Photos courtesy of Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Quakertown Memorial Park 600 Mill Rd. Quakertown, PA 18951 Quakertown Blazers website Quakertown Memorial Stadium website Year Opened: 1939 Capacity: 1,300 An Honest Home for Baseball What if I told you that there was an old wooden ballpark that exists in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania and that it has been around since 1938, has been home to baseball since 1983, and is in sound condition? You might think that I am crazy, but one such baseball facility exists in Quakertown. Now would you believe me? Memorial Park is a small covered wooden grandstand ballpark that seats 400 people. It is home to the Quakertown Blazers of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League who have been providing an opportunity for local college baseball players a chance to hone their skills with the wooden bat during the summers off from school. It is a league that has been around since 1967 and today operates a lot like it did 47 years ago. In the ACBL, the parks are small and ownership‘s objectives are to break even and provide an outlet for baseball. Memorial Park is one of the league’s paramount facilities; most of the ballfields are just that, located at community colleges or high schools. Tucked away in a residential and park area of town, exists perhaps one of the area’s better-kept secrets in baseball. Food & Beverage 3 The food is inexpensive and classic ballpark cuisine. Hot dogs are fresh from the grill and are only $1.50, large RC and Diet Rite sodas and Philadelphia-style pretzels are also $1. The other items include candy, chips, and peanuts. All of the food is served underneath a concession building that stands alone outside the main entrance to the grandstand. There is no alcohol permitted in the stadium. The prices are among the best that I have seen at collegiate wood-bat league games the past few years and add to the simplicity of a league such as the ACBL. Atmosphere 3 The design and color of the ballpark look as if it is straight out of Norman Rockwell's painting. The red picket fence lines up the left field line and a collection of sponsorship banners hangs on the grey outfield fence. There are two championship banners that the Blazers won in 1987 and 2018. However, the dark green grandstand stands out among the colors of the ballpark. The wooden structure is in immaculate condition and features very few rows or columns. The fans make their way through during the early innings and find themselves a seat on the bare wooden bleachers. Also, located is a small two-man PA section for the game. You will not find a myriad of gimmicks or promotions, a mascot, or t-shirt tosses from interns. The focus is on baseball and probably is similar to the game many years ago. League president Tom Bonekemper told me that former major league and current Toronto Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Buck Martinez commented that the stadium reminded him of playing minor league baseball 45 years ago. The game day program, which is becoming a thing of the past at many baseball parks, is sold for $2 and features advertisements, team information, and baseball bingo lucky numbers, however, its ads and sponsorships help generate a lot of money for the team and is still a valuable asset to the team. It also helps out when you are looking for a place to eat after the game. There are more than 113 boosters (including former major league pitcher Jamie Moyer) and volunteers that help out with game day operations from collecting tickets, serving food in the concession stand, and selling merchandise. Game day Nike jerseys are a bargain at $ 15 compared to the $175 price tag the Lehigh Valley RailRiders are charging for almost the exact same product. Neighborhood 4 The stadium’s setting is adjacent to a city park that features a sand volleyball and basketball court, a public swimming pool, and one very impressive wooden jungle gym play area. It is also located a mile on busy State Road 309, an hour north of Philadelphia and 20 minutes south of Allentown. Retail stores, chain restaurants, and shopping centers are paramount in this location, but there are a few nice choices to choose from that are well worth a visit. McCoole’s offers great food at affordable prices at the corner of Broad and Main Streets. Located in a historic old inn, they offer music on the patio beer brewed on premises, happy hour specials and many food items between $10-$20 The El Paso mac and cheese and grilled apple cider chicken are two highlights. If you are looking for dessert, drive a few miles up SR-309 to The Inside Scoop for homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt. Of course, you can always order a freshly made hoagie at Wawa, a convenience store with a huge following in this part of the country. Fans 3 There is a modest crowd that supports their hometown team. When Blazers’ manager Mark Angelo disputed balls and strikes, a few members from the stands supported his argument. The fans are focused, engaged, and supportive of their Quakertown nine. Access 3 Memorial Field is one mile off of SR 309 and 10 miles south of I-78; it is rather an easy destination to reach, but there are not any signs until you exit SR 309. You will have to get your GPS out for the majority of tour travel to the ballpark. There is a small amount of parking available behind the left field wall and across the street near the pool. It is free and that is always a good thing. Return on Investment 4 Adult ticket prices are $3 and are a bargain to watch baseball in a rather historic facility. Even if you had a few hours to kill, spending it here could be a rather gratifying experience. Extras 2 Memorial Stadium is one of those rare finds for a ballpark traveler. Its size and pristine condition make it ideal for summer league baseball in the ACBL. A traveler should not expect to find all the glamour that exists in the Northwoods or Prospect Leagues; a scaled-back and relaxed atmosphere will await you for a Quakertown Blazers game. Final Thoughts Lehigh Valley is sprinkled with various ballparks that offer a little bit of everything during the season. Quakertown Memorial Stadium is a simple, honest ballpark that provides a nice change of pace during a summer’s evening. If you are in town for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, take a short trip to Quakertown. ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium 782 High Road, Tottenham London, UK N17 0BX Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 62,062 A UK Home for the NFL Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is normally the home of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in north London, replacing the club's previous ground, White Hart Lane. It is also the main home of the NFL in the UK, sharing some games with Wembley Stadium. The stadium is the third largest football stadium in England and the largest club ground in London. It features a retractable, natural grass soccer pitch with an artificial turf field, used by the NFL, underneath. The stadium cost over £1 billion and although announced way back in 2007, saw construction began in 2017. The NFL International Series is a series of American football games during the regular season that are played outside the United States. Since 2022, the series has had three sub-series: the NFL London Games in the United Kingdom, which have been in place since 2007; the NFL Mexico Games, which began in 2016 with a predecessor game in 2005; and the NFL Germany Games in multiple cities. In 2023 there is one game played at Wembley, two at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium, and two at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany. Stadium Journey attended the NFL London Games match between the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans. Food & Beverage 5 The food and beverage options are some of the best we have seen at any venue. There are more than 60 food and drink options. For the NFL games, the stadium tries to offer more traditional American-type offerings than is seen at Hotspur matches. Stadium Journey talked to the stadium's head chef and they are exploring many options to make their visiting fans comfortable for upcoming years. A local brewery called Beavertown is the official craft beer supplier and has a microbrewery located within the stadium's concourse. This is the world's first stadium-located microbrewery. Unlike during Hotspurs matches, beer and other liquor drinks can be brought back to your seats during gameplay. The Goal Line Bar is the longest in Europe. The Market Place is a popular gathering spot along the concourse. There are numerous vendors such as The Chicken House, N17 Grill Naan Noodle, Linesman, the Smashed Olive pizza place, and the Touchdown Grill. Atmosphere 5 The atmosphere is electric for the NFL London Games. It has the feel of a playoff game, even if it is just a normal, regular-season game. The stadium is gorgeous and is quite aesthetically pleasing. We loved seeing the cockerel that sits on top of the roof structure above the South Stand, the symbol of the Hotspurs. The seating bowl offers a variety of seating options, while still keeping even the "cheap" seats feeling close to the action. Just like a regular NFL stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium features large HD screens and has a very good sound system throughout the facility. The stadium has its adventure area with the Dare Skywalk experience. It features the UK’s first controlled descent from a stadium. This will not be available on game day. The stadium is intended to be active all year round. There is the Tottenham Experience, which includes a club shop, club archive, and museum, as well as the media prep room is a cafe for the public on non-game days. Neighborhood 3 This is a bit of a mixed bag. We would bet that exploring Tottenham's High Road on non-game days would feel much different than on game days. The area can feel a bit rough, but not unsafe. The non-game day activities at the stadium do seem to be changing the area positively. On game days the atmosphere leading to any of the public transport options feels electric. The roads leading towards the stadium are closed to regular traffic so the fans can make an almost march to the stadium. Fans 5 The fan support is unlike almost any other. There will be a unique mix of fans, from each team's fanbases making trips abroad, European fans of each team, along with European and UK fans who are not as comfortable with the American game. This makes it sometimes not the loudest stadium atmosphere around, but that is not to say that the fans are not super engaged. Access 4 We would suggest not driving to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The best option is public transportation. The stadium is accessible via several London Overground, London Underground, and National Rail stations such as Seven Sisters, Tottenham Hale, Northumberland Park, and White Hart Lane stations. In some cities, the limited parking could be a negative, but the London public transportation system is one of the best around. Return on Investment 4 Tickets will initially seem hard to find and also high in cost. We tried to buy some tickets on the first day that they were available and had little success. Later on, there were many resale options available on the official UK ticketing website, with many of the cheap options available. We do not recommend third-party ticketing sites due to UK-specific laws on reselling and price markups. This can often cause some of the third-party tickets to come from sources that may not be authentic. Even with the high prices, the special atmosphere at the game makes those prices seem fairly in line. Extras 5 The Beavertown Brewery gives the stadium an extra point for being the first of its kind. The food options at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium are one of the best in the world and are an extra on their own. Unique features such as the Sky Walk, Hotspurs Museum, and the roof-based cockerel give the stadium a unique feel. Amazingly, the stadium was built to not only be a high-end soccer stadium, but one purposefully built for NFL games. There is a dedicated DJ stage for pre-game and between-action entertainment. Final Thoughts The NFL London Games, especially the ones held at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium, is a special event. Between the fun atmosphere and the amazing stadium, fans should enjoy themselves without question.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Es Con Field Hokkaido F Village Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, Japan 061-1116 (+81) (0)11-857-3939 Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters website Es Con Field Hokkaido website Year Opened: 2023 Capacity: 35,000 Hamming It Up in Hokkaido In 2016, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters began considering a new stadium as they wanted to leave the Sapporo Dome, a multipurpose facility that they shared with Consodale Sapporo of the J.League. Japanese ballparks are generally functional rather than aesthetically pleasing, but Fighters management wanted to change that. They recognized the trend that combines sports venues with other forms of entertainment to increase attraction to those who are not necessarily sports fans. Most Japanese ballparks are functional rather than aesthetic, and they wanted to change that. They spent a lot of time looking at stadiums in the United States and employed HKS, an American architectural firm that designed Globe Life Field in Arlington. Rather than remain in Sapporo, the Fighters found a large open space in nearby Kitahiroshima, where their vision could be fully realized. The result is more than a ballpark, with a new neighborhood being constructed around it. Es-Con, a local developer, bought the naming rights, and the result is Es Con Field Hokkaido, simply the best ballpark in Japan. It opened in 2023, and Stadium Journey paid a visit in the summer, coming away more than a little awestruck. Food & Beverage 5 The most impressive aspect of Es Con Field is the variety of food and beverages. When you walk in, you will be handed a Gourmet Guide, which lists all of the options inside the stadium. Some boards show what is available in each section. Unlike in North America, food is not overpriced at sporting events, so you can try a few things here without breaking your budget, particularly given the weakness in the Japanese yen (approximately 150 yen to a dollar at the time of writing). It is impossible to list all of the options as there are 47 listed in the Gourmet Guide. If you have lived in Japan, you will recognize some of the vendors, such as Mos Burger and Mister Donut, but there are still dozens of concessions that are local to the area. Some less common foods are croquettes that start at 250 Yen, rice balls that start at 380 yen, and squid tempura for 480 yen. Giant yakitori sticks are just 490 yen, while five pieces of karaage (fried chicken) are 600 yen. That's about four bucks. Come hungry. In addition to these typical concessions, several full-service restaurants are open to the public. Fans wait in line to sit down at these places, which are exactly like eateries in a city. The aroma of food wafting through the concourses is exciting, and you would need to spend several games here to try a few of these establishments. One example is an okonomiyaki restaurant where customers sit at a counter that is right next to the concourse, while on the upper level, there is an izakaya that has a long line. Get there early if you want to try one of these unusual spots. In terms of drinks, draft beer (known as nama) is available everywhere, including from young ladies who patrol the seating bowl and serve it to you out of a keg on their back. At 750 yen, it is far cheaper than beer at ballparks in America, and no tipping is required. Behind the center field wall, there is a craft beer brewpub that had the biggest line of all, though some other concessions did have some craft offerings. You can also order sours (shochu mixed with a fruit drink such as lemon juice) and even whiskey and return highballs. Those not interested in alcohol have a typical choice of soft drinks such as oolong tea, ginger ale, and Calpis. The only potential problem I saw was that the venue is cashless, a rarity in Japan. I was able to use my credit card, but if you have trouble with yours, you can convert cash to a value card that can be used. Atmosphere 4 You will first see the stadium as you pass by on the train from Chitose Airport. It looks like a massive airplane hangar and resembles US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The signature feature is the 230-foot high glass window beneath a large, retractable roof that mimics certain types of houses in Hokkaido. The roof was closed for the game I attended and is likely closed for most games during Japan's hot, humid summer. It is open when no games are being played as the field is natural turf (a rarity in Japan), and they need some natural light when there isn't a game. The roof weighs 10,000 tons and takes 25 minutes to open. If you ride the shuttle bus from Kitahiroshima Station, you will be dropped off on the south side of the stadium, which is the first base gate. You can buy your ticket here, but before entering, walk around to see F Village, the neighborhood that is being built on the east side of the stadium. It features a running track, a playground, a dog park, some food shops, a miniature ball field, and even an adventure park that requires separate admission fees but looks to be quite a bit of fun. I recommend getting there at least 2 hours before the first pitch to see everything, or you can make a day of it. Rather than returning to the first base gate, continue around to the third base entrance, and you will pass by the team's enormous flagship store. I went in briefly, but it was too crowded to do much shopping before the game; afterward, it was a bit more reasonable. Again, with the weak yen, prices are reasonable, especially for smaller items such as caps. Once inside, you will quickly realize that this is not a typical Japanese ballpark. The asymmetric outfield is only the second in Japan, while there are four distinct levels of seating, with a capacity of 35,000. Seats are padded in some sections, and there are cup holders, essential for all the beers that you will be drinking. The seats behind the plate are inaccessible to those without a ticket, but they look to be very comfortable. Tickets for this section were not available at the box office, and the secondary market in Japan is not as liquid as elsewhere, so if you want to sit here, you will have to do some research. A large electronic scoreboard is above the seating bowl at each corner, a change from most parks in the country, which have just one centerfield scoreboard. In addition, bullpens are visible here. The only pro ballpark in Japan to have this feature. In the left field corner is Tower 11, so named because both Yu Darvish and Shohei Ohtani wore #11 when they played for the Fighters, and a mural of these two is nearby. There is a hotel here with rooms that overlook the stadium (much like Rogers Centre in Toronto), as well as a sauna that is open to the public and provides a view of the field. There is also a museum here that requires separate admission and is not related to baseball. Tower 11 is also open on non-game days. Japanese baseball generally lacks the between-inning promotions that you see in the major leagues, but some mascots and cheerleaders appear from time to time. The size of the stadium does limit the noise, and the oendan (cheering groups) are not in their typical outfield seats. The visiting oendan was below me; their cheering was somewhat muffled, while the Fighters supporters were high up on first base. It made things quieter than I am used to in Japanese ballparks. Neighborhood 4 The aforementioned F Village is the highlight; there is not much else in the area. There are a few restaurants, including a couple that serve yakitori and an izakaya at the Kitahiroshima Station. If you decide to walk to the stadium from here (about 20-25 minutes), you will pass a few more eateries and some convenience stores, where you can load up on snacks. Kitahiroshima is only about 20 minutes from Sapporo, so you are better off returning there for some post-game entertainment. You will most likely be staying in Sapporo, which has many attractions of its own. It hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, and the Clock Tower dates from that period. The Sapporo Beer Museum is free to tour and offers tastings at the end. The museum features beers that are not available outside of Hokkaido. There is also a sake museum, Japan’s signature liquor. Hotels are plentiful, and if you are staying for a while, you might find small apartments available on Booking.com that allow you to have a kitchen, a washing machine, and more space than a typical Japanese hotel room. In terms of restaurants, there are thousands to choose from, with the Nijo market area a seafood-lover's paradise. One change is that most restaurants in Japan are now non-smoking, which makes it much more pleasant when dining out. Fans 3 Japanese baseball fans are a different breed, and the Fighters fans are some of the most passionate I have seen. At the game I attended, a crowd of 23,500 was on hand, far fewer than I had anticipated. Even the oendan was not as loud as I recalled, though I think the size of the stadium hurt the acoustics. With the team struggling in last place in the Pacific League, maybe it wasn't surprised by the relatively poor turnout. Of course, those in attendance were polite and in good cheering form, as their team won easily, but I still have to dock a couple of points here. When the team returns to glory, I’ll revisit and update here. Access 4 As discussed, Es Con Field is in Kitahiroshima, just over 15 minutes from Sapporo on the Rapid Airport train (the slower Chitose Line is also an option). From the station, you can walk for 25 minutes or take a shuttle bus for 200 yen. Given how hot it is in Japan in the summer, the bus is a better option, and it drops you off in front of the first-base gate sponsored by Coca-Cola. It is where you will pick up the bus after the game, but if you attend a nighter, then walking back is more pleasant once the sun has set. Note that buses are plentiful, and I did not have to wait even though I arrived about two hours before the first pitch. Concourses are spacious, but some spots jam up as game time approaches. Some concessions have long lines, but others are quick. Restrooms and other facilities are as clean as you would expect in Japan. There are escalators to get you from level to level, as well as stairways. It is quite easy to get around, and you should not have any problem finding your seat as all sections are numbered clearly. Return on Investment 5 I picked up my ticket at the box office at the Coca-Cola gate, which is a hard stub with a picture of the stadium. It is much more preferable to getting one at a local convenience store. I paid 4,600 Yen (about $31) and was happy with my seat on the second level, near an aisle, which is essential for getting the beer girls' attention. With everything here so affordable and the overall experience one of the best in Japan, this is a great way to spend your money and get a lot in return. Extras 5 There are so many additional features here that you need to take your time to appreciate everything. Outside the first base gate is a Hokkaido sign that provides a good photo opportunity. The Fighters have been around for a while, and their history is displayed on several panels on the lower concourse. They have won a few pennants, and those are hanging above this area. In addition to the Tower 11 mural, other artworks can be found around the ballpark. The onsen and sauna are open to the public and are reasonably priced if you want to watch part of the game while soaking your muscles. Another point for the ingenuity of including F Village, which should make the Fighters attractive to those who may not follow baseball otherwise. There is still work to be done, but when complete, Es Con Field Hokkaido will be a destination in itself. Final Thoughts Overall, Es Con Field is the best baseball stadium in Japan. However, it is not the best stadium experience, which I believe you can find in Koshien, home of the Hanshin Tigers. Still, there is so much to see and do here that you should make a day of it, arriving a few hours before the first pitch to wander around F Village and maximizing your time inside the stadium. Research the food options to have an idea of what to eat when you get there. Then, sit back and enjoy the action.

The city of Pittsburgh has always been regarded as a great baseball town, despite being one of the smallest markets in MLB, based on population. Baseball’s beginnings in the Steel City can be traced back to 1857. A new book, Pittsburgh’s Historic Ballparks, takes a look back at the many homes of baseball that have graced the city. With the exception of Forbes Field, all of these stadiums have been located in the Northside district of the city, across the Allegheny River from Downtown Pittsburgh. The book is filled with photos of the various homes of the Pirates through the years, as well as news clippings about each of the ballparks. The book is published by Arcadia Press as a part of their Images of Baseball series. The first ballpark in Pittsburgh actually began its life as a skating rink. The owner was looking for a way to make money during the warmer months of the year and thought the new game of baseball might be an answer. This began in 1876, with fans standing along the side of the field or sitting on the grass of a nearby hill. Later on, wooden grandstands and an exterior fence were added to the park. This venue was known as Union Park in the beginning, becoming Recreation Park in 1885, as a nod to its multiple recreational activities. This served as the first home of the Allegheny, Pittsburgh’s first professional baseball team. In 1891 the team moved to its second home at Exposition Park. This park served as Pittsburgh's baseball home from 1891-1909. This structure was also on the Northside, located in what we would call a fairground, along the shores of the Allegheny River. Soon other competing teams were forming in the area. Baseball at this point was the hot new game, and many business people saw it as a way to make money. Team loyalty went to the highest bidder, and teams were known to “pirate” players away from other teams overnight. This is the origin of the Pittsburgh Pirate’s moniker. The newly christened Pirates were purchased in 1900 by businessman Barney Dreyfuss. He would own the team for the next 32 years, and be responsible for building a stadium that would serve the team’s home for 61 years. The Pirates and Exposition Park would be involved in the first modern World Series in 1890. Overflow crowds stood in the outfield behind ropes, which determined if a ball was in play or not. As a result, larger grandstands were added from year to year. Soon an upper-level seating was added, with stairwells covered by a steepled roof providing access for the fans. Another feature of the park was a view of the growing Pittsburgh skyline across the river, something that would come full circle to the Pirate’s present home at PNC Park. One other unique feature was that fans exited the park by crossing the playing field, as there were no exits in the outfield stands. Unfortunately, Exposition Park was a little too close to the river, resulting in frequent flooding of the park. A 1907 flood destroyed the Union Bridge, which connected Downtown Pittsburgh to the Northside. Fans on the downtown side of the bridge no longer had a way to cross the river to the ballpark. Barney Dreyfuss knew a change was needed. The old park had suffered both floods and fires, a common event in the wooden ballparks of yesteryear. After the Pirates left Exposition Park, it stayed busy with minor league teams, independent leagues, and Negro League teams. During these same years, Negro baseball leagues were developing in the Pittsburgh area. In 1887 the first Negro League team, the Pittsburgh Keystones used Recreation Park as their home base. Many of these teams would be boom-to-bust adventures, due to poor financing options. There was such a demand for ballparks that another ballpark began construction. In 1920, Central Park opened for business. It was the home ballpark for a new version of the Keystones. The team only lasted for two years. Central Park then served as the home field for a variety of Negro leagues and teams. Only five years after it was built, Central Park was torn down. Ammon Field was another Northside ballpark serving the Negro Leagues. It served as the home base for the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. It was a municipal stadium so it could not charge admission. Despite this restriction, the ballpark survived for nineteen years. Probably the most interesting ballpark was owned by a black bookie. His name was Greenlee, and he named the stadium after himself. He also owned the Pittsburgh Crawfords, one of the most successful Negro League teams. The stadium was built of brick with arched entrances. Greenlee kept the stadium busy throughout the year with a variety of sports. Eventually, business slowed and Greenlee Stadium was torn down in 1938. Following the flood of 1907, Barney Dreyfuss was determined to build a stadium that would not be prone to fire or floods. He moved across the Allegheny River to the Oakland area of Pittsburgh, far from any river. He also decided this stadium would be built of concrete and steel, which was plentiful in the area. The new stadium was christened as Forbes Field. It pioneered the use of these construction materials, but it also featured more entrances, ticket offices, and seating than any competitors. It also featured the first mechanized tarp, which is very important, as it dramatically cut down the number of rainouts the Pirates would have. Dreyfuss was always looking for ways to improve the ballpark, which often meant more seats. He also had the first electronic scoreboard in the major leagues. The Pirates had a great team during Forbes Field’s early days, as they won two World Series. These wins help pay for even more expansion of the seating. In 1932 Barney Dreyfuss died, after leading the team for more than 35 years, and leading baseball parks into a new era. A monument was built in his honor at Forbes Field. This monument has traveled to each ballpark the Pirates have played in since then. After a long drought of good teams, the Pirates' fortunes began to turn with the arrival of Roberto Clemente and Bill Mazeroski in the mid-1950s. In 1960 the Pirates made the World Series, with Mazeroski hitting the winning home run in the 7th game to take the pennant. Even with this success, Forbes Field’s days were numbered. In 1958 the University of Pittsburgh was expanding its campus and had bought the stadium. They allowed the Pirates to lease the park each season until their new park was completed. The 1969 season was to be the last season in Forbes Field. However, it received a short reprieve, as construction on Three Rivers was behind schedule. The Pirates moved into their new home midway through the 1970 season. Forbes Field was then torn down after serving as the Bucs home for 61 years. The Pirates then recrossed the Allegheny to the Northside neighborhood. Three Rivers Stadium came in an era of round cookie-cutter multi-purpose stadiums. Ironically the original design for the ballpark had the river side of the venue left open to provide a view of downtown Pittsburgh and the river, just like Exposition Park of the past and PNC Park of the future. This was vetoed, as the owners wanted as much income-producing space and seats as possible. The Steelers were also tenants and had the same concerns. The fancy dining areas did provide a salute to its predecessor, as parts of Forbes Field were incorporated into the Allegheny Room, including a portion of the Bill Mazeroski home run wall. By the 1990’s the round cookie-cutter stadiums were no longer popular, and retro stadiums were “in”. This was led by the building of Camden Yards in Baltimore. The Steelers moved to new digs right down the shoreline to Heinz Field (now Acrisure Stadium). After only 31 years after its opening, Three Rivers Stadium closed. Willie Stargell attended the last game at Three Rivers Stadium. He would pass away just hours before the PNC Park opening day game. Pittsburgh’s Historic Ballparks closes with the opening of PNC Park in 2001. In many ways, Pittsburgh’s stadiums have come full circle. The ballpark has gotten rave reviews for its retro looks, which resemble a park of yesteryear. It also sits on the same ground as Exhibition Park from many years ago. Best of all, the players who created the greatest memories in the various ballparks of Pittsburgh past are honored with statues in the plazas that surround the stadium. Oh, by the way… the Pirates spring training stadium in Bradenton, Florida turned 100 years old in 2023. Barney Dreyfuss would be pleased.

Photos by Gregory Koch Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Xfinity Center Pavilion 2001 Paint Branch Dr College Park, MD 20740 Maryland Terrapins website Xfinity Center Pavilion website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 1,500 Fear The Turtle Most people know the Xfinity Center for being the home of Maryland Terrapins basketball. However, there is another part of the Xfinity Center many people either don't know about or only know from glancing at the entrance on their way into a basketball game. The Xfinity Center Pavilion is a smaller arena within the Xfinity Center proper, located off the ground floor lobby. Seating 1,500 fans, a small fraction of what the main arena sits, the Pavilion is home to Terrapins volleyball and wrestling. This review will focus on the former. Food & Beverage 2 There is one concession at the Xfinity Center Pavilion, located right by the entrance. The concession stands in the Xfinity Center proper that is open for basketball are not accessible from the Pavilion, so this is your only option. The menu is quite limited here, with hot dogs and nachos being the only main course options, although the menu board claims popcorn and soft pretzels are also entrees. Regardless of this dubious claim, other options include peanuts, Cracker Jacks, and chips. To drink, fans can get fountain soda, bottled water, or Gatorade. Prices are reasonable with nothing being more than $6. Atmosphere 5 As mentioned above, the Xfinity Center Pavilion is located off the ground floor lobby of the Xfinity Center proper. If you have entered through the lower level doors for a Terrapins basketball game, you have probably walked by the entrance at some point on your way upstairs. That same lobby is full of Terrapins merchandise and murals, although little of it is dedicated to the volleyball team. Once you get inside the Pavilion, there are bleachers on each side of the court as well as a smaller set along one of the baselines that is used by the band. That band plays music during breaks in the action such as between sets. Although they are not permitted to play their instruments during the game action, they instead get involved in other ways. While a visiting player is preparing to serve, the band will attempt to be as loud as possible, either by shouting or by chanting "Bounce!" every time the player bounces the ball. Although they are quiet while a Terrapins player is preparing to serve, they will shout "Woosh! Let's go Terps!" after the ball is put in play. The Terrapins Cheerleaders also show up and will perform on the court in between sets. Other in-game promotions include a t-shirt toss. The Terrapins put a lot of effort into the matchday experience and it shows. The Pavilion has very low ceilings compared to most arenas, which can prove a problem as balls struck it multiple times during the game we were at. However, this helps trap the noise from the band and the crowd inside and creates an incredibly loud atmosphere. The noise from the crowd is so loud it often drowns out the PA system and makes the announcements either difficult or impossible to hear. While this is a good problem to have, it can get somewhat annoying at times. Neighborhood 3 College Park is a small college town with enough in the immediate area to get by but is nothing special. There is a bowling alley a couple of miles away, and a bunch of chain restaurants within walking distance. If you’re looking for some local color, College Park Diner is a favorite with residents and students alike and serves up comfort food 24 hours a day. Looney’s Pub on Route 1 is a sports bar with dozens of big-screen TVs for your viewing pleasure. A couple of hotels are located nearby, including a Marriott just off campus, and The Hotel on campus. (Yes, the on-campus hotel is called The Hotel. Not a very creative name). That being said, if you’re looking to do more than eat and sleep, your best bet is to head down to the Metro station and take the Green Line into D.C. It’s about a 30-minute ride to downtown. Once you’re there, there’s so much to do and most of it is free. Whether it’s visiting one of the historic monuments and memorials, visiting one of the numerous museums, or simply walking outside on the National Mall, there’s something for everyone. All government-run attractions are free to the public, though some privately-run ones are not. Just keep in mind if you want to tour the Capitol or White House, you will need to reserve that ahead of time. Fans 4 Although the Xfinity Center Pavilion only seats 1,500 fans, the Terps routinely draw near, at, or even over capacity for volleyball games. The fans and the band are incredibly loud, with the low ceiling making it seem even louder. While they may not be the size of the crowds at some Big 10 rivals like Nebraska and Penn State, attendance has grown in recent years and the team may soon outgrow the Pavilion. The crowd includes everyone from longtime Terps fans to children checking out their first game. At every set point for the Terps, the crowd rises to its feet and claps their hands to urge the Terps to finish the job and take the set. Access 3 The University of Maryland campus is located just a few miles off of I-495 (Capital Beltway) and Maryland Route 295 (Baltimore-Washington Parkway). However, given this is one of the most congested traffic areas in the country, there is a good chance you will sit in traffic getting to the arena. Give yourself extra time, especially if coming to a weeknight game at rush hour, and use Waze or another GPS app to take the optimal route around traffic. Fans can also take Metro's Green Line to the College Park-UMD station, which is about three-quarters of a mile away. Once on campus, there is ample parking in lots surrounding the arena, including lots 9b and 4b on either side. You will enter through the doors on the lower level rather than walk up the steps to the larger entrance on the upper level like some people do for basketball. There is one set of restrooms in the Pavilion by the entrance, which can get crowded at times, especially between sets. The other restrooms in the main portion of the Xfinity Center are not accessible during volleyball games. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for adults are between $10 and $15 depending on the opponent. Parking is free and concessions are affordable if limited. Considering the excellent atmosphere here, a Terps volleyball game is of great value. Extras 3 One star for all the murals and displays dedicated to Terrapins athletics in the lobby and in the Pavilion itself. Look for the marketing table by the entrance with giveaways and free roster cards. A third and final star for the banners in the Pavilion dedicated to Terp's volleyball accomplishments such as tournament appearances. Final Thoughts College volleyball is rapidly growing in interest, and the Maryland Terrapins are no exception. While most only know of the Xfinity Center Pavilion from walking by the entrance on the way into a basketball game, a Terps volleyball game here is well worth checking out. The Pavilion is full of raucous energy during games, and the matchday experience is top-notch.

The National Basketball Association's playoffs are underway, so we at Stadium Journey felt it was time to do what we do best - rank some arenas. While the winner of the Larry O'Brien Trophy will be determined on the court, there's no one way to rank the gyms that these teams play in. Here's our try at it. To determine our rankings, Stadium Journey utilizes our patented FANFARE rating scale, which takes into account a venue's Food, Atmosphere, Neighborhood, Fan support, Access, Return on investment and a final Extras category. When two or more venues are tied, a Stadium Journey Council of Elders is consulted to break the tie. We hope that this list produces some good-natured debate. After all, isn't that why we do these things? Feel free to share your opinions on Stadium Journey's social media pages. Without further ado, we are proud to present Stadium Journey's rankings of all 30 National Basketball Association arenas for the 2022-23 season. 1. Madison Square Garden - New York Knicks 4.57 Brian O'Sullivan - Seeing a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden is a must for any basketball or sports fan in New York City. Although it comes at a substantial monetary cost, the memories that come with the experience are truly magical and will last a lifetime. 2. Scotiabank Arena - Toronto Raptors 4.43 Dave Cottenie - WIth the Toronto Raptors continuing successfully on and off the court, it is obvious that the team has taken a big bite out of the entertainment dollar in Toronto. No longer can Toronto be simply viewed as a Maple Leafs town. WeTheNorth has blown the doors open and it is clear that the Raptors are here to stay as a force in the Toronto sports market. 3. Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia 76ers 4.43 Pete Dowell - What makes the time you will spend at Wells Fargo Center amazing is the fans. The 76ers fans love to band together show the 76ers love just as much as they love to give the opposing team a hard time. Trust the Process and enjoy your time at Wells Fargo Center. 4. Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse - Cleveland Cavaliers 4.43 Lloyd Brown - The renovations at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse have all been directed towards improving the fan experience, as the seating bowl and playing court remained the same throughout the latest changes. If you have not been to a Cavaliers game or the former Quicken Loans Arena recently, you need to come and check out all the changes. 5. Amway Center - Orlando Magic 4.43 Chris Green - The Orlando Magic may have fallen on some hard times recently in terms of their record, but Amway Center remains one of the best around. The facility is stunning, clean, and always comfortable; the surrounding neighborhood means you have plenty to see and do before and after the game; and getting to the arena is a breeze. 6. Miami-Dade Arena - Miami Heat 4.43 Lloyd Brown - Regardless of the name of the building, the facility is one of the most unique arenas in the NBA, both architecturally and in its promotion of the local team’s brand. It embraces the Latin heritage found in the Miami area, both through its concessions program and the music played during lulls in the action. 7. Vivint Smart Home Arena - Utah Jazz 4.43 Lloyd Brown - The Utah Jazz are living proof that a small market can be competitive in the NBA. Through stable ownership that always puts its fans first, the franchise has been one of the most successful both on and off the court. The recent renovation of the Vivint Smart Home Arena has created an even tighter bond between the fans and their team. 8. Chase Center - Golden State Warriors 4.29 Lloyd Brown - One of the premiere franchises in the NBA now has a home to match up with its elite status. The Chase Center boasts an unbeatable view of San Francisco Bay, cutting-edge technology, and a food and beverage menu featuring the best the City by the Bay has to offer. 9. Moda Center - Portland Trailblazers 4.29 Lloyd Brown - Even though the Moda Center is one of the older arenas in the NBA, it offers one of the most entertaining venues to watch a game. The fact that basketball is the primary professional sport in town, added to the raucous atmosphere of the fans provides a great viewing experience. 10. Ball Arena - Denver Nuggets 4.29 Matt Finnegan - Jokic alone is worth the cost of a ticket. He fills a box score like Oscar Robertson and passes like Jason Kidd. He and Murray front a team that should contend for an NBA title. Yet the costs of watching the Nuggets at Ball Arena do not require a complex financial transaction. It’s a decent bargain for an exceptional experience. 11. Golden 1 Center - Sacramento Kings 4.29 Lloyd Brown - Large venues can do lots of harm to the environment through heavy car emissions, trash, and heavy use of carbon-producing gases. Golden 1 Center is a winner in minimizing these harmful issues and should be a blueprint for future athletic facilities. Winning off the court can be just as important as winning on the court as far as our environment. 12. TD Garden - Boston Celtics 4.14 Paul Baker - Boston may not be thought of as a basketball hotbed in some circles, but the combination of a team contending for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, a rabid fanbase, an outstanding gameday atmosphere, unmatched history, and tradition makes “The Gahden” one of the must-see venues in the league. 13. Gainbridge Fieldhouse - Indiana Pacers 4.14 Marc Viquez - The arena no longer feels like a basketball fieldhouse, but more of an entertainment venue that will appeal to different events. It is understandable, but this is what made the fieldhouse stand out among others in the league. However, once you sit in your seats, you will have plenty of new and familiar options to enjoy a game. 14. AT&T Center - San Antonio Spurs 4.14 Eric Moreno - It still feels special to take in a game at the Barn. For the history alone, I think any sports fan should take in a Spurs game – the atmosphere is great, the arena still sparkles, and one day the Spurs will rise again. 15. American Airlines Center - Dallas Mavericks 4.14 Michael Davis - American Airlines Center is one of the finest sports venues in America and is in a great city. AAC is immaculate, the amenities are first-class, and the experience overall is one of the best in the NBA. 16. Paycom Center - Oklahoma City Thunder 4.00 Dave Cottenie - Oklahoma City is probably not the first destination thought of about professional sports. However, the Thunder have proven that despite being in the smallest NBA market, they can play with the big boys and belong in the league. A trip to see the Thunder is well worth the trip and the city of Oklahoma City is an underrated destination city. 17. Crypto.com Arena - Los Angeles Clippers 4.00 Paul Baker - It’s tough sledding when you’re the third tenant in a facility. Even though the Clippers are finally achieving some success and are gaining a foothold in the crowded Los Angeles basketball market, the Staples Center does not feel like home to this star-crossed franchise. 18. State Farm Arena - Atlanta Hawks 4.00 David Welch - Taking in a Hawks game at State Farm Arena is an overall fun experience. Whether a fan of the Hawks or just a fan of NBA basketball, the Hawks organization puts a lot of effort into visiting one of the best in the NBA. From the pregame lights and flames during player introductions, to the in-game entertainment and variety of food and drinks at affordable prices, the experience of a Hawks game at State Farm Arena is without a doubt high quality. 19. Footprint Center - Phoenix Suns 4.00 Lloyd Brown - A trip to the newly renovated Footprint Center provides a much-improved fan experience for the Suns faithful. They can relax in the new seats that have been installed while keeping up with the game stats via the new video board and end zone displays. The one thing that remains the same is the antics of the Sun's Gorilla, one of the NBA’s top mascots. 20. Fiserv Forum - Milwaukee Bucks 4.00 Marc Viquez - The Fiserv Forum is an architectural beauty and offers everything a fan would want in an NBA area. The concourses are spacious, the food is varied, the views are open, and the service is top-notch. When you add the Deer District and Third Street as nearby destination options before the game, the Bucks fans have one hell of a place to enjoy their team. It is a beautiful place for a basketball game. 21. United Center - Chicago Bulls 3.86 Marc Viquez - The United Center has enough of what you need for an enjoyable evening of professional basketball. The history of the Bulls is on display all over the building, the social areas are great for spending time away from the game, and there is always an energetic crowd to liven up the mood of the building. 22. Crypto.com Arena - Los Angeles Lakers 3.71 Lloyd Brown - The Staples Center continues to serve as the premiere indoor sports facility in the Los Angeles area. Its mix of teams touches upon almost every demographic in a city known for being very diverse. Its location across the street from the LA Live music, restaurant, and entertainment district makes it a very attractive place for a night on the town for your family and friends. 23. Barclays Center - Brooklyn Nets 3.71 Sean MacDonald - With the Islanders disaster finally behind it, Barclays Center can return to being a basketball venue. Barclays Center has embraced a black and grey color scheme, which works well with the Nets, who use those as their primary colors. They have also embraced their Brooklyn home, and much of the game day presentation is used to strengthen the bond between the borough and the team. 24. Little Caesar's Arena - Detroit Pistons 3.71 Dave Cottenie - Although The Palace of Auburn Hills was a solid home for the Detroit Pistons, the lure of a brand new arena in a new era of Detroit ownership cooperation was too much for the Pistons to pass up. Overall the move to Little Caesars Arena is a positive one for the Pistons and will be a great home for the team for years to come. For those who long for the Palace, fear not, there is much the same at LCA and it is still Deee-trout Bas-ket-ball! 25. Smoothie King Center - New Orleans Pelicans 3.71 Lloyd Brown - The Smoothie King Center does not have the level of amenities found in the more recently constructed arenas around the league. The concourses are very narrow compared to most arenas and the low ceilings give the area a very cramped feeling. Inside the seating bowl, there is a noticeable lack of electronics, as the video board is rather small and is supplemented by four small message boards in each corner of the playing area. 26. Toyota Center - Houston Rockets 3.57 Lloyd Brown - The Toyota Center creates a great atmosphere even before you enter the building. Before weekend contests, the arena hosts Bud Light Liftoff parties on the plaza. This includes musical entertainment, food and beverage booths, interactive games, face painting, and autograph sessions with former Rocket players. Once inside the facility, you will see that it offers Texas-sized amenities. 27. Capital One Arena - Washington Wizards 3.57 Gregory Koch - Although the Wizards had high hopes when they moved downtown in 1997 into a shiny new arena, the experience has proven to be less than promised. Although a Wizards game is more affordable than it would be to see the Capitals at the same arena, you ultimately get what you pay for. The atmosphere in the arena is pretty dead and it is an average NBA arena at best. 28. FedEx Forum - Memphis Grizzlies 3.57 Lloyd Brown - The Fed Ex Forum does a great job of saluting the musical heritage of the city of Memphis and the great basketball teams of the city’s past. The concourses are very witty in working in musical references to some of the city’s blues legends, while also featuring photos of some of the top basketball talent to pass through the city. 29. Target Center - Minnesota Timberwolves 3.57 Lloyd Brown - The recent renovations at the Target Center have vastly improved the fan experience for the Timberwolves faithful. New gathering areas, opening the building to more outside light, and the improved electronic package in the seating bowl area are major improvements. 30. Spectrum Center - Charlotte Hornets 3.29 There will be a wide variety of entertainment to enjoy in the downtown area when you visit Spectrum Center. It is not a stretch to say that what makes a Hornets game at Spectrum Center truly worth it is all the things that Uptown provides a fan before and after a game.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 RA-Lin Field at University Stadium 1500 Lovvorn Rd Carrollton, GA 30117 West Georgia Wolves website RA-Lin Field at University Stadium website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 10,000 University of West Georgia Wolves The football history at the University of West Georgia is relatively young when looking at the storied programs throughout the South. Starting in 1981, West Georgia wasted no time making their presence felt, winning the NCAA Division-III National Championship in just their second year of existence. Their stay at the D-III level would be short-lived as the then-named Braves would move to the Division-II level for the 1983 season, where they have remained for 40 years. Current members of the Division-II Gulf South Conference, the Wolves will be making the jump to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as football members of the United Athletic Conference (UAC), a partnership between the Western Athletic Conference and the A-Sun at the start of the 2024 season. Food & Beverage 3 The ordinary concession stands are not overly exciting when it comes to the choices fans have. Chick-fil-A sandwiches, hot dogs, slices of pizza, and nachos with cheese are the primary options, with popcorn, chips, and candy to complement them. Concessions are very well priced with the Chick-fil-A sandwich costing the most at just $5. University Stadium also sells soft drinks from the Coca-Cola family, Power-Ade, and bottled water, each for $3. University Stadium does sell beer and seltzers, but this is limited to the Touchdown Landing at the northwest corner of the stadium. Fans can choose from a handful of Truly seltzers, Michelob Ultra, Miller Lite, and Yuengling Lager. There is also a full selection from the local Carrollton brewery Printer’s Ale Manufacturing Co. Concessions are pretty standard as to what would be found at most stadium stands, but they are at least priced very reasonably. Atmosphere 3 The large tower of glass-fronted suites gives the stadium a somewhat modern feel. The interior concourse continues that modernism with several large blue arched support structures throughout. The interior concourse opens to split-level seating. Alternating tunnels lead to an upper seating area that consists of both aluminum bleachers and a midfield section of reserved seats with chair backs, which run between the 30-yard lines on each end of the field. The lower-level tunnels bring fans to a wide exterior concourse that wraps around the seating bowl. Prime seating options will mostly depend on the time of the game – late afternoon and evening games will put the home side stands in the shadows rather quickly, which depending on the time of year could provide relief or create the need for a jacket during colder weather. Not enough can be said about the role the band plays in creating the classic college football atmosphere. The Marching Wolves of West Georgia are ready with situational blasts of music for 1st downs, calling for 3rd down stops, and of course the school’s fight song following scoring plays. There is not a lot when it comes to entertainment during breaks in the action, but the band paired with the music played over the speakers helps fill the time until the game starts back up. In all, the game experience is about everything you would expect from a typical college football game. Fans are actively into the game’s flow and its highs and lows. Neighborhood 4 The University of West Georgia is located less than 3 miles from downtown Carrollton, Georgia. Carrolton is on the outer reaches of the western suburbs of Atlanta, approximately 50 miles from Georgia’s largest city. The Carrollton town center is full of shops, restaurants, and a handful of breweries. Fans coming to Carrollton from out of town will find several hotels just off the downtown square. Being so close to campus, this is a great place to grab a pint or bite to eat before a late afternoon game, or have dinner following a noon kickoff. Maple Street, which runs along the front of the West Georgia campus, also has several eateries to choose from. University Stadium, along with the school’s soccer and softball fields, is just west of the main campus. Despite not being directly part of the rest of the West Georgia facilities, the football complex is close enough that it does not feel as if it is removed from campus. Fans 3 Games usually draw between 2,000 and 3,000 fans per game, and fans are typically engaged throughout. Wolves fans get loud during pivotal parts of the game – if in need of a defensive stop, or trying to will the ball carrier to an extra yard for a first down, the Wolves backers know to amp up the volume. The Wolves faithful also recognize good and not-so-good football plays and respond accordingly. Fans do not necessarily create a hostile atmosphere for the visiting team, but they are appropriately supportive of their Wolves. What is a bit disappointing is that while the University of West Georgia has an enrollment of just over 8,500 undergraduate students, the student section is rather sparse with supporters. This is unfortunate because the stadium has the potential of being a great fan atmosphere when paired with the alumni and local fans, as well as the work the marching band does throughout the game. Access 3 The University of West Georgia is about an hour from downtown Atlanta, and less than 30 minutes from the Georgia-Alabama state line in Carrollton, Georgia. The most direct route is via Interstate 20 which runs east-west through the state. Once off the interstate, there is still another 20 minutes to reach Carrolton; it is not necessarily the most direct of destinations to get to. University Stadium is just off the West Georgia campus. Most GPS directions to the stadium will have fans entering the area through a rather non-descript entry point with little sign of a college campus nearby, but there is signage signifying the West Georgia Athletics complex. There is plenty of parking surrounding the stadium. Lot A, a large grass and gravel lot, sits across from the west entrance to the stadium and is easy to get in and out of before and after the game. University Stadium has multiple entry points, most of which sit along the west side of the stadium. Fans seem to extend their tailgating right up to kickoff, so the lines to get in are rather short. Once inside fans are treated to a wide internal concourse under the home side seating area, with enough room that concessions lines do not interfere with those trying to pass through. The field concourse makes its way around the seating bowl but as mentioned, the walkway does not make its way around the entirety of the stadium. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for West Georgia football games start at $10 for general admission seats and $20 for reserved seats with seat backs. Reserved seating runs between the 30-yard lines on the western side of the stadium. Tickets for “The Porch” at the south end of the stadium offer a more exclusive football experience – starting at $65 for a single ticket, packages can be upgraded for families and can also include babysitting services. Parking in Lot A, the grass lot next to the stadium, is free. Reserved parking starts at $10 in the blacktop lot just to the north. When considering the extreme affordability of concessions prices and $10 tickets, it would be hard to find a more affordable college football experience in the area. Extras 3 The pre-game pep rally around the wolf statue atop the small hill behind the visiting team stands is a great rallying point for fans as they await players disembarking buses for the pre-game Wolf Walk. The large University of West Georgia logo on the exterior of the tower in the stadium pays homage to the university’s history. Before being rebranded as Wolves in 2006, the University of West Georgia had been known as the Braves since West Georgia’s inception in 1930. The large piece of art on the stadium's exterior depicts the current Wolves mascot, with a brave in the background. In addition, after the final seconds tick off the clock and the teams shake hands, the players, coaches, and cheer squads gather in front of the band to sing the school’s alma mater. It is these traditions, new or established, that make the college game so special. Final Thoughts West Georgia football might not have the tradition and grandeur that many of the larger programs in the region might have, but it is an overall positive football experience. The move to the FCS level should help in providing more resources for West Georgia to continue improving University Stadium and build on the current game day ambiance. The most glaring omission right now is a vocal student fanbase that would create a truly electric college football atmosphere – at the end of the day the athletic teams are an extension of the student body, and more involvement from them will do nothing but bolster the strong foundation that the University of West Georgia football experience sits on.

Photos by James Clotfelter, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Mercedes-Benz Stadium 1 AMB Drive Atlanta, GA 30313 Atlanta United FC website Mercedes-Benz Stadium website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 42,000 - 72,000 Trains, Spikes, and Stripes While there may have been doubts about Atlanta becoming a soccer city when the 2017 MLS franchise expansion was announced, any concerns about lukewarm fan support or the club’s commitment to success were quickly put to rest. Atlanta United now stands as a model example of how new franchises approach expansion. Atlanta United’s success, both on the field and through the turnstiles, has contributed significantly to Atlanta becoming a soccer hotbed in North America. So much so, that it was recently announced that US Soccer will be moving its headquarters to Atlanta. Through invested ownership and a passionate fanbase, Atlanta United is proof that expansion franchises do not inherently have to be at the bottom of a league. When the Five Stripes are in true form, “The Benz” is a dangerous place to play. Food & Beverage 5 Food and beverage have become a staple of the Mercedes Benz Stadium fan experience since its inception. This is due to the “fan first pricing” that Atlanta United’s owner, Author Blank, implemented in the stadium. This policy marked cliché stadium concession items to prices you cannot find in any other stadium. Basic items such as hotdogs, pretzels, popcorn, candy, and water can be found for $2. Pizza, cheese nachos, and French fries are $3. Bottomless souvenir sodas are $4, while domestic 12oz beers and cheeseburgers are $5. The stadium also offers higher-end options that are priced on par with what you would expect to find at other MLS stadiums. Tallboys, imports, and cocktails can be found throughout the stadium for anywhere between $9-$12. The Athens, Georgia-based Terrapin Brewery is a prominent local brew that can be found across the stadium. From brisket sandwiches and loaded nachos to whole pizzas, vegetarian selections, and plenty to satisfy the sweet tooth, the wide array of concession options ensures something for every palate. In addition to the concession staples on every level, there are specialized kiosks scattered around every concourse. It is at these “pop-up stands” where you will find unique items. We point newcomers to the food from these pop-up stands because this is where you can get unique items such as brisket grilled cheese, cheesesteaks, chicken hibachi, buffalo mac ‘n’ cheese, and vegan options. For these items, you can expect to pay $8-$12. As you would expect in a stadium in the south, Chick-fil-A stands are easy to find. There is also a new Moe’s Southwest Grill concession stand. If you prefer a sit-down meal, you can purchase access to Molly B’s restaurant where you will find different seafood options, burgers, and chicken, along with a view overlooking the pitch. You really cannot go wrong with food choices here; there is truly something for everyone. Atmosphere 4 Mercedes Benz Stadium is an architectural masterpiece. The building was intentionally constructed to provide a home-field advantage by being loud. Every seat is a chairback. The seats on the 100 and 300 levels are red, while the 200 level is black. The stadium consists of three decks that rise above one another with more vertical separation than horizontal. This design feature does two things, first, there is not a bad seat because the “nose bleeds” are up rather than out, so you feel on top of the action. Second, a much more engaged environment is created because you are on top of the field rather than behind it, which makes the stadium louder. The design of the perimeter is metal and built to create an echo, which once again, only makes the building louder, and is also the reason concerts are not great here. The video board was the first 360-degree “halo” video board of its kind and lies below the circular retractable roof that is designed to look like a falcon when it opens and closes. There is a monstrous window at the east goal line that displays the skyline of Atlanta and allows for sunlight to be an aesthetic even if the roof is closed, and the supporter section is on the 100 level in front of said window. There are many lounge and bar areas situated around the stadium, some of which are open to the public while others are private. The 100-club level seats that are positioned around mid-field allow access to a private lounge beneath the section, and on-field access during the match. The private boxes lie in between the 100 and 200 levels, the 200 and 300 levels, and the field level behind the goal. On the 300 level, there is a “100-yard bar” that is open to everyone. The floor is painted like a football field with yard lines, hence the name, and consists of many different food and beverage options. Before the match, the supporter groups will do a march around Downtown Atlanta where they are waving their flags, burning fires, and singing the club’s songs as they enter the stadium. At about 90 minutes before the match the player enters the stadium off the team bus. Fans can line up where the players enter after entering the stadium themselves. This spot can be found on the outdoor concourse beside the falcon statue. The pre-match festivities continue with the nailing of the spike, with is here a local celebrity nails a fake railroad spike into a platform, which is a reference to Atlanta United’s railroad history. During the singing of the national anthem, the fans echo the words, “stripes”, “red”, and “night”. And the final pre-match tradition is the playing of “We Ready” by Atlanta native Arthur Eversole, who tragically passed away in 2022. During the match, the bulk of the atmosphere is generated by the supporters’ section. They are equipped with drums and flags, and they will sing the team's songs throughout the entire 90’ no matter what is happening on the field. I believe that this is a great way to get immersed in the atmosphere of an Atlanta United match, but it can be difficult to watch, especially as a neutral due to the flags constantly waving. There are a few simple chants that the entire stadium takes part in, and they will be very easy to pick up on when you are there. When goals are scored the is a sometimes overwhelmingly loud train horn that is sounded throughout the stadium, and fire shoots out from pillars in front of the supporters’ section. Neighborhood 3 The matchday experience at the Benz may be amazing, but the location is not. The stadium is situated in Downtown Atlanta, which is not great for a variety of reasons. There are a few restaurants along the outside of the park where some fans make an appearance. Unfortunately, these restaurants are sparse in number and can be on the pricier side of things. We would recommend you swing by the CNN center which holds a very good food court at a reasonable price. There isn’t exactly nightlife in Downtown Atlanta as it is mostly office buildings. If nightlife is what you seek, much of Atlanta’s nightlife can be found in the Buckhead neighborhood, and you can get there on MARTA. We would advise you not to stray too far away from the stadium at night as downtown can be unsafe if you don’t know where you are going. A positive to being located downtown is its proximity to State Farm Arena, the Georgia World Congress Center, CNN Center, World of Coke, and the College Football Hall of Fame. The College Football Hall of Fame is a must-see for anyone visiting Atlanta for the first time. Fans 5 The first thing the front office of Atlanta United did was instill a strong winning culture. This led to the fanbase, or the “17s” as they call themselves, setting a “cup or nothing standard” for the team year in and year out. With that being said, the past few years have not been as successful, which revealed the 17s as dedicated. It is easy to show up for your team when cups are flowing in and out, but Atlanta United has consistently dominated the MLS attendance charts even in the less successful years of 2021 and 2022. Atlanta United even ranks among the top teams in world attendance. Not only do they show up at home, but Atlanta United fans have constructed a reputation for showing up on the road. The attendance for the match we were in attendance for was announced at 42,000. Atlanta fans do not get enough credit in the fandom. They love their city and use their teams to represent their city, so most of the local’s pride can be found in their teams. The supporters label themselves “rowdy and proud” and that runs true. Fans are attentive to what is happening, and they love to show their appreciation for getting the ball forward, but they also are quick to display their frustration when the five stripes start to sit back. Atlanta is a very diverse city that brings in people from all different backgrounds. These different backgrounds also bring their own sporting culture. The diverse cultural background within the fanbase has created many different supporter groups encompassing European, Latin-American, Hispanic, and straight from the SEC college football fan. All these different styles of fandom come together beautifully on matchday to create one of the most passionate fan bases in the league. The supporters’ section is the generator for the noise in the stadium. They are standing and singing the team’s songs throughout the entire match. They are also responsible for the giant tifo displays that are shown before the match. Most of the supporters’ section is made up of members of the different supporters’ groups. The groups are registered members-only supporters’ groups and often stay very active within the community by organizing and participating in many community service programs. Access 3 For non-locals, and locals alike, the downtown streets and highways can generate either frustration, confusion, or both. If you do select to drive to the match, you should take exit 56B off I-20 which will take you past a good chunk of parking options. The are many different types of parking lots downtown, some are run by the team, and some are not. Parking can also be quite expensive in this area... just a warning. You should buy your parking pass in advance on Spot Hero as you will find walkable options for around $20. Otherwise, there is a chance you might pay $40 paying at the site. We would advise you to take the public transit MARTA because there are two train stops for the stadium. These two stops are Vine City and the GWC stop. The only problem with this is that there are not too many access points, or rail lines to get on a MARTA train, so it will be crowded, but it will still be the least frustrating way to and from the stadium. There are also two rideshare pickup and drop-off locations outside the stadium. The stadium itself is a very easy one to navigate. Gate lines tend to move at a decent speed, but you should get here early just in case it takes a little longer than it should. All tickets are mobile tickets, and the venue is cashless. Apple and Google Pay are supported at all concession stands. The concourses are wide and walkable, and the stadium is equipped with a lot of escalators and ramps to allow for easy access between the levels. There are small team apparel stores placed all over the concourse, but the main one can be found on the 100 level towards the east goal and is two stories tall. Return on Investment 4 This is the pinnacle of fan experience in the MLS, but surprisingly enough, it is a very affordable experience. Tickets are about in the middle of the pack when compared to other teams. We would recommend the cheapest ticket at the Benz as there is not a bad seat. Ticket prices can vary from match to match, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $20-30 dollars to get into the stadium. Parking options vary depending on whether it is a weeknight or weekend match, but you can expect to pay around $20 using Spot Hero, however, a MARTA ride costs $5 roundtrip. “Fan First Pricing” allows fans not to break the bank on concessions if they do not want to. As mentioned before, you can get hotdogs for $2, hamburgers and soda for $4, and beer for $5. Other select items, like cheesesteaks, loaded nachos, tacos, brisket, etc., are more expensive, falling around $8-$14. Extras 5 Mercedes Benz Stadium has no shortage of extras. The two-story team store is very fun to peruse through. There are two shiny metallic statues outside, one of a soccer ball by gate 1 and one of a falcon by gate 3. You can also watch the player walk off the bus by the gate one outdoor concourse. On the 100 concourses, you can find a wall with the football helmet of every high school football team in the state of Georgia. Molly Bs has a restraint built into the stadium that is in the shape of a bird’s nest. Walk-up bars are scattered across every level on the concourse and equipped with standing-room-only views of the stadium. Finally, Atlanta United proudly hangs up their banners, one from the 2019 US Open Cup, one from the 2019 Campeones Cup, and last but certainly, one from the 2018 MLS Cup. Final Thoughts The Atlanta United experience is something that every sports fan, soccer or not, should experience. The stadium itself is something to behold, and the fans bring a sense of atmosphere that not many other fan bases in the league can compete with. Aside from Atlanta United, it will be exciting to see what kind of new soccer adventures will be brought to the stadium in the upcoming years with the World Cup and US Soccer’s new Atlanta headquarters.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 State Farm Arena 100 Techwood Dr. NW Atlanta, GA 30303 Atlanta Dream website State Farm Arena website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 18,118 Atlanta Returns to its Dream Home Editors Note: In 2021, the Atlanta Dream moved into the brand-new Gateway Center Atlanta Arena in College Park, GA. --- Atlanta is a city built on dreaming big. This has resulted in its winning the bid for the 1996 Olympic Games and the construction of two new stadiums, SunTrust Park and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in the last three years. More importantly, it is the hometown of Martin Luther King, Jr., a civil rights icon most famous for his “I Have a Dream” speech. The WNBA franchise Atlanta Dream also fits this category, as it is the only WNBA team, owned, managed and coached by women. The Dream have been very successful since their inception in 2008, as they have participated in the playoffs seven times. They have also appeared in the WNBA Finals three times. The 2019 season marks return of the Atlanta Dream to its home court after a two-year absence. The team played the 2017 and 2018 seasons at Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion while Philips Arena underwent a $200 million renovation. The clearest evidence of that renovation is the team’s home court in the newly renamed State Farm Arena. The only elements retained from its former existence as Philips Arena are external… the iconic steel support beams spelling out “ATLANTA.” Food & Beverage 3 The concessions area has been totally overhauled during the renovation, not only in a physical sense, but also in its approach to serving the fans. The arena has adopted the very popular Fans First concessions policy pioneered by its next-door neighbor, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Prices for the most popular fan favorite food items have been reduced dramatically. Samples of the prices include $1 chips; $2 candy, pretzels and bottled water: $3 hot dogs, nachos and fries: $4 pizzas, popcorn and sodas and $5 domestic beers. The arena has also adopted the efficiencies used at Mercedes-Benz to keep the lines moving. These include a 71% increase in points of sale over Philips Arena, 40% more beer taps, and items are sold in even dollar amounts to reduce time required to make change. Drinks are provided at self-service stations away from the counters, to reduce lines. All concession stations also look out over the seating bowl via the open concept concourse. There are several new food vendors from Atlanta’s most popular restaurants scattered throughout the arena. Unfortunately, only the basic generic concession stands are available at the Dream games. Atmosphere 3 Anyone walking into State Farm Arena expecting to see the same place they saw two years ago is in for a big shock. The arena is very much the home of the Hawks and the Dream, but it has taken on a whole new attitude and atmosphere. Gone are the wall of suites that once consumed half of the seating of the arena. Taking its place are additional seating for the everyday fan, along with some new game day experiences. The demolition of the wall of suites allows the concourse to run 360 degrees around the seating bowl for the first time since the building opened in 1999. The concourse also has been opened up to allow the fans to see the action from the moment they step into the building. The basketball capacity of the arena has been reduced with the extra space being set aside to provide more amenities and a better fan experience. The concourse is now laid out in several distinct “neighborhoods.” They include the Front Porch, which provides a panoramic view of the arena and new video board. The next two neighborhoods are all about the food. The Market provides a food hall filled with a variety of food vendors from Atlanta’s best restaurants on the concourse level. Two additional neighborhoods of interest are the Players Club, a private club located just behind the players bench. It is built underneath the seating bowl and provides club members with views into the players entry tunnel and the post game interview area. The technological improvements in the arena are stunning. Replacing the old scoreboard is the first continuous 360-degree video board in the WNBA. In addition, video boards have been added in each of the four corners of the facility, assuring every fan a clear view of replays and other important information about the team and upcoming events. As Atlanta’s primary indoor concert venue, the sound system is crystal clear and state of the art. The Dream’s goal is to make State Farm Arena a more open and friendlier environment for its fans. It also offers a more intimate setting for games, as the team utilizes only the lower level of the arena, so that no seats are further from the court than the concourse level. While these are all major improvements in the fan experience, there is little or no branding for the Dream, except for the playing floor, the electronic signage and the video board over the court. There are two temporary team gear booths along the concourse. The Atlanta Hawks branding is quite apparent during their co-tenants’ games, which does bring the experience score down a point. Neighborhood 4 Just as the “neighborhood” inside the arena has changed greatly, so has the neighborhood outside the area. The Georgia Dome was imploded and replaced by a park/greenspace area known as the Home Depot Backyard, which serves as tailgate central for the Atlanta Falcons as well as community events. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is now in its third year of wowing fans with its futuristic design and technology. Big changes are also planned for the area immediately in front of the State Farm Arena. A live/work/play development is in the planning stages and would fill the space that formerly housed an industrial area. Not everything in the neighborhood has changed. The arena still has a gate that provides direct entry into the CNN Center, with its very popular studio tours and restaurant complex. Just another block over is Centennial Olympic Park, home to several of Atlanta’s top attractions, including the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, the Center for Human and Civil Rights and the College Football Hall of Fame. Two restaurants to check out within walking distance of State Farm Arena are STATS and Taco Mac. There are a wide variety of hotels to choose from, as the Atlanta’s convention center is located next door to the arena. Like the ads say…”like a good neighbor, State Farm Arena is there.” Fans 3 The Dream are the first to admit that the team is currently in a rebuilding mode. This has been tough on the fans who are used to seeing the team go deep into the playoffs on a frequent basis. Attendance has been down for the last few seasons, but the renovation of the arena has brought new interest and energy to the franchise. The mix of some well-known veterans with some young players with great potential has fans coming back to check the team out. Despite Atlanta’s reputation as a “bad sports town,” the locals have proven very loyal in their support of the local professional teams through thick and thin. They have seen the Falcons and the Braves rebuild and return to the playoffs and look forward to the same thing happening with the Dream. The new amenities at State Farm Arena have created a buzz in the local sports community similar to the openings of SunTrust Park and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Access 4 Getting to State Farm Arena can be a headache due to Atlanta’s well-known traffic issues. The WAZE app is an excellent way to determine what route will work the best from your location and help you avoid any construction areas or accidents. There is plenty of parking near the arena, but your easiest and most cost-efficient way of getting to the game is by riding the MARTA light rail system. The MARTA rail system has a station (GWCC / State Farm Arena / CNN ) on its east/west line that will deliver you within feet of the arena. MARTA charges a flat fee, no matter how far you travel on the system and is a great bargain, as you avoid parking charges and traffic hassles. Once inside the arena, you will find a totally open concourse looking out over the seating bowl and the basketball court. For the first time ever, the concourse goes 360 degrees around the arena, as the wall of suites/private access area no longer exists. The seating bowl also provides much broader aisles than in its previous incarnation. The concession stands and other amenities are more accessible throughout the facility. Return on Investment 4 The Fan Friendly concessions program featured by State Farm Arena is definitely a trend setter in the sports venue community. Ticket prices are $60 on the sides of the court and $35 for seats in the end zones, and the seating configuration is a great improvement over Philips Arena. The availability of public transportation just feet from the arena entrance brings transportation costs down to $5 a person/round trip, saving you time and money getting to the game. Extras 3 The arena name change is a result of the expiration of a title sponsor agreement with Philips Electronics. Philips is no longer involved in the direct consumer sales market and decided not to renew for this reason. State Farm has an extremely large presence in Atlanta with more than 6,000 employees in the area. The various “neighborhoods” within State Farm Arena have food court-type seating areas adjacent to the food vendors sites. These open seating areas have an open view of the court below and allows you to enjoy your food without having to balance it in your lap. The $200 million price tag on the arena renovation is the second most expensive in NBA history. The most expensive renovation was Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Knicks. That renovation cost $1 billion and took three years to complete. Final Thoughts The Atlanta Dream and State Farm Arena are the latest venue to join in Atlanta’s flurry of new stadium/arena construction. While the exterior of the original structure still stands, the interior has been gutted and rebuilt into a state-of-the-art sports facility for the 21st century. Visitors to the former Philips Arena will be amazed and thrilled by the transformation.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Temple Sports Complex 1228 N 13th St. Philadelphia, PA 19122 Temple Owls website Temple Sports Complex website Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 500 Cherry and White Soccer Opened in 2016, the Temple Sports Complex in Philadelphia is home to Temple University's men's and women's soccer teams. Confusingly, the Temple Sports Complex can refer either specifically to the soccer field or to the whole complex which also includes Howarth Field, home to Temple field hockey and lacrosse. For this review, we will just be focusing on the soccer stadium, although many elements are shared by the entire complex. This review will focus on the experience at a Temple women's soccer game, although the experience is likely to be similar to a men's game. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at the Temple Sports Complex, although fans are free to bring their own except alcohol. On a crisp fall day, you will see many fans with coffee cups from Starbucks and other stores. Atmosphere 2 The Temple Sports Complex consists of a few rows of bleachers on one sideline. They are close enough that all seats have an outstanding view of the action. Other than the game itself, there is not a whole lot going on here. As soccer is constant action with no breaks except halftime, that is unsurprising to some extent, but the school does not do a whole lot to promote the experience here. That is disappointing as this is a nice stadium with great views of the action, and could be even better if the school would put some effort into the matchday experience. Neighborhood 3 Temple University is located in North Philadelphia near the intersection of Girard Avenue and Broad Street. Although this was once a very bad neighborhood, it has improved somewhat. There are a few restaurants located right across Girard Street from the complex, including John's Seafood, Crown Fried Chicken, and Angie's Vietnamese Cuisine. The Met Philadelphia, a prominent concert hall, is a short walk away on Broad Street. You will find other options nearby as well, including Larry's Steaks, serving up the classic Philadelphia cheesesteak. Fans 2 Although Howarth Field seats only 500, the Owls are lucky if they draw 200 to a particular match. Most of the fans are friends or family of the players, and while they can get loud at times, for the most part, it is so quiet here, that you can hear everything being shouted on the field. While that can be nice in its own right at times, at least to sports purists, it is not the most conducive to the matchday atmosphere. Furthermore, when Stadium Journey visited, almost half the fans were there to cheer on Temple's opponent, despite it being located halfway across the country. This is not the greatest look for the Owls. Access 4 There are many highways in Philadelphia, so getting into town by car should prove no problem. Once you get to the stadium, you will park about a 5 to 10-minute walk away in the Temple Towers lot. Turn left on 13th Street when you leave the lot and follow the signs to the entrance. Parking costs $20 and you pay by credit card when you exit. Cash is not accepted, so plan accordingly. If you are attending another event in the Temple Sports Complex on the same day, such as a field hockey game, you do not need to pay twice. The $20 will have you covered no matter how long you park, as long as you leave by midnight. The Girard Station on SEPTA's Market-Frankford subway line is also located just around the corner from the Temple Sports Complex, giving an easy opportunity to arrive by public transit. Restrooms are available in a building in between the field hockey and soccer fields, although as numerous signs tell you, you will enter the restrooms from outside the building and are not allowed in the building itself through the main doors. They are of a more than sufficient size for the crowd, even if it gets large. Return on Investment 3 Admission to all Temple field hockey games is free, with the possible exception of American Athletic Conference and NCAA Tournament games. However, if you arrive by car, you will pay $20 for parking, which is a bit much. You can improve the value somewhat by going to a field hockey game in the complex the same day at no additional cost, but this is still a bit on the high end given the matchday experience here. That being said, it is understandable that parking will be expensive in a major city like Philadelphia, and the flat rate for the whole day can either be a plus or a minus depending on how long you plan on staying. . Extras 3 Look for the banners honoring Temple soccer history. There is a marketing table by the entrance with free posters. A third and final star for the chance to see multiple events in the Temple Sports Complex in one day, one at the soccer field and another next door at Howarth Field for field hockey. Final Thoughts The Temple Sports Complex is a gorgeous and intimate place to watch a college soccer game, so it is disappointing that the Owls do not put much of effort into the matchday experience here. That being said, spending a couple of hours watching a soccer game here is still an enjoyable way to spend a fall afternoon, especially for fans of Temple athletics.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field 600 Forbes Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15282 Duquesne Dukes website Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field website Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 2,000 The Dukes' Domain High above a bluff overlooking the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh sits one of the most unusual football venues in college football. Rooney Field sits in the middle of the Duquesne University campus, with college buildings on three sides of the field and a grandstand atop the bluff along the fourth side of the gridiron. The field is named for Art Rooney, the longtime owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rooney played on the 1920 Dukes team and was a longtime supporter of the school. Rooney Field opened in 1993 and is celebrating its 30th anniversary during the 2023 football season. The venue has a capacity of only 2,000 fans, making it the smallest venue by capacity in the FCS. Rooney Field also hosts the Dukes’ soccer and lacrosse programs. The Dukes have fielded a football program on and off since 1894. The team played for many years (1994-2007) in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, where they were a powerhouse. During these years the Dukes had a record of 75-9-0, won eleven championships, and had a 39-game winning streak. They now play in the Northeastern Conference in the FCS, where they have won five conference championships. (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2018). The Dukes have sent 44 players on to play in the NFL. Food & Beverage 2 The concessions program at Rooney Field is very small, as there is a single stand located inside the stadium. Its menu is very limited, with hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, chips, and candy and Pepsi brand sodas being the only items available. The lines outside of the concession stand get very long during breaks in the action. We urge you to plan to eat a big meal before or after a Dukes game. Atmosphere 4 The games at Duquesne harken back to a simpler time in college football. The field is in the middle of the campus, with a very simple structure consisting of a few rows of seating on one side of the field, and a grandstand and a simple press box on the bluff side of the field. There is one concession stand and a lone set of restrooms at the venue. There is a simple pep band playing tunes during the contest, rather than a large marching band. The team colors of red and blue represent the Congregation of the Holy Ghost, which established Duquesne University. The only evidence of a more modern facility is the FieldTurf artificial turf on the field itself. The setting of Rooney Field sets it apart. On three sides of the field, the stadium is surrounded by academic buildings dedicated to educating tomorrow’s leaders. Three sides of the field are bordered by the academic buildings of Duquesne University, including the Academic Walk, the Mellon Hall of Science, and the Tavers Living and Learning Center. The fourth side of the field features a picture postcard view of Pittsburgh from atop a high bluff. The view includes both the Monongahela River, the towers of downtown Pittsburgh, as well as the Southside neighborhoods of the Steel City. Rooney Field is one of the few college football stadiums in the country to run in an east/west direction. This was the only way the field would fit within the tight confines of the campus buildings. Neighborhood 4 Rooney Field’s immediate neighbor is the Duquesne University campus. Its broader neighborhood is Downtown Pittsburgh. The city is no longer a city filled with steel mills. They have been replaced by the gleaming towers of some of America’s top corporations. It is also home to more than a dozen colleges and universities. Pittsburgh is also home to a very large cultural community, with theatres, museums, and public art installations throughout the city. The Strip District is also located near the campus. This is a very popular area filled with interesting shops, restaurants, and activities. The district is home to Aslin Beer Company and offers easy access to the walking trails along the Allegheny River. The Doubletree Hotel and Suites Pittsburgh Downtown is the closest hotel to Duquesne and is within walking distance of Rooney Field. PPG Paints Arena, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL, is located adjacent to the Duquesne campus. In addition to hockey, it is a popular concert venue for students. Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus routes connect the campus to the many sports, entertainment, and dining options in the downtown Pittsburgh area. For detailed information, go to www.rideprt.org. Fans 2 The fan base at Dukes games is primarily made up of Duquesne alumni and current students at the university. The student section at Duquesne games is known as the Red and Blue Crew. The Red and Blue Crew coordinate their cheers with the Duquesne Pep Band. In 2021, Duquesne University made a major change in the cheer program for the Dukes. The former human with a top hat and a cane is gone. He has been transformed into a blue lion with a top hat and a cane. If you check his eyes closely you will see two diamond-shaped pupils. These diamonds mimic the Pittsburgh Steelers logo, a team Mr. Rooney owned for several decades. We know he would be touched by this subtle salute to his team. The new lion mascot is thought to be more child-friendly. Access 4 Getting to and from a Duquesne football game is very easy. Directions from I-279: Take exit 8A (I-579) off of I-279. Take the Veterans Memorial Bridge across the Allegheny River and exit at the 6th/7th Avenue exit. Follow the signs to Mellon Arena. At the traffic light facing Mellon Arena turn right onto Washington Place. Turn left at Forbes Avenue and continue to the Forbes Avenue Parking Deck. Signs in the parking deck will guide you to Rooney Field. From the South: Take the Liberty Tunnel and cross the Liberty Bridge in the right lane. Follow the bridge to light at Forbes Avenue. Turn right on Forbes Avenue and enter the Duquesne University campus. Turn into the Forbes Avenue Parking Deck. Return on Investment 4 Spending a fall afternoon at Rooney Field will not break the bank. Gameday parking in the Forbes Avenue parking deck is $10. There is a very limited supply of reserved seat tickets which are $18 if purchased in advance or $20 the day of the game. Most seats at Rooney Field are general admission seats and they sell for $12 in advance or $15 the day of the game. Extras 5 Rooney Field also serves as the home for both the soccer and lacrosse programs at Duquesne. Mr. Rooney’s Steelers teams used the Duquesne campus for their preseason training camps until 2000. Mr. Rooney played multiple positions for the Dukes, as was the custom in the early days of college football. He played quarterback and served as the team’s kicker. Duquesne University and the Dukes football moniker honor Marquis Duquesne, who built Fort Duquesne at the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers. He also brought the Catholic faith to this region of the country. Former Dukes coach Elmer Layden devised the hand signals now used by referees during his tenure at Duquesne. Final Thoughts Rooney Field is one of the most unique settings in the country for a college football game. Its’ perch on a high bluff overlooking the Monongahela River and Downtown Pittsburgh is breathtaking. Duquesne University is to be applauded for finding a way to keep the stadium as an on-campus venue.

Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Yankee Stadium 1 E 161st St Bronx, NY 10451 New York Yankees website Yankee Stadium website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 46,537 New York’s House Belongs to Judge The New York Yankees have not won a World series since the new Yankee Stadium (version No. 3) opened in 2009. On December 22, 2022, the Yankees signed superstar Aaron Judge to a 9-year, $360 million deal and named him the 16th Yankees captain. Whether Judge can take the Yankees back to the pinnacle remains to be seen. But the crowds are back this year with many fans sporting Judge’s 99 on their backs. Yankee Stadium is the home field for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB) and New York City FC of Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as being the host stadium for the annual Pinstripe College Football Bowl game in late December. Aaron Judge on Scoreboard at Yankee Stadium, Photo by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Food & Beverage 5 The Yankees do have some of the most varied food options in MLB. Some of the popular food choices include Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, Bobby Flay’s “Bobby’s Burgers”, Foku Fried Chicken from Chef David Chang, The Mac Truck (Buffalo Chicken and classic Mac & Cheese), Lobel’s including the steak sandwich, meatloaf burger and steak topped fries, Sweetbird from chef Marcus Samuelsson featuring chicken sandwiches and chicken and waffles and Mighty Quinn’s BBQ. One of the most publicized new items is the 99 Burger which cost $19.99. Only 199 are sold per game and the line forms early at Section 223. It consists of two 4oz wagu beef patties, new school american cheese, caramelized onions, dill pickles and special sauce on a brioche bun. The best deal is the bucket of chicken strips and fries for $20. A large craft beer is $15.99 and a Poland Spring water is $5.69. Our Stadium Journey tip is to bring in food and water to get you started and cut down on the exorbitant prices. Fans can grab snacks, beer, sweets or whatever is your pleasure later. There is an option to order from your seat on Uber Eats and pick up the food at various concession stands for no additional fees. Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere appears to be elevated following the pandemic. Yankee fans are hungry to see their team appear in the World Series for the first time since 2009. Most of the games are close to if not sold out. The only issue is the lack of star power since Judge left the line up in early June, but fans are still flocking to the Bronx. Rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe is causing some commotion as he stunned many by winning an every day slot out of spring training at age 22. The “moat” seating area between the bases takes away some of the excitement as the more enthusiastic fans are kept out of those seats. Often some of the best seats are not filled for the entire game since fans could be eating in the dining room underneath the seating area. The centerfield scoreboard, while no longer the largest in MLB, is huge and still an asset. The ground crew still dances to the Village People’s YMCA while sweeping the infield after the 6th inning. It may seem like a tired tradition, dating back to 1996, but the fans still get into it. Two major attractions are Monument Park and the Yankees Museum. Monument Park closes 45 minutes prior to game time. The Museum is opened from 90 minutes before until the end of the eighth inning. The centerpiece of the Museum is the “Ball Wall” a collection of autographs of current and former Yankees. There are many club seating areas including the Audi and Delta Clubs, the Jim Beam Suites and the Legends seating down below which includes unlimited high-end food and alcohol. One negative is all Yankee Stadium gates open 1.5 hours before first pitch which should be adjusted to 2 hours so fans can take part in seeing the Yankees take batting practice. Neighborhood 2 The nearby neighborhood is hardly attractive but it still gets a good crowd of typically younger fans to hang out before and after games. Billy’s Sports Bar at 856 River Avenue seems be attracting the biggest crowds this season. There is also Stan’s on 836 River Avenue and the Dugout on 880. At Gate 6 is the Hard Rock Cafe, a solid option for both eating and drinking. There are a few places to eat outside including the Court Deli, US Fried Chicken and McDonald’s. Fans 4 Yankee fans were spoiled by all the success of the late 90s and early 2000s and expect the team to be in the playoffs every year. The Yankees have gone without a World Series since 2009 and the stadium has suffered from a lack of buzz. The fans are supportive, but quick to boo underachievers and miscues. The fans at times are more enthused by the Great Subway Race and the Cap Game, but the pitch clock does have more eyes focused on the field instead of cellphones. The wave is now making an appearance at most games. The death star siren that is unleashed sometimes with two strikes on the opposing hitter should be eliminated. The Legend seats are more full this year and attendance of over 42,000 per night has become commonplace. The “Bleacher Creatures” in the right field bleachers seem to be invigorated. Listen for their Roll Call in the top of the first as they call out the outfielders and infielders and are acknowledged by each player, a tradition going strong since 1998. It is truly a special scene not to be missed. Access 5 Yankee Stadium is easy to get to and best accessed by train via Metro North or Subway. The D, B, and No. 4 all stop at the ballyard. No. 4 is the elevated line with the D & B underground The B train only runs on weekdays. All Metro-North lines (Hudson, Harlem & New Haven) stop at Yankee Stadium. The Hudson Line offers the best access as no transfer at 125th Street is needed. Inbound to Yankee Stadium most Harlem and New Haven line trains require fans to detrain at 125th street and wait for a train going northbound one stop to the Stadium. In the evening, most trains run direct, but on weeknights, fans may have to wait till the game ends to get a direct train or choose to go back to 125th to wait for a northbound train. Yankee Stadium River Ave, Photo by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey There are four gates for entry and exit. Gate 2 by River Avenue and next to the Hard Rock is often the most crowded as people getting off the subway feed right into that area. Gate 8 in centerfield almost under the Elevated No. 4 train is often the least crowded gate. Kudos to Yankee Stadium security as crowds are entering faster than usual. Yankee Stadium had embraced new technology where fans only have to remove cell phones upon entry. Only MLB-compliant bags - presently soft-sided and 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches or smaller - and small soft-sided personal items will be admitted. A clear plastic backpack is a great option and was not even searched on my two most recent visits to Yankee Stadium. The Deegan Expressway offers access to Yankee Stadium but can get congested especially on weeknights. Another entry point is the Grand Concourse from the north or south and sometimes fans can luck out and get a free spot or there are a few garages about 7-10 minute walk from the Stadium that is less expensive than the ones next to or connected to the Stadium. Stadium Journey recommends ParkMobile or Park Wiz where fans can pay between $15-$30 depending upon which lots are available. Return on Investment 4 Yankees do tend to run some ticket specials including about five to eight $5 games a year for upper-level seats (terrace in the outfield and grandstand) on a weeknight typically in April to early June and one September date. Those often go on sale as early as September for the following season. Another worthwhile offer is Mastercard half price games for Terrace, and Bleacher seating. The Yankees also offer $10 grandstand tickets for select games. The Pinstripe Pass is a bargain at $15 and includes a general admission standing room only ticket to the Stadium with your first drink included (a 12 oz. domestic beer, Pepsi product or Poland Spring bottled water). Food prices are off the charts and souvenirs are too expensive for many families. Seats in the upper level right behind home plate (Grandstand) offer a good view, but are still higher than they were in the previous Yankee Stadium. Field level seats are stellar but costly, the main level (200s) for the most part is excellent and usually a bit less costly. If fans chose the left field corner you may not be able to see the large video board depending on how close the seat is to the bleachers and how far back it is located in the section. Extras 4 The age-old argument is whether or not the stadium is as good as the last version. Granted it is not as loud, partly due to the open air configuration, but it is still aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The designers modeled it to look retro from the majestic main gate to the old Armitron Clock above left center field to the flags circling the top that still display each team in the order of the position they currently hold in the AL and NL standings. The bathrooms are generally more spacious and most have an entrance and an exit. On the downside, leg room could be better especially in the upper deck and the bleacher area walkway is too cramped. Yankee Stadium does a good job of blending old and new. Yankee Stadium's frieze is a classic piece of architecture. It lined the roof of the original Yankee Stadium from 1923 to 2008 and has been carried over to the latest version. Monument Park and the Museum are impressive as well as the bars in left and right center where young people enjoy congregating. Final Thoughts Yankee Stadium is still an iconic ballpark even with a few too many “bells and whistles.” It clearly is worthy of a Stadium Journey for not just baseball fans but all sports fans alike.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium 255 Ferst Dr Atlanta, GA 30332 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets website Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium website Year Opened: 1980 Capacity: 3,718 Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium The skyline of Midtown Atlanta drapes the outfield at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium, creating one of the most stunning backdrops in college baseball. Baseball has been played at the corner of Fowler Street and Ferst Drive for close to a century. Originally built in 1930 and known as Rose Bowl Field, the stadium was rebuilt in the early 70s with just aluminum bleachers, then upgraded in 1985 by donations from A. Russell Chandler II. While the official name became Russ Chandler Stadium, it garnered the nickname “The Rusty C” due to the rusting of the bleachers. The stadium received a full upgrade in 2002 when a full grandstand was built, and then again in 2021 when the Mark Teixeira Skyline Terrace was added down the third-base side of the stadium. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions are what would be expected at most baseball concession stands, highlighted by chicken fingers and fries ($10). Other choices include hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, and popcorn for $6 each. Peanuts, chips, and candy can also be purchased. Non-alcoholic beverages include 22 and 32oz Coke products, which are available for $6 and $7, respectively. There is a wide selection of beer, from domestics ($10) to premium beers ($12) that include the Georgia Tech branded “Helluva Lager” and “Ale of An Engineer.” New Realm Brewing Company also offers draft Hazy Pale Ale and Fruited Wheat Ale. Seltzers ($11) and wine ($12) are also available. Prices are in line with most stadiums, but are a tick high when compared with what the neighboring Hawks and Falcons have done by drastically cutting the price of their concessions. Atmosphere 4 The use of brick is prevalent throughout Russ Chandler Stadium. From the outer façade to the press box, to the backstop and the recently added Mark Teixeira Skyline Terrace, the use of brick really jumps out, and it complements the natural grass field perfectly. The field plays a bit to the advantage of left-handed hitters with the right field sitting 328’ and power alleys just 353’. The left field wall is 332’ from home with left center going 391’; it is 400’ to dead center. The distances are a bit lopsided, with a relatively short fence from right center to right field given the street that runs just beyond the wall. Georgia Tech does not do a lot when it comes to between-inning entertainment, and it is wonderful! This is not to say there is not occasional fan-cam, or fan contests, but those are kept to a minimum and the focus is kept on the game itself. Best of all, there are no sound effects following each foul ball, nor scoreboard messages prompting fans to clap. The chairback seats behind home plate are almost entirely shaded and covered to help eliminate the elements; they are a good investment when it comes to protecting against the sun. Or, if looking to take in the game solely as social event, the Teixeira Skyline Terrace is a great place to grab a drink, watch the game, and take in Atlanta’s skyline. Neighborhood 5 The Georgia Tech campus is in Atlanta’s Midtown neighborhood – Russ Chandler Stadium itself is surrounded by many of the Tech’s fraternity and sorority houses. Georgia Tech’s campus will never be confused as being a college town, but the stadium’s proximity to Greek housing helps create a campus game day atmosphere. Given Georgia Tech’s location, there is nearly an endless amount of food, lodging, and entertainment in the area. Just across the interstate is where much of the entertainment and restaurants are located, along Peachtree and Juniper Streets. Hotels in the area are also plentiful – the most convenient might be the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. Georgia Tech’s campus is also just over a mile from Centennial Olympic Park, which is surrounded by many downtown attractions, including the Georgia Aquarium, College Football Hall of Fame, and World of Coke. Fans 4 Georgia Tech fans pack the house for big games, and the Tech students are a big part of that. Students fill three of the four sections behind the visiting team’s dugout along the first base line. The student section is rather active with chants and cheers throughout the game. Georgia Tech baseball fans turn out to support the Ramblin’ Wreck, but it is not a highly intense atmosphere; the feel is simply one of a large number of fans turning out to support their team. Access 4 The Georgia Tech campus is located directly off Atlanta’s Downtown Connector, where interstates I-75 and I-85 merge. This can be quite a traffic nightmare when trying to get to the stadium for a weekday game. Once on campus, the parking deck that serves most of the baseball traffic is directly across the street from the stadium’s front gates. Atlanta’s subway system, MARTA, also has two stops close to Georgia Tech’s campus, one on North Street and the other at the Midtown transfer station. Both stops are less than a mile from Russ Chandler Stadium. Fans enter to a plaza area where they can access their seats or stop at some of the beer or apparel stands. A secondary entrance near the right field corner makes accessing along the first baseline easier for fans sitting on that side of the stadium. Trying to navigate the concourse can be a challenge as there is not one direct route around it. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are priced fairly, with chair back tickets behind home plate starting at $15, and both bench reserved and general admission seating for $10. Midweek series offer two general admission bench seats for $10. When it comes to concessions, Tech’s prices are not outrageously expensive, but when compared to the super low food prices at nearby State Farm Arena or Mercedes-Benz Stadium, concessions at Russ Chandler Stadium come in a bit high. There is a $5 charge to park in the garage directly across from Russ Chandler Stadium. Given its downtown location, Georgia Tech has to charge for parking, at a drive-up rate of $5. While there are many college baseball programs which do not charge for parking, given the location of Tech’s downtown campus, charging for parking here is unavoidable. Extras 4 Georgia Tech’s beloved mascot, Buzz, makes his way around the stands riling up fans, leading them in chants, and stopping for an almost endless number of selfies. Atlanta’s Midtown skyline provides for a fantastic visual from right center field around to behind the first base dugout. Fans go wild when Georgia Tech’s Ramblin’ Wreck makes an appearance and takes a lap around the warning track. The 1930 Ford Model A Sport Coupe also remains parked behind home plate for 15 to 20 minutes, allowing fans to snap a quick photo with the classic car. Much like their professional counterparts, Georgia Tech features several stadium giveaways and theme nights throughout the season. Final Thoughts Georgia Tech has a fabulous game day atmosphere – from the Greek housing just outside the gates to the chants and cheers from the student section, to the fact that Georgia Tech stays out of the way of the game and lets the contest on the field be the feature of the day. Russ Chandler Stadium might not be the largest stadium, it might not have tons of amenities, and the fans might be considered subdued by some standards (they defiantly are not), but it hard to beat the laidback atmosphere where baseball is kept as the center of attention.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Hank McCamish Pavilion 965 Fowler St Atlanta, GA 30332 Atlanta Dream website Hank McCamish Pavilion website Year Opened: 1956 Capacity: 8,600 The Dream is Still Alive in Atlanta Atlanta continues to be a city where dreams are made, as its sports community continues to thrive. Two new stadiums have been built in the last two years, and Philips Arena is undergoing a massive renovation. The Atlanta United soccer franchise draws more than 72,000 per game and the Super Bowl heads to the city for the 2019 game. As the name of Atlanta’s WNBA entry attests, the dream is also alive for the women of Atlanta. The team is the only Atlanta professional sports franchise totally owned by women. The team has relocated to Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion arena for the 2016-2018 seasons as their permanent home, Philips Arena, undergoes a $143 million renovation. The Dream will return to Phillips Arena following the 2018 season. McCamish Pavilion was renovated in 2012 and has received excellent reviews for its state of the art design and technology. The capacity of the arena is 8,600 and it features two tiered levels of seats with 6,935 lower level seats and 1,665 balcony level seats. The facility is high tech in a number of ways. It features a lighting system which spotlights the playing court while dimming the lighting in the seating areas, providing a theatre-like effect focus on the game. The McCamish Pavilion also has a 360-degree ribbon board encircling the arena and an enhanced scoreboard with HD graphics. Food & Beverage 3 McCamish Pavilion has six concession stands, with four located on the lower concourse and two located on the balcony level. The facility has an open concourse with more than 50 TV’s, so you will not miss any game action while getting your food and beverages. In addition to the six generic concession stands, the arena also features a Sonny’s BBQ stand and a Smash Burger outlet. A quick review of the menu and prices you can expect at a Dream game: hot dogs ($6), sausages ($7), pretzels ($5), popcorn ($5), peanuts ($5), and nachos ($7). Sonny’s BBQ sandwiches are $7 and Smash Burgers are $8. All beverages are Coca-Cola products (the World HQ is just three blocks from the arena) and sodas are $4, bottled water is $4 and frozen lemonade is $5. Alcoholic beverages may only be purchased and consumed within the private Callaway Club in the arena. This is due to the arena belonging to the Georgia University System. Atmosphere 4 The Georgia Tech basketball arena long ago adopted the moniker of “The Thrillerdome” after two magical Final Four runs, when the team won several games in buzzer-beater fashion. It is a name that has stuck with the McCamish Pavilion. The Dream is doing its best to carry the Thrillerdome aura into the WNBA with its up-tempo brand of basketball. The move to a smaller arena has only increased the intimidation factor as nearly every game is a full house. Also, the acoustics of the facility is designed to hold in the noise and the Dream fans, the Shooting Stars cheer squad, team mascot Star and longtime PA announcer Vince “The Voice” Bailey are doing their best to drive up the energy level during an offensive run or a good defensive stand. The dramatic lighting now used at the McCamish Pavilion makes it clear that the action on the court is the star here. It truly feels more like a professional arena than a college arena. Neighborhood 4 There are really three distinct neighborhoods surrounding the McCamish Pavilion. It is located at the very north end of the Georgia Tech campus. Basically, its neighbors in this regard are athletic facilities, including the Byers Tennis Complex, the Georgia Tech football practice facility and Russ Chandler Stadium, home of the Yellow Jacket baseball program. Across the downtown, Connector is the Midtown neighborhood. The Georgia Tech campus has expanded into this area in recent years, but it is primarily an area filled with trendy restaurants such as South City Kitchen, Ecco, and STK Atlanta. One longtime Tech favorite is the Varsity, the world’s largest drive-in. Though not the healthiest food in the world, presidents, world leaders and sports icons have stopped in to enjoy its greasy fare. The last neighborhood bordering the arena is the West Atlanta / Atlantic Station area. Atlantic Station has transformed a former brownfield site into a very successful mixed use development filled with parks, apartments, movie theatres and even Atlanta’s only IKEA store. Adjoining Atlantic Station is the West Atlanta neighborhood, a former industrial corridor that is very popular with millennials. It includes a number of Atlanta’s hottest restaurants, such as Miller Union, JCT. Kitchen and Bar and the West Egg Café. Fans 4 The Dream has established a very loyal following over their first decade in the WNBA. You will notice a very high percentage of the crowds at the games are women. Obviously, this is due in part to it being a women’s basketball team. The Dream goes way beyond that in focusing its marketing and community involvement efforts on women of achievement and women’s issues. Each game honors women and women’s organizations that are improving their community. The team is also very involved in such issues as breast cancer awareness and treatment, LGBTQ rights and encouraging the inclusion of more girls’ sports teams in the schools. As a result of these efforts, the community has become the “sixth woman” for the team. They bring an energy and enthusiasm to the arena that picks up the team during a tough game and also makes it hard for the opposition to concentrate due to the volume of cheers coming from the stands. Access 3 McCamish Pavilion is located conveniently right off Interstates I-75/I-85 (also known to locals at the Downtown Connector) as they pass through the center of Atlanta. You would take either the 14th Street or North Avenue exits to reach the arena. The parking directly adjacent to the arena on campus is reserved for season ticket holders, but there are a number of commercial lots located on the east side of the Downtown Connector within an easy walking distance of the McCamish Pavilion. A second less costly alternative to getting to a game is the MARTA rapid rail system to the Midtown MARTA station, then walk four short blocks up 10th Street to McCamish Pavilion. Entry into the McCamish Pavilion is through one of three main portals, with a very good flow and adequate ticket takers. Once inside you will find the concourses to be very wide, so you should not encounter any gridlock. The concessions are built into the sides of the building so they do not cause any congestion. The number of restrooms is more than adequate. You will find the seating at McCamish to be quite comfortable as it features chair backs with wider than normal space. Return on Investment 3 Dream basketball tickets are sold at prices ranging from $36 for end zone seats to $60 for sideline seats. Parking close to McCamish runs $10-$15, but by using MARTA to the game you can bring that cost down to $5 per person roundtrip. Concessions at McCamish Pavilion are reasonably priced. Atlanta is a convention city, so downtown area hotels can run in excess of $250/per night. It is a good idea to stay in a suburban location hotel and then take MARTA or drive into the game. Extras 3 A majority of Atlanta’s main tourist attractions are less than three miles from McCamish Pavilion. The following are located in a cluster around Centennial Olympic Park: the College Football Hall of Fame, the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, the Center for Civil and Human Rights and CNN Center. Simply go three stations past the Midtown MARTA station and get off at the Peachtree Center Station, then walk two blocks west. This marks the second time that a Georgia Tech basketball arena has substituted for another team’s home court. In 2008, a tornado struck the Georgia Dome during the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament. This forced the tournament to be moved to the then Alexander Memorial Coliseum for the remainder of the tournament. Ironically that tournament was won by a huge underdog….. the University of Georgia Bulldogs….. Georgia Tech’s most bitter athletic rival. The Atlanta Dream team name was inspired by one of its best-known citizens. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an Atlanta native and a civil rights icon. His “I have a dream” speech is one of defining moments in the civil rights movement. Final Thoughts While most people would think a temporary relocation would adversely affect a team, the move to McCamish Pavilion has been a positive one for the Atlanta Dream. Its more intimate setting, the dramatic lighting of the playing floor, and a Midtown location that is in the backyard of its most ardent fans have added up to a very successful move.

Photos by Benjamin Evensen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 KeyArena 305 Harrison St Seattle, WA 98109 Seattle Redhawks website KeyArena website Year Opened: 1962 Capacity: 17,072 Seattle’s Second School Editors Note: The Climate Pledge Arena stands in the footprint of the former Key Arena, with the roof being the only portion of the former arena being preserved. --- Seattle University re-upgraded to Division I in 2008, and only in 2012 did they fully complete the upgrade process. They are full members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), and play their home games at KeyArena just a few miles from their campus, in downtown Seattle, Washington. KeyArena was built in 1962 for the World’s Fair at Seattle Center. It is most famous for housing the Seattle Sonics from 1967 up until their move to Oklahoma City in 2008. It currently is home to the Seattle Redhawks, and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. It also hosts numerous concerts. KeyArena’s age has been well documented before. It is old, and lacks the seating capacity for an NBA franchise (it seats 17,000). Once the Sonics left for OKC, many plans for the arena have been passed around, including renovating it to make it smaller, and even destroying it. Key Bank hasn’t paid for the naming rights in years but the Key Bank logo is still on the top of the roof. Food & Beverage 1 When you leave your seat and walk around KeyArena, many of the concession stands are closed and take a long walk to get to. They are very expensive for a mid-major school as Coke products are $4.50 for a bottle, candy is $5 and the only food available are chicken strips, burgers, sandwiches, etc. that cost $12.50 and upwards. The only positive thing is the very short lines. Atmosphere 3 KeyArena has played host to the NBA Finals, WNBA Championship, and many other big events. It was home to the Seattle SuperSonics, who played 33 of their 41 years there. But those days are long gone, and so are all the visible signs of what KeyArena used to mean. The rafters now hold only banners of the Seattle Storm’s achievements, including two WNBA Championships. Seattle University hasn’t accomplished anything in their short time since rejoining the Division I level, but they did make an appearance in the Final Four, and were runners-up in 1958. There is only a banner hung temporarily at the east entrance for the Final Four year. The seats are mediocre and a little old, but the fans are into it and can be loud. The PA announcer is very into the game, with enthusiastic ways to identify a player. The player intros before the game are worth seeing too, as the entire arena goes dark with spotlights and background music. The upper level is curtained off leaving just the lower level and suites open to the tune of about 8,000 seats. Seattle has averaged around 2,000 fans in recent years so the emptiness isn’t ideal. While the fan interaction is nice, the arena feels a bit dated at times, and just too big for the type of game you are watching. But it could be a lot worse and the history of the building is a plus. Neighborhood 5 KeyArena is located right under Seattle’s iconic Space Needle, so if you have the money, a ride to the top gives you an amazing view. Famous Seattle burger joint “Dick’s Drive-In” is located just a quick walk away from the arena (however, this is the one Dick’s that is not actually a drive-in). The arena is very close to everything Seattle has to offer, including the waterfront, and Pike’s Place Market. If you come with a few hours to spare before the game, almost everything Seattle is famous for is within about a 10 minute drive. If walking is your only option though, there are numerous bars and restaurants all just a few blocks from KeyArena. There should be no problem finding something everyone can enjoy. Fans 2 Seattle University will likely never pass the other local more nationally known school in popularity in the Seattle area, the University of Washington, . While the Redhawks have yet to find success in their short time at the D-I level, they struggle to sell tickets to their games. The upper deck of KeyArena is closed off, and the lower level is about 20% full most games. With open seating, the midcourt sections are always pretty full. The crowd seems to mainly consist of alumni and their kids, the players’ families, and the small group of alumni called the “Madgrads” who sit by the visitor’s bench and heckle the opposing team throughout the game. There is a student section that was completely empty and many games have been like this playing at an off-campus arena. However, the fans do follow the game closely. They are quick to show their disagreement with a bad call by a referee, and can become very loud when the game is close, or a player has an amazing play. While they may be small in numbers, the fans that come do appear to be into the game and have a passion for Seattle U. Access 2 Finding a parking spot is not an issue, as an arena that used to hold around 17,000 people 41 times a year still has the parking space. There are a good amount of lots, and a large parking garage right next to the arena. However, the prices can become a bit high for such a small event. You can expect to pay around $15 just to park, which is about the same price as the ticket to the game itself. The pay machines are old and outdated, and when trying to pay the $10 fee to park in the garage with cash, I couldn’t get it to accept any of my bills. When using my card, it took about 5 minutes to try and get it to finally read and print my ticket. The area can have a lot of theft too, so it is best not to show any valuables in your car, and bring what you can with you into the arena. Most of the parking garage does not have any full-time security, but if you are smart about hiding your valuables, you should be okay. Getting into the arena can take a bit of a walk as it is in Seattle Center. The ticket booth is also only on the east entrance, so unless you have your ticket already it can be a walk to the entrance. It isn’t that bad, though. Return on Investment 4 The tickets to Seattle U games are very inexpensive. Season ticket holders pay only $48 for their tickets. For a Division I basketball game, comfortable seating, and good food options, the price is well worth it. The school also offers many value packs to games. It is $10 for a general admission ticket which are supposed to be the areas behind the basket. For $20 you get tickets to the midcourt section. They also pass out ‘buy one ticket to any future game, get one free’ coupons. There is a secret though. The ushers do not check tickets at all and unless you try to sit courtside, you are free to sit anywhere. The problem is the food being so expensive. It is a better idea to eat before the game. Extras 3 As for the rest of what KeyArena offers during a Seattle Redhawks game, there is a small team shop booth inside the arena. The shop has a few jackets, shirts, and hats for men, women, and kids, but the selection is slim. The halftime entertainment is always something interesting and in 2014 one of the Black Eyed Peas performed. There are lots of fan challenges for prizes during timeouts while the cheerleaders and dance team also perform. Final Thoughts There is something special about a newer small school program like Seattle University. While playing in a former NBA arena may not seem like a good fit at first, once you see it, you end up having a good time. The tickets are cheap, and what you end up getting is well worth the price minus the food. In the end, it is an inexpensive way to have a good time and watch good basketball. While KeyArena may be showing its age, it still is a historic part of Seattle’s sports history. The arena just needs to hang some banners for Seattle U and brag about their rich history, no matter how old it may be.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Cherry Field 425 S Cherry Ave Tucson, AZ 85719 Tucson Saguaros website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 350 (estimate) Saguaros – Finding a Home Field The Tucson Saquaros are a member of the Independent Pecos League (baseball) and currently play their home games at Tucson Unified School District-owned Cherry Field less than a mile from the University of Arizona in Tucson AZ. They joined the league in 2016 and immediately won the championship their first season. They have bounced around a bit their first few seasons trying to find a permanent home field with games played at Kino Sports Complex (former home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox spring training), Reid Park Sports Complex #5, and some games at historic Warren Ballpark in Bisbee as well as games in Winslow at Vargas Field. This 2019 season finds them playing full-time (for the first time) at Cherry Field. The old Cherry Field was demolished and reconstructed in 2008 as part of the Cherry Field Detention Basin which is used for both flood control and Tucson High School athletic teams (and now the Saguaros). The American Legion also hosts tournaments here. The new Cherry Field has two baseball and two softball fields with some removable fencing to allow for soccer or football. Food & Beverage 2 Basic snacks are for purchase at a Saguaros game with hot dogs freshly cooked on a portable grill. Hot dogs ($3), nachos ($4), chips, cookies, peanuts and Sno -cones ($1.50 – $2) round out the menu. Cans of Coke products ($2.50) and water ($2) are the beverage choices. Alcohol is not served. Certainly not a huge variety but with prices ranging from $1 – $4, it’s definitely affordable. Many fans bring in their own frozen bottles of water and snack (multiple bottles are needed in this hot city in the summer). Atmosphere 2 Keep in mind this is Arizona and temperatures easily reach the triple digits even for a 7pm game in late June and July. It is advised to bring sun screen and plenty of water. Bug spray is another item to pack for games. Metal bleachers without backs or handrails behind home and on the third baseline are the permanent seating choices. The third baseline set of bleachers face directly in the sun (a drawback the first few innings) and there is a small set behind home is in the shade. Many fans bring their own folding chairs and set up shop just behind the chain link fence surrounding the infield or up on the concourse/deck area. Cherry Field - Bleachers, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The sound system is a couple of speakers but not too scratchy. The PA announcer and two other officials sit behind the chain link fence directly behind home plate. A pleasant volume and selection of music is played between innings (after – not during – announcements (yeah!) and walk up songs are played for the Saguaros. The scoreboard is a basic, dot-matrix style with balls, strikes, outs (lit dots) runs, and inning displayed. A traditional batter’s eye is not seen, instead, the center field outfield chain link fence is colored just a little darker. The grass looks remarkably green for an Arizona grass lawn in the summer. Neighborhood 5 Tucson is a great city to visit and Cherry Field is within a few miles of many places to tour, eat, drink, and sleep; though none right smack next to the ballpark. Two breweries close by are Barrio Brewery (brewpub – good beer, even better food) and Iron John’s Brewing Company (independent brewery – no food but nice staff and good beer). At least five or six more are within about two or so miles that include Pueblo Vida Brewing Company, Ten55 Brewing Company, and Sentinel Peak Brewing Company. Welcome Diner (farm to table American fare), Leru’s Fine Mexican Food (known for their tamales), and Barrio’s are nearby eating establishments worth visiting. Tourist attractions include Reid Zoo Park (go in the morning before it gets too hot), Children’s Museum, Arizona History Museum, Sentinel Peak Park “A” Mountain for a view, or stretch those legs and stroll the Presidio Trail – a historic walking trail of downtown Tucson. There are various hotels and motels within a few-mile radius of Cherry Field. Most are along the I-10 corridor but some are downtown Tucson. National brands include LaQuinta and Double Tree, several Marriott brands, and more. For a B&B, check out Adobe Rose Inn. Other sports during baseball season in Tucson are the Tucson Sugar Skulls of the Indoor Football League and FC Tucson of the USL League One. A stadium journeyer may be able to make an extended weekend and see all three depending on schedules. Fans 2 One can easily chat with players before or after game. Fans seem to know the players and vice versa. Though there’re few fans in attendance, the ones who attend are supportive and pleasant and many can be seen wearing an attractive Saguaro ball cap or t-shirt. Access 3 Cherry Field is off I-10 just south of the University of Arizona campus; about a two-hour drive from Phoenix. A small parking lot (no charge) is on the corner of E 13th St and South Kino Pkwy. A locked chain link fence surrounds the complex during the day and opens just a few hours before game time. The venue does not appear to be wheelchair accessible – well, the venue and upper concourse is but getting down to the field consists of four sets of nine steps each. Fortunately, one can park their wheelchair at the top of the concourse and watch the game from there. Restrooms are clean but check for toilet paper first when heading into one of the stalls. Return on Investment 4 The sign says $7.50/adults, $5 military and seniors, children under 6 free. On the day of our visit, we walked in and couldn’t find out where and/or who to pay. Parking is free and concessions are low-priced. It’s an admirable cost if you’re one who enjoys going for the ball game and not the gimmicks. Extras 2 The Saguaros and Cherry Field have two additional items worth noting. One – a really cool looking logo – a Saguaro with spikes coming out of its trunk and branches and a baseball bat across its shoulders beginning the T in Tucson. Saguaros Logo Two, a statue and memorial for Chris Moon is on display in the upper concourse/deck. Moon gave up a scholarship to play baseball at the University of Arizona and instead served his country. He died after stepping on a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Moon played high school baseball for the Tucson Badgers and the Atlanta Braves showed interest in him drafting him (he went unsigned) in the 35th round. Final Thoughts The Saguaros baseball games are simple and pleasant. They are for those who enjoy the game. Watching baseball in 104 ° F weather does wear you out. I don’t quite know how the players do it. If at all possible, go in the earlier part of the season (late May or early June) and hopefully it won’t be so hot.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Howarth Field 1228 N 13th St. Philadelphia, PA 19122 Temple Owls website Howarth Field website Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 500 Give a Hoot for Temple Field Hockey Opened in 2016, Howarth Field in Philadelphia is home to the Temple University Owls field hockey program. The stadium seats approximately 500 fans and is part of the Temple Sports Complex which also includes Temple's soccer stadium. The stadium is named after former Temple field hockey player Cherita Howard and her husband Greg, who donated $500,000 towards the construction of the new stadium. Although Temple has competed in the American Athletic Conference in most sports since it split from the old Big East in 2013, neither the AAC nor the new Big East has enough full members to sponsor field hockey. As a result, it was agreed the conferences would sponsor field hockey jointly under the Big East banner. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at Howarth Field, but fans are free to bring their own, except alcohol. Many fans will set up tailgates before the match and can be seen bringing food in from it during breaks in the action, but these are only for people in their group. Nonetheless, it is nice to see a tailgating scene at what is not ordinarily considered a major sport. Atmosphere 4 Howarth Field consists of a few rows of bleachers on one sideline. They are close enough that all seats have an outstanding view of the action. When Stadium Journey visited, part of the bleachers were taken up by the band, although we are told they are not always in attendance. When they are in attendance, they play the Temple fight song before the game and after each Owls goal. A band is a rarity at a sport like field hockey, so for them to even show up sometimes shows how much Temple cares about the atmosphere here. There is a scoreboard behind one goal which also shows time remaining on penalty cards. Oddly enough, there is also a spot for team timeouts even though field hockey has not had timeouts for several years now. Before the match, the scoreboard is used to play a hype video showing Temple field hockey highlights and other clips to get the crowd pumped up for the game. Neighborhood 3 Temple University is located in North Philadelphia near the intersection of Girard Avenue and Broad Street. Although this was once a very bad neighborhood, it has improved somewhat. There are a few restaurants located right across Girard Street from the stadium, including John's Seafood, Crown Fried Chicken, and Angie's Vietnamese Cuisine. The Met Philadelphia, a prominent concert hall, is a short walk away on Broad Street. You will find other options nearby as well, including Larry's Steaks, serving up the classic Philadelphia cheesesteak. Fans 5 Although Howarth Field seats only 500, Owl fans routinely fill it near or even over capacity. Many of them are friends or family of the players, but there are other fans as well, not to mention the band, which forms a kind of student section not normally seen at college field hockey. They are loud and passionate, clapping along with the fight song and ringing cowbells after big plays. As the fight song goes, they "Fight! Fight! Fight! For the cherry and the white" and are among the most passionate fan bases in the sport. As mentioned above, they will arrive early and tailgate before the game, then head to the stands and cheer on the Owls to victory. Given the Big East occupies a small geographic footprint, at least for field hockey which the midwestern members don't sponsor, you will often see a decent number of visiting fans as well. They will encounter no issues, but unlike at some places, this definitely will feel like a Temple home game rather than a neutral site contest. Access 4 There are many highways in Philadelphia, so getting into town by car should prove no problem. Once you get to the stadium, you will park about a 5 to 10-minute walk away in the Temple Towers lot. Turn left on 13th Street when you leave the lot and follow the signs to the entrance. Parking costs $20 and you pay by credit card when you exit. Cash is not accepted, so plan accordingly. If you are attending another event in the Temple Sports Complex on the same day, such as a soccer game, you do not need to pay twice. The $20 will have you covered no matter how long you park, as long as you leave by midnight. The Girard Station on SEPTA's Market-Frankford subway line is also located just around the corner from Howarth Field, giving an easy opportunity to arrive by public transit. Restrooms are available in a building in between the field hockey and soccer fields, although as numerous signs tell you, you will enter the restrooms from outside the building and are not allowed in the building itself through the main doors. They are of a more than sufficient size for the crowd, even if it gets large. Return on Investment 4 Admission to all Temple field hockey games is free, with the possible exception of Big East and NCAA Tournament games. However, if you arrive by car, you will pay $20 for parking, which is a bit much. That being said, with such a great atmosphere here, and the tremendous energy of the crowd, a Temple field hockey game is still a pretty good value. You can maximize your value even more by attending a soccer game in the complex on the same day at no additional cost. . Extras 4 The band is worth an extra star here even if they're not at every game. Look for the banners honoring Temple field hockey and lacrosse successes. The pregame hype video is worth a star as well. Most field hockey teams don't even have a video board, let alone a hype video. A fourth and final star for the chance to see multiple events in the Temple Sports Complex in one day. Final Thoughts One might not expect college field hockey to be a big deal, but in the case of the Temple Owls, they would be wrong. It is obvious the school puts a great deal of effort into the matchday experience here, and it shows in the turnout. Between the band, the tailgating scene, the fans, and everything else that is going on here, Howarth Field is one of the elite field hockey experiences in the country. As the seasoned stadium traveler will know, great experiences can be found in unexpected places, and Howarth Field is certainly one of them.

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

Photos by Steven Burke, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 BMO Harris Bradley Center 1001 N 4th St. Milwaukee, WI 53203 Marquette Golden Eagles website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 18,850 Demolished: 2019 A Golden Experience Editors Note: BMO Harris Bradley Center was demolished in early 2019. The Golden Eagles now play at the new Fiserv Forum. When a venue hosts multiple teams it can be difficult to differentiate the atmosphere enough to make it feel like a distinctive home for different tenants. This can be even harder to accomplish when a college team plays in the home of a professional franchise. While the primary tenant of the BMO Harris Bradley Center is the Milwaukee Bucks, it also serves as the home of Marquette Golden Eagles basketball and is that rare arena that provides two distinct game day experiences. Plans for the replacement for the BMO Harris Bradley Center is in the works. The current venue may no longer be a state of the art facility, but remains serviceable and provides a great environment for college basketball. Food & Beverage 4 The BMO Harris Bradley Center has a great focus on food and beverage that just adds to the game experience. The venue has a large selection to choose from and all items are high quality. The carvery is very stereotypical Wisconsin and that is a very good thing. It has a great selection of delicious hand-carved sandwiches all served with chips and a pickle spear. All three offerings cost $14 with your choice of corned beef Reuben, downtown pastrami, and honey roasted ham. The downtown pastrami served on a pretzel hoagie with beer cheese and giardiniera is phenomenal. A unique selection at two of the main concession stands is the chicken waffle cone for $9 with your choice of buffalo style or maple bacon. Another Milwaukee favorite is Usinger’s sausages and the Usinger’s concession stand does not disappoint, with hot dogs and sausages ranging from $7-$10. The price is reasonable and the sausages are delicious. Other stands include Qdoba, loaded nachos, My Greek Gyros, Cousins Sub, and Refuge Cafe. The BMO Harris Bradley Center also has an impressive emphasis on something Milwaukee is known for and that is beer. All stands on the concourse serve the basic Miller products and a wider range is available at the Tap House stand along with the Leinenkugel lounge. Atmosphere 4 The BMO Harris Bradley has once again become an exciting place to enjoy college basketball and the people of Milwaukee are embracing and more importantly attending Marquette basketball. Under young head coach Steve Wojciechowski the Golden Eagles find themselves improving and looking forward to a bright future and the fans are just as excited. The game day staff and ushers are extremely friendly and plentiful. You will never have to look far if you need assistance. Sightlines in the seating bowl are good for basketball all around and in both the upper and lower levels. The student section is always out in full force, filling their section behind the baseline and cheering on their team. Marquette definitely benefits from the large high definition NBA scoreboard above the center court providing video scripts and replays along with all the in-game statistics you could desire. Neighborhood 5 Downtown Milwaukee is a great place with plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance from the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Old World Third Street and Water Street are always busy after games and the streets of downtown Milwaukee provide a safe atmosphere for pedestrians. Many fans end up going out to a local establishment after a game, as many places run promotions in conjunction with each game with deals for a ticket stub postgame. A quick one block walk from the BMO Harris Bradley Center is the Ale Asylum where you can find delicious food and beer brewed in-house. The Asylum Burger is a great choice featuring a beef patty topped with aged cheddar, bacon jam, arugula, a fried egg, and pickled onion. Ale Asylum also has a Wisconsin favorite, fried cheese curds which won’t disappoint. If you are looking for a quick meal pregame or postgame check out Brick 3 Pizza; also just a block from the arena. Brick 3 Pizza is a great place to grab a slice or two. Fans 4 Marquette basketball has a dedicated and interested fan base that begins with an involved student section that shows up to all home games. While the BMO Harris Bradley Center is an NBA arena it provides a distinctively different environment for college basketball and the fans have a significant amount to do with that. The city of Milwaukee has embraced the Golden Eagles as their team and they turn out in large numbers to show support. Between the students and the community, Marquette has an active and involved game day experience. Access 5 BMO Harris Bradley Center is located in downtown Milwaukee and it is easily accessible from all directions with interstate access just a few blocks away. Once in downtown Milwaukee, parking is plentiful with various garages and surface lots within walking distance. You can keep an eye out for street parking as well as the metered spots which become free after 6:00 pm. I recommend arriving early if you want to look for street parking as it may require a search. Return on Investment 4 Marquette has a variety of ticket prices ranging from $10-$50; the Golden Eagles have also implemented a trend that is becoming more popular in all sports and that is prime games. Ticket prices vary depending on opponents with non-conference games being the cheapest, followed by Big East games, and finally, Big East weekend games being the most expensive. There isn’t a bad seat in the BMO Harris Bradley Center, so depending on your budget and preference with a location you should be able to find an affordable ticket. The secondary ticket market can also provide a great value, especially for midweek games. Extras 3 The quality of the game presentation including the video board is always superb. The video board is enormous and very impressive. It enhances the fan experience with HD videos during timeouts and also the best replays. Another extra point for Marquette branding around the building, especially considering the fact that they aren’t the primary tenant, however, their branding is very evident and enhances the atmosphere as a true home for Marquette. An extra mark for a small school (8,000 students) with a big-time following. Final Thoughts With the reinvigorated fan base, the improved performance on the court, and the level of competition provided in the Big East, Marquette basketball is definitely on the way up. This is a worthwhile trip to a great city for any hoops fan.

With only 2 weeks remaining in the season, there is still one spot left up for grabs in the CFL playoffs. The race for the top seed in the West Division remains tight after BC’s win last week, with the Blue Bombers and Lions tied at 12 wins each – Winnipeg has 2 games left while BC only has 1 remaining. Friday the 13th proved unlucky for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as they fell to the BC Lions 33-30 on a last-second field goal – the clock had seemingly gone to zero and the home crowd was gearing up for overtime, but the refs determined there was 1 second left on the clock, allowing the Lions to attempt the go-ahead score. Fortunately for Hamilton fans, however, the Ti-Cats had already clinched a playoff berth weeks ago, leaving them still in the hunt for the Grey Cup despite Friday night’s loss. The Tiger-Cats are currently sitting third in the East Division, several games ahead of the hapless Redblacks, who lost to the top-seed-in-the-East Toronto Argonauts last week. The last playoff spot left is the third seed in the West – if the Roughriders can manage to beat the Argos this week the spot will be theirs, but a loss opens the door for either the Elks or Stampeders. Saskatchewan, Edmonton, and Calgary are all well below five hundred on the season, with the Roughriders having the best record of the three at 6 and 11.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Salt River Fields at Talking Stick 7555 N Pima Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85258 Salt River Rafters website Salt River Fields at Talking Stick website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 11,000 Rafting the Arizona Fall League Salt River Fields at Talking Stick is the spring training complex for the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks. It also hosts the Salt River Rafters, a baseball team in the Arizona Fall League (AFL). 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. Like many of the AFL teams, the Rafters have moved around since their inaugural season in 1992. The Rafters captured the 2011, 2014, and 2019 Arizona Fall League championships. Salt River Fields has beautiful landscaping inside and out, and the concourses are nice and wide. It is a favorite for Arizona Fall League visitors. MLB changed the Fall League schedule format this 2023 season. The season has fewer afternoon games. Those games now start at 2:30pm (the hottest part of the day) vs 12:30pm in previous seasons. Evening games still start at 6:30pm. This schedule makes attending a double header difficult because of rush hour traffic. I hope they consider reverting the afternoon start time back to 12:30pm next season. Food & Beverage 3 One concession stand (to the left of the entrance) is open during AFL games. It sells a chicken finger basket ($15), an Angus burger ($11.25), a jumbo hot dog ($6), pizza ($11 - $12), nachos, fries, peanuts, popcorn, and candy ($4.50 – $7). I had a jumbo hot dog. It was jumbo but not tasty. A large Pepsi-brand fountain soda is $7.50, Gatorade costs $6, and bottled water runs $5.25. Canned beers (Coors, Blue Moon, Dos Equis, Papago Orange Blossom) sell for $8.50 - $15.50. A stand-alone adult beverage kiosk sells draft beers, canned hard seltzers, a few Arizona canned brews, bombers, wine, and cocktails ($9 - $15.50). Prices are major league high. Fans, however, can bring in their own water, food, and snacks. A smart and unique option at Salt River Fields this 2023 season is roasted peanuts sold in a brown paper bag. Fans can place their shells in the bag (vs. on the stadium floor). More stadiums should do that. Atmosphere 3 Beautiful indoor and outdoor landscaping adorns the facility. This includes an attractive arrangement of cactus gardens, desert terrain, hardy scrub bushes, and lots of rocks. The structure fits in well with its surroundings and the environment. Visitors can observe a picturesque mountain range in the distance. The Rafters dugout and bullpen are on the third base side. By game time, almost the entire seating area is shaded. The second level suites are not used during a Rafters game. The outfield berms and concourse are closed. Besides that, the Rafters offer open seating; feel free to sit wherever desired. The seats are plenty wide, have cup holders, and legroom is superb at Salt River Fields. Sections 112 and 212 are directly behind home plate. Nets run past the ends of the dugouts so only the last few sections are net free. Salt River Fields Behind Home, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The sound person plays a variety of music choices pregame. Unfortunately, he or she plays the music loud. And ‘artificial noise’ and forced music (like Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands, or the Addams Family) is blared between some pitches and batters. Seats closer to the field are farther from the speakers. The sound person also plays music when the PA announces the starting lineups, making it difficult to complete a scorecard. Bring earplugs if your ears are sensitive to loud music. The scoreboard shows the lineups, line score, current pitcher and batter, the time, and temperature. The team shop has paper rosters and starting lineups. The scoreboard operator does an honorable job keeping it up to date with any player changes. All nicely done. You’ll see way more fans keeping score at Fall League games than at MLB or spring training games. ABS (automatic ball-strike system) is used at Salt River Fields during Rafter games. Neighborhood 4 If you do nothing else when spending time in Scottsdale, visit the USS Arizona Memorial Gardens directly across from Salt River Fields’ home plate parking lot. It is a memorial of the WWII Dec 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and a remembrance of those soldiers who served and gave their lives. Columns of light form the outline of the battleship, which illuminate at twilight. The Urge TapHouse Kitchen is 3 ½ miles from the ballpark. It offers craft beers, cocktails, and diverse and delicious food dishes. The stadium is next to The Pavilions at Talking Stick shopping center. Plenty of chain restaurants and places to eat/dine at before or after a Rafters game are within the shopping area: Buffalo Wild Wings (wings and beer), Angry Crab Shack (seafood), Blazin’ Mongolian BBQ (Asian – create your own stir fry), Red Robin (burgers), Filiberto’s (Mexican), and more. Fast food chains like McDonald’s, Chipotle, Blimpie, Arby’s, and pizza parlors dot the shopping area. An escape room, indoor skydiving, and one of those movie theaters that serve gourmet movie fare are other entertainment venues found in The Pavilions. Several golf courses are within a few miles, as is the Butterfly Wonderland - America’s largest butterfly atrium. Besides butterflies, it has a 3D theater and various insect displays. Talking Stick Resort and Casino is just across the Loop 101, less than a three-mile drive from the ballpark. For nearby lodgings, a Great Wolf Lodge (and water park) is across the parking lot. For more affordable rooms, a Staybridge Hotel and a Comfort Suites are both within walking distance (less than ½ mile). A Hampton Inn & Suite is across the Loop 101 (near the casino). For other sports in the area, visit the other two East Valley Fall League Stadiums: Sloan Park and Scottsdale Stadium. A trip to Tempe, AZ, and an ASU football, basketball, or soccer game is a tad over 10 miles from the ballpark. Fans 3 Salt River Fields draw the largest crowds for the Fall League. The early part of the season sees 325 – 400 fans on weekdays and over 500 on weekends. Attendance increases as the season progresses. The fans are retired folks, snowbirds, scouts, Dbacks fans, autograph hounds, and supporters of the game of baseball. Salt River Fields Autograph Hunter, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Since the Rafters have a lot of Diamondback minor leaguers on the team, a large group of diehard Diamondback fans is in attendance. These fans cheer heartily for any Diamondback that comes to the plate or when one takes the mound. However, they certainly applaud good plays regardless of team or player. When the sound person isn’t playing the music too loud, it is easy to strike up a conversation with any visitor at a Fall League game. Access 3 Salt River Fields is located just west of the Loop 101 Pima Fwy at the Indian Bend Rd exit. Park in the lot behind home plate off Pima Rd as that is closest to the main entranceway. When attending an afternoon game (2:35 pm), you shouldn’t hit much traffic on Loop 101 getting to the game. Give yourself some extra travel time leaving and when attending a weekday evening game (6:35 pm) because of heavier rush hour traffic. When flying in for a Rafters game, the closest airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (about 18 miles southwest of the stadium). Public transportation is not available for AFL Rafters games. The concourse is wide open, and fans can see all the playing action while walking it. The ease of moving around the stadium during a game is admirable, though be cautious of uneven step heights when walking up and down the seating aisles. Two sets of clean and serviceable restrooms are open at Salt River Fields for a Rafters game. Accessible parking, access, and seating options are available for those with physical disabilities, wheelchairs, or strollers. It appears the handicapped parking fills up quickly so get there early if you need one of those. Fans can bring in clear sports bags. Visitors walk through a metal detector, and if the detector beeps, security checks the bags and carried items. Return on Investment 3 Ticket prices have increased, though it’s still a good deal for seeing professional baseball: $12 for adults, $10 for kids over 12 and seniors (55+), 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. The stadium does not charge for parking. Concession prices are high but similar to other AFL ballparks. Extras 3 Outside the stadium, the Keli McGregor Trail remembers the late Rockies president, Keli S. McGregor, a key contributor in bringing this ballpark complex to Scottsdale. I recommend strolling down this short trail behind the home plate entrance. Salt River Fields Landscaping, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The USS Arizona Memorial Garden is worth an extra mention. It is a must-visit when attending a Rafters game. The use of the ABS and the challenge system is worth noting at Salt River Fields. ABS allows pitchers, hitters, or catchers to challenge an umpire's ball or strike call. The system allows up to three failed challenges per game. It takes less than 15 seconds to declare, replay the pitch, and continue the game. Final Thoughts Although customer service isn’t as superb as it used to be, attending a Rafters game is still a fine visit for the Fall League. It is one of the most beautiful of the Fall League venues. Get to the game early, walk around the park, check the USS Arizona Memorial Garden, find a seat, and enjoy the wonderful game of baseball at the ballpark.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Hornet Stadium 6000 J St Sacramento, CA 95819 Sacramento State Hornets website Hornet Stadium website Year Opened: 1969 Capacity: 21,195 Stingers Up! The University of California, Sacramento (i.e. Sacramento State) is a member of the California University System and is located in the eastern suburbs of Sacramento, California. It was founded in 1947 and presently has a student body of 29,046. The sports teams at Sacramento State are known as the Hornets. The football program at Sacramento State is relatively young, as it began in 1954. It began as a member of the California Athletic Conference, then moved on to the Western Football Conference and the America West Conference. In 1996 it became a member of the Big Sky Conference at the FCS level of NCAA competition. In recent years the program has been a powerhouse, with conference championships in 2019, 2021, and 2022. The 2022 squad finished at #5 in the end-of-year FCS polls. The team has also posted wins over PAC 12 members Oregon State and Colorado in past years. The rivalry game each season is played against the University of California at Davis. The game is known as the Causeway Classic and the winner takes home the Causeway Classic trophy and bragging rights to their campus for the next year. The on-campus Hornets Stadium serves as the home field for the football program. It opened in 1969 and has gone through numerous upgrades over the years. It has a capacity of 21,195 making it one of the larger stadiums at the FCS level. Food & Beverage 2 The WELL concessions area is located behind the north end zone and is the only place in the stadium that offers food and drinks. The food and beverage selections are sold via food trucks and tents that are set up in temporary tents. We’ve never seen a grandstand for a stadium this big without permanent concession facilities underneath the stands, or at least closer to where fans are sitting. The setup at Hornets Stadium is quite a distance away from the stands and results in the fans missing a great deal of the action while they are waiting in a long line. We do have to admit that the food trucks provide more variety in the items that they sell, but this does not overcome the inconvenience for the fans of missing time from the game. Atmosphere 2 Hornet Field has some oddities to its design that take away from the atmosphere of the game. The track is a necessity for the school’s excellent track and field program. However, anytime a track encircles a football field it places a great deal more space in between the fans in the stands and the action on the field. This makes it harder to hear the game itself and the connection between the team and their fans. The stadium has the Broad Fieldhouse at the south end of the stadium, while the north end of the field is bordered by the WELL Center (Sacramento State’s Wellness facility). Both buildings are a great distance from the stands, depriving fans of being able to see them very well. This breaks down the excitement of seeing the home team take the field as well. The distance between the stands and the WELL Center creates a problem for fans wishing to get a bite to eat and missing the action on the field. Also, the tickets in the west stands (the “home” side”) are all reserved seating, while the west side (the “visitor’s” side) are general admission seats. Why would the visitor’s tickets be cheaper than the home team’s tickets? Neighborhood 4 Hornet Stadium is located on the south end of the Sacramento State campus and is for the most part, surrounded by academic buildings. There are numerous restaurants, shops, and hotels surrounding this end of the campus. The closest hotels to the campus are Hampton Inn and Suites at CSUS and the Comfort Inn and Suites at Sacramento University Area. Giovanni’s Old World New York Pizzeria is a popular eatery on Folsom Street, while Stingers Sports Pub and Bar is a popular watering hole adjacent to the campus. Sacramento offers many things to see and do before or after a Hornets game. The American River forms the eastern border of the Sacramento State campus. It has an excellent hiking/biking trail paralleling the river or offers rafting in season. To the west of campus is downtown Sacramento. Places of interest here are the California State Capitol Building, the California State Railroad Museum, and Old Sacramento. Your game may overlap with a Sacramento Kings NBA game at the Golden One Center. Fans 3 The student section at Hornets games is known as the SWARM and they do a great job at keeping the stands buzzing throughout the contests. They work closely with Herky the Hornet, the school mascot, and with the Sacramento State Marching Band. Don’t be surprised when a cannon goes off after each Hornet touchdown or field goal. Access 4 Hornet Stadium is easily accessed via Highway 50 or Business 80 in the Sacramento area. From Highway 50: Take the exit for Howe/Power Inn Road. Veer right at the California State University, Sacramento entrance onto Hornet Drive. At the traffic light, take a left onto College Town Drive. Hornets Stadium will be on your right. From Business 80: Take for J Street. Make a left on J Street and go 4 miles. Enter the front entrance to the Sacramento State campus. Turn right on State University Drive North. Hornet Stadium will be on your left in ½ mile. Parking areas open four hours before kickoff, leaving you plenty of time to explore the Sacramento State campus or find your seats in Hornet Stadium. Return on Investment 3 Most seats at Hornet Stadium are considered general admission seats. They are priced at $18 for adult seats and $8 for youth (ages 3-12) seats. There is a $2 ticket fee added to that. Section 213 along the 50-yard line is considered premium seating and costs $43 plus a $2 ticket fee. Parking costs $10 on gameday. Extras 3 Hornets Stadium was the site of one of the wildest games in FCS history during the 2022 FCS playoffs. The Hornet's game against the University of the Incarnate Word was marked by countless changes in the score. The game ended in a 66-63 win for the visitors, ending Sacramento State’s dream season. The stadium is heavily used by the Sacramento State track and field program as well. It has hosted numerous major meets, including the US Track and Field Olympic Trials twice, and the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships on two occasions. Hornets Stadium has also served as the home field for two now extinct pro football teams. It hosted the Sacramento Surge of the World Football League (WFL), as well as the Sacramento Gold Miners of the Canadian Football League (CFL). This was the first time that a CFL team was based outside of Canada. Final Thoughts A visit to the Hornet’s Nest will provide an entertaining afternoon or evening for fans in California’s state capitol. After the game check out old Sacramento or the California State Railroad Museum.

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

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 #The Lucky Corner-Memorial Park 31050 Woodward Ave. Royal Oak, MI 48073 Royal Oak Leprechauns website Memorial Park website Year Opened: 1939 Capacity: 600 Leprechauns Feeling Lucky in Royal Oak The Royal Oak Leprechauns are members of the Northwoods League and call Memorial Park home. The team has made many renovations to the field that they dub “The Lucky Corner”, which only a few years ago was nothing more than a worn-out dirt infield that was showing its age. The improvements began with a generous donation from Major League All-Star and two-time batting champion D.J. LeMahieu, who went to high school in nearby Brother Rice and knows team owner Mark Sackett, resulting in a brand new playing surface. His donations helped improve the ballfield, which includes an artificial turf infield and a natural grass outfield. More changes included new plastic seating for lumbar support in the bleacher-style seating grandstand, a new scoreboard, fencing, updated dugouts, a press box, and asphalt surfacing around the field. The little ballpark not only looks much different but feels much like a place for summer collegiate baseball in Metro Detroit. The Leprechauns joined the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League in 2016 and were based out of Adrian, Michigan, at Siena Heights University. They couldn’t draw crowds for games with what Sackett believed was “people heading to the lakes instead of the ballfield in the summer.” The club looked at other areas outside of Detroit and announced plans to open the 2020 season in Royal Oak in the fall of 2019. In October of 2023, the ball club announced it was moving into the Northwoods League for the 2024 season. However, financing more than COVID-19 quelled relocation plans, and the Leprechauns might have moved to Grand Rapids if it wasn’t for LeMahieu’s generosity. The improvements to Memorial Park cost $400,000 and were privately funded, costing taxpayers not one penny. The team signed an agreement with the city for 10 years and hopes for a little luck on the field and in the standings. Food & Beverage 3 The food and beverage tables are located on the 3rd base side of the ballpark. The choices include grilled burgers, peanuts, hot dogs, and brats. There are also homemade cookies and, from what I have been told, fried Lucky Charms. The pizza is from Tania’s Pizza which offers a stuffed crust pizza with cheese or pepperoni. It is unusual, but very popular at the ballpark. Ice cream is served in a cone or a cup and topped with sprinkles. Beverages include a variety of beer, canned cocktails, and hard seltzers, and fans can purchase a beer bat to enjoy their favorite drink. They include Miller Lite, Leinenkugel Summer Shandy, Simply Hard Lemonade, White Claw, Modelo, and High Noon. On certain nights, the alcohol is discounted, but they will cost you no more than $5 on most game nights. Atmosphere 4 Team management turns the city park into an inviting place for baseball with team banners on the exterior fencing, food tents with team colors and logos, and a game-day staff of around 14 assisting with on-field promotions, in between inning contests, and PA announcements. There is a strong minor-league baseball atmosphere demonstrated during the night that should appeal to many fans. However, there are enough areas to keep score and watch the game. The ballpark has a capacity of 600, and its grandstand is made up of aluminum bleachers fitted with yellow and green plastic chairbacks. They add a colorful aesthetic to the scenery, as do the multiple trees surrounding the ballpark from the inside and outside fencing. A large fence with netting makes up the backstop, and the synthetic infield features the city’s official logo. Fans can purchase t-shirts and caps at the souvenir table behind home plate fans can stroll down the 3rd baseline for more views of the game, grab a bite at the food trucks when available, or mingle with friends and family in the stands. The team mascot Paddy O’Dingers makes his rounds during the game, and kids run the bases and high-five players after the game. Neighborhood 3 Royal Oak has a population of 57,000 plus and is known as The City of Trees. It has over 50 parks, and a downtown offering options for dining, nightlife, and shopping, and is home to the Detroit Zoo. There is enough to do to keep you busy after the game in the city, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Detroit. There are plenty of places to eat that include variety in town. Pronto Royal Oak is a cafe offering sandwiches and homemade soups with giant cookies for dessert. Bigalora Wood-Fired Cucina serves Neapolitan, wood-fired pizzas, and gelato. The Morrie Royal Oak features barbecue plates, pub fare, and cocktails in a music-themed roadhouse with live entertainment. KouZina Greek Street Food is a relaxed counter-service restaurant for Greek food. The Royal Oak Brewery offers a beer garden and homemade entrees. Fans 3 There has been a huge support for the Leprechauns since they arrived in Royal Oak. The fanbase packs the stadium throughout multiple promotional and weekend nights. It is a cheaper alternative than heading downtown to watch the Tigers at Comerica Park. There appear to be repeat customers who enjoy the baseball, the atmosphere, the pricing, and the easy commute from their homes. Access 3 Memorial Park is small but easy to get around the main concourse behind the backstop. The grandstand seating can be a little tight for some of us; there is plenty of room to spread out when needed. There is still more room behind the left field corner of the ballpark where trees, grass areas, and picnic tables are. The bathrooms are located a little bit and conveniently behind the left field sense. There is a large parking lot in front of the main entrance for easy access from your car. Return on Investment 5 The price of a ticket is $7, merchandise is between $20-$25 for caps or shirts, and a beer will cost you no more than $5. It does not get much better than this at any summer collegiate ballpark, and when you add the promotions and team gusto, it’s even better. It makes for a fun night of baseball with friends and family. Extras 3 Memorial Park earns a lot of extra points for this review. They include the green and yellow seating in the grandstand, various in-game promotions, and structural improvements to the ballfield and stadium. The vibe is alive at the Lucky Corner Ballpark. Final Thoughts You should check out a Leprechauns game if you are in Detroit. The affordable tickets and concessions make it an ideal spot for any ballpark traveler or anyone living within a reasonable distance from the stadium. You see a lot of different atmospheres in the Northwoods League, but they have something happening in Royal Oak. —— Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel.

The Royal Oak Leprechauns will become members of the Northwoods League for the upcoming 2024 season. The ball club will call #TheLuckyCorner - Memorial Park in the Detroit metro area their home. This increases the number of teams in the Northwoods League to 26. The move to the Northwoods League comes on the heels of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, the club's former home, dropping from a 13-team to a 7-team league. Five clubs announced they would be on hiatus or not playing next season. The Leprechauns will now be in the Great Lakes Division, along with three other Michigan-based teams in Traverse City, Kalamazoo, and Battle Creek. Mark Sackett, Owner and General Manager of the Royal Oak Leprechauns, is excited about the challenge of the new league and the competition and benefits of joining the Northwoods League. “For the past three seasons in Royal Oak, the Leprechaun organization has grown, and our fan base continues to expand. By joining and competing in the Northwoods League, we’ll have more games for our fans, more opportunities to partner with businesses and nonprofits, and create new rivalries with well-established Michigan and surrounding Midwest state teams.” DJ LeMahieu is taking a more active role as president of the organization. The current New York Yankee and partner with the Leprechauns know the higher level of competition will bring an elite tier of players to Royal Oak. “My vision with this team is to continue to provide a unique opportunity for players and coaches to improve their baseball skills and keep moving up. Partnering with the Northwoods League will provide that and give fans a great night out at the ballpark with our players and partners.” The organization will focus on the fan experience with improvements to the ballpark that include new bleacher seating, a press box, suites, and other fan amenities. The Leprechauns have made more than $500,000 in improvements since moving to Royal Oak from Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan, in 2018. Stadium Journey visited #TheLuckyCorner - Memorial Park in July of 2022 and was impressed with the game-day atmosphere and environment at the small ballpark about 20 minutes northwest of downtown Detroit. The stadium earned a 3.43 out of 5 on the FANFARE Scale. You can read more about it in the following link. —— Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel.

Rendering of Monroe Park complete with Roller Coaster, Outdoor Theater, and Pier, Photo Courtesy of University of South Alabama As the home of five Baseball Hall of Famers, Mobile’s baseball history stretches almost as far back as the sports’ beginnings. As far back as the 1860s baseball was played at ‘The Pit,’ now known as Stan Galle Field, on the campus of Spring Hill College – Stan Galle Field is also the oldest continuously used baseball park that is still standing. As the city evolved and grew at the turn of the 20th century, so did the game of baseball in the city. In 1901 a baseball park was constructed at Monroe Park, right on the bay in Downtown Mobile. The field was located in a popular city park that had a carousel, roller coasters, a golf course, pavilion, pier, boardwalk, and a fancy street car system that made a stop in the park. The Mobile Sea Gulls, later the Bears, called the park home and played in the short lived Southern Interstate League that later turned into the Southern Association. The Sea Gulls drew very well and would lead the league in attendance in 1913, bringing in over 100,000 fans for the season. One of the only known photos of an Actual Game Played at Monroe Park, Photo Courtesy of the Mobile Press-Register By the 1920s, Mobile’s Monroe Park was a popular place hosting baseball games, concerts, movie premieres, and political rallies, and was nicknamed the “Coney Island of the South.” The park was also the spring training destination for the Orioles (then the St. Louis Browns), Indians (then known as the Naps) and White Sox. Cy Young played here as a pitcher during the Naps 1909 spring training, and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson would play on the field as a player for the Naps in 1912. Baseball was so popular in Mobile at the time that when the Alabama legislature outlawed the playing of baseball on Sundays, people went on strike and opposed the ban, so much so that Mayor Harry Hartwell successfully lobbied to get the ban overturned. Shoeless Joe Jackson played at Monroe Park as a member of the Cleveland Naps in 1912, Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Sadly in 1926 a hurricane would hit Mobile and completely devastate the grounds around Monroe Park; the park would never be rebuilt. Instead a stadium was built about a mile west that opened in 1927 and was named Hartwell Field, after the mayor who contributed so much to baseball in Mobile. Hartwell Field would host professional baseball through the 1966 season before being torn down in the early 1980s. Today only a shadow of the former baseball stadium and amusement park is left; Brookley Field Air Force Base opened in the 1940s and currently occupies the site where the park was once located, while the I-10 overpass runs right over the premises. However, there is one area of Monroe Park that is still left – at Arlington Point there is a small park that features a pavilion, walking trails, and a pier. If you go to the pier and look closely at the live oaks lining the waterfront you can imagine a baseball field on this site 100 years ago, and you will be standing on the former grounds of the one of the busiest and most popular parks in the 1920s south. Walking path at Arlington Park, located on the Waterfront of the once thriving Monroe Park, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Once the main road though the park, these beautiful hundred-year-old oak trees are the only remains of Monroe Park, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Hangars from Brookley AFB and Mobile Downtown Airport now occupy the former site of Monroe Park, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey View of Monroe Park as it looks today, looking towards the water, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Based on old photos I concluded Monroe Park would have been located near this building, the Whiting Reception Hall, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey and Scott Olmstead Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 O’ Shaughnessy Stadium 2115 Summit Avenue St. Paul, MN 55105 St. Thomas Tommies website O'Shaughnessy Stadium website Year Opened: 1948 Capacity: 5,025 Tell Them the Tommie Boys are Here…. St. Thomas University is a private Catholic liberal arts university in St. Paul, MN. It was founded in 1885 and is located along the east bank of the Mississippi River, just across the river from Minneapolis, MN. It is the largest private university in Minnesota, with a student body of 9,878 students. The school offers more than 150 areas of study at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels. Football has been played at St. Thomas since 1904. The school’s athletic teams are known as the Tommies. Until 2020, the Tommies played at the Division III level of sports in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). St. Thomas University athletes dominated almost every sport the MIAC offered, to the point they were voted out of the league due to “an inequitable level of performance when compared with other teams in the conference.” There were no allegations of cheating, and schools at the Division III level do not offer athletic scholarships. The Tommies then became the first Division III level team to ever skip the NCAA Division II level of play and go directly to the Division I level of competition. Since 2021, the Tommies football program has been a member of the Pioneer Conference at the FCS level of competition. The Tommies have handled this transition very well, as they are 17-4 after their first two seasons of Division I play and won the Pioneer League Championship in only their second season in the league. The Tommies call the on-campus O’Shaughnessy Stadium their home field. The stadium opened in 1948. It is located on the eastern edge of the St. Thomas University campus at the corner of Cretin Avenue and Summit Avenue in St. Paul. The stadium is named for Ignatius O’Shaughnessy, a St. Thomas alumni and philanthropist who donated millions of dollars toward the stadium’s construction. Due to its location on a corner, the grandstand is located on the western side of the field. The stadium seats 5,205, with 4,237 bleacher seats and 788 seat back chairs (550 in the main grandstand and 238 major donors to the program in the Fowler Veranda on the eastern side of the field.) The field was covered with Field Turf after a renovation in 2017 and it is known as Palmer Field. In addition to football, the stadium also serves as the home for the men’s and women’s track and field programs. A rubberized surface multi-lane track encircles the field. Food & Beverage 3 O’Shaughnessy Stadium has one main concession stand located on the concourse beneath the grandstand. It offers hot dogs ($4), hamburgers ($5), cheeseburgers ($6), brats ($6), popcorn ($4), candy ($4), chips ($2) and a ½ cookie the size of a pizza ($5). The stadium serves Pepsi brand sodas ($4), Gatorade ($4), and bottled water ($4). No alcohol is sold at O’Shaughnessy Stadium. A rotating set of food trucks supplement the offerings of the main concession stand. They set up in a plaza at the southern end of the grandstand. Atmosphere 5 O’Shaughnessy Stadium was built in an era when college stadiums were built in the middle of the campus. You’ll enjoy that return to a bygone era, as you will see great football played on the field, while you have campus buildings just outside of the stone walls of the stadium. St. Thomas has both beautiful architecture and grounds, and even members of the opposition’s fan base come away marveling at the setting of the stadium. It would be a shame to block the view. The stadium at St. Thomas is at the right scale for the campus, as it does not soar above the campus. There is not a bad seat in the house as there is no upper deck to this venue. Even the size of the bands, fan bases, and the crowd are scaled at an appropriate level at this stadium. So far, we have not mentioned the color purple. St. Thomas’ team's colors are purple… and there is lots of it in this stadium. The bleachers are purple, the press box is purple, and the end zones are purple. However, it is a regal purple that fits in with the cathedral types of buildings surrounding it. Even the track that encircles the field is purple. The one necessary piece of modern equipment in O’Shaughnessy Stadium is found behind the north end zone. This is of course a videoboard. The one at St. Thomas is brand new, as it was installed just before the 2023 season. It provides replays, but they stick to only showing the major ones that impact the game. They keep the ads to a minimum and are fair in showing big plays for both the home and the visiting teams, which I feel shows great sportsmanship. Finally, even the base that holds up the videoboard mimics the stone architecture of the campus… well done! Neighborhood 3 St. Thomas University and O’Shaughnessy Stadium are in an urban neighborhood on the eastern banks of the Mississippi River. The river forms one border of the campus, and several nature trails in the area offer spectacular views of both the river and downtown Minneapolis. Another street bordering the campus is Summit Avenue, which is known for its lovely residential area in St. Paul. There are some small businesses and restaurants across Grand Avenue from the campus, Gus Gus is a neighborhood bistro that is popular with both St. Thomas grads and current students. My Burger offers a reasonably priced menu for families attending the game. One other establishment we recommend is Tiffany Sports Lounge, which always has multiple football games on its TVs each Saturday. Honestly, the closest recommendations we have for hotels near St. Thomas University are along University Avenue as it passes through the University of Minnesota. This is about 3 miles north of St. Thomas but on the same side of the Mississippi River. Fans 4 St. Thomas offers a Purple on the Plaza fan event before each home game. This activity includes performances by the school’s dance and cheer teams, appearances by Tommie the Tom Cat school mascot, and musical performances by the school pep band. The celebration also offers kids games, spirit gear giveaways, and food trucks. The Tommies team does a walk-through around one hour before the game. The alumni and present student body members enjoy this event. St. Thomas has a unique set of supporters known as Caruso’s Crew. (The Tommies are led by head coach Glen Caruso). The crew are all seminarians (studying for the priesthood) who dress up as hunky construction workers. They loosen their collars and lead the student body in cheers throughout the game. Homecoming is especially popular with alumni, as most of them still live in the Twin Cities after graduation. Events include a Friday night pep rally and festival, a Saturday morning parade, and a Taste of St. Thomas dining event to close out the weekend on Sundays. The great success of the St. Thomas football program also attracts fans who did not attend St. Thomas or even go to college. Many of these fans come from the residential areas of St. Paul that live near the school and they can walk to the games. Access 3 O’Shaughnessy Stadium is easily reached via I-94. From I-94 West: Head east on I-94 to the Cretin Avenue exit. Turn right onto Cretin Avenue and travel one mile to Grand Avenue. Take a right at the Grand Avenue traffic light. Stay on Grand Avenue until you reach the Anderson Parking Deck on your left. Turn into the Anderson Parking structure. Parking is free on gamedays at this lot only. From I-94 East: Head west on I-94 to the Cretin/Vandalia exit. Go left on Cretin Avenue for one mile to Grand Avenue. Turn right at the Grand Avenue light. The Anderson Parking Deck will be on your left. Turn left into the parking deck. Parking is free in this parking deck only on game days. There is a local public bus stop at the corner of Summit Avenue and Cretin Avenue. This is only a block from the stadium. What hurts the Access score for the stadium is the area underneath the stands. It is extremely narrow with a very low ceiling. The lines for concessions and to use the restroom are so long it may cause you to miss up to a full quarter of the game. Return on Investment 4 Ticket pricing at St. Thomas home games is very simple. Seatback seats along the 50-yard line are $33. All other seats feature bench seating and cost $18. Parking is free at the Anderson Parking deck on Grand Avenue on gamedays. It is located only a block from the stadium. The concession items available at Tommie’s games are reasonably priced. Extras 5 Our first extra goes to the St. Thomas athletic department for successfully making the jump from Division III to Division I status. That is a first in NCAA history. In just their second season after moving from Division III to Division I, the Tommies won the Pioneer Conference Football Championship, and Head Coach Glen Caruso was named the 2022 Coach of the Year for the Pioneer Conference. The team is not yet eligible for the FCS Playoffs due to NCAA rules concerning teams moving from one level of competition to another. To cut down on the use of paper and trash to pick up after games, the school offers a free digital program for each game. It is available on the school app. St. Thomas University installed a new video board at O’Shaughnessy Stadium before the 2023 season. The new screen is double the resolution and has quadrupled the number of pixels as its predecessor, delivering a crystal-clear image to fans. Another extra goes to the lovely view of the campus no matter where you sit in the stands. Final Thoughts The St. Thomas Tommies and O’Shaughnessy Stadium are the little teams that could, as they successfully moved from Division III to Division I level of competition. They are the first team to ever do that. O’Shaughnessy Stadium may not have all the bells and whistles of a modern stadium, but it is a great place to watch a game on a fall Saturday afternoon. Having a backdrop of the lovely St. Thomas campus that wraps around the stadium is simply the icing on the cake.

The New York Yankees are the Evil Empire, and take plenty of flack for being that. Their home, Yankee Stadium, is much maligned, and receives plenty of criticism. Is this view accurate? Are there redeeming qualities for the House that Jeter built? Grab a brew and join Dave and Paul for the latest episode of Stadium Journey's Obstructed Views! ⚾⚾🏟️ You can find Stadium Journey's review of Yankee Stadium and the New York Yankees game day experience here.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Snapdragon Stadium 2101 Stadium Dr San Diego, CA 92108 San Diego State Aztecs website Snapdragon Stadium website Year Opened: 2022 Capacity: 35,000 New Digs in Diego For many years the San Diego State football team shared Jack Murphy (later Qualcomm) Stadium with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers and MLB’s San Diego Padres. However, with the Padres moving to a new stadium in 2003, and the Chargers moving to LA many years later, it no longer made sense to maintain such a dated facility, and thus “The Murph” was eventually demolished in 2020. However, in its place rose Snapdragon Stadium, a jewel of a facility that serves as a great, modern home for the Aztecs. The new facility also hosts soccer and rugby. Food & Beverage 4 Snapdragon Stadium offers all manner of food and beverage items from concession stands all around the stadium, including two bars that overlook the facility from their perches on the stadium’s highest level. One of these bars (Cutwater) is open to all fans, and is accessible via the ramps or the elevators, while access to the other (Sycuan Piers) can be purchased as part of your ticket, or as an add-on on game day. The most fun concessions stand is called Crack Shack, hosted by a local chain and serves chicken nuggets and sandwiches, including spicy versions, but if chicken is not your thing you can also find all kinds of other options such as burgers, hot dogs, tacos, barbecue, cheesesteaks, pizza, salad, cookies, ice cream, packaged candy, and more. Most of these items can be found in basic versions as well as more upscale versions depending on your wallet and palate – check out this link for a complete listing of Snapdragon Stadium’s concessions offerings. The concessions at Snapdragon Stadium are very high quality but also come with higher-than-average prices compared to other college stadiums, with prices more on par with pro sports teams such as those in the NFL or NBA. There are also certain stands that there is only one of in the whole stadium, so I recommend walking around a bit to check out the different options, so you can find the thing you crave. Atmosphere 4 Snapdragon Stadium is an amazing facility, with its only real downside being there are not many fans there for Aztec football games (more on that later), so you don’t get all the crowd noise you might like to hear. But the amenities are mostly top-notch – the best amenity by far is the Sycuan Piers, which includes semi-private, super comfortable plush seating, its bar, and best of all, access to a platform that juts out toward the field to give you a stunning view of the action, a view you can’t find at any other sports stadium. You can purchase a wristband at the Piers entrance for $20 if you don’t already have a ticket for this section. San Diego State also boasts a huge marching band and cheer squad, and cones of fire and smoke as the team comes onto the field. The staff also shoots off fireworks every time the Aztecs score. In addition, there are all sorts of different tables and chairs scattered around the facility, including standing areas with beverage rails, so you can more comfortably consume your food and beverage rather than trying to juggle them in your regular seat. Surprisingly there is only one giant videoboard (above the Cutwater bar) in the facility, however, instead of having one above each end zone like many modern stadiums have nowadays. Neighborhood 3 There is not a lot near Snapdragon Stadium, as the facility is surrounded by parking lots, green spaces, and of course, the freeways moving people to and from the venue. There are of course plenty of options further out – Little Italy closer to downtown is a popular, upscale destination for locals and tourists, full of brewpubs, trendy eateries, and boutique clothing stores. Or if Italian food and culture are not your things, you can also find other enclaves in the city with different ethnic offerings, such as Little Saigon and Old Town (Mexican/Spanish). In terms of attractions San Diego offers plenty, with the two biggest being the beach (including Mission Bay) and Sea World San Diego – there are about a million hotels along I-8 to accommodate all the visitors to this area, some of which are closer to Snapdragon Stadium (the facility is about 8-10 miles from the ocean). Fans 3 There are a decent number of fans in attendance at the Aztecs game, but the stadium is by no means full. There is a decent tailgating scene in the parking areas, however, and you will hear some decent crowd noise at times. The student section is located behind one end zone, and you will see almost pure red being worn by those fans, while in other parts of the stadium, there is more of a mix of colors being worn. Access 3 Getting to Snapdragon Stadium is easy enough, as several major freeways pass practically over the top of it – remember that the traffic patterns/ingress and egress were originally designed to accommodate much larger NFL and MLB crowds, as the new, smaller stadium was built on the same footprint as the old one. Once inside the stadium, there is plenty of room to walk around, but even though you can park right next to the stadium, because of some lingering construction you have to walk quite a way around the facility to get to an entrance, and even then, certain entrances do not allow casual fans (they are reserved for those with special passes), so getting into the venue from the parking lot will take a little time. One great feature is there is an elevated train that brings students from campus – you can see its track from the stadium’s upper levels; there is a bridge over one of the parking lots that riders can use to get from the train station to the venue. Return on Investment 3 Tickets to Aztec football games are rather pricey – a lot more expensive than they used to be. For this level of college football (mid-major), you might expect to pay a little less, but here you could easily spend almost $100 for a decent ticket after all the fees, more around what you might expect to pay in the SEC or Big 12. Parking also costs $45 in the lots right next to the stadium, although you can find parking for cheaper if you are willing to walk further. That said, this is an amazing facility, especially the view from the Sycuan Piers – I think it is a stadium any sports fan should visit at least once, but given the cost, not sure I would recommend going to multiple games. Extras 5 The Aztecs do a lot that you won’t see at most college football games, for example, the fireworks whenever they score and the flames and smoke when the team comes onto the field. The different viewing options are amazing as well, with the bars and Sycuan Piers on the top level, and other places to watch from like the standing rails, as well as the picnic tables near some of the concessions stands, which you can see the field from. There are also giant “water stations” dotted around the stadium – giant coolers where you can refill your water bottles for free. Final Thoughts I recommend coming to see Snapdragon Stadium at least once – this ultra-modern stadium with all the bells and whistles will let you watch a college football game in style.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 A. L. May Stadium at George Sekul Field 1020 24th St N Birmingham, AL 35203 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College website A. L. May Stadium at George Sekul Field website Year Opened: 1948 Capacity: 5,000 Gulf Coast: Where Champions Play Junior college football is a huge deal in Mississippi. As one of 17 states that currently host JUCO football, Mississippi is one of the stronger pipelines in the country for pumping out junior college players to four-year universities. This is a big reason why Mississippi ranks in the top 5 of players per capita playing in the NFL than any other state. One of the more storied JUCO programs in the country is Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College – MGCCC is one of 14 schools in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges (MACCC) for football. Located in the tiny red-light town of Perkinston, aka Perk, the Bulldogs have become a football powerhouse in recent years; since their first year of football in 1926 the Bulldogs have won 16 MACCC titles. In addition, MGCCC has won five NJCAA National Championships (1948, 1971, 1984, 2007, and 2019), and the Bulldogs have made its conference playoffs over 25 times. MGCCC originally opened as Harrison County Agricultural School in 1911 and began offering junior college classes in 1925, changing its name to Perkinston Junior College. Today the college has four campuses throughout the Gulf Coast with a total enrollment of 8,700 students, making it the second-largest junior college in the state. Food & Beverage 2 You can find one concession stand open on the home side of the stadium. The usual items are sold here, although they do cook the burgers and hot dogs fresh off the grill, which is always a plus. The concessions line does back up from time to time, especially during halftime. The one downside is if you sit on the away side you will have to walk all the way around to the other side just to get something to eat. Also, there are no restaurants in Perk so your only option for food is at the stadium. Atmosphere 3 As soon as you arrive you will realize that game day in Perk is the only show in town. The whole town is the entire campus, so when there are athletic events on campus it is the only form of entertainment in the city. The Bulldogs play on the north side of campus at Historic A. L. May Stadium at George Sekul Field – the venue currently holds 5,000 seats and was opened in 1949 as Perkinston Stadium. The field faces east and west with the home bleachers on the north side and the end zones open. The entire stadium is metal bleachers except for the couple hundred chairback seats near the 50-yard line. The stadium has received several upgrades over the years, the most recent addition in 2016 with the opening of the King Center, a state-of-the-art, three-story brick structure that was built into the north side bleachers. The King Center provides athletic offices and team locker rooms and is one of the finest facilities in the MGCCC. There is also a season ticket holder and Bulldog Club lounge area on the top floor of the King Center overlooking the field. The college also upgraded its home concourse in 2016. As soon as you walk up to the facility you are greeted by different murals of past players and national championship moments. You can tell just by walking around the concourse that the school takes great pride in its achievements; blue and gold color schemes and murals everywhere you look. A small team store is also on this side of the concourse selling a few t-shirts, but you cannot walk into the store – you have to order your items at the window. Once in the stadium, you are greeted by about 25 rows of metal bleachers on both the home and away sides. The stadium has about 5,000 seats, with about the same number on both the home and away sides. Behind the end zone on the west side you can find various tents with a few people tailgating, as well as student organizations set up, while behind the east end zone, a huge videoboard sits in the southeast corner providing live video and replays. The video board was installed in 2016 when the King Center was built. The backdrop of the stadium is a few campus buildings, but off in the distance, you can see miles and miles of woods. If you go to the top of the stadium you can get a good view of the pine forests that make up so much of Stone County, which makes for a great view especially when the sun is going down. Neighborhood 2 There's not much to see here – this area's thousands of acres of undeveloped pine forests made it ideal for the lumber and timber industry, and at one time this area was filled with hundreds of sawmills. Perk was built right on the railroad and was an important stop for the transportation of goods to the coast. When the mills depleted their resources and used up most of the timber, however, the mills shut down and people vacated the little communities along the railroad, Perk included. Today there is nothing in Perk besides the campus; abandoned homes and an abandoned general store line the main thoroughfare along the railroad as you approach the campus. It is a ghost town now around campus, except for an elementary school and post office that are located on campus. Fortunately, with much of the land under protection now, this has led to many outdoor activities around the area. Perk is located inside DeSoto National Forrest, and the forest offers many hiking trails nearby, the most popular one being Tuxachanie National Hiking Trail a few miles south of campus. This trail is 13 miles along an abandoned railroad, which once served as a sawmill. Also nearby is the POW Recreation Area, a campground located on the grounds of an abandoned World War II bunker and barracks. Across the street from campus is perhaps the most famous spot in Perk called Perk Beach – an RV park located on the Black Creek makes for a great swimming hole, and you will find many students out here on the weekends going off the rope swing and floating on the river. About 15 minutes up the road is Wiggins where you can find a few fast-food restaurants and chain stores. There isn't much to do in Wiggins, though, so don't expect too much. Wiggins does have Flint Creek Water Park, a popular camping area right on a lake, and Paul B. Johnson State Park is located nearby as well. Further up the road, you have Camp Shelby Army Base, which has a pretty cool Armed Forces Museum. For hotels, you'll find a few smaller chain hotels in Wiggins as well, but Hattiesburg and Gulfport are your most likely bets for any big hotels or if you want to do any shopping. Both cities are about 45 minutes away, with Perk located right in the middle of the two. Fans 4 Mississippians love college football, and Thursday nights in Perk are no exception. You'll find fans tailgating throughout campus before the game, including behind the end zone. Former Head Coach Steve Campbell established a passionate fan base during the ten years he was here – when he took over the program in 2004 the Bulldogs had had only three winning seasons in the past 15 years. Campbell later moved on to Central Arkansas and South Alabama, but he helped establish a winning tradition that carried over to his son Steve Campbell Jr., who is the current Athletic Director. Now, after winning two national championships in the past 15 years and being a national powerhouse year in and year out, there is a passionate fanbase at MGCCC. In the stadium, Bulldog fans pack out A.L. May Stadium, so much so that almost every game is a sellout or close to a sellout. Many of the hardcore MGCCC fans and Bulldog Club members can be seen sitting in the chairbacks on the 50-yard line and in the lounge area at the top of the King Center. Access 4 Perk is located halfway between Hattiesburg and the coast, conveniently located right off Highway 49, the main road from the coast to Jackson. Perk is about 40 minutes north of Gulfport and 40 minutes south of Hattiesburg. You can't help but see the campus as you drive on Highway 49, with A.L. May Stadium located in the back of the campus attached to MGCCC’s baseball field. There is plenty of parking around the stadium so you should have no problem finding a spot. Once inside, the concourse can back up at the concessions stand, especially during halftime. The bookstore line and the concessions line also often intersect each other which can be confusing. Return on Investment 3 General admission tickets cost $10, and you can sit anywhere you want in the grandstand, except for the chairbacks which are reserved for season ticket holders and Bulldog Club members. With the cheap concessions and free parking, I consider this a great return on investment; for $10 you get to see some of the best JUCO football players in the Country. The MACCC can be considered the SEC of junior college football, as the conference has accounted for 17 NJCAA national titles since 1948. Make sure you get your tickets in advance though – when rivals East Mississippi or Pearl River come to town, expect a sellout. You also know you are getting an exciting game at every contest you are at; the 2009 East Mississippi vs. MGCCC game set the record for the most combined points ever scored in a JUCO game, at 146 points, as the Bulldogs lost 75-71. Extras 4 As one of the top JUCO programs in the country, MGCCC has had a ton of talent go on to four-year schools and the NFL. Since 2006 over 150 players have gone to play at FBS schools, and over 30 players have played in the NFL or CFL, including three players currently playing in the NFL as of the 2023 season. MGCCC also has one player in the NJCAA Football Hall of Fame; DT Terrance Cody, who played for the 2006-2007 team and later played for Alabama. MGCCC also has 3 coaches enshrined in the NJCAA Hall of Fame – George Sekul, J.C. Arban, and Steve Campbell. Sekul coached the Bulldogs from 1966-1991, and his 204 wins during that period rank highest all-time among Mississippi JUCO coaches. Sekul also gives his namesake to the field at A.L. May Stadium, and he is also in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame with Ed Khayat, a former MGCCC defensive end who had a ten-year stint in the NFL, and was later head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Some of the other notable alumni of MGCCC include astronaut Fred Haise, who was on board the famous Apollo 13 and was played by actor Bill Paxton in the 1995 movie, as well as Olympic gold medalist Brittany Reese and former MLB All-Star with the Twins Matt Lawton. Some extras for all the big games A.L. May Stadium has hosted over the years – in addition to the Bulldogs the stadium also hosted the 2016 and 2017 Mississippi Bowl, which is one of the bowl games for JUCO football. The 2017 Mississippi Bowl was for the NJCAA National Championship, in which East Mississippi Community College defeated Arizona Western College. A.L. May Stadium is also the home field for Stone High School in nearby Wiggins. The Tomcats have used A.L. May Stadium since its opening, and have won 11 district championships. The final extra is for the five national championships; all five are memorialized with a plaque outside the King Center. The plaque includes the roster of all the players and the 2007 national championship including several players who later played in the NFL including Tramain Brock of the San Francisco 49ers, Terrance Cody from the Baltimore Ravens, and future All-SEC linebacker from New England Patriots and Super Bowl champion, Chris White.