Harford Community College, in Bel Air, MD hosted the 2023 NJCAA Men's Lacrosse National Championship, May 13-14 at Harford Stadium inside of Harford’s Sports Complex. The past two national championships have been held in Garden City, NY, home of Nassau Community College. The Saturday games saw the host Harford Fighting Owls defeat the CCBC Essex Knights by a score of 11-6, as well as the defending champion Nassau Lions winning over the Onondaga Lazers 10-8. The Sunday final was a match-up of heavy hitters, featuring the top two teams in the country. Harford secured its 1st NJCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship with a 13-8 victory. The Fighting Owls were able to complete an undefeated season with the win on their home turf. Harford had handed Nassau their only loss of the regular season and the last time before that they met in a tournament game was in the 2022 Championship game, which was a 12-11 double-overtime thriller that landed in Nassau's favor. Sophomore Attacker Dylan Tomarchio was named the Steve Caravana Offensive Player of the Tournament. Freshman Goalie Alex Epple was named the Defensive Player of the Tournament. Stadium Journey likes to remind readers that even smaller sports and/or smaller conferences offer great options for sports fans to enjoy.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Comerica Stadium 2601 Avenue of the Stars Frisco, TX 75034 Frisco Fighters website Comerica Center website Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 4,500 Fifty Yards of Fury The Frisco Fighters arena football team bills itself as the Fifty Yards of Fury (indoor football fields are only half the length of traditional football fields) – their cool fighter jet logo looks awesome on the helmets and signage. The warplane theme continues with the dance team, named the Bombshells, and the team does all the traditional things to entertain fans, such as having fans contests on the field and handing out t-shirts. While the facility itself may not offer much beyond the action on the field, the fans here seem to enjoy themselves. Food & Beverage 4 Comerica Center offers a decent variety of food and beverage options – I recommend the BBQ, but you can also find Mexican and more traditional items like upscale hot dogs and burgers, as well as pretzels, popcorn, packaged candy, and chips, as well as old-fashioned milkshakes. There are a few bar areas as well, and typical drink options beyond alcohol such as soda and bottled water. The prices tend to be a little on the high side for most of the main dishes, but the food quality and portion sizes are pretty good. Atmosphere 2 Comerica Center opened in 2003 and seems like a modern facility from the outside as you walk in, but the setup for arena football seems to be a bit lacking. The arena is also the home field for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League and also houses the Dallas Star’s practice rink. As mentioned above the fighter jet team logo is pretty cool, and there is a giant banner behind one end zone showing the logo in full, blaring color with two jets instead of one. However, there are no team logos in either end zone, and there isn’t the giant multi-sided center video board that many sports fans have gotten used to. There is also not a lot of pomp or ceremony when the team takes the field – the dance team comes on the field to welcome them on, there are spotlights, and they alternate games introducing the defensive versus offensive starters, but there is no mascot and no pyrotechnics. There are a few TVs in the hallways to watch the game on while you are waiting in line at the concessions, as you can’t see the field from there, and there are a couple of set-ups for people to play Xbox, but one of the screens wasn’t working during my most recent visit. Neighborhood 4 There are plenty of restaurants near Comerica Center, with Wild Pitch Sports Bar & Grill or Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille is the closest, both within walking distance – either would be a great option to hang out before or after a Fighters game. There are also numerous hotels in the area, several within walking distance, so definitely the arena is in a great location, about 4 miles south of downtown Frisco or half an hour north of Dallas, which has plenty of additional restaurant and entertainment options if you want to head into the big city. Within Frisco, you can find other sporting events during the same weekend as the Fighters if you plan it right (the Double-A Frisco Roughriders play at Riders Field , right next to Comerica Center), while closer to Dallas you may be able to catch an NBA or NHL game if the Mavericks or Stars make the playoffs. You can also head over to Arlington and watch either the Arlington Renegades of the XFL or MLB’s Texas Rangers , both of whom have games happening during this time of year. Fans 2 The fans at Frisco Fighters games are into the contest, and you will see a handful of those ultra-rabid fans who are dressed to the nines in team gear, or who go for those loose footballs with reckless abandon (in arena football you are usually allowed to keep balls that leave the field of play; the PA announcer will even scold you, and the staff may give it back to you if you try to be nice and return them to the referee). Unfortunately, there are just not a lot of fans here, so the already small arena, maxing out at 4,500 for basketball/football, looks pretty empty. Access 5 Getting to Comerica Center and around inside is a breeze – you can park in the deck connected to the center for only $10, and getting out of the deck after the game is painless. Entry into the venue from the parking deck will take you right by the Dallas Star’s practice, and you may even see kids geared up in hockey gear playing on that ice, or you might see them in the parking deck before or after their game or practice. Moving around the concourse inside is easy – there are no lines at the concessions due to the small crowd, and there are more than enough bathrooms. The best restrooms to use are the less trafficked ones tucked away in the corners, as few people notice them so they should be clean and fully stocked. Return on Investment 3 Tickets to Frisco Fighters games can be found for less than $10 (not including fees), and you can find a few low-cost concessions options if you look around. That said, attending an arena football game at Comerica Center is pretty inexpensive, but don’t expect a ton of amenities – this is a great option if you need something to entertain the kids, or are suffering from post-Superbowl football withdrawal, but may not be an event to go out of your way for. Extras 2 The Fighters do have a team gear stand inside Comerica Center, and there are also a ton of vendors on hand giving out freebies; for example, you can spin the wheel and do some quick cardio to win a boxing glove keychain courtesy of a local kickboxing studio, or you can pick up free candy or a pen from some of the other booths. Some of the vendors also offer discount cards for their services, and every fan who enters gets a free Frisco Fighters rally towel. Final Thoughts If you love football, attending a Fighters game at Comerica Center may be something you want to do, but overall, this experience is probably not something for the casual sports fan’s bucket list.

The United States Naval Academy, in Annapolis, MD hosted one half of the 2023 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Quarterfinals, May 22 at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium . There was two games this Sunday in Annapolis. In the first game, an intense matchup occurred between Penn State and Army. Penn State won with a 10-9 victory after a six-goal run in the first half. The second game saw Notre Dame taking on Johns Hopkins. The Fighting Irish won 12-9 and are going back to the NCAA Semifinals for the sixth time in program history, the first time since 2015. Penn State will face top-seeded Duke at Lincoln Financial Field next Saturday, with Notre Dame slated to play against Virginia. Duke/Penn State is at 12pm EDT and Virginia/Notre Dame is at 2:30pm EDT. The championship game is on Memorial Day, 5/29, at 1pm EDT. It was a beautiful day at the home of the Midshipmen and fans from all 4 teams seemed to enjoy the atmosphere. We heard many people comment on Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium being the perfect location for this group of contests. 13,354 people were in attendance and according to Navy they have had 5 of the  top 10 crowds in NCAA Men's Lacrosse Quarterfinals history (since 1996 when it started being held at 2 predetermined sites.) The top attended game day was also at Navy in 2008 when they had 17,017 in attendance. Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium opened in 1959 and serves as the home stadium of the Navy Midshipmen college football and lacrosse teams, and was the home of the Chesapeake Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse. The stadium is also the host of the Military Bowl. The stadium serves as a memorial to the Navy and Marine Corps; it is dedicated to those who have served (and will serve) as upholders of the traditions and renown of the Navy and Marine Corps of the United States. The thousands of memorial bench-back and wall plaques are a constant reminder, as well as the list of numerous battles involving the Naval and Marine Corps forces since the early 1900s.

Photo by Brian Wilmer, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium Stadium Dr Boiling Springs, NC 28152 Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs website Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium website Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 550 Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium Boiling Springs, North Carolina sits just across the North Carolina-South Carolina state line. The rural North Carolina town is a quaint college community built mostly around the university and a handful of businesses on Main Street. The Runnin' Bulldogs joined the Big South Conference in 2008 and have typically been toward the top of the conference standings at the end of each season. Food & Beverage 2 Bill Masters Field does not offer a great deal of options when it comes to concessions, but prices are kept very affordable. The baseball classic hot dogs are the main item of note on the menu. There are also nachos and pretzels that can be paired with cheese dip, but the menu is limited; popcorn, candy, and peanuts are also available. Beverages include Pepsi products, Gatorade, and bottled water. Gardner-Webb chooses not to sell beer or wine at its baseball games. Atmosphere 3 Upon initial approach to Bill Masters Field, fans can purchase tickets before passing through a brick archway into the stadium. A luminescent sign affixed to the end of the visiting team dugout welcomes all to Gardner-Webb University, as they make their way to the covered seating area. The aluminum bleachers are built into the brick grandstand that gives the small seating area a much larger appearance. Seating runs from dugout to dugout – the first two rows are fold-down seats and are separated from the bleacher seating behind it with a walkway. The five rows of bleacher seating are a combination of backed and backless benches. A large overhang runs along almost the entirety of the seating bowl, and provides a great deal of shelter from the elements, whether it be the sun or rain. Gardner-Webb has done well taking rather non-descript aluminum bleachers and creating a charming brick grandstand around them. The university's basketball arena, Paul Porter Arena , Green-Harbison Soccer Stadium, and the Tucker Student Center create a wonderful backdrop for college baseball. Just over the right center field fence is the Lloyd Little Memorial Scoreboard; the scoreboard sits in a large brick housing, with pitch speed display attached. The scoreboard itself provides fans with basic inning-by-inning line score, along with ball, strike, and out counts. The outfield fence runs 330' down both the left and right field lines, 360’ to left-center, and 365' to right-center – the centerfield fence is one of the shortest in college baseball at just 385'. The outfield fence is a consistent 8-feet from foul pole to foul pole. The Runnin' Bulldogs play on a synthetic surface with traditional green and brown “grass” and “dirt” areas of the field. The university’s red "GW" logo adorns the large, black turf area behind home plate. The presentation of the game keeps the action on the field as the main focus – other than player walk-up songs and music to fill the dead time between innings, there are not a lot of audio distractions. What is most noticeable is the lack of ad reads between innings; in a time where almost every opportunity to squeeze an ad in is taken advantage of, there are none during Gardner-Webb baseball games. Overall, the game is refreshingly kept at the focus of the day and there is not a lot to distract fans from that. Neighborhood 3 Boiling Springs is a small town, neighbored by the more populous Shelby, North Carolina, home of the American Legion World Series, and just under an hour west of Charlotte. Main Street in Boiling Springs runs directly through the middle of town. There seems to be just about all that would be needed on this stretch of road, from fast food joints like McDonald’s and Bojangles to locally owned eateries like College Pizzeria and Italian Garden. Visitors who enjoy getting out into nature and looking to make a day of a trip to Gardner-Webb might enjoy exploring the nearby Broad River Greenway. If planning a baseball exclusive trip, a visit can be paired with stops to the nearby Gastonia Honey Hunters of the independent Atlantic League, or to the Charlotte Knights , AAA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox – each of these stops are within an hour of Boiling Springs. Fans 3 The Runnin’ Bulldogs draw fairly well in comparison to other schools in the Big South. Even when students are not on campus, a couple hundred fans still file into a stadium that holds 550 fans. Gardner-Webb falls toward the top of the middle tier of conference foes in terms of baseball attendance. Fans are actively into the game, and they recognize and respond to big, in-game situations. It would be a long shot to call the atmosphere rambunctious, but fans are into the game. Access 3 Even though Boiling Springs is a bit off the beaten path, it is rather accessible from nearby Charlotte or for those traveling on I-85 northbound from the Spartanburg area. Fans coming from the Charlotte area can use US Highway 74 to NC State Road 150 to get to Boiling Springs, while those approaching from the south would exit in Gaffney, South Carolina, and then take SR 150 directly to the stadium. Most fans will park in the parking lot immediately through Bridges Gate; from here, it is just a short walk to the field. There is a small lot adjacent to the field that has a few parking spots, but those are mostly comprised of handicap accessible parking. The stadium’s seating area is easy enough to access. A concrete walkway leads fans to the first base side of the grandstand and wraps around the back of the press box to the home side of the seating bowl. In good weather, most visiting fans choose to sit or stand in the grassy area along the right field line. Return on Investment 4 With adult admission of just $5, free parking, and affordable concessions prices, the monetary investment of attending baseball at Gardner-Webb certainly is not cost prohibitive. The time investment might be a bit of a deterrent when it comes to traveling to Boiling Springs for some, but it can easily be negated if paired with another stop at a nearby ballpark. Extras 3 The back side of the visiting dugout celebrates the careers of four former Bulldog players and coaches. Not only are their numbers enshrined on the back side of the visiting dugout, but plaques with the career exploits of each are also on display. The large roof line gives a nice feel of a time gone past in stadium design. The covered seating also provides a great deal of shade, and a massive fan in the middle of the seating bowl helps bring even more comfort to the sometimes hot, uncomfortable spring and summer days. Final Thoughts Most might not consider Gardner-Webb as a target for a baseball experience, but fans of baseball in its purest form will find the game enjoyable due to the lack of distractions – constant sound effects, ad reads, and on-field games. It might not be the experience most are used to when it comes to the constant barrage of entertainment that has become almost commonplace in many ballparks today, but baseball at Bill Masters Field is a refreshing break where the game and the players on the field are kept as the main attraction.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium 3801 E Washington St Phoenix, AZ 85034 Map It Phoenix Rising FC website Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium website Year Opened / Año abierto : 2023 Capacity / Capacidad : 10,000 Rising As One / Levantándose Como Uno Phoenix Rising FC es un club de fútbol de la USL-C, el segundo nivel de fútbol en los Estados Unidos, un escalón por debajo de la Major League Soccer (MLS). El club comenzó a operar en 2014 como Arizona United SC y se renombró como Phoenix Rising FC en 2017. El equipo ha tenido bastante éxito en los últimos años, logrando el título de la temporada regular del Campeonato de la USL en 2019. Llegaron a la final de los playoffs del Campeonato en 2108 y 2020 (que desafortunadamente se canceló debido a COVID) y los cuartos de final de los playoffs en 2021. El club ha mantenido su residencia a varios lugares, incluyendo dos sitios de entrenamiento de primavera de la Cactus League durante sus años como Arizona United SC. La temporada 2023 los vio mudarse a su tercer estadio específico de fútbol desde 2017, después de jugar previamente en el estadio Wild Horse Pass Chandler durante dos años. El contrato de The Rising en Wild Horse Pass terminó y la propiedad quería estar en el centro de Phoenix. Estaba disponible un nuevo sitio cerca del aeropuerto y en una línea de Valley Metro, por lo que los propietarios empaquetaron el antiguo estadio y colocaron la infraestructura casi exactamente en la misma configuración que el sitio anterior de Chandler. Se trasladaron las estructuras de asientos, el marcador, el palco de prensa/medios, la taquilla, los vestuarios, el campo de entrenamiento y se añadió otro edificio para el personal de recepción, almacenamiento, etc. Asistir a un partido es una velada agradable. Recomendamos ir a principios de la primavera o el otoño, ya que las temperaturas de Phoenix son más cómodas durante esos momentos de la temporada de fútbol. Food & Beverage / Bebida y Alimenticia 4 Las ofertas de concesión de los camiones de comida y quioscos de concesión tienen mucho para que los fanáticos del fútbol se den un gusto. Los puntos de venta de alimentos están en los terrenos fuera del área de asientos del estadio (excepto las secciones VIP), con puestos en los lados este, norte y oeste. Algunas mesas de picnic se colocan alrededor del vestíbulo exterior para que los fanáticos disfruten de sus refrigerios. El puesto de comida más popular es el PrimeTime Grill justo al dentro de la entrada este. Ofrece cinco canastas de comida: pollo tierno, sándwich de pollo, hamburguesa, hot dog y puerco desmenuzado (servido con papas fritas), y los precios oscilan entre $11 y $ 4.50. También se sirven papas fritas y nachos ($6 - $16). Los poseedores de boletos de temporada obtienen una tarifa con descuento. Asegúrese de caminar y ver los otros quioscos que incluyen pero no se limitan a: Lemonade and Kettle Corn, Ben's Soft Pretzels y Bahama Bucks Shaved Ice ($7 - $10). Bahama Bucks ofrece algunos sabores sin azúcar. Bro's Seafood tiene rollos de cangrejo y langosta, pescado y papas fritas y otros platos de mariscos que cuestan entre $13 y $26. Tuve los tacos de camarones, y eran fabulosos. Unos pocos puestos de bebidas alcohólicas se alinean en la explanada. Las cervezas, el vino y las gaseosas (enlatadas) cuestan entre $8 y $13.75 y los cócteles enlatados cuestan $13.75. Los productos de Coca-Cola cuestan $5.75 la botella. El estadio ofrece una hora feliz donde las bebidas tienen un descuento de $2 durante la primera hora después de que se abren las puertas. Atmosphere / Atmósfera 3 Esperaba un poco más con el nuevo estadio. La experiencia del día del juego no es tan agradable como en el anterior. Sin embargo, la organización hace un buen trabajo al proporcionar un ambiente familiar con fanáticos apasionados pero no rebeldes. Dentro del estadio, los asientos están en los cuatro lados del campo. Los asientos al nivel del campo, algunos con mesas altas, se alinean en el perímetro de la cancha. El lugar ofrece otros asientos premium, en la azotea y VIP. La mayoría de los asientos son asientos plegables grises elevados sobre el nivel del suelo, sin brazos ni portavasos. Estos asientos son más cómodos de lo que parecen. Las filas son largas (28 asientos de ancho), por lo que si eres un fanático que necesita levantarse con frecuencia durante el partido, elige asientos más cercanos a los pasillos (1-4 o 24-28) para evitar molestar a otros fanáticos. Los asientos elevados detrás de las porterías son de admisión general (gradas sin respaldo). Siéntese en el lado este para disfrutar de una bonita vista de la puesta de sol. Todos los asientos están cerca de la cancha, por lo que ver el juego ofrece una vista de cerca de la acción. Hay asientos mínimos para discapacitados disponibles detrás de cada portería. El estadio no está bien equipado para los aficionados que no pueden subir las escaleras con facilidad. El elevador/ascensor ADA se rompió el día que Stadium Journey visitó; no había ninguna indicación de cuándo iba a ser reparado. Recomiendo llamar al equipo con anticipación para ver si está funcionando. El lugar tiene un enorme marcador en el extremo sur. Muestra la puntuación, la mitad y el tiempo con algunos videos y anuncios, y es nítido, claro y fácil de leer. El marcador no ofrece subtítulos. El volumen de la música está bien; es fácil conversar con tu vecino sin tener que gritar sobre la música. Aún mejor, apagan la música cuando anuncian la alineación inicial. Player Introductions and Flags of Player's Home Country, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Desafortunadamente, el área de The Park (un campo donde los niños corrían y jugaban) que estaba en el antiguo estadio no está disponible en esta nueva ubicación. La explanada tiene algunas áreas de juegos para niños cerca de la tienda de souvenirs a las que muchos jóvenes acuden. Neighborhood / Barrio 2 Un mercado de pulgas Park 'n Swap deteriorado, el aeropuerto Phoenix Sky Harbor y Gateway College son los vecinos del estadio. No es inseguro, pero no es agradable a la vista. El barrio de la estación de tren no tiene un lugar para parar a tomar una cerveza o picar algo. Para los hoteles, se puede ver un Hilton Garden Inn desde el estadio de fútbol Phoenix Rising (un poco menos de una milla a pie). El Crown Plaza Hotel está a una milla a pie. El estadio está cerca del aeropuerto, por lo que muchos hoteles están cerca, pero es posible que no estén de distancia caminando. Otros deportes para ver cerca incluyen los Arizona Diamondbacks , los Phoenix Suns y el Phoenix Mercury (a tres paradas en el tren ligero). Fans / Fanáticos 4 Phoenix Rising FC tiene dos fuertes grupos de apoyo, Los Banditos y Unión 602. Tambores, banderas ondeando, humo de colores, cantar, aplaudir, saltar arriba y abajo, lo tienen todo. La mayoría de los aficionados se sientan en la zona de anotación sur, debajo del marcador, un área designada solo para ellos. Montones y montones de clubes de fútbol infantiles y juveniles asisten a los partidos. Verá una gran cantidad de familias y amigos presentes. Los aficionados son fijados en el juego en la cancha. Y ciertamente sabes cuando la multitud no está de acuerdo con las llamadas del árbitro. La afición hace que la asistencia al partido sea un cómodo evento deportivo donde todos los visitantes son aceptados. La asistencia es fuerte en los partidos de Phoenix Rising FC, con el club clasificado entre los cinco y diez primeros de la USL-C en asistencia en las últimas temporadas con un promedio de 6,600 a 7,000 fanáticos. En lo que va de 2023, los registros de asistencia promedio se acercan a los 8,000 por partido. Access / Acceso 3 Phoenix Rising Stadium se encuentra en el centro de Phoenix junto al Sky Harbor Airport. Los fanáticos pueden tomar el tren ligero Valley Metro Light Rail hasta la parada 38th Street y Washington, luego caminar 1/3 de milla más o menos hasta el estadio. Si bien esto es conveniente, la corta caminata es sobre asfalto sin sombra ni lugares para descansar. La caminata es dura durante los meses de verano. Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium from Light Rail, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Hay más de cinco estacionamientos en el lugar con entradas desde 37th St y 38th St. El club ahora cobra por el estacionamiento (gratis para los poseedores de boletos de temporada) y debe comprarse con anticipación. El costo del estacionamiento es de $5 (más impuestos) o $10 (más impuestos) si se compra el día del partido. Se permite dar una fiesta en tres de los estacionamientos. El equipo también tiene un servicio de transporte Pub2Pitch donde los fanáticos van a bares selectos y los autobuses los llevan hacia y desde los partidos. Ese es un servicio bastante ingenioso. Los aficionados pasan por detectores de metales al entrar. Los fanáticos en la fila me dijeron que pasar por seguridad es impredecible. Se permiten bolsas deportivas transparentes y los boletos son digitales. Los baños son indeseables. Los escalones que conducen a los baños son altos y los pasamanos se tambalean. Las casetas de baño son quizás una pulgada más grande que los de los aviones y tienen una función de descarga similar. Vi un baño accesible para sillas de ruedas poco atractivo y ningún baño familiar. El estadio simplemente no es propicio para personas con problemas de movilidad. No vi una carpa de servicios para huéspedes, aunque el sitio web dice que tienen una. Return on Investment / Retorno de la inversion 3 Los boletos para un solo juego cuestan entre $22 y $41 y son comparables, aunque un poco más altos que otros equipos de la USL-C. Los boletos para las gradas comienzan en $25 (más impuestos) y ascienden hasta $200 para los asientos de campo. Los asientos del medio campo y de la línea de banda cuestan entre $30 y $53. Todos los asientos están cerca de la cancha para que tengas una buena vista sin importar dónde te sientes. El estacionamiento cuesta $5 - $10, lo que agrega un gasto adicional en comparación con los lugares anteriores del club. Tomar el tren ligero le ahorra unos cuantos dólares, ya que su boleto de Phoenix Rising FC incluye un viaje en el tren ligero. Es una buena opción si tomas bebidas alcohólicas en el partido. Los precios de la comida del estadio son similares a los de otros lugares deportivos profesionales en el área. Las bebidas y la cerveza tienen un precio más bajo. Llega temprano y la cerveza cuesta $2 menos. Los visitantes pueden traer dos botellas selladas de agua por persona. Los fanáticos definitivamente los necesitan para los partidos en los meses más cálidos. El club ofrece todo tipo de especiales y noches temáticas, incluyendo la noche de cerveza de $ 1, boletos con descuento para la noche militar y de reconocimiento militar, paquete de cuatro familias NAU, Navidad en julio, noche Back 2 School y más. Asegúrese de consultar su sitio web y sus redes sociales para conocer las ofertas especiales. . Extras 3 Las numerosas noches temáticas y especiales merecen una mención adicional. Acercar el club al centro de Phoenix es sin duda un atractivo para más fanáticos en la área metropolitana. El frente de las gradas oeste muestra con orgullo las banderas de los países de origen de los jugadores. Final Thoughts / Pensamientos Finales Ir y ver partidos de fútbol profesional está en aumento en Arizona. Phoenix Rising FC hace un trabajo decente al proporcionar una velada de entretenimiento deportivo agradable y segura. El nuevo estadio de fútbol es un buen lugar para que los fanáticos de todo Arizona visiten y vean un club de fútbol ganador. Muchas gracias a Jim Minard por su ayuda con la traducción.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium 3801 E Washington St Phoenix, AZ 85034 Map It Phoenix Rising FC website Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium website Year Opened: 2023 Capacity: 10,000 Rising As One Phoenix Rising FC is a soccer club in the USL-C, the second level of soccer in the United States, one step below Major League Soccer (MLS). The club began operation in 2014 as the Arizona United SC and rebranded as Phoenix Rising FC in 2017. The team has been quite successful the last few years, clinching the USL Championship regular season title in 2019. They made it to the Championship playoff finals in 2108 and 2020 (which unfortunately got cancelled because of COVID) and the playoff quarterfinals in 2021. The club has called several venues their home, including two Cactus League spring training sites during their years as the Arizona United SC. The 2023 season saw them move to their third soccer-specific stadium since 2017, after previously playing in Wild Horse Pass Chandler stadium for two years. The Rising's deal at Wild Horse Pass ended, and ownership wanted to be in central Phoenix. A new site near the airport was available and on a Valley Metro line, so ownership packed up the old stadium and placed the infrastructure in almost the exact same configuration as the previous Chandler site. They moved the seating structures, the scoreboard, the press/media box, the ticket office, locker rooms, and the training field and added another building for front office staff, storage, etc. Attending a match is an enjoyable evening out. We recommend going in the early spring or fall as Phoenix temperatures are more comfortable during those times of the soccer season. Food & Beverage 4 The concession offerings of food trucks and concession kiosks have plenty for soccer fans to treat themselves. The food points of sale are on the grounds outside the stadium seating area (except VIP sections), with stalls on the east, north, and west sides. Some picnic tables are placed around the outside concourse for fans to enjoy their refreshments. The most popular concession stand is the PrimeTime Grill just inside the east entrance. It offers five baskets: chicken tender, chicken sandwich, burger, hot dog, and pulled pork (served with kettle chips), and prices range from $11 - $14.50. Fries and nachos are also served ($6 - $16). Season ticket holders get a discounted rate. Be sure to walk around and check out the other kiosks which include but are not limited to: Lemonade and Kettle Corn, Ben’s Soft Pretzels, and Bahama Bucks Shaved Ice ($7 - $10). Bahama Bucks offers a few sugar-free flavors. Bro’s Seafood has crab and lobster rolls, fish and chips, and other seafood dishes costing $13 - $26. I had the shrimp tacos, and they were fabulous. A few alcohol-only stands line the concourse. Beers, wine, and seltzers (canned) run $8 - $13.75 with canned cocktails costing $13.75. Coke products are $5.75 a bottle. The stadium offers a happy hour where drinks are discounted by $2 for the first hour after the gates open. Atmosphere 3 I was expecting a bit more with the new stadium. The game day experience is not quite as nice as at the old one. However, the organization does a good job of providing a family-friendly environment with passionate but not unruly fans. Inside the stadium, seating is on all four sides of the pitch. Field level seats, some with hi-top tables, line the pitch perimeter. The venue offers other premium, roof top, and VIP seats. Most of the seats are grey fold-down seats raised above the ground level, with no arms or cupholders. These seats are more comfortable than they look. The rows are long (28 seats across), so if you’re a fan who needs to get up often during the match, choose seats closer to the aisles (1 - 4 or 24 -28) to prevent disrupting other fans. The raised seats behind the goals are general admission (bleachers with no backs). Sit on the east side for a nice sunset view. All seats are close to the pitch so watching the game provides an up-close view of the action. Minimal handicapped seats are available behind each goal. The stadium is not equipped well for fans who can’t walk up steps easily. The ADA lift/elevator was broken the day Stadium Journey visited; there was no indication of when it was going to be repaired. I recommend calling the team in advance to see if it is working. The venue has a huge scoreboard on the south end. It shows the score, half, and time with some videos and advertisements and is crisp, clear, and easily read. The scoreboard does not offer closed captioning. The music volume is fine; it is easy to converse with your neighbor without having to yell over the music. Even better, they turn the music off when announcing the starting lineup. Nice job! Player Introductions and Flags of Player's Home Country, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Unfortunately, The Park area (a field where kids ran around and played) that was at the old stadium is not available at this new location. The concourse has a few kid’s play areas near the souvenir shop that many young ones gravitate to. Neighborhood 2 A run-down Park ‘n Swap flea market, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, and Gateway College are the stadium’s neighbors. It’s not unsafe, but it’s not pleasing to the eye. The neighborhood from the train station does not have a place to stop for a beer or a bite to eat. For hotels, a Hilton Garden Inn is visible from Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium (a little less than a mile’s walk). A Crown Plaza Hotel is a mile’s walk. The stadium is near the airport so plenty of hotels are close but may not be within walking distance. Other sports to see nearby include the Arizona Diamondbacks , Phoenix Suns , Phoenix Mercury , and Arizona Rattlers (all just three stops away on the light rail). Fans 4 Phoenix Rising FC has two strong supporter groups, Los Banditos and Union 602. Drums, flags waving, colored smoke, singing, clapping, jumping up and down – they have it all. Most supporters sit in the south end zone, under the scoreboard, an area designated just for them. Lots and lots of kids and youth soccer clubs attend matches. You’ll see a whole host of families and friends in attendance. The fans are engaged in the play on the pitch. And, you certainly know when the crowd disagrees with the referee’s calls. The fans make attending the match a comfortable sporting event where all visitors are accepted. Attendance is strong at Phoenix Rising FC matches, with the club ranking in the USL-C top five to ten in attendance the last few seasons with an average of 6,600 – 7,000 fans. So far in 2023, average attendance records are close to 8,000 per match. Access 3 Phoenix Rising Stadium is in Central Phoenix next to Sky Harbor Airport. Fans can take the Valley Metro Light Rail to the 38th Street and Washington stop, then walk 1/3 mile or so to the stadium. While this is convenient, the short walk is across asphalt with absolutely no shade or places to rest. The walk is tough during the summer months. Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium from Light Rail, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey More than five parking lots are on site with entrances from 37th St and 38th St. The club is now charging for parking (free for season ticket holders) and it must be purchased in advance. The cost for parking is $5 (plus tax), or $10 (plus tax) if purchased on game day. Tailgating is allowed at three of the parking lots. The team also has a Pub2Pitch transport shuttle where fans go to select bars, and buses take them to/from the matches. That’s a pretty slick service. Fans walk through metal detectors upon entry. Fans in line told me getting through security is hit or miss. Clear sports bags are allowed, and tickets are digital. Restrooms are undesirable. The steps up to the restrooms are high and the banisters are wobbly. The stalls are maybe an inch bigger than those in airplanes and have a similar flush function. I saw one uninviting wheelchair-accessible restroom and no family restrooms. The stadium is not conducive for those with mobility issues. I didn’t see a guest services tent though the website says they have one. Return on Investment 3 Single game tickets run $25 - $53 and are comparable, if a little higher than other USL-C teams. The bleacher tickets start at around $25 (plus tax) and run up to $200 for field seats. Midfield and sideline seats run $30 - $53. All seating is close to the pitch so you’ll get a good view no matter where you sit. Parking is $5 - $10 which adds an additional expense compared to the club’s previous venues. Taking the light rail saves you a few bucks as your Phoenix Rising FC ticket includes a ride on the light rail. It’s a good choice if you drink alcoholic beverages at the match. The stadium’s food prices are similar to other professional sports venues in the area. The drinks and beer are priced lower. Get there early and beer is $2 less. Visitors can bring in two sealed bottles of water per person. Fans definitely need those at matches in warmer months. The club provides all kinds of specials and theme nights, including a $1 beer night, discounted tickets for military and military appreciation night, NAU family four pack, Christmas in July, Back 2 School night, and more. Be sure to check their website and social media for specials and deals. . Extras 3 The many theme nights and specials deserve an extra mention. Moving the club closer to central Phoenix is certainly a draw to more fans in the metro area. The front of the west stands proudly display the flags of the players' countries of origin. Final Thoughts Going to and watching professional soccer matches is on the rise in Arizona. Phoenix Rising FC does a decent job at providing an enjoyable, crowd-pleasing, and safe sports entertainment evening. The new soccer stadium is a good place for fans across Arizona to visit and watch a winning soccer club.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Ector County Coliseum 4201 Andrews Hwy Odessa, TX 79762 West Texas Warbirds website Ector County Coliseum website Year Opened: 1954 Capacity: 5,131 Permian Basin Football Ector County Coliseum is located in Odessa, Texas, in the heart of the Permian Basin. The Permian Basin is best known for its oil, and as you drive through the region you will see numerous oil derricks in the fields. These oil derricks tie-in to football here, as during indoor football games at Ector County Coliseum, you will see oil derrick imagery all along the walls that surround the field. Ector County Coliseum opened in 1954 and holds 5,131 fans – the venue is used by indoor football’s West Texas Warbirds of the National Arena League (NAL), as well as by junior hockey’s Odessa Jackalopes of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The arena is built like the Idaho Vandals’ Kibbie Dome , curved on both sides and flat on the ends. Food & Beverage 4 While not all the concession stands are open during West Texas Warbirds games, there are plenty of options for fans. Being in Texas, both Mexican and barbecue are available, including beef or bean and cheese tacos, beef fajitas, and either chicken, pork, or brisket for BBQ (nachos or sandwiches). You can also find your traditional burgers, hot dogs, Philly cheesesteak, corn dogs, nachos, and mac ‘n cheese, and prices are reasonable / slightly on the high side (tacos start at $5, with burgers and hot dogs starting at $6). For sides, desserts, and drinks, the variety is even better – fans can find fries, tater tots, chips, pickles, and popcorn, as well as a wide selection of packaged candy, including Laffy Taffy, Sour Patch Kids, and numerous varieties of Skittles, instead of just the one option (red package) that is available at most sports venues. Drinks include Coke products, including orange soda and Mr. Pibb, as well as coffee and hot chocolate, and a wide selection of beer; Coors Light, Miller Lite, Bud and Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, and several flavors of White Claw. There is even a full-on restaurant as you enter, called The Blue Line Bar & Grill. Atmosphere 4 The Warbirds do a lot to make the experience fun – along with their mascot, numerous other local mascots are invited to the game, for example, McGruff the Crime Dog, Texas Roadhouse’s Armadillo, and the mascot from a local grocery store. The mascots do fun things all game long, including having a popcorn fight at one point when the other team scored, and challenging kids from a local peewee football team to a game during halftime (the kids won, of course). There are also motorcycles on hand when the team takes the field, and smoke and multi-colored LED lighting during player intros. The Warbirds do not have a dance team of their own, but they do invite local cheerleading squads, from high school down to kindergarten age, to perform throughout the game, which is a nice nod to the local community. There is also the traditional fan content, like a cornhole competition, and the MC is top-notch – he genuinely thanked the visiting team for coming (“…without visitors, we have no games…”), but then also mocked them mercilessly all game long, for example calling them ‘Goldfish’ instead of using their team name, the Sharks. The PA announcer also plays a special song for each opponent, in this case, ‘Baby Shark’ when the Jacksonville Sharks came to town. Neighborhood 3 Ector County Coliseum is right on the main drag in Odessa, so there are numerous restaurants within walking distance of the arena, both fast food and regular sit-down restaurants. Local favorites in Texas include Whataburger (try the Dr Pepper milkshake) and Chicken Express, or anything Mexican – my all-time favorite is Mexican Inn. There are also plenty of hotels in the vicinity, and even grocery stores and other shopping. One great attraction to check out while in town is the Petroleum Museum, which is over in Midland about 20 miles east of Odessa, but well worth the drive. There you can learn about how oil is produced, including some great geology lessons, learn about oil’s effect on the region, and even see an exhibit on how they make race cars go faster – a great place to stop during your trip to Ector County Coliseum. Fans 1 Very few fans show up for West Texas Warbirds games, which is unfortunate due to the great experience the team provides on gameday. However, the low attendance is most likely due to the team still being in the nascent stage – the Warbirds have only existed for 4 seasons, including this one, and will play more games this season than in all their prior seasons combined, thanks to the Covid pandemic. The Warbirds are also in their fourth league in four seasons, due to various issues, so I expect attendance to improve as the team gets settled in Odessa. Access 3 As you may have heard, Texas is big! It will take you 5 hours to drive to Odessa from Dallas or San Antonio, so just getting to the coliseum will be your biggest challenge. Once you get to Odessa, however, traffic is very light, and you can park for free right outside Ector County Coliseum. Once inside the arena, though, getting around is as easy as pie – there are plenty of bathrooms and short concessions lines, and you can sit pretty much wherever you want, no matter what ticket type you purchased. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to West Texas Warbirds games are only around $12 including all taxes and fees, which is almost as low as this writer has ever seen for indoor football, and parking is free. Concessions may be a little on the high side depending on your perspective, but since that is the only thing you have to pay for (potentially), a trip to Odessa to see the Warbirds represents a great return on investment – the game experience is guaranteed to be fun, and I had a blast in Odessa itself, visiting the Petroleum Museum and driving around seeing the oil derricks. I would go if you can make it. Extras 3 One of the sights around town is the jackrabbit statues (or maybe they are jackalopes) in various places which are painted by local artists – similar to what you might see in Huntington, WV (painted locomotives) or DeKalb, IL (painted huskies in support of Northern Illinois ); it might be a fun scavenger hunt-type game to find as many as you can. The team also has a great logo, reminiscent of WWII fighter planes.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29 Dickies Arena 1911 Montgomery St Fort Worth, TX 76107 Panther City Lacrosse website Dickies Arena website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 14,000 Panther City Lacrosse The Panther City Lacrosse Club became the 14th franchise in the National Lacrosse League, and became the first professional men's lacrosse team in Fort Worth, Texas. Founded in 2020, the team plays their home games at Dickies Arena. Dickies Arena is a 14,000-seat multipurpose arena, located within the Will Rodgers Memorial Center, in the Art District of Fort Worth. In the short time it has existed, Dickies Arena has hosted the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament First and Second Rounds, the American Athletic Basketball Championships, and numerous concerts. Dickies Area has many future major events in the pipeline and has become Fort Worth’s number one place for events. Food & Beverage 2 Dickies Arena has a vast number and variety of concessions, but only a few are open during lacrosse games due to the lack of fans in attendance. The concessions prices are trying to make up for the lack of attendance, and are on par with major sports teams. The choices are above the basic, but out of place for lacrosse fans. Tarrant Tex Mex sells Asada quesadillas, crispy taco baskets, chicken quesadillas, chicken flautas, Italian hero sandwiches, and turkey sandwiches for $11 to $14 each. The concessions also include the basic arena food snacks such as hot dogs, nachos, fries, pretzels, and candy from $5 to $6.50 each. Dickies Arena serves a various amount of Pepsi products at $5.50 for a 24oz fountain drink; bottled water is a little less at $4.75. The arena’s alcohol menu is acceptable, with the basic Bud, Coors Light, and Michelob Ultra ($11 to $12) – if you want to go to the next level, Karbach Brewery (Houston) has their Hopadillo and Love Street for $15 each; the wine list is extensive and ranges from $8 to $15. Atmosphere 2 The arena has two levels, but only one is used for Panther City games. The upper deck has a curtain blocking the seats to give the arena a more intimate feel. The seating and sidelines are good, as the arena itself is top notch. An LED scoreboard hangs above center court. It shows the game action video, score, shots on goal, time remaining, and quarter. The opening introduction of players has an impressive pyrotechnic opening. There is constant music being played to pump up the crowd, or at least bring noise into an otherwise dead crowd. Panther City does have dancers/cheerleaders that are on the end of the rink on a stage. Just like a second thought and weren’t really involved; out of sight, out of mind. Panther City does have a mascot named Prowler, who interacts with the crowd and is entertaining. There are events on the carpet between periods. The game itself has moments, but the lack of fans inside Dickies Arena really kills any type of atmosphere which would make someone who isn’t a lacrosse fan excited to attend a game. Neighborhood 3 The area directly surrounding Dickies Arena is Fort Worth’s Cultural District, and is located west of downtown Fort Worth. There isn’t much within walking distance for eating and drinking, and that brings this rating down, but within just one to three miles, plenty of choices for eating, drinking, and merriment are available. Seventh Street has everything from Velvet Taco, Rodeo Goat, Pei Wei Asian Kitchen, and for a dress up dinner, Eddie’s V’s Prime seafood. There are more restaurants downtown at Sundance Square, and just north of Fort Worth is the famous Fort Worth Stockyards, where there are several fabulous steakhouses to choose from, as well as a Fort Worth staple in Joe T Garcia’s Mexican restaurant. There is a lot to see in Fort Worth, and around Dickies Arena are the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, Kimball Art Museum, and Museum of Science and History. A short distance away is the famous Fort Worth Stockyards, as mentioned, where you can see cattle run representing the Chisholm Trail bringing cattle from the Great Plains. Billy Bob’s Texas, titled ‘The World’s Largest Honky Tonk’ is also a great place to visit while in the Stockyards. In addition, the Fort Worth Zoo and Texas Christian University are within a short distance of Dickies Arena. Courtyard by Marriott Fort Worth and Extended Stay-Fort Worth are nearby for lodging, but there are also numerous other hotel options in the Fort Worth area – it just depends on availability, price, and preference to decide where you settle while in Fort Worth. Wyndham Garden Inn is across the street from Dickies Arena, while the Ramada Inn is a block and a half away. I stayed at Ramada and while basic, it is clean and safe. Many more hotels in a variety of price ranges are also in the area so you can pick your preference. Fans 2 Panther City lacrosse is trying to compete in a state that is very unfamiliar with lacrosse. Although lacrosse is played in high school there isn’t much of a fuss over it, especially in a football state. There is some interest, however, and the fans that show up to the games are vocal and know the game. The crowd consists of families, kids, and school lacrosse teams. There are a lot of lacrosse jerseys being worn by fans, but mainly for the local high school team and not Panther City, although Panther City does have very cool uniforms. The average attendance is around 2,880 per game; the arena only uses the lower half of the seating arena, but even that the fans can’t fill. Panther City is dead last compared to other teams in the NLL. Access 3 Dickies Arena’s nearest airport is Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport – the 27-mile drive with traffic can take 45 minutes to an hour depending on when you plan to arrive in the DFW area. Otherwise getting to the arena is easy, as it is right off I-30 using the Montgomery Street exit, just west of downtown Fort Worth. Plenty of parking is available in lots surrounding the venue for $20. The box office is on the north side of the building, but only the south and west entrances are open for lacrosse games, and doors open an hour before the game. Public transportation is available, but on a Friday or Saturday night, Uber/Lyft or renting a car is your best option. It is easy and painless to get through the security and scanning of your ticket, and the typical clear 12” x 6” x 12” bags are allowed. Fans can walk the entire concourse, but the upper level is off limits. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, an online ticket provider. Fans purchasing tickets at the box office must download the AXS app on their phone to get their tickets, however. Return on Investment 2 For lacrosse fans, the return on investment may be higher, but the lowest price through Ticketmaster is $25 for general admission on the ends of the rink, while for better seats the prices can rise to $77. There are packages that offer a little discount, but with games being played only on Friday and Saturday nights, this event would be more for locals than travelers. The concessions prices seem a little high for the offerings, so I recommend visiting one of Fort Worth great restaurants instead. Parking at Dickies Arena is $20; parking in the neighborhood is not recommended, as towing signs are plentiful. You may find cheaper parking at other garages in the Art District. Extras 2 Panther City plays is an exceptional venue – Dickies Arena can compete with any arena in the country. Fort Worth is also a great city for visitors, with lots of lodging, restaurants, and tourist attractions. Final Thoughts This was my first experience with the NLL, and I see a lot of things Panther City should change to bring more fans to the games, and make going a big event instead of just being something for local lacrosse fans. There are so many things to do in Fort Worth, but the cost of going to a Panther City game discourages fans from attending, since they can go up the road to a TCU baseball game for half the cost. However, there is potential in Fort Worth, with changes in marketing and ticket prices, to bring in more fans, because really this lacrosse team is what is missing in Fort Worth, as the team is competitive in making the playoffs. The arena is exemplary – if Panther City can survive in the NLL, then Fort Worth will be a great tour stop for NLL fans.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 DCU Center 50 Foster St Worcester, MA 01608 Massachusetts Pirates website DCU Center website Year Opened: 1982 Capacity: 14,800 DCU’s Pirates DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts is a dated facility, but the staff does a lot to make the experience fun for the fans. In addition to hosting the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League (IFL), DCU Center also hosts the Worcester Railers of minor league hockey’s ECHL. The facility opened in 1982 and holds 14,800 fans – however, the upper level is curtained off during Pirates games due to the lower attendance at those games. Food & Beverage 4 Not all the concession stands at DCU Center are open during Pirates games, but there are plenty of options available, and there are also several bars in the facility, some of which have views of the field (there is a bar behind each end zone with seating that looks out onto the field). You can find all the traditional fare at Massachusetts Pirates games – hot dogs, burgers, pizza, chicken sandwiches, cotton candy, chips, pretzels, nachos, popcorn, and packaged candy, although you will have to check different stands to find all these items, as none of the stands sell them all. While there is no food item that stands out as unique, really, the drink selection is very wide, with plenty of beer, wine, and mixed drink choices, plus alcohol seltzers, bottled water, tea, coffee, and soda. In fact, the drink selection is probably larger than the food selection. Prices are a little hit and miss in terms of cost – hot dogs are $5, for example, which seems reasonable, but burgers and chicken sandwiches are $10 each, which seems on the high side. Regardless, you should be able to find something within your budget if you look around. Atmosphere 3 As I mentioned above, the facility is a little dated, but the seats are all chairbacks and have padding, which is a nice touch. The seats are also all very close to the field, so you have a good view of the action. The staff has the traditional fan contests, as well as the ubiquitous dance team and mascot. They also bring in local flag football teams (young kids) to scrimmage at halftime. The field itself is a bold blue in the Pirates colors, similar to a well-known FBS stadium you may have heard of. There are no pyrotechnics when the team comes onto the field, but the inflatable tunnel is really cool – it looks like a wooden sailing ship with a pirate (complete with hook hand) piloting it. They also have inflatable play areas for the kiddos in the lobby, and a massive team gear section. Neighborhood 3 A few blocks from DCU Center there are numerous eateries, including mostly Asian and fast food restaurants, as well as a couple of hotels (Hilton, Holiday Inn, AC, and Homewood Suites). There is also a huge hospital on the east side of the arena. Worcester is about 45 minutes west of Boston, so if you want, you can easily go into the big city if you are looking for more to do (there are lots of historical sites in Boston as you probably know, but also the traffic is pretty heavy). Fans 2 There are not too many fans at Massachusetts Pirates games, but they are into the game and many of them show up in Pirates gear, or the gear of other local teams. Access 5 There is very little traffic around DCU Center during Massachusetts Pirates games, so getting in and out is easy, and you can literally park right across the street for $10 in the parking deck – I don’t always like parking decks at sometimes they take forever to get out of, but in this case I was able to get out in minutes, and the walk was very short to the arena. There are plenty of bathrooms inside, the concessions lines are not long at all, and there is plenty of room to move around the concourse. You can’t really see the field from the concourse as there are black curtains hung at every entrance, but on the plus side there are plenty of tables and seating areas scattered around the concourse, so you don’t have to eat your food at your seat. Return on Investment 4 Including Ticketmaster fees, tickets to Massachusetts Pirates games are less than $25 each, which is pretty normal as far as professional sports go nowadays. Parking and concessions are also reasonable, so I would say this is a good return on investment. Note also they only have digital programs (just scan the QR code from the posters on the walls all over the arena) – on the plus side this makes them free, but it also leaves you without a physical souvenir. In full disclosure I did not get one of the programs, so I don’t know if they are downloadable such that you can keep a copy, or if they only last as long as the game. Extras 2 The dance team actually does a costume change during the game, which is very unique; I have not seen it at any other indoor football game, or any other sporting event for that matter. The facility also looks great from the outside with its huge bay windows, which gives fans great views from the inside.

Since its inception in 1986 as the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League, to its current iteration as the National Lacrosse League in 1997, the NLL has been at the top level of indoor lacrosse competition in North America. Each year the NLL seems to take another step closer to the mainstream, having survived the coronavirus pandemic to signing media deals with ESPN and TSN in Canada. The 2022-2023 season saw 15 teams hit the carpet for the NLL with some independent ownership groups and some part of larger sports empires. A healthy mix of major league and minor league cities and facilities are represented also. In the end, however, box lacrosse provides an affordable sports outlet, in a world where sporting dollars do not go nearly as far as they once did. We at Stadium Journey have compiled a ranking list for the experiences of the National Lacrosse League based on the reviews of our writing staff. Enjoy! 1. Buffalo Bandits - KeyBank Center - 4.29 Dave Cottenie - The year was 1992. The Buffalo Bandits were founded in what was then the Major Indoor Lacrosse League. The fledgling league was only five years into its existence and four from being the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League. Of that group of seven teams from the 1992 season, only the Bandits remain, uninterrupted and undeterred. The Bandits even predate the current National Lacrosse League, which is what the MiLL would eventually become. Since then, the Buffalo Bandits have been the crown jewel of the league, which has seen plenty of change, strong years, and lean years, and looks currently to be stronger than ever. 2. Rochester KnightHawks - Blue Cross Arena - 4.00 Meg Minard - The Rochester Knighthawks are a member of the NLL (National Lacrosse League), an action-packed game of box lacrosse. This is the second Knighthawk franchise to call the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial in Rochester, NY its home. The first was a very successful franchise that operated from 1995 to 2019. Its owner relocated the team to Nova Scotia and rebranded them as the Thunderbirds after the 2019 season. The NLL granted an expansion franchise to Pegula Sports and Entertainment (owners of four other professional sports teams in Western New York) to begin playing the 2019-2020 season. Pegula Sports purchased the Knighthawks name to keep that name and lacrosse in Rochester. The organization hired new players and staff and designed new logos and colors for the new team. All championship records of the former team moved with them to Nova Scotia. 3. Las Vegas Desert Dogs - Michelob Ultra Arena - 3.86 Meg Minard - The Las Vegas Desert Dogs are the newest members of the NLL (National Lacrosse League), joining the league in the 2022-2023 season. The team is co-owned by several well-known sports individuals: Wayne Gretzky, Steve Nash, Dustin Johnson, and Joe Tsai. They play their home matches at the multi-purpose Michelob ULTRA Arena, attached to the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, NV. The arena also hosts the WNBA Las Vegas Aces as well as concerts, college basketball tournaments, and other entertainment. Box lacrosse is a fabulous, non-stop action indoor sport. It’s one that even leaves fans exhausted after watching a match. 4. Toronto Rock - FirstOntario Centre - 3.86 Dave Cottenie - Beginning in 2021, the Toronto Rock is returning to Hamilton, Ontario, where it all began. The Toronto Rock date back to 1998 when their existence began as the Ontario Raiders. After one season, the future Toronto Rock was purchased by Bill Watters, Paul Beeston, Tie Domi, and Bobby Orr and moved to Maple Leaf Gardens for a rebranding. Two immensely successful seasons at the Gardens saw the Rock close down the iconic arena before moving to the Air Canada Centre, which eventually became Scotiabank Arena. The Rock was sold to Oakville, Ontario businessman Jamie Dawick in 2009. Playing third fiddle in Scotiabank Arena for significant rent became unpalatable for the Rock and the move up the Queen Elizabeth Way to Hamilton was on the menu, back to where it all started. The Rock is retaining not only the Rock moniker for 2021 but will continue to be referred to as the Toronto Rock. The new home for the Toronto Rock is the First Ontario Centre in Honour of Victor K. Copps. Built in 1985 with an NHL expansion team in mind, the former Copps Coliseum has seen several different tenants over its 35-year lifespan, with the NHL not being one of them. 5. Philadelphia Wings - Wells Fargo Center - 3.71 Dave Cottenie - For many years, the Philadelphia Wings were one of the cornerstone franchises in the National Lacrosse League. The original Wings played in the old National Lacrosse League for the two seasons that they took the floor in 1974 and 1975. When the league resurfaced as Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League in 1986 the Wings played in one of the original games on the first day. The league would go through changes, with a period as the Major Indoor Lacrosse League before settling in as the National Lacrosse League in 1998. The Wings were part of all of those iterations. When the announcement was made that the Wings were sold to the Mohegan Tribe and moving to Connecticut to be the New England Black Wolves, it is appropriate to say that the lacrosse community was shocked. It didn’t take long for the parent company of the Philadelphia Flyers, Comcast Spectacor, to dive right into the NLL and bring an expansion team back to Broad Street. The new Wings took the floor in 2018. The original home of the Wings was the venerable Spectrum. When the Wells Fargo Center opened and the Flyers and Philadelphia 76ers moved to the new venue, the Wings joined them. Opening in 1996 as the CoreStates Center, the building is now on its fourth moniker as a result of numerous bank mergers. 6. Calgary Roughnecks - Scotiabank Saddledome - 3.71 Jim Flannery - The Calgary Roughnecks are one of the most successful franchises in the history of the National Lacrosse League. Since they started playing in November 2001, they have only missed the playoffs once (their first year) and they have won two championships (2004 and 2009). This makes them the winningest professional sports franchise in the city’s history. Needless to say, their standards for performance are high and their fan base is dedicated and enthusiastic. While the Saddledome was state of the art when it opened for business, it is starting to be a little long in the tooth more than 30 years later. Consequently, the Flames have begun talking about building a new facility in the not-too-distant future. 7. Halifax Thunderbirds - Scotiabank Centre - 3.57 Greg Johnston - Halifax, Nova Scotia has quickly become an enticing city for attracting professional sports franchises.​ Curt Styres pursued an opportunity to relocate his National Lacrosse League’s (NLL) franchise. ​The Halifax Thunderbirds commenced play at Scotiabank Centre in 2019 after twenty-five seasons competing in Rochester, New York. Formally known as the Knighthawks, the team celebrated much success on the field winning five championships (1997, 2007, 2012, 2013 & 2014) and ten division titles. In an unusual turn of events, the Knighthawks are still in existence, but now as an expansion team with new owners, players, and logo. The records and championships belong to the Thunderbird franchise. 8. Georgia Swarm - Gas South Arena - 3.57 David Welch - Lacrosse has long been popular in the mid-Atlantic, northeastern states, and throughout Canada, but the sport’s popularity in the south has just started to blossom in the last decade. The growth of lacrosse in Georgia has been helped by the addition of the Georgia Swarm of the National Lacrosse League. The NLL is a 15-team indoor lacrosse league with teams throughout the United States and Canada, playing their inaugural season in 1987. Indoor lacrosse is a combination of field lacrosse, played within a hockey rink on sports turf, with the production level of professional basketball. 9. Saskatchewan Rush - SaskTel Centre - 3.43 Jim Flannery - Until 2016 the province of Saskatchewan was home to just a single professional sports franchise: the Roughriders, playing in Regina as part of the Canadian Football League. That is no longer the case as the Saskatchewan Rush are now residing in Saskatoon. The Rush had a busy and exciting 2015. In their 10th year of operation in the National Lacrosse League, they won their division for the third straight season, went to the Champion’s Cup for the second time, and won their first championship. A few weeks later, the team announced that they were relocating from Edmonton to Saskatoon. As a result, folks in Saskatoon are not only getting their first pro sports franchise, but they’re getting to see it played at the highest level, with a top-ranked squad coming to town. The Rush now play indoor (aka ‘box’) lacrosse at SaskTel Centre. The arena has undergone several renovations, expansions, and improvements since it opened its doors in 1988, with seating capacity more than doubled in that time, such that the facility can now hold more than 15,000 people. 10. Colorado Mammoth - Ball Arena - 3.29 Meg Minard - The Mammoth put on a good show; it is all very well coordinated. The introduction includes motorcycles on the court and smoke and fire when the Mammoth players are announced. The young, pretty, athletic Wild Bunch dancers entertain the crowd during breaks in the game. And, a halftime show includes various entertainment acts. 11. San Diego Seals - Pechanga Arena - 3.14 Meg Minard - The San Diego Seals are one of the newer members in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) beginning play in the 2018-2019 season. They have been successful, making it to the West Division semi-finals in their first season. So far in this early part of the 2021-2022 season, they are continuing their winning ways. The Seals play their home games at Pechanga Arena in the Midway District of San Diego, CA. Built in 1966, the arena is set up to be functional; not the whiz-bang marvels built these days for sports facilities. It serves the Seals well from a fan perspective. 12. Albany FireWolves - MVP Arena - 3.14 Dave Cottenie - In 2021, the National Lacrosse League returned to the Capital Region. From 2000 to 2003, Albany was home to the Attack, who would relocate to San Jose, California, and eventually settle in Vancouver. Albany has been home to several minor league hockey teams, most notably the Albany River Rats. However, the departure of the Albany Devils in 2017 left the area without a professional team to call their own. The New England Black Wolves would relocate in 2021 to Albany and the team would be cleverly named the Albany FireWolves. At one time the Arena Football League’s Albany Firebirds were a popular draw and the wolves' name was kept from the Black Wolves days. The mascot of the old Attack was also a wolf. 13. New York Riptide - Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum - 3.14 Dave Cottenie - The connection between New York and the National Lacrosse League is a long and significant one. The New Jersey Saints were one of the original Eagle Pro Lacrosse League teams and won the original championship in 1988. They immediately moved to Long Island to become the New York Saints, where they continued to participate in the various iterations of the league until 2003. The New York Titans would split time between Long Island and Midtown for their three seasons before moving to Orlando in 2009. In 2018, New York would once again be awarded an expansion team in the NLL and a return to Long Island was in the cards for the newly minted New York Riptide. The return to Long Island would bring with it a return to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Famously the home of the NHL’s New York Islanders during their four Stanley Cup run in the eighties, the Nassau Coliseum received a significant facelift in 2017. Originally opened in 1972, the county-owned Nassau Coliseum experienced a massive renovation which included a significant reduction in capacity, deadly for NHL hockey, but perfect for NLL lacrosse. 14. Panther City LC - Dickies Arena - 2.57 Michael Davis - Panther City lacrosse is trying to compete in a state that is very unfamiliar with lacrosse. Although lacrosse is played in high school there isn’t much of a fuss over it, especially in a football state. There is some interest, however, and the fans that show up to the games are vocal and know the game. N/A Vancouver Warriors - Rogers Arena Unfortunately, Stadium Journey does not yet have a review for the Vancouver Warriors. If you are interested in writing a review for Stadium Journey, please contact us.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Muzzy Field Muzzy Street Bristol, CT 06010 Bristol Blues website Muzzy Field website Year Opened: 1939 Capacity: 4,900 Muzzy Field Baseball has been played on the site of Muzzy Field since 1912, when local businessman and politician Adrian Muzzy donated a parcel of land to the city of Bristol. Used over the years for baseball, football, soccer and even rodeos, the facility’s brick grandstand was added in 1939. Even today, Muzzy Field continues to be home for several local baseball and football teams. Muzzy Field’s history goes so far back that local legend states Babe Ruth hit the first home run here in 1919. Muzzy Field was home to the Bristol Owls of the Colonial League in 1949 and 1950, and the Eastern League’s Bristol Red Sox from 1972 to 1982. Notable future Red Sox who passed through Bristol on their way to Boston include Jim Rice, Fred Lynn and Butch Hobson. The Green Bay Packers even played a game here in 1943. More recently, the Hartford Hawks played at Muzzy Field prior to opening Fiondella Field , and the Big East Conference held their annual postseason tournament at Muzzy Field from 1985 to 1995. Two New England Collegiate Baseball League teams have previously called Muzzy Field home, the Bristol Nighthawks (1994-95) and the Bristol Collegiate Baseball Club (2000). The Bristol Blues joined the Futures League as an expansion team in 2015. After experiencing some success in this circuit, including a trip to the championship round in their inaugural season, the Blues moved to the rival NECBL in 2020. Food & Beverage 3 For a smaller ballpark, Muzzy Field has a decent variety of concession options. Standard ballpark fare is sold at the park’s two concession stands, including Hummel Brothers hot dogs, burgers and pizza slices. A good assortment of snacks, including nachos, sunflower seeds, peanuts, pretzels and candy are also available. Fans can upgrade their hot dog or nachos with some chili. Thirsty Blues fans can select from a variety of Pepsi products. If an adult beverage is more your speed, the Blues have you covered with brews including Coors Light, Miller Lite, Blue Moon, Two Roads Li’l Heaven and Vizzy Hard Seltzer. Prices are most affordable, as no item (not even beer!) costs more than five dollars. Atmosphere 3 The game day atmosphere here at Muzzy Field is fairly typical of what you’ll find in other small summer college ballparks in the region. The Blues staff work hard, and the result is an enjoyable, family-friendly experience. Your typical between innings shenanigans take place throughout the game, hosted by an on-field emcee and Mojo, the team’s sunglasses-wearing mascot. The PA Announcer does a nice job without being too obtrusive while a simple scoreboard in right field displays basic game information. A highlight of the day is the mayhem race, where most of the kids in attendance race from foul line to foul line. For the adults in attendance, there are giveaways, free programs and raffles from local businesses. A 50/50 raffle is conducted, which raises money to help defray operating costs. Half the money collected goes to the team, while a lucky fan goes home with the other half. Neighborhood 2 Bristol is a small city in western Connecticut with a population of just over 60,000 residents located about 20 miles southwest of Hartford. Sports fans will recognize Bristol as the home of ESPN. While the ESPN campus does not do tours, travelers wishing to sneak a peak of the Worldwide Leader’s home will find ESPN headquarters about four miles southwest of Muzzy Field on Route 229. Visitors to Bristol will probably not stay in the city, but continue on to the nearby larger cities of Hartford, about 20 miles to the northeast or New Haven, about 40 miles to the south. The Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos are located just over an hour’s drive to the east. While there are not many dining or lodging options within walking distance of Muzzy Field, visiting fans will find ample choices nearby. Route 6, which runs about a mile from the ballpark, contains the bulk of these businesses, most of which are national chains. Several hotels are located within a ten minute drive of Muzzy Field, most of them clustered around Interstate 84 and the ESPN campus. The biggest local attraction, Lake Compounce amusement park, is located 4 miles from Muzzy Field. Fans 3 The Blues draw decent crowds to Muzzy Field, generally landing in the middle of the NECBL attendance rankings. The average crowd here ranges between 1,000 and 1,500 fans, a good turnout for this level of baseball. You’ll find a good mix of young and old, casual and diehard fans taking in the action at this old ballpark. Many of the fans in attendance have a personal connection to the players on the field, and as a result are quite knowledgeable and vocal in their support. Of course, watching the younger fans run around the ballpark chasing foul balls, begging for autographs and hassling Mojo is a highlight of any game at Muzzy Field. Access 3 The city of Bristol, Connecticut is located about 20 miles southwest of Hartford. Muzzy Field is most easily accessed by car, located on Route 72 (Park Street). Interstate 84 runs in a north-south direction just a few miles away from the ballpark. Recent renovations to Muzzy Field have greatly improved flow and accessibility. Concessions and restrooms are located on the exterior side of the grandstand, which is encircled by a wide concourse. While improvements have been made, this old ballpark is not the most accessible place for persons requiring accommodations. The majority of seating in the brick grandstand is in the form of wooden bleachers with backs, which run from behind home plate down the third base line. There are aluminum bleachers on the first base line, which are raised about eight feet above the field behind the visitors’ dugout, as well as a pair of aluminum bleachers further down the left field line to handle larger crowds. Some fans will gravitate towards the picnic tables in the grove further down the right field line. The seating area is cozy, but not cramped. With the typical crowds at a Blues game, there is room to spread out. Be warned that if you are sitting anywhere in either grandstand, nets will obstruct your view of the field. In an unusual quirk, the light poles at Muzzy Field are located in front of the grandstand, meaning that some seats have obstructed views. Return on Investment 5 Taking in a game at Muzzy Field is a most affordable entertainment option for central Connecticut baseball fans. All seats are sold as general admission for only six dollars. Free parking is available in a pair of decent sized lots adjacent to the ball field, and additional free parking is available on the streets around Muzzy Field. Concessions are reasonably priced, with no item costing more than five dollars. Extras 3 A pair of extra points are awarded for the sense of baseball history present here at Muzzy Field, from the old brick grandstand with the wooden bleachers to the ring of tall pine trees that line the outfield. Many ballparks throughout New England claim “Babe Ruth played here”, much in the same way that you might see “George Washington slept here” in old hotels. Muzzy Field honors Ruth’s visit to central Connecticut with a large #3 banner on the right field fence, colored half in Yankee pinstripes and half in Red Sox colors. This design choice is fitting when you consider that Bristol sits on the dividing line between Red Sox and Yankee territory. Among the other honorees in the right field corner is a banner with Jim Rice’s number 14. A final extra point is awarded to the Blues theme, honoring one of the team’s founders, Elliot Scheiner. Mr. Scheiner is an eight-time Grammy and two-time Emmy Award winning producer and engineer. Final Thoughts Muzzy Field is an excellent example of a historic ballpark that has been given new life through the establishment of summer college baseball. Recent renovations have given this old ballpark a new feel while retaining much of its historic character. Taking in a game at a historic park with affordable prices and a modern game day presentation is certainly the best of both worlds. After a few failed tries at summer college ball, it looks like the Blues are here to stay in Bristol. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Oakes Training Center 4957 Old Hwy 11 Hattiesburg, MS 39402 Southern States Stars SC website Oakes Training Center website Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 1,500 Soccer Under the Oaks Southern States Soccer is a local soccer academy located in the Hattiesburg suburb of Oak Grove, Mississippi. The Academy was founded in 2016 and strives to provide well-organized soccer opportunities for youth players, in a positive environment that teaches life lessons through the sport of soccer. The academy currently offers four different classes for boys and girls. The beginner's group is the Little Kickers program for ages 3-6 designed for kids to learn the fundamentals of soccer. The Pre-Academy class is designed for kids ages 6-8 who want to advance their soccer skills, while the Academy2 class is the stepping stone of youth soccer in Hattiesburg, and designed for kids ages 8-19, who will eventually advance to the Main Academy program. All classes are held on the grounds of the state-of-the-art Oakes Training Center. The 6-acre site includes a lighted professional length field with bleacher seating, two smaller practice fields, and an indoor soccer training center called the futsal center. In 2021 the Academy began sponsoring a club that competes in the National Premiere Soccer League. The NPSL is a lower-level professional soccer league that has 99 teams as of the 2023 season, and SSSC competes in the Gulf Coast Division. The players from the main academy compete in the NPSL, while a second team made up of other academy players competes in the Gulf Coast Premier League, which is a semi-pro league with 10 teams throughout the Gulf Coast region. A full length professional sized stadium was built in 2021 as the home of Southern States Soccer FC matches. Food & Beverage 3 There is one main concession stand located on the east side of the complex overlooking the pitch, and they surprisingly have a lot of offerings here. The usual fare of hot dogs, hamburgers, and popcorn are sold, but they also sell corn dogs and funnel cake. They also have a nice selection of alcoholic beverages, including domestic and imported beers, as well as a few local beers from Southern Prohibition Brewing in Hattiesburg. The cool thing about the concession stand are the four picnic tables located near the stands, which have an excellent view of the match. The picnic benches also provide excellent shade from the Mississippi heat, and provide an excellent view of the sun going down to the west. Atmosphere 4 The Oakes Training Center is a beautiful soccer specific facility, the only one of its kind in the State of Mississippi. The main field is the one closest to the parking lot and faces north and south. Along the west sideline is the box-style metal bleacher seating that extends down the full length of the field; this is the general admission seating area. But what really makes this venue stand out is the setup on the east sideline – a large two-story brick building overlooks the field on this side. The indoor of this two-story facility houses the locker rooms, weight rooms, and indoor practice field, and the offices of the soccer academy. Outside along the patio there is chairback seating for a couple of hundred people, and you can also go upstairs to an A/C lounge area with couches and TVs that overlook the field – this is the VIP area seating. A concessions area makes up the south side of the brick building, which includes four wooden picnic benches. General admission ticket holders are welcome to sit at these picnic benches, although you will need a separate ticket to get to the chairbacks or the lounge area. Along the outside of the brick building are about 30 nationality's flags that you can see from the field – this entire complex and set up are really impressive for this lower level of soccer. Neighborhood 2 Oak Grove is a suburb of Hattiesburg with a population of about 2,000 people. It is mostly a quiet, residential community compared to its neighboring college town. There isn't much in the vicinity of the Oakes except Oak Grove High School and a library across the street. Venture about a mile or two north on the main highway and you'll find a few things to do; mostly chain stores and fast-food restaurants dominate this stretch of the highway, as well as Turtle Creek Mall, the largest mall in the Pine Belt. There are few local restaurants in Oak Grove though – Half Shell Oyster House is a popular seafood restaurant located on the highway, and another popular spot nearby is the Movie Star Restaurant, which is like Cracker Barrel. Movie Star has vintage memorabilia, old signs, movie props, and anything old you can think of adorning its walls. It remains a popular spot for brunch and is located about a mile from the Oakes. For stuff to do outdoors in Oak Grove there are two beautiful 18-hole golf courses, Canebrake Country Club and Shadow Ridge Golf Club. You will also especially want to drive through the Canebrake subdivision and check out all the huge mansions that overlook the lake. Another popular outdoors activity in Oak Grove is fishing or boating at Hennington Lakem also known as Lake Serene; it doesn't get its nickname for nothing, as the beautiful lake also has cabins and a campground where you can make a peaceful weekend out of your visit. The Long Leaf Trace, a popular paved 44-mile bike trail runs through Oak Grove as well. The Trace also has a few primitive campgrounds, as well as the famous Piney Leaf Resort, which has cabins. Those are just a few things you can do in the small community of Oak Grove. Of course, Hattiesburg is the next city over and you can find more restaurants and plenty of lodging available there as well. Fans 3 The Stars have a pretty big following in the Pine Belt, with each match averaging about 1,000 fans. This area is a surprising big soccer market, with tons of various youth leagues and rec leagues throughout the region – all around the practice fields you will find kids playing pick-up soccer. You will see a lot of the kids from the academy in attendance, many of them in soccer uniforms having just got done with practice. Before the match the Stars bring that professional soccer feel; as the Stars take the pitch they enter with a various local youth team, while opera style music plays over the PA system. The Stars also have their fair share of supporters who get into the matches. The general admission seating closest to the players' bench on the west side is where the group of fans called the Supernovas sit – this group tries their best to make it as rowdy an atmosphere as possible for this level of soccer. All throughout the game you'll hear various chants coming from this section, and when the Stars score they blow off smoke bombs and wave a giant flag. From the parking lot you can also see the field, so there is also a group of fans there that sit in their cars and watch the game and tailgate. Whenever there is a goal, those fans will honk their horns. Access 2 Getting to the Oakes can pose a problem if you are not familiar with the area. The Oakes is located off a back road in a residential area, off a busy highway. The best way to get here if coming from out of town is to take Interstate 59 to Exit 65, which is Hardy Street/Highway 98, the main drag into town. If you go east you'll get closer to Hattiesburg, so instead go west on Hardy Street towards Oak Grove, until you reach Oak Grove High School and Highway 11. Then, go south for about two miles until you get to the Public Library, and the Oakes is right across the street. The one drawback coming here is there is no signage directing you how to get to the facility – if you didn't know what you were looking for you would have no idea this place was back here. The entire stadium literally sits in the woods amongst a bunch of oak trees. In fact there is only a small sign at the main entrance, that you can miss if you don't look quick enough. Return on Investment 3 General Admission tickets are $10, and you can sit anywhere you want on the west bleachers, while for $20 you can sit on the padded chairs on the east side patio outside the training center. For $75 you can get the VIP experience, where you can sit in the lounge area upstairs from the Training Center on the east side. I consider seeing a match here a good return on investment; most of these guys won't be playing in the World Cup anytime soon, but you are getting to see professional soccer in South Mississippi. Extras 2 The Stars achieved some national success in just their second year of play in 2022, after advancing to play in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which is a knockout months-long tournament to determine the best soccer club in the US. The tournament began in 1913 and is the oldest ongoing soccer tournament in the United States. The tournament is not only open to all MLS teams, but also to every league on the American soccer pyramid, including NPSL, which usually invites each division winner to compete in the Cup; SSSC won the 2022 NPSL Gulf Coast Division to advance to the tournament. The Stars then won their first-round matchup over the Georgia Revolution (the match was hosted at the Oakes), but later ended up losing to the Birmingham Legion of the USL. Another plus for the local fan engagement and community involvement that the Southern States Stars bring to the area during the summer months, when there is not a lot going on in the Pine Belt. In a college town dominated by Southern Miss the Stars do a great job at filling the local sports void during the summer months, in between the college baseball and college football seasons. If looking for a sporting event in Hattiesburg to attend in the summer months, then I highly recommend attending a Southern States Stars SC match.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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