Photos by John Severs and Brydon Coughlin , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Joe Etzel Field 5000 North Willamette Blvd Portland, OR 97203 Portland Pilots website Joe Etzel Field website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 1,000 Portland Baseball Portland has a strong baseball history, despite never having a Major League team. The city has hosted numerous independent and developmental teams, but with Triple A’s Portland Beavers leaving the city a few years ago, the options available to take in a ball game are limited. The University of Portland is still carrying the torch for baseball in the City of Roses, with the Pilots hosting games at Joe Etzel Field. The stadium is named after the Pilots longtime coach, who led the team for 21 seasons. Later, he also assumed the role of the university’s athletic director. During his tenure, the Pilots developed into a solid midlevel program, and have reached NCAA Regionals on a few occasions. Situated in the north of Portland, in the University Park neighborhood, Joe Etzel Field is on the verge of some big changes. The Pilots have called the stadium home for 30-plus seasons, and while it has seen upgrades over the years, it will go through a big renovation in 2020. So, it’s an excellent time to take one last look at Joe Etzel Field. Food & Beverage 2 It’s classic ballpark fare, it tastes good, and includes hot dogs, chili, nachos, and combinations thereof. It would be nice if there were a bit more. At the very least, there should be peanuts and cracker jacks. Beer and wine are accessible from the concession stand, featuring local Oregon brewery Buoy Beer Company. Coors is also available, and the wine is sourced locally. Atmosphere 4 The stadium itself is a simple, classic layout. Plastic seats behind the home plate, and metal bleachers along the first and third baselines. All of the seating is comfortable, and there are no bad lines of site. Despite its age, the stadium is in pristine condition. Every line of sight is fantastic, and the stadium itself is gorgeous. The trees lining the walls of the stadium produce a gorgeous view. Regardless of the quality of the game, Joe Etzel Field is a sight to see. There are some downsides. Due to the stadium’s size, there is no outfield seating. There are no bathrooms in the stadium itself, which is relegated to either port-a-potties or the nearby Chiles Center. It’s inconvenient, and as the stadium is expanded that is something that should be addressed. Overall though, the ballpark delivers a very nostalgic experience. There are not a lot of bells and whistles, but the park doesn’t need any of that. It’s just a great spot to catch a ballgame. Neighborhood 5 Joe Etzel Field is situated right on the edge of the university, in the University Park neighborhood, on the northern end of Portland. The neighborhood grew around the original Portland University, though the campus sat vacant for a time before the Catholic Church purchased the buildings and founded the modern-day university. It is a small, private university, with a student body of around 4,000. Sitting on a bluff overlooking the Willamette River, the area provides several scenic vistas, and if you have time for a walk before the game, it’ll be a beautiful one. University Park shares the rest of the city’s reputation for great food, including The Drunken Noodle for Thai, Homegrown Smoker for barbecue, and Flying Pie for pizza. There are also plenty of chains if you’re looking for something familiar. With the field not far from downtown Portland, there is a lot to see if you’re willing to make a drive into the city. Fans 3 Pilots fans come out for the team, and when the team comes alive, so does the crowd. It’s not the biggest crowd, and with the stadium expanding soon they’ll have to find a way to start packing the seats or the stands may look pretty barren. Access 3 The stadium is easy to find, not too far off of I-5, and only about 15 minutes north of downtown Portland. There’s a bit of parking at the stadium but finding parking on the streets nearby shouldn’t be much of a problem. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are only $6, $4 for students and children. The food is inexpensive, and there’s not a bad seat in the house. It’s an excellent experience for the cost. Extras 2 Free programs and stat cards are provided for each game. Final Thoughts Joe Etzel Field is a simple but well-designed stadium that delivers a classic experience. Next year’s upgrades should only improve on that.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.00 John W. Smithson Field N Latchs Ln Merion Station, PA 19066 St. Joseph’s Hawks website John W. Smithson Field website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 400 The Hawks’ Nest Since 1958, St. Joseph’s University has played their home baseball games off campus, even as far as the former Campbell’s Field in Camden, NJ. But with the 2008 addition of the Maguire Campus, St. Joseph has been able to add new athletic facilities, as well as academic buildings. John W. Smithson Field now serves as the home of the baseball program after opening in 2012. St. Joseph’s University is a Roman Catholic Jesuit university located at the crossroads of the Wynnefield neighborhood of Philadelphia and Lower Merion Township. The university straddles Route 1, with a pedestrian bridge connecting both parts of the campus. The baseball field is technically located in Merion Station, PA. The athletic programs of St. Joseph are part of the Atlantic 10 Conference. This conference, many in the northeast, is not considered a hotbed of baseball. but you may see some competitive teams in this league. Food & Beverage 0 There are no food options at Smithson Field. Bring your own food if you wish to enjoy anything. A single soft drink machine is located in the basement of the local athletic building. The only bathroom is located here, and a guard has to let you in for access. Atmosphere 2 The three sections of stands are very small, but sound tends to travel with the sheltered design. You can also view the game standing along the various fences surrounding the field. A personal favorite is the small abutment near the first base foul pole heading towards the elevated bullpens. Neighborhood 4 The university is located in a nice area of town. There are large gothic-style houses and buildings in the area. You can see some of these buildings from the field itself, and they offer a pleasant view. St. Joseph University is located on the Main Line in Philadelphia. This area has some of the wealthiest towns in the country, including Lower Merion, Radnor, and Gladwyne. There is nothing right near the baseball field besides these houses. If you walk back to the main part of campus, there are some nice shopping and restaurants nearby. Larry’s Steaks offers traditional Philly cheesesteaks across from the Hagan Arena. That is a good option for food, although a true Philadelphia native may prefer their own cheesesteak establishment instead. In the same block is a large parking structure that has the college bookstore in its ground floor. Next to this, and also in the ground floor of the garage, is Landmark Americana, which is a great option for post-game eating. This restaurant offers a nice choice of meals and has a large bar, as well. For Saturday games, look out for the $10 all-you-can-eat wings special. They also offer numerous drink specials at the bar. Wayne, PA is another popular area to explore before games. Pipeline Tacos and Teresa’s Next Door are good options for food and drink respectively. Of course, the city of Philadelphia is close by so many options exist in that large city. May I suggest Philip’s Steaks at 2234 West Passyunk Avenue if you want to try a cheesesteak away from Larry’s? Fans 2 I attended both a morning home game, as well as an afternoon game with two visiting teams as part of the Big 5 Baseball Bash. It was also spring break. Both games were well-attended but clearly with family members only. I would doubt this would be much different during regular semesters, as the field is a bit separated from other campus activities. Access 2 St, Joseph’s is not too difficult to get to, as it is located close to exit 339 off Interstate 76 and right off of US Route 1. But the baseball stadium is another matter. Public transportation is close by as you can take a SEPTA train from 30th Street Station in downtown Philadelphia to the area. Check the schedules for night and weekend games. If following directions via GPS, you will be routed directly outside of the field, but you will find there is no parking nearby. Your best bet is to park in the parking garage across from Hagan Arena and walk over. A shuttle to the game is supposedly available, but I never saw it. If you walk around the Maguire Campus long enough you will find the field tucked away in the far corner. Return on Investment 3 It is free to get into Smithson Field. The seats are close to the action and the view from the field is nice, so it is a fair cost, even if you do end up paying to park. Extras 1 The neighborhood surrounding the field has some pretty impressive houses. If you are into architecture or just enjoy the houses of the rich and famous, you will enjoy this. Final Thoughts This is a nice, simple ballpark offering good baseball with little frills. Don’t go out of your way to attend, but if in the direct area, it may be a good place to spend a nice afternoon.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Johnny Unitas Stadium 7500 Osler Dr Towson, MD 21252 Towson Tigers website Johnny Unitas Stadium website Year Opened: 1978 Capacity: 11,198 Johnny U Stadium at Towson U Located on the campus of Towson University in the Baltimore suburbs, Johnny Unitas Stadium plays host to the Tigers’ football, lacrosse, and track & field programs. The stadium seats just over 11,000 and underwent major renovations in 2002, when additional seating, artificial turf, and other enhancements were added. The stadium is located in the same complex as several other Towson athletic facilities, including SECU Arena, home of the Tigers’ basketball teams, and Tiger Field, home of the soccer program. College lacrosse is huge in the State of Maryland, where it is the official state team sport (but not the official state sport, which is jousting) and Towson is just one of several teams in the Baltimore area. The Tigers have consistently ranked towards the top of the NCAA in lacrosse attendance, which considering how passionate this city is about the sport, should come as no surprise. Food & Beverage 2 There is one concession stand open in the corner of the concourse during Tiger lacrosse games which sells a limited menu. There is a second stand in the other corner open during football games, but due to the lower attendance numbers, it is not normally open for lacrosse. The only thing that could plausibly make a meal is a hot dog for $5, with various snacks including chips, candy, and hot pretzels as well as bottled water and Pepsi products. Atmosphere 5 Some of the best college lacrosse in the country can be found in Maryland, and a Towson game is no exception. The marching band was in attendance, and although they mainly played during breaks in the action due to NCAA regulations, they started chants at other times during the game to get the crowd into it. Although somewhat limited due to the pandemic, Towson still manages to create a great atmosphere here. As for the stadium itself, typically only one side of the stadium is open for lacrosse games due to lower attendance than football. When we went, only the north side was open with the south side just occupied by the band. There is a large video board behind one goal that also shows some additional statistics and a smaller scoreboard behind the other goal. All seats are bleachers with backs except for a few chairbacks on the south side which are not available for lacrosse games as previously noted. Neighborhood 3 Johnny Unitas Stadium is located on the south part of campus, and there is not much in the immediate vicinity other than other athletic facilities. However, Towson is a decent suburban area and Baltimore is a short drive away and offers plenty more options. Whether there is anything within walking distance depends on how far you are willing to walk, but there are plenty of options, both chain and local, along York Road. The Charles Village Pub and The Greene Turtle are both local favorites, but unless you’re willing to walk half an hour each way, you will need to drive a short distance. The Towson Town Center shopping mall is also nearby. Fans 5 The Tigers average about 2,000 fans a game, which consistently ranks them towards the top of the NCAA. Fans who show up are still passionate and loud throughout the game. If the Tigers are playing another Baltimore school, or a regional opponent like Maryland or Delaware, expect a lot of visiting fans as well. On the one hand, this enhances the stadium atmosphere, but on the other hand, it can almost feel like you’re attending a game at a neutral site at times due to all the away fans in attendance. Access 4 Towson is located just off I-695, the Baltimore Beltway. Take Exit 25 and after driving for a few miles, you will arrive on campus. Parking is free in numerous lots surrounding the stadium. Your best bet is to park in Lot 13 since that will put you right at the entrance to the stadium, but if that lot fills up, you should park in another lot on the north side of the stadium, since the north gates are the only ones open for lacrosse. In the unlikely event all those lots fill up, there is ample parking available elsewhere in the vicinity of the stadium, but you may have to walk around the outside of the stadium to get where you need to go to get in. There are restrooms in both corners of the concourse by the concession stands and although only one concession stand will be open, both sets of restrooms will be. They are of ample size for the crowd. The concourse is wide and allows enough space for fans to get around, plus it provides a view of the field which isn’t always the case at other places. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for youth and seniors, which is comparable to other top programs in the area. Although you may be able to find less expensive or even free tickets elsewhere in Division I, you get what you pay for really. Throw in the free parking and affordable concessions and this is a great value. Extras 2 The marching band adds a lot to the gameday experience, and while they don’t actually march as they do for football, they are still an incredible enhancement to the atmosphere. There is a Wall of Excellence outside the stadium which honors great Towson teams in football, lacrosse, and track who have played in the stadium. Keep in mind, however, that this is outside the stadium and there is a no re-entry policy, so you will have to look at it before you enter or after you leave. Final Thoughts Baltimore may be the best city in the country for college lacrosse, and a Towson game will tell you exactly why that is. Tiger fans are passionate about their team and a game here has an electric atmosphere. Between the band, the fans, and the beauty of a stadium, lacrosse fans visiting the Baltimore area will want to seriously consider visiting Johnny Unitas Stadium. The only reason it isn’t a “must-see” is that there are so many other great lacrosse venues in this area that a fan visiting for a limited amount of time may not be able to see them all.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Johnson Hagood Stadium 68 Hagood Ave Charleston, SC 29403 The Citadel Bulldogs website Johnson Hagood Stadium website Year Opened: 1948 Capacity: 11,500 Precision & Pageantry Home of The Citadel Bulldogs, Johnson Hagood Stadium opened in 1948 and is named after Brigadier General Johnson Hagood, CSA, who commanded Confederate forces in Charleston during the Civil War and later became Governor of South Carolina. The venue opened with a capacity of over 22K, but a couple of years ago the college determined that the east stands were badly in need of repair, leading to their demolition and the subsequent placement of temporary bleachers in their place, giving Johnson Hagood Stadium a current capacity of 11,500. The Citadel is currently raising funds to build new stands on that side, which when completed will raise the capacity to about 14K. The stadium is nicknamed, The General. Food & Beverage 4 Johnson Hagood Stadium offers a strong selection of concessions items from a mix of regular stands and food carts; the prices are slightly higher than average for this level of football, and lines can get a bit long during big games, especially during halftime. Under the main grandstand (west side) there are two large concessions stands which offer a range of items such as burgers, pulled pork, brisket, tacos, grilled chicken sandwiches, corn dogs, and bowls of mac ‘n cheese for $5 to $12, plus snacks such as popcorn, packaged candy, and pretzels for $2 to $5. There is also a smaller Papa John’s stand here that sells slices for $4 each, and just outside the main stands (near the south end zone) there is a food cart featuring some of the same snacks as the main stands, but adding Dippin’ Dots and funnel cake, as well as drinks. There is nothing on the far side except a beer cart, but not very many fans sit over there anyway (only a couple of hundred). Drink options at Johnson Hagood Stadium include beer and wine/spritzers starting at $5, as well as sodas, bottled water, and lemonade starting at $3. Atmosphere 5 Pageantry is one of the key elements in college football, and nowhere is it more in evidence than at The Military College of South Carolina – from the cadets marching in formation to the raising of the American flag before the national anthem, from the artillery pieces in the northeast corner to the team coming onto the field amid a haze of blue and white smoke, and from the bulldog statue in the northwest corner to the Corps’ Regimental Band and Pipes, college football doesn’t get any better than this. The atmosphere is punctuated by the presence of the cadets; smartly dressed complete with caps and sitting en mass in the southwest corner, the cadets march in by company before the game and form a tunnel for the team to run through as they take the field, drumming their arms the whole time, wave their caps in unison during kickoffs, and cheer loudly throughout the game in support of their Bulldogs. The artillery is also fired off every time The Citadel scores (even after extra points), and the cheer squad runs across the end zone waving their flags, most notably the large light blue standard emblazoned with the old-school looking Bulldogs logo. The architecture is also impressive, with its castle-esque look evocative of the college’s namesake, and of course t-shirts are thrown out into the crowd to keep the fans engaged. In addition, during special occasions such as Homecoming, former cadets wearing matching shirts based on class year are invited to march onto the field during pregame, to stand in solidarity with the current class of cadets. The pageantry you will experience at Johnson Hagood Stadium definitely makes it worthwhile to visit Charleston for Bulldogs football. Neighborhood 5 There are plenty of restaurants near Johnson Hagood Stadium, ranging from fast food to seafood and Italian; two within walking distance of the facility are Purlieu, specializing in French cuisine, and Harold’s Cabin which offers local fare plus a coffee bar. There are also numerous other nearby choices, from upscale eateries and wine bars (including vegan options) to more low-key pizza and beer joints. If you plan to be in town for the day or weekend, there are also plenty of historical sites to take in; the first shots of the Civil War were fired right here in Charleston at Fort Sumter, or for more recent naval history check out Patriots Point, where the main attraction is the WWII aircraft carrier USS Lexington. The H.L. Hunley, the first combat submarine to sink an enemy warship, is also on display in North Charleston; in fact, the site of Johnson Hagood Stadium itself was the original burial site for some of the sailors who served on the Hunley – their remains were mistakenly covered over when the stadium was constructed, and were subsequently moved to Magnolia Cemetery when the remains were found by historians in 1999. Fans 4 Led by the uniformed cadets, the fans at Bulldogs games are absolutely stellar – they are loud and proud of their team. Most of them wear team gear and cheer on their Bulldogs with an uncommon passion, and the tailgating scene stretches all around three sides of the stadium, and a good ways down Fishburne Street. The only drawback is that there are just not enough of them at typical games, although they do show up for big games. As a result, the college has struggled to replace the now defunct west stands, since the staff is uncertain if the seats will be able to be filled. Access 4 There are multiple parking lots around the stadium, a couple on the back side but mostly along Fishburne Street; most of them require a pass but at least one is a cash lot. However, if you don’t arrive early you may be out of luck, as these lots fill up pretty quickly, which means you may have to drive around and find some parking on the street, which of course gets scarcer as kickoff approaches. There are a couple of sections nearby which seem a little rundown and perhaps a little sketchy to park in, but I noticed several high-end vehicles even in those sections, so it seems like the presence of a military college a mere few blocks away makes fans feel perfectly safe. Once you get inside the stadium moving around the concourse is easy enough, and you can walk across the south end zone to get to the visitors side if you want, and a handful of fans even watch from the fence on that side. Concessions lines can get a little backed up, but there are plenty of bathrooms and plenty of space otherwise, so you don’t have to stand elbow-to-elbow. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to football games at Johnson Hagood Stadium are a little on the high side for this level of football (FCS), starting at $32 for general admission, and parking and concessions are also slightly higher than average. So this will not be the cheapest football game you can find in the area, especially if you have a large crew, but the experience definitely makes up for it. You might be able to get cheaper tickets from a third-party reseller, however, or you may be able to take advantage of a Bulldogs ticket promotion. Extras 4 The architecture here is pretty grand and ornate, and having the cadets in the stadium with you really adds to the experience – seeing a military unit march in is always impressive, and having the Regimental Band and Pipes perform during halftime is enjoyable to watch, even though the band is on the small side. The smoke that streams out when the team comes onto the field is a nice touch, as are the flag bearers swinging the state flag and The Citadel banners. And as an added bonus, having real artillery fire during the game to commemorate home team scores cannot be discounted. Final Thoughts Some FCS stadiums are better than others, and this is certainly one of them – even if you are not in the local area this is one college football venue that is worth a look, even if you have to make a bit of a drive to get here. The city of Charleston itself is also a great tourist destination, especially in the fall when it is not quite so hot, so make a weekend of it and come on down to Johnson Hagood Stadium.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Jones Convocation Center 9501 S King Dr Chicago, IL 60628 Chicago State Cougars basketball Jones Convocation Center website Year Opened: 2007 Capacity: 7,000 The Jones Convention Center is the Cougar Den The Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center is a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena home to the Chicago State University Cougars basketball program. The $47 million used to construct the venue was allocated from the State of Illinois treasury by then-Senate President Emil Jones. It is an impressive facility that stands proudly on campus adjacent to its baseball field. The Cougars men’s program has the distinction of being the easternmost team in the Western Athletic Conference. The school joined the program in 2013 and its closest rival school is UM Kansas City followed by UT Rio Grande Valley. Before moving to NCAA Division I the program operated in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Cougars won the Great West Conference Tournament championship in 2013 to earn an automatic bid to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. The team had also appeared in three NAIA Tournaments placing third in 1984. Before the JCC was built the Cougars played at the 2,500-seat Dickens Athletic Center that was built in 1971. The basketball program began in 1966 when the school was still called Chicago Teachers College before adopting its name the following year. Food & Beverage 2 The food and beverage consists of one concession stand serving nachos, hot dogs, and chips. The food looks as if it was prepared off-site and brought in by aluminum serving plates. There are more concession areas but they were closed during the game. However, the facility has a piece of paper with beverage options that include Bud, Miller, and Coors products for $5 along with spirits: Hennessey, Malibu, Bacardi, and Courvoisier for $8-$9. Atmosphere 2 It’s hard to generate much of an atmosphere in a 7,000-capacity facility with well under 150 people watching the game. It’s a beautiful facility with great seating dimensions and plenty of room to move around that one could only wonder, when full, what that may be like. However, it appears that many games at home offer a similar feeling as was the case for this afternoon’s contest. Many other teams play under similar conditions–I was at one last month–but with enough time to ponder around the nearly soulless arena, there are many key elements to a great college basketball game that are missing. There is no presence of a band, a team mascot, or a dance or cheer squad anywhere in sight. A student section, which could add a lot of noise all by itself, is also missing from the contest. Several banners are hanging from the rafters that add a nice touch and its video board hanging from above center court is first-rate. The building itself, from its interior, is impressive but several of its doors were locked making several attempts to get inside the main lobby. The lobby is spacious and features a curved ramp leading to the gym's upper levels. What you will get at a game like this is the option to sit wherever you like and be as close as possible to the action on the court. You’ll hear all the players, the squeaks of their sneakers, the bounce of the ball against the court, and the chairs from the bench. Also, the fans that are in the stands make you appreciate how hard they cheer and desire their home club to win. Neighborhood 2 The campus is at Roseland University. There are many restaurants within a few blocks of the university and including The Caribbean Jerk Palace, The Crazy Crab, Jack’s Famous Chicken and Subs, and Ware Ranch Steak House. Argus Brewery is nearby and offers tours on Saturdays including all you can drink while you venture around its impressive brewery and building. Another brewery is about 5 miles from campus called Horse Thief Hollow. Downtown is about a 20-minute drive or 45-minute ride on the Red Line presenting access to Millenium Park, the Magnificent Mile, the Theater District, and other spots in the area. Fans 3 The die-hards at the game cheer every basket and every defensive stop possible during the contest. They show unbridled passion unmatched because they are here for the primary purpose of supporting the players in hoping that the Cougars can find a way to win. There is nothing more but the game itself leading them to today’s contest. Access 3 The campus is right off I-57 but one has to exit before getting to the campus and driving through the neighborhood that features road conditions that can use repairs. The same could be said once you enter the campus but once inside one should have no trouble finding their seat, bathrooms, and the one concession stand. Return on Investment 2 Floor seats for all home games are $20, general admission prices are $10, and senior citizen tickets are $5. The parking is free and there is plenty around the building but when games are attended by just a few fans Chicago State Cougars game is merely for the die-hard college basketball fan. Extras 2 The gymnasium itself is very beautiful and impressive for the college. It’s a perfect venue if the team could ever attract 5,000 fans to the game and maybe one day they will and we’ll look back at these times as the early pioneering days of Chicago State basketball. Any building that can supply banners hanging from the rafters earns a point for me and this arena has a few of them to add a nice touch to the proceedings. Final Thoughts The Jones Convention Center – it’s a beautiful building and could be a wonderful place for basketball once the college program develops a fan base and a following throughout the area. Those days are not there yet and attending a game is merely for the true basketball fan. In a city where there are plenty of other sporting event options, including college basketball, the Jones Convention Center may not make the top of your list. ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 1.86 Jordan Field 65 North Harvard Avenue Boston, MA 02134 Harvard Crimson website Jordan Field website Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 4,100 In the Shadow of History Jordan Field opened in 2010, and sits literally in the shadow of Harvard’s football stadium in Boston, MA – the venerable football stadium can be seen in the background, and is actually open to the public; plenty of joggers and other athletes can be found inside running the steps or walking around the concrete stands, and several Harvard athletics team use the field itself for practice. But back to Jordan Field – the venue is a multipurpose field used by Harvard’s men’s and women’s soccer teams, and also by Harvard’s men and women’s lacrosse teams. The facility holds 4,100 fans and has two grandstands – one behind one of the end zones, and the other along one of the sidelines. Food & Beverage 0 There are no concessions offered at Jordan Field. Atmosphere 1 Jordan Field is nice enough, with a basic electronic scoreboard and decent bleacher seating, with plenty of Harvard signage around the field. But attendance is very low, and there aren’t any amenities or entertainment here – just the soccer itself to keep you occupied. Neighborhood 5 The main part of Harvard’s campus is on the other side of the Charles River in Cambridge, while the athletic fields are all clustered on this side, which is technically part of Boston. Jordan Field itself is surrounded by Harvard’s baseball stadium , softball stadium, hockey center , tennis center, and the aforementioned football stadium, with the track, pool, and other athletics fields a little further out. There are plenty of great restaurants just across the river in Cambridge, mainly to the south of the main campus. Two interesting spots are Night Market, which is a funky little place that serves Asian food, and Alden & Harlow, which offers upscale American fare. There are also plenty of hotels in the area, but they tend to be very pricey, as you might expect – the closest to Jordan Field is Studio Allston Hotel, which is practically within walking distance of the soccer field, while Farrington Inn is a little further away, but about half the price per night. If you plan to be in town for the day or for the weekend, there is plenty to do in the Boston area. The Freedom Trail is arguably the most popular, with stops along it including Boston Common, Faneuil Hall, the Bunker Hill Monument, Paul Revere House, and the Old North Church. You can also visit the site of the Boston Tea Party, or go on a whale watch out of Boston Harbor. If you are coming to Boston for any reason, it is recommended planning to spend at least a couple of days in town, so you have time to take in some of the wonderful history here. Fans 1 Women’s soccer games are less well-attended than the men’s games, but very few fans show up at either, especially depending on what time of day the game is. Access 3 Traffic in the Boston area is pretty hairy as you might expect, and parking near Jordan Field is difficult. There are a few spots nearby, but they are metered or require a parking permit, so you’ll have to park there at your own risk. Most people who attend games here park further away and walk in – there is visitor parking on the other side of the football stadium (next to Harvard Business School), so that might be your best bet, but depending on the time of day you might spend $10 per hour. Return on Investment 2 It doesn’t cost anything to attend soccer games at Jordan Field, so that is a plus, but there are no amenities here either. If you are looking for something to do while in Boston, or you know someone on the team (or maybe your team is playing on the road here), seeing a game here might be worthwhile. But if you are just looking for a game, there are other sporting events in the area that would be more enjoyable. Extras 1 If you come to a game at Jordan Field, be sure to snap some photos of the historic football stadium, or go inside Harvard Stadium and walk around – you can actually get some pretty good views of the soccer field from inside.

Photos by Daniel Armstrong, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Kazan Arena pr. Khusaina Yamasheva, 115 Kazan, Russia 421001 Russia Rubin Kazan website Kazan Arena website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 45,000 Kazan Arena Kazan Arena is the biggest stadium in Kazan, the largest city and capital of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan. The 45,000-seat arena was built in 2013 and is the home ground of Russian Premier League side FC Rubin Kazan. Food & Beverage 4 The price of food is a pleasant surprise for fans. Most snacks come in cheap combos such as pizza with tea/coffee for 100 rubles ($1.50). But, if you fancy embracing a little local culture, you can swap your pizza for Öçpoçmaq (pronounced Ech-poch-mak) – a popular minced beef and onion triangular Tatar pastry. A hot dog or sandwich with tea/coffee will set you back 200 rubles ($3), KitKats, chocolate nuts and a single cup of tea or coffee are all priced at 50 rubles (75 cents) and sparkling water will set you back 100 rubles. Atmosphere 4 The nature of Russian football dictates that the contemporary structure and layout of Kazan Arena do not compromise the atmosphere. The ultras (or ‘fanati’) stand in designated fan stand areas in the north and south stand, at the front of which they hang banners with chosen messages. Throughout the match fans illuminate the match with flares and test the acoustics with bare-chested chants, rhythmic jumping and even dancing in the aisles. Neighborhood 5 Due its central location, the neighbourhood around Kazan Arena is the centre of Kazan itself. Kazan is recognised as one of the most beautiful cities in Russia and boasts its own Kremlin (Russian for ‘citadel’) built in the 15th century. It also has strong Islamic origins, underlined emphatically by the 16th century Qolşärif Mosque within the Kremlin walls. There is an unmistakable pride in Tatar tradition. Although the Republic is unequivocally part of the Russian Federation it still clings tightly to its identity. The Republic is the only region in Russia to have a president other than Vladimir Putin. The Tatar language – spoken by 6.5 million native speakers – even forms part of the Turkic family as opposed to Russian’s East Slavic grouping. If you want to experience what life is like in one of Russia’s ethnic regions, there are few more colourful places to do it than Kazan. A great hotel/hostel is Loft project Etazhi on Ligovsky Prospekt. It’s a complex including art exhibition space, a cafe, a bar and a great roof view. Pubs, bars and restaurants can be found in abundance on Rubinsteiner Street just of Nevsky (Barcelona bar is a great shout). Those who prefer a more raw Russian night out can visit Dumskaya Ulitsa just adjacent to Kazanskiy sobor or the collection of bars on Ligovsky 50. Bar Griboyedova on Konstantina Zaslonova Ulitsa has a cool eatery and bar on a hill with a nightclub built into an old Soviet bunker too. Fans 4 Each set of ultras in the Kazan Arena fill ‘fan stands’ facing each other. The club has had decent success in recent years, but will only average around 12,000 fans per match, placing them near the middle in the Russian Premier League. Access 4 Kazan Arena is located on the banks of the Kazanka River in the east of central Kazan. It is largely accessible thanks to the Khusain Yamashev highway – named in honour of the Russian revolutionary and first Tatar Bolshevik – and a network of roads nearby. There are large car parks which, ironically do not work on matchdays. There are, however, apartment blocks opposite where it is possible to park. Disabled access is available but limited and fans must pass through two ticket checks including baggage inspection before entering. You can get to Kazan from Moscow by rail. Trains run every couple of hours daily and make the 800km journey in a handy 12 hours. The cheapest (platzkart) ticket costs around 2,000 ($30.30) and generously permits you to one space in a four-bed carriage. Return on Investment 4 Kazan Arena is one of the best stadiums in Russia and offers a glimpse of what Russia has to offer fans at the FIFA World Cup in 2018. The facilities are impressive and refreshments are cheap, although whether these prices will remain when the competition comes around is up for debate. Nevertheless return on investment is high even if it is just for the chance to see Kazan on a sunny day – if you’re lucky. Extras 3 As well as being the home stadium of Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan, the Kazan Arena doubles as the venue for the Russian Cup final held in early May. The stadium is also one of twelve stadiums to be used for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup. The outside of the West Stand has a screen which is used to show advertisements, information and most importantly of all footage of the sporting event taking place inside.

Photos by Benjamin Evensen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 KeyArena 305 Harrison St Seattle, WA 98109 Seattle Redhawks website KeyArena website Year Opened: 1962 Capacity: 17,072 Seattle’s Second School Editors Note: The Climate Pledge Arena stands in the footprint of the former Key Arena, with the roof being the only portion of the former arena being preserved. --- Seattle University re-upgraded to Division I in 2008, and only in 2012 did they fully complete the upgrade process. They are full members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), and play their home games at KeyArena just a few miles from their campus, in downtown Seattle, Washington. KeyArena was built in 1962 for the World’s Fair at Seattle Center. It is most famous for housing the Seattle Sonics from 1967 up until their move to Oklahoma City in 2008. It currently is home to the Seattle Redhawks, and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. It also hosts numerous concerts. KeyArena’s age has been well documented before. It is old, and lacks the seating capacity for an NBA franchise (it seats 17,000). Once the Sonics left for OKC, many plans for the arena have been passed around, including renovating it to make it smaller, and even destroying it. Key Bank hasn’t paid for the naming rights in years but the Key Bank logo is still on the top of the roof. Food & Beverage 1 When you leave your seat and walk around KeyArena, many of the concession stands are closed and take a long walk to get to. They are very expensive for a mid-major school as Coke products are $4.50 for a bottle, candy is $5 and the only food available are chicken strips, burgers, sandwiches, etc. that cost $12.50 and upwards. The only positive thing is the very short lines. Atmosphere 3 KeyArena has played host to the NBA Finals, WNBA Championship, and many other big events. It was home to the Seattle SuperSonics, who played 33 of their 41 years there. But those days are long gone, and so are all the visible signs of what KeyArena used to mean. The rafters now hold only banners of the Seattle Storm’s achievements, including two WNBA Championships. Seattle University hasn’t accomplished anything in their short time since rejoining the Division I level, but they did make an appearance in the Final Four, and were runners-up in 1958. There is only a banner hung temporarily at the east entrance for the Final Four year. The seats are mediocre and a little old, but the fans are into it and can be loud. The PA announcer is very into the game, with enthusiastic ways to identify a player. The player intros before the game are worth seeing too, as the entire arena goes dark with spotlights and background music. The upper level is curtained off leaving just the lower level and suites open to the tune of about 8,000 seats. Seattle has averaged around 2,000 fans in recent years so the emptiness isn’t ideal. While the fan interaction is nice, the arena feels a bit dated at times, and just too big for the type of game you are watching. But it could be a lot worse and the history of the building is a plus. Neighborhood 5 KeyArena is located right under Seattle’s iconic Space Needle, so if you have the money, a ride to the top gives you an amazing view. Famous Seattle burger joint “Dick’s Drive-In” is located just a quick walk away from the arena (however, this is the one Dick’s that is not actually a drive-in). The arena is very close to everything Seattle has to offer, including the waterfront, and Pike’s Place Market. If you come with a few hours to spare before the game, almost everything Seattle is famous for is within about a 10 minute drive. If walking is your only option though, there are numerous bars and restaurants all just a few blocks from KeyArena. There should be no problem finding something everyone can enjoy. Fans 2 Seattle University will likely never pass the other local more nationally known school in popularity in the Seattle area, the University of Washington, . While the Redhawks have yet to find success in their short time at the D-I level, they struggle to sell tickets to their games. The upper deck of KeyArena is closed off, and the lower level is about 20% full most games. With open seating, the midcourt sections are always pretty full. The crowd seems to mainly consist of alumni and their kids, the players’ families, and the small group of alumni called the “Madgrads” who sit by the visitor’s bench and heckle the opposing team throughout the game. There is a student section that was completely empty and many games have been like this playing at an off-campus arena. However, the fans do follow the game closely. They are quick to show their disagreement with a bad call by a referee, and can become very loud when the game is close, or a player has an amazing play. While they may be small in numbers, the fans that come do appear to be into the game and have a passion for Seattle U. Access 2 Finding a parking spot is not an issue, as an arena that used to hold around 17,000 people 41 times a year still has the parking space. There are a good amount of lots, and a large parking garage right next to the arena. However, the prices can become a bit high for such a small event. You can expect to pay around $15 just to park, which is about the same price as the ticket to the game itself. The pay machines are old and outdated, and when trying to pay the $10 fee to park in the garage with cash, I couldn’t get it to accept any of my bills. When using my card, it took about 5 minutes to try and get it to finally read and print my ticket. The area can have a lot of theft too, so it is best not to show any valuables in your car, and bring what you can with you into the arena. Most of the parking garage does not have any full-time security, but if you are smart about hiding your valuables, you should be okay. Getting into the arena can take a bit of a walk as it is in Seattle Center. The ticket booth is also only on the east entrance, so unless you have your ticket already it can be a walk to the entrance. It isn’t that bad, though. Return on Investment 4 The tickets to Seattle U games are very inexpensive. Season ticket holders pay only $48 for their tickets. For a Division I basketball game, comfortable seating, and good food options, the price is well worth it. The school also offers many value packs to games. It is $10 for a general admission ticket which are supposed to be the areas behind the basket. For $20 you get tickets to the midcourt section. They also pass out ‘buy one ticket to any future game, get one free’ coupons. There is a secret though. The ushers do not check tickets at all and unless you try to sit courtside, you are free to sit anywhere. The problem is the food being so expensive. It is a better idea to eat before the game. Extras 3 As for the rest of what KeyArena offers during a Seattle Redhawks game, there is a small team shop booth inside the arena. The shop has a few jackets, shirts, and hats for men, women, and kids, but the selection is slim. The halftime entertainment is always something interesting and in 2014 one of the Black Eyed Peas performed. There are lots of fan challenges for prizes during timeouts while the cheerleaders and dance team also perform. Final Thoughts There is something special about a newer small school program like Seattle University. While playing in a former NBA arena may not seem like a good fit at first, once you see it, you end up having a good time. The tickets are cheap, and what you end up getting is well worth the price minus the food. In the end, it is an inexpensive way to have a good time and watch good basketball. While KeyArena may be showing its age, it still is a historic part of Seattle’s sports history. The arena just needs to hang some banners for Seattle U and brag about their rich history, no matter how old it may be.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Keyworth Stadium 3201 Roosevelt St Hamtramck, MI 48212 Detroit City FC website Keyworth Stadium website Year Opened: 1936 Capacity: 7,000 Detroit City Rocks Hamtramck and Beyond Detroit FC debuted at Keyworth Stadium in 2016 after playing its home matches at Cass Technical High School for the previous four seasons. The move to a new venue was necessary since the team had quickly outgrown its home pitch and needed a larger facility to hold its burgeoning crowds. The club initiated a crowd-based investment program to renovate and rehabilitate Keyworth Stadium in nearby Hamtramck. The MILE (Michigan Invests Locally Exemption) Act allows companies in the state to accept loans from small investors ($250-$10,000) provided that they are Michigan residents. A total of $741,250 was raised in 109 days from 527 verified Michigan residents. Keyworth Stadium originally opened on October 15, 1936, when Franklin Roosevelt spoke during his second campaign for the presidency. The 6,000-seat stadium has been the home of various interscholastic sports throughout its history but had fallen on hard times the last few decades. The money raised was used for structural improvements to the grandstands, renovations of locker rooms and restrooms, and modernization of lighting and the playing turf. Other improvements included concrete resurfacing, a new sound system, and plans for a natural grass pitch in future seasons. Built between the city’s dense residential streets and a large set of train tracks, Keyworth Stadium is the type of structure that most likely will never be built again by any professional sports entity in this country. Houses and streets touch the exterior of the grandstands and fans exit and enter in front of residential front porches and lawns. In 2020 DCFC began operations in the National Independent Soccer Association after playing in the NPSL Pro fall showcase as a professional club in 2019. The looks to sustain a standard of excellence in its new league while playing host to its rivals Chattanooga FC and the New York Cosmos. All of the food served at Keyworth Stadium are from local area food trucks and other local proprietors, showcasing the many influences of different cultures in the city. A majority of these food trucks are located behind the end line in between the two main entrances creating a bustling street fair atmosphere. Food & Beverage 5 All of the food served at Keyworth Stadium are from local area food trucks and other local proprietors, showcasing the many influences of different cultures in the city. A majority of these food trucks are located behind the end line in between the two main entrances creating a bustling street fair atmosphere. Fans can enjoy slices of pizza for $4 or a whole pie for $22. There are also delicious chicken and lamb shawarmas, falafel, and gyros for $6 and $8. There is the Heroes and Villains truck, offering gourmet sandwiches named after popular comic book characters. However, Srodek’s has the largest line at the game with folks waiting to taste one of their gourmet kielbasa sandwiches and perogies. The sandwiches are served on locally made buns, topped with homemade sauerkraut, and are available in cheddar, smoked, pepper jack, and ghost pepper for $6. The perogies come in orders of 5 and are also $6. You can wash down all of these wonderful delicacies with Detroit’s own Faygo pop for $3, Axle City Pale Ale, Blake’s Hard Cider and mixed drinks for $6, and Stroh’s for $4. Stroh’s and Axle City are the only two beers you can purchase at the game. Atmosphere 5 If you attend a soccer game at Keyworth Stadium and do not become a fan, don’t blame Detroit City FC. The excitement begins 60 minutes before the game with the March to the Match. Supporters meet at Fowling Warehouse, an official pre-game destination, and march through the streets of Hamtramck while drumming, chanting, and singing. Once inside the facility, the North Guard and other supporters group take up residency along the eastside seating section and spend the match singing an established series of songs, throwing smoke bombs after goals, and creating a truly one-of-a-kind atmosphere for any level of soccer in the United States. The group has an unbridled passion for DCFC and ranks with the best of them in any other market. If you want to enjoy the game in a more subdued area, then purchase a ticket on the opposite side of the stadium with a slightly relaxed group of fans. The seating area was created with refurbished wooden seats that were removed from the supporter section. The stadium is absent a track making sightlines up close and personal to the action. The main entrance behind the goal line is also an area of heavy traffic and activity. The majority of food is served and a portable cart sells a variety of merchandise from scarves, t-shirts in multiple colors and styles, jerseys, and jackets. The lines are long, but the orders are expedited quickly. In 2019, the team unveiled suites made from refurbished industrial shipping containers as VIP seating behind the goal at the north end of the stadium. The suites add to the imagination that exists inside Keyworth as the club has been very imaginative with the game day experience. Neighborhood 3 Hamtramck, Michigan sits right over the border of Detroit and is the most densely populated city in the state, with over 22,000 residents packed into 2.09 square miles. Known as a vibrant community for Polish American life and culture, the city continued attracting immigrants and now features a large Bengali, Yemeni, and Pakistani population. One of the most interesting places might just be Amar’s Pizza where visitors can order traditional pizza but some with a unique twist that includes Naga Pizza (chicken, red onions, cilantro, and naga sauce), Tandoori Pizza (tandoori chicken, cheese, and tandoori sauce), and Dry Fish Pizza (dried shrimp and spicy fish paste). The pre-game destination before each match is The Fowling Warehouse (3901 Christopher Street). Supporters spend their time enjoying a few drinks, having conversations along the large bar, and playing the football bowling pin game called fowling. Hamtramck has been described as one of the last bastions of unpolluted dive bars in Detroit. Several dive bars line the streets and look the way they did 50 years ago, including the Whiskey in a Jar, Polish Sea League, Paycheck’s Lounge, Kelly’s Bar, and Moose Lodge. McShane’s Pub is the official post-game destination and offers shuttle services from its location at 1460 Michigan Ave. Fans 5 DCFC is a fan-driven team, attracting mammoth crowds that average close to 6,000 per game. They have taken in the excitement and pageantry at home matches. It is rare not to see someone sporting one of a couple dozen jerseys or t-shirts cheering on the home team, or yelling at the ref for a bad call. Many are enjoying the great food and atmosphere, but many are there strictly for the game on the field. Access 4 Keyworth Stadium is surprisingly quite easy to maneuver around during the game. All of the food and drinks are served in one area that features ample space and a few long lines. Seats are spacious enough to move up and down. Bathrooms are located behind the main seating section and can be quite dense during halftime. Arriving at the game at the multiple lots is also quite easy, but might be a little challenging for first-time visitors to the stadium. Return on Investment 5 Tickets and parking are $12 each but go up in price to $15 on match day, a great price for the atmosphere. Parking lots are easily accessible, adjacent to the stadium. It is possible to find parking on the streets before the game or take one of the shuttle buses from McShane’s Pub. The price of food from the food trucks is extremely reasonable and delicious. Beer prices are also affordable at $4 and $6. Extras 3 One extra point for the amazing, diverse, and delicious food served at the game which includes pizza, kielbasa, perogies, shawarma, and gyros. The beers are cold and include Axle City Pale Ale and Stroh’s. Another additional point for the collection of merchandise includes a wide variety of t-shirts, jerseys, scarves, and caps. There are long lines to snatch up something in the team colors of maroon and gold. A third extra point for the atmosphere begins with the march to the match and continues with the supporter group North Guard chanting and singing from their section. One finally extra point for having ice-cold Stroh’s for only $4 a can. DCFC is renovating and invigorating life back into Keyworth Stadium. It was dilapidated and in squalid condition before the arrival of the soccer club. Final Thoughts Attending a DCFC game is quite the spectacle. It is a 90-minute plus party that includes singing, cheering, eating, drinking, and celebrating. The location of the stadium and the ensuing revelry establishes Keyworth Stadium as one of the must-see soccer venues in the United States. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Will Halpern, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Kimmel Arena 1 University Heights Asheville, NC 28804 UNC-Asheville Bulldogs website Kimmel Arena website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 3,200 Bulldogs on the Prowl in Asheville Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the town of Asheville, and located just a couple of miles from downtown Asheville is the University of North Carolina at Asheville, one of sixteen schools in the University of North Carolina system. The Bulldogs began playing in the 1,100-seat Justice Center in 1963 but as the venue was approaching half a century, it was clear that a replacement would be needed. In 2011 Kimmel Arena opened in the larger Sherrill Center, and while the building hosts classrooms, fitness rooms, the N.C Department for Health and Wellness, the main attraction is the 3,200-seat Kimmel Arena. On November 13, 2011, the arena opened in style as Asheville native and North Carolina Men’s Basketball coach Roy Williams brought his number one-ranked Tar Heels to christen the Bulldog’s new digs. The sold-out building helped lay the foundation for two more NCAA Tournament appearances, including one that season, to bring their grand total to four. The program plays in a very competitive Big South Conference, and the Bulldogs look to continue to be a contender inside Kimmel. Food & Beverage 4 At first glance, it might seem like you don’t have a lot of concession options at a Bulldogs game but there is more there than meets the eye. The main concession stand offers a pizza slice ($4.50) and a hot pretzel ($3), while cheese nachos are five dollars and you can add jalapenos for fifty cents more, or chili for an extra buck. An all-beef hot dog will only set you back $3.50, with an extra dollar for cheese, or chili. Popcorn and movie theatre box candy are three dollars each, and while your standard chips and cotton candy are also available you can also opt for a healthier snack option with fresh fruit, trail mix, and Kind bars. If you’re looking for something a little more unique check out the well-known southeastern chain Zaxbys where you can get chicken in many forms, like a fillet sandwich, wings, or a chicken salad sandwich. Brownies are available as well If you’re craving dessert check out the local Hop Ice Cream Cafe stand that offers eight flavors that range from the standard chocolate and vanilla, to the more unusual buttermint, and Cable Crunch, and the popular Bulldog Tracks. Mango sorbet is also offered. Wash it down with a three-dollar bottle of Pepsi or if you’re of age a six dollar domestic beer or one of three seven dollar local highland brews. Spiked seltzer is also offered for seven dollars, and for nine you can choose between a chardonnay or a pinot noir. Atmosphere 3 Kimmel Arena is a venue that almost catches you by surprise. Walking into the Sherrill Center it can easily be mistaken for an academic building, but soon after you walk down the wide hallway a basketball arena appears. The seating bowl is built down from the concourse, which saves you from climbing up to your seat initially, and with a capacity of just over three thousand, you are never far from the action on the hardwood. Chair back seating is offered throughout the venue, with the only exception for students, and the band. There is a center-hung scoreboard, and two small video boards on two of the corner walls along with a higher-than-usual ceiling. Rocky the Bulldog, the UNC Asheville cheerleaders, and the pep band keep the fans engaged, along with promotions during breaks including some shooting contests, and T-shirt tosses. Neighborhood 4 The only reason this doesn’t get a perfect five is that UNC-Asheville is located just a little out of walking distance to all that downtown Asheville has to offer. It’s no accident that millions of people flock to Western North Carolina’s largest city. Asheville has a large number of restaurants to check out including the very popular Tupelo Honey Cafe, which has been nationally recognized as a friendly lively place to try some delicious upscale southern cuisine. The menu features pulled pork grilled cheese, shrimp and goat cheese grits, and southern shakshuka, a southern take on the classic Mediterranean dish. For something south of the border check out Sonora Cucina Mexicana, which serves up a variety of tacos, burritos, quesadillas and appetizers, including a queso crisp, a twelve-inch flour tortilla topped with two types of cheeses and toppings, and a Sonora Dog, which is a bacon-wrapped hot dog with a variety of toppings. Finally, if you’re looking for a place to grab a drink or some delicious unique food beyond the usual bar food, Asheville Brewing Company is where you want to go pre or post game. With the combination of several local brews, and various types of nachos, tater tots, and pizza, this is a place not to be missed. Speaking of which, when visiting Asheville make sure to check out the Biltmore Estate, America’s largest home. It’s only ten minutes or so from downtown Asheville. The estate, built by George Vanderbilt at the end of the nineteenth century for his family, boasts 250 rooms, and an incredible garden and grounds to match. Biltmore draws over a million visitors a year. Shopping enthusiasts should stroll down Asheville’s main streets, Malaprop’s Book Store, The Chocolate Fetish shop, and the Asheville Pinball Museum where visitors can play any of over seventy-five classic arcade games including pinball of course. Another arcade to check out is Grove Arcade, which was one of the country’s first shopping malls, and home to many shops and restaurants, nearly a century later. Finally, Asheville’s mountain location allows for numerous places to hike, ski, bike, camp, and any other outdoor activity you can think of, all in the vicinity of Blue Ridge Parkway. Asheville houses millions of tourists a year, so hotels are affordable and easy to find. Less than ten minutes from Kimmel Arena, Asheville’s Tunnel Road boasts a variety of lodging options including a Quality Inn, Country Inn and Suites, and a Best Western. There is also a Cambria and a Hotel Indigo among others in downtown if you’re looking to be more centrally located. Fans 2 This is a hard score to give, as I know UNC-Asheville has a rich basketball tradition, and have seen postseason success, most notably in 2012 when the Bulldogs nearly became the first sixteen seed to knock off a one seed, when they came seven points short of upsetting the top-seeded Syracuse Orange . But the Bulldogs on this night drew just over 1,200 fans which for an arena that seats 3,200, is only a little more than a third full, and while the fans there were passionate, and engaged, and cheered on the Blue and White, a crowd of that size is very noticeable. The Bulldogs are in the midst of a rougher-than-normal season, and the hope is that as they again become a postseason caliber team, the fans in and around Asheville will come in higher numbers to support them. Access 4 Getting to Kimmel Arena is not too difficult, and there are several parking options for people to utilize around Kimmel Arena. The best option is the Sherrill Center Parking Deck, which is adjacent to Kimmel Arena. If the deck fills up there are plenty of parking lots on street level on University Heights, but be prepared to climb some steep hills as Kimmel Arena is located on top of one. Handicap parking is available on the top of the deck next to the arena. Lines are short and walking around the concourse is very easy, as the hallways are very wide. Handicap seating is available on the top of the seating bowl. Return on Investment 4 With a combination of affordable concession prices, tickets ranging from 9-16 dollars, and often even less on secondary ticket selling websites and free parking, attending a Bulldogs game is truly a great value. A person can spend less than twenty dollars to attend to watch a high-quality Division 1 program. That’s an incredible value. Extras 5 One point for the local concession options offered, including beer, wine, and ice cream. Another point to the nice size concession shop Rocky’s Doghouse, a third point to the music played and the enthusiasm shown by the band throughout the game, and finally two points to the players signing autographs in the concourse postgame, a rarity in college basketball, and a great way to further community-player connections. Final Thoughts Asheville is a beautiful, vibrant town that draws millions of visitors a year. If you are one of those visitors and are craving live hoops or want an affordable night out, it is worth driving the few miles from downtown Asheville to UNC-Asheville and Kimmel Arena to watch a traditionally successful mid-major program like the Bulldogs. The team is struggling recently but getting back to their winning ways should bring more fans back to watch the Bulldogs compete for a shot at March Madness.

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 King Power Stadium Filbert Way Leicester, England LE2 7FL United Kingdom Leicester City FC website King Power Stadium website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 32,500 Fox Watching at Leicester City The King Power Stadium, also known as the Leicester City Stadium due to UEFA sponsorship regulations, is home to Premier League Champions Leicester City Football Club. Opened in the summer of 2002 by local hero and former England International footballer Gary Lineker, the stadium is located just a stone’s throw from where the old Filbert Street stadium once stood. After spending 111 years at Filbert Street the club relocated to a new home a matter of yards away at what would first be named the Walkers Bowl (Walkers being a locally-based nationwide distributor of crisps), though after some comical nicknames such as the crisp bowl the club decided to rename the venue as the Walkers Stadium. The club began its maiden season in their new £35m, 32,500 all-seater home after being relegated from the Premier League the previous season, with their opening fixture a friendly against Spanish team Athletic Bilbao, on 4 August 2002. The stadium has played host to several alternative events including both full and Under 21 international fixtures and music events including more recently the internationally recognised local rock band Kasabian, who incidentally performed at the stadium to celebrate the team winning the Premier League. The stadium has also hosted many domestic, European and International rugby union fixtures with local rugby giants Leicester Tigers using the stadium for their international fixtures due to a larger capacity than their original Welford Road stadium. 2015 also saw the stadium being used as one of 13 selected venues for the Rugby World Cup which hosted the fixtures of Argentina v Tonga, Canada v Romania and Argentina v Namibia. Food & Beverage 4 Plenty of food options are available at kiosks through the internal concourse areas typical to that offered in football stadiums, with a few unique food options being offered such as a sausage roll with Red Leicester cheese and a broccoli, cauliflower and double cheese pie, both priced at £3.80. Your typical items such as hot dogs, steak pies and burgers are available as are your typical confectionary options. Kiosks also offer combo deals on food and drink. Alcoholic, soft drink and hot drink options are available too. One thing to note if you are an overseas visitor, due to ground regulations it is against the law to drink anything alcoholic in view of the pitch. This is the reason you tend to find football stadium concourse very busy pre-match and at half time. Contactless payment is advertised and accepted throughout the concourse kiosks making the process for purchasing items relatively hassle free and also keeps the queues moving quicker. Outside you’ll find several burger vans within the pedestrianised forecourts that surround the stadium as well a number of other food vans on route to the stadium. There aren’t many alternative food options close by so fast food really is your only option. If you’re attending the match and have time to spare, I’d recommended eating at one of the many excellent restaurants or pubs in the town. Atmosphere 4 Atmosphere at the King Power stadium has been recently recognised as one of the best and nosiest in the country with a local University of Leicester team installing a seismometer close to the stadium and recording a minor quake with a magnitude of 0.3 after a last minute winning goal. The stadium is a modern concrete and steel structure and with its continuous bowl-like terraces and roof covering all seating areas it certainly helps contain the noise generated by supporters. Three of the stands are front to back with rows of seats with internal concourse areas to them all. The main stand offers seating for hospitality and VIP guests as well as a single row of hospitality boxes across the back row of the where the general supporters are seated offering excellent views of the pitch. For this particular fixture the atmosphere had diminished somewhat, most notably because of recent league form having dipped well below the expectations of last season’s heroic league triumph. The opponents being Manchester United resulted in a sell out crowd however, encouraging fans to chant their usual club songs as well as directing chants at the opponents making it an enjoyable atmosphere to be a part of. Pre-match the club play an emotional video on the LED screens storying their heroic achievements the previous season to the music of Andrea Bocelli’s performance of Nessun Dorma, which is a true spine-tingling moment that encourages all the supporters to clap and cheer. Leicester City had introduced a crown initiative last season by providing every home fan with a clap banner to help raise noise levels and encourage the team. This initiative is still in place today with reports that it costs £12,000 to provide them for each fixture which goes to show the generosity of the clubs owners and their ambition to drive match day atmosphere. You won’t get a bad seat here at the King Power stadium and it just comes down to personal preference on where you prefer to sit, whether that’s close to the action or towards the back where you get a better feel for the formation and tactics each team is using. Pitch perimeter LED advertising is in place with added rear view facing LEDs that allow the club to promote local businesses to the supporters. Two large LED screens that hang from the roof in two opposite corners offer a clear view of team introductions, half time fan engagement initiatives such as ‘Fan Cam’ as well as displaying action replays through the match. The PA system also offers a clear and concise output to all supporters within the stadium and the concourses. Neighborhood 5 The stadium is located on the outskirts of the town centre in what is now a multi-cultural diverse area of the city as well as having a large student population in the surrounding areas. The stadium is located 1 mile from the city centre and can be reached via a pleasant walk on the River Soar canal tow path. There are plenty of other routes leading from the city but you’ll find this a peaceful and hassle free journey on foot. There are many places to eat and drink in the city as well as close to the stadium. The Narborough Road area and Braunstone Gate, both a short walk from the stadium, offer an array of bars and a variety of foreign restaurants, though I would recommend spending time in the city centre. The city has seen a huge amount of investment in recent years, most notably since the discovery of King Richard III’s remains back in 2013. Since then the city has been subject to worldwide media attention resulting in a huge influx of visitors. Couple that with the most unlikely of sporting achievements with lowly Leicester City winning the Premier League, the city now known as the sporting capital of the country has become a hub for tourists, as well as having historical connections. You’ll find everything from Italian to American style BBQ restaurants in the city and a vast amount of pubs and bars with many becoming drinking holes for local supporters enjoying their ritual pre-match drink. For food I’d recommend anywhere within the open air square at the Highcross Shopping Centre. Here you’ll find Italian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican and American cuisine and a few burger restaurants too all of which are of excellent quality. For drinks head further into town to the Rutland & Derby pub and enjoy a pre-match pint in the bar outside in the garden or on the roof terrace. If you fancy something closer to the stadium you can soak up the pre-match atmosphere with the home supporters at Blues Bar & Grill which is located right next to the stadium. Local attractions include the King Richard III visitor centre, the New Walk Museum & Art Gallery as well as the UK’s only National Space Centre. If spending some time in the city you’ll also find some great country parks on the outskirts of the county such as Bradgate Park which is well worth a visit on a nice day. Fans 4 Leicester City fans provide a great and memorable atmosphere. With a full house against one of the giants of English Football this still encourages supporters to take part in their usual ritual of singing and chanting through the match often engaging in chants with the away supporters. Depending on the club’s performance on the pitch, fans might be seen leaving well before the final whistle. Attendance was a sell-out crowd of just over 32,000 though, which is typical of the dedicated support of the clubs fans with many of its home games often selling out of tickets. Access 3 Access in and around the stadium is fairly good. With it being a modern stadium, the immediate vicinity of the ground is pedestrianised, meaning you’re able to move easily and safely around the entire external perimeter of the stadium. There is also plenty of way-finding signage as well as dedicated staff wearing ‘Here to Help’ tops which all contribute towards providing a very welcoming experience. Parking around the stadium is very limited with local car parks reserved for permit holders and hospitality guests. Being local I tend to park a little further out (usually in the Braunstone Gate area) where it’s free and then walk the 15 minutes or so to the stadium. You pass a couple of nice bars on the way which also helps. Public transport again is a little limited in the vicinity but you can make your way to Aylestone Road where you’ll find bus stops and transport into town. I would certainly recommend parking close to the town and walking the 15 – 20 minutes to the stadium. It’s much easier! For those with walking difficulties and the need to be close to the stadium it’s probably worth contacting the club to see if they are able to assist with allocating you a parking space close by. Leicester train station is a little over a mile away with plenty of police and stewards on route to point you in the right direction. Turnstiles are very clearly signposted and you’ll be greeted by stewards carrying out random body searches. These searches are more detailed around the away supporters’ turnstiles with sniffer dogs present and local police assisting with stewards in managing the crowd. Inside the stadium, again you can move pretty freely within the section your ticket is assigned to. Concourses are fairly open with a typical set-up of food/drink kiosks on one side and toilets on the other. The result of this and like most stadiums is that they become congregated closer to kick off so moving around from A to B becomes more difficult. The concourses are lined with wall art commemorating the clubs recent success which makes what is normally a pretty blank and dull space quite attractive. Accessible supporters have the ability to enter the stadium via nominated exit gates which are assigned as accessible entrances prior to kick off and once inside the stadium there are toilets and changing places areas equipped for their personal needs. Return on Investment 3 For home tickets for a Category A fixture adults pay between £26 and £50 with slightly reduced rates for seniors and under 22s. Children’s prices are significantly lower, with under 12s paying a maximum £15 and under 10s charged as little as £5. For lower category games you’ll pay around £5 less per ticket depending on your age group. Here is a full list of ticket prices on the team’s official site. Tickets for Premier League football are expensive in my view, but you’re paying for the experience of seeing a football match featuring some of the best players in one of the best leagues in the world. Ticket prices are fairly similar across the league with the exception of some of the larger clubs whose ticket costs are generally higher. There are on occasion packages available to buy tickets for multiple matches which provide a discount though you tend to find those offers usually apply to the lower profile fixtures to help encourage greater ticket sales. Car parking is available at the Fibert Street lot of £16 on a pre-book basis and up until 10 am on the day of the match. Other lots include at the Freeman’s Common Business Park for £4 with proceeds benefiting Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre. There is more parking in City Centre next to the Leicester Tigers Rugby ground. Leicester is one of very few clubs that do not offer a fan zone. These have become extremely popular amongst UK football stadiums recently and you generally feel you are getting a little more for your money when there is plenty of entertainment on offer which adds to the match day experience. I only assume that space or some other underlying reason is an issue here as to why a fan zone is not on offer. Extras 4 There are plenty of resale options on your journey to the stadium with small outlets set up on the roadside selling club memorabilia. A large club shop to the front of the stadium facing the main road is open up until kick off for anyone wishing to take advantage of a large selection of LCFC goods. Shirt printing is available on the main forecourt to the front of the stadium via a separate outlet and there is also an inflatable penalty shootout activity managed by club staff which attracts a large queue for those young budding footballers and some adults too! Plenty of film crews are present on the main forecourt with the major broadcasters and local news stations getting the fans view on the game pre-match which adds to the buzz around the area. This was a live TV fixture so greater media attention was present because of this. Many fans also taking photos and selfies of the ‘Champions’ banner with the stadium in the background appear to be a regular activity which has seen the club become a bit of a tourist attraction over the past 12 months. Final Thoughts A club in the heart of the Midlands with easy transport links from local airports and London provide supporters and visitors from all over the country a fairly hassle-free trip to the city of Leicester and the King Power stadium. You’ll be treated to a modern stadium with modern facilities in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere with the opportunity to watch Premier League football.

Photo by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey. Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Kingston Memorial Centre 303 York St Kingston, ON K7K 4M4 Queen’s Gaels website Kingston Memorial Centre website Year Opened: 1951 Capacity: 3,300 The Centre of Kingston Hockey Before the lustre of dollars earned by corporate naming rights, sports facilities were often named in honour of those who fought and gave their lives in various military conflicts. Soldier Field, the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium and the War Memorial at OnCenter come to mind. One of those classic facilities remains alive in Kingston, Ontario, home to the Queen’s Gaels hockey team. It just seems right for a team with the depth of Canadian University hockey that Queen’s has to play in an arena that also has significant history. On the frozen Kingston Harbour, in 1886, Queen’s University and the Royal Military College of Canada played the first ever Canadian interuniversity hockey game. Queen’s and RMC remain active in what is now known as U-Sports and have entrenched their history even further. The Queen’s Cup, presented annually to the OUA, or Ontario conference, champion was presented to the conference by Queen’s University. Queen’s and RMC together presented U-Sports with the University Cup, presented to the Canadian National Champion. Queen’s and RMC continue their rivalry to date with the world’s oldest hockey rivalry, playing for the Carr-Harris Cup annually. The Kingston Memorial Centre was built in 1951 and was the home for a number of Kingston hockey teams. Most notably, the Memorial Centre was the home for the Kingston OHL entrant including the Canadians, Raiders and currently the Frontenacs. When the Rogers K-Rock Centre opened in 2008 and the Frontenacs moved, the future of the Memorial Centre was in doubt. Built as a living memorial for Kingstonians who gave their lives in the World Wars and Korean War, the Memorial Centre’s 3,300 capacity was inappropriate for Major Junior Hockey. Queen’s University would decide to demolish the longtime home of the Gaels, Jock Harty Arena in favour of the new Athletics and Recreation Centre. In 2008, the Gaels would move off-campus and make the Kingston Memorial Centre their permanent home. Food & Beverage 1 There is not much in the way of culinary experience at the Kingston Memorial Centre. In fact, the Memorial Centre provides one of the smallest concession selections anywhere. Upon entrance, there is a student selling fresh popcorn. Past that, fans are totally relying on vending machines located around the arena. There are not a ton and fans should keep their change handy if a beverage is desired. One item of interest are the old school candy vending machines, which were staples throughout arenas across Ontario. A quarter is all that’s needed, however there is no telling how old the candy in the machines really is. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere at the Kingston Memorial Centre is akin to its age. The Memorial Centre has a quaint, historic feel to it, but there is still room for improvement. The first thing fans will notice about the Kingston Memorial Centre is the lack of corporate naming. The state and future of the Memorial Centre has been debated numerous times at the Kingston City Council. One of the saving factors for the Memorial Centre has been its status as a living memorial to veterans of armed conflicts. Outside the arena are a few items that give credence to its memorial status including a memorial wall that lists names of Kingstonians who died in the service of Canada. The exterior of the Kingston Memorial Centre looks decent from a distance, with its tan brick and main entrance. Upon closer inspection, the wear and tear of the decades can be seen. Inside the arena, the east-west ice orientation leads fans into travelling around the arena above the seating bowl. Entry from the seating bowl is either from the ground level, or up the stairs behind the seating. Elements of the Memorial Centre’s age and history are immediately obvious. The beautiful triangular, vaulted, hardwood ceiling is a lost feature among more modern arenas. All of the seats in the Memorial Centre are the original 1951 wooden seats. In some sections, double “love” seats can be found also. The west end of the arena features the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which was once a staple to be found in arenas all over the country. Along with the historic features of the arena come those that have not aged well. In many places the glass either needs significant cleaning or replacement. Behind the nets is particularly bad, and difficult to see through. The scoreboard at centre ice is very simple and does not offer shots on goal as a reported statistic. The sound system is in dire need of replacement as announcements are not very audible. Queen’s also has very little in the way of atmosphere presence in the arena. Sitting on the north side of the ice will offer a good picture of the centre ice logo, one of the few markings for Queen’s inside. Banners for the women’s hockey team hang on the north side also. Curious that there are no banners for the men’s team, especially considering their role in playing the first game on the Kingston Harbour. There is a banner with hockey championships to be found, however it is where Queen’s plays basketball at the Athletics and Recreation Centre. Neighbourhood 5 The Kingston Memorial Centre is located in the Williamsville neighbourhood of Kingston, north of the Queen’s University campus and just west of downtown. Head towards the river and Princess Street to find just about everything you could want. A number of national restaurant chains can be found all along Princess, Queen and Brock Streets, but there are also a ton of independent spots that will peak your interest. Woodenheads Gourmet Pizza, Sir John’s Public House, The Merchant Tap House, Chez Piggy, The Toucan and Grizzly Grill are all worth checking out. Kingston is a fantastic spot to be, especially in the summer. The Haunted Walk is interesting and Confederation Park is along the Rideau Trail right by the waterfront. The ferry to Wolfe Island is right there also. Across the river, at the top of the hill is Old Fort Henry, which has a number of activities during the summer and fall. Bellevue House was the home of Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Fans looking for other sporting options within the city will not have to look far. Queen’s fields a full slate of athletic programs including their legendary football program that plays at Richardson Memorial Stadium . The Queen’s basketball team plays a few blocks away at the Athletics and Recreation Centre , which is on the main campus. The cross-town rivals for the Gaels, the RMC Paladins play just across the water at Constantine Arena . Also, the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL play right downtown at Leon's Centre . There are a number of places to stay if you are staying in Kingston. By the waterfront you can find the Confederation Place Hotel, Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront and Delta Waterfront Hotel. All are good spots to stay. Fans 2 The attendance at OUA hockey games isn’t huge and at times the attendance is not reported. Queen’s definitely is in the lower echelon when it comes to hockey attendance. The 2016-2017 season has drawn approximately 100 fans per game, which is not terrific. However, at the time of this writing, the Carr-Harris Cup has yet to be played and that game, annually played at the Rogers K-Rock Centre, will draw over 3,000 fans and skew the results. The arena being located off campus is an issue for sure, but Queen’s needs to do more to bring the students out to support their hockey team. Those in attendance are pretty much regulars and the atmosphere the fans bring is pretty laid back. Access 4 Getting to the Kingston Memorial Centre is not too difficult. The Memorial Centre is located north of the Queen’s campus and west of downtown Kingston. It is a pretty significant distance from the main highway into Kingston, Highway 401. Getting to the Kingston Memorial Centre from out of town will require a pretty significant travel through the city of Kingston. Fans interested in public transportation to the Kingston Memorial Centre will be pleased as there are bus stops along Concession and Princess Streets which both offer a very short walk to the arena. Check out the Kingston Transit website for schedules, fares and maps. Considering the lack of attendance, there is plenty of parking on the west side of the building. Parking on site is free and street parking is available on the off chance that the lot is full. The main entry to the arena is off of York Street. The main entrance does have a small ticket window with credit cards accepted for ticket purchase. Lines are not an issue due to the small attendance. Getting around the arena is not too much of an issue. Stairs may be of some concern, but wisely choosing a seat, considering the seats are all general admission, should alleviate stairs as a major issue. Considering the age of the Kingston Memorial Centre, the washroom facilities are a pleasant surprise. Clearly having been recently updated, the facilities are modern and comfortable, but not overly spacious. Return on Investment 5 At just $10 per ticket, Queen’s Gaels hockey is definitely a bargain. There are not too many sporting options out there that are in the same class as OUA hockey. With very little investment for tickets and free parking, fans are not putting too much money into their evening’s entertainment. Admittedly, concessions are an issue, however the proximity to a fantastic neighbourhood for unique food and beverage options should push the fan to avoid concessions in the first place. Also, OUA hockey offers an exciting product and high level hockey, without the fighting that you would find in professional or junior hockey. Extras 2 An extra mark for the unique, historical murals that are found on the staircases of the Kingston Memorial Centre. An extra mark for the place in hockey history that is occupied by Queen’s and RMC. It is fantastic that they continue their rivalry through the Carr-Harris Challenge Cup. Final Thoughts Queen’s Gaels hockey has a significant, historical place in the hockey world. They play in an arena that was once the centre of hockey in the city of Kingston and offers a unique, historical experience for hockey fans. It is unfortunate that more fans are not familiar with this experience. It would also be great to see more of that hockey history on display at the Kingston Memorial Centre for the fans to see and experience. Most importantly, hats off to the city of Kingston and Queen’s for maintaining a memorial for those brave souls who helped defend Canada. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Lake Olmstead Stadium 78 Milledge Rd Augusta, GA 30904 Augusta GreenJackets website Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 4,822 On the Green in Augusta Typically when you hear the words Augusta and green jacket, you immediately think of a very prestigious golf tournament that serves as one-quarter of golf’s Grand Slam. However, there is another sport in town that also goes by this moniker. The Augusta GreenJackets baseball franchise is the Class-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, and their mascot is a bee wearing the fabled green jacket awarded to the winner of each year’s Masters golf tournament. The history of baseball in Augusta actually goes back to 1885 and includes the Georgia Peach, Ty Cobb, as one of the players who wore the home team’s uniform. Augusta was one of the charter members of the South Atlantic League and is one of its most successful teams. Some of the modern-era players who have worn the GreenJackets uniform are Tim Wakefield, Moises Alou, Jason Kendall, Hanley Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia, Madison Bumgarner and Jon Lester. Home field for the GreenJackets is Lake Olmstead Stadium, a city-owned facility in Lake Olmstead Park. The stadium was built in 1995 and has a baseball seating capacity of over 4,800. Seating is broken down into 1,000 box seats, 800 reserved seats and 2,500 general admission seats. An additional group seating area along the right field line, the Sweetwater Draft House Party Deck, can hold up to 500 people. Food & Beverage 4 Since the stadium is located in a city park, there are no restaurants within walking distance of the stadium. Fortunately, the GreenJackets offer a good array of foods at reasonable prices. The following items are available at $3: cheeseburger, chicken tenders, nachos, pretzels and corn dog bites. Hot dogs and fries are available for $2.50. A few “Olmstead Only” offerings include the Auggie Doggie at $5.50 (a hot dog covered with pulled pork and coleslaw), the Auggie Burger at $9.50 (two hamburger patties with slaw, barbecue pork and pimento cheese) and loaded nachos at $6.50 or loaded fries at $5.75 (both include barbecue pork and cheese). We promise not to tell your cardiologist! Every Monday is a Feed Your Face night, which provides you an all-you-can-eat experience for a rotating set of menu items. Beverages include sodas, bottled water, and Powerade at $2.50.The beer offerings are fairly broad and include Bud Light, Miller Light, Yuengling, Kilian’s, Sweetwater Blue and Sweetwater 420. Prices are $3 for 16-ounce. and $5 for 32-ounce. Tuesdays are Brewsdays at Lake Olmstead, and you can buy a beer at 50% off. Atmosphere 3 Two nods to baseball’s past are components of Lake Olmstead’s structure: a roof extending out over most of the seating areas to protect the fans from the brutal heat of Georgia’s summers, and Ty Cobb, a Georgia native, spent time in Augusta before moving onto the big leagues. His lifetime batting average was .366. One of the outfield walls measures 366 feet from home plate. On the wall are the figure 366 and the name of Ty Cobb. Aside from these salutes to an earlier time in baseball, Lake Olmstead Stadium also celebrates more recent accomplishments. A large display of the team’s championship seasons is found on a wall on the concourse, as are banners saluting the many GreenJackets who have gone on to the major leagues. Additional amenities provided at Lake Olmstead Stadium are a children’s playground and the Cool Zone, a water misting area to cool off during the often hot and humid Georgia summers. A large group party area is located further down the right-field line. The Sweetwater Draft House features a 6,000-square foot party deck with numerous food and beverage packages, depending on the size of the group. The seating bowl wraps around the infield and includes both individual seating (in reserved or box areas) or aluminum bench seating (in general admission areas).There are no seats or berms behind the outfield fences. Because the roof is over a major portion of the seating area, there are some obstructed views due to support poles. Neighborhood 3 The area immediately surrounding the stadium is Lake Olmstead Park, a park owned and managed by the Augusta-Richmond County Parks Department. Its central feature is the namesake Lake Olmstead, a 113-acre lake located just down a steep embankment from the baseball stadium. The lake was created as a part of the Augusta Canal construction project in 1870 by Charles Olmstead, who also did major engineering work on the Erie Canal. In recognition of his work, the lake and park were named in his honor. The lake is used primarily for boating and fishing purposes, while the remainder of the park is dedicated to a disc golf course, hiking trails, picnic areas and, of course, the baseball stadium. You should plan to park in the immediate vicinity of Lake Olmstead Stadium and make sure to lock your car. There has been a crime problem in the vicinity. The broader neighborhood is the city of Augusta, Georgia’s second-largest city, with a population of over 400,000. The city sits on the western banks of the Savannah River, with the city of North Augusta, South Carolina, and the state of South Carolina forming on the eastern banks of the river. Augusta is primarily known for the Augusta National Golf Club and its Masters Golf Tournament, but the city is also a cultural center with its own ballet company, opera company, and symphony. The city also takes advantage of the Augusta Canal and the Savannah River to host a number of water-based sports events. One of the major developments in recent years is the Augusta Riverwalk, a park that hosts festivals, social events and 4th of July celebrations involving the whole city. Some of the popular restaurants in Augusta are Hildebrandt’s Deli (an Augusta staple since 1879!) and the Boll Weevil Cafe and Sweets. Fans 4 Due to its long history with baseball, Augusta GreenJacket fans are very loyal and very knowledgeable. They also come knowing that many of the players they are seeing have a very high likelihood of going to the majors, based on past history. The team has local ownership and is quite involved in the local community, working with many charities, promoting reading programs in the schools and visiting the many hospitals in the Augusta region. There is a real bond between the team and its fans that goes beyond just baseball. The demographics of the fan base in the Augusta region assure a solid future for the team. You are just as likely to see a seniors group at a game as a youth baseball team. Fort Gordon is a major employer in the area, and you will always see a good number of service members at each game. Augusta is also the hub city in the CSRA (Central Savannah Regional Area) which includes eastern portions of Georgia and several counties in South Carolina, which is just across the Savannah River from Augusta. Access 3 Augusta and Lake Olmstead Park are easily accessed via I-20, the main east/west interstate in Georgia. The city is located 150 miles east of Atlanta and 68 miles west of Columbia, South Carolina. Once departing the interstate at the Washington Road exit, you will go six miles south to reach the stadium. You will actually pass the Augusta National Golf Club, en route to the stadium. Once you arrive at Lake Olmstead Stadium, parking is readily available next to the park. There is only one ticket stand and entrance into the stadium itself, so you may want to buy your tickets online ahead of time to avoid a long line. Pre-purchasing your tickets also provide cost savings for your wallet. The concourse area inside the gates is a large plaza and is home to multiple concession stands and The Hive Team Store. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices are tiered at three levels at Lake Olmstead Stadium: Box seats are $12, reserved seats are $10 and general admission seats are $8. Seniors, children and military seating is priced at $6. (Fort Gordon is a large Army base just outside of Augusta, and frequent Military Appreciation nights are held during the season). A $1 discount is given for all online ticket purchases and all tickets purchased prior to the day of the game. The concessions at Lake Olmstead are of good quality and reasonably priced. Since Augusta is the second-largest city in Georgia, hotels are available at every price level. If Augusta has an afternoon game, many people simply drive over from Atlanta or Columbia and return home afterward. It is less than a two-hour drive from either city. Extras 3 The Augusta Riverwalk has become the entertainment and dining center for residents of, and visitors to, Augusta. In addition to the beauty of the beautiful gardens and brick plazas lining the river, you will be able to enjoy boating, concerts, and fireworks on special occasions. Singer James Brown was a native of Augusta, and you will find numerous historical markers about his life throughout the city. Obviously, the Masters is the biggest event in town. It is also an impossible ticket to get, as the waiting list is thousands of people long. However, it is possible to obtain a badge for one of the practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday before the tournament begins. The pro-am is especially fun, as the players are more relaxed, and you often will see a famous celebrity in several of the foursomes. Final Thoughts EDITOR’S NOTE: Since Stadium Journey’s visit, the GreenJackets have relocated to SRP Park in North Augusta. The team’s new home is part of the Riverside Village at Hammond’s Ferry overlooking the Savannah River featuring 280 new apartments, a senior living facility, office space, a luxury hotel, and a beer garden. The Jackets called Lake Olmstead Stadium home from 1995-2017 and the new stadium will seat 4,000 people-be on the lookout this season for our review of SRP Park.

Photos by Will Halpern, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum 2825 University Pkwy Winston-Salem, NC 27105 Wake Forest Demon Deacons website Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum website Year Opened: 1989 Capacity: 14,665 It’s All Black and Gold at the Joel For over a century after its founding in 1834, Wake Forest University was located in its namesake suburb north of Raleigh. In 1946, after receiving financial support from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, the school decided to move a hundred miles west. The Deacons basketball program (which was launched in 1906) played from 1956 to 1989 at the old Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum, which was gutted and replaced by the Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum, which now houses the men’s and women’s Wake Forest basketball programs. The Joel is the sixth largest arena in the ACC, seating 14,665 people, and many great players and teams have graced the court over the years. While Wake Forest’s program has recently lost a bit of its luster, the Demon Deacons are trying to recapture the glory days of years past, and the Joel Coliseum provides a great backdrop to getting back to ACC contention. Food & Beverage 5 Joel Coliseum offers a wide variety of food and beverage choices, with enough interesting local choices to make eating during the game (rather than afterwards or before) worthwhile. You’ll find your regular concessions stands, serving up a regular hot dog ($5) or a cheeseburger ($8). Add three dollars to either one to make it a basket with French fries, while a chicken tender basket is also offered at $9. Domino’s offers their pizza for seven dollars, however, if you want to get something just a little bit different go to the Golden Roost where you can dress your tender basket with buffalo or sweet chili sauce, or try their fried mac and cheese or baby corn dogs all for nine dollars apiece. However, the real treat at Joel Coliseum is the stand serving up Prissy Polly’s Pig Pickin’ BBQ, based in nearby Kernersville. You can get your pork in either a sandwich ($5), a tray ($10), or a plate ($12) – both a tray and a plate offer you a half-pound of BBQ, but a plate gets you two sides and a bun, where the tray gets you one side. Speaking of sides, your five choices include brown sugar and bacon beans, house recipe mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, and sweet or BBQ coleslaw. You can also choose which style of BBQ you want, either vinegar style Eastern or Tomato-based Lexington (Western), and while Winston-Salem is less than a half-hour from Lexington, it’s nice to get that option, especially when the Deacons play their conference foes from the Triangle, like Duke , UNC , or NC State . Banana pudding is also offered for four dollars, and two specialty items to try are the BBQ chicken nachos and the NC pork BBQ sundae where layers of baked beans, mashed potatoes, bacon, and BBQ are combined. As for beverages, this is also the only place to get a sweet or unsweet tea for four dollars, and here and throughout the rest of the arena, a regular or souvenir fountain Pepsi product soft drink will cost you three and six dollars respectively. At Joel Coliseum you can find a variety of beer, but it varies by stand; eight dollars will get you a Bud, Miller Lite, or Yuengling, Bud Light and Michelob Ultra are also sold in aluminum bottles as well, and local Foothills Brew is also available on tap. In addition, you could opt for the standard Dippin’ Dots for dessert or the local Mayberry premium ice cream, where you get your choice of vanilla, chocolate, cookies & cream, butter pecan, black cherry, or cookie dough. A single scoop goes for $4 with an additional scoop a dollar extra, and if you want your ice cream in a waffle cone that’s also a buck extra. Atmosphere 3 Joel Coliseum is your standard basketball arena, but depending on where you sit you may get a very different view of the game. The ideal seats are located in sections 117-121 or, if you want to save some money, 228-234 are also recommended. Those are both located at or near center court with the large block W and F facing your direction. This allows you to view the larger portion of the jumbotron, as the screens are significantly smaller when facing from behind either basket. Joel Coliseum, like many larger arenas, has seats in the upper level that are far from the action, but nothing too extreme, and given that most Deacons games don’t sell out you can often find decent seats for a reasonable price . The band, the cheerleading squad, and the Demon Deacons mascot keep the energy up during the game, and standard promotions help keep the fans involved during game stoppages. However, despite the effort, the atmosphere seems fairly tame especially compared to other ACC schools, as the Deacons struggle for relevance among college basketball programs in the ACC and throughout North Carolina. Neighborhood 3 Joel Coliseum is located in the Winston-Salem Entertainment and Sports Complex, three miles north of downtown and a mile southeast of Wake Forest’s main Reynolds Campus. The complex also includes BB&T Field and David F. Couch Ballpark, the home fields for the Demon Deacon football and baseball teams, and next door is the Dixie Classic Fair. Although it’s true that there is not a lot going on in the immediate area of the complex, there are a few options to eat on University Parkway, less than a mile from the arena. Some of the choices include Putter’s Patio and Grill, which boasts Winston-Salem’s best steaks; they’re served up with your choice of side, salad, and bread with butter. Their variety of steaks includes New York strip, ribeye, tenderloin tips, and filet mignon. While it may be a bit pricey for some, averaging around thirty dollars per plate, if you’re stopping by for lunch they offer a special 8-ounce ribeye with a side for just $13.75. Or if steak isn’t your thing, burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, and fajitas are among the other options offered on their large menu. Alternatively, on the next block over is Elizabeth Italian’s Restaurant and Pizzeria, which is your classic Italian trattoria offering numerous hot and cold pasta dishes, specialty pizzas, sandwiches, and meat entrees. Or just an additional block away you’ll find Prime Tyme Soul Cafe, offering down-home southern soul food including fried chicken, shrimp, pork chops, and fish, along with numerous sides like coleslaw, fried okra, collard greens, hush puppies, and mac and cheese, along with wings, sandwiches, and homemade pies, cakes, and banana pudding. Winston-Salem is North Carolina’s fifth-largest city, and there is a lot to see and do inside the city limits. A ten-minute drive south will take you to the Old Salem Museum and Gardens, a historic preserved Moravian Village from the mid-1700s and a great place to walk around and experience a simpler time. Those who enjoy art should make the three-mile trek west to the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, which houses an impressive collection of pieces from colonial times to the present day, and with the nearby 129-acre Reynolda Gardens and Wake Forest’s main campus, there are a lot of places to walk around. Those who enjoy shopping could head downtown to browse the various gardens, boutiques, and local shops, or, for those looking for chain stores, Hanes Mall is located fifteen minutes from Joel Coliseum and offers more than 200 stores (until 2004 this was the largest enclosed shopping mall in North Carolina). Those with young children should venture out to Kaleideum North or Kaleideum Downtown, the former with a science theme, planetarium, and nature park, and the latter focused more on literature and the arts, including a theatre showing different performances for children; Joel Coliseum sits an equidistant ten-minute drive from either museum. The majority of places to stay near Joel Coliseum are going to be found in and around the downtown core. The two hotels within a mile of the coliseum are Courtyard by Marriott and Best Western Plus, but if you’re looking for something different, the Historic Brookstown Inn is four miles south. Opened in 1837, this hotel features a wine and cheese reception with a free glass of wine from local wineries, fresh baked cookies and milk at night, and a hot breakfast offered as well. Fans 2 There are passionate Deacons fans out there, and this in no way takes away from those that come out and cheer on the black and gold night in and night out, but the numbers are concerning, as the Deacons have been dead last in attendance percentage among the fifteen ACC schools, dropping from 57 percent to 52 percent and eventually 47 percent after this season’s conclusion. While I understand Wake Forest has only about 5,300 undergraduates, the arena is off-campus, the team has fallen on hard times recently, and has surrounding competition from other high profile programs within a two hour drive, but the decreasing fan numbers should be alarming for any Deacons fan. At a recent matchup against in-state foe North Carolina , attendance was just short of 11,000 which is about three-quarters full, with a lot sporting Carolina Blue. The fans who do show up are passionate, knowledgeable, and loyal. The building did get loud at times, but there was nothing close to an intimidating atmosphere. The hope is that more wins will translate into The Joel bringing back the energy from decades past. Otherwise, it may be time to consider looking into scaling back the arena’s seating capacity. That’s not to say that they don’t have the potential to start selling out the building again, but a few thousand fewer seats could create a more intimate space with higher energy throughout the season, and more opportunities for a higher percentage of the seats to be filled. Below fifty percent capacity is tough for any school, especially a Power 5 Conference school. Access 4 Getting to and from Joel Coliseum is relatively easy and hassle-free. The traffic is not too bad, and you’ll only see a moderate slow down when big names are in town. This also impacts the price of parking: while for most Wake Forest basketball games parking is abundant, easy to find, and only ten dollars, at the higher profile match-ups such as the Heels or Blue Devils , parking goes up to twenty dollars, and you may have to park outside of the Coliseum’s main lot, and park across Deacon Boulevard adjacent to BB&T Field. Luckily there is a pedestrian tunnel that can be used to access the lots. If you’re looking to take public transportation from the downtown Greyhound station, the 90, 91, 92, and 106 buses will all bring you close to the arena and will only cost you a dollar each way – however, depending on game time, the buses may stop running after the game, so check schedules online. Piedmont Triad International Airport is 30 minutes to the east, and PART buses can connect you from points throughout the Triad including the airport for just $2.50 each way including downtown Winston-Salem. There are a few entry gates at Joel Coliseum, and the main entrance can see some lines, though nothing too long. The concourse is wide and easy to navigate, and handicap parking and seating are available. Return on Investment 4 Attending a Deacons game is typically a great value, with ticket prices starting at $15-$20 for non-conference games, and $25 and up for conference games. If you are hoping to see a big-name opponent, like a Louisville , Virginia , or the three in-state schools ( Duke , UNC , or NC State ) expect to shell out more – I would advise to always check on the secondary market closer to game time, as you can often score a great deal, since sellouts haven’t been common recently, and tickets should be available for reasonable prices. If you don’t mind sitting in the cheap seats and seeing a non-marquee match-up, with ten-dollar parking and a fifteen to twenty dollar average concessions cost, you shouldn’t be paying more than fifty dollars to attend a Wake Forest basketball game, which even with recent struggles is still an ACC team, who can win on any given night. Extras 5 One point goes to the wide variety of concessions including the delicious local BBQ, ice cream, and beer. A second point goes to the celebration of breast cancer survivors and the tribute that they received on the court. A third point goes to the retired jersey numbers lining the rafters, with not just the name but the player’s photo, and a fourth point is for the incredibly friendly staff throughout Joel Coliseum who are always happy to lend a hand. Finally, a point for the jerseys on display on the wall throughout the concourse of the many great Demon Deacons to play in the NBA, including Tim Duncan, Chris Paul, and Muggsy Bogues, who was the Association’s shortest player at 5’3” and a standout for the in-state Charlotte Hornets . Final Thoughts Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum has hosted some great Wake Forest Demon Deacon players and teams for the three decades it’s been open in Winston-Salem. Recently the team has struggled and attendance is suffering as a result. However, if the team can turn the corner and contend in the ACC, then fan interest will increase and make the building an intimidating place for other teams to play in. All it could take is the next big star like a Tim Duncan or a Chris Paul to put Wake Forest and Joel Coliseum on the map again.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Lawrence Larsen Rink at Mike Eruzione Center 45 Pauline St Winthrop, MA 02152 Boston Blades website Lawrence Larsen Rink website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 500 Blades of Glory The Boston Blades are a professional women’s hockey team that plays in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL). Since beginning play in 2010, the Blades have won the Clarkson Cup as league champions twice, in 2013 and 2015. The Blades were the first US-based team in the circuit. Over the course of their history, the Blades have been nomadic, calling several local rinks home, including Walter Brown Arena at Boston University, the John A. Ryan Arena in Watertown , Veterans Memorial Rink in Somerville, Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell , the Bright-Landry Center at Harvard , Boch Ice Center in Dedham, the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, the Milton Academy Ice Rink, Rodman Arena in Walpole, Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington and the Edward T. Barry Ice Rink at UMass Boston. The team was able to find a home for their entire 2017-2018 home schedule at the Lawrence Larsen Rink at the Mike Eruzione Center. Lawrence Larsen was involved with the town of Winthrop’s Little League and youth hockey programs for over 30 years. The Presidential Unit Citation honoree for his service in World War II would provide the children of Winthrop a place to skate in the winter by flooding the town’s tennis courts. Mike Eruzione is a Winthrop native who is best known as the captain of the 1980 United States Olympic hockey team that defeated the Soviet Union in the legendary “Miracle on Ice” game and went on to win the gold medal in Lake Placid. Food & Beverage 2 There is a small concession stand in the lobby of the Eruzione Center. The standard snack bar menu won’t wow any visiting fans, but there’s enough here to get any Blades fan with the munchies through the game. The menu is made up mostly of snack items including churros, fried dough, cotton candy and popcorn. There are assorted candies and sweets available for the many children who utilize the Larsen Rink. Fans looking for something a bit more substantial can select from nachos, hot dogs or pizza slices. Cans of Pepsi products and bottles of Gatorade are available for thirsty Blades fans. Hot chocolate, tea and coffee are popular items in this chilly facility. Atmosphere 2 You wouldn’t expect an elaborate game day presentation at a facility like Larsen Rink, and you don’t get one during Blades games. The staff here do what they can, with music during play stoppages, raffles and giveaways throughout the game. It’s an old-school experience, and one that’s most fitting here. Most of the noise generated here at Larsen Rink come from the many children in attendance. Mixed in with the few diehard fans in attendance, these youths, many decked out in their peewee jerseys, have a great time stomping on the metal bleachers filling up the chilly rink with noise. Neighborhood 2 Located less than six miles from TD Garden and Boston’s North End, the small town of Winthrop can hardly be considered a destination location. During the summer the beaches and nearby Deer Island are a draw, but during hockey season, there’s not as much to do in town. There are, however, a few good restaurants nearby should visiting fans be looking for a place to eat before or after the game. Nick’s Place is located virtually across the street from the Eruzione Center, and provides a solid diner menu for patrons. As you would expect from a waterfront town like Winthrop, there are some nice seafood restaurants in town. Locals recommend Belle Isle Seafood. Most fans going to a Blades game would be better served by heading into nearby Boston and exploring the many dining, entertainment and lodging options there. Fans 2 The Blades have been overshadowed in the crowded Boston hockey scene by the arrival of the NWHL’s Pride, and their nomadic existence reflects this fact. Still, the team has a dedicated fan base that does a good job of filling the stands at Larsen Rink. A mix of locals, families and youth hockey players give the team a decent crowd. The CWHL does not release attendance figures, but the stands at Larsen Rink are pretty full during Blades games. Access 3 Winthrop is a small ocean-side community of 17,500 people in Greater Boston located at the northern entrance to Boston Harbor, close to Logan International Airport. Situated on a peninsula, the entire town occupies only 1.6 square miles. It is connected to Revere by a narrow isthmus and to East Boston by a bridge over the harbor inlet. Settled in 1630, Winthrop is one of the oldest communities in the United States. Getting to Winthrop is actually easier than you may expect given its location. Located just off of Route 1A, Winthrop is just a few miles from Interstates 90 and 93. Of course, North Shore traffic is never very cooperative, so give yourself some extra time when going to a Blades game. With Winthrop’s location on a peninsula, there are only two ways in and out of town, via Main Street or the Winthrop Parkway (Route 145). Most fans will drive to Larsen Rink, but local residents using public transportation can take the 713 bus, which has a stop on Pauline Street right by the rink. There’s a small parking lot in front of the Eruzione Center, and you may have to weave through the players warming up outside when you arrive. There is ample on-street parking nearby should late-arriving fans require it. Upon entering the Eruzione Center, fans will enter into a small lobby where the snack bar, ticket table and merchandise table are located. Memorabilia honoring Winthrop’s most famous hockey son, Mike Eruzione, fill the trophy cases, and are certainly worth a look. All the seating at Larsen Rink consists of metal bleachers without backs. The seating area starts at the near blue line and runs the length of the rink. Fans are welcome to stand on the boards at the near end, where there are no bleachers. Dress warmly when you visit Larsen Rink, as it’s really cold in there. REALLY cold. Fans will pack the lobby during intermission, or even go outside during the cold Massachusetts winter, to warm up. Return on Investment 3 Tickets to Blades games cost fifteen dollars. Parking is free in the Eruzione Center parking lot. With reasonably priced concessions, a trip to a Boston Blades game is an affordable entertainment option for Greater Boston hockey fans. Extras 3 An extra point is awarded for the display of memorabilia featuring Winthrop’s most notable hockey alumnus, Mike Eruzione. Artifacts from the 1980 Olympics fill the lobby’s trophy cases, much of it autographed by the local players who were on the team. Any hockey historian will enjoy looking around here. As China prepares to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Bejing, they have entered an agreement to sponsor two teams in the CWHL. Each of the five North American teams took a two-week road trip to play their games in China, and the Chinese-based teams do likewise in Canada and the United States. The two Chinese teams are a mix of nationals and CWHL veterans. Seeing the Chinese flag hanging alongside the American and Canadian flags at a hockey rink is a unique sight. A final point is awarded for the sport of women’s hockey and its growing presence in today’s crowded sports scene. CWHL rosters are full of familiar names from the Olympics and international scene, and showing young female athletes that they can aspire to something greater is inspiring. The presence of so many youth players decked out in their hockey jerseys just reinforces this notion. Final Thoughts Unfortunately, the original professional women’s hockey team in the United States has been overshadowed in Boston since the Boston Pride and the National Women’s Hockey League started up three years ago. Rumors of a merger between the two leagues pop up from time to time, making the future of these franchises a bit murky. Still, a trip out to see the Blades and these pioneering athletes is a worthy and affordable one for hockey fans, no matter what your age or gender may be. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Justin Sutton, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.42 Lee-Hines Stadium Harding Blvd Baton Rouge, LA 70813 Southern Jaguars website Lee-Hines Stadium website Year Opened: 1992 Capacity: 1,500 Home of the 31 Time SWAC Champions Tucked away on the north-side of Baton Rouge on the campus of Southern University, the SWAC baseball powerhouse Southern Jaguars call Lee-Hines Field home. While Southern baseball can at times be hidden behind the Jag football program and their famous marching band, the Human Jukebox, the baseball program has claimed the SWAC title an impressive 31 times dating back to 1949. Lee-Hines Field has served as home to Southern baseball since 1992 and features a seating capacity of 1500. While the ballpark isn’t filled with state of the art attractions, Lee-Hines Field offers a traditional setting for college baseball at an affordable price which includes shaded seating provided by an overhead awning and a few delicious options at the concession stand. Food & Beverage 4 The concessions experience at Lee-Hines field covers the basics for an affordable price and also provides a few tasty items sure to satisfy the cravings of most fans in attendance. Quality and Variety of Food Options. The ballpark favorites at Lee-Hines include hot dogs ($2), nachos ($4), and a BBQ burger ($3). Snacks include peanuts ($2), candy ($1) and gum ($1). But don’t settle for the basic fare. Southern offers a few exceptional concessions options like a bowl of jambalaya and items fresh off the grill like the hot sausage poboy and BBQ pork steak or leg quarter. One of the fan favorites is the Wings and Fries combo for $6. Any of the entree items can be turned into a combo for $4.50 which includes fries and a 20oz soda. Variety of Drink Options. Lee-Hines concessions serve bottled Coca-Cola products for $2. Recommendation. While the wings are sure to please when available, give the hot sausage poboy a try. Though the term “poboy” is used very loosely here (it’s more of a sausage dog), the sausage is very spicy and tasty. Atmosphere 2 Lee-Hines Field provides Southern Jaguar baseball a traditional on-campus college baseball atmosphere. While it’s short of bells and whistles, you’ll get to enjoy local college talent while ditching the sun under shade provided by an overhead awning. Stadium Aesthetics. Lee-Hines Field utilizes its corner of the Southern University campus to the fullest. The first baseline is pressed up against the Harding Blvd overpass, which makes it difficult to fit in seating around the backstop. The main grandstand starts behind home plate and wraps around towards third base. While this impacts the view some, the overhead awning makes up for it. Even though Louisiana has a strong baseball culture, hot Louisiana days can sure make the trip to the ballpark a struggle. Hiding from that heat under the awning goes a long way to improve the overall atmosphere at Lee-Hines. The ballpark features a natural grass surface. Tracks sit just beyond the outfield wall, and a couple of trains will typically pass through during the game. In-Game Promotions and Entertainment. Music is piped in between innings. Outside of that, there’s not much going on outside of the baseball game. If you are traveling with family that aren’t baseball purists, be sure plan ways to keep them busy during the game. Seat Location Recommendations.Look for a seat in the main grandstand near the top of the bleachers. The bottom sections still catch a good amount of sun, but the upper portions typically stay under the shade of the awning. Neighborhood 2 Lee-Hines field is located in the southeast corner Southern University next to the F.G. Clark Center and A.W. Mumford Stadium on the northside of Baton Rouge. While the campus is cozy and there are a couple of attractions to visit while in town, you’ll want to head south towards Baton Rouge for dining and entertainment outside of the game. Where to Eat. As the capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge has plenty to offer when it comes to restaurants and attractions. Considering Southern is on the northside of town, we’ll focus on a few spots to visit a little closer towards the campus. About 3.5 miles southeast of Southern, you’ll find some of the best seafood in town at Tony’s Seafood Market and Deli (5215 Plank Rd). Though there isn’t a place to sit and eat while on the inside, you can get delicious fried seafood platters, boudin, and boiled seafood to go. If you have a little time before the game starts, order a few pounds of their amazing boiled crawfish to eat tailgate style in the stadium parking lot. Other options to consider nearby are Bayou Cafe & Catering (5068 Airline Hwy) and the Chicken Shack (3928 Pawtucket St). Attractions & Entertainment. Continuing the focus on north Baton Rouge, Southern is located just a couple of miles from the BREC Baton Rouge Zoo. While it’s on the smaller side, a stop here before or after the game could more than make-up from the lack of non-baseball entertainment for your family. On campus, check-out the Southern University Museum of Art. A little closer into Baton Rouge is the Buddy Stewart Memorial & Museum. Though not necessarily a “north” Baton Rouge attraction, it fits in well with the historical culture of the Southern campus. Locally referred to as “Buddy Stewart’s Rock Shop,” the store served the area for over thirty years as one of the few minority owned music stores in town. Where to Stay. Again, there’s plenty of lodging in downtown Baton Rouge, however, you’ll find several closer options on the north side near the airport. Check-out the Spring Hill Suites (7980 Howell Blvd). Fans 1 Typical Jaguar baseball crowds are small and loyal. While it’s obvious baseball isn’t the crown jewel of Southern athletics, you’ll find a friendly home crowd of primarily family and friends of the players along with a few long-time supporters of the program.. Typical Attendance. Expect an average crowd of about 100-150 for the usual SWAC weekend series. If you are attending while the Jaguars face-off against a local in-state program (such as Southeastern Louisiana, UNO, or Loyola of N.O.), expect a slightly larger and more dynamic crowd. Despite being a dominant force in SWAC baseball throughout the years, attendance has remained relatively low (which is common throughout the conference). Crowd Noise & Engagement. Southern fans get into the game during bad calls and big plays. There’s not much fanfare outside of that and there’s not much to be said in regards to traditions or chants.Expect a relaxed atmosphere in a traditional setting. Access 4 Lee-Hines Stadium is very accessible. Located a couple of miles from the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport and just a few miles north of downtown Baton Rouge, you shouldn’t run into many problems getting to and from the stadium. Transit to and from Stadium. If you’re coming into Baton Rouge from I-10, you’ll want to head north on I-110. Take exit 6 towards Southern University, turning left onto Harding Blvd (Hwy 408). Harding runs directly to Lee-Hines Field. As you cross the over-pass just beyond Hwy 61, you’ll see the ballpark on your right before the F.G. Clark Activity Center. Though traffic on I-10 and I-110 can be a major headache at times, the northside location of Lee-Hines affords you several alternate routes when the freeways are jammed. Parking. Parking is free around the stadium. Considering that the stadium is adjacent to the F.G. Clark Center parking lot, there’s plenty of parking available. Ticketing & Gate Entry. As you approach the stadium from the parking lot, there is a single entrance next to the ticket booth. You shouldn’t have any problems with a wait to get your tickets and you’ll breeze through the entrance. Moving around the stadium. There’s plenty of room to move around once inside the stadium. The concourse between the concessions facility and the ballpark is very spacious. There’s also a concourse separating the grandstand and row of chair back seating next to the playing surface. Return on Investment 2 The cost of attending a Southern Jags game at Lee-Hines Field is very affordable. General admission is $5 for adults. While there seems to be some assigned seating, the spirit of the venue is fully general admission. Find a comfortable spot and it’s yours. While the price is certainly affordable, the overall investment may still not be of the highest value. There are several upgrades which could be made to the venue experience which could significantly raise the overall ROI. . Extras 2 Lee-Hines Field has a few “extras” which contribute to the overall game day experience. Chief among those is the excellent job done memorializing past accomplishments with the listing of conference championships on the outside of the grandstand. The Southern Jaguars baseball team continues to be a force in the SWAC. A bonus point is awarded here for the shade provided by the overhead awning. When the Louisiana heat is bearing down on you in late spring, finding shelter is essential.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Liacouras Center 3406 N Broad St Philadelphia, PA 19121 Temple Owls website Liacouras Center website Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 10,026 Temple Basketball at Liacouras Center The Temple Owls are one of the oldest college basketball teams in the nation, having been formed in 1894. At the end of the 2017-18 season, they had registered 1,886 wins, good for fifth overall behind powerhouses Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, and Duke. They have also dominated the Big 5 competition that features four other schools in the college hoops hotbed of Philadelphia, taking 27 titles, though defending national champ Villanova is quickly catching up. Despite this storied history and playing in the American Athletic Conference, the program isn’t that well known nationally, and their home venue, the Liacouras Center, doesn’t have the same cachet as Rupp Arena or Cameron Indoor Stadium . Food & Beverage 4 There are several concession stands along the single concourse, each with ties to the Philadelphia area. Chickie’s and Pete’s (Crabfries with Cheese for $11), Tony Luke’s ($10 cheesesteaks), and Broad Street Dogs ($6.50 for Italian Sausage and $4.50 for hot dogs, which should be avoided) are three highlights. Hack-a-Snack is more generic but makes up for it with an amusing name; you can get popcorn or a pretzel at most stands for $4.50. Other options include shawarmas and falafels for $10 at Pita Chip and boneless wings at PK Whelihan’s. Scoops and Hoops serve a variety of ice cream treats. In a rarity for a campus venue, beer is available for $7. If you prefer non-alcoholic beverages, Coke products are served here, with bottled soda going for $5 and bottled water 50 cents less, while coffee is $2.75. A great variety here but the low quality of the hot dogs (a poor choice on my part no doubt) costs a point. Atmosphere 3 The Liacouras Center is a multi-purpose facility with a single concourse that leads to two seating levels on three sides of the court (the upper level on one side is replaced with a frightening mural of owl eyes). The seats are bright red and the legroom is sufficient. There are seating zones behind each basket, namely the Cherry Zone (which is for the students) and the White Zone, after the school’s colors. There is a four-sided scoreboard above center court that shows detailed replays. There are also banners in the rafters celebrating the past accomplishments of the squad, and a Ring of Honor was inaugurated in 2016. The band and cheerleaders add to the proceedings, but overall, things are relatively sedate for a program as storied as this. Neighborhood 4 Located in the improving North Philadelphia area at the intersection of Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue, the Temple campus is surrounded by good bars and restaurants. My recommendation if you like cozy neighborhood establishments is Pub Webb on Cecil B. Moore Avenue, which has a good afternoon happy hour. The Draught Horse just south of the arena is larger and better for families. In terms of eateries, as you would expect near a college campus, there are plenty of fast food options such as Wendy’s and Jimmy John’s, but try something else as there is good variety here. Although first-time visitors are not required by law to have a cheesesteak, you will become the laughing stock among your friends for not doing so. To avoid this embarrassment, try Tony Luke’s at the southeast corner of the main intersection. For a more relaxing experience, Champ’s Diner gets good reviews, as does Pazzo Pazzo pizza. Fans 3 Temple fans have a great reputation, but I attended a game on a Sunday afternoon against a weaker non-conference opponent that drew just over 5,000 of them. Those that were there were well-behaved and cheered appropriately, but it is hard to give a higher score when the facility is not even half full. When a Big 5 opponent visits, the situation is supposedly much different, so keep that in mind if you are in town for one of those games. Access 4 Set the tone for the overall fan experience (i.e. “Overall, General Stadium is very accessible both in terms of Getting here from downtown is easy as the Philadelphia subway stops at Cecil B. Moore, eight stations from City Hall. From here the arena is just a half a block north on the west side of Broad Street. If you do decide to drive, you should be able to find street parking in the vicinity, though keep in mind that this area is not conveniently located close to any highway. There is a parking garage right here too, but at $17, it is a bit pricey for this level of college hoops. Inside, the concourse is spacious and the small crowd ensured that there is no problem getting around, nor is there any issue with the washrooms. Return on Investment 4 Tickets vary depending on the opponent. For a non-conference foe (or even a lesser team from the American), the good seats start at $35, while those in the upper deck are $15.  Expect to pay $5 more when a more compelling team is visiting. Coupled with the food, this is a reasonable investment and one worth making. . Extras 4 Statues of coaching legends Harry Litwack and John Chaney highlight the spacious lobby. Along the concourse is the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame which is worth a quick look. There is also an inflatable hoop to distract unruly kids. A point for the mural of owl eyes behind the Cherry Zone. A final point for the banners in the rafters going all the way back to 1939, as well as the banners in the ceiling of the concourse for the other AAC schools. Final Thoughts Liacouras Center scores well on our Fanfare scale, as it is located in a great area with easy access and good food options inside (not to mention beer). The main problem is the relative calm in the crowd, but I am sure that this is more exciting when the Owls play a big-time school. If you are in the City of Brotherly Love, consider a visit here to help cheer on the Owls.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Lloyd Noble Center 2900 Jenkins Ave Norman, OK 73072 Oklahoma Sooners website Lloyd Noble Center website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 11,562 Oklahoma’s Lloyd Noble Center Lloyd Noble Center is an 11,562-seat multi-purpose venue on the University of Oklahoma campus. The Lloyd Noble Center or LNC opened on October 27, 1975. The arena is home to both of the Sooners’ basketball programs as well as the women’s gymnastics team. These Lloyd Noble Center's tenants have accumulated a combined eight Final Four appearances, three national championships, and 47 conference titles. The Sooners men’s basketball team has a 549-102 record (.843 winning percentage) in Lloyd Noble Center since the building opened in 1975. The largest crowd to witness a basketball game inside LNC was on December 29, 2003, as 13,431 fans watched OU beat UT-Pan American 72-57. Food & Beverage 3 The Lloyd Noble Center concessions are all situated along the upper concourse. The food and drink options are basic, and rightfully so as there is not a real need to go above the menu that is offered inside LNC. One of the arena workers mentioned that the best food option is Chick-fil-A; Chick-fil-A offers three items on their menu – a chicken sandwich for $7, waffle fries for $3, and a cookie for $4. Besides Chick-fil-A, there is another outside vendor with Pizza Hut offering a personal pan pizza or a Hershey’s chocolate chip cookie pizza for $6.50. Pizza Hut tries to bundle their items with a pan pizza, cookie, and a regular soda for $17. The other concessions inside Lloyd Noble Center that have a larger menu selection are Sooner Street Tacos for Tex-Mex or the Sooner Smokehouse for BBQ. Three items at the Sooner Smokehouse cost $10.25; the pulled pork nachos and the pulled pork or smoked turkey sandwiches. Brisket sandwiches are two dollars more than the other sandwiches, while a two-meat platter is $15.50 and served with either coleslaw or a bag of chips. The combo of adding a souvenir soda for $16.50 and is the best option for price at this stand. Alternatively, Sooner Street Tacos cost $7 for two tacos (beef or pork), while the chicken fajita nachos cost $10 and are the best option at this stand. Beside the above, there are basic food items available at Sooner Snacks stands inside Lloyd Noble Center such as a Bavarian pretzel for $6.50, jumbo hot dog for $5.25, souvenir popcorn for $7.50 and the smaller popcorn for $5.50, theater size candy for $4.50, and peanuts for $4. Lloyd Noble Center also serves Coca-Cola products, including Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Diet Coke, Sprite, and water – the price for soda is $6.25 for the souvenir cup, $4.25 for the regular size, and $5 for a 20 oz bottle, and bottled water costs $4.50 for the same 20-oz. bottle. A small selection is available for alcoholic beverages at a cost of $8.50 for a 20 oz serving; Bud Light, Landshark, Michelob Ultra, or Ziegenbock. Atmosphere 4 Every college basketball game depends on its student section. OU’s students stand at the baseline next to the Sooners basketball band, which is a small group of band members from the larger, more well-known Pride of Oklahoma; the full member Pride of Oklahoma is commonly seen at Oklahoma football games. But the students at Lloyd Noble Center do an uncommon pregame ritual – each seat is stocked with a newspaper and a piece of paper that contains a chant sheet and the lineup of the opposing team, complete with stats and comical insults. The students are expected to read up on their opponents and proceed to yell the insults at them which are insults included in their bios. This practice doesn’t necessarily stop with chants, either, as signs are also made for each day’s opponent. The students hold up these sighs, which feature derogatory comments about the opposing team, for example, one sign reads that “Lubbock is too dusty to be seen on a map,” referring to the home of Texas Tech University. In addition, there are also life-size cutouts of OU basketball players’ heads, and students dressed up in all manner of crazy costumes including a banana. The chant sheet instructs the students to read the newspaper during the announcement of the opponent’s lineup. The newspaper is then torn up into tiny pieces and thrown into the air like confetti upon OU’s announcement of “Introducing your Oklahoma Sooners’ starting lineup!” The lights of the stadium are turned off, and the fans then turn on their phone’s flashlights and wave them in the air in anticipation. Also, with every player announcement, a red burst of fire erupts from the top of each of the basketball hoops at each end of the court. Also, like at other basketball games when the home team is shooting a free throw, you’ll hear “One’s up” and the students will raise their arms holding up the number one until the OU player has shot his basket; the One’s up is in conjunction with the school’s motto of “There is Only One Oklahoma!” Besides the students, the spirit squads made from OU’s Cheer and Pom Squads are always involved in entertaining and keeping the crowd’s energy towards the game. The squad includes Boomer and Sooner, who are the costumed mascots that represent the University of Oklahoma, although the official mascot is the Sooner Schooner. Both Boomer and Sooner will interact with the crowd throughout LNC. Although predominately used during football games , the Oklahoma Ruf/Neks and Lil Sis have a part in the basketball game day program. This rowdy group will run around the court and throw t-shirts into whichever section of the crowd cheers the loudest during timeouts. The OU band plays “Boomer Sooner” throughout the entire game, and this song will echo through LNC non-stop. The song will be so overly played that even the opposing fans will have the high-pitched tune in their heads. The song is a combination of Yale’s “Boola Boola” and North Carolina’s “I’m a Tarheel born.” Of course, the band will also play one of the most famous songs associated with the state of Oklahoma; Richard Rodgers’ “Oklahoma.” Neighborhood 3 The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in the city of Norman, Oklahoma. The city of Norman is 20 miles south of Oklahoma City, and has a population of 120,284, making Norman the third-largest city in the state behind Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The OU campus has a student population close to 31,000. Lloyd Noble Center is located on the south side of campus near OU’s baseball stadium; L. Dale Mitchell Park . The neighborhood around the ballpark is more residential, with the fast food chain Sonic being the closest restaurant, but there is also a Rudy’s BBQ down the road. The location is secluded; to get to anything with larger crowds you need to go to the other side of campus, to the popular Campus Corner area. The Campus Corner area is on the opposite side of campus about a mile north from LNC at W. Boyd Street. This area has numerous restaurants, including Oklahoma’s well-known Hideaway Pizza. Volare is another pizza choice that fans seem to enjoy, and The Porch, The Library Bar and Grill, O’Connell’s Irish Pub & Grill, and Seven47 are great drinking holes with food. In addition, Pepe Delgados is a great choice for fans that are looking for Tex-Mex. The Mont is also a good recommendation, located just off E Boyd Street on Classen Blvd; here you can enjoy a brunch on their patio. Also, just north of the Campus Corner area is Main Street in downtown Norman, where I would suggest The Garage for people looking for a great lunch burger. The Oklahoma City area has so much to offer to visitors that a lot of people are surprised when they visit. Bricktown is a great spot for the traveling baseball fan; this neighborhood is home to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark , home of the Oklahoma City Dodgers (Pacific Coast League team for the LA Dodgers ). Oklahoma City will probably be on most tourist lists, but Norman, Oklahoma has a few tourist attractions of its own. The first stop is The University of Oklahoma campus – the campus, besides being a beautiful campus to walk around during baseball season , is home to a couple of nice museums, including the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History and the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. These two museums will surely make it a wonderful educational trip. However, a visit to the University of Oklahoma wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the school’s football program ; Heisman Park is located outside Oklahoma Memorial Stadium , and is a great photo op for fans. In terms of lodging, the Riverwind Casino is about 4.5 miles from Lloyd Noble Center; this is the closest choice for lodging. However, there are plenty of places to stay near campus including Hampton Inn-Norman and Fairfield Inn & Suites, which are both just down Ed Noble Parkway from W. Main Street near Interstate 35. Fans 4 Oklahoma’s basketball attendance seems to depend on the team’s star players and record. Over the last decade attendance has been sporadic with a drop then a rise in attendance. The 2008-09 season average was always near capacity, as over 11,490 fans per game watched future NBA players Blake Griffin, Willie Warren, and Taylor Griffin. Attendance dropped afterwards, however, until the next future Sooners star Buddy Hield played in Norman – attendance reached a high of about 11,000 fans per content during the 2015-16 Final Four season, but once Buddy left for the NBA attendance saw a dramatic drop of 2,000 fans per game for Sooners basketball. More recently Lloyd Noble Center has an average basketball attendance of 9,538 which is respectful, but the most recent game only had an estimated attendance of 6,612. These statistics are pretty much in line with the fact that Oklahoma is a football school, and thus other sports are just filling in time between football seasons. The irony though is the fans are perhaps the best part of the experience at Lloyd Noble Center; even when low in numbers the Sooners fans give the Sooners a home court advantage. These fans have led Oklahoma to the second-best home arena record in the Big 12 behind only Kansas’ Allen Fieldhouse . Access 4 Access to Lloyd Noble Center is relatively easy. This is partly due to the arena being in a secluded part of campus, away from the main artery streets of Norman. It is a short drive from Interstate-35 to the campus, and there are plenty of ways to get to the arena. The easiest route to Lloyd Noble Center is to take exit 108A/B from Interstate-35 onto Route 9, then take a left onto W. Imhoff Road; at the third traffic light. Lloyd Noble Center has plenty of free parking around the venue – there are 4,707 paved and marked parking spaces within the lighted lot, which is patrolled by the OU Police Department on a regular basis. However, this parking is divided up into Sooner Club, VIP, and Public Parking; the public parking entrances are directly off Imhoff Road making the flow of traffic very easy. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis, so how early you arrive will determine how quickly you will find an open spot, and how close it will be to the venue. Regardless, there is the typical long line of cars waiting to exit the lot after the game. The venue doors open 90 minutes prior to each event for all guests, and there is no re-entry at Lloyd Noble Center. Lloyd Noble Center security is under the clear bag policy, meaning your items must fit inside an approved clear plastic bag with a maximum size of 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag, and even these bags are subject to search. Non-transparent clutch purses no larger than 4.5 x 6.5 inches are also permitted, with bags necessary for medical equipment being searched at marked medical lanes at each gate. No other bags or purses (including diaper bags) are permitted, and the limit on bags is one per person. Express lanes remain in place at each gate for those who do not bring bags to Lloyd Noble Center. Besides the clear bag policy, all entrances have metal detectors, but fans need only to empty cell phones, keys, and metal objects larger than keys from their pockets before screening. Fans are NOT required to remove belts, shoes, or other small items such as coins, jewelry, or watches. The arena floor is approximately 15,575 square feet around and the ceiling is 51 feet high. LNC is a bowl with two concourses circulating the arena. All seating sections, restrooms, and concessions are clearly marked throughout Lloyd Noble Center, so overall, access is above average for fans traveling to Oklahoma for basketball. Return on Investment 4 Oklahoma Basketball has three levels of seating – lower level sideline, lower baseline, and upper level, and the ticket prices are based on which seating level you are in. In addition, whether the game is non-conference vs. conference affects the price, as well as what day the game is, but most of the single game ticket prices range between $20 for upper level and $85 for lower level sideline. Extras 3 The University of Oklahoma consists of Cherokee Gothic red brick architecture, and is a wonderful campus to walk around if the weather permits. The centerpiece of the campus is Oklahoma’s Gaylord Memorial Stadium and OU’s Heisman Park – this is a must visit for all college football fans, as Heisman Park displays statues in honor of Sooners players who have won the award over the years. Oklahoma also does a wonderful job in displaying items from all three programs that call Lloyd Noble Center home. The most recent addition to LNC is Legacy Court – this museum-like exhibit chronicles the history of basketball at OU, and features both the men's and women's programs' most prominent players, coaches, and accomplishments. This exhibit, which also serves as the entry way into the OU basketball offices, is officially open to the public from 9-5 pm Monday thru Friday. On game days, however, Legacy Court opens when the arena does and closes a half hour after the conclusion of the game. Final Thoughts Lloyd Noble Center isn’t among the better basketball arenas in the Big 12 Conference such as Allen Fieldhouse , Hilton Coliseum , or instate rival’s Gallagher-Iba Arena . However, LNC is an above-average basketball arena that can become a great place to watch college basketball. The venue and the Sooners fans here have the potential to give Sooner basketball games a unique atmosphere, so any college basketball fan will enjoy attending a basketball game here at OU’s Lloyd Noble Center.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Mackey Arena 900 N John R Wooden Dr West Lafayette, IN 47907 Purdue Boilermakers website Mackey Arena website Year Opened: 1967 Capacity: 14,804 Lighting Up the Mackey Arena The Purdue Boilermakers have called the Mackey Arena home since 1967. The 14,804 facilities cost $6 million to construct and were designed by Walter Scholer and Associates Inc. to replace Lambert Fieldhouse. Throughout its half-century of use, the facility has seen numerous renovations, but most importantly was the $99.5 million Mackey Complex Project that was completed in 2012 that tripled the concourse area, increased the number of concession areas and restrooms, and added premium seats in the lower section. The changes have enhanced the fan experience at Mackey Arena, an older facility with aesthetically pleasing charm, but with all the comforts of a modern arena. The dome-shaped roof provides unobstructed views of the court from the seats and a noise level that provides a strong home-field advantage. Originally named Purdue Arena for its first five years. It was renamed after Guy Mackey who served Purdue sports for 46 years as its athletic director from 1942 until his death on February 22, 1971. Food & Beverage 4 Mackey Arena features your usual stadium menu items plus a few interesting creations tailor-made for Purdue basketball fans. The Mackey Burger is a cheeseburger with bacon and macaroni and cheese that sells for $10, the giant pork tenderloin sandwich for $7, and lastly, the Mike Ditka chicken sausage for $7. If you’re looking for value then the barbecue wrap for $3 is a steal. It’s a flour tortilla stuffed with either pulled pork, pulled chicken, or beef brisket. If you still have a craving for BBQ then try it on a bun for $10 or top it over nachos for 7. Then again the common hot dog, nacho, chili cheese dog, and walking taco are also available between $4 and $7. You can wash that down with any Coca-Cola product that sells for $5 or in a commemorative cup for $8. Atmosphere 5 They enjoy basketball here at Purdue and when you can pack in near-capacity crowds on a nightly basis the atmosphere is going to be fun, exciting, and deafening. It all starts with fans taking out their phones for the BoilerLights app that allows them to use their smartphones during pregame festivities and participate in a synchronized light show that is produced by themselves. The dome-shaped structure of the roof and the symmetrical design of the arena provide an almost unobstructed view of the playing court and great acoustics during the game. The majority of the seats are bleacher-style and are somewhat cramped when the crowds are big. On the west end of the lower area is premium seating. However, there is not a bad seat in the house and sometimes you gain a great vantage point from all that’s occurring throughout the building. There are various banners of past championship teams and retired jersey numbers from both the men’s and women’s sides. A giant video scoreboard hovers over the court named after legendary basketball coach Gene Keady who coached the men’s team for 25 years. Purdue Pete can be seen throughout the lower level of the arena and maybe a few places on the main concourse floor. He can be seen stroking up the crowd that can become one of the loudest in the nation along with the cheerleaders and the students in the Paint Crew section. There is also a modest collection of paraphernalia throughout the concourse that shows glimpses of the basketball team’s past through old uniforms, trophies, jerseys, and newspaper articles. Glass trophy cases are scattered around that are both entertaining and revealing about the basketball program. Neighborhood 4 The Chauncey Village neighborhood features quite a bit of funky little shops and restaurants, plus some great nightlife destinations. Von’s Shops offers an impressive array of new and used books, clothing, and other items in eclectic buildings and storefronts. Next door is Von’s Dough Shack where customers choose their type of calzone and enjoy it fresh from the oven. If you are not the creative type, there are 34 varieties to choose from off the menu. Just across the street is the famous Triple XXX Family Restaurant where one can enjoy a peanut butter burger or homemade root beer inside its small, cozy, and narrow booths. The small building features narrow countertops and bar stools. If you are adventurous and want to expand your taste buds, Shaukin Indian Fast Food might be just the place during your visit. This is not your standard Indian fare, but Indian street food that is lively in taste and spice. Most items are well below $10 and you can take it to go and enjoy it across the street at The Pint. If you are a craft beer fan, People’s Brewing Company is located 3 miles north of the high school and is one of the better places for local beer in the state. Pints are $5 and are a dollar less on Wednesdays. Lafayette Brewing Company is the other craft beer option in town with $2 off of pints on Wednesday nights as well. Fans 5 Purdue fans are just as boisterous as any other group in Indiana and sometimes they are overlooked by their rivals down in Bloomington. However, the colors here are black and gold, and when the team is hot, the fans are in a frenzy. One gentleman swears that Mackey Arena is the best venue in the Big Ten and dares anyone to disagree with him. I would say he is somewhat biased, but when you have a wide-open view of the fans cheering in unison, why argue? Access 3 West Lafayette is off of I-65 and is about a 15-20 minute ride to campus after that. If driving, take exit 175 (IN-25) towards Lafayette/Delphi and follow the signs toward campus and the arena. Mackey Arena is next to the football stadium and shares the same parking lot. The renovated outer concourse is much bigger and provides quick access to bathrooms, exits, and concession stands. Return on Investment 4 Tickets can be found on the secondary market for as little as $12 for smaller schools or non-Big Ten rivals to $200 when Indiana University visits the Boilermakers. The return on investment will depend on who is playing, but most of the time tickets should range between $40-$50 a person. The cost of parking is also reasonable, between $10-$20, depending on what garage or lot you park in for the game. Extras 3 1 star for the BoilerBall Lights app that allows users in attendance an interactive engagement tool that enhances the game-day atmosphere at the game. 2 stars for the collection of history in various glass cases on the main concourse. Visitors can enjoy the history of Mackey Arena, Purdue uniforms of the past, and legends who once played or coached at the school. 3 stars for offering a $3 menu item at the game. The barbecue wrap is price-friendly and the perfect size for kids. Final Thoughts Mackey Arena is one of the many reasons why people love their basketball in Indiana. A classic arena that has served many memories was rebuilt with 21st-century comfort and charm. An evening watching Boilermaker basketball is one of the reasons why basketball is king in this past part of the country.

Photos by Matt Finnigan, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Magness Arena 2240 Buchtel Blvd Denver, CO 80208 Denver Pioneers hockey website Magness Arena website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 6,026 Magness Mayhem Since launching its hockey program in 1949, the Denver Pioneers have enjoyed 70 years of success. The team has won eight NCAA Championships (most recently in 2017) and has produced 47 All-Americans and 78 players who have played in the National Hockey League. The program’s success is reflected well in its rink, Magness Arena, which provides one of the country’s top college hockey experiences. Magness Arena is part of DU’s Ritchie Center, the 440,000-square-foot hub of the school’s athletic and entertainment endeavors. All 17 Pioneer intercollegiate sports practice, compete and have offices in or adjacent to the Ritchie Center. Fans attending a DU hockey game can also peek from Magness’s concourses into DU’s volleyball facility and the El Pomar Natatorium, the only Olympic-sized swimming pool in Denver. In building the Ritchie Center more than 20 years ago, DU’s leadership obviously contemplated a facility that would centralize its athletic department. That design did not compromise the experience for Pioneer fans and students, who enjoy watching high-level hockey in a facility that both reflects and honors the program’s historic success. Food & Beverage 4 Magness Arena offers a wide variety of quality food and drinks options at reasonable prices. Old favorites include three types of burgers (cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, and guacamole burger), with fries, for $8.75; a chicken finger basket for $8.75; pizza for $9; and fish and chips for $9. Additionally, made-to-order street tacos, including hatch green chile, pico de gallo, cojita cheese, and black bean and corn salsa, are available for $9. Other available snacks include bratwurst ($5.50), hot dogs ($4.50), and nachos ($5). Beyond food, Magness has an impressively wide variety of beverage options. The arena features multiple, full bars that offer cocktails ($8) and margaritas ($8) with top-shelf liquor. Beer drinkers can opt for any of at least ten different brews at Magness Arena, with craft beer ($9) and domestic ($8) available on tap and in cans. Available beers include Dales Pale Ale, Sandlot, Batch 19, Fat Tire, Sierra Nevada, and a variety of brews from locally based Breckenridge Brewing. White Claw Hard Seltzer ($9) and hard cider ($8) are available in cans. Those looking for non-alcoholic drinks have their choice of Pepsi products ($5 per bottle) and bottled water ($4). Notably, DU has a coffee cart in Magness’s main lobby. Baristas serve lattes, mochas, cappuccinos, espresso, coffee, and hot chocolate for $4 per cup. Atmosphere 4 Most fans enter Magness Arena on the building’s west side, directly beneath the 215-foot-tall, gold-spired Williams Tower. Ticket windows have been placed both outsides and inside the arena’s west entrance, where the Pioneer cheer squad welcomes fans into Magness Arena’s main lobby. From there, fans can circumnavigate the seating bowl through wide concourses that include concession stands, two merchandise areas, marketing tables, and kiosks for contests and creating signs. Magness Arena does not have a bad seat. That said, the seats along the sideline opposite the team benches enable fans to be so close to the action that players can be heard shouting to one another on the ice. A large, 360-degree scoreboard with video screens hangs over the center ice. It displays in-game promotions and replays clearly. A color scoreboard along each goal line provides team statistics throughout games. DU honors its athletic history throughout its concourses, so a lap around the rink is advised. Most notably, the school’s athletic hall of fame’s plaques adorns a wall on the arena’s west concourse. Fans can learn about the contributions of former DU athletes in all sports there. The school also displays its various trophies throughout the concourses. Because DU built Magness Arena on campus, many students can walk to games. This means that the Pios routinely play in front of a lively student section, which includes the school’s pep band and cheer squad. On the night of this review, DU recorded a 7-2 win over Miami (Ohio) and gave frequent reasons for the 5,226 fans in attendance to cheer. Neighborhood 5 The neighborhood surrounding DU features beautiful homes and gardens, along with a full range of dining and entertainment options. Restaurants and bars abound along South University Boulevard on DU’s east side and along Evans Street, which virtually bisects the campus. The Crimson and Gold Tavern is .2 of a mile from Magness Arena and is a popular pre- and post-game meeting spot, with drink specials and a late-night menu. Jerusalem Restaurant serves some of Denver’s best Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Food and is a short drive from Magness. Plenty of fast-casual restaurants, including Mustard’s Last Stand (hot dogs and burgers) and the flagship Chipotle store, can be found near DU. DU’s Campus sits among some of Denver’s most popular neighborhoods. The 155-acre Washington Park is less than two miles to the north, providing numerous recreation options and an adjacent neighborhood with bars, restaurants, and shops along Gaylord Street. Bonnie Brae is another well-established Denver neighborhood, north of campus along University Boulevard and includes one of the Mile High City’s favorite ice cream shops, Bonnie Brae Ice Cream. Multiple hotel options exist nearby in Denver’s Cherry Creek and Glendale neighborhoods, both of which are just a short drive away from DU. Fans 4 Students provide a sporting event’s energy and heartbeat, and a DU hockey game is no different. The DU student section, the “Pio Pit,” sits behind the goal at Magness Arena’s north end. Students pound on the glass, cheer against rival Colorado College (regardless of whom the Pioneers are actually playing) and taunt opponents with different messages written on a large dry-erase board that they press against the glass. One caveat: the students launch into off-color, though thoughtfully choreographed, cheers. Sitting at the opposite end of the arena will muffle the students’ sometimes ribald cheering. In general, DU hockey fans are smart and conscientious. They pay close attention to the game and roar when the Pioneers beat the opposing goalie. Most fans appear engaged in the action on the ice and not in merely socializing. Accordingly, concession lines are at their longest between periods and during time-outs. Access 5 The DU campus is situated in the heart of Denver. Public transportation options combine with a campus staff that knows how to manage traffic and parking to provide easy access to a game at Magness Arena. Light rail takes fans from throughout metro Denver nearly to Magness’s front door. A light rail station, which services three different lines (E, F, H), sits across Buchtel Avenue from Magness Arena, enabling fans from Downtown Denver and Denver’s south suburbs to take light rail instead of driving. Fans can easily enjoy dinner or drinks in downtown Denver before taking light rail to DU from Denver’s Union Station. Denver’s Transit Authority, RTD Denver, has also placed bus stops along the campus’s south edge, on Evans Avenue. For fans who eschew public transportation in favor of driving, DU has abundant parking and a skillful staff to direct fans. On the night of this review, one of the parking lots near Magness Arena had filled because of multiple, on-campus events; attendants opened a backup parking lot and provided clear directions not only on how to drive to the parking lot during the evening rush hour but also to walk back to the arena. Once inside, Magness Arena has plenty of room for fans to navigate to their seats. The venue has 16 vomitory entrances into the arena, with an oversized vomitory in each corner. The concourses are sufficiently wide as to avoid traffic jams. Fans should not have to wait in lines for restrooms, which are clean and operable throughout Magness Arena. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices for a DU game at Magness Arena are quite reasonable, particularly in light of the Pioneers’ historic and recent success. The most expensive seats, along either side of the ice, sell for $35 and $30, while end zone seats cost $20. Fans who purchase tickets before the game day will save $5 off the price of any ticket. Because public transportation is so convenient, it provides an easy alternative to driving. Those who do drive to a DU game can look for metered parking along the streets bordering campus, ideally along Buchtel Boulevard. The City of Denver checks meters until 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, so fans will need to be careful should they choose street parking. Otherwise, abundant paid parking ($7-$12) is available on campus. Food prices are reasonable, most notably the burger combos for $8.75. Extras 3 Magness Arena earns one point because it has among the friendliest, most helpful staff of any sporting venue in Denver. From ticket takers to ushers to concessions staff, DU’s customer service representatives do their best to ensure that fans enjoy a great experience while watching Pioneer hockey. Another point is earned for DU’s creation of a signature cocktail for Pios games, the “Hilltop” ($12). It’s a mix of Tito’s Vodka, lime juice, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, simple syrup, and grapefruit soda, garnished with a slice of grapefruit. The drink’s name is a nod to the name of DU’s former football stadium, which was located where many of the Pioneer’s sports facilities exist today. Although DU dropped football after the 1960 season, the Denver Broncos – playing the AFL – played their regular season openers at Hilltop Stadium in 1962 and 1963 because of scheduling conflicts at the old Mile High Stadium. A third point goes to the free, high-quality game programs that DU provides for each home series. These programs are printed on glossy paper and include a fold-out poster of a Pioneer player. They are a nice touch that reflects the staff’s creativity and hard work. Final Thoughts A game at Magness Arena allows fans to enjoy some of the nation’s top college hockey at a reasonable price. From families with children to rabid hockey fans, a Pioneer home game provides a great, overall experience for everyone.

Photos by Sasa Grujic, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Malmo Arena Hyllie Stationstorg 2 Malmo, Sweden 21532 Malmo Redhawks website Malmo Arena website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 12,600 Hockey in Malmö Malmö is Sweden`s third biggest city beautifully situated by the Baltic Sea. The Malmö Redhawks are a Swedish professional ice hockey club based in Malmö, founded in 1972. The club has won two Swedish Championship titles, in 1992 and 1994, and the 1993 European championship. The club is currently playing in Sweden’s premier hockey league, the SHL and they play their home games at Malmö Arena. Malmö Arena offers sports, entertainment and cultural events all year round in one of Sweden`s biggest indoor arenas. Malmo Arena has hosted diverse events such as the Eurovision Song Contest, World Men’s Handball Championships, and the Junior Hockey World Championships. Food & Beverage 3 It is not allowed to bring food or beverages into the arena from the outside. Malmö Arena offers a selection of food and drink in its three restaurants, and one of them has a unique panoramic view of the ice rink. The restaurants open no later than 2 hours prior to the start of a game. Located around the arena, bars, kiosks and fast food are open during the games and offer a wide range of drinks, snacks and sweets as well hot meals such as hamburgers. In addition to the friendliness of service, the lines move relatively quickly. Depending on the type of hamburger and whether it includes soft drinks, prices range from 45 to 90kr (10kr = €1 or 8kr= $1). Overall, the concessions are exactly what you would expect from a match day food experience. The only beers that are on offer are Heineken and Norlands. It looks like the Sportsbar is a bit more expensive than the rest, so the whiskey is 95kr (4cl) or 130kr (6cl), Heineken is 65kr (33cl) and Norlands is 60kr (33cl) or 75kr (50cl) while in the Arena Xpress Norlands beer is 45kr (50cl). Atmosphere 3 Malmö Arena is an overall good place to see a game, and provides a typical game day experience. RedZone is Malmö Redhawk’s most popular area for all supporters. In the heart of RedZone there is Fans Corner. Here, old and young fans spend time together before release, period breaks, and after the end signal. The arena has a stand on each side. The northern part of the arena has two tiers for seating, while the south stand has only one tier for seating, while the upper tier is reserved for executive suites and restaurant. The southern stand also has place for disabled persons. The main concourse is wide and with a lot of entrances, and it is easy to find it inside the arena. And once inside the seating bowl, you’ll also get bit a sense of spaciousness, from the wide seats. However, legroom could be greater, especially for tall people. Seats are not that far away from the game action in the lower levels. Located across the main entrance area you will find everything in RedZone, from Fans Corner, with puck shooting, table hockey, photo wall and anything else to the Redhawks shop. A variety of product offerings are available at the store, with scarf or t-shirt for 200kr, puck with logo for 80kr or a replica jersey for 700kr. The announcer is excellent, with generally good sound quality, he raises the atmosphere. Interaction with the hawk’s mascot during breaks is mandatory, especially for children. The scoreboard is usually turned on all sides, showing live match action, and all the important situations in replay. Neighborhood 5 Malmö Arena is located in the new district of Hyllie. The neighborhood is loaded with interesting spots. Just a few hundred meters away is one of the biggest shopping centres in Scandinavia, Malmö`s newest, largest and most exclusive shopping centre, Emporia. In addition to the typical food supply for shopping center in the immediate surroundings of the arena there are kebabs, Subway, and McDonalds. Because Malmo Arena is less than 100m away from the Hyllie Station you are able to travel by train to Malmö center for just 7 minutes! Stortorget and Lilla Torg are the older parts of the city centre and they abound with restaurants, bars, and cafés. Lilla Torg is Malmö`s most picturesque square, established in 1592. Sweden`s only gondola can be found in Malmö. Ribersborg beach is in the centre of the city with a view at Turning Torso, the highest, most twisted building in Scandinavia. For history lovers there is the beautiful St Petri church form the early 14th century. Almost all hotels in Malmö are centrally located, which means that you are close to most things wherever you choose to stay. If you decide to stay in Hyllie, you can choose between several hotels while the Malmö Arena Hotel is situated in direct connection with Malmö Arena. Fans 3 In general, fans are loyal but they don`t stay involved, only cheering during big moments. With average attendance, they do exactly what you expect fans to do. With an average of some 6,000 visitors, the lower tiers of the stand are quite filled, but a proper noise is heard only during big moments like shots on goal, goals, etc. Access 5 Generally Malmö Arena is very accessible both in terms of getting to the arena and moving around the arena once inside. The arena is less than 100m away from the Hyllie Station and by train you can get to Copenhagen Airport in 12 minutes, or 25 minutes to the Malmö Airport. Bus nr.8 to the Malmö center operates every 5-10 minutes. Several taxi companies offer a fixed fare system for rides within Malmö and the surrounding area. Always agree on the price before getting into a taxi. Parking is possible in the underground garage within the arena at a cost of 20 kr per hour. Tickets purchased through Ticketmaster can be delivered in various ways, but all tickets must be printed out. Also you can buy or pick up your tickets at the box office at Malmö Arena beginning two hours before the event. The main concourse is wide, but without a view of playing surface. Traffic flow is excellent, without any significant retention. It’s easy to get in for those who need assistance with mobility. For the time being it is not possible to organise guided tours. Return on Investment 4 In Malmö Arena everything is around the price you can expect in Sweden. The range for ticket prices are from 75kr for standing places up to 410kr. Since there is no other option, parking within the arena is worth the cost. The prices of drinks are within the Swedish average. There is no program available, but a team sheet is provided free of charge. Extras 1 One extra point for loyalty. It’s staggering when you see a couple with two small children including a baby born just a few weeks ago to the game of the beloved team.

Photos by Stefano Romagnoli, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Mapei Stadium Città del Tricolore Piazzale Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, 1 Reggio Emilia, RE 42122 Italy Reggiana Calcio website Mapei Stadium Città del Tricolore website Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 21,584 Mapei Stadium Associazione Calcio Reggiana 1919 Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore was the first Italian facility owned by a football team. It was built in about eight months, between August 1994 and April 1995, thanks to the commitment of Associazione Calcio Reggiana, a group of companies and banks that purchased hospitality packages, and the fans of the team of Reggio Emilia who signed multi-year subscriptions. The original name of the stadium was Stadio Giglio, established by a naming rights agreement with a local major food company. The first football match hosted at the facility was Reggiana vs. Juventus (1-2) on the 27th match day of the 1994/1995 Serie A season. Sixteen years later, in September 2011, Juventus Football Club was the second football club in Italy to own its stadium. On July, 13 2005 the Associazione Calcio Reggiana was declared bankrupt by the court of Reggio Emilia and the system was entrusted to a bankruptcy trustee. On March 11, 2012 on the occasion of the derby Reggiana vs. Carpi for the Lega Pro, the third level of Italian football, the stadium was renamed Stadio di Reggio Emilia Città del Tricolore. The name was chosen by the city of Reggio Emilia and by the Associazione Calcio Reggiana 1919. Since December 5, 2013 the facility has been owned by Mapei, a company working in the production of chemical materials for construction and commercial sponsor of Unione Sportiva Sassuolo Calcio, which changed its name to the current Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore. The stadium hosts home games of Unione Sportiva Sassuolo Calcio , and of Associazione Calcio Reggiana 1919. The Carpi Football Club 1909 played the 2011/2012 season at Reggio Emilia because its stadium, the Sandro Cabassi , was being renovated. On November, 15 1995, the Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore hosted Italy vs. Lithuania 4-0, a qualifying match for the UEFA EURO 1996. Food & Beverage 4 Around the stadium there are many food peddlers. A piadina (flatbread sandwich) with ham and mozzarella and a bottle of mineral water cost just 5 euros. Close to the stadium there is a shopping center where there is a Mexican restaurant, a Neapolitan pizzeria, a restaurant with traditional dishes from Emilia and much more. Also there are the dining options inside the stadium. In short, there are alternatives in menu and prices. Atmosphere 4 The stadium, which is reminiscent of British stadiums, is divided into seven different areas. Tribuna Autorità (474 seats), 32 Palchi (256 seats), Tribuna Stampa (108 seats), Tribuna (5,800 seats) and Distinti area (5,946 seats) are all under cover and occupy the two long sides of the football field. Visibility is excellent from any seat. Large openings allow easy entry/exit from the various sections. There are no barriers to separate the spectators from the playing field, but only the balustrades. Gradinata Sud (5,000 seats for local fans) and Gradinata Nord (4,000 seats for visiting supporters) are uncovered and separated from the two tribunes. They also have some concrete steps without plastic seats. There is a giant screen in the corner between the Gradinata Nord and the Distinti area. On either side of the main grandstand there are coats of arms of Unione Sportiva Sassuolo Calcio and of Associazione Calcio Reggiana 1919. Neighborhood 3 The facility is built on the northern outskirts of the city of Reggio Emilia. In the area there is a shopping center with many shops, restaurants, and cinemas. Also behind the main grandstand is a water park with swimming pools. Fans 3 Supporters Grenade, so named for the color of the teamwear of Associazione Calcio Reggiana 1919, or of the Regia, from the team’s nickname of Reggio Emilia, follow home matches from the Curva Sud of Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore. The main rivalry are those with the fans of Parma, Piacenza, Cesena, Modena and Spezia . Good relationships exist with the supporters of Genoa, Vicenza, Carrarese and Cremonese Access 4 Reaching Mapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore is really simple. The facility is located about three kilometers from the Reggio Emilia exit of the A1 and from the Railway Station of Reggio Emilia, while just over one kilometer separates the Mapei Stadium from the train station. A high speed train station is only about three kilometers from Mapei Stadium. There are about a dozen parking areas available for fans who choose to drive. Return on Investment 4 A home match of the Pro League championship 2014/2015, the third series of the Italian professional football, has a cost of 20,50 euro (including presale) in Tribuna, 9 euro in Curva Sud, 15 euro in Curva Nord (including presale). When buying tickets directly the day of the match (no presale) prices change. There are discounts for women and under 18 years. Disabled fans also receive a discount. Contact the Associazione Calcio Reggiana 1919 for more information on this discount. Extras 2 Emilia is one of the best in Italy with regard to food and wine. When traveling to Reggio Emila to see the Associazione Calcio Reggiana 1919 be sure to taste the Parmigiano Reggiano DOP (cheese) and tigelle, a bread typical of this part of Italy, that you can fill with different types of sausages. In the city there are several civil and religious monuments (including the new high-speed train station designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava). Reggio Emilia is close to Maranello, the town which is the headquarters of Ferrari. In nearby Modena there is also a museum of the house of the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Martin Stadium 1775 NE Stadium Way Pullman, WA 99164 Washington State Cougars website Martin Stadium website Year Opened: 1972 Capacity: 32,952 Cougar Pride in Pullman Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington is the home field of the Washington State Cougars football program, and currently has a capacity of 32,952, which is the smallest in the PAC-12 by far (over 10,000 less than either Reser Stadium or Rice-Eccles Stadium, home of Oregon State and Utah respectively). The venue opened in 1972, and is named after Washington former governor Clarence D. Martin. Martin Stadium has undergone multiple renovations in the past 10 years, including new concessions and restrooms, upgrades to the scoreboard, and construction of a public plaza outside the stadium, which houses an 11-foot tall bronze cougar statue. The most recent set of renovations were completed in 2014, and consisted of a new football operations center in the west end zone. Food & Beverage 5 Even though it is a relatively small venue, Martin Stadium has everything you could want from concessions and then some, including a wide range of both food and beverages at very reasonable prices. There are concession stands all over the stadium, most of which are on the upper concourse, but with a few closer to field level. Food options include German sausage, Italian sausage, hot dogs, pizza, beef brisket or smoked turkey sandwiches from the carvery, nachos, mac and cheese, chili, soup, soft pretzels, popcorn, kettle corn, peanuts, boxed candy, churros, caramel apples, cotton candy, ice cream sandwiches, and fresh-made mini donuts while you wait. These items range in cost from $3 up to $10, but the best deal is probably the 2 slices of pizza for $5. There is no alcohol available at Martin Stadium, but there is a wide selection of hot and cold beverages for sale. Beverage choices include Coke products in bottles or from the fountain, bottled water, PowerAde, frozen or fresh-squeezed lemonade, iced tea, coffee, and hot cocoa; drink prices range from $3 to $7. Atmosphere 3 Martin Stadium offers a typical game day experience, but with a few bells and whistles to make your visit more enjoyable. The venue is laid out in a U-shape, with the football complex in the west end zone. Most of the seats are along the sidelines, with only a short row of seats in the east end zone, above which sits the scoreboard. The scoreboard itself is pretty massive, and can be easily seen by most fans, except those in the east end zone (who are basically underneath it). For this reason sideline seats are your better option, or you can stand along the concourse in front of the football complex. The most distinguishing feature at Martin Stadium is probably the 11-foot bronze “Cougar Pride” statue in front of the ticket office; a lot of stadiums have statues out front, but this is one of the biggest I have seen. Besides the statue, though, the staff does a great job with pre-game entertainment, starting with the festivities out on the practice field before the game, followed by the band formations before the team comes on the field, especially the giant “W.” The pre-game festivities culminate when the players rush out, and this is definitely the most entertaining part of the night. Led by the mascot piloting his unique 3-wheeled car, the team runs onto the field through cones spurting fire, all accompanied by the pep squad trailing flags spelling the word C-O-U-G-S, complete with giant WSU banner. The latter display will be repeated after every WSU score, along with fireworks, which are always fun to watch. Neighborhood 2 Besides Washington State University, there is not a ton to do in Pullman, which is well off the beaten path, and far from any major cities. If you are going to be in town for the day or weekend, though, there are some hiking trails around, and your typical small town entertainment such as mini golf and an arcade, as well as a variety of restaurants. There are several fast food joints in Pullman, a couple of Asian restaurants, and a few upscale eateries, but not much in the way of your traditional sports bar that would make a good hangout for before or after the game. Your best bet on this score is Paradise Creek Brewery, a brewpub housed in the old post office. Paradise Creek features lots of beers on taps, as well as traditional pub fare such as burgers and nachos, plus some upscale options like seafood and pasta. If you are looking for something lower key, however, Stella’s Calzone & Pizza is also a good place to try. Located on Main Street not far from Martin Stadium, Stella’s has great food and a small beer selection, and even has a kid’s menu. Most of the hotels are on that side of town as well, including a Quality Inn and a Holiday Inn. Fans 4 Martin Stadium has a good crowd, typically bringing in 25-30K fans, which averages well over three-quarters full. About half of the games each year will be sell-outs, which isn’t surprising given the high quality opponents they see in the PAC-12. The biggest game every other year is of course the Apple Cup against in-state rival Washington, but even FCS match-ups will have a great draw, so the experience and crowd noise won’t vary much from game to game. That said, if you are planning to visit Martin Stadium, you may as well choose a less prestigious opponent, when tickets won’t cost quite as much or be so hard to come by. Access 2 Pullman is not easy to get to, and you will face a long, boring drive from nearby big cities like Spokane or Seattle, which are the closest major airports. Furthermore, Martin Stadium’s capacity is actually larger than the population of the town, so traffic on game day will be a little hairy, as the town is not really equipped to handle this many people on the regular. Once you get to the stadium, however, parking is easy enough to find, and at $20 is no more expensive than at most similarly-sized stadiums, but you can’t get very close unless you have a pass, and those are hard to come by. Most fans park on the south side of the stadium (along Olympia Ave), but there are also park and ride shuttles that go a lot further out; parking is much cheaper that way but a lot more of a hassle in my opinion, with the extra time to ride the shuttle back and forth. Once you get inside the stadium, though, moving around is easy enough. There are plenty of concessions stands and bathrooms, and the concessions stands are arranged in such a way to minimize congestion, with some along the sides and others in the middle of the concourse. There are also gates all around the stadium, so getting in and out is simple. Return on Investment 3 Tickets to games at Martin Stadium are $30 for end zone seats, and start at $50 for sideline seating. This is on the low end for college football, but whether it is a good value for the money or not depends on how far you are coming. The in-game experience here is really solid, but getting here can be a bit of a hassle with the potentially long drive, heavy traffic in town, and the parking situation. If you are looking for additional football options, there are several other venues nearby, such as the Kibbie Dome just across the river, or Roos Field closer to Spokane, both of which offer their own unique features and have less traffic, and may cost a little less to attend. There are also lots of other WSU sports right here in Pullman, which tend to have smaller crowds and lower prices at the gate. Extras 3 Being able to see great teams come through is a real plus, and the fact that any game will offer the same type of experience is a nice bonus, since that allows you a lot more flexibility in planning when to come. The pre-game festivities are also really impressive, especially all the fun taking place on the practice field right next to Martin Stadium. The cougar statue is also a great place to snap a few selfies. Final Thoughts A one to three sentence summary of the stadium and experience. Line spacing 1.5

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Maryland Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex 8483 Paint Branch Drive College Park, MD 20742 Maryland Terrapins website Maryland Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex website Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 1,400 Turtle Field Hockey The Maryland Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex is exactly what it sounds like – a stadium which is home to the University of Maryland’s field hockey and women’s lacrosse programs. It opened in 2003 across from the Xfinity Center , and was renovated in 2005 and again in 2019. The Terrapins’ field hockey team is one of the top programs in the country, having won eight national championships and 13 conference titles over the years. Food & Beverage 2 There is one concession stand located near the entrance which serves only very basic options. If you want a meal, your only options are a chicken strips basket ($10), and a hot dog ($4.) There are various snacks available as well, including chips, pretzels, popcorn, and nachos. Bottled water, soda, and Gatorade are available to drink, as are hot chocolate and coffee. Atmosphere 2 There is one set of bleachers located on one sideline, while the other sideline contains a tent for the media and game staff. The bleachers go up about five rows and take up the whole sideline. There is also a very large scoreboard in the corner which also shows shots and saves for each team. You can also view the quarter of the match, but this is somewhat tricky to find – it shows as timeouts remaining for the Terps rather than in a designated area. College field hockey switched from halves to quarters this year, taking away each team’s timeout in the process, and the scoreboard has not yet been adjusted to accommodate this. The Terrapin mascot and band typically do not show up to field hockey games like they would for basketball and football. Neighborhood 4 College Park is a small college town with enough in the immediate area to get by, but is really nothing special. There is a bowling alley a couple miles away, and a bunch of chain restaurants within walking distance. If you’re looking for some local color, College Park Diner is a favorite with residents and students alike and serves up comfort food 24 hours a day. Looney’s Pub on Route 1 is a sports bar with dozens of big-screen TVs for your viewing pleasure. A couple hotels are located nearby, including a Marriott just off campus, and The Hotel on-campus. (Yes, the on-campus hotel is literally called The Hotel. Not a very creative name.) That being said, if you’re looking to do more than eat and sleep, your best bet is to head down to the Metro station and take the Green Line into D.C. It’s about a 30 minute ride to downtown. Once you’re there, there’s so much to do and most of it is free. Whether it’s visiting one of the historic monuments and memorials, visiting one of the numerous museums, or simply walking outside on the National Mall, there’s something for everyone. All government-run attractions are free to the public, though some privately run ones are not. Just keep in mind if you want to tour the Capitol or White House, you will need to reserve that ahead of time. Fans 4 The Terrapins draw good numbers for field hockey compared to most programs in the country. Although you do get friends and family of the players, there are also a fair amount of UMD students and locals, many with girls who play youth field hockey themselves and dream of making the NCAA someday. That being said, this is field hockey, not football or basketball. Good crowds are about 500 fans, nowhere near what you’d see at revenue sports. Access 4 There are parking lots located both across the street from and next to the Complex. The one next to the field is completely free to park at after 4 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends, which should cover the vast majority of matches between them. The one across the street is split between free parking during those hours and paid parking, the latter of which is available to visitors 24/7 and should be utilized if visiting for a weekday afternoon game. The numbered spaces are paid and can be parked in 24/7 for $3/hour, while the unnumbered ones are free but cannot be parked in on weekdays before 4 PM. The other thing to keep in mind is that if the Terrapins have a home football or basketball game the same day as the field hockey match, the parking situation can be completely different, so check the Terrapins’ website for additional information if that is the case. Return on Investment 5 Admission to all Terrapins field hockey regular season matches is free, though different policies may apply to matches in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. Parking is also free for the vast majority of home games, meaning you don’t have to spend anything to come here. Concessions are also affordable if you want to buy them, and the elite quality of the Terrapins team and fan experience compared to other field hockey programs make this worth it. . Extras 2 There are banners on the back fence honoring Terrapins championships in field hockey and women’s lacrosse. There are also free programs available at a table by the entrance. Final Thoughts College field hockey is not one of the more popular sports anywhere in the country, but Maryland has an environment at its games that is better than almost anywhere else in the sport. Although it will never be at the same level as football or basketball at the school, a Maryland field hockey game is still an enjoyable experience for sports fans who happen to be in the area.

Mascot Hall of Fame, Photo by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey The Mascot Hall of Fame (MHOF) is an interactive children’s museum with the theme of mascots. It is located at the very east end of Whiting’s Downtown Business District and about one block from the Midwest Collegiate League’s Northwest Indiana Oilmen / Oil City Stadium. And in the summer months the MHOF is about a block away from the “Whoa Zone” which is a floating water park. The MHOF, which was previously online only, was founded by David Raymond, who was the original Phillie Phanatic from 1978 to 1993. One day the city of Whiting Indiana stumbled across the virtual mascot hall of fame while trying to find a way to extend the tourist season for the city (Pierogi Fest weekend draws 300,000 from around the Midwest, its Fourth of July parade between 40,000 and 50,000 and its July 3rd fireworks 15,000). So, they cold-called Mr. Raymond and pitched a brick-and-mortar Hall of Fame (HOF). It opened its doors to the public on Dec 26, 2018 to much delight of all fans of mascots. The entrance fees are $12 for adults and children over 2, free for children under 2, $10 for seniors and teachers and free for active military. There are one-year memberships for individuals ($35), family ($129), grandparents ($119), Association of Children’s Museums membership ($179), additional family ($20), Reggy’s Rug Rat Club ($20). Of course, separate field trip / group rates are available too. Each has different perks such as guest passes and 10% off at the gift shop and concession stand. The following mascots are already inducted in to the Hall of Fame: MLB The Famous Chicken – (Former San Diego Chicken from Padres) Mr. Met – New York Mets Slider – Cleveland Indians The Phillie Phanatic – Philadelphia Phillies Sluggerrr – Kansas City Royals NBA Clutch the Bear – Houston Rockets Benny the Bull – Chicago Bulls Rocky – Denver Nuggets The Coyote – San Antonio Spurs The Jazz Bear – Utah Jazz The Gorilla – Phoenix Suns NHL Tommy Hawk – Chicago Blackhawks NFL KC Wolf – Kansas City Chiefs College Aubie – Auburn University Big Red – Western Kentucky University Brutus Buckeye – Ohio State University Bucky the Badger – University of Wisconsin Lil Red – University of Nebraska Smokey – University of Tennessee YoUDee – University of Delaware Nittany Lion – Penn State University Mascot Hall of Fame Inductees, Photo by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey As you walk in one of first things you notice is the ATM is covered in fur and that there are a bunch of giant inflated mascot heads (all the Mascot Hall of Fame inductees) hanging from the ceiling of the three-story building. MHOF ATM, Photo by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey MHOF Floating Mascot Heads, Photo by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey First Floor (named Phuzzical Education ) activities: Goofball Arena: Where kids can shoot hoops, kick field goals, shoot hockey pucks, kick soccer balls Basic Training: a play area for toddlers to crawl, tunnel etc. T-Shooter Stadium: This is an arcade-like game where visitors can “shoot” T-shirts from a cannon and into a crowd and directly adjacent to this area is the “Parents Penalty Box,” which has a several lounge chairs where parents can watch their children play in Goofball Arena, the T-shirt game or the Basic Training area. Mascot Mart: Their souvenir store. This store has some really nice shirts from $16 to $45, hats and swag (such as magnets, mugs and other trinkets) that all are reasonably priced. One bad thing about the store is that they don’t have the licensing, yet, to sell stuff featuring the inductees. But the MHOF is working on obtaining the licenses. A snack bar with the basics such as hot dogs ($3), nachos ($2.50), slushies ($3), soda ($1.50), juices, chips, candy bars, etc. MHOF Phuzzical Education, Photo by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey Second Floor attractions: Fureshman Orientation: A short film explaining the history of the Mascot Hall of Fame. A doubled wall “panel of pictures and short explanation of all the inductees of the MHOF. Also, several interactive kiosk video panels have information about each MHOF inductee. MHOF – The Phillie Phanatic, Photo by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey A hands-on exhibit where kids learn what it is like to be a mascot with interactive activities and videos, such as how difficult is it to hold / grab something with the big hands, how come mascot costumes smell, why mascots have cooling fans in the costume, how hot it is in a costume (you can try on a head), how much does a costume weigh, how a costume is made, and even learn about the human body. One of the coolest interactive activities is where participant puts on weights (size portioned) as a mascot would then go through a series of activities and then check their pulses to see how the costume and activity affect the pulse rate and how difficult it is to be in the costume. Where is the Mascot From: A game to try guessing correctly in 60 seconds where the mascots are from. Centuries of Silliness: A mascot time line that shows the history of mascots from early days to the present. This includes some interesting tidbits on the wall, such as how the Navy (in 1893) and Army (in 1899) started their mascots, Chicago White Sox first “mascot / batboy” in 1919 was Eddie Bennett (a teenage orphan) and who was the first official mascot of the Olympics. In this area, pictures of mascots with famous people, such as the Phillie Phanatic with President Nixon are displayed. Frankfurstein’s Mascot Area: Kids “design” their own mascot using parts (heads, bodies, hats, and arms) that available in the area. Also, there is a coloring area where kids can color their own mascot with plenty of tables supplied with crayons. A kiosk is available where one can “design” their own mascot by selecting each part of a mascot is. When you are done, you can have your “Mascot” e-mailed to you. Strut your Stuff: A zone where you can make your very own “mascot audition tape.” You select the type of mascot you want to be and go in front of a green screen and are prompted to do several activities. When you are done you can view your video and have it e-mailed to you. A display where you can touch the different materials that costumes are made of and you can build your own mascot in the “Build-a-Mascot” area. It is a “Build-a-Bear” but with some different choices of “bears and clothes.” The price range is from approximately $20 to $30 dollars. Third Floor A conference room for private parties and it has a nice view of Lake Michigan. Another nice touch the MHOF has is after each “area” is completed there is a stamp pad that shows that you have completed the area. Once you have each of the six (6) areas completed, you have “graduated” from Mascot University. MHOF Final Exam Book, Photo by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey A visit to the MHOF is worth the trip. Everyone who works there is very nice and helpful. Kids and even adults (who can act like a kid here) will love this place as there is a bunch of stuff to keep everyone occupied and entertained. Mascot Hall of Fame - Having Fun, Photo by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey

Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Matador Stadium 18111 Nordhoff St Northridge, CA 91330 Cal State Northridge Matadors website Matador Stadium website Year Opened: 1961 Capacity: 1,200 Baseball Under the CSUN Located in the northwest sector of the San Fernando Valley, California State University, Northridge was established in 1958. It was known as San Fernando Valley State College until 1972. Though not as notable nationwide as USC or UCLA, CSUN is the largest of the 23 campuses within the Cal State University system. If fans are not from the area, they may remember Northridge as the epicenter of a devastating earthquake in 1994. Years have passed and today Northridge has as beautiful a campus as any Southern California school. Among the recent additions to CSUN is the Valley Performing Arts Center . Matador Field, built in 1961 has had six major renovations, most recent of which was a new backstop in 2008. Food & Beverage 2 The dining options are about as basic as it gets, featuring a hot dog, turkey dog, or spicy dog ($3.50), chips ($2.50) and candy ($2). There is a combo deal where fans could get a dog, chips, and a small soda or water for $7, which would save them $1 than if purchased separately. The beverage options include bottled Coke products ($2), water ($3 for large), Gatorade ($2.50), as well as coffee, tea or hot chocolate ($2). Atmosphere 3 Because Matador Field is void of any lights, all games are played under the sun, giving baseball traditionalists that old-school feel. There are not any specific chants or cheers the fans take part in however, Matty the Matador, the school's mascot is present, making his rounds throughout the stands, mingling with the fans. Neighborhood 3 The Northridge campus and the area surrounding it are an interesting contrast. Should you head either direction you will find there are areas packed with strip malls, restaurants, and all sorts of consumerism. If you're in the mood for some ethnic Middle Eastern dining, the Falafel Palace on Reseda and Prairie, a local student favorite, serves up some really tasty gyros as well as other Greek dishes. If you don't mind driving 5 minutes west of campus, the Northridge Fashion Center is nearby as well and offers these sit-down options: Bonefish Grill, Claim Jumper, Yard House, as well as a Buffalo Wild Wings, to name a few. Should you opt to remain close to Matador Field, Cupid's Hot Dogs, a San Fernando Valley staple serving nothing but chili dogs (I prefer to keep mine simple, chili and onions), is within walking distance a few short blocks south. Fans 3 There is not a lot of activity coming from the Northridge fans, with very few sporting any CSUN attire. This really is not a surprise given the school's local reputation as a commuter school. What I do find interesting is that many of the fans in the stands get creative in regards to shading themselves from the afternoon sun. Given this is Southern California, winter months can be warm as well and many of the fans more than compensate for the lack of shade in the stands by setting up their own portable umbrellas, a good call by those in charge. Access 2 Access to CSUN is not far from three of LA's major freeways; the 405, 101 and 118. If you are coming from LA, the drive time, pending traffic, can vary from 30 to 90 minutes. All Matador home games are played under the CSUN (pun intended) so there's that possibility that you may actually dodge some traffic. It's still a good idea to check the local traffic reports before heading out. Once you have arrived on campus, you will find the main parking lot on the Zelzah Avenue side of campus. There are meters there that accept both cash and credit/debit cards, $5 for up to 4 hours, $6 all day. Depending on the timing of your visit, you may be able to find street parking nearby if you are willing to walk for a bit. Upon entering Matador Field you will find that all the seats are metal bleachers. Given that all games are played during the day, chances are there will be plenty of sun so you may want to bring either a portable chair back or a beach towel to protect yourself from a hot metal seat. Hopefully you will not miss much of the ballgame but if nature is calling, prepare yourself for a long walk. The trek to the restrooms is quite a distance as fans must walk along a narrow walkway beyond the outfield fence and beyond the left field corner. Matador Field could certainly use a couple of mobile restrooms in the open grass area behind the first base dugout as this would save fans a long walk toward relieving themselves. Return on Investment 3 General admission seating for adults is $8, $5 for youth (17 and under) and seniors (60 and over). Though much more affordable than most MLB games, I was surprised a bit by the GA price for this less-known program. Extras 2 Matador Field is as simple as it gets. If you're looking for any historical displays paying homage to the baseball program, you will find a mural behind the first base dugout commemorating the school's conference titles as well as their two Division II National Championship titles. This is a pretty impressive display when taken into account CSUN's hidden presence among the abundance of collegiate baseball programs that reside in Southern California. Final Thoughts If expecting an amplified atmosphere, you may find yourself somewhat disappointed. If a simple day at the ballgame under the sun in a serene, intimate setting without all the bells and whistles is all you need, a stop at Matador Field is certainly worth checking out. Depending on when you plan to visit, because all CSUN baseball games are played during the day, you may even be able to check out a Dodger game as well.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 McKethan Stadium 120 SW 13th St Gainesville, FL 32601 Florida Gators website McKethan Stadium website Year Opened: 1988 Year Demolished: 2020 Capacity: 5,500 Stand and Sway at Alfred A. The Florida Gators baseball team is one of the most successful in the nation over the past decade, including four College World Series appearances since 2010. Playing out of Alfred A. McKethan Stadium at Perry Field, the Gators are a top draw during the Gainesville spring. The venue is named for two former alumni: McKethan contributed nearly $3 million towards the stadium’s construction and subsequent improvements, while Perry’s family donated the land on which the stadium was built. Opened in 1988, McKethan Stadium lies just to the west of the O’Connell Center and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Mac, as it is affectionately known by locals, holds 5,500 and attracts top recruits every year. There were six former Gators on MLB rosters at the start of 2016 season and 11 on 40-man rosters, the most in the SEC. Between its opening and the end of the 2015 season, the Gators have posted a 779-266 (.745) home record. The venue has hosted NCAA Regional action 11 times and Super Regional series six times. At many SEC schools, baseball is bigger than even men’s basketball, but this is not true at Florida, due mainly to the success of its hoops program under head coach Billy Donovan. Still, Gator fans take their hardball seriously. Food & Beverage 4 There are two main concession stands called Gator Refreshments that serve typical ballpark fare such as hot dogs ($4), nachos ($5), pretzel braids ($4.50), peanuts and cracker jack ($3), and popcorn ($3.5/$5). The more enticing options are found at the tents in the plaza. Gator Grill offers cheeseburgers, Italian sausages, Philly steaks, grilled chicken sandwiches, and jambalaya for $5 each, while chicken tenders are $7. Everglades Smoked in the Swamp stand features a Pulled Pork sandwich and BBQ Nachos ($7 each) and boiled peanuts for a fiver. Domino’s has a stand where a personal pizza is $8 and there are two dessert carts, one serving ice cream in cones and helmets and the other frozen chills ($5). As is the case for many college venues, no alcohol is sold. Pepsi is the soda provider with a 22-oz. cup costing $4.50 while the 32 ouncer will run you an extra dollar. Gatorade bottles are $4, while water is $2 for 12 ounces and $4 for 20 ounces, a pricing decision that makes no sense. Just buy two smaller bottles and get four free ounces! Atmosphere 4 Most fans will park in the garage next to the ballpark and use the entrance next to the main box office. You will walk down a long path that brings you into the plaza behind the seating bowl. The palm trees are a nice effect here, and this is where you should stock up on food and drink. Inside the seating bowl, you have box seats in the sections surrounding home plate, and bleachers with a seat back in the other areas. There are only two bleacher sections along first base, but six along the third base line. There are some seats that avoid the netting at the far end of this area. There is also a small section above the left field fence behind which you can see the O’Connell Center, while trees adorn the entire length of the outfield fence. There are occasional promotions, with the most obvious being the t-shirt tossed into the stand during the inning break after a visiting batter has struck out. Weather plays a large factor in the atmosphere at Gator baseball games. The season starts in February, where temperatures can get quite chilly, especially for night games. Late in the season, it can be very hot and there is no shade in the stadium, nor are umbrellas allowed. Fans routinely have to go into the concourse area between innings to get away from the hot sun. But sometimes, you get one of those very nice days where the sun is out, there is a nice little breeze, and it is absolutely gorgeous. It is a great setting for a baseball game. Neighborhood 3 The neighborhood surrounding the ballpark is one of a large campus in a college town. There are restaurants and bars all around the ballpark. If you want to show up early and stay late you can get your drink on at The Swamp, the Reggae Shack or the Library Pub Grub Club. All of these places offer food as well, as does Burrito Brothers for Mexican food, or Leonardo’s for a great pizza. Further afield, next to I-75 along Archer Road, you can find a couple of good bars. First is the Gainesville Ale House, a sports bar with a varied food menu, while the Brass Tap lies across the street and offers a number of craft beers, though there is no kitchen. The WingHouse of Gainesville is also here, a chain pub known mostly for its scantily clad servers. Fans 3 Many other southern schools regularly sell out baseball stadiums much bigger than “The Mac,” yet the Gators seem to have trouble at times drawing a crowd. Perhaps this is because UF fans don’t get pumped about baseball until basketball is done. In 2015, the Gators averaged only 3,502 over their 31 home dates. Although those fans in attendance know their team and are supportive, heckling the opposition (I do enjoy the chant of “Left, Right, Left, Right, Step, Step, Siddown!” that follows every visiting strikeout as the player slowly trudges back to the dugout), far too many of them arrive late and leave early. By the 7th inning of the game the GA sections may be only half full; a shame considering the visitors are often top-ranked SEC team. This is really a class program from top to bottom and deserves a full crowd every time they play. Access 3 Florida’s campus is about four miles from the Archer Road exit off I-75, but traffic moves well in the town. On campus, be careful as pedestrians are everywhere, especially where there are other events taking place. The main parking lot is directly north of the O’Connell Center and includes a three-story garage. Parking is free on evenings and weekends. Note that getting out of here will require a wait after the game as there is only one small lane leading back to 2nd Avenue; some fans prefer to head west to Gale Lemerand Drive which is less crowded. Inside the seating bowl, a small walkway separates the few rows closest to the field (all box seats) with the larger sections above. There is no problem walking along here or in the large plaza behind the structure. Washrooms are adequate for the crowd. Return on Investment 5 The cheapest ticket is $4 for general admission, which comprises the top rows of the bleachers, mostly along third base. If you are there when gates open, this is the best option as you can snag a prime spot. Once the place fills up, you might have a bit of difficulty finding a pair of decent seats together. The $8 reserved seats are quite nice and take up the area behind home plate and a little bit down both baselines. There is no need to pay more than this, as the stadium is not that big and there are no bad seats in the place. There are also two great promotions that make a trip to Gainesville even more tempting: on Fridays, a family pack of four GA tickets, hot dogs, and sodas is only $20, while Sunday sees GA tickets, hot dogs, and popcorn all for a dollar. Coupled with the free parking and the fact that Florida is a perennial contender, and this is an incredible sports bargain and perhaps the best value in all of college baseball. Extras 3 Despite the recent history of success, there aren’t a lot of extras here. A point for the tradition of singing “We Are the Boys from Old Florida” while standing and swaying, something that is done at every Gator event. There are a couple of plaques on the walls of the breezeways honoring past coaches. It would be nice to add a few more displays honoring players who have made it to the bigs and more championship information like some other schools have done. Final Thoughts NCAA ballparks are generally functional facilities designed to provide student athletes with the tools to succeed rather than to attract fans, so a visit to McKethan should appeal to those who prefer to watch the game rather than be entertained by mascots and in-game hosts. Given the high quality of the Florida baseball program and the ridiculously cheap ticket prices, I cannot figure out why more Gator fans don’t turn out to support their team. But their absence means more room for you, and if you have yet to visit Alfred A. McKethan Stadium, you should do so at your next available opportunity.

Photos by Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field 223 Kalamazoo St East Lansing, MI 48824 Michigan State Spartans website McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Stadium website Year Opened: 1925 Capacity: 2,500 Spartan Baseball at McLane Baseball Stadium The bronze statue, known as the Spartan, stands at the intersection of Kalamazoo Street, Chestnut Road and Red Cedar Road on the campus of Michigan State University. The iconic sculpture is probably more associated with the football team, but his glance is directed away from Spartan Stadium, and into right field of McLane Stadium. The official name of the venue is McLane Stadium at Kobs Field. Drayton and Elizabeth McLane donated $4 million to allow the university to construct the current seating, and the stadium was ready for the 2009 season. The Spartans opened it up in style as pitcher Nolan Moody hurled a no-hitter in the opening game against Northwestern. The Michigan State baseball team has some history of success, but they have not appeared in the College World Series since 1954. The program was able to win the Big Ten Championship in 2011. It was their first conference championship since 1979. The retired numbers of former greats are displayed in right field including Kirk Gibson (#30), Steve Garvey (#10), Tom Yewcic (#5), Danny Litwhiler (#1), Hall-of-Famer Robin Roberts (#36), and the field's namesake John Kobs (#25). John Kobs coached the baseball team from 1925-1963, and also served as head coach for basketball and hockey at different periods of his time in East Lansing. Other notable players to wear the green and white include John Smoltz, and Mark Mulder. The combination of a new and comfortable stadium with historic and unique charm, on a beautiful college campus makes for an enjoyable afternoon of baseball. Food & Beverage 2 There is one main concession stand with two windows that serves DeMartin Soccer Stadium, Secchia Stadium (softball), and McLane Stadium. In the spring, all of these teams could conceivably have a home game on the same day. The menu is exactly what you would expect from attending a sporting event, although there is more selection than you may find at many college baseball venues in the Midwest. Hot dogs ($4.50), brats ($5), burgers ($6), chicken sandwiches ($6), and cheeseburgers ($7) are on offer. I tried the brat and cheeseburger, both of which were decent and perhaps slightly above average in quality. Other snacks available include fries ($4), popcorn ($4-$5), and nachos ($4.50). Pepsi products are available ($4.50/$5), as is bottled water ($4), and hot beverages from Tim Horton's. On a cold spring day, you'll appreciate the coffee, and hot chocolate available ($3). If you're owed 50 cents in change then you will likely be getting a half dollar coin, a quirk that is kind of cool. Prices have increased by about $1 on each item since our last review back in 2012, making a trip out to the ballgame about 20% more expensive if you plan to get something to eat and/or drink. The quality does not make up for the price, and lines during a recent visit which coincided with the football team's spring game moved incredibly slow. Atmosphere 4 The stadium is indeed located on the banks of the Red Cedar, in close proximity to the other Spartan athletic facilities including Spartan Stadium, Breslin Center, and Munn Ice Arena. Of historic note is also the nearby Jenison Fieldhouse, the former home of the basketball team, current home of the wrestling and volleyball teams. Right field is unique at Kobs Field with a small hill that stretches from right center to the right field line, and helps to determine the length of the outfield fence, only 302 feet down the line. It's an interesting quirk of the ballpark, and must be attractive to left handed pull hitters. Immediately behind the plate there are 3-5 rows of green plastic seats with cup holders and adequate legroom. These stretch between the two dugouts and have a screen in front to protect the fans from foul balls. Beyond the dugouts there are some bleacher seats which are unobstructed by the net. The bleachers are a cold metal, not ideal for many games in March or April. There are 11 additional rows of bleachers that make up sort of a mini upper deck as you climb a flight of stairs to reach these seats. There is an interior walkway that separates the lower and upper seats, and the upper seats are elevated enough so that your view is not obstructed if someone is walking by, a nice design decision. If you end up with a bleacher seat, then you may want to bring a stadium cushion to sit on during the game. The announcer calls out, "Let's play Spartan Baseball," as the team readies to throw the first pitch, and the MSU fight song plays over the PA after each run scored by the Spartans. This is one of the few interactive touches that you'll get as a spectator, as the presentation becomes pretty no frills from there, although you will see a couple of between-innings contests and some t-shirts chucked into the crowd. Neighborhood 3 Walking around the Michigan State campus is quite enjoyable, but it can be a bit of a hike to any restaurants or bars. You'll likely be driving and not walking should you want to add a stop to your trip. That said, I am a big fan of the Harrison Roadhouse and their cheeseburgers and selection of local beers. This would be my suggestion if you want a bite to eat. Dublin Square is also a good spot with well executed Irish pub fare. Fans 3 The ballpark seats 2,500 fans with 400 chair back seats and room for 2,100 on the metal bleachers. Like many college baseball teams in this part of the country, the crowd mostly consists of friends and family, although there are certainly alumni and baseball fans who decide to see a game, especially when the weather is nice. The crowd is courteous and intent on watching the game on the field. Access 3 There aren't really any signs of where to park for a baseball game, and most of the parking lots are reserved for those with a pass. There is a parking garage on Harrison Rd, which is connected to the Kellogg Center (219 S Harrison Rd), which has reasonable rates in the spring. Parking for the game cost $3. Another parking option would be to head to Spartan Stadium, which is also the visitor's lot. There is a charge for parking depending on the length that you are there. Parking rates are 80 cents per half hour, so you can expect to pay somewhere between $4-$6.40 for most games. Set your GPS for Spartan Stadium and you should find it just fine, and there will be very little traffic getting in or out of the game. The sports facilities can be found just a couple of miles from M127. The concessions can be found closer to the third base side of the stadium, but you have to walk a bit, a minor inconvenience. Restrooms are found in the same building. Restrooms feature touchless technology and are clean with enough room to accommodate the usual crowds. Return on Investment 3 Prices vary depending on the day of the week, age, and student status. During the week some selected games are offered with no admission charge. In 2016, the game that coincided with the football team's Spring game was offered at no charge as well in order to try and attract a few more people to the ballpark. MSU students always get free entry. Adult tickets are generally $5, with discounts given to kids under age 18, seniors, and military ($3). When you factor in about $10 for concessions and $3-$6 or so for parking, there is a cost for attending a game that exceeds many other college ballpark experiences in the region, but overall it is still a worthwhile experience. Extras 3 One-sheet programs are available for free in the stairways, giving you the rosters for each team, team stats for the Spartans, and the current Big Ten standings. The hill in right field really adds some uniqueness to the park. You may be inclined to see balls hit to right field just to see how it may affect the game. After the game, players are made available for a "meet and greet," and kids are allowed to come down and run the bases. Final Thoughts College baseball is one of those hidden gems of sporting events, and a trip to McLane Stadium is a worthwhile experience. If you are in the state of Michigan, and need to get some baseball into the system in the early spring, then this is definitely a recommended stop. Check out the schedule for the minor league Lansing Lugnuts, who play about three miles away at Cooley Law School Stadium, and you may be able to make a doubleheader out of the trip.

Photos by Connor Comeau, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Maverik Stadium 800 East 1400 North Logan, UT 84322 Utah State Aggies website Maverik Stadium website Year Opened: 1968 Capacity: 25,513 Fear The Ox! Utah State played its first game at then Romney Stadium in 1968. In 2015, the stadium got a new name and was ready for an upgrade. With funds from Maverik for the sponsorship rights and millions in donations, the stage was set for a new press box and more. The renovations were completed in September, 2016 and include new club suites, concession stands and more. Food & Beverage 4 With the new naming rights, there are now Maverik products that are sold on site, with items being sold out of the old concession stand. At the Bonfire Grill, there are personal pizzas available for $6, and are available in plain cheese, pepperoni or BBQ chicken. Other items include a Sugar Cookie for $2, various candies for $3 and Pixy Stix for $1. For drinks, there is Aquafina for $3, Fiji water for $4, Gatorade for $3 and various Pepsi products for $5. There are also several food stands inside the stadium on game day, ranging from Italian cuisine to Korean BBQ. Atmosphere 4 When plans were revealed for the renovations, one of the biggest items on the to-do list was to improve the game day atmosphere and the overall feel of the stadium. And the improvements have been noticed by fans, players and coaches alike. The most noticeable difference is the new West Stadium Center, complete with a new press box, club suites and reserved seating. There are also new video boards on both ends of the stadium, with the one in the north end zone now being the biggest in the Mountain West. And with the new video boards also came a brand-new sound system. The quality is much improved over the old speaker system and now everything is crystal clear, including the Aggie Marching Band. There is a fan-fest that takes place a couple of hours before the game, complete with booths that give away free food and usually have giveaways before or during the game. Another pre-game festivity includes a Harley ride, in which the Spirit Squad and Big Blue are brought in on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Neighborhood 3 Even though Logan is somewhat of a small town, there are plenty of restaurants in the city, and some are very new. There are also places to go hang out after the game. If you’re looking for something good either on game day or any other day of the week, there is the local favorite, Angie’s. It is a diner type restaurant, and there is plenty to eat depending on the appetite. But what Angie’s is known for is a “challenge” called Cleaning The Sink. Here, you have a replica sink filled with lots of ice cream, and a choice of toppings such as hot fudge, bananas and peanut butter cups. If the entire sink is “cleaned,” you get a bumper sticker that says “I Cleaned The Sink At Angie’s.” It is $12, so the more people you have the better. I have done it twice so far, and it is worth it. If you’re on a budget, there are cheaper options in town, including Pizza Pie Cafe and Texas Roadhouse, both of which are very good places to go if you’re looking for a hangout spot after the game. If you’re not after food, there are options for the outdoor enthusiast, including many hiking trails located just a few minutes up Logan Canyon. Fans 3 Even though this year was a rough year football wise, the fans are very loyal to the Aggie football team. The main student section here, known as The HURD, does a good job getting students to the game and they have a real impact during the game. Special events like in-state rivalry games and Whiteouts help bolster the crowd. You will always see them doing the Aggie fight song and a special song known as “The Scotsman.” Overall, The HURD is the best student section I’ve seen – you’ll definitely see their impact the next time you go to a game. This is the smallest of the FBS stadiums in Utah with a capacity just over 25,000. Depending on how the team is doing, you’ll either see some empty seats or a stadium at capacity. Either way, you always have the diehard fans at every game, which is very cool to see. Access 4 Parking definitely isn’t a problem if you’re coming to Logan. If you’re a parking pass holder, you’ll get a spot right in front of or directly adjacent to the stadium. But for those without passes, there are more parking areas on campus just a few blocks from the stadium for just $10. With the new renovations, there are now more entrances into the stadium. Instead of having to walk around to the north or south ends of the stadium to enter, there are now entrances on the west side of the stadium, which is nice for those who want to get their seats quicker. Not to mention there is now more room for foot traffic. The bathrooms on the east side are the same as they once were but the ones on the west side were updated with a more modern feel. They are also bigger than the ones on the east side, but there are plenty of bathrooms either way. Return on Investment 4 The price for general admission seats did go up a few dollars, but $19 is still a pretty good deal to go see a game. It is the same price for a seat in the south end zone, but it will cost you a few extra dollars if you want a chair back seat. And if you want one, plan ahead as they go fast. Extras 2 One point for the beautiful views from the stadium. If you sit on the east side, you get a beautiful view of the mountains that tower above the stadium. But when you enter or exit the same side, you get a great view of the entire Cache Valley. One point for the statue of Merlin Olsen outside the south entrance. It is a fitting tribute to one of the greatest players in Aggie history. It is also part of a new student tradition in which the students touch the helmet before they enter the stadium. Final Thoughts Maverik Stadium is a decent little stadium to visit, and is very family friendly. It’s worth a visit if you are in the area, or if you want to see your team play on the road, and don’t want to fight the crowds at a large venue.

Photos by Gary Butterworth, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 MetLife Stadium 1 MetLife Stadium Dr East Rutherford, NJ 07073 AMA Supercross-East Rutherford website MetLife Stadium website Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 81,000 Motorcycles in the Meadowlands In the late 1980s and early 90s, New Jersey’s Giants Stadium was an annual stop on the AMA Supercross Tour. After a two-decade absence, the motorcycles returned to the Meadowlands in 2014. Things changed in 20 years. Bikes became more powerful, stadiums became bigger, and energy drinks became a thing. But at the end of the day, dirt bike racing is still pretty much the same. So, New York area racing fans were happy to see Supercross stop back in for the 2014 racing season, and were even happier to see the race continued through 2016 and possibly beyond. We attended the 2015 edition and came away impressed by the event, but just a little bit underwhelmed in an overwhelming venue. Food & Beverage 4 MetLife Stadium is, debatably, America’s most modern large outdoor stadium. For its $1.6 billion dollar price tag, it better be. Things here are bigger and perhaps better, including the food selection. Hot dogs, pizza, burgers, burritos, chicken fingers, sandwiches, all the way down to fried clams, it’s pretty much all available. Most options taste pretty good, and the walk around this gargantuan venue to find the stand that satisfies your craving might even burn off some of the calories that you’re bound to take in. Kosher stands are a welcomed sight to New York’s large Jewish and Muslim population. The 2015 edition of the race allowed all fans to bring in outside food in clear plastic bags. Each fan was also allowed one sealed bottle of a non-alcoholic beverage less than 20oz, but the size limit was not rigidly enforced. Pepsi products are readily available inside for $5-$9. Craft beers are available, but fans might need to hunt for them. Monster Energy drinks are the title sponsor of the race. We didn’t spot any inside, but we could have missed them. Variety is good. Prices aren’t terrible. Things taste good, but nothing is truly amazing. Atmosphere 3 The 2015 edition of AMA Supercross at MetLife Stadium was nationally live televised on FOX. TV viewers caught a few races, but they didn’t see the preliminary races that began at 9am, and they didn’t get much of a look at the pit area just outside the stadium. Truth be told, the pits are almost as much of a fanfest as they are a working pit facility. True moto-X fans can spend 8 hours here soaking in the ambiance, but most casual fans will turn up just before the bigger races begin in the mid afternoon. Riders thunder in with entrance music and fireworks as bikini-clad models cheer them on. In the stands, some fans cheer for their favorite riders, while other cheer on the spectacle. Holding this race in one of the United States’ flagship venues is both a blessing and a curse. The venue is comfortable: fans have lots of leg room, concourses are roomy, and video screens make sure that no one misses an important moment. But the roominess also means that fans are spread out. The sheer size of MetLife Stadium means that even a respectable crowd of 60,000 leaves the venue a quarter empty. Fans can hear the bikes, but do the bikers hear the fans? It’s hard to say. Overall, the atmosphere here is good, but not extraordinary. In fact, that’s an apt description of MetLife Stadium in general. Neighborhood 2 Rumor has it that legendary union boss Jimmy Hoffa was buried around here as the Meadowlands sports complex was being constructed in the mid-70s. The story is plausible: despite its proximity to Manhattan, there wasn’t much happening in New Jersey’s Meadowlands until this complex opened. Even now, with the Meadowlands experiencing its second life (MetLife replaces the original Giants Stadium, and the neighboring Izod Center arena is vacant), there isn’t much around despite the stadiums and their parking lots. A horse racing track still exists, while a mega-mall and indoor ski slope sit vacant in partially-complete development limbo. NYC Skyline Behind Acres of Parking, Photo by Gary Butterworth, Stadium Journey In spite of, or because of the remote location, MetLife boasts a respectable tailgating culture. Aside from this, there’s nothing to bring you to MetLife before or after your event. Hang out in nearby Manhattan, or maybe even Newark. Fans 3 Supercross flies under the radar of most sports fans, and even of many motorsports fans. It has a following, but not enough of one to have fan rivalries or any other unpleasantness. At the 2015 Monster Energy Supercross race at MetLife Stadium, a variety of riders brought fans, but the majority of those in attendance simply wanted to see a few good races. Fans cheered at the appropriate times, both with and without prompting from the video boards. Some turned up in team gear. The majority of the crowd, though, was as varied you’d expect at a non-mainstream event in a major market. Access 3 Parking started at $30 for the 2015 race. Knowing this in advance does little to cushion the blow as you pull into MetLife’s sea of parking. For the 2015 edition of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, the NJ Transit train to the Meadowlands from New York City did not run. Instead, direct bus service was available from Manhattan, or fans could take NJ Transit trains to Seacaucus Junction in New Jersey and transfer to bus there. For future editions of the race, fans relying on public transportation should inquire about specific transit operations. For those coming from New York, mass transit may be the better option, even if connections are necessary. In addition to the high price for parking, traffic congestion around the venue is an annoyance. MetLife tries to make life easy for all fans, but the sheer size of the venue makes that difficult. Handicapped parking is still a long walk from entrance gates. Once inside, accessible seating exists, but can still be a hike from entrance gates. Fans with no mobility issues can fully enjoy MetLife Stadium in all its enormity. Though the first two annual Supercross races saw large crowds, the stadium was not sold out, and fans had plenty of room to move around. Return on Investment 4 The AMA Supercross tour doesn’t show much love to the northeast. In the two decades between New York-area events, fans in the most populous part of the US were left out in the cold. With the return to New Jersey’s Meadowlands, Supercross fans in the northeast can now see their sport on their own turf. And with such a large venue, organizers are able to offer enough price points to entice fans from all walks of life. Additionally, 2015 saw Monster Energy offer fans free access to the pit areas in exchange for an empty Monster can. Extras 3 Perhaps more than anything else, the “Party in Pits” sets AMA Supercross apart from other events at MetLife Stadium. The opportunity to get a little closer to the riders is appreciated, especially at such a large stadium. The variety of Supercross rider gear at the souvenir stands is also impressive. Final Thoughts The return of AMA Supercross to MetLife Stadium is a blessing to dirt bike fans in the northeast United States, as well as the fan who likes seeing events that are just outside the mainstream. Though the event and stadium aren’t quite “can’t-miss,” those with an interest in checking out Supercross in person are likely to be satisfied.