Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Wrigley Field 1060 W Addison St. Chicago, IL 60613 Chicago Cubs website Wrigley Field website Year Opened: 1914 Capacity: 41,649 The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field Very few major league ballparks can be described as “classic”. Wrigley Field certainly does fill that description. Wrigley Field opened as Weeghman Park in 1914, making it the second oldest ballpark still in use, trailing only Boston’s Fenway Park, which opened in 1912. While the ballpark has gone through several renovations over the years, it has retained many elements of the stadium's original design. It has a capacity of 41,649 within its very tight seating layout. Food & Beverage 4 The Cubs have realized the importance of food and beverages ever since Wrigley Field was built. In the early days, a cart carrying these items was pushed through the stands throughout the game. These carts also were topped with an umbrella to keep the food from spoiling in the sun. While convenient, these carts blocked the fan's view of the game action. Mr. Wrigley noted this issue and began to build permanent concession stands away from the action along these concourses. Today, fans do not even need to leave their seats to place a food and beverage order. They can use the MLB app to check out the menu and place an order with the concession stand nearest their seat location to pick up and pay for their items. Wrigley Field has a very broad menu that will satisfy every fan’s taste. While it includes items that are found at every MLB ballpark, Wrigley Field tries to include items that are unique to Chicago. This includes Chicago-style hot dogs, pizzas, and Garrett’s popcorn. While having a large and diversified menu is great for the fans, the concession prices at Wrigley Park are higher than most other MLB ballparks. Hot dogs are priced at $10 and higher; pizza slices are $14; pretzels are $8 and local craft beers are $16 for a 16 oz. cup. The Cubs sell Coca-Cola Brand sodas, and they offer a wide variety of both branded and craft beers. Brands include Budweiser, Pabst, Miller, and Coors. Fans are allowed to bring a limited amount of food and water into the stadium. You can bring an individual amount of food in a clear bag no larger than one gallon. Water can be brought in in a factory-sealed clear plastic bottle. Atmosphere 4 Attending a game at Wrigley Field is partially going to a sports event and partially visiting a history museum. In addition to hosting the ballgames, Wrigley Field is also a salute to the Cub's long history in baseball. Several Cubs have had their numbers retired by the team. Each of these retired numbers appears on the two foul poles in the ballpark, with a pinstriped pennant emblazoned with the number atop the foul pole. Players honored in this way are Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Fergie Jenkins, Billy Williams, Ryne Sandberg, Greg Maddux, and Jackie Robinson. The Cubs have also preserved the tradition of changing the scores on the center field scoreboard by hand. The scoreboard dates to 1937. There are several statues saluting Cubs players around the exterior of the stadium. They include statues of the Cubs’ longtime announcer Harry Caray, Ernie Banks, Fergie Jenkins, Billy Williams, and Ron Santo. One last tradition that is still present in the ballpark is the ivy-covered walls in the outfield. They were installed in 1937 to give a more parklike feel to the ballpark by Bill Veeck. They also serve to protect the outfielders against the brick walls that are under the ivy. As a result, Wrigley is the only ballpark in the MLB that is not required to affix padding to its outfield walls. Neighborhood 4 The neighborhood surrounding Wrigley Field is known as “Wrigleyville”. While many of the businesses around the ballpark cater to the baseball crowds, most of the blocks around the ballpark are devoted to the day-to-day needs of the residents who live in the area. The Cubs have been protective of the neighborhood, as they did not install lights in the ballpark until 1988, as they were afraid it would be disruptive to the residents in the area. The Cubs still play several day games during the week to minimize any harm to the neighborhood. The exception to this rule is the rooftop seats (www.wrigleyrooftops.com) across the street from the ballpark along Waveland Avenue. These bleachers are heavily regulated as far as number of participants and how much noise they can create by the Cubs. On gamedays, the neighborhood transitions to serve the needs of the fans attending the game. Several stores carry a full line of Cubs memorabilia, and the restaurants are filled with fans getting a bite to eat before the games. Several bars provide liquid entertainment for Cubs fans. Probably the most famous of these is Murphy’s Bleachers, which is located just beyond the outfield walls of Wrigley Field. Another area fans like to meet up with friends and enjoy before the games is the greenspace known as Gallagher Way located along the third base side of the stadium. There are a few games that fans can join in and enjoy, as well as musical entertainment. This is a ticketed area of Wrigley Field. Fans 5 The Cubs fanbase is more national in scale than most clubs in the MLB. This is due to the long history of its team, as well as the many stars who have worn its’ pinstripes over the years. A large portion of this fanbase has only been to Wrigley Field via the televising of its games over the years by superstation WGN. The fans who are at games in person have stayed loyal through thick and thin seasons for the team. Their loyalty was rewarded when the Cubs finally won the World Series in 2016 after a 106-year drought. Probably the most boisterous fans of the Cubs are the Bleacher Bums who sit in the general admission bleachers in the outfield. They never let their support of the team waver. A long-standing tradition is to throw back any home run balls hit by the opposition, as a sign of their disgust and hatred for the opposition. The fans in this section of the stands are so legendary that they even had a Broadway play written then about them. Access 3 In our neighborhoods section, we spoke about Wrigleyville and its presence as both a residential area and an area where small businesses are located to serve the day-to-day needs of the residents. Unfortunately, this makes it harder to drive to a game at Wrigley Park. Unlike most MLB ballparks, Wrigley does not have acres of parking just outside of the venue. Street parking is not allowed in Wrigleyville and the little parking at the stadium is reserved for players and season ticket holders. There is one large lot (3900 North Rockwell Street) available for night games and weekend games only. It is 2.2 miles from Wrigley Field, but it is served by shuttle buses to and from the stadium. We strongly encourage fans to utilize either public transportation or Uber/Lyft to get to Wrigley Field. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has rail service through its Addison Street station on the Red Line. The other CTA rail lines all intersect with the Red Line somewhere in the system. The Addison Station is a block from the ballpark. CTA bus routes 152 and 22 both have stops within a block of the stadium. Rideshare pickup/delivery is available on Addison Street between Broadway and Hals and at Irving Park Road between Clark and Seminary. Once at the ballpark, there are six gates into the venue. These gates open 90 minutes before the games, or two hours before the weekend games. The concourses are narrow and difficult to navigate, so it is best to enter at the gate that is closest to your seat location. Return on Investment 3 Attending a Cubs game can be an expensive proposition. The seating bowl is relatively small as the ballpark has a relatively small capacity in comparison to other MLB venues. A large portion of the seats are taken up by season ticket holders. This means the remaining seats are in high demand, driving up the average ticket price. Add to that cost is the Cub's use of a dynamic pricing system. This means that games involving Central Division games such as games with their greatest rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals or the Milwaukee Brewers, will be higher priced than for other opponents. Interleague games involving the Yankees, the Red Sox, and the White Sox will command a higher price. Visitors will typically have to go to the secondary market for tickets, which also features a higher face value price for tickets. Another area of high cost is for parking near Wrigley Field. The ballpark is surrounded by a residential/ small business neighborhood rather than a large parking lot. Finding a nearby parking spot can prove to be an expensive proposition. This cost can be avoided by using the excellent public transportation options to get to the ballgames. Rideshares can be another affordable option to reduce the cost of going to a game. Wrigley Field operates on a cashless basis. Extras 4 Wrigley Field has been the site of several of baseball’s greatest moments. They include Babe Ruth’s “called shot” during the 1932 World Series, Ernie Banks hitting his 500th home run, Pete Rose tying Ty Cobb for most career hits, and Kerry Wood’s 20-strikeout performance in 1998. The Cubs ballpark also figures into one term that is frequently used in baseball still today. Mr. Wrigley included flags representing every team in the league on the large scoreboard in center field. The flags, or pennants, were arranged by divisions and were placed in the order of where that team was in the standings for their division. Mr. Wrigley was also a sailor who competed in nautical races on nearby Lake Michigan. This is the origin of the term “pennant race” when referring to the baseball standings. The flags are kept in the correct position each day during the season. While the Cubs do everything possible to keep Wrigley’s charm and historic elements, they have made some needed updates in recent years. The 1060 Project (Wrigley’s street number) has made several improvements to the stadium. These include several structural improvements to the 110-year-old facility, a remodel of both the home and visiting clubhouses, the addition of two videoboards, the addition of a food court to service the upper-level seating bowl, a widening of the concourses and the addition of Wi-Fi service within the park. One of the highlights of any Cubs game is the singing of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch. For many years Harry Caray led this tradition from his announcing booth. Since his passing this honor has been passed on to celebrities from movies, Broadway, television, and the sports world. Final Thoughts Going to a baseball game at Wrigley Field is a bucket list item for any true baseball fan.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Peoples Natural Gas Field 1000 Park Ave Altoona, PA 16602 Altoona Curve website Peoples Natural Gas Field website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 7,210 No Trouble With This Curve When Major League Baseball expanded by two teams (Tampa Bay and Arizona) for the 1998 season, it meant that the minor leagues would also have to expand to accommodate these new organizations. At the AA level, the Eastern League added two new teams, in Erie and Altoona, Pennsylvania. The Altoona franchise beat out a bid from Springfield, MA to gain their franchise.   Altoona’s new franchise was christened the “Curve,” inspired by the nearby Horseshoe Curve. The team, which debuted in 1999, was affiliated with the nearby Pittsburgh Pirates, a relationship which continues to this day. The Curve have won two league titles (2010 and 2017) during their quarter-century existence.   Originally named “Blair County Ballpark” with a capacity of 6,176, the facility was expanded to its present capacity in 2003 and entered its current naming rights deal with Peoples Natural Gas Field in 2012. The ballpark is designed to resemble an old-fashioned railroad roundhouse, paying homage to the railroad industry that is so prevalent in the area. With the ridges of the Allegheny Mountains visible in the distance and Lakemont Park’s Skyliner roller coaster located just beyond the right field fence, PNG Field features one of the most picturesque backdrops in all of minor league baseball.   Food & Beverage 4   Peoples Natural Gas Field doesn’t push the envelope much with their concession offerings, but what they do, they do well. There are multiple concession stands on both concourses. These stands are augmented by several portable carts which offer some variety in the menu and help to keep lines down.   All your standard ballpark fare can be found throughout PNG Field, from hot dogs and burgers to pizza, chicken tenders, sausage sandwiches, and chicken sandwiches. Fans looking for something a little different can find pulled pork at selected stands. You can get it on top of your nachos or in a sandwich. Chicken wraps are also sold at some stands. A wide variety of snacks are sold throughout the ballpark, including homemade cookies. Adults and children alike flock to the Sweet and Boozy stand, where you can add unlimited toppings to your sundae, or make your ice cream part of an adult beverage.   Pepsi products are featured at PNG Field. Fans looking for an adult beverage will find wine, mixed drinks, and slushies sold throughout the park. Craft beer fans will find a pair of Curve-themed beers from Levity Brewing, Baseball Skies and Play the Song, sold at portable stands alongside an extensive list of local and national brews.   The team’s signature menu item is the Curve Burger, sold at the Kunzler Grill down the right-field line. While the burger doesn’t break any new culinary ground, many fans have regarded this 100% Angus Beef Burger as the best they’ve had in any ballpark. Unfortunately, this writer did not sample the Curve Burger, as I was saving my appetite for a visit to the local Primanti Bros.   Atmosphere 4   You would probably figure that any ballpark with a roller coaster as a neighbor would be a pretty fun place to hang out. You wouldn’t be wrong. Although the Skyliner is no longer in operation, that doesn’t affect the fun going on within the walls of PNG Field.   One of the biggest things this ballpark has going for it is its view. We’ve already mentioned the right field view, but beyond the left field wall is a giant berm, some additional bleacher seating, and the Budweiser Party Deck. It’s a fun place from which to take in the game.   The Curve staff put on a nice show with all the expected shenanigans. Look out for mascots shooting t-shirts into the crowd, giant bobbleheads on the concourse, friendly staff, and fans. Music plays over a crystal-clear sound system and the PA announcer goes about his job unobtrusively. The giant scoreboard in left-center field is put to good use throughout the game. Beyond this are spectacular views of the Allegheny Mountains. Sit in the upper deck and just enjoy the view of the field and beyond.   Peoples Natural Gas Field is 96 miles from PNC Park, so Altoona is situated firmly in Pirates territory. The fans who fill PNG Field night after night are diehard Pirates fans who are knowledgeable and passionate about the team. If you’re visiting with the whole family and the younger fans with you need a break from the game, there’s a play area in right field and even a play area on the upper deck concourse for smaller children.   Be sure you take a peek out to center field after every Curve run. Al Tuna (say it out loud, you’ll get the joke) emerges from a secret door in the outfield wall to run and dance around every time Altoona scores.   Neighborhood 3   There’s not much going on near Peoples Natural Gas Field but visiting fans should be able to find decent dining and lodging options a short distance from the ballpark. Historic downtown Altoona is just a few miles away.   Altoona’s history is tied to its iconic railroads, and visitors can visit the Horseshoe Curve National Landmark or the Railroaders Memorial Museum while in town. There is no shortage of lodging options in Altoona, with many just off Interstate 99. Route 36 downtown features many chain restaurants, including local legend Primanti Bros. Fans looking for more local options will find some excellent restaurants in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood.   Fans 4   Altoona ranks in the upper half of the Eastern League attendance rankings, drawing about 4,500 fans per game. Attendance has been on an upward trend since the pandemic season of 2020.   The crowd at Curve games will resemble those at other minor league parks. You’ll find a mix of diehard fans, casual fans enjoying an inexpensive night of entertainment, and families. As mentioned before, this is Pirate Country, and the fans enjoy watching the organization’s future stars making their way up to Pittsburgh.   Access 5   Ballparks don’t come much easier to find than PNG Field. Located right off Interstate 99 on Park Avenue, exit 32 drops you practically at the front door of the ballpark. VIP Parking is located to the north of the facility, with a parking garage just past the park on Park Ave. Fans using public transportation can take Amtran’s number 9 bus  right to the ballpark.   The main entrance to the ballpark, along with the ticket offices, is located on the third base side of the ballpark near the top of the structure. After a quick security check, fans will climb down a few stairs to the upper concourse or down many stairs to reach the lower concourse. The ballpark, built in 1999, is easily accessible for those who require such accommodation. Both concourses are easy to traverse, with multiple concession stands, restrooms, and easy entry to seating areas.   The grandstand stretches from first base around to third, with additional seating located beyond the main grandstand on both sides. There are social gathering areas, plenty of standing-room areas, and picnic tables for fans who would like to wander the ballpark seeking alternate viewpoints. PNG Field does not offer 360-degree access around the facility, but there is no shortage of areas to explore. The upper seating levels are steeply pitched, offering excellent views of the field and beyond.   Return on Investment 5   PNG Field’s double-decked grandstand allows for numerous vantage points to watch the game and for numerous price points for visiting fans. Tickets start at $10 for seats in the left field bleachers and top out at $16 for lower-level seats in the 100 sections. If attending on a weekday, you will find all prices discounted by one dollar. Waiting until the day of the game increases prices by two dollars. No matter what level ticket you choose, it’s a great deal.   Parking in the garage located beyond the left field fence will cost you another four dollars. Concession prices are comparable to other facilities in the area and are quite reasonable. Overall, a Curve game is a very affordable entertainment option for local sports fans.   Extras 3   An extra point is awarded for the Skyliner roller coaster located just beyond the right field fence. Although the coaster is not operating during the 2024 season, it is still a great part of the Curve experience. When running, the coaster features cars painted in the team colors with “Go Curve” written on the side of the cars. The roller coaster is still lit up at night.   Hanging from the rafters of the upper concourse are banners commemorating Curve championships, logo history, and opening day rosters from every season of the team's existence. Adam Hyzdu played for only two seasons in Altoona but made a big impact on the franchise. Hyzdu set many franchise records during his time with the team and was an all-star in both seasons in western Pennsylvania. His number 16 has been retired by the club. A display of all the players to play in the Major Leagues is located in left field.   Final Thoughts   There are many fantastic ballparks scattered throughout the AA level of minor league baseball. Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona has to be considered among the best. It’s a fun place to catch a game, filled with energy, enthusiastic fans and plenty of entertainment to distract you. Plus, it’s hard to beat the view!   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Dennis Morrell, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 3M Arena at Mariucci 1901 4th St SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s hockey website 3M Arena at Mariucci website Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 10,000 GOpher the Unique Atmosphere at Minnesota's Mariucci Arena The fabric of a collegiate atmosphere transitions to sports in the same way groups of young people embrace campus life. So when a quaint sports venue is blended with the traditions of a passionate hockey community, it makes for something special. Since 1993, Mariucci Arena, named for John Mariucci, the "godfather of Minnesota hockey", has served as the Gopher's home rink and become something special. As you walk through the East gate, above your head reads, "Through these gates walk the greatest fans in college hockey" and it won't take a visitor much time to see why. Well-behaved, but highly passionate, is the best way to describe Gopher hockey fans. While the fans make up a huge part of the experience make no mistake, the venue and the university add a great deal to creating a magnificent live hockey experience. Food & Beverage 3 Unlike TCF Stadium where the football team plays, alcoholic beverages are not sold at Mariucci Arena. While credit and debit cards are accepted in many places in the arena, there are plenty of stands that only accept cash for payment. One thing you must do is visit GO NUTS, just across from sections 8 & 9. Greg and Mark Sullwold operate the stand, part of a local company known as Cindy's Cinnamon Roasted Nuts. Cindy is the mother of Greg and Mark-not only are the candied almonds, cashews, and pecans good, but you want to get there early to buy them. Make it your first stop and avoid the crowd. The overwhelming success of this stand is amazing. I know they have some special things on the to-do list for flavors and promotions. BBQ is also good and served at Famous Dave's across from sections 1 & 14. The Georgia Chopped Pork sandwich ($7) is excellent. Coca-Cola products are sold here. You can get a bottled soda for $4.75 or fountain soda in three sizes, $3.50, $5, and $6, the latter being a sturdy souvenir cup. Bottled water is $4.25 and hot cocoa and small coffee are $3.00, large coffee is $4.75. Entrees are plentiful with a hot dog at $5, bratwurst at $6, nachos with cheese at $5.25, and nachos supreme at $7. Snacks include a pretzel for $6.00, add a cup of cheese for another $1.50.Popcorn comes in two sizes, regular at $4.50 and bottomless at $6.50. Atmosphere 5 The single bowl design for a sports venue has long added uniqueness in viewing the playing surface. Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, and the Los Angeles Coliseum and Rose Bowl in Southern California immediately come to mind but those are much larger structures, built to accommodate a football field, which is nearly three times the size of a hockey rink. For hockey, the one-bowl design is perfect and Minnesota shows it off best. Yes, the long walk from the top row, #24, down to the glass can be long. The walk back up is a bit more difficult, but the magic of the steep pitch and the sound, which seems to nestle itself in the bowl instead of rising, is quite special. There is not one bad seat in the house. In never being more than 24 rows from the ice in a building that fills 10,000 fans (including the standing room), you are immersed in the action. For special private seating, the Club Room is above sections 10-14 while suites are above sections 14-22. If you are sitting at center ice, facing the benches with the penalty boxes closest to you, your seat is in section 19. To your right is section 18 and to your left is section 20. The benches are across the ice, the Gophers to the left in front of section 6, and the visitors to the right in front of section 8. Section 7 is across the ice on the red line. For those who like to get close to where the players walk on and off the ice to and from the dressing rooms, players enter the bench area and ice at about the center of the bench, just inside the blue line. For the Gophers, it is near the higher number of seats in section 6 (seats 12-14) and for the visitors, it is near the lower number of seats in section 8 (seats 1-3). The Gophers shoot twice at the goal in front of Section 13, which serves as the student section. There is a standing area behind every section, marked off with boundaries on the floor to make sure you stay in your place. The pitch in the rows puts you right on top of the ice, feeling like you are very much a part of the match. Row length is never more than 14 seats wide, narrower in corner sections at the lower rows. You will rarely find tickets available from the ticket office as all games sell out. The secondary market is the place to go. As for the atmosphere, gates open 90 minutes before the face-off. There are three entrances, but only one matters. Enter on the east side which has that famous slogan above your head and tons of memorabilia in cases. From there, it is escalators on both sides leading you to section 1. At the top, walk to your left and the sections are sequential, beginning at 2. Go to the right and at the top, sections begin at 24. Section 1 is in the middle. The concourse is full of different history displays on both sides of overhead flat spaces. Don't miss the US Olympic display case in section 5 and see the notable players and teams in Gopher hockey history detailed in photos and memorabilia. Take the time to see everything as you walk around the rink, all of which keep the ice fully visible from where you are walking and standing. Another thing to be mindful of is the brass and pep band at the top of section 14, and boy are they good! Make sure you witness the entire group marching a lap around the concourse as everyone makes a path a little more than an hour before game time. Pre-skate is about 45 minutes before puck drop and if you forget the band will provide a gentle reminder. Things start getting revved up now. Be in your seats 15 minutes before the first puck drop and watch the energy as both teams rush out onto the ice. Then take a look at the Minnesota end of the ice. With all helmets neatly displayed along the top of the dasher boards one by one, the home team is introduced as each player stands along the goal line, filling space from side to side. Starters head to the blue line when announced, receiving a high five from Goldie, the team's skating mascot. Neighborhood 4 Mariucci Arena is right on campus where bus lines run alongside the building and light rail lines just south and within a fraction of a mile. Also just south of the arena, is a bevy of shops and places to eat along University Avenue and alongside streets intersecting this main thoroughfare. TCF football stadium is east and just across the street from the arena. Fans 5 They are magnificent in every way. The build-up begins outside and if you are there on the day of a football game, across the street east of the arena at TCF stadium, it is an all-day affair. You can see maroon and gold for miles and miles on game day. Absorb yourself in the atmosphere leading up to game time and make sure you are not shy about engaging folks. Once you let them know you come from other parts, you can be sure and be welcomed by gracious hosts. The best way to take in the atmosphere and immerse yourself in Gopher fandom is to visit that student section which stretches from sections 12 through 14 at the arena's east end. Sitting on each seat with extras nearby is "The Ice Sheet", a collection of chants to learn on one side with game preview and rosters on the other side. The chants and cheers along with an engaged crowd make this a special place. There are no passive fans here as everyone is riveted to the action on the ice. Access 4 I always like an adventure when attending a game out of town and mass transit typically is the best and cheapest way to do it. If taking light rail, you need the green line and either the Stadium Village Station, which is near TCF Stadium, or East Bank which is a little closer to the arena, but just a little further south than the first stop. Light rail is just $2.25 during rush hour (3 AM - 6 AM and 3 PM - 630PM). Otherwise, it is $1.75. Transfers are free. Day passes cost $5. If you choose to drive and park, the cost is $10, goes into effect 2 to 4 hours before the event's scheduled start time, and typically includes the following lots: 4th street ramp, university Avenue ramp, Washington Avenue ramp, Lot 37, Gopher Lot and Victory Lot. Plenty of restrooms and the concourses are just wide enough to provide ease of movement throughout the building. Return on Investment 5 Outside of the rivalry games which carry a big ticket, prices are very good and highly affordable. Even if you drive to the game and park, $10 is a fair price to pay. To witness a game here at $25 a ticket and affordable food prices, you can't go wrong here. Extras 5 GAME PROGRAM - $2 gives you all you need to know, printed on heavy cardstock, and unfolds for an easy-to-hold and read process, only available once the gates open near sections 2 and 24. MERCHANDISE - good stuff, great variety, and available at multiple locations along the upper ring concourse, including the team store outside sections 11-12. I was disappointed there were no game pucks for sale, but they have lots of variety of souvenir pucks and other apparel. CHEERLEADERS & STUDENT BAND - the skating Gophers cheerleaders are quite good and offer a little more than your typical sideline cheerleaders as their skating prowess is on full display. And as for the band, they are good. They are so good that you will find yourself sometimes watching them when you should be watching the game. They have lots of personalities. Both groups play a role in keeping the energy level high. STANDING ROOM - while you might have a standing room ticket, you don't have a specific space, which is good if you like to move around and see the arena and the game from different perspectives. You do have a railing by which to lean in front of you and to leave, you just back out and go your way. You might even be able to find the fan next to you willing to save your space while you visit the restroom or concession stand. That the standing room is not multi-layered is a big plus here. CHANT AND PREVIEW SHEET - There is peace of mind if you immerse yourself in the atmosphere and be involved, like a choir book at church, just read and play along. Great stuff. Final Thoughts Get there to see a game, you will be talking about for weeks and months after your visit. Witnessing a game here is very special.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry and Joseph Oakes, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium 100 Ficklen Dr Greenville, NC 27858 East Carolina Pirates website Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium website Year Opened: 1963 Capacity: 50,000 No Quarter Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium opened on September 7, 1963, as East Carolina defeated Wake Forest 21-10. The total cost of the stadium was $300,000 which included permanent stands on the south side, a small press box, and a lighting system. Several renovations since then have made Dowdy-Ficklen arguably the nicest non-power 5 college football stadium. Seating on the north side was completed in 1968, which bumped capacity up to 20,000. In 1978, the seating capacity increased to 35,000. An upper deck and club level expansion in 1998 and 1999 increased capacity to 43,000, and an endzone expansion project in 2010 pushed capacity to its current 50,000. Completed in 2019, TowneBank Tower rises over the south side of the stadium which added a new club level, loge boxes, suites, and a new press level. In 2022, a new video board and ribbon board were added around the stadium. These renovations make Dowdy-Ficklen a great place to be on a fall Saturday! Food & Beverage 2 While Dowdy-Ficklen offers a fair selection of concession products, we strongly suggest that you eat before you arrive at the game. There are not many food options at Dowdy-Ficklen; however, the service is terrible and the line is extremely long. When we attended in 2022, there were folks sitting around us who waited over 45 minutes for concessions. Talking to fans, we found out that his had been a problem for a couple of years and was not just due to the capacity crowd. For games where the heat index is over 85, fans are allowed to bring in two unopened bottles of water. Food options include Pizza Hut Pan Pizza ($8), all beef hot dog ($4), nachos ($4), peanuts ($4), popcorn box ($4), popcorn tub ($7), cotton candy ($5), cracker jacks ($4), and candy (M&M’s, Reese’s, Skittles – $4). Fountain Pepsi products are sold ($4 for a 22 oz. and $5 for a 32 oz.) including Pepsi, Pepsi Zero, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist, Tropicana Lemonade, and Dr. Pepper. Aquafina water is $3 for a 20 oz. bottle and $6 for a 1-liter bottle. Dowdy-Ficklen offers a good selection of alcoholic beverages as well. There are also a few food trucks around the concourse as well, including local options Bill’s Hot Dogs and Simply Natural Creamery Ice Cream. Atmosphere 4 Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium is a horseshoe with the upper deck rising above the north side and the TowneBank Tower above the south side. The Pete and Lynn Murphy Center fill in the endzone where there are no seats. Chairback seating is available on the lower level between the 20-yard lines. The rest of the seating is bench seating, with the exception of the club and suite levels. The first row of seats is raised slightly above the field, which offers excellent sightlines, even for seats closer to the field. The playing surface is a beautiful natural grass surface. The midfield logo is the “Pirate State of Mind” which has the Pirate’s head in the Eastern part of North Carolina. It faces the south side of the stadium. There is a large videoboard above the endzone seats as well as ribbon boards on the facades of the tower, upper deck, and Murphy Center. The videoboard shows the score, replays, as well as a live look in’s to other games during the time outs, while the ribbon boards show the score, time remaining, time outs, etc. The official mascot Pee-Dee the Pirate roams the field before and during the game. The team is led out of the tunnel by an actual pirate pre-game. After each 1st down the PA announcer says “first-down” and the crowd responds “Pirates!”. There is also a cannon that fires after each score. The ECU Marching Pirates sit in the endzone and play throughout the game, as well as pre-game and during halftime. ECU has a great tradition at the start of the 4th quarter. The No-Quarter flag is raised in the end zone as the Pirates declare “No-Quarter” on their opponents in the fourth quarter. This is in reference to Pirate battles of old as the No-Quarter flag would signify that would take no prisoners and give no quarter to the enemy. Neighborhood 3 Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium is located on the southern edge of ECU’s campus, in the vicinity of Minges Coliseum and Clark-LeClair Stadium . Eastern North Carolina is famous for its barbecue. There are several great barbecue restaurants in Greenville, but be sure that you try one of the following: Parker’s, B’s, or Sam Jones. If barbecue is not your thing, check out Sup Dogs, a hot dog joint near campus that has won the Barstool Best Bar title for three out of the last four years. The Greenville Mapp is less than a mile from the stadium. In its vicinity are restaurants such as Mellow Mushroom and McAlister’s Deli. If you are looking for a place to spend the night, check out hotels near the Greenville Convention Center (Hilton, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn). Fans 3 A decade ago this would have been an easy 5, but the Pirates fan support has waned in recent years due to a lack of success on the field in recent years. Even though the Pirates went to a bowl in 2022, the fans have been slow to return. Dowdy-Ficklen has a capacity of 50,000; average attendance was 36,104 in 2021 down from 44,785 in 2014. However, the Pirates posted their first winning season in several years in 2021 and the crowds are starting to return in 2022. When we attended the opening game of the 2022 season a stadium record crowd of 51,711 was announced, even though there was quite a bit of empty seats and a good number of visiting fans. Pirate fans are a passionate bunch and while they do not routinely sell out the stadium, they are loud and into the game. Don’t be surprised to hear loud “purple” and “gold” chants throughout the game. While the stadium may not always be full, you can expect a raucous atmosphere throughout the game. Access 4 Plan on arriving a couple of hours ahead of time as the city streets surrounding Dowdy-Ficklen can become crowded quickly. As in the case of most college stadiums, the majority of parking around the stadium is reserved for permit holders, however, there is one pay lot for $20 located near the stadium. For those needing handicapped parking, you can park at the Christenbury lot for $20 and a shuttle will take you to and from the game. The lines entering the stadium tend to back up fairly easily, so again arrive early, as the ticket scanners do not always work well. For games when the stadium is full, expect the concourse to be packed. Dowdy-Ficklen also has a clear bag policy. There are several handicap-accessible areas, including elevators to the upper deck for those who are unable to take the stairs or ramps. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to ECU games are fairly reasonable and range from $25-$55 for most games. For games against in-state rivals such as NC State, all tickets are $70, but for most other games, the University uses a tiered pricing system with upper deck tickets being $25-$35 and lower level tickets being $50-$55. Concession prices are not extremely outrageous, but we recommend eating before you arrive so as to not have to wait in long lines, etc. Nevertheless, $35 is not a bad deal to get into an FBS college football game. Extras 3 One extra point for showing live look-ins of other games on the video board during time outs. A second extra point for the No-Quarter tradition at the start of the 4th quarter. A third extra point for the kid’s zone on the south side of the stadium. Final Thoughts Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium is a great venue to take in a college football game. The fans are loud, passionate, and into the game and there is not a bad seat in the house. The Pirates have knocked off several big-name schools at Dowdy-Ficklen including West Virginia, Virginia Tech, NC State, and UNC. When the Pirate faithful fill up “The Fick”, it is as tough of place as any to play in the country.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Hancock Stadium 211 North Main Street Normal, IL 61761 Illinois State Redbirds website Hancock Stadium website Year Opened: 1963 Capacity: 13,391 House Of The Cards Illinois State University was founded in 1857 as a school to train teachers. Today it has a student body of more than 21,000 students. 93% of the students are from the state of Illinois. The top degree programs are elementary education, business administration, and special education. The football program at Illinois State has been around since 1887. It is a member of the FCS level of NCAA competition as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The Redbirds took home the MVC Championship in 1999, 2014, and 2015. They have gone on to play in the FCS playoffs eight times and were the runner-up in the 2015 National Championship game. Their rivalry game against Eastern Illinois has been played every season since 1901, and it is known as the “Mid-America Classic. The on-campus Hancock Stadium has served as the home field of Redbird football since 1963. Today it has a capacity of 13,391 seats divided between large grandstands that are on the sides of the playing field. Since its opening in 1963, the stadium has gone through several renovations. In 1969 the school installed an artificial turf field. They were one of the first FCS-level schools in the country to go with the new product. In 2010 the school replaced the original product with a new and improved version of artificial turf. Food & Beverage 3 There are three stadium concession stands servicing the east side of the seating bowl and two servicing the west side stands. In addition, both Avanti’s and Papa John’s have stood on the east side, while J & J’s supplements the ISU stands on the west side of the field. Concessions include BBQ sandwiches ($7), polish sausages ($4), hot dogs ($5), nachos ($7), pretzels ($4), popcorn ($5), cookies ($6), candy ($4), and chips ($3). Beverages include Coca-Cola brand sodas ($6), water ($4), coffee ($4), and Gatorade ($6). Atmosphere 4 The stadium you see as you enter on gameday is vastly different than the stadium before the last major renovation in 2013. This renovation saw the east side of the stadium demolished and then rebuilt with many more seats than it formerly had. Bleacher back seats were installed in the premium seating areas. Those with deep pockets can now sit in one of the 500 new stadium club seats or enjoy the game in the climate-controlled comfort club member’s room. Those with even deeper pockets can enjoy one of the seven suites added to the stadium. Both the student section and the Big Red Marching Machine have designated seating in the west side bleachers. This means the east side seats are mostly alums or townspeople who come to the games. This keeps both sides happy, as the alums prefer not to have to talk over the band or a group of students that are there for socialization, not the game. The scoreboard you see in the south end zone was installed as a part of the 2013 renovations. Below it is a small area known as the Heller Stores Touchdown Terrace. Fans can bring a blanket or a beach towel to sit on this small berm. Touchdown Terrace, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 4 Bloomington-Normal is the quintessential Midwestern city. It has a strong economy, as it is the headquarters for State Farm Insurance and electric auto maker Rivian. The pair of cities feature very healthy downtown areas, which include both mom-and-pop stores, in addition to national chains. The Bloomington/Normal area has been recognized as one of the top 40 college towns in the country. The cities have an excellent relationship with Illinois State. This is based on the quality of life and the availability of arts and entertainment opportunities. It has also been cited as the most educated metropolitan city in the state of Illinois. If you are looking for cultural activities, the Children’s Discovery Museum is a great place to start. History buffs will find several attractions related to Rte. 66, which dissects the cities of Bloomington and Normal. In addition to ISU sporting events, sports fans can take in a baseball game at the Corn Crib, the home of the Normal Cornbelters . Like most towns with a major college presence, Bloomington-Normal offers some great eateries and watering holes, such as Cadillac Jack’s, and local favorites Pub II and Carl’s Ice Cream. Fans 5 The fan base at Illinois State mirrors what you would find at most college stadiums on a Saturday afternoon anywhere in the country. The alums and faculty sit on the east side of the stadium. The alums are more into the game, and often can be more vocal about what they see on the field. The parents of many of the team members also sit in this area. They tend to be loud, especially when their son makes a great play. The fans on the west side of the stadium are more vocal than the old-school fans on the other side. The ISU student section is several aisles wide and is known as the Red Alert. They coordinate their efforts with the spirit squads and the ISU band. The Big Red Marching Machine plays tunes from the early morning hours at the tailgates until the Alma Mater concludes the day after the game. Illinois State has several great traditions that fans look forward to on game days. The first of these is the antics of the Redbird’s mascot, Reggie. He is virtually everywhere on the campus before the kickoff – greeting tailgaters, opening Reggie’s Fun Zone for the younger set two hours before the game, and leading the Redbirds onto the field just before the kickoff. Another tradition is having the Victory Bell on site for games. The bell is mobile and accompanies the team onto the field before the game. It is rung whenever the Redbirds score or after the final whistle when the home team brings home a victory. The last tradition has the players rubbing the Battle Bird’s head before the game for good luck. A new tradition added for the 2022 season is the Redbird Row. This pregame experience will feature live music, performances by both the ISU cheerleaders and the school band, and large video screens tuned to other college football games going on around the country. The Bird Walk will come through this area 2.5 hours before the kickoff. Access 4 Getting to Hancock Stadium and your seat is easy on gamedays. The stadium is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of College Avenue and Main Street. The campus and the stadium are easily accessed from many different directions on I-55, which is only two miles away. Once you’ve parked, enjoy yourself! Tailgating in the parking lots is allowed after 7 am on Redbirds game days. As the game draws closer, you’ll use one of ten gates to get into Hancock Stadium. The gates open one hour before kick-off, so you have plenty of time to reach your seat. The concourses were widened as a part of the last stadium renovation project, so you should not have any problem navigating to your seat. Return on Investment 3 Attending a Redbirds game at Hancock Stadium does not have to cost you an arm and a leg. Let’s begin with your arrival at the ISU campus with your car. Parking in any of the campus parking lots on gamedays is $10. You can prepay for a parking pass when you purchase your tickets. The food at the concession stands is not flashy, but it is available for a reasonable price. Ticket prices can vary a little bit between each game. This is a reflection on the opponent, whether it is a special game (i.e., Homecoming or the first game of the season, etc.) Tickets in the club seating area along the 50-yard line cost $40-$50. Reserved seating costs $30-$40, and all other seating in the bleachers is considered General Admission, which runs $20-$30 for adults and $15-$20 for children aged 12 and under. Extras 2 Originally the Illinois State teams went with the moniker of the “Fighting Teachers” as a nod to the school’s original purpose. Even back then, the leadership of the university realized this was not an appropriate name for the school team. The team wore red and white uniforms, leading a professor to suggest the name “Cardinals” for the team. The team did decide to go with a bird name, but chose “Redbirds” instead of Cardinals, as they felt that this would reduce any confusion with the very well-established St. Louis Cardinals. In 2015 seven members of the Illinois State athletic staff and some of the school’s top boosters died in a plane crash near the Bloomington-Normal Airport. This could have been a crushing blow to the school’s athletic programs. Instead, the school decided to honor the deceased in a meaningful way, which would involve student-athletes in the school for years to come. A memorial was built near the north entrance to the Redbird Arena. It features a fountain with seven columns to represent the seven who perished on the flight. A Battle Bird sculpture was also built, and that sculpture is at Hancock Stadium for every game. Each player touches the sculpture before they take the field, using this inspiration to honor those who died too soon. Final Thoughts Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University is a great place to be on a crisp autumn afternoon. Gamedays begin with social activities along Redbird Row and are followed by some great football. The fans cheer on the Victory Bell after each Redbirds score and end the evening by singing the alma mater with the Big Red Marching Machine providing the music. Football in the Midwest doesn’t get better than this.

Photos by Paul Baker and Matt Finnigan, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 UC Health Park 4385 Tutt Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80922 Rocky Mountain Vibes website UC Health Park website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 8,500 The Rocky Mountain Vibes Adapt and Succeed in the Pioneer League Organized baseball in Colorado Springs has metamorphosed over the past eight years in a way that would have doomed many franchises to failure. In 2014, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox were in their 22nd season as the Colorado Rockies’ AAA affiliate in the Pacific Coast League. This partnership made sense, as the parent club was only about an hour away. The altitude (6,531 feet above sea level) simulated the Coors Field experience for young pitchers. Fans came to see prospects such as Todd Helton, Matt Holliday, Carlos Gonzalez, and Nolan Arenado play before they became MLB stars. After the 2014 season, however, the Rockies elected not to renew their affiliation with the Sky Sox. The Milwaukee Brewers then affiliated with Colorado Springs, the team’s AAA farm club from 2015-2018. The Elmore Sports Group, which owned the Sky Sox, relocated the franchise to San Antonio after the 2018 season. In the Sky Sox’s absence, Elmore relocated another of its franchises, the Pioneer Baseball League’s Helena Brewers, to Colorado Springs for the 2019 season. The team began to play in 2019 in short-season Class A and was rebranded as the Rocky Mountain Vibes. “We realized that we didn’t want to be a thing, didn’t want to be an animal,” said General Manager Chris Phillips, announcing the team’s new name. “Being an attitude, a feeling, an emotion, that allows us to do a million different things. The possibilities are limitless. When you have that word, it means several different things to different people at different times of the day.” The Vibes’ mascot is an anthropomorphic s’more – perhaps the most important snack food at a campsite. Named “Toasty,” the mascot is a large marshmallow sandwiched by graham crackers with a tuft of flame atop his head in a small conflagration of “hair.” The Vibes played in 2019 as a Brewers’ Class-A affiliate. Then came significant hurdles. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled both the 2020 season and the Vibes’ status as an MLB affiliate. Major League Baseball’s reorganization of its minor leagues after the 2020 season left the Pioneer League and its teams without MLB affiliation. Instead, the league would play as an independent “partner league” of MLB. Partner leagues collaborate with MLB on initiatives to provide organized baseball to communities throughout the United States and Canada to expand baseball’s geographic reach. Turnover of franchise affiliations and then loss of those affiliations altogether in less than a decade, coupled with a 34-year-old ballpark oddly located in a suburban part of town might spell trouble for many franchises. Not the Vibes. With their new identity, Vibes merchandise has become some of the most sought-after in baseball. And the team’s front office has made noticeable changes around UC Health Park that highlight the Colorado lifestyle. Most impressively, the Vibes have converted the loss of MLB affiliation into a surprisingly enjoyable ballpark experience. Food & Beverage 4 The Vibes have upheld their promise to extend the “Vibes” moniker beyond the foul lines and to the concession stands. Fans can purchase s’mores kits ($3) consisting of a large marshmallow, graham crackers, and chocolate, and then toast the marshmallow at one of the firepits on the ballpark’s west concourse. Keeping with the camping-themed bill of fare is a “walking taco” ($8): a small Doritos bag filled with chips, ground beef, sour cream, cheese, lettuce, and salsa. Not many teams can combine victuals and team identity like this. The team also has a concession stand, “Healthy Vibes,” on the third-base concourse, with a gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian menu. A vegan dog sells for $7, a black bean burger sells for $12, and a gluten-free turkey sandwich sells for $9. Fans can also dine on turkey burgers ($12) and turkey avocado wraps ($9). This is a nice alternative to a deep-fried panoply of stadium food that enables fans with differing diets to eat while watching the Vibes. Ballpark favorites can also be found. Foot-long corn dogs ($7), chicken tenders baskets ($11), hot dogs ($7/$4), Polish sausage ($9), and fries ($4) are available at concession stands along the first- and third-base concourses. Beer lovers won’t be disappointed. Local favorites Pikes Peak Brewing (Elephant Rock IPA and Belgian Gold) and Red Leg Brewing (Blood Orange Double Hazy IPA) are on tap, along with Bud Light and Michelob Ultra. Canned beer (Anheuser-Busch, Pikes Peak Brewing, and Breckenridge beers), canned cocktails, and hard seltzer are also available. Premium drafts sell for $12 and domestic drafts are $10. Alternatively, fans can purchase a large, bat-shaped beer glass bearing the Vibes’ “Toasty” logo with either premium beer ($25) or domestic beer ($22). UC Health Field has a more extensive concessions menu than most of its Pioneer League counterparts and the quality of food compares favorably to any other stadium in the league. The improved food at UC Health Field helps enhance the experience. Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere is one of the best reasons to attend a Vibes game. The Vibes have combined Colorado’s outdoorsy sensibilities with baseball. This means that fans can make s’mores while watching the game, or while trying the team’s signature cocktail, the Springs Lemonade (pink lemonade and vodka) at the full-service bar that greets fans entering the stadium. The ballpark’s grandstand spans from third base to first base, with party areas and suites in the right-field corner. Box seats are chairbacks, with metal bleachers in the sections above the field boxes. Wind can be an issue, with the stadium mostly open. There’s no seating beyond the outfield fences. The best view in the ballpark is from the top of the grass berm, in the left-field corner. There, fans can watch the game with a nice view of Cheyenne Mountain beyond the ballpark. The only scoreboard in the ballpark sits beyond the left field wall. It displays lineups, stats, and facts about players. The quality is good but UC Health Field has a major flaw: it’s very difficult to find the balls/strikes/outs on the scoreboard. They’re at the bottom of the scoreboard, next to the line score. This is the only place in the stadium where this important information is shown so the team might consider making it more conspicuous. Neighborhood 3 UC Health Park, an oasis amid suburbia 10 miles northeast of downtown Colorado Springs, doesn’t have a “neighborhood.” The area around the stadium teems with housing developments, shopping centers, and chain restaurants. That’s not a bad thing, however, as a wide range of eating and drinking options are within a 5- or 10-minute drive from the ballpark. Those willing to drive a few minutes more can find In-n-Out and Whataburger. Downtown Colorado Springs is an approximately 20-minute drive from UC Health Park and downtown Manitou Springs is a few minutes farther. Downtown Colorado Springs has many good restaurants, as well as the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum. Manitou Springs sits at the base of Pikes Peak and serves as a terminus for the Broadmoor Manitou and Cog Railroad, which takes passengers to the 14,115-foot summit. Fans 3 The Vibes draw well, particularly on weekends. The fans aren’t raucous, nor are they subdued. The crowd befits a team trying to convey a sense of chill. Access 3 The Vibes have abandoned paper tickets in favor of electronic ones so plan accordingly. UC Health Park is not far from most points in Colorado Springs. Even from Denver, 70 miles to the north, it’s an easy drive down I-25 to Exit 153 (Interquest Parkway). Entering and exiting can be a challenge. The parking lines can back up onto Barnes Road, the east-west thoroughfare closest to the stadium. After games, the labyrinthine queue for egress can frustrate. Fans have just one gate through which to enter but staff quickly checks tickets and bags. Once inside UC Health Park, access is good for the most part. The concourses are sufficiently wide and there’s room in the stands to spread out. Two large restrooms are on the concourse behind home plate. Return on Investment 3 A Vibes game seems somewhat expensive for an independent team. Parking costs $10; tickets are subject to the much-derided “dynamic pricing” system, whereby the team adjusts ticket prices according to expected demand. Tickets to weekend ballgames and promotion nights tend to be more expensive, with mid-week games less so. For the August 2022, Saturday night game, tickets run from $2 (grass berm) to $30 (reserved seat in the first four rows). Fans aren’t allowed to bring their food or drink into the stadium. However, the quality of the experience compensates for any marginal cost. Both food quality and variety are surprisingly good. All seats have clear sight lines and a berm is a popular option for those not wanting to splurge on box seats. Although the Vibes have abandoned the hot tub that once was UC Health Park’s most famous feature, they’ve created a fun and high-quality atmosphere for baseball. Is a Vibes game a bit pricier than its PBL counterparts? Yes, but it’s worth it. Extras 3 The Vibes seem to permit dogs at UC Health Park, another manifestation of the Vibes’ vibe. Not only that, but the team has posted a pet refuse station along the first-base concourse for fans to get bags to clean up after their pups. Another point to the Vibes for their merchandise. It’s exceptional. The graphic design and logos are as good as any in baseball. T-shirts styled after vintage National Park signage and fly fishing shirts bearing the Vibes’ logos extend the Colorado theme in the team store. The Vibes’ merchandise has been not just a local success story, but a national one. The Vibes have had the best-selling minor league cap in 2019 and 2020, with another top-five finish in 2021 and an expected top-five finish again in 2022. This has enabled the Vibes to nearly triple their merchandise revenue from the Sky Sox’s final year, 2018. It also enables the Vibes to expand their retail space at UC Health Park, moving the team shop into vacant bar space on the third-base concourse. This new store doubled the team’s retail size and holds $200,000 more merchandise than its predecessor. The Vibes also opened a store that sells only the team’s hats, just inside the front gate. Not only are s’mores available at Vibes games, but so too are specialty marshmallows designed to resemble Toasty, the mascot. Grammie’s Desserts sells these along the first-base concourse, along with other baked goods and – best of all – cake in a cup. Not many teams have a bakery, let alone a good one, in their ballpark. The Vibes do. Curative insulin shots are not included. Final Thoughts The start of the COVID-19 pandemic and MLB’s reorganization, both in 2020, seemingly threatened the existence of not only the Vibes but also the Pioneer Baseball League itself. The Vibes have reemerged from those crises and reinvented themselves in a surprisingly effective way. Rather than institutionally bemoaning their loss of affiliation, the Vibes have based their success on thoughtfulness and creativity to produce an outstanding independent league experience.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 McGill Field 101 N College Ave Annville, PA 17003 Flying Dutchmen website McGill Field website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 500 Valley Baseball Lebanon Valley College is a liberal arts college located in downtown Annville, PA. Annville is in Lebanon County, east of Hershey. Founded in 1866 Lebanon Valley has approximately 1,600 undergraduates. The Princeton Review has recognized the college as “A Best in the Northeast” and they have over thirty-five fields of study . Lebanon Valley College is a member of NCAA Division III and competes in the Middle Atlantic Conference. McGill Field was voted the 2000 Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) College Baseball Field of the Year. The school’s teams are called the Flying Dutchmen, and its mascot is the Dutchman. The college is known as the home of the 1994 NCAA Division III National Champions in basketball. That 1994 championship victory over New York University was a controversial affair when a Dutchmen shot that won the game may or may not have been by the sound of the buzzer. But no matter what, the school hosts that championship proudly, as they should. Food & Beverage 3 There is no real official concession stand at Arnold Field. There is usually a small table set up with food offerings. We would expect the food sales might not happen on daytime, weekday games. The value and options were good. Atmosphere 5 The small college pride of Lebanon Valley College was in full effect at this game. The grandstands were packed and all sides of the field were filled with fans. The stadium is a simple affair but is situated nicely in a hollow so that everyone, from all angles, will have a great view of the action. The scoreboard is located past a bunch of hedges and is actually even across a small access road. Neighborhood 4 Annville is a great little town of a little less than 5,000 about 8 miles east of Hershey, PA. The college is right in the heart of downtown. Funck’s Family Restaurant, Corvette Grille and Bar, and Harper’s Tavern are all local establishments that offer good food pre and post-game. The Pennsylvania chain, Hoss’s Steak & Sea House, is another option right in Annville. The food is good, cheap, and certainly plentiful. J & S Pizza is a decent option within walking distance of campus. Fans 4 The crowds at Lebanon Valley do not disappoint. There is quite a bit of obvious school pride with fans attending in droves. The athletic teams here are supported well and have shown a great deal of ability for their fans. Access 4 Located on Route 422 between Lebanon and Hershey, Annville is easy to find and has no problem handling the crowds for such a small stadium. Expect that on busy game days, you will hit some traffic on Route 422 and especially on Bellegrove Road by the athletic complex. There is a good amount of parking, but do plan ahead. You may have to park across the main road and walk over the pretty access bridge to the field. You can also try to park in downtown Annville and walk over the railroad pedestrian bridge to the athletic fields. The athletic fields are located north of the main campus, separated by a railroad. Return on Investment 4 Generally, games are free to attend, but there may be an occasional cost, especially for post-season games. Extras 3 The scoreboard being across the hedges and the small access road is such a great little extra on its own. Make sure to stop into the nearby Arnold Sports Center and check out LVC Hall of Champions. This museum-like display space commemorates the great individual and team achievements of Flying Dutchman athletics. Take a peak inside the Arnold Arena and see the 1994 national championship basketball banner. Final Thoughts McGill Field at Lebanon Valley College is not a fancy stadium but it shows why small college athletics is such a treasure in this country. A sports fan visiting central Pennsylvania owes it to themselves to see if a game is going on when they are in the area.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Georgia State Baseball Complex 2819 Clifton Springs Rd Decatur, GA 30034 Georgia State Panthers website Georgia State Baseball Complex website Year Opened: 1986 Capacity: 1,092 Georgia State Baseball Complex – Georgia State Panthers In what might be the perfect pairing of neighborhood and university nickname, the Georgia State Panthers baseball program has called the Panthersville neighborhood of Atlanta, more precisely Decatur, home since 1986, when it opened the Georgia State Baseball Complex. Unfortunately, there is no connection between the neighborhood and the GSU mascot. Members of the Sun Belt Conference, the Panthers rank toward the middle of the conference when it comes to attendance per game. The Georgia State baseball facility itself does not lend to large crowds given its size, but the four to five hundred fans per game does create a cozy evening of baseball. Food & Beverage 3 There is not a vast selection of concessions, but there is just enough that it could be considered a variety. Fans can choose from hot dogs or sausages, or hamburgers or cheeseburgers, as a main entrée. Side items include fries and chips. Of course, with it being Atlanta Coke products abound, along with PowerAde and bottled water. Items are well priced and will not put a major dent in the wallet. Atmosphere 3 The Georgia State Baseball Complex is a rather simplistic, yet charming facility. Fans in their tailgate chairs and oak trees lining each side of the field creates a feel of a throwback-to-youth baseball days, when trees almost lining the field was more commonplace than a rarity. The grandstand is made up of roughly ten rows of aluminum bleachers, with a pair of half bleachers on the visitors side of the field. The home side consists of a handful of picnic tables that are shaded by the surrounding trees. Most fans choose to bring their own tailgate chairs to sit in along the left field line or around the backstop. Georgia State’s royal blue is featured prominently throughout the field – from the blue cinderblock backstop to the blue outfield wall, there’s no mistaking the colors of the GSU Panthers. The outfield wall was reportedly salvaged from the former Fulton County Stadium to be repurposed for the Panthers. Due to the woods that run behind the field, the fence is a hodgepodge of distances running 330’-375’-385’-360’-335’ from left field around to right. The short center field wall is made a bit more challenging with an outfield fence that is close to fifteen feet high. Neighborhood 2 The Georgia State Baseball Complex is in the Decatur neighborhood of Panthersville; the stadium itself is in a partially wooded, residential area, and is neighbored by the local school district’s bus depot and football stadium. While the Georgia State Baseball Complex is directly behind its Dekalb campus, the field is 10 miles from Georgia State’s main campus. Along with the Dekalb County football stadium and bus depot, the field is neighbored by several warehouses and the Dekalb Regional Youth Detention Center. To say the least, the area does not give off a lot of warm and fuzzy vibes. When it comes to amenities in the immediate area, the choices are a bit limited. There are a handful of restaurants, both chain and local, but when it comes to accommodations or points of interest there are not many options. The best bet would be to head to Atlanta or to Decatur town center; the latter is just under seven miles to the north. Fans 3 Considering the distance the field is from Georgia State’s campus, and the university’s modest number of on-campus residents, Georgia State baseball draws decently well relative to its size of enrollment. Even though the Panthers cannot compete attendance-wise with the handful of programs in the conference that average one to two thousand fans per game, there are enough fans to create a feeling of a comfortable and caring fanbase. Fans are a bit tame when it comes to giving the business to the opposition, but are actively supportive of their Panthers. This is a bit refreshing when it comes to simply enjoying the game and not having to worry about fans becoming irate over borderline calls, or even the occasional blown call. Access 3 Fans going to Georgia State baseball games are at the mercy of Atlanta traffic – the field itself is less than two miles from the Atlanta Perimeter, I-285, and 3 miles from I-20, which runs east to west though the metro area. Atlanta traffic is known to be rather finicky, where even the slightest traffic problem can cause significant backups, making getting to the field a bit troublesome. Traffic aside though, getting in and out of the area is rather straightforward. Access into the field is pretty simple – the only issue of significance tends to be with mid-week games and Friday games, when fans tend to arrive at the same time the school district buses are coming back from their afternoon runs. Return on Investment 4 With no admission or parking costs and concessions no higher than $5 per item, fans would be hard pressed to find a better deal in college baseball. When looking for ways to invest your time in the Metro Atlanta area, Georgia State baseball is an enjoyable experience, but might also rank low on the list of activities of interest around Atlanta for the average fan. Extras 2 The tree coverage is not something you will find at most southern college baseball fields, but it does provide a great deal of shade during bright, sunny afternoon games, and is a reminder of the simpler days of the game. The jersey number 30 of long-time head coach, and recently passed Mike Hurst, is retired on the right field wall. Final Thoughts In a time when college baseball programs are in a constant competition to outdo their foes by one-upping them when it comes to facilities, the simplicity of the Georgia State Baseball Complex is welcomed. Fans in their own tailgating chairs, or watching from the comfort of their vehicles, is definitely a unique experience. The days of the Georgia State Baseball Complex might be numbered, which is not necessarily a bad thing for the program. Since the university purchased the former Turner Field and surrounding property, which includes the site where Fulton County Stadium once sat, plans have been created to move Georgia State baseball closer to their downtown campus . The biggest feature of the new site will be how to properly honor the home run king, Hank Aaron – at the moment, the university is in the fundraising phase and planning with Billye Aaron to ensure that the legacy of her husband Henry is properly celebrated.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 MetLife Stadium 1 MetLife Stadium Dr East Rutherford, NJ 07073 New York Giants website MetLife Stadium website Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 82,500 No Longer Just Giants Stadium MetLife Stadium was opened in 2010 as the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets to replace Giants Stadium. It is located in the Meadowlands Sports Complex just like its predecessor. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as part of the National Football Conference (NFC) East division. They have four Super Bowl championships and an additional 4 pre-Super Bowl league championships. The team began in 1925, first playing in the famous Polo Grounds. Over the years they have also called Yankee Stadium, Yale Bowl, Shea Stadium, and the previously mentioned Giants Stadium as their home stadiums. The Giants relocated across the Hudson to East Rutherford, New Jersey, to Giants Stadium in 1976. The swampland area is called the Meadowlands and is 6 miles from Manhattan's Penn Station. The sports complex features the Meadowlands Racetrack, the now-vacant IZOD Arena, and the American Dream shopping mall. MetLife Stadium opened in 2010. Food & Beverage 4 There are numerous food options within the surprisingly crowded inner concourses. Options are many as there with concession stands such as Bubba Burgers, Frank’s, BBQ Shack, Boardwalk Fryer, Wingman NY, and Momma Fusco’s Kitchen. Our personal favorite was Mr. Tot. Food prices are high, as likely expected for an NFL stadium within the New York City area. The combined Mrs. Field’s and Dippin’ Dots stands to seem to be very popular starting in the second half. There are also a few specialized bars and lounges, some of which may cost an additional admissions fee. MetLife sells Pepsi brand sodas. Atmosphere 5 When you enter the venue you start on an outside concourse that wraps around most of the stadium. There will be activities and events pre-game in this area. This area is also a good meet-up spot for pre and post-game. Once inside the stadium, there is a pretty small set of concourse walkways around the venue. It is a unique setup, but it is easy enough to navigate. The Giants do a decent job of providing atmosphere although they seem to try to keep things professional and somewhat subdued. It does not seem as raucous as some NFL games we have attended. Metlife Stadium tries to make the stadium awash in blue for Giant's games. The stadium seems to do a better job at making it feel like a Giants game than when the Jets take over the stadium. It is pretty interesting to try and pick out the areas where the stadium needs to change over from game to game. Neighborhood 3 The Meadowlands is a swamp. That is not some kind of put-down, but it is in a literal swamp. There is not a normal neighborhood nearby. Of course, New York City is a car or train ride away and offers many options for everyone. Parking lots surround the stadium. The addition of the recently opened American Dream Mall helps the place in the neighborhood score. While still not 100% open, it is home to many stores, restaurants, an indoor amusement and water park, an NHL-sized skating rink, an indoor ski slope, and an aquarium just to name a few. Please note that due to county laws, many stores in the mall are closed on Sundays due to existing blue laws. Fans 4 The Giants fans do feel like they are in a bit of a funk. The team has not provided consistent on-field quality for a few years and it does seem to be affecting things such as attendance. Even with that said, the team has a long history and a large dedicated fan base that provides good amounts of cheer for their team. Access 4 The Meadowlands is located off many major highways and has massive parking lots. You will not fight to find parking, although expect to pay $40 and up. There are train and bus options but expect long lines and a large number of fellow riders to fight through to use those services. The Coach USA bus service round trip to Manhattan’s Port Authority Bus Terminal is one of our favorite options, depending on where fans are coming from. We do not recommend using rideshares after games as the setup and operations are a major disaster. We tried for a rideshare for a bit of time and it kept saying our ride was arriving in three minutes for nearly 25 minutes, all the while we were harassed by taxi drivers offering their much more expensive services. We ended up taking the train to nearby Secaucus Junction Station and getting a much cheaper rideshare from there, and it only cost a fraction of our original ride choice. Return on Investment 4 This is the NFL so the prices can be high, coupled with pretty expensive parking, which means the game will not be cheap. But for the experience you will get, the price seems fair and reasonable. Extras 4 The 50-yard line seats are only 46 feet from the sidelines. This is the closest to the field of any stadium in the NFL. MetLife Stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLVIII, two Wrestlemanias, and concerts by artists such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and Paul McCartney. The Meadowland Rail Station for New Jersey Transit is located right by the stadium and offers game-day transit. The American Dream Mall is a bit of a mess, having many business issues, but it is still an interesting spot to check out in the area. Final Thoughts A game at MetLife Stadium is a great way to cap a trip to New York City and is also great for locals. The stadium may not feel like it costs 1.6 Billion dollars, but that does not mean it isn’t a good place for a game.

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

A visit to Veterans Memorial Park in Downtown Pensacola on any particular day, expect to see many people jogging, walking dogs, or resting on one of the many benches in the park. The 5.5-acre park is one of the more popular of the City of Pensacola’s 93 public parks throughout the city, hosting thousands of visitors and countless events. The park’s many features include a man-made pond with a jogging track shaped like a diamond that circles the pond. View of the Lake and Jogging Path at Veterans Memorial Park; this would have been from Deep Right Field, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey The park also includes countless memorials dedicated to those who gave their life and service in different wars such as both World Wars, Korea, and Iraq. But its most famous feature includes the Vietnam Memorial Wall, which was installed in 1992 and nicknamed Wall South. It is an exact replica of the Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. that displays the names of the 58,217 Americans killed or missing during the Vietnam War. The wall is one of only two Vietnam Memorials of this size in the country. The park includes a salvaged Cobra Helicopter that actually flew in Southeast Asia as well. Vietnam War Memorial with a Salvaged Cobra Helicopter, along what once was the Outfield Fence at Veterans Memorial Park, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Korean War Memorial, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Some of the Many Statues in the Park, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Some of the Various Memorials throughout the Park, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Veterans Memorial Park remains a beautiful place and properly serves its purpose honoring those who lost their lives fighting for our freedom, and provides a great public greenspace for the City. But 60 years ago a visit to the park would have been a much different experience – when walking the path along the lake you are actually walking along the same path that baseball Hall of Famers like Stan Musial and Don Sutton once walked. From 1957-1974 that diamond shaped jogging track that circles the stormwater runoff was actually the site of a baseball stadium named Admiral Mason Park. Aerial View of Admiral Mason Park, Photo Courtesy of Baseball in Pensacola Sign at Admiral Mason Park Entrance, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Named after Charles Mason, a Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy and two time Mayor of Pensacola, the 2,000-seat stadium opened in 1957 and replaced the aging Legion Field which was located on the west side of town. The stadium was built as the new home for the Pensacola Dons franchise that took part in the Class D Alabama-Florida Baseball League. The park was set up how Blue Wahoos Stadium , just a couple of blocks away, would be set up over 50 years later, with the outfield lining the water and beautiful views of the Pensacola Bay in the background. But other than the gorgeous view, Admiral Mason Park was actually a miserable place to watch baseball. A sewage treatment plant was located directly across the street which meant when the wind blew west it mixed with gulf air, providing an unpleasant smell that gave the park its nickname Stinko Stadium. In addition, the lone parking lot was small and the humid summer evenings mixed with a large body of water brought mosquitos to the park. But the Dons and later the Pensacola Senators would call the tiny park home at a time when the Florida panhandle was home to six professional baseball teams. Pensacola Dons in the late 1950s, Photo Courtesy of Frank Hardy Photo Named after the Spanish explorer and founder of Pensacola, Don Tristan de Luna, the Dons began play in 1957 and competed just blocks away where the site of the first settlement in the United States was discovered in 1559. Other baseball teams were located throughout the Florida panhandle and Southeastern Alabama in cities such as Dothan, Andalusia, Troy, Crestview, Tallahassee, Fort Walton Beach, and Panama City. During the first year the Dons were not affiliated with a Major League team. Cal Ripken Sr. with the 1959 Pensacola Dons, Photo Courtesy of Baseball in Pensacola The Dons would later partner up with the Baltimore Orioles for the 1958-1959 season, with Cal Ripken Sr. playing 61 games on the 1959 team. Around this time the tiny park would get to see Major League action as well, as the Kansas City Athletics, the pre-cursor to the Oakland A’s , brought their minor league spring training here in 1958. Also in March of that year the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox met in an exhibition game at the park. Although he later got his 5,000th Major League hit two months later, Cardinals outfielder Stan Musial only had one hit during his first and only time playing in Pensacola. 1960 Kansas City A’s at Minor League Spring Training in Pensacola, Photo Courtesy of Baseball in Pensacola Admiral Mason Park also offered opportunities for youth leagues to utilize the ballpark for tournaments and such. Pensacola native Buck Showalter had great experiences playing here as a teenager – “I loved hearing my metal spikes click on the concrete of that old park, for me it was like being at Yankee Stadium ”. This was years before he was the skipper for the Yankees and Orioles and years before he made his famous appearance on Seinfeld when he switched the Yankees jerseys from polyester to cotton at the recommendation of George Costanza. In 1960, scouts were in attendance during the Babe Ruth All-Star tournament held at the park. On the mound that day was a curly headed, 16-year-old pitcher for the Pensacola team. The young boy pitching that game would be Don Sutton, who played in countless games at the ballpark as teenager. Sutton would later have a 23-year career with the Dodgers and multiple other teams, and be inducted into Cooperstown in 1998. On the opposing team that day was future NFL Quarterback Kenny Stabler, who had a standout baseball career while at nearby Foley (Ala) High School. Stabler would later win a National Championship at Alabama and have a 17-year NFL career that included one Super Bowl win with the Raiders, as well as four Pro Bowls. Hall of Fame Pitcher Don Sutton (5th from Right) Pitched in Countless Games as a Teenager Growing up near Pensacola, Photo Courtesy of Baseball in Pensacola Kenny Stabler (Top Row, 4th from Right) was a Standout Baseball Player at Foley High School in Pensacola, Photo Courtesy of Foley High School Athletics The Dons would switch affiliations and change their name to the Angels for one season in 1960; the next year they became a Washington Senators affiliate and become the Pensacola Senators before the league disbanded in 1962. When the league folded, Admiral Mason Park would get little use over the next decade. Ultimately the stadium would be demolished in 1974, and nature would take its toll until the city took over and dedicated a public park here in the 80s, with the Vietnam War Memorial being added in 1992 and a man-made lake serving as a stormwater runoff. View Today from about where Home Plate would have been, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey It would be 50 long years until affiliated baseball would return to Pensacola after the folding of the league. The Blue Wahoos would begin playing in the Southern League in 2012 and have been affiliated with the Reds , Twins , and now the Marlins . The beautiful stadium has been voted the Best View in Baseball multiple times, and the team constantly finishes in the top half of the League in attendance, despite playing in the smallest ballpark in the Southern League. The next time you visit Pensacola for a Blue Wahoos game be sure to make a stop at Veterans Memorial Park. The park is located about a half mile east of the stadium in downtown Pensacola. The park is beautiful and well-maintained, and makes for a great place for a stroll before a Wahoos game; that sewage plant across the street is long gone as well. Blue Wahoos Stadium Opened in 2012 and Marked the Return of Affiliated Baseball to Pensacola after 50 Years, Photo Courtesy of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Special thanks to Scott Brown, author of Baseball in Pensacola, who assisted me with research for this article and who’s book I used as a reference guide. 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 reference to use: Baseball in Pensacola: America’s Pastime & the City of Five Flags by Scott Brown | The History Press Books (arcadiapublishing.com)

Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Crypto.com Arena 1111 South Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA 90015 Los Angeles Sparks website Crypto.com Arena website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 13,141 A Spark of Life The Los Angeles Sparks, one of the original eight WNBA teams founded in 1997, have entertained basketball fans from Inglewood to the center of Los Angeles for close to two decades. Though not as popular as the NBA brand, the fact that the WNBA has been able to maintain their product for close to 20 years is a true testament that basketball fans will come out to their venue to watch the lady ballers. Being in the L.A. market, the Sparks have always been one of the focal points of the WNBA. The Sparks have had a solid history of excellence during their WNBA tenure, qualifying for the post season 11 times, reaching the WNBA finals three times and winning the big prize twice in 2001 and 2002, while losing to Detroit in 2003. Prior to playing at the Staples Center, the Sparks played their home games at The Forum until the 2001 season. Note: The Staples Center name changed to Crypto.com Arena in 2021. Food & Beverage 3 During a Sparks game, the selections are not as varied as they would be for the other major teams. If the game should have a big enough crowd that the upper concourse is open, the majority of the stands open would still be in the lower level. If you’re hankering for a hot dog, the Skyscraper Dog at $7 is a good sized 12-inch beef dog that should more than satisfy your appetite. If you should bring your sweet tooth to the game, Popcornopolis has some large bags of sweet specialty popcorn from caramel corn to kettle corn at $6. Candy apples are also available for $6.25, as well as bottomless popcorn for $6.75. If it’s pizza you want, California Pizza Kitchen also has stands open that sell personal sized pizzas at a reasonable $10. The selections range from BBQ chicken pizza to your standard pepperoni pizza. For adult fans, the Harbor and Figueroa Bars are located by each of the main entrances. Not surprisingly, for a Sparks game, there are not too many patrons at either location. Atmosphere 4 Upon arriving to the Staples Center you should enter through the 11th Street plaza (the grand plaza to many who attend events here) where you will be greeted of statues honoring Lakers greats and Wayne Gretzky. However, the Sparks do what they can to let you know that they are the main attraction of the day by displaying a huge banner adorned in its purple and gold glory. The opening player introductions are nothing out of the ordinary with the lights being dimmed along with loud hip-hop music being played to pump the crowd up. A tradition here among the Sparks fans is for everyone to remain standing while making loud noise until the Sparks score their first bucket. Also of note, the P.A. announcer is also the in-game emcee, so don’t expect him to be like your typical P.A. announcer as he goes above his duties of just announcing in game information by revving up the crowd to get behind their team. The crowd here is anything but a typical NBA type crowd. Though crowds here rarely , if ever, fill up to the Staples Center rafters, the enthusiasm level here is at a fevered pitch, with the majority of the crowd consisting of young women and kids from various youth groups, as well as various church groups, which could be typical for a Sunday afternoon game. Nonetheless, the atmosphere is still impressive and the excitement with the crowd is something you may never experience among the elite crowds during Lakers games. Neighborhood 5 With the L.A. Live entertainment and dining complex across the street, there is no shortage of pre and post game dining and entertainment options such as the Grammy Museum or Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge for you upscale bowlers. Dining options at L.A. Live include Yard House, Wolfgang Puck, Rock N’fish, and Smash Burger. If you should opt to stay away from the L.A. Live Complex, a Hooters is located across the street from the Figueroa Street entrance. There are plenty of other entertainment and dining options in the Downtown L.A. area should none of the above mentioned be to your particular craving. Fans 4 The type of fans who come here to an L.A. Sparks game are a different breed as opposed to those who come out for Lakers games. The fans are a lot younger, especially female fans, and they are certainly in force. Plus you get that feeling that the fans are here for the entertainment aspect of watching a basketball game, unlike those of their NBA counterparts in purple and gold, whose fan base tend to be celebrities and those on a who’s who list, and have the reputation of going there to be seen. This is a refreshing change for the everyday fan who wants to simply enjoy a basketball game. Access 4 One of the nice things about attending a Sparks game is ticket availability. Tickets can pretty much be bought on a last minute, walk up basis for that casual fan who wants to see an entertaining basketball game at an affordable price. During most games, the upper bowl is closed off so all fans are close to the action. For those who opt to drive to the game, the Staples Center is really close to the major freeways, the 110, 10, and 101, with the 405 being about 20 minutes away pending traffic. Notice I said, pending traffic. This is L.A. after all. There are about 3,300 parking spaces within the Staples Center area including L.A. Live, as well as some various private spots scattered throughout the area ranging from a five to twenty minute walk. The spots can range from $3 to $15. If you should choose to be frugal, the walk to the Staples Center isn’t far from even the most distant spots. If you should opt to use public transit, the Metro Blue and Expo lines drop fans off across the street. For transit assistance to Staples Center and other transportation options, you can click on this Staples Center transit link or use the Metro Trip Planner . Return on Investment 4 L.A. Sparks basketball is the type of entertainment that is perfect for that type of fan who wants to see some great basketball action live without leaving a huge hole on the wallet. Tickets typically run from $15 to $65 as you venture closer to the floor. Third party sites are also a great option as you can generally get tickets far below face value. This is one of the few times the average fan can attend a professional basketball game and be as close to the action without breaking the bank. Extras 4 One aspect I really enjoy about attending a Sparks game is the energy felt not only among the fans but the in-game entertainment as well. The Sparks must be well aware of what fan base they are catering to for them to have a local dj/emcee act as the P.A. announcer as well. As for other in-game entertainment, the Sparks also provide two dance teams. The Sparks Kids and The Old Skool Crew, made up of a group of women dancers 30 and over who got some moves that even the younger kids would enjoy. Of course, let’s not forget that the Staples Center is the home to four professional franchises with a lot of history behind them. If you should enter the Staples Center through the 11th Street entrance you will pass through statues of Lakers greats Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as well as former L.A. Kings legend Wayne Gretzky. Championship banners from both organizations, as well as the Sparks banners, are on display on the upper south walls and the rafters. Final Thoughts Though the Sparks may not get the type of attention the other 3 tenants would get, they still provide quite an entertaining professional basketball experience. What often gets lost when observing a women’s basketball game is that the ladies play the game in its purest fundamental way. You won’t see many flashy plays, and you would be hard pressed to see any slam dunks. That is not to say that the ladies lack any excitement, as the Sparks have had such notable players from Lisa Leslie to Candace Parker. Hopefully, the Sparks and the WNBA will continue to expand their fan base and they will be around for many years to come.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Las Vegas Ballpark 1650 S Pavilion Center Dr Las Vegas, NV 89135 Las Vegas Aviators website Las Vegas Ballpark website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 10,000 We Bet You'll Love This Ballpark Las Vegas Ballpark opened in 2019, as the new home of the rechristened Las Vegas Aviators. The team is the AAA affiliate of the Oakland A’s, and they play in the Pacific Coast League. The stadium has two levels, a concourse level with the main seating bowl, and a club level, which includes 22 suites as well as a lounge and the press box. The capacity of the ballpark is 10,000, including 8,500 fixed seats, 500-600 spots on the berm, and 1,000 in the suites, club seats, and party decks. The team, the ballpark, and even the surrounding community are owned and developed by the Howard Hughes Corporation. This is important to remember, as nearly all aspects of the club and stadium relate in some way to the late billionaire Howard Hughes, who was heavily involved in the aviation industry. He was a designer of planes, raced planes as a hobby, and owned several airlines at some point in his lifetime. His company is also the largest developer in the Las Vegas Valley. The name of the team reflects Mr. Hughes’ passion for aviation. It is also a nod to Las Vegas being the home of the huge Nellis Air Force Base. Many design elements suggest a link to aviation. If viewed from the outfield, the stands around the infield form the general outline of a plane. The press box suggests the cockpit, with the stands going out to left and right fields serving as the wings. We’ll be pointing out the other aviation references in the appropriate sections of this review. Food & Beverage 4 Las Vegas is known as a foodie heaven, with many celebrity chefs setting up shop in the city. The lineup of food and beverage options at Las Vegas Ballpark reflects that, with a wider, and more diverse menu than you would typically find in a minor league ballpark. Fans with a taste for Latin foods can enjoy Crunch Time Nachos, BBQ Mexicana, and Home Run Tacos. The Grill on First and Third offers burgers, chicken tenders, club sandwiches, and veggie burgers. Custom Hog Dogs serves gourmet hot dogs with sophisticated toppings. Frozen treats are available at Chillout, while Lea Lara’s Bananas offers frozen banana creations. Finally, Flight Deck Burgers offers both gourmet burgers as well as gluten-free options. The Hangar bar is on the outfield concourse next to the pool. It serves a wide variety of craft brews. Fans are allowed to bring one sealed plastic water bottle into the park to deal with the hot temperatures. Atmosphere 4 Las Vegas Ballpark fits in seamlessly with its surroundings. The two backdrops to the park are the Red Rocks Mountains on one side and the lights of the Las Vegas Strip on the other. The exterior of the park and many of the interior elements come in hues of burnt orange and rust red. This reflects the colors of the mountains in the distance but also is suggestive of the brilliant sunsets the area experiences. On the other side, the famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” mantra is reflected in the design of the signage on the stadium's interior and exterior. Other segments of the park salute the party image of the area, with numerous bars, group party areas, and even a pool perk that is available to large groups at the games. As you would expect, a stadium in Las Vegas would have a top-of-the-line electronics package. The lighting and sound systems at Las Vegas Ballpark will not disappoint you. In addition, the video board at the ballpark is the largest in the MiLB, measuring a whopping 31 feet tall and 126 feet across. Neighborhood 5 Las Vegas Ballpark is in the planned community of Summerlin. Parts of Summerlin are located within the Las Vegas city limits, while other parts lie in unincorporated Clark County. Like everything else associated with the ballpark, Summerlin is a product of the Howard Hughes Corporation. The ballpark is located next door to Downtown Summerlin, a shopping district consisting of 125 stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Among the amenities in this area are Frankie’s Uptown, a bar/restaurant that is a popular postgame watering spot, Pieolgia Pizzeria, and Sports Town, which offers jerseys and other items from more than 100 sports teams in the MLB, NHL, NBA, and NFL. Summerlin is also home to the Red Rock Casino and Resort, which is two blocks from the ballpark. It is important to hold on to your digital ticket from the Aviators ballgame, as it gets you a discount at many of the merchants and restaurants in Summerlin. Fans 3 Las Vegas Ballpark offers several fan-friendly promotions regularly. This includes Bark in the Park once a month, Thursdays are $2 Beer Night, Fireworks occur on Fridays, and Sundays are Las Vegas Stars Throwback Days. Once a month the team becomes their alternate identity of Reyes de Plata (Silver Kings) to recognize the large Hispanic population in the Las Vegas area. By the way, Aviator season ticket holders are known as “Frequent Flyers.” Access 5 Summerlin and the Aviators ballpark are easily accessed from Las Vegas via Beltway 215. Once you arrive, there are three parking lots with 2,500 spaces surrounding the ballpark. There is also a regular bus service provided by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) to the area from downtown Las Vegas. There is an RTC bus stop right outside of Las Vegas Ballpark. Bike racks are also available at the stadium. Once you arrive at the ballpark, it is easy to get into and around. There are three main gates located around the park, with multiple lanes at each gate. Gates open one hour before the first pitch. Las Vegas Ballpark has a 360-degree concourse, making it easy to get anywhere inside the venue. Signage for aisles and different services is excellent. The rideshare pickup and delivery area is located at the Dining Arroyo in Downtown Summerlin. Return on Investment 3 There are four main price points for tickets to an Aviator game. The lowest-priced tickets are $13 for the berm area in the outfield. There is a small seating area atop the outfield wall in the left field priced at $18. Infield seats are priced at $25. Seats behind the plate are $37 but are completely sold out for the season. Seats may be available in this section on the secondary market. The food and beverage prices vary depending on which stand you purchase your food at. The Classics stand offers your typical ballpark menu and has the least expensive food. It also offers a Hungry Hotshots package for kids that includes a hot dog, apple slices, potato chips, and a drink for $8. The chef-driven concessions are the most expensive. Parking is free in any of the ballpark parking lots. Extras 4 The seats at the ballpark are made of mesh material. This keeps the seats cooler than a solid material, as air can circulate through them. This is particularly important, as Las Vegas can experience extremely hot temperatures during the summer. 2023 is the 40th anniversary of professional baseball in Las Vegas. There are numerous events surrounding this anniversary throughout the season, with salutes to the Aviators’ predecessors, the Stars and the 51s, as well as the current team. The Aviators have two mascots, Spruce Goose, and the Aviator. The Goose is a reference to a wooden plane that Howard Hughes designed, built, and flew. It only flew once, as the spruce wood it was built out of was too heavy for the plane to gain any altitude. The Aviator is more symbolic, as he suggests an aviator in the military, with his crash helmet and reflective goggles. Among the ballplayers who have worn a Las Vegas uniform on the way to the MLB are Pete Alonso, Jacob DeGrom, Jesse Chavez, and David Ross. Final Thoughts The Aviators are taking Las Vegas’ elevated standards for hospitality seriously.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium 873 Long Drive Aberdeen, MD 21001 Aberdeen IronBirds website Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 6,300 Taking a Rip The Aberdeen IronBirds moved to the Baltimore area in 2002 after local legend Cal Ripken, Jr. bought the Utica Blue Sox of the New York-Penn League and moved them to his hometown in the New York-Penn League. This did displace the independent Atlantic League’s Aberdeen Arsenal, who were trying to get state and local funding to build a ballpark so they could move out of their temporary home at Harford Community College in nearby Bel Air, Maryland. That funding instead went to building a home for the Ripken organization, and that was what got Ripken Stadium built. The Arsenal was disbanded after one season with a record of 56-83. Today, the IronBirds are part of the High-A South Atlantic League. The team has had no problem filling the seats and acting as a proper entrance to young players within the Baltimore Orioles organization. Food & Beverage 2 Unfortunately, we must be pretty critical of the stadium and its operations here. The lines at all the concession stands are far too long and slow. We talked to quite a few fans that spent almost 3 innings of time to get their food. We were hungry but gave up and ate after the game. It seems like a staffing issue. The actual offerings are good, although not exciting, but you should plan on eating before a game until they fix this problem. The food prices are very similar to many minor league baseball stadiums. There is a club-level bar called the High-A Bar. Atmosphere 3 Upon entering the stadium, the seating bowl slopes down towards the field. It is divided into two main sections separated by a large walkway area. Beyond the fences, it is not obvious that a major highway is right there, as trees make it a pleasant view. The Birds Nest is an all-you-can-eat dining group option that sits between the press box and the 100-level home plate seats. This does take some of the better seating options away from the regular fan. Other group decks are available at the end of the concourses. The game presentation is pretty good here, with the usual between-inning activities. These are supplemented by longtime mascot Ferrous (think about it….Iron….) and his friend, Ripcord. Neighborhood 3 Ripken Stadium is located across I-95 from the rest of Aberdeen. Right near the stadium are the Ripken Experience Baseball youth fields, two hotels, and some newer housing buildings in the area. One should wander around the youth baseball complex to see the replica baseball fields designed after Fenway, Yankee, Wrigley, and Baltimore’s own Memorial Stadium. The centerpiece is Cal Sr.’s Yard. It is a near-scale replica of Oriole Park at Camden Yards and even has a replica warehouse building that houses two hotels (Residence Inn Aberdeen and Courtyard Aberdeen). Outside the exact stadium area is some new development that includes a Royal Farms gas station, All American Steakhouse, an axe throwing location, a mini golf location, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe. A short drive away back over I-95 is an abundance of restaurants and hotels. Aberdeen, home to the Army’s massive Aberdeen Proving Grounds, is a center of business activity. Olive Tree is a better version of a well-known Italian chain, while Mamie’s Cafe is an old-school Baltimore-style restaurant that offers free desserts with all meals. The Greene Turtle, Panera Bread, and Super Chicken Rico are some other choices with which you can’t go wrong. Chap's Pit Beef is also located nearby and is. a good spot if you want to properly fill your belly before the game. Fans 3 The IronBirds sell out many of their games, but a bit less now that they are in a league that plays a longer season. Many of the ticket sales are from group sales, which means the fan base can be somewhat inconsistent. The group giveaways mean you will most likely see many fans wearing gear and other items at each game. There are some hardcore fans with seats around the home plate area. They will be loud and into all aspects of the game. You will also see Aberdeen apparel from various years of the team, as the look and feel of their uniforms and logo have changed a bit over time. Access 5 I-95 runs right next to the stadium, which means that access from there and State Route 22 (a major road across the ever-growing Harford County) is strong. Long Drive (which was named before the stadium was there, surprisingly) is a four-lane road that is the only way into the stadium area. It never gets too busy, as it is directed by staff and local police. Parking is free and plentiful. No traffic issues are leaving even busy games as the police handle the traffic flow well leaving the stadium. Expect traffic to take a bit longer on fireworks nights as those families who would have normally left early stick around to the end. Return on Investment 3 Ticket prices are higher for the IronBirds than they are at most minor league stadiums, especially for this level. The team must be overcompensating for the lower prices of the many group tickets that are out there. If you know of a group attending, that is your best value. Plan for tickets, as they may not be available for walk-up sales. Extras 4 The view of the warehouse replica is a great extra and gives a bit more to the atmosphere of the stadium. A fan should also stop in and check to see if any youth tournaments are using the Ripken fields. There will be games played there all summer. Although not located at the stadium, Chap's Pit Beef is an extra all on its own. Final Thoughts Ripken Stadium is a very nicely designed stadium. It was designed while looking at what went right and what went wrong in baseball design in the late 1990s. The result has often been that the stadium has felt a bit impersonal. But it is still a strong baseball facility. The food operations need major help, but with good options in the area, we can forgive them a little.

Photos by Jason Karp, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Kindrick Field 1300 N Ewing St Helena, MT 59601 Kindrick Field website Year Opened: 1932 Capacity: 2,100 Baseball under the Big Sky Kindrick Legion Field exemplifies all the positive qualities of Montana, and then some. Nestled under Montana’s famous Big Sky , the stadium is encapsulated by the picture perfect landscape that is Montana. While in attendance, a fan gets a glimpse of the glorious northern side of Mount Helena, a mountain that overlooks the southern side of the Queen City. Located in the heart of the capital city of Helena, Montana, Kindrick Legion Field is home to the Helena Brewers, the Rookie affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The stadium is complemented by Memorial Park, a quaint place featuring a dome amphitheater, waterpark, and a recently renovated playground. If the fences of Kindrick could talk, they would tell the stories of former (and current) MLB and Brewer greats such as Ryne Sandberg, George Bell, Darren Daulton, Ricky Jordan, Gary Sheffield, Greg Vaughn, Dave Nilsson, Jeff Cirillo, Mike Matheny, and most recently Milwaukee’s National League MVP Ryan Braun. Built in 1932, the park holds approximately 2,000 people. While the stadium does not typically reach capacity, the crowd it does accommodate is always a passionate, friendly and respectful group. Food & Beverage 4 There are not any chain or corporate food stands around here, so hey independent consumer, Kindrick Legion is right for you! There are a plethora of eats available at the two concessions stationed inside of the stadium (a third concession area is reserved for private parties). Some of the treats for your liking are hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken burgers, brats, polish and cheddar dogs, kids, corn, jumbo and chili cheese dogs, chili cheese fries, nachos, super nachos with chili, large pretzels, pulled pork sandwiches, chips, and peanuts. Prices are typical, ranging from $2.75 for smaller items (kids dog) up to $7.50 for larger food (steak or pulled pork sandwich). Overall, it still beats your local movie theater. Drink-wise, you’re looking at 12, 16, and 24 ounce domestic beers ranging $3.75 to $6.75. The park also serves micro-brews from one of the local breweries, Lewis & Clark Brewing Company. Hey hey ladies, don’t feel left out, there are Twisted Tea and Bacardi available for $3.75. For the underage crowd, or if alcohol is not your forte, there are 22 and 32 oz. soda available for $3.50 and $4.50, respectively. Coffee and hot cocoa run $2, Powerade is $3.25 and a can of Red Bull costs $4.00. There is also an assortment of ice cream delicacies available; frozen goodies ranging from ice cream sandwiches to popsicles to ice cream sundaes with prices starting at $2 and going up to $4.50. Atmosphere 3 Atmosphere is jovial and welcoming – most of which can be attributed to the hospitable people Montana is known for. In Helena, everybody knows everybody, and if you’re visiting from afar, be prepared to meet some of the most pleasant people around. The atmosphere is not the richest in terms of history, but the scenic view of Mount Helena, under the flawless skies of Montana, makes Kindrick Legion a beautiful place to enjoy America’s pastime. The ushers and concession attendants are personable and timely with service. Neighborhood 3 Memorial Park lies due west of the park, and makes for an even greater family environment. As far as restaurants and bars go, the nearest venue is the aforementioned Lewis & Clark Brewing Company, which is about .5 miles away from the stadium. The tap room is a historical and classical looking building that makes for a great environment to check out before the game (tap room closes at 8). Other than that, the options for meandering around outside the stadium are limited. Fans 5 Easily the best part of your Helena, Montana visit will be the fans. Although their attendance figures might not be awe-inspiring, Brewers fans genuinely know what’s going on with their team and even early in the season are familiar with players’ strengths and weaknesses – a testament to the word fanatic. If you’re unaware what a 6-4-3 double play is, you won’t be uneducated for long. Seemingly every fan has grown up around the game. Montana is a traditional sports state, which makes for some of the more knowledgeable fans you’ll find anywhere. Despite the score, the Brewers faithful always maintained a positive attitude, and implored their hometown team for victory. Access 4 Parking is free, and spots seem endless all around the stadium. No problems here. Restrooms never have lines and are easily accessible to anyone. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are priced at $9 for box reserved seats, $7 for grand stand and $6 for general admission. Overall, the Helena Brewers experience is one worth having. Extras 0 There are no additional unique features worth noting.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Westwood Arena 90 Woodbine Downs Blvd Etobicoke, ON M9W 5S6 Toronto Patriots website Westwood Arena website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 1,800 Sound The Charge The Toronto Patriots were founded as the Quinte Hawks in Deseronto, Ontario, between Belleville and Kingston.  They were part of the now defunct Metro Jr A Hockey League.  They unfortunately counted disgraced NHL Player Agent, David Frost, among their coaching staff.  Frost was charged with a number of counts of sexual exploitation and was part of a bizarre murder-for-hire plot involving player Mike Danton with Frost as the target. In 1998 the league folded and the Hawks moved from Deseronto to Bancroft and what would eventually become the OJHL.  In 2008, fully distanced from the Quinte days, the team moved to Toronto and became affiliated with the exclusive Upper Canada College private school.  Eventually, they were purchased by Everest Academy and settled in Westwood Arena as the Toronto Patriots, where they have remained since 2014. The current home for the Patriots is the privately owned Westwood Arena.  Located in the Rexdale neighbourhood of what used to be Etobicoke in Toronto, Westwood Arena opened its doors in 1996 and is a hockey hub complete with five rinks and offices for a number of local travel teams.  The main rink has a capacity of 1,800.  Westwood Arena’s parent company, Buckingham Sports Properties counts a number of facilities in Toronto, Cambridge, London and Quebec. Food & Beverage 4 The main concession at Westwood Arena, The Snack Bar, has a decent variety of options.  Hot dogs, burgers, chicken fingers, fries, grilled cheese, bagels, muffins, pizza, popcorn, and onion rings are all on the menu.  Breakfast offerings also on the menu hint at the business of the facility.  Coca-Cola products are the main soft drink options, and water, Powerade, milk, coffee, tea and hot chocolate are also all available.  Right beside The Snack Bar is the Fuel Up Smoothie Bar, which offers a number of blender beverage options.  For those looking for something a little slower, or some alcoholic beverages, The Penalty Box is a full service bar and grill and is right in Westwood Arena, with some seating looking out on some of the smaller rinks. Atmosphere 3 The exterior of Westwood Arena does not show the true size and scope of the facility.  Light brick and siding with blue trim with a fairly pedestrian main entrance highlights the exterior.  Maintaining one of the themes throughout the building, a large banner for the Patriots hangs near the entrance letting everyone know that this is the home of the team. Entering the lobby shows how deceptively large the facility is.  There is no massive and spacious atrium, but a functional lobby that leads to the entrances to the various rinks and shows offices for a variety of youth hockey teams as well as the Patriots.  A simple touch of note in the lobby is the seemingly endless number of framed pictures of NHL players who have all come through the GTHL.  A treasure hunter could spend quite a while going through these pictures that includes the likes of Mike Palmateer, Peter Ing, Mark Osborne, Paul Coffey, Pat Flatley, Mike Liut and John Tavares, to name but a few.  The entry to the main rink is quite obvious to fans as there are markings for the Patriots all over including the doors, floor and above the doors.  The Patriots debuted a new logo in the 2024-2025 season and they are definitely making the most of it. Inside the main rink, fans will find a bright and clean facility with huge, low profile support beams that cross over the ice.  It looks as if everything in this rink has benefited from a fresh coat of paint.  The ice is oriented from east to west with seating only on the north side.  Seating consists of 11 rows of contoured plastic benches on concrete steps.  There are some minor hockey banners hanging on the east side, but no banners hang for the Patriots.  However, fans will definitely know this is the home of the Patriots as the entire south wall is painted with Patriot markings, showing off that new logo and the “Sound The Charge” hashtag being pushed by the team.  Although the Patriots won the Buckland Cup in 2014 and 2015 and won their division in 2012, there are no banners commemorating the successes of the team.  A simple scoreclock hangs on the west wall. The gameday production for the Toronto Patriots is very simple.  Fans are provided with a simple, one page, printed program.  There are no promotions happening of note.  The PA system is decent and the Patriots employ an excitable announcer, who at times is too loud making announcements inaudible.  The Patriots also provide a massively wide variety of music, side-stepping the cliche of the same old songs and mixing it up and keeping it fresh. Neighbourhood 4 Westwood Arena is located in the Rexdale neighbourhood of what was once Etobicoke and is not part of Toronto.  The arena is in a fairly industrial area, so food or drink outside of Westwood Arena will require a trip with the car.  Some options that are not too far include Smash Pit, Little Hut Bar and Grille and a number of chain restaurants south of the arena on Finch Street. Being Toronto, there are a huge number of other sporting options.  OJHL teams in Toronto include the Toronto Jr. Canadians, North York Rangers and Markham Royals.  The Toronto Maple Leafs , Toronto Marlies , York Lions , TMU Bold  and Toronto Varsity Blues  are all other hockey options at different levels, in other parts of the city.  The Toronto Raptors , Toronto Argonauts , Toronto Blue Jays  and Toronto FC  are major league franchises in other sports.  Toronto also has a near infinite number of tourist options.  Most will gravitate downtown and take in the Hockey Hall of Fame and CN Tower, however, in the same area as Westwood Arena is Woodbine Racetrack and the Casino at the Great Canadian.  For fans wishing to stay in the area, the Great Canadian is right there. Fans 2 Fan support for the Toronto Patriots is not the greatest.  OJHL attendance can be a bit of a challenge to assess as reporting by teams can be a bit spotty.  For the 2024-25 season, at the time of writing, the Toronto Patriots were averaging 119 fans per game.  They ranked 16th in the OJHL, which easily puts them in the bottom third of the league.  The previous season, they averaged 136 fans per game.  The crowd is mostly friends and family and are generally pretty reserved.   Access 4 Westwood Arena is located in the Rexdale neighbourhood of what used to be Etobicoke and is now Toronto.  The arena is between Highways 401 and 407 and 427 and 27.  It is located on Woodbine Downs Boulevard and north of Carrier Drive. Rexdale is probably one of the neighbourhoods of Toronto that is the most easily accessible coming from the west or north.  That being said, Toronto traffic, even though Rexdale is not downtown, is a real thing and can be frustrating depending on the time of the game.  Leave a little extra time for traffic if traveling to Westwood Arena by car.  There is plenty of free parking on site.  For fans wanting to take public transit to the game, there are TTC buses that run on Carrier Drive.  Fans should consult the Toronto Transit Commission  website for fares, schedules and maps.  Getting around Westwood Arena is not too difficult, however, with five ice pads, it could get a bit crowded in the lobby if multiple games are beginning or ending at the same time.  Usually, the Patriots play during a bit of a slower time for the arena.  The washroom facilities at Westwood Arena are adequate for the facility. Return on Investment 4 OJHL hockey is very affordable and the Toronto Patriots are no different.  A ticket for the Patriots runs $15 with discounts for students and seniors.  Tickets must be purchased at the box office and they only accept cash.  Patriots tickets are on the high side for the league, but are still more than affordable.  Parking is free and concession prices are not terrible.  The level of play on the ice is high and fans will enjoy the simple production. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Patriots embracing their new identity and doing everything they can to show patrons that Westwood Arena is the home of the Patriots. An extra mark for the full service bar and grill on site, The Penalty Box. An extra mark for Westwood Arena as a hockey hub for the west end of Toronto. Final Thoughts Taking in OJHL hockey is a low-cost endeavor and a great way to check out some high calibre hockey.  The Toronto Patriots offer a strong product on the ice in a facility that, being privately owned, is a little different than most other OJHL venues.  Westwood Arena is a great place to catch a game and grab a bite to eat.  After taking in the Patriots experience, fans will definitely Sound The Charge! Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Thomas & Mack Center 4505 S. Maryland Parkway Paradise, NV 89154 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels men’s basketball website Thomas and Mack Center website Year Opened: 1983 Capacity: 17,923 A Trip to Thomas & Mack Founded in 1958 and playing in the Mountain West Conference, the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Runnin’ Rebels basketball squad was a powerhouse back in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, winning the ultimate NCAA championship in 1990. Their last tournament appearance was in 2013. The club plays their home games in the iconic Thomas & Mack Center, just a few blocks from the Las Vegas strip. Grand broad staircases (and escalators) take fans up to the main entry. The building’s facade has video boards on each side of the entryway. The plaza outside is wide open and ready for pregame festivities. The venue is adjacent to McCarran International Airport (now known as Harry Reid International Airport); fans see plenty of planes taking off and landing as they park their car and head into the venue. Thomas & Mack Center also hosts men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, Harlem Globetrotters, concerts, and other entertainment. The building is impressive, and the game day enjoyable. Food & Beverage 4 Thomas & Mack provides a good choice of stadium fare for sports fans. Even before entering the arena, a Sin City Wings food truck is in the plaza and is quite popular. The plaza has tables to eat with heaters (if needed) and a DJ provides music pregame. Inside, hot dogs (Rebel dogs – Nathan’s brand), pretzels, nachos, popcorn, and candy cost $5 - $7. Check for specials. The evening we visited the Rebel dog was half-priced . The South of the Border stand sells tacos, taco salad, and nachos grande ($9 - $11). The Mack Attack concessions sells a variety of hot dogs, chili dogs, and soup ($6 - $14). And another stand specializes in chicken fingers, burgers, fries, bratwurst, and fries ($6 - $11). Pizza & Brew offers three types of pizza ($10 - $11) and premium and light beers ($11 - $12). Several bars are on the concourse offering craft beer for $13. Beer choices include Fosters, Blue Moon, Hop Valley, Sapporo, Miller Light, and more. Hop Valley Brewing has a portable station on the concourse selling draft brews, and it is one of the few cash-only stands in the venue. Thomas & Mack is a Pepsi facility with bottled sodas, Gatorade, and water priced at $5. A few chairs and tables are near the bar areas to sit and enjoy food purchased, but they fill up fast. Atmosphere 4 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels provide an enjoyable game day experience at Thomas & Mack Center. The arena has two levels of seating. Handrails are available for climbing up or down the staircases. All fixtures are a bold red color: the seats, the piping, the handrails, and the banners. The seats are a tad narrow, and there’s not a lot of legroom. The court has an impressive Las Vegas city line silhouette design on the floor. A slew of championship and retired number banners hang from rafters along the sidelines, with the 1990 National Championship banner anchored in the middle. The temperature in the arena is comfortably warm. No need to bundle up. A crisp, clear center-hung, double-decker scoreboard provides video of the game, the score, quarter, time left, and player game day stats. The team provides an impressive introduction using smoke and fire, with the band playing and cheerleaders cheering as the Rebels run onto the court. During halftime, fans get to participate in a basket-shooting contest. Other entertainment includes the dance cam during time outs. The fans love it. One sponsor even has a contest to win a free semester of tuition. Nice prize. The concourse has one souvenir area that sells mostly UNLV Rebels shirts; they carry very few trinkets. Neighborhood 4 The arena is only two or so miles from the Las Vegas strip, even less from some resorts like the MGM Grand. Chain restaurants Buca di Beppo (Italian), Gordon Biersch Brewery, Fogo de Chao Brazilian (Brazilian), and Bahama Breeze (Caribbean) are a mile from the venue. Fast food choices like In-N-Out, McDonald’s, Popeye’s, and more are a few blocks away. The closest brand-name hotels include Virgin Hotel (Hilton), Embassy Suites, and Best Western McCarran Inn. Bear in mind that hotel prices may seem affordable at first, but when you tack on taxes and resort fees, they can double in price. And there’s usually a charge for parking a car. Las Vegas offers nearly unlimited entertainment options from dining, shows, people - watching, shopping, museums, and gambling. If you’re not a gambler, other things to see and do include a Pinball Hall of Fame, a Titanic Museum, and golfing. Other sports to visit in the fall and winter are UNLV’s women’s basketball or football, the NHL Vegas Golden Knights (at T-Mobile Arena), NFL Las Vegas Raiders (at Allegiant Stadium), or the NLL Las Vegas Desert Dogs (at Michelob ULTRA Arena). Fans 3 A good crowd is on hand supporting their team. It’s a mixed crowd of families with kids, retired folks, alumni, and students. The student section cheers the entire game, and the school’s band energizes the crowd with its tunes and songs. Fans stay till the end of the game. Attendance isn’t as high as it was in the team’s glory days or before COVID. The games still draw 6,000 – 7,000 fans. Access 4 Vehicle traffic in Las Vegas is gruesome. That said, getting into the parking lot of Thomas & Mack is painless. Parking attendants direct traffic out after the game, aiding the traffic flow. The arena is only a mile from the airport. Buses can take you to the arena from the airport or the strip with at least a ½ mile walk. Uber and Lyft are readily available in Las Vegas. Thomas & Mack Center’s outside entrance area has plenty of places to sit and wait for late-arriving friends. The box office is outside to the right of the grand entrance with plenty of windows open pregame. Getting through security is a breeze. Clear stadium bags 12” x 6” x 12” are allowed. The concourse is plenty wide, minimizing congested foot traffic at halftime. The bathrooms are icky but serviceable (at least in the ladies’ room). Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices run $16 - $137 with an additional $5 charge if purchased on game day. The price includes the parking fee. You may be better off trying to find a ticket on third-party sites. Students get in free. Food and drink prices are less than the major professional teams in Las Vegas, and if you’re lucky. you may get 50% off on a Rebel dog. It’s a pleasurable time and is priced as expected. Remember to check third-party sites for ticket deals. Extras 4 Customer service is exceptional; from the security to the ticket booth to parking lot attendees and concessions, all staff is polite, friendly, and helpful. I’m quite impressed. The banners hanging from the rafters deserve another mention, as does the student band. The concourse holds numerous historical displays on its interior wall. These include presentations of bankers Parry Thomas and Jerry Mack and their story of how they made the arena a reality. Other exhibits are for Coach Tarkanian, who led the 1990 team to the championship, and for the 1977 Final Four team. It’s well worth strolling the halls and viewing these exhibits. Final Thoughts At one point in time, UNLV was the only sport in Las Vegas. That, of course, has changed in the last decade or two. Thomas & Mack Center has served the basketball team admirably since it opened in 1983. If you’re headed to Sin City in the fall or winter, be sure to check out a Runnin’ Rebels game.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.71 Doug Kingsmore Stadium 114 Baseball Dr Clemson, SC 29634 Clemson Tigers website Doug Kingsmore Stadium website Year Opened: 1970 Capacity: 6,272 Where's that Tiger? Just a relay throw away from the banks of Lake Hartwell, Doug Kingsmore Stadium has been the home of Clemson Tiger baseball since 1970. Initially known as Beautiful Tiger Field, the stadium was dedicated to Doug Kingsmore, a former Clemson baseball star and three-time Clemson trustee, in 2003. Baseball at Clemson dates to before the 20th century, with the first games played in 1896 at Bowman Field, in the shadows of Tillman Hall – this is where football legend John Heisman served as the head of both the football and baseball teams. Later baseball moved to neighboring Riggs Field, which now hosts the soccer stadium, but occupied the area now used for intramural sports. Clemson baseball started as members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1896 and would go on to be founding members of the Southern Conference in 1921. In 1953 Clemson was among the founding schools of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), where they have played ever since.   Food & Beverage   5 The concession options here are a mix of the usual fare like hot dogs and nachos, with a bit of an extended menu to include corn dogs, burgers, and smoked sausage, all available as combo meals. Additionally there are daily specials, which could feature items such as chicken tenders or iced coffee. For those looking for something different, secondary concession kiosks scattered around the stadium also offer kettle corn, Cheeto-dusted popcorn, Dippin’ Dots, and shaved ice. If standard concessions are not the call, the Tiger Bites stand along the left field line serves freshly grilled bacon cheeseburgers and chili cheese dogs. However, those in the general seating area might be a bit disappointed to find that the Cajun Cafe, offering a menu of Louisiana’s finest, is only accessible to those seated in the Cajun Cafe suites – this limitation may be understandable, considering the challenge of preparing a specialty menu for such a large crowd.   Atmosphere   5 Doug Kingsmore Stadium would give many minor league stadiums a run for their money, in terms of both practical amenities and entertainment value for fans. The facility offers a diversity of seating options for just about any seating preference, including up-close field level seats and more unique, non-traditional viewing areas. The seating closest to the action spans ten rows deep and is divided into premium and field level sections between each dugout, while upper grandstand seating extends from first base and wraps around behind home plate and up to third base. Additionally, there are also individual sections of outfield seating available. Many fans opt to stand along the fences down each line, or on an elevated walkway leading from left field down the third base line; even the cutout of the left-center field fence attracts a crowd. In addition, if hillside seating is your preference, Doug Kingsmore Stadium has you covered with a grassy hillside on the left field side, where many fans spread out blankets to watch the game.  Lastly, for those looking for more of an old school, Wrigley Field -type vibe, a handful of fans bring tailgating chairs and sit on the walkway of neighboring Jervey Athletic Center, which overlooks the baseball field. When choosing between any of the various seating options, it is hard to go wrong. The sun does set beyond the first base side of the field, however, so seats along the third base side and left field grandstand have a tough sun field to contend with in the early innings of evening games. The in-game presentation is built around fan engagement, keeping mid-inning events to a minimum other than ad reads and an occasional round of ball cap mix-up, finish the lyric, or name the year contests.  Clemson does use a lot of mid-at bat audio drops, but it is the combination of the drops paired with the player reactions that really garner the fan involvement – there are several of these musical insertions that elicit a reaction from the players in the dugout, but it is probably the Venga Boys “We Like to Party” clip that gets the biggest reaction. The song is played on repeat when the opposing pitcher is having difficulty finding the strike zone, and becomes so annoying it is difficult to hold back a smirk when it is played for the twentieth time in a half-inning, as it seems to rattle the pitcher enough to throw ball twenty-one. The stadium layout and wide variety of seating options are great, but from an entertainment standpoint the atmosphere created is so memorable that it becomes the backbone on which the fun of the whole game experience is built.   Neighborhood   5 Clemson, South Carolina is a quintessential college town where the university is the center of most of what goes on in the area. College Avenue, the hub of activity on weekends and the scene of much of Clemson’s nightlife, is located just under a mile from Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Situated near the northern edge of campus, the area is heavily populated with an array of bars and restaurants, making it a popular destination for both pre or post-game gatherings. During the spring, as days lengthen and temperatures rise, College Avenue buzzes with visitors exploring its shops, bars, and dining spots. While College Avenue has the highest concentration of popular establishments, The Esso Club, a renowned Clemson watering hole, is just a short stroll from Doug Kingsmore Stadium's home plate gates. On campus, Doug Kingsmore Stadium is part of the athletics complex, which includes softball’s McWhorter Stadium, beyond the left field confines and just across the street from both Littlejohn Coliseum  and Memorial Stadium .   Fans   5 Fans here seem to pack every nook and cranny of available space to the tune of 4,000+ fans per game, one of the highest in the ACC and in the top 20 nationally.  However, what sets Clemson's baseball experience apart is not just the sheer number of fans, but their active participation in creating an electric atmosphere that's among the best in college baseball. Give Clemson baseball fans a lot of credit, at a school with such a strong football  following their fanbase shows up dressed specifically to support Clemson baseball. Fans dressed in football t-shirts or jerseys are the exception rather than the norm, which is not necessarily the standard at many other schools in college football strongholds. Much of the credit for setting the tone of the fan involvement in the stands needs to go to the Flamingo Gang, or at least an offshoot of the 2017 student fan group that would express its fandom by waving plastic or inflatable flamingoes about. When Clemson fans show up for a weekend series they are prepared for the full weekend, populating Jervey Meadow with pull-behind campers, RVs, and even what some might consider a tour bus – while many weekend tailgating encampments are modest, a handful go all out with elaborate tent set ups, some even including satellite television and live bands playing. Clemson fans are a passionate group regardless of the sport; they show up in large numbers to support their Tigers and are extremely involved and ready to burst into a round of “Tiger Rag” at the drop of a hat.   Access   4 Located just about 15 minutes off I-85, Clemson’s campus is easily accessible for fans traveling from Charlotte or Atlanta, with a drive of about 2 to 2.5 hours from each. Once on campus parking is readily available around the stadium – for those parking in the handicap area, however, be alert for batting practice home runs that might leave the stadium. Visitors parking near McWhorter Stadium (softball) or in Jervey Meadow will likely access the stadium through the outfield gates, while those parking on the northern side of campus can easily enter through the home plate entrance. Regardless of the entry point, fans will find wide concourses that encircle the stadium. As you approach the grandstand the concourse splits into a field walkway and a concourse behind the grandstand, the latter which provides access to restrooms, concessions, and an apparel tent. With ample parking surrounding Doug Kingsmore Stadium and wide walkways, accessing the stadium is straightforward and hassle-free, limiting the size of crowds that might otherwise make the walkways difficult to navigate.   Return on Investment   4 Midweek game tickets typically begin around $5  for a get-in-the-door price, with weekend games starting at $15 for standing room only and $20 for outfield tickets. Although these prices may seem a bit steep, considering there is no parking fee and that the game offers great entertainment value, it is a worthwhile investment. It might be a good idea to check the secondary market for discounted ticket prices, as lower priced tickets are commonly available.   Extras   5 For fans of ballpark Easter Eggs, Doug Kingsmore Stadium has its fair share. A cluster of Crape Myrtles at the home plate entry are arranged in large planting beds designed to take the shape of the Clemson Tiger paw print logo. Also, a further inspection of the concourse pattern reveals striping reminiscent of tiger fur. As if any more hidden treats were needed, when you first look at the field there seems to be something off, but it might be tough to place a finger on it right away. Upon closer inspection, though, you may notice there is no warning track – much like the former home of the Cincinnati Reds , Crosley Field, rather than having a warning track, the outfield grass gently slopes to warn outfielders of a possible impending collision with the outfield fence. In yet another testament to the role the Tigers most passionate fans play in creating the elite baseball experience at Clemson, just beyond the right field foul pole are “The Cheap Seats”, a section of bleacher seating that was once a mobile fan club/tailgating set up, but has now become a fixture of outfield seating – the purple, orange, and white minibus has become synonymous with Tiger baseball fandom. The stadium is also a virtual history lesson of baseball at Clemson; Clemson greats Rusty Adkins, Seth Beer, Kris Benson, and Khalil Green, along with coaching legends Jack Leggett and Bill Wilhelm, are immortalized both with plaques at the entry point of the stadium, and with their numbers recognized on the outfield wall. The wall also boasts team championships and tallies of the number of MLB first round draft picks and players from Clemson who have gone on to reach the majors. The history lesson continues along the main entry concourse with displays of Clemson’s best teams, as well as the top players who have helped create the Clemson baseball legacy. It is always refreshing to see teams honoring the timeless traditions of their university – following the game’s last out, the Tiger players, coaches, and staff gather beyond first base to sing the Clemson alma mater, capping it off with the alma mater salute, extending their arms and shaking their hats as the song ends.   Final Thoughts Clemson baseball might be one of the most interactive fan experiences in the country; there is a symbiosis between the players in the dugout and the fans in the stands that infects the stadium with a fun air that it is impossible not to get caught up in. Baseball at Clemson offers a delightful blend of entertainment and high-caliber collegiate play. The atmosphere is also organically festive, built around the fun-loving nature of the Clemson Tigers in the dugout but with spirited fans in the stands contributing to the experience. It would be hard for even the most hardened of baseball purists not to appreciate the humor and fun of it all.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Garth Young Arena @ Mayfield Recreation Complex 12087 Bramalea Road Caledon East, ON L7C 2P9 Caledon Admirals website Mayfield Recreation Complex Year Opened: 1980 Capacity: 350 The Admirals are the Head of the Arsenault Table In 1980, the Henry Carr Crusaders were founded.  Like many junior hockey teams of a previous era, the Crusaders were affiliated with a school, in this case, Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School in Toronto.  The Crusaders played at the Junior B level in the Metro Junior B Hockey League.  In 1991, the MJBHL declared itself as a Junior A League and became the MetJAHL.  At this point, the Crusaders were made independent and played in the same arena as the Weston Dukes.  In 1993, the Dukes franchise folded and was moved to Thornhill, Ontario.  David Arsenault came on the scene to rescue the flailing franchise, partnering them with Villanova College in Toronto to become the Villanova Knights. After a few stops along the way, the team would land in the OJHL and eventually the town of Caledon, where they would become the Caledon Admirals.  Along with the Junior B Caledon Bombers and the Junior C Caledon Golden Hawks, the Arsenault Hockey Group and David Arsenault can offer a unique linear affiliate system where all three teams play in the same building and support each other. Home for the Admirals since 2021 has been the Garth Young Arena @ Mayfield Recreation Complex.  Built in 1971, the complex is a community hub with a pool and other community rooms between the Town of Caledon and the City of Brampton.  The arena is named after Garth Young, a Caledon Parks and Recreation employee who worked tirelessly for 38 years. Food & Beverage 2 There is a small snack bar in the Garth Young Arena called The Crossbar.  Hot dogs, chocolate bars, popcorn, soup, pasta cups, and mini-donuts are available.  Gatorade, soda, water, coffee, and tea are the beverage options with Coca-Cola products featured.  There is enough here to get by, but no options will blow anyone away.  Team swag is also sold at The Crossbar. Atmosphere 2 The Mayfield Recreation Complex has a simple exterior with grey brick and blue siding.  It is clear from the outside how the complex is divided into two main parts, the arena and the pool, with the arena on the right upon entering.  Fans are welcomed to a bright, clean, modern lobby before making a right turn to the Garth Young Arena.  Temporary tables for ticket sales and the 50/50 draw will welcome fans before entering the inner lobby.  The inner lobby is climate-controlled and has windows that look into the arena, as well as The Crossbar concession window and trophy cases with minor hockey accolades.  The temperature change is significant upon entering the arena.  The ice runs from north to south, with the seating on the west side.  Above the benches on the east side are banners for the Arsenault Hockey Group, as well as minor hockey championship banners.  A simple score clock is found at the south end of the arena.  The seating area consists of four sections of three to five rows of plastic-covered benches.  The middle sections are raised above ice level to offer better sightlines. However, one of the sections is essentially taken up by the broadcast team and camera.  The arena does have the common gas heaters above the seating, which were not on for the game that was reviewed, which is not uncommon for arenas this size.  The area has a very low ceiling painted white with white siding to make it a bright facility.  Capacity is small, with room for 275 seated fans and 75 standing behind the benches. The gameday production at Admirals games is very simple.  The PA system in the Garth Young Arena is pretty terrible, and it is difficult to understand the announcements.  The microphone feedback was pretty bad, also.  Promotions are simple and centre around the 50/50 draw. Neighbourhood 3 The Mayfield Recreation Complex is located between the Town of Caledon East, proper and the City of Brampton.  It is in a fairly rural area between a secondary school and elementary school, so for pre or post game food and drinks, fans will have to hop in the car.  Heading south to Brampton will be the best bet to find chain and fast food restaurants.  Heading north to Caledon East will offer a few original options, including Tom’s Family Restaurant, Gabe’s Country Bake Shoppe and Gusto Resto Bar.  For fans looking for other sporting options, there are some options.  The Garth Young Arena is also the home to the Caledon Bombers and Caledon Golden Hawks, Junior B, and Junior C hockey teams respectively.  The Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL are relocating to Brampton for the beginning of the 2024-25 season.  The Brampton Honey Badgers of the CEBL also play during the summer months.  For those interested in golf, there are many courses in the area, including Mayfield and Banty’s Roost, which would be options very early in the hockey season.  Also worth consideration is driving north on Bramalea Road and taking a gander at the mansions and estates.  For those wishing to stay in the area, there are several hotels available in Brampton, including the Hyatt and Holiday Inn. Fans 2 The Caledon Admirals attract around 100 fans per game.  This ranks them in the bottom third of the OJHL.  As a barometer for the league, the top teams attract over 700 fans per game and the bottom is 60.  There is some room for improvement here, however, competing with the Bombers and Golden Hawks can’t help.  If the Admirals are playing a team from a close location the attendance will be higher.  Fans in the stands are relatively laid back, not uncommon for Ontario.   Access 3 Mayfield Recreation Complex is located in a rural area between the Town of Caledon East and the City of Brampton.  The complex is much closer to the northern edge of Brampton than Caledon East.  Getting to the arena is not too difficult.  It is 2 km northeast of Highway 410, which is the main artery from Highway 401.  However, Brampton and Greater Toronto Area traffic can be a real issue and the 410 can be quite slow.  There is plenty of free parking on site.  For fans wishing to take public transit, Brampton Transit has buses that stop at Mayfield Secondary School.  The schedule might not work for hockey, however.  Fans should consult the Brampton Transit  website for schedules, maps, and fares.  Getting around the arena is not difficult at all and the washroom facilities are adequate for the size of the facility. Return on Investment 3 Admirals tickets go for $15 with discounts for seniors, students and youth.  Parking at the Mayfield Recreation Complex is free and concession prices are good.  Although there are some difficulties with the PA system, the product on the ice is strong and fans should enjoy the experience overall.  It is hockey in a simpler form. Extras 3 An extra mark for naming the arena after long-time employee Garth Young. An extra mark for the vertical affiliation created by the Arsenault Hockey Group with the Admirals, Bombers, and Golden Hawks.  A unique situation in the OHA. An extra mark for the history of the Admirals and their time affiliated with Secondary Schools. Final Thoughts For fans looking for a simpler brand of hockey, the OJHL may be the ticket.  A Junior “A” league across the GTA and surrounding area, the OJHL provides a high level of hockey on the ice.  A trip to the Caledon Admirals at the Garth Young Arena @ Mayfield Recreation Complex offers cheap entertainment and allows fans to get their hockey fix in. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP) (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images I always love it when the Olympics arrive because it introduces us to many new sports and a few we don't get to see too often. My friends always ask me what is your favorite event during the summer Olympics, and I never have to think too hard about it. My favorite Olympic event is handball. Sure, you can enjoy beach volleyball in front of the Eiffel Tower, swimmers jumping into the Seine River, or a 50-year-old man from Turkey winning silver in pistol shooting, but handball has always captured my fancy every four years when it comes into prominence to most Americans. Team handball (most fans say handball)  is a sport that is not too hard to understand; it shares similarities to basketball, hockey, and soccer. It is played on a court 40 meters long and 20 meters wide. A group of 7 players, including the goalie, make up the two sides. The scoring is simple: throw a ball past the goalie and into the next, and you score a point. The team with the most points wins at the end of the game. This past January at the Men’s EHF Euros, a world-record crowd of 53,000 was on hand at Düsseldorf’s MERKUR Spiel-Arena to watch France take on Macedonia and Germany battle Switzerland. The tournament secured television agreements with over 30 broadcasters around the world. A record crowd of 53,586 showed up for a Euro '24 game in Germany, Photo Courtesy of the EHF I enjoy watching the high-scoring contests that feature body slamming, dribbling, jumping, and high-throwing action from beyond the semi-circular crease. I fell in love with the sport the first time I watched it in 1992, but now that events are easily accessible, it has become mandatory television the past week. Why hasn’t this game become more popular in the United States? "It's tough when it's a sport that's not on TV regularly and not a sport you can easily play as a kid, in high school, or college," says Minnesota Team Handball President Josh Hetterick. "You play  it in some gym classes but if there were youth and high school leagues that would make a difference. Some colleges (Ohio State, North Carolina, West Point, Air Force, Pittsburg, and Auburn) have handball clubs but there needs to be more for it to gain real interest. Also, if it were to be broadcast on ESPN or NBC Sports more regularly and in prime time, you'd see a jump in interest." Hetterick is hosting team tryouts for new players for the next four Wednesday nights in Bloomington, Minnesota, just south of the Twin Cities. He laughed about being able to teach anyone what they need to know about the game in preparation for the next Summer Games in Los Angeles. Just like curling in the Winter Games, the sport gets a boost from American TV audiences. In the United States, the game is minor, and the US national team struggles in international competitions. The men’s team has a 4-25-1 record in Olympic competition and hasn’t qualified since the 1996 Atlanta Games (because we hosted it). Their record in the World Championships is 2-27-0 and has one appearance since 2001.  At this rate, a US pickleball team has a better chance in international competition. Perhaps our best athletes are not playing handball. I can’t blame them; where would one even go at a young age to play the game, and how many kids in the neighborhood will knock on your mom’s door asking if you want to play a game at the local park? When one does develop an interest, would they have to leave the country to develop and hone their skills at an international or professional level? “Facility accessibility and funds,” says a Chicago Inter Handball Club member via Facebook. There are no professional leagues in the United States, unlike in Europe, where the top loops are in Spain, Germany, France, Hungary, Denmark, and Poland. However, the Northeast Team Handball League is a competition for amateur clubs in the Northeast United States. A few amateur clubs play in Chicago, Boston, New York, Milwaukee, Washington, and Philadelphia.  The sport has been played here since 1926 but has never caught on like many other games. There have been discussions about creating a professional league in this country, but it might not become realistic until both U.S. squads perform at a high level in international competition.  Heterick believes that much has to be done to lay the groundwork for the sport in this country. "It's all about organization, support, and a grassroots/pipeline foundation. There is a disconnect in that pipeline right now from youth to teen to adult. There are adult handball clubs in the USA, but very few of them have a youth/teen part in the club. There is just not a strong organizational structure for handball in the USA and until we get that and get support and structure, we're going to continue this vicious cycle." Every Olympic year will park curiosity for this unique sport for many Americans. Clubs like Chicago Inter Handball Club, Flint City (Michigan) Sporting Club, and Minnesota Team Handball will see a bump in interest and a few new members join the fray. Maybe they will be catalysts to train a future group of handball players. The Minnesota club will receive 8-9 calls per week during the Olympic Games that include both men and women. This results in the club hosting try-out events during and after the Olympics to prepare for the increased numbers which are usually around 8-12 more players. I can concur with this, when I was still living in New Jersey, a high school friend of mine went to open tryouts at the South Plainfield Curling Club after the Salt Lake City Winter Games. He wound up joining full-time and developed quite a skill for the sport, participating in various bonspiels (curling tournaments) in the United States and Canada.   The games will be held in Los Angeles in 2028; perhaps either the men or women can make a run in handball, played in front of thousands of fans and watched by millions more on TV sets, phones, and computers globally. Maybe it will be the boost for this sport to catch fire and push the league to prominence either at the international or professional level.  The knockout stage will be played at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France, from August 7- 9, with the medal games taking place on August 11. Interesting Facts Karl Schelenz, Max Heiser, and Erich Konigh created the rules on October 29, 1917 in Berlin. The first international games were held in 1925 (men) and 1930 (women) It debuted at the 1936 Berlin Games as an outdoor event. The event returned in 1972 with Yugoslavia winning gold. The first women’s games were held at the 1976 Montreal Games, with the Soviet Union winning gold. The International Handball Federation was created in 1946.  There are 30-plus international competitions around the world. France won gold in men and women at the Tokyo 2020 games. Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos courtesy of Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Quakertown Memorial Park 600 Mill Rd. Quakertown, PA 18951 Quakertown Blazers website Quakertown Memorial Stadium website Year Opened: 1939 Capacity: 1,300 An Honest Home for Baseball What if I told you that there was an old wooden ballpark that exists in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania and that it has been around since 1938, has been home to baseball since 1983, and is in sound condition? You might think that I am crazy, but one such baseball facility exists in Quakertown. Now would you believe me? Memorial Park is a small covered wooden grandstand ballpark that seats 400 people. It is home to the Quakertown Blazers of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League who have been providing an opportunity for local college baseball players a chance to hone their skills with the wooden bat during the summers off from school. It is a league that has been around since 1967 and today operates a lot like it did 47 years ago. In the ACBL, the parks are small and ownership‘s objectives are to break even and provide an outlet for baseball. Memorial Park is one of the league’s paramount facilities; most of the ballfields are just that, located at community colleges or high schools. Tucked away in a residential and park area of town, exists perhaps one of the area’s better-kept secrets in baseball. Food & Beverage 3 The food is inexpensive and classic ballpark cuisine. Hot dogs are fresh from the grill and are only $1.50, large RC and Diet Rite sodas and Philadelphia-style pretzels are also $1. The other items include candy, chips, and peanuts. All of the food is served underneath a concession building that stands alone outside the main entrance to the grandstand. There is no alcohol permitted in the stadium. The prices are among the best that I have seen at collegiate wood-bat league games the past few years and add to the simplicity of a league such as the ACBL. Atmosphere 3 The design and color of the ballpark look as if it is straight out of Norman Rockwell's painting. The red picket fence lines up the left field line and a collection of sponsorship banners hangs on the grey outfield fence. There are two championship banners that the Blazers won in 1987 and 2018. However, the dark green grandstand stands out among the colors of the ballpark. The wooden structure is in immaculate condition and features very few rows or columns. The fans make their way through during the early innings and find themselves a seat on the bare wooden bleachers. Also, located is a small two-man PA section for the game. You will not find a myriad of gimmicks or promotions, a mascot, or t-shirt tosses from interns. The focus is on baseball and probably is similar to the game many years ago. League president Tom Bonekemper told me that former major league and current Toronto Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Buck Martinez commented that the stadium reminded him of playing minor league baseball 45 years ago. The game day program, which is becoming a thing of the past at many baseball parks, is sold for $2 and features advertisements, team information, and baseball bingo lucky numbers, however, its ads and sponsorships help generate a lot of money for the team and is still a valuable asset to the team. It also helps out when you are looking for a place to eat after the game. There are more than 113 boosters (including former major league pitcher Jamie Moyer) and volunteers that help out with game day operations from collecting tickets, serving food in the concession stand, and selling merchandise. Game day Nike jerseys are a bargain at $ 15 compared to the $175 price tag the Lehigh Valley RailRiders are charging for almost the exact same product. Neighborhood 4 The stadium’s setting is adjacent to a city park that features a sand volleyball and basketball court, a public swimming pool, and one very impressive wooden jungle gym play area. It is also located a mile on busy State Road 309, an hour north of Philadelphia and 20 minutes south of Allentown. Retail stores, chain restaurants, and shopping centers are paramount in this location, but there are a few nice choices to choose from that are well worth a visit. McCoole’s offers great food at affordable prices at the corner of Broad and Main Streets. Located in a historic old inn, they offer music on the patio beer brewed on premises, happy hour specials and many food items between $10-$20 The El Paso mac and cheese and grilled apple cider chicken are two highlights. If you are looking for dessert, drive a few miles up SR-309 to The Inside Scoop for homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt. Of course, you can always order a freshly made hoagie at Wawa, a convenience store with a huge following in this part of the country. Fans 3 There is a modest crowd that supports their hometown team. When Blazers’ manager Mark Angelo disputed balls and strikes, a few members from the stands supported his argument. The fans are focused, engaged, and supportive of their Quakertown nine. Access 3 Memorial Field is one mile off of SR 309 and 10 miles south of I-78; it is rather an easy destination to reach, but there are not any signs until you exit SR 309. You will have to get your GPS out for the majority of tour travel to the ballpark. There is a small amount of parking available behind the left field wall and across the street near the pool. It is free and that is always a good thing. Return on Investment 4 Adult ticket prices are $3 and are a bargain to watch baseball in a rather historic facility. Even if you had a few hours to kill, spending it here could be a rather gratifying experience. Extras 2 Memorial Stadium is one of those rare finds for a ballpark traveler. Its size and pristine condition make it ideal for summer league baseball in the ACBL. A traveler should not expect to find all the glamour that exists in the Northwoods or Prospect Leagues; a scaled-back and relaxed atmosphere will await you for a Quakertown Blazers game. Final Thoughts Lehigh Valley is sprinkled with various ballparks that offer a little bit of everything during the season. Quakertown Memorial Stadium is a simple, honest ballpark that provides a nice change of pace during a summer’s evening. If you are in town for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, take a short trip to Quakertown. ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Iroquois Lacrosse Arena 3201 Second Line Hagersville, ON N0A 1H0 Six Nations Chiefs Website Iroquois Lacrosse Arena Website Stadium: 2004 Capacity: 2,300 The Home of Lacrosse It is difficult to fully describe the relationship between the Indigenous People of Canada and the game of lacrosse. It is more than sport. It is not quite religion, but there are definitely religious aspects to the game. It is entertainment. It is culture. It is really beyond description. Sports fans who are looking for the purest form of the sport and are interested in lacrosse must consider catching a game at one of the most unique facilities to watch the sport. In most cases lacrosse is the second, third or even fourth in the pecking order at a given venue. At the home of the Six Nations Chiefs, lacrosse is not only at the top of the pecking order, but there are no other sports even on the list. On the Six Nations Reserve, south of Brantford, Ontario, near the towns of Ohsweken and Hagersville, is a temple for lacrosse. The Iroquois Lacrosse Arena is not lacrosse first, it is lacrosse only. Built with no ice making plant, the ILA only houses the various indoor lacrosse teams of the Six Nations, and there are a ton. The top semi-pro team that calls the ILA home is the Six Nations Chiefs of Major Series Lacrosse. The MSL is a semi-pro, Senior A lacrosse league where many of its players spend the winter months playing for various National Lacrosse League teams. Some players also double down in the summer months playing in both MSL and Major League Lacrosse. The Chiefs have been a part of MSL since 1993. Built in 2004 and owned by lacrosse magnate and owner of the Halifax Thunderbirds, Curt Styres along with Delby Powless, the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena is not only a temple for lacrosse and its connections to Indigenous culture, it is a hub of the Six Nations Reserve and important part of the community. The Six Nations include the Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca and Tuscarora. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions options at Iroquois Lacrosse Arena centre around the Bowhunter Brothers Convenience. The store and cafe is attached to ILA and there is access from the inside. A food counter that serves fries and other larger items is available. Soft drinks and ice cream are also available for purchase along with other confections. Atmosphere 4 From the outside, the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena is not overly aesthetically pleasing. White siding dominates the exterior and there is not much to differentiate the ILA from a warehouse. Fans should not get hung up on the outside of the building, however, as the interior is a much different story. Entering the ILA brings fans to a small desk where an employee will collect money for tickets. No fancy box office or physical tickets here. Just a stamp and a cash box and lacrosse fans are good to go. A portable table sells 50/50 tickets and some Chiefs merchandise to the left. Once past these spots, into the main concourse, is when fans get to start exploring. Although the displays are simple, there is plenty to educate the fan on the connection between lacrosse and the Indigenous People. One important display, explains the history of the sport and its connections to the peoples that first called Canada home. A “gift from the Creator, lacrosse is played for his enjoyment.” Not even college football in the southern United States, or hockey in rural Canada can claim these kinds of roots. The display fully acknowledges that we have no idea when lacrosse was first played, but the first recorded mention of the sport came in the 1630s. Further down the hall there are a number of pictures and displays for various lacrosse clubs. Curt Styres owns, what is formerly, the Rochester Knighthawks. The ILA has been used as a practice facility by the Knighthawks in the past. There are a number of displays honouring the Knighthawks and their Champions’ Cup years. There are also displays for Styres’ former teams, the Toronto Nationals and Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse. The junior teams are also well represented with photos of the Junior A, Six Nations Arrows, Junior B, Six Nations Rebels and Junior C, Six Nations Warriors. The ILA is also the home to the Iroquois Nation teams, which play in International Competitions. Display cases house various trophies and artifacts. For fans interested in lacrosse, there is so much to explore, just in the halls, that the game could be of secondary interest. The seating bowl in the ILA is fairly simple. Immediately the dominant orange seats in the east-west oriented arena take command. Purple highlights add to the orange and although it may not seem like a big deal, the Iroquois Nation’s colours are purple and orange and those colours are found on many Six Nations, Iroquois or other teams with Idigenous ties. The south side and east side of the arena feature traditional plastic, stadium seats. The corners and west end have wooden risers as seating. The north wall of the arena is littered with championship banners from all levels of Six Nations teams including a couple banners for the Mann Cup winning Chiefs of 2013. Simple scoreclocks can be found at the east and west with the clock on the east side guarded neatly by both the Canadian and Iroquois flag. The gameday production is very simple at a Chiefs game. There is not much in the way of extras, which is a refreshing change from some other sports where other entertainment and advertising overshadows the sport. One of the main features of the ILA which shows that it is a mecca for lacrosse is the turf that is found on the floor. Common for NLL games, turf is not usually found at this level of lacrosse and a polished concrete floor is what is found in most off-season hockey rinks. During intermissions, which are similar to hockey with three periods, kids bring their sticks and balls on to the floor and play around while the pros are taking a break. Neighbourhood 3 For many, the Six Nations Reserve is a bit of a mystery. The Iroquois Lacrosse Arena is located on the reserve, between the villages of Hagersville and Ohsweken. The reserve is just south of Brantford. Driving through the reserve, although not announced with a large, grand sign suggesting entrance to the reserve, does feel very different. Like entering a cultural neighbourhood in a large city, signage changes, buildings look a little different and being immersed in a new culture becomes evident. It is definitely something that needs to be experienced. The ILA is, however, located in a fairly rural area. For fans making the trek, there is not too much within walking distance of the arena. That is not to say that there is nothing of interest on Six Nations. For fans who are looking for something to eat or drink before the game, the famous Burger Barn in Ohsweken is definitely a stop that needs to be made. It was featured on the Canadian program “You Gotta Eat Here” and a very popular place. Dinger’s Taps & Grill in Hagersville is also a spot to consider. For fans looking for other entertainment in the area, there are definitely things worth seeing. At the very least, fans of lacrosse will be able to find plenty of other teams that play at the ILA. The Juniors are well represented at the ILA, with the Six Nations Arrows, Six Nations Rebels and Six Nations Warriors all calling the ILA home. Another sporting event to consider would be a Friday Night at nearby Ohsweken Speedway. Short track auto racing is on the menu and may be worth checking out. The Ruthven Park National Historic Site may be of interest to check out also. For those looking for more Six Nations culture, but not really knowing where to start, a good place would be the Six Nations Tourism website . Lots of great ideas can be found here. Fans looking for a place to stay near the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena could consider The Bear’s Inn in Ohsweken or heading to Brantford to the Best Western or other known, chain hotels. Fans 3 It is difficult to assess fans of Major Series Lacrosse. For most teams and games, there is not sufficient attendance statistics recorded and made public. That being said, it is clear that the Six Nations Chiefs are a solid franchise with a solid fanbase. The game which was reviewed was a weeknight game, as many Chiefs games are, and there was a solid crowd of probably between 400 and 800 fans. Fans in attendance are extremely knowledgeable of lacrosse and the players on the floor. The fans are quite reserved and even goals are not met with a huge ovation. Access 4 The rural nature of the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena makes getting to the arena by car not very difficult at all. The Six Nations Reserve is just south of the Grand River and highway 54. It is west of highway 6. For those looking to take public transit, this is not the spot to be. Getting around the ILA is not difficult at all and washrooms are more than adequate for the crowd in attendance. There is plenty of parking at ILA and it is free. Return on Investment 5 The return on investment for a Six Nations Chiefs game is significant. First, the investment in a Chiefs game is very low. Tickets are $10 or $5 or free depending on the age of fans and there is no cost to parking. Concession prices are not an issue either. For an investment of a couple of dollars, the return is immense. Getting immersed in a different culture and experiencing an arena where lacrosse is king is unlike anywhere else. Taking in all of the artifacts in the ILA and the education in lacrosse that can be gained is an experience onto itself. Finally, the ability to see top notch lacrosse players such as Lyle Thompson and Cody Jamieson and a lacrosse legend like John Tavares behind the bench puts the return over the top. Extras 4 An extra mark for the education that fans can receive on lacrosse or Tewaarathon from the Idigenous Peoples perspective. More information can be found on the Haudenosaunee Nationals website . An extra mark for a facility that is lacrosse first and a hub to the Six Nations community. An extra mark for the ability to experience a new culture on the Six Nations Reserve. An extra mark for lacrosse magnate and Six Nations member Curt Styres. He has been a huge proponent of lacrosse at all levels, former owner of the Toronto and Hamilton Nationals of MLL and Rochester Knighthawks of NLL. He also owned the Rochester Americans and is going to be the owner of the Halifax Thunderbirds of the NLL. He is also, of course, a Mohawk and Six Nations native. Final Thoughts A trip to see the Six Nations Chiefs is no doubt off the beaten path for most sports fans. However, it is absolutely a worthwhile experience where fans can learn more about lacrosse and the people who shared the game with the settlers over 400 years ago. When in Southern Ontario, it is worth the drive to check out the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena and the treasures that it holds. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Memorial Stadium 701 E 17th St Bloomington, IN 47408 Indiana Hoosiers website Memorial Stadium website Year Opened: 1960 Capacity: 52,626 Never Daunted In the history of Indiana University athletics, football has been not much more than what people did until basketball season started – it might be “the other football” (men's soccer) and their eight national championships that many of those in south central Indiana were more gravitated toward. Though Indiana football has seen pockets of success, it has been difficult for the program to build on it and keep that momentum going. The football Hoosiers enjoyed the bulk of their success under Bill Mallory, who guided Indiana to six bowl games in nine seasons during his thirteen-year tenure in Bloomington. The historic futility of Indiana football has impacted the overall support the program has seen, which in-turn impacts the game experience. The winds of success do seem to be shifting in Bloomington, however – the hiring of Curt Cignetti as the Hoosier’s head coach has seen a nearly immediate 180-degree turn in the program’s trajectory. The recent success on the field has energized the Indiana University community, as well as supporters near and far.   Food & Beverage   5 Heading into this season, improving food options at Memorial Stadium was a priority for enhancing the fan experience. A new concessions vender expanded options and brought in no less than four local Bloomington restaurants, including Social Cantina which offers walking nachos and ground beef tacos, as well as Aver’s Pizza. In addition, Yogi’s Bar and Grill serves smash burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches, while Buffa Louie’s, a Bloomington favorite since 1987, brings its signature wings in three flavors, along with a vegetarian version, along with their Italian beef sandwich, mozzarella sticks, and breaded pork tenderloin sandwich. Beyond these local favorites, food trucks provide additional variety, ranging from Latin dishes and BBQ to Mediterranean fare and classic American plates. Dessert options include Bloomington’s beloved Chocolate Moose ice cream and fresh cookies from Baked!, a late-night favorite. Everbowl also offers healthier choices like açaí bowls. With Coca-Cola soft drinks on offer, along with the typical assortment from Coors’ line of beers, there is also a solid selection of Bloomington craft beers from Upland Brewery, with their Dragonfly IPA, Wheat Ale, and Indiana University branded Hoosier Game Day lager. Vizzy hard seltzers and Happy Tuesdays spiked fruit drinks are also on hand. Concessions at Memorial Stadium are an example of fans asking for improvements and the powers that be listening to what the fans were asking for.   Atmosphere   3 A common mantra of Indiana football fans has been, “we may have lost the game, but we won the tailgate.” And while the success of the Hoosiers on the field appears to be turning, and the tailgate is no longer the only highlight of the day, the lots on the northern side of campus do provide a top tier tailgating experience that rivals many of those at larger, more traditional football powers. The paved lots around the football stadium and neighboring Simon-Skjodt (pronounced: Scott) Assembly Hall  are typically home to more sophisticated alumni gatherings, while students and more festive visitors populate the fields along 17th Street. Indiana Hoosiers Football Tailgating, Photo by David Welch, Stadium Journey Three hours before kickoff, fans gather west of Simon-Skjodt Assembly Hall  for a pep rally featuring the IU cheer squads, the Red Steppers dance team, and members of the Indiana University Marching Hundred, in anticipation of the arrival of the Hoosiers team buses for the “Walk to the Rock.” Architecturally, Memorial Stadium has a striking resemblance to Wake Forest’s Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium   and Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium . Since 2005, Memorial Stadium has seen significant improvements that enclosed the stadium, starting with weight training and staff facilities at the north end of the stadium, followed on the south end in 2018 with the completion of The Excellence Academy. However, the east and west stands still feel a bit bare, with exposed walkways on both sides. Like many other schools at this level, the Hoosiers have a well-orchestrated pregame show featuring the Marching Hundred, a slew of Indiana Hoosier flags waved by the Indiana cheer squad, pyrotechnics, and an occasional flyover. Throughout the game, timeout entertainment has shifted toward more modern features, such as scoreboard ads, an in-house DJ, on-field contests, and giveaways. The Marching Hundred still provides musical highlights throughout the game, and there are also t raditions such as the playing of “National Emblem” on 1st downs, as well as snippets of the beloved fight song, “Indiana, Our Indiana,” after big plays to keep fans engaged. One of the big points of contention for Memorial Stadium regulars is the stadium sound system does not necessarily meet Power 4 standards; the sound can seem distorted and difficult to hear clearly. With the recent on-the-field successes of Indiana football, the only thing keeping the experience from moving to the next level is its consistency. All signs point to a continuation of the upward trajectory the football program has seen throughout this season, however, which in turn bodes well for continued improvements to the overall game day experience at Indiana.   Neighborhood   5 Memorial Stadium sits on the northern side of Indiana University’s campus, surrounded by athletic facilities, dorms, and off-campus apartments. While dining options nearby are limited, a few restaurants are within walking distance. The real center of Bloomington’s social scene is centered on Kirkwood Avenue, which runs from the iconic Sample Gates to Bloomington Square. Kirkwood is home to many of Bloomington’s apparel shops, restaurants, and bars. The most well-known of the eateries, Nick’s English Hut, provides a bit more of a mature bar experience , while Kilroy’s is a bit more student-orientated, and Upstairs Pub is a bit of a happy medium. A secondary cluster of bars and restaurants in proximity to downtown Bloomington Square includes Kilroy’s Sports, Yogi’s Bar and Grill, music joint The Bluebird, and Video Saloon, which is a popular spot for many of Bloomington’s locals. For those with a bit of a finer palette, they might want to visit to Oliver Winery just north of town, or make reservations at Janko’s Little Zagreb, which is renowned for their steaks.   Fans   3 For years, Indiana football struggled not only to win games, but also to draw fans from tailgates into Memorial Stadium. In the mid-2000s policies were even introduced to clear tailgating areas of non-attendees. The 2024 hiring of Curt Cignetti marked a turning point, bringing new expectations for both the program and the fan base – Coach even called out fans for the passive interest they showed, even after a 5-0 start, saying: “We need you there for the opening kick. We need you there in the stands being loud in the first quarter…And, most importantly, in the fourth…The tailgates can wait. The parties can wait. If you need to study, that can wait too.” Time will tell if the Hoosier fans support of Indiana football is here to stay. If the success of year one under Cignetti is any indication of future fan support of Indiana football, however, the increased attendance numbers and fan involvement in the game will only serve to improve the overall game atmosphere at Memorial Stadium.   Access   3 The completion of Interstate 69 connecting Evansville to Indianapolis made accessing Bloomington much easier than when it was just State Road 37, a divided highway, connecting the two cities. Coming from the east can be a bit more challenging, though, as two-lane rural State Road 46 can be a bit slow going. When typical attendance numbers fought to scrape into the lower end of 40,000, the facilities here were adequate to accommodate the crowd without much difficulty. Now though, with the norm bringing in 50,000+ fans per game, there certainly are new obstacles to consider – lines for bathrooms and concessions get extremely backed up, impeding the flow of those simply trying to navigate the concourse. Another challenge is that the stands do not have any sort of hand railings in the seating area, which certainly creates difficulties in navigating the stairs, especially if the weather takes a turn for the worse. Indiana does all it can do to make getting to, around, and from the stadium as convenient as possible, but there definitely are some areas it could improve on. There has even been chatter about the possibility of expanding the stadium, which could help alleviate some of the backups, for example if the Easternmost confines of the stadium were pushed closer to the parking lots. At the moment, however, the long concession and bathroom lines, especially on the stadium’s eastern side, can create quite the hinderance for those simply trying to move about the stadium. On the plus side, though, recent trends indicate the Athletics department is listening to fans, and is focused on improving the overall fan experience at Memorial Stadium.   Return on Investment   4 This season, tickets for non-conference games start at $30, and go up to $45 for conference matchups. Time will tell if the Hoosiers recent success will see an increase in ticket prices going forward, but at the moment ticket prices do not seem exorbitant. Parking in lots around the stadium can get a bit pricey, but for early arrivers who are willing to walk, free parking is available in the Poplars Garage on the corner of 6th Street and N. Dunn Avenue. Shuttles to the stadium begin 2 hours prior to kick off and run 90 minutes following the game. With free parking on campus widely available, it adds another perk for savings that can be found in attending a football game at Indiana. Some value is lost however when it comes to concessions, specifically at the more traditional stands – paying $6 for a typical-sized hot dog does seem to be a bit much. The best food values seem to come from the local options; though they are a touch more expensive, the quality and portion sizes are worth the higher prices.   Extras   4 As legend goes, shortly after Terry Hoeppner was hired as head coach in 2005 he found a massive limestone boulder on campus; he had it moved and mounted at the north end of Memorial Stadium where the team would rub it for luck as they took the field. Hoeppner would pass away in 2007 and “The Rock” would take on a whole new meaning. Renamed “Hep’s Rock” in 2010, it would find a new home to start the 2024 season, just outside Memorial Stadium’s east entrance. This location makes “Hep’s Rock” accessible to all IU football fans, being located at the end of the Hoosiers “Walk to the Rock”, where they rub it for luck just before entering the stadium. Outside the north entrance of the facility is a statute of George Taliaferro, paying tribute to the first Black player drafted into the NFL. Memorial Stadium - George Taliaferro Statue, Photo by David Welch Between the stadium’s southern end and 17th Street, B-Town Boulevard is set up to give fans an area to play games, pose for photos, or listen to a rotating performance of musicians while grabbing a bite to eat and/or a drink from the nearby food trucks. The main level concourse around the north end of the stadium is home to the Hoosier Red Zone – during pregame this area is billed as a “family fun zone”, mainly geared towards children, to test their football, basketball, and soccer skills. Visitors can also get photos taken with an oversized IU football helmet or football, or with mannequins dressed in the complete collection of Indiana uniform styles. One of the interactive displays in this area is a partnership  between IU Sports Properties and Damar , a non-profit organization that supports people with Autism. The area includes color changing lights, textures, audio inputs, and noise canceling headphones, along with a 10,000-piece Lego wall to help fans who struggle with sensory overload and may need a bit of a reset.   Final Thoughts In what might have previously best been described as a morgue of college football, Memorial Stadium has seen a remarkable turnaround fueled simply by winning, as well as a new head coach who has expectations of excellence not just from players, but from the University’s community as well. If the current trend of success for Indiana football continues, expect the game atmosphere here to only continue to improve, with an extremely festive atmosphere fed by a long anticipated winning product on the field. On the other hand, if for whatever reason Hoosier football were to revert back to its historic inconsistencies, it certainly would be a major blow to the progress seen on the gridiron in Bloomington.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Clipper Magazine Stadium 650 North Prince Street Lancaster, PA 17603 Lancaster Barnstormers website Clipper Magazine Stadium website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 6,000 Storming The Barn In Lancaster Professional baseball has a long history in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, dating back to 1884 when the Lancaster Red Roses was founded. The team played in several minor leagues through 1961 and had a notable rivalry with the York White Roses, located only about 30 miles away. The nicknames were in reference to the nicknames of the cities of Lancaster and York, which themselves pay homage to their namesakes in England and the War of the Roses. However, after the 1961 season, baseball left the Red Rose City until 2005, when the Lancaster Barnstormers joined the independent Atlantic League. The Barnstormers play their home games at Clipper Magazine Stadium in downtown Lancaster. The War of the Roses rivalry continues to this day, as the Barnstormers’ archnemesis is the York Revolution who play a short drive away. Food & Beverage 4 Clipper Magazine Stadium has a good range of concession options. All the typical favorites are here, including hot dogs, burgers (from local favorite chain Fuddruckers), pizza, ice cream, and more. Alcohol is available through the seventh inning, and Pepsi soft drink products are sold as well. Prices are affordable, and it is nice to see tie-ins with Pennsylvania businesses. Atmosphere 4 Clipper Magazine Stadium has a 360-degree concourse, and you can see the field from almost anywhere on it. All seats are chairbacks except for some lawn seating in left field and a single row of benches at the bottom of the hill, and they all have a great view of the action. A large videoboard is located in left-centerfield, and there are small digital boards above the seating bowl and below the suites which show basic information as well. The Barnstormers have a mascot named Cylo. According to his official bio, Cylo is a furry red creature from Mascot, Pennsylvania (a real place in Lancaster County, surprisingly). His actual resemblance to a cow is tenuous at best, but that just adds to the fun. Neighborhood 4 Clipper Magazine Stadium is located in downtown Lancaster, so there are many places to visit nearby. Slugger’s Pizzeria is located just a couple blocks from the stadium on the other side of Queen Street, and Iron Hill Brewery is a short trip down Harrisburg Avenue. Although many cities in Central Pennsylvania have gone downhill over the past couple of decades, Lancaster seems to still be thriving. Fans 4 The Barnstormers have consistently ranked towards the top of the Atlantic League in attendance, drawing over 3,000 fans a game on average. Many of the fans have been coming to Barnstormers games since the team was founded and are extremely knowledgeable about the players and the game. There are many casual fans and young families as well who are just there for a fun day at the ballpark. Regardless of their level of familiarity, fans are involved and cheer on the Barnstormers throughout the game. As the Atlantic League is fairly compact in terms of geographic scope, there will often be a significant presence from the visiting team fans as well – they can expect to feel welcomed but may enjoy some good-natured ribbing from the hometown crowd as they try to drown out chants for the other team. Access 3 Clipper Magazine Stadium is located a short drive off U.S. Route 30, a major east-west highway in Pennsylvania, but actually getting from there to the stadium can be tough. Parking is poorly signed and GPS apps may be of limited use. If using an app, you may need to navigate to “Clipper Magazine Stadium Parking” rather than the stadium itself. Once you actually get to the parking lot, staff will direct you where to go. If you do not need a handicapped space and are not a season ticket holder with a special parking pass, you will have to park beyond the centerfield fence. Fortunately, there is ample parking for everyone, although you will need to walk halfway around the stadium to get to the main gate and box office. There is a gate in centerfield as well if you want to go in that way and already have your tickets. Return on Investment 5 Tickets start at just $8 for lawn seats and the most expensive seats are only $14. Tickets are $2 more expensive the day of the game, so buy in advance if possible to improve value. Concessions are affordable and parking is free, so a Barnstormers game is a great value for the whole family, for a group of friends, or for the seasoned baseball traveler. There are several discounts available as well. Fans with a Rewardz Card to local gas station/food chain Sheetz (yes, both those words are spelled with a Z) can get dugout box seats (the best seats in the house) for just $10, a discount of 40%. First responders can get $4 off of field box seats, which is an almost 50% discount. Seniors 55 and over get $1 off any ticket, and kids 5-12 get a dollar discount on lawn seats as well. Lawn seats are free for kids four and under and for all children in sports uniforms. All these factors combine to make a trip to Lancaster for a Barnstormers game an excellent value. Extras 4 There is a kid’s play area down the left field line which includes a merry-go-round and a miniature golf course, among other fun activities. When walking down the left field line outside the ballpark on your way in from the parking lot, there is a mural honoring former Barnstormers who have made the major leagues. A team store is located just to the left of the home plate gate as you head into the stadium and features Barnstormers gear at affordable prices. A fourth and final star for the 360-degree concourse and many vantage points to watch a game. Final Thoughts Although Lancaster has not had an affiliated baseball team for 60 years, that has not stopped the fans here from cheering for their local independent league team. You wouldn’t know from looking at Clipper Magazine Stadium that it’s Indy Ball rather than affiliated, and the experience here is as good as it is at many “real” minor league parks around the country, not that Barnstormers fans will let you get away with saying this isn’t every bit as real as an affiliated team. A Barnstormers game is a great experience and a great value for any fan, especially when the War of the Roses comes to town and the Barnstormers take on the nearby Revolution.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Davis Wade Stadium Lee Blvd & Moore Rd Starkville, MS 39759 Mississippi State Bulldogs website Davis Wade Stadium website Year Opened: 1914 Capacity: 60,311 Gotta' Have More Cowbell On Saturdays in the fall, college football in the farmlands of Northeast Mississippi takes on a whole different meaning – this is SEC football at its best, as the small town of Starkville, MS turns into the third largest city in the state. Combine that with the sound of over 60,000 cowbells, and you have one of the top game day experiences in the country. The Mississippi State football program is one of the oldest programs in the country, first fielding a team in 1895. Honoring its farming and agriculture background, the school was once known as Mississippi A&M, with its teams o riginally nicknamed the Aggies and then the Maroons, until becoming the Bulldogs in 1961. Davis-Wade Stadium opened in 1914, which makes it the second-oldest college football stadium in the country – the facility was originally known as New Athletic Field, and the playing surface itself was named Scott Field, after Olympic runner and former player Donald Scott. Today, Davis-Wade Stadium is one of the loudest football stadiums in the country, with cowbells ringing so loud they can be heard miles away, not to mention a pre-game in The Junction providing one of the best tailgating spots in the South. The game day experience here rivals some of the best that college football has to offer.   Food and Beverage   3 Food options are plentiful at Davis-Wade Stadium, with over 30 concession stands located throughout the facility. Most of the food options are located on the main concourse at ground level, with over 20 points of sale on this level. You will find everything from the basics at the Hail State Eats stands, to specialty items like gourmet hot dogs at Dawg Express. For flat-grilled street tacos try one of the four Stark Tacos locations located on the ground and 300 levels, while for pulled pork sandwiches and BBQ nachos try one of the four Junction BBQ stands, also on the ground and 300 levels. For delicious custom burgers and deep-fried chicken tender sandwiches be sure to check out the two Drill Field Chicken and Burgers stands, and in addition, there is a stand selling flat bread pizzas located on the east side concourse. There are also several food trucks scattered around the ground level, including Dab's Chicken and Waffles, a Jackson, MS-based chicken joint, as well as an ice cream stand. Davis-Wade Stadium also features five climate-controlled market-style stands, set up like grocery stores where you grab your items, scan them, and walk out; these definitely speed up the lines. Mississippi State has a partnership with Coca-Cola for beverages, and there are over 20 stands for you to purchase alcoholic beverages. My one complaint with the concessions here is that most of the stands are located at ground level – it would be nice if there were more concession stands on the upper levels.   Atmosphere   5 There is nothing like a game day in Starkville, as the small college town nearly triples in size. The game day experience is centered around The Junction, just south of the stadium – what was once a railroad crossing on campus 100 years ago has been transformed into one of the premier tailgating spots in all of college football. Fans get out to The Junction early on gamedays, which is not a very big green space, but regardless you'll find a sea of maroon and white tents packed side by side, along with grills smoking and people playing various games such as cornhole, while big screen TVs show the game. Sometimes they even have pre-game concerts held in The Junction, and if you have kids, there are a few inflatables set up across the street from The Junction's west entrance. There are also various Bulldog statues set up, which provide excellent photo ops as well. As one of the founding members of the SEC, the Bulldogs have a great sense of pride in their football achievements. Giant banners of past players hang from the upper decks on the west side of the stadium, such as Eagles DB Darius Slay, Chief's DE Chris Jones, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, and Eagles DE Fletcher Cox; as of the 2024 NFL season the Bulldogs have 24 former players on NFL active rosters. This sense of pride extends inside the stadium as well, as you'll find banners of big games in program history, as well as images of past bowl games the Bulldogs played in. Once inside the venue you could hardly tell that Davis-Wade Stadium is 110 years old, thanks in part to the many upgrades and renovations made over the years. Looming over the south end zone is the HD videoboard, installed in 2008 and measuring 152 x 135 feet – this is the fourth largest videoboard in the SEC. Davis-Wade Stadium received its most substantial upgrade in 2014 when the north end zone was filled in, with the stadium now resembling a horseshoe. The entire east side upper deck concourse is also covered and climate controlled; today Davis-Wade Stadium features 60 luxury suites and club levels. The club level includes the south end zone loge seats, an open-air seating area where you can be right on top of the action as the Bulldogs run out onto the field. In the north end zone is the Gridiron Club, a 15,000 square foot open bar area with seating at field level. Also in the north end zone, but at the 200 level, is the scoreboard club area, where they have a bar similar to the Gridiron Club, but the 200 level area has cabanas you can rent out and watch the game from. Another neat section of Davis-Wade Stadium is where they took out the seats in the northwest and southwest upper decks, originally known as the worst seats in the stadium – these were replaced by a premium seating area called The Balconies. This new area took tailgating into the stadium, with 22 covered balcony style areas complete with bar and loge seating, shade, electricity, and where fans are allowed to bring in their own food and drinks.   Neighborhood   4 The Cotton District is the main area of town for nightlife in Starkville – located just off campus within walking distance of Davis-Wade Stadium, the District, as it is known, is home to multiple bars and restaurants. The Cotton District is unique in that many of the neighborhood’s buildings resemble buildings you’d see in New Orleans and Europe, as the developer of the neighborhood traveled there for ideas during the mid-1990s. Bin 612 in the Cotton District is a late-night favorite among college students, who flock to the bar for its famous cheese fries – when the bars close around 1 am, you can find a huge line of college students stretched the whole block waiting to get the famous dish. In addition, Two Brothers Smoked Meats has really good smoked wings and its signature white BBQ sauce, while Bulldog Burger has a huge selection of different burgers. The Cotton District is a small one block area that gets really packed with a lot of college students, especially on weekends, so the older crowd of alums may want to venture more towards downtown if they want to avoid hanging out with the younger college students. Just a short walk down University towards downtown you’ll encounter more bars and restaurants, such as Little Dooey – this BBQ joint prides itself on its smoked BBQ, fried catfish, and other Southern favorites. Right next door to Dooey’s is Stromboli’s; this tiny rinky-dink looking Italian eatery doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the pizza being cooked can be smelled from across the street. Right behind Stromboli’s is Central Station Grill, which is built into an old milk plant – the Grill is known for its  brunch and drinks specials, while yet another favorite in the area is Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern, a pub-style bar famous for its pizza, located on the side of a sketchy looking motel. If you come here on your birthday you get a free 24-inch pizza for every fourth person you bring. This dimly lit tavern also has really good live music, and is the place that attracts the mid to late 20s crowd. Besides the above eateries, a couple of bars and restaurants in downtown I recommend checking out are The Beer Garden at Hotel Chester, which is an outdoor bar in the courtyard of an old historic hotel, and the State Theatre, which is a 3-story club type bar. Restaurant Tyler is my favorite restaurant for lunch, however, as it has a really cheap seafood blue plate special, and in its basement there is a bar called Downstairs at Tyler, which is located in a former speakeasy that was used during prohibition. Oby’s is another favorite of mine and features some of the best seafood, sandwiches, and po’ boys in Starkville. A popular Sunday morning tradition in Starkville is to have breakfast at Starkville Café – the tiny cafe located downtown often has a line wrapped around the building starting early on Sunday morning, with people waiting to come in and get the best southern homestyle breakfast in the area. In addition, after breakfast make sure you walk upstairs to Hobie's on Main.   Fans   4 College football is a part of the culture in the south, and in Starkville it's no different. With over 100 years of football history and playing in the toughest conference in college football, Bulldogs fans are just as passionate as any team in the country. This fan base has been through so much over the years – what was once a dormant program in the early and mid-2000s, with a record that was atrocious, Dan Mullen would turn the program around in 2009, and in 2010 begin the streak of 13 consecutive bowl game appearances. State fans would see the pinnacle of success in 2014 when a Dak Prescott led Bulldog team would spend five weeks ranked as the number 1 team in college football; the highest-attended game in stadium history occurred during the 2014 Auburn  game. Fans began to be spoiled during that time period, and now every year the Bulldog faithful expect to have a winning season and go to a bowl game. However, the past few years have been rough on the program, due to the untimely passing of coach Mike Leach, leading to the team missing out on a bowl game in 2023 for the first time in 13 years. Nevertheless, the Mississippi State program hopes to turn things around this year, thanks in part to a new head coach and a newly re-vamped SEC. There are also several traditions that are unique to Mississippi State, most noticeably the cowbells – legend has it that a wandering cow strolled onto the field during a game against Ole Miss in the 1930s. The cow became a good luck charm when the Maroons would ultimately defeat the Rebels, and the cowbell has been a symbol of the university ever since. In fact, Mississippi State is the only Division I school where fans are allowed to bring artificial noisemakers to games. With 61,000 people ringing cowbells, this makes Davis-Wade Stadium one of the loudest stadiums in the country. Continuing the theme, before every game they play the Will Ferrell "More Cowbell" SNL skit over the videoboard, right before players and the Famous Maroon Band take the field. Other popular traditions include The Junction, which is the center for Mississippi State game day activities – on Friday afternoons before each home game, fans line up with their tents so they can have them set them up right at 4 pm, the time the area officially opens. The west side of The Junction is where many of the students and fraternities tailgate, so there will be a mob rush of people waiting to lay claim to their spot right at 4 pm, while the east side of The Junction is a little more reserved and not as chaotic. Lastly the popular Dawg Walk, where the players walk through The Junction on the way to the stadium, occurs 2.5 hours before kickoff before each game as well.   Access   3 The one drawback to coming to a game in Starkville is that the city is located in kind of a secluded area of the state. The closest major cities of Tupelo and Meridian are both located over an hour away, and the closest major airport is over an hour and a half away in Jackson (although there is a smaller Golden Triangle Regional Airport located in nearby Columbus). Only two roads come into Starkville, which are Highway 82 which runs east to west, and Highway 25 which runs north and south. Starkville has recently become more accessible to other areas in the state thanks in part to the upgraded Highway 45, which is located just outside of town, and is the main road you would travel on if coming from the coast or central Mississippi. Make sure you fill up on gas before embarking, however, as there aren’t many stations on the roads heading into Starkville – it’s more of a peaceful rural drive through the backwoods. Once in Starkville prepare for lots of traffic congestion, however, as the town is small and the roads are not exactly the nicest. There is also not a lot of parking around Davis-Wade Stadium, as most of the lots around the facility are reserved for season ticket holders and Bully Club members. There are several lots that charge on the east side of campus near the dorms, and there is also some grass parking for $20 located just south of the stadium. For free parking, go across the street from campus to the Vet School, also called the Wise Center – you can find limited parking around Wise Center, but be sure to get there early, as this lot fills up quickly. You will also have about half a mile walk from there to get to the venue. Once inside Davis-Wade Stadium, the people traffic flows smoothly. There are plenty of concession stands to accommodate the 60,000 people, and the grab and go markets definitely help the lines. The only place in the stadium where you might run into some congestion is on the west side upper deck, which is quite a narrow concourse.   Return on Investment   3 The ticket market fluctuates substantially for every Mississippi State game, but State still has one of the cheapest overall game day experiences in the SEC – for non-conference FBS games, or games against FCS opponents, you can easily find tickets in the upper deck for as low as $20. Night versus day games tend to play a factor in pricing as well, as night games are routinely more popular than day games. For games against Alabama , LSU , or Ole Miss you'll have to resort to the secondary market, and you could be paying anywhere between $75 and $200 a ticket depending on how each team is doing at the time. I consider this a good return on investment, as for an SEC night game David-Wade Stadium is one of the loudest atmospheres in college football. The only issues you may run into are traffic congestion and the lack of parking – it took me over an hour just to get out of the parking lot after the most recent game I attended. There is also a noticeable lack of hotels in Starkville as well, with the few hotels in town usually filling up before the season even starts (for cheaper place to stay I recommend making the 30-minute drive east and staying in Columbus, MS).   Extras   4 The current English bulldog that can be found roaming the sidelines at every game is Bully XXII, also known as Dak. A bulldog named Ptolemy began roaming the sidelines here in 1935; his twin brother Bully also came to a game here when State beat Army  in West Point back in 1939. The first Bully was struck and killed by a campus bus in 1939, and is buried on the sidelines on the 50-yard line under the team benches. Davis-Wade Stadium hosted College GameDay once in 2014, for perhaps the greatest game in school history, when a third-ranked Mississippi State team defeated Number 2 Auburn , to advance to Number 1 in the polls for the first time ever. State was also the first team in the history of the college football playoff to be ranked Number 1, and the first college football game after the attacks on 9/11 was played here against South Carolina on 9/20/01. Davis-Wade Stadium has even set a Guinness Book World Record when over 15,000 came to a pep rally here in 2015 – of the 15,000 people, 5,748 of them rang cowbells at the exact time for 30 seconds, which broke the record for most people simultaneously ringing a cowbell (the old mark was set in Switzerland when 640 people rang cowbells). And of course, one extra for Davis-Wade Stadium being the second-oldest D1 college football stadium in the country – only Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium  at Grant Field is older, having opened in 1913.

Photos by Lance Sutehall and Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Protective Stadium 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North Birmingham, AL 35203 UAB Blazers website Protective Stadium website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 47,100 UAB Blazing Their Own Path The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is the third largest public university by enrollment in the state. UAB became its institution after splitting from the main University of Alabama campus in 1969 and has become the third-largest university by enrollment with over 22,000 students. The UAB Blazers athletics program began nearly a decade later in 1978 but it was not until 1991 that UAB would field a football team. After spending a couple of seasons in Division 3 and a few more in Division 1-AA (now FCS) the Blazers became a 1-A (now FBS) program in 1996. UAB struggled to find any success as a football program, only securing one bowl game appearance before the football team shut down in 2014. Public outcry led to the UAB football team being reinstated in 2017 and the Blazers won two C-USA football championships and three out of five bowl games. UAB accepted an invitation to join the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in 2023 after playing in Conference USA (C-USA) for most of its time as an FBS program. Legion Field was the home of Blazers football for most of the program’s history until 2021 when UAB moved to the brand-new Protective Stadium. The crowds were great in 2021 before head coach BIll Clark announced his retirement from coaching. The rebirth and most of the on-field successes of UAB football happened under the helm of Bill Clark and the Blazers have struggled under their current head coach Trent Dilfer. Food & Beverage 4 There are a variety of concession stands located throughout the stadium. Sloss Steakhouse sells BBQ Sandwiches ($13), Conecuh Sausages ($12), Premium hot dogs ($6), Birmingham hot dogs ($8), pretzels ($6), nachos ($6), popcorn ($5), and candy ($5). Coca-Cola beverages are offered with Dasani water ($5), Powerade ($6.50), 32oz. sodas ($6.50), and Souvenir drinks ($10) being the options. Alcohol is sold at this stand with domestic drafts ($11) and premium/imports ($13) on offer. Anvil Grill has chicken tenders ($13) and cheeseburgers ($8) as well as the snacks and beverages offered at Sloss Steakhouse. 4:2:1 Eats offers concessions on a budget with smaller hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, popcorn, 16. oz sodas, and bottled water (all aforementioned items are $3.50/each) as well as $5 12 oz. domestic beers. Chicken Crossroads sells chicken tenders and corn dogs ($8) as well as snacks and beverages sold at other stands. There is also a Chick-fil-A stand open as well as a Lady Electra’s concession area that sells a wide variety of alcoholic beverages. Atmosphere 3 Outside the south endzone of the venue is “Blazer Village” which features tailgating, fan activities, and a UAB Bookstore tent. It opens four hours before kickoff and closes 30 minutes before the start of the game. Around two and a half hours before kickoff the “Marching Blazers” start marching throughout the Uptown entertainment district. This culminates with the band joining the cheerleaders and the football team in the pregame Blazer Walk as they head inside the stadium. The seating area is mostly bleacher seating with cushioned chairback seats at midfield on both sidelines. The home side of Protective Stadium has a building containing premium club seating that provides shade to the lower bowl. On the opposite side of the stadium is a second level of bleacher seating which means the visiting side has more seats than the home side. The “Marching Blazers” sit in the visitor's side of the stadium. Neighborhood 4 Protective Stadium is part of the Birmingham-Jefferson County Complex (BJCC) that also contains Legacy Arena , home of the NBA G-League’s Squadron. The stadium is part of the Uptown entertainment district that includes restaurants such as The Southern Kitchen and Bar, Mugshots Grill and Bar, and Texas de Brazil. There is a Sheraton and a Westin located within Uptown for lodging with both hotels a short walk to Protective Stadium. The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is located in the complex as well and is open Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm. Fans 3 The fans are the reason UAB football came back from extinction in the mid-2010s. In 2014 the decision was made to shut down the UAB football program. Public outcry led to the program being reinstated in 2017 and support has never been better. The city of Birmingham has embraced the UAB Blazers and kept them at the forefront when building Protective Stadium. Access 4 Protective Stadium is near the junction of I-20/59 and I-65. From I-20/59 Eastbound turn off Exit 124D and make a left at Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard. Make another left at 24th Street North and Protective Stadium will be on the left. From I-20/59 Westbound, turn off Exit 126B and stay in the left lane before making a right turn onto Richard Arrington Jr Boulevard. Protective Stadium will be in view on the right. From I-65 turn off at Exit 261A and follow the same instructions as I-20/59 Eastbound. The BJCC has a parking garage behind the Westin for $20 parking and nearby street parking is free on weekends and weekday evenings after 6 pm. The concourse surrounding the stadium is very wide and does not get congested. The rows of bleachers are spaced out enough that fans do not have to make room to let someone pass by. Return on Investment 4 Tickets start at $20 for endzone seats and go up to $50 for lower-level seats along the sideline at midfield. With $20 parking and affordable concessions at 4:2:1 Eats a person can expect to pay $50 for an afternoon of football, $80 for a date, and $130 for a family of four. A day out to see UAB football will not break the bank. Extras 4 Protective Stadium is home to the Birmingham Stallions UFL football team and the Birmingham Legion soccer club. The stadium was home to the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the 2022 World Games. Garth Brooks performed at Protective Stadium on June 4, 2022, setting the venue attendance record with over 45,000 fans packed in the stadium that night. Final Thoughts The once-dead UAB program has seen a renaissance in recent years. With a stadium that is better suited for the program than its prior one and a loyal fanbase UAB football has a good opportunity to grow its program even further.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Carleton Ice House Raven Road Ottawa, ON K1S 5R2 Carleton Ravens Ice Hockey website Carleton Ice House website Year Opened: 1974 Capacity: 820 Quote the Raven Ask any Canadian about the athletic teams of Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, inevitably the conversation will come to basketball.  The Carleton Ravens basketball team has enjoyed unprecedented success, achieving seventeen National Championships since 2003.  That success through basketball has invigorated the rest of the athletic department.  The return of Ravens football after a 15 year absence in 2013 signaled a change in the Ravens Athletic Department.  Hockey also returned in 2008 after being on hiatus since 1974.  The Ravens hockey team was originally founded in 1949 and played for six seasons before disbanding.  The second iteration of the team lasted from 1960 to 1974.  The Ravens have since appeared in the USports National Championship Tournament in 2014, 2016 and 2019. Home for the Ravens is the Carleton Ice House.  The arena was built in 1974 and features two NHL-sized ice surfaces.  The main rink has a capacity of 320 seats with space for 500 fans to stand. Food & Beverage 1 The concession options are extremely limited at the Carleton Ice House.  On the ground level there are a number of vending machines for drinks and snacks.  There are signs that there is a Tim Hortons and Subway in an adjoining Physical Education building, however, if their hours of operation coincided with hockey games is unknown.   Atmosphere 3 The Carleton Ice House is a fairly simplistic hockey venue.  The exterior is fairly attractive at the main entrance at the west with light brick and windows attached to a long building with rounded roof.  The main lobby has plenty of red and black with Ravens markings.  There is not much that is sport specific or even hockey specific, but the lobby is not unattractive.  Fans must ascend to the upper level for entry to the rink.  In the main rink there is a strong warehouse feel to the environment with the north wall covered in corrugated siding.  The ice is east-west oriented and there is only seating on the north side.  The seating area consists of 3 or 4 rows of older, red arena seats with plenty of standing room behind the seating.  The simple scoreclock hangs on the eastern wall along with a banner for the retired number 12.  Paul Correy played for Carleton before the program dissolved, but was integral in the return of hockey to the university in 2008 by leading the fundraising campaign and drumming up interest in the community.  He was enshrined in Carleton’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 and has subsequently had his number 12 retired by the hockey team.  The south side of the arena features Ravens markings to give the rink a bit more of a home team feel to it.  The gameday production at a Ravens hockey game is extremely simple.  There are no promotions, which are common during USports hockey games.  The most irritating feature of the gameday experience at Carleton has to be the sound system, which is very poor, making announcements almost impossible to understand. Neighbourhood 4 Carleton Ice House is located on the campus of Carleton University, adjacent to the Old Ottawa South neighbourhood.  There are a few spots that are not too far from campus that are good choices for pre or post game food and drink.  Some possibilities include Hometown Sports Grill, Bergham, Local Public Eatery, Irene’s Pub and The Prescott.  Ottawa is a fantastic tourist spot and there are a number of other sporting options in the city.  Carleton is of course known for its basketball  team but also fields a football  team.  The Ravens’ closest rival is the cross-town Ottawa Gee-Gees, who also field football, hockey  and basketball teams.  Professional sports is available with the Ottawa Senators , Ottawa RedBlacks  and Ottawa Black Bears  and fans can get their Junior hockey fix with the Ottawa 67’s .  Ottawa has a plethora of things to do in the city, however, not in the neighbourhood where Carleton is.  Skating on the Rideau Canal, visiting Parliament or taking in one of the dozens of museums in the city are great tourist options.  For fans wishing to stay near campus, the Best Western and Residence Inn are good options. Fans 3 At the time of writing, for the 2024-2025 season, Carleton attracted an average of almost 240 fans per game.  The game that was reviewed saw 155 fans at the game, which seems to be low.  This ranks Carleton 8th in the conference in average attendance.  There is plenty of room for improvement, but they are not at the bottom of the conference.  The fans in attendance were knowledgeable and supportive.  It would be beneficial if Carleton could attract more students on a regular basis and not just for the big rivalry games.   Access 4 Carleton Ice House is located on the campus of Carleton University, adjacent to the Old Ottawa South neighbourhood of the city.  Getting to the arena is not that difficult.  It is located south of Highway 417 which provides fairly easy access.  However, traffic in Ottawa can be an issue, even on the highways.  There is parking on site, however, fans will need to pay, even on the weekends and in the evening.  For fans wishing to take public transit to the game, the light rail station is west of University and there are buses on University also.  Fans should consult the Ottawa Carleton Transit  website for fares, schedules and maps.  Getting around the arena is not difficult and the washroom facilities are adequate for the size of the crowd. Return on Investment 4 Carleton Ravens hockey offers good value for a small investment.  Tickets for the Ravens start at $15 with discounts for youth, alumni and students.  Fans will have to pay for parking and concessions are a bit of a pain with vending machines.  That being said, the product on the ice is good and fans will have a good time at a Ravens game Extras 3 An extra mark for the Colonel By Classic, the rivalry game with the Ottawa Gee-Gees that is played at TD Place Arena, home of the Ottawa 67’s, and is very well attended. An extra mark for the resurrection of the Ravens hockey program. An extra mark for the Ravens hanging in under the massive shadow of Carleton basketball. Final Thoughts When in Ottawa, taking in a Carleton Ravens hockey game is a great way to enjoy an evening of hockey for a low price.  The Carleton Ice House is a simple venue but is adequate for USports hockey.  Time will tell if some of the basketball Ravens success can rub off on the hockey team.  Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram  @profan9.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Phoenix Municipal Stadium 5999 E. Van Buren St Phoenix, AZ 85008 Map It Arizona State Sun Devils website Phoenix Municipal Stadium website Year Opened: 1964 Capacity: 8,775 Phoenix Muni The Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team h as a long, storied, and successful h istory, with only four losing seasons since its founding in 1959.   The Sun Devils moved to the Big 12 conference beginning the 2024-25 season after successfully playing in the Pac-12 since 1978.   The team is first in the number of alumni who have played in MLB.  The stadium’s outfield walls proudly display nineteen retired numbers, many College World Series (CWS) appearances, and five national championship years. After playing four decades at on-campus Packard Stadium (1974 – 2014) in Tempe, AZ, the Sun Devils moved to Phoenix Municipal Stadium (Phoenix Muni) in 2015.  Phoenix Muni was built as the spring training home for the San Francisco Giants (1964 – 1981) and later the Oakland Athletics (1982 – 2014).  Since taking residence, the Sun Devils have made significant renovations to the 60+-year-old facility.   These include a state-of-the-art indoor batting facility with a new patio deck down the right field line.  Fans can see the entire field and look into the batting cage from the deck.  Upgrades also include a new outfield fence.  The field designers moved the bullpens behind the new fence and changed the field’s dimensions.  The renovations include an elaborately redesigned clubhouse with a players’ lounge, nutrition room, and weight room. The newest piece of history at Phoenix Muni this 2025 season is a statue for Bobby Winkles, the first Sun Devil baseball coach (1959 – 1971). It's an enjoyable, historic park in which to watch some spring baseball. Food & Beverage 3 Phoenix Muni offers traditional concession menu items with better options down the third base concourse.  Line s do fo rm at the concession stands. Hot dogs, nachos, and sausages run $5 - $8.  Popcorn, pretzel, peanuts, and candy costs range from $5 - $13.50, depending on the size ordered.   A Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers (an Arizona sports bar chain) is to the left beyond the stadium’s entrance.  It sells ho t dog, cheeseburger, and chicke n tender baskets for $14 - $16. Phoenix Muni Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers Coke brands are the soda of choice and run $6/bottle or $6.75/$8 fountain.   Bottled wa ter is sold ($5).  Fans can bring in sealed bottled water, so save a few bucks and bring your own. Beers such as Miller Light, Coors Light, Lagunitas, Dos Equis, hard seltzer, wine, etc.    cost $7 - $15.  Tempe-based Huss Brewery sells their new ASU-themed 'Devil's Halo' amber ale at the ballpark. A Chick-fil-A and an Ice stand are on the third base concourse, with a regular chicken sandwich running a pricey $11.18.  Atmosphere 5 Attending a game at Phoenix Muni is a delightful, refreshing experience for any baseball fan.  Green fold-down stadium seats (with cup holders) make up the seating behind home plate and the infield.  Bleachers with backs (general admission) extend down the baselines.   The bleacher area provides net-free seating, though those sections do not have handrails or cup holders, and the seating is quite uncomfortable.  A patio deck is down the first baseline and offers tables with stools, and views of the field and the indoor batt ing area. To sit in the shade, get tickets behind the home plate and infield area (sections 1 – 7 on the first level or in A to M on the second level), keeping in mind that sections 1 (and F and G) are directly behind home plate. A fantastic amount of Sun Devil baseball fame and history surrounds the park.  Plaques line the exterior of the park as well as the outfield walls.  These include the number of players who made it to the majors or were selected in the M LB draft, All Americans, CWS appearances, number of conference championships and national championships, a plaque honoring Packard Stadium, and plaques acknowledging former team managers.  The left field line is 333 ft, honoring former coach Jim Brock #33; the right field line is 334 ft, acknowledging former player Cory Hahn #34.  Nineteen ASU retired numbers are visible on the outfield wall.   The light poles at the park are the ones from the old Polo Grounds, though the lights were updated before the 2025 season.  Chairs of Honor (two empty seats) recognize prisoners of war and those missing in action. The scoreboard provides excellent gameday stats (including previous at-bat results) and player information, with some video tossed in when needed. The announcer does a superb job calling the starting lineup and player changes (for both the home and away teams), though the sound person doesn’t lower the music enough, and fans must strain to hear the names (especi ally for the v isiting team). Music can get loud between innings, so you’re forced to stop talking with friends around you while it lasts.  Thankfully, minimal music is played between pitches. An excellent, not cramped, team shop on the outer concourse (turn right after entering the stadium) has an extensive selection of shirts, caps, and other Sun Devil merchandise.  Neighborhood 4 The stadium is adjacent to Papago Park , which also includes the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden . If you’re an outdoorsy person on top of being a baseball fan, this area is the perfect place to spend the day. It is convenient to take your family to the zo o (which normally closes at 5 pm ) and then head to the ballpark for a night game. The zoo is so close you can hear fans cheering in the stadium from inside almost the entire zoo. Also, next door is the Hall of Flame Fire Museum which provides a history of firefighting exhibits.  While no places to eat or drink are within walking distance, a short drive (about 3 miles) down Mill Ave will bring fans to downtown Tempe, which has plenty of places to imbibe and dine.  Pedal Haus Brewery (brewery with a full menu), Zipps Sports Grill , Daily Jam - Breakfast & Brunch Restaurant, and Postino Annex (wine café and light fare) are just a few recommended places.  In the same area, Canopy by Hilton Downtown, Sonesta Select Downtown Tempe, and AC Hotel are some hotels for travelling fans.  Many more hotels are just two or so miles from the ballpark nearer the airport like Residence Inn, Radisson, Marriott, and Holiday Inn. For other sports to see when in town, check out ASU basketball at Desert Financial Center or several spring training facilities.  Tempe Diablo Stadium (Angels), Sloan Park (Cubs), or Scottsdale Stadium (Giants) are the closest ones; Chase Field , where the Diamondbacks play, is about eight miles west of Phoenix Muni. Fans 3 Since the baseball program is so storied, a large season ticket holder base across multiple generations is in attendance for games. You’ll see current students, families with kids, middle-aged and retired alumni, and other fans.   All cheer and applaud loudly when the Sun Devils make  a good play and yell at the umps when a call is made against the Sun Devils.  Many adorn ASU shirts and caps.  Attendance is always strong, with a 70% - 80% capacity at most games, more on weekend games, or when the Sun Devils battle their archrival U of A (University of Arizona) Wildcats .  Access 4 Fan s can g et to the ballpark relatively easily by car, bike, light rail, or bus.  It is about three miles from the ASU campus and a little over three miles from Sky Harbor Airport.  If they arrive b y car, fans must walk over a bridge to get to the stadium.  For fans unable to walk over the bridge, Ollie the Trolley , a local woman-owned and operated business, provides shuttle service from the parking lot to the stadium (and back), free of charge (tipping is recommended).  It is $7 to park.  For visitors taking the light rail  get off the stop at Priest Dr/Washington St, then walk .6 miles to the stadium. Clear sports stadium bags are allowed; knapsacks are not.  The security individuals are welcoming; walking through the scanner and getting your bag checked is a breeze.  Re-entry into the stadium is not allowed.  Select and order tickets at kiosks outside the ticket window.  Buying a ticket is cashless and ticketless; one must have a credit card and a working mobile phone to acces s tickets .  While it’s a nice idea, all parties must be present and enter together. The venue has benches near the main entrance for fans to sit and wait for friends. Functional restrooms are on the concourse down both baselines. Return on Investment 4 Because the game day experience is so welcome and pleasant, ticket prices are worth the investment.  Tickets generally run from $6 (general admission) to $20 (first level behind home plate) plus Ticketmaster fees.  Prices increase to $14 - $50 when the team plays better-known schools, especially the University of Arizona. If you want a comfortable seat in the shade, it is worth paying a few extra dollars to sit in the infield seating area.  The team offers military discounts for all veterans.  Season tickets are probably a good bet if planning on attending multiple games; the Sun Devils even have an 8-game Sunday ticket package. Concession prices are on the high side so eat before attending a game and bring your own water.  Parking is $7.  Extras 4 Both the history of the Sun Devils baseball team and the venue deserve additional accolades.  Ollie the Trolley shuttling fans from the parking lot to the entrance is a first-rate feature.  Finally, having a welcoming and painless security entry makes all the difference in the world, and the parking and security folks do that well.  Final Thoughts Phoenix Muni Papago Park The background of Papago Park sets the overall ambience of visiting Phoenix Muni.  It is a truly unique setting for college baseball and one that all baseball fans should try and experience.  The ASU Sun Devil baseball program is a premier one.  We recommend all sports fans visit the legacy and history of the team and venue during the spring.

Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 McCann Arena 3399 North Rd Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Marist Red Foxes website McCann Arena website Year Opened: 1977 Capacity: 3,200 Red Foxes’ Revival Continues in Poughkeepsie After struggling for several years, Marist University has emerged as a contender in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) over the past three seasons. In 2023, the Red Foxes made an improbable run to the Conference Championship game. Last year, they made the semifinals of the tournament held in Atlantic City before falling to Fairfield. This season Marist is at the top of the 13-team league and a No. 1 seeding for the March conference tournament in Atlantic City is not out of the question. The Red Foxes are looking for their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1987. The McCann Center opened in 1977 but was renovated and the field house was rebranded as McCann Arena in 2011, giving it a modern feel. Marist’s best days were back-to-back NCAA appearances in 86 and 87 led by future NBA standout Rik Smits from Eindhoven, Netherlands. His jersey No. 45 is retired. Smits is the school’s second all-time leading scorer (1,945 points). Chavaughn Lewis at 2,119 scored the most points in Marist history. The other players to have their numbers retired are Drafton Davis (No. 3), Steve Smith (No. 12) and women’s star Rachele Fitz (No. 12). The Red Foxes, who joined the MAAC in 1997, have enjoyed only two winning seasons since 2007-2008, but appear to be on their way to making it three this year. In 2011, an addition was built which connected the arena to the James J. McCann Center. Features of the facility include: player locker rooms, player lounges, a team film theater, coaches' offices, coaches' locker rooms, video editing rooms, conference rooms, a reception area, and a kitchenette. Marist, which officially became a university on January 29, was founded in 1905 by the Marist Brothers, a Catholic religious institute, to prepare brothers for their vocations as educators. In 2003, it became a secular institution. Marist's 180-acre main campus overlooks the Hudson River and is situated along its east banks. The University has a branch campus in Florence, Italy, and offers 50 semester or academic year abroad options. Marist is situated in Poughkeepsie, a city of about 32,000 roughly 80 miles north of New York City. A left turn upon entering the campus will lead you to McCann. The building's namesake, James J. McCann (1880-1969), was a Poughkeepsie native and a strong supporter of Marist Athletics. John Dunne, in his seventh year, guides the Red Foxes. Dunne, who has posted two winning seasons at Marist, is a MAAC lifer having previously coached 12 years at Saint Peter’s before serving as an assistant at Siena and Manhattan. Food & Beverage 3 The box office is on the right as fans enter the lobby of McCann Arena with a concession stand operated by Marist Dining Services with tables and chairs on the left side. The fare includes cheeseburgers, hamburgers, hot dogs, beef chili, sausage and pepper sandwiches, and pretzels. Soda, water, and Gatorade are also for sale. On the right side of the lobby, there is the Marist Pro Shop selling everything from shirts, baseball, and bucket hats to golf bags. There is also a small stand selling alcoholic beverages and water. The selections included White Claw, bee, and wine. Atmosphere 3 This visit was a testament to how lively McCann can be when the students turn out. Marist managed a sell-out for the first time since 2008 and the joint was jumping for a win over Siena before 3,200 fans in a game televised by ESPNU. Marist is averaging 1,833 through its first 10 home dates. The doors open 90 minutes before game time. The Red Foxes have been starved for better student support to enhance the game-day experience which is not easy considering the school has about 5,500 undergraduates. The band, cheerleaders, dance team, MC, and mascot are quite energetic and it made for a loud and engaged building on this night. On this occasion, the Marist men’s swim team was on hand appropriately wearing their “uniforms” bathing suit,s and some caps. They enthusiastically stood and cheered on the Red Foxes from behind each basket switching ends at halftime. During the renovation, two 10’ x 15’ Daktronics LED video boards were installed in the Northeast and Southwest corners of the arena. The boards are clear but do not show replays and could show more statistics. The arena does not have any signage or ribbon boards. Neighborhood 3 Poughkeepsie is situated in Dutchess County between the Lower Hudson and Capital District regions. The city is home to several major corporations including IBM and educational institutions including Marist, Vassar College, Dutchess Community College, and The Culinary Institute of America. Schatzis Pub (202 Main Street) in downtown Poughkeepsie is a great place for pre or post-gaming especially if you enjoy German food and beer. Cosimo’s Trattoria and Palace Diner are two popular places within walking distance of the stadium. Palace is open 24 hours. Double O Grill, about 15 minutes away on Route 9, is another great destination to eat and drink. There are plenty of hotel options if looking for an overnight stay. Almost all of the big chains including Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and Holiday Inn have at least one property within five miles of the campus. Fans 3 The fan score went up a point this year due to the raucous crowd. Hopefully, the students can keep up the support throughout the remainder of the season. Last season, the building was typically only half full as the Red Foxes averaged 1,501. The biggest crowd was 1,738 for a Sunday afternoon showdown with Siena in January. The side sections feature chairback seats with ample legroom, while behind the baskets are mostly bleachers. The first six rows were converted to chairbacks in two sections and the first four rows in the sections directly behind the basket. The arena has 1,244 chairbacks. The band, cheerleaders, and dance team are situated behind the basket that the opposition shoots at in the second half. Access 4 The best access to Poughkeepsie from the west is to cross the Mid-Hudson Bridge only two miles from campus and head north up Route 9. Traveling up or down Route 9 can be time-consuming with traffic moderate to heavy and slowed by many traffic lights. The Taconic Parkway, which runs north and south, is about 20 minutes from the arena and traffic can be less burdensome coming in on Route 55. I-84 is about half an hour away. 84 East leads into Putnam County and eventually Connecticut. 84 West heads over the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge into Orange County. Parking is free on campus and typically there is no shortage of spots. The Poughkeepsie train station, served by Metro North and Amtrak, is 1.2 miles from the stadium. Return on Investment 5 Chairback seating costs $13 (no increase from last year) and bench seating is $11 for adults. Children 8 and under are $8. Ticket and concession prices are a bargain and parking is free which is hard to find in the sports world today and welcomed during inflationary times. Extras 3 Marist celebrated its first victory as a University on this visit. An institution must offer graduate programs in at least three or more disciplines to qualify as a university in New York State. Marist offers 13 graduate degrees, as well as a doctorate program, across six schools.  The Red Foxes sold courtside VIP seats for the second straight year. The seats were formerly part of the press row and cost $500 a ticket for the season and must be purchased in pairs. Just two miles southeast of the stadium, there is a beautiful bridge for pedestrians and cyclists that spans the Hudson River called Walkway Over the Hudson Historic State Park. It is the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge and connects Poughkeepsie (entrance at 61 Parker Avenue) to Highland. The span, a former railroad bridge that has been repurposed, is open from 7 am until sunset. Final Thoughts McCann Arena is certainly worthy of a Stadium Journey. The sightlines are excellent, there is plenty of free parking and it is an affordable arena for family-friendly entertainment. When it gets loud, the building comes to life.

Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Hynes Athletics Center 715 North Ave New Rochelle, NY 10801 Iona Gaels website Hynes Athletics Center website Year Opened: 1974 Capacity: 2,578 Iona on the Rebound in New Rochelle The Iona Gaels hope last year was an aberration as they did not win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament for only the second time in the previous seven years. The Gaels were trying to avoid a hit from the loss of legendary coach Rick Pitino who took his prowess to St. John’s University. Second-year coach Tobin Anderson is tasked with returning the Gaels to a familiar spot. Anderson is working with a new roster in these days of the transfer portal and after a slow start, the Gaels look to be a force down the stretch. Iona has won 7 of the last 11 tournament titles, but St. Peter’s grabbed the prize in 2024. The Gaels, an original league member, have won 14 MAAC championships since the league was founded in 1982. Siena and Manhattan are next with five. Iona, Manhattan, St. Peter’s, and Fairfield are the only original MAAC schools remaining in the now expanded 13-team conference as Sacred Heart and Merrimack joined the fold this year. For Iona, one disappointment has been the lack of buzz at Hynes Athletic Center since Pitino’s departure. Iona averaged 2,310 spectators in 2022-2023 and 1,784 last year. The number is 1,776 so far this season. Iona University’s nickname, the Gaels, comes from its roots. A Gael is anyone of Irish-Gaelic ancestry. The school was founded in 1940 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers, commonly known as the Irish Christian Brothers. Food & Beverage 3 The one drawback is fans have to go downstairs for the main concession stand and bathrooms. There are also two vending machines. Head down there early if you don’t want to miss any of the second half because the line is often quite long. Hot dogs are $3.50, chicken tenders and fries $8. Water ($2), 20 oz soda ($3), pretzels ($3.50), and snacks are also available. On the plus side, as fans enter, there is a small concession stand in the left corner with snacks and soft drinks including candy, popcorn, chips, water, and soda. Coca-Cola products are the beverage of choice. Alcohol is not available at Hynes. Atmosphere 3 The arena is a non-descript low-lying building from the outside. Once inside it looks like a typical mid-major facility. The gym is the home of Iona's volleyball and men's and women's basketball programs. The facility also houses a pool used by the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams. The Hynes Center underwent major renovations during the summer of 2019 that provided significant improvements to a building that opened in 1974. The court was flipped and used to be a north-south configuration but now runs east-west. There were no seats behind the baskets in the original design. The well-lit arena features an intimate setting with nine rows on the side away from the teams and 12 rows on the other sideline. The chairback seats are only on the left side of the arena away from the team benches. Iona's current seating layout contains 225 chairbacks and 40 courtside seats. The proximity to the court allows fans to hear much of what is going on and there is not a bad view from any seat. The arena has four large LED boards in each corner of the arena that give real-time individual player and team statistics and provide highlights and replays. The sound system is solid and the PA announcements are clear. The PA Announcer provides enthusiastic announcements and often provides the score, how much time is remaining, and some description of Iona baskets. There is also an in-game MC who fires up the crowd with announcements and contests during timeouts. There are two dance teams. There is an Iona Dance Team and the Iona Black Student Union team founded in 2018. There are also cheerleaders and a band to add to the excitement. The Iona mascot (The Gael) was not in attendance on this visit. Neighborhood 3 The area is safe and offers several restaurants within walking distance and there are more options in the New Roc City Area. Just outside the entrance on North Avenue, sits the long-standing Beechmont Tavern (since 1928), Mister Taco, The Mirage Restaurant, AJ’s Burgers, Smokehouse Tailgate Grill, and of course Subway, Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Dunkin within walking distance. Fans 3 Fan support is decent but could be better. On this visit, student presence was lacking. There was a good amount of alumni and local fans including families. The school has an undergraduate enrollment of just over 3,300 so the university does need to promote the team to attract more local fans and sell season tickets. Access 4 The campus is easily accessible. It is on North Avenue which is close to I-95 and the Hutchinson River Parkway and traffic is usually minimal.  There is a Metro North and Amtrak stop at New Rochelle station which is just 1.2 miles from the gate.  The campus is small and it is less than a 5-minute walk from the entrance to Hynes Center. Return on Investment 5 All seats offer a great view of the action.   Students get free admission. Seats range from $41.25 for a chairback seat to $21.25 for reserved seats along the sidelines with no backs.  Seats behind the basket are general admission and sell for $16.25.  Seats are $11.25 for children 12 and under for either baseline or on the side.  The box office and arena open one hour before game time. There is a three-level parking garage with free parking and ample spaces. The prices are reasonable, especially considering the expenses of attending big-time sports in the New York metro area. Extras 3 The Gaels have an MC who pumps the crowd up before the game and during time-outs. The dance teams are well respected and appreciated by the loyal fans. There is also a small Arrigoni Hall of Fame (the redesign was made possible by a lead gift from Edward F. Arrigoni '56) along the wall just to the right of the main entrance and a trophy case before the stairs leading to the concessions and bathrooms. Richie Guerin, Iona’s all-time leading scorer, is the only retired number (14) hanging from the rafters. The guard played for Iona from 1951-54 and played in the NBA from 1956-1970 with the NY Knicks and the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks. The late and legendary coach Jim Valvano is also honored with a banner. Valvano coached the Gaels for five seasons (1975-80). Final Thoughts The mantle has been passed and it is up to Anderson and his staff to keep Iona at the top of the conference.  Anderson is a fiery and likable coach who is often yelling encouragement and constantly teaching his players.  The Gaels should remain a power in the MAAC and hopefully #GaelNation will take notice and come to the cozy confines of Hynes to enjoy the excitement. Follow Greg Venuto’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and   Facebook