The ongoing saga that is the takeover of Manchester United shows no signs of being resolved anytime soon, and with that, the future of United’s home, Old Trafford, is still up in the air. The stadium is regularly criticized for being in a state of disrepair and in desperate need of an upgrade in facilities. The team seems to be improving on the pitch, and the general consensus seems to be that progress also needs to be made off the pitch, or the club will get left behind. United contending on the pitch again Such is the progress made under Erik ten Hag this season, United are one of the betting favorites to win the league title next season. In the latest Premier League winner odds , United are 9/1 to win their first title since 2013. But such is the strength of their cross-town rivals, most punters making Premier League predictions won’t be putting the red half of Manchester down as their champions tip for next season. That said, a place in the top four is well within United’s capabilities. But with other clubs such as Arsenal, Spurs, and Chelsea, not to mention Manchester City, in the mix. The thorny issue of the quality of stadiums comes into the equation. Those other clubs mentioned above can all offer state-of-the-art facilities for the corporate sector, which generates huge sums of money for Premier League football clubs in the 21st century. Put simply, a football club's ambition on the pitch needs to be matched off it. And in the case of Manchester United, the quality of their stadium isn't keeping up with the team. To the average football fan, Old Trafford looks as good or bad as any other stadium in the country. There’s a seat to sit in, toilets, bars, and program sellers. But football fans rarely look beyond what is in front of them in their seats. They are only there to watch the football, after all. But even though Old Trafford might be okay in the eyes of football fans, it’s far from okay in the corporate world. The ground hasn’t been invested in since 2006, and if any indication of how far down the pecking order Old Trafford has fallen is needed, then look at the bid to host the European Championships in 2028. Old Trafford not shortlisted to be a Euro 2028 venue Old Trafford currently has a capacity of over 74,000, that’s far more than the five Premier League stadiums shortlisted to host matches at Euro 2028. So the question has to be asked, why has the City of Manchester Stadium (Man City’s Etihad), Everton’s not even yet built stadium, St James’ Park in Newcastle, Villa Park, and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium been selected ahead of Old Trafford? The locations of the stadiums do play a part. But with two stadiums selected in the northwest of England, and Old Trafford not one of them, questions need to be asked why? One conclusion that can be drawn is facilities. The facilities at Old Trafford are way behind those at the Etihad, and they will be behind those available at Everton’s new stadium at Bramley Moore. As things stand, there are no immediate plans to modernise Old Trafford. The bidding parties looking to purchase the club have pledged to invest in the ground. But until a takeover is completed, there can be no upgrades. And while all this carries on in the background, Old Trafford is simply falling further behind.

Tasmania to get New Stadium and AFL Team...maybe Earlier this month, outgoing league CEO, Gill McLachlan, confirmed that Tasmania would be granted the 19th AFL license. The decision was contingent upon the federal government agreeing to kick in the last $240m required to build a new 23,000-seat multi-purpose, enclosed stadium at Macquarie Point on Hobart’s waterfront. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese duly announced that the feds would come to the party and stump up the required amount. The total cost of the stadium is projected to be $715m. The new team, likely to be called the Tasmania Devils, is slated to join the league for the 2028 season, although the stadium may not be completed until 2029. In the interim, Blundstone Arena would be the most likely base for the club. Given the geography of Tasmania, upgrades to University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston will ensure home games are also played in the north of the state – even after the new venue in Hobart is opened. Australian rules football in Tasmania dates back to the 1860s. As the VFL began to expand into a national competition through the 1990s, the state was naturally a potential market for the league. Several AFL clubs, including North Melbourne, Hawthorn, and St Kilda, have taken home games to the “Apple Isle”, underwritten by the Tasmanian state government over the ensuing decades. While the AFL sought out non-traditional markets for expansion, momentum has gradually coalesced behind the island state finally being granted its team. However, government support, including for a new stadium, was set as a pre-requisites by the league. The additional federal government support was seemingly the last piece of the puzzle to fall into place. However, a political storm over the use of state government funds for the proposed stadium threatens to derail the project – and possibly the hope of Tassie’s AFL dream. A groundswell of public support against the stadium has seen two MPs resign from the ruling Liberals, which has plunged the party into a minority government. The state budget is due to be handed down this coming week, which is likely to include funding for the stadium. The parliament will also need to vote in support of designating the project to be one of state significance to kick-start the approval process. Publicly, Gill McLachlan remains confident that the binding agreement between the AFL and Tasmanian government would hold. Nevertheless, there appears to be real doubt as to whether the deal will move forward after all.

Professional sports have been a part of life in Detroit dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. The Lions, Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons have brought both joy and agony to fans and residents of the Motor City. City of Champions , a new book by Stefan Szymanski and Silke-Maria Weineck, makes the case that sports have played a major role in many aspects of daily life in Detroit. They argue that in many ways, the city’s history with the four main major league teams is closely linked to political power, housing policy, race relations, economic development and financial stability. Each chapter of City of Champions uses a major sports event in the city’s history and links it to how it impacted the city in some way. The chapters are arranged in reverse chronological order, starting with the opening of Little Caesar’s Arena in 2020, and working back to the city’s founding in 1763. This is done to show how past sports events have built the city of Detroit as we know it today. First and foremost, City of Champions is wonderful sports read. The title refers to 1935-1936, when the Lions, Tigers and Red Wings all won the championship in their respective leagues. The authors point to this signature achievement as a force in bringing the city out of the Great Depression, and as an event where Detroit citizens forgot their racial differences, even if it was for a short period of time. The book also looks at the impact of the various team owners have had on the city’s development. Henry Ford was a pioneer in the automobile industry and created the concept of the production line in the mass production of cars. He also was the first business owner to provide healthcare coverage to his workers and to build parks and recreation centers for the city. Unfortunately, he was also antisemitic and a violent union buster who believed in keeping the races separate. The Ford family still owns the Detroit Lions today. Mike Illich made his fortune as the creator of Little Caesars pizza. He was responsible for building many of the sports palaces including Little Caesar’s Arena, as well owning both the Red Wings and the Tigers. As a result, he had a huge influence on zoning issues around the city. Obviously, Detroit is now a very unionized city. It hasn’t always been that way. Henry Ford hired thugs to break up and discourage union formation within the auto industry. In 1952 the Detroit Red Wings powered their way to win the Stanley Cup. Ted Lindsay, a left winger on the team, worked on starting a player’s association in order to have more orderly contracts and to provide medical coverage for players who were permanently injured and could no longer play. He was traded to another team as a result of these efforts. It was many years before the NHL had a player’s association in the NHL. Joe Louis was a sports icon in Detroit, a hometown fighter who went on to win several boxing titles. He also served honorably in the armed forces during World Wat II. He was celebrated in public for these achievements, yet he was shut out of any management positions with the major automakers due to the color of his skin. The Tigers were one of the last teams in the MLB to integrate their lineup. Another chapter of City of Champions investigates the loss of the Lions and the Pistons to stadiums and arenas in the suburbs as a precursor of white flight from Detroit. Detroit’s population has gone down dramatically as a result of both the downturn in the auto industry, as well as white flight. This left the city with greatly reduced tax revenues, resulting in Detroit’s government declaring bankruptcy. The earliest link between sports and the city of Detroit actually dates to 1762. At the time the British maintained a fort in the area. As a sign of friendship, the Iroquois Indians led by Chief Pontiac offered to play a game of lacrosse as a form of entertainment on the Queen’s Birthday Celebration for the British troops garrisoned at the fort. The ball used in the game suddenly was hit out of bounds towards the fort. This was a signal for the Indians to charge on the fort with weapons they had hidden away. In time, the Iroquois turned the fort over to their allies the French. As a result, Detroit became a French settlement. Today, French names on streets, in neighborhoods, and on car brands (think Chevrolet and Pontiac). Today, the city of Detroit’s flag still includes the fleur- de -lis, the symbol of Royal France. These are just a few samples of the links between sports and the city of Detroit. Sports lovers and history buffs will discover many more interesting stories of how Detroit’s history was shaped by sports. We heartily recommend that you add City of Champions to your reading list.

On September 3, the city of Pawtucket held “The Final Inning” at McCoy Stadium, an event to give fans one last chance to visit the old ballpark before it is knocked down to make way for a new high school. The event featured food trucks, live music, and family activities throughout the day. As part of the Pawtucket Arts Festival, the day concluded with fireworks, which were a Labor Day tradition at the ballpark. About 3,000 people attended the party, reminiscing, sharing stories, and snapping photos. Sounds like a great way to say goodbye to a local institution, doesn’t it? But wait, there’s a twist in this tale. Billionaire real estate scion Stefan Soloviev has come forward to express his interest in buying and fixing McCoy Stadium. Soloviev is the chairman of the Soloviev Group and is worth $2.3 billion, per Forbes. He is the son of real estate tycoon Sheldon Solov, who passed away in 2020. Soloviev, who attended the University of Rhode Island, became interested in the property through his son Quentin. “I’m hopefully optimistic that I can pull this off,” he said. “It’s up to the people of Rhode Island at the end of the day, but on my end, I think I can take care of it.” Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien has publicly stated that saving McCoy Stadium is “off the table” because city voters overwhelmingly approved a $300 million bond measure to demolish the stadium to make way for a new high school. Pawtucket’s two high schools, William E. Tolman and Charles E. Shea were built in 1926 and 1938, respectively. In this writer’s opinion, Mr. Soloviev would be better served spending his money elsewhere. This may be a surprising opinion from someone who wrote “I Never Got To Say Goodbye.” However, times change, attitudes change, and opinions change. McCoy Stadium has been sitting idle, with little to no maintenance or upkeep, since 2019. A study done while it was still a functional ballpark estimated it would take upwards of $68 million to modernize and renovate the facility. That price has only gone up since then. In addition, affiliated minor league baseball will not be coming back to Pawtucket. Under MiLB’s territorial rules, Pawtucket (and neighboring Providence) fall under the territory of the Worcester Red Sox, since Worcester County and Providence County abut. No new team could relocate to McCoy Stadium without WooSox’ approval. That’s just not going to happen. That leaves independent ball or summer college ball as the only viable options. The New England League and Futures League both operate in the area, but neither of them could adequately fill a 10,000-seat ballpark. Two Indy Leagues, the Atlantic and Frontier Leagues, have footprints that could easily reach Rhode Island, but again, a 10,000-seat dinosaur of a park is just too big for those circuits. Soloviev believes he could get an independent team to move to McCoy. Soloviev has reportedly offered the city $1 million more than the appraised value of McCoy Stadium. Local baseball fans, including the grandniece of former Pawtucket Mayor Thomas P. McCoy (the stadium’s namesake), have launched online petitions, one of which is approaching 3,000 signatures . McCoy made her latest plea before the city council on September 6. In this author’s opinion, if Mr. Soloviev wants to sink millions of dollars into a Rhode Island ballpark, he’d be better served to build a new 5,000-seat park in Providence with all the modern amenities teams ask for today. The price tag would be similar. Also, the city of Pawtucket could use a modern High School to replace its two century-old buildings. Renovating McCoy Stadium is unlikely to attract a new team, and even less likely to host one that is successful. As much as McCoy is beloved in Rhode Island, it’s time to let go.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Gallaudet Softball Complex 800 Florida Ave NE Washington, DC 20002 Gallaudet Bison website Gallaudet Softball Complex website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 500 Lady Bisons of DC Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered private university for the education of the Deaf and hard of hearing located in Washington, D.C. The school is named for Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a pioneer in the education of the deaf. Founded in 1864, Gallaudet University was originally a grammar school for both deaf and blind children. In 1954 the school became Gallaudet College and in 1986 it was renamed Gallaudet University. The physical campus is on the National Register of Historic Places. The most popular majors at Gallaudet University are business, visual and performing arts, communication studies, physical education, and psychology. The Bison are a member of the North Eastern Athletic Conference (except for the football program which plays in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference) and play at the Division III level. The Gallaudet Softball Complex opened on March 18, 2011 against D.C. rival Catholic University. Dugouts were added in 2014 and permanent seating in 2017. Lights and a press box are planned future additions. Food & Beverage 1 There are no permanent food options at the softball complex. It looks like a potential concession stand is on design plans. Until any potential upgrade, there is a table setup and a grill for small food offerings. The table may only be there when a baseball game is going at the neighboring baseball field and/or on weekend games. The prices are reasonable. Atmosphere 2 This a pretty simple small college softball field. A small metal bleacher sits right behind the home plate and protective screen. There is a very simple scoreboard located in right center. There is not much else in terms of atmosphere. The university’s baseball field, Hoy Field , is located just a few feet away. If you are lucky, both teams will be in action so you can go from one game to another quickly. Neighborhood 3 The Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, a day school serving deaf and hard of hearing students from birth through grade 8, is located right behind the right center field fence of Hoy Field. The wonderful Union Market is located next to the university campus, although on the opposite end from Hoy Field. The market is worth a stop. The 1930s Union Terminal Market has been renovated into a gourmet food hall with numerous local vendors selling a variety of food products. Favorites of mine are Buffalo & Bergen, DC Empanadas, Peregrine Espresso and TaKorean’s Korean Tacos. Besides Union Market there is very little to do in the immediate neighborhood of Gallaudet University. Be careful driving around before or after the game as there are some dangerous neighborhoods in the area, although many are gentrifying quickly. Not too far away is a stellar cocktail bar, Smith Commons, located in the Atlas Arts District. The dizzying array of complicated drinks will amaze you. And did I mention you are right in the middle of Washington, DC? The amount of attractions, museums, restaurants and other sights are astounding. Spend some time pre or postgame seeing the many things around this great city. Fans 2 Many of the school’s fans are deaf. But this does not mean that they are quiet. Fans of the university can be boisterous and are proud of their school just like at any other university. Other fans at the Galluadet Softball Complex tend to primarily be family or friends of the players. You may see an inconsistent level of fan interaction. Access 3 For weekend games there should be plenty of parking near the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School. Weekday games will take a bit more planning as you will have to find spaces that are open to visitors. The closest Metro station is the NoMa-Gallaudet U New York Ave Station. A few years ago I would not have recommended walking the short distance between the station and campus, but the safety of the area has improved dramatically. One should still use a good amount of caution and use common sense. The biggest problem with using the Metro, is the system itself. The Metro is frustratingly overpriced compared to systems in other cities. But it really does get you to nearly all parts of the city, except for Georgetown. Just be careful on weekends when trains run less often or are in single track mode, as you may encounter some extended wait times. The system is having maintenance, mechanical and money issues so expect delays and other issues at all times. It is unfortunate, but way too true. Return on Investment 3 The price, free, is certainly reasonable. And you will probably not have to pay for parking. So, the value is certainly good. The Division III level of softball is not especially high, but the school’s conference has a nice variety of opponents. Extras 3 The grounds of the university are on the National Register of Historic Places. Take some time to check out the university facilities. Parts of the campus are also on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites and Historic American Buildings Survey. The Kendall Demonstration Elementary School has a very interesting statue located in front of their main building. Since it is next to the campus, one should check in and look at this large piece of art. The baseball and softball fields also share space with the school’s football and track stadium. The field is very nice and often hosts local recreating soccer games. Final Thoughts The Gallaudet Softball Complex is a pretty simple softball stadium. But the low cost of attendance means that this is a good value for the fan.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Trinity Forest Golf Club 5000 S Great Trinity Forest Way Dallas, TX 75217 Trinity Forest Golf Course website AT&T Byron Nelson Tournament website Year Opened: 2014 The AT&T Byron Nelson Returns Home to Dallas There are two PGA stops in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the only metropolitan area that host two events. The older of the two tournaments began in 1944 with the event’s namesake, Byron Nelson from Fort Worth, Texas, winning the inaugural event at Dallas’ Lakewood Country Club. The tournament has been played at various courses throughout the Dallas area. In 2018 the tournament celebrated its 50th Anniversary under the current name, with the opening of the tournament being played at Trinity Forest Golf Club in South Dallas – the move returned the tournament to Dallas after 35 years in Irving’s Las Colinas area. The Trinity Forest Golf Club is located nine miles south of downtown Dallas off interstate 45 in the heart of the largest urban forest in the United States. The course is links style and sits on an area of less than 150 acres. Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw with the intention to bring elite championship golf back to the City of Dallas, the new Trinity Forest Club course features dramatic green complexes and bunkering, with tall native grasses on a rolling meadow. The course is also the home course for the SMU men’s and women’s golf teams; the private course was an instant success, with club memberships owned by Tony Romo and Jordan Spieth. In addition to the golf course, the Trinity River Audubon Center and Trinity Forest Golf Club partnered to implement a Blackland Prairie Restoration Plan, restoring 75 acres of Blackland Prairie with native grasses and vegetation, to create additional habitat opportunities for native plants and animals. Food & Beverage 4 There are plenty of food and drinks throughout the course, either in the built-up suites or in the general-public concessions tents; most tents are operated by local groups as fundraisers. The concessions menu here has variety but lacks the overall wow that has been the staple at sports venues. The prices for various menu items are as follows: smoked chopped brisket sandwich or smoked link sausage sandwich $9, cheeseburgers $8, jumbo hot dogs $5.50, pulled pork sandwiches $8.50, deli hoagies, classic club subs, or chicken Caesar salad wraps $8, and jumbo hot dogs $5.50; a Bavarian Pretzel or peanuts cost $5. The one wow concessions stand would be the Korean BBQ stand called Bibigo – this concessions tent serves Shrimp Kimchi Bao, Sweet and Spicy Chicken Skewers, Jap-Chae (noodles with beef and vegetables), and Bibi-Cones (ice cream cones filled with Bulgogi or Kimchi rice). These items aren’t low in price either, ranging from $8 to $12 each. Coca-Cola is the beverage sponsor of the AT&T Byron Nelson, and sodas cost $5 for 16oz, with Smart Water at $7.50 and Dasani bottled water or Powerade for $4.50 if you want something besides soda. There are also plenty of alcoholic beverages throughout the course – Michelob Ultra is a proud sponsor of the event and is readily available, along with Estrella Jalisco, Texas’ own Ziegenbock, and Houston’s brewery Karbach Love Street. These beers are $8, while a glass of wine is $15. Grey Goose is another sponsor, and their Grey Goose 19th Hole is open to the public and is located at the corner of the 13th green and the 14th tee. This location serves Grey Goose cocktails and soft drinks, and has both an air-conditioned indoor patio and an outdoor patio. In addition, the Katy Trail Ice House Pavilion is another open-to-the-public pavilion that has a beer garden style layout and views of the 4th green and 5th tee. Atmosphere 4 The AT&T Byron Nelson has always been a go and be seen type of event for the DFW Metroplex, with most people’s idea of the event being to attend the golf tournament as a large social event. All ages and backgrounds from all over DFW can be seen walking the course throughout the weekend. From the moment patrons step off the shuttles on South Great Trinity Forest Way, the AT&T Byron Nelson atmosphere begins. The main entrances have photo ops for fans to start their day – for example, last year there was a big 50 sign for fans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Byron Nelson tournament, and this year (2019) had a Mother’s Day photo set-up, with pink hats given to all the moms in attendance. The tournament’s merchandise pavilion is also at the entrance, for fans to pick up items either before they go on the course or for when they are ready to leave on the shuttles. The box office, will call, and volunteer headquarters are also all near the shuttle drop-off. All patrons being shuttled in and walking thru the main entrance will arrive on the course at the 13th fairway, and there are anti-dust trail paths throughout the course. Fan’s options are to either find a golfer and be part of the gallery around the course, or set up in an area that not only has one green, but offers multiple greens and tees – this set up provides fans with more action, and allows them to get more involved in the golf action being played around the course. In addition, the course provides a kid zone, so parents can watch the golf action without distraction. There are also plenty of photo spots and course information signage creating more of an event than just the golf. Like Trinity Forest’s predecessor at Las Colinas, there are plenty of suites around the course creating a party type crowd around the course. The atmosphere has toned down compared to the course at the Four Seasons, however, a lot of this has to do with the wide-open course at Trinity Forest; Trinity Forest is a link style spreading more fans across the course, instead of the few holes that Las Colinas held for fans to collaborate. The atmosphere has the potential to become even better than it was at Las Colinas, though, as long as the AT&T Byron Nelson continues to improve and give the golf fans of the Metroplex the best place to enjoy the PGA in Dallas. Neighborhood 3 There really is no neighborhood around the Trinity Forest Golf Club located southeast from downtown Dallas. However, since patrons are shuttled nine miles to the course from Fair Park in Dallas, this section will focus on that area. Fair Park is part of the state fairgrounds, and like Trinity Forest Golf Club doesn’t offer much in the immediate neighborhood except The Old Mill Inn Restaurant. This eatery was built in 1936 and serves a variety of southern home cooking options. However, fans here are within a four-mile radius of several great Dallas neighborhoods, so there are plenty of wonderful places for sightseeing, eating, and enjoying yourself during the week of the AT&T Byron Nelson. Deep Ellum, The West End, Trinity Groves, and Uptown are all part of the downtown Dallas experience. Deep Ellum is a neighborhood filled with arts and entertainment venues, and has one of the best BBQ spots in the state of Texas, Pecan Lodge. The Angry Dog is another great little spot for travelers, especially those from Upstate New York, as Binghamton Spiedies are on the menu. Deep Ellum Brewery Company and Braindead Brewing are up-and-coming spots for people who enjoy craft beers. The West End Historic District is also a must for newcomers to Dallas, as this is the area where the Kennedy Assassination happened, near the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. This museum gives you the chance to relive the November 22nd day in 1963 or talk to people on Dealey Plaza about a conspiracy theory. There is so much at The West End to choose from; check out this site for more information: https://www.dallaswestend.org. If you are not searching for history, then visit Trinity Groves. Trinity Groves is a revitalized area with various restaurants and shopping. There are plenty of restaurants on the way thru Uptown on McKinney Avenue, but The Rustic on Howell Avenue is a good place because parking is much more accessible than on McKinney Ave. In addition, not many people think of Dallas as serving great pizza, but Campisi’s Restaurant on Mockingbird Lane will change your mind. If Trinity Forest Golf Club was located at the state fairgrounds, the rating for the neighborhood would max out. However, having to travel nine miles to a course that hasn’t been developed, and doesn’t have a safe neighborhood, means a modest average overall neighborhood rating at this time. Fans 4 The estimated attendance for this year’s tournament is about 200,000 for the four-day event. However, the negative reviews from fans that attended last year about the lack of shade and parking, along with this year’s inclement weather, makes the 200K number a modest hopeful reach. In general, though, the golf fans here are passionate – the calls of “Get in the hole!” on the greens are impressive, while the same calls as the players hit off the tee are just silly. But there are plenty of live moments on the course that television just can’t duplicate, such as the roar of a massive golf crowd when an athlete sinks a long putt or aces a hole-in-one during the tournament. In general golf fans have a kind demeanor, as there is no my team vs. your team attitude that other sports tend to engender; golf fans just like to enjoy the day on the course while watching some amazing professional golfers make some incredible shots. Access 3 The Trinity Forest Golf Club is located nine miles south of downtown Dallas, just off Interstate 45 at 5000 Great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas, TX. There are corporate parking lots near the course, but general parking is located at the Texas State Fairgrounds in Fair Park via Gate 15. The entrance to the parking lot is at the intersection of Haskell and Beeman; shuttles to and from the golf course are complimentary and take about 12 to 15 minutes each way. Both the parking lots at Fair Park and the golf course itself can be reached via public transportation by the DART system. The DART system connects DFW airport to points around the city of Dallas, and DART has stops at Fair Park where patrons can access the shuttles to the course. Otherwise, ride the Green Line rail south to Buckner Station, and from Buckner Station take the Route 466 West bus to the Pemberton Hill/AT&T Byron Nelson stop. Route 466 West shuttles will run every 15 minutes from 7 am to 7 pm. For Patrons wanting to use Uber/Lyft, spectators will be dropped off and picked up in a designated lot a short distance from Trinity Forest Golf Club’s main entrance. Then when you are ready to leave for the day, request your ride upon leaving the tournament, and your Uber or Lyft driver will let you know which spot they will be waiting in for pickup. Note that there are security checkpoints in the public parking lots, as well as at the main entrance for the tournament. Once at the gates to the tournament, access flows thru with little wait. Spectators can bring in items such as umbrellas (without sleeves), binoculars, and chairs (without bags). Bags larger than 6” x 6” x 6” will not be allowed in, and mobile devices must always be kept on silent, but there is a designated “Cell Phone Zone” where calls may be placed or answered. The link style course provides fans easy walking and the opportunity to quickly move around to different holes based on the action. Return on Investment 4 Daily Grounds tickets for the AT&T Byron Nelson begin at $45, and there are two single day hospitality (climate-controlled) tickets to choose from: $125 for Harwood District Club tickets (any day) showing views of the number 3 green, or $250 for tickets in the largest structure on the course, the Michelob Ultra Club (day specific), but the latter includes a complimentary buffet with beer, wine, and soft drinks. The 360-view tower has views of the number 5 green, number 6 tee, and the number 15 green. The tournament also offers free daily tickets to Military personnel, First Responders, and Youth (17 years and under). Public parking is free at the Texas State Fair Grounds at Gate 15. Patrons will be shuttled from the parking lots, and spectators will not need a ticket to ride the shuttle (admission tickets are available at the main entrance ticket booth). The concessions prices are typical of events like this, so there isn’t any savings when it comes to food and drinks. However, the new course is easy to navigate and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas will continue to improve the fan experience, to return the highest ROI that was a constant when the tournament was at the Four Seasons Las Colinas. Extras 3 One point for reutilizing a wasted and unusable landfill into the Trinity Forest Golf Club course. The course began as a wasted and unusable landfill while the City of Dallas sat in default on a state-mandated requirement to remediate the land, at an approximate cost of $12 million. By partnering with the golf course developers, the city reduced its remediation burden to roughly $4 million, and used the remaining funds to invest in community projects. In addition, there isn’t anyone that can do fundraising better than the Salesmanship Club of Dallas. The Salesmanship Club of Dallas is the chief fundraiser for the AT&T Byron Nelson, and has been the heart and soul of the tournament since 1968. Since that time the event has raised over $160 million and transformed more than 100,000 lives, making it the most successful charity event on the PGA Tour. And to continue the theme of how much the AT&T Byron Nelson reaches into the local community, the event supports the Bush Institute’s Warrior Open. This tournament began in 2011 for United States military personnel seriously wounded or injured since September 11, 2001 – since 2011, more than 140 warriors have participated in the Military Service Initiative’s Team 43 Sports, which includes the Warrior Open and the annual W100K bike ride. Former President George W. Bush is even a participant in the golf tournament. But the biggest extra from the new venue is being able to witness a different type of golf course. The course itself will continue to improve and become challenging for players, while the course infrastructure will only get better each year, improving the fan experience. For example, the tournament recently added shaded viewing areas with structures and decks to combat the first-year complaints of no shade. Final Thoughts Over the years the AT&T Byron Nelson Tournament, while being played at the Four Seasons Las Colinas, became a Dallas area block party combined with a PGA Tour event. The patrons would settle in a party mood on the first two holes, then finish the celebration at the last two holes. The Par-3 17th hole was the one fans enjoyed most and could change the tournament on a Sunday – the hole’s water hazard, in front of the green, was an easy way for a golfer to lose the tournament. The fans surrounded the fairway and that hole in suites and villas that were set up to party. The Trinity Forest Golf Club, however, gives a much different feel, with its wide-open field where fans can see more than one hole from one spot. The biggest fan complaint in the first year was the lack of shade around the course, so Byron Nelson Tournament officials have erected misting systems and increased shaded areas by bringing in some trees to alleviate this concern. While it is still too early to decide if moving the tournament from Las Colinas to South Dallas was the best decision, the Trinity Forest Golf Club course has the potential to become a great golf venue once the infrastructure develops, and golf patrons adapt to the change that has the PGA back home in Dallas.

At the Stadium Journey Convention, one of the stops was in Aberdeen, Maryland, home of the IronBirds. Grab a beer and join Paul and Dave as they delve deep into the Ripken experience. Is it too much Ripken? Is it not enough? Welcome to the beginning of the second fifty, on Stadium Journey's Obstructed Views! You can find Stadium Journey's review of Ripken Stadium and the Aberdeen Ironbirds game day experience here.

Brett Chaves, the Director of Communication for the Brockton Rox of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League and the new New England expansion team in the Frontier League, talks about the plans for two teams in Brockton for 2024. Audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast can be found by searching HIAC Talk Radio wherever you look for your favorite podcasts. Video simulcasts of all the Stadium Journey podcasts can be found on Stadium Journey's YouTube page . Join us live as we record every other Tuesday at 7 PM Eastern at danlaw.tv .

Philadelphia features all of their major sports facilities in the same complex, a practice that is unique for major cities. Does this make sense? Should other cities consider the same plan? Grab a beer and join Paul and Dave for the latest episode of Stadium Journey's Obstructed Views. 🏒🏒 You can find Stadium Journey's review of Wells Fargo Center and the Philadelphia Flyers game day experience here.

Photos by Paul Derrick, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Montagne Center 4400 MLK Blvd Beaumont, TX 77710 Lamar Cardinals website Montagne Center website Year Opened: 1984 Capacity: 10,080 Cardinals Got Pep Located near the southeast coast of Texas you will find the city of Beaumont, which is well known for its place in the Texas Oil business. If you are ever in Beaumont look past the seaport and other huge business headquarters and take a look at a hidden gem, the Montagne Center, which is the home court of the Lamar Cardinals. Built in 1984 the Montagne Center seats just over 10,000 people for games. I’m not saying you’re going to see 10,000 people at a game but it is capable of seating that many people. Food & Beverage 2 There is absolutely nothing special to choose from on the food menu, but it is still a respectable selection considering the size of the venue. On the menu you have a choice of a hot dog, hot dog with cheese, hot dog with chili or hot dog with chili and cheese, not a lot of variety but all nicely priced. The snack stand also carries nachos, popcorn, candy, pickles and pretzels, also reasonably priced. The only variety items I found were a sausage link and boudain which is a pork rice dressing stuffed into a pork casing, very popular in the south. I found the boudain to be quite disappointing but was happy at the size for only $4.75. Your drink selections are limited to Pepsi products and are available for $3 for a small and $4 for a large. Overall I would eat before or after the game, but if you’re looking for a snack, something here should do it. Atmosphere 3 The overall atmosphere of the arena is not the best but not the worst I have seen. The arena concourse is nice and has plenty of photos and plaques to commemorate Cardinal players, new and old. Once I walked into the actual arena I was pleasantly surprised by the seating and size of the arena. One of the things that quickly caught my attention though was the pep band. I am going on record as saying the Cardinals have one of the best pep bands I have ever heard. Playing everything from great classics to new age hits, they kept the few fans there bobbing their heads and tapping their feet all night long. Big props to the music department and Lamar on this one. Neighborhood 2 Luckily Beaumont is only an hour and a half east of Houston because in my numerous trips to the city I have found fairly little to do. They do have the South Texas State Fair every year which is the 2nd largest fair in the state of Texas. The fair features a livestock show, commercial exhibition and a carnival. The Beaumont Jazz & Blues Fest is held every year in downtown Beaumont, for all the Jazz and Blues fans. As for great eating I will only recommend one place and that is Sugas Deep South Cuisine & Jazz Bar, absolutely great food and well worth the price. Fans 2 The 2,000 – 3,000 fans that were in attendance were mediocre at best but did know when to cheer on the Cardinals the most. The arena may be a tad too large for a team at this level right now. As the noise made by the fans is hardly heard at all at times due to the size of the arena. The fans do what they are supposed to do but nothing that will blow you away. Access 4 Access to and from the stadium is about as easy and good as it gets. Located just off I-10 you will have no problem spotting the Montagne Center. Parking is free and is in abundance, which is always a plus for me. It also makes for easy entrance and exit to and from the arena. The concourses are very wide which means you should have no trouble making your way around the arena. Bathrooms are plentiful. Return on Investment 3 With tickets ranging from $6-$12, and a meal costing you on average only about $7-$8, Lamar is making a trip to the arena worth the cost. The Southland conference may not be known for hailing any power house hoop squads, but they are growing. I think any basketball fan that enjoys watching some good college hoops will find this well worth the $20 investment. Extras 2 There are not a whole lot of great extras provided at Montagne. One thing I will say is a definite extra point goes to the pep band which in my eyes is one of the best in the land. Another extra point goes out to the beauty of the Montagne Center, by just looking at it you would have no idea it was pushing thirty years old. Final Thoughts The Lamar Cardinals definitely provide entertainment for the money. If you’re in or around Beaumont, it is definitely worth the money to catch the Cardinals in action at Montagne.

What's the fuss over the new MLB Fanatics/Nike Vapor Premier jerseys, and should NHL fans be worried when Fanatics takes over this fall?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast can be found by searching HIAC Talk Radio   wherever you look for your favorite podcasts. Video simulcasts of all the Stadium Journey podcasts can be found on Stadium Journey's YouTube page . Join us live as we record every other Monday on our social media streaming channels.

The Hamilton Bulldogs have a storied, albeit tumultuous, history bouncing up and down through the leagues over the decades. The latest chapter seemed to bring the promise of stability; a position in the Ontario Hockey League as one of the ‘big-market’ clubs, playing in a large arena in a large city. But in the pursuit of that permanency, the Bulldogs are upping sticks and leaving Hamilton for a while. The team, who won the league in the last season before Covid, and then again in the first season after it, will be moving to the nearby city of Brantford for at least three years. The cause is a wholesale renovation of their home FirstOntario Centre, badly needed as the ‘80s-era venue is slated to become the centrepiece of a neighbourhood redevelopment project. The renovation will tear back the arena right down to the studs, before rebuilding it in place. The plan has not been without controversy; American sport development group OVG originally planned to work during the off-season, preventing disruption to playing schedules. However, the group changed their aims abruptly and apparently with little warning to the Bulldogs or their fellow arena tenants Toronto Rock Lacrosse Club and Hamilton Honey Badgers Basketball Club. The 17 500-seat arena should be reopened in 2025, unrecognisable and modern compared to the current state of the facility. The work is to include a completely rebuilt exterior, new concourses, a redesigned seating bowl, new dining and back-of-house facilities, and a new suite level. On a larger scale, the arena will anchor a complete redesign of its city block, with residential, commercial, and cultural development exceeding $500 million. In the interim, the Bulldogs have landed in the nearby city of Brantford, famous as the birthplace of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. They’ll play out of the Brantford Civic Centre, near the city’s downtown and casino districts. The 3 500-seat arena is to receive $9 million in renovations to bring it up to OHL standards, and will host the Bulldogs for at least three years. Darkly, the Bulldogs have not officially stated they intend to return to Hamilton, though that is the general expectation. Management have complained publicly about the lack of transparency that led to their unexpected removal from the arena. Still, the prevailing thought is that the Bulldogs will return to Hamilton when work is complete. So far, season membership sales in Brantford have been very popular, surpassing 2 000 tickets. But the Bulldogs aren’t the only ones displaced by the construction. The National Lacrosse League’s Toronto Rock, who only moved to Hamilton in 2021, are now searching for a temporary home. The leading candidate is rumoured to be Kitchener’s Memorial Auditorium, but nothing has been announced as yet. On the basketball front, the Hamilton Honey Badgers, part of the young CEBL league, will permanently leave the city. They’ve relocated to the Toronto suburb of Brampton, playing out of the CAA Centre (a former OHL rink itself). Though most expect the Bulldogs and Rock to return to Hamilton soon enough, the future is murky at this point. Meanwhile, for the ageing arena at the heart of Hamilton’s central business district, a new era is set to dawn.

Image Courtesy of Orlando City Baseball Dreamers LLC An Orlando group led by Orlando Magic co-founder Pat Williams is pushing for a Major League Baseball franchise in Orlando. First announced in 2019, the Orlando Dreamers would be either an MLB expansion franchise or a relocated Tampa Bay Rays team situated right in the heart of Orlando's tourism corridor. Williams unveiled plans for a 45,000-seat stadium complex, loaded on a 35+ acre tract of land across the street from SeaWorld Orlando, next to their Aquatica waterpark. Situated off International Drive near the intersection of I-4 and SR-528, the site would also include 6,700 parking spaces in garages as well as office spaces and a 1,000-room hotel. The stadium would also have a walkover bridge to connect to a proposed SunRail station at the adjacent Orange County Convention Center. Image Courtesy of Orlando City Baseball Dreamers LLC The timing of the announced proposal comes after the Oakland Athletics announced they would be moving to Las Vegas to a new stadium there. Tampa Bay continues to hang in the balance with several stadium proposals having fallen through over the past few years. "This market is growing rapidly and growing in all four directions. They tell us a thousand people a day are moving to Central Florida and that doesn't take into account that this year there'll be 80 million visitors," Williams said. "If we do this, [Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings] said, this ballpark has to be a tourist attraction unto itself. He said people from around the world are going to have to put this on their 'checklist.'" Williams' group filed an official motion with Orange County, Florida to request funding for the stadium. Funding would come from a mix of public and private money. The initial price tag for the project sits at $1.7 billion, with $700 million coming from private funding. The remaining $975 million would be funded by a 30-year municipal bond paid for by Orange County's Tourist Development Tax (TDT) funds. No additional funding for the stadium or its daily operation would be required or requested from government sources beyond this initial requested investment. "This stadium would make us the leading candidate for the next MLB franchise. Best media market, best stadium, best location...we have everything here in Orlando," said Williams. "You don't get many chances to add a professional sports franchise to your community. If we don't act now, we may never have this opportunity again." A report by JLL, a national professional services firm hired by the Williams group, states that construction would result in 20,000 jobs and boost the region's economy by $2.7 billion. Once finished, the stadium would increase jobs by 25,000 and generate an annual economic output of $1.16 billion per year to Orange County. Potential growth includes additional events at the stadium, including potential spring training games. “Orlando has proven in the years since the Magic began playing in 1989 that it is every bit a big league sports town,” said Williams. “The Orlando Magic is as popular as ever, soccer fans have embraced the Orlando City Lions, and now it’s time to step up to the plate and make baseball happen, too." Image Courtesy of Orlando City Baseball Dreamers LLC

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Gillette Stadium 1 Patriot Place Foxborough, MA 02035 UMass Minutemen football website Gillette Stadium website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 65,756 (2016) A Campaign Far From Home For The Minutemen When the University of Massachusetts announced that they would be moving their program up to FBS, the top level of collegiate football, they had a problem. Their longtime on-campus home, McGuirk Alumni Stadium , did not meet minimum standards for an FBS facility. While McGuirk Stadium was renovated to bring it up to minimum standards, the team played at Gillette Stadium, better known as the home of the New England Patriots of the National Football League, for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Once work on McGuirk was completed, the Minutemen continued to play half of their home schedule at Gillette. The school and stadium had a contract that called for a portion of the school’s home games to be played in Foxboro through 2016. UMass will be playing all of their home games on campus in 2017, and have a single game scheduled at Gillette Stadium (against Brigham Young) in 2018. While they were a member of Division 1-A (and subsequently FCS), the Minutemen were very successful, winning 22 conference titles, appearing in two bowl games, eight NCAA tournaments, and three title games. UMass won a Division 1-A National Championship in 1998. The UMass program has struggled since their elevation to FBS. With the Gillette Stadium portion of their 2016 home schedule complete, they are 2-18 in Foxboro. Overall, their record is not much better, as they have complied a 5-31 record since 2012, a winning percentage of .139.   Food & Beverage 4 For Minutemen games, Gillette Stadium scales back their concessions due to the smaller capacity of the venue for college football. This does not mean that Minutemen fans have limited menu selections. Enough of the 38 permanent concession stands are open here to ensure that the entire concession menu is available and lines do not get too long. Gillette Stadium’s food offerings hit all the expected notes. Stands are organized by the type of food offered at each one. Minutemen fans can choose from Fried Tenders & Wings (chicken products), Stadium Grille (burgers, cheesesteaks and grilled chicken), Market Fresh Deli (Wraps, sandwiches and salads), Backyard BBQ (pulled pork, pulled chicken and brisket), Italian Sausage (sausages, bratwurst and hot dogs) and Stadium Pizza (Papa Gino’s pizza). The Lighthouse Grill behind The Fort offers burgers, chicken tenders and pizza. Fans may have to search a little to find their desired items, but the quality is worth the effort. Fans looking for healthier alternatives will find wraps, sandwiches and salads at the Market Fresh Deli stand. Items such as turkey burgers and Kosher hot dogs can be found throughout all stands as well. Several portable stands are open to augment the menu. Food carts offer items such as nachos, Friendly’s Ice Cream, Kayem hot dogs and assorted snacks. Pepsi products are featured at Gillette Stadium. Fans looking for adult beverages can choose from several national and international brands, including Bud Light, Coors, Shock Top, Heineken, Guinness and Bass Ale. Many fans will seek out the popular Beers of New England stand, which features local microbrewed favorites from Sam Adams, Harpoon, Long Trail and Allegash Breweries. Be warned that you will be paying NFL prices for concessions here at Gillette Stadium. Atmosphere 2 One commonly heard complaint about the gameday atmosphere at Gillette Stadium is that even when there is a solid crowd of 20,000 here for a UMass game, any energy generated is swallowed up by the sheer enormity of the facility. For Minutemen games, the entire upper deck of Gillette Stadium is closed off, along with portions of the lower deck. The large empty spaces do indeed put a damper on things here. With Gillette Stadium’s location 92 miles from UMass’ campus in Amherst, it’s amazing that so many students make the trek east. Still, the student section remains only half filled. Despite the best efforts of the marching band, cheerleaders, dance squad and stadium personnel, 50,000 empty seats tend to minimize any noise and energy generated here. Neighborhood 4 Any long time visitor to Gillette Stadium and its predecessor, Foxboro Stadium can tell you what a wasteland the area around the Stadium used to be. That began to change in 2007 with the development of Patriot Place, an open air shopping center and entertainment venue located on the former site of Foxboro Stadium. Today Patriot Place consists of dozens of retail stores, over a dozen restaurants, entertainment venues including a bowling alley, theater, and concert venue, a nature trail, cranberry bog, four star hotel, outpatient health care center, and the Patriots Hall of Fame. Fans coming to Gillette Stadium for a Minutemen game who do not wish to partake in the tailgating scene can choose from eateries ranging from the upscale (Davio’s Steakhouse, Twenty 8 Food and Spirits), to national chains (Red Robin, Five Guys Burgers). Choices run the gamut here, from American fare (CBS Scene, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill), to fine seafood (Skipjacks, Blue Fin Lounge), to sports bars and night clubs (Bar Louie). If you would like to enjoy some shopping before the game, the stores at Patriot Place do not focus solely on sporting goods as you might expect from a mall located at a football stadium. In addition to the dozens of stores here, the Showcase Cinema de Lux shows first run movies in their theaters, Showcase Live contains a 16,000 square foot concert hall, and Splitsville is a combination bowling alley/restaurant/night club. With Patriot Place remaining open after games, fans are not obligated to leave immediately after the conclusion of the game. While Gillette Stadium’s “neighborhood” may not be an organic one, everything you need or want can be found there. You can’t ask for much more than that. Fans 2 Despite initial projections, fans just have not flocked to Gillette Stadium as the administration had hoped. Over the five years that UMass played in Foxboro, the team averaged about 13,000 fans per game. The two hour drive from Amherst, the longest distance between any campus and home stadium in the country, has limited attendance in a major way, as has the team’s lack of success since moving up to FBS. On the plus side, those students who travel the two hours to see the Minutemen play really want to be there, and are enthusiastic in their support of the home team. Access 4   Any local football fan can tell you about the nightmarish traffic at Gillette Stadium for Patriots games and concerts. Fortunately for UMass football fans, getting to and from Gillette for Minutemen games is much easier. Gillette Stadium is located on Route 1, a four lane highway near the intersection of interstates 95 and 495. The legendary traffic jams for Patriot games here are not an issue with the smaller Minutemen games. The 16,500 parking spaces surrounding the stadium are more than enough to handle a typical UMass crowd. Once fans arrive at the stadium, they will enjoy plenty of room to tailgate, wide and well-marked pedestrian walkways leading to both the stadium and Patriot Place, and nicely manicured grounds. For fans who can recall the old dirt parking lots and cold metal bleachers of the old Foxboro Stadium, this is a different world, indeed. Fans will enter Gillette Stadium through one of three entry plazas. The two entry plazas on the west side of the stadium deposit fans on the main concourse above the 100 level seats. The third entrance is located by the Patriots Hall of Fame, and fans entering here will find themselves at the base of the bridge and lighthouse. Ramps lead up from here to the 100 level concourse. The 100-level concourse completely encircles the field and is more than wide enough to handle traffic for the typical Minutemen crowd. Lines at concession stands and restrooms are manageable, even during halftime. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for UMass games at Gillette Stadium cost $25 for all seats. Fans wanting a more upscale experience can purchase seats in the Putnam Club for $50. Parking for Minutemen games is free. Fans used to the high NFL and concert prices at Gillette Stadium will be very pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately, if purchasing concessions during a UMass game, you will be paying NFL prices for food and beverages. Extras 2 An extra point is awarded for the opportunity to catch some big time college football in a state of the art facility, a rarity in this part of the country. UMass’ presence at Gillette gives fans who cannot afford to come to Patriots games a chance to experience this stadium. A second extra point is awarded to the diehard fans who travel two hours each way to cheer on their favorite team. Final Thoughts Gillette Stadium is a fine facility, one that annually finishes in the top ten of Stadium Journey’s rankings of all NFL facilities. It’s simply too big and too far from the UMass campus in Amherst to be a viable home for the Minutemen. For the 2017 season UMass will play all of their home games at the on campus McGuirk Stadium, and going forward will only play marquee games at Gillette.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Magness Arena 2240 Buchtel Blvd Denver, CO 80208 Denver Pioneers website Magness Arena website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 7,200 Crimson and Gold University of Denver (DU) Pioneers are more known for their ice hockey, lacrosse, and skiing teams; not so much their basketball team. That doesn’t mean a fan should forego attending a basketball game at the impressive Magness Arena which opened in 1999. The school colors of crimson and gold are proudly displayed in the arena and along the walkways outside the venue. DU Pioneer murals and banners are prominently hung along the concourse walls and from the rafters above the court. Most of the banners and the history shown in the concourse (there’re many to see and view) are not of the men’s basketball program but from the other fine sporting teams and programs the University of Denver has developed. Take some time to stroll the concourse to see and read the DU Pioneers’ accomplishments presented here. Beginning in 1904 the basketball team played at a regional level. After WWII, the team was in an NCAA Div 1 position until 1979 when they moved to Div II and NAIA levels. The Pioneers moved back up to Div 1 in 1998 and have been in the Sun Belt Conference, the Western Athletic Conference and are currently a member of The Summit League (beginning in 2013). Food & Beverage 3 Although not all food concession stands are open for a basketball game at Magness Arena, there is still enough open for a snack or meal when attending a match. Three choices of burgers with fries or a chicken finger basket go for $8.75, fish and chips are $9, pizza, bratwurst or a hot dog run $4.50 – $5.50. Snacks include popcorn, nachos, candy, and soft pretzels ($3.50 – $5.50). Pepsi is the soft drink provider with drinks running $4.25 – $6.50. Bottled water and hot chocolate/coffee are also for sale ($4). Alcohol is served at Magness Arena. The concession stands offer the domestic Budweiser and Coors brands, while Shock Top, Canadian Molsen, and Colorado Native are available at some stands ($7.75). A separate cocktail kiosk offers hard liquor, beer, wine, hard cider, and margaritas ($7.50 – $9). Visa, MasterCard, and cash are accepted at all stands. Atmosphere 3 Magness Arena provides an enjoyable, safe environment in which to watch a game. All seats are crimson colored and are either cushioned folding chairs or stadium-style, fold-down seats (cushioned as well). Most have cup holders and except for court side or handicapped sections, legroom is minimal. The seating area surrounds the court, however, for low attendance games, the end zones are blocked off with black curtains. Select seats in section 11 if wanting to face the logo center court and look at the player benches. A four-sided, center hung video board televises the game live and the quality is pretty crisp and clear. Two LED video boards which display players on court and their stats (points, assists, rebounds, fouls, etc) are mounted in opposite corners of the arena and dot matrix scoreboards are in the opposite corners of the venue. Cheerleaders and a pep band are present. Giveaways include things like T’s for 3’s or if the Pioneers get 80 points or more, everyone gets a coupon for a Smiling Moose sandwich. Half time entertainment at the game of this review was a basketball contest between two local elementary schools (always enjoyable to watch). The music is a tad on the loud side (sometimes can’t hear what the announcer is stating clearly) but for the most part is only played on breaks and at half time. Magness Arena is kept chilly so remember to bring a jacket and gloves (yes, even to a basketball game). Neighborhood 3 I did not notice a hotel within walking distance (1/2 mile) to the arena. However, there are many along the RTD light rail line. There’s a LaQuinta Inn & Suites one light rail station away (without light rail, it’s maybe a 1.2 mile hike to DU). Many eating establishments are within walking distance (1/2 mile or less) of the University. Fast food chains of Qdoba, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Starbucks, Jimmy John’s, etc are close by. Two non-fast food places I can recommend are Crimson and Gold Tavern and Spanky’s Urban Roadhouse. Both are sports bars with 5+ TVs showing a variety of sporting events. Food and service is fine at both places, nothing fancy – a good salad or burger and a beer. Jerusalem Restaurant, an award winning Middle Eastern inn, is just a few blocks away and also worth a visit. For those into craft brews, Fermaentra, a small, independently-owned brewery is also just a few blocks away and offers a variety of artsy, world class brews. Plenty of sporting venues are in the Ritchie Center (the sports complex of the University of Denver – including Magness Arena) and surrounding area: lacrosse, tennis, gymnastics, soccer, and more. Take a stroll through the campus and neighborhood to see the playing fields and the buildings that are rich with beauty and tradition with 21st century buildings mixed with those built from the 1890s – 1950s. The Pepsi Center is a little over 6 miles from Magness Arena (and accessible via the light rail) so if in town and a little Nuggets action is desired, take the E line down or head south on I-25. Fans 3 Pioneer basketball fans are a delightful mix. The biggest fans are the players, cheerleaders, and pep band. Lots of families with children in tow are present. Some students attend – not many – I expect when the Pioneers play local rival Colorado College this may increase, even in basketball. Plenty of alumni and retired fans attend the games as well. All fans are respectful of visiting fans, players and each other. It is a safe place to visit. Access 4 Getting to the arena is extremely easy via either light rail or vehicle. Light Rail lines E, F, H drop you off at the University station. The light rail fare went up on 1/1/2019 ($10.50 all-day pass) so it is actually less expensive to drive and park ($5) and since the basketball arena doesn’t fill up, it’s pretty easy getting out after a game. The arena is right off the I-25 / University Ave exit. In addition, one can find neighborhood parking just two blocks away at no charge. Some close-by metered parking can be found which is monitored Mon – Sat; free on Sundays. Denver International (DIA) is the closet commercial airport about 30 miles from the university. The concourse does not get packed during half time so people movement is free flowing. Plenty of clean restrooms are handy with almost no lines. Return on Investment 4 Individual tickets run $12 – $17, so it’s very affordable sports entertainment. With the ability to park for free ($5 at the most) and average concession prices, attending a game is worth the price. Hopefully the team will start winning more games and then the dollars spent will become an even better entertainment investment. Extras 2 The court has a picturesque city skyline with mountain peaks in the background, quite fitting for Denver. A small merchandise stand with clothing and trinkets is on right upon entering the west entrance (the side across from the soccer and lacrosse fields by the carillon tower). Final Thoughts Watching some basketball at the University of Denver offers an opportunity for fans of any age to enjoy college level play at very affordable prices. Minimal student influence deprives the game of some college atmosphere, but the experience is still a positive one.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Waldron Family Stadium College Ln Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers website Waldron Family Stadium website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 1,000 Mount Soccer In between Washington, DC and Gettysburg, PA sits the second oldest Catholic university in America. Mount St. Mary’s sits on 1,400 acres at the base of the Catoctin Mountains. Shockingly the sports teams at university use the Mountaineers moniker. The soccer team had been around from 1988 through 2012, when it was discontinued for financial reasons. In 2018, the team came back to the campus. Basketball is one of the biggest sports at the college in terms of success. Mount St. Mary’s has had some success in other sports, most notably track. In the 1988 Olympic Games, Mount St. Mary’s athlete Peter Rono won gold in the 1500 meters run. Waldron Family Stadium was opened in 2006 and is named in honor of Trustee Emeritus Eugene Waldron, and his family. Food & Beverage 3 There is a small, but nice concession stand at Waldron Family Stadium. You will not want to have your entire meal at this stand, but if you are in the mood for $2 sodas and $2 hot dogs, then this is the right place. There are some nice table seating options right in front of the concession stand where you can still watch the game action. Atmosphere 3 The Waldron Family Stadium is a pretty simple facility with a few sets of grandstands on one side of the field. It offers a nice view at a nice level off of the field. There are seat backs in a few of the sections closest to the press box. The field is an all-weather synthetic field turf that also is the home to women’s lacrosse and the university’s soccer programs. The stadium also offers great views west towards the rest of campus and the sloping mountains of western Maryland. To be fair, the game I attended was a rainy, cold, messy affair. I have been to other soccer games at the stadium and they draw better than the one I attended, although not as well as the more popular lacrosse program. Please note that some of the images in the gallery are of the stadium during a lacrosse game. Neighborhood 3 There is nothing within walking distance to the campus. You will need to make a short drive into town to find any food or drink options. Emmitsburg is a pretty small town, but does have some interesting places that draw people to the area, besides just the university. The town is the home of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, National Emergency Training Center, and Emergency Management Institute. Also in the immediate area are some very notable Catholic attractions. It is a Catholic pilgrimage site and is the location of the Basilica and National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton as well as the site of the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. A trip to the area demands a visit to the grotto even if you are not religious. It would be hard not to be impressed with the quiet awesomeness found here. Nearby Thurmont also has some attractions of its own, including Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin Mountain Park, which contains the presidential retreat of Camp David. Just note if you are hiking in the woods and see signs to turn around or be shot, these are not jokes. Frederick is about 30 miles away, while Baltimore (60 miles) and Washington, DC (70 miles) are the closest large cities. Back in Emmitsburg, the best food option is the The Ott House Pub in downtown. This bar and restaurant is a great mix of locals, firefighters, and university students. The food menu will not blow you away but their wings, as well as their hot roast beef sandwich, will certainly hit the spot. Check to see if they have a local beer from Flying Dog Brewery on tap. Gettysburg is 13 miles north. If you have time to visit the massive amounts of memorials and battlegrounds you should do so. Just plan ahead as crowds are huge at many times of the year. Fans 3 The fans here at the Mount tend to be knowledgeable, smart and respectful. Access 4 Sure, Emmitsburg can feel like it is in the middle of nowhere, but it really is not. There is a major highway, Route 15, which divides the campus. This route runs from Frederick in the south, northwards towards Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. Waldron Family Stadium and the rest of the PNC Sports Complex is located on the east side of Route 15, while the main part of the university campus is located on the west side. A well lit and secured tunnel connects the two parts of campus. There is also plenty of free parking. Return on Investment 4 Prices are fairly cheap with $8 for general admission. Those are bargain prices, especially for a Division I level sports team. Tickets are available at the gate on game day only. Extras 3 Check to see if there are any other games in the PNC Sports Complex while you are at a game. Check out the massive field of solar panel arrays that the university has installed near the athletic complex. The solar farm produces more than 22,000,000 kilowatt hours of emissions-free electricity per year. The view is another extra. Although not large mountains, more like large hills, the mountains that the university sits along are very nice and offer great views. Final Thoughts Mount St. Mary’s Waldron Family Stadium is a simple, but well-appointed venue to watch a good level of soccer action. With extremely fair prices and good concession offerings this stadium is a must visit.

Photo courtesy of the Texas Bowl On Wednesday, December 4th, Lone Star Sports and Entertainment and ESPN Events – the joint partners that present and own the annual Texas Bowl  – announced a new a new title sponsor that will begin this season. Texas based company Kinder’s will serve as the new title sponsor for the game , which will feature a matchup of a Big 12 team against an SEC team at NRG Stadium in Houston on December 31st. According to a news release, Kinder’s is recognized as “a leading provider of premium quality sauces and seasonings” and has been in business for over 75 years. Founded by World War II veteran John Kinder in San Pablo, CA in 1946, the company is known for its lines of barbecue and wing sauces, as well as its spice rubs. “We are beyond excited to announce our partnership with the Texas Bowl ,” said Kinder’s Co-CEO & Chief Brand Officer Jim Hart in a news release. “At Kinder’s we appreciate the kind of obsession it takes for these athletes and coaches to get to this level. We aspire to bring that same passion and commitment to everything we make, and it is a privilege to be part of providing the stage for them to showcase their incredible talents.” This will be the 19th edition of the Texas Bowl – the 2023 edition saw the then # 22 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys defeat the Texas A&M Aggies by a score of 31-23 in front of an announced crowd of over 55,000. According to Texas Bowl representatives, since 2014 the contest has become the most-attended bowl game outside of those participating in the College Football Playoffs. “We are thrilled to welcome Kinder’s to our family here in Houston as the title sponsor of the Kinder’s Texas Bowl,” said Lone Star Sports & Entertainment General Manager David Fletcher. “Everything is bigger in Texas, especially the passion for food, family, and football, so to have an opportunity to work with a partner like Kinder’s who values each of those to further enhance the experience for fans, teams, and our community, it is truly special.” Kickoff for the 2024 edition of the Kinder’s Texas Bowl is scheduled for 2:30pm, and the game will be simulcast on ESPN and ESPN+. ---- Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Mascot photo courtesy of Brockton Rox. Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Campanelli Stadium 1 Feinberg Way Brockton, MA 02301 Brockton Rox website Campanelli Stadium website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 4,750 Rox Revival    When the Brockton Rox left the Can-Am League in 2012 and moved to the summer collegiate wood-bat Futures League, team ownership assured fans that the move was temporary, and the Rox would return to professional baseball quickly once they straightened out their finances. It took 13 long years, but the Brockton Rox are finally back in professional baseball. What a long, strange trip it’s been.      The original iteration of the Rox debuted in the Northern League in 2002. Their home, Campanelli Stadium, opened along with the start of the team. The ballpark was named for Alfred Campanelli, a suburban housing mogul and Brockton native. He donated two million dollars to the City of Brockton for a project that would “substantially benefit the people of Brockton.”      The team was a success, bringing affordable baseball to the hardscrabble city of Brockton, located about 25 miles south of Boston. The club was christened the Rox, a derivative of the nearby Red Sox and to honor Brockton native Rocky Marciano, the legendary heavyweight champion who went 49-0 during his career.     However, the team’s success on the field and at the gate did not translate to the front office, where the team slipped into unmanageable debt. As a last-ditch effort to keep baseball alive in Brockton, the franchise was moved to the collegiate Futures League until they got the team’s finances under control.     Unfortunately for local fans, this never happened. The Rox passed through a series of ownership groups who seemed to progressively pay less and less attention to the team and the stadium. Factor in similar neglect from the city, and Campanelli began to deteriorate, culminating in an infamous raccoon infestation  at the ballpark.      Things began to turn around in the early 20s when new team ownership and Brockton city administration partnered to invest some long-overdue attention and money into Campanelli Stadium. Renovations were made to virtually every corner of the facility, including new offices, clubhouses, plumbing, HVAC and kitchen equipment and a new video scoreboard in left-center field. The stated goal of the upgrades were to bring professional baseball back to the city.     In 2024 these efforts were rewarded when the independent Frontier League granted an expansion franchise to Brockton. The team was christened the “Chowdahheads” after a standard name the team contest. After lukewarm reaction and copyright issues, the team pivoted and rebranded as the Knockouts. For the 2024 season, two teams (the professional Knockouts and the summer collegiate Rox), played at Campanelli.     As you might expect, this wasn’t an ideal situation for either team. Neither team attracted a decent following, and the splitting of resources affected all aspects of operation. The Rox announced they would be folding at the conclusion of the 2024 Futures League season.    On January 29, 2025, a new ownership group, headed by New York Boulders owners Bill Janetschek, Rob Janetschek, Shawn Reilly and Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Rice, was introduced to the public. They immediately announced that the team would return to the classic “Brockton Rox” name and logo with the goal of returning professional baseball in the city to its glory days.  Food & Beverage 3   There are a pair of concession stands located on either side of the main entrance of the ballpark. Depending on the size of the crowd, one or both of the stands may be open. Basic stadium fare is offered here, with hot dogs, burgers and chicken tenders anchoring the menu. Assorted sides, including french fries, pretzels, popcorn and chips round out the menu. Portable stands sell walking tacos and Mini Melts. There are food and beverage specials throughout the week.   Coca-Cola products are featured at Campanelli Stadium. Fans looking for an adult beverage can choose from a selection of beer including Budweiser, Corona and Dogfish Ale. The Old Smoky Moonshine stand offers an adult beverage alternative. While the old fan favorite right field beer garden has not materialized (yet!), it has surfaced in the left field pavilion, where fans can watch the game at field level and play some tailgating-type games.   Atmosphere 3    Here is where fans who have been visiting Campanelli Stadium in recent years will see the biggest difference. The buzz is back in Brockton for the 2025 season. New ownership is working hard to not only get fans back in the seats, but to make sure they spend as little time as possible in those seats.   The nightly promotional schedule features some sort of deal or attraction every game. Celebrity guests including part owner Jim Rice and actor Steve Shirripa from the Sopranos have appeared to throw out first pitches and sign autographs for fans. Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie will actually pitch an inning for the team in an August game.   If you’re a traditional baseball fan who likes to watch a ball game in silence so you can hear the sounds of the game, you are not the target audience at a Rox game. The Rox game day staff have cultivated an entertaining show for Rox fans. Aside from your typical music and sound effects, which walk the line between being entertaining and overbearing, there is a diverse lineup of between inning games and promotions, which vary from night to night. Some favorites have been the Brockton Bread Race, which features three costumed bakery items, and "Find the Frank," where a young fan frantically searches the stadium for a staffer wearing a hot dog costume. Frank has become a Brockton fan favorite, working his way into various other promotions throughout the year, causing chaos wherever he goes. The Rox employ an emcee who ensures the fans are involved in the game and the energy levels are up, and he is supported by the PA announcer, who leans into his work, leading some giveaways and promotions himself. The two have a nice chemistry and some good back and forth. Fan cams, dance contests and junior announcers ensure that the fans are part of the show, too.   In recent years Campanelli has felt more like a library than a ballpark. New Rox management has taken the old “Fun is Good” attitude pioneered by the original Rox and turned it up to eleven. So far, results are positive. If there were more fans in attendance, this score would surely rise. Neighborhood 3    Campanelli Stadium is situated on the campus of Brockton High School, the largest High School in Massachusetts. Brockton is a city of about 105,000 residents located 25 miles south of Boston. Originally named North Bridgewater, the city was later named in honor of Isaac Brock, the British commanding general at the Battle of Queenston Heights, the first major battle of the War of 1812. A couple of trivial facts about Brockton: during the Civil War it was the nation’s largest supplier of shoes, and it is the second windiest city in the United States.     There are many dining options in the immediate vicinity of Campanelli Stadium for visiting fans, but many of these establishments are of the fast-food variety. Among the more notable spots nearby are Pho 89, Charley’s Cheesesteaks, and McMenamy’s Seafood. Stadium Journey recommends a pair of restaurants on the other side of Route 24 near Stonehill College, Stoneforge Grill and Brack’s Grill & Tap. The Residence Inn here is a quality lodging option. There are no shortage of dining, lodging or entertainment options in the area should you widen your search.    Should you be visiting the area, there are many attractions located just a short drive from Brockton. Boston is just 25 miles to the north, and the popular summer attractions of Cape Cod are just 35 miles to the southeast. The historic destinations of Plymouth, MA and Newport, RI are both within an hour’s drive of Campanelli Stadium.    Fans 1 Rox ownership had hoped that attendance would pick up over the course of the season after a slow start. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. The Rox sit a distant last in the league attendance rankings, drawing an average of 1,100 fans per game. This figure is comparable to what the Knockouts drewin 2024 at Campanelli Stadium. Local fans have been slow to respond to the team after years of neglect, despite the best efforts of team management. Confusion over the multiple rebrands and the level of baseball being played in Brockton may be contributing factors to the lack of support.   Access 4    Campanelli Stadium is located about a mile from Route 24, which connects Fall River and much of the Massachusetts South Coast with the Greater Boston area. Interstates 495, 93 and 95 all pass within a short distance of Brockton.     While driving is the primary method to get to the ballpark, the Brockton Area Transit Authority’s  number 3 bus does have a stop at the High School next door. The final bus departs at 9:30 pm, so plan accordingly. The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s  Fall River/New Bedford Line brings passengers from downtown Brockton north to Boston and south to Fall River and New Bedford.    The Rox website advises visiting fans to park in the large lots at Brockton High School. The school lots are a short walk from the ballpark. Be warned that the path from the high school’s main lot to the ballpark is unpaved and unlit. There are other, smaller lots on the back side of the ballpark that belong to local businesses. They seem to be available for use by fans. All fans will use the main entrance to access the ballpark, where the ticket offices and team store are located. A set of stairs leads to the entrance of the ballpark and the concourse level. There is an elevator located in the main plaza for those who need it.    The seating bowl stretches from short left field around to the right field foul pole. An open concourse runs atop the seating bowl. Seating consists of red plastic stadium seats with decent leg room. Sections far down the right field line contain metal bleachers with backs. All seats feature good views of the field. Rest rooms, while in need of some freshening up, are plenty large enough for the typical Rox crowd.   Return on Investment 5   Tickets for Rox games range in price from $10-$16. There are deals and promotions scattered throughout the season which will lower prices. Check the team website for further details. Parking is free in the lots at Brockton High School. While some concessions are a bit on the high side, the Rox have stayed true to their mission statement to provide an affordable alternative to the more expensive ballparks in Boston and Worcester.   Here's a tip for local fans: If you have a debit or credit card from Harbor One Bank (one of the team’s sponsors), you can save 5% on all concession prices and 15% on all purchases in the team store.   Extras 2   Two retired numbers hang on Campanelli Stadium’s outfield wall. Brockton native sons Rocky Marciano (#49) and Marvelous Marvin Hagler (#62) are immortalized with their final victory totals. Behind the ballpark in the entry plaza to Marciano Stadium is a statue of Rocky Marciano. Measuring 20 feet, it is noted to be the tallest statue of a sporting figure in the world. There is a statue of Marvin Hagler downtown, not far from Campanelli Stadium, near where the famous Petronelli Gym once stood.    Final Thoughts    New Rox ownership has a lofty goal: to return enthusiasm for professional baseball to the city of Champions. Will the Rox Revival be successful? The Rox appear to be on the ropes, but they haven't been counted out just yet. Time will tell if they can go the distance.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Lloyd Brown joins us this week to talk about the FCS stadium experiences. Audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast can be found by searching HIAC Talk Radio wherever you look for your favorite podcasts. Video simulcasts of all the Stadium Journey podcasts can be found on Stadium Journey's YouTube page . Join us live as we record every other Tuesday at 7 PM Eastern at danlaw.tv .

McCoy Stadium Sunset. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Since the relocation of the Pawtucket Red Sox to Worcester, MA, baseball fans have wondered what was to become of beloved McCoy Stadium . Rumors circulated about an independent baseball team moving to the old ballpark or of a plan to convert the facility into a soccer stadium, but nothing came to fruition. The answer finally came this past November, when Pawtucket voters approved a measure to demolish the stadium and build a $300 million high school on the site. The Pawsox had planned to close out their time in the Ocean State with a final season in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the entire season. Many fans felt that they never had a chance to say goodbye to their team or the ballpark. Before McCoy Stadium comes down, the administration of Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien wants to give fans one last chance chance to enjoy the stadium. PawSox Celebrate a walk-off home run in McCoy Stadium's final game. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Barry Richard of 1420 WBSM reports that there are plans for a final celebration at McCoy. "We are planning on having it around this coming Fourth of July and hoping to make it a multi-day celebration," stated Pawtucket Administration Spokesperson Grace Voll. For many years, a highlight of every PawSox season were the fireworks held on and around the Foruth of July. "The goal is to tie it into the fireworks display, but I don't have anything confirmed, and that could change," Voll said. Voll said nothing is definite yet regarding the ultimate demolition of McCoy Stadium. "We still don't have a timeline on demolition. I would say it is more likely to happen after the summer," she said. McCoy Stadium closed with a whimper. Sending it out with a bang seems a much more appropriate way to say goodbye to this Rhode Island landmark. McCoy Stadium Grandstand. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 JMU Convocation Center 895 University Blvd Harrisonburg, VA 22807 James Madison Dukes website JMU Convocation Center website Year Opened: 1982 Capacity: 6,426 Hail to the Dukes! From JMU Sports website: The Convo, as it's known around campus, previously housed the department's men's and women's basketball programs since 1982 before those programs moved to the Atlantic Union Bank Center in 2020. Renovations were announced in March of 2022 and completed late summer of 2023. ---- JMU Convocation Center was built in 1982, and has been home to James Madison University’s men’s and women’s basketball programs since that time. The facility has a capacity of 6,426, and is used for numerous other gatherings besides basketball, including concerts, conventions, and JMU’s winter commencement ceremony. The venue is also one of the rotating host venues for the CAA women’s basketball tournament, and has hosted that tournament six times since 1987; it has also hosted the CAA men’s basketball tournament once. JMU is currently fundraising for a new convocation center that will replace the current facility. The new basketball venue will include box seats and other amenities that are expected to boost attendance at games, and will also include training and workout facilities, locker rooms, offices, and practice space, as well as improved technology, sightlines, media space, and concessions. However, no timeline for the project will be announced until the university’s fundraising goals are met. Food & Beverage 3 JMU Convocation Center offers a decent selection from several cookie cutter stands near the main entrance. Main dishes include barbecue sandwiches, Papa John’s pizza, and hot dogs or veggie dogs for around $3 to $5, and gluten free buns are available for all items. Snack items include nachos, soft pretzels, popcorn, kettle chips, king-sized candy, or blow pops at prices ranging from 50 cents up to $5. There is also a kid’s meal for $6, which includes a hot dog, chips, apple slices, and a prize. The drink selection at JMU Convocation Center is a little more sparse, but includes the basics such as fountain soda, bottled water, coffee, and hot cocoa, priced at $2.50 and up depending on size. Atmosphere 2 JMU Convocation Center provides a typical atmosphere for college basketball. The band is particularly active, with lots of singing and dancing around during the game. Unfortunately, attendance is such that often the band is making more noise than the rest of the crowd. In terms of set-up, JMU Convocation Center has most of its seating along the sidelines, with only a small section behind and above each backboard; one of these is reserved for the band, while the other is general admission. There are actually several different types of seats, though, in case you have a preference; reserved seats are hard plastic with chair backs, while general admission seating is mostly on wooden bleachers without chair backs, except for the aforementioned section behind the backboard, which consists of thick, padded benches. JMU’s staff provides the typical entertainment during breaks in the action, including contests that feature fans wearing flippers trying to shoot lay-ups, or fans bowling using basketballs and giant inflatable pins. JMU’s mascot, Duke Dog, also does a great job keeping the fans entertained, including playing one-on-one with kids before the game, and there are also cheerleaders on hand to help rev up the crowd, including a halftime show featuring junior cheerleaders from area clubs. Neighborhood 3 JMU Convocation Center was the first building at JMU to be built on the other side of I-81 from main campus, and therefore feels a little isolated, with only parking lots, other athletic facilities, and a few dorms in the immediate vicinity. However, there are a couple of great restaurants in town if you are looking for a bite to eat, and there are several attractions in the area if you are here for the weekend. Harrisonburg is not a metropolis by any means, but it does have several of the typical small-town attractions you have come to expect in places like this, for example the Virginia Quilt Museum. Alternatively, if you are a history buff (or aspire to be one), you can visit the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum, which is located in Staunton (about half an hour southwest of Harrisonburg). The closest hotel to JMU Convocation Center is the Days Inn, but there are many more choices one exit further north on I-81, for example Candlewood Suites. In addition, if you are looking for a bite to eat, Anthony’s Campus Pizza and Corgans’ Publick House are both worth a visit; Anthony’s is very popular with the students, while Corgans’ serves Irish and American fare, and features live music. Fans 2 Due to the small crowd size it sometimes seems as if the band is making more noise than the fans. While the official average attendance at JMU basketball games is around 2,900, in reality it is a lot less, and the fans tend to be fairly spread out, so it is hard to feel a lot of camaraderie with your fellow Dukes fans. On the plus side, a lot of fans do wear team gear, so you will see lots of purple. In addition, many fans wave towels or cards emblazoned with the number “3” after exciting plays, so you can expect at least some occasional bursts of energy. Check out the video below to get a look inside JMU Convocation Center during a game: Access 5 Getting to JMU Convocation Center is a piece of cake, given that the venue is a literal stone’s throw from I-81. Also, there is free parking available in the lot right next to the arena on the south side; parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, but given the crowd size there should always be enough room. Getting in and out of, and around JMU Convocation Center is similarly easy; there are entrances in all four corners, though most fans use the main entrances on the south side, next to the parking. In addition, there are plenty of bathrooms inside to accommodate the crowd, and no lines at the concessions. Getting to and from your seat is also easy, since the aisles are fairly wide, and there are ramps if you need them. Return on Investment 3 Despite the small crowd, the only tickets usually available are the $10 general admission seats, since the reserved seats are only given out to donors. You can’t really move down into the closer seats, either, since the venue has staff members stationed at the bottom of the general admission section. Nevertheless, with free parking and reasonable concessions, attending a JMU basketball game is a fairly cheap date, and a good way to see some college hoops, as long as you don’t mind the lack of fans or relatively low level of energy. Extras 2 JMU Convocation Center has some great décor in the concourse, with lots of Dukes-themed signage and images. Take a stroll past the concessions stands and you will find trophies on display, and above the court you will see banners hanging to commemorate past championships and tournament appearances, as well as plenty of purple. Final Thoughts The James Madison Dukes currently compete in the Colonial Athletic Association, and have had some ups and down in recent years in terms of on-court performance. However, the school is serious about improving the athletics programs here, as evidenced by their sizeable planned investment in a new basketball arena, so things should start looking up for JMU basketball in the coming years.

The crew discusses the arms race between cities for bigger, better, and more luxurious stadiums. Will the common fan get priced out? Audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast can be found by searching HIAC Talk Radio wherever you look for your favorite podcasts. Video simulcasts of all the Stadium Journey podcasts can be found on Stadium Journey's YouTube page . Join us live as we record every other Tuesday at 7 PM Eastern at danlaw.tv .

The podcast crew is joined by Melissa Burgess from The Victory Press to discuss the inaugural season of the PWHL. How did the first season go compared to how we thought it was going to go, and what comes next?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast can be found by searching HIAC Talk Radio   wherever you look for your favorite podcasts. Video simulcasts of all the Stadium Journey podcasts can be found on Stadium Journey's YouTube page . Join us live as we record every other Monday on our social media streaming channels.

Photos by Conrad Klank, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.71 Indian Wells Tennis Garden 78200 Miles Ave Indian Wells, CA 92210 BNP Paribas Open website Indian Wells Tennis Garden website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 16,100 Playing in the Garden The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is the home to the annual BNP Paribas Open Professional Men's and Women's tennis tournament. Located in Indian Wells, California, about two hours east of Los Angeles, this 54-acre facility plays host to the top ATP and WTA players from around the world for two exciting weeks in March. The BNP Paribas Open is one of the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 and WTA Premier 5 events, one of only three of its kind in the United States along with Miami and Cincinnati . Backed by a small group of tennis and sports enthusiasts, this facility has quickly grown into the incredible event that it is today. The most eye-catching feature, by far, of this beautiful park, is the 16,100-seat Stadium Court 1, which is the second largest tennis specific stadium in the world, second only to Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open . In addition to the impressive capacity of Stadium Court 1, it also features 44 luxury suites, a full media workroom, and the players� locker rooms and restaurant. After Stadium Court 1, there are seven additional smaller temporary stadiums, which host the other tournament matches. Outside of watching tennis, there are a number of other great things to do around the grounds, ranging from eating and drinking, to demoing racquets, to shopping the boutiques, to even getting a free massage. Additionally, this is one of the most fan friendly events in the world with improved seating and visibility around the practice courts and mini soccer field, as well as the new updated digital practice schedule board located right outside of court 3. Food & Beverage 5 If you've never been to a tennis tournament you'll be in for quite a treat as the food offerings are quite different than one would expect at a baseball or football game. If you're expecting concession windows, ice cream carts, and beer guys patrolling the aisles, you may or may not be pleasantly surprised with the incredible variety and quality that is offered at professional tennis tournaments, especially at this one. Not that the typical stadium fare of hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, and nachos won't be found here, it's just that stadium food is taken to a whole new level. Depending on what you're in the mood for, you could have an authentic gyro, a footlong loaded with BBQ beef brisket, pizza, specialty bistro sandwiches, and even fish and chips, just to name a few of the unique food offerings found at the BNP Paribas Open. Once you've found something that tickles your fancy from the food court, find a place to get a refreshment, a little shade, and a spot to eat. There are two large beach-themed Corona bars, and a massive Don Julio bar with plenty of shaded tables and chairs at the center of the food court. If you're looking for a little more elbow room than your seat but don't want to miss a second of the action on the court, grab a couple of adirondack chairs in the Corona Plaza where the top three matches are being shown on the large video boards with stats and scores scrolling across the bottom. Atmosphere 5 As with food and beverage, the atmosphere at professional tennis tournaments is very unique. One moment you can be courtside engrossed in a fantastic third set match biting your fingernails, the next you can be socializing with friends in the food court. There are a number of different atmospheres within the grounds of the tournament depending on the setting. There are numerous massive murals of tennis players and images all around the buzzing and excited grounds. While it is important that you stay quiet while play is going on, don't underestimate the amount of excitement that shows at this big time tournament. Make sure to stake out some first or second row seats for an outer court match, so that you can get the up close and personal feel that is so special about these tournaments where you don't have to have a ticket to the outer courts. Additionally, in the evenings, live music, interviews, player autograph sessions, and trivia are available around the grounds. Neighborhood 5 While there isn't much to do in walking distance of the tournament, there are a ton of wonderful places to eat, drink, and things to do just a short drive away. There are two areas that I recommend, first is El Paseo where there are easily over a hundred places to visit. This upscale shopping and dining area is the perfect place to visit before or after going to the tournament or for a break in the action. There is something here for every budget and taste bud. Don't plan to do much shopping later in the evening as most of the stores close rather early while the restaurants stay open a little later, so shop first, eat second. If you like fresh seafood, make sure to eat at Pacifica. For unique specialty pizza, Wolfgang Puck Pizza Bar. And for a steak, you have to go to Mastro's Steakhouse. This is typically the best area for player spotting so keep your eyes peeled for your favorite player getting a bite to eat. Lastly, even if you aren't a big art buff, make sure you stop in at one or two of the many art galleries in the area. If you're willing to drive just a bit further (15-20 minutes), I recommend visiting the North Palm Canyon shopping district. Similar to El Paseo, you will find a number of great shopping and dining options, however the things you will find here won't be nearly as upscale, but much more unique. Be sure to get an omelet for breakfast at Pinocchio in the Desert, have a burger at Hamburger Mary's for lunch, pick up some souvenirs at Just Fabulous, have some authentic chicken parmesan at Kalura Trattoria Italiana or authentic Mexican at Maracas, and get your picture taken with the giant statue of Marilyn Monroe. As you can see, there's a ton to do in the Palm Desert/Palm Springs area, so don't forget to plan an extra day or two just to be a tourist. When you're looking for a hotel, be sure to book early as rooms go fast with only a limited number of resorts available. There are some great options near both entertainment areas mentioned. The top recommendation in Palm Desert which not only has a tremendous tennis facility to get a work out during your stay, but also typically hosts player exhibitions and practice sessions while the tournament is in town, the La Quinta Resort. If you're interested in relaxing more away from the tournament crowds, the Renaissance in Palm Springs is highly recommended with a tremendous pool deck. Fans 5 Tennis fans are some of the best sports fans in the world. It's not uncommon to see fans travel all over the world to follow their favorite players. Since tournaments are played in so many places, it takes a lot of dedication to follow the sport, and tennis fans don't disappoint as they have showed up in record numbers. The 2013 BNP Paribas Open set a new tournament attendance record of 382,227 as well as new single day and night session records on the middle Saturday of the tournament. Access 4 Getting to the tournament from out of town, you have a few options. If traveling by air, the nearest airports available are Palm Springs International Airport (17mi), San Bernardino International Airport (70 mi), Ontario Airport (87mi), and Los Angeles International Airport (139mi). For the experience with the least hassle, Palm Springs International Airport would be the best choice. With shuttles and taxis available to transport you to your nearby hotel, this would be the best route. However, it will be without a doubt the most expensive and probably not the most convenient as far as flight times. If you decide to fly into one of the other airports, rent a car and drive yourself to the tournament. The key to saving yourself the most trouble is to make sure you arrive to the tournament early to avoid the troublesome traffic. With only a couple of roads leading to the tournament site, congestion is extremely likely and time consuming. The next issue is the long walk from the parking areas that is probable in delaying you further from entering the tournament. Parking right next to the tournament grounds in the official general parking is $15 per day. The biggest thing to keep in mind here is just to give yourself extra time to drive to the tournament and get into the grounds, as it can possibly be a long process. If possible, I highly recommend booking one of the nearby hotels, which offer a shuttle to and from the grounds for a much more stress free day. When it comes to the access inside the tournament grounds, it's important to keep in mind that with such large numbers in attendance, it is likely that restrooms will back up and form lines. Like at a basketball game, to beat the halftime restroom crowds, you head for the stands a few minutes before the half, it might be wise to try that strategy here. Also, I recommend avoiding the lines for the restrooms located in Stadium Court 1. Instead, search out the restroom stands located around the grounds. Lastly, it is important to be patient when trying to attend a match in one of the smaller stadium courts around the grounds, especially during a highly touted matchup as crowds will quickly form and congestion at the entrances is possible. Return on Investment 4 As with any professional tennis tournament, it has to be understood that there really aren't too many "economical" options. Plain and simple, it's expensive. Having said this, for the money, a ton of entertainment is provided. In comparison to other sporting events where you get to see the best in the world it is about on par if not a slightly better return on investment. Keeping in mind that a single ticket to any given day session will entitle you to see at least 3 matches and around 7 hours inside the gates, this is far superior to seeing one game of another sport for around the same price. The same concept goes for the food and beverage. While it can be expected that prices will be slightly higher, more variety and better products are also on hand when compared to a more mainstream sporting event. For tickets to the BNP Paribas Open, the cheapest and most convenient options are available directly through the tournament's ticket office . In addition to daily tickets, they also offer different kinds of mini packages for any number of people and days, as well as hotel packages. One of the great perks included in select packages is access to the VIP, air-conditioned, Emirates Club Lounge. Extras 5 This tournament is filled to the brim with extras that tennis fans just aren't used to. The spectacular views from any vantage point of palm trees, desert, and mountains are breathtaking. The official instant replay technology that's available on all eight match courts, the most of any tournament in the world. The unique mini soccer field and adjacent outdoor player-dining patio, perfect for spotting your favorite player having fun off the court. Along with the views outside of the grounds, the beautiful landscaping inside the grounds makes for a wonderful combination for the backdrop to the action on the court. Final Thoughts Top 5 things to make sure you do while at The BNP Paribas Open at The Indian Wells Tennis Garden: Smell the lemon trees Go to the top of the stands to get the best views of the desert Get autographs at the soccer field and practice courts Watch a match in every stadium court for a different atmosphere Shop the boutiques and exhibits Things to keep in mind when attending The BNP Paribas Open: Be sure to pack a small bag to take into the tournament to store your extra long sleeves and long pants since the weather varies and it will undoubtedly get cool in the evenings in the desert (small bags are allowed in the tournament after a brief inspection, of course) Bring a camera and autograph pen (necessities when your favorite player is on the practice courts) Since spring forward occurs during the middle weekend of the tournament, it is wise to attend the evening sessions during the second week (the tournament grounds are so beautiful that you'll want as much daylight as possible to be able to enjoy it)

It's the annual look back at our travels this year. What were our favorite venues, games, biggest surprises, and cities of 2023? Audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast can be found by searching HIAC Talk Radio   wherever you look for your favorite podcasts. Video simulcasts of all the Stadium Journey podcasts can be found on Stadium Journey's YouTube page . Join us live as we record every other Tuesday at 7 PM Eastern at danlaw.tv .

Food, Family, and Football….Oh My! The Thanksgiving holidays are just around the corner. It is a time to get together with our families, count our blessings, and share in a feast of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. It is also a time to tear those same families apart, as it is college football’s rivalry weekend. The games scheduled for this hallowed holiday decide bragging rights for the next year between husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, your family, and the in-laws. Even though many of these teams will be moving to different conferences in the New Year, these rivalries figure to survive the chaos of conference realignments and NILs. Here's the lineup of Thanksgiving weekend’s top matchups and this year’s game site: Ole Miss @ Mississippi State Davis Wade Stadium Texas Tech @ Texas Darrell Royal Texas Memorial Stadium Oregon State @ Oregon Autzen Stadium Vanderbilt @ Tennessee Neyland Stadium Alabama @Auburn Jordan-Hare Stadium FSU @ Florida Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Cal @ UCLA Rose Bowl Notre Dame @ Stanford Stanford Stadium Kentucky @ Louisville Cardinal Stadium Washington State @ Washington Husky Stadium Georgia @ Georgia Tech Bobby Dodd Stadium UNC @ NC State Carter- Finley Stadium Northwestern @ Illinois Memorial Stadium Wisconsin @ Minnesota Huntington Bank Stadium Indiana @ Purdue Ross-Ade Stadium Clemson@ South Carolina Williams-Brice Stadium Arizona @ Arizona State Mountain America Stadium Virginia Tech @ Virginia Scott Stadium Tuskegee @ Alabama State New ASU Stadium Southern @ Grambling Caesars’ Superdome

Photos by David Hegler, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Owen Owens Field 1130 Winton Dr. Concord, CA 94518 De La Salle Spartans website Owen Owens Field website Year Opened: 1971 Capacity: 4,500 Welcome to Owen Owens Field One of the most successful high school football programs in America has the most humble-looking stadium. Sitting 29 miles east of San Francisco, De La Salle High School’s Owen Owens Field has been home to a program that has won 39 North Coast Section titles (including the last 32), six CIF State Bowl Game championships, and nine mythical national championships. NFL stars such as Amani Toomer , Maurice Jones-Drew , and D.J. Williams played for the De La Salle Spartans. While all of those accolades are impressive in their own right, one number stands above all else in the Spartans program: 151. From the first week of 1992 through the very last game of 2003, the De La Salle Spartans won every single time. It was an incredible feat that will likely never be replicated. After they broke the national record (72) in 1997, coach Bob Ladoucer decided that they needed to validate their accomplishment by scheduling the toughest opponents in America. So, defensive coordinator/athletic director Terry Eidson went to work, scheduling some of the toughest opponents in high school football.  In the early years, the excessive crowds forced De La Salle to abandon their humble little home that was named after an early benefactor and former newspaper publisher for larger stadiums such as Cal Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium , the University of Pacific’s Amos Alonzo Stagg Stadium, Seattle’s Lumen Field , Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium and Anaheim’s Angel Stadium  as they took on national powers such as Long Beach Poly, Mater Dei and St. Louis of Honolulu. In recent years, interest in high school football has waned in Northern California.  Still, De La Salle’s schedule remains a minor national obsession as they routinely put together one of the toughest schedules in America. Thus, on this particular early October night, De La Salle hosted mighty Cathedral Catholic from San Diego, a matchup so big that Maxpreps.com  placed it on its weekly list of top ten games to watch in America.  However, their tough schedule is just one factor in the allure of De La Salle football. Even though Bob Ladouceur retired after the 2012 season, his successor, Justin Alumbaugh, has made sure to keep the tradition of Spartan football alive.  Food & Beverage 4 De La Salle offers a wide variety of food that can be bought with either cash or a card. They offer hot dogs and chips for $7, hamburgers/cheeseburgers and chips for $7, chicken quesadilla and chips/homemade salsa for $7, small candy for $2, bag candy for $3, soda for $3, Gatorade for $3, and bottled water for $2. On a personal note, these people really know how to grill a burger. Atmosphere 3 With the field surrounded by so many trees, it’s almost as if it is in its own little world, set apart from the struggles of everyday life. The rolling hills just beyond the home bleachers provide a nice touch at sunset and provide a calm before the storm for De La Salle’s opponents.  Owens Owen Field, Photo by Dave Hegler, Stadium Journey The student section in one end zone fills and provides the ever-present spark that keeps the Spartans offensive machine moving all night long. History and tradition surround the spectators the minute that they walk into Owen Owens Field. Like they have since 1979, the De La Salle Spartans don’t have single-digit numbers and they still run the vaunted Veer offense that powered them to 151-straight wins decades ago. The community of De La Salle expects to win, but they want visitors to stick around long enough to witness the impending blowout. As such, while the Spartans may win, opposing fans will always feel welcome at Owen Owens Field. Neighborhood 3 In general, the neighborhood is pretty safe and feels a world apart from neighboring communities such as Pittsburg and Richmond that have a long history of violence. While very few restaurants are open after the game, there are a large number of them located within a five-mile radius if you would like to grab a quick nosh before the game. These restaurants include Round Table Pizza , Ozora Sushi Restaurant , Thai Table Oak Grove , Ice Monster  and Rocco’s Ristororante Pizzeria . If you would like to stay in town for the weekend, there are several hotels in the area. These hotels include the Renaissance Walnut Creek Hotel  and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Walnut Creek .  Fans 3 The De La Salle fans are both friendly and passionate about their team. What’s more, they make first-time visitors feel at home. From the dads playing catch with their kids in the open track right in front of the video board to the fans packed into the small yet spacious bleachers, it truly feels like a community event. Access 3 Parking is free across the street in De La Salle’s sister school, Carondelet High School, and is a very short walk from the field. The surrounding neighborhood is safe enough if you would like to park your car there. The campus has ample room to get a ride before and after the game. The men’s bathroom is well kept, and there are several porta-potties next to the visiting bleachers with wash stations awaiting guests outside.  Return on Investment 4 Most high schools charge around the same rate for their football games these days, and De La Salle is no different, charging $11 on Gofan.com . Still, while some of the biggest matchups in America go for as much as $150 a ticket, De La Salle remains lowkey.  Carondelet’s parking lot made the transition from battling the notorious rush hour traffic on 680 to attending a big-time high school football matchup painless and simple.  But of course, high school football itself is relatively inexpensive. What matters most is the cost of time. With De La Salle’s rich history and tradition, as well as its picturesque landscape, going to a game at Owen Owens Field is very much worth your time and effort.  Extras 4 The school puts together a terrific media guide, filled with rosters for both varsity teams as well as photographs of each Spartan on all three levels and their coaches. The away bleachers are small, yet spacious enough that it’s easy to move around in the front and high enough to see over the heads of the people on the sidelines.  If you have the patience, stick around at halftime to watch De La Salle’s marching band. Lined up single file, the crew stretches three-quarters of the field dressed to the nines in green garments with giant green capes draped over their shoulders and big topped hats with a white feather. Their presence alone is a spectacle, and the music is pretty good too. Lastly, the digital videoboard, while not the best in the Bay Area, is still better than most schools. De La Salle Spartans Marching Band, Photo by David Hegler, Stadium Journey Final Thoughts If you want the feel of small-town football played by big-time athletes, then going to Owen Owens Field just might be for you. The De La Salle Spartans have been a force in the Bay Area for the past 40 years. Yet its stadium sits just 4,500, paling in comparison to some of the monstrosities that have been built for some of America’s powerhouses, such as Judson High School  in Texas, Escambia High School  in Florida, as well as San Jose’s Valley Christian High School  and Bellarmine College Preparatory . In that regard, De La Salle really lives up to its name: the Spartans.

The Savanah Bananas are expanding their circus of fun and flair. During its Banana Ball 2026 World Tour   city announcement last night, the team unveiled two new clubs: the Loco Beach Coconuts and the Indianapolis Clowns, reviving one of baseball’s most legendary barnstorming names. The additions bring the Banana Ball League to six franchises, all set to compete for the league’s first official championship title at season’s end. But it’s the Clowns who steal the spotlight — a name steeped in baseball lore and entertainment heritage. “When I first heard the story of the Indianapolis Clowns, I was inspired,” said Owner Jesse Cole. “They were the first baseball team to put entertainment first and would go to great lengths to bring their style of baseball to fans all over the country.” The Clowns will be coached by Errick Foxx, who has been part of the Bananas coaching staff since 2018. Foxx will be joined by Primetime coach and former Philadelphia Phillies World Series champion and National League MVP, Ryan Howard. The original Indianapolis Clowns were pioneers of showmanship, blending athleticism with comedy long before “sports entertainment” was a term. They were known as the "Harlem Globetrotters of Baseball" decades before the Bananas by showcasing legitimate stars and making fans laugh at the same time. Fans would see an imaginative pepper ball game, the hidden ball trick, and players dressed up as clowns or hula skirts. Hank Aaron launched his professional career with the Clowns in 1952. He was a teenager when he arrived and still held the bat handle with his left hand on top of his right. That was corrected with the Clowns, and the young shortstop had a game where he went 6-9 and blasted one of his first home runs. Aaron’s stay was brief — just three months — before the Boston Braves purchased his contract for $10,000. Twenty-two years later, he became the all-time home run king when he swatted his 715th home run to break Babe Ruth’s record. The Clowns also broke barriers beyond the diamond. In 1953, Toni Stone became the first woman to play professional baseball when she joined the team. The following year, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson and Connie Morgan followed suit, while Nancy Miller made history as the first female umpire in professional baseball. The roster also featured names like Reece “Goose” Tatum, who later dazzled with the Harlem Globetrotters, and future big leaguers John Wyatt, Paul Casanova, Hal King, and Choo-Choo Coleman. However, by the time Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, many Negro League teams were suffering from a lack of talent and low attendance at the ballpark. Founded in 1929 (others say 1935) by Syd Pollock, the team evolved into one of the most beloved barnstorming clubs in the country. Before arriving in Indianapolis, the team was known as the Miami Giants, the Ethiopian Clowns, and the Cincinnati Clowns. The team joined the Negro American League in 1943 and split time between Cincinnati and Indianapolis in 1944 and 1945. After settling in Indianapolis in 1946, the Clowns played competitive baseball during the season, capturing four Negro American League pennants between 1950 and 1954. However, just like the Bananas when they played in the Coastal Plain League, the Clowns barnstormed during the off-season. The barnstorming season would be played in October and November. In 1950, the Clowns played 35 games in 13 cities against Jackie Robinson's All-Stars with a roster that included Roy Campanella and Larry Doby. The Clowns had a young Ernie Banks on their roster that campaign. The teams drew 125,000 fans and netted a profit of $200,000 that year. The Clowns dropped out of the NAL in favor of an independent schedule that would allow them to develop players, providing them a chance to make the majors. It also allowed the team to take short trips between cities and allowed them to play in a variety of towns. However, Pollack's other focus was on entertainment at the ballpark, something that was becoming hard to do in the shrinking NAL. "We want to concentrate more on having the team and its comedians get in more of their stunts such as 'shadowball', 'pepperball', and other fun-making specialties, including pantomime and laugh-provoking features." By 1961, the Clowns were the last surviving Negro League team. The following year, the Clowns integrated, reduced its roster to 11 players, played a 75-game schedule, and began playing in smaller cities. Pollack sold the team in 1965, and the team played on, sometimes playing in large stadiums like Comiskey Park or small venues like Fairchild Park in Burlington, N.C. Satchel Paige even suited up for Funmakers in 1967 at the age of 61. By the early 1970s, the Clowns were still playing around 150 games a year, winning 80 percent of them. In 1983, the club was purchased by Dave Clark and Sal Tombasco. Clark contracted polio as a child and played games on crutches. They were still barnstorming, but in much smaller markets and in front of crowds of around 60-75 people. The majority of the players were undrafted between the ages of 19 and 23, hoping to get noticed by a major league club. Allegedly, the New York Yankees had first rights on any players on the Clowns. The cities included Leesburg and Orlando, Fla, Valdosta, Ga;, and Muscatine, Iowa, where the Clowns were now based. There was even an appearance at Comiskey Park and the Metrodome. They entertained fans with spray confetti cans, giant bats, a third-baseman sitting in a lawn chair, and a rolling wagon with a miniature toilet for the opposing pitcher. However, in 1989. The team unceremoniously ceased operations, ending 60 years of operations. “The rebirth of the Indianapolis Clowns is an exciting and historically relevant tribute to the team that was at the forefront of combining baseball and entertainment,” said Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues. “Our partnership is a tremendous opportunity to not only entertain, but educate fans about the rich history of the Negro Leagues while paying homage to the team that helped influence Banana Ball.” Interestingly, the Clowns haven’t called Indianapolis home since 1949. They played at Bush Stadium, then known as Victory Field, but were forced to take their entire 1950 season on the road following a dispute between team owner Syd Pollack and Abe Saperstein, the Globetrotters’ owner who controlled rights to Negro League games at the ballpark. Pollack, who received 25 percent of the gate after taxes, demanded an increase to 30 percent for the upcoming season. When Saperstein refused, the Clowns packed up and moved their home games to Offerman Stadium in Buffalo, New York. They retained their old name, playing 6 games in Buffalo and 4 in Indianapolis. The local newspapers in Buffalo called them the Buffalo Clowns, but that was never the official name. They operated in Western New York until 1955, when the Clowns concentrated on a barnstorming schedule. The revived Indianapolis Clowns will debut on February 27 in Anaheim, before making their long-awaited homecoming at Victory Field on May 15 and 16 against the Party Animals in a game that will be a home game for the many with Clowns gear in the stands. The season will conclude with the inaugural Banana Bowl is slated for Oct. 10, 2026. The Indianapolis Clowns hope to carry on the tradition of the original club and honor its legacy by blending baseball and entertainment, while also educating fans along the way next season. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey and Mercyhurst University Athletics Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Saxon Stadium 501 East 38th St Erie, PA 16546 Mercyhurst Lakers website Saxon Stadium website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 2,300 Lakers Set Sail In The FCS Mercyhurst University is a coed, four-year Catholic University located in Erie, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1926. It attained university status in 2012. Today it has a student body of 2,668 and offers 50 undergraduate Majors and six graduate majors. Its 75-acre campus is located just south of downtown Erie. The football program at Mercyhurst is still rather young, as its inaugural season was in 1981. From 1981 until 1995, the team played its home games at downtown Erie’s 10,000-seat Veterans Stadium. They then moved to the on-campus Saxon Stadium in 1996. The stadium is named for major donors John and Patty Saxon. The program started small, playing at the Division III level from 1981-1992. It then moved up to the Division II level from 1993-2023. Finally, it moved up to Division I level in 2024, where it became the newest football program at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, and it is a member of the Northeast Conference. Food & Beverage 2 There is a new concession pavilion adjacent to Gate 1. It sells the basics (sodas, popcorn, hot dogs). Concessions may also be purchased at the Mercyhurst Ice Rink concessions window. Atmosphere 3 Seating at Saxon Stadium is either on metal bleachers or on the berm located at the south end of the field. Due to extremely cold weather towards to end of the football season, the playing surface at Saxon Stadium is artificial turf. For this same reason, we strongly suggest bringing seat cushions, as the metal bleachers can get uncomfortably cold! The bleachers are elevated above the playing surface, which does provide you with an excellent view of the action on the fields, and the production crew needs to get on the same page as PA music and band music were competing. Neighborhood 4 Mercyhurst University is in Erie, Pennsylvania, a city of 94,831, located along the south shore of Lake Erie. It sits atop the highest hill in the Erie area, which provides excellent views of downtown Erie and the lakefront. Adding to the unique beauty of the campus are the Gothic-style architecture found in the campus buildings, as well as the lush landscaping found throughout the campus. Downtown Erie offers plenty of attractions and activities for Laker fans who are in town for a game. The town is often called the Gem of the Great Lakes due to its very active harbor and its long history related to the lakefront. Some of the sites visitors will want to check out while fans are in Erie are the reproduction of the USS Niagara, which saw service during the War of 1812, the Erie Land Lighthouse, the Erie Maritime Museum, and the Bicentennial Tower. Presque Isle Downs and Casino and Presque Isle State Park are also along the lakefront. Erie offers a wide variety of dining options for visitors to the area. Some of the popular restaurants include Mi Scuzi Restaurante Italiano, Julius, and the Federal Hill Smokehouse. The Breakfast Place is a great option for fans who want to get their game days off to a delicious start. Erie is also home to the Lake Erie Ale Trail, with several microbreweries and bars available for a pint or two. These establishments include the Brewerie at Union Station, the Lavery Brewing Company, the Erie Ale Works, and McCoy’s Barrelhouse. Lodging near the Mercyhurst campus includes the Baymont by Wyndham Erie along I-90, or the Courtyard Erie Bayfront in downtown Erie. Fans 4 Mercyhurst’s small student body is fiercely loyal to the school’s athletic teams. The stands are filled with green attire featuring the school’s iconic “M”. They are kept energized throughout the games thanks to the efforts of Luke the Laker, a husky Great Lakes Sailor who serves as the school mascot, as well as through performances by the school dance squad and drill team. The Laker Proud Marching Band does a terrific job with both pregame and halftime performances. The fans look forward to the ringing of the Sister Damien Spirit Bell, as it means the Lakers have secured yet another victory. Sister Damien was an avid sports fan who was known for ringing a cowbell throughout the games. Access 3 Mercyhurst University and Erie are both relatively isolated from any major cities. It is located 80 miles west of Buffalo and 90 miles east of Cleveland via I-90 and 100 miles north of Pittsburgh via I-79. Erie is served by Erie International Airport at Tom Ridge Field. The airport can only handle regional jets, and American Airlines is the only major carrier offering flights in and out of Erie. Once on the campus, follow the directional signs to Saxon Stadium. The stadium is in the back (northernmost) section of the campus. Parking is available in Lot 8 adjacent to the stadium via the Briggs Avenue entrance. The lot opens three hours before kickoff. Seating is available in raised metal bleachers on both sides of the field. The home side of the field has bleachers running along the entire length of the field, while the visitors' seating on the opposite side of the field has seating that runs between the 40’s. Many students prefer to sit on the grass hillside at one end of the field. Gates at Saxon Stadium open 75 minutes before kickoff. There are three gates into the stadium. Gate 1 is for use by both the home and visiting fans. Gate 2 is for team parents, team families, and recruits. Gate 3 is for the Pet Supplies Plus Walkway. The gate is restricted to fans bringing their pets to the game. Seating is located in the pet-friendly section on Alumni Hill. This is the only section of Saxon Stadium where pets are allowed. Gates at Saxon Stadium open 75 minutes before kickoff. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices can vary depending on the opponent. However, the average ticket cost per game is around $32. All tickets are general admission seating. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Lodging options in the Erie area can go for $85 for a standard hotel room up to $150 for a hotel room in downtown Erie with views of the lakefront. Extras 3 Saxon Stadium is also utilized for field hockey, lacrosse, intermural sports activities, and marching band practice and performances. Saxon Stadium also serves as the home of the Erie Express semi-professional football team and the Erie Commodores FC soccer club. Saxon Stadium is the only college stadium where pets are allowed in the stadium (other than support animals). Final Thoughts Mercyhurst is one of the newest additions to the FCS level of college football competition. It also has the smallest student body of any school at the FCS level. However, it makes up for these limitations through great school spirit and the support of the Erie community. Saxon Stadium is the place to be on Saturday afternoons in Erie!

TO READ IN ENGLISH, SCROLL DOWN L’80^ Open d’Italia di golf si svolgerà da giovedì 4 a domenica 7 maggio 2023 presso il Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. L’impianto, situato nel comune di Guidonia Montecelio, a meno di venti chilometri dalla città di Roma, è di proprietà della famiglia Biagiotti. Nel passato ha già ospitato tre volte questa prestigiosa competizione. Soprattutto, dal 29 settembre al primo ottobre 2023 sarà il palcoscenico dell’edizione numero 44 della Ryder Cup. L’ingresso all’Open d’Italia sarà gratuito (previa registrazione su www.openditaliagolf.eu). Un segnale importante quello lanciato dalla Federazione Italiana Golf che punta ad avvicinare sempre più persone a uno sport in continua espansione (previste anche attività dedicate agli spettatori più piccoli). Il DS Automobiles 80^ Open d’Italia sarà anche il primo torneo stagionale del DP World Tour in programma in Europa. Verrà trasmesso in diretta televisiva su Sky Sport Golf, con gli highlights su Rai Sport, e in streaming online. L’80^ Open d’Italia di golf si svolgerà sulla distanza di 72 buche (18 al giorno). Dopo i primi due giri il taglio lascerà in gara i primi 65 classificati. Il montepremi sarà di 3.250.000 dollari, di cui 552.500 andranno al vincitore. Ad anticipare la sfida sarà, mercoledì 3 maggio, la Rolex Pro-Am. Ospite d’eccezione, il trofeo della Ryder Cup che arriverà direttamente dall’Inghilterra e sarà a disposizione del pubblico per foto e selfie dal 4 al 7 maggio. The 80th Italian Open of golf will take place May 4-May 7, 2023 at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. The facility, located in the municipality of Guidonia Montecelio, less than twenty kilometers from the city of Rome, is owned by the Biagiotti family. It has already hosted this prestigious competition three times. The venue will also be the stage of the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup, which will be held September 29-October 1, 2023. Admission to the Italian Open will be free (subject to registration on www.openditaliagolf.eu ) in an effort launched by the Italian Golf Federation that aims to bring more and more people closer to an ever-expanding sport (activities dedicated to younger spectators are also planned). DS Automobiles 80th Italian Open will also be the first seasonal tournament of the DP World Tour scheduled in Europe. It will be broadcast live on Sky Sport Golf, with highlights on Rai Sport, and streamed online. The 80th Italian Open of golf will be comprised of four rounds. After the first two rounds, the cut will leave the top 65 in the race for the trophy. The prize pool will be $3,250,000, of which $552,500 will go to the winner.The event will get underway on Wednesday, May 3 when the Rolex Pro-Am will take place. The Ryder Cup trophy which will arrive directly from England will be available to the public for photos and selfies during the event.