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.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium 1 Cunningham Square Providence, RI 02908 Providence College men's soccer website Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium website Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 1,500 Defend the Chap Anderson Stadium is home to the Providence College soccer and lacrosse teams. Located next to Schneider Arena, the Stadium is part of the overall upgrade and consolidation of the school’s athletic facilities. Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium is named in honor of Mike and Maura Chapey, class of 1986, who donated one million dollars, and Board of Trustees member Karl and Kerri Anderson, class of 1988, who donated $1.5 million towards the construction of the facility. Providence College started fielding soccer teams in 1968. The Friars have qualified for 10 NCAA Tournaments, most recently in 2021. They reached the national semifinals in 2014. The women’s soccer team has qualified for two NCAA tournaments. Food & Beverage 2 Local favorite Saugy Franks operates a food truck at Providence College soccer games. There’s a very basic menu available here, with hot dogs, pretzels, chips, and drinks comprising all the available options. On the plus side, no items cost more than five dollars. On certain nights, Saugy’s serves up gourmet versions of their legendary dogs with a variety of toppings. In addition, local sodas from Yacht Club are sold out of the food truck. No alcohol is permitted at Providence College soccer games. Fans are welcome to bring their snacks into Anderson Stadium. On cold fall Rhode Island days, you can expect to see a bunch of hot Dunkin’ beverages in the stands. Atmosphere 3 There’s not a lot of room for a college game day operations crew to insert themselves into a soccer game, especially when you compare it to other sports played on campus. There just aren’t many spots where a DJ, a PA announcer, a pep band, or a cheerleading squad can make an impact on a game. That’s not to say that a college soccer game is a boring experience, it’s just different than other college sports. If you’re comparing a college soccer game to the pro experiences in North America or Europe, it’s a much more laid-back experience. There are no supporter sections here, and no student sections to be found, either. There’s a large video scoreboard in the northeast corner of the pitch at Anderson Stadium. It’s put to good use with graphics and videos throughout the game. The sound system is excellent, and music is played before the game and at halftime. The PA announcer keeps fans informed of substitutions and other game information in a workmanlike manner. Many fans in the stands have a personal connection with the players on the field and are knowledgeable and enthusiastic in their support. If you want to feel the real energy at Anderson Stadium, head to the berm on the south side of the pitch. That’s where many of the younger fans in attendance hang out, running around and making noise throughout the game. They may not always be paying attention to the game, but hey, they’re having a blast! You may even see some of these youngsters on the field at halftime playing soccer or taking shots at Providence’s legendary mascot, Friar Dom. Neighborhood 3 Anderson Stadium is located at the northeast corner of the Providence College campus next to Schneider Arena. The PC campus is located in the residential Elmhurst neighborhood, with not many dining, lodging, or entertainment options directly adjacent to the campus. Luckily for visiting fans, downtown Providence is located just a couple of miles away from campus, so it won’t take you long to get to where the choices are more plentiful. Providence has a reputation as one of the top small cities in the nation for culinary options. Fans looking for a place to eat close to campus will find some pub-style restaurants near Anderson Stadium. Stadium Journey recommends The Abbey, known for their collection of signature burgers and a wide variety of draft beer, or New York System, one of the premier locations in the country for a Coney-style hot dog. Fans looking for something a little fancier should head over to Federal Hill, Providence’s version of Little Italy, where a concentration of top-notch restaurants can be found. Downtown Providence has no shortage of lodging options or points of interest for fans visiting the city from out of town. Check out the GoProvidence website for more information. Fans 4 The Friars draw decent crowds to Anderson Stadium. Stadium Journey visited Providence on a crisp October night with nationally ranked Georgetown visiting. The crowd numbered approximately 500 fans, which appears to be a fairly representative crowd for Providence College soccer. As mentioned before, many of the fans in attendance have a personal connection with the players on the pitch and are enthusiastic about their support. There’s a significant presence from local youth teams at Anderson Stadium, and the youngsters bring their energy to the game. While there’s decent support from the student body, there’s no organized student section at Anderson Stadium. Access 3 Providence College is located in the residential Elmhurst neighborhood of Providence, about a mile from Route 146 and Interstate 95. To reach Anderson Stadium, fans will need to do some driving through the city, but the campus is still pretty easy to reach. Fans using public transportation will be pleased to know that RIPTA’s number 55 bus has a stop right next to Schneider Arena, adjacent to Anderson Stadium. With the majority of fans driving to Friar soccer games, parking is at a premium. Luckily, there is plenty of parking in the area. There is a three-level parking garage attached to the west grandstand of Anderson Stadium, as well as several lots within walking distance of the facility. Many fans will opt for the on-street parking available on Huxley and Admiral Streets. Seating at Anderson Stadium consists of metal bleachers in the grandstands on either side of the pitch, with some individual stadium seats around midfield of the main (west) grandstand. There is a berm on the south side of the field. The younger fans in attendance keep this area buzzing with activity throughout the game. Fans can walk completely around the stadium, with views of the pitch and standing room available at all points. Restrooms are located in Schneider Arena next door to Anderson Stadium. Return on Investment 5 Admission to Friar soccer games is free, as is parking in the garage adjacent to Anderson Stadium. No items on Saugy’s regular menu cost more than five dollars. Even when Saugy’s is featuring their specialty dogs, prices are reasonable. Fans can bring their snacks into the game with them. As the season progresses through the fall months and the weather turns colder, it’s common to see lots of Dunkin’ coffee in the stands. Extras 1 Providence College’s conference championship seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances for both the men’s and women’s teams are honored on the wall of the east grandstand. Fans wishing to see the Friars’ NCAA hockey championship trophy will find it in the lobby of Schneider Arena next door to Anderson Stadium. Final Thoughts Providence College is a small school with a long history in intercollegiate sports. They have been working hard to improve their on-campus facilities, and Anderson Stadium is a worthy result of these efforts. ---- Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Garrison Stadium Hawks Dr Murfreesboro, NC 27855 Chowan Hawks website Garrison Stadium website Capacity: 5,000 D2 Football in Eastern NC Chowan University, pronounced Cha-wan, is located in Murfreesboro, North Carolina – their football team plays at the D2 level of NCAA football, and their sports teams are known as the Hawks. The football team is a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Garrison Stadium was conceived in the 1960s when the athletic department and college administrators teamed up to launch a campaign for a home venue for the football team. The university dedicated the stadium circa 1965 with seating on both sides and a furnished press box. Improvements to the stadium took place in July 2007 which included new lights, perimeter fencing, and upgrades to the Bermuda grass field. The financing was made through donors. The stadium would be renamed to Garrison in December 1987 after long-time athletic director and head football coach, Jim Garrison. He won 150 games during his 27 years as head coach of the Hawks. Food & Beverage 2 Garrison Stadium has 2 concession stands, one a fixed stand underneath the home side, and the other 2 small tents next to the visiting side. The menu is small, but has burgers, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and packaged candy; drinks include water, soda, and Gatorade. There are fewer items sold on the visiting side, but some of the prices are lower on that side (for example, $2 for a hot dog on the visiting side versus $3 on the home side). Atmosphere 2 The atmosphere at Chowan Stadium is okay, but the grass field does lack the sharpness of turf – for example, the logo at midfield and in the end zones are a little scuffed. There are not a ton of fans in the stands, and for some games, there might be more visiting fans than home fans. Also, there is not much going on besides the game itself in terms of entertainment, fan contests, etc., although the PA announcer does have a lot of charisma. Chowan’s band is also very small and sits on the visiting side. Neighborhood 2 Garrison Stadium is located on Chowan’s campus, and there are some fast food restaurants about a mile away along Highway 158. The Jefcoat Museum is the closest tourist attraction and showcases early American history. There is only one hotel near the stadium, but you can find others in the closest town over, Ahoskie. The closest major town, Norfolk, is an hour away. Fans 2 Garrison Stadium doesn’t have a lot of fans, and some games have more visiting fans than home fans. There is a small tailgating scene on what is interestingly called The Grassy Knoll, next to the visiting stands. Chowan’s win-loss record is up and down from year to year, however, so the stadium should have more fans in better years. Access 4 There is free parking right next to the stadium (take Union St to Hawks Dr), and a walking path along the lake that connects the home side and visiting side. You are free to walk around during the game if you want to switch sides or visit the other concessions stand. The major downside in terms of access is simply how far off the beaten path Chowan is, but on the plus side, there is almost no traffic to contend with. Return on Investment 2 Tickets to football games at Garrison Stadium are $11, which is pretty cheap as far as college football goes, and the concessions are inexpensive as well. However, given how few amenities the stadium offers, and the slightly outdated facilities, you may prefer to visit a different stadium for your sports dollar, unless your favorite team is playing here that day. Extras 3 There is a football center behind one end zone which some fans watch from, and a big tent for the boosters behind one corner of the stadium. Even though there may not be many fans in the stands, it is nice to see a good group of financial and alumni supporters. There are also fountains and a bridge across the lake, along with ducks and geese if you would like to do some bird-watching/nature walking while at the game.

The landscape of Triple-A baseball has changed dramatically in the last couple of seasons. This past season 30 clubs in the International and Pacific Coast League took the field and played games from early April to late September, resulting in 8,491,388 fans for an average of 5,695 per game. The ballparks haven’t changed, perhaps some of the ball clubs and cities, but the true essence of family fun remains. We present our rankings of the overall experience. Factors we include in our ratings are food and beverage in the ballpark, overall atmosphere, the neighborhood, the fans, access (which includes parking, traffic, restrooms, and concourses), return on investment, and an “extras” category for any unique or bonus points. Without further ado, our 2023 Triple-A Baseball ballpark rankings. 1. CHS Field, St. Paul Saints (James Hilchen) - Moving to affiliated baseball in 2021 hasn’t changed what has always made CHS Field such a great place. From the employees to the food, to the entertainment, to the amazing museum, a day at the ballpark doesn't get much better than in St. Paul. 2. Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham Bulls (James Hilchen) - The Bulls have a long and storied history in North Carolina. As someone who has seen my share of minor league ballparks over the years, Durham Bulls Athletic Park just might be my favorite. Great scenery, food for every taste, and fun reminders of an iconic movie make this a ballpark that should be on every baseball fan’s bucket list. 3. Truist Field, Charlotte Knights (David Berger) - Truist Field offers views of downtown Charlotte that might be unsurpassed in Triple-A baseball. The ballpark features an array of food, a selection of beverages, a team shop with almost every kind of team logo cap and shirt, and seating areas from numerous vantage points. The jewel of a ballpark continues to show why it is so well thought of by fans and ballpark travelers alike. Photo Courtesy of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 4. Coca-Cola Park, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Joe Rogers) - A night out at Coca-Cola Park is one of exceptional value and pleasure. As a fan, one can appreciate the great lengths to which Lehigh Valley brass and game day staff go to ensure that their fans are continually pleased with their experiences at the park. 5. First Horizon Park, Nashville Sounds (Marc Viquez) - First Horizon Park keeps getting better with every visit, the aesthetics from the nearby city skyline and surrounding Georgetown neighborhood sets it apart from other minor league ballparks of its kind. The Band Box is the “hippest spot” in the game, providing a unique environment for fans of all ages. Just look for the giant guitar-shaped scoreboard. 6. Victory Field, Indianapolis Indians (Marc Viquez) - Victory Field looks as clean, fresh, and vibrant as the day it was born in 1996. It is the summertime ritual for fireworks, dollar eats, and packed crowds for many in central Indiana and beyond. The ballpark has added new features, menu items, and social areas that have improved the experience on our list. 7. Innovative Field, Rochester Red Wings (Dave Cottenie) - The Rochester Red Wings are a cornerstone franchise in the International League. The club has weathered the ups and downs of Minor League Baseball and come out the other end still strong. Fans looking for a solid baseball experience that will offer tremendous value should check out the Red Wings - Morrie will be glad you came. 8. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, Oklahoma City Dodgers (Dave Cottenie) - Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is one of the best minor league ballparks in the country. The ballpark has already celebrated 20 years, yet other ballparks have yet to make this OKC gem outdated. The ballpark has received numerous accolades over the years, and rightfully so, since the ballpark has single-handedly revitalized the Bricktown area. 9. Polar Park, Worcester Red Sox (Paul Baker) - Polar Park has proven to be a divisive ballpark over its brief history. From the relocation of the iconic PawSox to the price tag for the new facility to the unique look and design of the ballpark, Polar Park seems to have created as many critics as fans. A closer look at the ballpark shows incredible attention to detail and connection to the community. 10. AutoZone Park, Memphis Redbirds (Lloyd Brown) - AutoZone Park was the most expensive minor league facility when it opened in 2000. Nevertheless, it was money well spent; the Memphis Redbirds have drawn well since opening day at the turn of the century. 11. Huntington Park, Columbus Clippers (Marc Viquez) - Huntington Park is a fantastic Triple-A venue that offers a lot to everyone who walks through its entrances. Tickets and parking are affordable, sections of the ballpark offer something for fans of all ages, and there are plenty of promotional nights to save fans a buck or two. All one has to do is sit back and enjoy the baseball game. 12. Las Vegas Ballpark, Las Vegas Aviators (Marc Viquez) - Las Vegas has one of the newest and most modern facilities in minor league baseball and one that befits the city it calls home. The spacious and open concourse offers enough baseball entertainment to rival any show or performance on the Las Vegas Strip. 13. Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville Bats (Marc Viquez) - A visitor can expect a great time at Louisville Slugger Field. The Bats provide affordable ticket pricing, amazing food selection, scenic views of the city, and a wealth of history inside the ballpark. It is a classic-looking baseball stadium situated near the heart of the city. 14. Principal Park, Iowa Cubs (James Hilchen) - Des Moines is an underrated city with a great downtown scene. The location of the ballpark is a perfect location for entertainment before and after the game. Inside the gates is a great place to sit back and watch a game while taking in some great views and a litany of good food and drink options. 15. Dell Diamond, Round Rock Express (Eric Moreno) - Dell Diamond is my favorite minor league ballpark to visit. Everything in the ballpark is first class, from the food and drink selection to seating and unique amenities in the outfield lawn area. Photo Courtesy of Scott Taggart, Google 16. Sutter Health Park, Sacramento River Cats (Dave Cottenie) - The old cliché, “There isn’t a bad seat in the house” definitely applies to Health Sutter Park. Opened in 2000, fan comfort and viewing ease were at the top of the priority list. The sightlines are great from any seat, and lawn seating allows for an inexpensive way to bring the whole family. 17. Cheney Stadium, Tacoma Rainiers (Lloyd Brown) - During the most recent renovations at Cheney Stadium, it was decided to go from the original utilitarian design and make attending a game a unique experience. It all begins outside the stadium, where you will notice the truly Pacific Northwestern vibe of the facility. 18. 121 Financial Ballpark, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (David Welch) - Jacksonville is hands down the sports capital of northern Florida and southeastern Georgia. It has a long history of success in handling major events, including the Super Bowl, and the Georgia-Florida game. The facility provides a very entertaining product, excellent concessions, and a myriad of seating options to meet all needs. 19. RGCU Field at Isotopes Park, Albuquerque Isotopes (Meg Minard) - Isotopes Park is an amazing venue to take in a ballgame. The view is spectacular, the team that presents the game day experience is the best around, and the prices are reasonable. 20. Fifth Third Field, Toledo Mud Hens (Marc Viquez) - Fifth Third Field is a fine example of a Triple-A ballpark. The history of the club, the HensVille setting, and the atmosphere make it a great visit when in town or while on a ballpark trip. You would be remiss not to walk away with team gear from the store. 21. Southwest University Park, El Paso Chihuahuas (Sean MacDonald) - I was very impressed with everything about this stadium. It is aesthetically pleasing makes good use of its downtown location, and has something for everyone. The major weakness here is price, which is a bit high for minor league ball, though again, you can find ways around it. 22. Sahlen Field, Buffalo Bisons (Dave Cottenie) - Having enjoyed some Major League Baseball, the people of Buffalo have embraced the return of the Bisons, who have been a staple in Buffalo for a century. Baseball fans should head to Western New York to take in a Bisons game at Sahlen Field and consider it one of the excellent promotional events. 23. Smith’s Ballpark, Salt Lake City Bees (Chris Green) - Smith’s Ballpark is beautiful, the fans are great, and the overall costs mirror those that fans have come to expect at a minor-league baseball stadium. 24. Constellation Field, Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Marc Viquez) - Constellation Field offers an alternative for baseball in the Houston area; it is a place where families can sit back and enjoy a night out without paying an arm and a leg. There is plenty of activity to keep the kids busy and numerous seating options to make it a decent night of baseball. 25. Werner Park, Omaha Storm Chasers (James Hilchen) - Werner Park doesn’t get much credit when it comes to must-see ballparks. The Storm Chasers have done a great job providing quality time for the hardcore fans and those who want extra entertainment choices above and beyond the game. 26. Harbor Park, Norfolk Tides (Joseph Oakes) - A ballpark that offers affordable pricing, excellent location, and downtown destinations is a great way to enjoy a baseball game during the summer months. Enjoy the horns of the boats on the nearby harbor while catching a game. 27. Greater Nevada Field, Reno Aces (Andrew Maurins) - A game at Greater Nevada Field represents a solid all-around value for what a ticket through the gate will get you. The minor quibbles with parking and concession lines are made up for with a high degree of interactive entertainment and a great selection of high-quality concessions. 28. NBT Bank Stadium, Syracuse Mets (Michael Rusignuolo) - NBT Bank Ballpark has a great selection of food and drinks for baseball fans but doesn’t stand out in many other areas. It's a solid ballpark, and the parent club looks to make improvements. 29. PNC Field, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders (Gregory Koch) - The renovation PNC Field underwent in 2012 has done a lot of good. Architecturally, the stadium has seen massive improvements. The RailRiders seem to be leaning heavily on their affiliation with the Yankees rather than trying to attract fans by creating their own identity. 30. Coolray Field, Gwinnett Stripers (Lloyd Brown) - Coolray Field is a well-designed, attractive place to watch minor league baseball. It is only 35 miles away from the parent club, Atlanta Braves.

Photos by Matt Fiedler and Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Paul Bailey Pizzitola Sports Center 235 Hope St Providence, RI 02912 Brown Bears basketball website Paul Bailey Pizzitola Sports Center website Year Opened: 1989 Capacity: 2,800 Triple B – Brown Bears Basketball The Paul Bailey Pizzitola Sports Center has been the home of Brown University basketball since 1989. The arena is located in the East Side neighborhood of Providence and is adjacent to Meehan Auditorium (Home of Brown University hockey), and Berylson Family Field (the practice facility for Brown University football). Fans of no-frills basketball will really enjoy their time at Pizzitola Sports Center. The arena is both affordable and has great views no matter where you choose to sit. Food & Beverage 3 The food options at Brown University are standard, but also offer a few unique offerings. In the main lobby you will see a small concession stand that offers entrees like hot dogs and pizza. The stand also offers cookies, pretzels, candy, and soft drinks. Those are all typical arena options. Everything at the concession stand is $5 or less. So, a typical meal of a slice of pizza and a Coke will only cost $6. Inside the arena there is a small cart that offers something unique, roasted nuts. While most arenas offer peanuts, the Pizzitola Sports Center has a cart that offers cinnamon glazed cashews, almonds and pecans for just $5 per bag. There is no alcohol served at this venue but if you’re seeking an adult beverage and a more substantial meal, there are plenty of options within the city of Providence. Atmosphere 2 The Pizzitola Sports Center is a very low-key basketball venue. There isn’t a giant scoreboard or a huge student section. There are scoreboards on the wall at each end of the arena that show the pertinent information that fans need. The scoreboards display the score, the players on the court, and the team’s fouls situation. Brown University doesn’t have the typical experience for college basketball. There is no cheerleading squad or dance team. There isn’t a pep band either that plays during breaks in the action. The PA announcer does his best to get the crowd involved in the game and typical stadium music is played during breaks in the action. Overall the atmosphere is very much about the basketball and less about the music and entertainment. If you’re a fan who looks for things like dance teams and other entertainment during breaks, you’ll be disappointed. Neighborhood 5 Brown University is located in a beautiful part of the city of Providence. The East Side of Providence is home to many great restaurants and is known for being a very wealthy area. Fans can get to downtown very quickly and find attractions like the Providence Place Mall, Providence Performing Arts Center, and Federal Hill. Brown University’s athletic facilities are very centralized so fans could go to a football game in the afternoon and a basketball game at night. The two facilities are right near each other and are just a short walk away. In terms of safety, the Pizzitola Sports Center is in a very nice area. Many fans park on the street near the arena and simply walk over to the game. There are lots of people walking on the streets before and after a game so fans can feel safe leaving their cars on the street and walking over. Fans 2 The capacity of Pizzitola Sports Center is only 2,800 so even with a packed house it’s not a large group of fans. However, the fans that are in attendance do know their stuff. Stadium Journey could tell that the fans in attendance seem like long time followers of Brown University athletics. If you happen to go when the team is playing PC, URI or another local rival, things may get a bit rowdy. When Stadium Journey visited, Brown was playing URI and the place was jammed. If you go when the team is playing someone like Cornell, the crowds will most likely be smaller. Overall, the fans are very respectful no matter what team you are rooting for. Access 3 The Pizzitola Sports Center is easy to get to. The campus is about 2 miles from I-95. Fans need to take a few side streets and then the campus will come into view. When trying to find parking, there are a few options. One option is to park in one of the lots that are adjacent to the athletic facilities. If those fill up, you can find plenty of room to park on one of the side streets that surround the campus. If you’re taking public transportation, there are some RIPTA buses that make stops at the campus. You could also take Amtrak to Providence Station and then take an Uber or Lyft to the campus. Once inside the area, fans will find that it is easy to navigate. Most of the seats are at the court level. There are bleachers on both ends of the court as well as both sidelines. There are also areas for groups in the upper level. There are no obstructed views so wherever you sit, you’ll have a good view of the action. The concourse can get crowded at halftime, but the bathrooms are quite spacious. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to a Brown basketball game range from only $7-$15 each. That is a great price to see Division One basketball. The parking around the arena is free and the concessions are cheap. So, if you bought a general admission ticket, slice of pizza, and a Coke, you would only have to spend $13. There aren’t many Division One arenas where you can get that kind of value. To see high end college basketball for under $20 is a terrific deal. Extras 2 One star goes to the overall value of attending a Brown basketball game. The tickets are affordable, and the concessions are a great value as well. Stadium Journey suggests trying the cinnamon glazed almonds for only $5 each. When you factor in the free parking, it’s about as cheap as you can get for a Division One experience. A second star goes to surroundings of the Brown University campus. It is a short drive to downtown Providence where there are tons of great restaurants and things to do. Final Thoughts If you’re a fan who wants all the glitz and glamour of Division One basketball, this isn’t the venue for you. However, if you want to see quality basketball with no frills and have it be an affordable experience, then I would suggest checking out a Brown basketball game at the Pizzitola Sports Center. Afterward, Stadium Journey would recommend that you head over to Federal Hill and grab some great Italian food.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Pizzitola Memorial Sports Center 235 Hope St. Providence, RI 02906 Brown Bears volleyball website Pizzitola Memorail Sports Center website Year Opened: 1989 Capacity: 2,800 Brown Bears Volleyball The Pizzitola Sports Center is named for Paul Bailey Pizzitola, Brown class of 1981. Mr. Pizzitola passed away at the age of 25 from Ewing’s Sarcoma after graduating from Brown and New York University. His family contributed $2 million towards the facility’s construction. Part of the Erikson Sports Complex on the northeast corner of the Brown campus, the Pizzitola Sports Center contains practice and game space for the men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics, squash, and tennis teams. The lobby of the building is named for football legend John Heisman, Brown class of 1891. The main floor of the center is named the Williams Court for Howard Williams '17, a former football player, track athlete, and assistant football coach. The Brown Bears volleyball team has won five Ivy League championships and has qualified for the NCAA tournament three times, most recently in 2021. Food & Beverage 0 There are no concessions available at Brown volleyball matches. Fans can bring in their snacks to enjoy. Atmosphere 3 Volleyball is a fun sport to watch, particularly in a small, intimate venue like the Pizzitola Center. Fans are right on top of the action, with the great majority of fans enjoying a close relationship with the players on the court. It makes for a lively atmosphere in this fast-moving game, although much of the noise comes from the players themselves. There’s not a whole lot of downtime in a volleyball match for extraneous noise, as the game progresses quickly. Music plays during time-outs and the PA announcer unobtrusively does their job, adding some energy to the proceedings along the way. Simple scoreboards at either end of the gym display basic game information. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the game day atmosphere here at Brown was the presence of many members of the student body, who were boisterous at times in their support of the Bears. Neighborhood 5 Meehan Auditorium is located on the residential East Side of Providence, adjacent to several other Brown University athletic venues, including Meehan Auditorium, Stevenson-Pincince Stadium, and Murray Stadium. Brown Stadium is located about a mile away. Thayer Street, which serves as Brown University’s main street, is just a couple of blocks from the rink. Thayer Street is filled with quaint shops, restaurants and bars. A short distance in the other direction is Hope Street, which continues the eclectic vibe of the East Side with more locally owned shops and places to eat. Nearby Wayland Square and Wickenden Street offer more fine restaurants, shopping, and nightlife options. Downtown Providence is only a mile and a half away at the bottom of College Hill. Providence enjoys a well-deserved reputation as one of the finest culinary destinations in the country, and visitors to the city will find many diverse and excellent dining and lodging choices here. Fans 3 The crowd at a Brown volleyball game is what we at Stadium Journey often refer to as a “friends and family” crowd. Stadium Journey attended a game on a Friday night as many students had just returned to school for the semester. A decent crowd was on hand, estimated at 250 or so. A return visit on a Tuesday night showed close to 900 fans in attendance. As you would expect, the crowd contained a significant number of family members of the players, along with a surprising number of students. They added some excitement to the goings on, cheering loudly for Brown rallies and kills. Access 3 The Pizzitola Sports Center is located in Brown University’s Erickson Athletic Complex, adjacent to several of Brown’s athletic facilities on the East Side of Providence. While the Brown University Campus is located near several highways, there is no direct way to get to or from campus. If driving, one must navigate a maze of neighborhood streets before arriving at the Pizzitola Center. If attending a game during a weekday, Providence can be a tough city in which to get around. Several RIPTA buses run regularly to nearby Thayer Street, and the center of the Brown campus is just a couple of blocks from the facility. Check the RIPTA website for complete route, fare, and schedule information. Parking is available for Brown volleyball at no charge in the Erickson Complex lot next to the Pizzitola Center. Fans unable to find a spot in the lot can utilize free on-street parking in the area around the auditorium. Finding an available spot can be tricky at times, but patient visitors should be able to find spots within easy walking distance of the arena. The Pizzitola Center is located next to the Meehan Auditorium and several other of the university’s athletic buildings. Fans will enter the Pitz into the Heisman Lobby, which houses the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame and restrooms. A pair of entrances lead from the lobby into the gymnasium. The Gymnasium features individual plastic folding chairs on the near side, with the remainder of the seating consisting of plastic molded bleachers. There is a small balcony with additional seating and, believe it or not, some luxury boxes. With only ten rows of seats on either side of the court and seventeen rows on either baseline, this is truly an intimate setting. Return on Investment 5 There is no charge to attend a volleyball match at Brown University. Parking is also available for free in the Erickson Complex parking lot behind the Pizzitola Center or on the streets surrounding the athletic complex. Extras 2 The Lobby of the Pizzitola Center is dedicated to John Heisman, college football legend and Brown class of 1891 alumnus. Located in the Heisman lobby is the Brown Athletic Hall of Fame. Brown may not have the most storied athletic history, but its contributions to college athletics are significant. Banners honoring Ivy League championships and tournament appearances for all the teams that play in the Pizzitola Center hang on the walls of the gym. Bears volleyball has won five Ivy League titles and has appeared in three NCAA tournaments. Final Thoughts The Pizzitola Center is a basic facility that suits the needs of Brown volleyball well. It offers an intimate setting where fans can feel like a part of the action. ---- Follow Paul Baker's Stadium Journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Stevenson-Pincince Field 235 Hope St. Providence, RI 02906 Brown Bears lacrosse website Stevenson-Pincince Field website Year Opened: 1979 Capacity: 3,500 Brown Bears Lax Stevenson-Pincince Field was named in honor of longtime Brown men’s soccer and lacrosse coach Cliff Stevenson, who was instrumental in establishing the soccer program at Brown in the 1960s as well as giving the sport a foothold in many schools around Rhode Island at this time. In 2015 the facility was rechristened to also honor longtime women’s soccer coach Phil Pincince. In 2020 the old bleachers and press box that made up the stadium were torn down and replaced with a new three-story, 22,500-square-foot facility complete with dedicated team locker rooms, training facilities, coaches' offices, public restrooms, and concessions. The “Center for Lacrosse and Soccer” opened in time for the 2020 lacrosse season. The Brown Bears have a storied history in the sport, as the men’s team began to play in 1926. The Bears have claimed 10 Ivy League championships, have qualified for 15 NCAA Tournaments (most recently in 2022), and have reached a pair of Final Fours (in 1994 and 2016). Food & Beverage 3 There is a concession stand on the concourse of the grandstand. There’s not an overly fancy menu here, but you should be able to find something if you need a snack during the game. Hot dogs and pizza slices anchor the menu, with pulled pork sandwiches serving as a special item during the day of Stadium Journey’s visit. In addition, there’s a selection of chips, pretzels, candy, and cotton candy available. Coca-Cola products are featured at Stevenson-Pincince Field. No alcoholic beverages are allowed inside the facility. Atmosphere 4 As a rule, the atmosphere at a college lacrosse game is a bit more lively than you may expect with the smaller crowds on hand. Lax fans are generally louder and more boisterous than fans of the other “minor sports” at most colleges. Brown is no exception. Fans are into the action, knowledgeable about the sport, and connected to the players. Stevenson-Pincince Field features a video board in the southwest corner of the field that is put to good use with replays, highlights, graphics, and game information. Another, the smaller scoreboard is located in the northeast corner of the field. It displays basic game information. Music plays over a quality sound system during play stoppages and the PA announcer adds some energy to the proceedings. During halftime, youth teams take the field, and there are other contests and giveaways scattered throughout the game. Keep your eyes peeled for Bruno, the school’s mascot, who may be participating in a favorite giveaway at Brown, the chocolate bar toss. Digital programs are available for all fans. Neighborhood 5 Stevenson-Pincince Field is located in Providence’s affluent East Side, adjacent to many of the school’s other athletic facilities in the Erickson Athletic Complex. Also located in the complex are Meehan Auditorium, the Paul Bailey Pizzitola Sports Center, and Murray Stadium, among others. Brown Stadium is located about a mile away. Just a couple of blocks from the Athletic Complex is Thayer Street, the East Side’s main commercial drag. Numerous cafes, restaurants, and shops can be found here, including Brown’s bookstore and the Avon Cinema, which dates back to the early 20th century. Other notable areas in the East Side a short walk or drive from Brown University are Hope Street, Wayland Square, and Wickenden Street. All have their bohemian vibes and feature great local restaurants, shops, and bars. Of course, downtown Providence is located just at the bottom of College Hill about a mile away from Brown. If you’re visiting Providence from elsewhere, this is likely where you will find lodging options in addition to numerous additional dining choices. Providence has a well-deserved reputation as one of the finest small cities in the country for foodies. Visitors to the area will find more than enough choices to satisfy even the most adventurous of palates. If staying in Providence isn’t appealing enough, Boston is an hour’s drive to the north, with the mansions and beaches of Newport about 45 minutes south. Fans 4 Brown Lacrosse enjoys strong support. Stadium Journey visited Stevenson-Pincince Field on a beautiful April Saturday afternoon, and the main grandstand was packed with fans. The announced attendance of over 1,100 seems representative of a typical Bears crowd. Remember, the college lacrosse season stretches from February to May. Crowds generally increase throughout the season as the weather warms. Lacrosse fans are more than just fannies in the seats. They are among the most loyal, dedicated, enthusiastic sports fans you’ll find anywhere. A lax crowd is certainly a case of quality over quantity. Brown lacrosse fans are no exception. Sitting in the stands you’ll come across a more rowdy game day experience than you’d expect (not in a bad way). The fans are loud and enthusiastic. Perhaps this is due to the personal connection many fans have with the players on the field, but it creates a fun atmosphere to be a part of, even as a visiting fan. Access 3 The Erikson Athletic Complex is located on the eastern edge of Brown University’s urban campus. While Interstates 95 and 195 both run close to Brown, there is no direct way to access Brown from the highway. One must navigate the East Side’s crooked, crowded streets to arrive at the complex. Luckily, parking is plentiful around Brown’s athletic facilities. There are a pair of smallish lots within the complex, adjacent to Stevenson-Pincince Field. Unfortunately, since there is generally a lot of activity in the complex on the weekends, you may not be able to find a spot here. There is abundant on-street parking in the area, which is free on the weekends. Seating at Stevenson-Pincince Field consists of metal bleachers without backs in a grandstand that runs the length of the field. This grandstand is built into the Lacrosse and Soccer Center, with a concourse at the top of the seating area. Handicapped seating and standing room are located on this concourse. Also located on the concourse are the concession stand and restrooms, which are new, clean, and large enough for a typical Bears lacrosse crowd. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for Brown lacrosse vary in price depending on the opponent. Ivy League games top out at $15 for general admission seating. Non-conference games vary in price depending on the opponent and day of the week. Discounts are available for youths and seniors. Cash and cards are accepted at Stevenson-Pincince Field. Parking is free in the lots adjacent to Stevenson-Pincince Field, as well as on-street should these lots be full. Be sure to check signage if parking on-street for neighborhood and/or time restrictions. Concessions are reasonably priced, making an afternoon at a Brown lacrosse game an affordable entertainment option for Rhode Island sports fans. Extras 2 On the south end zone fence are displayed Brown Ivy League titles, tournament appearances, Final Four berths, and a graphic honoring the two Bears to receive the Tewaaraton Trophy given to the nation’s outstanding players, Darren Lowe, and Dylan Malloy. Final Thoughts Renovations to Stevenson-Pincince Field have taken what was formerly just a set of bleachers surrounding a grass field to one of the more outstanding facilities in the area. Brown typically fields a competitive Ivy League team and the fan support they receive is outstanding. It all adds up to a great place to spend a spring afternoon in Providence. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

With the playoffs in full swing, it's time for us at Stadium Journey to once again rank the game day experience at all 30 Major League Baseball Ballparks. Our correspondents visited 25 of the 30 MLB parks in 2023, ranking the game day experience according to our patented FANFARE rating system, which takes into account a ballpark's food and beverage, game day atmosphere, surrounding neighborhood, fan support, access, value and more. When two or more facilities were tied, a Stadium Journey council of elders was consulted to break those ties. It's a different way of looking at a ballpark, and produces some variability which is sure to create some lively debate. We invite you to take to our social media channels to participate in some good-natured discussion. We can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Threads, YouTube and Instagram. Without further ado, Stadium Journey is proud to present our 2023 rankings of the Major League Baseball ballparks. 1. Petco Park - San Diego Padres 4.71 Andrei Ojeda - Petco Park continues to play a huge role in the revitalization of the local area throughout the East Village. With a vibrant neighborhood and enthusiastic fans coming in droves along with one of the more picturesque parks among the 30, it’s no wonder Petco Park continually ranks high among ballpark experts in America’s Finest City. 2. Progressive Field - Cleveland Guardians 4.71 Chris Green - The Guardians continue to showcase what makes their home one of the best home stadiums in the major leagues. Progressive Field has everything you would want in a perfect setting. Top food and beverage options mix here with a constantly improving stadium that remains one of the best in baseball. 3. Oracle Park - San Francisco Giants 4.57 Andrei Ojeda - One visit to this beauty and you will see why Oracle Park consistently ranks among the top ballpark experiences among baseball fans. As you walk away to the tune of Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” a piece of your heart will undoubtedly be left at 3rd and King. 4. Busch Stadium - St. Louis Cardinals 4.57 Chris Green - The Cardinals have one of the best fanbases in baseball, and the stadium matches. Without a doubt, this is one of the premier experiences in all of baseball, featuring stunning views, a stellar game day experience, and top-notch food options. If you’re looking for a great experience on par with those of other facilities that are well regarded, Busch Stadium must be at the top of your list. 5. PNC Park - Pittsburgh Pirates 4.43 Dave Cottenie - For any fan of baseball, a trip to see the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park is an absolute must. With some improved play on the field this season, hopefully more fans will embrace the experience and flood the park on the banks of the Allegheny. 6. Wrigley Field - Chicago Cubs 4.43 Marc Viquez - The improvements to Wrigley Field have not taken away from the overall game day experience or the historic aesthetics. It has created an ambiance that would fit right into any decade of the ballpark's historic history. 7. Target Field - Minnesota Twins 4.29 Gregory Koch - The difference between Target Field and the old Metrodome is like night and day. While the Twins previously played in one of the worst stadiums in Major League Baseball, they now play at one of the best. Just walking up and gaping at its gorgeous exterior, you get the sense that this place is different, and once you get inside, you will not be disappointed. 8. Fenway Park - Boston Red Sox 4.29 Paul Baker - How old is Fenway Park? It opened the same week that the Titanic sank. While other cities are building billion-dollar complexes to replace ballparks that are only 20 years old, in Boston they are simply finding new ways to put modern touches on this classic diamond. 9. Great American Ball Park - Cincinnati Reds 4.29 Dave Cottenie - The Cincinnati Reds have grasped a hold of their history and celebrated it better and stronger than any other team in Major League Baseball. Great American Ball Park captures that feeling and offers a fantastic baseball experience. A Reds victory at GABP will have fans joining Reds legend Marty Brennaman proclaiming “And This One Belongs to the Reds.” 10. Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles Dodgers 4.29 Andrei Ojeda - With its unique seating pallet mimicking its original 1962 look, when you step inside Dodger Stadium, you’ll no doubt tell yourself colors, meant to evoke the sun, sand, ocean, and sky, really do give the 60-year-old gem a look, and experience, that’s like no other in baseball. 11. Citi Field - New York Mets 4.29 Dave Hanson - Citi’s unique location in Flushing, extensive food offerings, and rabid fanbase make visiting the park feel completely different from the experience across town at Yankee Stadium. Citi Field is a world of its own, both of the city and simultaneously removed from the dense urbanity of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. 12. Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia Phillies 4.29 Richard Smith - Philadelphia fans often get a bad reputation. The stadium itself can also get lost in the sea of new stadiums across the league, but the fact is that Citizens Bank Park is a modern ballpark that offers all of the best things that fans expect out of their stadium experience. It should not be forgotten about. 13. Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Baltimore Orioles 4.14 Richard Smith - Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992 and has been considered one of the best Major League Baseball stadiums in the league. Before its opening the landscape of professional baseball was littered with boring, multipurpose bowl stadiums. Now nearly every team has a great baseball stadium. Luckily Oriole Park has kept up with the experiences. 14. Coors Field - Colorado Rockies 4.14 Matt Finnegan - Coors Field is unlike any other stadium in MLB. For baseball fans, it has great sight lines and beautiful design. For those less inclined to pay attention to the on-field action, Coors Field provides a stellar environment for catching up with friends (or making new ones). It’s one of baseball’s great stadiums and should be for years to come. 15. Minute Maid Park - Houston Astros 4.14 Eric Moreno - Minute Maid Park has a lot to offer fans, and it still just frankly looks great. I would definitely recommend putting the Juice Box on any baseball fans bucket list. If you find yourself in Space City during the season take in a game; I think you’ll come away with the same appreciation that I have. 16. T-Mobile Park - Seattle Mariners 4.00 Marc Viquez - T-Mobile Park provides everything a traditional and non-traditional fan would ever need at a ballpark. The assortment of food, beverages, and value options is impressive, along with its location to public transportation. However, it might be the views of the city and The Sound that is the real highlight of the ballpark. 17. Comerica Park - Detroit Tigers 4.00 Richard Smith - The best feature of Comerica Park is the giant Tiger statues that guard the various entrances to the stadium. These are popular photo spots and/or meet-up locations prior to games. They are not only a great feature but show a team knowing how to double-down on their mascot. 18. Globe Life Field - Texas Rangers 4.00 David Welch - After just 22 years, there was much question about whether the Rangers needed a new stadium, and if replacing Globe Life ballpark was even necessary. Regardless of the actual need for a new stadium, there is one, and it does well to provide a bit more than what the previous facility was able to give fans. 19. Yankee Stadium - New York Yankees 4.00 Greg Venuto - 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. 20. Chase Field - Arizona Diamondbacks 4.00 Meg Minard - Chase Field provides good game day enjoyment and it is easy to reach and traverse. The swimming pool and the retractable roof and panels offer unique elements to the ballpark. A recommendation is to visit early in the season (April) to enjoy a game with the roof open. 21. American Family Field - Milwaukee Brewers 3.86 Lloyd Brown - American Family Field is one of MLB’s most underrated stadiums. It offers a better-than-average food and beverage program, a very competitive team, and the premiere figure race in the big leagues. We raise our stein to the Brewers’ home and its great fans! 22. Guaranteed Rate Field - Chicago White Sox 3.86 Marc Viquez - The Chicago White Sox has been working very hard to improve the amenities at the stadium. The past few seasons have seen renovations to the concourse concerning food and beverage service, social areas for fans, a brand-new scoreboard, and fan-friendly pricing on game day tickets. If you haven’t been to a Sox game lately, perhaps you need to come back sometime soon for a game. 23. Angel Stadium - Los Angeles Angels 3.86 Andrei Ojeda - Angel Stadium is the 4th oldest yard in the bigs. It has gone through its share of changes. From being enclosed in 1979 to accommodate the Rams to its return to its current form as a baseball-only park, compared to other yards of the post-Camden era, Angel Stadium could use some updates. 24. Truist Park - Atlanta Braves 3.71 David Welch - Though Truist Park is a wonderful experience for most baseball fans, stadium enthusiasts might leave feeling a bit underwhelmed. It just feels like, with a stadium so new, there is just something missing; there is not that one feature which just leaves you in awe of the visit. 25. Nationals Park - Washington Nationals 3.71 Gregory Koch - In 2005, the Nationals came to town, and in 2008, they got a brand-new stadium. Since then, the excitement has worn off and the crowds have steadily declined, especially as the Nationals’ performance on the field has gone downhill. That being said, Nationals Park is still a nice stadium for fans to take in a Major League Baseball game. 26. Kaufmann Stadium - Kansas City Royals 3.57 David Welch - The reality is there is a high probability Kauffman Stadium will soon be replaced, but in the meantime, it continues to provide an enjoyable ballpark experience, whether you are a diehard Royals fan attending 70-plus games a season, or enjoying an evening out with baseball as the backdrop. 27. Rogers Centre - Toronto Blue Jays 3.57 Dave Cottenie - With the renovations long overdue coming to Rogers Centre, it will be interesting to see if, as Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro hopes, the former SkyDome becomes a “ballpark” and not a “stadium.” It remains debatable if the renovations to Rogers Centre will give fans the ballpark experience Shapiro is shooting for, however, it is undeniable that thus far, the renovations have been a success. 28. loanDepot park - Miami Marlins 3.43 Lloyd Brown - loanDepot park is one of the most unique ballparks in the MLB, as it offers a very different look from the traditional steel and brick structures favored by most of the other clubs. Its smooth lines and use of bright colors fit in very well with the Miami vibe of clean lines and the neon colors of South Beach. 29. Tropicana Field - Tampa Bay Rays 3.00 Lloyd Brown - It is no secret that the home of the Rays is seen as the ugly duckling of MLB stadiums. Its’ exterior has no appeal and its support system of wires and beams have resulted in a set of ground rules to cover plays where the ball has hit a beam or support wire. On the other hand, the Rays are a very talented team and frequently go to the playoffs. 30. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum - Oakland A's 2.57 Chris Green - Oakland baseball deserves better – most everyone agrees on this. The fans who do show up are passionate and proud of their team’s history. And while the Athletics have done the best they can with what they have in their current state, the shortcomings are so vast that it is hard to overlook one, if not most.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Protective Stadium 1020 24th St N Birmingham, AL 35203 Birmingham Legion website Protective Stadium website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 47,100 Protective Stadium - Birmingham Legion FC Birmingham has long been known for their deep history of American football. With the University of Alabama an hour to the west and Auburn University two hours to the south, there is no denying Alabama’s love of the sport. What flies under the radar though is the city of Birmingham’s passion for the international version of football, better known in the States as soccer. Food & Beverage 4 Stadium concessions can often be a constant rehash of the same thing from stadium to stadium – burgers, dogs, chicken fingers, and nachos. The food available at Protective Stadium for Birmingham Legion matches provides fans with all the stadium constants but provides a much wider variety. By bringing in several food trucks, the typical stadium choices have been expanded to include Italian-Mexican fusion creations of Ruscelli’s, who serve pizza-inspired tacos and quesadillas. In addition, Wasabi Juan's takes their spin on Japanese-Mexican fusion with sushi-styled nachos and raw and cooked burritos. Those with a sweet tooth have freshly made donuts from Chicks N Donuts, or the ever-popular shaved ice. Choices of alcohol are also plentiful; beers from Yuengling, Miller Light, Coors Light, Michelob Ultra, and Modelo are available, along with local craft brews Cahaba Brewing Company Blonde and Trim Trab Pale Ale. White Claw seltzers and several pre-mixed, canned, and hand-mixed cocktails are also available. Atmosphere 3 As with most soccer clubs, the game on the pitch is the focus of the match – there is not a lot by way of in-game entertainment while the match is going on, but pregame entertainment does make use of a game host to introduce pregame recognitions and give the fan a look at food and apparel stands around the concourse. At a capacity of 47,100 Protective Stadium is by far the largest stadium in the league, more than twice the size of the 20,000-seat Riccardo Silva Stadium. There is no denying the beauty of Protective Stadium, and the 18,000 to 20,000 fans for US Open Cup matches or during rivalry games with the MLS’ Atlanta United makes sense, but the atmosphere of the match seems to be swallowed up for league matches of 5,000 to 6,000 fans in such a large venue. Before moving to Protective Stadium, the Legion played on the campus of the University of Alabama-Birmingham's PNC Field. At a capacity of 5,000 seats, the size is more appropriate, but the college stadium lacks the professional feel that this level deserves. Short of a soccer-specific stadium being built, Protective Stadium is the best option for professional soccer in Birmingham. In all, Protective Stadium beautifully pairs with the adjoining development to provide all fans who might need to make a full day of attending a Legion match. Neighborhood 4 Protective Stadium is part of the larger "eat-stay-play" development in uptown Birmingham. The development provides all a fan might need without having to leave the area. Uptown consists of 6 to 8 restaurants, the Westin Hotel, a dog park, and pickleball courts. Much of this is located under the interstate bridges that pass just feet from the surrounding parking decks. For fans wanting to make a full day of activities before a match; Top Golf is directly across the street from the northeast end of the stadium, while the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is just to the west. If looking for other sporting events around the same time, the Birmingham Squadron plays at Legacy Arena, located less than a half-mile from Protective Stadium; the Squadron will be finishing up its season in March as the Legion is just getting theirs underway. Birmingham is also well known for its long history of minor league baseball, and the AA Birmingham Barons of the Southern League play from April through September. Fans who love sports history, especially that of Negro League baseball, will want to make two locations a high priority on any visit to Birmingham, one being Rickwood Field, the oldest professional baseball park and one-time home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. The Black Barons fielded a young Satchel Paige from 1927-1930 and a teenage Willie Mays in the 1940s. Fans 3 Soccer is a sport in which the atmosphere is often dictated by the involvement and fervor of the club's supporters. Like any successful soccer club, supporters set the tone of the match. The Legion's crew, the Magic City Brigade, start their preparations for match day well before the stadium opens for fans to enter. On weekends, close to five hours before match time, members of the Brigade begin setting up a small collection of tents in the southernmost corner of the parking lot adjacent to Protective Stadium for a tailgate. Inside Protective Stadium the Magic City Brigade occupies sections 135-138, behind the north end goal. Supporters beat drums and wave flags throughout the match as other members lead chants, and even dress as Legion-themed luchadores in support of their club. A strong group of supporters can go a long way in creating a fun atmosphere for soccer. The unfortunate thing is despite the efforts of the Magic City Brigade, though their passion runs high, their numbers only run 50-100 per game. There is much potential to build on the Brigade's passion, but they just do not have the numbers at this time to help their enthusiasm spread around the stadium to other fans. Access 4 Given Protective Stadium’s location in Birmingham, getting there is rather easy. Those driving to town will see Protective Stadium directly off the Interstate 20-59 ramp, and fans flying in will find themselves less than 5 miles away. Many of the hotels in the area provide a shuttle from the airport, so those flying into Birmingham for a match have an easy time getting in and out of the area. Parking can be found all around the stadium. There are also a handful of parking garages on the southern side of the stadium, but getting out of parking garages following the game can be challenging. No matter the parking lot, prices range from $20 to $25. Limited street parking is available, however, free of charge for weekend matches. Half of the stadium is closed off during Legion matches, so most fans are directed to the southern entrance across from the Uptown district to enter the stadium – fans are funneled to the multi-tiered switchback ramp to access the main level concourse that runs above the seating. Return on Investment 3 At face value, tickets are well priced at $10 for general admission tickets at the north end of the stadium, and $17 for reserved seats along the western sideline. Where the issue comes in is that with tickets being sold through Ticketmaster, there is nearly a 70% markup on the face value of general admission tickets after fees, so the $10 ticket ends up costing closer to $17. The same 70% service fee markup applies to reserved seats also. The price for tickets does not make attending a match cost-prohibitive, but it is a bit disappointing there is such a markup from a third party. Extras 3 The Legion makes a concerted effort to positively impact the community which they represent. Throughout the season the team puts on youth clinics, recognizes the communities that are their biggest supporters, and honors those who make a difference in the lives of those in Birmingham through the Legion’s “99 Community Heroes” program. Legion players go out of their way to make sure to interact with young fans at field level as they exit the pitch following pregame warmups. While seemingly a minor gesture, these interactions go miles in the eyes of young fans. In one of the most fan-friendly parts of the evening, at the end of the match fans are allowed to come down onto the pitch to meet their heroes. Fans line up for photos, autographs, or just to pay their favorite player a compliment on the match. Final Thoughts Despite the love affair the state of Alabama has with football, there is a strong niche soccer following as well. While an initial glimpse of the stadium might give the impression there is a lack of fans in the stands, much of this perception is a byproduct of the size of Protective Stadium itself; 5,000 fans can easily get lost in a stadium so large. However, even with just a handful of aspects that might be considered drawbacks that might impact the overall atmosphere of a Legion match at Protective Stadium, the organization, the players, and their supporters create so many positives that it makes the drawbacks seem trivial.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Busch Field 600 Brooks Street Williamsburg, VA 23188 William & Mary Tribe website Busch Field website Year Opened: 1990 Capacity: 2,271 Home of the Tribe Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, the College of William & Mary is one of the oldest universities in the United States. Founded by King William III and Queen Mary II of England in 1693, William & Mary predates the founding of the country by almost a century. Only Harvard University is older. W&M’s athletic programs are known as the Tribe, and they compete in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Tribe’s field hockey team has called Busch Field home since 1990. Anheuser-Busch Corporation donated a sizeable sum of money to build the field, and the name reflects that gift. It was previously the home of the soccer and lacrosse teams, although they now play at a different venue. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at Busch Field. According to the Tribe website, outside food & beverages are prohibited, but this rule is ignored by everyone including security. However, you may run into trouble if you attempt to bring alcohol in despite the stadium effectively being sponsored by a brewing company. Atmosphere 3 Busch Field has one large set of bleachers on the far side of the field from the entrance. The front rows of the seats will be obstructed by the top of the scorers' tent, so most fans choose to sit high up. However, many of the seats at the top are underneath trees that hang overhead. While this will be nice on a hot day early in the season, once the leaves start falling it can get annoying. Fans can also watch the game from the Tribe Terrace, a rooftop overlook behind one of the goals. This provides an unobstructed view of the action, but there is very limited seating so you will probably have to stand. Some fans enjoy this, while most choose to sit in the bleachers. The Tribe's mascot, the Griffin, will often make appearances at the game. With the head of an eagle and the body of a lion, the griffin is a unique mascot within the world of college sports. Neighborhood 5 Williamsburg is a great city, and William & Mary's historic campus is right in the middle of it all. Colonial Williamsburg is about a five-minute drive away while the Busch Gardens amusement park is 15 minutes away. Williamsburg seems to have an inordinately large number of pancake houses for its size, so if you come in the night before, you will certainly find somewhere to grab breakfast. Originally, hotels catering to tourists did not serve breakfast and would instead recommend nearby pancake houses. While many hotels do now have restaurants, the pancake houses remain. Fans 4 William & Mary draws a few hundred fans a game for field hockey. While friends and family of the players certainly make their presence known, the stands are also filled with William & Mary students, longtime fans of the program, and youth field hockey groups from the Williamsburg area. The fans can get quite involved in the match, with some of them starting chants and encouraging the rest of the crowd to join in. Although the stands are much larger than they need to be, the crowd tends to cluster in the top few rows so this does not have the detrimental effect it otherwise would. Access 2 The William & Mary campus is conveniently located just off I-64 in Williamsburg. Once on campus, you will likely park in the lot next to Kaplan Arena and walk about 3-5 minutes to Busch Field. Parking in this lot is $2.50/hour on weekdays but free on weekends. There are some spaces closer to the stadium labeled Faculty/Staff Only. When Stadium Journey visited on a Sunday, these spaces were almost full, presumably with people other than faculty. While a couple of fans managed to park here without issue, most drove around in circles looking for a spot before giving up and parking in the arena lot. We recommend just heading there to start and saving yourself some time and gas. Standard restrooms are located underneath the Tribe Terrace behind the goal. Getting around from one part of the bleachers to another often requires going up and down some stairs, but it is easy to figure out what you need to do. There is a clear bag policy in effect, which is absurd for this level and brings this rating down significantly. Given the small crowds, there is no reason for this policy to exist. Return on Investment 5 There is no cost for admission to any William & Mary regular-season field hockey games. There may be a charge for conference and NCAA tournament events, as those are set by the organizers. Parking is free on weekends, so we suggest attending then to maximize your value. Extras 2 One star for the banners around the stadium honoring William & Mary field hockey. The Tribe Terrace provides a unique vantage point to watch a game and is worthy of a star here too. Final Thoughts William & Mary field hockey fans truly value their team, and the school has spent a lot of money and effort improving Busch Field. The result is a strong experience that any field hockey fan will greatly enjoy. Whether you are a fan of the Tribe or just a field hockey fan in general, Busch Field is well worth a visit on a fall afternoon.