The city of Brockton, Massachusetts refers to itself as “The City of Champions.” This moniker comes from its history of producing boxing champions, most notably Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. On Thursday the city unveiled a statue of Hagler in the shadows of the site of legendary Petronelli Gym, where Hagler famously trained during his fighting days. The statue, commissioned at a price of $150,000, is located in the new Hagler Park at the corner of Petronelli Way and Hagler Way. Hagler passed away in 2021 at the age of 66. He finished his career with a record of 62-3-2 with 53 knockouts. He was the undisputed Middleweight champion from 1980-87, making 12 title defenses during that time. Hagler was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993. Boxing Illustrated named him the 1980s Fighter of the Decade, and he was named Boxer of the Year twice. Dozens of people were in attendance at the unveiling, including family members, former opponent Vito Antuofermo and city leaders. “I will say one thing about Marvelous Marvin, he never forgot where he came from,” Mayor Robert Sullivan told the crowd. “So today he is not here physically, but he is here in spirit.” The statue, which stands about six feet tall, depicts Hagler throwing one of his legendary left jabs. At the base of the statue are replicas of his three championship belts. A dogwood sapling, which should grow to about 12 feet tall, is planted at the park to honor Hagler’s mother, Ida Mae Lang. Hagler’s statue is the second erected in the city honoring a local boxing champion. In 2012, the World Boxing Council gifted a $250,000, 22 foot-tall statue of Rocky Marciano. This statue, the largest statue of a sporting figure in the world, is located at Rocky Marciano Stadium on the campus of Brockton High School, behind Campanelli Stadium, home of the New England Knockouts and Brockton Rox.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Scotiabank Rink @ Iroquois Park Sports Centre 500 Victoria St. W. Whitby, ON L1N 9G4 Whitby Warriors website Iroquois Park Sports Centre website Year Opened: 1974 Capacity: 2,500 The Warrior Way One of the lacrosse hotbeds in Canada can be found in Whitby, Ontario.  Colloquially known as the ‘Town’ of Whitby, with a population of over 135,000 and located along Highway 401, Whitby lives in the shadow of the giant metropolis of Toronto to the west and the automotive hub of Oshawa to the east.  Organized lacrosse dates back to the sixties and Whitby currently fields teams at the Junior A (OJLL), Junior C and Senior A (MSL) levels.  The Junior A Whitby Warriors were established in 1968 as the Whitby B&R Transporters at the Junior B level.  In 1975, they advanced to the Junior A level as the Whitby Consolidated Builders and were renamed the Whitby Warriors in 1984.  The Warriors boast the third most Minto Cup Championships as Junior A lacrosse National Champions with eight and ten Iroquois Trophy Championships as Ontario Champions.  Some of the Warrior alumni include NLL players Mark Matthews, Chris Corbeil, Zach Greer, Dan Ladoceur and Gavin Prout.  Former NHL players Gary Roberts and Joe Nieuwendyk also suited up for the Warriors. Home for the Warriors is the Scotiabank Rink in the Iroquois Park Sports Centre.  Part of a massive sports complex, both indoor and outdoor, what is now the Scotiabank Rink was the original building which opened in 1974.  The rink is a classic, old school arena which has ice in the winter for hockey and is the home of box lacrosse in the summer months. Food & Beverage 3 The Iroquois Park Sports Centre has one main concession, which supports the multiple indoor facilities which are currently part of the park.  The concession is a typical snack bar type facility which offers a number of typical offerings.  Hot dogs, burgers, fries and poutine, cotton candy, popcorn and chips are all on the menu.  Soda, water, juice, coffee, tea and slushies are the beverage options.  Pepsi products are featured and alcohol is not available. Atmosphere 3 Iroquois Park is a massive sports facility that includes baseball diamonds, football and soccer fields, a pool, fitness centre and multiple arenas.  The Iroquois Park Sports Centre refers to the complex that houses the arenas and other indoor facilities, where the main arena built in 1974 was built around.  Grey brick with red siding accents produce the look of the main rink exterior, however, plenty of glass can be found at the entrances and newer areas of the building.  The entry to the Iroquois Park Sports Centre is at the east side and brings fans into a large atrium that links the various parts of the Sports Centre.  The atrium has a number of trophy cases dedicated to a number of clubs and sports, including the Warriors.  The atrium also links to the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame which is surprisingly strong and features a number of items that treasure hunters will enjoy.  Some members of the hall include lacrosse royalty Gavin Prout and Dan Ladoceur, OHL and CHL commissioner David Branch and NHL legends Joe Nieuwendyk and Adam Foote. The main arena, which is also the original arena, is named the Scotiabank Rink.  Just outside the arena is a team picture and dedicated plaque to the 1958 Whitby Dunlops hockey team that featured Harry Sinden and went to the Olympics.  Inside the Scotiabank Rink the clock immediately turns back and fans are met with the bones of an old school hockey barn that has been upgraded to modern standards.  The Scotiabank Rink  has ice and is used for hockey in the winter months and as a result has a concrete floor playing surface.  The floor runs from west to east and with no logo at the centre of the floor, either the north or south side offers pretty much the same view.  Upgrades are obvious, especially when it comes to the seats, which are modern plastic arena seats on the north and south sides.  There are no seats on the ends.  The east side of the arena is reserved for lacrosse accolades and includes banners from the Senior A (Major Series Lacrosse) Brooklin Lacrosse Club, formerly known as the Redmen.  Minto Cup banners for the 1980, 1984, 1985, 1997, 1999, 2011, and 2013 Warrior teams hang proudly against the wall.  The most recent addition, the 2022 Minto Cup Championship hangs on the protective netting at the end. The gameday production at a Warriors game is very simple.  Warm-ups featured no music and there was no music during the game.  Basically, the only aspects of gameday production included the 50/50 draw and goal and penalty announcements.  If today’s sports are over-produced, the Warriors experience is underproduced. Neighbourhood 3 Iroquois Park is in the Port Whitby neighbourhood, which is south of Downtown.  There are a few spots one might consider for pre or post game food or drinks.  On the Iroquois Park site is BarDown Gastropub.  Other options include the Lake Grill and Town Brewery. For other sporting options, fans could consider the Whitby Warriors Jr. C lacrosse team or Major Series Lacrosse’s Brooklin Lacrosse Club.  The Oshawa Generals of the OHL and Ontario Tech Ridgebacks hockey and basketball are not far away. All of the lustre of Toronto is about an hour’s drive west.  Other tourist attractions in Whitby would include the Whitby Harbour Lighthouse, Lynde House Museum and Whitby Waterfront.  The Holiday Inn Whitby/Oshawa is a close accommodation for fans wishing to stay in the area. Fans 2 It is difficult to assess OJLL fans as attendance figures are not published.  For the most part, Warriors fans seem to fall in the “friends and family” category with maybe a couple hundred in attendance at best.  The Warriors typically play home games on Tuesdays, which is always a tough night for spectator sports.  Fans in attendance are pretty passive, which is not uncommon for Southern Ontario. Access 4 Iroquois Park is located in the Port Whitby neighbourhood and adjacent to Downtown.  South of Highway 401, it is not that difficult to get to, provided that fans are not having to come through Toronto, which is always a traffic headache.  There is plenty of free onsite parking.  For fans who wish to take public transit, the Whitby GO Transit station is right by the park and services GO Transit and Durham Region Transit.  Fans should consult the GO Transit and Durham Region Transit websites for fares, maps and schedules.  Getting around Iroquois Park Sports Centre is not difficult at all and the washroom facilities are good. Return on Investment 4 OJLL lacrosse provides a solid return on investment.  Whitby Warriors tickets are $12 with discounts for Seniors.  Children under 14 are free to enter also.  Parking is free and concession prices are decent.  The action on the floor is great and provides a glimpse into the future of the National Lacrosse League.  Warriors games are a bit under-produced and a few small adjustments would take the return on investment for the Warriors to the next level. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Iroquois Park Sports Centre as the host of the annual Ontario Lacrosse Festival. An extra mark for Whitby as a lacrosse hotbed. An extra mark for the long term success the Warriors have enjoyed, culminating in 8 Minto Cup Championships. Final Thoughts Inexpensive and fun, a trip to Whitby, Ontario to take in a Whitby Warriors lacrosse game is well worth it.  Whitby is a hotbed of lacrosse and there have been plenty of famous alumni who have pulled on a Warriors jersey.  The Scotiabank Rink @ Iroquois Park Sports Centre is a solid venue that offers fans just about all they would need in a facility and makes the Warrior experience one to remember. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube, Twitter, Threads and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 McManus Family Field at Carlo Crispino Stadium 8102 Lasalle Rd Towson, MD 21286 Putty Hill Panthers website McManus Family Field at Carlo Crispino Stadium website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 300 Panthers Pride The Maryland Collegiate Baseball League is a summer collegiate league with players from many colleges but mostly from regional colleges and universities, such as Towson, Maryland, Penn State, UMBC, and Mount St Mary's. The Panthers play at Carlo Crispino Stadium at Calvert Hall College High School. The school is a Catholic high school for boys, located in Towson, Maryland, and was started in 1845. Famous alumni include filmmaker John Waters, A-Team actor Dwight Shultz, and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. The field itself is named for the McManus family. Carlo Crispino was a former Calvert Hall player, and Phillies minor-leaguer, who donated money for the new stadium to be opened in 2008. The stadium has been named by the National Baseball Coaches Association as its field of the year at least twice. Food & Beverage 0 A small permanent stand is located down the first baseline but does not seem open for Panthers games. Atmosphere 3 The stadium is small and compact. This means that the fan noise will be pretty high even with a small crowd. It is also covered making visiting on hot, sunny days a pleasure. There is also a nice picnic area down the right field line. Just be careful entering the stadium as there is no net right as you come up the steps. If one was not paying attention as a player is batting it could end badly. Neighborhood 4 The ballpark is located in the busy Towson area of Baltimore County. Towson University and Goucher College are located nearby. Across the street from the field is a large big-box retail shopping center with various options. Gino's at 8600 Lasalle Road is also very close by. This local legend has some good burgers and chicken options. Try the Gino's Giant. If you wish to venture further, you are in luck as Towson is a semi-urban environment with a very large shopping mall and numerous restaurants in the area. Try the Charles Village Pub in the heart of downtown Towson for good food and drinks. Fans 2 The crowds are similar to a northeastern college baseball stadium. The fans consist of mostly family and friends of the players on both teams. The  Maryland Collegiate Baseball League gets players from colleges throughout the area so that you may have some nice variety in terms of fans at the ballpark. Access 4 Towson is the county seat of Baltimore County and always seems to be in the center of everything. It is at the crossroads of the busy Baltimore Beltway, Jones Falls Expressway, and Harrisburg Expressway. I-95 is also relatively close by. Calvert Hall College High School is also easy to find at the busy intersection of Putty Hill Avenue and Goucher Boulevard. There should be plenty of free parking in the school's lots. If you use the lots off of Lasalle Road, near the baseball stadium, watch out for the signs designating foul territory. Return on Investment 4 Games are free, and so is the parking. The level of college ball on display makes this a great value for fans. Extras 1 Walk the grounds of Calvert Hall to see how they abide by their mission of making their students "men of intellect, men of faith, and men of integrity." Final Thoughts A strong level of baseball for free makes a visit to a Putty Hill Panthers game a good way to spend a few innings.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Protective Stadium 1020 24th St N Birmingham, AL 35203 Birmingham Stallions website Protective Stadium website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 47,100 Giddy Up Birmingham Tuscaloosa is not the only city celebrating recent championship victories in Alabama – Birmingham has also enjoyed success with the Birmingham Stallions, who won the United States Football League (USFL) titles in 2022 and 2023, the first two seasons after the league's revival. The 2024 season would see a merger of competing spring football leagues, the USFL and the XFL, to create the United Football League (UFL). Both leagues had vied for spring football supremacy, but rather than compete for viewership, it made more sense for the two leagues to join forces as one. While the UFL game at its core remains consistent with NFL and college football, the league has introduced rules that look to boost opportunities for explosive plays and for teams to score points. Notably, the extra points after touchdowns here do not involve a point-after-kick; instead teams can choose to go for 1 point from the 2-yard line, 2 points from the 5-yard line, or 3 points from the 10-yard line. In addition, instead of onside kick opportunities, the team attempting to retain possession following a score can attempt a 4th-and-12 play from their own 28-yard line. Another unique rule allows the offense to throw two forward passes on a single play, provided the first pass does not cross the line of scrimmage. Though the USFL and XFL disappeared as independent leagues when the merger happened, both leagues live on as conferences within the UFL – each conference is comprised of four surviving teams from their old league, and the teams still play for their old league’s championship trophy, but with the 2 winners facing off in the UFL Championship Game. Food & Beverage   3 Stadium concessions often feel repetitive from one stadium to another – burgers, dogs, chicken fingers, and nachos. At Protective Stadium for Birmingham Stallions games, however, fans can find these standard options but with a bit more variety. Hot dogs are available in several variations, and nachos come with a range of different toppings. But while there's a decent variety of options, nothing really stands out as a must-have concession item that you can't find elsewhere. Soft drinks are from the Coca-Cola family of beverages and alcohol choices are plentiful. Beers from Yuengling, Miller Light, Coors Light, Michelob Ultra, and Modelo are available, along with 2 local craft brews, Cahaba Brewing Company Blonde and Trim Trab Pale Ale. White Claw seltzers, Simply Spiked Lemonade, and several pre-mixed, canned, and hand-mixed cocktails can also be found. Atmosphere   3 Protective Stadium was built above ground level, with the south end open to prominently display the Birmingham skyline. Even though the main scoreboard fills the openness of this end of the stadium, it does not impact the view of downtown. The multi-story press box, featuring two levels of suites and a lower level with premium food and drink access, rises high above the western side of the stadium. Breaks in the action are filled with typical stadium promotions like ad reads, t-shirt tosses, on-field competitions, and various scoreboard features such as dance cams and air guitar contests. Fans seem to be engaged with these interactive promotions and features. An unfortunate part of the game atmosphere is that, during UFL games here, fans are confined to one side of the stadium. While this helps concentrate the energy into one area, it creates a massive void throughout the rest of the stadium, and makes for some uncertainty about where fans can sit and which sections are off limits. Although fans are passionate and can get loud, much of the excitement is lost in the stadium's emptiness – even with an announced attendance of 10,000, for example, it is not enough to compensate for the closed-off east side. In contrast, the D.C. Defenders benefit from using Audi Stadium, home of MLS's D.C. United, which has a capacity of 20,000 and is nearly 70% full each game. Each market must work with the venues available, but smaller venues closer to capacity can significantly enhance the overall game atmosphere. Neighborhood   4 Protective Stadium is part of the larger "eat-stay-play" development called Uptown Birmingham. The development provides all a fan might need without having to leave the area. Uptown consists of 6 to 8 restaurants, the Westin Hotel, a dog park, and pickleball courts; much of this is located under the interstate bridges that pass just feet from the surrounding parking decks. For fans looking for pre or postgame activities, a visit to Top Golf (directly across the street from the northeast gates of the stadium) may be of interest. Or for early kickoffs, an evening visit across town to Regions Field, home of the Birmingham Barons of the AA - Southern League, could be an option. Fans who have a passion for sports history, especially that of Negro League baseball, will want to make two locations a high priority on any visit to Birmingham: Rickwood Field, the oldest professional baseball park and one-time home of the Birmingham Black Barons, and the Negro Southern League Museum, which is housed in one of the buildings beyond the left field confines of Regions Field. Admission to both is free. Fans   3 Since the return of the Stallions, originally members of the USFL in the 1980s, attendance in Birmingham has generally been in the top half of the league, though that is still somewhat relative. Nevertheless, the fan support in Birmingham led to Protective Stadium being used as one of the two hub cities for the USFL 2023 season. The most supportive of the fans come from the fan group, “The Horsemen”. This group of fans are stationed behind Birmingham’s bench, leading chants of “DEFENSE” and imploring others to make noise to help encourage the Stallions throughout the game. As the game progresses, fans begin to populate the lower section of the northern end zone, often taking off their shirts and twirling them overhead as rallying rags. What starts as a modest gathering often becomes a sizable crowd by the final minute of the game. During the 2024 season, attendance was somewhat inconsistent. The Stallions ranked fourth in the league for attendance, with over 12,000 fans attending the opening game, and more than 14,000 showing up for the matchup versus the St. Louis Battlehawks, featuring the return of the University of Alabama’s national championship quarterback, A.J. McCarron. For other home games though, attendance fluctuated between 7,000 and just over 10,000 fans. Access   4 Given Protective Stadium’s location in Birmingham, getting there is rather easy. Those driving to town will see Protective Stadium directly off Interstate 20-59. Parking is available around the stadium with garages to the west and south, and lots to the east and north. Limited free street parking is available since games are played on weekends, but securing one of those spots requires arriving very early. Primary access points to Protective Stadium are located at the northeast and south ends of the stadium, with two lesser used entries on the west side of the stadium, in addition to the club entry. Since most parking is concentrated on the southern and western sides, the southern entry point near the Uptown district is most popular. Those coming through the southern entrance across from the Uptown district are funneled onto the multi-tiered switchback ramp to access the main level concourse, which runs above the seating. Seating is limited to the press box side of the stadium only, so this does limit fans’ ability to traverse the entire stadium. Return on Investment   4 Tickets start at $10, with an additional $1 fee, even when purchased directly from the box office. Considering the cost of attending NFL games, the low cost of tickets makes heading to a Stallions game appealing. Where things can get a bit pricy, though, are with parking fees and concessions. These costs are avoidable if you are willing to make a couple of sacrifices: arrive well before the gates open to find the free parking spots, and choose not to purchase food or drinks inside the stadium. Extras   3 A large banner covers one of the upper-level seating areas marking Birmingham’s 2022 and 2023 USFL titles. Also commemorating the Stallions’ championship seasons is a piece of metal work that resembles the USFL trophy, located outside Protective Stadium’s southern entrance. Following pre-game warmups, children ages 5-13 are invited onto the field to high-five the players as they head to the locker room. The transparency of the replay system is a great way to give fans insight into the process of upholding or reversing calls – when a play is challenged, the replay official is shown on the stadium scoreboard, talking though the call in real time, until he renders a decision. Final Thoughts The UFL points to the late merger of the XFL and USFL as a significant challenge for attendance. The uncertainty of which markets would have teams affected their ability to fully promote their product. For those needing their football fix before NFL training camps, the UFL is a decent alternative. The league has potential from a production standpoint to build upon, and for the NFL to take note of, especially with the replay system the UFL has in place. The UFL is also entertaining from a competition standpoint; more than half of the 40 regular-season games in 2024 were decided by one score or less, ensuring competitive and compelling matchups. In all, there is potential for the UFL to continue to grow in Birmingham, as long as the league continues to be a viable product where multiple markets can be successful.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Hammons Field 955 East Trafficway Springfield, MO 65802 Map It Springfield Cardinals website Hammons Field website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 10,486 Baby Cardinals Attending a baseball game at Hammons Field is a baseball purist’s dream and an altogether fantastic day or evening out. Hammons Field, in Springfield MO, is the home of the Springfield Cardinals, an AA affiliate of MLB’s St Louis Cardinals. Hammons Field opened on April 2, 2004, and cost $32 million. John Q Hammons, a wealthy hotel developer and builder from Springfield MO, financed the stadium construction. The first year saw only the local college play ball at the park as no pro ball club had committed to playing there when it was built. The Springfield Cardinals of the Texas League began playing there the very next season. Prior to 2005, the team was the El Paso Diablos. The owners of the Diablos sold the franchise to the Cardinals who relocated them to Springfield. The Springfield Cardinals won the Texas League Championship in 2012 and are looking to repeat that in future seasons. The Missouri State University Bears baseball team uses the field in the spring. Hammons Field hosts other events for the Southwestern Missouri community, such as Trick or Treat on Halloween. It is an intimate, comfortable venue that exudes Cardinals baseball and is one well worth visiting. Food & Beverage 4 The ballpark sells plenty of drinks, food, and snacks at higher prices than expected for an AA ballpark in Missouri. However, plenty of food promotions are offered throughout the season. Keep those in mind when visiting. First, adult beverages are $3 off for the first 30 minutes after the gates open. That said, even with the discount, a 16 oz specialty craft beer is still $7. Tuesdays are $2 brats and hot dogs. Thursday home games are ‘Thirsty Thursdays’ with $3 off drink specials for fans 21 and older all game long. Kids get a free ice cream before Sunday home games. Burgers and chicken tenders are sold at the Home Plate Concessions while there’s a Domino’s Pizza and a Chick-fil-A down the third base concourse. Cardinals Cantina sells Mexican fare with gourmet nachos and burrito bowls (with fajita chicken, pulled pork, and white queso options) and a variety of toppings. They cost between $11.65 – $15.49. Other traditional snacks like popcorn, soft pretzels, chips, and peanuts are available for purchase. Cardinals Creamery has nine different flavors of ice cream (a souvenir helmet is $6.49). Other snacks at that stand are funnel cakes ($7) and cotton candy ($5.25). Bottled water is $4.99 and soda (Coca-Cola brands) are $6.25 and $7.49. KPub and the 1st Base Bar offer adult beverages such as wine, mixed drinks, and craft brews. Adults can purchase bottled and canned beer at most concession stands as well as Grab and Go Stations. Atmosphere 5 The venue emanates baseball and all staff members make you feel welcome and glad you are visiting their stadium. The concourse runs on top of the seating area; fans walk down to their seats. Twenty-two rows of green stadium seats with cupholders and handrails make up the seating area. Plenty of handicapped and wheelchair seating runs along the top of the concourse. Suites line the second level of the stadium behind home and on the first base side. The Redbird Roost (second level third base side) features premium seats and all-you-can-eat food and soda. The outer first base side has the Champions Club seats with an upgraded all-you-can-eat menu and four adult beverages included in the price. The ballpark has an immaculately, green field. When the big Cardinals go to the playoffs, the grounds crew from Springfield goes to St. Louis to assist with the maintenance of Busch Stadium. Something a bit different, the batter’s eye is a set of trees sponsored by Coca-Cola. Hammons Field Batters Eye, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Thankfully, the game day operation does not include music and noise between each and every pitch; instead, just between batters and innings. Contests and other forms of non-baseball entertainment include activities like wacky races and t-shirt tosses. A grassy berm (general admission) is down the third baseline and kids can run around in that area (depending on attendance). The scoreboard is in left-center field and clearly shows the batter’s stats, the line-up, the line score, the pitcher’s name, and some unobtrusive advertisements The team has plenty of promotions and giveaways throughout the season: t-shirts, jerseys, replica rings, Friday night fireworks, bobbleheads, and more. Check their schedule or follow them on social media to see the current season’s exciting offerings. Neighborhood 4 Hammons Field is in Springfield, MO, the southwestern part of the state. Several bars, restaurants, and hotels are within ½ to one mile of the stadium with more a little further away. It’s a safe neighborhood to visit and the town has plenty to offer a visiting baseball fan or tourist. For starters, visit the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame (though it is 10 miles from the ballpark), an interactive museum of teams and individuals influential to sports in Missouri. The Bass Pro Shop in town (three miles from the ballpark) is the largest and has enough to be considered a museum with aquariums, waterfalls, a firing range, outdoor gear showrooms, and the archery hall of fame. Route 66 museums, artifacts, and shops dot the area for those who enjoy nostalgia from the 40s and 50s. For places to eat, visit Ebbets Field Sports Bar (three blocks away) or Rama Thai Café. Dugout Bar & Grill is a block away (a small neighborhood bar). Downtown Springfield is a mile away. There you’ll find Black Sheep Burgers and Shakes, Big Whiskey’s, or Civil Kitchen. Local breweries include Springfield Brewing Company (which serves food) and Mother’s Brewing Company. If spending the night, the University Plaza Hotel is 1/3 mile from the ballpark. A Best Western Inn is a mile away and a Tru by Hilton borders downtown. Plenty of other chain hotels are three to four miles away off the Interstate 44 exit. Fans 5 The baseball spirit, passion, knowledge, and courtesy always shown by St Louis Cardinals fans are displayed just as equally by its AA team fans and staff. Fans wear lots of red… red caps shirts and jerseys honoring both the Springfield and St Louis Cardinals. You’ll hear many discussing the players and which ones will make it up to the bigs. The team has averaged 4,800 – 5,000 or so fans per game the last five-plus years. Access 4 Getting to Hammons Field is not too difficult. It is three miles south of Interstate 44. The closest airport is Springfield-Branson National Airport about eight miles from the park. Springfield has a bus service that looks like it has a stop .2 miles from the park. Check CU Transit to see if that option works for your visit. Parking lots surround the park and range from $5 – $20. Twenty dollars is way too high for AA baseball. The team does not own the parking around the stadium and does not have control of the prices. Fans can park for free a few blocks away (.3 miles) at OTC (Ozarks Technical Community College) and Price Cutter. Free street parking is available a few blocks south on Walnut St. The main entranceway is striking. It’s a large plaza with plenty of room for fans to meet. The brickwork and towers are picturesque. The interior has a covered, wide concourse lined with concessions and kiosks. It is open and fans can watch the play of game while walking on the concourse. Clean, serviceable restrooms are down both baseline concourses. The Cardinals have a clear bag policy where bags must be standard stadium-sized (12” x 6” x 12”) clear bags. Return on Investment 4 Attending a game at Hammons Field is well worth your sports dollar budget. Tickets run $9 (General Admission) to $18 (Diamond Boxes – sections behind home plate). The Redbird Roost tickets are $30 (includes all-you-can-eat). Parking can be expensive; use the free lots a few blocks away. Food and drink prices are a tad high for the Texas League. Attend on a $2 Tuesday or Thirsty Thursday to save a few bucks. Take advantage of the different promotions offered throughout the season. Extras 4 A nice team store along the concourse sells all kinds of Springfield and St. Louis Cardinals gear. Be sure to pick up a lineup and game notes in the team store. It also comes with a pre-printed scoresheet. It’s the little things that are noticeable. For example, the bar stands on both the first base and third base concourse leave beer cans unopened, and wrap hot dogs and brats in foil so fans can easily carry them in their bags without spilling. And, the staff striking up conversations and providing information on the park makes one feel welcome. Final Thoughts When transferring my notes for this review, I ran across this sentence I had written while at the game in Springfield, “This is the most wonderful place on earth right now. I feel like I’m in heaven.” It radiates baseball here. It’s about the game; a baseball purist dream. At close to twenty years old, Hammons Field and the Springfield Cardinals continue to be a perfect place for baseball enthusiasts and other fans to spend their evenings.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 ONEOK Field 201 N Elgin Tulsa, OK 74120 Tulsa Drillers website ONEOK Field website Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 7,833 Tulsa Time The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and play in the Double-A Texas League. Baseball has been played in Tulsa, OK for more than 100 years. Originally known as the Tulsa Oilers, the team mostly played at the Tulsa County Fairgrounds. They became the Drillers in 1977. Besides the Dodgers, the Drillers have also been affiliated with the Texas Rangers and the Colorado Rockies. In 2010, the Drillers moved to the brand new ONEOK Field (pronounced ONE-OAK) at the corner of Elgin and Brady in the Greenwood District of downtown Tulsa. After six years of play, this ballpark still contains its mid-western charm, and is a superb facility with a downtown view, plenty of food and beverage choices and has a family friendly environment in which to take in a minor league baseball game. Food & Beverage 5 Some Triple-A venues will marvel at the food choices at ONEOK Field. Not only are there permanent concession stands, a plethora of specialty food carts line the inner concourse expanding the nourishment selection. Permanent concession stands include Wildcatter Cafe (hot dogs, burgers, wings, chicken sandwiches from the grill ($2.75 – $6.50), snack items such as pizza, nachos, pretzels, fries, etc. ($3 – $7), and Pepsi choices including Dr Pepper, water, beer, coffee, and the like ($2.50 – $6). Franx – Dogs with the Worx offers specialty hot dogs while Burgertopia is a hamburger lover’s paradise. Hornsby’s ice cream parlor peddles those favorite frozen treats with cones, banana splits, popsicles, and more ($2.50 – $6). The specialty food carts enhance the choices even more with Smokies BBQ, Farmers Market Wraps and Salads, Mazzio’s Italian Eatery, and Steakadelphia. Some carts are cash only. A noticeable amount of healthy, vegetarian, and vegan items are on offer with turkey and vegan burgers or hot dogs, wraps, and salads. When visiting ONEOK Field, the local (and recommended) choice is a sausage from Siegi’s and a local brew from Marshall’s. Siegi’s is a Tulsa-based, family-run, hand-making sausage factory. At $10 apiece, their masterpiece is The Wrecker (3/4 lb andouille sausage with choice of onion, pepper, sauerkraut, and/or Gouda cheese). Marshall’s is a Tulsa-based brewery with a specialty stand on the concourse near Siegi’s. Both are near section 107. Expect to miss a 1/2 inning or more when getting your food and beverage choices as lines can get long at the concessions. Outside food and beverages are not permitted in the park. Atmosphere 4 The Drillers provide a delightful game day experience where the music volume is loud enough to enjoy but does not impede conversations on the concourse and in the stands. Between inning activities are plentiful and are unobtrusive. The aura is very much geared towards families and kids. Seating options include one level of wide, blue fold-down stadium seats with cup holders and an extra amount of legroom, a level of suites above the inner concourse, grass berms throughout the outfield, and picnic tables and benches in left field. The third base and outfield areas get the sun during the first several innings at evening games, so choose a first base seat to be in the shade. However, the best view of beautiful downtown Tulsa is from the third base side. Thankfully, the net does not extend to the dugouts (sections A – J are behind home and behind the net). The Drillers dugout is on the first base side. Many kid play zones are located throughout the outer concourse including, but certainly not limited to, a water bounce house slide and an impressive Splash Zone located behind the batter’s eye. Kids arrive in their bathing suits and play at these water facilities throughout the game. Next to the Splash Zone is a huge jungle gym play area. Between inning activities include many of the standards at minor league baseball games: scream for a pizza, t-shirt toss, singing Oklahoma songs, dancing. At the top of the 6th inning, kids get to run across the outfield. The nicest part is these activities are not invasive to those fans who don’t wish to pay attention to them. In fact, it’s all done quite well. There is a mascot and he does prance on the dugout while the game is being played (something that in this author’s perspective (not necessarily Stadium Journey’s view) should be banned from minor league baseball). It’s fine to prance on the dugout, just do it between innings; not while the players are on the field. Section 112 is a good place to sit net free, with a great view of downtown, and where the mascot won’t be in your way. One other minor complaint is the starting lineups are not posted on the concourse, so there’s not an easy way to pre-fill a scorecard. Yes, it’s a dying art but some fans still like to record the game… on paper. Neighborhood 5 Tulsa has plenty of things to see and do, eat and drink, with many of those choices walking distance of the ballpark. ONEOK Field is located in the historically-significant Greenwood District, which was once known as the “Black Wall Street of America” until one of the most horrific race rights riots occurred here in 1921 demolishing 35 neighbor blocks, reported killing up to 300 individuals and leaving thousands injured. In the Greenwood District, be sure to check out some history at the Jazz Hall of Fame, Greenwood Cultural Center and the Mabel B. Little Heritage House, all well worth a visit. Tulsa’s Historical Museum & Society is a short drive from the ballpark. Other notable places to visit are the Tulsa Zoo, the Philbrook Museum of Art, Woody Guthrie Center and Guthrie Green (two blocks from ONEOK Field) or catch a concert or show at the Brady Theater (also within walking distance of the ballfield). The area surrounding the venue is now embraced with plenty of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Some recommendations are The Rusty Crane, Caz’s Chowhouse, and Abears Restaurant. Suggested bar and pub choices nearby include James E McNellie’s and The Hunt Club. If visiting from out of town and spending a night or two, I fully endorse the Fairfield Inn & Suites Tulsa Downtown. It has superb service, is three blocks from the ballpark, walking distance to all the recommended eating and drinking establishments, is clean, quiet, and has a free breakfast with a good variety. One other point of note is the BOK Tower in downtown Tulsa (seen clearly from the ballpark). This skyscraper is eerily similar (though 1/3 in size) to one of the former World Trade Center Twin Towers. Fans 4 Fans are laid back and as polite as can be. Lots and lots and lots of families and kids are in attendance for a Drillers game and the organization suits them extremely well. They respond eagerly to plays on the field, in addition to supporting strong batting and pitching performances. Drillers’ game day attendance has grown since the opening of ONEOK Field. For the last several seasons, the Drillers have ranged second in total attendance in the Texas League. Access 4 Some road construction surrounds the venue and there are one way streets in the area so be cautioned if arriving by motor vehicle. In addition, one section of Elgin Ave is closed off for pedestrian traffic during games. Both street and lot parking are convenient for Driller’s games. Free street parking can be found near the stadium but get there early as those fill up quickly. Lots in the area run $5 – $10. Tulsa has public transportation and it appears the bus stops close to ONEOK Field. Also available on Friday and Saturday evenings is the loop which transports visitors and fans throughout the downtown area. For $3.75 it may just be worth taking the trip to see where it goes. Security and lines getting into the ballpark are painless. Once inside, one can walk the entire concourse (and I recommend it) to find the many selections of food and beverage as well as check out all the park has to offer. Several ramps and many handicapped seating areas are at hand. Return on Investment 4 Attending a Drillers game is well worth the expense. Tickets range from $5 – $15 with an additional dollar or two charged for game day purchases (which drives me nuts). Many promotions are available throughout the year: $2 Tuesdays, Fireworks Grand Slam Saturdays, Kids Eat Free! games, and many giveaway events make attending a game a worthwhile and affordable experience for the family. A variety of game ticket packages are provided so, if a native of nearby Tulsa, be sure to check out the Drillers website for those offerings. Extras 5 When attending a Drillers game at ONEOK, several things deserve extra credit. The Splash Zone behind the batter’s eye serves kids and adults alike with cooling off on those hot Oklahoma days and evenings. A U-Haul truck rental office is just behind the outfield wall; on top of its roof is a rotating/spinning U-Haul truck, a view I have not seen before from a ballfield. The view of downtown Tulsa from the ballpark is spectacular. The exceptional legroom and wide seats making watching a game comfortable and fans don’t even have to stand up to let other fans pass by. A large merchandise shop is at the first base entrance (the main entrance) and is worth a visit. Final Thoughts ONEOK Field sports and entertainment is very much geared towards families and children. In addition, it is still an enjoyable visit for those without youngsters. Tulsa, though not the ‘hotbed’ of tourist destinations, has plenty to see and visit.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Innovative Field One Morrie Silver Way Rochester, NY 14608 Rochester Red Wings website Innovative Field website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 13,500 The Rochester Miracle Wings Rochester, New York is the quintessential minor league city. There are few places around the country that offer a full-complement of minor league sports like Rochester does, with little competition from the big leagues or big-time colleges. At the center of Rochester’s sports identity is the Rochester Red Wings of Minor League Baseball’s International League. The Red Wings are currently the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals and have been around since 1899. The Red Wings were saved in 1957 after their affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals ended and it looked like baseball in Rochester was for naught. Morrie Silver led the 72 Day Miracle, which sold over 8,000 shares to over 200 shareholders to purchase the team and stadium and keep Rochester baseball strong. Members of the Silver family still work for the Red Wings and the street outside Frontier Field is named Morrie Silver Way. Since 1989 the home for the Red Wings has been Frontier Field. Replacing venerable Silver Stadium, Frontier Field has also been home to soccer and lacrosse. The Red Wings experience offers plenty to the baseball fan and is a must-do for baseball fans. Note: Frontier Field’s name is changing to Innovative Field during the 2022 off-season. Food & Beverage 5 Frontier Field offers some of the best concessions in baseball. There are numerous concession stands and each one has a unique menu. All of the ballpark favourites are present, of course, and there are some local favourites as well. Altobelli’s Deli offers some sub and wrap deli options; Red Osier has the Western New York staple Beef on Weck, and variations of the sandwich; Ice Cream Plus has a host of different ice cream options; Sup Dog offers Zweigle’s hot dogs and sausages. Burgers, pizza and nachos are also available at different stands. For something truly unique to Rochester, fans should head to Home Plate for a Trash Can, the Frontier Field take on the Garbage Plate. The 10th Inning bar area has a whole host of local craft beers and local Genesee beer can be found throughout the park also. Labatt Blue, which is popular in Western New York, is also prevalent in the park. It is hard to fathom that there is anything that a fan would want to eat at the ballpark that can’t be found at Frontier Field. Atmosphere 4 Frontier Field will not awe fans with striking beauty or a bevy of unique features. That being said, Frontier Field is a solid ballpark that has everything that fans would want in a Minor League Baseball experience. The exterior of the stadium is not imposing. A simple design that features a sunken field and to go with the red brick is more functional than beautiful. Frontier Field incorporates what was once an old firehouse on the left field side of the stadium for offices. Fans who enter the front gate, behind home plate, will be welcomed first by Rochester baseball legend, Morrie Silver and a couple kids, in bronze statue form. There are also some original seats from old Silver Stadium that can be used as a meeting place for friends and family. Upon entering the stadium, fans will find more items to catch their attention. A statue of a horse made of baseball gloves, a large red wing bird and a classic bullpen cart all sit right outside of the team store, which is on the left of the main gate. The main concourse has banners for honoured members of the Red Wings including Johnny Oates, Cal Ripken Jr., Luke Easter, Morrie Silver and Mr. Rochester Baseball, Joe Altobelli. The Red Wings Hall of Fame can be found on the right field side and is worth some exploring for members of memories past. Also, a high school baseball hall of fame can be found. Upon exiting, on the left field side, fans can pass the bronze statue of Joe Altobelli. The seating bowl for Frontier Field is a separated, two tier seating area with some of the left and right field side seating covered with some sun protection. Alternative seating including berms, pavilion and picnic areas are also available. The sightlines at Frontier Field are excellent; there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Frontier Field has videoboard beyond both left Center and right Center field. They are probably coming to the end of their lives, but do the job. Often, videoboards try to cram so much information on at a time that the result is text that is too small to easily see. The Red Wings are not guilty of this and feature pitching statistics on one board and hitting statistics on the other. The outfield wall in left Center displays the retired numbers of Jackie Robinson, Luke Easter, Joe Altobelli and Morrie Silver. The number 8,222 represents the original number of shares in Rochester baseball that were sold to keep a Minor League team in the city. The ten Governors’ Cup Championships are on display on the wall in right center. The gameday atmosphere is not over-the-top in Rochester as it is in other Minor League venues. The staple promos are there including the mascot race (featuring Joe Altobelli, Luke Easter and Cal Ripken Jr.), 50/50 draw and other promos. Organ music is still a staple at Red Wings games and organist Fred Costello has been at it for a long time. Neighbourhood 4 Frontier Field is located near Downtown Rochester, just outside of the Inner Loop in the Brown Square neighbourhood. There are a few options that are close to Frontier Field, but the best bet is to hop in the car and take a two or three minute drive to the preferred destination. Some options fans may consider include the Genesee Brew House, 809 Sports Bar and Rocky’s. Over by the Blue Cross Arena, fans will find the old train station that is currently home to the Stadium Journey favourite Dinosaur BBQ. Also, it may be of interest to hit up the founder of the Garbage Plate, Nick Tahou Hots. Other sporting options in Rochester would include the Rochester Americans of the AHL and Rochester Knighthawks of the NLL. Fans could also head to Henrietta to take in some RIT Tigers hockey at the Gene Polisseni Center. The other main attraction that fans must absolutely consider taking in is The Strong National Museum of Play which is fantastic! For fans wishing to stay near the ballpark, the Holiday Inn and Hyatt are among options that are not too far away. Fans 4 The Rochester Red Wings maintain a strong attendance and have the longevity to be envious of. The Red Wings consistently average in the top 20 in all of Minor League Baseball. They usually attract over 6,000 fans per game. Normally the fans are fairly laid back and reserved, but know when to make some noise as the intelligent baseball fans that they are. Access 5 Frontier Field is located in Brown Square in Rochester, at the junction of the Inner Loop highway and I-490. Getting to the ballpark is pretty easy. If you are interested in public transit to the ballpark, the Rochester-Genesee Transit Authority has buses that travel on Broad, Main, Plymouth and State Streets. Check out the RTS website for maps, schedules and fares. There is plenty of parking available for Red Wing games in the lots of the Kodak Tower. Parking goes for only a few dollars and the local police do a great job of making it easy to get in and out of the parking lots. The main ticketing gates are behind homeplate, in the main square by Morrie Silver Way. At times lineups can be a bit of an issue for the late purchasing crowd, so being prepared is always a good idea. Another gate for entry is near the old fire station at Morrie Silver Way and Plymouth Ave, in left field. Getting around the stadium is no problem at all. There is a spacious inner concourse, where all of the concessions can be found and an outer concourse to travel by as well. There are also plenty of washroom facilities. Return on Investment 5 With ticket prices at $13 to $17, discounted for presale, the Rochester Red Wings offer an extremely affordable product that is what every baseball fan is looking for. Parking will go for $6 ot $10 and concession prices are not over the top. The environment and laid back feeling at Red Wings games is excellent. Overall, the return on investment for a Red Wings game is fantastic! Extras 3 An extra mark for organist Fred Costello, who in 2022 set a record for his 46th season as organist of the Red Wings, the longest-reigning sports organist in history. An extra mark for Morrie Silver and the 72 Day Miracle that saved baseball in Rochester and made the Red Wings a truly community team. An extra mark for the view of the iconic Kodak building beyond left field. Although Kodak is no longer, the building is currently used by Monroe Community College. Final Thoughts The Rochester Red Wings are a cornerstone franchise in the International League. They have weathered the ups and downs of Minor League Baseball and come out the other end still strong. Fans looking for a solid baseball experience that will offer tremendous value should absolutely check out the Rochester Red Wings at Frontier Field. Morrie will be glad you came! Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Louisville Slugger Field 401 E Main St Louisville, KY 40202 Louisville Bats website Louisville Slugger Field website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 13,131 Louisville Slugger Field is New & Improved The city of Louisville has rich baseball history since the 19th century. Its first major league club, the Eclipse, was a member of the American Association from 1882 to 1891 before changing its name to the Colonels after the 1884 season. The Colonels would join the National League in 1882 and remain in the league for the rest of the decade before owner Barney Dreyfuss acquired a controlling interest in the Pittsburgh Pirates and allocated 14 members to the Bucs in 1900. One of those players was Hall of Famer Honus Wagner. The Colonels would operate as a minor league club as members of the American Association until the league folded after the 1961 season. Six years later, the Colonels were back as members of the International League as a Boston Red Sox affiliate but would relocate to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, after the 1972 season. In 1981 baseball would be back for good with the Louisville Redbirds, and the St. Louis Cardinal affiliate would become the first minor league ballclub to attract over one million fans in a season in 1982. The Redbirds rebranded as the RiverBats in 1998 and then shortened the name to the Bats a few years later. In 2000. the 13,131-seat Louisville Slugger Field debuted along the Ohio River. It would be one of the top drawing facilities in minor league baseball for the next decade. A key design feature of the $40 million ballpark is the integration of a historic rail freight depot at the main entrance. The restoration of the late 19th-century depot station is a vital component that houses everything from weddings, and meetings and a children’s play area. The 2021 season included $7 million worth of renovations that transformed the outfield concourse removed the bleacher seating, and transformed the area into a social area for fans during the game. The additions included new outfield bars, an expanded kids area, and tiered lawn seating. There were other improvements in other areas of the ballpark, including premier seating behind home plate, net extensions, and three new LED video boards. Food & Beverage 3 There are more than 50 different menu options at Louisville Slugger Field, providing a combination of wonderful smells inside the ballpark as customers are delighted by the ballpark staples of hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, and beer. There is a Mexican stand that allows visitors to create their own large nachos portions including toppings of tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, melted cheese, and sour cream. Louisville Links include the grand slam dog, spicy Italian sausage, fried bologna sandwich, and the slugger dog. The First Base, Homeplate Snacks, and Third Base Grill stands feature burger platters, chicken tenders, veggie burgers, nachos, soft pretzels, soda, and domestic bottled and draft beers. River Falls Pizza is located on the 3rd base side with garlic cheese bread and individual cheese pizzas. Number Juan Tequila has a small window stand with mixed drinks, beer, and bourbon. Graeter’s Ice Cream and other sweet treats can be found at the ballpark. The Overlook Grill features kettle chips with beer cheese, sausage and cheese bites, pretzel bites, popcorn, and peanuts. The Louisville Hops stand in centerfield offers local beers from Atrium, Against the Grain, and Fall City. There are also Slugger-ritas, frozen margaritas. Atmosphere 4 The ballpark stands out among its contemporaries in the league with an expansive brick exterior. The main entrance of the stadium was once a train shed and home to the Brinly-Hardy warehouse. The historic building structure was preserved and incorporated into the ballpark’s design. Guest entering through the main entrance will walk through the old train shed. This creates an indoor space for inflatable rides for kids, and window cases with memorabilia that includes jerseys, photos, accolades, and championship banners. Once inside the stadium, fans will take notice of the views of Louisville’s skyline, which includes the various bridges crossing the Ohio River into Indiana. The outfield concourse went through a $7 million renovation before the 2021 season and includes the Miller Time Tap House that houses cushion lounge chairs and tables, an outdoor bar, curved railing for views of the game, and a variety of beers on tap. The right field corner has tier grass seating, where seating once stood, that includes trees and a neighborhood park atmosphere at the game. The kids’ zone right behind the grass seating has been updated with modern playground equipment that includes slides, swings, and other fun for the children. The main concourse behind the infield features legacy banners of former players hanging from the ceiling, large concessions and kiosks, and the Bats Team Store that features a variety of caps, shirts, and other team spirits. Seating in this area also provides a great view of the stadium and the skyline behind the outfield walls. Buddy Bat, the official mascot, roams the ballpark offering hugs, high fives, and photo opportunities. Neighborhood 5 Louisville Slugger Field is located within steps of the Louisville Waterfront Park and blocks of the KFC Yum! Center. The Troll Pub serves typical pub fare, but in a dungeon-like atmosphere where you can also take a picture with a ceramic troll. Adjacent to the Troll Bar is the Sidebar, where bourbon and bourbon-inspired cocktails are in fashion. A few blocks away is the popular 4th Street Live, a one-stop destination for retail, dining, and entertainment, local restaurants are abundant in two levels of fantastic nightlife. Louisville is a foodie town and local restaurants are abundant opening that not only fans of visitors, but that of the local populace. Royals Hot Chicken and FeaThe feasts are both located in the East Market District of the city and offer affordable and delicious cuisine. Feast is known for its barbecue, but it also has excellent desserts (s’mores chocolate chess pie, sides (vinegar slaw), and drinks (bourbon shakes). Another favorite is the Garage Bar, housed in a former auto service garage, serving up ice-cold beer, bourbons, wood-fired pizzas, and Southern menu items. Also, a great spot for a few rounds of cornhole or table tennis. If you are still looking for more options in the neighborhood check out Grind Burger Kitchen and Akasha Brewing Company. Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen offers great soul food and live music. Holy Grale is a unique gastropub featuring a long, rotating beer list & locavore fare in a 1905 former church. The Louisville Slugger Museum, Churchill Downs (racing after dark during June and July), the University of Louisville, and the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience are not your typical bourbon trail tour. You will be able to keep yourself busy in town before or after a baseball game. Make a weekend out of the visit and enjoy this great city. Fans 3 The Bats attracted over 600,000 fans for each of its first 12 seasons at the ballpark. Those numbers have dipped down a bit in the past few seasons, but the team has averaged a very respectable 7,000 plus per game during that time. A Louisville fan enjoys a good night out, but maybe even baseball a little bit more. The crowd is old-fashioned gear, both new (blue and red) and old (purple and black), and can be heard talking with good old-fashioned baseball lingo. Everyone in attendance is there for a great night out of baseball, food, and drink. Access 5 Whether you are crossing into Kentucky over the Ohio River from Indiana on either I-64 or I-65, Louisville Slugger Field is visible from the interstate. A quick distance from Exit 136C you can find either parking on the streets (meters expire at 6 p.m.) or in lots across the street from the stadium for $6. The choice is yours, but I have been lucky enough to find free parking at the meters for evening games a few blocks away from the stadium. It is well worth saving some money for a short walk. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to a Bats game begin at $9 for lawn seating and then $13 for seating down each baseline. The first two rows behind the home plate are $55 and include $10 at the Team Store or concession stands. The price to park is $9 to $10 in the adjacent lots of the stadium, but there are less expensive lots and free street parking (depending on the day and time). Concession and team store pricing is comparable with other minor league ballparks on the Triple-A market. Extras 4 Against the Grain is connected to the stadium down the right field line. The fully operational restaurant is open year-round and offers barbecue, handcrafted beers, and life urban. The smell alone would merit an additional star and so could the outdoor patio seating that is full of life before and after games. The Kentucky Hi-Five–a shot of bourbon and a pint of lager for $6 as of this writing. The historic freight rail train depot is an enclosed section of the building that is draped with the various championship pennants won by the club since 1901 and is used for various events all year long. The Miller Time Tap House is in the center field and provides spectacular views of the city’s skyline, bridges, river, and the game itself. The renovations have made it a relaxing spot to view the game and take in views of the city skyline. Thursday night features live music before the game in this area of the stadium. The organization does an incredible job of providing a link to its predecessors and the rich history of baseball in the city with pictures, banners, trophies, and artifacts all on display inside the main entrances. A glorious statue of Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and Louisville native Pee Wee Reese adorns the main entrance. There are photos of the city’s former ballparks that include bricks from Parkway Field creating a frame for the black and white photo and a larger-than-life picture of Honus Wagner who began his career in town in 1897. Final Thoughts A visitor can expect a great time at Louisville Slugger Field. The Bats provide affordable ticket pricing, an amazing food selection, wonderful views of the game and city, and history inside the ballpark. It is a classic-looking baseball stadium situated in a great part of the city. ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at marc@stadiumjourney.com

Pittsburgh is one of the smallest U.S. cities in professional sports. However, it has earned the right to call itself the city of Champions. Pittsburgh has won league championships in nearly every sport where the city has a franchise. The city is rather compact, which makes it easy to navigate and get around to multiple sites related to its sports heritage. One of the best places to begin this sports journey is through a visit to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the Heinz History Center. The sports museum features two floors of memorabilia and exhibits related to the many teams and individuals linked to the Steel City. The exhibits include the Super Steelers, A Great Day for Hockey, the Immaculate Reception Turns 50, and Friday Night Lights. Baseball has played a major role in the Pittsburgh area since the 1880s. The museum tracks the Pirates team through its history at Forbes Field, Three Rivers Stadium, and its present home at PNC Park. The Pirates section of the center also includes exhibits about Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, and Honus Wagner. Pittsburgh also has a great football heritage in the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pitt Panthers. Western Pennsylvania has also been seen as the "Cradle of High School Football", as the region has produced top signal callers including Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, and Dan Marino. We begin our sports journey on the North Shore side of the Allegheny River. This area has been home to both the Pirates and the Steelers. They shared the Three Rivers Stadium from 1970-2001. The Steelers also called Three Rivers Stadium home.  It served as the team’s home field during many of their Super Bowl Years. It was in this stadium that both teams won multiple championships. Though the stadium was demolished, both teams have displays about the multi-sport stadium in their new homes. Three Rivers Stadium is also where Tony Dorsett set several NCAA records during his time as a running back for the Pitt Panthers. The North Shore is now home to a pair of major league venues. Acrisure Stadium (formerly known as Heinz Field) opened in 2001. It serves as the home of both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pitt Panthers. During your visit to the home of the Steelers you can visit the FedEx Great Hall on the east side of the stadium and its Hall of Honor. Displays in this area cover the history of the Steelers from their inception in 1933 to the present. It has exhibits covering the top players in the franchise’s existence, the top achievements of the team over the years, and the retired numbers worn by their star players. It has a huge amount of Steelers memorabilia on display in the 10,000-square-foot facility. The second North Shore sports facility is PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 2001. It is always mentioned as one of the top baseball stadiums in the MLB. This is due to the proximity of the seats to the field, a terrific food and beverage program, and the dramatic views of Downtown Pittsburgh over its right field wall. Make sure to visit the statues of Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Bill Mazeroski, and Honus Wagner that ring the exterior of the ballpark. As we cross over the Allegheny River into Downtown Pittsburgh we come to the Clemente Museum. Roberto Clemente was a sports icon. He was a Hall of Fame outfielder, a terrific hitter, and a great humanitarian. He lost his life in a plane crash while delivering much-needed supplies to his native Nicaragua when it was struck by an earthquake. The museum is privately run, and tours are only given by appointment. Our next stop is also located in downtown Pittsburgh, as we visit the PPG Paints Arena, home of the NHL Penguins. Once inside you can check out the displays saluting Penguin greats, including Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux, and Marc-Andre Fleury. The Penguins have won five Stanley Cups over the years, so make sure you check the championship banners hanging from the rafters. The original home of NHL hockey in Pittsburgh was the Civic Arena/Mellon Arena. It was located across the street from the PPG Paints Arena and served as the home of the Penguins from 1967-2010. The first three Penguin Stanley Cup Championships came while they played at the Civic Arena (aka the Igloo). It was torn down in 2012. Basketball seems to be the only sport without a deep history in the Pittsburgh area. The Civic Arena/Mellon Arena also served as the only home for Pittsburgh’s lone foray into professional basketball. The Pittsburgh Pipers of the American Basketball Association (ABA) won the inaugural ABA Championship in 1968. They then moved to Minnesota due to low attendance. The team returned to Pittsburgh as the Condors in 1973. The team folded after one season. Forbes Field served as the home of the Pirates from 1909-1971. It also served as the early home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Negro League baseball. The Pirates played here for more than 61 seasons. It is probably best known as the stadium where Bill Mazeroski hit a dramatic home run in the World Series 7th game to bring a World Series pennant to the Steel City. Forbes Field was torn down in 1970 to make way for an expansion of the University of Pittsburgh. Today all that is left of Forbes Field is a short stretch of the outfield wall that Mazeroski’s bash flew over to win the 1960 World Series. There is also a historical marker posted next to the wall. It is located along Roberto Clemente Drive. The last major sports facility in the Downtown Pittsburgh area is the Petersen Events Center at the University of Pittsburgh. It serves as the home of both men’s and women’s basketball programs. It has seating for 12,500 Pitt Panther fans. Petersen Events Center is in the Oakland neighborhood in Downtown Pittsburgh. The end of our Steel City sports journey is located on the South Shore of the Monongahela River, across from Downtown Pittsburgh. Highmark Stadium is in the Station Square Complex, and it serves as the home of the USL Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The soccer stadium opened in 2013 and has served as the home of the Riverhounds ever since. The stadium has a capacity of 5,000 fans. Station Square is also the home of the Josh Gibson Heritage Park. The park honors not only Josh Gibson, but also honors Negro League stars Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, Cum Posey, and both the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords, two legendary Negro League teams based in the Steel City. A great way to end your tour of the many sports venues of Pittsburgh is to stop at Yinzers in the Burgh in the Strip District. It carries the largest line of Pittsburgh sports memorabilia in the world. After touring the Steel City’s many sports facilities and heritage sites, we know that you’ll agree that Pittsburgh is a championship city with a great sports history. Links to various sites: Civic Arena/Mellon Arena https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_Arena_(Pittsburgh) Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum www.heinzhistorycenter.org/visit/sports-museum Three Rivers Stadium www.sabr.org/park/three-rivers-stadium Acrisure Stadium www.acrisurestadium.com PNC Park www.mlb.com/pirates/ballpark Clemente Museum

Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Oracle Park 24 Willie Mays Plaza San Francisco, CA 94107 San Francisco Giants website Oracle Park website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 41,503 Twenty-five Seasons by McCovey Cove The San Francisco Giants have a deep baseball history that dates back to their golden days in New York. Established in 1883 as the New York Gothams, they would be renamed three years later as the New York Giants. There would be many a memorable moment for the New York Giants franchise such as Willie Mays over the over-the-shoulder catch in Game One of the 1954 World Series and Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ‘Round The World” in 1951. All told the New York Giants would win 14 pennants and five World Series championships. With decreasing attendance and the Polo Grounds deteriorating, like their longtime nemesis from Brooklyn, the Giants were seeking a new yard. During this time, Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley, looking to move to Los Angeles after a failed attempt of their own for a new yard, convinced Giants majority owner Horace Stoneham to move out west and so for the first time in 1958, Major League Baseball would have two franchises west of the Mississippi. The Giants would take up temporary residence at Seals Stadium. Upon arriving in The City, Stoneham was searching for a spot where his team could call their own. During a visit to Candlestick Point on the shore of San Francisco Bay, he ventured through the area on a nice warm morning when the winds were calm. Little did he know what would “blow” ahead… Candlestick Park would be the Giants home for 40 seasons from 1960 -1999. Throughout the years, nightly winds accompanied by the city’s fog would wreak havoc on players from both teams. Candlestick would be enclosed in 1970 to accommodate the 49ers move from Kezar Stadium, but winds remained so unpredictable that routine fly balls were anything but. Food & Beverage 5 San Francisco is a city that loves to eat. The variety throughout the yard, from the simple hot dogs and brats to the various ethnic choices is vast and too much to list. Whatever your dining pleasure is, you will not go wrong. One of the many plentiful food items the locals love is their garlic fries. The aroma from the fries is evident throughout the entire stadium as the smell of garlic permeates throughout the concourses onto the stands. The variety of fine ballpark dining options is reason alone to arrive early. Among the favorites here are the Crazy Crab’z Sandwich, a fresh Dungeness crab on grilled sourdough bread, as well as The Baby Bull Carved Tri-Tip Sandwich and the Cha Cha Bowl, which comes with jerk chicken, white rice, and black beans topped with pineapple salsa; the latter two in honor of Giant legend Orlando Cepeda, known during his playing days as “The Baby Bull.” Oracle Park Crazy Crab Stand, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Craving some Filipino finger foods? The Lumpia Company is a locally owned lumpia hotspot serving a variety of fried spring roll options including a Shanghai-style lumpia with ground pork, diced shrimp, carrots, and water chestnuts, a vegan option with kale, potatoes, and roasted mushrooms, and a bacon cheeseburger lumpia stuffed with beef, smoky bacon, cheddar, and onions. If you want to keep it simple I highly recommend the pork and shrimp lumpia. Oracle Park Lumpia, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Beverages available are your usual Coke products as well as a wide variety of domestic and import draft and bottled beer, wine, and specialty cocktails. Ghirardelli, a San Francisco institution, offers fans a sweet tooth of hot fudge sundaes, 2 scoop waffle cones, and hot cocoa for those cold evening games. The ice cream flavors are simple, Ghirardelli Chocolate and vanilla. While nothing spectacular, the options Ghirardelli offers are something you may want to enjoy at the yard as part of the Oracle Park and San Francisco experience. Atmosphere 5 The vibe one gets is evident as you approach the yard. Since its opening in 2000, Oracle Park has featured some of the busiest turnstiles in all of baseball. From the views beyond the bay to the nightly breeze, Oracle Park, with its gorgeous surroundings anchored by the bay, has done more than its share to bring baseball fans to its gem. Adding to the San Francisco atmosphere, an actual cable car is located in the right-center field arcade. The car, originally car #4 formerly #504, is now numbered 44 in honor of Willie McCovey. To take in one of the many true “Oracle Park/San Francisco Experiences,” fans are encouraged to take in an inning. Neighborhood 4 Once an industrial area that occupied World War 2 storage units, Oracle Park has certainly helped revitalize the surrounding area since its opening in 2000. Located in the district known as China Basin, the area around the yard has seen its share of high-end luxury units migrate into the neighborhood. Among the popular pre and post-game hangouts are MoMo’s and Lucky Strike, conveniently located across the street from the yard’s grand entrance, Willie Mays Plaza on 3rd, and King. MoMo’s is right around the corner on 2nd and King. If you are looking to explore the area during your visit to China Basin, the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority offers trolley service to and from the yard, with the “N” line taking fans by historic Golden Gate Park with stations along Market Street in downtown connecting you to other trolley and transit lines to explore other parts of The City. Speaking of the Golden Gate, if it’s that highly talked about bridge you want to visit, you can take the “N” to Judah Street and 19th Avenue and transfer to bus line 28. The 28 will drop you off right at the foot of the bridge. Fisherman’s Wharf is not far from the yard either. One could walk along King Street through The Embarcadero to The Wharf and enjoy the sweeping views of the bay throughout the approximately 3-mile walk. Or one could take one of San Francisco’s vintage street cars to The Wharf as well. Scoffed by locals as being touristy, if it’s your first time venturing into The City, you may still want to pay a visit to The Wharf and grab yourself a crab sandwich or some chowder on sourdough from one of the many vendors. One of my favorite activities to do at The Wharf is visiting the sea lions along the pier at the Sea Lion Center. Fans 4 With San Francisco being one of the most expensive cities to live in, the crowd can be upscale. Even with such an upscale crowd, the fan base is diverse. Though San Franciscans can have a reputation of being the wine and cheese type; that does not prevent the locals from showing off their passion for the home nine. Inside Car 44, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey With a lineup full of young prospects the Giants continue to average over 30,000 fans a game, putting them among the upper half of the league. Access 4 Navigating through the concourses can be a bit of a challenge, especially a promenade along the arcade. This is mostly due to space limitations during the building of this gem. Otherwise, strolling the park is highly encouraged to soak in all the beautiful vantage points. Parking can not only be a challenge but also extremely pricey. However, depending on how far you’re willing to walk you may be able to find a spot starting at $20. Public transit is highly recommended. The SFMTA N-Line trolley drops fans off directly across the street from the yard along King Street as well as a few other bus lines that are within the vicinity of the yard. If you’re heading to or coming from Union Square or Chinatown the T-Line trolley has a stop one block from the yard on 4th and King. Both the trolley and transit lines provide connections to most other Bay Area transit options, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) for fans coming from points stretching as far south as San Francisco International stretching to Oakland and beyond the East Bay. Return on Investment 5 Starting prices for most games have recently become reasonable. Weeknight games and perhaps some weekend games, depending on the opponent, can be purchased for as low as $10. Even tickets for games against their longtime rivals from L.A. have been reasonably priced with tickets starting at $35. If you have a chance and want a full experience of everything Oracle Park has to offer, try a couple of weeknight games on the cheap and take full advantage of the Oracle Park experience. It will certainly rank high among your ballpark experiences. Extras 5 One of the more recent upgrades fans will notice this season was made to enhance the sound and lighting system. If the Giants enter the visiting 9th with a slight lead, fans will be treated to a Hollywood-like spectacle as closer Camilo Doval trots in from the bullpen to finish off the visitors. Should you decide to bring the little ones and they get restless, the Coca-Cola Superslide, a green Coke bottle with a children’s slide inside, is one of the park’s most visible features alongside the Giant 1927 Old-Time Four-Fingered Baseball Glove. (It’s really hard to miss those two features…) Both features are located behind the left-field stands. Should you decide to continue exploring more of what the yard has to offer, walk along the concourse beyond the Arcade, located behind the right field stands. As you walk along the concourse you will not only be offered beautiful views of the Bay Bridge but you will be a stone’s throw away from McCovey Cove, where you will see kayakers awaiting a Splash Hit. Limited on funds? How ‘bout some free baseball? That’s right folks! The Portwalk, located beyond the right field wall outside the yard along McCovey Cove, allows fans to peek into the action. Fans are permitted free viewing every three innings, however, depending on the size of the crowd and the discretion of Giants management, it is possible that one could spend a whole 9 innings or more viewing a free MLB game. Who doesn’t love free baseball? Another recent addition, this one for kayakers and those strolling along the portwalk is a 12-foot screen mounted above the portwalk. Final Thoughts After years and years of vying for a new stadium, groundbreaking would begin in the industrial waterfront area known as China Basin on December 11, 1997. Known then as Pacific Bell Park, this would be the first privately built MLB park since Dodger Stadium opened in 1962. Even with the anticipation and excitement of a new yard, fans could not have envisioned the beauty of a gem they continue to frequent. Since the opening of Camden Yards in 1992, 21 other yards have opened. With two no longer used for baseball, Oracle Park, now in its 25th season, is just as vibrant as the day it opened to such grand fanfare on April 11, 2000. If visiting The City for the first time, it is a good idea to pack some warm clothing and a sizable budget. San Francisco can be surprisingly chilly for the first-time visitor expecting some warm California weather. Oracle Park is as iconic to San Francisco as its Golden Gate Bridge. Lodging and other activities in The City, as well as any other major tourist activity, are anything but cheap but can be well worth the visit. One visit to this beauty and you will see why Oracle Park consistently ranks among the top ballpark experiences among baseball fans. As you walk away to the tune of Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” a piece of your heart will undoubtedly be left at 3rd and King.

Photo by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey A recent report in the San Antonio Express-News has revealed that the ownership group of the Double-A San Antonio Missions is zeroing in on a new stadium for the club. The current ownership group purchased the team in 2022 and has always eyed a move into the Alamo City’s vibrant downtown area. According to the newspaper’s reporting, the Missions ownership group has been buying up parcels of land in the downtown area since taking over the team. It is unclear exactly how much a new ballpark will cost, or where the funding will come from. The Missions, who have resided at their current home Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium since 1994, are under a deadline from Major League Baseball (MLB) that is fast approaching. Minor league clubs were put on notice when MLB put new facility standards in place in 2020; the deadline for the Missions to either make significant improvements to Wolff Stadium or make plans to build a new ballpark is Opening Day of 2025. The guidelines released by MLB include upgrading to larger clubhouses, improving training facilities and lighting, and upgrading facilities for female staffers. If a team fails to make the changes by the 2025 deadline, they could lose their affiliation with MLB. The Missions, members of the Texas League, are currently affiliates of the San Diego Padres. ----- Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477. Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com.

Peter Kravitz has worn many hats in the sports world. He grew up a Philadelphia sports fanatic. He was the spring training bat boy for the Phillies. Then, he was a Blue Hen, a wrestler at the University of Delaware. Following graduation, he coached wrestling at Haverford College. After a stint as a sports writer, Kravitz switched gears entirely and became a high school teacher. For twenty-nine years, he taught English and coached sports teams at Wantagh High School on Long Island, where he was simply known as KRAV. Recently, Krav wrote about his experiences in his memoir, So You Wanna Be a Teacher. He took a few moments to discuss his book and epic teaching career, as well as some of his most memorable sports adventures, including hallway wrestling. STADIUM JOURNEY: So, what inspired you to write So You Wanna Be a Teacher? KRAV: I tried to write it several times while I was teaching but never got anywhere. Then, I retired and found a different starting point. I had a breakdown at 20, landed in a mental hospital, and started telling that story, which flowed easily into teaching. SJ: A lot of people have preconceived notions of what it's like to be a teacher. Positives? Negatives? Would you do it all over again? KRAV: It’s a very difficult, exhausting job, not just teaching five to six classes a day but all of your interactions with the kids, colleagues, and administrators. I tried to say hello to so many of the kids and see how they were doing. You grade papers at home, eat dinner, and pass out, as you have to be up very early. But it’s also very rewarding. You feel like you’re making a difference in kids’ lives. Also, being around kids can be uplifting. They’re young, and their lives are ahead of them. Would I do it all over again? Knowing how hard and exhausting it was, I’m not sure. Journalism or broadcasting might have been interesting, but it wouldn’t have been as rewarding. SJ: When you were teaching, how did you handle phones? How much of a problem was it? KRAV: I wasn’t a very good disciplinarian. If kids were disruptive with the phones, I’d tell them to put them away. The rules were always changing regarding whether we could confiscate them. With a bad class, however, phones were good. The obnoxious kids would get distracted with them and not disrupt the class. I’d let those kids disappear into their phones. SJ: In addition to teaching, you coached a lot of high school teams. Which was your favorite sport to coach? KRAV: I coached varsity wrestling, and I still coach varsity golf and middle school baseball. I enjoyed coaching high school wrestling. Frank Muzio and I built up the program at Wantagh. In Frank’s final match as coach, several years after I stepped down, a freshman named Paul Liguori won Wantagh’s first state title in over three decades at Nassau Coliseum. After Frank left coaching, national wrestling hall of Famer Paul Gillespie took over and turned the program into one of the best in New York State. SJ: Is the Bethpage Black Course all that? KRAV: I probably played the Black about ninety times. I first played it in the late 80’s when it was a complete mess. Once they decided to host the U.S. Open, they put a lot of money into it. It’s a great tract. There’s water in only one hole. The course’s protection is thick and rough. You can be two yards from the fairway, and all you can do is advance a wedge forty yards. The best round I ever had there from the white tees was eighty-three in April at age 49. The rough wasn’t thick and gnarly yet. You need to be in shape to play the Black. There are no carts allowed. It’s an eight-mile, hilly trek. I remember playing with one guy who ate up the front and was even par. He said it was an easy course. You don’t let the golfing gods hear you say that. He became exhausted and shot like ten over on the back. There’s one spot on the back, this one tree on the par five 13, on the right side, where a lot of golfers have supposedly had heart attacks. I once played with a random teenager who had an albatross, a double eagle, on 13. SJ: Backtracking, you grew up in the Philadelphia area. What was your favorite stadium venue to attend as a young Krav? KRAV:  Connie Mack Stadium was great. My grandparents had seats on the field between the third base dugout and the screen. Balls would get fouled up on the roof behind home plate, and you never knew when they’d come crashing down. Sometimes they’d make their way down five minutes later. One almost killed my grandfather. I saw Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Roberto Clemente play there. I was at its last game in 1970. I wanted to grab a base or something. I was 10. But fans were ripping seats out, and my grandparents rushed me out of there before the game ended. But my best Philly sports moment came at the Vet. I was at the Vet’s first game in 1971, and we thought it was a technological wonder with its dancing fountains, big scoreboards, and Astroturf. My grandparents had another box on the field, one box away from the Phils’ dugout on the first base side. My college buddy Jeff Gowan, a New Yorker, and a Yankees fan, bugged me to ask them for tickets to Game Six of the 1980 World Series. Jeff went on to a legendary career as an NFL and MLB producer for Fox. He produced the Bartman game and the Jeter-flip game. As Tug McGraw came off the mound after escaping the eighth inning, he looked over at Jeff and me and pounded his heart. We were about ten feet from Bob Boone when he dropped a foul pop-up in the top of the ninth, and Pete Rose backed him up and snatched it before it hit the turf. That was one of the most incredible and clutch plays I’ve ever seen. And I got a foul ball at that game, which I still have. When the Phillies finally won, I thought I’d get a base, but Philadelphia mayor Frank Rizzo had cops on horseback circle the field, so there’d be no souvenirs. But my grandparents didn’t try to beat the crowd, so I witnessed a Philadelphia miracle championship win. SJ: You wrestled for the University of Delaware. How'd you get so good and what makes wrestling different from other sports in college? KRAV: I started wrestling very late, as a high school sophomore. In Pennsylvania, the best wrestling state in the country, you don’t stand much of a chance if you don’t start young, but I was obsessed. I lifted, ran, and wrestled in summer tournaments across the state in places like Shamokin. My high school program was led by a great coach, Bill Zimmerman, and some great wrestlers like Billy Pincus, who went to nationals for William and Mary and then became the head coach there. My wrestling partner in Delaware, Don Philippi, became the winningest wrestler in Delaware history for a brief time. Wrestling him every day made me tough. You improve in wrestling when you have partners who either beat you up or battle you. We wrestled at the Delaware Fieldhouse, a huge indoor facility but never got big crowds. What makes wrestling different from other sports? It’s not about athleticism. It’s about training, repetition, and quick thinking. It’s like chess with attacks and counters. You’d think it’s about brute strength, but it’s very tactical. SJ: So let's talk about your great contribution to Wantagh High School: hallway wrestling. Explain. What were the rules? How intense did it get? KRAV: It was probably a stupid thing to do, but I would grab a wrestler in the hallway and battle him. I would usually go after the little guys because I could tie them up. I often had a 70-pound advantage. There were no rules. They wouldn’t be able to get away from me, and I’d tell their class that I’d beaten a county or state champ. I made the mistake of going after a kid my weight at 50. He was a state champ, one of Wantagh’s all-time greats. Maybe I did it because he was my student in three classes, and he drove me a little crazy. He was great at throws, but for some dumb reason, I thought I could toss him. He hurled me into a wall. I retired from hallway wrestling after that ignominious defeat. SJ: Favorite sports venue to attend? KRAV: Two of my children went to Wisconsin, so I went to a bunch of college games at Camp Randall. I love college football with the bands and traditions. I saw Russell Wilson’s first Big Ten game. The Badgers battered Nebraska at Camp Randall, which is famous for its third-quarter jump around. It’s a little scary because the whole stadium shakes. The governor of Nebraska told the Nebraskans to wear black, as both teams’ colors were red. Everywhere you went, there were folks in black shirts. Most of them didn’t even go to the game. They just wanted to soak up the atmosphere. SJ: And the most important question for last: best bagel on Long Island? KRAV: Well, I’ve tried to go all healthy in my golden years, but I still eat bagels, so I’ll go with House of Bagels in Commack. And don’t forget New York has the best pizza in the world. You can’t get bad pizza here, but my favorite is Villa Monte in Old Bethpage. I love the vodka grandma slices. Jon Hart is @manversusball

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Prince George's Community College Baseball Field Prince Pl Largo, MD 20774 D. C. Grays website PGCC Baseball Field website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 500 The Other District Team Founded in 2005, the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League features six teams in the Washington, D.C. metro area. One member, the DC Grays, is the second of two summer league teams by that name. The first Grays team played in the Clark Griffith League from 2006 to 2009 when the league folded, although they only played in the District for one of those years. After an absence in 2010, the second and current version of the Grays was founded in 2011 and joined the Ripken League for the next season in 2012. The Grays played their first two seasons at Hoy Field on the campus of Gallaudet University before moving to the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in Southeast D.C. in 2014. In 2024, the Grays moved out of the District entirely. Now, they play at the baseball field at Prince George's Community College (PGCC for short) in Largo, Maryland. The turf field at PGCC opened in 2019 and is a simpler home than the Youth Academy. The Grays nickname pays homage to the old Homestead Grays, a Negro League team that used to play in the District. Food & Beverage 4 Concessions at a Grays game are sold out of a food truck that is parked up the left field line, near the foul pole. Most of the truck's selections are Mexican food such as tacos, quesadillas, and burritos, but a steak sandwich and a veggie burger are also available. Most meals come with fries. Bottled water and soda are available, including Jarritos, a popular Mexican soda known for its wide range of flavors. A meal and drink will cost about $15, which is reasonable for a food truck and cheaper than what you'd pay at most professional stadiums, but is on the high end for this league. Food is made to order so it may take a while to be ready, but you shouldn't spend much time in line waiting to order and you can see the field from the truck. They will also give you an estimate for how long your food will be, so many fans choose to leave and come back. Atmosphere 2 Although the baseball field at Prince George's Community College only opened in 2019, it certainly doesn't feel that way. There are several sets of rusty bleachers with no steps in the middle to climb up or down. A few new-looking tables are located up the left field line and are a popular area to sit at. These are first come, first serve, so arrive early if you want one. All seats are located behind a thick fence which makes it difficult to see the action, and some are partially obstructed by the dugout or its fence as well. This makes the sightlines not ideal. A Grays game is a pretty basic experience. You will get to see a game, and that is about it. You will be able to hear a lot of the conversations on the field, which baseball purists will certainly enjoy, but if you're looking for the excitement of a professional baseball game, you will not find it here. The PA announcer can be difficult to hear at times, especially as you get further up the lines. There are no lights at the PGCC Baseball Field, so Grays games typically start at 5 PM so they can be completed before darkness falls. Neighborhood 3 This year, the Grays moved out of the District of Columbia to Largo, Maryland, a suburb of DC in Prince George's County. This is a typical suburb, with several shopping centers located a short distance away from the PGCC campus. There are many eating options to choose from here, but most of them are chain restaurants. Local pizza chains Ledo's Pizza, known for its square pies, and Pizza Boli's, are close by and are quite popular. The amusement park Six Flags America is about a ten-minute drive away for fans looking to make a whole day out of their experience in Largo. Fans 2 The Grays only draw a few dozen fans to a typical game. These are typically locals, and many have a connection to the PGCC community. The crowd is not very active either, though they do occasionally get lively. It seems most locals are unaware of this team's existence. The fact that they moved out of the District to Largo was only announced shortly before the season, which perhaps has impacted attendance. Access 2 The PGCC campus is located a short drive off the Capital Beltway (I-495). If coming to a weekday game, be aware that traffic around 5 PM will be horrible, so we recommend arriving early to avoid this. It should be less bad on the weekends, but still give yourself extra time. There is a small paved parking lot past the outfield fence, but when this fills up, fans will have to drive through a gate at the end of the lot and onto a gravel road that runs beyond the outfield fence. They will then park along the grass to their right. However, there is no signage indicating to do this, so fans are often unaware of where to park. This gate is also where fans will enter the stadium on foot after parking in the lot. There is a gate in right field that is closer to the seating area, but it is locked. However, there is no indication of this until you get there. Restrooms are available just inside the locked gate in right field and are sufficient for the small crowds the Grays draw. Return on Investment 5 Admission to all Grays home games is free. While most clubs in the Cal Ripken League charge a small price for tickets, free is even better. Prices at the food truck are reasonable as well, making a Grays game an excellent value. Extras 1 The picnic tables down the left field line make for a unique place to watch a baseball game, especially while eating something from the food truck. Mexican food is not known for being neat, but being able to eat it at the tables helps. Final Thoughts Moving out of the District has hurt the fan experience at a D.C. Grays game, at least for now, and it is a pretty simple experience here at Prince George's Community College. Baseball purists will certainly enjoy it, and it's hard to argue with free baseball on a warm summer evening. One hopes that with more time in their new stadium, the team will have the opportunity to improve things here.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 St. Anne's-Belfield Stadium 799 Faulconer Drive Charlottesville, VA 22903 Charlottesville Blues website St. Anne's-Belfield Stadium website Capacity: 1,800 (estimated) A Sea of Blues in Charlottesville The Charlottesville Blues are one of the newest soccer teams to join USL League Two, having been founded just this year, in 2024. USL League Two, confusingly, is the fourth division of American men's soccer and is a semi-professional league played over the summer consisting mostly of current and recently graduated college players. Pay is structured in a way that allows athletes to retain their amateur status. The Blues play their home games at the St. Anne's-Belfield School, a private boarding and day school in Charlottesville. Although their stadium is officially known as Frank G. Addonizio Field (after Howie Long's father-in-law), the Blues' marketing materials simply refer to it as St. Anne's-Belfield Stadium, so that is the name we will use as well. In addition to the League Two team, a women's team in the USL W League competes under the Blues' name. This review will focus on the League Two experience, but the two teams regularly play doubleheaders. Food & Beverage 5 There are several food and beverage options to choose from at a Charlottesville Blues game. A small concession stand is located at the top of the seating area and offers bottled water, soda, chips, candy, and other snacks, including Honey Stingers, an energy waffle that also sponsors the Blues' kits. A Honey Stinger is like a stroopwafel, only with the added "energy" of an energy bar. Pizza slices are also available here. Prices at this stand are very reasonable, with nothing costing more than a few dollars. However, there are better options, sold out of tents from local vendors (which the Blues refer to as "food trucks" even though there are no trucks.) A local barbecue place sells freshly made pulled pork, barbecued chicken, and steak and cheese sandwiches as well as homemade sides of mac and cheese and cole slaw. Another stand sells ice cream bars in unusual flavors like raspberry cheesecake. Prices here are on the higher end but not too outrageous - a meal and a side at the barbecue place will cost about $15 for a large amount of very good food. Beer is also available from local Three Notch'd Brewery for $8 a can to those of age. Atmosphere 5 Seating at a Blues game mostly consists of bleachers with backs, located underneath some trees. You will have a great view of the action from here as there are only a few rows. There are some seats on the field in what is called the "Fox Hole". These are flimsy plastic chairs that are not any more comfortable than the bleachers and, while they offer a great view, you are far removed from the energy of the stands as there is a literal brick wall in between. Therefore, we recommend you save money and just get general admission seats. That being said, a Blues game is an excellent atmosphere, which is often not the case at this level. The PA announcer is enthusiastic and entertaining without being too over the top. There is a section behind one goal known as the Fox Den which serves as a Supporters' Section. We will have more on this in the Fans section but this is where the Blues' most loyal and passionate fans stand and cheer on their team for the entire game. This is open to all fans regardless of what ticket they hold, but there are no seats, so you will be standing the entire game. Additionally, as this is a section for Blues fans, soccer etiquette dictates that if you are a fan of the visiting team, you do not go in here. There is no reason you would want to as a fan of the opponent except to cause trouble. Although soccer provides few breaks in the action, the Blues do have some on-field activities during halftime. Kids compete in contests such as bouncing a soccer ball on their feet as many times as they can for the chance to win prizes from local merchants. Neighborhood 4 Charlottesville is a beautiful college town known mostly for the University of Virginia. Once you head into town, you will find many options to choose from. Boylan Heights is a popular bar just off the UVA campus and serves up good food as well. It is just one of many places to eat, drink, or have fun along University Avenue ranging from bagel bakeries to bars to sushi restaurants. History buffs may also want to check out Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Keep in mind that many of the places near the University may offer limited hours during the summer when the Blues play, as the UVA students are not on campus. Fans 5 Although St. Anne's-Belfield Stadium isn't large by any means, the Blues have mostly filled it during their first two games. Despite being a new team, the Blues already have a large, loyal, passionate fan base who comes out to their games decked in blue and cheers on their team for 90 minutes. As mentioned above, the Supporters' Section is known as the Fox Den and consists of the Blues' most loyal, passionate fans. They stand behind one goal for the entire game, cheering, shouting, and banging upside-down buckets as improvised drums. After the Blues' goals, they set off blue smoke in celebration. The section is small in number for now, but even in the game Stadium Journey attended, it grew throughout the night as more fans decided to head down there, so it should continue to grow during this inaugural season and beyond. You don't usually see this kind of dedication down in League Two, which makes this all the more impressive. Access 2 Unfortunately, this is the one area where the experience at a Charlottesville Blues game isn't so great. To the stadium, you will take US 29 or I-64 to US 250, and the campus and stadium are a short distance away. Make sure you are setting your GPS to the Belfield campus of St. Anne's-Belfield and not the original St. Anne's campus that may come up if you just enter the St. Anne's-Belfield School. There are signs directing fans to the general vicinity of the stadium, but none directing them where to park. There is a VIP lot right next to the entry gate, but most fans will not be able to park there. Instead, you will turn down an unmarked gravel road next to the soccer stadium (this is the soccer stadium where St. Anne's-Belfield plays - the Blues play in the football stadium) and then park along the side. If this fills up, fans will park on the other side of the school and walk around. If you miss the turnoff and head to the stadium, you will then have to drive around the school as there is a one-way loop; After the game, getting out of the gravel area can be difficult with cars and pedestrians going in every direction. There is staff directing traffic at the end of the path, but they can only do so much. Fortunately, you will not need to drive around the loop to get out, as a small portion is two-way. Restrooms are located at the top of the seating area behind the concession stand, and there are also some port-a-potties at field level by the entrance. Return on Investment 5 Tickets are just $10 for general admission seats or $20 for Fox Hole seats pitchside. As mentioned above, the Fox Hole seats are not worth the extra $10, but the general admission seats are a great value. Concessions are affordable as well. With the fan experience here, a Charlottesville Blues game is an affordable way to spend an enjoyable evening watching soccer, and the return on investment is high. Extras 3 There is a merchandise stand at the top of the seating area, in the same area as the food and beer tents. A second star for the Fox Den and the energy they bring. It is rare to see any kind of Supporters Section at the League Two level, and the Fox Den is passionate and rapidly growing. A third and final star for partnering with local businesses on concessions, promotions, and giveaways. In an era where sports have become increasingly corporatized, it is good to see local vendors being given attention over multibillion-dollar corporations. Final Thoughts Despite being a low-level soccer, a Charlottesville Blues game is a great experience. Soccer fans in the Charlottesville area will want to make the trip to St. Anne's Belfield over the summer to check it out - a Blues game is fun for everyone, adults and children alike.

One of the most influential basketball conferences in College Basketball was the Big East Conference and the origins of the Big East run directly through Rhode Island. The Providence Friars are one of the cornerstone franchises of both the original and current Big East Conference and their experience at Amica Mutual Pavilion is top notch. Grab a beer and join Paul and Dave as they talk some NCAA basketball from New England. You can find Stadium Journey's review of the Amica Mutual Pavilion and the Providence College Friars basketball game day experience here.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Victory Field 501 W Maryland St Indianapolis, IN 46225 Indianapolis Indians website Victory Field website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 15,500 Victory Field is Still the Spot in the Minors Victory Field in downtown Indianapolis remains one of the premier spots to enjoy a minor league baseball game in the country; its design, setting, minor improvements, and simplicity keep attracting fans again and again during the season. The team has been an institution in town since 1902 and has a stadium that is synonymous with baseball in Indianapolis. The Tribe has been the top draw the past two seasons in all of minor league baseball and has averaged numbers well over 9,000 fans a game. The secret to the team’s success might be the spacious ballpark that ages like fine wine, and affordable tickets, or its location downtown near the zoo, WhiteWater Amphitheater concert venue, restaurants, bars, bike paths, museums, and Lucas Oil Stadium . Then again, it may be just the perfect ballpark for the size of the city. The Indianapolis Indians of the International League have been playing baseball at the stadium since July 11, 1996. The 14,230-seat stadium replaced the aging Bush Stadium that had housed the Tribe since 1931. Ironically, Bush Stadium was known as Victory Field from 1942 to 1967 after World War II. Baseball itself has been played in the city since 1877, while the Indians franchise has called Indianapolis home since 1902. The team has made several renovations over the past two seasons that have included a new $2.4 million, 35-foot-by-50-foot HD video board in the right field, updated suites, and hallways that now include the team colors of red and white, along with pictures of former players, managers, championship seasons, and a franchise timeline of major league affiliates and historic moments. Food & Beverage 4 Victory Field upgraded its food options to include fresh–never frozen–burgers, loaded tots, and other delights for the baseball visitor. There are always the staples that include the always tasty Victory Dog, loaded nachos at the salsa bar, and Sun King beer that includes the exclusively produced Indians Lager–a Vienna Lager only found at the ballpark. Indy Burger Kitchen offers the classic single or double burger along with tots at its concession stand behind the backstop. The meat is never frozen and fans can load their tots with cheese, chili, peppers, or bacon for three dollars extra. There is also a shareable portion of tots with pulled pork, barbecue sauce, and peppers and onions. The Chicken Tender and Love stand offers premium chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches with fries along with a sauce bar just outside the concession area. Chicken Tenders sold at Victory Field, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey The Salsa Street kiosk has ultimate nachos and burrito bowls with beef, chicken, beans, salsa, sour cream, and cheese. There is also the Hot Dog & Sausage kiosk that serves up foot-long dogs, brats, and cheddar sausage. The Coors Light Cove is an adult area that includes a separate ticket but offers menu items for all ticket holders. These new items are street tacos that are just as good as their price. Fans can choose from grilled chicken and steak or bacon and mac and cheese tacos. In the beverage category, Coors, Leinenkugel, and Budweiser products are served on draft, while local craft brewery Sun King offers 16-ounce cans. Sun King provides a variety of beers from Pachunga Mexican-style Lager, Wee Mac Scottish-style Lager, and the popular Sunlight Cream Ale. Mixed drinks and wine can be found at The Cove for various prices. You can also find vendors hawking soda, beers, cotton candy, and peanuts in the stands. On Tuesday, it is Dollar Menu Night featuring $1 hot dogs, sodas, popcorn, and peanuts at specific concession stands. This night is also extended to Thursday night for playoff games. Thursday nights, during the regular season, feature Thursdays which includes $2 Pepsi products and $3 draft beers. The food at Victory Field does not try to reinvent ballpark cuisine, but rather, makes it a little bit tastier. Stadium Journey tip – Get the loaded tots with pulled pork, cheese, and barbecue sauce and enjoy an Outfield Assist Vienna-style lager. Atmosphere 5 When you have a ballpark situated downtown, the views are spectacular throughout the concourse. There are two-tier seating and a long, lush grass berm area that is perfect for laying out on a blanket or enjoying a few snacks from your cooler. The berm is a favorite gathering spot for both your baseball and non-baseball fans to enjoy the game in unison; it is also a great place to get a tan. A lot of other ballparks have grass seating in the outfield, but here it is spacious and perfectly sloped for comfort. The majority of visitors enter through the center field entrance under the arched signs of Victory Field into the PNC Plaza. This area offers the children’s play zone, access to lawn seats, and concession items. You will also find a few sellers offering a cold beer or cotton candy to everyone who walks through the entrance. Fans either walk to their seats, gaze at the surrounding views, or head to other concession areas of the stadium. Then again, you may have a ticket in The Yuengling Landing in the left-field corner. A ticket will cost you $30, but you will have table-top seating with wait service. The popular section can handle up to 150 people per game and is usually sold out from June to September. It is a place for adults 21 or older to enjoy the game in a much more prestigious setting at the ballpark. The Elements Financial Club is $85 and includes food and drink. It is located in the suite area above the grandstand and offers a full-service bar, indoor seating, and outdoor seats. Victory Field Yuengling Landing, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Rowdie is the official team mascot and he can be seen throughout the game entertaining fans. If you are with children, the team offers carnival games behind the batter’s eye in the center field. Kids can test their pitching arms, win prizes at ball tossing, or enjoy t-ball hitting, and water gun races. There is also a small team gear stand and food stand in this area. The team’s official merchandise store is rather small, but there is a lot of great team swag for both men and women that pays tribute to the team’s long history. There is an additional store down the first baseline. Also, look out for tables offering discounted shirts and caps during select times throughout the season. The main concourse features heritage posters that pay homage to past greats including Harmon Killebrew, Roger Maris, Randy Johnson, George Foster, and current star Andrew McCutchen. Much of the Indians’ former Hall of Famers, all-stars, and championships are on display on the exterior of the outfield entrance. Neighborhood 4 Victory Field is located in downtown Indianapolis, and there are many options from hotels, bars, restaurants, and museums; although many of them are chains, there are a few places worth visiting before or after a game. A great destination after the game would be Mass Ave. where the vibrant streets offer an array of dining and late-night destinations. The Eagle has some of the finest fried chicken in the city, Bru Burger Bar is widely popular, but then again so is the taco and tequila bar Bakersfield. If you are looking for music, cocktails, and a cool vibe, visit Union 50. The downtown scene features many local breweries including Sun King, Metazoa, and Ellison. The Tap and The Yard House feature even more craft beer choices from around the Midwest and the country. If you are with the family, the Indianapolis Zoo and State Museum are within walking distance of the stadium, and for a place, the kids will enjoy, The Children’s Museum is just a few short miles north. The Fountain Square neighborhood is worth visiting as well with even more restaurants, shops, bars, and comedy clubs. Fans 5 There is a question that lingers over each visit made to Victory Field. Are the fans here to watch baseball, or are they here for a nice night out with friends or family? It is solely about enjoying time outside, having a lazy afternoon, or enjoying a night with a group of friends or colleagues. It is a quintessential minor league baseball experience where fans come out in droves on the weekends, during fireworks nights, and during promotional Sunday afternoon games. The city fills up the place consistently year after year and there has rarely been a negative word said about Victory Field by any of its fans or first-time visitors. Access 4 Moving around the concourse at Victory Field is simple and easy, markers are located for bathrooms, seating areas, and exits. Ushers are available to assist with seat location, and there are very few barriers in anyone’s way inside the facility. Concession booths are set up nicely around the stadium and there is free WiFi for patrons. After and before the game, local police do a great job of making congestion dissipate on the streets and sidewalks outside of the main outfield entrance. The best way off I-70 is to exit 79A S. West St. and proceed north until the stadium is on your left. However, during certain weekends or Holiday games, the crowds can swell to close to 15,000–plan to arrive early and look for concession lines down the third base side to reduce wait time. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for an Indians game will cost you between $13-$19 (add $2 if purchased the day of the game) depending on where you want to sit. This is the average price point compared to other International League teams. Tickets to Yuengling Landing are $32 and near the foul pole in left field, fans in the Landing have access to an exclusive menu, reserved tables and drink rails, a dedicated bar, and wait staff. The team offers its Dollar Tuesdays and Thirsty Thursdays where beer and soda are $3. Victory Field parking is accessible by several city lots surrounding the stadium including the Senate State Garage (a 15-minute walk) for $7 and the White River State Park and Government Center Garage ($10). Lucas Oil Stadium Lot 1 and Convention Center Lot A are both $7 for most home games. Parking in the neighboring lots should cost you no more than $7-$10, however, parking in the museum lot can run you $10. If you can find street parking, the prices are from $1.50-$1.75 an hour until 9 PM, or if taking in a Sunday afternoon game, the meters are free of charge. Extras 4 One extra point for the lawn seats in minor league baseball, the area is perfectly sloped and wraps around the entire outfield perimeter. Fans are also allowed to bring in a single-handed cooler no larger than 20 inches, sans non-alcoholic beverages and glass containers. An additional extra point for the victory bell that gets rung after every Indian victory. The collection of merchandise from the team’s illustrious history is worth an extra point. You can spot Cincinnati Reds-era caps, Montreal Expos pinwheel caps and powder blue shirts, and Chicago White Sox-era navy caps on fans throughout the ballpark. One final extra point for the video menu boards at almost all concessions and kiosks throughout the facility. There are more and more ballparks catering to visual customers, but we all know that we eat with our eyes. Final Thoughts Victory Field is my minor league baseball headquarters. I have the opportunity to visit the spacious facility numerous times each year and see what is new. Certain nights and promotions are better than others, but it is a ballpark that feels new, clean, vibrant, and beautiful over 25 years. It’s not uncommon to have 12,000 fans at the stadium on a Friday Fireworks Night. If architects were to create a new ballpark for Indy, they would make it exactly like Victory Field. ------- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at marc.viquez@stadiumjourney.com

The Dallas Mavericks taking on the Boston Celtics are set to do battle in the NBA Finals. Stadium Journey felt it was time to do what we do best - rank the arenas of the league. The website utilizes the FANFARE rating scale, which considers a venue's Food, Atmosphere, Neighborhood, Fan support, Access, Return on investment, and a final Extras category to determine the rankings. A Stadium Journey Council of Elders is consulted to break the tie when two or more venues are tied. We hope that this list provides some good-natured debate. After all, isn't that why we do these things? Feel free to share your opinions on Stadium Journey's social media pages. Without further ado, we present Stadium Journey's rankings of all 30 National Basketball Association arenas for the 2023-24 season. 1. Madison Square Garden - New York Knicks 4.57 Brian O'Sullivan - Once again, “The World’s Most Famous Arena” finishes in the top spot. Seeing a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden is a must for any basketball or sports fan in New York City. Although it comes at a substantial monetary cost, the memories that come with the experience are truly magical and will last a lifetime. 2. Kia Center - Orlando Magic 4.57 Chris Green - Take an NBA team, plant it in a beautiful growing city, and build them a beautiful facility with modern touches that never seem to go out of style, and you have yourself Kia Center, home of the Orlando Magic. Chock-full of quality concessions, comfortable seating, great restaurants and bars nearby, and friendly patrons, you would be hard-pressed to find a venue as enjoyable and inviting for a game of professional basketball. 3. Scotiabank Arena - Toronto Raptors 4.43 Dave Cottenie -Taking in a Toronto Raptors game is an event that fans will love.  The entertainment is top-notch, and the Scotiabank Arena is an excellent venue with a terrific location in one of the most dynamic, tourist-friendly cities. Basketball fans should not shy with the Raptors because of their relative youth as a franchise.  They are one of the best experiences around. 4. Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia 76ers 4.43 Pete Dowell - The fans make the experience at a Sixers game worth the price of admission. They love to band together and show the 76ers love just as much as they love to give the opposing team a hard time. Trust the Process and enjoy your time at Wells Fargo Center. 5. Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse - Cleveland Cavaliers 4.43 Lloyd Brown - Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse has been directed towards improving the fan experience, as the seating bowl and playing court remained the same throughout the latest changes. 6. Kaseya Arena - Miami Heat 4.43 Lloyd Brown - The facility is one of the most unique arenas in the league, both architecturally and in its promotion of the local team’s brand. It embraces the Latin heritage found in the Miami area through its concessions program and the music played during lulls in the action. 7. Chase Center - Golden State Warriors 4.29 Lloyd Brown - One of the premiere franchises in the NBA now has a home to match up with its elite status. The Chase Center boasts an unbeatable view of San Francisco Bay, cutting-edge technology, and a food and beverage menu featuring the best in the country. 8. Moda Center - Portland Trailblazers 4.29 Lloyd Brown - The Moda Center offers one of the most entertaining venues to watch a game. The fact that basketball is the primary professional sport in town, added to the raucous atmosphere of fans providing a great viewing experience. 9. Ball Arena -  Denver Nuggets 4.29 Matt Finnegan - NBA games are high-energy, and Nuggets home games are no different.  The club's recent championship success has brought larger and louder crowds. Yet the costs of watching the Nuggets at Ball Arena do not require a complex financial transaction. 10. Golden 1 Center - Sacramento Kings 4.29 Lloyd Brown - A large venue can harm the environment through heavy car emissions, trash, and heavy use of carbon-producing gasses. Golden 1 Center is a winner in minimizing these harmful issues and should be a blueprint for future athletic facilities. Winning off the court can be just as important as winning on the court as far as our environment. 11. TD Garden - Boston Celtics 4.14 Paul Baker - The city of Boston may not be viewed as a basketball hotbed by many people. However, the combination of a team contending for the NBA Title, a rabid fanbase, an outstanding gameday atmosphere, unmatched history, and tradition makes 'The Gahden' one of the must-see venues in the league. 12. Gainbridge Fieldhouse - Indiana Pacers 4.14 Marc Viquez - The arena no longer feels like a traditional basketball fieldhouse, but more of an entertainment venue that will appeal to different events.  Once in your seat, you will have a great NBA experience. 13. Frost Bank Center - San Antonio Spurs 4.14 Eric Moreno - The Barn is still a special place to watch an NBA game. For the history alone, I think any sports fan should take in a Spurs game – the atmosphere is great, the arena still sparkles, and one day the Spurs will rise again. 14. American Airlines Center - Dallas Mavericks 4.14 Michael Davis - American Airlines Center is one of the finest sports venues in America and is in a great city. The arena is in immaculate condition, offers first-class amenities, and is among the best experiences in the NBA. 15. Delta Center - Utah Jazz 4.14 Lloyd Brown - Through stable ownership that always puts its fans first, the franchise has been one of the most successful on and off the court. The Utah Jazz are proof that a small-market team can thrive in the NBA. 16. Smoothie King Center - New Orleans Pelicans 4.14 Matt Colville -The Blender is slowly beginning to show its age and has received some recent flack for not being up to comparison with other NBA venues. It doesn't stand out amongst the city skyline.  But for everything the arena lacks, and in a city known for its partying, the gameday staff does an excellent job trying to make it an exciting and festive atmosphere. 17. Fiserv Forum - Milwaukee Bucks 4.00 Marc Viquez - The Fiserv Forum is an architectural beauty and offers everything a fan would want in an NBA area. The concourses are spacious, the food is varied, the views are open, and the service is top-notch. When you add the Deer District and Third Street as nearby destination options before the game, the Bucks fans have one hell of a place to enjoy their team. It is a beautiful place for a basketball game. 18. Crypto.com Arena - Los Angeles Clippers 4.00 Editor - The Clippers have played their last game at the Crypto.com Arena that they have shared with the Lakers since 1999. It is scheduled to open the Intuit Dome in Inglewood next season, a state-of-the-art venue that we hope debuts on our list next year. 19. State Farm Arena - Atlanta Hawks 4.00 David Welch - Taking in a Hawks game at State Farm Arena is an overall fun experience. The organization puts a lot of effort into visiting one of the best in the NBA. From the player introductions to the in-game entertainment and variety of food and drinks at affordable prices, the experience is, without a doubt, high quality. 20. Footprint Center - Phoenix Suns 4.00 Lloyd Brown - A trip to the Footprint Center provides a much-improved fan experience for the Suns faithful. They can relax in the newly installed seats while keeping up with the game stats via the new video board and end zone displays. 21. Paycom Center - Oklahoma City Thunder 4.00 Dave Cottenie - Oklahoma City has proven that despite being in the smallest NBA market, they can play with the big boys and belong in the league.  A trip to see the Thunder is well worth the trip, and the city of Oklahoma City is an underrated destination city. 22. United Center - Chicago Bulls 3.86 Marc Viquez - The United Center has enough of what you need for an enjoyable evening of professional basketball. The history of the Bulls is on display all over the building, the social areas are great for spending time away from the game, and there is always an energetic crowd to liven up the mood of the building. 23. Barclays Center - Brooklyn Nets 3.71 Sean MacDonald -The Barclays Center has embraced a black and gray color scheme, which works well with the Nets, who use those as their primary colors. They have also embraced their Brooklyn home, and much of the game day presentation is used to strengthen the bond between the borough and the team. 24. Little Caesars Arena - Detroit Pistons 3.71 Dave Cottenie - Little Caesars Arena attempts to meld a modern arena with something from a different era.  The exterior of the Little Caesars Arena attempts to bring you back to the old Olympia Arena in Detroit, which the Pistons and Red Wings once shared.  A healthy mix of glass and brick, the exterior of the building is attractive. 25. Spectrum Center - Charlotte Hornets 3.71 David Welch - There are a variety of entertainment options to enjoy in downtown Charlotte. The Uptown area provides copious activities for fans before and after a Hornets game. 26. Crypto.com Arena - Los Angeles Lakers 3.71 Lloyd Brown - The arena continues to serve as the premiere indoor sports facility in the Los Angeles area. Its mix of teams touches upon almost every demographic in a city. Its location across the street from the LA Live music, restaurant, and entertainment district makes it an attractive place for a night on the town. 27. Toyota Center - Houston Rockets 3.57 When in Space City, checking out the Houston Rockets is a great way to help take in the entirety of the city.  The Toyota Center is a solid NBA venue; fans will have a good time at the game. 28. FedEx Forum - Memphis Grizzlies 3.57 Lloyd Brown - The FedEx Forum does a great job of saluting the musical heritage of the city of Memphis and the great basketball teams of the city’s past. The concourses are very witty in working in musical references to some of the city’s blues legends while also featuring photos of some of the top basketball talent to pass through town. 29. Target Center - Minnesota Timberwolves 3.57 Lloyd Brown - The recent renovations at the Target Center have vastly improved the fan experience for the Timberwolves faithful. New gathering areas, opening the building to more outside light, and the electronic package in the seating bowl area have been improved. 30. Capital One Arena - Washington Wizards 3.14 Gregory Koch - Although the Wizards had high hopes when they moved downtown in 1997 into a shiny new arena, the experience has proven to be less than promised. Although a Wizards game is more affordable than others in the league, you ultimately get what you pay for.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Tiger Park 201 S Eagle Street Belle Plaine, MN 55318 Belle Plaine Tigers website Tiger Park website Year Opened: 1885 Capacity: 600 The Tiger Town of Minnesota The Belle Plaine Tigers are members of the River Valley League (Class C) and have been playing baseball on the same site since 1885. The first park was Union Square, and its location has continuously been used for baseball. It is not just one of the oldest original fields in Minnesota but one of the oldest in the world. Baseball was originally supported by local cigar factories and flour mills that made sure the ballclub was fully funded, dressed, and ready to play ball. The teams went through various interesting nicknames, including Red Caps, Red Stockings, Governors, Juniors, Giants, and White Lilies. Finally, in 1923 the name Tigers was adopted, and it has been used ever since in town. Baseball hit a lull in the late 1950s when the Tigers disbanded for several seasons, prompting local boosters to dip into their own pockets to start the team again. The group led by local legend, player, manager, and future hall of famer Gerry “Mize” Meyer was able to put a squad together while maintaining the field of play. The club would even turn a $10 profit at the end of the season. However, by the late 1980s, the old ballpark was in disrepair and condemned by city officials. An entire new grandstand was constructed that included moving the diamond 40 feet to the east producing a 305 feet right field corner. The new structure accommodated 1,500 people, and its design harkened back to earlier renderings featuring a covered wooden grandstand, a fresh coat of green paint, and ivy-laced outfield walls. The Tigers have appeared in 15 state tournaments and have been state finalists in 1948, 1952, 1991, and 2013. In 1994, the Tigers were Class “C” State Champions. The ballpark has also been home to the Tigertown Classic tournament since 1999 and has co-hosted 5-state tournaments in 1966, 1981, 1992, 2004, and 2014. The little ballpark is a shining example of what town ball is in Minnesota, creating a perfect opportunity to visit a piece of baseball history that has been gravely overlooked in the other 49 states but etched in lore in Belle Plaine. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand underneath the wooden grandstand operated by volunteers from the community. The stand has a little league or high school feel. The food is tasty and includes hot dogs that are locally made and smoked at Rick’s Meats; the dogs snap when you bite into them and are much better than what you would find at many major league ballparks. Also delicious is Rick’s beef jerky, which is taken from a plastic bag by the chunk. Other treats include popcorn, nachos, and hamburgers. Interestingly, beer is served either by the can, a six-pack, or a 12-pack. If not a beer drinker, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, O’Doul’s, and Coca-Cola products are available. Atmosphere 3 There is one approaching the grandstand. The small, wooden structure looks and feels much older than its construction date. At the top of the grandstand, there is a small press box and a radio broadcast area. In addition to its play-by-play man’s smooth and sweet voice, KNUJ occasionally broadcasts games. Also, 2-3 times a year KCHK Radio out of New Prague does a game at Tiger Park. In addition to the five plaques recognizing Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame members who once played in town, a mural highlighting the city’s championship years, and two circular markers marking the year baseball began, there is also history everywhere. Most fans take residency down the 1st baseline on picnic tables or the small seating area against the fence. It is busy with kids tossing baseballs, adults talking about the game, and others looking to see what is good to eat at the concession stand. You will not find mascots, merchandise tables, or whacky promotions. You will find updates, announcements from the PA announcer, and ivy-covered outfield walls. The laid-back atmosphere is more than enough to engage the common fan, and the place has a strong sense of nostalgia, being the ancestral site of the first amateur baseball games in 1885. Neighborhood 2 There are a few choices in town for a bite to eat before or after the game. Emma Krumbee’s Bakery & Restaurant is a popular spot in the area and recommended by locals at the ballpark. Cindy’s Kitchen is another nice choice for breakfast or lunch, and Andy’s Bar & Grill features chive fries, breaded cauliflower, sloppy chips, and other pub food delicacies. Many residents consider SpareTime Tavern the best place in town for burgers, and former all-time great Tiger and Mariner farmhand Jeff “Hot Dog” Miller recommends Annie’s Cafe. Belle Plaine is home to the HomeTown Inn & Suites. Fans 3 The Tigers produce a good showing of fans at each game; many are relaxed as they enjoy the game with friends and family. The faithful in attendance engage themselves by talking with friends, watching their favorites on the field, and enjoying a night out during the summer. Access 3 Located off Minnesota State Highway 169, Tiger Park is about a 45-minute drive from Minneapolis. Use the GPS to navigate to the ballpark since there are no street signs. If you get lost in town, most people can point you in the right direction. Once inside, the park’s size makes it simple to get around with comfort. Bathrooms are marked and are near the entrance of the stadium. Return on Investment 4 The price of admission to a game is only $4. Students aged 13-17 are admitted for $2 and anyone under the age of 12 is free. There are even season ticket prices starting at $25. The prices are in line with other town ballparks within the area of the state. On certain nights, a local sponsor will cover the cost of a meal with a paid admission. The price of food at the concession is also inexpensive and similar to that of a high school event, but a whole lot tastier. The experience is appreciated a little more once you leave and are far away from the ballpark and town, making the investment that much greater. Extras 4 The ballpark earns an additional point for the delicious and natural casing hot dogs that snap when you bite into them. Several major league teams should take note of these amazing franks. The ballpark earns another star for the mural in the back of the press box. It adds a modern touch to what feels like a throwback facility. A third point for the ivy-covered outfield walls, you can never go wrong with this look on any building or stadium. The staff makes a ballpark hunter feel welcome. Final Thoughts Tiger Park is a little facility possessing all of the elements of an iconic town ballpark. If in attendance, take some time to breathe in the crisp blue skies of a Minnesota summer, talk with a few locals, and enjoy those tasty franks and beef jerky from the concession stands. ______ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at marc.viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 The Mini Met Rice St S Jordan, MN 55352 Jordan Brewers website The Mini Met website Year Opened: 1935 Capacity: 1,000 The Mini Met Stands Tall in Minnesota The Mini Met in Jordan, Minnesota is considered one of the finest town ball ballparks in the state and one of the most unusual-looking baseball facilities in the country. The home of the Jordan Brewers (Class C) team of the River Valley League has been a fixture in the city since 1935. The ballpark’s configuration fits in tightly within the surrounding area. Interestingly, it was not originally meant to be a ballpark but evolved quite comfortably between a creek, a row of trees, train tracks, and a rocky cliff. There is even a steeple from St. John the Baptist church that pokes out from the brushes of trees beyond the outfield walls. The old wooden grandstand was initially designed for the Scott County Fairgrounds for musical acts and livestock reviews as a WPA project. The fair was held after the baseball season but both the carnival rides and food trucks were set up on the field causing damage to the soil. Thankfully, the fair was moved away from the grounds in 1973. The Mini Met has seen quite a few changes in its history, including enlarging the field and the relocation of the home plate from the left field corner to the right field corner after WWII, the addition of lights in 1955, and the inclusion of a manual scoreboard in the 1980s. Most recently, the wooden grandstand was deemed by city officials as structurally unfit, and over $83,000 was approved to repair the rotting structure. New wood supports were added and a fresh coat of “Met Green” paint was applied. The repairs ensured that high school, amateur, and American Legion baseball would continue to be played under its historic conditions. Speaking of its name, the term was coined by a visiting sportswriter in 1969 who compared the stadium to the Minnesota Twins Metropolitan Stadium nicknamed “The Met.” At the time the facility was known as Fairgrounds Park, but the new name stuck and the ballpark has been known as The Mini Met ever since. Coincidentally, the last game at the original Met was played in 1981. Food & Beverage 3 The concession prices average between $1 and $3. The hot dogs, candy, peanuts, chips, popcorn, and Klondike bars all sell for one buck. Pepsi products are served by the can and are also a dollar. Gatorade and sunflower seeds cost $1.50, while nachos are the most expensive food item at only $2.50. Mike’s Hard Lemonade is $3 and beer is $2.50. You certainly cannot complain about the concession prices at The Mini Met. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere at The Mini Met is pleasurably satisfying to the baseball senses, steeped in the tradition of fans and volunteers who have made it their home for almost 83 years. Many definite traits of the stadium make the town ballpark a true original. The 6 o’clock train honks its horn as it nears town and then chugs its way into view behind the outfield wall, pretty soon it appears to hover over the left field fence before disappearing down the track. It does not disrupt the play of the game and is a delightful treat for all visitors in attendance The manual scoreboard is another beautiful touch that has been a privilege to operate by many each summer. Volunteers take their turns perched up behind the right field wall to keep score of the game the old-fashioned way: tiles are moved around, innings posted, and hopefully more zeros on the board for the visitors. The area is a tight squeeze and a one-person job. The old grandstand boasting the color of “Met Green” has been restored to past glory and encompasses the third baseline; however, it seems rather a baron as most fans enjoy the game from the grassy knoll seating adjacent to the structure. It might be more comfortable on the grass, but there is plenty of legroom underneath the wooden roof and pillars of the grandstand. Many say that the stadium has one of the best diamonds in the state. The grass is cut each day and the mound is resurfaced after every game by volunteers who take pride in having one of the best-manicured lawns in baseball. Neighborhood 4 Historic downtown Jordan features buildings dating back to the 19th century. There are a few restaurants and bars within walking distance of the ballpark that are worth visiting. The Feed Mill Restaurant offers po’boys, salads, and barbecue options. The appetizers include fried gator bites and deep-fried banana pepper slices. Carasim Coffee Shop sells old-fashioned soda fountains, coffee, espressos, Italian sodas, and small sandwiches. Clancy’s Bar and Grill offers the robin nests appetizers (cheddar nuggets, mozzarella sticks, mini tacos, and onion rings) and potato and broccoli cheddar pepper poppers. Roets Brewery is the lone microbrewery in the small town serving stouts, pilsners, fruit beers, and pale ales A few miles south of Jordan is Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store which sells various old-time candies, regional delights, and over 100 brands of bottled root beer. If you are a root beer aficionado, then you have found nirvana. There is also a wide assortment of candies from around the world, homemade whoopie pies, and various other items that would make a dentist smile. Sand Creek Adventures is also close and home to a 1,700-foot zip line ride that hovers 100 feet high above the water, while there is a two-rope course down below for more outdoor fun. Fans 3 The majority of fans enjoy the game from the grassy knoll section of the stadium, while a few can be found underneath the wooden structure. The crowd is relaxed enjoying the game with friends and even a few dogs on leashes. It also doesn’t cost an extra buck or two to bring your pooch to the game. The majority of the fans enjoy a Brewers game from the comforts of their lawn chairs or blankets. Access 4 The city of Jordan is located 35 miles southwest of Minneapolis and accessible off of M-169 and the various other interstate and state roads that connect the Twin Cities. There are directions to the ballpark once you get into town and the stadium has one bathroom for men and women located at the stadium’s entrance. Return on Investment 3 The ticket prices are $3 and collected by volunteers as you approach the parking lot by car. The price of concession items ranges from $1-$3. It is an extremely affordable way to enjoy a baseball game in a unique setting that is pleasing to the baseball senses. Extras 3 One star for the hand-operated scoreboard in right field. Another star for the 6 o’clock train that runs in the back of the outfield and appears to hover over the ballpark. A final star for the many volunteers who put in hours of hard work manicuring the field, operating the scoreboard, working the concessions, and greeting customers at the main entrance. Final Thoughts The Mini Met is considered one of Minnesota’s premier amateur town ballparks and rightfully so; its history, design, and aesthetics create a charm that is both nostalgic and uncanny. Its nearby location to the Twin Cities also makes it an easy 30-minute drive and a must for any ballpark hunter or stadium traveler. A great way to spend a lazy summer evening is at the Mini Met. ______ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at marc.viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Chaska Athletic Park 725 W 1st St Chaska, MN 55318 Chaska Cubs website Chaska Athletic Park website Year Opened: 1950 Capacity: 1,100 Athletic Park is Charming in Chaska Athletic Park in Chaska, Minnesota is considered by many to be the “crown jewel” of Minnesota amateur ballparks. Constructed in 1950 and featuring a classic mid-20th-century design, original wooden seats, covered grandstand, cinder block dugouts, and a natural grass surface that is fine-tuned by volunteers, it would be hard not to argue as being one of the best in the state. The aesthetics do not end with the structure of the ballpark itself. The facility is nestled between the Minnesota River, and sloping hills, and surrounded by tall trees. It is quite a beautiful setting for any ballpark in the country and one that seems to have been stuck in time for small-town baseball. However, the Minnesota River can wreak havoc as it has flooded Athletic Park on five occasions this century alone, the last being in 2014. To help protect the historic stadium from further flood waters, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers built a 710-foot tall grass berm with a width of 30 feet around 75% of the ballfield. The price was steep at $300,000, but civic leaders felt the price was worth it due to the amount of money needed to repair damages after each flooding. The Chaska Cubs have been around a little longer than Athletic Field having played its first game in town in 1928. Organized baseball itself has been played in Chaska since 1877 and at various times numerous organized teams played at the same time. There had also been multiple ballparks in town, one was partially destroyed by a tornado in 1925, but would later be dismantled and reconstructed at a new site in 1933. Chaska residents were then given a choice of where to build a brand new ballpark which would be Athletic Park. The Greater Chaska Athletic Association funded construction as part of a stock-selling drive and received donations as far as Juneau, Alaska. Volunteers helped layout the field and backstop, while the local newspaper declared the erected grandstand “as fine a grandstand any town of our size in the state can boast.” The new ballpark also featured the state of Minnesota’s first electronic scoreboard. The Cubs have won four state tournaments in 1932, 1947, 1971, and 1987 and the club continues to draw impressive crowds to its historic home near the Minnesota River. The ballpark also serves home for high school baseball, state tournaments, and American Legion baseball. It even served home to the city’s only professional baseball team in 1995 the Chaska Valley Buccaneers, who were 8-6 when the North Central League ceased operations. Food & Beverage 3 There is a main concession area underneath the grandstand with two serving windows. One serves alcohol including Miller selections and local and iconic Grain Belt beer for $3-$4 a can. The food served at the stadium is basic, but common ballpark staples of hot dogs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers, popcorn, peanuts, and candy. Ice cream sandwiches and bars sell. Atmosphere 4 Athletic Park is an example of mid-20th-century ballpark construction and has been maintained quite well throughout its existence. The old wooden seats are not as comfortable as modern theater-style seating, but many in attendance bring a seat cushion or chair back. The covered grandstand protects patrons from the sun or pesky mosquitoes flying around down the right-field line of the stadium. The ballpark offers a lot of history. There are old newspaper articles and photos illustrating the team’s history, a plaque commemorating the first game played at the stadium, and a chart highlighting the level of significant flooding that has occurred throughout the facility’s history. On the lighter side, a very popular area for the children is the garden which includes a bronze statue, flowers in Cubs helmets, and wood cut-outs of Cubs that were created and painted by local area high school students. There are also old seats and a play area for the young ones in attendance. The massive press box that once stood on top of the roof, but was moved underneath the grandstand roof due to weather concerns is a collection of old baseball jerseys, news clippings, and plastic owls once used to scare away pigeons. The seating area down the right field baseline offers fans chair-back seating and a basic electric scoreboard adorns right center field. The atmosphere is more in line with lower-level Single-A or collegiate wood bat league baseball. The game feels like a big event and the only thing missing is billboard ads on the outfield fence and an over-the-time PA announcer, however, they are not missed at the game. Neighborhood 3 Chaska is a town of 24,000 and is roughly 30 minutes southwest of Minneapolis between state highways 212 and 169. You are close enough to enjoy the big city of the Twin Cities, but small-town Chaska may be worth spending a few hours in before or after the game. Chaska is home to one of the Crooked Pint locations offering 32 taps of beer, pot pies, burgers, sandwiches, and curling. Cuzzy’s Brickhouse is a local establishment serving wood-fire pizza, Tex-Mex fare, pork chops, and barbecue ribs. Detello’s Pizza and Pasta is another favorite featuring thin crust or deep dish pizza. Paisley Park Studios is much closer than it is to Minneapolis. The former home and recording studios for Prince are open for tours, but you must lock up all cameras before you go inside, they do not allow photography inside. Fans 4 The Cubs faithful rank up with the best-of-town ballpark fans in the state. They have been spoiled with a fantastic baseball palace that has stood the test of time and are treated to great Cubs teams that usually sport winning records each summer. The center of the community is also a great way for local businesses to come out and share ideas and support. Access 4 Chaska is a small ballpark and so is the town. There are signs posted directing traffic to the game and an ample-sized gravel parking lot (another aesthetic nod to the good ‘ol days of baseball) that is free of charge. Bathrooms and concession stands are located in the grandstand and for the crowds on hand, plenty of legroom underneath the wooden roof. Return on Investment 5 Ticket prices for adults are $3, seniors $1, and children under 18 are free. The parking is free and the concession prices are all under $4.The historic ballpark is a beauty to watch a baseball game of any level and when you have a few hundred fans surrounding you on a warm, summer night, the investment is worth the price of admission. Extras 4 The park receives one point for the hours of volunteer work that goes into the ballpark’s upkeep. The field is well-manicured, the grandstand is clean, and the service is friendly. There are minor league stadiums where the service is not too friendly; however, the folks in Chaska do it very well, and they do it for free. The park receives a second point for the setting of the ballpark; the view of the river, hills, trees, gravel parking lot, and covered grandstand design is postcard-perfect. It tells a story before even buying a ticket. The park receives a third point for the players who spend their time after the game signing autographs for kids on the field. The night of this visit was steamy and the mosquitoes were ruthlessly nipping at your backs, but these young men did not seem to mind spending a little time with the younger crowd. The park receives a final point for old photos and news clippings found throughout the stadium. There is a lot of history here and sometimes finding it online is not that easy, thankfully there are a lot of facts and figures about Athletic Park, the Chaska Cubs, and other ball clubs who have played here. Final Thoughts I will not be the one who disagrees with anyone who calls Athletic Park “one of the jewels of town ballparks in Minnesota.”It is a classic baseball stadium, one that is in superb condition and still servicing baseball fans for almost seven decades. The town of Chaska is fortunate to have this historic venue still residing in their town. Its location in the Twin Cities makes it extremely easy and affordable to visit and soak in all of that beautiful nostalgia. ______ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at marc.viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Gainbridge Fieldhouse 125 S Pennsylvania St Indianapolis, IN 46204 Indiana Fever website Gainbridge Fieldhouse website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 17,923 Basketball Played at a Fever Pace The Indiana Fever celebrates 25 years this season, including the debut of their number one draft pick, Caitlin Clark. Her presence on the team has resulted in higher media coverage, increased season ticket sales and merchandise, and the upper balcony seating being opened for home games in recent memory. All of this excitement has created a new interest in the team that hopes to translate to packed fans at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The home of the Fever was built in 1999 and is also home to the NBA Indiana Pacers. The arena just completed a three-phase $360 renovation plan that has transformed it to today’s standards. The building seats 18,165, and all of these seats will be available for Fever games during the summer season. The Fever arrived in town in 2000 and has qualified for the playoffs 13 times in its first 17 seasons. It included a championship in 2012 during the Tamika Cathigs era. However, the team has fallen on hard times with seven straight losing seasons, including a 5-31 season in 2022. With the arrival of Clark, along with previous number-one pick Aliyah Boston, the Fever hopes to begin a new era of basketball in Indiana and hang another championship banner to the Gainbridge rafters. With the city having Caitlin Fever, attending a game this year will be much different than in years past. Food & Beverage 4 The food and beverage options have been updated at the fieldhouse and include new and familiar options. The Warehouse District BBQ and Three Point Taqueria are two options that offer fans something different at the game. The Indiana Kitchen offers lemon pepper and honey glazed chicken wings, short rib poutine, and maple bourbon sticks. If you are looking for familiar options, then Fieldhouse Favorites has you covered. Hot dogs, nachos, chicken tenders, pizza, burgers, pretzels, and Pepsi products are available. A value menu offers $4 hot dogs, $3 popcorn, and $8 PBR and Coors Banquet cans. A unique sweet treat is served at the Steak 'n Shake Milkshake Bar, which offers cotton candy, mega M&M, and crazy chocolate brownie flavors. The Fast Break Market sells grab-and-go beverages and snacks. A nacho cart offers an array of toppings, and Ben's Pretzels has long lines for freshly made baked pretzels. The Crossroads Eats sells gourmet hot dogs. The Yuengling Flight Deck and the Jim Beam Bar offer beers, wine, and cocktails. It also has various TV screens and views of the playing court. Atmosphere 4 What a difference a season makes. A Fever game feels more aligned to an Indiana Pacers game. A variety of fans walk throughout the concourse and the seating bowl with support for their WNBA team. The Gainbridge Fieldhouse is ideal to accommodate the newfound fan base that has made their way downtown. Before the game, fans line up in the Bicentennial Unity Plaza, which offers a basketball court for kids to play on, along with a curved sculpture, which features a screen for images and graphics. The atrium in the main lobby offers large windows, allowing natural lighting to fill up the area, and features banners of current players and a large roundel chandelier overlooking the half-circular staircase leading up to the main concourse. The concourse has been revamped and features basketball-theme murals that are both popping with collar and creativity, along with honoring past greats who have suited up for the Fever, Pacers, and high school teams of the state.  The new art is a variety of murals, and artwork varies in designs and colors. The fieldhouse includes a massive $4.3 million 20-foot by 52.5 feet video scoreboard, including underbelly panels for improving sightlines for fans sitting next to the court. It almost feels like it's floating when viewing it from the main concourse. There are also plenty of open views of the court from the concourse. Team banners of retired jerseys, league titles, and division championships hang from the rafters on each side. The Fever gift shop has an array of team merchandise but is a little cramped. However, a couple of stands and one station can personalize a jersey with your name on it on the main concourse. Neighborhood 5 The fieldhouse is in the heart of downtown Indianapolis and closer to retail and restaurants than Lucas Oil Stadium down the street. The only problem is choosing a place to grab a drink or eat before or after the game. Located near the arena is the local favorite Kilroy’s Bar and Grill offers 40 flat-screen televisions, shuffleboard, video games, and their famous pepperoni stuffed breadsticks. Another fan favorite, Brother’s Bar & Grill, is a short walk and is another popular destination before or after the game. A few more favorite spots after the game that are near the arena are District Tap, Mr. Tequila Street Cantina, and Pier 48 Fish House & Oyster Bar. It is recommending visiting the neighborhoods of Mass Ave. and Fountain Square. The two areas offer live music, craft beer, fine dining, and a little shopping at local retail shops. Mass Ave. is also home to the Bottlework District, the city's newest attraction. The Garage houses multiple food and drink vendors, offering an array of culinary treasures. Downtown Indy is also safe, clean, and easy to get around by car, foot, or mass transit. Local museums include The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the NCAA Hall of Champions, the Indiana State Museum, and the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. The riverwalk canal is a nice spot for a stroll on a warm spring day. Fans 4 To say the fans have responded to Clark’s arrival would be an understatement. Last season, the team averaged 4,000 plus fans, and so far this season lead the league with an average of 16,571 per game. The Fever has opened up the balcony seats, that had been draped off in recent seasons. It has created a mixture of die-hard Fever fans along with new and bandwagon fans. The fanbase feels more like a Pacers game, and attendance is more of a priority than a curiosity. Access 4 The arena is easily accessible from the major interstates of 70, 65, and 465, with parking abundant downtown. After the game, exiting these facilities takes a little know-how of the one-way streets of Indianapolis, but signs and police help direct customers to their desired route back home. Traffic moves smoothly during this time as well. Return on Investment 5 Depending on the night and opponent, Fever tickets are as low as $2 on ticket sites such as TickPick. Imagine paying $2 for a professional sporting event these days. Tickets for games against the New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, and Chicago Sky (Angel’s Reese’s team) will cost upwards of $45-$57. However, check out the dates and times because tickets sell for under $15. Prices inside the venue are typical of many NBA arenas, and craft beer will cost $10 a can, much less than what we saw in Seattle last year. The cost to park across the street is $25, but meter parking is available at $1.75 an hour until 11 PM (Sundays and Holidays are free), and there are cheaper parking lot options around the arena for as low as $10. Extras 4 Bicentennial Unity Plaza is outside the building. According to its website, it is the focal point for gatherings, offering a space where all residents and visitors will be greeted by captivating landscapes & art installations and, of course, a basketball court for some friendly competition. The team offers a Game Night Special that consists of a specialty-made t-shirt on sale for $18. They sell out fast, and the team store is usually packed with fans in line to purchase one. The Caitlin Clark effect can be seen all over the concourse. Fans wear her number 22 with pride, and many others bring in banners and signs to show support for the league’s newest star. Not as strong as it has been in the past, the fieldhouse still boasts an impressive collection of memorabilia showcasing the game of basketball in the state. There is an array of items from former professional clubs from the city, local high schools, and the major universities and colleges in the state. ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Dell Diamond 3400 East Palm Valley Blvd Round Rock, TX 78665 Round Rock Express website Dell Diamond website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 11,631 Round Rock Express – Dell Diamond At the start of the 21st century, baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and his business partners purchased the Jackson Generals and moved them to the north central Texas city of Round Rock – in time for the 2000 season, the Round Rock Express, named for their famed owner, was born. As the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, the Express has experienced lengthy periods of success while sending crop after crop of talented ballplayers to the big leagues. Round Rock has taken home seven division titles, three conference titles, and one league title as a member of the Texas League (the latter in 2000). Former MLB All-Stars such as Yordan Alvarez, Chris Davis, Joey Gallo, and Josh Jung are just some of the ballplayers that have donned the unis of the Express. Since day one the Round Rock club has called Dell Diamond their homefield. In addition to being the home park for the Express, Dell Diamond has also been home to college baseball, rugby, the Double-A All-Star Game in 2001, an episode of Fear the Walking Dead, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie’s The Simple Life, and an awesome publicity stunt by Will Ferrell. In one of my favorite cities in Texas, Dell Diamond is probably my favorite minor-league ballpark. Read on to learn all about it. Food & Beverage   5 The food and beverage scene at Dell Diamond is, quite frankly, top-notch. You can pretty much find whatever you’ve got a hankering for, with foods ranging from your traditional hot dogs, nachos, and burgers to rice bowls, mac and cheese, and barbecue. Some highlights to be on the lookout for include beer-battered fish and chips at Cork and Barrel Pub, red velvet milkshakes at Fairlane’s Diner, a “Moa Bowl”, which is chicken tenders in mango habanero sauce with sesame seeds and tater tots from Ono Pacific Grill, and “The Boomstick”, a foot-long hot dog smothered in chili and queso topped with fried onions and jalapeños. You can also find local favorites, such as Mighty Fine Burgers and Southside Market Barbecue, featuring pared-down versions of their iconic menus. All the food is on the mezzanine/main level, which makes things very convenient; you won’t go hungry in Round Rock. Atmosphere   4 In terms of atmosphere, Dell Diamond is all about the details. Premium fan areas, such as Bullpen Bar located just beyond centerfield, offer a great respite from the summertime heat, which is inescapable in this part of Texas once the calendar changes over to June. Right next to that is a kid's play area dubbed “The Backyard”, complete with rides, a splash pad, and a rock-climbing wall – this area is restricted to kids 12 and under, and they must be supervised by an adult. The team store, aka The Railyard, is located on the first base side of the stadium. It is pretty massive for a minor league team and has a ton of merchandise, including specialty and collector’s items. Beyond the left field wall is the Home Run Porch; this covered seating area is a prime spot for fans wanting to catch dingers, as well as being the best-shaded spot in the ballpark. The premium seats in this area are rocking chairs, which sit in the shade underneath ceiling fans – again, a bonus during the summer. Behind the seating here you’ll find the Round Rock Express Hall of Fame, which honors important figures in the team’s history. Dell Diamond also has two outfield lawn seating areas; with a general admission ticket, fans can bring in blankets, lawn chairs, or towels to sit on in these sloped grassy areas. Also, photo opportunities abound all through the ballpark for fans looking to get that one for the ‘Gram. Neighborhood   4 Round Rock is roughly a 20-minute drive north on Interstate 35 from the big city of Austin, becoming pretty much a suburb of the Texas capitol. As such you’ll find a lot of the trappings of a big city, but it still retains some of its small-town charm. The immediate area around Dell Diamond has been built up quite a bit, however – it is across the street from a relatively new Kalahari Resort. This ultra-family-friendly playground is home to rides, a massive indoor waterpark, an array of dining options, and a spa. If you’re taking little ones, this would be a great way to cap off the trip. Also, just down the road from the ballpark is Old Settlers Park, which is the city’s number one public park. For sporting enthusiasts this place is a paradise, offering up areas for fishing, disc golf, cricket, volleyball, basketball, football, and so much more. If you’re looking for dining options either before or after the game, you can’t do much better than Salt Lick BBQ. I will admit some bias, as the Salt Lick location in Dripping Springs is my favorite barbecue spot in the state, which by default makes it my favorite in the country. Mouth-watering brisket, dynamite sausage, and fall-off-the-bone ribs are all ranked as some of the best in the state. I would also recommend not skimping out on dessert, as the blackberry cobbler is sneaky fantastic. One other recommendation I have to pass on regarding food is the hands-down best donut shop in the state, Round Rock Donuts. With its signature orange-glazed offerings, Round Rock Donuts has been a beloved Texas institution for nearly a century. If you can go early, that’d be great as the demand for the sugary treats only increases exponentially during the rest of the day. For lodging, most of your traditional hotel/motel options are going to be closer to Interstate 35; however, not too far from the ballpark is La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Round Rock East. This affordable option is within walking distance of the ballpark. Aside from this and Kalahari Resort, the only other option in this section of Round Rock is Redbud Ranch Cabin & RV Resort – this quaint spot is about 10 minutes from the ballpark. Fans   3 Last season the Express averaged around 5,600 fans per game, which places them smack-dab in the middle of the minor leagues in terms of attendance. This was about what I experienced, taking into consideration that it was drizzling off and on throughout the day on my most recent visit, which probably affected the crowd somewhat. While this level of attendance is respectable, it is a far cry from the halcyon days of the early 2000s, representing only about half of what the park holds. I believe the lure of Austin and all it has to offer has sapped some of the luster from the Express. With that being said, the fans who attend games here truly care about their team. They’re loud, engaged, and dressed in the team’s garb, and there are also quite a few kids at the game, which is a good sign; get them to be fans while they’re young! Access   3 As mentioned, Round Rock and Dell Diamond are about 20 minutes from downtown Austin. The exit for the ballpark is marked off Interstate 35, which is nice. Once on-site, parking is plentiful in two main lots. The park is also about a 25-minute drive from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. If you choose not to drive or use rideshare, the public transportation option in Round Rock, CapMetro, has stops near Dell Diamond. Return on Investment   4 Single-game tickets for the Round Rock Express at Dell Diamond start at just $13 per person. This is pretty much on par with the rest of Triple-A; note that costs do vary slightly, however, depending on the day of the week or the promotion that is offered for that game. Parking is also pretty on par with the rest of MiLB at $15 per car. The concession costs vary, but you will still be able to get a pretty good bite to eat and something to drink without bursting your wallet. All in all, it’s still a good bargain in Round Rock, especially considering the talent that comes through Dell Diamond every year. Extras   4 Like most, if not all, minor league clubs, the Express pulls out lots of stops to get folks to the ballpark. Virtually every game this season has some sort of giveaway or theme night, including $2 Taco Tuesdays, fireworks on Friday nights, Round Rock Donuts jersey giveaways, and meet and greets with the legit Shooter McGavin and Napoleon Dynamite! The team also takes part in the Minor Leagues Copa de la Diversión, and for certain games, they don the uniforms of the Chupacabras de Round Rock. For Kids Days, which take place each month, a miniature train is brought in along with balloon artists, face painters, and bounce houses. Last, but most certainly not least is the team’s mascot, Spike – this lovable bulldog/train conductor can be counted on to entertain the crowds throughout Express games, and is always amenable to taking photos with fans of all ages. Final Thoughts As mentioned, Dell Diamond is my favorite minor league park. Even though it is approaching 25 years old, it still looks modern. There are tons of nods to baseball’s past, which is both intrinsic and essential to the sport. There is not a bad sightline in the stadium, and it has enough amenities and extras to keep everyone (e.g., young fans) entertained and engaged. I would add Dell Diamond to your bucket list, and I’m sure you’ll understand why when you take in a game here. Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Coolray Field 2500 Buford Dr Lawrenceville, GA 30043 Gwinnett Stripers website Coolray Field website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 10,427 Keeping’ It Reel When the Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966, it also marked the birth of a long partnership with the city of Richmond, Virginia, as the Braves AAA affiliate would take root in the commonwealth’s capital city for 43 seasons. After spending four decades in Richmond, the AAA Braves played their final season at "The Diamond", where they had been for 23 years. With an aging stadium and little hope for the upgrades needed for a minor league baseball team, the AAA Braves relocated to Lawrenceville in Gwinnett County, Georgia, a suburb less than an hour from downtown Atlanta, in 2009. The new ballpark in Gwinnett was billed as a mixed-use development, to include apartments, shopping, and dining. However, the development took longer than expected to materialize – Coolray Field stood alone in an open field for its first five years, while plans to build around it were still being finalized. Apartment complexes now surround the stadium, and changed the feel of the ballpark as they were completed; the first apartment building was finished in 2015, with a second completed in 2021. Since their move to suburban Atlanta, Gwinnett has made three postseason appearances, winning two International League-South Division titles and reaching the finals in 2016. Food & Beverage   5 Coolray Field offers fans a wide range of dining options, from traditional concessions to regional specialties, as well as what seems like endless beverage choices. One standout is "All the Fixins" which specializes in Southern cuisine, offering catfish baskets with hush puppies, hot honey pork chop sandwiches, Nashville Hot Chicken, grilled pimento cheese sandwiches, and footlong hot dogs topped with bacon jam. If the offerings at All the Fixins don't pique your interest, The Boathouse restaurant on the first base concourse provides an alternative, also with an impressive menu. It doubles as more of a sit-down restaurant and craft brewhouse, and the menu is more pub fare, with cheese curds and fried pickles, along with sides such as mashed potato bowls and potato wedges. Entrees range from smoked wings and tacos to brisket nachos and specialty sandwiches. The Boathouse also pours up to ten beers from Pontoon Brewing Company and another six from Wild Heaven, both local to the Atlanta area. Additionally, basic domestics are also available. The libations also extend beyond beer, with a selection of wines, hard Italian sodas, and pre-mixed cocktails on tap as well. But wait, there’s more! Throughout the concourse, several carts offer a variety of specialty items. Smokie’s Sausage Shack not only serves Polish and Italian sausage, but also offers brisket and BBQ sandwiches, and just as expected, Steakadelphia has a selection of cheesesteaks, while Cantina Comida Hispana offers a range of Latin American-inspired choices. Lastly, to satisfy a sweet tooth head to Sweet for their sundaes, floats, funnel cake fries, and of course the ever-popular Dippin’ Dots. Atmosphere   3 Originally named after their parent club, the team went by the name Gwinnett Braves for its first twelve seasons, before being rebranded as the Gwinnett Stripers in 2021. While the change faced significant pushback locally, it ultimately made sense to establish Gwinnett as a national brand. Additionally, it allowed for more of a theme to be integrated into the stadium and game presentation. In its first five seasons, Coolray Field sat alone in little more than an open, roadside field. Today, surrounded by two apartment buildings nearly encircling the stadium, the ballpark has a cozier feel. Beyond the stadium confines, local restaurant franchise Three Dollar Cafe overlooks the field from a distant vantage point. Like many minor league baseball teams, the Stripers host numerous promotional nights but primarily focus on appreciating local groups rather than having extravagant themes. Unlike some teams the Stripers don't have quirky promotions like "Mystery Egg Roll Night" or "Tribute to the Brannock Device” – instead they tend to stick to more traditional themes. However, each game still offers some form of promotion or discounted concession to boost weekday attendance, and in-game promotions are the standard scoreboard shuffle, variations of the dance cam, mascot races, and “Double Dare” inspired contests. When looking at seating options, the berm referred to as “The Bank” does offer space to spread out and for kids to run and play. The issue with this area though is the kids are lightly supervised by adults, which can be rather distracting if you are simply looking to enjoy the game from the grassy outfield hill. The best bet here is probably any of the grandstand seats down the first base side of the field since they offer the most shade. Neighborhood   4 The Stripers play in Lawrenceville, a northeastern suburb of Atlanta, approximately 30 miles from downtown ATL. Coolray Field is just off one of Gwinnett County’s busier traffic arteries, Buford Drive – the area has experienced remarkable growth since the opening of Coolray Field. There used to be just a road between Buford and Lawrenceville, but now Buford Drive is lined with several restaurants, stores, and hotels, and the area is anchored by the massive Mall of Georgia. The area around the ballpark is probably not a destination by itself, but for those arriving early or staying late, attractions such as Top Golf and Andretti’s Karting and Gaming, located just off the exit for Coolray Field, might be of interest. Fans   3 Gwinnett has typically seen routinely low attendance figures over the years. After the AAA affiliation was transferred from Richmond to suburban Atlanta, Gwinnett's inaugural season saw an average attendance of just under 6,000 fans, which was in the middle third of AAA teams in attendance. However, since then attendance has steadily declined and now ranges from 2,500 to 3,000 fans per game over the last six seasons. Much of the Stripers fan base consists of families and youth groups from Gwinnett, Hall, and Barrow counties. Some discussions around attendance troubles focus on the Stripers proximity to their parent club, just 34 miles around Atlanta’s north end to Truist Park. Although this may be a contributing factor, other AAA teams like St. Paul and Worcester rank in the top 10 of AAA attendance, despite being within 50 miles of their Major League affiliates. While the accessibility of the Braves might play a role, factors such as a lack of immediate attractions at the stadium, as well as lingering animosity from the public's lack of input in the stadium funding process, seem to contribute to the less-than-stellar attendance numbers. On a positive note, attendance has begun to increase since reaching a franchise low of under 3,000 per game during the 2022 season. Access   3 Navigating the metro Atlanta area can be quite challenging, especially during weekday games. I-85, the primary route through the northeast suburbs, often sees heavy congestion when leaving Atlanta. For the less populous communities north of Lawrenceville, however, southbound traffic on I-85 doesn’t face the same volume of traffic as you see heading toward the city during this time of day. Buford Drive leads to each of Coolray Field’s access points, which can be a bit tricky for first-time or infrequent visitors – the only entrance with any sort of signage is for VIP parking. Instinct would make one think the entrance next to that is the most accessible, and while that entrance does eventually lead to another parking lot, a lack of noticeable directions leaves drivers guessing whether to turn left or right. The actual most direct entry point is the third entrance, but much like the previous one, it is not well labeled and can easily be missed, leaving drivers to have to make a U-turn to try it all over again. With the parking lot running the length of the first base side of the stadium, it doesn’t seem like only two entrances for general seating would be enough, but fans move quickly through the gates. Once in the stadium, the concourse fully encircles the field and is wide enough to keep congestion to a minimum. Buford Drive is a divided highway so after the game, crossing back toward the interstate can be challenging. If you choose the wrong exit, a U-turn is needed to head back toward the freeway. Your best bet is to stay in the left lane of traffic, but exiting via Ballpark Lane, which runs in front of the main gates, tends to be a quick and easy exit point. Return on Investment   3 Seating on the berm starts at just over $11 once Ticketmaster fees are factored in. As ticket prices increase, so do the service charges which are applied to each ticket. On weekends, ticket prices increase, with the same ticket costing $17. Unfortunately, the secondary market does not offer much relief, as prices are comparable to those at the ticket office. Parking runs $10, so even a single visitor is already spending over $20 before entering the ballpark, and due to the lack of facilities in the surrounding area, there are no independent parking lots to offer a lower price. Concession prices are consistent with what you would expect at a sports stadium. Extras   4 The left field wall displays the retired numbers of three Atlanta Braves players: Hank Aaron’s # 44, brother Tommy Aaron’s # 25, and Phil Niekro’s # 35. Jackie Robinson’s # 42, which is retired across baseball, is also displayed. Balconies of the apartments beyond the stadium, stretching from left to left-center field, are marked with distances to home plate. Those along the left field line, just under 400 feet away, are well within play, while the farthest markers measure over 460 feet. The Stripers mascot Chopper is an active participant in mid-inning contests and makes his way around the stadium stopping for endless photo requests. In recent years, a lot has been made of "robo-umps" potentially taking over calling balls and strikes, due to perceived inconsistencies in umpire strike zones. Opponents argue this takes the human element out of the game; proponents advocate for increased consistency and accuracy. In AAA baseball, a balance seems to have been struck with the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) System – this system preserves the traditional role of the umpire while allowing for questionable calls to be reviewed by batters, pitchers, and catchers. The outcome of the challenge is then displayed on the stadium scoreboard and upheld or reversed accordingly. Final Thoughts For the Braves, having their AAA franchise located so close provides some operational advantages when it comes to roster management, but may be a barrier when it comes to attracting fans. The location does seem a bit isolated when considering the dynamics of Atlanta’s northeast suburbs. Attendance woes do not seem to be due to anything specific the staff in Gwinnett could or should be doing differently – the club is more a victim of planning circumstances that weren’t considered or planned for when deciding to build a stadium here. Promotional nights could be a bit more creative, but it takes the right organization and fanbase to pull off “Exploding Whales” or host a successful “Toilet Paper Night”. What Gwinnett does offer, though, is a decent minor-league baseball experience that is entertaining, while keeping the game on the field as the focus of the experience.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Iroquois Lacrosse Arena 3201 2nd Line Hagersville, ON N0A 1H0 Six Nation Arrows website Iroquois Lacrosse Arena website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 2,300 The Heart of Lacrosse South of Brantford, through the farmland of Southern Ontario, lives one of many hearts of lacrosse.  Six Nations Indian Reserve No. 40, more commonly known as Six Nations contains the town of Ohsweken and is just north of Hagersville.  At the southern corner stands an inconspicuous, warehouse-looking building that houses the hopes and dreams of countless Indigenous children.  The Iroquois Lacrosse Arena was built in 2004 by lacrosse legends Curt Styres and Delby Powless and is a lacrosse-only facility, one of the only ones built in Canada specifically for lacrosse. Several lacrosse teams call Iroquois Lacrosse Arena home and possibly the most popular is the Six Nations Arrows of the Junior A, Ontario Junior Lacrosse League.  The Arrows have been around since 1974 and began as a Junior C team.  Originally known as the Six Nations Braves, the Arrows moniker would be adopted in 1979. Six Nations would step up to Junior B status after their first season and would remain there until 1989, culminating in the 1987 Tier II Championship.  In 1990 the Arrows would make the final step to Junior A and go on to enjoy tremendous success.  The Arrows would bring home the Iroquois Cup as Ontario Champions nine times. The Arrows would bring home the ultimate prize, the Minto Cup as National Champions in 1992, 2007, 2014, 2015, and 2017.  The list players who have gone from the Arrows to the National Lacrosse League is a who’s who of lacrosse royalty including Cody Jamieson, Doug Jamieson, Craig Point, Shawn Evans, Cam Bomberry, Johnny Powless, Delby Powless, Randy Staats, Leo Stouros, Brett Bucktooth and Warren Hill. Food & Beverage 3 The concession experience at a Six Nations Arrows game is better than one would expect.  Several vending machines can be found around the arena, mostly selling drinks.  However, adjacent to the arena is Bowcasters, which offers several arena offerings. One part concession stand and one part convenience store, Bowcasters is a cash-only facility that has many different offerings.  Hot dogs, poutine, fries, sausage, burger sandwiches, fruit, mac salad, and wraps are all available. A variety of soft drink options are also available as well as ice cream.  Prices are surprisingly good.  A bottle of water, for example, is only $1. Atmosphere 5 The exterior of the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena is nothing special.  Looking more like a warehouse than a sports facility with its drab siding, the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena shares space with Bowcasters, Arrow Express offices, ILA Sports, and Leroy Jamieson Fitness Centre. Fans enter the building on the east side and are welcomed by temporary tables and booths for ticket sales, a 50/50 draw, programs, and a bit of merchandise.  From there, the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena is a treasure hunter’s dream.  There are trophy cases and displays for the Arrows, including championship team pictures.  There are also displays for the Senior A, Six Nations Chiefs of Major Series Lacrosse, the Junior B Six Nations Rebels, and teams that Curt Styres has owned including the Hamilton and Toronto Nationals formerly of Major League Lacrosse, the Rochester Knighthawks and Styres’ current team, the Halifax Thunderbirds of NLL. Even better, there are displays and profiles for lacrosse pioneers and a history of lacrosse and the Mann (Sr.) and Minto Cups.  Entering the seating bowl, fans will find that the floor runs from west to east with seats around three sides of the turf floor.  Orange arena seats are found at the south and east sides and orange benches are on the west side. Purple trim is also found throughout the seating area, completing the color scheme of the traditional Haudenosaunee, formerly the Iroquois, flag.  The north side of the arena is littered with championship banners from multiple levels, fourteen of which belong to the Arrows.  Simple scoreboards are found at both east and west ends, the east flanked by the Canadian and Haudenosaunee flags. The gameday production at an Arrows game is fairly simple.  During warmups, there isn’t much in the way of music.  Before the game begins, a traditional Indigenous dance is performed with a song and drum.  No national anthems are otherwise played.  Unlike a NLL game, there is no music during the play.  There are some “Indigenous” sound effects during the game. Neighbourhood 2 Iroquois Lacrosse Arena is located approximately 10 km south of the town of Ohsweken, and north of the town of Hagersville, in a rural area at the southern tip of the reservation.  Fans will not be walking to any sort of attraction.  The Burger Barn, which was featured on the Canadian show “You Gotta Eat Here” is probably THE spot to go.  Other options include Dixieland Grill and Big Pete’s Steakhouse. For fans looking for other sports options, lacrosse is on the menu at the ILA all the time.  The Six Nations Chiefs of Major Series Lacrosse and the Junior B, Six Nations Rebels also share the ILA.  During the winter months, hockey can be found in nearby Brantford (Brantford Bulldogs), Caledonia and Hagersville.  The Friday nights at the Ohsweken Speedway are popular during the summer months also.  For fans looking for a more authentic Haudenosaunee experience, investigating Six Nations Tourism is the best idea.  Heading to Brantford for lodging is going to be the best idea for fans wishing to stay near the arena. Fans 4 It is difficult to assess fans for Six Nations Arrows as OJLL attendance figures are not published.  It is clear, however, that the Six Nations Arrows are a draw and possibly the biggest draw out of all of the Six Nations teams that call the ILA home.  The game that was reviewed was well attended, with probably around 1,000 people in attendance. Also, consider that the game reviewed was a holiday and the opening game of the season.  Six Nations fans are pretty quiet and not really over the top, typical for Ontario.  What puts Six Nations fans a notch above are the kids.  There are plenty of kids in attendance at an Arrows game, most of them with sticks, helmets, and gloves.  Between periods and after warm-ups, kids flood the floor with their equipment and proceed to play, whether it is one one-on-one exercise, passing or just throwing the ball against the boards. Access 4 Getting to Iroquois Lacrosse Arena is not difficult. The Reservation is located southeast of Brantford and southwest of Hamilton.   The major routes include Highway 24 to the west and Highway 6 to the east, however, it is mainly farmland in between these cities, and a two-lane highway is the best to expect for the majority of the travel.  ILA is in a rural area, basically at the junction of Cayuga Road and 2nd Line. There is definitely no public transit in the area.  There is plenty of free parking on site.  Getting around ILA is not difficult at all and the washroom facilities are adequate.  However, a really large crowd would make getting around more challenging and crowded.  It may be important to note that cellular service is spotty in this area, depending on the carrier, and there is no public wifi in the facility.  Also, a Six Nations Arrows game is a predominantly cash experience. Return on Investment 5 There is tremendous value in OJLL lacrosse experiences and the Six Nations Arrows are no different.  Tickets are $10 and there are discounts for students and seniors.  The concession prices are much better than expected and parking is free.  The action on the floor is among the best box lacrosse that can be found outside of the NLL and it is in a place dedicated entirely to lacrosse.  In junior lacrosse, it doesn’t get much better than this. Extras 4 An extra mark for the pipeline for pro lacrosse that the Six Nations Arrows are.  The alumni list is massive and The Lax Mag ranked the Six Nations Arrows as the fourth-best provider of NLL talent. An extra mark for the community hub that the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena is.  The facility is very busy with various teams, minor lacrosse, and other community events. An extra mark for the authentic Indigenous experience provided by the Six Nations Arrows. An extra mark for the lacrosse focus at the ILA. Final Thoughts With regards to Junior A lacrosse in Ontario, it does not get much better than the Six Nations Arrows experience.  The Iroquois Lacrosse Arena is one of the few facilities that was built specifically for lacrosse and has a total lacrosse focus.  Taking in an Arrows game offers great value for the dollar and is an experience not to be missed. ---- Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube, Twitter, Threads and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Lynn Family Stadium 350 Adams St Lousiville, KY 40206 Louisville City FC website Lynn Family Stadium website Year Opened: 2020 Capacity: 11,700 Louisville's Home for Soccer Lynn Family Stadium opened in 2020 as the home for Louisville City FC of the United Soccer League Championship. The 15,304-seat stadium was designed by HOK for $65 million and can expand to 15,304 spectators. The venue is one of a handful of soccer-specific venues in the league and provides fans with an up-close and personal view of the action on the field. Before the opening of the new venue, the club operated a few miles down the road at Louisville Slugger Field, dubbed Slugger Field for soccer matches. The Triple-A ballpark is intended for the Louisville Bats minor league club, and the club averaged close to 8,000 fans per game; it was the objective to build its venue and avoid certain situations during the playoffs. The stadium features seating on all three sides of the pitch, with the open end facing the interstate and the Ohio River. A 40-by-72.5-foot video board greets motorists from the outside and fans on the inside. When the sunset for evening games, the beautiful red hues sparkled up above as the sunset in the west. Louisville fans have been lucky since the club established a winning tradition from day one. The club advanced to two conference finals in its first two seasons and then hosted the next three USL Championship Finals. The team was displaced for two years due to the Festival of Trees and Lights taking place at the ballpark. Lou City opted for the University of Louisville soccer field, which sat about half the amount of people. Those days are now over if the club does indeed continue its winning ways. Food & Beverage 4 There are various concession stands and portable kiosks that provide an ample amount of food and beverages at the match. Customers should take notice that it is a cashless stadium - please bring a credit or debit card. Now that we have that taken care of, let’s see what they have to eat and drink. The I Love Taco Truck and Franks is in the open area waterfront section of the stadium. The taco truck offers shrimp, tinga, al pastor, chorizo, and brisket tacos on corn tortillas. Franks features a hot dog of the month and also serves Italian sausages. Concession stands feature a “Burger of the Month”. During our visit, it was a 7-ounce patty and spicy Italian sausage with peppers and onions served on a hoagie roll. Other items are the hot brown poutine with fried cheese curds and mornay sauce, a Philly cheesesteak sandwich, and loaded barbecue nachos served in a souvenir soccer bowl. Pizza slices, ordinary nachos, chicken fingers, and pizza slices are also available at the match. There are plenty of alcoholic beverages, cans of Mom water, fruit juice infused with vodka, Fall City, and Noble Funk beer served on draft; wine, bourbon, rum slushies, and cocktails are also available for purchase. The Yuengling bar offers drafts and a selection of wine and cocktails. Photos Courtesy of the Louisville City FC There are plenty of bars that spread out along the concourse serving bourbons from Maker’s Mark, Four Roses, and Cooper’s Craft–each brand also creates its signature cocktail. The highlight is the Modelo Scoreboard Bar on the south end of the stadium. The 72-foot Modelo bar is located under the video board and features several tables where people can stand around. For pregame festivities in the future, we’re excited about the adjoining 1020 beer garden. Fans can purchase Fall City Beer, Yuengling, and Miller are among the brews to choose from while you watch the action. Atmosphere 4 Lynn Family Stadium offers seating for 11,700 and can be expanded to 15,304 fans. Well before the match begins, fans tailgate in the parking lot east of the stadium. RVs, tables, TVs, and flags can be seen up and down the lot. Just north of the stadium is the Fan Zone which offers pre-game festivities and a miniature soccer field for younger fans. The area includes a miniature-sized soccer pitch and a giant “LOU CITY'' sculpture where fans can pose for photos in place of the missing “I”. The Coopers, the official supporter group of Lou City, made its presence with drums, costumes, banners, and plenty of purple smoke, and on the opposite side of the stadium, a few more fans let off some smoke of their own after the two goals scored on the night. The stadium lights flash vividly before and after the game, and also when a goal is scored by the home team. The roof of the seating area is colored and shaped like the sides of a bourbon barrel. The lights are slanted and can be adjusted for color, depending on the match. The concourse aisles are somewhat narrow, its walls decorated with Lou City art and players’ photos on the west side of the stadium. The opposite side is much more open and features a small table of merchandise. Also embedded inside the stadium are 18 luxury boxes and 250 Premier Club seats. The gift shop has that brand-new smell and plenty of team merchandise from official jerseys, scarves, caps, t-shirts, and women's and children's gear. Racing Louisville also has a section of shirts that feature the club’s colors of deep purple and mint green. Several TV monitors are on display, and so are the team’s USL Championship trophies from 2017 and 2018. Neighborhood 3 The stadium is located in the Butchertown section and within walking distance from the main plaza and Copper & Kings American Brandy Company. The up-and-coming neighborhood has renovated many of its meatpacking warehouses into shops, bars, and restaurants and provides an ideal spot before or after a match. However, less than a mile from the stadium is the affluent East Market District, also known as NuLu. You will find everything from vintage clothing stores, gourmet eateries, and restored furniture shops. A few recommendations would include La Bodeguita for Cuban cuisine, Royals Hot Chicken, Grind Burger Kitchen, and Feast BBQ for a bite. A few spots for a drink include the Old 502 Winery, Akasha Brewing Company, and the West Sixth NuLu which offers live music tucked away off the main street and surrounded by other shops and balcony seating. The Rabbit Hole Distillery and Garage Bar are other recommendations, but they were temporarily closed during our visit. Fans 5 The Lou City crowd is one of the more boisterous in the league. There are two supporter group sections at both ends of the pitch. The Coopers, Ledgehogs, LouCity Ladies, and The Sheep’s Pens make their presence felt by chanting, flag waving, and drum playing. During a goal, purple smoke is released into the air to celebrate the score. The team has averaged over 10,000 fans per game this season and ranks number 2 in the league in this category. Access 4 Lynn Family Stadium is located off of I-64 and is easily visible to motorists on the interstate. There are four lots for parking and must be pre-paid for $10. There is additional parking, when available, along the Louisville Waterfront Park and west of the stadium on Witherspoon Street. Return on Investment 4 The price of a ticket for a soccer match costs as low as $15 at the time of this writing. There are four surface parking lots (Purple, Green, Gold, and Gray) that are pre-paid on the east, west, and south sides of the stadium. Additional parking is available along the Louisville Waterfront Park and west of the stadium on Witherspoon. The price of food will include certain items such as cheeseburgers and chicken tender baskets fetching $11.99 and beer prices ranging from a 24-ounce domestic for $11.99 to a 24-ounce premium for $12.99. The best option is the loaded BBQ nachos served in a plastic soccer bowl for $11.99. It is big enough to feed two children. Extras 4 Louisville City's stadium earns points for the pre-game festivities in the kid's zone that features a small soccer field and entertainment. The stadium earns another point for the variety of food and drink options from local favorites to old standards. The third point is for the design of the soccer-specific venue that is among the classiest in the league. A final point is awarded to the sunset view of the city's skyline at evening games. Final Thoughts Lynn Family Stadium is a wonderful addition to the league and a harbinger for the future of soccer-specific venues in the country. The bright and bold venue is what soccer stadiums should look like and what they could be to both team and fan. Lou City fans have been spoiled with the success on the pitch from their club and now they have an excellent venue to enjoy for many years to come. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Dave Cottenie and Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Paycom Center 100 W Reno Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Oklahoma City Thunder website Paycom Center website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 18,203 Thunder Road In 2005, Oklahoma City partook in what can only be described as an NBA audition. With the devastation of Hurricane Katrina displacing the New Orleans Hornets, the team found a temporary home at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City. Two seasons of NBA basketball in the Sooner State proved to be a runaway success and the relatively small market in OKC would not be a hindrance to NBA basketball in the future. Oklahoma businessman Clay Bennett would swoop in and purchase the Seattle SuperSonics to relocate them to Oklahoma City. The Thunder were blessed with some serious young talent early on and made some strong playoff runs in front of some rabid crowds, making the move to Oklahoma City seem like the perfect spot for the NBA. Home for the Thunder is Paycom Center. Originally the Ford Center and later the Chesapeake Energy Center, Paycom Center was built in 2002 and is located on the edge of Bricktown in downtown Oklahoma City. Food & Beverage 4 Concessions at Paycom Center are pretty solid. There is nothing that will blow fans away, but there is plenty of variety to satisfy all. Many of the concession stands have basketball-related names to give the arena a little more flare. Fast Break offers a variety of hot dogs; Alley Coop has chicken wings and hot chicken; Slam Burger has a variety of burgers; Block City has cheesesteaks and other sandwiches; Taco Mayo has TexMex cuisine; Chop ‘n Block has chopped beef sandwiches and smoked sausages; and Mazzio Pizza offers pizza from a local chain. Paycom Center also has two sit-down, full-service restaurants for patrons. The Old No. 7 and Michelob Ultra Club are near section 116. Coca-Cola products are on the menu for the soft drink of choice and Budweiser, Bud Light, and Michelob Ultra are among the beer choices. Atmosphere 3 Paycom Center is located in Downtown Oklahoma City, adjacent to the Bricktown neighborhood. The exterior of the building is attractive with a rounded, brown brick façade with some glass in spots. It is not overwhelmingly beautiful or original, however, by no means is it unattractive. In the northeast corner of the grounds stands a statue of two torchbearers, commemorating the 1989 Olympic Festival held in Oklahoma City. Fans may also want to get a picture in the giant Thunder Muskoka chair on the north side of the arena. Entering the Paycom Center will bring fans to the main concourses, past the escalators which go to the suite level on the second floor and upper deck on the third. The concourses do not waste any real estate and are filled with murals and team markings. There are several makeshift photo ops and spots for the kids to make signs and participate in some games. Autograph sessions are held outside of section 116. At the game being reviewed, the autograph session was with the Thunder Girls cheerleading team. Entering the seating bowl, fans are welcomed with a two-tier seating bowl with suites and club seats between the top and bottom levels. The court runs from southwest to northeast and is the spot to get the perfect center-court logo. The southeast side of the arena has the lone retired number banner for the Thunder belonging to Nick Collison, who came with the team from Seattle and proceeded to play another decade in Oklahoma City. The northern end of the arena has the team banners for Division Championships and the 2011-2012 Western Conference Championships. Although it seems that officially the Thunder have other titles and retired numbers when they were in Seattle, there is no signage acknowledging those. The center court video board is not overwhelming as seems to be the trend in the NBA but is adequate in size and clear. There is an LED ribbon that encircles the third deck fascia and there are plenty of other, smaller LED boards around the seating bowl. Each entrance into the seating bowl also has lights above it, which the production team uses plenty of. The gameday atmosphere is what one would expect for an NBA game. There is nearly non-stop action including promotions and entertainment. The in-game host attempts to rile up the crowd to aspire to the “Loud City” moniker plastered throughout the arena. Rumble the Bison has plenty of spots throughout the game to interact with fans and partake in promotions. The O-City Dance Crew performs during the pregame but dances off to the side of the end seats throughout the game, not very noticeable. The Thunder Girls help run promotions. The Thunder use the lights in the arena a lot and use the Oklahoma Blue light for big moments to pump up the crowd. The most unique aspect of the pregame is the leading of an invocation at the beginning of the game, led by a pastor, praying for safety for the players and participants, and thanks for the opportunity to watch the action. The Thunder go above and beyond to connect with the fans and give them everything they need to enjoy the game. Free programs are available at the door and are typical of the free program. The pregame email the Thunder send out has a ton of information including where the pregame activities can be found, who the halftime act is, and where the photo ops can be found. The QR code on the armrests in the seating bowl offers all the gameday info including lineups and stats. Neighborhood 5 Paycom Center is located near Downtown Oklahoma City, adjacent to the Bricktown neighborhood. There is plenty to see and do in the area and there are a plethora of eating and drinking establishments within walking distance of Paycom Center. Spark, Bob’s Steak & Chop House, Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse, Texadelphia, and Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar are all very close. Right across the street from the arena are the Myriad Botanical Gardens and the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory. Other tourist options include the Oklahoma City National Memorial and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. For those looking for other sporting options in the area, checking out the Oklahoma City Blue of the G-League can be done at the same arena. Beginning in the spring, the Oklahoma City Dodgers play at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark which is two blocks away from Paycom Center. Otherwise, heading to nearby Norman to take in an Oklahoma Sooners game in football or basketball or any of the other sports they offer, maybe the answer. For those wishing to stay near the Paycom Center, the Omni Oklahoma City and Fairfield Inn & Suites Oklahoma City are mere steps from the arena. Fans 4 When the Thunder moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City, they were one of the top-drawing teams in the league. Since then, there has been a significant talent drain from Oklahoma City as well as the COVID hiatus. Since returning, the attendance at Thunder games has fallen off. In the 2022-2023 season, the Thunder are ranking 29th in the NBA averaging over 14,000 fans per game, which is 81% of capacity. The previous season, they ranked 28th and had approximately the same raw numbers. The Thunder use the moniker “Loud City” quite proudly when describing the experience there and the fans in attendance are fairly loud. However, the attendance drop-off is worrisome. The Thunder are probably not able to stay near the bottom of the NBA attendance ladder without financial repercussions. The fan mark is now in flux. Continued attendance figures at this level will surely bring the markdown. Access 5 For a downtown arena, Paycom Center is very easy to get to. Located between Interstate 40 and I-235, traffic is not a huge issue. There are plenty of parking garages in the area for fans to get to and getting out of the downtown core is surprisingly smooth. For fans wanting to take public transit, the light rail travels right along Reno Ave, in front of the Paycom Center, and buses travel Thunder Drive and other downtown streets. Fans should check out the Embark website for fares, maps, and schedules. Inside the arena, the concourses offer sufficient space to maneuver and get crowded during the expected intermission rush. The washroom facilities are adequate for the arena. With security for games constantly in flux, including security procedures, prohibited items, and bag policies, Stadium Journey highly recommends consulting the Paycom Center and Oklahoma City Thunder websites for the most up-to-date information in advance of attending a game. Return on Investment 4 The Oklahoma City Thunder offers good value for an NBA experience. Tickets can be found for as little as $16 and go all the way up to $315. For the 2021-2022 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder ranked 21st in Fan Cost Index, which puts them in the cheapest third in the NBA, below the league average. Parking and concessions are about what one would expect for an NBA experience in a downtown arena. The action on the court and experience in the stands is solid and plenty is going on to keep everyone occupied. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Thunder name and link to the Army Infantry Division nicknamed the Thunderbirds located in Oklahoma. An extra mark for surviving as the smallest market in the NBA. An extra mark for the close network the Thunder has with the Native American population in Oklahoma. Final Thoughts Oklahoma City is probably not the first destination thought of about professional sports. However, the Thunder have proven that despite being in the smallest NBA market, they can play with the big boys and belong in the league. A trip to see the Thunder is well worth the trip and the city of Oklahoma City is an underrated destination city. ----- Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and Instagram.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Meritus Park 50 W Baltimore Street Hagerstown, MD 21740 Flying Boxcars website Meritus Park website Year Opened: 2024 Capacity: 4,000 Flying Baseballs and Boxcars in Hagerstown Baseball has been played in the city of Hagerstown, Maryland, for over a century. The Hagerstown Hubs called several parks home for their first few years before moving into the newly constructed Municipal Stadium in 1930. Various minor league teams would play here over the years, with the most recent tenants being the Hagerstown Suns, who played there from 1981 to 2019, playing in the Carolina League, Eastern League, and South Atlantic League over the years. However, the Suns were eliminated as part of the contraction of 43 minor league teams in 2020. The push to bring baseball back to Hagerstown began almost immediately, and city leaders agreed to the construction of a new stadium, Meritus Park, in downtown Hagerstown. The Hagerstown Flying Boxcars moved into Meritus Park and joined the independent Atlantic League for the 2024 season. The Flying Boxcars nickname pays homage to the Fairchild C-119, a military aircraft that was built at the Fairchild Aircraft Plant in Hagerstown between 1949 and 1955. Food & Beverage 5 Meritus Park has a wide range of concessions that are sure to satisfy every fan's craving. Most concession stands are located on the concourse level. One stand features crab cake sandwiches and other local Maryland favorites. Another features barbecue items such as brisket nachos and pulled pork sandwiches. Ballpark classics such as hot dogs, burgers, and chicken tenders are available as well. Cheese and pepperoni pizza are available, but with a twist, they are served Detroit-style, with a thick rectangular crust similar to the Sicilian pizzas that are ubiquitous in the New York City area. This does seem a bit out of place in Western Maryland, however. For fans with a sweet tooth, soft-serve ice cream is available in cone or helmet sundae form. Alcohol is available at several stands on the concourse level and the lower level near the entrance. There is a bar down the right field line on the lower level, and while it does not offer a good view of the field, there are plenty of screens to watch the game on. A pubhouse area is located in right field and also serves alcohol, and offers views of the game through the outfield fence. Prices are on the high end but not outrageous, and prices seem to be going up everywhere now inside and outside stadiums. The food is good, and the price is not unreasonable compared to what you'd pay elsewhere for this kind of food. Keep in mind that Meritus Park is a cash-free facility, so the concession stands only take credit cards. Atmosphere 5 The main gate to Meritus Park is next to the ticket window in centerfield on the lower level. From there, you will walk past the pub or bar, and go up stairs or an escalator to the concourse level. There are also wheelchair lifts for those who require them. On the concourse, you will find most concessions and then can walk down to your seats. Other than some group areas with tables, all seats at Meritus Park are chairbacks. You will have a good view of the field no matter where you sit, but netting runs from foul pole to foul pole, so unless you are sitting in the group areas in the outfield, you will be watching through the net. It is not too obstructive, however, so most fans won't mind. The upper rows of sections 206-212 are under an overhang. This will put you in the shade during day games but won't obstruct your view of high-fly balls. It is a good place to sit to stay cool on a hot summer day. The bar area down the left field line on the lower level also has couches to sit on as well as foosball tables. However, it is hard to see the game from here except on monitors. It seems to be more of a social area than a place for serious baseball fans who want to watch the game. Numerous on-field activities are going on between innings at a Flying Boxcars game. You will of course see the classic games such as the build-a-burger race and the hat shuffle on the scoreboard, but there are some unique ones as well. In one contest sponsored by a local donut shop, contestants attempt to eat a donut off the end of a fishing rod. Whoever finishes their donut first, or eats the most donut in the allotted time, wins. The Flying Boxcars have a mascot named Stryker, who is meant to be a fighter pilot. Stryker runs onto the field before the game and roams the stands interacting with fans. There is also an on-field mascot race sponsored by a local liquor store in a tradition that dates back to the days of the Hagerstown Suns at Municipal Stadium. A can of beer, a bottle of beer, a glass of beer, and a pink elephant (like in Dumbo) race around the field to the finish line while getting into various hijinks. This has always been a fan favorite, especially Ellie the Pink Elephant. Neighborhood 2 Meritus Park was built in Downtown Hagerstown in an attempt to revitalize the area. While safety concerns are overblown and should not be an issue, the area has seen better days. The hope is that the ballpark will revive the neighborhood, but it is too soon to say if this will happen. That being said, there are still some options. Bulls and Bears is a pub-style restaurant a couple of blocks from the stadium and is located adjacent to one of the parking garages used for the ballpark. You may even walk through the lobby area of the building it is in to get out of the garage and to the stadium. Broad Axe is another pub/restaurant a few blocks from the stadium. For fans staying overnight, the Dagmar Hotel is within walking distance of Meritus Park but has a terrible reputation and we do not recommend staying here. However, despite what you may hear, it is safe to simply walk by the hotel on your way to and from your car. There are several better options a short drive away along Route 40, closer to Interstate 70. Fans 4 In a 4,000-seat ballpark, the Flying Boxcars have been drawing quite well so far, filling up most of the seats, especially for weekend games. Although it may not be a sellout, expect a near-capacity crowd and buy your tickets in advance to ensure good seats. The crowd does applaud after big plays, but as is typical of minor league ballparks, they tend to be pretty casual. This is especially true in Hagerstown due to all the social areas used for purposes other than watching the game. Even if the numbers show near capacity, there will still be some empty seats as those fans hang out at the bar or elsewhere. Access 4 Hagerstown is off Interstate 70, via US Route 40 a few miles off the highway. Once you get near the ballpark, there are several surface lots and garages you can park in, some officially sanctioned by the team, others not. Be sure to check and confirm you are legally allowed to park there at that time, as laws can vary. There is a paved lot immediately adjacent to the stadium, but it is reserved for select individuals. Other unpaved lots are nearby, although these are small and fill up fast. A large parking garage is going up right across the street. When Stadium Journey visited in early June of 2024, the garage was not yet open, but it was expected to open in early July, so we factored that into our rating. If we had to rate this without the garage, we would have taken it down one point to a 3. Fortunately, there are several other garages as well. The Arts & Entertainment Garage is located along Renaissance Way, while the University Deck and Central Lot are located along Potomac Street. All of these are a couple blocks from the ballpark. The new garage will only hold about 400 cars and will be used for all visitors to Downtown Hagerstown, not just ballpark traffic, so fans arriving closer to game time may need to park here even after the new garage opens. Payment methods vary depending on where you park - some use the Parkmobile app, while others require you to pay at a pay station upon exiting. Be sure to read the signs to find out where and how you pay. Prices vary depending on where you park, but $5 is a good approximation. It may be slightly more or less. Although Meritus Park is cashless, the parking is not run by the team, and some garages accept cash at the pay station. Others don't, however, so be prepared to pay by card. There are stickers with the Flying Boxcars logo and arrows directing you from the parking to the stadium. This is a small but very useful feature. Return on Investment 4 Most Flying Boxcars tickets are $12. Some seats behind the Hagerstown dugout cost $14-$17, which seems like a waste of money. Concessions are a bit high but not unreasonable in the present environment, and what you will pay for parking is not bad considering the downtown setting. Overall, a Flying Boxcars game is a great value for fans looking to attend a baseball game. Extras 4 One star here for all the unique areas in the stadium. A kids' play area, a brewpub in right field, and a bar in left field (with couches and foosball) all offer their opportunities for fans. Check out the model of a Fairchild C-119 (aka a "Flying Boxcar") in right field. It is visible from the stands. The mascot race is worthy of an extra star here, even if it does have a corporate tie-in. A fourth and final star for the multiple team stores, one by each entrance. Final Thoughts Although Meritus Park doesn't have the nostalgia or history of the old Municipal Stadium, it is a gorgeous new ballpark and one of the top venues in the Atlantic League if not all of independent baseball. This is still a new stadium, so hopefully things get even better as the team settles in. Even if it stays the same, a Hagerstown Flying Boxcars game is a great experience.

Photos by David Berger, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Staten Island University Hospital Community Park 75 Richmond Terrace Staten Island, NY 10301 Staten Island Ferry Hawks website Staten Island University Hospital Community Park website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 7,171 Home of the Baby Bombers In a town where Major League sports rule, Richmond County Bank Ballpark provides a fun, affordable option for baseball enthusiasts. In its two decades of existence, more than 100 Staten Island Yankees, otherwise known as the Baby Bombers, have played in the Majors. Editor's Note: The Staten Island Yankees disbanded resulting from the MiLB contraction in 2020. The Staten Island FerryHawks, of the Atlantic League, began operating in 2021 in the same ballpark. The ballpark changed its name from Richmond County Bank Ballpark to Staten Island University Hospital Community Park in 2022. Food & Beverage 4 Richmond County Bank Ballpark hits all the ballpark standards, everything from chicken tenders and fries ($4 each) to grilled foot long hot dogs ($7) to Uncle Louis G Italian ices ($5), to name just a few. There are plenty of adult beverage options as well. Domestic drafts go for $7 while premiums go $9. There are some healthier options behind home plate. A container of hummus and carrots goes for $8. However, you might want to dine before or after the game. Staten Island has some of the best pizza on the planet – New Haven quality. There are no shortage of options. Check out this list: https://www.thrillist.com/eat/new-york/best-staten-island-pizza Atmosphere 4 There’s not a bad seat at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. You can’t beat the ballpark’s view of the adjacent harbor and the New York City skyline. Yes, they toss t-shirts into the crowd and have plenty of promotions. Neighborhood 4 Game changer: Empire Outlets, which offers a plethora of outlet shopping options, just opened and is right next door to Richmond County Bank Ballpark. Very soon, it will be adding excellent restaurants to its repertoire, including Shake Shack, which is extremely popular at Citi Field and exceeds the hype. If you want to leave Richmond County Bank Ballpark mid-game and return, they’ll stamp your hand, so you can indulge. Fans 3 It’s laid-back, minor league summer fun with lots of families and group outings. Loads of tourists are hitting Empire. It’s only a matter of time before they walk a few yards and discover the beauty of America’s favorite pastime at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. Access 5 Richmond County Bank Ballpark is mere steps away from the Staten Island ferry, which is one of the best deals anywhere. The 25-minute ride offers great views of the NYC harbor and the Statue of Liberty. It’s free! If you’re driving, Richmond County Bank Ballpark, as well as Empire Outlets, offers parking for a fee. It’s possible to find a space on the street, but that will require some patience and persistence, especially on weekends. Return on Investment 4 In an overpriced town, Richmond County Bank Ballpark is downright reasonable. An outfield seat goes for $12 if you order in advance, $14 on the day of. Infield seats are a few bucks more. Again, the ferry ride, an adventure in itself, is free as are the weekend fireworks. Extras 4 In the promotions department, Richmond County Bank Ballpark shines. Most memorably, in 2015, 7,000-plus fans filled the house, many in costume, to salute “Game of Thrones.” GOT series author George RR. Martin was on hand. Just this past season, Richmond County Bank Ballpark hosted a “Billy Madison Night” in which fans received SI Yankees pencil cases. Coming up on August 24th, it’s “Harry Potter Night.” Lastly, every Saturday, the SI Yankees become their alter ego, the Staten Island Pizza Rats. For this, the squad dons special uniforms and pizza is served out of a cone. Final Thoughts In a Major League town, the SI Yankees aka The Baby Bombers aka the Staten Island Pizza Rats offers a fun, affordable alternative to the Mets and Yankees. You can’t beat the views, the free ferry ride and the brand new, elite mall just next door. If that isn’t enough, Staten Island boasts some of the best pizza anywhere. Jon Hart is @ManVersusBall

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium 145 Lakeview Dr Starkville, MS 39759 Mississippi State Bulldogs website Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium website Year Opened: 1967 Capacity: 13,000 The Carnegie Hall of College Baseball Mississippi State alum and author John Grisham once said “Great things come from humble beginnings” – nowhere does this statement ring truer than at Dudy Noble Field on the campus of Mississippi State. Opened in 1878 as Mississippi A&M, the school’s location was selected for excellent soil conditions, as the school was a farming and agriculture school. Dudy Noble Field opened in 1967 and was built on a former cow pasture. At one time cows even grazed in what would become the outfield, but this was before the crowds and before the trips to Omaha – in the 50 years after its opening, this tiny little baseball field in the farmlands of northeast Mississippi would transform itself into the Carnegie Hall of college baseball, and the home of college baseball’s greatest fans. Now Mississippi State is the largest university in the state and a national powerhouse in baseball year in and year out. Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium opened its doors in 1967; Noble was a baseball coach at MSU from 1920 until 1946 and was also the athletic director from 1938 to 1959. The Bulldogs have a very historic baseball program dating back to 1909 when they won the first Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAC) Championship – the Bulldogs would win the championship five more times before becoming one of the founding members of the SEC in 1936. Since joining the SEC, MSU’s baseball program has grown into one of the more storied baseball programs in the country, with 13 SEC Championships, 39 Regional Appearances, 12 trips to Omaha, and 14 first-round draft picks, but the pinnacle of Mississippi State baseball occurred in 2021 when the Bulldogs captured their first ever National Championship. This is an elite college baseball program that plays in the finest facility in the country. After the 2017 season, the university decided to strip everything down and re-build the venue – the “new” stadium opened in 2019, and what has transpired is a $50 million renovation that has made Dudy Noble Field a stunning place to watch a baseball game and made it the top-ranked college baseball stadium in the country.   Food and Beverage   4 There are plenty of food and drink options for you to choose from, with 16 points of sale located throughout the ballpark, including three full-service built in stands. You'll find three Hail State Eats stands with one behind home plate, one down the first baseline, and the last down the third baseline. Each of these stands is grab-and-go to speed up the process; you can get the usual fare at Hail State Eats and the prices are quite reasonable. Continuing down the first baseline you will also find a Chick-fil-A stand, two portable beer stands, a gourmet popcorn stand, and a gourmet hot dog stand – make sure to try the Grand Slam Super Dawg if you're on this side. New for 2024, the Super Dawg is a foot-long sausage topped with brisket, pickle slaw, BBQ sauce, and pickles served on a split-top roll. Down the first baseline, besides the Hail State Eats stand you also have options such as a boiled peanut stand, another Chick-fil-A stand, and a Dippin’ Dots stand. Another unique Southern-themed item you can find on this site is pork rinds from Rev's Famous Pork Skins – these are a big hit among State fans. In the outfield you'll find several food trucks lined up in center field; each game the food trucks change, but you are always bound to find something different than you'd find on the concourse. Alcohol was recently made available at The Dude, and you can buy beer at all the stands, as well as a broader selection at the two portable beer stands on the concourse. And of course, if you are friends with or make friends with one of the thousands of people set up tailgating in the outfield you are bound to get extended that Mississippi Southern hospitality, getting invited back to their spot in the outfield for some more delicious food. Mississippians love their cuisine, and in the outfield, you name it you can find somebody cooking it. On my most recent visit, I even saw some people having a crawfish boil out here.   Atmosphere   5 One word can describe the atmosphere at Dudy Noble and that is “electric”. You know you are in a special place, and on college baseball’s most hallowed ground, from the moment you pass the Rafael Palmeiro and Will Clark statues outside the main gate. Collectively known by their nicknames “Thunder” and “Lightning”, Palmeiro and Clark are two baseball legends who’ve achieved folklore status at Mississippi State; the duo led the Bulldogs to Omaha in 1985. Clark, the 1985 Golden Spikes Awards winner, would then have a 15-year career in the Big Leagues playing for multiple teams, while Palmeiro would go on to have a prominent 20-year career with the Rangers  and Orioles . There are three entrances into the stadium – one behind home plate on the southwest side of the stadium and the other two in the outfield. The main gate opens into a spacious and wide concourse that empties into the seating bowl. There are two levels with 20 suites, and both levels are usually packed with maroon and white. The views of the condos in left field, and just the overall surroundings, are breathtaking. The climate-controlled Omaha Club is located on the first base side on the second level, and an LED board also wraps around the ballpark, which makes for quite a surreal experience for those nighttime SEC games. You are free to walk the entire stadium and through the outfield sections. The entrance in right field opens into a plaza area that houses the Ron Polk Ring of Honor; Polk is another revered person at Mississippi State who coached the Bulldogs from 1976 to 1997 and again from 2002 to 2008. Polk’s career coaching record stands at 1218-638-2, which places him 9th all-time among college baseball coaches. His teams have won five SEC Championships, participated in 23 regional appearances, and took eight trips to Omaha. At the entrance behind home plate, you'll find the 2021 National Championship trophy on display, as well as the famous "Welcome to Fabulous Stark Vegas” sign. Then right past the Ring of Honor is some berm-type seating that is usually packed with lawn chairs and general admission ticketholders, but the outfield area is what makes Dudy Noble Field so special. In the 1970s fans started driving their trucks to games and parking in the outfield, and fans began tailgating in the back of their pickup trucks the entire time. Eventually, the trucks were left behind and bleachers were constructed on top of them – for over 30 years this area was known as Left Field Lounge. After the 2017 season, the school began doing an extensive renovation on the stadium that resulted in the removal of the trucks and the makeshift bleachers that had, despite violating many safety standards, been a landmark of the university. Many diehard fans were outraged that this tradition was going to be scrapped, but after seeing the finished product I think most will be pleased with the outcome. This whole area is now lined with one big, elevated party deck with several makeshift bleachers set up. And if you want to watch the game from your back porch you are in luck too, as looming over left field is a 12-unit, four-story condo called the Left Field Lofts – though pricey, the Lofts tower over left field, which only adds to the spectacle that is the Left Field Lounge. Thousands of friendly Bulldog fans young and old can be found there tailgating during games, which creates what is considered the number one atmosphere in all of college baseball; these fans are known as college baseball’s greatest fans, and it shows.   Neighborhood   4 Mississippi State is unique in that it is a big SEC school in a really small town, void of many attractions, as the college itself is the main attraction in town. Because there are not a lot of big cities nearby, Starkville has kind of developed its subculture, lacking a lot of national chains and malls – many of the restaurants are local to the area and use local farms instead of big-name producers. The Cotton District is the main area of town for nightlife; located just off campus within walking distance of Dudy Noble Field, “The District”, as it’s known, is home to multiple bars and restaurants. The Cotton District is unique in that many of the neighborhood’s buildings resemble those you’d see in New Orleans and Europe, as the developer of the neighborhood traveled there for ideas during the mid-1990s – some of the better-known restaurants and bars located here are Bin612, Drifters, Bulldog Burger, The Fountain Bar, The Klaassroom, Two Brothers Smoked Meats, and StaggerIn. The Bin is a late-night favorite among college students who flock to the bar for its famous cheese fries – when the bars close around 1 am you can find a huge line of college students stretched around the whole block waiting to get the famous fries. In addition, Two Brothers Smoked Meats has really good smoked wings and its signature white BBQ sauce, while Bulldog Burger has a huge selection of different burgers. The Cotton District is a small one-block area that gets packed with a lot of college students, especially on weekends, so the older crowd of alums may want to venture more towards downtown if they want to avoid hanging out with the younger crowd. Just a short walk down University towards downtown you’ll encounter more bars and restaurants, such as Little Dooey – this BBQ joint prides itself on its smoked BBQ, fried catfish, and other Southern favorites. Right next door to Little Dooey is Stromboli’s; this tiny rinky-dink-looking Italian eatery doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the pizza being cooked can be smelled from across the street. Right behind Stromboli’s is Central Station Grill, which is built into an old milk plant – the Grill is known for its brunch and drink specials, while yet another favorite in this area is Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern, a pub-style bar famous for its pizza, located on the side of a sketchy looking motel. If you come in on your birthday you get a free 24-inch pizza for every fourth person you bring. This dimly lit tavern also has really good live music and is the place that attracts the mid to late-20s crowd. Besides the above, a couple of bars and restaurants downtown I recommend checking out are The Beer Garden at Hotel Chester, which is an outdoor bar in the courtyard of a historic hotel, and the State Theatre, which is a 3-story club-type bar. Restaurant Tyler is my favorite restaurant for lunch, however, as it has a cheap seafood blue plate special, and in its basement, there is a bar called Downstairs at Tyler, located in a former speakeasy that was used during prohibition. Oby’s is another favorite of mine that features some of the best seafood, sandwiches, and po’ boys in Starkville. A popular Sunday morning tradition in Starkville is to have breakfast at Starkville Café – this tiny cafe located downtown often has a long line wrapped around the building on Sunday mornings, filled with people wanting to get the best southern homestyle breakfast in the area. After breakfast make sure you walk upstairs to Hobie's on Main; owned by Hobie Hobart, a diehard Miss State baseball fan, Hobie's bar has a lot of vintage State memorabilia on the walls. Hobie also owns the famous Right Field Tiki Hut located in right field at Dudy Noble Field, which is a notable fixture at State baseball games.   Fans   5 You will not find a more faithful or loyal fan base than the fans at Mississippi State – on any given weekend expect to find packed crowds for all three games of the series. State fans are passionate about the program, and it shows here at Dudy Noble Field, which currently holds the NCAA record for single-game on-campus baseball attendance at 16,423, set when Ole Miss visited here in 2023. In addition, the top 19 of the top 20 largest crowds in college baseball history were all seated right here. Fans have also created some traditions such as the playing of Garth Brooks’s “Friends in Low Places” during the 8th inning, and of course, there are the cowbells – fans here are allowed to bring cowbells to the game, and though not as loud as the cowbells at a Bulldog football game , they still create a raucous and intimidating atmosphere. Fans along the outfield have also been known to feed the outfielders in between innings. On any given weekend expect close to 12,000 in attendance for each game – most of the seats are packed and it’s standing room only on the concourse and in the outfield deck. A good thing about coming to a big game here is that they won’t sell out, though; they may have every seat in the stadium filled, but fans are still able to purchase tickets and find somewhere to stand. There are also multiple TVs spread out around the concourse to watch the game on as well.   Access   3 The one drawback to coming to a game in Starkville is that the city is located in kind of a secluded area of the state. The closest major cities of Tupelo and Meridian are both located over an hour away, and the closest major airport is over an hour and a half away in Jackson (although there is a smaller Golden Triangle Regional Airport located nearby in Columbus). Only two roads are coming into Starkville, which are Highway 82 which runs east to west, and Highway 25 which runs north and south. Starkville has recently become more accessible to other areas in the state thanks in part to the upgraded Highway 45, which is located just outside of town, and is the main road you would travel on if coming from the coast or central Mississippi. Make sure you fill up on gas before embarking, however, as there aren’t many stations on the roads heading into Starkville – it’s more of a peaceful rural drive through the backwoods. Once in Starkville prepare for lots of traffic congestion, as the town is small and the roads are not exactly the nicest. Parking around the stadium can also be a nightmare as the lots fill up quickly; my suggestion, if you are in town for a weekend game, would be to park at one of the lots on the south side of campus and walk from there. There are usually several lots open just south of Davis Wade Stadium , and you can even cut through the famous football tailgating spot The Junction on your walk to The Dude.   Return on Investment   4 It is extremely hard to get chairback tickets, as they have sold out every year since 2019 – most of these are reserved for season ticket holders, or there is a waitlist to get tickets. Your best bet when coming to a game here is to purchase the general admission ticket for $15; you will not get a seat for this, but you are free to roam anywhere in the concourse or the outfield, and you are free to bring a lawn chair and sit wherever you want. Concessions prices are fairly cheap here as well. Because the level of SEC baseball is so high, almost any weekend you attend a game during conference season is going to be a ranked matchup. So, for less than $20 you usually get to see a top-10 matchup at one of the top-rated college baseball stadiums in the country, and most of the on-campus parking is free as well.   Extras   4 Super Bulldog Weekend is a big event for the community during the spring, with hundreds of food and arts and crafts vendors lining the streets of the Cotton District. Usually held during the Spring Football Weekend , this event always coincides with a big SEC baseball series. The games during this weekend usually attract a higher crowd than usual as well – in fact, most of the attendance records at Dudy Noble Field have been set during Super Bulldog Weekend. One extra for the Left Field Lounge and the overall atmosphere and game day presentation that the Bulldogs present – everything is top-notch here and it shows. There truly is not a better atmosphere for a college baseball game in the country, save for the College World Series. Another extra goes to the university for properly honoring the history of its baseball program. Bulldogs baseball has a very successful history, and you can see that everywhere you go at Dudy Noble Field, from the Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro statues behind the home plate entrance to the Ron Polk Ring of Honor in right field. The university is very proud of its history, and it shows here – though Palmeiro had a somewhat controversial Major League career he is still revered at Mississippi State, and in addition to the statue the Bulldogs practice facility next door to the ballpark bears his name as well. In addition, walking the concourse you'll find banners signifying important years and big wins in the program, as well as banners honoring past players, including historic names like Buck Showalter, Jonathan Papelbon, and Boo Ferriss, to current names like Adam Frazier, Mitch Moreland, Brent Rooker, and Nathaniel Lowe – there are currently eight former Bulldogs on the MLB’s 40-man rosters. The 2021 National Championship trophy is also on display at the front entrance, next to the famous 'Welcome to Fabulous Stark Vegas” sign. Another extra for the stadium itself and the diehard fans who support the MSU baseball team. Most sports at Mississippi State experience up and down years, and the fans tend to be fair weather. That is not the case for the baseball team – the fans here support the program, with almost every game guaranteeing a sellout. It also helps that the Bulldog baseball team is one of the top teams in the country year in and year out.   Final Thoughts Coming to a game at Dudy Noble Field is truly a bucket list experience for baseball fans at all levels. From the grills in left field to the fans and their thousands of cowbells being rung, these all add to the spectacle of attending a game here and are something everyone should experience. Attending a game here brings everyone together whether they are baseball fans or not. As John Grisham also said, “I always feel like a better person after leaving a game at Dudy Noble Field”.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Grand Park Events Center 19000 Grand Park Blvd Westfield, IN 46074 Indy AlleyCats website Grand Park Events Center website Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 1,000 An Ultimate Indoor Experience The Indy AlleyCats are members of the United Frisbee Association, formerly the American Ultimate Disc League, and play home games out of the Grand Park Events Center in Westfield, Indiana. The building is the centerpiece of the Grand Park Sports Complex. It features 26 baseball and softball diamonds and 31 multipurpose fields for soccer, football, and lacrosse spread out over 400 acres 20 miles north of downtown Indianapolis. What makes the GPEC unique is that it is the only indoor facility in the 24-team UFA and offers plenty of benefits that include protection from cold and rainy days,  an indoor control climate, a full-service restaurant, and alcoholic beverages to sip during the game. The AlleyCats have been mainstays in the league since 2013 and have posted only two losing seasons in its history. To the discerning eye, the sport of ultimate disc should be easy to follow, understandable, and enjoyable to watch, and to its burgeoning fan base of supporters, the next big step in spreading the game to further regions of North America. The sport has a little bit of everything: high scores, quick and short passes, turnovers, close plays, and extraordinary leaps toward the heavens to pull down a disc for a score. During the spring and summer time, it may be a nice distraction from the usual sporting events taking place in town. Food & Beverage 3 The GPEC offers two areas for food and drink. A full-service restaurant is located on the top level and overlooks one end of the field offering 12 taps of craft and domestic beers, plus plenty more in cans. While the concession stand downstairs offers an array of snacks. Grand Parks Event Center Restaurant, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey The beers range from local varieties from Grand Junction, Sun King, People’s, and Three Floyd’s. The beer prices are $9 a pint. There is also a list of cider, hard lemonade, wine, and spirits available. Downstairs is a small concession stand that offers nachos, hot dogs, pretzels, candy, chips,  and sodas. Pepsi products are also served at the concession stand. The prices range between $3.50 to $5; a nice price to grab a snack during the game and save an appetite for dinner somewhere else afterward. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere of the game is connected heavily to the action on the field. The majority of the fans are part of the ultimate community and will shout out to specific players on the field who are most likely friends or family members. GPEC includes three soccer fields and the Cats use the middle field where there is bleacher seating on one side, up above the field of play. There are 8 rows of aluminum bleacher seats that put fans up close to the action and offer a nice view of the field except the first few rows that are obstructed by the wire guard rails. The team’s merchandise is located at the corner of the concourse and displays a wide variety of merchandise that includes caps, t-shirts, hoodies, gloves, discs, and scarves. The shirts are displayed on mannequins and there are about 5 to 6 different styles of caps. The team's MC gets the crowd hyped during the game engaging with fans, offering prizes to young fans, and reminding them to cheer during pivotal times of the games. After each score, two young fans march up and down the sidelines waving team flags colored in green and white. Neighborhood 4 Grand Park is located 20 miles north of downtown Indianapolis in the suburb of Westfield, a sprawling community that has grown quite gradually in recent years. Grand Park is located near a collection of chain restaurants, hotels, and local restaurants and establishments. Just outside the complex are Portillo's and Noble Roman’s, two local establishments with numerous locations throughout the state. Visitors can enjoy craft beers, pizza, and pub food. A little further down the road are smaller places that are noteworthy: Chiba Indy (sushi), Rail (farm to table), and Grand Junction Brewing Company. Two personal favorites include Wine & Vine and The Mash House & West Fork Whiskey Company offers bourbon, and farm-fresh ingredients in an aesthetically pleasing setting. Wine & Vine is a combo winery and brewery with outdoor seating and pleasant views. The best for entertainment may still be downtown Indianapolis, a short 30-minute drive south. Options include the Indiana State Museum, Children’s Museum, Canal Walk  Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, and the neighborhoods of Mass Ave, Broad Ripple, and Fountain Square. Fans 3 Most fans are very knowledgeable about the sport and most likely are connected with the team or the sport itself. It makes for an interesting visit as one can gather a lot of information from the mouths of many in their seats. The crowd is fixed to the game and the only objective that matters is a win by the Cats. Access 4 Grand Park Events Center is 20 miles north of Indianapolis but access is super simple via automobile. The highways leading up the complex are designed with roundabouts and underpasses to keep traffic flowing towards the facility. Once inside, there are two sets of staircases in the lobby that lead visitors to the seating area. Return on Investment 3 A single ticket is $11 and concession options are around $5, a very reasonable price to take in a game of Ultimate under climate control conditions. The restaurant has affordable dinner options and 12 draft options are available for $9. There is also a beer of the month available for $5. There is no fee for parking. Extras 2 The Alley Cats have some of the best merchandise in the league. It is of high quality and some of the shirts and caps feature some great designs for fashionable fans. The Grand Park Events Center receives another point for being the only indoor venue in the league. It might affect the game for the players in some regards, but fans are comfortable and do not have to second guess attending a scheduled contest under gloomy, wet, or cold conditions. A final point is awarded for the team's MC who hypes and engages the crowd during games. The action on the field is enough for many of the fans, but he adds a little flare to the proceedings. There is also a DJ who plays familiar songs with a different beat. Final Thoughts The Grand Park Events Center is the only indoor venue in the league. However, the place could use a little more logo placement to give the venue a true home feeling. Also, being indoors ensures that all games can be attended by fans under comfortable conditions. The UFA is an exciting sport to watch and from my standpoint after watching multiple games, didn’t seem too different underneath the roof. ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com