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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 7721 Steam Corners Rd Lexington, OH 44904 NASCAR Weekend website Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course website Year Opened: 1962 Capacity: 65,000 NASCAR in Ohio Mid-Ohio is known for being a top-level destination for car racing. Not only are the fans loud, proud of their favorite drivers, knowledgeable, and loyal, but the food is great, the scenery is beautiful, and the facility provides exciting racing. Now if only the traffic and getting to the track weren’t as bad as they are, then there would be little keeping Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course from being among the best around. While IndyCar weekend may be the top event for fans to visit the track, NASCAR weekend provides a different vibe all together. Food & Beverage 4 Living in Ohio, or visiting Ohio, brings with it a culinary world of wonders. From Cincinnati to Cleveland there is no shortage of places to find great food – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is no different. With numerous places to find food and drinks at food stands around the course, quenching your thirst or getting a bite to eat isn’t hard to do. The food here ranges from the standard burgers and hot dogs to fresh and authentic Polish sausage sandwiches. The best part? It won’t break the bank. Food ranges between $5 and $10 for mainline meals, including chips or fries. Drinks (soda and water) are standard as well, costing only a few bucks each. And if that doesn’t do it for you, then get some pizza from one of the numerous traveling pizza servers. Yes, I said traveling servers – driving around the property on ATVs and off-road vehicles that feature warm pizza onboard, you can purchase your lunch and something to drink without losing your spot on the hillside, while watching the action on the track. Atmosphere 5 Ohio sports fans know how to hype up the energy, even at a car race. In addition, the camping on-site is on the same level as the best sports tailgating in the country. Dare I say, the views from the trackside camping are also among the best. The view you can get with a camper parked at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is not like some race courses where you are separated from the actual track and in your own parking area. Instead, here you can see the actual track from your campsite, with your tent right up next to the trackside barrier and fences – it’s hard to find a racing venue with a better place to stay at the track, where you can camp while seeing the race as well. In addition, for those who enjoy the group aspect, camping is also available in the various woods around the track. Neighborhood 3 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course isn’t in a major city, nor is it near a thriving metropolis. Instead, it is quite literally in the middle of farm country outside of Mansfield. The biggest town near the track, Mansfield, is also not that big of a place, but has its own mall and several places to eat and stay. While nice, the track is separated from civilization, giving a bit of an isolationist feel to the facility. One of the track’s entrances actually features a driveway that goes through a farm field, while another road leading to the front entrance goes through Lexington, a small town with a 35 mile per hour speed limit – this small town does embrace race weekend however, with local shops and restaurants putting on their best for race fans who pass through. For food, driving into Mansfield will bring you to Texas Roadhouse and Olive Garden, two popular stops for drivers and teams. For hotels, Hampton Inn & Suites Mansfield South and The Inn on Smith’s Hill are also popular stays. For sights the Ohio State Reformatory, located outside of Mansfield, was the filming location of the popular “Shawshank Redemption,” and even offers tours. Another popular stop is Cedar Point theme park, an hour north in Sandusky. Fans 4 The fans at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course are known for packing the hillsides on race day. Even if they don’t know the drivers on the track, they’ll pick their own favorite car and cheer for that team, whether they’re first or last on the track. In addition, if you get lost most are more than willing to help you find your way. While the crowds may not be as big as during IndyCar weekend , NASCAR still brings out a ton of locals and series-loyal fans to the facility. Access 3 Getting to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course isn’t exactly easy; it’s in the middle of nowhere. It is also a fair driving distance from the highway, all down one-lane roads with speed limits that average about 40 miles per hour. And once you get to the track, all the parking is in grassy or dirt fields, with some spots on the hills. Your rarely-used parking brake will come in handy at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, as many parking areas are on hillsides with noticeable slants, that will become slippery if it rains. Needless to say, getting out after the races takes a lot of work and patience, as traffic is quite an ordeal. The one lane road coming in and out, as well as the single bridge leading from the infield to the outer portions of the facility, mean you may spend hours walking or driving out before you even reach the main gates. Return on Investment 4 While it may take some travel to get to the track, going to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a track steeped in history and sporting tradition, is worth the trip. There are plenty of places to see big sections of the track, and the beautiful hillside scenery makes for a great backdrop for a NASCAR, IndyCar, or sports car race. That said you also have to bring your appetite, as the food will be hard to resist once you smell its sweet scent wafting through the air. Extras 4 There are many extras at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course that set it apart from other racing venues. First, the social media interaction helps engage fans while at the track – Instagram posts with the race’s hashtags show up on the monitors and big screens during the weekend. Another bonus is the great weather the track usually enjoys – even in the summer, it gets no warmer than the low 80s. Something else that gets the fans engaged is the large fan zone at the interior of the track. With displays, shopping for souvenirs, and driver interaction events, fans can get up close and personal with their favorite drivers and teams. In addition, autograph sessions throughout the weekend get you the opportunity to meet your favorite drivers up close and personal. Fans can also wander throughout some of the pits and garage areas to see their favorite teams at work, preparing their cars for the on-track action. During NASCAR weekend, special access passes are required to get into the NASCAR section of the paddock, but Trans-Am, Stadium Super Trucks, and F3/F4 are all open to the public. Perhaps the most unique thing about Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is that the garages feature a fan walkway above that looks down on the old-fashioned wooden and open-air rooms; this gives you a unique bird’s eye view of the NASCAR teams working on their machines, a view that few other tracks offer. Final Thoughts If you want a quick, action-packed racetrack that features great camping, a beautiful backdrop, some of the loudest and most passionate fans in racing, and is far from the hustle and bustle of city life, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is the place for you. You won’t leave hungry, you won’t leave disappointed, but you may leave in a long line of traffic (fair warning).

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Mike Lansing Field 330 Kati Ln Casper, WY 82601 Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 2,500 Welcome to Casper Baseball Mike Lansing Field in Casper, Wyoming serves as the home for Casper American Legion Baseball and beginning in 2018, the Casper Horseheads. The Horseheads are members of the Expedition League, a new wood bat collegiate league. The team is cleverly titled as the moniker comes from the ‘head’ of an oil pumpjack; the oil industry has been a part of the Wyoming economy since the late 1800’s. Mike Lansing Field honors the former MLB infielder who played for the Expos, Rockies, and Red Sox. It is a small, intimate place to catch a collegiate baseball game, and watching the Casper Horseheads for nine innings at Mike Lansing Field is an enjoyable evening out. Food & Beverage 3 Refreshment offerings are exactly what you would expect at a stadium of this size with plenty of traditional stadium fare to satisfy a fan’s thirst and hunger. One concession area, under the main seating bowl, serves the basics. Meal Deals (hot dog, hamburger or pulled pork) combos include the sandwich, chips, and a drink ($8 – $10). Standard snacks of pretzel, popcorn, seeds, nachos, ice cream, PB&J, pickles, and more are offered for reasonable prices ($2 – $4). Soft drinks (Pepsi products) range from $3 – $4. A Bud Light beer truck is on the outer concourse and offers your standard domestic brews as well as a few craft selections, one from Black Tooth (a Wyoming brewery). Nothing noteworthy is on the menu but you won’t go hungry. Atmosphere 3 The ticket booth and entrance to Mike Lansing Field are down the left field line, unlike other ballparks where the entrances generally deposit fans behind the home plate area. A path down the third base side of the field leads to the team store, concession stand, and seating area. The walkway is paved and easily traversed. The seating area consists of three sections on the infield. Behind home plate, all chairs are of the green fold down variety with cup holders, the other two sections provide the same for the first three rows, then bleachers with backs (first seven rows), then bleachers with no backs are higher up. A decent amount of handrails is available for climbing the steps to the seating areas to the top – Row T. Leg room is average. The third base side gets the shade first. The music volume level is acceptable. Walk up songs are played for the Horseheads. Very fortunately, no music is played between pitches allowing fans just to enjoy the game, hear the PA announcer, and not have their senses bombarded. Games and contests between innings include: Sweetheart of the game (flowers), matrimony game, strikeout batter of the game (if a selected opposing team batter strikes out, fans get ½ price beer for the remainder of that inning), fastest hot dog eating contest, dizzy bat race, and more. All contest sponsors are local Casper businesses which keeps the community feel at the ballpark. A basic electronic scoreboard is in left field that shows the line score by inning, the balls, strikes, outs, and player number of who is at bat, and total hits, runs, and errors for the game. Even though Mike Lansing Field is more than 15 years old, it is still very clean and well kept. As you walk from the entrance to the stands, the souvenir shop is to the left before reaching the seating area. It has a few nice bits of team merchandise, mostly t-shirts, and caps. Neighborhood 4 Although not a bustling city as cities go across the U.S., there’s plenty to see and do within a few miles of the ballpark in Casper, WY. The ballpark is adjacent to the North Platte River Trail; one can hike or bike a paved trail along the picturesque river banks. The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center is worth a visit to learn of the pioneers who traveled through the area on their way West for a better life. Downtown Casper, a little over a mile from Mike Lansing Field, covers several blocks and provides shopping, a brewery and bars, places to eat, a park, historic buildings, art, and more. Check out Frontier Brewing Company and Taproom for a self-serving craft brew experience or visit The Office Bar and Grill for a bite to eat, happy hour, and plenty of sports on multiple screens. The Casper Planetarium is across the street from the ball field which provides various educational shows, suitable for both kids and adults. Or catch a live show or concert at the Casper Events Center, a mile from the ballpark. Other sports in the Casper area include the Casper Racetrack (the roar of the engines can be heard at the ballpark on select nights) or check out T-Birds basketball, volleyball, or rodeo at Casper Community College. Six hotels are within walking distance of Mike Lansing Field; the Hilton Garden Inn Casper, Ramkota, and La Quinta Inn Casper are good choices. Fans 3 Attendees are typical for this level of baseball. The mix includes families, a few baseball diehards, and the casual observer. An average of 780 people per game watched the Horseheads this first season (2018). Most applaud at appropriate times and express dismay quite vocally at an umpire’s call when it doesn’t go the Horseheads’ way. For the most part, fans bring their trash to receptacles when leaving the ballpark, an admirable gesture worth noting. Access 3 Though Casper is in the heart of Wyoming and not a quick drive or flight for many ballpark chasers, once in the city, the ball field is easy to reach, less than a ¼ mile off I-25. Delta and United Airlines serve Casper’s small airport, with flights to and from Denver and Salt Lake City. Public transportation is not available for attending a Horseheads game (the bus service ends at 6:30 pm; returning to your destination after a game via the bus is not an option for evening games as most games start at 6:35 pm). Plenty of free paved parking is available adjacent to the field. There’s some, but not an overabundance of spaces for wheelchairs. Return on Investment 3 Attending a Horseheads baseball game is an affordable evening of family entertainment. Tickets range from $7 – $12 with discounts given for groups, flex books, and season tickets. Children three and under get in for free. Concession prices are reasonable and parking is free. . Extras 2 Be sure to pick up a roster sheet and program at the souvenir shop. The offering of a local WY beer at the beer truck is worth an extra mention. Final Thoughts Sitting in the stands of Mike Lansing Field on a summer evening watching America’s pastime is a pleasant way to spend a few hours. The level of play at this wood bat league team is comparable to college baseball. If travels take you to Casper, WY in June or July, certainly make the effort to catch a Horseheads game.

Photos by <att Finnigan, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Moby Arena 951 West Plum St Fort Collins, CO 80521 Colorado State Rams website Moby Arena website Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 8,745 Ram Proud Very few arenas can combine unique architecture, history, and competitive NCAA Division I basketball. Yet Colorado State University’s Moby Arena does just that. The building opened in 1966 and was initially named the Auditorium-Gymnasium. An article in CSU’s student newspaper, The Collegian , described the arena with its white, curved roof as a beached whale. That mention gave way to the arena’s informal nickname of “Moby Gymnasium,” a tribute to Herman Melville’s legendary tale of a captain’s pursuit of a white whale named Moby-Dick. The school embraced this cetological reference and, in the late 1980s, CSU Athletic Director Oval Jaynes formally adopted the “Moby Gymnasium” moniker. Today, a visit to Moby Arena provides an enjoyable college basketball experience. It sits in the middle of campus, within walking distance of bars, restaurants, and student housing. Fort Collins has a thriving downtown area, Old Town Square, less than two miles away from campus, and a bustling student neighborhood, West Campus, is just across the street from Moby. Fort Collins also has an extensive network of trails and parks, so fans wanting to see the Rams play have plenty of pre and post-game entertainment options. Food & Beverage 2 Moby Arena has the basics, and not much more. The Aggie Grill offers a guacamole burger basket, including a burger with guacamole, tortilla strips, and fries, for $10. A cheeseburger basket costs $9. Sriracha dogs ($7), hot dogs ($6), nachos ($6), bratwurst ($6), pretzels with cheese ($5), popcorn ($4), and candy ($4) are also available. Fans have limited options for drinks at the concessions stands: bottled water ($4), fountain soda ($4-$6), and coffee ($4). Coca-Cola products are sold at Moby. Chick-fil-A and Krazy Karl’s pizza also have concessions stands at Moby. An original chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A is $4.75 while a spicy chicken sandwich costs $5.25. The Moby Loft is a standing-room area on the arena’s west concourse that opened in 2019. Of-age fans can enjoy beer and wine while still being able to watch the game. The space has room for 300 fans, with canned domestic and craft beer ($8), Captain Jack margaritas ($8), wine spritzers ($8), and red and white wine ($6). Fans must remain in the loft while consuming alcohol. But the Loft provides an ideal place for fans to congregate as they enjoy the game. Atmosphere 3 Moby Arena’s whale design is unusual in college sports venues. Most seats are along the sidelines, while student and pep band seating is at either end of the arena. Seats are comfortable, with good sight lines and no obstructed views. Most seats have chair backs, with some bleacher seating in the end zones. The Rams’ home court, more than 23,000 square feet, is emblazoned with ram’s horns and provides a nice representation of CSU’s colors, logo, and nickname. Moby’s public address system can be difficult to hear, particularly when the band is playing. A scoreboard hangs from the ceiling above center court to provide replays, in-game promotions, and player statistics. Smaller scoreboards hang in the corners and offer more in-depth player stats during the game. Of note, a ram-themed display above Moby’s east concourse illuminates to measure crowd noise and encourage fans to get loud during the game. Neighborhood 5 Fort Collins is an idyllic college town that surrounds the CSU campus. With trails, parks, and the Cache la Poudre River running through town, outdoor opportunities abound in Fort Collins. Several neighborhoods near campus feature great bars and restaurants. Less than a mile from Moby Arena, West Laurel Street has several dining options. The B&B Pickle Barrel serves excellent east coast-style deli sandwiches, with a full bar and plenty of TVs for watching games. Downtown Fort Collins has restaurants for most every taste. The Exchange, located downtown, is a newer, open-air plaza that has several restaurants around its perimeter with plenty of room for gathering outside. Ice cream lovers will enjoy the Old Town Churn, an ice cream stand built into a giant, well, ice cream churn at the Exchange. Beer lovers will also recognize Fort Collins as one of the top destinations for craft brewing and there are numerous ways to visit the breweries . More than 20 breweries call Fort Collins home. The New Belgium Brewing Company and Odell Brewing Co. are the town’s largest brewers, but the smaller breweries are also key members of the town’s brewing fabric. Fort Collins-based Magic Bus Brewery Tours can arrange for both bus and walking tours of Fort Collins’s breweries. For those who prefer their beer brewed on a larger scale, Fort Collins’s Anheuser-Busch brewery also offers tours. Fans 3 Head coach Niko Medved has the Rams playing very competitive basketball, on pace to win 20 games and possibly advance to the NCAA Tournament in 2019-2020. Yet the Rams have averaged just slightly more than 3,100 fans per game. CSU’s official student fan group, Ram Ruckus, provides energy and noise; all students are welcome to join. The other fans in attendance are engaged and loud. Access 4 Fort Collins sits approximately 60 miles north of Denver and is approximately a 45-minute drive from Denver International Airport. Moby Arena is located on the northwest corner of CSU’s campus, near the intersection of Plum Street and South Shields Street. Parking ($15 per car) is available in the lot between Moby and South Shields Street. Fans will have little difficulty finding the arena or a place to park. Transfort , the City of Fort Collins’s mass transit authority, operates several bus routes serving the CSU campus (the 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 19, 31, 32, 33, and max lines), including one that links CSU with downtown Fort Collins. The CSU Transit Center is less than a half-mile from Moby Arena. Rideshare services Lyft and Uber both operate in Fort Collins but Moby Arena does not have a dedicated rideshare drop-off or pick-up location. Moby Arena has two ticket window areas, the larger of which is in a lobby on the building’s north side and the smaller of which sits on the building’s southwest side. Fans should consider purchasing tickets from the windows on the north side, as there are several options. Security lines move quickly into the building. Once inside, concourses are not wide but fans should not expect any problems navigating the arena. Concession lines move quickly and efficiently. Return on Investment 3 Tickets range from $14 for reserved seats in Moby Arena’s corners to $30 for a reserved seat along either sideline. Because of Moby’s smaller size, fans can get close to the action regardless of where they sit. Concession prices are slightly lower than what fans should expect to pay at an NCAA Division I basketball game. Although parking at Moby costs $15, there is also plenty of free street parking within walking distance. Extras 3 Moby Arena receives a point for the exceptional CSU Sports Hall of Fame Exhibit, located on the south concourse. The school chronicles its programs’ athletic and academic highlights with an extensive collection of photos and memorabilia. The City of Fort Collins also earns a point. The myriad dining, entertainment, and outdoor options are unlike what other college towns can offer. Finally, Moby Arena receives a point for its history. It provided the setting for the 1976 film, “One on One” with Robby Benson, Annette O’Toole, and Melanie Griffith. Final Thoughts Colorado State has succeeded in a challenging feat: to maintain Moby Arena’s design and function while modernizing the building to appeal to present-day basketball fans. With a Rams team on the rise and a beautiful campus (and town), a game at Moby Arena is worth the drive from Denver.

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Moda Center 1 N Center Ct St Portland, OR 97227 Portland Trail Blazers website Moda Center website Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 19,980 The Home of Blazerball The Portland Trail Blazers are the longest running professional sports franchise in the Pacific Northwest. The name “Trailblazers” was chosen by a wide margin in a fan poll in recognition of their pioneering efforts to bring not only basketball, but other pro sports to the region. Although they have only one NBA Championship in their 50-year history, they have won numerous Northwest Divisional titles and have gone to three Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately, over the years they have faced either the Lakers or the Warriors in their prime over this period, or they likely would have more league championships. As it is, they have succeeded where two Pacific Northwest teams, the Seattle Supersonics and the Vancouver Grizzlies have failed. Portland is known as the “Rip City” a phrase coined by their original announcer for the many “swishes” shot by the smooth shooting teams of the early years. The Moda Center has served as the home of the Trail Blazers since 1995. It was originally known as the Rose Garden, in homage to two other basketball shrines, the Boston Garden and Madison Square Garden. The name was changed in 2013, as GPS and local tourism guides found the name confused visitors who were in town to visit Portland’s world-famous International Test Gardens during the annual Rose Festival. The Moda Center features three levels of seating (two general levels and a suites level). There are 70 skyboxes in the facility, which are located in between the lower and upper seating bowls. The arena holds 19,441 in its basketball configuration. Food & Beverage 5 Moda Center offers one of the most diverse menus at its concession stands in the NBA. This is reflective of the diverse population and foodie culture found in Portland. You can always find the arena standards, but you owe it to yourself to try out the regional cuisine. The facility offers 70 concession stands, three bars, two cafes and a full-service restaurant. Food offerings include Bap N’ Noodle (Korean), Cha Cha Cha (burritos), Crafters (burgers and chicken strips), Daddy D’s BBQ, Hen Pen (chicken wings), Hook/Line (oysters and fish and chips), Plum Tasty (organic bowls, salads and wraps), Red Hot and Rollin’ (popcorn, pretzels and hot dogs), Sizzle Pie (pizza), Tamale Boy, Hotstone (Italian cuisine) and Whole Sum (salad bar). If you have any room left, check out dessert at the 1927 S’mores Cart or the ice cream at Ruby Jewel’s or Salt and Straw. Since Portland is a craft beer mecca, more than 45 brews are available at the Moda Center. Stop in at the 10 Barrel Brewing Company, Hop Valley Brewing, Adelsheim Local Cork, Heritage Distilling, Widmer Beer or the Crispin Cider Cart to decide what is your favorite, (You are taking the light rail home after the game… right? ) Atmosphere 4 You’ll know from the moment you step into the building that you are at the center of Blazermania. The color scheme features the red and black color scheme of the Blazer uniforms and the unique swirled logo of the franchise is everywhere. The arena features numerous exhibits covering the team’s timeline and greatest players and accomplishments. Once inside the seating bowl you will be impressed by one of the largest center-hung video boards in the NBA, with each of the four screens measuring 15’ X 22.5’. There are also auxiliary boards providing you with statistical information in each corner of the seating bowl. If you do need to leave your seat for a few minutes there are more than 650 TV monitors lining the concourses so you will not miss any of the action. The rafters of the Moda Center are filled with banners saluting great Blazer teams and players. They include Northwest Divisional Championships, Western Conference Championships, and the 1977 NBA League Championship banners. Individual players with a banner include Bill Walton, Geoff Petrie, John Lucas, Clyde Drexler, Arvydas Sabonis and Coach Jack Ramsay. Neighborhood 4 The home of the Trail Blazers is in the Rose Quarter, a sports and entertainment center located in NE Portland on the eastern banks of the Willamette River. The Rose Quarter includes the Moda Center, the Portland Coliseum (the former home of the team), as well as numerous restaurants and shops. The area is well serviced by hotels and restaurants, as the Oregon Convention Center is located just across the road. The area’s largest regional shopping mall, the Lloyd Center, is also located nearby. Portland has an excellent public transportation system, so visiting the downtown Portland area across the river is no problem. The greater Portland area is one of the most popular tourism areas in the Pacific Northwest, with the natural beauty of the International Rose Test Gardens, the Willamette Riverfront and the Columbia River Gorge located just a few miles apart. For outdoors enthusiasts, rowing on the river or skiing /climbing at Mt. Hood are popular pursuits. Portland is also a foodie and craft beer capitol for the region. Fans 4 Trail Blazer fans are known for their passion for the team as sellouts are the norm for games. They arrive early and begin their “Rip City” chant even during the team warmups. Portland is a small market by NBA standards, so the relationship between the players and their fans is almost at the “neighbor” level. The team participates heavily in the community and visits the local schools and neighborhood festivals on a regular basis. If you think the Moda Center is one of the louder NBA venues, you have been to… there is a reason for that. An “acoustical cloud” hangs over the arena. This cloud is made up of 160 rotating acoustical panels, which can be adjusted to deflect or absorb sound. For Trail Blazer games, it is set to deflect the noise back down to the court. If you were at the facility for a play, it would be set to adsorb noise. Ingenious, eh? Also keeping the crowd at a fever pitch is Blaze, the team’s mascot. He is a trail cat that wandered down from nearby Mt. Hood and discovered a love for basketball. Access 5 Getting to the Moda Center is very convenient, as it can be accessed via I-5, I-205, I-84 and Highway 26 Eastbound. The Center also has its own Transit Station (Rose Quarter), which is served by the Blue, Green and Red Lines of the Tri-Met MAX Light Rail System. There are more than 4,000 parking spaces in the lots surrounding the Rose Quarter complex. Several hike/bike trails also lead to the Rose Quarter and there are enough bike racks on site to handle more than 300 bikes. The arena has multiple entrances, and once inside the building the concourses are wide and easy to navigate. Doors open at 5:30 pm for night games, allowing plenty of time for visitors to tour the facility and get a pregame meal. There are more than 35 restroom facilities and 70 concessions stands to service fans’ needs with little or no lines to contend with. Return on Investment 4 The average ticket price for a Trail Blazers game is $53 but may be higher for selected opponents. Parking in one of the surrounding lots runs $20. Day Pass fares on the Tri-Met Light Rail System are $5 for adults and $2.50 for children, seniors and members of the military. Hotels in the vicinity of the Moda Center / Convention Center run $130- $150 per night. Concession prices at the Trail Blazer games are quite reasonable Extras 4 The 2019-2020 season marks the 50th anniversary of the Portland Trail Blazers franchise. The team is using a court featuring a 50th Anniversary logo at midcourt and has several special events planned during the season long celebration. This includes a reunion of the 1977 team that won the franchise’s sole NBA Championship. In addition to the Trail Blazers, the Moda Center also serves as the home of the Portland Riverhawks of the Western Hockey League. Other events that have been held in the building include first and second rounds of the NCAA Men’s Championships, the US Figure Skating Championships, three NBA Western Conference Finals and numerous music concerts. As befits an arena in the environmentally conscious Pacific Northwest, the Moda Center was the first professional sports facility to receive Platinum LEED status for its sustainability practices. These practices include excess food being donated to homeless shelters and food waste being used as compost on the facility’s grounds, all trash being sorted for recycling, detergent-free cleaning of the building, the use of low flow toilets, the implementation of drought resistant landscaping, the use of energy efficient power equipment, the practice of sourcing of food from locally based farms using organically grown methods and encouraging the use of public transportation and hike/bike trails for fans to reach the arena. The Trail Blazers are owned by the estate of former Microsoft executive Paul Allen, who died earlier in 2019. Allen played a huge role in sports in the Pacific Northwest, as he also owned the Seattle Seahawks (NFL) and the Seattle Sounders (MLS). He played a major role in the funding of the building of the Moda Center out of his personal fortune. There are three Trail Blazer players (Clyde Drexler, Bill Walton and Arvydas Sabonis) and one coach (Jack Ramsay) in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Final Thoughts Even though the Moda Center is one of the older arenas in the NBA, it offers one of the most entertaining venues to watch a game. The fact that basketball is the primary professional sport in town, added to the raucous atmosphere of the fans provides a great viewing experience. Add to that the many tourist opportunities in and around Portland, and the strong foodie and craft beer culture present in the area, and a visit to the Pacific Northwest will provide you with a very enjoyable time.

Photos by Gary Butterworth, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Modern ERP Arena Idrottsvägen 7 Gävle, Sweden 806 33 Brynäs IF website Modern ERP Arena website Year Opened: 1967 Capacity: 8,585 Of Straw Goats and Gävle Gävle, pronounced “Yeh-vluh,” is Sweden’s 13th largest city…more or less. Internationally, the town is probably best known for the giant straw goat that it builds every year at Christmastime and for the arsonists who subsequently make a sport of burning it down. But Gävle has a few other claims to fame: Läkerol lozenges and Ahlgrens Bilar (candy) are Swedish staples that originate here. And there’s the hockey team, Brynäs IF (BIF). Despite being a small market team, BIF is something of a powerhouse, with more than a dozen Swedish titles under its belt. Brynäs IF calls Gavlerinken Arena home. Confusingly located a short drive from the harborside neighborhood from which Brynäs IF takes its name, Gavlerinken Arena is an interesting and stylish mix of old and new. We were unlucky enough to catch an unusually boring game here, but we were still able to recognize an unusual, interesting, and above average facility. Editor’s Note: Gävlerinken Arena name was changed to ERP Monitor Arena in 2019. Food & Beverage 4 With multiple sit-down restaurants, a food court-style bistro, a bar, traditional concession stands, and vending machines, Gavlerinken Arena covers all the bases. Though striking us as a bit unusual in a ’60s-era arena, the table service restaurants provide decent views of the ice surface and are popular with local fans. Food prices around the arena aren’t too bad, either, with prices at the Bistro ranging from 79-149 SEK (USD $9.50-$17.90; EUR 8.50-16.00 as of 2015) for sandwiches, tacos, and the like. The Bistro is available to all fans, while other restaurants require a separate ticket. Vending machine fare is fairly standard, with chips and candies going for around 20 SEK (USD $2.40; EUR 2.14). Hometown Ahlgrens Bilar candies are available. The traditional concession stands are the only option that fans may find lacking. Concession stand fare is largely limited to hot dogs, popcorn, and packaged snacks. Candy is sold on convenience store-style display racks. Bottled soft drinks are available, and coffee is another popular option. If you need a place to sit while you eat, some concession stands offer tables. Atmosphere 3 Gavlerinken Arena probably deserves a better score than we’re giving it, but our sole visit to Gävle brought us a painfully boring game that sucked the energy out of an already small weekday crowd. Even still, our rating for atmosphere is hardly terrible. We’ll walk you through the experience. After arriving at the arena, you’ll make your way across the parking lot. Careful – you’re farther north than parts of Alaska and Greenland, so watch out for ice. Considering the ice and the fact that there are only a couple of ticket windows, all of which are outdoors, and your first impression might not be the best. That’s understandable. But from here on, there’s little to complain about. Before entering, take a step back and look at the arena’s façade. While not imposing, Gavlerinken Arena looks modern and important. Security on the way in is minimal, and not in a bad way. Your ticket is checked, and you step into a three-story glass atrium. The main lobby actually feels more like a shopping mall than an arena, but also not in a bad way. The concourses might be a bit bland, but Brynas makes up for this in other ways. You take the escalator up, and yep, it still feels like a mall. The lighting is dim, but it’s atmospheric, and it works. As you enter the seating bowl, you notice the sharp graphics on the retired number banners. You notice just how many championship banners there are. You even notice the wooden embellishments on the seats and remember that, yes, this is where IKEA comes from. It’s bigger than you expected. It’s bigger than anyone would expect from a city of this size. You’d love to see the place full and rocking. Sure, you can tell that this arena has been around for a while, but it still feels current. The seats are comfortable, except when you have to stand up, which is more often than usual. Why are the rows here so abnormally long and the aisles so abnormally few? Still, it’s a small complaint. Game presentation is mostly in Swedish, with a smattering of English thrown in every once in a while. The audio sounds good, even that weird, poppy “put your ass up in the air” song. The video board is helpful, but not overused. Your view is good, and it looks like everyone else’s should be, too. It’s nothing particularly remarkable, but you think you like it here. Neighborhood 2 Gävle is a small city to begin with, and Gävlerinken Arena sits just past the suburban developments at its northern edge. A harness racing horse track and an indoor tennis complex are Gävlerinken Arena’s only immediate neighbors. Then, beginning just steps behind the arena, is forest that continues more-or-less untouched until you run out of Scandinavia. This may be the quietest arena neighborhood you’ll ever find. There’s something legitimately peaceful about that, but unless you’re also into horse racing or are up for some tennis, there’s nothing to bring you here early or keep you here long past the final whistle. Fans 3 Gävle isn’t much of a tourist destination. When our hotel owner learned that we had come solely to see a match, she beamed. “You’ll love it! The whole town comes out!” In North American terms, Brynäs IF could be compared to the Green Bay Packers or the Hershey Bears; a small market powerhouse with a proud history and a loyal fan base. The only game in town, and a source of pride. Busses to the arena are standing room only as jersey-clad fans make their way to the arena. During the game, the team’s most ardent supporters take their traditional place behind the net where they stand and cheer for their team. Elsewhere, fans watch intently and occasionally chat with friends. Games here feel social and communal. Fans are friends, and everyone is devoted. The devotion, though, is calm and understated. There was no rowdiness during our visit, and we felt very calm and comfortable visiting. We felt welcome, but the fans’ enthusiasm wasn’t contagious. Walking in, we wondered if one game here might make us Brynäs fans. It didn’t. Access 2 You’re either going to drive here or take the bus. You could bicycle, but with dark roads and frequent snow and ice, that might not be a safe option. Since a single road is the only way into and out of the arena, prepare for traffic both pre and postmatch. If you’re driving, parking is adequate, which is good considering the relative remoteness of the rink. Public shuttle busses run between the rink and Central Gävle. Round-trip tickets will save you a tiny bit, and will also give you a souvenir: they are printed with a player photo. English isn’t as visible in Gävle as in other places in Sweden, simply because there’s relatively little to bring non-Swedes here. Don’t let that deter you if you need help. English is just as much understood in Gävle as in Stockholm, and most passers-by in this safe and friendly city will speak more than enough English to help you find your way around town. Once inside the arena, things continue pretty easily. There is little need for a strong security presence here, but officials are around in case you need anything. Lighting is good and walkways are flat and roomy. No problems with the restrooms, either. We saw a few fans with special needs moving around with relative ease. Return on Investment 3 Sweden’s reputation as an expensive country is deserved. There are plenty of places where foreigners may get sticker-shock all over Scandinavia, but Gavlerinken Arena is not one of them. While not inexpensive, ticket prices are comparable to other high level leagues in Western Europe and North America. A large and well-stocked souvenir shop has a large selection of team merchandise, including sale items. Snack prices are reasonable. Overall, Brynäs offers an average value. Extras 4 Gävlerinken Arena gets the details right. It’s clean. It’s stylish (perhaps surprising for a team whose logo is a difficult-to-read gold-on-white.) Not only are its seats and banners stylish, but so are the tickets, which have a black-and-white player photo. Even the kids get in on the style. Gävlerinken Arena boasts a swanky children’s lounge. “Lilla Gävlerinken” has life-size player photos, table hockey games, and hardwood floors. Looking like it came fresh out of a design catalog, “Lilla Gavlrinken” is one of the nicest looking children’s area you will come across at any stadium. It’s for the kids, but plenty of adults would love to have something like this for a man cave. Free Wi-Fi is also a nice bonus. You have to sign up for an account on the SHL’s webpage, but you can do this from the log in page inside the arena. Sign up is in Swedish only, but the form is easy enough to figure out. Final Thoughts Gävlerinken Arena isn’t unique enough to earn “can’t miss” status, but it is an example of an area that does just about everything right. We thoroughly enjoyed our sole visit here. While it’s unlikely that anything will bring us back to this small town anytime soon, we’d jump at the chance to make a return visit should the opportunity present itself. We have a hunch that a good game and a full house might be enough for us to fall in love with Brynäs IF and Gävlerinken Arena.

Photo Courtesy FAMU Athletics Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Moore-Kittles Field 2400 Wahnish Way Tallahassee, FL 32310 Florida A&M Rattlers website Moore-Kittles Field website Year Opened: 1983 Capacity: 500 Rattling the Competition Florida A&M University is one of the nation’s oldest Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), as it was founded in 1887. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, it has an enrollment of more than 11,000 students on its 422 acre campus. The most popular majors are business administration, biology, criminal justice and engineering. Other unique academic offerings are jazz studies, health informatics and Black Studies. Some of FAMU’S most famous graduates are Bob Hayes of the Dallas Cowboys, Althea Gibson of tennis fame, Pam Oliver of Fox Sports, and Congresswoman Carrie Meek. The baseball program has a long history at the university, as the first team was fielded in 1899. Some of its most famous alums include major leaguers Hal McRae, Vince Coleman, Marquis Grissom, and Andre Dawson. The Rattlers have been to 14 NCAA tournaments. In 1983, Rattler baseball moved into its present home, Moore-Kittles Field, named for two long-time FAMU baseball coaches. The stadium has a seating capacity of just 500, and features a natural grass field. The Rattlers athletic teams compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). FAMU also has a very national schedule of opponents as many northern teams schedule games in the Sunshine State during the late winter / early spring months due to the warm climate and their own home fields still be covered with snow. Food & Beverage 2 The concessions at Moore-Kittles are extremely limited, as the concession stand is literally a folding table behind the backstop, with a cooler for the drinks. The items available are chips, candy, and peanuts, each selling for a dollar. Coca-Cola products are available for $2. Many of the home crowd bring their own coolers with them and since there is no admission cost, people make runs to the convenience store two blocks down the road. Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere at FAMU baseball games is that of a community gathering. A large portion of the crowd are elderly fans that live in the neighborhood and simply walk over to the games for a few hours of free entertainment. It is not unusual for several generations of a family to be at a game. The neighbors really get into the games and know the players by their first name. Another nice aspect to the game atmosphere is the interaction between the neighborhood residents, FAMU students in attendance and parents of many of the ball players. In return, the FAMU players show a great deal of respect for their supporters, by applauding them at the end of the game. Neighborhood 4 FAMU is located just south of downtown Tallahassee and is close to a wide variety of retail, dining and lodging establishments. Locals say that Cassandra’s, located just across the street from the university is the place to go for great Southern food. FAMU and Florida State University are only 1-2 miles apart and this area of Tallahassee is known as the CollegeTown neighborhood. Some of the more popular eating and watering establishments in the area are Madison Social, MODA, and Taco Taqueria. The funky Railroad Square Arts District is home to many unique studios and galleries and the Proof Brewery. Tallahassee’s main mall, Governor’s Square Mall is located on nearby Apalachee Parkway, as are a majority of the hotel chains. The area between FAMU and FSU also has a major new greenway park called the Cascades Park, which includes walking/biking trails, the Capital City Amphitheatre and a waterfall. Fans 4 FAMU fans love their baseball and the bleachers are at capacity at nearly every game. They are very knowledgeable about the game and really create some noise during Rattler Rallies. There is no doubting their allegiance, as FAMU’s orange and green team colors are hard to miss. Visiting fans are very welcome at the games, as many of the northern colleges have strong fan bases that travel to Florida to escape the harsh weather at the beginning of college baseball season. FAMU followers are proud of their school and believe in southern hospitality, so you will not hear any trash talking at Moore-Kittles Field. Access 3 Florida A&M is located in the state capital of Tallahassee, which is at the midpoint of the Florida Panhandle. It is just a few miles off I-10 and is located very close to the Tallahassee Regional Airport. FAMU is a very easy campus to navigate and parking is free for baseball games. There are numerous hotels and restaurants located in close proximity to the campus. The StarMetro Transit system provides excellent service for the city of Tallahassee and also provides on-campus shuttle bus service for FAMU as well as FSU. Return on Investment 3 There is no charge to attend FAMU baseball games and parking is free immediately adjacent to the field. Hotels are easy to find in the $70-$80 range, unless there is a major event going on in the Tallahassee area. A majority of the restaurants near the universities primarily cater to a college student’s budget so a good meal can be had at a reasonable price. . Extras 3 Tallahassee has a wide variety of extras to offer during your visit. Being the state capital, there are a number of museums to choose from. There are two that stand out from the usual government-run exhibit halls. The first is managed by FAMU and takes a fascinating look at African American culture and famous African American citizens, many of which were graduates of the university. The Black Archives Research Center also has one of the few genealogical centers that can help trace the ancestry of many visitors back to slave times and before. Car enthusiasts will really enjoy the Tallahassee Auto Museum, which is ranked as one of the top tourist attractions in the capital city. If the FAMU baseball game does not totally satisfy your baseball urge you can always check out Dick Howser Stadium and the Florida State Seminoles baseball program. Located right next door to the stadium is the famous FSU Student Circus, one of the most unique offerings to be found on any college campus.

Municipal Auditorium Exterior, Photo by Cory Sims, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Municipal Auditorium 301 W 13th St Kansas City, MO 64105 UMKC Kangaroos website Municipal Auditorium website Year Opened: 1935 Capacity: 7,300 The Muni and The Mob Editors Note: Since 2019, the Roo’s have played in the on-campus Swinney Recreation Center and no longer use Municipal Auditorium for basketball. --- Opened in 1935, Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Missouri is one of the architecturally coolest sports venues in the country. Built in a ‘streamlined modern’ style, The Muni was championed, in part, by local political boss Tom Pendergast, infamous for the power he held in Depression-era KC, and his ties to organized crime. The Muni was built to show that Kansas CIty was an up and coming city, the Paris of the Plains , and it succeeded, being named one of the ’10 best buildings of the world’ for 1935 by the Architectural Record, and one of the 500 most important architectural works in the United States by the Princeton Architectural Press. Inside, The Muni retains all of its retro charm, with patterned-tile floors, and art-deco lighting and decorative pieces. It’s not hard to picture pin-striped gangster types walking through the halls prior to the start of a major jazz concert. Unfortunately, when it comes to UMKC basketball, the venue itself outshines about everything else. The 7,300 person capacity is maybe 10% full, and the on-court action is disappointing. However, it is worth attending at least one event at The Muni, if for no other reason than you’re sure to walk out of the building with a little old-time gangster swagger. Food & Beverage 2 There is food at The Muni, but I wouldn’t advise you to waste your money. If you really feel like overpaying for Papa John’s Pizza, you can buy a personal pan for $7.50. They also sell hot dogs, pretzels, and nachos for a couple bucks less than what I would consider normal stadium prices. Pepsi products are available, as well as a couple domestic and local draft beers. Have a beer here, then after the game have a couple more drinks and some late-night eats over at the Power and Light District. Atmosphere 3 The venue itself is awesome, particularly inside the arena area. The details in the ceiling design point back to a time when real craftsmanship was valued over flash and sizzle. There are no bleachers in the building, only cushioned seats, which further prove the history of this being a multi-use venue, and not just a “pack-em-in” sports stadium. The UMKC band, appropriately nicknamed “The Mob,” plays a decent rendition of “I’m Going to Kansas City,” a local favorite about the pretty ladies found in KC’s old jazz clubs. Neighborhood 4 In the heart of downtown KCMO, Municipal Auditorium is within walking distance of just about anything you’d want to visit in the area. Connected via walkways with the H. Roe Bartle Convention Center, less than a block from several great hotels like the downtown Marriott and Hilton President, and only two blocks from nightlife and restaurants, the arena is right in the middle of all the action downtown. A few blocks east is the Sprint Center, a 20,000-seat sports and music venue that is the younger big brother to Municipal Auditorium. Between the two is the Power and Light District and the KC Live stage, a city block chock full of of bars, restaurants, and clubs that are especially well-received by out of towners (that is to say, KC residents don’t typically spend much time there). Ten years ago downtown KC was dead after business hours, but since the Sprint Center was built and “P&L” opened, it really has become a destination for music and sports fans, especially during the Big 12 Basketball tournaments held at the Sprint Center, and the NAIA National Championship, held at Municipal Auditorium. Fans 2 UMKC tries to brand itself as KC’s team, but most sports fans in the area already claim allegiance to KU, K-State, or Mizzou, with only a few UMKC grads who really follow the Roos. At least two people who sat directly in front of me were parents of players. I think it’s safe to say a disproportionate number of the fans in attendance are relatives. The loudest fans seem more interested in heckling the refs than cheering for the Kangaroos. Now that the Roos play in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), I think very few away fans ever attend games. Access 3 Parking downtown during the day is a beast, but street parking is free in the evenings, and there are plenty of spots within a block of Municipal. The P&L District also offers $2 parking, provided you tell them you are visiting a P&L restaurant or bar. Tickets to the Kangaroos will not sell out, and can be bought at the ticket window just inside Municipal Auditorium. Don’t pay more than $10, as a general admission ticket is more of a cover charge and there’s no one stopping you from sitting anywhere you like. I walked in at court level, took some pictures just at the corner of the court, and walked up to a seat about 8 rows off the floor without any ushers checking for tickets. Return on Investment 2 It’s a cheap ticket for Division I hoops, with below average concession prices, and (possibly) free parking, but you’ll get what you pay for. I like to think that my money was more for a venue tour, and there happened to be a basketball game going on, with the added perk of some jazz music playing during timeouts. A Boulevard brewery draft from the concession stand adds a nice local touch. Extras 2 The Kangaroos is an amazing nickname, although the next time I see a Kangaroo hopping around KC will be the first time. The mascot is named, of course, Kacey the Kangaroo. Interesting fact; the original Kacey the Kangaroo was drawn by a famous artist who grew up in the area. You’ve no doubt heard of him before, Mr. Walt Disney. Final Thoughts Municipal Auditorium is one of the most historic homes for basketball in the country, even eight decades since it opened. If you have a chance to see a hoops game here, you’ll be glad you made the journey.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Munster Fieldhouse 8808 Columbia Ave. Munster, IN 46321 Munster High School Mustangs website Munster Fieldhouse website Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 3,200 Munster Fieldhouse – Big, Bright & Bold The Munster Fieldhouse might just be one of the largest dome facilities of its kind not only for high school basketball in Indiana but perhaps the entire nation. The mammoth-sized roof stretches almost to the gymnasium floor and creates an ambiance that is most likely never to be forgotten by anyone who steps foot inside for a game. The fieldhouse was constructed along with the high school in June 1966 and hosted its first game in December of that year for the Munster High School Mustangs basketball program. The town had never had a high school before its completion and students would be bussed to nearby Hammon High or Tech while others commuted to Griffith High School. The cost of the gym and school campus was $6.2 million. The dome structure was a popular choice among many schools of this era that also included designs in Greencastle , Frankfort , Shelbyville , Benton Central , and Southern Wells High Schools to name a few. However, Munster’s distinct look and overreaching design sets it apart from its sister buildings and provides seating for 3,200 people on four portable bleacher seating that are rolled up under a massive old-school electronic scoreboard. The cost of the fieldhouse was $1.5 million and it’s more than just the home for basketball games. Munster High uses it for all physical education programs and it is large enough to house five separate courts for adult leagues and community use on the weekends and summers. The design is striking and the brown curve beams from the frame of the building that has been almost unchanged since it opened more than 50 years ago. Food & Beverage 2 The building and roof are massive but not so much in terms of concessions and it was somewhat disappointing to see one window open for fans during a well-attended game against a nearby rival on a Friday night. True, there are many wonderful options for dining in the area and perhaps that is an option most fans, both young and old take when attending a Mustangs game. The usual food items are present from nachos to hot dogs to popcorn. The prices are reasonable and most items will cost just a few bucks. However, the lines can get long and there are no other portable areas for food options inside the fieldhouse. Atmosphere 4 The seating consists of four portable wooden bleachers that are rolled out to form the seating configuration that puts fans close to the action on the court. The two sideline bleachers are much larger than the end bleachers (that were added recently) which creates a massive amount of space behind the seats where little kids bounce balls against the back of it during the game. The fieldhouse features a large electronic scoreboard that appears to have been installed sometime between 1991 and 1998 based on the date, but amusing, Pepsi logo. Beneath the scoreboard is a freshly sanded court with the school’s colors of red and white along with a massive logo at the center court. The sanding was in 2019 and was the first time it was redone since the venue opened in 1967. An AC system was added in 2018 and includes two bold red tubes that look like field goalposts. It was the first time that the building had an air-conditioning unit installed in its history. Championship banners have been moved to the wall of the building but there are a few still hanging from the ceiling honoring the school’s past champs in all sports. The boys’ basketball program has captured 19 conference, 10 sectional, and two regional championships in school history. It also won three conference championship tournaments during the six years of its existence. A track circles the bleachers and provides ample space for tables to offer 50/50 tickets and other information from a local business. This is where you will also find the two entrances and exits to the building along with additional restrooms. The open space is very different than what basketball fans are used to in Indiana but the dome structure and crowd noise create an atmosphere that is unique to Munster High School. Neighborhood 4 The high school is close to several restaurants and breweries that are worth visiting before or after the game. 3 Floyd’s Brewing Company is one of the most recognizable breweries in the nation and visitors can also enjoy award-winning food at its restaurant. The options are varied and the brewery has legions of fans from all over the country. Tours are available on Saturday. There is almost everything imaginable in terms of eateries in town and the nearby cities of the region. Cafe Borgia is a fine spot for Italian cuisine, Docs Smokehouse and Craft Bar is ideal for barbecue and craft beers, Edwardo’s Natural Pizza is the spot for a deep-dish pizza, El Salto is your pick for Mexican food, Mishkenut serves Mediterranean cuisine, and Miner-Dunn is a local diner with a variety of dishes at affordable pricing. Community Veterans Memorial, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Monastery, and Centennial Park are three options to visit in town. There is also an array of shopping malls and stores close to town in Dyer and Schererville but downtown Chicago is about 30 miles north of town for more options for entertainment. Fans 4 The Mustang loyalist has a lot to be happy with when we attended the game late in the season. The boys were enjoying a 19-1 record including a 17-game winning streak; it’s the type of basketball not seen in recent memory until the last few seasons. The crowd was frenzied, the student section stood and jumped (until they were told by the athletic director to stop since they broke a section a few games prior), and the away crowd and student section did their best to be heard. Access 4 The Hammond Fieldhouse is located on Calumet Ave. and just south of I-94. The parking can take some maneuvering based on how well the team is playing and it is advisable to arrive early for weekend games. Once inside the building, there is one entryway into the seating bowl area. There is a lot of room inside the dome building but one has to walk up and down the wooden bleachers to get to and from your seat. Return on Investment 4 The cost of a ticket is $6 and is in line with other high schools in the state and region. The concession prices are cheap but do yourself a favor and grab something to eat before the game and grab a beer at either 3 Floyd’s or Doc’s Smokehouse after the game. Munster is a nice area with several options to make your trip worthwhile. Extras 3 The Munster Fieldhouse earns a point for its massive dome shape which is the focal point of the entire building. There are many dome structures where high school hoops are played and perhaps this is the state’s largest and brightest. The Fieldhouse earns an additional point for its scoreboard that is old-school college, well least from the 1980s, and features a 1990s-era Pepsi logo. Perhaps no one wants to climb up a ladder to change the logo, the company has rebranded twice since the scoreboard was installed, but it makes for a great anomaly while looking at it from your seat. The building earns the third point for its renovations of a perfectly sanded basketball court and cool air from the massive AC unit hanging from its roof. The locker rooms have also been renovated, a positive for the players. Final Thoughts The Munster Fieldhouse is big, bold, and brass. The dome-shaped building has a look that grabs your attention the moment you walk underneath its ceiling. The dark support beams spiral out from the center which is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. When the Mustangs are winning and they have a combined record of 46-6 the last two seasons as of this writing, there may not be a better spot for high school hoops in the region than the Fieldhouse.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 NYCB Live, Home Of The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 1255 Hempstead Turnpike Uniondale, NY 11553 New York Islanders website Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Year Opened: 1972 Capacity: 13,917 For the Isles, You Can Go Back Home Back in 2015, the New York Islanders relocated to Barclays Center in a move that was immediately pegged as a disaster. For three seasons, the Islanders played in front of smaller and smaller crowds while their former home, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, underwent significant renovations, as well as a rebranding to NYCB Live, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. As the Barclays experiment continued to fail, it became clear that a return to Long Island was in the team’s best interests. This 2018-19 season, the team has split their games between the two venues, but they expect to play all their games at Nassau for the next two seasons, while a new arena is built in Elmont, just eight miles away. So how does the improved Coliseum rate for hockey? We went to a game to find out. Food & Beverage 4 The concession stands all have some food that is labelled “Long Island Taste,” with Smokin’ Al’s BBQ and the Roast Sandwich House the most tempting options. Mexican and Greek stands are also found along the concourse. The main problem here is that prices are what you would pay in Manhattan, with chicken tenders going for $14, a $12 cheeseburger, and a $7 hot dog at Nathan’s. Typical stadium fare includes french fries, pretzels, and popcorn (each $7), while chips and candy are $6. Pepsi products are $6 for a small soda or bottle of water and $13 (yes thirteen dollars) for a souvenir cup. Beer ranges from $14-$16 depending on whether you want can or draft, domestic or craft. Either way, you are getting the shaft. Atmosphere 5 Nassau Coliseum is the last of the old barns. There are no suites here to push the upper deck into nosebleed territory, so fans are right on top of the action and a buzz is heard constantly during the action. This is the way sports used to be before corporate money sent the real fans upstairs and left many stadiums devoid of atmosphere. The organ is playing, Sparky the Dragon is tossing t-shirts, and the joint is jumping when the Islanders are playing well. There are three levels of seating: the double-digit sections closest to the ice (10 rows), the 100 level (10 rows), and the 200 level (16 rows). So if you are in the third row of the 200 level, you are only 23 rows from the ice; that is usually a lower-level seat in a new rink. Note that along the sides, the first row of seats by the glass is row AA, and there is some space between the seats and the glass that other fans use to walk through to get to their seats. There is an inner walkway between the 100s and 200s that allows you to easily move around the rink without having to access the concourse, which can be very crowded during intermissions. The wood panels along this walkway are quite attractive and lend an air of gravitas to the facility. Dozens of banners honor past Islander greats as well as all of their titles, including those four Stanley Cups back in the early 1980s. Some banners for ABA stars are also hanging from the rafters, along with one celebrating Billy Joel’s 34 sold out shows. Stanley Cup Banners, Photo by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 3 There is nothing within walking distance other than a McDonald’s, Chipotle, and Starbucks across Hempstead Turnpike. Just north of the arena is Westbury, where you can find your typical chain eateries such as Buffalo Wild Wings, TGI Fridays, and Applebee’s. A more local option in that area is Canz Bar and Grill; you should be able to deduce that this establishment is similar to Hooters. There were two scantily clad ladies at the game I attended handing out free drink coupons, so keep your eyes open. In between Westbury and the rink is Museum Row, which includes a children’s museum, one dedicated to firefighters and the Cradle of Aviation. Meanwhile, Hofstra University is just a short walk west, and sometimes you can see a college basketball game in the afternoon before the Islanders play in the evening. Fans 4 Islander fans are usually excellent, but they did not sell out the game I attended, which featured a top team from the Western Conference. As well, those that were sitting in my area were quite negative, despite their team being atop the Metropolitan Division. With such a small capacity, I’d like to see Islander fans embracing this temporary move to Nassau Coliseum by selling out every game. Access 3 If you have a car, getting to the Coliseum is not difficult, though at rush hour you can expect over an hour to travel the 30 miles. Public transit is not reliable or efficient; you generally need to take the Long Island Rail Road to Hempstead Station, from where Nice Bus 70, 71, or 72 take you the rest of the way. There is no wait to get in, but once inside, you will find the concourse to be crowded both before the game and during the intermission. Concession lines and restrooms are also very crowded; so that it is unlikely you could do both during a single intermission. Return on Investment 4 The Islanders do employ variable pricing, but for the cheaper games, the value cannot be beaten. The best seats are actually in the lower rows of the 200 sections and can be had for less than $50 for less desirable opponents. Be aware that the top few rows have their view of the scoreboard obstructed by the roof. If you choose to drive, parking is $25, but it can be avoided as you can park on residential streets across the Hempstead Turnpike. With food also being quite costly, the ROI is not ideal, but still excellent for this old barn and a first-place team. Extras 3 The banners merit a point, as do the overall renovations. One excellent touch in keeping with the name of the venue is the eight empty seats scattered around the seating bowl. Each seat is marked with a patch and a plaque that pay homage to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, as well as prisoners of war, those missing in action and the more than 500 Long Islanders who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Final Thoughts There is nothing like this arena left in the NHL, so if you want to travel back in time, hockey-wise at least, a trip to Long Island should be in your plans in the next two seasons.

Photos by Michael Rusignuolo, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Neptunus Familiestadion Abraham van Stolkweg 31 3041 JA Rotterdam, Netherlands Curacao Neptunus website Neptunus Familiestadion website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 2,460 The Best Baseball in Europe The Neptunus sports club has origins going back to 1900, but the Rotterdam-based organization didn’t field a baseball club until 1943. From those humble beginnings, the Neptunus baseball team has evolved to not only be the best baseball team in the Dutch top-level Honkbal Hoofdklasse (winning the Holland Series for seven years in a row in one stretch), but the best team in Europe, with over ten European Cup Championships to their name. Bucking the Dutch trend, the baseball team is the dominant sport in the Neptunus club, and soccer has fallen by the wayside. It seems only fair that the premiere team of the league should have one of the premier ballparks, and Neptunus Familiestadion (“Neptunus Family Stadium”) is unquestionably one of the best ballparks in The Netherlands. Built in 1999 as “the most modern ballpark in the Netherlands,” it has a regular capacity of 2,460, but it can expand to around 6,000 for larger tournaments. Neptunus Familiestadion is one of the top-level ballparks in The Netherlands, with solid facilities and amenities that is relatively easy to reach from the city center and a great value for your money. [All prices are in Euros. At the time of writing, one Euro is worth about $1.15.] Food & Beverage 3 The ballpark experience is much more small-scale in The Netherlands, even in this highest-level locale. All the food and beverages are available in the clubhouse–not the luxury locker rooms of the MLB, but literally a clubhouse for the organization that features a meeting space, a bar, and sometimes a separate food concession. Neptunus clubhouse is larger and fancier than most in The Netherlands, with a large bar and a separate grill kiosk. The clubhouse food is served up at a concession to the left of the main bar. All the food items top out at €3.50, so the price isn’t an obstacle. You can get a selection of specialty hamburgers or hot dogs, sausages, omelets, and grilled sandwiches for that price and lower. Beer is served up at the main bar in the clubhouse, also for a reasonable €3 per drink. Selection is limited to Heineken and whatever other local beers might be available that day, but you can’t really argue about the prices. Coca-Cola is the non-alcohol drink family of choice. You’re in The Netherlands. Get a Heineken. As for grub, choose your poison. They are all fresh-made, cheap, and tasty. I went for a brat, but the filling grilled sandwiches are also quite popular. Atmosphere 4 Neptunus Familiestadion is easily one of the best Dutch ballparks. While other parks in the country are mostly on the level of Rookie League MiLB, Neptunus Familiestadion is easily on the high-A or AA-level. The ballpark is one grandstand, running from short left field to short right field behind home plate. Stairs lead up to the main promenade from both ends of the park, as well as the plaza behind home plate outside the clubhouse. The promenade runs the length of the grandstand and splits the seats into a lower and upper level, and at the very top of the stands are a press box and a level of box/VIP seats. Generally only the upper level of seats are in the shade, so depending on whether you are there on a cool spring day or hot summer day will determine where you might want to sit. A full digital scoreboard sits in left-center field, definitely an upgrade from the minimalist scoreboards found in most of the league. While it doesn’t have video, it is the only scoreboard in the league to show players’ pictures in addition to names and numbers, and even displays the scoring of each completed play. The outfield wall is covered in advertisements and looks out over a tree-lined landscape broken up only by the batters’ eye in center and scoreboard. And all the seats in the stadium are modern, fold-down seats instead of the solid molded plastic found most elsewhere in the league. There is minimal flair during the game. There are no mascots or between-innings entertainment that you would be accustomed to even in the lowest minors in the United States. There is some walk-up music for the home batters and a Seventh Inning Stretch, and that’s about it. The Dutch don’t even play the national anthem before games or fly their flag. Since this is a step up from club ball, however, there are some nice vestiges of sportsmanship. Each batter coming the plate for the first time usually shakes the hand of the umpire and the opposing catcher. Your admission gets you any seat in the house, so choose what suits you best. But be sure to spend an inning in the area behind home plate outside the clubhouse. Grab a beer and watch the game from a vantage point you will almost never have the chance to see at a pro game in the States. Neighborhood 3 Neptunus Familiestadion greatly benefits from being in a sportpark so close to the city center. Unlike most other Honkbal Hoofdklasse parks, it has more going on around it by not being stuck out in the suburbs. There isn’t a ton of restaurants directly around the park, but a short walk south will yield Surinamese Roopram Roti Rotterdam, Turkish Meram Rotterdam West, Indian Sangam Tandoori, and Surinamese Rotiland. There are dozens more restaurants to be found on the short drive back to downtown. The ballpark shares a bus stop with the Diergaarde Blijdorp Zoo, just to the north of the sportpark. The large zoo is a pleasant excursion for kids and adults alike. Also relatively close by is Miniworld Rotterdam, with the entire city done in a miniature train exhibit that is a lot more interesting than it might sound. The rest of the city’s attractions are also a short ride away. The only hotel within walking distance is the fancy Van Der Valk Hotel Rotterdam Blijdorp, right outside the zoo, and two bed and breakfasts to the south, Algerti Bed & Bike and BNB Essenburgsingel. But the seven-minute drive back to Centraal Station yields dozens of hotel options from budget on up. Fans 4 Baseball (or honkbal, as it is known locally) is very much a fringe sport in The Netherlands, and for all of Europe for that matter. The Dutch Honkbal Hoofdklasse is one of the only semi pro/professional leagues on the continent, sharing the distinction with the Italian Baseball League. That said, Neptunus regular-season games get the average Dutch crowds across the league: Between 100-250 people per game. As they are mostly paying fans at Neptunus Familiestadion, that is more of an achievement than at other parks. Another out-of-the-ordinary status quo is that there are usually pet dogs at every game. It is a welcome change for dog lovers, less so if you don’t like them. The fans that are there are into the game, and there are even some visiting fans to be found (much easier to do given the small size of The Netherlands). They are active with their cheering, and there are even a fan scorekeeper or two. Access 4 While many of the ballparks in The Netherlands are a large distance away from city centers and hard to get to with mass transit since baseball is a fringe sport in the country, Neptunus Familiestadion is one of the few that is relatively close and convenient to downtown. From Rotterdam Centraal Station, a ten-minute bus ride (RET Frequentbus 38 to stop Beukelsbrug/Van Nellefabriek, E1.32) will have you within walking distance of the park. It is also only about a seven-minute drive from the city center by car, cab, or ride share, and the especially hardy can walk there in about 30 minutes from downtown. The stadium has its own parking lot attached to the stadium, there is plenty of free bicycle parking, and ride shares can drop off at the front gate. The only entrance to the stadium is the main gate outside the parking lot. Given the size of crowds at regular-season games, this is not much of an issue at all. A large plaza outside the stadium lets you walk to either end of the grandstand to stairs leading up to the promenade. A spacious walkway runs the length of the grandstand, separating the seating area extending down and up from there, with a top level of box seats. Return on Investment 4 Even though Neptunus is one of the only teams to charge for admission to their park, it is still a great value overall The best team in one of the best parks in The Netherlands comes at a price: €7.50. That is the ticket price at the door and will get you any seat in the house. All the food and drink items are under €3.50. You just can’t beat those prices. . Extras 2 As with all the Dutch stadiums, extras are at a minimum. The clubhouse has a selection of baseball memorabilia, as well as club trophies and awards. There is also a small team store display selling some very select team merchandise, but the person in charge of it may not be there, particularly on game days. There is also a small children’s play area outside of the park. A small WWII memorial stands by the entrance to the stadium, and there are three retired numbers on the outfield wall and in the clubhouse (Kooster 14, Van Aallen 22, Eenhoorn 16) for players who made appearances in the MLB. As Dutch clubhouse personnel are almost all volunteers, they are polite and helpful to a person and are always glad to talk to and assist visitors. Final Thoughts Neptunus Familiestadion is one of the finest stadiums in the Dutch Honkbal Hoofdklasse, featuring some of the best amenities in the country at a great price that is not as far from the city center as most other teams in the league.

Photos by Google Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 New York Stadium New York Way Rotherham, England S60 1AH Rotherham United FC website New York Stadium website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 12,021 Start Spreading the News in Rotherham The New York Stadium is the home of Rotherham United Football Club. The Millers, as they are nicknamed had previously played at Millmoor, a typical lower league venue for many years and the new venue is a stone’s throw from the club’s spiritual home. Photographs of Millmoor are enclosed within the viewing area and this will give the visitor a gauge with regards to the differences between old and new stadia within the lower echelons of the English game. Surprisingly although the new stadium development brings clubs far more income generation opportunities some older supporters when asked still prefer the historic version. The club temporarily played at the Don Valley Stadium in nearby Sheffield whilst New York Stadium was built after having left Millmoor due to a dispute with the owners of the land. The New York Stadium takes its name from the land it is built on and is one complete build with four joined-up stands with slightly differing heights. The venue has an all-seated capacity of 12,021 with seats in the club colors of red and white. The continental-style floodlights give the stadium a different identity from similar new lower league developments of the last decade so “start spreading the news” . as the Sinatra song goes. A visit to Rotherham’s New York is a welcome addition to the Football League’s stadium list. Food & Beverage 3 Outlets within the stadium sell a range of pies, pasties, hot dogs, and burgers in addition to hot and cold drinks. These are reasonably priced and the food is of good quality. Atmosphere 3 It would take very little to improve the atmosphere compared to the club’s temporary Don Valley experience. However Rotherham United has tried extremely hard to ensure the New York experience will bring supporters back to the club. Home supporters generate most of the noise from the KCM Recycling Stand and with the addition of Cheerleaders the atmosphere is different from that of Millmoor and Don Valley. Neighborhood 3 Rotherham is a small town within the steel city of Sheffield and other than High Street shops there is not much to attract the visitor. Sheffield itself however has plenty to offer with its main attraction being the Meadowhall Shopping Centre. The city is also famous for its Crucible Theatre, the home of the World Snooker Championships. There are three Wetherspoon pubs in the town center with the Bluecoat being in the CAMRA guide and a meeting venue for home supporters. Other than Mcdonald's and Greggs there are only tea and coffee shops in the town centre. Fans 3 Like many lower football league clubs within the English pyramid system, Rotherham United has a loyal band of followers who are the livelihood of the British game. The move to the New York Stadium has seen a rapid improvement in attendance with the first few games sold out. Despite a slight dip in form on the field attendance has held at 7,000, which is a big improvement on what the club has historically been used to. Local rivals are Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United and other Yorkshire clubs such as Barnsley, Huddersfield Town, and Doncaster Rovers. Access 3 The stadium is located off Junction 33 of the M1 by taking signs towards Rotherham Town centre. The ground is a five-minute walk from the centre and Rotherham Railway Station which has connections to the main line in Sheffield. Cheap car parks are available in the town centre but parking at the stadium needs to be booked in advance. The nearest airports are Manchester, Doncaster, and East Midlands. Return on Investment 3 Admission prices for Rotherham games are £18 and £20 for adults with reductions for O.A.P and juveniles if purchased in advance. Tickets bought on the day cost two pounds more. Extras 3 There is a club shop situated by the main entrance to the stadium selling replica shirts and club memorabilia. Betting outlets are available within the stadium and the club produces a match day programme for each game priced at £3.

What is it REALLY like to catch a game in Newark? Although not The Big Apple, Newark has a bit of a jaded reputation, but is it warranted? Is it worth going to a New Jersey Devils game? Grab a good beer and join Dave and Paul as they delve into the details of the experience at The ROCK! 🏒🍻 You can find Stadium Journey's review of the Prudential Center and the New Jersey Devils game day experience here.