Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Akins Ford Arena 300 N Thomas St Athens, GA 30601 Athens Rock Lobsters website Akins Ford Arena website Year Opened: 2024 Capacity: 5,500 Woooooo, Rock Lobster! When thinking of Athens, Georgia, college football and the National Champion Georgia Bulldogs  quickly come to mind, but not hockey. In a town where college athletics dominate the spotlight, hockey can feel like an unlikely fit. With so much already happening in a college town, it can be difficult for professional sports to gain traction. When hockey was first announced for Athens, the original plan was to land an ECHL team. However, with a franchise already located just 50 miles away in Gwinnett County , those plans never materialized. Instead, Athens joined the independent Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) for the 2024–25 season.   Food & Beverage   4 Simply calling the food at Akins Ford Arena “concessions” hardly does justice to the range of options available. Of course, there are the standard arena fare hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn, and candy, but the menu here goes beyond the basics with some well thought out offerings. Large, soft pretzels stay fresh throughout the night, and house-made chips are served with a Southern-style pimento cheese dip. The arena also offers chicken wings, tenders, chicken quesadillas, and barbecue options: smoked brisket and pulled pork sandwiches; add-ons include seasoned fries and even side salads. A drawback of the main concession stands is that much of the food there is left under heating lamps, impacting the freshness. Drinks come from the Coca-Cola lineup, while alcohol options rival those at Athens’ local bars. Beyond the usual domestic beers, Akins Ford Arena features selections from Athens-based brewery Terrapin, including Los Bravos, Hopsecutioner IPA, and Luau Krunkles IPA. White Claw seltzers and Good Day pre-mixed cocktails are also widely available. In addition, for those seeking more variety, full-service bars are spread throughout the venue.   Atmosphere   4 Akins Ford Arena combines modern design with an industrial edge, featuring large glass panels, geometric support columns, and an elevated walkway. Upon entering, fans are greeted by a stunning mural showcasing some of Georgia’s most iconic musicians, including James Brown, Ray Charles, Duane Allman, Cindy Wilson (B-52s), OutKast, and Gladys Knight, as a prelude to the theme of the rest of the arena’s décor. The second level houses mostly suites, but also a bit of drink rail seating, while the main level features individual chairback seating, with exclusive clubs and suites at center ice on both sides. A sizable scoreboard hangs over center ice, showing a live video feed, shots on goal, and penalty updates. During stoppages in play, fans are engaged with impromptu dance cams as music blasts over the speakers. The in-game host engages fans with games on the concourse and on-ice contests during intermissions. The late season addition of Claudius, the Rock Lobster mascot, has brought a new dimension of fan engagement, particularly for younger fans.   Neighborhood   5 Few arenas can boast a better location than Akins Ford Arena – just steps from the iconic University of Georgia Arch, the arena sits a block away from the heart of Athens’ restaurant and nightlife scene. This city has long been a hub for live music, having produced nationally renowned acts like R.E.M., the B-52s, and Widespread Panic. Also, after the game fans can easily catch a late-night show at one of Athens’ many live music venues. Beer lovers will also appreciate the arena’s proximity to Creature Comforts Brewing Co., one of Georgia’s most acclaimed craft breweries, located just a mile from the arena. The Rock Lobsters schedule also spans all three major sports seasons on the UGA campus, making a visit to Akins Ford Arena a great addition to a full day of sports in Athens.   Fans   3 Hockey has had a presence in metro Atlanta since 1972, but in a town where college football  is king, the sport is still working to establish a foothold. Many fans, while passionate, are still learning the game’s finer nuances, and occasionally still try to relate hockey rules to football. That said, Rock Lobsters fans bring plenty of energy, especially when it comes to goal celebrations. An emerging tradition sees both players and fans raising their hands like a pinching lobster claw after a goal, a fun gesture that has quickly caught on and is even reciprocated by the players. Attendance has been strong, with the Rock Lobsters averaging over 3,600 fans per game, ranking them in the top three for the Federal Professional Hockey League, just behind Monroe and Binghamton.   Access   3 Getting to Athens from the Atlanta metro area can be a challenge, especially on weekdays. What should be a 60-to-90-minute drive via State Route 316 can easily extend to two hours in heavy traffic. Akins Ford Arena is located next to the Athens-Clarke County Multi-Modal Center, making public transit an option for those in Athens or surrounding Clark County. However, postgame logistics can be tricky, as the last bus typically departs before the hockey game ends. Once in Athens, traffic around the facility typically is slow-moving before and after games; arriving early and not being in a hurry after the final horn can make for a much smoother experience. Exiting through the neighboring Classic Center can especially get backed up during postgame, so patience is key.   Return on Investment   3 Tickets start at $28 (after fees), which is a fair price given the quality of the venue and the entertainment. However, with no NHL affiliation, the Federal Professional Hockey League is essentially the hockey equivalent of independent league baseball. When you factor in $20 parking and concession prices that do seem a touch high, the cost can feel a bit inflated. That said, given the limited hockey options in the area, all of this is not entirely surprising.   Extras   4 The concourse at Akins Ford Arena feels more like a museum of Georgia’s musical history than it feels like a typical sports venue – displays highlight the careers of legendary musicians, interactive exhibits test fans’ knowledge of Georgia music, and artifacts showcase the state’s deep-rooted musical heritage. One of the venue’s best photo ops is the elevated overlook at one end of the rink, providing a unique vantage point for fans. In addition, the Athens on Ice outdoor skating rink, just outside the facility, is open during the winter months, and offers fans a chance to hit the ice before heading inside for the game. The Rock Lobster mascot, Claudius, was a midseason addition and has quickly become a fan favorite.   Final Thoughts New teams and arenas often generate excitement, but the Athens Rock Lobsters and Akins Ford Arena have exceeded expectations, delivering a highly entertaining hockey experience While ticket prices and concessions are on the higher side, the venue’s electric atmosphere, strong fan engagement, and prime location in Athens’ vibrant downtown make it a must-visit destination for hockey fans in Georgia.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Sports Illustrated Stadium 600 Cape May St Harrison, NJ 07029 NJ/NY Gotham FC website Sports Illustrated Stadium website Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 25,189 Gotham Is In New Jersey NJ/NY Gotham FC are members of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) representing the New York/New Jersey market. The club started in 2009 as Sly Blue FC in the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) and later joined the NWSL for its inaugural season in 2013. The team’s former home was Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey home. In April 2021, Sky Blue FC officially changed its name to NJ/NY Gotham FC. The owner of the team is Phil Murphy, who is also the current Governor of New Jersey. WNBA player Sue Bird, NBA player Kevin Durant, and NFL great Eli Manning are members of the ownership group along with former Sky Blue / NJ/NY Gotham player Carli Lloyd. In 2023 Gotham FC won the NWSL Championship. The stadium opened as Red Bull Arena in 2010 after a lot of political activity and is now the home to the Red Bulls. Located in Harrison, New Jersey, just on the other side of the Passaic River from Newark, SI Stadium seats 25,000 seats and is owned by the Hudson County Improvement Authority and operated by Red Bull GmbH, which also owns the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer (MLS), the stadium’s main tenant. The stadium has also been home to other events such as the Premier Lacrosse League, local commencements, and many concerts. Food & Beverage 4 SI Stadium offers a variety of food options at a variety of concession locations. You will find that only about half of the stands are open for Gotham FC matches but you will still find plenty of food options.vSoft Drinks can be found at most stands and you can fill and refill your drinks fairly easily on your own for $8.50. A season-long free refill cup can be purchased. Red Bull Energy Drinks are also found throughout the stadium and are sold at the same general price as outside of the stadium. There is a wide variety of beer available at the concession stands of the building. Atmosphere 3 SI Stadium offers a great atmosphere for fans. The enclosed nature of the stadium offers decent protection from the weather for fans, as well as keeping the sound loud and enclosed. Gotham FC only uses the lower bowl of the building and the atmosphere is not quite as loud and rowdy as at a Red Bull match but is still a great place to watch soccer action. On the west side of the venue before the gates open, there is a place for kids to get their energy out. There are stairs that will immediately take you up to the tight concourse as soon as you enter. There are elevators also available, but not escalators. There is a great deal of Red Bulls and MetroStars team history displayed along that concourse, but little of Gotham FC. There is still a lively supporter section that keeps the sounds loud. Neighborhood 3 The area of Harrison that the stadium is located within used to be solely an industrial area, but it has become better over the years. That is partially due to the stadium, but also due to its proximity to Newark as well as a nice, new PATH train station that can get you to New York City in minutes. In the local area, there is a Five Guys Burger and a good Korean taco restaurant, named Takorea, that are worth a stop before or after the match. There are a few other restaurants in the area, as well as an Element Hotel. Newark is also a quick walk away via a bridge. You could even park there at a place like Iberia Tavern & Restaurant and walk over after enjoying a nice meal. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and the Prudential Center are also close by. Fans 3 Gotham FC has a nice following and has decent attendance at SI Stadium. The main supporter group is called Cloud Nine, which is a leftover name from when the team was Sky Blue FC. Access 4 This writer was expecting the worse in regards to accessing the Harrison area, but it was better than expected. Parking in Harrison is pretty easy if you follow to this exact address on your GPS: 890 S 3rd St, Harrison, NJ 07029. This will take you to the back way into the Harrison Parking Center where parking is a decent $15. Walking from the garage to the stadium is a little funky due to construction but it will be easy to figure out. There are closer lots for $20 but expect to wait in them as traffic is worse closer to venue. There is one cash lot and one cashless lot with good signage getting you to the right spot. The PATH train station is located between stadium and the Harrison Parking Center and is a great option to get to the stadium. The construction in the area is mainly because of the updated PATH station but it looks like that will all be worth it when finished. As mentioned before, parking in Newark at one of the many public lots or the Iberia Tavern & Restaurant lot is an option. We would recommend you check the Prudential Center or NJPAC calendar of events before doing so. The game we attended at SI Stadium was when the MTV Video Music Awards were being held that same night at the Prudential Center, so downtown Newark was a bit of a mess. Return on Investment 4 Tickets can be had for under $40 making Gotham FC a great value. With parking for as little as $15, this is shockingly a great value for a sports event in the New Jersey/New York area. There are more expensive seats, depending on the experience you desire from the SI Stadium experience. Extras 3 The supporter section, Cloud Nine, while small was very active and loud. Gotham FC has been around for a while in the league and has a great amount of history that hopefully, the team will be able to add to SI Stadium experience. Watching Harrison, NJ change to a different city is a bit fascinating on its own. Final Thoughts A trip to Sports Illustrated Stadium for an NJ/NY Gotham FC is a great way for a sports fan to see high-level teams at a decent value.

Photo Courtesy of the London Majors What was supposed to be a social media prank last week for a baseball team might have turned out to be the best promotion the team has ever had. And just like 100 years of baseball traditions have been turned upside down on its head in London, Ontario. The London Majors of the Intercounty Baseball League sent a post across social media platforms that it would be rebranding as the Forest City Cobra Chickens on April 1st. However, within a few hours and 100,000 views across the team’s social media pages, it was apparent that the joke was no longer an April Fools prank. “I did not think this would go this far,” said Matt Hiscox, the team’s social media manager. “Ownership allowed me to come up with something, and the name we kept going back to was the Cobra Chickens.” Hiscox said that the response was felt not only in London but throughout as far south as Laredo, Texas, on the Mexican border. Folks responded with requests for caps and t-shirts and loved the colors Miami Vice electric blue and fluorescent pink. Hiscox soon realized that his prank was about to take on a life of its own. “By noon on April 1st, my phone had died because of all the calls and texts. I said to the owner that they had to do something about this. The ball keeps getting bigger and bigger with the new logo." If you are unaware of the Majors, they have been around for a century, playing baseball at Labatt Park . They handle their business in the same manner as the New York Yankees and have worn their Old English L. It is not hard to spot someone in London wearing a Majors cap. To suddenly decide to make a radical change is somewhat unusual for the ball club. “We're a traditional club with 100 years of history, but when it took off, we had to take advantage of it. I don’t want to say that we went into full panic mode, but more of a full-tilt “let’s go!” mode. I asked my graphic designer at 1 p.m. to start designing a jersey, and I added Hiscox. However, asking for 60 jerseys to be designed and delivered is easier said than done. There also has to be merchandise ordered for fans and staff at the game, along with working with the league to ensure that whoever the opponent is that night won’t have a similar colored top jersey to clash with London’s tops. Hiscox added that the April Fools prank was in the making for six months and has received many requests for hoodies, track pants, to Hawaiian shirts. He has also appeared in numerous interviews this past week about the promotion in entire 7 years that he has been with the Majors. However, he gives credit to his wife for helping out with the name of the graphic design team with creating the colors and the logo. *UPDATE: The Cobra Chickens released renderings of their jerseys that will be teal blue and hot pink from head to toe. They should be a hit with fans and players alike. Photo Courtesy of the London Majors There is no date set for the Cobra Chickens game, but things have been moving quickly since the announcement last week. Team management wants to make sure that all merchandise has been delivered to the stadium for players and then for fans to purchase at the game or online. The Majors begin their season on the road in Brantford on May 11 and open the season at Labatt Park on May 16 against Guelph. Hiscox hopes to have further Cobra Chicken news on all social media platforms sometime soon. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and on his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey. Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens 100 Chippewa St W North Bay, ON P1B 6G2 Canada Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens website Nipissing Lakers hockey website Year Opened: 1955 Capacity: 4,246 Lake Effect Editor's Note: In January 2025 it was announced that Boart Longyear had acquired the naming rights to the facility. This review refers to the arena's previous name, North Bay Memorial Gardens. The year 2002 was a dark one for the Gateway to the North. The city of North Bay, Ontario had enjoyed twenty years of North Bay Centennials hockey. However, in 2002 due to rising costs, falling attendance, an aging facility and bad ownership the OHL team was sold and moved to Saginaw, Michigan to become the Saginaw Spirit. The Memorial Gardens was dark for a while. Enter Nipissing University. The small, but growing university was ready to take their athletic program to the next level and hockey was the key. In 2009 the Nipissing Lakers iced a team and entered play in the OUA, the Ontario conference in Canadian university athletics or USports as it is officially known. The void was filled and North Bay had hockey once again. The Lakers got out of the gate quickly and the community supported this team the way no other university team had been supported in the province. North Bay is a community of 52,000 and Nipissing University boasts approximately 5,000 students. It is a relatively young school receiving their charter in 1992. The school is known for their Faculty of Education, producing teachers for decades, previously as North Bay Teachers College. The home for the Lakers is the North Bay Memorial Gardens Sports Arena. Built in 1955, the Gardens had been home for the Centennials before the Lakers. With the Lakers hitting the ice, the community really got behind the team and came out in droves. This directly led to $16.5 million in upgrades to the arena and the return of OHL hockey to North Bay with the Brampton Battalion moving north. It is clear that the Lake Effect has brought more than just OUA sports to the city on Lake Nipissing. Food & Beverage 4 Playing in an OHL venue, the Nipissing Lakers benefit from better than average concession options. Popcorn, chocolate bars, candy, chips, pretzels, nachos, fries, poutine, onion rings, chicken fingers, and pizza are all available. Combos are available to help with the cost a bit. Quality is better than the typical snack bar fare. A few different types of hot dogs from Nathan’s are also available to promote variety. One of the interesting items on the menu that might be worth consideration would be the Dessert Funnel Cake Poutine available in either strawberry or chocolate. Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice at the Memorial Gardens. Nestle coffee products are also available. Molson Canadian, Coors Banquet and Coors Light are available in the concourses. There are also a variety of coolers and cider available for those not interested in beer. The Hall of Fame lounge also features a full fridge for beverage purchase. Atmosphere 3 With the arrival of the OHL’s North Bay Battalion came with it some renovations to the North Bay Memorial Gardens. Built in 1955, the Gardens looked out of date when the Lakers first arrived. Yellow siding and brown brick were the extent of the exterior décor. The result of the renovations to the exterior is the addition of offices and luxury boxes which affected the front entrance. Now above the main entrance are two stories of green glass which attempt to bring the façade to a more modern time. The original Memorial Gardens signage remains on the front, but the addition of a large, digital sign gives the Gardens the opportunity to advertise all sorts of events. Upon entry, fans are thrust into the main concourse and that fifties feel returns. The concourses are lined with light brown brick and little details all around the concourse gives it character. Team photos for all Centennials, Battalion and Laker teams are displayed smartly on wooden backing. The North Bay Sports Hall of Fame is full of classic pictures and local history. Those with keen eyes will spot Hall of Fame members Craig Rivet of the Montreal Canadiens, CFL star Mike O’Shea and Lakers head coach Mike McParland. However, the highlight of the concourse is definitely the “Lest We Forget” display listing every North Bay veteran from both World War I and World War II. This is a reminder for hockey fans that the Memorial Gardens remains a living memorial of those who served. Inside the arena fans will see the main seating area as three main sections. The ice surface runs from north to south and the east and west grandstands support the majority of fans. At the north end of the arena is the Hall of Fame Lounge and at the south end is another section of seating, which is new with the renovation. A large video board hangs over centre ice, but is not used for every game. The game that was reviewed did not use the video board. Above the Hall of Fame lounge at the north end of the arena are the flags which centre the portrait of Queen Elizabeth. At one time, all Canadian arenas featured a portrait of the monarch, so this is a real throwback for the Memorial Gardens. The game day production at Laker games is fairly simple. Classic and hard rock music is played between plays and the promotions are fairly simple. Fans will have the opportunity to focus on the game itself, which in some situations seems to be a lost luxury. Neighbourhood 3 North Bay is a wonderful city in Northern Ontario. Known mainly for outdoor activities such as snowmobiling and ice fishing in the winter and cottaging and fishing in the summer months, there are plenty of opportunities for fans to find other adventures that could include a Lakers game. The North Bay Memorial Gardens is located west of the Trans Canada Highway, east of Lake Nipissing on Chippewa Street. The immediate area surrounding the arena is fairly residential with the local YMCA right next door. Access to the highway is easy so it is not difficult to head downtown or other spots to find interesting North Bay highlights. Nipissing University is a fair distance from the arena, located at the top of the hill at the north end of the city. In addition to the many outdoor activities that can be found in North Bay, fans may also want to check out the North Bay Museum. As far as other sporting options go, Nipissing also fields a basketball team on campus at the Robert J. Surtees Student Athletic Center. The OHL has made a return to North Bay as the North Bay Battalion also share the Memorial Gardens. There are a number of options for pre and post game fare in North Bay. Fans will definitely need to hop in the car to get there though. Cecil’s Brewhouse, Moose’s Cookhouse, Burger World and Arugula are all good options. For fans staying in the city, the Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn are good options that are pretty close to the arena. Fans 3 OUA hockey does not draw massive crowds in any market. However, the Nipissing Lakers shattered attendance figures in their first season. They led the conference in attendance attracting over 33,000 fans to the Gardens, averaging over 2,300 fans per game. Since the return of the OHL to North Bay, a big chunk of the Nipissing fans have switched over to the Battalion. However, the Lakers still regularly draw around 300 fans per game. It may not be what it once was, but it remains a very respectable figure for OUA hockey. Being so far off campus does prove to be challenging for Nipissing, which makes their attendance figures even more respectable. Access 5 The North Bay Memorial Gardens is located west of the Trans Canada Highway on Chippewa Street. The highway runs north, right through the city, essentially splitting it. Being very close to the highway and highways 11 and 17, the Gardens is very easy to get to by car. There are 1000 parking spots at the Memorial Gardens and there is no charge for parking. For fans who wish to utilize public transit, there is a bus stop on Chippewa Street directly in front of the arena. Fans can check out the North Bay Transit website for maps, fares and schedules. The box office is located on the west side of the building and lineups are not usually an issue. With the relatively small crowd as compared to the arena capacity, getting around the arena is pretty smooth. The washroom facilities are also more than adequate to support the Nipissing crowd. A bonus of the renovations at the Gardens was the removal of the old, wooden, two-for-one “love” seats. The experience is more comfortable now with regular arena seats. Return on Investment 5 OUA hockey is a great way to get sports entertainment while paying a low price. Nipissing hockey is among the best value in the entire conference. Adult tickets for Lakers hockey are only $10 each and alumni, students and seniors can get in for $5. Nipissing students and kids under 12 are free. Parking is free at the Gardens and the concession prices are decent. The product on the ice is solid and the game day production will not blow fans away with a whole lot of distracting extras. The end result is a solid product for a minimal investment. Extras 3 An extra mark for the budding rivalry with Sudbury’s Laurentian Voyageurs. Both schools play off for the 705 Challenge Cup. Two extra marks for the Nipissing Lakers influencing hockey culture in a city in a way that no other school in Ontario has. Without the success of the Lakers, it is unlikely that the OHL would have returned to North Bay. Final Thoughts It is amazing how far North Bay has come since the departure of the Centennials. It was the community of North Bay rallying around the Nipissing Lakers that brought the city to where it is today. Nipissing Lakers hockey remains a great experience for OUA hockey and fans heading to the Gateway of the North should check out the Lake Effect. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens 100 Chippewa St W North Bay, ON P1B 6G2 North Bay Battalion website Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens website Year Opened: 1954 Capacity: 4,262 The Troops and the Bunker Editor's Note: In January 2025 it was announced that Boart Longyear had acquired the naming rights to the facility. This review refers to the arena's previous name, North Bay Memorial Gardens. 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. Home for the Battalion is the North Bay Memorial Gardens. Originally built in 1954 as a living monument for those who gave their lives in the great wars, the Gardens underwent a significant renovation to bring it up to OHL standards. The Gardens may not be the newest or shiniest venue in the league, but it is a throwback to a previous era and there is nothing in the OHL quite like it. Food & Beverage 3 The concession options at the North Bay Memorial Gardens are fairly pedestrian. The expected items are available with hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels and fries taking centre stage.. Nathan’s Hot Dogs are widely advertised as the hot dog of North Bay and a gourmet hot dog. Poutine, chicken fingers and onion rings are also options. Pizza slices and even whole pizzas are available for fans as well. The item with the most originality that may be the ticket for fans is Dessert Funnel Cake Poutine which can be purchased with strawberry or chocolate topping. Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice and the Battalion also offers a wide variety of hot beverages as well. Beer is available at small stands or in the Hall of Fame Lounge. Atmosphere 3 When the Battalion moved to North Bay, the North Bay Memorial Gardens required a significant renovation. The City of North Bay, owner of the Gardens, would be sticking with the 1954 bones and making improvements from there. The first of those renovations is evident from the main entrance on Chippewa Street. A huge glass enclosure at the top of the rather inconspicuous building gave the building a more striking appearance while adding luxury boxes and office space to the west side of the building. North Bay Memorial Gardens was built as a living memorial for those local residents who lost their lives in World War I and II and it is evident in the concourses. The concourses, along with the exterior of the seating bowl, are dominated by brown brick which brings the fan back to the era in which the Gardens was built. Lists of those residents who lost their lives in the war memorialized in framed glass highlight a number of interesting aspects of the concourse. Mementos for winning The 2007 Kraft Hockeyville contest and NHL hockey sweaters along with team pictures from both the North Bay Centennials and North Bay Battalion will keep the exploring fan entertained. Further exploration can be done in the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame, found at the north end of the Gardens. Fans should search for the likes of CFL Hall of Famer, Mike O’Shea and NHL players Darren Turcotte and Ken Wharram among others. Upon entering the seating area, fans won’t be able to help but notice the unique structure. With the Hall of Fame Lounge at the north end of the north-south oriented ice surface, the east and west sides house the majority of seats in four sections each. The south end also has seating, which was part of the renovation. Choosing the right seat should be more of a conscientious decision at the Gardens. The seating area is not really bowl-like and all of the seats on the east and west sides are at right angles. The ceiling structure features large beams on the east and west sides creating a number of seats where the view of the four-sided video board is obstructed. Fans should consider seats no higher than rows H or I for a clear view of the videoboard at centre ice. Not being able to see the videoboard, however, is not the end of the world. There are a number of TV screens and digital scoreboards to keep fans engaged. Standing room is found at the top of the east side and a few rows of ice level seating is found around the ice surface. Conference and Division banners for the Battalion hang to the south of the videoboard and the lone 1994 Conference Banner for the Centennials has to the north. Unfortunately, the maze of structural steel makes for no really great place to hang any banners. The gameday production is deftly put together and is a happy medium between old and new school experiences. The Gardens does, surprisingly, have LED lights. The Troops enter the ice surface through an inflated tank, after Sarge, the Battalion mascot. The Battalion do have a few little nods to their military motif with announcements of “One Minute to Cease Fire” and playing Edwin Starr’s “War” as their goal song. The military spots have been downplayed over the years, but considering North Bay is a military town, with an air force base in the city, the Battalion production is most appropriate. Neighbourhood 3 North Bay is a wonderful city in Northern Ontario. Known mainly for outdoor activities such as snowmobiling and ice fishing in the winter and cottaging and fishing in the summer months, there are plenty of opportunities for fans to find other adventures that could include a Lakers game. The North Bay Memorial Gardens is located west of the Trans Canada Highway, east of Lake Nipissing on Chippewa Street. The immediate area surrounding the arena is fairly residential with the local YMCA right next door. Access to the highway is easy so it is not difficult to head downtown or other spots to find interesting North Bay highlights. In addition to the many outdoor activities that can be found in North Bay, fans may also want to check out the North Bay Museum. As far as other sporting options go, Nipissing University fields a number of athletic teams. The Nipissing Lakers basketball team plays on campus at the Robert J. Surtees Student Athletic Center. The Nipissing Lakers hockey team also shares the Memorial Gardens with the Battalion. There are a number of options for pre and post game fare in North Bay. Fans will definitely need to hop in the car to get there though. Cecil’s Brewhouse, Wacky’s, Moose’s Cookhouse, Burger World and Arugula are all good options. For fans staying in the city, the Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn are good options that are pretty close to the arena. Fans 3 Fan support of the North Bay Battalion has waned over the years. North Bay received their team after huge support for the Nipissing Lakers hockey team. Initially, the fans came out to support the Battalion, selling out most nights. The 2022 season, which admittedly has been decimated by coronavirus limitations, saw fewer than 2,000 fans per game at the Memorial Gardens, second fewest in the OHL. The 2020 season, pre-covid, had the Battalion averaging just over 2,000 fans, their fewest to date, the lowest in the league. With the Battalion having a strong season on the ice, attendance has picked up a bit. It will be interesting to see what happens in a full, uninterrupted season for the Battalion at the turnstile. The fans that are in attendance are strong supporters of the Battalion and can definitely be heard. Access 5 The North Bay Memorial Gardens is located west of the Trans Canada Highway on Chippewa Street. The highway runs north, right through the city, essentially splitting it. Being very close to the highway and highways 11 and 17, the Gardens is very easy to get to by car. There are 1000 parking spots at the Memorial Gardens and there is no charge for parking. For fans who wish to utilize public transit, there is a bus stop on Chippewa Street directly in front of the arena. Fans can check out the North Bay Transit website for maps, fares and schedules. The box office is located on the west side of the building and lineups are not usually an issue. Getting around the arena is not too difficult, although at times, the concourses can be a bit narrow. The washroom facilities are also adequate. With the protocols for covid and the ever changing security situation at arenas, Stadium Journey encourages fans to check out the North Bay Memorial Gardens and North Bay Battalion websites for the most up to date safety and security information. Return on Investment 5 Taking in a North Bay Battalion game is pretty easy on the pocket book. Tickets for the Battalion are under $25 for the regular season. Parking is free and concession prices are about what one would expect. The product on the ice is as good as anywhere in Ontario and does not feel like a once in a lifetime endeavor as some NHL experiences do. Extras 3 An extra mark for the renewed rivalry with the other Northern Ontario teams in the OHL, the Sudbury Wolves and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Two extra marks for Remembrance Day celebrations for the Battalion. The game that was reviewed was just before Remembrance Day on the 100th anniversary of the Armistice Treaty. The Battalion did a wonderful job of celebrating the day with the help of the local Legion and the locals that are stationed at CFB North Bay. The Gardens remains a living memorial of those who served. Final Thoughts In a league where more than half of the arenas are now shiny and generic, there is something to be said for the throwback arena. It may not have all the bells and whistles, but it has character and provides for a great time. The North Bay Memorial Gardens is such an arena. Taking in a North Bay Battalion game is a ton of fun and great value for the sporting dollar. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Hamilton Stadium 64 Melrose Ave. N Hamilton, ON L8L 8C1 Force FC website Tim Hortons Field website Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 23,218 Lighting the Forge Editor's Note: On December 18, 2024, it was announced that the stadium will undergo a naming rights change, and will be temporarily rebranded as Hamilton Stadium until a new naming rights sponsor is found. In 2018, the Canadian Premier League took the pitch for the inaugural season, planting the new league as the top tier of professional soccer in Canada, outside of the three teams that play in Major League Soccer. Bob Young, the “Caretaker” of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League was instrumental in the formation of the new league. The CPL features a quota for Canadian players with the goal being to develop more Canadian soccer players. Bob Young would take the helm of one of the inaugural teams, Forge FC, which is owned by Young’s Hamilton Sports Group and play in the home of the Tiger-Cats, Tim Hortons Field. Located on the same spot where the iconic Ivor Wynne Stadium once stood, Tim Hortons Field opened in 2014 and has one of the largest capacities in the CPL at over 23,000. Forge FC has been the most successful team in the league, winning the league championship in 2019, 2020, and 2022. Food & Beverage 4 Concession options at Tim Hortons Field are limited to the lower deck on the east side, but there are plenty of options to keep fans happy. The Butcher Burger Bar, Poutine Provisions, Pizza Pizza, Stipley Snacks, and Tim Hortons are all great options. Coca-cola products are the soft drink of choice at Tim Hortons Field and Tim Hortons beverages are also available. Lincoln Lager by Bench Brewing is the feature local brew, which goes along with the other macro brews. There are plenty of options and fans will be happy. Atmosphere 4 Tim Hortons Field is located in the Stipley neighbourhood of Hamilton. It is nestled into the existing neighbourhood and essentially features two large east and west grandstands on the east and west sides. The exterior is not unattractive but is fairly simplistic. The largest gathering area is at the southeast corner of the block. The team shop can be found at this corner. Inside the stadium, the pitch runs from south to north and the main grandstand on the east side is where the majority of seating is. Club seating is on the west side, which probably gives a better view as the view from the east side has a bit of an empty feeling with the entirety of the west lower level being empty. Forge FC markings throughout the stadium are not over the top, but not invisible. Fans will surely know that Tim Hortons Field is the home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but they will also feel at home as Forge FC supporters. Facia on the east side features Forge banners and the “Together We Forge” mantra and markings for the 2019, 2020, and 2022 North Star Shield winners as Canadian Premier League champions are proudly displayed. One advantage to playing in a CFL stadium is the use of the excellent video board, which stands in the north end. A pleasant surprise at Tim Hortons Field was the lack of football lines for the soccer experience, making it feel a little more professional and a little more like a genuine soccer pitch. The gameday production for Forge FC is fairly simple, but not unlike most soccer experiences. Forge FC makes great use of the video board. The mascot, Sparx, can be found interacting with fans and traversing the crowd. The supporters section offers its entertainment with the chants and smoke that are typical at a high-level soccer match. Cheerleaders can be found on the pitch level or in the end leading the fans in support of Forge. Neighbourhood 2 Tim Hortons Field is absolutely a neighbourhood stadium. Located in the Stipley neighbourhood of Hamilton, on the location of the former Ivor Wynne Stadium, Tim Hortons Field suffers from the same location issues as its predecessor. Bob Young attempted to get a different location for the stadium when negotiating with the City of Hamilton, however, the long and drawn-out process ended with no change in location, only a change in orientation. There are not many spots for pre or post-game food or drinks near the stadium. The Capitol Bar and Festival Cafe are nearby. There are a couple of fast food options on Barton Street, but nothing too exciting. The best bet is to hop into the car or take public transit and head to Hess Village. The Gown and Gavel is a good selection as is the Lazy Flamingo. Other selections downtown include Electric Diner and Radius. The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is located at the club level at Tim Hortons Field and is open during non-game hours. Hamilton Place and the FirstOntario Centre are the other big entertainment spots in the city, hosting concerts and other shows and they are located downtown. A must-see experience in Hamilton is the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. For those looking for other sporting experiences, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL share Tim Hortons Field with Forge FC. If lacrosse is the jam, then seeing the Toronto Rock at FirstOntario Centre is the way to go, although they will be moving to Mississauga temporarily during renovations on the arena. Also, McMaster University fields athletic teams as well. The McMaster Marauders football team plays at Les Prince Field @ Ron Joyce Stadium and the basketball team plays at Burridge Gymnasium @ Ivor Wynne Centre . Hamilton also has an Intercounty Baseball League team the Hamilton Cardinals . For fans needing to stay in the area, downtown is again the spot to be. The Crowne Plaza and Sheraton are good selections on King Street. Fans 3 Forge FC fans are among the best in the Canadian Premier League. In the 2023 season, Forge FC have attracted an average of over 5,000 fans per match, good for 2nd in the league. In the previous season, Forge attracted almost 3,500 fans per match which was good for 4th. The Forge FC supporters group, Barton Street Battalion, is found in the northeast corner of the stadium and is loud and supportive of Forge. Unfortunately, Tim Hortons Field has a capacity of over 23,000, and even a strong attendance of over 5,000 fans still leaves a massive number of empty seats for each match. Access 3 Getting to Tim Hortons Field can be a challenge. The Stipley is far from the major highways and fans coming in from out of town will have to travel through the city. It is located east of Highway 403, west of Red Hill Parkway, and significantly south of the Queen Elizabeth Way. King and Main Streets are the main access points to the neighbourhood, but both streets being one-way, means that the traffic does flow well. Parking around Tim Hortons Field is a huge issue for football games, but for the smaller soccer crowd, it is less of an issue. There are not too many parking lots. There are a couple that will charge $15 to $20 and some residents will sell their driveway for the evening. Getting there early to find parking is the best idea if bringing the car to Tim Hortons Field. Fans interested in tailgating should head early to the lot at Chapele and Lloyd, Parking Lot E. The response to the parking situation is a significant public transit effort. There are several buses that travel to King, Barton, and Cannon Streets. There are some Park and Ride lots throughout the city also. Public Transit is free on Tiger-Cat game days with a valid ticket. However, the same situation is not in place for Forge FC matches. More information can be found on the HSR website . Getting around the stadium isn’t terrible. There are many sets of stairs at Tim Hortons Field and a couple of escalators to take the pressure off of the elevators would help also. Washroom facilities are more than adequate at Tim Hortons Field. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for Forge FC are a bit on the expensive side as compared to MLS NextPro or other CPL experiences. Tickets for Forge FC begin at $29 and go up to $50. Club seats go for $67. Parking is not too expensive and concessions are, although a bit expensive, offer high quality and variety. The action on the pitch is very good and Forge FC does what it can to produce a high-quality, professional product. Fans will have a good time at a Forge FC match. Extras 2 An extra mark for the 905 Derby that Forge FC enjoys with their rival York United FC. An extra mark for the success Forge FC has enjoyed on the pitch. Forge FC has won the North Star Shield three times and the regular season championship once. They have been the Voyageurs Cup (Canadian Club) Champion Runner-Up once and participated in the CONCACAF Champions League twice. Final Thoughts The spark of Forge FC has helped the fledgling Canadian Premier League grab a piece of the soccer market in Canada. The CPL continues to grow and with the success Forge FC has enjoyed on the pitch, the future looks bright for both the team and league. Fans should head to Tim Hortons Field to check out Forge FC and enjoy some soccer action. ---- Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads , and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Hamilton Stadium 64 Melrose Ave N Hamilton, ON L8L 8C1 Canada Hamilton Tiger-Cats website Tim Hortons Field website Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 23,218 Oskee Wee Wee, in Grey Editor's Note: On December 18, 2024, it was announced that the stadium will undergo a naming rights change, and will be temporarily rebranded as Hamilton Stadium until a new naming rights sponsor is found. The 110th Grey Cup game will be played in Hamilton, and the hometown Ticat fans are hoping that the beloved Hamilton Tiger-Cats can find a way to represent the Steel City in the big game. The championship has found a home in Hamilton on several occasions, including eight with the Tiger-Cats (1953, 1957,1963, 1965, 1967, 1972, 1986, 1999) The Hamilton Alerts, Hamilton Flying Wildcats, and Hamilton Tigers brought home the Grey Cup in previous eras. In 1950, the Hamilton Tigers and Wildcats would merge to comprise the uniquely named Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Ticats are the toast of the town to this day and survived several moments, including the ownership of bombastic Toronto Maple Leafs owner, the late Harold Ballard. The Ticats were rescued by Hamiltonian Bob Young, the self-proclaimed “Caretaker” of the team and has in recent years procured additional investment to create the ownership group now known as the Hamilton Sports Group. For the majority of their existence, the Tiger-Cats called the venerable Ivor Wynne Stadium home. With the 2015 PanAm Games being hosted in the Greater Toronto Area, the City of Hamilton would raze Ivor Wynne in favour of the new Tim Hortons Field, originally the PanAm soccer facility. With a capacity of over 23,000, “The Donut Box” is the perfect size for CFL football and is now also the home of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Food & Beverage 4 Concession options at Tim Hortons Field are about as good as one will find in the CFL. The Butcher Burger Bar, Poutine Provisions, Pizza Pizza, Stipley Snacks, and Tim Hortons are all great options. Coca-Cola products are the soft drink of choice at Tim Hortons Field and Tim Hortons beverages and Timbits are also available. Lincoln Lager by Bench Brewing is the feature local brew, which goes along with the other macro brews. There are plenty of options and fans will be happy. A good plan is to head to the Stipley area, behind the south endzone to get a BBQ sandwich at The Stack and a Hamilton Tiger-Cats Lincoln Lager from Bench Brewing. Atmosphere 5 Tim Hortons Field is an excellent stadium for the CFL. The exterior of Tim Hortons Field does not provide a big wow factor, but it is an attractive stadium. Essentially composed of an east and west grandstand that is in a fairly compact footprint, fans will most likely enter through the north or south gates. There is a large gathering area in the southeast corner where fans can meet before heading in. There are a couple of things fans should note on the exterior. The southern end of Tim Hortons Field is bordered by Cannon Street East, which has been renamed Bernie Faloney Way between Balsam and Melrose after the legendary Tiger-Cats quarterback. The pillars of the exterior fencing feature the Tiger-Cats Walk of Fame. Member plaques for Hamilton legends like Earl Winfield, Angelo Mosca, Joe Montford, Wally Zatylny, numerous Pig Skin Petes, and many more are great for fans to explore. Inside the stadium fans will be drawn to a north and south endzone feature. The south endzone has the Stipley bar area with the giant steam whistle, which is used on scoring plays by the Ticats and signifies the working- class demeanor of Hamilton. The north endzone features the video board, which is solid. On the fascia of the west grandstand is the Tiger-Cats Wall of Honour. Tiger-Cats memorialized on the wall include John Barrow, Willie Bethea, Less Browne, Tommy Joe Coffey, Grover Covington, Bill Danychuk, Rocky DiPietro, Bernie Faloney, Jake Gaudaur, Tommy Grant, Garney Henley, Ellison Kelly, Bob Krouse, Pete Neumann, Paul Osbaldiston, Ralph Sazio, Vince Scott, Don Sutherin, Earl Winfield, Ben Zambiasi, Joe Zuger, Rob Hitchcock, Joe Montford, Danny McManus, and the infamous Angelo Mosca. In the northwest corner of the fascia, the Tiger-Cats have their two most honoured players memorialized with banners for the retired numbers of Bernie Faloney and Angelo Mosca. Along with Mosca and Faloney the eight Grey Cups the Ticats claim are memorialized. (1953, 1957, 1963, 1967, 1972, 1986, 1999). An area that fans should consider checking out is the Canadian Football Hall of Fame which is located on the Club Level. Where the Tiger-Cats step up is in the game day production department. There are certain staples that Ticat fans enjoy and the organization delivers on all accounts, but by no means is the game over-produced. The national anthem is highlighted with the unveiling of the giant Canadian flag, nearly the size of the entire field. A flyover by one of the planes from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is a staple at Tiger-Cat games. The Tiger-Cats cheerleaders entertain the fans on the field and throughout the stadium and TC and Stripes, the Ticat mascots, interact with fans young and old. However, it is the presence of Pigskin Pete and the Oskee-Wee-Wee chant that are uniquely Hamilton and a part of every Tiger-Cat experience. Neighbourhood 2 Tim Hortons Field is absolutely a neighbourhood stadium. Located in the Stipley neighbourhood of Hamilton, on the location of the former Ivor Wynne Stadium, Tim Hortons Field suffers from the same location issues as its predecessor. Tiger-Cats Caretaker, Bob Young, attempted to get a different location for the stadium when negotiating with the City of Hamilton, however, the long and drawn-out process ended with no change in location, only a change in orientation. There are not many spots for pre or post-game food or drinks near the stadium. The Purple Pear is nearby. There are a couple of fast food options on Barton Street, but nothing too exciting. The best bet is to hop into the car or take public transit and head to Hess Village. The Gown and Gavel is a good selection as is the Lazy Flamingo. Other selections downtown include Electric Diner and Radius. The Canadian Football Hall of Fame moving to Tim Hortons Field has given The Stipley another reason to come down to the stadium during non-game hours. The Hall is open during non-game days and well worth checking out after its reopening. Hamilton Place and the FirstOntario Centre are the other big entertainment spots in the city, hosting concerts and other shows and they are located downtown. A must-see experience in Hamilton is the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. For those looking for other sporting experiences, Forge FC of CPL shares Tim Hortons Field with the Ticats. If lacrosse is the jam, then seeing the Toronto Rock at FirstOntario Centre is the way to go, however, the Rock will be temporarily moving to Mississauga for part of the 2024 season and beyond due to arena renovations. Also, McMaster University fields athletic teams as well. The McMaster Marauders football team plays at Les Prince Field @ Ron Joyce Stadium and the basketball team plays at Burridge Gymnasium @ Ivor Wynne Centre . Hamilton also has an Intercounty Baseball League team the Hamilton Cardinals . Fans 5 The Hamilton Tiger-Cats continue to have top-notch support in the CFL. In the 2023 season, the Tiger-Cats have averaged 22,500 fans per game. This is good for 5th in the CFL. However, the Ticats boast over 90% capacity which is first in the CFL. The Ticats enjoyed similar attendance statistics in the 2022 season. The Ticats are the top draw in Hamilton on the sporting scene and Ticat fans are loud and proud. Access 3 Getting to Tim Hortons Field can be a challenge. The Stipley is far from the major highways and fans coming in from out of town will have to travel through the city. It is located east of Highway 403, west of Red Hill Parkway, and significantly south of the Queen Elizabeth Way. King and Main Streets are the main access points to the neighbourhood, but both streets being one-way, means that the traffic does flow well. Parking around Tim Hortons Field is a huge issue and there are not too many lots. There are a couple that will charge $15 to $20 and several residents will sell their driveway for the evening. Getting there early to find parking is the best idea if bringing the car to Tim Hortons Field. Fans interested in tailgating should head early to the lot at Chapele and Lloyd, Parking Lot E. The response to the parking situation is a significant public transit effort. Several buses travel to King, Barton, and Cannon Streets. There are some Park and Ride lots throughout the city also. Public Transit is free on game days with a valid ticket. More information can be found at the HSR website . Getting around the stadium isn’t terrible. There are many sets of stairs at Tim Hortons Field and a couple of escalators to take the pressure off of the elevators would help also. Washroom facilities are more than adequate at Tim Hortons Field. Return on Investment 4 The Tiger-Cats provide a first-class experience that has a strong return on the investment. Tickets run from $35 up to $110, which is about what one would expect for the CFL. Parking can run from $20 to $25 and concession prices are about what one would expect. The action on the field is great and the atmosphere at Tim Hortons Field is excellent. In the end, the return on investment is quite strong in Hamilton. Extras 4 An extra mark for one of the greatest rivalries in sports. There is nothing the Hamilton faithful love more than beating the hated Toronto Argonauts. The annual Labour Day Classic played in Hamilton each year is the top ticket for the season. Labour Day is the signature day for the CFL and the two teams have been squaring off for decades on this national holiday. An extra mark for Tiger-Cat season seat subscribers from Box J. In Ivor Wynne Stadium, the most ardent Ticat supporters sat in Box J. At Tim Hortons Field the Honorary Box J has been set up in Section 103. An extra mark for bringing the Canadian Football Hall of Fame into Tim Hortons Field. An extra mark for the Hamilton Tiger-Cat Alumni Association which does a fantastic job of keeping the history of the Tiger-Cats alive with its fantastic website. Final Thoughts Only time will tell if the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will get to play in front of a home crowd for the 110th Grey Cup. One thing is certain, however, fans who check out a Ticats game at Tim Hortons Field will be glad they did, yelling along with Pigskin Pete, “ Oskee-Wee-Wee … ” ----- Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Bo Hall Field 4190 AZ-80 Douglas, AZ 85607 Map It Bo Hall Field website Cochise College Apaches website Year Opened: 1964 / Renovated: 2022 Capacity: 250 (Approx) Cochise Apaches Cochise College is a two-year public community college located in Sierra Vista and Douglas, AZ, offering over 100 certificate and degree programs. The school's sports teams are named the Apaches. The baseball field, Bo Hall Field, is on the Douglas campus, about two miles north of Mexico. The team is an ACCAC (Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) member and an NJCAA participant.  The baseball team began playing in 1964 when the school opened.  Baseball was one of the first original sports at Cochise College, alongside basketball and golf.  The baseball team is a four-time ACCAC champion and has appeared in the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, CO, three times (1988, 1989, and 2014). They play their home games at the new, pristine Bo Hall Field.  The team has always played in the same spot where Bo Hall Field is today, but the facilities were not nearly as pleasant as today.  Over the years, Cochise College has worked ardently to improve the field. The field was dedicated in April 2022 and named for Bo Hall, a former coach, alumni, and athletic director.  New field turf installation began in October 2022, was completed in January 2023, and was ready for the 2023 season.   Other renovations involved updates to both the home and visitors’ dugouts, which included new barriers with padding and new rubber flooring. Bo Hall Field Home Dugout, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Food & Beverage 2 Bo Hall Field has a small concession stand underneath the press box.  It sells hot dogs, candy, soda, water, and Power Ade at minimal prices.  A bottle of water is $2, for example.  Fans can bring in their own snacks and food if desired. Atmosphere 3 Attending an Apaches baseball game is a delightful, no-frills few hours.  With pleasant weather and no outside artificial sound stimuli, the focus is pleasingly on the game. The infield has artificial turf and dirt, while the outfield is real grass.  Red brick dugouts and a press box adorn the infield.  Two bleacher sets are on each baseline, with a shaded set down the third baseline.  A thick chain link fence protects the fans from foul balls, though this fence makes seeing the ball somewhat difficult. Bo Hall Field does not have lights, so only day games are played here.  The scoreboard lists the balls, strikes, outs, inning, and number of runs, hits, and errors.  It does not have a line score. Bo Hall Field Scoreboard, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The pregame music is painfully loud, but the gameday operations staff lowers the volume when play starts.  Thankfully, they don't play tunes between pitches and at-bats except when a mound visit takes place.  Some of the mountains beyond the outfield are  in Mexico, as the border is only two or so miles away.  Pine trees vividly line the outfield wall for a nice-looking backdrop.   You’re there to simply watch and enjoy the game and the players on the field. Neighborhood 1 Bo Hall Field is on the campus of Cochise College in rural Douglas, AZ.  It is nine miles to town with fields, ranches, and farms dotting the way between them. Places to eat in Douglas include Asadero El Guero (southwest/Mexican), Cilantros Bar & Grill, 333 Café Restaurant (in the Gadsen Hotel), and Mana’s Restaurant & Bakery (good for breakfast).  Douglas has many other restaurants to choose from. If you’re spending the night, the town has a Best Western, a Motel 6, a few local motels, a B&B, and some RV parks.  The more luxurious hotel and historic landmark is the Gadsden Hotel, built in 1907.  It is worth checking out the breathtaking lobby, even if you are not staying there. Bisbee, AZ is 18 miles east of Cochise College and is the better-known tourist town.  It has historic Warren Ball Park , coal mining history and museums, a Queen Mine tour, a vibrant art scene, and a bustling downtown area. So, while there is not much within five miles of the ball field besides college events, drive a little further to discover an assortment of restaurants, attractions, and places to stay. Fans 1 The Apaches baseball team does not draw a huge fan base.  In fact, the doubleheader I attended on a weekday had less than 20 fans in the stands.  The biggest fans are the players themselves rooting on their teammates and cheering at good plays, batting, and pitching.  More community members come out to the games on the weekend. It is sometimes difficult to get spectators because the Douglas Campus is so far out of the way. I suspect they might get more fans when playing Eastern Arizona College (Thatcher, AZ) or Pima Community College (Tucson, AZ). Access 3 Getting to Bo Hall Field is easy via automobile, but it is far from any metropolitan area.  The closest airport is Tucson (TUS) about 2 hours away. The county provides a limited bus schedule on Cochise Connection with a stop on the Douglas campus.  I’d recommend calling before using that service, just to be sure you can get there and back again from a game. The parking lot isn’t paved, so it may get muddy on rainy days.  It is smooth and flat, so those with mobility concerns can easily wheel or walk to the field.  The stadium has places behind the chain-link fence to park a wheelchair or place your own lawn chair. Best of all, a remarkably considerate and welcoming feature are the new, clean, accessible restrooms in the press box/concession building. Bo Hall Field - Press Box, Concessions, Restrooms, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Return on Investment 5 Like most ACCAC baseball teams, attending an Apaches baseball gam e has  t he best price: free.  Concession prices are insignificant, and you can bring your own drinks and food in.  Fans experience a calming joy sitting in the spring sun and catching nine innings of America’s pastime. Extras 3 Bo Hall’s (the person the field is named for) grandson, Darick Hall, has played for the Philadelphia Phillies and is currently playing in AAA in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization .  He began his college career at Cochise College. Fans can listen to the baseball games via the Cochise College Athletics YouTube page. As something a little different, the college offers various aviation courses with an instructional airport right on site. Final Thoughts Like most ACCAC baseball fields, Apache fans visit to watch the game for the game, to support the players (could be a relative), and to pass the time on a warm spring afternoon.

Photos by Joseph Oakes and Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Dean E. Smith Center 300 Skipper Bowles Dr Chapel Hill, NC 27599 North Carolina Tar Heels website Dean E. Smith Center website Year Opened: 1986 Capacity: 21,750 The Dean Dome The Dean E. Smith Center is the home of the UNC-Chapel Hill Men’s basketball team. It opened on January 18, 1986, replacing Carmichael Arena as UNC-CH knocked off rival Duke 95-92. At a capacity of 21,750, it is one of the largest on-campus basketball arenas in the country. However, due to its seating design with many high-level donors sitting in the lower-level seats, it is not known as a loud or raucous venue and often gets the reputation as a “wine and cheese” crowd. Nevertheless, the Heels have a great winning percentage at the Smith Center and UNC-CH fans are as passionate as they come. Food & Beverage 4 The Smith Center offers a good selection of concessions for a college basketball arena. There are plenty of items to take advantage of if you are hungry. These include Pap Johns Pizza, hot dogs, smoked sausage, pulled pork sandwiches, nachos, popcorn, peanuts (a local brand from nearby Pittsboro, NC), chips, and candy. Souvenir sodas, bottled water, beers, and other alcoholic beverages are available. The concourses in the Smith Center are small so there is not much room for the concession lines. However, items are already prepared and self-serve, which makes the lines move quickly. All payments are cashless, and sales tax is added to the prices listed. Atmosphere 4 The Smith Center is a good place to see a game and has great sightlines. 21,750 Carolina blue seats are all angled to the court. The seating is split into a large upper and lower level. There are no premium seats or suites at the Smith Center, which has been one of its major drawbacks in recent years. There are four large 19’ x 100’ video boards in each corner of the arena that were added in 2018 which provide replays, scores, and stats. There is no center-hung scoreboard. Closed captioning is available on the ribbon boards on the overhang of the upper level. The Tar Heel mascot Ramses, the pep band, and the cheerleaders are all extremely involved in the game atmosphere. One thing that you cannot miss at the Dean Dome is the seven national championship banners and retired jerseys. The court at the Smith Center was named “Roy Williams Court” after the retired hall of fame coach in 2018. Neighborhood 2 The Dean Smith is located in the midst of the UNC campus near dormitories and several of the other athletic campus buildings. Therefore, there are no food and lodging options within walking distance. If you are looking for places to eat head a couple miles to Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill for many options. Fans 5 UNC-Chapel Hill fans are among some of the most passionate fans in the country, and they truly have a ‘national’ fanbase. While most fans rely on alumni for their top fans and donors, many of the Tar Heel fans have no connection to the school whatsoever, they are simply Carolina basketball fans. Therefore, the Smith Center is at near capacity for most games. Most conference games are sold out, and tickets must be obtained from the secondary market. Despite having the reputation of not being one of the loudest college arenas, fans get into the game during big plays. Expect to hear many TAR – HEEL chants throughout the game. Access 3 As previously mentioned, the Smith Center is in the middle of campus, and it is not the easiest place to drive to. Unless you are a parking pass holder at one of the garages on campus, parking will be difficult. Our suggestion is to park at the Friday Center just off campus and ride the Tar Heel Express. Parking is free and it is $5 per person to ride the shuttle that takes you to the front door of the Smith Center, and back after the game. These shuttles start running 2 hours before game time and you can pay right before you board the bus. The Smith Center only has one concourse that services both the upper and lower levels. Therefore, it can get very crowded on the concourses and restrooms before and after the games and during halftime. Return on Investment 4 Tickets start around $40 for upper-level seats. For most games, only upper-level seats are available from UNC. Lower-level seats can be found on the secondary market, but be prepared to pay much more. As previously mentioned, the park-and-ride option is only $5 per person, and concessions will not break the bank either. While the ticket prices may seem a bit high, it is about right on par for this level of basketball. Extras 3 The Carolina Basketball Museum is right next door to the Smith Center. However, it does close 3 hours before game time on game days. Click here for more info. The many retired jerseys and national championship banners are a must-see when visiting the Smith Center. The event staff allows fans to move around in the lower-level pre-game to watch warmups, take photos, etc. Final Thoughts The Smith Center is nearing 40 years old, and it does show with the small concourse size and lack of premium seating. However, due to its excellent sightlines and recent upgrades, the Smith Center is still a top college basketball venue. Despite fan affiliation, it should be a bucket list trip for any college basketball fan.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.14 Greater Lawrence Technical School Baseball Field 57 River Road Lawrence, MA 01810 Merrimack Warriors baseball website Greater Lawrence Technical High School website Year Opened: 1965 Capacity: 500 Warriors, Come Out and Play   Merrimack College is a private Augustinian university in North Andover, Massachusetts located about a half hour’s drive northwest of Boston. It was founded in 1947 with a mission to educate World War II veterans returning home. It has since grown to an enrollment of just under 5,500 students studying in 13 academic divisions.   Merrimack began sponsoring a varsity baseball team in 1980. For much of their history, the Warriors competed in Division Two’s Northeast-10 Conference. Merrimack baseball won four conference titles and qualified for two Tournaments. In 2019 Merrimack began transitioning its entire athletic program to the Division One level. After competing for five seasons in the Northeast Conference, the Warriors moved to the Metro Athletic Conference in 2025. They are still awaiting their first D-1 Tournament appearance.   One Merrimack alumnus (Ryan O’Rourke) has reached the Major Leagues. There is a baseball Hall of Famer who attended Merrimack College - Carl Yastrzemski, who attended school there to get his B.S. in Business Administration during his first few seasons in the Majors. Another Warrior baseball player who moved on to greener pastures was Charlie Day, better known for his role in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” among others.   The Greater Lawrence Technical School opened in 1965 to serve students of Lawrence, Andover, North Andover and Methuen interested in an education with a vocational focus. When plans for a new baseball field on the Merrimack campus fell through, the team moved their home games to the newly turfed field at GLTS.   In 2021 GLTS Alumni Association dedicated the area between the track and baseball field as “Alumni Field.” The area consists of a flagpole, block wall and aggregate. There is an area with bricks that were purchased by various alumni and engraved with their name and year of graduation. The scoreboard at the ball field displays the name Alumni Field, but there is no mention that this is the new name of the facility, either onsite or online.   Food & Beverage 0   There is no food available at GLTS. Fans are welcome to bring in their own drinks and snacks. Since this is New England, you’re sure to see lots of Dunkin’ cups on chilly March and April afternoons.   Atmosphere 2   You wouldn’t expect an elaborate game day presentation here at a small field like GLTS, and you certainly won’t get one. Most of the energy present here comes from the players on the field and their family members in the stands. If you enjoy being able to hear the chatter on the field, you’ll love your time at a Merrimack baseball game.   A small scoreboard in left-center field displays basic game stats. There is a PA announcer who tries to add a bit of energy to the proceedings without being too intrusive. Music plays between innings on a good sound system. Aside from that, there is nothing to distract you from the action going on down on the field. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Neighborhood 2   Lawrence is a city with a population of about 90,000 residents a half hour’s drive northwest of Boston on the New Hampshire border. Located on the banks of the Merrimack River, Lawrence came of age during the Industrial Revolution as mills and factories were built along the shores of the river. Like many other cities in the northeast that suffered through the decline in manufacturing after World War II, Lawrence has struggled to redefine and modernize its economy in the decades since.   The Merrimack campus is located five miles from GLTS in neighboring North Andover. Fans looking for other sporting options in the area during baseball season can pair a Warriors game with a UMass-Lowell Riverhawks game at LeLacheur Park, or if visiting later in the season, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats , Boston Red Sox and Worcester Red Sox all play within an hour’s drive of Lawrence.   Visiting fans will find nothing of interest within walking distance of GLTS, although several hotels are located nearby along the I-93 corridor. In fact, a Courtyard by Marriot is located beyond the left field fence. Fans looking for a place to eat nearby will likely check out The Chateau Restaurant or Andiamo Restaurant Bar and Café, both located close by near I-93. Most visiting fans are likely to head towards Boston for dining and lodging options or other attractions.   Fans 2   The crowd at a Merrimack baseball game can accurately be described as a “friends and family” type of crowd. Stadium Journey visited GLTS on a cold and rainy Saturday morning. There were between 50-100 fans in attendance. Most of the fans at Warriors baseball games appear to have a personal connection with the players on the field and are very invested in the action. It makes for a very low-key, friendly atmosphere, as everyone seems to know everyone in the stands. Access 4   GLTS is easy to get to, located just a half mile from Interstate 93 as it runs through western Lawrence. Simply take exit 42 off of I-93 and follow the signs to Greater Lawrence Technical High School, which will be on your left as you travel down River Road past the industrial park. The ballfield itself is located behind the school along with the other athletic fields. Ample parking is available for visiting fans right next to the ball field.   Seating is available on a pair of small aluminum bleachers on either side of home plate. Standing room is available right behind home plate, as well as down the left field line. There is room on a hill down the left field line for fans to set up their lawn chairs and take in the action. This appears to be the most popular spot at GLTS. Sitting on the bleachers will require you to look through a fence and/or some netting that serves as the backstop. Seats down the line are free from obstructions, although the fencing here is taller in places than during our initial visit in 2021. For a truly unobstructed view, you may have to move further down the third base line.   There are no permanent concession or rest room facilities at GLTS. A pair of port-a-johns are located behind home plate for fans to use.   Return on Investment 5   You will not spend a single cent to watch a Merrimack baseball game. Admission and parking are free at GLTS. Extras 0                                                                                                 I am tempted to subtract a point for Merrimack’s continued refusal to acknowledge that GLTS is where they play their home games. There is no mention of the field on their facilities page, and the site of all home games on the baseball schedule is listed as only “Andover, MA.” Their social media pages never mention the name of the field, making it difficult for visiting fans to find the games (unless they visit a site such as Stadium Journey, of course).   Final Thoughts   Despite Merrimack’s reluctance to acknowledge their home field, the baseball field at Greater Lawrence Technical School is comparable to most of the other Division One facilities in New England. It’s not a fancy place, but it’s a solid place to catch some quality baseball at no charge to local baseball fans.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photo By Richard Smith, Stadium Journey A visit to Porto wouldn't be complete without immersing oneself in the fervor of its beloved football club, FC Porto. The Estádio do Dragão and its accompanying museum offer a captivating glimpse into the rich history and passionate culture of this iconic team. Stepping into this sporting sanctuary is a journey through triumphs, legends, and the unwavering spirit of the "Dragões." Photo By Richard Smith, Stadium Journey FC Porto, founded in 1893, stands as a pillar of Portuguese football, boasting a remarkable record of domestic and international success. The club's legacy is etched with numerous Primeira Liga titles, Taça de Portugal victories, and a pair of coveted UEFA Champions League trophies. This storied past is meticulously preserved and celebrated within the FC Porto Museum, a modern and interactive space that brings the club's heritage to life. Visitors can traverse through themed areas, showcasing a vast collection of trophies, memorabilia, and multimedia displays that chronicle the club's evolution. Photo By Richard Smith, Stadium Journey The Estádio do Dragão, inaugurated in 2003, is a testament to modern stadium architecture. Its sleek design and vibrant atmosphere provide an unforgettable experience for football enthusiasts. The stadium tour allows visitors to explore behind the scenes, venturing into the players' tunnel, dressing rooms, and press areas. Standing on the pitch, one can almost hear the echoes of roaring crowds and feel the electric energy that permeates the stadium during match days. Photo By Richard Smith, Stadium Journey The FC Porto Museum is a highly regarded museum with accolades including a nomination for the European Museum of the Year Award and the Innovation and Creativity Award.  Photo By Richard Smith, Stadium Journey For those planning a visit, the stadium is conveniently located in the eastern part of Porto, with excellent accessibility via the city's metro system. The "Estádio do Dragão" metro station, on the yellow line, drops visitors right at the stadium's doorstep. Regarding pricing, it is best to check the official FC Porto website or reliable ticketing platforms for the most current information, as prices can vary. Typically, you can purchase tickets for a combined museum and stadium tour. Also be aware that stadium tour times are subject to change, and are often unavailable on match days and the day before UEFA matches. So checking the schedule beforehand is very important. Typical museum opening hours are from 10 am to 7 pm Tuesday to Sunday, and 2:30 pm to 7 pm on Mondays. Stadium tour times vary throughout those days. The museum itself is a modern, interactive experience, with many digital displays, and historic memorabilia. It is a very well put together museum. The stadium tour gives one a real feel for the size and scope of the modern stadium. It is a very worthwhile experience for any football fan. A visit to the FC Porto Museum and Estádio do Dragão is more than just a tour; it's an immersion into the heart of Porto's sporting identity. Whether you're a die-hard football fan or simply curious about the city's culture, this experience offers a captivating blend of history, passion, and modern sporting grandeur.

Photo By Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Journey got a chance recently to visit Helsinki Finland's Olympic Stadium. A visit to the Helsinki Olympic Stadium is a journey into Finnish sporting history, interwoven with architectural splendor. This iconic landmark, situated in the Töölö district of Helsinki, is most renowned for hosting the 1952 Summer Olympics. However, its story began earlier, with initial construction intended for the 1940 Games, which were ultimately canceled due to World War II. The stadium's functionalist design, a hallmark of Finnish architecture, has been meticulously preserved, even through recent extensive renovations. Photo By Richard Smith, Stadium Journey The stadium's legacy extends beyond the 1952 Olympics, having hosted numerous significant sporting events and concerts throughout the years. However, the memory of the 1952 Olympics, and the feeling of national pride that it generated, is still very much alive within the walls of the stadium. The stadium is a living monument to Finnish sporting history. Photo By Richard Smith, Stadium Journey One of the stadium's most prominent features is its towering structure, the Olympic Stadium Tower. Ascending this 72-meter tower offers breathtaking panoramic views of Helsinki. From this vantage point, visitors can appreciate the city's unique blend of urban landscape and natural beauty. The tower provides a fantastic opportunity for photographers and anyone wanting a memorable view of Helsinki. Besides the tower visit, which comes with a low fee, there are a few things free to see at the base including a small shop. Photo By Richard Smith, Stadium Journey For those interested in delving deeper into Finnish sports history, the Tahto Sports Museum is located within the stadium complex. This museum showcases a comprehensive collection of artifacts and exhibits, chronicling the nation's sporting achievements. A combined ticket allows visitors to experience both the stadium and the museum, providing a complete immersion into Finland's athletic heritage. Photo By Richard Smith, Stadium Journey When planning a visit, it's advisable to check the stadium's official website for the most up-to-date information on opening hours and ticket prices. Combination tickets for the stadium tour and the Tahto Sports Museum are available, offering a cost-effective way to experience both attractions. The visitor center at the base of the tower is the starting point for tours and access to the stadium's various facilities. Photo By Richard Smith, Stadium Journey The Helsinki Olympic Stadium is more than just a sports venue; it's a cultural landmark that encapsulates Finland's spirit and history. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, an architecture aficionado, or simply a traveler seeking a unique experience, a visit to this iconic stadium is sure to be a memorable one.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Maestri Field 6801 Franklin Ave New Orleans, LA 70122 New Orleans Privateers website Maestri Field website Year Opened: 1977 Capacity: 2,900 Miracle on the Lakeshore The University of New Orleans was built on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain using the property and buildings of the former Naval Air Station New Orleans. Originally called LSU-New Orleans, it welcomed its first students in 1958 – in 1974 it officially became the University of New Orleans. Over the years it grew in size, and today represents the city as the only public college In New Orleans. The Privateer baseball program began as a D2 program in 1970; the legendary Ron Maestri took over as head coach two years later, bringing a new era to the UNO program. Under his guidance the school made an appearance in the Division 2 World Series before transitioning to Division 1 the next year, joining the Sun Belt Conference in 1976, and winning two Conference titles in 1978 and 1979. The Privateers would be a powerhouse in the early in 1980s, and in 1984 UNO made history as the first college from Louisiana to make it to the College World Series. UNO even produced a Golden Spikes Award Winner in Augie Schmidt, as the best college baseball player in the country. UNO has faced several challenges in recent years, mainly to the Covid pandemic, but also the college never really recovered from Hurricane Katrina – the current enrollment is 5,400 students compared to the average of 15,000 students pre-Katrina. After Katrina there was talk of moving the athletics program back to D2, but ultimately the school stayed in Division 1 and joined the Southland Conference in 2014. Coach Maestri came out of retirement in 2014 after a 28-year coaching absence, coaching for 2 years before retiring again. Current Angels skipper Ron Washington was his assistant coach in 2015.   Food and Beverage   3 There is one concession stand located on the plaza at the front entrance; hamburgers, nachos, hot dogs, popcorn, and a unique item of Frito chili pie round out the menu. At Maestri Field you will find some of the cheapest concession prices in all of D1 baseball, with prices for most items ranging between $3 and $7. Bottled sodas are $5 with Coca-Cola being the official soft drink provider of UNO. Alcohol is priced kind of high, with canned beer selling for $10 – the beers offered are Michelob Ultra, Bud Light, Stella Artois, and Cutwater canned cocktails.  A few local beers offered include Holy Roller and Paradise Park IPA, brewed by Urban South Brewery, which is located in New Orlean’s Lower Garden District.   Atmosphere   4 Coach Maestri is the namesake of beautiful Maestri Field at Privateer Park, which opened in 1977. The stadium sits about a mile east of campus, a part of the university sports complex that includes all the school’s athletic facilities – on the grounds around the park you will find the tennis and beach volleyball courts, as well as UNO Lakefront Arena , home of the school’s basketball program, which looms over the field from behind home plate. Maestri Field has been renovated several times since Katrina, with the most recent being in 2014, so this is basically a 10-year-old ballpark. The main entrance is behind home plate, where you will walk under an iron gate welcoming you to Privateer Park. Gayle and Tom Benson Plaza at the main entrance doubles as the concourse, named after the late Saints / Pelicans  owner and his wife. There is a pop-up trailer to the left, where you will purchase your tickets and buy a good selection of UNO merch; in the trailer you’ll also find the one concession stand, as well as a neat history display dedicated to the program. All the school’s regional appearances, conference championships, All-Americans, and the 16 former players who have gone on to play in the Major Leagues, are recognized in the display. The UNO colors of blue and white are everywhere, from the signage in Benson Plaza to the outfield wall pads and chairback seating. The main grandstand features seating for about 800 people, and extends from home plate to the dugouts; every seat in the grandstand behind home plate is a blue chairback. The good news is the seats are comfortable, with cupholders and plenty of leg room, while the bad news is that nothing in the ballpark is covered, so there is nowhere to get shade. Down the right and left field lines is metal bleacher seating for a couple of hundred, and also down the left field line is a tent with a full spread of buffet-style food items for season ticket holders. Note that if you sit in the left field side bleachers your view of home plate may be obstructed by the tent. The field dimensions are 330-405-330, and along the outfield wall you’ll find a basic blue wall pad with just a few local sponsors, while in left field there is a large scoreboard with a small videoboard. Beyond the outfield you’ll find several hills, which are actually ridges that are part of the levee system that helps protect New Orleans from constant flooding.   Neighborhood   3 The UNO campus and athletic facilities are located in the Gentilly neighborhood of the 7th Ward, on the Lake Pontchartrain side of New Orleans, away from many of the tourist spots in the city, such as the French Quarter and Bourbon Street. However, you can still find plenty to do in Gentilly if you want to experience a quieter side of the city, with less traffic and more locals. Just beyond the outfield wall you’ll find many people fishing, boating and walking along the over 6 miles of paved walking trails, along the south shore of Lake Ponchtratrain. Make sure you check out the Mardi Gras fountain along the trail, which lights up in Mardi Gras colors at night, or you can check out the remains of old Fort St. John, an abandoned Spanish-controlled fort located along the lake and Bayou St. John. While riding the trail you can also see the levees that failed New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina; getting an up-close look at these levees, which were a scene of so much destruction, is a surreal experience in itself. Another popular spot to check out in the area is City Park – if it’s a gorgeous day out you can spend all day in one of the largest public parks in the US, and the 20th most-visited park in the country. There’s so much to do here in City Park; if interested in sports there are two (regular) golf courses, a disc golf course, multiple stadiums, and miles of trails through the bayous that flow into City Park. Or, if you are interested in museums and art there is the New Orleans Museum of Art and the outdoor sculpture garden. If you have kids or are visiting with family you might want to check out Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and Storyland, a small amusement park with a few rides, roller coasters, and a storybook theme. City Park also provides a romantic getaway if you want to take a gondola ride or a duck boat ride through the bayous of City Park. There is also access here to Bayou St. John, which is the main tributary through this area of the city. Bayou St. John is a popular spot for kayakers and people canoeing during the spring and summer months. City Park is also a streetcar stop, in case you want to take the streetcar into the French Quarter or the Garden District to see the other tourist areas in New Orleans. Another cool attraction to check out in the 7th Ward is Fairgrounds Race Track, the second-oldest horse track in the country. If you come to a weekend series at UNO during February and March there is a good chance that the track will be hosting horse races in preparation for the Louisiana Derby, usually held on the second to last Saturday in March. Alternatively, if you come to a game during April it is more likely the fairgrounds will be hosting a Jazz Fest event. For restaurants and places to eat near UNO’s campus, you will find plenty of local spots and dives that make New Orleans so great. There’s so many to name, but a few near UNO include Opelousas Seafood and The Original Fiorella’s Café. Another one of my favorite’s nearby is Walker BBQ, famous for their BBQ po’ boys, while closer to the fairgrounds and the city you’ll find a wider selection of restaurants like Parkway Tavern, Liuzza’s at the Track, Café Degas, and Seahorse Saloon. City Park also has a Café du Monde, which is a lot quieter and less crowded than the popular French Quarter location.   Fans   2 The Privateers average about 300-500 fans per game, which is kind of disappointing considering the history of the program. I also figured there would be more students at games, but the student section here is non-existent. The one plus is that there is plenty of room to move around, and you can sit wherever you want and have entire rows to yourself. Just don’t expect any between-inning promotions or giveaways; the focus here is strictly on the game. The few fans that did show up are knowledgeable about baseball and diehards of the UNO program. I also talked to several older gentlemen who’ve been coming to games here for over 40 years, including Coach Maestri, who still shows up to support the Privateers when he can. You’ll also find a large number of visiting fans who show up, as many of the Southland Conference schools are within a few hours. For example, the most recent game I was at had a large number of Northwestern State fans who made the trip from upstate to take advantage of a spring weekend in New Orleans. When Southeastern Louisiana , Nicholls State , Tulane , or McNeese State  visit you can expect a good number of visiting fans – Tulane and UNO meet up every year in the Pelican Cup, while Southeastern Louisiana and UNO play every year in the Pontchartrain Bowl.   Access   4 Maestri Field is located on the north side of the city, away from most of the tourist sites in New Orleans like the French Quarter and Bourbon Street. There are several ways to get to the baseball stadium, but the best and safest way would be take the Franklin Ave/Elysian Fields exit off Interstate 610 – travel north for about three miles and you’ll see UNO Lakefront Arena , with Maestri Field right next to it. Your GPS may advise that you go through some rough areas in New Orleans East to get to campus, but I would not go that route, especially at night – don’t take the Chef Blvd or Downman Road exits. Once on the grounds you’ll find plenty of parking; I was able to park in the lot closest to the stadium, but there is additional parking near UNO Lakefront Arena and the school’s tennis center. Once inside Maestri Field you are free to move around and sit wherever you want. There are also not long lines at the concession and merch stands here.   Return on Investment   4 All tickets can be had for $12, and you are free to sit wherever you want, including in the chairbacks. Parking is free near UNO Lakefront Arena and the school’s tennis center, but in regard to concessions I would recommend getting something to eat at one of the many restaurants in New Orleans if you can help it, instead of eating at the ballpark. The level of baseball you are getting to see in the Southland Conference is pretty good, with several of the players on the field, either playing for UNO or their opponent, usually getting drafted. I considered this a good return on investment – you can't beat D1 baseball in a cool city like New Orleans either.   Extras   3 The Privateers made 14 regional appearances in Division 1 and two in Division 2, with their most recent regional appearance in 2008. UNO also earned six conference titles in baseball, although none since joining the Southland Conference in 2014. In addition, UNO has had 16 players make it to the Big Leagues, with the most prominent alum being Braves skipper Brian Snitker, who played at UNO in 1976 and 1977. The Privateers best player ever in the baseball program was Augie Schmidt, who played for UNO from 1980-1982. He won the 1982 Golden Spikes Award as the best player in college baseball, and would be drafted # 2 overall by Toronto in 1982, bouncing around the minors before retiring in 1986. The Privateers best season was in 1984, when they advanced to Omaha for their first and only appearance in the College World Series; UNO made history as the first school from Louisiana to ever advance to the CWS. One extra for Maestri Field hosting minor league baseball for four seasons in the early 1990s – from 1993-1996 the stadium was home to the New Orleans Zephyrs, the Triple A affiliate of the Brewers. Jeff Cirillo, Jose Valentin, Mike Matheny. and B. J. Surhoff are a few of the big names who played here on the way to the show.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 American Airlines Center 2500 Victory Ave Dallas, TX 75219 Dallas Mavericks website American Airlines Center website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 19,200 Dallas Mavericks – American Airlines Center American Airlines Center (AAC) is a multi-use arena located in the Victory Park area, which is just north of the historic West End in downtown Dallas. The venue is home to the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA and the Dallas Stars  of the NHL. The AAC, as it is commonly referred to by local sports fans, opened its doors on July 28, 2001, with ‘An Evening with the Eagles’; the same year, the Mavericks and Stars opened their 2001 season in American Airlines Center. The seating capacity for basketball is 19,200, or up to 21,146 including standing room. The venue is a beautiful building made of brick, limestone, and granite with signature arches, but the arena’s sweeping facades and smooth arch design can easily get lost in the Victory Park buildings. The American Airlines Center is a primary venue for the Dallas area, hosting year-round sporting events and live entertainment. Besides the Mavericks and Stars , American Airlines Center has also hosted the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, Big 12 basketball tournament, NCAA women’s Final Four, and the 55th NHL All Star game.   Food & Beverage   5 There are an abundance of concession stands throughout the arena, including Big Dawgs + Brews, Bonanni Brothers Pizza, Fast Break, El Taco Tex, Grilled Zone, High Steaks, Hot Popped and Twisted, Bud and Burger, Zavala’s BBQ, and Woodbridge Barrel Bar. In addition, if none of the above satisfy your appetite there is also Market to Go, which offers fresh deli sandwiches, vegetarian options, tossed salads, and bottled beer. To see the incredible variety that American Airlines Center offers when it comes to food service, please visit their concessions website. There are numerous alcohol selections inside American Airlines Center, and not just at the concession stands, but also at specialty beer bars such as Texas Craft Beer Bar, which serves Ziegenbock, St Arnold’s, Fireman’s 4, and Franconia. In addition, there is also Karbach Craft Beer Bar, which offers Karbach Brewery’s (Houston) products; as well as Modelo Beer Bar import and craft bars, which offers beers from around the world, such as Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale (OR), Goose Island (Chicago), Brooklyn Lager (NY), Alaskan Amber (AK), Kirin Iciban (Japan), and Stone Arrogant Bastard (CA). The prices all range from $12 to $14 depending on size; Woodbridge wine is also sold for $11.50 a glass. Margaritas are available for between $14 and $18. Besides alcohol, Coca-Cola and Dr Pepper products are also offered, with prices of $6 for the regular size, or $11 for the bottomless souvenir cup. In addition to the concession stands and specialty bars, American Airlines Center features full-service restaurants – the most popular is Modelo Gold Lion Bar & Grill, on the southwest plaza level; their food menu includes barbacoa and pastor shrimp tacos, loaded waffle fries, All-American burgers, vegan burgers and hot dogs, Texas smashburgers, chicken wings, and their signature birria grilled cheese sandwich. On the southeast terrace level is 1933 Ranch Bar & Lounge, features a large array of local craft beers along with a variety of bratwursts; this restaurant is located outside section 305. Alternatively, platinum level seating will grant you access to another five unique bars, including Wine Press, The Zone, Yuengling Flight Club, El Taco Tex, and DBQ Barbecue. Despite all the great options at American Airlines Center, just like any arena the best option is to eat before or after the event, as there are plenty of great restaurant options in and around Dallas.   Atmosphere   4 The atmosphere at a Mavs game begins on PNC Plaza before the doors even open – this area has games, photo opportunities with the Dirk Nowitzki statue, or you can find a spot in one of the two restaurants at Victory Plaza, Chops Sports or Hero; once inside there are plenty of food and drink options available. In addition, the main team store, Hangar Fan Shop, is open near the main entrance for fans looking to update their Mavs gear. In addition, Chris Arnold, one of the game nights hosts, is on the mic getting fans pumped up for the night’s game. There are also Mavs championship banners and retired numbers hanging from the rafters. During timeouts, the Hoop Troop provides the crowd with free t-shirts by slinging them throughout the arena, and the Dallas Mavericks Drumline is a team of trained percussionists that beat their drums nonstop from the Michelob Ultrasound stage on the second level of AAC. The Mavs have two mascots: Champ and Mavs Man, who entertain the crowd, but the most famously recognized entertainment during Mavs game are the Dallas Mavericks ManiAACs – the ManiAACs are an award-winning hip-hop dance troupe that have been a part of the Mavs gameday atmosphere since the team moved from their old home, Reunion Arena. The Mavs have a dance team as well, known as The D Crew. As for the crowd, Mavs fans are also knowledgeable and at times get loud, but overall the atmosphere is a typical NBA-type crowd.   Neighborhood   5 American Airlines Center is in the Victory Park neighborhood in downtown Dallas, just a short walk from Dallas’ Historic West End. The West End area consists of a list of restaurants, such as Sonny Bryan’s Smokehouse, Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse, Gator’s, TGI Friday’s, Spaghetti Warehouse, Dick’s Last Resort, and House of Blues. Besides restaurants, the area also has tourist attractions – the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Sixth Floor Museum, Dallas World Aquarium, and Holocaust Museum are all within the West End. In addition, Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas-Victory Park, in the heart of Victory Park, is an 8-screen, 700-seat luxury theater; this 44,000 square-foot cinema offers guests a luxury movie-going experience with auditoriums filled with fully reclining leather seats, an upscale lounge-style lobby space, and a gourmet menu with in-theater waiter service. Just outside the south entrance of American Airlines Center is Victory Plaza – the plaza consists of Chops Sports and Hero. In addition, there is a lobby bar called Living Room, across from the plaza inside the W Dallas-Victory lobby. Or, on the east side of the arena near the Lexus parking garage, there is Dirty Bones (Wings place) and Mio Nonno Trattoria. Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer - Dallas is also another great spot on the west side of the W hotel. Any of these restaurants are good options, if you just want to hang out outside the arena. Also, the recent trend of craft brews and breweries continues in the area – just across the interstate from AAC is Community Beer Company. The Community Beer Company is closed on Monday and Tuesday, but there is also Deep Ellum Brewing Company, open seven days a week with brewery tours. Located in the historic and eponymous Deep Ellum section of Dallas, this brewery produces some of the locals’ favorite brews. The brewery tour here gives you samples of their fantastic craft beer, so you can decide on which brew you’ll take home, or buy in local restaurants. Dallas has numerous lodging options around American Airlines Center, especially in the Market Center area (only 2 miles north of ACC). Some of the hotels to consider are the W Dallas Victory, Renaissance Dallas Hotel, Doubletree Market Center, Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center, and the Hilton Anatole.   Fans   5 The Dallas Mavericks usually rank among the best in the NBA. The loyal Mavs fans have always shown up at games. On Mavs gamedays there are plenty of fans with Mavs gear on, seen throughout AAC; the crowd’s enthusiasm is very good and may even become deafening depending on the circumstances of the game or the opponent. Mavs fans loyalty especially showed up when the Mavs traded Luka Doncic to the rival Lakers – the fans have been very vocal about their displeasure with the current Mavs ownership. Despite their displeasure with the trade, there are still plenty of Mavs fans attending games. Only time will tell if this trend continues or not, but I’m willing to say the fans here will continue to be among the NBA’s best fan base.   Access   4 American Airlines Center is one of the better downtown venues when it comes to parking, with about 5,000 parking spaces available for guests. The parking lots open two hours prior to the start of a Mavericks game, and both cash and credit cards are accepted at AAC managed lots, with prices from $25 to $40. Also, while the Lexus Garage across from the box office is primarily reserved for season ticket holders, there may be limited space there for $25. And if the parking garages are not available, there is also parking all around the arena a short walk away – the best parking option is the popular West End area, where you can enjoy a pregame meal before a short walk to the arena for $15. The best way to save money and time in attending a Mavericks game is to plan ahead using American Airlines Center’s parking website. The most economical way to get to American Airlines Center is public transportation – the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Trinity Rail Express (TRE) both provide regular service to Victory Station, which is located on the west side of AAC. These two transportation services can get you to the arena from anywhere in the Dallas area, including DFW airport and Fort Worth. In addition to their regular schedule, the TRE runs a special event train that leaves Victory Station 20 minutes after the end of the game, so you won’t have to miss the ending to catch the train. In addition, there are Uber pickup/drop-off locations on All Star Way and Olive Street, while taxis can best be found towards the W Hotel, at the corner of Olive Street and N. Houston. What time the doors open at AAC depends on the event, but for the Mavericks the doors open ninety minutes prior to game time. There are four main entrances which provide quick entry into the building – the south side entrance is accessible from Victory Plaza, which is where pre-event activities take place, while the west side entrance caters to TRE and DART transportation. The Uber pickup/drop-off spot is on the north side of AAC, and the east entrances are primarily used by patrons from the parking garage, or those who need the box office; the American Airlines Center box office is located on the northeast corner of the arena. The concourse inside the arena is well marked and spacious, and you’ll easily notice elevators providing access to the Platinum Club, suites, and upper level seating. The stairs inside American Airlines Center are in the corners of the building, and provide access between the levels, as do the elevators.   Return on Investment   3 The Dallas Mavericks use to have the best ROI in the NBA, but since Mark Cuban sold his stake in the club, Mavs ticket prices have become similar to the rest of the NBA, with ticket prices varying based on the day of the game and the opponent. Sometimes a third-party site can cut the cost, as season tickets holders may want to get rid of tickets for games they can’t attend. Upper level seats can cost as low as $24 per ticket, while the lower level starts around $75, but can go up to a thousand dollars per ticket depending on the opponent. Overall, the return on investment at American Airlines Center is not good enough to keep the average fan coming back. Concessions prices are higher than can be expected compared to other NBA venues, and ticket prices are in the middle to upper half of the NBA. The best ROI relief could be accessing the venue using public transit. However, the ROI really depends on the person – if you are a Mavs Fan for Life the ROI is high, while for everyone else it can go below average. Unfortunately for most fans it is what they have come to expect across the sports world. The best advice for a higher ROI at AAC is to find a weekday game, use public transportation, and avoid eating a meal at the concessions.   Extras   3 AAC is about to celebrate 25 years in operation, and the arena is still one of the cleanest and well-staffed venues in all of sports. The mascots, Dr Pepper Hoop Troop, and the ManiAACs compliment the Mavs entertainment inside AAC. In addition, there is plenty of history on display here of both the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars , such as banners hanging from the rafters, as well as numerous trophy cases. The downtown arena also provides plenty of restaurant and lodging options, as well as public transportation from anywhere in the DFW area.   Final Thoughts American Airlines Center is one of the finest sports venues in America and is in a great city. The AAC is immaculate, the amenities are first class, and the event staff is one of the friendliest in the NBA. The Mavs fans and in-game production make attending a Mavs game one of the best in the NBA. If you are in the Dallas area during the NBA season, I highly recommend spending time to attend a Mavericks game in the American Airlines Center.

After seeing some of the concession items gracing menu boards across the baseball world this season, I must paraphrase Ian Malcolm from the movie Jurassic Park: “Your team chefs were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they never bothered to stop to think if they should.” The days of simply buying some peanuts and Cracker Jack are long gone. Let’s take a look at some of the more, let's call them unique, items fans will find at their local ballparks this season: Hartford Yard Goats – The Float Your Goat Now, this item was unveiled on Instagram just a few days before April Fool’s Day, so we may have to recant our objections, but this item could be a big seller if the comments are any indication. The Float Your Goat starts with a quarter-pound hot dog topped with chopped peppers, onions, bacon and brown mustard. So far, so good, right? Now take that dog and submerge it in a glass of 100% whole goat milk and it sure adds a new level of difficulty to the nine-inning challenge… Trenton Thunder – Swine Brew When the Thunder unveiled this concoction on social media, they told fans they could “combine your two favorites in one concession item this year with a 10oz beer with chunks of pork!” Really? Would anyone list “chunks of pork” as one of their favorite ballpark snacks? The team doubled down with an update a couple of days later: “to ensure the quality of the pork and that it’s served at the correct temperature, the beer will be served hot.” I don’t know about you all, but there’s nothing I want more than a hot beer with chunks of meat in it on a warm summer night. Toronto Blue Jays – Cotton Candy Fries For our next item we go north of the border, where Canadian fans will seemingly put just about anything on top of a pile of french fries, as evidenced by the endless varieties of poutine you can find all over the continent. But this one is new. Drizzled on top of your standard order of fries is a blue and white cotton candy and mayo-based sauce, along with a dallop of blue and white cotton candy. Rogers Center executive chef Matthew Munro described the item as “a little fun for everybody.”  When asked to comment on this menu item, our Ontario Correspondent (and Jays fan) Dave Cottenie responded with a vomit emoji. St. Paul Saints - Land of 10,000 Calories While this six-foot long hot dog is meant to be shared (it comes with four 20oz drinks and a side of fries - like this thing needs MORE fries), that doesn't make it any less ridiculous. It comes topped with pulled pork, mac and cheese, french fries and jalapeno peppers. Would you expect anything less from a team that employs a ball pig? (the 2025 pig is named "The Great Fatsby) I guess you could try to eat it all yourself, but why would you? Kalamazoo Growlers - The SKAT Dog   The Growlers front office can never be accused of not committing to a bit. The Growlers are named in honor of the bears that can be heard "growling" in the local forests, and they've come up with a creation that you may want to eat with your eyes closed. If you're not familiar, the term 'scat' is slang for animal droppings. Replace the "c" with a "K" (for strikeout), and there you have much more information than you needed. The SKAT Dog is topped with whipped cream, sprinkles and a maraschino cherry. Instead of a bun, this hot dog is served on a chocolate cake donut. The entire Dog totals over 1,000 calories, and may make those around you look twice. Or three times. Or maybe vomit in horror. Perhaps it's a good thing it's only available on Saturdays. Now, are these items April Fools jokes, social media troll jobs, or the real thing? What concession items have you come across in your Stadium Journeys that turned your stomach at the mere thought of them? Share with us on our social media channels. Find us on Twitter , Instagram , Facebook , YouTube , Threads , BlueSky and LinkedIn .

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Hermance Stadium 4462 Peachtree Rd NE Brookhaven, GA 30319 Oglethorpe University Stormy Petrels Baseball website Hermance Stadium website Year Opened: 1920 Capacity: 900 Stay Stormy Oglethorpe University, located in Brookhaven, Georgia, is just north of Atlanta’s Buckhead community. Named in honor of the founder of the Georgia colony, James Oglethorpe, the university was originally established in the central Georgia town of Milledgeville, in 1835, then moved to Atlanta in 1870, finding its permanent home at its current location in 1915. Hermance Stadium has been the home of Oglethorpe baseball since its completion in 1920; the playing surface inside the venue, Anderson Field, is named in honor of former baseball coach Frank Anderson. The school took on the moniker Stormy Petrels  in reference to the legend that on his trip from England to the colonies, Oglethorpe marveled at the oceanic sea bird, the storm petrel, as it darted in and out of the ocean’s waves. Oglethorpe University is a member of the NCAA Division III Southern Athletic Association, which is comprised of colleges and universities throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.   Food & Beverage   2 A small snack shack is located down the hill from the seating area, which may be difficult to access for those with mobility challenges. The options are limited but serviceable for a quick bite – the menu includes hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, chips, and candy, along with bottled drinks from Coca-Cola, Powerade, and Dasani. For more variety, snack and beverage vending machines are available in Lupton Hall, just beyond the right field fence.   Atmosphere   2 Hermance Stadium’s stonework and iron gates feel every bit its nearly 100-year-old self. Its Gothic design is reminiscent of a European castle, and the seating area has strong vibes of a Roman coliseum. Originally slated to seat 50,000 spectators, the Great Depression, which began just days after the field was dedicated in 1929, limited its construction to just one of the seven planned sections. There are no bathroom facilities at the stadium, rather fans need to access the neighboring Lupton Hall. Going inside can provide a bit of relief during cold, early season night games, however. The configuration of the seating does make for some challenges; the stands face directly into the setting sun, so for the first few innings it does make watching the game a bit difficult. The seating area, concentrated on the first base side of the field, also lacks actual physical seats, leaving fans to sit on concrete slabs. Several fans do bring tailgating chairs for a bit of added comfort. While there is not necessarily traditional seating behind the home dugout, several flat stones have been pushed into the hillside to create a natural looking seating option. The stadium’s incomplete look is due to the Great Depression, which limited its construction to just one section of seating. Most of the outfield wall is the typical 8-foot fence covered with graphics, but a small section down the right field line is a stone retaining wall close to12-feet high, making up about the first 30-feet of the right field confines. It is a bit disconcerting that the visiting dugout seems to lack restroom facilities, so it is not uncommon to happen upon visiting players relieving themselves under the stands.   Neighborhood   4 Hermance Stadium is at the front of Oglethorpe University’s campus in Brookhaven, just north of Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood. There is a wide selection of restaurants in the area up and down Peachtree Road, one of Atlanta's busiest thoroughfares. Buckhead is known for having many of Atlanta’s finest restaurants. Foodies might also want to check out the nearly endless options for international cuisine on Buford Highway, which is just a few miles to the north in neighboring Chamblee. If just grabbing a casual bite to eat before the game is more the goal, the Town Brookhaven mixed use development, right next to campus, has nearly a dozen eateries. Atlanta’s subway system, MARTA, has a station which is just a short rideshare trip away from the stadium, as well as from all downtown Atlanta has to offer.   Fans   2 Attendance at Oglethorpe baseball typically runs from around 150 to 200 fans per game. Of those in attendance, few appear to be students – instead they look like mostly family members. Fans are supportive of good baseball plays here, and the success of the Stormy Petrels, but they do not necessarily create much of a home field advantage.   Access   3 Oglethorpe is directly off Peachtree Road, one of the most heavily traveled surface streets in the area, just north of the Atlanta city limits. While this does help with direct access to Oglethorpe’s campus, it does come with a great deal of congestion, especially during weekday games. MARTA trains pass nearby, and while the station is within a walkable distance just over a mile from campus, a short rideshare instead might be easier. Once on campus there is a parking lot beyond centerfield and another beyond right field – both parking areas leave just a short walk to the entry on the first base side of the stadium. If you want to sit on the home side of the field, the terrain can be a bit tough going. For this reason, most fans, home and away, choose to sit in the stands. Home fans gather more toward the home plate end, while visiting fans tend to cluster on the far end, down the line. If wanting to visit the concession stand, there are stairs leading out of the lower level of the seating area, but the footing will likely be tricky for those with mobility challenges. Hermance Stadium does not have bathroom facilities for fans, so visitors will need to go to the basement of Lupton Hall if those are needed.   Return on Investment   4 There is no charge for admission or parking at Hermance Stadium, and concession prices are low enough that it would be difficult to find another venue in collegiate baseball to rival them. The primary investment in heading to Brookhaven to catch Oglethorpe baseball is simply the time that it takes battling Atlanta traffic.   Extras   2 The outfield wall recognizes the retired numbers of four former Stormy Petrels, the most notable of which is the # 4 of National Baseball Hall of Famer Luke Appling, who played at Oglethorpe in the late 1920s. Also honored are Josh Blythe (# 5), Eric Krug (# 11), and Tim Crowley (# 17). Despite its lack of luxuries and even basic amenities such as restroom facilities and seating, the preservation of such a historic facility should be commended, as a walk under the stands brings you back to a past era of stadium design.   Final Thoughts It is always nice to see historic stadiums like Hermance Stadium kept in use. Despite lacking many of the common comforts typically taken for granted even at the most modest of baseball stadiums, Hermance Stadium's distinct character is rarely found in modern designs. It is easy to overlook what the facility lacks in favor of appreciating its one-of-a-kind charm.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field 639 S. Hornet Drive Marietta, GA 30060 Kennesaw State Owls website S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field website Year Opened: 1951 Capacity: 1,200 Owls, Bring the Fight! The 2025 season marks the return of collegiate baseball to S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field, which previously served as the home of the Southern Polytechnic State University Hornets; Southern Poly merged with Kennesaw State University in 2015, dissolving the Hornets athletic programs. As the 2024 Kennesaw State baseball season came to an end, it also marked the end of Fred Stilwell Stadium – the construction of Mickey Dunn Stadium on the same site forced the Owls to relocate temporarily, 10 miles south of their main campus in Kennesaw. The temporary move comes during larger transitions in Owl athletics; after nearly 20 years in the Atlantic Sun Conference, having moved to NCAA’s highest division after the 2005 season, Kennesaw State joined Conference USA at the start of the 2024 academic year.   Food & Beverage   2 Concession offerings at S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field are standard stadium fare, such as hot dogs, pretzels, nachos with cheese sauce, candy, and chips. Combo meals, i.e. a hot dog and chips, are available but offer no savings over purchasing the items individually. While the food might satisfy a hunger, it is likely not enough to fill an empty stomach. Regular beverage options include Coca-Cola products, Powerade, and Dasani bottled water, while adult beverages consist of common domestic beers, as well as craft beers including Sweetwater 420, Hazy Like a Fox IPA, and the featured beer, the Kennesaw State branded Owl-In American Lager. White Claw seltzers and Long Drink spirits are also available.   Atmosphere   2 S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field was in a state of disarray prior to the Owls needing a temporary home for the 2025 season. The tarp of the outfield fence was tattered and torn, trees overhung the outfield wall, and the outfield grass was more a patchwork of grass and bare spots. A lot of work was done to bring the field up to collegiate baseball standards, and the results are nothing short of amazing. The stadium itself is a very straightforward facility – there is no exterior structure to speak of, just an exterior chain link fence. The grandstand sits 8 to 10 feet above field level and is made up of a small bleacher segment of chairback seats flanked by aluminum bleacher benches on each side. A small press box sits directly behind the bleachers, behind home plate. Hillside seating is also available along the first base side of the field, but if you choose to buy tickets in that area, it might be wise to bring tailgating chairs for comfort. The game presentation is simplistic; there is no videoboard for player stats or promotional ads, but rather just a straightforward scoreboard with inning-by-inning line score and ball-strike-out information just beyond the right centerfield fence. Also, mid-inning breaks are simply filled with music rather than any sort of ad reads or other interactive fan pieces.   Neighborhood   3 Kennesaw State’s Marietta campus is just off the intersection of South Marietta Parkway (120 Loop) and US Highway 41 (Cobb Parkway) that parallels Interstate 75, through the northwest Atlanta suburbs. The area is where chain restaurants and car dealerships begin to transition to the Marietta city center, which is just 3 miles away. Marietta Square is surrounded by several restaurants and highlighted with historic Strand Theater, much more of a town square than a downtown of high-rise buildings. The backside of campus abuts the neighboring campus of Life University, which commonly hosts one of the nation’s top collegiate rugby programs at Lupo Family Field. Around the corner from the main entrance of campus is the 24-hour Marietta Diner, which has been featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives , while in the opposite direction, 4 miles to the south, is Battery Atlanta, home of the Atlanta Braves , which has numerous restaurants and recreational options itself.   Fans   3 Despite the move 10 miles south of Kennesaw State’s main campus in Kennesaw, attendance numbers at KSU baseball have remained consistent with years past, pulling in roughly 500 fans per game. As might be expected, the off campus location does impact the student involvement a bit; the fans are responsive to the big moments in the game, as well as the excitement shown by the players.   Access   2 Kennesaw State’s Marietta campus is easily accessible from Interstate 75, which runs just to the east of campus, as does US Highway 41 (Cobb Parkway). The main entry point to campus can be found along South Marietta Parkway, locally known as the South Loop. Though this is the ceremonial entrance, with the field at the back of campus, the nearby construction makes this route a bit slow going. The most direct access point is via Polytechnic Lane, just south of the 120 Loop on Highway 41. Parking at S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field can also be a challenge – the lot adjacent to the field fills quickly, and other lots in the area are small and offer few spaces. The main entry point to the stadium is located along the first base side, next to the campus gymnasium. Considering that most of the parking in the area is on the third base side, there is a bit of a walk to get to the main entrance. The hillside along the first base line can be a bit steep as well, making its navigation a bit tricky, and even more so in inclement weather.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets start at $7 for standing room hillside access, or $10 for general admission bleacher seats, and online ticket purchases have no added convenience fees. Concession prices are comparable to those at typical college sporting events, and parking is free, making for an overall affordable college baseball experience. The facility accepts credit and debit cards only, so come prepared.   Extras   1 The Dobbins Naval Air Reserve base is just past the tree line, beyond the campus of Life University – like clockwork every day at 4 pm, Reveille can be heard, followed by the National Anthem.  This does create a bit of a quandary; should fans continue to cheer during the middle of a play, or stand at attention until the Anthem  is over?   Final Thoughts It is nice to see a baseball stadium return to use that had its team dissolved, as Southern Poly Tech experienced, even if that return is by the institution that ended baseball on the campus. Though there is not much in the way of amenities to make the experience here more comfortable, baseball at S. Walter Kelly, Sr. Memorial Field gives fans a decent backup venue for the Owls to use during their 2025 baseball season, without putting an undue burden on the program or its fans. Though it lacks the features now common even at the lower levels of Division 1 baseball, Kelly Memorial Field is a quality fallback facility that many college programs would be happy to call home.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Varsity Arena 299 Bloor St W Toronto, ON M5S 1W2 Toronto Varsity Blues website Varsity Arena website Year Opened: 1926 Capacity: 4,100 Blue Longevity One of the founding members of university hockey in Canada is the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.  First icing a team in 1891 for one of Canada’s most prominent post-secondary institutions, Toronto has enjoyed unprecedented success.  An unheard of 41 Queen’s Cups as the champion of Ontario University Athletics, and its predecessors, the Ontario conference of USports, have been brought back to Toronto.  This is coupled with ten University Cups as the National Champions in hockey, a trophy only first presented in 1963.  Coaching alumni from the Varsity Blues are a who’s who of hockey legends, including Tom Watt, Mike Keenan, Ace Bailey, Conn Smythe and Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada. Home for the Varsity Blues is the venerable Varsity Arena.  Built in 1926, Varsity Arena was one of the first indoor arenas in the world, built without pillars.  Along with being the home of the Varsity Blues, it was the home of the Toronto Toros of the short-lived World Hockey Association.  Having undergone some renovations over the years, Varsity Arena is now part of the Varsity Centre athletic complex on the University of Toronto campus, directly linked to Varsity Stadium, home of UofT football.  Varsity Arena retains the old-school charm that was found in the 1920s and remains a throwback to a previous era. Food & Beverage 3 A modest concession stand can be found in the concourses of Varsity Arena.  Improvement in concessions have been achieved over time.  Hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, cotton candy, grilled cheese, bagels, cookies and slushies are all found here.  Country Style coffee is the hot beverage of choice and Pepsi products are the soft drinks of choice.  Cash and credit are accepted. Atmosphere 4 Stepping into Varsity Arena is like going through a time warp.  If anything, the exterior of Varsity Arena is hidden. Varsity Centre, which includes Varsity Arena also includes Varsity Stadium. The two are nearly inseparable. Access to Varsity Centre comes from Bloor Street where the ticket office is located. To get to Varsity Arena, fans must travel underneath the grandstand of Varsity Stadium, parallel to the field. The inconspicuous entry to Varsity Arena will be on the right. The red brick exterior fits the rest of Varsity Centre and it may be possible to miss the entrance if fans are not looking for it. The Blues put a portable tent outside the arena and signage to help fans along the way. Entry into the Arena brings fans back in time. Varsity Arena smells, sounds and feels like hockey. The concourse of Varsity Arena is fairly narrow and fairly nondescript. There is only one path and it travels around the entire arena, immediately past the Zamboni Bay, dressing rooms and mini workshop where players can work on their sticks. Close inspection will find some old pictures of great Varsity Blues teams of the past. Although they are nice touches, the University of Toronto could do so much more to recognize and celebrate their hockey history. The seating bowl continues the travel back in time. Immediately fans will notice the seats. The entirety of the seating bowl, save for two rows in one section, are classic wooden two-for-one or love seats. There are a few singles and those two rows of more current, plastic, stadium seats. Two sections of seats across centre ice are tarped off with a large “Home of the Varsity Blues” banner.  Varsity Arena itself is akin to many of the older arenas that are found in the QMJHL with a peaked, triangular roof and arched I-beams. Above centre ice is a simple digital scoreboard. That scoreboard is surrounded by a plethora of championship banners, many of which look like they were raised in the year in which they were won. Toronto does have some consolidated banners which are much newer and really give scope to the sheer volume of success the program has enjoyed. At one point, a banner for the 1928 Olympic Gold Medal hung in Varsity Arena, however at the time of this writing it was nowhere to be found. There is no mystery where the inspiration of the design of the Varsity Blues uniform comes from. Toronto teams are nearly always blue, and Varsity is no different. The nod to the jerseys of the Toronto Maple Leafs is obvious. The game day production at Varsity is very simple. Typical music selections and promotions do not make the experience stand out and are just sufficient not to be bothersome. The Blues mascot, True Blue, can be seen on some occasions. Neighbourhood 5 The neighbourhood surrounding Varsity Centre is excellent.  Varsity is on the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus in the University neighbourhood of Downtown Toronto. Varsity sits in the shadows of Toronto’s iconic CN Tower, which can be seen across the stadium from Bloor Street. There are plenty of spots along Bloor for pre and post game food and libations. The Duke of York, The Fortunate Fox, Hemingway’s, Signatures and Proof are all options within a two minute walk. Favorites like Tim Hortons and Starbucks are also right there among other chains. Among the other University buildings, the Royal Conservatory of Music is right next door to Varsity Centre and the Royal Ontario Museum is on the same block. Queen’s Park and the Ontario Legislature are not far off and heading toward the lake will bring patrons through Toronto’s theatre district. The iconic Eaton Centre is not far off for shoppers and Harbourfront has a plethora of other entertainment options. Not to be missed would be the Hockey Hall of Fame. For fans looking for other sporting options, there are a multitude. The Toronto Varsity Blues field a full range of athletic teams and football  is found right in Varsity Centre at Varsity Stadium. Across Devonshire Road is the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport which is the home for Varsity Blues basketball . A twenty minute walk will bring fans to the Mattamy Athletic Centre which is the home of the TMU Bold and the former Maple Leaf Gardens. Bold basketball  is played inside at Varsity Court while hockey  is played above at Mattamy Home Ice. Toronto’s third university, York University is located at the north end of Toronto. York Lions Stadium is home for York Lions football , the Tait McKenzie Centre is home for basketball  and Canlan Ice Sports York is the home for hockey . There are, of course, a multitude of professional sports options in Toronto also. The Scotiabank Arena is home for the Toronto Maple Leafs  and Toronto Raptors . The Rogers Centre is home to the Toronto Blue Jays . Over at Exhibition Place, BMO Field is shared by the Toronto Argonauts  and Toronto FC , while across the parking lot, the Coca-Cola Coliseum is home for the Toronto Marlies . Fans 3 Varsity Blues fans are typical of USports hockey fans, in that attendance can be inconsistent.  The 2024-25 season was a strong one for Toronto and they averaged over 400 fans per game, good for 4th in the OUA, a fairly strong average for the conference.  However, a huge rivalry game against Toronto Metropolitan saw more than 2,500 fans at Varsity Arena, which skews the average a bit.  Varsity Blues fans are supportive at the right moments.  The number of students in attendance fluctuates drastically over the season.    Access 4 The St. George Campus of the University of Toronto is located in the University neighbourhood of Downtown Toronto.  It is north of the Gardiner Expressway, west of the Don Valley Parkway and quite significantly south of Highway 401.  Getting to this part of Toronto by car can be a little tricky.  Traffic is always an issue.  There are a number of surface lots that surround the university and parking can be found at a reasonable rate.  Probably the best way to get to this part of Toronto would be the subway.  There are two subway stops within a block of Varsity Centre and they are connected to both main subway lines.  Buses and streetcars are also not too far away from Varsity Centre.  Fans interested in public transit can check out the Toronto Transit Commission  website for maps, schedules and fares. The ticketing window is on Bloor Street, right at the entrance of Varsity Centre.  Lineups are not an issue.  Due to a low number of fans, getting around Varsity Arena is pretty easy.  The age of the building can be noticed in the washrooms, but the small crowds make heading to the washroom not much of a hindrance. Return on Investment 5 Varsity Blues hockey tickets can be had for $15.  Discounts are available for kids, alumni and seniors.  The product on the ice is solid and the price is more than affordable.  Parking the car will cost a few dollars as will taking transit.  Concession prices are good.  In the end, there are not too many sporting experiences around that will bring this combination of low price and good return together. Extras 3 An extra mark for the growing rivalry with the TMU Bold, which has seen some much larger than average crowds for their rivalry games. An extra mark for the deep history of the university, arena and Toronto Varsity Blues. An extra mark for the 1928 University of Toronto Grads, the only university team to win an Olympic Gold Medal.  Their coach was the legendary Conn Smythe and they did not give up a goal in the tournament. Final Thoughts Heading to Varsity Arena is a trip back in time to an old school arena where hockey remains the focus.  The Toronto Varsity Blues have a deep history and plenty of success and provide an experience that hockey fans should definitely take in. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Frost Bank Center 1 Frost Bank Center Drive San Antonio, TX 78219 San Antonio Spurs website Frost Bank Center website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 18,418 San Antonio Spurs – Frost Bank Center Founded in 1967 as the then Dallas Chaparrals in the now defunct American Basketball Association (ABA), the San Antonio Spurs have become one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. Becoming one of the best organizations in all professional sports, the Spurs set an NBA record of winning at least 50 games a season from the 1999-2000 season to the 2016-2017 season. Along the way, the Silver and Black won five NBA Championships, buoyed in part by a slew of Hall of Famers and all-time greats such as Tim Duncan , David Robinson , Tony Parker , Manu Ginóbili , and Head Coach Gregg Popovich . The last four of the Spurs championships were captured while the club has called the (now named) Frost Bank Center its home. Built in the early 2000s, the arena has undergone numerous upgrades and renovations over the years, including a massive renovation in 2015 to update the scoreboards, wi-fi, sound system, and lighting. However, massive changes are looming on the horizon for the Spurs and for Frost Bank Center, with the potential for a new downtown arena . While the future may be uncertain, the present still brings a lot of excitement for Spurs fans at Frost Bank Center.   Food & Beverage   5 The Spurs have always done a fantastic job in the area of concessions – the club has never rested on its metaphorical laurels in this category, with each season bringing new additions, upgrades, new offerings, and more for fans, and this season is no different. Fans attending games at Frost Bank Center can experience everything from burgers and chicken fingers to bulgogi and beignets. Virtually anything and everything one can imagine is available at the stands and kiosks sprinkled on every level of the arena. New this year is a Pluckers Wing Bar stand, offering up a line of its signature boneless wings and fries. The Texas-based Pluckers joins other chain spots in the arena, such as Whataburger and Pizza Hut, which also serve pared-down versions of their respective menus. Also new this year is Frost Bank Center’s Spurs culinary residency program, which features a rotating lineup of local chefs and restaurants serving up some of their signature menu items, expanding from their current location in the HEB Fan Zone on the plaza level to a larger home in the Frost Bank Club on the club level. Fans can expect sushi some nights, street tacos on other days, or barbecue depending on the schedule. One last thing that fans and visitors should be on the lookout for are several new self-service kiosks, including several self-service ‘stores’ where fans can purchase all the traditional game day items – your popcorn, nachos, hot dogs, and even beer – using AI technology to speed things along. However, one stand takes this to a whole other level, as fans can get their own margaritas and daiquiris at the Dax & Marg stand. What a time to be alive!   Atmosphere   4 I’ve been coming to games at Frost Bank Center since it opened, and the one thing they do well is make sure every game feels like an important event. While this has been a little tricky in recent seasons, the Spurs and Frost Bank Center still pull out all the stops, for example with live music outdoors in the Michelob Ultra Club before games and after certain matchups. The Spurs host numerous theme nights, many of which feature fan giveaways, specialty jerseys, and even updates to the court (such as on their ‘City Edition’ nights). There are fan contests during the breaks, there is a live DJ playing music throughout the game, and the Spurs, like many pro teams, run a version of a raffle/lotto for fans at each home contest. Other points to mention in this section are numerous photo opportunities/large art installations all through Frost Bank Center. These, along with the team championship and retired jersey banners in the rafters, not to mention the five Larry O’Brien trophies in the display case on the plaza level, are some of the most photographed images of the arena every time the Spurs take the court at Frost Bank Center.   Neighborhood   3 If you have a moment to take a read through the linked article mentioned in the opening paragraphs, which deals with the potential new arena, it will shed a great deal of light onto the score given in this ‘Neighborhood’ section. When the area for the now Frost Bank Center was chosen way back in the late 1990s, part of the reason given was that the new home of the Spurs would help revitalize the east side of the Alamo City – a new arena would bring in new businesses, new restaurants, new hotels, new merchants, etc. By and large that has not happened, and the area around Frost Bank Center looks the same now as it did 30-plus years ago. Fans coming to see a Spurs game will more than likely need to make the 15 to 20-minute drive into downtown San Antonio for any food, entertainment, or lodging selections before and/or after games here. There are a few fast-food options and motel-type facilities that fans can turn to in a pinch, however. Directly across the street from the arena is Willow Springs Golf Course , one of the city’s many municipal offerings; if golf is your passion and you have the time, this is an affordable option for you. If it’s not, make the drive from downtown , see the Alamo , stroll the River Walk , shop and eat at the Historic Pearl  or Shops at River Center , and rest your head at Grand Hyatt River Walk  or Hotel Emma  – this is the San Antonio you want to experience.   Fans   5 The Spurs average over 18,100 fans per game, which puts them squarely in the middle of the NBA pack. However, looking at this number you’ll see this is a virtual sellout for every home game. This is quite a testament to the fanbase, as the Spurs have been on the downswing as their legends and Hall of Famers have gradually retired in the past few years. You cannot doubt the passion of the fans here, though, as they come to the games loud and decked out in Spurs gear and jerseys, and you get the sense they love this team. This is especially true as the Spurs are the proverbial only game in town. This is a proud fanbase that anxiously awaits a return to glory.   Access   4 Despite its remoteness – or perhaps, in spite of is better – Frost Bank Center is surprisingly easy to get to. It lies between two major highways in Interstates 10 and 35; the exits are clearly marked and there is an ample number of parking spaces on site. If you do drive in, both routes do tend to get backed up with traffic before and after games. The arena is a 22-minute drive from San Antonio International Airport if you’re flying in from somewhere, or a 15 to 20-minute drive from downtown San Antonio. If you don’t want to drive, the city’s mass transportation  option has bus routes that will drop you off near the arena; make sure to check times for the last pickup, however.   Return on Investment   4 Each season, I’m continually amazed at the ticket prices the Spurs are still able to offer fans. For certain games, single game tickets can be had for the bargain basement price of $17, which is a tremendous deal for fans in this day and age. The rest of the experience – the concessions, souvenirs, and parking – are commensurate with what you will find throughout the rest of the NBA. Concession items can be bought on somewhat of a sliding scale; bigger ticket, higher end items are going to cost more, but more common items are still somewhat affordable. For parking, however, it depends on how far you’re willing to walk, but the lowest cost I could find was $25. You can still take comfort in the ticket prices, however – that will help ease the wallet pain of the rest of the in-game experience.   Extras   4 Before we delve into this topic too much, I have to admit right off the bat that I’m a massive fan of the Spurs mascot, The Coyote . Growing up in San Antonio, he has been a ubiquitous part of the team and the city for over 40 years. Spurs fans are indoctrinated into the team usually by a combination of the fandom of someone in their immediate family and/or through the antics of the Coyote. Still going strong, the Coyote draws huge reactions from the home crowd whenever he comes out during breaks – on the strength of him waving his banners, dressing up in an amazing array of costumes, and in his heroics capturing wayward flying invaders to the arena, I almost gave this section a score of 5. The Silver and Black were one of the first clubs to do away with traditional cheer and dance teams in the 2010s, instead introducing a co-ed Spurs Hype Squad that performs dance, tumbling, and acrobatic routines multiple times each game. Coupling these with the overall atmosphere – the live music, the DJ, the art installations – gives Spurs games at Frost Bank Center a unique look and feel unlike any other in the NBA.   Final Thoughts As I said, I’ve been coming to Spurs games at Frost Bank Center since it opened, and literally its only drawback is where it’s located in the Alamo City. The experience is still fantastic and has only gotten better over the years. Basketball fans and sports fans alike need to add it to their bucket list while they can; it is incredibly affordable to see a game here, and it will be good to get in on the ground floor while the Spurs plot their way back to the top of the league. Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

A recent report from the California State Auditor has stated the City of Anaheim has not properly maintained the condition of Angel Stadium. Currently the 4th oldest MLB yard behind Fenway Park , Wrigley Field  and Dodger Stadium , Angel Stadium  has not had any major enhancements since its return as a baseball only facility in 1998. Angel Stadium ranked 23rd out of 30 MLB yards last year in Stadium Journey's latest MLB ballpark rankings .  “Anaheim’s lease agreement with the Angels ownership requires ownership to maintain the stadium in good condition and repair, subject to ordinary wear and tear, with a standard of maintenance at least equal to first-class professional baseball stadiums,” the report said. “The city and Angels ownership last renovated Angel Stadium over 25 years ago. However, until 2023, Anaheim had not formally inspected the stadium to assess its condition since completing those renovations.” The recently released audit  was requested by State Sen. Tom Umberg and Assemblymember Avelino Valencia,  who expressed “deep concern” over the Angels’ failure to live up to their end of the agreement.  Shortly after news of the audit was released, Umberg said the audit confirms that the Angels are operating under a “sweetheart deal” that doesn’t in any way benefit the stadium’s owners – Anaheim taxpayers. News of the recent audit comes not long after the Angels lease extension at Angel Stadium through 2032 .   Among the key points from the full state audit  :  Between 1996 and March 2025, Anaheim realized approximately $415,000 in net revenue from its lease agreement with Angels ownership, not including $20 million in expenses Anaheim incurred to help pay for the stadium’s renovations. Anaheim has made minimal efforts to verify whether the revenue Angels ownership shared with the city is correct and complies with the terms of the lease agreement. City staff rely on periodic audits to identify any discrepancies, but Anaheim has conducted only two audits of the lease agreement since 2013. Although we found that the revenue provided to the city from baseball ticket sales and parking were generally likely to be accurate and comply with the terms of the lease, we identified $95,000 that Angels ownership erroneously paid Anaheim in 2021 that the city will need to refund. Angel Stadium grand entrance, 2024. Yes folks, that includes Anthony Rendon After a 6-game road trip to start the season, the Angels home opener is this Friday against the Cleveland Guardians.  One of several noticeable cracks among Angel Stadium’s upper level. Another sign of neglect is the presence of the old Edison Field logo along the aisles.

Photos by Jim Flannery, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Temple Gardens Centre 110 1st Ave NW Moose Jaw, SK S6H 0Y8 Moose Jaw Warriors website Mosaic Place website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 4,465 Mosaic Place Editor's Note: On March 1, 2025 it was announced that the Peepeekisis Cree Nation had entered into a five-year, $600,000 naming rights agreement with the city of Moose Jaw. This review, written in 2016, reflects the arena's name at that time, Mosaic Place. 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 Mosaic Place. 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. The Warriors have won the East Division of the WHL three times in their history and have placed an impressive 47 players in the NHL including Kelly Buchberger, Mike Keane, and Ryan Smyth. Although they have never won the Memorial Cup, they are a consistently strong franchise that has a knack for developing talent. Food & Beverage 3 There are four concession stands in Mosaic Place, one in each corner, and there are also concessions upstairs for people sitting in the club seating section on the north end of the rink. There are also vending machines in a few spots in the concourse if you’re just looking for a bottle of pop and a bag of chips or a candy bar. The options at the concessions are pretty standard, but there are some interesting choices as well. In addition to stuff like hot dogs ($4.75) and French fries ($4.75), you can also try the boneless dry ribs ($7.50) or buffalo chicken burger ($7.50). One of the other specialty options I tried was the Pointer Dog ($8), named for 2015-16 Warriors team captain Brayden Point. It’s a double smoked farmer’s sausage in a pretzel bun, topped with onion rings, bacon, cheddar cheese, and banana peppers. Probably not the healthiest thing I’ve ever eaten, but yummy! Next to the concessions you’ll find self-serve toppings stands where you can load your burgers and dogs up on ketchup, mustard, as well as fresh pickles, onions and peppers. The typical beverage options are also available at the concessions. A medium fountain drink is $3; a 16 oz. coffee is $2.25. If you’re seeking an alcoholic beverage, you’ll also find a decent selection, including Great Western and Original 16 beer on tap ($6.75 per glass) and highballs as well ($6.75 for a single). Atmosphere 3 As I have found throughout the WHL, the atmosphere at a Warriors game is fairly subdued but focussed. There isn’t much crowd noise during play, unless something exciting happens. My handy-dandy sound meter phone app told me that when the Warriors scored, the arena sound level increased to about 100 times louder than in the moments leading up to the goal. So people are paying attention and ready to get excited at the appropriate moments. One thing I really appreciate about the experience is that Mosaic Place is beautiful inside. It is spacious, well-lit, has great acoustics, and is well-appointed with features that let you know this is Moose Jaw Warriors territory. The south end wall has two huge fabric jerseys hanging from it, bookending the Mosaic Place signage. There is a row of Warriors championship banners and retired team numbers hanging above the north end of the rink; the Warriors and Legends Hall of Fame is on the north wall of the concourse, with bronze plaques of all the key figures in team history. The colour scheme of the facility also matches the Warriors uniforms, giving this place a great feel. Neighborhood 4 Mosaic Place is located just a couple blocks west of Main St in downtown Moose Jaw. The neighborhood is old and a little long in the tooth, but actually has lots to see and do. If you are looking for something to do before game time and you’re into historical tours, head to the Tunnels of Moose Jaw , at 18 Main Street and take a 50-minute multi-media guided tour of the city’s famous tunnels, which were used a century ago by Chinese immigrants and in the Roaring 20’s by Al Capone to smuggle booze to the United States. As for nightlife, there are a number of options. Right across the street to the east of Mosaic Place is the Crushed Can Sports Bar and Nightclub , named after the old Moose Jaw Civic Centre. On Main Street you’ll also find a few more places, such as Brown’s Social House, the Cornerstone Bar and Grill, Houston Pizza, and DK All-You-Can-Eat Sushi House. Keep heading east and you’ll find several more places such as a nice little Irish pub called Bobby’s Place, a Boston Pizza, and Casino Moose Jaw. Without looking too hard, you should be able to find something within easy walking distance of Mosaic Place to suit just about anyone’s taste. Fans 4 The fans in Mosaic Place are a pleasant crowd, quiet for the most part, but engaged in the action on the ice and primed to cheer when circumstances call for it. As with any hockey fans I’ve been around in Canada, the folks at the game are knowledgeable and dialled into the game. Crowds at Warriors games are typically in the 3,000-3,500 range, with several games a season over 4,000 so the place is at three-quarters of its capacity or better every night. Considering that Moose Jaw is a city of about 33,000 people, that’s pretty strong local representation on any given night. Access 4 There are only about a hundred parking spots on site at Mosaic Place, however there are almost 1,500 spots within 500 metres of the building on the streets around the arena and all of them are free during evening events. The only caution would be to avoid parking in local business lots, such as at the Safeway grocery across High Street to the north of the arena, as you’re likely to be ticketed and/or towed. Getting to and from the building is pretty easy from anywhere in the city. Main St. can get you from the TransCanada Highway at the northern city limits to the heart of downtown in 10 minutes or fewer. Other arteries such as 9 Ave can get you to the south side of town and roads like Caribou Street can deliver you to the east or west in no time at all. Of course, in a city this size, nothing is too far away from anything else, so travel times are always relatively short. Moose Jaw Transit’s Route 1 drops off right by the facility and Routes 2, 3, and 4 have stops within a couple blocks. Inside the building, the concourse is very spacious. The Grand Entrance on the west side of the building features a large, roomy staircase, with an adjacent escalator, leading to an upper lobby and the main doors into the arena bowl. The hallways surrounding the lower seating bowl are quite wide, with plenty of room to accommodate the audience. There is one traffic pinch point in the northeast corner, near the main entrance, where the concession stand queues out into the walkway, so things can get jammed up a bit in that spot. Roping off the concession lineup to direct it to the side of the walking area would fix the problem, but in the grand scheme of things, that’s a pretty minor issue. Return on Investment 4 Tickets anywhere in the lower bowl are $19.05 per seat, with club seating upstairs on the north end going for $28.57. These prices are right in line with the rest of the WHL and make for a terrific value for the opportunity to see the hockey stars of the future honing their craft in a great location. The sightlines throughout Mosaic Place’s seating area are excellent, so every single seat in the building is a good one. Extras 4 There are a number of interesting Warriors-related touches around Mosaic Place. There are a number of championship banners and retired number banners in a row above the north end of the rink. On the south end are two giant home and away Warriors jerseys hanging on either end of the Mosaic Place logo. The Warriors and Legends Hall of Fame is located on the north wall of the concourse with more than 20 bronze plaques commemorating the key figures in team history. There is a Kids Zone in the southeast corner of the concourse, set off from the main walking area, where youngsters can frolic and play if they need a little distraction. Something we observed were signs with a number to text to if there’s a problem. I think this is a great idea and gives the facility the opportunity to respond quickly to any issues that might arise. Inside the north lobby is the Crushed Can Retail Store, where you can pick up all your Warriors swag, from jerseys and caps to bunny hugs (known to people outside of Saskatchewan as hoodies), and key chains. This is about as big and well-appointed a store as I’ve ever seen for a junior hockey team, with something for every fan. Posted in a number of locations around the concourse are “Green Building Tour” signs, telling visitors to Mosaic Place of all the eco-friendly features of the arena’s design. Among those features is one I’m always happy to see: recycling bins throughout the building next to the regular garbage cans. Warriors mascot Mortimer Moose makes his way through the stands during the game to entertain the kids in the crowd. He also helps out with some of the promotions that happen during stoppages in the game. Final Thoughts The Moose Jaw Warriors play in a beautiful building that is cutting-edge and still practically brand new. For that reason alone it is well worth the trip across southern Saskatchewan in the middle of winter to check it out. If you’re in the process of seeing every WHL arena, you need to move this one up your priority list.

John Doyle at the TD Garden There are plenty of sports podcasts out there. However, podcasts about sports writing are few and far between. Enter New Hampshire sports writer John Doyle, known to many as JD, who's obsessed  — in a very healthy way — with sports writing. In short, it gets his adrenaline going. JD has interviewed a who's who of sports writing legends for his podcast  Sports Writers Inc with JD: Sports Writers Talk Sports Writing.   JD took some time to discuss his passion, as well as a few annoyances. STADIUM JOURNEY: Why'd you dive in and start the podcast and Substack? JOHN DOYLE: I got into listening to podcasts right from the beginning. In fact, I invented podcasting. Well, not really — but I did think the idea of on-demand talk radio, maybe in the form of a mailed cassette or compact disc, was a good one well before the internet and iPods made it possible. So I'd always been enamored with the idea of having my own podcast and in 2020 — just a coincidence that it was during the pandemic, I swear — I decided finally to do it. At that point I'd been out of full-time sports writing for five years, and I wanted to get back into that world in some form. And I'd dabbled in radio in the years prior and realized that getting guests for a radio show wasn't hard. In most cases, all you need to do is ask. I wasn't surprised at all that many, many writers were willing, and in many cases eager, to jump on for 30 minutes. Writers love to talk about themselves. The high-quality guests have been my podcast's calling card — Dan Shaughnessy, Bob Ryan, Jack McCallum, Helene Elliott, Leigh Montville. It's a murderer's row of sports-writing legends. I got the idea for the Substack in 2024 for a number of reasons. I'd noticed a lot of journalists were going the Substack route. Like podcasting, the barrier to entry was low — all you need is a laptop, really. So the tools were there. Plus, the stigma of self-publishing had eroded by that point. As recently as 10 years ago, anyone who put out their own website or blogged was seen as kind of a loser, to be honest. The stereotype was that they were living in their mom's basement, or they didn't have the chops to make it in legacy media. Turns out these cats were ahead of their time. It's the complete opposite today. Not only are the legacy media opportunities quickly slipping away, but now being a Substacker is seen as kind of cool. Also by that time I'd been doing a lot of freelance reporting of college hockey for USCHO (U.S. College Hockey Online) and I was around a lot of student reporters. It struck me — here we have a group of young people who appreciate reading and writing, and would probably be eager to read what a seasoned journalist had to say about the profession. The Substack ( SportsWritersInc.Substack.com ) was born.   STADIUM JOURNEY: You're a New Hampshire native, but you went to the University of New Mexico. Describe the beauty of The Pit? JOHN DOYLE: Ah, the Pit. One of the last great on-campus basketball-only gyms. It's as advertised — loud, intimate, and it's literally a pit. You enter at ground level and the seats and court are below ground. Fill that place with 18,000 basketball fans and, well, you get the picture. Now comes the "old man yelling at cloud" part. Capacity at the Pit is only 15,000 now — of course they had to renovate the place and add a bunch of damn luxury boxes. Also, video boards. Which, I hate to say it, took away a lot of its uniqueness. And the coup de grâce was when they took the band and moved it from the floor and put it near the top rows, all so they could pump in the same damn artificial noise and sound effects like every other arena in the country. Sorry, but I want to hear the band. It's still a cool place to see a game though. STADIUM JOURNEY: Let's talk about the underdogs of the athletic experience: bands. Is there a band in New England that deserves our attention? JOHN DOYLE: My love for bands goes way back to my days playing alto sax for my high school in Manchester. My brother, a trombonist, took his love for music to the extreme and became a music teacher. One of his first assignments was as the band director at our rival high school, an offense for which I will never forgive him. As far as New England bands go, it begins and ends with UMass, where my brother and brother-in-law played as part of their musical education journey. My son now matriculates there though he is not a musician. The UMass band penetrates the soul. That's the best way to put it. When it marches into the football stadium you can feel it literally in your chest. Their halftime shows are downright inspiring, and you can see it twice because they perform it post game too! Too bad they don't play for a better football team.   STADIUM JOURNEY: Hockey arenas. Which ones should be on our bucket list and why? JOHN DOYLE: If you're talking bucket list, I'd recommend Alfond Arena at the University of Maine. It's like the Pit, but for hockey. It's old school. It's got a low ceiling that locks in all the sound and the student cheering section is perched on a deck, behind one of the nets, that seems to hang directly over it, though I don't think it actually does.   STADIUM JOURNEY: As a reporter for USCHO.com , you covered the legendary Beanpot. What's so special about this tournament? JOHN DOYLE: Stability, really. It's the same four schools — Boston University, Boston College, Harvard and Northeastern, the "Tobacco Road" of college hockey — every year on the first two Mondays of February, and that's unlikely to change any time soon. In the days leading up to the tournament, the organizers tend to lay the nostalgia and schmalz a little thick, in my opinion. But in the end, it always delivers — huge crowds, great atmospheres and usually great games. STADIUM JOURNEY: You didn't start out as a sportswriter. What made you pivot and get into it? How'd you break in? JOHN DOYLE: Growing up, what I really wanted to do was be a broadcaster. Either a television news reporter or a radio talk-show host. Then in college at the University of New Mexico, I was a communications major but was having trouble progressing toward a degree because all the classes filled up fast. I'm completely serious — this was the days before everyone on the planet had a laptop, so class size was limited because of the number of computer stalls in each classroom. So I switched to creative writing because I needed to graduate within a decade. Also, I liked writing. So then I had my sights set on becoming a novelist or an essayist. But for whatever reason I didn't pursue it as a career. It wasn't until I was in my late 20s and had moved back to New Hampshire that it became painfully obvious that if the subject wasn't sports, I had a hard time writing about it. So I started stringing high school game stories for the newspaper in Dover. I was bitten by the bug. They had a staff position open, I applied and got the job. Later they told me I was their fourth choice — three people had been offered the job and turned it down. Their loss, I guess.   STADIUM JOURNEY: You've covered a lot of high school sports. Upside? Downside? JOHN DOYLE: OK you realize I could and possibly will someday write a book about this? I'll try to keep it short. High school sports coverage is the essence of sports writing in America. How's that for a loaded statement? That's why I bristle at NBC calling their Sunday night pro-football pregame show "Football Night in America." Not only is it a blatant and cheesy rip off of the CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada," it's one game. Friday is "Football Night in America." Don't believe me? Go to Twitter on Friday night and search the phrase "wins the toss" and you'll see what I mean.  Upside? High school sports are everywhere — every town, every city, big and small, coast to coast. Stories abound. You will never run out of things to write about. It's one of the reasons why the demise of local news is a tragedy. Downside? It ain't glamorous. I can't tell you how many times I've stood in the rain, my notebook turning into soup, only to spend the rest of the night soaking wet in my car outside a closed Panera Bread, praying their wifi will stay on so I can file a story.    STADIUM JOURNEY: What's the make-up of the press box these days? Who's there? Any camaraderie? Have you built any friendships with the next gen?  JOHN DOYLE: That's a really good question. As I mentioned earlier, since I cover college hockey mostly, there are a lot of student journalists filling up the press boxes these days, and it's pretty cool because in the college-hockey world, they make up I'd say about three quarters of the press corp. Virtually no college hockey teams get covered by the local newspaper anymore, yet the student papers sometimes send up to five reporters to each game. They're sweet kids for the most part and it's tough to think how few full-time jobs are out there for them if this is what they want to do for a career.  As for me, sure, I have a large number of very pleasant colleagues of all ages with whom I share good-natured relationships. But there are cliques. I'll leave it at that.    STADIUM JOURNEY: You've got a soft spot for Fitchburg State. Please share. JOHN DOYLE: Wow, you dug deep. My affection for Fitchburg stems from my affection for obscure, out-of-the-way sports stories. So one day I came across a list that this maniac —  I use that term with affection — Bill Connelly of ESPN put together, ranking every single college football program in the country — Divisions I, II and III. At the very bottom of the list —  because let's face it, that's where your eyes go when presented with such a list  —  was good ol' Fitchburg State, No. 760, in Massachusetts. Hey, I thought, that's only about an hour and a half from my house. I knew I had to get to a game. I dragged my wife and younger son along — they're good sports when it comes to this stuff. Plus, we were on our way to Amherst to visit our older son at UMass. We get to the game — beautiful little stadium they have at Fitchburg State. You walk through a wooded path from the parking lot and come to a tree-lined field with a little concrete grandstand built into the side of a small hill. We got there in the first quarter and of course Fitchburg State was getting killed. Halftime came, and a poignant scene unfolded. Trailing 35-zip, the teams went to the locker room, except the Fitchburg kicker. He remained on the field, and he was all alone practicing these long kicks — 35, 40, 50 yards — and missing them all. And it occurred to me, this kid has virtually no chance of attempting one of these kicks in the second half. That was sad enough. But then I turn to the game program to see what this kid's name is, where he's from. Maybe I can do a story on him or something. I look for his number — and he's not even listed on the program. Tragedy. We left at halftime, and later I saw Fitchburg lost 49-zip. I didn't look to see if they attempted a kick. I decided to let the mystery be. (editor's note: on 10/22/2022, the Fitchburg State Falcons lost to UMass Dartmouth 49-0, in a game that they trailed 35-0 at halftime. Also in attendance that day; Corsairs PA announcer and Stadium Journey President Paul Baker. Small World.) STADIUM JOURNEY: And finally, most importantly, what's your gripe with Boston College fans? JOHN DOYLE: Wow, you dug really deep. I have nothing against BC fans in general — just BC football fans. Why? One word: Flutie. I've met Doug Flutie and he's a really nice guy. But BC football fans' obsession with this cat who played more than 40 years ago — I just find it irritating. Plus, New England isn't a traditional football area. Sure, there have been plenty of great players from here — Howie Long, Mark Bavaro and a few others. Oh and the Patriots have been fairly successful since the start of the current century. But as Beyonce said — this ain't Texas or Florida or Ohio for that matter. As for New England sports fans whose primary obsession is college football? Let's just say you won't find me hanging out with them.   Jon Hart is @manversusball

Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 UBS Arena 2400 Hempstead Turnpike Elmont, NY 11003 New York Islanders website UBS Arena website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 17,255 Islanders’ Oasis at UBS Arena It’s hard to believe the New York Islanders are about to complete their fourth season at UBS Arena.  The Arena, right next to Belmont Park, has undergone minor tweaks and has established itself as a great place to take in a hockey game or any event it hosts. The design was inspired by iconic New York landmarks, including Central Park, Ebbets Field, Grand Central Terminal, Park Avenue Armory, and Prospect Park Boathouse.  It features two outdoor terraces open to all guests and more restrooms per person than any arena in Metro New York. The Main Entrance is located at the northeast side of the venue. This entry leads into the Acrisure Great Hall, modeled after the iconic Grand Central Station.  There are three other entrances: the American Express is located at the northwest side of the venue and the other two entry points are for VIPs only (BMV and Dime). Other reasons for fans to be excited are the eight bars with views of the ice and the largest arena scoreboard in New York State with two levels of high-resolution LED ribbon boards. The Emerald Lot is a convenient place to park and is about a 12-minute walk to the entrance.  The train stop, accessed via the Ronkonkoma or Hempstead line, is a nice addition and gives fans an option who prefer not to drive.  The rafters feature the Islanders four Stanley Cup banners to commemorate championships from 1979-1980 through 1982-1983.  The player banners include an impressive array of retired numbers from those championship team s .  Forwards Clark Gillies (9), Mike Bossy (22), Bobby Nystrom (23) and John Tonelli (27), centers Bryan Trottier (19) and Butch Goring (91), defenseman Denis Potvin (5), goalie Billy Smith (31) coach Al Arbour (1500 - the number of games he coached) and general manager Bill Torrey (TORREY “The Architect”) all have banners above. NY Islanders Retired Numbers, Photo by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Food & Beverage 4 The food and beverage choices get high marks for abundance and variety.  Some of the choices include a carving station with porchetta and steak sandwiches, nachos, sushi and Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque.  There is als o birria grilled cheese, loaded baked potatoes, a Knishwich hot pastrami sandwich with swiss cheese on a warm knish bun.  Of course there is traditional fare such as pretzels, hot dogs, fries, pizza, donuts and Mister Softee ice cream.  For alcoholic beverages, choices include Henny cherry lemonade, smoked and frozen cocktails, a wine and tequila bar along with staples such as beer are readily available.  Traditional soft drinks (Coca-Cola is the beverage of choice) and water are non-alcoholic options. Atmosphere 4 The configuration is interesting as two thirds of the seats are in the lower bowl.  The huge team store ( Isles Lab Team Store) is located on the main concourse outside section 104 and across from the Heineken Red Star Bar. Hopefully the novelty of UBS has not worn off. Last season (2024), the Islanders had their best attendance at 18,099 but this year (2025) the mark has fallen to 15,930 as of late March. While the scoreboard is massive, the one negative is the board does not flash many in-game statistics.  The atmosphere in the seating area is solid with good sightlines bolstered by the sounds of renown organist Paul Cartier.  His organ is situated in the concourse behind the goal the Islanders defend twice and he often chats with fans in between periods.  Cartier is also the organist at Yankee Stadium.  Alex Anthony is the public address announcer and he fulfills the same role for the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The one issue with the public address is at the end of the game the announcer does not say the final score, the shots on goal in the third period and total shots and neglects to share the three stars of the game.  Evidently, the Islanders leave that information out when the home team loses. The arena is easy to move around, but naturally when navigating the concourses gridlock is an issue in between periods. The Islanders attempt to enforce the policy of not allowing fans to return to their seat until there is a stoppage in play. Neighborhood 3 The surrounding area is congested, but the good news is UBS is right off the Cross Island Parkway and close to the Grand Central Parkway.  Both the parkways and Hempstead Turnpike can get tied up before and after games. UBS is on Long Island but is adjacent to the Queens line about 6 miles away.    For food options nearby,  The Harrison (4.3 rating on Yelp), King Umberto and Cookerz Blend (Caribbean) in Queens are all within 10 minutes of UBS. The Long Island Children's Museu m  in Garden City is a good option for kids near the UBS Arena located at 11 Davis Avenue. The Garden City and The Andrew are two nearby hotels.  Fans 4 The Islanders have always had a fervent fan base but not the largest one.  The fans can be vocal and the “Let’s Go Islande rs” chant will ring around UBS especially during big or close games. The  Islanders’ devoted fan club, the Blue and Orange Army, keep the crowd engaged with the help of mascot Sparky the Dragon.  The group reminds me of the 7 Line Army at Citi Field.  The building is not as loud as the old Nassau Coliseum, but the amenities and extra space are worth it. The Lighthouse is a nice touch and lights up when the Islanders take the ice or when the home team scores and fog billows out.   NY Islanders Lighthouse, Photo by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey The Islanders, who are in the Metropolitan Division, are in a race to obtain the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  The Long Islanders are trying to qualify for the postseason for the sixth time in the last seven years. Access 4 The arena doors open 90 minutes prior to puck drop.  If you prefer the train, fans can take the LIRR to and from UBS Arena.  A 30-minute direct train service to Elmont-UBS Arena Station is available from Grand Central Madison and Penn Station. UBS Arena has 5 parking  areas, which can only be accessed via the Cross Island Parkway: Belmont Park Garage Exit 26A, Diamond, Ruby, and Silver Parking Exit 26B (Hempstead Turnpike East) and Emerald Parking Exit 26D.  It is advised to pre-pay for parking using the ParkWhiz app.  It is $40 to park in the Emerald Lot.  Free shuttles are available between UBS Arena, Emerald Parking and Elmont-UBS Arena Station if fans prefer not to walk. UBS employs the more advanced security screening where contents do not need to be removed from your pockets. The screening process was quick and painless. Return on Investment 3 The Fan Cost Index of the National Hockey League for 2024 ranked the Islanders just under the league average at $410.07. The total comprises the price of four averaged-price tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-sized hot dogs, parking, two game programs and two of the least-expensive, adult-sized adjustable caps.  Everything at UBS is pricey.  Although technically the arena is situated on Long Island, it seems like NYC prices are in effect. Extras 4 One point is awarded for the Blue and Orange Army located behind sections 329/228/230 which is the goal the Islanders defend twice. The group is pseudo soccer supporters who bang a drum and chant often during the game. While the group is energetic, some spectators might prefer to not be in earshot of the drum. The Park  at UBS Arena is worthy of another point, a large open space that is quite impressive.  The area is sponsored by Northwell Health and includes a c omplimentary 9-hole mini golf course  and f eatures New York Islanders and New York themed obstacles.  The area has solo stoves, outdoor dining in enclosed bubbles, food trucks and interactive games. On this visit, Stadium Journey was fortunate as the weather was mild which enabled ample time to enjoy the area. There is even an outdoor skating rink in the park.  Another point is awarded for the concourses which are fairly wide and open. There are places to sit and eat with a plethora of dining options and many bars.  The layout is a welcome sight coming from the cramped Nassau Coliseum which had plenty of atmosphere but little room to maneuver.  The building also has a new and clean feel. Final Thoughts UBS is worthy of a Stadium Journey.  The building is big, bright and airy with high ceilings and plenty of open concourses.  The addition of a transit stop gives fans an option who do not want to battle Long Island/Queens traffic.  The Islanders have stepped up after a failed attempt at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (from 2015-2020) and outgrew their digs at Nassau Coliseum. Ticket prices can be an issue but sometimes cheaper tickets can be found on weekdays and through the secondary market. Follow Greg Venuto’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and   Facebook .

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Dickins-Scoper Stadium at Frierson Field Clinton, MS 39056 Mississippi College Choctaws website Dickins-Scoper Stadium at Frierson Field website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 1,500 Choctaws Baseball at the State's oldest college Situated just west of Jackson, Mississippi is the nice, quaint, picturesque town of Clinton, home of the Mississippi College Choctaws. MC, as the locals call it, opened its doors in 1826 and is the oldest college in the state, as well as the second-oldest Baptist-affiliated college in the US. Baseball is the oldest sport at MC, with the first year being played on campus in 1905. The Choctaws compete in NCAA Division II and were one of the founding members of the Gulf South Conference in 1972; their name honors the mighty Choctaw Nation that once occupied the area. The Choctaws were a powerhouse in all sports in the late 80s and early 90s, but had to make the drop down to DIII in 1995 due to football recruiting infractions affecting the entire athletics department. Perhaps the Choctaws best season in baseball occurred in 2010, when MC finished one game away from advancing to the DIII World Series. MC would re-join the GSC in 2015 in all sports, and would capture the GSC championship in baseball in 2018. However, the college has faced some financial difficulties in recent years, which has led to the elimination of certain sports, particularly football which was discontinued after the 2024 season.   Food and Beverage   2 There is one small concession stand located on the first base side of the concourse, where only the basics are sold – burgers, hot dogs, chips, and drinks. The one good thing is that prices here are cheap, but I would recommend walking to downtown Clinton just a few blocks off campus to get a meal before or after the game.   Atmosphere   3 For over three decades the Choctaws have called the beautiful Dickins-Scoper Stadium at Frierson Field their home. The facility is named after Pete Frierson, the owner of Frierson Building Supply, which built the park in 1988. The field is situated on the back side of campus in between the softball complex and Robinson-Hale Stadium, the former home of the school’s football team. The ballpark features three sections of metal grandstands with seating for 1,200 people. The ballpark received some renovations over the years, most notably in 2017 when the stadium was dedicated as Dickins-Scoper Stadium; named after a prominent MC family that attended and played baseball here dating back to the 1920s. The main entrance to the ballpark, behind home plate, features a nice brick-lined walkway in honor of the family and prominent boosters of the University. Upon entering the park you’ll be greeted by the three metal grandstands, with one behind home plate, one down the first baseline, and the last along the third baseline. A cool windscreen with all the teams in the Gulf South Conference wraps around the grandstand at the main entrance, while a huge windscreen with the words ‘Choctaw Baseball’ takes up the third base concourse grandstand. Eight rows of metal bleacher seating make up the grandstands on each side, while down the third baseline are the indoor hitting facility and lockers rooms. The field is absolutely stunning for a D2 facility – the beautifully designed artificial turf, with asymmetrical lines drawn on the infield, really make the field stand out, and the brick covered dugouts and backstops really add to the look and feel as well. Along the outfield wall its kept simple, with no local sponsors and just a basic scoreboard. The field faces north and south with the softball complex providing the view in center field, while Interstate 20, which is a stone’s throw away and runs right by campus, provides the view in left field. There is also an elevated hill with a nice shrub garden extending from right field to the softball complex, while a small party deck sits in right field as well.   Neighborhood   3 Clinton is a nice quaint little town of about 20,000 directly west of Jackson. The downtown area is called Olde Town Clinton, and features brick-lined streets and small businesses at the corner of Jefferson, Leake, and Main Street. Mississippi College is very much a part of Olde Town Clinton, as it sits only one block south. Jefferson Street is lined with several mansions and large oaks as well, which tie-in well with the Greek column buildings on campus. A few places to check out in Olde Town Clinton include 303 Jefferson; famous for its hot plate lunches and located in a former livery stable, it has served Clinton since the 1870s. Right across the street is Brick Street Pops, where you can get ice cream and popsicles, while just down the road is the Pizza Shack, located in an old bank. Another popular spot is Olde Town’s newest restaurant, Krilakis Gyros. The Historic Natchez Trace Parkway runs right through Clinton, about a mile from campus. The Trace used to be an old trade route from Nashville to Natchez for Native Americans and early settlers. Today a beautiful, paved road runs the 400 plus mile route of the former trade route; the Trace is filled with many historic sights, cemeteries, ghost towns, and many spot for camping and outdoor activities. The Trace is also a popular spot for bicyclists.   Fans   3 Mississippi College averages about 300 fans per game – this is about average for this level of college baseball. Many of the people in attendance will be into the game, as many of them are friends or family of the players. There will also be a good mix of alumni and former players in the stands, as many people will continue to live in the Jackson metro area after graduation. Unfortunately, however, I did not see a lot of students in attendance. In right field there is a small, elevated area where I saw about 5 students. There was also a softball game going on next door during the most recent baseball game I attended, and I saw several people traveling back and forth between the two games.   Access   4 Mississippi College is one of the most accessible colleges in the state, located directly next to Interstate 20, with Frierson Field about 100 yards from the busy interstate. Clinton is located in the center of the state; you are within a 3 to 4-hour drive from here to anywhere in Mississippi. The main road into Clinton is I-20, and you would take this road if traveling from the east or west. Note that I-20 can have horrendous traffic, especially at the I-55 junction, so take this into account if you are coming to the game on a weekday afternoon or a weeknight – weekends on I-20 can be awful as well. Once in Clinton you will see the campus on the north side of the interstate; Frierson Field is located right off the interstate next to the football stadium. If you don’t take the interstate then Highway 80 also runs into Clinton, but it takes you through a rough section of Jackson. However, if you want to take the scenic route the historic Natchez Trace Parkway also runs right through Clinton – this two-lane road is very peaceful and completely void of red lights and commercial traffic. The Trace has tons of areas where you can pull off and visit, such as Native American burial mounds, old cemeteries, historic houses, natural trails, campgrounds, etc., so if you have the time I suggest driving down the Trace just for its scenic beauty alone. Just make sure you go the speed limit, however – the whole parkway is administered by the National Park Service and the speed limit is between 40 and 50; you will have to pay a pretty hefty fine if you are caught speeding.   Return on Investment   3 Parking is free at Frierson Field, and they were not even taking tickets at the most recent game I attended. You can’t beat that coming to a small college baseball game. You aren’t getting a lot of frills here, but if you are a baseball purist you will enjoy the experience. A nice quiet baseball game at a nice little ballpark; it doesn’t get much better than that.   Extras   3 Over the years the Choctaws have produced four players who made it to the Big Leagues, with two players drafted. Some of the notable players who have played at Mississippi College include Hal Lee, who replaced Babe Ruth in left field in The Babe’s final game, as well as Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Harry Craft, who won a World Series ring in 1940 with the Reds. Pro Baseball Hall of Famer Don Sutton took classes at Mississippi College in the off-season of his pro career, but he did not play for the Choctaws. Another extra goes for the accessibility here; Mississippi College’s campus is one of the most convenient campuses to get to I’ve ever visited – you can go from driving on the interstate, to parking, to sitting down in your seat, all in less than 10 minutes. Another extra point goes to the campus itself – I recommend just walking around the campus and the town of Clinton before the game, as the nearby area is very pretty. The campus and downtown area cover just a couple of blocks, so you can easily walk around downtown Clinton for 30 minutes or so before the game.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens 60 Carlton St. Toronto, ON M5B 1J2 TMU Bold hockey website Mattamy Athletic Centre website Year Opened: 1931 Capacity: 2,538 The Bold Cathedral There is not much remaining of the famed Original Six hockey arenas from the National Hockey League.  Only one remains in use by the NHL team, but one other remains in use in a brilliant rebranding.  Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens was built in 1931 and can only be described as a hockey cathedral.  Countless major events took place at the “Cashbox on Carlton.”  In 1999, the Maple Leafs moved into the brand new Air Canada Centre.  The final event at the old gardens was a Toronto Rock, National Lacrosse League Champions Cup Final.  Unfortunately, what to do with MLG took quite a while to figure out.  Eventually, Ryerson University would purchase the building, along with Loblaws to transform the Gardens into a multipurpose facility including the athletic facilities for the university and a grocery store on the ground level.  Rebranded Mattamy Athletic Centre at The Gardens, the facility fully opened in 2012 which included a gym and small arena at the top level.  Mattamy Home Ice now features a capacity of over 2,500 and has been the location of a number of events. Ryerson Institute of Technology was established in 1948 and iced its first hockey team, the Ryerson Rams, the same year.  In 2001 the university completed its final rebrand under the Ryerson name as Ryerson University.  Amid public pressure, the university rebranded fully as Toronto Metropolitan University in 2022 to move away from Egerton Ryerson and his connections to the Canadian Residential School System.  Today, the athletic teams at Toronto Metropolitan are known as the TMU Bold.  The hockey team has earned seven conference championships, with the most recent being in 1963 and has appeared in the University Cup National Championship tournament in 2022 and 2024.  The Bold claim the late John Saunders of ESPN as one of their hockey alumni. Food & Beverage 3 The concession options at Mattamy Home Ice are not overly unique and the typical arena options are what one would find at a TMU Bold game.  Pizza, hot dogs, pretzels and nachos are all available along with popcorn, chips and other light snacks. Coca-cola products are the soft drink of choice at the arena.  A surprisingly decent beer selection is also available at Mattamy Home Ice including Molson Canadian, Coors, Blue Moon, Creemore Lager and Heineken.  Seltzers are also available. Atmosphere 5 As part of the heritage site designation, the original front façade of Maple Leaf Gardens on Carlton remains intact. The cream brick has a classic look and the marquee remains almost like it did in the forties, fifties and sixties. The ground level has a Loblaws grocery store on the east side. The west side of the Carlton Street entrance sends fans into the Loblaw Atrium. Smart looking and properly lit, the atrium is welcoming and houses the ticketing windows for the MAC. With tickets in hand, fans will ascend the escalator to the second level where the recreation facilities and Varsity Court can be found. Two more escalator trips will bring fans to the fourth floor and the entry to Mattamy Home Ice. Throughout the trip to the fourth floor fans can’t help but notice the row of original MLG red seats fastened to the outer wall, high above the atrium. There are also a ton of old pictures illustrating the vast history of the venue. It could take quite a while to get to the seats if stopping to take all of the history in. The hallway at ice level also features some displays that are more TMU centric, displaying some of their own team history and trophies. Entering the seating bowl will no doubt give fans pause. Immediately the iconic roof of Maple Leaf Gardens commands attention and makes fans feel good that it is still Maple Leaf Gardens. The capacity is just over 2,700 which is perfect for the venue. The ice runs from north to south with the perfect picture coming from the west side. The scoreboards and video boards are at each end of the arena and the decor is bright with blue and gold markings making it truly feel like TMU’s home. Contrary to most other OUA hockey venues there are a few alternate seating options. With the concourses behind the seating bowl, there is plenty of space for standing room. Mattamy Home Ice also offers a few corner suites and the north end of the area features the Alumni Lounge. With a strong media program at TMU, the game day production is about as professional as it can get. The Bold do a great job of utilizing cameras and the video boards to enhance the experience. The Bold even utilize the logos of the youth hockey teams that play during the intermissions. The music selections and promotions are what would be expected. The Bold’s mascot, Frankie B. Bold, can be found interacting with the crowd for some games. Neighbourhood 5 Mattamy Athletic Centre at The Gardens is located in the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood of Downtown Toronto.  One of the top tourist cities in the world, Toronto offers more than one person can take in for one visit.  There are a ton of places to eat and drink within steps of Mattamy Athletic Centre.  Some include Fran’s, Druxy’s, Pogue Mahone Pub, Golden Diner, and The Bistro.  Toronto is a sports fan’s dream with a ton of other sports options.  Mattamy Athletic Centre also hosts TMU Bold basketball .  The University of Toronto offers Varsity Blues football , basketball  and hockey  just a short walk away and York University offers Lions football , basketball  and hockey  at the north end of the city.  There are a plethora of professional sports options as well including the Maple Leafs , Raptors , Toronto FC , Toronto Argonauts , Toronto Marlies  and Toronto Sceptres.  Other tourist options in Toronto include Habourfront, CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, Casa Loma, the Theatre District and Eaton Centre.  For fans that wish to stay near Mattamy Athletic Centre, the Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown is right beside the arena. Fans 3 It is difficult to assess USports hockey fans as attendance statistics are infrequently reported and the websites do not gather the information.  That being said, TMU Bold have modest support akin to many other schools in the OUA.  At the time of writing, TMU averaged 200 fans per game, ranking them 13th in the conference.  The previous season, 2023-24, the Bold averaged over 220 fans per game, which ranked them 12th in the conference.  Below the top few programs, most schools average between 100 and 300 fans per game.  There is plenty of opportunity to grow for TMU with a large facility.   Access 4 Mattamy Athletic Centre is located in the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood of Downtown Toronto.  It is approximately two km north of the Gardiner Expressway and two km west of Don Valley Parkway.  However, traffic in Toronto is significant and getting to the arena by car can be a challenge.  There are a number of parking facilities around Mattamy Athletic Centre.  Pre-planning and purchasing parking is highly recommended using an app such as ParkWhiz or SpotHero.  Do not plan on parking in the garage at Mattamy Athletic Centre as it is reserved for Loblaws patrons.  Toronto has a very strong transit system and taking public transit could be the best bet to make the trip to Mattamy Athletic Centre smooth.  The College subway station is west of the Gardens and there are street cars that travel Carlton Street.  Fans should consult the Toronto Transit Commission  website for fares, maps and schedules. Return on Investment 5 The return on investment for TMU Bold hockey is very strong.  Ticket prices for the Bold are $13 each with discounts for alumni and youth.  Tickets are all general admission and TMU students are free.  The product on the ice is solid and the Bold have been very competitive since moving to Mattamy Home Ice.  What puts the return over the top is the opportunity for fans to take in hockey in a legendary hockey venue with plenty of things to peak the historians interest. Extras 4 An extra mark for TMU hosting the 2024 University Cup National Championship. An extra mark for the excellent restoration that TMU and Loblaws undertook to maintain and upgrade Maple Leaf Gardens. An extra mark for the iconic MLG ceiling which has been maintained at Mattamy Athletic Centre. An extra mark for the rivalry that Toronto Metro shares with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Final Thoughts Taking in a TMU Bold hockey game is so much more than just a typical university hockey game.  The opportunity to see a game at Mattamy Home Ice @ Mattamy Athletic Centre at The Gardens is the opportunity to see the remnants of one of the last great venues of the NHL that is still standing.  The former Maple Leaf Gardens is not what it once was, but it has been brilliantly restored to a fully functional facility more appropriate for USports hockey. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Circuit of the Americas 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd Austin, TX 78617 NASCAR website Circuit of the Americas website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 120,000 NASCAR’s COTA Revival Their first few visits to Circuit of the Americas proved to be filled with struggles for NASCAR – the long circuit layout was a challenge for fans to navigate, as well as for the drivers. However, a change in the track’s layout for 2025 meant that a new shortcut right after the esses removed a large section of track on the back side, meaning fans can see most of the track from the stadium section and get more action in shorter laps.   Food & Beverage   4 In the infield fans can expect a great little hole-in-the-wall (only in size) cafe in the paddock, featuring a beautiful patio outside surrounded by trees and bushes, giving a great view of the garages and pre-staging area for most of the cars. Here you can find (when it is open) food and beverages to suit your fancy; chicken tenders and fries are $11.79, as are hamburger baskets, grilled chicken sandwiches, and chicken wrap baskets. On certain days there is also a chef’s featured item, such as homemade meatloaf, beef and broccoli, or chicken primavera for $12. That said, if you are exploring the far reaches of the facility, you may not have as many options available as you have in the main spectator areas, meaning you will have to walk a while or wait patiently for later, should the hunger bug strike. Thankfully this year, however, the track added food trucks in the fan area in the paddock to add some variety. Concession stands in the stadium section are also open during NASCAR weekend, giving fans the same infield options in another location.   Atmosphere   5 Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes the crowds. During fan walks on the grid for races at Circuit of the Americas, it is wall-to-wall fans hobnobbing with drivers, teams, and the cars they pilot on track. The track itself is a beautiful facility that lends itself to the fan experience – the main grandstand is even shaded from the harsh Texas sun, thanks to a perfectly-placed roof over part of the seating. By far, the coolest thing here at Circuit of the Americas is the giant tower in the middle of the track. The observation platform in the tower is open to all fans for $20 a person, including an elevator you can ride to view the race from over 200 feet above the action. In addition, the floors in the tower are see-through, giving you the feeling of floating on air – no other track has anything as cool as this. Neighborhood   3 This is a hard topic, as the city of Austin itself (a good 15 to 20-minute drive from Circuit of the Americas itself), is a bustling city of music, incredible food, and youthful energy. It is no secret why F1 picked this city, and why the annual SXSW festival is held here every year. However, as the track is on the extreme outskirts of town, the racing can easily feel a bit detached from the city’s feel. There isn’t much right next to the track, despite the slowly creeping suburban sprawl – hotels are all about 10 minutes away at least, as are any shopping and dining options fans would flock to. Thankfully, the airport is right near the track, providing easy access for your flight in and out of Austin. For great food, one can’t skip Salt Lick or Torchy’s Tacos. Austin is also home to the University of Texas and Zilker Park on Lady Bird Lake, and of course, a stop in Austin isn’t complete without visiting the bats under Congress Bridge. Finally, for hotels look to Hilton Austin Airport or Holiday Inn Austin Airport, which are two of the better hotels that are close to Circuit of the Americas. Fans   3 The fans are fickle for NASCAR at COTA – unlike F1 where the circuit is jammed with fans on all three days, NASCAR only features a massive turnout for the Cup Series race on Sunday. The Friday and Saturday crowds are paltry in comparison, leading to a quieter setup and mostly empty grandstands. Nonetheless, the vibes on Sunday are unmatched thanks to the hardcore NASCAR faithful who do show up for the main event.   Access   3 Getting to Circuit of the Americas isn’t hard, in that it’s not hidden away. In actuality you can see it from pretty much everywhere, thanks to its giant light-up tower at night. However, the roads in and out of the track are only one or two lanes, making a big event hard to reach, thanks to the traffic. Thankfully, however, parking is plentiful on site and in various nearby lots, and there are also numerous fan shuttles to take you from the parking lots to the paddock, as well as to various viewing areas around the circuit. Once at the track getting around is easy, thanks to the various tunnels, pedestrian bridges, and signage pointing you on your way around the venue. Return on Investment   5 Tickets to NASCAR at COTA have become the most affordable on the circuit. To start, kids 12 and under are free Friday and Saturday, and start at just $10 for Sunday. Perhaps the most surprising, however, is the price for tickets in the Turn 12 grandstand – for just over $16 you can get a seat to watch NASCAR’s best battle it out right by the new shortcut section of the track. Front straight seats start at just over $70, while seats in the stadium section range around $50. Turn 1 seating costs $66 while suites are available from $500 to $1500. Parking on site is also plentiful, with some free lots around the track that offer shuttle service.   Extras   3 COTA features an upcoming theme park, complete with roller coasters being built for its opening in the next few years. Until then, you can ride the zip line by the main grandstand to get your thrills. In addition, you can also race on the go-kart track located just outside the main grandstands. The support series paddock for IMSA is also open to all fans all weekend, giving you an up-close view of the sports cars taking to the track during the weekend.   Final Thoughts The NASCAR weekend at COTA is unique. While not managed by COTA and instead led by SMI, you’ll see some noticeable changes from the fan side. Thankfully, the new track layout has been met with rave reviews, and the offerings for fans come in very affordably, making this a great budget option when looking to catch some NASCAR racing action.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Gregory Gymnasium 2101 Speedway Austin, TX 78712 Texas Longhorns website Gregory Gymnasium website Year Opened: 2022 Capacity: 11,313 Texas Tennis Showcase The Texas Longhorns are one of the most venerated programs in college tennis. Steeped in rich history from the very start, the program has continued to be a stalwart in the college tennis world. Currently located in a stellar, comfortable, and modern facility, fans would be remiss to not attend a match at the Texas Tennis Center. Without a doubt, mirroring the rest of the school’s facilities, this is a must-see venue in Austin.   Food & Beverage   2 There is only one concession stand at Texas Tennis Center – this grab-and-go self-pay setup features a very limited menu. Hot dogs ($4), nachos ($5), chips ($3), takis ($4), peanuts ($4), candy ($3), pickles ($3), and pringles ($6) make up the entirety of the food options. For drinks, you can pick up a water ($3), soda ($5), Powerade ($5), wine ($6), beer ($5.00-$6.50), or seltzer ($6.50).   Atmosphere   4 The facility features a well-manicured exterior with two entrances to the viewing level on the second floor. Once inside, fans are treated to covered seating on both sides of the facility. During dual matches, both the men’s and women’s teams play on opposite sides of the facility simultaneously. The elevated seating features two rows of individual backed seats and a third row of standard stadium bleachers. The large scoreboard in the middle of the courts provides live scores for all the matches happening, helping fans keep up with the constant action.   Neighborhood   5 Texas Tennis Center is in the heart of downtown Austin – the city center is visible from the grandstand, 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 University of Texas’ main campus, 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, the venue’s locat ion right near the other athletic facilities on campus is great for watching multiple games in a day, with the softball stadium  loca ted right across the street.   Fans   4 The fans show up for Texas Tennis matches, and given that they’re free of charge, families are frequent here. Without a doubt, this is a very family-friendly sports experience for all ages. Texas tennis fans are varied in age and background, a true melting pot of the sport’s and school’s fans, and even mid-week matches for just one of the two tennis teams see a solid turnout from the Longhorn faithful.   Access   5 Texas Tennis 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. Parking is located on site in the East Campus Garage, or in nearby lots with purchase via the Texas parking website. Various street parking is also available nearby, but that fills up rather fast.   Return on Investment   5 Tickets to Texas tennis matches are free of charge; parking is also free at the East Campus Garage. This makes tennis matches the best value by far for anything on campus in terms of cost. Add to that the relatively low cost of concessions, and you have the perfect afternoon watching some of the best in college tennis, while comfortably enjoying the match from your covered seats.   Extras   4 The concessions area features not just tables to sit and eat, but also a wall of fame that also doubles as a team records showcase. Here, you can see some of the best that have come through the home of the Longhorns. Another neat feature are the two memorial busts, one of Dr. Daniel Allen Penick and the other of Wilmer Lawson Allison, Jr. – these two men helped shape the future of Texas tennis at its founding and went on to find great personal success in the sport, at both the collegiate coaching level as well as personally at the professional level. Visible from Texas Tennis Center are some of the school’s major sports facilities; across the street is the softball stadium , while next door is the baseball field . Also, from the seats you can easily see the homes of Texas football  and basketball .   Final Thoughts The hidden gem of Texas’ campus may very well be Texas Tennis Center. This stellar facility offers unrivaled elevated and covered views of the action down below, and on top of that, offers incredible affordability in the face of ever-growing prices for sports fans. There is no question that Texas fans, tennis fans, and sports fans from all over the region should flock to Texas Tennis Center to watch tennis from the comfort of your second level seating.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium 41220 Fieldhouse Dr College Park, MD 20740 Maryland Terrapins website Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium website Year Opened: 1956 Capacity: 2,500 Baseball at the Bob Located on the campus of the University of Maryland, Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium has been home to the Terrapins’ baseball team since 1952. The stadium is adjacent to Maryland Stadium, home to the Terps’ football and lacrosse programs, and part of the upper deck is visible from the stands. Renovations to the stadium over the years include the installation of lights in the 1994 season and an all-turf field following the Terrapins’ run to the Super Regionals in 2015. Food & Beverage 2 There is a concession stand on the concourse at the top of the stands which offers very basic options. The only thing that could be a meal are hot dogs. Pretzels, popcorn, peanuts, chips, and candy are available for sale, as are bottled water and soft drinks. Be warned the concession stand only accepts credit cards, not cash. Atmosphere 4 Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium is an intimate stadium, with none of the plastic bleacher seats more than ten or so rows away from the action. The entrance is cut into a hill and fans will walk down a ramp or small flight of steps to enter the stadium. From there, they will enter a concourse that surrounds the seating bowl and walk down to their seats. Many fans will choose to stand here and watch the action instead of sitting. The Terrapins do a lot to keep fans engaged, playing music between innings, and each batter and pitchers also have their own special music. Often the fans will clap along to the tune, generating some energy during breaks in the action. A digital scoreboard in left field provides the line score and other basic information. \\ Beyond the scoreboard, fans will see the towering upper deck of SECU Stadium. If there is a lacrosse game going on there at the same time, you may be able to hear the sounds, although the upper deck will likely be empty and you will not be able to see the field. Neighborhood 3 College Park is a small college town with enough in the immediate area to get by but is really nothing special. There is a bowling alley a couple of miles away, and a bunch of chain restaurants within walking distance. If you’re looking for some local color, College Park Diner is a favorite with residents and students alike and serves up comfort food 24 hours a day. Looney’s Pub on Route 1 is a sports bar with dozens of big-screen TVs for your viewing pleasure. A couple of hotels are located nearby, including a Marriott just off campus, and The Hotel on-campus. (Yes, the on-campus hotel is literally called The Hotel. Not a very creative name.) That being said, if you’re looking to do more than eat and sleep, your best bet is to head down to the Metro station and take the Green Line into D.C. It’s about a 30-minute ride downtown. Once you’re there, there’s so much to do and most of it is free. Whether it’s visiting one of the historic monuments and memorials, visiting one of the numerous museums, or simply walking outside on the National Mall, there’s something for everyone. All government-run attractions are free to the public, though some privately-run ones are not. Just keep in mind if you want to tour the Capitol or White House, you will need to reserve that ahead of time. Fans 4 Maryland draws well for baseball games compared to other schools in the area, averaging about 1,000 fans a game. As is often the case, they draw more fans on weekends than weekdays, and the Bob can be quite packed on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, especially if the weather is nice. The fans who show up are loud and engaged and cheer on the Terps throughout the game. Many of the same fans go to games all season, so they know a great deal about the team, the players, the coaches, and even the umpires. Access 3 The University of Maryland campus is located just a few miles from I-495 (Capital Beltway) or Maryland Route 295 (Baltimore-Washington Parkway). Once you get on the campus, the closest place to park is the Union Lane Garage, but this is a paid garage that could cost up to $15 depending on how early you arrive and how long you stay. We would recommend downloading the Parkmobile app to your smartphone so you can add more time to the meter without having to return to the garage if the game runs long. Alternatively, if you are going to a game on a weekend or arriving after 4 PM on a Friday, you can park in Lot 1 or Z by the soccer stadium for free. This is about a five-minute walk to the stadium. Be warned that there is a lot of construction going on in these lots right now. The concourse is narrow and can get crowded with large crowds, especially after the game when everyone's leaving at once, although the fact that it is open to the field makes it feel less claustrophobic. Restrooms are located near the entrance. They are small and there is frequently a line. Return on Investment 4 General admission tickets are $15 for conference games for adults, with discounts available for youth and seniors Non-conference games on weekdays have free admission. In the past, Maryland has charged for non-conference games on weekends, but at a lower price than conference games. However, the Terps have no home games on weekends against non-conference opponents in 2025, so it's a moot point for this season. This is about standard for Big 10 baseball. The opportunity to see a game for free on a weekday adds value, but is offset by the fact that you can't park for free on weekdays unless it's a night game and will need to use the paid garage. Overall, a Maryland baseball game is a good value for fans to attend. Extras 4 The concourse at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium has a unique structure, with pillars supporting the overhang separating it from the seating bowl. A second star for the view of Maryland Stadium beyond the left field fence. A third star for the signage on the outfield wall honoring the Terps' postseason achievements. The stadium opens 90 minutes before first pitch to give fans an opportunity to watch batting practice. Final Thoughts Maryland is that odd part of the country that is not quite northern and not quite southern and the Terrapins’ attitude towards college baseball reflects that. While you will not get the large, raucous crowds and stadiums that rival minor league ones that you would find further south, this also is a far cry from the barebones fields with sparse crowds that are so prevalent in the northeast. In the end, this is an average to above-average place to watch a college baseball game if we’re comparing it to national venues, but compared to other college baseball venues in the Baltimore-Washington area, Bob “Turtle” Smith may be the nicest.

If you opened up to page 10 of the sports section of The Kokomo Tribune on Wednesday, May 6, 1931, you would have read the following byline. “SUCKERS DEFEAT MICHIGAN, 10-6, TO GAIN TOP ROUND OF LADDER” The rest of the article describes the fifth straight victory of the University of Illinois baseball team, but why were they called the Suckers? Isn’t the university’s nickname the Fighting Illini? That is due to the state’s unofficial nickname at the time. Illinois was known as “The Sucker State”. A term that has its origins beginning sometime in the 1820s. Just like its neighbors to the east in Indiana, where the origin of the name Hoosiers is widely debate, why were people from Illinois once called Suckers? There are several origin stories , but the most popular theory was due to the influx of people traveling down the Mississippi River to work in the mines in Galena in the 1820s and then returning home in the fall. The Galena residents would refer to them as “Suckers” since they followed the same travel pattern as a species of the same name.  The Mississippi River is home to both the blue and white sucker, two fish that suck up organic matter from the bottom of rivers and streams. The sucker fish makes an annual migration upstream to its spawning grounds around the same time as the seasonal miners arriving in Galena. The locals did not desire the fish and did not care for the influx of around 7,000 people, most considered ruffians, to their town. A collection of headlines from various newspapers during from 1905-1927. The name was more commonly used for the southern part of the state but found its way to describe the whole state in the newspapers. The Sucker State never became the official nickname, but even Abraham Lincoln was called a sucker in newspaper print of the time. On May 17, 1955, the Illinois General Assembly approved “The Land of Lincoln” as the state’s official slogan. “Badger Hopes Smashed by Sucker Five” from  The Indianapolis Star  from March 1, 1927 In the meantime, many sports teams from Illinois were called “suckers”.  One of the earliest was the Davenport Daily   Times , which described the Peoria victory over the Davenport club in the Central Interstate League in 1888. Newspapers at the time also described teams from Indiana as the “Hoosiers” when Davenport lost to Crawfordsville later that season. The Freeport Pretzels were a minor league team from 1905-1915. As if their name was not great, they were sometimes called the Suckers. Freeport, Illinois, adopted the name “The Pretzel City” in 1885 due to its many German bakeries. Today, the high school adopted the name for its sports teams.  The Danville Roller Polo Club of the Central Polo League, which we talked about before on this site, was constantly referred to as the Suckers by sports reporters of Lafayette, Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. However, Illinois newspapers called them the Pastimes.  “Suckers in great form as they trounce the Railroaders by the score of 7 to 3”  The state motto was found on the campus of the University of Illinois, known as the Fighting Illini since 1874. Everything from baseball, football, track and field, and debate teams were referred to as the Suckers.  “Buckeyes Play Flashy Football to Down Suckers and Win First Conference Game” from the Evansville Courier & Press  on November 26, 1922 The University of Illinois debate team defeated the Indiana University debate team 2-1. However, perhaps the best use of the term was when the debate team faced off in Champaign against their foes from Indiana University with a headline that read “SUCKERS DEFEAT HOOSIERS” and won 2 points to 1 point. The Illinois team won by stating that Congress should aid the shipping industry in building steamships in the country to be at the service in times of war. “SUCKERS GRAPPLERS WIN FROM CRIMSON MAT MEN”  from The Indianapolis Star  on February 18, 1922. Eventually, the term fell out of use by the 1930s, and the state of Illinois rid itself of the official motto, when shortened, could mean something else for its citizens and its sports teams. That didn’t stop The Terre Haute Tribune from referring to the Indiana Normal football team as the “Sucker State Eleven” in an October 31, 1949 article. By the mid-1950s Illinois was known as either “The Prairie State” or “The Land of Lincoln”, with its old motto tossed out and quickly forgotten within a few years. Many today would be surprised to know that “The Sucker State” was once the state’s unofficial motto but don’t expect to see it appear on any license plates or team uniforms any time soon. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

St. Francis College in Brooklyn, which boasts the oldest men’s college basketball programs in New York City, has announced the end of its entire Division One athletic program, effective at the end of the Spring 2023 semester. Denis Salamone, the chair of the St. Francis College Board of Trustees, announced Monday that due to increased operating expenses, flattening revenue streams, and plateauing enrollment, they were eliminating the school’s athletic program. Salamone issued a statement via the college’s website. "We want to acknowledge that SFC has a rich legacy in competitive athletics, and are proud of our Terriers today and in all years past. This difficult decision was guided by a commitment to preserving the College's 164-year Franciscan mission to provide a high quality and affordable education to working-class and first-generation students." St. Francis will honor all current academic and athletic scholarships, but employment for athletic staff and coaches will end at the conclusion of the spring semester. St. Francis has 19 teams that compete in the NCAA’s Northeast Conference. The Terriers men’s basketball team was founded in 1896 and boasts six regular season championships. The team plays at the Pope Physical Education Center .