Photo Courtesy of EIU Athletics Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 O’Brien Field 600 Lincoln Ave Charleston, IL 61920 Eastern Illinois Panthers website O’Brien Field website Year Opened: 1970 Capacity: 10,000 Deep In the Heart of Illinois The history of football at Eastern Illinois University dates back to when the first classes opened in the fall of 1899. It was one of the first extracurricular activities on campus; in within 45 days of the schools opening it played its first intercollegiate football game. Throughout its history, the program has seen its ups and downs but for the last 45 years, it’s been one of the more consistent brands in college football. In 1970 O’Brien Field opened as the new home for both the football and track and field teams. Known as Lincoln Stadium at the time, the 10,000-seat facility would be later renamed in honor of Maynard O’Brien who coached both sports during his tenure at the school. The stadium has seen a few improvements during its history that included a $2 million renovation project in 1999 that featured new offices for coaches, meeting and video rooms, and locker rooms, expanded weight room and athletic training facilities. A decade later a modern video and audio scoreboard was added to the north end zone. The program has been one of the most successful of its kind winning 60 percent of its games since O’Brien opened and appearing in 16 NCAA FCS playoffs since 1981–tops in the state of Illinois of all college football programs. The program also boasts a national championship that was won in 1978 and was a finalist in 1980. The school has also produced three NFL coaches: Mike Shanahan, Sean Payton, and Brian Childress and two quarterbacks in Tony Romo and Jimmy Garoppolo. Food & Beverage 3 The stadium offers basic varieties of food choices at the games that include nachos, hot dogs, fries, and popcorn at the concession stands. The facility offers Pepsi products. The best options are located outside the venue at portable concession stands that are set up before each game. This area is named Vendors Row and offers County Catering, Smoky’s House BBQ, and Kettle Corn and Dirty’s. Smoky’s House BBQ has pulled pork sandwiches and smoked Polish dogs, and they are both terrific choices. There is a Papa John’s pizza stand offering 10-inch pizzas. There is a stand offering shaved ice, or kettle corn if you are looking for something cool. Atmosphere 3 The excitement begins early with some of the better tailgating at this level of college football. There are also inflatables for the kids and a live band to add to the revelry 2-4 hours before kickoff. The Panther Walk begins with the EIU Marching Band leading the football team to the stadium from the library performing the school’s fight song and other traditional songs. The stadium itself is rather simple and offers metal bleacher-style seats with plenty of legroom. The seating features no covering and blankets and jackets can become common in mid-October. A smaller visitors’ seating area is at the opposite end of the stadium. The ends of the stadium are open allowing for views of the surrounding area. A bright blue track circumnavigates the football field and retired numbers of Tony Romo and Sean Peyton are also on display along with the Panthers 1978 national championship. The marching band, rather large and impressive, entertains patrons at halftime and throughout the game. Neighborhood 2 Charleston, Illinois, has a population of 21,838 and EIU has an enrollment of around 7,800. The town offers quite a few local establishments to grab a bite or drink before or after the game. Pagliai’s Pizza, Roc’s Blackfront Restaurant, Brick House Bar & Grill, Dirty’s Bar & Grill, and Smoky’s House all provide great prices and atmosphere. A few tourist attractions include the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, part of the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, which preserves the 1840s home of Abraham Lincoln. Fox Ridge State Park provides rolling hills, lush valleys, and scenic hiking trails. The Dudley-McFarland House was built in 1892 by the architect Charles D. Mitchell, a native of Charleston. A few of the museum artifacts are stored there, including period furniture, art, and fixtures. Fans 4 The stadium offers seating for 10,000 and most crowds are nearly half-full but there is a lot of energy and passion from the fans to create a pleasant ambiance. The student sections cheer, the locals applaud for positive gains on the field, and everyone seems to enjoy the Panthers add another win on the season. Access 5 O’Brien Stadium is small enough that getting around is rather simple during the game. There is plenty of signage on campus to direct motorists to the venue and there is plenty of parking in the lots adjacent to the stadium. Return on Investment 3 The price of a ticket to an EIU football game is $20 for all seating in the stadium. The price to park is $5 in the surrounding lots adjacent to the field and concession prices are reasonably priced for an inexpensive day of college football during the season. Extras 3 O’Brien Field earns a point for the retired jersey numbers that hang on the stadium’s walls and the multiple banners of former Panthers who have made a name for themselves in the NFL. The list is impressive from Superbowl winning coaches to All-Pro quarterbacks. O’Brien Field grabs a second point for Vendors Row outside the stadium that offers an array of great food from local establishments. O’Brien Field earns a third point for the PMB that kicks things off with the Panther Walk before the game. They lead the football team, cheer team, and Pink Panthers to the game along with fans playing a list of music en route to the stadium. Final Thoughts O’Brien Field is a rudimentary facility that is fixed up with enough history to create a pleasant environment at the game. The crowds are large enough to provide a backdrop any football player would want during the season. The small-town setting makes it a small oasis in the state of Illinois.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.42 Athletics Center O’rena 2200 N Squirrel Rd Rochester, MI 48309 Oakland Golden Grizzlies website Athletics Center O’rena website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 4,005 The O Factor In 1998, Oakland University joined the Mid-Continent Conference and the ranks of Division I basketball. The conference has since changed its name to the Summit League, and the Golden Grizzlies are beginning to establish themselves as the league’s top program. Part of the reason for this growing success has to go to their home court, known as the O’rena. Like many arenas in the Summit League, the setting is small, but Oakland is doing a lot of things just right, making this a really good (and relatively unknown) college basketball experience. Food & Beverage 3 It’s an interesting set up for concessions at the O’rena. Since the concourse circles above the seats, you never lose your view of the action when you’re up and about. The same goes for the two concessions stands. This is a real benefit, especially because lines tend to get long during the game. If you’re hungry, try to grab your grub early. The prices are reasonable, but the selection is a bit lacking. I would recommend going for the kielbasa sausage ($2) over the hotdog ($2) or Hungry Howie’s pizza slice ($3.50). Snacks include popcorn ($2), pretzel ($2.50), and nachos ($3). They also have a great ice cream selection of either Ben & Jerry’s or Starbuck’s brand ice cream bars ($3). Pepsi is the soda of choice ($2). Atmosphere 4 The determination of where to place the student section and pep band is an absolutely critical component to creating the right basketball atmosphere. Oakland does a great job of placing their students directly behind the opponent’s bench, and the pep band blasting them from the side. It’s a fantastic one-two punch. That 50-member pep band is active starting as early as 45 minutes before the tip-off, and they are the only music you’ll hear throughout the game (with the exception of the video montage during introductions). You’ve got to love the jubilance that comes from a college pep band. There’s no overhead scoreboard. Instead, there are four very basic scoreboards in each corner, and one large HD screen on the south end of the facility, providing highlights and the detailed statistics. It’s a great modern touch. Black plastic bleachers can be found under each basket, and they are relatively comfortable. On the east side (behind the team benches) there are permanent chairback seats and drink holders. The opposite side is a foldable stand with seats that are without cupholders, and less than adequate leg room. The seats face straight ahead, so the view is a little awkward if you’re away from center court. My recommendation is to sit in section E4, where you get the best seating situation as well as the best view. One area for improvement is definitely with the mascot, who seemed pretty invisible throughout the contest. With the size of the arena, he should be making his way around the concourse and through the stands as much as possible. Neighborhood 3 Oakland University is found in Rochester, Michigan, close to Auburn Hills, former home of the Detroit Pistons. It can make for a convenient NCAA/NBA doubleheader when the schedule allows. Most of the options for bars or restaurants in the immediate vicinity are uninspiring chains. I’m a big fan of Jet’s Pizza, just a couple of blocks away. Other predictable choices include BD’s Mongolian Bar-B-Que, T.G.I. Friday’s, Applebee’s, or Romano’s Macaroni Grill. Fans 4 The student section is good but still needs a little more energy and bodies before they can be great. For the game that I attended, they were pretty late. Known as the “Grizz Gang,” this assembly needs to come earlier and in greater numbers, but in the meantime, they are a pretty imposing little group. Access 4 There is one primary parking lot near the O’rena, which is mostly taken by donors. Parking is free throughout the campus, so just find one of the nearby lots and take the short walk through campus. You’re only a couple of miles away from I-75, a major north/south thoroughfare. The size of the crowd is small enough that you should have no trouble getting in or out. Return on Investment 4 Tickets cost either $15 or $10. I would recommend paying $15 only if you can find seats in section E4, otherwise, go for the cheaper option as you’ll have a fine view in most cases. With free parking and very reasonable concession prices, you’ll find your money to be well invested in this experience. Extras 2 The murals on the walls of the concourse are a nice touch, with pictures of generations of athletes and coaches proudly displayed. Another bonus point for the University for the smart arrangement of the student section and pep band. Final Thoughts The more college basketball I see, the more I appreciate these small arenas that are focused on the basketball and beautiful college atmosphere. This is definitely one for you to see if you are living in the Detroit area, or are in town when the Golden Grizzlies play.

Photo by Joseph Oakes, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Boshamer Stadium 235 Ridge Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27599 North Carolina Tar Heels website Boshamer Stadium website Year Opened: 1972 Capacity: 5,000 Home Of The Tar Heels UNC baseball has been playing at the current site of Boshamer Stadium since the late 1960s. The current stadium was renovated starting in 2007 and re-opened in 2009. The stadium now has a capacity of 4,100 and can accommodate overflow crowds of 5,000. The entire stadium has chairback seating with great sightlines of the field. Food & Beverage 4 Boshamer Stadium has a good variety of food and drink options for fans attending UNC baseball games. These items include hot dogs, popcorn, nachos & cheese, peanuts, and candy. A couple of unique options include grilled cheeseburgers and Bojangles chicken boxes. Fountain Coke products are available as well as premium beer and domestic beer. Boshamer has done a good job “speeding up” the concession process as many concession locations are grab-and-go, and you pay at the end after picking up your food. The fact that the stadium is cashless also speeds up the concession process. There are also “Walk Thru” beverage options on the concourse where you grab your beverage out of the refrigerator and quickly pay afterward. This includes soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. Atmosphere 5 Boshamer Stadium is an aesthetically pleasing stadium with an all-brick exterior façade. Once inside the stadium, there is a wide concourse that runs above the seating bowl, with all of the seating below. Above the concourse is the press box and suite level. This makes the concourse a great place to stand in the shade on hot, sunny days or protected if there is a brief shower of rain. All seats are molded chairbacks and are angled toward home plate past the dugouts. There is a large scoreboard located in left field that has the line score and video replays. Overall there is not a bad seat in the house, and Boshamer Stadium is a great place to take in a baseball game. Neighborhood 3 Boshamer Stadium is in the midst of the UNC campus near dormitories and several of the other athletic facilities including Kenan Stadium and Karen Shelton Stadium . Therefore, there are no food and lodging options within walking distance of Boshamer Stadium. If you are looking for places to eat head a couple miles to Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill for many options. Fans 2 Boshamer Stadium is a beautiful baseball facility. However, unless the Tar Heels are playing local rivals NC State , ECU , or Duke , the seats remain empty for most games. Many of these other games struggle to attract crowds of 50% capacity. That’s not to say that Boshamer Stadium cannot get loud when full, just don’t expect a large crowd for most games. Access 3 Access to Boshamer Stadium is fairly easy, but keep in mind that it is in the middle of campus so you have to navigate narrow campus roads to the stadium. For most games, parking is available for a small fee at the Ram’s Head Parking Deck, which is a five-minute walk from the stadium down Ridge Road. If that deck is full, you will be forced to the Bowles Lot near the Dean Smith Center, where parking should be plentiful, but it is a 10-15 minute walk. Once inside the stadium, access around is easy as a large concourse is above the seating bowl. This is where the concession stands are located, as well as restrooms, and handicapped areas. If you are sitting on the third base side, the concourse does not extend above the seats. There is just a small walkway that leads from the main concourse to those seats. Therefore, the concessions and restrooms are located underneath the seating. Return on Investment 5 UNC baseball ticket prices are on the low end for Power Five major college baseball. Single-game tickets in the main grandstand (dugout to dugout) are $10, while seating past the dugouts is only $8. This is very good for this level of baseball. The price to park is minimal or free depending on the game, and concessions are on par with many other college baseball stadiums. Therefore, UNC baseball is a very affordable sporting event for the entire family. Extras 2 An extra point for the UNC baseball museum on the third base concourse. It is a climate-controlled room that overlooks the field that shows Tar Heel players in the MLB, and memorabilia from trips to the College World Series in Omaha. A second extra point to the picnic tables down the first base line and the many food and drink rails located around the concourse Final Thoughts While UNC has made several trips to the College World Series, it is often not thought of as a blue blood in college baseball. However, it has been a consistent Top 25 team for many years. Boshamer Stadium is a beautiful, top-notch college baseball stadium. While is it not one of the larger college ballparks and is not known for its rabid crowd or fan support, it is one of the nicest college ballparks that you will visit. One will not leave disappointed in the facility with a visit to Boshamer Stadium.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Athletics-Recreation Center 1009 Union St. Valparaiso, IN 46383 Valparaiso Beacons website Athletics-Recreation Center website Year Opened: 1984 Capacity: 5,000 Valpo Basketball is a Community Effort Note: The university changed its athletic team name from Crusaders to Beacons during the 2021-2022 season. The Valparaiso University Crusaders play basketball at the Athletic-Recreation Center, also known as the ARC, a 5,000-seat capacity that opened in 1984 as part of a $7.25 million expansion on the north side of its former home Hilltop Gym. Visitors can still visit Valpo’s former home of college hoops as it now serves as a practice facility for the basketball program following 2005 renovations that included new flooring, lighting, windows, and various school banners honoring its athletic programs. The gym was built in 1939 and fans can get a peek inside when purchasing concessions on the upper concourse. The Crusaders first game was on November 27th, 1984 against Western Michigan University; four years later the “Lutheran Miracle” occurred when they defeated the 19th-ranked Notre Dame Irish in front of a frenzied packed house. The frenzy continued with the arrival of head coach Homer Drew and his son, Bryce Drew. In 1998 a last-second shot by Bryce defeated Ole Miss and propelled Valpo to the Sweet Sixteen. From 1994-2004 the university won or shared 8 conference championships and made 6 NCAA Tournament appearances. In total, the men’s program has won a total of 15 regular and tournament conference championships and has made nine NCAA tournament appearances. In 2017 Valpo joined the Missouri Valley Conference. Food & Beverage 3 There are two concession stands in the building with one being on the main court behind the net and the other one on the upper level near the Hilltop Gym door entrance. The options are limited but are fairly inexpensive. Hot dogs are $2, bratwursts are $3, pizza sells for $2.25, pretzels (with cheese) cost $4, and nachos/loaded nachos are $3/$4.50. However, many great dining options in town are definitely worth checking out before or after the game perhaps making eating during the game something to look over or if you just need something to snack on during the game. Atmosphere 4 There is a community feel when attending a Valpo game at the ARC. The building itself is not anything remarkable but it is designed to put fans up close and personal with the players on the court. The fans underneath the nets are also pressed up against the players as they drive towards the basket and to the cheerleaders and band. Fans walk into the venue through the main lobby that houses a collection of trophies and history photos on the brick walls. Staircases take fans to upper-level seating and a narrow hall leads fans to the lower-level section that puts them near the court along with the concession stand and merchandise table. The colors of brown and gold are evident everywhere in the building from the cheerleaders’ uniforms, signage on the wall and court, banners hanging from the rafters, and other parts of the building. Once the game begins the fans do not sit down until the first points are made by the home team. During breaks the cheerleaders entertain the crowds, local supporters toss out t-shirts into the stands, little kids wipe the court when needed, and the team mascot hangs out with the student section. There is a small-town atmosphere at the ARC that is frenzied among its supporters that ends with many lining up as the club walks off the court in hopes of getting a handshake or congratulating them on the win. Neighborhood 5 Valparaiso’s downtown square offers a collection of amazing eateries, shops, and great places to drink craft beer. The streets on nice days are packed with people, enjoying dinner and drinks on outside patios. There is a selection of retail shops that sell olive oil, wines, fresh cheese, meats, and homemade sauces. The colorful and pleasant main street is worth walking to check out the many selections of restaurants. Don Quijote is legendary for its Spanish cuisine. Pikk’s Tavern specializes in steaks, ribs, and other traditional food offerings. Figure Eight Brewing has set up shop a block off the main street and features an impressive selection of beers and pub fare inside their swank little building. Vaps offers the town’s most interesting street food, with ground lamb and beef selections served in a flatbread with feta cheese, cabbage, cucumbers, and yogurt at an inexpensive price (they are also huge). Stack’s Bar and Grill, Industrial Revolution Eatery & Grille, and Serrano’s Mexican Grill are other great options when in town. About a mile west of downtown is Four Fathers Brewing; the small little brewery is off the state road and offers a fantastic pale ale and is popular among the locals. Santini’s and Tomato Bar Pizza are two fantastic family options to share a pie with the family. Fans 4 The Crusaders enjoy a great fan base at home games that fill up the facility to about 75% and cheer them on with as much passion as some of the big boys. It is a community effort with students, alumni, locals, and little ones doing their part to provide a home-court advantage at all home games. Fans are decked in team gear of brown and gold and no one sits down in their seat until the first home basket is made. Access 3 The ARC is not difficult to maneuver once you are inside the seating bowl. There is a lower level concourse that houses the concession and merchandise stand while the upper concourse has a walkway that wraps around the entire two main seating areas. There is a hidden concourse behind the upper seating area that features bathrooms and another concession stand. There is limited parking at the arena and fans may have to park on residential streets and walk to the building. Return on Investment 4 A Valpo game can be very entertaining with an enthusiastic crowd and basketball from a mid-major conference. Ticket prices begin at $12 and are in the reserved mezzanine and lower-level reserved bleachers. Chairback tickets and courtside seating cost $27 and $37 respectively. The best bet is to pay $12 and you will be guaranteed to have a great view of the court. The parking is free, concessions are inexpensive, the town is lovely, and the lively crowd makes it worth your while to visit a game. Extras 3 The ARC earns a point for allowing fans to visit the team’s old Hilltop Gym which is located behind the upper level of the seating bowl. There are not too many gymnasiums or other sporting venues where the old facility is still connected to the current facility. Unfortunately, fans are unable to walk inside the gym to take a look around. The ARC earns the second point for the various banners that hang from the rafters. The Crusaders program has a healthy history during its days in the NAIA and during the 1990s when they were becoming an NCAA tournament staple. The ARC earns a final point for the sense of community throughout the game. This feels like a high school menu in some regards with little kids wiping down the court and townspeople tossing out shirts for the fans. Final Thoughts Valpo games are a community effort that is spearheaded by the supporters in the stands and the team plays on the court. The fan support at each game provides the fuel needed for the Crusaders to play at their best. The ARC is not the fanciest of venues in the world of college basketball but it is one of the more welcoming spots for the sport in the nation.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Doyt L. Perry Stadium 1610 Stadium Dr Bowling Green, OH 43403 Bowling Green Falcons website Doyt L. Perry Stadium website Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 23,724 Flying at the Doyt Doyt L. Perry Stadium ("The Doyt") was built in 1966, and used to have a capacity of over 30,000 before the stands in the north and south end zones were removed to make way for the Sebo Athletic Center (north side) and suites for the boosters (south side). The venue currently has a capacity of 23,724, but was designed to add an upper deck, so more seats could be added on the east and west. The Doyt currently has the second-lowest capacity in the MAC, ahead of only Ball State’s Scheumann Stadium . Doyt L. Perry Stadium was named after the Falcons coach during the 50s and 60s. Food & Beverage 3 Doyt L. Perry Stadium concessions offer all of your standard fare, including several brands of beer, which is a bit of a unique item at a college football game. The main stands on the east and west sides have pizza, hot dogs, burgers, brats, and Italian sausage ($4-$5.50 per item), in addition to snacks like nachos, pretzels, popcorn, peanuts, Cracker Jack, and candy ($3-$5.50 per item). You can also find kettle corn for $2 up to $20 for a gigantic portion. Note that different stands offer different items, so try the next standover if you don't find what you are looking for at first. Beverage choices include Coke products (in plastic bottles or from the fountain), bottled water, PowerAde, and coffee/hot cocoa from Tim Horton's. Drinks range in price from $3 to $5, and you can expect beer to cost $6.50 for 16 ounces. Beer offerings include Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Redd's Apple Ale, Smith & Forge Hard Cider, and Leinenkugel's Harvest Patch Shandy. Atmosphere 2 Doyt L. Perry Stadium is a decent-looking stadium, with a few modern features, but it is not very big and does not draw a lot of fans. Both grandstands have metal bleachers, except for a thin strip of chair back seats a few rows up all along the east, and in sections 11-17 on the west. There is also a section of the pink chair back seats halfway up sections 13 and 15 on the west, and these are much better than the others because the seats are spaced far enough apart to give you plenty of elbow room, so I recommend those. Note that the sections on the east side have even numbers, while the sections on the west are odd. The band performs before the game and at halftime and does a couple of classic formations such as spelling out B-G-S-U. Also, whenever Bowling Green gets a first down, you will hear a recording of a falcon screeching. This occurs many, many times during a typical game, and is a unique touch. You will also hear a small cannon going off after every BGSU score, and at the end of each quarter, courtesy of the ROTC. Bowling Green has a pair of mascots (Freddie & Frieda), but they are strangely absent for most of the game and seem only to make an appearance when the team comes out of the tunnel. Make sure you pay attention during the game because the video operator does a terrible job with replays - a lot of times they aren't even shown, and when they are it is usually only once, and often from a lousy angle. See a quick tour of the venue here: Neighborhood 2 There isn't a lot going on in Bowling Green, Ohio besides the university, but there are a couple of attractions if you want to kill some time before or after the game, and there are some decent restaurants. The Stones Throw on Wooster Street is a classic Irish pub that has live music on Saturdays, and drinks specials daily. Reverend's Bar & Grill, also on Wooster, is a little more traditional, but offers some unique items such as fried goat cheese cakes and plantain chips, in addition to classic fare like wings and burgers, all with religiously-themed names. Reverend's has a wide selection of regular and craft beers on tap. If you need something to do before or after the game, there are a couple of attractions such as the Bowling Green Wind Farm or Simpson Garden Park (botanical gardens). The botanical gardens are open from sunrise to sunset every day. Fans 2 At Doyt L. Perry Stadium, the fans who show up are loud, wear school colors, and are very supportive of their team, but there aren't very many of them. At a typical game, the stadium might only be one-third full. The west stands are mostly filled in, but the east side is practically empty. With a capacity of less than 25,000, that amounts to less than 10,000 in attendance, so the staff needs to do something to increase the draw. Access 3 Doyt L. Perry Stadium is right off I-75, about two hours north of Columbus, so it is easy to get to and the stadium can easily be seen from the freeway. Parking is relatively cheap at $10 per car, but it consists of grass fields on the east side of the stadium, which is manageable but not ideal, especially if it is a rainy day when you attend. There are gates on both sides of the stadium, and the concourse behind the grandstands is very wide and thus easy to move around. Will Call for most fans is located on the east side, which is convenient from the parking lots, but there are ticket booths on the west side if you didn't buy your tickets beforehand. Return on Investment 3 Depending on how much you pay for tickets, attending a game at Doyt L. Perry Stadium may be worthwhile. Like some other teams, ticket prices for BGSU football vary by the game. Prices typically start around $19 for the sections furthest from the field but can get as low as $6 for certain games, or as high as $28 for the annual battle with nearby rival Toledo. The stadium never sells out though, so you might be able to find cheaper tickets through a third party. And, since it likely won't be full, you can always buy the cheap seats and move closer. Extras 2 One point for the free giveaways at the entrances, such as BGSU rally towels. A second point for the chair back seats on the east side, possibly the most comfortable seats you will ever find at a football game, given all the extra elbow room. Final Thoughts Doyt L. Perry is a decent stadium, and BGSU has done a good job trying to modernize it - they just need more fans. More attendance would enhance the experience, so until then, you might want to save this venue for when your favorite team comes to town.

Photo courtesy of Lafayette Leopards Athletics Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Kamine Stadium 3412 Sullivan Trail Forks Township, PA 18042 Lafayette Leopards website Kamine Stadium website Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 500 Lafayette Leopards Baseball at Kamine Stadium Two major renovations over the course of the last 13 years have transformed Hilton Rahn ’51 Field at Kamine Stadium from your typical small northeast college baseball facility into one of the finer complexes found in the Patriot League. Prior to the opening of the Leopard’s 2003 season, the stadium underwent its first major renovation with the addition of a 500-seat grandstand with chair back seating complete with an ample sized press box, equipped with a permanently installed public address system and phone lines for television, radio, newspaper and internet. A new backstop was attached to the bleacher seating with protective netting and the existing dugouts were extended an additional 20 feet and completely refurbished adding more on-field storage area as well. In the outfield, a 15-foot wide crushed stone warning track was installed and assists in defining the dimensions of the fence at 403 feet to dead center field, 332 feet and 335 feet down the left and right field lines respectively. Four regulation bullpens were installed along with permanent batting cages for each team’s use. A few years later in the fall of 2007, the subsurface of the infield was graded, a modern irrigation system was installed along with the placement of new sod and infield mix to create a perfectly finished diamond. The field is one that Hilton ‘Dutch’ Rahn would be proud of. Dutch is a Lafayette alumnus (class of 1951), a serious sports fan, and whom the field is named after. Food & Beverage 3 Not much to discuss here in terms of quantity of choices, however, the quality of the options is excellent. As with most small venues, the concessions are normally very limited, but trust me when I tell you that #PardProvisions, a mini restaurant on wheels located directly behind the grandstand that serves up fresh selections made with local ingredients is a must visit. The Home Grown Burrito, made with local eggs, local sausage, tater tots, cheddar cheese and house-made salsa cream cheese wrapped in a garlic herb tortilla is heavenly, and for $6 is a steal. The Smoked Swine, shredded smoked pork over macaroni and Gouda cheese with sweet honey barbecue sauce and crispy onions is the most expensive item on the menu, but also looks like the most delicious at $9. Atmosphere 2 This is the Patriot League and Lafayette has not been to the College World Series in over 50 years, so if you are looking for a great atmosphere, you better come back in the fall when the Leopards take to the gridiron against Lehigh in college football’s oldest rivalry game. What you do get, is the opportunity to take in America’s pastime at a serene setting allowing for a great view of a surprisingly well-played game of baseball. Neighborhood 2 Lafayette College is located in Easton, Pennsylvania however, Kamine Stadium at the Metzgar Athletic Campus is located in Forks Township, which is approximately a 10-minute car ride from campus. There is not much of note here in this tiny township of 15,000 people so I would seriously suggest visiting downtown Easton if you are in search of lunch or dinner, or looking for some place to grab a cold one. There you will find Two Rivers Brewing Company, located in the 500 block of Northampton Street and home of the Peanut Butter Bacon Cheeseburger. Pair one with an O’Hanlon Irish Stout, a coffee and chocolate flavored brew named after Lafayette basketball coach Fran O’Hanlon and you’ll be sure to return for another. Fans 2 With the exception of players’ family members and friends, or working staff, there are not many fans who make the short commute out to Metzgar Fields Complex to attend a Leopards baseball game. Small college baseball is not a huge draw in the northeastern part of the United States due largely in part to the sometimes cantankerous weather conditions during the few months of the season and this is evident in the diminutive attendance numbers of schools in this geographical region. Access 4 Hilton Rahn ’51 Field is easily accessible on Sullivan Trail no matter from which direction you are traveling. The city of Easton is located at exit 75 off Interstate 78 which is a major interstate in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is very easily accessible as well. The parking lots are small but adequate and easy to get in and out of, and they are free. Return on Investment 4 “Remember that time is money” is a famous quote that is attributed to Benjamin Franklin, and if that is truly the case, your R.O.I. here is pretty significant as it is time that seems to be your biggest expense considering Lafayette does not charge a penny to park, nor a dime for admission and even issues free game programs to everyone in attendance. Extras 3 The quality level of play in the Patriot League is improving as was evident last year (2015) when the league had one of its best showings in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft when five players representing four different schools were selected, two going as early as the 10th round. This coupled with the fact that you can see it for virtually free is definitely a bonus. Athletic Department staff members at Lafayette College are absolutely amazing in their friendliness and eagerness to always assist in any way that they possibly can. It is a genuine characteristic and not one of a spurious nature that you can pick up on a mile away. There is no “big timing” here, and that can go along way with fans, especially this one. The stadium although diminutive in size, is still state-of-the-art due to the recent renovations and you’d be hard pressed to find one blade of natural grass or a little infield mix out of place. When I tell you that the field is perfect, I mean it is perfect…so an extra point for the grounds crew! Final Thoughts I found Kamine Stadium to be a wonderful place to take in a game. Sure, there were probably only 250 of us in attendance, but the level of play was fantastic and if you can get by the numbers, or lack thereof, you’d probably agree that Patriot League baseball at Rahn Field ’51 is a nice little secret. For now anyway.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Oregon Trail Park Stadium 17th Trail Ct Gering, NE 69341 Western Nebraska Pioneers website Oregon Trail Park Stadium website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 1,200 Summer Baseball in Nebraska's Panhandle Collegiate summer wood-bat baseball is the fastest growing segment of the sports entertainment industry, with more than 450 teams in more than 40 leagues throughout North America. The Expedition League is the newest of these leagues beginning operation in 2018. The Expedition League cleverly consists of two divisions: the Lewis Division and the Clark Division with teams in ND, SD, WY, and NE. The Western Nebraska Pioneers (Clark Division) play at the beautiful, newly-constructed Oregon Trail Park Stadium in Gering, NE. The game day experience is the perfect way to wind down the day, spend a few hours watching America’s past time, and easily forget about the worries of life for those few hours. Food & Beverage 3 Oregon Trail Park Stadium provides a decent variety of refreshments during a Pioneers game with one concession stand upon entering the venue and a separate Duncan’s BBQ tent just off to the left side of the entrance. At the concession stand, six varieties of burgers, five choices of hot dogs, and a ¼ pound beef brat are available ranging from $4.50 – $12. For an additional $4 order a meal which also includes a bag of chips and a 24 ounce Coca-Cola soda. Snacks include the usual chips, candy, popcorn, peanuts, pretzels, whole pickle, etc and range from $2 – $4. Nachos are priced at $4 – $9, and pizza (Dominos) is $2 a slice or $14 for a pie. Lines at the concession stand can get long. Duncan’s BBQ, a local Scottsbluff family catering business, offers delicious, huge portions of fresh beef and pork sandwiches, tacos, dogs and other tantalizing scented treats. Domestic beers of the Bud Light, Miller, Coors, Michelob variety cost $4; unfortunately no craft beers are for sale. A local Scottsbluff brewery is expected to open later in 2018 so hopefully the Pioneers organization can partner with them in future seasons at the ball yard. A merchandise area behind the first base stands sells mostly t-shirts, sweatshirts, and caps. My recommendation is to do the local thing and get some of that yummy BBQ from Duncan’s. Atmosphere 4 Attending a Western Nebraska Pioneers wood-bat summer collegiate ballgame is the perfect way to spend an evening for both the baseball purist and those who just want to spend an evening out and leave the worries of day behind for three hours. Green stadium fold down chairs with cup holders are available behind the home base area in sections 103 (third base), 102 (behind home), 101 (first base). The seats are so comfortably wide with plenty of leg room; it’s like the organization knew how to put fan comfort first when constructing the ballpark. Very, very nicely done. These sections are in the shade for the most part; the third base side gets the shade first. The upper three rows of these sections (E – G) have cover in the event of rain. Get seats in row C or above as there’s a walkway and fans pass by throughout the game obstructing views of the playing field if sitting in rows A or B. General admission bleachers (with backs) are beyond the first and third base sides. Party decks are available in these sections with tables and chairs. The home dugout is on third base side which conveniently gets the shade first while the visiting team’s dugout on the first base side gets the direct sunlight for the first several innings. The music volume is perfect at a Western Nebraska Pioneers game and 98% of the time is not played over the PA announcer. Nice! Walk up songs for the home team are broadcast; the volume is not too loud and one can still have a conversation with a new-found friend at a Pioneers game. In between inning gimmicks and contests are not overwhelming and are still enjoyable. No over excited screeching male or female and loud music for the contests. Sweet! All are sponsored by local businesses and include running the bases with the mascot, Nebraska history questions, the dizzy bat race, strike out batter of the game, and more. A funny part of the dizzy bat race is the baseball players watching… the pitcher stops warming up and looks, the infielders huddle together to watch the contest and then the players attempt to help when a participant clumsily falls over on the field trying to reach the intended finish line. Neighborhood 3 For now, there’s not much to the neighborhood. Building this ballpark is the first step to revitalizing the Gering/Scottsbluff area. It is located next to Nebraska National Guard so fans can feel quite safe. The Oregon Trail Park (where the stadium is located) contains a pool, softball fields, a playground, tennis courts, picnic tables and other public park amenities. Attractions within five miles include Scottsbluff National Monument, Legacy of the Plains Museum, Riverside Discovery Center (a zoo in Scottsbluff), and several golf courses. Chimney Rock National Historic Site and Visitors Center is 19 miles from Gering and may be worth the trip. Two hotels within a few blocks from the stadium are Monument Inn & Suites (a four or five block walk to ballfield) and Cobblestone Hotel & Suites Gering – Scottsbluff (a block closer to the field). I stayed at the Monument Inn and it is quite suitable. Some bars and restaurants in Gering include Union Bar (no craft beer), Goonies, and Steel Grill Restaurant & Bar. Of the three, I’d recommend Steel Grill. A craft brewery is expected to open in Scottsbluff (Flyover Brewing Company) at some point in 2018. Fans 5 Nebraska sports fans are known to be passionate, vocal, and supportive; Western Nebraska Pioneers fans fit that reputation accurately. Fans start a rally without any prompts from PA announcer. They have cowbells. Lots of Pioneers shirts are seen in the stands. Everybody seems to know everybody. Most gladly strike up conversations with visitors. The flooring of the seating area is metal – good for stomping feet and letting the visiting team hear “Western Nebraska thunder.” The Pioneers have the highest attendance in the Expedition League this first inaugural season. Access 5 Once in the panhandle of Nebraska, Oregon Trail Park Stadium is quite easy to get to via automobile and moving around the stadium is convenient. A bus system is available in Scottsbluff, Terrytown, and Gering but for now, it only operates Monday through Friday from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, so getting to/from the stadium is limited via public transportation. Western Nebraska Regional Airport is the closest airport; keep in mind it is regional with limited commercial service mostly by United Airlines and affiliates. Plenty of free parking is available on the street and in lots just a block away from the park. It’s not a huge ballpark so auto traffic flow is painless pre and postgame. The ticket line takes some time and the booth opens just as or after the gates to the venue open; this may be an area to improve on for future seasons. Bathrooms are air conditioned on those hot Nebraska days and heated when necessary for those cooler evenings. In the seating areas, hand banisters are available in the middle and both sides of each seating area. Wheelchair ramps are provided to the bleacher sections and handicapped seats are readily available in the ‘reserved’ area behind home. Concessions, restrooms, and the merchandise stand are all on the outer promenade of the venue. Return on Investment 5 Attending a Pioneers game is well worth your sports and family entertainment dollar. General admission seats are $7, reserved seating is $9. No extra charge is added for a game day purchase. Ten-ticket flex packs save $1 a ticket; group events are available. Parking is free. Concession prices are as expected; domestic beer is $4. And, most importantly, attending a game is just the perfect evening out for Nebraska sports fans, the western Nebraska community, and visitors to the area. Extras 4 It is apparent the fans are quite proud having their own team and a brand new, comfortable, enjoyable stadium in Gering, NE. Sitting in section 102, row G, seats 14 – 18 will place you right underneath the radio broadcast (KNEB 960AM; 100.3FM) and allow you to hear Miles Klotz broadcast an engaging play-by-play of the game. Kudo’s to Trevor (PA Announcer) who not only calls the starting line ups and batters but keeps the fans informed of player switches and other pertinent information throughout the nine innings, he also seems to orchestrate and be the ringmaster for all the between inning events. The mascot (Hiram) is named for a historical fur trader – Hiram Scott. Hiram Scott was a Mountain Man, trapper, and trader, who was passing by the nearby bluff on his way to St. Louis, MO when he died in 1828. The story of how he died has several versions and has a bit of a mystery to it. Regardless, Scottsbluff (neighboring city of Gering) is named after Hiram Scott and the Pioneers pay homage to him. Final Thoughts It is so, so comfortable here. The seats are wide, there’s plenty of leg room, the fans are energized, and the Pioneers staff is ready to assist, if needed. It’s still more about the game than the extra stuff but there’s enough of that to keep non-purists entertained. Live in the panhandle and need a refreshing break from life’s affairs? Head to a Pioneer’s games for some fun, innocent sports entertainment.

Photos by Gregory Koch , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Bridgeforth Stadium 250 Champions Dr Harrisonburg, VA 22801 James Madison Dukes website Bridgeforth Stadium website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 24,877 Wear Purple for Me The James Madison Dukes football program has consistently been among the top in FCS, winning two national championships and making the FCS Championship Game another two times. They have won eight Colonial Athletic Association titles. The Dukes call Bridgeforth Stadium home, as they have since 1975. Nestled in the scenic Shenandoah Valley in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Bridgeforth Stadium seats about 25,000 fans and is one of the top venues in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Dukes recently announced that they will be moving up to the FBS level and competing in the Sun Belt Conference beginning in 2022. This review was written in 2021 when the Dukes were still an FCS member, but the stadium seems more than capable of handling FBS football. Food & Beverage 4 There are several concession stands scattered throughout the many concourses at Bridgeforth Stadium. Options include all the classics like cheeseburgers, fries, pretzels, and hot dogs, as well as soft drinks served in a souvenir cup and bottles of water, which come in aluminum rather than plastic cans to reduce waste. Beer is also available for sale to those of age through the end of the third quarter. There is a table on the lower level which sells kettle corn and cupcakes, the latter being a unique option for a football game more common at bake sales. Prices are reasonable, with nothing except beer costing more than $5 or so. Atmosphere 5 The fun gets started early at a JMU football game, as the band takes the field for a pregame performance. They will play songs familiar to any Dukes fan such as the school fight song and “Start Wearing Purple”, a song encouraging fans to wear the team color. They also play “America the Beautiful” and the national anthem while unfurling red, white, and blue streamers on the field in the design of the American flag. The band returns at halftime for another spectacular performance. During the game, there are contests on the field at almost every media timeout, ranging from punt, pass, and kick to a spouse-carrying competition. Dukes fans have a tradition of throwing streamers in JMU colors into the air after every Dukes touchdown, and sometimes you will see them fly after a big non-scoring play as well. As for the stadium itself, each side of the stadium is in a different layout. The lower bowl makes a sort of L-shape along the north and west sides, with the north side home to the band and student section and the west side home to some reserved seats and some premium ones closer to midfield. There is an upper deck above the lower deck on the west side. The east side is all bleachers without backs and only one level of them. There are no seats in the south end zone, as that is where the team’s training facilities are. There is a large videoboard behind the south end zone. The Dukes have a mascot, a dog named Duke Dog, as well as cheerleaders and a dance team who make appearances throughout the game. Neighborhood 4 Harrisonburg is a quaint town in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Although this doesn’t have the excitement of the big city, there is plenty to do here, including the Virginia Quilt Museum. For meals, there are plenty of options depending on your budget. The famous southern chain Cook Out has a location five minutes from campus, which serves up burgers, chicken sandwiches, and other options. Try one of their trays for a great value, as it comes with two sides and a drink for around $8. If you’re looking for something more upscale, or at least something with table service, the Magpie Diner on West Gay Street is open for breakfast and lunch and is a local favorite. There are a number of hotels to stay at in Harrisonburg ranging from budget hotels to a Doubletree. Note that at the time of writing, many dining options in Harrisonburg are limited to takeout or unavailable entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this article is written to reflect the “normal” state of things. Fans 5 The Dukes routinely draw near-sellout crowds, with the fans in attendance being some of the most passionate in the country. Whether it’s tossing the streamers after touchdowns, banging the bleachers on third downs, or booing the refs after a perceived bad call goes against JMU, these fans are loud, they are proud of their Dukes, and they are not afraid to show it. When visiting Bridgeforth Stadium expect the crowd noise to be consistently loud and intimidating to opposing teams. Be warned that the fans, particularly the student section, are not always clean in their language. Access 4 Bridgeforth Stadium and the James Madison campus are located right off Interstate 81 via Exit 245. The lots closest to the stadium are reserved for season ticket holders and big donors, but ample free parking is available virtually anywhere else on campus. There are shuttles available to the stadium from some of the more distant lots, but other lots such as the Warsaw Avenue Parking Deck are within a ten-minute walk and do not offer shuttles. There are large digital signs outside most lots and garages showing the number of available spaces, which is a nice touch. It will generally designate the spaces as faculty/staff, commuter, or whatever they are normally used for during the week, but you can ignore this. Once inside the stadium, the concourse can get crowded at times. Concession and restroom lines can get long but move quickly. Still, it is best to get your food before the game if possible to avoid the wait. Just be sure to be back in your seat in time for the band. Return on Investment 5 Tickets start at $20 for general admission seating on the east side. Upper-level seats on the west side will go for $25, while 200-level level seats will go for $35 unless you are getting the premium seats near midfield which will cost significantly more. 100-level seats at field level go for a big premium as well. Ultimately, we recommend the 200-level seats as they are the best value. Concessions are also affordable and parking is free. Considering this is one of the top venues in FCS, this is a very good deal. Extras 5 One star for the unique tradition of the streamers that JMU fans throw after touchdowns. Look for murals on the concourse displaying information on the history of the Dukes’ football program. A third star for the tremendous energy and passion brought by the fans, who are among the best in the country. A fourth star for the band and the other ways the team contributes to the atmosphere here. Finally, look for the banners in the south-end zone honoring JMU postseason appearances. Final thoughts James Madison has one of the top venues in all of FCS, and it is definitely ready to make the move up to the next level next year. This has always been an FBS-quality stadium, and next year it will get the chance to show why. For now, this is an elite stadium for its level. The Dukes have one of the best atmospheres in the country and some of the best fans. It will likely get even better next year with the move up.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 UWF Field House 2344 Campus Dr Pensacola, FL 32514 West Florida Argonauts website UWF Field House website Year Opened: 1971 Capacity: 1,180 Basketball in the City of Five Flags Nestled amongst the Florida wetlands of north Pensacola lies the beautiful campus of the University of West Florida. The medium-sized, public university a little shy of 13,000 students is fairly new. Ground was broken in 1965, and in 1968 58 students received degrees during the first commencement ceremony. The team’s nickname, the Argonauts, reflects Pensacola’s Naval history, as the city is home to one of the largest naval bases in the country. The school’s first basketball team started in 1967 and originally was an NAIA independent. Because the Argos did not have an on-campus arena to play in at that time, they played their first four seasons on the road and in various high school gyms in the Pensacola area, before moving into their on-campus home, UWF Field House, in 1971. The Argos had some success during their early years, even reaching the NAIA national championship game during the 1975-76 season, but when the team arrived back in Pensacola after that game, they learned that UWF was suspending their athletic department and downgrading their sports to the club and intramural levels. UWF would reinstate the athletic department in 1980, but it wouldn’t be until the 1993-94 season that basketball would return full-time. The following year the Argos would make the transition to NCAA Division II, and begin playing in the Gulf South Conference, where they remain to this day. Since joining the NCAA the Argos have made 13 GSC conference tournaments, with their most successful season being the 2017-18 season, when the Argos won the tournament and subsequently made their first D2 NCAA tournament, with a regular season record of 28-4.   Food & Beverage   2 As soon as you walk into the UWF Field House there is one concession stand located in the east side lobby. They sell the basics here you would find at other arenas; nothing stands out on the menu, but the prices are fairly cheap and the food is quite good.   Atmosphere   3 UWF Field House originally opened in 1971 and currently has a capacity of 1,180 seats. The building is a one-story brick structure with a white metal exterior roof – the older style building, reminiscent of most buildings built in the 70s, ties in well with the surrounding architecture, so if you didn’t know where you were going you would think the field house was just another building on campus. The grounds around the facility are quite pretty, and it has a well-lit walkway lined with palm trees that provide an impressive backdrop for the building. UWF Field House is located amongst a sports complex that includes tennis courts, a health & leisure center, and football facilities, and a practice field . Attached to the field house is the state-of-the-art, beautiful UWF Aquatic Center, home to UWF’s swimming and dive team. The court at UWF Field House faces north and south, with the main entrance on the east side of the building. The east side entrance features a large lobby with ticket offices, a concessions stand, trophy cases, and an interactive display showing off the UWF Athletics Hall of Fame. There’s also an entrance to the Argo Club located here as well, which is a lounge area with food and drinks for alumni and members of the club. UWF Field House also houses the athletic department, coaches’ offices, several classrooms, weight rooms, a training room, and another full-sized basketball court used for practice. When basketball returned to UWF in 1993 the field house installed seating on both the east and west sides, bringing the capacity to 4,500 bleacher-style seats. This number proved to be kind of large for a school of this level, so in 2001 the west side seating was removed, and cushioned chairback seats were installed on the east side, reducing the capacity to about 1,100 seats; at present there is just seating on the east side with a curtain draped over the west side blocking the view of the court. Renovations over the years include new scoreboards being installed in 1997, a new sound system in 2000, and new floors in 2009. Both ends of the court are lined with banners from all the Argos accomplishments, and there is an impressive LED ribbon board on the scorer’s table on the west side, which is lit up with sponsor names and various graphics during the game. This is quite cool, and something you don’t see a lot of at D2 basketball games.   Neighborhood   3 UWF’s campus is located in kind of a secluded area in the northern part of the city – the campus was built on wetlands in former Indian territory but is now part of a nature preserve, and is located on a bluff above the Escambia River.  Nature lovers will love the campus, as it has several nature trails and boardwalks where you can walk back into the woods and through the swamps. The school also has an area where you can rent kayaks and go out on the river and view the Florida wildlife – everything from cranes, pelicans, osprey, alligators, and even manatees can be found on the Escambia River and in the swamps on campus. You can also take a trip across the river to the small town of Milton; this picturesque town lines the Blackwater River, where many people can be found kayaking, canoeing, and swimming along the sand bars during the summer. Milton has been nicknamed the ‘canoe capital’ of Florida. Besides spending time on the water there is not much else to do in the area, but just south of campus is 9 Mile Road where there are a few restaurants, including Chick-fil-A as well as a Target store. Another restaurant in the area worth checking out is Foosackly’s, right across the street from campus, which is known for its cheap prices and fried chicken. There are hotels closer to the interstate, and you are about 15 miles north of the nightlife of Seville Quarter and Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola. Pensacola Beach is about 20 miles south of campus as well, so it is possible to go to the beach before the game. A visit to the National Naval Aviation Museum, located at Pensacola Naval Station, is also a must-visit if in the area for more than a day – this is probably Pensacola's most popular attraction.   Fans   2 The Argos only average about 300-400 fans per game, which is pretty normal for D2 basketball. Many of the fans are scattered around the stands, and I didn’t see a whole lot of students at the most recent game I was at. For UWF football games  the student support and turnout is a little better than at the basketball games, which is unfortunate because the Argos athletic department does a fantastic job in presenting the game day experience. During basketball games, Argie the mascot does a great job of getting fans into the game, and the staff also does some promotional contests during timeouts, so it’s a shame more students don’t come out. The athletic department also does various promotional nights such as an outside tailgate, Faith & Family Day, Christmas in the Field House, Boy Scout Day, and the Mardi Gras Game; they also have giveaways such as UWF player cards and t-shirts given out at select games. UWF’s alumni base is largely from the panhandle area of Florida, so it seems like the majority of fans are alums. The fans here seem very into the game, and there is a lot of blue (the school’s color) being worn in the stands.   Access   2 One drawback in getting to UWF’s campus is the location itself, as well as Pensacola’s horrendous traffic. The campus is located in the northern part of the city, far away from the beach and downtown, so if coming from the east and west I-10 will be your best bet – just take the Davis Highway exit and follow the signs until you reach the University Parkway split, and you can take that road right into campus. Or, if coming from the beach or downtown you can take I-110 to Davis Highway and follow that. Alternatively you can take the beautiful Scenic Highway, a winding road that travels north and south and has spectacular views of Escambia Bay. All along this highway, you can pull off into the different areas and look out over the water; this highway is noted for its lavish mansions as well. The arena is located at the front of campus, so just take University Parkway toward the school, and UWF Field House will be the first thing you see.   Return on Investment   3 All general admission tickets are $7 and allow you to sit wherever you like. On most nights the women’s team plays before the men’s team, so the men’s tipoff never starts as scheduled. Because of this the ticket office often closes early, so you might be able to come to the game for free depending on how long the women’s game lasts. Tickets for a night out watching the Argos play basketball will not break the bank, and the level of talent is quite good for D2 basketball. Factor this in with the cheap concession prices, and I consider this a good return on investment.   Extras   4 Pensacola is a supportive sports town, with Blue Wahoos  minor league baseball in the spring and summer, and Ice Flyers hockey  in the fall and winter, so no matter when you come to Pensacola there should be plenty of sporting options for you to see. Because there is not a big-time college in the area, the closest being Florida State three hours away, the Argos are Pensacola’s college team. Everywhere you look in town you’ll see UWF signs and banners, and you’ll see people out and about wearing UWF gear. Pensacolians treat UWF as their big-time college program – the local ESPN radio station has UWF coach’s shows and call-ins throughout the week, and they show highlights of UWF sports on the nightly news. Most D2 programs do not get this kind of press and access, but in Pensacola, they treat UWF as their own D1 program; for such a small town UWF gets constant press and coverage, more so than a regular D2 program. The UWF athletic program has captured nine national championships in 15 sports, even though neither the men’s nor women’s basketball programs have won a championship yet. Perhaps the most famous and well-known sports program at UWF is the football team ; the Argos 2019 Division II national championship banner hangs high above the court at UWF Field House for all to see. UWF has had one player make it to the NBA – journeyman point guard Moochie Norris played for the Argos during their 1995-96 season and was drafted as the 33rd overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. Most famous for his enormous afro, Norris played eight seasons for the Rockets , Knicks ,  and Pelicans . UWF Field House has also been used as a concert venue and has hosted university-related events. Some of the notable concerts here over the years include Bob Dylan, Charlie Daniels Band, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Buffett, and BB King. Pensacola native and World Heavyweight Champion boxer Roy Jones Jr. also fought here a few times in the early 90s back when he was a promising young fighter.   Final Thoughts Coming to a game at UWF Field House remains a great experience for this level of basketball. You will not experience a lot of bells and whistles, but a game here involves visiting a beautiful campus in a wonderful city, and I highly recommend it.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Sharp Gymnasium 7502 Fondren Rd Houston, TX 77074 Houston Baptist Huskies website Sharp Gymnasium website Year Opened: 1964 Capacity: 1,000 Welcome to the Dawg Pound Houston Baptist University opened as a private non-secular university in 1960; their athletics program started the same year, and from then until 1990 the Huskies were members of the NCAA, and their basketball team made the Big Dance in 1984. After 1990 the school moved to the NAIA and were a perennial powerhouse; HBU made the NAIA Tournament 10 years in a row from 1998-2007. HBU ultimately moved back to the NCAA, and now compete as members of the Southland Conference, where they have made the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and CollegeInsider.com Postseason tournaments. For the majority of the school’s history, the Huskies have played within the friendly confines of the Frank and Lucille Sharp Gymnasium. While small in size, Sharp Gymnasium should not be overlooked! Food & Beverage 2 “Bare bones” is the best way to describe your concessions options at Sharp Gymnasium – there are none of the bells and whistles that you might find at a larger Division I college basketball arena. What you will find are the basics: hot dogs ($3), sausage wraps ($5), popcorn, candy, chips, and canned sodas, as well as bottled water and sports drinks (everything is $2 except the hot dogs and sausage wraps). There is only one concessions stand at Sharp Gymnasium, and it is located near the arena’s main entrance. This is important to note, as there tends to be a bottleneck in the area during breaks and at halftime when many fans traditionally make their concessions stand run. Also important to note is that credit cards can only be used with a $5 minimum purchase. While there is not much of a selection or variety, what is offered should get you through games just fine at Sharp Gymnasium. Atmosphere 3 Capacity at Sharp Gymnasium is 1,000 people; as this might infer, the facility is not cavernous in the slightest. However, this does not detract from the overall atmosphere at all. Because of its size, fans and game attendees are virtually right on top of the on-court action, and the close proximity amplifies the energy and sound of the crowd exponentially. The banners lining the walls and rafters of Sharp Gymnasium speak to the proud history and tradition that the Huskies have forged. This is felt by the fans in the stands; they cheer, bark, and do a “Paws Up” sign during free throw attempts – it is an infectious energy that permeates the arena. One caveat to be aware of though – again because of the size, a small visiting team crowd will also have their energy and noise amplified, so even a relatively miniscule group of visitors will come off as extremely vocal. Neighborhood 5 Space City – aka Houston – is flat out one of the country’s great cities. There is so much to do, see, eat, and experience in Houston that you are going to need far more than one day – or even one weekend – to experience a fraction of what there is to offer. Houston Baptist University and Sharp Gymnasium are located in the Sharpstown section of the city. The gym is located directly on campus; as such, there is not much to see and do in the immediate vicinity. However, within a 30-minute drive you can pretty much do and see everything – just southwest of downtown Houston lies the Museum District , which is home to 19 different cultural institutions, including the world-famous Houston Museum of Natural Science . The massive Houston Zoo is also within walking distance of this area. In terms of food, again, there is anything and everything you could possibly want in Houston. One of the iconic meals that Texas does so well is barbecue – in Houston, they are pretty proud of their ‘cue, and spots like Gatlin’s BBQ will give you a good idea of why. Brisket, ribs, chicken, sausage – Gatlin’s has won awards for all of them. In addition, Houston also has a thriving Chinatown; if you are in the mood for some outstanding Asian cuisine, make sure to visit the popular Fung’s Kitchen . When it comes to lodging you can run the complete spectrum in Houston. You can stay at five-star establishments such as the Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa , or you can stay at any of the lesser-level (i.e. budget friendly) ones – it really is all a matter of your budget. Fans 2 There really isn’t much of an opportunity for there to be a large turnout for Houston Baptist basketball games, however, the stands are generally filled and the fans come decked out in orange and blue to support the home team. There is also a great multi-generational mixture, as students are in the stands alongside older alums and their young children. The facilities at Sharp Gymnasium don’t lend themselves to much in the way of any type of tailgating activities, and there really isn’t much room for a large student section. However, the fans that do turn out prove to be engaged – they are constantly doing the Paws Up, barking, and making the small gym reverberate with their cheering. With a larger facility, there would be even more room for fan interaction. Access 3 Houston Baptist University and Sharp Gymnasium are fairly centrally located in the city, and are easily accessible off of Interstate 69 from any part of Houston. As a major airline hub, flights in and out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport are frequent, and this is arguably the busiest airport in the state. Parking is free and plentiful at Sharp Gymnasium, and since the gym is on campus, there is plenty of signage marking the way to it once you turn onto the main drag. When it comes to attending a college game in H-Town, it really doesn’t get any easier than games at HBU. Return on Investment 4 Huskies home basketball games are honestly a great bargain, as single-game tickets cost $10 for adults during men’s basketball games, and are $5 for women’s games (children 12 and under get in for free either way). In addition, HBU is a Division I school, and they play some pretty quality opponents during the season. You also have an opportunity to see a quality game in a unique facility for a very reasonable price. When you couple in the free parking and the very inexpensive concessions, you are getting a virtual steal at Sharp Gymnasium. If you’re a college basketball junkie or you’ve got younger children you want to introduce to the game, this is a great place to start. Extras 3 All of the traditional bells and whistles of college basketball are on display at Sharp Gymnasium – the Huskies Basketball Band can be found near the student section, and there are also the Huskies cheerleaders, the HBU Elite Dance Team, and the school mascot Mingo, all on display for the entirety of the game. Like most basketball games at this level, there are student contests during timeouts, as well as stoppages in play which are always fun. In the chairback seating area is the Husky Hype Squad; this two-man group of yell leaders is often called upon to pump up the crowd throughout the game. Decked head-to-toe in orange and blue, this duo is armed with megaphones and boundless energy. Final Thoughts Though the basketball facilities are small in stature at Houston Baptist University, they are big on excitement, energy, and charm. There is something to be said for watching basketball in a gymnasium the size of the Huskies’ home court – it becomes all about the game at that point, and what HBU puts on out there is a great product. If you are looking for an inexpensive way to catch some big-time college hoops, you can’t go wrong with catching a game at Sharp Gymnasium. Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 . Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com .

Photos by Lloyd Rothwell, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Adelaide Oval War Memorial Dr North Adelaide SA 5006, Australia Adelaide Strikers website Adelaide Oval website Year Opened: 1871 Capacity: 53,698 Strikers Winning in Adelaide First established in 1871, the Adelaide Oval has long been known as one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world. Pleasantly placed on the banks of the River Torrens and in the parklands just north of the CBD, the stadium features stunning vistas including of the iconic St Peters Cathedral, located immediately north of the oval. Most regularly used for cricket during its long history, Adelaide Oval also has a strong connection with Australian Rules football. The venue has also hosted lop level rugby union, having previously been the home of the Australian leg of the World Sevens Series as well as hosting two matches of the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Despite growing demand for tickets to popular events such as Ashes test matches, increasing capacity and redeveloping the ground took many years. In 2003 the Chappell Stands were added to the eastern side of the ground in front of the Victor Richardson Gates, grandfather of the three Chappell brothers – all of whom played cricket for Australia. It took until 2009 before plans for a major redevelopment were announced. The redevelopment was completed in 2014 at a cost of over $500m, and increased capacity to 53,583. The final design maintains the charm of the original ground by incorporating the famous old scoreboard, hill area, Moreton Bay Fig and cathedral views, while also quickly building a reputation as a modern gem. Interestingly the playing surface was also slightly modified; as a cricket ground Adelaide was known for its long straight, boundaries and short boundaries square of the wicket. These changes made the surface more suitable for AFL, and along with the modern amenities and larger capacity, saw football returning to the stadium fulltime, with both the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Power now calling Adelaide Oval home. The Adelaide Strikers, like all the other Big Bash League Twenty20 cricket franchises, was formed in 2011 as a new identity separate from existing state teams. They have since experienced moderate success on the field, and are extremely well supported in their home state of South Australia. Food & Beverage 4 The design of the new stadium means that no seat is located more than 40m from a food outlet. There’s a wide range of food available with all the usual fare supplemented by healthy options and specialty items. Interestingly, as of the end of 2016, the stadium management authority has worked to lower prices of many of the most commonly bought items including meat pies, beer and bottled water. One of the biggest reductions was a $0.30 drop in the price of local beer, West End Draught. While this may be a step in the right direction, it is worth noting that this “reduced price” is still $8.90 which makes it one of the most expensive beer prices in all of Australia. Similarly, even the most basic hot food such as hot chips are $5.50, as are meat pies. Anything more such as a burger or pizza is around the $10 mark. Admittedly the serving sizes are quite good (as is the quality), but the indisputable fact is that prices here are even more expensive than what you will experience at most sporting stadiums around the world. Any queues move relatively quickly, except for the Norgen Vaas ice cream stand which can have wait times of over 5 minutes between placing an order and receiving your ice cream. Also, keep an eye out for concession stands that are “card only” – helpful for some but not for others! Atmosphere 4 The Adelaide Oval is the greatest success story of modern stadium building in Australia. It’s a beautiful and well-designed building that captures all the charm and character of the original ground and the stunning surrounds, and adds an advanced, modern viewing experience. The combination is simply stunning. Over 75% of all seats are covered, providing protection from the elements. The old scoreboard combines with three video screens to keep spectators informed. The spacious atriums within the stadium concourses add to the sense of space and atmosphere. Neighborhood 5 Adelaide is a cosmopolitan city characterised by its grid-like set up featuring straight wide streets and abundant parklands. In contrast to most other capital cities around the country, it was established as a colony of free settlers rather than a penal settlement. Adelaide is regularly cited as one of the most livable cities in Australia and is well known for its many festivals and close proximity to the wine growing region of Barossa Valley. The northern area of the CBD is the heart of the city. Major venues such as the Convention Centre and Casino are on North Terrace, while Hindley St and Rundle Mall serve as an entertainment and shopping precinct. Further afield, a tram ride down to the beach at Glenelg is a popular tourist activity. Fans 4 The Adelaide Strikers are the highest drawing of all the BBL teams, most recently averaging a remarkable 42,000 fans per game. The crowd is a sea of blue, with the locals wholeheartedly embracing their team. The fans are well-informed and engaged in the brand and the action. Access 4 Along with the redevelopment of the stadium, the new Riverbank Footbridge provides an easy connection across the river from the CBD. That being the case, the best method of transport is bus, train or tram and then soak in the atmosphere and enjoy the view as you stroll towards the stadium. Alternatively, drive into the CBD and utilise a paid parking station for around $25. The plaza surrounding the stadium is easy to navigate with several interactive fan experience opportunities. Once inside, access to upper levels is made easier by a number of escalators and elevators while concourses are spacious and clean. Another quirk of the stadium is the abundance of restrooms, with Australian design standards exceeded by more than 30%. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices offer value for money with Adult General Admission from as low as $20. The usual discounts for children and families also apply, making entry for most very affordable. While refreshments are amongst the most expensive you will ever encounter, the Strikers and the Adelaide Oval is undeniably a fantastic experience worthy of your hard-earned cash. Extras 4 In the Riverbank Stand you will find a museum showcasing Sir Donald Bradman (1908-2001). To the uninitiated, Bradman is without question, the greatest cricketer of all time. Indeed, statisticians have calculated that the dominance asserted by Bradman with his test batting average of 99.94, is more significant than any other comparative sportsperson across all sports. One of the more unique experiences at Adelaide Oval is the Roof Climb, a two hour guided climb across the roof of the stadium, even during games! While not available on event days, general guided tours of the stadium are available at other times and are well worth the effort, but be sure to book in advance. Given the BBL occurs across the Christmas / New Year period, it is natural that a number of games will take place on key dates. The Strikers host the New Year’s Eve game at Adelaide Oval, after which you can celebrate by watching the fireworks on the banks of the river before heading back into the city to party on. Final Thoughts The Adelaide Oval is simply a must-visit stadium. Do yourself a favour and visit the City of Churches!

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 BMO Field 170 Princes' Blvd Toronto, ON M6K 3C3 Canada Toronto Argonauts website BMO Field website Year Opened: 2007 Capacity: 27,456 Double Blue World Order Not only are the Toronto Argonauts the oldest team in the Canadian Football League, but, having been established in 1873, they are the oldest gridiron football team in the world. The 2022 season saw the culmination of success for the Argos with an exciting Grey Cup victory, their 18th, which is also the best in the CFL. The Argos have seen more than their share of ups and downs over the years, however, with the move to BMO Field in 2016 and solid ownership in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the future is looking a little brighter for the Argos. The Argos have been a flashy team over the years boasting football stars like Joe Theismann, Doug Flutie, Damon Allen, Raghib Ismail and Rickey Williams. The current Argos are lead by the most beloved Argonaut of them all, Michael “Pinball” Clemons, who acts as the General Manager. The Argos even boast Bruce McNall, Wayne Gretzky and the iconic John Candy as former owners. Canadian Football remains a bit quirky for those used to the American gridiron game, but a game or two will assuredly convert football fans to the excitement and entertainment of the Canadian game. A trip to BMO Field to see the Toronto Argonauts is an excellent way to enjoy some top notch football and leave fans with the incurable urge to yell out “ARRRGOOOOS!” Food & Beverage 5 The concession scene at BMO Field for an Argonauts game is pretty solid. The gates open for the Shipyard area past the north end zone a half hour earlier than the rest of the gates. In the Shipyard fans can enjoy some RealSports BBQ and Mill Street beverages. Throughout the rest of the stadium concession stands provide a mix of unique items and old favourites. Gourmet hot dogs and sausage are found at the mobile carts and Pizza Pizza slices can be found at numerous stands. Burgers, fries and popcorn are readily available. A whole host of unique items including braised beef grilled cheese, porchetta sandwiches, muffaletta sandwiches and Buffalo chicken fingers will tempt fans and force them to make tough decisions. The beer scene is also strong at BMO with most stands dedicated to local Mill Street products or Stella Artois and Goose Island. Coolers and other alternative, canned, alcoholic beverages are also available. Coca-Cola products are the soft drink of choice and on those cold evenings coffee, hot chocolate and other warm beverages can take a stab at warming up patrons. Atmosphere 4 BMO Field was originally built in 2007 as the home of the National Soccer program and Toronto FC. During those days, the Argonauts were sharing Rogers Centre with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2015 the Argos were told they would no longer be able to play in Rogers Centre and a move west to BMO Field seemed to be the answer to all Argo fans' woes. Since opening, BMO Field has been renovated a few times with upper decks and coverings over the grandstands being added. The capacity for Argonauts games rested at just over 27,000. The basic structure of the stadium is two large east and west grandstands, each with two decks, the Shipyard area in the north and an attempted supporters’ section in the south. The videoboard towers above the Shipyard and the banners for the Argonauts’ eighteen Grey Cup Championships (1914, 1921, 1933, 1937, 1938, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1952, 1983, 1991, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2012, 2017, 2022) blow constantly behind the south end zone. The banner honouring All-Time Argos (Joe Krol, Bill Symons, Jim Corrigal, Condredge Holloway, Paul Masotti, Jim Rountree, Dan Ferrone, Rodney Harding, Dick Shatto, Terry Greer, Ted Morris, Don Moen, Michael Clemons, Dave Mann, Jim Stillwagon, Mike O’Shea, Danny Nykoluk, Royal Copeland, Marv Luster, Bill Zock, Les Ascott, Ulysses Curtis, Ed Harrington, Doug Flutie) has been moved under the press box on the west side of the stadium. Unfortunately the banner has type that is pretty small and difficult to see from a distance. In 2023, the All-Time Argos increased their membership by two, with the induction of Damon Allen and Derrell Mitchell. The gameday atmosphere is solid. The video presentations for the player entrances are excellent. The players enter from the northeast corner through an inflatable contraption and are lined by flags, smoke and pyro. The mascot, Jason, stands at the touchdown cannon in the northeast end, which is something the fans should be ready for, or else! The entry of the team on the field features pyrotechnics, smoke machines, flag bearers and just about everything one would need to get hyped for the game.The Argos dance team, The A-Team, which is co-ed, performs during some breaks in the action and on the sidelines. Overall a pretty solid atmosphere for a football game. Neighbourhood 5 The best spot to get some pre and post game food and drink by foot is to head north of the Exhibition, under the Gardiner Expressway and Go Train and head to the Liberty Village neighbourhood of Toronto. There, fans will find a number of options – these would include Williams Landing, The Craft Brasserie & Grill, Magic Oven and Brazen Head Irish Pub. Of course if fans head east towards downtown, they will find a whole host of other options near the Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena, but those will probably require a vehicle of sorts to get there. Toronto remains a top notch location for a vacation. The number of other entertainment attractions in Toronto may be too numerous to name off. A highlight on the Exhibition grounds is the annual Canadian National Exhibition. The annual fair is how thousands of Canadians ring out the summer with the annual Labour Day weekend event. Mid July brings the Honda Indy Toronto to the Exhibition and the street course runs through the Exhibition at breakneck speeds. The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and Medieval Times also happen on the Exhibition Grounds. There are a ton of other sporting options in Toronto and fans may have the opportunity to put together a doubleheader in the city. BMO Field is shared with Toronto FC of the MLS. Also at Exhibition Place is the Coca-Cola Coliseum, home of the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. East of Exhibition Place is Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays of MLB. Further east along the Lakeshore is Scotiabank Arena, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL and Toronto Raptors of the NBA. The University of Toronto fields a full complement of varsity teams including football at Varsity Stadium , hockey at Varsity Arena and basketball at the Goldring Centre . A true gem is Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) hockey and basketball , both of whom play in the renovated former Maple Leaf Gardens. Most of the major hotels are found closer to downtown proper however, the Gladstone Hotel and the Drake Hotel are both close by but very luxurious and pricey. A new hotel on the Exhibition grounds, Hotel X Toronto, is also among the luxurious hotels in the city. Fans 3 At one point, the Toronto Argonauts were the toast of the town. With the majority of the CFL season not crossing with the hockey season, there was really nothing stopping the Argos from ruling the city of Toronto in the summer. However, the 1977 arrival of the Toronto Blue Jays seemed to change everything and attendance began to become an issue. Over time attendance has been on a decline, not just for the Argonauts but for the CFL as a whole. With MLSE taking over the Argos, there has been renewed effort and investment in the Argos. The on field product has improved under GM Michael “Pinball” Clemons and the attendance has slowly, but surely creeped up. As of this writing, the Argos are averaging more than 14,000 fans for the 2023 season, which remains at the bottom of the CFL, but is higher than last year. The Argos finding their niche in a sport-saturated city like Toronto will take plenty of effort. A continued rise in the attendance will also bring this grade to a better spot. Access 4 BMO Field is located on the grounds of Exhibition Place. Getting to Exhibition Place can be a challenge, as anything in Toronto can be. The Ex is immediately south of the Gardiner Expressway. Although fans may think this is the quickest way to drive to the Ex, often a longer route on Lakeshore Blvd is the way to go, especially for those coming from the west. There are a number of parking spots available for fans at Exhibition Place. It is important for fans to do some research before heading out to see the Argos. At times there are other events taking place at the Ex and parking is a real challenge. Even at the best of times, parking is not cheap and other options may be the best plan. For fans who prefer the public transit route, Exhibition Place has some decent public transit options. There is a Go Transit station right by the Ex and this is probably the easiest form of public transit. A walk north of the Ex will bring fans through Liberty Village and eventually to some TTC options. Check out the Go Transit and TTC websites for fares, maps and schedules. The ticketing window is at gate 1, at the north end of BMO Field. Lineups are not usually an issue. Security is what you would expect in this day and age of sports security, including walk through metal detectors. Before heading out, fans are encouraged to consult the Argos and BMO Field websites for up to date security bulletins and prohibited items. Consulting the Exhibition Place website is also a good idea to get an up to date event schedule for parking information. Getting around BMO Field is not too difficult and concourses are fairly spacious. Washroom facilities are also adequate for this venue. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for the Argos are very reasonable. Tickets in the Fan Zone go for under $30, as are tickets in the upper deck at the corners. Parking now uses the “Green P” app and fans will be required to pay by phone, but the cost for parking is on the high side, with not many other options. The product on the field is vastly underrated and no doubt fans will have a great time. Extras 4 An extra mark for the longevity of the Argonauts as the oldest professional football team in the world. An extra mark for the Argonauts’ top fan, former owner and movie legend, John Candy. Candy’s tenure as owner of the Argos with Wayne Gretzky and Bruce McNall was a highlight of the team’s duration including the signing of Rocket Ismail, the toast of the town, and a Grey Cup victory. An extra mark for the huge rivalry with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which culminates in the Labour Day Classic, the biggest date on the CFL calendar. An extra mark for the return of the beloved football/ship logo, which was a mainstay in the 80s. Final Thoughts As the Toronto Argonauts continue to improve at the gate and provide a solid product on the field, the strength and stability of the oldest football team in the world seems just a little bit more secure. Hopefully, there will be another 150 years of Argonaut football in the future and fans in the Toronto area would be remiss if they passed on the opportunity to check out the Double Blue. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Lance Sutehall, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Alabama Soccer Stadium 500 Peter Bryce Blvd Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Alabama Crimson Tide website Alabama Soccer Stadium website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 1,500 Rolling With The Tide At The Soccer Stadium Women’s soccer has been a varsity sport at the University of Alabama since 1986. As of the writing of this article, the Crimson Tide have made six NCAA tournament appearances, including an appearance in the Final Four of the College Cup in 2022. The Tide has six alumni in the NWSL and another in Liga MX Femenil. The Alabama Soccer Stadium has been the home of the Tide’s Women’s soccer program since 2004.   Food & Beverage   3 The lone concession stand sells basics such as a slice of pizza ($8), hot dogs ($6), chips ($3), popcorn ($7), and candy ($3). Rita’s Italian Ice ($8.50), milkshakes ($9), frozen drinks ($9), and custard cookie sandwiches ($9) are also offered. Bottled beverages on sale include water ($6), Coca-Cola branded sodas ($6), and Powerade ($5). Finally, beer is sold at the concession stand ($11). The stand is cashless. Atmosphere   4 There is a giant red Tube Man at the entrance of the stadium. After entering the stadium gate, the concession stand and merchandise table are to the left. Walking towards the seating area you pass a table with Gameday info and Alabama Women’s soccer posters. The seating area consists of 15 rows of metal bleachers with the middle of the seating area only having three rows to make room for the camera. The team locker rooms are located behind the bleachers The stadium features a giant video board in the right corner, and the team benches are located across the field from the seating area. When the tide takes the field, smoke machines behind the goals go off. Those smoke machines are also activated whenever Bama scores, and when Bama has won. After the starting lineups are announced, the players throw t-shirts into the crowd and they give the fans high fives after the game. Alabama offers various promotions to encourage attendance including team poster signings on Sunday evening games and other themes throughout the season. Students earn “Tide Loyalty” points for attending soccer matches which helps with priority access to football season tickets. The involvement of the students makes an Alabama soccer game an intense women’s soccer environment.   Neighborhood   5 The Alabama Soccer Stadium is located in the northeast of campus next to the Student Recreation Center and near Rhoads Stadium, home of Alabama softball. This part of campus is the furthest from Tuscaloosa’s entertainment district “The Strip” but less than 2 miles away. Newk’s Restaurant is nearby on University Boulevard while Baumhower’s Victory Grille is across McFarland Boulevard. Next to Baumhower’s is PopStroke, a mini golf course that is also a restaurant. Shopping options nearby include Midtown Village and University Mall, both of which are across the street from each other. For Lodging, Hampton Inn is located between Baumhower’s and PopStroke while Hotel Capstone is on campus, next to Sewell Thomas Stadium. I would recommend staying near downtown Tuscaloosa as there are more lodging options and plenty of restaurants. Plus the strip is more accessible, the River Walk is beautiful, and Capitol Park shows the remains of the old Alabama State Capitol building.   Fans   4 The fans fill up the Alabama Soccer Stadium with families and students packing the stands. The fence was lined with flags representing the nationalities of the players on the field. The students were bringing energy throughout the match. One of the students was banging on a drum throughout the night which added to the atmosphere.   Access   4 From I-20-59, turn off Exit 73 and make a right on Highway 82. Turn off on the ramp to University Boulevard and make a right. Make another right on Peter Bryce Boulevard and the soccer stadium will be on the left beside some tennis courts and the Student Recreation Center. There are two free parking lots near the stadium, one by the aforementioned facilities and another on the other side of the field by the Greek houses. The Alabama Soccer Stadium Has one main entrance where the concession stand and restrooms are located. The seating area is straightforward and the aisles are wide enough to move freely.   Return on Investment   5 In terms of a return on investment, I do not think you can do better than free. Parking and admission to Alabama soccer matches are free to attend while concession prices are what’s expected. There is also a chance to catch a t-shirt and High Five the Tide after a win. Alabama soccer is an underrated way to spend an evening in Tuscaloosa.   Extras   2 Several practice soccer fields surround the soccer stadium with games going on around the Alabama soccer game. The soccer stadium shares a parking lot with the nearby Student Recreation Center, which includes Stran-Hardin Arena, home to Alabama’s wheelchair basketball teams. The women’s team has won ten national championships while the men’s have won three. Final Thoughts The student body and the community have embraced the Alabama Crimson Tide’s women’s soccer team over the years. The program has been on the rise over the years and their 2022 run to the final four proves the Alabama women’s soccer team is a force to be reckoned with. The fans and students believe that the Tide will roll when they are on the pitch. They have reason to.

Photos by Jeremy Inson , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 San Siro Via Piccolomini 5 Milan, Lombardy 20151 Italy Inter Milan website San Siro website Year Opened: 1926 Capacity: 80,018 Inside Inter With a capacity of just over 80,000 the Stadio San Siro is Italy’s largest and most well known soccer arena and home to two giants of Calcio, Associazione Calcio di Milan, the red and black shirted Milan and the blue and black striped Internazionale di Milano, or more commonly Inter. The stadium was built in 13 months and at a modern day cost of $4.5 million. The first match to take place there was a friendly between Inter and Milan on 19 September 1926 and it was the blue and black shirted hordes that left the happier after a 6-3 win. Initially the capacity was 35,000 but over the 20th century there were a number of extensions that eventually took the stadium’s capacity to its current total of 80,018 in preparation for Italy’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 1990. In 1980 the city of Milan decided to name the stadium after Giuseppe Meazza, a former hot-shot striker for both Milan and Inter, who had died in 1979. Despite this, the vast majority of the fans making their way to the stadium refer to it as the San Siro, after the area of the city in which it is located. Over the years both sets of supporters have made a strong case for their team to be top dogs. The 1960’s was certainly the heyday for the city, a decade in which Inter and Milan both won the European Cup twice. For most of the 1990’s Inter had to look on in envy and content themselves with three UEFA Cup wins, while their owner Massimo Moratti threw millions of dollars at the team in the hope of finally breaking Inter’s title drought. Their break came in 2006 when Juventus were stripped of the Serie A title in a match fixing sting and second placed Inter were handed the title. It set them up for five consecutive title wins, the most recent two in 2009 and 2010 under the guidance of Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese made few friends in Italy, but he brought an end to Inter’s 43-year wait to be crowned European Champions when two goals from Argentine striker Diego Milito secured a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in 2010. For Inter the alumni is impressive. Striker Sandro Mazzola was at the heart of the 1960’s success, while Giacinto Facchetti and Tarcisio Burgnich embodied coach Helenio Herera’s catenaccio defensive system. While AC Milan had the trio of Dutchmen, Inter had a trio of World Cup winning Germans – Lothar Matthaus, Andreas Brehme and Jurgen Klinsmann. Then under Mourinho it was the arrival of Dutch playmaker Wesley Sniejder to complement the likes of Milito, Samuel Eto’o, Maicon and captain Javier Zanetti that finally gave Inter the class to win the Champions League. More recently Milan’s title victory in 2011, six months after Inter had won the 2010 World Club Championship, means that those Inter and Milan fans making their way towards the San Siro will be able to continue their debate about which team is the bigger for many more years to come. Food & Beverage 4 This being Italy, good food goes without saying. But a word of warning; eat before you get into the stadium as the options once you get through the turnstiles are few and far between, except for poorly supplied and jam-packed cafes. Outside though, the range of concession stands is remarkable. The majority of them serve tasty warm sandwiches, usually ham or roast pork, with either beer or a soft-drink to wash it down with. While basic is the word, they go down very well and the aroma from the roasting pork or sizzling sausages means you need a strong will to refuse a second one. If you have more of a sweet tooth keep an eye out for Il Padrino, a stand serving a vast array of Sicilian desserts, candies and sweets, such as canoli and ciambelle, a type of doughnut covered in chocolate. Atmosphere 5 With 80,000 seats to fill, the San Siro is rarely full, with the exception of city derbies or the visit of fellow northern Italians, Juventus. Even so the curva nord (north stand), which is home to the Inter masses, makes a fair amount of noise whomever the opponents. Come derby time though, the stadium becomes a frothing cauldron of love for your team and contempt for the opponents. Fan groups spend weeks designing banners to display, songs to sing and crowd choreography. Sometimes the emotions spill over, such as the time a scooter was thrown from one tribune onto fans below, miraculously without anyone being seriously injured, but most of the time it produces an atmosphere the players feed off and which infects everyone in the stadium. Neighborhood 2 The San Siro neighbourhood is in a fairly suburban, non-descript part of town, north-west of the city centre. There may be some very minor trouble around the end of an evening match, but most fans are far more concerned about getting back to the warmth of home, especially in winter when the mercury in the thermometer plunges ever lower and the wind whips in off the mountains north of the city. In truth there is little to see around the stadium and if you have time before or after a game, then there is plenty to see in the city centre once you are back there. Fans 4 Traditionally Milan fans came from the city’s working class, while Inter’s came from the bourgeois ranks. Nowadays, though, they come from a cross section of the city and boast numerous supporter groups from around the country. Milan was originally known as Milan Cricket Club, in recognition of its founding by the English community in the city in 1899. Inter by contrast, were formed in 1908 by disgruntled members who had grown exasperated by the snobbish attitude of the founders of Milan CC and so struck out with a more ‘international’ club, that featured players and members from across Europe. Nowadays the majority of the noise comes from disgruntled young men, who have similar grievances against their opponents, the government and their lack of opportunities in society. Access 3 Lotto is the nearest metro stop and is about a 15 minute walk to the stadium, just follow the crowds. Alternatively there are free buses lined up outside the station to whisk you to the stadium in about 5 minutes and more importantly take you back after the final whistle. The station is on the red line that passes through the heart of the city and has a stop at its most famous sight, Il Duomo, the cathedral outside which Inter and Milan celebrate their triumphs. Be warned though on match day the station and trains get packed very quickly. If you are coming in by car, the stadium is on the north-west of the city and well-signposted throughout. There are a few car parks near the stadium that charge around €10 ($13). There is free parking in some of the residential streets nearby, but these get snapped up quickly. Return on Investment 4 As one of the most successful teams in European soccer, tickets for Inter are in hot demand for city derbies and Champions League matches in particular. Prices begin around €30 ($40) and rise to about €80 ($105). There are a number of places to buy them around the city. The easiest place to buy tickets is either at branches of the Intesa San Paolo bank or from one of the numerous tobacconists around the city. In both cases, fans need to have a passport or some sort of ID on them when they buy them and it is advisable to have it on you at the game because spot checks, whilst rare, are rigorously enforced. While the size of the stadium means that it is rarely full, it does mean visiting supporters can watch some of the biggest Italia clubs when they come to town. Extras 4 The stadium holds tours three or four times a day, both in Italian and English and it allows fans to go through the administrative and media areas and visit the dressing rooms. As part of the tour, visitors receive access to the calcio museum that is on site. It contains copies of all Inter and Milan’s trophies, shirts from players from around the world and many interesting and unknown pieces of the clubs’ histories. In the city centre there is plenty to see. The cathedral and nearby Galleria are at the hub of city and for Dan Brown fans there is the chance to see the Last Supper at the Santa Maria delle Grazie church, but you must book beforehand. Final Thoughts There continues to be talk from Inter that they will eventually leave the San Siro and find a new purpose-built home further out of the city. However, with money tight and the stadium a big draw for Italian and foreign players that is unlikely to happen any time soon. Furthermore the stadium appears to be intrinsically linked to the success of the team. Like many teams in Italy both Inter and Milan want to own the stadium. With the exception of Juventus and Cesena the majority of stadiums are council-owned and as such clubs miss out on match day revenue, as well as pay to rent an increasingly outdated venue. Until then though, the stadium will continue to be a huge draw for supporters from around the world and while it may be some time before the Champions League final returns, there will still be plenty of drama and magic to come at the old stadium for many more years.

The wait is over. The New England Knockouts have released their team branding and it packs a punch. The Brockton, Massachusetts, ball club will play its first season in the Frontier League at Campanelli Stadium. The primary logo features a bulldog wearing boxing gloves and holding two baseball bats. He has a backward cap and is looking forward. The team name is above him and dotted with rivets, an homage to the south shore’s industrial history. The bulldog resembles the bruiser personality of every boxing champion; the gloves he is wearing are a tribute to Brockton’s infamous tie to the sport: Rocky Marciano and “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler. The secondary marks feature the bulldog again and have him wearing a crown and ready to box.  The next mark spells out “KO”, short for “knockout”, and uses a ring bell for the letter O. The final mark reads “City of Champions” in cursive font. The official colors are titled “Jab” (navy blue), “Hook” (sky blue), “Overhand” (red), “Bell" (yellow), and “Canvas” (cream). The team was originally going to be called the Chowdaheads, a name chosen by fans in an online contest. The name received 3,100 votes, but team officials overruled it after it received a lukewarm reception. On December 15, the organization announced that the new name would be Knockouts to honor the city’s boxing history. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter  and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex 402 E College St Bridgewater, VA 22812 Bridgewater Eagles website The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex website Year Opened: 1924 Capacity: 6,500 D3 Football in the Shenandoah The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex is home to the Bridgewater Eagles football program, as well as the school’s field hockey, lacrosse, and track and field teams. The facility seats 3,500 and received major upgrades most recently in 2013 and 2024. The Eagles compete in the NCAA’s Division III, as members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Bridgewater most recently won the conference back in 2019, and prior to that won the conference title five straight times from 2001 to 2005.   Food & Beverage   3 The Stadium has concessions only on the home side, although since the venue isn’t that big, it isn’t really that far of a walk around the field if you are sitting on the visiting side. Food choices include burgers, hot dogs, nachos, chips, candy, popcorn, and soft pretzels – prices range from $3 to $7, with the cheeseburger being the most expensive item. The food tastes good and is served up rather quickly, as it is pre-made and pre-wrapped, all ready to go. Drinks include bottled water, bottled soda (Pepsi products), and Gatorade – drink prices are $4, except for the Gatorade, which is $5.   Atmosphere   3 Bridgewater has a nice little football stadium that seems pretty modern. The venue has real bathrooms next to the concession stand, including a family restroom if needed. The scoreboard is a mix of a regular digital stats tracker on one side, with video capability on the other side for replays. I did not see a mascot, but the Eagles have a band and cheerleaders, and a pretty decent tailgating scene on two sides of the stadium – the home tailgating can be seen from the field (to the southeast), while the visitor tailgating is a bit further down the street (to the northwest).   Neighborhood   2 Bridgewater, Virginia is a small town with a few restaurants along Main Street, mostly of the fast food and quick service type, including Chinese, pizza, and Barbecue. There is one small hotel in town, near the athletic complex, but all the typical hotel chains are about 5 miles away along I-81.   Fans   2 Bridgewater doesn’t have a ton of fans at the typical game at The Stadium, but you will see some folks wearing team gear, and the fans do cheer at the right times during the game. Like many football teams at this level, you might see more visiting fans at certain games than home fans, as the teams in D2/D3 conferences tend to be more closely clustered together geographically than you will see in FBS and FCS, especially after the recent/ongoing FBS conference realignment.   Access   4 As mentioned above, The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex is only about 5 miles away from I-81, so getting here is pretty easy, depending on where you are coming from, of course; I-81 may not work as well if you coming from the east or west, rather than from the north or south. There is only one entrance into The Stadium, and you can buy tickets as you enter (their website says they don’t take cash, but that wasn’t true the last time I attended). Once inside the stadium there is plenty of room on the concourse, and you can sit wherever you want, either on the home or visiting side (the home side does have a few chairback seats near the center, while the visiting side is all bleachers without backs), or you can stand along the fence and watch from there.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets are only $10, and you can purchase them online before the game, or pay cash or use a card on the day of. Tailgate parking costs $25, and all passengers will be ID checked and given a wristband, if applicable, showing they are 21 or older. Non-tailgate parking is free, in one of the campus lots a couple of blocks to the southwest of The Stadium, on E College Ave. While not offering a ton of excitement compared to some football venues you may have been to, for the money this is a perfectly nice way to spend an evening, and enjoy some gridiron action in a pleasant, low-key setting.   Extras   1 The Eagles do have an eagle statue near the main entrance to The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex. One negative is the lack of bathrooms and concessions on the visiting side, although you don’t have to sit over there, either.   Final Thoughts If you are used to D2 or D3 college football, you can imagine the kind of experience you will find here – I will say the football venue here is better than many of the D3 facilities I have been to, but you won’t have the large crowds, and high energy/noise, that you may be used to at FCS, FBS, or pro football venues, which for this sportswriter and fan, is perfectly fine. It is nice to not have to fight any crowds for a change, and to have plenty of space around you in your seat.

Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 3911 S Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90037 Los Angeles Rams website Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum website Year Opened:  1923 Capacity:  93,000 Whose House? Rams House Opened in 1923, The Los Angeles Coliseum has been the host to countless historic events, including the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics, Super Bowls I and VII, and the 1959 World Series. The Dodgers would play their first four seasons at the Coliseum before moving into their permanent fixture at Chavez Ravine. UCLA Football and the Raiders would also call the Coliseum home at one time, while the USC Trojans continue their gridiron home inside the old lady’s hallowed walls. Prior to returning to Los Angeles in 2016, the Rams would call the Coliseum home from 1946 to 1979. The Grand Old Lady has been given both California and U.S. National Historic Landmark status. The historic peristyle end of the stadium is where its signature Olympic Cauldron resides. Food & Beverage 5 For such an old venue, the Coliseum does an outstanding job of creating space to allow for a diverse dining experience. The food options are abundant, ranging from gourmet hot dogs from Daug Haus, Aussie Pies, Tamales, Kalua Pork Bowls to other offerings extending from Mexican to Asian. Just outside the peristyle end is the Taste of Los Angeles where you will find an assortment of food trucks that vary throughout the season such as the lobstatruck or the Korean Belly Bomb. The Fields LA is the newest addition in Exposition Park located next to nearby Banc of California Stadium . The Fields, open before and after the game and offers an array of pre and postgame dining options ranging from Soul Food, Seafood, Mediterranean, and organic greens. Atmosphere 4 In spite of a current capacity of over 70,000, even with a full house at its loudest the noise tends to dissipate due to its vast size. The massive oval playing surface is very large for a conventional football field, which is placed closer to the west end zone and a great distance from the east peristyle. In spite of the old yard’s deficiencies, this does not deter the fans from displaying their enthusiasm for the home team. While you won’t have the most up to date amenities found in most any modern day venue, there is still plenty of history steeped into the Coliseum. With the Rams scheduled to move to Inglewood in 2020, if you want an old-school experience, you owe it to yourself to take in at least one game before the Rams make way to more upscale quarters. Neighborhood 4 On the grounds of the Coliseum is Exposition Park. If you are looking for other activities prior to the game, the Natural History Museum, the California African American Museum, as well as the Natural History Museum and the California ScienCenter are located inside the park. To be able to visit all the museums and fully take in the experience, you would probably need two days. If you’re limited on time, you may want to visit the California ScienCenter, home to the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Not far from the Coliseum is the L.A. Live entertainment complex directly across the street from Staples Center, easily accessible from the Coliseum through L.A. Metro Expo Line. Fans 4 After over 20 years without an NFL team, after a slow start during their inaugural return, fans have embraced the Rams with open arms and have been rewarded greatly with a Super Bowl appearance in just its third year back. It was once wondered if the fans could continually fill the stands at the Coliseum. The Coliseum, once at a capacity of over 80,000, was deemed too big for such a diverse market. With the team reaching the postseason the last couple of seasons, the fans have returned to full form, truly making the Coliseum on game day, the Rams House. Access 3 The Coliseum is about three miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles and adjacent to the USC campus. The stadium is most easily reached from the 10 or the 110, both of which unfortunately have some of the most congested traffic in the area.  There are multiple satellite lots as well as parking on the USC campus that are typically priced based on proximity to the stadium. If you should be so fortunate, you may find pricing as low as $75. Should you decide to use public transit rather than drive, the MTA’s Metro Expo Line has a station conveniently located across the street from campus, a short walk away as you walk through Exposition Park. A day pass, along with a TAP card is a great bargain at $9. The Expo Line also offers convenient connections with other MTA rail and bus lines should you want to explore what L.A. has to offer. Once inside the stadium you will find a concourse the encircles the entire stadium. If your seats are on the upper level, expect some rather intimidating inclines. Fortunately, for those do not wish to navigate up the stairs, three escalators, two of them on the south stands, are on site. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices run from $70 for seats in the corners of the peristyle end and are quite a distance from the field. If you are just looking to take in the action at a bargain (for NFL standards) regardless of your seating location this is your best bet. Otherwise, expect to pay in the triple digits for seats along the sidelines. With the success the Rams have had this year (2018-19), do not expect the prices to dwindle anytime soon. The experience you get while watching one of the top teams in action could well be worth it. Extras 3 During your visit to the stadium, be sure to walk by the arches and check out the “Court of Honor.” This memorial has many plaques to recognize the events or achievements that have occurred at the stadium. Notable names such as Daniel Reeves, Jesse Owens, Pope John Paul II, Jackie Robinson, John Wooden, and Jerry West all hold a place in the Court. If the Olympic rings and arches weren’t enough, check out the “Olympic Gateway” in front of the Coliseum. Created in 1984 by Robert Graham, this structure rises 25 feet above ground and has headless male and female bodies made of bronze. Final Thoughts The Coliseum is going through a face lift. When completed, The Grand Old Lady is expected to have a seating capacity of over 75,000. After a slow start upon their return to L.A., the Rams have had plenty of success, climaxed by a trip to Super Bowl LIII. With the Rams due to play in their gleaming new digs in 2020, the USC Trojans football program will continue to call the Coliseum their home. The anticipation and excitement for 2019 should be high and the Rams will look to finish their second go ‘round at the Coliseum a memorable one.

Photos by Chris Green and Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Chase Field 401 E Jefferson St Phoenix, AZ 85004 Map It Arizona Diamondbacks website Chase Field website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 48,519 Las Serpientes The MLB Arizona Diamondbacks (D-Backs) unexpectedly claimed the 2023 National League Championship but fell to the Texas Rangers in the World Series.  The team has made it to the postseason several other times over its 26 seasons, winning the World Series in 2001.   The D-Backs play their home games at Chase Field, formerly known as Bank One Ballpark. It is one of eight major league baseball stadiums with a dome or retractable roof, definitely needed for the scorching hot summers in Phoenix, AZ.   The D-Backs organization enhanced the gameday experience this 2024 season.  The organization added new, colorful lighting used expertly to heighten the pregame introduction and intensify the game highlights, home runs, etc.  Red and white lights flash, strobe, and propel throughout the stadium.  All very nicely done.  The organization also added a new sound system using CO12 loudspeakers for better announcements, broadcasts, and music sound clarity.  Chase Field hosted WBC (World Baseball Classic) games in 2006, 2013, and 2023. It serves as a concert hall several times throughout the year. It has held soccer matches, bull-riding contests, Supercross and Monster Jams, and more.  With its new audio and lighting systems, expect even more concerts and events at the stadium. The D-Backs put on a good gameday operation. To me, there is a vast difference in seeing a game with the roof open vs. the roof closed, so if doable, try attending a game in April when the weather isn’t as hot, and the roof is open. Food & Beverage 4 Like most MLB facilities, all varieties of food stands, concessions, bars, snacks, and drink offerings are widely available at Chase Field at traditional high-priced stadium prices.  There are too many to list but click here to get the full directory.    Some offerings include Hungry Hill sangwiches – yes, spelled with a g (sausage, bratwurst, meatball, etc.), Rey Gloria’s Tamales, Bat Flip Burgers, D-Backs BBQ Alley, Cold Stone Creamery, Streets of New York Pizza, and Gadzooks (a local Phoenix restaurant known for their enchiladas).  Vegan burgers and wraps are available at some concessions. To help reduce wait time, some Grab N Go stands are set up along the concourse. Several stands offer ‘avoiding gluten’ and/or vegan and vegetarian choices. Concession stands sell canned and draft beers, hard seltzers, cocktails, margaritas, and wine throughout the stadium.  Craft beers include local Phoenix Four Peaks, Elysian, Golden Road, and Cerveza Importada.  A Hop Valley stand is on the first level down the first base side. A Leinenkugel stand is on the third level.   Chase Field provides value items at their Double Header concession stands where a Pepsi, hot dog, corn dog, or popcorn are each just $2.99. That’s quite a deal when all you desire is a snack.   Three restaurants are at Chase Field: Guy Fieri DTPHX Kitchen & Bar @ Caesars Sportsbook  (across from the main entrance) Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers  (left field – open 7 days a week) Estrella Jalisco Cantina   (upstairs in right field – open to the public)   The first level of Chase Field has way more concession options than the third level. Even though the organization added more express lines this season, concession lines can get long (especially for Cold Stone Creamery and Icees).  Outside food is permitted in the stadium as long as it’s in a clear plastic baggie. Fans can bring sealed bottles of water in as well. Atmosphere 4 The Diamondbacks provide an excellent gameday experience where, for the most part, the actual game still seems like the focus of attention. The stadium is a bit dark inside when the roof and panels are closed. It’s much brighter and cheerier when it’s open. That said, it is a relief to have a roof and air conditioning during the sweltering hot months of the summer.   The stadium has three levels of seating, with the middle level being the club level. Most seats are comfortable standard green fold-down stadium seats with cup holders and plenty of legroom. The upper third level is rather steep. The lower left and right field seating areas have metal bleachers with backs and cup holders. A net protects the first-level seating areas from sections 111 – 134.  The turf is Shaw B1K synthetic turf, installed in 2019.     The scoreboard features game information and video replays. Panels on each side of the scoreboard display the lineups for each team. The scoreboard provides closed captioning for ‘canned’ announcements. The organization runs a slew of promotions throughout the season which include events like bobblehead giveaways, fireworks, ethnic heritage days, religious celebration games, etc. Even though the venue has a new, clear, focused and directed sound system, the volume is still perfect for a ballgame.  Fans can have conversations with their neighbors without having to yell over the music.  Because of its design, the audio works just as well when the roof is open or closed.    A unique feature at Chase Field is the swimming pool in right-center field. A few other stadiums have that now (like the Marlins’ loanDepot Park and the Jacksonville Jaguars’ venue), but Chase Field was the first. Another spot to visit when in the park is the History & Championship Exhibit – a museum documenting the Arizona Diamondbacks’ history - its origination, logos, victorious moments, signed autographs, gold gloves, and more. The museum is on the first level, center field concourse. Chase Field Swimming Pool, Photo by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 5 Located in downtown Phoenix, Chase Field is within a few blocks of many restaurants, bars, hotels, and other entertainment. The Arrogant Butcher, Pizzeria Bianco, The Kettle Black Kitchen, Ingo’s Tasty Food, and Majerles’ are just a few blocks away. If you’re just looking for an affordable craft beer before the game, check out the Whining Pig. A Huss Brewing Brewpub is a few blocks from the stadium. Recommended places to stay within walking distance of the stadium include the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, Renaissance Phoenix Downtown, Courtyard by Marriott Phoenix Downtown, or Springhill Suites. Plenty more are in the neighborhood. Since these are right smack downtown, they are pricey. Other hotels near the Valley Metro light rail stations may offer more affordable choices.   Attractions near Chase Field include the Arizona Science Center, Wells Fargo Museum, Heritage Square, and St Mary’s Basilica. You may be able to catch a WNBA Phoenix Mercury  game or a late season NBA Phoenix Suns  game at the Footprint Center a block away. You may also be able to catch a Phoenix Rising FC (soccer) game when in town. It's just a few stops east on the light rail. Fans 3 Diamondback fan attendance has increased since the team’s 2023 conference championship.  The fans provide decent encouragement to the team.  Fan attendance generally runs over 50% full.  However, when popular teams like the Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers, or Yankees come to town, the stadium sells out. [I switched sentences] The Diamondbacks are about the middle of the pack in overall MLB attendance.   Most fans sport their Diamondback hats and jerseys to games and they are very welcoming to visiting fans.  Access 5 Chase Field is very accessible via automobile as it has close and easy access to I-10 and I-17. Plenty of parking is available for $25 - $30 in nearby garages and lots. The Chase Field Garage at 401 S 4th St and the Jefferson Street Garage at 333 E Jefferson St are the closest and are covered. Parking is cashless at most garages, but some of the lots are cash-only.   Even better than driving, Phoenix’s Metro Light rail system  has a stop right near Chase Field’s entrance either at the 3rd St/Washington or the 3rd St/Jefferson stop, depending on which   direction you are travelling. Light Rail Station at Chase Field, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey If travelling from out of town, Sky Harbor International Airport is the most popular airport in the area. A fan can take the light rail right from the airport to Chase Field. Located in the APS Solar Pavilion by the main entrance, the stadium offers lockers to store luggage or oversized items. Gates open 1 ½ hours before the first pitch on Sunday - Thursday and two hours before on Friday and Saturday. Chase Field allows fans to bring in clear stadium bags (12” x 6” x 12”) and small hand-sized clutches.   Inside the venue, the concourses are wide (even on the third level), though I expect during a sold-out game, even those can get crowded. Only one escalator is available near the main entrance at Jefferson and 4th St. Elevators are on hand to get patrons to the higher seating levels. The stadium is equipped with seven all-inclusive restrooms, which have baby changing tables. Return on Investment 4 Single-game ticket prices have increased and range from $25 up to $225 (plus astronomical Ticketmaster fees).  Prices vary based on the gameday and the opponent. Check third-party sites to see if there are less expensive tickets if attending just one game. The D-Backs have extremely affordable season ticket holder packages and deals (even mini plans), so if you live in the area, that is a more affordable option.   Take advantage of one of the many promotional games, even a Kids Free Weekend, to get the best bang for your buck.    Concession prices are high but not uncommon for MLB stadiums. They do have the $2.99 deal, so that’s a fantastic bonus. The Taste of Chase concession stand next to the main merchandise shop offers 25% off your purchase if you use a Chase credit or debit card. A $4 day pass ($2 for seniors) on the light rail makes getting to the ballpark quite reasonable.   All in all, attending a game at Chase Field is worth any fan's sports entertainment budget. Extras 4 Chase Field has several additional items worth noting.   Audio and Lighting Enhancements – Upgrades to the sound system and lighting structure improve gameday excitement with the use of advanced technology. Energy Efficient Pavilion – The APS Solar Pavilion provides 14,000+ square feet of shaded entry, plus it generates additional solar power energy.   Organ Music - Organist Bobby Freeman, located on the third level near the top of the escalator and kid’s zone, is a joy to listen to during the game. D-Backs Insider – The organization provides a printed program with team articles, a scorecard, the schedule, advertisements, and stadium features. Final Thoughts Chase Field provides pleasurable gameday enjoyment and 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. Phoenix is a vacation destination in early spring and late fall, so enjoy a D-Backs game when in town.

Photos Courtesy of Delaware State University Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Memorial Hall 1200 North DuPont Highway Dover, DE 19901 Delaware State Hornets website Memorial Hall website Year Opened: 1982 Capacity: 3,000 Step Into the Hornet’s Nest Delaware State has been a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) since its founding in 1970. The MEAC is made up of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) located between Florida and Delaware. Delaware State is the smallest of the MEAC schools with a little over 3,600 students and was ranked 9th among all HBCUs by U.S. News & World Report in 2014. It opened in 1891, eventually to be named Delaware State College and later changed to a university in 1993. One of their most unique programs is the university-based flight school, and it also has a fine business school. The Hornets basketball team plays at 3,000-seat Memorial Hall, a fairly nondescript building near the front of their Dover campus. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament one time in 2005 and twice in the National Invitation Tournament. In 2015 they played in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Tournament. Food & Beverage 1 There are no permanent food stands in Memorial Hall. and no outside food is allowed into the facility. The recommendation is to eat before or after a Delaware State game. Near the back of the arena, tucked away in one of the corners, is a table set up selling some very basic food options. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, popcorn, pretzels, soda, water, and Gatorade is about all you get. Local favorite Grotto Pizza will also be at some games selling their slices. Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere at a Delaware State basketball game is pretty great. Memorial Hall is basically a large high school gym type of design. There is no concourse as once you get past the box office lobby you enter directly into one corner of the arena. Simple bench type stands surround the court on four sides. The arena may be simple in design, but the place is very loud. The students, fans, cheerleaders, band and music DJ keep the fun going. Expect to also see the step squad from opposing teams, as well as the home squad, to provide even more of a fun environment. Many of the games will also be a men’s and women’s doubleheader, so check the schedule and come early, if possible, as you will certainly enjoy it. Look out for the cool Hornet mascot wandering the sidelines. Neighborhood 3 There is no real neighborhood around Memorial Hall. The arena sits off the very busy DuPont Highway. You can see the Dover Mall and Dover International Speedway from the entrance. You can have even heard stock cars screaming around the speedway at times as you walk towards the game. A closed big box store is located right next to the north stand, with another still opened store nearby as well. So if you need pet supplies you will be good to go. The area is good if you need food and sustenance before or after the game. Legendary local chain Grotto Pizza has a sports bar located across the street at 1159 N DuPont Highway. They have never been a favorite of mine but fans of them will flock there. Other great choices include Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop on Gateway S Blvd, Restaurant 55 at 2461 S State St, La Tolteca Restaurant at 859 N Dupont Hwy and 33 West Ale House & Grill at 33 W Loockerman Street. The Fire and Ice Bar at Dover Downs Casino is another choice for a drink after the game. Fans 4 The gym is small and fills up quickly. Even students have often turned away because of the facility being at capacity. The fans are loud and proud of their Hornets. When a big rival is in town, such as their Delmarva peninsula neighbor University of Maryland Eastern Shore, expect to see the intensity upped to another level. Access 4 The university is right off of a major road in DuPont Highway. A toll road, Route 1, which takes you most of the way north to Wilmington, is also nearby. Dover is about a one and a half hour trip from Philadelphia or Baltimore, and at least two hours from Washington DC. It seems close by on a map but is isolated at the center of the Delmarva Peninsula. If venturing to a shore destination such as Ocean City, Maryland or Rehoboth, Delaware, then Dover may make a quick, enjoyable stop, but as a destination, it is not the easiest location to travel to. Watch out for NASCAR weekends when traveling in the area; those weekends are not recommended unless you have no other options, as traffic can pile up, so leave yourself additional time in those cases. There may also be tolls unless you are already on the eastern shore or the Delmarva region. If traveling from the DC and Annapolis area you will have to pay tolls across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. If going around the top of the bay from Baltimore you will have to pay very hefty tolls on either Route 40 or I-95. And coming from Norfolk you will need to pay for the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Parking is easy as you will be directed by university police to various lots around the campus. There is no cost to park, but expect a midday evening game to be more difficult to park because of classes. Return on Investment 4 Tickets run from $10 for general admission up to $25 for courtside reserved seats. Since the arena is so small the best bet is to just stick with the general admission level. Just make sure to plan ahead since the arena is small. You do not want to be turned away at the door. Even students are encouraged to go online and claim their tickets ahead of time. Extras 2 There is a Delaware State University Athletic Hall of Fame display in the entrance lobby. Although Delaware State is not super well known in terms of sports, the listing of the greats of numerous sports from here on campus is a nice stop on the way in and out of the game. If you have never witnessed a step squad, make sure to sit down and enjoy their act/competition. It will blow you away. Final Thoughts There is really not much to Delaware State’s Memorial Hall. A simple, small gym located in a pretty boring looking building. But the small, intimate size allows for a loud and fun environment for basketball.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Blue Cross Arena 1 War Memorial Square Rochester, NY 14614 Rochester Knighthawks website Blue Cross Arena website Year Opened: 1955 Capacity: 10,662 Knighthawks Lax The Rochester Knighthawks are a member of the NLL (National Lacrosse League), an action-packed game of box lacrosse. This is the second Knighthawk franchise to call the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial in Rochester, NY its home. The first was a very successful franchise that operated from 1995 to 2019. Its owner relocated the team to Nova Scotia and rebranded them as the Thunderbirds after the 2019 season. The NLL granted an expansion franchise to Pegula Sports and Entertainment (owners of four other professional sports teams in Western New York) to begin playing the 2019-2020 season. Pegula Sports purchased the Knighthawks name to keep that name and lacrosse in Rochester. The organization hired new players and staff and designed new logos and colors for the new team. All championship records of the former team moved with them to Nova Scotia. The Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial opened in 1956 and received a significant facelift in 1996. Old-time Rochester residents still simply call the venue the War Memorial, while newer Rochesterians call it Blue Cross Arena. It is also home to the AHL (American Hockey League) Rochester Americans , and hosts concerts, Disney on Ice, and other forms of entertainment. Food & Beverage 4 Plenty of food and lots of beer are available for purchase. Main concession stands are in alcoves off of main concourses. These alcoves do a nice job of minimizing the already crowded, narrow concourses. Expect lines at concessions between periods. Offerings include The Market Grab & Go where you can get cans of beer and chips. Caraglio’s Pizza sells pizza slices for $6.50 - $7. The alcoves have Fingers & Fries – chicken baskets and buckets and sandwiches ranging from $10.50 - $20 and Burgers & Dogs burgers, veggie burgers, red and white hot dogs, and baskets with fries for $6 - $13.75. Roc City Dips ice cream (floats, sundaes, cones, or dishes) is very popular , with various servings and flavors from $5 - $8. Other snacks at concession stands include peanuts, candy, funnel cake, and pretzels ($5 - $9). Soft drinks are Pepsi products, water, and Gatorade ($4 - $5.50). Beers run $11 for a large domestic draft and $12 for a large craft draft. The local Rohrbach Brewery sells five of its brews at the arena. If you like IPAs, A Different Animal is a good choice at $12/$12.75 in a can. Genesee Brewing and Labatt each have counters on the concourse. Atmosphere 4 Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial provides a superb game day experience while also honoring our military veterans. Banners of all the military branches hang in the huge, bright entrance lobby, which is surrounded by two-story glass windows. The box office is inside the lobby. The centerpiece of the atrium has remained from the previous iteration of the Knighthawks, that being the large bronze statue of a traditional Indigenous lacrosse player entitled “For the Love of the Game.” It is a wonderful reminder of the roots of lacrosse. Lacrosse Statue at Blue Cross Arena, Photo by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey The arena’s seating sections are two levels of blue cushioned seats with a walkway between the two levels. The seats are average width and have average legroom. Suites are above the second level; a few are over the goal at one end. The first level rows go up to letter Q. Two corners have spots with a few high-top tables and chairs where fans can perch and watch the game. A perfect-sized crisp, clear video board shows time, goals, shots, penalties, and game action. No closed captioning. Oddly, the video board is not over the center line. It turns out that it needs to rise into the ceiling for concerts, and that section of the ceiling is the only structurally sound place to store it. The game day operations pump smoke out of the video board after a Knighthawks goal. Box lacrosse is a very fast-paced, high-energy game. Music is played the entire game but not so loud that you need to wear earplugs. During the introductions, players run out between neon green poles through a billow of smoke. An emcee successfully encourages fans to get involved and cheer on the team throughout the game. It’s usually a high-scoring game which seems funny to me with the teams having a huge goaltender protecting the little itty bitty goal. Rochester Knighthawks Goaltender, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The game day staff facilitate silly, harmless games during breaks, like a hot dog race. The players circle the court after the game to show their appreciation to the fans. The arena is the perfect size for box lacrosse; it’s not too big. Neighborhood 4 Blue Cross Arena is in downtown Rochester, NY along the Genesee River. As of this writing, the city of Rochester is looking to rejuvenate the downtown area by adding a riverwalk along the river that will include green space and benches, and an enhanced walkway. I expect it to be lovely when complete. For now, though, it is a bunch of annoying construction. Recommended restaurants in the area are The Distillery (sports bar), Dinosaur B-B-Q, and The Exchange (sports bar and nightlife). Plenty of others are nearby and within walking distance. Rochester has over 20 breweries. The closest to the arena are Fifth Frame Brewery and Swiftwater Brewing. You can’t go wrong with Rohrbach Brewing or Genesee Brewing either. If you’re spending a few days around the holidays, check out Roc Holiday Village (a winter wonderland). Other notable indoor things to see are the Susan B . Anthony House and Museum, Rochester Museum and Science Center, and the Strong National Museum of Play (good for kids). Several hotels are within walking distance. The Holiday Inn is just two blocks away. Across the river are the Hyatt and the Hilton Garden Inn (both less than .5 miles from the arena). When in town, check to see if the AHL Rochester Americans are playing. Check the RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) athletics page to see if their hockey team or other sports teams are playing. If you can drive for an hour or an hour and a half, the NHL Buffalo Sabres are a 75-mile drive away. Canisius or Niagara Universities (85+ mile drive) have some D1 sports. And heading east, the AHL Syracuse Crunch is an 87-mile drive, and Syracuse University has some D1 sports, too. Fans 4 Knighthawks fans are glad they still have lacrosse in their city. The arena generally draws 5K – 6K for each lacrosse match. You’ll see plenty of fans decked out in their new Knighthawks jerseys and gear. Several fans wave flags after each Knighthawks goal. They’re loud and proud and on their feet for each goal! Access 3 During the 2022-2023 season, plenty of road construction is nearby the arena. Rochester’s finest police officers direct traffic before and after games, helping with the vehicle and pedestrian flow. The Civic Center Parking Garage at 55 S Fitzhugh St . is .1 miles from the arena and costs $15. The website states you can get to the arena via an underground tunnel which is helpful for those chilly upper NY State winters. Outdoor parking is available at Court Street Municipal Lot 10 (corner of Court St and Exchange St). Rochester has a bus service, even from the airport. For fares and schedules, check RTS . The airport is 5 – 6 miles from Blue Cross Arena. Uber and Lyft are easily available. Once inside, fans walk through a security check (clear plastic sports bags 12” x 6” x 12” are allowed) and walk up a flight of stairs to get to the main concourse. The entrance provides an escalator as well. Return on Investment 5 Single game tickets are $15 - $35 (including Ticketmaster fees). The $15 seats are not in a great location, but it gets you in the door. The team offers Holiday Packs promotions (two tickets, two vouchers for another game, and a scarf for $55). That’s a great deal. Check their website for details. The refreshment prices are lower than major league prices. The game day experience is so enjoyable and stimulating it’s worth attending a match here. . Extras 4 Several additional features are worth noting. Game day staff hand out programs upon entry. It contains mostly ads for sponsors but has the schedule and highlights a specific player. Plan a visit to the museum and veterans memorial. A full merchandise shop is off the lobby with shirts, jerseys, hat pins, banners, pucks, stuffed animals, and trinkets. I bet if you want it, they have it. Finally, the Knighthawks players, team, and organization are highly involved in local youth lacrosse outlets and programs. Final Thoughts With the war memorial, the honoring of all military branches, the return of the Rochester Knighthawks, and the thrilling game of lacrosse, it’s worth a visit! We encourage you to see a game if you haven’t been yet.

Photos by Ryan Norris, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 UC Davis Health Stadium La Rue & Hutchison Davis, CA 95618 UC Davis Aggies website UC Davis Health Stadium website Year Opened: 2007 Capacity: 10,743 Football in Aggie Land Note: The stadium name changed from Aggie Stadium to UC Davis Health Stadium in 2019. After a string of Division II success, which included national championships in softball, men’s basketball, and men’s and women’s tennis, UC Davis began play as a Division I school in 2007. Corresponding with the move up the division ladder, Aggie Stadium opened up that same year with a capacity of 10,743. The UC system is very academically focused so the movement for a new stadium for the Aggies came as a bit of a surprise. As it is, only 3 of the 10 UC schools field a football team. I’d imagine the reason is two fold; one, the expensive nature of a football program and two, the lack of college football passion compared to schools in the Midwest or the South. While the other UC schools (Cal and UCLA) compete in the FBS’ PAC-12, the Aggies compete in the FCS subdivision. UC Davis competes in the Big Sky Conference with Causeway Classic rivals Sacramento State for football only. For most other sports they compete in the Big West Conference. The field is named after former head coach and College Football Hall of Famer Jim Sochor. Their current coach Bob Biggs will retire at the end of the 2012 season, his 20th as the head football coach. Food & Beverage 4 Aggie Stadium has two main concession stands, one above each sideline grandstand. At these stands you have a decent selection that includes: hot dogs ($4.50), Polish dogs ($5.50), hot links ($5.50), pretzel w/cheese ($4.75), nachos ($4.50), and burritos ($5.50) w/meat ($6.50). Snacks include churro, popcorn, and boxed candy ($3). Bottled water is $3 and a souvenir soda is $6, refills just $3. I ate at Star Ginger, a Vietnamese food truck, parked inside Aggie Stadium. They have a variety of rice bowls for $7 and Banh Mi, traditional Vietnamese sandwiches, for $6. I don’t know if Star Ginger is there every week or if others come and go in their stead but it’s clear that food trucks are wildly popular in California. There are food festivals dedicated solely to food trucks and I’ve seen them pop-up at sporting events, including San Jose Earthquakes and Stanford Cardinal games. Atmosphere 4 Aggie Stadium has simple, stream-lined seating for football games, each side a mirror image of the other. There are two bleacher sections on the sidelines. One side hosts the Aggie Band, the Aggie Pack, and the visiting fans. The other side consists of some general admission seats alongside the premium seats. All seating is accessible by going down to either your seat or a grassy area. Eventually the plan is to expand Aggie Stadium to 30,000 seats by filling in the grassy knolls and to add to upper deck seating. Personally, I love the look of the small, aesthetically pleasing stadium and wonder if they can really triple the size without having too many empty seats. Since there isn’t a grandstand to block your view, you can see the surrounding agriculture, as well as the UC Davis water tower. Neighborhood 4 The UC Davis campus butts up against the downtown Davis neighborhood. This area is a vibrant mix of students and families and visitors should take advantage of the atmosphere that the neighborhood provides. Popular restaurants downtown are Froggy’s Grill, Woodstock’s Pizza, and Burgers and Brew. The best place for a pregame beer is The Grad. It’s your typical college-town sports bar with plenty of TVs, 50 plus beers on tap, and a full kitchen. All this within staggering distance to the front gates. Microbrew enthusiasts take note that there is indeed a brewery in Davis serving up some suds. Sudwerk is a brewery that creates their own versions of traditional German-style beers while still providing some of the California staples like pale ales and IPAs. A farmer’s market is held year-round, rain or shine, on Saturdays at Central Park. Davis is a well-known bicycle paradise; heck, a bicycle is even in their town logo . Davis is also the home to the US Bicycling Hall of Fame and has plenty of bike lanes. There were over 1,000 bike parking spots outside Aggie Stadium, all of them in use. Fans 3 The Aggie faithful were certainly into the game throughout, albeit laid back. In my eyes, there were two strange things about the seating. First, and funny to me, was the huge crowds that chose to pass on their seats and sit in the shadow of the scoreboard on the hot day. The shadow was completely covered by fans. Second, was the empty seating section between the band and the student section, near midfield. These were the two most boisterous sections in the stadium and it was odd that they were separated from each other by an empty section. Kids are certainly welcome at Aggie Stadium as it was a very family-friendly feel. Many of the kids chose to roll down the hills over and over again, at either end of the stadium. There was no notable drinking or swearing and that would make any family feel welcome. Still, at 80 percent capacity, I wonder if their expansion plans make any sense. Granted, I’d imagine they would draw better against Cal Poly or Sacramento State than the Portland State Vikings, whom I saw. Access 5 The UC Davis campus is located conveniently off of highway 80, 15 miles west of Sacramento and 75 miles east of San Francisco. Getting there isn’t difficult but you should certainly expect significant traffic during peak hours after work. Downtown Davis is easy to get around for first-timers as many of the streets progress numerically and alphabetically, so you never feel like you’re unsure of your location. There is a local bus service, UniTrans, operated by UC Davis that services much of the city and all of the campus. Buses are driven by university students and cater to the inevitably odd schedules of college students. Beyond the local buses, there is also an Amtrak stop that stops downtown. This train goes through Sacramento with bus connections that can take passengers as far as Tahoe and Reno. Going the other direction, the “Capitol Corridor” train passes through Berkeley, Oakland, and San Jose, with connections to San Francisco. There’s one designated parking lot on a grass field outside the stadium but you can park at most of the UC Davis parking lots (don’t park in residential lots!) for free on weekends. Make sure to check for signs in case there is a dual event at the Mondavi Center. I parked at the UC Davis Health and Wellness Center for free (you must pay during the week) and walked the ten minutes to Aggie Stadium. Getting around once inside Aggie Stadium is a breeze. There are plenty of restrooms and the concession and merchandise stands are well staffed and lines move quickly. Getting to your seat is easy since the sections are a bit narrow, thus plenty of staircases to access. I appreciate that since you don’t have to walk over a bunch of people to get to your seat. They seem to be well set up to expand, whenever that may be. Return on Investment 3 General admission tickets start at $15 and jump to $25 for premium general admission, closer to midfield. Concessions aren’t unreasonable and you can park for free if you look. Unfortunately, the UC Davis football team has been pretty poor during the 2012 season and the product on the field isn’t the best. That being said, a day game at Aggie Stadium is delightful. I’d love to make it back for a Causeway Classic matchup. Extras 1 The Tavernetti Bell is outside of the main gate to Aggie Stadium. It is named after Thomas Tavernetti and is rung after every Davis victory. Due to the newness of Aggie Stadium there isn’t much in the way of historical significance but they do have a wall listing all the top athletic donors and a UC Davis Fire Department fire truck in stadium, belonging to the Aggie Pack. A couple firefighters were atop the truck, checking out the game. Final Thoughts I have to believe that Aggie Stadium is one of the finer venues in the FCS and is certainly worth checking out.

Black College Football: The Game that Time Forgot is an appreciation of HBCU football and all that makes it special. Carlos Lock, the author of the book, grew up in Jackson, Mississippi as a devoted fan of the Jackson State University Tigers. He attended his first Tigers game at the age of eight and fondly remembers watching Jerry Rice, Lewis Tillman, and Steve McNair coming to play at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. He hardly ever missed a game in his youth, as he sold football programs to the fans every weekend to earn his way into the stadium. Lock shares his early appreciation of music by listening to the Sonic Boom of the South, one of the top school bands at the HBCU level. One of his first “away” games was a trip to Grambling with his dad. He recounts his amazement at being at a game where the legendary Eddie Robinson was coaching him. He heard his name for his whole life, but seeing Robinson on the sidelines in person was a magical moment. Later in his life, Locke was serving in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Hood. One weekend he and a young lady attended a Cotton Bowl Classic game featuring Prairie View A&M and Southern University, his fourth and fifth HBCU teams he has seen play. It was love at first sight, as the couple fell in love with the two teams on the playing field, as well as with each other. They got married the next year… thanks to HBCU football.  The author then attended college at Hampton University in Virginia. He never missed a home game during that time, as the Pirates moved from the CIAA to the MEAC. This introduced him to two new HBCU-affiliated conferences and many more HBCU teams. After his time in the service ended, Locke began to expand on his visits to HBCU campus-based football games. He recalls watching Steve “Air” McNair during his days at Alcorn State University and Jerry Rice when he played for Mississippi Valley State University. In more recent years, the author has attended numerous Classics games. Classics games are typically a one-time meeting between two HBCU schools that have never played each other, as they typically play in different leagues. These classics are often put together by promoters in larger cities that are anxious to pair up two “name” schools for a game. It also brings awareness and notoriety to the two competing schools. Lock remembers the Whitney Young Classic in 1971 vividly, not because it matched up Morgan State University against Grambling, but because it was played in Yankee Stadium, one of the most famous sports venues in the country. He recounts numerous other classics he has attended, and as more of them are scheduled, he begins to see that they often match up with very unevenly matched squads. He feels that this expansion of the concept has watered down the contests from “unforgettable” to very mundane affairs. This later chapter leads us to the title of Lock’s book. We’ve talked about the excitement, the great matchups, the iconic players and coaches… so why “ The Game that Time   Forgot ”? The author sees that many of the things that made Black College football unique and special have been lost over time. We’ve already discussed the overuse of the word “Classic”. A second issue, ironically, is the integration of colleges and universities following desegregation during the Civil Rights era. Great African American players in the 1950s and 1960s had no choice but to attend HBCU schools, so the quality of football played at the HBCUs was top-notch. Once state schools started to integrate, they lost these star players to the bigger NCAA schools. Another point made is that the general exposure and awareness of HBCU schools went down, as black professional football players of the 1950s-1960s would always have their alma mater’s listed in their bio. Suddenly, players were attending larger integrated schools where their football skills would be recognized by pro scouts and professional football fans much quicker. The lack of a major television contract has had a major negative impact on football teams at HBCU schools. The TV networks each have large TV contracts with each of the major football conferences, bringing millions of dollars in revenue to member schools. However, outside of the Celebration Bowl, there are very few national telecasts of HBCU games. This heavily impacts the HBCU’s financial revenues, which are already tight to begin with. Obviously, with less exposure on TV, and less revenue from sports, it is difficult for HBCU schools to offer as many scholarships as possible to promising players. The facilities, such as the stadiums, training rooms, and locker rooms don’t have all the bells and whistles the major colleges can offer due to the limited financial resources. The author offers several suggestions on how Black College Football can return to its glory years. One of his first suggestions is to redevelop a Black National Championship competition or playoff. Right now, most HBCUs play at the FCS level of Division I NCAA Football. The FCS level of competition offers a 24-team playoff series at the end of the season. However, the MEAC and the SWAC choose to link their conference champions to the Celebration Bowl, a single game that is seen as the Black College Championship Game. This results in no HBCU schools getting the exposure and recognition offered by the FCA Championship Playoffs. This also leaves both the SIAC and CIAA teams totally out of consideration as the Black College National Football Champion. He suggests how a playoff system for HBCU football programs would work and names cities that have a large media presence that could serve as a permanent host for the title game. Another suggestion is to elevate the level of coaching at the HBCU level to create stronger teams. It has always been difficult for qualified black assistant coaches to get head coaching jobs in the NFL. Lock suggests that making college head coaching jobs at HBCUs more attractive is one way for promising assistant coaches to move to the head coaching position at HBCU member schools. Finally, former pro football players from HBCUs could become much more involved in recruiting players to attend and play football at their alma mater’s. Carlos Lock has written a very thought-provoking book that celebrates the great heritage black college football has brought to HBCUs in the past while suggesting some changes that will bring back some of the prestige the games have lost over the past few years.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.71 Mercedes-Benz Stadium 1 AMB Dr Atlanta, GA 30313 Peach Bowl website Mercedes-Benz Stadium website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 75,000 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl – Mercedes-Benz Stadium Originally played at Georgia Tech’s Historic Grant Field, today more commonly known as Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field , the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl has upgraded its home as Atlanta has built newer venues – the game was previously played at Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium and in the Georgia Dome, but has now moved to its current residence, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Chick-fil-A and the Peach Bowl appear to be the perfect marriage of bowl and corporate sponsorship. Having sponsored the bowl since 1997, the two have the longest corporate partnership of any bowl game. The stability of the chicken sandwich magnate’s backing has helped the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl establish itself as one of the premier bowl games in the New Year’s Six rotation.   Food & Beverage   5 When Mercedes-Benz Stadium initially opened, a priority was put on providing fans with a wide variety of concessions at the lowest prices possible. $20 can get fans all the following: a chicken tender basket with fries, a hot dog, a slice of pizza, pretzel, bag of popcorn, nachos with cheese, and a refillable Coca-Cola product. Wanting a bit more? Beer and a hot dog will set you back just $7. Mercedes-Benz Stadium also gives fans what seems like an endless selection of high-end food options. There are nearly 35 different concession stands and more than 25 bars throughout; choices run the gamut from Asian, BBQ, Jamaican, specialty burgers, pizza, and even vegan options, just to name a few. In addition, fans have the chance to experience several local and regional eateries all in one place – this includes Southern-Korean-Mexican infusion dishes at SO:KO:ME, Williamson Brothers BBQ, burgers from the legendary Holman & Finch and Farm Burger, and Papi’s Cuban Grill. It would be difficult to ask for more when it comes to stadium concessions; Mercedes-Benz Stadium delivers on both by providing a wide variety of options at extremely reasonable prices. Atmosphere   5 Starting in 2024, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will be contractually tied to the College Football Playoff for at least the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Beyond that it is impossible to fathom the bowl not being part of the playoff at some level. The Southeast has an obsessive nature about itself when it comes to college football, and the region without a bowl game of the magnitude of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl just does not seem right. As host of a neutral site matchup, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl does an outstanding job at working both fanbases up into a near craze leading up to kickoff. Big plays on both sides of the ball are followed with scoreboard graphics to excite fans, as well as neutral calls for fans to “Get Loud” during pivotal plays. Going forward, the bowl’s importance in crowning a national champion will only magnify an already electric atmosphere, with both sets of fans fervently hoping to advance to the next round.   Neighborhood   5 Atlanta has become the self-proclaimed “Capital of College Football”, and with good reason. From the Aflac Kickoff, the College Football Playoff, having twice been awarded the College Football National Championship Game, and being the home of the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame, college football has definitely found a home in Atlanta. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in the heart of downtown Atlanta, sits behind both State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks , and the Georgia World Congress Center, which hosts the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Fan Fest. The area is also full of bars, restaurants, hotels, and other points of interest to help fans pass the time. Besides the College Football Hall of Fame, just across the street is Centennial Olympic Park, which hosted many events during the 1996 Olympics, and the immediate area boasts many other attractions as well – the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and Atlanta Children’s Museum are all within walking distance of the stadium. The area definitely gives fans a slew of options to check out as part of their Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl experience.   Fans   5 The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl has been one of the most popular bowl games in recent history, selling out 24 of the last 27 games, and at one point having a streak of 17 consecutive sellouts. Only the “Grand Daddy of them All”, the Rose Bowl , surpasses this success at the box office (the Rose Bowl  has contractually sold out every game since 1947). Not that it needs help to increase fan interest, but the role the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will play in crowning college football’s National Champion will only increase the frenzied level fans will play in the game; both sets of fans show up in droves, and are loud in response to big plays from their teams. The excitement from fans of the victorious team permeates downtown Atlanta, as their celebratory chants echo throughout the hotels, bars, and streets well into the night. For fans without a rooting interest in the game, it is difficult not to get caught up in the passion created by the fanbases – it truly creates a special experience.   Access   4 Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s location in downtown Atlanta can create some hurdles getting to the area. In a city of this size, a bowl game can be one of several events happening around Atlanta that day, which just adds to the traffic issues that already plague the highways and surface streets in the area. Also, adding to the challenge is that there is only so much parking available at the stadium, and it can get expensive. Given these challenges, using Atlanta’s subway system, MARTA, might make the most sense. The availability of MARTA at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport gives fans flying to Atlanta the flexibility of not needing a vehicle to enjoy the attractions and bowl festivities in town. On game day, expect MARTA to be crowded, so the earlier the better if trying to avoid the largest of crowds. The stadium itself is rather easy to navigate during the game, but concourses are a bit narrow throughout, so they do become rather difficult to traverse during breaks between quarters, and especially during halftime. If concessions or a bathroom break is a must, sacrificing some game time can make it a much quicker trip. Bottom line is when bringing so many people to one location, inevitably it will create some headaches that require a bit of patience to deal with. That said, there are ways to help alleviate that impact and make the experience as easy as possible.   Return on Investment   4 When talking about ticket prices for New Year’s Six bowl games, premium games come with premium prices. However, given the role the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl plays in crowning a college football National Champion, there should not be a ton of sticker shock at these prices. Going forward, the starting point of ticket pricing will largely depend on where the game falls in the playoff rotation – expect tickets to start in excess of $100 to get in the door for a quarterfinal, and even higher when the bowl hosts a semi-final match up. The bottom line is, if a fan of college football simply wants to attend a game of such importance, buy tickets early because they will only increase in price once they hit the secondary market. Despite what is likely to be a triple digit price tag, the opportunity to be part of a team winning a national championship might be priceless. Judging the cost of a ticket strictly by face value might be skewed a bit given the magnitude of this game. Extras   5 In partnership with the Georgia Aquarium , discounted tickets are offered as pigskin meets aquatic life for a football-themed aquarium pep rally, which takes place the day before the game. Gameday kicks off with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Parade presented by Lions Club International. The parade route starts at the intersection of Baker and Centennial Olympic Park Drive, and ends at the front doors of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Fan Fest at the Georgia World Congress Center gives fans an opportunity to take part in promotions, games, pep rallies for each team, and start their pregame festivities before the gates of Mercedes-Benz Stadium open. As college football moves to a 12-team tournament format starting in 2024, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will play a significant role annually in crowning college football’s National Champion. At minimum the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will host a quarterfinal match up each season; 2024 will be one of the quarterfinal games, while 2025 will see the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl play host to one of the two semi-final games. Alumni groups of participating teams commonly host their own events in the days leading up to the game. From pep rallies to bar meetups and tailgate parties the day of the game, fans of each team are sure to find events specific to their program. Final Thoughts The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is as nearly a perfect bowl experience as you are going to find.  Beyond the game holding National Championship implications, everything leading up to the game makes the experience both memorable and as easy on fans as possible. College football in the south is held in a certain regard that is difficult to match in any other part of the country. The marriage of college football in Atlanta and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl gives fans all they could want in a bowl game – a game with National Championship implications in a first-class stadium, in a location that gives fans from out of town the ability to access hotels, attractions, and the game easily, makes the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl one of the top bowl experiences out there.

Photos by Greg Johnston, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Raymond Field 550 Main St. Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6 Acadia Axemen football website Raymond Field website Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 3,000 Home of the Axemen Nestled between various vineyards and the Bay of Fundy in the scenic Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia is the town of Wolfville and Acadia University. With an enrollment of around 3,500 students, Acadia is one of the smaller schools in USports football. However, the football program fields a competitive team almost every season. Their greatest success came in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the Axeman made four Vanier Cup appearances, winning two of them in 1979 & 1981. Since 2005, Acadia has reached the semi-finals five times, losing each match. Food & Beverage 2 There’s not much to get excited about with the food options at Raymond Field. Two concession stands are located underneath the main grandstand. Depending on what you’re craving, you may have to visit both stations. Follow your nose to the grill behind section 4, as scents of hamburgers and hotdogs draw you to the makeshift concession stand. The permanent concession stand has more traditional snack foods including popcorn, candy, and an array of soft drinks, juices, hot chocolate, and coffee, all under $4. For a frosty beverage, a beer garden is set up just beside the grandstand. The garden consists of picnic tables and standing room areas with full view of the game. Beer options are limited to cans of Budweiser, Bud Light, Alexander Keith’s and Okanagan Cider for around $6. Instead of settling for some of these traditional choices, enjoy the farmer’s market next door prior to kickoff. The market offers a variety of food options including breakfast feasts, ethnic favorites, and desserts. In addition, a number of eating and drinking establishments are located within walking distance of the stadium. Atmosphere 2 Raymond Field would be a great place to film a football movie based in the 1960s. The main grandstand is an “old-timer” concrete structure and wood bench seating, with an angled heavy-looking canopy cantilevering over all ten seating rows. The grandstand is only on the west side of the field and is not centered to the field markers. Despite the running track surrounding the field of play, you will be close to the action sitting in the grandstand, as row one is within arms reach of the first runners lane. Additional aluminum stands are located at the corners of the field, but feel isolated from the main atmosphere. No matter where you sit, you’ll have a view of the lone scoreboard. Try not to miss any of the action, no video boards can replay any great play call. Entertainment during lulls in game action is minimal, but still catches your eye. The public announcer has a great voice for the job, with exuberant excitement after a big play; the fight song also blares over the loudspeakers after an Acadia score. Cheerleaders and the mascot, named “Axeman,” attempt to increase the crowd’s energy throughout the game by chanting and throwing out t-shirts. Neighborhood 5 One of the best aspects of an Acadia University game day experience is exploring the town of Wolfville. Raymond Field is located on Main Street on the west side of town with plenty of restaurants and attractions nearby. The stadium is directly across the street from the picturesque campus, and literally next door to a charming downtown. Be sure to set time to stroll down Main Street and visit the many local shops and restaurants. The downtown is only a few blocks long and is easily walkable. Walk down to the visitor center at the east end of town and swing back along the “Rails to Trails” nature trail to learn about the history of the railroad in the valley. Enroute you’ll see an interesting example of adaptive reuse historic preservation, as the old train station now functions as the town’s library. Be sure to check out the delightful farmers market and the many historic homes throughout the town. Couple your stay with “Devour!” a food film festival in late October celebrating cinema, food, and wine culture. Wolfville is the place to be if you are a wine aficionado. Vineyards line Highway 1 offering wine tasting and tours. A wine bus may be the most effective (and safe) way to experience as many wines as you can handle. Annapolis Valley is also known for its apple and pumpkin farms. If attending a game in late October, be sure to check out the Pumpkin Regatta. This annual event is located in Windsor, a half-hour away, and features a parade of gigantic pumpkins decorated and hollowed out to be raced across Lake Pesaquid. Fans 3 Acadia may have small enrollment and is located far from a major city, but the hundreds of local fans have taken an obvious sense of pride in Acadia football. Section 4 is reserved seating for season ticket holders, which is nearly full for every game. Here, you’ll find the most knowledgeable and boisterous Axeman supporters who can be clearly heard all over the field making up chants or hollering at the referees. Crowd sizes range from 1,200 – 2,000 per regular season game. Homecoming can expect a crowd between 2,000-2,500. Access 4 Admire a gorgeous drive through the Annapolis Valley if you’re arriving from Halifax. Make the hour-and-a-half trip in mid October, when the leaves are vibrant in colour with reds, greens, and oranges covering the landscape like a painting. Be sure to keep eyes on the road and depart Highway 101 at the Grand Pre exit. Follow Highway 1 past a number of wineries and B&B’s and you will roll right into downtown. Just past the few blocks of local businesses you’ll clearly see Raymond Field’s goal post and grandstands on your right. Turn into the large free parking lot just past the grandstand. Transit is an option if you’re arriving from as far as Greenwood. Kings Transit provides a bus every two hours for $3.50. Navigating your way to your seats from the parking lot should be straight forward. Sidewalks lead uphill to the main entrance of the multi-functional Acadia Athletic Complex. This facility consists of the school’s fitness centre and hosts a number of Acadia sporting events, including basketball, hockey, track & field, and swimming. The box office greets you as you enter through the building’s atrium. After receiving your ticket, follow the crowd to the only patron entrance into Raymond Field. On the way you’ll pass a campus store and the Acadia Sports Hall-of-Fame before security checks bags and tickets are scanned. You likely have a general admission (GA) ticket, unless you’re a season ticket holder. A GA ticket allows you a seat in sections 1-3 in the permanent grandstand (close to concessions and the washrooms) or any of the temporary metal bleachers set up near the end zone. A barrier free ramp leads to the grandstand’s accessible seating row located on the first row behind the visitor’s bench. Early-bird fans gravitated to the last row of the grandstand which provides the best overview of the field, back support from the canopy structure, and wind protection. Return on Investment 3 Acadia keeps their fan experience very simple. You won’t find pyrotechnics or a live marching band here. But you will experience a comfortable place to watch a college football game. Single game tickets can be purchased at Raymond Field’s box office, by phone, or on-line. Season tickets are available for $35. Acadia football provides a good experience for an afternoon family outing. Since young, future Acadia football stars can sometimes lose focus on the game, a bouncing castle is set up at the corner of the endzone to expel excess energy while you continue to enjoy the action. Extras 2 An extra point for grilling their hot dogs and hamburgers on site. The smell of barbecued meat draws you in for a tasty bite! An extra point for Acadia Hall-of-Fame open to all ticket holders. The old photographs and trophies tell a rich history of Axeman Sports. Final Thoughts Spending a full day or weekend in Wolfville is well worth your time during late summer or early fall. A wide range of sights, sounds, and activities fulfill all the senses for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Implementing a football game at Raymond Field to your agenda will satisfy any sports fan knowing how consistently competitive the team is. Overall, the fan experience is simple, welcoming, enjoyable, and not at all overwhelming…just like the town of Wolfville.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Grand Park Events Center 19000 Grand Park Blvd Westfield, IN 46074 Indy AlleyCats website Grand Park Events Center website Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 1,000 An Ultimate Indoor Experience The Indy AlleyCats are members of the United Frisbee Association, formerly the American Ultimate Disc League, and play home games out of the Grand Park Events Center in Westfield, Indiana. The building is the centerpiece of the Grand Park Sports Complex. It features 26 baseball and softball diamonds and 31 multipurpose fields for soccer, football, and lacrosse spread out over 400 acres 20 miles north of downtown Indianapolis. What makes the GPEC unique is that it is the only indoor facility in the 24-team UFA and offers plenty of benefits that include protection from cold and rainy days,  an indoor control climate, a full-service restaurant, and alcoholic beverages to sip during the game. The AlleyCats have been mainstays in the league since 2013 and have posted only two losing seasons in its history. To the discerning eye, the sport of ultimate disc should be easy to follow, understandable, and enjoyable to watch, and to its burgeoning fan base of supporters, the next big step in spreading the game to further regions of North America. The sport has a little bit of everything: high scores, quick and short passes, turnovers, close plays, and extraordinary leaps toward the heavens to pull down a disc for a score. During the spring and summer time, it may be a nice distraction from the usual sporting events taking place in town. Food & Beverage 3 The GPEC offers two areas for food and drink. A full-service restaurant is located on the top level and overlooks one end of the field offering 12 taps of craft and domestic beers, plus plenty more in cans. While the concession stand downstairs offers an array of snacks. Grand Parks Event Center Restaurant, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey The beers range from local varieties from Grand Junction, Sun King, People’s, and Three Floyd’s. The beer prices are $9 a pint. There is also a list of cider, hard lemonade, wine, and spirits available. Downstairs is a small concession stand that offers nachos, hot dogs, pretzels, candy, chips,  and sodas. Pepsi products are also served at the concession stand. The prices range between $3.50 to $5; a nice price to grab a snack during the game and save an appetite for dinner somewhere else afterward. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere of the game is connected heavily to the action on the field. The majority of the fans are part of the ultimate community and will shout out to specific players on the field who are most likely friends or family members. GPEC includes three soccer fields and the Cats use the middle field where there is bleacher seating on one side, up above the field of play. There are 8 rows of aluminum bleacher seats that put fans up close to the action and offer a nice view of the field except the first few rows that are obstructed by the wire guard rails. The team’s merchandise is located at the corner of the concourse and displays a wide variety of merchandise that includes caps, t-shirts, hoodies, gloves, discs, and scarves. The shirts are displayed on mannequins and there are about 5 to 6 different styles of caps. The team's MC gets the crowd hyped during the game engaging with fans, offering prizes to young fans, and reminding them to cheer during pivotal times of the games. After each score, two young fans march up and down the sidelines waving team flags colored in green and white. Neighborhood 4 Grand Park is located 20 miles north of downtown Indianapolis in the suburb of Westfield, a sprawling community that has grown quite gradually in recent years. Grand Park is located near a collection of chain restaurants, hotels, and local restaurants and establishments. Just outside the complex are Portillo's and Noble Roman’s, two local establishments with numerous locations throughout the state. Visitors can enjoy craft beers, pizza, and pub food. A little further down the road are smaller places that are noteworthy: Chiba Indy (sushi), Rail (farm to table), and Grand Junction Brewing Company. Two personal favorites include Wine & Vine and The Mash House & West Fork Whiskey Company offers bourbon, and farm-fresh ingredients in an aesthetically pleasing setting. Wine & Vine is a combo winery and brewery with outdoor seating and pleasant views. The best for entertainment may still be downtown Indianapolis, a short 30-minute drive south. Options include the Indiana State Museum, Children’s Museum, Canal Walk  Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, and the neighborhoods of Mass Ave, Broad Ripple, and Fountain Square. Fans 3 Most fans are very knowledgeable about the sport and most likely are connected with the team or the sport itself. It makes for an interesting visit as one can gather a lot of information from the mouths of many in their seats. The crowd is fixed to the game and the only objective that matters is a win by the Cats. Access 4 Grand Park Events Center is 20 miles north of Indianapolis but access is super simple via automobile. The highways leading up the complex are designed with roundabouts and underpasses to keep traffic flowing towards the facility. Once inside, there are two sets of staircases in the lobby that lead visitors to the seating area. Return on Investment 3 A single ticket is $11 and concession options are around $5, a very reasonable price to take in a game of Ultimate under climate control conditions. The restaurant has affordable dinner options and 12 draft options are available for $9. There is also a beer of the month available for $5. There is no fee for parking. Extras 2 The Alley Cats have some of the best merchandise in the league. It is of high quality and some of the shirts and caps feature some great designs for fashionable fans. The Grand Park Events Center receives another point for being the only indoor venue in the league. It might affect the game for the players in some regards, but fans are comfortable and do not have to second guess attending a scheduled contest under gloomy, wet, or cold conditions. A final point is awarded for the team's MC who hypes and engages the crowd during games. The action on the field is enough for many of the fans, but he adds a little flare to the proceedings. There is also a DJ who plays familiar songs with a different beat. Final Thoughts The Grand Park Events Center is the only indoor venue in the league. However, the place could use a little more logo placement to give the venue a true home feeling. Also, being indoors ensures that all games can be attended by fans under comfortable conditions. The UFA is an exciting sport to watch and from my standpoint after watching multiple games, didn’t seem too different underneath the roof. ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter   @ballparkhunter   and his   YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Richard Smith Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Wilmington University Athletics Complex 1365 Pulaski Highway Newark, DE 19702 Wilmington Wildcats website Wilmington University Athletics Complex website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 1,000 Wildcats In Delaware Wilmington University was founded in 1968 as Wilmington College. It became a university in 2007. Their main campus is located in New Castle, DE but classes are also held in Brandywine, Middletown, Dover, Dover Air Force Base, and Georgetown, DE, as well as one Maryland location and five New Jersey locations. Plans are also underway for a new large campus just north of Wilmington. Wilmington University’s athletic teams are known as the Wildcats and compete in NCAA Division II within the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference for all sports. The university’s men’s baseball team was named NCAA Division II East Regional champions in 2015 while the men’s golf team earned an NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Super Regional title in both 2012 and 2015. The university’s cheerleading team was named the Universal Cheerleading Association’s national champions for five consecutive years between 2012 and 2016. Some of the school’s sports teams play here at the Wilmington University Athletic Complex in Bear, Delaware. It was opened in 2013 and is home to the men’s and women’s basketball and soccer teams as well as the women’s lacrosse and volleyball teams. Food & Beverage 1 There is no concession stand here at the complex. But I am awarding a point since there are times when other Wilmington sports teams sell hot dogs and other items at halftime in the lobby to raise money. Hot dogs for a dollar is never a bad idea. There is also a well-priced soda and snack machine in the small north lobby. Atmosphere 3 This is a small gym that is very reminiscent of a high school gym. Because of the small size, it can get loud pretty quickly depending on the game's action. There is a small simple grandstand on the main side of the court, with a smaller student section behind the benches. Wilmington has a very strong cheerleading program, as well as a decent dance squad that entertains the small crowd. Neighborhood 3 Bear is a suburban location along a stretch of US Route 40 in Delaware. There is no real town that can be found. That means it will not be an exciting area to visit, but there will be many options for food and drink pre and post-game. The sports complex is not close to the main part of campus. Stewarts Brewing Company is a very good local brewpub located a mile or so away at the Governor’s Square Shopping Center. There are a few other options in this area. Longhorn Steakhouse may be the closest actual option to the sports complex. Fans 2 As with most small college gyms, the bulk of the fans tends to be family or friends of both teams. There will be some local fans who just happen to stop by for the game as well. The fans are very knowledgeable and can be quite loud. Student attendance at games will always be an issue as the university has so many scattered locations and is often thought of as a commuter school. Access 4 The sports complex is easy to reach and is only a couple miles off of Interstate 95. You may have to pay some tolls, although locals will know how to avoid them as much as possible. There is a decent size parking lot for the complex. There are two entrances to the arena. The one to the left is the best as it has a small room with the school’s All-Americans on display. Return on Investment 4 You are not going to be watching the highest level of basketball competition, but the cost is about the best you can find. That’s right, there is no admission cost. Combine that with free parking, and you have a pretty great night out. Extras 2 The All-American display is nice and is worth a few minutes of your time. Depending on the time of year and season, one should also see if any games are going on at the outdoor soccer and lacrosse complex. There is a small grandstand and the field looks quite nicely designed. Final Thoughts Wilmington University has a very nice sports complex with a small but nicely designed gym. The level of competition is fairly low, but with no cost of admission, a sports fan will want to make some time to visit if in the area.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Salt River Fields at Talking Stick 7555 N Pima Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85258 Colorado Rockies Spring Training website Salt River Fields at Talking Stick website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 11,000 Rox in the Desert The Colorado Rockies play their spring ball at the beautiful Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. It is shared with the Arizona Diamondbacks and celebrated its 10th season in 2021. The Rockies first spring training home was at Hi-Corbett Field in Tucson, AZ from 1993 – 2011. Salt River Fields is the first MLB spring training park built on Native American Indian land. Its design uses Native American influence and regional desert architecture and landscaping. Visitors witness picturesque views of Camelback, McDowell, Superstition, and other mountains as they walk the complex area and stadium. It’s an impressive facility, and the Rockies fans and organization are proud to call it their spring training home. Food & Beverage 5 Visitors to Salt River Fields will find a host of food and beverage offerings to indulge in. Permanent concessions (all cashless now) line the infield concourse with a few more on the center field concourse. The menus do not change based on the home team (Rockies/Dbacks). The Show is known for the Shea Burger Basket (burger with cheese and bacon and a side of fries – $15.50) or the yummy Bee Line Chicken Club Basket on a pretzel bun. Rte 101 Pizza sells flatbread pizza and Southwestern chicken salad. Cattle 101 offers premium Mile High burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches. Center field concessions include Cold Stone Creamery, Verde Grille Burgers, and an offering of tantalizing Dominican fare at a Yanikeke food truck. A unique food cart on the third base concourse sells gourmet ostrich, elk, rattlesnake, beef, and vegan hot dogs ($12). Delicious aromas from kiosks marketing kettle corn, lemonade, standard hot dogs, sausages, and brats permeate throughout the concourse. Mustache Pretzels and Chick-fil-A also have a presence. Party decks Ultra Terrace and Salty Senorita (margaritas, nachos, and chips & salsa) occupy areas down each baseline. Salty Senorita at Salt River Fields, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Fans looking for adult beverages will find a vast number of beer carts and vendors selling canned domestic and craft beers, and seltzers ($14 – $15.50). Home Plate Bar sells cocktails; other stalls provide adult frozen cocktails and smoothies in various bright fruit flavors. The Casino Arizona Bar in center field offers cocktails, TV screens turned to sporting events, indoor and outdoor seating, and air conditioning. Pepsi brands are the soda of choice at SRFs ($6 – $7.50). Bottled water costs $5. Atmosphere 5 Beautiful Southwestern landscaping adorns the facility both inside and outside. It includes cactus gardens, desert terrain, scrubby hardy bushes, and lots of rocks which are all very attractive together. The structure fits in well with its surroundings and the environment. The design incorporates a traditional Native American ramada shade to shield fans from the hot Arizona sun. Green fold-down seats are plenty wide, have cup holders and legroom is superb at Salt River Fields. Sections 112 and 212 are directly behind home plate. Thin nets run to the ends of the dugouts; only the last few sections are net free. The infield, especially behind home plate and the 200 level, gets shade the entire game. Handy drink rails are on concourse columns and the top of some seating sections. Fans enter from the top of the concourse and descend to the seating area (handrails are available), a small walkway is between the 100 and 200 levels. The grassy berm in the outfield is a popular seating choice for many families and visitors who spread out to enjoy the sun and the delightful sounds of a baseball game. Peddlers sell drinks and snacks in the berm areas. The music level isn’t loud and fans can have conversations easily without yelling over the music; though sometimes it is played over the PA, which is common, but still baffling. Bobby Freeman, the long-time organist for the Arizona Diamondbacks, makes his presence at some Rockies spring training games serenading fans with long ago forgotten organ music. Unfortunately, the team no longer provides handouts of starting lineups and rosters; instead, staff tapes them to an information table. However, the organization installed a new and improved scoreboard on the left field grassy berm several years ago. It conveniently provides the lineup, current pitcher and batter names, line score, some video, between inning entertainment, etc. Based on your long-distance vision and where you sit, you may still need to pull out binoculars to read it. Neighborhood 4 If you do nothing else when spending time in Scottsdale, visit the USS Arizona Memorial Gardens right across Salt River Fields’ home plate parking lot. It is a memorial to and reminder of the WWII Dec 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and remembrance to those soldiers who served and gave their lives. Columns of light form the outline of the battleship which illuminates at twilight. The stadium is next to The Pavilions at Talking Stick shopping center. Plenty of chain restaurants and places before or after a Rockies 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 such as McDonald’s, Chipotle, Blimpies, Arby’s, and Pizza dot the shopping area. The TapHouse Kitchen is 3 ½ miles from the ballpark and offers craft beers, cocktails, and diverse and delicious food dishes. We also recommend Grassroots Kitchen & Tap , another local restaurant that provides mouth-watering food and drinks about a mile from the ballpark. An escape room, indoor skydiving, and one of those movie theaters that serve gourmet movie fare are other entertainment 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. The Talking Stick Resort and Casino is just across the Loop 101, less than a three-mile drive from the ballpark. A Great Wolf Lodge (and water park) is across the parking lot. More affordable lodging is at a Staybridge Hotel , walking distance (less than 1/2 mile) from Salt River Fields. A Hampton Inn & Suites is across the Loop 101 (near the casino). Keep in mind, lodging costs double during spring training. For other sports in the area, visit the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training another day and other East Valley spring training stadiums: Scottsdale Stadium (SF Giants), Sloan Park (Chicago Cubs), Tempe Diablo (Los Angeles Angels, and Hohokam Stadium (Oakland Athletics). A trip to Phoenix, AZ and an ASU Sun Devil baseball game is a tad over 10 miles from the ballpark. Fans 4 The Rockies fans come decked out in purple. Although you won’t hear ‘Tulo’ chants anymore, fans generate a great round of applause for current favorite, Charlie Blackman. Before the pandemic, the Rockies averaged greater than 9,000 fans a game at Salt River Fields. While the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 and a shortened season because of the lockout in 2022 caused a downfall in attendance numbers, Rockies fans still make a presence at the ballpark drawing about 6,000 to 8,000 a game. Weekend games draw more than weekday games and more fans visit when the Cubs or Dodgers are the opponents. As with most Cactus League games, fans easily strike up conversations with their neighbors. You’ll see plenty of fans wearing purple spread across the seating areas. And, since it’s such a nice ballpark, many visiting team fans congregate near the visitor’s bullpen and dugout. Access 4 Salt River Fields is located just west of the Loop 101 Pima Fwy at the Indian Bend Rd or the Via De Ventura exits. Parking is available in three lots and costs $5, $10, or $25 for valet parking. Attendants driving golf carts bring fans back and forth from the parking areas to the entrances if desired. Give yourself some extra travel time when attending an evening game during the week because of heavier rush hour traffic. If flying in, the closest airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (about 18 miles southwest of the stadium). Public transportation is somewhat available via Valley Metro (mostly bus route 81). Be sure to visit Valley Metro for fare, schedules, and map information. Three gates open an hour before the first pitch. Bags less than 16” x 16” x 8” are allowed. Fans walk through a metal detector and security personnel check bags. It’s painless. The concourse is wide open and visitors 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. Plenty of ramps are available throughout the complex for those using wheelchairs and strollers. ADA seating lines the top of the grandstand on the concourse. The ballpark provides many sets of clean and serviceable restrooms throughout the entire concourse. Return on Investment 4 As with all spring training facilities, the prices have skyrocketed since days gone by. The Rockies are no exception. Spring training tickets run $15 for berm tickets to $47 for higher priced seats. Add a few bucks more for weekend games and popular opponents like the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs. Food concession prices are high. Nine dollars for a Chick-fil-A sandwich, $8.75 for a Cold Stone Creamery cup, or $15.50 for a beer is more than you’d pay outside the stadium. This is, unfortunately, routine with stadium fare at many sports venues. Five-dollar parking is common at some of the Cactus League venues. Stadium staff offer a free spring training program which is helpful. Sign up for the designated driver program to get a free soda, bring in the two allowed bottles of water, and eat before or after the contest to save a couple of bucks when attending a game. It is a remarkable facility and one that shouldn’t be missed if traveling for spring training in Arizona. Extras 5 Several additional items are worth noting about attending a Dbacks spring training game at Salt River Fields. First, each of the entrances is special, with fountains and sculptures, and the two branded entranceways in the outfield have a Rockies “team concepts” and a Dbacks “historic timeline” lining the respective ramps. Still outside the park are a nature walk around a small fishing lake and a Veterans Circle (honoring Native American veterans). The nature walk incorporates the Keli McGregor Reflection Trail on the west side of the complex. McGregor , a former Colorado Rockies president, was instrumental in the negotiations and agreements of building this new spring training facility and putting the finishing touches on the Rockies segment. Keli McGregor Reflection Trail, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The extras continue once you enter the park. You can peer over the bullpens and watch the pitchers warm up which makes you feel up close and personal with the player (even though you’re really not). The organization provides free SPF 30 sunscreen in two areas in the outfield, a very courteous touch. A popular, free small whiffle ball diamond offering pick-up games for kids is in the right field concourse. An attendant makes sure all kids get a chance to bat and play. Final Thoughts At eleven years old, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick continues to impress both local and visiting spring training fans. The experience at the ballpark is marvelous. Fan comfort is foremost with the shade, the ramps, the legroom, the food choices. If you have not yet been, put it on the list to visit.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Value City Arena at Jerome Schottenstein Center 555 Borror Dr Columbus, OH 43210 Ohio State Buckeyes men’s hockey website Value City Arena at Jerome Schottenstein Center website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 17,500 Buckeyes on Ice Taking the ice for the first time in 1963, the Ohio State Buckeyes began a long, yet not illustrious tenure in College Hockey.  Not a part of the three M’s of College hockey (Michigan, Massachusetts and Minnesota), Ohio State has seen various degrees of success which have culminated in appearances in the Frozen Four in 1998 and 2018.  The Buckeyes have enjoyed conference championships in 1972 and 2019 and tournament championships in 1972 and 2004 while participating in the NCAA tournament ten times.  The Buckeyes were a charter member of the original CCHA conference in 1971 and the Big Ten hockey conference in 2013.  The most accomplished hockey alumnus of Ohio State is Ryan Kesler, who went on to play over 1,000 games in the NHL. The Ohio State hockey team shares its home, Value City Arena @ Jerome Schottenstein Center, with the school's basketball team.  Opened in 1998 and with a capacity of 17,500, Value City Arena is not the most ideal home for Buckeye hockey, but does give the team more of a major league feel playing in a large arena.  The Schott, as it is sometimes referred, is named after Columbus businessman and philanthropist, the late Jerome Schottenstein who helped make the arena possible with a $12.5 million gift.  Schottenstein is known for founding Schottenstein Stores Inc, which operated a number of Value City furniture and department stores.  Ohio State University was founded in 1870 and currently boasts over 60,000 students in Columbus, Ohio. Food & Beverage 4 The Schott does offer a good variety of concession options for fans.  All of the expected arena items can be found along with a number of more unique and upscale items.  Fowl At Play offers a variety of grilled and fried chicken options along with funnel cake fries; Sear and Stack offers gourmet burgers and texas tenderloin; Brutus’ Best offers chimichurri veggie subs, club sandwiches and jalapeno sausage; Ooey Gooey Grilled Cheese offers grilled cheese concoctions; Donato’s Pizza has pizza and sub offerings; and Scarlett Grill has fries and chicken tenders.  The soft drink of choice at Value City Arena is in the Coca-Cola family.  Many stands offer self-serve fountain drink stations, which is fairly unique.  Beer offerings are fairly limited with Coors Light, Michelob Ultra and Modelo being the brands available. Atmosphere 3 The Jerome Schottenstein Center has a large, hulking exterior that makes it look like a major league venue.  The exterior has a mix of brown brick and windows on the entry points with turret-like points on the corners, and a central structure that is covered in grey siding.  The exterior is well kept and attractive. After fans enter the building, they are brought into the main concourse.  The concourse gives fans a bit of a Joe Louis Arena  feel.  The councourses are dominated by painted block walls and bright colours.  There is not much in the way of natural light that enters the councourses and unlike Joe Louis Arena, the concourses are neat and dominated by scarlett, grey and white colors, including on the floors.  Inside the seating bowl, the ice runs from west to east with the perfect spot for the picture of the center ice logo, from the north side.  The seating bowl is two-tiered with a separated lower bowl.  The upper deck is curtained off to give a bit more of an intimate feel to the venue.  The seats in the east end are also covered with a large “Buckeye Hockey”sign. The videoboard at centre ice is decent, but not overly huge and the upper deck fascia features LED ribbon boards and there are videoboards in the upper corners.  The east side of the arena also features the Ohio State hockey banners.  Grouped banners hang for the NCAA Tournament appearances, Frozen Four appearances, CCHA season and tournament championships, and Big Ten Championships.  Individual banners hang for the 2019 Big Ten season championship, 1998 and 2018 Frozen Four and the honoured number of Paul Pooley.  Pooley played 15 games in the NHL and is the Buckeyes leading scorer.  The gameday atmosphere is what one would expect for a college hockey game.  The game that was reviewed was during the winter break and the campus was quiet.  Normally the student section would have a presence and the band would also be a part of the experience.  Clearly the worst part of an Ohio State hockey game is the seating area.  The seats in Value City Arena are cushioned, but low to the ground and very narrow.  For fans who may be above average in height or stature, it is not a comfortable experience at all.  Finding seats that are in a less populated area may be the best idea to be able to spread out. Neighborhood 5 Jerome Schottenstein Center is located on the campus of Ohio State University, in the Olentangy West neighborhood of Columbus.  Columbus is an excellent city to spend some time in and taking in an Ohio State game should be part of it.  There are a number of spots that are not too far from the arena for pre or post game food and drink.  Some options include Brassica in Upper Arlington, The O on Lane, Varsity Club, Bravo, and Mirror Lake Eatery as well as a plethora of national chain restaurants. Columbus is a fantastic place for the sports fan.  Ohio State fields a full complement of college teams including basketball , baseball , and the pride of the state, football at Ohio Stadium .  Other sports options include the Columbus Blue Jackets  of the NHL, Columbus Crew  of MLS and Columbus Clippers  of MiLB.  Other tourist options include the Jack Nicklaus Museum, Arnold Swartzenegger bronze statue, Franklin Park Conservatory, COSI, Ohio State Capital and the German Village.  For fans who wish to stay near The Schott, the SpringHill Suites and Blackwell Inn are close options. Fans 3 Support for Ohio State hockey is decent.  In the 2023 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes averaged 4,500 fans per game, which ranked them 6th in the Big Ten Conference and 16th in the NCAA.  As of this writing, in the 2024 season, the Buckeyes have averaged 5,000 fans per game, which ranks 5th in the Big Ten and 15th in the NCAA.  There is definitely room for improvement, especially since Ohio State boasts one of the largest buildings in the country.  The game that was reviewed was during the winter break and it is assumed that when the students are on campus, their presence is felt and provides for a better ambience.   Access 4 Value City Arena is located on the campus of Ohio State University in the Olentangy West neighbourhood of Columbus.  It is just west of the Olentangy River, north of I-670 and west of I-71.  Highway 315 essentially bisects the campus, so getting to Ohio State is not that difficult.  There is plenty of space available for parking, at a cost, close to the arena.  For fans who desire to take public transit, there are bus stops that run along Olentangy River Road and Lane Ave.  Fans should consult the Central Ohio Transit Authority  website for fares, maps and schedules.  Getting around Schottenstein Center is not too difficult based on the average attendance and the washroom facilities are adequate. Stadium Journey recognizes that security protocols for major sporting events are constantly changing.  Currently, Ohio State uses a “No Bag” Policy.  Stadium Journey encourages all fans to consult the Schottenstein Center  website for the most up to date security procedures and protocols including bag policy and prohibited items. Return on Investment 4 College hockey offers great value for the sporting dollar and Ohio State is no different.  Non-conference game tickets for adults begin at $12 and go up to $20 for adults.  Discounts can be found for students, seniors and children.  Conference and premier games, including Michigan games, top out at $25 and $30 respectively.  Concession prices are about what one would expect.  Parking comes at a price, but it is not exorbitant.  The product on the ice is solid.  The biggest drawback comes down to the lack of comfort in the seats. Extras 3 An extra mark for the rivalry that Ohio State shares with that team up north, even in hockey. An extra mark for the helmets for the Buckeyes, which mimic the helmets of the football team, the same grey with scarlet stripe down the middle. An extra mark for the unique branding of the Buckeyes.  Many outside of Ohio are unaware that a buckeye is actually a chestnut. Final Thoughts Columbus, Ohio is a significantly underrated city to visit.  There is no doubt that one of the centerpieces of Columbus is Ohio State.  Fans should not sleep on Ohio State Buckeyes hockey at Value City Arena @ Schottenstein Center.  It’s a great experience and one that college hockey fans need to consider. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Feyenoord Stadium Vam Zandvlietplein 1, Ijsselmonde Rotterdam 3077 AA, Netherlands Feyenoord Rotterdam website Feyenoord Stadium (De Kuip) website Year Opened: 1937 Capacity: 51,177 Feyenoord Stadium (AKA De Kuip) The Feyenoord Stadion in Rotterdam is one of the most iconic footballing arenas in the whole of Europe. That it is in danger of being demolished should be of concern to all who value such structures over the new and often soulless stadia we’ve seen in recent times. Inaugurated in 1937, the ground is known to all as De Kuip (The bowl) due simply to its attractive curving footprint. It is home to the Dutch footballing giant Feyenoord Rotterdam. Such is the De Kuip’s prestige it has also hosted Dutch national team matches, a European Championship final and many European club finals too. Feyenoord Rotterdam began life as ‘Wilhelina’ became SC Feyenoord before settling on the current name in 1978. They’ve won their domestic league on no fewer than 15 occasions and the KNVB Cup 13 times. In Europe they have also had success, winning the European Cup in 1970 and two UEFA Cup trophies in 1974 and 2002. Whilst plans have been mooted to move away from the De Kuip before, the current iteration, a new 63,000 sports hub on the nearby river bank seems to have traction and could open by 2023. Most Feyenoord fans do not want to leave their current ground, whether they can stop the move seems unlikely. Rotterdam itself is the gritter and tougher sibling of the country’s capital city Amsterdam. Whilst Amsterdam attracts tourists and acclaim from across the world, Rotterdam quietly gets on with its shipping and its finance industries with a stoic outlook, far removed from their ‘flashy’ compatriots up the road. Think Glasgow to Edinburgh or Belfast to Dublin and you get the picture. Food & Beverage 3 The stadium boasts its own restaurant called the Brasserie. Open for drinks or lunches this is an option more if you are visiting on a non-match day as the restaurant closes at 2pm on the day of a game. On match day, on the Olympiatribune side of the ground there are mobile food kiosks selling the usual fayre just outside the stadium itself. Inside, you will need to first purchase your Feyenoord tokens (munts) as the bars do not take cash. These can be bought from a shed within the confines of the stadium, 10 tokens cost 14.50 Euros. A Pepsi will then set you back one token. Heineken Light is served for 1.5 tokens as well as 7-Up, iced tea and Red Bull to name but a few – an impressive array of drink choices! Food wise a small burger cost 2.5 tokens and Kroket (Croquet in a bun) is 2 tokens. Food and Drink Kiosk, Photo by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Atmosphere 4 Raucous and intimidating are two words often used to describe the atmosphere in the De Kuip when it is full. Before kick-off, Feyenoord fans will often reveal tifo style displays and belt out their club anthem. To a certain extent the atmosphere will depend on the competition and opposition. For this visit, a pre-season friendly v Southampton, only 2/3rds full, it was the away fans who made most of the noise. The home fans not particularly pleased with their team’s performance on the day. The ‘bowl’ layout of the stadium and low roof contribute to the noise staying in the ground. The locals normally play their part vocally, no prawn sandwiches and half-time flasks here, Feyenoord fans come to support their team. Due to its shape there are additional ‘temporary’ stands at pitch level on all 4 sides. These ensure supporters are close to the pitch with the main stands themselves a little further back. These stands however are more open to the elements, so you may choose to sit back in the main stands to avoid a soaking. Seats in the main stands are generally tightly packed together with not a lot of leg room. There are scoreboards behind both goals that are not particularly large but display the time and remind you of the latest score line! Neighborhood 3 There is very little of note in the immediate vicinity of the ground. A few restaurants and fast food outlets however have popped up to the north of the stadium such as Hollywood’s, just across the dual carriageway from the ground. This or drinking inside the ground is your main choice locally. For all main amenities therefore, you will need to start and finish your visit in the city centre. The ‘in place’ to eat in Rotterdam is the Market Hall (Markthal). The building itself is a masterpiece of architecture, an arched ‘upside-down’ horseshoe shape with a myriad of market stalls selling foods from across the world. Just wander in and see what takes your fancy! If not head to the Fenix Food Factory if you like your beer, cider and food. You can then jump on a water taxi to the stadium! The central area itself has all the usual museums, cinemas and theatres you’d expect in a modern city. For history lovers, the Pilgrims Fathers Church can be visited, where the intrepid explorers worshipped before setting off on the Speedwell to the USA in July 1620. For stadium enthusiasts you may wish to fit another game in to your trip at the other local clubs Sparta Rotterdam or Excelsior. Tickets are easy to get for either unless it’s a derby match. Excelsior’s ground is to the east of the city and Sparta to the west. Accommodation wise, if you are using the car then the 4* Delta Hotel in Vlaardingen on the north bank of the river has fantastic views and can be booked at a reasonable cost. If not, then any hotel around the central train station would suit. For example, the Grand Hotel Central a 3* hotel is just a few minutes’ walk away. There isn’t a great deal of hotel options near to the stadium, one possibility is the Art Hotel Rotterdam, a 4* which is still a half hour walk away. Fans 4 In the Dutch Eredivisie, Feyenoord’s average attendances are second only to fierce rivals Ajax. Average attendances have fallen in the last few years (16/17 47,500, 17/18 45,588, 18/19 41,771) but the hard core remains as loyal as ever. The main fan group affiliated to the club is ‘The Legioen’ with over 40k members, the equivalent for the young fans ‘Kameraadjes’ has over 25,000 signed up. The club also has a large following from countries across the world. The club anthem is ‘Hand in Hand’ and the fans vocal support comes from all four sides of the ground instead of just one main end that is often the case. Access 4 If you are flying in for a match, use Schiphol (Amsterdam) airport. You can then take a train direct to Rotterdam in just 30 mins. Alternatively, you could fly into Eindhoven. From here you’d need to get a bus (401) to Eindhoven train station then it’s an hour train journey into Rotterdam. Another alternative from France and the UK is to take the Eurostar to Brussels then use a local train from Brussels to Rotterdam which takes around 2 hours. Although the stadium is ‘out of town,’ links from central Rotterdam are good. From Rotterdam Centraal station there are trains to the Rotterdam Stadion which is right opposite the ground. On non-match days, alight at Rotterdam Zuid which is a 20 minute walk to the ground. A cheaper option is to use your match day ticket for free travel on the tram. Jump on the number 23 from right outside Centraal station and be dropped opposite the De Kuip, a stone’s throw from the above-mentioned Hollywood bar. Alternatively, you can use the metro service, bus or even water taxi to get around. The metro was built in 1968 with 5 lines A-E. Take the dark blue ‘E’ line from Centraal station toward the stadium and alight at either Rijnhaven or Maashaven, both are still around a half hour walk from the ground. If you are driving, you can book a parking space at the same time you book your ticket. Car parks around the ground can be expensive…25 Euros being quoted for parking on a piece of waste land just to the northeast of the stadium. Access wise. there is plenty of space around the perimeter of the ground with fans visiting the club shops or grabbing some food from the various food stalls. Signs showing the layout of the whole stadium are on show outside to help you get your bearings. Entry into the stadium is using a bar-coded ticket and like most stadiums these days be prepared to be searched upon entry. Once inside be prepared for lots of stairs! Wheelchair users are given a section behind the dugouts and assistance is available. Return on Investment 3 The Feyenoord online ticket shop should be your first call for obtaining match day tickets. As ever these days, you will need to create an account first. The advice is to book your ticket before travelling, however if the game hasn’t sold out, there will be tickets on sale at the box office on the day of the match. Tickets can obviously also be purchased via third party websites but expect to pay the usual premium. Home match day tickets cost from 38 Euros, the away fans paying as little as 19 Euros (for a friendly). All the usual merchandise is available in the club shops at slightly inflated prices, i.e. a scarf will cost 20 Euros and a cap 15 Euros. For accommodation and food Rotterdam prices are not cheap but the ‘cost of living’ is far lower here than the tourist trap of Amsterdam. A tourist day ticket which allows travel on all the main transport offerings cost €13.50. Alternatively, a Rotterdam Welcome card can be purchased which does the same thing but also offers discounts. Extras 3 The Feyenoord App can be downloaded which provides up to date news and access to tickets and the fan shop. Could only find a version in Dutch however so if it’s not your first language it may not be so helpful! The Feyenoord Museum is only available as part of the Stadium tours , which can be booked in the fan store next to the ground or book in advance over the phone. Prices are from 9.50 Euros with a 1 Euro reduction if purchased online. The match day programme cost just 1.50 Euros and was good value. Two fan shops are located at the corner of the Maastribune and the Willem Van Hanegem Tribunes. Final Thoughts Stadium Journey wholeheartedly recommends a visit to the De Kuip, as soon as you can!

Photos by Meg Minard,, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Laney College Football Field 900 Fallon St Oakland, CA 94607 Map It Oakland Roots SC website Laney College Football Field website Año Abierto: 1962 Capacidad: 5,500 Oakland Roots ¿Crees que los Athletics son el único equipo deportivo en Oakland, CA? Piensa otra vez. Con solo unos pocos años de existencia, Oakland Roots SC atrae grandes multitudes durante la temporada de fútbol. El club es miembro de la USL-C, el segundo nivel de fútbol en los Estados Unidos. Comenzó su notable aventura en 2019 como miembro de NISA (Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Independiente) y se mudó a la USL-C en 2021. Los empresarios de Oakland que se enorgullecen de pertenecer a la comunidad de Oakland son dueños de The Roots. Los camiones de comida son todos locales; los artistas de Oakland realizan entretenimiento previo al partido. Los socios de los pubs de los partidos fuera de casa son los bares comunitarios y las tabernas. Todo es bastante impresionante. Los propietarios y la comunidad deben estar orgullosos de su equipo y organización. Oakland Roots SC juega sus partidos de local en el campo de fútbol de Laney College. El colegio es un colegio comunitario público cerca de Lake Merritt y tiene una reputación de diversidad y capacitación técnica de alta calidad. Food & Beverage / Bebida y Alimenticia 4 Las opciones de comida son increíbles. Los camiones locale de comida deliciosa cierran la calle 10th Street. Algunas de las tarifas que se ofrecen son: Mediterránea (giros, arroces y ensaladas) Pupusas, Nachos, Tacos (Guatemaltecas y Mexicanas) Coolinaria (mexicano contemporáneo con ingredientes de origen local) Munchiez (comida reconfortante y dulces) Southern Comfort Kitchen (muchas opciones de pescado frito) Empanadas Argentinas También se instala a lo largo de la calle una carpa que ofrece cerveza enlatada, agua mineral, sidra y vino. No noté ningunas mesas ni sillas para sentarse y comer. Los fanáticos disfrutan de sus comidas poniéndose de pie o llevándolos a sus asientos. Es fantástico ver la variedad de cocinas que se ofrecen y aún mejor que son negocios locales de Oakland. Atmosphere / Atmósfera 4 La mayor parte del área de asientos está en el lado este (más cercano al campus). Consta de 10 a 12 filas de gradas orientadas al oeste. Las gradas no tienen pasamanos instalados; para aquellos que se sienten incómodos, quédense en la sección para discapacitados o en las filas superiores. El club marca algúnas secciones apartadas. Los asientos de “Mosaic” son las tres secciones al centro del campo. Los asientos centrales de las primeras cinco filas, acolchados con cojines multicolores brillantes, se conocen como asientos Mosaic+. Oakland Roots Colorful Mosaic+ Seating, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey La sección de Deep Roots Supporters son las dos últimas secciones en el extremo sur de las gradas. Los graderios están al lado oeste y se usan para el desbordamiento y las familias de los jugadores. El club coloca asientos individuales alrededor del campo, detrás de las vallas laterales, para los fanáticos que desean una experiencia cercana a la acción. Los aficionados no pueden recorrer todo el perímetro del terreno de juego. La sección de la familia de los jugadores está vigilada y bloquea el circuito. El Oakland Roots SC utiliza el marcador del estadio de fútbol que se destaca detrás de la portería sur y muestra el tiempo, la mitad y el marcador. La organización despliega un césped modular específico para fútbol sobre el campo de fútbol para la temporada de fútbol. Siguiendo con el tema basado en la comunidad, los residentes y las organizaciones de Oakland brindan el entretenimiento. En el partido de esta revisión, la Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil de Oakland desempeñó antes del juego, al igual que G-Eazy, un destacado rapero y productor nacido en Oakland. Los clubes de fútbol juvenil patearon la pelota en el medio tiempo. Neighborhood / Barrio 3 El estadio se encuentra en el campus urbano de 60 acres de Laney College, a menos de una milla del Lake Merritt. Para lugares para comer, varios restaurantes vietnamitas y tailandeses están cerca. Más cerca del lago se encuentran Portal (restaurante de brunch) y Tacos Mi Rancho (mexicano). Varias cervecerías están a una milla de distancia: Buck Wild Brewing & Taproom, Oakland United Beerworks, Original Pattern Brewing y Federation Brewery. Jack London Square, un área histórica frente al mar y puerto deportivo con restaurantes, bares, tiendas y entretenimiento, está a solo 1,5 millas del campo de fútbol de Laney College. Un excelente museo para visitar es el Oakland Museum of California, a solo media milla del campo. La mayoría de los hoteles están en el centro de Oakland, a una milla de distancia. Estos incluyen un Hampton Inn Oakland Downtown, Ramada by Wyndham, un Marriott y un Courtyard Marriott. Otros deportes para visitar en el área durante la temporada de fútbol incluyen los Oakland Athletics y los San Francisco Giants . Fans / Fanáticos 4 Con solo dos años en la USL-C, la comunidad de Oakland ha adoptado Oakland Roots de todo corazón. Es un placer ver una variedad de grupos étnicos, familias, niños y adultos jóvenes reunidos en torno a este club de fútbol. Todos los fanáticos se ponen de pie y vitorean (o gimen) ante la acción en el campo. ¡Sin duda son una multitud alegre y bulliciosa! Deep Roots, el grupo de aficionados, crea una atmósfera eléctrica en los partidos con tambores, ondear banderas, vítores y saltos. Una línea de tambores anima a los fanáticos antes del juego con un desfile espectacular a lo largo de 10th St antes del partido. Tambores, bailarines y una persona sobre zancos caminan por la cuadra para que todos disfruten. Durante el concurso, Ryan, un artista local y avido fanatico, se para detrás de la meta y pinta un paisaje del estadio y el partido de futbol. Oakland Roots Local Artist, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey La asistencia promedio es de 4.600, lo que les brinda una multitud sólida para la mayoría de los partidos durante la temporada. Access / Acceso 3 Llegar al campo de fútbol americano de Laney College es relativamente fácil, ya que está justo al lado de la I-880 y a media milla de la estación BART de Lake Merritt . El estacionamiento está en el estacionamiento para estudiantes de Laney College en E 7th St, frente al campus (solo busque todos los autos), y es gratis. La entrada principal al estadio está en E 10th St y 2nd Ave, y los fanáticos pasan por detectores de metales para su control de seguridad. Se permiten bolsas transparentes de hasta 14” x 6” x 14”. La seguridad se toma en serio. Las puertas abren una hora antes del inicio. 10th St entre 2nd y 4th Avenue está cerrada para los camiones de comida y el entretenimiento previo al juego. Los baños están debajo de la cabina de prensa y las gradas; otro conjunto está en un edificio en el extremo noroeste de la cancha. Espere líneas durante los partidos con entradas agotadas. El área de asientos puede llenarse, especialmente durante los juegos que se agotan. Return on Investment / Retorno de la inversion 5 El precio de un boleto para un solo juego para un partido de Oakland Roots es el siguiente: Generalidades – $20 Mosaic – $25 Mosaic Plus – $35 Línea final de asiento de campo – $65 Línea lateral del asiento de campo – $75 Los boletos de temporada y los paquetes grupales reducen ese precio. Los fanáticos no pagan por el estacionamiento. Los precios de los alimentos son lo que se espera en California. Los fanáticos y el ambiente del día del juego son fenomenales. Obtendrá el valor de su dinero de entretenimiento deportivo en un partido aquí. Extras 4 Oakland Roots SC se unió al movimiento Common Goal cuya misión es crear un cambio social positivo. Los participantes contribuyen con un mínimo del 1% de sus salarios para luchar contra la desigualdad social. “El club fue fundado con un propósito; aprovechar la magia de Oakland y el poder del deporte como una fuerza para el bien social”. – tomado del sitio web Oakland Roots La organización está promocionando a su contraparte del equipo femenino, Oakland Soul, que comenzará a jugar en 2023 en la liga USL-W. Estar involucrado en la ciudad e incorporar empresas y organizaciones comunitarias en aspectos del día del partido es profundamente evidente. Final Thoughts / Pensamientos Finales Los fanáticos de los deportes de Oakland definitivamente han abrazado su nuevo club de fútbol, Oakland Roots SC. Encontrarás una casa repleta a menudo durante la temporada con fanáticos apasionados y acogedores. Muchas gracias a Jim Minard por su ayuda con la traducción.