for the LA Dodgers ). Oklahoma City will probably be on most tourist lists, but Norman, Oklahoma has a few tourist attractions of its own. The first stop is The University of Oklahoma campus – the campus, besides being a beautiful campus to walk around during baseball season, is home to a couple of nice museums, including the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History and the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. These two museums will surely make it a wonderful educational trip. However, a visit to the University of Oklahoma wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the school’s football program. Heisman Park is located outside Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, and is a great photo op for fans. In terms of lodging, the Riverwind Casino is about 4.5 miles from L. Dale Mitchell Park, and might be the closest lodging. However, there are plenty of places to stay near campus, including Hampton Inn-Norman and Fairfield Inn & Suites, which are both just down Ed Noble Parkway from W. Main Street near Interstate 35. Fans 3 The Sooner faithful are a strong fan base, so no matter what sporting event you are attending the fans are supportive. Fans of all ages show up with their Crimson and Cream, from young girls in their OU cheerleading outfits to adults decked out in their OU novelties from head to toe. The fans cheer and jeer at the appropriate times during games, participate in the singing of the National Anthem, “Oklahoma,” and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,“ and have a good time overall. Access 4 Access to L. Dale Mitchell Park is relatively easy. This is partly due to the ballpark being located on the southernmost part of campus, away from the main artery streets of Norman. It is a short drive from Interstate-35 to the campus, and there are plenty of ways to get to the ballpark. The easiest route to L. Dale Mitchell Park is to take exit 108A/B from Interstate 35 onto Route 9, then take a left onto W. Imhoff Road at the third traffic light. From here, L. Dale Mitchell Park will be on your left, across from the Lloyd Noble Center (OU’s basketball arena); there is free parking during baseball games in the Lloyd Noble Center parking lot. The main entrance at L. Dale Mitchell Park has 2 entry gates – one behind home plate and one next to the ticket office. The gates and ticket office open 1.5 hours prior to the first pitch. If ADA seating is needed, please call the OU ticket office at (800) 456-4668. L. Dale Mitchell Park’s main concourse is above the seating levels; the venue has two levels of seating with a walking concourse between the levels. The lower level seating features chair backs, while the upper level is equipped with benches. The biggest feature of the ballpark’s infrastructure is that the park is built into a grass berm. The seating is built around the infield, however, the rest of the grass berm seen beyond the seating area is very well utilized, as fans can bring blankets or chairs and sit along the top of the berm. L. Dale Mitchell Park is easy to navigate because the walkway and seating rows are spacious enough to move around. Due to the ballpark having been built into a grass hill, the slope is the only potential negative when moving around the park, and having to climb stairs to get to the main concourse can be a challenge for people with physical limitations. Return on Investment 3 The University of Oklahoma’s baseball ticket prices compare well with their Big 12 counterparts – ticket prices for reserve box seats are $15, while adult general admission costs $10. There is also a $2 discount for youth (5-18) and senior citizens, while children under 5 are admitted free of charge. Parking is free across the street at the Lloyd Noble Center , and the concessions aren’t professional sports inflated prices, so you can expect reasonable affordability for the food and drinks. The overall return on investment is above average for a day at L.Dale Mitchell Park. . Extras 3 Free parking, along with the ability to watch the game for free from beyond the outfield fence offers an old-time nostalgia like the knothole gang generation. Also, the banners of past players in the concourse connecting the present with the past is a nice mainstay, keeping OU tradition alive while the school continues to usher in new generations of players and fans. In addition, there is a friendly atmosphere here, spending the day at a ballpark watching a game without all the major league amenities. Final Thoughts L. Dale Mitchell Park is a tremendous place to spend an afternoon watching competitive college baseball. The Sooner game day staff does a wonderful job providing a safe yet fun-filled day for Sooner fans at the ballpark. If you are in the Norman area, There’s Only One Oklahoma Baseball, so a quick stop to watch Sooners baseball is well worth your time.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Physical Education Complex 2500 W. North Ave Baltimore, MD 21216 Coppin State Eagles website Physical Education Complex website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 4,100 The Eagles of North Avenue Coppin State University is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) located in Baltimore, MD. The school is a publically-funded State of Maryland university. It was founded in 1900 and was eventually named in honor of Fanny Jackson Coppin, an African-American woman who was a pioneer in teacher education. Famous alumni include NomaD and former NBA player Larry Stewart. The Coppin State Eagles compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The MEAC is a collegiate athletic conference whose full members are HBCUs in the Southeastern and the Mid-Atlantic United States. The Eagles were the 1976 NAIA National Champions before joining the NCAA. In 1997, the Coppin State Men’s Basketball team defeated the University of South Carolina in the opening round of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship becoming just the third #15 seed to defeat a #2 seed. In the 2007–08 season, Coppin State became the first team in NCAA College Basketball history to reach the NCAA Tournament with 20 losses. The boring-ly named Physical Education Complex was built in 2009 and became home to the Coppin State University basketball team in the 2009–2010 season. The arena replaced the Coppin Center. Food & Beverage 2 There are concession stands on either side of the stadium. Chicken and hot dogs are the two main selections, in case you’re looking for something filling. Snacks include nachos, popcorn, chips, and pretzels. Concession stands are cash only. The offerings are basic but good. Atmosphere 3 The very open and spacious concourse circles around the seats. All the seats are blue and yellow and provide a nice look and atmosphere. There is a four-sided scoreboard hanging above the center court with a video screen on one end of the arena. The Coppin cheer and dance squad will also help the atmosphere. There may also be the Coppin Pep Band to help out the atmosphere. Neighborhood 2 The neighborhood right near the university can be pretty rough. It is a good idea to be extremely aware of your surroundings in this part of the city. Mondawmin Mall is located across the street from the arena itself. An early development of the influential Rouse Company, the mall was one of the earliest enclosed malls in the country. You may also recognize it from scenes in the film Species II. Unfortunately, the mall area was in the heart of both the 1968 and 2015 riots in Baltimore. That is not mentioned to scare you but make you aware that one needs to be careful. Baltimore is a great metropolitan city, with many fun and exciting places to spend time both before and after a game. Relatively close to the stadium is the Mt. Washington neighborhood that straddles I-83 South (known as the Jones Falls Expressway, or the JFX, by locals). The Mt. Washington Tavern (5700 Newbury Street) is an excellent restaurant with both fine food and bar food type menu. The place is large, and there always seems to be room for more. Towson is another good option for visitors. There are many shops, restaurants, and attractions in this area. Also check out the Hampden neighborhood, with its variety of quirky shops and restaurants. Fans 4 The fans are good and knowledgeable. Depending on the opponent, the crowd sound and participation level can differ. The team tends to start with a bad non-conference record because they play so many games at bigger teams for the paycheck. It unfairly starts them in a hole by the time the MEAC season begins. Access 2 The university is located a bit away from the closest major highway in the area, the Jones Falls Expressway, known locally as the JFX. The best option for visitors is to head towards the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, located not far away. From the north take the JFX South to Exit 6 (North Avenue). Turn right and go to 2500 West North Avenue. From the west take I-70 East to I-695 South and follow to Exit 15 (Rt 40 East). From Rt 40, turn right onto Hilton Parkway – Hilton Parkway eventually turns into Hilton St. Turn right on North Avenue and follow to the 2500 West Block. Return on Investment 5 Tickets are nicely priced and parking is low or free depending on the game. Tickets go on sale at the ticket window, located in the Physical Education Complex, approximately one hour before tipoff. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under, $5 for high school students with a valid student ID, and $5 for non-Coppin State students with a valid ID. Prices and access may be different for Homecoming and Morgan State games. Coppin State students are admitted free of charge with a valid student ID for all games including Homecoming. This is a fair value for a nice level and quality of basketball. Extras 4 There are historical displays around the venue celebrating the history of the men’s and women’s teams at Coppin. Pay special attention to the ones mentioning long-time coach “Fang” Mitchell, who was quite a character around the area. There are some nice banners above the court, especially the NAIA championship banner. The side of the arena offers a nice window view of the nearby road and offers a good amount of light into the arena. HBCU schools always offer a great atmosphere from the cheer and dance squads. Final Thoughts The Coppin State University’s Physical Education Complex is one of my favorite arenas to watch a basketball design. It is a well-designed arena that offers a great deal of basketball atmosphere.

Photos by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Grossinger Motors Arena 101 S Madison St Bloomington, IL 61701 Map It Bloomington Bison website Grossinger Motors Arena website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 6,000 ECHL Bloomington Bison Grossinger Motors Arena (formerly  U.S. Cellular Coliseum and simply the Coliseum) is an arena in downtown Bloomington, Illinois. It is on the southwest corner of Madison Street (US-51) and Front Street. The arena opened to the public on April 1, 2006. Its seating capacity is approximately 6,000 for hockey and indoor football games and 7,000+ for concerts. The arena has 800 club seats, 24 luxury suites, and a two-party suite. Grossinger Motors Arena has been the home venue for several hockey, indoor football, and basketball teams. Home hockey teams included Bloomington Prairie Thunder (UHL/IHL/CHL affiliations from 2006-2011), Bloomington Blaze (CHL from 2011-2013), Bloomington Thunder (SPHL from 2013-2014), and the Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL from 2014 – 2019).   Home football teams were Bloomington Extreme (UIF/IFL from 2006 - 2012) and Bloomington Edge (CIFL/XLIFL/CIF/IFL affiliations from 2012-2018).   Home basketball teams were Central Illinois Drive (MPBA 2011-2012 ) and Bloomington Flex (MBPA from 2012-2015).   Grossinger Motors Arena currently hosts the Illinois State Redbird Hockey Club and the new ECHL hockey team, the Bloomington Bison. Food & Beverage 3 The food selection is pretty good here. They have the classics: chicken strips ($8), bratwurst ($7), hot dogs ($6) and pizza ($6). There are hamburgers (a ½ pound for $15 and “Bloomington Meats Burger" $10), BBQ Sandwich ($10), BBQ nachos ($10), Smoked wings ($12), and Mac & Cheese ($6). For vegans/vegetarians, they sell “Beyond Chicken Strips" ($8). The arena carries Pepsi products. Bottled soda or Gatorade is $4. A large fountain soda is $6, and a small fountain soda is $4. Bottle water is $4. They also have kids' juice boxes for $2. There is a sweets stand that has sundaes ($10), root beer floats ($9), Dippin’ Dots / soft serve ice cream, soft pretzels/nachos ($6), churro bites ($5), brownies ($4), candy ($3), potato chips ($3) and cookies ($2). Popcorn is $6 for a large. Note on select days; the popcorn is free . There are full bar service stands that have mixed drinks ($10 to $12) . D omestic Budweiser and Miller/Coors products sell for $8 for a can (16 oz.). Blue Moon and Modelo cost $10. There are a couple of craft beers here, Bison Blonde Ale and Keg Grove Holey Jeans, that cost $11. They do not have any wine in the arena (strange), but they do have High Noon hard seltzers for $8. The lines can get long, and the concourses are narrow, so it gets crowded. I suggest that you wait until the game starts before you get in line. Atmosphere 2 The Bloomington Bison does not offer much time out or between-period events. Of course, there is a t-shirt throw. The lobby is kind of cramped. The box office area has about five windows, and you can get paper tickets there. The arena has one level of seating on three (3) sides of the ice (like a horseshoe) and suite seating up above that requires a separate entrance. The suites provide a very nice view of the arena. The video board is located on the open end of the arena and shows the usual stuff: scores, some stats, and the game. There is no overhanging scoreboard. Abe, a bison, is the official mascot of the team and is only available for photos/autographs as he makes his way to a seating area to do a promotion.  There are a couple of concession tables offering a good selection collection of team gear that includes hats, t-shirts, and both home and away jerseys. And it would not be a hockey game without the obligatory chuck-a-puck. Neighborhood 2 The Grossinger Motors Arena is about 2 miles from Illinois State University and about 1 mile from Illinois Wesleyan University. In addition, the arena is in downtown Bloomington, which is the County Hub. The Courthouse and other municipal building areas are within blocks of the arena.  Approximately two blocks away, there is the McLean County Museum of History. The museum has different theme rooms such as farming, Abraham Lincoln, jobs in Central Illinois, and even a little kids' area to play as if they were on a farm. There is residential housing a couple of blocks to the west of the arena.  There are not many bars/restaurants within a ½ mile of the arena. However, one place is Anju Above (Asian Fusion), which is an upbeat tapas joint with farm-to-table pizza, sushi, Korean pork buns & more.   My favorite place to go is a few miles from the arena, the Pub II, a college bar and restaurant which is known for its famous fried cheeseballs. This is a burger/sandwich place. The burgers/patty melts are very good, as is the pork tenderloin sandwich. There are plenty of TVs here showing sporting events. Approximately 9 miles away is the Corn Crib , home of the Prospect Baseball Leagues’ Normal CornBelters. Fans 2 The average crowd for this new team is around 2,000 to 3,000 per game. The people going to Bison games are mostly families. However, this could be different on “309” nights, which have cheaper beer and some food items. For a new ECHL team, the Bison have a lot of good promotions throughout the season. On the evening of this review, the crowd seemed to be there for a night out; they weren’t into the game. However, being the first hockey game there in years could be the reason. Access 4 It is easy to get to the arena. It is about 8 miles off the intersection of Interstate 55 and Business 51.  In addition, it can be accessed off Interstate 74 and Business 51. Lastly, it is a few miles from S Business 51 and Route 39. There is plenty of parking at the arena. The arena-sponsored lots cost $20. However, if you get there early enough, you should be able to find street parking for nothing. I didn’t notice any public transportation in the area, but there is Uber/lift availability. Like almost every arena/stadium these days, guests will be allowed to carry in one (1) clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bag that does not exceed 12” x 6” x 12” or one (1) one-gallon clear plastic bag. In addition to a clear plastic bag each guest will be allowed to carry in one (1) small clutch that does not exceed 4.5” x 6.5”. Diaper bags (with a child three and under) and bags carrying medically necessary items will be allowed after a visual inspection inside the bag is completed by security.  Guests who have bags larger than this size will be asked to return them to their vehicle or discard them. T here are plenty of staff members who can be found to answer any questions that may be on your mind . Return on Investment 3 Three price points for tickets for Bison games are a bit pricey at $20 - $32. In addition, there are “all-inclusive" seats for $75. The Bison do have a “family pack” option, too (4 tickets, $10 in merchandise, and an autographed puck for $79).  However, due to the size of the arena, I don’t think there is a bad seat in the house.  Of course, you can rent suites too. They have Party Suites and an Ice Level Party Deck. The Ice Deck is set up at ice level, with high-top table seating & stools that come with an All You Can Eat buffet along with an All You Can Drink menu. Extras 2 The team offers varied promotional nights and provides a sense of welcoming to all the fans who attend games. The team has a great logo and team colors, and you can get paper tickets. Final Thoughts This is the first year for the ECHL club (2024-25). Other hockey teams have failed here. I hope this one can make it because the arena is a nice place to see a game, and you could be seeing the stars of tomorrow.  Being an ECHL team, some players and coaches may graduate to the AHL and NHL.  The prices of concession stands are reasonable, there is a good selection of team merchandise, and they have a great logo.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Alumni Stadium 26 Lang Way Guelph, ON N1G 2M7 Guelph Gryhons football website Alumni Stadium website Year Opened: 1970 Capacity: 8,500 Gryphon Pride In 1964 an amalgamation between the Ontario Agricultural College, Ontario Veterinary College and MacDonald Institute formed the University of Guelph.   The modern post-secondary institution welcomes over 29,000 enrolled students and sits in Guelph, Ontario, between Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo.  The OAC fielded its first football team in 1950 as the Aggies and would eventually become the Guelph Gryphons.  Typically a contending program, the Gryphons have brought home the Yates Cup as OUA conference champions four times (1984, 1992, 1996 and 2015) and the Vanier Cup as USports National Champions in 1984. Home for the Gryphons is Alumni Stadium.  Opened in 1970, and able to accommodate 8,500 fans, Alumni Stadium has seen a number of changes over the years to make it one of the best football facilities for USports in the country.  The latest renovation included a football pavilion with the largest donation coming from former coach Stu Lang, giving the Gryphons a new wrinkle for recruiting.  The University of Guelph does as much as possible with Alumni Stadium, and it is definitely a point of Gryphon Pride. Food & Beverage 3 Alumni Stadium does not offer a distinct concession stand within the facility.  However, the University of Guelph does create a unique “tailgate party” atmosphere on the opposite side of Lang Way during games.  A number of food trucks are in the square for fans to purchase food.  It is accessible during the game as well.  For the game that was reviewed, a Domino’s Pizza food truck and Mexican cuisine food truck were in attendance.  There are also trucks run by UofG food services.  They offer hot dogs, chips, soda, ice cream, chocolate, soft serve ice cream, freezies, pretzels and mini donuts.  Fans in the tented business/accessible seating are able to purchase alcohol. Atmosphere 4 The University of Guelph had done just about everything possible to make Alumni Stadium as good as it could possibly be.  The main grandstand was built in 1970, but has been well maintained with a full on black paint job with a massive Gryphons logo and other red and yellow accents.  It is not massive as compared to the huge stadiums in the NCAA, however it does have a presence.  The field is oriented from north to south and the grandstand is on the west side.  Lang Way is west on the other side of the grandstand and is closed off for the tailgate party, which is accessible after passing security and ticket scanning at the north side of the grounds.  One spot of note outside the stadium is Champions Corner.  Located at the northwest end, outside of the grandstand, Champions Corner features an embedded plaque for each championship the Gryphons have brought home, across the entire athletic department.  A feature such as this is unique to Guelph and not found at other universities in Canada.  On gameday, large inflated sock people welcome fans to the game from Champions Corner.  A small play field towards the south provides some pregame activities for fans to enjoy.  Also a photo op at the “Proud To Be A Gryphon” sign will complete the experience.  One of the player entrances into the stadium is labeled “Gryphon Door” sure to make Harry Potter fans happy.  A temporary table selling Gryphons swag is a spot to stop as well as having a seat at the massive Gryphons branded Muskoka Chair should be done before entering the stadium. Inside the field, the attention to detail remains with the grandstand well maintained with 33 rows of aluminum benches across five sections.  The field is surrounded by a full running track, pushing fans a little further from the action on the field than is ideal, however, it is not a big deal.  The east side of the field has berm seating, which should be open for the biggest games of the season.  The Gryphons also actively honour former players with honoured numbers on the east fence, visible from the grandstand.  Players with honoured jerseys include Sam Benincasa, Mark Brown, Parri Cici, Steve McKee, Mike Hudson, Gerry Organ, Mike Shoemaker, Kyle Walters, Jeremy Oxley, Nick Fitzgibbon and Mike O’Shea.  Although many schools honour past players in their athletic hall of fame, it is truly unique to view such honours from the grandstand.  Gameday also features a number of flags in the northeast corner for Gryphons who have won major awards.  The northeast corner also features Celebration Corner, with a large bell.  It looks like this is a new development and not part of the gameday production for the game that was reviewed. The gameday production at a Gryphons game is not overly unique.  The Gryphons mascot, Gryph, can be found roaming the crowd and interacting with fans and cheerleaders.  The cheer team does help rile up the crowd and cheers from the sidelines.  On Gryphon touchdowns, a student will run a lap of the track with a flag in tow, finishing off with 10 pushups which are counted down by the crowd and PA announcer. Neighbourhood 3 Alumni Stadium is located on the campus of the University of Guelph, south of downtown.  The immediate area is surrounded by campus buildings, residences and athletic facilities.  There are Tim Hortons and Starbucks locations on campus, but for fans wishing to find something with more substance, they will have to travel either north or south.  Some options that are not that far include Guelph BBQ, The Fat Duck, Bardo Guelph, Boathouse Tea Room or Royal Electric Bar. There are other sporting options to be found in Guelph.  The Gryphons field a full complement of teams including hockey  and basketball , which are on campus, just south of Alumni Stadium.  During the summertime the Guelph Royals  of IBL take the field.  However, probably the biggest draw is the Guelph Storm  of the OHL, who play downtown at the Sleeman Centre.  Other tourist options in Guelph included the Guelph Civic Museum, University of Guelph Arboretum, River Run Centre and the birth home of “In Flanders Fields” author, John McCrae.  Across the road from Alumni Stadium is Cutten Fields golf course.  For fans wishing to stay near the university, the Delta is a good option. Fans 3 Attendance for Gryphons football is very elastic, usually with anywhere from 1,000 to 8,000 fans.  Some factors include weather, and number of students on campus.  The homecoming game routinely sells out, however a game in late August, like the one that was reviewed, will have limited support due to the students not yet being on campus.  A Thanksgiving weekend game is also going to attract a limited number of fans.  The fans in attendance are supportive and can get loud at appropriate times.   Access 4 Alumni Stadium is located at the north end of the campus of the University of Guelph, surrounded by Lang Way, Ring Road and College Avenue.  Campus is south of Highway 7 and east of Highway 6 and it is not too difficult to get to, however, travelers will have to drive a bit through the city.  Parking can be found across College Ave, east of the stadium on Ring Road, or south of the stadium near the hockey arena.  Parking should be free on gameday.  For fans who wish to take public transit, there are Guelph Transit bus stops on College Ave and Gordon Street.  Fans should consult the Guelph Transit  website for fares, schedules and maps. Getting around the stadium is not too difficult, however the stairs in the grandstand and accessing the washrooms underneath may not be easy for those with mobility issues. Return on Investment 4 Gryphons football tickets go for $20.  University of Guelph students are free, staff are $5 and youth are $10.  VIP tickets run for $25.  Tickets will be $5 more expensive when purchased at the stadium on gameday.  Concession prices are decent and parking should be free.  The Gryphons put together one of the best gameday atmospheres for university football in Canada and catching a game will have fans leaving with a sense they got their money’s worth. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Gryphon Door. An extra mark for raising the facility bar in USports football. An extra mark for Alumni Stadium being the home for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats  of the CFL for one season while Tim Hortons Field was being built. Final Thoughts The Guelph Gryphons football program and their home at Alumni Stadium show that a USports football program can take a step to the next level and provide an atmosphere worthy of the school.  Whether student, alumni, fan or visitor, taking in a game at Alumni Stadium will definitely leave fans with a sense of Gryphon Pride. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Gregory Kock, and Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 FirstEnergy Stadium 1900 Centre Ave Reading, PA 19605 Reading Fightin Phils website FirstEnergy Stadium website Year Opened: 1951 Capacity : 10,000 The Carnival at Baseballtown Reading is just different.  Baseball in Reading, Pennsylvania dates back to 1858 with the Reading Athletic Club playing other local teams.  The organization of baseball in 1874 saw the birth of the Reading Actives.  Baseball continued in Reading over the years as the monikers changed.  In 1933, Reading joined the Eastern League as the Reading Red Sox, which was short-lived.  In 1952 Reading returned to the Eastern League as the Reading Indians, which was significant in the minor league careers of such stars as Rocky Colavito and Roger Maris.  The current iteration of Reading baseball launched in 1967 as they began an affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Reading Phillies have been a cornerstone Double-A franchise ever since.  They officially became known as the Fightin Phils in 2012. Home for the Fightins, as they are sometimes locally known, is the historic and unique FirstEnergy Stadium.  Opened in 1951 as Reading Municipal Memorial Stadium and dedicated to military personnel who died while serving, FirstEnergy Stadium provides one of the most unique experiences in Minor League Baseball.  It is referred to as “America’s Classic Ballpark” borrows from the Detroit Red Wings and refers to itself as “Baseballtown.”  The mix is truly unique with the experience having three distinct parts: one part baseball; one part museum; and one part carnival. Food & Beverage 5 The culinary experience at FirstEnergy Stadium is the cornerstone of the carnival atmosphere at the game.  The Diamond Credit Union Plaza, informally the Boardwalk, opens before the seating area at FirstEnergy Stadium and the plaza offers carnival food for fans to enjoy before the game begins.  Big Straw Milkshakes with their cookie sandwiches, ice cream, and funnel cakes Plaza Favourites with their varieties of chicken and hot dogs and mac and cheese, and Grand Slam Grill with their burgers, and hot dogs offer fans a top-notch culinary listing before fans are even able to get to their seats.  Yuengling products, Suburban Brewing, and Miller Lite headline the beer options.  Hard slushies and seltzers are also available. Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice.  Once the concourse opens, there are another set of concession options including Manny’s Fries and The Lil’ O’s Pizza.  Overall, there is not much a fan could be wanting for at FirstEnergy Stadium. Atmosphere 5 FirstEnergy Stadium offers one of the most unique atmospheres in baseball.  The exterior of the park is smart with brown brick, blue accents, and embedded concrete “Reading Phillies” name.    Right away, it is apparent that the stadium is hiding its true age.  Although classic, the exterior does not look like a seventy-plus-year-old facility.  A nod back to the original Reading Municipal Memorial Stadium is in the giant military dog tag sculpture in front of the stadium, dedicated to the veterans of the community.  When getting closer to the ballpark, fans will find that the Fightins waste almost no space and celebrate their history perhaps more than any other team.  It begins with the bricks on the main exterior plaza behind the home plate.  Fans will find marble bricks in the ground for each year of the Reading Baseball Hall of Fame and the retired numbers of Ryne Sandberg, Mike Schmidt, Robin Roberts, Scott Rolen, and Jim Bunning. The gates to the Plaza on the first base side open earlier than the rest of the stadium.  The Diamond Credit Union Plaza creates that carnival atmosphere with some concession stands, an open plaza with picnic tables, and a stage for live, pregame music.  Pregame activities such as mini golf, inflatable slide, speed pitch, mascot photos, and autographs are great options for some pregame fun.  The plaza is protected by overhead netting making it viable for use during the game also.  The plaza also has huge murals of former Reading greats and a full accounting of the Baseballtown Hall of Fame.  Two murals of the group stand out.  First the large picture of Max Patkin, the “Clown Prince of Baseball” gives the area an old-time feel.  Secondly, a large mural in honor of Taylor Swift from nearby Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, depicts the megastar’s long and significant relationship with the Phils and FirstEnergy Stadium.  Once the concourses open, fans are again taken back in time as there is practically no space on the walls.  A trip through Reading baseball history removes the claustrophobic nature of the concourses.  Murals and trophy cases could keep a treasure hunter occupied for the duration of the game.  Special attention is given to those Phillies who came through Reading on their way to winning the 2008 World Series. The main grandstand runs between first and third bases with some overhead coverage.  Fixed plastic and metal seats are not the most comfortable and fans are reminded of the age of the facility.   Disjointed stands on both the third base and first base sides help bring the capacity up.  New to the park is the Redner’s Event Center, which offers a variety of group seating options and houses events during and after the baseball season.  On the facade, along with some local, static ads, are the five retired numbers for the Phils.  An underused train motif can be found in right centerfield with a smoking train sign with flashing lights that fire up on Fightin home runs.  Right field also features a very popular Pool Pavilion, perfect for hot days. The gameday atmosphere at Reading is quintessential Minor League Baseball with activities and promotions happening at a near-constant pace.  The Phils feature a full band of mascots and the ingame host is constantly busy.  To sum up the atmosphere, the Phils do everything within their power to make fans forget that the ballpark is not the greatest structure when fans are sitting in their seats, a significant task that the team does to perfection. Neighborhood 2 FirstEnergy Stadium is located at the north end of Reading.  It is not the greatest neighborhood and taking the car somewhere is probably going to be necessary.  There are several spots available for pre or post-game fare.  These include Mike’s Tavern, B2 Bistro Bar, and The Farmhouse Kitchen.  Reading is perfectly located to facilitate a baseball road trip being pretty much equidistant from Allentown, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia.  Other sporting options in Reading include the ECHL’s Reading Royals .  Other tourist options include the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum and Reading Public Museum.  The SureStay and Red Roof Inns are available for fans who wish to stay near the ballpark. Fans 5 The Fightins enjoy solid fan support.  In the 2023 season, the Fightin Phils welcomed an average of over 5,900 fans per game.  This ranks as a respectable 21st in Minor League Baseball and 4th in the Eastern League and Double-A.  The fans in attendance of the game that was reviewed were into the game and supportive of the Phils.   Access 4 FirstEnergy Stadium is located at the north end of the City of Reading.  It is just south of Highway 12 and west of Highway 61, or Centre Street.  Getting to FirstEnergy Stadium is not too difficult and there are parking lots to the west of the stadium, some of which are free.  For fans who wish to take public transit to the game, some buses travel both Centre Street and 5th St.  Fans should consult the Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority  for fares, schedules, and maps.  Getting around FirstEnergy Stadium can be a bit of a challenge as would be expected for a stadium built in the fifties.  Concourses can be crowded and this stadium would be a challenge for anyone with mobility issues. Return on Investment 5 There is tremendous value in a Reading Fightin Phils game.  Box seats run $18 apiece while General Admission tickets, which are for the left field or right field grandstands, are only $12 each.  Parking can be free with a little luck but reserved parking is only $9.  Concession prices are about what one would expect for a Minor League Baseball game. The gameday atmosphere in Reading is amongst the best in MiLB and it is truly a unique experience.  Overall this equates to an experience that is affordable and perfect for the entire family. Extras 4 An extra mark for the fresh and unique approach to baseball that the Fightins take making FirstEnergy Stadium unlike anything else in MiLB. An extra mark for the long history of baseball in Reading. An extra mark for the brilliance of opening the Plaza early before games for fans to congregate and enjoy, and truly taking that unique experience to the next level. An extra mark for the massive and thorough Baseballtown Hall of Fame Final Thoughts Baseball fans who feel that they have experienced it all and have not been to see the Reading Fightin Phils are fooling themselves.  The atmosphere at FirstEnergy Stadium is truly unique and a trip to see the Fightins will not disappoint.  One part museum, one part ballpark, and one part carnival.  Does it get better than this? Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Toyota Field 500 Trash Panda Way Madison, AL 35758 Rocket City Trash Pandas website Toyota Field website Year Opened: 2020 Capacity: 7,500 Toyota Field – Rocket City Trash Pandas Professional baseball had a few brief incarnations in the Huntsville, Alabama area during the first half of the 20th century, but none lasted more than two seasons. It was not until 1985 that affiliated baseball found a stable home in Huntsville with the arrival of the Huntsville Stars at Joe W. Davis Stadium. The Stars served as the Double-A affiliate of both the Oakland Athletics (1985-1998) and then the Milwaukee Brewers (1999-2014). Names such as Jose Canseco, Nelson Cruz, Jason Giambi, Mark McGwire, Tim Hudson, Ryan Braun, and Prince Fielder would move through Rocket City before establishing themselves as some of the top players in Major League Baseball during their careers. Huntsville would go without professional baseball following the 2014 season when the Stars would move to Biloxi  and become the Shuckers, but the sport returned to the area in 2020 when the Mobile Bay Bears relocated to the Huntsville suburb of Madison as the Rocket City Trash Pandas. However, the debut of the Trash Pandas would be delayed until 2021 due to the cancellation of the 2020 Minor League Baseball season. Nevertheless, once the Trash Pandas took the field their popularity soared, much like a rocket from the nearby U.S. Space and Rocket Center.   Food & Beverage   5 Rocket City gives fans numerous options that rival those in major league parks. Toyota Field has three traditional concession stands which each serve a common base menu, but each also hasitsr own unique concession items – the “Dumpster Dive” stand features Rocket City Hot Fries, while “Gravity Grille” has ballpark cheesesteak fries and “All Stars” serves up wings and pizza. A fourth concession stand, “Sweet Space”, specializes in sweet treats, primarily ice cream. Complementing an already strong base menu, concessions here also regularly rotate specialized menu items throughout the season. In addition to the traditional concessions, there are also three carts located around the concourse. The most impressive of these is Lucile’s at Bullpen Bar and Grill, which serves a variety of BBQ, smoking their meat on site. Toyota Field offers a full menu of alcoholic beverages. Options include canned wine from Archer Roose, seltzers from High Noon and Truly, and Surfside hard peach and iced teas. In addition, along with typical national brands, local Huntsville brewers Yellowhammer Brewing and Straight to Ale are featured – fans can enjoy Yellowhammer’s Belgian-white and red lager, Straight to Ale’s Monkeynaut IPA, and Birmingham-based Good People Brewing’s Muchacho.  Self-service, automatic tap stations are available on each side of the stadium. If those options are not enough, Toyota Field also has three separate bar areas, the most prominent being the Inline Electric Rock Porch situated just beyond the right field wall, which overlooks the field and appears to ever so slightly overhang the right field fence. Toyota Field boasts one of the most complete and creative concession menus in the minor leagues, offering a diverse selection that caters to all tastes, from main meals and snacks to beverages.   Atmosphere   4 Toyota Field has a bit of a minimalist feel to its design; there is no grand entry plaza fans walk into nor state-of-the-art features, but the ballpark makes the game experience as enjoyable as any other minor league stadium. The configuration of the outfield wall has typical distances down each of the lines and to center field, but everything between those points is anything but typical – the wall has several areas that angle back rather sharply or go from 8’ immediately up to 10’. Fans are kept entertained throughout the game with on-field activities and scoreboard games. Sound drops and in-game ad reads are frequent, almost to the point of being a bit too much. Team mascot “Sprocket” is part of the pregame introductions, and also makes another appearance to take photos with fans following the 7th inning stretch. Also entertaining the crowd is the astronaut race as four cartoonish astronauts, Buzz (Aldrin), Neil (Armstrong), Mae (Jemison), and Sally (Ride) race from the left field corner to just beyond home plate. There are several seating options throughout Toyota Field; the grassy berm down the right field line is popular with families. The back three rows of the seating bowl behind home plate and in the sections down each line feature high-top bar seating, while standing room drink rails are limited to just behind home plate, as the concourse level suites are situated where drink rails along each side of the field typically would be. However, the limited drink rails on the concourse are made up for by the bullpens each having their own, giving fans places to stand and interact with players during the game.   Neighborhood   3 Toyota Field is the centerpiece of the Town Madison development in the rapidly growing Huntsville suburb – the area around the stadium already features a variety of regional and national restaurants, hotels, apartment buildings, and housing, with much more in progress. As Town Madison continues to develop, it will offer even more to visitors. The main attraction in the area is the U. S. Space and Rocket Center, less than 10 minutes from Toyota Field up I-565, roughly 10 miles from downtown Huntsville. Early-season games might be paired with a visit to Propst Arena to catch the Huntsville Havoc  of the Southern Professional Hockey League. As construction continues, the area surrounding the stadium will become an even more attractive destination, offering visitors a wide range of amenities just steps from the stadium.   Fans   4 The Trash Pandas do a good job drawing fans out to their games, consistently finishing in the top 10 for AA attendance and leading the Southern League. Typical attendance numbers exceed 5,000 fans on any given night, with weekend games often attracting 6,000 fans and occasionally surpassing 7,000. Fans are actively engaged, responding enthusiastically to stadium audio prompts and call-and-response sound clips. This involvement early in the game helps in creating an environment where fans get loud in response to big plays later in the game.   Access   4 Toyota Field is relatively easy to get to as interstate bypass I-565 runs just beyond the third base side of the field. The ballpark is also roughly a 12-mile trip from the I-65 junction that runs between Nashville and Birmingham. If attending a weekday game, use GPS for the current best route to take. Madison Boulevard often backs up a great deal leading up to the first pitch, so it might make more sense to drive past the stadium on I-565 West, and then get back on the interstate in the opposite direction, as Toyota Field has its exit for those heading eastbound. There are two primary entrances into Toyota Field: one up the right field line, the Pepsi Gate, and another well beyond center field. Lines at both entrances move quickly, even on stadium giveaway nights. The concourse is divided into an upper and lower level – the upper level, accessible from the Pepsi gate, runs along the top of the seating bowl from foul pole to foul pole. Stairs and an elevator in the left field corner provide access to the outfield plaza, while stairs and a long ramp in the right field corner complete the circuit around the field. The concourse is fairly wide, allowing groups of fans to pass through with little to no interference from concession lines. After the game, despite there being just two main routes out of the parking lot, traffic flows well to get fans home; exiting via Town Madison Boulevard leads directly back onto I-565.   Return on Investment   4 Trash Panda tickets are quite affordable, with berm seating down the right field line available for just $8, and seats behind home plate starting under $18. To save on parking purchase it online for $6.75, which is a $3.25 discount from the drive-up rate of $10 – these prices include service fees. Concession prices are slightly high but consistent with what might be expected for stadium food and drinks. Given the reasonable rates for tickets and parking, the higher concession prices at Toyota Field are not much of a disappointment.   Extras   4 Almost immediately upon passing through the right field gates, fans are greeted by the familiar thwack of bat to ball. The concourse also has an open view of the batting tunnels, allowing fans to watch players take some pre-game cuts while making last-minute game preparations. Rocket City pays homage to Huntsville's baseball history with the concession stand down the left field line, "All Stars", named in honor of the Huntsville Stars. The stand also uses the retro Stars logo as part of its signage. Baseball is known for its "unwritten rules" – the parts of the game not in the rule book, but that players are supposed to understand and play by. What is not talked about much are the “unwritten rules” for fans; one of the most overlooked of these rules is not moving through the aisles during play. To prevent this, at Toyota Field, the ushers at the top of each section ask spectators to wait until between at-bats to take their seats. An extensive play area makes up most of the outfield plaza beyond the center field wall; multiple inflatables and games are spread out around this area, providing kids with many options if watching the game is not at the top of their list.   Final Thoughts When a city loses a baseball team, it often leaves a void in the community that can be difficult to fill, but the return of baseball to the Huntsville, Alabama area has been a resounding success so far. What has been created at Toyota Field and in the surrounding Town Madison development creates a minor league baseball experience that builds on the local support from the community, and gives visitors all they need to make a trip to see the Trash Pandas as convenient, affordable, and enjoyable as possible.

Photo Courtesy of City of Melbourne/Australian Open Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Melbourne Park Batman Ave Melbourne, Australia 3000 Australian Open website Melbourne Park website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 80,735 Grand Slam Down Under Tennis's Australian Open is nicknamed 'The Happy Slam' by the players and for most visitors who come as tourists from abroad. Nothing brings a smile to your face more than going from being stuck indoors in a freezing winter climate to kicking back in the warm sunshine while downing a local brew and watching two world class players slug it out below you. The venue is Melbourne Park, which not only sports 22 tennis courts, but also features nearby lawns and is adjacent to the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Yarra Park. It is right next to the Yarra River, where one of the tournament's former champions, Jim Courier, once dove in after his title run. While taking causal walks to the tennis site on the river side, you can see rowers from the various clubs practicing, little kids running down sandy pathways headed to a children's museum, joggers and cyclists on their daily workout, and people of all sorts sitting on benches and napping in the mild weather. The Australian Open is the most accessible of the four tennis Grand Slams from three perspectives: it's the closest to any of the city's central business districts so it is in walking distance of numerous good hotels, restaurants and bars; it isn't impossible to get a good, reasonably priced ticket to a secondary stadium and also take in few matches on outer courts without being totally squeezed out; and the people who work there aren't on occasion stuck up (which can be a problem in Paris or London for the French Open and Wimbledon) or rude (as in the case of some New Yorkers at the US Open ). Like most Australians, people who work at the facility are genuinely nice and helpful. Even though it can get hot, the weather is usually very good and because Australians are so diligent about protecting their skin from burning due to the hole in the ozone layer above their continent, there is enough shade, weather and free sunscreen available. The center court, Rod Laver Arena, seats 15,000, and has a retractable roof. The second stadium, Hisense Arena, also has a retractable roof and seats 10,000. The third stadium, Margaret Court Arena, (which will also soon have a roof) seats 5,000, while Show Courts 2 and 3 seat 3,000 apiece. The other side courts range in number of seats, but if you don't try and enter a five-set classic too late, it�s quite possible to get on all of them. Perhaps most importantly, the sightlines on all the major courts are excellent so don't be concerned about obstructed views. Food & Beverage 3 The site has a broad selection of eating and drinking options, and the famous Aussie love of beer is in evidence all over the grounds. A number of food outlets are located in Laver Arena itself, as well as near the grassy garden square inside the south entrance. Prices are reasonable for a sporting event, with items ranging from about AU $5-$15. The typical stand offers burgers, chicken and hot dogs for at or under $10, while drinks, coffee, cookies and snacks are about $5. For typical Aussie fare, try a meat pie, also about $5. If you're hungry for a proper meal but don't want to pay too much, hidden away in the northeast corner of Rod Laver Arena is a booth offering Thai food -- it's a good choice, with chicken and rice for $15. There's also full dining available at a restaurant just off the side of the arena with main courses and pizzas for $20-$35. Atmosphere 4 The Australian Open is the most relaxed of the Grand Slams, with a friendly, holiday atmosphere and spectators out to have a good time. The two main stadiums are large but not oversized, and the third stadium, Margaret Court Arena, has a cozy feel. Multicultural Melbourne draws out lots of support for players from many nations, including particularly enthusiastic supporters for Chile, the Balkan countries and Poland. Costumed fans are also common around the grounds, and there's usually a crowd of people sunbathing and watching tennis in front of the big screens. It's hard not to join in the locals' enthusiasm for both the tennis and having a good time. Neighborhood 5 The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam where you can walk right into the heart of an attractive and fun city within 10 minutes. There are a variety of restaurants with every type of cuisine available. There are laid back cafes and coffee houses, swank bistros and rocking clubs and bars. There are hotels of all types from 1 star to 5 stars, but the cheaper ones tend to be further away from the tennis site, although everything is connected to public transport. There are museums, art galleries, theaters and there always seems to be festivals and community events going on. And of course there is plenty of shopping, from high-end boutiques and department stores, to small local shops, to the gigantic outdoor market - Queen Victoria. Fans 4 There is plenty of energy at the tournament, as fans come there expecting to eat, drink, be merry and cheer their lungs out. There is a pretty large international population of fans, which make it more enjoyable as you can travel court to court and hear Swedes, Serbians, Chinese and other nationalities cheering on their players or singing in their language in support of their national heroes. The Aussies do that plenty as well, and even have longstanding fan clubs (such as the famous "The Fanatics") who paint their faces, buy blocks of tickets and chant enthusiastically all match long. On occasion, certain groups of fans have become too unruly (some Serbian and Croatians who immigrated to Australia formed local fans clubs and have yet to put aside their age old hostilities and have actually battled on site), but security has tightened to the point where it's become extremely rare for any conflict to reach a tipping point. Access 5 Australia is far away from most parts of the world but once you're there the Australian Open is fairly easy to reach. There is one international airport at Melbourne, which is about a half an hour drive from the city. Flights from abroad are pricey, but flights inside the country are fairly inexpensive. The tournament grounds are close to town, about a 15-minute walk and 5-minute tram ride or taxi from the central Flinders Street Station, as well as the smaller Jolimont and Richmond stops. A free tram operates from the central business district to Melbourne Park, running until an hour after play ends. There are separate stops for Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena, which are at opposite ends of the grounds. Parking is available at two lots, but space is limited. Taxis stop at the south entrances, and there are drop-off points at this location for cars as well. In the grounds, line-ups for food and facilities are common, but tend to move quickly. Return on Investment 4 If you are looking for a super cheap ticket to watch pro tennis, the sport's four Grand Slams are not the place to go. There are plenty of events around the world where you can get a ticket for $20 and under: in fact, at the WTA Championships in Istanbul (the women's tour season ending event) you can buy a courtside seat for some nights for as little as $35. But the tennis majors do not have a price that far down in the major arenas, so courtside seats at Laver Arena can cost as much as $700 and that's face value without service charges. But here are affordable options if you don't want to attend the semifinals or finals and are willing to go during the first 8 days of the tournament. Single session tickets start from $80 (US) and ground passes from $32 (US). There are also package deals available which makes every ticket cheaper. Ground passes get fans access to Margaret Court Arena, as well as the Show Courts 2 and 3 and the back courts. There's also a good deal on a Family Grounds pass for about $100, which covers four people (at least 2 kids). At Rod Laver Arena, the cheapest single session ticket starts at $80 US for the first two days for the day or night session, jumps to $95 for Wednesday and Thursday, go up to $125 on Friday, and then to $150 from Saturday to the Monday of the second week. The middle weekend is by far the busiest time, so buy your tickets early. Pricing for Hisense Arena is the same for the first eight days of the tournament at $80 for the cheapest seats, which is a darn good price considering that many of the game's best players compete there and because there tend to be more competitive matches than they have on Laver the first five days, as Laver emphasizes the game's top 6 players or so, who often win in blowouts until the second week. There are family packages for four (at least 2 kids) at Hisense for around $190 US, a very good deal considering it gives you the option of big show court matches and everything else outside of Laver. Once the quarterfinals begin on the second Tuesday prepare to break the bank for Laver tickets, which start at $145 for the cheap seats and keep getting higher until the end of the event, when a bleacher seat for the women's final goes for $290 and the men's final goes for $420. None of the quoted prices include ticket agency charges. If you are thinking of going, realize this: after the first six days of the tournament, it's slim picking for singles matches on the outer courts so unless you love doubles and mixed doubles, don't buy a grounds pass after Saturday. Grand Slam tennis is not for the light of wallet, but if you can manage to get to the Australian Open during the first five days of the tournament before the crowds descend on Saturday and buy a grounds pass, take public transport, only have one meal, a snack and say a beer, then it's possible to leave there having spent around $75, not exactly like going to a Thursday afternoon baseball game between two bad teams where you might be able to get in and out for $40. But the Australian Open is not a run in the mill event: it's like attending a playoff game in any sport, so expect to come up with playoff seats money. If you want to attend the final, expect to come up with Super Bowl and World Cup final money. Extras 4 There is shopping and places to sit and relax on the grounds, and plenty to see nearby. Fans can gather in the Garden Square to watch the Rod Laver Arena action on a big screen, or head over to the new viewing bridge that is situated above the practice courts to watch their favorite players sweat. Live bands play daily, and there are kids courts as well. Final Thoughts If you get to the tournament early enough during the day time in the first week and are willing to stay until all the day time matches are complete, it's possible to watch 12 hours straight of high-level tennis from the world's best. For hardcore tennis fans, that's worth every penny, even if you buy an arena ticket, a T-shirt, eat two meals and shell out $200. That's still less than $20 per hour for entertainment, which can be less than you spend at a bar on a Saturday night. But if you buy a second week night session ticket for you and your partner for around $300, decide to dine at one of the onsite restaurants and drop another $100, buy two sweatshirts for $150, have a few cocktails for another $50 and unfortunately get treated to two garbage matches, the $600 won't seem worth it. However, if you dare to buy a ticket to the men's final and get treated to a historic match like the Novak Djokovic versus Rafael Nadal five-hour plus final in 2012, then you remember that match for the rest of your life and be able to fondly tell your grandchildren about it. Then, laying out $600 or so won't seem like a steep price. There is nothing like a Grand Slam environment whether you are a tennis lover, a marginal fan or a newcomer. Step inside the grounds and you will immediately feel the energy. The Aussies love their tennis, so if you live in Australia the experience is akin to attending a test match in cricket between Australia and top rival England. If you are from outside Australia, you'll remember your experience as fondly as you will your visit to the Great Barrier Reef.

Photo Courtesy of Football Federation of Amenia Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium 65 Vardanants St Yerevan 0070, Armenia FC Pyunik website Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium website Year Opened: 1935 Capacity: 14,403 As Beautiful as Mount Ararat Itself Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium was built between 1933 and 1935 under the auspices of architect Koryun Hakoyan. It was then known as the Dinamo Stadium but after major renovation in 1999, including a new roof, it became known as the Republican Stadium (Hanrapetakan Stadium). However in October of that year, the Armenian Prime Minister and a number of other politicians were assassinated in an attack on the parliament and the stadium was officially renamed as the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in his honour. It’s a very beautiful stadium with neoclassical colonnades curving seductively around the arena. The external fascia of the main stand is a real architectural treasure. The modern roof could have looked incongruous against the classical lines, but instead it has a beauty of its own which complements the older parts of the stadium. With the mighty Hrazdan Stadium out of commission, all of Armenia’s international matches are now played at the Republican Stadium. It was Armenia’s 2003 match against Spain which produced the stadium’s record gate of 16,000. In 2008, through the Israeli company Green Diversified Ltd, the Republican was brought up to UEFA standard with a new pitch, VIP section, and security systems. In my opinion it is one of the most architecturally important stadiums in Europe and a visit comes highly recommended. FC Gandzasar of the Armenian Premier League were only formed as recently as 2002. Their home stadium, the Kapan City Stadium was opened in 1963 and was also home to Lernagorts Kapan before their demise. In 2013 Gandzasar opened a new training facility on the edge of Kapan, however, lack of facilities at their home stadium means that for the 2017 season at least the club are forced to play their home games in the capital, Yerevan, a six hour drive away. FC Pyunik have achieved so much in a relatively short period of time having been formed as recently as 1992. Initially they were called Homenetmen Yerevan and in their first season they shared the first Armenian Premier League title with Shirak Gyumri. In 1995 Homenetmen rebranded as Pyunik which is the Armenian word for Phoenix. However, the club ran into problems and did not compete in the 1999 and 2000 seasons. The club were reborn in 2001 with a new owner, Ruben Hayrapetyan. Rather than rejoin the League in the second tier Pyunik absorbed First League champions FC Armenicum so they were restored to the Premier League. It was the start of huge success for Pyunik, they would win 10 straight league titles between 2001 and 2010. They have only won one championship since, in 2014/15, but to highlight their domestic dominance their 14 titles is ten more than the next nearest challenger, Shirak Gyumri. Pyunik have also won eight Armenian Cups and nine Super Cups. Food & Beverage 1 No kiosks of any sort are present in the stadium. The only food available is through vendors selling water, nuts and seeds. Atmosphere 1 Despite free admission there is a spartan crowd of around 300 at the Republican Stadium. In a stadium which holds almost 15,000 people there is little noise other than the odd barracking of officials over contentious decisions. The Republican Stadium is really beautiful, with sweeping neoclassical curves and columns. The 1999 roof really sets off the stadium and complements the overall design. There is a stadium scoreboard behind one of the goals. It is fairly modern, but just displays the score. The external fascia of the main stand is a real architectural treasure. Generally only the main stand is open for league games due to the low attendances. Neighborhood 4 Yerevan is a compact and interesting city with amazing views to the fabled Mount Ararat (which is actually in Turkey). The stadium is around two miles from central Yerevan so it makes sense to stay in the city and just travel out to the game. It feels like a safe city and I neither saw or heard of any problems whilst I was there. Around Republican Square there are many restaurants and bars which for a capital city offer good value for your money. There is a relatively new pedestrian area along North Avenue which is vibrant and packed with restaurants and shops. As you would expect from a capital city there are many interesting things to see. There is the Matenadaran, a museum housing ancient manuscripts and the moving Genocide museum and memorial commemorating the 1915 genocide by Turks on the people of Armenia. The Republic Square area is a vibrant and pleasant place to spend an evening. Away from the city to the north lies Lake Sevan and the stunning south Caucasus mountains. To travel through the mountains we used Hyur Service who were good value and punctual. Fans 1 All games in the Armenian Premier League are usually free to attend. With widespread corruption in the past all clubs struggle to attract a crowd and the average attendance in a league season is typically less than 500, among the lowest for any European league. There is no chanting at all, and the atmosphere is very quiet and expectant. During my most recent visit you could even hear the players calling to each other it was so quiet. This is certainly an interesting and unique aspect of this stadium compared to many others in Europe. Access 4 It is a one level stadium so you enter at pitch level and climb steps to your chosen row. You enter the stadium on the right hand side of the entrance and you can sit where you like as no admission is charged. The closest metro station is Zoravar Andranik, which is located less than a mile west of the Republican Stadium. It would take 15 minutes to walk from here. Numerous buses stop close to the stadium at a bus stop called Vardan Mamikonyan on Khanjyan Street. Perhaps the best option is to grab a taxi which will cost less than $5 from central Yerevan. Zvartnots Airport is around eight miles west of Yerevan, and you can catch bus number 108 into the city centre or hail a taxi, which are very cheap. Your hotel may also arrange a transfer. There is a car park outside the stadium which for league matches will not be busy. Entry is free, you just walk in. There are no concourses so all seats have a pitch view and if you need toilets they are found close to the entrance. Return on Investment 5 It’s free to get in so you cannot have any complaints. Yes more could be done to raise money from refreshments and souvenirs, but that does not appear to be the Armenian way. Extras 1 A team sheet is available from the press area, but it will be in the Armenian script known as Arasan. Final Thoughts It is quite a strange feeling going to a match where it costs you nothing and there is no attempt to sell you anything! Then again in terms of aesthetics, the Republican Stadium is up there in my top ten all time stadiums visited.

Photos by Lloyd Rothwell, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 PointsBet Stadium 2 Captain Cook Drive Woolooware, NSW 2230 Australia Cronulla Sharks website PointsBet Stadium website Year Opened: 1960 Capacity: 22,000 Shark Park Southern Cross Group Stadium (formerly known as Remondis Stadium) is located in the Sutherland Shire of Sydney, serving as home to the Cronulla Sharks of the National Rugby League (NRL). The stadium was built in 1960 and, in somewhat of an anomaly in Australian sport, is actually owned by the Sharks. Several renovations have lifted the capacity to the current mark of 22,000. The original name of the venue is Endeavour Field, but it is commonly called “Shark Park” by the Cronulla faithful. The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks joined the then NSW Rugby League in 1967, having previously played in the Sydney inter-district competition. The Sharks are based in the Sutherland Shire, representing the coastal areas south of Botany Bay and the Georges River. While enjoying several periods of success throughout their history, the Sharks have yet to win a first grade premiership, losing two grand finals in the 1970s to Manly (plus a GF replay in 1978 after the original match was drawn 11-11), and the 1997 Super League grand final to Brisbane. Financial instability has dogged the club over the years, although it’s hoped a large development project on land owned by the Sharks will secure their long term financial future. Note: The stadium name is now named PointsBet Park. Food & Beverage 3 Southern Cross Group Stadium embodies exactly what you expect from a trip to a suburban footy stadium; long lines, average mass produced food, and prices that make you wonder why you didn’t get an extra $50 out at the ATM. Your food offerings can broadly be separated into all the basic stadium food groups; meat pies, hot chips, hot dogs, burgers, fish and chips, and chicken. Add to that nachos and some basic wraps, and that’s pretty much it. A decent feed is likely to set you back a minimum of around $12 per person. Limit your expectations at the bar to another long wait in line, despite the “VB Only” lines. Soft drinks are Pepsi-Schweppes and beer is CUB. Probably best not to be too adventurous in the food department while at Southern Cross Group and stick with the tried and true pie, chips and a beer. Atmosphere 3 The Sharkies offer a traditional game day experience with the focus on the footy. Games against local rivals St George Illawarra draw good crowds, while most Sydney opponents will also attract reasonable numbers. There are two entrances to Shark Park; both on the southern side of the stadium. You enter through a large inflatable shark’s head, with the southwestern entrance also featuring the Sharks honour walk. The stadium has grandstands on three sides, with the northern end dominated by a hill area. The main stand is on the western side and is named after arguably the Sharks greatest ever player, Andrew Ettingshausen (ET Stand). The Peter Burns Stand is on the eastern side and is built onto the adjoining Sharkies Leagues Club. During an afternoon game this stand looks directly into the setting sun. The southern stand is the most recent addition to Southern Cross Group Stadium and was named after the first captain of the club, Monty Porter. There are video screens at either end. The ground announcer is passionately one-sided towards the home team, and adds to the atmosphere, despite his painfully constant referrals to the Sharks captain, Paul Gallen as, “G-Train.” The public address system is too loud, particularly the music leading up to the start of the game. Expect the standard cheerleaders, known as the Mermaids, and junior footy played at halftime. The ET Stand is the premiere place to sit and as a result tickets for this area tend to sell faster than any other area (and are priced accordingly). The hill is designated as family friendly and alcohol free, but if it’s a solid crowd it can be quite uncomfortable. There’s concourse seating around the ground which is a better priced option if you don’t mind sitting closer to ground level. Be aware that only a small amount of seats have good coverage from rain. Neighborhood 2 The immediate neighbourhood is largely playing fields and residences, save for the leagues club next door. If you’re after anything more than that then you’ll have to head down the road to Cronulla itself. The Leagues Club has a bistro, cafe, and Chinese restaurant as well as bars and entertainment. If you’re down in Cronulla, then the Nuns Pool Cafe (103 Ewos Pde) has a well-deserved good reputation. Northies Cronulla is also a well-known local watering hole (Cnr Kingsway & Elouera). The Cronulla area is dominated by its waterways. Local surf beaches are Cronulla, North Cronulla, Elouera, and Wanda. The nearest major shopping centre is Westfield Miranda, just to the west of Woolooware. The metropolitan area of Sydney and CBD are within a 30 minute drive, while Sydney’s Kingsford-Smith airport is 18km to the north. There’re several hotels in Cronulla including a Rydges and a Quest. Fans 3 The Sharks are well supported by their local community. However, the area the team represents is relatively small, and borders too closely with St George Illawarra. Sadly, Cronulla is often mentioned as a candidate for relocation, should it ever occur. Average attendance is around 12,000 which is at the lower end of NRL teams. Choose the game you attend carefully to make the most of your experience at Remondis. Look for matches against other Sydney teams to boost crowds and the resulting atmosphere. If a decent crowd does turn up, the atmosphere compares well with other venues. Sharks fans enjoy their footy and strongly cheer for their team. Access 2 Southern Cross Group Stadium is not well located in terms of transportation, with no close parking or public transport. The nearest train station at Woolooware is around a 15 minute walk from the stadium. Buses may be an option depending where you are travelling from. There are no parking lots available. While not having to pay for parking is always a pleasure, the resulting traffic and battle to find a parking spot on packed suburban streets is not. A walk of a kilometre or more is easily possible if you choose to drive. Interestingly, there are numerous security guards and police in the surrounding streets to help manage pedestrian safety and congestion. Entry is relatively smooth with electronic ticket scanners and a minimal security check for the standard bag check. Best to buy your ticket online before you turn up. A half decent crowd and the concourses will be quite busy as fans spill into walkways. Crowds for bathrooms are reasonable, even at half time. Ushers are minimal, overworked, and not particularly effective. Return on Investment 3 Not having to pay for parking is a huge bonus when comparing cost to other major venues, but let’s face it, the long walk and stress in finding a parking spot all but cancels that positive out. Cost of entry and food is about average. Cheapest Adult Ticket: $25.49 Parking: $0 Pie: $6 Drink: $3.50 TOTAL: $34.99 There are discounts for juniors and families. Extras 2 There are two inflatable attractions for older children on the hill, and it’s also worth mentioning the honour walk at the south western entrance. Final Thoughts The best thing about Southern Cross Group Stadium is that it completely represents the football team that plays there. It’s an older stadium with minimal amenities, but is worth a trip to the Shire all the same.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Es Con Field Hokkaido F Village Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, Japan 061-1116 (+81) (0)11-857-3939 Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters website Es Con Field Hokkaido website Year Opened: 2023 Capacity: 35,000 Hamming It Up in Hokkaido In 2016, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters began considering a new stadium as they wanted to leave the Sapporo Dome, a multipurpose facility that they shared with Consodale Sapporo of the J.League. Japanese ballparks are generally functional rather than aesthetically pleasing, but Fighters management wanted to change that. They recognized the trend that combines sports venues with other forms of entertainment to increase attraction to those who are not necessarily sports fans. Most Japanese ballparks are functional rather than aesthetic, and they wanted to change that. They spent a lot of time looking at stadiums in the United States and employed HKS, an American architectural firm that designed Globe Life Field in Arlington. Rather than remain in Sapporo, the Fighters found a large open space in nearby Kitahiroshima, where their vision could be fully realized. The result is more than a ballpark, with a new neighborhood being constructed around it. Es-Con, a local developer, bought the naming rights, and the result is Es Con Field Hokkaido, simply the best ballpark in Japan. It opened in 2023, and Stadium Journey paid a visit in the summer, coming away more than a little awestruck. Food & Beverage 5 The most impressive aspect of Es Con Field is the variety of food and beverages. When you walk in, you will be handed a Gourmet Guide, which lists all of the options inside the stadium. Some boards show what is available in each section. Unlike in North America, food is not overpriced at sporting events, so you can try a few things here without breaking your budget, particularly given the weakness in the Japanese yen (approximately 150 yen to a dollar at the time of writing). It is impossible to list all of the options as there are 47 listed in the Gourmet Guide. If you have lived in Japan, you will recognize some of the vendors, such as Mos Burger and Mister Donut, but there are still dozens of concessions that are local to the area. Some less common foods are croquettes that start at 250 Yen, rice balls that start at 380 yen, and squid tempura for 480 yen. Giant yakitori sticks are just 490 yen, while five pieces of karaage (fried chicken) are 600 yen. That's about four bucks. Come hungry. In addition to these typical concessions, several full-service restaurants are open to the public. Fans wait in line to sit down at these places, which are exactly like eateries in a city. The aroma of food wafting through the concourses is exciting, and you would need to spend several games here to try a few of these establishments. One example is an okonomiyaki restaurant where customers sit at a counter that is right next to the concourse, while on the upper level, there is an izakaya that has a long line. Get there early if you want to try one of these unusual spots. In terms of drinks, draft beer (known as nama) is available everywhere, including from young ladies who patrol the seating bowl and serve it to you out of a keg on their back. At 750 yen, it is far cheaper than beer at ballparks in America, and no tipping is required. Behind the center field wall, there is a craft beer brewpub that had the biggest line of all, though some other concessions did have some craft offerings. You can also order sours (shochu mixed with a fruit drink such as lemon juice) and even whiskey and return highballs. Those not interested in alcohol have a typical choice of soft drinks such as oolong tea, ginger ale, and Calpis. The only potential problem I saw was that the venue is cashless, a rarity in Japan. I was able to use my credit card, but if you have trouble with yours, you can convert cash to a value card that can be used. Atmosphere 4 You will first see the stadium as you pass by on the train from Chitose Airport. It looks like a massive airplane hangar and resembles US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The signature feature is the 230-foot high glass window beneath a large, retractable roof that mimics certain types of houses in Hokkaido. The roof was closed for the game I attended and is likely closed for most games during Japan's hot, humid summer. It is open when no games are being played as the field is natural turf (a rarity in Japan), and they need some natural light when there isn't a game. The roof weighs 10,000 tons and takes 25 minutes to open. If you ride the shuttle bus from Kitahiroshima Station, you will be dropped off on the south side of the stadium, which is the first base gate. You can buy your ticket here, but before entering, walk around to see F Village , the neighborhood that is being built on the east side of the stadium. It features a running track, a playground, a dog park, some food shops, a miniature ball field, and even an adventure park that requires separate admission fees but looks to be quite a bit of fun. I recommend getting there at least 2 hours before the first pitch to see everything, or you can make a day of it. Rather than returning to the first base gate, continue around to the third base entrance, and you will pass by the team's enormous flagship store. I went in briefly, but it was too crowded to do much shopping before the game; afterward, it was a bit more reasonable. Again, with the weak yen, prices are reasonable, especially for smaller items such as caps. Once inside, you will quickly realize that this is not a typical Japanese ballpark. The asymmetric outfield is only the second in Japan, while there are four distinct levels of seating, with a capacity of 35,000. Seats are padded in some sections, and there are cup holders, essential for all the beers that you will be drinking. The seats behind the plate are inaccessible to those without a ticket, but they look to be very comfortable. Tickets for this section were not available at the box office, and the secondary market in Japan is not as liquid as elsewhere, so if you want to sit here, you will have to do some research. A large electronic scoreboard is above the seating bowl at each corner, a change from most parks in the country, which have just one centerfield scoreboard. In addition, bullpens are visible here. The only pro ballpark in Japan to have this feature. In the left field corner is Tower 11, so named because both Yu Darvish and Shohei Ohtani wore #11 when they played for the Fighters, and a mural of these two is nearby. There is a hotel here with rooms that overlook the stadium (much like Rogers Centre in Toronto), as well as a sauna that is open to the public and provides a view of the field. There is also a museum here that requires separate admission and is not related to baseball. Tower 11 is also open on non-game days. Japanese baseball generally lacks the between-inning promotions that you see in the major leagues, but some mascots and cheerleaders appear from time to time. The size of the stadium does limit the noise, and the oendan (cheering groups) are not in their typical outfield seats. The visiting oendan was below me; their cheering was somewhat muffled, while the Fighters supporters were high up on first base. It made things quieter than I am used to in Japanese ballparks. Neighborhood 4 The aforementioned F Village is the highlight; there is not much else in the area. There are a few restaurants, including a couple that serve yakitori and an izakaya at the Kitahiroshima Station. If you decide to walk to the stadium from here (about 20-25 minutes), you will pass a few more eateries and some convenience stores, where you can load up on snacks. Kitahiroshima is only about 20 minutes from Sapporo, so you are better off returning there for some post-game entertainment. You will most likely be staying in Sapporo, which has many attractions of its own. It hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, and the Clock Tower dates from that period. The Sapporo Beer Museum is free to tour and offers tastings at the end. The museum features beers that are not available outside of Hokkaido. There is also a sake museum, Japan’s signature liquor. Hotels are plentiful, and if you are staying for a while, you might find small apartments available on Booking.com that allow you to have a kitchen, a washing machine, and more space than a typical Japanese hotel room. In terms of restaurants, there are thousands to choose from, with the Nijo market area a seafood-lover's paradise. One change is that most restaurants in Japan are now non-smoking, which makes it much more pleasant when dining out. Fans 3 Japanese baseball fans are a different breed, and the Fighters fans are some of the most passionate I have seen. At the game I attended, a crowd of 23,500 was on hand, far fewer than I had anticipated. Even the oendan was not as loud as I recalled, though I think the size of the stadium hurt the acoustics. With the team struggling in last place in the Pacific League, maybe it wasn't surprised by the relatively poor turnout. Of course, those in attendance were polite and in good cheering form, as their team won easily, but I still have to dock a couple of points here. When the team returns to glory, I’ll revisit and update here. Access 4 As discussed, Es Con Field is in Kitahiroshima, just over 15 minutes from Sapporo on the Rapid Airport train (the slower Chitose Line is also an option). From the station, you can walk for 25 minutes or take a shuttle bus for 200 yen. Given how hot it is in Japan in the summer, the bus is a better option, and it drops you off in front of the first-base gate sponsored by Coca-Cola. It is where you will pick up the bus after the game, but if you attend a nighter, then walking back is more pleasant once the sun has set. Note that buses are plentiful, and I did not have to wait even though I arrived about two hours before the first pitch. Concourses are spacious, but some spots jam up as game time approaches. Some concessions have long lines, but others are quick. Restrooms and other facilities are as clean as you would expect in Japan. There are escalators to get you from level to level, as well as stairways. It is quite easy to get around, and you should not have any problem finding your seat as all sections are numbered clearly. Return on Investment 5 I picked up my ticket at the box office at the Coca-Cola gate, which is a hard stub with a picture of the stadium. It is much more preferable to getting one at a local convenience store. I paid 4,600 Yen (about $31) and was happy with my seat on the second level, near an aisle, which is essential for getting the beer girls' attention. With everything here so affordable and the overall experience one of the best in Japan, this is a great way to spend your money and get a lot in return. Extras 5 There are so many additional features here that you need to take your time to appreciate everything. Outside the first base gate is a Hokkaido sign that provides a good photo opportunity. The Fighters have been around for a while, and their history is displayed on several panels on the lower concourse. They have won a few pennants, and those are hanging above this area. In addition to the Tower 11 mural, other artworks can be found around the ballpark. The onsen and sauna are open to the public and are reasonably priced if you want to watch part of the game while soaking your muscles. Another point for the ingenuity of including F Village, which should make the Fighters attractive to those who may not follow baseball otherwise. There is still work to be done, but when complete, Es Con Field Hokkaido will be a destination in itself. Final Thoughts Overall, Es Con Field is the best baseball stadium in Japan. However, it is not the best stadium experience, which I believe you can find in Koshien, home of the Hanshin Tigers . Still, there is so much to see and do here that you should make a day of it, arriving a few hours before the first pitch to wander around F Village and maximizing your time inside the stadium. Research the food options to have an idea of what to eat when you get there. Then, sit back and enjoy the action.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Sahlen Field 1 James D. Griffin Plaza Buffalo, NY 14203 Buffalo Bisons website Sahlen Field website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 16,600 Have You Herd? The Buffalo Bisons franchise can be traced back to 1878. A team named the Buffalo Bisons originally played from 1912 to 1970 in the International League before relocating to Winnipeg mid-season due to concerns with the ballpark and its neighborhood.  This franchise would eventually settle in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and are the current RailRiders .  Buffalo Mayor James Griffin and a group of investors would buy a Double-A franchise and bring baseball back to Buffalo in 1979. Food processing magnate Robert Rich Jr. purchased the Bisons in 1983 and moved them to the Triple-A American Association.  When the AA folded in 1997, the Bisons name returned to the International League, eventually settling on their current affiliation with the Toronto Blue Jays  in 2013.  The Herd has been very popular in Buffalo during their latest tenure in part due to the opening of Pilot Field in 1988.  The first “retro classic” ballpark was designed by HOK Sport and was built to be expandable for Major League Baseball.  The stadium would inspire the design of Oriole Park  at Camden Yards, a stadium that heavily influenced the ballpark design and aesthetics at the Major League level.  Naming rights for the stadium passed through several companies, eventually settling on Sahlen Field, a meat packing company based in town, in 2019.  Major League Baseball would temporarily call Buffalo home with the Toronto Blue Jays taking residence beside Lake Erie for parts of two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Food & Beverage 4 Fans can find a good selection of concession items at Sahlen Field.  Of course, the hot dogs, both regular and gourmet, are Sahlen’s products.  Popcorn, nachos, burgers, and La Nova Pizza are also available, of course.  Some options with local flair include the Perry’s Ice Cream stand, fried bologna, Charlie The Butcher, provider of Beef on Weck, and Authentic Pizza Logs.  The craft beer scene at Sahlen Field is impressive.  The Craft Beer Corner and Buffalocal concessions have a huge selection of local brews.  Labatt’s Blue is also very popular in Western New York and can be found at many stands.  Coca-Cola products are the soft drink provider at Sahlen Field. Atmosphere 4 Sahlen Field is the largest stadium in MiLB, even after a reduction in capacity.  The exterior of Sahlen Field is attractive enough for a concrete structure with marble inlets to give it some style.  Outside the third base side, there is a large square, which is perfect for meeting others before the game.  The gates are large, green, iron structures which give Sahlen Field a nod for detail not found in ballparks of that era.  Behind home plate, at the corner of Washington and Swan, a large bronze statue of Buffalo Mayor James D. Griffin can be found, throwing out the first pitch at Pilot Field. Inside Sahlen Field, it is clear that this is a venue from the eighties.  The concourses are not overly spacious and on the dark side.  Sahlen Field does not offer a 360-degree route around the ballpark that other stadiums do.  The seating bowl, which accommodates over 16,000 fans, combines a separated lower level, with an outdoor walkway and an upper level.  The original red (now faded to orange) seats are replaced with modern green plastic ballpark seats.  The vast majority of games will attract enough fans that sitting in the original seats is not a requirement.  Behind the left field corner is a large banner displaying the league championships titles the Bisons have earned, dating back to 1878.  There are 14 in total, which include titles won by the original Bisons, and the 1998 and 2004 titles in the International League.  Division titles are also on display in Championship Corner including the most recent, in 2021.  On the left field wall, the retired numbers of honored Bisons are on display, including Luke Easter, Ollie Carnegie, Jeff Manto, and Jackie Robinson.  The videoboard is crystal clear, state-of-the-art, and among the largest in all of Minor League Baseball.  There was formerly a small museum in Sahlen Field packed with Bisons artifacts, but unfortunately, it has been dismantled and is not available for fans to see.  The Bisons would benefit from more history on display throughout the concourse. The gameday production is what one would expect at a Minor League Baseball game.  There are plenty of promotions during the game as well as music and mascots.  Buster, Belle, and Chip are the Bisons’ mascots and can be found on the field and interacting with fans throughout the game.  The mascot race has gained some notoriety in Buffalo, featuring Buffalo staple foods.  Chicken Wing, Atomic Wing, Carrot, Blue Cheese, and Beef on Weck slug it out for each race.  For several years, Celery participated in the race and recently retired with only one win to its name.  Theme nights are prevalent throughout the season and it is here that the Bisons are a cut above.  The annual Star Wars Night is a sellout, and far superior to any other Star Wars Night in any other professional or amateur sports production.  The Independence Eve game which features the largest fireworks display of the season and a post-game concert by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is also among the best and routinely sells out.  There are plenty of other promotional theme nights throughout the season. Neighbourhood 5 Buffalo is an underrated place to visit.  Sahlen Field is located in Downtown Buffalo.  There are a few spots within walking distance of the ballpark that fans can hit up for a pre or post-game bite or drink.  Some of the best include Washington Square, Southern Tier Brewing Co., and Pearl Street Grill.  Fans can also take public transit or drive further north to the northern end of Downtown for a few more options including the famous Dinosaur BBQ. There are plenty of other sports options within walking distance of Sahlen Field.  KeyBank Center is a few blocks south of the ballpark and is home to the Buffalo Sabres  of the NHL and Buffalo Bandits  of the NLL.  Across the street from KeyBank is HarborCenter, home to the Canisius Golden Griffins  hockey team.  The basketball team plays not too far away at Koessler Athletic Center .  Other sporting options outside of Buffalo include the Buffalo Bills , who play at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, and the Buffalo Bulls, who field NCAA football and basketball teams at UB Stadium  and Alumni Arena  in Amherst, respectively.  Other tourist experiences fans may want to check out in the area include Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino or the Waterfront district. For fans who wish to stay near the ballpark, the Courtyard and Buffalo Marriott are good options within walking distance. Fans 4 The Buffalo Bisons traditionally have a strong following.  Being in a hybrid minor league city, having both major and minor league teams across different sports, the Bisons have a solid population to draw from.  The Bisons traditionally are in the top 15 in all of Minor League Baseball and the top 10 in the International League.  The Bisons average over 7,100 fans per game.  Fans in attendance are knowledgeable and passionate about their team. Access 4 Getting to Sahlen Field is pretty easy.  Sahlen Field is located south of Swan Street at the intersection of Washington Street in Downtown Buffalo.  It is located near major highways, north of I-190 and east of the Buffalo Skyway.  Parking for a Bisons game is not a challenge.  Surface lots around the ballpark are sufficient for most games.  Pre-purchasing parking is always a good plan.  The Metro Rail Seneca Station is just west of Sahlen Field.  Some buses travel the area.  Interested fans should check the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority  website for maps, fares, and schedules. The main ticketing gate is at the Swan Street. Getting around the ballpark is not normally a problem, however, for those large promotional nights that are sold out fans should expect long lines and difficulty getting through the concourses.  Washroom facilities are more than sufficient on most nights. Return on Investment 4 Buffalo Bisons tickets are usually $20 per game.  General Admission tickets in the left-field corner are available for $17.  Parking can be found for a reasonable price and concession prices are decent. The value of a Bisons game is excellent.  Fans will get an authentic Minor League Baseball experience in a great location.   Extras 3 An extra mark for Buffalo icon Conehead.  The beer vendor who wears a conehead hat has been a staple at Buffalo venues for decades.  He can frequently be found at Sahlen Field.  Fans be sure to watch for the Conehead Guarantee. An extra mark for the I-90 rivalry the Bisons enjoy with the Rochester Red Wings and Syracuse Mets. An extra mark for the MLB Dream finally coming true in Buffalo with the Toronto Blue Jays playing parts of the 2020 and 2021 season at Sahlen Field. Final Thoughts Fans know what to expect when heading to Buffalo to see the Bisons at Sahlen Field.  The Bisons offer a solid venue for baseball and have been consistently one of the best draws in Minor League Baseball.  The team has hit the mark on several promotions that draw massive crowds.  Taking in a Bisons game is a must for all baseball fans. ---- Follow Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 CCBC Catonsville Baseball Field 800 S. Rolling Road Baltimore, MD 21228 CCBC Catonsville Cardinals website CCBC Catonsville Baseball Field website Year Opened: n/a Capacity: 250 Cardinals Baseball One of the largest colleges in Maryland is largely unknown outside of the area. The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) has an annual enrollment of greater than 72,000 students. Created in the 1990s by a merger of Essex Community College, Dundalk Community College, and Catonsville Community, the new college kept each of those three main campuses, along with a bevy of extension campuses around the suburban Baltimore County area. The three colleges shared a common board of trustees for years but previously operated independently. Essex, Dundalk, and Catonsville have each kept their own distinct athletic identity. CCBC Catonsville began in 1957, operating out of nearby Catonsville High School. The college is located on the site of the historic Knapp Estate. There is still the manor house of the estate, as well as ruins of various historic buildings scattered around the hilltop campus. The school mascot is the Cardinals and they play ten sports. They are a member of Region XX of the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference. The baseball program runs out of the simply named "Baseball Field" which is next to the school's soccer and lacrosse field. Food & Beverage 0 There are no food options at or near the baseball field. You are free to bring your own food. Atmosphere 2 There is not much else in terms of atmosphere as it is a JUCO level baseball game. The team does have a PA announcer and plays walkup music for players. There are two simple metal bleachers around the main part of the field. They offer decent views of the game, although through chain link fencing. Neighborhood 3 CCBC Catonsville is a suburban community college with its main neighbor being the high school and nearby University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). You will have to venture a bit far from campus for any food or drinks. Downtown Baltimore is roughly a 15 to 20-minute drive down I-95. Catonsville's main street, Frederick Road, is filled with many food and drink options. Nearby Arbutus will also be a good source of options. We like Sorrentos in the downtown section of Arbutus for a good sub or cheesesteak before the game. Fans 3 The attendees at most games are family members or other athletes. There may be a few local residents who attend the games. The fans are knowledgeable and friendly to visitors. Access 4 The CCBC Catonsville campus is easy to access, as it is located off Route 166 / Exit 47B of I-95. There is plenty of free parking on the campus. If classes are in session you may expect to park a bit further away from the field. Return on Investment 5 The games are free to attend. That, along with the free parking, means that you can attend a good-level JUCO program at no cost. . Extras 2 Walk around campus and see the solar panels that have been added to many parking areas on campus. All of the CCBC campuses have added these and expect to get more than a quarter of their electricity from solar. This 5.1-megawatt project is expected to generate 6.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year and joins the 16.1-megawatt array at Mount St. Mary’s University in an effort by local colleges to expand solar usage. There are many banners and plaques scattered around inside the nearby Jack Manley Wellness and Athletic Center displaying the various personal and team accomplishments of Cardinals athletes. Final Thoughts The CCBC Catonsville Baseball Stadium is a basic pleasant baseball field located in nice park-like setting. Although nothing fancy, it is a nice little stop for a baseball fan traveling along the I-95 corridor.

The earliest known sport to be played in Pensacola is baseball, and can trace its roots back to the days of the Civil War when Union and Confederate soldiers both passed the time by playing early incarnations of the game at Pensacola’s strategic forts, Fort Pickens and Fort Barrancas. The sport would continue to grow and evolve and at the turn of the 20th century, Pensacola was home to several semi-pro teams, and a Navy base that supported several intrasquad teams that played against each other. The popularity of baseball in the area during this time period led to the need to construct a larger stadium to suit the needs of all the teams in the area. Thus in 1911 Maxent Park (later renamed Legion Field in 1927) opened west of downtown on the corner of G Street and Gregory Street. Legion Field Sign, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey There were various ballparks scattered throughout the city but Legion Field remained the go-to place for baseball in Pensacola. In the early years the ballpark had 1,000 wooden seats and was home to various local teams. The 1913 Cleveland Naps (later the Indians) and 1913 Brooklyn Robins (later the Dodgers) held Spring Training here as well. The Pensacola Snappers of the Cotton States League would call the park home in 1913 as well. A fire in 1915 destroyed much of the stadium, but it was rebuilt to a capacity of 4,000 seats. During this time the park was segregated, with only 3,500 white spectators allowed in the grandstands, while the 500 black spectators were required to sit along the left field line bleachers. Legion Field Grandstand in the 20s, Photo Courtesy of Baseball in Pensacola Facebook Page In 1927, the ballpark became home to the Class B (equal to Double A today) Pensacola Fliers of the Southeastern League. The Fliers would fold after the 1930 season and a second Southeastern League team took over in 1937, the Pensacola Pilots, who would play until the outbreak of World War II. During the war many professional ballplayers would enlist, with some even being based in Pensacola. There were various Naval training fields starting to pop up in Pensacola during the war and baseball was very popular with the sailors who were stationed at the bases. Because of this Pensacola had their own little Navy baseball scene with each base having their own team, and Legion Field served as the neutral field for some of these teams. The 1944 Bronson Field Bombers was the most impressive team in the Navy baseball league, led by an outfielder named Ted Williams, who paused his baseball career to serve as a flight instructor and was stationed in Pensacola. Ted Williams Served as a Flight Instructor while Stationed in Pensacola, Photo Courtesy of Baseball in Pensacola Facebook Page Ted Williams’ Bronson Bombers team, Williams is Top Row Sixth from Left, Photo Courtesy of Kenneth Dumas Facebook Page Over the years Legion Field would see other big time baseball players play on the field; the 1924 and 1929 Yankees would play games here. The 1929 team, coming off back to back World Series, were doing their Florida Spring Training exhibition tour when they scheduled an exhibition with the Fliers. In front of a record crowd at Legion Field the Yankees beat the Flyers 12-2. T hat Yankees team would have eight future Hall of Famers on the team including Babe Ruth, who led off the game with a triple, and Lou Gehrig who was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat. Before the game a parade was held in the city with the Yankees team being led down historic Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola. Actual Photo of Babe Ruth at Bat at Legion Field, Photo Courtesy of Baseball in Pensacola Facebook Page Lou Gehrig at Bat during Spring Training in 1929, Photo Courtesy of Baseball in Pensacola Facebook Page Babe Ruth Signed Hundreds of Baseballs during the Two Games he Played in Pensacola, Photo Courtesy of Baseball in Pensacola The Gulf Coast also had a pretty strong Negro League scene with various teams being located all around, from Pensacola to as far away as Mobile and Biloxi. In 1945, the Pensacola Sea Gulls Negro League team would face off against the Kansas City Monarchs, led by a young player named Jackie Robinson. It is unknown if Branch Rickey, the Dodgers GM, was in attendance during this game, but he was in town at the time, as the Brooklyn Dodgers used the nearby Ellyson Fields Naval Base as their minor league Spring Training home during that season. Nonetheless, several years later Rickey would broker a deal to sign Jackie Robinson to the Dodgers, breaking the baseball color barrier and becoming one of the most legendary figures in all of sports. Jackie Robinson during his Stint with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1945, Photo Courtesy of Baseball in Pensacola Facebook Page The stadium would see one more big league game on April 2, 1946 when Warren Spahn and the Boston Braves faced off against the Detroit Tigers in an exhibition game the Tigers won 13-6. Minor league baseball would return to Pensacola after the war, with the teams’ nickname being changed back to the Fliers. The Fliers would be affiliated with the Phillies and would call Legion Field home until the league folded after the 1950 season, which would be the end of Legion Field as a professional baseball stadium. Professional baseball would return in 1957 with the Pensacola Dons of the Alabama-Florida League, but the Dons would play at a better ballpark downtown. The Dons would fold after the 1962 season and it would be exactly 50 years before affiliated baseball would return to Pensacola in the form of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos . Color Photo of the Pensacola Fliers, Believed to be from the Early 1950s, Photo Courtesy of Baseball in Pensacola Facebook Page The grandstand was razed in the 1950s, but soon after the site would be purchased by the City of Pensacola and would see new life as part of the city’s parks and recreation facilities. The site now includes a library, rec center, an outdoor fitness center and jogging track, playground, and a football field which is used for youth football games. There is nothing left of the baseball field and you wouldn’t even know there was a former ballpark here at one time. But after doing some research I concluded that the ballpark faced southeast, with the outdoor fitness center occupying the site where home plate would have been, and the playground being where the pitcher’s mound was located. The outfield wall ran parallel to G Street, with the houses providing the backdrop. Random Couch where Left Field Used to be, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey In 1929 Babe Ruth Stepped up to Home Plate and Hit a Triple from where the Far Right Slide is Now, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Concessions Stand where the Third Base Grandstand used to be, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Many Home Runs were Hit onto G Street, also Some of the Houses Shown are still Standing Today, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey View of Legion Field from Right Field in the 1920s and 30s, Photo Courtesy of Baseball in Pensacola Facebook Page View of Legion Field as it looks Today, from what was Right Field, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Even though Legion Field is long gone, it still marked the beginning of a minor league sports scene in Pensacola that would evolve into countless teams and countless future big league ballplayers coming through Pensacola over the years. Blue Wahoos Stadium Opened in 2012 and is where Minor League Baseball in Pensacola is Played Today, Photo Courtesy of Baseball in Pensacola Special thanks to Scott Brown, author of Baseball in Pensacola, who assisted me with research for this article and whose book I used as a reference guide. Scott answered any questions I had and was a great help. If you are interested in more of Pensacola’s unique baseball history I highly recommend getting his book; the book goes into great detail about the history of baseball in the area and is a great read: Baseball in Pensacola: America’s Pastime & the City of Five Flags (Sports): Brown, Scott: 9781609497828

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs 6000 S High St Columbus, OH 43207 Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs website Year Opened: 2012 Harness Racing Ohio Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs is located a few miles south of Columbus, though technically still has a Columbus address. It boasts a horse racing track behind its casino, and unlike many horse racing facilities, Scioto Downs’ only live racing is harness racing (May to September), where the drivers ride in a small cart behind the horse, as opposed to riding the horse itself. Scioto Downs also offers year-round simulcast viewing of horse races happening at other tracks, and besides horse racing, the track also sometimes hosts high school cross country championships.   Food & Beverage   5 There is plenty of food on offer at Scioto Downs – the main draw is the full-service restaurant and bar inside the clubhouse, where you can get table service while you sit and watch the races. Tables must be reserved if you want to sit down in time for the first race, but any unclaimed tables become available on a first come, first served basis 40 minutes after the first post time, which is at 5:50 pm on most race days, so you can grab a table without a reservation starting at 6:30.  There should still be plenty of tables available then, but I would recommend making a reservation.  There is also a Brew Brothers pub inside the casino, but you must be 21 or older to enter any part of the casino. Besides the two restaurants there are a couple of food stands in the adjacent building, as well as next to the track – options include all the standards such as pizza, chicken sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, walking tacos, corn dogs, nachos, tater tots, pretzels, funnel cake, and packaged candy, as well as bottled water, bottled soda, and a full range of beer and cocktails.   Atmosphere   2 Scioto Downs doesn’t have much going on besides the racing itself – in past years they have had races where people dressed up in inflatable costume, like the T-Rex costumer popular at Halloween, but I didn’t see anything like that on my most recent visit. The big draw for most attendees is of course the gambling – I do recommend getting there early, maybe around 5 pm, as they sometimes start the races early without warning (technically your clubhouse table reservation doesn’t open until 5:30, since the first race is supposed to be at 5:50).   Neighborhood   3 Scioto Downs is about 11 miles south of downtown Columbus, but there are still several restaurants nearby, most of which are local diners and pizza places, but you can also find Asian cuisine and a Mexican restaurant, as well as the Ohio staple, Bob Evans. There are a couple of hotels near the track, Budget Inn and Hampton Inn being the closest, and there are also several nearby attractions if you plan to be in town for the day or weekend, especially if you head toward downtown. Columbus Zoo is popular, and if you go to the races in September, you may also be able to take in a Buckeyes  game during your visit.   Fans   3 Scioto Downs has pretty good attendance during most race days, especially up in the clubhouse, and you will see a few folks with children. There is pretty good crowd noise as well, most notably at the end of a close race as people cheer on their favorites, and a lot of hustle and bustle at the concession stands, as well as at the betting machines and betting windows.   Access   4 Getting to Scioto Downs is easy, as it is not far from I-70 and I-71, the two main arteries taking people to the bigger cities north, south, east, and west. Once you get on the property there is plenty of free parking right next to the facility; the track itself is hidden behind the casino; you just need to walk around back. Pro tip – when you get to the casino you should drive your car around back first to see if you can park closer to the racetrack, assuming there are spaces there; on my last two visits I made the mistake of parking way out in front, near the road, instead of checking for parking closer in first. In addition, when going racing don’t mind the signs saying 21 and older – you only have to be 21+ to enter the casino or to make a bet on the ponies; visitors of any age can enter the clubhouse and racetrack. Once you get to the track there is plenty of room trackside and in the clubhouse, and since you don’t have to buy a ticket or show an id to get it, there are no lines. You may have to wait in line at the concessions inside the adjacent building, as those stands tend to stack up, but the ones outside next to the track are very quick.  There are also plenty of different seating options next to the track if you don’t want to sit in the clubhouse.   Return on Investment   5 No cost for admission, and no cost for parking means to a great return on investment, and it was fun to see a different kind of racing.  I would definitely recommend a visit, especially if you have never seen horse racing, or harness racing, before. Also, it is worth a visit even if you are not a big gambler – technically the minimum bet is only 10 cents or 50 cents, worst case 2 dollars, so you can have a bet just for fun without taking much of a risk. Note that the 10 cent and 50 cent bets are for superfectas and trifectas, which aren’t offered on every single race, but are offered during most races.  Standard bets like picking the horse to simply win, or place, or show, start at $2. During my last visit I introduced some family members to the trifecta box wager – for $3 you can pick the first 3 horses to come in, in any order, and they had a blast with that. We didn’t come out ahead, to be sure, but we only lost a few dollars on each race, so it was totally worth it just for the fun.   Extras   3 The casino that is part of the facility is a nice feature if you are into that sort of thing, and being able to see harness racing is a unique feature, since you can’t see that type of racing at most horse racing tracks. They also sell track souvenirs, like t-shirts, in the building next to the clubhouse (walk out the left side of the clubhouse, then go down the stairs and up the other set). The staff also had a charity activity for the kids set up during my most recent visit in front of that adjacent building – it was nice to see them supporting the local community like that.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Carilion Clinic Field 1008 Texas St Salem, VA 24153 Salem Red Sox website Carilion Clinic Field website Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 6,300 Carilion Clinic Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark – Salem Red Sox Tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia, the city of Salem has hosted minor league baseball since the 1930s. Though much of that minor league baseball was hosted just down the street at Kiwanis Park , the Salem Red Sox have been one of three affiliated minor league teams to call Carilion Clinic Field home since it opened in 1995. Food & Beverage 4 With several concession stands around the stadium, the Salem Red Sox serves up an extensive menu. Along with all the typical stadium food, several stands have their themes. The Bigs, located on the secondary concourse along the first baseline, serves specialty hot dogs, burgers, and sandwiches. This stand has the feel that each menu item is its food challenge – no other menu option displays this more than the “Fat Sandwich”, consisting of chicken tenders, mozzarella cheese sticks, fries, and marinara Sauce. Alternatively, Buckets on the third base side has many fried options, including chicken wings, cheese curds, mini corn dogs, and even a bucket of fried veggies for those looking for a…healthy…option. In addition, tucked away under the first base bleachers, The Cantina might have the most culinarily advanced choices with their street tacos and quesadillas. Carilion Clinic Field also serves a wide array of alcoholic beverages; local breweries Ole Salem Brewing Company and Big Lick Brewing are two of the featured local beers served. Seltzers, wine, and premixed drinks are also served. There are also a handful of non-alcoholic brews, along with a full variety of Pepsi beverages and sports drinks for non-beer drinkers. Atmosphere 3 As fans initially enter Carilion Clinic Field, they are greeted by a wide-opening view of the field-level seating bowl, as well as the mountainous backdrop. A large bar sits just steps from the front gates to greet fans and quench their thirst as they initially survey the stadium. The seating bowl is broken into two general areas, and there is no overhang or roof to the seating bowl providing shelter from the elements. The stadium has the feel of one large concrete edifice – it is somewhat reminiscent of PNC Field, home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders , before its renovations in 2013. When it comes to the in-game presentation, on-field contests, and scoreboard games are like those found at many stadiums around the county, although there does not appear to be much that is regionally unique or a new take on an old favorite. Fans seem to only have a passing interest in most of the contests or games; even the Red Sox’s tradition of Sweet Caroline played in the middle of the 8th inning garners minimal involvement. Coming out of the 2021 reorganization of minor league baseball, Salem saw their Red Sox affiliation move to Class-A from their previous High-A status. With a capacity of 6,300 fans, Carilion Clinic Field is the third largest in the Carolina League, though the size of the stadium for the classification just makes the stadium seem too large given the typical attendance. For those who enjoy the serenity of simply being at a ballpark with breathtaking views while taking in the game, Carilion Clinic Field will suffice, but a bit is missing when it comes to the overall entertainment value of the experience. Neighborhood 3 Salem sits just east of the Appalachian Mountains that run up the eastern shore board, and they are prominently visible behind the first base side of the stadium. Carilion Clinic Field itself is just about a mile from the cozy downtown of Salem, Virginia, and the campus of Roanoke College. The baseball stadium is part of the City of Salem’s athletic facilities, sandwiched between Salem Stadium, which has twice hosted the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (NCAA’s Division III football national championship game), and the Salem Civic Center . Though there are not a lot of pre-game entertainment options at the stadium itself, downtown Salem does have several restaurants where fans can easily grab a bite to eat. Fans 2 Salem’s attendance ranks in the bottom third of teams in the Carolina League, but it will see spikes throughout the year for popular promotion nights. Of those who do turn out, their attention does seem to be on the game, but there is not much when it comes to the atmosphere created by the fans. Every stadium is going to have its diehards, but many of the fans here seem to be at the ballpark only for the social aspect of the evening. Access 3 Salem is located just off I-81 in the northern Virginia mountains. It is commonly used as an alternate route to avoid some of the traffic around the larger cities along I-95. With its proximity to the interstate, getting to the Carilion Clinic Field is rather direct. Once at the stadium, the parking lot does not have a lot of attendants, so where to go can get a bit confusing, but once parked the front gates are just a short walk away. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices are a bit difficult to figure out given the team’s average attendance. Upper-level seating, which is general admission seats, runs $13 and seems to be a touch high given the smaller crowds. The best tickets for the money, though, are the $19 Strike Zone seats that make up the four field-level sections behind home plate and also have an in-seat concession service. You are paying more for the ticket, but the extra $6 for a seat this close to home plate is worth the extra charge. Given there is no charge for parking and concessions are fairly priced, fans are getting their money’s worth here. Extras 3 The external concourse is adorned with banners of many of the more high-profile players to have come through Salem, on their way to careers in the Majors. Behind the third base side bleachers is a wiffle ball field built to Fenway Park specifications, complete with a Green Monster, center field triangle, and right field bullpen – all that is missing is the Citgo sign. The views of the surrounding mountains and other nearby peaks are stunning and create some amazing sunsets. Final Thoughts Baseball stadiums are different than those of other sports, in that the natural surroundings play an important role in how memorable an experience a visit can be. The views at Carilion Clinic Field provided by the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains provide possibly the most impressive backdrop in all of the Carolina League. Though the overall fan involvement in games tends to be inconsistent and does impact the atmosphere of the game, there is enough serenity from the setting, and enough variety of food items, to visit Carilion Clinic Field an enjoyable experience.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Georgia Highlands College Baseball Field 5441 GA Hwy 20 Cartersville, GA 30121 Cartersville Cannons website Georgia Highlands College Baseball Field website Year Opened: 2024 Georgia Highlands College Baseball Field – Cartersville Cannons Even before the college baseball regular season comes to an end, summer collegiate baseball leagues are already starting up. Established in 2005, the Sunbelt Baseball League (SBL) is a summer collegiate wood bat league that plays baseball at college and high school fields around the metro Atlanta area and into Alabama. A new addition to the Sunbelt Baseball League for the 2024 season is the Cartersville Cannons, who call the new Georgia Highlands College Baseball Field home. Like many teams in the SBL, their roster is comprised of a diverse collection of players from all NCAA levels, NAIA, and junior college programs. However, most players do tend to be from the area, or play on a nearby collegiate team.   Food & Beverage   4 The traditional concession stand at Georgia Highlands College Baseball Field is not in use for Sunbelt League Baseball games. Instead, food trucks provide a variety of food, drinks, and sweet treats. While the selection of trucks may vary from game to game, fans can expect to find the ballpark staples. During my most recent visit, The Sloppy Skillet truck was serving Sloppy Joes, Sloppy Nachos, and Sloppy Dogs, along with smash burgers and other fare.  A well-rounded selection of sides were also available. For those who might need to cool down from the Georgia summer heat, a second food truck offers flavored shaved ice and candy.   Atmosphere   2 Georgia Highlands College Baseball Field is new but relatively basic – the stadium is situated in a wide-open field with Georgia pines as a distant backdrop, and is neighbored by the school’s matching softball complex. A brick and concrete grandstand extends from dugout to dugout, featuring a mix of aluminum-backed benches and individual, fixed-back seats behind home plate. The upper row of seating is spacious enough to accommodate tailgating chairs, which several fans make use of. Mid-inning changes are typically uneventful, with only music playing as teams switch from batting to the field. There are no ad reads, on-field contests, nor other types of mid-inning fan engagements. Instead, baseball with the Cartersville Cannons offers a very straightforward experience, without the thrills that have become commonplace at many other baseball venues.   Neighborhood   2 Georgia Highlands College Baseball Field is located on the westernmost edge of campus in the northwestern Georgia town of Cartersville. The park is just under four miles from downtown Cartersville, which has a high concentration of independently owned restaurants and shops. Closer to the field on Highway 41, visitors can find a variety of regional and national chain eateries, one of the more popular being the uniquely southern Guthrie's and their chicken fingers. Cartersville is steeped in American history – south of the city, just off the banks of the Etowah River, are the Etowah Indian Mounds, while a bit further out is the Civil War site of the Allatoona Pass Battlefield, part of Sherman’s March to the Sea. In addition, closer to the Georgia Highlands campus, Savoy Automobile Museum is just an open field away from the ballpark.   Fans   2 The Cannons draw modest crowds, typically around 50 fans per game. The crowd mainly consists of family members along with a small contingent of friends and college teammates. There does not seem to be an overabundance of younger fans in attendance. Fans are generally more subdued than at regular season games, but still react to good plays on the field, and will also let umpires hear their displeasure over questionable calls, too.   Access   3 Just under two miles off I-75, which regionally runs between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Georgia Highlands College Baseball Field is a fairly straight shot once off the interstate. However, driving from Atlanta can be a bit of a challenge due to typically congested traffic through Cobb County to the south of Cartersville. Once at the baseball/softball complex, parking is just a short walk to the baseball stadium. Ramps provide access to the lower section of the grandstand on both sides, serving as the only walkways for fans to use. Wheelchair-accessible areas and seating for those who may have difficulty traversing stairs are also available. Overall, Georgia Highlands has done a good job of providing a hassle-free experience for all attendees.   Return on Investment   5 With an entrance fee of $7, the expense is reasonable for summer collegiate baseball, especially considering that some teams in the league charge more. The food trucks charge restaurant rates for their offerings, but the portions are generous and appropriate for the price.   Extras   1 As previously mentioned, the seating layout for those with mobility challenges greatly enhances the experience, making the facility accessible for all. Companion seating adjacent to wheelchair cutouts goes the extra yard.   Final Thoughts Cannons baseball may not be at the top of the list of must-see summer collegiate baseball destinations, but it offers a night of baseball where the game is the main attraction. As Georgia Highlands College Baseball Field matures, it should only further enhance the Cartersville Cannons baseball experience.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Ayr Farmers Mutual Insurance Company Arena @ North Dumfries Community Complex 2958 Greenfield Road Ayr, ON N0B 1E0 Ayr Centennials website North Dumfries Community Complex website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 1,475 Making Junior B Waves In 1982 the Ayr Centennials were part of the fourth tier Southern Junior D Hockey League.  A reorganization of the Ontario Hockey Association in 1991 saw the end of Junior D hockey and the Centennials moved to the Junior Development League.  In 2006 the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League and in 2012 the entire league moved up to the Junior C level.  After some success at the Junior C level, the Centennials made a huge move in 2020.  The Centennials purchased the Kitchener Dutchmen, who were part of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, playing at the Junior B level.  The Centennials would rebrand as the Dutchmen, who were originally founded in 1956 as the Kitchener Greenshirts, and begin the 2021-2022 season in Ayr as the new Junior B Centennials.  It wouldn’t be long until the newborn Centennials would experience tragedy.  On August 30, 2022, Centennials captain Eli Palfreyman collapsed in the dressing room during a preseason game intermission and died later in the hospital.  Home for the Centennials is the Ayr Mutual Farmers Insurance Company Arena @ North Dumfries Community Complex.  As part of a larger recreation facility, the Ayr Farmers Mutual Arena first welcomed the Centennials in 2011 and is a hub for the small community of Ayr found at the southwest tip of Waterloo Region in Ontario.  With a modest capacity of 1,475, including 900 seats, the Ayr Farmers Mutual Arena and Centennials have made the GOJHL take notice that they belong at the Junior B level.  The Centennials are community-owned and currently the Junior B affiliate of the Guelph Storm . Food & Beverage 3 There is one main concession stand at the North Dumfries Community Complex.  The Breakaway Cafe is on the upper level near the arena entrance.  For a small-town arena snack bar, the selections are pretty varied.  Hot dogs, burgers, nachos, popcorn, and just about anything that is deep fried is for sale.  This included onion rings, fries, chicken burgers, and fingers as well as pogos, deep-fried pickles, and mozza sticks.  Cake pops are also on the menu along with candy and chocolate for those who have a sweet tooth.  Beverages include coffee, tea, hot chocolate, Pepsi products, and a variety of other energy drinks.  There did not appear to be any beer for sale at North Dumfries Community Complex. Atmosphere 2 The North Dumfries Community Complex is a hub for community activities of all sorts for Ayr.  It houses a variety of recreational facilities including meeting rooms, soccer fields, a splash pad, and a skate park. The exterior features an attractive grey brick with blue trim look.  Entering the complex, the eyeline is immediately brought to the stairs which ascend to the arena and descend to ice level.  Right beside the breezeway to the dressing rooms are several framed jerseys of Ayr residents who have gone on to play professional or Major Junior hockey.  These include Kyle Knechtel, Ben McFarlane, Henry Maracle, Kyle Clifford, and Jay Wells.  On the upper level, there are several Ayr Centennials markings letting fans know this is the home of the new Junior B team.  A temporary ticket table welcomes fans as well as a temporary table with team merchandise right in front of a large trophy case, which mainly houses youth hockey achievements. Entering the Ayr Farmers Mutual Insurance Company Arena, fans are shocked with the cutting cold of the arena.  Gloves and a jacket are recommended.  The ice runs from south to north with the centre ice featuring double logos, making pictures perfect from either the east or west.  There are some banners of note that hang in the Ayr Farmers Mutual Arena.  Youth hockey banners hang at the north end and the 2021-2022 selection of Ayr as a host city for Rogers Hometown Hockey is commemorated on a banner at the south end.  Six Ayr Centennials championship banners hang on the west wall.  These include a SOJHL championship in 2013; MHL championships in 2015 and 2016 and a PJHL championship in 2017.  All championships were won at the Junior C level and culminated with a pair of Schmalz Cup Championships in 2016 and 2017.  A simple hockey scoreboard hangs above centre ice.  The seating bowl features four rows of plastic seats with a running track behind the seats.  Unfortunately, the sightlines from the seats are not great, and finding a good seat could be a challenge depending on what denotes a typical hockey experience.  The best seats are probably in the south and north ends.  Fans who wish to watch from either the east or west sides may consider the standing room behind the seating bowl for the best sight lines.  The Ayr Farmers Mutual Arena has clear netting around the entire ice as opposed to just the ends.  There did not seem to be permanent recognition of former captain Eli Palfreyman, who passed away before the 2022-2023 season.  However, with the event still fresh, there may be plans for a permanent recognition in the arena underway.  At the end of the game, the players skate over to the corner to greet Eli’s mom in a nice tradition happening in Ayr. The gameday production at an Ayr Centennials game is fairly simple.  The PA system is good and there are not many bells or whistles, which is a refreshing change from some of the overproduced hockey experiences at higher levels.  The PA announcer does a decent job, but at times is a little over the top with the calls. Neighbourhood 2 Ayr is located in the township of North Dumfries and the southwest corner of Waterloo Region in Ontario.  It is southwest of Kitchener and northwest of Brantford with a small population of 5,300.  The North Dumfries Community Complex is north of town and is fairly isolated.  For fans looking for some pre or post-game fare, heading into Ayr is the best idea, and checking out Abe Erb, Willibald Farm and Brewery, or Gus and Guido’s Backyard would be the choices.  For other sporting options, fans will be required to head to Brantford or Kitchener to get their fix.  The Rangers  or Bulldogs of the OHL will fit the bill.  Other tourist options to consider nearby include Snyder’s Family Farm.  For fans staying in the area, heading to Kitchener, Cambridge, or Brantford for accommodations would be the best option. Fans 3 The Ayr Centennials enjoy solid support in the Junior B GOJHL.  In the 2022-2023 season, the Centennials averaged 480 fans per game, above the league average of 399.  At the time of writing, in the 2023-2024 season, the Centennials averaged 516 fans per game, again ahead of the league average of 418.  The Centennials ranked 6th and 7th in the 23-team GOJHL in the two seasons respectively.  At the game reviewed, perpetual teenagers were running around the track, showing the Centennials was the place to be on a Thursday night in Ayr.  The fans in attendance are passionate and supportive of their team.   Access 4 North Dumfries Community Complex is located north of Ayr, south of Highway 401.  Fans coming from out of town should not have to traverse the town to get to the arena.  Traffic moves smoothly both during pre and post-game.  There is a large parking lot able to support enough traffic for the game and the parking is free.  There is no public transit that goes to the North Dumfries Community Complex. Getting around the North Dumfries Community Complex and Ayr Farmers Mutual Arena is very easy and there is plenty of room for all.  The washroom facilities are also decent in this modern facility. Return on Investment 4 In an era of rising costs for the sporting experience, the Ayr Centennials offer terrific value.  Tickets for adults are $12 and $10 for students or seniors.  Kids are only $5 unless they are under 5 years old, where they are free.  Tickets are only purchased at the door.  Parking is free and concession prices are decent.  The product on the ice is solid hockey and the gameday production, although simple, is decent.  Overall, the math shows that the investment is very small and the return is more than sufficient for the investment. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Ayr Centennials being selected as part of the 2021-2022 Rogers Hometown Hockey series, which was part of the Hockey Night in Canada production.  An explanation of the Centennials and Hometown Hockey can be found here . An extra mark for the highlighting of Ayr personalities who have gone on to play higher levels of hockey, including Jay Wells and Kyle Clifford. An extra mark for the Centennials making the move to Junior B and the GOJHL. Final Thoughts For fans who are looking for a pure hockey experience that is inexpensive and satisfying, considering some Junior B, Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League action and more specifically the Ayr Centennials is a great idea.  The experience and support in Ayr is solid and the Ayr Mutual Farmers Insurance Company Arena is a decent facility.  Hopefully, the Centennials will continue to have success as they make their way through the Junior B landscape, and prove that they belong in the GOJHL. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Sports Backers Stadium 100 Avenue of Champions Richmond, VA 23230 VCU Rams website Sports Backers Stadium website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 3,250 The Ram’s Backers Although sports fans in Richmond, Virginia may not have heard of Sports Backers Stadium or been inside, many of them have seen it even if they do not realize it. This is because the stadium is located across the parking lot from The Diamond, home of the Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball team. Many fans have seen the exterior of the stadium while at a Squirrels game. However, Sports Backers Stadium is more than just that “other” stadium in the parking lot – it is home to the college soccer team of Virginia Commonwealth University, also known as VCU. The Rams men’s soccer program has enjoyed some success, making the tournament six times between 1997 and 2004, culminating with a quarterfinal appearance in the latter year. In the middle of this winning streak, the Rams moved into Sports Backers Stadium in 1999. Located about three miles from VCU’s campus, the stadium has been their home ever since. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand at Sports Backers Stadium to the left of the main entrance, which serves a decent range of food. Hot dogs, candy, popcorn, kettle corn, hot pretzels, and more snacks are available, and, extremely unusually for college soccer, alcohol is as well. There will typically be a concession special which will vary by game and may include items not normally available – when Stadium Journey visited, fans could purchase taquitos and a margarita for $12. Outside food and beverage cannot be brought into the stadium. Bizarrely, there was a food truck parked in the parking lot when we visited, but food purchased there could not be brought in. Atmosphere 4 Sports Backers Stadium is a nicely built stadium compared to many used for college soccer. Walking through the main gates will put you on a concourse, and you then walk through a portal into the bleachers and your seat. Most of the seats are bleachers, but there are some chairbacks near midfield. Seating is all general admission, but you should have no problem getting a chairback for most games no matter when you arrive. The stands are separated from the field by a running track, which makes the sightlines worse than they would be at many places, but you can still see the action well. A scoreboard with video capabilities is located at one end, but the actual score graphic only takes up a small portion of the screen and can be hard to read. The Rams’ mascot, Rodney, hangs out with fans in the stands during games and tries to get the crowd involved. As at many soccer stadiums, the energy here is really created by the fans. Rams fans are rowdy, and when they get involved, the atmosphere here can be phenomenal. Neighborhood 3 There is not much to do in the immediate vicinity of The Diamond, but your best bet is to head to the Carytown neighborhood a couple of miles away. There is where one can find numerous businesses and restaurants. Carytown Burges & Fries is one local favorite, as is the Galaxy Diner. Those looking for other entertainment while in town can check out the Byrd Theatre, also in Carytown. History buffs might enjoy the numerous Civil War sites located in and around Richmond, which was of course the former capital of the Confederacy and played a major role in the war. Fans 4 VCU fans may not fill up the rather spacious stadium, but they are a rowdy bunch. From the start of the game when the Rams are introduced, they will be loudly cheering their teams. During big moments in the game and after VCU goals, the fans will stomp on the metal bleachers, clap, and shout, and it can get quite loud here. The large size means Sports Backers Stadium almost never fills up all the way, but the fans here can still make it quite an intimidating place for visiting teams to play. Access 4 Sports Backers Stadium is located conveniently just off I-95 via Arthur Ashe Boulevard. Parking is available in the lots of The Diamond and is normally free, but there may be a charge for early season games when the Flying Squirrels play the same day. Getting into and around the stadium is easy via the spacious concourses. Restrooms are under the bleachers and are of a more than sufficient size for the crowds. Getting out of Sports Backers Stadium after the game is easy enough as well, as the traffic flow of the lot was designed for much larger crowds at Flying Squirrels games. Although the VCU campus is located three miles away, there is a free shuttle bus taking students to and from the game. However, this is not available to members of the public coming from Downtown Richmond. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are $7 for adults, with discounts for children and seniors. VCU students get in free. This is a bit on the high end for college soccer, where many venues are free, but the price isn’t outrageous and this is a pretty nice stadium. Ultimately, the $7 is still a good deal. Extras 2 There is a marketing table on the concourse which gives away programs, posters, and other items. A second star for all the promotional nights and giveaways VCU offers throughout the season, such as Ted Lasso Night and Trick or Treat. Final Thoughts Although most fans in Richmond just know Sports Backers Stadium as that soccer field next to The Diamond, it is a very nice stadium in its own right as well. Although college soccer will never be as big here as the Rams’ legendary basketball team, a VCU soccer game can still be a great experience on a fall evening.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Morton Field 153 Piggery Road Augusta, ME 04330 Augusta Surgin' Sturgeon website Morton Field website Year Opened: 1980 Capacity: 1,800 Surgin’ Sturgeon Time On farmland that was originally used to grow crops and raise pigs for the nearby hospital, Morton Field in Maine’s capital city of Augusta has often been used for Babe Ruth League games, as well as being the home field of the Cony High School Rams. Morton Field is part of the larger Capital Area Recreation Association complex, commonly referred to as “CARA”. Morton Field joins the mix as a host site in the Greater Northeast Collegiate Baseball League (GNCBL) as home to the Augusta Surgin’ Sturgeon, one of five teams in the newly reorganized league. In years past a handful of teams would play at rotating sites across southern Maine and into New Hampshire. However, the sale of the league in the spring of 2024 brought a new twist to the GNCBL, such that each of the five teams in the league now has their own designated home field, for the first time since the inception of the league.   Food & Beverage   3 Morton Field is one of a handful of facilities in the GNCBL which offers concessions. Items include hand-grilled hot dogs, burgers, fries, onion rings, ice cream novelties, and assorted candy. Bottled Coke products are also available. While the selection is typical for similar venues, the hand-grilled burgers and hot dogs add a bit to the overall enjoyment.   Atmosphere   2 Part of the CARA complex, Morton Field is just one of several facilities here which include other baseball fields for various levels, softball and soccer fields, and basketball hoops and horseshoe pits. Everything about Morton Field screams Maine, from the pinewood that protects the 12-foot well to the short 280’ right field porch. Beyond the wall also runs a patch of pine trees, giving the area another ever-so-subtle touch of Maine. Bleacher seating extends between the dugouts and eleven rows up, topped by a modest press box. This area provides little shade from the sun that sets just beyond the left field fence, so many fans choose to spread out along the grassy hillside on the third base side of the field, which does have some shade. The game presentation at Morton Field focuses solely on the game itself – there is no walk-up music for batters and no music or on-field games between innings, leaving the game as the sole source of entertainment, and it works just fine.   Neighborhood   3 Morton Field is located across Kennebec River from downtown Augusta, just over two miles from Water Street, which features a variety of locally owned shops and restaurants, popular eateries such as State Lunch and Cushnoc Brewing Company, and several other restaurants, all located just feet away from Kennebec River Rail Trail. On the opposite side of the river is the Augusta Greenway Trail and Old Fort Western, a historic site from the French and Indian War era that is open to visitors. This area is just a short walk from the Maine State Capitol grounds.   Fans   2 Attendees consist mostly of the families and friends of players. They are actively involved in cheering on their team, mostly calling out cues for players to be patient and wait for their pitch. There is little in the way of fan interaction initiated by anything other than the play on the field.   Access   2 Getting to Augusta is straightforward, with I-295 providing a quicker route with fewer tolls compared to the more inland I-95. Those coming from the north will likely use I-95 until reaching Augusta. Morton Field is located on the opposite side of the river from the Augusta business district and state buildings. Upon reaching the CARA complex, the facility is at the end of a long, narrow dirt and gravel road that has several speed bumps along the way. There is a large parking lot beyond the field, but most attendees park in the grassy area along the road, leaving just a short walk to the field.   Return on Investment   5 Tickets for Surgin’ Sturgeon games go for under $6. For those paying cash, a flat fee of $5 can be paid, while those paying by card are charged a convenience fee, the same as that for online purchasers. Concession prices are a touch higher than at typical concession stands, but the higher quality of the hand-grilled burgers and dogs seems to justify the prices.   Extras   1 Morton Field gives a handful of options to kids who might find sitting through a full game too much – from chasing foul balls to just having space to play catch on their own, there is plenty here to occupy their time.   Final Thoughts Morton Field is a basic high school baseball facility that does not come with a lot of extras to complement the game, but it does provide fans with a comfortable summer baseball experience. The facility also gives fans several seating options, along with above-average food options, while the nearby city center gives visitors to Augusta several places to visit before the first pitch.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 HTC Center 104 Founders Dr Conway, SC 29526 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers website HTC Center website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 3,600 The Real Teal Deal Coastal Carolina University is in Conway, SC. Conway is located ninety miles north of Charleston and 130 miles east of Columbia along the Atlantic Ocean coast. It is a suburb of Myrtle Beach, SC, one of the top beaches along the east coast. The school has an enrollment of 10,500 students and offers 95 Baccalaureate degree programs and 27 Master’s level programs. The basketball team at Coastal Carolina University plays in the HTC Student Recreation and Convocation Center (we will call it the HTC Center for brevity’s sake) on the CCU campus. The HTC Center opened in 2012 and hosts both the men’s and women’s basketball programs as well as both volleyball teams. The arena holds 3,600 fans in its basketball configuration. The facility is awash in the teal colors used by all the Coastal Carolina teams (the turf at the CCU football stadium is even teal). The arena features chairback seating, with a center-hung scoreboard and large video boards at each end of the court. HTC Center-Hung Scoreboard, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey The HTC also serves as the student recreation center for the campus. It offers several on-campus dining options, as well as a full-service fitness center. It is centrally located on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. Coastal Carolina teams originally played in the Big South Conference but moved to the Sun Belt Conference in 2016. The basketball program has won four championships and played in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament twice. Food & Beverage 3 The HTC Center offers two sets of concession choices. The first selection is four basic concession stands located on each corner of the concourse. They offer the staples of any college concession stand. This includes hot dogs ($4), popcorn ($3), candy ($2), Pepsi brand sodas ($5), coffee ($3), beer ($6), and Aquafina brand water ($4). The second option is the Pie by Night pizza stand on the main concourse. It offers seven different 12-inch pizzas for $7.99, with garlic knots ($4.29) and breadsticks ($5.49) available as sides. Wings are also available for $8.99. Pie by Night also offers smoothies in five assorted flavors for $4. Pepsi brand sodas are $5, and bottled water is $3. Atmosphere 4 The HTC Center provides an excellent environment for a Chanticleer basketball game.  The seating area is one level, so fans are never more than twenty-four rows from the court. The seating is on all four sides of the court, which assists the Chanticleers by creating a high volume of cheers from the home crowd. Chauncey, the team’s rooster mascot, is always on hand to keep the energy level at a fever pitch. The court in the basketball arena features a striking graphics package of teal and black. The center court features a huge Chanticleer logo. Chauncey, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 4 Coastal Carolina University is on the outskirts of Conway, SC. Conway is a small town of 17,000 and lies along the Waccamaw River. The town offers a wide variety of great experiences for visitors. It has a large historic district. There are also several wonderful seafood restaurants, art galleries and shops in a very walkable environment. Recommended places for a bite are the Rivertown Bistro or Crooked Oak Tavern (a farm-to-table restaurant). Conway has a mile-long riverwalk with signage provided to educate walkers about the natural habitat of the river area. The immediate area around the school is along Highway 501, and it offers a wide variety of choices for fine dining and lodging ( Comfort Suites or bed and breakfast Cypress Inn are good choices). Conway is just ten miles away from the tourist mecca of Myrtle Beach, SC. Myrtle Beach offers a great beach, a wide variety of attractions, beach activities, entertainment venues, and clubs along the Grand Strand. If your time is limited, we recommend the Broadway on the Beach complex. This one-stop destination features restaurants (Hard Rock Café, Wahlburger’s and Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen), entertainment (Ripley’s Aquarium, Broadway Grand Prix, Hollywood Wax Museum) and a waterpark (Myrtle Waves Water Park). Fans 3 The nickname for Coastal Carolina teams is the Chanticleers. A chanticleer is a rooster based on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The university’s chanticleer is a fierce competitor and a proud rooster. He uses his vast knowledge, his wits, and cunning to come out on top in any situation. The Chanticleer’s fans are easy to spot in their teal outfits. They even have developed their hand signals to show their support for the team. It is known as the Chants Up, and it consists of the thumb and pointer finger coming together to form a beak, with the remaining three fingers fanning out to resemble the feather comb atop the rooster’s head. All manner of Chanticleer gear is available at the school bookstore, which is also located in the HTC Center.  The student body is incredibly supportive of the team, and they fill the bleachers at the ends of the court. Season ticket holders, alumni, and locals are seated on the sides of the court, which feature chairback seating. Major donors have access to suites atop the seating bowl on both sides. Coastal Carolina has become the adopted school for the large retirement population who have relocated to the area. They take advantage of some of the senior enrichment courses that the university offers and are frequent visitors to the school’s athletic events. Access 3 Coastal Carolina University offers easy access via air or major roadways. Myrtle Beach International Airport is sixteen miles from the campus. It is also easy to reach via I-95.  You’ll definitely be driving to Conway for a game, as there aren’t many other transit options available. If you’re staying in Myrtle Beach, expect a 15-20 minute drive. Traffic in the area can be a problem during spring break and the summertime when the tourists flood the area. However, the basketball season ends before the tourist season begins, so you should not experience much of a problem during your visit. Free parking is available on campus in lots 21, YY and WW. Shuttles will then take you to the HTC Center. Return on Investment 3 A night or afternoon out at a Chanticleer game will not cost you an arm and a leg. Tickets cost $20 and parking is free. Concessions can vary in price. The typical sports menu of hot dogs, sodas, popcorn and hamburgers is very reasonably priced. Some of the premium items offered at the HTC Center are sold at higher prices. Extras 3 The HTC Center hosted four Big South Conference Tournaments while it was a member of the conference. The halls surrounding the arena at the HTC Center are lined with information on the various athletic achievements of the school, and the exploits of some of its top athletes of the past. Coastal Carolina’s proximity to Myrtle Beach is also a major extra as it offers a wide variety of pre-game or post-game options for dining and entertainment. CCU Banner Years, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Final Thoughts The Chanticleers athletic department has a lot to crow about, as it has some of the nicest athletic facilities in the Sun Belt Conference. The HTC Center offers a modern facility with the latest technology and a striking graphics package that is heavy on the teal team colors for which the school is famous.

Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Dignity Health Sports Park 18400 Avalon Boulevard Carson, CA 90746 LA Galaxy website Dignity Health Sports Park website Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 27,000 A Galaxy of Fun It’s been often said that soccer is the world’s most popular sport. Unfortunately, its popularity has not always reached the same fevered pitch in the United States. Major League Soccer (MLS), formed in 1995, began to play in 1996 with 10 teams, growing to 12 teams in 1998. During its early years, MLS would experience some rough times, with two teams folding after the 2001 season. Also during its early years, MLS would experiment with the rules in order to reach out to an Americanized audience. The league would also market itself around the talents of U.S. players such as Landon Donovan. With the expansion of stadiums designed primarily for soccer, MLS has long rebounded and today currently has 20 teams. The L.A. Galaxy, one of the original 10 teams who began play in 1996, played initially in the storied Rose Bowl and would remain there until 2003. At the site of the 1994 World Cup, crowds at Galaxy games were often sparse. Only the Columbus Crew played in a soccer-specific stadium as other teams often found themselves using NFL stadiums, where oftentimes the venues were practically empty. Upon moving to the StubHub Center in 2003, then known as the Home Depot Center, the Galaxy would move into a much more intimate 27,000-seat stadium. Aside from soccer, the facility also houses a velodrome, a track, and field, and a tennis stadium, located right next to the soccer facility. In Jan 2019, the venue name changed from the StubHub Center to Dignity Health Sports Park. Food & Beverage 4 The StubHub Center offers a vast variety of food and drink options. Your standard stadium fare of hot dogs, sausages, pizza, nachos, and popcorn (ranging from $4.75-$9.50) is all here. The Backstage or Ultimate Burger is also available in the north concourse toward the tennis stadium for $14-$15. For those of you with hearty appetites, My Father's BBQ is also located in the north concourse offering up Angus Beef Brisket or Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwiches, as well as BBQ chicken plates. Each plate is $15 and comes with Texas Toast and two sides. Coca-Cola soda products range from $4.50 for a regular, $5.50 for a large, and $6.50 for a souvenir cup. A wide range of alcoholic beverages is available throughout the entire concourse as well as over at Rock N Brews, costing anywhere from $9 for your basic draft (Bud Light), $12 for your more premium drafts (Guinness), up to $15 for premium bottled beer (Stone IPA, and Redd’s Apple Ale). For those of you bringing your sweet tooth to the game, churros are available as well as those delicious cinnamon rolls from Cinnabon, with hot chocolate and Starbucks coffee to perhaps go with your cinnamon roll. These sweet treats are available at “The Kick.” Should that day’s event be a scorcher, Italian Ice, coming in lemon, blue raspberry, cherry, mango, and the flavor of the day are also available for $6. If you can’t decide, you are free to sample each flavor. Atmosphere 5 Whether you are a die-hard or new to the sport, you will be amazed at the passion displayed by the fans throughout the game. With a capacity of 27,000, there is absolutely no bad seat in the house, offering great sight lines where one is never far from the action. Also, the majority of the seats are covered by huge overhangs which no doubt help in keeping crowd noise amplified throughout the match. From the first minute, all the way to the ninetieth it is a never-ending party in the stands as the fans continuously show their support, maintaining their energy throughout the game. Neighborhood 3 Aside from a KFC on Avalon, the surrounding area around the StubHub Center does not really offer much in regards to pre/post-game dining and entertainment. However, the stadium is centrally located between Downtown L.A. and Long Beach, which are great options if you are staying anywhere near L.A.X. If heading toward Long Beach, The Pike offers up a good variety of bars and restaurants, among them the Beachwood BBQ and Brewing. Should you decide to head toward Downtown LA, there is always L.A. Live across the street from the Staples Center. Depending on the time of year, you may be able to take in a sporting event at both the Staples and StubHub Center. However, if you are going to a sporting event or just about anywhere in Los Angeles, chances are you will not be staying anywhere close to the venue you plan to visit, thus you will probably be driving, something that requires a lot of patience in Los Angeles. Lodging around the StubHub Center is all but non-existent, however, about a five-minute drive from the stadium is an Extended Stay America. Being that almost everything in Los Angeles is spread out, you may want to do some extensive planning of your route beforehand. Fans 5 There are several L.A. Galaxy Supporters Groups throughout the stands. The most popular groups are the Galaxians, Angel City Brigade, and L.A. Riot Squad. Throughout the entire game, they can be seen waving their flags, singing, and chanting. Their involvement in the game is evident and spreads throughout the rest of the stadium as well. Cozmo, the Galaxy mascot is actively involved throughout the stadium getting the other sections involved. With all the passion displayed in the stands, a Galaxy game is still a great family experience. Though Major League Soccer is a great distance behind the other major sports in regards to popularity, the L.A. Galaxy fans are some of the most vocal in sports, and they really add to the game experience with their high level of enthusiasm that is felt and spread throughout the entire venue. Access 4 Parking around the StubHub Center is plentiful, with certain gates opening up to seven hours before kickoff for those wanting to do some pre-game tailgating, with charcoal dispensers available on site. Parking prices range from $15 for general parking to $30 for preferred. As with any venue in Los Angeles, chances are you will be driving a good distance and with the Stubhub Center located in Carson, you will want to give yourself ample time. Though there are no direct freeway routes and the fact the drive may be a good distance from where you may be staying, the StubHub Center is accessible through various streets and freeways, particularly the 110, 91, and 405 freeways. The concourses inside the stadium are very wide, particularly those in the east section with plenty of concessions to navigate. The concourse circles the entire stadium, so you can walk throughout during a break in the action, or even during the game for those who want to move around. Also available throughout the concourses are plenty of TV screens so you won’t miss any of the on-field action. Picnic tables are plentiful in both the east and north concourses as well as charging stations. Return on Investment 3 Compared to the price of admission to view other sporting events in L.A., prices for an L.A. Galaxy game are somewhat reasonable though still a bit steep for an MLS game. The lowest price for a game is $19.50 on the upper sidelines, while General Admission will go for $25. Everything else will range from $27-$300. If you are looking for a good vantage point, then sit on either sideline, where ticket prices range from $35.50 to $59.50 for a midfield reserved seat. If you are looking to sit with some loud and passionate fans who will be cheering and chanting non-stop throughout the entire contest, you may want to purchase a general admission ticket and sit among the L.A. Galaxy supporter clubs. Extras 4 There are multiple cool extras here worth mentioning. The easy-access phone charging stations with big-screen TVs to watch the game is an awesome amenity that more stadiums should pick up. The use of TVs in general around the stadium is a great addition as well. The Wall of Legends on the north end of the stadium is a cool place to experience the history of the LA Galaxy franchise and will only get more interesting as time goes on for one of the more storied MLS clubs. Finally, the awesome supporter groups at both ends of the stadium add a European soccer supporter touch to the atmosphere at the StubHub Center. Final Thoughts Though not one of the more popular teams in Los Angeles, a trip to an L.A. Galaxy game should still be on one’s list. The passion and enthusiasm displayed by the fans throughout the game are one of the main highlights of attending a Galaxy game. Like many who are slowly grasping Major League Soccer, you will get a true feel of the soccer subculture that is steadily growing in Southern California.

Photos by Lance Sutehall Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Regions Field 1401 1st Ave S Birmingham, AL 35233 Birmingham Barons website Regions Field website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 8,500 Birmingham's At Bat Professional baseball has been a staple in Birmingham since 1885 when the Coal Barons took the field. The team reviewed several names and leagues before settling on the Barons in 1901. Throughout the years the various iterations of the Barons have won twelve league titles, last winning the Southern League in 2013. The Barons played at Rickwood Field from 1910 until 1987 (they still play a game there every year). In 1988 the Barons moved 18 miles south to the Hoover Metropolitan Complex. The Hoover Met was the home of the Barons until 2012 when the Barons opened Regions Field in downtown Birmingham. Regions Field has been the proud home of the Barons since 2013. Food & Beverage 4 The largest concession stands along the first and third baselines of the concourse offer the basics such as nachos ($5), peanuts ($5), brats ($6), burgers ($6), cheeseburgers ($7), hot dogs ($4.50), footlong corndogs ($5), popcorn ($4.50), Papa John’s pizza ($9), and candy ($3.50). Coca-Cola is the soft drink provider of the Barons with beverage options including souvenir cups ($6.50), Dasani bottled water ($4.50), and Powerade ($6). The large stands sell 16 oz domestic draft beers ($8.50). There are smaller push carts throughout the concourse of the stadium that sell sunflower seeds ($3.50), funnel cakes ($6), pretzels ($5.50), body armor beverages ($6), premium beers ($10), and wine ($6). In the right field corner of the stadium is the Magic City Food Court where Dreamland BBQ offers a BBQ Pork sandwich ($8.50), Magic City Dog ($8.50), Stadium Nachos ($10), and a half rack of BBQ ribs ($22). Regions Field offers areas throughout the concourse for fans to eat their food and drink and eating rails throughout the stadium. The ballpark has an open concourse that has unobstructed views of the field so you don’t have to miss any game action while getting concessions. Atmosphere 4 Outside the stadium along the right field baseline is a sign that reads “BIRMINGHAM” that lights up at night. Walking towards the main entrance there is a statue of Willie Mays. After entering the stadium the Barons Sports Depot is on the left and sells plants of Barons merch. In the outfield in left field is the scoreboard which provides entertainment throughout the game. Towards center field is a wiffleball field where kids can imitate the pros on the field while right field has batting cages where fans can see players warm up before the game starts. Specialty nights at Regions Field include “Taco Tuesdays” where tacos are $2, bring your pet dogs to “Wet Nose Wednesdays”, discounted beers are offered on “Thirsty Thursdays” and fireworks light up the sky on Friday nights. On select Sundays, kids are invited to run the bases after the Barons game. One note to make from the atmosphere in previous seasons compared to my experience is that the sound from the speakers does not reach the outfield. The only sounds those in the outfield get are the sounds of the action and those around them. Whether this is a good thing or not depends on the person’s preference. Neighborhood 4 Regions Field is located in the heart of Downtown Birmingham and next to Railroad Park, which offers walking paths, a lake, playgrounds, and plenty of green space. Next to the stadium is the Negro Southern League Museum which is free to visit 10 am-4 pm Tuesday-Saturday. You can’t go wrong with an afternoon at the museum, dinner at Wayback Burgers, Tortugas Pizza, or Ted’s Restaurant (all of those restaurants are within four blocks of Regions Field), grabbing a beer at Good People Brewing, and an evening at the ballpark. Lodging options within walking distance of Regions Park include Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard, and SpringHill Suites. If you want to spend a few days in Birmingham other attractions include the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham Museum of Art, and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is located next to the BJCC Complex which includes Legacy Arena, home of the G-League’s Squadron and Protective Stadium, where the UAB Blazers football and Birmingham Legion soccer teams play. For families, kids will enjoy a visit to the McWane Science Center and the Birmingham Zoo. For those willing to travel three miles west you will see historic stadiums such as Legion Field and Rickwood Field, the latter of which was the longtime home of the Barons. Rickwood Field recently hosted an MLB game and as mentioned before hosts an annual Barons game. Fans 3 The Barons consistently lead the Southern League in attendance. Regions Park is easy to get to for those living and or working in downtown Birmingham, the Barons have been a staple in Birmingham for a while, and Birmingham is an easy trip for most fans of the other Southern League teams. Birmingham has in-state rivalries with the Montgomery Biscuits and the Rocket City Trash Pandas. Games between those opponents tend to have many fans representing both teams, resulting in intense yet friendly rivalries. During the 7th Inning stretch, fans turn on their phone lights and wave to Children’s of Alabama hospital patients. This began in 2019 borrowing the same tradition from Iowa Hawkeyes football games. Access 4 From I-20 merge onto I-65 South towards Montgomery and turn off exit 259B onto 4th Avenue South. Make a left on 12th Street before turning right on 1st Avenue and Regions Park will be on the right. From I-65 North turn off exit 259 and go right on University Boulevard before making a left on 13th Avenue. 13th Avenue gets you to 1st Avenue where you go right and the stadium should be in view. There is plenty of street parking within walking distance of Regions Park that is free after 6 pm and on weekends. If you want to purchase parking, the Clutch app offers options for $15 parking close to the ballpark. Once inside the stadium, the concourse is wide enough for the crowd and restrooms are spread throughout. There is not a long line at the concession stands and as mentioned before the concourse allows you to still see the game action. Return on Investment 4 Tickets start at $10 for weekday and Sunday general admission berm areas while reserved seats down the foul lines go for $13. A reserved seat behind the dugout costs $20 while seats behind home plate cost $16. Club seats on the second deck of Regions Field cost $45. There is a $2 surcharge for games on Friday and Saturday nights. $25 should get one person a ticket, a hot dog, and a beverage. With free parking not far from the ballpark, a night at Regions Field should not leave you penniless. Extras 4 The Barons won their last Southern League championship in the inaugural season of Regions Field in 2013. The championship-clenching game was played at Regions Field. Michael Jordan played for the Barons during his break from basketball. There is a banner in the concourse honoring Michael Jordan’s time as a Birmingham Baron. The UAB Blazers occasionally host baseball games at Regions Field, particularly if they are hosting Alabama or Auburn. Regions Park hosted the SWAC baseball tournament in 2022 and 2023. Final Thoughts Regions Field has become part of the core of downtown Birmingham. With housing and restaurants now surrounding the ballpark the once downtrodden downtown area has seen a resurgence. A Barons gameday is an excellent experience for a single person, date night, or a family outing.

Photos by Dave Cottenie and Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Arvest Ballpark 3000 Gene George Blvd Springdale, AR 72762 Northwest Arkansas Naturals website Arvest Ballpark website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 7,305 It's Only Natural Although they are not a Minor League Baseball team with a vast history, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals have already won two league titles. Making their debut in 2008 after relocating from Wichita, Kansas, the Naturals have spent their existence as the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and earned the 2010 Texas League Championship and the 2021 (and only) Double-A Central Championship. The Naturals are named after the moniker of Arkansas, known as the Natural State, and the famous baseball movie, The Natural . The Naturals are also owned by Rich Products Corporation, who also own the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons . Located in Springdale, Arkansas, a stone’s throw from college town, Fayetteville, the home of the Naturals is Arvest Ballpark. Also opening in 2008, Arvest Ballpark is city owned and the central hub of a rapidly developing area in the southwest corner of Springdale. Arvest is a unique park that has strayed from the retro classic, red-brick/green-seat ballpark to provide baseball fans with a refreshing change. Food & Beverage 3 Concession options at Arvest Ballpark are about what one would expect for a Minor League Baseball park. Spring Creek Treats is the main concession stand and offers typical ballpark food including hot dogs, burgers, nachos, and fries. The variety is upped with a variety of fry and nacho options including Chili Cheese Fries, BBQ Cheese fries and Garlic Fries. Other concession stands offer familiar favorites including lemonade, sno-cones and Dippin’ Dots. Coca-Cola products are the soft drink of choice at Arvest Ballpark and there is a fairly pedestrian selection of beer including Corona, Heinekin, Miller and Yuengling. Atmosphere 4 Arvest Ballpark provides a refreshing change in its design. The exterior is not overbearing and feels quaint. The light brick with varied sizes gives it a unique look. The Natural theme can be felt as the exterior is beautifully manicured with grass flowers and trees. Outside of the main, home plate entrance, there is a large Naturals water feature, which matches the exterior brick and design. A portable display outside of the wrought iron gates trumpets the history and accomplishments of the Naturals. Inside the ballpark, fans are immediately greeted with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Hall of Fame which has an impressive list of members considering the short lifespan of the team. Clint Robinson, Brian Poldberg, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Salvadore Perez, Kila Ka’athue, Whit Merrifield and Wil Myers are all members as well as the Season 10 Team. Plaques for the 2010 and 2021 Championship teams as well as a plaque for the 2015 Kansas City Royals World Series Championship are also right there with the Hall of Fame. The concourses are wide open in Arvest Ballpark and views of the field are all over the park. The 360 degree walk takes fans right around the park, past the varied seating areas including berm, picnic and traditional areas. Past the batter's eye in centerfield there is a permanent playground and a large grassy area perfect for large gatherings. There are inflatables and kids games beyond left field as well as a mini ball field. Left field also features the Home Run Porch picnic area. The majority of seating is single level with the concourse behind, and luxury boxes above the concourse. There are large, light sunshades which offer shade for the fans in the stands. Beyond rightfield is a large videoboard, which the Naturals use very well. Kids and families may be interested in taking a trip on the train which drive around the concourse. Unfortunately, the game that was reviewed saw field conditions in the outfield to be noticeably not up to appropriate levels for professional baseball. The gameday production at a Naturals game is what fans would expect in Minor League Baseball. It is fairly simple and does not offer anything overly unique or over the top. The Naturals do have mascots in Strike and Sinker, however the temperature on the date of this review was very high and probably prohibitive for employees working in mascot suits. Neighborhood 3 The neighborhood around Arvest Ballpark continues to be developed. In the previous Stadium Journey review, it was mentioned that the ballpark was surrounded by farmland, however, much has changed since that review. Visible from the ballpark is the Children’s Hospital and although there is not much in the way of options within walking distance, there are a few options within a five minute drive. North of the ballpark at Sunset Ave. will provide fans with a plethora of chain restaurant options. A couple of more local options include Jose’s Bar & Grille and Las Palmas. There are not any other sporting options within Springdale, however a very short drive will bring fans to the University of Arkansas in Fayatteville. The Razorbacks offer football, basketball and baseball options as well as other varsity sports. The Razorbacks are definitely the top tickets in the area. Another tourist option in Springdale would be the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. For fans that want to stay in the area, there are a number of hotels near Sunset Ave including the Wyndham. Fans 3 The Northwest Arkansas Naturals enjoy decent fan support. In the 2022 season, the Naturals averaged over 3,500 fans per game, which was good for 64th in Minor League Baseball and 8th in the Texas League. The 2023 season saw a more than 500 fan increase per game. The fans in attendance offer decent support. Access 3 Getting to Arvest Ballpark is not difficult. The park is located just west of I-49 and very easy to get to. There is plenty of on-site parking available. Unfortunately, there is not much in the way of public transit in the area. The nearest bus stop is a 25 minute walk from the ballpark. With continued development in the area, hopefully the public transit situation improves in the future. Moving around the ballpark is very easy as the concourses are amongst the widest in Minor League Baseball. The washroom facilities are good for the number of fans in attendance. With security protocols constantly changing in professional sports, Stadium Journey highly recommends consulting the Northwest Arkansas Naturals website for the most up to date security protocols, bag policies and prohibited items. Return on Investment 5 The return on investment for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals is excellent. Great seats can be had at Arvest Ballpark for $15 and parking is only $5. Concession prices are good as well. The product on the field is solid and fans get to enjoy baseball from an excellently designed ballpark. In the end, the return is excellent for an investment that is not too high. Extras 2 An extra mark for the unique and clean look that Arvest Ballpark offers, straying from the overdone retro classic ballpark design. An extra mark for the unique Naturals moniker that fits the area in Arkansas and the Ozarks region. Final Thoughts Taking in a baseball game at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale is a great idea for the whole family and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals provide a great experience. It’s only natural for fans to want to make return trips! Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Centennial Field 98 University Road Burlington, VT 05401 Vermont Lake Monsters website Centennial Field website Year Opened: 1906 Capacity: 4,415 Vermonster Mash The first baseball game ever played at Centennial Field took place on April 17, 1906. During this game, the University of Vermont defeated the University of Maine 10-4. Named in honor of the 100th anniversary of UVM’s first graduating class, Centennial Field is one of the oldest ballparks still in use today. While the university last sponsored a baseball team in 2009, the field remains in use as the home of the Vermont Lake Monsters, the short-season, single-A, New York Penn League affiliate of the Oakland A’s. The site where Centennial Field stands was for decades the school’s original sports complex, hosting baseball, football, soccer, track, lacrosse and even hockey games over the years. In fact, the football grandstands can still be seen beyond the left-center field fence, and the locker rooms are still used by the visiting teams. The original wooden Centennial Field bleachers burned down in 1913. They were replaced in 1922 by the current concrete and steel grandstand still used today. Over the years the ballpark has been host to several minor league and semi-pro teams, including the Burlington Athletics, Vermont Reds, Vermont Mariners and Vermont Expos. During their history, the University of Vermont had 11 players make it all the way to the Major Leagues. Food & Beverage 4 Concessions at Centennial Field don’t stray too far from your basic ballpark fare, but there are several items worth mentioning. Lake Monster fans seeking out something different should look for the food truck featuring chicken and waffle cones, served with powdered sugar and Vermont maple syrup. Ballpark tacos are offered in the right field party area, and since we’re in Vermont, the maple flavored ice cream is a must. If you want some Cracker Jacks, you won’t feel cheated, as Centennial Field sells large bags of the traditional ballpark treat for just three dollars. McKenzie’s Country Classics serves up nachos in their recommended serving size, a batting helmet. Other choices here include Irish nachos, mac and cheese, or for those fans looking for something at the opposite end of the nutrition spectrum, assorted salads. Coca-Cola products are featured at Centennial Field. Burlington is known for its many fine craft breweries, and several are featured here. Fans can choose beverages from Harpoon, Zero Gravity, 14th Star, Citizen Cider, Long Trail, Queen City and Fiddlehead. Alcohol can be purchased at the beer stand on the main concourse, or the new beer deck out in right field. Be aware that many of the concession stands at Centennial Field take cash only, so come prepared. Atmosphere 4 The Lake Monsters serve up a fairly typical minor league presentation in this decidedly atypical setting. The new video scoreboard in left-center field is put to good use with game stats, player profiles, videos and more. The team’s mascot, Champ, participates in promotions and roams the stands meeting with fans. There are giveaways and promotions happening between innings. Champ’s play area, located behind the right-center field fence, is a popular area for younger fans. The Lake Monsters have upgraded the options for adult fans hanging out in the area as well, adding a beer deck and food options in the area. New seating options have put fans closer to the action than ever before, with several field-level sections scattered throughout the ballpark. Neighborhood 4 Burlington is a fantastic city with a real bohemian vibe, known for its microbreweries and excellent dining options. Located about a mile and a half from Centennial Field, it’s one of the more popular destinations in the northeast. The only thing keeping this neighborhood from a perfect score is that the downtown area is not easily accessible from the ballpark. On the plus side, it’s a short drive there from Centennial Field before or after the game, and there is ample parking for visiting fans wishing to explore the area. The Church Street Marketplace is the hub of the downtown. Filled with notable pubs, breweries and eateries, it’s the place to be in Burlington. Visiting fans flock to American Flatbread, The Farmhouse and Leunigs for local food and drink. Burlington has a thriving microbrewery scene, with notable breweries including Zero Gravity, Queen City, Switchback and Magic Hat all operating pubs downtown. In the summer months there are many options for fans looking for outdoor activities in the area. Lake Champlain offers a plethora of beach and boating options, while Greater Burlington’s parks and woodlands attract outdoor enthusiasts. The many ski resorts offer outdoor activities throughout the summer. Fans 3 Attendance for the Lake Monsters has held firm for the greater part of the decade. The team averages between 2,200-2,500 fans per game, which places them right in the middle of the New York-Penn League annual attendance rankings. The crowd at a Lake Monster game is typical of most minor league ballparks. With a game day presentation aimed towards families, you’ll be sure to find many kids running around Centennial Field, mixed in with the casual and hardcore baseball fan. Access 3 Centennial Field is located on the eastern edge of the University of Vermont campus, just off of Interstate 89. Signs in the area guide visiting fans to the ballpark easily. This is where the ease of access ends. There is a small parking lot adjacent to the ballpark. This lot fills quickly, so if you want to park right next to Centennial Field, get there early. Very early. When this lot fills, fans can park either in the garage near Gutterson Fieldhouse on the University of Vermont campus (there are shuttles to and from the ballpark), or at the Trinity campus parking lot (it’s a short half mile walk to Centennial Field). A batch of renovations that took place in 2013 turned Centennial Field from a ballpark that looked, well, 100 years old to a comfortable place to watch a game. Gone are the old concrete grandstand seating areas and uncomfortable wooden chairs in the reserved sections, replaced with modern plastic stadium seats. Much of the old grandstand remains, with its large roof providing shade on summer afternoons and shelter from the chilly Vermont evenings. The seating bowl stretches from shallow left field around to shallow right field. While the old grandstand does feature some obstructed views, there aren’t too many bad seats in the house. The Diamond Deck features seats on field level right behind home plate, and the Dugout Deck seating area has field level seats beyond the dugouts on either side of the field. Further down both foul lines are BBQ/party decks that are popular places for fans to hang out and catch the action. Concessions are located underneath the grandstand, which winds around the ballpark in between the many buildings on site. Nestled amongst the many concession stands and food trucks is a newly expanded team store. Getting around Centennial Field is easier than you would expect for such an old facility. Restrooms are clean and large enough to handle a typical Lake Monsters crowd. Return on Investment 5 Attending a Lake Monsters game is a most affordable entertainment option. Tickets cost nine dollars for reserved seating (in the main grandstand under the roof) and eight dollars for grandstand seating (sections down either baseline). Senior citizens receive a two dollar discount and children under 12 get a three dollar discount. Seats in the two premium seating areas are sold for $16 dollars. Parking in the small lot next to Centennial Field costs four dollars. This lot is very small, so get here early if you want to park here. Very early. Parking in the satellite lots is free of charge. Concessions are very reasonably priced, making a Lake Monsters game a most affordable entertainment option for Vermont baseball fans. Extras 3 There is a historic marker near the entrance of the ballpark. The marker makes mention of some of the famous names to play here, including Tris Speaker, Robin Roberts and Ken Griffey Jr. An extra point is awarded to the renovations which increased fan comfort and amenities while keeping the historic flavor of the venue. A final extra point is awarded for the old grandstand at Centennial Field. Facilities like this are quickly disappearing from the minor league landscape. It’s great to have a throwback to visit every once in a while. Final Thoughts Centennial Field, while an older facility, offers many modern amenities and enough comforts to keep today’s fan happy. With a decidedly small-town feel, this ballpark belongs on any baseball fan’s must-see list. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Shifflett Field 1100 20th Street Grottoes, VA 24441 Grottoes Cardinals website Small Town Baseball in Grottoes Nestled in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, the Rockingham County Baseball League is one of the oldest amateur baseball leagues in the country. Virginia's version of town ball was founded in 1924 and is currently celebrating its centennial season. The league's eight teams consist of a mix of current and former college players with ties to the area. Some of the latter have been playing in the league for years. The Grottoes Cardinals are a longtime member of the RCBL, having won nine league championships. They play their home games at Shifflett Field in the town of Grottoes, in southeast Rockingham County near the border with Augusta County. The stadium is part of John E. Painter Park, which also includes a few little league fields. Food & Beverage 5 Concessions at Shifflett Field are served out of a food truck called Battarbee's Catering Buggy. There are many options to choose from here, including burgers, hot dogs (chili and cheese optional), barbecue pork (in sandwich or nacho form), regular nachos, chicken sandwiches, and even chicken parm. Popcorn, peanuts, french fries (chili and cheese optional), onion rings, cheese sticks, and mac and cheese are all available as sides. To drink, fans can buy water, soda, or lemonade, with the lemonade coming in a small size or a very large size. A kids' meal is available for $6 and includes a hamburger or chicken nuggets, fries, and a jug of juice. For those with a sweet tooth, vanilla cheesecake is available. So is ice cream, with your choice of vanilla or spumoni (a mix of chocolate, cherry, and mint ice cream, although traditional spumoni usually includes pistachio instead of mint.) Prizes are reasonable - the most expensive option is a bacon double cheeseburger for $9, but most things are much less. Atmosphere 3 There are several sets of bleachers on either side of home plate at Shifflett Field. There is also an area under a tent behind home plate for fans to set up folding chairs and sit there. Wherever you sit, you will be looking through a chain link fence, although it isn't as thick as in some places. A scoreboard in left-centerfield shows the linescore and other basic information. This is the typical small-town baseball experience of the Rockingham County Baseball League, no bells and whistles, few gimmicks, just a baseball game that brings out the whole community. Even the PA announcer sits at a table out in the open rather than in the press box. Like in the rest of the league, fans are not permitted to keep foul balls hit out of play. However, unlike in many other venues, they do not get a prize for returning it. This lack of ransom means kids will not chase after the foul balls, and someone else will eventually have to walk over and grab them. Neighborhood 1 The one problem with small-town baseball is that the small towns often don't have much going on, and Grottoes is a typical small town. With only about 2,600 people and mostly farmland surrounding the stadium, this may be a lovely community to live in, but there aren't many places to visit. Lil Guss' Restaurant on Dogwood Avenue is a popular eating establishment, but this is a small farming town and you won't find much to do here as a visitor. Residents will say it's lovely, but those visiting from out of town won't find much. Fans 4 The Grottoes Cardinals may draw a couple hundred fans to a typical game, which doesn't seem like much until you consider the entire population of Grottoes is only 2,600. The entire town may not come out to each game, but a significant portion of it does. This being small-town baseball, most of the spectators know some of the players or coaches or even the umpires. This does tend to make them take it easy after missed calls when the person who missed the call could be their neighbor, and there's a good chance their family is sitting only a few feet away. While it may seem like everybody knows everybody at a Grottoes game, if coming to your first game, you shouldn't run into any issues. Access 2 Shifflett Field is located a few miles off US 33, the main east-west road through Rockingham County, via a series of increasingly rural roads. By the end, you will be driving through farmland, crops on both sides of you, as you approach John E. Painter Park and Shifflett Field. You will park in an unpaved gravel lot next to the stadium. Be warned - some of the spaces are in foul ball territory, so don't park too close unless you want to risk a smashed windshield. Restrooms are located across the footpath from Shifflett Field, in between the Little League fields. They are of a sufficient size for the crowds. Return on Investment 5 Admission to most Cardinals games is free thanks to local sponsors. Occasionally there may be a small charge, but this is rare. Check social media before the game to be sure. Concessions from the food truck are reasonably affordable as well. Overall, a Grottoes Cardinals game is an excellent value. . Extras 3 Look for the statue of the cardinal holding a baseball bat behind the third base dugout. Free roster cards are available in a bin on the side of the concession stand. There is a 50-50 raffle for the chance to win a cash prize while supporting the team, a non-profit that depends on fan support. Final Thoughts Grottoes Cardinals baseball is a fine example of what small-town baseball is like in the Rockingham County Baseball League. It seems like the whole town comes out to enjoy the game, and while that's an exaggeration, it isn't exaggerating by much. Most baseball fans outside Rockingham County don't know the league exists, even if they're from nearby locations in Virginia. But fans in Grottoes love the Cardinals, and the community baseball here is a great fan experience that is worth checking out.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Ernest W. Spangler Stadium 150 Stadium Drive Boiling Springs, NC 28152 Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs website Ernest W. Spangler Stadium website Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 8,500 Ernest W. Spangler Stadium - Gardner-Webb University Runnin’ Bulldogs Originally built in 1966, Earnest W. Spangler Stadium serves as the home of both the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football and women's lacrosse teams. The playing surface at Spangler Stadium is named in honor of Coach Norman Harris who is considered one of the founding fathers of Gardner-Webb athletics. The stadium was upgraded in 2014 with the installation of sport turf and again in 2020, when a video board was installed to enhance the overall fan experience. Members of the newly created Big South – Ohio Valley Conference football partnership, Gardner-Webb has started to turn the corner as a program; the Runnin’ Bulldogs won the 2022 Big South Conference football championship in their final season playing exclusively as an independent conference. Food and Beverage 4 Food and drink options are pretty much in line with what would be found at most stadiums. At traditional concessions stands fans can get hot dogs or nachos as primary choices. Snacks include a full selection of candy, peanuts, pretzels, chips, and popcorn. Beverage choices include Pepsi products, Gatorade, and bottled water. Beer and other alcohol options are not sold at Spangler Stadium. Combo meals are possibly the best option, where fans can get hot dogs or nachos with chips and a beverage for $9 or less. This gives fans the most bang for their buck, as separately these would cost $11. If looking for something more than the concessions stand basics, the “‘Sup Dawg” food truck located at the south end of the stadium serves a bit higher quality menu featuring quarter-pound hot dogs, burgers, and cheesesteaks, all of which can be made a combo for between $10 to $13. The extra cost is definitely worth it. Atmosphere 3 Spangler Stadium is situated toward the back of Gardner-Webb's campus with much of the school’s other athletic facilities. Except for the home side of the stadium where the press box and premium areas are, there is not much of a stadium structure to speak of. The stadium perimeter is mostly iron fencing with a couple of smaller brick structures, one being the Henderson Family Gate, a relatively small brick structure with ticket windows on both sides. This gate serves as the primary and most convenient entry point for fans. Seating is made up of two separate sections on each side of the field. The visiting stands are solely bleacher seating and run between the 15-yard lines, whereas the home bleachers are divided into upper and lower sections by a spacious walkway. The lower-level seating mostly consists of the Marching Bulldogs section, along with student seating at midfield, while the upper-level seats have three different options: bleacher benches without backs at both ends, abutted by a section of bleacher seats with backs, and a midfield section of stadium chairback seats. Shade is tough to come by, so the trees along the grassy hill in the southeastern corner of the stadium are a popular location on sunny days. The Marching Bulldogs play a significant role in creating a classic college football atmosphere that goes a long way in setting the tone for the experience. Neighborhood 3 Boiling Springs is a small, rural town in the foothills of the North Carolina mountains. Main Street in Boiling Springs runs directly through the middle of town with a combination of recognizable chain restaurants and a handful of locally owned establishments. Campus Pizzaria, Snack Shop Family Restaurant, and Italian Garden are closely located just off the northeast corner of campus. There are not a lot of entertainment options for visitors to Boiling Springs, but those who might enjoy getting out into nature and looking to make a day of a trip to the area might enjoy exploring the nearby Broad River Greenway, especially during the fall when the foliage is particularly impressive. Fans looking for more options for restaurants, lodging, and entertainment might want to check out neighboring Shelby which is less than 10 miles away. Fans 4 Runnin’ Bulldog fans are relatively active throughout the game. Typical attendance numbers run from 4,000 to 5,000. One of the drawbacks of the overall fan experience here, though, is how spread out the conference is across the country; it impacts the number of visiting fans in attendance. The Gardner-Webb fans do their part in filling the bleachers, but the visiting side of the stadium does tend to be a bit sparse. The general Gardner-Webb fan base is actively engaged in the game, but typically is more reactive to the action on the field. The student section and marching band do an excellent job at staying involved throughout the game and get loud without much encouragement to do so. The student section remains on their feet practically the entire game – their enthusiasm goes a long way in adding to the overall experience. Access 4 Boiling Springs is in the rural foothills of the southwestern mountains of North Carolina, an hour west of Charlotte. Despite Boiling Springs being off the beaten path, it is only about 20 minutes off Interstate-85. Stadium Drive is the primary entry point to the Gardner-Webb athletic facilities. Most of the parking is in the lots just east of the stadium, all within a short walk. There are multiple entrances along the visiting side of the field, with the most popular being the previously mentioned Henderson Family gate that opens to a walkway that stretches to the stands on both sides of the field. While the walkway does not completely pass around the field, it does allow fans to move between the two sides of the stadium. A concourse runs under the main bleachers – while it is not drastically narrow, concessions lines can back up there, making traversing the area somewhat of a challenge. Return on Investment 3 Gardner-Webb football tickets have a price point for just about everyone. Tickets start at $25 for general admission, which is one of the higher price points in the conference. Fans are going to pay $10 for parking, so that is another expense to account for. Fans are looking at a minimum $35 investment for a Runnin’ Bulldogs game. It is not that this is overpriced for college football, it is just a touch high when comparing it to the rest of the conference. Extras 3 The walkway leading to the home stands honors four legendary members of Gardner-Webb football; Coach Norman Harris, Richard Grissom, Chip Stuart, and Darrell Middleton are recognized for their accomplishments with individual brick monuments, honoring four of the most impactful players in Gardner-Webb football history. Gardner-Webb’s live mascot, Bo the bulldog, appears during the pre-game festivities and is available for fans to get photos with. The concourse below the home stands houses an apparel shop offering fans several t-shirts, hats, and other Gardner-Webb gear. Final Thoughts Spangler Stadium offers a solid overall fan experience for those looking to enjoy a small college football atmosphere. The stadium itself is fairly basic, but the fans are enthusiastic and the Marching Bulldogs provide a great soundtrack for the game. The food and beverage options are decent, and the area is charming. The Runnin’ Bulldogs have struggled on the gridiron in recent years, but a coaching change following the 2019 season has helped turn the program around to the point where Gardner-Webb is now one of the top football programs in the Big South – Ohio Valley Conference. This change in leadership has helped in improving the on-field product, in turn improving the overall football experience.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Vandermeer Gym 2717 S Morgantown Rd Greenwood, IN 46143 Center Grove HS Trojans website Vandermeer Gym website Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 4,000 Everything is Dandy at the Vandy Gym The Vandermeer Gym is the home of the Center Grove High School Trojans basketball program. It's located in Greenwood, Indiana, 20 minutes south of Indianapolis. The school dedicated its new basketball arena in January 1996 after Melvin Vandermeer. He coached the Trojans from 1955 to 1958 and later served as principal from 1960 to 1978. When it opened, the gym sat 4,800 but scaled down to 4,000 by 2019. The massive venue has seating on all three sides and includes an upper seating bowl, four concession stands, and easy access from the immense parking lot. It also features two playing courts behind the collapsible bleachers and a walking track on the upper level. The high school has been on the same site since opening in 1884. The original structure burned down on November 1, 1952. The fire also destroyed the basketball gym, and there was a thought to cancel the rest of the season. The team would win later that day on the road in nearby Whiteland in overtime. The only items that survived were the Trojans white home uniforms. A new school and gym were designed by Evansville architect Ralph Legeman and dedicated on December 14, 1954. The high school has expanded since that day almost 70 years ago. The West Gym now serves as an auxiliary gym and will host boys' and girls' JV and freshman games and events during the Johnson County basketball tournament. Food & Beverage 3 There are multiple concession stands, but not all are open, depending on the size of the crowd. The upper concession stand is off in the corner from the main grandstand. The area houses the usual treats found at high school games across the state: hot dogs, nachos, pizza slices, popcorn, soda pop, candy, and other sweets. The gym does offer an impressive ice cream cup with an assortment of toppings. Atmosphere 3 The Vandy Gym is an impressive-looking facility that looks like it was built more recently than in 1995. The lights are bright, the school colors appear freshly painted, and the center scoreboard appears up-to-date. Visitors walk through a massive hallway lobby into the lower bowl on all four sides. Visitors sit on the west side of the court, and the cheer block takes residence underneath the basket on the north side near the cheerleaders. The cheer block makes its presence with multiple cheers and synchronized chants throughout the game. Home fans make a lot of noise from their section of the gym. Center Grove did not have a band during our visit, but it was a back-and-forth contest that was settled in overtime and had a heartbreaking final play that saw the Trojans call by one point. The game featured dunks, blocked shots, three-pointers, and layups that saw players fall to the floor.  Neighborhood 3 Center Grove High School is in Greenwood, about 20 minutes south of downtown Indianapolis. It is in a residential neighborhood, close to the Greenwood Mall, 15 minutes east of the high school. This area offers an array of regional and national chain restaurants, shops, and other points of interest. Fans 4 The crowd is lively during Trojans games that feature a student cheer block that offers synchronized cheers and chants, home fans that rally their section during points of the game, and, for this game, a fervent visiting section. Access 4 The high school and gym are a few miles east of SR-37/Future I-69. The school has a large parking lot and main lobby, leading visitors inside the gym. Bathrooms and concessions are on both levels of the gym, and crowds are too crowded to cause congestion inside the seating bowl or concourse.  Return on Investment 3 The ticket price is $6, concessions are between $3-$5 for most items, and the hometown fans add to the excitement. Center Grove High School is a short drive from downtown Indianapolis, making it an easy way to enjoy Indiana high school basketball. Extras 3 The gym earns a point for naming the gym after former principal Melvin Vanermeer. The venue earns a second point for having the old West Gym open and used for games. There is a chance that fans can peek inside the former home of the Trojans from 1954 to 1995 during a visit. The last point is for the cheer block, an impressive group of students cheering on their team from the stands. Final Thoughts The Vandermere gym is an impressive facility for high school basketball in Indiana. Its proximity to Indianapolis and its energetic fan base make it an easy choice during the basketball season.  ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Google Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Turf Moor Harry Potts Way Burnley, England BB10 4BX Burnley FC website Turf Moor website Year Opened: 1883 Capacity: 22,546 Grounds for the Ages in Burnley Burnley has occupied its ground since 1883 and holds the record for the longest period in one place in England. When it first opened it was home to an 800-capacity grandstand and served as the home venue for Burnley Rovers FC. The plot of land was first occupied by Burnley’s cricket club in 1833. It would not be until after World War II that the ground began to develop in its classic look featuring four distinctive stands. The Longside was constructed by members of Burnley’s Youth team in 1954 and housed both home and away supporters. It was during this time that the venue developed its classic British look. Burnley demolished its terrace sections after the Taylor Report came out in 1990 and within six years converted the ground into an all-seater that includes the T is comprised of four sections: The James Hargeaves Stand (North), The Jimmy Mcilroy Stand (East), The Bob Lord Stand (South) and the David Fishwick Stand (West). Food & Beverage 3 As normal in the North of England, the pies are highly recommended when served hot. The concourse features an array of snacks and drinks that are below the average price in English Football but it should be noted that there are no cash points at any of the concourse or kiosks. Sausage rolls, pies (£3), hot dogs (£2.70), and confectionery are affordable. Drinks include lagers, hot drinks, and soft drinks from Coca-Cola and 7up. Value meals include a beer and pie for £5.70. Or a beer and a snack for £4. There is also a meal deal which includes a soft drink, a party or hotdogs, and a snack for £5–£9 when you double that for two people. Atmosphere 3 The stadium is half a mixture of old and new and further redevelopment is expected shortly. Currently, the stadium has an all-seated capacity of 22,546, and views from both of the newer stands are excellent. Depending on where you sit in the older stands your view may be slightly obstructed by stanchions that support the stand roof. This is a common problem with older British stadiums. Like most British soccer stadiums the move from terracing to all-seated stadiums has slightly affected the atmosphere and Turf Moor is not the hostile place that it once was in the ’60s and ’70s. Away fans who make the trip to Turf Moor are housed within the David Fishwick Stand However when full, which it mostly was when Burnley was in the Premier League last season, the home support quickly becomes the 12th man, and a visit to Turf Moor was feared by the bigger clubs. The Clarets store has been newly refurbished and provides a retail outlet to both home and visitor supporters that stays open for an hour after the final whistle. The store features a wide selection of merchandise and paraphernalia and its look has been upgraded to make it stand out on the exterior of the grounds. Neighborhood 3 Burnley is a typical Lancashire Mill Town set in the heart of the Pennines and although not high on the tourist hit list this area of England is well worth a visit if you have time. The town is surrounded by rolling hills ideal for hill walkers. It is nice in the summer, but subject to cold weather and snow during the winter months. The Town Centre has a small shopping complex that will occupy you for a couple of hours maximum. The avid shoppers in this area tend to head to Manchester or Preston for the larger shopping malls. Oswaldtwistle Mills located in Accrington a couple of miles away offers mill stores and shopping outlets which are a welcome change to the normal high street. If you prefer to digest your pre-match food and drink before you enter a stadium then there is not much choice directly outside of the stadium. Burnley Town Centre offers the normal choice of English fish & chip shops, coffee bars, fast food outlets, and low-key restaurants. Home and away supporters tend to drink at Burnley Cricket Club located next to the stadium where the local beer can be sampled both inside and outside of the club in a relaxed atmosphere. Fans 3 Burnley supporters are an honest bunch and the locals are always happy to assist if you require directions. The club has always kept a hardcore support of twelve to fifteen thousand for each home game even when they were struggling in the lower reaches of the Football League some fifteen years ago and at one point were within minutes of being relegated to non-league football. Fortunately, the club has climbed back up the divisions cumulating with a return to the top level of the English game in 2010. Their stay, however, was brief and at the time of writing, Burnley has an outside chance of reaching the Championship Playoffs. Local rivals are Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End, and Bolton Wanderers. The famous Accrington Stanley from the lower reaches of English League football is located a mere few miles away. Access 3 The stadium is reached by accessing the M65 Motorway at Junction 10 and following signs to Towney Hall, which will take you directly past the stadium. Town Centre car parks are within a ten-minute walk however parking at Burnley Cricket Club priced at £5 is value for the money. Both Burnley Central and Manchester Road Railway Stations are a twenty and fifteen minutes walk away respectively. Manchester Airport is approximately forty-five minutes drive from Burnley with good connections for public transport. Most of the surrounding streets have parking restrictions on matchday but various car lots range in price from £3-£5. It is advised to arrive early to make sure got a spot is secure before the match. The nearest station is Burnley Manchester Road which is a short walk to the stadium. The bus station is relatively close but does require a short walk to the grounds. Return on Investment 3 General admission prices begin at £30 for adults with concessions for those under 16’s and O.A.P’s are the norm for the English Championship and provide good value compared to the Premier League. For the older soccer supporter, a visit to Burnley is always most welcome. Extras 3 Burnley like all clubs have a supporters club shop selling replica shirts and other memorabilia. A match day program is widely available for the price of £3. Turf Moor is also the first football ground to be visited by a member of the British Royal Family when Prince Albert made a stop in 1886.