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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey State Farm Arena FANFARE Score: 3.86 State Farm Arena 1 State Farm Dr Atlanta, GA 30303 Atlanta Hawks website State Farm Arena website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 16,888 True To Atlanta The latest hashtag campaign for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA pushes fans to be #TrueToAtlanta.  The Hawks have been part of the Atlanta sports landscape since 1968 when they moved from St. Louis.  The Hawks were founded as the Buffalo Bisons in 1946 and moved to Moline, Illinois to be the Tri-Cities Blackhawks after just 38 days.  In 1951 the team moved to Milwaukee and dropped the Black to become just the Hawks and stayed until 1955 when they moved to St. Louis.  Their only appearance in the NBA Finals saw them victorious in 1958 behind the massive scoring of Bob Pettit.  Key to the Hawks development was the purchase of the team by Ted Turner in 1977.  The Hawks were Turner’s first venture into sports and he owned them until 2004 when they were sold to Time Warner.  The Hawks had some success in the eighties with Dominique Wilkins, their best player in franchise history, but unfortunately they could not get past Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.  Currently the Hawks are mired in mediocrity under the ownership group led by Tony Ressler, who purchased the team in 2015. Home for the Hawks is State Farm Arena.  Built in 1999 as Philips Arena, it replaced the iconic Omni.  The arena is owned by the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority and after a couple of renovations has a current capacity of 16,600.  State Farm purchased the naming rights to the arena in 2018.  Taking in a Hawks game is a great experience, despite the woes of the Hawks. Food & Beverage 5 State Farm Arena offers a major league concession selection.  Zac Brown’s Social Club, Hawk Walk Market, Smoothie King and Chick-Fil-A are just the tip of the iceberg that fans can find at State Farm Arena.  State Farm Arena also offers seating areas, similar to a food court.  Some items that have been added to the menus this season include Buffalo Cauliflower Bites, Lemon Pepper Loaded Footlong, Smashburger and ATL Hot Chicken Tenders.  Coca-Cola is, of course, the soft drink of choice at State Farm Arena and there are a number of different bars that offer a host of mixed drinks as well as a variety of beer. Atmosphere 4 State Farm Arena offers a very unique exterior.  Since the area is seemingly built on platforms that facilitate parking facilities and infrastructure for the arena and stadium, State Farm Arena has a bit of an understated look to it, feeling low profile from the main entry on the southwest side.  The arena is renowned for the canopy in the front held up by support beams spelling Atlanta. Fans will no doubt want to check out the bronze statue of Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins, which stands in front of the main entrance.  There is also a statue of Evander Holyfield that stands near the escalator from the MARTA. Inside State Farm Arena, the concourses are a bit of a maze which deftly drive traffic into key areas, such as the team store. There are a few large seating areas near concession stands that give the area a bit of a food court feel.  There are plenty of Atlanta and Hawks markings in the concourse and there are plenty of things to see for fans walking around. Inside the seating bowl, fans will find that the court is northwest to southeast oriented, and the best spot for the center court logo is from the southwest side.  Hanging in the rafters at the southeast is the 1958 NBA Championship banner as well as a banner signifying the twelve Division Titles (six from each of St. Louis and Atlanta).  On the northwest side are the banners for the retired numbers which include Bob Pettit, Lou Hudson, Pete Maravich, Dikembe Mutombo, Dominique Wilkins and owner Ted Turner.  Above center court is a huge, state-of-the-art, four sided videoboard.  Four other videoboards are found in the four corners of the arena and display ads and statistics throughout the game.  The lower bowl is a typical configuration with the Delta Sky 360 Club at floor level of the northwest end.  The upper and lower levels are split by luxury boxes.  The upper levels are also in four distinct areas, separated at the corners by videoboards.   The gameday production at a Hawks game is not dissimilar to that of other NBA teams.  There is near constant motion and stimulus, almost to the point of being overwhelming.  The mascot, Harry the Hawk, takes part in the pregame ceremonies and other promotions on the court.  The ATL Dancers perform in the pregame and during breaks in play.  An interesting aspect of the gameday production is a member of the ownership group, actress Jami Gertz, takes part in the Swag Surf where she dances and leads the crowd on the court with Harry the Hawk.  Neighborhood 5 State Farm Arena is located in Downtown Atlanta, an underrated tourist destination. Being Downtown in a major metropolitan city offers a number of options for pre or post-game food and drink. Some options close by include Max’s Coal Oven Pizza, The Food Shoppe, Sway, Polaris and Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint.  There are a bunch of other sporting options in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons  and Atlanta United FC  play right next door to State Farm Arena at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This is also the annual home of the Peach Bowl , now part of the College Football Playoff. The Atlanta Braves  play outside of the Atlanta city limits in Cumberland. Other options include the Atlanta Dream  and Georgia Swarm  and Gwinnet Stripers . College sports are also prevalent with Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football , basketball  and baseball  and Georgia State Panthers football , basketball  and baseball  among other sports. There are also a ton of other tourist options in Atlanta. Fans should consider checking out the World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, Olympic Park and College Football Hall of Fame. There are plenty of hotel options that are close. The Omni is an iconic Atlanta staple. Other options close by include Holiday Inn, Hyatt and Marriott. Fans 3 For an NBA team, the Hawks have not blown the door off of the turnstiles.  It is not surprising due to decades of mediocrity at best.  At the time of writing, the Atlanta Hawks averaged over 16,200 fans per game.  The previous season, 2023-24, the Hawks averaged 16,900.  Although both of these figures are close to capacity, the eye test shows a big difference between these figures and the butts in seats.  The Hawks are close to the basement in the NBA for attendance and have a fairly passive fan base.    Access 4 State Farm Arena is located in Downtown Atlanta, north of Centennial Olympic Park Drive and west of Marietta Street SW.  It is west of Highway I-85 and north of I-20.  Getting to the arena is not too difficult if sufficient time is given, but Atlanta traffic can definitely be an issue.  There are a number of surface lots and parking garages downtown.  Pre-purchasing parking using an appropriate app is probably the best idea for new fans.  The parking deck just southwest of the main entry at Centennial Olympic Park Drive is a very convenient option.  For fans wishing to take public transit, the MARTA station is right there.  Fans should check the MARTA website for fares, schedules and maps. Inside State Farm Arena, the concourses are a bit maze-like and confusing to get around, however the concourses do offer plenty of space.  The washroom facilities are adequate for the facility. Stadium Journey recognizes that the security protocols for major sporting events are in constant flux.  Stadium Journey strongly recommends consulting the Atlanta Hawks  and State Farm Arena  websites for the most up to date security information including prohibited items and bag policy. Return on Investment 3 NBA experiences are expensive and the Atlanta Hawks are no different.  The 2023 Fan Cost Index for the Hawks was $232, which is below league average, but still a steep price. This puts them as the 24th most expensive experience.  Tickets for the Hawks generally start at $43 for the upper ends going to $82 for other spots in the upper bowl.  For the lower bowl, tickets range from $125 to over $425.  Parking in the surrounding area will probably cost around $30 and concession prices are expensive, what one would expect for a major league experience.  The return for the investment is good, but the cost is prohibitive for fans to consider multiple games per season.  Extras 3 An extra mark for the beams in front of the State Farm Center spelling Atlanta. An extra mark for the homage to the iconic Omni over the MARTA escalator. An extra mark for the view of the Atlanta skyline from the interior of State Farm Arena. Final Thoughts Fans will definitely have a good time when taking in an Atlanta Hawks game.  The State Farm Arena is a solid sports destination and great spot to take in a basketball game.  More success on the court for the Hawks would definitely improve the experience but either way, the Hawks remain True to Atlanta. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Intuit Dome 3930 W Century Blvd Inglewood, CA 90303 Map It LA Clippers website Intuit Dome website Year Opened: 2024 Capacity: 18,000 The Return of Pro Hoops To The ‘Wood When it comes to hosting some of the big names of professional sports, the City of Inglewood, minutes from LAX, is no stranger. From 1967-1999 The Forum was the home to the Los Angeles Lakers  as well as the Los Angeles Kings . During that span much of The Forum’s glorious history would be provided by the 80’s Showtime Era Lakers , winning 5 of their 6 Forum era championships from 1980-1988 while attracting countless Hollywood celebrities, most notably Jack Nicholson and Dyan Cannon.  As both the Lakers and Kings would move to DTLA at the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena), the Clippers, who would play their home games at the nearby L.A. Sports Arena from 1984 -1999 after moving from San Diego, would join these two powerhouses.  During their time at Crypto, the Clippers were often regarded as the third tenant, resulting in several occasions with unfavorable afternoon tipoff times. As the team was turning a corner, the Clippers would not be void of controversy due in large part to former owner Donald Sterling . Even with the Clippers recent run of success, try as they may, even going as far as to cover the Lakers championship banners with banners adorning current players, Crypto.com Arena would always be associated with the Lakers.  In comes present day owner Steve Ballmer. Ballmer would be the billion dollar mastermind   that would eventually give the Clippers a home they could truly call their own. Food & Beverage 3 For being a snazzy new venue in a city with various cultural palettes, the options here are somewhat underwhelming. Options include your basic burgers and hot dogs, double cheeseburger, the famous L.A. Street Dog, cheese or pepperoni pizza and chicken tenders.  Healthy options include a chicken Caesar salad, plant based burger, a spicy tuna or garden sushi dog and a buffalo cauliflower wrap. Some of the snack options offer soft pretzels, classic and butter toffee popcorn, nachos and spinach empanadas as well as a variety of chips, candy and ice cream bars.  Coca-Cola products are the soft drink providers and can be bought in cans at any of the grab and go concession stands. Souvenir cups are also available and can be filled at the many self-serve stations throughout the concourses with unlimited refills. The souvenir cups can also be used for any future Intuit Dome events you may be attending.  Some of the domestic, import and craft beers available are Coors, Modelo, and Lagunitas IPA, as well as red and white wine and ready to drink cocktails. Atmosphere 5 Intuit Dome Pregame Intro, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey From the moment one sets foot inside the venue there is already a sense of excitement, starting from the outdoor plaza where fans can shoot some pregame hoops on a regulation basketball court, or admire the various artwork throughout , including the much talked Clipper ship .  The section that is one of the most talked about is The Wall. This section, located behind the visiting teams basket, rises vertically from the floor up with no luxury suites creating any separation, encouraging some of the most rabid fans to make their presence felt such as that in college venues. The first 13 rows provide safe standing rails to encourage those close to the action to provide an intimidating and distracting feel for the free throw shooters of visiting teams. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer spared no expense in making the team’s new digs quite a showcase. Intuit Dome View Atop the Wall, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 3 Intuit Dome Public Artwork, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey As the sports and entertainment complex continues to thrive in Inglewood, aside from the Kia Forum and SoFi Stadium, the neighborhood surrounding these venues has not fully developed. Visitors to the Intuit Dome may find themselves disappointed in the fact there are not many pre and postgame dining options within the area. Along Century or Manchester Blvd you will find your usual chains such as McDonalds, Jack In The Box or Starbucks but not much else.  Cosm Los Angeles  is close by offering a high tech viewing experience of major sporting events giving fans the feel of being at a live event.  Fans 3 Much like the Staples/Crypto era, Clippers fans are a much different breed from the glitzy crowd the Lakers  attract. The majority of fans who attend Clippers games are family types along with the working class. They are still miles from totally capturing the vast L.A. fan base which  their crosstown rivals continue to enjoy. Though an occasional celebrity such as Billy Crystal can be spotted every now and then, for the majority of the fans the focus, bells and whistles, et al, is still on the game without much stargazing. Some of the most passionate fans are seated in the earlier mentioned Wall behind the visiting teams basket. Though Clippers fans now have a venue they can truly call their own, they haven’t exactly been filling the seats toward the rafters on a nightly basis. One can only guess the reasons for the nightly vast amount of empty seats. Costs that include a $68 parking fee? Could it also be the fans reluctance to give too much personal information on the Intuit Dome app? Or maybe the lack of a huge big name superstar aside from maybe James Harden? Could the venue’s Inglewood location also be a factor? After all, anyone familiar with L.A. will tell you Inglewood isn’t exactly in the most centrally located part of town. I’d have to guess it’s a combination of the aforementioned factors. Perhaps as the season approaches the playoffs more interest can be attained by the Clipper Nation.  Access 3 This is L.A. OK, their new home is in the city of Inglewood. I’m sure you get the point. When in L.A., chances are great you’ll be driving. And if you’re driving, you’re more than likely to encounter traffic issues. In some, or many cases, there’s no way around it. This is THE one category that will always be an issue here in Tinsletown.  There are two main garages as well as a VIP Players garage where fans can park. Though parking may be sufficient for the venue’s size, be prepared for your card to be dented with prices starting at $68.  If planning on driving, when in L.A., allow yourself ample time to arrive. Unless you are staying at one of the hotels at nearby LAX, you’re likely to be driving a fair distance along with our famous traffic. L.A. continues to be a sprawling city with no true central point so plan accordingly. You may also want to keep in mind the KIA Forum and SoFi Stadium are neighboring venues that can host events coinciding with Clippers games. To encourage alternate ways of arrival, free gameday shuttles  from various public transit park & ride hubs are offered throughout Los Angeles County. Return on Investment 4 Excluding the parking, which at the cheapest will be $68, tickets for most games are still reasonably priced. Prices from the Intuit Dome app start as low as $29 for seats in the upper terrace wall to as much as $250 for floor level seats via third party sites. If you have an account through the Intuit Dome app, you may be able to score some day of game deals for as low as $21. For games against prime opponents such as the Lakers, Warriors and Celtics expect a significant hike with prices starting in the triple digits at $150.    Regardless what outlet you decide to purchase your tickets you, as well as other attendees from your party will need to add the IntuitDome App  to your mobile device. Once the app has been downloaded each attendee must create their own profile as well as a GameFace ID (Selfie) or an Identity Pass that can be added to your Google or Apple Wallet.  Once a profile has been created the ticket purchaser can transfer the tickets to each attendee in their group. If bringing anyone 13 or under or anyone else needing assistance, a Teammate account can be set up for them.  Are you confused? Don’t feel so bad. What may seem as advanced technology has had its glitches since the venue's first event and should you still have any reservations or questions regarding the use of the app, an Answers Portal is located right at the entrance prior to entering the lower bowl concourse. Extras 4 The moment fans step inside the main outdoor plaza they will experience a vibrant atmosphere. The outdoor plaza, open to the public on non event days, offers a full length basketball court where fans can show off their hoops skills alongside an LED screen displaying an array of Artificial Intelligence based art .  Intuit Dome Art and Hoops, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Another unique work of art that fans will be attracted to is a Clipper ship displaying various basketball hoops , making for a great meeting point. Intuit Dome Clipper Ship, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Once inside the arena fans will notice a display of basketball jerseys from every high school in California located throughout the lower concourse. This is one of the more popular displays inside the arena as fans try to find the location of their high school jersey. Fans can find their high school jersey with the assistance of this link , also available on the display wall. Intuit Dome California High School Basketball Jersey Display, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Inside the seating bowl fans will notice a console that allows them to play games such as team trivia during breaks in the action. The interactive console consists of multi colored buttons allowing fans the chance to play along. The console also comes equipped with an in-seat outlet to charge your phone. Final Thoughts With just under 18,000 seats, the Intuit Dome just may be the most intimate of all NBA arenas. In its first season, like any new venue, its had its hits and misses. Could the Intuit Dome be the model for how any potential future NBA arenas are built? Will fans eventually be accepting of the so-called technological advances that come with attending an event inside this sparkling new venue? The only thing that’s missing that can be built over time is history such as that at Crypto.com Arena, now in its 25th year of service. Once you get past all the technical stuff required to enter the Intuit Dome, you are sure to be impressed with what the Clippers can finally call their own.  Click here  for more of my thoughts on the Intuit Dome game day experience and also check out my YouTube video below for more.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Columbia IceField Arena 220 Columbia St. W Waterloo, ON N2L 0A1 Waterloo Warriors website Columbia IceField Arena website Year Opened: 1983 Capacity: 680 Waterloo’s Barn They just don’t build them like this anymore.  Taking the ice in 1963 for the first time the Waterloo Warriors represented their fledgling school with pride.  The school was established in 1959 as an outgrowth of modern day’s Wilfrid Laurier University, located up University Ave, Waterloo ballooned into a huge school with over 40,000 students and one of the strongest reputations for engineering and computer science.  Success for the Warriors on the ice has been up and down in the ultra-competitive OUA conference of USports, culminating with Queen’s Cup Championships as conference champions in 1974 and 1996 and a University Cup as National Champions in 1974. Home for the Warriors since 1983 has been the Columbia IceField Arena.  Cheekily named after the natural phenomenon located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and its location on Columbia Street in Waterloo, the CIF is a throwback to a lost time.  The home of the Warriors, is essentially and affectionately a barn. Food & Beverage 1 In previous years a concession booth could be found inside the Columbia IceField, however, it seems those days are past.  The concession booth has been repurposed and a couple of vending machines are the entirety of the culinary selection.  In the recreation centre there is a Jugo Juice stand, but it is rarely to never open during hockey games.  Atmosphere 4 The Columbia IceField Arena was originally built in 1983 and is now part of a larger recreation centre for the University of Waterloo.  From the exterior it is clear where the additions have taken place as the arena roof with its brown shingles pokes up above the rest of the rec centre.  The main entry from the cul-de-sac is on the east side and the rec centre has an attractive silver and glass exterior.  Upon entry, fans are met with the main ticket booth and then head to the arena lobby.  Welcomed by the starkness of the black colouring of the lobby walls, fans are met with the ticket table and enter the small lobby.  The lobby has a number of interesting nuggets for fans of the program to examine.  The Warriors have done a very good job documenting their history.  The lobby is filled with pictures of Warrior Alumni who have gone on to play professionally.  Of particular interest is the group of alumni coaches, including NHL coaches Geoff Ward and Karl Taylor.  An encased jersey for Tyler Norrie, who passed away too young, while still a Warrior hangs with an inscription.  A large trophy case houses information about the current Warrior hockey teams. Upon entering the arena itself, fans are immediately struck with the sudden drop in temperature and the amazing architecture.  The eyeline is drawn to the gorgeous hardwood ceiling with arched supports that give the CIF that feeling of a throwback arena to a different time, when ice surfaces were in actual barns.  The arena is not very huge and feels more like an arena for youth hockey as one built for spectator sports.  The ice surface runs from west to east with the seating on the north side of the ice.  For video purposes, the main logo is oriented towards the south, where the media box and cameras are situated above the player benches.  The bleachers are a mere three rows giving fans a literal ice level view.  Hanging above the ice surface are the Waterloo championship banners which include the 1974 and 1996 Ontario championship banners along with the 1974 National Championship banner.  The honoured numbers of Warriors Mike Bishop, Don Langlois, John Wynne, Mike Zettel and Ron Hawkshaw also hang above the ice surface in an unusual nod to hockey history not normally found in the OUA.  Team photos of the championship teams are on the west wall, welcoming fans as they head towards the bleachers.  Hockey scoreboards hang above the southeast and northwest corners. The gameday production at a Waterloo Warriors hockey game is simple.  The PA system is good and it is easy for fans to understand the announcements.  At some games the Warrior band will be present, sitting in the northeast corner.  The band is pretty small, but adds to the overall atmosphere and has been around for decades. Neighbourhood 4 The Columbia IceField Arena is located at the north edge of the campus of the University of Waterloo.  The main campus is bordered by University  Ave and Columbia Street and the CIF is located just on the opposite side of Columbia.  There are a number of options for pre or post game meals in the area, but most would require a significant hike.  The University Club is located on campus, but has very limited, weekday lunch hours.  Heading east to the offerings of King Street or south to University Ave would be the best idea.  Some options include Morty's Pub, Ennio’s Pasta House, Games on Tap, Mel’s Diner and Molly Bloom’s. There are a number of other sporting options available in Waterloo.  The Warriors field a number of other athletic teams including football  and basketball .  Just up the street is Wilfrid Laurier University and the Golden Hawks also field football , basketball  and hockey  teams among others.  Junior B hockey is in Waterloo with the Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins.  Heading to the twin city of Kitchener, fans could take in the Kitchener Panthers  of Intercounty baseball, although the schedules will not match up, or the sporting centrepiece of the area, the Kitchener Rangers  of the OHL.  Kitchener-Waterloo is renowned for Oktoberfest, which is the largest Bavarian festival in the world outside of Frankfurt, Germany.  Other tourist spots would include The Museum, Jazz Room or nearby St. Jacob’s Market. For fans wishing to stay in the area, the Delta and Courtyard are short drives from campus. Fans 2 OUA hockey is a bit of a hidden gem that unfortunately, not enough people know about.  The Waterloo Warrior fanbase is not huge.  In the 2023-2024 hockey season, the Warriors averaged 140 fans per game, which was up from the previous year.  This ranked them 15th in the conference where only one school attracts over 1,000 fans per game.  The attendance is not too underwhelming for the OUA as a number of schools attract around the same number of fans.  Waterloo’s advantage is that the CIF holds a mere 680 people so it does not require a big crowd to add to the atmosphere.  That being said, there is plenty of room for the Warriors to improve.   Access 3 Getting to the Columbia IceField Arena is not too difficult.  Located at the north side of the University of Waterloo campus, the IceField is easy to get to by major Waterloo streets including Columbia Street and University Avenue.  The IceField is a fair distance from highway 85 and fans will have to drive a bit through the city to get to the arena.  Parking is available for free on weekends and in the evening behind the optometry building on the other side of Hagey Blvd, opposite the arena.  There are also cash lots in the Columbia IceField Athletic Centre lot and across Columbia Street on Ring Road.   For fans wishing to take public transit, Grand River Transit buses stop along Columbia St and at multiple points on the University of Waterloo campus.  The light rail also stops on the University of Waterloo Campus and beyond, but there is a bit of a walk from the stop to the CIF.  Fans should check out the   Grand River Transit  website for fares, maps and schedules.   The ticketing booth is immediately inside the Columbia IceField Athletic Centre entrance from the cul-de-sac off of Hagey Blvd.  Cash and credit cards are accepted.   Getting around the arena can be a chore.  With such a small space, a decent crowd can jam up the works quickly.  The lobby in the arena is not huge and a logjam trying to get in can slow things up significantly.  There are two small washrooms in the entryway of the arena, one for each gender.  Even a crowd of a couple hundred fans can put a real strain on the facilities. Return on Investment 4 Canadian university hockey is one of the last great bargains in sport.  Waterloo Warrior hockey tickets are available for $10 for adults.  Seniors and students pay only $8 and children go for $5.  University of Waterloo students have free entry.  Concessions are very limited and parking can be found for free.  Put this all together and the investment is very small.  The return for that investment is very good.  The product on the ice is solid and the building is very unique and offers a good atmosphere.  Some concession options would improve the return for sure, even the availability of coffee or hot chocolate to combat the cold temperatures would be welcome. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Waterloo Warriors ongoing rivalry with their neighbours up the street, the Laurier Golden Hawks.  The rivalry is tracked across all sports and the Battle of Waterloo trophy is awarded each year. An extra mark for the history on display at the Columbia IceField. An extra mark for the uniqueness of the CIF and the throwback architecture of the building. Final Thoughts Taking in a Waterloo Warriors hockey game is a great way to enjoy some hockey at a very low price and in a facility that is truly unique.  The Columbia IceField Arena is definitely not oversized and offers a different experience than all of the other OUA hockey facilities.  Hopefully, the Warriors can enjoy some more success at the barn and challenge in the OUA for another Queen’s Cup soon. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Raimondi Park 1689 20th St Oakland, CA  94607 Map It Oakland Ballers website Raimondi Park website Year Opened: 1947 Capacity: 2,500 You Can’t Take Baseball out of Oakland Baseball returns to Oakland via the B’s (Ballers) instead of the A’s (Athletics).  After the announcement that the Oakland Athletics would be moving out of Oakland at the end of the 2024 season, two former Oaklanders decided to build a baseball team to create an identity that unites the citizens of Oakland.   They envision the team and the stadium as a place to help heal the wounds of Oakland sports fans. It’s a remarkable story to hear about the team’s management reaching out to the fan base for assistance finalizing the ballpark’s renovation to make it usable for opening day.  Bringing the fans together and making them feel part of the team and organization helps the healing process. Raimondi Park opened in 1910 as Bayview Park and renamed in 1947.  It is dedicated to Ernie Raimondi, an Oakland native who played in the minors, who was killed in action in World War II.   A $1.6 million investment went into th e current re novation of historic Raimondi Park.  Crews built the stadium quickly (in two months or so).  It works as a first-year minor league stadium with upgrades on the list for future years. The Oakland Ballers are one of the newest independent Pioneer Baseball League members, beginning play in 2024.  Food & Beverage 3 The Oakland Ballers provide a decent choice of refreshments and an excellent choice of canned beers. Most concessions are behind the first base grandstand, with another small table behind the third base seats.  Traditional stadium fare is sold at the concession stands behind the first base grandstand.  Hot dogs, bratwurst (including a vegan option), nachos, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, fries, and more sell in the $9 - $14 range.  Sodas are Coca-Cola brands.  Beer choices are too numerous to list.  A local brewery, Almanac, created a special beer called Ballers Love just for the team.  It’s a hazy IPA and tastes pretty good.  Beers generally run $12 a can. Beer Choices at Raimondi Park, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The venue has rotating food trucks located near the right field entrance.  This area is probably your best bet for yummy food.  Be sure to visit this spot before getting something from the traditional concession area.  Atmosphere 4 It’s a fun time at a Ballers game.  With the game action, between-inning contests, Oakland 68s, and special themed nights, visitors will enjoy themselves. Almost every home game is a special event night:  Halloween in August, First Responders Night, BART Night, Rugby Night, Latino Heritage Night, etc. The seats are built and placed above the field.  It is similar to a temporary Formula 1 racetrack  setup. Premium reserved seats behind home are fold-down chairs with minimal width and legroom .  The other reserved seats (behind the dugouts) and GA (general admission) seating are bleachers. A f ew sections in the GA areas are net-free. Yeah!  The seating areas have handrails.  Ramps and an ADA lift are available for those unable to climb steps.  The first base side is more popular and has more seats.  The su n shines on  fans on the third base side for the first few innings.  The seating areas do not have shade, though most games are played in the evening.  Bring sunscreen if it’s an afternoon game.  Bring a jacket or sweatshirt for evening games, as it can get chilly when the sun sets. The press box and dugouts are manufactured from old shipping containers, a nod to Oakland’s Seaport just a few miles away.    A new video board sits in right-center field.  It displays the line score, home team player information, balls, strikes, and outs.  It only shows the lineup for the Ballers, not the visiting team.  A whiteboard with the starting lineup is something the organization is looking to do for next season. Apartments are beyond right field; an ivy-covered brick warehouse is beyond left field. Fans can see the city of Oakland in the distance beyond the third baseline.  The bullpens are adjacent to each other next t o the ri ght field foul pole. Raimondi Park Bullpens, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The gameday operations do a fantastic job at lowering the music volume when the PA announcer speaks.  Thankfully, there’s minimal ‘noise’ between the pitches, so fans get to enjoy the game and the Oakland 68s drums and cheers. Fun between-inning contests include a dizzy bat race, banshee boogie races, and more.  Kids get to run the bases, and the players sign autographs after Sunday games.  Good stuff and not overdone! Neighborhood 3 There is not much to see and do within walking distance of Raimondi Park. Kowbird is known for its spicy chicken sandwiches and is a block away. A few local Mexican restaurants are less than a half mile from the ballpark. The best place for food, drinks, and entertainment in Oakland is Jack London Square , a little over two miles from the ballpark.    Here you’ll find seafood restaurants (Scott’s Seafood and Seabreeze on the Dock), French cuisine (Left Bank Brasserie), American (Fat Lady Bar and Restaurant, Oakland Grill, Nation’s Giant Burgers and Pies), and much more. Several delicious breweries are in Jack London Square:  Line 51 Brewery (recommended), Oakland United Beerworks, Cellarmaker, and more. There are no hotels near the ballpark.  Downtown Oakland (two or so miles from Raimondi Park) has a Residence Inn, a Ramada, a Marriott, a Courtyard, and more. Other sports to see when in town include the Oakland Roots (USLC), Oakland Soul (USLW), and the San Francisco Giants (MLB).   Plenty of Pecos League baseball teams are within a 30-minute drive:  San Rafael Pacifics , Martinez Sturgeon , Vallejo Seaweed , and the Dublin Leprechauns .  Fans 3 You have to admire Oakland sports fans, still showing up for sporting events after losing three of its major league professional teams in the last decade.   First are the Oakland 68s , a group of loyal Oakland sports fans who bang drums, wave flags and banners, and cheer all Oakland sports teams (kind of like soccer supporter groups).  They visit Raimondi Park and embrace the Ballers as they did the Athletics.    The Oakland Ballers have the warmest, friendliest staff members who smile, make you feel welcome, and are willing to chat for a bit if desired.  The wonderful thing about the Oakland fans is the diversity and acceptance of other fans’ cultures and lifestyles.  Access 3 Raimondi Park is in West Oakland, not far off I-880.  Free parking is on the streets surrounding the ballpark.  The stadium has two lots that range from $8 - $20.  The team encourages fans to take the BART to the West Oakland station, and a shuttle will pick fans up.  I tried this and waited more than 45 minutes for a shuttle, but it never arrived.  Instead, I took the 29 bus, but it dropped me off in Timbuktu, and I had to hoof it back to the stadium anyway.  Taking the BART is a fantastic idea, but I wouldn’t count on the shuttle.  Maybe that’ll be an improvement for the 2025 season. Uber and Lyft are plentiful in the neighborhood. San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport is the closest commercial airport, 11 miles south of the ballpark. The stadium has two entrances, one at 20th St and Willow St, the other on 18th St.  Fans go through security first, then can purchase their tickets (no paper, they text you a link).  A sign says clear bags only.  I saw several fans with non-clear bags, so I’m unsure if it’s enforced.  I’d recommend bringing your items in a 14” x 6” x 14” clear sports bag. The venue has enough ramps for fans who can’t use stairs, and it has an ADA lift.  The restrooms are porta-potties, something I recommend looking at upgrading for future seasons.  Return on Investment 3 Ticket prices range from $12 - $35.  These are on the high end for Pioneer League games. Premium Reserved Seat ticket + fees: $35.00 Bleacher Reserved Seat ticket + fees: $28.00 General Admission Seat ticket + fees: $24.00 Ballers Bargain Bleacher ticket + fees: $18.00   Concession prices are about average.  Fans can get free parking on the street (arrive early).  Once the shuttle is working, taking the BART is an excellent, affordable choice.  The game day experience is fun and worth the sports dollar entertainment expense. The team has plenty of theme night games, so look those up when planning a trip to West Oakland. . Extras 5 The Pioneer League and the Oakland Ballers are testing the ball-strike challenge, where the pitcher, catcher, or batter can question a ball or strike.  Kelsie Whitmore, a member of the Oakland Ballers, was the first female player to start a game in Pioneer League history in 2024.  She did it at Raimondi Park. The mascot, Scrappy, is a possum and is a tribute to the possums residing at the Oakland Coliseum.  The team has a ceremonial first batter instead of a first pitch. The stadium has a mural for four baseball players whose roots are in Oakland:  Frank Robinson, Curt Flood, Vada Pinson, and Ernie Raimondi. Built By Oakland, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Final Thoughts Attending an Oakland Ballers game at Raimondi Park is an inclusive, community-oriented event, perfect for the entire family.  Kudos to the owners and team for developing a much more fan-based sports team to assist Oaklanders with the healing process of losing the Athletics.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 AutoZone Park 200 Union Ave Memphis, TN 38103 Memphis 901 FC website AutoZone Park website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 14,320 Playing In The Zone Memphis 901 FC was founded as an expansion team before the 2019 soccer season got underway. The team plays at the Championship level of play within the USL. The first two years of the franchise resulted in losing seasons, but the team posted winning records each of the last two seasons. The home pitch for Memphis 901 is AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis. It opened in 2000 as the home of the AAA Memphis Redbirds baseball team. The stadium cost a staggering $80.5 million, making it one of the most expensive minor league stadiums in the country. AutoZone Park is built to MLB standards so that it can easily be expanded to meet the requirements of a future major league baseball franchise. The stadium has a capacity of 10,000 for baseball, but it is considerably less for soccer due to the pitch’s configuration on the baseball field. Food & Beverage 4 The concession stands at AutoZone Park offer a wide variety of food options. American Dog offers multiple types of hot dogs, including the Memphis Dog ($7.50) a Veggie Dog ($5), or a Jumbo Hot Dog ($5). It also offers the typical ballpark fare of cracker jacks ($4.50), peanuts ($5.25), and Coca-Cola brand sodas ($5). The Farm to Fowl stand offers Beale Street Burgers combos ($12), Cheeseburger combos ($7), Black Bean Burger combos ($9.50) a Chicken Tenders combo ($8.75), and a Fish N Chips combo ($12). All combos include a soft drink and fries. Fans with a sweet tooth can head to the Sweet Treats concession stand. It offers root beer floats ($8) ice cream in a bowl ($8) or a waffle cone ($7) and cotton candy ($5). Fans looking for an adult beverage can quench their thirst at the Brew House. It offers a wide variety of premium ($11.50 for a 24 oz can) and domestic beers ($10.50 for a 24 oz can) with a wide variety of craft beers ($10.50 for a craft draft or $8.50 for a craft can). The Brew House also sells cocktails ($9.25), margaritas ($11.25), and wine ($8.75). Atmosphere 0 AutoZone Park is a terrific place to enjoy a baseball game, a soccer match, or an outdoor concert. The developers spent more than $80 million to build the park, making it the most expensive minor league stadium in the country at the time. It is money well spent, as it offers a facility that feels more like a major league stadium. The exterior of the stadium is brick with lots of ornamental iron. There is a fan plaza outside of the main gates that feature several baseball statues and metal plates of art featuring a stylized stadium. The teams often have a band playing during the pregame or prematch periods. Once inside the stadium, you are behind the home plate for baseball games or a corner kick from the left side of the soccer pitch. The concourse splits in two ways, creating a Y-shaped seating bowl. There is also a second, club-level set of seats. All seats are close to the action, and the concourse is open to the field, so you will not miss any of the action if you head to the concession stand. The soccer pitch goes down the first base line, which offers the largest set of seats in the stadium. One end of the pitch is designated as the supporter group section, while the other end of the pitch features the Terminix Terrace, a group seating and party area. Towering over the Terminix Terrace is the giant videoboard, which provides event information, replays of the action, and fan contests during breaks in the match. A second, horizontal scoreboard is on the far side of the pitch, featuring sponsors’ information and other match-related info. Neighborhood 4 AutoZone Park is centrally located in downtown Memphis, with easy access to many of the city’s top tourist attractions. The stadium is located just east of the Cotton Row Historic District and just a few blocks over from Historic Beale Street. Memphis is the third-largest city in Tennessee and has plenty to offer visitors as far as accommodations, great BBQ, and tourist sights. Beale Street is within walking distance of AutoZone Park. It offers the best in Blues music in several nightclubs along the way. A must-see while in the area is the Memphis Rock N Soul Museum. It is curated by the Smithsonian Institute and offers an in-depth look at the origins of soul/blues music. Although not in the downtown area, no visit to Memphis can be complete until you have paid your respects to Elvis and visited Graceland. Memphis is known as one of the top BBQ destinations in the World. Restaurants especially known for their BBQ include B.B. King’s Blues Club and Corky’s. Fans 4 Soccer has been a popular sport in the Memphis area for years before it had a professional team. The youth soccer programs across Western Tennessee attract more than 8,000 participants on an annual basis. The University of Memphis has had very successful men’s and women’s soccer programs for a number of years. It is upon these foundations that Memphis 901 FC has built a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic fanbase. The primary fanbase is established around the team’s primary supporter group, the Bluff City Mafia. (The City of Memphis is built on a bluff that looks out over the Mississippi River) The group takes part in several aspects of the team’s operation. Its’ primary interest lies in supporting the team, and secondarily serves as a support to the individual players on the team. Many of the international players on Memphis 901 FC have no family in the USA during the segment of the year that they play in Memphis. The supporter group helps them to navigate the local area and create a sense of family by inviting them to group functions. The Bluff City Mafia also creates a tifo, or banner, for each home game. They also work to create signature chants or songs, which are unique to Memphis. They typically will have many drummers that are very active in the organization, as they provide rhythmic drumming throughout the team’s matches. The supporter groups also have a charitable purpose, as they often do fundraisers for a citywide charity or a more specialized set of fundraisers for members of the group that might be going through a serious illness. Of course, supporter groups are legendary for their socialization purpose. The Bluff City Mafia meets hours before each game at the Brass Door Pub, which is located several blocks from AutoZone Park. At the appointed hour they will march as a large and boisterous group to AutoZone Park through the streets of Downtown Memphis. Upon entering the stadium, they fill aisles 108-112 as the supporter section is located directly behind the goal at the enclosed end of the pitch. They make it very difficult for the opposing goalie to concentrate or communicate with his teammates. The remainder of the crowd is usually made up of college students and youth soccer organizations wearing their colorful kits. For detailed information on the supporter group meetings, please go to www.bluffcitymafia901.com Memphis 901 FC has four pub partners that host watch parties when the team has a road game. The watch parties take place at Aldo’s Pizza, Silky O’Sullivan’s, Celtic Crossing, and the Ghost River Brewing Company. Access 4 AutoZone Park is centrally located in the downtown area of Memphis. If you are staying in one of the downtown hotels or in a hotel along the Mississippi River, it is within walking distance of the ballpark. Memphis also has a Trolley car line that delivers you directly to AutoZone Park. The line has fourteen stops along its route, providing the opportunity to reach your hotel, attractions including Beale Street, the FedEx Forum, the National Civil Rights Museum as well as some terrific BBQ restaurants, all at just a $2.00 cost for a day pass. There are numerous parking lots surrounding AutoZone Park. They typically have security on-site on nights when an AutoZone Park event is scheduled. They typically charge $10 on match nights. Once at AutoZone Park, you will find it very easy to navigate. The stadium has an exterior plaza before you go through the security at the gate. This provides you with an excellent place to meet your friends prior to the match. There are multiple gates to enter the actual stadium without delay. The concourse area is atop the lower seating bowl of the stadium. Concourses are wide and are open to the field, so you will find them easy to navigate. The club level can be accessed via an elevator or stairs. Return on Investment 5 Memphis 901 FC games are very reasonably priced, which is why you see many families in attendance. Tickets start at $13 for General Admission seating behind the goal at the enclosed end of the pitch. The supporter section is considered General Admission seating as well. The lower-level seats along the side of the pitch are priced at $15. End of the field seats at the 200 level of seating cost $26. The most expensive seats are in sections 211-215, as they are priced at $65, but are also all-inclusive for food and beverage. Getting to a game can be very economical if you use the Trolley system that runs along the bluff and circulates past many of the tourism and lodging locations in the downtown area. A full-day ticket is just $2 for unlimited rides. There are three parking lots adjacent to the stadium. If you get there early, there are metered parking spaces nearby. Meters are free after 6 pm. Extras 3 AutoZone Park has hosted the AAA All-Star game as well as the AAA National Championship Game. The videoboard at AutoZone Park is the largest in the MiLB at 60 X 60. AutoZone Park has been selected as the Minor League Ballpark of the Year on two occasions. Final Thoughts AutoZone Park was the most expensive minor league sports facility in the country when it opened in 2000. It has been money well spent, as it offers a major league experience in a minor league park. The Memphis 901 FC opened shop in the USL in 2019 and have drawn very well in their home matches. The pitch alignment on the baseball field allows much of the seating bowl with a very close-up view of the action. In addition, AutoZone Park offers an excellent set of concession stands with a wide variety of food selections. The park also offers a huge scoreboard at the end of the pitch to provide a very clear view of replays and other valuable information. After the match, fans can head over to Beale Street and enjoy the many Blues clubs and the great BBQ restaurants that Memphis is so famous for.

Old Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Photo Courtesy of Baseball Digest Our next of several features on former Cactus League spring training facilities, some of which still exist and some do not. Old Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Phoenix, AZ opened in 1936 and sat near the corner of South Central Ave. and Mohave St. 1959 Phoenix Municipal Stadium Aerial Photo, Photo Courtesy of Oldmapsonline.com Baseball athletes in assorted local baseball and minor league teams played games there as well as wrestling matches, dog racing and other entertainment. The New York Giants came to town in 1947 for spring training (the year the Cactus League was born). Horace Stoneham of the Giants and Bill Veeck of the Indians were instrumental in bringing the spring game to Arizona. Before the Giants During the May 1939 Arizona Cotton Festival (Six Full Days of Frolic and Fun!), the park was the end point of the Cotton Parade. The festival sponsors (cotton companies of the valley) donated then collected the loose cotton used on parade floats in the stadium at the end of the event. The cotton was returned to the mill at the end of the festival. Cotton and its byproducts were once a major cash crop in Arizona. The Williams Field Fliers and SCU (Service Command Unit) baseball of Fort Huachuca played nine innings at the park. Noted Negro Leaguer Thomas Turner of the Chicago American Giants is on a 1944 roster. Announcement Nogales International Aug 30, 1946 A January 31, 1947 Arizona Sun news article states “Face lifting operations on the Municipal Stadium in Phoenix are about completed, and the results closely resemble the transformation of an old witch to a beautiful lady.” The turf was uneven, dugouts were old, the home plate was too close to the grandstand. Fences needed taking down and replaced with new ones, the locker room facilities needed expansion and modernization. The Giants sent head groundskeeper, Matt Schwab, to supervise the work and make sure the crew put the diamond into proper shape. Horace Stoneham, then president of the New York Giants, expressed pleasure with the results. The Giants reported for spring training Feb 17, 1947. That season, the team drew 23,192 fans over eight games booked. Stadium Activity The park was certainly not dormant when the Giants went back home for summer. Barnstorming teams from San Antonio (Arizona Meets Texas! the headlines read). The ‘impregnable’ Thunderbirds, Arizona’s crack team. May 1947 Arizona Sun . The Phoenix Senators/Stars (Arizona Mexican League) and the Pacific Coast League (AAA) Phoenix Giants used the stadium. Records of Fourth of July celebrations and ‘meet the candidate’ events were held at the venue. In April 1949, Antoneo Ponce, pitcher for the Phoenix Senators got married at the ballpark, followed by some entertainment, and then a ballgame. Price of the seats: bleachers 45¢, grandstand 65¢, and boxes $1.25. Baseball parties to promote interest in local baseball and make a little money for the Beth-El’s Hebrew School occurred as early as 1954. “The City gained control of the stadium in October, 1954 through purchase of the lease from the Phoenix Municipal Stadium Corporation. It assured the New York Giants a permanent spring training site in Phoenix. The Giants signed a five-year contract with the City to return to Phoenix for spring training with an option for an additional five years. Possession of the stadium by the City was necessary to meet the requirements of the contract.” Arizona Sun , February 29, 1957. The Phoenix Suns, an all-valley professional football team played at Municipal Stadium in the fall of 1957. The city leased the stadium to the team for the season. The stadium was spruced up the spring of 1957 in anticipation of the returning New York Giants. Concession stands, bleachers and the grandstand seats were repainted. Maintenance staff refurbished the grounds with additional maintenance work completed at the other stadium facilities. It had an appraised value of $135,000 at this time. The New York Giants played their spring games at Old Phoenix Municipal Stadium from 1947 – 1950, 1952 – 1963. In 1951 they switched sites with the New York Yankees. The Giants played in St. Petersburg, FL. This was a one-year arrangement. In 1957, the MLB Giants team left New York for San Francisco and came back to Phoenix as the San Francisco Giants the spring of 1958. They moved their spring training to the new Phoenix Municipal Stadium in 1964. Today, truck trailers sit where the entrance, grand stand and infield were once. A Salvation army thrift store, and a water truck sales and parts equipment company sit across the street where the parking lot was. Where Old Phoenix Municipal Stadium Once Stood, Nov 2020, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey

Photos by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Simmons Field 7817 Sheridan Rd Kenosha, WI 53143 Kenosha Kingfish website Simmons Field website Year Opened: 1930 Capacity: 3,218 The Kings of Kenosha Simmons Field was originally constructed in 1920 when the Simmons Mattress Company built the ballpark. It would burn down by the end of the decade, but a new grandstand was constructed in 1930.   It was the home to clubs such as the Kenosha Comets of the All-American Professional Baseball League (1948-1951), the Kenosha Twins of the Midwest League (1984-92), the Kenosha Kroakers of the Northwoods League (1993-1999) and the Kenosha Mammoths of the Frontier League (2003). The ballpark underwent a major renovation in 2014, and minor updates have been made since then. The renovations included new seating (3,218 capacity), multi-level suites, field-level tabletop full-service seats, and the inclusion of kids and party areas to get the ballpark ready for the Kenosha Kingfish in the Northwoods League. Before the 2024 season, the Kingfish installed field turf, LED lighting for the field, a new LED scoreboard, and a digital scoring system. An upgraded netting system was installed behind the home plate which extends down the baselines, making it much easier to see through. Additionally, the Kingfish constructed new bullpens outside the field of play as well as resurfacing key group areas throughout the stadium.  The Bambino, a 43-foot-long by 13-foot-wide former commercial fishing boat, was installed in the left field corner and is used as a portion of the fence. It was refurbished and is used for private parties of up to 25 people, complete with concessions, drink rails, and stool seating during all home games. Simmons Field The Bambino, Photo by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey Some interesting tidbits about the park is the original grandstand of the stadium still exists, sort of.  The “twin suites” were built using wood and seat parts from the third base seating area from the Simmons Field from 1984 -2013. Blue seats in these suites were the original box seats from the grandstand and date back to 1930. In addition, the rest of the stadium seating was replaced with recycled seats from Baltimore’s Camden Yards. Food & Beverage 5 There are five (5) food stands/kiosks in the park. The lines do get long and don’t move very fast. However, the food at the Kingfish is really good. There are the usual walking tacos ($7.50), nachos ($5.50), tacos ($10), and elotes ($6.50). Hamburgers ($6), cheeseburgers (6.50), brats ($6.50), grilled chicken sandwiches ($7.25), pizza ($5), Philly cheesesteak ($7.50), Italian sausage ($6.50), cranberry-walnut chicken salad sandwiches ($7.50) and mac & cheese ($5) are a few of the other offerings. The Kingfish have a couple of choices for vegetarians too with the Beyond Burger and plant-based chicken tenders ($9.75). They have great sides such as ½ pound of fried cheese curds ($8), sweet potato fries ($6), and onion rings ($6). Popcorn is $3.50, peanuts $5 and chips are $3. In addition, they do have ice cream cones ($3.75-$6) depending on the size and cone. Ice cream sandwiches are $4-$5. An “Elvis” sundae (in a helmet) costs $7.50. Having been to the ballpark numerous times, there isn’t a bad food item. The beer selection is outstanding. Of course, being in Wisconsin, there is Miller, Coors, and Pabst ($6). Imports and Craft beer are $7; they have Modelo, Corona, Leinenkugel, and Blue Moon, along with a local microbrew, Kingfish Beer. Seltzers are available with White Claw and Vizzy ($7). Topo Chico, Cayman Jack, Twisted teas, hard lemonade, and Arnold Palmer Spiked tea are available for $6. If you are lucky and the designated hitter from the opposing team strikes out, beverages are 2 for 1 for the rest of the inning. Their soda selection is Pepsi products. Bottled sodas are $5 and water / Zoa energy drinks are $4. Atmosphere 4 The official mascot is King Elvis who is a fish dressed in a white jumpsuit.  He is found throughout the stadium and on the field; he delivers the baseballs before the game on an ATV. The official team store is decent-sized for the old stadium and houses a grand selection of swag from jerseys, shirts, and caps. Best of all, they’re all reasonably priced. The history of the park is on the outside of the stands on the first base side.  They have blown up old newspaper articles, pictures, and events that took place at Simmons Field throughout its history. Simmons Field History, Photo by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey The staff is very friendly, welcoming, and helpful. If you have any questions, they will answer them and if they don’t know, they will find out for you. There are also postgame fireworks every Saturday night.   The concourse area of the first baseline is geared toward kids. There is a small play area that includes a bouncy house and other games for kids. Neighborhood 3 The ballpark is located in a residential area with some commercial retail areas; there is a shopping center adjacent to the ballpark. For food, there is just about every chain restaurant down Route 50. However, there are many local institutions to eat at including the famous Brat Stop, located off of I-94 and Route 50 which has a great prime rib sandwich, beer cheese soup, and all kinds of cheese. Speaking of cheese, the Mars Cheese Castle is about 20 minutes from the ballpark. They have the biggest selection of cheese in the state. About 10 minutes from the stadium is Mason’s Eatery & Pub (7000 74th Place Kenosha) which has a good selection of craft beers and food that are very good and reasonably priced. The Spot Drive-In (2117 – 75th Street) is a local fast-food restaurant about 5 minutes from the ballpark that has been in business since 1945. It has hamburgers, hot dogs, chili dogs, steak sandwiches, chicken/fish sandwiches etc. In addition, there are spicy bread green beans, and breaded pickles. If you want to do something else before the game you can go to the Lemon Tree Gallery and Art located about 2 miles north of the stadium. You could look at and/or buy art from local artists. Fans 4 The Kingfish have averaged about 2,000 to 2,500 a game since their inception. The fans have a good time, have an interest in the game, and enjoy the in-between inning activities such as t-shirt tosses, and toilet races (the Kingfish put 2 toilets on wheels and one person sits on the toilet and someone else pushes it. (It's kinda humorous.) At the games, you’ll find some of the parents of the players, however, I find that the Kingfish games are a place to hang out and spend some quality time with your family or significant other. Access 4 Getting to the park is very easy. It is located about 15 minutes from I-94 on State Route 50. There is plenty of free parking in the area and the neighborhood. In addition, tailgating is allowed in stadium lots. Small, hand-held clutches (4.5" x 6.5") are better options than large purses and are your best bet for an acceptable bag. Clear bags are better than opaque backpacks. Medical bags or kits are usually accepted at venues like Simmons Field but may be subject to inspection. Inside the ballpark, the stadium is very accommodating and there are plenty of spots to watch the game from. There is a large social area behind the main grandstand of the stadium. Return on Investment 4 You get a lot of bang for your buck with your tickets, which are $8, $12 (Dugout Box Reserved Seat), and $14 (Stadium Box Reserved Seat). The $8 tickets are in the Festival Foods Backyard Lawn area, which is down the right field line. Many times, during the season, the Kingfish have ticket deals where you buy a ticket, and you get a hot dog and a hat or t-shirt depending on the day's promotion. In addition, there’s the Miller Lite Fish Bowl which is a party area down the left field line and in left center, which features all-you-care-to-consume burgers, brats, hot dogs, walnut chicken sandwiches, coleslaw, chips, beer, soda and water for $37. Four-Top Tables are $50, and Suite tickets are $45. There are the special party and group areas that cost $27 (First Base Club) and $45 (the Bambino Party Boat). Both areas come with hamburgers, brats, hot dogs, appetizers, and beverages. Extras 3 The Kingfish earn an extra point for the history of the stadium and the use of parts from the former stadium in the current renovations. The players don’t have their locker rooms attached to the dugout so you will see players going out to the concourse before and during the game to use the bathroom, which I find funny. The Kingfish earn another point for their creativity with their game and/or between-inning promotions, i.e. the toilet bowl race. The Kingfish put 2 toilets on wheels and one person sits on the toilet and someone else pushes it - kinda humorous. Simmons Field Toilet Bowl Race, Photo by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey Final Thoughts The Kenosha Kingfish have regenerated life back into the old ballpark. The recent renovations greatly improve the ballpark. According to some fans, there are more renovations planned for the upcoming off-season. This ballpark is a place one should visit. There is history and fun all over the park. Simmons Field is one of my favorite parks on any level that I have been to.

Photos by Kirsten Richards, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.46 Sajik Stadium Sajik-dong, Dongnae-gu Busan, South Korea 607-121 Year Opened: 1985 Capacity: 28,500 The Best of Busan and Baseball The Lotte Giants are one of the founding members of the Korean Professional Baseball League and moved in to Sajik Stadium when it opened in 1985. The Giants have been Champions twice – in 1984 and 1992 and are well-known for having an incredibly strong and vocal support base. Sajik Stadium is the largest baseball stadium in Korea and hosted the baseball part of the Asian Games in 2002. The city of Busan is the second biggest city in South Korea and the third busiest port in the world. It is famous for its popular calm beaches, beautiful seaside and mountain trails, and relaxed, friendly people. Food & Beverage 4 Sajik Stadium has all kinds of concessions, but they are very spread out and it is harder than expected to find the food you want. It is directly across the street from a popular entertainment district. As with all other baseball stadiums, you can bring in anything you like to Sajik Stadium, so you can choose to buy either from these shops, from the vendors that set-up outside the stadium close to game time, from the big Homeplus supermarket near the subway station, or to buy from the concession stands inside the stadium. There is a hot dog stand with hot dogs running $3-$6, the inevitable fried chicken and coffee stalls and concession stands selling Korean snacks, such as octopus, squid and dukbokki (fish cake). Soda and beer are the same price inside the stadium as outside the stadium, with beer running around $2/can. There are no queues on quiet nights at the stadium for the bathrooms or for the concession stands, but an evening with a full house requires substantially faster movement from the traveler. Atmosphere 5 Sajik Stadium has a very attractive swooping line from both the outside and the inside of the stadium. There are gorgeous views out of the stadium and over to tall buildings and the mountains from most places inside the stadium. The decoration above the scoreboard is a replica of the famous Gwangan Bridge. The Lotte Giants symbols, logo and decoration all make it clear that this team is from Busan. Fans are loud, very enthusiastic and Sajik has a couple of traditions which are extremely enjoyable to participate. One is making newspaper pom-poms, but far easier and hilarity-inducing is the wearing of orange shopping bags on one’s head between the 7th and 8th inning. The stadium itself is definitely showing its age in the state of the brown tile used throughout the concourse, the narrowness of the concourse itself and every bit of the stadium being blocked off by ushers from every other bit of the stadium. A wander through the stadium taking photos might require showing your ticket to several different ushers, most of whom will believe that you are lost and will helpfully direct you back to your section and seat. Most of the seating, including some of the pricier areas of the stadium are open to the elements. While the third base side gets the sun during the afternoon, by the time an evening game starts, the entire stadium is in welcome shade. The loudest part of the crowd is located directly above the cheerleading platform on the first base side. It’s a great place to quickly pick up the chants and cheers and really enjoy being part of the crowd. If you’d like a little more room, table-seating starts a little closer to the infield, but rapidly increases in price. Seating in the upper deck area behind home plate provides a great view of both the field and the surrounding countryside for a much cheaper price. The Lotte Giants provide plenty of entertainment between innings, with lots of Kiss Cam, including some gorgeous ‘kiss your kids’ shots. The cheerleaders perform some very interesting internationally inspired routines to a rousing response from the fans. Neighborhood 5 Sajik Stadium is part of a sports complex, but it is not cut-off from its surroundings at all. There is a restaurant/bar/café area directly across from the main entrance to the baseball stadium and this area is well served by buses. On the other side of the stadium, between the subway exit and the stadium is a large Homeplus. Busan is a very popular tourist destination with plenty to do and see. It’s easy to spend a week or so here and find something interesting and different to do every day. Haeundae Beach is Korea’s longest, most famous and most popular beach. It’s about a 40 minute bus ride from the stadium, or just under an hour on the subway. The beach is very busy both day and night, with rentable umbrellas and a non-stop festive atmosphere once the day cools down a little and people stop swimming. Bands, video DJs and buskers set-up all along the boardwalk and play until late into the evening on weeknights and weekends. There are pop-up bars and a seafood market where you can pick your dinner out of a tank and have it prepared on the spot. Shinsegae Centum City is also in Haeundae-gu and only a couple of stops away on the subway. It’s the largest department store in the world and home to SpaLand, where you can go for some serious relaxation time. Gwangalli Beach is another popular spot both day and night, with a lovely beach and the headlands perfectly frame the Gwangan/Diamond Bridge. Seeing the bridge lit up at night is one of the must-see sights of Busan and locals recommend seeing it from the mountains, rather than from the beach. The city meanders around mountains and along the coast, so there are easily accessible mountain hikes from nearly all parts of the city. The 1,300 year-old Beomgeosa Temple on Geumjeong mountain is accessible by public transport. There is also a wide variety of museums and art galleries throughout Busan as well. There are plenty of festivals held in Busan, the biggest of which is probably the Busan International Film Festival, but it’s always worth checking the Busan tourist information site for events being held in and around Busan. Busan is yet another very safe Korean city and there are no issues with walking or taking public transport alone at night. Fans 5 Lotte Giants fans are regarded as the most passionate in the league and they certainly cheer very hard for the team no matter what occurs during the game. Korea is fairly small and fans travel to baseball games, so there is always a strong representation of supporters of the visiting team at the ground. Lotte games sell out quickly. On a weeknight, you will likely be able to buy a ticket on the day, but this is less likely on the weekend. Tickets for the outfield can be purchased the day before the game from Busan Bank. Otherwise you will likely need the help of a Korean friend to acquire tickets from the website, as using the website requires the ability to speak Korean, a Korean credit card and a Korean phone registered in your name. If you are buying tickets on-site on the day, you must head up the ramp to the left of the team shop. There is nowhere to buy tickets at ground level. If you have been lucky enough to have made a reservation, you can print your tickets out at the machines on the ground level. Lotte supporters take the first base side and this is where the cheering platform is located. At this stadium, as at many others, seats just above the cheering platform are a great way to get involved and learn the team’s chants and songs very quickly. All parts of the stadium will join in the singing though, so you won’t miss out wherever you sit. This is another field where fans are very welcoming to strangers and your nearby neighbours in the crowd may surprise you with gifts of food and will definitely assist you to participate in some of the crowd rituals, such as tying a shopping bag on your head during the break between the 7th and the 8th innings. Access 4 Sajik Stadium is very easy to get to. The nearest airport is Gimhae International, which largely services flights to and from other parts of Asia. The airport is a stop on the green line of the Busan subway, as is the KTX train station and main express bus terminal. There are a number of other bus terminals in Busan, but all of them are connected to the subway, so it is easy to find your way around the city. Bus stops in Busan are also clearly marked and have a lot of information about the buses that stop at each stop, making it very easy to get around. Google Maps public transport is accurate for Busan and is probably the easiest way to plan your trip from your accommodation to and from the game. If choosing to travel via subway, you can use either Sports Complex or Sajik stations on the brown line – they are about the same distance from the stadium. If you want to go via Homeplus to buy snacks first, then Sports Complex is the station for you. Approximate travel times via subway to the stadium are as follows: Gimhae airport – 1 hour Haeundae beach – 50 minutes Downtown Busan – 30 minutes Busan KTX station – 1 hour 15 minutes Catching the bus is very easy and may be faster from some areas of Busan depending on the time of day and likely traffic conditions. There is free parking available at the sports complex. For the capacity of the stadium, the concourses are quite narrow and there are multiple choke-points. There are plenty of bathrooms, but it’s worth having a few napkins with you, as toilet paper does run out. Sajik Stadium also has the best viewing points for audience members in wheelchairs, with a large area on the infield first base sideline dedicated for wheelchairs. Return on Investment 5 A Lotte Giants game presents an excellent return on investment. Outfield tickets are about 6,000 won (about $6 USD) on the weekend and tickets are half-priced on weeknights, making table-seats and infield seats very affordable. The views from all parts of the stadium are lovely, the crowd is loud and good-humored and food and drinks are cheap and plentiful, should you choose to buy inside the stadium. Busan is also a lovely place to visit and it is well worth planning some non-baseball days and evenings to explore the city. . Extras 3 The Lotte Giants museum (free-entry) is worth a visit and includes some fascinating information about some of the Giants history. There are also interactive games and photo opportunities at the end of the museum. The path out of the museum puts you in the Giants merchandise shop, which contains a wide variety of merchandise options at all price levels. The fan traditions are particularly novel and enjoyable to participate in. The stadium also contains a nursing room and a playground.

Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Heritage Financial Park 1500 Route 9D Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Hudson Valley Renegades website Heritage Financial Park website Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 5,400 Yankee Baseball, Hudson Valley Style The quaint confines, nicknamed the “Dutch” by locals, obtained naming rights in March 2023 and was rebranded as Heritage Financial Park. The facility, located in Wappingers Falls, New York, became the NY Yankees High A affiliate in 2021 after being tied to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Renegades play in the High A South Atlantic League. Catcher Austin Wells and shortstop Anthony Volpe of the Yankees played at Hudson Valley and two more former Renegades (Jasson Dominguez and Oswald Peraza) are expected to join the Yankees later this season after rehabbing from injuries. The season runs from April 5 to September 8.  Saturday games typically start at 5:05 and Sundays begin at 2:05. Monday is dark with only two games scheduled all season. Gates open one hour before game time. The facility also hosts corporate events, weddings, fundraisers, and concerts.   The field received a major upgrade with new field turf being installed in the offseason.  The turf is the same quality as what is used in major league stadiums.  Other stadium upgrades for 2024 include: a new, state-of-the-art home clubhouse, and alongside the clubhouse there are new group spaces and seating options available. There is a new upper deck group area, outfield seating, and drink rail seating in left field, and a beautiful new group space that is available to rent out for events.  There are also newer and larger bathrooms.  The enhancements allowed capacity to increase to 5,400 up from 4,494.  HV averaged 2,870 in 2023. Food & Beverage 3 The food choices are somewhat limited but at the same time, there are more alternatives than some minor league venues.  There is a Mexican food stand with tacos and nachos.  The loaded helmet nachos are $13.50 and tacos (chicken, beef, or bean) are $4 each or 3 for $10.  Premium beers are $13 (25 oz.), Bud is $11 and cocktails are $9.50. There are of course ballpark staples such as hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken tenders, peanuts, and french fries. Pepsi products are the beverage of choice. Atmosphere 3 The park has a friendly vibe with plenty of people working and eager to greet. The stadium's main entrance is behind home plate and an entrance for season ticket holders is on the first base side. As you enter the stadium the concourse divides the lower and upper sections of seats.  There are nine rows of seats directly behind the plate in the 100s and 12 rows in the 200s. The music and announcements are not too loud and the between-inning contests are popular. The Renegades employ the same four-bell chimes (Westminster Quarters) heard at Yankee Stadium for years when the Bronx Bombers score.  The HV mascots are a family of raccoons with Rascal and Rosey the leaders of the pack. Neighborhood 3 There are places to hang out before or after the game a short drive from the stadium. There are a few restaurants on 9D as you approach the venue from the south. There is a pizza place (Leo’s Italian Restaurant) a Chinese place and a salad place (Green Bowl) in the mall across the street.  For local craft beers, there is Two Way Brewing and Hudson Valley Brewing (Thursday-Monday) which are located just south of the stadium in Beacon. 21 Burgers and Wings in Wappingers Falls is a good local sports bar. Sloop Brewing @ the Factory in Hopewell Junction is a popular location and only a 15-minute drive east of the stadium. Fans 3 The stadium gets a good mix of older, young people and families. There is a hearty group of season ticket holders who attend the majority of games. In May, the Renegades set an attendance record during a rare “weekday game”. Thirty years after the Renegades first played in Dutchess Stadium, 5,619 students, faculty, and staff from several area schools showed up on a partially rainy “Education Day” to watch the Renegades play the Jersey Shore Blue Claws. The Renegades Team Store can be accessed via the Renegades Offices, located between the main gates & the Renegades Box Office. On game days, the Renegades Team Store is only accessible to fans inside the ballpark through the entrance next to the 3rd Base Concession Stand & across from the Family Restroom. Access 4 The stadium itself is situated in Wappingers Falls, a village of about 6,064. The drive to Heritage Financial Park from New York City is serene and scenic, especially along Route 9 or 9D. The historic Hudson River is nearby and the ballpark is just off I-84 and minutes from the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. The Taconic Parkway is also close by and with all of the parkway/highway access it is easy to make a Stadium Journey from upstate New York, Putnam and Westchester Counties, Connecticut, and Orange County on the west side of the Hudson. It is an hour’s drive from White Plains, only 40 minutes from Danbury, Connecticut, and 60 miles from Yankee Stadium. Return on Investment 4 General Admission tickets along the right and left field lines for weekend games are just $10.50.  Field-level, cushioned seats are $26. On our recent visit, a few of the cushioned seats were torn. Food prices are standard for the minor league but a bargain compared to the big leagues. Parking is $10 ($7 for pre-purchase). Extras 3 One point is for a host of promotions.  Renegades has 15 fireworks shows including most Friday nights, and two on Saturday nights and runs several other enticing promotions including Sunday Family Funday which includes fun for the whole family at the ballpark including the dog. Face painters and balloon artists will be on hand.  The other fantastic promotion is the Renegades/Yankee combo. Fans who purchase tickets online for any Sunday game excluding Father’s Day include a 2024 Renegades Hat and also a ticket to the Sunday, September 29th Yankee season finale at 3:05 pm against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Point two is for the Renegades Family 4-Pack: 4 Tickets, 4 Renegades Hats, and 4 Meal Vouchers for $99. The third point is for the new club in left field and drink rail seats and the new turf. Final Thoughts Heritage Financial Park is a solid venue to take in minor league baseball.  The scenery is picturesque, the ballpark is cozy and the new improvements make it even more worthy of a stadium journey. And there’s always a chance to witness a future NY Yankee.

Photos by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Allstate Arena 6920 N Mannheim Rd Rosemont, IL 60018 Chicago Wolves website Allstate Arena website Year Opened: 1980 Capacity: 16,692 Skating with Wolves Allstate Arena, formerly known as the “Rosemont Horizon,” was built for DePaul University basketball but is now a multi-purpose arena. In 1999 it was renamed the Allstate Arena after extensive interior and exterior renovations. Concerts and traveling events such as the circus, monster trucks, professional wrestling, and ice skating shows use the facility. Arena football, Chicago Sky (WNBA), and DePaul basketball used the stadium in the past. Now, the only regular tenant is the Chicago Wolves (AHL hockey). Many championship banners and retired numbers hang in the rafters for the Chicago Wolves. The Chicago Wolves have called the Allstate Arena home since 1994 Food & Beverage 3 In the past few years, the arena renovated and upgraded its concession areas. The names of the stands honor Chicago history (not Rosemont) by giving them Chicago / Rosemont related names, i.e., Lexington Tavern, Exchange Street Sausage Company. The food selection and quality have really improved over the years. They have the classic hot dogs for $4 and a slice of Connie’s pizza (cheese or sausage) for $9. Allstate Arena also added a premium sandwich stand called the Carvery that changes the sandwich each homestand; this game was a prime rib roast with spring mix and chips for $15. Four types of nachos are offered ranging from $7 to $15. A "large" (20 oz) lemonade will set you back $8 and bottled soda or Gatorade is $6. Cotton candy is $7 and candy is $4. A 32-ounce fountain soda is $8 and a 16-ounce fountain soda is $4. Bottled water is $5. Note, if you are looking for peanuts you can't find them here. Popcorn or nachos cost $7 and a soft pretzel is $6 with an additional $2 for a cheese cup. There is a Dunkin Donuts stand which has hot / iced coffee ($7), lattes ($10), hot chocolate ($8), cappuccino ($4), a 10 pack of Munchkins ($5) and ice cream ($6 or $10). Full bar service stands have mixed drinks ($9 to $15) and a selection of over 30 beers and craft brews, Vizzy hard seltzer ($13), and 16-ounce cans of domestic beer ($10). A 24-ounce can of domestic beer is $14 and premium beer is $15. They also have small bottles of wine for $10. The workers are friendly and provide a good service but can be very slow at times. I would suggest that you wait until the game starts before you get in line. Atmosphere 3 The first thing you will notice is the sightlines are not very good, especially on the lower deck. In addition, the seating area is cramped. However, you should get there for the pre-game fireworks / pyro show and video which is very entertaining. It should be noted, the fireworks are loud and many little kids start crying when the fireworks go off. In addition, you really can feel the heat from the flames which are used in the pre-game show, even in the upper deck. The stadium does the usual time out / commercial break entertainment stuff, such as kiss cam, throwing t-shirts into the crowd, and other on ice contests like musical chairs, a bozo buckets variation (throwing a foam puck into a garbage can), or a shoot the puck contest. Between the periods the Wolves also provide a Pee Wee hockey game. Fans seem to enjoy the Pee Wees especially when the kids can barely skate. The music at the arena is mostly pop music and for the most part, hasn’t changed much in the past ten or more years. The bad part of all the contests / videos of the crowd is if you are sitting in the upper deck you can forget about getting on the video board or getting a t-shirt. Yes, an occasional shirt goes up there but not many especially if you are in the corners. In addition, if you are on the south side of the stadium there is no chance for you to be “picked” for a contest and it is rare to be on the video board. Lastly, don’t expect to see their mascot “Skates” in the upper deck since he rarely goes up there. As you walk the hallways you will notice Allstate Arena has some banners with the names of some Chicago Wolves greats which is a nice touch. Neighborhood 2 The Allstate Arena is in a commercial area and adjacent to a commercial shopping center (Target is the anchor tenant), a strip mall, and a hotel. The adjacent shopping center has Chili’s, Longhorn Steak House, a sushi restaurant, and an IHOP. Across the street is La Cave, which is an upscale restaurant. Within a few miles, there is a T.G.I.F’s and Hooters. In addition, Rosemont Parkway Park is a few miles from the arena. This area is a bunch of restaurants and entertainment options if you are looking for something to do before the game. If you are looking to do some shopping, the Fashion Outlets of Chicago mall is about two miles from the arena. Fans 4 Most fans that attend games are friendly and are into the action. The crowd is mostly families, and there are lots of kids present. I found people in the upper deck know more about the team than people in the lower deck. In addition, I have noticed many of the same people at the games, so you know they are dedicated to the team. The Wolves are the affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes however, you wouldn’t know it by looking at their jerseys or by jerseys worn by the fans. The Wolves do not have a patch of their parent club on the jersey nor do they have a jersey that reflects Carolina’s colors. Fans wear mainly Chicago Wolves jerseys (many game-worn), hats, shirts, etc. Of course, you will see some Chicago Blackhawk jerseys in the stands too. Wolves’ games are mostly played on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Wednesday games draw around 4,000 fans. The Friday, Saturday, and Sunday games average attendance before January about 6,000 and 8,000 and 6,000 respectively. But after January, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday games average attendance is around about 7,000 and 11,000 and 7,000 respectively. The reason for the difference in attendance before and after January is the Wolves have many group nights (i.e., churches, Pee Wee hockey, boy scouts, and girl scouts). Access 4 There is no public transportation to the arena, therefore, you will have to drive there. The arena is located near O’Hare Airport so is it easy to get to, off of I-90. The main street by the arena is Mannheim Road and the traffic is controlled by Rosemont police. Onsite parking is available for $15. If you get here early enough, you can park at the adjacent shopping center. However, the police patrol the lot so if they see you park and walk over to the arena, they will ask to you leave (especially if you are wearing Wolves gear or hockey gear). If they don’t see you, there is still a risk of being towed if they notice your car there for a long time (unless you are parked near one of the restaurants in the adjoining shopping center). There is cheaper parking across the street in small parking lots and the exit is easier from these lots but they do fill up quickly. Return on Investment 3 Minor league hockey; major league prices (tickets range from $16 to $62 on game day). The Wolves rarely sell out, so fans are better off buying a cheaper ticket and sitting just about anywhere in the upper deck, especially before January. After January, the seating in the upper deck is limited except in the corners. The ushers in the lower deck usually check tickets, so fans can’t go there without a ticket. Extras 4 Wayne Messier (formerly with the Chicago Blackhawks) usually sings the National Anthem before each game. The Wolves have five championship banners (1998, 2000, 2002, 2008, and 2022) and retired numbers of their top individual players (Wendell Young and Steve Maltias), coach (John Anderson), general manager (Kevin Cheveldayoff), and two beloved players who have died (Dan Synder – car accident and Tim Breslin – cancer). As for giveaways, the Wolves have very few and if they do it is usually the first 500 to 1000 so you will have to get there early to get one. They do give out a “Breakaway” magazine every game. The problem with the magazine is that in every homestand edition only the middle story changes. The Wolves do get a bonus point for every 1st Saturday home game they have “Adopt a Dog” night. Usually every dog / puppy gets adopted. A dog will cost you about $100 but it has all the papers, shots and is fixed. Final Thoughts The Wolves do well with attendance considering there is a lot of competition for the entertainment sports dollar with many options. Since their inaugural season in 1994-95 the Wolves have only missed the playoffs a few times and only finished sub .500 once, so you know you will see some decent hockey.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Northwest Stadium 1600 Ring Road Landover, MD 20785 Washington Commanders website Northwest Stadium website Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 85,000 Express Progress? Northwest Stadium (formerly FedExField) is located in suburban Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. It replaced the team’s longtime home RFK Stadium in 1997. The late Jack Kent Cooke, former owner of the Washington Redskins, spent the early 1990s looking for a new stadium. Finally, a location was found in the town of Landover. The former owner died before truly enjoying his team playing at their new home. The location of the team was also even known by the United States Postal Service as Raljon, Maryland to honor Cooke’s sons, Ralph and Jon, although it was always technically in the Landover area. Northwest Stadium has seen an amazing number of expansions and reductions in seating capacity in its short lifespan. Entire seating sections have been physically removed from the stadium to reduce capacity. Some seats have been removed to make standing-room-only “party” sections, while other seats have been covered by advertisements and tarps. There is talk every year about the team moving either back to the District of Columbia or to the Commonwealth of Virginia. At this point, there is no specific plan in place or motion. The fan support for the team has been on the downturn lately. It was announced that in 2022 the team would change its name to the Washington Commanders. The 2023 season was the first without divisive owner Dan Snyder. Food & Beverage 5 There are many decent concession stands around the stadium offering the usual stadium options. The prices are not cheap, but they are pretty much in line with most NFL venues. If you worry about high food costs, your best bet is to eat before game time. There have been changes to some options to make them cheaper and to offer discounts for season ticket holders. The team has been adding many interesting food options and keeping choices fresh and interesting. Chicken Guy, a Guy Fieri chicken finger stand is very tasty. The team has done a good job of enhancing the food offerings at both the Club Level and the main concourse. The upper concourse options seem a bit sparer, although that is common with large stadiums. Atmosphere 2 The fans are knowledgeable about all aspects of the game. Before you go into the stadium, you should spend some time out with the fans in the massive parking lots. There are some great and welcoming groups scattered around. I love to check out the Red Zone Tailgate Lot to see what some of the most extreme fans are cooking up in their pregame preparation. Once inside the stadium, you may be less impressed with some aspects of the physical structure. Some areas are just poorly designed. The stadium is not aging well. The addition of a fan zone on the main concourse, which includes areas where the fans can gather and still be in sight of the on-field action, is a welcome addition to the stadium. The new name has allowed the team to brighten up much of the stadium and keep it consistent with the new name. This is an improvement over previous years, although I am not sure it is being appreciated much yet. The upper deck seems incredibly too high to enjoy the game. Some seating sections in the upper deck require your having to go both up AND down a set of stairs to find your seat. A former walkway has been filled in with three rows of seating. Doing so has created some navigational issues, in that fans may need to go up and then back down a small set of stairs just to move from one area to another. It is weird to see entire seating areas in the Club Level that are blocked off and covered up. The upper deck also still has some audio issues. There are areas there where the sound is nearly inaudible. In addition, the lower deck still has some obstructed view seats. They do often go for quite low of a price but it is still incredible that a stadium built just one year before Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium has the severe design flaws that it does. Many other parts of the seating bowl are just a bit weird here at Northwest Stadium. It opened with 80,000 seats. A few years later, the Redskins added many temporary and permanent seating areas to bring the total seating to over 91,000. Now the stadium is getting smaller, with many seats changed over to those standing-room-only areas and/or tarp-covered areas to bring the official capacity down. The team has slowly been adding more of its extensive history into the stadium’s concourse wall along with making way for the new team name. The team also has a Season Ticket Holders Wall Of Fame. Names of those who have been season ticket holders for 20 years or more are displayed on a monitor beside some images of current players. Neighborhood 2 Suburban Landover is not the most exciting neighborhood. Northwest Stadium sits in an area surrounded by parking lots. That kind of setting can be good for tailgating but often means the area is lacking a bit. It would be nice if there could be food, drink, and entertainment options located in the area, such as at Philadelphia’s Xfinity Live complex. I would love to see something similar, even if they are temporary, game-only, locations. Currently, fans who are not tailgate types have very few pregame options. The closest thing really to the stadium is some newer housing developments. Luckily Washington D.C. is close by. If you are arriving by Metro, pregame activities are best spent there. The Foggy Bottom neighborhood is a good option in D.C. as there are still plenty of restaurants to choose from. Georgetown is another great option The choices there will astound you, but Martin’s Tavern will always be a good choice. Did I mention you are right near Washington, D.C.? The number of attractions, museums, restaurants, and other sights is astounding. Spend some time pre or post-game seeing the many things around this great city. Fans 4 The strength of the team has usually been their loyal fan, but lately, even those loyal fans were starting to turn away from the team. The fans do deserve better than the often lackluster team and stadium. New ownership has just now given the fans some light at the end of the tunnel. Non-rivalry games have far less excitement than when the team is playing an NFC East opponent. The best time to go to Northwest Stadiumis a nationally televised game against the Eagles, Cowboys, or Giants, but expect to see many visiting team fans. Access 3 Northwest Stadium’s location close to the Washington Beltway is not usually seen as a positive. This suburban location compounds the traffic nightmares in the area, especially on Monday night games. The stadium is located far from public transportation and with limited parking alternatives, the stadium can be hard to get to. The opening of the Washington Metro’s Morgan Boulevard Station in 2004 gave attendees at least one public transportation option. It is slightly less than one mile away, and there are decent walkways between the station and the stadium. Sure, it could be closer, but at least it is an option. The Largo Town Center Station, also on the same Blue line as the Morgan Boulevard Station, is another walkable option but is far less convenient. Just make sure you are aware of closing times for the Metro if attending a night game. The Metro system has experienced many problems and incidents in recent months, so it is not nearly as reliable as it should be. The team has no control over this, but it sure does not help the fans who want to find alternate means to attend the games at Northwest Stadium. There is plenty of parking available around the stadium. The problem has been that it is pricey and has been controlled strictly by the team. There are a few non-approved lots to the north of the stadium around Brightseat Road, but that is an exception. If all else fails a visitor can head to the official Gray Lot and get a space for $60 cash. This price may also vary depending on the opponent. In the last few years, the team made major strides in improving the operations of their lots. Fans are required to enter their designated lots from specific access roads. The idea was to allow for a more efficient entry and exit from the stadium. It seems to have worked. Return on Investment 4 The cost of an NFL game is expensive. There is no way around it. You do get a good deal, because of the high entertainment value and the extremely high level of competition. The one positive aspect of a bad team is the huge amount of available cheap tickets. The parking is costly at Northwest Stadium and you may not be able to find good options around that cost. Extras 2 The team has one of the few marching bands in the NFL. Make sure to catch them performing before the game. The group started in 1937. The cheerleaders also put on a good show. The group was second in the NFL to the Pittsburgh Steelers in having cheerleaders (the Steelers have since abandoned the cheerleading idea). Originally called the Redskinettes, they have cheered for the team since 1962. Final Thoughts Northwest Stadium is a purely functional stadium in a less-than-desirable location. The team is also in a transition phase that could go in many directions. Ultimately the fan experience is better than it looks on the surface but is still far from ideal in the modern NFL.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Excite Ballpark 588 E Alma Ave San Jose, CA 95112 San Jose Giants website Excite Ballpark website Year Opened: 1942 Capacity: 4,200 A Giant of a Gem Take a historic stadium that oozes memories of the past greats with architecture that harkens back to baseball’s golden age. Mix in a loyal fanbase that is among the best in the Bay Area. Sprinkle in some stellar weather and add a pinch of minor league magic. This may well be the recipe that one would use to create the magic that is the San Jose Giants. This gem of a ballpark features everything that makes minor league baseball the wonderful draw that it is. This single-A affiliate for the San Francisco Giants has seen over 200 players make it to the big leagues via their home in San Jose, which is part of what makes this team such a draw for locals. Food & Beverage 5 Tackling the menu at the home of the San Jose Giants means bringing a hefty level of hunger. As usual, the standard baseball stadium fare can be found, thanks to a menu of hot dogs ($7-$9), nachos ($7), chicken tenders ($12-$14), and the like. Drinks are also plentiful with water, soda, and Gatorade ($5) easily found. However, unique finds are also available, including wine ($14), local beers ($11), and even alcohol-infused ice cream ($12). But without a doubt, the biggest draw is the BBQ at Turkey Mike’s along the third base line. Fans line up for some of the best stadium food you will find. This world-famous offering includes special ticket packages that include reserved seating and a BBQ meal. Atmosphere 4 The stadium itself harkens back to baseball’s golden age. Simple in design and layout, it features one lower concourse with concessions and restrooms, with first and third-base line seating patios. A large trophy case greets fans who come through the main entrance, showcasing the rich history of success the Giants have had in San Jose. In the outfield, countless flags fly for the team’s numerous championship titles. It is hard to understate how great the aesthetic is here as it relates to old time baseball. While not modern in design, it remains a simple and clean place to watch baseball under the California sun. The outfield also features a large video scoreboard, ensuring nothing gets missed by the fans in the stands. Neighborhood 4 The area around the stadium features other sports facilities, including Sharks Ice at San Jose . Across the street is Kelly Park, featuring a zoo and gardens. The stadium is also not far from downtown San Jose, which features historic buildings, hotels, dining, and shopping. Not far to the north is San Francisco and Oakland, with San Jose Airport your closest airport of choice. Numerous state parks are in the mountains just to the west, featuring hiking and camping for those who want to experience the redwood forests of California. Fans 4 The fans at Excite Ballpark are among the best in the minor leagues. Routinely filling the stands on weekends and specialty nights, the Giants rank among the top of the California League. Even during midweek games, the fans who attend are loyal, knowledgeable, and absolute diehards. Without a doubt, the fans here make the game day experience as enjoyable as it is. Every range of fan can be found, from the longtime fans who record every play on a scorecard, to the youngest fans watching tomorrow’s stars. Access 3 To get to the stadium you have multiple options via the local freeways. Exits from US-101 and I-280 are nearby, and parking ranges from free at some home games to $15. Getting around the stadium itself is easy, as signage is plentiful. The downside is of course the Bay Area’s notoriously heavy traffic – a drive from San Francisco airport would normally take 30 minutes without traffic, but can take upwards of an hour and a half at times with the heavy congestion on the roads. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to Giants games are inexpensive, ranging from $5 to $29. The season also features numerous themed nights, giveaways, and special packages for fans. The price of tickets and parking together make for an affordable night out with the family. Extras 3 The left field line features a team store that offers an impressively wide variety of items for a minor-league team. There is also a kids play area outside the stadium’s left field area that features bounce houses and games. Finally, a walk through the inner concourse might as well be a museum to baseball in the bay area, with trophies, stadiums, and photos all over. Final Thoughts Going to Excite Ballpark may be an exciting adventure into baseball’s history. While many still call it Municipal Stadium, this ballpark continues to impress regardless of the name. A must-see for any Giants MLB fan, or baseball diehards in general, the San Jose Giants have cultivated an atmosphere that is among the best in baseball. Quaint, cozy, historic, and full of character, a visit to this home of Bay Area baseball will not go unrewarded.