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

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

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

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

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

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Audi Field 100 Potomac Avenue Washington DC 20024 DC Defenders website Audi Field website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 20,000 A New Football Team In Town...Again The DC Defenders are the newest football team in the Washington, D.C. area. Originally a member of the second incarnation of the XFL in 2020, their season was canceled shortly after it began due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They then joined yet another edition of the XFL. In 2024, the XFL and USFL merged to form the UFL, and the Defenders moved over to that league where they found yet another home. The Defenders play their home games at Audi Field, which is primarily a soccer stadium and is the home of DC United and the Washington Spirit . Food & Beverage 4 Audi Field has a wide range of concessions that should satisfy any fan’s palette, many of which are provided by celebrity chef Jose Andres. In addition to classic options such as burgers and pizza, fans can pick from more unique options such as pupusas and arepas. The stadium's concessions seem more designed for the demographics of soccer fans than football fans, but there is still plenty to enjoy. Unfortunately, not all of the stands at Audi Field are open for Defenders games, which does force us to take this score down a notch. . Prices can be quite high, with one meal costing $20-$25 between the meal and a soda or water, even more, if you are planning to drink alcohol at the game. Atmosphere 4 Other than the Standing Room section behind one end zone, every seat in Audi Field is a chairback, and no matter where you watch the game from, you will have a great view of the action. There are two levels, although 200-level seats are only located on one sideline, above the suites. There is a large video board behind the SRO section as well as a smaller board on the other end that is capable of showing the video as well as the score and advertisements. Before the game, the Defenders run onto the field as staff carry flags with the Defenders' logo on them. The PA announcer attempts to hype the crowd at times but isn't always successful. A lot is going on on the concourse as well, including games fans can play for a chance to win prizes. The Defenders do keep fans engaged, which is always good for the atmosphere. Neighborhood 4 Audi Field is located in an up-and-coming part of D.C., near Buzzard Point. There is currently a lot of construction going on around the stadium, so expect it to improve even more in the future. For now, All About Burger is a popular local burger place located a few blocks from the stadium, Bonchon serves up Korean-style fried chicken nearby, and there are other options closer to Nationals Park, where you will find numerous bars, restaurants, and more. The area of Potomac Avenue along the Anacostia Waterfront just down the steet from Audi Field is ripe with bars, clubs, and restaurants including Dacha Beer Garden, Solace Outpost, and The Salt Line. Of course, you are in Washington, D.C., so there is plenty to do if you head towards the National Mall, and much of it is free. Just keep in mind if you want to tour the White House or Capitol, you will need to book that in advance. Fans 4 While the Defenders will rarely fill up Audi Field, they do draw reasonably well. The fans who show up are loud, passionate, and occasionally profane. They cheer on the Defenders and will often get on the referees' case when they feel a call hasn't gone their way (and will often complain even about an correct call that goes against the Defenders.) This is a loud and tough crowd, so be prepared, although they aren't likely to cause any real trouble for anyone. The fans in the Standing Room section are known for being especially loud and passionate, as well as probably drunker than the rest of the stadium. They are also legendary for building a giant beer snake every game out of discarded beer cups. As the game goes on, the snake gets longer and longer and the fans get drunker and drunker. They will even go around to other sections collecting beer cups to grow the snake. Access 3 When going to Audi Field, your best bet is to use public transit or a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft. If taking the Metro, take the Green Line to Navy Yard-Ballpark and walk about 15 minutes to the stadium. Keep in mind, however, that there is often trackwork on Metro, particularly on weekends and during the summer, resulting in single tracking and/or the closing of stations entirely. Be sure to check in advance. If driving in, you can park at one of the stations in suburban Maryland and take the Metro from there so you do not have to contend with D.C. traffic. Crowds will be large on the train after the game, although if you park at the Branch Avenue station in Southern Maryland, you will be taking the Green Line in the opposite direction from most fans so it will be far less packed once you board. If you do arrive at the stadium (whether one driven by you or an Uber/Lyft driver) there is a lot of construction surrounding the stadium right now so it may be hard to figure out how to get right there, although an Uber/Lyft driver should be able to get you close. Parking is very limited and can be purchased in advance through SpotHero, but the cheapest spots will cost about $25 and can be located a 15-minute walk from the stadium. To get closer will cost you twice to four times that. There is still no dedicated team-run parking lot at Audi Field, run by either the Defenders, D.C. United, or the Spirit. Return on Investment 3 Tickets to Defenders games start at about $31 for corner or end zone seats and go up to around $95 for seats at midfield. The standing room only section behind one end zone where the most dedicated fans are located costs about $35 per ticket. Due to a new federal regulation effective in May 2025, these prices include fees but do not necessarily include any applicable taxes. Concessions are extremely pricey as well and will run at least $25 a person, more if you want to drink alcohol. Metro fare will cost about $10 a person round trip if you choose to travel that way depending on where you are coming from, as closer stations will cost less. You may also have to pay to park at the station you are taking the train from, depending on the station and when you are visiting. Parking near the stadium will likely be far more expensive, unless you park so far away that you'd be doing just as much walking as you would from the Metro station. An Uber or Lyft will likely be somewhere in between, but can vary wildly based on demand. Extras 4 The unique food offerings are an extra as it is. Look for a team store on the concourse selling Defenders' gear. A third star for the games on the concourse that provide fans an opportunity to win prizes. A fourth and final star for the giant beer snake formed by the fans in the standing room section each game. This is a unique tradition that is always entertaining. Final Thoughts There has been much instability in spring football leagues, and the DC Defenders are no exception. They have found yet another league to play in, the UFL, and have built up a decent fan following. Hopefully, the league sticks around long enough for the fan base to grow further.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Davenport Field at Disharoon Park 434 Lannigan Ln Charlottesville, VA 22904 Virginia Cavaliers website Davenport Field at Disharoon Park website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 5,500 Baseball at the Dish Davenport Field at Disharoon Park opened in 2002 as the new home of the University of Virginia Cavaliers baseball team. Disharoon Park is one of the finest college baseball stadiums in the country and the Cavaliers have a performance to match, appearing in the College World Series seven times since 2009. The Cavaliers finished runner-up in 2014 and followed it up by winning the championship the next year. Food & Beverage 5 There are numerous concession stands on the concourse of Davenport Field at Disharoon Park and fans will have many options to choose from. All the classics like hot dogs, burgers, and nachos are here, but fans can also find more unique options like quesadillas, pulled pork sandwiches, and more. Ice cream from Ben & Jerry's is available at one stand, a special treat on hot days. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase for fans 21 years of age or older. Soft drinks and water are also available, with the latter coming in aluminum cans rather than plastic bottles due to state regulations. Keep in mind that Davenport Field at Disharoon Park is a cashless facility. Atmosphere 5 There are many different seating options at a Virginia baseball game. A large hill is in foul territory in left field, with some bleachers lying just beyond the left field wall. These are the least expensive seats, but don't have the greatest view of the game. There are chairbacks located closer to the action which offer excellent views, but if buying single game tickets, there will be limited availability, so buy early. A large scoreboard is located in right-centerfield that is also capable of showing graphics and video. It is very impressive for the college level. The Cavaliers have all the between innings contests and fun that you would expect at a minor league game. There are also many in-game promotions such as Baseball Bingo, which gives fans a chance to win prizes from the team for completing their bingo card based on what happens in the game. Neighborhood 5 Davenport Field at Disharoon Park is located on the campus of the University of Virginia, which is one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. Once you get off campus and into the city of Charlottesville, there is plenty else to do. Boylan Heights is a popular bar just off campus and serves up good food as well. It is just one of many places to eat, drink, or have fun along University Avenue ranging from bagel bakeries to bars to sushi restaurants. History buffs may also want to check out Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Fans 4 Virginia draws very well for their home baseball games, with the Dish full or nearly full for most ACC series. Of course, they can fit in far more than actual capacity with the general admission seating on the hill and in the bleachers, so these numbers can be a bit misleading, but it is still a very sizeable crowd. The fans in attendance are loyal, passionate, and knowledgeable, and come decked out in the blue and orange colors of the Cavaliers. After big hits or good defensive plays, the noise in the DIsh can ratchet up very loud. However, at other times the environment can be pretty dead despite the large crowds. Access 3 Charlottesville is accessible from Interstate 64 if coming from the east or west and from US 29 and US 250 if coming from the north or south. The exits for the university are clearly signed with the Cavaliers athletic logo, so you should have no trouble finding your way to campus. However, some GPS apps get confused as you approach the stadium and try to take you to the wrong side of it instead of to the parking lot you need to park in. If you punch UHALL West into your GPS rather than the stadium, it should take you to the proper parking lot. Parking is typically free, but there may be a charge if there is an event at John Paul Jones Arena that day. Even if you are visiting after basketball season ends, bear in mind JPJ also holds concerts and other large events, as it is the largest arena for miles around, so be sure to check the schedule and be prepared. Once you get to the stadium, you will enter through a gate that Disharoon Park shares with several other UVA athletic facilities including Klöckner Stadium , home of UVA soccer and lacrosse, as well as the Cavaliers' softball and track and field facilities. If there are multiple events going on that day, it can get a bit confusing but staff will direct you to the right place and make sure you don't get into facilities you shouldn't be in without a ticket. Once inside the complex, you will walk through the Klöckner Stadium concourse and turn left, which will take you to Disharoon Park itself. Moving around the baseball concourse is pretty simple and there are ample restrooms for the crowds. Keep in mind that Disharoon Park has a clear bag policy in effect. Return on Investment 5 Single game ticket prices for reserved chairback seats will run about $20 depending on the game, with general admission seats being about $10. UVA students get into the GA sections for free with a valid student ID. As mentioned above, parking is also usually free, and the concession prices are reasonably affordable. While these prices are on the high end for college baseball, this is one of the nicest facilities in the country and well worth the money you will pay to get in. Extras 4 The banner in the outfield honoring Virginia's 2015 national championship and the murals on the concourse honoring all their postseason appearances are each worth a star here. Free programs are available to fans on the concourse. Having actual physical matchday programs is becoming such a rarity nowadays that this is definitely worth an extra. For the fourth and final extra star, check out the team store behind home plate selling UVA merchandise. Final Thoughts Davenport Field at Disharoon Park is one of the most beautiful college baseball stadiums in the country. Located on the scenic campus of the University of Virginia, this stadium is a must-see for college baseball fans on the east coast. The Cavaliers have a top-tier program, a top-tier stadium, and a top-notch fan base to go along with it. Fans who visit The Dish will quickly see why it is one of college baseball's gems.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Nationals Park 1500 South Capitol St SE Washington, DC 20003 Washington Nationals website Nationals Park website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 41,888 A National Pastime In 2005, the Montreal Expos moved to Washington, D.C., and changed their name to the Nationals. For their first three years of existence, they played their home games at RFK Stadium, which had previously been home to the Washington Senators. In 2008, the Nats moved into a stadium of their own, Nationals Park, which represented a significant improvement over RFK. The stadium is located only a few blocks south of the U.S. Capitol, which is visible from parts of the upper deck. Food & Beverage 4 Nationals Park has a wide selection of food that will guarantee you will not go hungry. Options include traditional items like hot dogs, burgers, and pizza as well as more unique items like falafel, freshly made donuts, and sushi. Ice cream is available, including a special cherry blossom variety (more cherry flavored than blossom flavored) in honor of DC's legendary cherry blossoms. Several of the concession stands also sell half smokes, a D.C. specialty that is somewhere in between a hot dog and a smoked sausage. There are also foods to serve various dietary restrictions, including gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and kosher items. PETA has consistently ranked the stadium one of the best in the majors for vegetarians. The prices are a bit high, though considering this is a major league park, that is not unexpected. The roving vendors typically only accept credit cards, and many stands require you to order either on your mobile device or at a kiosk nearby. Keep in mind that with attendance down, the Nationals do not always have all concession stands open. Atmosphere 4 All seats at Nationals Park are chairbacks, except for a few tables in centerfield where fans can eat and drink by the nearby bar. Some of the seats down the lines may have an obstructed view of the corners due to other seats jutting out, but for the most part, you’ll have a good view no matter where you sit. There is a giant scoreboard and videoboard in right-centerfield above the concourse, as well as a smaller out-of-town scoreboard built into the right-centerfield wall. One of the more unique traditions at Nationals Park is the Presidents’ Race. In the middle of the fourth inning of every game, costumed versions of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt will emerge from the center field gate and race around the warning track to a finish line by the first base dugout. During the race, they will frequently get into various hijinks, such as playing dodgeball, getting attacked by a giant ice cream cone, or having their First Lady attack the other racers with her handbag. If you're ever wanted to see the stump of the cherry tree George Washington chopped down come back for revenge, the Presidents' Race is for you. The Racing Presidents and a bald eagle mascot named Screech can be seen on the concourse, stands, and field throughout the game as well, interacting with fans and encouraging them to get loud. Neighborhood 5 Nationals Park is located in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Although this used to be a very bad part of town, that has changed since the stadium went up and it is now a perfectly safe, up-and-coming area. There are several bars and restaurants located within walking distance of the stadium, including Mission and Buffalo Wild Wings. A BetMGM sportsbook is located right next to Nationals Park, outside the centerfield gate and attached to the parking garage. Downtown D.C. is a short Metro ride away and has a lot to offer as well. The best part is that most of it is free. Whether it’s walking along the National Mall or visiting one of the many museums, there is so much you can do here. All government-run attractions are free, but some of the privately-run ones are not. Just keep in mind that if you want to tour the Capitol or White House, you will need to book in advance. Fans 2 Nationals fans arrive late and leave early, even at the best of times. Fans will still be filing in two or three innings into the game and will start filing out by the sixth or seventh. Even for the limited amount of time everyone’s inside, there will still often be huge swaths of empty seats, especially now with the team at the bottom of the National League standings. The fans who do show up can get loud at times, with some of them waving their hats and chanting “N-A-T-S NATS NATS NATS!” after every run, but involved fans seem to be in the minority here. It seems to be a place to hang out with friends rather than pay attention to the action on the field. Although Nats fans are friendlier than what you’d experience up I-95 in Philadelphia or New York, there is a happy medium between abusive and uninvolved, and sadly Nationals fans seem to be more at the uninvolved end. Crowds have seemed to shrink significantly since the Nats championship in 2019 as the team has fallen on hard times – there will usually be many empty seats, and if they are playing an NL East rival, visiting fans will make up a significant portion of the crowd. This is disappointing to see given how large the crowds were during the World Series run just a few years ago. Access 5 Nationals Park is conveniently located right next to the Navy-Yard Ballpark Stop on the Green Line of the Washington Metro. Although this may seem convenient, there are frequent Metro shutdowns that may reduce headways to 24 minutes or more or even shut down stations entirely. These shutdowns are most prevalent on weekends or over the summer, which is of course when most people go to baseball games. Be sure to check the WMATA website before you head out if you plan on going this way. There are extra trains after games to accommodate the crowds, but the trains can still get pretty packed. Also, note that the supplemental trains only go a few stops in downtown before turning around to take more fans home. Although fans who plan to transfer to other lines should have no problem, fans who wish to remain on the Green Line past Mount Vernon Square should check the destination sign of their train to be sure it is heading to Greenbelt, or simply get on the first train that comes and transfer later if need be. Fans who are outside the D.C. area don’t need to drive to the ballpark, as they can drive to a suburban station and park there. Parking at Metro stations ranges from $3 to $6 depending on the station and is free on weekends. Fans coming from the south may wish to park at Branch Avenue in Southern Maryland, as you will be heading in the opposite direction from most fans at the end of the game, so your train will be significantly less crowded. Also, you will not need to transfer. Fans coming from the north may want to look into parking at Greenbelt or another station on the northern part of the Green Line, which at least avoids a transfer. If you do plan on driving to the stadium, parking can be $50 or more. Parking in the GEICO garage next to the stadium or other lots nearby can be reserved in advance through the Nationals' website to ensure a spot. Taking an Uber or Lyft may end up being cheaper than parking, depending on where you’re coming from. Keep in mind that prices for rides close to the stadium after the game can skyrocket in price due to increased demand. If you can, we suggest walking a few blocks away from the stadium, which should bring the prices back down close to normal. Return on Investment 3 Like many teams, the Nationals use variable pricing for tickets, so prices can vary depending on the opponent, the day of the week, and if any promotions are going on such as bobblehead giveaways. Expect them to start around $17 for upper-level seats and go up to over $400 for VIP seats behind home plate which include suite access. One additional option for residents of the District of Columbia is to purchase $5 tickets in Sections 401 and 402 at the Nationals Box Office. Although this option was previously available to all fans, effective in 2024 it is only available to residents of the District. The process is easier than in past years as tickets can be purchased in advance, but they must be purchased at the Nationals' box office. Those who are not residents of D.C. cannot take advantage of this offer anymore. Concessions are a bit pricey, but about what you’d expect from a major league venue. Parking is ridiculously expensive, but as you have plenty of other options, that isn’t too big a factor here. While prices have not gone up by much since the Nationals' championship run, the quality of the experience has decreased, with reduced crowds, fewer gameday amenities, later gate opening times, and a lower quality of play on the field. While the return on investment is still decent, it isn't what it once was, especially if you want to sit someplace better than the $5 cheap seats. Extras 3 There is a Ring of Honor on the wall between the upper and terrace levels with the names of former Nationals greats as well as legends from Washington’s previous baseball teams, the Washington Senators (both incarnations), and the Negro League’s Homestead Grays. Look for all the banners and murals with pictures of Nationals players past and present. A third star for the Presidents’ Race, as it is one of the more unique and entertaining traditions in baseball. Final Thoughts After the second incarnation of the Washington Senators moved to Texas in 1972, Washington, D.C. was without a baseball team for over 30 years. In 2005, the Nationals came to town, and in 2008, they got a brand-new stadium. Since then, the excitement has worn off and the crowds have steadily declined, especially as the Nationals’ performance on the field has gone downhill. That being said, Nationals Park is still a nice stadium for fans to take in a Major League Baseball game.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Sonoma Raceway 29355 Arnold Dr Sonoma, CA 95476 SRO World Challenge website Sonoma Raceway website Year Opened: 1968 Capacity: 47,000 Sonoma’s Sportscar Celebration Sonoma Raceway has a long and storied history in motorsports. Hosting the likes of NASCAR, NHRA, and IndyCar over the years, it is now home to one of the early rounds of the SRO America schedule. Being held in March/April annually, this event has slowly grown itself to a solid audience of fans, with tons of on-track action all day throughout the weekend. Fan-friendly and budget-friendly, this weekend is likely to soar to the top of the California race fan’s list of events to attend every year. Food & Beverage   3 The track has various concession stands and food trucks during the weekend, complete with the likes of burgers ($13.99-$14.99), grilled chicken sandwiches ($13.99), breakfast burritos ($7.99), and hot dogs ($11.99). The paddock cafe is also open on race weekends, giving everyone another option for food and beverages, with both inside and outside seating options. Atmosphere   4 The action on the track is top-notch, as SRO World Challenge hosts no less than 10 races during the weekend across 6 different race groups. Fans can catch everything from the top-level GT3 race teams to the Touring Car and Toyota GR Cup machines of the up-and-coming racers. Four days of practice, qualifying, and racing make this one of the most jam-packed events of the year for the track and the fans, which means you won’t go long without seeing some great race action. Being a NASCAR and NHRA facility also means that seating is plentiful all around the track. RV parking spots with track views can also be purchased by fans, and the suites offer stellar views, including the new Turn 11 complex with its outdoor patio seating. One of the best viewing spots has got to be the Turn 2 terrace with seating under arbors and shade trees. On top of this the paddock is completely open and accessible to all fans, giving you an up-close look at how the teams prep the cars for action. Finally, SRO America has done a great job at making the track look like their own, adding plentiful sponsor signage around the facility at every turn and grandstand. This is easily the most professional feeling event on the SRO schedule.   Neighborhood   4 There is practically nothing immediately around Sonoma Raceway, but that makes for quite a nice location for a track. Sonoma is close enough to San Francisco and the Bay Area to make visiting one of the country’s most beautiful cities, with plenty to see and do, an easy task. However, it is just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city and nestled away in the beautiful hills of California wine country, to give you the country feel you want when relaxing. To the west is Novato, and to the east is Vallejo – food options include In-N-Out Burger, a California fixture, as well as many more. Hotels are also plentiful in both areas, and attractions range from the Golden Gate Bridge and several national parks to the south, to wine country in the north.   Fans   4 Where once there were empty seats during SRO weekends at Sonoma, now you see large groups of fans watching the action. Being a large track means even solid crowds can look spread out, but the paddock and fan zone prove that fans are still showing up in large numbers as of late. Many race fans in Sonoma who want to watch pro racing without the NASCAR prices turn to this event as a great option, especially given the incredible access afforded during sportscar races. On top of this, trackside camping has exploded for SRO weekend, with RVs lining the upper level of the camping area above the Esses. Access   2 Easily the only downside to Sonoma Raceway is the location of the track in proximity to the highway. From San Francisco you need to take the 101, and from Oakland/Sacramento/Vallejo you have to take I-80. Both highways will take you to the 37, which is the main highway to the track. The problem? Near the track it becomes a one-lane road that widens to two lanes at times, but no wider. Thankfully, when you arrive parking is beyond plentiful around the facility, with many grandstands offering close parking spaces for those willing to drive around. Return on Investment   5 Going to the track is worth the trip for SRO at Sonoma – this facility is a must-see on any race fan’s list, making it worth the venture into northern California. Tickets to SRO weekends are also incredibly affordable, with weekend passes coming in at just $50. Friday tickets are $15, Saturday or Sunday is $30, and trackside camping is $250. Club access starts at $75 for Saturday or Sunday, and runs up to $150 for 3-day access; parking is free. Extras   3 Drivers host several autograph sessions on Saturday and Sunday that are open to all fans. In addition, victory lane is right there next to the main grandstands, which means fans can celebrate with their favorite drivers and teams after each race. Finally, the paddock and garages are all open to fans, which means you can get up close to the teams and cars while they work on race setups, and you can talk to the crews during the weekend. Final Thoughts If you are looking for a racetrack in a beautiful location in one of the most picturesque areas of the country, look no further than Sonoma Raceway. The track features some quality race action for fans to see, and most of the track is visible from the same spot, a rarity in road-course racing. With affordable prices, a growing fan base, and great food options, you have plenty to look forward to as a fan when you arrive at Sonoma.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Wahconah Park 105 Wahconah Rd Pittsfield, MA 01201 Pittsfield Suns website Wahconah Park website Year Opened: 1919 Capacity: 3,500 Just A Little Bit of Heaven “Just a Little Bit of Heaven-Pittsfield’s Wahconah Park is Baseball as it Oughta Be” - Sports Illustrated, July 23, 1990. One of the last ballparks in the country to still feature a wooden grandstand, Wahconah Park dates all the way back to 1919. Through the ballpark’s history, 201 future major leaguers passed through the Berkshires. An additional 100 players with prior major league experience played for various Pittsfield squads. Over nearly a century of use, 14 different professional teams called Wahconah home, as well as 3 different summer collegiate teams. The current tenants are the Pittsfield Suns of the Futures League. The Suns take their name from one of Wahconah Park’s unique features. Because it was built before the advent of night baseball, little thought was put into the ballpark’s orientation. Thus, it was built facing due west, which results in occasional “sun delays” as batters would otherwise be forced to look directly into the setting sun. Food & Beverage 5 It would be hard to imagine a small ballpark the size of Wahconah Park having a more expansive and diverse menu than can be found here. There are three main concession stands here, two located under the stands, and a third located in the right-field party tent area. The stands are given sun-related names such as “Sunrise Café”, “Sunset Grill”, and “the Brighter Side Grill”. Each concession stand has some unique items, increasing the overall menu at the park. All the stands cover the basics, such as hot dogs ($2.50), hamburgers ($4.00), sausage and pepper sandwiches ($5.00), and grilled chicken sandwiches ($5.00). The Sunrise Café also has chicken strips ($5.50) and Mini Corn Dogs ($4.00). The Sunset Grill features Philly Cheesesteaks ($7.00) and funnel cakes ($2.50). The Brighter Side Grill features several different items, such as bratwurst ($5.50), quesadillas ($7.00), pulled pork sandwiches ($5.00), and the most popular item among 10-year-old boys, the giant turkey leg ($9.00). All the stands offer a variety of snacks, candy, popcorn, chips, and beverages. If all this wasn’t enough, there is an ice cream stand on the main concourse selling Dippin’ Dots, hard ice cream, and a variety of novelties as well. Another portable cart on the concourse area serves hot dogs with all the fixings. In addition, Papa John’s pizzas are sold at the beer stand. Wahconah Park offers a variety of food choices that many larger ballparks can’t touch. If your tastes run more towards the adult beverage, the Suns have you covered there, too. There is a beer stand on the concourse selling 16-ounce Coors and Miller Lite for $4.00. Blue Moon, Samuel Adams, and Yuengling drafts are sold here for $6.00. Cans of Blue Moon and Guinness are available at the right-field barbeque stand, along with a sampling of other adult beverages. The highlight of the offerings here may be the beer shakes ($6.00), available in creamsicle, chocolate, and strawberry flavors. Also located on the concourse is a small stand selling a variety of Suns’ souvenirs. Atmosphere 5 The Suns game day staff put on an excellent show at Wahconah Park. There is a buzz in the stands during Suns games, and crowds can swell to capacity on special nights. The team offers giveaways and ticket specials on most nights, and there are giveaways and contests between innings. The Futures League tries to create an atmosphere similar to a minor league ballpark, and in Pittsfield, they succeed. Of course, the promotions budget is limited at this level of baseball. If you get a chance, check out the children’s play area in right field. The bouncy houses located in the area have a large logo of the neighboring Hudson Valley Renegades. It’s not perfect in Pittsfield, but it has its charms, for sure. Neighborhood 3 The Berkshire Mountains are a popular tourist destination during the summer months, with their popularity based largely on the arts, music, and outdoor recreation. Several hiking trails and nature reserves are located in the area and attract large amounts of tourists. Fans looking for pursuits separate from baseball will be happy to find several high-quality museums in the area, most notably the Norman Rockwell Museum, as well as the Tanglewood Music Center. Within walking distance of Wahconah Park is downtown Pittsfield, featuring several shops, pubs, and restaurants. It’s not the largest or most vibrant downtown, but it has a great small-town feel to it and is a nice area to explore on a warm summer day. Fans 3 The Suns have averaged in the neighborhood of 1,300 fans per game since joining the Futures League. This figure ranks them consistently in the top three of the leagues. The Suns offer group deals to the community, and it is not unusual to see birthday parties, groups, and families enjoying the action side by side. One unique aspect of Wahconah Park is that, even though it is a stadium, there is still room for kids to roam. You can find groups of kids running around playing catch or tag behind the left field bleachers, bouncing balls against the back of the concourse, or getting out some energy in the play area in right field. It’s a sight common to many summer ballparks, but not so in most minor league ballparks. Access 3 Wahconah Park is located in downtown Pittsfield, just a block away from Route 7. Pittsfield is the largest city in Berkshire County and the third largest city in western Massachusetts. Located in western Massachusetts at the intersection of routes 9, 20, and 7, Pittsfield is easy to get to, although not served by any highways. Interstate 90 (The Mass. Pike) runs about 20 miles to the south. Fans traveling to Wahconah Park will most likely take I-90 to exit 2 (Pittsfield/Lee) and follow Route 20/7 north to downtown. Wahconah Park is located on Wahconah Street, just past the town green. Fans will enter Wahconah Park into a large paved area behind the grandstand featuring a couple of small buildings that house the souvenir stand and the beer stand. The two main concession stands are located directly ahead underneath the seating bowl. Fans may enter the seating bowl through the main breezeway directly ahead, or if looking for alternate seating, by walking in their preferred direction. There is a large set of metal bleachers in shallow left field and a picnic area in right field. Also located in right field is another BBQ stand, a party tent, and some bouncy houses beyond the right field fence. All areas of Wahconah Park feature excellent views of the field. Most of the seating is located in the main covered grandstand. The first four rows in the grandstand consist of individual plastic seats and the next eight rows consist of wooden bleachers with backs. The left-field bleachers are angled nicely towards the field. Unfortunately, due to the tiny dimensions of Wahconah Park, all the seats have netting in front of them in order to protect fans. Return on Investment 3 Reserved seating at Wahconah Park costs $9, and general admission costs $6. Seniors are admitted for $5, and children are admitted for free. Active members of the military are also admitted free of charge. Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the ballpark. The prices at Wahconah Park are a little higher than other college ballparks in the region but are directly in line with the other ballparks in the league. Extras 3 Promotions, specials, and giveaways dot the Suns’ schedule. The presence of many unique menu items, in particular the beer shakes, earns Wahconah another extra point. The sense of history present here is worth a third bonus point. Final Thoughts There is a reason teams keep coming back to Wahconah Park. It’s a great, old-time facility with just enough modern amenities to keep fans happy. The ballpark may have outlived its usefulness as a professional ballpark, but it has found a home in the Futures League. The Futures League has moved into several former professional ballparks throughout New England, and Wahconah Park fits into this business model seamlessly. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Grand Prix of Long Beach 3000 Pacific Ave Long Beach, CA 90806 Grand Prix of Long Beach website Year Opened: 1975 IndyCar’s Long Beach Bash The Grand Prix of Long Beach is America’s longest-running street race, and it is easy to see why. The location in Southern California is perfect for a spring race in April, and the excitement on the track is also top-notch. The area of Southern California itself is a mecca for people all around the world to visit, so adding a world-famous car race to the mix only makes Long Beach even more attractive. Featuring the IndyCar Series and IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Series as the top-billed race series, in addition to several support events, fans will have no shortage of action to watch while at this annual event. Food & Beverage   5 The average fan may experience a bit of an overwhelming overload when looking for something to eat or drink in Long Beach. The track has an insurmountable amount of food vendors on site, ranging from chains like King Taco and California Pizza Kitchen to individual booths with kettle corn, massive turkey legs, and fries. However, making the choices even more numerous is the inclusion of part of The Pike Outlets into the course’s boundaries, with several of the restaurants being made exclusive to race fans for the weekend – Hooter’s, Bubba Gump Shrimp, Famous Dave’s, Chili’s, Outback, and more can all be found inside the track itself, and each of them has a special menu just for that race weekend. Where else can you sit quite literally trackside while munching on fresh seafood and a cold beer from Bubba Gump, all at a special price for fans that weekend? Prices are about or just above average (burgers $15-$17, hot dogs $12, drinks $4-$8) at the various food booths trackside, which makes them rather reasonable for fans, as you don’t have to break the bank to find something to eat; even the higher-end booths like California Pizza Kitchen’s gourmet pizzas are no more than $12 each. Atmosphere   5 The air at the Grand Prix of Long Beach warms the race fan’s soul once the sound of engines echoes through the downtown high-rises. The weather in Southern California is also rarely anything but perfect in mid-spring, with temps in the 70s to low 80s, and sunny skies almost a certainty. The weekend features no fewer than six different race series every year, ranging from historic racing and the Stadium Super Trucks Series to the ever popular SuperDrift Challenge Friday and Saturday nights. SRO America action is also added to the slate before the main action of the IndyCar Series race on Sunday, while Saturday features the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Series as the main show, with numerous concerts after the racing action is over each night. Neighborhood   5 The track winds through downtown Long Beach right along the shoreline, and just steps from the famous hairpin turn is the beach itself. The marina and harbor are also nearby, home to the Queen Mary. Additionally, the city of Long Beach is essentially a neighbor to Los Angeles, giving fans easy access to one of the biggest and most popular cities in America. When looking for somewhere to stay, hotels are literally across the street from the track and within walking distance, including a hotel located inside the boundaries of the track. But book early, as rooms fill up quickly, and the prices rise as you get closer to the first date of the weekend. With Long Beach once having been one of those places visitors would be urged to avoid, the area has transformed lately into a haven for foodies and small businesses. In addition, the massive shopping district right next to the track offers you the perfect place to visit and enjoy an evening out during race weekend. Fans   5 The track is always packed on all three days of the race weekend – fans flock from around the world to visit the Grand Prix of Long Beach, meaning you will meet a wide variety of fans from different cultures. Surprisingly, a lot of fans here are very sport-knowledgeable, something that is not typical for city-based street courses, which are more of a spectacle for fans than something loyalists pack in for. The majority of the spectators here are all about having a good party, too, and the fans show up for the free concerts held during race weekend in front of the convention center. Access   4 Getting to the Grand Prix of Long Beach area is not difficult, as several major highways in California provide great access to the city. Parking can be tricky, however, as this race is a street circuit. Thankfully there are numerous parking lots and garages within walking distance of the track in all directions for you to pick from, and several public transportation lines (you can take the trolley or bus to the area, as well as water taxies from Catalina Island) help ease your travel woes. The cost of parking can rise to over $50 across the street from the entrances, but can also be as low as $20 just a few blocks away. Arguably the most difficult thing is getting around the track itself – pathways and walkways are cordoned off in specific patterns that limit the flow of foot traffic around Long Beach. Fans also aren’t able to spread out as much as they can at other tracks, making the pedestrian bridges and the pathways rather congested. Return on Investment   4 Tickets to the Grand Prix of Long Beach start at $54 for Friday general admission, $101 for Saturday, $107 for Sunday, and $143 for all three days. Reserved seating for Sunday ranges from $90-$105 for kids to $119-$136 for adults, with 3-day reserved seating ranging from $123-$170 for kids and $155-$215 for adults. IndyCar paddock access ranges from $34 to $80. The best value, however, may be the Bubba Gump Fountain Club – for $285 on Saturday and $300 Sunday, guests get reserved grandstand seating and access to the Bubba Gump restaurant, complete with a cash bar, free buffet for breakfast and lunch, an exclusive second level viewing deck of the iconic fountain corner complex, and exclusive ground-level patio seating. Fans who enjoy photography can also purchase the unique Super Photo ticket ($410), allowing them access to specific locations around the track that offer great photo-taking opportunities, which no other race on the schedule allows. Extras   4 The Grand Prix of Long Beach has an interesting layout for the fan zones, as the entire convention center is turned into a massive exhibition hall that also includes the paddock for the Historic F1 and SRO America teams. Freebies are also abundant for fans who enter the hall, and there are several driver meet-and-greet opportunities as well. The race weekend also includes various driver autograph sessions, allowing fans to get up close to the stars and cars they cheer on during the day. Another bonus is the proximity of the track to various national parks and natural areas; Channel Islands National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Los Padres National Forest, and Angeles National Forest (just to name a few) are all within a short driving distance from Long Beach and the LA area, making for great day-trip ideas for the family to get away from the city and have some adventures. If you’re a fan of social media, you’ll want to log on for the Grand Prix of Long Beach; throughout the weekend the event displays Twitter posts and photos from Instagram, on the big screens for all to see. Final Thoughts Visiting the Grand Prix of Long Beach is a must-do for any hardcore race fan. Anyone in Southern California should visit the race, as it is the nicest racing facility, in terms of weather and location, in the area. Not much can top sunny skies by the Pacific Ocean as cars race down the streets of Long Beach, and that’s exactly why this race has been held here for so many years.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Bobcat Ballpark 225 Charles Austin Dr San Marcos, TX 78666 Texas State Bobcats website Bobcat Ballpark website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 2,000 Texas State Bobcats – Bobcat Ballpark The 2025 season marked the 40th anniversary of the Texas State Bobcats  baseball program. In 1985, the then Southwest Texas State University launched their nascent baseball program; the Bobcats began to take off as a program as members of the Southland Conference, capturing the first of their four conference tournament championships in 1997, with others following in 1999, 2000, and 2011. In all the Bobcats have made six trips to the NCAA Tournament – in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2009, 2011, and 2022. The program has also sent numerous players to the Major Leagues, the most notable being multi-time All-Star and 2022 National League MVP Paul Goldschmidt . Texas State would move to the Sun Belt Conference in 2014, and has continued a run of success under current Head Coach Steven Trout. Since 2009 the squad has called Bobcat Ballpark its home park. Built on the grounds of Texas State’s athletics complex, the ballpark has consistently provided a great homefield advantage for Texas State.   Food & Beverage   3 Bobcat Ballpark has three concession stands for fans, one on each side of the field (third, home, and first), and each one is a little different. For example, on the third base side you can a hot dog or a corn dog (this was honestly one of the best corn dogs I’ve eaten in a long time), while behind home plate you can get a burger and fries, or on the third base side, chicken fingers. The third and first baseline stands also offer a barbecue station, where you can get sausage wraps, brisket sandwiches, and even brisket mac and cheese. In addition, every stand offers all your traditional gameday fare, like popcorn, nachos, soft pretzels, sunflower seeds, candy, etc. You can also find bottled sodas, water, and sports drinks, as well as souvenir cups for lemonade and iced tea. Beer and alcoholic seltzers are also on the menu. Overall, this is a pretty good menu for a ballpark of this size.   Atmosphere   2 The atmosphere at Bobcat Ballpark is pretty straightforward. There is a nice, shaded seating area outside the concession area on the third baseline, which is a great option during the unseasonably warm spring that South and Central Texas often have. The main concourse area features flags touting the Bobcats numerous championships; these are also emblazoned on the outfield walls on each side of the field. You can also see Goldschmidt’s retired jersey number on the outfield wall in right field. You can also find a small merchandise store inside the main entrance gate behind the ticket booth. One interesting quirk of the park you can see is a train caboose that has been converted to a luxury box; it sits near the visiting team’s dugout. This pays homage to the railroad industry’s history in San Marcos, and to the still existing and operational train tracks that run through the school’s athletics complex.   Neighborhood   4 San Marcos is frequently recognized as one of the top college towns in the state of Texas – the city was founded on the banks of the eponymous San Marcos River, and is also home to the Blanco and Guadalupe Rivers. When the weather warms ups, thousands of people from all across the state flock to the area to take part in river sports; tubing  is a massive deal in San Marcos, and is one of its main draws. If you enjoy the outdoors even slightly, you’d be hard pressed to find a better pre- or post-game activity for when you catch at Texas State game at Bobcats Ballpark. If you want to avoid the weather all together before or after games, a visit to the LBJ Museum  could be just the ticket – this museum chronicles the history of our nation’s 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson, and his history as a student and teacher in San Marcos. In terms of dining and lodging, it’s important to remember the “college town” aspect of the city. Many of the places to eat in and around the campus are going to be geared towards college students. However, a few options include Buddy’s Burger  and Spud Ranch . Buddy’s Burger is an Austin, Texas-based chain that offers up some really tasty burgers (as the name implies) – think of it as a slightly more upscale fast-food spot. Alternatively, Spud Ranch features a line of loaded baked potatoes on its menu (enchilada spud? Yes, please), and they will fill you up! While you won’t be able to find many lodging options in the immediate vicinity of the ballpark, you can find a plethora of choices all up and down nearby Interstate 35. A few options include Fairfield Inn & Suites Austin San Marcos  and Hampton Inn & Suites San Marcos . Lastly, if you’re reading this review in the summer of 2026, congratulations on being able to stop at one of the newest Buc-ees  in the country.   Fans   3 This season, reports have shown that Texas State is averaging about 1,300 fans per game, putting them at about the middle of the pack in the Sun Belt Conference. The Bobcats do tend to bring in “big time” opponents each season, however, and those games tend to be sellouts. The game I most recently attended was very late in the season, around when students were done for the semester, and it was also one of those unseasonably warm May afternoons I mentioned earlier. Still, my eyeball test showed this game had right around their average attendance, and maybe a bit over. The Texas State fans also all showed up in Bobcat gear, and were loud and engaged throughout the game. My one knock here is that the visitor section was equally as loud, energetic, and engaged – that could’ve just been that specific opponent, though.   Access   4 Interstate 35 will lead you north from San Antonio (about 45 minutes) or south from Austin (about 30 minutes) right to the city of San Marcos. From there, signage on the highway directs you to the Texas State campus, and you can’t miss the athletics complex. If you’re driving, this is about as easy as it gets. Once on-site, parking is plentiful across the street from Strahan Arena , and best of all, it is free. There is also parking directly across the street from the ballpark near the main entrance, but a fee is charged for that. If you choose not to drive, San Marcos does offer a public transportation option that has routes that will take you to Texas State’s campus.   Return on Investment   3 General admission tickets for Texas State baseball games at Bobcat Ballpark are just $10 per person. This is a good bargain, as the Sun Belt Conference does boast some pretty good teams each season, and the Bobcats themselves have performed really well in recent seasons. In games when bigger opponents come to San Marcos, the tickets run a little higher, but that’s to be expected. Those games also tend to sell out rather quickly, so keep that in mind. The concessions here are pretty much on par with other college teams of the same level – there is no item that would run you more than $9, which is a good bargain. The same is true for the parking; free is always better, but the paid parking (around $15) is not too bad.   Extras   1 There is not much at all to speak of in the way of Extras at Bobcat Ballpark; it might have just been the game I attended, but other than some trivia contests for fans and the singing of “Deep in the Heart of Texas” (always a crowd pleaser) in between the fifth inning frames, and during the seventh inning stretch, not much else went on.   Final Thoughts I have been to games at Bobcat Ballpark a few times over the years, and by and large I’ve enjoyed my visits. The ballpark still feels fresh even being more than 15 years old and the sightlines are all good. The food is also good, and the city is always fun to visit. It’s not a bucket list stop, but if you’re looking for a way to spend a fun afternoon in central Texas, this would be a good way to do it. Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on X at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy Salinas, CA 93908 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca website IMSA Series Year Opened: 1957 Capacity: 11,000 Cali’s Central Coast SpeedFest WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-famous speedway housed atop the high hills outside of Monterey, California. The speedway has hosted some of the world’s biggest racing stars over various racing series, and continues to be a fan and driver favorite as the years progress. One of the biggest draws of the year, IMSA’s annual spring visit to the track brings large crowds and plenty of on-track action. With no less than four racing series taking to the speedway’s tight turns, fans have a lot of racing action to watch during a weekend. Also, thanks to a recent investment in the track’s infrastructure, fans can expect an even better product going forward.   Food & Beverage   4 Finding something to eat is easy to do at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, as the track is home to various food vendors and beverage carts around the property – at nearly every vantage point there is something to eat. The majority of food selections are standard burgers, hot dogs ($6), sausages ($14-$18) and a few salads. One of the most popular spots is the local Mexican food booth that features tacos ($18), burritos ($20), and carne asada fries ($20) – while pricey, the flavor is worth every penny.   Atmosphere   5 The weather in central California is almost always perfect. Rarely seeing the temperature rise higher than the low 80s on race day, the atmosphere at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is nearly all-but-guaranteed to be ideal. In addition, the facility is located on the top of the coastal hills outside Monterey, making it a perfect spot for a breezy afternoon. Large oak trees line the track at various places, giving fans somewhere to hide from the sun if it does get warm. Additionally, fans can camp over the weekend at the track, as the property serves as a recreational park during weekends when there’s no racing. The upgrades to the facility in recent years include an improved crossover bridge connecting the paddock to the outside of the front straight. In addition, where once stood a simple wooden bridge now sits a fully golf-cart accessible walkover bridge that features gardens of local flora, as well as great elevated views of Turns 3 and 4. Neighborhood   4 Monterey is like much of the rest of coastal California; beautiful and relaxing. Boasting the weather and scenery of the Bay Area, but with the small town feel of more inland locations, Monterey features a regional airport, numerous locations to stay, and a wide variety of places to eat. In addition, the world-famous Monterey Aquarium is just minutes from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, as are Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row. The locals are kind and courteous, always willing to give you directions and recommendations on where to go. And no matter what time of the year you are going, there is always some form of festival or celebration going on, such as Italian Fest, Jazz Fest, or Octoberfest. For great food, check out Gusto’s Handcrafted Pasta & Pizza, or Hula’s Island Grill. Hotels are plentiful, including the Hilton Garden Inn Monterey and Hotel Pacific. Fans   4 The fans in Monterey are big-time race fans, having flocked to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for years. They all know the best places to watch from, so asking for a little advice will be met with kind suggestions for the newbie race fan. They also know how to party, putting on some great cookouts overnight in the camping areas. And if you want help understanding what’s going on, you can ask anyone. The fans also cheer loudly with every close pass and thrilling corner on the track, making for an enjoyable race event. Access   3 Getting to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a bit of a difficult task, thanks in part to the traffic coming in and out of the canyon in which the track is located. While the route from either Salinas or Monterey is pretty straightforward, the roads are almost all one-lane thoroughfares, meaning one slow car can make traffic a nightmare. Additionally, getting up the side of the mountain once inside the track’s gates can be daunting to those who aren’t used to driving up steep inclines. New for 2025, traffic in and out of the track is being directed through Boundary Road to the west. Via that route fans are only allowed to enter the facility, while the traditional entrance is limited to camping, and can only be used as an exit during the event. After a certain time, however, Boundary Road turns into an exit-only route, allowing for better traffic flow out of the facility. Parking is plentiful and available at various locations on the property, with additional parking passes available for different parking lots. Once you are at the raceway, moving around is aided by various bridges across the track to get from the inside to the outside of the course; just be sure to bring your hiking shoes, as the hillside walks are pretty impressive. Return on Investment   4 The track itself is very challenging, making for some of the most exciting and closest racing in the sport. The famed corkscrew complex is also world-famous for its difficulty, giving the best of drivers fits on race days. Combining the free autograph sessions, the massive fan zone, and the easy to see victory lane setup, this event offers a lot of up-close access that fans may not get at other racing events. Tickets are generally affordable, with a 3-day ticket running $139.55; individual tickets are available for Friday ($10.35), Saturday ($87.80), and Sunday ($87.80), while tent camping ranges from $118.85 to $232.70. Parking is plentiful and free at the track, but those looking for preferred parking ($61.93) or car corral parking ($82.62) can find better spots for a price. Extras   4 The corkscrew is the biggest draw here, and the hillside viewing at the track gives fans the best chance to view one of the most intimidating corners in all of racing. Spectators can also experience a great fan zone here at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, featuring numerous autograph sessions during race weekends. Something that is also different about WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is the hiking trails on site; walking up the hills to several of the viewing spots can be a workout unto itself. The weather also gives fans a beautiful backdrop from which to watch racing, as the typical morning fog in California creates a dramatic vista in the early hours. During the weekend, several free autograph sessions take place for fans to be able to meet the stars of the various IMSA series on track. Final Thoughts If you want to find a historically significant spot to watch racing that features brilliantly perfect weather conditions, a culturally vibrant city nearby, and the essence of thrilling action on track, you should look no further than WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The fans will welcome you with open arms, and the symphony of motors roaring through the mountains will fill your heart with joy. This is definitely a bucket-list track for true racing fans to visit.

Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey When you think about ballparks in Kansas City, you might think of Kaufman Stadium, which has been the home of the Royals since 1973. Recently rumors of the team moving to a downtown venue have floated around. The stadium with the fountains in the outfield continues to serve as home to major league baseball. However, another stadium in town has stood the test of time for much longer. If you drive by Satchel Paige Stadium at 51st and Swope Parkway, you will see a small stadium with a covered grandstand gearing up to host the Kansas City Hormigas of the Pecos League this summer. What is more interesting is the number of sports the site has hosted dating back well over a century. In 1904 one could have bought an acre of land for $850. The Prosso Preparatory School for Boys was created which included a two-story building with a basement. It is unknown if any sports were played on site, but in 1909 the school shut its doors and soon another organization would establish the site for athletic activities in October 1915. The intersection of 51st & Swope was s boys school in 1905 and a baseball field in 1916. The Kansas City Field Club was organized with 500 members and built a diamond, a swimming pool, a golf course, and tennis courts. The club signed a 20-year lease and remodeled the old school building, including dormitories, lounge area, dining hall, lockers, baths, and showers. The 11-acre site would be the home and devoted entirely to amateur athletics. “It will satisfy a need which Kansas City has been unable to fulfill for years,” said club director W.P. Felix in the Kansas City Post . The baseball field was on the southwest corner of 51st and Swope Parkway, the same location as where home plate is today. The field club had two baseball teams but by the spring of 1920, interest waned due to war efforts depleting many of its members.  It led to the Georgian Gardens Company taking over the property in October. They turned the diamond into a summer garden for outdoor entertainment and then flooded it during the winter for ice skating.  The company’s purpose was to provide copious amounts of entertainment options in Kansas City.  Much of that changed on the night of September 13, 1923, when a fire broke out at the clubhouse and spread quickly. Members and co-workers escaped by sliding down a gutter pipe and through second-floor windows. Durries Crane, the property owner and manager , woke up to a room full of smoke. He tied a white sheet to his bedpost and rappelled to safety, even though the sheet gave way halfway down. The first diamond and grandstand were constructed in 1916 by the Kansas City Field Club, photo Kansas City Public Library. The game was still played on the grounds; the Masonic League operated leagues, and the Order of DeMolay attempted to secure $75,000 to erect an athletic field on the site. In June 1924, a benefit baseball game between Kansas City and St. Louis Masonic temples at Muehlebach Field, with all proceeds going towards the new stadium. It does not appear that it was enough to erect a stadium. For the next several years, the field was used for amateur leagues and summer golf lessons before plans arose in 1936 to resurrect the old Kansas City Field Club with a new concrete ballpark, softball fields, and field lights. The proposed 5,000-seat ballpark would house auto racing, wrestling, boxing, soccer, and football games. Construction was scheduled to take place in early March, but it remains a mystery almost 90 years later why it never occurred. Fortunately, a new ballpark would be erected on the site two years later when Ben and George Goldman built Goldman Stadium. The 4,000-seat covered grandstand was described as the finest amateur ballpark in the country, with all the modern comforts and conveniences for fans watching either a Ban Johnson or American Legion baseball game. A sold-out crowd came out for the first game, and many stood 3-4 rows deep on the ramp. Hundreds watched from the terraces, and many others watched from cars off the Swope Parkway and on top of the bank down the right field line. “If this is typical of the patronage the boys are going to enjoy in their new home, we’ll make immediate additions to the stands. We can build deeper into right field and deeper into left,” said George Goldman after the first game. Goldman Stadium opened up as the home of the Ban Johnson League, photo Kansas City Star 1938. The stadium was equipped with lights for auto racing and night baseball games, much to the chagrin of residents who bickered that the once quiet neighborhood was now a collection of noise, parked cars on the streets, and lights. “This quiet residence section has been changed into an appalling, noisy, absolutely undesirable one,” said resident James R. Irons. “These things have changed a quiet and restful spot for the aged to a place of such noise as should if allowed at all, be far out in the country.” What should have been a magical year of baseball was dampened by resident complaints. The shocked Goldman brothers, who built the stadium for the good of man, were perplexed. Auto racing, followed by night baseball was stricken from the schedule.  The stadium was sold to Athletic Fields, Inc. in September 1940 for $13,500. They planned to continue renting it for Ban Johnson League games but only for day games. Legion Ball attempted day games but left after only five games into the season for another location in town. After the season, the B-J Leagues suspended operations due to not being able to play night games. The Ban Johnson League played at the site from 1938-1940 & 1945-1968, producing huge crowds in the process. With the U.S. entry into World War II, the B-J League suspended operations further, and the stadium’s mortgage defaulted, leading to the city purchasing the property. The neighborhood residence still held firm on no nighttime activities. Little excitement took place until the stadium and property were sold in 1945 to the Kansas City Diocese in the name of Bishop V. O’Hara for $12,500. The grandstand and playing field, which had deteriorated over the last few years, were overhauled. O’Hara’s vision was to have a home for the rapidly growing Catholic athletics and physical education programs in the area. The old bleachers were repaired while new concrete stands were erected down the left field line for football games. The total cost was $100,000, and donations came in from 35 different parishes in the area. Bishop O’Hara was proud of what he saw with the new structure. “It gives me the greatest pleasure as Bishop of Kansas City to open up the C.Y.C Stadium to the Ban Johnson League under whose auspices clean sport will be conducted for and by the youth representing this section of the city.” Once completed, the stadium would be home to six high school teams and eleven parochial leagues. Baseball, football, and softball would be played in the newly named Catholic Youth Council Stadium, CYO or CYC Stadium for short. However, Bishop O’Hara made sure that other local amateur and youth leagues were permitted to use the fields, including the Ban Johnson League, after a 5-year hiatus. Two versions of C.Y.O. Stadium imagined what the stadium would like, neither of them were accurate, photo Kansas City Star 1946. The property was once again full of life and regularly hosted sporting events throughout the calendar year. By 1946, the site was also used for 185 baseball games in the American Legion, Catholic War Vets, and Jewish Center Softball Leagues to a total of 9,705 participants, and total attendance topped 99,722 people in the post-war boom. That number would peak at over 100,000 in the next few years, which included 42 CYC parochial leagues and a few more Catholic high schools using the field. The stadium hosted events Monday through Saturday, with up to six games a day at times. Business was good that there was even talk of expanding the stadium’s seating capacity. There were plans to increase capacity to 10,000 in 1950, which would see the addition of steel bleacher frames and wooden seats down the first base foul and right field lines for $45,000. The campaign also included a field house, swimming pool, and parking facilities for 1,000 cars. However, it appears that these efforts were for not as no other construction took place.  This diagram from 1950 looks close to today's stadium, without additional seating along Swope Parkway, photo Kansas City Star 1950 In 1959, the stadium was renamed in honor of archbishop O’Hara, who passed away in September 1956. He was vital in rebuilding and reshaping the stadium’s objective when acquired in 1945. A plaque was created and placed at the entrance before the inaugural game of the Ban Johnson League that season. O’Hara would continue hosting the occasional college football game, and a few semi-pro teams called it home. The Kansas City Steers used it from 1959-1961, followed by the Kansas City Steers in 1968. The stadium housed other events, including boxing matches, concerts, donkey baseball, Christmas tree sales, and 4th of July celebrations. By 1968, only one of the high schools was using the stadium, and with declining usage, the CYO decided to sell to a land developer who would raze the structure in favor of an apartment complex. However, the plan never materialized. “One way or another, the needs of the community weren’t the same as when it was built,” said CYO president Carl Migliazzo in 1969. The ballpark had been vacant since the Ban Johnson League left after the 1968 season and only Hogan High School used the field. The O'Hara Stadium plaque is removed by members of the Kansas City Archdiocese, photo Kansas City Star 1969 The 1970s were a difficult period for the property, with fewer events taking place. The main grandstand had holes, grass, and weeds had taken over, and the old concession area was filled with straw and silt left behind by a horse club that operated there in 1977, according to Kansas City Star reporter George Kope in a 1980 article. “If you close your eyes really tight, you don't have to look at the tragic effect 12 years of abuse and neglect have brought on what was one of the finest- and busiest amateur sports facilities in Kansas City” Ollie Gates headed a fundraising committee to help renovate the stadium and was part of the movement, including renaming the stadium after the city’s most famous baseball pitcher, Satchel Paige. The ailing Hall of Famer was 75 years old when he appeared at the stadium’s rededication on June 5, 1982. He threw out the first pitch, greeted fans, gave an interview with a local television station, and thanked everyone for the $250,000 pledge towards renovating the stadium. Sadly, it would be the Hall of Fame pitcher's last public appearance; less than three days later, he succumbed to a heart attack at the age of 75, or so people thought. His exact age today is still a mystery. His family asked fans to donate to fund the ballpark instead of flowers. A campaign began to help “Pitch in for Paige” that saw contributions of $20,000 raised within the first few months. A new roof, work on the electrical system, and a power wash of the supports took place in October. “It was a big eyesore in the community. We wanted to do something about that, said Gates to the Kansas City Star  in 1990. “And my main interest was to do something for Satchel Paige. The community needed to do something for him, and it was long overdue.” Due to the effort of Gates and the community, which included all of the major sports teams of the time, a total of $250,000 was donated to renovating the old ballpark. By September 1983, the remodeled Satchel Paige Memorial Stadium opened with a new roof, underground water sprinkler, concession area, and aluminum bleachers replacing the old concrete slabs. Fresh sod was also poured over to cover the weeds. Satchel Paige Memorial Stadium was considered the nicest baseball complex outside Royals Stadium. Everybody wanted to play there, and dates would get booked as early as late January of the season. Once again, the stadium hosted amateur sports from youth sports, rec league softball, and high school baseball. A few more events were held, including the Kansas City Monarchs Old-Timers Game, a Japanese Rugby match, and summer festival concerts. The stadium has gone through its ups and downs this century Well into the 1990s, the stadium hosted a 33-team RBI baseball program, Men’s Senior Baseball Leagues roamed the field, and church leagues were popular. The Kansas City Royals installed a pitching mound, the Kansas City Chiefs played the Los Angeles Raiders in a benefit softball game in 1992, and a new version of the Kansas City Monarchs played in the Jayhawk League during the summer of 1995. After well over a decade of use, the stadiums were still sought after by many in the city. However, after 12-14 years of use, it once again needed renovations. The grandstand was structurally sound, but the scoreboard was broken, the press box was unstable, the concrete was chipping, and the place needed a paint job. The biggest problem was the drainage system; whenever it rained, the team in the RBI program couldn’t play for 7-8 days. Efforts were made to help with the stadium, including Anthony Dickson, the head of the city’s RBI program, to clean up the debris left behind at the stadium. He contacted the Royals head groundskeeper Troy Vance and began working on the field. Soon donations came in once again to help level the field, smooth out the infield, give it a paint job, and replace the irrigation system. The generosity of the community helped keep baseball alive and well on the field. In 2012, the stadium was renovated through the MLB All-Star Legacy funding and public donations. Renovations included an upgraded irrigation system, infield and outfield maintenance, fencing construction and installation, backstop maintenance, installation of a Satchel Paige marker, and other improvements. It hosted the Jr. RBI Classic event for young players to participate in the 2012 MLB All-Star Game at Kaufman Stadium. In 2021, work was needed on the crumbling bleachers, reinforcing the foundation, replacing the concrete, and once again adding a coat of fresh paint.  A large portion of the retaining wall and sidewalk that borders the stadium was collapsing, which could also engulf the entire grandstand. Other luxury improvements included a synthetic field and a digital scoreboard. This summer the Hormigas will become the first summer collegiate club to play at the stadium in three decades. The games will be announced in Spanish, feature a live band for all Sunday games, and feature $1 beers on Mondays and Taco Tuesdays. The Hormigas hope to bring a level of excitement not seen in a while at the old ballpark. Before the club’s arrival work needed to be done on the field that has seen little activity in the past two years. The plumbing was repaired and works properly, while the locker rooms, used for storage, have been cleaned out and are ready for the Hormigas players. A new fence was installed in front of the decaying football bleachers, and a new scoreboard was added. There were a few JV high school baseball games played on the field this past season. Chris Cotten, Kansas City Parks and Recreation Director, who also reached out to Andrew Dunn of the Pecos League about expanding to Kansas City, wants much more for the ballpark’s future. “I would like to build a proper throwback stadium to pay homage to the man, instead of slapping his name on the top of the grandstand and coating it with paint. I want to see more activities, including the return of college baseball.” Cotten added that the water company, KC Water, would rather knock it down since it sits in a 100-year floodplain and is uninsurable through FEMA. He would rather see it knocked down and replaced with a new structure that would stand 500 yards from the floodplain. Baseball has been played on the same site at 51st and Swope for almost 110 years. The stadium has been home to many baseball and athletic activities in its life, but whenever it seems as if it has played its final inning, it makes another rally. It has been resilient and hopes to be around a little while longer. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitte r @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Entertainment and Sports Arena St. Elizabeth’s East Campus 1100 Oak Drive SE Washington, DC 20032 Entertainment and Sports Arena website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 4,200 The Colonial Takes Over The Capital The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) is a very successful college basketball conference. A couple of former conference teams took the league into the spotlight of college basketball’s biggest stage. The George Mason Patriots’ appearance in the 2006 Final Four shocked many sports fans. When Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) did the same in 2011, the mid-major dam was broken (along with a great two-year run by Butler of the then-Horizon League). The CAA has also had great success in other sports, especially football, where Delaware, James Madison, Richmond, and Villanova have won the Football Championship Subdivision in recent years, while Towson lost in the 2014 championship game. (Richmond and Villanova were football-only members of the conference at this time). Unfortunately, VCU, James Madison, and George Mason (and Richmond for basketball) have since left the CAA for the bigger waters of the Atlantic 10. There have also been a few additions to the conference recently. Richmond had been the longtime location of the CAA Tournament but it has also been held in Baltimore, MD, and North Charleston, SC in recent years. The contract for DC is over after this season but as of now there has not been an announcement for later seasons. The 4,200-seat Entertainment & Sports Arena sits on the former ground of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. There is a move to develop even more of the former hospital and area which should help the Congress Heights neighborhood. The complex also includes practice facilities for the Wizards and Mystics and plays home to the Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G-League and the Washington Mystics of the WNBA. Food & Beverage 4 There is a good standard selection of food, along with some local items such as crab cake sandwiches. Soda is all Pepsi products and a variety of beers are also available. Prices are fairly high. Atmosphere 4 The Entertainment & Sports Arena features chair-back seating on four sides of the floor, with one side being quite small. The bands will also take up seating during most tourney games. There are two video boards, but no center-hanging scoreboard. Being a pretty small arena makes the place seem smaller than it is, and crowd noise enhances the atmosphere. Neighborhood 3 The Congress Heights neighborhood is currently not one of the greatest areas of the city. The normal fan will not likely want to venture far off the beaten path in this area. The good news is that the area is developing and changes are occurring. In even greater news you are in the Washington, D.C. area with many things to do. 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. The African American History Museum, as well as the National Portrait Gallery, are great choices. Fans 4 Tournaments will have varying fan bases, so it may change from game to game. But with a central location, there is a likelihood of good fan attendance. I still imagine the extremely-located schools, such as the College of Charleston and Northeastern, may have trouble filling the stands. Elon, Delaware, Towson, and William & Mary have some of the most vocal supporters. Access 3 The Entertainment & Sports Arena is located just off the Malcolm X Avenue exit of Highway 295. It is then a short drive to the arena area. There is paid parking in the large garage behind the arena. Security and police are ever present to keep fans safe. The Congress Heights Station of the Washington Metro is located a few yards away from the area and makes for an additional way to access the venue. Return on Investment 3 Student tickets were available for a decent price and individual session tickets were also reasonable. Packages for the entire series ranged upwards from $80. Numerous Championship Hospitality Packages were available for varying prices, which could have also included the VIP section and food options. The prices seemed fair for what you get in return. Extras 2 There is a souvenir stand that sells merchandise from all conference schools as well as general tournament gear. There will likely be some vendors giving away swag in the concourse. Final Thoughts The arena is a unique urban arena that seems like it is assisting and transforming the entire section of the city. The tournament is a fun place to experience this transformation.

Photos by Gregory Koch and Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 CareFirst Arena St. Elizabeth’s East Campus 1100 Oak Drive SE Washington, DC 20032 Washington Mystics website CareFirst Arena website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 4,200 A Mystical Night in Washington Editor's Note: On February 6, 2025, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, one of the country's largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations, announced a 10-year partnership with Events DC, which includes the renaming of the Entertainment and Sports Arena to CareFirst Arena. The Washington Mystics have played in the WNBA since the league’s second season, in 1998. Originally, the team played in Downtown DC at Capital One Arena, the same arena that is home to the Washington Wizards and Capitals. In 2019, the Mystics moved across the Anacostia River to Southeast DC and the Entertainment & Sports Arena. Located on the grounds of St. Elizabeth's a former state mental hospital, the ESA is a much smaller arena, seating only 4,200, and was seen as more conducive to the crowds the Mystics were drawing at the time. Food & Beverage 4 There are several concession stands at Washington Mystics games selling all the usual arena classics like chicken tenders, hot dogs, burgers, and pizza. The tenders come with your choice of several different dipping sauces and are a fan favorite. Italian ice and frozen custard from Rita's are available for those with a sweet tooth. Pricing is on the high end and only credit cards are accepted. Atmosphere 4 With only 4,200 seats, the Entertainment & Sports Arena is quite small and all seats offer a good view of the action, though they may be quite cramped. Along one sideline, there are two levels of seating, with stairs from the concourse going up to the upper section. On the other sideline is some VIP seating. There is also lower-bowl seating along both baselines. Videoboards are located at either end, and smaller boards in the corners show player stats. The Mystics have a mascot named Pax, who is a panda and entertains fans before the game. She also does things like t-shirt tosses during the game. During breaks in the action, there are several promotions to keep the crowd engaged. There will be contests on the court and the video board, and several fan cams and tosses where Pax and the dance crew will toss promotional items into the seats. Neighborhood 3 Let’s start with the bad news – although the Congress Heights neighborhood is supposedly “on the rise,” it is not quite there yet. Although the immediate vicinity of the arena is perfectly safe, thanks in part to the police and security presence, you do not want to venture too far away unless you are in the safety of a vehicle or public transit. If you must explore the immediate vicinity on foot, most of the restaurants in the area are chain ones. You’re better off hopping on the Metro or taking an Uber and heading to other parts of the District for better options. Speaking of which, once you get outside Congress Heights, there are a lot of things to do in Washington, and most of them are free. Whether it’s taking in the monuments and other sights on the National Mall or visiting one of the many museums, there’s truly something for everybody. All government-run attractions are free, but some privately owned ones are not. Just keep in mind if you plan on touring the Capitol or the White House, you will need to schedule that in advance. Fans 5 In the 2024 season, most Mystics games have been played at or near capacity, leading to calls for them to possibly move back to the larger Capital One Arena. Already a few games with larger crowds have been played there. For now, although the crowd is small in absolute numbers, almost every seat will be full. The Mystics crowd has a tradition of standing until the team scores its first basket, so be prepared to do that, at least if you want to see it. They can get quite loud at times, after big baskets or other plays. Some of this is due to attempts from the team to pump up the crowd, but much of it is organic as well. At this point, a good portion of the crowd seems to be cheering for individual players (who may have been notable in college) rather than teams, although there are a large number of genuine Mystics fans as well who cheer for everyone. Crowds in the WNBA as a whole have been on the rise, and the Mystics are no exception. Access 3 If driving to the Entertainment & Sports Arena, it is about a mile off of Interstate 295 via local roads. There is a garage and a parking lot next to the arena, where parking will cost $20 prepaid or the day of the game. Be warned that getting into the garage can take a few minutes as people pay or scan their passes, and getting out of the garage can take half an hour or longer, especially if you are parked on a higher floor. It is not well organized. The good news is that public transportation is available. The Congress Heights stop on the Green Line is located about a five-minute walk away. Despite concerns about the neighborhood, this walk is safe and there is a police presence to make sure of it. Just be warned that Metro has long headways and frequent track work, especially on weekends and over the summer when the Mystics play the bulk of their games. Plan accordingly and check for any track work on the day of your visit. If coming from outside the area served by the DC Metro, you can park at a suburban station and take the train from there. Parking costs will vary depending on the station and day of the week, but should not be more than a few dollars. If coming from the north, we recommend parking at the Greenbelt or College Park stations, and if coming from the South, we recommend parking at the Branch Avenue station. All of these stations are on the Green Line, so you avoid having to make a transfer. If coming from the east or west, you will likely park at a Silver, Orange, or Blue Line station, which requires a transfer to L'Enfant Plaza. The concourse can get extremely crowded to the large crowds, making navigation difficult. There can also be a wait for the restrooms at times. It seems the arena designers were not expecting the frequent sellouts the Mystics have. Return on Investment 4 If you buy your tickets at face value, they will start at around $25 depending on the game and where you sit. This is not too expensive. However, games do sell out, which will force you to buy resale tickets if you do not buy early enough. This can cost two to four times face value. We recommend buying early to avoid this. Concessions and parking are a bit on the high end, but this is not unexpected in a major city. Ultimately, a Mystics game is still a very good deal, as long as you buy tickets early enough to pay face value. Extras 4 There is a souvenir stand that sells merchandise. There will often be a selection of merchandise that is special to the game you attend and is offered at a lower price. Pax the Panda is a great mascot that is pretty unique to sports arenas. Look for the Mystics' 2019 WNBA Championship banner in the rafters. Before the game, the team host leads the crowd in a call and response. The host will ask "Who are we?" and the crowd will answer "DC". Then the host will say "Whose house is this?" and the crowd will say "Our house', then the game will tip-off. Final Thoughts The Washington Mystics are drawing sellout crowds to the Entertainment & Sports Arena nearly every game and seem to be outgrowing their home there very quickly. Someday soon, they may move back to Capital One Arena, but for now, a Mystics game at the ESA is a great experience, though not as good as it might be in a larger and fancier arena.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 CareFirst Arena St. Elizabeth's East Campus 1100 Oak Dr SE Washington, DC 20032 Capital City Go-Go website CareFirst Arena website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 4,200 Go-Go Go to the ESA Editor's Note: On February 6, 2025, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, one of the country's largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations, announced a 10-year partnership with Events DC, which includes the renaming of the Entertainment and Sports Arena to CareFirst Arena.   Prior to 2018, the Washington Wizards were one of the few NBA teams without a G League affiliate. Dating back to the league’s time as the Development League, the Wizards never had a club to send their younger players to. That all changed when the Capital City Go-Go were founded and the Entertainment & Sports Arena opened. The ESA was built on the former site of St. Elizabeth’s Psychiatric Hospital with the intent of revitalizing the Congress Heights neighborhood. In addition to hosting the Go-Go, the arena is the home to the WNBA’s Washington Mystics and has also hosted events ranging from college basketball to e-sports. Food & Beverage 4 The Entertainment & Sports Arena has several concessions stands serving classic food items as well as items from local vendors. If you’re looking for a meal, your options include a cheeseburger and fries for $12, chicken tenders and fries for $10, hot dog for $6, or a half smoke combo featuring one of the more unique regional items for $10. Snacks include nachos for $6 and bottomless popcorn for $8. Fans looking to indulge their sweet tooth can head to The Orange Cow, a local vendor which has its own stand at the arena. As you might expect from the name, options there include ice cream cups and ice cream sandwiches, both for $6, and a frozen chocolate banana for $4. The last one is one of the more unique options you will find at any arena. Thirsty fans can buy Pepsi products, Gatorade, water, or lemonade, all for $5 each. Beer ranges from $9 to $11 for 16 oz. can. Atmosphere 3 The Entertainment & Sports Arena features chair back seating on all four sides of the floor. There is a second level of chair backs on one of the sidelines which is general admission. All other seats are reserved. There are two video boards, one behind each of the baskets, which also show the score and other basic information. Boards in each of the corners give more detailed player stats. The Go-Go nickname is a homage to the style of music that originated in Washington, so as you might expect there is a lot of go-go music piped in throughout the arena, including a recording of a go-go drum. There is also a real drum that they play on occasion during timeouts. Whether it’s banging the drum or something else, the Go-Go run a number of promotions to keep the team engaged during breaks in the action. Neighborhood 3 Let’s start with the bad news – although the Congress Heights neighborhood is supposedly “on the rise,” it is not quite there yet. Although the immediate vicinity of the arena is perfectly safe, thanks in part to the police and security presence, you do not want to venture too far away unless you are in the safety of a vehicle or public transit. If you must explore the immediate vicinity on foot, most of the restaurants in the area are chain ones. You’re better off hopping on the Metro or taking an Uber and heading to other parts of the District for better options. Speaking of which, once you get outside Congress Heights, there are a lot of things to do in Washington, and most of them are free. Whether it’s taking in the monuments and other sights on the National Mall or visiting one of the many museums, there’s truly something for everybody. All government-run attractions are free, but some privately owned ones are not. Just keep in mind if you plan on touring the Capitol or the White House, you will need to schedule that in advance. Fans 2 Unfortunately, Go-Go games are still sparsely attended. It seems many fans in Washington have not heard of them, or if they have, they have no idea where the arena is. When people have no idea there is even an arena here, it is hard to get them to come to games. As for the fans who do show up, some of them can get quite into it, but the majority of them aren’t all that into it for most of the game. Sure, they’ll cheer for big plays, but the majority of the game, there is no noise from the fans save small pockets of people. Access 4 If you’re planning to take the Metro to the game, the Entertainment & Sports Arena is about a five-minute walk away from the Congress Heights station on the Green Line. Limited parking is also available on site for $10, but you will likely need to reserve this in advance and may need to take a shuttle or walk a bit to and from the lot. Also, keep in mind the entire area around the arena is a new development, and many GPS apps have not updated to reflect this yet. They may instruct you to turn down streets that no longer exist while not showing the new streets that make up the area around the arena. Be sure to allot extra time if you don’t know where you’re going. Return on Investment 3 The kind of deal you get depends strongly on how you buy your tickets. If you purchase directly from the team, ticket prices range from $10 for upper level general admission seats to $35 for front row seats at center court. Court side seats will cost you twice that when they are available, but will only get you marginally closer than the $35 tickets and are probably not worth it. Unfortunately, the Go-Go use Ticketmaster to sell their tickets, so expect the price to go up by around 50% with fees. Even $35 is pretty expensive considering the atmosphere and the quality of play, and that’s not even factoring in the massive fees. However, the good news is that Ticketmaster also offers Verified Resale Tickets, which typically go for significantly less than face value. Lower level sideline seats can go for as low as $6, and rarely more than $10. Of course, you still have to pay fees, but this is significantly more affordable than paying face value. That being said, this is obviously not a sustainable or positive model for the team and they should look to improve the value of attending games. Extras 2 There is a “Pop-a-Shot” located in one of the corners where children can shoot baskets at an inflatable hoop. Small kids often get bored sitting in one place for a long time, and this can be a way for them to let off some of that energy while their parents enjoy the game. Go-Go players are also available to sign autographs for fans from the time doors open until 20 minutes before tip off. Final Thoughts Unfortunately, many people in Washington have no idea the Capital City Go-Go or the Entertainment & Sports Arena even exist. Those who are aware of it will find it a decent enough experience, but being in a mostly empty arena often isn’t much fun for anyone but the most die-hard of basketball fans. The Go-Go and the ESA would do well to market themselves better, and hopefully once the team and arena have been around for a few years, the crowds and atmosphere will improve.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 TPC Louisiana 11001 Lapalco Blvd Avondale, LA 70094 Zurich Classic website TPC Louisiana website Year Opened: 2005 Golfing in the Bayous The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is one of the more unique stops on the PGA Tour. Established in 1938, the tournament has evolved over the decades, attracting some of the best golfers to ever play the sport, with winners such as Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson, Vijay Singh, Bubba Watson and Rory McIlroy. In 2017 the Zurich Classic introduced its team format, making it the only PGA Tour event where players compete in pairs rather than individually. The Zurich Classic has been played at several golf courses in the area, but in the spring of 2005 the tournament found a new home at TPC Louisiana, a Pete Dye-designed course located in Avondale, 20 miles southwest of New Orleans on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. This course was built through 250 acres of wetlands, offering a scenic layout that embodies the beauty of the Mississippi River Delta. Bringing the PGA to the bayous of Louisiana has created a tournament unlike any other. The relaxed atmosphere, mixed with New Orleans’ signature energy, sets the Zurich Classic apart from more traditional stops on the tour. You’ll hear live bands, local musicians playing on stages, and second-line parades, and well as feel a party-like atmosphere that reflects the city’s love of celebration. The event embraces the laid-back, festive nature of New Orleans, making it one of the most enjoyable stops on the PGA calendar.   Food and Beverage   4 You can’t come to an event in New Orleans without talking about the food, and the Zurich Classic is no exception. The highlight of the culinary options here is the Best of Zurich Classic food option, set up on Hole 13; a covered area bringing some of the finest restaurants in New Orleans. Patrons can also taste dishes from esteemed New Orleans restaurants such as Galatoire’s, Emeril’s, Desi Vega’s Steakhouse, Jack Rose, Palace Café, and City Pork at the 18th Fairway Club, while over at the 17th Fairway Club, Acme Oyster House and Drago’s serve up their renowned seafood specialties. In addition, Patton’s Caterers, a tournament staple, delights guests with offerings like crawfish beignets, oysters, boudin, jambalaya and a local staple in Crawfish Monica. The Walk On’s Party Pavilion is also popular, featuring a covered pavilion overlooking the 17th Green and including Walk On’s signature items. For the general admission ticket there are five concession stands scattered along the course – hamburgers, sausage dogs, and breakfast sandwiches round out this menu, along with a few items unique to the area such as muffaletta and crawfish mac n’cheese. Prices are reasonable, with every item costing $8. Coca-Cola is the official soft drink provider of the Zurich Classic, and the New Orleans institution PJ’s Coffee provides coffee, tea, and lemonade. For alcohol a wide selection of beer is on sale, as well as margaritas and glasses of wine, with prices ranging from $7-$12. A few other food options in the general admission section include Jameson Courtyard between the 8th and 9th holes, a lively atmosphere with signature Jameson cocktails served with smoked pork cheek and pork belly boudin tacos. In addition, Tito’s Golf Club on Hole 18 features an air-conditioned bar with Tito’s signature cocktails, and Skrewball Lounge serves up peanut butter whiskey, while Hoop Tea Lounge offers samples of their new Hoop Tea – needless to say there is a wide alcohol selection at the Zurich Classic.   Atmosphere   5 The golf course here is built in the middle of the swamp, surrounded by cypress and mangrove trees. Attending the Zurich Classic feels like being dropped off in the middle of nowhere, and that’s part of the magic – the shuttle drops you off on the side of the road near a canal drainage ditch, which is the main entrance. Walk a couple of hundred yards down the canal and you’ll enter onto Hole 3; you’ll see a ton of alligators in the canal before you even step foot on the course. The team format adds a different energy to the event – instead of the typical silence and polite applause, the spirit of New Orleans is on full display even at a PGA event. You’ll hear loud cheers, second-line parades, and even live bands. While it doesn’t bring the pure chaos of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the Zurich Classic still brings a festive, friendly buzz that’s symbolic of New Orleans. The course is also spread out and sprawling; crowds don’t feel crammed like they would at most PGA Tour stops. But you’ll also walk long distances between holes, and there isn’t a lot of places to get any shade on the course. The one plus is that you are below sea level, so you don’t have to worry about walking uphill. Most of the fan zones and party areas are located around holes 17, 18, and 1 and some of the free admission party areas include the 19th Hole near Hole 1, a covered tent with a full-service bar and live bands that play throughout the day. Tito’s Golf Club has couch seating and big screen TV with a patio overlooking the bayou on Hole 17, with excellent views of the Hole 18 tee pads as well. Jameson Courtyard also has an outdoor bar area with courtyard-style seating on the Hole 9 fairway. The Manning Family Kid’s Zone has tons of games and mini golf for kids, as well as an autograph area for kids. Or, if you want to buy a car then you're in luck, because a local Lexus dealership had several different displays set up around the course where you can look at the latest models, and maybe even buy one.   Neighborhood   3 TPC Louisiana sits in the hardworking industrial town of Avondale, on the west bank of the Mississippi River, roughly 30 minutes southwest of downtown New Orleans. Avondale is a shipbuilding hub, home to many residents who work at the local shipyard. While New Orleans – just a short drive away – offers a vibrant nightlife and countless attractions, the West Bank and Avondale also have a few hidden gems worth exploring. However, you won’t find a lot of hotels or lodging in the area, so your best bet is to stay in New Orleans or Metairie. A few local spots to check out in the area include Mosca’s, about 3 miles west of the course, a family-owned Italian eatery known for its Creole-Italian fusion dishes. This place has been serving up plates for 80 years – it looks like a dingy building on the side of the road, but reservations are highly recommended; also make sure you bring cash, as it’s cash only. Just down the road from the course you will find Nola Motorsports Park , the largest auto racing facility in the New Orleans area. It features a 2.75-mile track with 16 turns and a 5,200-foot straightaway, along with one of the largest outdoor karting tracks in the country. The park hosts races throughout the year and also has a mini golf course that is a huge hit with families. TPC Louisiana is also on the outlying bayous that make up Bayou Segnette State Park, where visitors can enjoy activities like boating, fishing, hiking, and camping, while spotting local wildlife such as alligators and bald eagles. The State Park is also popular with people camping here during Tournament Week. You’ll also find many area airboat tours out this way, if you want to go deeper into the Louisiana swamps.   Fans   4 In 2024 the tournament set an unofficial attendance record with over 116,000 spectators over four days, including a single-day record of more than 36,000 on Saturday. Taking place the same weekend as Jazz Fest may be for the best, as the Zurich Classic attracts the same crowd bringing that festive atmosphere; many of the patrons will spend a day at Jazz Fest and a day at the Zurich Classic during this weekend. Also, instead of dress attire like some golf events, here you’ll find patrons wearing Mardi Gras beads, drinking hurricane cocktails, and wearing crazy festival garb. The Zurich Classic also attracts some of the biggest names in golf, so expect large crowds following some of the bigger-name golfers like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. The good news is the course is really spread out so you’ll have plenty of room to move around, even with a couple of thousand people standing around a hole watching Rory McIroy tee off.   Access   3 TPC Louisiana is located about 15 miles southwest of downtown New Orleans on the West Bank in the bayous. Coming from the French Quarter or downtown you would take the Crescent City Connection high rise bridge, over the Mississippi River using Highway 90 west through West Bank neighborhoods, shipyards, and sugar cane fields. Public Parking is at Nola Motorsports Park about a mile away from the course. Don’t expect a straightforward in an out experience if you show up in the late morning or during a weekend round, as traffic bottlenecks once you get close to Motorsports Park; it can often take 30 minutes just to move one mile when coming to or leaving the public parking. Once you arrive, you’ll park here and then get on a bus to get shuttled to the golf course. It’s a short ride to the course, less than 5 minutes – the bus will drop you off at the end of a canal near a retention pond, where you cut through some woods and are then on the course.   Return on Investment   4  Daily Grounds tickets are priced at $45, providing full access to the tournament with views of some of the best pairings in golf. For fans seeking more, the ‘Best of the Zurich Classic’ package starts at $185 and includes access to high-end hospitality venues like the Fidelity Bank Fairway Clubs and Oasis. These locations feature all-inclusive food from New Orleans staples like Acme Oyster House, Drago’s, and Galatoire’s, plus open bars with local spirits. The Walk-On’s Stadium Club, at $275, offers a luxury setting on a two-story deck between the 17th and 18th holes, with a climate-controlled lounge, signature Walk-On’s fare, and close proximity to players. While the premium clubs come with a higher price tag, the value is undeniable given the quality of the food, drinks, and access. Fans looking to elevate their experience will find the cost well worth it, especially during a week when the Zurich Classic shares the spotlight with Jazz Fest just across town.   Extras   4 One extra for the number of alligators you’ll see at TPC Louisiana – it’s not uncommon to see multiple gators on the banks basking in the water hazards. A highlight every year is when an alligator disrupts play, like in 2024 when play was delayed 7 minutes while an alligator crossed in front of the tee pad.  One of the most notable alligators associated with the course is Tripod, a three-legged alligator that has become something of a local legend; Tripod is frequently seen near the 16th and 17th holes, and his presence has become a beloved aspect of the tournament experience. A sculpture honoring Tripod now stands near the 18th fairway, commemorating his place as the tournament’s official mascot. One extra also for the unique team format of this tournament, since 2017 this being the only team tournament on the PGA Tour. Some of the past winners of the tournament include Rory McIroy, Bubba Watson, Vijay Singh, Davis Love III, and Jack Nicklaus. Lastly, one extra for the Zurich Classic taking place on the first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest, a.k.a. Jazz Fest – one of the largest music festivals in the country taking place at the same time as one of Golf’s biggest events, in one of the most vibrant cities in the country, is definitely only going to create a festive atmosphere.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Finley Stadium 1826 Reggie White Blvd Chattanooga, TN 37402 Chattanooga FC website Finley Stadium website Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 20, 421 This is Home Semi-professional soccer first arrived in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1992 with the Chattanooga Railroaders, later renamed the Express. The team played in the United States Interregional Soccer League, but it wasn’t until 2009 that Chattanooga FC (CFC) debuted in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). Chattanooga finished third in the Southeast Division that year, then won the division eight times over the next ten years. During their 11-season NPSL run, CFC reached the national championship four times and captured the Hank Steinbrecher Cup in 2015. In 2020 Chattanooga FC moved up to the third tier of American soccer by joining the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) – during their five seasons in the NISA Chattanooga established themselves as a consistent contender in the league, topping the table three times. Another major shift came in 2024 when “The Boys in Blue” joined MLS NEXT Pro, a developmental league affiliated with Major League Soccer (MLS). Since their founding, Chattanooga FC has called Finley Stadium home. Nicknamed Fort Finley by its supporters, Finley Stadium also hosts the club’s women’s team, as well as serves as the fall home of University of Tennessee-Chattanooga football.   Food & Beverage   4 A collection of concession stalls lines the exterior walls of the south concourse. Concession options are solid; fans can enjoy Mac’s various styles of Philly steaks, chicken sandwiches, burgers, sausages, or veggie subs, while Chestnut Bakes offers more traditional stadium foods, such as pizza, popcorn, pretzels, and candy. In addition, The Max sticks to traditional burgers and hot dogs, and Moe’s Southwest Grill brings a limited menu of tacos, burritos, and bowls. Lastly, Fort Finley Market offers more of a grab-and-go, convenience store-like setup, but other than a food truck, local flavors do seem to be somewhat limited here. Access to the Ultra Lounge does offer premium food and drink options in the comfort of a climate-controlled area, along with a large television that shows a live feed of the game, since the lounge doesn’t have a view of the pitch. Drink options at Finley Stadium are extensive; in addition to domestic beer, Fort Finley Market stocks craft selections like Hi-Wire’s Mosaic IPA, Mountucky Cold Snacks Lager, and Wiseacre’s Tiny Bomb Pilsner. Canned cocktails, seltzers, margaritas, and Jack Daniels premixed cocktails are also available, and the stadium proudly serves Chattahooligan Kölsch, named for the club’s supporters. Non-alcoholic options include fresh squeezed lemonade, Powerade, and Coca-Cola products.   Atmosphere   3 Finley Stadium has a split-seating design with individual seating structures on both sidelines. For Chattanooga FC matches, however, typically only the south stands are used. The west end includes a plaza area, while the east end has a grassy berm popular with younger fans. Chattanooga FC has done as good of a job as they can to brand the stadium as their own, with signage, crest-emblazoned padding, and kiosks promoting both the men’s and women’s clubs. UT-Chattanooga branding is minimal on match days. The stadium has two scoreboards, one for basic time and score information and a larger one with a live match feed. What does seem to be missing though is any type of match stats: shots, saves, corners earned, and fouls. When looking for ideal seats, there is little in the way of a bad location. The Midfield Club is made up of three sections of individual chairback seats in the upper tier of the stands, with a lone section of field level chairbacks. The rest of the stadium is comprised of aluminum bleacher seating. The nature of soccer does not create a lot of downtime during the match that needs to be filled with games, contests, or other fan interaction pieces. There are a handful of ad reads throughout, but nothing that distracts from the game.   Neighborhood   5 Finley Stadium is in the southern reaches of downtown Chattanooga in the West Village neighborhood. The neighborhood that directly surrounds the stadium is in the process of an ongoing renaissance, while the area that sits along the Tennessee River was once more an industrial area with warehouses and foundries, much of which has been transformed into the First Horizon Pavilion of the Chattanooga City Market, as well as the neighboring Naked River Brewing Company. To the east is Southside Social, an “eat, drink, play” establishment with bowling and over half a dozen other games. Downtown Chattanooga is less than five minutes away and is often regarded as one of the top small cities in the United States. Attractions include the Tennessee Riverwalk, Tennessee Aquarium, Coolidge Park, and its historic carousel. Dining ranges from upscale restaurants to gems like Main Street Meats, a butcher shop and restaurant combo; North Shore is another hotspot for niche eateries and coffee shops. Chattanooga has as a wide variety of museums, including the International Towing and Recovery Museum, Hunter Museum of American Art, and Classic Arcade Pinball Museum of Chattanooga. The city is also rich in historical and cultural points of significance, with landmarks tied to key Civil War battles and the starting point of the Trail of Tears at Ross’ Landing, located just downhill from the soon-to-be-retired home of the Chattanooga Lookouts minor league baseball team,  AT&T Field . Just a short walk from Finley Stadium, the Hotel Chalet is on the grounds of the famed Chattanooga Choo Choo, while those a bit more attracted to outdoor adventures might want to check out Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain, and Point Park, all offering stunning views of the city. In coming years the Chattanooga Lookouts’ South Broad District will be less than a mile away, just on the other side of I-24. Not only will this bring another high-profile piece of Chattanooga professional sports to the neighborhood, but along with it will come several shopping and restaurant options – this will greatly complement the extensive entertainment choices that downtown Chattanooga already has to offer.   Fans   4 Chattanooga FC’s supporter group, the Chattahooligans, does an outstanding job creating an energetic and memorable match day atmosphere. Even when weather affects attendance, their passion never wavers; they invite fans to join them in Section 109 to chant, sing, and dance throughout the match. Even those who remain in their seats often follow the Chattahooligans’ lead, rising to their feet for the final minute and during stoppage time in each half. While the Chattahooligans play a central role in setting the tone, the broader fan base deserves recognition as well. In 2024 Chattanooga FC averaged nearly 3,700 fans per match, and their 2025 Open Cup derby against crosstown rival Chattanooga Red Wolves  of USL 1 drew a crowd of more than 12,000.   Access   4 Finley Stadium is conveniently located just off I-24 that runs south of downtown. The largest concentration of parking is on the north side of the stadium, with another lot adjacent to neighboring Chattanooga Market. Chattanooga also has a city-wide bike share program with a bike rack just outside the stadium’s north side, which definitely can be useful for locals or those staying nearby. There are two main entrances, one on 19th Street and a second on Reggie White Boulevard. Three gates on 19th Street help manage crowds efficiently, while the Reggie White Boulevard entrance is often less crowded and quicker to get through. Inside, navigation takes a bit of getting used to. The walkway between the upper and lower sections does not connect directly to the concourse that encircles the pitch, so fans must go back under the stands to move between areas – it is not difficult but can be a touch inconvenient. In general, getting to and around Finley Stadium is manageable, but it does take just a bit of patience (as well as going against conventional wisdom) here and there.   Return on Investment   4 There are several different ticket options at Finley Stadium; prices start at $11 to sit on the grassy berm and $15 in the supporters section. A service fee is applied for each ticket purchased, and tax is also added on. Tickets are well priced and fees seem reasonable, but can start to add up when purchasing multiple tickets. Seats in the most comfortable areas of the stadium do seem a touch expensive , but there certainly are seats that come with great value. Parking runs $15, which does seem a touch high, but not necessarily outrageously so. Concessions are well priced and not subject to super-inflated stadium prices.   Extras   3 It can be difficult for a team that shares a facility with a college football program to establish a home field feel, but Chattanooga FC does their best with the Chattanooga Football Club Hall of Legends. Enshrined are former gaffer Bill Elliott, defender Thomas Clark, and forward Zeca Ferraz. Outside the stadium, kiosk displays allow fans to access information on both the men’s and women’s clubs. Chattanooga FC is in the final stages of completing their headquarters, which will be within walking distance of Finley Stadium – the headquarters facility will feature  office space for the club’s staff and coaches, apartments for the players, a training facility, retail space, a restaurant, and a rooftop bar. This development should go a long way in solidifying the soccer atmosphere of the neighborhood.   Final Thoughts It can be challenging to transform a large football stadium into an intimate environment for soccer, especially at the lower tiers of the American soccer pyramid. Despite this, Chattanooga FC goes above and beyond to provide a high-quality professional sporting experience. Much of the credit for creating this memorable atmosphere belongs to the Chattahooligans and the nonstop passion they bring throughout the match. All in all, it would be hard to be disappointed by an evening spent with Chattanooga’s longest-established soccer club.

Photo Courtesy of C. GT. The Sherbrooke Expos are celebrating 20 years of baseball in the Quebec Major Baseball League. The ball club celebrated with brand new uniforms that feature a home set that looks similar to the San Diego Padres old navy jersey, but who's complaining? It’s all business this season at Stad Amadee-Roy. The Expos new look comes with two pitchers from the Dominican Republic: Ricardo Smith and Francis Jones. Both pitchers played in the Cincinnati Reds organization, with Smith reaching Billings in the Pioneer League and Jones for Greeneville in the Appalachian League. The two men hope to catapult the club to the top of the standings by the end of the season. Stad Amadee-Roy has been the site of baseball since a wooden grandstand was erected in 1910. The first stadium was built in 1938 with lighting that was replaced a year ago. The stadium would fall victim to a fire in September 1951, but a new version would open in time for the 1953 season. It sat 4,000 people and would last serve home to the Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate in 1973. One of its players, relief pitcher Kent Tekulve, is still fondly remembered in town. Photo Courtesy of David Metraux. With no hopes of minor league baseball returning to Sherbrooke, the seating configuration was adjusted to accommodate 1,000 fans. Bench seating was installed over the concrete seating bowl in favor of individual theater-style seating.  The stadium offers a covered brick grandstand, bench seats, a concession stand, alcohol sales, and its most distinguished feature, a giant hill that stretches from the left field foul line and smooths out past the center field wall. It would make the old “Tal’s Hill” at Daikin Park look like an anthill. The hill begins a few feet above the ground in centerfield and inclines to what appears to be a 45 degree angle, rising gently to 15 feet the left field line and foul line. The hill eats most of the foul corner and it's only imaginable how players react when chasing down a ball or playing off the steep hill. “The hill has a reputation that spreads far and wide - everybody has heard about it, even if they have never been to the stadium,” added Pelletier. “People are usually excited when they see it for the first time. While most players seem to enjoy it, some fans would like to see it gone. The majority understands its importance as a historical feature and popular quirk.” Photo Courtesy of Louis-Marie Pelletier. There are more than enough videos on  Jonathan Glaude’s YouTube  showing balls ricocheting off the hill, providing a welcome home-field advantage. The hill has been part of the outfield dimensions since the original ballpark opened almost 75 years ago. Pelletier added that players usually wait for the ball to hit the wall and roll down the hill and it is not troublesome in centerfield where many diving catches take place. “If the play is within the bottom part of the hill, the first 5 feet, they will usually try to lay down to make the catch. Some more athletic players venture up the hill to catch or retrieve the ball, leading to some exciting plays.”  Pelletier added that the hill is protected and will never be flatten or leveled based on it being recoginized as part of the national historic sites in Canada. FULL PODCAST CLICK HERE ---> Ballpark Hunter Podcast with Max Pelletier There are eleven clubs in the league playing in a myriad of facilities, including local fields, a stadium featuring grandstands originally constructed for Expo 67 , and newer ballparks. The $7.8 million Jacques-Desautels Stadium will debut this season for the Brock Baseball Club. The seating capacity will increase from 400 to 800 seats and feature a covered section plus a food court.  However, much is still a mystery to the league and many of its members. Pelletier added that the focus on the Expos is to build a strong team on the field that will attract fans to the ballpark. There is hope to have a strong social media presence in the future and promote the team the same way as the Welland Jackfish , 833 kilometers west in Ontario. New season means new caps and beer, Photo Courtesy of the Sherbooke Expos Besides the new home and away uniforms, fans will be treated to new caps and a 20th anniversary branding that was designed by a local company. The new home whites featured an interlocked S and E with navy blue piping down the front and sleeves. The same logo appears on a solid navy cap. The away jerseys are solid navy with the city name in a curved block letter design. According to its Facebook page, caps sell for $25 CAN. Where does this leave the lonely ballpark traveler cruising along the provincial roads of Quebec? The Frontier League has set up shop in Quebec City and Trois-Rivieres , but maybe a slight diversion to Sherbrooke, or even Thetford Mines, Castor Vale, and Drummondville (three cities with legitimate ballparks) could make for an ideal road trip in French Canada.  ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel . Email at marc@stadiumjourney.com

Photos Courtesy of Google Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Forest Glen Park 2303 College Ave. Huntington, IN 46750 Huntington University Foresters website Forest Glen Park website Year Opened: 1950 Capacity: 700 Indiana’s Baseball Best Kept Secret Forest Glen Park on the campus of Huntington University might be the best-kept secret in Indiana. It is a ballpark unlike any other in the state; small in size, it has an ambiance that is different than others in NAIA up to Division 1. The team's media guide mentions that “Forest Glen Park has developed into one of the finest and most unique baseball facilities, not only in the state but also in the midwest.” The ballpark is surrounded by three sides of the water, a scenic incline, lush forestry during the spring and summer, and the walkable trail leading down to the third-base side entrance. The Huntington Foresters are members of the Crossroads League, an athletic conference composed of NAIA private Christian colleges in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The university was founded in 1897 and has an enrollment of slightly over 1,000 students. The baseball team called the site home well before renovations began in 2007. In 2015, several major upgrades were made from dugout to dugout, including new stadium seating, a modern press box, a new concession stand, and restrooms. A new turf, laser-graded outfield, and bullpens were added in time for the 2022 season. Food & Beverage 3 The ballpark has a small concession stand behind the main grandstand. The kitchen offers the basics one would expect at a baseball game, including hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, soda pop, and candy. It isn’t a wide variety of food, but enough to keep you from going hungry during a game. Atmosphere 4 The diamond is down a small hill surrounded by trees, trails, and a small creek behind the grandstand. Fans enter the ballpark on the third baseline, and a series of picnic tables dot the area towards the main grandstand. The stadium feels like it was built in the middle of the woods;  the sounds of the babbling brook add a soothing south near the concession stand. The grandstand has stadium-style seating along with bleacher seating and is decorated with past championships and retired numbers. The school’s name is bright and bold on top of the press box. Fans in their seats have a wonderful view of the field, despite being behind fencing. There is more bleacher seating behind the left-field corner wall. The area has a small hill that provides views behind the centerfield wall but also borders a private residence. A ten-inning scoreboard and a small wooden bridge used to retrieve foul balls across the creek complete the ballpark’s aesthetics that hold a capacity of 900 persons. The game-day atmosphere offers music between innings, a PA announcer, and plenty of fans making noise for the boys on the field. There isn’t a lot of advertising or above-the-average promotions blasting from the speakers. Everything about the ballpark is relaxed and pleasant, especially from behind the grandstand near the babbling brook. Neighborhood 3 Huntington, Indiana, has a population of 17,000 plus and a downtown that is slowly rebuilding with a series of independent shops and restaurants. It is recommended to visit either, or a few, of them after you visit a Foresters ball game to complement your trip. Antiqology has a collection of memorabilia from the past century but is known for its homemade ice cream, milkshakes, cola, and root beer. There is also a 100-bottle craft soda available at their shop. Ice cream flavors include cinnamon churro and Jacked Up Tennessee Toffee, but milkshakes include Nutella, Rice Crispy Treat, and peanut butter brownie. A few feet away is The Party Shop, a candy store rich with decadent confectionaries. Nick’s Kitchen is a small diner that is known for inexpensive dinners and giant tenderloin sandwiches. Brick House Grill offers pub-style food and signature steaks. Pizza Junction is located in the old train depot and has some of the best pizzas in the area. There is quite a bit to see in town including the Dan Quayle Vice-Presidential Learning Center, Two-EE’s Winery (their Plonqé is a delicious sweet red wine), historic settlements at the Forks of the Wabash, and scenic walking trails at the Sunken Gardens. Timber Lake offers camping grounds and zip-lining. Fans 3 The fans at the game support both clubs as you can see the colors of both schools in the grandstand. This is not shocking since most of the colleges are within reasonable driving distance for weekend games. Fans are focused on the game and many are friends and family, but there are also quite a bit of local fans and students who make their presence felt throughout the nine innings of play. Access 3 The ballpark is located down a hill and will be hard to access for fans with limited mobility. Although not seen, a golf cart brings fans to the entrance of the stadium, but there is still a walk to the main grandstand. However, once inside the stadium, bathrooms and concession stands are directly behind the grandstand. There is only one entrance in and out of the stadium. Return on Investment 4 A ticket costs $7 for adults, $3 for children, and free for students. Many NAIA baseball teams do not charge admission, but this one is nice enough that you might not mind paying a small fee. Parking is free and each ticket comes with a complimentary game day program/yearbook. Extras 4 Forest Glen Park earns several points including its beautiful setting at the bottom of a tree-covered hill featuring a creek and walking trails. The ballpark earns a second point for the small bridge over the creek to retrieve foul balls. The third and fourth points are for the outfield bleacher seating, a rarity in college ball in the state, and the free seating on the hill overlooking the playing field. The final point is for the free gameday program that’s included with the price of admission.  Final Thoughts Huntington University’s Glen Park in Huntington, Indiana might be the best ballpark you've ever heard of in the state. I say this because no other ballpark is quite of the Huntington University baseball program. Trust me, I've been to almost all of them in the Hoosier State. However, this one stands out among the list of other great baseball stadiums.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Sun Life Financial Arena @ Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex 101 Father David Bauer Drive Waterloo, ON N2L 0B4 Waterloo Siskins website Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex website Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 3,400 Historic Siskins Editor's Note: On May 13, 2025, the Siskins franchise announced they were rebranding to their original name, the Waterloo Siskins. One of the longest running Junior hockey teams in Canada is the Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins.  Founded in 1934 as the Waterloo Tiger Cubs, the Siskins have spent time as the Orphans and Kents until rebranding as the Waterloo Siskins in 1947.  They have played at the Junior B level in Ontario for the duration of their history and currently reside in the Western Conference of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL).  When the Kitchener Dutchmen franchise was sold and moved to Ayr to become the Ayr Centennials  in 2020, the Siskins rebranded as the Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins or KW Siskins for short.  The Siskins have been tremendously successful accumulating twelve Sutherland Cup Championships as Junior B Champions in the Ontario Hockey Association. Home for the Siskins since 1993 has been the Sun Life Financial Arena @ Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.  A living memorial to residents of Waterloo Region who gave their lives in World War I and II, the Rec Complex is a community hub with a swimming pool with diving facilities, two running/walking tracks, meeting rooms and gymnasiums to go along with the arena.  The naming rights of the arena are held by Sun Life Financial, who have a large office in Kitchener-Waterloo, once the head office. Food & Beverage 3 Sun Life Financial Arena has one main concession stand open for Siskins games.  There is also a small cafe in the lobby with limited hours.  The main concession has a decent variety of food items including hot dogs, pizza, sandwiches, muffins, cookies, popcorn, nachos, ice cream and chocolate.  The fries are excellent and highly recommended.  Beverages include bottled soda, coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and Gatorade.  There is also a separate beer cart which sells a limited selection of macro brands. Atmosphere 3 The Waterloo Memorial Recreation has an attractive, modern exterior featuring light siding and brick with grey trim and plenty of glass at the entry.  Fans entering from the main entry at the east side will enter into a large lobby with easy access to the arena and swimming pool and gymnasiums.  At the west end of the lobby is the Waterloo Memorial Wall which displays military flags, paintings, lists of residents who served and perished and the poem “In Flanders Fields” written by John McRae who was from nearby Guelph.  There are plenty of facilities out there that have the term “Memorial” in their title, but few that put together the effort that is found here to make the facility a true memorial.  At the east side of the lobby is the entry to Sun Life Financial Arena.  Between the stairs to the arena and the box office is the provocative “Etched Into Memory” sculpture.  Before entering the arena, fans should either have tickets in hand or first visit the box office for purchase.  Upon entering the arena, fans will find themselves on the running track, at the top of the seating bowl.  The ice is north-south oriented and the north end is definitely a spot of interest.  On the north wall is the original sign from the old Waterloo Memorial Arena, which was the previous home of the Siskins before it was condemned and necessitated the building of the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.  A plaque narrates the history of the old arena.  Below the old sign is the Waterloo Hockey Wall of Fame.  Some significant members found on the wall include Jamie Allison, Don Beaupre, Ron Smith, Bill Goldsworthy and Father David Bauer.  Below the Wall of Fame plaques are screened team photos from the various Sutherland Cup Champion Siskins teams.  Above the ice surface hang the 12 Championship banners for the Siskins and the retired number 66 for Tyson Downs, a Siskin who died suddenly in 2023 of a heart condition. The seating bowl has eleven rows of grey, blue and navy arena seats.  With a capacity of 4,400, over 3,000 seated, and the Siskins attracting around 200 fans per game, there are plenty of opportunities to find the perfect seat for the best sightlines.  Upgrades to the arena were completed in 2024 and include a new LED scoreclock above centre ice, LED lighting throughout  the arena and a repaired PA system. The gameday production at a Siskins game is fairly simple with typical music and announcements found at most hockey games.  Promotions include a program draw, Chuck-a-puck and 50/50 draw. Neighbourhood 4 The Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex is located in the University neighbourhood of Waterloo, on Father David Bauer Drive.  It is close to Wilfrid Laurier University and across the road from Waterloo Park.  There are a few spots for pre or post game food and drink within walking distance including Sole and Proof Kitchen & Lounge.  A bit of a further walk is Uptown Waterloo which has a bunch of other options including Beertown, Piper’s Arms, Famoso and the Heuther.  Taking a short drive down King Street to Morty’s Pub or Ethel’s Lounge may be the best choices. There are a few other sporting options in Waterloo.  Sun Life Financial Arena is shared with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks  hockey team.  Laurier also fields football  and basketball  teams.  The Waterloo Warriors hockey, basketball and football teams are nearby also.  The area is best known for the iconic Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, which is home of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers .  The KW Titans, Kitchener Panthers  and Kitchener-Waterloo Lacrosse Club  also play at the Aud Complex.  Other tourist type options for KW include Oktoberfest, the Clay and Glass Museum, Waterloo Park and the Jazz Room.  For fans wishing to stay in the area, the Delta is close by. Fans 2 The Siskins average around 250 fans per game.  The 2024-25 season has the Siskins averaging 252 fans per game at the time of writing and 245 fans in the previous season.  This ranks the Siskins at 18 of the GOJHL’s 23 teams.  The area has a competitive sports landscape, but there is plenty of room to improve.  The attendance is even more noticeable as the Siskins play in the biggest building in the league.   Access 5 The Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex is located in the University neighbourhood of Waterloo on Father David Bauer Drive.  It is 3 km from highway 85 and some driving through town will be necessary to get to the arena, however, traffic should not be an issue when the Siskins are playing.  There is plenty of parking at the facility.  For fans wishing to take public transit, the Laurier-Waterloo LRT stop is about a 1 km walk from the Rec Complex.  There are also GRT buses that run south of the Rec Complex on Erb Street.  Fans should consult the Grand River Transit  website for fares, schedules and maps.  Getting around the arena is not difficult at all and there will be plenty of space to stretch out.  The washroom facilities are also more than adequate for the number of fans in attendance. Return on Investment 4 GOJHL hockey is definitely a bargain and the KW Siskins are no exception.  Tickets for the Siskins are General Admission and go for $10 for adults, $8 for students/seniors, and $6 for children.  Children three years old and under are free.  Parking at the Rec Complex is free and the concession prices are decent.  The level of hockey is solid and the Siskins put a good product on the ice.  The biggest detractor from a Siskins game is the huge gap in the capacity of the arena and number of fans in attendance. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex as a living memorial for residents who gave their lives in combat. An extra mark for the display of history from the old Waterloo Memorial Arena. An extra mark for the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex as a community hub. Final Thoughts The Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins are one of the most historic teams in the GOJHL and at the Junior B level.  They play in a solid facility in the Sun Life Financial Arena @ Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex that is modern yet full of history.  Taking in a Siskins game is a good way to get the hockey fix in! Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium 700 Pelham Road Jacksonville, AL 36265 Jacksonville State Gamecocks website Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium website Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 2,020 Fear the Beak Baseball has been played at Jacksonville State University since the program’s founding in 1948 as members of the NCAA’s Division II, playing out of the Gulf South Conference. During their stint in Division II, the Gamecocks would claim back-to-back National Championships in the 1990 and 1991 seasons. Jacksonville State would jump to Division I in the 1995-96 academic year, where they would play as members of the Atlantic Sun Conference. Their first stay in the A-Sun would be short-lived, as the Gamecocks moved to the Ohio Valley Conference in 2003, only to return to the A-Sun from 2021 to 2023. The Gamecocks would leave the A-Sun for good after just two years, joining Conference USA to start the 2023-24 athletic season, when their football program transitioned from FCS to FBS.  The Gamecocks would move from their original baseball field on the east side of campus, to their new baseball facility across campus, just in time for their move to Division I. The facility initially consisted of just three sections of bleachers and a press box tower, but a practically complete rebuild in 2019 transformed the field into a true baseball stadium.   Food & Beverage   4 A lone concession stand is located on the concourse, directly behind home plate. The menu gives fans a wide number of options, from the classic ballpark hot dog (with the option to add chili) to cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, BBQ sandwiches, and stadium nachos round out the entrées. Combo meals of an entrée, fries, and a drink are offered, but cost the same amount as it would if all three were to be purchased separately; there is no discounted rate for purchasing a combo meal. Sides and snacks include fries, chips, and candy, along with the stadium favorites peanuts and popcorn. Frozen sweet treats include frozen lemonade, but it is the Kona Ice truck that draws much of the attention. Beverages include Coca-Cola products, Powerade, sweet tea, and Dasani bottled water. In addition, a full-service bar on the third base side of the concourse serves hand-mixed cocktails, several domestic beers, hard seltzer, and a selection of craft beers from Back Forty Beer Co.   Atmosphere   4 At first glance, the exterior of Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium does not appear to be overly inviting. Situated on the corner of passing streets, what would seem to be the front entrance does not appear to be an accessible entry point. The large brick exterior with windows running along the top also seems a bit drab – if the exterior was more functional and part of a grand entry into the stadium, it would certainly add a lot to the initial impression. What the grandstand's exterior seems to lack is made up for by the interior – the interior of the stadium is a nice mix of classic stadium design, with a touch of modern luxurious accommodations. A shingled roof runs along the home plate edge of the visiting team’s dugout on the third base side of the stadium, around to the Gamecocks indoor hitting facility down the right field line. The press box is built directly into the roof behind home plate, giving the stadium a bit of a historic feel; a chain link fence backed with tall evergreens makes up the outfield wall. This setup allows fans to watch the game from behind the outfield fence, while those looking for a more traditional outfield seating option might head for Cocky’s Korner in right field. The stadium scoreboard just beyond right-center field consists of a standard, inning-by-inning scoreboard topped with an LED video board, which gives fans real-time statistical information, pitch count, and team lineups. The inclusion of pitch speed and exit velocities is a nice extra not found at many stadiums. As is the trend with many collegiate fields, the playing surface is comprised of field turf in a striped pattern, in addition to the university’s “JSU” emblem filling the area around center field. The sun sets just to the first base side of home plate, so day games can create a bit of an issue for fans seated on the third base side of the field, as they are contending with the sun for a good portion of the game – if available, purchase seats as far down the line toward home plate as possible to avoid having to contend with its rays. A good option might be trying to sit at one of the few high-top tables on the concourse, or standing at one of the drink rails under the covered portion of the concourse. The game presentation is rather straightforward, mostly with ad reads between innings and some occasional contests. There does seem to be some overuse of the in-game sound effects, which are not all that original, most notably the sound of breaking glass when foul balls are hit out of the stadium; these sound effects do seem to fade away in frequency as the game progresses, however.   Neighborhood   3 Backdropped by Choccolocco Mountain, Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium  sits on the westernmost reaches of Jacksonville State’s campus, neighbored by the JSU soccer facility and Pete Mathews Coliseum .   About a mile south of campus is Jacksonville’s town center; this has a handful of restaurants and the Apothecary Draft House, which fans can visit. The most convenient stop for a bite to eat before the game though would be Cooter Brown’s Rib Shack, less than a half mile west on SR-204 (Nesbit Road).   Jacksonville’s rural setting does provide fans making a multi-day visit to Jacksonville with miles of hiking trails to explore the northern reaches of the Talladega National Forest, which runs just east of Jacksonville.   Fans   4 Jacksonville State baseball has a rather supportive fan base – the Gamecocks are in a group of schools averaging 800 to 900 fans per game. On top of the support fans show, they show a knowledge of the finer points of the game, applauding good baseball plays that might be lost on the casual fan; a hit to the right side with a runner on second, or a strong throw from an outfielder to hold a tagging runner, are applauded just as much as a single.   Access   3 Jacksonville, Alabama is a bit off the beaten path. Fans coming from the west through Birmingham or from Atlanta to the east most likely will use I-20. This will leave just under a thirty-minute drive through Oxford and Anniston, Alabama. State Road 21 leads from I-20 right to the JSU campus, while the northern and southern approaches come mostly via state roads and highways. In a break from typical stadium designs, fans enter through the left field side and are led to the sloping concourse of seating that runs from the visitor dugout to the Gamecocks dugout. This open concourse gives fans the ability to leave their seats to run to the restroom or concession stand while keeping an eye on the game the entire way there. Suites, a lounge area, and a party deck make up additional seating down the first baseline toward the Gamecocks indoor hitting facility, so there isn’t much fans can access past the Gamecocks dugout.   Return on Investment   5 Pre-purchased ticket prices run $6 for general admission seating on the grassy berm to $8 for reserved seating; a $1 fee is added to online purchases. While ticket fees can put a damper on well-priced tickets, a dollar is a welcome relief compared to what other venues charge. Ticket prices when buying at the gate run a bit higher, with general admission going for $8 and reserved seats for $10. Even the game day rates are more than reasonable, however, especially considering the free parking. Concession prices are as would be expected, but the combo meals not offering any discount is a bit of a letdown.   Extras   3 Banners showing the namesakes of the stadium, Rudy Abbott (18) and Jim Case (26), hang from the left-center field fence. A display within the concourse also tells the story of Rudy Abbott’s 31-year tenure as Gamecocks head coach – Abbott and Case led Jacksonville State baseball for a combined 53 years, and only one win shy of 1,650. Another display recognizes Jacksonville State’s all-Americans and players who have gone on to play professional baseball. The most notable Gamecock to grace the field in Jacksonville quite possibly has been Todd Jones; Jones would have a 16-year MLB career where he would tally over 300 saves, and is still the Detroit Tigers all-time saves leader with 235. Sunday afternoon games are followed by “Kids Run the Bases”, along with the opportunity to get autographs from their favorite Gamecock players.   Final Thoughts Regardless of the home field they were playing on, Jacksonville State baseball has long established itself as a highly competitive, championship-level college baseball program. It wasn’t until recently, however, that the university was able to invest in upgrading the facilities to give the players and fans the baseball stadium they deserve.

Photos by Richard Smith and Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Prince George’s Stadium 4101 Crain Highway Bowie, MD 20716 Chesapeake Baysox website Prince George’s Stadium website Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 10,000 Bowie Baseball Double-A baseball is where the future stars play. Really. Often, Triple-A baseball rosters are filled with minor league veterans who will seldom see the major league team. But the double-A affiliate of the major league team can be the jumping-off point for the stars of tomorrow. Since 1993, the Bowie Baysox have been in operation, with all years being part of the Baltimore Orioles organization. The first year, they played in Baltimore’s legendary Memorial Stadium while their stadium was being built. In 1994, they moved into their Bowie home after some construction delays. This meant they played at a few temporary spots along the way, including at the University of Maryland and the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Before Bowie, the double-A affiliate of the Orioles was the Hagerstown Suns, now a single-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. In 2025, the Bowie Baysox rebranded to the Chesapeake Baysox. The team also broke ground on its biggest refurbishment since it opened. New clubhouses, indoor batting cages, and an indoor sports facility will be for player development, while a new scoreboard will be for the fans. Food & Beverage 3 Prince George's Stadium has some good food offerings. On weeknight games, they often close some of the stands, making the remaining open ones very crowded. The basic stands have many options for all price ranges. The cheeseburger basket is a value, but the helmet-filled cheese fries are even a greater value Some of the other offerings are pizza by the slice, fish and chips, gyro basket, pretzel, corn dog basket, loaded hot dogs, and a stuffed pretzel. A kids-only meal is available at a stand-alone stand for a reasonable price. This includes a hot dog, drink, chips, and a toy. Local legend and motorsport competitor Travis Pastrana has a stand called Pastrana’s Pit Stop that features multiple pit beef sandwiches, including a classic pit beef sandwich, a beef and cheese pit beef sandwich, and a Chesapeake pit beef sandwich with crab. Atmosphere 4 Prince George's Stadium prides itself on offering a family atmosphere and a place where the entire family can enjoy baseball. The true fan can enjoy the quality play, while the kids can enjoy the carousel, bounce houses, and face painting offered. In-game promotions are also offered to keep the atmosphere fresh and fun. The team tries to keep it happening in between innings, not to distract from the game. There are orange bleachers for general admission sections and green seats for assigned seating. The cheap seats get great views, as well as the fans paying for the more expensive ones. Bowie came along just a couple of years after the local Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick set a high standard for local minor league baseball. It is like a larger Frederick and an older version of Ripken Stadium (Aberdeen Ironbirds). The scoreboard and videoboard are both showing their age and need more modern replacements. A well-stocked team store is located on the concourse, offering a variety of Bowie and Orioles merchandise. Neighborhood 3 There is nothing too exciting about the Bowie neighborhood near the stadium. The stadium sits off of a major highway (US Route 301) and is near many shopping centers and fast-food restaurants. A Home Depot and BJ’s Warehouse are even within walking distance of the stadium. Rip's Country Inn (3809 Crain Hwy, Bowie, MD) is a longtime family restaurant that is very close to the stadium. If you need solid quality, good food, this is a great option. Baltimore is 30 miles away, DC is 18 miles away, and Annapolis is 15 miles away, so you should not be limited by the uninspiring suburban choices right near the stadium. Fans 3 The fans are pretty traditional minor league fans for this area. Some are very knowledgeable about the game, while others are there as part of a family or a group and may be less interested in the actual game. This is a Baltimore Orioles fan base, so expect to hear the loud "Ohhhhhhh" chant during the appropriate place in the National Anthem. Locals feel that the song is to do with as they please while showing support to the home team. It is good-natured, so who could disagree? With the Nationals located close by, you should expect to see many of their fans as well, especially when their Eastern League affiliate, the Harrisburg Senators, is in town. Access 4 Access is the strong suit of Prince George's Stadium. Sitting at the intersection of US Route 301, US Route 50, and State Route 3, one should have no problem getting to the game. Traffic can be a bear at times, as this intersection is right between the triangle of Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington, DC. Plan a little leeway in timing for early evening games. There is plenty of free parking in the regular lot, as well as the one located on Governors Bridge Road. Return on Investment 4 There are cheaper minor league games to attend. Bowie reflects the busy metropolitan area and has some tickets that are nearly as expensive as the ones down the road at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The best values are the general admission tickets that start at $11, depending on the game. These seats are close to the action, and give you flexibility to move around and/or get more food. Be on the lookout for ticket promotions and other events that can make your game experience better. The team is active in the community, and there are many ways to attend the game. Extras 4 Free programs are available as you come in and are quite detailed. The Baysox is often one of the first places that the major league club sends rehabbing players since it is close to their home. That is a potential added benefit of attending a game in Bowie. Look for the lighthouse down the right field line, reflecting Bowie’s location near the Chesapeake Bay. There is also a kids’ play area down the right field line near the lighthouse, which includes a carousel among other activities. The large sign on US Route 301 serves to not only notify fans of where the stadium is located but also as a place to learn about stadium activities. Final Thoughts Prince George's Stadium is showing some age in its 30-year frame, but it is still a quality minor league stadium that is presenting a nice level of baseball talent. Hopefully, the planned updates will make quite a difference.

Lilly Barnett, a Texas native, is one of the hardest and most passionate workers in the UMASS athletic department. Not only does Lilly serve as the school's band's manager, but she also twirls batons in the band, both of which are challenging in different ways. Lilly took a few moments to discuss the band and twirling.  STADIUM JOURNEY: So, first things first, what was it like to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City this past year? As I recall, it was a very wet one. Describe the experience. LILLY BARNETT: My experience in the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was different than most. Yes, I am one of the baton twirlers for the University of Massachusetts' Minuteman Marching Band, but I was also the travel manager for the UMMB. As a member of the executive staff helping our travel company coordinate food, housing, and transportation for nearly 450 people, it was such an overwhelmingly rewarding experience. When we got to the parade, I didn't even care that it was raining. I was honestly glad it was. If it hadn't rained, those precious hours spent counting hundreds of ponchos with our personnel manager until 2 am would have been for nothing.  As I walked through the rain-soaked streets of New York, all the worries disappeared. The group was running late that morning; someone lost a piece of their uniform, but it didn’t matter because all my stress was gone. I was just doing what I've always loved: twirling batons. The harsh rain and cool wind, the energy of the crowds, the sound of our band, it felt like everything I'd worked for had led to that perfect moment. This role has taught me valuable organizational skills that have helped me secure jobs and internships, but marching through those streets with some of my best friends by my side, rain and all, was by far the most treasured part of the trip and a memory I will never forget. STADIUM JOURNEY: Let's start from the beginning. How did you get into twirling? What's so special about it? Was it something that hooked you immediately? LILLY BARNETT: I began twirling around age 5 or 6 at a local dance studio in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. My passion started small, but when my sister, Maggie Barnett, wanted lessons, I naturally followed. I took private lessons with Karen Hightshoe, and watching her student Mariah Reed practice made me want to be just like her. Their encouragement to try new things is why I stuck with twirling, they instilled confidence in me at such a young age.  I wasn't hooked immediately though. I actually preferred dancing and only twirled because my sister did. I even quit for about a year, thinking it was too hard. But attending competitions with my mom and sister made me realize how much I missed it. Returning taught me valuable lessons: success takes time and hard work, and it's okay to take breaks and come back stronger. As I grew older, I came to appreciate the sport as a form of stress release. In middle school, if someone didn't want to sit with me at lunch, I knew I could go twirl after school and feel better. Even now in college, when I'm overwhelmed with life, jobs, or friendships, I can twirl for a few hours and my problems fade away, at least for a little while. That's what makes it special to me, it's both an artistic outlet and a mental sanctuary. STADIUM JOURNEY: How difficult was it to pick up? LILLY BARNETT: When I started, I had a very hard time. I wasn't born with any natural flexibility or hand-eye coordination whatsoever. Adding to the challenge, I have vertical heterophoria, an eye disorder where one eye's vision is slightly higher than the other. My eyes try to overcorrect and merge two imbalanced images into one, which means when looking at a baton, it isn't always truly where I think it is. Sometimes when I look up, I see two batons instead of one. You can imagine how challenging this becomes when I'm twirling two, three, and even four batons at once.  Ironically, twirling multiple batons eventually became one of my favorite aspects, and where I'm most advanced technically. It was incredibly difficult at first, which is partly why I quit when I was younger. I didn't understand that my eye disorder was making it harder than it might be for others. Success ultimately came through countless hours of practice and developing patience with myself. I had to learn different techniques to compensate for my visual perception challenges, which ultimately made me a more adaptable performer. STADIUM JOURNEY: You're a Texas native. Is Texas a twirling hotbed? Where are the hotbeds? What's the twirling scene like in New England? LILLY BARNETT: Yes, I am from Fort Worth, Texas, and when they say everything is bigger in Texas, they mean it, especially in the twirling world. The differences between competitions in Texas versus New England are striking; there just aren't as many people to compete against up here. For perspective, New England could fit into Texas around 21 times with about half the population.  The south in general I think is a hotbed for twirling. I think it's because The south is a breeding ground for football and marching bands, and with that naturally comes baton twirlers. When I talk to people in New England, many share that their high school didn't even have a football team, let alone marching bands or music programs. The sport is very niche in the northeast, making it harder for younger generations to discover it. That's why I love when the UMass Minuteman Marching Band performs at MICCA Finals in Lawrence, MA.. We interact with so many students and families who've never seen twirling before. You never know, someone in that audience could become inspired and eventually become a UMass Twirler one day. Building that visibility is how we grow the sport in regions where it's less common. STADIUM JOURNEY: At what point, do you start attending twirling camps and competitions? How competitive is the twirling community? LILLY BARNETT:  I started competing almost as soon as I began twirling, but middle school marked a significant turning point when I attended my first camp hosted by Janice Jackson Semmands. After connecting with her, she began giving us private lessons. My mom would drive us six hours to Arkansas specifically to train with her. Janice just connected with us and our style immediately, she knew exactly what to say to help us improve and constantly encouraged us to push our boundaries.  Janice had such an incredible eye and created the best routines. At competitions, judges would recognize her influence, often saying, "I know a Janice routine when I see one." My scoresheets frequently noted the complexity and entertainment value of my routines. Her knowledge and empowerment made her one of the strongest female role models in my life. I grew up competing within NBTA (National Baton Twirling Association), one of the main twirling organizations. The community is definitely competitive, some regions more than others. As I grew older, I discovered in college that what I truly loved was performing at school events rather than competing. That said, the competitive circuit created some of my most enduring friendships. There's something special about bonding with people who understand the unique challenges of the sport. It's been amazing to keep up with all of my twirling friends as I entered college, and it’s awesome to see where they've ended up, whether continuing in the sport as coaches or judges, or applying that discipline to completely different careers. STADIUM JOURNEY: Do colleges recruit for twirling? Discuss your journey to UMASS. LILLY BARNETT: Unlike some other college activities, I don’t think there is a formal recruitment process for twirling. It works more through auditions. Every school handles it differently, but at UMass, you submit an audition video to be reviewed by the marching band's professional staff. Some universities require both a video and an in-person tryout or interview. Generally, it's up to the twirler to seek out opportunities. Growing up, I looked up to collegiate twirlers like Trenton Haltom and Shelby Elder. I dreamed of representing esteemed universities with reputable bands just as they did, but I always appreciated how they emphasized the importance of education coming first. That mindset shaped my college search. I'm a student first, and my education had to be highest on my list of priorities. During my sophomore year of high school, my sister's college search opened my eyes to opportunities beyond Texas. She showed me I could go far from home, get a great education, and still pursue collegiate twirling. When evaluating schools, I prioritized strong journalism and political science programs plus a big school with a large, established marching band program. After meeting with advisors in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Kristi Ochs, the twirler coach at UMass, as well as visiting campus, I knew UMass was my school. I loved the northeast and was excited to explore another part of the country. My family supported me completely in my decision to move over 1,700 miles from home, and that's how I ended up at UMass, balancing my academic goals with the opportunity to continue twirling at a high level. STADIUM JOURNEY: How much time does the band take up? LILLY BARNETT: The marching band commitment is substantial, especially during fall semester. The twirlers rehearse with the band every weekday, Monday through Friday, from 4:40 PM to 6:10 PM, or as Dr. Timothy Anderson, our marching band director, calls it, "band time best time." That's 7.5 hours of structured rehearsal weekly, plus additional time for football games, parades, exhibitions, and special events the UMMB performs at. On game days, we're typically committed for 8-12 hours between preparation, warm-ups, pre-game, the actual game performance, and post-game. Outside of these scheduled rehearsals, I still do my best to practice baton independently for at least an hour every day to maintain and improve my skills. As I'm approaching graduation, I've reduced my competing to focus on job and internship opportunities, but I still prioritize practice time to keep my performance when representing UMass.  My experience is somewhat unique because I'm also on the UMMB Executive Staff as the Band Manager for 2025. This administrative role adds another 200-300 hours of work each semester handling logistics and behind-the-scenes operations. I coordinate various behind the scenes logistical concerns to ensure the band runs at the best of its abilities. So for me, band takes up significantly more time than it does for most twirlers, but the organizational experience is incredibly rewarding and has helped prepare me for my future, which is why I've chosen to be so deeply involved. STADIUM JOURNEY: Do you twirl at all the major UMASS sporting events? It must be very difficult to twirl on the ice, correct? LILLY BARNETT: I primarily twirl at football and basketball games when it comes to UMass sporting events. Football season is our main focus with the full Minuteman Marching Band, where we perform pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows. For basketball, we have a smaller pep band configuration, and the twirlers perform during timeouts and quarter breaks.  You definitely won't be seeing me twirling on ice anytime soon, that's for sure. We occasionally make appearances at other campus events like pep rallies and special university functions, but football and basketball remain where we primarily perform. STADIUM JOURNEY: What are some of your favorite stadiums to perform in? Why? LILLY BARNETT: One of my favorite stadiums was AT&T Stadium in Dallas, where I performed during my high school's football playoff games. The sheer scale of the venue was awe-inspiring, there's nothing quite like twirling in a professional NFL stadium as a high schooler. The Byron Nelson High School marching band was exceptional to be part of, but isn't any 6A high school marching band in Texas? Looking back, I owe so much to directors Jed Weeks, Brad Toth, and Michael Moore for supporting me and allowing me to twirl for their marching band. Without their belief in me, I wouldn't be the baton twirler I am today. That final performance at AT&T Stadium left me with overwhelming gratitude for being part of such a supportive program, and I'll never forget the feeling of walking off that field.  Another memorable venue was Rentschler Field, UConn football's home stadium, where my sister Maggie was the feature twirler for the UConn Marching Band. When the UMMB traveled there for the UConn-UMass game, we performed a combined halftime show with their band. Being able to twirl on the same field with my sister was truly the experience of a lifetime. We had both achieved our dream of becoming college twirlers, which for us represented the peak of our twirling careers. Unlike other sports, there isn't a professional baton twirling league waiting after graduation. When she finished at UConn, that essentially marked the end of her competitive twirling career, as it will for me when I graduate from UMass. So sharing that field at the pinnacle of our twirling journeys was incredibly meaningful. We went from timing each other's routines as kids to performing together at the collegiate level while pursuing the education we'd dreamed about. Our parents flew up to witness it all, which made the moment even more special. My all-time favorite stadium, though, has to be McGuirk Alumni Stadium at UMass. Nothing beats twirling at your home base with the UMass fans. The post-game performances are particularly special, with all the dedicated Marching Band supporters in the audience cheering us on. Some of my most cherished twirling memories have been created in this stadium—Band Day, Homecoming, Senior Day—you name it. There's something magical about performing in a place that feels like home, surrounded by a community that genuinely appreciates what we do.   STADIUM JOURNEY: So someone's hitting Amherst, what are some places to hit? LILLY BARNETT: If you're visiting Amherst, there are so many great spots to check out! As a huge Mexican food fan, I have a regular rotation: Garcia's, Mission Cantina, Bueno y Sano, and La Veracruzana.. These four definitely get me through each semester.  Beyond food, Amherst has a wonderful small-town charm with lots to explore. The Amherst Farmers' Markets when in season are a must-visit too.  The natural beauty around Amherst is truly spectacular. The various hiking trails are also a good way to get out and explore the nature around Amherst. If you're here during the academic year, catching a UMass sporting event or a performance at the Fine Arts Center adds to the authentic Pioneer Valley experience. Jon Hart is  @manversusball

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Conaty Park 1150 Douglas Pike Smithfield, RI 02917 Bryant Bulldogs baseball website Conaty Park website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 500 Bulldog Baseball   Bryant University is a private university located in the Providence suburb of Smithfield, RI. Founded in 1863 as Bryant College, the school was traditionally known for its business programs. The school now boasts an enrollment of over 3,700 students in 27 majors.   Conaty Park is named for Bill (class of 1967) and Sue Conaty, benefactors of the university’s baseball and softball programs. The part of campus where Conaty Park and many of Bryant’s athletic facilities are now located was the site of the New England Patriots’ training camp from 1976-2002.   Baseball has been played at Bryant since 1969, before the school was even located at its present location in Smithfield. For several decades the team played in Division Two, qualifying for five NCAA tournaments and reaching the College World Series in 2004.   Bryant elevated their entire athletic program to Division One in 2009. After initially competing in the Northeast Conference, the Bulldogs moved to the America East Conference in 2023. Since changing divisions, the baseball team has qualified for the NCAA Tournament four times (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2024) Three Bryant alumni, Keith MacWorther, James Karinchak and Mickey Gaspar have played in the Major Leagues.   Food and Beverage 0   There are no food or beverage options at Conaty Park. Fans are welcome to bring their own items to enjoy during the game. This being New England, you can expect to see lots of Dunkin’ coffees on those cold spring afternoons.   Atmosphere 2   As you might expect at a small ballpark like Conaty Park, there is not an elaborate gameday presentation here at a Bulldogs game. If you are a fan who enjoys being able to hear managers barking instructions to their players, the chatter going on down on the field and being able to talk to your neighbors in the stands, you’ll enjoy your time here.   There’s not much going on at Conaty Park to distract one’s attention from the game. Music plays on an excellent sound system, but it’s not turned up too loud. There’s a surprising abundance of country music played for this part of the country. A scoreboard in right field displays basic game information. The PA announcer does his job unobtrusively. Neighborhood 2     Bryant University is located in Smithfield, RI, about a twenty-minute drive from Providence. Although Smithfield is a very nice place to live, it’s certainly not a destination location. The area near campus has built up a bit over the years, and there are now a few solid dining and lodging choices in the immediate area for visiting fans who prefer to stay local.   Parente’s Restaurant, Blackies, and Laura’s Bar and Grill are popular dining spots near campus. Stadium Journey recommends J’s Deli for their impressive variety of grinders (that’s what we call sub sandwiches here in Rhode Island). Several national chain restaurants and shopping options are located about a 10-minute drive away on Route 44. Fans visiting from out of town may opt to take the 20-minute drive to Providence, which has no shortage of top-notch restaurants and lodging options.   Speaking of lodging options, the story here is similar if visiting Bryant. There is a Holiday Inn Express, a Hampton Inn and Suites and a SureStay Plus right near campus, but visitors may opt to stay in nearby Providence or even Boston, only an hour’s drive to the north. Twin Rivers Casino is in nearby Lincoln just a few minutes from Bryant. If spending time in a casino is on your agenda, the twin resorts of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun are located an hour away just over the Connecticut state line.   Fans 2   As you would expect at a college ballpark in New England, the size of the crowd at a Bulldogs game can vary greatly depending on the time of year, day of week, or opponent playing on any given day. A perusal of box scores on the Bryant baseball webpage shows attendance ranging from 100 fans in March/April to around 750 fans in May. Stadium Journey’s most recent visit occurred on a gray, overcast Saturday afternoon. While the announced attendance was 740, the eyeball test showed an actual crowd of 250-300 fans. While not an overwhelming number, this is a larger crowd than most teams in the area enjoy.   At Stadium Journey, we often refer to smaller crowds such as this as a “friends and family” type of crowd. Many of the fans in attendance have a personal connection with the players on the field, and as a result are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic in their support. With many of Bryant’s opponents located near Bryant, it’s not unusual to see many visiting fans taking in the action. There’s usually only a modest turnout from the student body. The Bulldogs will often invite local Little League teams to participate in pregame activities. Access 4     Bryant University is located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, 13 miles from downtown Providence. The campus is most easily accessed by car. Visitors to Bryant will simply take exit 15B off Interstate 295. The campus is just over a mile away from the interstate on Route 7. Fans using public transportation to arrive at Bryant will find a Rhode Island Public Transportation (RIPTA)  bus stop on the Bryant campus, offering service every 40 minutes to downtown Providence.   Conaty Park is located on the northern edge of the Bryant campus adjacent to many of the school’s other athletic facilities, including Bierne Stadium , Cowen Stadium and Conaty Softball Field. Parking is available in large lots a short walk from the ball field. Bryant was once primarily a commuter school, so there is a lot of room for parking here. With all the construction going on around the ballpark right now, fans have to walk through Bierne Stadium to get to Conaty Park.   Seating at Conaty Park is contained in an attractive brick grandstand that seats 500. Center sections consist of molded plastic seats, with metal bleachers in the outer sections. All seats are behind netting, but still have excellent views of the action. There is a terraced area down the right field line where fans can set up lawn chairs and take in the action. Some fans opt to hang out on the hill beyond the outfield fence in left field. Rest rooms are located in the Conaty Field House and in Bierne Stadium, both a short walk from the field. The grounds are very nicely maintained and easy to traverse.   Return on Investment 5   There is no charge to attend a Bulldog baseball game. Parking is also free in the large lots near Conaty Park. With no concessions at the ballpark, you won’t spend a single cent during your visit to Bryant. Extras 2     Bryant’s conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances are commemorated on the outfield walls at Conaty Park. The team’s Division One and Two titles are posted.   A second extra point is awarded for the expansion and modernization of the athletic facilities all around Conaty Park. Since our last visit to Bryant just a year and and a half ago, there were a pair of new facilities plus a major construction project going on at Bierne Stadium.   Final Thoughts   Bryant's athletic program is growing by leaps and bounds. While Conaty Park is one of the older facilities in the Bryant complex, it remains one of the nicer college baseball parks in the northeast.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Bart Kaufman Field 1873 N Fee Ln Bloomington, IN 47408 Indiana Hoosiers website Bart Kaufman Field website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 2,500 Indiana's Baseball Field is a Hit for Hoosiers Bart Kaufman Field is the home of the Indiana University baseball program; an impressive ballpark in the Big Ten and a vast improvement over the Hoosiers old home Sembower Field that was built in 1951. The $19.8 million facility was dedicated in 2013 and is a welcome addition to the sporting facilities on campus. The 2,500 seat venue features a limestone backstop, synthetic turf, lights, home and away locker rooms, and expanded media facilities. An open concourse wraps around to the back of the right field picnic area. In 2018, an LED scoreboard was installed in left field measuring 26.8 feet high and 48.7 feet wide. The stadium was named after former IU ballplayer Bart Kaufman who played from 1960-1962. He finished second in the Big Ten with a .452 batting average to future Detroit Tiger Bill Freehan who batted .585. Kaufman would pledge $2.5 million of his own money towards completion of the Hoosiers new ballpark. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand inside the stadium near the entrance on the first baseline featuring a menu that is very much the standard at most major collegiate ballparks in the Big Ten. The items are affordable and feature all your baseball f avorites. Fans can enjoy hot dogs, nachos, pretzels french fries, boneless wings, and burgers. A separate beer line is next to the condession stand that offers domestic and premium beer in cans. During our visit, there was an additional concession stand on the third base side due to the attendance figure. Atmosphere 3 Bart Kaufman is a good looking and impressive ballpark with crowds usually hovering near the 2,000 mark, which on a warm evening sets the tone for a perfect night. Its design mimics the limestone look that is also featured at the softball complex located next door behind the right field fence and blends in well with Assembly Hall and Memorial Stadium across the parking lot. The stadium offers red plastic seats behind the backstop and aluminum bleacher seating down each baseline. A picnic area is located behind the right field corner and beyond the stadium's wall is grass seating offering fans a free look at the game. The LED scoreboard creates a focal point for the stadium offering crystal clear pictures of players and stats and the opportunity for advertising, social interaction, and in-between inning gimmicks. The visiting bullpen features the script Indiana logo in a distress-style that provides another focal point inside the stadium. Behind the right field wall is a massive lawn area that also houses a picnic area and VIP section. The picnic area features Astroturf and on-field views behind the fence. It was originally part of the outfield before the fences were moved in, but the area feels a bit unutilized. The picnic area is for groups and features a separate bar and all-you-can-eat options. There was a bigger than normal crowd due to a few factors. The arch-rival Purdue Boilmakers were in town, it was Senior Week, graduation ceremonies were taken place later that day, and it was one of better days for baseball with 75 degree weather. Neighborhood 4 There are numerous choices for eating, drinking, and shopping nearby that are within a couple of miles. Mother Bear's is probably the number one place for pizza in town. The pies are baked in a deep dish allowing the cheese to caramelize around the edges. The place always seems to be packed and parking is limited near the restaurant. Lennie's is another fine choice, with a lot more parking, that features sandwiches, pizza, stromboli, and beer brewed by the Bloomington Brewing Company. Kirkwood Ave. is the heart of downtown Bloomington featuring shops, bars, and restaurants bordering the entrance of many of the picturesque grounds of the Indiana campus. A little north of town is Oliver Winery; the beautiful gardens, water fountains and picnic areas around the lake offer a romantic spot for couples or a great place to enjoy wine with friends. Another colorful and touristy area is Nashville, Indiana, located in nearby Brown County offering some of the best biking/hiking trails in the country and an eclectic downtown jam-packed with shops, restaurants, and Quaff On! Brewing Company. Fans 3 Hoosier fans are a dedicated bunch who support their sports teams with a great passion. That can be the case for the baseball team that has averaged crowds around the 2,000 mark since the stadium debuted in 2013. Access 4 Bart Kaufman Field is located in the same parking lot and complex of Assembly Hall and Memorial Stadium and is located off of SR 46 that intersects both I-69 and SR-37. The parking lot is vast providing more than enough spaces to park and once inside there is plenty of room to navigate. The only gripe might be the tall staircase that leads visitors to the main entrance. Return on Investment 3 The ticket prices for adults are $14 for reserve seating behind home plate and $10 for general admission. Ticket prices for youth (ages 3-18) are $7 for reserve seatings and $5 for general admission. Students, staff, and faculty with a valid ID are admitted for free. The prices of a hot dog is $5.99 and a cold domestic beer is $9.99. A merchandise cart offers shirts, caps, and jerseys. A cap costs either $30 or $40, while jerseys will cost $115. Parking is free for all games and the higher crowds would be for games against rival Purdue. Extras 4 One point for the LED scoreboard that provides a very nice touch and focal point at the ballpark. A second point for the script Indiana mural that is another focal point in the visitor’s bullpen down the right field line. The third point is for allowing fans to bring their dogs for Saturday games for free and a final point is for the grass lawn and picnic areas. Final Thoughts Bart Kaufman Field is an impressive addition to the campus of Indiana University. The limestone design, modern comforts, and spacious amenities create a beautiful canvas to enjoy baseball for the foreseeable future in Bloomington. ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel . Email at marc@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 SECU Arena Auburn Drive Towson, MD 21252 Towson Tigers website SECU Arena website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 5,200 Tiger's Den Towson University is the second-largest public university in the State of Maryland. Located just north of Baltimore, it is home to approximately 21,000 college students, of which 18,000 are undergraduates. Their football team played for the 2013 Football Championship Subdivision National Championship, falling short to North Dakota State and their basketball team has also had scattered success over the years, most notably in the early 1990s under coach Terry Truax. Towson is also known for their impressive gymnastics program. They have been the 1968 AIAW Division II National Champions, 1995 and 1998 USA Gymnastics NIT Champions, 3-time Calloway Invitational Champions, 15-time ECAC Champions, and 2007 USA Gymnastics National Champions. The Tigers play in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The volleyball team has been one of the dominant programs in the CAA recently. Towson has really stepped up recently in all sports with their athletic program. A major step forward was moving out of the depressing Towson Center and into the shiny new SECU Arena in 2013. I personally have many great memories of the Towson Center, as I worked there for a few years during college. It certainly had personality, but frankly, it was not a well-designed facility and was showing its age dramatically. During the last year of operation, one of the bleacher sections would not even fully expand. Towson Center is still technically around, as the new arena and the old building are merged together, with locker rooms inside the old building. Food & Beverage 1 The SECU Arena really has subpar food offerings. There is a single concession stand open for volleyball matches offering no real variety and sometimes with a large line. Prices are not great, with $6.25 for a hot dog and $5.25 for a Pepsi. Pretzels are $4.50, and popcorn is $4.50. Please eat before coming to SECU Arena. Atmosphere 3 The lowered seating bowl of SECU Arena makes the sound seem to pop here. It can be pretty loud. It may take time, but this place can be a loud arena. The stands surround the court. The upper seating areas of SECU Arena are not open for volleyball matches. Neighborhood 3 Besides Johnny Unitas Stadium and the old Towson Center Arena, there is nothing right by the arena. Even though you may have to drive to most places, Towson is a semi-urban environment with a very large shopping mall and numerous restaurants in the area. Try the Charles Village Pub in the heart of downtown Towson for good food and drinks. Some other great options are Glory Days Grill, Sushi Hana, and Zia’s. Baltimore is also a quick drive away. Check out the Federal Hill neighborhood, south of the Inner Harbor. There are a few fun restaurants and bars here. Abbey Burger Bistro is one great choice. The beer selection is good, and they offer a dizzying array of burger choices, which are all likely to satisfy. Fans 3 Volleyball matches tend to get a small crowd made up of mostly friends and family. The match we attended was part of a tournament and featured the Tigers playing a team from the Big Ten Conference so the crowd was much larger and louder than usual. It was also apparently the largest volleyball crowd attendance in school history. Stadium Journey does make history! Access 4 Towson is located right off the Baltimore Beltway/I-695. The only negative is that Towson is a maze of roads getting to the Osler and Auburn location of the sports complexes. Parking is free and plentiful, although the closest lots are reserved for those buying season passes for access to them. Return on Investment 4 Tickets start at $5 for special matches, but even the normal price makes for a good investment. Extras 2 Doc the Tiger is a good mascot, providing entertainment for all ages. Stop at the Tiger statue outside of the arena during pregame, as it is a great meeting spot. If you get a chance, you should stop into the old Towson Center to see how much better the new facility is than the one they left. Final Thoughts SECU Arena is a very nicely designed arena for a mid-major volleyball program. If the crowd were to come to support the team a bit more the building could be an intimidating place for opponents to play.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 SECU Arena Auburn Drive Towson, MD 21252 Baltimore Blast website SECU Arena website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 4,000 Having A Blast In Towson Editors Note: In May, 2025, Towson University and SECU renew the arena naming rights partnership with a new, seven-year agreement. Most cities idolize their biggest sports stars. Baltimore has been fortunate that their biggest sports stars are also some of the biggest stars in their respective sports. The old Baltimore Colts had arguably the best quarterback in the history of the NFL in Johnny Unitas. The Baltimore Orioles have been blessed by being associated with Frank and Brooks Robinson. And they could shockingly almost pale in comparison to the iron man of baseball, local legend Cal Ripken Jr. The Baltimore Ravens counter by being the longtime home to a defense captained by middle linebacker and hall of famer Ray Lewis. The Baltimore Blast is not as well known nationally as those other Baltimore teams. Indoor soccer is much more of a niche sport. But they still have their own sports legend in Stan Stamenkovic. Stan, whose real first name was Srboljub, was known in indoor soccer circles as “The Magician.” The Serbian star played for the Baltimore Blast from 1983 until 1988, at a time when indoor soccer players made big money and were true star athletes. You will still find people around the Baltimore area who talk about Stan’s amazing ability. Besides his talent and creativity (check out this clip from the 1983 MISL all-star game below) Stamenkovic resonated with fans because he was the true “everyman.” His love of pizza, beer, and cigarettes often showed in his non-athletic-looking body, but it was the fact that he put on a show every night that he gained the fan's love. Unfortunately, Stan died at the very young 39 in 1996 from a fall in his home country. His Number 10 is retired by the Blast and a banner flies in TU Arena. The Baltimore Blast was a mainstay of the original Major Indoor Soccer League during the 1980s up until that league’s demise in 1992. Immediately a new team began in Baltimore, under the auspices of a new league, known as the Baltimore Spirit, which eventually changed its name to the Blast in 1998. Most people consider the two separate operations as one team. Leagues come and go but the Baltimore Blast stays. Currently, they play in the brand new Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). Food & Beverage 2 The TU Arena really has subpar food offerings. There are a few concession stands offering a limited, basic variety. The concourse is open and has plenty of space for additional offerings if they so wished. Some non-food vendors were there at the game I attended, giving out pens and other tchotchkes. Prices are okay, but not great, with $4 for a hot dog and $3 for a Pepsi. Pretzels are $4.25, nachos $4.25, and popcorn $3.25. Gatorade is $3.50. Alcohol is sold for Blast games. Atmosphere 5 The lowered seating bowl of TU Arena makes the sound seem to pop here. It can be pretty loud. This place can be a loud arena. The stands surround the field with an upper concourse along three of the four sides. Part of the basketball stands is pulled in to make way for the soccer field. The field is much smaller than at the Blast’s former home at the Royal Farms Arena. The Blast are still doing many of the same types of activities, as well as things such as player introductions, in the same general manner as they did 20 to 30 years ago. And that is not a bad thing. The crowd is fired up and ready for the explosive action of indoor soccer to begin. Change is not always good. The Blast really does it all right. The Blast seems to work well with local recreation soccer systems, as many of the fans come in groups, all the while supporting their own team, as well as the Blast. Neighborhood 3 Besides Johnny Unitas Stadium and the old Towson Center Arena, there is nothing right by the arena. You can walk to Bill Bateman’s Bistro at the corner of York and Cross Campus Boulevard. Even though you may have to drive to other places, Towson is a semi-urban environment with a very large shopping mall and numerous restaurants in the area. Try the Charles Village Pub in the heart of downtown Towson for good food and drinks. Some other great options are Glory Days Grill, Sushi Hana, and Zia’s. Baltimore is also a quick drive away. Check out the Federal Hill neighborhood, south of the Inner Harbor. There are a few fun restaurants and bars here. Abbey Burger Bistro is one great choice. The beer selection is good, and they offer a dizzying array of burger choices, which are all likely to satisfy. Fans 4 Blast fans are truly knowledgeable about the game of indoor soccer. This sport takes the beauty and skill of soccer and marries it with the aggressiveness of hockey and basketball in an extremely fast-paced manner. The ricochets and quick bounces off of walls make me never want to be a goalie. The Blast’s current league, the MASL, is made up of many teams from New York State and Pennsylvania all the way to Mexico. Expect to see mainly teams from the Eastern Division because travel in such a spread-out league can be expensive. The Blast also brings many local rec teams in for each game so expect to see the stands filled with young ones in soccer gear. Access 4 Towson is located right off the Baltimore Beltway/I-695. The only negative is that Towson is a maze of roads getting to the Osler and Auburn locations of the sports complexes. Parking is free and plentiful, although the closest lots may be reserved. Follow the signs along Osler Drive to the proper parking spot. Return on Investment 3 General ticket prices begin at around $20. The most expensive tickets are nearly $50. Be on the lookout for bargains through sites such as Groupon where you may get in for cheaper. Groups are also a big deal for the community-focused Blast so you may want to see if a group you are associated with has any plans on attending. It may be a good idea to tag along with one of those groups. Extras 4 The Blast work with local soccer clubs, church groups, and other organizations to keep the community involved. The array of summer soccer camps throughout the city and region is quite extraordinary. It makes the players part of the community and engages the fans. This engagement is paid back on game days by getting players on the field for pregame introductions and halftime events. The old-style entertainment of the Blast games is refreshing. The unique seating system and the small field of play are a feature in themselves. Check out the many banners for Blast teams of the past, as well as many retired and honored players. Final Thoughts TU Arena is a very nicely designed arena but it is strange to see the shortened indoor soccer field placed inside it. The Blast still does a nice job of making the atmosphere theirs and you WILL have a good time here.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 SECU Arena Auburn Drive Towson, MD 21252 Towson Tigers website SECU Arena website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 5,200 Tiger’s Den Towson has really stepped up recently in all sports with their athletic program. A major step forward was moving out of the depressing Towson Center and into the shiny new TU Arena in 2013. I personally have many great memories of the Towson Center, as I worked there for a few years during college. It certainly had personality, but frankly, it was not a well-designed facility and was showing its age dramatically. During the last year of operation, one of the bleacher sections would not even fully expand. Towson Center is still technically around, as the new arena and the old building are merged together, with locker rooms inside the old building. There is still much speculation about what the university will do with the old arena section of the Towson Center. It seems to be used mainly as a practice gym currently. Towson University is the second-largest public university in the State of Maryland. Located just north of Baltimore, it is home to approximately 21,000 college students, of which 18,000 are undergraduates. The Tigers play in many sports as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) but for gymnastics, they participate in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL). The team has been one of the most successful teams at Towson. They have been the 1968 AIAW Division II National Champions, 1995 and 1998 USA Gymnastics NIT Champions, 3-time Calloway Invitational Champions, 15-time ECAC Champions, and 2007 USA Gymnastics National Champions Food & Beverage 2 The TU Arena really has subpar food offerings. There is a single concession stand open for volleyball matches offering no real variety and sometimes with a large line. Prices are not great, with $6.25 for a hot dog and $5.25 for a Pepsi. Pretzels are $4.50, and popcorn is $4.50. Please eat before coming to TU Arena. Atmosphere 3 Much of the lower bowl at TU Arena is retracted to make way for the large floor needs of gymnastics. It does reduce the size of the arena to an lowered capacity. The arena is a good one for gymnastics and the history of the program practically assures a good fanbase. There will often be a few things going on at the same time but it is still fairly easy to keep track of the action. Much of that will depend on if it is a multi-team event. Neighborhood 3 Besides Johnny Unitas Stadium and the old Towson Center Arena, there is nothing right by the arena. Even though you may have to drive to most places, Towson is a semi-urban environment with a very large shopping mall and numerous restaurants in the area. Try the Charles Village Pub in the heart of downtown Towson for good food and drinks. Some other great options are Glory Days Grill, Sushi Hana, and Underground Pizza. Baltimore is also a quick drive away. Check out the Federal Hill neighborhood, south of the Inner Harbor. There are a few fun restaurants and bars here. Abbey Burger Bistro is one great choice. The beer selection is good, and they offer a dizzying array of burger choices, which are all likely to satisfy. Fans 3 The team has been successful for many decades and the fans know this and support the program enthusiastically. Access 4 Towson is located right off the Baltimore Beltway/I-695. The only negative is that Towson is a maze of roads getting to the Osler and Auburn location of the sports complexes. Parking is free and plentiful, although if classes are in attendance they could get harder to find. Return on Investment 4 Tickets start at $8 so the return on investment is good. . Extras 3 Doc the Tiger is a good mascot, providing entertainment for all ages. Stop at the Tiger statue outside of the arena during pregame, as it is a great meeting spot. If you get a chance, you should stop into the old Towson Center to see how much better the new facility is than the one they left. Final Thoughts TU Arena is a very nicely designed arena for a well-performing gymnastics program.