Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 DATCU Stadium 1251 S Bonnie Brae St Denton, TX 76205 North Texas Mean Green website DATCU Stadium website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 30,100 Mean and Green Since 1890, the   University of North Texas  has been the largest state-supported college in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the third-largest university in Texas. In its 134-year history, it has grown to become a Tier 1 research university offering 114 bachelor's, 97 master's, and 39 doctoral degree programs. North Texas State Normal College played its first game against TCU  at Eagle Field in 1913. In the 111 years since that first loss, the football program, much like the university itself, has seen great growth. The university changed its name to North Texas State Teachers College in 1923, North Texas State College in 1949, North Texas State University in 1961, and eventually the University of North Texas in 1988. To mirror these name changes, the football program has grown from its humble beginnings, enjoyed membership in various conferences through the years, including a short stint in Division 1-AA in the late 1980s, and is now a strong member of the American Athletic Conference. UNT has had the Eagle mascot since early in its history. The “Mean Green” name was credited to the Sports Information Director’s wife in 1966, who would yell, “Go Mean Greene,” either in support of sophomore “Mean Joe” Greene, the program’s most famous alum, or in support of the team’s strong defense at the time. Built-in 2011, at the convergence of Interstates 35 East and West, DATCU Stadium’s signature winged end zone section towers above the highway and surrounding landscape – the winged shape pays homage to the school's flying eagle logo. The unique end zone seating is not the only signature feature of the stadium; however, DATCU Stadium also has the designation of being the first collegiate football stadium to be awarded a LEED Platinum Certification, the highest level of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design status. Many renewable resources are used in this venue, including three large wind turbines providing approximately half a million-kilowatt hours of electricity, along with decreasing CO2 and water usage. Easily accessible from any direction, the stadium is the center of the university’s expansive athletic complex, with ample parking within walking distance of the gate. The game day experience begins outside the stadium on The Hill, which is covered in more detail later. Mean Green football games are engaging and present a budget-friendly option for football fans of all ages.   Food & Beverage   3 There are ample food and beverage options at DATCU Stadium, with over 20 separate concession areas. The sides of the stadium host identical main stands, with options such as burgers, barbecues, hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, pretzels, and Coca-Cola soft drinks. Coors Light, Miller, and Dos Equis beers can be purchased at most concession stands as well. In addition to the traditional ballgame fare, there are also a few areas for specialty food and drinks. Salvata Salad Kitchen serves healthy wraps, including a veggie option; Beth Marie’s Ice Cream offers several flavors of specialty ice cream in a cone or cup, and 1521 Crafthouse offers many craft beer options. The Wing Pub, a full-service bar, is located in the northeast corner of the stadium, where fans 21 and over can purchase wine and liquor in addition to beer. To circumvent waiting in line, fans can also utilize the FanFood app and select one of three concession stands from which to order and pick up their food; menus for each mobile concession stand are posted online.   Atmosphere   4 The game day atmosphere starts on The Hill well before kickoff. As the name implies, this area is a large hill just east of DATCU Stadium, behind the visitor stands. On The Hill, fans will find party tents sponsored by fraternities, sororities, businesses, and fans, as well as a DJ, children’s play area, and a live music stage. In addition to the many sponsored areas, there are multiple food trucks offering plenty of choices to satisfy most anyone’s palate, and at the game I attended most recently, there was a pregame concert by a local band followed by plenty of upbeat music to set the mood for the early evening kickoff. Just outside the gate on the home side stands a statue of Mean Joe Greene, NFL Hall of Famer and possibly UNT’s most famous alum. Inside the stadium, fans will find merchandise stores on both sides of the stadium and a children’s play area underneath the winged end zone, which includes bounce houses and children’s games. Other items of interest include “Boomer,” the Civil War replica cannon fired after UNT scores, as well as The Mean Green Machine, a 1929 UNT-themed Model A on display during games. North Texas is known for its music department, so the Green Brigade Marching Band is understandably large and very entertaining. UNT also boasts a championship-level cheer squad and dance team to entertain fans. Scrappy, the mascot, is a fan favorite who stops for every request to pose for pictures and give a fist bump. The atmosphere is enhanced with many in-game promotions, special recognitions, and crowd participation games. During most TV timeouts, including quarter changes, there is either something taking place on the field or attention being drawn to the large scoreboard for announcements or a contest. For example, at the last game, I attended, two of UNT’s best football teams of the past, and later UNT’s national champion polo team, were recognized on the field, and there were also three different games on the field, including participants chosen from the crowd, similar to the on-field games played during a minor league baseball game. There were also student winners randomly named on the scoreboard throughout the game, the grand prize of which was a free semester’s tuition.   Neighborhood   3 The University of North Texas is in the city of Denton, 40 minutes north of both Fort Worth and Dallas. With a population of around 140,000, Denton is considered a college town, with many businesses and restaurants catering to two local universities (UNT and Texas Women’s University), their students, and visitors. Due to the size and location of the DATCU stadium, hotels and restaurants are just a short drive up or down I-35 (2-5 miles from the venue) – that drive can take anywhere from 3-20 minutes depending on the time of day and traffic. The nearest hotel is Hampton Inn & Suites Denton-Rayzor Ranch , with a couple of other choices being Holiday Inn Express , Embassy Suites , and SpringHill Suites . Within a short drive of campus, there are also dining options that will satisfy any palate and budget – some local favorites include Frosty’s Drive N , Rusty Taco , LSA Burger Company , New York Sub Hub , and Crooked Crust Pizza , but another must stop destination is Buc-ee’s – if you‘ve never experienced Buc-ee’s before, you’ll want to stop and peruse this Texas-sized convenience store, restaurant, dry goods store, and gas station that features immaculate restrooms. Take my advice and grab a bag of Beaver Nuggets and a pulled pork or chopped brisket sandwich for the road, then grab souvenir t-shirts for your family and friends back home. If you are into the nightlife or beer culture, Denton is long known for its bars, pubs, and craft breweries. You can check out the numerous bars on Fry Street, including Lucky Lou’s and Cool Beans Bar and Grill , across from the UNT campus. Craft Beers can be found in downtown Denton’s Craft Beer District, with many pubs and brewhouses within walking distance – a couple of these are The Bearded Monk  and Oak Street Draft House and Cocktail Parlor .   Fans   2 If there is an area that is lackluster about the game day experience, it is the lack of attendance here. With an announced attendance of a little over 27,000 at the game I last attended, the stands told another story – even in the midst of a winning season and the game falling on Family Weekend, the venue appeared to only be at approximately 60% capacity. Despite this, the students' section located behind the visitor bench was involved in the game.   Access   4 Getting into the stadium, parking is straightforward and well-marked, with plenty of signage, traffic control officers, and cones directing the flow. With parking prices as low as $20 if purchased early, fans can find a parking lot in the location of their choice on the DATCU parking website . There is also a specific, well-marked rideshare pick-up/drop-off lot just east of the stadium off Interstate 35 East. ADA parking and ADA-equipped shuttle service are also available for guests requiring such services. Inside the stadium, fans have access to both sides via a wide concourse that also encircles the winged north end zone. There are also at least three gender-specific restrooms per side, as well as family facilities available. All restrooms come equipped with diaper changing stations, and wheelchair ramps and wide entrances allow for the smooth flow of fans at all times.   Return On Investment   4 Fans attending Mean Green home football games should find that their time and money were well spent. Tailgating on The Hill kicks the day off at little to no cost, with the only investment involving bringing your food and drink or purchasing fare from a local food vendor. Many party groups will even share their tailgate with passersby after simply starting up a conversation. Once inside the stadium, concessions are reasonably priced, with entree items ranging from $7-$10 on average and drinks $3-$8. One nice amenity is FREE water filling stations; if you choose to bring in an empty 20-ounce water bottle, you can drink all the water desired without spending a dime.   Extras   3 The free water filling stations are worthy of special recognition, especially when many of the games during August and September are in 90+ degrees heat. College football games, wrought with TV timeouts, can drag on if you don’t have proper game day staff getting the crowd involved – fans here never realize there is a break in the action with all the activities that go on here. The Hill and children’s play areas are worthy of another point; along with the affordability of the games, Mean Green games are value-filled outings for families with children, especially in a market like the DFW metroplex with so many alternative entertainment options.   Final Thoughts UNT football presents a fun and engaging game day atmosphere – the lively tailgating scene, quality opponents, and affordable prices create an environment where Mean Green football games can be a destination for many fans. With a student enrollment of over 40,000, it’s puzzling how the general admission sections are not filled, but the absentee students are the ones missing out. North Texas has the practices and procedures of game day well-oiled and smooth. Despite the most recent game I attended lasting nearly 4 hours due to television breaks, this was hardly noticed because of the on-field games and action on the large scoreboard. I consider DATCU Stadium one of the most accessible and budget-friendly Division I football experiences I’ve attended, and I encourage you to add it to your travel itinerary if you haven’t already been.

Photos by Dylan McLean, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 NSC Super Rink 1850 105th Ave NE Blaine, MN 55449 NAHL website NSC Super Rink website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: N/A Super Rink In the 2000s, a change in recruiting practices swept across college hockey. This change saw the average age of NCAA Hockey playing freshmen shift from 18 to 19 or 20. With this shift came new opportunities for Junior hockey leagues, as the number of kids now needing to play a year or two of Junior hockey before moving on to the NCAA exploded. More than any other league, the North American Hockey League (NAHL) recognized this opportunity and took advantage by adding multiple expansion teams and expanding the league’s footprint in the South and East particularly. The crown jewel in the NAHL’s annual schedule of events is the NAHL Showcase, which it markets as the “Greatest Show on Ice.” Each year in late September, the Showcase kicks off the new NAHL season by drawing hundreds of scouts, thousands of fans, and all 35 of the league’s franchises to the Super Rink in Blaine, MN, part of the National Sports Center athletic complex, with each team competing in 3 regular season games over 5 days. In addition to all the Junior hockey games taking place there, the NAHL also utilizes this event to kick off the season for its dozens of affiliate clubs from around the country playing at the U16, U17, and U18 levels by bringing them to Blaine as well. With so many games happening in one location, it’s a hockey fan's dream. What makes having this many teams and this many games even possible, is the unique facility that the NAHL utilizes year after year to host this showcase: the Super Rink and its eight sheets of ice, all housed under the same roof. With 35 member clubs, the NAHL is the only Tier II Junior circuit in the USA, while the USHL and its 16 clubs are the only Tier 1 Junior circuit in the U.S. These two are the only Junior Hockey leagues in the U.S. that operate under a “free to play” model, meaning the players don’t pay any fees to play, and the club they play for covers all hockey-related expenses. Naturally, it’s these two leagues that tend to get the majority of high-level prospects and end up sending the largest number of players on to the NCAA hockey each year, and for the NAHL, that year begins with their 5-day Showcase at the NSC Super Rink. Food & Beverage 3 The Super Rink houses one large concession stand located in the main lobby near the rinks 1-4. The menu is made up of standard hockey arena fare, with some items priced at about what you’d expect and others that leave you asking what the extra few dollars were for. Candy and chips for $2 aren’t bad, Apple Cider, Hot Chocolate, or coffee will cost you $3, which is within reason. If you want something closer to a meal, though, it’s going to cost you. Paying $6 for a standard hot dog, a slice of pizza for $6.50, or a cheeseburger for $7.50 may have you wishing that you’d made time for a pre or post-game meal at a restaurant instead. There is a decent selection of options, and if the upcharges on items that you’ll typically find for less elsewhere don’t bother you, then go for it. After the thousands of dollars annually that hockey parents shell out each year for ice time, equipment costs, and travel, I’d guess most of them are fine going with old ice arena standards like coffee and popcorn and their prices. Atmosphere 5 Simply being in a facility that holds eight sheets of ice is a unique experience, given that it’s the only one in North America and possibly the world. As a fan, being able to walk from one rink to the next, or the next, or the next, and watch different games is about as good as it gets. In that respect, the Super Rink offers an experience that you literally can’t get anywhere else. When you consider the atmosphere at the NAHL Showcase, though, one must acknowledge the bigger picture, as the atmosphere is present throughout all eight ice sheets within the main lobby, even extending beyond the Super Rink’s frigid walls and spilling out to the arena’s exterior, primarily because of the facility’s unique location. The Super Rink is part of the larger National Sports Center complex in Blaine. In addition to the Super Rink and its eight sheets of ice and full dryland training facility, the NSC includes a golf course, outdoor stadium, sports hall, sports expo building, seven artificial turf soccer fields, and over 40 grass soccer fields. The U.S. Women’s National Hockey team regularly uses the Super Rink as their home training facility, and if you were to exit their designated rink and take only a few steps, you’d run directly into the home training facility and practice fields of the Minnesota United Loons of Major League Soccer. In addition to annually hosting the largest youth soccer tournament in North America, each Summer in the USA Cup, soccer, and hockey tournaments are happening at NSC nearly every weekend, and that was no different during the NAHL Showcase. When driving into the NSC complex and making your way toward the Super Rink, a definite buzz can be felt in the air, and action is all around as dozens of soccer games take place. As you pull into the already full Super Rink parking lot to begin the search for a parking spot, several buses adorned with team logos are parked up front, loading and unloading hockey players. Players and fans mill about outside of the main entrance talking, getting something to eat at one of the onsite food trucks, or simply warming up in the late September sun after spending the past few hours inside of a cold hockey rink. People flow in and out of the rink entrance while people in cars drive up and down the lanes of the parking lot, searching for that elusive open spot. The air is filled with the sound of whistles and the cheering of fans at the soccer games surrounding the complex. It is an incredibly unique and vibrant atmosphere, making it easy to see why the NAHL utilizes the Super Rink for this event year after year. So far, we’ve only looked at the atmosphere outside of the rink, though. To truly experience the NAHL Showcase, you need to go inside, past the ticket takers, and up the stairs into the “heart” of the facility, where you will experience the other half of what creates the unique atmosphere found at the NAHL Showcase: the people. The bulk of activity at the Showcase can be found within the Super Rink’s original main lobby housing rinks 1 through 4. Fans attending the Showcase certainly contribute to creating the overall atmosphere here, but since we’ll be covering them in their section further down, in this space, I want to address those whose presence truly creates the atmosphere that is felt over the 5-day event, and those are the players on the teams participating that can found around every corner. The players who make up the NAHL teams playing here are mostly all between the ages of 18 and 20, and they’re all dreaming of on-ice success that leads to a scholarship, allowing them to continue their hockey careers. With the Showcase occurring right at the start of a new season, many of these kids are new to Junior hockey and only recently earned their roster spot and became a part of their team. With memories of all the other players who were cut from tryouts still fresh in their minds, they arrive in Blaine, bursting with energy, pride, and enthusiasm, ready to prove themselves again after successfully navigating the first big step on the path toward realizing their ultimate goal. Everywhere you look, both inside the facility and outside, teenage hockey players roam. Players covered in post-game sweat and lugging a large bag of wet hockey gear on their shoulders spill out from locker rooms adorned in sweatshirts, hats, and various other team apparel and make their way toward the lobby to greet family and friends. Other players can be seen decked out in suits and team jackets, strolling between the various rinks and checking out different games, socializing, or grabbing food at the snack bar. With over 700 Junior hockey players filtering in and out of the complex during the 5 days of the event, it would be nearly impossible not to feel the energy and excitement they emit. Neighborhood 4 Blaine is a large suburb north of Minneapolis with nearly 80,000 residents. It’s pretty much what you’d expect, with large suburban homes, numerous chain restaurants, and endless options for shopping. The National Sports Center sits right in the middle of it all, taking up several acres of land and surrounded by heavily trafficked roads and highways on all sides. Were it not for the presence of the NSC , Blaine might be indistinguishable from many other suburbs, and that’s not a bad thing. Due to the amount of real estate required, a complex of this size could never exist in the city, and with Blaine lying only a few burbs’ away from the downtown core, it’s an ideal location. With strip malls and commerce of all types surrounding the NSC , there are multiple fast-food dining options available if you’re hoping to eat before or after your event. If you’re looking to meet up with other friends/parents for a pre or postgame drink or dinner, the selection is a bit thinner near the NSC. Within the shadow of the NSC, there are only a few bar & grill-type places, with the two closest being Clive’s Roadhouse and Invictus Brewing Co . Clive’s is a standard bar and restaurant with several locations in the Twin Cities and is known for having great food. Invictus is a local example of the craft beer/brewhouse-type establishments that have proliferated across the county in recent years. It’s an ideal meeting place for either before or after your event, where you can sample a few of the local brews or have a full meal. Many people were doing just that when I stopped in at each during the Showcase , as both were full of fans either heading to or coming from games at the S uper Rink. Fans 5 With the Showcase starting on a Wednesday and running through Sunday, I was afforded plenty of time to fit in a few trips out to the Super Rink over those 5 days. One thing that remained constant during each of my visits was the significant number of fans in attendance. The main lobby was filled pretty much all of the time, but most impressive was how many fans filled the seating area in each rink. Most of the games that I spent time watching had full seating areas, leaving anyone who arrived late to seek a spot down near the glass to watch. Among those watching in the stands, a decent number were certainly either parents or family members of players on the ice, but quite a few general hockey fans were making up those in attendance. Everyone that I encountered was well-behaved, knowledgeable about the game, and engaged in the action. It did not take much to see that the fans attending the NAHL Showcase were there either because they loved hockey or someone was on the ice. You cannot ask for more than that. Access 4 There are plenty of roads that will take you to the Super Rink, but the time of day you go will dictate whether it feels like a Sunday drive or an invitation to road rage. The highways that encompass the NSC are packed with commuters heading into Minneapolis or St. Paul on weekday mornings and back into Blaine and beyond in the afternoons. Highway 65 from Minneapolis will take you right into Blaine, then you take a right-hand turn on 105th Ave, and you’ll see the NSC complex and Super Rink on the right-hand side about half a mile down. This is the most commonly used route and has maddening traffic during rush hours. Another option if coming from the east is to take I-35 North to the exit for 95th Ave. Turn right at the top of the exit on 95th Ave., which turns into Radisson Rd. NE. Stay on Radisson until you reach 105th Ave. NE and turn left. The Super Rink will be visible on your left. Return on Investment 4 Depending on how much hockey you’re interested in seeing will dictate the best ticket option for you. Passes that give access to the entire tournament are available for $75 for Adults and $35 for Students, Military, Seniors, and First Responders. Children 8 and are free. If you’re only going for a single game, the Daily Pass is the way to go. The cost of a Daily Pass for Adults is $30, $15 for Students, Military, Seniors, and First Responders, and no charge for kids aged eight and under. Considering that it provides you access to 5 days of unlimited hockey games day and night, the full Tournament pass can be justified at $75. $30 is a significant amount if you’re only attending a single game, but you have the option to watch as many games as you want on that day, so a case can be made to justify the price. If you are a hockey fan, though, it is a minimal price to pay to have access to all the hockey games you could want. Extras 4 Interesting fact: In addition to the Showcase, the NAHL holds several other events at various locations each season, like their Top Prospects Tournament and Prospects Challenge. Their two biggest events, though, are the Showcase and Robertson Cup Championships are both held in Blaine, but at different venues. While the Showcase is held at the NSC Super Rink, for the past few years, the NAHL has crowned its champion at Fogarty Arena, which is only about a mile away on the other side of Hwy 65. Final Thoughts One fact that the NAHL consistently markets, and rightly so, is the number of NCAA hockey commitments that players in the league receive each season, with the bulk of these being to Division 1 programs. Scouts from NHL teams and nearly every D1 NCAA program can be seen everywhere throughout the tournament. They’re easy to identify with their clipboards in hand and usually sporting a shirt or sweatshirt with their organization’s logo on it. The NAHL Showcase has become somewhat of a kickoff point for the upcoming scouting season, often leading to NHL Draft rankings and college scholarships. The kids who play in this Showcase know that among the eyes watching them could be those of a scout who likes what he sees and, thus, begins a conversation that very well may lead to a dream fulfilled. Many unique and interesting aspects come together to make the NAHL Showcase the spectacle it has become, but the opportunity it provides for the players has to be the coolest, in my opinion. With so many scouts in attendance, the on-ice performances put on by some of these players could be the catalyst that leads to an entirely new journey in their lives. When you add this on top of the incredible atmosphere, the uniqueness of the facility that’s able to accommodate this event, and the fact that you can choose from among dozens of games per day to watch and never have to leave the same building, it’s fair to wonder if maybe the NAHL’s marketing team wasn’t exaggerating when they branded the Showcase as the “Greatest Show on Ice.”

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Convocation Center 1 UTSA Cir San Antonio, TX 78249 UTSA Roadrunners website Convocation Center website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 2,650 UTSA Roadrunners – Convocation Center Founded in 1969, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is the largest in South Texas. Nearly from the outset, the university has fielded numerous athletics teams, including one of their most successful program: women’s volleyball. Since their inaugural season in 1983, the UTSA Roadrunners have been a consistent force on the court – they won conference titles in 1999, 2000, and 2010 as members of the Southland Conference and in 2013 and 2014 as part of Conference USA. From the outset, the volleyball team has called the historic Convocation Center, located on the UTSA campus, their home court. Affectionately known as the Bird Cage, the facility is known for its brutalist-style architecture and glorious rust-colored exterior. The venue is also home to UTSA’s basketball programs and some athletics offices and was the former home for decades worth of graduation ceremonies. Read on to learn more about the historic Convo.   Food & Beverage   3 The Convocation Center has, for the bulk of its lifetime, maintained and operated one concession stand. Located near the main entrance, this stand serves up basic stadium fare such as hot dogs (or chili dogs, if that’s your preference), nachos (which can also be topped with said chili), and Frito pie (my personal favorite), as well as bags of chips and popcorn, boxes of candy, bottled soda, bottled water, and sports drinks. Two factors keep this section’s score from being lower – first, fans can purchase beer and wine during Roadrunners volleyball games at the Bird Cage. Second, the costs for everything are very affordable. Aside from the alcohol, the cost for most of your food and drink options is less than $5 each; your wallet is safe when you watch the Roadrunners play volleyball.   Atmosphere   3 Inside the Convo, it still feels very much like a high school gym. Fans are just mere feet away from the court and all the action, especially on the student’s side of the court. This allows fans to really get a sense of the on-court action and to get a sense of the energy of the crowd. It had been quite a few years since I last attended a UTSA volleyball game, so I was pleasantly surprised at how engaged and excited fans were (more on them shortly), as well as how much this engagement enhanced the overall atmosphere. Other than the above, there is not much else at the Convo for fans to take in. There is a small merchandise area inside near the main entrance, and there are also trophy cases touting the success of Roadrunners teams of the past near the staircases inside. Championship banners for the men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams also hang from the rafters over the court – it’s pretty bare bones, which is to be expected for a utilitarian facility like the Convocation Center.   Neighborhood   4 The Convocation Center is located right in the middle of the UTSA campus, which is on the far northwest side of the Alamo City. As such, the facility is pretty removed from most of the attractions that visitors usually come to San Antonio to see. However, that doesn’t mean there is nothing for fans to do and see before and after UTSA volleyball games. Directly across from the campus, separated by Loop 1604, is Six Flags Fiesta Texas . The largest theme park in this part of Texas, it draws millions of visitors a year who come to catch the shows, ride rollercoasters, and visit the adjacent water park. It’s open year-round, and the bulk of the volleyball season offers up some of the coolest weather, so you won’t mind waiting in line to get on the rides here. Also across the highway from campus is La Cantera Resort & Spa  – this four-star resort features world-class golf courses (it was the longtime home of the PGA’s Valero Texas Open ), a truly upscale spa, and some of the finest restaurants in the city, as well as a host of high-end shopping options. It is arguably the nicest place to stay in the city and is probably the best place – if your budget allows – to stay near campus. Since this is a college campus, you can expect fast-food restaurants to make up the bulk of the dining options nearby. However, there are still a few spots worth noting, the first being Smokey Mo’s BBQ . If you’re in Texas, you’re going to need to get some barbecue at some point. Smokey Mo’s would be considered a fast-casual style of the joint, but what it does offer will satisfy you. I would personally recommend getting the turkey, along with one of the traditional Texas trinity options. Also, who doesn’t love a good burger? Bunz Handcrafted Burgers is very close to UTSA’s campus. The massive burgers you can get at Bunz can be topped with something as simple as bacon and pepper jack cheese or with something as outlandish as a crab cake and Korean-style barbecue or ribs. For lodging options, in addition to La Cantera Resort, there are also a couple of choices within five minutes of the Convo, including DoubleTree by Hilton San Antonio Northwest  and Spark by Hilton San Antonio Northwest near Six Flags . San Antonio is abundant with dining and lodging options – it will all depend on your taste, your budget, and how far you’re willing to travel.   Fans   3 Last season was UTSA’s first as a member of the American Athletic Conference. Not so coincidentally, this year’s volleyball team set the all-time attendance record for the program, with over 11,000 fans attending home games at the Bird Cage – four games against a longtime rival, as well as newer conference foes, each saw over 1,000 fans attend. That is a far cry from what I have been accustomed to here; during the most recent game I attended, the Convo was virtually packed. Fans got here early, and they were decked out in Roadrunner orange and blue, and they were loud. The energy was palpable, which greatly added to the excitement and enjoyment of the experience. I think if UTSA volleyball can maintain this type of growth in the program, the attendance numbers will continue to rise.   Access   4 UTSA’s campus and the Convocation Center are housed between two major highways in San Antonio, the aforementioned Loop 1604 and Interstate 10. The campus is a 20-minute drive from downtown San Antonio and a 15-minute drive from San Antonio International Airport. The Convo is visible from Loop 1604, and exit signs mark the way off I-10. This highway intersection has become one of the most congested in the city, however, so consider that if you’re driving to the game. Once onsite, parking is plentiful – just take care not to park in any restricted areas. The city’s mass transit option, VIA Metropolitan Transit , also has several bus routes to and from campus if that’s the direction you want to take.   Return on Investment   4 Single-game tickets for UTSA volleyball start at $10 for general admission seating. When you couple this with the low cost of concessions and the free parking, you’re getting a great bargain. The American Athletic Conference offers up quite a few quality volleyball programs, all of which will make an appearance or two at the Bird Cage throughout the season – it’s a fun experience and is easy on your bank account.   Extras   3 UTSA offers up a lot of the traditional pageantry that most schools have for their volleyball games – the UTSA Cheer Squad mans the area along the baselines and tosses t-shirts to the crowd after big set points, while beloved UTSA mascot Rowdy can be found interacting with fans and taking photos all throughout the game. The Spirit of San Antonio (SOSA) Marching Band  can also be found in the stands, performing the fight song and the alma mater. It’s not a lot, but it all adds to the atmosphere and energy of the crowd.   Final Thoughts Even though I’m an alum and a fan of all things UTSA, I haven’t been to many volleyball games over the years. My knowledge of the sport is admittedly limited. However, I had a fun time on my most recent visit, though I admit that a lot of my good feelings toward the historic Convo are tied to memories of the good old days. Pulling off my orange and blue tinted glasses, however, my opinion of the Convocation Center doesn’t change – it’s got charm, it’s got history, and when it’s got fans in the stands, it gives off great energy. While I wouldn’t go so far as to say it needs to belong on anyone’s bucket list, you could do a lot worse than taking in a volleyball game at the Bird Cage. Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

How will the new NCAA eligibility rule in the CHL affect junior hockey players in North America? Also, we look at the PWHL jersey release.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast can be found by searching HIAC Talk Radio   wherever you look for your favorite podcasts. Video simulcasts of all the Stadium Journey podcasts can be found on Stadium Journey's YouTube page . Join us live as we record every other Monday on our social media streaming channels.

Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey The Texas A&M Aggies control their destiny again in the college football playoff, thanks to losses today by Georgia  and LSU . The Aggies were beaten badly by the South Carolina Gamecocks on November 2nd, losing 44-20, after having started the season undefeated in SEC conference play and with only one overall loss to Notre Dame  back in Week 1. Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Following the 11/2 loss to the Gamecocks , the Aggies  joined several other 1-loss teams in the SEC, namely Georgia , LSU , Texas , and Tennessee , meaning they would need a little help to ensure they could still make the SEC championship game. Then, on November 9th, while Texas A&M was sitting out the week on a bye, Alabama  stunned LSU 42-13, while Ole Miss  took down Georgia 28-10, leaving the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas A&M Aggies as the current Top 2 teams in the SEC standings. The only other current 1-loss team in the SEC is the Texas Longhorns , who Texas A&M  plays on November 30th – that game will be the 119th contest in that epic rivalry, which has been on hiatus for 13 years ever since the Aggies bolted from the Big 12 to join the SEC. If Texas A&M can beat Texas, as well as win their other two remaining games this season (versus New Mexico State and Auburn ), the Aggies will punch their ticket to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta, and if they win that game, almost certainly earn a spot in the first-ever 12-team college football playoff.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Stabler Arena 124 Goodman Dr Bethlehem, PA 18015 Lehigh Mountain Hawks website Stabler Arena website Year Opened: 1979 Capacity: 6,000 Safe & Sound at the Stabler Arena While attending a Lehigh University basketball game at the Stabler Arena, I was told a story from one of the ushers about an alumnus who claimed to have attended every game since he graduated high school in 1934. I assume that this had been some time ago since this man would be close to 110 years old, but he swore up and down that all the games had been played in the same building since he was an undergrad. The only problem was that the Stabler Arena opened in 1979–45 years after he had graduated college. The 6,200 multi-purpose arenas were dedicated on May 26 of that year with commencement ceremonies and became home to Lehigh basketball the following season. The building is named after Donald, a 1930 Lehigh graduate, and Dorothy Stabler, who were primary donors of the facility. The arena replaced Taylor Gymnasium, which had been home to the basketball program since 1914 and where the former alumni probably saw a majority of his games–it still exists on campus as a fitness center. The Mountain Hawks are members of the Patriot League and have a strong rivalry with nearby Lafayette College in Easton–just 13 miles down the road. The program has made five NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournaments and, in 2012, gained national prominence by knocking out the #2 Duke Blue Devils 75-70 in the opening round of the tournament. The Stabler Arena defines what a basketball arena of the 1970s represents: rectangular shaped with plenty of 90-degree angles in the seating bowl. The aesthetics are not as welcoming as, say, The Palestra down the turnpike in Philadelphia or the plush and modern PPL Center in nearby Allentown, but the facility does not pretend to be anything it isn’t. The fan can expect a comfortable seat that is up close to the action on the court. Food & Beverage 3 There is a food court with various concessions that include tabletop seating next to a set of windows that add a touch of natural lighting to the concourse level. The options are limited but are rather inexpensive and include pretzels, hot dogs, french fries, nachos, and chicken fingers and fries. There are also deli wrap sandwiches and pizza slices available during the game. If you are feeding a group or family, a whole pizza sells for $17 to $20 a pie. The arena offers a line of Pepsi products, and there are no alcoholic beverages sold on its property. Atmosphere 3 The Stabler Arena features a main lobby with a set of two staircases that lead to a wraparound concourse that provides entrances to the seating area. The lobby wall is painted with the Stabler name and two portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Stabler. Fans can pick up tickets inside at tables or outside in the ticket booth. There is also room for more tables from local business advertising services and consulting. The school colors of brown and yellow are prominent inside the seating bowl, which also includes championship banners and retired jersey numbers, LED video boards in two corners, and a court-level area behind one of the baskets that features high-top tables. The popular area is a welcome addition and offers tabletop seating nearby behind the basket. Fans socialize with one another, enjoying food and drink while watching the game. The atmosphere was a little tepid since our visit took place between sessions; a school band, student section, or official mascot was not present at the game. Their presence does add a little life to the proceedings. The game itself was against arch-rivals Lafayette, and a spirited crowd was at hand to cheer on their Hawks to victory. Neighborhood 4 The Stabler Arena is located on the Murray H. Goodman campus, down the mountain from the Mountaintop campus. It is a few miles away from the town of Hellertown, which has a quaint main street featuring stores, restaurants, and bars. Bella’s Ristorante, Hellertown Crossroads Hotel, and Lost Tavern Brewery are three establishments worth checking out before or after the game. Bethlehem is just over the mountain and displays decorative holiday lights during Christmas time, along with an array of restaurants that include The Brick (pizza), Apollo Grill (cozy, refined restaurant), The People’s Kitchen (neighborhood vibe), and The Bayou Southern Kitchen (Cajun and Southern cuisine). The city also features the National Museum of Industrial History, the Moravian Museum, and the American on Wheels Museum. Fans 3 Fans are energetic and supportive of the Mountain Hawks. As with any program, winning cures a lot of ailments, and the basketball team has posted ten winning seasons over the better part of the decade. There are no visible traditions witnessed in the game. Access 4 The Stabler Arena is extremely easy to access once inside. There is one main concourse that houses concessions, bathrooms, and entrances for easy access to and from your seats. The entrances are marked with oversized numbers that appear to date from the arena’s first year. The building is also easy to access off I-78 via the Hellertown exit. A large parking lot is adjacent to the building. Return on Investment 4 The price of a ticket to a game is either $5 or $26.50, plus a service fee. The $5 ticket price point is almost a steal for basketball at this level and one of the best bargains you will find in the Patriot League. The price of concessions is also extremely reasonable, and there is no fee for parking in the arena’s lot. Extras 2 Stabler Arena earns a point for the oversized numbers that mark each entrance to the seating section. The number font reminds me of the ones at the old Giant Stadium that captured my fancy as a youth. Stabler Arena earns a second point for $5 tickets, a price almost unheard of at this level of basketball. If you are with someone who isn’t the biggest basketball fan, it is not a bad way of getting them to the game without hurting your wallet. Final Thoughts I am somewhat perplexed by the Stabler Arena. The building is an example of 1970s architecture and aesthetics that have not aged as well as other arenas built before it; then again, the ticket and concession prices are extremely affordable, and the vantage points from the seats are top-notch. Add to the scenic mountain view and the quaint main street of Hellertown, and you have a top destination that offers a lot of bang for your buck. ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel .

Photos by Lance Sutehall, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Cajundome 444 Cajundome Blvd Lafayette, LA 70506 UL-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns website Cajundome website Year Opened: 1985 Capacity: 12,362 A Dome To Hold All The Ragin' Cajuns The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is the second largest university by enrollment in the state of Louisiana, with over 19,000 students. It opened in 1898 and has gone through several name changes, with its present name in place since 1999. The university is the largest in the University of Louisiana system. Therefore, the athletic teams are called the “Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.” The Ragin’ Cajuns play their basketball games at the Cajundome, which is a couple of miles west of the core of the campus. Louisiana has won seven conference regular season titles and eight conference tournament championships since becoming a Division One program in 1972. Their last NCAA tournament appearance was in 2023, after they won the Sun Belt Tournament. Food & Beverage 3 There are a couple of concession stands open, including the “Salty Cajun Catina” that sells popcorn ($6), fries ($6), nachos ($8), candy ($3.75), pickles ($2), pretzels ($5), mozzarella sticks ($8), churros ($5), and hot dogs ($5). Coca-Cola is the soft drink provider with sodas ($5), bottled water ($4.75), and Powerade ($5) on offer. The “Crispy Cajun Grille” sells the same snacks and hot dogs but sells burgers ($8) and chicken tenders ($10). Finally, the “Beverage Express” stand has alcoholic beverages with wine ($10.25), 24 oz ($12) and 32 oz ($16) draft beers, and various cocktails ($5-$14) for sale. Atmosphere 3 The Cajundome is shaped like a dome, not unlike the Superdome in New Orleans. The lobby has a “Welcome to the Cajundome” sign with pictures of historic Ragin’ Cajun basketball moments on both sides. On the left side of the lobby is a walkway with banners commemorating former Ragin’ Cajun basketball players. On the right side, the “Ragin’ Cajuns in the Pros” display shows the Ragin Cajuns that have played professionally. Walking through the doors takes you to the concourse, where the walls have a timeline of the history of Ragin’ Cajun basketball. Stairs take you to the seating bowl, where you see an arena that is much bigger than the Ragin’ Cajuns need. The left side has a banner commemorating the university’s status as a “R1 Top-Tier Research University”. A four-sided scoreboard and videoboard hang over center court, while the right side of the arena has banners honoring the successes of the Ragin’ Cajuns basketball program over the years. All of the seats in the Cajundome are black chairbacks. The right side has the “First Horizon Bank Courtside Club” stocked with finger foods and televisions. The Center Court has the Ragin’ Cajuns logo, and an outline of the state of Louisiana shaded. The players come out to the court for the final shootaround with smoke machines going off. During the introduction video, a disco ball is activated, and the lights turn red during the starting lineups. Most games will have cheerleaders, but the game I attended did not as it was during football season. Neighborhood 3 The Cajundome is located a couple of miles west of the core of the campus. The other athletic facilities, including Cajun Field, are near the Cajundome. Downtown Lafayette is two miles East of the Cajundome and includes attractions such as the Lafayette Science Museum, the Acadiana Center for the Arts, and The Lafayette Museum. Dining options include the Spoonbill Watering Hole and Restaurant for seafood, Sarrica’s Italian Pizza, and Pat’s Downtown for Cajun cuisine. There is a Hilton Garden Inn near the Cajundome, while The Juliet Hotel is located downtown. Fans 3 The fans seem to be knowledgeable about the Ragin’ Cajuns basketball team. They have a great time attending games and participating in the various fan activities on the video board during breaks in the action. Access 3 From I-10 Westbound, turn off Exit 100 and onto Highway 167 before making a left on Highway 90. Make a right turn on Cajundome Boulevard, and the Cajundome will be on the left. There is free parking across the street at Cajun Field. Getting to the venue is pretty straightforward, but the arena is a little tricky as there is a lobby and a separate concourse to navigate before entering the seating bowl. Assume you are entering a large arena, not a small college gym, and you should be fine. Return on Investment 4 Seats in the north corners go for $10, while sideline seats are $25. Parking is free, and concessions are affordable, so it’s possible to have a great night at the Cajundome for $20. Extras 3 The Cajundome hosted the Sun Belt Conference basketball tournament three times, last doing so in 2007. The Table Room is a pregame space for events at the Cajundome with bar service that opened in January 2020. Final Thoughts The Ragin’ Cajuns have made the Cajundome their home over the years. It may not be filled to the brim every game, but the fans have a great time. A night at the Cajundome is fun and will not break the bank.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Historic Barron Stadium 300 W 3rd St Rome, GA 30165 Shorter University Hawks website Historic Barron Stadium website Year Opened: 1924 Capacity: 6,500 Fly Hawks College football was first played at Shorter University in the northwest Georgia city of Rome in 2005, as the Shorter Hawks began their college football journey as members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the Mid-South Conference. Following a successful football run in NAIA, Shorter made the jump to the NCAA’s Division II following the 2011 academic year as a part of the Gulf South Conference. Shorter would announce a move to the Conference of the Carolinas to start the 2024 season, which left them as an independent for the 2023 season. While some of the programs at Shorter have not skipped a beat in making the jump to NCAA Division II, the same cannot be said for its football program. Since joining the D2 ranks, the Hawks have tallied just a 19-94 record, which includes a 48-game losing streak that stretched parts of five seasons. The Hawks have played at Barron Stadium since the program was founded. Football at Barron Stadium dates back to 1923, when the stadium was first built, being dedicated in 1924. In its 100+ year history, it has been the football home of Rome High School and also served as home to the NAIA national championship football games from 2008 to 2013.   Food & Beverage   2 Concessions here are fairly straightforward – the bulk of the menu is what would typically be found at most traditional concession stands, such as hot dogs, burgers, pizza, and nachos. Candy and chips, along with the ever-popular stadium pickle, are also available. Beverages include items from the Coca-Cola line of soft drinks. Beer and other alcoholic beverages are not available. Concessions on the home side of the field are cash only, while the visiting side of the field does accept credit cards.   Atmosphere   3 Barron Stadium has every bit of the feel of its historic distinction. The field is surrounded by an eight-lane track and has two separate seating areas. The home-side seating runs from the 10-yard line to the 10-yard line, with a smaller visitors section across the way, but that only stretches between the 30s. Most of Shorter’s kickoffs are slated for noon, so the sun is at the back of the home stands for most of the contest. With the entirety of the seating being general admission, the home side is the best option to try and find some relief from the heat or bright sun. Visiting fans have little they can do to get out of the sun other than retreating under the bleachers to picnic-style tables. Unfortunately, these tables do not have a view of the field. There is a large digital scoreboard at the north end of the stadium, but other than displaying the school’s logo and game score, time, down, and yardage information, the scoreboard is relatively underutilized. A smaller, simpler scoreboard at the southern end of the stadium displays similar game information. Give Shorter credit for trying to create a college football atmosphere with the addition of a pep band, but the limited size of the band does not make a large impact on the ambiance, and the band also gets frequently drowned out by stadium audio drops.   Neighborhood   4 Barron Stadium is just a block from downtown Rome’s Broad Street, the city’s quaint, small-town feeling “Main Street”. Broad St is full of shops and restaurants, all within walking distance from Barron Stadium – Schroder’s Deil and Harvest Moon Café are two of the area’s more popular spots to grab a bite. Almost directly across the street from the western end zone is the Etowah River Trail, a re-purposed railroad bed that has been converted to walking trails. Part of the trail includes Lock Bridge, which has been adorned with hundreds, if not thousands, of padlocks. If a weekend sports schedule is more the plan, Rome offers a handful of options, which include minor league baseball with the Rome Emperors or Division III football at Berry College , which is not more than 4 miles away.   Fans   2 Typical attendance runs from 700 to 1600 fans per game; while they are engaged in the ups and downs of the action on the field, Shorter fans do not necessarily create a home-field advantage for the Hawks. There also doesn’t seem to be an organized student section, which can often go a long way in focusing the rambunctious nature of the student body into a single area, elevating the overall game environment. Shorter fans are supportive of the Hawks, but there simply is not a large enough following to make much of an impact on the game.   Access   2 Rome, in northwest Georgia, can be a bit of a challenge to get to. Fans arriving from the nearby metropolitan areas of Atlanta or Chattanooga will use I-75, then still have more than 30 minutes on state highways to reach Rome. If arriving from eastern Alabama, which borders Floyd County, the venue is most directly accessible via State Highway 20. With just one entry point and multiple stops before getting in, such as having to stop to pay for a ticket, having to get that ticket punched before entering, and not being able to purchase tickets ahead of time, it slows down the entry process. Also, for Shorter football games, cards are not accepted at the gate, so come prepared with cash. Concessions on the home side have just one window open and also only accept cash, so lines can grow rather long. This creates an issue with simply the amount of time spent waiting in line and can obstruct the view of the field, as the line can back up into the bleachers. Simply being able to have just one more window open or accepting credit cards or mobile payments seems as if it would alleviate much of this problem. If concessions are a must, taking the trip over to the stand under the visitor bleachers is advised.   Return on Investment   5 Adult tickets run just $10, and children 5-12 are just $5. Considering there is no cost for parking and that concessions are priced reasonably, Shorter does a good job encouraging fans and the local community to come out simply by providing an affordable weekend experience.   Extras   2 There is not a lot by way of extras that are added to the Shorter football experience, but the promotions team does make a concerted effort to reach out to their youngest fans by way of children-specific giveaways. The fact that this facility holds so much historical significance for the Roman community and has not simply been replaced says a lot about the civic pride shown toward Barron Stadium.   Final Thoughts Upgrades have been made to keep the stadium in use, for which a lot of credit should be given to the City of Rome – they recognize the history of the stadium and are doing all they can to preserve its historic relics. Shorter football at Historic Barron Stadium is what it is – there is no hiding the fact that, other than the game on the field, there are not a lot of bells and whistles to capture the attention of those in the stands, but that is perfectly okay! Sometimes, the game on the field is all we need to sit back and enjoy competition in its simplest form.

Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Ingalls Rink 73 Sachem St New Haven, CT 06511 Yale Bulldogs men's hockey website Ingalls Rink website Year Opened: 1958 Capacity: 3,500 Same As It Ever Was At The Yale Whale The more things change, the more they remain the same. And maybe that’s a good thing, especially if you are a fan of old-time hockey barns. Ingalls Rink, affectionately known as the Yale Whale, has changed little since our last visit to New Haven. The building was designed by famous Finnish-American architect Euro Saarinen, who created the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Ingalls Rink, named after David S. Ingalls (‘20) and David S. Ingalls Jr. (‘56), was completed in 1958 and renovated in 2009. It fits all the cliches: old school, old-time hockey, and turning back the clock. This hockey rink is all about one thing—hockey. There are no LED ribbon boards, digital signage, fancy scoreboards with video replays, fog horns, or air raid sirens. But the building has charm, sort of like the Old Boston Garden did. The seats are close to the action, and the glass sounds like it’s going to crack when hit by a shot or run into by the players. Other distinctive features are the cold interior, although not as bad in November, the occasional smell of locker room aroma, and a public address system that is, at best, difficult to decipher when seated behind the goals. There are no luxury boxes or high-end food choices. Yale University boasts the oldest collegiate hockey program in the United States. Yale played its first game in 1896, a 2-2 tie versus Johns Hopkins. The Bulldogs are members of the 12-team ECAC (Eastern Collegiate Hockey Conference) and have qualified for eight NCAA Tournaments, a pair of Frozen Fours, and the national championship in 2013. Food & Beverage 2 Viewing a game at Ingalls is a great experience, eating there is not so much. There is one concession stand at the back of the arena, and there is one underneath the main entrance, which offers identical fare. To access the lower concession stand, team store, and additional bathrooms, fans need to hit the stairs. The other concession stand has bathrooms on the main level. The limited menu includes hot dogs ($4.50), nachos and popcorn for $4, peanuts, and cotton candy and chips. The drinks include Coca-Cola products, water, hot chocolate, and coffee. On the plus side, one change is a bar at the back side of the arena next to the concession stand. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere can be electric, but on this visit, the arena was only one-third of capacity, and the mascot was not in attendance. The ceiling, which looks like the bottom of an old ship, is quite captivating. Fans are often looking up to check out the surroundings. The scoreboard is old school and displays - the score. The arena has several display cases to showcase great moments in Yale men’s and women’s hockey. Banners hang from the rafters to commemorate conference champions, NCAA tournament appearances, and its 2013 National Championship. There are also 12 large flags, six each on each side, containing the logos of all 12 ECAC member schools. On the lower level, there is a timeline of Yale hockey containing pictures and memorabilia that was erected following a renovation of the building. Neighborhood 4 Ingalls Rink is situated on the northern edge of a charming campus with beautiful architecture. It is an open campus and easily walkable. Less than a mile away are a host of restaurants, including Bar for classic pizza (not coal or wood-fired), Louis Lunch (opened 1895), which claims it invented the hamburger sandwich, and Rubamba, a small, unassuming restaurant on 25 High Street. New Haven, referred to as the pizza capital of the United States by Barstool Sports, boasts a small but hearty Italian section that includes legendary pizza places Frank Pepe’s and Sally’s Apizza (both coal-fired) on Wooster Street. There is also Modern Apizza (brick oven) and Next Door less than 1 mile from Yale. Fans can’t go wrong with a pie from any of these four establishments, but be prepared to wait for a table at Pepe’s and Sally’s, especially on weekends. New Haven also offers an array of entertainment. The Schubert Theater (247 College Street) and the College Street Music Hall offer plays, shows, concerts, and comedy acts. The only concern for fans is not to wander too far off campus, as New Haven has some less desirable areas that are not as safe, especially at night. The bars on Temple and Crown Streets are hopping on weekend nights and are a great place for post-gaming. Fans 3 Fan support had been staunch at Ingalls, but losing seasons have taken a bit of starch out of the fan base. Tickets were readily available last season (2023-24). Yale has not posted a winning season since 2018-19. The Bulldogs averaged 1683 per contest in 2023-24 (48% of capacity) but averaged over 3000 per game from 2009-10 to 2018-19. Several locals attend games, and many enjoy standing and watching from above, which might be the best view at Ingalls. The bowl has an interesting configuration with walkways on each side of the ice that go up and then back down and afford great views of the ice. Access 4 There is adequate access to the campus coming from I-91 or I-95 into downtown New Haven. The campus is about 90 minutes from New York City and 45 minutes from Hartford to the North and Stamford to the South. There is the four-level Prospect-Sachem parking garage next to the rink, and there is another garage on 55 Lock Street There is also street parking, and meters are in effect until 9 pm. New Haven is the last stop on the Metro-North Railroad, and the station on State Street is situated just over one mile from Ingalls. Getting into the arena can take a bit of time as there is no lobby. Crowds sometimes back up outside on a cold night, waiting to get through security. The seating area consists of wooden benches with backs, and the sightlines vary based on the irregular configuration of the seating area. Most of the views are great. There are no chairbacks in the facility. Return on Investment 5 A center ice seat runs $25 and $35 for premium games versus Harvard and Quinnipiac. Seating behind the net is $20 for non-premium games, and standing room is only $10 ($15 for premium). Seniors (62 and up) can get seats for $25 on the sides and $15 behind the goals for all non-premium games, with an additional $5 for premium. Extras 3 The display and trophy cases in the lobby and downstairs are a nice touch and include the 2013 NCAA trophy. Downstairs, there are tributes to past Yale teams and the history and construction of Ingalls Rink. Ingalls Rink is about as extra as a rink can get. The great design and the classic feel make one reminiscent of the old Boston Garden on a much smaller scale. The building was included on America’s Favorite Architecture list of 2007 by the American Institute of Architects. There is no organ, but the crowd and the Yale band generate excitement. The PA system plays many arena classics. Final Thoughts The Yale Whale is a bucket list destination and worthy of inclusion with other classic hockey arenas like Matthews Arena in Boston, home of Northeastern, and Hobey Baker Rink in Princeton, New Jersey, home of the Princeton Tigers. Once a ticket is purchased, a treat is in store for all sports fans; just bring some warm clothing if attending on a cold winter’s night. Hopefully, it stays the same for years to come. ----- Follow Greg Venuto’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and   Facebook .

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Circuit of the Americas 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd Austin, TX 78617 Austin SpeedTour website Circuit of the Americas website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 120,000 Texas Horsepower As if to cement the stereotype of everything being bigger in Texas, Circuit of the Americas (often called COTA for short) in Austin provides no better example of this. Indeed, the site of the annual US Grand Prix for Formula One is also host to myriad other races throughout the year, including the Vintage Racing World Finals during the Trans-Am and SVRA SpeedTour race weekend.   Food & Beverage   3 In the infield fans can expect a great little hole-in-the-wall (only in size) café in the paddock, featuring a beautiful patio outside surrounded by trees and bushes, giving a great view of the garages and pre-staging area for most of the cars. Here you can find (when it is open) food and beverages to suit your fancy. Chicken tenders and fries are $11.79, as are hamburger baskets, grilled chicken sandwiches, and chicken wrap baskets. On certain days there is also a chef’s featured item, such as homemade meatloaf, beef and broccoli, or chicken primavera for $12. That said, if you are exploring the far reaches of the facility, you may not have as many options available as you have in the main spectator areas, meaning you will have to walk a while or wait patiently for later, should the hunger bug strike. Thankfully this year, however, the track added food trucks in the fan area in the paddock to add some variety.   Atmosphere   3 Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes the crowds. During fan walks on the grid for races at Circuit of the Americas, it is wall-to-wall fans hobnobbing with drivers, teams, and the cars they pilot on track. The track itself is a beautiful facility that lends itself to the fan experience – the main grandstand is even shaded from the harsh Texas sun, thanks to a perfectly-placed roof over part of the seating. New for 2024, SVRA introduced SpeedTour Town Center, a large area in the fan zone that includes food trucks, sponsor activations, autograph sessions, and even racing simulators, all situated right next to victory lane. Being that the event takes place just a few weeks after the annual F1 United States Grand Prix, there are numerous signs up over the garages for the F1 teams and drivers. However, the big downside is that some of the track feels like a construction zone thanks to the endless disassembly of grandstands and suites from the previous event. By far, the coolest thing here at Circuit of the Americas is the giant tower in the middle of the track. The observation platform in the tower is open to all fans for $20 a person, including an elevator you can ride to view the race from over 200 feet above the action. In addition, the floors in the tower are see-through, giving you the feeling of floating on air – no other track has anything as cool as this.   Neighborhood   3 This is a hard topic, as the city of Austin itself (a good 15 to 20-minute drive from Circuit of the Americas itself), is a bustling city of music, incredible food, and youthful energy. It is no secret why F1 picked this city, and why the annual SXSW festival is held here every year. However, as the track is on the extreme outskirts of town, the racing can easily feel a bit detached from the city’s feel. There isn’t much right next to the track, despite the slowly creeping suburban sprawl – hotels are all about 10 minutes away at least, as are any shopping and dining options fans would flock to. Thankfully, the airport is right near the track, providing for easy access to your flight in and out of Austin. For great food, one can’t skip Salt Lick or Torchy’s Tacos. Austin is also home to the University of Texas and Zilker Park on Lady Bird Lake, and of course, a stop in Austin isn’t complete without visiting the bats under the Congress Bridge. Finally, for hotels look to Hilton Austin Airport or Holiday Inn Austin Airport, which are two of the better hotels that are close to Circuit of the Americas. Fans   3 That good ol’ Texas comfort can be felt through the fans at the track. Sports fans can be hard to figure out, but Austin’s motorsports enthusiasts are all about the racing on the track. They know the drivers, they know the cars, and they know exactly what is happening, and are eager to cheer on their favorite drivers all weekend long. In addition, they’re generally a kind and considerate bunch, which makes a day at the races at Circuit of the Americas a family-friendly experience. The Trans-Am and SVRA race weekend features a crowd of both racing and general automotive enthusiasts, descending upon the track in a celebration of motorsports history. Access   3 Getting to Circuit of the Americas isn’t hard, in that it isn’t hidden away. In actuality you can see it from pretty much everywhere, thanks to its giant light-up tower at night. However, the roads in and out of the track are only one or two lanes, making a big event hard to reach, thanks to the traffic. Thankfully, however, parking is plentiful on-site and in various nearby lots, and there are also numerous fan shuttles to take you from the parking lots to the paddock, as well as to various viewing areas around the circuit. Once at the track getting around is easy, thanks to the various tunnels, pedestrian bridges, and signage pointing you on your way around the venue. Return on Investment   5 Tickets to the Austin SpeedTour Weekend are very affordable – Friday only tickets are just $15, while Saturday or Sunday only passes run $25. A full weekend pass is just $40, while a family two-pack ($70) and four-pack ($120) are also available. Whether you’re a race fan or not will dictate whether you feel the need to visit this new crown jewel of the race circuit. However, you can definitely see why average fans would want to come – the views are spectacular all around the track, the cost of tickets and flights into Austin are generally low, and the city is a great attraction unto itself. Downtown is full of reasons to visit on its own, so adding a world-class racetrack to the mix makes it even better! In addition, Circuit of the Americas features great fan access, with the paddock easy to find and to navigate during race weekends. Extras   5 Circuit of the America’s big tower is a modern marvel to behold, but did you know there is also a world-class concert amphitheater at its base? Each year dozens of concerts are held at the track as well. Another unique feature is the bold American color scheme – all around the track’s run-off areas you can see red, white, and blue, plus stars-and-stripes painted designs, making not only for a photogenic track, but one that makes you feel very patriotic as well. Outside the track, a large theme park is being built complete with roller coasters that will thrill fans once it is finished. And finally, Circuit of the Americas also features a go-kart facility behind the main grandstand, meaning fans can now satisfy their own need for speed. Final Thoughts Circuit of the Americas is certainly a gorgeous facility that lends itself to comfortable viewing of some great racing action. Furthermore, placing it next to one of the best up-and-coming cities in America was a genius move. That said, if you want somewhere young and hip to visit that is also home to a quality sports facility, definitely put Circuit of the Americas on your list.

Photos by Gregory Koch and Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Bedford Field South Drive Princeton, NJ 08540 Princeton Tigers website Bedford Field website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 1,200 Tigers Field Hockey at Princeton Bedford Field on the campus of Princeton University is home to the Tigers' field hockey program. It is a relatively new stadium, having just opened in 2012, and is located right next door to Class of 1952 Stadium, home of Princeton lacrosse, with which it shares a concourse. Princeton field hockey has historically been among the most successful programs in the country, qualifying for 25 NCAA Tournaments, which is ninth on the all-time list. They won one national championship in 2012. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions are sold out of a truck with a Coca-Cola logo that is parked on the concourse between Bedford Field and Class of 1952 Stadium. The menu includes hot dogs, crispy chicken sandwiches, pretzels, popcorn, chips, cotton candy, candy, soda, and water. Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are also available on cold days. Other than the crispy chicken sandwich, which is $7.50, everything is under $5. Atmosphere 5 As mentioned above, Bedford Field shares a concourse with the Class of 1952 Stadium, and you will enter through the gates between the two venues. Bedford Field will be to your right as you come in, and you can walk up into a large set of bleachers along one sideline. A small scoreboard behind the goal on the left shows shots, saves, and penalty corners in addition to the score and time. There is also a grassy area behind one goal where some fans like to stand or sit in their chairs or on the ground. Although animals are not permitted inside Bedford Field (except service animals), this area is not considered part of the stadium, so it is a popular area for fans to hang out with their furry friends and watch the game. Princeton keeps fans engaged with music and sound effects to pump up the crowd during penalty corners and after goals. All the seats are up close to the action, with no track or anything else separating the crowd from the field. The concourse is lined with posters honoring Princeton lacrosse and field hockey, and the effort the school put into this facility shows they truly care about the sport. Neighborhood 4 Princeton has that feel of a small college town. But there is certainly plenty going on here. The Dinky Bar & Kitchen, named for the NJ Transit line that connects the Princeton campus with Princeton Junction, is located in a former train station near campus. There are many more options in downtown Princeton, ranging from hoagies to seafood to pizza and more. Parking may be a challenge downtown, but there is much to do there, even if you have to walk a bit from your car. Fans 5 Princeton fans pack the 1,200-seat bleachers for field hockey games as well as lining the grassy area behind the goal. They proudly wear their orange and black and come ready to cheer on their team for the whole game. When Stadium Journey visited, the bleachers were mostly full, although some fans were late to arrive, and it was not nearly as full when the game started as it would eventually become. With a strong fan and alumni base, this seems typical for Princeton field hockey. There is a good mix of friends and family of the players, alumni, and locals coming to check out a game. Access 4 Parking for Bedford Field is available in Lot 20, about a five-minute walk from the stadium. Lot 20 is a huge lot that accommodates many places, not just Bedford Field, but you will want to park near the entrance from the traffic circle at Theatre Drive. This will offer the shortest walk to the stadium, about five minutes via Woodlands Way. For those arriving by public transit, the Princeton station on NJ Transit's Princeton Branch is located a short walk from the stadium, and if driving, you will likely pass it as you get on campus. The Princeton Branch, better known as The Dinky, is the shortest commuter rail line in America and connects Princeton's campus to Princeton Junction on the Northeast Corridor. It consists of just those two stops, and the trip takes about five minutes. Restrooms are available on the concourse, under the Class of 1952 Stadium bleachers, and are of a more than sufficient size for the crowds. The one thing to keep in mind is that there is a lot of construction going on at the moment in the vicinity of Lot 20 and Bedford Field, and some roads or sidewalks may be blocked off. Return on Investment 5 Admission to all regular season Princeton field hockey games is free. Parking is free, too, and concessions are quite affordable. Note that there may be a charge to attend Ivy League and NCAA Tournament games as the ticketing policy is set by those respective organizations, not the school. Extras 3 One star for the banners on the concourse honoring Princeton field hockey and lacrosse. A second star for the sign on the scoreboard honoring the 2012 national championship and the adjacent sign honoring all of Princeton's postseason appearances. Finally, be sure to look for the tiger statue by the entrance on the Class of 1952 Stadium side of the concourse, a reference to Princeton's mascot. Final Thoughts Bedford Field is one of the nicest college field hockey stadiums in the country, with a fan base to match. For fans of the sport, a trip to a Princeton field hockey game is a must. This is an outstanding facility.

The pinnacle of sportscar endurance racing in North America is without a doubt the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Series. 2024 saw record crowds at 10 of their 11 race weekends, furthering the growth that has been visible in racing for the past few years. For the first time, Stadium Journey presents our IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship rankings. Tracks are ranked according to Stadium Journey's patented FANFARE rating scale, which takes into account a venue's food and beverage options, race day atmosphere, surrounding neighborhood, fan support, access (both inside and outside the track), return on investment, and an extra category for anything that doesn't fall in the other categories. When two or more tracks receive the same score, a Stadium Journey Council of Elders is consulted to break the ties. To view the complete review for each track, just click on the link below the photos of each event. Let's get to our 2024 IMSA rankings… 1.  Rolex 24 at Daytona 4.71 Chris Green - The historic Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona is one of the most well-known sports car races in the world. An endurance battle that attracts the best manufacturers and drivers from around the world, this race is on any true race fan’s bucket list. 2.  Road America 4.71 Chris Green - Road America is often regarded as one of the greatest race tracks in the world, let alone the US. Racing in a beautiful setting that proves to be both fan-friendly and easy to navigate, this summer event is a must-see on the IMSA schedule. 3.  Grand Prix of Long Beach 4.57 Chris Green - The Grand Prix of Long Beach is America’s longest-running street race, and it is easy to see why. The location in Southern California is perfect for a spring race in April, and the excitement on the track is also top-notch. Featuring the IndyCar Series and IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Series as the top-billed race series, in addition to several support events, fans will have no shortage of action to watch while at this annual event. 4.  Detroit Grand Prix 4.29 Chris Green - The Detroit Grand Prix has a long history in motorsports. Initially racing through downtown streets, it moved to the city’s Belle Isle for several decades. Finally, starting in 2023, it has returned to downtown Detroit, complete with a wild mix of difficult corners ripe for exciting racing. On top of the on-track product, one could argue this is one of the single most accessible street races from a fan perspective, with an overwhelming majority of the track viewing opportunities in non-ticketed areas. 5. Petit Le Mans 4.00 Chris Green - Petit Le Mans has become a cult classic event in the sportscar world. For 10 hours, the best in sportscar racing battle it out in a thrilling multi-class endurance race through the hills of northern Georgia. Nestled an hour north of Atlanta, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta offers some iconic sights and non-stop racing action over four days in the fall. And, being the season finale for multiple IMSA series, the stakes couldn’t be any higher. 6.  Indianapolis Motor Speedway 4.00 Chris Green - While Indianapolis is synonymous with racing in America, North America’s premier sportscar series hadn’t run there since the early 2010s. New for 2024, the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Series increased the length of its race, from the standard two and a half hours to a six-hour endurance race.  7.  12 Hours of Sebring 4.00 Chris Green - The historic Sebring 12-Hour sportscar race began in 1950 and has grown into one of the world’s most revered motorsports 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. 8.  Canadian Tire Motorsports Park 4.00 Chris Green - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (also known as Mosport) is one of the best-known race courses in Canada, and indeed around the world. The fast, sweeping turns at the facility were created for Formula One’s golden days of speed, and the facility hosted the Canadian Grand Prix multiple times throughout the 1960s and 70s. The 2.459-mile circuit is a beacon for the North American racing fan, and features some of the best camping around, while also featuring some incredible on-track action. The annual summer visit from IMSA provides a great weekend of sportscar racing for fans in the True North. 9.  WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 4.00 Chris Green - WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-famous speedway housed atop the high hills outside of Monterey, California. The speedway has hosted some of the world’s biggest racing stars over various racing series, and continues to be a fan and driver favorite as the years progress. One of the biggest draws of the year, IMSA’s annual spring visit to the track brings large crowds and plenty of on-track action. 10.  Daytona Roar Before the 24 4.00 Chris Green - A week before the historic Rolex 24, Daytona International Speedway is already buzzing with race action. An event that used to be held three weeks before the current date, the Roar Before the 24 has now become part of the fabric that makes up IMSA’s return to racing in January. 11.  Sahlen’s 6 Hours at The Glen 3.86 Chris Green - The Wakins Glen 6 Hours began in 1948 at the famed road course in the finger lakes region of New York. Since then, the race has attracted some of the greatest racers in all of motorsports, across a wide variety of manufacturers. The area is full of beautiful trees, meaning fans can find some shade in the hot summer sun. In addition, the track is laid out to be one of the fastest road courses in North America, if not the world, making the on-track action some of the most exciting in all of sportscar racing. 12.  Virginia International Raceway 3.29 Chris Green - The famed Virginia International Raceway has been a favorite visit among sportscar racers for decades. The winding roads through the hills of rural southern Virginia are challenging for many, while also providing a beautiful, verdant backdrop for some of racing’s best to test each other’s mettle. IMSA weekend is without a doubt the biggest race weekend of the year, which means this is a must-see for sportscar fans in the area.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex 402 E College St Bridgewater, VA 22812 Bridgewater Eagles website The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex website Year Opened: 1924 Capacity: 6,500 D3 Football in the Shenandoah The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex is home to the Bridgewater Eagles football program, as well as the school’s field hockey, lacrosse, and track and field teams. The facility seats 3,500 and received major upgrades most recently in 2013 and 2024. The Eagles compete in the NCAA’s Division III, as members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Bridgewater most recently won the conference back in 2019, and prior to that won the conference title five straight times from 2001 to 2005.   Food & Beverage   3 The Stadium has concessions only on the home side, although since the venue isn’t that big, it isn’t really that far of a walk around the field if you are sitting on the visiting side. Food choices include burgers, hot dogs, nachos, chips, candy, popcorn, and soft pretzels – prices range from $3 to $7, with the cheeseburger being the most expensive item. The food tastes good and is served up rather quickly, as it is pre-made and pre-wrapped, all ready to go. Drinks include bottled water, bottled soda (Pepsi products), and Gatorade – drink prices are $4, except for the Gatorade, which is $5.   Atmosphere   3 Bridgewater has a nice little football stadium that seems pretty modern. The venue has real bathrooms next to the concession stand, including a family restroom if needed. The scoreboard is a mix of a regular digital stats tracker on one side, with video capability on the other side for replays. I did not see a mascot, but the Eagles have a band and cheerleaders, and a pretty decent tailgating scene on two sides of the stadium – the home tailgating can be seen from the field (to the southeast), while the visitor tailgating is a bit further down the street (to the northwest).   Neighborhood   2 Bridgewater, Virginia is a small town with a few restaurants along Main Street, mostly of the fast food and quick service type, including Chinese, pizza, and Barbecue. There is one small hotel in town, near the athletic complex, but all the typical hotel chains are about 5 miles away along I-81.   Fans   2 Bridgewater doesn’t have a ton of fans at the typical game at The Stadium, but you will see some folks wearing team gear, and the fans do cheer at the right times during the game. Like many football teams at this level, you might see more visiting fans at certain games than home fans, as the teams in D2/D3 conferences tend to be more closely clustered together geographically than you will see in FBS and FCS, especially after the recent/ongoing FBS conference realignment.   Access   4 As mentioned above, The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex is only about 5 miles away from I-81, so getting here is pretty easy, depending on where you are coming from, of course; I-81 may not work as well if you coming from the east or west, rather than from the north or south. There is only one entrance into The Stadium, and you can buy tickets as you enter (their website says they don’t take cash, but that wasn’t true the last time I attended). Once inside the stadium there is plenty of room on the concourse, and you can sit wherever you want, either on the home or visiting side (the home side does have a few chairback seats near the center, while the visiting side is all bleachers without backs), or you can stand along the fence and watch from there.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets are only $10, and you can purchase them online before the game, or pay cash or use a card on the day of. Tailgate parking costs $25, and all passengers will be ID checked and given a wristband, if applicable, showing they are 21 or older. Non-tailgate parking is free, in one of the campus lots a couple of blocks to the southwest of The Stadium, on E College Ave. While not offering a ton of excitement compared to some football venues you may have been to, for the money this is a perfectly nice way to spend an evening, and enjoy some gridiron action in a pleasant, low-key setting.   Extras   1 The Eagles do have an eagle statue near the main entrance to The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex. One negative is the lack of bathrooms and concessions on the visiting side, although you don’t have to sit over there, either.   Final Thoughts If you are used to D2 or D3 college football, you can imagine the kind of experience you will find here – I will say the football venue here is better than many of the D3 facilities I have been to, but you won’t have the large crowds, and high energy/noise, that you may be used to at FCS, FBS, or pro football venues, which for this sportswriter and fan, is perfectly fine. It is nice to not have to fight any crowds for a change, and to have plenty of space around you in your seat.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Neyland Stadium Phillip Fulmer Way Knoxville, TN 37996 Tennessee Volunteers website Neyland Stadium website Year Opened: 1921 Capacity: 101,915 Saturdays on Rocky Top There are only three college football stadiums in the country accessible by water – the largest and most recognized is situated on the shore of the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tennessee. Neyland Stadium has been home to the Tennessee Volunteers since 1921; with a current seating capacity of 101,915, this stadium is the 6th-largest in the country and 3rd in the Southeastern Conference. Neyland Stadium has been home to six National Champions, with the Vols having a 77.5% overall home winning percentage. Neyland Stadium is named in honor of Robert Neyland, a Volunteers coach from 1926-1952. Neyland arrived in Knoxville as an Army captain in the university’s ROTC department, and started as a part-time football coach. He ended his career at Tennessee as a legendary head coach and full Brigadier General. There is a statue of him located just inside the main gate of the facility. The stadium has undergone 17 renovations, the most recent before the 2022 season including new lower-west club and upper-north social deck spaces, bringing Neyland to its current seating capacity. Other upgrades included the restoration of the historic V-O-L-S letters along the top of the facility’s south end (2022), a second videoboard on the upper-north deck (2022), and bronze statues honoring four of Tennessee’s Black football trailblazers (2021). Other changes also eventually enclosed what once was a horseshoe-shaped stadium, elevated the bleachers, and added premium seating opportunities in the venue’s 120 suites.   Food & Beverage   3 The concessions inside Neyland Stadium are basic sports venue food. However, this is all you really need when it comes to watching football with over 100,000 fans. There are basics such as hot dogs (Hebrew National), hamburgers, pretzels, popcorn, Papa John’s pizza, and Coca-Cola brand products throughout the stadium. Calhoun’s BBQ Shack also offers its basic menu, but adds the local flavor of pulled pork sandwiches and pulled pork nachos. Neyland Stadium started alcohol sales in 2019, which has been an ongoing debate over the last 5 years. The current beer list consists of Budweiser and Coors products, Dos Equis, Michelob Light, Miller Lite, Yuengling, and Sweetwater Hazy IPA. The concession prices here are in line with other SEC stadiums.   Atmosphere   5 There aren’t many college football stadiums that carry a game day atmosphere like Neyland, illustrated by the constant sell outs, the traditions of Tennessee football, and the 100K fans in orange that migrate to Neyland no matter the opponent. Neyland Stadium is one of the few stadiums that can be accessed by water. The Tennessee River offers a unique opportunity for pre-game gatherings – the “Vol Navy” consists of more than 200 boats that dock on the Tennessee River along Volunteer landing during pre-game, a practice commonly referred to as sailgating (the University of Tennessee, along with the University of Washington and Baylor University , are the three college football stadiums where sailgating is a pre-game ritual). The atmosphere on game day starts long before the gates open at Neyland Stadium – fans can start their day by visiting Volunteer Village, which is free to all fans regardless of whether they have a game ticket. Volunteer Village offers live music, food trucks, and other activities. The Volunteer Village Fan Fest opens 3 1/2 hours before kickoff, but make sure you don’t miss the other pre-game activities, such as the Vol Walk, and the football team walk over to Neyland Stadium, which occurs two hours and fifteen minutes before kickoff. The Pride of the Southland Band also marches down Volunteer Boulevard 90 minutes before kickoff. Once all these activities are completed, walking into Neyland Stadium would be next on the agenda. When walking into Neyland Stadium, you can feel the energy and magic with the orange and white checkerboard design in both end zones. The retired numbers of past greats are easy to see on the ribbon scoreboard and the bright 4 letters on each side of the south end zone scoreboard that simply say V-O-L-S. All of college football has exciting team entries, but Tennessee has one of the most iconic – the team enters through a T-formation created by the Pride of the Southland Band, while 100K fans sing “Rocky Top,” a song that any visitor fan will be singing on the way home. The Southeastern Conference generally has great football game day atmospheres, but it is hard to compete with a game in Knoxville.   Neighborhood   4 Neyland Stadium is on The University of Tennessee’s campus, nestled between the downtown area of Knoxville and the Tennessee River. The location provides easy walking distance access to most of Knoxville’s attractions, dining, and lodging. World’s Fair Park, the former site of the 1982 World’s Fair is where you can visit Sunsphere Tower; the observation deck there is an interesting way to spend some time. There is also the Knoxville Museum of Art and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, both within walking distance of Neyland Stadium. A popular spot for dining is Calhoun’s on the River, located just up Neyland Drive by the Gay Street Bridge – this popular Tennessee BBQ spot fills up quickly on game day. For upscale dining, there is also Ruth’s Chris Steak House, a little past Calhoun’s towards downtown. Speaking of downtown, you can also find Downtown Grill and Brewery close by, for a variety chose of food and a full list of local craft beers. In addition, there are numerous options for lodging, being in a downtown area, depending on availability. There is the Hyatt Place Knoxville/Downtown, Hilton Knoxville, or the Hampton Inn & Suites Knoxville, all close enough to Neyland Stadium that you can walk to the venue. However, finding vacancies could be a problem as they are all booked well in advance.   Fans   5 Tennessee has sold out 75,000 of their season tickets allotment with 15,000 on the waiting list. The average attendance in 2023 was over 101,000, which fills Neyland Stadium. Volunteer fans not only show up to Neyland Stadium but they are also heard – the fans are loud throughout the game. Neyland Stadium is a sea of orange with attire that can only represent the University of Tennessee, and the constant playing of “Rocky Top” by the Pride of the Southland Band only seems to make the decibel level go higher. Tennessee fans are fun, and energetic, and show Southern hospitality throughout the game, yet their presence is a large part of the high winning percentage in Knoxville, giving visiting opponents an environment that is not in their favor.   Access   3 The population of Knoxville is around 190,000, so with more than 100,000 fans descending on Knoxville on game day, things can be very crowded as far as access. The closest airport is Knoxville Airport about 10 miles away, but prices during football weekend can be high and seats limited. Nashville is a 2 1/2-hour drive away but could be an easier place to fly into for fans traveling by air. As with most major college football stadiums, the parking lots immediately surrounding the stadium are reserved for major donors and season ticket holders; the best parking option is to use the downtown parking areas. On game day the city of Knoxville and the area Transit Authority provide off-site parking with shuttle service to the stadium. Taxis, Uber, and shared riding is also available. The best way to figure out how to get to Neyland stadium when coming to Knoxville is to go to the Tennessee game day parking website , as things can change from season to season. The best advice is to get to the stadium early, so you can avoid the large crowd that is around Neyland Stadium. Once inside the facility, however, things aren’t exactly easy to migrate around, due to the crowd size. The earlier you can get inside the stadium, the easier time you will have to find your seat and other items. UT operates with a clear bag policy, and stadium security regulations limit fans to one clear plastic bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches, or a one-gallon, clear, resealable plastic storage bag per person.   Return on Investment   4 The ticket prices at Neyland Stadium are similar to other large college football schools. Ticket prices are separated into non-conference and conference games; non-conference games can range between $40 and $75, while the prices increase for SEC games, running between $75 and $120 per ticket, and the bigger the visiting team the higher the price. The Georgia  and Alabama games are high-demand games with prices being in a high-level tier on the secondary market, coming in at the expected premium prices. The cost of parking is decent, ranging between $15 and $40 depending on the location. Lodging will be your biggest expense, as hotels in Knoxville are all booked and very expensive on game weekends. One suggestion is to search for one of the many hotels in the Gatlinburg area, which will be much cheaper and are not located too far from Knoxville. Overall, the cost of seeing a Tennessee football game in Knoxville is worth the price, however.   Extras   4 The experience of seeing 100,000 people as an ocean of orange singing Rocky Top in unison is something very few stadiums can match. The City of Knoxville and the Tennessee River provide a unique location for Neyland Stadium, and the venue is also home to twenty-four former players enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, with the numbers of Johnny Majors (# 45), Reggie White (# 92), Peyton Manning (# 16), and Doug Atkins (# 91) retired on Neyland Stadium’s ribbon board.   Final Thoughts Neyland Stadium has everything that any college football fan loves – the atmosphere, the large fan base, and the traditions. The facility is known as one of the most easily recognized college stadiums, due to its orange checkerboard end zones. There are very few college stadiums that can match Neyland Stadium – this is a stadium that I strongly believe should be on any sports fan list to visit in their sports journey.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Budweiser Gardens 99 Dundas St London, ON N6A 6K1 London Knights website Budweiser Gardens website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 9,036 Knightmare to Knightsdream Editor's Note: Naming rights to the former Budweiser Gardens were obtained by insurance company Canada Life, with the arena taking on its new name in October 2024. This review, written in 2019, refers to the facility by its former name. It is amazing to consider where the London Knights have been versus their current standing. In 1996, the Ontario Hockey League team toiled in the decrepit London Ice House, played with the confusing and un-London “Spiderknight” jersey, and amassed a record low three wins in a season. Fast-forward to the current Knights. They are the envy of the larger Canadian Hockey League, of which the OHL is a member. The Knights have solid ownership in Dale and Mark Hunter along with Basil McRae, a beautiful, modern, trend-setting building in the Budweiser Gardens, Memorial Cup Championships in 2005 and 2016, and the best season in CHL history with 59 wins in 2005. The ownership situation has become trend setting in junior hockey with former NHL players playing owner, GM and coaching roles. The London Knights were founded in 1965 as the London Nationals in the OHA. Their colour scheme and logo mimicked the Toronto Maple Leafs and their blue and white. In 1968 the Nationals would be reborn as the London Knights. The Hunters purchased the Knights at the perfect time as the City of London agreed to build a downtown arena to replace the London Ice House. The John Labatt Centre opened in 2002 and helped usher in a new era in the OHL of new or renovated facilities and quickly became the gold standard in arenas in the league. Since the opening of what was later renamed the Budweiser Gardens, success at the turnstile and on the ice coincided and the Knights, who were also-rans, in the OHL for years enjoyed their best seasons ever. Going from a nightmare to a dream come true has been an amazing ride for the fans in London and there are no signs of slowing down. Food & Beverage 3 Concession options at Budweiser Gardens are fairly average for the OHL. Item variety and pricing is decent. Candy, pizza, popcorn, hot dogs, sausage and nachos are all readily available. Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice and draught beer is also available at all stands. There are other stands in Budweiser Gardens that specialize in suds. As expected, Labatt and Budweiser products are readily available with a few craft options also. A couple of bars can be found as well. Atmosphere 5 Budweiser Gardens is located in downtown London. The original name, the John Labatt Centre, had strong links to the community as Labatt Breweries was founded in London. The exterior of the building is quite attractive, fitting right into the downtown ambience. The north side of the building is a little more inconspicuous, using some of the original building as part of the facade. The main entrance and square can be found at the south, by King Street. Inside, there is no doubt that this is the home of the Knights. The team store is pretty expansive and also features posters of a number of recent former Knights greats. The concourses are attractive and offer a clear path to the seating bowl. Unlike most junior hockey facilities, Budweiser Gardens has two levels of seating, split by luxury boxes. This gives the Gardens, one of the largest capacities in the entire Canadian Hockey League. The ice surface runs from west to east with the perfect view of the centre ice logo from the south side. The upper deck is horseshoe like, with the higher end of seating on the east end. Sight lines are terrific from pretty much everywhere. The recent success of the Knights is evident, as the rafters are littered with banners. The retired numbers of Dino Ciccarelli, Rob Ramage, Brad Marsh, Darryl Sittler, David Bolland, Rick Nash, Brendan Shanahan and Corey Perry hang proudly on the north side of the building. The south side of the building has the division, conference and other championship banners. The highlights would include 2005, 2012, 2013 and 2016 J. Ross Robertson Cup banners as OHL Champions and the 2005 and 2016 Memorial Cup banners as Canadian Hockey League Champions. The game day production at a Knights game is fairly simple and trends to a “hockey first” mentality. The game is not over-produced and has the right balance of music, promotions and action. Scorezy, the Knights mascot, participates in the opening of the game and can be found interacting with the crowd around the arena. A great atmosphere for hockey for sure. Neighbourhood 4 Unlike many OHL venues, Budweiser Gardens is located in the downtown core. There are plenty of bars and restaurants in the immediate area to satiate the fan looking for a pre or post game experience. Right across Talbot Street from the Budweiser Gardens is the former farmers market building, which is still used for a number of different businesses. Olive R Twist, Waldo’s On King, Petit Paris Creperie, Kleiber’s Deli, The Chocolate Factory and The Salad Bowl can all be found in the Covent Garden Market building. The Squire, Abruzzi, The Works and Michael’s on the Thames are all easily within walking distance of the Gardens. There are other sporting options in town as well. The London Lightning of the CBL also play in Budweiser Gardens. There is still baseball at the historic Labatt Memorial Park with the London Majors of the Intercounty League. Western University, formerly the University of Western Ontario, also fields a full slate of athletic programs which have a solid following. Football is played at TD Stadium , hockey is played at Thompson Arena and basketball is played in the very unique Alumni Hall . Checking out Covent Garden Market or Fanshawe Pioneer Village is also a decent idea. The London Music Hall is a couple blocks north and may have an interesting show. For fans who wish to stay near the arena, the Delta London Armouries and Holiday Inn are both close by and good options. Fans 5 Since the Knights have transitioned from the Knightmare and moved into Budweiser Gardens, fans in London have turned out in droves to support the team. The Knights enjoy some of the best support in the entire Canadian Hockey League. They average just a hair under 9,000 fans per game, which is consistently tops in the OHL. In the CHL, the only teams that enjoy a larger per game attendance are those that play in NHL sized arenas and have a larger population base. The fans that are in attendance are knowledgeable and loud. The crowd is fairly intense into the game and mature enough, with enough hockey IQ, that over-promotion is not necessary. Access 3 Budweiser Gardens is located between Dundas and King Streets at the corner of Talbot Street. This is the heart of downtown London. It is a pretty fair distance from Highway 401, which runs east-west across southern Ontario. If you are heading in from the highway, make sure that you give yourself enough time to make it downtown. For fans interested in taking public transit to the game, there are buses that run along King Street among others. Fans should check out the London Transit Commission website for fares, maps and schedules. Conversely, after the game, getting out of downtown London can take some time as well. There is parking around downtown, but you will pay for it, which in the world junior hockey, is not a plus. Inside, the concourses on the main floor are a pretty good size and travel is pretty good. However, the upper deck concourses are quite small and get congested easily. The washrooms are also pretty small and lineups are common during intermissions and peak times. Return on Investment 4 Junior Hockey offers terrific value for the sporting dollar. Tickets for the Knights run between $22.50 to $36.75 for VIP seating. Parking can run between $5 and $20 which is definitely high for the OHL. Concession prices are about what one would expect for a junior hockey venue. On the flip side, the action on the ice is top notch and the Knights seem to be competitive every single season. The experience is a solid one for hockey veterans and is definitely not over-produced. Extras 4 An extra mark for the unprecedented success that the Knights have enjoyed since moving to the Budweiser Gardens. An extra mark for the Hunters’ ownership of the Knights, which has become the gold standard in the OHL and CHL. An extra mark for London hosting the 2014 Memorial Cup Tournament. An extra mark for London incorporating the existing architecture on the north side of the building on Dundas Street. Final Thoughts The London Knights are one of the elite junior hockey programs in all of the Canadian Hockey League. Mark and Dale Hunter have forged a program that is the envy of many markets. Budweiser Gardens is among the best venues there is and London is one of the best markets in the league. A trip to see the London Knights is well worth the trip and should be on the bucket list for all. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Investors Group Field 315 Chencellor Matheson Rd Winnipeg, MB R3T 1Z2 Canada Winnipeg Blue Bombers website Investors Group Field website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 33,500 The Loudest Fans in the CFL Editor's Note: In January 2024 the Winnipeg Football Club agreed to a 10-year stadium naming rights deal with Princess Auto. The name of the Stadium was changed to "Princess Auto Stadium" in April 2024. This review, written in 2018, refers to the stadium by its previous name, Investors Group Field. Investors Group Field in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada) is home to the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Colloquially known as “Home of the CFL’s Loudest Fans” (this moniker is proudly on display inside the stadium), the facility opened in 2013, and has a capacity of just over 33,000, but can be expanded to hold 40,000 fans. Located on the University of Manitoba’s campus, Investors Group Field is also used by the school’s football team for home games, as well as by the Winnipeg Rifles of the CJFL, which is a national amateur Canadian football league, from which some players “graduate” into the CFL after proving their skills. Food & Beverage 5 Investors Group Field has everything you could expect in terms of food and drink at a sports stadium. There are plenty of concessions stands behind the seats on each sideline, as well as additional options on the plazas behind each end zone. Food options at Investors Group Field include chicken tenders (regular or spicy), vegetarian perogies, turkey wings, chicken and waffle sandwiches, fried fish, multiple types of hot dogs, chili, butter chicken and rice bowls, several types of burgers (including turkey and chorizo), falafel, shawarma, salads, and pizza, plus all manner of snacks such as popcorn, peanuts, nachos, sunflower seeds, soft pretzels, samosas, vegetarian spring rolls, fries, chips, packaged candy, donuts, cotton candy, and even veggies with dip. And of course, what Canadian sporting event would be complete without poutine on the menu? If you are visiting from out of country, this is definitely a dish you should try at least once, but even if you are a local, you can’t help but be impressed by the sheer variety of items available at Investors Group Field, with options available to suit any budget. Individual items start at $4 and run all the way up to $13, with combos starting at $12. Drink options are not quite as numerous, but there is plenty to get you by for a couple of hours. Selections include bottled or fountain soda, bottled water, and coffee or hot chocolate ($2 to $9 for non-alcoholic drinks), as well as beer, wine, and plenty of liquor and mixed drinks – beer starts at $7, liquor starts at $8, wine is $9, and mixed drinks are $16. Atmosphere 5 Investors Group Field is a great place to take in a football game – the fans are loud, thanks in part to the cantilevered roofs over both sidelines, and all the seats are chair backs, so you can sit in comfort and style. In addition, the Blue Bomber staff brings in plenty of entertainment to keep fans engaged during breaks in the action. First up are Buzz and Boomer, the two bird mascots decked out in Winnipeg jerseys and helmets, who keep fans entertained along the sidelines. Next is Captain Blue, the Blue Bomber pilot who drives his biplane onto the field before the game and after every Bombers score. You will also hear cannon blasts throughout the game, courtesy of the silvery-blue cannon above the end zone, which is fired after every Winnipeg score. And in addition, some lucky fans are treated to free t-shirts, fired from a Gatling-style gun sponsored by Boston Pizza. The Winnipeg Blue Bomber players even get into the act, running and jumping into the end zone stands when Winnipeg scores, for high fives and pats on the back from fans in the front row. And then of course you have the ubiquitous fan contests, in this case weight lifting competitions and fans racing each other while inside giant inflatable hamster wheels. The crowd noise is even loud when the stadium is only half full – the decibel level inside Investors Group Field was once measured at the max level of 108. Neighborhood 4 Winnipeg is a large, sprawling town with plenty of restaurants, hotels, and things to do if you are in town for the day or for the weekend. Being on the University of Manitoba’s campus means there isn’t much in the immediate vicinity of Investors Group Field except parking lots and campus buildings, but there are plenty of restaurant and lodging options within a few minutes’ drive. And if you are coming in from out of town, there are lots of hotels and restaurants near the Winnipeg airport, about 10 km north of the stadium. If you have time before or after the game, Fort Whyte Alive is a great place to visit in Winnipeg – not far from Investors Group Field, the keynote attraction at Fort Whyte is the Bison Safari on Wednesdays thru Saturdays at 1:30 or 2:30 pm, where you can take a shuttle ride right up to within a few feet of the magnificent animals (Fort Whyte has a population of between 30 and 35 bison on site). There is also a small Interpretive Center on site, which features tons of activities for the kids, and if outdoor activities are your thing, there are several hiking and biking trails on the property, as well as activities on the water such as sailing. Another popular attraction in Winnipeg is touring the National Mint, where coins from around the world are made. The mint has daily tours every half hour starting at 9 am – reservations are not required but are helpful if you want to schedule a specific time. Note that the tours are better on weekdays, however, since the productions lines are turned off on weekends, but you can still tour the facility on weekends if you choose (the tour is exactly the same, except that the machines are off and the line workers are not there). Fans 4 Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans get credit for being as loud as they are, but sadly the facility does not always sell out – at a typical game you might only see half to two-thirds of the seats filled. On the plus side, however, a high percentage of fans are decked out in team gear, so you will definitely feel right at home if you choose to show up in your Bombers gear. Access 4 It is easy enough to get to Investors Group Field, and you can see its distinctive outline from kilometers away – the highways around Winnipeg (and much of Canada) are actually really well done, with lots of six and eight-lane divided roads laid out to speed the traffic flow; credit goes to the local city planners, it is obvious they planned ahead when building the streets here. Unfortunately the parking situation at Investors Group Field leaves a little to be desired – as expected, the stadium being on campus means there are lots of parking restrictions, and not many side streets too park along in the vicinity. Cash parking is available in the Gold and Blue lots for $20 on the east side of the stadium (or you can park in the Black value lot for $10 further away to the east), but for the closer in lots will need a pass. However, once you get inside the stadium it is really easy to move around – there are giant plazas behind each end zone you can use to get from side to side, so you can enter at any gate and still find your seat with ease. There are also plenty of bathrooms inside Investors Group Field to accommodate the size of the crowd, although as with most sports venues you may face lines at the concessions during peak periods like halftime. Return on Investment 4 Single game ticket prices for Winnipeg Blue Bombers games start at about $32 CAD, which is in line with professional sports throughout Canada, and is slightly lower than pro football games in the US. Parking is reasonable at $20, and if you are careful with your spending, you can do okay at the concessions as well. That said, with a large group you may end up spending a bit more than you would like (assuming you are picking up the whole tab), but the cost per person at Investors Group Field is a pretty good value for professional football. Extras 5 How many sports venues can boast three mascots? A lot of stadiums feature twin mascots like Buzz and Boomer, but adding Captain Blue and his biplane to the mix is really above and beyond. Furthermore, having the players themselves interact with fans by jumping into the stands when the home team scores really takes Investors Group Field to a whole new level. And don’t forget the cannon either, blue in color for the Bombers and fired after every score – again, while lots of sports venues might have one or two of these elements, very few have all three. Being the loudest stadium in the CFL is also a plus, and the staff really deserves credit for having so much fan interaction in terms of contests and giveaways. Final Thoughts CFL games are a lot of fun, thanks in part to having only 3 downs instead of 4, giving every snap the potential to turn into a big play. So if you have never been to a CFL game, or if you have but have never seen one in Winnipeg, I would encourage you to check out Investors Group Field – you won’t be disappointed.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Gummeson Grounds Sullivan Trail Easton, PA 18040 Lafayette Leopards website Gummeson Grounds website Year Opened: 2023 Capacity: 1,000 Leap Like a Leopard Located in the heart of the Lehigh Valley in Easton, Pennsylvania, lies a small school known as Lafayette College. The Leopards of Lafayette play in the Patriot League along with other similarly academic-minded institutions in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. About three miles from Lafayette's campus is Gummeson Grounds, home of Leopard soccer. Due to various donations over the years that funded renovations, the stadium is known by the full name Gummeson Grounds: Home of Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium, although it is commonly referred to as just Gummeson Grounds. The most recent renovation (essentially a new construction project on the same spot) transformed Oaks Stadium into a terraced field reminiscent of old English-style stadiums (more on that later.) The stadium is part of the Metzgar Fields Athletic Complex, which also includes Kamine Stadium , home of Lafayette baseball, Rappolt Field, home of the field hockey team, and stadiums for most of Lafayette's other outdoor sports, except football. Food & Beverage 3 A food truck is often present at sporting events at the Metzgar Complex, but when Stadium Journey visited Gummeson Grounds, it was not present, probably because it was being used at the football game going on at the same time. When Stadium Journey visited Rappolt Field elsewhere in the Metzgar Complex for field hockey earlier in the season, the truck offered a good variety of options, although the exact menu may vary by game. Meals include hot dogs or hamburgers for $9 and a cheeseburger, teriyaki chicken sandwich, chicken tenders, and cheese steak or buffalo chicken egg rolls for $10. While these prices are on the high side, they do include french fries, which improves the value significantly. Nachos are $8, mozzarella sticks are $6, and funnel cake fries are $7. Candy is $3, while Coke products, Powerade, and bottled water are available to drink for $4. Fans are also free to bring their food or beverage into the stadium, and many do. Atmosphere 5 As mentioned in the intro, Gummeson Grounds was recently renovated to create a terraced seating area reminiscent of old soccer stadiums in England. There is a small concourse separating the lower and upper terraces, and you will walk up or down the stairs to wherever you want to sit. Most seats are general admission, but there may be a few marked as reserved for certain VIPs. The vast majority of seating is chairbacks, although there are some concrete ledges in the bottom rows of the lower terrace and behind the goals that are supposed to be reminiscent of the standing areas at English stadiums. Still, fans generally sit here rather than stand. Everywhere you sit will be very close to the action, as there are only about four or five rows in each terrace, and the bottom row is very close to the field. A small scoreboard also shows shots, saves, and corner kicks for each team in addition to the score and clock. Although soccer is constant action, leaving little time for other promotions, Lafayette often takes the opportunity during halftime to honor alumni or other team legends of the past. Walking from the parking lot to the stadium takes you through a series of archways with the name of the school and the stadium on them, making this truly feel like a special place to watch a game. The seating area is unique among college soccer stadiums and makes for an excellent atmosphere at Gummeson Grounds. Neighborhood 3 Gummeson Grounds is located in a residential area several miles from Lafayette's campus and the heart of Downtown Easton. Once you find your way into town, you will find that Easton is a small college town of about 27,000 people located at the confluence of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers. Most of the action is located close to the college (and several miles from the stadium) and includes Two Rivers Brewing, a popular brewpub on Northampton Street, and Easton Public Market, which includes numerous food vendors ranging from hot dogs to barbecue to a chocolate shop to tacos, noodles, and more. Easton may be a small town, but it is certainly a thriving one. Fans 5 The upgraded stadium at Gummeson Grounds has made a major impact on attendance at Lafayette soccer games. Alumni, friends and family, and locals alike pack the terraces here to cheer on the Leopards. When the Leopards score or make a big play, it gets loud, and the fans rise to their feet and applaud. This is the kind of electric energy former player Peter Gummeson had in mind when his donation funded the renovations. This is a great crowd in a great stadium, and the latter is a major cause of the former. Access 2 Easton itself is easily accessible via US Route 22 and I-76, though you will have to drive several miles along local roads to get to Gummeson Grounds and the Metzgar Complex. The right half of the lot (as you enter) is paved, while the left half is grass. Fortunately, the paved lot will put you closer to Gummeson Grounds, although if it fills up, you will have to park in the grass lot near Rappolt Field. To get from the lot to the stadium, head to the back right corner and walk past the baseball field, and the soccer stadium will be straight up ahead. There is construction in multiple areas of the Metzgar Fields Complex, which can make getting around the lots on foot or by car challenging, as areas may be blocked off. There are no real restrooms at Gummeson Grounds, only two port-a-potties, which you may have to wait a few minutes to use. Return on Investment 5 Admission to all regular season Lafayette home games is free, and parking is free as well. Concessions, when they are available, are good value when you consider that almost every option is a combo deal. Considering the quality of the fan experience at Gummeson Grounds, a Lafayette soccer game is an excellent value. Extras 4 The unique terraced design of the stadium is worthy of an extra star here. Free programs are available from event staff as you come into the stadium. A third star here for the chance to see multiple events in the Metzgar Complex in one trip - it is easy to catch soccer and field hockey back-to-back. Look for the leopard statue in between Gummeson Grounds and Kamine Stadium, a reference to Lafayette's mascot. Final Thoughts Gummeson Grounds is one of the nicest stadiums in college soccer and certainly one of the most unique. With the terraced seating, great crowds, and up-close view of the action, this is a great place to take in a match. Soccer fans in the Lehigh Valley area will want to check out a Lafayette soccer game here.

Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field 3399 North Rd Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Marist Red Foxes website Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field website Year Opened: 2007 Capacity: 5,000 A New Top Fox At Marist College There was a seismic shift in the Marist football program in November 2023, when head coach Jim Parady announced his retirement after 32 years. The Red Foxes have had only three head coaches in their history, and Parady left as the longest-tenured head coach in Division 1. Enter Mike Willis, former Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator at Princeton. The weather was stellar on this visit to Marist College. The fall foliage was in full effect on a sun-drenched day in Poughkeepsie with temperatures in the mid-60s, but a cooling breeze took effect, especially in the second half. Tenney Stadium sits next to the entrance of the campus and is nestled along the banks of the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, New York, a city of about 32,000 situated roughly 75 miles north of New York City. Marist is a member of the 11-member Pioneer Football League. In 2013, the Red Foxes shared a Pioneer Football League title with Butler University, but have enjoyed only one winning season since 2013. Food & Beverage 3 The concession stand is located in the end zone as you enter the stadium. For the first time, alcoholic beverages are available for purchase from local breweries and cideries. Pepsi products are sold at this venue. There are food trucks in the parking lot near McCann Arena for special occasions such as Family and Homecoming/Reunion Weekend. Atmosphere 3 Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field is named after two benefactors of Marist athletics. The field was named after Alex Leonidoff, a local physician and avid Marist Athletics supporter. The original facility opened in 1968. The present stadium was dedicated on October 6, 2007. The stadium's name honors Tim Tenney, CEO of Pepsi-Cola of the Hudson Valley, who provided the lead gift for the stadium renovation project. The Marist football, men's soccer, women's soccer, men's lacrosse, and women's lacrosse programs call the stadium home. The eastern side of the field has 7 sections with 15 rows of permanent chairback seating installed. These seats offer a great view of the field. The west side of the field behind the visitor's sideline features three stairs of rock, layered below the ground. Fans can also sit on the grass or bring chairs. The band is located at the southwest corner of the end zone adjacent to the cheerleaders and dance team who are situated just to the left or west side of the Marist sideline. The crowd was engaged and supportive. Marist ditched most of its superfluous noise like AC/DC’s Hells Bells which is welcomed considering the size of the crowd and venue. The one drawback is the scoreboard is not large and does not have video capability. Neighborhood 3 Poughkeepsie is situated between the Lower Hudson and the Capital District regions. The city is home to several major corporations including IBM and educational institutions including Marist, Vassar College, Dutchess Community College, and The Culinary Institute of America. Cosimo’s Trattoria and Palace Diner are two popular places within walking distance of the stadium. The palace is open 24 hours. Erin O’Neill’s Pub and Grill is another option about a mile away. Fans 3 On this day, there was a solid supportive crowd of 1,547 which was aided by the weather and the fact it was Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. Frankie the Red Fox, the band, and the cheerleaders stirred up the crowd. Sean P. Stellato, a sports agent and motivational speaker, was honored at halftime. The 2002 Marist graduate and wide receiver led the team in touchdown receptions in 2001 and 2002. The school handed out a limited number of Marist-branded fedoras, his signature headwear. Stellato is the agent for New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito. Access 4 The best access to Poughkeepsie from the west is coming across the Mid Hudson Bridge only 2 miles from campus. Traveling up or down Route 9 can be time-consuming with traffic somewhat heavy and many traffic lights. The Taconic Parkway is about 20 minutes from the stadium and traffic will be less burdensome coming in on Route 55. Parking is free but can be an issue here as the closest lots to the stadium fill up fast, and late comers can be forced to drive to the outskirts of the campus to find parking. Fortunately, there are ample spots but could be an 8-minute walk to Tenney Stadium. The Poughkeepsie train station, served by Metro North and Amtrak, is 1.2 miles from the stadium. Return on Investment 5 The seating area, which is all chairbacks, costs $15 while general admission tickets are $8. Fans who elect general admission seating are allowed to bring chairs for use on the lawn. Tickets cost only $6 for children under 12. Marist students are granted free admission. Ticket and concession prices are a bargain and parking is free which is welcomed during these inflationary times. Extras 3 Just two miles southeast of the stadium, there is a beautiful bridge for pedestrians and cyclists which spans the Hudson River called Walkway Over the Hudson State Park. It is the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge (1.28 miles) and connects Poughkeepsie to Highland. The span, a former railroad bridge that has been repurposed, is open from 7 am until sunset. The beauty of the campus is worthy of another point. The fall foliage is impressive on a sun-drenched October or early November afternoon. All home games start at Noon which is perfect to enjoy the combination of comfortable weather and football. The Hudson River can be seen from the upper seating area. The Marist athletic community is elated by the exploits of kicker Jason Myers of the Seattle Seahawks. He played at Marist from 2009–2012. Myers, in his 10th NFL season, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars on March 3, 2015. Myers, a member of the Seattle Seahawks, made the 2019 Pro Bowl. Defensive end Terrence Fede was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2014 and played for the Dolphins from 2014–2017. Final Thoughts Tenney Stadium is a picturesque location to take in an FCS college football game. The experience offers family friendly entertainment with low prices and comfortable seating.

Photos by Paul Hilchen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Veterans Memorial Coliseum 300 North Winning St. Portland, OR 97227 Portland Winterhawks website Veterans Memorial Coliseum website Year Opened: 1960 Capacity: 10,407 Two Homes for Junior Hockey in Portland Veterans Memorial Coliseum is the part-time home for Portland’s WHL representative Winterhawks. The Moda Center, next door, also serves as the Hawks part-time home. Formerly the Edmonton Oil Kings, the Winterhawks have been a favorite in Portland since they moved to town in 1976. Portland hockey dates back to the 1910’s with the Portland Rosebuds. The most recent team not named the Winterhawks was the Buckaroos, who played in the Coliseum from 1960-1975. The franchise has had much success during their tenure in the Rose City, including winning the 1998 Memorial Cup, and a current run of back to back to back to back Western Conference championships. Memorial Coliseum is on the National Register of Historic Places due to its architecture and glass walls that adorn the outside of the building. Some within Portland have questioned the practicality of having two buildings side by side that serve exactly the same purpose, while others have outwardly called for its demolition so a baseball stadium could be built on the site. Whatever side of the spectrum one finds themselves on, no one can deny the fact that the building has a great amount of history and character. Food & Beverage 2 Fans on a budget might want to eat before they arrive at VMC because food prices are what I would consider very high. You can find most of the menu items at any arena – hot dogs $6, soda $6 – $6.75, popcorn $8.75, nachos $5.50 and so on. There are a few not so common items here such as Chicken & Waffles $9.50, a Pork Belly Cubano sandwich from Bunk Sandwiches $13, a Turkey BLT from Bridgetown Deli $12 and a Pulled Pork sandwich from Seven Rivers BBQ for $9.75. It’s a good idea if you do decide to eat there, make sure you get there early before the game or leave your seat before intermission because the lines are generally long. Atmosphere 4 With the success this franchise has achieved, each game is a highly anticipated event. There are banners of former Hawks players that have spent time in the NHL adorning the front entrance most notably former Boston Bruin Cam Neely and current Chicago Blackhawk star Marian “Hurricane” Hossa. The building also pays tribute to its former tenant Portland Trailblazers. VMC was the building the Blazers won their only NBA Championship in 1977. History-minded fans will love this building as there are visions of the past throughout the halls. One of the things I was disappointed in was the sound system. In my view this is something that can really add to a game, but the system that was used sounded very outdated. From where I was sitting, the crowd was louder than AC/DC playing when the Hawks scored a goal. Neighborhood 4 The Rose Quarter, the area in which VMC and the Moda Center occupy, is a central locale in Portland. Considered part of the Lloyd District, the area is one of the busiest parts of town. The Oregon Convention Center, another local landmark, is not far away nor is downtown Portland. Downtown Portland has a slew of the things to experience when visiting. At SW 5th and Oak, one of the “food cart blocks” resides. One can find just about any comfort food you can think of at one of these “carts” which aren’t necessarily carts, but actually food trucks. In any case, you can find numerous tasty treats here. Voodoo Donuts is also a Portland staple downtown. If you’re looking for other modes of entertainment, there is a floating Maritime Museum down on the waterfront. The Portland Art Museum is also a popular destination. A bit farther out, I highly recommend the Japanese Garden. It’s a very quiet, serene place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown atmosphere. The Japanese Garden also has one of the better views of Portland as well as one of the better views of the NW mountain peaks. Fans 5 Hockey fans are like no other sports fans, and Portland’s fans are as passionate as any I’ve ever encountered. Most sports fans are a mixed bag but hockey fans are there because they love hockey. There aren’t “just here to be seen” fans in attendance. The Hawks attract a very knowledgeable crowd who understand the ins and outs of hockey. They are a fairly respectable bunch but not afraid to let the players or the refs know their feelings. It’s a crowd parents can let their children attend and not have to worry about most of the negatives associated with this type of action. Access 3 Near the intersection of I-5 & I-84, Memorial Coliseum is easy to get to from anywhere in Portland. There are a couple of parking structures available if you get there early enough or there are lots available at businesses for a fee. You are also able to park on the streets around the neighborhood, but expect to walk a ways. If you plan on attending via public transportation, TRI-MET offers bus service and The MAX (train) stops on the streets bordering the Rose Quarter. Inside the arena, the hallways can get a little crowded. The bathrooms are tight as well. The seats are padded and reasonably comfortable, which is nice although the leg room available isn’t suited for people over 5’8″. Return on Investment 4 Single game tickets range from $16-$31. Group rates range from $11.50 – $20.50, so if you want to go with friends, that’s the best value. There really isn’t a bad seat in the house but if you are an action junkie, I would recommend seats in the first 10 – 15 rows. As a whole, attending a Winterhawks game at VMC is well worth what one pays for a ticket. The fans and the atmosphere alone makes it worth it but when all is considered, I would say it is one of the best values in minor league hockey. Extras 3 The pre game festivities include a montage of current Hawks players as kids playing youth hockey which I think is very cool. It appears that one could buy a ride on the Zamboni during intermission. Fans can get a chance to shoot the puck for an Oregon College Savings Plan account. If you need Hawks gear, The Winterhawks Store has just what you need. Hats, hoodies, pucks, t-shirts or if you want to go all out, authentic jerseys are available for $300. Final Thoughts The Winterhawks have established themselves as the hockey team in town an operating out of the smaller coliseum makes for a perfect atmosphere for hockey. The sight lines, crowd noise, and concourse create an ideal environment for junior hockey in the Rose City.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Hadlock Field 271 Park Ave Portland, ME 04104 Portland Sea Dogs website Hadlock Field website Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 7,368 Home of the Maine Monster Hadlock Field is named for longtime Portland High School baseball coach and physics teacher Edson J. Hadlock Jr. The Sea Dogs began competing in the AA Eastern League in 1994 as an affiliate of the Florida Marlins. In 2003 the Sea Dogs switched affiliations to the nearby Boston Red Sox and have enjoyed a surge in popularity since. When the city of Portland was awarded an Eastern League expansion team in 1992, the city renovated Hadlock Field, which was being used at the time as a high school field. To this day, Hadlock Field is used by both the Portland High and Deering High School baseball teams. Over the course of their existence, the Sea Dogs won one Eastern League title along with five division titles and a half-season championship in 2022. Before the 2021 season, the team announced that they have signed an agreement to remain affiliated with the Boston Red Sox until 2030. Food & Beverage 4 Longtime visitors to Hadlock Field will notice some changes to the concessions. While the menu remains very similar, the tweaks to be found have upgraded the overall experience for visitors. Most of the concession stands at Hadlock Field are located underneath the grandstand on the main concourse. Fortunately, there are more than enough stands to handle a typical Sea Dogs crowd, meaning you shouldn’t miss much of the action when you leave your seat to get something to eat. The concessions menu at Hadlock Field checks all the boxes. While the menu doesn’t stray too far from ballpark basics, there’s enough variety to satisfy all fans. From Fenway Franks to the most popular item, the Sea Dog biscuit (a scoop of Gifford’s vanilla ice cream sandwiched by two chocolate chip cookies), there’s something for everyone here. Coca-Cola products are featured at Hadlock Field. Stadium Journey’s recommended spot is the Ware-Bulter Bar and Grill, located past the end of the concourse in left field. Here fans can purchase grilled burgers, dogs, sausage sandwiches and steak and cheese subs. Fans looking for healthier alternatives will find chicken Caesar wraps and assorted salads here. Also sold here is a wide selection of beers, featuring many local brews from Lone Pine, Baxter, Geary, Allagash and Nonesuch Breweries, among others. Head to the small stands at the end of the first base grandstand for a selection of adult ice cream flavors from Sweet & Boozy. Atmosphere 4 The gameday atmosphere at Hadlock Field is similar to many other ballparks at this level of baseball. There is a lot going on to distract from the action on the field. There are contests and giveaways between every half inning, along with entertainment throughout the game designed to keep younger and casual fans engaged. A statue of the Sea Dogs’ mascot, Slugger the seal greets fans at the entrance to Hadlock Field. This is a popular spot to meet before or after the game and to pose for a picture. Longtime fans may notice that the Slugger statue finally got a new sign for the 2021 season. The actual Slugger may just be the best dancing mascot in baseball and is integral to the gameday presentation. Unique to Hadlock Field are the “Trash Monsters,” mascots who also serve as trash cans. Young fans line up to throw out their garbage into the mouths of the “monstahs” throughout the game. It can’t be fun to be the poor intern in that costume during the hot summer months. Anyone who has spent any time in Red Sox Nation can testify how dedicated and intense fans are in this part of the country. The Sea Dogs’ affiliation with the Red Sox guarantees that the fans in Portland know the players well and are invested in their success. Unfortunately, Sea Dog fans share some bad habits with their parent fans in Boston, in that they are always in motion, blocking views and distracting fans from the action going on down on the field. Neighborhood 4 The city of Portland is often mentioned among the top destinations in all of minor league baseball. The city features a thriving arts scene and is a favorite amongst foodies. In particular, if you love seafood, you won’t find a city with a greater diversity and quality of restaurants than Portland. In addition, Portland has an active craft beer scene, with several fine breweries located in the immediate area. Shoppers will flock to nearby outlet malls in Kittery, just to the south of the city, or Freeport, just to the north. What keeps Hadlock Field from receiving a perfect score in this category is that it is not located in the Old Port neighborhood of the city, but away from the city center near I-295. Two spots within walking distance of Hadlock Field are worth mentioning. Salvage BBQ features Carolina style barbeque and an impressive list of craft beer. Holy Donut serves up an endless variety of donuts made from all-natural ingredients, including potatoes. The line can stretch around the block for these incredible pastries. As good as these spots are, if visiting from out of town, you’ll want to head downtown to the Old Port for dining, drinking, and entertainment after the game. Maine dubs itself “Vacationland,” and whether your idea of relaxing involves a sandy beach, an amusement park, a museum, a day on the bay or hiking through the woods, you’ll find what you need in and around Portland. Check out VisitMaine.com for more details. Fans 4 When the Sea Dogs switched affiliations from the Florida Marlins to the hometown Boston Red Sox in 2003, the surge in attendance and interest in the team was predictable. Now, nearly two decades later, the team remains as popular as ever. The Sea Dogs annually rank in the top five in Eastern League attendance rankings, generally averaging around 5,500 fans per game. The team’s affiliation with the nearby Boston Red Sox (Fenway Park is 107 miles away) ensures that the fans in Maine are knowledgeable about the team and passionate about the action taking place down on the field. It’s a shame that most of them don’t sit down and watch the game for a while. Access 4 Hadlock Field is easy to get to, located just a few blocks from Interstate 295. Simply take the Congress Street exit and follow the signs to the ballpark. Parking is available in surface lots around the ballpark, including at the adjacent Fitzpatrick Stadium. On-street parking is also available but pay attention to signs for hours and restrictions. Fans will enter Hadlock Field onto a concourse that stretches underneath the length of the seating bowl. The small but well-stocked team store will be immediately to your left, with concession stands lining the wall in front of you. The concourse can get crowded when the park is filled, but generally fans should have no issues getting around. Rest rooms are located on either side of the ballpark and are plenty big enough for a typical Sea Dog crowd. Due to the presence of the Portland Expo Center next to Hadlock Field, the seating bowl of the ballpark is irregular, running from about first base around to deep left field. Most of the seating consists of green folding plastic stadium seats, with some metal bleachers along the top of the seating bowl and in deep left field. An inner walkway runs along the length of the seating bowl, separating the box seats from the reserved and general admission seating. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Sea Dog games range in price from $11-$13. Children and seniors receive a $1-$3 discount depending on the type of ticket purchased. Waiting until gameday to buy your tickets will add a two-dollar surcharge to them. For an extra three dollars, fans can purchase Assurance tickets, which allows for transfer of tickets to another home game should plans change. Parking in the many lots around Hadlock Field costs between ten and twenty dollars. Unfortunately, the ample free on-street parking that could be found around the ballpark is not available on most nights. Pay attention to parking signs in the area if looking for on-street parking. Extras 5 Hadlock Field is loaded with touches designed to evoke memories of the ballpark’s Maine location. Keep a look out for the lighthouse hidden beyond the centerfield fence which rises after every Sea Dog home run and victory. Hadlock Field has many features meant to mimic their parent club’s ballpark in Boston. In left field stands a 37-foot-tall replica of Fenway’s Green Monster, known in Portland as the Maine Monster. Hadlock has its own version of Fenway’s Monster Seats, located high above the right field wall over the Sea Dogs’ bullpen. A scoreboard in right-centerfield is dedicated solely to Red Sox game stats. Located in the concourse are pictures of every ballpark in the Eastern League as well as every Sea Dog team and award winner since the franchise’s inception in 1994. There is also a display listing every Sea Dog alumnus to make the major leagues. Sea Dog Hall of Fame members all have a plaque on the concourse wall. Every current member of the Boston Red Sox who played for the Sea Dogs has their Portland jersey displayed on the façade of the press box. Luxury boxes at Hadlock Field are named for Red Sox alumni who played in Portland. Final Thoughts Hadlock Field is often named among the top minor league ballparks in the nation. This may have more to do with where it is rather than what it is. Hadlock may not be the most modern minor league ballpark, but it is filled with enthusiastic, knowledgeable fans and plenty of kitschy touches. Couple an afternoon at the ballpark with an evening down at the Old Port, and you’ve got yourself a fantastic Stadium Journey! Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @Puckman

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Bragg Memorial Stadium 1500 Wahnish Way Tallahassee, FL 32310 Florida A&M Rattlers website Bragg Memorial Stadium website Year Opened: 1957 Capacity: 19,633 Something to Bragg About Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is a public historically Black land-grant university (HBCU) in Tallahassee, Florida. It was founded in 1887 and is the third-largest HBCU in the country, with an enrollment of more than 10,000 students. The school offers 54 Bachelor’s degree programs, 29 Master’s programs, and 12 doctoral programs. The Florida A&M football team is known as the Rattlers. The football program started early at the school, as it first fielded a team in 1907. The Rattlers are one of the most successful teams in HCBU (Historically Black College and Universities) football, as they have won 16 Black College National Football Championships, 29 SIAC titles, 8 MEAC titles, 1 SWAC title and one 1-AA National title. The team is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The home of Rattlers football is the on-campus 19,633-seat Bragg Memorial Stadium. It opened in 1957 and is named for J.B. and Eugene Bragg, a father and son duo that served as head coaches for the Rattlers in the 1930s and 1940s. The field is named for Ken Riley, an All-American football player at Florida A&M, who went on to be a coach and athletic director for his alma mater. Riley was also a member of the NFL Hall of Fame. This is the second incarnation of Bragg Stadium on the FAMU campus. Its short-lived predecessor opened in 1947 in a cow pasture near the campus. It did not even have restrooms, so fans had to use the facilities in a nearby dormitory.   Food and Beverage 5 Before you are even inside Bragg Stadium, you are likely to be full. That’s because more than 50 food tents set up business along Perry Street next door to Bragg Stadium before each home game. These vendors sell various foods, including BBQ, okra, chicken wings, pork chops, seafood, grits, ribs, turkey wings, frog legs, and cheesesteaks. Dessert items include cakes, cookies, ice cream, smoothies and pies. If you are still hungry, Bragg Stadium has two concession stands along the concourses on each side of the Field. They all sell off the same menu, which includes a Brisket meal package (brisket, mac and cheese, cole-slaw, and cornbread). Individual items available include Brisket sandwiches, mac and cheese, hot dogs, nachos with cheese, boiled peanuts, potato salad, coleslaw, and pickled sausages. Dessert items include candy, pickles, and chips. FAMU stands offer Pepsi brand sodas as well as fruit punch, lemonade, tea, and water. The stadium stands to accept both cash and credit cards.   Atmosphere 3 A major aspect of the atmosphere at HBCU football games is its marching band, and the Rattlers are no exception. The Florida A&M band is known as the Marching 100, and they play nonstop throughout the games. Many fans attend the games just because of the band, as their halftime performances are legendary. The band has performed at Olympic Games, Super Bowls, the Rose Parade, and presidential inaugurations. Bragg Memorial Stadium has gone through several renovations in recent years to improve the fan experience. The seating bowl has been completely refurbished with new aluminum bench seating, a new press box has been built, and additional luxury suites and boxes have been added. A new electronics package, including the sound system and the video board, has been installed to better inform fans of the game statistics. The on-field improvements include a new AstroTurf playing surface and a renovation of the Gallimore-Powell Field House behind the south end zone. This enhanced both the home and visiting team’s locker rooms, training areas, and coaches’ offices. Neighborhood 4 The Florida A&M campus and Bragg Memorial Stadium are located just south of downtown Tallahassee and the Florida State government complex. Attractions near the stadium include the Railroad Square Arts District and the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. Two restaurants of note near the campus are E and J’s BBQ and Dick Mondell’s Burger and Fries. Proof Brewing Company is also nearby, with a large offering of craft beers. Several lodging options are near campus, including the Hotel Indigo Tallahassee Collegetown and the Hyatt House Tallahassee Capitol University.   Fans 4 The Rattlers have a strong fanbase made up of current students, alumni, and Tallahassee residents who have adopted the school as their own. They dress in the designated colors announced by the school for each home game at Bragg Stadium. The PA announcer at Bragg is more of a DJ than your typical stadium announcer, as he hypes up the crowd in addition to announcing game statistics. New coach Willie Simmons pleased fans with a Celebration Bowl win and yet another Black College National Championship in his inaugural season of 2023. Rattler fans always look forward to two featured ball games each season. The Florida Classic pits Florida A&M against Bethune-Cookman University, and the Orange Blossom Classic offers Jackson State University as the opposition. However, the 2024 game was the last game of this matchup due to conference realignment. Access 3 Getting to a Rattler football game is relatively easy. Other than a few lots dedicated towards season ticket holders/major donors, most of the parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans arrive well before the kickoff to set up their tailgating feasts. There are four sets of entry gates set aside for fans at Bragg Memorial Stadium.  These gates open two hours before kickoff. Return on Investment 3 There are two levels for single-game tickets at Bragg Stadium. General admission seating is available for $45, and reserved seats are $50. Parking is available on campus for each home game. Parking on campus lots is available on a game-by-game basis for $22.95. The parking lot adjacent to Bragg Stadium is reserved for season ticket holders only. As we have mentioned before, the concession prices inside Bragg Stadium are quite reasonable. Extras 2 There are plans to build a 35,000-seat stadium elsewhere on the campus, but no starting date for this project has been announced. The stadium would feature three tiers of seating, 360-degree access to the concourse, and several luxury suites and lounge boxes. Many elite players and coaches have been a part of the Rattler's heritage. Legendary coach Jake Gaither won multiple National Championships during his time with the teams. Star players for the Rattlers who went on to NFL glory include Gene Atkins, Ken Riley, Willie Galimore, Bob Hayes, and Nate Newton. Final Thoughts There was great anticipation before the game at Bragg Memorial Stadium, the historic home of the Florida A&M Rattlers. The roar of the crowd grew louder as the Rattlers took the field, their band providing a powerful soundtrack to the game. This venue is a great visit for sports fans.

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

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Bauer Track & Field Complex Hospital Rd Piscataway, NJ 08854 Rutgers Scarlet Knights website Bauer Track & Field Complex website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 1,500 (estimated) Field Hockey Knight at Rutgers The Rutgers University Scarlet Knights field hockey program plays their home matches at the Bauer Track & Field Complex on their campus in Piscataway, New Jersey. The stadium opened in 1996 and, as the name would suggest, is home to Scarlet Knights track & field in addition to the field hockey team. Rutgers field hockey has qualified for the NCAA Tournament five times, but has never advanced beyond the quarterfinals. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at Rutgers field hockey games, but fans are free to bring their own. Atmosphere 4 The Bauer Track & Field Complex has one large set of bleachers that run along one sideline. A running track separates the field from the seating area, and the front row of the bleachers is a good distance from the edge of the track, so fans in the bleachers will be further away from the action than is ideal. A scoreboard to the right of the field shows the shots and penalty corners for each team in addition to the score and clock. It also shows the current half, but as field hockey has used quarters for several years, this is not as useful as you might think. the atmosphere here is more exciting than a typical college field hockey match. Before Rutgers penalty corners, music, typically the intro trumpet solo from "Narco" will play to get fans fired up for the big play. After goals, celebration music plays. One minor but significant point is that the PA announcer will announce the results of video reviews, including whether a call stands (i.e. video evidence is inconclusive) or is confirmed (i.e. video evidence conclusively shows the call on the field was correct.) This is not an insignificant difference in field hockey, as the former results in the team retaining their challenge and the latter does not. The Rutgers mascot, who appropriately is a costumed knight who wears scarlet, has been known to make an appearance at Rutgers field hockey matches. He will roam the stands interacting with fans and occasionally getting into mischief such as switching people's hats around. Neighborhood 5 Piscataway is a sleepy college town in northern New Jersey and you will find a few options here such as Henry’s Diner near the basketball arena and some of the best pizza places in the country. No reason to get Pizza Hut or Papa John’s here (unless you're stuck in the stadium and have the former forced upon you), it’s far better to pick up a real Jersey slice. Fans may also be interested in grabbing a Fat Sandwich from R U Hungry at the corner of Hamilton Street and College Avenue in New Brunswick. While the grease trucks serving these legendary sandwiches once dotted Rutgers’ College Avenue campus and they were thought of as the school’s quintessential food, most of these trucks have been shut down as the university constructed new buildings, relocated the trucks, and ultimately declined to renew their permits. R U Hungry, which was the original fat sandwich vendor, now serves them out of a more traditional storefront location. Fat sandwiches consist of sub rolls topped with seemingly random combinations of toppings. The original Fat Cat has a double cheeseburger, lettuce, tomato, French fries, mayo, and ketchup, and the combinations just get weirder from there. For example, the Fat Elvis comes with gyro meat, mozzarella sticks, lettuce, tomato, French fries, and white sauce, certainly a bizarre combination. There are many others with fun names such as the Fat Darrell, the Fat Koko, and at least one whose name violates the editorial standards of this website. As you can probably guess by the name, these sandwiches are loaded with calories and are not for the faint of heart (figuratively or literally.) Knights Express and Giovanelli's also sell fat sandwiches with similar menus., Fans 5 Rutgers draws quite well for field hockey, averaging about 500 fans a game and sometimes getting close to a thousand, which is very good for college field hockey. These fans are passionate and loud, cheer on big plays, and are not afraid to yell at the referees when they feel they have made an incorrect call. Many of those in attendance are friends and family of the players, but there will also be Rutgers students and some locals looking to cheer on the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers ranked fourth in the nation in attendance in 2023, so this is truly a great fan base that you don't often see in field hockey. There will often be a sizeable contingent of visiting fans as well, especially if Rutgers is playing a nearby school. Access 3 Just getting to the Rutgers campus can be confusing. For starters, “the” Rutgers campus is misleading as Rutgers University has five separate campuses in Piscataway and New Brunswick – College Avenue, Busch, Livingston, Cook, and Douglass. (These should not be confused with the two regional campuses in Camden and Newark, which are completely separate institutions.) The Bauer Track & Field Complex is located on the Livingston campus, across Hospital Road from Jersey Mike's Arena and right next door to Bainton Field , home of Rutgers baseball. Free parking is available in the Yellow or Green lots next to Jersey Mike's arena, although you will need to register your car and license plate through the Rutgers athletic website to avoid receiving a ticket. You only need to do this once per season, and if you forget to do it before you leave, there is a QR code you can scan to do so on your phone at the entrance to the stadium. Note that registration is sport-specific and does not carry over from season to season. There are no real restrooms at the complex, but there are a large number of Port-a-potties by the entrance which should be sufficient for the crowds. Keep in mind these are on the opposite side of the field from the bleachers, so it may take a few minutes to walk over there. Return on Investment 5 Admission to Rutgers field hockey games is free, with the exception of Big 10 and NCAA Tournament games, which have a separate pricing model determined by those respective entities. Parking is also free, and you won't spend anything on concessions because there aren't any. Given the quality of the facility, a Rutgers field hockey game is a great value. Extras 2 Look below the scoreboard for signage honoring Rutgers' NCAA Tournament appearances as well as its two retired numbers - number 4 for Liz McGuire and number 5 for Regina Alonzo. Each of those are worthy of an extra star here. Final Thoughts Rutgers field hockey plays at a high-quality facility and has a strong fan base that comes out and supports the team. Fans of the sport will definitely want to head to the Bauer Track & Field Complex to check out a Scarlet Knights game.

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

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

Minor league baseball teams have created numerous promotions to attract a larger audience to their ballparks recently. However, one promotion that took place well over a century ago has been lost in time. It was a radical idea that would be an advertising stunt and attract visitors to the town. That idea was free baseball for the Decatur Commodores in 1915. It was an ideal conceived by team management of the Three-Eye League that gained enough attention that other teams thought about themselves, and a few others contemplated that it might just be what the minor leagues were looking for. Newspapers from Salt Lake City to Boston claimed that the “millennium had arrived in Decatur, Illinois.” The Commodores, or Commies, as they were called by the local populace had been in town since 1900 but had been operating at a loss since a second version of the club arrived in town in 1910. Attendance peaked at 52,104 in 1907 before dropping to 38,597 in 1909. The ball club’s treasurer Mont Peniwell proposed a plan that would have local businesses, fans, and residents donate enough money before the season to allow for all fans to watch games for free at the ballpark for the 1915 season. A goal of $12,000 was established and Peniwell began looking for subscribers. Subscriptions would be sent to the local newspaper by fans It would be a boost to the community and the thought process was that larger attendance numbers would spill to the local merchants of Decatur. Archie Davis, a local druggist, was the first fan who sent $10 in with his coupon from the newspaper and said the following. “A good crowd will be at every game, and my only trouble will be in securing a box seat so that I can get as close to the players as possible.” The idea was not original and suggested by the Wichita Wolves of the Western League in February. Team president A. M. Ebright set a goal of selling $75,000 worth of tickets at 50 cents apiece to local businesses and residents to open the gates to Island Park for free. He envisioned free advertising from across the nation, increased trade with local merchants, and fans of all income levels being able to attend a game. However, it does not appear that the ball club met the goal and abandoned the free baseball concept. A receipt from a fan who donate $2 towards a subscription for free baseball for Decatur A subscription ballot was printed in the Decatur  Daily Herald  where fans or businesses would fill in how much they would like to donate. Subscriptions came in from the Decatur Hotel, Decatur Railway & Light Company, and the Decatur National Bank. Sydney Bacharach, owner of Cheap Charley Clothing Store, was more than willing to back the campaign. “Free baseball looks like a great thing for businessmen. We want to get the people here, and then when they see what Decatur is offering them, they will do their business here.” The news caught the attention of many outside of Decatur. New York Giants scout, Dick Kinsella said that the city got more advertisement out of free baseball than any other town this size ever had.  Folks in Montana referred to Decatur as where they have free baseball. Three-Eye president Al Tearny stated that he wouldn’t be surprised that several years, the majority of minor leagues operated with free baseball within several years. League members in Peoria, Bloomington, Quincy, and Dubuque contemplated adopting the practice in 1916. A comic from Toledo, Ohio, with a satirical look at the free baseball promo However, Peniwell soon discovered that the club couldn't meet the $12,000 objective. It was downsized to $8,000 but announced that the club had met its goal and played the season with free baseball. The free seats were only for the bleacher sections, and fans wanting to sit in the grandstand would have to pay 15 cents. Buttons were created for fans to wear to the game to show their pledge. On April 30, the Commodores opened at home at the local racetrack that was fitted with a new grandstand roof, wire fencing in front of the grandstand, and a steel outfield wall. The bleachers were packed with fans, and many sat behind the wired fencing in front of the grandstand. Others watched the game from their automobiles in right field. However, attendance was 770, with only 178 people paying for seats in the grandstand. The second game drew a larger crowd of over 2,000 people. There were 300 people in the grandstand, 15 rows of people stood beyond the bleachers and down right field, and the bleachers were packed. The third game on Sunday was expected to attract 4,000, but wet weather doomed the game, and only 500 were in attendance. The headline says it all about the Commies promotion One caveat about the promotion was the number of school children who attended games. It became so concerning that the local truant officer showed up to see who was playing hooky at school. The team then established that all school children would not be allowed to play games until after 3:30 pm after class let out. Crowds of around 1,000 would be at hand for select games, but it was soon evident that Commies were nowhere near the $8,000 mark for their goal. By May 16, the club only collected $3,469. Donation boxes were set up at the entrance of the stadium, and the club began charging 15 cents a person who watched the game from their automobiles. Penniwell announced that the club received $6,200 in subscriptions at the beginning of the season, with two sources pitching in an additional $1,500 to push the total to close to $8,000, but when it came time to collection, most did not pay up. The club collected only $3,469 of actual money (43 percent short of the goal). Imagine putting yourself down for 4-boxes of Girl Scout Cookies from your next-door neighbor's kid and then a month later refusing to pay when your order of Peanut Butter Patties, Thanks-A-Lot, and Thin Mints arrived. You might wake up with a slashed tire, but that's what took place with the subscriptions in Decatur. Many said they would pay anywhere from $2 to $150, but never did. Since most fans sat in the bleachers, sales from seating in the grandstand were down. It also led to fewer fans patronizing the area during games. I am not sure if this meant that fans did not purchase food or beverages at the game, since that did not appear to be mentioned in any of the newspaper articles of the time, but the team underestimated its goal of reaching $8,000 goal. The team also had to make additional payments towards police, laundry services, coal for the clubhouse, new uniforms, and player salaries. The team was in the red for $3,231 when it was all said and done. Then adding insult to injury, Mother Nature had the final word on the Commodores campaign on July 15 when a tornado ripped apart the grandstand’s roof before a ballgame. Insurance officials then razed and condemned the grandstand. Photos of the racetrack grandstand after the tornado struck it before a game. The Commies would continue to play with fans now being charged 15 cents to sit in the bleachers, but the team was close to folding or relocating to Galesburg, Illinois, to close out the season. On August 11, the team played its final game and a few days later a benefit game was set up with a semi-pro team that attracted only 350 fans.  The failure of the free baseball campaign wiped out baseball in Decatur until a new version was created for the 1922 Three-Eye season. The team would play at Staley Field, which had recently been vacated by the Decatur Staleys football team that relocated to Chicago and is now known as the Bears. The Commies attracted a record 64,024 fans on the year that signaled a triumph return of baseball to town. In 1927, Fans Field would be built and serve as home to the Commies for the next 50 years.   As quickly as it was announced, the free baseball campaign fizzled. The concept was noble and made sense on paper if all of the money was accounted for. It did put Decatur on the map across the nation providing pride for citizens and businesses. However, when it came time to collect dues that is when the trouble started. What could have been a new era of baseball pricing in the minor leagues, quickly became lost in time. At that year’s winter meetings in Chicago, the Three-Eye League made it clear that there would be no such talk of free baseball with any of its club members, setting a price of 25 cents a ticket for games. Rock Island would take Decatur’s place in the loop’s schedule for 1916. There was a lot of promise at the start of the season for the Commies and Decatur. Today, one would have to look 110 miles north to Peru, Illinois. The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp of the summer collegiate Prospect League does charge admission to Schweickert Stadium . The team has built the stadium from the ground up and does not have plans to charge a dime for games anytime soon. Other small-town summer collegiate teams in the Cape Cod League, Florida Collegiate Summer League, and the New York Summer Collegiate League also admit fans in for free. Fortunately, we would never see a promotion like this ever again for a minor league team. The loss of revenue from a $10-$12 bleacher seat would be ludicrous, regardless of the publicity it would receive nationally. An interesting tidbit is that the Commies franchise continues today as the Kane County Cougars in the Midwest League. They offer $5 lawn seats for games that have to be purchased within a week of the game. It is not free, but pretty darn close. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 1776 USA Election Central Everywhere, USA 17760 www.yourvote.gov Year Opened: 1776 Capacity: 155 million for the 2020 contest Electoral College Stadium Hosts the Big Event The Electoral College Stadium is one of the most unique sports facilities in the USA. It hosts only one game, the Electoral College Bowl and the game is only held once every four years on the first Tuesday in November. Among the impressive numbers at the Electoral College Stadium is its capacity….155 million fans have participated in the Electoral College Bowl in person over the last two election cycles. The press box at the facility is the largest in the world, as a worldwide press contingent has a great interest in the winner of the contest. We’re not just talking about sportswriters… this includes press staff from global governments, defense contractors, and political special interest groups, as well as the “non-partisan” press from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX, One America Network, Newsmax, etc. Network insiders/political influencers always get preferred seating in the press areas. The Electoral College Bowl has also experienced some on-field controversies in recent seasons, especially during the 2000 and 2020 contests. The referees, members of the Supreme Court in their zebra-striped robes, have the final say on controversial plays. Their decision is final… there are no grounds for an appeal. Of course, the team on the losing side of a call will then accuse the winning side of stacking the referee squad. Food & Beverage 3 The two sets of fans at the Electoral College Bowl Stadium cannot even agree on a standard set of food items at the concession stands. Therefore, the stands on the opposite sides of the field serve fare in line with their squad’s preferred food platform. While the Donkeys’ Blue Ribbon Stand favors lots of ethnic and soul foods, the Red Elephants’ Rockin’ Red Stand carries BBQ and other country club favorites. Atmosphere 5 Qualifying for the next Electoral College Bowl typically gets underway in January before the Bowl game. These preliminary contests often take place on the frozen tundra of fields located in the states of Iowa and New Hampshire. These early contests separate the contenders from the pretenders. This gets the political blood of the competing teams going for another election season. At the opposite end of the political spectrum is the Electoral College Bowl, the culminating event of the political season. It is preceded by pep rallies, otherwise known as conventions, held by each competing team. These events are important, as they determine the strategies to be employed by each team going into the final quarter of the political season. Speakers range from former team leaders to up-and-comers who may lead the teams in future years. Celebrity guests are also invited to these conventions, as they raise the TV ratings and help the celebrities meet the “right people” in the media world. The conventions also serve a function of choosing an assistant coach in case… well… there was Watergate…. And the head coach might be tossed out of the game! There are times when the battle between the parties somewhat goes out of control, resulting in some unsportsmanlike conduct, such as some mudslinging taking place. In these situations, the officials are quick to file injunctions to get the offending players calmed back down. Gameday is really about the fans. By now, the two finalists have completed the X’s and O’s of their game plans and published them in their team program, or platform. The supporters of the Democratic Donkey team wear their blue team colors proudly and sit on the left (liberal) side of the election field, while the red-clad Republican Elephant supporters sit on the right (conservative) side of the field. Any Independents that somehow get in the Electoral College Bowl are confined to the area behind the end zone… looking wistfully at the playing field they cannot earn a spot on. As soon as the Electoral College Bowl ends, the polls reopen to gauge the up-and-coming teams at the city, state, and federal levels. These teams compete at a separate level, namely the Federal, City, and State levels, known as the FCS. Neighborhood 5 Electoral College Stadium is unique in that its seating bowl is not set up based on rows or aisles. Instead, fans of each team are seated by precinct. This allows the political stand managers to easily identify problem areas and dispatch a squad of political consultants to decide what platform corrections can be made quickly to bring the voters in those areas back in line with the party’s platform. The seating precincts are subject to alterations between the election cycles due to redistricting. Fans 5 Electoral College Stadium and the Electoral College Bowl draw fans from all 50 states and some U.S. Territories. The fan bases are about equally distributed between the Democratic Blue Donkeys and the Republican Red Elephants. Every few years a registered Independent fan tries to sneak in, but the polls have never allowed the Independents to get as far as the Electoral College Bowl Game due to the stringent eligibility requirements. (Plus, they don’t stand a chance of winning against the big boys!). Even though each fan base is solid in support of their party, some fans waver when gameday arrives. This a big negative, and the offending fan is in danger of being accused of being a “moderate,” which is akin to being called a scab in this ultimately political game. Attending a game at Electoral College Stadium does come with restrictions. Fans must be at least 18 years old and must be registered voters. No kids allowed! Each fan is limited to one ticket per ballot. Tickets may not be sold or transferred to another person. Some photo ID may be required at the gate by a poll watcher. (i.e., so no one cheats!) Access 3 Gamedays at Electoral College Stadium get underway as the gates typically open at 7 am, and do not close for 12 hours. However, you often must leave before the final score/stats are determined. Access to the Electoral College Stadium is restricted to persons over 18, who have not committed any Federal crimes (or at least have not been caught) and are residents of the U.S.A. Ticket takers at the gates of the stadium are Secret Service agents who have the right to frisk anyone who might be deemed as a danger to members of the winning/losing Electoral College Bowl teams. Fat cats and special interest groups are allowed admittance to the Smoked Filled Room luxury boxes atop the stadium. Members and supporters of the losing squad in the contest are prohibited from the Smoke-filled Room Luxury Box for the next four years. Return on Investment 4 The Electoral College Bowl is one of the most expensive college contests in the world, as fans, corporate fat cats special interest groups, and plain small donors compete in the contest to influence the winner of the Electoral College Bowl Game. Tickets go for face value… it is the table funding that gets favorable consideration from the winning team. Depending on the legislation passed, or favors done, some attendees DO see a favorable return on their investment. Extras 3 Fans in attendance need to choose a side before taking part in the Electoral College Bowl. If you don’t make a choice, you have no right to complain for the next four years! The perks to being a supporter of the winning squad in the game may include entry into one of the many Washington galas, a prime seat at the Inaugural Parade, or a possible appointment as a member of the Presidential Cabinet. The 2000 game featuring Al Gore as the leader of the Democratic Donkeys squad and George W. Bush as the captain of the Republican team holds the Electoral College Bowl record for overtime. It finally was decided by the infamous “hanging chads” call by the court/bowl zebras, which awarded the win to the Red squad. Final Thoughts The electoral college stadium has lasted for nearly 250 years. It has survived wars, depressions, good times and bad. Just like any structure, it has some imperfections and is subject to criticism from the fans, who point out the flaws in the structure. What is most important is that its once in every four years schedule for the Big Game allows the fans from both teams to have a say in the game strategy for their respective squads. Like any contest, after the whistle blows to signal the end of the game, both parties shake hands to acknowledge the winner.... and that's the American Way.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Long Bridge Park 475 Long Bridge Dr Arlington, VA 22202 Marymount Saints website Long Bridge Park website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 500 (estimated) Planes, Trains, and Soccer at Long Bridge Park Located in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., Marymount University is a Catholic college, whose sports teams, known as the Saints, compete at the Division III level of the NCAA. The Saints soccer team plays their home games at Long Bridge Park, a few miles from campus. The name "Long Bridge Park" properly refers to a 36-acre county park in Arlington containing a playground, an aquatics center, an Esplanade, several other walking paths, and several soccer fields used by local teams. Marymount plays their home games on Field 1, officially known as Boeing Field, although their home is typically referred to just as Long Bridge Park in the media. The stadium is located less than a mile from Reagan National Airport, and planes taking off will fly low over the field throughout the game. The Long Bridge Park Esplanade is located behind the bleachers, and beyond that are railroad tracks used by passenger and freight service. This makes Long Bridge Park a great place for planespotters and trainspotters as well as soccer fans. Food & Beverage 1 When Stadium Journey visited, there was a food truck parked in the parking lot of Long Bridge Park, serving not just the field Marymount was playing on at the time, but other fields in the park that were hosting youth soccer games. The truck sold ice cream, smoothies, and bubble tea. The food truck may not be here for every Marymount game - it likely depends on what else is going on in the park at the time. Atmosphere 3 There are six sets of bleachers of only a few rows each lining one sideline at Long Bridge Park. Many fans also stand along the path or bring their own chairs and sit on them. Behind the bleachers is a hill, and at the top of the hill is the Long Bridge Park Esplanade. Some fans choose to watch from here as well, although your view may be obstructed by trees. A small scoreboard is located at one end and shows only the most basic information. A Marymount soccer game is a pretty basic experience. You are close enough to hear a lot of the shouting that goes on on the field, but there isn't much happening beyond the game itself. When the Saints score, the PA announcer will shout "Gooooooooool" in a long, drawn out manner, then music will play, but that's about it. Neighborhood 5 Long Bridge Park is located just north of the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington. Crystal City is a mix of shops, high rises, and offices, many of which are connected by underground passageways so you don't have to go outside to get from one place to another. We, the Pizza is quite popular with the locals, as is Bob and Edith's Diner, but whatever kind of food or entertainment you are looking for, you will probably find it in Crystal City. As mentioned above, there is a lot to do in Long Bridge Park itself as well, including walking trails and playgrounds for children. The 3/4-mile Esplanade offers views of the Potomac River and monuments in DC as well as offering birdwatching, trainwatching, and planewatching opportunities. Fans 4 Despite being a Division III school, Marymount draws several hundred fans to its games to mostly fill the seating area. The crowd is a good mix of friends and family of the players and Arlington locals, many of whom come with kids who play youth soccer on the adjacent fields and hope to someday play in college or beyond. There is a decent student presence despite being several miles from campus - Marymount is primarily a commuter school, so getting to Long Bridge Park is not an issue. However, there is no real designated student section. Access 3 If arriving by car, Long Bridge Park is located just off I-395. There is a parking lot in between the field Marymount plays on and the youth soccer fields. It would be sufficient for the crowds Marymount draws if the game were the only thing going on in the park, but this will very rarely be the case. As a result, even if you arrive early, you will probably find only a few spaces to park in. People come and go, so spaces may open up if you circle around. There is also parking available along Long Bridge Drive and an additional lot a short walk away by the Aquatics and Fitness Center. Parking is free on weekends, but there is a charge on weekdays until 5 PM and a limit of three hours. Fortunately, Long Bridge Park has lights, so the vast majority of Marymount's weekday games are after 5 PM. If taking public transportation, the Crystal City Metro station along the Blue and Yellow lines is about a 15-20 minute walk away. Just be mindful of track work and station closures, especially on the weekends. Restrooms are available in one corner, on the opposite side from the bleachers but near the parking lot, and are generally sufficient for the crowd. Return on Investment 5 There is no charge for admission to Marymount soccer games, and parking will generally be free as well. As a result, a game at Long Bridge Park is an excellent value. Extras 2 One star for the view of the Washington Monument to the right of the bleachers. A second star for the opportunity to see passing planes and trains while you watch the game. Final Thoughts The quality of play on the field at a Marymount soccer game may not be the highest, as this is Division III, the lowest level of the NCAA. However, Long Bridge Park is a unique place to watch a college soccer match, and fans in or around Arlington will want to head down here to check it out.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 FedExForum 191 Beale St Memphis, TN 38103 Memphis Grizzlies website FedExForum website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 18,119 Elvis, Tigers, and Grizzlies, oh my! The Grizzlies NBA franchise started in 1995 as the Vancouver, BC Grizzlies. The franchise relocated to Memphis, TN, in time for the 2001-2002 NBA season. For the first three seasons in their new Southern home, the Grizzlies played at the Pyramid Arena in downtown Memphis as their new home at the Fed Ex Forum was being built. The Grizzlies have been playoff regulars in recent years. The fans call the team's style of play incorporates the “Grit and Grind Grizzlies.” This means they use a high-pressure defense and get to an advantageous spot to take a shot. They have the talented Ja Morant to take the Grizzlies deep into the postseason. The team is adamant about beating at home as they boast an 85 % likelihood of winning the game on their home court. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the NBA. Food & Beverage 3 FedEx Forum offers a wide selection of concession items that range from typical arena fare to much more deluxe offerings in its sit-down arena clubs. There are more than 100 concession points of sale throughout the arena, so you should not experience any long lines at the games. The SNAX stands to offer your typical arena fare of burgers, hot dogs, popcorn, and sodas. They have multiple stands along the concourses at each level in the arena. Rendezvous offers nachos, BBQ sandwiches, and chicken. Fowline Plaza has buffalo tenders, chicken tenders, and turkey burgers. Lucille’s Bandstand features burgers, chicken tenders, pretzels, and beer. Casamigos serves more Latin fare, including walking tacos, elotes, and burritos. Sissy’s Log Cabin Lounge offers seated meals and drinks at the floor level of the arena. There are also three Grab N Go self-service convenience locations at the FedEx Forum. Alcoholic drinks are available at the stands for the Old Dominick’s Distillery, the Truly Bar, Wiseacre Brewing Company, Michelob Ultra Club, and the Hennessy Bar. All retail shops and concessions stand at Fed Ex Forum and operate on a cashless basis. Atmosphere 4 Memphis has long been the center of the universe for various musical genres, including the blues, soul, country, gospel, rock, and roll. The FedEx Forum has incorporated the musical theme in several ways. First, the Forum is right next to Beale Street, the heart of blues music in the city. The plaza that fronts the arena is named for B.B. King, a superstar in the blues realm. The Rock n Soul Museum is also located just off the plaza. Once inside the arena, you will find all types of art featuring the elites of blues, country, and, of course, Elvis Presley and rock n’ roll music. Several of the concession stands along the concourses feature a musical theme, including Lucille’s Bandstand, Rockabelly’s, and the Uptempo Bar. Even the Grizzlies team colors relate to this music heritage, as its blue uniform color is known as Beale Street Blue. Once inside the seating bowl, you will be surprised to see that there are five levels of seating to choose from. Some levels are restricted to corporate clients, season ticket holders, and VIPs, but overall, you can be on the floor level with the action or high above the action with a great overall view of the length of the court. Best of all, the seats at the FedEx Forum are wider and offer more legroom than a typical NBA arena. The arena also boasts a superb electronics package, as the center-hung videoboard measures 16.5 feet high by 145.5 feet in diameter. There are also four display boards located in each corner of the seating bowl, with each one measuring 20 feet x 37.5 feet. The FedEx Forum is also a major site for concerts, so its sound system is among the best in the business. The lighting system is also quite advanced, as the facility uses rings of LED lights high above the playing court. If you have a nice expense account, the FedEx Forum has 27 courtside seats, 32 club suites, and 80 club boxes. Neighborhood 5 The FedEx Forum is in the downtown area of Memphis. More specifically, it is located adjacent to the Beale Street Entertainment District, the heartbeat of the musical soul of Memphis. It is within walking distance of countless bars, nightclubs, and music venues along Beale Street. As we have mentioned earlier, the Rock n Soul Museum is located on the plaza adjacent to the Forum This museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute, and it traces the growth of rock and roll music and soul music in the city from the early 20th century through the 1970s. Other attractions within a few blocks of the arena include the National Civil Rights Museum, the Blues Hall of Fame, and Mud Island, which is along the Mississippi Riverfront and tells the story of the big river as it passes to the west of downtown Memphis. Visitors to this area can even get a photo opportunity with Elvis, as his statue is located just three blocks west of the Forum. After you have worked up an appetite, you can check out Gus’s World-Famous Fried Chicken, the SugaShack, Dyer’s Burgers, or Wiseacre Brewing Company for lunch and a cool drink. There are numerous accommodations located within walking distance of the FedEx Forum. Guests staying at these hotels can avoid the parking expense involved with the arena. The Hampton Inn and Suites Beale Street, the Hilton Garden Inn Memphis Downtown, and the Westin Memphis Beale Street are all a few blocks from the home of the Grizzlies. The Peabody Hotel is further north of the arena and is quite a bit more expensive than these other brands. However, it is extremely popular with tourists as it features the daily spectacle of its pet ducks walking through the lobby each afternoon for a swim in the hotel’s fountain. Fans 4 The Grizzlies have one of the most loyal and involved fanbases in the NBA. Memphis has the smallest population base of any team in the NBA. This makes it easy for the fans to get to know the Grizzlies team members as fellow citizens of the city. Memphis is also one of the few cities in the country to have only one professional sports franchise. This means the energy is all focused on the Grizzlies during the fall and winter months. The Grizzlies have put together a talented team of entertainers to keep the fans involved during the action on the court, then entertain them during the timeouts and breaks between the quarters. The entertainment lineup includes the Grizz Girls dance team, the Grizzlies Grannies and Grandpas Senior dance squad, the Blue Bunch of teen dancers, the Grizzline drum line, and finally … Grizz the Bear mascot. Grizz loves to get the crowd fired up while also impressing them with his ability to dunk the ball in the basket while using a trampoline to gain some height. Access 4 Getting to and around the FedEx Forum is extremely easy. It is located along one the largest thoroughfares in the city of Memphis and is also served by the Main Street trolley line. If you are driving to the game, getting there via either I-40 or I-55 is very easy. The FedEx Forum has a parking garage that can handle 1,500 cars. Once it fills, there are numerous surface parking lots along Beale Street that are within easy walking distance of the arena. The drop-off and pickup area for rideshares is located at the east end of the arena on 4th Street between Beale Street and Linden Avenue. Unlike most arenas, the FedEx Forum funnels fans into the facility via one central entrance. There are multiple doors and lines to spread out the traffic. Once through the turnstiles, you are in a huge lobby that features a large marquee that advertises that night’s game and opponent. Before you leave the lobby, make sure you look to the right. There is a window where you can look directly in to see the Grizzlies warming up for the game on the practice court. The lobby also includes a large Grizzlies Den Team Store where you can shop for your “bear” necessities. Return on Investment 3 A night out at a Memphis Grizzlies game can be quite expensive for a family of four. Being the only professional sports team in Memphis allows the team and FedEx Forum to charge higher prices due to its exclusivity. Parking at the garage adjoining the arena runs $30-$40, depending on the opponent and crowd size. (You can save by taking the trolley to the game as a day pass is only $3.50). Seats in the 100 level of seating go for $137.50 for seats at the end of the court and $218.50 for seats along the sides of the court. Tickets on the second level of the seating bowl run from $47.25 for seats at the end of the court to $84.75 for seats along the sides of the court. Seats in the semi-private Pinnacle level of the arena are $136.50. The concession prices vary a great deal depending on which stand you visit. The stands featuring the typical arena fare (soft drinks, burgers, hot dogs, and popcorn) had quite reasonable prices, while the more specialized stands were much more expensive. Extras 4 The FedEx Forum stays busy throughout the year, as it hosts concerts by national entertainers like Justin Timberlake, U2, Lady Gaga, and Usher. It also serves as the home court for the University of Memphis Tigers basketball team. The Forum also hosts a wide variety of basketball tournaments in the postseason. These competitions include the NCAA regionals (2009, 2014, 2017), the American Athletic Conference Tournament (2014, 2019), and the 2010 NCAA Southern Regional Women’s Basketball Tournament. The 2024-2025 season marks the 30th Anniversary of the Grizzlies franchise. Final Thoughts The FedEx Forum continues to deliver as the home court for the Memphis Grizzlies. It buoys the Downtown Memphis Entertainment District along with the music venues along Beale Street.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Cressy Field 285 Old Westport Rd Dartmouth, MA 02747 UMass Dartmouth Corsairs football website Cressy Field website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 1.850 Corsair Football at Cressy Field The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (better known as UMass Dartmouth) is one of five campuses in the University of Massachusetts system. It is located in the town of Dartmouth on the South Coast of Massachusetts, in between the cities of Fall River and New Bedford. The university has an enrollment of over 8,500 students, about half of whom live on campus. The school offers 61 undergraduate programs and 32 graduate programs. Football was first played at Southeastern Massachusetts University as a club sport in 1985 (the school changed their name to the UMass Dartmouth when it was merged into the UMass system in 1991). The team originally played at Sargent Field (now named Paul Walsh Field ) in New Bedford. in 1988 football was upgraded to a varsity sport to coincide with the opening of Cressy Field on campus. The Corsairs have qualified for the NCAA Division Three tournament twice in their history, most recently in 2022. They lost in the first round both times. UMass Dartmouth has also played in five postseason bowl games The home field of the UMass Dartmouth football team, Cressy Field, is named in honor of Peter H. Cressy, Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth from 1993 to 1999. In addition to the football team, Cressy Field serves as home to the men’s and women’s soccer teams, women’s field hockey, and lacrosse teams. Food & Beverage 2 There is a small concession stand at Cressy Field operated by the school’s catering service, Chartwells. A limited menu is served. Hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, nachos and assorted snacks are available. Pepsi products are featured at UMass Dartmouth. Prices are reasonable and quality is decent. Atmosphere 3 You wouldn’t expect an elaborate gameday presentation at a small venue like Cressy Field, and you won’t get one here. Still, all the elements you would expect to see at a college football game are found here. The school's cheerleaders and pep band perform throughout the game. Music plays over an excellent sound system during play stoppages, adding noise and energy to the festivities. A scoreboard in the south end zone provides basic game information, and the PA announcer adds a lot of energy to the proceedings without being too over the top. There’s a pretty good turnout from the student body and a really good turnout from the players’ families. As you might expect, they are really into the game. For a D-3 game, this can be a pretty loud place. As the Corsairs program has enjoyed success over the past few years, the game day experience and fan support has grown along with it. Neighborhood 3 UMass Dartmouth is a self-contained campus located in the suburban town of Dartmouth, MA, in between the cities of Fall River and New Bedford on the state’s south coast. Route 6, which is lined with businesses, eateries, and lodging options, is a mile from campus. Visiting fans looking for a bit of local flavor may be disappointed with the endless suburban sprawl of big box stores and restaurant chains, but if you are good with these options, there’s plenty to be found. A complete visitor’s guide to the area around campus can be found here . Stadium Journey’s favorite spot to visit after a Corsairs football game is Buzzards Bay Brewery, located about a ten-minute drive from Cressy Field in neighboring Westport. Buzzards Bay offers up a variety of excellent craft beers, and on most weekends the brewery features live music and food trucks at their site on a converted farm. Max's Burgers and Cask 'N Pig BBQ are other excellent options nearby. Visiting fans coming to the area may not wish to spend a whole lot of time in either Fall River or New Bedford, two cities struggling with some of the issues facing many poor cities in the northeast. Still, there are places of interest in both cities. Fall River is home to Battleship Cove, the largest collection of World War II naval vessels in the world. Also nearby is the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast/Museum, located in the same house where the infamous murders took place in 1892. The museum is open for tours and fans of the macabre can even spend the night at the house. The New Bedford Whaling Museum focuses on the history of the Whaling industry and features a walkable downtown with cobblestone streets near its working waterfront. There are plenty of attractions in the area for visiting fans. Boston is located about an hour away to the north. Cape Cod is located a half-hour to the east. Providence is a half-hour away to the west, and Newport, with its Gilded Age mansions, is 45 minutes away. Fans 3 The crowd at a UMass Dartmouth football game can vary greatly depending on the day of the week, weather and opponent, but a typical crowd numbers between 500-1,000 fans per game. There's a good turnout from the student body at football games, and a lot of support at the school between all the different Corsair teams. One of the great things about going to games at smaller schools is the connection that so many in the stands have with the players down on the field. With many of the players in the game coming from local towns, a great percentage of the fans in the stands consist of families and friends. The fans here create a lot of noise and energy as they support their team. Access 3 Cressy Field is located on the southern end of the UMass Dartmouth campus, alongside the University’s other athletic facilities, including the Tripp Athletic Center . The town of Dartmouth is located in southeastern Massachusetts, in between the cities of Fall River and New Bedford. Located about an hour’s drive south of Boston, the campus is easily accessed by car, as it is located just a few miles from Interstate 195. Fans utilizing public transportation will take SRTA’s number 14 bus that runs hourly between Fall River and New Bedford. Schedules can be found here . UMass Dartmouth has a unique layout, with the majority of the buildings on campus located within a single ringed road that circles the campus. Visitors to UMD will enter on the north side of campus and drive around to the athletic complex on the south side of campus. Parking is available in one of several lots located near the complex a short walk from Cressy Field. Several manicured paths will guide fans through a grove of trees to the football field. Seating is comprised of metal bleachers on either side of the field. There is plenty of room around the field for fans who wish to stand and take in the action. Restrooms are located in the nearby Tripp Athletic Center . Return on Investment 5 Admission to Corsair games costs seven dollars. With free parking and inexpensive concessions, a visit to Cressy Field is an affordable entertainment option for southeastern Massachusetts football fans. Extras 1 An extra point is awarded for the unique setup and architecture of the UMass Dartmouth campus. The school was named in 2013 by Travel and Leisure as one of the ugliest campuses in the nation. The campus was designed by famed architect Paul Rudolph in the early 1960s in the Brutalist style. To contrast the school’s buildings from the outside world in an attempt to create a social utopian environment, most of the buildings on campus are made entirely of concrete (béton brut) and feature irregular features which attempt to create a more communal atmosphere. Many visitors to campus describe it as resembling a prison. It may be better described as a bunch of gray concrete spaceships parked in a giant open field. Either way, it's a most unique campus. Claire T. Carney Library at UMass Dartmouth. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia. Final Thoughts One of the more entertaining Division Three football experiences in New England can be found at UMass Dartmouth. The Corsairs have enjoyed a recent run of success behind a high-powered offense and boisterous fans. Local fans are starting to discover the Corsairs. What are you waiting for? Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.