There is no place quite like FirstEnergy Stadium and no MiLB experience quite like the Reading Fightin Phils. It is usually one of the favorites. Grab a beer and join Paul and Dave and find out why! You can find Stadium Journey's review of FirstEnergy Stadium and the Reading Fightin' Phils gameday experience here.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 4790 W 16th St Indianapolis, IN 46222 Indianapolis Motor Speedway website IMSA Weekend website Year Opened: 1909 Capacity: 257,325 IMSA’s Indy Endurance Return While Indianapolis is synonymous with racing in America, North America’s premier sportscar series hadn’t run there since the early 2010s. While events like the SRO Indy 8 Hours and the SCCA Runoffs have been held here in recent years, IMSA’s return in 2023 was heralded as a return to the promised land. With new infield camping being offered for the first time in the track’s history, options for fans were plentiful for this new race weekend. New for 2024, the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Series increased the length of its race, from the standard two and a half hours to a six-hour endurance race.   Food & Beverage   3 The standard fare is available throughout the infield thanks to various concession stands. The basics like burgers ($9.50-$10.25), chicken fingers ($12), and pork tenderloin baskets ($12.50) are all available, as well as soda ($5-$7), water ($5), and beer ($8.25-$9.25). Fans can also expect a variety of food trucks and independent vendors in the infield Pagoda Plaza.   Atmosphere   5 Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the literal definition of a motorsports mecca in the United States. Every inch of the track oozes with history – this in itself should be enough to elevate the track’s profile. However, thanks to the recent purchase of the facility by Roger Penske, various upgrades and renovations have made the track even better than it was before. A new LED display behind the Pagoda and other smaller displays around the track offers fans a chance to see the action no matter where they are. Renovated bathrooms and common areas are also featured in the latest upgrades as well. The stadium effect of seats on both sides of the track down the front stretch adds to the roar of the engines, and with the addition of the endurance race to the weekend, the feeling in the air is also more electric. IMSA fans love the endurance aspect of sportscar racing, and bringing one to Indy adds to the history of this racetrack.   Neighborhood   3 Speedway, Indiana is a unique setting, as you will see both the past and future of the area all within a few blocks. Located literally in the middle of a neighborhood, the IMS facility is massive, rising above the rooftops of the nearby homes. Across the street from the southwest corner of the track is Main Street; here various restaurants and shopping destinations mix with newly constructed apartments and several IndyCar race team HQs. Thursday night before race weekend begins, a fan festival is held here with various race cars on display, driver autographs and Q&A sessions, and live music taking place. In addition, a mile west of the track along Crawfordsville Road are more shopping and dining options. Hotels are plentiful and nearby as well, with downtown Indy just a short drive east, and multiple hotels just west of I-465 and the track.   Fans   4 The fans at Indy are among the most sport-knowledgeable in racing; you would be hard-pressed to find any others in the US who can top this. Many fans have been going to Indy for various races for decades. The pre-race fan walk during this year’s IMSA weekend was packed full of attendees, and infield camping was more prevalent than it was the year before. No doubt, fans showed up in large numbers this year, adding to the promise of future years here.   Access   4 To get to the track you can just follow the signs, literally – there is no shortage of signage on the way to the track. The nearest highway is I-465, with I-74 meeting up with it just north of the track’s exit. Parking on-site is plentiful both inside and outside the facility, though many of the lots require pre-purchased parking passes. With that said, various homes in the area also offer up their driveways for paid parking, as do some of the businesses nearby.   Return on Investment   5 Tickets to IMSA weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are relatively well priced; general admission tickets are incredibly low, starting at $20 for Friday, $45 for Saturday, and $55 for Sunday, with a 3-day general admission ticket costing $105. Reserved seating tickets range from $100 for Friday only in the Hullman Terrace Club to $465 for the full weekend – compared to prices you will see at the Indy 500, this is an absolute steal. Every ticket also includes infield access as well as access to the paddock and pre-race fan walk. Parking starts at $10-$25 for Friday, and goes up to $25-$75 on the weekend days. Camping at the track ranges from $70-$145 outside the track in Lot 2, to $600-$1,500 for various infield Oval Turn 4 spaces.   Extras   4 Several autograph sessions are held throughout the weekend, including all the IMSA WeatherTech Series teams. The track also has several event stores set up throughout the facility, where you can purchase merchandise from the event and the track, as well as from the drivers. Before the main races on Saturday and Sunday, fans can come walk on pit road during the grid walk, as well as watch pit stop demos and meet the drivers and teams before the green flag falls. Finally, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is located onsite in the infield, and is open during race days – fans of the sport will no doubt enjoy looking into the past and enjoying the history of the sport of racing.   Final Thoughts Fans still flock to the track no matter what is racing here, and IMSA weekend is incredibly affordable compared to other events. Couple that with the nostalgia factor that Indy injects directly into your soul, and it is hard to skip this now annual stop on the IMSA calendar. Sportscar fans will have plenty to watch throughout the weekend, with no less than four racing series taking to the speedway during the event.

Author:   Dan Mansfield   Publisher:   Pavilion Books Company Ltd   Copyright 2022 Over the years, quite a number of books have been written about baseball stadiums and  parks.  Some discuss their history, others explain the business of stadium construction including public funds and taxes to pay for them.  I was surprised that I have more than ten such books on my bookshelves.   A good friend gifted me Remarkable Ballparks ; it is part of the Remarkable series which includes Remarkable Cricket Grounds , Remarkable Golf Courses , Remarkable Racecourses , Remarkable Road Trips , Remarkable Football Grounds, and Remarkable Bicycle Rides . Remarkable Ballparks - Pavilion site ( pavilionbooks.com ) The vivid photos are well chosen, offering unique perspectives of the stadiums.  Many are credited to Alamy, Unsplash, and Getty Images.   While the photos are excellent, the most interesting content is author Dan Mansfield’s selection of stadiums around the world and the story he writes about each one.  They are presented alphabetically from American Family Field to Yankee Stadium. MLB parks, of course, but he has selected great historical parks such as Rickwood Field in Birmingham, AL; Warren Ballpark in Bisbee, AZ; Wahconah Park in Pittsfield, MA; Simmons Field in Kenosha, WI; North Meadow Ballfields in New York City, NY; and McCormick Field in Asheville, NC and their evolution. The author chose to include a number of parks with incredible scenic backdrops such as Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, FL on Pensacola Bay; Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY; Field of Dreams in Dyersville, IA, etc.   His discussions of stadium architecture are highly informative.  Opened in 2019, the unique design of Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in Mexico City, home of the Los Diablos Rojos, is spectacular.    Mansfield chose 67 ballparks around the world for this book, including locations in Mexico, China, Taiwan, Japan, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Korea, and England.   Some people might think of this as a “coffee table” book with its beautiful photographs but Mansfield’s writing makes it so much more.    After reading Remarkable Ballparks , it just might be time for a few more road trips!

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey For over a century, the Historic Mooresville Gymnasium has provided a home for basketball. No longer a home for high school hoops, the building is now home to members of the Mooresville Junior Basketball League. In an area where buildings over the after 40 years are abandoned and left to deteriorate, times have not been a foe to one of Indiana’s oldest basketball arenas. The genesis of the gymnasium began when a railway conductor, Virgil Self would talk constantly with city passengers about the need for a home for basketball in town. The idea took off in the summer of 1920 when 94 residents and merchants loaned $100 each to the Mooresville High School Athletic Association. Construction began in the fall and the building would be dedicated on New Year’s Eve. Communications Director, Mooresville Schools, Susan Haynes took me on a tour of the building and share its history with me. “The Mooresville Gymnasium began its life as a community center built with donations from the townspeople and it has held that special place in our community’s heart for a century. Those who’ve lived here know that our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents all have great memories in that building.” The crowd that took in the inaugural ceremonies watched an array of events from an orchestra, a tug-of-war contest, and four basketball games. The portions of the proceeds were used to pay off the debts from the loans and all families that had loaned money were given free passes to attend the home basketball games for the coming season. That would turn into free passes for life for many individuals instead of being paid back for their initial loans. The building would house the Mooresville High School basketball team until the 1959 season and then serve as the home arena for the middle school program until 1965. It was then used primarily for the junior basketball league which would take sole possession of the property in 1993. By this time, the building needed major renovations, and that is when school administrators, civic leaders, and junior basketball league officers took action. The Save Newby Gym Committee was formed in 1996 and worked until renovations were completed in the fall of 1999. A grant from the Lilly Endowment for $77,150, along with funds raised by the committee through their efforts was enough to complete the much-needed renovations to the aging gym. Due to their hard work, the renovations included improving the structural integrity of the north wall, building and painting the bleachers, replacing all of the windows, adding a new basketball court, and the installation of handicap accessible bathrooms and seating. The improvement also included evicting numerous bats from the building. The gym was dedicated on September 11, 1999. A historical marker sits outside the building along the main road into town and the place has never looked so good. The place has a few donated items from past graduation classes that include the former game clock and scoreboard, curtains for the stage, and an encased monogram M from the classes of 1954, 1955, and 1956. “When I walk on that stage, I know my grandmother walked across it for her graduation and my mother was there for elementary school and junior high plays, programs, and more,” Haynes added. Those memories and that legacy are worth preserving for generations to come.” The gym now has a capacity of 500 people and the upstairs balcony, one home to additional seating, is now a small concession area with a few tables that perhaps provide the best seats in the house overlooking the east end of the building. The simple block M is the court’s center logo.  However, the gymnasium is much more than a place for basketball. It has served the town in many facets throughout its over 100 years of life. To an Indiana high school basketball fan, there is enough appeal to visit the gymnasium, but to someone from out-of-state, the gym is a tourist destination, explains Haynes. “I think to a non-Hoosier you might say it’s just an old gym, but this building was the home of high school plays, graduations, concerts, and sports throughout the 1950s; junior high and elementary plays, programs, and more through the 1980s; and community youth sports into the 2020s. The Mooresville Gymnasium doesn’t just have an amazing basketball legacy, it has an amazing community legacy as well.” ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photo Courtesy of the Thetford Blue Sox Some sports teams move out of a city and a stadium but can a whole stadium move out of the city? In some cases, this has happened, and one of them is Stade des Caisses Desjardins in Thetford Mines, Quebec, which was once part of Autostade in Montreal, perhaps one of the most infamous stadiums in Canadian Football League history. Thetford Mines is located 141 miles northwest of Montreal and is known mostly as the asbestos capital of Canada but for some time it was home to minor league baseball in both the Provincial and Eastern Leagues from 1953 to 1975. However, within a few years, the old wooden stadium would be razed and a CFL stadium in Montreal would be disassembled with parts sent to town to form a new baseball stadium home to softball and amateur baseball. Autostade opened in 1966 and was composed of 19 identical prefabricated seating stands. It was constructed using prestressed columns and beams. The grandstand had wide gaps between each seating section, which not only separated fans but allowed for chilly winds to sweep through the facility during late fall games. The Alouettes became the primary tenants in 1968 after moving from Percival Molson Stadium. Due to its distance from downtown Montreal and the frigid winds of the nearby St. Lawrence River, crowds were fleeting at the mod facility. The club would average around 18,000 fans per game during its eight-season tenure.  File Photo The 33,000 seats sloped towards the field level promising great views anywhere in the stadium. Unfortunately, its oval design seemed better suited for Australian Rules Football than the Canadian version. Two-thirds of the stadium's seating was located behind the goal line, and the venue was accessible only by car. Its biggest moment might have been the 1969 Grey Cup where a record of 33,172 watched the country’s biggest football game. The game was played under truculent conditions due to ongoing concerns over the FLQ separatist terrorist bombing activities in Quebec. Police officers in full riot gear secured the stadium and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau participated in the ceremonial opening kickoff without incident. During the Als seven seasons at the stadium, attendance would range from an average of 12,169 per game in 1969 to close to 25,000 during the team’s 1970 Grey Cup championship campaign in what Glen Cole of the Canadian Press referred to as “one of the worst football stadiums in North America.”     Attendance was bleak enough that team owner Sam Berger relocated the Larks back to their original home in 1972. The plan soon proved disappointing with attendance dropping by 60,000; the team would return to Autostade the following season.  “The worst place I ever played in all my years of football. It was always windy, usually colder than most places in the fall, and just plain ugly,” said late Ottawa Rough Rider and CFL Hall of Famer Moe Racine in his memoir “Never My Dream”. Photo Courtesy of Bill Dutfied ( billd@acm.org ) In 1975, nearly half of the seats at the stadium were discounted in hopes of increasing attendance; it was the third time in three years that prices were lowered and attendance increased by 26 percent. The next year the Als would play the first professional event at the brand new Olympic Stadium in front of a record crowd of 68,505, and many including  Montreal Gazette journalist Earl McRae would not miss the vapid facility. “...the miserable, mournful stadium on a desolate section along the St. Lawrence. Rats scurried brazenly throughout the structure, mousetraps were scattered by the hundreds to catch them, lousy food was served by concessions, and rainwater poured through the ceiling of team offices..” Interestingly, Autostade was almost home to the National League expansion Montreal Expos in 1969. The plan was for the stadium to serve as a temporary venue for the club before a $35 million, 55,000-seat domed stadium would open in time for the 1971 season.  The plan was also to expand the seating from 25,000 to 40,000 and cover it with a domed roof. Initial costs were estimated to be $5 million but quickly swelled to $7 million, a pricey sum for a temporary ballpark that included a paved track around the field. The choice was then made for the Expos to convert Jarry Park into a temporary major league ballpark and would use it for the next 9 seasons. The dimensions and location close to downtown made it the most logical choice for the baseball club. By 1977, football and baseball were attracting huge crowds to Olympic Stadium, leading to the eventual closure of Autostade. Around the same time minor league baseball in Thetford Mines was coming to an end after two seasons. The old wooden ballpark was home to the Thedford Mines Miners from 1953-1956 in the Provincial League but had been absent for almost two decades until the Pittsburgh Pirates placed an Eastern League franchise in the city in 1974.  The placement was temporary but the club captured the league championship and featured future All-Stars Willie Randolph and Tony Armas. Randolph, who had played in sunny Charleston, South Carolina, the year before was shocked by conditions in Thetford Mines as he recalled in Yankee Magazine in 2016. " It was kind of a makeshift situation because the team wasn't planning to play there, but they were forced to. It was really cold, and the ballpark we were playing in didn't even have clubhouses. We had to get dressed at a hockey rink and walk over to the ballpark. Randolph added that the field was so bad that the team manager Tim Murtaugh--who  said in the book Beating the Bushes that “an empty lot was cleared, a canvas backdrop was tossed up and someone hollered, "Play ball!"--  would not allow his players out on the field. He would recant in 1989 to the Los Angeles Times "It was so bad they had to condemn it. There had been a lot of rain, and they had these big steamrollers on the field. Well, in short, center field, one of the steamrollers sank down about 10 feet, leaving a big crater. The Bucs drew a season crowd of 22,516 for an average of 322 fans and would leave town at the end of the year. The Milwaukee Brewers replaced them but attracted a dismal 16,000 fans for the final season. Soon, the old ballpark was razed and just an empty grass field remained. The city, needing a new ballpark, went the unconventional route--they bought themselves pieces of a football stadium. They then reassembled into what would be used as a 5,000-seat baseball stadium that included three sections and a press box from what was once Autostade. In February of 1978, the City of Thetford Mines handed a memorandum to the Minister of Urban Affairs to purchase five sections of Autostade to replace the old stadium park and revive the land. Five months later, the sections were purchased and construction began in August 1979. A cost of $350,000 was made to acquire, transfer, and reconstruct the bleachers to its new home.  The park would be home to softball for the next 33 years, hosting the 1982 Senior Men's Canadian Fastpitch Championships that attracted large attendance figures. Then in 2010, Francois Lécuyer, a local businessman, brought baseball to the stadium with the Thetford Blue Sox, a semi-professional team in the Ligue de Baseball Senior Élite du Québec.  Photo Courtesy of the Thetford Blue Sox To prepare for baseball, fences were reinstalled, locker rooms were built, and team headquarters were established beneath the stands. Since 2012, the Sox have won six league championships and draw between 500 and 1,000 fans per game. Professional baseball returned in 2014 for one game when the city hosted the Quebec Capitales of the Can-Am League for an exhibition game, and 5,000 spectators filled the stands on Canada Day. Baseball is thriving once again during the summer months in Thetford Mines, but one has to scratch their heads and wonder why its existence appears to be an enigma to most people. It appears to many that the remnants of Autostade make up Stade des Caisses Desjardins but perhaps there is a reason for it. There was little fanfare in Montreal when the CFL stadium was torn down; the stadium was in service for a decade and was quickly put out of mind once Olympic Stadium opened. Also, the ballpark was never to be converted into a temporary baseball facility for the Expos. This could have thrust the venue’s attention to major league cities and with copious video footage and former players' testimonies, might have left a little more resonance on the public's attention in Montreal. Photo Courtesy of Google Sure, it looked decorative for visitors during Expo ‘67; however, there was not too much time for anyone to reminisce or become teary-eyed about the place, especially when the Alouettes averaged over 54,000 fans per game during the first two seasons at Olympic Stadium.  Today, Stade des Caisses Desjardins is the home of amateur baseball during the summer months in Thetford Mines. When fans take in a Blue Sox game, they are sitting in stands that were once created to watch professional football in Montreal more than 55 years ago. Who knew the legacy of Autostade is still alive and well in Quebec? --- Follow Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

The great part about taking in games in different parts of this great country of ours is – in addition to the on-field, on-court, on-ice, on-track, etc., action – the chance to partake in some truly unique regional dishes.   I have endeavored to do this in each and every one of my travels; I like to call it having the “food of the place” and it is a ritual that has proven to be both beneficial in enriching my outlook on life and detrimental to my waistline.   My beloved hometown of San Antonio, Texas, has rightfully earned a reputation as being a great food town over the years. Whenever someone makes a visit to the Alamo City, I feel it is my duty to show them some of the dishes that make us truly unique. To wit, this piece on a unique innovation in our Tex-Mex arsenal the puffy taco.   There are dueling stories of how the puffy taco was invented. Both Ray's Drive Inn  and Henry's Puffy Tacos  lay claim to the creation of the puffy taco, which dates back to the late 1960s or early 1970s, depending on who you listen to.   Regardless of the “controversy," one bite of a puffy taco and you'll get why a) San Antonians love them and b) why the restauranteurs are so protective of this dish.   So, what's a puffy taco you ask? Well, let's start with the “puffy” part. You take an uncooked corn tortilla and in lieu of heating it up on a flattop stove, you toss that bad boy ball of goodness into hot oil. Once the masa comes into contact with the frying medium, they almost immediately begin to expand or become puffy.   At that point, depending on where you get them, there are about a dozen different permutations – just like a “regular” taco. This infinitely Instagramable dish has proven to be a hit with just about anyone and everyone who's had the good fortune of throwing one down since day one.   The go-to version is the traditional picadillo (pee-kah-dee-yo) taco, which is seasoned ground beef, potatoes, tomatoes, and spices. This is more akin to what you would think of in a traditional taco and is quite great. If you're lucky though, you can find beef and/or chicken fajita versions, bean and cheese, shredded chicken, and guacamole. They almost always come topped with the traditional “salad” of shredded lettuce, cheese, and diced tomatoes; it's up to you to add any hot sauce or salsa .   A forewarning though, the integrity of your puffy taco “shell” depends wholly upon your filling. Your more sauce laden varieties will probably mean you're gonna have a split right down the middle so be sure you either give it a good haunch over your plate to catch the spillage or wear an outfit you don't mind littering with taco.   The main sporting venue that sells this delicious San Antonio staple is Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium , home of the San Antonio Missions.   Not only does Henry's Puffy Tacos has a scaled-down stand at the ball park, but they also supply one of the team's mascots, Henry the Puffy Taco , naturally. Just like his namesake dish, the Taco has also grown a cult following in the city. Henry the Puffy Taco of the San Antonio Missions If you're a taco “purist,” the puffy version might seem like a gimmicky, novelty item. However, if you just like good eating, this is something you need to have.   On your next visit to San Antonio, do yourself a favor and not only take in a game at the Wolff, but skip the hot dog line and go for something that is truly a taste of the region. Have a puffy taco or two – heck, have three if you've got the room – and get a taste of what San Antonio is all about.

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.

When many fans think of football (soccer) in England, typically the Premier League and its 20 clubs come to mind. In fact, there are over 1800 football clubs at numerous levels in England. For fans of Welcome to Wrexham, it has been discussed how confusing it is. For the unfamiliar, here is a quick primer: ·       5th Level – The National League consisting of 24 clubs ·       4th Level – EFL League Two consisting of 24 clubs ·       3rd Level – EFL League One consisting of 24 clubs ·       2nd Level – EFL Championship consisting of 24 clubs ·       Top Level – Premier League Additionally, there are multiple other levels with regional teams all fighting to break through to the sport’s top levels. Teams move up through promotion or down through relegation on a seasonal basis. This does not occur for any sports in the states, but imagine the Chicago White Sox becoming a AAA team next year. That is English football in a nutshell. On a recent trip to England, the family and I were scheduled for a tour of Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea FC of the Premier League. Prior to our scheduled tour, we received an email from the team letting us know they had to cancel the tour due to a game on the same day. Ah yes, one other thing I learned about English football…there are A LOT of different tournaments throughout the season (you Welcome to Wrexham fans also know this). So, our tour was bumped due to UEFA Conference League Qualifying. Fortunately, we had another football tour scheduled. Full disclosure, I’m a recent football fan. I’d watch the U.S. teams compete in the Olympics but that was about it until a few years ago. I cannot recall why I started watching football, but I did and it stuck. I needed to pick a team of course. Not knowing much about football, I simply guessed. I’m a big fan of tennis. Wimbledon had a football team. That is the story. With that, we showed up for our tour of Cherry Red Records Stadium, home of AFC Wimbledon. For those keeping score at home, AFC Wimbledon currently plays in League Two. Our tour consisted of a small group of about 10-12 folks and our tour guide has been a Wimbledon season ticket holder for upwards of 30 years. He began with asking us how much he needed to speak about the team who should not be mentioned. I knew very little about this, but here is the incredibly short version as I’ve since found out. Wimbledon Football Club was formed in 1889. The team was called The Dons, The Wombles, and even The Crazy Gang for a short time. Over time, the team rose through the ranks, reaching the First Division (this is prior to the formation of the Premier League) in 1986. The team was relegated in 2000 and in 2001, the club announced it was moving to Milton Keynes. This incredibly unpopular decision led to supporters forming AFC Wimbledon. To further muddy the waters between the two teams, the new Milton Keynes team also has the name, The Dons. From the outside looking in, there are clearly a lot of hard feelings these 20+ years later. So, back to the tour. Cherry Red Records Stadium, which opened in 2020, has a capacity of 9,215. The stadium is a charming place that seems like it would provide a great atmosphere for matches. The tour began with a visit to the stadium suites that are largely like suites in any other stadium and provided a great view of the pitch. Next stop was the locker rooms. There was very little difference between the home and visitors locker rooms and the tour guide pointed out that many teams say this is the best visitor’s locker room in League Two. Both locker rooms lead into an area that has the entrance to the pitch. This being the first professional football pitch I’ve ever been on (or right next to anyway, we didn’t step inside the lines) I have nothing to compare it to. Suffice to say that with a stadium full of fans, I can imagine it would be an amazing experience to play a match here. For the fans, there appeared to be no bad seats anywhere in the stadium. We next visited the south stands. The south stands are for the most hardcore of AFC Wimbledon fans and the section includes a safe standing area. In between the rows are sturdy metal rails making it near impossible to fall forward. This became a requirement after an incident is 1989 in which ninety-seven Liverpool fans died after a crush of fans during an FA Cup match. As we headed into the concourse, it was impossible to miss some rusty blue metal gates. The gates were from the original Plough Lane, former home of Wimbledon. When Plough Lane closed, someone spray painted “Womble Til I Die” on the gate. The gate sat in a metal scrap yard for many years, and someone tried to clean up the yellow spray paint. The team was able to restore the gate to some extent and it recently became a permanent fixture inside the concourse. The final stop was the museum. The museum is a small room within the team shop. There is a lot of team history crammed into the small room and it is well worth taking the time to look around. One of the featured displays is the greatest performance in the history of the club, the 1988 FA Cup. In 1988 Wimbledon played Liverpool in the final. Called one of, if not the biggest upset in the history of the FA Cup, Wimbledon won 1-0 on a goal by Lawrie Sanchez in a match played in front of almost 100,000 fans at Wimbley Stadium. Hopefully as the team is able to do more around the grounds, there can be a larger area dedicated to all the historical items they have. Those items seem a bit compacted in such a small area. The tour took about an hour and was well worth the cost of 15 pounds for adults and 5 for kids. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but very much enjoyed the tour guide’s stories about the club and some of the players that have passed through Wimbledon over the years. The team is very much tied to the community. In fact, ownership is a trust that involves all the members with a one-member, one-vote system. Unfortunately, the team wasn’t home for a match while we were in London, but given how much I enjoyed the tour and the story behind the team, I’ll be back for a match or two.

Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey If you ever attend a sporting event at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, you can walk down the street and find another piece of sports history in town, namely a tribute to one of the greatest racehorses of all time, Secretariat. To celebrate the birthday of the horse known as Big Red, March 30, 2024 was proclaimed as Secretariat Day, and a plaza honoring the Triple Crown-winning equine was dedicated. The ‘Racing into History’ monument, created by Jocelyn Russell, includes a statue of Secretariat racing at full speed, as well as brick facades on two sides showcasing the horse’s successes. The monument is located at the corner of Railroad Avenue and England Street in downtown Ashland, about 10 miles from Meadow Stable, where Secretariat was born in 1970. Penny Chenery, Secretariat’s owner and manager of his racing career, operated Meadow Stable at the time, and with the help of her father, Chris, bred the horse through a match between the 1957 Horse of the Year Bold Ruler, and the 1973 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Somethingroyal. Chris Chenery grew up in Ashland, attended Randolph-Macon College, and later founded Meadow Stable. The operation was sold in 1973 after Chris passed away, but visitors are still welcome to tour the historic barns and pastures – the site is now known as Meadow Event Park, and also hosts the annual State Fair of Virginia. Secretariat won 16 races out of 21 starts in his career, including most famously all three races in the 1973 Triple Crown – the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont. Secretariat was the first horse ever to run the Derby in under 2 minutes, a feat that has only been accomplished once since. More impressively, however, his records in all 3 races still stand today, over 50 years later – Secretariat’s largest margin of victory was winning the Belmont by 31 lengths. Secretariat was retired to stud at the end of his three-year old year, and his name now appears in the pedigrees of many modern champions, and he has also sired many leading broodmares. The great horse passed away in 1989 from laminitis, but thanks to the efforts of his fans, Secretariat’s memory can now live on forever in Ashland.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey This past Labour Day weekend in Canada marked the CFL’s first ever visit to Vancouver Island, when the Ottawa RedBlacks took on the BC Lions at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria. Touchdown Pacific follows past successes with Touchdown Atlantic, the CFL pre-season and regular season exhibition games held in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, which have occurred every few years since 2005. The CFL game in Victoria follows a recent trend of different leagues scheduling their football contests in faraway locations, for example the NFL hosting games in England, Germany, and Brazil in the past few years, and United States college football hosting games recently in Australia and Ireland. Touchdown Pacific, presented by WestJet, was more than just a football game, and included 3 days of fun for the whole family – the festivities included a BC Lions open practice, the Touchdown Pacific Festival at Ship Point Inner Harbour on Thursday and Friday, and of course the game itself on Saturday, August 31st. The game itself, won by the Lions 38-12, broke a 5-game losing streak for BC, who came into the game 5-6; the game served as a sort of revenge for BC, who lost by 7 to the same RedBlacks one week earlier in Ottawa. The Lions dominated in all phases of the game during Touchdown Pacific, outgaining the RedBlacks by almost 200 yards, and going into halftime with a 31-6 lead. The RedBlacks came into the game 7-2, 2nd in their division behind Montreal, while the Lions came in tied for 1st place in their division with Winnipeg. The game in Victoria was covered by TSN and had a reported attendance of 14,727. It is not yet known whether there will be additional Touchdown Pacific games in the future.

(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 James Hilchen, Stadium Journey In June 1999, three friends and I boarded a plane from the States to London. We had one plan on that trip: to take in the experience of attending the grand slam tennis event at the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, better known simply as Wimbledon. We attended four days of the event, mostly getting in the queue around 8 AM, which yielded us ground passes. We planned to get there extremely early one day, in hopes of getting Centre Court tickets to see Pete Sampras play. Arriving at the queue at about 3 AM (yes, there was already a long line that winded down the blocks surrounding the venue), we took our place in line, which happened to be on a metal plank that covered some very soggy ground. I can’t recall what time the gates opened. Suffice it to say, we were in for quite a wait. When you are tired (and young), it’s amazing the things you do. We somehow managed to sleep for a few hours lying on said metal plank. Eventually, the gates opened and sadly, we weren’t in line early enough. Centre Court and Court 1 tickets were gone, and we ended up with Court Two tickets. I’m not certain who played on court that day after Anna Kournikova kicked off the day’s play, but the lads and I were able to take position at the top of Court 2 and watched down on Court 3 as Jim Courier and Sjeng Schalken did battle for 4 hours and 24 minutes, a match eventually won by Courier. Twenty-five years later I returned with a family I didn’t have the first time. This time, we weren’t there to see tennis being played, rather we took a tour of the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon. If you are a tennis fan, Wimbledon needs to be on your bucket list. The tour began near Court 17 and our tour guide was a likable fellow who knew the grounds and all the great stories well. There are a few simple rules on the tour. Staying together is one. Rules 2, 3, 4, and 5, do not touch or walk on the grass. After our initial stop at 17, we went to Court 1, which along with Centre Court are the two courts with retractable roofs for the wet British weather. The next stop was a new and pretty remarkable sculpture called The Serving Ace Tree. Sitting outside Court 1, the bronze tree has a trunk that shows a person serving. This has become a popular meeting place for folks during the event. On the north side of Court 1 is a large grassy hill. Fans used to assemble there but it was nothing special for a while. Enter British tennis great, Tim Henman. Henman’s success spawned a throng of tennis fans that couldn’t get on Centre Court when he played. The fans assembled on the hill and Wimbledon put up a large screen for viewing the matches. Henman Hill was born. Over the years the name has changed to fit the current top British players (Rusedski Ridge, Murray Mound, Raducanu Rise, etc.). Whatever you call it, it’s a great place to relax and view the Centre Court action if you can’t get in. Up next was the international broadcast Centre. Wherever you are in the world, if you are watching Wimbledon, this building is the hub of your broadcast. A trip to the roof yields a great view of the grounds including overlooking Court 18, which was having the grass replaced. Court 18 was the site of the longest match in tennis history. In 2010, John Isner defeated Nicolas Mahut in a match that went 11 hours and 5 minutes over three days. The final score set of 70-68 will never be seen again as Wimbledon now has tiebreakers in the 5th set. The final stop on the grounds was Centre Court. Not much needs to be said about this court as it is likely the most heralded tennis court in the world. All the greats have passed through its doors and being a big tennis fan, it wasn’t lost on me that I was sitting where some of the greatest matches in the history of the sport were played. Side note, if you’ve ever wondered how many tennis balls it would take to fill Centre Court with the roof closed, it’s 290 million. You’re welcome! Once the tour was over, a stop at the museum was in order. The museum is replete with the history of the grounds, including posters, rackets, trophies, clothing, etc. A stop at the museum was a great way to end the tour. We had quite an enjoyable few hours. We learned a lot of facts and figures about the venue, how it started, and some of the extraordinary events that occurred on its grounds. The cost is very reasonable at 30 pounds for adults and 20 pounds for kids. The price includes admission to the museum. I’m told tickets are handled differently nowadays and sleeping on a plank isn’t necessary anymore. I’m too old to try that again anyway. If you can’t get to the event, a tour of Wimbledon is a great opportunity to see all there is to see and well worth your time.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 East Lake Golf Club 2575 Alston Drive SE Atlanta, GA 30317 TOUR Championship website East Lake Golf Club website Year Opened: 1904 It All Comes Down to This East Lake Golf Club was established at its current location in 1904. One of its early members was Atlanta lawyer Robert Jones and his family, which included his young son, Bobby. At just six years old, Bobby won East Lake’s children’s tournament, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most successful golf careers in history. Jones went on to win thirteen major tournaments, including the U.S. Amateur, which was considered one of the Grand Slam tournaments until the 1950s. In addition to his skill on the course, Bobby Jones was a talented golf course architect, most notably designing Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament. Since 2005, historic East Lake Golf Club has hosted the PGA Tour’s season-ending event, the TOUR Championship. The top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings qualify for the first of three playoff events, the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The field is then narrowed to 50 for the BMW Championship, with the top 30 advancing to the TOUR Championship at East Lake in Atlanta. The tournament starts with the leader in FedEx points at 10 under par and a two-stroke lead over number two in points, who starts at 8 under – this continues to the golfers in positions 26-30, who begin the tournament at even par.   Food & Beverage   5 Food and drink options are abundant at nearly every turn at East Lake during the TOUR Championship, with more than fifteen general food and beverage vendors available. Patrons can enjoy local favorites such as BBQ from the highly regarded Fox Bros. BBQ, sandwiches from Oakhurst Market, and pub fare from Universal Joint and Poco Loco. One of Atlanta’s most popular boutique burger spots, Farm Burger, also offers a variety of choices. While the classic burger is on the menu, the focus here is on sliders, which come with toppings like caramelized onions, fried jalapeños, or a turkey burger. For a taste of New England, patrons can visit Cousins Maine Lobster, where two styles of lobster rolls are available: the Maine style served cold with mayo, or the Connecticut style served warm with drawn butter. Other offerings include lobster grilled cheese, lobster quesadillas, and the Maine whoopie pie—a unique treat of two chocolate, cake-like biscuits with a sweet cream filling. Beverage choices are equally abundant at East Lake. It would be nearly sacrilegious if anything other than Coca-Cola products were served at an event this size in Atlanta, but along with Coca-Cola being prominently featured, a variety of sports drinks, energy drinks, and iced tea are also available. For those seeking something a bit stronger, there are numerous locations on both the front and back nine offering mixed drinks, seltzers, and wine, as well as craft and domestic beers. Guests are also allowed to bring reusable water bottles, which can be refilled at several water stations throughout the course. There are so many various food options here, ranging from meals to quick bites, to snacks and sweet treats, that visitors would be hard-pressed to not find something to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.   Atmosphere   4 Much has been made of the LIV Tour’s impact on the PGA Tour, and its effects are evident in the field of the TOUR Championship, where some of golf’s biggest names are absent – names like Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Jon Rahm are noticeably missing. It’s somewhat disappointing not to see all the top stars competing for the $25 million prize. Nevertheless, despite the absence of some fan favorites, the field remains strong, featuring previous FedEx Cup champions like Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele. The 2024 TOUR Championship saw nearly a completely new course – following the 2023 tournament, East Lake Golf Club underwent a year-long renovation to restore the course closer to its 1949 Donald Ross design. The result is a nearly new layout that emphasizes ball control, precision off the tee, and accuracy on approach shots. In the first tournament post-renovation, the greens were firm, making it challenging to hold approach shots. Expanded chipping areas were also added, funneling shots that couldn’t hold the green. The TOUR Championship ensures a first-class experience for patrons. Public-access tee and greenside lounges provide comfortable spaces to get out of the sun and grab a bite or beverage while watching the action, while higher-end clubs and lounges provide more of a social setting as part of the tournament experience. Regardless of the setup, public, credentialed, and on-course gathering areas are outfitted with televisions showing live tournament coverage, as well as college football during Saturday’s round. Digital leaderboards and stat boards keep patrons updated with the leader, and also provide advanced analytics on hole performance; it is nice to be able to get a bit more than Greens in Regulation, driving distance, or driving yardage. When it comes to watching golf in person, there is no single right way to enjoy the tournament. Some fans prefer to camp out at a par-3, hoping to witness a hole-in-one, while others choose to follow their favorite golfer throughout the course. For a well-rounded experience, arriving early at the public bleachers on the 1st tee to watch each pairing start, then walking the front nine backward allows spectators to see each group twice. As the final pairings tee off, the early groups will be coming through the par-3 9th hole. On the back nine, holes 10 through 13 are clustered together, providing a great vantage point to catch plenty of action without having to cover much ground. Regardless of the approach, getting to the 18th green early, especially on Sunday, is a must to catch the tournament’s conclusion. Space here is limited, and fans often set up tailgating chairs on the grassy hill behind the green to secure their spot and follow the action before the final moments.   Neighborhood   4 East Lake Golf Club is the focal point of the East Lake neighborhood, located just under six miles east of downtown Atlanta. Once one of the city’s most troubled areas, plagued by crime and dilapidated buildings, the neighborhood has seen significant revitalization thanks to investments by the East Lake Foundation. New schools and a community center have contributed to the area’s transformation. Just a mile north of East Lake is the Oakhurst neighborhood of Decatur, which neighbors Atlanta. Oakhurst offers a variety of restaurants, many with patio seating, as well as shops and Scepter Brewing Arts. Dining options range from Mojo’s Pizza and Mezcalito Cantina to Steinbeck’s Pub, Ford’s BBQ, and Paolino’s Italian, among others. However, given the proximity to downtown Atlanta, if the surrounding neighborhood does not have enough to interest you, there are nearly endless dining, shopping, and entertainment options a short trip away from the course.   Fans   4 With the field whittled to just 30 golfers for the PGA Tour’s finale, galleries can swell remarkably, especially around the leading pairings on Sunday afternoon. It was at East Lake where one of golf’s most iconic recent moments occurred, during the 2018 TOUR Championship, following Tiger Woods’ tee shot on the 18th hole a massive crowd surged onto the fairway behind him. It was a genuine, organic display of fan excitement on the course. Despite the high stakes of the season-ending purse, patrons generally maintain a respectful golf atmosphere. Aside from a few isolated instances, there is not a large issue with nonsensical utterances that’s sole purpose is for someone to say, “You think they heard that on TV?”.   Access   4 By their nature, golf clubs typically lack expansive parking lots, so parking is provided off-site with patrons shuttled to the venue. Two primary locations for this service are the Georgia World Congress Center, near Mercedes-Benz Stadium , and Center Parc Stadium in the Summerhill neighborhood, home to the Atlanta Falcons and Georgia State Panthers football, respectively. Rideshare drop-off and pickup are located along 2nd Avenue, providing direct access to the 13th hole and ticket windows for walk-up patrons. Another possible option might be using Atlanta’s MARTA rail system, whose East Lake station is just a five-minute ride away. Additionally, the MARTA bus routes have stops along the perimeter of the venue. Golf courses can be difficult to navigate, but the PGA accommodates patrons with mobility challenges by offering ADA shuttle locations throughout the course.   Return on Investment   3 Tickets for Wednesday’s practice rounds start at $30, providing a great opportunity to experience the course in a more relaxed atmosphere with much smaller crowds. However, grounds passes increase significantly starting Thursday, the first day of competition – entry begins at $75 on Thursday, rises to $85 for Friday’s round, then goes up to $97 on Saturday, and is even higher for Sunday’s final round. The best bet is to purchase tickets as early as possible, as they typically go on sale in the winter months at discounted rates. There are also several premium ticket options for clubs and suites around the course, starting at a few hundred dollars. These areas provide a more comfortable viewing experience, with some packages including food and drink. The PGA Tour recognizes the importance of engaging the next generation of golfers, offering free admission for children 15 and under with each paying adult. Additionally, complimentary passes and discounted tickets are available for active military personnel and veterans. While ticket prices can be a bit pricy, it is important to keep in mind that the TOUR Championship is the culminating event of the PGA Tour season, with $25 million at stake. Though not one of golf’s major tournaments, it holds considerable significance as it in essence crowns the season-long champion. Concession prices are generally in line with what would be found at most major sporting events – while some items might raise an eyebrow, substantial food options are typically priced as expected.   Extras   5 The Tee Up Atlanta event kicks off the week on Monday night, with a concert to raise funds for local charities. In previous years the kickoff event has featured a red carpet at the College Football Hall of Fame, while for 2024 the event was a concert headlined by Atlanta native, 2 Chainz. Golf offers patrons unparalleled access to players that is rarely seen in other professional sports. The walkway from the parking lot to the clubhouse is often lined with fans seeking autographs, those seeking a pre-round selfie, or simply looking to wish golfers well on their rounds. Special accommodations are made for golf’s youngest fans with designated autograph areas, ensuring they are not pinched out by more aggressive adults who might also be looking to secure signatures. The SO COOL Pavilion provides an inviting space for patrons to grab a bite, relax at picnic tables, or cool down with misters. The area features a massive TV screen showing football games on Saturdays and live tournament coverage on other days. Several vendors are also present, along with a large PGA shop stocked with souvenirs and tournament apparel. The First Tee Center also provides virtual and other interactive golf experiences. The area neighboring the 16th green, which seems to be the course’s nursery, has been transformed into the USGA’s Junior Pitch, Chip, and Putt compilation site, as well as a general patron putting area sponsored by PGA Superstore, where visitors can try out various putters. While the view from the 5th tee box has a picturesque look at Atlanta's horizon, it is the walk down the 7th fairway that has amazing views of the Atlanta skyline, and the buildings that seemingly are growing out of the city’s thick tree canopy.   Final Thoughts Despite not being one of golf’s four major tournaments, the TOUR Championship comes with a great deal of excitement and prestige as the season’s final event. To be part of the tournament that crowns the PGA season champion comes with a lot of excitement, and can produce some of golf’s most memorable moments. While the tournament itself would be entertaining on its own merits, tournament organizers have done a fantastic job combining the tournament with an outstanding fan experience. If catching professional golf is on the annual sporting “To Do List”, the TOUR Championship definitely should be in consideration.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Indiana is known for its high school basketball game with fieldhouses and gyms among the biggest on the planet. Crowds of over 7,000 are the norm, but the state also proves it could attract similar crowds for its high school football games during the school year. The Mudsock Game is the football game between the Fishers High School Tigers and the Hamilton Southeastern Royals. The rivalry game between the two schools in Fishers, Indiana, has been an annual event since the 2007-08 school year when Fishers High School began operations. The heated contest brings out an atmosphere like any other in the Indianapolis area. The Mudsock Award was created as a traveling all-sports trophy for the 19 combined varsity sports; it’s awarded to the high school that wins the most games throughout the year. Each team wins a plaque if they win against the opposing school.  A blue “H” or a red “F” is attached to the trophy to commemorate each winning year.  VIP Seating with food, tables, and extra bleachers are brought in for the big game, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey. This year’s game took place at HSE. Special VIP sections with catered food, bleachers, and tables were set up behind the goalpost at $75 a ticket. Additional bleachers were also brought in for the game, attracting crowds between 8,000 to 10,000. It is quite the spectacle for a high school football game in September. As day turned into night, the evening cooled off slightly with the colors of Fishers red and HSE blue on each side of the gridiron. Banners, smoke machines, and students with painted faces were seen and heard, along with alumni who packed the aluminum bleachers to watch a thrilling game between the in-town rivals. The atmosphere was better than some college football and minor league baseball games I visited this past year. The concession areas were filled with fans waiting in line and students enjoying the last days of summer. The two schools have an enrollment of over 7,000, and it felt as if the entire student body was in the stadium tonight. The student section swings their cell phone flashlights back and forth after each touchdown. Fishers blow off red smoke after a Tiger’s score. The two sides go back and forth with chants and friendly banter that rival the college football game between nearby DePauw and Wabash in the Monon Bell contest. However, where does the Mudsock name originate from? It is such a peculiar name and one that would make an excellent name for a summer collegiate baseball team if the city ever builds a ballpark to complement the new area it will have for minor league hockey, indoor football, and professional volleyball, but what is a mudsock?  Fishers was founded as a town in 1872, but due to the swampy nature of the soil that covered people’s socks, the community acquired the nickname “Mudsock.” This is one of the theories behind the nickname, but the town would make national headlines less than a decade later on November 19, 1881. The name comes from an infamous brawl in 1881. The 24-hour raucous made national headlines and became known as the “Battle of Mudsock”. Fishers was a lawless town at the time and there were two rival saloons, one owned by Hampton West and the other by the Farrell brothers. Each establishment had its loyal followers. At 4 pm on a Saturday, a group of men walked into West’s saloon and got into an argument with another group playing pool. A gentleman by the name of George McCoy tossed his hat at the face of Adam Lynn, resulting in Lynn knocking him out. McCoy was quickly thrown out of the bar and everyone continued drinking and getting riled up. The Fishers Student section shows their pride during the game, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey. An hour later, McCoy returned with reinforcements and the fisticuffs broke out again. Benjamin Fouch brought brass knuckles to the fight and everything from knives, beer faucets, and pool balls were used that soon traveled to the Farrell brothers saloon across the railroad tracks. After a night’s rest, fighting started again at 10 AM at West’s saloon, but a few folks brought in guns to chase away attackers. The sheriff and his posse soon came to break up the mele and restore order. In the end, Fouch was dead,  32 other people were injured, one of the saloons burned to the ground, and another one closed for good.  However, the 'Mud Sock’ name was not taken too kindly by the residents, and to shed its rough reputation, a newspaper article in 1907 announced that it was not an appropriate name. Hamilton Southeastern shows off their colors and support for the Royals, Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey. Fast forward over a century later, and the Mudsock name lives on between the two high schools in town. This year’s contest was won thrillingly by Fishers, 37-35. The Royals led 27-7 at halftime before staging a 3rd quarter rally. After the game, the Fishers's student section stormed the field to surround their football heroes.  The students and fans cheered on long after the game underneath the dark skies. Red fireworks went off in the distance, and HSE players walked back to their locker rooms. It was another battle, but one that was settled on the football field. There will be more Mudsock games from now until spring, but tonight, this was the place to be for Friday Night Football in Indiana. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 4790 W 16th St Indianapolis, IN 46222 Indianapolis Motor Speedway website SRO Indy 8 Hours Year Opened: 1909 Capacity: 257,325 8 Hours of Speed at Indy While Indianapolis is synonymous with racing in America, there hasn’t been a major sportscar endurance race here before. Enter the SRO America Indianapolis 8 Hours – while events like IMSA weekend and the SCCA Runoffs have been held here in recent years, SRO arrived in 2020 with a new format and category of racing at the Indy circuit.   Food & Beverage   3 The standard fare is available throughout the infield thanks to various concession stands. The basics like burgers ($13.50), chicken fingers ($12), pork tenderloin baskets ($16.50), etc. are all available, as well as soda ($8), water ($5), and beer ($9.25). Fans can also expect a variety of food trucks and independent vendors in the infield Pagoda Plaza.   Atmosphere   4 Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the literal definition of a motorsports mecca in the United States. Every inch of the track oozes with history – this in itself should be enough to elevate the track’s profile. However, thanks to the recent purchase of the facility by Roger Penske, various upgrades and renovations have made the track even better than it was before. A new LED display behind the Pagoda and other smaller displays around the track offers fans a chance to see the action no matter where they are, and renovated bathrooms and common areas are also featured in the latest upgrades as well. The stadium effect of seats on both sides of the track down the front stretch adds to the roar of the engines. Also, the sound of the bagpipes being played in the paddock by the famous Gordon Pipers fills the air during pre-race – it is hard to beat this historic facility for a flair and history mix.   Neighborhood   3 Speedway, Indiana is a unique setting, as you will see both the past and future of the area in a few blocks. Located literally in the middle of a neighborhood, the IMS facility is massive, rising above the rooftops of the nearby homes. Across the street from the southwest corner of the track is Main Street; here various restaurants and shopping destinations mix with newly constructed apartments and several IndyCar race team HQs. In addition, a mile west of the track along Crawfordsville Road are more shopping and dining options. Hotels are plentiful and nearby as well, with downtown Indy just a short drive east, and multiple hotels just west of I-465 and the track.   Fans   3 The fans at Indy are among the most sport-knowledgeable in racing; you would be hard-pressed to find any others in the US who can top it. Many fans have been going to Indy for various races for decades. As with other SRO America events, while the track may not sell out every seat, attendance has increased each year with impressive consistency, thanks no doubt to the organization’s hard efforts in the marketing department.   Access   4 To get to the track you can just follow the signs, literally – there is no shortage of signage on the way to the track. The nearest highway is I-465, with I-74 meeting up with it just north of the track’s exit. Parking on-site is plentiful both inside and outside the facility, though many of these lots require pre-purchased parking passes. With that said various homes in the area also offer up their driveways for paid parking, as do some of the businesses nearby.   Return on Investment   5 Tickets to SRO weekend are relatively well priced – general admission tickets are incredibly low, starting at $20 for Friday, $30 for Saturday, and $20 for Sunday. Weekend pass are just $60 for all three days, and the track offers a Paddock Plus Pass to add on to your ticket, granting fans access to the area between the pit lane fencing and the trackside paddock garages ($30-$60). Suites are also available for $5,000 to $7,500 for 25- and 50-person packages. Kids 15 and under are free with a paid adult, and parking starts at just $10 and goes up to $25. Compared to prices you will see at the Indy 500, this is an absolute steal. Every ticket also includes infield access, as well as access to the paddock and pre-race fan walk.   Extras   5 Several autograph sessions are held throughout the weekend, including all the SRO America Series teams. The track also has several event stores set up throughout the facility, where you can purchase merchandise from the event and the track, as well as from the drivers. Thursday night before race weekend begins, a fan festival is held here with various race cars on display, driver autographs and Q&A sessions, and live music taking place as well. On race day Saturday before the 8 Hour event, a fan walk is held on track for you to see all the competitors up close, as well as to get on the track itself. Finally, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is located onsite in the infield and is open during race days. Fans of the sport will no doubt enjoy looking into the past and enjoying the history of the sport of racing.   Final Thoughts Fans still flock to the track no matter what is racing here, and SRO weekend is incredibly affordable compared to other events. Couple that with the nostalgia factor that Indy injects directly into your soul, and it is hard to skip this now annual stop on the SRO calendar. Sportscar fans will have plenty to watch throughout the weekend, with no less than five racing series taking to the speedway during the event.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Road America N7390 WI-67 Elkhart Lake, WI 53073 Trans Am website Road America website Year Opened: 1955 Capacity: 150,000 Summer Speed in Dairyland The summer of racing at Road America includes numerous events for the race fans to attend; a popular one for fans to attend is Trans Am weekend. Held over the past few years as a standalone event, this weekend features the likes of International GT, FRP, and PSSA. While not as popular as other track events at Road America, this one is no less worth a visit.   Food & Beverage   5 There are a lot of places to eat at Road America, and the ones that exist are an absolute treat for the pallet. With over 20 concession stands located around the course, Road America is led by The Gearbox, a hillside stand and bar that features some of the best views on the property, as well as the best food around. Being in Wisconsin you can get the best cheese and sausage foods there, as well as a brilliantly tasty breakfast food called eggers.   Atmosphere   5 The atmosphere around Road America during race weekend is very family-friendly and relaxed – the best in the sport are taking part in some of the most exciting racing around, and despite the tension of the competition, everyone – including the teams and drivers – is in a relaxed and fun-loving mood. There is just something about the beauty of the countryside and the forests around the premises that put everyone in a go-racing-and-enjoy-every-minute-of-it state of mind. In addition, the quality of the on-track action is enough to make any fan excited to see what happens around the next corner. The excitement fills the air every time a car takes to the track, be it for practice, qualifying, or a race. Road America also features some of the cleanest racetrack bathrooms anywhere. Add to that the incredible track store and the free fan shuttle that can take you around the various viewing areas, and you have a solid basis for calling this one of the best tracks around. In 2024 the track also debuted a new walking and golf cart path around the outside of Canada Corner, which leads to the bottom of the hill where grandstands can be found. New signage is also featured throughout the track, with the track layout carved into metal slats around the bases.   Neighborhood   4 The area around Road America is exactly what you would expect to find in rural Wisconsin – rolling hills, farmland, forests, and small towns. The town of Elkhart Lake is quaint and small but is seething with racing history and lore. Famed racing announcer David Hobbs calls this area home, and the fans here are all die-hards who watch everything that happens on the track. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay near Road America, there are a wide variety of small bed-and-breakfasts to pick from in and around Elkhart Lake, as well as some cabins that can make you feel like you’re roughing it…sort of. In addition, the town of Sheboygan is only 20-30 minutes away by car, providing fans a chance to stay in a hotel chain of their choice – Holiday Inn, La Quinta, etc. are all located in Sheboygan. If you’re looking for something to eat, Sheboygan has a wide variety of restaurants, from Applebee’s to McDonald’s. But by far the most must-see eatery near Road American is the Stop-Inn Tavern at Siebkens Resort in Elkhart Lake, a local bar that all of racing royalty has passed through at some time or another. And, for those looking for something else to see and do, the Kettle-Moraine State Forest is not far from the track, providing some great hiking options. In addition, the Kohler factory is in nearby Sheboygan, and Road America’s location is just a 30-minute drive from the Great Lakes.   Fans   3 Fans at Road America are much like those in the rest of the Midwest – die-hard and series-knowledgeable. They’re also absurdly kind and sweet, willing to help in any way possible when you need assistance with something. They also pack the camping areas around the speedway, making for one brilliant fan block party. While not as popular as IMSA or IndyCar weekends, Trans Am’s weekend at Road America is no less filled with its fair share of motorsports faithful.   Access   4 Getting to Road America isn’t as difficult as getting to some sports facilities. That said, it is off the beaten path – at least a 10-minute drive from the nearest highway, Road America requires you to drive down some single-lane roads through the hilly countryside. Once you’re at Road America, you may discover there are several other entrances to the track that you didn’t even know about, which can be frustrating if you have to wait in line for hours; check the fan map of the venue before you go to identify these alternate gates and entrances. The biggest plus at Road America is that the main entrance had a complete makeover in 2016, adding more entrance booths for faster processing of fans and campers.   Return on Investment   5 Road America is one of the best tracks at which you can watch a race. The facility is huge, but you are given plenty of options to watch the race without having to move from place to place. Watching from the right location can give you up to six corners of the track to see all at once, and you also get access to the grandstands all around the track, as well as access to the paddock, with your admission ticket to most races.   Extras   3 You can take a trip to Elkhart Lake just a few miles away, and follow the original track layouts through historic markers along the roadside. Before it had its current layout, Road America was once a true street course, running through Elkhart Lake itself, as well as over the hills on the various roadways in the nearby area. Back at the track, where once a zip line ended now stands a high vantage point for fans to watch the action at the track from, inside the final turn. The former zip line landing platform is now a giant viewing zone, and while you may have to climb a lot of stairs to get there, the view is well worth it. Additionally, if you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at racing, you can sign up for racing school at the track. For those who can’t peel their eyes away from their mobile devices, you can also engage with the race on social media, seeing your photos and tweets on the various big screens around Road America by using specific hashtags and handles on Twitter and Instagram. And if treetop views and social media aren’t your thing, you can also take a wandering hike through the forest on several pathways that meander through the mountains above Kettle Bottoms and Canada Corner – these trails lead from the top of the peak to the bottom of a newly-cleared pathway along the infamous straightaway.   Final Thoughts If you want to see racing history and meet modern-day sports stars, take a trip to Road America – you will not be disappointed by what you find here. For those who want to go a step above that, go camping on the property during race weekend; the fans are nice, the action is top quality, and the weather is almost always beautiful.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium 157 Gale Lemerand Dr Gainesville, FL 32611 Florida Gators website Ben Hill Griffin Stadium website Year Opened: 1930 Capacity: 88,548 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – University of Florida Gators Across the landscape of college football, the University of Florida stands out as one of the special programs – championship expectations here go beyond Southeastern Conference (SEC) titles; competing for national championships is the norm. Throughout the earlier days of the program’s history, University of Florida football had been respectable but not championship caliber, that is until the return of alumnus and Heisman Trophy winner Steve Spurrier as head coach. After a successful stint as head coach at Duke University , where he took the Blue Devils from perennial ACC doormats to conference champions in just three years, Spurrier returned to Gainesville in 1990. Almost overnight, Florida transitioned from a .500 program to SEC champions, culminating in a national championship victory in 1996 under his leadership. After Spurrier’s departure to the NFL in 2001, Florida experienced a dip in success, but championship aspirations here never wavered. Following three years under Ron Zook, Florida hired then- Utah  head coach Urban Meyer to restore the Gators to their championship ways. In just his second season in Gainesville Meyer delivered, leading Florida to two national championships in three years. While the Gators have not reached those heights since the mid-90s and early 2000s, they have remained a competitive force in the SEC, but the recent inconsistencies have seemingly frustrated the Florida faithful, and appear to have impacted the overall game day experience at “The Swamp”.   Food & Beverage   4 University Avenue, which runs along the northern edge of the stadium, is closed to traffic on Florida Gators football game day, and various food trucks set up shop here, offering everything from brick-oven pizza and tacos to Polynesian cuisine. Inside the stadium concessions are a bit more traditional, but still a step above basic stadium food. While staples like hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and peanuts are plentiful, higher end options include Everglades BBQ’s pulled pork sandwiches and nachos, and Moschella’s Italian fare can also be found. Grilled cheesesteaks, quesadillas, and sausages are also served from carts around the stadium. The University of Florida is the birthplace of Gatorade, so it should not come as much of a surprise that the drink is bountiful throughout the stadium – it is interesting, however, that it can only be found in the Gator-themed Orange and Cool Blue flavors. When it comes to soft drinks, Pepsi products are the beverages of choice, while for alcoholic beverages fans have typical domestic beers, and a craft-style Florida Gator branded Shock Top, along with cocktails from Cutwater and Surfside, as well as High Noon seltzers. While the in-stadium food is solid, the food trucks outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium truly enhance the overall experience – it would be nice to see more of those options available inside.   Atmosphere   5 The area around Ben Hill Griffin Stadium leaves no confusion as to its Florida location; Spanish Moss-covered oaks populate the tailgating areas outside of the stadium, and palm trees line the walkways and streets leading in. Inside the venue the Gator orange pops, as it is used to highlight all the entry portals around the stadium, as well as large walls of the lower level seating, which welcome fans to “Gator Country” and recognize Florida’s championship seasons. Sideline seating is part of one large seating bowl with upper and lower entry points, while the north and south ends of the stadium have more of an upper and lower deck that partially overhangs the lower level. The west side stands are backed by an extremely large wall of suites and the stadium press box, which runs from end zone to end zone. Seating on this side might help when looking to escape the Florida heat with some shade, but there is not a lot of cover to be found at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in general. Traditions are important in college football, and the University of Florida is no exception. Florida’s marching band “The Pride of the Sunshine” does a fantastic job continuing those traditions, and setting the tone for college football with their pregame performance, occasionally starting with the band’s six-foot-wide drum, “The Biggest Boom in Dixie”. The band also creates several different formations, including an outline of the state of Florida, a script ‘Gators’, and finally a simplistic “UF” that forms a runway for the players to run through, as they take the field before kick-off. The whole pregame presentation does a great job of setting the stage for a high level of college football.   Neighborhood   5 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium sits on the northern edge of the University of Florida’s campus along University Avenue, where athletics, academics, and campus nightlife come together. Just steps away from the football stadium is the O’Connell Center , home to Gators basketball and volleyball – the Gators outdoor track, tennis center, and athlete development facilities are also nearby. Lake Alice is a popular location on campus for outdoor adventure and nature. Around dusk, visitors are drawn to the massive bat houses to watch hundreds of thousands of bats fly into the Gainesville night, and the lake is also populated by modest-sized alligators. Be warned though – even with their smaller size, many of the gators are not afraid to approach humans in search of food scraps. If looking for entertainment that might not be as batty, downtown Gainesville has a thriving music scene that goes into the early hours of the morning, from punk to techno, Latin music, and everything in between. Hotel options are plentiful but get snapped up quickly and are often expensive, so booking early or staying an hour outside Gainesville might be wise. There is also ample RV parking on campus for football game day, so those with such capabilities might look into that option. Despite being located in a city of over 100,000 people, the area around the University of Florida maintains a distinct college-town feel.   Fans   4 Florida Gator fans are a passionate group, and through past successes of the 90s and early 2000s have come to expect excellence at both the conference and national levels. While the program has not consistently maintained those heights as of late, fan engagement remains strong, especially for rivalry games and key SEC matchups. However, attendance has dipped for fewer marquee games, revealing some frustration among the fan base.   Access   3 The University of Florida is about six miles and 15 minutes from I-75, which runs just west of Gainesville – four exits leading directly into Gainesville provide a handful of access points into town. Traffic can become congested before and after football games, and parking options close to the stadium are limited. Parker Park, located two blocks north of the stadium, might be a good place for early arrivers to try and park. For those flying in, the Jacksonville airport is an hour and a half away, while Orlando’s airport is a two-and-a-half-hour drive. Gainesville’s regional airport offers limited service. As with most sports venues, there tends to be a surge of fans waiting to get into Ben Hill Griffin Stadium as soon as the gates open, but allowing 20 to 30 minutes for that initial push to die down leaves a rather easy entry. Inside the stadium, there are two sets of interior concourses – the innermost concourse gets rather congested, even with modest-sized crowds. Ramps in some locations, especially on the western side of the stadium, can also get extremely slippery due to humidity. Alternatively, the exterior walkways are a bit more spacious and not as susceptible to tight quarters from masses of fans.   Return on Investment   4 The current inconsistencies of Florida football have had an unintended effect on the availability of tickets – while matchups against SEC rivals still command high prices, tickets for non-conference games can be found at more affordable rates on the secondary market, sometimes as low as $5. Of course, matchups against SEC and in-state rivals still go for a premium price, but even if you are spending a bit more for these headliners, the experience of these games might be well worth the investment.   Extras   5 Gator mascots Albert and Alberta are ever present throughout the game, mostly on the sidelines, but their statues across the street at the alumni center are a popular place for fans to stop for a photo. Another popular photo op is at the statues of Florida’s three Heisman Trophy winners, Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, and Tim Tebow, recognized outside the western entrance of the stadium. The ode to Gators heroes doesn’t end with the Heisman statues, however – Bull Gator Plaza pays tribute to the College Football Hall of Famers and All-Americans who have played at Florida. The plaza also features a plaque commemorating Tim Tebow’s “The Promise”; following a disappointing loss to Ole Miss during Tebow’s senior season, he made a promise to ‘Gator Nation’ that the focus and resolve of the Gators going forward would be unmatched. Tebow’s words would later prove prophetic, as the 2008 team would go on to dominate the competition for the remainder of the season, and eventually win the National Championship. To recognize the life and legacy of George Edmondson, better known as “Mr. 2-Bits”, his traditional pre-kickoff “2-Bits” cheer has been carried on at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Typically, an honorary or celebrity “Mr. 2-Bits” leads the crowd in the cheer of “2-Bits, 4-Bits, 6-Bits, a dollar! All for the Gators, stand up and holler!”. Those selected to lead the cheer are typically former Florida football players, but they have also been other accomplished Florida athletes. A display on the west concourse also recognizes the role “Mr. 2-Bits” has played in the culture of Florida football history. In addition, the death of hometown hero Tom Petty in 2017 started what might be the best “newer” tradition in college football – following the playing of “We Are the Boys from Old Florida” by the Florida band, the stadium lights dim and nearly 80,000 cell phone lights illuminate the stands. Petty’s “Won’t Back Down” plays from the speakers as fans sing along in unison, while the stadium’s LED lighting changes from blue to orange throughout the song. It truly is an amazing experience.   Final Thoughts Florida fans, more than anyone, are looking for the return of the Gators to a program that doesn’t only contend in the SEC, but also at the national level. Regardless of the current state of the Florida football program, however, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is still a destination location that is primed to return to its elite-level college football status. From the masses of tailgaters to the pregame Gator Walk, as long as the University of Florida football program is competitive on the national scene, it has all the components necessary to be one of the truly special college football experiences in the country.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 New Jersey Motorsports Park 8000 Dividing Creek Rd Millville, NJ 08332 SpeedTour website New Jersey Motorsports Park website Year Opened: 1955 Capacity: 150,000 New Jersey’s Place to Race Taking over part of a historic WWII airfield, New Jersey Motorsports Park is a unique facility. Featuring two race circuits, condos on site, and historic landmarks, this is definitely a track that sets itself apart from the rest. Having hosted the likes of Indy NXT and IMSA in years past, the current marque event is the annual Summer SpeedTour round. Featuring SVRA, FR and F4, and Formula Race Promotions, this event offers lots to see in a state that doesn’t have much when it comes to motorsports.   Food & Beverage   2 There isn’t much for concessions at NJMP – aside from a few food trucks, the offerings are slim. There is one concession stand at the bottom of the main paddock building next to the track store, but some days it isn’t even open for fans. There is, however, a full-service restaurant on premises that is open during race weekends called The Finish Line Pub, that is always popular among crews and drivers.   Atmosphere   3 The track itself has undergone some significant renovations in recent years – a full repave of the track, as well as upgrades to the viewing grandstands, are just a few of the changes. There are also the new trackside condos that are under construction, which should add to the quality of the experience at NJMP. While no large single grandstand exists for the track, multiple small general admission grandstands are placed around the circuit, meaning you can watch from numerous angles around the course to catch the action all day. The main paddock also features a two-floor building with a second-level patio that overlooks the back straight, as well as a track team store downstairs where you can pick up NJMP merchandise.   Neighborhood   3 The town of Millville is uniquely located just outside the famous Jersey Shore area of Cape May. Located in the southern portion of the state, this quiet town doesn’t have much in terms of attractions outside of the track and the Airport Museum next door. There are several restaurant and hotel chains nearby that can satisfy your needs, but this area is kind of out of the way from most other parts of the state that would be more attractive to tourism.   Fans   3 The fans at NJMP don’t have many large events at the circuit anymore, meaning the SpeedTour weekend is the biggest race of the year. With that said, while they don’t come out in droves for the race, they still make their presence known with a respectable crowd on race day. Add to this the car shows that are scheduled during the event, and you have solid attendance when looking down from the rooftop viewing platform.   Access   3 To get to New Jersey Motorsports Park, take route 55 south from Highway 40 or the greater Philadelphia area. Then, just follow all signage to the Millville Airport – there is plenty of signage taking you to the track once you get closer. Parking on site is plentiful and easy to find, and a large track map helps you find your way once you get inside the main entrance. However, once off route 55 most of the roads are small town roads with plenty of stop signs and traffic lights, leading to a slower drive into the facility.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets to SpeedTour weekend at NJMP are very affordable; a one-day ticket is just $20, and a three-day pass only costs $40. Parking on site is free and plentiful – add to this the ease of getting around the circuit to view multiple locations from various general admission grandstands, and you have a great race value for the whole family.   Extras   4 The track was once part of a WWII fighter training field, so you can see various artifacts from that era around the circuit. The biggest attraction is the gun sight test range, where bullet holes are still visible in the concrete bunker right next to the track. The track also has a rooftop terrace on the main tower, giving you views of practically the entire circuit. Finally, autograph sessions are held for FR and F4 drivers during the weekend, giving you a chance to meet some of the brightest stars of racing before they make it to the big time.   Final Thoughts Though not the most spectacular or special circuit around, New Jersey Motorsports Park fills a need in the region. Not much is available for motorsports enthusiasts in New Jersey, so this circuit offers something not found elsewhere nearby. If you’re looking to check a track off the list, a swing through the Garden State may be in the cards if you’re here during SpeedTour weekend.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Alumni Stadium 100 Institute Rd Worcester, MA 01609 WPI Engineers football website Alumni Stadium website Year Opened : 1914 Capacity : 2,000 Worcester Engineers Football   One of the oldest football programs in the country plays at tiny Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a school of just over 7,300 students. Founded in 1865, WPI was one of the first engineering and technical colleges in the United States. Today the school offers degrees in over 50 programs across several disciplines. WPI is consistently ranked as one of the top colleges in the nation.   After attempts to start association football (soccer) and rugby, WPI’s first American football team was fielded in 1882. By 1887 football was a varsity sport. Despite some early success by the team, WPI leadership refused to let the team enter a conference with other top small-college New England teams. Would WPI have been a member of the Ivy League if this alternate reality happened? We’ll never know. Today, the Engineers compete in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) alongside several other small but prestigious area colleges. WPI has won three conference titles and competed in one NCAA tournament (1991) and four bowl games.   The Engineers football, field hockey, soccer, and track and field teams play at Alumni Stadium, which is dedicated to honoring all the alumni who funded its construction. The playing field has been devoted to H. Carr and Sons, a local construction firm headed by WPI alumnus James Carr. Renowned architects the Olmsted Brothers were hired to design the facility. It debuted on November 14, 1914, with a 14-0 victory over the RPI Engineers.   Food & Beverage 2    There is a small concession stand at the north end of the stadium, located at the entrance to the parking garage. A limited menu, including pizza slices, assorted snacks, and drinks, is sold here. On the plus side, no item costs more than four dollars. All proceeds raised by the snack bar benefit the other WPI athletic teams that work the stand.   Atmosphere 2   The atmosphere at a WPI football game is typical of what you will find at other small facilities in the area. This is a laid-back, reserved experience, one that is very appropriate for a school known for its engineering programs. Even though this is hardly a rowdy scene, all the elements are in place at Alumni Stadium.   The school’s pep band and cheerleading squad highlight the festivities, with the band providing all the music throughout the game. Those fans who arrive early might be surprised to hear that the music of choice blaring out of the speakers is metal. The sound system is of good quality, providing clear sound to the fans sitting in the bleachers. During the game, the PA announcer does his job in a workmanlike fashion. Over-the-top shenanigans just wouldn’t fit in here. A small scoreboard in the south end zone provides basic game information. Neighborhood 4   WPI is located on Boynton Hill and is self-contained and separated from the adjacent neighborhood. Institute Park borders the campus on the north side. Adjacent to the park are several notable restaurants, including Fix Burger Bar, Ralph’s Diner, and the Oak Barrel Tavern. Lodging options close to campus in the downtown area include Hampton Inn and Suites and Courtyard Worcester. The Worcester Art Museum and the Salisbury Mansion are located on the school’s campus.   Fans looking for dining or shopping options on the residential south side of campus can head to nearby Highland Avenue, where The Boynton and Sole Proprietor highlight the local offerings. Downtown Worcester and Shrewsbury Street, home of Worcester’s legendary “Restaurant Row,” are just over a mile from campus.   Fans looking for sporting options in Worcester can check out the DCU Center , home of the ECHL’s Railers or Polar Park, home of the AAA Red Sox. There are 14 colleges in and around the city, but Holy Cross is the city’s only Division One program. Among the facilities, there are Fitton Field and the Hart Recreation Center .   Fans 3   WPI draws impressive crowds to their games at Alumni Stadium, particularly when compared to other D-3 schools in the area. Announced crowds often surpass 1,500 fans. Stadium Journey attended the Engineers’ 2024 home opener on a beautiful September Friday night, with an announced crowd of 1,848 in attendance. This figure feels entirely accurate.   In addition to drawing a large number of locals and alumni, there is a very good turnout from the student body, many of whom gather on the large berm on the east side of the field. You can be certain to see a good number of opposing fans in the stands, as the Engineers’ schedule is filled with local squads. The only thing holding back this score is that this crowd is fairly quiet and restrained, despite the personal connections many of the fans have with the players on the field.   Access 3   Alumni Stadium is located on the western edge of the WPI campus, alongside the school’s other athletic facilities, including Harrington Auditorium . WPI sits atop Boynton Hill, just a short drive from downtown Worcester. Driving is the primary method to arrive at WPI, as Interstate 290, which bisects the city, runs just a mile from campus. Fans using public transportation can take Worcester Regional Transit Authority’s  31 or 825 busses, which both run along Park Avenue behind the stadium.   Parking is located on the north end of the facility in a garage underneath the Rooftop Fields Complex. The garage is more than large enough to handle a typical Engineer football crowd. If you wish to avoid the garage, there is on-street parking in the neighborhood. Strangely, also located in the parking garage is the concession stand and visiting locker room.   Be aware that there is a security check in effect before entering Alumni Stadium. Fans can bring in a sealed bottle of water, but bags are not allowed. All seating at Alumni Stadium consists of a large grandstand on the west side of the field. Metal bleachers without backs stretch virtually the entire length of the field, giving fans plenty of good vantagepoints. A standing room is available on either end of the grandstand. The large hill on the east side of the field is a popular place for students to hang out, particularly when there’s a large crowd in attendance.   Restrooms are located in the WPI Sports and Recreation Center in the northeast corner of the facility. The restrooms are far from the grandstand and are very small, so plan your trip there wisely. Also, when you leave the bathroom, you’ll need to go back through the security check in the parking garage to re-enter the game. I guess WPI security is concerned with fans stealing toilet paper from the bathrooms.   Return on Investment 5   Tickets to WPI football games are sold as general admission for five dollars. However, since you need to purchase the tickets online through Hometown Tickets, they end up costing $6.49. Parking in the garage adjacent to Alumni Stadium is free. No item at the concession stand costs more than four dollars. All in all, a trip to see the Engineers is a very affordable entertainment option for central Massachusetts sports fans.   Extras 1   WPI is one of two colleges in the nation that has a goat for a mascot. Gompei the goat, named for Gompei Kuwada, a member of the class of 1893 and the school’s first goatherder, is immortalized in two statues on campus. One, of a charging goat, is located near the entrance to Alumni Stadium. The other statue, The Proud Goat, can often be seen wearing a sweater in the winter.   Photo Courtesy of Worcester Polytechnic Institute Final Thoughts   Many people fail to realize that Worcester is the second-largest city in all of New England. There are 14 colleges located in and around the city. One of the most fabled of these institutions is Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Alumni Stadium has served as a solid home for the Engineers football team for over a century.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photo by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey The Houston Chronicle   reported on Tuesday, September 17th that the University of Houston’s football stadium will have a new name in time for the 2025 season. A merger between the current naming partner, Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU) with Space City Credit Union will see the formation of a new company: Space City Financial. While the merger is still awaiting regulatory approval, expect the newly christened Space City Financial Stadium to be unveiled in the first quarter of 2025. Since 2014 the Houston Cougars have called the current TDECU Stadium  their home – the school and TDECU announced a 10-year extension  to the naming rights to the stadium earlier this year. The Cougars moved to the Big 12 Conference in time for the 2023-24 season, after being part of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) from 2013-2022. Houston won AAC division titles in 2018 and 2019, as well as won the AAC Championship in 2018. The 40,000-seat stadium located on the University of Houston’s athletics complex was opened in time for the 2014-15 season, and was built for a reported $128 million. ---- Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 3233 Concession Road 10 Bowmanville, ON L1C 3K6 Canada Canadian Tire Motorsports Park website Labour Day Sprints Weekend website Year Opened: 1961 Capacity: 100,000 A Labour Day Speed Fest Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (also known as Mosport) is one of the best-known race courses in Canada, and indeed around the world. The fast, sweeping turns at the facility were created for Formula One’s golden days of speed, and the facility hosted the Canadian Grand Prix multiple times throughout the 1960s and 70s. The 2.459-mile circuit is a beacon for the North American racing fan, and features some of the best camping around, while also featuring some incredible on-track action. The return of the Trans Am series highlights the annual Labour Day Sprints weekend, which also features the NASCAR Pinty’s Series, FR and F4 Americas, Radical Cup Canada, and others.   Food & Beverage   4 The food options at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park are pretty standard, including burgers, fries, and chicken. There are also various food trucks on site throughout the weekend, and local vendors featuring freshly grilled burgers, kabobs, and BBQ. Drinks are also varied, featuring soda and energy drinks, as well as the best in Canadian beer. The best part about the food here is that the food booths and vendors are located all around the facility, as opposed to being in just one centralized area. As some of the portions of the track are a bit of a walk from others, this helps those fans who care to venture to the farthest edges but don’t want to have to walk a mile back to the paddock for a snack.   Atmosphere   4 Fans at Mosport are among the best in racing, as they camp out from the opening of the gates on Day 1 through the final checkered flag of the weekend – the hillsides at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park are filled with campers and tents as far as the eye can see. The track itself is nestled in the countryside an hour east of Toronto proper, meaning you don’t feel the hustle and bustle of city life, but instead can enjoy comfortable relaxation in and among the forests of Ontario. But for a race fan, the energy is not lost here either, meaning you get the best of both worlds. While not featuring the crowds of IMSA or Victoria Day weekends, the Labour Day Sprint weekend features no less an impressive showing for race fans in Canada.   Neighborhood   3 Outside the main gates, you’re greeted with beautiful green rolling hills and sprawling farmland all around. However, this also means there isn’t much around Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, and the nearest towns are a good 20 to 30-minute drive from the venue; Oshawa and Bowmanville are the closest towns where you can find food, shopping, and lodging. The good news is that both of those areas are rapidly expanding, with homes now only a few miles away from the circuit, where once there was only farmland. Favorite food stops include the Crooked Uncle in Oshawa and Chanterelle Bistro in Bowmanville, while Holiday Inn Express & Suites Clarington-Bowmanville and Best Western Plus Bowmanville are your two closest hotels. For viewing the sights, Clarington Family Outdoor Adventure Park and Ehrenwort Hiking Trail at Camp 30 are the most popular outdoor activities for visitors.   Fans   4 Fans at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park are the best Canada has to offer – not only do you get to experience some motorsport-knowledgeable fans, but you also get to see them at their rowdiest (or at least the Canadian equivalent) during the race weekend. They know how to party and know where the best places to watch from are, and best of all, they are as polite and welcoming as you would expect. Most fans here also come to the track throughout the year to see all the different races – whether they’re looking to catch Trans Am or NASCAR Pinty’s Series, you will see them pack into the circuit.   Access   3 Getting to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is a bit of a drag, as the main highways aren’t anywhere near the track. However, thanks to the continuing construction eastward of toll highway 407 finally having reached the racing circuit, you can now get right to the venue without having to take too many country roads. The track itself is off Highway 20, aka Boundary Road, which you can get to from the east via Regional Road 115, or from the west via Regional Road 57. Once at the facility parking is plentiful, as is camping, and your ticket will get you into the facility and also includes free parking.   Return on Investment   4 The cost of admission at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is very much worth it when you consider you are getting a top-notch racing experience at the track. You also get to take in some quality racing at one of the most popular racing facilities in North America, which has been steeped in history for years. While getting to the track may be a bit of a drive, as it is an hour east of Toronto without traffic, the escape of going to a race in the beautiful Canadian countryside is worth the trek.   Extras   4 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park recently remodeled their main office building, which now includes several suites and hospitality areas. In addition, fans can get up close to the teams, as entrance into the paddock is included with your ticket. During the most recent Labour Day Sprints weekend, Trans Am, as well as FR and F4, offered autograph sessions for fans to meet the respective drivers in the paddock area. Victory Lane is located right in the middle of the paddock, meaning fans can celebrate with the winners after each race. Also, most fans take to the track during race weekends at night, walking the circuit and enjoying the evening on the track itself, something not many other tracks allow you to experience.   Final Thoughts If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, watch some quality motor racing at a historic track that offers the beauty of the Canadian countryside, and has plenty of options for viewing the action itself, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park is the best option for you – the fans are great, the camping is top notch, and the racing is fast.

Get ready for the Salem Marion Berries this summer at Willamette University’s John Lewis Field at Spec Keene Stadium. The Oregon-based ball club will be the 17th member of the summer collegiate West Coast League.  The name comes from the marionberry that was developed nearby in 1956. It was the result of cross-breeding between the Chehalem and Olallie blackberries. It hails exclusively from Oregon and earned its name after its namesake Marion County. Oregon produces 28 to 33 million pounds of marionberries annually and is the most common blackberry in the state. The logo features two ripe, purple marionberries sitting on a crate, one grinning wearing sunglasses and a backward cap with the letter “B” on it. Pat Zajac, the team’s general manager, told the Salem Reporter that they have an “avenue to have some fun and play off the mascot that they created with the logo. “Marionberries themselves kind of go through a changing of colors when they get ripe, from green to red, to that deep purple. Like, do we want to have two or three mascots? One of each of those shades to create a little berry family?”  The team branding will focus on the distinct marionberry. Team management has taken suggestions for concession items featuring the berry that will also include marionberry pie and themed drinks. Zajac added that the team will take input from fans for suggestions on jerseys, entertainment, and fun food ideas. I have a few suggestions of my own. Marionberry barbecue sauce for chicken fingers Purple colored ketchup Marionberry and bacon jam topping for a burger Marionberry milkshakes Fried marionberry pies Pie eating contests Team jerseys that ripple like marionberry: monochrome green, red, and deep purple sets throughout the summer. Staff tosses out purple-colored balls to fans Nicknames for the ballpark: “The Berry Patch” or “The Berry Bowl” The Berries ballpark, built in 1989, has planned improvements that include installing synthetic turf, new field lights, an altered entryway, and field netting. Zajac added that there will be concrete poured in certain areas to create new concession stands and hospitality areas. The upgrades will be paid for with support from a $3 million state grant to money contributed by the university and Salem Baseball LLC. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Impact Field 9850 Balmoral Ave Rosemont, IL 60018 Chicago Dogs website Impact Stadium website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 6,300 No Ketchup at the Chicago Dogs Game The Chicago Dogs are members of the American Association and play at Impact Field, one of the slickest ballparks in independent baseball. It was constructed to entertain all who purchased a ticket as well as host a baseball game. The spacious ballpark has seating for 6,300 and opened on May 25, 2018. The 60-million-dollar facility is the newest addition to the list of independent ballparks in the Chicago area and stands out in color, design, and creativity. Fans will most likely not have to be reminded where they are with motorists on I-294 whizzing by in the distance, the giant Impact Field sign across the parking deck in right field, and a view of the fashion outlet stores behind the outfield walls. However, let’s find out what makes the ballpark one of the better-looking designs in recent years. Food & Beverage 3 The price of concessions is also on par with other independent clubs in the metro area. The menu items are not super electric, but they are what one would expect while enjoying nine innings of baseball. The main concession stand offers jumbo hot dogs, Chicago hot dogs, cheeseburgers, chicken tender baskets, nachos, and soft pretzels. The prices range from $5 to $9. These nachos could feed 1-3 people per order. Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey. The stadium features The Weiner’s Circle, a much tamer version than the one downtown. It sells its style of char dogs, brats, Polish sausages, and french fries. There is also Salsa that offers Mexican options of street tacos and nachos topped with carnitas and chicken. The nachos are large enough for two small kids and well worth the price of $10. Coca-Cola products are available, and beer options include Miller-Coors brands. A cocktail cart behind the home plate offers mixed drinks of gin, tequila, whiskey, and vodka drinks. Atmosphere 3 Impact Field has a design that is unlike many others in baseball. It features four separate buildings that make up the upper-level suites, party decks, and press box. The colors of metallic black, red, and steel gray offer an amazing combination not found at most baseball stadiums. However, the colors make it stand out from older facilities in the area. Fans enter through the right-field corner of the stadium which also houses the main ticket booth and official team shop. The team store has plenty of merchandise from jerseys, caps, t-shirts, and stuffed dolls of the clubs’ mascots-Squeeze and Ketchup. Squeeze is a bottle of mustard with a big nose and fur; his nemesis Ketchup is a bottle of ketchup with an evil smirk in a trenchcoat. What is shocking is the number of young fans that gather around them waiting for an autograph after they are introduced after the second inning. Squeeze gets the most attention, because mustard, not ketchup, belongs on a hot dog for anyone after the age of 10 years old. Squeeze is a fan favorite at games. Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey. There are many wonderful aspects of a Dogs game including a double-sided video board that can be seen by up to 70 million motorists on I-294 on an annual basis. The left-field foul pole is 312 feet from home plate, a nod to the Chicago area code. The right field foul pole is 294 feet from home plate, a nod to the nearby interstate number. The giant car deck serves as a spot for left-handed hitters to bounce homeruns off of it. The ballpark’s name is emblazoned across this area, but there is not too much happening below this area in the right field to the center field concourse. The ballpark also offers high-top tables and chairs in many areas of the concourse, bleacher seating behind the right-field wall, and rail seating above the left-field wall. However, the ample space of Impact Field feels a little bit underutilized at times. Many areas of the ballpark are void of kiosks, party decks, or grass lawn seating. Neighborhood 3 Impact Field is directly across the interstate from the Fashion Outlets of Chicago and a host of other entertainment options before or before the ballgame. The shopping mall features 130 designer outlets that are walkable from the ballpark, but one can drive and park in the mall’s multi-level parking deck. The area also houses Hofbrauhaus Chicago for liters of beer and German food, Park Tavern which offers pub food including Cuban sandwiches and hand-cut fries, and Bub City for barbecue. Dave & Busters is also nearby for video games, large-screen televisions, and pub food options. The Rosemont entertainment district offers a variety of options that include concerts, Zanies Comedy Club, iFLY (skydiving simulator), and the Big Ten interactive experience. Rivers Casino is a few miles north of the district for additional entertainment options. A few local spots south of the ballpark and perhaps a little cheaper on your pockets are Short Fuse Brewing Company, Frannie’s Beef, and Gene and Jude’s. The latter establishment is a local institution that serves depression dogs, loaded with hand-cut fries. You will have to stand up to eat them or enjoy them in your car. Fans 3 The fans at a Dogs game are typical of what you would see at many other ballparks of this kind. They are out to enjoy a night out with friends, family, and co-workers for an inexpensive night out. However, I bumped into one fan who has season tickets with her husband and dresses like a hot dog. She was more than happy to explain her allegiance to the ball club and how she rarely misses a game. Access 5 Impact Field is accessible by both automobile and mass transit. It is located minutes away from O’Hare International Airport. Public transportation includes the CTA Blue Line, and Metra commuter train stops off at the Rosemont station. A free trolley is provided by the Rosemont Entertainment Circulator Trolley that can take you to the ballpark. If traveling by car, the stadium is visible off of I-294, and its exit is just south of the venue. A parking garage is behind the right field and charges $4 a car, but free if driving a Hyundai. There is additional parking that I have been told is free of charge across the street, but that hasn’t been confirmed. Once inside, the wrap-around concourse provides easy access to all points of the ballpark, and the large outfield terrace area is void of the usual kiosks, seating, and party decks found at other stadiums. Games do not attract near-capacity crowds for most games, and fans can get around efficiently. The main entrance is at the right-field corner of the ballpark. Return on Investment 3 The cost of a ticket will cost anywhere from $9 to $16 per game. The bleacher section seating in the right field is an ideal way to enjoy the game for under $10. The outfield reserve seats down each baseline are $12, and infield box seats behind home plate are $16. These prices are on par with a few other independent clubs in Chicago. The cost to park your car is $3 per game. Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey. The Dogs run a few promotional dates that include Weiner Wednesday where hot dogs are a dollar, Thirsty Thursdays feature 12-ounce cans of Hamm's and Miller High Life for $2 and Family Sundays which offer bottomless popcorn and fountain drinks for $3. Saturday nights are theme nights and conclude with fireworks. Extras 4 The Dogs earn a point for the stadium design that is not from your typical blueprint. It’s sleek, a bit futuristic, and possibly the class of the American Association. The second point is for the two mascots that are almost as popular as the players on the field. Squeeze and Ketchup barely have time to roam around the concourse due to young fans asking for an autograph. The Dog Squad are group of staff members in red shirts that entertain the fans in between innings, assist fans with on-field promotions, and allow fans to blow a giant air horn from a lifeguard chair behind the backstop on the main concourse. The final point is for the $3 parking lot, one of the cheapest costs to park your car for a sporting event in Chicagoland. Final Thoughts Impact Field is a fantastic-looking stadium and one that pushes the boundary for stadium design and aesthetics. The Chicagoland is a crowd with both major league and MLB partner league ballparks, and the Dogs provide a lot of fun and excitement with their branding, ticket pricing, and promotional nights. However, it feels like there could be a lot more happening here during a game to create its own identity to nearby Schaumburg Boomers or even the Kane County Cougars . For such a magnificent ballpark with a great location, make coming to a Chicago Dogs game a must-event every game. It has the potential to be one of the best in the MLB Partner Leagues. ——— Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by James Hilchen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Soldier Field 1410 Museum Campus Dr. Chicago, IL 60605 Chicago Fire website Soldier Field website Year Opened: 1924 Capacity: 61,500 Soldier Is On Fire Municipal Grant Park Stadium opened in 1924. A year later, the name was changed to what everyone now knows as Soldier Field. The iconic Chicago stadium has hosted numerous sports teams over the years and is currently home to the National Football League’s Chicago Bears and Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire FC. The stadium underwent a major renovation in 2002-2003, which saw the Bears head south to play the 2002 season at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, home of the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. Soldier Field has a capacity of 62,500 but is set up for less when hosting MLS games. There is some debate about the future of Soldier Field. The Bears have been looking to move and numerous Chicago suburbs have thrown their names in the hat. Chicago is also hoping to keep the team and the latest proposal included a brand-new stadium that would be built adjacent to Soldier Field.   Chicago Fire FC began play in MLS in 1998 as an expansion team. The team has called Soldier Field home from 1998-2005 and again from 2020-present. From 2006-2019, the team played at soccer-specific SeatGeek Stadium, which hosts Chicago FC II and the Chicago Red Stars of the NWSL. The Fire started with great success, winning the MLS Cup in 1998, but in recent years have been firmly entrenched near the bottom of the league. Food & Beverage 4 Chicago is a food town, so as expected there is a solid number of choices for any taste. Connie’s Pizza, a Chicago staple, is the pizza option. With Chicago is known for its Italian beef sandwiches, that is also on the menu here and a must-have. Pilsen Taco also serves up some tasty tacos if that is your choice. All the expected food and snacks are also well-represented throughout the stadium. Eating kosher? Not a problem. Head over to section 134 and you will find kosher options. As for drinks, Coke products are the soda of choice. There are plenty of options for adult beverages from domestic and imported beer to numerous microbrews. In the mood for a mixed drink? No problem there. Options are available throughout the stadium. Atmosphere 4 The fun begins long before the match. There are plenty of tailgaters hours before the kickoff if that is your thing. Gate 0 (zero) opens two hours before kickoff. Once inside, there are some fun activities for the kids and a nice area for the fans to sit and have a drink before entering the stands. Pre-match introductions are quite a spectacle. It begins with a fire alarm and pyro on the field as the players are announced in what is a great way to get the fans amped up for the match. Once the match starts, the chanting/singing makes for a great atmosphere. The only drawback is that Soldier Field is a massive stadium that holds over 60,000 people. The Fire isn’t going to draw 60,000 fans so there is the drawback of seeing a mostly empty stadium. The top deck is closed off which helps the 100 level fill up nicely. Neighborhood 4 Soldier Field is located right near Lake Michigan and the museum campus, including the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium. Chicago is a fabulous city with everything you can imagine. The only reason this rating gets a 4 instead of a 5 is that there isn’t much as far as restaurants or bars within a short walking distance of the stadium. However, with public transportation, you are a very short ride away from every type of food imaginable. Additionally, Chicago plays home to so many different sports teams, that there is a very real chance you can take in multiple games in other sports in just a few days. Fans 4 The Fire has a very solid support group or groups. 16 groups are listed on the Fire website, so find a group and join in if you so desire! The supporters sit on the south side of the stadium and are an active collective group from before the match kicks off until it is over. These fans greatly enhance the enjoyment of the match. Fans not sitting in the supporter’s section are also a boisterous group and into the game. If you feel the urge to sing along, their website lists all the songs. Access 4 There are multiple ways to get to Soldier Field and public transportation is a great option. METRA has stops at both the Museum Campus Station and 18th St. Buses are also a good option. If you want to park, there is plenty of parking available although it might be a good idea (and a bit cheaper) to purchase parking before game day. On the day I attended, there was construction around the parking area which made for a bit of a headache postgame, but I assume traffic flows much more freely without the construction. There are multiple entrances to the stadium and your tickets will show you which entrance is closest to your seats. Once inside, it is very easy to get around whether it be to grab something to eat or use the restroom. Return on Investment 4 Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster. Prices are reasonable and start at around $15 and work their way up depending on where you want to sit. Parking at the lots will run you $40, but there are multiple options for public transportation. With concessions being the norm, you get a really good value here. Extras 4 The Fire has a great match day presentation. From the pregame activities to the player introductions, there is a lot to take in and enjoy. Soldier Field is an iconic stadium. Being able to take in any sporting event is a great experience for fans of sport. The Fire has a mascot named Sparky who makes his way around during the game and there are numerous opportunities for the young fans to interact with him. The team store has a great selection of Fire items for fans of all ages and more products than many other teams. Final Thoughts Soldier Field hits the century mark this year. The iconic venue has seen a lot over the years. It’s not known what will become of the stadium and whether the Bears and Fire will remain or go elsewhere. Chicago is a great town and the stadium on the lake is a perfect spot to enjoy a great presentation by Chicago Fire FC.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Barber Motorsports Park 6040 Barber Motorsports Pkwy Leeds, AL 35094 SRO America website Barber Motorsports Park website Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 100,000 Supercar Stars Fell on Alabama The “Augusta of Motorsports” has hosted numerous race series over the years – known mostly for its spring IndyCar date, this track nestled in the mountains of northern Alabama just east of Birmingham is one of the most attractive on any schedule. While having hosted sportscar racing in the past, as well as numerous lower division amateur series, Barber Motorsports Park welcomed back the SRO America group with open arms in 2024. By all accounts this return has been a massive success, once again giving fans in Alabama a chance to see supercars race at Barber regularly.   Food & Beverage   3 While not having as many food trucks and concessions stand as IndyCar weekend, there are still several options for fans to pick from – soul food and good old-fashioned home cooking is what makes Barber Motorsports Park so brilliant when it comes to feeding the masses. Even if you just want a burger or a hot dog, the price is very manageable (a big, juicy cheeseburger is $6.50), but if you want to enjoy the local culture’s cuisine, several of the vendors in the fan zone and around the facility provide you with some of the best-smoked barbecues in the world. When visiting Alabama, barbecue must be one of the staples of your diet, plain and simple. Even the drivers are known to stop by to grab a bite of barbecue to eat here, which is a true testament to how good the food is. There are also food and drink vendors all over the track, so fans are never too far from their next meal.   Atmosphere   5 Barber Motorsports Park is by far the most beautiful and well-manicured race circuit in America. The track is a natural terrain road course, meaning the track follows the rolls and undulations of the mountains upon which the facility was built. Additionally, the foliage around the track is mesmerizing – the trees are tall, old, and majestic, and the wind blowing through them provides a true bonding with nature feeling. The roses, azaleas, and wildflowers blossom on the hills and fill the air with the scent of clean, fresh, floral greatness. What does all that have to do with racing? It puts you in a state of relaxation while watching a race that makes it all even more enjoyable than it already was, not to mention one of the best motorsports museums in the world is located on the track’s premises. The restroom facilities are also top-level, and the main paddock is perfectly laid out for fans to navigate. Signage is plentiful around the facility to help you figure out where to watch from, and numerous viewing areas around the circuit offer handicap-accessible options as well.   Neighborhood   4 The area around the track has changed drastically of late; literally, next door is one of the coolest Bass Pro Shops there is (everyone has to drive along a half-mile-long nature preserve just to get to the store entrance). The racing circuit is also several miles away from Birmingham, and the only hotel next to the track is a Hampton Inn, but brand new in the last few years is a massive Buc-ees right outside the venue. However, just across the highway is a giant outlet mall that includes a drive-in movie theater. In addition, down the highway just a few exits away lie several chain restaurants (Hooter’s, Five Guys, Olive Garden, and more), as well as more hotels. Not far away is the Birmingham Airport, with a nearby Holiday Inn that has a free airport shuttle and room rates in the low $100s, even during race weekend. Lastly, for sightseers, Talladega National Forest is only an hour’s drive away, while The Vulcan remains a popular tourist spot that offers a panoramic view of Birmingham.   Fans   3 In the heart of Alabama, you may never expect to find a herd of hard-core sportscar racing fans. Nevertheless, Barber Motorsports Park is full of fans who are seriously knowledgeable and who are loud and rowdy in support of their favorite drivers. As with most SRO events, the crowds then may not reach the size of the larger events at each facility, but the attendance is no less impressive and is growing year by year. This is no doubt an event that has massive potential for fans in the future. This is also one of the most family-friendly race parks there is, so fans can bring their whole families to the track; Southern hospitality at its best.   Access   5 Parking at Barber Motorsports Park is brilliant – there are numerous parking lots all over the property, and none of them are far from the track. Getting to the actual racing circuit is easy as well, as the main highway has an exit ramp that is less than a mile from the park’s entrance. Getting around the actual course itself is also simple; while the track is large, it is easy to walk around. Seating is also easy, as the main grandstand on the backstretch allows views of all four straightaways and several corners. Or for a more picturesque view, there are several locations where you can pitch a giant foldable party tent, and bring some folding chairs and a cooler to watch the race from the hillside. And as if the relaxing atmosphere couldn’t get any more relaxing, it still does – the track offers fans a free tram service that circles the course, allowing you to view the racing action from anywhere on site. To get to the track itself, there are now various billboards and signs all over the local highways telling you which exit to use, and what direction to turn to get there. Another feature is a beautiful flat, easy-to-navigate handicapped accessible pathway, which travels through the forest to a lookout point where fans using wheelchairs can watch the race, while also being in the comfort of the trees. This pathway is conveniently located across the street from the handicapped parking area.   Return on Investment   5 Tickets to SRO weekend at Barber are incredibly affordable – Friday tickets are just $15, while Saturday or Sunday-only tickets run $35. A weekend pass for all three days is just $75, a price far below that of other comparable events in the area. Parking is free, while car corral access is $70 for Saturday or $125 for all 3 days, which includes your daily ticket as well as premium parking, along with a post-race lap on the track in your car. Suite access tickets are $350, while trackside RV and camping ranges from $100 to $350 based on location.   Extras   5 Barber Motorsports Park is chock full of extras. First and biggest is the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum – billed as one of the largest motorsports museums in the country, it will show you some of racing history’s best machines from the past. The museum is currently in the stages of expansion as well, to make it even bigger. And as if the museum itself wasn’t enough, during race weekends the museum staff opens the first floor to the fans, one of only three times a year this is done. Why is this so monumental? The first floor is the restoration floor – who can pass up a chance to see the beautiful vintage race cars and motorcycles being restored to their former glory? Another bonus is the great fan zones around the track which have the best viewing location in the park, the hillside under the trees on the backstretch. Additionally, the staff here puts on a great fan activity area, where fans can meet SRO drivers and get autographs. And if you enjoy camping, you can stay on-site with a hillside spot right behind the paddock, which offers some brilliant views of the track from a few spots. Perhaps the biggest extra, however, is the random sculptures scattered throughout Barber Motorsports Park – a giant metal spider in the infield, a zombie trying to swim out of a lake, metal sunflowers, tigers by the scoring tower, a Native American chief on the mountainside, giant ants carrying away a motorcycle, Greek Gods, and more pepper the park’s property, making for a neat hide-and-seek adventure. Finally, the museum also features a walking path into the track’s interior, featuring two walk-over bridges that cross the track – they both have glass floors, and there is also a path through the woods and over a waterfall.   Final Thoughts If you are looking for a great way to enjoy racing, Barber Motorsports Park is a wonderful track in which to view some of the best racing in America. Add to that a vintage museum that showcases the coolest machines in racing history, and you have a great location in which to watch sports. The SRO America weekend here will no doubt feature on their calendar for years to come, thanks to the great fan attendance, and looks to be a fantastic event in which fans can watch supercars in Alabama.

Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Dodger Stadium 1000 Vin Scully Ave Los Angeles, CA 90012 Map It Los Angeles Dodgers website Dodger Stadium website Year Opened: 1962 Capacity: 56,000 Sho-Time At The Ravine Upon their arrival in 1958 from Brooklyn the Dodgers would play their home games at the L.A. Coliseum until 1961. Native Angelinos were quick to embrace the Brooklyn transplants as over 78,000 attended the Dodgers first-ever home game at the Coliseum. But not all of Los Angeles would embrace the former Flatbush Bums arrival particularly when it came to the   controversy leading to the construction of Dodger Stadium .   When the dust finally settled, Dodger Stadium would officially open on April 10, 1962. The Dodgers would draw over 2.75 million fans in their gleaming new home.  Year in and year out Dodger Stadium features the highest attendance figures in all of baseball with daily crowds of over 40,000 being the norm. Over the years Dodger Stadium has had many memorable moments such as Shohei Ohtani’s historic 40-40 feat via the walk-off grand slam , Chris Taylor’s Wild Card Clinching walk-off home run to Gibson’s epic Game 1 walk off homer against Dennis Eckersley in 1988 to their sweep of the Yankees in the 1963 World Series, the only time the Dodgers would clinch a World Series at home. For all its glorious history, Dodger Stadium has been the host of 26 postseasons, 10 World Series, as well as hosting The Pope, Elton John, Michael Jackson, and The Beatles. It has been the home to some of the game’s greats. Koufax, Drysdale and present day stars Clayton Kershaw and Mookie Betts. It’s welcomed one of baseball’s most diverse fan bases from the days of Fernandomania  and now Shotime.  Dodger Stadium is the third oldest yard behind only   Fenway Park  and   Wrigley Field . Despite being the third oldest big league park, Dodger Stadium, affectionately referred to by blue-clad locals as Blue Heaven On Earth, is hardly referred to as a classic. Dodger Stadium maintains a truly unique identity as marked by its signature pastel-colored seating pallet. Food & Beverage 4 Though Farmer John is no longer the hot dog provider after being synonymous with Dodger Baseball for so many years, the famous Dodger Dog remains on the menu now provided by Papa Cantella. Kosher hot dogs and sausages are also available through their stand located in the right field section of the outfield plaza. Some of the most noticeable additions to the   dining options   can be found in the outfield plaza including Shake Shack. Some of my favorite dining options are on the left field side of the outfield plaza. The Smoked Brisket Sandwich and Burnt End Nachos are available at the Think Blue Barbecue stand. The brisket in each item is smoked overnight with the sandwich topped off with coleslaw, providing fans with one of the tastiest items in the yard. If you happen to bring a big appetite with you, Think Blue Barbecue also has an MVP Platter with burnt ends, pulled pork, hot links, coleslaw, potato salad, and jalapeno cornbread. Not only is this one of the tastier items throughout the park, but it's also big enough to feed 2 to 3 heavy hitters. Next to the Think Blue Barbecue stand is the Dueling Dogs featuring a bacon-wrapped dog and a visiting team-themed dog.  Dining areas were recently added to the outfield plaza. Fans dining in the plaza can watch the game on the new outfield plaza screens with scoreboards providing live stats. Coca-Cola products are the soft drinks of choice. Domestic and imported beers such as Budweiser and Modelo are available throughout the stadium. Two new indoor bars located beneath both the left and right field pavilions are available for fans before and during the games. The bars feature a vast variety of alcoholic drinks and provide screens of the live game action and other sporting events. A viewing area near the bullpen mounds is also located inside each bar for fans to watch pitchers warm up. Atmosphere 5 Dodger Stadium Sandy Koufax, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey It all starts as you enter through the grand entrance to the newly enhanced outfield plaza. As you enter the plaza, you are greeted by two legendary statues, Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax. As you walk through the plaza you will want to take some time and approach the area below both the left and right field pavilions. Memorabilia of the 2020 championship team and old stadium seats are on display. If this is your first time taking in a game at Dodger Stadium before 2021, you will notice the vast additions commemorating their glorious history. Other viewing and meeting points popular among the fans are a vintage ice cream truck and a blue-decked fire truck paying homage to Dodger Stadium’s 1962 opening. When not fully paying attention to the action on the field, some of the best views of the city, be it the San Gabriel Mountains beyond the outfield or the downtown skyline, can be seen from the top deck and reserve levels. Neighborhood 3 Several nice walking trails along with pregame picnic areas on the grounds of Elysian Park are outside Dodger Stadium and provide some of the natural scenery beyond Dodger Stadium. Aside from Elysian Park’s picnic areas and the scenery it provides the yard, the surrounding area does not offer a ballpark village with pre- or post-game entertainment or dining options that fans have become accustomed to in some of the post Camden Yards era venues. However, The Shortstop, a local dive bar not far from the stadium, is a favorite among Dodger fans. Chinatown and Downtown L.A. are also a short drive from the yard and offer several pre- and post-game dining options. Fans 5 As the Dodgers approach another postseason run, crowds of more than 40,000 are a regular occurrence. The home nine’s current run of 11 consecutive post-season appearances has done nothing to dull the enthusiasm of the Dodger Blue Faithful. Dodger Blue runs deep throughout many Angeleno’s hearts and throughout Southern California as they are a loud and passionate bunch. The Dodgers, like their purple and gold counterparts at the   Crypto.com Arena , can attract many a Hollywood crowd. Dodger blue and white are the colors you see decked among the fans who proudly show their passion. Though some are there to stargaze or “to be seen” as can be the case with any L.A. sporting event, Dodgers fans cheer loudly for their hometown team and often in large numbers. Access 4 The recent enhancements to Dodger Stadium have significantly improved access throughout Dodger Stadium. Unlike years past, fans can enter through any entrance and are also free to roam throughout each level of the stadium. Additional elevators located on the left and right field corners of each concourse have been added, as well as additional escalators and stairs in the expanded exterior concourse. A pedestrian walkway has been added atop the pavilions as well as additional ADA viewing areas and a social area overlooking the outfield plaza. Additional restrooms have also been added to each of the two pavilions. If you choose to drive to the game, five entrances lead to the vast parking lot, which can accommodate up to 16,000 vehicles. Unless you plan on entering through the outfield plaza it’s still a good idea to research your seating location so you have a good idea where you should park. You will also want to purchase parking ahead of time on your mobile app to help reduce entry time. Otherwise, prepare to pay with your debit/credit card only. Various roads lead to Dodger Stadium which can be accessed by the 5, 110, or 101. Because of its proximity to downtown Los Angeles and the fact that most of the natives rely on their vehicles to get around this sprawling city, you will want to allow yourself more than ample time to drive to the stadium if you want to be at your seat by the first pitch. There’s a reason why Dodgers fans have a reputation, albeit an unfair one, as late arrivers. Another transportation option is the Dodger Stadium shuttle, which runs from Union Station downtown every 15 minutes beginning 90 minutes to 2 hours before game time. Union Station can also easily be reached by light rail via the MTA through the Red, Purple, and Gold lines. Return on Investment 3 Though tickets for most games can be bought through 3rd party sites below face value, prices remain among the highest in the bigs. Whether through the team’s main site or a 3rd party site, tickets for certain games can be purchased starting at $25. Otherwise expect your wallet to take a significant hit especially if entertaining a typical family of 4. Parking, if purchased in advance online or through the mobile app, is $30, otherwise $35 if purchased at the parking gate.  Because of the dynamic pricing system that has been put in place for over a decade, ticket prices for each individual game both on the primary site and 3rd party site can fluctuate at any moment's notice. With the addition of Shohei Ohtani and another team with deep October goals along with a passionate fan base that continuously leads the league in attendance, the cheapest tickets can run all the way up to $150 particularly on certain games during a highly sought giveaway night such as a Shohei Ohtani Bobblehead .    With the knowledge from the general public that ticket prices to certain, if not most, major sporting events will cost a pretty penny with dynamic pricing  all but eliminating the days when ticket prices for all scheduled games were the same throughout the season, should the “Return on Investment” really be factored in when discussing the venue? Especially when the consumer, in this case, the fan, is attending a game on a night when, say, that most coveted Shohei Ohtani Bobblehead is the giveaway? That’s up for debate. Extras 5 In past years Dodger Stadium did not offer much regarding displaying their storied history. That recently changed with the outfield plaza enhancements most notably in both pavilion areas. Fans can view memorabilia and displays paying tribute to Dodgers legends and sit in old stadium seats. Gold Glove Awards can also be viewed below the left field pavilion. Fans entering through the outfield plaza are greeted by the statues of Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax. Fans entering through the Top Deck entrance will walk through the Retired Numbers Plaza featuring statues of the iconic red numbers from the Dodgers uniforms of each Dodger who had the honor of having their number retired including recently retired number 34, belonging to the former legendary pitcher and longtime fan favorite Fernando Valenzuela. Another addition to the Top Deck before the start of the 2024 season is a historic Japanese stone lantern . Originally gifted to the Dodgers in 1965, the eight-foot-tall, 3,921-pound Kasuga-style stone lantern was presented to the Dodger organization by Japanese sports columnist Sotaro Suzuki, who is also a member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. Suzuki worked with team president Walter O’Malley on the Brooklyn Dodgers’ 1956 Goodwill Tour to Japan.   Japanese Stone Lantern, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Along with two baseball-themed playgrounds on the reserve level, another playground has been added behind the center field wall with protective netting above to protect kids from home run balls. Life-sized bobbleheads and other exhibits are spread throughout the stadium, including one of the legendary former manager Tommy Lasorda, located in the outfield plaza. Final Thoughts The mere presence of Shohei Ohtani has brought a level of excitement that you may say has matched the level that Fernando Valenzuela brought during the days of Fernandomania. Like Fernando and even Hideo Nomo during the mid to late 90’s, the fandom that Shohei brings to The Ravine come from all various walks of life. Recent enhancements throughout the third oldest yard in the Majors have made the Dodger Stadium experience much more accessible for fans wanting to experience as much of the historic venue and have assured us that Dodger Stadium will be the home to Dodger Baseball for many more years to come. Only 13 games have been postponed in its 62-year history so it’s all but a sure thing the game you attend will not be called due to rain. With its unique seating palette mimicking its original 1962 look, when you step inside Dodger Stadium, you’ll no doubt tell yourself colors, meant to evoke the sun, sand, ocean, and sky, really do give the 62-year-old gem a look, and experience, that’s like no other in baseball. Dodgers Japanese Players-Legends & New Stars, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey

Donnie Wise "The Mayor" joins us this week to discuss Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH) and its impact on Minor League Baseball (MiLB). DBH is a group that has acquired 35 MiLB teams, and its presence marks a significant shift in how minor league teams are owned and managed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast can be found by searching HIAC Talk Radio   wherever you look for your favorite podcasts. Video simulcasts of all the Stadium Journey podcasts can be found on Stadium Journey's YouTube page . Join us live as we record every other Monday on our social media streaming channels.

Photo by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey News broke on Thursday, September 12th that the San Antonio City Council approved a memorandum of understanding to build a new $160 million minor league baseball stadium in the city’s vibrant downtown area, as reported in the San Antonio Express-News . The move was made in order for the San Antonio Missions , the Alamo City’s current minor league franchise, to meet a deadline imposed by Major League Baseball (MLB) that required all current minor league teams to meet specific stadium guidelines by Opening Day of 2025 . Failing to do so could have cost the Missions and the city their franchise. Since 1994, the San Antonio Missions have played their home games at Nelson Wolff Municipal Stadium on the city’s west side. The team’s new owners, who purchased the franchise in 2022, have been working with city and county leaders on developing a plan for a new multi-purpose ballpark complex ever since, to meet MLB’s deadline. If all goes according to plan, funding for the ballpark will be financed by a combination city-county bond sale, which should be completed by November 2025, plus an equity contribution from the Missions ownership group of $34 million. This should allow for the construction and completion of the new stadium by the opening day of 2028. The new facility will have a capacity of approximately 7,500 to 8,000 – Wolff Stadium  currently has a capacity of over 9,000. ---- Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Alumni Stadium 26 Lang Way Guelph, ON N1G 2M7 Guelph Gryhons football website Alumni Stadium website Year Opened: 1970 Capacity: 8,500 Gryphon Pride In 1964 an amalgamation between the Ontario Agricultural College, Ontario Veterinary College and MacDonald Institute formed the University of Guelph.   The modern post-secondary institution welcomes over 29,000 enrolled students and sits in Guelph, Ontario, between Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo.  The OAC fielded its first football team in 1950 as the Aggies and would eventually become the Guelph Gryphons.  Typically a contending program, the Gryphons have brought home the Yates Cup as OUA conference champions four times (1984, 1992, 1996 and 2015) and the Vanier Cup as USports National Champions in 1984. Home for the Gryphons is Alumni Stadium.  Opened in 1970, and able to accommodate 8,500 fans, Alumni Stadium has seen a number of changes over the years to make it one of the best football facilities for USports in the country.  The latest renovation included a football pavilion with the largest donation coming from former coach Stu Lang, giving the Gryphons a new wrinkle for recruiting.  The University of Guelph does as much as possible with Alumni Stadium, and it is definitely a point of Gryphon Pride. Food & Beverage 3 Alumni Stadium does not offer a distinct concession stand within the facility.  However, the University of Guelph does create a unique “tailgate party” atmosphere on the opposite side of Lang Way during games.  A number of food trucks are in the square for fans to purchase food.  It is accessible during the game as well.  For the game that was reviewed, a Domino’s Pizza food truck and Mexican cuisine food truck were in attendance.  There are also trucks run by UofG food services.  They offer hot dogs, chips, soda, ice cream, chocolate, soft serve ice cream, freezies, pretzels and mini donuts.  Fans in the tented business/accessible seating are able to purchase alcohol. Atmosphere 4 The University of Guelph had done just about everything possible to make Alumni Stadium as good as it could possibly be.  The main grandstand was built in 1970, but has been well maintained with a full on black paint job with a massive Gryphons logo and other red and yellow accents.  It is not massive as compared to the huge stadiums in the NCAA, however it does have a presence.  The field is oriented from north to south and the grandstand is on the west side.  Lang Way is west on the other side of the grandstand and is closed off for the tailgate party, which is accessible after passing security and ticket scanning at the north side of the grounds.  One spot of note outside the stadium is Champions Corner.  Located at the northwest end, outside of the grandstand, Champions Corner features an embedded plaque for each championship the Gryphons have brought home, across the entire athletic department.  A feature such as this is unique to Guelph and not found at other universities in Canada.  On gameday, large inflated sock people welcome fans to the game from Champions Corner.  A small play field towards the south provides some pregame activities for fans to enjoy.  Also a photo op at the “Proud To Be A Gryphon” sign will complete the experience.  One of the player entrances into the stadium is labeled “Gryphon Door” sure to make Harry Potter fans happy.  A temporary table selling Gryphons swag is a spot to stop as well as having a seat at the massive Gryphons branded Muskoka Chair should be done before entering the stadium. Inside the field, the attention to detail remains with the grandstand well maintained with 33 rows of aluminum benches across five sections.  The field is surrounded by a full running track, pushing fans a little further from the action on the field than is ideal, however, it is not a big deal.  The east side of the field has berm seating, which should be open for the biggest games of the season.  The Gryphons also actively honour former players with honoured numbers on the east fence, visible from the grandstand.  Players with honoured jerseys include Sam Benincasa, Mark Brown, Parri Cici, Steve McKee, Mike Hudson, Gerry Organ, Mike Shoemaker, Kyle Walters, Jeremy Oxley, Nick Fitzgibbon and Mike O’Shea.  Although many schools honour past players in their athletic hall of fame, it is truly unique to view such honours from the grandstand.  Gameday also features a number of flags in the northeast corner for Gryphons who have won major awards.  The northeast corner also features Celebration Corner, with a large bell.  It looks like this is a new development and not part of the gameday production for the game that was reviewed. The gameday production at a Gryphons game is not overly unique.  The Gryphons mascot, Gryph, can be found roaming the crowd and interacting with fans and cheerleaders.  The cheer team does help rile up the crowd and cheers from the sidelines.  On Gryphon touchdowns, a student will run a lap of the track with a flag in tow, finishing off with 10 pushups which are counted down by the crowd and PA announcer. Neighbourhood 3 Alumni Stadium is located on the campus of the University of Guelph, south of downtown.  The immediate area is surrounded by campus buildings, residences and athletic facilities.  There are Tim Hortons and Starbucks locations on campus, but for fans wishing to find something with more substance, they will have to travel either north or south.  Some options that are not that far include Guelph BBQ, The Fat Duck, Bardo Guelph, Boathouse Tea Room or Royal Electric Bar. There are other sporting options to be found in Guelph.  The Gryphons field a full complement of teams including hockey  and basketball , which are on campus, just south of Alumni Stadium.  During the summertime the Guelph Royals  of IBL take the field.  However, probably the biggest draw is the Guelph Storm  of the OHL, who play downtown at the Sleeman Centre.  Other tourist options in Guelph included the Guelph Civic Museum, University of Guelph Arboretum, River Run Centre and the birth home of “In Flanders Fields” author, John McCrae.  Across the road from Alumni Stadium is Cutten Fields golf course.  For fans wishing to stay near the university, the Delta is a good option. Fans 3 Attendance for Gryphons football is very elastic, usually with anywhere from 1,000 to 8,000 fans.  Some factors include weather, and number of students on campus.  The homecoming game routinely sells out, however a game in late August, like the one that was reviewed, will have limited support due to the students not yet being on campus.  A Thanksgiving weekend game is also going to attract a limited number of fans.  The fans in attendance are supportive and can get loud at appropriate times.   Access 4 Alumni Stadium is located at the north end of the campus of the University of Guelph, surrounded by Lang Way, Ring Road and College Avenue.  Campus is south of Highway 7 and east of Highway 6 and it is not too difficult to get to, however, travelers will have to drive a bit through the city.  Parking can be found across College Ave, east of the stadium on Ring Road, or south of the stadium near the hockey arena.  Parking should be free on gameday.  For fans who wish to take public transit, there are Guelph Transit bus stops on College Ave and Gordon Street.  Fans should consult the Guelph Transit  website for fares, schedules and maps. Getting around the stadium is not too difficult, however the stairs in the grandstand and accessing the washrooms underneath may not be easy for those with mobility issues. Return on Investment 4 Gryphons football tickets go for $20.  University of Guelph students are free, staff are $5 and youth are $10.  VIP tickets run for $25.  Tickets will be $5 more expensive when purchased at the stadium on gameday.  Concession prices are decent and parking should be free.  The Gryphons put together one of the best gameday atmospheres for university football in Canada and catching a game will have fans leaving with a sense they got their money’s worth. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Gryphon Door. An extra mark for raising the facility bar in USports football. An extra mark for Alumni Stadium being the home for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats  of the CFL for one season while Tim Hortons Field was being built. Final Thoughts The Guelph Gryphons football program and their home at Alumni Stadium show that a USports football program can take a step to the next level and provide an atmosphere worthy of the school.  Whether student, alumni, fan or visitor, taking in a game at Alumni Stadium will definitely leave fans with a sense of Gryphon Pride. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 McLane Stadium S Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Waco, TX 76704 Baylor Bears website McLane Stadium website Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 45,140 McLane Stadium – 10 years of Baylor Football For a decade, Baylor University’s McLane Stadium has been home to the Baylor University football team – Baylor is a member of the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. On August 31, 2014 the Baylor Bears christened McLane Stadium with a 45-0 win over Southern Methodist University . McLane Stadium is one of three on-campus college football stadiums which are accessible by water, joining Washington’s Husky Stadium  and Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium . The stadium’s horseshoe infrastructure was designed by the well-known sports architecture firm Populous at a cost of $250 million, with a seating capacity of 45,140. The structure sits on the north side of Baylor’s campus off I-35, in the campus’ athletic complex. The venue was originally planned to be named Baylor Stadium until December 2013, when in honor of Baylor Alum Drayton McLane Jr., the stadium was renamed McLane Stadium. The stadium connects to campus via the Sheila and Walter Umphrey Pedestrian Bridge, which crosses the Brazos River.   Food & Beverage   3 There are plenty of food options inside McLane Stadium for any fan that needs to snack during the game, including the basic snacks like popcorn, pretzels, peanuts, chips, and candy at typical stadium prices. In addition, the Bear Zone features an array of choices such as nachos, chicken tenders, cheeseburgers, and hot dogs. If you’re a fan of a little more than the basics, Baylor has brought in outside vendors such as Rudy’s BBQ, offering beef sandwiches, pulled pork, and sausage wraps; a Chick-fil-A stand serving a $13.50 chicken tender basket; and Pizza Hut for fans that enjoy pizza or wings. In addition, the Mr. Beast Burger stand has a couple of interesting burgers. Besides the permanent stands, McLane Stadium also has mobile food carts that provide interesting food choices, such as Philly cheesesteak or French dip sandwiches, both served with kettle chips. In terms of beverages, McLane Stadium offers fans the choice of Pepsi products and of course Dr Pepper products, as Waco is the birthplace of Dr Pepper. Souvenir sodas come in at $6.50; other choices are $3.50 for bottled water and $5 for Gatorade. McLane Stadium doesn’t offer sales of alcohol, as no alcohol is allowed or sold on campus, but this doesn’t mean alcohol isn’t available on game days – just head to George’s Party Zone across MLK Jr. Blvd., which opens three hours before kickoff.   Atmosphere   4 Like every great college football game, the atmosphere begins outside the stadium, and that means tailgating. However, McLane Stadium now provides what only a few campuses can do with their game day atmosphere, and that is “sailgating”. Tailgaters get to set up tents all around the stadium grounds, as well as on the shores of the Brazos River, and some even tailgate in their boats. Touchdown Alley is located across the Basin Bridge, opening three hours prior to kickoff and closing about 30 minutes after kickoff. This area provides local radio and TV station coverage during pregame and has food, beverages, and various activities to keep fans entertained. The Bear Walk begins as the team buses roll up about two hours before kickoff; the Bear Walk provides fans with an opportunity to interact with the Baylor football team, with fans forming a pathway for the team to walk through from the buses to the stadium. In addition, the incoming freshmen in gold shirts, known as the “Baylor Line”, also add entertainment by rushing out onto the field before the players do, running across the field starting at the southeast corner, and forming a tunnel for the Baylor football team to run through when the players come onto the field. College football across the state of Texas always seems to have a tradition of being a great atmosphere, and Baylor University’s McLane Stadium is no exception. The up-tempo offense of the Baylor football team keeps Baylor fans on their feet and cheering throughout the game. Of course, the Baylor spirit squad and the Bears mascots, Bruiser and Marigold, keep the crowd entertained during timeouts, and at the end of the contest the Baylor Band performs a musical concert which is worth staying for, especially because that will give the heavy traffic time to clear out, while you enjoy the music.   Neighborhood   4 McLane Stadium lies just north of Baylor University’s campus, which is across the Brazos River in Waco. The stadium is nestled in the corner of I-35, Lake Brazos Pkwy/MLK Jr. Blvd, and the Brazos River – the Sheila and Walter Umphrey Pedestrian Bridge connects the stadium to campus. Just over the pedestrian bridge on the campus side, tailgating is done throughout Grant Teaff Plaza, and pre-game activities are set up around the Texas Hall of Fame and the Texas Rangers Museum. Brazos Landing, along the Brazos River, is the closest restaurant to McLane Stadium. However, Waco has numerous other restaurants to enjoy while attending a Baylor sporting event. One of the more popular is Vitek’s BBQ, which is on the south side of Baylor’s campus. Vitek’s BBQ is the home of the Gut Pack, which includes brisket, sausage, Fritos, and beans; if you decide on this dish you won’t need to eat for the rest of the day, as it is heavy and filling, but delicious. You should plan on arriving early, however; Vitek’s does serve outside as well as inside, but the wait can be long no matter which one you choose. Another choice for beer and BBQ is Terry Black’s on S. 8th Street in downtown Waco, and George’s Restaurant is also a popular place to meet before, during, or after a football game here. George’s has been serving Waco since 1930, and the crowds here are large, so be prepared to get there early. In addition, George’s has a beer tent across MLK Jr. Blvd from McLane Stadium, if you just want to have a drink. Although the restaurants aren’t exactly close to the stadium, Waco has so many wonderful restaurants that you’ll easily be able to find something that suits you. But if you want to do something in the neighborhood besides eat, there is the Dr Pepper Museum, which is open on Saturdays (as well as on other days). You’ll get to see how the popular Texas soft drink is produced, walk through its history, and even get your own Dr Pepper drink. Waco has also been popularized by Chip and Joanna Gaines, thru their TV show – you can visit their Magnolia Market or stop at their restaurant.  Or if you want to stay closer to the stadium, on Baylor’s campus you can visit the Bill & Eva Williams Bear Habitat, a habitat dedicated to black bears.   Fans   4 Baylor has a wonderful fan base, and McLane Stadium is one of the unique stadiums in the Big 12. The average attendance is always above 40,000 – the largest crowd to witness a game was 50,223 on November 16, 2019, versus Oklahoma. The fans that attend games at McLane Stadium are energetic, fun, polite, respectful, and knowledgeable. Also, Baylor University being the centerpiece of Waco, the city is decked out in green and gold, with the local shops decorated to show support for the Bears. If you can get to the homecoming game, then be sure to watch the homecoming parade through the streets of Waco. Baylor Bears fans are what you expect from big-time college football, yet offer a close family atmosphere, since the university is a 14,000-student undergraduate private school. The Baylor student section sits along the visitor sideline, and can be identified by their gold shirts – they stand for the whole game, and serve as the sparkplug for the energy inside McLane Stadium.   Access   3 There is plenty of parking for football games at McLane Stadium, even if you don’t have a pre-paid parking pass. There is paid parking across MLK Jr. Blvd near the stadium for $20, but if you get here early enough, residents in the neighborhoods around campus allow parking on their property for $10 to $20. However, the best advice for parking is to take advantage of the eighteen-hundred city of Waco downtown parking spaces, all within five miles of the stadium, and free. While most of these spaces are about a 15-minute walk from McLane Stadium, there are free shuttles for fans with pick-ups at 3rd Street & Franklin Avenue, and drop-offs on the south side of MLK Jr. Blvd & I-35. There also will be plenty of fans walking to the stadium, so you’ll arrive at McLane Stadium without being misdirected. The best advice for finding parking is not to wait; get there early and enjoy the game day atmosphere. Campus streets start closing 4 hours before kickoff, and parking lots open 3 hours prior. There is limited ADA/handicap parking, with a shuttle leaving from the Baylor Research & Innovation Collaborative (BRIC). In addition, since McLane Stadium has unique access in getting to the stadium (the Brazos River provides the ability to use a boat), I suggest reading the boating guidelines and rules on Baylor’s website if you plan on sailgating, or if you plan to get to the stadium via water. Once you get to McLane Stadium you will find eight gates into the stadium; gates A-D are for most of the seats, while the other four are for club/suite access.  The concourses at McLane Stadium are very spacious, and you can walk around the lower concourse while the game is going on without missing anything. However, the stadium is constructed in a horseshoe with a grass berm for general admission in the east end zone. This doesn’t allow fans to walk all the way around the lower level, so, you might find yourself having to turn around and walk back the way you came. The second level also has suites on the home side which prevent fans from walking the full horseshoe – this fact lowers the ‘Access’ score. McLane Stadium (like many others nowadays) has a no re-entry policy except for medical emergencies. Baylor University also has a clear bag policy – bags must be clear plastic vinyl or PVC and not exceed 12”x12”x6”, or you can bring a small clutch bag no larger than 4.5”x6.5”x3”.   Return on Investment   3 Sportscasters lists Baylor in the middle of the Big 12 Conference in terms of average ticket prices. Single-game ticket prices also vary at the Baylor box office depending on the opponent and on the availability. The cheapest price is the general admission section, priced at $15 or $50 depending on the opponent (general admission is located on the grass berm around the scoreboard, and doesn’t allow access to the rest of the stadium). The reserved seats range from $70 to $200, with most of the available tickets being in the upper 300 levels; fans who want lower-level seats should look at third-party ticket re-sellers.   Extras   3 McLane Stadium is a beautiful setting for college football, being situated on the Brazos River and not far from campus, which includes the Bill & Eva Williams Bear Habitat – the habitat provides educational awareness about black bears and is well worth a visit before or after a game. One of Baylor’s unique traditions is the Baylor Line – the Baylor Line in their gold shirts rush out onto the field to form a tunnel for the football team to run through, and also provide excitement, support, and stay until after the game, when ‘That Good Ole Baylor Line’ is played by the band. No other stadium can claim that their freshmen raise the game day atmosphere, but here at Baylor the freshman class is very active, and add tons of energy to the game day experience. The sailgating here at McLane Stadium, which fans at only a few college football stadiums can partake in, also adds to the experience. In addition, Baylor University recognizes their only Heisman Trophy winner, Robert Griffin III, with a mural inside the stadium and a statue on the plaza at the open end. Furthermore, Touchdown Alley (located just across the Basin Bridge) is built on top of the old Floyd Casey Stadium turf; the creativity of bringing that turf over to the new stadium to use as part of the game day atmosphere connects the past to the present.   Final Thoughts McLane Stadium has been a solid footprint to the success of Baylor football over the past 10 years. The game day atmosphere provides a wonderful day for football fans, and the intimate construction of the stadium provides one of the best sidelines in the Big 12 Conference. Attending a Baylor football game at McLane Stadium in the fall makes a trip to Waco complete.