Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Stonewall Memorial Park 197 N Terrace Ave Elkton, VA 22827 Elkton Blue Sox website Stonewall Memorial Park website Baseball Blues in Elkton The Rockingham County Baseball League in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley is one of the oldest amateur baseball leagues in the country. Founded in 1924, the league includes both current college players with ties to the area and former high school and college players, some of whom have been playing summer ball in the league for years. While the Valley Baseball League may be better known in this geographic footprint, the RCBL has been playing small-town ball for almost a hundred years. One team in the RCBL is the Elkton Blue Sox, who play their home games at Stonewall Memorial Park, at a ballfield within a larger municipal park. The Blue Sox have been a member of the league on and off over the years, skipping the 2022 season before rejoining in 2023 after renovations to their stadium were completed. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand down the first baseline at Stonewall Memorial Park, and while the menu is limited, the prices can't be beaten. Burgers are $3, or $3.50 with cheese, hot dogs are $2, nachos $3.50, fries $3 (extra 50 cents for cheese), sunflower seeds are $2, chips or lue popcorn are $1, candy bars $2, and freeze pops just 50 cents. Soda and water are available for $2 each. Atmosphere 2 There are several different places to sit at an Elkton Blue Sox game, some of which offer a better view than others. There are three sets of basic metal bleachers, one behind home plate and one more on each side. The bleachers behind home plate will have the view blocked by the backstop banner unless you are sitting at the very top, so we suggest sitting on one of the sides. The first base bleachers have a gorgeous view of Massanutten Mountain, but you will also be looking right into the setting sun. The third base bleachers don't have as scenic a view, but you will not have to squint to see the action. Some fans also bring their chairs and sit in front of the bleachers along the fence. Others will sit on their chairs on the grass further down the lines, although the view from there is obstructed by the bullpen and dugout. As is the case throughout the RCBL, there is not much going on here other than the baseball game. Some music is played pregame and between innings, although it seems to be the same dozen or so songs over and over. These include such baseball classics as "Cheap Seats" and Kenny Rogers' "The Greatest", but also songs that seem to make less sense in this setting, like "Spirit in the Sky" and "Down by the Schoolyard." Neighborhood 3 Elkton is a small town of about 3,000 people, but that does not mean there is nothing to do here. Goodfellas, just down the street from the ballpark, offers way better pizza than you would expect to find in rural Virginia. Old 33 Beer and Burger and Elkton Brewing Company are also popular. Given how small Elkton is, any place you visit is going to be close to the park. While Elkton is not a large city, it does have that small-town charm. Massanutten Resort is about a ten-minute drive away via US Route 33 and offers a water park, golf, and much more during the summer months. Harrisonburg is about a 25-minute drive away and offers more options than you'll find in Elkton. Fans 3 Any game in the Rockingham County Baseball League is going to be a town affair, and the Blue Sox are no exception. Most of the fans in attendance are from right here in Elkton and seem to know the players personally. Of course, since Elkton is so small, it seems everybody knows everybody. Blue Sox fans young and old are passionate and cheer on their team night in and night out. There will usually be a decent amount of visiting fans as well given how small the RCBL's footprint is. Access 3 Elkton is located along US Route 33 in the western foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. If coming from the east, you will have to go over the mountains to get here, but if coming from the west, you will have a much easier drive along smooth farmland and rural areas with gorgeous views of the mountains in the distance. Getting to Stonewall Memorial Park itself once you get to Elkton is slightly tricky as it is easy to miss the turn. The entrance to the lot is down a hill at a four-way intersection. However, the driveway is at about a 45-degree angle to the cross street, and some GPS apps may make it sound like you should turn onto the cross street instead. There is a spacious lot outside the ballpark, although parking too close may put your car at risk of getting hit with a foul ball. The restrooms are in a shed down the left field line. They are small but sufficient, although they look like they have not been cleaned in a while and one stall in the men's room was missing its door. Return on Investment 5 Admission to most Blue Sox games is free, thanks to sponsorship from local businesses. Check the Blue Sox' social media pages to be sure this is the case for the game you are attending, although it likely will be. Even if it is not free, the cost of admission should be no more than $5. Concessions are a great deal as well, making a trip to a Blue Sox game in Elkton an excellent value. Extras 0 There are no extras here. This is baseball at its most basic. Final Thoughts Town ball is alive and well in Rockingham County, Virginia, and the Elkton Blue Sox are no exception. Although the team was on hiatus, they are now back in action and locals flock to the games to check them out. While the quality of play on the field isn't as high as it would be in other leagues, the sense of community at Elkton Blue Sox games makes coming out worthwhile. Locals go to games here for a reason, and out-of-town visitors will find out why the RCBL is one of the best-kept secrets in baseball.

In the summer of 2023, Paul ventured to Toronto for his first trip to see Toronto FC. Not a soccer guy by admission, Paul was perplexed by what he found at BMO Field. Join Paul and Dave as they analyze the Toronto FC experience with a good beer and a good time! ⚽⚽🏟️ You can find Stadium Journey's review of BMO field and the Toronto FC game day experience here.

The Centennial Authority, which owns PNC Arena (the home of the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State Men’s Basketball ) announced a $300 million commitment to renovate the Arena. A 20-year lease extension between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Arena was also announced, along with a deal that would give the Hurricanes the rights to develop the land around PNC Arena into an entertainment district to include a small indoor music venue, housing, hotel rooms, and parking decks. Details of the agreement include: - A 20-year lease extension between the Hurricanes and PNC Arena. After the 2038-39 season, the team and Arena will negotiate the future of the arena or a replacement one. - $300 million in Arena renovations. Both NC State and the Hurricanes will get a say in the renovations. The Hurricanes will provide $10 million to furnish a sports betting lounge, team office space, and premium seating areas. - 3,000 to 5,000-seat indoor music venue adjacent to PNC Arena - NHL will host the All-Star Game at PNC within three years of the completed renovation and an NHL Stadium Series game within five years of the lease extension. - At least 95% of the parking lot in the development will be replaced, with 50% being surface parking, and the remaining parking decks. - 20 acres of development within five years including retail, office space, housing, and a hotel. - Tailgating: The development will affect Carter-Finley Stadium , home of NC State football and there are concerns about how tailgating for NC State football will be affected. Five acres of land adjacent to Carter-Finley will be dedicated to tailgating for NC State football games and will not be displaced with vertical development.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.00 Drass Field 401 Clara St Dover, DE 19904 Delaware State Hornets website Drass Field website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 2,500 Hornet Soccer in Downtown Dover Drass Field is the former home of several Wesley College athletics teams, including football, soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey. In June of 2021, Delaware State University purchased Wesley and turned it into its DSU Downtown campus, thus ending the Wolverines' athletic programs. The deal was notable as the first instance of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) purchasing another school. Delaware State did find use for Drass Field, as its women's soccer and lacrosse programs moved there from Alumni Stadium, which remains home to the Hornets' football program . The stadium is located next to Bob Reed Field , the former home of Wesley Baseball and the current home of Delaware State Baseball. Delaware State soccer has not enjoyed much success, rarely winning more than a couple of games in one season. Although most of the Hornets' athletic programs compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, the MEAC does not have enough soccer teams to sponsor the sport. DSU has previously competed in the Sun Belt Conference and as an independent, but now competes in the Northeast Conference for soccer. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at Drass Field, but fans are free to bring their own. There is a water fountain that trickles out water if you are desperately thirsty. While there is a concession stand between Drass Field and Bob Reed Field, it was not open when we went. Based on our experiences, it is only open for baseball, not soccer or lacrosse. Atmosphere 2 There are three sets of bleachers at Drass Field, one on each sideline and a smaller one behind one of the goals. Fans use all three sets of bleachers, meaning the small crowd is quite spread out. Because Drass Field was built primarily for football and soccer, the field is wider than a football one. The views of the near sideline and the corners can be obstructed by the bleachers. The vast majority of the field should still be visible. If this is a concern, you can sit behind the goal, but then you will not be able to see the scoreboard. Some fans like to bring their chairs or stand along the chain link fence that separates the field from the path to the bleachers. A Delaware State soccer game is a pretty basic experience. Even the PA announcer does little other than announce the starting lineups before the game. Cards and goal scorers are only sporadically announced, if at all. Neighborhood 3 Although Drass Field is supposedly located on the DSU Downtown campus, there is not anything near the stadium other than some houses, a church, a synagogue, and a school bus depot. El Nopal is a hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant about a mile away, and Vincenzo's Italian is close by as well. You can also head towards DuPont Highway (US Route 13) which is lined on both sides with restaurants and hotels. Most of the places are chains, but you will find a few independent eateries such as the Speedway Cafe and Wolfie's Grille. The Dover Motor Speedway is also located along DuPont Highway and you can sometimes hear the cars revving their engines as you stand outside. Fans 2 The Hornets typically draw a few hundred fans a soccer game , which when spread out over three sets of bleachers, isn't that much. While the fans can get loud on occasion, the large size of this stadium reduces the impact they can have. Most of the fans are friends and family of the players, although there are some locals mixed in. A good portion of those in attendance will often be fans of the visiting team as well, they tend to sit together and cheer on their team. Access 3 If coming from the north or south, US Route 13 (DuPont Highway) runs right through Dover, but if coming from the east or west, you will have to take a series of local roads to get into town. Once you get to the stadium, street parking is available on Clara Street and the other nearby roads, or you can park in a grass lot across the street from the stadium. Restrooms are available to the left of the bleachers, behind Bob Reed Field. They are small but should suffice for the needs of the crowd. Return on Investment 3 Admission to soccer games at Drass Field is $5. DSU students get in for free. While this is not a lot of money, most college soccer programs outside the national elite have no charge for admission. If this were one of those programs, the $5 charge would be understandable, but this is a barebones stadium experience, a far cry from the top atmospheres in the country that can get away with charging for admission. Nevertheless, $5 is hardly going to break the bank. . Extras 1 Look for the "Welcome to Drass Field" sign honoring Wesley College athletics. Although the Wesley Wolverines are no more, their history is becoming Delaware State's future. Final Thoughts The simple fact is that Drass Field is far too big for the crowds that Delaware State soccer draws. Although the Hornets have made it their home, it seems few people other than those with a direct connection to the program will come out and watch a game. The history of Wesley College bears mention here, but this is still a pretty basic soccer experience.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium 100 Ballock St Grambling, LA 71245 Grambling State Tigers website Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium website Year Opened: 1983 Capacity: 19,600 Where Robinson Roamed Grambling State University was founded in 1901. It originally was known as the Colored Industrial and Agricultural School. It was founded by African American farmers in the area who wanted a school for African Americans in their region of the state. The early years of the institution were focused on trades involving industrial and agricultural activities. Grambling achieved university status in 1974. Today it has a strong focus on rural education and teaching. The school offers nearly 70 degree programs and has an enrollment of 5,500 students. The Grambling State football program dates to 1926.During its’ history, Grambling State has won 26 SWAC Championships. Its overall football record is 586-286-19 (as of the 2023 season). It is especially hard for visiting teams to come to Robinson Memorial Stadium, as the Tigers are 99-36-1 in home games played at the school. The stadium is named for legendary Grambling State Coach Eddie G Robinson, the third winningest coach in NCAA college football history with 408 victories during his career. Coach Robinson had 41 winning seasons at GSU, winning 18 SWAC Championships and 9 Black College National Championships during his 57 years at the school. Robinson Memorial Stadium opened in 1983, and currently has a seating capacity of 19,600. It underwent upgrades during a renovation in 2017. This renovation included the installation of artificial turf and a new 22.5’ high X 47.18’ wide videoboard behind the north end zone. Food & Beverage 3 Robinson Memorial Stadium offers a combination of general stands and stands operated by local vendors that serve specialty items like pizza, BBQ and wings. They are sold at stands located beneath the grandstands on both sides of the field. The general stands offer the standard stadium fare, including popcorn, hot dogs, nachos, snacks, turkey legs and Coca Cola brand sodas. The specialty stands offer pizza, chicken wings, chicken fingers and ribs. No alcohol is served at Robinson Memorial Stadium. Atmosphere 4 Robinson Memorial Stadium is nicknamed “The Hole” by fans who have attended games. This is because the venue is dug down from ground level. It has stands on both sides of the field, with berms at each end of the playing surface. This construction allows music and crowd noise to be amplified throughout the game. This gives a distinct home field advantage to the Tigers. Most of the home fans, the Tigers Marching Band and the student section are in the west stands, with visitors seated in the east stands. Make sure to get to the stadium before the seats fill up, as the east stands feature a terrific tiger stripe graphic that makes a great backdrop for a selfie. A videoboard at the north end of the stadium provides replays of key plays in the game, as well as updated statistics throughout the game. Neighborhood 2 The immediate neighborhood surrounding Robinson Memorial Stadium is the campus of Grambling State University. Outside of the campus are the towns of Grambling and Ruston, LA. There are three hotels in Ruston, which is adjacent to Grambling. They include a Holiday Inn and Suites, a Country Inn and Suites and a Fairfield Inn. Two restaurants we recommend in town are Brister’s Smokehouse BBQ and Ponchatoula’s. While Grambling is a very small community, there is one attraction you must check out while you are in town. The Eddie G Robinson Museum is on the Grambling State campus. The museum features a timeline of Coach Robinson’s more than 57 years on the Tigers sidelines. It also includes displays about Tigers practices and a mockup of the Tigers locker room. A very colorful feature is the professional jerseys of each of the Tigers who went on to play in the NFL. Make sure to take a selfie of yourself with the statue of Coach Robinson before you leave. Admission to the museum is free. Fans 4 The Tiger Nation is very loud in its support of the home team. The GSU fan base turns out crowds of over 10,000 when games are at Robinson Memorial Stadium. The Tigers have very few games on campus, as they play two games each year at a neutral site, in addition to their away games. The high energy level in the stands is maintained by Eddie, the Tigers mascot and the Tiger Marching Band, aka “The Best Band in the Land”. The band was chosen to play at the inaugural Super Bowl game, and has taken part in Coca Cola commercial’s, Presidential Inaugural parades, BET shows and the movie “Drumline”. We must admit that many folks who attend are simply “band fans” i.e., they are there simply to cheer on the band both before the game and at half time. After the halftime show these fans typically leave the stadium. Access 2 Grambling State University is quite isolated as far as nearby large cities. It is more than 150 miles from either Jackson, MS or Baton Rouge, LA. Shreveport is about an hour west of GSU via I-20. Directions once at the campus: Continue on RWE Jones Street, past the Stewart Building and the Tiger Village clubhouse. Turn right at Central Avenue and continue past Adams Hall. Merge left at a small intersection just past the basketball courts and continue into the General parking lot. There are six entry gates at Robinson Memorial Stadium. Students enter through Gate 4. Once inside the stadium, the concourses are underneath both grandstands. Most of the time the concourses have a good flow of fans, however it gets crowded shortly before the kickoff and during the halftime break. Return on Investment 3 Tickets are available at the following price points. General admission seats are $30 in advance or $40 the day of the game. Reserved seats are $40 in advance and $45 the day of the game. GSU students are admitted free of charge by showing their GSU ID card. General parking at Robinson Memorial Stadium is $25 cash on Tiger gamedays. Extras 4 Grambling State has sent more than 200 players on to play in the NFL. Four players (Buck Buchanon, Charlie Joiner, Willie Brown, and Willie Davis) are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. GSU also sent the first black player (Tank Younger) to the NFL, as well as the first black QB in the NFL (James Harris). The Tigers play two rivalry games each season, with both games taking place off campus. They play Southern University in the Bayou Classic at the Superdome in New Orleans and Prairie View A&M in the State Fair Classic in Dallas. The area in the east grandstand between the 40’s features a dramatic graphic with the letters “GSU”, and tiger stripes emblazoned on it. Get there early before the stands fill to get a shot of this piece of Tiger art. Final Thoughts Every HBCU fan should make a pilgrimage to the “House that Eddie built”. Even though he died several years ago, the aura of his presence is still felt at Grambling home games. Tiger games are full of tradition, excitement, reverence, and great food. Make sure you include the Eddie Robinson Museum on your itinerary.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.14 Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field 1500 Johnston Dr Farmville, VA 23901 Longwood Lancers website Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 350 Field Hockey in Farmville Opened in 2006, Elizabeth Burger Jackson is home to Longwood University's field hockey team and is part of the Longwood Athletics Complex which also includes Longwood Soccer Field . The stadium, which opened in 2006, seats approximately 350 fans and is also home to the Lancers' women's lacrosse team. Although Longwood normally competes in the Big South Conference, its field hockey program competes in the Mid-American Conference (better known as the MAC) as the Big South does not sponsor the sport. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field, but fans are free to bring their own, except for alcohol. Some fans set up outside with tents and food before the game, but this is for particular groups who know each other. Atmosphere 2 When walking into the Longwood Athletics Complex through the main gate, you will have the option of walking to your right to the soccer field or your left to the field hockey stadium. Both fields are visible throughout most of the complex, so if games are going on in both places, you can easily watch them both at the same time. Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field has a few rows of bleachers beneath the concourse. Smaller fans can lean against the press box in the back row, but these bleachers have less depth than the rest so it will only be possible for kids and small teens as attractive an option as it may seem. Many fans also choose to bring their chairs and sit alongside the concourse or bring their blankets and sit on the hill that runs down from the concourse to the right of the bleachers. Wherever you sit, you will be up close to the action and able to hear the players, referees, and coaches chattering. Other than the game itself, there is not much of anything going on here. This is typical of college field hockey, particularly outside a few elite programs. You will come here to watch the game and there is not much else to the experience. The PA announcer will announce the starting lineup before the match as well as the goal scorers, but for some reason will not announce penalty cards although that information would be useful for fans to know. Neighborhood 3 Farmville is a quaint, small town, and while it’s in the middle of nowhere, there is still plenty to do here. Although there are typical chain places, your best bet is to check out the local color at places such as Walker’s Diner or Riverside Café, both of which are very close to the stadium. Everything in Farmville is very close to the stadium because it’s a very small town. Just head off campus and turn onto Main Street and just about everything will be right there. Fans 3 Longwood draws a couple hundred fans a game for field hockey, spread out between the bleachers and the hill. Keep in mind the capacity is only about 350, so it can get fairly full. Most of the fans are friends or family of the players (including some coming to watch the visiting team) although you do get a few local Lancer fans as well, plus some Longwood students who make the short walk over from campus. By tradition, the first home game at the Longwood Athletics Complex during each fall semester is designated as the Greatest Athletics March Ever, or G.A.M.E. for short, and Longwood students will march in droves from campus to the complex. Depending on how the schedules fall, this could be a field hockey match but might also be a men's or women's soccer match. These games have drawn crowds of over 2,000 fans to whatever sport it happens to be. However, the excitement among students does not seem to carry over into later games, as few of them turn up beyond that one match. Access 2 There are a few roads into Farmville, but regardless of how you get into town, you are going to have to drive quite a bit. Most likely you will end up taking either State Route 45 or U.S. Route 460, but if you’re coming from any sort of populated area, Farmville probably isn’t close to you. Lynchburg is the closest remotely large city, and it’s a full hour away. Richmond is about an hour and 15 minutes, while Washington, D.C. is about three hours. The Longwood Athletics Complex, of which Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field is a part, is not located on the Longwood campus but rather a short drive from it. Although students will often make the walk over, if you’re driving in you will be able to park right there at the stadium. There is a small lot adjacent to it, and if it fills up, which it will if you don’t get there early, you can park on the grass behind the lot. If parking on the pavement is important to you, make sure to get there at least 45 minutes to an hour before the first game of the day, or you will be parking on grass most likely. Restrooms are available in the back of the concourse, with additional ones in the adjacent soccer stadium that are usually open during games. However, barring unexpected plumbing problems, you have no problems using the ones in the field hockey stadium as there are never any lines. Return on Investment 4 Admission to Lancers field hockey games is free, and you won’t pay for concessions or parking either. That being said, there isn't enough here to earn the top score. Extras 1 Look for the plaque on the concourse honoring Elizabeth Burger Jackson herself, the stadium's namesake. Jackson was a former Longwood professor as well as a field hockey player herself. Final Thoughts Field hockey is not a big deal at most colleges, and Longwood is no different. While they have a small but loyal fan base and have attracted much more massive crowds for The G.A.M.E. if it happens to be a field hockey match that year, this excitement does not seem to carry over into the remainder of the season. Longwood does well to market that one game at the beginning of the season in whatever sport it happens to be in that year, and if they can somehow manage to continue even a portion of that excitement for the remainder of the season, they can significantly improve the experience here. For now, though, it is a pretty basic matchday experience.

Photo by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey More than a decade ago, the US Open Qualifying round played the week before the US Main draw begins the last full week of August, was more of an afterthought. Despite still being free admission, the low-key competition has blown up into a big event named US Fan Week (debuted in 2017) by the US Tennis Association with special events, contests, daily giveaways, and plenty of food and beverages available for sale. This year Fan Week ran from Tuesday, August 22nd through Sunday, August 28th at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow, Corona Park, Queens, New York. The actual matches began Tuesday and continued until Friday, but this year it was not completed until Saturday due to rain. The US Open is one of the four major Grand Slam Tournaments along with the Australian and French Open and Wimbledon. At the qualifiers, 128 men and women battled for the final 32 spots (16 men and 16 women) in the main singles draw. Almost every court is used and the matches start at 11 am. and sometimes do not end until 11 pm. Qualifiers need to win three matches to make the tournament. In addition to free admission, free parking is available in Flushing Meadow Park. The best way to experience the day is to bring a small soft cooler with food, water and snacks to offset the exorbitant prices. All bags are subject to search and must not be larger than 12”W x 12”H x 16”L. Since fans can enter and exit as they please food, ice cream and drinks can be purchased outside the grounds and brought in once clearing the security screening. This year the USTA offered a free fan access pass downloaded to your mobile device and then used to attend player practice sessions in Arthur Ashe Stadium and qualify for daily prize drawings. The most coveted prize was a Wilson Junior Racquet. In celebration of 45 years of partnership, Wilson donated 10,000 junior racquets to be given away during Fan Week. By the main entrance is the Fan Week Center Stage programmed throughout the day with live tennis content, surprise player appearances, coaches, Q&As, and autograph signings. For food choices the options are limitless. New to this year’s tournament are Chef Melba Wilson of Harlem, N.Y.-based Melba’s and James Kent of the Michelin-starred restaurant Crown Shy. Visit Melba’s for comfort food and unique items like mac & cheese, a po’boy, spring rolls, and red velvet cake, and check out Crown Shy for chicken sandwiches, tomato and peach salad, and sticky toffee pudding. Many of the food options are found in the Food Village near Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadium. Some of the choices include Pat LaFrieda Meat Co., San Matteo NYC, Hill Country BBQ, Korilla BBQ and Poke Yachty, Fuku, Nourish Spot, Taqueria Nixtamal, Eataly, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, and Crabby Shack. The signature drink of the US Open is the Honey Deuce ($22 for on the rocks or frozen). The cocktail, which debuted in 2006, is a mix of grey goose vodka, lemonade, and raspberry liqueur with two honeydew melon balls as a garnish. As for the tennis, there is so much to see as the 2 out of 3 set matches just keep on coming, and the side courts which are never more than half capacity offer close views. With no assigned seating, it’s easy to find yourself in the first or second row and immersed in the sights and sounds of some excellent players and matches. The only disadvantage might be a lack of shade but there are shady seats in the grandstand and more shade for matches post 4 pm. Another advantage is being able to walk the grounds without the crowds that engulf the walkways on Opening Day and not let up for the two weeks of play. The US Open began Monday, August 28, and ends Sunday, September 10. The grounds are easy to access by car coming in from Long Island or over the Whitestone Bridge from the Bronx, Westchester, and Connecticut. The No. 7 subway and the Long Island Railroad stop at Mets-Willetts Point station which is about a 10-minute walk along the boardwalk to the South Gate. The main gate (East Gate) is accessed through the park and leads directly into Ashe Stadium.

Photos by Joseph Oakes, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Dail Soccer Field 2495 Cates Avenue Raleigh, NC 27606 North Carolina State Wolfpack website Dail Soccer Field website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 3,000 Home of Wolfpack Soccer Dail Soccer Field has a capacity of 3,000 and is the home of the NC State men’s and women’s soccer teams. The stadium was built in 2008 in the heart of NC State’s campus. In 2011, Dail Soccer Field received several upgrades including seat back chairs in certain sections and bleachers behind the goals. A new brick façade was also added, as well as a press box, a new fan entrance, and a free-standing locker room and team meeting building in the southeast corner of the stadium. Food & Beverage 4 Dail Soccer Stadium offers a good, not great, concession variety to get you by if you are hungry. Choices include hot dogs, soft pretzels, popcorn, peanuts, cracker jacks, sunflower seeds, and candy. Howling Cow ice cream, which is produced at the NC State dairy is also offered. NC State is a Coke school. Bottled Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Coke Zero, Powerade, and water are available. Atmosphere 3 The majority of the seating at Dail Soccer Field is in a bricked-in grandstand along the sidelines where you enter the gate. There is a concourse that runs above the seating. The four sections of seats around mid-field are chairback, and the remaining are bench seats. There are also two sections of bleacher seating behind each goal, which is where a lot of students sit. The pitch is an all-grass surface. When you are sitting in the main grandstand, the team benches are on the opposite sideline. There is a small scoreboard in one corner of the facility opposite of the main grandstand. It provides basic score info but could use an update. Paul Derr Track, which is utilized by the track and field programs at NC State surrounds the soccer field, so it pushes the seating back a bit from the field. Neighborhood 3 Since Dail Soccer Field is located on campus, there are no eateries within walking distance of the ballpark. However, there are a couple of places within a mile of Dail Soccer Field. If you are looking for something quick before or after the game, Cook-Out is the place for you. It is located down the street from campus on Western Boulevard and is famous for its “trays” which feature a burger (or chicken sandwich), two sides, and a drink for less than $8. Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant is also located on Western Boulevard across the street from campus and was started by a former Wolfpack football player. There is a large variety of NC State memorabilia located throughout the restaurant, and their Italian food is some of the best in the area. Being located in Raleigh, there is no shortage of other activities to participate in when visiting the city. A good activity before or after a game would be to take the short drive to downtown Raleigh and take a stroll around the state Capitol. The North Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina Museum of Science are both located within a block of the state Capitol. The closest hotel to campus is Aloft Raleigh on Hillsborough Street directly across the street from the NC State Bell Tower. Fans 3 NC State averages 1,000-2,000 for most home games. With the stadium being on campus, you get a large student turnout which obviously adds to the atmosphere. The students seated behind the goals make the most noise and blow canisters of red smoke after a goal is scored. Access 5 Aside from rush hour traffic, Dail Soccer Field is easily accessible from both I-40 and I-440. If coming to a game on a work night, it is wise to add a few minutes to work your way through Raleigh traffic. Raleigh-Durham International serves the Triangle and is about a 20-minute drive from NC State. Parking for soccer games is free in the Coliseum Deck on Cates Drive, just off of Western Boulevard, near Reynolds Coliseum . Dail Soccer Field is directly across the street from the Coliseum. The entrance to Dail Soccer Field is located along Cates Avenue between the soccer field and softball stadium. Tickets are not required, but security does check bags. There is no clear bag policy here! Concessions and restrooms are located near the entrance, and wheelchair seating areas are also available on the concourse. Return on Investment 5 Soccer games at Dail Soccer Stadium are non-ticketed events that are free of charge. Depending on where you park, there may be a small charge for parking on campus. However, most lots are free after hours and on weekends. Concessions are a tad pricy, but free admission still gives a score of 5/5. Extras 1 Dail Soccer Field gets an extra point for the single-match promotions for each game. These include several giveaways and contests . Final Thoughts Dail Soccer Field is a great place to catch some high-quality ACC soccer competition. Free attendance makes it an affordable family outing for anyone looking for a cost-efficient night out enjoying some great quality soccer.

Photos by Lloyd Rothwell, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Funko Field at Everett Memorial Stadium 3900 Broadway Everett, WA 98201 Everett AquaSox website Funko Field website Year Opened: 1984 Capacity: 3,682 Fun at Funko The Everett AquaSox are the High-A minor league affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The club had its genesis as a Giants farm team but became the AquaSox in 1995 when they joined up with the Mariners. They currently compete in the Northwest League. Everett Memorial Stadium opened in 1947, with the ballpark renamed Funko Field in 2019 following a naming rights deal with the well-known local pop culture collectable company headquartered in the city. The stadium is owned by the Everett School District and has a capacity of 3,682. In recent years there has been talk of a new ballpark in Everett, however funding and plans have not yet been confirmed. Everett is located 25 miles north of Seattle in Snohomish County. The city is also home to the Silvertips junior hockey team who play out of Angel of the Winds Arena , which is also likely to host the rumored Arena Football League franchise should it eventuate. Everett has a long history as a centre of aviation. While Boeing moved their corporate HQ from the Pacific Northwest to Chicago in 2018, they maintain a strong presence in the Seattle metro area. The Boeing Everett Factory, the largest building in the world by volume, is located at Paine Field which currently produces the 777 and 737 commercial airliners. Food & Beverage 3 The concessions can be found on the concourse behind home plate. There’s a good selection of ballpark staples and specialty items including hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, chowder bowls, pizza, ice cream, and snacks. Expect queues during well-attended games, but otherwise the food is reasonably priced and of good quality. We enjoyed the pulled pork during our visit. There’s a solid selection of alcoholic beverages covering both mass-produced domestic and local craft breweries. Atmosphere 4 The ballpark is in a largely residential area, but the view from the ballpark is of mountain ranges to the east. Several renovations over recent decades have updated both the playing surface and spectator facilities. There’s a charming manual scoreboard beyond right field, and a video board reportedly amongst the newest in the league in center field. The atmosphere is fun and family friendly, with a very active game-day host always willing to liven things up in between innings. The main grandstand offers reserved seating behind home plate and along the first and third baselines. There are also general admission areas further down the baselines and a grassed home run porch in right field. Kids will love the play zone behind first. The team mascot is known as Webby. Neighborhood 3 The ballpark is about a mile from downtown Everett. The neighborhood immediately adjacent to the stadium is largely residential. There are some chain restaurants nearby. Closer to downtown check out Scuttlebutt Brewing Co while recommendations further afield include Anthony’s HomePort, Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and Irish Pub, Middleton Brewing, The Irishmen, and Blazing Onion Burgers. While, sadly, Boeing no longer conducts factory tours, aviation enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy the Future of Flight Aviation Center. Paine Field also features a Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum. Hours are limited to be sure to check before you visit. Families should also consider the Imagine Children’s Museum which has a large range of interactive exhibits relevant to the local area along with some great play areas. Hotels close by include Courtyard by Marriott, Hampton Inn, Travelodge, and Best Western. Of course, Seattle is easily within reach by car and offers a huge range of accommodation, restaurants, and tourist attractions – and of course the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Fans 3 The AquaSox are a solid draw, with average crowds estimated by various sources as around 2,000. The locals support their team well and have a great time doing so. There’s lots of families in attendance. Access 4 Funko Field is easily accessible by car. The I-5 is less than a mile from the ballpark. Take exit 192 toward Broadway. The South Parking lot is free of charge, but if you miss out there, there is additional parking for a small fee at the office lot (3802 Broadway). Try the King Country Metro if you prefer public transit. However, if you are visiting Seattle, it’s quite a lengthy and time-consuming trip north. The nearest Amtrak station is about 1 mile away downtown. Moving around the ballpark is as you would expect for a small stadium. Bathrooms are satisfactory. Return on Investment 5 With single game general admission tickets starting at $10 and Diamond Club at $22, the AquaSox represent an excellent value. There are great promotions throughout the season, and with reasonably priced food and beverage, and cheap parking, there’s no reason not to attend Funko Field if the opportunity arises. Extras 4 The AquaSox have a fun range of merch, players are happy to sign autographs after the game, and there’s a plaque beyond left field marking the spot where Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr’s first professional home run landed on June 17th, 1987. Final Thoughts Fun and affordable, entertaining baseball. Visitors to the Pacific Northwest should definitely add this ballpark to their travel itinerary.

(And Hard of Hearing) USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center offers excellent accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing tennis fans, and it continues to improve those efforts. The center is hosting the US Open and is celebrating 50 years of equal prize money (contestants get paid the same amount of prize money). The US Open is a prominent and must-see tennis event for tennis fans worldwide. 50 Years of Equal Prize Money, Photo by Gary Noll Gary Noll advocates for live closed captioning and ASL (American Sign Language) on video boards in NJ and metropolitan NY sports stadiums and arenas. He also provides suggestions and feedback annually to the USTA (United States Tennis Association) for improvements for deaf and hard-of-hearing tennis fans. He has attended the US Open Tennis event multiple times throughout the years. Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Billie Jean King National Tennis Center provides captioning in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand Stadium, and various other locations throughout the Center. Arthur Ashe Stadium provides captioning on video boards located in the Northeast and Southwest corners of the Stadium. Arthur Ashe Stadium usually hosts the men’s and women’s tennis championship matches and fields the top women’s and men’s tennis players on the court. The newly renovated Louis Armstrong Stadium provides captioning on video boards located In the Northwest and Southeast corners of the Stadium. Louis Armstrong Stadium, Photo by Gary Noll Captioning in the Grandstand Stadium is available on www.mobilecap.net (When prompted, enter your name and Event ID 2671, and then click “Join.” The program will start running automatically. Remember to log out after the event). If guests do not have their mobile device/tablet, mobile devices may be obtained at the Guest Services booth in the Grandstand Stadium, subject to availability. Collateral, such as a driver's license or credit card, is required to borrow a mobile device and will be exchanged at the end of the event. Source: US Open Tennis official site Grandstand Stadium, Photo by Gary Noll Currently, Grandstand Stadium does not provide captioning on its scoreboard or ribbon boards because it does not have those types of boards, only a video scoreboard. The stadium operations are looking to have a mobile captioning QR code message on the video scoreboard this 2023 season. This will allow visitors to scan the code and read live captioning of the game progression and public address announcements. Example of QR code at UBS Arena , Photo by Gary Noll Future Improvements US Open tennis is considering having ASL signers for the national anthem and even ASL performance (signing the match progress and other public address announcements) for the 2024 tournament at Arthur Ashe Stadium . Gary has already had conversations requesting ASL provisions via a Picture in Picture on video scoreboard for the whole time. We’ll have to see if that happens. Gary also recommended the USTA have deaf volunteers or even employees so the venue can have ASL interpreters and make ASL more visual. Live captioning is nice, but having double accessibility allows deaf and hard-of-hearing fans to feel more included in the match experience. Gary campaigned for live captioning outside of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, where there is currently lots of information and details, but it’s missing for deaf and hard-of-hearing fans this 2023 season. This includes the ESPN and Tennis Network booths and up-to-date match details (closed captioning on video scoreboards) from all courts in the complex. This area is a popular spot for fans to follow other matches while they eat, drink, visit exhibits, and shop without going inside the stadium. Plaza outside Arthur Ashe Stadium, Photos by Gary Noll Fans need this most during championship games and post-tennis match celebrations from ESPN and Tennis TV Network. Gary encourages the US Open, ESPN, and Tennis TV Network to use ASL for these championship matches and post-celebration interviews. Even with all these recommendations, the US Open tennis has been so great with accessibility and is a champion at giving fans the best experience. Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Map, Photo by Gary Noll

Photos by Joseph Oakes, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Founders Park 431 Williams St Columbia, SC 29201 South Carolina Gamecocks website Founders Park website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 8,242 Sandstorm In Summer Founders Park (formerly known as Carolina Stadium) opened in 2009 at a price of $35 million as South Carolina beat Duquesne 13-0 in front of 8,153 fans. Country music singer Darius Rucker sang the national anthem. Founders has a seated capacity of 6,600 and a total capacity of 8,242 including grassy berm areas. Food & Beverage 5 Founder’s Park offers a wide range of concession offerings all around the ballpark. These range from grilled chicken to hotdogs, nachos, corn dogs, popcorn, peanuts, soft pretzels, sunflower seeds, and cracker jacks. There are two sizes of Coca-Cola fountain products, with the larger size being a souvenir cup. Dasani bottled water is also offered. Both premium and domestic beer are also offered. There are also several independent stands and tents around the ballpark that offer hamburgers, sausage dogs, cheese steaks, and ice cream. You may also see a couple of food trucks parked in the outfield depending on which game you attend. Atmosphere 5 Upon approaching Founder’s Park, you realize immediately that you are in a “big-time” SEC atmosphere. The outfield exterior gates are donned with the famous South Carolina palm trees. Just beyond the outfield entrance, you will national championship trophies from the 2010 and 2011 seasons when the Gamecocks won the College World Series in Omaha. Seating at Founder’s Park runs from foul pole to foul pole. All seats are chairback and are angled toward home plate for better sightlines. There is a small tiered picnic area around the left field foul pole that offers a great view of the field. Around the right field foul pole is a large grassy berm, which extends into the outfield. Beyond the left field wall is a large set of bleachers. While these are in the outfield, they are bench-back and offer a great view of the ballpark. However, you will be sitting in the direct sun during day games. A large upper level with suites and a press box sits above the concourse and can be a great source of shade on hot South Carolina days. A large video board rises above left field. There is also a ribbon scoreboard on the façade of the suite overhang for folks sitting in the outfield. Founder’s Park has a large 360-degree concourse with many areas to stand, socialize, and watch the game. When you are walking the concourse, be sure to check out the live chicken – Gamecock mascot. Neighborhood 4 Founder’s Park sits on the banks of the Congaree River in South Carolina’s capital city. While there are few dining or lodging within (reasonable) walking distance, there are several choices about a mile or so away within the vicinity of Columbia Convention Center/ Colonial Life Arena and South Carolina State House. There is a Hampton Inn and Hyatt in this area, as well as several restaurants and breweries including Jimmy John’s, Longhorn, Marks Burgers and Shakes, Palmetto Pig BBQ, and Columbia Craft Brewing Company just to name a few. If you are looking for other sporting events while in town, South Carolina baseball season overlaps with Gamecock softball and part of the basketball season as well. The Columbia Fireflies single A team also plays across town at Segra Park. The state capitol building and several museums are all within a mile or so of Founder’s Park. Fans 5 The Gamecock baseball program has a proud tradition and a large following. The official capacity of Founder’s Park is 8,242 and you can expect a near-capacity crowd of 7,000-8,000 for a weekend SEC series. Even for midweek games, the Gamecocks average 5,000-6,000 fans. Access 4 Columbia, SC is accessible from three major interstates: I-20, I-26, and I-77. Founder’s Park is located near downtown Columbia about a block from the intersections of US 321 and US 76. Parking is available in the lots between US 321 and the ballpark and on the opposite side of US 321. Several of the businesses between Huger St. and Williams St. also sell parking for baseball games. Unfortunately, South Carolina enforces a clear bag policy. Otherwise, the security at entrances is pretty painless. There is a wide 360-degree concourse all the way around the ballpark and handicap-accessible seating and restrooms are all readily available. Return on Investment 5 Ticket prices start at $25 which is not bad for this level of competition. Expect to pay around $10 to park near the stadium. Concessions are about on par with most athletic facilities. All in all, not a bad deal for top-notch SEC baseball in a beautiful ballpark. Extras 4 Extra points for the following: - Large playground for kids - National Championship trophies and retired numbers - Live “Sir Big Spur” mascot - City skyline view from behind home plate Final Thoughts Founder’s Park is one of the nicest and most beautiful college ballparks that you will visit. Gamecock fans support their program like few in the country and it is a college baseball bucket list experience to take in a game here.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Karen Shelton Stadium 327 Ridge Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27514 North Carolina Tar Heels website Karen Shelton Stadium website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 1,000 UNC’s Hidden Sports Gem To many, UNC is known for its basketball and football programs. However, Olympic sports have long held a history of success in the school’s history. The field hockey program is no different, capturing its 10th NCAA National Championship in 2022. The home of UNC Field Hockey, Karen Shelton Stadium, is indeed a hidden gem of this stunning campus. Nestled in the hillside across the street from UNC’s Baseball stadium and next door to the football practice field, this beautiful and impressive facility is fitting for the dominant program that UNC fields every year. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand at the stadium, located at the end of the grandstands. Here you can find hot dogs ($5.75), candy or chips ($4.25), peanuts ($5.25), jumbo salted pretzels ($7.25), and popcorn or nachos ($6.25). For drinks, water ($4.75), large souvenir cup sodas ($6.75), and alcohol ($11.25-$16) are also available. The majority of the food items are hot grab-and-go and frequently replenished, making the line move a lot faster than one would expect. Atmosphere 5 To call this stadium beautiful is an understatement. The grandstands face a verdant background of tall trees shading the field. To your left is a large HD video scoreboard. The seats, except for a few individual rows, are all individual folding stadium seats. Tickets for games are all general admission as well, meaning your ticket gets you a seat along the field level or in the upper sections. The topmost level of the grandstand is a walkway offering standing room for fans as well. The UNC band occupies the far lower right sections of the grandstands below the concessions stand, providing an unexpected addition to the college experience at what would otherwise be considered a lower-tier sport compared to the program’s larger teams. Indeed, nothing about Karen Shelton Stadium suggests that UNC Field Hockey is anything but elite, showcasing that stunning facilities can be utilized for all sports, regardless of their national prominence. Neighborhood 4 The area surrounding UNC is stunning – from quaint neighborhoods to the beautiful campus itself, it is hard to argue with how great this area of North Carolina is. Located less than 30 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, UNC’s campus features plenty of parking for fans in the immediate area. Just outside of campus, copious amounts of shopping and dining are available, as well as numerous hotels. Fans 5 This year, record-breaking crowds have filed into Karen Shelton Stadium to watch UNC defend its 2022 National Championship. The stadium’s stands are almost always packed with fans, be they locals and UNC grads or current students and fellow UNC athletes. Pre-game tailgates happen in the adjacent parking lot to the stadium, and the UNC band even performs at them before leading a fan march into the stadium. You’d be hard-pressed to say the fans here aren’t loyal or sport-knowledgeable, so if you’re new to the sport, don’t be shy about asking your neighbor for some guidance on what is happening on the field of play. Access 4 Parking is plentiful near Karen Shelton Stadium; many fans use the Ram’s Head parking deck across the street. This multi-level parking garage offers a large number of parking spaces for easy in and out access. At the other end of the stadium is another small parking lot, used by most hardcore fans for pre-game tailgating. Once inside the stadium grounds, it is easy to get around thanks to copious signage for fans. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to UNC Field Hockey are free, a steal for the entertainment value you receive. With standard concession prices and a family-friendly atmosphere, you can be sure to expect a lot of fun for a low price when you arrive. Perhaps the best value on campus, UNC fans have long known this is a great value, and with a solid stadium to back up the hype the team currently enjoys, it is easy to see why. Extras 3 The stadium itself features signage and plaques along the main concourse honoring the team’s ACC Conference titles and NCAA National Championships, as well as important figures from UNC’s past like Karen Shelton. Fans can also expect a giveaway table at the entrance to each game, often filled with kids' club information or free posters for fans. The stadium also features a small grass berm on the far right side of the stadium seating area that is tiered and usually has tents erected with cooling fans on hot days. Final Thoughts This may be the best-kept secret of UNC athletics. While they may not enjoy national TV coverage like football or basketball, the field hockey program has a stunning facility they call home. Fan-friendly, inexpensive to attend, and easy access to parking are all positive points when considering this team during your next visit. If you’re in the area, fans can expect to look at this facility as a potential site of interest. And thanks to a beautiful backdrop and the great weather North Carolina enjoys in the fall, this may be the most beautiful field hockey facility in America.

Photos by Richard Smith Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Beldon Field 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd. Towson, MD 21286 Goucher Gophers website Beldon Field website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 1,000 Home Of The Gophers Goucher College is a former all-women’s college located in Towson, Maryland, a northern suburb of Baltimore. The college opened in 1885 as the Women’s College of Baltimore City changed its name to its current name in 1910 and went coed in 1986. Goucher moved to its present suburban location northeast of the county seat of Towson in Baltimore County in 1953. The college is named in honor of its founding member, John Goucher, and his wife, Mary Fisher Goucher. Goucher College is a private co-educational liberal arts college. It was originally affiliated with the Baltimore Conference of Methodist Episcopal Church but currently has no real church affiliation. The college has approximately 1,480 undergraduate students studying in 33 majors and 1,200 students studying in graduate programs. Notable alumni include Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps Margaret G. Kibben, Maryland State Delegate John A. Olszewski, Jr., and frequent John Waters actress Mary Vivian Pearce. Goucher athletic teams are known as the Gophers. The college competes in NCAA Division III as part of the Landmark Conference. Beldon Field opened in 2009. It is the home of men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and field hockey. This review is for the field hockey team. Food & Beverage 0 There is no permanent food stand at Beldon Field. Fans should make certain to eat before or after the game as this arena is not a good place for food concessions. Atmosphere 4 There is a pleasant, simple grandstand at Beldon Field. Additional seating is along the hills surrounding the venue. You will find a variety of seating options. The field is in a little bowl or meadow, and sound travels extremely well within the area. This creates a lovely little atmosphere so that even small crowds sound rather lively. Neighborhood 4 The Goucher College campus has been used for a few scenes in the Netflix series House of Cards, so expect to recognize the stone buildings from a few scenes there. Towson is a semi-urban environment with a large shopping mall and numerous restaurants in the area. Try the Charles Village Pub in the heart of downtown Towson for good food and drinks. Some other great options are The Crease, Glory Days Grill, Sushi Hana, and Zia’s. Baltimore is also a quick drive away. Check out the Federal Hill neighborhood, south of the Inner Harbor. There are a few fun restaurants and bars here. Abbey Burger Bistro is one great choice. The beer selection is good, and they offer a dizzying array of burger choices, which are all likely to satisfy. Fans 3 Most of the fans are friends and family of the players with a few scattered students attending. Access 4 Goucher is located right off the Baltimore Beltway/I-695. The only negative is that Towson is a busy area and traffic can be bad at some times. The college itself is pretty and quite suburban. You will find plenty of parking close to the arena, although a night game may mean that parking could get tight at times. Return on Investment 5 The games are free to attend. So, although the level of play is quite low, the free parking and admission make this a fantastic value for sports fans. Extras 2 Goucher College has a little athletics hall of fame located in the Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena lobby. The pretty little campus is a nice extra in itself. Final Thoughts Beldon Field is a pretty basic, low-level sports field located in a nice suburban setting near Baltimore. It is not worth making a trip just for a Goucher Gophers game, but if you are in the area, you will enjoy the game for its low level of investment.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Builders Field 700 41st St Newport News, VA 23607 Apprentice School Builders website Builders Field website Year Opened: 1980s Capacity: 1500 USCAA Football Virginia Builders Field in Newport News, VA is the home of the Apprentice School Builders football team. Built in the mid-1980s and seating 1500 fans, the stadium sits next to one of Newport News Shipbuilding’s facilities, located not far from the pier. Newport News Shipbuilding has been building US Navy ships for the past 135 years, and is currently working on the Gerald R. Ford class of aircraft carriers, including 10 next generation carriers in total. The Apprentice School Builders take their name from the city’s ship building history, and in fact their athletic teams use the same motto as Newport News Shipbuilding – Always Good Ships. Food & Beverage 2 There are two concession stands at Builders Field, one a fixed stand called Glo’s Eat & Go and the other a food truck call Georgia’s – Glo’s offers wings, chicken tenders, chopped BBQ, hot dogs, burgers, and fries, along with bottled water, soda, candy, and chips, while Georgia’s sells ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, fish sandwiches and fried fish pieces, polish sausage, wings, nachos, hot dogs, and fries, as well as soda, canned iced tea, and bottled water. Prices at both stands range from $5 to $14 for the larger items, and $1 to $2 for drinks and small snacks. While there are plenty of options at Builders Field, one of the stands ran out of food by halftime, so I ended up running down the street to a nearby fast food place called Chick-A-Sea (specializing in fried chicken and fried fish), which is very good and was swamped with people. Atmosphere 3 Builders Field is a nice facility with hedges bordering the field on each side, with plenty of Builders signage and shipbuilding artifacts on display, for example a propeller statue and an anchor statue behind one end zone. There are also chairback benches along the whole length of the main stands, as well as a tent with tables and chairs where you can sit if you prefer more shade, and some attendees even park outside the fence and watch from their cars while tailgating. There is not much entertainment here besides the game itself, however, as there is no mascot, no band, and no cheerleaders to be seen. I also did not hear much in the way of set cheers or catchphrases yelled at certain points in the game by the home crowd. Neighborhood 2 Builders Field appears to be located in a rough part of town – the stadium is surrounded on three sides by government housing, and there is a major freeway right behind the main stands, which you can hear the traffic from all game long. One of Newport News Shipbuilding’s facilities is also visible behind the visitor stands, as well as a school bus parking lot. There are a few fast-food restaurants within a short drive, like the aforementioned Chick-A-Sea and others such as Popeye’s or Church’s Chicken. The Virginia War Museum is also nearby, which is well worth a visit if you plan to be in town for the day or weekend – I didn’t go inside, but I had a fabulous time driving around the property looking at all the tanks, self-propelled guns, cannons, navy Big-Guns, anti-aircraft guns, etc. dotted around the park. Fans 3 The Builders draw a pretty good crowd – the stadium is not full by any means, but you will see many fans wearing Apprentice School gear, and the fans are very passionate when they cheer. The visiting stands are much smaller than the main stands, so during some games, especially for nearby opponents, you will definitely see the visitor section filled to capacity. Note that on the home side, the middle sections of the three to four rows closest to the press box offer some great shade, so you may want to try and sit in those rows if you can. Access 4 Getting to Builders Field is a piece of cake – Newport News is on the water, so you may have to fight some traffic on the bridges and in the tunnels depending on which direction you are coming from, but as I mentioned above, a major highway (I-664) goes right by the stadium, so you practically can’t miss it. There is also free parking right next to the field, close enough that you can watch the game from your car if you want. The bathrooms here are a mixed lot – the Apprentice School athletics building behind one end zone houses the only “regular” bathrooms; behind the opposite end zone you will instead find port-a-johns (behind the scoreboard) or a trailer (next to the main stands) with restrooms that are kind of in the middle (a step up from a port-a-potty, but not quite a full bathroom either). Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Apprentice School football games only cost about $8 each, including fees, but you must purchase them online – you can print the tickets out and bring them with you, though, if you don’t want to worry about having them on your phone. Alternatively, you can watch the game for free from just outside the fence, but with tickets this cheap I would recommend sitting in the stands (if you can find some shade) or under the aforementioned tent. Extras 2 Builders Field is pleasant to walk around, the hedges are great, and you may enjoy taking a photo of the anchor and propeller. Final Thoughts Apprentice School football offers a pleasant, low-key way to enjoy the fall weather. You won’t hear the over-the-top crowd noise that some college football stadiums are famous for, but if you are looking for a family-friendly experience that won’t cost a fortune, this is the perfect choice.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 GCU Arena 3300 W Camelback Rd Phoenix, AZ 85017 GCU Antelopes Volleyball website GCU Arena website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 7,000 It's Canyon Time Grand Canyon University (GCU) Antelopes women’s volleyball team began in 1981 when they played in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics). The team moved to NCAA D2 in 1993 as members of the Pacific West Conference. All GCU athletics began transitioning from D2 to D1 in 2013 as Western Athletic Conference (WAC) members. The women’s volleyball team played in Antelope Gymnasium until the beautiful GCU Arena opened. The team made its first postseason appearance at the D1 level in 2022. In the past four years, the team has had more winning seasons than losing ones, and they look to continue this trend. GCU Arena is a premier mid-sized sports venue which hosts GCU Antelopes men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams and other university events. It is conveniently located on campus in Central Phoenix. Food & Beverage 3 GCU Arena concessions serve typical stadium fare at reasonable prices: Pepsi products, bottled water, Gatorade, candy, hot dogs, sausages, nachos, pretzels, etc. They provide a decent variety, enough to sustain you for a volleyball game. Prices generally run $3.50 - $6. The concession stands do not sell alcohol. The arena has its concession stands on both the first and second level. The number open during an event depends on the expected crowd. Two (on the second level) were operational at the game of this review, which was plenty. The venue arranges the food stands nicely in the corners, and each has tables and chairs for sitting and enjoying food and beverages. Atmosphere 4 GCU Arena, athletes, and fans provide a pleasurable day or evening for a volleyball match. In volleyball, the winner of a match is the best of five sets. The first team to reach 25 points wins each set. The teams switch sides after each set. Coaches can challenge calls at NCAA volleyball matches. At GCU Arena, fans can either walk onto the floor level and up to their seats (handrails are available) or take an elevator or stairs to the second lev el, a nd then walk down to the seats. Only the second level has wheelchair-accessible seating areas. The arena has comfortable cushioned purple seats with grey GCU across three sections on each court side. The seats are narrow, and the rows lack legroom. The arena layout opens three sides of the seating area at a volleyball match. GCU Arena Seating, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The arena has two boards in each corner on the far end of the court. One is a video board that shows crowd shots, the sets, sponsor messages, etc. The other corner board displays the set and match scores; the players game stats are above the score. A ribbon board above the side seats shows players, sponsor ads, the score, and other miscellaneous information. The arena pleasantly does not have a suspended center board making it wide open and easy to watch the band and fans. The temperature inside the arena is comfortable. Shorts and a T-shirt a re suitable, no need for a sweater or jacket. A band and a DJ play music between stoppages of play. The Thundering Heard, the Antelope’s pep band, entertains the crowd, promotes the Lopes school spirit, and has the fans dancing in their seats throughout the match. Cheerleaders boost the school spirit with jumping, cheering, pom-pom waiving, pyramid building, and flips. The team has a mascot dressed as an antelope named Thunder who wanders the stands pregame. He/she wears the number 49 for the year the school opened. Neighborhood 3 Grand Canyon University is in central Phoenix. The area around the university is not considered the safest in the metropolitan area. The campus itself is perfectly harmless and pleasant. Several fast food places are within 1,000 feet of the arena. The Quad Kitchen (across a grass area in front of the arena) sells BBQ items but check the dates and times it is open. Canyon 49 offers Mexican style fare on campus. Off campus, we recommend visiting other neighborhoods for a bite to eat before or after the game. The Cracked Egg is a decent restaurant for breakfast or brunch just a few miles from the arena. Huss Brewing has a taproom and kitchen about three miles from campus. When on campus, visit the Jerry Colangelo Museum right next to the arena. Jerry Colangelo was very influential in moving the Grand Canyon Antelopes from D2 to D1 and introducing and promoting other sports in the Phoenix area. Hotels are not close to the arena. We recommend driving four or five miles to midtown where the Hilton Garden Inn Midtown and a Hampton Inn are affordable places to stay. Other nearby sports to visit during volleyball season include GCU men’s and women’s soccer, Arizona Diamondbacks , Phoenix Mercury , or even an ASU hockey game in nearby Tempe. Fans 4 So far in this 2023 season, the GCU students and fan base have shown up in force for volleyball matches. Seven thousand showed up for their home opener; the matches since then have had 2,600 – 3,000 in attendance. Grand Canyon University Student Section, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Similar to during a basketball free throw, fans are absolutely noisy when an opponent is serving but quiet as a mouse when a Lopes player has the serve. Everyone stands till the Lopes score a point for each set. The student section stands the entire time when sets are in progress. And, of course, the engaging pep band and cheerleaders energize the crowd. Access 4 GCU Arena is less than a mile off Interstate 17. Depending on the time of day and road construction, you may hit some local traffic. Park in the garage at N 33rd Ave and Camelback Rd. You’ll pass through security before parking. Tell the guard you’re going to the game, and they’ll direct you to the garage. GCU does not charge parking fees. The current rideshare lot is at the corner of Colter and 30th Drive for drop off and pick up, a few blocks from the arena. ADA drop off and pick up is at 33rd Ave and Camelback Rd near the main entrance (just after the security booth). The arena is about 10 miles from Sky Harbor Airport. Valley Metro provides public transportation to the venue. Bus route 50 has a stop right outside the building. Th e ticket window booths could have been labelled more clearly to indicate which one to approach for group tickets, individual tickets, or Lope Nation Passes. I ended up at three different lines before finally getting to the correct one to purchase my ticket. Facing the booths, the one on the right is the one for single game tickets. Fans pass through metal detectors prior to entering the facility. Clear sports bags (12” x 12” x 6”) are allowed. It’s painless, and the security staff is quite friendly and welcoming. Handicapped/wheelchair seating seems to be only available at the very top of the second level. This may be one area to look at if the university ever decides to do another renovation. The arena does not offer closed captioning, though assistive listening devices are available at guest services. The arena has plenty of restrooms which are spotless even after the match. My sister-in-law would approve. GCU Arena includes two family restrooms with changing tables, one on each level. Return on Investment 5 Attending an Antelopes match is well worth the price. Five-dollar admission. Free parking. Concession prices no higher than $6. And even better, the Lopes offer several promotions. A Lope Nation Pass is $50. Fans can attend all women’s and men’s volleyball and soccer matches and all baseball and softball games with this pass. That’s a fantastic deal if you live nearby and can get to at least ten games a season. The team has a free Future Havocs Club for Lopes fans who are high school-aged and younger; it’s a fantastic idea to introduce future students to the college. And the team offers group ticketing which allows groups of ten or more individuals in for free. The games are entertaining and pleasant. It’s definitely worth the price of admission. . Extras 3 The cost of attending a match is worth another mention. A student says a short prayer before the match. The music volume is perfect; enough to engage fans but not too loud where you can’t converse with your neighbors. Nicely done. Unfortunately, the gift shop wasn’t open at the match I attended. I seem to remember it’s a decent one from other sporting events I attended at GCU Arena. Final Thoughts I never knew volleyball was such a big sport at the college level. I’ve always had a good time at any sporting event I attended at GCU. Fans are engrossed in the action and cheer the team on enthusiastically. If you’ve never been, it’s worth your sports entertainment dollar.

One of the most controversial ballparks ever can be found in Worcester. Replacing the venerable McCoy Stadium and moving the Triple-A affiliate for the Red Sox out of Rhode Island to go along with the high price tag has the new WooSox facing an uphill battle. Was it worth it? Grab a brew and join Dave and Paul for the latest episode of Stadium Journey's Obstructed Views! ⚾⚾🏟️ You can find Stadium Journey's review of Polar Park and the Worcester Red Sox game day experience here.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Bowditch Field 475 Union Ave Framingham, MA 01702 Framingham State Rams Football website Bowditch Field website Year Opened: 1930 Capacity: 5,300 Take a Bow, Framingham Bowditch Field was built in the 1930s as a Works Public Administration project. The football stadium is part of a larger complex which also contains a baseball field, tennis courts, basketball courts, track and field facilities, and the city’s Park and Recreation Department offices. It has served as the home field to the Framingham State Rams football team since 1978. Framingham State University began sponsoring football in 1972 as a club team. Two years later the squad was elevated to varsity status. Today the Rams compete in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). Framingham State has won 11 conference titles and qualified for six post-season tournaments in their history. One FSU football alumnus, Joshua Onujiogu, has made it to the National Football League. Framingham State University is a public university located in the Boston suburb of Framingham. With an enrollment of 4,500 students, the school began its existence as a Normal School, a training school for teachers. Today the university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in several majors. Food & Beverage 2 There is a small concession stand underneath the home bleachers. Staffed by volunteers from the local Lions Club, hungry Rams fans can pick up a hot dog or some pizza slices. Bottles of Pepsi products are featured along with assorted chips and candy. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at this community complex. Fans can bring their snacks into Bowditch Field. On chilly Massachusetts fall afternoons, you’ll be sure to see lots of hot Dunkin’ beverages. Atmosphere 2 There’s a very laid-back atmosphere at a Framingham State football game. With the smallish crowds in attendance here, there’s not a ton of noise produced by the fans. Also, the sound system, while adequate, is not very loud. It can be tough to hear game announcements. The public address announcer does her job in a quiet, workmanlike fashion, but doesn’t add much energy to the goings-on. The FSU cheerleading squad is present but isn’t audible unless you are sitting nearby. There’s not much of a turnout by the student body, so most of the energy in the stands comes from the many family members who come out to see the team play. Neighborhood 3 Bowditch Field is located in a residential area in the Boston suburb of Framingham. There may not be much in terms of lodging or dining options near Bowditch Field, but there are plenty of choices nearby throughout the city. Route 9, the main business thoroughfare in the area, runs just to the north of the complex and contains numerous restaurants and hotels for visiting fans. Buckley Kitchen and Bar, Legal Sea Foods, and Samba Steak and Sushi are among the many excellent local choices. For fans looking for a place to stay while in Framingham, Hampton Inn, Residence Inn by Marriot, and Sheraton all are located nearby. Of course, if visiting Framingham from out of town, downtown Boston is just 20 miles away and accessible by the Commuter Rail. Fans 3 The Rams attract decent crowds to Bowditch Field for football games. While there’s not a huge turnout from the student body (Bowditch Field’s location off-campus undoubtedly hurts in this regard), the fans that do show up strongly support the Rams. Many of the fans in attendance have a personal connection with the players and help to create a lively atmosphere. With the compact geographic footprint of the MASCAC, there’s usually a strong turnout from visiting fans as well. Access 3 Framingham is a city of over 72,000 residents located 20 miles west of Boston and 20 miles east of Worcester. The area is easily accessed by car, as Interstates 90, 93, and 95 all run near Bowditch Field. Route 9, the main local business thoroughfare, runs just to the north of the complex. MetroWest Regional Transit Authority’s number 2 bus has a stop a short walk from Bowditch Field. The Framingham State campus is located about a mile away from Bowditch Field. There is ample parking in the lots adjacent to Bowditch Field as well as in a grass field adjacent to the stadium that is used for game-day parking. Seating consists of aluminum bench seating in grandstands that line three sides of the football field. There is also plenty of standing room around the field. The presence of a track pushes the seating back a bit from the field, but all the grandstands feature excellent views of the field. Restrooms are located on both sides of the football field and are plenty large enough for the typical Rams crowd. Return on Investment 5 Admission to Framingham State football games is priced at five dollars for general admission seats. Parking is free in the lots surrounding Bowditch Field. Concessions are inexpensive, with no item costing more than three dollars. An afternoon at a Framingham State football game is the most affordable entertainment option for local sports fans. Extras 1 There is an extensive display in the entry plaza of Bowditch Field which lists important dates and events in the facility’s history. Take a look at some of the famous names who are connected with this place. Final Thoughts Bowditch Field is a wonderful community facility that serves the needs of the Framingham State Rams well. ---- Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29 Knights Football Field Magnolia Dr Laurinburg, NC 28352 St. Andrews Knights website Knights Football Field website NC Knights The St. Andrews Knights football team began in 2017 – the team is a football-only member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Mid-South Conference. Located in Laurinburg, North Carolina, the team colors are blue and white; they play their home games at Knights Football Field on campus. Food & Beverage 4 Knights Football Field has some pretty solid concessions, in the form of multiple food trucks dotted around the field – options include a truck selling fried fish, a Domino’s Pizza truck, a Kona Ice truck, and a truck from Krazy Kuzzins which sells hot dogs, nachos, small snacks, and drinks. Prices are very much on the low side (hot dogs for $3 and bottled water for $1, for example), so you won’t have to break the bank to eat at the game. Atmosphere 1 There aren’t many frills at Knights Football Field – the scoreboard doesn’t have a video screen, and all the seats are bleachers without backs. There is also no mascot and no cheerleaders/dance team, although there is a statue of a knight with a sword, in front of one of the campus buildings nearby. You will see a lot of tents along the sidelines, mostly blue, where the coaching and other staff watch from and keep their equipment. Neighborhood 2 Laurinburg, NC has a population of about 15,000. Knights Football Field is located near a hospital, but there are also a few restaurants and hotels within sight of the field, which are close enough to walk to if you want to. There is a Captain D’s seafood across the street, as well as a Dollar Tree and an IGA if you need to pick up anything. There is also a Taco Bell and a couple of hotels on the other side of the highway from the venue – you may want to drive to those, however, as walking across the highway may not be the safest. There are a couple of parks in town, as well as a disc golf course; the nearest big city is Fayetteville, NC, about an hour’s drive from St. Andrews. Fans 2 St. Andrews football doesn’t draw much of a crowd – most of the fans appear to be friends or family members of the players themselves, and like many small college football programs, the schools in the same conference tend to be close together geographically (unlike the FBS’ Big 12, for example, which now has member schools stretching from Utah to Texas to West Virginia). Because the schools are located close together, however, you will sometimes see as many visiting fans in attendance as home fans, depending on the opponent, since the drive is not that far. At Knights Football Field, this also means you will see tents in the opposing colors, being used by the opponent’s staff, on the opposite side of the field. Access 3 Getting to Knights Football Field may be a little tricky – as mentioned the nearest big city is an hour away, so there aren’t many major roads to bring you here. The football stadium is located on Magnolia Drive near St. Andrews’ other sports facilities, but your GPS may have trouble finding it (mine did). There is only one official entrance into the stadium, located near the food trucks (although the gate near the ambulance is also open, so you could technically sneak in that way). Parking here is free – there is a paved parking lot down the street from the field next to the school’s athletic building, but most people park on the grass along the fence around the stadium, in the grass lot behind the food trucks, or under the trees one field over. Security doesn’t like people to park on the stadium side of the street, so you may be asked to move – if you park on the other side of the road from the stadium, however, you should be fine. Return on Investment 3 Attending a game at Knights Football Field is very inexpensive considering the cheap tickets, low-cost concessions, and no cost for parking. However, there aren’t many frills here either. Tickets to St. Andrews football games are only around $6, and you must purchase them online (there are no sales at the gate). There are a few fans, however, who just watch from the other side of the fence, either under a tent they brought or just standing along the fence – that way you can technically watch for free. Depending on how late in the year it is, it could be pretty hot in North Carolina, so bringing a tent might be a good idea, or bringing an umbrella with you into the stadium to provide some shade. A few fans bring folding chairs into the stadium as well; if you do that you could sit under the trees along the fence line and get shade that way. Extras 1 The stadium has some pleasant scenery, surrounded as it is by trees. The blue tents for the team’s staff also provide some pops of the Knights colors.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Richardson Stadium 201 Faculty Drive Davidson, NC 28035 Davidson Wildcats website Richardson Stadium website Year Opened: 1923 Capacity: 6,000 Richardson Stadium Celebrates Its Centennial Davidson College is a private liberal arts school affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). It is in Davidson, NC, which is 19 miles north of Charlotte, NC. The school was founded in 1837 and has a student body of just over 1,900 students. The school offers more than 74 majors and other academic programs. The athletic teams at Davidson are known as the Wildcats. The football program is a member of the Pioneer Conference at the FCS level of NCAA football. Davidson first fielded a football program in 1896. It played at the Division III level of competition through 1992, moving up to the FCS level of competition in 1993. The team has gone to the FCS playoffs three times (2020,2021 and 2022). Davidson’s rivalry games each season is the battle with Presbyterian College. The game is known as the Carolina Border Clash, with the winner taking home the 1919 Cup. The home of Davidson football is the on-campus Richardson Stadium. The field is known as Stephen B Smith Field. Stephen Smith is a former Board of Trustee member at the school who was a member of the Southern Conference All-Academic Football Team. It opened in 1823 as Richardson Field, and is named for a prominent Davidson alum from the 1800’s. The field is encircled by the Irwin Belk Track, which is used for Davidson track meets. The stadium has a capacity of 6,000. The stadium has undergone several renovations in its century of service. These renovations included expanded seating and the construction of a new press box and the addition of a visitors’ locker room. Numerous ceremonies have been held during the season commemorating the venue’s Centennial year. Even as Davidson celebrates Richardson Field’s centennial, it is also looking to the future. In 2021 Davidson announced plans for a $45 million capital campaign to enhance the school’s athletic facilities. A major portion of these funds are going towards the construction of a new football stadium. The stadium will include a continuous seating concourse, a state-of-the-art videoboard, improved concessions areas and modern restrooms. As beloved as Richardson Stadium is, it is a 100-year-old facility. It does not have the wide concourses and modern restrooms of a more recent build. The new stadium will enhance the game experience for the fans in a major way. Construction of the new stadium is well underway, and it will be ready in time for the 2024 football season. Food & Beverage 2 There is one lone concession stand located on the track to the left of the seating area. It is run by the Davidson-Huntersville Lion Club to benefit charities in the area. They offer the standards, including Pepsi brand products ($3), water ($3), hot dogs ($3), pizza ($7), popcorn ($3), peanuts ($3), and candy ($2). In addition, there are usually some food trucks behind the south end zone to supplement the offerings at the concession stand. Atmosphere 3 Attending a football game at Davidson is the quintessential small college football experience. Everybody in the home section of the stadium seating area tends to know the person sitting next to them. It is a more relaxed vibe than you would find at a major college football stadium. Both the student body and the school’s fan base are very well behaved, as the school has a very strict code of conduct in classes and at events held on campus. You will pass through the tailgating area just before entering the stadium. This is a festive atmosphere, with music, games and fans reuniting with fellow alums. There is also tailgating in the Baker Athletic Center parking lot. Seating is all on the home side of the field, as the far side of the field is hemmed in by campus buildings and a parking facility. All seats in the stands are metal bleachers, so it is a good idea to bring a stadium cushion with you. The stands have great views of the action, as even the top level of the seating area is still very close to the field. The service areas of the stadium, such ticketing and restrooms are found beneath the seating structure. The lone concession stand is positioned on the track and behind one of the end zones. One unusual aspect of the stadium is the patio at the north end of the stadium. The patio is attached to the Alvarez College Union Building and there is no restriction on patrons of that building to come out and watch the game from this outpost. It technically is outside the stadium and so it requires no ticket. The south end of the stadium features an alumni/booster tent and a rather dated digital scoreboard. Neighborhood 5 Richardson Stadium and Davidson College are in Davidson, NC. The town was founded in 1879 and presently has a population of 12,000 people. It is a true college town, with very close links with the school. The downtown area of Davison is adjacent to the school, within walking distance of the campus. The town is very pedestrian and bike friendly, with bike lanes and walking trails throughout the area. The downtown area is filled with mom-and-pop shops, restaurants and lodging facilities. No visit to Davidson is complete without a visit to the Soda Shop. It has been open since 1951 and serves the typical soda shop menu of hot dogs, milkshakes and fries. The Brickhouse Tavern is a favorite of both Davidson students and townspeople. It is housed in a building that formerly was a mill store. Another popular pub and restaurant is the Flatiron Kitchen and Taphouse. The town offers two lodging sites in the Davidson Village Inn and the Homewood Suites by Hilton Davidson. The town is located adjacent to Lake Norman, the largest manmade lake in North Carolina. There are numerous recreational activities available at the lake, including fishing, boating and swimming areas. Fans 4 The Wildcats have a very loyal fanbase made up of the Davidson student body and the townspeople. The alums make up a sizeable portion of the fans in the stands as well. This is because nearby Charlotte, NC is home to a large portion of the alumni who attended the school. While everything at a Wildcats football game is on a smaller scale than you would find at a major college game, the fans at Richardson Stadium are just as loud and proud of their school. The school band works very closely with the cheer teams to coordinate their actions to keep the fans stirred up throughout the game. Will E. Wildcat, the school’s mascot, is always on hand to encourage the crowd, while also entertaining the small fry. Access 2 Davidson College and Richardson Stadium are easy to reach via I-77. Directions from Charlotte: Take I-77 north for 19 miles to the Davidson exit (Exit 30). Turn left onto Griffith Street. Continue on Griffith Street to North Main Street. Turn right on Main Street, then left at Concord Road. Take Concord Road to Baker Drive. Turn left on Baker Drive and then right into the large parking lot for the Baker Sports Complex. After parking your car, you will walk across Baker Drive to Richardson Stadium. The restroom facilities are found underneath the seating structure. They tend to get very crowded during the breaks in the action, or at halftime. The concourses are rather narrow for the size of the crowd. There are no seats on the other side of the field, so you have a combination of both the home and visitor’s fan bases on one side of the field. Return on Investment 4 Attending a game at Davidson is very easy on your wallet. All seats at Richardson Stadium are general admission seats. Tickets are $13.05 for adults and $6.53 for youth (12 years old and younger. Parking at the Baker Sports complex is free. The concession prices are quite reasonable for the most part. Food trucks serving the stadium may have more expensive items for sale. Extras 4 Nearly 25% of the Davidson student body is involved in one of the NCAA sports at the school. The Wildcats have actually beaten the University of Georgia Bulldogs. The game took place in 1906, with a score of 15-0. Davidson used the recently approved forward pass to seal the victory over the Bulldogs. Davidson has the 4th smallest enrollment of any school competing in Division I football. Davidson is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference in all sports except football. Final Thoughts A visit to a Wildcats football game at Davidson is small town Southern football at its best. Enjoy the cute downtown stores and restaurants before heading into the lovely, wooded campus of Davidson College. Enjoy the gameday experience at the century old Richardson Stadium while it lasts.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Ives-Lemel Family Field Kings Creek Loop Brevard, NC 28712 Brevard Tornados website Ives-Lemel Family Field website Capacity: 1,000 Reap the Tornado! Ives-Lemel Family Field in Brevard, NC is home to D3 football’s Brevard Tornados, as well as the school’s lacrosse and soccer teams. With brand-new turf, stadium lights to allow night play, and dual grandstands seating 1,000 fans, the recent expansion represents a game-changer for Brevard sports. Food & Beverage 2 Ives-Lemel Family Field has a concession stand behind the main concourse, and while it doesn’t offer a lot, it does provide some local favorites and plenty to get you through the game. Serving up pizza, Chick-fil-A sandwiches (regular or spicy), and lots of snacks including popcorn, cookies, chips, peanuts, packaged candy, and cotton candy, as well as drink options beyond just soda and bottled water, the prices here won’t set you back. Poppy popcorn and Chick-fil-A sandwiches are the most expensive items and cost $6.95 and $6.50 respectively, but everything else is $3 or less. Atmosphere 4 The expanded facility at Brevard provides a great atmosphere for Tornados fans – plenty of bright blue and black signage greets fans as they arrive, and you will see a slew of fans tailgating in the parking lots next to the helmet tunnel. The crowd noise is a lot louder than you might expect from 1,000 fans, and the newness is a welcome experience for fans, with modern bathrooms, a stately press box, and comfortable seating including bucket-style chairbacks in the center of the main stands. The band and cheer squad do a great job entertaining fans as well – the only thing lacking, as yet, is a videoboard for instant replays. Neighborhood 3 Brevard, North Carolina is a small town located on the edge of the Nantahala National Forest, about 2 hours west of Charlotte and 1 hour south of Asheville. Brevard College is perhaps the mainstay of the town, and there are several restaurants within walking distance of the campus and the stadium, with a few more located downtown such as Big Mike’s (pizza) and the cleverly named Square Root (serving up international fare). There are only 3 hotels in town, but that is more than enough to accommodate any fans who want to stay the night. Ives-Lemel Family Field itself has student housing on two sides, making it easy for students to attend games, and the stadium is close to the school’s other athletic fields as well, with the rest of the campus buildings a little further out. Fans 3 The fans here are great – the students sit right next to the band and provide most of the noise and energy, but the other fans contribute as well. As I mentioned above the tailgating scene is solid, and the 2 team gear tents near the parking lot do a brisk trade in t-shirts and hats, so you can expect to see many of the Tornados fans decked out in school swag. Access 4 Except perhaps for how far Brevard College is off the beaten path, getting in and out of Ives-Lemel Family Field is a breeze. There is free parking on campus as you approach the field and wide-open space behind the main stands, with walking paths around the field if you need to get to the visitor's side. There are ticket tents set up behind each corner of the west end zone, including a bridge over the creek for fans coming from campus – the entrance behind the east end zone is reserved for fans with passes. Note that the only bathrooms and concessions are located underneath the main stands, so if you are sitting on the visitor side you will have to walk around. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to Brevard football games are only $10, either online or cash/credit card at the gate – this is a great return on investment for this brand-new facility. The atmosphere is great with a lot of energy from the fans, and the Tornado color scheme adds some great pops of color to the greenery around you. Extras 3 The scenery is very pleasant with all the trees surrounding the facility, providing an intimate feel. There is also a blue Tornado sculpture next to the athletics building on the north side of the field, and the game begins with the sound of a Tornado siren, not unlike the nearby Carolina Hurricanes, with a hurricane warning alarm as the key part of their intro. Fans can also stand along the fence to watch the game, and kids have plenty of room to play there – dogs are also welcome. Final Thoughts I would recommend a visit to Brevard College for a football game – Ives-Lemel Family Field is a nice little gem hidden in rural North Carolina. The Tornados began playing football in 2006 after a 50+ year hiatus, and the recent stadium expansion is surely helping move their program forward.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 JMU Convocation Center 895 University Blvd Harrisonburg, VA 22801 James Madison Dukes website JMU Convocation Center website Year Opened: 1982 (original)/2023 (renovated for volleyball) Capacity: 1,118 Return to the Convo The JMU Convocation Center on the campus of James Madison University first opened in 1982 as the home of the Dukes' men's and women's basketball programs. Following the 2019-20 season, The Convo closed as the team moved into its new arena, the Atlantic Union Bank Center . However, it would soon find a new purpose. The interior of the arena was completely renovated and turned into a new home for James Madison's women's volleyball team, which had previously played in Sinclair Gym. In 2023, the Convocation Center reopened, pretty much the same on the outside but entirely different on the inside. Food & Beverage 2 There is one concession stand at the JMU Convocation Center, located right next to the entrance. The menu is pretty simple. Hot dogs and nachos are the only meal options, while soft pretzels, popcorn, chips, and candy are also available. Soda and bottled water are sold as well. As at all Virginia public universities, the water comes in aluminum cans rather than plastic bottles, but this should not cause any problems. Prices are reasonable, with nothing costing more than $6. Atmosphere 4 Although the JMU Convocation Center looks pretty much the same on the outside as it did during its first life as a basketball arena, it is completely different on the inside. Walking in will put you in an open area with an indoor track and purple carpet. JMU athletics banners line all the walls, and purple chairback seats slope down towards the hardwood floor. James Madison's athletic department puts significant effort into promoting its volleyball program. The cheerleaders stand along the baseline, as does the school's mascot, Duke Dog. The PA announcer encourages fans to get loud and support the Dukes, and they answer his call. The Convocation Center is a sea of purple on gameday, with a great atmosphere to keep the fans engaged. Neighborhood 4 Harrisonburg is a beautiful college town nestled in the scenic Shenandoah Valley. Although it is not large, there is a lot to do here. Macado’s is a regional restaurant chain with several locations in the Valley and surrounding area, including one right here in Harrisonburg. They are known for their burgers, wings, and delicious hot sandwiches, as well as their large collection of local sports memorabilia. The Magpie Diner on West Gay Street is open for breakfast and lunch and is a local favorite. There are several hotels in the area along Route 33, including a Doubletree, a Clarion, and a Candlewood Suites. . Fans 4 The renovated Convo seats only about 1,100 fans, and it is mostly full for a typical home game. "Start Wearing Purple" is a theme song of JMU athletics, and the fans take it to heart, coming decked out in the school color. They are loud and boisterous despite the large amount of open space on each sideline which reduces the crowd noise. Every time the Dukes have a set point, the crowd rises to its feet and cheers as loud as possible to urge the team to finish the task at hand. Access 3 The campus of James Madison University is located just off Interstate 81. Several exits will ultimately get you where you're going - although the sign on the highway says to use Exit 245 to access the JMU campus, Exit 243 works better in most cases. However, it is not a huge enough difference to worry about it too much. Once you get on campus, parking is available in spacious lots next to the arena that were designed when the Convo had a much larger capacity. While parking was a problem when the arena was drawing 6,000+ fans for basketball, fans should have no problem parking close by for a volleyball game. There is one men's restroom and one women's restroom at The Convo, plus a single-person gender-neutral/family one. They are of a sufficient size for the crowd. However, there are a couple of issues here that bring this score down somewhat. A clear bag policy is in effect at JMU volleyball games, which seems unnecessary given the size of the crowd. Additionally, to get to the seats on one side of the floor, fans have to walk down to floor level and then back up. Most fans choose to sit on the other sideline for this reason. Return on Investment 5 There is no cost for admission to JMU volleyball games, and concessions are affordable as well. This makes a game at the Convo an excellent value. Keep in mind there may be an admission charge for Sun Belt Conference or NCAA postseason events. . Extras 2 One bonus star here for the murals and other displays honoring JMU athletics. There are free roster cards and other items available at a marketing table by the entrance. Final Thoughts When the JMU Convocation Center closed in 2020, it seemed like it was gone for good. Basketball had moved to its shiny new arena, and there was nobody left to play there. However, JMU has not just renovated but rejuvenated the Convo, and volleyball has made it its new home. Dukes fans have embraced the return, and instead of playing in an aging and cramped gym, the volleyball program has a home befitting of its excellence.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Busch Stadium 700 Clark St St Louis, MO 63102 St Louis Cardinals website Busch Stadium website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 50,345 Stellar Baseball in St. Louis From time to time, a stadium experience reminds you why baseball is magical. Walking through the gates, being greeted by a friendly ticket-taker, witnessing athletic greatness on the field, and the smell of hot dogs and popcorn filling the air; these things combine to make you take a moment and think how amazing it is to be in the place you are. Some of these awe-inspiring facilities can be found in cities like Cleveland , Boston , and Baltimore , and without a doubt, St. Louis is also one of these places, showcasing all that is great in baseball stadium design. Rising in place of its former namesake, Busch Stadium features stellar food options, a scenic skyline for a backdrop, welcoming and kind fans and staff, and an excellent stadium design for optimum viewing from all angles. Food & Beverage 5 Talking stadium food is a requirement here – St. Louis has no shortage of options for your selection at Busch Stadium. The basics are covered; jumbo hot dog and fry combos ($14.75), cheeseburgers and fries ($18.50), chicken tenders and fries ($17.25), popcorn or peanuts ($5.75), nachos ($8-$21), and the quintessential Cracker Jack ($5) are all available. Drinks range from hot coffee ($4.50) to sodas ($6.50-$9.75) and beer options ($9.75-$15). However, it is the alternate options that are the star of the show here. First, the stadium features several grab-and-go marketplaces – these offer the perfect option when you just need a snack or drink and don’t want to wait in long lines. A fan favorite is the bacon-wrapped hot dog, available at several stands around the main level concourse. BBQ is also popular, being in St. Louis; a BBQ basket will cost you $13.50 but provides you a plentiful helping of top taste. The stadium even features a kosher food stand complete with pastrami sandwiches ($14), corned beef sandwiches ($14), pastrami dogs ($12.50), and knockwurst ($9.50). The upper levels feature a Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers concession stand, a fan favorite, and you can also find the likes of Dippin’ Dots all around the stadium. Atmosphere 5 This facility features everything you need for a great day out watching baseball. First, the stadium is easily walkable, making it possible for fans to circle the whole stadium during the game and watch the action from various angles. Stores are also plentiful for your favorite St. Louis Cardinals gear, as well as having several locations that sell game-used and authenticated autographed equipment. A kid zone with a playground is located in the outfield, as is a Build-a-Bear workshop. Hallways throughout the stadium feature graphics showcasing the team’s storied history, while various display cases house memorabilia doing the same. The stadium itself evokes the architecture of the Midwest in all the best ways – steel beams, throwback pieces of history added throughout the interior brickwork, and lighting features all make this a beautiful stadium. Much like Wrigley Field , the stadium here also features rooftop seating on buildings across the street from the outfield. Neighborhood 4 Located in downtown St. Louis, Busch Stadium puts you near many hotels and restaurants. Shopping and attractions are also nearby. In addition, the famous Gateway Arch National Park is just a few minutes walk away from the stadium’s gates, and adjacent to the outfield is a plaza filled with restaurants, shops, and bars. Here you can see the footprint of the old Busch Stadium, as well as where the field was laid out, thanks to a replica set in the walkways of the plaza. Fans 5 The Cardinals welcomed 3 million fans for the 18th straight season in 2023, a feat they’re quite proud of. When it comes to attendance, the Cardinals average just shy of 40,000 fans every game, putting them in the top 5 for average MLB attendance. Needless to say, the fans here love their Cards, win or lose. Even as the season winds down, the stands are still filled with baseball lovers. The Cardinals atmosphere is also very family-friendly, with young fans packing the seats as much as their parents on game day. Access 4 To get to the stadium you simply must arrive in downtown St. Louis. The stadium quite literally borders I-64 and Old Route 66. The only difficulty here might be parking, though there are plenty of garages and parking lots in the area. Most places with nearby parking are available for purchase before the game, making the planning process of finding a spot much easier. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to see a Cardinals game start at $12 for upper-level-right-field seats, and go up to $500 for all-inclusive Diamond Club seats right behind home plate. This wide variety of options gives all levels of fan budgets the option to take in a game of baseball in one of the best stadiums in the league. Secondary market tickets are also available and plentiful, meaning last-second plans can be accommodated as well. Extras 4 The stadium features a viewing binocular stand in left field on the main concourse, allowing you to get a closer look at the other side of the stadium. The Cardinals also feature numerous giveaways and theme nights. In addition, outside the Gate 4 area, several statues of former players greet fans, making for a great photo spot. Finally, you can check out the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum. Final Thoughts The Cardinals have one of the best fanbases in baseball, and the stadium matches. Without a doubt, this is one of the premier experiences in all of baseball, featuring stunning views, a stellar game day experience, and top-notch food options. If you’re looking for a great experience on par with those of other facilities that are well-regarded, Busch Stadium must be at the top of your list.

Renderings courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays After years of potential stadium deals falling through and the constant threat of relocation, the Tampa Bay Rays announced this month a brand new stadium agreement to remain in St. Petersburg, FL. “This will be a transformative project for the Rays, St. Petersburg, and Pinellas County," said Tampa Bay Rays Principal Owner Stu Sternberg. "We have proudly served as Tampa Bay’s Major League team for 25 years, and we are thrilled to be in a position to do so for decades and generations to come.” To be located adjacent to the current Tropicana Field property, the new facility will feature a state-of-the-art 30,000-seat indoor baseball stadium. In addition, the new development will include 8 million square feet of mixed-use development, including dining, shopping, public green space, and residential space. “Our transformational development of 86 acres in the heart of St. Petersburg will benefit St. Pete and Tampa Bay residents for generations to come," said St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch. "The Rays are here to stay, and it’s also critical to underscore that this impactful work is much bigger than baseball and extends far beyond the 17-acre ballpark. We are duty-bound with our intentional efforts to honor the broken promises made to the Historic Gas Plant community, an incredibly special place that my own family called home. Our strong partnership with Pinellas County and the Hines-Rays group is coupling opportunity with hope, linking jobs to economic growth, fulfilling a commitment to minority business participation, and building thousands of residential units, including a significant number of affordable and workforce housing to uplift families and strengthen neighborhoods." The announcement of the new stadium deal draws to a close nearly a decade of relocation rumors and failed stadium proposals. With cities like Orlando courting the Rays to relocate, many thought that if a deal could not be reached, the team would likely leave, much like the Oakland Athletics had announced at the start of the year. The current home of the Rays, Tropicana Park , has routinely been rated one of the worst stadiums in the league and frequently ranked low on the average attendance list for MLB. Part of the proposal includes integrating the nearby community into the property, located in the historic Gas Plant neighborhood of St. Petersburg. The stadium project is reported to invest more than $6.5 billion in St. Petersburg over 20 years, making it the largest mixed-use development project in Tampa Bay history.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Busch Field 600 Brooks Street Williamsburg, VA 23188 William & Mary Tribe website Busch Field website Year Opened: 1990 Capacity: 2,271 Home of the Tribe Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, the College of William & Mary is one of the oldest universities in the United States. Founded by King William III and Queen Mary II of England in 1693, William & Mary predates the founding of the country by almost a century. Only Harvard University is older. W&M’s athletic programs are known as the Tribe, and they compete in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Tribe’s field hockey team has called Busch Field home since 1990. Anheuser-Busch Corporation donated a sizeable sum of money to build the field, and the name reflects that gift. It was previously the home of the soccer and lacrosse teams, although they now play at a different venue . Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at Busch Field. According to the Tribe website, outside food & beverages are prohibited, but this rule is ignored by everyone including security. However, you may run into trouble if you attempt to bring alcohol in despite the stadium effectively being sponsored by a brewing company. Atmosphere 3 Busch Field has one large set of bleachers on the far side of the field from the entrance. The front rows of the seats will be obstructed by the top of the scorers' tent, so most fans choose to sit high up. However, many of the seats at the top are underneath trees that hang overhead. While this will be nice on a hot day early in the season, once the leaves start falling it can get annoying. Fans can also watch the game from the Tribe Terrace, a rooftop overlook behind one of the goals. This provides an unobstructed view of the action, but there is very limited seating so you will probably have to stand. Some fans enjoy this, while most choose to sit in the bleachers. The Tribe's mascot, the Griffin, will often make appearances at the game. With the head of an eagle and the body of a lion, the griffin is a unique mascot within the world of college sports. Neighborhood 5 Williamsburg is a great city, and William & Mary's historic campus is right in the middle of it all. Colonial Williamsburg is about a five-minute drive away while the Busch Gardens amusement park is 15 minutes away. Williamsburg seems to have an inordinately large number of pancake houses for its size, so if you come in the night before, you will certainly find somewhere to grab breakfast. Originally, hotels catering to tourists did not serve breakfast and would instead recommend nearby pancake houses. While many hotels do now have restaurants, the pancake houses remain. Fans 4 William & Mary draws a few hundred fans a game for field hockey. While friends and family of the players certainly make their presence known, the stands are also filled with William & Mary students, longtime fans of the program, and youth field hockey groups from the Williamsburg area. The fans can get quite involved in the match, with some of them starting chants and encouraging the rest of the crowd to join in. Although the stands are much larger than they need to be, the crowd tends to cluster in the top few rows so this does not have the detrimental effect it otherwise would. Access 2 The William & Mary campus is conveniently located just off I-64 in Williamsburg. Once on campus, you will likely park in the lot next to Kaplan Arena and walk about 3-5 minutes to Busch Field. Parking in this lot is $2.50/hour on weekdays but free on weekends. There are some spaces closer to the stadium labeled Faculty/Staff Only. When Stadium Journey visited on a Sunday, these spaces were almost full, presumably with people other than faculty. While a couple of fans managed to park here without issue, most drove around in circles looking for a spot before giving up and parking in the arena lot. We recommend just heading there to start and saving yourself some time and gas. Standard restrooms are located underneath the Tribe Terrace behind the goal. Getting around from one part of the bleachers to another often requires going up and down some stairs, but it is easy to figure out what you need to do. There is a clear bag policy in effect, which is absurd for this level and brings this rating down significantly. Given the small crowds, there is no reason for this policy to exist. Return on Investment 5 There is no cost for admission to any William & Mary regular-season field hockey games. There may be a charge for conference and NCAA tournament events, as those are set by the organizers. Parking is free on weekends, so we suggest attending then to maximize your value. Extras 2 One star for the banners around the stadium honoring William & Mary field hockey. The Tribe Terrace provides a unique vantage point to watch a game and is worthy of a star here too. Final Thoughts William & Mary field hockey fans truly value their team, and the school has spent a lot of money and effort improving Busch Field. The result is a strong experience that any field hockey fan will greatly enjoy. Whether you are a fan of the Tribe or just a field hockey fan in general, Busch Field is well worth a visit on a fall afternoon.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Protective Stadium 1020 24th St N Birmingham, AL 35203 Birmingham Legion website Protective Stadium website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 47,100 Protective Stadium - Birmingham Legion FC Birmingham has long been known for their deep history of American football. With the University of Alabama an hour to the west and Auburn University two hours to the south, there is no denying Alabama’s love of the sport. What flies under the radar though is the city of Birmingham’s passion for the international version of football, better known in the States as soccer. Food & Beverage 4 Stadium concessions can often be a constant rehash of the same thing from stadium to stadium – burgers, dogs, chicken fingers, and nachos. The food available at Protective Stadium for Birmingham Legion matches provides fans with all the stadium constants but provides a much wider variety. By bringing in several food trucks, the typical stadium choices have been expanded to include Italian-Mexican fusion creations of Ruscelli’s, who serve pizza-inspired tacos and quesadillas. In addition, Wasabi Juan's takes their spin on Japanese-Mexican fusion with sushi-styled nachos and raw and cooked burritos. Those with a sweet tooth have freshly made donuts from Chicks N Donuts, or the ever-popular shaved ice. Choices of alcohol are also plentiful; beers from Yuengling, Miller Light, Coors Light, Michelob Ultra, and Modelo are available, along with local craft brews Cahaba Brewing Company Blonde and Trim Trab Pale Ale. White Claw seltzers and several pre-mixed, canned, and hand-mixed cocktails are also available. Atmosphere 3 As with most soccer clubs, the game on the pitch is the focus of the match – there is not a lot by way of in-game entertainment while the match is going on, but pregame entertainment does make use of a game host to introduce pregame recognitions and give the fan a look at food and apparel stands around the concourse. At a capacity of 47,100 Protective Stadium is by far the largest stadium in the league, more than twice the size of the 20,000-seat Riccardo Silva Stadium . There is no denying the beauty of Protective Stadium, and the 18,000 to 20,000 fans for US Open Cup matches or during rivalry games with the MLS’ Atlanta United makes sense, but the atmosphere of the match seems to be swallowed up for league matches of 5,000 to 6,000 fans in such a large venue. Before moving to Protective Stadium, the Legion played on the campus of the University of Alabama-Birmingham's PNC Field. At a capacity of 5,000 seats, the size is more appropriate, but the college stadium lacks the professional feel that this level deserves. Short of a soccer-specific stadium being built, Protective Stadium is the best option for professional soccer in Birmingham. In all, Protective Stadium beautifully pairs with the adjoining development to provide all fans who might need to make a full day of attending a Legion match. Neighborhood 4 Protective Stadium is part of the larger "eat-stay-play" development in uptown Birmingham. The development provides all a fan might need without having to leave the area. Uptown consists of 6 to 8 restaurants, the Westin Hotel, a dog park, and pickleball courts. Much of this is located under the interstate bridges that pass just feet from the surrounding parking decks. For fans wanting to make a full day of activities before a match; Top Golf is directly across the street from the northeast end of the stadium, while the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is just to the west. If looking for other sporting events around the same time, the Birmingham Squadron plays at Legacy Arena, located less than a half-mile from Protective Stadium; the Squadron will be finishing up its season in March as the Legion is just getting theirs underway. Birmingham is also well known for its long history of minor league baseball, and the AA Birmingham Barons of the Southern League play from April through September. Fans who love sports history, especially that of Negro League baseball, will want to make two locations a high priority on any visit to Birmingham, one being Rickwood Field , the oldest professional baseball park and one-time home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. The Black Barons fielded a young Satchel Paige from 1927-1930 and a teenage Willie Mays in the 1940s. Fans 3 Soccer is a sport in which the atmosphere is often dictated by the involvement and fervor of the club's supporters. Like any successful soccer club, supporters set the tone of the match. The Legion's crew, the Magic City Brigade, start their preparations for match day well before the stadium opens for fans to enter. On weekends, close to five hours before match time, members of the Brigade begin setting up a small collection of tents in the southernmost corner of the parking lot adjacent to Protective Stadium for a tailgate. Inside Protective Stadium the Magic City Brigade occupies sections 135-138, behind the north end goal. Supporters beat drums and wave flags throughout the match as other members lead chants, and even dress as Legion-themed luchadores in support of their club. A strong group of supporters can go a long way in creating a fun atmosphere for soccer. The unfortunate thing is despite the efforts of the Magic City Brigade, though their passion runs high, their numbers only run 50-100 per game. There is much potential to build on the Brigade's passion, but they just do not have the numbers at this time to help their enthusiasm spread around the stadium to other fans. Access 4 Given Protective Stadium’s location in Birmingham, getting there is rather easy. Those driving to town will see Protective Stadium directly off the Interstate 20-59 ramp, and fans flying in will find themselves less than 5 miles away. Many of the hotels in the area provide a shuttle from the airport, so those flying into Birmingham for a match have an easy time getting in and out of the area. Parking can be found all around the stadium. There are also a handful of parking garages on the southern side of the stadium, but getting out of parking garages following the game can be challenging. No matter the parking lot, prices range from $20 to $25. Limited street parking is available, however, free of charge for weekend matches. Half of the stadium is closed off during Legion matches, so most fans are directed to the southern entrance across from the Uptown district to enter the stadium – fans are funneled to the multi-tiered switchback ramp to access the main level concourse that runs above the seating. Return on Investment 3 At face value, tickets are well priced at $10 for general admission tickets at the north end of the stadium, and $17 for reserved seats along the western sideline. Where the issue comes in is that with tickets being sold through Ticketmaster, there is nearly a 70% markup on the face value of general admission tickets after fees, so the $10 ticket ends up costing closer to $17. The same 70% service fee markup applies to reserved seats also. The price for tickets does not make attending a match cost-prohibitive, but it is a bit disappointing there is such a markup from a third party. Extras 3 The Legion makes a concerted effort to positively impact the community which they represent. Throughout the season the team puts on youth clinics, recognizes the communities that are their biggest supporters, and honors those who make a difference in the lives of those in Birmingham through the Legion’s “99 Community Heroes” program. Legion players go out of their way to make sure to interact with young fans at field level as they exit the pitch following pregame warmups. While seemingly a minor gesture, these interactions go miles in the eyes of young fans. In one of the most fan-friendly parts of the evening, at the end of the match fans are allowed to come down onto the pitch to meet their heroes. Fans line up for photos, autographs, or just to pay their favorite player a compliment on the match. Final Thoughts Despite the love affair the state of Alabama has with football, there is a strong niche soccer following as well. While an initial glimpse of the stadium might give the impression there is a lack of fans in the stands, much of this perception is a byproduct of the size of Protective Stadium itself; 5,000 fans can easily get lost in a stadium so large. However, even with just a handful of aspects that might be considered drawbacks that might impact the overall atmosphere of a Legion match at Protective Stadium, the organization, the players, and their supporters create so many positives that it makes the drawbacks seem trivial.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 RA-Lin Field at University Stadium 1500 Lovvorn Rd Carrollton, GA 30117 West Georgia Wolves website RA-Lin Field at University Stadium website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 10,000 University of West Georgia Wolves The football history at the University of West Georgia is relatively young when looking at the storied programs throughout the South. Starting in 1981, West Georgia wasted no time making their presence felt, winning the NCAA Division-III National Championship in just their second year of existence. Their stay at the D-III level would be short-lived as the then-named Braves would move to the Division-II level for the 1983 season, where they have remained for 40 years. Current members of the Division-II Gulf South Conference, the Wolves will be making the jump to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as football members of the United Athletic Conference (UAC), a partnership between the Western Athletic Conference and the A-Sun at the start of the 2024 season. Food & Beverage 3 The ordinary concession stands are not overly exciting when it comes to the choices fans have. Chick-fil-A sandwiches, hot dogs, slices of pizza, and nachos with cheese are the primary options, with popcorn, chips, and candy to complement them. Concessions are very well priced with the Chick-fil-A sandwich costing the most at just $5. University Stadium also sells soft drinks from the Coca-Cola family, Power-Ade, and bottled water, each for $3. University Stadium does sell beer and seltzers, but this is limited to the Touchdown Landing at the northwest corner of the stadium. Fans can choose from a handful of Truly seltzers, Michelob Ultra, Miller Lite, and Yuengling Lager. There is also a full selection from the local Carrollton brewery Printer’s Ale Manufacturing Co . Concessions are pretty standard as to what would be found at most stadium stands, but they are at least priced very reasonably. Atmosphere 3 The large tower of glass-fronted suites gives the stadium a somewhat modern feel. The interior concourse continues that modernism with several large blue arched support structures throughout. The interior concourse opens to split-level seating. Alternating tunnels lead to an upper seating area that consists of both aluminum bleachers and a midfield section of reserved seats with chair backs, which run between the 30-yard lines on each end of the field. The lower-level tunnels bring fans to a wide exterior concourse that wraps around the seating bowl. Prime seating options will mostly depend on the time of the game – late afternoon and evening games will put the home side stands in the shadows rather quickly, which depending on the time of year could provide relief or create the need for a jacket during colder weather. Not enough can be said about the role the band plays in creating the classic college football atmosphere. The Marching Wolves of West Georgia are ready with situational blasts of music for 1st downs, calling for 3rd down stops, and of course the school’s fight song following scoring plays. There is not a lot when it comes to entertainment during breaks in the action, but the band paired with the music played over the speakers helps fill the time until the game starts back up. In all, the game experience is about everything you would expect from a typical college football game. Fans are actively into the game’s flow and its highs and lows. Neighborhood 4 The University of West Georgia is located less than 3 miles from downtown Carrollton, Georgia. Carrolton is on the outer reaches of the western suburbs of Atlanta, approximately 50 miles from Georgia’s largest city. The Carrollton town center is full of shops, restaurants, and a handful of breweries. Fans coming to Carrollton from out of town will find several hotels just off the downtown square. Being so close to campus, this is a great place to grab a pint or bite to eat before a late afternoon game, or have dinner following a noon kickoff. Maple Street, which runs along the front of the West Georgia campus, also has several eateries to choose from. University Stadium, along with the school’s soccer and softball fields, is just west of the main campus. Despite not being directly part of the rest of the West Georgia facilities, the football complex is close enough that it does not feel as if it is removed from campus. Fans 3 Games usually draw between 2,000 and 3,000 fans per game, and fans are typically engaged throughout. Wolves fans get loud during pivotal parts of the game – if in need of a defensive stop, or trying to will the ball carrier to an extra yard for a first down, the Wolves backers know to amp up the volume. The Wolves faithful also recognize good and not-so-good football plays and respond accordingly. Fans do not necessarily create a hostile atmosphere for the visiting team, but they are appropriately supportive of their Wolves. What is a bit disappointing is that while the University of West Georgia has an enrollment of just over 8,500 undergraduate students, the student section is rather sparse with supporters. This is unfortunate because the stadium has the potential of being a great fan atmosphere when paired with the alumni and local fans, as well as the work the marching band does throughout the game. Access 3 The University of West Georgia is about an hour from downtown Atlanta, and less than 30 minutes from the Georgia-Alabama state line in Carrollton, Georgia. The most direct route is via Interstate 20 which runs east-west through the state. Once off the interstate, there is still another 20 minutes to reach Carrolton; it is not necessarily the most direct of destinations to get to. University Stadium is just off the West Georgia campus. Most GPS directions to the stadium will have fans entering the area through a rather non-descript entry point with little sign of a college campus nearby, but there is signage signifying the West Georgia Athletics complex. There is plenty of parking surrounding the stadium. Lot A, a large grass and gravel lot, sits across from the west entrance to the stadium and is easy to get in and out of before and after the game. University Stadium has multiple entry points, most of which sit along the west side of the stadium. Fans seem to extend their tailgating right up to kickoff, so the lines to get in are rather short. Once inside fans are treated to a wide internal concourse under the home side seating area, with enough room that concessions lines do not interfere with those trying to pass through. The field concourse makes its way around the seating bowl but as mentioned, the walkway does not make its way around the entirety of the stadium. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for West Georgia football games start at $10 for general admission seats and $20 for reserved seats with seat backs. Reserved seating runs between the 30-yard lines on the western side of the stadium. Tickets for “The Porch” at the south end of the stadium offer a more exclusive football experience – starting at $65 for a single ticket, packages can be upgraded for families and can also include babysitting services. Parking in Lot A, the grass lot next to the stadium, is free. Reserved parking starts at $10 in the blacktop lot just to the north. When considering the extreme affordability of concessions prices and $10 tickets, it would be hard to find a more affordable college football experience in the area. Extras 3 The pre-game pep rally around the wolf statue atop the small hill behind the visiting team stands is a great rallying point for fans as they await players disembarking buses for the pre-game Wolf Walk. The large University of West Georgia logo on the exterior of the tower in the stadium pays homage to the university’s history. Before being rebranded as Wolves in 2006, the University of West Georgia had been known as the Braves since West Georgia’s inception in 1930. The large piece of art on the stadium's exterior depicts the current Wolves mascot, with a brave in the background. In addition, after the final seconds tick off the clock and the teams shake hands, the players, coaches, and cheer squads gather in front of the band to sing the school’s alma mater. It is these traditions, new or established, that make the college game so special. Final Thoughts West Georgia football might not have the tradition and grandeur that many of the larger programs in the region might have, but it is an overall positive football experience. The move to the FCS level should help in providing more resources for West Georgia to continue improving University Stadium and build on the current game day ambiance. The most glaring omission right now is a vocal student fanbase that would create a truly electric college football atmosphere – at the end of the day the athletic teams are an extension of the student body, and more involvement from them will do nothing but bolster the strong foundation that the University of West Georgia football experience sits on.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Flora-Bama Beach Bar 17401 Perdido Key Dr. Pensacola, FL 32507 Flora-Bama Beach Bar website Bulls on the Beach website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 3,000 Bulls on the Beach A Rodeo at the World's Most Famous Beachside Honky Tonk Kenny Chesney once wrote "Sitting here at the Flora-Bama, 'bout to open a big old can of good times and unwind". You can't find more fitting lyrics – just ask anyone who's ever visited the place. The place goes by many nicknames, such as "The World's Most Famous Beach Bar" and "America's Last Roadhouse" just to name a few. It is a place where you will find millionaires and famous athletes having a cold one with the everyday joe; it is a place where time is almost forgotten, where you can forget about your worries while sipping on a bushwhacker and looking out over into the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There is a reason why everyone from the Mannings, Toby Keith, Jimmy Buffett, and even “The Pirate” himself, the late Mike Leach, have made the venture to the hidden beach bar on a secluded beach paradise that straddles the Florida-Alabama line. Flora-Bama originally opened in 1964 and is technically on an island; the lush Perdido Key. Florida occupies about 80% of the island while Alabama occupies the other 20%. When a bridge and highway opened on the island in the early 60s Flora-Bama opened as a small liquor store right on the state line, but on the Florida side as the Alabama county was dry at the time. Due to development on Perdido Key and in neighboring Orange Beach/Gulf Shores, however, the small store grew into what it is today. After over 50 years and being destroyed by countless hurricanes, Flora-Bama has evolved into two stories with five stages for live music, four main bars, and three restaurants, with a personality that remains unmatched by any other watering hole in the world. In addition to the live music to be found 7 nights a week, Flora-Bama is also known for its wide and eccentric events; you name it, Flora-Bama has hosted it – everything from the Polar Bear Dip on New Year's Day to the Interstate Mullet Toss, where thousands of people have a competition to see who can throw a dead fish the furthest over the state line. Then in 2013, Flora-Bama began hosting its newest annual event, the Bulls on the Beach Rodeo. Partnering with 3R Rodeo Company, every September they construct a temporary rodeo arena right on the sand just steps from the ocean. Some of the best cowboys in the southeast come to the beach and saddle up for the Bulls on the Beach Rodeo. Food & Beverage 4 There are no concessions around the temporary rodeo arena – you are given a wristband and are then free to come and go inside the bar and rodeo arena. There are three full-service restaurants inside Flora-Bama, with plenty of food options for you to choose from. The Oyster Bar is the closest to the rodeo arena and features picnic tables and big-screen TVs, all with a delicious menu of burgers, wraps, fried shrimp, and a beachfront oyster bar. The famous 15-foot-high Flora-Bama rocking chair is in the Oyster Bar area and makes for a great photo op. Also, make sure you grab a famous bushwhacker while you’re here; the Bushwhacker is an island drink, and Flora-Bama is known for making some of the best bushwhackers in the world. In addition, if you aren't able to get a ticket to the rodeo they live stream it on a big screen TV from the Oyster Bar. Flora-Bama’s property also extends across the street to the bayside and features two full-service restaurants over there as well – Yacht Club and Ole River Grill are on the north side of the property. The Ole River Grill is a sit-down style restaurant overlooking the Old River with a beautiful waterfront view, open-air deck, and fantastic seafood, burgers, and po-boys; the grill has something for everyone, while Flora-Bama Yacht Club is another restaurant located overlooking the Old River. You can come to the Yacht Club by boat as there is a place to dock boats, and there is also one of those floating boat bars you can take out to the many sandbars located on the river. There are also four bars on Flora-Bama’s property, so no matter what you like to drink you should be able to find it inside. My suggestion if you eat across the street at Ole River Grill or Yacht Club would be to visit before the rodeo starts, as it can be a pain walking across the street each time. Then if you must eat you can walk back and forth between the Oyster Bar and the rodeo arena. Atmosphere 4 The Bulls on the Beach is truly a one-of-a-kind event. Several different rodeos in the country claim they are a rodeo on the beach, but they just take place in beach towns and are located further inland. The Bulls on the Beach at Flora-Bama is the only rodeo in the country that takes place directly smack dab in the middle of the sand, just steps from one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the country, the Gulf of Mexico – they set metal bleachers up in an oval right on the beach, with temporary stables brought in and placed in Flora-Bama’s parking lot. Bulls on the Beach takes place over three nights and is always the second weekend in September, the first weekend of the off-season for the beach towns. The action kicks off each night at 8 p.m. beginning on Thursday; a country music act or local band usually puts on a concert before the rodeo begins each night. You'll get to see all the usual rodeo events here: bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, calf roping, bronc & team roping, and steer wrestling. They also showcase some of the local riders and junior riders who compete on the circuit. Rodeo clowns are also a constant presence interacting with the crowd, and the rodeo announcer does a great job interacting and joking with the clowns and the crowd. As the rodeo begins the sun is usually setting for the evening and you can't beat the view; lights illuminated around the temporary rodeo arena reflect off the water, as you see and feel the waves creeping onto shore as nightfall begins. In the distance, you'll see hundreds of lights of the high-rise condos as far as the eye can see, and in the background, you'll hear live music overlapping from the live bands or singer who occupies one of the many bars inside Flora-Bama at any given time. The rodeo action lasts about two hours, and you are free to come and go as you please – I saw people going back and forth between the rodeo arena to visit the bars and/or the beach. Neighborhood 5 This area of the Gulf Coast is a prime vacation destination for millions of people every year. Three coastal beach towns make up this area of the Coast: Perdido (FL), Orange Beach, and Gulf Shores. Flora-Bama is located on Perdido Key, which is the less developed of the three communities; miles of unprotected beach and wilderness make up about 70% of the island, while the other 30% is taken up by condos, each with their private beaches and amenities. Other than the live entertainment that takes place nightly at Flora-Bama, people love vacationing in Perdido due to its peace and tranquility, as the beaches aren't as crowded and loud as the neighboring beach towns. For things to do on this stretch of the island there are a few seafood restaurants located here – the Cobalt is located nearby and remains a popular but expensive place to get some of the best seafood in Alabama. Several other places are nearby as well, such as the more casual Crab Trap located about half a mile away, which has a cool little outdoor seating area right on the beach. The Jellyfish remains another popular spot, as well as Lillian's Pizza offering the best pan pizzas in the area. There are also hundreds more restaurants located over the bridge headed west into Alabama (Gulf Shores and Orange Beach); there are too many to name, but the great thing about this area is you will not find any chain restaurants, just many local, mostly family-owned spots. You will find everything here from hole-in-the-wall seafood joints to five-star restaurants. Perdido is also a nature lover's destination – in the seclusion of the island you’ll find two State Parks, two championship golf courses, and a 7-mile undeveloped public beach. Perdido Key took a direct hit from Hurricane Sally in September 2020, so a lot of stuff is just being re-opened after three-plus years of closure. Big Lagoon State Park on the north side of Perdido is a perfect spot for camping or biking the many paved and off-road trails through the Florida marshland. You can even kayak in the Grande Lagoon, one of the only places in this area of Florida known to have manatees. If you're at Big Lagoon, make sure you climb the four-story observation tower for a view overlooking miles. In addition, Perdido Key State Park just re-opened, and features a public beach area with a visitor's center. Gulf State Park sits just over the bridge into Alabama and features over 30 miles of backwoods trails, with seven trails each through a different ecosystem and habitat of the Gulf Coast. Johnson Beach also makes for a great getaway if you want a beach to yourself for the day – 7 miles of undeveloped beachfront land await you on Johnson Beach. An abandoned Civil War fort called Fort McKree also sits at the far east tip of the island and makes for a great place to explore if you have a boat or kayak to get out there. You can rent boats, kayaks, or jet skis at Flora-Bama and go anywhere you want on the water. The two golf courses are some of the best around; Lost Key Golf Club is located on Perdido Key and was designed by Arnold Palmer. Lost Key features 18 holes around gorgeous dunes and the tall pines of the Island, while Perdido Bay Golf Club is located just over the bridge from Perdido, and was the former site of the PGA's Pensacola Open from 1978-1987. Fans 4 The temporary rodeo arena holds about 3,000 people and they sell out all three nights of the rodeo. Everyone from families and tourists to hardcore rodeo fans come out to Flora-Bama for Bulls on the Beach. What makes this rodeo stand out is that it is taking place on the beach, so, you'll encounter the regular rodeo crowd as well as people who just stumble upon Flora-Bama driving down the beach, and wonder what is going on. Flora-Bama also attracts a wide range of customers on a nightly basis, everyone from college kids to the older locals who've been coming here for years. A great place to watch the rodeo action is on the second-floor balcony that overlooks the rodeo arena. I saw a bunch of people up there watching the rodeo; on this balcony, you can get spectacular views of the rodeo arena, the beach, and the sunset. The event organizers also do a great job at making Bulls on the Beach a family-friendly event, although the inside of Flora-Bama can get a little too rowdy for some. Each of the bars has its particular theme, and on a Friday or Saturday you can see and hear some behavior that might be considered inappropriate from some of the people attending and the musicians playing – as long as you know that going in you should be all right; there is a reason Flora-Bama is 21 and over after 7 pm every night! But if you stick just to the rodeo, you shouldn't see any of the debauchery that goes on inside Flora-Bama. Access 2 There is no easy way to get to Flora-Bama; the bar is located at the extreme southern edge of Alabama and the far western point of Florida, and the coastal beach towns are not easy to get to either, as the closest interstate is I-10 about an hour away. If coming from Mobile take I-10 east for about 20 miles until you get to the Baldwin Beach Expressway at Exit 49 – you'll know you've reached the expressway when you see the giant Buc-ees, which makes for a great stop before you embark on the rural 30-mile road to the beach. Once on Highway 182, the main road that runs east and west along the beach, take it east over another bridge and you will see Flora-Bama on the right. Parking is across the street, and I recommend getting here early as the parking lot fills up quickly, and it can be almost impossible to find a spot after 5 p.m. The local condos will also tow your car if you park in their lots. There is also no public transportation in this area, so your only option is driving, though Uber or Lyft may be your best option for getting here. There are two separate entrances, one to the bar and one to the rodeo, and both of them back up the closer it gets to the dark. Get your rodeo seats early too, as they are all first come, first serve. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for Bulls on the Beach are $30 for general admission for each night's event, and you are free to sit anywhere in the grandstand. Tickets go on sale every year around July 4th and sell out rather quickly, so make sure you get your tickets early. I considered this a great event to attend just for its setting alone – nowhere else in the country will you experience a rodeo set-up like this on the beach, so you are coming to a one-of-a-kind event. You also just so happen to be at the world's most famous beach bar, and just being able to walk back and forth makes it well worth the return on investment. Extras 3 Bulls on the Beach is partnered with 3R Rodeo, one of the largest professional rodeo circuits in the southeast. 3R Rodeo is an affiliate of the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA), which is the second largest rodeo organization in the world; 3R is a feeder system for cowboys to move up to compete in IPRA. Also, a portion of the proceeds goes to St. Jude's Hospital each year. Even if you are not a big drinker, just do a walkthrough of Flora-Bama at some point while you’re here. The complex is huge and just looking at all the memorabilia on the walls, and the different musical acts, make it an interesting place, and you are bound to find something to pique your interest. As mentioned earlier Flora-Bama is home to a different event with something going on every night of the week – from bikini contests to fishing rodeos to golf tournaments and triathlons, Flora-Bama hosts it all. There's even stuff for all ages, such as the giant beach easter hunt egg hunt or the annual Santa Dip, where Santa Sky dives into Flora-Bama and takes a dip in the ocean. Kids come from all over to sit on Santa's lap from the comfort of his beach chair, and Flora-Bama even hosts a Sunday morning church service from under a tent on the beach. If you like the environment of Bulls on the Beach, then another event you must attend at Flora-Bama is the annual Interstate Mullet Toss. Held for three days every April, what started as just a reason to party has become one of the biggest beach parties anywhere, as over 30,000 attendees watch and/or participate in the throwing of a dead mullet across the state line to see who can throw it the farthest. We're referring to the fish, but you’ll find many people rocking the business-in-the-front-party-in-the-back hairstyle at the Mullet Toss. Hotel rooms are booked months in advance for this event, and for $20 anybody can participate and throw a fish. Awards and prizes are given as well, but mostly it's just an excuse for 30,000 people to have a beach party.

One of the most long-suffering fanbases can be found on the banks of Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio, and the citizens of Cleveland identify the most with the Cleveland Browns. A team deep in history, the Browns have had a rough go in their second incarnation, but what is a Browns game REALLY like? Grab a brew and join Paul and Dave for a trip to Cleveland Browns Stadium and the latest episode of Stadium Journey's Obstructed Views. 🏈🏈🏟️ You can find Stadium Journey's review of Cleveland Browns Stadium and the Cleveland Browns game day experience here.

Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Lynn Family Stadium is home to Louisville City FC in the USL Championship. The soccer-specific venue holds 11,700 and is expandable to 15,304. It is one of the bigger soccer-only stadiums in the league and has become one of the league's best places to watch a match. You can check out Stadium Journey's written review or enjoy the video of the game-day atmosphere. ------- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Fred P. Rullo Stadium 631 S College Ave Newark, DE 19716 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens website Fred P. Rullo Stadium website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 2,000 Fred's Turf in Newark Located on the University of Delaware campus in Newark (pronounced New-ARK with the accent on the second syllable), Fred P. Rullo Stadium is home to the Blue Hens' field hockey program. The stadium opened in 1998 and seats roughly 2,000 fans. The Blue Hens have been one of the more successful teams in the CAA (Coastal Athletic Association, formerly the Colonial Athletic Association) in recent years. Heading into the 2023 season, the Blue Hens had won nine conference titles in ten years, although that streak will come to an end this year as the team failed to qualify for the conference tournament. The high point of the Blue Hens field hockey program came when they won the national championship in 2016, upsetting number one overall seed Duke and perennial power UNC on their home turf along the way. Food & Beverage 2 Food and drink are available for sale at Fred P. Rullo Stadium at a small table by the entrance. Beef hot dogs are available, as are assorted snacks such as beef jerky, hot pretzels (Philly style), cookies, Rice Krispie Treats, and potato chips. Soda and bottled water are also available to drink. Prices are reasonable - the beef jerky bag costs $9 and a one-liter bottle of water costs $6 (with smaller bottles available for less), but nothing else costs more than $4. In addition to the usual options, there will occasionally be promotions with free food giveaways. Once a year, fans can get free ice cream from the UDairy Creamery, made right here on campus. Check the schedule for more information. Atmosphere 4 Fred P. Rullo Stadium has a basic layout, with a large set of bleachers on one side of the turf field. None of the seats have backs, but some fans in the top row can lean against the press box. All seats offer a good view of the action, although the top rows are higher up than they would be at most field hockey stadiums. The Blue Hens offer many promotions and giveaways throughout the season to keep fans engaged, something you don't often see in college field hockey. After every Blue Hens goal, the fight song plays over the PA system as fans celebrate the accomplishment. It is good to see the school keeping fans engaged. Field hockey is not a major focus of the athletic departments at many schools, but it is here. Neighborhood 3 Newark is a typical East Coast college town. Your best option is to head downtown to Main Street, which offers numerous options including Grotto Pizza and the Deer Park Tavern. You can also head towards Christiana Mall or check out The Border Café, known for its Tex-Mex food and large “EAT” sign. Fans will also want to check out the UDairy Creamery, which makes ice cream right on campus. Fans 5 Although Blue Hens fans will rarely fill the 2,000-seat stadium, they show up in numbers and are a rowdy bunch. They cheer on the team throughout the game and regularly engage in call-and-response chants such as "BLUE! HENS!" to cheer their team on to victory. It can get quite loud here, louder than most college field hockey stadiums, despite the fans being spread out over too large an area. Coordinated chants are not something you often see at college field hockey games, but they show just how impressive this fan base is. The Blue Hens have one of the best fan bases in the country, perhaps the best outside the traditional power conferences, and it shows in the matchday experience. Access 4 The University of Delaware campus is located just off I-95. If coming from the north, take Exit 1, the last exit in Delaware, and the campus will be right there. If coming from the south, you are better off taking Exit 109B in Maryland. Although this will add a couple of minutes to your trip, it will save you the $4 toll that you will pay when you enter Delaware. Once you get on campus, there are several lots near the stadium where you can park. There is one lot in front of Bob Carpenter Center and another one behind the stadium, by the soccer and softball fields. Either way, parking is free and it's a very short walk to the stadium. There are no permanent restrooms at Rullo Stadium, but there are a few port-a-potties on the concourse behind the bleachers. Real restrooms are available next door in the Bob Carpenter Center for fans who would prefer to use them. Return on Investment 5 Admission to all regular season Blue Hens field hockey games is free of charge. There may be a charge for conference or NCAA postseason events as those are organized separately. Concessions are affordable and parking is free. This makes a Blue Hens field hockey game a great value. Extras 3 Look for the banners along the fence honoring the Blue Hens' conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as their national championship in 2016. A second star for the various promotions the Blue Hens offer throughout the season. Events include ice cream giveaways, free t-shirts, and more. Check the athletics website for more details. A third and final star for how engaged the fans are. It's not often you see such organized chants at college field hockey, but Blue Hens fans are some of the best in the country. Final Thoughts Fred P. Rullo Stadium is a field hockey venue well worthy of Delaware's recent successes. The Blue Hens have a loyal and passionate fan base and a stadium to match. With large crowds and high fan engagement, the Blue Hens have built something special here and look to maintain it for years to come. This is one of the best college field hockey experiences in the country, and perhaps the best outside of the traditional power conferences.