Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 J. Ollie Edmunds Center 202 E Pennsylvania Ave DeLand, FL 32724 Stetson Hatters website J. Ollie Edmunds Center website Year Opened: 1974 Capacity: 5,000 Basketball Potential in DeLand The basketball program at Stetson University has seen a surge in success lately, making a Cinderella run in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Putting themselves on the map has helped fan interest, but the game day experience on campus is both impressive and odd. Nonetheless, a game at Edmunds Center is a great option for college basketball fans in Central Florida who don’t want to break the bank.   Food & Beverage   3 There is only one concession stand at Edmunds Center. Located right inside the main entrance, it features a simple menu with great pricing. Hot dogs ($6), nachos ($4), pretzels ($4), popcorn ($3), and smaller snacks are available ($1-$5). Drinks are limited to sodas ($5) and water ($4). This means grabbing a bit to eat at the game won’t break the bank, but the lack of options is a distinct downside.   Atmosphere   3 The exterior of Edmunds Center is so generic and devoid of interest that one would be excused from driving right past it without realizing they had done so; simple type face lettering on the exterior of the gymnasium is all that indicates you have arrived at a D1 sports facility. Once inside, the main lobby is home to numerous trophy cases for Stetson athletics, as well as memorial busts of historic figures from the school’s past. The inside of the arena is impressive in its layout for a collegiate gymnasium. No baseline seating exists, but both sidelines have plenty of seating. The bench side seating section is general admission with bench-style seats, while the opposite side features individual backed seats with multiple levels. However, on most game days the majority of that side of the arena is incredibly dark, as the lighting is turned off – this creates an almost dark void for anyone sitting on the opposite side looking this way. The addition of a video replay board is a welcome touch, as is the lighting during player intros. But ultimately, this arena is still a gymnasium in disguise.   Neighborhood   4 Edmunds Center is located on the campus of Stetson University. The arena is located just a short distance from the heart of downtown DeLand, Florida. DeLand is known for being one of the quintessential small towns in Central Florida, featuring the quietness one would expect from such an atmosphere. In addition, the town is just a short drive up I-4 from Daytona Beach, only an hour from Orlando, and is surrounded by several state parks and great nature areas. For those wanting to travel and see the sights, Blue Springs State Park is home to thousands of manatees in the winter months. In addition, the NASCAR Racing Experience is not far away, located just north on I-4 in Daytona Beach. For hotels, Comfort Inn DeLand and Hampton Inn & Suites DeLand are the closest spots.   Fans   3 The fans in DeLand are loyal to their hometown collegiate teams – after their miracle run in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, interest in the basketball program spiked. However, after a disappointing season last year, attendance is back down to dismal levels for some games. While weekend and theme night games can bring large crowds of locals, regular weekday matchups are quiet and sparsely attended. In addition, most of the fans at these games are either students who come and go throughout the game, or older locals who cannot match the enthusiasm of their younger compatriots, making for a quieter home court.   Access   3 Getting to Edmunds Center involves driving on some small-town roads through DeLand – you have to take either exit 116 or 118 from I-4 to get to DeLand. Once there, the arena is off Woodland Ave. Parking is plentiful on site and across the street, making finding a spot easy. Most lots are free on game nights, even for on-site parking. Getting around the facility is also easy, thanks to plenty of signage around to help you figure out where your seats are.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets to Stetson basketball games are rather affordable; general admission is just $10, while a reserved chair back seat is just $12. Reserved grey seats are $15, while reserved padded seats range from $20 to $25. Premium riser seating is $30, with a courtside seat just $40. Coupled with cheap concessions and free parking, you have the holy grail of affordability for college basketball in Central Florida. The downside here is the lack of a hardcore home court advantage on a nightly basis.   Extras   3 Stetson’s band is present at home games, adding to the college atmosphere. Additionally, the Stetson mascot roams the seats during the game, entertaining fans and posing for photos throughout the night. In addition, you can see the team’s banners hanging in the rafters, showcasing previous successes for the Hatters basketball team.   Final Thoughts Though on and off when it comes to popularity in recent years, Stetson is an incredibly affordable option for basketball fans in Central Florida. Free parking and cheap tickets makes this a great option to take the whole family to watch some college sports.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Red and Charline McCombs Field 2001 Comal St Austin, TX 78705 Texas Longhorns softball website Red and Charline McCombs Field website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 1,254 Texas Softball Greatness The softball field at the University of Texas at Austin, despite being one of the oldest in the SEC, is a beautiful facility which features a team with some very passionate college sports fans. Taking in college softball can sometimes feature some run-down or featureless stadiums, but Red & Charline McCombs Field is quite the exception. With loyal fans and a sports facility that impresses from the start, this is a great facility in the Texas athletics catalog. Food & Beverage   3 For being a small college stadium, the food options are quite varied at Red & Charline McCombs Field. Regular nachos ($5) or a regular hot dog ($4) are popular picks, while sausage wraps ($5), popcorn ($3), jumbo pretzels ($5), peanuts ($4), and even pickles ($3) also populate this incredibly affordable concessions menu. Drinks include soda ($3-$5), water ($3-$5), beer ($5-$6.50), and even wine ($12). While there is only one main concession stand, some games also include various local vendors as well, selling anything from empanadas to ice cream. Atmosphere   4 Red & Charline McCombs Field is beautiful, matching stone accents with modern construction and featuring comfortable seating throughout the bowl. Seating options are varied, with two outfield grandstands for general admission tickets populating the outfield wall. Left field also features a standing-room only viewing platform for fans to watch from. There are fan giveaways, and the fans are always engaged in the action on the field – the hot sun of Texas can be a bit overwhelming, however, on those cloudless afternoons, as there is no roof or shade of any kind in the seating areas. Neighborhood   5 Red & Charline McCombs Field is in the heart of downtown Austin – the city center is visible from the softball field’s grandstand, so you are right there in the middle of one of the most vibrant and quickly growing cities in the nation. The airport is a bit of a drive, however, depending on traffic. For great food, you can’t skip The Salt Lick or Torchy’s Tacos. Austin is also home to the University of Texas’ main campus, as well as Zilker Park on Lady Bird Lake. Finally, for a hotel, look for Hilton Austin Airport or Holiday Inn Austin Airport as two options that are great, due to their proximity to the airport and to major highways that lead to downtown. For sports fans, the stadium’s location right near the other athletic facilities on campus is great for watching multiple games in a day, with the Texas Tennis Center located right across the street. Fans   4 The fans at Red & Charline McCombs Field are loyal, as fans are with all Texas Longhorns athletics events. While the grandstands may not be packed during afternoon games, evening matchups feature a greater fan turnout, as you would expect at a non-major sport at any given college. Even multi-team tournaments feature a healthy crowd of fans watching the other teams play before or after the Texas games have been played. Access   5 Red & Charline McCombs Field enjoys the luxury of being quite literally one block from the nearest interstate highway – located off exit 235 on I-35, the facility is refreshingly easy to access. Parking is located on site in the East Campus Garage, as well as in nearby lots through the Texas parking website. Various street parking is also available nearby, but that fills up rather fast. Return on Investment   4 Tickets to Texas softball game start at just $6 for general admission outfield seating; reserved grandstand upper level seats are $8, while lower row seating next to the field costs just $10 each. This is an incredibly affordable option for sports fans in the Austin area looking to take in some stellar college sports. Extras   5 Red & Charline McCombs Field features game day giveaways throughout the year for fans in attendance. The facility also features a large campus map outside the stadium to help give you a lay of the land around you. There is also a team store located inside the main concourse, which makes picking up your fan gear an easy accomplishment for both new and long-time fans alike. The stadium concourse also features notable players in Texas history, including National Team players, All-conference and All-American players, and various teams and highlights from the program’s history. Fans can also get an up-close view of the bullpen in right field, thanks to the ramp to the upper level being located right next to it. Final Thoughts Texas is known for everything being bigger, and it is clear that UT softball is no exception. Yes, Red & Charline McCombs Field is quite grand when compared to the likes of your average mid-major D1 program softball field, but it doesn’t feel forced or overly large – on the contrary, the venue feels quite comfortably designed for fans to enjoy a nice day of softball. With a great food selection as well as affordable tickets and easy access, it is easy to see why locals flock to Red & Charline McCombs Field on weekend evenings.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 John Wooden Gymnasium 1360 E Gray St. Martinsville, IN 46151 Martinsville High School Artesians website John Wooden Gymnasium website Year Opened: 1977 Capacity: 5,200 A Name Befitting a Basketball Legend The John Wooden Gymnasium is home to the Martinsville High School Artesians basketball team and home to both sectionals and regionals in Indiana. The gym replaced the Glen Curtis Gymnasium, home to the Artisans since 1924, in 1977. It is also where the school’s most famous alumnus, John Wooden, was an All-State player, leading the club to the 1927 state championship. The gymnasium that reads his name holds 5,200 spectators, the same amount as the older facility. The town of Martinsville has a population of 12,000 and is located between Indianapolis (32 miles) and Bloomington (22 miles) on SR-37. The small town has been a fervent basketball supporter since the program began at the start of the last century. The Arties captured two more state titles in 1924 and 1933 and feature five players who would later be enshrined in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Basketball was such a phenomenon in Martinsville, that when the Curtis Gym opened in 1924, it seated more people (5,200) than the population of the entire county (4,800). It was also the largest high school basketball facility in the world (until the Muncie Fieldhouse opened in 1928) and larger than the arenas at both Purdue and Indiana University. Its size helped usher in the era of larger fieldhouses for the game of basketball in Indiana. Food & Beverage 3 The menu options have changed since our last visit, no longer are there Spam and cheese sandwiches, grilled bologna, or rib-eye steak sandwiches, but more normal options of hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and candy. The gym still offers coney and cheese dogs, brats, cheeseburgers, and sloppy joes at the game. Coca-Cola products are the soft drinks of choice and all proceeds go to the MHS sports program. Sadly, many of the unique food items were attributed to the late Greg Fitzpatrick, who was the concession manager. He was known as "Chef Greg" and vowed to make everything homemade and keep hot dogs under $3. He would be happy to see the price at $2.50 and a brat at $3. Another school district favorite is a bowl of chili and a cinnamon roll that was served in the hospitality room. The local favorite has been a staple of school cafeterias for decades and is as common as peanut butter and jelly in this part of the state. Atmosphere 4 The facility is one of the more modern fieldhouses in the state of its size and features charm and piquancy. The upper balcony offers light brown-colored removable bleacher seating that wraps around the gymnasium. Banners are hanging up of former championships won by the school, and John Wooden’s signature is neatly displayed on the court. The lobby celebrates the school and Wooden's legacy with murals, trophies, team photos, and wall designs. A large entrance design with Wooden's photo and signature is visible when walking through the doors and four inspirational quotes are painted above each entrance way into the gymnasium. Regionals games bring out small towns in droves that support their basketball team. Each side is decked out in school colors that consist of students, parents, locals, and alumni. Cheerleaders lead their supporters in carefully created cheers and chants. After the game, the winning team celebrates with the student section on the floor before cutting down the banners. It ends with fans spilling onto the floor for pictures and interviews from local TV crews. Neighborhood 3 The high school is on I-69 (formerly SR-37) and runs between Indianapolis and Bloomington. There is not an exact exit or entrance from this road. It is within minutes of a few great restaurants, including a few local establishments and national chain restaurants. Indy's Family Restaurant is one of the better places to enjoy a good home-cooked meal, Sgt. Pepper's has the best fried chicken in town, Bynum's Steakhouse has exquisite steaks, and Los Reyes has delicious Mexican cuisine. If you are looking for fast food chains, there are quite a few located right on SR-37. If you fancy a trip to downtown Indianapolis or Bloomington you are very close. Bloomington is about 20 minutes away, and downtown Indy is another 30 minutes north. Fans 3 The sectionals attract a lot of people from the area. Fans at the game are respectful of one another and are there to root for their team. The student sections are amazing to look at just for their sheer dedication and loyalty to the sport; the same can be said for the rest of the fans sitting in other parts of the arena. The focus is on the sport and nothing else. Access 3 The school and gym are located right off of I-69 and are highly visible from the highway. It is a little tricky to get on campus since there's no direct entrance from the main road. It is suggested to use GPS to make sure you arrive there without frustration. The gymnasium itself is well-marked with signs for concessions and bathrooms, and there are separate entrances to the first and second levels of seats. Return on Investment 4 You get a lot of bang for your buck attending one of the sectionals in Martinsville. Tickets cost between $7 and $10 depending on the package and you get a heck of a lot of great food at very low prices. The great food, fans, and atmosphere make this a fantastic destination for high school hoops. Extras 3 There is a sense of efficiency when attending the game here. A lot of the sectional sites can get jam-packed with fans and security and ushers are unable to keep up with the demand and people inside the arena. It was not a sold-out game, but the administration and student helpers assisted with any questions from fans entering the building. It was a well-oiled machine. John Wooden deserves extra points for not only being the legend from Martinsville but also having his name on the facility. Before he became The Wizard of Westwood, he was a pretty gritty basketball player for the Artisans here in town. His former gym is also still around with major changes. It might be worth checking out a historic Indiana high school venue. I enjoyed the stylized M monogram that was printed on every seat inside the building. A nice little-personalized touch inside the arena. Final Thoughts John Wooden Gymnasium is very impressive. It is an arena, providing spacious seating, delicious high-calorie food, and a little history from the school's past. The lobby decor and updated asthetics inside the gym make it worth a visit during sectionals or regional basketball games. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Baseball has been in Yuma, AZ since 1874. Contests included the Chicago White Sox exhibition games in the early 1900s, a not for real ‘Chinese University of Hawaii’ team, and other MLB exhibition games from 1934 – 1942. And more… Cactus League spring training was held in three different stadiums in Yuma: Municipal Stadium/Panther Field (Baltimore Orioles for just one year), Keegan Field (San Diego Padres for just one year), and Desert Sun Stadium. Desert Sun Stadium , the 1970-1993 training facility for the San Diego Padres , was the envy of visiting players at the time. It is the primary field at the Ray Kroc Baseball Complex. Over the years, as more elaborate facilities began popping up in the Phoenix area, Desert Sun Stadium began to lose its luster. Travel became cumbersome with teams moving to Tucson and Phoenix. Desert Sun Stadium 1970s Postcard Built at an approximate cost of $400K in 1969/1970, the structure included a primary grandstand field and three practice fields and a 12,000 sq ft clubhouse. The original seating capacity was 4,000; by the departure of the Padres in 1993 the seating capacity was 7,894. Other improvements during its baseball lifespan included a lighting system, weight room, and additional bleachers and box seats. Desert Sun Stadium Game Action 1970’s/1980’s, Photo Courtesy of Fantography Desert Sun Stadium 2004, Photo Courtesy of Charlie O’Reilly Spring training attendance grew throughout the years at Desert Sun Stadium and included local residents, snow birds, and fans from San Diego (only a 3-hour drive) to Yuma. Since it is so close to San Diego, players’ wives and families were able to visit frequently. Players gave mixed reviews of spring training in Yuma. From “there’s nothing to do” to “I was able to play ball and get ready for the season.” The final contract with Yuma was just for two years (1992 and 1993). The Padres moved their spring training to the Peoria Sports Complex beginning the 1994 season. Desert Sun Stadium hosted several split-squad spring training games annually from 1998 – 2007 but that stopped. The NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) Yakult Swallows held their spring training at Desert Sun Stadium from 1978 – 1999, usually a few weeks before the Padres arrived. It was also used by the Yuma Bullfrogs (Western Baseball League) from 2000 – 2002 and the Yuma Scorpions (Golden Baseball League) from 2005 – 2011 – both independent baseball leagues. In 2015, the City of Yuma converted the field from baseball to soccer. It was used by the UPSL (United Premier Soccer League) Frontera United for a few years. Soccer Makeover at Desert Sun – March 2015, Photo Courtesy of Jim Patrick The venue sits across the street from the Civic Center and next to a golf course. Today (non-COVID times), local soccer leagues and teams use the field. Yuma’s big event, Midnight at the Oasis (car show), is held at the Ray Kroc Complex. The field can also be converted to a football configuration which the high school sometimes holds competitions. During COVID-19, the city equipped it as a drive-in movie theater. When I visited nine months into the pandemic, it was quite obvious the grandstand hadn’t been used for a while. One sole soccer athlete was practicing, the seats were dusty and dirty. However, the grass was immaculate, green, and full; not an easy task in the desert. Kudos to the maintenance and grounds crew. Desert Sun Stadium Ticket Booth 2004, Photo Courtesy of Charlie O’Reilly Desert Sun Ticket Booth 2020, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Desert Sun Stadium Scoreboard 1970’s/1980’s, Photo Courtesy of Fantography Desert Sun Stadium Behind Home 2004, Photo Courtesy of Charlie O’Reilly Desert Sun Stadium Behind Home 2020, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Desert Sun Stadium Water Tower 2020, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Special thanks to Jim Patrick for the extensive Yuma baseball information and to Charlie O’Reilly and Fantography for several of the photos.

Keegan Field 1969, Photo Courtesy of Yuma County Library District Our next of several features on former Cactus League spring training facilities, some of which still exist and some do not. Yuma, AZ enjoyed three spring training sites since the Cactus League started in 1947. The Baltimore Orioles used the first one, Municipal Stadium/Panther Field , for just one year (1954) before moving to Florida. The next one, was also used for just one year… Keegan Field, Yuma, AZ Keegan Field served the 1969 expansion team San Diego Padres for their first spring training season. The team used this field just the one season as Desert Sun Stadium, their permanent facility, was constructed. Prior to the Padres coming to town, Keegan Field was a no-nonsense amateur baseball facility. Once the Padres chose Yuma as their spring home, the community pulled together to renovate and improve Keegan Field for MLB habitation. As found in SABRs Spring Training in Yuma article by Jim Patrick, “Bleachers, fences, dugouts, locker rooms, showers, batting cages, sliding pits, a press box, and a PA system were all absent. The field needed to be leveled and the pitching mound had to be raised to professional standards. “ “Doc Mattei described the impressive community effort: “The Marines built the lockers. The electric company took light poles and made a batting cage. Tanner Construction leveled the field. We raised $3,000 from a raffle, $3,000 from a barbeque, and $3,000 selling bumper stickers. Some of the bleachers were purchased at ‘going out of business’ prices from a Las Vegas racetrack. “ Player facilities were not ideal. The Padres clubhouse stood behind the scoreboard with showers outside the nearby Kennedy Swimming Pool. The unfortunate visiting team provisions were at Municipal Stadium, a mile and a half northwest of Keegan Field. The Padres played 14 games at the venue in 1969. Keegan Field has returned to an amateur sports facility. As it stands today, it is quite difficult to imagine it served as a spring training site with up to 2,000 fans watching preseason baseball. Keegan Field Today, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey, Photo taken from third base side of the field. The structure beyond the scoreboard/outfield is the swimming pool area where the Padres clubhouse and showers were located. Keegan Field Dugout, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey. The field and park are totally enclosed and locked inside a chain link fence today. Keegan Field View From Outfield, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Special thanks to Jim Patrick for the historic photos and information.

Photos Courtesy of Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Abbotsford Centre 33800 King Rd. Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 5 Abbotsford Canuck s website Abbotsford Centr e website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 7,000 AHL on Abby Road   In 2009, the AHL put a team in Abbotsford, BC, a town about an hour southeast of Vancouver, right on the US border. The Heat were the affiliate of the Calgary Flames and played at the Abbotsford Centre, which had opened two years prior. At that time, the AHL had no teams in the West (Oklahoma City was the closest at 1,583 miles away) and attendance averaged around 50% of the venue's 7,000 capacity.  It was an untenable situation and the team eventually moved to Adirondack for the 2014-15 season, before heading back west to Stockton as part of the minor hockey reorganization where the AHL put five teams in California. This new Pacific Division was just what was necessary to make hockey work in Abbotsford, though it took six more years before the Vancouver Canucks moved their AHL affiliate here in 2021.  Now in their fourth season, the Abbotsford Canucks are an important part of hockey in the Lower Mainland, providing a pipeline to the parent club while also producing some entertaining evenings. Stadium Journey made their first visit to Abbotsford Centre recently and this is what we found. Note that all prices are in Canadian dollars, with the exchange rate of approximately 1 USD = 1.4 CAD. Food & Beverage 4 There are several concession stands all around the main concourse with an excellent selection. There is a Hot Menu at one stand that includes a variety of burgers and dogs that come with fries and range from $12 to $17. The most tempting option, however, is the loaded poutine, which is your normal poutine (available for $8) plus bacon, crispy onions, and sour cream, a good deal at $12. Another stand has Nathan's footlongs for $16, and you can add cheese for $2 or chili and cheese for $5. Snacks include popcorn, which was $4 as part of the Midweek Feature Menu (we attended a Tuesday night game, which is less popular than the weekend matches), while candy and ice cream range from $3.50-8. A pizza place sells five varieties of slices for $6.50 each and you can add a dip for $1.50. There is also a milk and cookies stand for the kids, where the $6.50 purchase price goes entirely towards Canuck Place Children's Hospice. The Midweek Feature Menu also includes $4 bottled water, $4 fountain pops, and $5 domestic beers (355 ml cans) through the first intermission. Other beers are $9, which suggests this is the normal price at all other times. The variety of beverages is quite impressive for such a small venue, with iced tea, Gatorade, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, French vanilla, and English toffee available for those who want to avoid the booze, while wine ($9), cider and coolers ($9.50) are other alcoholic options besides beer. Atmosphere 5 Most fans enter through Gate 1 on the east side of the building, which takes you to the main concourse. There is just a single level of seats here, with the concourse running midway along so that if you have lower seats, you walk down, but if you have upper seats, you walk up. The middle sections on both sides are clubs and the seats are more comfortable. Interestingly, there is no barrier between the club section and the ones next to it, so you get the two types of seats right next to each other, which might spark jealousy for the less fortunate fan. There is also an upper concourse that goes around three-quarters of the rink; along the sides, it is a narrow hallway that is decorated with photos of the Canucks in action as well as some concerts that have been held here. At the north end, there are a few loge boxes that are reserved, though it seems like anyone can walk around to take pictures. The reason the upper concourse does not encircle the entire rink is that there is a unique feature on the south side of the building known as the South Rise, where the concourse floor rises slightly above the spot where the Zambonis enter the rink. This is an open space and you there are a few standing spots with a couple of tables directly behind the net.  The scoreboard is typical for this size of rink, with squares on all four sides. There is blue and green lighting used in the few minutes before the players came out to warm up and it makes the rink very attractive.   Neighborhood 3 The venue is located on King Road, just south of the Trans-Canada Highway and a couple of miles north of the border. It is not an area where you would do much walking from what I could tell, but you don't have to as right across the street is Canuck Empire Brewing, which has a great selection of beer and food, as well as daily specials. It is closed Monday and Tuesday, so avoid games on those nights if possible; if not, try Field House Brewing just five minutes away for a pregame pizza and pint.  If you are in the mood for something less pubby, Sushi Box is just a block away, and if that fails to excite you, then you can find several eateries a couple of miles north of the highway. In terms of lodging, the Coast Hotel and Suites is on the east side of town; Sandman Inn on the north, and Best Western Plus Regency Inn near the airport. To be entirely honest though, with Vancouver just an hour away, most fans would be staying closer to there and simply make this an in-and-out visit. Fans 4 Attendance was just over half the average for the game we attended as it was a dreary weeknight and the parent team was hosting Montreal at the same time.  Overall, attendance this season has dropped about 16%, from 4,816 to 4,014, which is still quite good for the AHL. The fans that are there are quite serious and watch the game intently, as you would expect in Canada. They are also very respectful and cheer heartily and do not get up during the action. Access 4 Abbotsford is about an hour from Vancouver along the Trans-Canada Highway and just over two hours from Seattle, leaving I-5 at Bellingham and crossing at Sumas. There is an airport in Abbotsford as well, though flights are not particularly frequent.  Parking can be found in lots on either side of the building; you have to park in a numbered stall and pay for your parking by phone ($15); if you get there early enough, you might be able to find free parking on a street nearby, though be careful as some residential areas prohibit parking if you don't have a permit. Exiting the lot can take time as there is a traffic light that allows you onto King Road, which can be busy at times. Inside, the concourse is wide enough and the seating bowl has enough legroom. Concession lines were manageable and I did not notice any issues with restrooms, although as is usually the case at hockey games, you will have to wait a bit at intermission. Return on Investment 3 The box office is next to Gate 1 and tickets start at $35 including fees on TicketMaster, though sideline seats can run up to $77 and those on the glass $98. This is quite expensive for the AHL and when you add the parking charge, a family of four is paying over $150 before food and drinks, which are reasonably priced for the most part. With that said, the rink is quite nice and the quality of hockey is very good, so the ROI is typical for this level. Extras 3 The Vancouver Canucks have had uniform problems for decades but there is no such issue with their affiliate, whose Johnny Canuck logo is among the best in sport and merits a point. A giant goalie mask out front makes for a good photo op. There is also an educational display on how rainwater is used to make the ice as Abbotsford Centre is the first professional grade indoor rink to use rainwater in its ice. Final Thoughts Overall, Abbotsford Centre is an excellent AHL arena, though prices are a bit high. Overshadowed by the parent club just down the road, the baby Canucks are probably not high on too many Stadium Journeyers lists, but the visit is worthwhile, particularly if you can enjoy a pregame pint or two at the Canuck Empire across the street.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Edward A. LeLacheur Park 450 Aiken St Lowell, MA 01852 UMass Lowell River Hawks website Edward A. LeLacheur Park website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 4,767 Empty Nest Syndrome   The University of Massachusetts Lowell is one of five schools in the UMass system, and is the second-largest public institution in Massachusetts, with 18,000 students. “UMass Lowell” offers 120 Bachelors, 43 Master’s and 25 Doctoral programs in its six schools and colleges. The school began as two separate schools – Lowell State College and Lowell Technological Institute, which merged in 1975 to become the University of Lowell. In 1991 the school joined the UMass system. Business Insider Magazine has twice listed the school at the top of its “Most Underrated Colleges in America” list.   Edward A. LeLacheur Park was built in 1998 as the result of a partnership between the city of Lowell, MA and the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. The ballpark is named in honor of the state representative who spearheaded the construction of the ballpark. From its opening until 2020, it served as home to both the UMass Lowell baseball team and the minor league Lowell Spinners .   The Spinners were the Class A Short Season affiliate of the nearby Boston Red Sox from 1996 to 2020. When Minor League Baseball was reorganized before the 2021 season, the Spinners were one of the 40 teams dropped from MiLB.   Beginning play in 1976, UMass Lowell baseball began competing in Division One in 2014. Now members of the America East Conference, The River Hawks qualified for 17 Division Two Tournaments and made two D-II World Series before moving up a level. Five River Hawk alumni have played in the Major Leagues, most notably Gold Glove winning catcher Mike LaValliere.   Food & Beverage 2   There is one concession stand open for River Hawks games. A basic menu is served, with hot dogs and assorted snacks (pretzels, popcorn, chips and cotton candy) available.   Bottles of Pepsi products are sold here. Don’t be fooled by the beer sign on the wall of the concession stand. There is no alcohol sold at this on-campus facility. Atmosphere 2   I never thought I’d say this about a game at LeLacheur Park, but you’re only going to get a basic game day presentation here at a RiverHawks game. The limitations of the ballpark at the present time dictate what the UMass Lowell staff can do. I hate to keep making comparisons to the days of the Spinners, but it’s quite a shock to fans who’ve been coming since the early days of the ballpark.   The large scoreboard in left field is no longer operational and is covered by a large tarp with the UMass Lowell logo. Game information is displayed on a tiny scoreboard out in right field. The sound system is good, and music is played between innings and as batters stride to the plate. The PA announcer delivers lineup announcements and sponsor reads in a booming, professional delivery.   Most of the energy in this ballpark (and there’s not much when you have 200 people in a 5,000-seat facility) comes from the fans in the stands. If you enjoy being able to hear the crack of the bat (well, since this is college baseball, the “ping” of the bat) and the chatter going on down on the field, you’ll enjoy your time at LeLacheur Park.   Neighborhood 3     The University of Massachusetts-Lowell campus straddles the Merrimack River near downtown Lowell. Located on the south bank of the river, LeLacheur Park is a short distance from the Tsongas Center , home of the UMass Lowell hockey teams and the PWHL’s Boston Fleet . Other UMass Lowell athletic facilities, including Costello Athletic Center and Cushing Field, are located on the opposite side of the river.   The city of Lowell was a major center for manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution. As a result of this rich history, Lowell contains many buildings of historical significance, several of which have been preserved by the National Park Service and have been preserved as the Lowell National Historical Park. Fans arriving early to LeLacheur Park can walk along the Riverwalk and observe some of the rapids that powered the old mills. Fans of American literature should be sure to check out the memorial for native son Jack Kerowac, located within the national park.   Fans looking for a place to gather before or after a game for a bite to eat or drink will have to travel into downtown Lowell or beyond. The area around Market Street, about a mile from the ballpark, has some good and varied options. Lowell suffers from a bad reputation that lingers from decades ago. As is the case with many cities, there are safe areas and areas to avoid. Statistically, Lowell is as safe or safer than most New England cities of similar size. You can feel safe visiting the area around the ballpark and the downtown area.   Fans 2   The crowd at LeLacheur Park can accurately be described as a “friends and family” crowd. Usually numbering between 100-200 fans, many of the fans in attendance have a personal connection with the players on the field. It’s also not unusual to see fans of the visiting teams in attendance at River Hawk games.   There’s not a big turnout from the student body at River Hawk baseball games. The students who do show up generally do not make a lot of noise. Even with much of the ballpark blocked off, there’s lots of room to spread out at LeLacheur Park, and fans tend to scatter around the park.   Access 3   Lowell is a city with a population of about 115,000 citizens located about a half hour northwest of Boston near the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border. Straddling the Merrimack River, Lowell came of age during the Industrial Revolution as a mill town. Many of those mills have been preserved as part of the Lowell National Historic Park.   LeLacheur Park is located on the southern bank of the Merrimack River a short distance from downtown. Interstate 495 runs just south of Lowell, and the Lowell Connector takes motorists from the interstate into downtown Lowell. The ballpark is about two miles from the end of the Lowell Connector. The Lowell Regional Transit Authority’s  number 9 bus has a stop on Pawtucket Street right near the ballpark for those fans using public transit.   Fans will enter the ballpark via an entry tower on the right field side of the stadium. While the concourse and seating bowl stretches from deep right field around to medium left field, access to much of the stadium has been blocked off to fans due to deterioration of concrete in several sections. Fans can sit in the sections that run along the first base line and behind home plate. Most seating consists of faded green stadium seats, with some metal bleachers farther down the right field line. Standing room and handicapped seats are located at the top of the seating bowl.   The single concession stand and restrooms are located on the concourse near the entrance to the ballpark. With the small crowds present for RiverHawk games, lines are not an issue.   Since the departure of the Spinners after the 2020 season, LeLacheur Park feels like it’s been in a steady decline due to a lack of upkeep. The outfield walls are faded, ads are gone, the scoreboard is not operational and is now covered by a tarp, portable carts sit unattended, the green seats throughout the park are faded and showing their age, painted surfaces around the park are peeling, and cement all along the concourse is cracked and patched. As mentioned before, about half of the seating bowl is blocked off to fan access. It makes for a surreal experience for fans who visited throughout the halcyon days of affiliated baseball. But at least the Spinners signage has finally been taken down.   Return on Investment 5   Admission to a RiverHawks baseball game is free of charge. Parking is available in the East Garage adjacent to the ballpark, also at no charge. There is on-street parking available in the area around LeLacheur Park, just be aware of the times meters are in effect.   If you need a snack, the prices at the concession stand are certainly affordable. No item costs more than five dollars.   Extras 1   There are a few small plaques scattered around LeLacheur Park which highlight Lowell baseball history. Lowell natives and Baseball Hall of Famers Hugh Duffy and Joe Kelley, longtime River Hawks coach Jim Stone, and ballpark namesake Edward LeLacheur are honored in bronze on the ballpark’s walls.   Final Thoughts   Ballpark travelers who last visited LeLacheur Park during the salad days of the Spinners will undoubtedly be saddened by the condition of the ballpark today. Barren, empty and in greatly in need of upkeep, the ballpark is a shell of what it used to be. Judging by the condition of LeLacheur, rumors that the city of Lowell was angling to return to affiliated baseball were just that; rumors.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Sebring International Raceway 113 Midway Dr Sebring, FL 33870 12 Hours of Sebring website Sebring International Raceway website Year Opened: 1950 Racing Around the Clock The historic Sebring 12-Hour sportscar race began in 1950 and has grown into one of the world’s most revered motorsport events during its long history. The world’s best drivers and teams have competed and won here, and every year seems to up the quality of the product on the track. If you are even a modest race fan, Sebring is a must-see for you. However, unlike Florida’s other historic endurance event, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 12-Hour has some notable differences that may determine if it’s for you.   Food & Beverage   5 There is no shortage of food vendors around the track at Sebring. From the main paddock and the ever-popular Track Shack – get The Beast; it is probably the best item you can eat at the track and is only known on the secret menu at Sebring – to the various drink and snack stops around the track, you never have to go too far to get something to quench your thirst or ease the pain of hunger. The cost of everything is also what one may consider moderately fair, as food and snack items range from just a few dollars to $12-$14 for bigger items at the Snack Shack. For fans in the far reaches of the track (Ulman Straight and Green Park in particular), you have a bit of a hike to get to the fan zone or paddock for said food items. Atmosphere   5 Nothing compares to Sebring – words are barely able to even describe it either. This is one giant party for everyone who attends; some wild stories can be told of the goings-on at Green Park (the in-field area on the north side of the track), and perhaps it may be best to keep the young ones away from that part of the course at night. This track however has something for everyone – between the main show on Saturday with the 12-hour endurance spectacle, to the various support series races during the weekend, there is no shortage of things for you to see. The energy is always at a high level all day long, and the raceway makes sure to keep you updated via the PA system about what is coming up next on the track, which makes it nice for fans who may not have the schedule in their pocket. However, as much of a party and historic event the 12 Hours may be, the facility itself has some massive upgrades needed. For example, almost all the roads trackside and through Green Park are either dirt or heavily crumbling asphalt, meaning the dust gets really heavy at times. The restrooms around the facility are also beyond abysmal, featuring moldy troughs in the men’s rooms, as well as bugs galore with no AC to speak of when it gets hot outside. Grandstands have been added at various corners, but are no less sparse, and the views of the front stretch and finish line are extremely limited, with no good angles to be had for fans outside of the paddock suites. Neighborhood   3 There isn’t exactly anything around Sebring International Raceway, as it is quite literally located in the middle of nowhere. Sebring itself is a town located in the middle of Florida, at least an hour and a half away from the nearest major city or population center. Thus, while the town of Sebring itself may have some shopping and dining as well as a few hotels, you are likely better off camping at the track and staying there the whole weekend. Fans   4 The fans at Sebring are impressive in several ways; not only are they very sport knowledgeable, but they also know how to decorate their campsites. Some have gone as far as erecting large scaffolding at their sites to get a better view of the action, while others prefer a ground-level chair next to a campfire. There are even make-shift bars that pop up around the facility, which are fully operational and open to anyone who wants to come visit. The majority of these fans have been coming to the race for years, introduced by their parents to the event, and are now passing it on to their kids. However, make no mistake – some aspects of this race-themed party are not family-friendly. If you bring anyone under 18, it is probably best to stay in the midway and paddock areas of the track, especially after dark. Green Park has long been home to numerous stories of unspeakable events, including what has become the traditional bonfire of burning couches on the inside of the hairpin after the races are over. Many drunk fans can be found all over the property, and are even known to take water guns to members of the media as the latter drive by on golf carts. Blow up dolls, offensively worded t-shirts, and beer trees are almost a requirement in Green Park as campsite decorations. Access   4 The roads in and out of Sebring aren’t exactly major highways, with the biggest road being US-27 running towards Miami to the South and Orlando to the North. There is plenty of parking at the track, however, and trams help take you from parking lots farther away from the main grandstands and paddock to points of interest around the facility. Improvements to the inward flow of traffic have been made as well, using specific gates for specific access purposes, such as the media and crew using separate gates from fans. You never feel like you are too far from anywhere either, as there are several perfectly placed crossover bridges around the track to get you to points of interest throughout the weekend. Any fan can also come down to the paddock and get up close to the stars and cars of the IMSA series who are in attendance. Return on Investment   4 There is nothing like Sebring – a weekend ticket gets you into all the action Wednesday through Saturday, and you can come and go as you please. In addition, the action you are witnessing is of historic significance merely by the stature of the race, and you can feel that pressure in the air mounting as the weekend rolls along. Ticket prices can soar to over $100 a person, but what you are getting is one of the greatest races on the planet, with one of the best race day experiences in the business. The best deal lies in the Super VIP ticket at the Seven Hotel; for $395 fans get a 4-day ticket, parking pass at the hotel, food and drink buffets, access to the hotel viewing mound of Turn 7, and an air conditioned VIP room on Saturday with an open bar and TVs. Extras   4 Taking in the race at Sebring has its perks for fans, with various autograph sessions held throughout the race weekend. In addition, fans also have the opportunity to get into the paddock area of the track free of charge, giving you an up-close view of the teams as they prepare for one of the biggest races of the year. Porsche, Lamborghini, and Corvette drivers can get special parking access in the Porsche and Corvette corrals, and can even do guided laps around the track. Also, before the main event on Saturday, all the teams bring their cars out to pit road before the race starts, and fans can come to see the cars and drivers up close before they head out onto the track. After each race, the victory celebration is held in the new victory lane complex at the track, giving fans access to an area of the track that was previously farther away on pit road. New since 2025, a small grandstand has been placed in front of victory lane to give fans an elevated view of the post-race celebrations. Final Thoughts Thinking about visiting a sports facility of great historic value with incredibly exciting action for you to see during the entire event? Look no further than the Sebring 12 Hours. This historic race has it all, and you get to experience one of the biggest parties of the year. It is hard to put into words what a weekend at Sebring feels like, but as the sun sets each day and the roar of engines fills the air, you can understand why this has become one of the biggest draws in all of sports, let alone racing.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 William D. Mullins Center 200 Commonwealth Ave Amherst, MA 01003 UMass Minutemen men’s basketball website William D. Mullins Center website Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 9,493 Did It in a Minute, Man   The University of Massachusetts Amherst (more commonly known as UMass) was founded in 1863 as the Massachusetts Agricultural College. Today the school is known as the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system. It is the largest university in the state, with an enrollment of over 24,000 students studying in 109 undergraduate, 77 Master’s and 48 doctoral programs.   William D. Mullins was a member of the Massachusetts State Legislature from 1977 until his death in 1986. A former minor league pitcher, Mullins was a strong advocate for the smaller towns throughout the state, in particular those in western Massachusetts. Beginning in the mid-80s he supported the building of a multi-purpose facility at UMass, as the university lacked a place that could support the school’s 24,000 students.   Prior to the building of the Mullins Center, the basketball team played their games at the Curry Hicks Cage, a 4,000-seat venue that was built in the 1930s. While it was known as one of the loudest buildings in the northeast, it was sorely in need of replacement. The building of the $51 million Mullins Center also allowed the school’s hockey team to upgrade from club status to Division One.   In 1900 the first basketball game was played at the Massachusetts Agricultural College (renamed as the University of Massachusetts in 1948). Known throughout the years as the Statesmen, Aggies and Redmen, the school officially changed its nickname to the Minutemen in 1972. A longtime member of the Atlantic-10 Conference, the Minutemen will be moving to the Mid-American Conference for the 2025-26 season.   UMass has qualified for nine NCAA Tournaments, reaching the Final Four in 1996. The NCAA later vacated this appearance due to rules violations. In addition, UMass has played in 13 NIT Tournaments. Nine Minutemen alumni have played in the National Basketball Association, most notably Hall of Famer Julius Erving. The women’s basketball team has played in three NCAA Tournaments.   Food & Beverage 4   Numerous concession stands line the inner edge of the concourse, each with a different theme, so you may have to search a little for your desired items. All your arena standards can be found at the Mullins Center. Among the more popular offerings are burgers from local favorite Baby Berk, chicken tenders and sandwiches from Chicken and Co., and specialty pizza slices (including the divisive pickle pizza). Fans with a sweet tooth should gravitate to the Massachusetts Creamery stand, where a selection of locally-made ice cream flavors are offered.   Coca-Cola products are featured at the Mullins Center. A selection of beer is available, featuring several national brands alongside brews from local favorites Sam Adams, Wormtown and Harpoon Breweries. Copa Wines and Spiked Seltzer are also sold. Fans looking for a local craft beer can sample brews from Amherst Brewing.   A complete listing of the Mullins Center concession options can be found here .   Atmosphere 3   At most college basketball games the student section and pep band are the engine that drives the gameday atmosphere. While the pep band at Mullins Center is solid, and the cheerleading and dance squad are excellent, support from the student section is negligible. One entire end of Mullins Center is set aside for the student body, but it sits mostly empty for basketball games.   It’s a shame, because the staff at UMass put on a good show. Sam the Minuteman roams the arena interacting with fans and contests are held for fans when play stops. A large video board hangs at center court, with smaller boards on either end of the gym. There is no shortage of things going on to keep the casual fan interested here. The Mullins Center would provide a significant home-court advantage if it were packed with fans. Unfortunately, with the facility often sitting mostly empty, the Mullins Center can be a rather quiet place despite everything going on here.   Neighborhood 4   Amherst is consistently rated as one of the best college towns in the country. Amherst Center is about a mile and a half from the Mullins Center and is chock full of restaurants, shops and museums. With five colleges located in and around Amherst, the options are many and varied. From quaint bookshops to museums celebrating the works of Emily Dickinson and Eric Carle to art galleries and libraries, the area around UMass has something for everyone. Visiting fans looking for something to eat before or after a game will find no shortage of options along Main and Pleasant Streets. UMass students swear by Antonio’s, home of some legendary greasy pizza slices. For a complete listing of things to do, places to eat and lodging options in Amherst visit AmherstDowntown.com . Just up the road from Mullins Center is the town of Hadley, where many more dining and shopping choices are located. Most of the eateries in this area consist of chain restaurants and fast food options. The Hangar Bar and Grill, a popular campus hangout featuring craft brews from Amherst Brewing, is located near McGuirk Stadium. There are lodging options near UMass in both Amherst and Hadley. With Springfield only a half hour away, you won't have to travel too far to find a place to stay after the game. For those wishing to eliminate the commute after the game entirely, the UMass Hotel and Conference Center is located at the center of campus and is run entirely by students in the hospitality and tourism management program.   Fans 2   UMass fans are a fickle bunch, tending to stay away from the Mullins Center unless the Minutemen are having a successful season. Small crowds seem to be the norm in recent seasons. In the 2023-24 season UMass is averaging about 3,500 fans per game, less than half the Mullins Center capacity. The small crowds make this mid-sized arena seem cavernous. Those fans who do show up are generally on the reserved side, making the Mullins Center a rather quiet place to catch a basketball game.   Conspicuous by their absence is the student section. The large seating sections reserved for the students sit mostly empty. There are a few die-hards who try to create some noise, but their efforts fall flat in this mostly empty venue. As is the case in many New England schools, the hockey team garners much of the attention from the student body.   Access 4     The University of Massachusetts is located in rural western Massachusetts, about a half hour north of Springfield. While there are no highways that directly serve the UMass campus, Interstate 91 is only six miles away. If traveling from the east, the Mass Turnpike (Interstate 90) will bring you about 20 miles from campus. No matter from which direction you are traveling, you’ll be traversing on some winding country roads to reach UMass. Although the drive from the Mass Pike to UMass takes about a half hour, the foliage during the early part of the basketball season is amazing and draws many tourists throughout the fall. It’s well worth it to take your time and enjoy the scenery.   Once you arrive at UMass, it’s not too difficult to get to Mullins Center. The arena is located on the western edge of campus near many of the school’s other athletic facilities, including McGuirk Stadium  and Earl Lorden Field . There is only one road that serves the arena, but traffic moves pretty well into the adjacent parking lots.   Most fans will enter Mullins Center on the north side of the facility and enter onto a concourse that completely encircles the court. Concession stands and rest rooms line the inner edge of the concourse. Lines are not usually a problem with the small crowds in attendance. All seats consist of maroon padded stadium seats which feature excellent views of the action from all sections.   Return on Investment 5   Tickets to UMass basketball games are quite affordable, ranging in price from $15 to $26. Children under 12 receive a discount of $2-$10. Parking is free in the lots located a short walk from the facility. Concession prices are a bit on the high side, particularly for specialty and premium items, but are not out of line with other venues in the area. Fans looking to save a few dollars on food can purchase a combo meal.   Extras 3                                                                                                 UMass honors its history throughout the Mullins Center. Photos of notable Minutemen basketball and hockey alumni line the concourse. Photos from some of the Mullins Center’s more notable concerts, including Elton John and B.B. King, are also featured.   Inside the arena hang banners honoring Minutemen conference championship teams and tournament appearances. Additional banners honor the squad’s Elite Eight and Final Four appearances. Retired number banners also honor Minuteman legends.   Outside the Mullins Center stand four statues, honoring Jack Leaman, John Calipari, Julius Erving and Marcus Camby. Final Thoughts   The Mullins Center is an attractive on-campus facility that can be considered as one of the premiere arenas in New England. However, its rural location tends to hold down attendance, and the lack of support from the student body makes a Minuteman basketball experience more underwhelming than it could be.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Earl Lorden Field Mullins Way Amherst, MA 01003 UMass Minutemen website Earl Lorden Field website Year Opened: 1971 Capacity: 1,000 Flagship Baseball The University of Massachusetts Amherst (better known as UMass) is the flagship and largest campus in the Univeristy of Massachusetts system. Its enrollment of over 30,000 students participate in 109 undergraduate, 77 graduate and 49 doctoral programs taught by 1,300 faculty members. Baseball was first played at UMass in 1877. In 1971, their present home was named in honor of long-time coach Earl Lorden, who coached the Minutemen for 20 seasons beginning in 1947. The bleachers are dedicated to his successor, Dick Bergquist, who coached at UMass for 21 years. UMass competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Minutemen have appeared in 11 NCAA tournaments, most recently in 1996. They have reached two College World Series, in 1954 and 1969. 18 UMass alumni have played in the Major Leagues, including Gary DiSarcina, Mike Flanagan and Jeff Reardon. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food available at Earl Lorden Field. Fans are welcome to bring their own snacks to enjoy during the game. Atmosphere 2 As you may expect at a basic facility like Earl Lorden Field, the game day presentation is pretty basic as well. This is an old-school experience, where you can hear the chatter on the field, the calls of the umpires, and coaches barking instructions to the players. There is a simple scoreboard beyond the left field fence that displays basic game information. Music plays between innings and Minutemen players have their own walk-up songs. The public address announcer does his job without being intrusive. It all adds up to a pleasant, old-school atmosphere. Earl Lorden Field Scoreboard, Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 4 Amherst is consistently rated as one of the best college towns in the country. Amherst Center is about a mile and a half from Earl Lorden Field and is chock full of restaurants, shops and museums. With five colleges located in and around Amherst, the options are many and varied. From quaint book shops to museums celebrating the works of Emily Dickinson and Eric Carle to art galleries and libraries, the area around UMass has something for everyone. Visiting fans looking for something to eat before or after a game will find no shortage of options along Main and Pleasant Streets. UMass students swear by Antonio’s, home of some legendary gourmet pizza slices. For a complete listing of things to do, places to eat and lodging options in Amherst visit AmherstDowntown.com . Just up the road from Earl Lorden Field is the town of Hadley, where many more dining and shopping choices are located. Most of the eateries in this area consist of chain restaurants and fast food options. The Hangar Bar and Grill, a popular campus hangout with numerous craft brews on tap, is located near McGuirk Stadium. There are lodging options near UMass in both Amherst and Hadley. With Springfield only a half hour away, you won’t have to travel too far to find a place to stay after the game. For those wishing to eliminate the commute after the game entirely, the UMass Hotel and Conference Center is located at the center of campus and is run entirely by students in the hospitality and tourism management program. Fans 2 As is the case in most college baseball fields in the northeast, the crowd at a UMass game can accurately be described as a “friends and family” type of crowd. Typically numbering between 100-200 people, the fans add to the laid-back vibe of Earl Lorden Field. Most of the people who do attend a Minutemen baseball game have a personal connection with the players and are very invested in the action going on down on the field. There’s not a huge turnout by the student body for UMass baseball, but several students do stop by the field for a little while as they wander around campus, particularly on a nice spring day. The UMass campus is a bustling place on these weekends, with plenty to do that draw the students in several directions. Access 3 The University of Massachusetts is located in rural western Massachusetts, about a half hour north of Springfield. There are no highways that directly serve the UMass campus, but Interstate 91 is only six miles away if traveling from the north, south, or west. If traveling from the east, the Mass Turnpike (Interstate 90) will bring you about 20 miles from campus. From the Mass Pike you’ll follow some winding country roads to the college town of Amherst. The scenery in the spring months of the baseball season don’t compare to the colorful foliage of the fall, but it’s still a nice ride. Springfield is located 16 miles south of Amherst, served by both Amtrak and the Peter Pan Bus Lines. The larger cities of Boston, Albany, and Hartford are all less than a two-hour drive from campus. The closest airport is Bradley Airport, just over the Connecticut state line. The ski resorts of Vermont’s Green Mountains are only a couple of hours to the north. Earl Lorden Field is located in the shadows of the Mullins Center on the western edge of campus. Tucked in at the bottom of a hill behind the arena, there’s nothing around to point you in the direction of the ballpark. The two lots that flank the tennis courts across the street from Earl Lorden Field are more than large enough to handle a typical Minutemen baseball crowd. Ballparks don’t come more unassuming than Earl Lorden Field. Seating consists of three sets of bleachers behind home plate. There’s also room down the foul lines where fans can set up their own lawn chairs and take in the action with a little bit more room to spread out. The community rink on top of the hill has public rest rooms available. A row of port-a-johns provide facilities closer to the field. Return on Investment 5 Admission to a UMass baseball game is free of charge, as is parking in the adjacent lots. If you bring your own snacks, you won’t spend a single cent at a Minutemen baseball game. Extras 1 There are dedication plaques honoring Earl Lorden and Dick Bergquist, as well as a display commemorating all the UMass Tournament teams on the back of the press box. Hidden on a small corner of the UMass dugout on the third base side of the field are bronze plaques honoring Lorden and Bergquist. Bergquist’s number 26 is displayed on the left field wall. Final Thoughts It’s rather disappointing to see that a school with the stature of UMass plays in such a basic facility as Earl Lorden Field. When you consider the history of the baseball program here, and that it faced elimination not so long ago, the lack of facilities and resources makes more sense. As you gaze beyond the field to the beautiful Mullins Center overlooking the ball field, one can’t help but think the Minutemen baseball team deserves more. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29 Varsity Field University of Albany Albany, NY 12206 Albany Great Danes website Varsity Field website Year Opened: 1971 Capacity: 500 The Home of Great Dane Baseball The University of Albany fielded their first baseball team in 1958. It spent the first few decades of competition in Division III before transitioning to Division I along with the rest of UAlbany’s sports in the 1990s. The Great Danes played their first game in the sport’s top division in 2000. Currently, Albany plays in the America East Conference. The Great Danes have qualified for one NCAA Tournament, in 2007. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food available for purchase at Varsity Field. Fans are welcome to bring their own food in to enjoy during the game. Atmosphere 2 At a simple facility like Varsity Field you wouldn’t expect an elaborate game day presentation and you won’t get one at a Great Dane baseball game. The UAlbany staff do their best with their limited resources. A simple scoreboard in right field displays basic game information. Music plays over the PA system between innings and batters. The PA announcer may be a bit over the top but provides all the necessary information for fans. Free roster sheets are available for all fans. The beauty of going to a game at a facility like Varsity Field is the ability to hear the chatter on the infield and coaches barking instructions to their players. It’s a baseball purist’s dream. Neighborhood 3 Varsity Field is located on the southern edge of the University of Albany campus near the school’s other athletic facilities, including Bob Ford Field at Casey Stadium and SEFCU Arena . The University of Albany is located in northwest Albany, out near the airport. Downtown Albany and the state capital are located about a 15-minute drive away. The area around campus, particularly along Route 20 (Western Ave.), features a great many dining options in the vicinity of the University. A complete listing of dining options can be found here . You’ll find many options for lodging on the north side of campus near Interstate 90 you can find a listing of all local hotels here . Fans 2 The crowd at a Great Danes baseball game can accurately be described as a “friends and family” type of gathering. Most of the fans in attendance have a personal connection to the players down on the field, and as a result are both knowledgeable about the team and enthusiastic in their support. You don’t see many casual fans in a place like Varsity Field. With the compact geographic footprint of the America East Conference, it’s not unusual to see a good turnout in support of the visiting team. Stadium Journey visited Varsity Field on a beautiful mid-April Saturday afternoon. The crowd in attendance numbered about 200 people. This seems to be a bit on the large side for a Danes game, but entirely representative. Remember that the college baseball season stretches from March-May, when the weather in the northeast can be inconsistent. Expect more people to be in attendance later in the season as the weather improves. Access 3 The University of Albany is located in northwestern Albany, right by the intersection of Interstates 90 and 87. The downtown area is about a 15-minute ride from campus. The Albany airport is just a 10-minute ride to the north. Varsity Field is situated on the southern edge of the sprawling campus, near the school’s other athletic facilities. Entering campus via Route 20 (Western Ave.) gives visitors the easiest access to Varsity Field. There is no parking immediately adjacent to Varsity Field. Visiting fans can park by Casey Stadium or across the street behind the Management Services Center building. Both areas are a bit of a walk to the ball field. Parking is free of charge for Great Dane baseball games. Seating at Varsity Field consists of four sets of metal bleachers, one large set behind home plate and several smaller ones scattered around the field. All bleacher seats feature obstructed views through chain-link fences. Even worse, metal bars that are part of the backstop further obstruct views from the main bleachers. For the best views here, fans take to the top of a large berm that runs along the third base side of the field. Fans bring their own lawn chairs and coolers and enjoy unobstructed views of the action. A walking path and Indian Pond pass directly behind this berm. There are no permanent restrooms at Varsity Field. There are a few port-a-johns available for use should the need arise. Be advised that there are no paved pathways in sections of the ball field. Fans with mobility issues should tread carefully around the facility. Return on Investment 5 There is no charge for admission to a Great Danes baseball game. Parking in the lot across the street from the field is also free. With no concessions on site, visitors to Varsity Field will not spend a single cent while here. Extras 1 There isn’t much going on at Varsity Field that can be considered extra. We’ll award an extra point for the field’s setting adjacent to Indian Pond with a nice walking path that runs behind the third base side of the field. It’s always fun to watch the occasional foul ball splash into the water. The ducks and geese that live here don’t seem to mind the intrusion. Final Thoughts Varsity Field is typical of many college ballparks in the northeast. It’s a simple facility with only the most basic of amenities. While this will only be a destination ballpark for the most ardent of ballpark chasers, it is not without its charms. If you enjoy a simple game day experience, parks like Varsity Field are for you. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Equine Arena 23 North Cameron St Harrisburg, PA 17110 Harrisburg Heat website Equine Arena website Year Opened: 1939 Capacity: 1,660 Heating things up in Harrisburg The Harrisburg Heat is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that competes in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). The team plays its home games at Equine Arena at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center. The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center is a large exhibition center and indoor arena in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is primarily used for concerts, agricultural exhibitions, the Pennsylvania Farm Show, and indoor football. The complex also hosts more than 200 other exhibits and trade shows every year. The Farm Show Complex is 60 acres, houses 24 acres under roof, spread throughout 11 connected buildings including three arenas. The complex consists of the following components besides the Equine Arena: Main Hall, GIANT Exposition Hall, New Holland Arena, Small Arena, and then the North, Northeast, Northwest, and West Halls. The current version of the Heat began in 2012. The team claims the heritage of an original franchise that was a member of the National Professional Soccer League and the Major Indoor Soccer League II from 1991-2003. They played their home games at the larger Farm Show Arena. Food & Beverage 3 When it comes to concessions at the Harrisburg Heat games, simplicity is key. The venue features two main concession stands, offering the classic ballpark fare that attendees have come to expect. Expect to find staples like hot dogs, hamburgers, and nachos, providing quick and easy options for those looking for a savory bite. Popcorn, pretzels, and various candies are also readily available, catering to those with a sweet tooth or seeking a lighter snack. To quench your thirst, the stands provide a selection of standard beverages. Soft drinks, bottled water, and a range of beers are on offer, ensuring there's something to satisfy most preferences. While the menu might not boast gourmet options, it efficiently delivers the familiar and satisfying concession stand experience, allowing fans to grab a quick bite and return to the game without missing a beat. Atmosphere 3 Escape the winter chill with a Harrisburg Heat game. The facility offers a comfortable experience, with a surprisingly well-maintained interior, a generous concourse for activities, and convenient access to both the building and seating areas. The merchandise tent offers t-shirts, hoodies, zip-ups, flags, replica jerseys, and other paraphernalia at reasonable prices. The Harrisburg Heat's arena features a unique dual-purpose floor. During the Farm Show, it's covered in dirt, which then serves as a base for the artificial turf during games. This dirt track, while unconventional, provides a softer playing surface. Sightlines are excellent throughout the arena, ensuring every seat offers a clear view. The dirt sub-surface does seem to make the whole venue feel dusty and a bit cloudy at all times. It is also very loud with a sound that doesn't resonate well. The scoreboard is very basic with no video boards. Neighborhood 4 Harrisburg's downtown, a short drive from the Farm Show Complex, boasts attractions like the National Civil War Museum, the State Capitol, Ft. Hunter Mansion and Park, and Riverfront Park, all situated along the scenic Susquehanna River. For nightlife, downtown offers many options, with Mr. G’s Sports Bar, the official after-game destination, might be a fun way to start or end your night after the game. Fans 2 If you're looking for a fun, fast-paced indoor sporting event, the Harrisburg Heat delivers. The games are easy to follow and highly entertaining. The fans, a mix of new and old, contribute to the atmosphere, with some even sporting original 90's jerseys. The fans are passionate and welcoming. Access 4 Accessing the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center is primarily achieved by car, given its location and the nature of the events it hosts. Situated in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the complex is readily accessible from major highways like I-81 and I-83, as well as the Pennsylvania Turnpike. When approaching, look for Exit 67A off I-81 for Cameron Street, which leads directly towards the facility. The Farm Show Complex also has ample parking available on-site, and during large events, they also utilize off-site parking with shuttle services. It is always wise to check the official Farm Show website for up-to-date information on parking, and possible road closures during large events. Return on Investment 4 Enjoying a Harrisburg Heat game is quite affordable with usually two levels of pricing around $20. Parking at the Farm Show Complex is a flat $10 per vehicle. Merchandise and food options are reasonably priced, allowing a family to comfortably experience a game without breaking the bank. Extras 2 The Harrisburg Heat go beyond the game, scoring points with diverse event nights like Boy Scout and Girls Got Game initiatives, as well as community-focused fundraisers. The unique venue is an extra on its own, but you may even want to see if there is another event going on at the complex and make it a twofer kind of day. Final Thoughts The Harrisburg Heat, in their present form, might not yet qualify as a must-see, "bucket list" destination for sports enthusiasts. However, you can see the seeds of something much larger being planted. Ownership and the team are dedicated to elevating the Heat experience. While the current offering is enjoyable, the potential for growth and improvement is undeniable, and that's precisely what makes it compelling.

Photos by David Hegler, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Adventist Health Arena 248 W Fremont St Stockton, CA 95203 Stockton Kings website Adventist Health Arena website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 12,000 Welcome to Adventist Health Arena On the edge of the San Joaquin River rests two sports facilities that are the crown jewels of Stockton, California: Banner Island Ballpark and Adventist Health Arena. Today, we will focus our attention on the vast arena.  Having broken ground in April 2004, Stockton Arena first opened its doors on December 2, 2005. It immediately began hosting events such as the 2009 Stockton Showcase which pitted the University of California-Berkeley Golden Bears basketball team against the hometown University of Pacific Tigers. In September 2014, Stockton Arena hosted the San Jose Sharks as they battled the Vancouver Canucks in a split-squad exhibition game. The Sharks won 5-3. While all of these events helped expose Stockton Arena to the public, its greatest claim to fame is its tenants. Since it first opened, Adventist Health Arena (renamed in 2023) has served as landlord of the California Cougars (MISL, 2005-2011), Stockton Thunder (ECHL, 2005-2015), Stockton Lightning (AF2, 2006-2009), Stockton Wolves (2011), California Eagles (AIF, 2012) and Stockton Heat (AHL, 2015-2022) before welcoming the NBA G-League’s newest team, the Stockton Kings, in 2018.  The Stockton Kings began as the Reno Bighorns in 2008 and have always been associated with the Sacramento Kings. The Bighorns won three Pacific Division championships in 2011, 2016 and 2018, but never the outright D-League title. Ever since moving to Stockton, the Kings have won three divisional titles of their own, the most recent being in 2024. However, their magical run ended in a crushing 114-107 loss to the Oklahoma City Blue in the Conference Finals.  Food & Beverage 3 There is one location of food for each level of the arena’s two levels. Each location brings all that you would expect of any arena. Chicken tenders basket ($13.50), hot dog ($10.20), pepperoni pizza ($8.25), cheese pizza ($7.75), pork sliders ($6), pretzel ($7.50), popcorn ($7.75), nachos ($7.50) and Dippin’ Dots ($6.20) make for a well-rounded menu. The food itself is well cared for and there are lots of cashiers to make the line move quicker. Atmosphere 3 Standing tall amidst the muck of a poorly kept neighborhood rises Adventist Health Arena. Once inside, you are greeted by friendly ushers and watch with wonder as one of the larger arenas in the NBA’s G-League envelops you. The end line bleachers are practically endless and the video board is a sleek wrap-around with a small camera stationed dead center on the bottom to provide both the referees and fans unique angles of replays. Stockton Kings Mascot, Photo by David Hegler, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 1 The surrounding neighborhood is one of the worst that I have ever seen. In fact, I probably shouldn’t have been so cheap and parked my car just blocks away. The area is unkept and looks like it could be a magnet for criminal activity.  Still, there are some perks. The arena lies alongside the San Joaquin River and next to the Stockton Ports’ Banner Island Ballpark. Just across the river stands the Weber Point Events Center. Despite the horrors of the surrounding neighborhood, Stockton is filled with wonderful restaurants. These include Saigon Bowl Noodle House , Nash + Tender Stockton , Cast Iron Trading Co , FED  and Dream Ice Cream Parlor . If you are looking for a place to sleep for the night, the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel  is right next to the arena. Fans 3 With a capacity of 12,000, Adventist Health Arena is a massive venue for an NBA G-League team. As a result, the fans feel sparse within its walls, but make no mistake, this is a passionate group. Throughout the game, you can hear cowbells clang just like you would at a Sacramento Kings game. The arena is at its loudest during the t-shirt toss. It feels like the crowd is twice as big. Access 3 Parking is just $15 at Adventist Health Arena but there is just one entrance. There are several bus stops all along W Fremont Street and an Uber driver should have no trouble dropping you off or picking you up. There is also a bag check and metal detector, but the line goes quickly. Return on Investment 5 With ticket prices ranging from $23 to $79, this is a relatively cheap place to watch a game. No need to worry for lumbar support in the cheap seats as every seat in the arena has a back and a thin layer of padding. With parking being just $15 and the food being at reasonable prices, it’s worth your time and money to go to a game at Adventist Health Arena. Extras 4 Easily the best extra of Adventist Health Arena is the “Stockton Hall of Fame” that adorns its expansive wall. While there are merchants selling products in front of that area, but you can still walk along while reading the biographies of so many that have brought pride to the city of Stockton.  A large expo section overlooks the arena from the end line opposite the one with the vast empty bleachers. That particular day, the Kings were prioritizing sneakers, but other local merchants were selling clothes and bags as well. One can walk around that area while watching the game without the need of a television screen.  Just below the expo section is a kids section where children can shoot balls at inflatable baskets and play around. At the end of the game, fans could get autographs from their favorite players at the team store. Its a neat way to keep fans engaged. Final Thoughts The NBA’s G-League is filled with uniquely intimate stadiums. While most have a capacity for less than 10,000, there are a few outliers that are worth seeing. Stockton’s Adventist Health Arena is one of them. The place is spacious enough that you won’t feel claustrophobic yet crowded enough for you to feel the roar of the crowd. With cowbells clanging and an energetic crowd, the place truly feels like a low-grade NBA experience. So brave the bad surrounding neighborhood and come on down to Stockton where the Kings are sure to put on a good show and you, the fan, will feel like a million bucks.

Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Premier America Credit Union Arena 18111 Nordhoff St Northridge, CA 91330 Map It Cal State Northridge Matadors website Premier America Credit Union Arena website Year Opened: 1962 Capacity: 2,000 Home of the Matadors Still referred to by locals and students as The Matadome, the longtime venue in the Northwest San Fernando Valley recently partnered with Premier America Credit Union on a 10-year agreement, officially renaming the venue as Premier America Credit Union Arena . With its flat roof and a capacity of over 2,000, The Matadome is one of the smaller college basketball venues for Division I play, guaranteeing that you will never be far from the action. Kinesiology classes are also housed inside The Matadome, which sits inside of Redwood Hall. A trivia note for you 80s movie buffs: The Matadome was where the all-valley karate tournament scenes from The Karate Kid  were filmed, so yeah, feel free to go back in time and envision Daniel San doing his famed crane kick. Food & Beverage 2 During this visit, aside from a vendor serving adult beverages from the  Anheuser Busch selection as well as red and white wine, a food truck was set up outside the main lobby serving up a variety of cheesesteaks, fries, various Coca-Cola products, lemonade and botted water Atmosphere 3 There is nothing overly outstanding that would make The Matadome stand out compared to other well known college basketball venues. The Matadome is your typical lower division NCAA facility with minimal capacity and not much else. Having said that, the basic layout of The Matadome ensures an intimate experience where the players can certainly feel every fans presence. Neighborhood 3 Known mostly as a commuter school, don’t expect a University Village type atmosphere that you would experience around most major universities.  Fast food options nearby include Micky D’s, Subway, Carl’s Jr., Panda Express, Chipotle, Wienerschnitzel, Farmer Boys and Dave’s Hot Chicken.  If you don’t mind driving 5 minutes west of campus, the Northridge Fashion Center  is nearby as well and offers these sit down options: Bonefish Grill, Claim Jumper, Yard House, as well as a Buffalo Wild Wings, to name a few. Fans 4 With a squad posting a successful season, the near capacity Matadome crowd does an outstanding job of displaying their support for their team.  Though the Matadome was nearly packed on the day of this visit, the fans were not overly raucous, as many of the supporters were made up of families and youth groups. Access 3 Access to CSUN is not far from three of L.A’s major freeways, the 405, 101 and 118. If you are coming from L.A., the drive time, pending traffic, can vary from 30 to 90 minutes. If traveling on a weeknight, it is highly recommended you allow yourself at least 2 hours travel time prior to tip off. Yes folks, L.A. traffic can be brutal. Return on Investment 3 Single game ticket prices range from $10-$14 general admission bench seating and $24 reserve seating. Because of the intimate size of this venue, regardless where your seat is, you will never be far from the action. Extras 3 As you enter the main lobby though the venue’s east end you will find some of the Matadors Big West trophies inside a glass case named Comprehensive Excellence. The Matador Hall of Fame is also here. Some of the more notable members of the Matador HOF are Jack Elway, father of NFL Hall of Fame QB John Elway. Jack coached football at CSUN from 1976-78. Another notable CSUN HOFer is former L.A. Angels/Dodgers player Adam Kennedy. Comprehensive Excellence, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey On the opposite side of the venue is the west lobby where Karate Kid cult followers can take a stroll through the hall in the scene where Mr. Miyagi is registering Daniel LaRusso for the All-Valley Karate Tournament.  The lobby where Mr. Miyagi register’s Daniel LaRusso for the All-Valley Tournament in Karate Kid   Final Thoughts CSUN Northridge Campus, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey It was a memorable 2024-2025 year for the CSUN Matadors as they would tie a school record of 22 wins, their most regular season victories since 2001. As the success of Matador Basketball grew throughout the season, the fan presence grew as well. In his second season as head coach, Andy Helm would guide the Matadors to an NIT appearance.  As the season grew the support for the Matadors was certainly present and with the team’s postseason appearance Coach Helm is hoping to build upon this season’s success.

Photo Courtesy of Denver NWSL Denver's National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchise, which will begin play in 2026, announced that its home will be a new, 14,500-seat stadium on Denver's south side.  The stadium will be part of a complex called Santa Fe Yards, located on property at the intersection of Broadway and Interstate 25, approximately one mile south of the heart of Denver's downtown.  It will be the first stadium in Colorado built specifically for women's sports. According to the team's press release, the yet-to-be-named stadium for the yet-to-be-named team will be the showpiece of a 14-acre redevelopment of vacant property that was once part of a rubber plant.  The complex will also include a 3.5-acre recreational park and a future mixed-use development, with pedestrian and bike connections, and close proximity to public transportation. Photo Courtesy of Denver NWSL “This will be the largest overall investment in a women’s professional sports team in history. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage this massive private investment to revitalize and transform Santa Fe Yards into a new hub of thriving community activity, a place for outdoor recreation, restaurants, retail, and for building connections with our community,” said Denver NWSL controlling owner Rob Cohen. “This project at Santa Fe Yards will transform an underutilized eyesore into a recreational and economic hub where memories are made, culture is built, and championships are won," said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. CAA Icon is advising the franchise's ownership group and will serve as project manager for the stadium.  Global design firm Populous will design it. Photo Courtesy of Denver NWSL

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Maverik Center 3200 S Decker Lake Dr West Valley City, UT 84119 Utah Grizzlies website Maverik Center website Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 10,100 No Longer Unique in Utah In 1995, Salt Lake City was awarded the 2002 Winter Olympics, and one year later, construction began on an arena in suburban West Valley City that would be the main venue for both men's and women's hockey. The E Center opened in 1997 and immediately housed the Utah Grizzlies, an AHL franchise that spent eight seasons there before being suspended. Fortunately, there was a dormant ECHL franchise that was purchased and moved to Utah, taking the Grizzlies name and ensuring there was no downtime in terms of hockey tenancy.  For 20 years, the Grizzlies have been the only pro hockey team in Utah but all that changed when the Arizona Coyotes moved to Salt Lake City to take up residence in the Delta Center. This will present challenges to the Grizzlies, who must now compete with the big boys. It is a tall task, and Stadium Journey paid a visit to the Maverik Center (the arena changed its name in 2010 when convenience store concern Maverik bought the naming rights) to see how the team is holding up.   Food & Beverage 4 For the Sunday afternoon game we attended, many of the concession stands were closed as only about a quarter of the seats were filled, but those that were open had a good selection of items. The most common stand is the Salt City Grille, where a variety of baskets range from $13 (cheeseburger, chicken tender) to $15 (western BBQ burger, bacon cheeseburger, teriyaki burger). Poutine, a Canadian staple, is $11.50, while a corn dog is $7.50. More typical options are found at Crafty Pete's Snack Shack, with hot dogs or popcorn running $6.50, while a pretzel is a buck more. There are a couple of specialty stands too, with Thirst Pretzels and Beignets a good local option with a salted or cinnamon sugar pretzel bite cup for $6, while three beignets with either powdered or cinnamon sugar are $8. They also have 'mixers' which are drinks where you can combine soda, flavor shots such as coconut, peach, and pineapple, purees, cream, and fruit. At $6.75 for 32 ounces and $8.50 for 44 ounces, these seem like bargains. For those with a sweet tooth, the Ice Cream Shop has sugar cones for $5.50, waffle cones for $8, and simple bowls for $8.50, with portions quite generous. You can also enjoy a root beer float for $7.50. In terms of beverages, Coca-Cola products are served with 30-ounce cups costing $6.75, while the 40-ouncers are $8.50. Bottled water is $5 and Powerade is $6.50. For those looking for a beer, domestic options are $13.50, while a premium choice will set you back an extra couple of bucks.    Atmosphere 3 The arena is surrounded by parking lots and there are a few things to note before entering, including a sculpture of two generic players fighting for an invisible puck that is located near the main entrance. There is also an Olympic cauldron at the entrance to the parking lot to remind fans of what happened here over two decades ago (and will happen again in 2034 as Salt Lake City will host the Games then). On the lower level outside, you can find a fearsome grizzly statue as well. Inside, there are two seating bowls, though most of the upper bowl is closed off with tarps over the seats. There are a few sections of gold seats in the upper bowl but most fans stay down below, where red seats dominate the scene. There are no club seats on the lower level so all sections are open to the public, while the suites are at the top of the bowl so the upper level is quite close to the ice. There are only four rows of seats in the upper level, so it is a bit easier to navigate too and it also has a carpeted concourse. It should be noted that upper deck seats are not sold online, though it seems like anyone can walk up to have a look around. The scoreboard is four separate video boards, with those facing the nets significantly smaller than the ones facing the sidelines. I've seen this arrangement more and more and guess it is less expensive than one large scoreboard. Neighborhood 4 The Maverik Center is in an area with little within walking distance, but there are a few eateries close by, including two sports bars: The Break Sports Grill, a more upscale spot with a good beer selection and quality food; and the Penalty Box Bar and Grill, which caters to a less affluent crowd and has a more limited menu. Chain restaurants include Applebee's and Cracker Barrel, while those who enjoy Mexican food will appreciate La Fountain, which is just a couple of minutes on foot away. If you take the TRAX light rail one stop to the West Valley terminus, you can find a lot more including a WINGERS Restaurant and Alehouse and more importantly, an In-n-Out Burger. There are three hotels just across the street, with the Holiday Inn and Suites and Staybridge Suites connected by a bridge, while My Place caters to a more long-term clientele and is generally slightly cheaper. Fans 3 For the game we attended on a sunny Sunday afternoon, there were perhaps 3,000 on hand, only a quarter of capacity, but those that were there did cheer heartily. Most amusing is the chant that occurs whenever an opponent leaves the penalty box, the PA announcer shouts: “The Oilers are back at full strength!" and the crowd replies: “And they STILL SUCK!” Those fans I talked to were very friendly and most were wearing some sort of Grizzly merchandise, suggesting that they are long-term supporters of the club. Access 5 West Valley City is a suburb that is about 15 minutes by car from the airport and also reachable on the TRAX Green Line, though this takes about 45 minutes from the airport and 30 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. The stop here is Decker Lake, from where the arena is just across the street. For those driving, access is excellent, with plenty of parking which seems to exit easily onto the surrounding streets. Inside, the concourses are more than enough for the fans, and restrooms and concessions have typical waiting periods during intermissions but lines generally move quite fast. Return on Investment 3 Tickets start at $19 online before fees, but these are exorbitant, sending the get-in price close to $29. This includes the $6 parking charge, with no discount for those who take transit, walk, or carpool. Still, that is a lot of money for third-tier hockey when the top level is just 30 minutes away. There are some ticket specials for locals with a particular bank card, but for stadium journeyers, the secondary market might be your best bet.  With parking included, however, and some decent food options, the overall ROI is about average for the ECHL. Extras 4 During one intermission, there was a race featuring interns or some other hapless staff members dressed as Coca-Cola products. As with all ice-related races, this was pretty entertaining and a bit different. The mountain views outside the large windows on both sides of the building offer a nice way to relax during intermissions.  The statue and cauldron are worth a point, as is the fact that the Canadian team signed a wall after they won gold in 2002 and this is still preserved, though not on public view. I'd like to see more Olympic history shown here as the interior is rather devoid of any meaningful displays. Final Thoughts Last year, 6,003 were here on a typical evening but this season has seen that number drop to 4,868; no doubt attendance has been hurt by the arrival of the NHL team. The Grizzlies will need a new and less expensive approach to compete with the Hockey Club and it will be interesting to see how they do things over the next few seasons. At this point, I don't think the club is in danger of moving, but as we saw with the Coyotes, things can happen fast, so if you want to see the Grizzlies in Maverik Center, you may want to plan sooner rather than later.

Photos courtesy of Chris Torres, WestConn athletics Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Feldman Arena 43 Lake Ave. Danbury, CT 06810 Western Connecticut Wolves men's basketball website Feldman Arena website Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 2,800 Home Of College Athletics Done Right   Western Connecticut State University has always done collegiate athletics the right way. Longtime contenders in football, women’s and men’s soccer, WestConn’s Feldman Arena is a facility that many schools at higher levels should envy. With ample parking and adaptability for a variety of functions, the venue serves the university as well as the greater Danbury community. While the building doesn’t always host large crowds, it’s a great place to watch basketball, with excellent views on both sides of the court.   The men’s basketball team, one of the inhabitants of the school’s primary gymnasium, Feldman Arena, has made 13 trips to the NCAA tournament, most recently in 2020. WestConn reached the Elite Eight in 1990. The Western Connecticut women’s basketball team has qualified for 13 NCAA tournaments of their own, most recently in 2011. The women’s team reached the Sweet Sixteen in 1997.   The original Western Connecticut State mascot was an Indian. A committee formed to find a less offensive name in 1974 recommended changing the name to Canners to honor the region's fish canneries. The Candlewood Canning Company of Connecticut sponsored the teams until the sponsorship was deemed illegal by the NCAA. The official mascot then became Chuck the Colonial, a man in a blue Tricorne hat, in 1978. Following the murder of George Floyd and pressure from alumni and students in June 2020, the university decided to no longer use the Colonials name and logo. On April 19, 2022, the university announced that they would be changing their mascot name to the Wolves.   Western Connecticut State University, often stylized as WestConn, was founded in 1903 as a teacher’s college. Located in Danbury, Connecticut, it is part of the Connecticut State University System. With an enrollment of just under 4,500 students, the school may be best known for the Jane Goodall Center for Excellence in Environmental Studies, which was founded on campus in 1995.   Food & Beverage 1   Feldman Arena has one food stand where students can conveniently use their meal plan money to purchase hot dogs, pretzels and candy.   WestConn serves Pepsi products campus-wide, including Diet Pepsi and Starry. As a refreshing alternative, iced tea and lemonade is also served at games but no alcoholic beverages are available.   Atmosphere 4   The Feldman arena is a decent size, with room for 2800 spectators.   When WCSU changed its sports mascot from the Colonials to the Wolves in 2022, the arena received new hardwood that features the revised logo. There’s also a jumbotron scoreboard above half court and there is seat back chairs on both sides of the court. The gym also has speakers which are loud and allow everyone in the arena to enjoy music and commentary from the public address announcer.   WestConn basketball also hosts the popular “Free Steak for a Year” half-court shot contest in collaboration with Texas Roadhouse. There are also popular “Kid’s Day” and “White Out” games that show school spirit in the community. WestConn’s nickname change coincided with the arrival of a new mascot, Wally the Wolf, who can be seen representing the school spirit throughout the building.    For a big game, such as when the Wolves face their rivals, the Keene State Owls, a seat may be hard to come by. In the student section, opposite the benches, the view of the court is unobstructed. On the opposite side, there are inclined bleachers, but the view of the action can be blocked by the seated players and the scorer’s table.   Neighborhood 4   WCSU is in Danbury Conn., a great sports town on the New York State border.   The university is split between the Midtown Campus in Downtown Danbury and the Westside Campus on the west side of the city, where Feldman Arena is situated. The campuses are three miles apart and are connected by a shuttle service.   Outside the arena, there are several great options for food, including Stanziato’s Wood Fired Pizza, Grounds Donut House, and TK’s American Cafe, a sports bar with 76 flavors of chicken wings, nearby to WCSU’s Midtown Campus. You can also trek over to Danbury Fair Mall for a variety of shopping, dining and entertainment options – including Round 1, a giant bowling alley and arcade inside the massive mall.    The main sports attraction in town is the Danbury Hat Tricks professional hockey team, a member of the independent Federal Prospects Hockey League. The team attracts roughly 2500 fans to their games each week. The Hat Tricks play out of Danbury Arena, which is also home of Spice City FC, an indoor soccer club that launched in 2025.   In June and July, the Danbury Westerners play in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The team plays at Rogers Park , where the scoreboard was recently upgraded.   Fans 3   When fans show up to support the team, Feldman Arena is an electric environment.   WCSU fans sit close to the action for both volleyball and basketball. While not all games are selling out, the community views the Wolves as a vital part of the sports landscape. Youth teams and other community organizations are often invited to games.   Because Feldman Arena is home to the highest level of basketball in the area, the Wolves programs attract passionate fans from the student body as well as from around the city. When there is a lot on the line, WCSU supporters are activated and sometimes storm the court after a victory.   Access 4   Despite being sitting at the top of a Hill, it’s very easy to find Feldman Arena and to roam around once you arrive. General Admission allows fans to pick their own seats and even relocate during the game.   Students residing on WCSU’s Midtown Campus can utilize the school’s shuttle to trek to games. Local public transportation is available through Hart Transit and Danbury Train station. Parking is not a problem at the arena, as two different parking lots make it easy to arrive and depart.   During the game, it’s easy to climb the bleachers for an arial view or sit along the sidelines to get as close to the game as possible. There is also space for fans with special needs and the ability to pull your car directly to the entrance of the arena.   Return on Investment 5   Ticketing is most affordable for WCSU events. Typically, there is a charge of $5 for non-students and other guests. No printed or digital ticket is needed once you’ve entered the arena.   WCSU has always done sports right and the teams that play at Feldman Arena are always competitive. There is no charge for parking at games, which makes it a cheap but entertaining option for fun.   No season tickets are sold for WCSU events and good seating is usually always available.   Extras 3   WCSU’s Athletic Hall of Fame is housed inside Feldman Arena, where great athletes from the school’s past are honored.   The list of events held at Feldman Arena is long, including the 1999, 2000, and 2001 NCAA Division III women's basketball Final Fours. The Harlem Globetrotters have made several visits to the arena, including one time where an alumni member of the hoops team proposed to his future wife during the action. Around 2007, the CT Thunderboltz played in the short-lived National Professional Basketball League, a semi-professional league, out of Feldman Arena.   The list of special events held at the Feldman Arena and O’Neill Center are not limited to sporting events. In December of 1995, legendary singer-songwriter, Bob Dylan, opened his “Paradise Lost Tour” inside the arena. In October 2012, the 14th Dalai Lama held an audience inside the arena.   Final Thoughts   For basketball and volleyball fans, Feldman Arena is a good time that will cost you just a fraction of a big-league ticket price.

Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Armory Track 216 Fort Washington Avenue Between 168th Street and 169th New York, NY 10032  The Armory Foundation While the Armory is best known for running, it was a building of many stories back in the day. It was home to the 22nd Regiment of the Army Corps of Engineers and was used to give licensing exams for those who wished to become architects, engineers, and nurses. It was built originally to house local units of the state's volunteer militia and later the National Guard. The second chapter was about a premier indoor track facility in the 1980s, but that story was derailed for some time as the Armory was used as an NYS homeless shelter. The final or ongoing chapter began in 1993 when New York State sold the Armory to the City of New York for $1 and the keys were turned over to then Mayor David Dinkins, who handed them to Dr. Norbert Sander. This marked the beginning of the Armory's transformation from a homeless shelter into an athletic center. It officially reopened for competition on December 18 of that year with the 40th running of the Bishop Loughlin games. Dr. Sander, friends, and colleagues raised the money by lobbying city corporations and athletic companies to restore the Armory and eventually become a world-class track facility. Dr. Sander, who passed away in 2017, was an American physician and runner who won the New York City Marathon in 1974. He also won the New Orleans and Yonkers Marathons in the same year and is the only NYC resident to win the New York Marathon. Sander, elected to the Fordham Sports Hall of Fame in 1995, was a key member of the track and cross-country teams while a student at Fordham University. Now the facility is probably most famous for hosting the Millrose Games one of the most acclaimed indoor track and field competitions in the world. The Millrose moved to the Armory in 1992 after being held at Madison Square Garden since 1914. The 117th edition of the Millrose was just completed on February 8 before a capacity crowd of over 5,000 spectators. The spacious third floor is home to the Nike Track & Field Center at The Armory (renamed in 2023), a 200-meter, six-lane banked mondo track, two large runways and sand pits, a pole vault pit, and a throws cage. In September 2024, the track was revamped, with the removal of five older layers of track material and the changing of the surface color from red to blue. The 60,000-square-foot center is one of the premier indoor track and field facilities in the United States and one of only five World Athletics-certified indoor facilities in the country. But when the Millrose closed down, the action heated up as the Armory hosted 12 meets over the next 11 days. “It’s our busiest time of the season,’” said Rita Finkel, co-president of the Armory Foundation. “It feels a bit like Grand Central Station around here when everything gets going only a bit more organized,” said fellow co-president Jonathan Schindel. The building hosts youth, high school, college, and adult competitions. The Center hosts over 100 events per year on its famous Mondo track which is noted for being one of if not the fastest indoor track in the world. Mondo is an Italian company from Alba Italy. An estimated one million miles are run at The Armory each year. “It’s a banked track so as you come down you gain speed,” said Schindel. “The building is old and it gets loud and as the athletes race the crowd noise gives them a shot of adrenalin.” “The volume of cheering is like having the wind at the backs of the runners”, added Finkel. The next major track event on the Armory calendar year is the Nike Indoor Nationals scheduled for March 13-16 followed by the CUIMC (Columbia University Irving Medical Center) Team Relay Marathon at The Armory is April 23-26. The divisions are open 0–39 years of age, or mixed ages, masters 40-49 years of age, grand masters 50–59 years of age, and senior grand masters 60+ years of age. The proceeds go to the Armory Foundation and admission is free. Another huge event is March 29 when The Armory hosts the Indoor Track and Field Camp for high school athletes. There is a fee to enter but New York City Public School students received a 50% discount. The camp gives athletes a chance to interact and learn from past Armory champions including Olympians. The non-profit foundation is the backbone of the facility. It oversees the building and hosts over 100 track meets annually. The foundation has a symbiotic relationship with the local community and strives to promote interest in fitness and the sport of track and field through an array of community programs and after-school activities. The Armory offers both a College Prep Middle School and High School Program to provide college prep and academic counseling services and community programs our community programs to hundreds of under-resourced New York City public high school students. The building is known by many names, including Fort Washington Avenue Armory, Fort Washington Armory, The Armory, and the 22nd Regiment Armory. The arena and fabled track are located on the third floor and in January of 2023, a partnership with Nike led to the renaming of the facility as the Nike Track & Field Center. The building is brick Classical Revival with Romanesque Revival Elements, such as the entrance arch, and is currently home to the non-profit Armory Foundation, National Track and Field Hall of Fame, Nike Track & Field Center, and other organizations including the Police Athletic League of New York City. Americans set two world records at the recently completed Millrose Games. Yared Neguse in the Wanamaker Mile, the featured event, with a time of 3:4,6, and Grant Fisher in the 3,000 meters with a time of 7:22.91. Elle St. Pierre, a two-time Olympian, set the women’s Wanamaker Mile record in 2024 with a 4:16.41. The Center is one of the premier indoor track and field facilities in the United States and one of only five World Athletics-certified indoor facilities in the country. “We try to keep the Armory as accessible to the community as possible,” said Finkel. “In June it quiets down a bit. Some of the other events include fashion shows and robotics competitions. We also run yoga and fitness classes for seniors two days a week.” The Armory Foundation organizes programs for kids in every age group to expose youngsters to education, exercise, training, and healthy living. In July, there is a 6-week summer program held Mondays through Thursdays from 9-4 pm for middle and high school students. “We rely on fundraisers and sponsors”, said Finkel. The Armory costs only $10 for admission for the opportunity to train. It is open from 9 am to 7 pm daily. “Our location is great because we are one block from the subway (A, C, and 1 train) and it’s a 16-minute ride to Columbus Circle and 18 minutes to Times Square”, said Schindel. In 1995, the Armory was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in 2002 the National Track and Field Hall of Fame moved to the Armory. It is the only Hall of Fame housed in an active sports venue. The Hall of Fame is available to tour by appointment only. “We’ve made the necessary improvements to keep it operating, but we also want to keep it nostalgic,” Schindel said. “We added to the excitement with a new LED scoreboard (four-sided) but at the same time we don’t want to take away from the classic atmosphere. I’ve made the comparison to Wrigley Field a few times”. Follow Greg Venuto’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Facebook .

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Peoria Sports Complex 16101 N. 83rd Ave Peoria, AZ 85382 Map It San Diego Padres Spring Training website Peoria Sports Complex website Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 11,333 Spring Padres The San Diego Padres  have held Spring Training at Peoria Sports Complex for over 30 years. They have shared the facility with the Seattle Mariners  every February and March since the city built the complex in 1994. It was the first spring training complex to be shared by two Major League baseball teams. That is now the norm in the Cactus League, with only a few clubs having their own facilities. Both the Padres and Mariners are leased to stay in Peoria through 2034.  The Arizona Fall League Peoria Javelinas  also make Peoria Sports Complex their home. The Padres began their spring training history at Keegan Field in Yuma, AZ, for their first season in 1969.  They moved to Desert Sun Stadium , also in Yuma, and played there from 1970 to 1993 before they relocated to Peoria, AZ. Peoria Sports Complex often rates high on any Cactus League ranking list as the staff is extremely helpful, the concourses are spacious, there are plenty of kid’s activities, the gameday setting still focuses on the game, and the food and beverage choices throughout the venue amaze visiting fans. Food & Beverage 5 Peoria Sports Complex has a wide variety of concessions.  The best food places are the free-standing kiosks, carts, and tents, which line the concourse from third base around the outfield to first base.  Strolling along the outer concourse, you’ll find an ice cream truck and a West Coast Grill offering footlong char, Frito pie, and Sonoran dogs grilled right in front of you.  A Maui Wowi sells frozen cocktails and smoothies; a Mac Shack and chicken tenders and fries stand are next door.  Treat your palette (and your waistline) to Nina’s, which sells curly fries, Philly cheesesteak, jumbo bratwurst, and deep-fried treats ($9 - $17). Another kiosk offers pizza, burgers & fries, and beignets. Peoria Sports Complex Nina's, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The third base concourse has noodle bowls, gyros, Dickey’s BBQ ($14 - $15), walking tacos, hot Italian sausages, churros, kettle corn, and garlic fries.   Standard baseball fare is sold at the permanent concessions with a regular hot dog costing $4.99 and a jumbo dog running $7.99.  Nachos, pretzels, popcorn, peanuts, Cracker Jack, candy, and the like are available throughout the ballpark. A huge, shaded Four Peaks Patio Bar sits above the bullpen on the left field concourse and offers their local brews and other varieties of adult beverages.  A West Coast Beer Garden site is in right field, offering mostly California brews including Stone Brewery, 805 (Firestone), and the yummy ones from Pizza Port Brewing (a San Diego-based brewery). Beers are $15.99; bottled water is $5.99.  Fans can bring in sealed bottled water.  Pepsi is the soft drink provider with fountain drinks costing $6.99 or $9.99 (refills are $1.99). The stadium has fantastic choices at the expected high prices (but not as high as some of the other spring training ballparks). Atmosphere 5 The San Diego Padres and Peoria Sports Complex create a vibrant, delightful gameday experience.  Die-hard baseball fans and those there for camaraderie receive a mix of excitement and relaxation, perfect for all in attendance. The stadium boasts an easy-to-read scoreboard. The words are big enough that fans can read them without binoculars; the scoreboard displays both lineups (player’s name, number, and position). It highlights the player at the plate. It shows the line score, balls, outs, strikes, hits, runs, errors, and a data point not often seen in the line score, LOB (runners left on base). Advertisements are not broadcast during play, only between half-innings. The music volume level is loud but mostly turned off when the PA announcer talks. Music is only played between batters and innings and rarely during at-bats and between pitches, which is a relief. The music person does play music when the announcer calls the starting lineup, but fans can still hear the announcer. The Padres host several promotional days such as Bring Your Dog to the Ballpark (Rover’s ticket costs $5), Kids Run the Bases, etc. Fans can stroll the entire circumference of the stadium, including a small bridge (overpass) down the first baseline. The Padres dugout is on the first base side. Seats are blue stadium fold-down seats on three levels with a walkway between the first two. The seats have plenty of legroom but are a tad narrow. The upper rows in the infield get shade first. Bleachers are down the first baseline in the second level. A thin net suspends to the ends of dugouts. The last three or four seating sections are net-free. Plenty of berm seating is available in the outfield. Fans in the berm area can peer into the bullpens. Built in 2016, the Colonnade, on the third base side, is an indoor space for groups and events to enjoy the game. Finally, a unique feature at Peoria Sports Complex is the Cove.  It is a play area on the third base concourse shaped like a ship with misting fans, picnic tables, and a small baseball field. Kids have a great time here. Peoria Sports Complex Shipyard, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 5 The stadium is in the heart of the P83 Entertainment District in Peoria, AZ, a northwest suburb of Phoenix. Retail, restaurants, hotels, apartment and office complexes, movie theaters, and more shopping all abound next to the stadium. Over 15 restaurants, bars, and fast food eateries are within a block or two. Many are chain restaurants if that’s what you prefer.  We recommend The Social on 83rd (good for weekend brunch).  During the week, they even offer a special spring training happy hour.  We also suggest Pho For Days (Vietnamese) and Revolu Modern Taqueria + Bar  (Mexican). Besides shopping, a Harkins and an AMC movie theater are nearby, as is an Air Trampoline and Adventure Park  for those a little more adventurous. If you’re looking to get in a few easy steps, take a stroll (or bike ride) on New River Trail . Downtown Phoenix is around 20 miles away. Several hotels are within walking distance. The LaQuinta Inn & Suites  is the closest. A Hampton Inn , Comfort Suite, and Residence Inn  are .3 miles from the park. Keep in mind that prices for hotels almost double during the spring training season. Stay an extra day or two and watch the Seattle Mariners spring training as they also use Peoria Sports Complex. Surprise Stadium  (Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers) is 10 miles west, and Camelback Ranch  (LA Dodgers and Chicago White Sox) is about 10 miles south. Fans 3 Padres fans enjoy watching their team.  They are an energetic yet respectful bunch who appreciate the game and the players during spring training.  The complex is usually full (especially on weekends).  You’ll see plenty of Tatis Jr and Machado shirts and jerseys in the stands.  Access 4 The city and organization have done some marvelous things related to getting in and moving around the venue. However, Bell Road / 83rd Ave is still a traffic mess when leaving an afternoon game. Parking is free. Helpful attendants point you to the right spot as you enter the parking lot.  Second, wide open concourses (especially in the outfield) offer easy and roomy movement. Finally, simple but quite effective signs indicating bag regulations focus on what IS allowed, not what is NOT allowed. That positive aspect makes fans feel much more welcome. (Clear sports stadium bags are permitted.) The restrooms are older but plentiful and clean (at least the ladies). The stadium is a 30-minute or so drive from Sky Harbor Airport. Public transportation is not easily available from the airport; riders need to make multiple transfers, and travel time takes close to 2 ½ hours. Once you’re there, it’s fantastic. It’s pretty much a nightmare exiting the stadium and onto Bell Rd / 83rd Ave.  We recommend waiting 15 or 20 minutes after the end of the game before heading to your car. Return on Investment 4 Like all spring training venues, ticket prices have sky-rocketed.  Ticket prices in 2025 run from $23 - $56 (plus a substantial Ticketmaster fee) for a Padres spring training game.  The team has flexible prices depending on the day and opponent.  Oddly, tickets cost more when purchased on game day.  Even though these prices seem high, they are more affordable than some of the other spring training facilities in the Cactus League.  And, parking is free.   So, this is one of the more affordable venues in the league.  Concessions are the typical high-priced stadium rates, but there’s such a variety with many local vendors on site.  And, you can bring in your own water and a snack.    Extras 4 A few other items are worth noting.    Peoria Sports Complex has an ‘Autograph Alley’ on the right field concourse where fans can attempt to get both the Padres and the visiting team’s autographs. Peoria Sports Complex Autograph Alley, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The main souvenir shop is set up nicely with plenty of room to maneuver; it’s not cramped.  Plus, the venue has satellite merchandise stands throughout the concourse. The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system was used during the 2025 spring training season.  Peoria Sports Complex used this feature for its games.   The staff, mostly volunteers from the Peoria Diamond Club are incredibly helpful, kind, informative, and fun!  I can’t say enough about their graciousness. Final Thoughts Going to Peoria for the day to take in some spring training is just a great experience.  Be sure to put this ballpark on the list if coming to Arizona for spring training.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Harrington Athletics Village 129 Lake St Brighton, MA 02135 Boston College Eagles baseball website Eddie Pellagrini Diamond at Harrington Athletics Village website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 1,000 Boston College Baseball From 1961 to 2017 the Boston College Eagles played their home baseball games at Commander John Shea Field , which was located in the shadows of Alumni Stadium . It was a totally nondescript home field, notable only for the presence of a large parking garage along the first base side of the field. Fans would line up along the ramps of the garage to take in the action below and tailgate throughout the game on the top level of the garage. When Boston College joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2006, Shea Field was deemed inadequate for hosting conference games and competing for recruits, making clear the need for a new home field. In 2016 Boston College set aside $200 million for various projects to benefit the athletic department, including a new baseball field to be located on the school’s Brighton campus. Boston College’s new baseball field is named for former Major Leaguer and longtime Boston College coach Eddie Pellagrini. Pellagrini led the Eagles baseball squad from 1958-1990, earning 359 wins during that time. The complex that contains Pellagrini Diamond, the adjacent Boston College Softball Field and the Pete Fretas Training Center are part of the Harrington Athletics Village. They are named for Boston College trustee and class of 1957 alumnus John L. Harrington. Boston baseball fans will recognize Harrington as the former CEO of the Red Sox. The ballpark, which features 1,000 permanent seats, is expandable to 2,500 seats for tournament play. Boston College has qualified for the NCAA Tournament eight times, advancing to the College World Series on four occasions, most recently in 1967. Forty-five former Eagles have played in the major leagues. Food & Beverage 4 A portable concession stand is set up on the terrace between the baseball and softball fields for Eagles games. It’s a surprisingly diverse menu for this type of facility. In addition to ballpark standards such as sausage and pepper sandwiches, burgers and dogs, special items such as pulled pork sandwiches and clam chowder are available. A wide variety of chips, candy, popcorn and ice cream treats are sold here. Coca-Cola products are featured at Boston College. Warm drinks, including coffee and hot chocolate, are popular items on chilly New England spring days. No alcohol is sold at Eagle baseball games. Atmosphere 3 The gameday presentation at Harrington Athletics Village is a laid-back one, which will certainly appeal to traditional fans. Extraneous noise is kept to a minimum here, with music played between innings only. PA announcements are kept to basic lineup and game announcements. There’s a simple scoreboard beyond the right field fence that displays basic game information. Fans looking for an elaborate presentation should look elsewhere. The Eagles mascot, Baldwin, can be found here during selected games interacting with the fans. Most of the excitement at Pelligrini Diamond comes from the fans in attendance. Even though Boston College draws good crowds for this part of the country, there’s not an overwhelming fan presence here. The fans that do show up are personally invested in the action on the field, knowledgeable about the game, and enthusiastic in their support. It’s also not unusual to see a good turnout from visiting fans, as Boston has become a popular road trip destination for other ACC fanbases. Neighborhood 3 Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, a village in the suburb of Newton, Massachusetts. Downtown Boston is located about six miles to the east. Newton is a very well-to-do town which frequently ranks near the top of many “best place to live in America” lists. The Harrington Athletics Village is not located on the main Boston College campus, but in the nearby Brighton campus, on the site of St. John’s Seminary, about a half mile from the main campus. For visiting fans looking for a bite to eat before or after an Eagles baseball game, Cleveland Circle is located about a 15-minute walk from the BC campus. Here you will find, among other places, Eagle’s Deli, which is known for its massive hamburger challenges. This no-frills diner is a favorite of Boston College students and is known for its appearances on Man vs. Food and other television shows. You won’t find any dining or lodging options immediately near Pellegrini Diamond, but in a city the size of Boston, there are no shortage of excellent options around. If you’d like to stay closer to the BC campus, check out the choices near the Mass Pike or Interstate 95. Otherwise, head downtown. You’ll be sure to find something that works for you. Fans 4 For the most part, college baseball isn’t a very big deal in New England. The weather during this time of year tends to keep crowds small. Boston College is no exception to this rule, although they do attract bigger crowds than do most local squads. Boston College competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, which assures that nationally ranked teams regularly visit Pellagrini Diamond. It’s not unheard of to see crowds of 500-plus descend on Brighton on beautiful spring afternoons. Capacity crowds of close to 1,000 are not unusual. Even when smaller local schools play at Boston College, several hundred fans will be in attendance. Access 3 The Boston College campus is located in the Chestnut Hill section of the suburb of Newton, Massachusetts, about six miles west of downtown Boston. Despite its location in the suburbs, Boston College shares many of the same access issues familiar to Boston residents. Anyone who has tried to navigate the crowded, crooked streets of greater Boston by car can tell you how difficult driving in and around the area can be. If you are visiting from out of town, your best bet may be to find a copilot who knows their way around town. Most native Bostonians will tell you that your best method to get to Boston College is to take public transportation, known in these parts as the “T”. The green line’s B train terminus is located on Commonwealth Ave., right across the street from the Chestnut Hill campus. If heading to an Eagles baseball game, driving may actually be the easiest way to get to Pellagrini Diamond. The best route to arrive at Boston College avoids the city entirely. The Brighton campus is located across the street from the main campus, about a half mile away. Complete driving directions can be found here. The area around Boston College is quite scenic, with a suburban feel, but traffic can be very heavy at times. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive on campus. Once inside Harrington Athletics Village, fans will enter onto a plaza along the first base line of the softball field. To your right will be a terrace that contains the concession stand and restrooms. The heated restrooms are most appreciated during frigid spring days. Beyond this is the baseball field. From the terrace level, fans will walk down into the seating bowl. All seats consist of individual maroon stadium seats. There is ample standing room along the top of the seating bowl, as well as accessible seating. With plenty of room to move around, crowds are not an issue at Harrington Athletics Village. Return on Investment 4 Admission and parking at Harrington Athletics Village are free of charge. Concessions here are a bit pricey, which brings down the overall score a bit. Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted at the concession stand. Extras 2 The Eagles played in the longest game in NCAA history, a 25-inning tilt against the Texas Longhorns in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. The Eagles dropped this contest 3-2 in seven hours, three minutes. Speaking of long games, Pellagrini Diamond opened on March 20, 2018 with a 7-4 loss against Northeastern that lasted 18 innings. There are a couple of numbers honored on the right field fence. Longtime Eagles coach Eddie Pellagrini’s number 13 is retired, as is the number 3 worn by Pete Frates. Frates, who was an outfielder for Boston College from 2004-2007, gained international exposure when his social media fundraiser, the Ice Bucket Challenge, raised over $200 million for ALS research in the summer of 2014. Boston College plays a game at Fenway Park in Frates’ honor to help raise awareness for ALS research every spring. Final Thoughts If planning to visit Boston College for a baseball game, remember that the college baseball season runs through March and April, when the weather in these parts can be most unpredictable. Postponements, schedule changes, and even changes in venue are a regular occurrence in these parts. Be sure to be flexible with your plans when visiting Chestnut Hill. If comparing Eddie Pellagrini Diamond to the other wonderful facilities in the ACC, Boston College’s home field may come up lacking. But longtime Eagles fans who remember the “good old days” of Commander Shea Field will undoubtedly be most impressed. The Eagles have themselves a home that will allow them to compete for recruits, fans and attention. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos courtesy of Gregory Koch Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Franny Murray Court at the DuFour Center 4400 John McCormack Rd NE Washington, DC 20011 Catholic Cardinals website Franny Murray Court at the DuFour Center website Year Opened: 1985 Capacity: 2,000 Fear the Catholic Cardinals Located in Washington, DC, the Catholic University of America is the only pontifical university in the United States. For those who are unaware, a pontifical university is a college established by the Vatican and dedicated to the purpose of religious studies. The CUA's athletic programs are known as the Cardinals and compete at the Division III level in the Landmark Conference. Catholic's basketball team plays its home games at Franny Murray Court, inside the Raymoind A. DuFour Center on the school's campus. The building opened in 1985 and also contains athletic offices and a weight room. The arena itself was heavily renovated in 2017 with the addition of a new floor and chairback seating. Food & Beverage 1 There is no concession stand open inside the DuFour Center. There are, however, some vending machines in the lobby selling snacks, drinks, and bottled water. A sign says not to bring food or drink into the arena, but this is ignored by everybody. It is likely referring to those who practice on the court itself. You should be fine bringing it into the stands. Atmosphere 4 Franny Murray Court at the DuFour Center features several sections of bright red chairbacks seats along each sideline. You will be up close to the action no matter where you sit, and the small gym helps trap in the energy. The Cardinals have a mascot, who appropriately is a costumed cardinal, who makes regular appearances at their games. There is also a pep band which is quite large for the Division III level, and a cheerleading squad which entertains the crowd before the game and during timeouts, and leads cheers from behind the baseline during the game itself. The experience at a Catholic University basketball game is on par with many small Division I colleges. That this is happening at Division III is quite impressive. Neighborhood 4 Catholic University is located in the Brookland neighborhood of Washington, D.C. This neighborhood is sometimes called "Little Rome" due to the large number of Catholic institutions. In addition to CUA, there are several other Catholic high schools, colleges, and other institutions, as well as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. There are certainly other places to go in Brookland as well. Busboys and Poets is a popular bookstore, coffee shop, and restaurant located across Michigan Avenue from the south side of campus. The Brookland Pint is a popular bar serving beer and burgers. The Brookland Grill on 12th Street is a more affordable option. Fans 4 Catholic University draws good crowds for the Division III level. While the DuFour Center won't be completely full, they regularly draw several hundred fans to the small gym. The crowd is both knowledgeable and loud, and they are proud of their team. It is a good mix of friends and family of the players and some locals as well who have a connection to the school. As the Landmark Conference covers a small geographic area, there will often be a good number of away fans as well. While the crowds will never match those at Division I, they are good for the Division III level. With the small gym and low ceiling, it can get quite loud in here. Access 5 There are many options for arriving at the DuFour Center. There is a parking lot adjacent to the arena, and if that fills up, ample parking is available elsewhere on campus. There is a charge for parking, payable through the FlowBird app at $2/hour, which is not an unreasonable charge in the middle of a large city. If wanting to use public transit, you can also take Metro's Red or Green Line to Fort Totten or the Red Line to Brookland-CUA. Both are about a 15 to 20-minute walk from the DuFour Center. Keep in mind there may be track work on weekends leading to delays or closed stations - check the WMATA website and plan accordingly. Restrooms are available in the lobby of the DuFour Center and are generally a sufficient size for the crowds. Return on Investment 5 Admission to Catholic University basketball games is $8, and although men's and women's tickets are sold separately, either ticket is good for both games of a doubleheader, should the teams play one. Tickets are digital only, purchased through the HomeTown ticketing app. Parking is a reasonable price for D.C., and whatever food you buy from vending machines won't be more than a couple dollars. Overall, a CUA basketball game is an excellent value for the experience you're getting. Extras 2 Look for the trophy case and Catholic University Athletics Hall of Fame in the lobby of the building. Each of them are worthy of an extra star here. Final Thoughts Although Catholic University competes at the Division III level, the experience at a basketball game here is still outstanding. You might mistake it for a small Division I value with the way the matchday goes. The crowds are great, the pep band is outstanding for this level, and a modern, spacious lobby contains many displays of team and school history. The DuFour Center and a Catholic University Cardinals basketball game can be a hidden gem for hoops fans in D.C.

Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Wisdom Gym 1333 W. Washington Stephenville, TX 76401 Tarleton State Texans website Wisdom Gym website Year Opened: 1970 Capacity: 3,000 Tarleton State University (MBB) Stephenville is a city of approximately 20,000 people located in north central Texas. Known affectionately as the Cowboy Capital of the World, Stephenville is home to numerous world-renowned horse trainers and top-level professional rodeo athletes, most notably Ty Murray. Murray is a nine-time PRCA world champion cowboy and co-founder of the Professional Bull Riders Association (PBR). In 2023 no less than 42 (31%) of the qualifiers for the National Finals Rodeo came from the Stephenville metro area. In addition to professional level cowboys, Tarleton State University sponsors championship level rodeo, stock horse, and animal judging teams to solidify the town’s claim to the western-themed title. Not just a one-horse town, however, Tarleton currently sponsors 15 NCAA Division 1 athletic teams, having moved up from Division 2 competition in 2020. The men’s basketball team, which first played in 1906, has competed in Wisdom Gym since 1970. Competing at the NAIA, NCAA D2, and now NCAA D1 levels they have compiled eight conference championships and 14 postseason appearances, the most recent in 2017. Since 1970 Tarleton has played its home basketball games in venerable Wisdom Gym. Opened as a multisport facility, the gym seats 3000 using pullout seats on each side of the venue. The seating in the lower section has been updated with seatback chairs on the home side of the court, but the upper seating is still the original wooden pull-out bleachers, which take fans on a trip down memory lane. With a modern video scoreboard and live DJ pumping music, the setting is upbeat and energetic. This will be the final season for basketball in Wisdom Gym, as it will become a volleyball-only facility in the future; Tarleton basketball will move to a new venue next year.   Food & Beverage   3 All normal concession stand fare is available at Wisdom Gym, though there are no specialty items. Snacks include candy, chips, popcorn, and pretzels, while heartier food choices include hog dogs, nachos, and pulled pork sandwiches. Non-alcoholic drinks offered are Pepsi products, including Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Starry, Tropicana Lemonade, and Gatorade; alcoholic beverages available include Coors Light, Miller Lite, Dos Equis, White Claw, and Revolver Brewing’s local offering, Texan Rider. My suggestion is a pretzel with extra cheese for dipping and a cold Texan Rider.   Atmosphere   5 The atmosphere for Tarleton men’s basketball is well above what you would expect – the presence of DJ Quan, spinning jams before the game and during dead ball periods, gives the game energy and pumps up the crowd. There are also on-court fan participation games during halftime and during select stoppages in play, and groups attending games get special recognition – all these fan-friendly activities create an environment where fans enjoy themselves. The most recent game I attended was a game honoring the kids and leaders of Scouting America, so the general admission crowd was well over 50 percent scouts.   Neighborhood   4 Tarleton is set in the center of Stephenville, which is a small town of approximately 20,000 people. The area around campus is mostly residential, but with many restaurants and fast food choices within a few minutes’ drive. The best options nearby include Hard 8 Bar-B-Q , Grump’s Burgers , Don Nico’s Mexican Food , Newton’s Saddlerack , or   Caam’s Pizza Restaurant . Should you prefer an old school diner experience, Jake and Dorothy’s is a locally owned joint that dates back to 1948, the place where waffle cut fries were invented and chicken fried steak is the calling card; just carry cash as they do not accept credit or debit cards. There are plenty of hotels to choose from in town – some of the more highly rated choices include Hampton Inn & Suites ,   La Quinta Inn and Suites , and   Best Western Plus , among others. If you prefer short term rental options, there are several small houses and cabins available in and around Stephenville. On busy weekends, however, availability can be an issue.   Fans   5 Tarleton fans are loud and loyal. The student section is at floor level across from the two benches, and the students are very involved in the game. The intimate setting of the old gym creates an environment where the crowd can have maximum impact on the game. Time will tell what the new basketball arena provides. The Texans are supported by cheerleaders and their mascot the Texan Rider, who is fully adorned in Cowboy attire including leather chaps, silk cravat, and black hat. Foul Play, the student pep band, plays at men’s basketball games as well, alternating with DJ Quan during stoppages in play, so there is never a long period of silence. At a recent conference game I attended, the student section was nearly full; they were loud, intimidating, and conducted choreographed cheers and other coordinated distraction tricks to disrupt the opposing team.   Access   4 Stephenville is approximately three and a half hours north of San Antonio via US-281, or three hours from Austin via Interstate 35; from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex it is only a little over an hour’s drive. Once in town the university is easily accessible, and ample parking near the gym is available. There is no commercial air travel into town and public transportation is rideshare only, which is limited at best. The best option if flying into the region is to fly to DFW airport, Love Field in Dallas, Austin-Bergstrom airport, or the San Antonio airport and rent a vehicle to drive.   Return On Investment   4 General admission tickets begin at $10, and a full meal can be purchased for less than $10, so the ROI at Wisdom Gym is well worth the trip. Free parking adds value to the game experience as well. Hopefully the move to a newer location does not affect this rating negatively.   Extras   4 The presence of a live DJ takes the atmosphere to a high level, one that is completely unexpected when you enter the gym – hype music is one thing, but with DJ Quan in the stands, the desire to dance during timeouts is greatly enhanced. Games involving the crowd also enhance the experience and keep the game moving. The Foul Play band also helps to avoid down time. The old school feel of the entrance and upper section of the building, combined with the upgraded seating and amenities, creates a feeling for nostalgia without losing any of the comforts the fans have come to expect in today’s gameday experiences.   Final Thoughts Tarleton Texan basketball games are quality entertainment options, and Wisdom Gym is a classic setting for a positive experience. While this is the last year this venue will host basketball games, volleyball games will continue to be housed in the facility.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Silvio O. Conte Forum 2601 Beacon St. Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 Boston College Eagles website Silvio O. Conte Forum website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 8,606 Greater Heights   Boston College is a private Jesuit university founded in 1863. The campus is one of the earliest examples of collegiate gothic architecture in the United States. With an enrollment of over 15,000 students, Boston College offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in its eight colleges and schools.   The Silvio O. Conte Forum is the on-campus home of the Boston College men’s and women’s basketball and hockey teams . The facility was named for Boston College alumnus and United States congressmen Silvio O. Conte. Built perpendicular to Alumni Stadium , Conte Forum is located on the former site of McHugh Forum, the former home of the Eagles hockey team.   Basketball has been played at BC since 1904. Over their history, the Eagles have qualified for the NCAA tournament 18 times, most recently in 2009. Boston College has advanced as far as the Elite Eight three times in their history (1967, 1982 and 1994). 25 former Eagles have played in the NBA. Boston College’s women’s teams have appeared in 7 NCAA tournaments (every year from 1999-2006). Five Eagle alumni have played in the WNBA.   Food & Beverage 3   Concessions have never been at the forefront of the Boston College athletics experience, but the school has taken steps to improve the overall experience in recent years. Several stands line the inner edge of the concourse at Conte Forum, with each stand offering a different signature item.   Stands feature hot dogs, Sal’s pizza and BBQ sandwiches. All stands also sell a variety of sides and snacks to round out your selection. If the main stands don’t have what you’re looking for, portable stands offer chicken tenders and fries, popcorn, ice cream treats or meatballs.   Coca-Cola products are featured at Conte Forum. Eagle fans looking for an adult beverage will find a selection of beer and wine sold at concession stands as well as a portable stand. Craft beers from local favorites Fiddlehead, Whirlpool and Lord Hobo Brewing and Stormolong Cider are featured.   Food quality is decent, and prices are in line with other college facilities in the Boston area. Combo Meals are sold at all stands for fans looking to save a few dollars.   Atmosphere 3   Despite the best efforts of the game day staff here at Conte Forum, you can only do so much with the experience at a gymnasium when it’s half-full at best. To their credit, all the elements that you expect at a big-time program can be found here, but the total falls short of the pieces, simply due to lack of fan support.   Video boards at either end of the facility are put to good use with hype videos, replays, game stats and more. For most games, you’ll find the cheerleaders, pep band, and Baldwin, the Eagles mascot, doing their thing throughout the game. There’s an emcee who leads promotions, contests and giveaways throughout the game to keep the fans engaged, and the PA announcer, who does a nice job keeping the energy up without being too over the top. The one issue at Conte is with the sound system. It’s woefully inadequate, and it’s really difficult to hear anything being said over the speakers during the game.   Neighborhood 4   Boston College’s sporting rivals (we’re looking at you, other Beanpot schools), will point out that Boston College is located not within the city limits of Boston, but in the village of Chestnut Hill, part of the town of Newton. Newton is a very well-to-do suburb which is frequently found on many “best places to live in the USA” lists.   Visiting fans looking to grab a bite to eat nearby right before or after an Eagles game can walk from Conte over to Cleveland Circle, where a cluster of shops and restaurants are located. Among these shops is Eagles Deli, which has been featured on Man vs. Food and other shows because of their massive hamburger challenges. Their large portions and cheap prices make them a favorite of BC students. Newton Centre is located a few miles in the other direction, and is a good place to stop if you happen to be driving to the game. There’s no shortage of options to be found here.   Fans looking for lodging options won’t find much right by campus, but Downtown Boston is just six miles away. There are more than enough dining, lodging and entertainment options there to keep any visitor happy.   Fans 2   New England as a whole doesn’t really embrace college basketball as the premier winter sport like much of the rest of the country. There are exceptions to this rule (we’re looking at you, UConn, PC and URI), but for the most part, hockey rules the roost in this part of the country. Even the allure of the ACC isn’t enough to draw big crowds to the Heights on most nights.   Boston College averaged just over 4,600 fans per game for the 2024-25 season, good for 15th in the 18-team ACC. Stadium Journey visited Conte Forum for the Eagles’ home finale, which unfortunately occurred on a Wednesday night during Spring Break. As you might imagine, the crowd was pretty sparce, even by BC standards. In talking to many staffers, small crowds have been the norm recently as the basketball team has struggled and the hockey team has taken residence at the top of the rankings. Only the Duke game packed Conte Forum this season. From our own experience at BC, when there’s a big crowd at Conte for basketball, it’s made up primarily of visiting fans.   You will find some Eagle diehard fans in attendance and a decent turnout from the student body, but overall the fans here in Boston can be really fickle. This is a pro hoops town, and the Celtics are the undisputed kings. Access 3   Despite Boston College’s location in the suburbs, it shares the same access issues as downtown Boston. Anyone who has tried to navigate the crowded, crooked streets of Greater Boston by car can tell you how difficult driving in this area can be. If you are visiting from out of town, your best bet is to find a copilot who knows their way around town.   Stadium Journey recommends leaving your car at home and using public transportation to arrive at Conte Forum. Boston’s subway system, known as the “T”, has several stops that access the Boston College campus. The green line’s B train terminus is located on Commonwealth Ave., right across the street from campus. From here, it is a short five-minute walk to Conte Forum. In addition, Boston College operates free shuttle busses that stop at several points around town. The complete route schedule can be   viewed here .   If driving to Boston College, it’s easier to avoid the city and come in from the western suburbs. Interstate 90, Route 9 and local roads will all lead you to the Boston College campus with varying degrees of success. The area around Boston College is quite scenic, with a nice suburban feel, but traffic can be very heavy at times. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive on campus. Complete driving directions can be found here.   Parking is available for BC basketball games in either the Beacon Street Garage or the Commonwealth Avenue Garage. Both are a short walk from the arena. A single concourse circles the court, with the court visible at both ends. Lower-level seats are plastic maroon stadium seats, and upper level seats are bleachers without backs. Rest rooms are plenty large enough for a typical Eagles crowd, but you’ll still want to time your trips to concessions wisely.   Return on Investment 4   Boston College utilizes dynamic pricing for basketball games, meaning premium games will be more expensive, but baseline pricing for most games is between $10 and $30 for tickets. Parking is free in the nearby garages. Food prices are a bit on the high side, but bargains are available. Given that there aren’t any other top-tier programs in Boston, an Eagles game is pretty affordable.   Extras 5                                                                                                 Boston College displays its basketball (and hockey) history proudly throughout Conte Forum. Banners dominate the view throughout the interior space of the facility. Banners commemorating tournament appearances, conference titles, retired numbers and more hang from virtually every available rafter inside Conte Forum.   When visiting Boston College, make sure to give yourself enough time to explore the concourse here at Conte Forum. On one end of the facility is the Varsity Club, where over 400 notable athletes from Boston College’s long and illustrious sporting history are honored. You’ll find dozens of Olympians, Hall of Famers, NHL, NFL, NBA, and MLB players. It’s quite an impressive display.   At the other end of the arena are trophy cases containing hardware earned by Eagles teams over the years displayed in a modern and pleasing way. A tribute to the Gaudreau brothers, two BC alumni who were killed by a drunk driver this past summer, is located here as well.   Displays honoring every BC alum to play in the NBA, WNBA and NHL are located on the concourse.   Final Thoughts   If you were to Google “what did a basketball gym look like in the 1980s?” it’s very likely that a photo of Conte Forum would pop up. Looking very much like a product of its time, the home of the Eagles may be more well known as a hockey rink than a basketball court, but it’s still a great place to catch some of the best basketball teams in the country as they pass through this part of the country.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.I.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Silvio O. Conte Forum 2601 Beacon St. Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 Boston College Eagles hockey website Silvio O. Conte Forum website Year Opened: 1984 Capacity: 7,884 A Perch at the Top of the Rankings   Boston College is a private Jesuit university founded in 1863. The campus is one of the earliest examples of collegiate gothic architecture in the United States. With an enrollment of over 15,000 students, Boston College offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in its eight colleges and schools.   The Silvio O. Conte Forum is the on-campus home of the Boston College men’s and women’s hockey and basketball teams . The facility was named for Boston College alumnus and United States congressmen Silvio O. Conte. Built perpendicular to Alumni Stadium , Conte Forum is located on the former site of McHugh Forum, the former home of the Eagles hockey team.   Boston College first fielded a hockey team in 1917. Boston College hockey history has been dominated by three head coaches (John “Snooks” Kelley, Len Ceglarski and Jerry York). All three have won at least 500 games, with York the all-time leader in career wins, with over 1000. The rink at Conte Forum is named for Mr. Kelley, who was the first NCAA coach to reach the 500 win milestone.   The Eagles have been a mainstay at the top of the national rankings throughout their history. The Eagles have qualified for the NCAA tournament 36 times, reaching the Frozen Four 25 times (only Michigan has reached more, with 26). Boston College has won the national championship five times in their history, most recently in 2012.   Three Hobey Baker Award winners played at BC (David Emma, Mike Motteau and Johnny Gaudreau). 89 Boston College alumni have played in the National Hockey League. Three former Eagles (Brian Leetch, Joe Mullen and Jerry York) are enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.   Food & Beverage 3 Concessions have never been at the forefront of the Boston College athletics experience, but the school has taken steps to improve the overall experience in recent years. Several stands line the inner edge of the concourse at Conte Forum, with each stand offering a different signature item.   Stands feature hot dogs, Sal’s pizza and BBQ sandwiches. All stands also sell a variety of sides and snacks to round out your selection. If the main stands don’t have what you’re looking for, portable stands offer chicken tenders and fries, popcorn, ice cream treats or meatballs.   Coca-Cola products are featured at Conte Forum. Eagle fans looking for an adult beverage will find a selection of beer and wine sold at concession stands as well as a portable stand. Craft beers from local favorites Fiddlehead, Whirlpool and Lord Hobo Brewing and Stormolong Cider are featured.   Food quality is decent, and prices are in line with other college facilities in the Boston area. Combo Meals are sold at all stands for fans looking to save a few dollars.   Atmosphere 4   For the most part, the game day experience at Conte Forum is an old-school one. There’s not a lot in the way of flashy lights, loud music or pyrotechnics going on at an Eagles hockey game. What you will notice is the fan support. Particularly over the past few seasons, Conte Forum has been the place to be when the Eagles take the ice. Packed student sections can be found behind both nets, as well as much of the upper deck along the east side of the arena.   Building on the noise created by the students is the pep band. The band enters the building en masse decked out in BC hockey jerseys. They perform the Boston College fight song as they circle the entire concourse before settling into their seats. The pep band plays throughout the game during most stoppages, alternating with the arena’s organist. That’s what I call a win-win situation.   There are video boards on either end of the rink which are put to good use with hype videos, replays and graphics. There are on-ice contests between periods, and plenty to look at all around Conte Forum. It almost seems like every available inch of space here is filled with some type of memento of Boston College’s sporting history.   Conte Forum’s steeply pitched seating bowl places fans are right on top of the action, no matter where they are sitting. There are excellent sight lines throughout the facility. When the building is full, it can get pretty loud here.   Neighborhood 4   Boston College’s sporting rivals (we’re looking at you, other Beanpot schools), will point out that Boston College is located not within the city limits of Boston, but in the village of Chestnut Hill, part of the town of Newton. Newton is a very well-to-do suburb which is frequently found on many “best places to live in the USA” lists.   Visiting fans looking to grab a bite to eat nearby right before or after an Eagles game can walk from Conte over to Cleveland Circle, where a cluster of shops and restaurants are located. Among these shops is Eagles Deli, which has been featured on Man vs. Food and other shows because of their massive hamburger challenges. Their large portions and cheap prices make them a favorite of BC students. Newton Centre is located a few miles in the other direction and is a good place to stop if you happen to be driving to the game. There’s no shortage of options to be found here.   Fans looking for lodging options won’t find much right by campus, but Downtown Boston is just six miles away. There are more than enough dining, lodging and entertainment options there to keep any visitor happy.   Fans 5   Boston College has averaged at or above 7,000 fans per game over the past two seasons, which ranks them in the top five of all Division One schools nationwide and first by a wide margin in hockey-mad New England, where there are 21 D-1 teams.   As mentioned before, the catalyst behind the increase in attendance has been the student body, who fill the student sections at both ends of the rink night after night. The pep band and organ also call these sections home. The rest of the fans consist of a combination of alumni, local hockey fans and families out to enjoy an affordable evening of sports entertainment. In Greater Boston, there are no shortage of knowledgeable, enthusiastic fans to draw from.   With Boston College’s membership in Hockey East, there is no shortage of games against local rivals, and it’s not unusual to see a good number of visiting fans at Conte Forum. You might even see an entire visiting student section show up, which only adds to the energy in the building. Access 3   Despite Boston College’s location in the suburbs, it shares the same access issues as downtown Boston. Anyone who has tried to navigate the crowded, crooked streets of Greater Boston by car can tell you how difficult driving in this area can be. If you are visiting from out of town, your best bet is to find a copilot who knows their way around town.   Stadium Journey recommends leaving your car at home and using public transportation to arrive at Conte Forum. Boston’s subway system, known as the “T”, has several stops that access the Boston College campus. The green line’s B train terminus is located on Commonwealth Ave., right across the street from campus. From here, it is a short five-minute walk to Conte Forum. In addition, Boston College operates free shuttle buses that stop at several points around town. The complete route schedule can be  viewed here .   If driving to Boston College, it’s easier to avoid the city and come in from the western suburbs. Interstate 90, Route 9 and local roads will all lead you to the Boston College campus with varying degrees of success. The area around Boston College is quite scenic, with a nice suburban feel, but traffic can be very heavy at times. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive on campus. Complete driving directions can be found here .   Parking is available for BC hockey games in the Commonwealth Avenue Garage, which is just a short walk from the arena. The Beacon Street Garage on the opposite side of the arena is reserved for permit holders. A single concourse circles the rink, with the ice visible at both ends. Lower-level seats are plastic maroon stadium seats, and upper-level seats are molded bleachers without backs. Rest rooms are plenty large enough for a typical Eagles crowd, but you’ll still want to time your trips to concessions wisely.   Return on Investment 4   Boston College utilizes variable pricing for their games. For most games, ticket prices begin at $15 and max out at $30. For premium games, prices start at $25 and climb to $50. Parking is free in the Commonwealth Garage for Eagles hockey games.   Concessions are priced similarly to other venues in the area. To save a few dollars, visiting fans can purchase combo meals. Extras 5                                                                                                 Boston College displays its hockey (and hoops) history proudly throughout Conte Forum. Banners dominate the view throughout the interior space of the facility. Banners commemorating tournament appearances, conference titles, retired numbers and more hang from virtually every available rafter inside Conte Forum. Don’t forget those five National Championship banners.   When visiting Boston College, make sure to give yourself enough time to explore the concourse here at Conte Forum. On one end of the facility is the Varsity Club, where over 400 notable athletes from Boston College’s long and illustrious sporting history are honored. You’ll find dozens of Olympians, Hall of Famers, NHL, NFL, NBA, and MLB players. It’s quite an impressive display.   At the other end of the arena are trophy cases containing hardware earned by Eagles teams over the years displayed in a visually pleasing way. A tribute to the Gaudreau brothers, two BC hockey alumni who were killed by a drunk driver this past summer, is located here as well.   Displays honoring every BC alum to play in the NHL, NBA, and WNBA are located on the concourse.   Final Thoughts   The game day atmosphere at Conte Forum for Boston College basketball rates as just a “meh,” but it’s a different story entirely for BC hockey. The Eagles have been perched at or near the top of the national rankings for a couple of seasons now, and the Conte Forum is packed whenever the Eagles take the ice.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

It is hard not to miss it as you drive from the interstate on 6th Street towards the high school, but not much has changed with its appearance over the past few years, except for a couple more broken windows. It’s a relic of another time situated in a large grassy area surrounded by residential homes. The James B. Shield Gymnasium, the former home of the Seymour High School Owls basketball program, is a beautiful tragedy. I originally passed the building on my way to the current school’s home the Lloyd E. Scott Gym , which was hosting the regional championship between New Albany and Castle High Schools. It was during Romeo-mania, and I wanted to get there before 8,000-plus fans took up all of the spots in the parking lot. Finally, I had my chance to visit old Shields on my way back from a game in Scottsburg. The structure is abandoned and has been for quite some time. Just like with many other former sporting facilities, what exactly do you do with them once they no longer serve as home to a sports team of some type? However, this tragic beauty is noticeable in the 17,000-plus residents of Seymour. The basketball arena is smack-down in the center of a residential neighborhood and on the main street, where multiple cars pass by daily. I can only imagine what a passing motorist thought of me taking pictures and videos in front of the old gym. However, I am not one of the many visitors who have left their mark with graffiti and broken glass. The pieces of jagged glass and the uncovered windows provide a glimpse inside the squalid conditions of the 70-year-old building. Pieces of glass crunch underneath my feet as I get closer to the windows to take a peek inside. The best glimpses are the former bathrooms, but there is a perfect view of a former classroom complete with a chalkboard that is now littered with graffiti. There is also a shot of walls, spackled with spray paint, dormant staircases leading to nowhere, chipped paint and rotten wood, and a small sight of the grandstand through one of the doors. Many have been inside since the building has shut down to harm, but many more experience wonderful memories during its time as a basketball arena. The gym opened as the home of Shields High School on November 14, 1941, with a 23-17 loss to Columbus. The capacity crowd of 4,000 waited for four years for it to be completed by the city and the Works Progress Administration. The building was viewed as “one of the finest and most modern arenas in the state” by the local media. That first night, the gym was packed to the rafters, and “yell leaders”, the school band, and the basketball team wore new “swanky outfits” on the “honey-colored floor”. There would be many more nights like this in the next 29 years. “We have some good games in the “Cracker Box” Shields gym.” said former Seymour standout and Indiana Hall of Famer, Baron Hill in 2000. “It just felt like the fans were right down on top of you there. I liked playing there better, actually than in the big gymnasium.” Frank B. Shields purchased the land that was adjacent to the high school for $15,000 and donated it to the city for the purpose of a new gymnasium. The school’s gym, at the time, had been built in 1923 and was no longer adequate to hold crowds, especially the lucrative regional tournaments. It was not uncommon for schools at the time to construct larger gyms to accommodate the increased interest in the sport. Towns across the state in Washington, Berne, Veevay, Morristown, and Hebron were all erecting new buildings. The size and price ranged in stature; Richmond High School constructed a new gym for $230,000 and had seating for 4,000, and Summitville High School Gym built a 1,000-seat venue for $54,000. However, the Seymour gymnasium should have been completed within a year of its first shovel in the ground. Work was halted more than halfway through the project due to appropriations being exhausted. Everett I. Brown Company of Indianapolis was hired as its architect and at the end of its completion, cost $185,887. The original price tag was $95,000, but an additional $78,000 was needed to complete the basketball palace. Seymour issued bonds to help with the additional cost. The WPA paid $106,804, Seymour offered $69,083, and the civil city $10,000. There was even an architect’s fee of $7,866. The concrete and steel gym was designed to be fireproof and is 129 feet by 170 feet with a playing court of 50 feet by 76 feet. Its capacity is 3,500 and also houses classrooms and offices for the boys’ physical education department, music and industrial arts department, and the rehabilitation office. The Owls continued their success at Shields and captured 21 sectional titles from 1942-1970–including 12 consecutive from 1954-1965. There would also be 6 regional championships that culminated with an undefeated regular season in 1970. The magical season ended with an 80-78 loss to Loogootee in semi-state action, and the team finished with a 25-1 record for its last season at Shields. In 1959, the school moved to a new campus and changed its name to Seymour High School. The original classroom building adjacent to the gym was converted into a middle school. The gym would continue to be used by both schools for various functions, and the high school remained at the gym until the 1969-1970 academic year when a new gymnasium opened that more than doubled its size. The middle school would operate out of the school building and gym until it moved into its new school in 1981. The school offered the structures to the city for $1, but the mayor declined, indicating that the upkeep and repairs would be too costly. Mayor Christopher D. Moritz wanted to move the community center to the former high school, due to the current center needing a new $30,000 roof. However, this was turned down by its members. The Seymour School Board then rejected a bid from Indiana Bible College because it did not meet the legal requirement of 90 percent of the appraised value. The IBC offered $50,000, even though the structure was appraised at $80,000. Less than three weeks later, the college purchased the gymnasium for $50,000, along with the former high school for the same price plus five plots of land for $28,000. The Indiana Bible College renovated the two buildings in less than three months and opened for the academic year in September. At the time, there were high hopes that the university would put Seymour on the map in the same vein as DePauw University did for Greencastle and Hanover College did Hanover. Former Indiana governor Edward Whitcomb declared it “one of the most significant events in Seymour in the last hundred years.” The school was affiliated with United Pentecostal Church International. Students of any faith could enroll at the college and enrollment that the first year was 70 with hopes of more in the upcoming years. The rehabilitated building featured a church auditorium, library, cafeteria, and dormitories. The IBC closed its doors in town after seven academic years. This would lead to multiple discussions for the property’s future that included an area museum, a larger city hall, office space for the city parks department, and a branch for the Home Federal Savings Bank. The school building and gym had sentimental value to the city and many thought it would be used once again. The main hindrance in converting the property was the cost of upkeep. The building costs $155,000 and would need another $80,000 to clear up the mortgage balance and interest. In contrast, it would be $40,000 to raise both buildings, plus renovations would be more of a project that the city would not want to take on at the time. By 1996 the original school that was built in 1910 was severely deteriorating. Parts of it were falling down and vandals had broken many of the windows of the three-story structure. There were also two areas left unsecured that welcomed unwanted guests roaming the abandoned property. By this time, Ralph and Greg Pardieck, two local businessmen bought the property and buildings and hoped to sell them for a profit. The school building would be razed in 1997 leaving only the Shields Gym standing. The gym would be used from time to time, including a haunted house for Halloween and social gatherings. Pardieck offered to sell the gym to the city for 2.9 million dollars for use as a park in 2006. The park board suggested that he donate as a tax-write-off since the $12,000 monthly payment for the next 20 years would be out of the city’s reach. There was a need for gym space for recreational activities in Seymour, but the cost was too extraordinary. If Pardieck had donated the property, the city would have offered to rename the park after him. The board added that it would be a lot cheaper to build a brand-new building from scratch. The current P.A. and radio voice of Seymour basketball, Curt Nichols, indicated that the gym is stuck in the middle of it being too expensive to renovate and that the last will supersede the emotional attachment to its history. He would not be surprised if it is eventually razed to clear the property for other purposes. A Save Shields Facebook Group has been established to create awareness of its continued neglect under private ownership and seeks to have it returned to public use as a community center. However, the site’s last update was over three years ago. One last item from the property was moved to another part of town. Pardieck relocated the front arch of the school to the Chateau De Pique Winery. The building’s most recent news was in October of 2018 when firefighters were called out to put out a fire. The smoke billowed out of the upper windows and looked to be the work of an individual since the power and electricity had shut off for some time. Luckily, there did not appear to be any major damage, but that might not be the case the next time someone decides to enter the gym with nefarious intent. However, like many other sports venues from Hamtramck Stadium outside of Detroit , Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson , New Jersey, and Bush Stadium in Indianapolis , they have either been resurrected for usage or are in the process of being renovated. In Indiana alone, several former basketball gyms have been repurposed for current use from a restaurant and brewery in Whitestown to a bourbon distillery in Newtown. However, it takes a vision and a little capital to make enterprises like these a reality. Perhaps that will be the case in Seymour, Indiana. However, time is the building’s foe, and the future looks gravely dim. It will need a miracle shot at the buzzer to save it. ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Physical Activities Center 120 Tams Street Staunton, VA 24401 Physical Activities Center website Mary Baldwin Fighting Squirrels website Capacity: 150 Fight On, Squirrels Located in Staunton, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, Mary Baldwin University has one of the most unique nicknames in all of college athletics - the Fighting Squirrels. While most people would not associate squirrels with fighting, the nickname honors the family crest of the school's namesake, Mary Julia Baldwin. MBU plays their home basketball games in the campus gym, the Physical Activities Center, which also contains weight rooms, classrooms, and other facilities. They compete in the USA South Conference of the NCAA's Division III. Food & Beverage 2 There is a small table in the lobby of the PAC which offers only the most basic options. Candy, chips, soft drinks, and water are just about all you can find here. Prices are quite reasonable, with nothing costing more than a few dollars, but we suggest eating before or after the game. Atmosphere 3 There is a small set of bleachers at the Physical Activities Center, with only a few rows of seats. All of them are very close to the action, practically right off the court. In fact, you may not be able to walk to or from the bleachers while play is ongoing, because you are too close to the court and risk getting in the way. A Mary Baldwin Fighting Squirrels game is a pretty basic experience. The scoreboard shows just the basic information, and there is not a lot going on here besides the game itself. Unfortunately, Mary Baldwin does not do much to capitalize on their wacky Fighting Squirrels nickname. There is supposedly a costumed mascot according to their website, but none was seen at the game we visited. Other than the logo on the court, you wouldn't even know that was their nickname. This seems like an opportunity for improvement. Neighborhood 3 Staunton is a small city nestled in the scenic Shenandoah Valley. Downtown Staunton is just a short drive away from the MBU campus and includes several options such as Queen City Brewing, and restaurants ranging from classic southern eateries to taco restaurants and even a pupuseria. There are a couple of unique museums in Staunton, the Jumbo Antique Fire Engine Museum and the Camera Heritage Museum. If you are interested in the history of fire engines or photography, it will be well worth visiting. Although Staunton doesn’t have all the glitz and glamor of a major city or even a suburb, it does have some small town charm. Fans 5 Fighting Squirrels fans fill the small bleachers at the PAC and are quite passionate about their team. Despite their small size, they are loud, raucous, and passionate. They cheer on their team, and will let the refs know when they feel they have made a bad call. The bleachers will be quite full here, and with the small size of the gym, the volume can be electric. While you would not expect large crowds at a Division III level, the Physical Activities Center is just the right size for the crowds Mary Baldwin draws, which helps the fans contribute to the experience here. Access 2 Mary Baldwin University's campus is located a view miles off of Interstate 81. Once you are on campus, there is a small lot next to the arena and a larger one on the other side of the soccer field. Despite the signs saying permit only, you should be able to park in either lot for basketball games. Once inside, you will be in a small, cramped lobby that also has the concession and merchandise tables. The doors to the gymnasium will be on your left. The bleachers are also crowded and cramped, and as mentioned above, it is difficult to get to or from your seat while game action is underway since you are walking so close to the court. You should be fine getting up during timeouts. Restrooms are located on the second floor, up a staircase, and are small, single person facilities, so you may need to wait. Fortunately there is a glass window in that area that overlooks the court, so you can watch the game while you wait for everyone else to finish. There is also a trophy case there - it is a neat little room, actually. Return on Investment 5 Admission to Mary Baldwin basketball games is free, excluding possible postseason events. Concessions are affordable as well. This makes a Fighting Squirrels game an excellent value. Extras 3 One star for the trophy case on the second floor honoring MBU athletics achievements. Look for the merchandise table in the lobby next to the concessions table selling Fighting Squirrels merchandise. A third and final star for the banners in the gym honoring Mary Baldwin conference championships not just in basketball but in all sports. Final Thoughts The Physical Activities Center at Mary Baldwin University certainly has its charm. It is a small gym for a small school with loyal, passionate, rowdy fans. The Fighting Squirrels nickname is unique and wacky, although the team does not do much to capitalize on it. College basketball fans in the Staunton area may want to head down here to check out some small college basketball.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Franklin Forbes Arena 220 Joseph E Lowery Blvd SW Atlanta, GA 30314 Morehouse Maroon Tigers website Franklin Forbes Arena website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 6,000 Fight On, Morehouse Established in 1867, Morehouse College was founded in Augusta, Georgia for freedmen shortly following the end of the Civil War in 1865. The school would move to its current location in Atlanta in 1879. At the time it was called Atlanta Baptist Seminary, but the institution was renamed in 1913 in honor of Harry L. Morehouse, who was instrumental in the school’s growth. Under the presidency of Dr. Benjamin Mays in the 1940s and well into the 1950s, a concerted focus was placed on academic excellence, character development, and social responsibility – these were the characteristics that went into developing "Morehouse Men". The most notable of the Morehouse Men, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a member of Morehouse’s Class of 1948. Morehouse has also produced leaders such as Maynard Jackson, the first Black mayor of Atlanta; Hamilton E. Holmes, who went on to desegregate the University of Georgia; and Howard Thurmond, who many saw as the father of the non-violent resistance movement. Morehouse also produced popular entertainers such as Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, and Killer Mike, as well as Olympic hero Edwin Moses. Forbes Arena, home of Morehouse basketball, was initially used for preliminary rounds of basketball in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games; it was also home of the Atlanta Glory of the American Basketball League, as well as hosted a presidential visit by Barack Obama in 2018. Athletics have long been an important part of the Morehouse College experience – the Maroon Tigers are charter members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletics Conference in NCAA’s Division II, where they have played since 1913.   Food & Beverage   1 A lone concession stand sits in the main lobby area. Options are not extensive but will do in a pinch. Items consist of hot dogs, popcorn with your choice of multiple powered toppings, chips, and candy. Beverages include bottled Coca-Cola products and PowerAde.   Atmosphere   3 Along with being the home of Morehouse basketball, Forbes Arena also houses the university’s Athletic and Physical Education departments. Forbes Arena was built as an extension of the Maroon Tigers previous home, Archer Hall. The court itself, named in honor of Arthur McAfee, Jr., the winningest coach in Morehouse basketball history, uses a combination of stains to add a bit of customization to the floor. The areas inside the three-point arc use a traditional, blonde finish, while the rest of the court and the lane areas are a much more rich, brown color. The exterior of the playing area is surrounded with a Morehouse maroon stain, which allows the grain of the wood to show through. Above the maroon, tiger-striped “Morehouse M” at center court, a basic four-sided scoreboard displays time and score, while scoreboards also hang from opposite walls with the same information. The basketball experience at Morehouse is a very traditional one. Cheerleaders line the baseline calling out cheers throughout the game. Timeouts in the game do not have much by way of entertainment, but there are a handful of on-court recognitions and tumbling passes by members of the cheer squad. Half time might see a 3-point shootout between a few student groups as well.   Neighborhood   4 Morehouse College is in a cluster of three other of Atlanta’s historically black colleges, with its all-woman’s counterpart Spelman College plus Clark-Atlanta University and Morris Brown College – collectively the area has been dubbed “Atlanta University Center”. Morehouse and Clark-Atlanta’s basketball venues are approximately a half mile apart, creating one passionate experience when the two meet up. The area neighbors Atlanta’s Castleberry Hill, which has a concentration of restaurants and night life. With Morehouse’s location just outside of downtown Atlanta, and less than 2 miles from Centennial Olympic Park, there is a plethora of restaurants and entertainment options. One of the closest, Centennial Olympic Park, is home to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta. The University Center neighborhood of Atlanta, where Morehouse is located, is in a bit rougher part of the city, but Morehouse does take extensive measures to ensure the campus remains safe and secured.   Fans   3 Typical attendance numbers range from 700 to 800 for weekday games and get a boost to the neighborhood of 1,200 on weekends. If looking for a game with the most fan involvement, the matchup with neighboring Clark-Atlanta brings a much more enthusiastic fan experience. Access   3 Morehouse’s campus is currently undergoing significant construction, resulting in limited vehicular access in some places that creates congestion in others. There is not much by way of parking in the immediate vicinity of Forbes Arena, but there are parking decks near Clark-Atlanta and near the center of Morehouse’s campus. Street parking is available on the southern and eastern sides of B.T. Harvey Stadium, Morehouse's football venue, which leaves only a short walk to Forbes Arena. Despite the fact Atlanta does have a subway system, it does not come close enough to Morehouse’s campus to make it a viable option for getting to Forbes Arena. As long as the interstate is clear, however, the Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard exit from I-20 does provide direct access to the south side of the Morehouse campus. Upon arrival tickets can be purchased from a window at the right side of the plaza area, with entry to the left. Fans enter into a long hallway on the second level of the building that brings fans into the gym’s split-level seating. However, given the smaller sized crowds here, most sit in the lower level of the courtside seating.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets run $15 and can be purchased at the door or beforehand, online. Online prices are subject to a nominal processing fee. There is free street parking, but if you are looking for a bit more of a secured parking situation in the parking decks, it runs $5 for 3 hours.   Extras   2 Banners from all of Morehouse’s SIAC championships and NCAA tournament appearances are displayed on the walls of Forbes Arena. In the exterior hall there is a display recognizing the legacy of Coach Grady Brewer, while another display recognizes Harold Ellis, who was Morehouse’s only player to go on to play in the NBA. An extensive collection of trophies and memories from all of Morehouse’s athletic programs are also on display throughout the lobby.   Final Thoughts The current basketball atmosphere at Morehouse might be down a bit, but it is still a quality, traditional, very straightforward basketball experience. The historical significance that surrounds Morehouse, the tradition of its athletics programs, and the campus itself help to amplify the importance of Morehouse, creating a feeling of walking amongst greatness as soon as you step foot on campus.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Trustmark Park 1 Braves Way Pearl, MS 39208 Belhaven Blazers website Trustmark Park website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 8,480 Blazers Baseball on the banks of the Pearl River Belhaven University is a small private Christian university located in Jackson, MS. The school’s current location opened just north of downtown Jackson in 1894 in the mansion of former Confederate Colonel Jones S. Hamilton; the mansion was named Belhaven, and hence is how the university got its name. In 1927 a lightning strike destroyed the mansion, which housed the university’s only classrooms – the columns that stand today on the west side of the campus are the only remnants of the old college. The college was originally an all-female institute, but in 1954 males began being admitted, and the athletic program began two years later. Baseball began being played at Belhaven in 1964, with the Blazers competing in the NAIA. In 2015 the Blazers moved up to NCAA Division III, where they now compete in the newest conference at that level, the Collegiate Conference of the South, which they joined in 2022. During their time in the NAIA the Blazers had much success on the diamond, advancing to the NAIA Tournament 10 times and winning their regional twice. The Blazers best season was in 2010 when Belhaven played in their first NAIA world series, but since moving to D3 the Blazers have only been made one regional appearance. The Blazers have had many homes over the years, playing everywhere from local parks to local high schools. From 1996 thru 2011 the Blazers played on campus at McLeod Field, which is named after the first baseball coach in program history, and is now used as the home of the school's softball team. In 2012 the Blazers began playing at Historic Smith-Wills Stadium, in east Jackson, the former home of MiLB’s Jackson Mets/Generals (1975 to 1999). In 2022 the Blazers began playing at Trustmark Park in Pearl, about 7 miles southeast of campus, originally sharing the stadium with the former Double A Mississippi Braves  – during that time Belhaven still played at Smith-Willis Stadium occasionally, whenever there was as scheduling conflict with the M-Braves. But when the Braves left at the end of the 2024 season , it meant Belhaven no longer had to share the park, so the Blazers have played here exclusively ever since.   Food & Beverage   2 Trustmark Park has six permanent concession stands around the concourse, although only the Big Dawg stand on the first base side was open during my most recent visit. Trustmark Park also has a fully enclosed restaurant in right field called State Farm Grill, although it’s closed during Belhaven games. One plus to coming to a Belhaven game is you are also free to bring your own food or drinks into the stadium.   Atmosphere   3 Trustmark Park opened in 2005 and served as the home of MILB’s Mississippi Braves  from 2005 thru 2024, when the team’s 20-year lease was up on the stadium, and the team moved to Columbus, GA and re-branded as the Columbus Clingstones  starting in 2025. Trustmark Park is quite large with 8,840 permanent seats. For Belhaven games only one entrance is used, the one behind home plate, where you enter a wide and open spacious concourse at street level, looking down at a sunken field – there is not a bad seat in the house because of the way the ballpark is configured. The concourse is completely covered by the suites, so no matter where you are on the concourse you are not getting wet; the only area of the concourse that is not covered is the picnic area behind home plate. You won’t find any Belhaven signage in Trustmark Park, but there is plenty of Braves signage still located here, from the M-Braves logo at the main entrance to the Braves logo on the giant videoboard. One interesting note about the scoreboard in center field is that it was the largest videoboard in Double A baseball when the Mississippi Braves played here. The usual amenities you would have found when attending minor league games here in the past will not be found at Belhaven; there are no promotions, no mascot, no fun zone, and no team store. Instead, the focus is purely on baseball. There is a PA announcer who plays music, including walk-up music, but that is about it – the players even double as the grounds crew. The one positive is there are no ushers, so you are free to go anywhere you want to go in the stadium. Both second level party decks are open, as well as the Picnic Pavilion in left field, and the second level seating in front of the suites is open as well. This arrangement works out well for baseball purists who just want to sit and take in a game with no extras.   Neighborhood   3 Pearl is a suburb of about 25,000 people, the closest city over the Pearl River from Jackson to the east. Pearl has really grown in recent years thanks in part to its close proximity to the Capitol and government buildings of the state, but being in a different county they do not have to deal with some of the issues Jackson has dealt with in recent years. The opening of the ballpark in 2005 was meant to revitalize the area that was once all woods right off Interstate 20 – the opening of Trustmark Park helped created many businesses that have popped up over the last 20 years. Just across the street from the ballpark you can get plenty of shopping done at The Outlets of Mississippi; with over 75 stores including brands like Nike, Under Armour, Forever 21, Coach, and Marshall’s, you are bound to find something to buy at Mississippi's largest outdoor shopping center. In addition, right next door to the Outlets you can get the latest hunting and fishing gear at Bass Pro Shop, then hop on over to Cavender’s Outfitters next door to buy gear to hunt and fish in. A couple of restaurants worth checking out are Huey Magoo’s, a new local chicken tender joint next to the Outlets, while just down the road near the interstate is Frisco Deli, a family-owned deli-style restaurant, and Moss Creek Fish House, the only place in Pearl to get seafood. For nightlife, Pearl is in a dry county, but alcohol is sold in certain restaurants – the Mississippi-based sports bar Mugshots just opened on Bierdeman Road, where you can get a good selection of drinks or a burger before or after a Blazers game. The Holiday Inn next to Bass Pro also has a cool bar called the Alumni House, and of course, Bass Pro Shop has a pretty unique restaurant/bar surrounded by giant fish tanks. Other than that, your best bet for nightlife would be to venture into Jackson's Fondren District, about 15 minutes away. Jackson is also the state capital and has several historic attractions worth checking out, such as the new and old Capitol buildings and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.   Fans   3 Trustmark Park is just too large for the Blazers, as they only averaged between 100 and 150 fans per game last season; most of the fans in attendance seem to be friends and family of the players. The good thing is, because of their close relationship with the players most of the people here seem into the game and are knowledgeable of the players. Belhaven’s campus also sits next to the Milsaps College campus just north of downtown Jackson, about 7 miles away. The two schools meet up every year in the Cowboys Maloney’s Series, playing a game at Trustmark Park and a game at Twenty Field  each year. When the two schools meet up, expect more fans at Trustmark Park – Cowboy Maloney’s is a Jackson-based appliance chain owned by J. Con Maloney, the former owner of the Jackson Mets.   Access   4 Getting to Trustmark Park is pretty easy. If coming from out of town I-20 or Highway 49 are your best bets – the park is located right off the I-20 and Highway 49 interchange at Exit 48. As you are driving on the Interstate you can see Trustmark Park next to Bass Pro Shop and the Outlets, right before you get to the I-55 interchange. Once you get off Exit 48 travel north on Highway 49 about a half mile, then get on Highway 80 and take the first right onto Bass Pro Drive, and you'll see the park up ahead. Because of the lack of fans parking shouldn’t be an issue, as you can just pull right up to the stadium. Once in the stadium being able to walk around wherever you want is obviously a plus – there will be entire sections of seating you’ll get all to yourself, if you like watching baseball in the natural elements in the most tranquil setting. Being able to go up on the suite level is also a plus.   Return on Investment   3 Parking is free, tickets are free, and you are free to roam anywhere you want in a former minor league baseball stadium, so you can’t beat that. The only thing you’ll be paying for is concessions, or you can bring your own food and drinks from home – just don’t come expecting any bells and whistles. The focus here will be strictly on the game; if you do want to come to a Belhaven game here I’d recommend coming for the Cowboy Maloney Series, as it’ll be a much more lively atmosphere.   Extras   4 The Blazers have had 7 players drafted into the MLB, with the highest selected pick, Thomas Robbins, being taken in the 9th round in 1970.  There has yet to be a player from Belhaven who has actually made it to the Big Leagues, however. If you have time to check out the Belhaven campus it’s about a 10-15 minute drive from Pearl through downtown Jackson. The campus is small but filled with many historic buildings, making for a great walk if you enjoy walking around college campuses. The neighborhood is filled with many mansions as well, and Millsaps College is located just across the street. One extra for the Blazers playing at a former minor league ballpark with so much history and so many big games played here over the last 20 years. These small college players are playing on the same field as Ronald Acuna, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Max Fried, Dansby Swanson, and Spencer Strider all got their start on, as they all came through here as members of the M-Braves organization. Another extra for all the baseball games held at Trustmark Park throughout the year – in addition to Belhaven, Trustmark Park also serves as a neutral site home for Southern Miss , Mississippi State , and Ole Miss  when they play each other every year. The ballpark also hosts the Mississippi High School Baseball State Championships every year, and in May 2025 Trustmark Park will welcome its newest tenant, the Mississippi Mud Monsters  of the Independent Frontier League, who play here in the summer.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 John Singleton Stadium 300 Albemarle Rd Charleston, SC 29407 Porter-Gaud School website John Singleton Stadium website Year Opened: n/a Capacity: 1,000 The Cougars Court The Porter-Gaud School is an independent coeducational college preparatory day school in Charleston, South Carolina. Porter-Gaud was formed in July 1964 from the merger of three schools: the Porter Military Academy (founded 1867), the Gaud School for Boys (founded 1908), and the Watt School (founded 1931). The legal name of the institution remains The Porter Academy. Notable alumni include Stephen Colbert and NBA player Aaron Nesmith. Porter-Gaud School is a member of the South Carolina Independent School Association, and Porter-Gaud offers over 38 varsity and junior varsity sports. The school's athletic nickname is the Cyclone. Nestled within the scenic campus of Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, South Carolina, John Singleton Stadium provides a classic, intimate setting for high school lacrosse. The atmosphere is a perfect blend of spirited competition and community connection, making it an enjoyable experience for fans of all ages. Food & Beverage 0 There is a concession stand that is not in use for lacrosse games but you should have no issue bringing your own to the game. Atmosphere 3 The crowd is a mix of enthusiastic students, proud parents, and supportive faculty. The setting itself is very pleasant. The stadium is set within the larger sports fields of the school, so there is a nice open feel to the location. The cheers and chants from the Porter-Gaud faithful create a lively and encouraging environment for the home team. Neighborhood 5 Porter-Gaud School is located in a lovely area of Charleston, offering a safe and welcoming environment. While the immediate surroundings are primarily residential and academic, Charleston's rich history and vibrant downtown are just a short drive away, providing ample opportunities for pre- or post-game activities. Charleston is one of the nation's most beloved tourist destinations. You can see attractions like the bustling Old City Market, the captivating South Carolina Aquarium, and the picturesque Battery. The vibrant Marion Square, a hub of activity, regularly hosts lively festivals and transforms into a bustling weekend farmer's market during the growing season, providing a taste of local culture and produce. Food enthusiasts will find a plethora of dining options to satisfy their palates, including the casual fare at Carolina Ale House, the elevated views at Star Rooftop, and the refined cuisine at Halls Chophouse, all offering a sampling of Charleston's renowned culinary scene. Fans 3 The Porter-Gaud fans are passionate and knowledgeable about their team. There's a strong sense of school pride, with students and parents alike showing their support through spirited cheering and team apparel. The fans are very family-orientated and show very positive support for the players. Access 4 The school is easily accessible by car, and parking is generally available on campus. Navigating the campus is straightforward, and the stadium is well-marked. Checking the Porter-gaud athletics page before going to the game, will give you the most up-to-date information on game times and locations. Return on Investment 4 The games are free to attend. Extras 2 The well-maintained grounds and facilities contribute to the overall positive experience. There is a cool monument for Ben Burris at the entrance to the stadium. We don't know the back story but it is a nice feature. Final Thoughts Attending a Porter-Gaud boys lacrosse game at John Singleton Stadium is a delightful experience that captures the essence of high school sports. The combination of spirited competition, community support, and a pleasant setting makes it a worthwhile outing for any sports fan.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 TD Arena 301 Meeting Street Charleston, SC 29401 College of Charleston website TD Arena website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 5,100 The Cougars Court Established in 1770 and formally chartered in 1785, the College of Charleston stands as a venerable pillar of American higher education. Holding the distinction of being the oldest college south of Virginia and the 13th oldest in the United States, it blends historic significance with contemporary vibrancy. Today, the college flourishes as a central part of downtown Charleston, nurturing a diverse student body of approximately 11,500. The College of Charleston's basketball legacy stretches back to 1898, marking a long-standing commitment to the sport. As members of the Coastal Athletic Association, the Cougars have consistently demonstrated their prowess as a leading small college in Division I. Food & Beverage 2 The TD Arena is serviced by only one concession stand for women's basketball games. The offerings are simple but fair. Atmosphere 3 While the building's facade adheres to the Charleston Historic District's aesthetic, stepping inside reveals a strikingly modern facility. The expansive, two-story entry lobby functions as both a welcoming reception and a streamlined ticketing area, immediately setting a contemporary tone. Ascending to the arena level, visitors encounter a two-tiered seating bowl with concourses that offer unobstructed views of the court. Every seat throughout the arena boasts comfortable seat-back support. A stroll around the concourse showcases comprehensive displays highlighting every sport played at the College of Charleston, while championship banners suspended from the rafters attest to the school's athletic achievements. The court itself features the College of Charleston's distinctive maroon block "C" logo and the name of John Kresse, the legendary men's basketball coach whose 18-year tenure and record-breaking wins cemented his legacy. Corner-mounted video boards and scoreboards enhance the game-day experience. Neighborhood 5 Nestled within the historically rich Charleston Historic District, the TD Arena and the College of Charleston offer a prime starting point for exploring one of the nation's most beloved tourist destinations. The arena's central location places visitors within easy walking distance of iconic attractions like the bustling Old City Market, the captivating South Carolina Aquarium, and the picturesque Battery. The vibrant Marion Square, a hub of activity, regularly hosts lively festivals and transforms into a bustling weekend farmer's market during the growing season, providing a taste of local culture and produce. Food enthusiasts will find a plethora of dining options to satisfy their palates, including the casual fare at Carolina Ale House, the elevated views at Star Rooftop, and the refined cuisine at Halls Chophouse, all offering a sampling of Charleston's renowned culinary scene. Moreover, the area surrounding the TD Arena boasts a variety of lodging choices, allowing visitors to conveniently attend games while avoiding the expense and inconvenience of parking, further enhancing the overall experience. Fans 3 There are just not many fans who attend the women's games here at TD Arena. The ones that do are loud and proud though. Access 3 Navigating to the TD Arena is straightforward, as Meeting Street serves as a primary artery through downtown Charleston, readily accessible from both Highway 17 and I-26. From I-26, simply proceed east until the highway terminates in downtown Charleston, then take exit 221-B and follow the signs for Meeting Street, bearing right onto it. The TD Arena will be on your right, immediately past the Calhoun Street intersection. From Highway 17, cross the Ashley River Bridge into Charleston, bear right onto Lockwood Boulevard, keeping to the left lane, and turn left onto Calhoun Street at the first traffic light. The TD Arena stands at the corner of Calhoun and Meeting Street. However, once you arrive at the arena, parking presents a challenge. Downtown Charleston parking is scarce, and while nearby garages exist, they often implement special event pricing during home games. Therefore, it is advisable to explore Charleston during the day, immersing yourself in its historical homes and landmarks. Charleston's renowned culinary scene provides ample opportunities for dining at its fine downtown restaurants. Opt for a parking lot with a favorable early-bird rate, transforming your trip into a full-day experience. Charleston is a pedestrian-friendly city, and the TD Arena is conveniently accessible from any point within the downtown area. Return on Investment 4 Notably, admission to women's basketball games is free. However, the most significant expense of attending a Cougars game is undoubtedly parking. Situated within the Historic District, the arena competes with tourist traffic for parking spaces, resulting in prices of $20 or more for parking near the arena on game nights. Extras 3 The TD Arena's court proudly bears the name of John Kresse, the College of Charleston's most victorious men's coach. His remarkable 560 wins propelled the Cougars to four NCAA Tournament appearances and three NIT appearances, solidifying his legendary status. In a moment of profound significance, the TD Arena served as the venue for the memorial service honoring the victims of the Emanuel AME church shootings. The church, a poignant landmark, is located just a short distance from the arena, underscoring the arena's role as a community gathering space. The College of Charleston's campus presents a unique and captivating aesthetic, unlike any other. Its architecture primarily features repurposed historic houses, seamlessly integrated into academic buildings. The campus extends across multiple city blocks in downtown Charleston, united by a charming brick-paved plaza that replaces former streets. The school's commitment to historic preservation has garnered recognition at both local and national levels. Daily self-guided and student-led tours offer visitors the opportunity to explore this distinctive campus. Final Thoughts The College of Charleston's legacy of basketball achievement is reflected in the exceptional TD Arena, a top-tier facility for a Division I small school. Its first-class design and amenities undeniably create a powerful impression.