Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Honda Center 2695 E Katella Ave Anaheim, CA 92806 Anaheim Ducks website Honda Center website Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 17,174 Don’t Call Them Mighty Back in the 1990s Disney put out a popular movie franchise about a youth hockey team called “The Mighty Ducks.” At about the same time the National Hockey League was looking to expand into new markets. Looking to tap into an underserved market, the league awarded Disney a franchise to be placed in Anaheim, CA. Disney named their new team “The Mighty Ducks” after their movies. Despite some apprehension over the movie tie-in, the team was successful both on and off the ice, setting a record (at the time) for most wins by a team in their first year, and rocketing to the top of the NHL in terms of merchandise sales. Now in their third decade of operation, the Ducks (they dropped the “Mighty” from their nickname when Disney sold the team in 2006) have experienced a great deal of success, capturing 14 playoff berths, six division titles, two conference titles and a Stanley Cup Championship in 2007. Seven players who have played for the Ducks have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Food & Beverage 4 There is a good selection of concessions at the Honda Center. With many stands located throughout both concourses, the menu hits all the expected notes. For visiting fans looking for something beyond the typical arena fare, Outlaws Smokehouse sells their signature brisket and pulled pork sandwiches as well as smoked BBQ ribs with corn and slaw. Of course, this is southern California, so fans can find tacos and burritos at Wahoo’s Fish Tacos. Check out the stands selling snack items such as gourmet cupcakes, homemade cookies and candy apples. A variety of healthier choices and gluten-free options are available as well. A complete map of the Honda Center’s concessions can be found here. 7-Up/RC Cola provides the beverages at the Honda Center. Go for the Ducks souvenir cup, which allows unlimited refills throughout the game. Fans looking for adult beverages will be pleased to find a wide variety of brews, both from national brands as well as local craft brewery Golden Road. Wine and specialty cocktails are sold throughout the arena. Be aware that you will be paying premium prices for food at the Honda Center. Also, be ready for long, slow-moving lines at many of the concession stands. The air conditioning, cranked up to the maximum in this building, blows directly down on fans in line while waiting for their food. Perhaps the facility is trying to boost sales of their hot items. Atmosphere 4 Hockey fans are different in California. They don’t seem as involved in the game as your typical northeast or Canadian fan. The Ducks do attract good crowds to the Honda Center and many of them are as die-hard as they come, but the building lacked a certain energy during Stadium Journey’s visit. Perhaps the team’s slide towards the bottom of the conference standings has affected the atmosphere here. Veteran fans will find much that is familiar in the game day presentation here, from the video board hung at center ice that provides replays, game stats and graphics. There is plenty of noise to fill up the building during play stoppages and the occasional t-shirt toss and social media shout out to keep the casual fans involved. The team’s mascot, Wild Wing, was nowhere to be found during Stadium Journey’s visit. Neighborhood 4 Fans spoiled by downtown arenas with plenty of things to do a short walk from their favorite rink may not think too highly of the Honda Center’s location right off the highway surrounded by acres of parking lots. There are a few restaurants nearby within a short walk, including J.T. Schmid’s Restaurant and Brewery and the Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar. Angel Stadium is located just a half mile up Douglass Road. Still, this is not a neighborhood that would ordinarily rate a high score. Then why an above average score for neighborhood? Because Disneyland is only about three miles away! Local attractions don’t get much bigger than this. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it will undoubtedly be on the agenda for many visitors to the area, regardless of age. Visiting fans looking for places to stay while in Anaheim will find no shortage of options in the area. Fans 4 The Ducks enjoyed a good stretch at or near the top of the NHL during the ‘00s. Now that the team is in a rebuilding mode, the Honda Center has seen a decline in attendance. Thus far in the 2019-20 season the Ducks are averaging just short of 16,000 fans per game, ranking them 26th in the league. Ducks fans tend to be a bit more laid-back than some of their counterparts around the NHL. Visiting fans can feel comfortable sporting their team colors and bringing the entire family. Access 3 You would think that the Honda Center, with its location right off of Route 57 (the Orange Freeway) and acres of parking lots surrounding the facility, would rate a higher than average score. Unfortunately, the legendary southern California traffic drags this score down to average. Be sure to give yourself extra time to arrive in Anaheim. For fans using alternate means of transportation, the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center , located across the street from the Honda Center, houses public transportation options from throughout Orange County. Once you arrive at the Honda Center, staff do a nice job of getting you off the road and into one of the many parking lots within walking distance of the arena. The facility does a security screening as you enter the building, and they do practice a clear bag policy. Be sure to check out the Honda Center’s security policies before your trip. During Stadium Journey’s visit, the security screening went as far as to not allow this writer to enter the building with a small point and shoot-style camera because it had “video capabilities.” Never mind that my phone probably takes better video than this camera and the camera was allowed under their stated policy, staff could not be persuaded. Fans enter the Honda Center into a bright, clean concourse with plenty of concession stands and restrooms on both sides. Getting around can be an issue in spots, but traffic generally flows well. Long lines form during intermission, so plan your trips accordingly. There are no escalators to the upper level, leaving fans to huff it up the stairs or wait for the occasional elevator. All seats are padded folding stadium seats which provide decent leg room and comfort, even for larger fans. Sight lines are excellent from all seats, even up near the top of the upper deck. Be warned that the Honda Center is kept VERY cold during Ducks games. Remember that if you are dressed for the warm southern California weather, you will need an extra layer or two while inside. Return on Investment 4 Like many other arenas in the National Hockey League, going to a game at the Honda Center can cost you a few dollars. Affordable tickets can be found, however, for Ducks games. Tickets start as low as $20 for upper deck seating, and top off at about $100 in the lower deck. Games against local rivals the Kings and Sharks are generally more expensive, as are weekend tilts. Bargains can be found on the secondary market, but the high cost of parking ($25) and food drive up the overall cost. Extras 4 An extra point is awarded for the enormous pro shop with plenty of merchandise tie-ins with the Mighty Ducks movie franchise. No matter if you want your shirt with the name Kariya or Selanne, Goldberg or Conway on the back, you’ll find it here. An extra point is awarded for the banners hanging from the Honda Center rafters. The retired numbers for Ducks greats Paul Kariya (#9), Teemu Selanne (#8) and Scott Neidermayer (#27) hang alongside Division, Conference and the team’s lone Stanley Cup banner, won in 2007. Free programs are available to all fans at Ducks games. A final extra point is awarded for the southern California touches throughout the facility. In addition to banners and photos commemorating highlights of Anaheim’s hockey history, fans may notice surfboards, beach scenes and skateboards decorating the walls. Final Thoughts While hockey may not be the first thing on your mind as you wander around southern California during a warm winter day, a trip to the Honda Center provides a mighty good experience for any fan, whether you are coming from the frigid north or not. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Little Caesars Arena 2645 Woodward Ave Detroit, MI 48201 Detroit Red Wings website Little Caesars Arena website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 19,515 The Red Sea Of Detroit Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Red Wings 3rd home, is a sea of red. Between the home fans’ jerseys, the red banners hanging from the rafters, and the arena with robust red lighting is almost an assault on the eyes. But there’s no doubt whose building this is as fans file into the seating area. It’s hard to believe the facility is already seven years old but it is still tied for the third youngest in the NHL with T-Mobile in Las Vegas. The Red Wings played at the Olympia from 1927 to 1979 before moving to Joe Louis Arena on the Detroit River from 79 until 2016. Little Caesars, which anchors The District Detroit, a 50-block, mixed-use development connecting downtown and midtown, is also home to the NBA’s Detroit Pistons . The Red Wings are one of the Original Six – the group of six teams that made up the National Hockey League between 1942 and 1967. Detroit, which plays in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, was once a major player but has not been to the playoffs since 2016. From 1997 through 2008, the Wings won four Stanley Cups including back-to-back crowns in 97 and 98. The post-season drought has diminished the enthusiasm to an extent but the city is a hockey hotbed referred to as Hockeytown. A glass roof is erected between the buildings and the arena itself. The roof forms an indoor "street" that serves as the arena's concourse which is open year-round. There is also an outdoor plaza with a large video display. The east side of the building is connected to bars and restaurants. The BELFOR Training Center, the official practice facility of the Red Wings, is connected to the building on the north side. It is also home to Little Caesars Amateur Hockey. Food & Beverage 5 The four restaurants at Little Caesars Arena are: • PointsBet Sports Bar • Mike's Pizza Bar • The Mixing Board • UWM District Market There are at least 10 different bars. Coca-Cola products are the arena soft drink of choice. The Coop, 313 Grill Co., and Little Caesars Pizza (with traditional Detroit style available) are found on both the power and upper concourse. For more local fare there is the Dearborn Sausage Haus and National Coney Island. There is also standard stadium food such as hot dogs and a taqueria. Atmosphere 4 The stadium has an old-time feel combined with an impressive brick facade. The Southwest entry might be the most impressive next to the Via Sports Bar and the Ted Lindsay statute. The concourse is an open bright space with high ceilings in which you can see outside through the glass ceiling. There is a band playing before the game which creates a festive atmosphere. There are manhole covers with names and numbers of many of the Red Wings/Pistons’ greats. The Red Wings have no trouble drawing fans but enthusiasm and winning go hand in hand and the Wings have not made the playoffs since 2016. The Wings averaged 18,980 last season (2023 - 2024) and are sold out for almost every game. On this weeknight visit, there were many families and younger fans which is great for the team and the league. The crowd is knowledgeable but maybe not as passionate as one would expect from an Original 6 team. The Red Wings have a great organ led by famous organist Lance Luce but rely more on recorded music to pump up the crowd. Luce has been at LCA since 2017. The music and PA announcements are played at an acceptable level. The LED lighting exhibition leading up to the game is impressive. The arena has smoke machines in each corner of the rink that billow white and red smoke following Red Wing goals. Neighborhood 4 The city of Detroit gets a bad rap. The city is clean with no graffiti and few homeless people around. The area around the arena is safe. Hockeytown is a great spot for fans to congregate pre and post-game. LCA is close to the Fox Theater with Comerica Park and Ford Field in reasonable proximity. The two most famous hot dog places (American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island) are 19 minutes away on Michigan Avenue. Detroit dogs are topped with chili, onions, and mustard. The legendary Buddy’s Pizza, famous for its Detroit-style square slices, is just a 15-minute walk from the stadium. The Greektown area with its casinos is about a mile away and the Hollywood Greektown Hotel is a good option with lower prices than most. Hotels are expensive as there are not a plethora of choices downtown. Fans 4 Red Wings jerseys with the well-known winged wheel are worn by most of the fans in attendance. The Wings have averaged 19,393 for the first month of the 2024 season just short of capacity. Other than Let’s Go Red Wings the fans have no other chants. Access 4 Downtown Detroit is quite a distance from the Detroit Airport and minimal public transportation is available from the airport. An Uber ride will cost $50 – $60 each way to and from downtown. An above-ground People Mover train and QLine streetcar (both are free) can be taken to get close to Little Caesars Arena. The People Mover stops about half a mile away, while the QLine drops fans off right in front of the arena at Sproat St/Adelaide St. There are numerous parking lots with a 10-minute walk to the arena. Parking ranges from $30 to $50 and the LCA website will direct you to parkwhiz.com to pre-purchase. Ride share drop off and pick up is on W Fisher Service Drive. There are four entry points to Little Caesars Arena. Two on Woodward Avenue, one on Sproat, and one on Henry Avenue. Gates open 90 minutes prior to puck drop. The arena has 20 portals in the lower bowl which provide access to the seating area. Sections 119-124 have a lower portal to get to the seats closest to the ice. It is a bit burdensome as fans have to go down/up two sets of stairs to enter or exit the seating bowl. Portals 21-72 are on the upper concourse, and 73-77 are in the Labatt Blue Club and 78-82 are in the Michigan First Gondolas. Concourses are wide but still can get congested between periods. The upper-level seating area is extremely steep and the seats have minimal legroom. Return on Investment 3 The Red Wings rank 13th on the Fan Cost Price Index at $436.16 for four average-price tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-size hot dogs, parking for one hour, two game programs and two least-expensive, adult-size adjustable caps. Weeknight tickets can be had for around $130 (including fees) behind the net and $75 in the upper level behind the goal depending on the opponent. Craft beer is $12.99, Dasani bottled water is $5.99, small soda is $7.43, and a hot dog is $6.99. Extras 3 One point for the Michigan First West Gondola which is designed to entertain from the most unique vantage point imaginable. The Gondola, which also includes the press box, gives guests a unique view that not all stadiums offer.  Another point is awarded for exhibits, sculptures, and artwork displayed on the concourse and in the Cadillac Plaza and many Red Wing retired numbers and championship banners that hang from the rafters. A third point is for a small museum in the upper bowl devoted to Detroit sports.  There are exhibits dedicated to both the Red Wings and the Pistons. Final Thoughts Affectionately known as Hockeytown, Detroit is a unique market in the United States where a pretty substantial argument can be made that it is a hockey-first market. ---- Follow Greg Venuto’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and   Facebook

Photos by Gregory Koch and David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 L.P. Frans Stadium 2500 Clement Blvd NW Hickory, NC 28601 Hickory Crawdads website L.P Frans Stadium website Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 5,062 Hickory, Dickory, Dock, the Crawdads Really Rock Minor League Baseball in Hickory, North Carolina has a long and storied history going back to 1936. However, after 1960, the city did not have a baseball team for over 30 years, until the Hickory Crawdads came to town in 1993. Named for a local crustacean, the team plays their home games at L.P. Frans Stadium, named for a local Pepsi bottler whose daughters helped fund the construction of the stadium. From 1993 to 2024, the Crawdads played in the South Atlantic League, moving from Low-A to High-A when the league changed levels as part of the restructuring in 2020. However, in 2025, when the Rangers' Low-A affiliate, the Down East Wood Ducks, moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina, the Rangers elected to move the new Spartanburg team up to High-A with its new stadium, and move Hickory down to Low-A. Beginning in 2025, the Crawdads compete in the Carolina League. Food & Beverage 4 Concessions at L.P. Fans Stadium are above average, packing as much as they can into a small stadium. All the usual classics are here, including hot dogs, burgers, chicken tenders, and personal pizzas (from Domino's.) Although Pepsi products are sold here, the fresh squeezed lemonade is a fan favorite and is better than anything you might get in a bottle. Local North Carolina favorite Cheerwine is also available in bottles at select stands. This is something we would like to see more often at ballparks in North Carolina to represent the local soda brand. Note that L.P. Frans Stadium is a cashless facility, so the stands only take credit cards. If you have cash, you can exchange it for Crawdads Cash at fan services and pay with that. Atmosphere 4 LP. Frans Stadium is a fine looking ballpark with a gorgeous brick exterior. Fans enter through a gate behind home plate, and the concourse runs from one end of the seating bowl to the other. Unfortunately, most of it does not have a view of the field. Additionally, while much of the seating bowl will be in the shade for late afternoon games, the concourse itself will be in brutal sunlight. It can be quite annoying to walk out onto it on your way to the restroom or concessions after sitting in the shade for some time. All seats at the stadium are chairbacks with an excellent view of the action, albeit through a net. There is a large scoreboard in right-centerfield which also shows player stats. The Crawdads have a myriad of promotions on and off the field, which often relate to each other. For instance, when Stadium Journey visited, the Crawdads were playing as their alternate identity, the Goat Karts, so several of the promotions were goat-themed, including baby goats frolicking in a pen outside the ballpark, and a contest where three (human) kids had to do the best goat impressions that they could. The Crawdads have a mascot named Conrad, who rather appropriately is a crawdad. Neighborhood 2 The Crawdads play in Hickory, North Carolina, in the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. L.P. Frans Stadium is located in between the local airport and a Pepsi bottling plant, so there is not much in the immediate vicinity, but if you head back to Route 321, which you would be taking to get in, you can find a few, mostly chain options. Still, Hickory is one of the smallest, most remote markets in minor league baseball, so there is very little going on here. Fans 3 Hickory has a small but loyal fan base. Although they only draw a couple thousand fans a game, those who do show up come early and stay for the whole game. Many of them are season ticket holders or at least come to a lot of games a season. A Crawdads game is a community experience for the fans, something which sadly seems to be lost across most of affiliated minor league baseball nowadays as the game becomes more corporatized. Access 3 Hickory is located at the intersection of I-40 and US Route 321. Route 321 is an expressway to the south of Hickory until you get to the Gastonia area about an hour to the south, but if coming from the north, it will involve steep mountain grades across the Blue Ridge and heavy traffic. There is a large parking lot adjacent to the stadium, with an overflow lot next to that which necessitates taking a flight of stairs down to the closer lot. Parking costs $5, and only credit cards are accepted. Once inside, the concourse is wide and restrooms are sufficient. Return on Investment 5 Crawdads tickets start at just $12 with the most expensive seats being just $14. We recommend getting seats in the 200 sections behind home plate for $13, as these offer the best view while still being in the shade the vast majority of the time, except the rare morning start. Parking is just $5, and concessions are affordable as well. Overall, a Crawdads game is an outstanding value, but bear in mind this is a cashless facility. Extras 5 Look for the statues of a pitcher, catcher, and batter outside the stadium, always a popular photo op. A second star for the kids' play area on the third base concourse, featuring a merry-go-round, bouncy castle, and more. Scorecards are available at the fan services table, a rarity nowadays as keeping score is a lost art. If your scorecard has a certain player's signature on it, you can win a prize. The team store behind home plate sells an extensive selection of Crawdads gear, including their alternate identities, the Hickory Goat Karts, the Hickory Dickory Docks, and the Llamas de Hickory. The restrooms are cleverly labeled Crawdudes and Crawdettes, though they are also labeled conventionally in case you can't figure out which one is which. The Merry-go-Round at the kids' play area. Photo by David Welch circa 2021. Final Thoughts A Hickory Crawdads game may be small town baseball in a remote location, but it is still a worthwhile experience. L.P. Frans Stadium is gorgeous architecturally, and the Crawdads do a good job with promotions and fan engagement. It is disappointing they do not draw bigger crowds, but given its location, there may be little they can do about that.

Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Riders Field 7300 Rough Riders Trail Frisco, TX 75034 Frisco College Baseball Classic website Riders Field website Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 10,216 The Riders of Frisco Frisco, Texas is a booming suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in north Texas. As home to the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys , Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas , Dude Perfect’s New Theme Park, and the PGA Tour’s new corporate facility, as well as many museums and numerous shopping options, Frisco has become a destination city, especially for sports enthusiasts. The Frisco Classic, managed by PEAK Events, is a pre-season NCAA Division I baseball tournament featuring top collegiate teams from around the country. The tournament began in 2017 and was the first of 4 similar tournaments hosted by PEAK Management. The teams typically consist of SEC, Big 12, Big 10 and ACC members, with quality regional Group of 5 teams invited as well. Many teams who have played in Frisco have gone on to experience post-season success in super regionals, as well as qualify for the College World Series. Being held in the Double A facility of the Frisco RoughRiders , the games have a big time feel even though they are early in the non-conference schedule. Schools are treated to a well-run event played on a top-notch playing surface in front of large crowds, usually in good weather; many coaches have stated this is an early peek at the requirements to be successful if their teams qualify for post-season play.   Food & Beverage   4 There are 16 unique food and beverage vendors, each serving different menu options. Each individual concession stand offers different items and is named in such a manner that the flavor profile of the food is obvious. For example, El Rincon and Rojo’s serves Mexican-inspired dishes, Coop and Kennel and Frank’s serve hot dogs and chicken dishes, and The Sweet Spot serves ice cream dishes. There are also three separate bar areas where mixed drinks are offered in addition to beer. All of these areas are enclosed, with air conditioning and TVs showing live action of the game. During most of the 2025 tournament, some of the specialty vendors were closed for games with smaller crowds, namely Frisco Philly’s and Donato’s Pizza. All the concessions were open for the Saturday night game between LSU  and Nebraska , however, which drew a stadium record crowd of 11,003.   Atmosphere   5 With a seating capacity of a little over 10,000, the atmosphere is fully dependent on the schools playing, which is part of the reason that organizers attempt to schedule highly ranked teams from Power 4 conferences, most notably the SEC and Big 12, plus a regional Group of 5 team that will provide a solid fan base. The 2025 version of the Classic included LSU , Nebraska , Kansas State , and Sam Houston State University , the latter from Huntsville, Texas. Nebraska fans are famous for following the Cornhuskers nationwide, while Kansas State and Sam Houston State both have fairly large alumni numbers in the DFW metroplex. The fanbase that impacted the atmosphere the most, however, was the purple and gold clad faithful of the LSU Tigers – they came out in record numbers and created the feeling that these games were actually in Alex Box Stadium (the Huskers home up north) when their favored 9 took the field. On Saturday night, in fact, the record crowd was so large and rowdy that it reportedly consumed all the stadium's alcohol supply, requiring organizers to have more beer delivered for Sunday’s games.   Neighborhood   4 Rider Field is located in Frisco, Texas, a suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. It’s nestled in a bustling shopping district and destination mecca near the intersection of the Dallas North Tollway and State Highway 121. There are plenty of hotels to choose from within walking distance of the ballpark including the Embassy Suites-Frisco (which is attached to the ballpark), Hilton Garden Inn-Frisco, Hyatt House Dallas-Frisco, and Tru by Hilton Inn-Frisco, among others. In fact, the accommodations within a few minutes’ drive to the ballpark include nearly all price points and amenity levels. When looking for dining options outside the facility, the choices within a short drive are virtually endless. One can easily walk to Wild Pitch Sports Bar and Grill, Perry’s Steakhouse, Norma’s Cafe, Rodeo Goat, or Gloria’s Cantina among others.   Fans   5 Attendance at the tournament is dependent on multiple factors, mainly the teams involved and the weather. The odds of playable weather conditions in late February in North Texas are high, but periodically rain or cold temperatures will dampen fan desire to attend the event. In the brief history of the event, attendance has averaged around 7,000 per day. The tournament organizers attempt to select major college teams, ideally those with solid local fan bases and quality baseball programs, which helps to produce large crowds for the tournament. Teams from northern areas are looking for southern games early in the season, so their participation is solid, while regional regulars such as Texas A&M , Oklahoma State , and Arizona  have used the classic as early season road tests to gauge where their teams rank in relation to the rest of the nation. The larger schools will have fans who travel to Frisco to attend the tournament, plus there are always numerous alumni of these institutions who call the DFW area home, who take advantage of the opportunity to see their teams in action so close to home.   Access   5 Located just off the intersection of Dallas North Tollway and State Highway 121 and less than 30 miles from both Dallas Love Field and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport, Rider Field is easily accessible no matter which airline is chosen by out-of-town travelers. Other than normal traffic in a major city, traffic flow around the ballpark is smooth and clearly marked. With signage posted beginning over a mile from the venue, it’s not difficult to get to the designated parking areas from multiple points of entry. The main parking lot sits across Rough Riders Trail from the south end of the stadium, while the main gate and ticket windows are at the corner of Rough Riders Trail and Diamond Drive.   Return on Investment   3 A single day at Rider Field for the Frisco Classic provides a full day of high-level collegiate baseball without breaking the bank. Tickets can be purchased for each day or as a tournament pass; a day pass is good for 2 top-level games and costs $20, while the tournament pass price begins at $50. Parking prices are $15 per day, but the facility is within walking distance from multiple hotels in the area, including most of those listed in the Neighborhood section above. High concession prices make the event a little less feasible cost-wise as well, but not outrageously so. Concession prices are slightly higher than most college games with costs similar to those you would expect to pay at Minor League Double-A and Triple-A games. For example, a souvenir soda costs $9, bottled water $5, and a 16-ounce beer $9.50. Hot dog baskets are $11, burgers cost $15, and most other specialty food items will require between $16 and $20. Don’t forget your debit/credit card though, as Frisco is cashless and only accepts digital or card payments.   Extras   5 Between inning games and contests for prizes are prevalent. Since the tournament is a month before the Frisco RoughRiders begin their season, the tournament is a dress rehearsal for the in-game staff to work on all of their sponsored games and activities, which is a win for the crowd since it gives many a chance to win prizes, as well as makes breaks in play move quickly. The tournament-winning team usually celebrates by jumping into the lazy river; this unique victory celebration creates a memory and provides photo opportunities not available in most settings. The staff is also extremely friendly and helpful. The facility has all its employees on the clock and in training for the upcoming season during the Classic, plus as a showcase presentation for PEAK events, there are PEAK personnel spread throughout the ballpark for assistance. Souvenirs can be acquired for the tournament's participating teams as well as for the Frisco RoughRiders. The Riders store is open for all games, thus allowing baseball memorabilia collectors the opportunity to procure items they desire. Concessions can be purchased using Stadium Drop – fans are able to scan a QR code, order and pay digitally, and have food delivered to their seats. This is an extremely convenient option. I personally didn’t utilize this option, but can see how the convenience is worth any extra expense or time required for the wait.   Final Thoughts NCAA Division I baseball has grown in popularity and become a major entertainment option within the past several years. With the NIL era in full force and MLB cutting their draft to only 20 rounds, several top-tier athletes have chosen to play college ball instead of signing professional contracts after high school. The Frisco Classic provides a perfect, early season opportunity to see some top-level players and highly ranked teams compete before the grind of conference schedules begins. I would suggest making plans to attend the entire tournament in order to see all four teams play one another; this will also allow you to witness most of the lineups in action. Planning ahead with hotel reservations and travel can assist in budgeting. Also, if you are able to get accommodations within walking distance of the field, you will not only save on parking but also be able to take a short break between games if you want.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Covenant Health Park 500 East Jackson Boulevard Knoxville, TN 37915 Knoxville Smokies website Covenant Health Park website Year Opened: 2025 Capacity: 6,355 “It’s Baseball Time in Knoxville” Professional baseball has deep roots in Knoxville, dating back to 1897 with the Knoxville Indians of the Southeastern League. That league didn’t last, but pro ball briefly returned in 1904. A more stable run began in 1909 with the Knoxville Appalachians, followed by the Reds in 1914. After a short hiatus, baseball once again returned in 1921 with the Knoxville Pioneers, who soon adopted the name Smokies, a nod to the nearby Great Smoky Mountains. Knoxville’s first affiliation was with the Boston Bees ( Braves ) in 1936. In 1953, Knoxville Municipal Stadium opened just east of downtown. It was renamed a year later for Bill Meyer, a Knoxville native and former Pirates  manager. The stadium became the heart of pro baseball in the city for nearly 50 years, until it closed in 1999 and was demolished in 2003. Though the stadium structure is gone, the field is still in use by Pellissippi State College. Knoxville joined the newly formed Southern League in 1963, elevating the level of play and giving the Smokies a lasting place in Double-A baseball.  Over the years, Knoxville has partnered with more than one-third of the MLB franchises, the longest running of which has been with the Chicago Cubs , beginning in 2007. In 2000 the Smokies moved to Kodak, 20 miles east, leaving Knoxville without professional baseball. That changed in 2025, when the Smokies returned to the city with the opening of Covenant Health Park. The new stadium marks not just a homecoming, but a revival of Knoxville’s long-standing history in minor league baseball.   Food & Beverage   5 Food and drink options are plentiful throughout Covenant Health Park. Forks on First specializes in ballpark staples like burgers, hot dogs, and chicken tenders. Burger options include a classic, a veggie, and the Smoky Mountain Burger, featuring bacon, pimento cheese, crispy onions, and BBQ sauce. Coop 865 focuses on chicken dishes such as chicken and waffles, chicken mac & cheese, and a Tennessee favorite, the hot chicken sandwich.  Knox Smoque serves pulled pork, beef brisket, and mac & cheese, with sides like fried pickles and house-made kettle chips. Ballpark Bites caters to fried food fans with mozzarella sticks and “Rocky Tots”, namely tater tots topped with bacon, queso, ranch drizzle, and green onions. Finally, BarleyMe offers fresh pizza options. In addition to the above, carts scattered around the concourse sell everything from tacos and cheesesteaks to specialty hot dogs. To ease congestion, self-service drink refill stations are also available – an underrated but effective solution for keeping lines moving. For dessert, head to Sweets along the third baseline; this stand offers over 80 sno-cone flavors, ice cream milkshakes, and cinnamon-sugar churros. Also, a grab-and-go market in the left field corner offers convenience store-style snacks and drinks. Most notable, however, is the impressive selection of local craft beers; breweries featured include Knoxville’s Alliance Brewing Co., Schulz Braü, Ebony & Ivory Brewing, Gatlinburg Brewing Co, and Uxl Beer Co. (known for its popular PB+J Mix Tape), as well as Iron Forge Brewing Co. from Sevierville (which brews the Smokies-branded Light Lager). In total, fans can choose from about 50 beer options representing nearly 20 breweries. The selection also includes canned cocktails, seltzers, and wine. There are also two full-service bars in the stadium – behind home plate The Backstop is a full-service bar offering a wide range of mixed drinks. For a livelier social scene, however, the Modelo Watering Hole in right field is a popular hangout.   Atmosphere   4 In line with modern stadium design trends, Covenant Health Park lacks a traditional grand entry gate. Instead, fans enter at the corner of Patton Street and East Jackson Avenue, ascending a multi-tiered stairway painted with the word “Knoxville”. While the stairs may appear disjointed at first glance, a view from above reveals the full artistic design. The concourse resembles a scenic walking path more than a standard corridor, highlighted by a steel pedestrian bridge in center field that crosses over First Creek. The creek, which also runs behind former Bill Myers Stadium, one of the homes of the early Knoxville Smokies, is an unintentional link to the city’s baseball history. Traditional seating runs roughly halfway down each line and to the foul poles with what are called picnic areas, but are probably more akin to group social seating areas with high top tables. Along with these seating areas, other social seating areas include concourse suites, and four-seat half-moon tables that increase the social part of the game much more than trying to talk down the row to others in your group. Drink rails are also popular with fans who do not want to be confined to a seat. Other than a section in right field, however, there is very little outfield seating. The underside of the grandstand canopy is finished with yellow pine, adding a small but beautiful touch to the aesthetics of the stadium. In what has become the norm for stadium design, social areas have been implemented throughout Covenant Health Park, including the aforementioned Modelo Watering Hole. This bar has a dozen different beers on tap, ten different spirits, and a selection of wines. The area is also backed by lounge couches, corn hole, and a ping-pong table. The voice of public address announcer George Yardley is a throwback to a classic stadium feel; Yardley’s intentional cadence and southern drawl really bring out the charm of the region. One of the stadium’s most striking visual features is the massive scoreboard shaped like the state of Tennessee – it is heralded as the largest scoreboard in minor league baseball. In addition to the line score and ball-strike count, it also displays real-time player stats and pitch speeds.   Neighborhood   4 The area directly around Covenant Health Park is still a work in progress.  Apartments beyond left field, and the Delaney Condominiums in right, are nearing completion, while additional spaces accessible from outside the stadium are expected to become retail or restaurant venues. The stadium is within walking distance of Knoxville’s Old City district, known for its vibrant bar and restaurant scene, as well as the nearby Market Street neighborhood, which offers excellent dining options and hotels. The area is also known for its nightlife that should still be bustling following a Smokies game, especially on Fridays and Saturday nights. Other nearby attractions enhance the experience of a game day visit; the University of Tennessee is less than three miles away, making it easy to catch a college baseball  or softball game. The Knoxville Ice Bears of the Southern Professional Hockey League may also be in season, while for basketball fans, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame is just down the road. Knoxville was also home of the 1982 World’s Fair – probably nothing celebrates The Fair more than the 266-foot tall Sunsphere on the grounds of World’s Fair Park. The neighboring Knoxville Convention Center is also home to then World’s Largest Rubix Cube. Note that the area just north of Covenant Health Park does feel a bit concerning, so having a bit of a heightened sense of awareness if heading in that direction might be advisable. Fans 4 The Smokies’ return to Knoxville has come with a lot of excitement. Even while being in the top 50 of all minor league attendance while in the more isolated Kodak, the move back to the city has seen an increase in average attendance per game, drawing roughly 5,300 fans per home date thru the early months of this season. Despite many of the fans populating the social areas of the stadium, most are in tune with the ups and downs of the game and help create a true home-field environment.   Access   3 With its downtown location, parking around the facility comes at a premium. The Smokies promote parking  with a free shuttle bus service to and from the ballpark from the Summer Place, Langley, and Market Square parking garages. Those looking for free parking might look to the West Magnolia Avenue parking lots, or private lots in the area in proximity to the stadium start at $20. Those using rideshare to get to Covenant Health Park are dropped off on the north side of the stadium, and must walk the exterior of the venue to the main entry at the corner of Patton Street and East Jackson Avenue. For the most part, the concourse is wide enough to easily handle large crowds with minimal congestion, but there are some spots behind home plate where food carts and promotional tables do create a bit of a choke point. The remainder of the concourse is spacious, however, leaving plenty of room for fans to navigate the stadium.   Return on Investment   3 Ticket prices seem to be a touch on the high side, with adult tickets starting anywhere between $18 to $23, depending on whether it is a weekday, weekend, or holiday game; these rates are prior to taxes and a convenience charge of $2.50 to $3 applied to each ticket. Therefore, when all is said and done, an individual ticket ends up costing $22 to $27. At $5 for prepaid parking or $7 for day-of parking, the return on investment is more than reasonable when considering parking at similarly-sized ballparks. Concession and apparel prices definitely are subject to stadium premiums, but not much more than would be expected at other sports facilities. There are some deals that can be found on t-shirts in the team shop, though.   Extras   4 The Smokies have three mascots who make the rounds throughout the game – Knox and Jackson, a father and son bear duo, as well as mountain man Mountain Joe. As with most mascots, the trio spends their time taking endless photos with fans and helping host mid-inning games. Space is at a bit of a premium, and Covenant Health Park does a good job of squeezing features into interesting areas. For example, the children’s play area has found a home tucked under a section of apartments in left field. Statues of Knoxville Giants legends Jerry Benjamin, William M. Brooks, Claude Dickey, Forrest Maddox, William Nathaniel Rogers, and Jim Tugerson honor Knoxville’s Negro League history. Another statue commemorates the Payne Avenue Little League, the city’s first league for Black children. In a nod to their parent club, the Smokies play “Go Cubs, Go!” after each win, bringing a little bit of Wrigley Field’s charm to Tennessee.   Final Thoughts Baseball’s return to Knoxville has come with a great deal of excitement, and with good reason. The stadium experience in Kodak was enjoyable, but pretty much started when you entered the gates and ended as soon as you left. Alternatively, what the Smokies have created in Knoxville is a minor league baseball experience that seamlessly transitions from outside the stadium, in, and back out again once the ball game is over. Despite there being some challenges that impact the overall experience, the Smokies have done what they can to mitigate the impact they make on the experience. Baseball at Covenant Health Park is one that will surely only improve as more of the surrounding area takes shape.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 First National Bank Field 408 Bellemeade St Greensboro, NC 27401 Greensboro Grasshoppers website First National Bank Field Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 7,449 Hop on Down to Greensboro Baseball First National Bank Field in Greensboro, North Carolina is the home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the South Atlantic League affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Built in 2005, the stadium replaced the aging and outdated World War Memorial Stadium, which had been in use since 1979. At that point, the team rebranded from the Bats to the Grasshoppers. Baseball has been played in Greensboro since 1902, although not always continuously. The Greensboro Farmers lasted just that inaugural 1902 season but would return in 1905. After several more on-and-off teams over the years, the Greensboro Hornets came to town in 1979, and baseball has been played here ever since. Food & Beverage 4 There are three different main concession stands at First National Bank Stadium, with special names like Cornwallis's Last Stand and O'Henry's Corner, but all three serve similar menus. Hot dogs are available, including several specialty dogs, as are burgers, spicy chicken sandwiches, and all your standard ballpark fare. What brings this ranking up a notch is the several specialty stands located in carts and tables around the concourse. Here you will find nachos (topped with pulled pork and other toppings if you wish), ice cream sundaes (sadly not in a helmet) and more. Keep in mind First National Bank Field is a cashless facility, so only credit cards are accepted. Atmosphere 4 A Greensboro Grasshoppers game is a lively experience the entire evening. Before the game starts, the teams' two mascots, grasshoppers named Guilford and Guilly drive around the field in their golf cart and get the crowd energized. Guilford is furry and cute, while Guilly is not furry and is dressed like a pirate in homage to the Grasshoppers' affiliation with the major league Pittsburgh Pirates. Fireworks are shot off after every Grasshoppers' home run. The team plays sound effects over the PA system throughout the entire night, including classics such as the breaking glass for foul balls as well as references to pop culture. They're particularly fond of "What's the matter, are you scared of Grasshoppers?" from Bug's Life but also use classic lines from The Simpsons and other TV shows and movies. As for the stadium itself, there is some berm seating down the right field line, but the remainder of the seats are box seat chairbacks. This is a small, intimate stadium, so no matter where you sit, you will have a great view of the action. There is a large scoreboard in right-centerfield that mostly shows player stats and the lineups in addition to the basic gameday information, but is capable of showing videos as well. Neighborhood 5 First National Bank Field is located in the heart of Center City Greensboro, a mixed-use development that includes apartments as well as hotels and local businesses. Grey's Tavern and Fisher's Grill are popular eateries within a mile of the ballpark, and you will be able to find just about any other cuisine that you want nearby as well from Italian to Chinese to Mexican to Greek to Korean. History buffs will definitely want to check out the International Civil Rights Center & Museum on the site of the Woolworth's where the first sit-ins occurred in 1960. There are guided tours available every day of the week except Sunday, but you must book in advance. Fans 4 The Grasshoppers draw good crowds to a typical home game, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Although the ballpark may not completely sell out, expect around 4,000 to 5,000 fans for a typical home game, which is is near the top of the South Atlantic League. The fans are active and will get loud when the Grasshoppers score or make a big play in the field. They are also knowledgeable about the game and the team and will often comment to each other on what is going on and why something played out the way it did. Access 4 First National Bank Park is located just a few miles off of I-85 and I-40 in the heart of Greensboro. The main entrance to the stadium is located halfway down Bellemeade Street, across from a large parking garage that costs $5, card only. There are some other private lots nearby that may cost less and/or accept cash, but which will be a longer walk. Once inside the stadium, there is a spacious concourse that runs along most of foul territory and a little bit of fair territory. You can see the field from the entire concourse, which is a plus when waiting at the concession stand. There are several sets of restrooms which are more than big enough for the crowds. One downside of access at First National Bank Field is that gates open only half an hour before first pitch for weekday games. (They do open an hour before on weekends.) This is disappointing for fans who want to get in early and explore the ballpark. In fairness, they did open the gates a few minutes early when we visited. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to Grasshopper games are very affordable. Berm seating is just $11, while if you want an actual seat, that will cost $15-$17 depending on how close to home plate you are. Keep in mind there is an extra surcharge for buying on gameday. Parking is just $5, and can be less if you are willing to walk. Concessions are affordable as well. Keep in mind First National Bank Field is a completely cashless facility, including the parking garage, although some private lots nearby do take cash. Extras 3 Richard Wilkinson, the stadium usher in the aisle between Sections 108 and 109, has been named the funniest usher in minor league baseball. Between innings, he will use a dry erase white board to show super corny jokes to the amusement of fans sitting in those sections. He will also occasionally use the whiteboard to make announcements to the fans or to welcome them to the ballpark at the start of the game. The Grasshoppers have a bat dog named Willie Mae Mays who will run onto the field to retrieve the Grasshoppers' bats in her mouth, to the enjoyment of fans. A third and final star for the kids' play area down the right field line. Greensboro Grasshoppers' usher Richard Wilkinson holds up dry erase boards with a super corny, yet funny joke. Final Thoughts First National Bank Field is a gorgeous, modern stadium with all the amenities one might expect of a newer ballpark. The Greensboro Grasshoppers have a loyal fan base and put on an outstanding gameday experience. Baseball fans in North Carolina will definitely want to hop on down here to check out a game.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FAN FARE Score: 3.14 Truist Point 301 N Elm St High Point, NC 27262 High Point Rockers website Truist Point website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 5,000 Indie Rockers If you make a trip to the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina, you will find the High Point Rockers, a baseball team in the independent Atlantic League, that calls Truist Point their home. The Rockers began play in 2019 after the Bridgeport Bluefish and their stadium ceased to exist. The Rockers nickname was a winner of a "Name the Team" contest and pays homage to High Point's booming furniture industry, specifically rocking chairs. Truist Point seats about 5,000 fans and is located in the heart of High Point. Despite its name, High Point is not at a particularly high elevation - at one point it was the highest point along a railroad in North Carolina, but that was before the tracks were extended across the mountains to the west. The tracks are still there today, and you can hear the occasional train blowing its horn during the game. Food & Beverage 4 There are several different concession stands at Truist Point. Most of them serve similar, though not identical, menus. In right field, you will find the Pitchin' Kitchen, and right next to that, since Truist Point now hosts soccer as well, you will find Kickin' Kitchen. There are several other stands down the left field line serving similar items. All of the classics are here, including burgers (which come with pickles on them, although they don't tell you that), hot dogs, chicken tenders, and more. Since this is North Carolina, pulled pork barbecue is also available at one stand. For those with a sweet tooth, ice cream and funnel cake fries are available. The ice cream comes with self-serve chocolate syrup, and the kids seem to enjoy getting to use the squeeze bottle themselves. Soda and bottled water are also available, as is beer to those fans of age. The prices are about typical for a ballpark at this level, but additional value can be had from combo deals that include both a main food item and fries. Atmosphere 3 Truist Point has a weird design for a stadium. For starters, although the capacity is officially 5,000, there are only about 10 or 11 rows of standard seats seats. Above that, you will find club and group areas, something the team leans very heavily into. The seats behind the Rockers' dugout are also all club seats which sell for an enhanced price, although the seats directly behind home plate are not. A large videoboard is located in right-centerfield. The field itself is also bizarre. The surface is all turf, including the infield, which itself is not too unusual. However, instead of the infield "dirt" being dirt-colored turf, it is instead the color of grass, although not the same shade of green as the rest of the field. Truist Point is now home to a soccer team in MLS Next Pro as well, and that league required that the entire field be green. However, the Atlantic League requires the infield "dirt" to be a different color than the "grass" in order to enforce the rule that four infielders must be on or inside the dirt at all times, hence the slightly different shade. This has turned Truist Point from one of the nicest looking turf fields in baseball to one of the ugliest. The Rockers have a mascot named Hype, who appropriately for the team name, is a rocking horse. He can be seen roving the stands interacting with fans, and also races kids on the field in a contest during the game. Other contests on the field range from the standard ones to more unusual ones like throwing as many cupcakes as possible through a hole in an inflatable donut. Neighborhood 3 High Point is one of three major cities in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina, along with Greensboro and Winston-Salem. It is a medium-sized city with a lot to offer, although little of it is within walking distance of the ballpark. Sweet Old Bill's is about a mile from the ballpark and offers southern comfort food, barbecue, and beer on tap. They are also an official sponsor of the Rockers. You will find many other places to eat, drink, and hang out in that section of Main Street as well, including Frady's Taphouse and Eatery and Tom's Place. Fans 2 The Rockers average about 1,900 fans a game officially, which ranks them towards the bottom of the Atlantic League. The actual number of people in seats on a given night will usually be substantially less than that, as this total includes season ticket holders who don't show up. The fans are not usually that involved, although you do get the occasional excited screaming kid or drunk heckler. Usually they get bored of that pretty quickly. Expect a lot of empty seats at a typical Rockers home game. Access 3 High Point is located along I-85 and I-74, about halfway between Durham and Charlotte. Depending on traffic, it could take you between an hour and 90 minutes to drive from either the Raleigh-Durham area or Charlotte to get to High Point. It is part of the Piedmont Triad, which also includes the nearby cities of Greensboro and Winston-Salem. There are several lots near the stadium where you can park for $5. They are clearly signed, as are lots you should not park in if you do not want to get towed. Keep in mind the lots are cash only, so prepare accordingly. Gates open only half an hour before the game, which is disappointing for fans who want to get in early and explore. Once inside, the concourses are more than wide enough for the crowds. There are several sets of restrooms, all of which are more than sufficient for the crowds that use them. Return on Investment 4 Assuming you are not sitting in one of the many club areas, a High Point Rockers game is not particularly expensive. Tickets start at just $8 for outfield seats. The most expensive non-club seats are directly behind home plate for just $16. The numerous club seats will cost you about $50 each, and are not really worth the cost. Be sure to check social media before you buy tickets, as additional discounts and even free tickets for select groups are frequently available that can further enhance value. Concessions are affordable and parking is not bad at just $5. Overall, a Rockers game is an above average value for the fans. Extras 3 There is a kids' play are down the left field line as well as a team store near home plate. Each of these are worthy of an extra star. Autograph seekers and those looking to interact with the players may wish to stand along the right aisle in Section 107 before the game, which is on a rail overlooking a tunnel between the Rockers' clubhouse and dugout. Final Thoughts Truist Point is an unusual stadium, and not necessarily in a positive way. Nonetheless, if you are in the Piedmont Triad, a trip to a Rockers game can be a fun way to spend a summer's night. Hang out with Hype and watch a baseball game up close for a great price.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium Kalele Rd Honolulu, HI 96822 Hawaii Rainbow Wahine website Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium website Year Opened: 1985 Capacity: 1,200 Island Softball Though many may think of Hawaii as a vacation paradise and less of a sports destination, the atmosphere at University of Hawaii athletics events seeks to change that, and Rainbow Wahine softball is no different. A facility that feels like the venues of yesteryear, while offering free admission, is the highlight here, and loyal fans are plentiful.   Food & Beverage   3 There is only one proper concession stand at Hawaii softball games, and its menu is accordingly limited. Hot dogs ($6), chili dogs ($7), chili bowls ($5.50), and a chili frank plate ($6) are the highlights, while other options include cheese nachos ($6), chili cheese nachos ($6.50), Enjoy snacks ($4.50), chips ($2.50), and candy ($2.50). Drinks include 20 oz bottled sodas and water for $4.50, and there is also a local vendor who sells Dippin’ Dots ice cream for $6 from a separate cart under the grandstands.   Atmosphere   4 The stadium itself is simple enough – the main seating area behind home plate features a roof to cover the seats and the small press areas. However, the support beams and dark aesthetic harken back to old stadiums from the beginning of baseball’s existence. The left and right field lines feature additional backless bleacher seating that is open to the elements, though netting protects all seats so you won’t have to worry about getting hit by a foul ball. The left field ramp from the ground level to the grandstand also offers an elevated look at the bullpen for the visiting team. Right field features restrooms that are covered by large graphic walls featuring the team’s schedule, while along the back side of the main seating area are banners featuring star players from the team’s past, connecting the team to their past successes. The biggest plus here is the view from Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium; the field orientation facing north means the outfield view is campus housing and the tropical foliage-covered foothills of the Ko’olau Mountains.   Neighborhood   4 The ballpark itself is located on the University of Hawaii campus, located just north of the popular Waikiki Beach area of Honolulu. Just a few miles from campus are the world-famous sandy beaches that have attracted visitors for hundreds of years, and you’re also not far from local restaurants, as well as chain favorites and hotels. To the east is Diamond Head State Monument, a popular hiking site, and beyond that are iconic shorelines of rocky cliffs. Fans   4 The fans at Hawaii softball games are mostly locals, or friends and family of visiting teams. Being located in such a popular tourist city means that visiting teams will travel well thanks to fans wanting to make a whole trip out of watching their favorite team play in Hawaii. The fans here are also very sport-knowledgeable, and know when to cheer with each dramatic play on the field. On top of that, the free admission to games means many students come and go throughout the day, as gaps in their schedules permit between classes. This laid-back atmosphere also fits with the island vibe.   Access   3 The parking at Hawaii softball games is arguably the biggest struggle for this game day experience – the nearby Kalele Road Garage and UH Guest Parking Garage offer the best and closest options. Entry off nearby Dole Street or Kalele Road makes for easy in-and-out access; both of these are located right off the H1 Highway, making for easy driving if you’re staying nearby, or even if you are staying farther away. Return on Investment   5 Tickets to Hawaii softball games are completely free. With affordable parking options nearby, you literally pay almost nothing for a game here, and getting to watch D1 NCAA Softball for free is a great reason to take in a game at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.   Extras   3 The stadium is located across the street from both the baseball  and football  facilities at the University of Hawaii, while tennis plays their matches next door. This means visiting other sporting events on the same day is easy whenever multiple events are taking place. Hawaii softball also offers giveaways at some games, including goodies for fans. Finally, some games throughout the year are themed, meaning fans can get various experiences as they take in a game at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.   Final Thoughts Though most fans visiting Hawaii may not expect softball to be on their sports to-do list, missing this free admission show would be a mistake. Located in a beautiful part of campus, this simple yet enjoyable setting gives you everything you need as a sports fan to satisfy your needs when it comes to college softball.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Moody Erwin Center 2001 Robert Dedman Dr Austin, TX 78712 Texas Longhorns website Moody Center website Year Opened: 2022 Capacity: 11,313 Texas Basketball Excellence Imagine what happens when you have your team’s biggest fan design the ideal sports arena for your favorite team. Taking into account food options, fan services, and sightlines, you construct the perfect facility, and that is exactly what the University of Texas did when Matthew McConaughey helped design Moody Center in 2018. Arguably the biggest Texas sports fan there is, McConaughey was deeply involved in the venue’s creation. The result? One of the best college basketball areas in America, especially for women’s basketball.   Food & Beverage   5 Texas is known for great food, and Austin itself is a bustling center of culinary expansion in the region, so it comes as no surprise that Texas basketball games give you a wide variety of food options from local restaurants. And while prices may be high compared to some sports facilities, the quality is top-notch. A sample of the various options you can find here include BBQ short rib sliders ($14), tacos ($15), Trisha Yearwood’s Party Nachos ($25), sopapillas ($8), and local ice cream ($6-$8). Drinks include beer ($8-$18.75), soda ($4-$5), cocktails and spirits ($16-$35), and even a rotating wine and champagne menu that constantly changes ($17+). Atmosphere   5 The arena has all the modern touches you’d expect at a brand-new NBA stadium. Modernized suites, HD screen scoreboards, and a standing-room only sky deck are some of the features you can enjoy while you’re in Moody Center. The grand entrance features the Longhorn logo hanging above as you walk in, and a massive fan store sells every sort of Texas fan gear you could possibly need. Perhaps what makes this women’s basketball experience best, however, is how they manage the arena capacity – while the upper-most level is not usually open for women’s basketball games, the team has come up with an ingenious way to hide the empty seats that are not in use. Large projector screens are extended down to cover those seats, and instead show a constant flow of game statistics, fan engagement, and advertisements for UT events and games – this adds yet another layer of excellence for the hardcore fan who likes to follow the sport beyond the score. The pre-game intros also include laser lights and pyrotechnics, giving you the big-game feel college basketball deserves, but rarely serves up.   Neighborhood   5 Texas basketball plays in the heart of downtown Austin – the city center is visible from the arena’s outside patios, so you are right there in the middle of one of the most vibrant and quickly growing cities in the nation. The airport is a bit of a drive, however, depending on traffic. For great food you can’t skip The Salt Lick or Torchy’s Tacos. Austin is also home to the Congress Bridge, famous for its thousands of bats that fly out every night, as well as Zilker Park on Lady Bird Lake. Finally, for a hotel, look for Hilton Austin Airport or Holiday Inn Austin Airport as two options that are great, due to their proximity to the airport and to major highways that lead to downtown. For sports fans, Moody Center’s location right near the other athletic facilities on campus is great for watching multiple games in a day, with softball , tennis , and baseball  located right down the street.   Fans   5 Texas fans are among the most hardcore in all of college sports. Women’s basketball is no different, as games routinely feature completely packed arena seating. To make it more impressive, the fans are incredibly sport knowledgeable; they know every player and every chant for each situation. Team colors are a must for the wardrobe, and even the hardcore folks come decked out head to toe in Longhorn gear. On top of that, the hospitality is impressive – fans here are welcoming and kind to visitors.   Access   5 Moody Center enjoys the luxury of being quite literally one block from the nearest interstate highway – located off exit 235 on I-35, the facility is refreshingly easy to access. The Manor and Trinity Street Garages are your closest options for parking, with numerous other garages and lots also open for fans to park for varying prices.   Return on Investment   5 Tickets for Texas Women’s Basketball are incredibly affordable, starting at just $9. Simply taking into account the quality of Moody Center and the fact the team is one of the best in the nation, you’re getting a top-tier basketball experience in a modern facility for low cost. Parking is also plentiful in various lots and garages right next to the arena.   Extras   3 The facility boasts countless championship banners and retired player numbers in the rafters, and graphics all over the main concourse showcase the history of Texas basketball over the years. Just outside the Northwest Lobby in the main concourse is a copy of the original drawing that Matthew McConaughey drew with Charles Attal when they were designing the arena. Before the game starts, fans can enjoy the various sponsor and fan activations outside the main entrance of the facility, as well as activities for kids.   Final Thoughts Texas Women’s Basketball is one of the top programs in the nation lately, and their arena experience reflects that. Texas fans are known for their loyalty and fervor, and Moody Center was perfectly designed to capture and embrace that love for their home team. Without a doubt, this is one of the top women’s basketball experiences in the entire country, and skipping it would be a grave disservice to the sport.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Sebring International Raceway 113 Midway Dr Sebring, FL 33870 SpeedTour website Sebring International Raceway website Year Opened: 1950 SpeedTour’s Florida Season Kick-Off The start of the race season shows up early in Florida, and Sebring is a perfect place to celebrate that. The annual SpeedTour weekend, featuring SVRA, Trans Am, and International GT, showcases sportscar racing’s past and future. Held each year in late February, this race is a great place for families and car enthusiasts, complete with car shows and thrilling race action. Food & Beverage   4 There is no shortage of food vendors around the track at Sebring. From the main paddock and ever-popular Track Shack (get The Beast, it is probably the best item you can eat at the track and is only known on the secret menu at Sebring) to the various drink and snack stops around the track, you never have to go too far to get something to quench your thirst, or ease the pain of hunger. The cost of everything is also what one may consider moderately fair, as food and snack items range from just a few dollars to $12 to $14 for bigger items at the Snack Shack. The event also invites several food trucks to the event as well, which are set up near the paddock area. Atmosphere   3 The Sebring facility is steeped in racing history; fans from around the world regard it as one of the best tracks for many reasons. SpeedTour weekend features a much more laid-back vibe compared to the IMSA 12 Hours , and everyone seems to be here to have a great time. The track lacks many conventional amenities one would expect from a top-level racetrack, but makes up for it with viewing access and history. Access to Green Park is also included all weekend, something not always open during smaller events. However, the facility itself has some massive upgrades needed. For example, almost all the roads through Green Park and trackside are dirt, meaning the dust gets really heavy at times. The restrooms around the facility are also beyond abysmal, featuring moldy troughs in the men’s rooms, as well as bugs galore with no AC to speak of. Grandstands have been added at various corners but are no less sparse, and views of the front stretch and finish line are extremely limited, with no good angles to be had for fans outside the paddock suites.   Neighborhood   3 There isn’t exactly anything around Sebring International Raceway, as it’s located in the middle of nowhere. Sebring itself is a town located in the middle of Florida, at least an hour and a half from the nearest major city or population center. Thus, while the town of Sebring itself may have some shopping and dining, as well as a few hotels, you are likely better off camping at the track for the whole weekend.   Fans   4 The fans at SpeedTour weekend cross over from other events at Sebring, including IMSA , SCCA, and HSR events. Trackside camping is popular all around the track, and as usual, several fans decorate their campers and campsites with lights and decorations. Thankfully, the craziness of IMSA weekend is nowhere to be found here, and a much more family-friendly atmosphere can be enjoyed because of it. Without a doubt, Saturday is the best day to attend, with the most racing action on track happening that day, complete with car shows and fan access to several grid walks on pit road. Access   3 The roads in and out of Sebring aren’t exactly major highways, with the biggest road being US-27 running towards Miami to the South and Orlando to the North. There is plenty of parking at the track, however, and trams help take you from parking lots farther away from the main grandstands and paddock to points of interest around the track. You never feel like you are too far from anywhere either, as there are several perfectly placed crossover bridges around the track to get you to points of interest throughout the weekend. Any fan can also come down to the paddock and get up close to the stars and cars that are in attendance.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets to SpeedTour weekend are much less expensive than IMSA’s 12 Hours  in March – this means you get to enjoy the sights and sounds of the race cars of yesteryear without breaking the bank. A family 4-pack of weekend tickets is just $175 and includes parking. Weekend 2-packs are $125, while a single weekend pass is just $65. If you want to add on camping for the weekend, that is just $50. Single day tickets are also available for Friday ($20), Saturday ($30), and Sunday ($30). Parking passes for the VIP parking lot are $25 a day, or $35 for the weekend. Without a doubt, this is a great event to take younger fans to as well, and your access is much more up close here than at traditional races you may go to.   Extras   3 Taking in the race at Sebring has its perks for fans, with various autograph sessions held throughout the weekend. In addition, fans also have the opportunity to get into the paddock area of the track free of charge, giving an up-close view of the teams as they prepare for one of the year's biggest races. Also, before the main event on Saturday, all the teams bring their cars out to the false grid before the race starts, where fans can come to see the cars and drivers up close, before the cars head out onto the track. While exploring the facility, there are also various info plaques to help tell the history of the track, including at the Flag Pole, the Officer’s Club, and Turn 7 at the Seven Hotel.   Final Thoughts The annual SpeedTour weekend is a great place to watch some racing action on one of America’s most historic race circuits. Filled with exciting action, this weekend is a must-go for all the fans who don’t want the craziness of the IMSA 12 Hour  weekend, but instead are looking for a family friendly race day.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Long Reach High School Field 6101 Old Dobbin Ln Columbia, MD 21045 DMV FC website Long Reach High School Field website Elite Soccer in the DMV DMV Elite is a semi-professional soccer team competing in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). DMV Elite previously played their home games at Howard High School in Columbia, Maryland, but abruptly moved five minutes away to Long Reach High School one game into the 2025 season. The field at Long Reach is larger than the one at Howard, which was a major factor in the decision to move. The DMV in the team name refers not to the Department of Motor Vehicles, but to D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The NPSL, together with the UPSL and the confusingly named USL League Two, comprise the fourth division of American soccer. They are the highest level that is not fully professional, and consist mostly of current college soccer players and recent graduates. The pay is structured in a way that allows current athletes to retain their amateur eligibility if they are competing in the NPSL over the summer. However, occasionally some aging former professional who just wants to continue playing somewhere will show up in the NPSL as well. Food & Beverage 5 Fans will have several options to choose from for food and beverage at a DMV Elite home game. A food truck is typically parked right outside the stadium gates, offering its menu to fans. The selection will vary by game, but when Stadium Journey visited, there was a taco truck serving up freshly made tacos as well as quesadillas and churros. There is also a concession stand open inside the stadium, run by the high school's booster club. Although DMV Elite plays their home games during the summer, when high school is winding down or over, the booster club is still working the concession stand raising money. You will find mostly snacks here such as chips and candy, but hot dogs and pizza are also available. Bottled water and soda are available at the concession stand, but may not be available at the food truck depending on the game. Prices at the concession stand are quite affordable, with nothing costing more than a few dollars. The food truck prices will be more expensive, but are also better food. Taco truck at DMV Elite FC Atmosphere 2 There are large sets of bleachers along each sideline at Long Reach High School, separated from the field by a black running track. There are lines on the field for many different sports - soccer has the yellow lines, and occasionally the white ones where they overlap with football. On top of the goal is a set of (American) football goalposts, which occasionally get hit by shots. They are considered out of play, but this can cause confusion if the ball bounces back into the field of play. There is a scoreboard at the stadium, bit it is not used for DMV Elite games. You will have to keep track of the score yourself, or ask someone if you arrive late. An extremely small clock is located on top of the press box, but fans sitting on that side will not be able to read it without turning all the way around, and it is so small they may have trouble even then. There is not much going on here other than the game itself. Fans will be able to hear some of the chatter going on on the field, which they may enjoy, but you're really coming here solely to watch the game. Neighborhood 4 Long Reach High School is located just down the street from Columbia Crossing shopping center, which includes many chain restaurants ranging from Mission BBQ to the BGR Burger Joint and many, many more. Other shopping centers are located nearby along Rouse Parkway (State Route 175). The Ale House on Dobbin Road is very popular with the locals as well. Columbia is also located halfway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, so both cities are easily accessible a short drive away. Fans 2 DMV Elite FC draws only a few dozen fans to a typical home game, spread out among the spacious bleachers. Most of the fans are dead quiet, though occasionally you'll get a fan who just likes to loudly complain about the refs. The NPSL is a development league for officials as well, so their quality isn't always the best, and most fans recognize this and lay off them. When we visited, there was one loyal DMV Elite fan trying to make a Supporters' Section by himself and banging a drum the whole game. Unfortunately, there were no similarly loyal fans to join him. We still give him credit for this and hope to see more people like him soon. Access 4 Columbia, Maryland is located about halfway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore along I-95 via Rouse Parkway (State Route 175). Drive along that road a couple miles and you will soon be at Long Reach High School. Parking is available in a spacious lot that is more than large enough for the crowds DMV Elite draws. Only the few rows closest to the soccer stadium are typically filled up. Just pay attention to the one way traffic flows coming into, out of, and through the lot. Restrooms are available near the entrance on the side of the concession stand. They are small, but given the small crowds DMV Elite draws, they do not need to be any bigger. Return on Investment 4 Admission to DMV Elite games is $15 for adults, with discounts available for youth. Concession prices are very affordable at the stand as well. The food truck will probably be more expensive, but it's much better quality food so you will get what you pay for in the end. Overall, a DMV Elite FC game is an excellent value. Extras 0 There are no real extras here. Final Thoughts Although a DMV Elite FC game is pretty basic, it's an affordable and family-friendly way to take in a soccer game on a warm summer night. Conveniently accessible from Baltimore, Washington, and Northern Virginia, this is a fun experience for soccer fans throughout the DMV.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Lime Rock Park 60 White Hollow Rd Lakeville, CT 06039 Lime Rock Park website Memorial Day Classic website Year Opened: 1957 Capacity: 75,000 Lime Rock’s Summer Kickoff Despite the best efforts of the track’s neighbors, Lime Rock Park is a historic and popular racing facility hidden away in northwestern Connecticut. Nestled in a small valley and surrounded by stunning forests, this New England center of speed is small yet fierce, attracting race fans from around the globe to its secluded curves. After hosting the likes of IMSA  and SRO World Challenge over the past few years, the classic Memorial Day race weekend now features Trans Am action and some local vintage cars. The track also plays host to a variety of racing series over the calendar year, from SCCA to the Skip Barber Racing School. In 2025, the event took a downward turn sadly, due to the departure of SVRA from the schedule and a decreased entry from IGT and Trans Am. While a last-minute addition of local vintage cars was welcomed, it still meant a significantly diminished race day schedule and smaller field sizes.   Food & Beverage   4 The small size of Lime Rock Park means you are never too far from anywhere, which makes finding food easy. From food trucks to small vendors at various corners around the track, getting food is easy for fans. The track also features a paddock food stand that has ice cream, a wide selection of burger options, and more to satisfy the appetite of any race fan. The main food booths are in the paddock area and at the top of the Turn 2 hill, where the majority of fans watch the race from. A burger or impossible burger costs $12.75, while a turkey burger costs $12. Hot dogs range from $8 to $10.50 depending on the toppings you want, including the Bull Ring Bacon Dog which includes bacon relish and crispy fried onions. Drinks range from $2 for a coffee or juice to $4.50 for soda or Gatorade. Snacks like cookies, brownies, candy, chips, and pastries range from $2.50 to $3. Thanks to an on-site beehive, fans can also purchase small batch track-grown honey for $37.50. Atmosphere   4 The beauty all around Lime Rock Park is simply stunning – the vibrant green mountains that border the track help make the car colors pop even more than normal. The smell of campfires also fills the air, as some of the best race fans in the country take up residence at the track for the weekend. With a paddock that is open to all fans during all race weekends, and victory lane located at the bottom of an amphitheater-style hill for fan viewing, there is almost nowhere on the track you can’t find a great view. In addition, drivers frequently toss out hats to fans after celebrating their wins. Also, autographs are easy to get here, and the pre-grid walk before the main race always brings out the fans. But perhaps most overlooked are the main paddock restrooms, which are always spotless and fully air-conditioned. Unfortunately, unlike years past, the lack of SVRA cars and a decreased entry list for IGT and Trans Am means a much less full paddock for fans to explore.   Neighborhood   2 If you want to feel unwelcome by the residents in the town where your sporting event is being held, just travel to Lime Rock Park. Weekend homes for New York City residents dot the streets around the track, and almost every single one has a large yellow sign outside their home that reads “SUNDAY NO RACING!” in protest of the track’s noise. Though the debate has raged for years, it nonetheless makes new fans and visitors to the facility feel rather unwelcome in this small New England town. Easily the biggest downside of Lime Rock Park is its location and the lack of any large towns nearby. Quite literally located off small one-lane roads, the track is bordered by homes and farm fields, mixed with dense New England forest. The nearest hotels are Interlaken Inn and Wake Robin Inn, both a good 15-minute drive north into Lakeville. Food options in Lakeville, the nearest town, include Black Rabbit Tavern and The Woodland restaurant. In addition, for sightseers Haystack Mountain State Park offers great hiking trails, while the Saville Dam area is a favorite spot for photo takers.   Fans   4 The fans at Lime Rock Park are diehard racing fans – they follow IMSA, SRO, SVRA, WEC, Trans Am, and more, making them extremely sports-knowledgeable. They’re also passionate about their favorite drivers, fly the flags of their preferred manufacturers, and pack the hillsides for every headliner and support race during a given race weekend. From club racing to vintage and pro weekends, Lime Rock Park is rarely empty when a race is in town. Access   2 Parking on site at Lime Rock Park is plentiful, both inside the track and out. However, that is where the convenience ends – located over an hour from the nearest interstate highway, Lime Rock Park is in a very secluded part of Connecticut, relatively speaking. The nearest major city, Hartford, is equally as far. Located between US-7 and US-44, Lime Rock Park is easy to drive past if you don’t catch the small signs that point you towards the facility. Its distance from anywhere with sufficient lodging or dining is also inconvenient for those traveling to the track from out of state, some of whom don’t like to venture far from the action.   Return on Investment   3 Lime Rock Park is one of those tracks in North America that everyone knows about and says you should visit once. The compact nature of the track makes this the sports car racing equivalent of a bull ring, making the on-track product quite exciting to watch. Add to this the car-lovers dream that is the open paddock, and you have the perfect mix of beautiful surroundings and quality racing that motorheads crave. Tickets for the Trans Am event on Memorial Day weekend are generally affordable, though price increases have taken effect this year, with Friday tickets going for $35, Saturday or Monday tickets now at $72, full weekend tickets at $90, Sunday car show tickets at $15, and infield parking at $35. Add this to the dramatically smaller field sizes in recent years, and you are paying more for less than before. Nonetheless, this event is still a great event for fans to attend, and an overall good value.   Extras   3 The track features vintage racecars on display near the paddock grill concession stand, showcasing the track’s history. The main midway is also home to vendors and displays, showing fans the latest tech and offering great giveaways at the races. In addition, the track’s victory lane is located at the bottom of the hill by Turn 2, creating an amphitheater-style winner’s circle that makes you feel like you’re part of the celebration. Before the races, fans are welcomed onto the grid for a pre-race grid walk, where they can get up close to the cars and stars racing at the track, and with the moratorium on Sunday racing, Memorial Day Weekend also features a massive classic car show and local beer festival on Sunday, before the race action returns on Monday. Final Thoughts Lime Rock Park is secluded to say the least, and whether that is good or bad depends on the fan. What isn’t up for debate is its status as a shining star in the racing world for over 60 years, and the natural beauty that surrounds it. If you’re a racing fan, this track is a must-see on anyone’s bucket list – the track is constantly trying to improve the fan experience, and unlike other stops on the calendar, this facility doesn’t seem to age poorly, meaning you’ll be comfortable whenever you’re here.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Sonoma Raceway 29355 Arnold Dr Sonoma, CA 95476 Sonoma Raceway website SpeedTour website Year Opened: 1968 Capacity: 47,000 Sonoma’s Late Spring Race Fest Sonoma Raceway has a long and storied history in motorsports. Hosting the likes of NASCAR, NHRA, and IndyCar over the years, it is now home to one of the early rounds of the SpeedTour SVRA and Trans Am schedules. Being held in late April annually, this event has slowly grown itself to a solid event with tons of on-track action all day throughout the weekend. Fan-friendly and budget-friendly, this weekend is likely to soar to the top of the California race fan’s list of events to attend every year. Food & Beverage   3 The track has various concession stands and food trucks during the weekend, complete with the likes of burgers ($13.99-$14.99), grilled chicken sandwiches ($13.99), breakfast burritos ($7.99), and hot dogs ($11.99). The paddock cafe is also open on race weekends, giving everyone another option for food and beverages, with both inside and outside seating options. Atmosphere   3 The action on the track is top-notch, as Trans Am and SVRA host no less than 10 races during the weekend across multiple different race groups. Fans can catch everything from the top-level Trans Am TA race teams to the vintage SVRA machines from days past. Four days of practice, qualifying, and racing make this one of the most jam-packed events of the year for the track and the fans, which means you won’t go long without seeing some great race action. Being a NASCAR and NHRA facility also means that seating is plentiful all around the track. RV parking spots with track views can also be purchased by fans, and the suites offer stellar views, including the new Turn 11 complex with its outdoor patio seating. One of the best viewing spots has got to be the Turn 2 terrace with seating under arbors and shade trees. On top of this the paddock is completely open and accessible to all fans, giving you an up-close look at how the teams prep the cars for action.   Neighborhood   4 There is practically nothing immediately around Sonoma Raceway, but that makes for quite a nice location for a track. Sonoma is close enough to San Francisco and the Bay Area to make visiting one of the country’s most beautiful cities, with plenty to see and do, an easy task. However, it is just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city and nestled away in the beautiful hills of California wine country, to give you the country feel you want when relaxing. To the west is Novato, and to the east is Vallejo – food options include In-N-Out Burger, a California fixture, as well as many more. Hotels are also plentiful in both areas, and attractions range from the Golden Gate Bridge and several national parks to the south, to wine country in the north.   Fans   2 Many race fans in Sonoma who want to watch pro racing without the NASCAR prices turn to this event as a great option, especially given the incredible access afforded during SpeedTour races. On top of this, trackside camping is plentiful, with RVs lining the upper level of the camping area above the Esses. Unfortunately, this event doesn’t draw the crowd expected at SRO America weekend earlier in the year, so you won’t have the crowds to create the big race atmosphere many fans seek at the track. Access   2 Easily the only downside to Sonoma Raceway is the location of the track in proximity to the highway. From San Francisco you need to take the 101, and from Oakland/Sacramento/Vallejo you have to take I-80. Both highways will take you to the 37, which is the main highway to the track. The problem? Near the track it becomes a one-lane road that widens to two lanes at times, but no wider. Thankfully, when you arrive parking is beyond plentiful around the facility, with many grandstands offering close parking spaces for those willing to drive around. Return on Investment   5 Going to the track is worth the trip for SpeedTour at Sonoma – this facility is a must-see on any race fan’s list, making it worth the venture into northern California. Tickets to SpeedTour weekend here are also incredibly affordable, with weekend passes coming in at just $40 for presale and $70 at the gate. Friday tickets are $15 online and $25 at the gate, Saturday or Sunday is $25 online and $30 at the gate, and family 4-packs are $120 online only. On site general parking is free. Extras   3 Drivers host several fan walks on Saturday and Sunday that are open to all fans. In addition, victory lane is right there next to the main grandstands, which means fans can celebrate with their favorite drivers and teams after each race. Finally, the paddock and garages are all open to fans, which means you can get up close to the teams and cars while they work on race setups, and you can talk to the crews during the weekend. Final Thoughts If you are looking for a racetrack in a beautiful location in one of the most picturesque areas of the country, look no further than Sonoma Raceway. The track features some quality race action for fans to see, and most of the track is visible from the same spot, a rarity in road-course racing. With affordable prices, a growing fan base, and great food options, you have plenty to look forward to as a fan when you arrive at Sonoma.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Freeman Coliseum 3201 E Houston St San Antonio, TX 78219 San Antonio Gunslingers website Freeman Coliseum website Year Opened: 1949 Capacity: 11,700 San Antonio Gunslingers – Freeman Coliseum In sports, in pop culture, and in life in general, few things capture the imagination quite like the concept of nostalgia. In sports, you have throwback uniforms, old-timers’ games, and jersey retirement ceremonies to stoke the nostalgic flames of fans. This is one of the chief draws of the National Arena League’s (NAL) San Antonio Gunslingers . Now in their inaugural season in the NAL, the Gunslingers harken back to the days when the first incarnation of the USFL called the Alamo City home. Those Gunslingers played for two seasons in the springs of 1984 and 1985 at historic Alamo Stadium. While beloved (they featured future college football Head Coach and current television analyst, Rick Neuheisel, as their starting quarterback and star player), the team was also were steeped in controversy. The 2022 version has visions of lasting longer with less of that controversy and more success. Adding another dash of nostalgia is their home stadium, the legendary Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum. Once upon a time, Freeman Coliseum was the largest indoor arena in San Antonio, and was the site of some of the biggest entertainment acts to visit the city, as well as home to two of the city’s now defunct minor league hockey franchises, the San Antonio Iguanas of the Central Hockey League and the San Antonio Dragons of the International Hockey League – these days the venue is mainly used for concerts and the annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo . With hopes riding as high as a gunfighter in the saddle, read on to see if the latest arena team to hit the Alamo City has enough beyond their trade in nostalgia to make it worth your while. Food & Beverage 3 When it comes to the food and drink scene at the old Coliseum, the best word to describe it is going to be “adequate”. There are several what I would call “traditional” stands along the main concourse area, as well as several beer stands. The main food stands have all your old favorites: hot dogs ($5), hamburgers ($7), Frito pie ($8), soft pretzels ($5), nachos ($7), and popcorn ($6). They also offer fountain sodas ($5 for regular and $6 for large), as well as domestic and premium canned beers ($9 and $10 each). Nothing flashy, nothing fancy, but it will get the job done and won’t put too much of a strain on your wallet, which is always a plus. Atmosphere 2 It’s fair to call the venue middle-aged at this point, and I’ve been coming to events at Freeman Coliseum since I was a young child. Aside from some cosmetic upgrades, to me it looks fairly unchanged. This is both a positive and a negative. For me, and I would imagine with a number of other long-time residents of the area as well, there is a certain appeal to taking in events at the coliseum. Again, there is a nostalgia factor to the venue. However, I’m not sure nostalgia has the same sort of draw to everyone else. The renovations done a few years ago added some nice cosmetic upgrades, including some murals and photos highlighting some of the history of the building. For first-time, new visitors, though, the draw might soon wear off once you get past the shiny concourse and into the playing area. Especially once you get into your seats; some folks might find them to be a little cramped. Arena football is always a weird sport that’s shoehorned into whatever venue can hold it. In my opinion, the smaller the venue, the better for this sport. Freeman Coliseum looks cavernous during Gunslingers games and that isn’t helped by the acoustics. The team does its best by trying to offset it with their emcees and public address announcers, but that just makes the loudness that much more noticeable. Five hundred people yelling in a big cave is still 500 people yelling in big cave. Neighborhood 3 I’ve written numerous times about the area where Freeman Coliseum resides. It shares a parking lot with the home arena of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, AT&T Center . The Gunslingers schedule starts in the late spring and ends during the early summer, at the tail end of the NBA season, so there is a chance that if you time your visit to San Antonio just right, you could double-up your sports visits right in the same parking area. The area of town that the arenas both reside, the far east side of the city, is still a bit lagging in terms of attractions, restaurants, and lodging for fans who want to stay close to the venues. However, the good news is that you are within a 10-15-minute drive of the city’s vibrant downtown. The Alamo , River Walk , Tower of the Americas , HemisFair Park , and the Historic Pearl , basically everything they show you on television about San Antonio, is downtown and is just a short drive away from Freeman Coliseum. A relatively new restaurant that is adjacent to Freeman Coliseum is BallHoggs BBQ. Serving up everything that anyone looking for good Texas barbecue could, BallHoggs – the brisket is phenomenal – is a great option to try before or after Gunslingers games. Heck if you’re in Texas, you must eat barbecue at least once while you’re here! In terms of lodging, there are a number of affordable motels along the highways that surround the arena. These include Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Downtown Northeast and Quality Inn I-10 East. Again, if you’re looking for something more upscale or high-end, San Antonio’s downtown (with all of its options) – including one of the best hotels in the United States, Hotel Emma – is just a short drive away. Fans 3 There’s that cliché about Texas and it’s love of football, and I can tell you for a fact that by and large, it’s more truth than myth. The Gunslingers, for a first-year, lower-tier, niche sport, still draw a decent crowd to Freeman Coliseum. By decent I mean several thousand fans. As I mentioned, the coliseum is cavernous, so it will feel emptier than it really is, but the crowds are there. Why? Because it is football. The team has also wisely signed a few players with local ties to give fans familiar names to root for. Again, there is the nostalgia factor for longtime residents, as well. Regardless, so far, so good. If they can sustain the fanbase they have and grow it, San Antonio has limitless potential for growth, and an unquenched desire for any type of pro football to latch onto. Access 4 Like it’s shinier younger brother and neighbor, AT&T Center , Freeman Coliseum is accessible by two major interstates, I-10 and I-35. As mentioned both are 15-minute drives from downtown San Antonio and from San Antonio International Airport, for those flying into the city for a Gunslingers game. Once you get on site, there is one entrance to Freeman Coliseum’s parking lot, and the parking is just $10 each game. Return on Investment 4 Single-game tickets for the Gunslingers start at $20 per person, which is not bad. For the game I attended, one of the team’s main sponsors was actually giving away free tickets to fans, which is an even better bargain. With parking being at a low cost and concessions being reasonably priced, this is a great way to spend an afternoon enjoying some football out of the hot summer sun. Extras 2 The Gunslingers are still finding their feet in their maiden season, but they already have a few pretty good traditions built in. The Six Shooters Cheerleaders perform in between quarters and at halftime. They also have reenactors dressed as Old West gunfighters patrolling the stands taking photos with fans, and they even have a reenactor who rides a horse that leads the team out of the tunnel during introductions. I’m a sucker for a live mascot, but it’s still a pretty cool site to see. Final Thoughts Arena football might not in all honesty be everyone’s cup of tea. However, if you enjoy football, the Gunslingers are doing what they can to make these games fun for fans of any interest level. I think if you take the time to take in a game and visit Freeman Coliseum, I think you’ll enjoy yourself. In no way would I put it on a bucket list of any kind; however, if you have time, and if you’re in San Antonio, come on down. Gunz up! Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 . Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com .

Photos by Andrei, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Maples Pavilion 655 Campus Dr Stanford, CA 94305 Stanford Cardinal website Roscoe Maples Pavilion website Year Opened: 1969 Capacity: 7,392 Hoopin’ It Up at The Farm Built in 1969, Maples Pavilion has been home to the Stanford men’s and women’s basketball teams as well as the women’s volleyball team. Maples underwent a $30 million renovation in 2004 and currently hold 7,392 spectators. Now in its 50th year of operation, Maples Pavilion is named in honor of Oregon lumber magnate Roscoe W. Maples. Upon his death in 1963, Maples bequeathed most of his $2 million estate to the university. A member of the class of 1904, he left school before graduating to support his parents, and later went on to succeed in the lumber business. In that time, the Cardinal made 16 NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the Final Four in 2004 as well as producing future NBA brother tandems of Jarron and Jason Collins and Brook and Robin Lopez. Food & Beverage 4 Maples Pavilion has a very diverse food menu for a venue its size. At “Cardinal Fast Break” you’ll find a chicken Caesar and turkey cheddar wrap as well as a Bavarian pretzel or a spinach/feta pretzel. For those coming in from the wintery Northern California elements, Vietnamese soup, Pho, with your choice of chicken or vegetarian, is also available. The standard hot dogs as well as grilled brats, polish pork sausage, and campus classics farm burgers and axe burgers are available at the “From The Farm For The Farm” stand. Sweet treats range from French beignets, cotton candy, Häagen-Dazs ice cream bars, kettle corn, and chocolate chip cookies. Coke product beverages as well as Dasani bottled water are the beverage options, with beverages also available in a 32 oz commemorative cup at a reasonable $7. California Pizza Kitchen stands are also on site but not operable due to a lack of attendance. Atmosphere 3 Maples Pavilion is split into an upper and lower level. The lower level is made up of assigned chair back seats except for one sideline which is the risers in which the student section stands. The sidelines in the upper level are assigned bench seating while the endlines are general admission bench seating. Banners celebrating the athletic program's national titles and other vast accomplishments including the team’s March Madness appearances are placed throughout the walls in each corner. Because of the small capacity, you’ll never be far from the action. When packed, the place can be loud. Unfortunately, on most nights, the place is rarely filled and at times can make for a hollow feel. Neighborhood 4 The closest shopping and dining options are across the El Camino Real in the Town & Country Village. One of the more popular options is Gott’s Roadside which has excellent food but is very crowded during peak times. There are also specialty stores if you like to shop. Downtown Palo Alto is just a few blocks beyond the Town & Country Village. The Stanford Shopping Center features more shops and restaurants to check out. Palo Alto is a very affluent community and the downtown reflects that. The most popular sports bars are The Old Pro and The Patio. They have similar options for food and drink but The Patio offers outdoor seating and The Old Pro seems a bit more college-centric. Fans 3 The crowd is a mix of demographics and is a great outing for families looking for an affordable, accessible basketball option. Most of the fans stay engaged and cheer on the Cardinal at appropriate times. Like with any fan base, team performance can dictate what type of fans will be at the games. Because the Cardinal has not exactly been a Top 25 team as of late, as well as its distance from San Francisco and San Jose, where most of their alumnus reside, Maples Pavilion has not exactly been packed to the rafters as in recent times. It is not uncommon to see a lot of youth groups in attendance on any given night. Though a kind gesture and a great way to establish continual ties with the community, one should not expect a rabid presence that contributes to a true home-court advantage. Access 4 Stanford sits between two major freeways (101 and 280) and along the thoroughfare El Camino Real. During rush hour the drive to Palo Alto along the vehicle-heavy peninsula is troubled by severe traffic. An alternative to arriving at Maples Pavilion is the Caltrain, the Bay Area’s commuter train that travels to points between San Francisco and San Jose. Palo Alto Station is the station located closest to the venue with a campus shuttle available during weekdays. The main drag in Palo Alto is the El Camino Real and it runs north/south from just south of San Francisco to San Jose. From El Camino Real you take Galvez St into campus and make a left onto Campus Drive. Parking is available across the street in parking structure 7. Street parking is available on evenings and weekends in Palo Alto. When entering the pavilion, you can enter through three of the four corners and end up in wide, spacious corridors. You can walk around the interior building and can enter your section number. When you find your section, you walk up into the interior and then either up again to the upper level or back down to the lower level. Return on Investment 4 General admission tickets to most games, including rivals Cal, UCLA, and Arizona start at $15. I have to believe this is due in large part to the recent lackluster play throughout the entire Pac-12 conference. Though GA’s at $15 are a great bargain, especially for a program like Stanford, be advised that seats directly behind the baskets will have an obstructed view of the overhanging basket supports that extend to the roof. While this may offer an old-school feel, the obstruction can be somewhat annoying. Like any college athletic program in a major market, the product on the court is not the only source of entertainment for the locals, and with Stanford being a considerable commute for most along The Bay, getting fans to fill the seats can be difficult, leaving blocks of tickets available on any given night. Extras 3 Going to a Stanford basketball game on The Farm can be a unique experience, if anything, for one reason…The Stanford Tree. Over the years, The Tree has had numerous variations and has made some newsworthy headlines along with the Stanford Band, albeit not always for the right reasons… During the game, The Tree can be seen dancing and prancing along to tunes from the Stanford Band, ranging from classic rock to alternative. Both The Tree and the band offer an irreverent style of entertainment that’s mostly entertaining but at times can be offensive dependent on one’s point of view. Though the band and The Tree are likely to be at the game, because of their “reputation,” if they should be missing from that evening’s contest, there’s a great chance some “mischief” has been involved… During the national anthem, the Stanford Dolls can be seen signing the anthem, a nice touch for the hearing-impaired fans. Final Thoughts From San Jose to San Francisco, the Bay Area is full of entertainment options. Stanford basketball is one of the more affordable options along the way. If you’re a college basketball fan, a trip to Maples should be on your to-do list. Though Maples does not offer the raucous atmosphere that a Duke basketball experience may offer, the experience here still has its unique qualities. In addition, you get to be entertained throughout the game by the ever so irreverent Stanford Band along with their famous, or infamous Tree. It’s an experience that needs to be witnessed live at least once along your Stadium Journeys…

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Shepherd Stadium 901 Meridian Ave Colonial Heights, VA 23834 Tri-City Chili Peppers website Shepherd Stadium website Year Opened: 1948 Capacity: 2,000 A Real Hot Pepper Baseball has a long and storied history in the city of Colonial Heights, Virginia. Baseball was played on the site of present-day Shepherd Stadium dating back to at least the 1920s. Although there was no stadium at the time, there was a field with a rickety fence and bleacher seating which played host to a number of recreational teams. In 1948, Mayor Frank R. Shepherd organized the construction of a proper stadium on the site, which would go on to host American Legion baseball, high school baseball, and the Boy’s Invitational Tournament organized by the local Optimist Club. In 2020, Shepherd Stadium was awarded a franchise in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate wood-bat summer league with teams in Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia. The team, known as the Tri-City Chili Peppers in reference to the cities of Colonial Heights, Petersburg, and Hopewell, was unable to begin to play that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic but made its much-anticipated debut in 2021 in a newly renovated stadium. The CPL has a history in the Tri-Cities region, with the Petersburg Generals being a member from 2000 to 2016. However, the Chili Peppers bring the league to Colonial Heights for the first time. Food & Beverage 4 There is one concession stand down the first baseline in a plaza area which offers many options. Classic ballpark fare such as hot dogs and hamburgers is available here, as are more unique items such as barbecue sandwiches, pulled pork nachos, fried pickle chips, and a smoked turkey leg. As a signature item, the team offers a cheeseburger with pimentos and bacon, which comes with a side of fries. For those with a sweet tooth, ice cream from a local manufacturer is available as well. Beer, wine, and hard seltzer are available for those of age. Make sure to pick up a wristband before you order. All prices are fairly reasonable here. Atmosphere 4 The Chili Peppers do a lot to create an impressive atmosphere at their baseball games. Featuring music, between innings contests, and a chili pepper mascot named Blaze, there is something for everyone here in the Tri-Cities. Kids who arrive early can sign up to participate in the contests themselves by looking for the sign near the entrance to the stadium. The PA announcer manages to be loud and engaging without being over-the-top while the on-field host does a good job of keeping the fans engaged during breaks in the action. As for the stadium itself, it has been renovated in anticipation of the Chili Peppers’ arrival, and despite being over 70 years old is looking as good as new. All seats are chairbacks and the upper rows are over an overhang, similar to older grandstands in Lynchburg, Hagerstown and elsewhere. However, a plaza has been added down the right field line with a concession stand, team store, and picnic tables for fans to sit at and eat. There is a scoreboard in the outfield which shows the line score, other basic information, and scorekeeping decisions. All in all this is a very nice ballpark with an electric atmosphere for a Chili Peppers game. Neighborhood 3 Shepherd Stadium is located on a residential street, but if you head out of the ballpark towards The Boulevard (the main street through town) you will find some options. Trapezium Brewing Company is located a short drive away, as are a number of other options serving everything from Italian to soul food to breakfast to a traditional bar and grill. Many of these options are across the Appomattox River in Petersburg, but all are close by. Fans 5 Although Shepherd Stadium does not typically sell out, the fans who are in attendance are passionate and loud when cheering on the Chili Peppers. Chants and cheers can be heard before and during the game. The Chili Peppers attract fans of all ages, from people old enough to have been watching American Legion ball when this park first opened to families with small children. The fans are part of why a Chili Peppers game has such an impressive atmosphere – the team does a lot, but without the fans, this just wouldn’t be the same. Access 3 Shepherd Stadium is located just off I-95 via Exit 54. The stadium is then a couple of miles away. There is a small lot located right across the street from the stadium. Once that fills up, Chili Peppers staff will direct you to an appropriate lot, although you may have to park somewhat far away. Once you get inside the stadium, it’s fairly easy to get around. Concession stand lines shouldn’t get too long and there is rarely if ever a line for the restroom. Getting out of the stadium at the end of the game is fairly simple too since people are parked in different places so you don’t have everyone coming out of one lot. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are $10 for general admission seats which get you anywhere above the first five rows of the stadium. If you want to sit in the first five rows, you will have to buy a multi-game plan or season tickets to get a reserved seat. These are available for a discount if you plan on going to multiple games. Otherwise, stick with the GA tickets. In any case, when combined with the affordable concessions and free parking, a visit to a Chili Peppers game is a great deal. Extras 4 On hot summer days, the Chili Peppers give out free fans for the fans to cool themselves off (no pun intended.) There is a team store down the first baseline by the concession stand, a Kids Zone down the third baseline, and a cornhole game down the first baseline as well. All of these deserve their own stars. Final Thoughts Although Shepherd Stadium is almost 75 years old, you wouldn’t know it from attending a Chili Peppers game here. The stadium has all the amenities and excitement of a newer stadium. Although the Chili Peppers are one of the newest teams in the Coastal Plain League, they have already built up a group of loyal fans and we hope the experience continues to be this good for years to come.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Barbara Hodel Center 10 Patrick Henry Circle Purcellville, VA 20132 Virginia Valley Vipers website Barbara Hodel Center website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 1,200 Basketball in the Viper Pit The Basketball League, known as TBL for short, is a low-level minor league basketball league, a step below the G-League, with 40 teams competing across the United States. One such team, the Virginia Valley Vipers, calls Virginia's scenic Shenandoah Valley home. From 2022 until 2024, the Valley Vipers were based in Winchester, Virginia, on the campus of Shenandoah University at the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletic Center . In 2025, they moved down Route 7 to Purcellville and the campus of Patrick Henry College. They now play in the gymnasium at PHC's Barbara Hodel Center, a building that also holds many other university facilities. Although the quality of play on the court in the TBL isn't anywhere near the NBA, nor is it even on par with the G-League, the teams are independently owned and unaffiliated with NBA clubs (unlike the G-League clubs which are owned by their NBA affiliate) so the experience is often more similar to what you would see at the minor leagues in other sports. TBL teams often have zany uniforms, similar to what you saw in the NBA in the 90s, and family friendly entertainment. Food & Beverage 3 There is a table in the lobby of the Barbara Hodel Center that sells concessions for Valley Vipers games. Options include hot dogs and pizza slices as well as assorted snacks such as popcorn, candy, and chips. Bottled water and cans of soda are available to drink. As Patrick Henry College is a very conservative Christian school, alcohol is not available here as it is prohibited on campus. Prices are quite reasonable here, with nothing more than a few dollars. However, there is no posted menu so you will have to ask the price. Both cash and cards are accepted, but be warned that the line moves very slowly. Atmosphere 4 Walking into the Barbara Hodel Center will put you in a small lobby with a ticket table in front of you. Doors to the gymnasium are to your right, while concession stands and restrooms are straight ahead. There are other entrances to the gymnasium as well, but when you first arrive, the one directly on the right is the one you will use unless you want to head to the concession stand or restroom first. All the seats at the Barbara Hodel Center are on one side of the court, except for a few courtside seats behind the basket and some on an elevated stage on the other side that are also sold as "courtside" seats although they are higher than court level. The first few rows are reserved chair backs, while the remainder are general admission bleachers (although part of the bleachers may be blocked off and reserved for large groups.) All seats will have a great view of the action, so unless having a chair back or reserved seat is important to you, there is no reason to splurge on one. Before a Valley Vipers game starts, the lights will go out in the arena and a pink spotlight will shine on the court as the Valley Vipers are introduced. A hype video plays on the two video boards on the far sideline, which are really more like the temporary screens you would use to watch a movie somewhere than permanent videoboards. This does not affect the quality, but it does give the arena a rather improvised feel. The PA announcer is constantly talking during the action, getting the crowd hyped up and praising the Valley Vipers' play. Some will find this annoying, while others will find it unique, charming, and enjoyable. Like you would have at an NBA game (but unlike a typical college game), music is also played over the speakers during the action. During timeouts, kids get to come on the court and participate in contests like shooting baskets and racing down to the other end of the court. These are the pretty standard contests with nothing too unique. The Valley Vipers have a mascot named Venom, who rather appropriately is a Viper. He will interact with fans sometimes, like at halftime, but he was nowhere to be found for most of the game when we visited. Neighborhood 3 Purcellville is located in western Loudoun County, which technically makes it a suburb of Washington, D.C., although it has a much more rural feel than does eastern Loudoun. The Purcellville Pub (usually known simply as "The Pub") is a team sponsor and popular local eatery and bar, and the team can often be seen there after the game hanging out with fans. Manhattan Pizza is located across the street from the Patrick Henry campus and serves New York-style pizza. There are several other nearby restaurants as well in the shopping centers. Fans 4 Valley Vipers fans may not fill up the arena, but the ones who do show up are loud. They wave noisemakers throughout and stomp on the bleachers during the opposing team's foul shots. Between the loud crowd and low ceiling, it can get quite loud in here at times. A lot of their energy is simply because the PA announcer tells them to get loud, but they can make noise without his prompting too, if he ever decides to stop talking. This is the Valley Vipers' first year in Purcellville, but they already have an established fan base of all ages who goes to the games and passionately cheers on their team. If the Valley Vipers are playing a nearby TBL team like the Frederick Flying Cows or the Capital Seahawks, expect a good number of visiting fans to show up as well. They will be treated with respect and should not run into any issues. Access 3 Purcellville is located along State Route 7, a few miles west of Leesburg and the end of State Route 267 (the Dulles Greenway). You may be doing some driving along rural roads to get there, but you should still make good time. It is about an hour from Washington, D.C. depending on traffic. Once you are on the PHC campus, parking is available in a large lot next to the Hodel Center by the tennis courts. A few spaces are marked as reserved for Patrick Henry staff. While fans seemed to be parking here without issue, we suggest parking in one of the many other spaces to be safe. Keep in mind the spaces on the sides of the tennis court have very narrow aisles, so backing out could be a problem. You may be better off parking behind the tennis court although this means a slightly longer walk. Restrooms are available around the corner from the gymnasium and are clean and generally sufficient for the crowd size. It is worth noting that Stadium Journey visited during Patrick Henry's summer break, and there will probably be more PHC students on campus and in the Hodel Center itself during the academic year, which could affect parking and other access issues. Return on Investment 4 Admission to Valley Vipers games is $15 for general admission, $25 for reserved chairbacks in the first few rows, or $30 for court side seats. Concessions are reasonably priced and parking is free. Overall, a Valley Vipers game is an excellent value. Extras 3 Although not directly related to the Valley Vipers, the Patrick Henry moot court college championship banners hanging in the rafters are unique enough to earn an extra star here. Programs are available at the entrance for just $5. If you buy one, the players are available to sign it after the game. A third and final star for all the polite, friendly staff here. Final Thoughts Basketball fans can find family-friendly fun at an affordable price in Purcellville by checking out a Virginia Valley Vipers game. A match day here is sure to be full of energy from before it even starts up until the very end. If you are in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, be sure to check out a Valley Vipers game at the Barbara Hodel Center.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy Salinas, CA 93908 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca website SpeedTour Series Year Opened: 1957 Capacity: 11,000 Thundering Engines in Monterey WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-famous speedway housed atop the high hills outside of Monterey, California. The speedway has hosted some of the world’s biggest racing stars over various racing series, and continues to be a fan and driver favorite as the years progress. Each spring, the SVRA and Trans Am SpeedTour weekend provides an early-season chance for fans to get up close to some of the best vintage racing in America. With multiple classes of cars taking to the speedway’s tight turns, fans have a lot of racing action to watch during the weekend. Also, thanks to a recent investment in the track’s infrastructure, fans can expect an even better product going forward.   Food & Beverage   3 Finding something to eat is easy to do at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, as the track is home to various food vendors and beverage carts around the property – at nearly every vantage point there is something to eat. The majority of food selections are standard burgers, hot dogs, sausages, and a few salads. One of the most popular spots, however, is a small unassuming shiny Airstream sitting in the middle of the paddock – here fans can get all sorts of beverages, from fresh hot coffee to iced coffee, blended mochas, and smoothies. In addition, the little trailer also has various selections of desserts and sweets, including homemade cookies and brownies. The main concessions stand at the track features oak smoked tri-tip sandwiches ($19), burgers ($16), brisket sandwiches ($19), and more. Drinks range from $3 for bottled water and $4 for soda to as much as $6 for energy drinks and sparkling water. Alcoholic beverages are also available, with beer ($12-$14) and wine ($14) on the menu. Atmosphere   5 The weather in central California is almost always perfect. Rarely seeing the temperature rise higher than the low 80s on race day, the atmosphere at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is nearly all-but-guaranteed to be ideal. In addition, the facility is located on the top of the coastal hills outside Monterey, making it a perfect spot for a breezy afternoon. Large oak trees even line the track at various places, giving fans somewhere to hide from the sun if it does get warm. Additionally, fans can camp over the weekend at the track, as the property serves as a recreational park during weekends when there’s no racing. During SpeedTour weekend here, fans have the chance to watch vintage racing, Trans Am’s west coast series, and the Optima Batteries Search for the Ultimate Street Car competition. Neighborhood   5 Monterey is like much of the rest of coastal California; beautiful and relaxing. Boasting the weather and scenery of the Bay Area but with the small town feel of more inland locations, Monterey features a regional airport, numerous locations to stay, and a wide variety of places to eat. In addition, the world-famous Monterey Aquarium is just minutes from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, as are Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row. The locals are kind and courteous, always willing to give you directions and recommendations on where to go. And no matter what time of year you are going, there is always some form of festival or celebration going on, such as Italian Fest, Jazz Fest, or Octoberfest. For great food, check out Gusto’s Handcrafted Pasta & Pizza, or Hula’s Island Grill. Hotels are plentiful, including the Hilton Garden Inn Monterey and Hotel Pacific. Sports fans can also catch games for Monterey Bay FC  as well as Cal State Monterey Bay  nearby. Fans   3 The fans in Monterey are big-time race fans, having flocked to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for years. They all know the best places to watch from, so asking for a little advice will be met with kind suggestions for the newbie race fan. They also know how to party, putting on some great cookouts overnight in the camping areas. And if you want help understanding what’s going on, you can ask anyone. While other races weekends here, such as IMSA  or IndyCar, may draw larger crowds than the SpeedTour event, the fans at that time nonetheless bring a respectable crowd. Access   3 Getting to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a bit of a difficult task, thanks in part to the traffic coming in and out of the canyon in which the track is located. While the route from either Salinas or Monterey is pretty straightforward, the roads are almost all one-lane thoroughfares, meaning one slow car can make traffic a nightmare. Additionally, getting up the side of the mountain once inside the track’s gates can be daunting to those who aren’t used to driving up steep inclines. Parking is plentiful and available at various locations on the property, with additional parking passes available for different parking lots. Once at the raceway, moving around is aided by various bridges across the track to get from the inside to the outside of the course; just be sure to bring your hiking shoes, as the hillside walks are pretty impressive. Recently renovated, the main bridge over the front straight connects fans from the paddock to the hillsides overlooking the straight, meaning fans who want to make their way from the infield to the main frontstretch grandstands can now easily access either side. Return on Investment   4 The track itself is very challenging, making for some of the most exciting and closest racing in the sport. The famed corkscrew complex is also world-famous for its difficulty, giving the best of drivers fits on race day. Combining the massive fan zone and the easy to see victory lane setup, SpeedTour Weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca offers a lot of up-close access that fans may not get at other racing events. Tickets are also generally affordable, and parking is plentiful and free for all ticket holders. Ticket prices start at $15 for presale and $25 at the gate for Friday only, $25 for presale and $35 at the gate for Saturday or Sunday only, and $40 for presale and $70 at the gate for a full-weekend pass. A family 4-pack is available for $120 online only, as is a two-pack for $70. General admission parking is included with your admission ticket. Extras   4 The corkscrew is the biggest draw here, and the hillside viewing at the track gives fans the best chance to view one of the most intimidating corners in all of racing. Spectators can also experience a great fan zone here at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, featuring numerous autograph sessions during race weekends. Something that is also different about WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is the hiking trails on site; walking up the hills to several of the viewing spots can be a workout unto itself. The weather also gives fans a beautiful backdrop from which to watch racing, as the typical morning fog in California creates a dramatic vista in the early hours.   Final Thoughts If you want to find a historically significant spot to watch racing that features brilliantly perfect weather conditions, a culturally vibrant city nearby, and the essence of thrilling action on track, you should look no further than WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The fans will welcome you with open arms, and the symphony of motors roaring through the mountains will fill your heart with joy – this is definitely a bucket-list track for true racing fans to visit.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 The Farmers Bank Fieldhouse 645 Fieldhouse Way Lebanon, IN 46052 Lebanon Leprechauns website The Farmers Bank Fieldhouse website Year Opened: 2024 Capacity: 1,000 Leprechauns in Lebanon The Farmers Bank Fieldhouse is located in Lebanon, Indiana and is a 200,000 square foot athletic facility that is home to 8 basketball courts, 12 pickleball courts, a turf field, and pitching and hitting tunnels. It can be used for any kind of sport Under One Roof and was completed in 2024.  The fieldhouse is home to the Lebanon Leprechauns of The Basketball League, a minor basketball league with 33 teams across the country broken up into 7 divisions. It is said to be the third-best league of its kind after the NBA and the G-League in the country and has seen players sign contracts with professional leagues around the world, including Lindy Waters III of the Detroit Pistons. The Leprechauns began operations as a team in 2022 and played their home games at the Lebanon High School gymnasium. They developed a loyal following and featured heavy community involvement from game-day staff and local businesses. The club moved into The Bankers Life Fieldhouse for the 2025 season. Food & Beverage 4 The best part of playing in a state-of-the-art venue is an impressive two-window concession stand offering a variety of snacks and drinks to fans at every home game, including a high-tech cotton candy machine that is a fan favorite. That Concession Stand offers nachos, mozzarella sticks, jumbo pretzels, hot dogs, mini corndogs, fries, chicken tenders, and Chick-fil-A sandwiches. The sweet treats include brownies, candy, and Rice Krispie treats. There are also breakfast items such as french toast, sausage, egg and cheese sandwiches, Pop-Tarts, and muffins. All fountain sodas are Coke products. The cotton candy machine makes it the way you want it on site, During Leprechaun games there are two beers on taps by Lebanon’s own Klooz Brewz & Public House, offering a pilsner and Irish ale, along with wine, mimosas and High Noon can varieties. Each cell costs between $9 to $10 a serving. The cotton candy machine might be the most interesting food vendor in the building. Fans deposit $7 into the machine, and a robot makes the cotton candy to their liking on a stick. They can watch the process through the window and pick it up via the automatic doors. Atmosphere 4 The Leprechauns offer a well-polished game day atmosphere that is above and beyond many basketball teams of its kind in the state. It is not the typical opening of the doors to the arena and letting fans watch a game. A lot is going on, from in-game entertainment, to concessions, and kid-friendly engagement. The home court is sectioned in the fieldhouse with three bleachers that offer seating for around 1,000 fans. A large team banner hangs at one end while the players are introduced underneath a giant inflatable rainbow. After that, an in-house MC entertains fans from beginning to end, along with a team mascot and DJ Logo, the team’s official DJ. They add the sound and soul to the Leprechains in-game atmosphere and bring a lot of life to the building. Fans are encouraged to come onto the court and parade through the cheerleaders' pom-poms In between breaks of play, the kids come out and get involved in a variety of promotional activities that include a dizzy bat race, an inflatable bed race, music chairs, and a basketball race where kids dress up in leprechaun outfits. When that is not happening, the official dance team cheers at one end of the court and dances during breaks in the game. In the 4th quarter, they make up a Soul Train Line where all fans are encouraged to dance through their pom poms. The merchandise table is filled with team gear of t-shirts and jerseys, while an additional table offers key chains, stickers, glasses, koozies, and bottle openers. A VIP area offers food and beverages, plus court-side seats. There are also scheduled posters, and game day programs are free of charge. Neighborhood 3 The historic downtown area of Lebanon is a 2-mile drive from the fieldhouse. The town square area offers a collection of shops and restaurants that are worth checking out before or after the game if time permits. Klooz Brew Brewery and Public House features 7 taps, smash burgers, wraps, and mac and cheese varieties. The relaxed atmosphere is a fantastic spot for a beer or a cider. Four Finger Distillery offers bourbon neat or mixed in your favorite cocktail. Other options in the area include Taco Alibi, 1830 Chophouse, and Arni’s Pizza. Fans 3 The Leprechauns had their biggest crowd of the year during our visit and on a busy holiday weekend with many other sporting options to choose from.  The capacity was at 75 percent capacity, and many fans dressed in team gear. The game was close towards the end, and many received autographs from the players on the court at its conclusion. Access 4 The Farmers Bank Fieldhouse is off exit 139 on I-65 and 2 miles from downtown Lebanon. There is more than enough parking, and once inside the building, there is easy access to the seating bowl.  Return on Investment 4 Tickets are $15 for general admission and $30 for VIP seating, which includes food from Backroads BBQ and desserts. The price of merchandise includes t-shirts and polos for $20, hoodies for $35, and jerseys for $45. The concession prices are a tad high: beer is $9, soda is $5, and a hot dog is $7.  The prices are close to a Pacers or Fever game at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. However, that has nothing to do with the Leprechauns The Leprechauns have plenty of merchandise for fans to purchase at games. The food prices might be the only complaint since ticket prices and the value entertainment for kids are still worth coming out to a game during the months between March and May. Merchandise is affordable and free programs are always a plus at any sporting event these days.  Extras 4 There are many extras in attending a Leprechaun game, including polished entertainment during breaks in the game from an in-house MC, DJ, and a dance team. There are a lot of kids’ activities during time-outs that offer fun for the family. The merchandise is well-made and comes in many varieties, and the cotton candy machine is worth checking out during a visit to the building. Final Thoughts I was not expecting from my visit to the fieldhouse, but the Lebanon Leprechauns offer a fantastic alternative to the NBA and college basketball in the state of Indiana. It offers just about everything a fan would want at this level of hoops, and others of its kind should take note of their game-day operations.  ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter  and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Friedman Baseball Diamond at Parsons Field 178 Kent St Boston, MA 02446 Northeastern Huskies website Parsons Field website Year Opened: 1930 Capacity: 3,000 Baseball in the Shadows of Fenway Park   Older ballparks throughout New England boast “Babe Ruth played here” much in the same way that older hotels throughout the colonies boast “George Washington slept here.” It’s a badge of honor for any ballpark to have stood the test of time and to have witnessed the talents of one of baseball’s all-time greats.   Back in the early 20th century, it is rumored that the public playground known as “Kent Street Field” was often frequented by a young professional ballplayer by the name of George Herman Ruth. In the 1920s Northeastern University began using the park for their baseball, soccer and track teams. The school eventually purchased the lot from the YMCA’s Huntington Prep School in 1930. The university dedicated the field after former athlete, coach, and athletic director Edward S. Parsons in 1969, and renamed the baseball diamond the Friedman Diamond in 1988. Northeastern built the John “Tinker” Connolly seating pavilion and press box in 2015.   The ball field was originally configured with the baseball diamond at the east end of the football field (which would place home plate in what is now the right field corner). This setup placed the houses located just beyond the outfield fence at great risk, so when artificial turf was installed in 1972, home plate was moved to its present location.   The first team to represent Northeastern played in 1921, and early teams played their home games on the site of the old Huntington Avenue Grounds on campus. The Huskies began playing their games in Brookline in 1925. The Huskies have qualified for ten NCAA tournaments and made it to one College World Series, in 1966. Eleven Husky alumni have played in the major leagues. Food & Beverage 1   During Stadium Journey’s latest visit, a student was set up at a folding table hawking an assortment of candy bars, potato chips and bottled water. Hey, it’s not much, but it earns a point. In addition to the snacks, there were Northeastern ball caps and t-shirts available for purchase. Fans are welcome to bring their own snacks into Parsons Field to enjoy during the game. Fans who have their own water bottles can get a refill at the water fountain located at the Zabilsky Field House.   It's also not unusual to see fans tailgating in the small lot adjacent to the field, or to see an alumni group enjoying a nice spread out in the party area.   Atmosphere 3   You wouldn’t expect an over-the-top game day presentation here at a small, historic venue such as Parsons Field, and you won’t get one. What you do get is a laid-back, comfortable atmosphere that hits all the right notes.   Music plays between innings and batters over an excellent sound system. The PA announcer does his job without being too intrusive, and the fans, many of whom have a personal connection to the players on the field, are into the game. Great plays by both teams are met with applause and support. The old scoreboard, a relic from the football days of the facility, provides basic game information in an unusual setup.   Northeastern has enjoyed a lot of success in recent years, and while you don’t see a lot of support from the student body, those students who do show up make their presence known, and even try to bring some of the rowdiness over from the Dog House at Matthews Arena. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), it doesn’t fully translate to baseball. You can also expect a good turnout from local alumni and locals out to enjoy some of the best college baseball in the area.   There is a lot of activity going on around Parsons Field. A small grassy area behind the grandstand gives the kids some room to roam and is stocked with some tailgating games such as cornhole. A large sectioned-off area serves to house groups, and the schedule is dotted with promotions and theme days, a true rarity in this part of the country. Neighborhood 4     Parsons Field is located in the town of Brookline, which borders the city of Boston on the west.  Situated almost two miles from the Northeastern campus, Parsons Field is set in the Muddy River section of the Emerald Necklace in the shadows of some of Boston’s largest and most prestigious hospitals. While near a bustling area, Parsons Field itself is in a quiet residential neighborhood.   Fans will find little in the way of dining or lodging options within immediate walking distance of Parsons Field, but with all those hospitals, universities and even Fenway Park  close by, there are plenty of options for someone visiting for a Northeastern baseball game. The proximity of Fenway Park makes for an easy baseball doubleheader day during April and May, with plenty of time to explore the Kenmore neighborhood in between games.   Beyond the immediate neighborhood, Boston offers an almost endless variety of shops, restaurants, historic sites and things to do. It’s one of the country’s top tourist destinations for a reason.   Fans 2   A Northeastern baseball crowd can accurately be described as a “friends and family” type of crowd. You can expect to see between 100-250 fans per game at Parsons Field, although you may see a crowd of around 500 later in the season when the weather is nicer. Many of the fans in attendance have a personal connection with the players on the field, and are therefore very much into the action and very supportive.   Since Parsons Field is located off campus, you won’t see very many students at a Husky baseball game. Some of the students that do show up try to continue the traditions of the infamous Dog House that rules the roost for hockey games at Matthews Arena, although on a scaled-back basis. Access 4     The city of Boston has a robust public transportation system, the MBTA, known locally as “The T.”  Visitors to Boston will be able to access the T to reach Parsons Field. The Green Line’s D-train Brookline Village stop is less than a half mile away. The 60 and 65 buses stop on Brookline and Aspinwall Avenues, about a quarter mile from the ball field.   While driving is not the best method for getting around Boston, fans who drive to Husky fans will find it fairly easy to park in the neighborhood around Parsons Field on the weekends. On-street parking is plentiful, and most amazing for Boston, FREE! If visiting for a weekday game, pay attention to the signs regarding parking restrictions. Northeastern has recently allowed more cars to park on-site, but space is still very limited, and the danger to your windshield is real. On-street parking is still the recommendation here.   The only entrance to Parsons Field is now on Kent Street, as the Harrison Street entrance is locked to allow for more parking. Seating in the Connolly Pavilion consists of both individual stadium seats and metal bleachers. The old football bleachers, which run from the right field foul pole to center field, are also open during baseball games. In addition, there is standing room available at several points around the field, including at the top of the seating pavilion.   Getting around the Parsons Field grounds is easy. Rest rooms are located in the Zabilsky Field House on the right field side of the facility. They are clean and large enough for a typical Husky baseball crowd.   Return on Investment 5   There is no charge for admission to a Northeastern baseball game. Parking is free both on-street and in the small lot at Parsons Field. You will not spend a cent going to a Husky game, unless you pick up a snack or a hat. Extras 3                                                                                                 The sense of history around Parsons Field earns an extra point. Displays honoring Huskies’ conference titles, tournament appearances, Beanpot championships, retired numbers and Husky alumni to reach the major leagues are located on the back side of the Connolly Pavilion and behind the bullpens in left field.   A husky statue is located in the front of the Zabilsky Field House. It’s a great spot for a photo opp while visiting Parsons Field.   Through the years Husky football, field hockey, track and women’s lacrosse have played at Parsons Field. Today the Northeastern men’s and women’s soccer teams, as well as local high schools, play here. A few features around the facility remind fans that this field has been in use for over a century. The old scoreboard in left-center field and the football bleachers harken back to games of yore. The way multiple sports are accommodated here is quite impressive.   Final Thoughts   Parsons Field is a very interesting place to catch a college baseball game. It’s historic and modern at the same time. It’s big-time baseball in a small-time setting. It’s a quiet neighborhood ballpark just blocks from one of the busiest parts of Boston. Somehow here, at this sleepy little park in the shadows of Fenway Park, a regional baseball power has emerged.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Dignity Health Arena 1001 Truxtun Ave Bakersfield, CA 93301 Bakersfield Condors website Dignity Health Arena website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 8,641 Depositing Fun at the Bank Editor's Note: The City of Bakersfield and Dignity Health announced that they were entering a naming rights agreement for the city's arena and convention center. The rebranding took place in March 2025. With an average of 273 days of sunshine annually, it’s tough to imagine anyone in Bakersfield spending an afternoon indoors, let alone with a large sheet of ice. Since the Condors of the ECHL flew into town, many Californians felt the weather was overrated in comparison to the excitement experienced inside Rabobank Arena. If you’ve been away from Bakersfield for a bit, both the names Rabobank Arena and the Condors may seem foreign to you. The arena opened as “Centennial Garden” and the team was formerly known as the Bakersfield Fog until 1998. The team was originally affiliated with the Anaheim Ducks , but began a partnership with the Minnesota Wild before the 2010-11 season. The 10,000 seat arena was constructed in 1998 at a cost of roughly $38 million. The naming rights were sold to Rabobank in 2005. The arena itself is owned by the city of Bakersfield. While hockey has been in club form since 1940, Bill Cosby has been roaming the earth since 1937 and was given the nod to open the arena on October 2, 1998 as the arena’s first performer. Editor’s Note: The venue name changed from Rabobank Arena to Mechanics Bank Arena after the two banking companies merged. Food & Beverage 4 On a Saturday afternoon in which the Condors were competing with the NFL playoffs for sports fan affection, I was pleased to see all of the concessions open and bustling. Some of the more common stadium fare included a hot dog ($4), nachos ($4.75), chicken buffalo ($6.50), chicken tender ($6.75), foot long corn dog ($4.50), fried chicken sandwich ($5), french fries ($3), garlic fries ($4), and kettle corn ($6). For those interested in Mexican fare, “Chili Peppers” offers a taco salad ($5.50), supreme nachos ($5.50), wild monster nachos ($9.75), chicken burrito ($4.75), taco plate ($4.50), fiesta fries ($4), chili cheese fries ($4), fried burrito ($2.75), or taquitos ($3.50). At “Franks A Lot,” the hot dog lover can get a foot long Chicago (chili dog or charro $7), foot long hot dog ($6.50), or frito boat ($2.75). Possibly named after the game the team was hosting this very year, the “All-Star Grill” had options such as cheeseburger ($5), pizza ($6.75 personal pie), big dog ($6.50), kicking chicken sandwich ($4.25), the cowboy burger ($6.50), kid’s meal ($3.50), ice cream cone ($4.25), or an ice cream cup ($4). The “City Deli” offers fare such as hot & cold turkey, ham, roast beef, and pastrami sandwiches ($6.50), green salad ($4.75), chicken Caesar salad ($5), peanuts ($3.25), candy ($3.50), or a chipper basket ($3). If the kids are clamoring for some of their favorite treats, try “The Kid’s Stop.” Cookies (2 for $2.50), large candy ($3.50), small candy ($2.50), pretzels ($2.75), chips ($2), churro ($2.50), and cracker jacks ($3) are all available. In beverage form, fans can have soda (kids $1.75, small $2, medium $3.50, large $4), bottled soda ($3.50), bottled water ($3.50), orange juice ($3.50), ICEE (medium $2.75 and large $3.50), or coffee ($2). Options for the older fans include bottled beer ($7), draft beer ($7.50), large Corona ($12), call drinks ($7.25), margarita ($8), or wine ($5.50). Some of the beer choices at the $7.50 size include Bud Light, Coors Light, Heinenken, New Castle, Modelo, Tecate, and Firestone (local). Atmosphere 4 The afternoon started out with one of the more exciting player introduction pieces that I’ve seen in all of sports. A video montage appeared on the scoreboard, the lights dimmed, and the fog machine started spraying. After the montage, fans heard AC/DC’s “Thunderstuck,” which I know is a bit aged, but few songs do a better job of pumping up the fans. Even better was that the fans were cheering “Con-Dors” in lieu of “Thun-der” as the word “Condors” appeared in white lettering on the LED ribbon surrounding the arena. Fans would then be treated to “Welcome to the Jungle” before the first drop of the puck. The Condors offer two mascots, Colonel Claw’d and Baby Cal. Both spent a significant amount of time up and down the aisles at the arena. I was particularly impressed by Baby Cal, perching on many of the railings during the game, although I would be curious if OSHA would be so impressed. The two spend an equal amount of time antagonizing the fans from Ontario . During the final two minutes of the first period, the “McMuffin Madness” was announced and all fans would receive a free McDonald’s egg mcmuffin if a goal was scored. It was a interesting sequence as all fans were on their feet, reacting to every play in hopes of a goal. During breaks, members of the staff rode around on the ice in a golf cart with a slingshot attached to the back. This would quickly bring the fans to their feet as that very slingshot was delivering t-shirts to a few in the arena. My favorite segment was the “Chuck-A-Puck” contest where fans purchased pucks that I assume were made of foam because at one point during the night a helmet was placed at center ice and all fans tossed their pucks towards the helmet in hopes of being closest for a prize. Again, I assume OSHA was not in attendance because I would imagine a few of these pucks would inadvertently fly in a direction not intended and cause some problems. The only part of the entertainment that I wasn’t very impressed with was the “mascot races” segment that was shown on the video scoreboard. It received relatively little crowd reaction and wasn’t much more than the mascots running around. They should take some notes from “Bango” of the Milwaukee Bucks on how to make these segments entertaining. Neighborhood 3 While Bakersfield is a bit away from some of the major markets in California, it is still the 11th largest city in the state and has a variety of entertainment to enjoy. Probably the most notable site is Buck Owen’s Crystal Palace. After 5 PM, you can get dinner as well as check out the sights on the facility. You’ll see the Bakersfield Arch, bronze statues of country greats such as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Elvis, and some vivid colors on the exterior of the facility. While you are in town, you may also want to check out the Fox Theater, Bright House Networks Amphitheater, Red Mill Park, or the sculpture at the Cancer Survivors Plaza. As far as food goes, my first recommendation would be to go straight to the Padre Hotel. Beyond observing the beauty of this historic hotel, there are food options for every palate. The Belvedere is clearly for the upscale customers while Brimstone offers hardwood floors, billiards, music, televisions and pub food. The Prairie Fire, which is a second floor rooftop bar, has firepits, cabanas, and a warm breeze for patrons to enjoy. Also on site is a coffee shop known as Farmacy and a lounge called Prospect, offering small plates and great drinks. Another popular spot is the Wool Growers Restaurant, one of the many places to get Basque food in Bakersfield. Here, you’ll start with the bottomless soup, bean, and salsa before getting treated to some of the favorites including the oxtail stew or beef tongue. KC Steakhouse is another local favorite for the carnivores, offering live jazz and blue music while you enjoy your meal. If you’re looking for some Mexican food, the Mexicali Restaurant offers some of the best around. They offer dishes such as Mexican pizza, tostadas, chicken flautas, but everyone seems to love the margaritas best. Goose Loonies has become a popular spot as they offer framboise, a very enticing fruit beer for the patrons. Some of their more popular food dishes include the pitas/hummus, Santa Fe chicken salad, suicide wings, gyros, and falafels. Lastly, I should mention Mama Roomba as it’s a popular Caribbean-style restaurant in downtown. The locals caution to make reservations before arriving as seating is tough to come by. Some of the favorites here include the tri-tip with chimichurri sauce, calamari, sweet potato fries, and tortilla soup. Fans 3 The fans were engaged from the beginning, likely because the Southern California rivals were in town. While the cowbell has become a cliche in sports, the Condors fans had them in large numbers and used them tastefully throughout the contest. The player fights certainly received the most fan engagement. When a fight had ended there was a roaring applause often provoked by a Condors player as Offspring’s “Smash” played over the PA system. After every goal, fans would jump to their feet and participate in singing the “Hey song” as the team celebrated. When they were not celebrating goals, you could hear them chanting “Let’s Go Con-Dors!” As the clock counted down for the final moments, it appeared that all fans were on their feet to show their support. Access 4 While Bakersfield is not quickly accessed from the Los Angeles or San Francisco markets, it’s not far from Interstate 5 and easily accessed from Routes 99 and 58. The arena itself sits downtown, but I experienced little traffic congestion going to or coming from the game. When you enter the arena, you’ll be greeted by a sizable concourse (only one) that leads down to the lower level seating to a staircase to the upper levels. The upper level has horseshoe shaped seating, broken up by a wall that hangs banners. It seems that they could have opened up the arena here (where the wall is situated) and allowed fans a view from the concourse. The lower level encircles the ice and is broken up by the Budweiser 5-Hole Suite immediately behind one of the goals. The arena has 11 upper level suites on the east end above all other seating and 15 suites on the lower level that surround the ice. The scoreboard is 4-sided with a video screen in middle. Aside from that, simply the penalty tracker, score, shots on goal, timeouts, and time remaining are shown. A video ribbon also surrounds the arena above the first level. The parking is plentiful south of the arena for $5 and has easy in and out access. If you are willing to walk a bit, you can probably find some free spaces. Separating the arena from the parking is a group of railroad tracks. There is a footbridge that crosses over the tracks, but many of the trains that passed that day seem to go by quicker than it’s worth to climb the stairs to cross the bridge and climb down the opposite end. The venue offers six restrooms, but unfortunately most are rather small for a newer arena. While they seemed to handle this day’s crowd just fine, I would assume they would quickly backup during any concert. Return on Investment 4 The inexpensive parking coupled with the reasonable ticket prices make this a very sound investment. Upper level seats run for $8-$11 and lower level seats go for $16-$24. There are price tiers depending on the day of the game, with admission being up to $3 higher for Friday and Saturday games. Other offers include the “Tickets and Grub” promotion where fans get two tickets, two hot dogs, and two sodas for $25 (or two turkey sandwiches for $3 more). On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday games, fans can purchase a $25 ticket to the “Red Riot Zone.” This gets fans a lower level seat in section 101, a hat, banner, and t-shirt. Any of these offers can be a great value as the Condors seem to be one of the best attractions in town! Extras 5 Rabobank fares very well in terms of extras as there are many things to observe in and around the arena on gamedays. In front of the arena, fans will find Centennial Plaza. On warmer days, a fountain will spurt jets of water into the air for children to enjoy. If nothing else, it’s a great photo if you are able to catch the water in mid-air. Also found here is a stage, engraved bricks commemorating the city’s centennial (1998), artwork, and sculptures in a large fountain. In the concourse, fans can find a variety of items to keep them entertained. The Condors Kids Club offers a bouncing castle, prize wheel, and miniature hockey rink. Throughout the concourse, fans could fill out applications to win seats on the glass. This was open to all fans and when the winner was announced, he was shown on the video board. When you enter the main entrance, to your immediate left is a beautiful glass atrium with views of the outside plaza. If you need to get away from the game, it’s a great place to hangout and check out the weather outside. There is also an area known as “The Space Between,” which appears to be a small pub removed from the hustle of the concourse. Another great place to get away and have a drink! Before you cross the railroad tracks, look up and take a gander at the street sign. With a green background and white text like a normal street sign, you’ll see KOЯN Way, complete with the backwards “R.” The band “KOЯN” is from Bakersfield and their 2006 World Tour began at Rabobank Arena. You’ll also find a plaque in front with images of the band members. At one end of the arena, you’ll find a wall with the Condor logo and retired numbers from the franchise. The players shown here include Paul Willett (16), Paul Rosebush (17), Glen Mears (26), Jamie Cooke (28), Steve Dowhy (74). Fans can spend a few minutes or even a half hour perusing the Bob Elias Kern County Hall of Fame. This display, which stretches seemingly 100 feet, honors athletes from all sports that have made their mark in Bakersfield. Roughly 180 plaques with photos and commentary are on display. The west concourse pays homage to some of Kern County’s founders and famous contributors including Charles Napier, Caesar Chavez, Buck Owens, and Kevin Harvick. Rabobank Arena hosted the 2011 ECHL All-Star Classic. Final Thoughts While Bakersfield continues to grow, the Condors remain one of the top entertainment options in central California. For a very reasonable price, you can check out the Condors and even the Division I basketball Cal State Bakersfield in the same day. My recommendation would be to try and catch a game against their Southern California rival, the Ontario Reign , but surely any game will leave fans fulfilled.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Sudbury Community Arena 240 Elgin St. Sudbury, ON P3E 3N6 Sudbury Wolves website Sudbury Community Arena website Year Opened: 1951 Capacity: 4,640 Old. School. Hockey. Barn. The Sudbury Community Arena is in the twilight of its Ontario Hockey League life, and fans need to take advantage of the opportunity to see this facility host the Sudbury Wolves while they still can. The expected opening of the Kingsway Entertainment District , which will provide a new event centre home for the Wolves, is not far off, in 2025. There is understandable excitement for the new arena by the locals, but it will be sad to see the Sudbury Arena close its doors to junior hockey for the last time. Simply put, the Sudbury Arena is an old-school hockey barn. Built in 1951, the Sudbury Community Arena, with emphasis on community, has been the host venue for the various iterations of the Sudbury Wolves for almost three-quarters of a century. The venue is owned by the City of Greater Sudbury and is truly a throwback arena to a previous era that is increasingly becoming lost in the OHL. Three distinct iterations of the Wolves have been around the mining town of Sudbury since World War I. The 1932 version brought the Memorial Cup home to Sudbury and the 1935 Wolves were runners-up. The current version of the Wolves have been members of the OHL since 1972 and is one of the mainstays of the league. The team was purchased by entrepreneur Dario Zulich from the Burgess Family in 2016. Although on-ice success has not been a consistent feature for the Wolves, it is one of the most unique hockey experiences that a fan could find and a must-see for all who love hockey. Food & Beverage 3 The culinary experience at the Sudbury Arena is pretty pedestrian. Regular arena options including hot dogs, popcorn, pizza, chicken fingers, fries, onion rings, and nachos dominate the menu and are joined by other, smaller snack items. There are a few concession stands both in the upper and lower concourses. Coca-Cola products are the soft drink of choice in the arena and coffee and other hot drinks are also available. Molson Canadian and Coors Light are among the beer options available at most concession stands. In the upper concourse on the north side, fans may want to check out The Bar, which has an expanded menu of alcoholic beverages. Atmosphere 5 The Sudbury Community Arena, simply put, is an old-school hockey barn. Built in 1951, it is understandable that the people of Greater Sudbury are pining for a new arena. Concerts, other events, and revenue streams are not able to be maximized at the Sudbury Arena, however, it remains a shrine to hockey and a venue that will, soon enough, be lost to time. The exterior of the Sudbury Arena has a classic red brick entrance that is true to its age. The arena is guarded by a bronze statue of singer Stompin’ Tom Connors, author, and performer of the famous “Hockey Song.” One of Connors’ big hits was “Sudbury Saturday Night” which is the reason for the commissioning of the statue. Inside the doors, fans will enter the lobby where the box office is found with some glassed-in trophy cases housing various Sudbury hockey artifacts. Other Sudbury Wolves hockey artifacts can be found in trophy cases on the lower concourse. Up the stairs is the entrance to the arena that brings fans to the upper concourse, behind the seating bowl. Once the seating bowl is visible, fans are whisked away to a previous era. The structure of the building is old and majestic, with iron i-beams holding up the majestic hardwood roof. It is structured in a way that surprisingly does not impede the view from any of the seats or the TV cameras, as has been the case with venues of this era. The ice surface is oriented in an east-west direction with the north side offering that picture-perfect view of the centre-ice logo. The video board above centre-ice is outdated, with what looks like rear-projection video screens, and will most likely not be upgraded with a new venue on the horizon. The majority of banners hang on the east side, including the few division and conference titles earned by the Wolves over the years. Also, the 5 retired numbers of Rod Schutt, Randy Carlyle, Ron Duguay, Mike Foligno, and Dale Hunter. Nearly all of these players were local products who played for the Wolves and went on to play in the NHL. The north side of the arena, against the wall, shows a few banners that are very special for the Wolves. The 1932 Memorial Cup banner hangs proudly. Also, the Sudbury Wolves Ambassadors banner hangs proudly featuring Maple Leafs broadcaster Joe Bowen and Sportsnet broadcaster Rob Faulds. Both plied their craft doing play-by-play for the Wolves. Bowen also hails from the Greater Sudbury area. The southeast corner of the arena is where the most unique item in all hockey resides. In the rafters hangs a real taxidermy wolf. When Sudbury scores a goal, the wolf travels out over the ice towards the visiting team bench on a pulley system. It stops over the bench, shakes around a bit, and heads back to the southeast corner. There is nothing like this anywhere. It may be kitschy, but it is amazing. The rest of the gameday production is fairly straightforward. Pregame music takes a bit more of a country than most other spots. Once warmups proceed, it heads toward more modern rock and hip-hop. The Wolves mascot, Howler, is found around the arena interacting with the crowd and takes part in the pre-game, promotions, and the Timbits Mini-Game during the intermission. Also, currently, the Wolves are featuring a PA announcer who brings a little more energy than in most spots, almost to the point where a fan would confuse him with a monster truck announcer. Neighbourhood 3 The Sudbury Community Arena is located in Downtown Sudbury, directly north of the train station. There are a couple of spots around the arena that fans may want to stop to get a pre or post-game meal. Towne House Tavern, Wacky’s, and The Dog House are all within a few steps of Sudbury Arena. Fans who are looking for other sports may want to check out the Sudbury Five basketball team that also plays at the Sudbury Arena. Heading to Laurentian University for some Laurentian Voyageurs basketball at Ben Avery Gymnasium may also be a plan. The Sudbury Theatre Centre is a couple of blocks from the arena and may have something happening of interest. Otherwise, Science North or Dynamic Earth and the Big Nickel are the biggest tourist attractions of Greater Sudbury. The surrounding Northern Ontario areas are known for outdoor activities so finding a spot for some ice fishing or snowmobiling during the winter may be the best option for fans. For fans needing to stay in the area, the Best Western Downtown Sudbury and Radisson Hotel Sudbury are not far from the arena. Fans 3 At just over 4,600 spots for fans in the Sudbury Arena, it represents one of the smaller capacities in the OHL. The Wolves are consistently in the bottom third of the league in attendance. The reasons usually include apathy from the fans for numerous teams that were not very successful on the ice. The Wolves have not played in a modern Memorial Cup and have never won the OHL. They have only played in the OHL Finals once. There are also feelings among locals that it is time for a new arena. In the Covid-shortened 2021-22 season, the Wolves averaged under 2,000 fans per game. In a normal season, the Wolves usually average around 3,000 fans per game. It is fair to say a new arena will bring out the curious in the beginning, but it will be interesting if the move to a shiny new arena will provide the dividends that the old-school hockey barn does not. Access 4 Getting to the Sudbury Community Arena is not difficult, especially considering the relatively low attendance at games. Downtown Sudbury is pretty significantly north of the Trans-Canada Highway, the main artery to the south, east, and west. A fairly significant trek will need to be made through town. That being said, the traffic in Greater Sudbury flows at a decent clip and the city is not as congested as its bigger cousins to the south. Parking can be found immediately south by the train station or at a couple of other surfaces lots in the area. Fans wishing to get to the game via public transportation are in luck. The train station is right across the street from Sudbury Community Arena and the Via Rail can be caught there for out-of-town fans. There are also bus stops right on Elgin Street. Fans should check the GOVA website for fares, maps, and schedules. Traffic getting out of the Sudbury Arena can be a little congested for a very short period, but it is not terrible. Getting around the Sudbury Arena can be a bit of a challenge at times. The plethora of stairs, especially at the entrance, could prove to be a bit of a challenge for those who have mobility challenges. Washrooms are also found on the ground floor and can be a bit of a maze to get to. Both these issues would easily be solved in a new facility. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for the Sudbury Wolves run from $21 to $26 based on the area of the arena selected. There are discounts available for children and seniors also. Parking can be found for free on the weekends near the train station and concession prices are what is to be expected. The product on the ice and the environment that it is presented in is top-notch and well worth the dollars paid. With the lack of proximity and greater expense of the professional sport, the Sudbury Wolves and OHL offer great value and a great time. Extras 3 An extra mark for the history of the Wolves franchise and their classic home. An extra mark for the very unique taxidermy wolf in the rafters. An extra mark for the rabid Northern Ontario rivalries with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and North Bay Battalion. Final Thoughts It behooves hockey fans everywhere to roll into Greater Sudbury, Ontario, pass by Stompin’ Tom, and head into the Sudbury Community Arena to watch some excellent hockey in a classic venue. They don’t make them like this anymore and the opportunity to experience Wolves hockey at the Sudbury Arena is finite. Take a trip to the Old-School Hockey Barn and it won’t be regretted. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and Instagram .

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Mount Vernon Athletic Complex 2100 Foxhall Rd NW Washington, DC 20007 District Elite FC website Mount Vernon Athletic Complex website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity : 500 Elite Soccer in the District District Elite FC is a semi-professional soccer team who joined the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in 2025. Their home games are played at the Mount Vernon Athletic Complex in Washington, D.C., on the Mount Vernon campus of George Washington University (this should not be confused with GW's main campus in Foggy Bottom.) During the academic year, the Vern is used for GW soccer and lacrosse , but over the summer, District Elite calls it home. The NPSL, together with the UPSL and the confusingly named USL League Two, comprise the fourth division of American soccer. They are the highest level that is not fully professional, and consist mostly of current college soccer players and recent graduates. The pay is structured in a way that allows current athletes to retain their amateur eligibility if they are competing in the NPSL over the summer. However, occasionally some aging former professional who just wants to continue playing somewhere will show up in the NPSL as well. Food & Beverage 2 There is no permanent concession stand at the Mount Vernon Athletic Complex, but District Elite FC partners with local food vendors to serve concessions at their home games. The exact selection may vary depending on when you visit. When Stadium Journey visited, a local vendor was serving wood-fired pizza. Only pizza. Nothing else, not even drinks. Other games may utilize different vendors, each of which has their own policy on accepting cash or credit cards, so bring both just to be safe. Atmosphere 2 The Mount Vernon Athletic Complex has a rather unique seating layout. Assuming you are coming from the parking garage or walking in from off-campus, you will find some random chairs strewn about on a lawn across the street from the stadium. Some fans like to watch from here, or you can walk around to three rows of bleachers on the far side by West Hall. These bleachers can get cramped and there is really no aisle to speak of going across, so expect to have to walk across fans and get walked across yourself. There is a scoreboard on one end of the field which shows only the most basic information. There is really not much going on here besides the game itself. The PA announcer announces starting lineups and reads off advertisements for gameday sponsors, but does not do much else. He does not even announce goalscorers and card recipients. As the stadium has no lights, all District Elite FC games will finish during daytime hours. They will typically start at 5:30 or 6:00 PM and will be over by 7:30 or 8:00. This is great for families with small children, many of whom can be seen at a typical game. Neighborhood 4 The Mount Vernon Athletic Complex is located in Northwest Washington off Foxhall Road. Although there are several scenic parks and trails in the vicinity, as well as the German Embassy, your best bet for dining is to head elsewhere in the District. A seafood place and an Italian restaurant are located west of the Mount Vernon campus near the Potomac River, and some other places up MacArthur Boulevard, but most of your options will be closer to Downtown, not further. The Tenleytown and Georgetown neighborhoods are a short drive or Uber ride away and offer numerous dining and entertainment options. You can also head downtown and visit the many historic sites. monuments, and memorials along the National Mall. Just keep in mind if you want to tour the Capitol or White House, you will need to book in advance. Fans 4 District Elite FC draws a couple hundred fans for a typical home game. They partner with local youth soccer programs, meaning many of those in attendance are youth soccer players themselves. Some come decked out in their very own District Elite gear. It is these young children who provide most of the energy from the crowd. While the adults are mostly silent, the kids love chanting and cheering on their team throughout the game, Being kids, they only know a couple of chants, so it can get pretty repetitive. At least some of these chants are creative, like combining "D.C." and "defense" while defending corner kicks to form "D.C.-fense". Access 3 Depending on how you are arriving, the Mount Vernon campus can either be significantly easier or significantly harder to get to than the main campus in Foggy Bottom. While it is not Metro-accessible, it is a lot easier to drive to this campus in outer Washington than it is to drive downtown to the main campus. There is a parking garage on campus right next to the stadium. Parking is free all day on weekends or for up to three hours on weekdays. It can get very pricey if staying for more than three hours on a weekday, starting at $16 for up to four hours and going up from there, so try to go on a weekend or time your visit accordingly. Since soccer games typically take no more than two hours, it should be easy to avoid the charge, and most games are played on weekends anyway. As noted above, the bleachers can be cramped and hard to get around. If this is a concern for you, you can sit in the chairs across the street and have a good view of the game, just arrive early so they aren’t all taken. Although there are no restrooms at the field itself, there are some in West Hall. Just take the stairs or elevator down a level and they are easy to get to. Unfortunately, this building is often locked and accessible only to GW students, and as District Elite plays during the summer, there will be very few of those around, if any. Return on Investment 3 Admission to District Elite FC games is $20, with children 12 and under getting in for $15. This is on the high end for the NPSL, but it certainly won't break the bank. Parking will probably end up being free, and concession prices will vary depending on the vendor but are typically not too expensive. Overall, a District Elite FC game is an average value - not the greatest ticket prices but not too expensive either. Extras 1 At halftime, District Elite FC invites all children 12 and under onto the field for a halftime scrimmage, something they greatly enjoy participating in. As is typical on youth soccer, a child's "age" is based on their year of birth rather than their birthday, so in 2025, all children born in 2013 or later can participate, while children born in 2012 cannot, even if they have not yet turned 13. Final Thoughts A trip to see a District Elite FC soccer match is a fun way for fans of all ages to spend a warm summer evening. Although the experience is not the fanciest one, District Elite has already built up a good following in their inaugural season, and we expect the matchday experience to continue to improve over the course of this season and beyond.

Photos Courtesy of Google Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Kuntz Stadium 1 502 West 16th Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 Indy AlleyCats website Kuntz Stadium website Year Opened: 1987 Capacity: 5,257 The Cats are Back in Indy The Indianapolis Alleycats are charter members of the United Frisbee Association and play their home games at Kuntz Stadium. It was the former home when the team debuted in 2014. The venue was constructed in 1987 for the Pan American Games and has a seating capacity of 5,257 and is located a few miles north of downtown Indianapolis across the street from the Stadium Lofts.  The AlleyCats have spent the past few seasons indoors at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, but had been anticipating a move to Kuntz for almost two years. The move puts the team back in the heart of Indy and allows them to hold home playoff games instead of finding alternate sites, as Grand Park was occupied for the Indianapolis Colts training camp in August.  Kuntz Stadium is in the process of renovations through Riverside Sports Properties, LLC, to serve as a future home of USA Rugby and its four national teams, men’s and women’s 7s (Olympic program) and 15s (World Cup program). There are also plans to house a professional rugby team. The AlleyCats began operations in 2012 and were housed at Roncalli High School football field. In 2014, they relocated to Kuntz before returning to Roncalli in 2015. The Cats then spent 7 seasons at the Grand Park Sports Events Center before returning outdoors in 2025.  To the discerning eye, the sport of Ultimate Frisbee should be easy to follow, understandable, and enjoyable to watch, and to its burgeoning fan base of supporters, the next big step in spreading the game to further regions of North America.  Food & Beverage 4  The concessions at Kuntz have improved since our first AlleyCats review more than a decade ago. The stand is well stocked with food and beverages that hope to satisfy the hungry and thirsty fans who come to home games during the season. All-beef hot dogs and burgers, veggie burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, nachos, pretzels, pulled pork sandwiches, candy, chips and salsa are available. There are also specials that include pulled pork and chicken nachos and walking tacos with ground beef. Pepsi products are served at the game. The alcoholic specials include over 20 varieties of canned drinks, including local favorites and national mainstays. Bud Light, Michelob Light, and Goose Island IPA are offered, along with local breweries Full Day Ray and Guggman Haus cans. The seltzers and mixed cocktails take precedence over the beer with 13 canned varieties, including cucumber lime, black cherry, kiwi lime, blueberry watermelon, and spicy pineapple. There are also a variety of seltzer slushies made at the stadium. Atmosphere 3  It is a low-key type of atmosphere and the supporters in the stands are here to watch the game on the field. There are dozens of folks wearing one of the many licensed men's and women's team products from official game day jerseys, sweaters, hoodies, and ball caps. There is an impressive array of team paraphernalia that is located on a table near the entrance of the stands. Fans can purchase pennants, discs, and horns all in the colors of green and black. There are not a lot of promotions on the field and if you are a fan of watching the game with friends, you will be pleased with the lack of high-pitched and overhyped gimmicks to sell a sponsorship that exists in minor league baseball or 2nd or 3rd division soccer.  The sounds of crashing balls to sell a glass repair shop and sponsored portions of the game are replaced with fan interaction and hand clapping for offensive and defensive plays on the grass field. Here, it is the fans who create the sound effects of the game. As for the game itself, it is engaging to watch from the stands. It is a 7-7 game that features elements of football, basketball, lacrosse, and soccer. The quick passing, diving catches, block shots, and the climax of scoring a goal are all paramount on the field which is the only one in the league that does not feature a gridiron layout.  The game flows effortlessly, the passes are crisp, the scoring is high, and the reaction from the fans is genuine. If you are in search of a crowd that is into the game and nothing else, you may have found nirvana here in the league. The team employs Frizbee, a white tiger mascot who waves the green and white checkered flag after every goal. The team offers fans to come out onto the field to wave the flag or the giant I flag after every goal.  Neighborhood 3  Kuntz Stadium is in one of those areas of town that are evolving from industrial blithe to hip, urban renewal. The old minor league ballpark has transformed into a series of lofts, and down the block towards the IUPUI campus are a series of new apartment buildings, bars, and restaurants. However, the best bet is to drive or Uber to downtown or Mass Ave for nightlife entertainment or a bite to eat. Mass Ave. is also home to the Bottlework District, the city's newest attraction. The Garage houses multiple food and drink vendors, offering an array of culinary treasures. Downtown Indy is also safe, clean, and easy to get around by car, foot, or mass transit. Local museums include The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the NCAA Hall of Champions, the Indiana State Museum, and the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. The riverwalk canal is a great spot for a stroll on a warm spring day. F ans 3 The Cats draw a nice-sized crowd to home games, but they were quiet for most of the game and drawn out by the visiting Detroit fans. Nevertheless, the loudest cheers were at the end of the game when the Cats pulled out the hard-fought victory. A group waves the green and white checkered flag from the stands, and others cheer loudly after defensive stops. Not seen during the game was the hanging of the D signs, similar to a K sign in baseball, after every defensive turnover.  Access 4  The stadium is located on 16th Street, a few miles west of Meridian Street close to downtown Indianapolis. The best way to approach the game from the interstate would be south from I-70. It is not a direct route from the interstates and there are not any signs to direct patrons to the game, but look for the old baseball lights from the Bush Stadium Lofts and you will get here quick and easy. Another great feature is that parking is ample and is free. Return on Investment 3  The price of a ticket is $15, and preferred parking is $10 in front of the stadium. They must be purchased before the game, as the stadium is cashless. Concessions and merchandise can be purchased via credit cards. The cost of a beer is $7 for a domestic can of Bud Light and $8 for a local craft beer. A hot dog is $7, and chicken nachos are $14. Merchandise is handsomely priced and comes in a variety for men and women. Extras 2  The AlleyCats earn a point for the variety of food and beverage at the concession stand. The team garners a second point for the opportunity for fans to wave the green and white checkered flag. Final Thoughts It is a pure treat to watch a game of ultimate since it has everything the avid sports watcher is looking for. High scores, quick and short passes, turnovers, close plays, and various highlights of men jumping towards the heavens to pull down a disc for a score. During the spring and summer time, it may be the best distraction from baseball, basketball, soccer, and indoor football. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 4790 W 16th St Indianapolis, IN 46222 Indianapolis Motor Speedway website Indianapolis 500 website Year Opened: 1909 Capacity: 257,325 The Greatest Spectacle in Racing The Indianapolis 500 might be the most famous race here in the United States and perhaps on the planet. The annual race takes place the Sunday before Memorial Day and attracts an international audience to the city of Indianapolis. Record numbers of fans flock to the 2.5-mile oval track and create an atmosphere that many will talk about for the rest of their lives. The annual numbers produce crowds of close to 250,000. The Indy 500 is considered the crown jewel of the Indy Car season and has become an American tradition. The weeks leading up to the race include various events including Pole Day, Bump Day, Fast Friday, and Post-qualifying practice at the Brickyard. Carb Day, sponsored by Miller Lite, features live music concerts on the last day of practice for the drivers and takes place on Friday; it’s considered the biggest event at the track before the race. Other events away from the track include the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and IPL 500 Festival Parade downtown. The complex was built in 1909 as a gravel and tar track that hosted a selection of small events. These events would attract large numbers from anywhere from 15,000 to 40,000 and by the next season, $155,000 was spent to repave the track with 3.2 million bricks, each weighing 9.5 pounds, in 63 days. A 2-foot by 9-inch concrete wall around its perimeter was also added before the start of the season. On Memorial Day (known as Declaration Day from 1868-1967) 1910 the first events on the updated track drew an outstanding 60,000 spectators to the track. Crowd sizes would thin out throughout the season at the track and the decision was made to focus on a single, large-scale event that would soon attract the attention of both American and European racing teams and manufacturers. On Tuesday, May 30, 1911, the first Indianapolis 500 was staged and won by Ray Harroun who came out of retirement and capture the $25,000 purse in his Marmon Wasp. Since that day, the Indianapolis 500 has been held annually except from 1917 to 1918 and 1942 and 1945 due to World War I and II. The brick track would be eventually paved with asphalt except for a middle portion of the front straightaway by 1938. According to its website, in October 1961, the remaining bricks on the front straightaway were covered with asphalt. A 36-inch strip of the original bricks was kept intact at the start/finish line, where it remains today as the fabled Yard of Bricks. Food & Beverage 4 The carnival-like atmosphere produces similar food products, including the traditional giant turkey legs, which sell close to 1,000 the weekend of the race, followed by the giant breaded tenderloin sandwich, which can feed up to three people. Others prefer the basic track burger, but there are still copious amounts of racetrack foods to satisfy the masses who embark upon it every year. There are pork skewers, Italian and Polish sausages, grilled pork chops, giant fried chicken fingers on a stick, and pulled pork sandwiches. If you are a traditionalist, there are hot dogs — over 27,000 served at last year’s event — and an assortment of beer and cola options. A few newer beer options include Hinchtown Hammerdown pilsner released by local Flat 12 and Race Day Lager brewed nearby at Daredevil Brewing Company. Several places on Georgetown Road offer a variety of food options, photo Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey New items for 2025 include pretzel brats with pale ale beer cheese, BBQ pork wheels, Buffalo totchos, King corn dogs fried in a four-onion corn breading, breakfast dogs, and pork belly potato chips: kettle-cooked chips with sweet chili sauce, Yum Yum sauce, green onion, and sesame slaw. For breakfast, fans can enjoy a breakfast burrito or dog, along with the local favorite of biscuits and gravy. In addition to the new concessions, the IMS features outside vendors. Abbiocca Pizzeria serves pizza by the slice, Mambo's Cheesesteak Grill, found at Fever and Pacers games, offers Latin-inspired fusion on the classic cheesesteak. Che Chor offers Argentine street food with empanadas and sandwiches. Fans are allowed to bring in their food, and beer including. You are allowed to bring in an 18 x 15 x 15-inch cooler to the race. Glass bottles are not allowed inside the track. Something else that should not be brought in is whole peanuts, they are considered bad luck at the 500. Atmosphere 5 The gates open the day of the race at 6 am with the traditional blasting of the cannons, if you happen to be there at this time you are smart, while others are fighting traffic into the area, you have the opportunity to enjoy many of the events inside the track before the race. This includes everything from possible celebrity sightings, museum tours, and plenty of shopping and eating. The IMS museum is open and features exhibits, cars, and plenty of memorabilia from the track's illustrious history. The midway offers more exhibits, plus virtual reality simulators and go-karts, and there are plenty of pre-race ceremonies that include the marching of the Borg-Warner Trophy to the bricks and red carpet arrivals. The weather is usually very hot this time of year so dress lightly, wear sunscreen, and drink plenty of water. IMS has set up five different cooling buses and 75 mist sprayers around the track for fans to gain some relief from the sun. There is a collection of events leading up to the race that includes the singing of the National Anthem, ‘America the Beautiful,” “Back Home Again in Indiana” followed by the command of “Drivers, start your engines.” This also includes the playing of “Taps,” hundreds of balloons sent off into the skies above, and a flyover by a U.S. military plane. Neighborhood 4 Main Street in Speedway has received a major facelift in the last few years resulting in multiple restaurants, breweries, and entertainment options. 1911 Grill offers 300 seats that overlook two indoor kart tracks offering American pub fare. It is owned by former IndyCar Series driver Sarah Fisher and her husband. Bourbon and Barbecue serve smoked Memphis-style brisket and pork over cherry, hickory, and oak while offering an impressive collection of fine bourbon. Big Woods and Daredevil Brewing are two local breweries that are popular among many locals. Big Woods originated out of Nashville, Indiana, and is known for their pulled pork nachos and Quaff ON! amber beer. Daredevil is a 10,000-square-foot taproom that produces German-style ales and lagers and American pale ale and IPA. Fans 4 The Indianapolis 500 attracts an estimated audience of around 230,000–highlighted by a sold-out crowd at the 100th annual race in 2016. The popularity has not waned locally as many have been attending the event since they can remember. The crowd is friendly, laid-back, and in great spirits. It would be hard to find a single person who is not welcoming to any visitor to the track on race day. Fans bring in coolers of food and beverages, photo courtesy of Justin Reyes. Access 3 The IMS track is the largest sporting venue in the world and getting around the track can be a hike for many, but then again there is so much to see and many enjoy staying in one spot once the race has begun. It is recommended to arrive several hours early to the track on race day to secure a spot. Also, lots at the speedway should be purchased well in advance to secure a spot. When exiting the track one has to have the patience of Jobe, because it will take some time to exit. Local police do an admiral job of directing traffic back onto 16th Street/Crawfordsville Road and towards I-465. One option is to take a shuttle bus from either the airport, IUPUI campus, or downtown for a $37 round trip. Return on Investment 5 The cost of a ticket to the race is as low as $35 leading up to the day before the race, it will cost $5 extra the day of the event. Other ticket options range from $60 to $135 for seats closer to certain turns and areas. When it comes to parking all interior and exterior lots are sold out years in advance, but the surrounding residents will gladly charge anywhere from $20-$30 (average) to park on their lawn, driveways, or even on the street in front of their houses. There may be a few homes that charge a bit more, but make sure you have cash. The Snake Pit is a concert line featuring popular EDM heavyweights who perform in the infield of the IMS oval during the race but it will cost $55 before the race to enter the concert area. However, it’s one heck of a good time and if you enjoy the blend of house, disco, hip-hop, and techno, this is the place to be on race day. The IMS website encourages fans to purchase tickets in advance to receive the best possible pricing. If you are planning on taking the race next year, you will save on many specials through the website. Extras 5 The Indy 500 has plenty of extras that include a list of traditions and pre-race events, unlike any other event in the country. The facility gets one point for the various activities that include the Midway, Parade of Bands, and shopping and food areas before the race. If you arrive at 6 am when the track opens, you get to take advantage before the crowd swells. The track gets a second point for the famous command of “Drivers, start your engines” which is usually said by a member of the Hulman-George family since 1955. For many years until recently, the command was “Gentleman, start your engines.” The world's largest drum makes an appearance at the Indy 500, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey The third point is for the singing of “Back Home Again in Indiana” which has been a staple at the race since 1946. From 1972-2014 actor Jim Nabors sang the honors with the Purdue Marching Band, following his death, Chicago Blackhawks anthem singer Jim Cornelison has taken over the mantle. A fourth point for the traditions that include the winning driver drinking a bottle of milk at the victory lane first started in 1936 and revived again in 1954. There have been times when drivers did not drink milk, much to the chagrin of many in attendance. A fifth point is the excitement and ambiance that the 500 still provides each year; the event is the largest single-day event in the country and still attracts an impressive 200,000 fans for the race each year. Final Thoughts If you have an event that you can attend once in your life, the Indianapolis 500 is one of those events. The sights and sounds of this are spectacular and are something to revel in and it offers something for even the non-racing fan like me. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey If you are heading to the Indy 500 this Sunday and you are a first-timer. Here are a few reminders to take in a full day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The gates open at 6 am and include everything from the retail shops, food stands, and the Midway. This year’s race is sold out, and the earlier you arrive, the better spot you will find. There is a new retail shop at the Midway that is worth a visit with items not sold outside the track. Also, take note that the speedway is cashless. The traffic and parking can be a hassle. Passes for the areas around the IMS are sold out and the residents of Speedway will charge a price for the right to park on their lawn. Some could ask as much as $50 to have their car sit on their lawn, while others will negotiate the price. This might be the only part of your trip where you might want to have some cash on you, but I am sure the business-minded folks might accept cash apps as well.  If you can walk, then you can find parking for $10 in various lots from local churches to fraternal organizations (VFW, Knights of Columbus, or an American Legion post). The Amvets Post 99 at 2807 Merchants Drive is about a mile away and offers a free shuttle service. However, take the leisurely walk among the thousands of others to the race. You will see a collection of characters in great spirits that adds to the ambiance.  Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Fans are allowed to bring in food and drink in appropriate-sized coolers that are no bigger than 8” x 15” x 15’). You can bring in food of your choice aluminum cans of your favorite beverage, from soda pop to beer, and plastic bottles of ice-cold water. However, do not bring in glass bottles or containers or peanuts (they are considered bad luck at the track). It is advised also to have sunscreen, but temperatures are forecasted to be partly cloudy and 70 degrees. Once through the gates, look for your section and enjoy the next few hours of cars zipping by at over 200 miles per hour. The green flag will drop at 12:45 pm. Driver introductions take place at 11:47, followed by the singing of the National Anthem and “Back Home Again in Indiana”.  The Indianapolis 500 is quite the spectacle and one of those sporting events that should be seen in person at least once in a lifetime. There are many ways to enjoy it, but knowing a few tips will ensure maximum enjoyment.  ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Edgar F. Diedrich Memorial Field 1115 Broad Ripple Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46220 Indiana Valor website Diedrich Field website Year Opened: 1950 Capacity: 1,500 Women's Tackle Football in Indiana The Indiana Valor is a women's professional football team that began operations in 2025. The Women's Football Alliance has 60 teams separated into three divisions: Pro, Division 2, and Division 3. The Valor plays in Division 2 and is owned by area race driver and author Kristian Aleixo, a war vet who named the team to honor the many veterans in the state. The Valor play at Edgar F. Diedrich Memorial Field which was the hope to the Broad Ripple High School football team from 1950-2018 when the school shut its door. The school is now home to Purdue Polytechnic High School and Broad Ripple Middle School. In 2024, synthetic turf was installed in the stadium as part of a $410 capital referendum plan approved by taxpayers. There have been two other women's football teams that have called Indianapolis home. They include the Indiana Speed (2002-2007, 2009-2011) and the Indy Crash (2011-2015). The Crash played a few games at the Broad Ripple field during its time in the league. Food & Beverage 2 All of the concessions are handled through the local restaurant Chet T's Chicken Express. The options include chicken tenders and bread chicken wings. The tenders come in either a 4 or 6-piece pack, while the wings are served in a 6 or 10-pack. They include a selection of sauces: BBQ, hot honey, Buffalo, and bourbon. The hot and tangy wings and tenders can be washed down with a Valor shake made exclusively for home games. The shake is a combination of vanilla ice cream with bananas, Oreo cookies, and chocolate syrup. The best part is that it costs $2.25 for a 12-ounce cup. The lines were long for Chef T's concession items and sold out before half-time, and there were no other items available that are common at football games, such as cola, hot dogs, chips, popcorn, or nachos. Since this is a school football fall, there are no alcoholic sales during games. However, the chicken tenders and wings are cooked almost to order, and the milkshake is a great price and made with fresh ingredients. Atmosphere 3 You will have an old-school football experience at the Valor game with most of the action taking place on the field. Dietrich Field looks like a typical high school football stadium with seating on both sides, a running track, and a small concession stand near the entrance. Fans line up to get inside the facility and make their way to their seats across the track. The stadium offers seating on both sides of the field, but only one side is open to the public. The other side is designated for the media and in-house DJ. However, there are more than enough bleacher seats for the fans in attendance who make the place come alive with chants, cheers, and plenty of signage to display. The DJ plays a selection of music plus the Valor eagle scream sound effect. A stadium MC announces first downs, big plays, and defensive stops and encourages fans to stand and cheer on third down.  What was missing were cheerleaders, an official team mascot, promotions during breaks in the action, and a few freebies being tossed into the crowd. However, the fanbase seemed pleased with the football action taking place on the field and perhaps that was all that was needed on the night. Neighborhood 4 The Valor plays in one of Indy’s hippest neighborhoods, mostly known for its nightlife on the weekends. Fans are within walking distance to a few popular eateries and bars worth visiting before or after the game.  Sit-down restaurants include Bazbeux Pizza, Kilroy’s Bar & Grill, Brother’s Bar and Grill, and Union Jack Pub. These are all popular spots, and each one offers a signature item. Kilroy’s is known for its pepperoni cheese sticks and Union Jack’s for its take on deep-dish pizza. Broad Ripple Brewpub is the state’s oldest brewery with 9 drafts and 2 cask ales. They also offer vegan options, plus bangers and mash, chicken schnitzel, and a scotch egg burger. The Vogue Theatre is home to live music acts along with tribute bands and special performances. The theater was built in 1938 and features its iconic marquee of neon lights. There are also a variety of local shops including Indy CD & Vinyl and The Shop Indy which sells vintage-style shirts of local sports teams. Fans 4 There are a large number of fans in attendance for the Valor first home game. It was not hard to spot many in team gear with the navy blue and gold colors. Fans could be heard with noisemakers, holding up signs, and cheering on their favorites on the gridiron. Many were family members, but quite a few others came out to show support. This also included members of the visiting Derby City Dynamite from Louisville who also had signage and a few vocal supporters in the grandstands. Access 2 The stadium does have parking, but it fills up about 20-30 before kickoff. There is plenty of free parking outside of the stadium on Compton Street. If that is filled up, then there are several streets in the residential neighborhood to find a parking space. There is a bit of a walk from the main entrance to the seating area which might not be easy for those with mobility issues. Return on Investment 3 The ticket price is $20 and can be purchased online through the  Sports Illustrated ticket website.  Most teams in the league charge between $15 and $20 for general admission tickets. The price of concessions is reasonable with milkshakes a bargain at $2.50. What was missing was team merchandise featuring the Valor sleek eagle design and colors. There was not a table for shirts, caps, or foam fingers. Extras 2 The Valor earns an extra point for the cost of its unique milkshake served at the game. The Valor earns a second point for its logo, including a stylish wing logo on its helmet. The team has a great navy, light blue, and gold look. Final Thoughts The Indiana Valor kicked off its season in 2025 and looks to be part of the Indianapolis sports scene for years. Their debut crowd was impressive, and there is a market for the club to succeed, but a little more has to be introduced: concessions, game day promotions, and branding on the team to get the word out to more fans in the area. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter  and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

The 2024-2025 season was full of change in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. The NCAA eligibility rules were amended giving junior players the ability to play college hockey after playing in the CHL.  The result was an influx of talent from the Tier II Junior ranks; players who were attempting to remain NCAA eligible while still playing junior.  This also lead to plenty of speculation about expansion in the QMJHL to the USA with New Hampshire and Maine as potential targets.  The biggest news in the league was the confirmation that the Acadie-Bathurst Titan would be leaving New Brunswick and heading east to become the Newfoundland Regiment and call Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John’s their new home.  A return to Newfoundland is intriguing with a host of travel issues and the Regiment becoming the most isolated team in the entire CHL.  Just a few months previous, the Newfoundland Growlers of the ECHL had their membership in the league terminated, before the end of the season.  The 2024-25 season is also the QMJHL’s year to host the Memorial Cup, with Colisée Financière Sun Life, home of the Rimouski Océanic as the host venue and team. The Moncton Wildcats lead the way with 108 points on the season.  The Québec Remparts continued to dominate league attendance, drawing 9805 fans per game.  Rimouski’s Jonathan Fauchon led the league with 103 points, while Sam Oliver of the Drummondville Voltigeurs tallied 50 goals.  William Lacelle of Rimouski and Riley Mercer of Drummondville were the top goaltenders with a 2.38 GAA and 0.925 save percentage respectively.  The season culminated with the Moncton Wildcats and their new coach, legendary Canadian University coach Gardiner MacDougall winning their 3rd Gilles-COurteau Trophy as QMJHL Champions.  Both Moncton and Rimouski will be taking the ice in the 2025 Memorial Cup in Rimouski. The annual QMJHL rankings at Stadium Journey are based on the FANFARE metric used on the website, where a number of different writers assess the hockey experience based on the categories of Food, Atmosphere, Neighbourhood, Fans, Access, Return on Investment and any extras that the writers experienced.  The stakes are high, with an average grading of 3.61 being earned out of a possible perfect 5.0. This list is just an amalgamation of a number of opinions, and may not be in agreement for all.  Please let Stadium Journey know your opinions on our various Social Media outlets.  How is your list different from ours?  What do we have right?  What do we have wrong? Without further ado, Stadium Journey is proud to present the 2024-2025 Rankings of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Experiences. 1. Centre Vidéotron - Québec Remparts - 4.43 Dave Cottenie - In 1995 the Québec Nordiques of the NHL moved from Québec City to Denver, Colorado.  The Avalanche would win the Stanley Cup in their first year in Colorado, adding salt to the wound of the Nordiques fans.  Hockey history is strong in the capital city of Québec and plans to bring the NHL back to town began to flourish. The first part of the plan involved the QMJHL.  In 1997 the Québec Remparts returned to the Colisée Pepsi, moving from Beauport. With hockey returning to Québec, the next part of the plan was up to the fans.  Fans came out to support the Remparts in droves providing attendance numbers unseen in the entire Canadian Hockey League, let alone the QMJHL.  With the ownership of hometown hero Patrick Roy for a number of years, the Remparts flourished. The current iteration of the Remparts is actually the second to call Québec City home. The original run went from 1969 to 1985 and the original Remparts eventually moved to Longueuil and then Verdun before folding in 1994. Both versions of the team have seen success with each version winning a Memorial Cup. The 1971 and 2006 Memorial Cup championship continued the winning tradition in Québec City.  The next part of the plan may be the most important.  With the support of current Remparts owner, communications giant Québecor, the city and province of Québec built a brand new, NHL ready facility in Centre Vidéotron. 2. Avenir Centre - Moncton Wildcats - 4.29 Dave Cottenie - The Wildcats were founded as the expansion Moncton Alpines in 1995 and played out of the Moncton Coliseum.  After one season they were purchased by local industrialist Robert Irving and renamed the Moncton Wildcats.  For the 2024-25 season, the Wildcats have lured USports hockey coaching legend Gardiner MacDougall to take the reins of the team.  Moncton has seen plenty of NHL alumni pass through including Corey Crawford, Brad Marchand and former coach Ted Nolan.  The WIldcats earned the Presidents’ Trophy as the best team in the QMJHL in 2006 and 2010. 3. Scotiabank Centre - Halifax Mooseheads - 4.14 Greg Johnston - The QMJHL has long been focused on the province of Quebec. In 1993, Moosehead Breweries Limited convinced the league that expansion into the Canadian Maritimes was a good idea. Among great concern and skepticism, the league awarded an expansion team to Halifax and the brewery. The 1994 season saw the birth of the Halifax Mooseheads, and hockey in Canada's East got a much needed shot in the arm.  The Mooseheads ironically were named after, and originally owned by a Saint John, New Brunswick brewery, which remains Canada's oldest independent brewery. Halifax is the biggest city in the Canadian maritimes, and therefore is the cultural centre of the East. Even though Halifax is not an overly large city, events at the Scotiabank Centre have that big event feel to them. Moose Country is front and centre in the Halifax sporting scene. The Scotiabank Centre, which is owned by the City of Halifax, and managed by Trade Centre Limited, offers a big event feel to it, and attracts the largest indoor events in the area. 4. Palais des Sports Leopold-Drolet - Sherbrooke Phoenix - 4.14 Dave Cottenie - In 2012 the Phoenix rose once again.  The folding of the Lewiston Maineiacs brought the opportunity for expansion once again in the QMJHL, and a return to the Quebec town of Sherbrooke. Famous for being the home of the Sher-Wood hockey stick company, Sherbrooke had a few opportunities in the QMJHL on previous occasions. Ironically enough, the Sherbrooke Castors left Quebec for the greener pastures of Lewiston, Maine. The original Castors were founded in 1969, and left Sherbrooke in 1982 and would eventually become the Rimouski Oceanic. The Castors would return to Sherbrooke in 1998, coming from Trois-Rivieres, and making that stop in Lewiston before finally rising back in Sherbrooke.  The group that brought hockey back to Sherbrooke was led by former NHL goaltender, and former Sherbrooke Faucon, Jocelyn Thibault. However, the new Phoenix would not be satisfied to play in the old Palais des Sports. The City of Sherbrooke and Government of Quebec agreed to a huge renovation of the Palais des Sports Leopold-Drolet. This old arena, named after the founder of Sher-Wood, is now one of the model arenas in the QMJHL, and an example of what can be done to modernize an aging arena. New paint gave a fresh face to the arena, and new luxury boxes gave a fresh source of revenue. 5. Centre Gervais Auto - Shawinigan Cataractes - 3.86 Dave Cottenie - When the QMJHL formed in 1969, one of its first franchises was the Shawinigan Bruins. Since then, almost everything about The Q has changed, with the exception of that team located between Montreal and Quebec City. What is now known as the Shawinigan Cataractes is the only original team from The Q to continuously run in the same city.  Known as the City of Energy for its production of hydro-electric power, the city of Shawinigan is also known as the home of Canada’s longest serving prime Minister, Jean Chretien, and legendary Montreal goaltender, and first goalie ever to wear a mask, Jacques Plante. The Cataractes have a long standing tradition with the city, formerly playing in the Arena Jacques-Plante.  In English, Cataractes literally means “waterfalls,” which is also a reference to the Shawinigan Falls, which is used to produce energy. The Cataractes were a community owned team, until 2007 when “Le Club de Hockey de Shawinigan Inc” was sold to a group of 15 investors. 6. Centre 200 - Cape Breton Eagles - 3.86 Greg Johnston - Centre 200 is named in honour of the 200th anniversary of the founding of Sydney. The arena opened in 1987, as the home of the Cape Breton Oilers of the American Hockey League (AHL). In their nine seasons in Sydney, the Oilers won the Calder Cup once (1993) before moving to Hamilton, Ontario; this was around the same time all AHL teams moved out of the Maritimes. That franchise is now the St. John’s Ice Caps. Hockey returned to Sydney when the Granby Predateurs moved prior to the 1997-98 season. The Screaming Eagles have won their division once and have reached the conference finals twice, but have not advanced further. Marc-Andre Fleury is celebrated as one of the greatest former Eagles players. His #29 jersey hangs in the rafters. 7. Centre Agnico Eagle - Val d’Or Foreurs - 3.86 Dave Cottenie - With a population of 31,000, the City of Val-d’Or is one of the smallest centres in the entire Canadian Hockey League.  However, the Val-d’Or Foreurs of the QMJHL are a throwback experience and almost bring hockey back to a pure state. It took 16 long years for Junior Hockey at the highest level to be brought to the “Valley of Gold.”  However, it was in 1993 when local builder Jean-Claude Babin secured a QMJHL franchise that would be owned by local shareholders, including G4 Drilling CEO Daniel Gamache.  Earning President’s Cups as QMJHL Champions in 1998, 2001 and 2014, the Foreurs have had a fair amount of success. There have also been a number of NHL players who have worn the green and gold, including Anthony Martha, Antoine Bibeau, Kris Letang, Brad Marchand, J.P. Dumont, Steve Begin and Roberto Luongo. 8. Colisée Financière Sun Life - Rimouski Océanic - 3.71 Dave Cottenie - The Océanic are one of the rock solid franchises in the Québec Major Junior Hockey League.  They have won the President’s Cup as league champions in 2000, 2005 and 2015 and even won the penultimate Memorial Cup, as Canadian Hockey League Champions in 2000.  Rimouski has been home to such NHL stars as Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier and some guy named Sidney Crosby.  In 2009, Rimouski hosted the Memorial Cup tournament.  All of this since they moved near the Gaspé region of Québec in 1995.  The Rimouski Océanic were originally the Sherbrooke Castors in 1969.  In 1982 they moved to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.  The move to Rimouski was facilitated by former owner and furniture magnate Maurice Tanguay.  In 2016, Maurice would transfer his ownership stake to his grandson Alexandre at age 23.  The younger Tanguay has a prominent role in the day to day operations of the team, which provides one of the best experiences in the entire QMJHL. 9. Centre Georges-Vézina - Chicoutimi Saguenéens - 3.71 Dave Cottenie - At one point in time, each member league of the Canadian Hockey League had their own identity.  The QMJHL was known for being faster paced, with smaller players, more goal scoring and great goaltenders.  No team can be identified with great goaltenders in junior more than the Chicoutimi Saguenéens (sag-nay-en).  Chicoutimi would produce four goaltenders in a short period of time who would go on to play in the National Hockey League.  Jimmy Waite, Eric Fichaud, Marc Denis and Felix Potvin would have various degrees of NHL success, but it is unprecedented for one junior team to produce so many NHL goaltenders.  Chicoutimi has been one of the most stable franchises in the Q, having been around since 1973, and the link to the community is undeniable.  The translation of Saguenéens is literally “people from the Saguenay.”  Only the Gatineau (Hull) Olympiques and Shawinigan Cataractes have been in the same spot longer than the Saguenéens. 10. K.C. Irving Regional Centre - Acadie-Bathurst Titan - 3.71 Greg Johnston - RIP Acadie-Bathurst Titan.  Bonne chance à Terre-Neuve. 11. Centre Slush Puppie - Gatineau Olympiques - 3.57 Sean MacDonald -  The Gatineau Olympiques played at the venerable Robert Guertin Centre for 45-years, an aging rink whose time had passed. The city of Gatineau awarded the non-profit organization Vision Multisports Outaouais (VMSO) the contract for construction and management of a 4,000-seat arena, including three community ice rinks. The venue is now known as Centre Slush Puppie after naming rights were acquired by the maker of the “original non-carbonated frozen beverage treat enjoyed by millions of people worldwide.”  12. Aréna Glencore du Centre Dave-Keon - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies - 3.57 Dave Cottenie - The horns, oh the horns!  They may not be the horns of justice or the horns of victory. They may only be made of plastic and cardboard, but the horns are a staple of Aréna Iamgold du Centre Dave-Keon. Home for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL, Aréna Glencore was built in 1951 and formerly named after the favorite son of the area and former Toronto Maple Leafs legend, Dave Keon.  The building is as old school as they come and totally fits the Northern Québec area.  However, if there is one thing that the hockey experience in this mining town of 41,000 should be known for, it is the horns the fans play throughout the game. 13. TD Station - Saint John Sea Dogs - 3.43 Dave Cottenie - The Saint John Sea Dogs were founded in 2005 as an expansion team to the QMJHL, now known as the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.  In 2011 they won their first Memorial Cup as Major Junior Champions across the Canadian Hockey League and in so doing, became the first Atlantic Canada team to achieve the feat.  The Sea Dogs would hang a Memorial Cup Championship again in 2022 as well as posting the curious moniker “City of Champions” in the arena.  It is undeniable that the Sea Dogs have enjoyed a great deal of success in New Brunswick, but does it warrant the self-proclaimed “City of Champions” title often used in reference to Edmonton, Alberta or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? 14. Centre Marcel-Dionne - Drummondville Voltigeurs - 3.14 Dave Cottenie - On the south shore of Quebec, nestled between Montreal and Quebec City, lies the city of Drummondville. With a modest population of 70,000, Drummondville captures the essence of Quebec hockey. The pride of Drummondville includes their junior hockey team, the Voltigueurs, and their favorite son, Marcel Dionne. Dionne was both infamous and the second most-famous Los Angeles King (behind only Wayne Gretzky), and arguably the player that gave the most to the franchise. As part of the Triple Crown Line, Dionne was a staple of the Kings, and regularly finds time to return to his hometown of Drummondville.  The Voltigeurs are the second incarnation of major junior hockey in Drummondville. An expansion team in 1982, the Voltigeurs are named after a Quebec-based regiment that fought the Americans in the War of 1812. They followed the original QMJHL team, the Drummondville Rangers, which played from 1969 to 1974.The Voltigeurs have enjoyed moderate success, making it to the Memorial Cup 3 times, and winning the President’s Trophy as the top team in the QMJHL in 2009. Their most famous alumni include NHL greats Steve Duschene and Daniel Briere. 15. Eastlink Centre - Charlottetown Islanders - 3.14 Greg Johnston - The Islanders franchise started out as the Montreal Rocket, named after legendary Montreal Canadien, Maurice “Rocket” Richard. In 2003, the QMJHL expanded outside Quebec, adding teams in several Maritime cities. With the Rockets experiencing financial woes, the team moved to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and became the PEI Rocket.  Excitement for the new team was evident; the first two seasons saw average attendance of well above 3,000 per game. However, the team struggled on and off the ice in the subsequent years. Attendance steadily decreased, managed only one playoff series win through the 2013 season, and was experiencing financial troubles once again. Charlottetown was in danger of losing its team until a local ownership group stepped in and bought the franchise in 2013.  The new ownership group re-branded the team with help from the fans. They sought a new team name that best represented the area and people of their city. In the end, fans voted for the “Islanders” as their team name by a large margin. The new brand has turned the tide of the junior hockey club as attendance figures are rising again. 16. Amphithéatre Gilbert-Perreault @ Colisée Desjardins - Victoriaville Tigres - 3.14 Dave Cottenie - The Victoriaville Tigres are one of those stalwart franchises of the QMJHL. They have been a part of the league since 1987, when they moved from the Montreal suburb of Longueuil, to the city known for producing the famous Victoriaville hockey sticks. The Tigres have gone on to see some success in the QMJHL, winning the President’s Cup in 2002 and making an appearance in the Memorial Cup. The Tigres have also produced a number of solid NHL hockey players including Mathieu Garon, Stephane Fiset, and Matthew Barnaby. Perhaps the most famous Tigre is also one of the biggest busts in NHL history, Alexandre Daigle, who was drafted first overall by the Ottawa Senators.  The Tigres play in the city owned Colisee Desjardins, an older arena which has had a few upgrades over the years. The inner arena is named the Amphitheatre Gilbert-Perreault, after the legendary, Victoriaville native, captain of the Buffalo Sabres. The Quebec bank, Desjardins, purchased the naming rights to the entire building. 17. Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau - Blainville-Boisbriand Armada - 3.14 Dave Cottenie - In 2005, the QMJHL expanded to St. John’s, Newfoundland. After a short tenure on the eastern-most tip of Canada, the Fog Devils moved to Verdun for a short life as the Montreal Junior. Now the Junior have found a new home in another Montreal suburb. For the 2011-12 season, QMJHL saw the birth of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. The Armada are now the only major junior team based in a Montreal suburb.  The Junior were purchased by a group of investors led by French-language sports channel RDS analyist, and former NHL player, Joel Bouchard. Bouchard’s group includes media company Quebecor, which owns 70% of the team, and NHL players Jean-Sebastian Giguere, Ian Laperriere, and Daniel Briere. Upon moving to the suburbs north of Montreal, they were renamed the Armada and moved into the new Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau. The arena is named after the Canadian hockey superstore named Pro Hockey Life in English, and was built and jointly owned by the municipalities of Blainville and Boisbriand. The Armada may have finally found their niche for junior hockey in Montreal. What they present is simple, yet inviting. Help Stadium Journey Out! Centre Henry-Leonard - Baie-Comeau Drakkar Coming soon! Mary Brown’s Centre - Newfoundland Regiment

The 2024-2025 season was full of change in the Western Hockey League. The biggest change came from the NCAA, where eligibility rules were amended giving junior players the ability to play college hockey after playing in the CHL.  The result was an influx of talent from the Tier II Junior ranks; players who were attempting to remain NCAA eligible while still playing junior.  Plenty of speculation about expansion and the failure of the popular BCHL (Tier II Junior A) was a buzz throughout the league.  Just before the playoffs, expansion was announced with the Penticton Vees taking the ice beginning in 2025 and an expansion team in Chilliwack the following year.   The Everett Silvertips were the top team in the regular season with 104 points. The biggest building in the WHL also saw the greatest attendance with the Edmonton Oil Kings leading the way, drawing 7,527 fans per game.  Andrew Cristall, who split time with the Kelowna Rockets and Spokane Chiefs, led the league with 132 points, while Shea Van Olm of the Chiefs edged Cristall by one to lead the league in goals with 49.  Silvertips goaltender Raiden LeGall led the way with a 2.17 GAA and 0.921 save percentage.  The season culminated with the Medicine Hat Tigers  winning their 6th Ed Chynoweth Cup  as Western Hockey League Champions and earning a berth in the 2025 Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Québec. The annual WHL rankings at Stadium Journey are based on the FANFARE metric used on the website, where a number of different writers assess the hockey experience based on the categories of Food, Atmosphere, Neighbourhood, Fans, Access, Return on Investment and any extras that the writers experienced.  The stakes are high, with an average grading of 3.59 being earned out of a possible perfect 5.0.   Unfortunately, the Stadium Journey rankings are not quite complete and there are a few WHL teams we have yet to visit.  If you are interested in helping fill in some of the gaps, please contact Stadium Journey to inquire about becoming part of the writing team! At the present time, we are missing reviews for Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George, Spokane, Vancouver, Victoria and Wenatchee. This list is just an amalgamation of a number of opinions, and may not be in agreement for all.  Please let Stadium Journey know your opinions on our various Social Media outlets.  How is your list different from ours?  What do we have right?  What do we have wrong? Without further ado, Stadium Journey is proud to present the 2024-2025 Rankings of the Western Hockey League Experiences. 1. Centrium @ Westerner Park - Red Deer Rebels - 4.14 Dave Cottenie - Nestled almost exactly halfway between Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, the residents of Red Deer share a healthy split of allegiances between the two major Alberta cities’ NHL clubs.  Both the Oilers and Flames are well represented in Red Deer, however, when it comes to Junior Hockey, there is no question as to who is king. The Red Deer Rebels have been members of the Western Hockey League since 1992.  Founded by Terry and Wayne Simpson, the Rebels have seen quite a few future NHL players walk through the doors and also enjoyed some team successes. The ultimate team successes for the Rebels came in 2001 when the Rebels, led by future NHL players Jeff Woywitka and Colby Armstrong, saw Doug Lynch score the biggest goal in Rebels history, an overtime goal to defeat Val d’Or in the Memorial Cup Final. 2.Toyota Center - Tri-City Americans - 4.14 Andrew Kulyk - The Tri City Americans, representing the adjoining cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland in the State of Washington, are one of the flagship original franchises of the Western Hockey League. Its origins began in Calgary, before city hopping to several locations throughout British Columbia, with a 5-year stop in Billings, Montana along the way. They have been located in Tri Cities since 1988, and have played in the Toyota Center in the bedroom community of Kennewick since the arena opened that same year. The facility also doubles as a theatre, offering a season of Broadway musicals and other stage shows. 3. Art Hauser Centre - Prince Albert Raiders - 4.00 Jim Flannery - Playing at the Art Hauser Centre, the Prince Albert Raiders have been one of the more successful junior hockey teams in Saskatchewan. Between 1977-1982 the Raiders won four Tier II junior national championships in six years. After graduating up to the WHL for the 1982-83 season, the Raiders went on to win the Memorial Cup in 1985 as the top junior team in the country.  The Raiders have produced 72 players who have made it to the NHL, including Brad McCrimmon, James Patrick, Wes Walz and Mike Modano. And all of them have paid their dues in this little arena in this little city. 4. Rogers Place - Edmonton Oil Kings - 4.00 Jim Flannery - The Oil Kings returned to Edmonton for the 2007-08 season and have been have found an audience. Owned and operated by the Katz Group, which also owns the NHL’s Oilers, the Oil Kings are drawing good crowds, and winning consistently. The Oil Kings spent most of their history playing at what is currently known as Rexall Place (formerly Northlands Coliseum). But starting in the fall of 2016, the Oil Kings have relocated to the new downtown arena, called Rogers Place. It is the newest, most modern arena in hockey and without a doubt the premier place to watch the WHL. 5. VisitLethbridge.com Arena - Lethbridge Hurricanes - 3.86 Jim Flannery - VisitLethbridge.com Arena opened its doors in 1974, in anticipation of the 1975 Canada Winter Games. The Sportsplex (as it was then known) was designed for a multitude of purposes. The arena converts easily to a number of different applications for curling, concerts, hockey, basketball, banquets, etc.  The Lethbridge Hurricanes ice hockey began their history as the Winnipeg Jets in 1967 and have been in operation ever since. They changed their name twice while in Winnipeg before moving to Calgary and becoming the Wranglers in 1977. They remained in Calgary until 1987 when they relocated to Lethbridge and were renamed once again, becoming the Hurricanes, a name they have stuck with now for more than 30 years.  6. Temple Gardens Centre - Moose Jaw Warriors - 3.71 Jim Flannery - After a four-year stint in Winnipeg, the Western Hockey League’s Warriors moved to Moose Jaw in 1984. They played their games at the Moose Jaw Civic Centre, better known as the Crushed Can, for many years, but in 2011 the team moved to a brand new facility right downtown, known as Temple Gardens Centre.  The $61 million arena seats 4,465 people, which is the equivalent of about 13 percent of the entire city population when the place is full. In addition to the rink area, it also features an eight-sheet curling club, a banquet room, and other meeting rooms. It has played host to a number of major events, including the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and concerts by A-list performers like Alice Cooper and Carrie Underwood.  But the Moose Jaw Warriors are the centrepiece of entertainment in the building. 7. InnovationPlex - Swift Current Broncos - 3.71 Jim Flannery - In a small facility like the InnovationPlex, it doesn’t take a lot of people to get the energy up in the place. A couple thousand people, many with cowbells, can get the place rocking in no time at all.  With the game viewable from standing room in the main lobby right at ice level, audience members downstairs almost feel like they’re right in the game, just inches from the play. And even the worst seats in the main viewing bowl are only 11 rows back from the ice, so there isn’t a bad seat in the house. 8. Veterans Memorial Coliseum - Portland Winterhawks - 3.57 Paul Hilchen - Portland hockey dates back to the 1910’s with the Portland Rosebuds. The most recent team not named the Winterhawks was the Buckaroos, who played in the Coliseum from 1960-1975.  The franchise has had much success during their tenure in the Rose City, including winning the 1998 Memorial Cup, and a current run of back to back to back to back Western Conference championships.  Memorial Coliseum is on the National Register of Historic Places due to its architecture and glass walls that adorn the outside of the building. Some within Portland have questioned the practicality of having two buildings side by side that serve exactly the same purpose, while others have outwardly called for its demolition so a baseball stadium could be built on the site. Whatever side of the spectrum one finds themselves on, no one can deny the fact that the building has a great amount of history and character. 9. Co-Op Place - Medicine Hat Tigers - 3.57 Jim Flannery - Until the fall of 2015, the Medicine Hat Tigers spent the entire history of their franchise playing in the Medicine Hat Arena, located just east of the city’s downtown core. The Tigers relocated to a brand new arena at the start of the 2015-16 season; after 45 seasons in the Arena, it was time to move into a more modern facility. Originally called Canalta Centre, it was specifically designed to Memorial Cup specifications in the hopes of luring the CHL championship to Medicine Hat in the near future.  Now called Co-op Place, it has room for 3,000 more fans than Medicine Hat Arena did, includes 22 luxury suites, 350 club seats on the south side between the blue lines, a lounge, and state of the art technology throughout. 10. SaskTel Centre - Saskatoon Blades - 3.43 Andrew Kulyk - True story. Back in 1983, a Saskatoon-based investment group put together a deal to buy the NHL St. Louis Blues and move them to Saskatoon, a city that was off the grid for most hockey fans. Plans were put in place for a new arena to replace a dated historic downtown venue that had served the city well. Front office staffers were hired, and moving plans were put in place. And then it all derailed when the NHL Board of Governors refused to support the move. Lawsuits went flying from all sides, and in the end the Blues stayed put in St. Louis.  Out of the disappointment of that debacle came a gleaming new arena and showplace for hockey in Saskatoon, an arena initially dubbed Saskatchewan Place. Fans who liked the old and creaky downtown barn weren’t happy with the move. But with numerous renovations, expansions, and now a showplace for some major events, the arena is now embraced within the community. 11. Angel of the Winds Arena - Everett Silvertips - 3.43 Dennis Morrell - Angel of the Winds Arena is nestled in the heart of downtown at 2000 Hewitt Avenue, the north edge of the block bordered by Oakes Avenue to the west and Broadway to the east. The corner of Hewitt and Oakes provides the facility’s most grand entrance. It is arguably the epicenter of activity in this quaint community.  From the outside, the building does not look like much, but get inside and it has some character. It is intimate with sections close together and built nearly on top of the ice instead of spread back. 12. Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary Hitmen - 3.43 Jim Flannery - The Calgary Hitmen entered the Western Hockey League in 1995, filling the junior hockey gap in Calgary caused by the departure of the Calgary Wranglers in 1987. Named after wrestling legend and team co-founder Brett “The Hitman” Hart, the Hitmen have gone on to enjoy a great deal of success, earning the best record in the WHL four times, and going all the way to the Memorial Cup twice.  The Scotiabank Saddledome opened its doors in 1983 and is among the busiest arenas in the country as it is also the home of the Calgary Flames, Calgary Roughnecks and AHL’s Calgary Wranglers. 13. Brandt Centre - Regina Pats - 3.14 Andrew Kulyk - The Brandt Centre is a hockey arena located in the city of Regina, Saskatchewan. Opened in 1977, its primary tenant is the Regina Pats, a junior hockey team playing in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The arena is part of a larger interconnected complex called Evraz Place, which offers exhibit space, curling venues and other public facilities. 14. accesso ShoWare Centre - Seattle Thunderbirds - 2.86 Josh Eastern - The Seattle Thunderbirds are a junior hockey league team that plays in the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League. They play in the ShoWare Center located in Kent, WA which is about 30 minutes south of Seattle. It was opened in January of 2009. The Thunderbirds played at Mercer Arena before moving to Key Arena. In 2009, the T-Birds moved south to the ShoWare Center. It is a multi-purpose arena that is mostly used for hockey. It is a great setting for hockey. 15. Westoba Place @ Keystone Centre - Brandon Wheat Kings - 2.86 Andrew Kulyk - Home for the Brandon Wheat Kings is Westoba Place, a 6,000 seat arena built as part of a larger convention/exhibition complex called Keystone Centre.  It was built in 1972 and has undergone numerous renovations.  The franchise is the easternmost franchise in the Western Hockey League and ranks in the upper end of attendance in the league.

The 2024-2025 season was full of change in the Ontario Hockey League.  It began with the relocation of the Mississauga Steelheads to the other side of the highway to Brampton.  It continued with the sale of the Brantford Bulldogs and the hope of a new arena in the future as well as the Bulldogs signing on long term to remain in the telephone city.  However, the biggest change came from the NCAA, where eligibility rules were amended giving junior players the ability to play college hockey after playing in the CHL.  The result was an influx of talent from the Tier II Junior ranks; players who were attempting to remain NCAA eligible while still playing junior. The London Knights were once again dominant, with a league leading 112 points during the regular season.  They also lead the league in attendance once again, drawing 9,060 fans per game.  Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit lead the league with 134 points while Nick Lardis of Brantford tallied 71 goals for the top spot.  London’s Austin Elliot backstopped his way to a 2.10 GAA and .924 save percentage, best in the league.  The season culminated with the London Knights winning their 6th J. Ross Robertson Cup as Ontario Hockey League Champions, 2nd in a row,, and earning a berth in the 2025 Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Québec. The annual OHL rankings at Stadium Journey are based on the FANFARE metric used on the website, where a number of different writers assess the hockey experience based on the categories of Food, Atmosphere, Neighbourhood, Fans, Access, Return on Investment and any extras that the writers experienced.  The stakes are high, with an average grading of 3.61 being earned out of a possible perfect 5.0. This list is just an amalgamation of a number of opinions, and may not be in agreement for all.  Please let Stadium Journey know your opinions on our various Social Media outlets.  How is your list different from ours?  What do we have right?  What do we have wrong? Without further ado, Stadium Journey is proud to present the 2024-2025 Rankings of the Ontario Hockey League Experiences. 1. Dom Cardillo Arena @ Kitchener Memorial Auditorium - Kitchener Rangers - 4.43 Dave Cottenie - Home for the Rangers since their inception has been the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Designed as a mini Maple Leaf Gardens, The Aud remains one of the most unique venues in a league where new venues are becoming increasingly homogeneous.  The arena with the main ice is named after former beloved mayor of Kitchener, Dom Cardillo, making the home of the Rangers the Dom Cardillo Arena at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.  The Rangers provide one of the best experiences in the entire Canadian Hockey League and are a must see for all junior hockey fans. 2. TD Place Arena - Ottawa 67’s - 4.14 Dave Cottenie - TD Place Arena is located at Lansdowne Park and is one of the most unique arenas in the OHL.  The arena is located underneath the north grandstand of TD Place, the home of the Ottawa RedBlacks of the CFL.  Entry to the arena is on the north side of the building at the east or west entrances.  The massive, spider-legs-like I-beams give the arena a unique exterior look.  Between the two main entrances, Lansdowne Park has a number of retail outlets, so the arena itself is actually kind of inconspicuous. 3. Meridian Centre - Niagara IceDogs - 4.14 Robbie Raskin - Meridian Centre is best described as clean, bright, spacious, and new-feeling, even though it’s now a decade old. It also manages to avoid the cookie-cutter bowl shape with many modern rinks; an asymmetrical layout keeps things interesting. The defining quirk of the arena is its topographical situation. The arena is located in a deep ravine, at the bottom of the high land upon which downtown St. Catharines is perched. In fact, the roofline of the arena is mostly even with street level of the surrounding neighbourhood, rather than rising above it. Fans don’t enter at ground level and climb up to their seats, as usual. Here you actually enter from the roof and descend into the arena. 4. Canada Life Place - London Knights - 4 Dave Cottenie - The London Knights were founded in 1965 as the London Nationals in the OHA.  In 1968 the Nationals would be reborn as the London Knights.  The Hunters purchased the Knights at the perfect time as the City of London agreed to build a downtown arena to replace the London Ice House.  The John Labatt Centre opened in 2002 and helped usher in a new era in the OHL of new or renovated facilities and quickly became the gold standard in arenas in the league.  Since the opening of what was later renamed the Budweiser Gardens and currently Canada Life Place, success at the turnstile and on the ice coincided and the Knights, who were also-rans, in the OHL for years enjoyed their best seasons ever.  Going from a nightmare to a dream come true has been an amazing ride for the fans in London and there are no signs of slowing down. 5. Sleeman Centre - Guelph Storm - 4 Dave Cottenie - The Sleeman Centre is a unique facility as it is built inside a shopping mall.  As a result, the majority of fans will not enter through the main doors on Woolwich Street.   Parking entrances off of Macdonell Street having fans enter through the south side or through the Old Quebec Shoppes, the remnants of the mall, is far more popular.  That being said, the front exterior of the Sleeman Centre is attractive with light siding and tinted windows.  It is not a hulking structure, and is almost inconspicuous from the front. 6. GFL Memorial Gardens - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds - 4 Dave Cottenie - The Greyhound name has been linked to hockey teams in Sault Ste. Marie since 1919. The name was selected as a jab to their rivals, the Sudbury Wolves as a “greyhound is much faster than a wolf.”  The Senior A Greyhounds would win the Allan Cup in 1924. The current iteration of the team began as an NOJHL expansion team in 1962 which would transition to the OHA in 1972. The OHA would eventually become the Ontario Hockey League. The team is currently owned by medical executive Tim Lukenda.  The Greyhounds achieved ultimate success in 1995 when they won the Memorial Cup as Canadian Hockey League Champions in front of a home crowd in Sault Ste Marie. The Greyhounds have also won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL Champions in 1985, 1991 and 1992. The importance of the Greyhounds and the 1995 Memorial Cup is immortalized on the sign coming into town where it is emblazoned with the home of astronaut Dr. Roberta Bondar. 7. Slush Puppie Place - Kingston Frontenacs - 3.86 Dave Cottenie - Although the Fronts have not enjoyed a ton of success on the ice, with only two East Division Championships to show for their efforts, the Frontenacs experience has improved significantly and remains a great option for sports fans.  Slush Puppie Place offers an atmosphere for Frontenacs hockey that is among the best in the OHL.  Outside of the arena, in the northwest corner sits actual ruins from the original Fort Frontenac.  Across Ontario Street is the current Fort Frontenac, which is a Canadian Military venue.  The exterior of Slush Puppie Place is attractive with light coloured brick.  The south side of Slush Puppie Place is Tragically Hip Way, a portion of Barrack Street that Kingston City Council renamed in honour of the famous Kingston band. 8. Tribute Communities Centre - Oshawa Generals - 3.86 Dave Cottenie - One of the cornerstone franchises of the Ontario Hockey League is the Oshawa Generals.  For many years, Oshawa, Ontario was the Canadian incarnation of the Motor City, with General Motors having a massive presence in the city, including the Canadian headquarters.  The Generals moniker, therefore, has no link to the military, but to the car manufacturer.  The current home of the Generals was also originally named the General Motors Centre.  With a lineage that goes back to Oshawa’s favourite adopted son, Bobby Orr, the Generals are one of the most successful teams to ever take the ice in Ontario.  The Generals hold the record for most J. Ross Robertson Cups as OHL Champions, with 13.  The Generals also boast an impressive five Memorial Cups, which is also more than any other current Canadian Hockey League franchise.  The Generals were founded in 1937 and were forced to take a hiatus in the fifties when their home arena burned down.  The Gens resurfaced in 1962 and are currently owned by Rocco Tullio. 9. Sudbury Community Arena - Sudbury Wolves - 3.71 Dave Cottenie - The Sudbury Community Arena, simply put, is an old-school hockey barn. The exterior of the Sudbury Arena has a classic red brick entrance that is true to its age. The arena is guarded by a bronze statue of singer Stompin’ Tom Connors, author, and performer of the famous “Hockey Song.”  One of Connors’ big hits was “Sudbury Saturday Night” which is the reason for the commissioning of the statue.  The southeast corner of the arena is where the most unique item in all hockey resides.  In the rafters hangs a real taxidermy wolf.  When Sudbury scores a goal, the wolf travels out over the ice towards the visiting team bench on a pulley system.  It stops over the bench, shakes around a bit, and heads back to the southeast corner.  There is nothing like this anywhere.  It may be kitschy, but it is amazing. 10. Erie Insurance Arena - Erie Otters - 3.71 Patricia Beninato - If you’re a hockey fan, an Erie Otters game is fun and relatively inexpensive, even if you throw in a hot dog, a beer, and a t-shirt. Maybe it’s not a destination arena, but if you’re in the area and want to see future NHL stars up close and hang out with some loyal hockey fans, you can do worse than Erie Insurance Arena. 11. Peterborough Memorial Centre - Peterborough Petes - 3.71 Robbie Raskin - The small city of Peterborough sits at the southern entrance to Ontario’s vast ‘Cottage Country’ where farmland gives way to countless lakes and forests. Since 1956, it has been home to the maroon-and-white Petes, and the hockey club has been deeply tied to the city’s sense of identity ever since. The Petes’ alumni roll is a laundry list of great players and managers over the decades, including seven Hall of Famers. They’re the oldest continuously-operating team in the OHL and have won the league nine times and the national Memorial Cup championship once. Frustrating to their fans is that the only team with greater success are their hated rivals, the Oshawa Generals. 12. Progressive Auto Sales Arena - Sarnia Sting - 3.57 Marc Viquez - The Progressive Auto Sales Arena is home to the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League. It has a seating capacity of 5,500 and sits on the campus of Lambton College. The building debuted in 1998, four seasons after the Sting arrived, and features 43 luxury suites, two full-size NHL rinks, and a full-service restaurant. 13. Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens - North Bay Battalion - 3.57 Dave Cottenie - In 2013 the Ontario Hockey League made a triumphant return to North Bay, Ontario.  After the North Bay Centennials had their run from 1982 to 2002, they left for Saginaw, Michigan under a cloud of mistrust and bad feelings. The hockey light would shine again in the Gateway to the North after the local fans provided next level support for the Nipissing Lakers, a newly formed university team. Brampton Battalion owner and Trivial Pursuit founder Scott Abott would bring his OHL team from outside of Toronto north to the banks of Lake Nipissing in search of greater fan support. Moving the team to a military city like North Bay made the team name and moniker suddenly make a whole lot more sense. 14. Sadlon Arena - Barrie Colts - 3.43 Dave Cottenie - Sadlon Arena offers a solid junior hockey experience that is not uncommon in many other markets. From the exterior, Sadlon Arena has a bit of a barn-like appearance with a rounded, elongated roof, which can be seen from Highway 400.  Oriented from west to east, the most eye-catching feature of the arena is the Horsepower Sports Bar, which offers a unique brick facade to the front of the building with awnings. 15. WFCU Centre - Windsor Spitfires - 3.29 Marc Viquez - The WFCU Centre is the home of the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. The building has a seating capacity of 6,450 for hockey and was built for $71 million. The new home to the Spitfires ensured that the club would remain in Windsor for the foreseeable future.  The arena replaced the 84-year-old Windsor Arena that the Spitfires had called home since 1975. The new WFCU Centre was a much-needed replacement for the aging arena and resulted in the building hosting the 2017 Memorial Cup. 16. Brantford & District Civic Centre - Brantford Bulldogs - 3.14 Dave Cottenie - When the Hamilton Bulldogs found they would be homeless for two years as the FirstOntario Centre undergoes renovations, owner Michael Andlauer found a landing spot in Brantford, Ontario, famously the childhood home of Wayne Gretzky, and signed a lease with the city for at least three years.  The Bulldogs have since committed to Brantford with a new arena in the works and a long-term lease signed, leaving their time at the Civic Centre very limited. 17. J.D. McArthur Arena @ Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre - Owen Sound Attack - 3.14 Dave Cottenie - On the banks of Georgian Bay sits the smallest market in the Ontario Hockey League. In 1989, the Guelph Platers, who had been in Guelph since 1968, made the move north to the Grey-Bruce area of Ontario. The Owen Sound Platers were to be sold to a businessman out of town which would require relocation.  The “Super Six,” would come together to purchase the team and keep them in Owen Sound.  Brian Johnson, Dr. Robert Severs, Fay Harshman, Frank Coulter, and Peter and Paul MacDermid, a group of local business owners, would keep that can-do attitude alive in Owen Sound and the Attack have remained viable and competitive in the Ontario Hockey League.  The hard work culminated in the Attack’s 2011 J.Ross Robertson Cup as OHL Champions and a berth in the Memorial Cup. 18. Wendler Arena @ Dow Event Center - Saginaw Spirit - 3.00 Dave Cottenie - Saginaw provides a decent hockey experience for Junior Hockey.  The Dow Event Center is one of the nicer OHL venues from the exterior.  The Atrium can be found on the north side of Johnson Street and offers a warm, welcoming feeling for fans coming out of the cold, Central Michigan winter.  Glassed in and spacious, the Atrium is a great place to meet friends before the game and also houses security and the ticketing windows.  The upper rotunda features hanging banners of significant, former Saginaw Spirit players.  These include Ryan McDonough, Jack Combs, Josh Shalla, Vince Trocheck, Dylan Sadowy, Brandon Saad, T.J. Brodie, Tom Pyatt, Eric Locke, Brad Walch, Patrick McNiell and Jake Paterson. 19. Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center - Flint Firebirds - 2.86 Dave Cottenie - When Peter Karmanos sold the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League to the IMS Hockey Corporation and Rolf Nilsen there were a number of eyebrows raised. There are more than enough doubters when it comes to the Firebirds viability in Flint, but IMS is chugging along and they want everyone to get behind and Believe in Flint. 20. CAA Centre - Brampton Steelheads - 2.57 Dave Cottenie - The home for the Steelheads is CAA Centre.  The city owned arena opened in 1998 and has a capacity of 5,000.  It is an appropriate home for OHL hockey as it housed the Brampton Battalion from 1998 to 2013, before they moved to North Bay.  A familiar story for OHL hockey in the GTA is once again brewing, low attendance and an uncertain future.