Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Knight-Newbrough Field @ University Stadium 81 Seagram Drive Waterloo, ON N2L 3B7 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks football website Knight-Newbrough Field @ University Stadium website Year Opened: 1958 Capacity: 6,000 Striving To Be (Once Again) Golden To say that University Stadium is in the midst of a facelift would be a vast underestimation of the time honored metaphor. The former Seagram Stadium, built in 1958, finally succumbed to time and the elements with the grandstands being condemned. After playing a few seasons with the majority of the grandstands being roped off as unsafe, the off-season between the 2022 and 2023 campaigns saw the wooden grandstands officially removed in preparation for a massive, multi-part renovation known as the Seagram Project. In the off-season after the 2023 season, the field turf will be replaced and the running track removed. Of course a significant fundraising campaign has begun at Wilfrid Laurier University to fund the other parts of the project, which do not have a specified timetable, and include a new grandstand, videoboard, locker rooms, concessions and an off-season bubble to facilitate winter use. In the meantime, the Golden Hawks will continue to make use of the facility with hopes that the university will be able to generate sufficient funds to make their dreams come to fruition. The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks began as Waterloo College before becoming Waterloo Lutheran University in 1960. With the provincial funding of only secular post-secondary institutions, the name Wilfrid Laurier University was adopted in 1973. The football team has been playing since 1924 and enjoyed a modicum of success for a small school culminating in Vanier Cup victories as National Champions in 1991 and 2003. University Stadium has been home to the Golden Hawks since 1958. Originally called Seagram Stadium and owned by the University of Waterloo, University Stadium was purchased by Wilfrid Laurier University from the City of Waterloo in 1992. In 2007 the field was renamed Knight-Newbrough Field after Laurier coaching legends Dave “Tuffy” Knight and Rich Newbrough. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions at University Stadium are pretty good for an OUA football facility. The main concession stand under the grandstand offers regular stadium fare including popcorn, cotton candy, nachos, chips and Domino’s Pizza. Coffee and Coca-Cola beverages are also available. In the west endzone there is normally a BBQ going that offers sausage, hot dogs and burgers. Also, for those of age, alcoholic beverages are available in the west endzone from Waterloo Brewing. Atmosphere 2 Once, University Stadium was among the best football facilities in the OUA. Today, there remains much to be desired. The exterior of the stadium is attractive enough from the north side which includes a gymnasium used for various school recreation activities as well as a nice ticketing office. Entering the stadium, returning fans will be shocked at the removal of the main grandstand. The area behind the locker rooms and concessions is much more wide open and bright, however it feels like a significant decline in facility. Temporary bleachers have been placed to replace the grandstand with an elevated press and coaches box at the 55 yard line on the north side of the field. Bleachers on the south side, traditionally vacant, have been placed but are smaller than the north side bleachers. The capacity at University Stadium has been reduced to around 4,000 seats. The stadium grounds are surrounded by mature trees to give the experience a unique feel to it. The west endzone features a simple, football scoreboard. Underneath the scoreboard there is a sign to commemorate the 1991 and 2005 Vanier Cup Championships. Unfortunately, there are no acknowledgements of the eight Yates Cup Championships as Conference Champions or other memorable Laurier football personnel other than Knight and Newbrough. The gameday atmosphere is about what one would expect from an OUA event. The requisite promotions are part of the fun and the host finds fans in the stands to take part in short competitions or to be Wilf's Fan of the Game. The cheerleading team leads the fans in standard football cheers and performs a number of gymnastic stunts. The Laurier mascot, Midas, can be found around the stadium interacting with fans and posing for pictures. A Laurier survey this season has changed the music selection for spots in between plays a bit and it is now a little more wide ranging. However, the Laurier anthem, “Country Roads” can still be heard at each game. Neighbourhood 4 Wilfrid Laurier is an urban university located just up the street from another urban university. As a result there are a ton of great options for pre and post game meals. University and King streets are where one would find most of the options. There are a ton of great spots to get something to eat before or after the game. Some places one might consider checking out include Crabby Joe’s, Smoke’s Poutinerie and Ethel’s Lounge. The on-campus pub is Wilf’s and offers a great atmosphere and food while being student run and managed. The place you probably should settle on, however, is Morty’s Pub. Home of arguably the best chicken wings in the city, Morty’s always satisfies your post game craving. Their chicken wings are legendary in the city. As far as entertainment goes, there are a few options in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Fans planning on catching a Laurier game around Canadian Thanksgiving, could be able to catch Oktoberfest. This is the signature festival of Kitchener-Waterloo and the largest Bavarian festival outside of Germany. There are a number of great events that take place over the 10 day festival at a variety of locations including the numerous Fest Halls. Heading south on King Street toward Uptown Waterloo, fans will find a great spot for some evening entertainment in the Huether Hotel Jazz Room. One of the top jazz venues in the province, The Jazz Room offers weekend performances at a great price. There are also a number of pubs in Uptown Waterloo that feature live music. If fans are interested in enhancing their sporting weekend then there are also a few other options. Wilfrid Laurier also fields other athletic teams, specifically basketball at the WLU Athletic Complex and hockey at the Sun Life Financial Arena. Just up the road, the University of Waterloo also fields USports athletic programs. Fans will find football at Warrior Field, basketball at the Physical Activities Complex and hockey at the Columbia IceField. If willing to drive across town, then fans can catch the phenomenal experience of the Kitchener Rangers at the legendary Aud. For fans who are planning on staying the night, the Inn of Waterloo is just a short drive from the Laurier campus and is a pretty decent place to stay. Fans 3 Fan support for Golden Hawks football is a bit of a roller coaster affair. Weather, time of year, number of students on campus are all major factors for football attendance. The post-pandemic era combined with stadium issues has not made University Stadium the most popular place. Annually, the Homecoming game previously packed well over 6,000 fans into University Stadium. This has declined with both the pandemic and changes to the grandstands. A late season game against a weak opponent can bring in less than 1,000. As with most USports programs, Laurier needs to continue efforts to engage students and get them out to the games, regardless of the date. There is no true student section at USports football games like there are at their American counterparts. Building a better relationship with current students and finding a way to make Laurier football part of their lives after graduation will go a long way to improving fan attendance overall. Access 4 Getting to University Stadium and around is not very difficult. University Stadium is located on Seagram Drive which runs between University and Albert Streets. Fans who are coming from out of town will have a decent drive through the city as the university campus is a fair trek southwest of Highway 85. Traffic on University Ave moves fairly quickly, so getting to the stadium should not be too much of an issue. There are a number of bus routes that travel along King St and University Ave. The Ion Light Rail also has a stop at Waterloo Park, a few steps from the stadium. Check the Grand River Transit website for fares, maps and schedules. Parking can be for sale in the stadium lot, however most spaces are reserved for season ticket holders and media. There is some parking available west of the stadium in the Granite Club parking lot, but be mindful of the signs as ticketing often happens for violators. Parking can also be found on campus or in some of the University of Waterloo lots that are close to Seagram Drive. The ticketing office is located in the permanent building under the grandstand. Other than that, there is no specific, grand entry gate. Security is present at 3 gates for entry which is more than ample for this facility and entry into the stadium is very quick. With the grandstand gone, it is very open and easy to move around. There is ample room underneath for moving from end to end or going to concessions. As expected, the grandstand does have a lot of stairs, however the general admission nature of seating offers the opportunity for patrons to minimize stair climbing. The washrooms in the permanent building are fairly small, but decent. Portable toilets are also brought into the end zones by the BBQs to help with high volume games. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for the Golden Hawks have come down in recent years. Regular adult tickets are $12 if purchased in advance. Staff, alumni, students and seniors are all $9.50 and Laurier students are $5 while kids are $6. Each ticket category is more expensive when walking up. The concession prices are decent and parking can be found for free. The product on the field is significantly under-rated and fans will no doubt enjoy their afternoon. Extras 4 An extra mark for the continued nod back to West Virginia. The heart of the Laurier athletics program came north from West Virginia. Over the years, the Hawks have embraced John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” as their anthem. Although the use of the song has diminished over recent years, when the Hawks won the Vanier Cup in 2005, it was John Denver that blasted over the PA. An extra mark for Laurier announcer Chris Povey, who has done a fantastic job as the public address announcer for Laurier football and hockey for a number of years. Chris brings energy and enthusiasm to the game every time and does his best to entertain and inform the crowd, even if the game is not so interesting. An extra mark for the interesting history of the Golden Hawks mascot. An extra mark for the program that Tuffy Knight and Rich Newbrough put together and the honor of having the field named after these Laurier Legends. Final Thoughts University Stadium is definitely in transition and hopefully it will not take too long for the entirety of the Seagram Project to come to fruition. Until that point, however, the full potential of Laurier Golden Hawks football experience will not be realized. It is still worth checking out and fun for a weekend afternoon. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube, Twitter, Threads and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Western Alumni Stadium 100 Philip Aziz Ave London, ON N6A 5P9 Western Mustangs football website Western Alumni Stadium website Opened: 2000 Capacity: 8,000 Purple Ponies There is no Canadian University football program in Ontario more decorated than the Western Mustangs. Western, along with the Laval Rouge et Or, is one of the most dominant football programs in all of Canada and consistently finds themselves in the National Championship picture. The Mustangs are the owners of a staggering 35 Yates Cup Championships as Ontario (OUA) conference champions. That is nine more than the closest rival. The Mustangs have also brought home the Vanier Cup as National Champions eight times. Western has also produced six Hec Crighton Trophy winners as the top university football player in Canada, including Tim Tindale, who would go on to a solid career in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills. The phrase “Everybody Hates Western” which is common to hear around the other programs in the OUA is a direct result of their domination and performance on the field. Home for the Purple Ponies is Haylor-Semotiuk Memorial Field at Western Alumni Stadium. Replacing the venerable J.W. Little Memorial Stadium and originally known as TD Waterhouse Stadium and then TD Stadium, Western Alumni Stadium opened in 2000 and boasts a bulbous capacity of 8,000 to make it one of the largest facilities in the OUA. The field is named after legendary OUA coach Larry Haylor, who retired as the winningest coach in Canadian University Football, and longtime coach and Athletic Director Darwin Semotiuk. Western goes beyond excellence on the football field and also puts together a strong football experience for fans. Food & Beverage 3 Concession options at Western Alumni Stadium are what one would expect for an OUA football venue. There is a main concession stand with basic offerings including hot dogs, burgers, sausages, popcorn, nachos and candy. Coffee, both hot and cold, water, Powerade and Coca-Cola products are the soft drink options in the stadium. There is a beer garden for those who are able and wish an alcoholic beverage. For the game that was reviewed, there were a number of food trucks on site which helped ease the concession congestion. Atmosphere 3 Western Alumni Stadium is a solid OUA football venue, but there are a few spots where some improvement could be made. The main entrance is at the north side of the stadium. The J.W. Little Memorial Building is an attractive grey brick building which welcomes fans to Western Alumni Stadium. It houses the locker rooms, concession areas and press entrance. The trophy cases with Western awards can also be found here. Upon entering the stadium grounds on either side of the J.W. Little Building, fans are welcomed by a massive purple Muskoka chair and a view of the field. On the side of the J.W. Little Building is a mural dedicating the field to Larry Haylor and Darwin Semotiuk. The stadium consists of two grandstands on either side of the field-turf field, surrounded by a running track. The main grandstand is to the west and often it is the only grandstand that is open. It is also the place to be for that perfect center logo picture and is home to the press box. The grandstand consists mostly of benches with backs but some regular bleachers are found at either end and reserved stadium seats are in the middle. The PA system is solid and seems to have been upgraded as well as the lighting system has been improved to LED lights. Where Western Alumni Stadium could benefit from some improvements is in recognition of Western’s vast football accomplishments. With 35 Yates Cups and 8 Vanier Cups at the time of writing, some sort of recognition is a must. At one point there were team pictures of championship teams on the exterior of the stadium, but those seem to have been removed. Also, the scoreboard on top of the J.W. Little Building is definitely dated, even boasting the outdated moniker “University of Western Ontario.” When it comes to gameday production, the Mustangs attempt to put together a production similar to a program in the NCAA. The Mustangs have two live horses that take a lap on the track after a Western touchdown as well as the running of the massive flag. Western also features a marching band, that although not nearly as large as most NCAA bands, is unique in the OUA and a Western tradition. The Western Cheerleaders perform gymnastic stunts for fans and JW, the Mustangs mascot is found around the field, helping build spirit. Neighbourhood 4 Western Alumni Stadium is located at the southeastern corner of the Western University campus, northwest of Downtown London. There are a few spots that fans can go for a pre or post game meal or drink. Some options include The Wave, Mother Hubbards, Richies Family Restaurant, Westside Family Restaurant, Grad Club and the Barking Frog. Hopping in the car to get away from the stadium is probably the best bet. For fans looking for other sporting options in London, checking out Western Mustangs hockey or basketball at Thompson Arena or Alumni Hall, respectively may be an option. Otherwise, heading downtown to see the London Knights of the OHL or London Lightning of the BSL are options. The London Majors of the Intercounty Baseball League may also be in town. As far as other entertainment options, taking in the tour of Labatt Park, the oldest, continually used ballpark could be fun or Storybook Gardens, Fanshawe Pioneer Village or Jet Aircraft Museum are all good ideas. For fans wishing to stay in London, heading downtown to the Hilton is a good plan. Fans 4 The Western Mustangs enjoy the highest attendance in the OUA. In the 2023 season, the Mustangs averaged 7,100 fans per game, an increase from the 2022 season. A lack of competition in general has made Western fans spoiled, but overall they do well to support their team. Access 4 Getting to Western Alumni Stadium is not terrible. Western Alumni Stadium is located at the southeast corner of campus, northwest of Downtown London. It is in a valley among other athletic fields, surrounded by Western Rd, Philip Aziz Ave and the Thames River. It is a significant distance north of Highway 401, so traversing the city when coming from out of town is a necessity. There is plenty of parking off of Philip Aziz Ave, north of the stadium. Some reserved parking is at a cost, but there may be some available for free. For fans wishing to take public transit, there are London Transit stops all along Western Road. Fans should check out the London Transit website for maps, fares and schedules. Getting around inside the stadium is not difficult at all and washroom facilities are adequate. With the simplistic nature of the grandstands, there are plenty of stairs and could be an issue for those with mobility issues. Return on Investment 4 OUA football offers great value for the sporting dollar. The Mustangs offer a number of price points for tickets with General Admission going for $15. Reserved seats range from $20 to $45 depending on the type of seat that patrons want. Concession prices are what one would expect and parking can be found at a cost or for free. The product on the field is solid, however, the dominance that Western has shown over the years makes the possibility of getting a blowout game a real possibility. Extras 3 An extra mark for the nearly unprecedented success the Western Mustangs have enjoyed. An extra mark for Western alumnus Tim Tindale who is one of the few skill position players to graduate from Canadian university football and make a solid career in the NFL. An extra mark for the Western Mustangs creating a gameday atmosphere that screams big event, and attempts to produce an NCAA atmosphere. Final Thoughts Catching a Western Mustangs game is a great way to spend a fall weekend afternoon. There is a ton that the Mustangs do right and with a couple of adjustments, the experience could be even better. Other programs should consider taking some pointers from the Purple Ponies to make their experience as “Big Time” as possible. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube, Twitter, Threads and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Frank L. Messa Rink at Achilles Center 807 Union St. Schenectady, NY 12308 Union Garnet Chargers men’s hockey website Frank L. Messa Rink website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 2,225 The Flying Dutchmen The Frank L. Messa Rink is named for the class of 1973 alumnus who donated the funds to renovate the facility in 2003. Home to Union’s men’s and women’s hockey teams, Messa rink opened in 1975 as the Achilles Center in honor of Rev. H. Laurence Achilles Sr., who was its original benefactor. Hockey has been played at Union College since 1919. Since joining Division One in 1991, the have Garnet Chargers have qualified for the NCAA tournament four times, reaching the Frozen Four twice and winning the National Championship in 2014. Six Union alumni have reached the NHL. In 2023 Union College changed the nicknames for all the school's athletic teams from "Dutchmen" and "Dutchwomen" to "Garnet Chargers." Garnet has been Union's official color for 150 years and Chargers refers to Schenectady's history as a leader in electrical technology. Food & Beverage 2 There are small concession stands on either side of Messa Rink tucked in underneath the upper-level stands. Hot dogs, nachos, pizza slices, and Mac ‘N Cheese anchor the menu. Snacks, including pretzels, candy, popcorn, and ice cream novelties are available. While the menu does not stray far from the basics, no item costs more than four dollars. No alcohol is sold at this on-campus facility. Atmosphere 4 Messa Rink’s cozy confines and capacity crowds create a fantastic atmosphere. Fans are right on top of the action Coca-Cola and can create quite a lot of noise when Union gets rolling. With Messa Rink filled to the rafters with garnet-clad fans almost every night, Union enjoys a significant home ice advantage. Union’s pep band and student section help to fill in any lulls in the action. As Union College’s marquee sport, students come out in massive numbers night in and night out. If attending a game against local rival RPI, be ready for a most intense experience. Neighborhood 3 The city of Schenectady, one of three cities that make up New York’s Capital District, is not known as a destination location created does not enjoy a sparkling reputation. However, Union College is located in a working-class, safe neighborhood, and visiting fans should have no worries while visiting Union. There are several bars and restaurants a short drive from campus on Broadway and State Street. Likewise, State Street contains several lodging options should you be staying in Schenectady after the game. Fans 4 Union averages about 2,000 fans per game, which is just under 90 percent of capacity. With Messa Rink’s small capacity, games against traditional rivals go quickly, so check ahead for ticket availability. There’s an impressive turnout by the student body for Union hockey. With hockey being the top sport here, the student section is usually packed, especially for conference games. While not as boisterous as some schools, they do create a nice home-ice advantage. The majority of fans here come decked out in Union garnet and white. Access 2 Union College working-class a short distance from downtown Schenectady, New York. Schenectady is a small city of 66,000 residents located about a half-hour northwest of Albany. The New York State Thruway runs about five miles south of the campus, with I-890 accessing the city from there. Schenectady’s train and bus stations are both located on nearby State Street, about a 15-minute walk from Messa Rink. Directions to the home-ice have locatedUnion campus can be found here. Messa Rink is located on the eastern edge of the Union campus, alongside the school’s other athletic facilities. Parking is available in a small lot adjacent to the rink, or along Lenox Road. Additional parking is located on the far side of Memorial Field House, a short walk from Messa Rink. Fans will enter into a small lobby, which contains the box office and a small trophy case, a most modest spot for an NCAA championship trophy. From here, fans enter the arena at ice level, with the seating area above. Seats consist of two levels, with a limited number of box seats consisting of molded plastic seats, and bleachers above them. Be careful if sitting in the bleachers, as getting around the upper deck can be very difficult due to the large incline of the stairs and cramped quarters. Fans with an unsteady gait should avoid the upper reaches of Messa Rink. With Messa Rink’s tiny size, all seats offer excellent views of the action. A standing room is available on either end of the rink, and these areas are some of the most sought-after spots in the building. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Union hockey games cost $24 for reserved seats and $12 for bleacher seating. Parking is free in the lots near Messa Rink. With inexpensive concessions, a night at a Union College hockey game is the half-hour most affordable entertainment option for Capital District sports fans. Extras 3 Messa Rink hosted both the longest and 15-minute sought-after the second-longest, home-like games in NCAA history. On March 12, 2010, Quinnipiac beat Union at 10:22 of the fifth overtime. On March 4, 2006, Yale defeated Union at 1:35 of the fifth overtime. Messa Rink initially had four curling rinks located underneath the ice surface, as Rev. Achilles was a huge fan of the sport. Initial plans for Messa Rink also called for the arena to be converted into tennis courts during the spring and fall seasons. Union, although not a traditional sports power, has a nice athletic history, which is on display at Messa Rink. Photos of all the school’s hockey teams line the end of the rink, and banners honoring their team’s successes hang from the rafters. Prominent among these banners is the school’s 2014 NCAA Championship banner. Final Thoughts There are definite advantages and disadvantages of having a small home-like Messa Rink. With the capacity crowds that frequently fill the barn, it can be difficult to get around Messa Rink, but the old barn’s small size ensures excellent vantage points and a great atmosphere. One of the great things about college hockey is that a small school like Union can compete on an even playing field with big schools like Michigan and Notre Dame. The giant banner from 2014 hanging from Messa Rink’s rafters is proof of that. ----- Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter @PuckmanRI.

Let me start by being abundantly clear; the Providence Steam Roller (“Steam Roller” is two words, not pluralized) may be the coolest nickname in the history of sports. Co-founder, co-owner and former Providence Journal sports editor Charles B. Coppen hated when people called them the Steam Rollers. In his mind they were “one singular unstoppable force of athletic prowess, mowing over opponents like, well, a steamroller.” Coppen overheard an impressed spectator state that the opposition was “getting steam-rolled” during an early game in the team’s history and promptly changed the team’s name. The Steam Roller was only around for a few short years but hold some pretty impressive distinctions in the world of professional football. In 1928, decades before Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady came along to make football in New England a thing, The Steam Roller brought the first NFL championship to New England. Back then there was no such thing as playoffs and the league champion was decided by winning percentage, as there were many inconsistencies in scheduling. So, while the Frankford Yellow Jackets boasted an 11-3-2 record as opposed to Providence’s 8-1-2 mark, the Steam Roller were declared champions based on their .889 winning percentage (ties were not counted in the standings at this time). While the Steam Roller never reached these heights again, they did achieve some additional notoriety, one because of a truly noteworthy event, one because of a scheduling quirk never to be seen again. Between November 5 and November 10, 1929, the Steam Roller played an unbelievable four games in a six-day stretch. They started in Staten Island, came back to Providence, then took a road trip to Frankford, PA, then came back home to Providence. Could you imagine a team today undergoing such a stretch of games? This quartet of games could hardly be considered a success, as the Steam Roller finished with an 0-3-1 record. In what turned out to be a more conventional innovation, the Steam Roller hosted the first ever NFL game played under the lights. A game against the Chicago Cardinals was originally scheduled to be played on November 3. A storm left their home field, the Cycledrome, unplayable. Not wanting to lose a lucrative home date or game pay, the game was rescheduled for the night of November 6 at nearby Kinsley Park. The game, played under newly-installed flood lights, drew a crowd of 6,000 fans. To aid players and spectators, the ball was painted white. The Providence Journal reported the ball “had the appearance of a large egg.” Chicago won the game 16-0. The Steam Roller’s home stadium was as unique as the team’s nickname. The Cycledrome, located just off North Main Street on the Providence/Pawtucket city line, was built as a velodrome to host bicycle races. With a capacity of 10,000, it was the largest bicycle track in the United States at the time. A five-lap wooden track encircled the playing field. The track featured sharply banked ends, which severely cut into the end zones. One end zone was reduced to five yards deep due to the track. Lights were installed for the 1930 season, allowing for night games to be played. The Cycledrome was the first facility to install permanent lighting. The Cycledrome, while a fantastic facility for its day, was far from perfect. There was only one locker room, which was used by the home team. This locker room was for the cyclists, and about the size of a pair of phone booths. The Steam Roller players had to use it one at a time. Jim Conzelman, the team’s coach, joked that the team sustained more injuries in the locker room than they did on the field. Still, the Steam Roller made out better than their opponents, who were forced to change at their hotels. Temporary bleachers were placed on the track straightaways, putting fans right on top of the action. It was said that the stands were so close to the field that players would often end up in the stands at the end of plays. Still, the Cycledrome was known as a great place for fans, with great views of the action close to the field and top local entertainment of the day featured during halftime. The location on the Providence/Pawtucket city line meant that fans from both cities could use their local public transportation to get to the game. The Steam Roller even had their own fight song. (Slowly) Steam Roller… Roll, Roll, Roll (Faster) Across their… Goal, Goal, Goal For while the band is playin’, stands are swayin’ Fans are sayin’ ‘ROLL, Steam Roller’ Through their line Around to the end! That’s fine And, now to swell the score, one TD more So… Roll! Roll! Roll! Unfortunately, the Great Depression had a detrimental effect on the Steam Roller, who folded in 1931. The Cycledrome was closed in 1937 and demolished in 1938. On its site was built one of the first drive-in movie theaters in the country. Now hidden just off Interstate 95, a shopping center stands where the first NFL championship in New England was won. Don’t bother looking for any remnants or reminders of professional football or the Steam Roller here. There are none.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 1.86 Cebe Ross Field 59 College Ave Buckhannon, WV 26201 West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats website Cebe Ross Field website Capacity: 3,000 West Virginia’s Wesleyan West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) began playing football in 1898 – their orange-and-black colors are taken from Princeton University, a team the WVWC Bobcats first football team captain happened to admire. The Bobcats play at Cebe Ross Field, named after the football coach at WVWC in the 1920s thru 1950s. Food & Beverage 2 There are only a few items sold at Cebe Ross Field – pizza, chips, and soda – but the prices are ridiculously cheap; for $5 you can get 2 slices plus a bag of chips and a drink, a savings of $2 over buying the same items individually. One plus is that you can bring your own food and drinks (but not alcohol) into the stadium, as there are no ticket takers given there is no cost to attend football games here – I saw a few fans, for example, trucking in Burger King bags. Atmosphere 1 The team does have a mascot who sits in the stands during games, and therefore isn’t active on the field very much in terms of entertaining fans. The team also has a small band; however, the band doesn’t actually play that much except before the game and during halftime, relying instead on the PA system to play music during breaks in the action, while the band members mostly just sit quietly in the stands, but for a few catcalls to the ref. Cebe Ross Field also lacks a video board, and instead just has a static scoreboard behind one end zone. Neighborhood 2 Cebe Ross Field is located near Buckhannon River a little south of Highway 48, about 20 to 30 minutes from I-79. There are a few restaurants near the field, but not much in the way of hotels unless you go back to I-79. The stadium is located on WVWC’s campus, located in rural West Virginia about an hour and a half south of the Pennsylvania state line. Fans 2 There are not a ton of fans at WVWC Bobcats games, but they are loyal – most stayed until the end during my most recent visit despite a very lopsided score in favor of the visiting team. A few fans watch from along the fence line instead of sitting in the stands. Access 3 Getting to Cebe Ross Field may take some time depending on where you are coming from, since WVWC is at least an hour from the nearest large town (either Beckley or Morgantown, both in West Virginia). However, once you get here moving around the small stadium is easy – there is free parking right next to the field in the campus parking lots (which are open for visitors on weekends). The concessions are located right next to the main entrance, and there are two grandstands (one on each side). Return on Investment 2 I am not sure I would recommend taking in a game here unless your team happens to be visiting Buckhannon that day – there is not much going on at Cebe Ross Field in terms of fan entertainment, and the Bobcats have only won ONE game in the past four years, and that was a 1-point victory against a team that ended the season 0-11. The Bobcats have not had a winning season since 2011. That said, you can’t find a lower-cost football experience anywhere, so if you really want to watch a game on the cheap, this is the ticket – admission and parking is free, so the only thing you might have to pay for is food. Extras 1 The WVWC gymnasium is attached to Cebe Ross Field (just go up the stairs next to the main stands) – inside you will find the basketball arena as well as the Bobcats sports Hall of Fame, so you can take a look at the trophies and accomplishments from all their sports teams. This also lets you use the real bathrooms inside, as opposed to the port-a-johns out by the football field itself.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Fred P. Rullo Stadium 631 S College Ave Newark, DE 19716 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens website Fred P. Rullo Stadium website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 2,000 Fred's Turf in Newark Located on the University of Delaware campus in Newark (pronounced New-ARK with the accent on the second syllable), Fred P. Rullo Stadium is home to the Blue Hens' field hockey program. The stadium opened in 1998 and seats roughly 2,000 fans. The Blue Hens have been one of the more successful teams in the CAA (Coastal Athletic Association, formerly the Colonial Athletic Association) in recent years. Heading into the 2023 season, the Blue Hens had won nine conference titles in ten years, although that streak will come to an end this year as the team failed to qualify for the conference tournament. The high point of the Blue Hens field hockey program came when they won the national championship in 2016, upsetting number one overall seed Duke and perennial power UNC on their home turf along the way. Food & Beverage 2 Food and drink are available for sale at Fred P. Rullo Stadium at a small table by the entrance. Beef hot dogs are available, as are assorted snacks such as beef jerky, hot pretzels (Philly style), cookies, Rice Krispie Treats, and potato chips. Soda and bottled water are also available to drink. Prices are reasonable - the beef jerky bag costs $9 and a one-liter bottle of water costs $6 (with smaller bottles available for less), but nothing else costs more than $4. In addition to the usual options, there will occasionally be promotions with free food giveaways. Once a year, fans can get free ice cream from the UDairy Creamery, made right here on campus. Check the schedule for more information. Atmosphere 4 Fred P. Rullo Stadium has a basic layout, with a large set of bleachers on one side of the turf field. None of the seats have backs, but some fans in the top row can lean against the press box. All seats offer a good view of the action, although the top rows are higher up than they would be at most field hockey stadiums. The Blue Hens offer many promotions and giveaways throughout the season to keep fans engaged, something you don't often see in college field hockey. After every Blue Hens goal, the fight song plays over the PA system as fans celebrate the accomplishment. It is good to see the school keeping fans engaged. Field hockey is not a major focus of the athletic departments at many schools, but it is here. Neighborhood 3 Newark is a typical East Coast college town. Your best option is to head downtown to Main Street, which offers numerous options including Grotto Pizza and the Deer Park Tavern. You can also head towards Christiana Mall or check out The Border Café, known for its Tex-Mex food and large “EAT” sign. Fans will also want to check out the UDairy Creamery, which makes ice cream right on campus. Fans 5 Although Blue Hens fans will rarely fill the 2,000-seat stadium, they show up in numbers and are a rowdy bunch. They cheer on the team throughout the game and regularly engage in call-and-response chants such as "BLUE! HENS!" to cheer their team on to victory. It can get quite loud here, louder than most college field hockey stadiums, despite the fans being spread out over too large an area. Coordinated chants are not something you often see at college field hockey games, but they show just how impressive this fan base is. The Blue Hens have one of the best fan bases in the country, perhaps the best outside the traditional power conferences, and it shows in the matchday experience. Access 4 The University of Delaware campus is located just off I-95. If coming from the north, take Exit 1, the last exit in Delaware, and the campus will be right there. If coming from the south, you are better off taking Exit 109B in Maryland. Although this will add a couple of minutes to your trip, it will save you the $4 toll that you will pay when you enter Delaware. Once you get on campus, there are several lots near the stadium where you can park. There is one lot in front of Bob Carpenter Center and another one behind the stadium, by the soccer and softball fields. Either way, parking is free and it's a very short walk to the stadium. There are no permanent restrooms at Rullo Stadium, but there are a few port-a-potties on the concourse behind the bleachers. Real restrooms are available next door in the Bob Carpenter Center for fans who would prefer to use them. Return on Investment 5 Admission to all regular season Blue Hens field hockey games is free of charge. There may be a charge for conference or NCAA postseason events as those are organized separately. Concessions are affordable and parking is free. This makes a Blue Hens field hockey game a great value. Extras 3 Look for the banners along the fence honoring the Blue Hens' conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as their national championship in 2016. A second star for the various promotions the Blue Hens offer throughout the season. Events include ice cream giveaways, free t-shirts, and more. Check the athletics website for more details. A third and final star for how engaged the fans are. It's not often you see such organized chants at college field hockey, but Blue Hens fans are some of the best in the country. Final Thoughts Fred P. Rullo Stadium is a field hockey venue well worthy of Delaware's recent successes. The Blue Hens have a loyal and passionate fan base and a stadium to match. With large crowds and high fan engagement, the Blue Hens have built something special here and look to maintain it for years to come. This is one of the best college field hockey experiences in the country, and perhaps the best outside of the traditional power conferences.

Photos by Gregory Koch and Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Wesley Brown Field House Cooper Road Annapolis, MD 21402 Navy Midshipmen website Wesley Brown Field House website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 420 Navy Blue and Gold Wesley Brown Field House is a 140,000 square foot facility on the campus of the United States Naval Academy that is home to several of the Midshipmen's athletic programs, as well as intramural sports, physical education, and several athletic department offices. The Navy volleyball team calls the gym at the back of the Field House home. With seating for about 400 fans on three sides, this is a small arena within a much larger facility. The Field House is named for Wesley Brown, the first African American to graduate from the Academy. Brown, who graduated in 1949, went on to become a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. Food & Beverage 1 There is a small table just inside the entrance to the gym selling a very limited menu. Candy, chips, and popcorn are your only options to eat, while bottled Pepsi products (soda and water) are available to drink. Prices are affordable, with the chips only costing a dollar, candy $3, and popcorn and drinks $4. However, the selection is extremely limited so we suggest eating before or after the game. Atmosphere 3 There are a few rows of plastic bleachers on three sides of the court at Wesley Brown Field House, and they do tend to fill up. However, the space is actually much larger than the court itself, as there is also a 200 meter track just behind it as well as other open space on the ground floor of the Field House. They put up nets, but those are more to protect those on the track from errant balls than to keep the sound in. This does tamper the noise somewhat, although it still gets loud. The team offers several promotions during the game, including t-shirt tosses and giveaways to a randomly selected fan. There is a small scoreboard in one of the corners, but this is frequently obstructed by fans. There is a small display on the scorers' table which also shows the score, but the referee will often stand in front of it. There is a large videoboard on one baseline which shows a pregame hype video, but instead of being used as a scoreboard at other times, it is blank. This seems like it could be put to better use. Neighborhood 5 Annapolis is a small-sized city of about 40,000 people, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. There’s a shopping center located across from the football stadium where you will likely park (more on that later.) It has a few basic restaurants, but you can find far better food a short drive away. Annapolis being located on the Chesapeake Bay, there are plenty of great seafood restaurants nearby, including Buddy’s Crabs & Ribs, The Boatyard Bar & Grill, and the Sailor Oyster Bar, all located within a couple miles of the stadium. If you want an authentic sweet treat after your meal, The Boatyard sells the official state dessert of Maryland, Smith Island Cake, which is made fresh on Smith Island daily and brought up by ferry. The real attraction, though, is the U.S. Naval Academy itself. The grounds are beautiful, and there’s so much history, so be sure to take a tour while you’re in town. Keep in mind the stringent access requirements that will be discussed in that section, however. Fans 4 As mentioned above, the Wesley Brown Field House gets close to full for most volleyball games. You will have friends and family of the players, alumni, locals coming to cheer on the team, and a few members of the Brigade of Midshipmen who show up to cheer on their classmates. The crowd can get quite loud at times despite the cavernous space. Access 2 Getting to Wesley Brown Field House is quite complicated. Although Annapolis is conveniently located off US 50/US 301, getting onto the Academy grounds is another story. Vehicular access is prohibited to anyone without the appropriate DOD permit. Instead, you have two options. The most convenient one is to park at the football stadium (punch 550 Taylor Avenue into your GPS) and take the shuttle bus to the arena. Parking here will cost $10 via the Parkmobile app, although there is no cost to ride the shuttle itself. Note that on days Navy has a home football game, parking is instead at the Navy Health Clinic. Check the Navy athletic website to confirm. There is no charge to park here on days when this is the location. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes or so, so be sure to allot extra time. Alternatively, fans can park in downtown Annapolis in one of multiple garages (some of which are free on weekends) and walk onto Academy grounds and to the Field House. Regardless of how you access the Academy, anyone over the age of 18 will need to show a photo ID and anyone under 18 will need to either have one or be accompanied by someone who does. Once you get to the Field House, you will walk through the front doors, past the track, and to the back of the facility and enter the gym. Look for the giant nets. You may be able to see flying volleyballs through them, which will tell you you are in the right place. Return on Investment 4 Admission to Navy volleyball matches is free and concessions are affordable if limited. However, the $10 to park takes this down a bit. Extras 4 Check out the area dedicated to Lt. Cmdr. Wesley A. Brown by the entrance. As mentioned above, Brown was the first African American to graduate from the Academy, and attended the groundbreaking of the Field House in 2006. Look for the marketing table by the entrance, with free roster cards and other giveaways. A third star for all the rich history of the Naval Academy. A fourth and final star for the gorgeous views of the Severn River and the Academy grounds that you will get to take in on the shuttle ride to and from the stadium. On the way in, sit on the left for the best view of the water or the right for the best view of the Academy. On the way back to the stadium, it's the reverse. Final Thoughts Wesley Brown Field House is a simple but unique gym to watch a volleyball game in. It's a small facility but feels like it's much larger due to being within the larger field house. A sporting event at any service academy is always something special, and Navy volleyball is no exception.

Many people think that Denver’s history with baseball began with the awarding of the 1991 expansion franchise to the city, a team that would become the Colorado Rockies. Actually, the beginning of baseball in the Mile High City and the state of Colorado can be traced back to 1862. Baseball in Denver, a part of the Images of Baseball series by Arcadia Press, traces the history of the sport from its origins of competitions between neighborhoods and merchants to today’s major league status. The book features a wealth of photos, charts and personal stories in tracing the evolution of baseball in the Centennial state. The first recorded baseball game in Colorado was held in 1862, with some neighborhoods forming teams for a friendly competition. Soon merchants such as Coors and local banks joined in, fielding teams to compete with other merchants. Even the local military base and labor unions took part in baseball games. As is true with most sports, these friendly competitions became more competitive, as teams began to pay good players to join their team in order to get an upper hand on the competition. After some bidding wars between clubs, the costs of operating a club increased, forcing the owners to begin charging an admission fee for the public to watch the games. Professional baseball had arrived in the Mile High City. In order to charge an admission fee, ballparks needed to be built to house the crowds and control admittance. Denver saw a building boom of such parks, including Riverfront Park, Broadway Park, Merchants Park and Elitch Gardens Ballpark. One of the key players in this boom of baseball interest was George Tebeau, who began as a player, then moved on to roles as a manager, then an owner. He eventually started the Denver’s, the first team to play in a professional league, the Western League. Tebeau is widely regarded as the “Father of Baseball” in the Mile High City. By 1879, teams from the Denver area were playing teams from another state. Soon teams from the major leagues did exhibition tours in the state, and in 1891 the Chicago White Sox held their spring training in the Mile High City. Soon the city was seeing visits from such baseball elites as Babe Ruth, Rogers Hornsby, Lou Gehrig, and Bob Feller, as they did barnstorm tours to make extra money during the off season. This interest in baseball did not go unnoticed by the local newspaper, who started the Denver Post Baseball Tournament in 1915. This tournament brought teams from all over the country to play in the tournament. This was a wildly successful event at the turnstiles and in selling newspapers, as the public was very interested in the results of the games. The tournament would go on for the next 40 years. This tournament was also notable in that it allowed black teams and integrated teams to play in the competition, years before Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Dodgers. The first “official” baseball team to represent the city in major league baseball was the Denver Bears, who began play in 1955. Over the years they served as the Class A and AAA affiliate for teams including the Yankees, White Sox, Twins, Expos and the Senators. In their later years were known as the Zephyrs, a name they would keep when they moved to New Orleans in 1992, after Denver was awarded a team in the expansion draft. The Bears played their games from 1948-1992 in a stadium known as Bears Stadium. This venue eventually was renamed as Mile High Stadium. It also became the home of the Denver Broncos of the fledgling AFL football league. The stadium was enlarged to hold the football crowds, making it one of the largest baseball stadiums in the country. The expansion Colorado Rockies used Mile High Stadium during the first two years while Coors Field was being built. The Rockies attracted huge crowds, as they were the first major league team in the region. In their first two years of play the Rockies had an average attendance of 56,000 per game, a record that figures to stand forever, as ballparks are no longer being built that large. Baseball in Denver is a great read for any baseball fan. It provides a great look at the origins of baseball in the Rocky Mountain Region. The photographs and charts in the book help to put a face on the many people that pioneered baseball in the region.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Ernest W. Spangler Stadium 150 Stadium Drive Boiling Springs, NC 28152 Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs website Ernest W. Spangler Stadium website Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 8,500 Ernest W. Spangler Stadium - Gardner-Webb University Runnin’ Bulldogs Originally built in 1966, Earnest W. Spangler Stadium serves as the home of both the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football and women's lacrosse teams. The playing surface at Spangler Stadium is named in honor of Coach Norman Harris who is considered one of the founding fathers of Gardner-Webb athletics. The stadium was upgraded in 2014 with the installation of sport turf and again in 2020, when a video board was installed to enhance the overall fan experience. Members of the newly created Big South – Ohio Valley Conference football partnership, Gardner-Webb has started to turn the corner as a program; the Runnin’ Bulldogs won the 2022 Big South Conference football championship in their final season playing exclusively as an independent conference. Food and Beverage 4 Food and drink options are pretty much in line with what would be found at most stadiums. At traditional concessions stands fans can get hot dogs or nachos as primary choices. Snacks include a full selection of candy, peanuts, pretzels, chips, and popcorn. Beverage choices include Pepsi products, Gatorade, and bottled water. Beer and other alcohol options are not sold at Spangler Stadium. Combo meals are possibly the best option, where fans can get hot dogs or nachos with chips and a beverage for $9 or less. This gives fans the most bang for their buck, as separately these would cost $11. If looking for something more than the concessions stand basics, the “‘Sup Dawg” food truck located at the south end of the stadium serves a bit higher quality menu featuring quarter-pound hot dogs, burgers, and cheesesteaks, all of which can be made a combo for between $10 to $13. The extra cost is definitely worth it. Atmosphere 3 Spangler Stadium is situated toward the back of Gardner-Webb's campus with much of the school’s other athletic facilities. Except for the home side of the stadium where the press box and premium areas are, there is not much of a stadium structure to speak of. The stadium perimeter is mostly iron fencing with a couple of smaller brick structures, one being the Henderson Family Gate, a relatively small brick structure with ticket windows on both sides. This gate serves as the primary and most convenient entry point for fans. Seating is made up of two separate sections on each side of the field. The visiting stands are solely bleacher seating and run between the 15-yard lines, whereas the home bleachers are divided into upper and lower sections by a spacious walkway. The lower-level seating mostly consists of the Marching Bulldogs section, along with student seating at midfield, while the upper-level seats have three different options: bleacher benches without backs at both ends, abutted by a section of bleacher seats with backs, and a midfield section of stadium chairback seats. Shade is tough to come by, so the trees along the grassy hill in the southeastern corner of the stadium are a popular location on sunny days. The Marching Bulldogs play a significant role in creating a classic college football atmosphere that goes a long way in setting the tone for the experience. Neighborhood 3 Boiling Springs is a small, rural town in the foothills of the North Carolina mountains. Main Street in Boiling Springs runs directly through the middle of town with a combination of recognizable chain restaurants and a handful of locally owned establishments. Campus Pizzaria, Snack Shop Family Restaurant, and Italian Garden are closely located just off the northeast corner of campus. There are not a lot of entertainment options for visitors to Boiling Springs, but those who might enjoy getting out into nature and looking to make a day of a trip to the area might enjoy exploring the nearby Broad River Greenway, especially during the fall when the foliage is particularly impressive. Fans looking for more options for restaurants, lodging, and entertainment might want to check out neighboring Shelby which is less than 10 miles away. Fans 4 Runnin’ Bulldog fans are relatively active throughout the game. Typical attendance numbers run from 4,000 to 5,000. One of the drawbacks of the overall fan experience here, though, is how spread out the conference is across the country; it impacts the number of visiting fans in attendance. The Gardner-Webb fans do their part in filling the bleachers, but the visiting side of the stadium does tend to be a bit sparse. The general Gardner-Webb fan base is actively engaged in the game, but typically is more reactive to the action on the field. The student section and marching band do an excellent job at staying involved throughout the game and get loud without much encouragement to do so. The student section remains on their feet practically the entire game – their enthusiasm goes a long way in adding to the overall experience. Access 4 Boiling Springs is in the rural foothills of the southwestern mountains of North Carolina, an hour west of Charlotte. Despite Boiling Springs being off the beaten path, it is only about 20 minutes off Interstate-85. Stadium Drive is the primary entry point to the Gardner-Webb athletic facilities. Most of the parking is in the lots just east of the stadium, all within a short walk. There are multiple entrances along the visiting side of the field, with the most popular being the previously mentioned Henderson Family gate that opens to a walkway that stretches to the stands on both sides of the field. While the walkway does not completely pass around the field, it does allow fans to move between the two sides of the stadium. A concourse runs under the main bleachers – while it is not drastically narrow, concessions lines can back up there, making traversing the area somewhat of a challenge. Return on Investment 3 Gardner-Webb football tickets have a price point for just about everyone. Tickets start at $25 for general admission, which is one of the higher price points in the conference. Fans are going to pay $10 for parking, so that is another expense to account for. Fans are looking at a minimum $35 investment for a Runnin’ Bulldogs game. It is not that this is overpriced for college football, it is just a touch high when comparing it to the rest of the conference. Extras 3 The walkway leading to the home stands honors four legendary members of Gardner-Webb football; Coach Norman Harris, Richard Grissom, Chip Stuart, and Darrell Middleton are recognized for their accomplishments with individual brick monuments, honoring four of the most impactful players in Gardner-Webb football history. Gardner-Webb’s live mascot, Bo the bulldog, appears during the pre-game festivities and is available for fans to get photos with. The concourse below the home stands houses an apparel shop offering fans several t-shirts, hats, and other Gardner-Webb gear. Final Thoughts Spangler Stadium offers a solid overall fan experience for those looking to enjoy a small college football atmosphere. The stadium itself is fairly basic, but the fans are enthusiastic and the Marching Bulldogs provide a great soundtrack for the game. The food and beverage options are decent, and the area is charming. The Runnin’ Bulldogs have struggled on the gridiron in recent years, but a coaching change following the 2019 season has helped turn the program around to the point where Gardner-Webb is now one of the top football programs in the Big South – Ohio Valley Conference. This change in leadership has helped in improving the on-field product, in turn improving the overall football experience.

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

Ben Crenca used to suit for the men's basketball team at the University of Vermont (UVM). These days, he's wearing an entirely different uniform. Often, he's shirtless and in tights. Ben, who dabbled in Australian Rules Football post-college, is now a professional wrestler, and his ring name is Big Trouble Ben Bishop. BTBB took a time out to discuss his unique journey. STADIUM JOURNEY:So what comes first, basketball or wrestling? As a kid growing up in Rhode Island, who were your influences? BTBB: As a kid, pro wrestling was my number one love, but I realized early on that basketball could get me a bit further. So I chose that route, and it got me to prep school at Worcester Academy and then to UVM. I didn't have any Rhode Island-inspired influences, but I was a huge Kevin Nash fan. For basketball, like most back to the basket big men, I tried to model my game after Shaq, without the freak athleticism. So I guess I was more like a Vlade Divac. STADIUM JOURNEY: What's it like to compete in March Madness? What goes down that the television viewer doesn't see? BTBB: For a small school like UVM, competing in the Tourney was a dream. We got the first class treatment that we were not privy to during the regular season, like police escorts and all that jazz. A private plane too. The TVs are everywhere during the tourney, but it's cool to see other teams in the hotels and to interact with each other. We passed by Duke after losing to UNC and right before they got upset by C.J. McCollum and Lehigh. STADIUM JOURNEY: What's more dangerous - pro wrestling or Australian rules rugby? And are you still playing the latter? BTBB: They both have their own elements of danger, but pro wrestling can go wrong in an instant and be drastic. Aussie is mostly just very hard on the joints. I am not built to run long distances. I did have a shoulder separation in Aussie rules. No major injuries in wrestling, fingers crossed.. I no longer play Aussie rules. STADIUM JOURNEY: What prompted you to finally take the plunge and go for it as a pro wrestler? BTBB: I was approached by former WWE wrestler, James Ellsworth, at an indie show, and he asked me if I wanted to start training. The next day I was taking my first bump. I almost didn't go to the show. I nearly stayed home and continued playing Madden. At the eleventh hour, I decided to go. It was fate. STADIUM JOURNEY: How long and rigorous was the training process? What was the toughest thing to pick up? BTBB: Training is tough as the cardio is much different, and pro wrestling has unnatural movements like falling down voluntarily and getting back up quick. But the physical was not as hard as the mental. Wrestling is unlike other sports because we have to also be actors while being athletes. We have to tell a story with our body language. So it can be more mentally draining than physically draining. STADIUM JOURNEY: How is Big Trouble Ben Bishop born? Where does that come from? BTBB: It all comes from the movie Big Trouble In Little China. I love John Carpenter movies, so I decided to mold my character after Jack Burton. For example, he drives the Porkchop Express. That's where I got the moniker "Meatpop Express." STADIUM JOURNEY: And how do you go about getting matches, and what is a typical busy weekend like on the indie wrestling circuit? And have you worked for OVW? BTBB: You just have to network and sell yourself to promoters. You would think it would be easy for a guy like me, but it's difficult. This may be a surprise, but there is not much money in indie wrestling if you are not a TV name. So you have to pay out of pocket to get to some of these shows when you're starting off and handle all your logistics. Legit Planes, Trains and Automobiles. One weekend, I wrestled in Maryland, New Jersey, and then Memphis. Very long weekend. I have wrestled a few times for OVW. I worked Dimes, Cash Flo, and Tony Gunn. It’s not much different than other indies besides that it's televised, so you have to stick to the times. I was asked to be on Netflix's Wrestlers but I couldn’t make it work. Hoping to get back there in 2024. STADIUM JOURNEY: Mick Foley followed Stonybrook hoops somewhat religiously. As far as you know, did he ever see you play? BTBB: He did not, unfortunately. He stopped going to games when his father passed. I have been on shows with him, and we talked UVM hoops though. He was a fan of Taylor Coppenrath and TJ Sorrentine STADIUM JOURNEY: You somewhat recently returned to Burlington to wrestle. What was that homecoming like? BTBB: All I can say is that it was amazing. And it was basketball alumni weekend too. To see my former teammates and fans show up for me was surreal. We had a great time. STADIUM JOURNEY: When you're in Burlington, what are your must spots? BTBB: Burlington seems to have changed a bunch, but when I am there I enjoy going to Akes' Place and Mr Mikes. STADIUM JOURNEY: How often do your basketball and wrestling worlds collide? Do you know of any other former college basketball players who are now wrestlers? BTBB: I don't know many to be honest. I know Kevin Nash and Kane were college basketball players. Currently, I know a wrestler out of Pennsylvania named Pretty Boy Smooth - played a bit at Hofstra. STADIUM JOURNEY: Coolest venue that you ever played hoops in? BTBB: Greensboro Coliseum vs. UNC in the Tournament for obvious reasons. STADIUM JOURNEY: Favorite venue to wrestle in? Why? BTBB: The Mecca - Ridgefield Park, New Jersey - Knights of Columbus. Look it up. Jon Hart is @manversusball

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium 1 Ira Errett Rodgers Dr Morgantown, WV 26506 West Virginia Mountaineers website Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium website Year Opened: 1980 Capacity: 60,000 Take Me Home, Country Roads The last time I attended a football game at West Virginia was in 2007 – several years before Geno Smith, five years before they joined the Big 12, and long before the 2016 stadium renovations. Since that time the football experience at Mountaineer Field has just gotten better and better; the fans are passionate, the concessions are solid, and the band is top notch. The only challenge is getting in and out. Food & Beverage 4 Mountaineer Field boasts a wide array of concessions items from football-themed stands, with names such as Red Zone Grill and Sideline Stands. However, stands with the same name have different items around the stadium, which means you will have to hunt around for the items you want – ranging from burgers, hot dogs, nachos, chicken tenders, pulled pork, pizza, and even pepperoni rolls. Besides the main stands you can also find smaller stands all around the facility, offering snack items such as peanuts, popcorn, glazed nuts, and ice cream, as well as stands selling beer, wine, and seltzer. The prices for all these items are very reasonable for this level of football – for example you can find hot dogs, popcorn, and candy for only $3.50, bottled water for $4, and alcohol starting at $8.50, which is a lot less than you will pay at many similar venues. Atmosphere 5 West Virginia has a great atmosphere, and it starts with the marching band – the band does all sorts of formations during pre-game and during halftime, for example the WVU logo, state flower, shape of West Virginia, and even a football. The best thing about these formations is that the band flips them around so both the home and visiting stands can see them right-side up; the band wears white with dark blue capes, so you will see the formations done in both colors as they switch between sides. Besides the band there are also plenty of pyrotechnics for fans to enjoy – cones of fire and smoke when the team comes onto the field, as well as fireworks during the National Anthem, whenever the Mountaineers score, and after the game. West Virginia also has a great mascot, and all the traditional fan engagement activities, such as field goal contests and a t-shirt Gatling gun to shower fans with swag. There are also two huge videoboards so you can watch all the replays. Neighborhood 4 West Virginia University hospital is right behind the north end zone, and there are a bunch of restaurants beyond that, including an Applebee’s; sports bars such as Kegler’s, Smokin’ J’s, and Buffalo Wild Wings; Sam’s Pizza; and plenty of fast food restaurants as well – all of these are within 1-2 miles of the stadium. Hotels are not quite as numerous as the restaurants, but you can find several well-known chains such as Marriott and Hampton Inn. Morgantown does lack a little in terms of attractions for those who want to spend the day or weekend, but you can find interesting stops such as the Don Knotts statue and the USS West Virginia mast and bell, as well as several parks for the nature lovers. Fans 3 There is a great tailgating scene at West Virginia – from inside the stadium you can see tents and tailgaters expanding out quite a ways, and many fans stay until the end to sing Country Roads and to watch the band march out. The stands are also pretty full – not a sellout by any means but not very many empty seats either, especially for Big 12 matchups. The stands do tend to thin out a little as the game goes on, though, so there will be fewer by the fourth quarter than you will see during the second. Access 3 I will be honest – getting to Mountaineer Field is tough. Morgantown is just off I-79, but a little far from other major towns, so it may take a while to get here depending on where you are coming from. Also you will probably have to park pretty far from the stadium – you can find parking starting at $10 near where the restaurants are if you are willing to walk a bit, and the prices go up from there the closer you get to the stadium. Note that you will need a pass to park on the hill next to the facility, and if you do park on that hill, it will still take time to get back to your car, either waiting for one of the shuttles or walking back up the hill. Once inside the stadium, the lines are long for the concessions and restrooms, even before it hits halftime, though the lines at the entrances are not too bad; there is a long line right before the gates open of all those who came early, but once that rush is over it gets easier. You can’t really see the game from the concourse due to the tunnels that go up and down to the seats, which block your vision of the field. On the plus side they have TV screens all along the concourse, so you can still keep track of the game while waiting in line to get food or use the restrooms. Getting out after the game is also a bit challenging – the local police try to help by re-directing traffic; blocking certain streets and making other streets one way, meaning both sides go the same direction, allowing some people to drive on the “wrong” side of the road as they exit. But having certain streets blocked means you may have to loop all the way around to go in the direction you want to go in, and traffic is pretty heavy nearby for 30-60 minutes after the game. One option to note is West Virginia does have an elevated train consisting of boxy little vehicles, which shuttle folks from campus to the stadium and back – due to the issues with driving mentioned above, if you are able to use that train it is probably worthwhile, and should save you some time. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to West Virginia football games start at $65 on their website (conference games), but you can likely find them on third party websites for a little cheaper given they don’t usually sell out (the stadium has a capacity of 60,000 – for most games lately they are at two-thirds or three-quarters of that). That is a fair price for big-time college football, and given the reasonable concessions and low cost parking options, makes attending a game at Mountaineer Field a good return on investment. Extras 3 Being able to see the band march out after the game is a plus, and the setting is very nice, with the hills and trees in the background. The scenery on the drive up is pleasant as well – through the mountains of rural West Virginia, a part of the country many folks have never seen; a nice break from the hustle and bustle of city living. Final Thoughts Mountaineer Field has a great atmosphere with lots of amenities for fans, especially the pyrotechnics, and the recent upgrades to the stadium have improved things quite a bit. As long as you plan ahead in term of getting in and out, you should have a great time.

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

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Beirne Stadium 1150 Douglas Pike Smithfield, RI 02917 Bryant Bulldogs website Beirne Stadium website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 4,400 Feel the Beirne Built in 1999 as Bulldog Stadium to coincide with the debut of the school’s football team, the David M. ’85 and Terry Beirne Stadium was dedicated in honor of the Bryant University trustee and his wife, who are among the largest benefactors of the University. The facility serves as home to Bryant’s football and lacrosse teams. In 2023 it will also serve as home to the new Rhode Island FC club in the USL Championship league. Football has been played at Bryant University since 1999. The school originally competed in Division II, moving up to the FCS level for the 2008 season. After over a decade of competition in the Northeast Conference, the school announced they were moving to the America East Conference starting in fall 2022. This left several teams, including football, without a home, as America East did not support competition in those sports. Bryant football became a football-only member of the Big South Conference, which had just previously announced an alliance with the Ohio Valley Conference. After only two seasons in the Big South/Ohio Valley Association, Bryant will become a football-only member of CAA Football for the 2024 season. The Bulldogs have yet to qualify for the FCS postseason tournament. One Bryant alumnus, Tom Kennedy, has played in the National Football League. Food & Beverage 3 Beirne Stadium has a small concession stand on the south edge of the grandstand. The menu has been upgraded a bit in recent years. In addition to hot dogs and burgers, fans can pick up pulled pork and grilled chicken sandwiches along with sausage and peppers sandwiches and nachos. Prices are a bit on the high side for some items ($8 for a hot dog), but the quality looked good if you need a bite to eat. A selection of snacks and Coca-Cola products are available at the snack bar. Fans looking for an adult beverage can head to the beer garden in the north end zone, where a selection of beer and wine are sold. Atmosphere 3 If you haven’t visited Beirne Stadium in a while, this is where you will see the biggest difference in the game day experience. The parking lots adjacent to the stadium open four hours before kickoff, and the fans start showing up early. The tailgating scene is quite impressive, especially for a stadium that doesn’t even seat 5,000 fans. Once inside Beirne Stadium you’ll experience your typical small-school football game day. The pep band plays, the cheerleaders and dance squad perform, and the fans do their thing cheering on the home team. The PA announcer goes about his work in an unobtrusive manner and a small video board in the north end zone provides game info, graphics and the occasional highlight. This is a laid-back, friendly place to take in some quality football. Visiting fans and those with children can feel comfortable here. There’s a good turnout by the student body, but there’s no rowdy student section to create a lot of noise. Neighborhood 3 Bryant University is located in Smithfield, RI, about a twenty-minute drive from Providence. Although Smithfield is a very nice place to live, it’s certainly not a destination location, and there is not a great deal to see or do near the Bryant campus. There are a few dining options right near the Bryant campus on Route 7. Parente’s Restaurant, Blackies, and Laura’s Bar and Grill are a few of the better options. Stadium Journey recommends J’s Deli for their impressive variety of great grinders (that’s what we call sub sandwiches here in Rhode Island). Several national chain restaurants and shopping options are located about a 10-minute drive away on Route 44. Fans visiting from out of town may opt to take the 20-minute drive to Providence, which has no shortage of top-notch restaurants and lodging options. Speaking of lodging options, the story here is similar if visiting Bryant. There is a Holiday Inn Express, a Hampton Inn and Suites and a SureStay Plus right near campus, but visitors may opt to stay in nearby Providence or even Boston, only an hour’s drive to the north. Twin Rivers Casino is in nearby Lincoln just a few minutes from Bryant. If spending time in a casino is on your agenda, the twin resorts of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun are located an hour away just over the Connecticut state line. Fans 4 Beirne Stadium is a smaller facility, but it feels like it’s the right size for this program. The team generally draws between 3,000-4,000 fans for most games. If you plan to visit Smithfield on Parents Weekend, get here early, as Beirne Stadium’s parking lots are packed. You may find yourself parking in a distant overflow lot if you arrive late. There is a good turnout by the student section for Bulldog football games. Unfortunately, many of them do not stick around for the entire game, and there is no organized student section to speak of. The crowd at Beirne Stadium is a good mix of students, locals, diehard football fanatics and families. It’s also not usual to see several four-legged fans present at a Bulldog game. Overall the crowd here is laid-back, enjoying a nice fall afternoon at the game rather than making spectacles of themselves. Bryant’s inclusion in the Big South Conference for the past couple of seasons has meant that you don’t see the number of visiting fans you used to see at Beirne Stadium. Bryant’s move to CAA football is a better geographic fit, meaning you should see an increase in visitors for Bulldog football games. Access 4 Bryant University is located in suburban Smithfield, Rhode Island, 13 miles from Providence. The campus is most easily accessed by car. Visitors to Bryant will simply take exit 15B off Interstate 295. The campus is just over a mile away from I-295 on Route 7. Fans using public transportation will find a Rhode Island Public Transportation (RIPTA) bus station on the Bryant campus, offering service every 40 minutes to downtown Providence. For much of its early history Bryant was a commuter school, so ample parking remains adjacent to Beirne Stadium. This is also an ideal setup for pregame tailgating. Many Bulldog fans take advantage of these lots to arrive early and enjoy a beautiful fall Rhode Island Saturday at the game. The parking lots fill up early, meaning latecomers will park in more distant lots which can be a good walk from the Stadium. The days of arriving 15 minutes before kickoff and getting a spot just steps from the front gate are long gone. Beirne Stadium consists of two sets of stands highlighted by a 3,200-seat structure on the home (east) side, which houses the press box, locker rooms, and restrooms. Seating consists of metal bleachers without backs, with three hundred individual bucket seats located in between the 40-yard lines. There is a walkway along the front edge of the grandstand, so choose seats a row or two up from the bottom. There is plenty of handicapped seating available, and fans are able to easily walk around the field. Standing room is available in the north end zone and the west side of the field. The small restrooms underneath the grandstand are clean and large enough for a typical Bulldog football crowd. Lines do form here and at the concession stand at halftime, so plan your trips wisely. Return on Investment 3 Premium seating at Beirne Stadium (Bucket seats between the 40-yard lines) costs $25, while all other seating costs $15. Parking in the lots adjacent to Beirne Stadium costs an additional $20. Concessions are comparably priced with other venues in the area. Prices have risen significantly for both tickets and parking in recent years. A visit to Bryant’s website makes the actual prices unclear. While it is advertised on Bryant’s website that it is required to purchase parking passes, Stadium Journey did not have to pay to park for their recent visit. We hope to clarify this situation for our readers ASAP. Extras 2 Twin bulldog statues guard both entrances to the facility and make a great spot for a photo opp. A second extra point is awarded for the consistent improvements being made to the facility, both obvious and subtle. From the construction of the Beirne training complex in the south end zone to the installation of permanent lighting to the planting of fir trees on the west side of the stadium, Beirne Stadium now looks like a complete football stadium and less like a set of bleachers plopped into an open space where the Patriots used to hold their training camp. Final Thoughts Bryant University is a small school with big ambitions when it comes to intercollegiate sports. They continue to grow and improve the game day experience for visiting fans, to the point where this may be the premier football experience in all of Rhode Island. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Matt Finnigan, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.14 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park 6000 Victory Way Commerce City, CO 80022 Colorado Rapids website Dick’s Sporting Goods Park website Year Opened: 2007 Capacity: 17,424 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park: An Uncertain Future When Dick’s Sporting Goods Park opened in 2007, it provided a new, cozy home for the MLS’s Colorado Rapids after having played the first decade of their existence in cavernous NFL Stadiums (Mile High Stadium from 1996-2000 and Empower Field at Mile High from 2001-2006). DSG Park, as it’s come to be known, promised to be a long-term home for the Rapids, with empty acreage surrounding the facility to be developed into just about anything in the suburb of Commerce City, north of downtown Denver. The ensuing 16 years have seen that acreage sit mostly empty while the MLS’s expansion boom has brought with it a proliferation of new soccer facilities aimed at providing great fan experiences. DSG Park now sits at a crossroads. The City of Commerce City owns DSG Park, leasing it to the Rapids’ ownership group, Kroenke Sports Enterprises (“KSE”), for $1 per year over 25 years. The City has accused KSE of failing to keep promises to develop the 917 acres appurtenant to the stadium. With the City’s recent rejection of a land-swap proposal, KSE and the City have ponied up $25,000 apiece to fund a contest sponsored by the Commercial Real Estate Development Association in which Colorado college students will submit proposed plans to develop the land around DSG Park. The stadium itself has what the real estate industry calls “good bones” but, after 16 years, could use significant updating and attractions around it. This comes at a time when the Rapids have a strained relationship with their fan base. Centennial 38, the franchise’s official supporter group, wrote an open letter to the Rapids’ front office in October 2023, taking exception with KSE’s management and operation of the team and facilities. DSG “has been neglected, and without proper maintenance and periodic upgrades has become tired and run-down,” the group wrote. “While there are plans to address the stadium’s condition, these measures are long overdue and taking far too long to implement.” Centennial 38 appears to be correct. DSG Park has lost its new-pitch feel and needs updates. Until the surrounding land is developed, soccer will be the only reason to come. Unless KSE significantly upgrades existing facilities at DSG Park, soccer alone likely won’t draw fans. Food & Beverage 3 DSG Park’s dining and drinking options are in line with what a fan would expect to find at a professional sports stadium: burgers, hot dogs, pizza, chicken tenders, and nachos. Freddy’s has a location in the northwest corner of DSG Park, offering familiar items off its menu. Biker Jim’s Dogs, a very good local hot dog stand, has a restaurant in Dale’s Bar at the stadium’s south end (along with a good selection of craft beer from the eponymous Colorado brewery). The Rapids serve Coca-Cola products in plastic bottles for those eschewing alcohol for aspartame and sugar. Additionally, a small food truck area is just outside Dale’s Bar, with a projection screen TV and picnic tables. All in all, DSG Park’s menu is about what you’d expect to find at an MLS venue. Atmosphere 2 DSG Park has entrances on the east, south, and west sides. Just inside, the concourse encircles the seating bowl below. Sight lines are good, as the facility was designed for watching soccer. Concourses are sufficiently wide to accommodate concession stand queues and fans finding their seats. The stadium’s primary video board sits above and behind the north goal. However, the picture is noticeably poor; several squares in the video screen appear to be broken. The public address system might also need an update because there are several locations around the stadium in which that system is inaudible. The stadium could use a new coat of paint in several conspicuous places, as well. The closer your seat to the centerline, the better. Corner seats do not offer good perspective when play happens at the far end of the pitch. Centennial 38 provides strong vocal and musical (drums and vuvuzelas) support. Visiting teams’ support groups take up the northwest corner of DSG Park, in Section 135. Neighborhood 1 The surrounding neighborhood has all the charm of a government campus – because that’s exactly what the surrounding neighborhood is. Commerce City’s town hall, fire department, and police station all sit just to the west of DSG Park, neighbored by the United States Postal Service’s Denver Bulk Mail Center. In other words, DSG has a great location for pulling a building permit, reporting a crime, or mailing merchandise catalogs, but not necessarily for a great fan experience. Additionally, 23 full-size soccer pitches surround DSG Park. These serve national soccer and lacrosse tournaments well but to the exclusion of restaurants and bars for pre- or post-game meetups. If the Rapids can properly develop some of the surrounding acreage and provide reasons for fans to come to games early and stay afterward, this rating will improve. Fans 2 The fans have stopped coming to DSG Park. In 2023, the Rapids ranked 28th out of 29 MLS teams in both average (15,409 per game) and total (261,953) attendance. Thus, only about 85.3 percent of the stadium is filled for the Rapids 17 home games. And when MLS enjoyed a 5 percent attendance jump from 2022 to 2023, the Rapids saw their home attendance remain flat. Nonetheless, true dedication and a love of the beautiful sport still draw fans to DSG Park. Those in attendance are loud and enthusiastic. As Centennial 38’s open letter to KSE shows, the Rapids’ fan base is a spirited yet disillusioned one. Without upgrades to DSG Park, the Rapids may well lose that fan base to apathy. Access 2 Because of DSG Park’s location, most fans coming from in and around Denver will take Interstate 270. By any reasonable estimation, I-270 is a pothole-pocked, concrete ribbon that was designed and built by a misanthropic public works department. It’s that bad. Parking is free – a good thing. But returning to the car after dark presents a challenge, as fans may have to navigate through unlighted fields. Much of the signage in and around DSG Park has faded in the Colorado wind and sun. Public transportation could be an option, albeit a limited one. The nearest bus stop is approximately one mile away, at 56th Avenue and Quebec Street. Using public transportation to make the 10.3-mile trip to DSG Park from the Capitol in downtown Denver takes almost 90 minutes because of transfers and lengthy walks. The Rapids do provide bike parking on the exterior of the stadium’s west side, in the Burgundy Bike Lot; however, only two bikes were parked there on a recent visit. A Rapids game at DSG Park requires both a ticket and an automobile. Return on Investment 4 Statistically, a Rapids game is one of the most affordable in the MLS. The Athletic’s 2022 MLS Fan Cost Index rated the Rapids as the league’s fifth-most affordable experience ($264.22), comparing the costs of four weighted, non-premium tickets, combined with the lowest stadium pricing for four sodas, four hot dogs, two beers, two supporter scarves, and parking. Only FC Dallas ($201.44), Orlando City ($251.14), Vancouver Whitecaps FC ($253.64), and CF Montreal ($261.54) were more affordable than the Rapids. Parking is free at DSG Park. So too are game programs. Hot dogs ($3), popcorn ($6), basic nachos ($3), and fries ($5) are surprisingly well priced. Premium beer cans, canned cocktails, and hard seltzer cans sell for $14. Domestic beer is $12 and wine is $10, while bottled soda is available for $5.50. Ticket prices average between $25-$39, a very good price range in the MLS. Extras 1 Check out the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, located just to the north of DSG Park. It’s a three-minute drive, just over a mile away. It’s also free. The 25 square-mile refuge has more than 330 species of wildlife that include bison, deer, black-tailed prairie dogs, and raptors (many of whom like to dine on black-tailed prairie dogs). An 11-mile paved loop enables visitors to enjoy the arsenal without having to leave their cars and expose themselves to aggressive bison. Final Thoughts Right now, Gertrude Stein’s “there is no there there” seems an apt description of DSG Park: a pitch, without much else. DSG Park has great potential. Realization of that potential will require a vision, time, and money. The Rapids’ ownership needs to give fans a reason besides a game to come to DSG Park.

Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Lynn Family Stadium is home to Louisville City FC in the USL Championship. The soccer-specific venue holds 11,700 and is expandable to 15,304. It is one of the bigger soccer-only stadiums in the league and has become one of the league's best places to watch a match. You can check out Stadium Journey's written review or enjoy the video of the game-day atmosphere. ------- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium 550 Taylor Ave Annapolis, MD 21401 Navy Midshipmen website Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium website Year Opened: 1959 Capacity: 34,000 Football In the Navy Few football programs in the college sports scene harken back to the old days of sports like Navy. Having been playing football since 1879, Navy’s football program is filled with history and pride. This is reflected in the pageantry of the game day experience at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. This facility is also home to the annual Military Bowl, and has hosted various other sports over the years, including soccer and lacrosse. Practically assembled via previous class donations, the stadium features numerous small touches of history and education about the school’s past, as well as America’s military history. And while it may lack the modern touches of other stadiums, this facility is one that is a must see for any college football fan. Food & Beverage 3 The food choices are solid enough for a sports stadium at Navy games. Beer prices are what would be expected, ranging from $9 to $11, with other beverages including coffee or hot cocoa ($4), bottled water ($6), and Gatorade or bottled soda ($6). Food options include hot dogs ($4), pretzels ($5), nachos ($6), popcorn ($5), candy ($3), and more. Burgers run $7 while sushi options, sub sandwiches, and wraps cost $8. The stadium even features a healthy food options booth, complete with veggie sticks ($2), kale chips ($2), and fruit cups ($8). Additionally, food trucks and pop-up vendors fill the area as well, including Chick-fil-A and others. The biggest downside to all of this is the crazy long lines that fill up and never seem to dwindle during games. Atmosphere 3 Navy-Marine Corps Stadium is a mixed bag in terms of the overall aesthetic. Opened in 1957 it has seen some updates, while also keeping some of its original character. The northwest end zone features general admission seating on a raised berm, as well as grassy areas for fans to watch from. These areas run all the way up to the end zone wall, meaning you can get close to the action, and usually feature kids and families. The northeast and southwest sidelines offer two-level seating, while the southeast end zone features a large scoreboard with limited end zone seating, as well as several multi-level suite boxes with viewing patios. The overall stadium itself is solid enough but lacks anything overwhelmingly modern. Restrooms are small, and the passages under the grandstands are equally as cramped when a full crowd tries to navigate them at the same time. Neighborhood 5 Annapolis, the state’s capitol, is a beautiful town located on the shores of the Severn River’s exit into the Chesapeake Bay. It is located almost equidistant from both Baltimore and Washington D.C., providing easy access to two major metropolitan cities full of shopping, dining, and major airports. The area around the stadium is quaint and features many historic sites, including the Maryland State House. Shopping and dining are plentiful downtown near the Annapolis waterfront area as well, and fans can find plenty to entertain themselves there. Fans 4 The fans at Navy football are unique – many of them are graduates, veterans, or their families. Of those, many have been coming to games for generations. But perhaps the most interesting aspect of Navy’s fans is the student section; over 4,000 current Navy students arrive in formation by division on the field before the game, dressed in full Navy uniform. Overall the fans here can be on the older side, but don’t make any mistake; these football faithful can be loud when the time comes for critical plays. Access 4 To get to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium you simply need to drive on US 50 from the DC area, or on I-97 to US 50 from the Baltimore Area; these two routes will both drop you steps from the stadium. Once you’re there, parking is plentiful – official stadium parking is $40 for pre-purchase or $50 on the day of, with numerous lots in the area ranging $20 and up. Signage in the stadium is plentiful as well, making it easy to get around and navigate the facility. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to Navy football games start at $25 for kids and $35 on the end zone grassy hill and for standing room only, then go up to $50 for reserved seats. Kids 2 and under are free for standing room only access as well. Couple this with the price of concessions and it is incredibly affordable for FBS college football, especially at a program as historic as Navy. Extras 4 The northwest end zone features the Navy goat statue as well as a memorial garden for the military, which showcases plaques and memorial statues from the Navy’s past. Also of interest is the Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet on display outside the stadium, which is a popular photo spot for fans. The field itself also pays homage to former star players, with yellow player numbers painted near their corresponding yard lines, and finally, the stadium’s ring of honor features historic and notable Navy battles instead of former player names like at other facilities. Final Thoughts The game day experience at Navy is incredible – the history of the program is evident from the moment you arrive at the stadium, and the pageantry is nothing short of college football greatness. While the stadium itself initially lacks anything aesthetically that really stands out, the small touches around the facility make up for that. With the location and affordability, it is easy to see why so many college football fans recommend going to Navy home games.

One of the most long-suffering fanbases can be found on the banks of Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio, and the citizens of Cleveland identify the most with the Cleveland Browns. A team deep in history, the Browns have had a rough go in their second incarnation, but what is a Browns game REALLY like? Grab a brew and join Paul and Dave for a trip to Cleveland Browns Stadium and the latest episode of Stadium Journey's Obstructed Views. 🏈🏈🏟️ You can find Stadium Journey's review of Cleveland Browns Stadium and the Cleveland Browns game day experience here.

Photos by Matt Finnigan, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Ed Robson Arena 820 N Nevada Ave Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Colorado College Tigers hockey website Ed Robson Arena website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 3,407 Worth the Wait: Ed Robson Arena The hockey team at Colorado College, located just north of downtown Colorado Springs, has a long, storied history. Since starting play in 1938, the Tigers have qualified for 20 NCAA Tournament Appearances and four NCAA Tournament Frozen Fours, winning national championships in 1950 and 1957. The program has produced two Hobey Baker Award winners, seven Olympians, and more than 40 players who later played in the National Hockey League. In the program’s 93 years, however, CC never played its home games on campus – or anywhere near it. From their inception in 1938 until 1994, the Tigers played their home games in a converted barn behind Colorado Springs’ renowned Broadmoor resort hotel, five miles southwest of campus, called the Broadmoor Ice Palace (later renamed the Broadmoor World Arena). The Tigers next played “home” games at the United States Air Force Academy’s Cadet Ice Arena, about 15 miles north of campus, between 1994 and 1998 during the construction of the program’s third home. That home was the World Arena (later renamed the Broadmoor World Arena after a sponsorship deal with the hotel), which opened before the 1998-99 season approximately six miles southeast of campus. Broadmoor World Arena II seated 7,750 and had an Olympic-sized rink (100 feet wide). This four-score-and-13-year itinerancy ended in the fall of 2021 when the Tigers moved into Ed Robson Arena on the CC campus. The arena is named for a former CC player who was granted leave from the United States Marine Corps to play hockey for the silver medal-winning United States at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Robson also donated $8 million for the construction of the building that now bears his name. Robson Arena occupies what was once a full city block just south of campus, across Cache la Poudre Street from the college’s South Hall dormitory and Nava Quad. Students can attend CC games simply by buying a student ticket and crossing the street. The $52 million structure also has a team shop, CC’s health services facilities, a campus mail center, classroom space, and an adjacent parking structure. Robson seats approximately 3,400 fans and is a long-overdue addition to CC’s beautiful campus. Food & Beverage 3 There’s nothing fancy about Robson Arena’s food and beverage offerings. Cheeseburgers, hot dogs, chicken strips, and fries are all available at the concession stands along with pretzels, nachos, candy, and drinks. Robson Arena is a Pepsi and Anheuser-Busch facility, with all soft drinks sold in plastic bottles and beer sold either in cans or on tap. Robson Arena’s best food can be easy to miss. Local ice cream shop Josh & John’s has a cart on the concourse in the arena’s southwest corner. There are five, hand-scooped flavors available for $5 apiece. Josh & John’s has even created a flavor, CC Tiger Stripe (golden yellow cake striped with brown sugar caramel), especially for games at Robson Arena. Atmosphere 4 Fans enter Robson Arena on ground level through the main entrance at the building’s northwest corner, located at the corner of Cache la Poudre and Tejon Streets. Once inside, fans can either visit the team store at ground level or proceed via stairs or a nearby elevator to the concourse level. Robson Arena’s concourse circles the rink, and is where concession stands and restrooms are located. The concourse is atop the seating bowl. Robson Arena is intelligently designed to create an excellent college hockey atmosphere. Its size harkens to the late, great AMC Pacer: small but roomy. There is not a bad seat in the house, all of them having unobstructed sightlines to the action. No seat is more than 10 rows from the ice. Robson is noticeably smaller than Broadmoor World Arena II. Robson seats 3,700 – approximately half of what BWAII seats. Fans at Robson sit much closer to the ice, creating an intimate feel that provides the Tigers with a profound home-ice advantage. Additionally, Robson has an NHL-sized rink, which is 85 feet wide – a 15-foot reduction from the Tigers’ rink at Broadmoor World Arena II. The seating bowl is steep, creating the feeling that the fans are on top of the ice. The new confines can be unfriendly for visiting teams. “The atmosphere is much better than their old rink,” the University of North Dakota defenseman Ethan Frisch told the Grand Forks Herald’s Brad Elliott Schlossman on December 11, 2021. CC has placed its student section behind the east goal, where the Tigers attack in the 1st and 3rd periods. Students fill the section and are engaged in the action, “welcoming” opponents during pregame warmups and calling attention to opponents’ misdeeds. The visiting team’s fans sit in Section 101. The building’s primary concession stand is on the south concourse with smaller concession stands in the northeast and northwest concourses. Club seating and the pressbox are a floor above the main concourse on the arena’s south side. The club level has its concession stand. Seats farthest from the ice might be the best in the house. The “Top Shelf” Bar Rail runs along the circumference of the concourse and sits at the top of each seating section, offering ticketholders a high-top table and chair, and unobstructed views of play. Some fans eschewed their chairs in favor of standing. This bar-style seating provides a surface to eat other than one’s ap. There are locations along the concourse for fans to stand while watching the game. The arena has a state-of-the-art sound system that hair metal bands and audiophiles will envy. With 103 speakers, the sound is crisp and clear. Sound can also be loud and startling, however, particularly during pregame player introductions. Fans with auditory sensitivities and those who just don’t like loud music will want to bring headphones or earplugs. A primary scoreboard with four-way, high-definition video screens (493,920 pixels) hangs over the center ice, adorned with CC’s new logo and branding. The video screens do not display any advanced statistics, just the score, time, period, shots on goal, and penalties. But the video display is as sharp as can be found at any venue. Smaller scoreboards have been placed on the walls behind each goal. Robson Arena’s north wall includes large exterior windows that provide natural light and, after sundown, an ethereal quality to the arena as car lights speed by outside on Cache la Poudre Street. Neighborhood 4 Robson Arena is located on the south edge of the 90-acre Colorado College campus, about a mile north of resurgent downtown Colorado Springs. The campus has several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail just west of campus. That 16-mile trail runs and connects with other trail systems. The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center is also part of the CC campus. Downtown Colorado Springs is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance, thanks in part to the “City for Champions” project that provided funding for the construction of several facilities (including funds to build Robson Arena). One of those is the new United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum, which has received high praise since opening in July 2020. The museum is across the street from another such facility: the 8,000-seat Weidner Field, home of the USL Championship’s Colorado Springs Switchbacks and host of the 2021 NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship. The United States Olympic Committee also moved downtown from its former offices at U.S. Olympic Training Center, east of downtown. There are non-sports-related reasons to visit downtown Colorado Springs, as well. Denver’s Tattered Cover bookstore will open a store in downtown Colorado Springs in 2022. Several new restaurants and shops have opened downtown, as well. Yet downtown still has well-established places to eat and drink, such as the Phantom Canyon Brewing Company and MacKenzie’s Chop House. Italian restaurant Panino’s is a short walk south of Robson Arena on Tejon Street, where CC hockey fans have flocked since 1991. Fans 5 Colorado College has a staunch following of fans who make the Robson Arena experience as good as it is. The Tigers opened the 2021-22 season with eight sellouts (and counting) during which fans have filled Robson’s seats. The best time to visit concession stands and restrooms is during play because fans stay in their seats to watch the game. Again, the student section keys the energy for the rest of the crowd. Access 3 Robson Arena is not difficult to find. From Interstate 25, take the Uintah Street exit and proceed east less than a mile to Nevada Avenue. Head south on Nevada; the arena sits at the corner of Nevada and Cache la Poudre Street. Fans can come to Robson on Mountain Metro’s No. 19 bus route, which travels north and south along Nevada and has a stop a few steps away from the arena at Nevada and Cache la Poudre. Because Robson is part of a college campus, plenty of bike racks are available within a short walk for those cycling to a game. Parking for Robson appears to be available only for pass holders. Fans without passes will not find open parking lots near the arena, perhaps because season ticket holders with parking passes account for a high percentage of Robson’s seats. Parking for a game at Robson is nonetheless easy. Metered and non-metered parking are on the streets to the east and south of Robson. Along Tejon Street, meters cost $1.25 per hour until 10:00 p.m. nightly. Once inside, fans have sufficient room to move and at no point does the arena feel claustrophobic. The concourse is wide enough for fans to congregate without blocking anyone else. Wheelchair-accessible seating is located along the concourse, including from north to south along the center ice, and in the northeast and northwest corners. Return on Investment 2 Robson’s small size cuts two ways. On one hand, it allows fans to sit near the ice to create an intimidating atmosphere for visitors. On the other hand, tickets can be hard to come by, triggering a real-life example of supply and demand. Ticket prices for a recent, Friday night game against perennial power North Dakota ranged from $48 in a corner to $163 for a seat six rows above one of the blue lines. Those prices will likely fall as Robson ages. But tickets will certainly be at a premium when the Tigers are winning or hosting rivals – both of which occur regularly. Food and drink prices align with other college hockey venues. Hot dogs ($5), nachos ($6), pizza slices ($6 for pepperoni, $5 for cheese), fries ($3), and pretzels ($5) are all sold at the arena’s primary concession stand. Robson Arena is a Pepsi facility, with soda and water selling for $4 a bottle. These prices are right in line with other collegiate rinks. Extras 3 Robson Arena’s design merits an additional point. Its smaller size puts fans surprisingly close to the ice without compromising sightlines. This enables the CC faithful to provide a significant jolt of energy to what happens on the ice. A point also goes to the Tigers’ mascot, RoCCy, for not only being a great skater but an adept stick handler. Roy demonstrated serious skill while assisting during a recent teddy bear toss for charity. Josh & John’s ice cream earns a point for creating a flavor specifically for CC and selling it at Robson. All the better is that it’s quite tasty. Final Thoughts College sports are at their best with student support and involvement. For almost a century, CC has had one of college hockey’s premier programs. Students can now enjoy that program’s games without having to arrange travel to other parts of Colorado Springs. It took the Tigers a long time to bring their games onto campus and they now have a sparkling new home that certainly belongs in any mention of college hockey’s finest home facilities. ------ Follow Matt Finnigan’s stadium journeys on Twitter @mattfinniganco.

Photos by Meg Minard , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Broadmoor World Arena 3185 Venetucci Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Colorado College Tigers hockey website Broadmoor World Arena website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 7,750 The World Arena Editors Note: The Colorado College Tigers hockey team moved into the brand new Ed Robson Arena in 2021. --- The Colorado College men’s hockey team has a long standing winning tradition which is evident when stepping inside the World Arena. Yes, this arena is called the World Arena. When walking up to the main entrance, the design and logo makes you feel as if you are walking to an arena in a science fiction movie. The Tigers hockey team has won two national titles. They have ten Frozen Four appearances as well as 20 NCAA Tournament appearances. They have produced two Hobey Baker winners as well as a bunch of NHL players. Colorado College plays in the newly formed National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The Colorado College Tigers played their first game in 1938 at the Broadmoor Ice Palace (later called the Broadmoor World Arena). In 1951, Colorado College became one of the original members of the Mid-West Collegiate Hockey League, now known as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association – WCHA, an NCAA Division 1 conference. In 1998, the Tigers moved into the brand new World Arena in Colorado Springs, CO. The Colorado Springs World Arena is a premier sports and entertainment venue in the Pikes Peak region. It holds 7,343 permanent seats for ice hockey. In addition to being the home of the Tigers, it also provides a venue for concerts, musicals, Harlem Globe Trotters, Disney on Ice, and the like. Food & Beverage 5 Although the World Arena counts Colorado College as a main tenant, you can tell that it is a regional arena. One major piece of evidence supporting this is the amount of food and beverage selections here. The arena has two bars: The Arena Bar and the Ice House. It has three separate Food Action Stations’ appropriately numbered 1, 2, and 3. One serves Asian, the second Italian, and the third BBQ (prices range from $5 – $10 depending on whether kid sizes are ordered or if one doubles-up the size). The favorite seems to be #3 BBQ the Smokehouse. Besides that there is the Top Dog (burgers, brats), Habanero’s (southwestern), Bella Forno’s (wood paddle pizza and sandwiches) lining the concourse ranging from $4 to $10, depending on what you order. On this night I had the Broadmoor World Arena brunch burger. This massive burger includes an egg, bacon, avocado, cheddar cheese and sauce for $8 dollars. It was well worth it. Not all burgers come with fries however. There is a grilled cheese station that is a unique touch that isn’t seen at many stadiums. A basic grilled cheese cost five dollars or for two dollars more, fans can have a premium sandwich with toppings. Top it off with a three dollar cup of tomato soup and you leave feeling like you came in from a cold day to warm up. I was surprised to see beer and alcohol offered here but that seems to be the theme for most Colorado venues. There is a big number of different micro brews found along the concourse (many local to Colorado): Bristol Brewing Company (the brewery is just 2 miles from arena), Laughing Dog (Ponderay, ID), New Belgium (Ft Collins, CO) and others. Mainstays such as Bud and Bud Light can be found as well. Atmosphere 4 On the outside of the arena, there are many benches in which to sit and wait for friends or for the gates to open. The unique quality of these benches is they are pieces of art with the artists name displayed on a post next to the bench. They include a Zamboni, hockey pucks, a goaltender, a mountain range, etc. All are built with a different medium (tiles, wood, metal, tubes, etc.). The Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame is located on the concourse. It contains close to 100 plaques honoring individuals and teams who have been from or associated with Colorado who have demonstrated strong community presence and/or outstanding athleticism or coaching. Plaques include the 1980 US Olympic Ice Hockey team, Alan Cockrell (Colorado Springs Sky Sox), Judy Bell (Women’s golf), Pete Susemihl (lead in the effort of getting World Arena built), and many, many more. There are also showcases of the Colorado College Tigers trophies, team photos, and programs from throughout its existence. This is a must see for college hockey fans. I like the programs and trophies dating from the 40’s and 50’s. Once inside the seating area, you will see a bunch of yellow championship banners. The amount of banners hanging is a good nod to the long standing Tiger hockey history. I am impressed by the out of town scoreboards and how fast they update the games. I was following my favorite team online that night and the scoreboard was keeping up. Neighborhood 4 There is a Hampton Inn & Suites across the parking lot, a LaQuinta, Fairfield Inn and Suites, and a Residence Inn all within walking distance (less than 1/2 mile) from the arena. There are plenty of chain restaurants within walking distance of the arena including Chili’s, Fazoli’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Outback, Carrabba’s, etc. There are lots of options for pre or postgame meals. I have learned that you can get a parking pass, leave, and come back and they won’t double charge you. While this may not be convenient, I did it on this night due to the amount of restaurants nearby. Getting a good parking spot and walking to a restaurant is ideal although the lot is fenced in so you have to be paying attention to where the pedestrian exits are. The Bristol Brewing Company is located 2 miles north on I-25 and is a local micro brewery in Colorado Springs. Their facility does not serve food. It has a table-shuffleboard, a bar, several counters with stools for conversing with friends and a few TV’s w/sports events displayed. It was quite crowded two hours before the game I attended at World Arena. The website does state it closes at 9pm so it may be a place to visit pre game. And, there is nothing like driving down and around Colorado Springs and seeing the Rocky Mountains. There is a superb view of Cheyenne Mountain from the stadium entrance. Fans 3 Colorado College is among the college hockey leaders in attendance most years and has averaged over 6,000 fans for the past few seasons. The fans seem into the game and knowledgeable. Lots of standing up and cheering when the team is announced; a certain choreographed display of clapping and pointing the arm celebration after each goal; one section would yell ‘Go’ – across the ice the other section would yell ‘Tigers’ with no prompting from the video board or PA announcer. For the most part, fans are into the game and only leave and return to their seats during stoppage of play (a pleasant surprise). I did find the fans to be somewhat quiet on this night. Maybe it was due to a weak opponent but it didn’t seem like a college hockey atmosphere that I am used to in the Midwest. I would rather see a pep band here playing more so than piped-in music. Loud arena music seemed to hurt any momentum that the fans would have from chanting or cheering. Seemed more like a minor league hockey crowd then a college hockey crowd. Access 5 World Arena is right off the I-25 interstate. There is plenty of parking at the arena itself ($5). Traffic flows nicely and directions to the parking lot are well marked. The arena is located just off of a busy commercial strip but traffic is rarely a problem before or after a game. There are some buses that go to this area as well if you are a fan of mass transit. Return on Investment 4 The food prices here are fair as are the ticket prices. Tickets range from $15-$40 dollars. There doesn’t seem to be many obstructed or bad seats in the building. On this night, I had a first row seat in a corner on the lower level. The view was great and there was plenty of leg room. I sat in the upper deck for half a period and it was a decent view. The seating pitch is high enough where you won’t have any issues seeing over people in front of you. Extras 4 The history displayed inside the arena as well as on the concourses deserves extra points. The amount of places to eat or stay within a block or so of the arena is worth another bonus point. Roster sheets are plentiful and there are plenty of games and entertainment during stoppages. My favorite game is the chuck a puck. For $1, fans could buy a numbered foam puck to throw on the ice. Whoever is closest to the center wins a prize. Final Thoughts Going to the World Arena seems more like a minor league hockey experience rather than a collegiate hockey game. There is nothing wrong with this however as the building, food options, and other attributes here make it a worthy visit.

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 University of North Alabama Athletics and Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Braly Municipal Stadium 521 N. Royal Ave. Florence, AL 35632 North Alabama Lions website Braly Municipal Stadium website Year Opened: 1949 Capacity: 14,215 The Pride Of North Alabama The University of North Alabama (UNA) was founded in 1830. It is Alabama’s oldest public university. Today it has a student body of 9,500 students enrolled in more than 300 lines of study. Its largest majors include Nursing/ Health Professions, Music, Business, Computers/IT, Education, and Social Services. These programs are held on the 130-acre main campus in Florence, Alabama. The athletic teams at the university are known as the Lions. The football program at UNA has a very distinguished record during its more than 110 years of existence. It was a powerhouse in the Division II level of competition. It made it to the Division II playoffs 21 times and won three Division II National Championships (1993,1994, 1995). The Lions were the only Division II Championship team to ever visit the White House. In 2018, the school voted to move up to the FCS level of competition. They played the 2018 season as an independent. In 2019 the university joined the Big South Conference in football only. The other sports at UNA play in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The football program became eligible for conference championships as of the 2022 football season. The home of the Lions is the 14,215-seat Braly Municipal Stadium. It opened in 1949. The stadium is named for Thomas Braly, a local coach and school administrator in the area for many years. The stadium is located just a few blocks from the University of North Alabama. The stadium is owned and managed by the Florence, Alabama City School District. The stadium is used by both the UNA Lions and the Florence Falcons High School football programs. Food & Beverage 2 The concession stands at Braly Stadium are located on the concourse beneath the grandstands on both sides of the field. No alcohol can be sold in the stadium as the facility is run by the school system. The offerings are what you would expect in a stadium run by the school board. In other words, your typical stadium basics. They have hot dogs, nachos, candy, popcorn, and pretzels. Bottled water and Coca-Cola brand sodas are also on the menu. Atmosphere 3 Braly Stadium is a functional stadium that will not overwhelm you. It was designed in an era when the “extras” were not even dreamed of. World War II had just ended and just going to a college or high school football game was considered a luxury. The stadium has seating on either side of the field, with the home side being much taller and having much more capacity than the visitor’s side. For the most part, it is bench seating. Both the band and the student body members are sitting in the lower seats, with the alumni and Lions Athletic Club members sitting in the prime seatbacks along the fifty-yard line. There is a very impressive three-level press box atop the home seating area. It houses both the electronic and newspaper media. We can understand how this stadium kept the Division II Championship Game for so long, as it was one of the nicest press boxes we have seen. The press box also houses a hospitality room for members of the Lions Athletic Club. The field is used by multiple teams during the week since it is run by the local school system. Because of the heavy wear and tear, the school system has invested in a very state-of-the-art artificial turf surface. The stadium also has a very nice video board/scoreboard behind one of the end zones. Neighborhood 5 The University of North Alabama and Braly Stadium are located in Florence, Alabama. Florence is a city of 40,000 residents. It is located in an area known as “the Shoals.” The Shoals are a group of four small cities along the Tennessee River. Florence is the largest of these four cities and offers the most in the way of lodging, attractions, and restaurants. The Shoals were made famous by the music industry and what is called the “Muscle Shoals Sound.” This refers to the many recording studios that worked with many of the top singers in the music industry. Alabama, the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, and others all traveled to this small city to be a part of that sound. The Music Tour of the Shoals offers visits to the FAME Studio and the Muscle Shoals Sound studios. Another popular attraction is the W.C. Handy Birthplace and Museum/Library. He was known as the “King of the Blues.” The Helen Keller home is also open for visitors in nearby Tuscumbia. There are a surprising number of hotel choices in Florence. The closest ones to the stadium are the Hampton Inn Midtown and the Holiday Inn Express. Dining choices are also plentiful. The Marriott Shoals 360 Degree Grille offers a 360-degree view of the Tennessee River and the surrounding area from its perch atop the local Marriott Hotel. Barbeque is a way of life in these parts. We found Bunyan’s BBQ had us licking our fingers after we finished our ribs. Birdy’s Sports Grille is a great place to catch some of the late games on their multiple sets of TVs. Fans 5 The University of North Alabama has been blessed with one of the most loyal fan bases in the country. The Lions have an average attendance of 9,500. The team earned their loyalty long ago with the string of appearances in the Division II playoffs and National Championships. Now that the team has upped its game in the FCS level of play, the fans are even more enthused about the program. The Lion Athletic Club has seen its membership increase which helps with the expenses of playing at the FCS level, as there is a much greater expense due to travel. We also have to take our hats off to the cheer team, the ROAR dance team, and the UNA Pride of the Lions Band for keeping the energy going during the action and for providing a great pregame and halftime show. The University of North Alabama has some great athletic traditions. The first is Leo III, the live lion who lives in the George L. Carroll Lion Habitat on the UNA campus. His habitat includes rocks, a pond, and a stream with running water. Leo III has been recognized as the #1 Best Real Animal Mascot in College Football on several occasions. He is open for visitors from 8am-5pm on a daily basis. Another tradition is the Lion’s Pride Rock. This is a granite rock with the pawprint of Leo III impressed into it. The rock is placed in the end zone before each game so the team members can touch it for good luck in the game that follows. There are also several sets of lion statues on the UNA campus. The most impressive is the Pride of the Lions, which features an adult male and female lion with their cubs. One last tradition is the Victory Flame. It is on the UNA campus. After a Lions win, everybody goes over to the campus to watch the Flame be lit. Access 3 One of the main issues as far as access to Braly Stadium is its distance from almost any major city. UNA and Florence, Alabama are located in the northwest corner of the state of Alabama. It is quite a distance from any interstates as well. Florence is 118 miles from Birmingham, 76 miles from Huntsville, and 127 miles from Nashville. The best route from I-65 is as follows: From Birmingham: Take I-65 North to exit 310. Go right on AL-157. Turn right at Huntsville Road (County Road 32). At the roundabout take the first exit for Royal Avenue. Stay on Royal Avenue until you reach Stadium Drive and Braly Stadium. Parking near Braly Stadium can also be difficult on game days. You can prepay for a space, but getting to it can be an issue. We strongly urge fans to park at the UNA campus and take the free shuttle bus to the game. The buses run continuously throughout the game, so you should not have a long wait for the next bus. Parking is free and plentiful on the campus. Return on Investment 3 Braly Stadium offers tickets at several price points depending on where you want to sit at the stadium. The visitors stand's seats are all priced as General Admission, which is $12 on both sides of the field. The home side of the field has a much larger grandstand and charges by location. The Outer Bench seats are along the 20-yard lines at the bottom of the grandstand and are $20. The Prime Bench seats are along the 40-yard lines are low in the grandstand and cost $25. The most expensive seats are designated for Lion Athletic Club members and cost $50. The $50 also covers perks like seatbacks rather than bench seating, preferred parking near the stadium, and access to the Grady Liles Hospitality Room at Braly Stadium. Parking at Braly Stadium is $12. We strongly urge you to prepay to get a spot anywhere close to the stadium. Better yet, park at the UNA campus for free and ride the free shuttle to the games. The concession stand prices at Braly Stadium are very reasonable. However, the number of menu items is very limited. Extras 4 George “Goober” Lindsey from the Andy Griffith TV show played quarterback for the University of North Alabama. He is now a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. The University of North Alabama has begun raising funds to build a new, on-campus stadium. This project is known as the Bank Independent Stadium project. This project is very important for the school, as Braly Stadium is 74 years old and lacks many of the amenities found in modern stadiums. The new stadium would also be managed by the university rather than the school board, giving the college much more flexibility in scheduling events and offering more perks to major donors to the school. The design phase for the new stadium got underway in 2023 and the school hopes to be in a new facility by the 2026-2027 school year. Braly Stadium hosted the Division III National Championship football game from 1986 to 2013. This allowed the Lions to win all three of their National Football Championships on their home field. Harlon Hill was a star football player for the Lions. He went on to a long career in the NFL, where he was the NFL Rookie of the Year and the MVP, while he played for the Chicago Bears. The Harlon Hill Trophy is awarded to the top player in the Division II level of competition each year. It is the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy that is given at the FBS level of play. The University of North Alabama football program was the first school in Alabama to integrate its team in 1968. Final Thoughts The University of North Alabama is thrilled to be an FCS-level school, as they were a dominant program at the Division II level. For now, their longtime home at Braly Stadium provides an adequate facility. However, the future for Lions football is bright, as a new on-campus stadium is in the design phase of planning.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Swenson Athletic Complex 325 Plymouth St. Bridgewater, MA 02324 Bridgewater State Bears football website Swenson Athletic Complex website Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 1,600 Bears of Bridgewater State Bridgewater State University is the largest of the nine state universities in Massachusetts. Founded as the Bridgewater Normal School in 1840, the school is still known for its education programs. Today, BSU has the largest enrollment of teacher education programs in the state. Its 11,000 students study in 108 majors in 30 academic departments. The Swenson Athletic Complex, home to the majority of Bridgewater State’s athletic teams, is named for Ed Swenson, who was the school’s athletic director from 1949 to 1977. He was instrumental in bringing football back to the school in 1960 after a 30-year absence. Mr. Swenson served as coach for the school’s football, soccer, and basketball teams at different times during his tenure. In 2023 Bridgewater State dedicated the football field in honor of Peter Mezzoferro, who coached the Bears football team from 1968 to 2004. Mr. Mezzoferro, who also served as an associate professor at the school, won 195 games during his time coaching at Bridgewater State. He was inducted into the BSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. The Bears currently compete in the MASCAC conference alongside several other teams in and around Massachusetts. Since their return in 1960, football teams representing BSU have qualified for four NCAA postseason tournaments and have played in seven postseason bowl games. Food & Beverage 2 The Bears Bites food truck is parked beyond the north end zone and provides food for hungry Bears fans during football games. A basic menu is offered, featuring hot dogs, burgers, chicken fingers, french fries, and nachos. If you need a snack during the game, they’ve got you covered. Long lines do form at halftime, so plan your visit wisely. The food truck offers cans of Pepsi products and bottles of water for thirsty Bears fans. There is a water fountain in the north end zone, which was a popular spot for fans to refill their water bottles on a warm fall day during Stadium Journey’s visit. Fans can bring in their beverages during a Bears football game. No alcohol is allowed at this on-campus facility. Atmosphere 3 The game day atmosphere at Bridgewater State University is pretty typical of the small schools throughout New England. It’s a laid-back way to spend a fall afternoon and take in some quality football with friends and family. BSU does its best to make the experience a positive one. The school’s cheerleaders, pep band, and dance squads are present and perform throughout the game. The sound system is excellent if turned up a bit too loud. The PA announcer leans into his work with a stereotypical “announcer voice.” He may be a bit over the top but does a good job of providing game information and hyping up the home fans. The game day crew does a good job integrating music into the game day presentation. A small scoreboard in the south end zone provides basic game information. For a small facility playing Division III football, there’s a nice tailgating scene here in Bridgewater. Many fans have setups in the parking lot adjacent to the football field, where they arrive early and fire up the grill before the game. Neighborhood 3 The Swenson Athletic complex is located about a mile from Bridgewater Central Square, which is where you’ll find most of the action in this small town. Visitors looking for a place to eat before or after the game will notice most of the choices in the area are fast-food chains. Locals recommend a stop at Barret’s Ale House, Emma’s Pizza, or the local outpost of 99 Restaurant as the best choices near campus. Stadium Journey recommends Gonzalez House Mexican Restaurant as a hidden local gem worthy of a visit. There are no lodging options in the immediate area around campus. Visitors will have to check out the areas by Route 24 or Interstate 495 for places to stay. Fans visiting Bridgewater from out of town will likely want to continue to Boston, located 30 miles to the north, or Cape Cod, about 30 miles to the southeast, for more points of interest, dining, and lodging options. Also located nearby are the coastal towns of Plymouth and New Bedford. Fans 3 Bridgewater State enjoys good support from the locals at football games. The bleachers at the Swenson Complex seat 1,600 fans, and they are more than halfway filled for Bears games. Many of the fans in the stands have a personal connection with the players on the field and are knowledgeable about the game and vocal in their support of the home team. With the compact geographic footprint of the MASCAC conference, it’s not unusual to see a lot of visiting fans in the stands as well. While the fans are passionate in their support of the home (and visiting) team, this is not a rowdy atmosphere or a place where you’d feel uncomfortable sporting the visiting team’s colors. Access 3 Mezzoferro Field is part of the Swenson Athletic complex, located at the northern edge of the sprawling Bridgewater State University campus. Also located here is the Tinsley Center , home of the school’s basketball and volleyball teams, as well as the Alumni Field baseball and softball fields. Mezzoferro Field also serves as home to BSU’s soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey teams. It’s a busy place. The town of Bridgewater has a population of about 29,000 residents. It’s located in southeastern Massachusetts about 30 miles south of Boston. It is accessible via Route 24, which runs north-south from Randolph to Fall River, and Interstate 495, which loops around Boston. The BSU campus is located approximately five miles from the interstate via busy local streets. The Swenson Complex is located directly off Route 104 (Plymouth St.), about a mile from the Bridgewater Central Square. There is a small parking lot adjacent to the field as well as an ancillary lot a short walk from the stadium. On-street parking is not available in the area, but these two lots provide enough parking for all fans. Seating is located on a single large grandstand located on the west side of the field. Metal bleachers provide general admission seating while reserved seating in the center sections consists of individual molded plastic seats. There is a track that surrounds the field and pushes the grandstand further from the action. Fans wanting to stand while taking in the action will find plenty of standing room around the facility. Restrooms are available in the field house beyond the north end zone. They are new and clean, just time your visit wisely, as lines form at halftime. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to a Bridgewater State University football game are sold as general admission tickets for 8 dollars. Fans wishing a reserved seat in the midfield sections can purchase those seats for 11 dollars. Parking is free in the lots near the stadium and concessions are reasonably priced. An afternoon at Mezzoferro Field is an affordable entertainment option for local sports fans. Extras 1 There’s very little going on at BSU that can be considered extra. The team does give out nice programs, which contain a lot of information about the program and its history. There’s an oversized Adirondack chair in the north end zone for photo ops. Final Thoughts If you’re looking for a good way to spend a lovely fall Saturday afternoon in New England, you can do a lot worse than spending a few hours at one of the many small college football stadiums in the area. Mezzoferro Field at the Swenson Athletic Complex in Bridgewater is a fine example of how the dedicated people in these athletic departments put on an affordable, fun afternoon of quality football far from the limelight of big-time college sports. ----- Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Louisburg High School Stadium 201 Allen Dr Louisburg, NC 27549 Louisburg Hurricanes website Louisburg High School Stadium website Junior College Football NC The Louisburg College Hurricanes participate in college football’s National Junior College Athletics Association, and play their home games at Louisburg High School Stadium on the campus of Louisburg Magnet High School – the high school is a mile or two down the road from LC’s campus. Food & Beverage 3 There is a concession stand next to the main grandstand, which sells a small variety of items but at great prices – beverages, packaged candy, and hot dogs (with or without chili) run just $2, or you can get nachos and pizza slices for a dollar or two more. The quality is great for the price, so any of these options represent a great value, especially the hot dogs, which are the Bright Leaf red variety popular in eastern NC. Atmosphere 2 The Hurricanes have cheerleaders on site but no mascot or band, although they do play big band music through the loudspeakers at the expected times during the game. The PA announcer is also very lively and does a great job calling the game, ramping up the crowd during opposing third downs and after big plays by the Canes. Neighborhood 2 There is not much in the vicinity of the high school, but if you go a few miles down the road you can find a few restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, and the like. Depending on where you are coming from, however, you could drive for miles down country highways without seeing any place to stop for gas or a bite to eat. Louisburg College’s campus is on Main Street in Louisburg, just a mile or two down the road from the high school, and is closer to the town’s main shopping areas than the high school is. Fans 2 Not too many fans show up to Hurricanes football games, even during homecoming weekend, which is a bit disappointing. That said you won’t see the stands looking very full, although the fans who are there seem to know the players personally – you’ll hear a lot of fans yelling out encouragement to specific players by name; presumably, they are friends or family members of the player. The visiting side is even more sparsely populated than the home side, but that could be because of the particular visiting team that I saw the last time I visited. Access 4 Except for the rural location, getting to Louisburg High School Stadium is simple enough, as the high school is just off Main Street, the main thoroughfare through town. The football stadium is behind the practice field, so once you turn onto Allen Drive be sure to keep going – don’t be alarmed by the lack of attendance at the first football field you pass, which is the aforementioned practice field. There is no re-entry at the facility, but there are bathrooms right next to the main entrance on the home side (there are no bathrooms on the visiting side). The concessions line and line at the team gear stand are also both pretty quick to get through. Return on Investment 3 Concessions are very inexpensive, and parking is free right next to the field – even if you get there late there should still be a few parking spaces available. Admission to the game itself is $10 per person, and there are no actual tickets – you just pay as you walk through the gate (this is likely why they have no re-entry, as there is no way for you to prove you paid since you are given no ticket). $10 is probably reasonable for this level of football, although I have seen higher-level football schools like D2 and D3 charge less, so ten bucks may be on the high side. That said, seeing a Louisburg Hurricanes game might be a good way to spend a Saturday, but be warned there are not many bells and whistles at this venue. Extras 2 Late in the game, you can buy whole pizzas from the concessions stand for $8 (assuming they haven’t run out yet). They also let you bring umbrellas into the stadium, which many facilities do not allow – that is a nice boon, especially during particular sunny or rainy days.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 AT&T Center 1 AT&T Center Pkwy San Antonio, TX 78219 AT&T Center website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 16,151 Rampage Rock at AT&T Center Editors Note: In 2020, the Rampage was sold to the Vegas Golden Knights and relocated as the Henderson Silver Knights. --- The 2019-20 season marks the 25th anniversary of the debut of professional ice hockey in the city of San Antonio. Though the San Antonio Iguanas, the city’s original franchise, are long gone, their spiritual successor is thriving in their place. Owned and operated by Spurs Sports & Entertainment, the San Antonio Rampage moved into their shared home at A&T Center the season it opened (2002). In that time the Rampage has been the farm team of multiple NHL franchises, and are currently affiliated with the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. While the Rampage have yet to compete for a Calder Cup in the AHL, they have taken home a Division title in 2014-15. And while it may not appear on paper as a hockey town because of all of the transplants, San Antonio has built a rep as one of the best places to catch a game in the AHL. Food & Beverage 4 In 2015 AT&T Center underwent a face lift, of sorts. One of the areas in which upgrades were done was the concessions scene in the arena. One of the highlights of this renovation was the addition of the Rock & Brews pub on the main concourse. Created by KISS legends Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, this has proved to be one of the most popular spots in the arena. With a bevy of beer options and unique sandwich and burger choices ensconced in a myriad of TVs playing 80s music videos, Rock & Brews is hopping before and during Rampage games. While many of the standalone kiosks are closed during Rampage games, there are still tons of options throughout the arena. There is a full-service Whataburger and Taco Bell on the main level, as well as Pizza Hut locations that offer their signature personal-pan pizzas. There are also numerous stands offering traditional stadium fare and Texas-centric fare (e.g. street tacos, brisket sandwiches, and Frito pie). Throughout the season the Rampage have $1 beer and soft drink nights on Fridays. They also have special food and drink discount nights throughout the year; make sure you check their promotional calendar for these special nights. Atmosphere 4 AT&T Center might have equally as good a setup to watch hockey as it does for basketball – the sight lines are perfectly suited for the action on a hockey rink. Also, during Rampage games much of the upper bowl is blocked off, adding even more intimacy, crowd noise, and energy to the festivities. A lot of work was put into the overall arena itself to make it fan-friendly. Before games, upwards of two to three hours before, in fact, the Bud Light Courtyard on the patio of Rock & Brews is hopping with live music, games, and often live radio broadcasts. Make sure to hit the game early and check this area out. Throughout AT&T Center, in addition to tons of reminders of the success of the buildings main tenants, there is a ton of unique art sprinkled on the walls of each concourse level. Also, make sure to hit up the main apparel store; they offer a lot of unique Rampage paraphernalia to get you geared up for games at A&T Center. Neighborhood 3 San Antonio is one of the premier tourist destinations in the country; it has temperate weather for much of the year (it honestly does get unbearably hot from June through much of September though) and there are lots of family friendly entertainment options. That being said, you won’t find much to do in the area immediately surrounding AT&T Center. The venue is in a more industrial section of the city, however, thanks to the miracle of the interstate highway system, you can be anywhere in the city within 10-15 minutes after Rampage games. The two main arteries that run parallel to AT&T Center, I-10 and 1-35, will both take visitors to San Antonio’s famed downtown area. Here you will find many of the great tourist attractions the city has become famous for. A couple of attractions that aren’t at the immediate top of every visitor’s to-do list that should be are Historic Market Square and the Briscoe Western Art Museum. Market Square offers visitors a chance to do some shopping in a historic area of the city – there’s probably no better place to pick up that unique San Antonio souvenir than this place; hundreds of artisans and vendors fill the area and offer bespoke items at reasonable prices. Market Square is also home to one of the best Tex-Mex spots in town, La Margarita, and the aforementioned Briscoe is exactly what its name implies: a premiere Western art museum with a collection of items in the hundreds. Make sure to visit and walk off some of that great Mexican food you just downed at La Margarita. Fans 3 It has taken awhile, which is understandable given the lack of a foundation in the sport, but San Antonio has become a pretty good hockey town. The team has averaged just about 7,000 fans per game since their existence began, which is pretty good for minor league sports in a city as large as San Antonio. Because so many people move to the Alamo City from outside of the state, there is an automatically built in audience for hockey which has helped the native fans learn and grow accustomed to Canada’s national sport. You will see a ton of Rampage sweaters in the stands. and those who cheer on the Rampage cheer on vociferously. Access 3 Two major highways parallel AT&T Center, and they can get you from any point in the city. If you’re coming from San Antonio International Airport it’s about a 20-minute drive, based on traffic, while from downtown you can expect about 15 minutes. Once on site, parking is plentiful for Rampage games. It will cost you $8 to park in the lots on site, but there are often parking options at the neighboring houses and businesses during the season, and there is also a public transportation option (VIA Metropolitan Transit) if you choose not to drive. Return on Investment 3 Individual game tickets for the Rampage cost $20 per person, which is a pretty good bargain, and they also frequently offer specials for games during the week which have discounted ticket prices. The concessions costs don’t really come down from what they are during Spurs games, but you can still get a pretty good deal at vendors like Whataburger, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. And as a plus, the parking costs are quite a bargain from what they are when the NBA is in town. The AHL is the direct minor league to the NHL so you will often see high draft picks, journeyman veterans, and players rehabbing. What this means is you’ll often get a chance to see some top talent at Rampage games for bargain-level prices. Plus, hockey in person is a blast and has to be experienced at least once in your sports viewing life – Rampage games would give you a great entry into the sport at a top notch facility. Extras 2 There isn’t much in the way of extras at Rampage games, but they do frequently have promotional nights; Pink the Rink night is always a popular one. Rampage fans can also count on the team’s mascot, T-Bone, to lead them in cheers, pound the glass, and roam the stands during contests or for photo ops. During the 2018-19 season, the Rampage unveiled a unique new marketing campaign; on select nights the team embraces the Hispanic roots of their home town and become Los Chimuelos de San Antonio. Liberally translated as “toothless ones” (totally befitting of a hockey team), the promotion proved to be a big hit with fans, so the staff will be bringing it back again this year. Final Thoughts Hockey is a great sport to watch in person. I can’t say I’ve been to a ton of other hockey venues, but I have found few to match what AT&T Center has to offer in terms of in-game experience for fans. Going to Rampage games is a great way to introduce new fans, young and old, to the sport of hockey, and it is also a great way for hockey junkies to more than satisfy their cravings. AT&T Center continues to be head and shoulders the best venue for sports in South Texas, and I think anyone who catches a Rampage game will agree. Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477. Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Flora-Bama Beach Bar 17401 Perdido Key Dr. Pensacola, FL 32507 Flora-Bama Beach Bar website Bulls on the Beach website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 3,000 Bulls on the Beach A Rodeo at the World's Most Famous Beachside Honky Tonk Kenny Chesney once wrote "Sitting here at the Flora-Bama, 'bout to open a big old can of good times and unwind". You can't find more fitting lyrics – just ask anyone who's ever visited the place. The place goes by many nicknames, such as "The World's Most Famous Beach Bar" and "America's Last Roadhouse" just to name a few. It is a place where you will find millionaires and famous athletes having a cold one with the everyday joe; it is a place where time is almost forgotten, where you can forget about your worries while sipping on a bushwhacker and looking out over into the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There is a reason why everyone from the Mannings, Toby Keith, Jimmy Buffett, and even “The Pirate” himself, the late Mike Leach, have made the venture to the hidden beach bar on a secluded beach paradise that straddles the Florida-Alabama line. Flora-Bama originally opened in 1964 and is technically on an island; the lush Perdido Key. Florida occupies about 80% of the island while Alabama occupies the other 20%. When a bridge and highway opened on the island in the early 60s Flora-Bama opened as a small liquor store right on the state line, but on the Florida side as the Alabama county was dry at the time. Due to development on Perdido Key and in neighboring Orange Beach/Gulf Shores, however, the small store grew into what it is today. After over 50 years and being destroyed by countless hurricanes, Flora-Bama has evolved into two stories with five stages for live music, four main bars, and three restaurants, with a personality that remains unmatched by any other watering hole in the world. In addition to the live music to be found 7 nights a week, Flora-Bama is also known for its wide and eccentric events; you name it, Flora-Bama has hosted it – everything from the Polar Bear Dip on New Year's Day to the Interstate Mullet Toss, where thousands of people have a competition to see who can throw a dead fish the furthest over the state line. Then in 2013, Flora-Bama began hosting its newest annual event, the Bulls on the Beach Rodeo. Partnering with 3R Rodeo Company, every September they construct a temporary rodeo arena right on the sand just steps from the ocean. Some of the best cowboys in the southeast come to the beach and saddle up for the Bulls on the Beach Rodeo. Food & Beverage 4 There are no concessions around the temporary rodeo arena – you are given a wristband and are then free to come and go inside the bar and rodeo arena. There are three full-service restaurants inside Flora-Bama, with plenty of food options for you to choose from. The Oyster Bar is the closest to the rodeo arena and features picnic tables and big-screen TVs, all with a delicious menu of burgers, wraps, fried shrimp, and a beachfront oyster bar. The famous 15-foot-high Flora-Bama rocking chair is in the Oyster Bar area and makes for a great photo op. Also, make sure you grab a famous bushwhacker while you’re here; the Bushwhacker is an island drink, and Flora-Bama is known for making some of the best bushwhackers in the world. In addition, if you aren't able to get a ticket to the rodeo they live stream it on a big screen TV from the Oyster Bar. Flora-Bama’s property also extends across the street to the bayside and features two full-service restaurants over there as well – Yacht Club and Ole River Grill are on the north side of the property. The Ole River Grill is a sit-down style restaurant overlooking the Old River with a beautiful waterfront view, open-air deck, and fantastic seafood, burgers, and po-boys; the grill has something for everyone, while Flora-Bama Yacht Club is another restaurant located overlooking the Old River. You can come to the Yacht Club by boat as there is a place to dock boats, and there is also one of those floating boat bars you can take out to the many sandbars located on the river. There are also four bars on Flora-Bama’s property, so no matter what you like to drink you should be able to find it inside. My suggestion if you eat across the street at Ole River Grill or Yacht Club would be to visit before the rodeo starts, as it can be a pain walking across the street each time. Then if you must eat you can walk back and forth between the Oyster Bar and the rodeo arena. Atmosphere 4 The Bulls on the Beach is truly a one-of-a-kind event. Several different rodeos in the country claim they are a rodeo on the beach, but they just take place in beach towns and are located further inland. The Bulls on the Beach at Flora-Bama is the only rodeo in the country that takes place directly smack dab in the middle of the sand, just steps from one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the country, the Gulf of Mexico – they set metal bleachers up in an oval right on the beach, with temporary stables brought in and placed in Flora-Bama’s parking lot. Bulls on the Beach takes place over three nights and is always the second weekend in September, the first weekend of the off-season for the beach towns. The action kicks off each night at 8 p.m. beginning on Thursday; a country music act or local band usually puts on a concert before the rodeo begins each night. You'll get to see all the usual rodeo events here: bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, calf roping, bronc & team roping, and steer wrestling. They also showcase some of the local riders and junior riders who compete on the circuit. Rodeo clowns are also a constant presence interacting with the crowd, and the rodeo announcer does a great job interacting and joking with the clowns and the crowd. As the rodeo begins the sun is usually setting for the evening and you can't beat the view; lights illuminated around the temporary rodeo arena reflect off the water, as you see and feel the waves creeping onto shore as nightfall begins. In the distance, you'll see hundreds of lights of the high-rise condos as far as the eye can see, and in the background, you'll hear live music overlapping from the live bands or singer who occupies one of the many bars inside Flora-Bama at any given time. The rodeo action lasts about two hours, and you are free to come and go as you please – I saw people going back and forth between the rodeo arena to visit the bars and/or the beach. Neighborhood 5 This area of the Gulf Coast is a prime vacation destination for millions of people every year. Three coastal beach towns make up this area of the Coast: Perdido (FL), Orange Beach, and Gulf Shores. Flora-Bama is located on Perdido Key, which is the less developed of the three communities; miles of unprotected beach and wilderness make up about 70% of the island, while the other 30% is taken up by condos, each with their private beaches and amenities. Other than the live entertainment that takes place nightly at Flora-Bama, people love vacationing in Perdido due to its peace and tranquility, as the beaches aren't as crowded and loud as the neighboring beach towns. For things to do on this stretch of the island there are a few seafood restaurants located here – the Cobalt is located nearby and remains a popular but expensive place to get some of the best seafood in Alabama. Several other places are nearby as well, such as the more casual Crab Trap located about half a mile away, which has a cool little outdoor seating area right on the beach. The Jellyfish remains another popular spot, as well as Lillian's Pizza offering the best pan pizzas in the area. There are also hundreds more restaurants located over the bridge headed west into Alabama (Gulf Shores and Orange Beach); there are too many to name, but the great thing about this area is you will not find any chain restaurants, just many local, mostly family-owned spots. You will find everything here from hole-in-the-wall seafood joints to five-star restaurants. Perdido is also a nature lover's destination – in the seclusion of the island you’ll find two State Parks, two championship golf courses, and a 7-mile undeveloped public beach. Perdido Key took a direct hit from Hurricane Sally in September 2020, so a lot of stuff is just being re-opened after three-plus years of closure. Big Lagoon State Park on the north side of Perdido is a perfect spot for camping or biking the many paved and off-road trails through the Florida marshland. You can even kayak in the Grande Lagoon, one of the only places in this area of Florida known to have manatees. If you're at Big Lagoon, make sure you climb the four-story observation tower for a view overlooking miles. In addition, Perdido Key State Park just re-opened, and features a public beach area with a visitor's center. Gulf State Park sits just over the bridge into Alabama and features over 30 miles of backwoods trails, with seven trails each through a different ecosystem and habitat of the Gulf Coast. Johnson Beach also makes for a great getaway if you want a beach to yourself for the day – 7 miles of undeveloped beachfront land await you on Johnson Beach. An abandoned Civil War fort called Fort McKree also sits at the far east tip of the island and makes for a great place to explore if you have a boat or kayak to get out there. You can rent boats, kayaks, or jet skis at Flora-Bama and go anywhere you want on the water. The two golf courses are some of the best around; Lost Key Golf Club is located on Perdido Key and was designed by Arnold Palmer. Lost Key features 18 holes around gorgeous dunes and the tall pines of the Island, while Perdido Bay Golf Club is located just over the bridge from Perdido, and was the former site of the PGA's Pensacola Open from 1978-1987. Fans 4 The temporary rodeo arena holds about 3,000 people and they sell out all three nights of the rodeo. Everyone from families and tourists to hardcore rodeo fans come out to Flora-Bama for Bulls on the Beach. What makes this rodeo stand out is that it is taking place on the beach, so, you'll encounter the regular rodeo crowd as well as people who just stumble upon Flora-Bama driving down the beach, and wonder what is going on. Flora-Bama also attracts a wide range of customers on a nightly basis, everyone from college kids to the older locals who've been coming here for years. A great place to watch the rodeo action is on the second-floor balcony that overlooks the rodeo arena. I saw a bunch of people up there watching the rodeo; on this balcony, you can get spectacular views of the rodeo arena, the beach, and the sunset. The event organizers also do a great job at making Bulls on the Beach a family-friendly event, although the inside of Flora-Bama can get a little too rowdy for some. Each of the bars has its particular theme, and on a Friday or Saturday you can see and hear some behavior that might be considered inappropriate from some of the people attending and the musicians playing – as long as you know that going in you should be all right; there is a reason Flora-Bama is 21 and over after 7 pm every night! But if you stick just to the rodeo, you shouldn't see any of the debauchery that goes on inside Flora-Bama. Access 2 There is no easy way to get to Flora-Bama; the bar is located at the extreme southern edge of Alabama and the far western point of Florida, and the coastal beach towns are not easy to get to either, as the closest interstate is I-10 about an hour away. If coming from Mobile take I-10 east for about 20 miles until you get to the Baldwin Beach Expressway at Exit 49 – you'll know you've reached the expressway when you see the giant Buc-ees, which makes for a great stop before you embark on the rural 30-mile road to the beach. Once on Highway 182, the main road that runs east and west along the beach, take it east over another bridge and you will see Flora-Bama on the right. Parking is across the street, and I recommend getting here early as the parking lot fills up quickly, and it can be almost impossible to find a spot after 5 p.m. The local condos will also tow your car if you park in their lots. There is also no public transportation in this area, so your only option is driving, though Uber or Lyft may be your best option for getting here. There are two separate entrances, one to the bar and one to the rodeo, and both of them back up the closer it gets to the dark. Get your rodeo seats early too, as they are all first come, first serve. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for Bulls on the Beach are $30 for general admission for each night's event, and you are free to sit anywhere in the grandstand. Tickets go on sale every year around July 4th and sell out rather quickly, so make sure you get your tickets early. I considered this a great event to attend just for its setting alone – nowhere else in the country will you experience a rodeo set-up like this on the beach, so you are coming to a one-of-a-kind event. You also just so happen to be at the world's most famous beach bar, and just being able to walk back and forth makes it well worth the return on investment. Extras 3 Bulls on the Beach is partnered with 3R Rodeo, one of the largest professional rodeo circuits in the southeast. 3R Rodeo is an affiliate of the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA), which is the second largest rodeo organization in the world; 3R is a feeder system for cowboys to move up to compete in IPRA. Also, a portion of the proceeds goes to St. Jude's Hospital each year. Even if you are not a big drinker, just do a walkthrough of Flora-Bama at some point while you’re here. The complex is huge and just looking at all the memorabilia on the walls, and the different musical acts, make it an interesting place, and you are bound to find something to pique your interest. As mentioned earlier Flora-Bama is home to a different event with something going on every night of the week – from bikini contests to fishing rodeos to golf tournaments and triathlons, Flora-Bama hosts it all. There's even stuff for all ages, such as the giant beach easter hunt egg hunt or the annual Santa Dip, where Santa Sky dives into Flora-Bama and takes a dip in the ocean. Kids come from all over to sit on Santa's lap from the comfort of his beach chair, and Flora-Bama even hosts a Sunday morning church service from under a tent on the beach. If you like the environment of Bulls on the Beach, then another event you must attend at Flora-Bama is the annual Interstate Mullet Toss. Held for three days every April, what started as just a reason to party has become one of the biggest beach parties anywhere, as over 30,000 attendees watch and/or participate in the throwing of a dead mullet across the state line to see who can throw it the farthest. We're referring to the fish, but you’ll find many people rocking the business-in-the-front-party-in-the-back hairstyle at the Mullet Toss. Hotel rooms are booked months in advance for this event, and for $20 anybody can participate and throw a fish. Awards and prizes are given as well, but mostly it's just an excuse for 30,000 people to have a beach party.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Ellen Ryan Field N Latchs Ln Merion Station, PA 19066 St. Joseph’s Hawks website Ellen Ryan Field's website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 200 The Hawckey Will Never Die Nestled among several other athletic fields on the Maguire Campus of St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, you will find Ellen Ryan Field, home of the Hawks' field hockey team. Since 2011, St. Joe's has played in this 200-seat stadium in Merlon Station, Pennsylvania, just west of the Philadelphia city line that runs right through the campus. The Hawks are the most successful field hockey team in recent years, winning all but one Atlantic 10 Conference title since 2016 and earning the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament each of those years. Food & Beverage 1 There is no concession stand at Ellen Ryan Field. However, when Stadium Journey visited, a local non-profit was selling apple cider for donations to their organization. There may be similar things at other games. Fans are also permitted to bring in their food and drink except alcohol, and many do. Atmosphere 3 Ellen Ryan Field has two small sets of bleachers, separated by a camera stand and media area. Most of the Hawks fans like to sit in the bleachers that are behind the home bench, while the visitors fans tend to sit on the side behind their team's bench. The stands are all very close to the action, although the camera tower can obstruct views in the corners. Seeing over the benches is no problem, however. Since the bleachers tend to fill up, many fans also stand along the chain-link fence surrounding the field or bring their chairs. If you do not arrive early enough, you will have no choice but to do this. Plan accordingly. St. Joseph's has a mascot known as The Hawk who will sometimes show up at games. The Hawk is famous for flapping his wings continuously throughout every game, never once stopping even for a moment. "The Hawk Will Never Die" is the motto of St. Joseph's athletics, and he certainly lives up to his billing. However, other than cheers from the crowd and the mascot's appearance, there is not much going on here besides the game. Even PA music can only occasionally be heard. This does mean you can hear much of what the players, coaches, and referees are shouting on the field, which some may appreciate. Neighborhood 4 Although St. Joseph's University is one of Philadelphia's Big 5 universities, Ellen Ryan Field is located on the Maguire campus in Merion Station, just over the city line from Philadelphia itself. St. Joseph's straddles the line between the two, with Ellen Ryan Field falling outside the city limits. Merion is considered part of Philadelphia's Main Line, a wealthy area on the west side of the city. Despite The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air giving West Philadelphia a bad rap (figuratively speaking - we have nothing against the theme song), this is one of the nicest parts of the area. You will find many restaurants and hotels along Route 1 (known as City Avenue as it passes by the stadium but several other names in different places) a short walk or drive from Ellen Ryan Field. You will find everything from pizza to Mexican to delis to classic Philadelphia cheesesteaks. It's a more suburban feel than downtown, but it's a nice enough place to hang out before or after a game. Fans 4 Although Ellen Ryan Field only seats 200 fans, the Hawks regularly exceed that capacity. The bleachers will be full and fans will line the chain-link fence around the field on all sides. Hawks flags fly from the top of the bleachers as fans urge their team to victory. While friends and family of the players make themselves known, they are not the only ones here by any means. St. Joseph's draws well for field hockey. Their on-field success and Hawk Will Never Die mantra have helped them build up a large fan base compared to most other teams in the sport, especially those outside the elite conferences. Access 3 The St. Joseph's campus is easily accessible from I-95 and I-76, and Route 1 runs right along the sideline of the field, so you should have no problems getting to campus. It's more of an issue of what to do when you get here. On weekends, parking is available on the Maguire Campus near McShain Hall for free, although it is not signed or advertised. On weekdays, you will need to pay to park in the Hawk's Landing Parking Garage on the nearby Hawk Hill campus and walk about half a mile. This will probably cost between $3 and $5 depending on how early you arrive and how long you stay after the game. Two single-person restrooms are located on the first floor of Connelly Hall behind the field, although this information isn't immediately clear either without asking. Return on Investment 5 There is no charge for admission to regular season games at Ellen Ryan Field, though the policy may vary for Atlantic 10 or NCAA postseason events. Parking is free on weekends if you know where to go, and even on weekdays, you won't end up paying too much. This makes a St. Joseph's field hockey game a great value. Extras 2 The legendary Hawk mascot is worthy of his star here. Look for the banners surrounding the field honoring St. Joseph's field hockey achievements. Final Thoughts Great sports experiences can be found in many places if you know where to look, and a St. Joseph's field hockey game at Ellen Ryan Field proves that to be the case. It is certainly not the most well-known sport or the most well-known venue, but with steady crowds, an intimate and tightly packed stadium, and a Hawk will never die mantra, it is well worth checking out a game of field hockey at St. Joseph's University.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field 2302 Phil George Drive San Angelo, TX 76909 Angelo State Rams website LeGrand Stadium website Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 5,670 Angelo State Rams – LeGrand Stadium Nestled on the banks of the flowing Concho River lies the West Texas city of San Angelo. The city, originally founded as a military town when the U.S. Army founded Fort Concho in the 1860s, is also home to Angelo State University and its athletics team, the Rams. Angelo State first fielded a football team in time for the 1964 season and competed for several years at the NAIA level before gradually moving up to their current level of Division II. Throughout their history, the Rams have found quite a bit of success, claiming the NAIA National Championship in 1978 as well as three conference titles. Since 2014 the Rams have called LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field their home. Built right on campus with the field sunk low below the bleachers, the stadium is state-of-the-art, with new field turf, a new press box, and new visitor bleachers. As the proverbial only game in town, the Rams have cultivated a pretty rabid fan base that shows out at LeGrand Stadium. Read on to learn what makes the stadium special. Food & Beverage 3 There are two main concession stands for fans at LeGrand Stadium. Both offer a sampling of your traditional game day fare including hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, bottled soft drinks, water, and energy drinks. What makes these true Texas concessions – and raises them above-average in my opinion – is the selling of Frito pies and hot links. I can think of nothing better to chow down on during a football game on a Saturday than either one, or both, of these favorites. You might need a helping of antacids afterward depending on your gastrointestinal fortitude, but I would recommend trying these for yourself if you’ve never partaken. Other offerings include a Bahama Buck’s shaved ice and snow-cones truck parked near the home team stands. These hit the spot during those early Saturdays on the schedule, where temps hover near triple digits. They are also perennial favorites for younger fans, while for older fans there are also two beer tents, one on each side of the stadium. Atmosphere 4 I’m a fan of the style of the stadium they have at Angelo State – there is something special to me about walking down into a stadium. Fans can watch the West Texas sunset and the moon rise from their seats. It’s a great environment and I think a great setting for football. Other areas of interest to take in include the statue of Dominic the Ram, the school’s first live mascot, which sits behind the end zone near the Angelo State athletics center. It is a mighty impressive sight to take in and, quite frankly, a great photo op for fans/visitors to the stadium. The ram seems to stand watch over the other special atmospheric feature, a battery of Civil War-era re-enactors from the nearby Fort Concho National Historic Landmark and their era-appropriate cannon. This massive beast fires off after every Rams score and it is a sight to behold – and to hear. Another spot to be on the lookout for is the team merchandise tent, adjacent to the home-side concessions stand. It offers all manner of Angelo State Rams memorabilia and apparel for fans. I will touch more on the fans in that section, but their involvement the entire time made the most recent game I attended a real treat. Neighborhood 3 The city of San Angelo is, as mentioned, one rich in history. As such there are quite a few points of interest for fans of Texas/Western/American/Military history. With that in mind, for history buffs, the remnants of the previously mentioned Fort Concho, Fort McKavett, and Fort Chadbourne are all within driving distance of downtown San Angelo. Other points of interest nearby include the International Waterlily Collection, which is the top tourist spot in the city. This vast collection of every known variety of waterlily is housed in a beautiful setting and is a great way to spend an afternoon walking, taking photos, or just learning about this exotic flora. Also, not to be missed is the San Angelo Riverwalk; this beautiful stretch along the banks of the Concho River is a place where residents come to exercise, listen to concerts, fish, and even play golf at the nine-hole Santa Fe Golf Course. For dining and hotel options there are quite a few to choose from, with many within a short drive of the Angelo State campus. In terms of grub, I cannot recommend the Western Sky Steakhouse enough – it quickly became my favorite restaurant in San Angelo. Serving up steaks (naturally), salads, and Tex-Mex, it is a go-to spot for locals and I completely get why. Alternatively, closer to campus is the Cork & Pig Tavern, a gastropub serving craft beer and wood-fired oven pizzas. For hotels, there are plenty of mid-level chain options to choose from, as well as quite a few vacation rental options. Near the stadium is the Wingate by Wyndham San Angelo and the Staybridge Suites San Angelo, an IHG Hotel; both are a 12- to 13-minute walk or five-minute car ride to LeGrand Stadium. Fans 4 The Angelo State Rams averaged over 3,500 fans per home game in 2022. With a facility the size of LeGrand Stadium, that is virtually full, I would hazard a guess that the home team stands are generally always full. I was fortunate to attend Angelo State’s most recent homecoming game, and anecdotally this looked like a sellout to me. The stands were packed and there were also a lot of fans standing for the entire game along the railing behind the south end zone. From my perspective, the vast majority of fans on that night came decked out in Rams gear and were vocal and engaged the entire time. In short, it was pretty much the perfect atmosphere for a college football game. Access 3 As mentioned, San Angelo is tucked out in West Texas, which is arguably the most remote part of the state. Getting there is going to be a bit of a chore. Driving-wise, the closest big city to try and tackle it from is San Antonio, which is three hours away. The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is four hours, Austin is three and a half hours away, and Houston and El Paso are both six hours from San Angelo. The one shorter way to get there is via the San Angelo Regional Airport. American Airlines runs a daily flight to and from San Angelo from DFW International Airport; this would considerably cut down on your travel time if you go this route. Once on-site, there isn’t much in the way of public transportation to speak of, but ridesharing is available. If you are driving, parking is plentiful and – best of all – free in and around unmarked spots on the Angelo State campus. Return on Investment 4 Single-game tickets for Angelo State Rams games at LeGrand Stadium start at $12 per for general admission seating and $15 for reserved seats; the difference between bleachers and individual seat backs. I can also say from experience that the cost of concessions is remarkably affordable. I have been to many college – and even high school – games where the cost for the same items on sale is exponentially higher in cost. You’ll get a good bargain here, especially when you consider the free parking and the caliber of opponents that Angelo State regularly plays. Extras 4 Angelo State brings out all the pageantry of college football to their games, big time. First off the Ram Band, which is one of the largest small-school marching bands I’ve ever seen, performs before games, at halftime, and, to their credit, plays throughout the game and at the right times (e.g., when the opposing team is on offense). Also on hand are the Angelo State Cheerleaders and the Angelettes, the school’s dance team. The cheerleaders do their bit throughout the game on the sidelines, while the dance team performs during intermissions and at halftime. Last are the mascots, which I have to admit is my favorite tradition in all of sports. As mentioned above, Angelo State has a live ram as its mascot. Dominic the Ram is a pretty impressive sight to behold on the sidelines during Angelo State games – I am a fan of any team that has a live mascot, and a Ram is always a pretty awesome sight to see. On the other end of the spectrum are the Angelo State costumed mascots, Roscoe D. Ram and Bella D. Ram. Both man the sidelines during games and are around for photo ops. Final Thoughts I wasn’t sure what to expect on my visit to Angelo State, but I came away mighty impressed with the whole operation. The stadium looked good, the atmosphere was electric, and the costs were shockingly low. I’ve been to far bigger stadiums that were far less fun. I wouldn’t put LeGrand Stadium on any bucket list (unless you’ve got one like mine), but I think you could do a whole lot worse on a Saturday in West Texas than taking in an Angelo State Rams game. --- Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 NYTEX Sports Centre 8851 Ice House Dr North Richland Hills, TX 76180 Lone Star Brahmas website NYTEX Sports Centre website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 2,400 Not the Same Old Bull The NYTEX Sports Centre, referred to as Brahmaland by fans and staff, was built in 1999. It is a multi-purpose sports facility housing junior hockey, youth and adult hockey clubs and leagues, figure skating and hockey classes, volleyball, and a youth summer sports camp. It has two ice rinks and one hard wood floor arena containing many volleyball courts. It is very much a neighborhood sports recreation facility. It was the original home of the NAHL Texas Tornados hockey team. The Tornados moved to Frisco, TX in 2002. In the 2013 offseason, the Tornados were sold to Texas Hockey Partners (THP) and are now relocated back in North Richland Hills becoming the Lone Star Brahmas. The Lone Star Brahmas began playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) in the 2013/2014 season. Food & Beverage 3 There are two concessions stands; one downstairs, one upstairs. They offer snacks: Danish, muffins, oatmeal, fruit, hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn, cookies, nachos, ice cream, etc. ranging from $1.50 – $3.75. There is no Coke or Pepsi here. RC Cola, Dr Pepper, Diet Dr Pepper, and 7-UP are your soda choices for $2 for a 20oz bottle. There are energy drinks and bottles of water available. No outside food or drink is allowed in the NYTEX Sports Centre. Atmosphere 3 There are no light shows, no smoke and grand entrance to the rink for the players; it is wonderfully about the hockey game. The Brahmas organization plays the Zamboni song between periods and little ones can take a ride on one. The seats rows range from 1 – 11 so one is very close to the ice no matter where you sit. The first five rows are blue plastic seats with a back, the remaining are aluminum benches some with backs, some without. There are no cup holders. I’d recommend avoiding section L, rows 6 – 11 as there is a wall and other camera and equipment blocking portions of the view of the game. The same can be said of section D, rows 9 – 11 as there is a wall making that area an obstructed view. There is what’s known as terrace seats up above one of the goal lines and seats are just $8 to sit in that area. Those are nice seats as you can watch a play develop as it comes down the ice. There is a net one must look through in this section which some folks may not appreciate. The music level and choice is perfect. It is hard to decipher what the announcer is stating. He does call goals and penalties twice, but it is still hard to understand what is being announced. It’s very cold in the ice rink itself. Wear several layers; bring gloves, ear muffs and a blanket or two, especially if you’ll be sitting on the aluminum benches. One can walk the upper concourse and get views of the volleyball courts and the secondary ice rink. The USA, Texas, and Canadian flags are proudly displayed above ‘suites’ in the arena. Within the recreation center on the lower level there are windows with chairs and table tops that allow visitors to watch hockey action on the ice; however, these windows are blocked for the NAHL games. Neighborhood 3 North Richland Hills is a suburb of Dallas, TX and is probably closer to Ft Worth, TX. There are plenty of things to see and do in both these cities which are maybe a 20 – 30 min drive away; however, be aware of the horrendous road construction in the area. The arena is near several residential areas. There is a high school across the street and a couple blocks away are strip malls, shopping, and fast food restaurants. The absolute best place to eat before or after the game is ZuRomas. This is an Italian sports bar located right in the NYTEX Sports Centre. It has a window that looks out over the secondary ice rink giving patrons the ability to watch some hockey leagues play (youth leagues and hockey clubs). It has eight or so TV’s with a variety of sports events televised. It has a variety of beers on tap and in bottles and has a full bar. Gourmet pizza is recommended and they do have other Italian offerings as well as sandwiches, burgers, and salads. It is laid back and the staff is phenomenal. There’s also the Bronco’s Sports Bar & Grill about a mile and a half away from the arena which may be worth a visit. If you want to drive through the road construction, there is the Fort Worth Zoo about 15 miles away. A nice Best Western is about three miles from the rink, though it is in the midst of all the construction. Fans 3 When was the last time you saw an individual wearing a cowboy hat, banging a miniature hockey stick on the bleachers to get the crowed riled up for an ice hockey game? As well as fans wearing those #1 Fan foam puck hats? It’s here in North Richland Hills, TX. The Brahmas fans are loud and without any prompting from a video board. Cow bells, horns, and plain old yelling, applauding, and banging on the bleachers. There are a lot of ‘hockey families’ who seem to know each other well. And the Brahmas fans welcome any and all visitors including any opposing team guests. I suspect that’s because it is about the hockey; not about disliking any opponent. Access 2 The one downfall of visiting the NYTEX Sports Centre is that you have to travel Texas state highways 183 or 121, both which have dreadful construction going on. There are half completed overpasses, mass amounts of orange cones, plenty of workers with orange vests, cement walls, dirt access roads, with minimal signage to figure out where you are. It’s horrible. Once you get off the highway, getting to arena is not that bad as it is in your typical suburban neighborhood. I did not notice any public transportation options. The closest airport is DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport). Restrooms serve their purpose. There are minimal lines at the end of the game and the restrooms are serviceable but somewhat icky by that time with all the traffic throughout the day. Entry into the arena is effortless and backpacks are allowed. Return on Investment 5 Ticket prices range from $8 (terrace seating) – $22 (on the glass). The plaza and mezzanine seats $10-$14 are probably your best bet. Concession prices are great and there is no charge for parking. There are ticket promotions/deals as it was a 2 for 1 ticket deal the evening I attended a game. Give the team a call, (817) 336-4423, for promotions as I’m not finding those offerings on their website. And, you get to see a hockey game without a whole lot of other thrills, a refreshing experience. Extras 3 Be sure to pick up a roster sheet at no charge at the service stand. You’ll need it because you can’t always understand the announcer. ZuRomas being right in the sports complex is a definite plus. Great atmosphere, good service, and you get to watch hockey being played as you are eating and drinking. The merchandise shop is more than a souvenir shop. It appears to be more of a shop for hockey players offering sales of hockey sticks, helmets, tape, jerseys, t-shirts. It has a stand for ‘repair’ services for hockey equipment. There are some souvenir items including cowbells but no hatpins or pennants. The Lone Star Brahmas offer a fan experience survey on their website which I find unusual. It’s a quality act that they are reaching out to fans to express their likes/dislikes to improve the game day experience. Final Thoughts One can spend an entire Saturday watching all kinds of hockey being played at NYTEX Sports Centre (if that’s your thing). For those hockey fans that live in and around the Dallas/Ft Worth area and don’t mind the road construction, make the trip to visit an NAHL Lone Star Brahmas game. The price is right, the game experience is spot on, and you’ll meet incredible hockey fans at the NYTEX Sports Centre.

Photos by Meg Minard and Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Sloan Park 2330 W Rio Salado Pkwy Mesa, AZ 85201 Mesa Solar Sox website Sloan Park website Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 15,000 Solar Sox at Sloan The Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League play their home games at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. The Arizona Fall League is a developmental instructional baseball league played in various spring training complexes in the Greater Phoenix area. The season lasts a little over a month during October and November. Major league teams send some of their most highly touted prospects to play in the league for additional practice. The 2023 Mesa Solar Sox has rookies from the following MLB teams: Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros. The Solar Sox began play in 1992 (the founding year of the AFL) as the Sun Cities Solar Sox; they played at Sun City Stadium for their first two years. They moved to the new Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, AZ in 1994 and played there till 1996. After that, the Sun Cities Solar Sox played at HoHoKam Stadium from 1997 – 2013. In 1999, they changed their name to the Mesa Solar Sox to represent the city they play in. The 2014 season saw the Solar Sox begin playing their games at Sloan Park. Sloan Park is best known as the spring training facility for the Chicago Cubs. It is owned by the city of Mesa and named after the Sloan Valve Company, an Illinois-based leading global manufacturer of water-efficient solutions. Food & Beverage 2 One concession stadium is open during an AFL game at Sloan Park with decent choices at average AFL prices. Offerings include chicken tenders, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, fries, and nachos ($6 - $10). Snacks for sale are peanuts, popcorn, pretzels, chips, and candy ($3 - $8). Bottled sodas (Coca-Cola brands) are $6, while bottled water is $5.50. I had a hamburger, and it was tasty. The selection of beer is not that great. Choices include Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob, Modelo, Corona, and Estrella Jalisco ($10), all available in cans only. It’s enough for a snack while watching a game. Fans can bring their snacks and bottles of water into the stadium. Atmosphere 3 Most seats have shade, needed for a 2:30 pm start time. One section down the first base side gets the sun if you’d prefer to get some rays. Seats are first come, first served, so pick your preference as less than 1,000 fans or so attend AFL games. The inner concourse is wide open; a fan can see all the playing action while walking the concourse. Medium-thickness nets run down to the foul poles; there is no place to sit and watch net-free baseball. One level of seating is available for Fall League games. The second level holds the press box, announcer, and suites. Seats are the traditional green stadium fold-down ones and have a comfortable width, decent legroom, and cup holders. The grassy berms and other seating areas in the left and right outfields are closed for Solar Sox games. The organization has improved the readability of the scoreboard considerably. The lighting engineers adjusted the background color and numbers, making it so much easier to read. Well done! The scoreboard provides the line score and a photo and number of the Solar Sox player at bat. Game day staff writes the starting lineup on a whiteboard located on the third base side concourse. The merchandise tent (just upon entry to the stadium) has rosters and lineup sheets, too. Sloan Park Scoreboard, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The PA announcer does a competent job calling the starting lineup and player/pitcher changes (no music is played – YEAH!). They do not play music between pitches and batters, only pregame and between innings, a pleasant delight. A Solar Sox game here is for those interested in watching the game and the players. Neighborhood 4 About a mile northeast of Sloan Park is the Mesa Riverview Shopping Center. This center contains several places to eat, a movie theater, and many stores including a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. Restaurants include Cracker Barrel, Famous Dave’s BBQ, Henhouse Café (good for breakfast), Papago Brewing (beers), and plenty more. A little over a mile west of Sloan Park (make a right on Rio Salado Pkwy out of the ballpark) is the Tempe Marketplace, an even larger shopping area. This contains 26 restaurants/places to eat including the Thirsty Lion and Kings Fish House, a multitude of shops, and another movie theater. If shopping is your thing, this might be the place to go. For places to stay near the ballpark, the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West and a Courtyard by Marriott are just beyond the right field. The Hyatt Place Phoenix/Mesa is adjacent to the Mesa Riverview Shopping Center (about 1.2 miles from the ballpark). A Hilton Garden Inn and a Homewood Suites are a mile the other way (west) of the ballpark. Hotel rooms in the area are about 1/3 the price for Fall League games than they are during spring training. On-site at the ballpark is Riverview Park which offers a fishing lake, playground, and picnic area, and water fountains to enjoy pre or post-game. For other sports in the area, visit the other two East Valley Fall League Stadiums: Scottsdale Stadium and Salt River Field. ASU (Arizona State University) football, basketball, or soccer games are about three miles from the ballpark. Or sports fans can go downtown Phoenix and see an early-season Suns game. Fans 3 Fans who attend AFL games are the fans who like baseball for the game, not ‘the event.’ They are purists, especially those fans who travel or fly in to watch the games. Yes, fans do travel in for the season, for a week, or for a few days to get just a little bit more of baseball before the three-month hiatus till spring training. Many fans are those who are retired or those wishing they could be retired. During the weekday afternoon games, expect minimal children. A few more families are at the evening and Saturday games. Expect to see lots of scouts sitting behind home plate. Expect to see a lot of autograph hounds with their binders, player cards, balls, and Sharpies. Since most fans have a common interest in baseball, expect to meet, share stories, and make friends with those who sit around you. The fans cheer for all the good plays regardless of the team or player. Access 4 If flying in for a Mesa Solar Sox AFL game, the closest airport (about seven miles from Sloan Park) is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Public transportation is somewhat available – from the airport, it’s a combination of using the Valley Metro light rail, transferring to a bus, and taking a short walk. Since there are under 600 fans or so attending a game, traffic access is not the nightmare it is for a Cubs spring training game. Plenty of parking is available for no charge. Massive numbers of handicapped parking spaces are available. It is easy to get to the area by driving, as it is located near the corner of the Loop 202 Red Mountain and Loop 101 Pima Freeways. If driving for night games, allow extra time due to rush hour on those freeways. Only the first base gate is open for Fall League games. Bag rules baffle me here. Signs and security folks say one thing, but it’s very inconsistent. My best recommendation is to bring any items in a clear sports bag (16” x 16” x 8”) or less. Restrooms (including family restrooms) on the first base side concourse are open for AFL games and serve their purpose. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices have increased, although it’s still a good deal for seeing professional baseball: $12 for adults, $10 for kids over 12 and seniors (55+), and children under 12 get in free. Fans can sit anywhere they want. The AFL sells season ticket packages (single or double), worth the investment if you and/or a friend plan on attending more than 10 or 15 games. Parking is free; food prices are not too bad for a sports venue (and you can bring in your own). Seeing a ball game for the game itself is worth the investment. Extras 3 The field looks a lush green, not easy to do after an Arizona summer. Kudos to the city of Mesa for its maintenance and care. Having the starting lineups written on a whiteboard is worth an extra mention, especially for those who keep score. Upgrading the scoreboard to make it readable deserves additional acknowledgment. Starting Lineup at Sloan Park, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Not playing music while the PA announcer calls the starting lineups or player changes, and only playing between innings makes the game more enjoyable. It gives fans the ability to have conversations with their neighbors. Final Thoughts MLB changed the Fall League schedule format this 2023 season. The season has fewer afternoon games. Those games now start at 2:30 pm (the hottest part of the day) vs 12:30 pm in previous seasons. Evening games still start at 6:30 pm. This schedule makes attending a double header difficult because of travel during rush hour. I hope they consider reverting the afternoon start time to 12:30 pm next season. Attending a Mesa Solar Sox game at Sloan Park is a much more relaxed, uncongested game day experience than seeing a Cubs spring training game. When coming to the area during the fall season, it is worth visiting some AFL games.