Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Richardson Stadium 201 Faculty Drive Davidson, NC 28035 Davidson Wildcats website Richardson Stadium website Year Opened: 1923 Capacity: 6,000 Richardson Stadium Celebrates Its Centennial Davidson College is a private liberal arts school affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). It is in Davidson, NC, which is 19 miles north of Charlotte, NC. The school was founded in 1837 and has a student body of just over 1,900 students. The school offers more than 74 majors and other academic programs. The athletic teams at Davidson are known as the Wildcats. The football program is a member of the Pioneer Conference at the FCS level of NCAA football. Davidson first fielded a football program in 1896. It played at the Division III level of competition through 1992, moving up to the FCS level of competition in 1993. The team has gone to the FCS playoffs three times (2020,2021 and 2022). Davidson’s rivalry games each season is the battle with Presbyterian College. The game is known as the Carolina Border Clash, with the winner taking home the 1919 Cup. The home of Davidson football is the on-campus Richardson Stadium. The field is known as Stephen B Smith Field. Stephen Smith is a former Board of Trustee member at the school who was a member of the Southern Conference All-Academic Football Team. It opened in 1823 as Richardson Field, and is named for a prominent Davidson alum from the 1800’s. The field is encircled by the Irwin Belk Track, which is used for Davidson track meets. The stadium has a capacity of 6,000. The stadium has undergone several renovations in its century of service. These renovations included expanded seating and the construction of a new press box and the addition of a visitors’ locker room. Numerous ceremonies have been held during the season commemorating the venue’s Centennial year. Even as Davidson celebrates Richardson Field’s centennial, it is also looking to the future. In 2021 Davidson announced plans for a $45 million capital campaign to enhance the school’s athletic facilities. A major portion of these funds are going towards the construction of a new football stadium. The stadium will include a continuous seating concourse, a state-of-the-art videoboard, improved concessions areas and modern restrooms. As beloved as Richardson Stadium is, it is a 100-year-old facility. It does not have the wide concourses and modern restrooms of a more recent build. The new stadium will enhance the game experience for the fans in a major way. Construction of the new stadium is well underway, and it will be ready in time for the 2024 football season. Food & Beverage 2 There is one lone concession stand located on the track to the left of the seating area. It is run by the Davidson-Huntersville Lion Club to benefit charities in the area. They offer the standards, including Pepsi brand products ($3), water ($3), hot dogs ($3), pizza ($7), popcorn ($3), peanuts ($3), and candy ($2). In addition, there are usually some food trucks behind the south end zone to supplement the offerings at the concession stand. Atmosphere 3 Attending a football game at Davidson is the quintessential small college football experience. Everybody in the home section of the stadium seating area tends to know the person sitting next to them. It is a more relaxed vibe than you would find at a major college football stadium. Both the student body and the school’s fan base are very well behaved, as the school has a very strict code of conduct in classes and at events held on campus. You will pass through the tailgating area just before entering the stadium. This is a festive atmosphere, with music, games and fans reuniting with fellow alums. There is also tailgating in the Baker Athletic Center parking lot. Seating is all on the home side of the field, as the far side of the field is hemmed in by campus buildings and a parking facility. All seats in the stands are metal bleachers, so it is a good idea to bring a stadium cushion with you. The stands have great views of the action, as even the top level of the seating area is still very close to the field. The service areas of the stadium, such ticketing and restrooms are found beneath the seating structure. The lone concession stand is positioned on the track and behind one of the end zones. One unusual aspect of the stadium is the patio at the north end of the stadium. The patio is attached to the Alvarez College Union Building and there is no restriction on patrons of that building to come out and watch the game from this outpost. It technically is outside the stadium and so it requires no ticket. The south end of the stadium features an alumni/booster tent and a rather dated digital scoreboard. Neighborhood 5 Richardson Stadium and Davidson College are in Davidson, NC. The town was founded in 1879 and presently has a population of 12,000 people. It is a true college town, with very close links with the school. The downtown area of Davison is adjacent to the school, within walking distance of the campus. The town is very pedestrian and bike friendly, with bike lanes and walking trails throughout the area. The downtown area is filled with mom-and-pop shops, restaurants and lodging facilities. No visit to Davidson is complete without a visit to the Soda Shop. It has been open since 1951 and serves the typical soda shop menu of hot dogs, milkshakes and fries. The Brickhouse Tavern is a favorite of both Davidson students and townspeople. It is housed in a building that formerly was a mill store. Another popular pub and restaurant is the Flatiron Kitchen and Taphouse. The town offers two lodging sites in the Davidson Village Inn and the Homewood Suites by Hilton Davidson. The town is located adjacent to Lake Norman, the largest manmade lake in North Carolina. There are numerous recreational activities available at the lake, including fishing, boating and swimming areas. Fans 4 The Wildcats have a very loyal fanbase made up of the Davidson student body and the townspeople. The alums make up a sizeable portion of the fans in the stands as well. This is because nearby Charlotte, NC is home to a large portion of the alumni who attended the school. While everything at a Wildcats football game is on a smaller scale than you would find at a major college game, the fans at Richardson Stadium are just as loud and proud of their school. The school band works very closely with the cheer teams to coordinate their actions to keep the fans stirred up throughout the game. Will E. Wildcat, the school’s mascot, is always on hand to encourage the crowd, while also entertaining the small fry. Access 2 Davidson College and Richardson Stadium are easy to reach via I-77. Directions from Charlotte: Take I-77 north for 19 miles to the Davidson exit (Exit 30). Turn left onto Griffith Street. Continue on Griffith Street to North Main Street. Turn right on Main Street, then left at Concord Road. Take Concord Road to Baker Drive. Turn left on Baker Drive and then right into the large parking lot for the Baker Sports Complex. After parking your car, you will walk across Baker Drive to Richardson Stadium. The restroom facilities are found underneath the seating structure. They tend to get very crowded during the breaks in the action, or at halftime. The concourses are rather narrow for the size of the crowd. There are no seats on the other side of the field, so you have a combination of both the home and visitor’s fan bases on one side of the field. Return on Investment 4 Attending a game at Davidson is very easy on your wallet. All seats at Richardson Stadium are general admission seats. Tickets are $13.05 for adults and $6.53 for youth (12 years old and younger. Parking at the Baker Sports complex is free. The concession prices are quite reasonable for the most part. Food trucks serving the stadium may have more expensive items for sale. Extras 4 Nearly 25% of the Davidson student body is involved in one of the NCAA sports at the school. The Wildcats have actually beaten the University of Georgia Bulldogs. The game took place in 1906, with a score of 15-0. Davidson used the recently approved forward pass to seal the victory over the Bulldogs. Davidson has the 4th smallest enrollment of any school competing in Division I football. Davidson is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference in all sports except football. Final Thoughts A visit to a Wildcats football game at Davidson is small town Southern football at its best. Enjoy the cute downtown stores and restaurants before heading into the lovely, wooded campus of Davidson College. Enjoy the gameday experience at the century old Richardson Stadium while it lasts.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Guv Fuller Field 790 Main St Falmouth, MA 02540 Falmouth Commodores website Guv Fuller Field website Year Opened: 1963 Capacity: 2,000 Comm(odore) on Down to Guv Fuller Field Located in the town of Falmouth on Cape Cod, Guv Fuller Field is home to the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League. Falmouth has been playing in the Cape League since the early 1900s and has won 16 league championships, including six in the modern era, which began in 1963. The Cape Cod League is known for having some of the best college baseball players in the country during the summer months, and Falmouth is no exception. Famous alumni include Tino Martinez, Jeff Weaver, and Darrin Erstad. Even before the modern era when the Cape League was mostly town ball, the team recruited prominent players, including future Hall of Famer Pie Traynor. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand at Guv Fuller Field, located near the entrance down the right field line. Classics such as burgers and hot dogs are available, as are sausages with peppers and onions, fried dough, chips, and candy. Soft drinks and water are available, with the latter coming in aluminum cans rather than plastic bottles due to local ordinances. Prices are a bit on the high side compared to other Cape League venues, but the food is grilled fresh in front of you, so ultimately you get what you pay for. Atmosphere 3 In Falmouth, as in the rest of the Cape League, the game on the field is the main attraction here. There are no between-innings contests unless you count the raffle, and while music is played, it is not played at the high volume you see at many other places. The focus here is on the game. Guv Fuller Field has a rather haphazard seating arrangement, but wherever you sit, you will have a great view of the action. There is a set of wooden bleachers down the right field line that seems unstable, and while it feels like it is about to fall apart at any moment, longtime fans say it has been like that for some time and is still standing so you are probably fine. There are more modern sets of bleachers closer to home plate, as well as ample hill seating for fans to bring their chairs and watch the game. There is no fence separating the wooden bleachers in the right field from the playing area, only a gravel track. Players will walk along this track and are always willing to interact with fans and sign autographs before and after the game, and even during it if they are not playing. Neighborhood 5 Guv Fuller Field is located on Falmouth's Main Street, less than a mile from the heart of downtown. Numerous restaurants, bars, and other shops line the street and everyone will find something to enjoy. Cape Cod is known for its seafood, and Falmouth is no exception, with several places to eat along these lines. You are also mere minutes from the beach, with numerous hotels and resorts to stay at as well as vacation rental homes. Anywhere on Cape Cod is going to have excellent places to eat, drink, and stay, and with Guv Fuller Field being so close to the heart of Falmouth, it is certainly no exception. Fans 4 As is the case throughout the Cape League, the crowd at Guv Fuller Field will depend on when in the season you head down. As the tourist season picks up in July and early August, so too will the crowds at Commodores games increase. When we visited in late July, the crowd was beyond capacity, with about 2,500 in attendance. Games in June, when tourism is lower, will draw less. Every Cape Cod League team has loyal fans who follow the team at home and often away from home as well. Whether it's retirees or vacationers, young couples, or families who come to the same town on the Cape every year, the Commodores have built up a loyal fan base. Given many of the fans are tourists who are only in town for a week, it may not be the same fans throughout the season, but you are sure to get a good crowd here, especially later in the season. Access 3 If coming to a Commodores game from off-Cape, be prepared for heavy beach traffic, especially if coming on a Friday or weekend. Crossing the Cape Cod Canal can be especially bad, as there are only so many ways across. Once you get into Falmouth, Guv Fuller Field is located behind the Community Center near the police station and there is a large, recently renovated lot, in which fans can park. Other parking is available nearby if that fills up. Restrooms are located in the Community Center, which can be a bit of a walk depending on where you are sitting, but there is an entrance right next to the field for fans to use, and center staff will helpfully direct you if you don't know where to go. Return on Investment 5 As with all Cape Cod League games, admission is free here in Falmouth. While concessions are on the high end, you are paying for freshly grilled food and freshly fried dough, not something that has been sitting out for a while. That makes the slightly extra cost well worth it, particularly since you won't be paying anything else to go here other than the cost of gas. Extras 3 There is a playground beyond the right field fence as well as a grassy area for kids to play catch. A 50-50 raffle gives fans the chance to win not just a cash prize but prizes from numerous local sponsors as well. Fans can sign up for the speed pitch contest at a booth down the first baseline. Whoever throws the fastest pitch in each age group wins a prize. Final Thoughts The Cape Cod League is one of the most historic summer collegiate leagues in the country and is also known for its high quality of play and the large number of major leaguers it has produced. The Falmouth Commodores are no exception, and a trip to Guv Fuller Field will allow fans to see future major leaguers playing in competitive games for free. The scenic setting of the Cape, the action on the field, and the loyal, friendly fan base are unlike any other league in the country. While Guv Fuller Field seems to have a negative reputation among some Cape Cod League fans, a visit here on a night in late July, with the crowd packing the stands and the hills, shows why baseball on the Cape is amazing wherever you go.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.19 George V. Meehan Auditorium 235 Hope St Providence, RI 02912 Brown Bears Hockey website George V. Meehan Auditorium website Year Opened: 1961 Capacity: 3,100 Ivy League Bears Meehan Auditorium was named for George V. Meehan, who donated the funds to build an arena to “serve and promote” the Brown men’s hockey team. Notable events to be held at Meehan include a visit from President Lyndon B. Johnson during his 1964 Presidential campaign and the 1965 Frozen Four. Hockey has been played at Brown since 1898. Now a member of the ECAC and Ivy Leagues, 19 Brown Alumni have played in the NHL. The Bears have qualified for the NCAA Tournament four times (1951, 1965, 1976, 1993), and have made the Frozen Four three times, most recently in 1976. Brown University sponsored the first women’s college hockey team in the country, which began play in 1964. Food & Beverage 2 There is a small concession stand right near the entrance to Meehan Auditorium. This stand serves up a very basic menu, with hot dogs, pizza slices, pretzels, and other assorted snacks comprising the entire menu. With the excellent dining options located right outside Meehan Auditorium, all you’ll want to have at the game is a snack, anyway. Coca-Cola products are featured at Meehan Auditorium. Warm drinks are popular choices in this chilly rink, with coffee, tea, and hot chocolate available here. New for selected games in 2022 is the "Beer Garden," which is in actuality a cart which offers a small selection of beer and wine. Taking up valuable standing room right over the goal on the far side of the arena, it's nonetheless been a popular addition to the Brown hockey experience. It’s not unusual to see fans bring their snacks into a Brown hockey game. If you’re short on cash, check out the vending machines on the far end of the rink. The sodas in these machines are less expensive than at the snack bar ($2.25 vs. $3.00). Don’t tell anyone, it will be our secret. Atmosphere 2 The Brown athletic department puts on a game day presentation that is right in line with what you’d expect in an older facility hosting an Ivy League team. It’s reserved, traditional, and almost scholarly, While music does play during intermissions and stoppages, it would hardly be considered intrusive. The Brown pep band creates some noise, but the lack of turnout from the student body negates much of their influence. Smallish scoreboards at either end of the rink display basic game information. There is a mascot who skates around during team introductions, but it is generally not seen otherwise. The PA announcer does his job in a workmanlike fashion, as there is not an abundance of promotions or over-the-top theatrics here. While not the most in-your-face presentation you’ll come across, it makes sense in a historic arena like Meehan Auditorium. Extensive renovations took place at Meehan Auditorium over the past couple of years, but they were focused on areas mostly out of sight from the fans. Locker rooms and other player amenities were modernized during these renovations along with improvements to the HVAC system. The game day experience at Meehan Auditorium is very similar to what it’s been for years. However, plans are in the works for some new features at Meehan Auditorium. Efforts to modernize the old rink are in the planning phase. Neighborhood 5 Meehan Auditorium is located on the residential East Side of Providence, adjacent to several other Brown University athletic venues, including Paul Bailey Pizzitola Sports Center and Murray Stadium. Brown Stadium is located about a mile away. Thayer Street, which serves as Brown University’s main street, is just a couple of blocks from the rink. Thayer Street is filled with quaint shops, restaurants, and bars. A short distance in the other direction is Hope Street, which continues the eclectic vibe of the East Side with more locally owned shops and places to eat. Nearby Wayland Square and Wickenden Street offer more fine restaurants, shopping and nightlife options. Downtown Providence is only a mile and a half away at the bottom of College Hill. Providence enjoys a well-deserved reputation as one of the finest culinary destinations in the country, and visitors to the city will find many diverse and excellent dining and lodging choices here. Fans 2 Brown annually ranks in the bottom ten of all Division One schools nationwide in terms of attendance. While there is some fluctuation from year to year, average attendance tops out at around 800 fans per game every year. Stadium Journey attended the Bears 2022-23 home opener, which attracted just under 900 fans. In hockey-mad Rhode Island, these figures can be very surprising. The fans that frequent Meehan Auditorium are long-time fans of the program. They know their hockey, but do not support their team in a boisterous manner. Fitting for an Ivy League location, they are quiet and reserved in their support. As mentioned before, it just seems to fit here. There is little turnout by the student body for Bears hockey games. This is a recurring theme for many Brown sports and getting more students invested in sporting events is a focus for the new school administration. With the compact geographic footprint and longstanding rivalries of the Ivy League and ECAC, there is often a good turnout from visiting fans. Access 4 Meehan Auditorium is located adjacent to the Pizzitola Sports Center in Brown’s Athletic complex. While Brown University is located near Interstates 95 and 195, one must navigate a maze of neighborhood streets on Providence’s East Side before arriving at the arena. If attending a game on a weekday, Providence can be a tough city in which to get around. Several RIPTA buses run regularly to nearby Thayer Street, just a couple of blocks from the rink. Parking is available for Brown hockey at no charge in any of several small lots shared by the university’s athletic venues. Complete directions to these lots can be found here. Fans unable to find a spot in a lot can utilize free on-street parking in the area around the auditorium. Finding an available spot can be tricky at times, but patient visitors should be able to find spots within easy walking distance of the facility. Meehan Auditorium’s large white dome can be seen from far away, as the arena was built on the highest point of the athletic complex. Fans will be greeted upon entering the rink by a stuffed Alaskan Brown Bear. The concourse circles the arena and features a standing room on either end of the rink. All seats are folding wooden chairs painted brown, and red gold, and feature excellent views of the ice. A walkway runs about halfway up the seating bowl, separating the upper and lower sections. Restrooms are located on the far end of the arena and are large enough for a typical Bears crowd. Lines do form during intermission. Return on Investment 5 Heading to Meehan Auditorium to catch a Brown Bear game is a very affordable entertainment option for Rhode Island hockey fans. Tickets are priced at ten dollars for adults and seven dollars for youths. Waiting until bus game day will add another two dollars to the price. Parking is free in the athletic complex parking lot behind Meehan Auditorium or on the streets surrounding the rink. As mentioned before, no concession item costs more than five dollars. Extras 2 Brown University displays a hockey history proudly and that’s worth a couple of extra points. Banners for every player to go on and play in the NHL, PHF or Olympics can be found as you traverse the arena. Trophy cases are loaded with hardware in the front lobby, and plaques honoring every captain and coach in Brown history hang proudly. All-Americans and All-Conference players are recognized. Banners honoring conference championships, NCAA tournament appearances, and Frozen Fours hang from the rafters. As you enter Meehan Auditorium, you are greeted by paintings of the “Brown Hockey Legends,” seven individuals who have been instrumental in the establishment and growth of Brown hockey. Meehan Auditorium doubles as a museum for Brown hockey history. It’s quite fitting for the home of two of the oldest hockey programs in the country. Final Thoughts Meehan Auditorium, in use for over sixty years, gives you exactly what you would expect from an Ivy League hockey rink. It’s uniquely designed, it’s loaded with history, and features a gameday presentation that is reserved and almost scholarly, Old barns like this are exactly why fans should consider including hockey games in their Stadium Journeys. -------- Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Ives-Lemel Family Field Kings Creek Loop Brevard, NC 28712 Brevard Tornados website Ives-Lemel Family Field website Capacity: 1,000 Reap the Tornado! Ives-Lemel Family Field in Brevard, NC is home to D3 football’s Brevard Tornados, as well as the school’s lacrosse and soccer teams. With brand-new turf, stadium lights to allow night play, and dual grandstands seating 1,000 fans, the recent expansion represents a game-changer for Brevard sports. Food & Beverage 2 Ives-Lemel Family Field has a concession stand behind the main concourse, and while it doesn’t offer a lot, it does provide some local favorites and plenty to get you through the game. Serving up pizza, Chick-fil-A sandwiches (regular or spicy), and lots of snacks including popcorn, cookies, chips, peanuts, packaged candy, and cotton candy, as well as drink options beyond just soda and bottled water, the prices here won’t set you back. Poppy popcorn and Chick-fil-A sandwiches are the most expensive items and cost $6.95 and $6.50 respectively, but everything else is $3 or less. Atmosphere 4 The expanded facility at Brevard provides a great atmosphere for Tornados fans – plenty of bright blue and black signage greets fans as they arrive, and you will see a slew of fans tailgating in the parking lots next to the helmet tunnel. The crowd noise is a lot louder than you might expect from 1,000 fans, and the newness is a welcome experience for fans, with modern bathrooms, a stately press box, and comfortable seating including bucket-style chairbacks in the center of the main stands. The band and cheer squad do a great job entertaining fans as well – the only thing lacking, as yet, is a videoboard for instant replays. Neighborhood 3 Brevard, North Carolina is a small town located on the edge of the Nantahala National Forest, about 2 hours west of Charlotte and 1 hour south of Asheville. Brevard College is perhaps the mainstay of the town, and there are several restaurants within walking distance of the campus and the stadium, with a few more located downtown such as Big Mike’s (pizza) and the cleverly named Square Root (serving up international fare). There are only 3 hotels in town, but that is more than enough to accommodate any fans who want to stay the night. Ives-Lemel Family Field itself has student housing on two sides, making it easy for students to attend games, and the stadium is close to the school’s other athletic fields as well, with the rest of the campus buildings a little further out. Fans 3 The fans here are great – the students sit right next to the band and provide most of the noise and energy, but the other fans contribute as well. As I mentioned above the tailgating scene is solid, and the 2 team gear tents near the parking lot do a brisk trade in t-shirts and hats, so you can expect to see many of the Tornados fans decked out in school swag. Access 4 Except perhaps for how far Brevard College is off the beaten path, getting in and out of Ives-Lemel Family Field is a breeze. There is free parking on campus as you approach the field and wide-open space behind the main stands, with walking paths around the field if you need to get to the visitor's side. There are ticket tents set up behind each corner of the west end zone, including a bridge over the creek for fans coming from campus – the entrance behind the east end zone is reserved for fans with passes. Note that the only bathrooms and concessions are located underneath the main stands, so if you are sitting on the visitor side you will have to walk around. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to Brevard football games are only $10, either online or cash/credit card at the gate – this is a great return on investment for this brand-new facility. The atmosphere is great with a lot of energy from the fans, and the Tornado color scheme adds some great pops of color to the greenery around you. Extras 3 The scenery is very pleasant with all the trees surrounding the facility, providing an intimate feel. There is also a blue Tornado sculpture next to the athletics building on the north side of the field, and the game begins with the sound of a Tornado siren, not unlike the nearby Carolina Hurricanes, with a hurricane warning alarm as the key part of their intro. Fans can also stand along the fence to watch the game, and kids have plenty of room to play there – dogs are also welcome. Final Thoughts I would recommend a visit to Brevard College for a football game – Ives-Lemel Family Field is a nice little gem hidden in rural North Carolina. The Tornados began playing football in 2006 after a 50+ year hiatus, and the recent stadium expansion is surely helping move their program forward.

Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Burlington Athletic Stadium 1450 Graham St Burlington, NC 27217 Burlington Sock Puppets website Burlington Athletic Stadium website Year Opened: 1948/1960 Capacity: 3,500 The Show Goes on in Sockville Minor League and Independent Baseball have transformed thanks in large part to COVID. Burlington, North Carolina was one of forty-two cities and towns across the country to recently be cut out of affiliated Minor League Baseball. There was however a silver lining for baseball fans in Alamance County – competitive baseball would not entirely vanish from Burlington Athletic Stadium, and 2021 would lead to a resurrection for both the team and the league they played in. The team originally known as the Burlington Indians played in the Carolina League from 1958-1964; for the first two seasons of that stint, the team played in nearby Graham before opening their Burlington venue in 1960, which was moved from its old home 40 miles north in Danville, Virginia, and reassembled in Burlington. Burlington Athletic Stadium was originally called Fairchild Park and made a cameo in the film “Bull Durham.” The stadium sat empty for twenty-two years, but in 1986 the rookie-level Appalachian League brought baseball back to Burlington – for the next two decades they were known once again as the Burlington Indians, but in 2007 with the affiliation switch from the Cleveland Indians to the Kansas City Royals, the team took on the parent club’s identity and up until 2020 were known as the Burlington Royals. Then 2021 saw Burlington and the nine other Appy League teams moved from affiliated minor league baseball to the summer collegiate league, giving the team and the city a chance to start over; on February 1, 2021, the team changed its name to the Burlington Sock Puppets, joining other league rivals who also adopted funny and original identities. And while there is some controversy among some baseball purists that the new names don’t adequately reflect the imposing names that many are used to in baseball and throughout sports, there can be no doubt that things are “sockingly” fun and different in Burlington. Food & Beverage 4 It is often hard to know what to expect when eating out at a baseball game at this level, but Burlington Athletic Stadium does not disappoint. The stadium has one main food stand but offers a variety of options for reasonable prices – you can get your basic hot dog, hamburger, or cheeseburger for three, four, or five dollars respectively (or four dollars more each for a combo with chips and a drink) or a slice of Domino’s pizza, a BBQ sandwich from local joint Tickle My Ribs, or a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich will only run you three, five, or six dollars respectively. You can also get some unique items such as pulled pork nachos, a hot dog topped with mac and cheese, or the stadium's special “laundry basket,” which is loaded nachos with mac and cheese, pulled pork, and jalapenos, which will only set you back eight bucks. The stadium also offers your typical snacks including popcorn, candy, peanuts, and pretzels, and offers two places to grab dessert, with Pelican’s Sno-Balls and Dippin’ Dots offered. NC-based Pepsi is the soft drink of choice, with a bottle only costing three dollars. Alcohol costs between three and six bucks depending on size and selection, and nearby Durham-based Tobacco Road Brewing Company partnered with the team to produce a Sock Puppets-themed beer, with a team design on the can, but not the flavor of socks. Atmosphere 3 Burlington Athletic Stadium seats 3,500, with the vast majority being bleacher seats. There are a few reserved chair-back seats behind home plate. Most of the seats are also covered, but there are bleacher seats on the first and third base side that are not protected from the elements. Sightlines are great no matter where you sit, which is often an advantage at an intimate park. The PA Announcer is very energetic, as is the band that greets fans with energetic jams before the first pitch. They also have mascot night for certain games, so alongside the long-tenured mascot Bingo the team kept along for the rebranding ride, and the new mascot Socksquatch, you can see the Demon Deacon from Wake Forest University or Homer from the in-state Charlotte Knights, joining in on the fun to entertain fans young and old. Neighborhood 3 Unlike their counterparts in affiliated baseball, a lot of summer league baseball stadiums are not located right in the heart of their respective cities or towns, and Burlington Athletic Stadium is no different. But while the venue is not within walking distance and doesn’t offer any public transit to the center of town, a six-minute drive will get you to all that downtown Burlington has to offer. A town of about 50,000 separating the state’s Triangle and Triad regions, and halfway between North Carolina’s famous beaches and mountains, Burlington offers a variety of restaurants including Burlington Beer Works, a local brewery that offers delicious small plates, brunch, dinner, and a large selection of local craft beer. Not far from BBW is Zach’s Hot Dogs, a near-century-old establishment serving up delicious dogs, burgers, and breakfast. Finally, if you’re looking for authentic NC-style BBQ, then look no further than Hursey’s. Just five minutes from the stadium in the opposite direction from downtown, Hursey’s has arguably some of the best BBQ in the state and serves it Piedmont style, which is a blend between Eastern NC’s vinegar-based and Lexington (Western) NC’s tomato-based sauce; Hursey’s is also home to some of the best hush puppies you’ll find anywhere. Downtown Burlington has a lot of local shops including Persnickety Books and Wayne’s Attic, an antique store, as well as Burlington City Park, which is a great place to take young ones before a night game or after a matinee – the park includes a playground, train, carousel, and boats. There is also more shopping ten minutes west at Alamance Crossing, a giant shopping center including Barnes and Noble, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Kohl’s (among many others) plus numerous chain restaurants. There aren’t any hotels near the stadium, but there are several chain options less than ten minutes away on I-40, including Microtel, Hampton, and Quality Inn. Fans 3 The Sock Puppets are in the first year of a new, original identity, and that is no doubt going to help with attendance. Despite the threat of thunderstorms and some rain, there were still a solid number of fans during my most recent visit. Those who were in attendance seemed engaged and cheered on their team; it will be interesting to see how the team ranks in attendance in the rebranded league’s inaugural year – according to the team there was a 30% increase in attendance this year as compared to 2019. Access 3 Getting to the stadium is easy and traffic is not an issue; there is a sizable parking lot outside the stadium which leads to the main entrance and the separate VIP entrance. There is no public transit to the stadium, and Ubers are very hit-and-miss in a town of Burlington’s size. The concourses are wide enough and don’t usually get congested, which makes walking around the stadium not a real issue. Return on Investment 4 A Sock Puppets game is a great way to watch some top college prospects at a very affordable price with free parking, concession prices averaging under ten dollars for a meal, and tickets starting at just six bucks, so you can catch a game at Burlington Athletic Stadium for less than twenty dollars. . Extras 5 One point for the variety of inflatables set up beyond the first baseline is that give kids a great place to get their energy out during the game. A second point for the team store selling various Sock Puppets merchandise, and a third point to the sock puppet station where fans young and old can create their very own sock puppet to take home. A fourth point for the person throwing out the first sock instead of the first pitch at the start of the game, and finally a point for one of the most unique team names in all of the sports, as well as the signage declaring Burlington “Sockville”. Final Thoughts The Sock Puppets are in their inaugural year of Summer Collegiate Baseball and have already taken baseball by storm with one of the most compelling and controversial names in baseball. But for better or worse the team has run with it and doesn’t need shoes to attract baseball fans in North Carolina to the city of Burlington to see what all the hype is about. Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunterand his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Soldier Field 1200 N Dupont Highway Dover, DE 19901 Delaware State Hornets website Soldier Field website Year Opened: 1958 Capacity: 500 Dover Diamond The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is made up of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) located between Florida and Delaware. Only nine of the 13 member MEAC schools field teams in baseball. Bethune-Cookman University has been dominating the MEAC for nearly two decades. Delaware State has been a member of the MEAC since its founding in 1971. 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 1981 as Delaware State College and changed to a university in 1993. One of their most unique programs is the university-based flight school. The Delaware State Hornets baseball teams are one of the strongest teams in the northern part of the MEAC. Their longtime home, Soldier Field, has been open since 1958. Recent renovations have seen work performed on the field, as well as the addition of a 20-foot tall left field “monster” wall in 2009. In late 2017, the facility also saw some new seats added behind the backstop. EDITOR'S NOTE: Delaware State Hornets moved its baseball team to Bob Reed Field in 2022. Food & Beverage 3 The food will not wow you. But they offer friendly service at a small stand located behind the first base grandstand. Hot dogs are a bargain at $2 and the “Hornet Special” is $4 and includes hot dog, chips and either water, soda or coffee. Drinks are $1.25. The best bargain is 10 cents for gum with $1 for assorted candy. Those prices are not found almost anywhere at a sporting event. From talking to the friendly concession staff, there are always changes and additions to the menu, so just ask at the stand for any specials. Atmosphere 4 This is not a high end stadium. But the atmosphere at Soldier Field is perfect for the true baseball fan. And the MEAC conference offers a good quality of baseball. There are two metal bleachers, one on the first base side and one on the third base side. But the best views of the action are not from these seats. There is a very small right field seating section. It is a row and half of plastic seats with seat cushions. They offer a great view of the action on the first base side. Another unique seating section is the single row of wooden seats that run along the third base line past the dugout. It is a hidden gem and also offers great views. A couple rows of new seats have been added behind the backstop. If you do sit in the metal bleachers, you should stop by the shed located under the press box and get a seatback/cushion for the game. This keeps you from killing your back on the metal bleachers. They are free, although you may have to pick through the pile to find one in good working condition. Neighborhood 3 There is not much to the neighborhood. The field is located at the back part of the university between some general facility buildings and in front of dormitories. If you go to the front facing part of the university you will see that the neighborhood consists of the massive Dover Downs Casino and Dover International Speedway NASCAR track complex across the large and busy DuPont Highway. Dover Mall and assorted big box retailers are also in ready view. You can even hear the dogs barking from the local pet supply store. 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 3 As with most northeast college baseball stadiums, the bulk of the fans tend to be family or friends of both teams. There are a number of local residents who seem to be regulars at the games. The fans are knowledgeable and friendly to visitors. Access 3 Soldier Field is at the back part of the Delaware State campus. It is not too hard to find, although signage is not well marked. The university is right off of a major road in DuPont Highway. A toll road, Route 1, that takes you most of the way north to Wilmington is also nearby. Dover is about a one and a half hour trip from Philadelphia and 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 best. 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. There may also be tolls, not just from nearby Route 1, unless you are already on the eastern shore or Delmarva region. If travelling 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 for weekend games should be easy to find in the numerous nearby lots. Weekday games while school is in session may make parking a bit trickier. Be sure to read signs so that you don’t get ticketed by campus police. Return on Investment 5 Soldier Field is free to attend and parking is also free. Those coupled with the cheap prices for food make this a good investment for a true baseball fan. You will use quite a bit of gas getting to the game in somewhat isolated Dover unless you live in the area, but try and plan your game trip with a trip to the shore, or to the NASCAR track and/or casino. Extras 2 The left field 20-foot monster sized wall is a nice treat to see. Also make sure to spend some time sitting in the many quirky seating sections. They are an experience like no other. Final Thoughts This is a quirky, old baseball field that offers a good value to see a good on the field product. It is not shiny and new, but baseball fans will find Soldier Field to be one of the best college baseball experiences around the Mid-Atlantic region.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Gulfstream Park 901 S Federal Hwy Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 Gulfstream Park website Year Opened: 1939 Miami’s Other Track Hialeah Park in Miami is probably the most well-known live horse racing venue in the state of Florida, but not far away is another track, Gulfstream Park, which offers many more racing days on the calendar – Gulfstream Park offers live racing from July to October and again from December to May, while Hialeah only has live racing from November to February. Food & Beverage 4 Gulfstream Park offers a wide range of concessions for folks at the races, but unexpectedly most of them come from the same main stands. If you stand in front of the concessions stands for a minute or two you will see the board flip between three different menus – chicken wings, chicken tenders, hot dogs, and wraps, followed by pizza, subs, and calzones, and finally stir fry bowls with an Asian flare. This is for the stands inside the clubhouse (lower level), with prices ranging from $5 to $15 for main dishes, but if you walk outside you can find more basic stands that just have hot dogs, pizza, and small snacks for $3 to $6. If you sit up on the club level (which requires a pricier ticket) you can enjoy buffet-style food and a full bar. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere at Gulfstream Park is nice – the scenery is great with the lake in the middle the palm trees, and a few high-rises in the background, and there are multiple seating areas you can choose from, most of which are under cover if not indoors – some of the ones outside have fans blowing to help keep you cool, although it is so hot here they don’t help much. There are of course plenty of betting machines, mostly self-service, and there is also a large simulcast viewing room inside, with dozens of screens on the wall if you want to take in races at other tracks, and plenty of individual seats at tables in front of them so you can keep notes. Neighborhood 4 There is very little entertainment within walking distance of Gulfstream Park, other than the attached casino, given the enormous footprint the track and its accompanying parking lots take up, but there are plenty of great restaurants within a short drive. Being in Miami Cuban food is a great option, and you will see plenty of those eateries in the area, as well as numerous great seafood places. There is also a wonderful Mexican restaurant closer to the airport (about 20 minutes from the track) called Chevys Fresh Mex, which is worth a look if are headed that way. In addition to the restaurants there are plenty of hotels in the area, most of them closer to the beach, and if you are looking for something to do before or after the races, Miami also has several professional sports teams, including the Miami Dolphins, the Miami Marlins, and the Miami Heat, as well as the University of Miami Hurricanes which share a stadium with the Dolphins. Since Gulfstream Park offers racing throughout most of the year, you should be able to double up with one or more of these other teams if desired. Fans 2 Gulfstream Park doesn’t have many racegoers in attendance, possibly because the races begin around noon or 1 p.m. instead of at night – but with ten or so races on the card, you may see a bump in attendance as the sun starts to go down. Access 4 The big knock for Miami horse racing is simply the traffic – it takes a very long time to get to Gulfstream Park, but once you get on-site you can park very easily right next to the racetrack. The parking lot itself seems a little run down with a few potholes in places, but it is largely empty, so there is plenty of room. Once inside there is even more room to roam around, with plenty of seating in any of the various sections. Return on Investment 3 There is no cost for admission at Gulfstream Park, and you can buy a basic program for only $1 (the more detailed program runs $5). However, there is nothing here that is too out of the ordinary – just a basic racetrack in a pretty setting. Extras 2 You can get pretty close to the horses here, though depending on the length of each race (they vary across the card), the starting gate might be on the other side of the track. There is also an inner track as well as an outer track, making races on the inner track a little harder to follow – but they have several giant videoboards around, so you can watch the action that way if you can’t quite make out the leaders with the naked eye.

Photos by Joseph Oakes, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 William Neal Reynolds Coliseum 2411 Dunn Ave Raleigh, NC 27607 North Carolina State Wolfpack website William Neal Reynolds Coliseum website Year Opened: 1949 Capacity: 5,500 A “New” Home for Women’s Basketball at Historic Reynolds Coliseum Reynolds Coliseum first opened in 1949 as the home of the NC State men’s basketball team. For much of its early life, Reynolds was the largest basketball arena in the southeast with a capacity of 12,400. Due to its size, Reynolds hosted the first 13 ACC tournaments from 1954-1966. Reynolds has also hosted NCAA regionals eight times. It has been the home to two NCAA men’s National Championship teams as the NC State men’s team won it all in 1974 and 1983. Famous coaches Everett Case, Norm Sloan, and Jim Valvano have all lead their teams at Reynolds Coliseum. During its heyday, Reynolds was one of the toughest home courts for visiting teams in the country. Former UNC player and current head coach Hubert Davis said, “The toughest place I ever played was Reynolds Coliseum. Cameron Indoor Stadium didn’t even come close…”. In 1999, the men’s team left their on-campus home to the larger and more luxurious PNC Arena across town. Reynolds now is the home of the women’s basketball team, the wrestling team, and the gymnastics team. In 2018, the newly renovated Reynolds Coliseum was renamed James T. Valvano Arena at William Neal Reynolds Coliseum in honor of the former men’s basketball coach. Food & Beverage 4 Reynolds Coliseum offers many concession choices to keep you well fed at the game. These include hot dogs ($4), Chick-fil-A Sandwich ($7), pulled pork sandwich ($7), and chicken club wrap ($7). Snack items include popcorn ($5), nachos ($5), cotton candy ($5), peanuts ($4), candy ($3), and Howling Cow Ice Cream ($3), which is made at the NC State Dairy. Bottled Coke products, including Dasani water and Powerade, are available for $4. Alcoholic beverages are also available. These include: Coors Light and Michelob Ultra ($8), Corona Extra ($10), Truly Wild Berry ($10), Wicked Weed Pernicious ($10), and Babe Wine ($10). Keep in mind that cash is not accepted at Reynolds Coliseum. Atmosphere 5 Reynolds Coliseum was originally built in 1949, so from the exterior it resembles the historic basketball arena that it is. It was built as a long and narrow building with several seating sections far away from the action. However, a $35 million renovation in 2016 pushed the court to one end of the building and created a Hall of Fame and Grand Hall in one end of the building. While this reduced capacity from 8,300 to 5,500, it created an intimate experience with all the seats right on top of the action. There is a lower level on each sideline with 4 rows of courtside seats. The upper level is designed in a horse-shoe, with pull out bleachers on the end zone side below the Grand Hall. Standing at the top of these bleachers in the Grand Hall offers a great view of the action. There is a four-sided center hung video board that provides the score and replays. There are also several ribbon boards around the arena. The NC State pep band provides a great atmosphere throughout the game, as well as, Mr. and Mrs. Wuf mascots that make their rounds taking pictures with children, etc. Due to recent renovations, there is not a bad seat in the house. However, keep in mind that sections K and L and not chair back. The rest of the seats except for the student section (sections D-F) are. Reynolds Coliseum is also the home to the NC State Athletics Hall of Fame. This is located on the main concourse underneath the upper seating level. It features pictures, videos, trophies, retired jerseys, etc from all NC State sports teams throughout the years. Depending on events, this Hall of Fame is open to the public Monday-Friday 8am-4pm. Be sure to arrive a few minutes early to check this out. Neighborhood 4 Since Reynolds Coliseum is located on campus, there are no eateries within walking distance of the arena. There are three can’t miss restaurants within a couple miles of Reynolds Coliseum. If you are looking for something quick before or after the game, Cook-Out is the place for you. It is located down the street from campus on Western Boulevard and is famous for its “trays” which feature a burger (or chicken sandwich), two sides, and a drink for less than $10. Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant is also located on Western Boulevard and was started by a former Wolfpack football player. There is a large variety of NC State memorabilia located at each booth, and their Italian food is some of the best in the area. Another popular local restaurant is Mitch’s Tavern, located on Hillsborough Street across from campus. Part of the movie Bull Durham was filmed at Mitch’s; it is where the initial meeting between Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins was filmed. Being located in Raleigh, there is no shortage of other activities to participate in when visiting the city. A good activity before or after a game would be to take the short drive to downtown Raleigh and take a stroll around the state Capitol. The North Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina Museum of Science are both located within a block of the state Capitol. The closest hotel to campus is Aloft Raleigh, located across the street from the NC State Bell Tower. Aloft is a relatively new hotel and gives you easy access to both the NC State campus and downtown Raleigh. Fans 4 Coming off back to back Sweet 16 appearances, an Elite Eight appearance in 2022, and back to back to back ACC championships, fan support for the Wolfpack Women’s basketball program is at an all time high. Expect crowds of 4000+ for most games and near sellouts for the majority of ACC games. Due to its size and full crowds, Reynolds is loud and raucous. Chants of “WOLF” and “PACK” break out routinely throughout the games. Due to the high demand for tickets, we suggest to purchase your tickets ahead of time. Access 4 Aside from rush hour traffic, Reynolds Coliseum is easily accessible from both I-40 and I-440. If coming to a game on a work night, it is wise to add a few minutes to work your way through Raleigh traffic and onto campus. Raleigh-Durham International Airport serves the Triangle and is about a 20-minute drive from NC State. Parking for women’s basketball games is free in the Coliseum Deck adjacent to the Arena, just off of Western Boulevard. It is about a couple minute walk to Reynolds Coliseum from the parking deck. There main entrance is on the north end of the building, which is also where the ticket window is. There is also handicapped seating above sections D, E, F, K, and L. Return on Investment 5 NC State women’s basketball tickets are extremely affordable, with many games available for $10 or less. This is a great value for a perennial top 10 team. Add in free parking and affordable concessions and you have a great value. However, most conference games sell out, so be sure to purchase your tickets on-line ahead of time. Extras 5 NC State does a great job honoring famous former coaches that battled cancer, Kay Yow and Jim Valvano. The basketball court is named Kay Yow Court, and the Arena bears Jim Valvano’s name. There are statues to both coaches outside the main entrance. There is also the aforementioned NC State Athletics Hall of Fame in the grand hall and on the main concourse. Reynolds has hosted numerous ACC tournaments, NCAA tournament regionals, as well as former presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Final Thoughts With its recent renovation and reduced capacity Reynolds Coliseum is a perfect for a top-tier women’s basketball program. Wolfpack fans routinely fill Reynolds to capacity, to create a great home court advantage for Wolfpack Women’s Basketball.

Photos by Joseph Oakes, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Regency Furniture Stadium 11765 Saint Linus Dr Waldorf, MD 20602 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs website Regency Furniture Stadium website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 4,200 Welcome To Crustacean Nation Regency Furniture Stadium is the home of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League. The Atlantic League is an independent league that is not affiliated with a Major League team. The stadium first opened in May, 2008 when the Blue Crabs knocked off the Lancaster Barnstormers 3-2. It is an aesthetically pleasing ballpark designed with sloping red roofs, similar to Churchill Downs, which pays homage to Southern Maryland’s tobacco barns. Food & Beverage 4 The Blue Crabs offer a wide variety of concession offerings at the “Taste of Maryland” concession stands, of which there are two. These offer chicken tenders, pizza, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and hot dogs. As the team name indicates, Maryland is famous for its crabs, so there is a Crab Pretzel. Side dishes include souvenir helmet fries, cheese fries, and regular French fries, as well as, nachos, popcorn, cracker jacks, sunflower seeds, and peanuts. Bottles of Pepsi products and bottled water are offered, including juice boxes for kids. Alcoholic options include domestic and craft beers, and seltzers. Atmosphere 4 Regency Furniture Stadium follows the design of many ballparks its size with a concourse above a single seating bowl. Behind home plate, however, there are two levels of suites (one upper and lower), which block the concourse view of the action. Restrooms and concessions are located on the concourse behind the seating bowl. Down the lines, past the bases, seats are angled toward home plate, which greatly aids the viewing experience! There is a large open grassy seating area in right field and a party deck with tents above the wall in left field. The concourse goes all the way around the ballpark, but the outfield concourse and grass hill areas could use some upkeep. There is a manual scoreboard in left field, which is always a nice touch to see, and a large video board in right field. Large sponsor signs dot the outfield all the way around the park. There are also two scoreboards on either side of the suites on the overhang behind the plate, which keeps folks in the outfield from having to turn around. Just above sections 1 and 2 in right field is a kid’s play area. However, the team charges $7 per child (cash only) to enter. This seems outrageous since most ballpark’s do not charge to enter the play area. Above sections 24 and 25 in left field is the Legends Club restaurant, which can be rented out. There is also a small pool with bumper boats in left-center field, but they could use an upgrade. Neighborhood 2 Regency Furniture Stadium has a Waldorf, MD address, but is located equidistant between Waldorf and La Plata, about 15 miles north of the Virginia-Maryland state line. There is not much in the immediate vicinity, except for a neighborhood on one side and St Charles High School on the other. La Plata has the closest hotels (Holiday Inn Express, Best Western) and restaurants including Texas Roadhouse, Dunkin, Dairy Queen, Chick-fil-A, and Texas Ribs & BBQ, just to name a few. Waldorf is larger and much busier due to its proximity to DC, and also has many hotel and restaurant options. Southern Maryland is a fairly rural and beautiful part of the state. If you are willing to drive an hour or so south, there are many lighthouses, state parks, and water access areas. Fans 3 Blue Crabs attendance is typical of many minor league ballparks. The stadium fills up pretty well on the weekends, and fans are into the game. While many fans are families and groups enjoy a night out, we noticed several groups of season ticket holders who wore team gear and were knowledgeable of the teams and players. Access 4 Regency Furniture Stadium is located less than 35 miles from downtown Washington DC, between La Plata and Waldorf, MD. Despite being so close to the nation’s capital, this is a fairly rural area and access is pretty easy. The stadium itself sits adjacent to St. Charles High School, a few miles off of US 301. Once you are at the stadium, parking is free and security into the ballpark is pretty much non-existent. The staff are extremely friendly and welcome you. Once inside, the concourse is easy to navigate and you have access all around the ballpark. Due to the suites being on the concourse level, field action is blocked from the concourse behind the plate. However, from anywhere else, the concourse offers a great view of the action. Return on Investment 4 Single-game tickets are $15 each, and all tickets in 2021 are general admission, allowing fans to sit wherever they want. Tickets for active-duty military, veterans, seniors (65+), and children under 12 are $11, while tickets for healthcare workers and first responders are $5. Throw in free parking and reasonable concessions, and you have an affordable night at the ballpark. Extras 3 One extra point for family restrooms and a mother’s nursing room for those with small children. One extra point for the friendly staff around the ballpark. The kid’s play area should only get ½ point due to the team charging $7 cash per child to enter. Final Thoughts The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are within the footprint of both the Washington National and the Baltimore Orioles. If you don’t feel like fighting big city traffic and forking out a lot of money, the Blue Crabs are just the spot for you!

Photos by Marc Viquez and Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 CaroMont Health Park South Hill Street and West Franklin Boulevard Gastonia, NC 28016 Gastonia Honey Hunters website CaroMont Health Park website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 5,000 Honey Hunters Look to the Future with Its Ballpark If you want to get a glimpse of what the future of ballpark construction looks like, then look no further than Gastonia, North Carolina. The new home of the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League has a few unique features to offer the world of professional baseball. CaroMont Health Park offers seating for 5,000 people and features seating of five rows deep from the foul line to foul line, along with party decks, cabana seats, stool seating around the outfield perimeter, and a covered beer deck. The field is synthetic and designed for much more than baseball games. The stadium is the centerpiece of the Franklin Urban Sports and Entertainment (FUSE) District, designed to promote economic development between downtown Gastonia and Loray Village. The multi-purpose facility will house other sports, concerts, and other forms of entertainment. Food & Beverage 4 The ballpark offers the standard grub of hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, and burgers, but there are also a few more treats worth mentioning. At the main concession stand behind home plate, options include the Philly cheesesteak, chicken and waffle, and Korean pork belly sliders. The choices are different, but worth trying if adventurous. Fans can also order whole or quarter pizzas if they want something a little more familiar. The Carolina BBQ kiosk has a pleasant aroma to attract customers near the third baseline. Pulled pork, and brisket sliders, pulled pork nachos, white cheddar mac and cheese, and triple-baked beans with burnt ends are among the main dishes and sides. There is also a kiosk that hand dips pickles into the batter for fresh, never frozen, fried pickles. The beer options include macro and microbrewery options. The local options include Sycamore, Appalachian Mountain, Olde Mecklenburg, Sugar Creek, and Catawba Brewing Companies. Domestic and premium 16-ounce beers are $6 to $7, while craft beers are a little more in price. The ballpark does not sell Coke or Pepsi products; instead, fans can quench their thirst with RC Cola, Sun Drop, Cherry Lemon Sundrop Diet Rite, 7Up, or Cheerwine. I would grab one since you are in the Carolinas. Atmosphere 3 The ballpark is designed to be spacious and features a 360-degree concourse that provides an area of social gathering and baseball watching by fans of all ages. It does not follow the regular blueprint of other minor league venues and offers a few designated areas at various points. However, there appears to be the seating of some kind at every interval. There are only five rows of grandstand seating that stretch from foul pole to foul pole. The views from behind the backstop might be among the closest in professional baseball. Above this area on the concourse are tabletop seats and chairs that provide more ample room for the customer. There is a level of comfort in mind for visitors at the ballpark that is almost unmatched anywhere else. The stadium features six covered cabanas on the third-base side, a covered pavilion with rocking chairs down the left-field foul line, and the Gas House Bar & Grill in center field. This area also houses a kids’ play area and batting cages – players before the game and for fans during the game. Adding to the charm is a train track just outside the stadium where it’s possible to see a train pass by in the evening. A few other touches to add distinction to the venue are the colors black, tan, and yellow. The honeycomb design and pattern are visible on certain parts of the building. There is inspirational signage throughout the stadium by Ransom Hunter. There are two team stores, one at street level next to the box office, with tons of items to choose from at the game. The video scoreboard is 24 feet by 63 feet high. Neighborhood 3 The neighborhood around the ballpark is developing. Several new restaurants and a brewery are being constructed within walking distance of the stadium. In the meantime, fans can drive about a mile to R.O.’s Bar-B-Que for their chopped pork sandwiches covered with their unique slaw. The slaw is creamy and is used as a dip or sauce by many locals. It’s a small place but has been in business since 1946. Another local barbecue restaurant is Ray’s Country Smokehouse that’s not too far from the ballpark. Cavendish Brewing is a funky joint that has several tasty beers and old, outdated furniture to lighten up the vibe. Jia Asian Fusion & Sushi Bar is an interesting place for Chinese, Asian, Thai, Cajun, and Mexican fusion. Tavern 24 is an ideal spot for pub food and a drink. Depending on the time during the summer, there might be an American Legion game taking place at Sims Legion Park. The ballpark is used for local high school and collegiate games. You can also drive 30 miles to check out a Charlotte Knights game at Trust Field. Gastonia does have a collection of museums worth visiting during your visit. The Schiele Museum of Natural History, the American Military Museum, and the African-American Museum of History and Culture. Fans 2 The Honey Hunters are fifth in the league in attendance with an average of 2,107 fans as of this writing. That is slightly below the league average and somewhat surprising. The ballpark is brand new, modern, and comfortable. Our visit was at a make-up game during the day, but the local fan base might just be sleeping on what is a very stylish new facility for baseball and much more. Access 5 The ballpark has a lot of accessible points of entry for visitors. It is also accessible within a 10-minute walk from over 2,700 parking spots and mass transit. The 360-degree concourse provides vantage points to the game for fans, and signage is clear and visible. Return on Investment 4 The price of a ticket to a game is a bargain; General Admission tickets cost $7. Box seat pricing ranges from $9 to $13, and home plate seats are $15. The prices are comparable to nearby Truist Point Ballpark in High Point. Concession prices are on par with other clubs in the area, and concession items ranging from $20 for a t-shirt to $35 for a ball cap. Team caps come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Extras 3 The ballpark earns a point for having a design that is not quite like any other in professional baseball. There are only five rows of seating that provide fans some of the closest views in baseball. A second point is awarded for the ballpark being a catalyst for the FUSE District that hopes to promote economic development in Gastonia. A third point is for the name that honors Random Hunter, who is believed to be the first freed slave in Gaston County who owned land in the late 19th century. Final Thoughts I enjoyed a lot about this ballpark and what it represents to the community of Gastonia. The concept of redeveloping the neighborhood with a baseball stadium and other industries is not new. Its design is sharp, and the organization’s objective is clearly established throughout the building. Perhaps it is too soon to judge CaroMont Health Park, and hopefully, someone from this website will be back in a few years to judge it on future merits. Perhaps that will be me because I would love to see its future.

Photos by Paul Baker and Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Newman Outdoor Field 1515 15th Avenue North Fargo, ND 58102 Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks website Newman Outdoor Field website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 4,690 Hello, Newman Originally called “The Nest,” Newman Outdoor Field was constructed in 1996 at $5.5 million. Local company Newman Outdoor Advertising purchased the naming rights to the ballpark in 1998. In addition to serving as the home to the American Association’s Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks, the ballpark is home to the North Dakota State University Bison baseball team. The Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks began their existence in 1996 as members of the Northern League, winning five championships during their 15 seasons in that circuit. After the 2010 season the Redhawks, along with three other teams, left the Northern League to join the rival American Association. The Redhawks reached the AA championship series in 2021, losing to the Kansas City Monarchs. Food & Beverage 5 Newman Outdoor Field has a capacity of 4,172, and it feels like there is an individual concession item here for every single fan who shows up. Portable and permanent stands run the length of the concourse down both sides of the ballpark. There are two permanent stands located on either side of the main entrance to the concourse. In addition to hot dogs (regular sized, chili, or foot long), nachos (regular sized or helmet-sized portion), pulled pork sandwiches, and bratwurst, fans can order pickled eggs or pickles on a stick. Coca-Cola products are featured and advertised as “pop.” You can even get a 20-ounce draft beer for only $6.50 or purchase 2 cans of PBR for $6 before the first pitch. And this is just the beginning. Other stands lined up along the concourse (and we’re not talking about a row of portable carts, many are permanent structures) sell mini-donuts, giant pretzels (I do mean GIANT), sno cones, caramel apples, Dippin’ Dots, Marco’s Pizza, tacos, grinders, and burritos. When I say that there is something for everyone at Newman Outdoor Field, I mean it literally. Beer stands scattered throughout the concourse sell national brands, but also feature local craft brews from Hamm’s and Surly Breweries, among others. Coca-Cola products are featured at Newman Outdoor Field. Don’t feel like a beer or pop? Check out the lemonade stand or get a top-shelf adult beverage at the Captain Morgan stand. Atmosphere 3 A lot is going on at Newman Outdoor Field, much more than you may expect at such a small place. If you come in through the right field entrance you are met immediately by the children’s playground, which is filled with kids burning off energy throughout the game. An important feature of the playground, as this writer was informed by a nearby parent, is that you can sit on the party deck and watch the game and your children at the same time. Coincidence or not, this is huge. Veteran minor league baseball fans will find a lot that is familiar here in Fargo. There is a great deal of noise to distract the casual fans and to keep the younger fans involved and entertained. Music plays between batters, the typical on-field shenanigans are going on between innings, and there is a mascot who wanders the ballpark posing for photos and interacting with fans. The scoreboard in left-center field is used with game stats and player information throughout the game. The Redhawks enjoy a close connection with the community as evidenced by a large number of local sponsors and activities including a naturalization ceremony that happens annually at Newman Outdoor Field. Neighborhood 3 Newman Outdoor Field is located on the campus of North Dakota State University, near the school’s other athletic facilities, including the Fargodome and the Scheels Center. Located right near the airport, fans will find no shortage of places to eat or stay a short distance from the ballpark. Since most of the options near the university are chains, visiting fans may want to head downtown, where the options are more varied. Downtown Fargo is just a couple of miles from the ballpark. Some excellent breweries, including Drekker Brewing Company and Fargo Brewing Company, are highly recommended by locals. For a true midwestern experience, check out Wurst Bier Hall or The Boiler Room. Visiting fans looking for lodging will find plenty of choices throughout the city. Visiting sports fans will certainly want to check out the Roger Maris Museum, located in the West Acres Mall. Set up in a hallway of a local shopping mall at Maris’ request, the display cases lining the hall do a nice job of displaying mementos from the home run king’s career. If you have the time, the video of Maris’ life, shown in a small viewing room with actual Yankee Stadium seats, is worth your while. Fans 3 The Redhawks have consistently ranked in the top five of the American Association attendance rankings, averaging in the neighborhood of 3,000 fans per game. At Newman Outdoor Field you’ll find a crowd that is similar in composition to other minor league baseball crowds, with lots of dedicated diehard fans, lots of casual fans enjoying an inexpensive night out, and a lot of families. Even though Fargo is the largest city in North Dakota, there’s a real small-town feel going on here. “North Dakota Nice” is a real thing, and you may find yourself spending your night speaking with a bunch of people around you like you’ve known each other all your life. Access 4 Newman Outdoor Field is located on the campus of North Dakota State University, just two miles from Interstate 29 and just a few miles from the Red River and the Minnesota state line. Driving is the primary method for getting to the ballpark, and fans will find it easy to do so. Exit 67 deposits travelers on 19th Avenue. Follow this road for a mile and a half and the NDSU athletic facilities will be on your right. There are ample parking lots both by the main entrance on 15th Avenue and by the right field entrance on Albrecht Boulevard. No matter which entrance you use to get into the ballpark, you will climb a flight of stairs to reach the concourse, which is located at the top of the seating bowl and features views of the field from all spots. With all the concession structures scattered around the concourse, it can become cramped in spots at times, but fans will generally have no issues navigating their way around the ballpark. The seating bowl stretches from first base to third base. Most of the seating consists of individual green stadium seats. The last two sections on the third base side of the field were added after the initial construction of the ballpark (watch your step, they did not line up the new structure with the old one very well) and featured individually molded bleachers. Bleacher sections are capping off the seating areas in both right and left field. Party areas are located on either side of the seating bowl as well. Netting protects the majority of seats in the infield, and all seats feature excellent views of the field. As mentioned earlier, there is a lot of activity going on here at a Redhawks game, but getting around is still pretty easy. With a large number of concession stands, lines tend to move quickly and are not an issue. Restrooms are clean and large enough to handle a typical crowd. Return on Investment 4 The majority of tickets to Redhawks games are sold as reserved seats priced at $12 per seat. Seats in the farthest sections down the third baseline (sections L and M) are sold for $8 per seat, and bleacher sections are sold for $7 per seat. All tickets increase in price by two dollars on game day, with fireworks nights priced at a premium with a two-dollar surcharge. Parking in the lots surrounding Newman Outdoor Field cost an additional three dollars. Concessions are reasonably priced as well. A night at a Redhawks game is the most affordable entertainment option for local sports fans. Extras 3 Retired numbers line the façade of the luxury suite level, including Fargo native Roger Maris’ number 8 and Jackie Robinson’s number 42. The press box is dedicated to the longtime radio voice of the Redhawks, local personality Scott Miller, who lost his battle with cancer in 2016. Adorning the façade of the press box is his signature call “My Oh My.” The on-field dimensions of Newman Outdoor Field, with a deep left-center field alley and a short right field fence, are designed to mimic the old Yankee Stadium, where local boy Roger Maris broke the long-standing home run record with 61 home runs in 1961. Final Thoughts Some baseball fans fail to consider ballparks like Newman Outdoor Field because they are not a part of the affiliated system. These fans are doing themselves a huge disservice. Ballparks like Newman Outdoor Field and cities like Fargo are the backbone of minor league baseball. Boasting affordable prices, a friendly atmosphere and a comfortable, fun place at which to watch a game, a trip to North Dakota is a worthy Stadium Journey for any baseball fan. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Matt Fiedler and Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium 450 Broad St Newark, NJ 07102 NJIT Highlanders website Year Opened: 1999 Year Demolished: 2019 Capacity: 6,200 Bears and Eagles (and Highlanders?) Riverfront Stadium Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium is the home of the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Highlanders. The stadium is located along the Passaic River in Newark, NJ. The stadium opened in 1999 and was the home of the Newark Bears from 1999-2013. The name of the stadium honors the Newark Bears of the International League, and the Newark Eagles of the Negro League. The Bears folded in 2013, but the remnants of the team are found throughout the stadium. Food & Beverage 0 There are concession stands at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium, but they are not open for NJIT games. Fans may bring food or drinks into the park to enjoy. There are also many restaurants and bars in the area to purchase food. Atmosphere 2 This is a former minor league baseball park. Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium is not a normal college venue in that sense. There is a PA announcer who does a solid job of announcing the players, and there is music between innings. There is a great view no matter where you sit in the park. You can see the skyline of Manhattan in the distance. You can also see reminders of the former Newark Bears and Newark Eagles. There is a ring of honor that honors players that have come through like Yogi Berra and Walter Johnson. There are logos and images of the Newark Bears logo all around the ballpark. There are programs that you can pick up when you enter the ballpark. The programs include a roster as well as some season statistics. Neighborhood 2 Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium is located along the Passaic River in Newark. Newark is not the best place to be wandering around. The stadium is located near NJIT, as well as Rutgers-Newark and the Seton Hall University Law School. There are some places to eat that are close by. Public transportation is the best way of travel because it is not a great idea to be walking around Newark, especially if you don’t know your way around. There are also some hotels fairly close by, and the field is close to Newark Liberty International Airport. Fans 2 The announced attendance at the game I attended was 200, but seemed to be less than that. NJIT is not a major program, so you wouldn’t expect to have a large crowd. The crowd seemed to be mainly parents and relatives of the players. The crowd was relatively quiet throughout the game. There were some cheers, but it was mainly a quiet crowd. There were a few opposing fans as well at the game, and there were no issues. Access 5 Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium is very easy to access. The easiest way to get to the stadium is by using public transportation. If you take NJ Transit, you just get off at Newark Broad Street Station and the stadium is right there. It is a quick walk from the station to the stadium. If you are in Newark, you can take the light rail and get off at the Riverfront Stadium stop. You can park on the side street right near the stadium. Return on Investment 3 There is no charge to attend an NJIT baseball game at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium. Other than the cost of travel, you won’t have to spend any money to attend an NJIT baseball game. You will see some solid baseball at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium. NJIT squares off with teams like Rutgers, Hofstra, and Niagara, just to name a few. There is a good atmosphere, a terrific view, and plentiful dining options in the area. Extras 3 One star goes to the tremendous view of the skyline of Manhattan. You can see One World Trade Center as well as some other skyscrapers. A second star is awarded for the programs and information that NJIT provides to the fans. Also, there is a scoreboard that provides the standard information that fans expect. A final star is awarded for the heritage of Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium. The various images of the Newark Bears and Newark Eagles are a great thing to see. Names like Yogi Berra and Walter Johnson are in the Ring of Honor and it is great to see legends names associated with a ballpark. Final Thoughts NJIT is a college team playing in a former minor league ballpark. No matter how well the team does, the stadium will always look empty. The stadium is somewhat in disrepair, but the team does a good job in getting it in playing condition for games. The stadium has links to past baseball greats, and is a tribute to the rich tradition of baseball in Newark. If you find yourself in the area, it is worth a trip to see the NJIT Highlanders.

Photos by Tyler Huskinson, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Brent Brown Ballpark 970 West University Pkwy Orem, UT 84058 Brent Brown Ballpark website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 5,000 Orem’s Owlz If anyone is looking for a good baseball game in a beautiful venue, a trip to Utah County for an Orem Owlz game is a must. The Owlz have played in Utah Valley University’s Brent Brown Ballpark since 2005, and theres no reason to think that will change any time soon. The stadium seats 5,000 spectators and boasts beautiful views of the Wasatch Mountains to the west. The Owlz have competed in the Pioneer League since 2001 and are a rookie league affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Food & Beverage 3 The stadium offers typical ballpark food but few specialties. There are two main concession options, All-Star and Grand Slam. The former offers hot dogs, pretzels, peanuts and popcorn for $3, and jumbo hot dogs, chili cheese fries and nachos for $4. Combo meals are available, as well. Grand Slam features typical grill items. Burgers, corn dogs, chicken sandwiches and chicken tenders are available in combos between $6 and $9. Ice cream is also available around the stadium, and drinks (Coke and Pepsi products) range from $2-$5. No ballpark item really stands out from other stadiums. There aren’t any local Utah flavors or dishes available on the menus. Atmosphere 3 Owlz games don’t draw a typical baseball crowd. The fans are mostly families, with young children overly abundant throughout the stands. Many families sit in the general admission section, which is a grass lawn that stretches from third base to the end of left field. To the left of the main entrance, inflatables and playground equipment are also available for children. The Owlz make their games very family friendly, which in turn draws plenty of families from the Utah County area to each game . For those seeking a traditional baseball atmosphere, though, Orem may not be on the top of your list. Walk-up music for batters is barely audible, as are other tunes (mainly country selections) that plays in between innings. Alcohol is not allowed inside the stadium. A definite plus is the location. Beautiful views of the Wasatch Mountain Range to the west are available to nearly anyone in the stadium, but more visible to those sitting on the first base side. Neighborhood 4 There may not be a ballpark in the state that is more accessible than Brent Brown. Taking exit 269 off of I-15 puts you in danger of getting hit by a home run, and driving one more block leads you in the parking lot. Driving down University Parkway supplies several pre or postgame eating options. J Dawgs is a classic Provo-born hot dog chain, featuring some of the best “dawgs” available on this side of Chicago. Across the street is In-N-Out Burger, a traditional Cali-born burger joint. Local fresh-Mex favorite Cafe Rio (3.5 miles away) is a little farther down the road, but definitely worth it. Attractions in the area include Seven Peaks Water Park in Provo and countless recreational activities up Provo Canyon. Fans 3 The typical crowd at games is comprised of young families. There isn’t a whole lot of raucous cheering and the ballpark never gets too loud. That said, not much should be expected, as rookie level baseball teams never have too passionate of fan bases. There are a few big-time Owlz fans but not many. Orem usually ranks in the top half of the Pioneer League in attendance, though, which is a notable feat. Access 4 There can’t really be an easier way to access the stadium off of I-15. The only close place to park, though, is the lot outside of the University’s UCCU Center, which costs a few bucks. The concourses inside the stadium are never too crowded, and the facilities are kept clean. Return on Investment 5 There may not be a better-priced ticket for any professional sport in the state. $12 lands you front row seats behind home plate (if you buy them in time), and $4 gets you general admission seats on the grass. Typically, fans spend more on parking and concessions than on the tickets themselves. Extras 3 One extra point for the impressive in-stadium advertising, despite sharing a ballpark with Utah Valley University. There is no shortage of Owlz signs and logos strewn throughout the concourse and outfield. Another extra point for the great promotions. The Owlz have a different promotion for every game, ranging from Christmas in July to Back Hair Night. Go figure. One final extra point for their “Field of Dreams” program. Like most professional soccer teams, the Owlz select a local youth baseball team to accompany the players onto the field and join them for the national anthem. Final Thoughts A great place to savor a summer night. If you’re expecting a major league atmosphere, then Orem isn’t the place for you; but if you want an enjoyable evening at the ballpark, be their guest.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Arnold Field 180 1st St W Sonoma, CA 95476 Arnold Field website Sonoma Stompers website Year Opened: 1949 __________________________________________________________________________________ Stompin’ Baseball The Sonoma Stompers are a relatively new addition to the wide Bay Area sports scene. Nestled blocks from downtown Sonoma, CA, the team makes their home at tiny Arnold Field. The stadium itself is a Sonoma County Regional Park named in honor of past Sonoma resident General Henry “Hap” Arnold. Arnold Field is also dedicated to supporting youth athletics in the Sonoma area, with the field being run and supported by the volunteers of the non-profit Sonoma Valley Athletic Corp. Open since 1952, the facility can see its history traced to the late 1940s when the Sonoma Valley Athletic Club looked for a new site to build a baseball field. Food & Beverage 4 There is only one concession stand at Arnold Field, but the selection is pretty solid. This mini version of the Kenwood Palooza Brewery and Gastropub has many items on the menu for various tastes – salads range from $11 to $12 with items such as various burgers ($14-$16), lobster rolls ($18), hot dogs ($12-$13), and 10” wood fired pizzas ($13) populating this impressively varied menu. Atmosphere 3 Arnold Field itself is not much more than a high school baseball field equivalent. Several rows of metal bleacher seating behind home plate are located under a tarp to shield fans from the sun, but lack backing for a more comfortable experience. Special patio seating is located in left field along the third baseline, but that is little more than a few umbrellas with patio chairs underneath them. General admission tickets get you into the outfield grandstands beyond the left outfield wall. Unfortunately, one must literally walk through the visiting team’s bullpen to get there, only to find it in need of a dusting off of the local spiders and their webs. Neighborhood 4 The town of Sonoma is steeped in history, with various National Park Service museums and historic sites around for visitors to see. Food options include the popular pizza spot Mary’s Pizza Shack as well as Plaza Grill, and Arnold Field is also just blocks away from Sonoma Plaza, where you can find plenty of local shops to satisfy your buying needs. In addition, being located in the heart of Sonoma Valley means that the wine country beckons to visitors from all around. The closest hotels to the stadium are the El Dorado Hotel, Sonoma Hotel, and the Best Western Sonoma Valley Inn. Fans 2 The fans who show up are pretty loyal for the Stompers. Unfortunately, since the field is small, the crowds are small as well. On top of that, most stay in and around home plate, with few actually venturing beyond the third base side to the outfield seating areas. Access 3 To get to Stompers games, one must take some smaller side roads. State Road 12, which runs right through Sonoma itself, is your best bet from the north and east, while Routes 116 from the west and 121 from the south offer the other main connectors to Route 12. Once in Sonoma, the stadium is located just a few blocks north of Sonoma Place off 1st Street West. Here you will find plenty of parking for free just steps from the main gate to the ballpark. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for Stompers games start at $10 for general admission, then go up to $12-$18 for grandstand seating and $20 for club level patio seating. However, with concessions prices above the average for independent and minor league baseball teams in general, you may want to watch your spending for food while at the stadium. Given the lack of a roaring sports feel in the facility, those searching for a bigger crowd atmosphere will be better off looking to the metropolitan Bay cities for Athletics and Giants games. Extras 2 The team’s mascot roams the stands during games to meet fans and take photos; the team also hosts some giveaways and theme nights throughout the year. Final Thoughts Though an enjoyable overall experience, the Sonoma Stompers are squished into an aging yet historic ballpark in Sonoma Valley. While the history is certainly there, Arnold Field lacks some of the finer touches. When compared to independent league stadiums from around the country, it is hard to put a finger on why fans should seek out the Stompers over more established teams in other cities. Nonetheless, Stompers fans still show up at games and have provided a good base from which the team can truly grow.

Photos by Bradlee Ross, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Allie P. Reynolds Stadium 524 N Duck St Stillwater, OK 74075 Oklahoma State Cowboys website Allie P. Reynolds Stadium website Year Opened: 1981 Capacity: 3,821 The Allie of Oklahoma State Allie P. Reynolds Stadium has been the home of Oklahoma State University baseball since it opened in April 4, 1981. With a capacity of 3,821, the stadium has hosted nine NCAA Regional tournaments to date and has undergone numerous renovations, most recently in 2005. The stadium is named for Allie Reynolds, a six-time World Series Champion pitcher for the New York Yankees and a former Oklahoma State Cowboy. Along with fellow Yankee great and Oklahoma native Mickey Mantle, Reynolds dedicated the ballpark in 1981. Food & Beverage 2 This particular sporting venue has very little to offer in terms of variety of concessions. While it has your typical ballpark food like popcorn, hot dogs, brats and Coca-Cola products, it has basically nothing else. The quality and price of the food is good though, so if you are the type who always gets the popcorn and hotdog as part of the baseball-watching experience, you should be fine. But for anyone looking for something out of the ordinary, you will be out of luck. Atmosphere 2 Unfortunately, what the venue lacks in food variety it does not make up for in atmosphere. The PA announcer wasn’t particularly entertaining, and the crowd itself doesn’t really add much to the atmosphere either. There is music between innings, and every now and then a movie quote or sound effect was played to liven things up at least a little bit. It was fairly humorous to hear Willy Wonka yell “You get nothing! Good day, sir!” when an opposing batter struck out, but there was little else to keep the casual fan involved. Neighborhood 5 Luckily, the surrounding area makes up for some of the more deficient categories in this review. Stillwater is a college town and is built around that concept, with a lot of good places to eat and hang out. The Hideaway boasts the best pizza in the world, and that’s no oversell. Their pizzas are good, ol’ fashioned and American-made, just the way a good pizza should be. They have so many different specials that literally anyone can find something to like. Another spot that Stillwater is famous for is Eskimo Joe’s. Head over to Joe’s for some of their world-famous cheese fries or a great burger. While waiting on your table, shop around in the adjacent Eskimo Joe’s clothing store. Stillwater is medium-sized, offering a nice blend of small town ease and larger town appeal. But if you long for more to do, it is also only about an hour from both Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Fans 2 The crowd itself was actually very sparse, despite the fact that the game I attended was a fairly important conference game. While they would get loud every once in a while, the fans were pretty quiet in general, despite what happened on the field. Some were fairly entertaining with their abilities to berate the opposing batters in the on-deck circle and the umpires. As a whole though, they were average to below average as far as their involvement in the game itself. Access 3 Parking is not a problem. I was able to get free parking very close to the stadium. Sadly, this probably stems from how small the crowd was. The walkways and aisles provide plenty of room to get around, but the seats are actually pretty uncomfortable. Whether you go with bleacher seating or chair backs (there is no price difference), you won’t be in the lap of luxury. The facility as a whole is also pretty dated. The seats look old, both in wear and in the color scheme. The restrooms look old too, and have no automatic flushers or dispenser of any kind. Return on Investment 3 A ticket for a baseball game at this venue is dirt-cheap, which is appropriate given that the experience isn’t the best in the world. However, it should still be better, especially given the tradition and history of the baseball program at Oklahoma State. So if you find yourself in the area, you should be able to get a cheap seat without even buying the ticket ahead of time, which is convenient. The experience isn’t great, but it’s still baseball. Extras 1 I’ll give one extra point for the OSU policeman who tried (and failed) to catch a foul ball during my visit. It was actually one of the most entertaining moments of the experience and was especially humorous when the crowd teased him for dropping it.

Photos by Jared Goodman and Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 AirHogs Stadium 1651 Lone Star Pkwy Grand Prairie, TX 75050 Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 5,445 Taking Flight in Grand Prairie EDITOR'S NOTE: AirHogs Stadium transitioned to a major league cricket ground in 2023. The Texas AirHogs compete in the independent American Association and play their home games at AirHogs Stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas. Both the ballpark and the team itself are inspired by the aviation industry, which has a long history in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Nearby Fort Worth is currently home to the headquarters of both Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Bell Helicopters, while the former operates a Missiles and Fire Control center in Grand Prairie. “AirHogs” is a slang-term used by the military to classify individuals who demand more than their fair share of flying missions. The team, originally the Grand Prairie AirHogs, merged with a franchise from Amarillo in 2016 and split home games between the two cities. During this tenure, the team adopted the Texas moniker; when they returned to Grand Prairie full-time the following season, the name stuck. Food & Beverage 3 There are several concessions located on the main concourse and most of them serve your typical ballpark food. Down the first base side, gourmet cinnamon rolls are available at the Cinnaholic stand. The national chain offers AirHogs fans four different options, including banana, caramel, cream cheese, and berry-flavored cinnamon rolls that cost $7 each. Atmosphere 3 The aviation theme is prevalent throughout the ballpark and tin metal seems to be the predominant décor choice. The suites, along with the large roof, overhang the main seating bowl and provide much-needed shade from the Texas heat. Fans who would like to eat and enjoy the game at the same time can do just that by utilizing one of the park’s many picnic tables. A small artificial grass-covered party area is located behind the bullpen on the third base side and features a few games, including corn hole. However, the area seems to be a magnet for foul balls, so watch out! Kids have two choices of entertainment besides the game. First, there’s the 17,000 square-foot Wide World of Parks Kids Zone on the first base side. This area includes a jungle gym, as well as other playground activities. The second option is a swimming pool in right field that enables folks to cool down during hot summer days. Pay attention though: the pool juts into the outfield, so it’s not uncommon for home runs to land in the pool. Neighborhood 3 Grand Prairie is a few miles south of the DFW airport and is almost equidistant from Dallas and Fort Worth. Dallas, by far, has more things to see and do, including The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, Reunion Tower and the George W. Bush Library and Museum. Fort Worth, on the other hand, is home to the world-famous Stockyards, as well as a branch of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Nearby Arlington is jam-packed with entertainment options, from Six Flags Over Texas to taking in a Rangers game at Globe Life Park. AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Cowboys, is also available for tours year-round. Texas-born Whataburger is the closest restaurant to the ballpark and makes for a fantastic pre or post game meal. Whataburger is an institution for Texans and well-worth a stop if you’ve never been. Fans 1 Due in part to their location in an over-saturated market, the AirHogs do not draw real crowds during games. The major league Texas Rangers play just down the road in Arlington, while their Double-A affiliate is located in nearby Frisco. It’s almost a crime that the AirHogs consistently rank near the bottom of American Association attendance charts, as the stadium is by no-means old or shabby. In fact, if the ballpark were home to a minor league team, it could easily be classified as a Double-A caliber facility. The venue is both affordable and has all of the amenities that would enable it to earn that title. Access 5 AirHogs Stadium is located in Lone Star Park just off I-30 on Belt Line Road in Grand Prairie, about 15 miles west of downtown Dallas. Arlington, home of MLB’s Texas Rangers, is just 7 miles away and Fort Worth is 20 miles to the west. There’s ample free parking available both in front of and behind the stadium. Since AirHogs games are not heavily attended, you’ll have no trouble at all moving around the ballpark between your seats, the restrooms, and the concessions. There will also be little to no traffic out on the roads, barring any major events at the nearby horse track or amphitheatre. Return on Investment 3 General admission tickets are $8 and since the stadium never fills up, there’s no reason whatsoever to upgrade to a $12 reserved seat. Parking is free, leaving concessions as the only other game day cost. Overall, a family of four can enjoy a night of baseball in Texas for around $70. Extras 3 One bonus point for the unique hangar and runway design of the exterior. Another bonus point for the ample shade provided, and a final point for the swimming pool behind right-center field. Final Thoughts While it’s unfortunate that AirHogs games aren’t attended by more fans, there’s no denying that the ballpark is top-of-its-class and is undoubtedly a must-visit for sports fans in the Metroplex.

Photos by Andy Mantsch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.00 Adelanto Stadium 2000 Stadium Way Adelanto, CA 92301 Year Opened: 1991 Capacity: 3,808 A Baseball Diamond in the Desert Adelanto Stadium is quite literally in the middle of the desert. This isn’t an expression. Beyond the outfield walls lies a sea of sand and cactus. Adelanto, California does lie just south of the stadium, but even that feels like a small town with a few strip malls stoplights before you’re back in the desert again. To say this is a remote setting for baseball would be an understatement. The stadium opened in 1991 at a cost of $6 million and has a capacity of 3,308 people. It was the home of the High Desert Mavericks of the California League until it 2016 when the club, along with Bakersfield was contracted by the league. The next season the High Desert Yardbirds opened shop in the independent Pecos League capturing a league championship in it maiden season. However, a funny thing happened midway through the clubs third season in 2019 when league commissioner announced that the Yardbirds would be leaving the stadium and operate the rest of the season as a road team. The team attracted a pitiful 40 fans a game and was cited as the main reason for the club’s departure by However, field conditions were also poor that included the dirt infield showing patches of grass and the field being flooded that cause the Birds last game to be delayed two hours begging the question on how you can flood a baseball field in the desert. It is all part of a long history of trials and tribulations of the ballpark and perhaps the Yardbirds or another form of baseball will be back in Adelanto that despite its critics has managed to host pro baseball close to 30 seasons. However, will professional baseball return to High Desert in 2020? Food & Beverage 2 There’s really only one concession stand that serves food here, although there is a kettle corn stand and a shaved ice stand to choose from as well. Stands accept debit and credit and are fairly speedy. The main menu is largely the basic ballpark food with a few upgrades. Specialty items include the SoCal Nacho Dog ($7), Maverick Super Nachos ($7.75), Wooly Bully Burger ($7.75) and Texas Ranger Burger ($9.00). Beyond these items the menu consists of the usual, including hot dogs ($3.50), pretzels ($3.75) and chicken tenders with fries ($7.50). Drink options are pretty basic here. Drinks are primarily can or bottle with Gatorade ($4) and bottled water ($3.50) as options in addition to soda ($4). Beer is available for $6 for 16oz. and $8 for 24oz. cans. Probably the most interesting option is wine for $7. I’d recommend one of the 4 specialty items off the menu, but there’s no real distinguishable choice of beverage here. Atmosphere 2 There really isn’t much at Adelanto Stadium that speaks to any true ambiance beyond the desert wasteland beyond the outfield fence. There is uniqueness in the setting, but not enough else to support it. The stadium itself is as basic as it gets. A grandstand extends from 3rd base around to 1st base with berms in left and right field. These berms may have been grass-covered once, but as will happen in a desert it has largely died. The infield has a visually pleasing circular cut of the grass as well, but again the grass on the field is a bit patchy. There is a cool looking terrace seating section down the left field line, but unfortunately it was not open during my visit. There’s not a lot in particular to speak of in terms of in-game entertainment either. There’s some of the usual minor league promotions on the fields and Wooly Bully (the Mavericks mascot) makes his way around the field and entertains fans. Strangely, the PA announcer often speaks in Spanish, something I had never heard before at a minor league game. Attendance at Adelanto Stadium had waned over the years and reached an all time low in 2015, so seats are abundantly available. The grandstand is elevated and there are field views from anywhere in the concourse, so you have your pick of seats without sacrificing your view. The desert sun can get hot, so during day games you may want to sit further from the field in the last rows of the stands. These seats are the only in the park that receive shade from the grandstand awning. Neighborhood 1 Neighborhood? What neighborhood? The area around the park is completely desert, so I wouldn’t recommend walking anywhere from the game. Adelanto is not far down the road, but it’s mostly chain restaurants and strip malls…and even those aren’t in abundance. The two foods options that show up most when investigating the area are Rubio’s (Mexican food) and Bravo Burgers. Both are very affordable, but if you’re looking for upscale dining expect to be out of luck. While some of the mountain views from the surrounding desert can be stunning, there are no real attractions here to speak of. Adelanto is not somewhere you’re going to spend a vacation. Only 2 hotels show as truly Adelanto local. These are the America’s Best Value Inn and the Days Inn Adelanto. I’d strongly recommend making this stadium a pit stop and not a vacation spot. Fans 1 With attendance figures at 40 fans per game it is easy to understand why this section gets a point. There was a time when this was not the case, even for the Yardbirds first season. Maybe many are bitter for affiliated ball leaving, perhaps there is some bias towards indy ball, but the club posted a 101-71 record and a league championship in three years at the stadium. Apparently the High Desert Mavericks had a once mighty fan base with a strong reputation., but attendance had fallen steadily over the years. The club ranked 9th out of the 10 California League teams in attendance according to during its last several seasons in town. Access 3 The stadium is incredibly easy to access locally, assuming you regularly drive to and through the Mojave Desert. Other than that, you’re going to be driving to the middle of nowhere from just about anywhere you’re coming from. Public transit really isn’t an option, but it doesn’t need to be because of the general ease of entry and exit from the park. If you’re flying in for a game, Ontario Airport is only about an hour south down I-15. There is only one large parking lot around Adelanto Stadium. This is a park where there really aren’t any other options to park because there’s really nothing else around it at all. The only gate for the stadium is right behind home plate. I’d strongly recommend buying tickets in advance, but not because of sellout potential. The ticketing windows are very limited and slow, meaning you might hit a lengthy line despite the lack of overall attendance. Once in the park, it really couldn’t be easier to move around. The concourse is wide and elevated, meaning you’ll have an excellent view of the game from just about anywhere. Restrooms are on the 1st and 3rd base lines and are fairly large for the stadium, although not particularly pleasant. Return on Investment 3 According to the team’s website, all seats are General Admission tickets and cost $8. All seats are first come first serve with the exception of season tickets and skyboxes. This price point was similar to when the California League was in town and is what one should expect from the Pecos League. It is cheap and if you truly love to sit and watch baseball, the value can’t be beat,but if you want more in a stadium experience, this is a pretty low level park. Extras 1 This park is pretty cookie cutter overall, and extras don’t abound. It has the feel of a park that once relied heavily on community engagement, but as that has waned so has the baseball experience. The unusual environment though offers a bit more than a visually unique perk. The elevation, thin air and size of the ballpark means you’re more likely to see home runs here than your average park. When all else fails, we all like the long ball, right? Final Thoughts Far from the nicest stadium in baseball, Adelanto Stadium is long way drive to get to. Probably too long for what you’ll get. This one is for the die-hard baseball fan and the ardent ballpark traveler who happens to be in San Bernardino or Rancho Cucamonga watching affiliate baseball.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Bowditch Field 475 Union Ave Framingham, MA 01702 Framingham State Rams Football website Bowditch Field website Year Opened: 1930 Capacity: 5,300 Take a Bow, Framingham Bowditch Field was built in the 1930s as a Works Public Administration project. The football stadium is part of a larger complex which also contains a baseball field, tennis courts, basketball courts, track and field facilities, and the city’s Park and Recreation Department offices. It has served as the home field to the Framingham State Rams football team since 1978. Framingham State University began sponsoring football in 1972 as a club team. Two years later the squad was elevated to varsity status. Today the Rams compete in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). Framingham State has won 11 conference titles and qualified for six post-season tournaments in their history. One FSU football alumnus, Joshua Onujiogu, has made it to the National Football League. Framingham State University is a public university located in the Boston suburb of Framingham. With an enrollment of 4,500 students, the school began its existence as a Normal School, a training school for teachers. Today the university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in several majors. Food & Beverage 2 There is a small concession stand underneath the home bleachers. Staffed by volunteers from the local Lions Club, hungry Rams fans can pick up a hot dog or some pizza slices. Bottles of Pepsi products are featured along with assorted chips and candy. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at this community complex. Fans can bring their snacks into Bowditch Field. On chilly Massachusetts fall afternoons, you’ll be sure to see lots of hot Dunkin’ beverages. Atmosphere 2 There’s a very laid-back atmosphere at a Framingham State football game. With the smallish crowds in attendance here, there’s not a ton of noise produced by the fans. Also, the sound system, while adequate, is not very loud. It can be tough to hear game announcements. The public address announcer does her job in a quiet, workmanlike fashion, but doesn’t add much energy to the goings-on. The FSU cheerleading squad is present but isn’t audible unless you are sitting nearby. There’s not much of a turnout by the student body, so most of the energy in the stands comes from the many family members who come out to see the team play. Neighborhood 3 Bowditch Field is located in a residential area in the Boston suburb of Framingham. There may not be much in terms of lodging or dining options near Bowditch Field, but there are plenty of choices nearby throughout the city. Route 9, the main business thoroughfare in the area, runs just to the north of the complex and contains numerous restaurants and hotels for visiting fans. Buckley Kitchen and Bar, Legal Sea Foods, and Samba Steak and Sushi are among the many excellent local choices. For fans looking for a place to stay while in Framingham, Hampton Inn, Residence Inn by Marriot, and Sheraton all are located nearby. Of course, if visiting Framingham from out of town, downtown Boston is just 20 miles away and accessible by the Commuter Rail. Fans 3 The Rams attract decent crowds to Bowditch Field for football games. While there’s not a huge turnout from the student body (Bowditch Field’s location off-campus undoubtedly hurts in this regard), the fans that do show up strongly support the Rams. Many of the fans in attendance have a personal connection with the players and help to create a lively atmosphere. With the compact geographic footprint of the MASCAC, there’s usually a strong turnout from visiting fans as well. Access 3 Framingham is a city of over 72,000 residents located 20 miles west of Boston and 20 miles east of Worcester. The area is easily accessed by car, as Interstates 90, 93, and 95 all run near Bowditch Field. Route 9, the main local business thoroughfare, runs just to the north of the complex. MetroWest Regional Transit Authority’s number 2 bus has a stop a short walk from Bowditch Field. The Framingham State campus is located about a mile away from Bowditch Field. There is ample parking in the lots adjacent to Bowditch Field as well as in a grass field adjacent to the stadium that is used for game-day parking. Seating consists of aluminum bench seating in grandstands that line three sides of the football field. There is also plenty of standing room around the field. The presence of a track pushes the seating back a bit from the field, but all the grandstands feature excellent views of the field. Restrooms are located on both sides of the football field and are plenty large enough for the typical Rams crowd. Return on Investment 5 Admission to Framingham State football games is priced at five dollars for general admission seats. Parking is free in the lots surrounding Bowditch Field. Concessions are inexpensive, with no item costing more than three dollars. An afternoon at a Framingham State football game is the most affordable entertainment option for local sports fans. Extras 1 There is an extensive display in the entry plaza of Bowditch Field which lists important dates and events in the facility’s history. Take a look at some of the famous names who are connected with this place. Final Thoughts Bowditch Field is a wonderful community facility that serves the needs of the Framingham State Rams well. ---- Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29 Knights Football Field Magnolia Dr Laurinburg, NC 28352 St. Andrews Knights website Knights Football Field website NC Knights The St. Andrews Knights football team began in 2017 – the team is a football-only member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Mid-South Conference. Located in Laurinburg, North Carolina, the team colors are blue and white; they play their home games at Knights Football Field on campus. Food & Beverage 4 Knights Football Field has some pretty solid concessions, in the form of multiple food trucks dotted around the field – options include a truck selling fried fish, a Domino’s Pizza truck, a Kona Ice truck, and a truck from Krazy Kuzzins which sells hot dogs, nachos, small snacks, and drinks. Prices are very much on the low side (hot dogs for $3 and bottled water for $1, for example), so you won’t have to break the bank to eat at the game. Atmosphere 1 There aren’t many frills at Knights Football Field – the scoreboard doesn’t have a video screen, and all the seats are bleachers without backs. There is also no mascot and no cheerleaders/dance team, although there is a statue of a knight with a sword, in front of one of the campus buildings nearby. You will see a lot of tents along the sidelines, mostly blue, where the coaching and other staff watch from and keep their equipment. Neighborhood 2 Laurinburg, NC has a population of about 15,000. Knights Football Field is located near a hospital, but there are also a few restaurants and hotels within sight of the field, which are close enough to walk to if you want to. There is a Captain D’s seafood across the street, as well as a Dollar Tree and an IGA if you need to pick up anything. There is also a Taco Bell and a couple of hotels on the other side of the highway from the venue – you may want to drive to those, however, as walking across the highway may not be the safest. There are a couple of parks in town, as well as a disc golf course; the nearest big city is Fayetteville, NC, about an hour’s drive from St. Andrews. Fans 2 St. Andrews football doesn’t draw much of a crowd – most of the fans appear to be friends or family members of the players themselves, and like many small college football programs, the schools in the same conference tend to be close together geographically (unlike the FBS’ Big 12, for example, which now has member schools stretching from Utah to Texas to West Virginia). Because the schools are located close together, however, you will sometimes see as many visiting fans in attendance as home fans, depending on the opponent, since the drive is not that far. At Knights Football Field, this also means you will see tents in the opposing colors, being used by the opponent’s staff, on the opposite side of the field. Access 3 Getting to Knights Football Field may be a little tricky – as mentioned the nearest big city is an hour away, so there aren’t many major roads to bring you here. The football stadium is located on Magnolia Drive near St. Andrews’ other sports facilities, but your GPS may have trouble finding it (mine did). There is only one official entrance into the stadium, located near the food trucks (although the gate near the ambulance is also open, so you could technically sneak in that way). Parking here is free – there is a paved parking lot down the street from the field next to the school’s athletic building, but most people park on the grass along the fence around the stadium, in the grass lot behind the food trucks, or under the trees one field over. Security doesn’t like people to park on the stadium side of the street, so you may be asked to move – if you park on the other side of the road from the stadium, however, you should be fine. Return on Investment 3 Attending a game at Knights Football Field is very inexpensive considering the cheap tickets, low-cost concessions, and no cost for parking. However, there aren’t many frills here either. Tickets to St. Andrews football games are only around $6, and you must purchase them online (there are no sales at the gate). There are a few fans, however, who just watch from the other side of the fence, either under a tent they brought or just standing along the fence – that way you can technically watch for free. Depending on how late in the year it is, it could be pretty hot in North Carolina, so bringing a tent might be a good idea, or bringing an umbrella with you into the stadium to provide some shade. A few fans bring folding chairs into the stadium as well; if you do that you could sit under the trees along the fence line and get shade that way. Extras 1 The stadium has some pleasant scenery, surrounded as it is by trees. The blue tents for the team’s staff also provide some pops of the Knights colors.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Brave Gym 803 W Indian Creek Dr. Trafalgar, IN 46181 Indian Creek HS Braves Brave Gym website Year Opened: 1967 Capacity: 2,300 Keep Your Eye on the Ball at The Creek Indian Creek High School was created in time for the 1967-1968 academic school year and was the result of three local schools of Nineveh, Morgantown, and Trafalgar all consolidating into one larger school. The district had purchased 79 acres of land two years prior near the southwest corner of SR 135 and 252 to begin construction of the new $1.5 million school. The school’s new name was picked by 8th grader John Wilkerson who chose it due to a few reasons that included that Indian Creek ran through all three towns, it did not have a connection with any of the three towns, and no other school in the state had this name. For his efforts, Wilkerson received a $50 savings bond. The new school also needed a new gymnasium and chose Ralph Legemen’s sunken gym design that, at this point, was nearing its end of popularity in the state. Indian Creek’s new home, sometimes known as Braves Gym, would be the second to last of this patented design ever built. All of the elements from the octagonal-shaped seating bowl, arched roof, exposed beams, and wrap-around concourse are present for a game of basketball. The Braves would capture its first sectional championship in 1978 after a hectic schedule that was affected by the Blizzard of ‘78. The school did not have to wait long for its next few sectional tournament championships as the program secured wins in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, and 2000. Indian Creek’s lone regional championship occurred in 1983. The gym is also home to 3A sectional tournaments on an annual basis where it hosts Beech Grove, Herron, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Indianapolis George Washington Community, and Speedway. The Braves have not won a sectional since 2000 and with two decades in between, fans would love nothing more than to hang a banner at its only home for basketball. Food & Beverage 3 The concession stand is outside of the main seating bowl and offers do usual items found in other high school gyms. There is not one item that is more than $3 and everything makes for a nice little snack while watching the game. Fans can enjoy hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and even soft pretzels. The Brave Dog features chili and cheese on top and during this game, ice cream and Kona Ice are served on the main concourse. Atmosphere 4 There have not been a lot of changes to the Braves Gym since it first opened in 1967 but two years ago it did receive a splash of paint and was reminded that should last until the end of the decade when the floor will need to be replaced. The bold and bright school colors and the oversized center logo of the interlocking “IC” pop off nicely against the ceiling lights and add a touch of pizazz to the old venue. Another thing that has not changed is the number of people that pack the gymnasium regularly. The last game of the season was Senior Night which brought a near-capacity crowd to the 2,400-seat building that offered an atmosphere that was the norm when the place first opened. Players are introduced behind a lighted Braves logo on the wall and an energetic PA announcer. The 10-foot wide concourse had various tables manned by graduating seniors who offered autograph books and bowls of fun-sized candy bars and a few other snacks and treats. There are also tables from local businesses, Girl Scouts selling cookies, a full-size merchandise stand (closed due to most of the school merchandise having been sold this year), and a Kona Ice machine. The walls are covered with framed championship photos of various teams, regional and sectional title banners, Hall of Fame members, and other school memories. The highlight though is the corner exhibit that honors the three former high schools that consolidated to become Indian Creek in 1967. Trafalgar, Nineveh, and Morgantown High are memorialized with photos, letter jackets, yearbooks, senior chords, game balls, and the old mascot head that is all behind lighted glass cases. This might be the best display in any high school gym in the state. The front-row seats underneath the baskets make for an interesting game-day experience in that they are within a few inches of the gameplay. You have to pay attention to any loose balls, falling players, and throw-ins because chances are the visitor is in the way of the play. There is not much legroom in between and it even leads to two padded coverings directly under the basket to act as a cushion (both included with advertisements). Neighborhood 2 For the size of the town, there are a few interesting places to eat including the Crowbar Restaurant which offers appetizers or chicken wings in signature sauces and frog legs as well as burgers, sandwiches, and flatbread pizza. Southern Comfort features fried chicken and waffles along with other items including catfish dinners, burgers, and pies. Small Town Pizza and Sub Company is one of three locations serving pizza, pizza rolls, subs, and strombolis at this family-friendly eatery. Also, the Johnson County Museum of History is in nearby Franklin, and Johnson County Park is in Nineveh. A short drive south is Nashville, Indiana, where the small town is alive with shops restaurants, bars, and nearby hiking trails and parks for a fun time for the entire family. Fans 4 Indian Creek has an enrollment of 610 but attracts large crowds to games regularly. The student section dresses up in theme outfits and holds oversized heads of celebrity figures in an attempt to distract opponent foul shots. Tonight the students were decked in fraternity wear complete with empty red Solo Cups that were raised during Braves foul shots and sipped when each shot was made. Oddly enough many of these kids will experience a frat party sometime in the future but the cup-raising should be something used for every game in the future. The rest of the fans are just as involved in the game as they are focused on the action on the court. A collection of family, friends, alumni, and fans of the game cheer loudly during excellent play and display jeers during calls that favor the visiting team. It was a close game in the first half that kept everyone on their toes, but the Braves pulled ahead in the third to the delight of the thousands in the stands. Access 3 The high school and gym are a little out of the way and several miles from the I-65 exit but part of the journey to many Indiana high school gyms is the journey through small towns on state roads. The gym itself is easy to move around thanks to its sunken bowl design and wraparound concourse. As with many of these styles of gyms, there are plenty of doors allowing for an easy exit after the game but that is not the case with Brave Gym. It is surrounded but other buildings of the school and there are not as many doors in comparison with other gyms of this kind in Edinburgh, West Vigo, and Southridge. Return on Investment 4 The small sunken gym costs $5 for a ticket and not one item at the concession stand is over $3. Trafalgar is a small town with a few places of interest to enjoy a bite or drink before or after the game. The town is within a small drive of area attractions but the game itself is enough to attract someone to the gym. It can be a lot of fun to enjoy a game with a frenzied crowd on hand. Extras 4 The Braves earn one point for the wonderful exhibit honoring the three former high schools that merged to become Indian Creek in 1967. There are a lot of memories from photographs, varsity jackets, and even old senior chords that are beautifully displayed in the corner of the concourse. The team earns a second point for the introduction that features a lighted mascot head against the wall of the gymnasium. The gym is darkened and the PA announcer gets hyped up before the start of the game. The third point is for the wheelchair lift that was added to the gym a few years ago. The fourth point is for the maneuvering one has to do if they are sitting in the first row underneath the basket. The fan is inches away from the action on the court where you need to pay attention unless you’ll be hit in the face with a basketball or a falling player. Final Thoughts Brave Gym is a classic sunken basketball arena that is full of life and excitement during the basketball season. The community comes together to honor its players on the court and provide a wonderful backdrop for any visitor looking for that old-fashioned Hoosier Hysteria. The small town offers a big game day atmosphere that’s not too far off the beaten path for anyone to experience for themselves.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 1.43 Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field 144 University Drive Rindge, NH 09461 New Hampshire Wild website Pappas Field website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 1,500 Call of the Wild The New Hampshire Wild are one of four teams competing in the inaugural season of the Empire Baseball League. They play their home games at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field on the campus of Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire. The Empire League is a replacement of the North Country Baseball League, which lasted only one season. The NCBL was itself a replacement for the East Coast Baseball League, which disbanded before ever playing a game. The Empire League is a low-budget league designed to give recent college graduates and players with little experience a chance to be signed to higher level league contracts with affiliated or independent teams. The level of play is roughly equivalent to affiliated Rookie or short season A-Level ball. Dr. and Mrs. Pappas were local residents and well-known philanthropists in central Massachusetts and beyond. Dr. Pappas may be more well-known as the Boston Red Sox’ medical director from 1978 to 2002. Food & Beverage 1 There are limited concessions sold at a folding table at the entrance to the ballpark. Assorted chips, candy bars and drinks are offered here. Fans looking for something a little more substantial can select hot dogs or hamburgers cooked while you wait on a Foreman Grill. While the selection is limited, nothing on the menu costs more than three dollars. Some Wild t-shirts are also sold at this table for fans looking for a souvenir. Atmosphere 1 Like every other aspect of the Wild gameday experience, the atmosphere here at Pappas Field is a bare bones one, to be sure. There are no extraneous between inning contests or giveaways here. The only noise that comes from beyond the diamond are PA lineup announcements and between inning music. There are none of the extraneous bells and whistles that have become commonplace throughout the minor leagues. On the plus side, you won’t find a more laid-back place to catch a ball game. Neighborhood 1 Rindge, New Hampshire is a rural town of just over 6,000 inhabitants. The university is located on 1,200 acres of land northwest of downtown. The picturesque campus sits on 1,200 acres overlooking Pearly Pond in the shadows of Mount Monadnock. There is nothing to attract visiting baseball fans within walking distance of Pappas Field. While there are some restaurants and hotels scattered throughout Rindge and neighboring Jaffrey, these are several miles from campus. Fans 1 The Empire League as a whole has had difficulty attracting fans, and the Wild have experienced similar difficulty in this area. The league does not release attendance figures, but during the game attended by this writer on a Saturday night, under 30 fans were in attendance. In speaking with some regular fans (yes, even a crowd this small can have regulars in attendance), they noted that this crowd was on the large side for the Wild. Early reports from the other teams in the Empire League reflect a similar dearth of fans. Access 2 Pappas Field is located on the southeastern edge of the Franklin Pierce University campus in rural Rindge, New Hampshire. Rindge is situated in the southwest corner of New Hampshire, just north of the Massachusetts border. It is located about 25 minutes from Keene, NH and 90 minutes northwest of Boston. There are no highways that serve Rindge. The nearest interstate is I-91, 40 minutes to the west. Fans driving to Franklin Pierce will most likely arrive in Rindge via Route 202 or 119. The grounds at Pappas Field are nicely manicured and easy to navigate. Parking is located in a large lot beyond left field. Paved paths lead to the various seating areas, including 150 molded plastic stadium seats behind home plate. Metal bleachers are located further down each baseline, as well atop the hill beyond the left field fence. Rest room facilities are located in the boat house across the street from the ballpark. Return on Investment 3 Admission to Wild games cost five dollars for general admission seating. There is no charge for parking, and no items at the concession stand cost more than three dollars. Taking in a Wild game is inexpensive, if nothing else. Extras 1 An extra point is awarded for the Wild’s early attempts to integrate themselves into the community. Local Little League teams are invited to spend their days practicing with the team and stick around for the game. Youngsters can be found shagging foul balls around the ballpark. Final Thoughts To state that the Empire League is experiencing some growing pains would be an understatement. The four teams in the league are struggling to attract fans and sponsors, and the bare bones gameday presentation is a direct reflection of this lack of support. Still, the fact that the league has made it to a second season (their inaugural season was played as the North County Baseball League) offers some hope for the future. As a facility, Pappas Field is a fine place to take in a game. As one of the only lit fields in both the state of New Hampshire and the Northeast-10 Conference, it is in use weeks before other area ballparks, as its EdelGrass Surface allows it to be plowed while other natural grass fields await the spring thaw during the frigid New Hampshire spring. Five NCAA Division II Regional Championships have been held at Pappas Field. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29 Fuessenich Field Coe Place Torrington, CT 06790 Year Opened: 1918 Capacity: 1,500 Frederick Fussenich’s Field In 1918 Frederick Fuessenich donated eight acres of land to the town of Torrington to be used as a “place of amusement and recreation for the men, women, and children of Torrington”. Over the years this land has been used for a variety of purposes, including baseball, soccer, ice skating, and carnivals. Fuessenich Park also served as a professional ballpark, if only for one season. The Torrington Braves of the short-lived Colonial League called Fuessenich Park home for one season in 1950. The Colonial League actually folded before the end of the 1950 season, relegating Torrington and its quaint little park to obscurity for decades. It served the town well, hosting local American Legion and amateur baseball until the New England Collegiate Baseball League came calling in 1997. The Torrington Twisters played in the NECBL for a dozen years before moving to Paul Walsh Field in New Bedford, MA. In 2010 the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League placed a team in Torrington, where the Titans led the league in attendance. The Carminucci Sports Group purchased the team for their new enterprise, the Futures League, where the Titans have played since the league’s inception in 2011. Food & Beverage 3 There is a single concession stand located underneath the grandstand at Fuessenich Park offering your standard ballpark fare. Hot Dogs ($3), hamburgers ($5), chicken fingers ($5), and French fries ($3) are sold here. Items can be combined with fries into a combo meal to save a buck or two, and veggie burgers are sold as an alternative. The menu’s centerpiece is the “Titan Burger”, which features two burger patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and a grilled bun for $7. Cans of Coca-Cola products are available for $1.50, as well as bottles of Snapple for $3. A variety of snacks, including candy, chips, pretzels, sunflower seeds, peanuts, ice cream novelties, and fried dough can also be purchased here. New for 2014 is the portable beer stand, which sells Budweiser, Bud Light, and Shock Top for $4.50, as well as Long Trail IPA and Heineken for $5.50. It’s an impressive menu for a stand of this size. Atmosphere 2 Of all the summer collegiate leagues in New England, the Futures League tries the hardest to be similar to the game day experience of the minor leagues. Batters come to the plate accompanied by their individual walk-up songs, and there are plenty of between inning contests and promotions. Unfortunately, in a smaller venue like Fuessenich Park with a small crowd, these games and gimmicks often fall flat. For example, I witnessed three people turn down the opportunity at a seat upgrade from the bleachers to a pair of recliners located directly behind home plate. Also, due to the dearth of children in attendance, the same group of kids got to participate in several between innings contests. Still, the Titans staff try hard to get the fans involved, and the contests are enjoyable. The contests aren’t so intrusive as to distract from one’s enjoyment of the game, and the atmosphere at a Titans game straddles the line between laid-back and upbeat well. Neighborhood 2 Fuessenich Park is located adjacent to the Torrington Armory in downtown Torrington, a town of 36,000 in northwestern Connecticut. The town is working towards recreating a traditional Main Street environment, and their efforts are evident a short distance from the ballpark. Perhaps most evident is the Warner Theater, a 1930’s era theater which has been restored to its original luster and is now home to the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts. Several restaurants, businesses, and parks are in the area. Sunny Brook State Park is nearby, as well as Paugnut State Forest. There’s a definite small-town vibe here, and it’s a nice place to spend a summer afternoon. Fans 2 Torrington’s attendance has remained constant at around 400-500 fans per game over their four years in the Futures League. This places them in the bottom third of the league in average attendance. The fans here are similar to those you will find at many summer collegiate venues, in that they are very dedicated and knowledgeable about their team and players. Many have connections to the team as house parents or volunteers. It’s not unusual to see a sizeable portion of fans present from the visiting team’s city. Access 3 Fuessenich Park is located in downtown Torrington, within walking distance of a shopping plaza, a park, and Main Street. The ballpark is located about a mile from Route 8, the main north-south highway in western Connecticut. Hartford is located approximately 30 miles to the east. Driving to Fuessenich Park is relatively simple, just take exit 44 (Route 202/Downtown Torrington) off of Route 8, follow East Main Street about ¾ of a mile to South Main Street. Coe Place will be on your left, immediately after the Torrington Plaza. Parking is available in a small lot adjacent to the park (beware, this is dangerous foul ball territory), or in a larger lot a short walk away across the street from the Armory. When you arrive at Fuessenich Park you will enter the ballpark at the top of the seating area. There are six small sections behind home plate featuring individual seating. Down the first base line are three sections of metal bleaches with backs. These seats are a chiropractor’s dream, as they are very hard and angled towards the outfield. The advantage of these seats are that there is no netting to interfere with one’s view. Be aware that the stands here have a steep pitch to them, making for excellent sight lines, but also making them a bit difficult for those with problems walking. Handicapped seating is available at the top level of the seating bowl for those who may require it. The restrooms and concession stand are located underneath the grandstand behind home plate, accessible by a set of stairs from the bleachers or via a vomitory behind home plate. There is a paved area here as well as a few picnic tables where fans can enjoy their food if they so desire. Farther down the right field line are a couple of rickety looking sets of bleachers that are used only by the visiting team’s bullpen. Also located here is a single bouncy house that gets some use by the kids in attendance. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for Titans games cost $8 for reserved seating behind home plate, and $6 for general admission bleacher seats. Youths and seniors will enjoy a $2 discount, and children under 12 are admitted for free. A bunch of fans avoided the ticket charge altogether by simply watching the action from behind the fence at the top of the seating bowl. Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the ballpark. These prices, while maybe a little higher than other college parks in the area, are in line with the other teams in the Futures League. Extras 1 There is not a whole lot going on at a Titans game that will qualify as extra here at Fuessenich Park. The Titans hold a 50/50 raffle each night to raise funds for operating costs, as well as several between inning promotions to create fan involvement. In Torrington, the game is the main focus. Final Thoughts Fuessenich Park has been serving the citizens of Torrington for close to 100 years. While unsuccessful in its one brief attempt at hosting professional baseball, it has found a successful niche as a summer college ballpark. The Futures League has staked a claim to several abandoned minor league ballparks in New England, giving Torrington several sister cities to band with. Ballpark chasers will find Fuessenich Park a quaint and unique venue at which to catch a game. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Forges Field 83 Jordan Rd Plymouth, MA 02360 Forges Field website Year Opened: 1972 Capacity: 500 Pilgrim Baseball The Plymouth Pilgrims, the newest members of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, play their home games at Forges Field, a town-owned complex containing 5 baseball fields, 2 softball fields, 3 soccer fields, a football field, and a golf course. The land that Forges Field is located on was once owned by the Jordan family, founders of Jordan Marsh department stores. The Pilgrims were founded in 2013 by former Newport Gulls owner Dave Dittmann. ‎ Food & Beverage 2 If you aren’t careful, you may miss most of the concessions available at Forges Field. Located near the entrance to Forges Field are two small tables selling Domino’s Pizzas and assorted snacks and drinks. But with a little searching, bigger and better things can be had. There is a concessions stand at Forges Field located a short walk from the baseball field, down by the football field. This stand is open for all Pilgrims games. Available here is a greater variety of food, including all your ballpark staples, including hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, and assorted snacks. Coca-Cola products are sold here. For those looking to save a few dollars, combo meals are offered. Veteran fans simply bring their own items into Forges Field, saving themselves a few dollars in the process. Either way, you aren’t going to spend a ton of money on concessions at a Pilgrims game. Atmosphere 3 This is the area in which the Pilgrims shine brightest. Despite the small size of the ballpark, the staff here try to put on a show worthy of any minor league team. Gobbles the turkey roams the park, interacting with the fans and leading a trail of kids wherever he goes. There are between inning contests for the kids and a PA announcer orchestrating the whole affair. He may seem to be trying a bit too hard to be clever, but he helps to create an atmosphere that is pretty unique in the laid-back New England Collegiate Baseball League. Another area in which the Pilgrims excel is their connection with the community. The Pilgrims have a long list of sponsors who tie in with the promotional schedule and sponsor individual games. Depending on when you visit Forges Field, you may be on the receiving end of some unique and fabulous items. Promotions for 2014 include free cranberries, chocolate, hats, ice cream, golf balls, and even lobster rolls. Discounted concessions are available on selected nights, as are free movies and popcorn after some games. The atmosphere at Forges Field is one of the livelier in the NECBL. Neighborhood 2 I’ll be perfectly honest with you here. If you are visiting Forges Field, you aren’t interested in staying anywhere near there before or after the game. There just isn’t anything in the area. You are going downtown where the action is. Now, in a small town like Plymouth, “action” is a relative term, but there are many attractions in the area, especially for history buffs. Forges Field is located on the edge of the Myles Standish State Forest, the largest publicly owned recreation area in southeastern Massachusetts. Spread out over 26 square miles, the forest is filled with campgrounds, bike paths, and nature trails. It does not, however, have restaurants or hotels. For those, head to the historic center of Plymouth, where you will find plenty of museums, places to eat, hotels, and historic places of interest. Fans 2 Plymouth ranks in the middle of the pack in terms of attendance in the NECBL, averaging between 400-500 fans per game. The people who come to Pilgrim games are similar to what you will find in most of the summer collegiate games in the area. They are passionate about their team, and many have a connection with the team through volunteer efforts, hosting players, or sponsorships. There is a strong family presence, as you would expect with a summer league team. There is a lot of open space for kids to roam here at Forges Field, with several sports fields adjacent to the main ball field. There is also a playground located behind the field filled with youngsters and relieved parents. Many of the kids present spend their time chasing foul balls through the woods that surround the field. Access 2 You are not going to stumble across Forges Field accidentally. Despite being relatively close to Route 3, there are no exits close to the ballpark. Fans travelling to see the Pilgrims play will have to wind their way through several miles of winding rural roads to get to the sprawling recreational complex. There is plenty of parking near Forges Field, and the area around the field is landscaped beautifully with paved paths to access all areas of the ballpark. The field itself is not built up, and is pretty much what you would expect from a community ball field. There is no press box here, and the Pilgrims set up several portable folding tables from which they sell concessions, souvenirs, and tickets. The team and town have teamed up to make many improvements for fans since the Pilgrims landed here. Several new wooden bleachers have sprung up around the infield, giant new dugouts have been built (unfortunately, these dugouts block some prime viewing spots), and new netting has been installed along both baselines down past the infield. For fans wishing to bring their own lawn chairs, there is room to spread out along the outfield lines, past the grandstands and picnic tables. Rest rooms are available in the same building as the concessions are located, a short walk from the baseball field. Return on Investment 4 Admission to a Pilgrims game is very affordable at $2, and parking is free in the lots adjacent to the field. Concessions are affordable as well, making a night out at Forges Field a very affordable alternative to other options in the area. Veteran fans will bring their own coolers with refreshments to further decrease the cost of attending a Pilgrims game. Extras 2 Despite the abundance of activity going on at a Pilgrims game, it’s a very laid-back atmosphere at Forges Field. Extra points are earned for the plethora of giveaways throughout the season. The NECBL and other college leagues in the area present their games in an “old-school” manner, keeping the focus on the game instead of the extraneous activity found at so many minor league parks today. Final Thoughts While the facility at Forges Field is little more than a glorified community diamond, the Plymouth Pilgrims staff work hard to make the game day experience an enjoyable one for the fans. The Pilgrims come closer to providing a minor league atmosphere than most summer college teams, but they still straddle the line between that carnival-like atmosphere and old-school baseball successfully. The facility may be one that attracts only the locals and the most dedicated of ballpark chasers, but any fan will enjoy their time at Forges Field. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.00 Fitch High School Field 101 Groton Long Point Road Groton, CT 06340 Mystic Schooners website Fitch High School website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 1,000 Into The Mystic The Mystic Schooners, despite their modest four seasons in New London County, are one of the two oldest franchises in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Before settling in Groton, a town adjacent to Mystic, the team played in Willimantic, CT, Hinsdale, MA, Pittsfield, MA, and Bristol, CT. Food & Beverage 2 The Schooners operate a pop up tent next to the press box where fans can select from a very limited menu. The only hot item on the menu is hot dogs, which can be purchased for a reasonable two dollars. A variety of chips, candy, popcorn, and snacks are available here, with no item priced at over two dollars. A highlight of the menu is the Schooner Soda, bottled by a local company and featuring the Schooners logo on the bottle. Unfortunately, the team recycles the bottle, so you can’t keep it as a souvenir. Add a scoop of ice cream to your sarsaparilla and you have a “Schooner Float”, sold for three dollars. Next to the concession table is a table selling assorted Schooners items. In addition to the usual selection of hats and t-shirts, fans can purchase a pint glass with the Schooners logo featured prominently on it. It’s a novelty item not seen at most college parks. Atmosphere 2 With the small crowd and large dimensions at Fitch High School, there isn’t a whole lot of buzz in the stands at a Schooners game. The team does a couple of raffles during the game, but there isn’t a whole lot extra going on to keep your attention. Ballpark purists will undoubtedly enjoy the fact that you can hear the chatter in the infield and instructions from the dugout, but there is something missing here that you get at other summer college ballparks. There are the requisite children playing their own games of catch in the large grassy area who chase every foul ball like their lives depended on its retrieval beyond the third base bleachers, but they are far from the field and totally out of sight. Neighborhood 3 The baseball field where the Mystic Schooners play their game is located behind Robert E. Fitch High School in neighboring Groton, CT. The school is located on Groton Long Point Road, otherwise known as Route 215. Despite its location just off of Route 1, there is little in the immediate area to attract any visiting fans. If visiting the area from out of town, the historic Mystic Seaport is located just over 3 miles away from Fitch High School on Route 1 North. Once in Mystic, fans will find some great seafood restaurants, and tons of shopping. The iconic Mystic Pizza from movie fame is located not too far from Fitch High School. Attractions such as Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium are located here. In addition, The twin Connecticut casinos, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, are located less than a half hour’s drive away. Fans 1 Mystic averages about 200 fans per game at Fitch High School, ranking them at or near the bottom of the NECBL listings annually. The fans that do trek out to Fitch Field are very dedicated and knowledgeable about their team, and are very involved in the action on the field. It was wonderful to see a great deal of interaction between the players and fans throughout the game. Access 2 Fitch High School is located just off of Route 1, which hugs the Connecticut shoreline and is the primary business thoroughfare on the south coast of the state. It is easily accessible from Interstate 95. If driving to Groton, take exit 88 (Route 117) off of I-95, follow it to the end, take a left onto Route 1, and follow it to Route 217. Fitch High School will immediately be on your right. The baseball field is located behind the school. Once at the ball field, there are paved paths leading from the parking lot to the large, new set of bleachers located on the third base side of the field. Fans needing accessible seating will be very happy with these bleachers, which have been built to meet all the newest ADA standards. Just beware, they are metal, and don’t have backs, so bring a cushion, both to protect your backside from the metal and from the heat. There are no permanent rest room facilities here, just two port-a-johns for use. There is no seating on the first base side of the field, but just beyond the press box is perhaps the smallest set of bleachers ever created. Consisting of three short rows of benches, they will seat perhaps 9 people if they squeeze together really closely. Fans not wishing to sit in the bleachers will find plenty of room to spread out lawn chairs or blankets. Return on Investment 3 Admission to a Schooners game costs $5 for general admission seating. It feels a little on the high side for this park, but it is not out of line with prices in the NECBL. Many veteran Schooners fans (or should we call them freeloaders?) forego the price of admission by simply bringing their own lawn chairs or blankets and sitting on the hill beyond the outfield fence. By doing this, they are not charged admission, and they enjoy a great view of the action. To me, this seems like a rotten thing to do. The Schooners are not charging an exorbitant price for tickets, and the cost of admission goes entirely towards the running of the team (paying for gas and busses to away games, getting players home after the season, etc.). When your attendance is under 200 fans and there are 50 more sitting in the outfield for free, you are depriving the team of a substantial portion of their budget. This may be the only time you hear a rant from me against looking for the best bargain. Parking is free in the lot located beyond the outfield fence. In the event of a larger crowd, more spaces are available on the opposite side of the school. Food prices are also very low, so going to a Schooners game is a very affordable entertainment option for families in the Mystic area. Extras 1 The Mystic Schooners game day experience is a pretty bare bones one, even by summer collegiate league standards. The team runs a couple of raffles, one for a t-shirt, and the familiar 50/50 raffle. Disappointingly, the players do not participate in these raffles as they do in most other places, and the beleaguered intern running the raffles didn’t start the 50/50 raffle until the 6th inning, not leaving him a whole lot of time to collect money. Fortunately for him, with the small crowds regularly in attendance, it doesn’t take long to circle the park. Final Thoughts The league had a great idea in placing a team in historic and scenic Mystic. Unfortunately, by having the team play in neighboring Groton in an out of the way field, they lose any of the benefits that playing in such a tourist mecca would gain them. Other teams play in high school fields similar to Fitch High School, but those facilities generally have a better location or permanent facilities. Fitch High School has some catching up to do in order to match up with other NECBL facilities. For a team that has played in former minor league ballparks such as Muzzy Field and Waconah Park, this is a huge step backwards. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Edward A LeLacheur 450 Aiken St Lowell, MA 01854 Edward A. LeLacheur Park website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 5,000 Spin Me Right Round Edward A. LeLacheur Park, located on the banks of the Merrimack River and the edge of the UMass Lowell campus, serves as the home of both the Lowell Spinners, class A short season affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, and the University of Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks baseball teams. It was named for the State Representative and civic leader who spearheaded the redevelopment of the city of Lowell. Opened in 1998, the ballpark was designed by Populous, the firm responsible for numerous prominent sporting venues worldwide. Since arriving in Lowell from Elmira, New York in 1996, the Spinners have qualified for the playoffs in the New York-Penn League three times, losing in the first round each time. 108 Spinners alumni have made it to the major leagues. Food & Beverage 4 While there seems to be some sort of concession stand tucked into virtually every corner of LeLacheur Park, concessions don’t stray too far from your stadium basics. The Canaligator Cafes located on either side of the ballpark offer your standard fare, with the menu anchored by burgers, hot dogs and pizza slices. Chicken parm sandwiches, steak and cheese subs, and sausage and pepper sandwiches round out the offerings. All the usual sides can be found here, including fries that can be smothered with chili and cheese. Kids meals containing either a burger or chicken tenders, apple slices or chips and a drink are available for the younger fans in attendance. Items can be combined into a combo meal to save a few dollars. Healthy options including grilled chicken salads, wraps, veggie burgers, apple slices and fruit juice are sold at the large stands. Portable stands located all over the concourse add variety to the menu with items including monster dogs, premium burgers and loaded nachos. Thirsty Spinner fans can select from assorted Coca-Cola products. There is a large selection of adult beverages from national beers (Coors Light, Miller Lite, Heineken, Blue Moon, Corona) to local favorites (Sam Adams, Harpoon, Narragansett) sold in both cans and draft. Wine and Sangria are sold at the tiki hut in right field. Fans looking for something a little different should check out the Home Plate BBQ, which features an all you can eat buffet starting 90 minutes before first pitch and lasting until the game starts. For $31.50 fans can enjoy a menu featuring ribs, pulled pork, BBQ chicken, burgers, dogs and more in a private space underneath the concourse. Children 12 and under enjoy a five dollar discount. Atmosphere 4 Whether or not you enjoy the game day experience at LeLacheur Park may depend entirely on your age. One thing is for sure, the Spinners’ staff certainly do try. They try hard, very hard. That may be their biggest problem. The game is almost an afterthought at LeLacheur Park. There are sound effects, video clips, PA announcements, and exhortations for fans to clap their hands and/or stomp their feet all game long. For the many children in the stands these distractions from the action are welcome. The aluminum stands at LeLacheur Park are perfect for jumping up and down and making lots of noise. There is a contest or giveaway between every half inning, including several t-shirt tosses, sing-alongs, and most famously, the rubber chicken toss, during which several rubber chickens are tossed into the stands. For many Spinner fans, this is the highlight of the evening’s shenanigans, and has become synonymous with the Spinners. Located beyond the left field stands is Swamp Land, an area filled with several slides, inflatables, and other attractions for the younger Spinners fans. The Spinners feature an extensive promotional schedule, featuring many giveaways and theme nights. Several bobbleheads are given out every year, featuring Spinners alumni and local residents such as Jack Kerowac, Stephen King, and Jay Leno. Theme nights such as Parrot Head night, Princess night, and Super Hero night are always popular, as are nights honoring the local major league teams. Annual visits from members of the Bruins, Celtics, and Patriots always draw large crowds. There are tables set up all along the concourse for sponsors, magicians and musicians performing throughout the evening, and auctions for team memorabilia. Even the ushers get in on the action, dancing on dugouts or racing each other on the field. The Spinners employ three mascots, Canaligator, Allie Gator and Millie Gator who roam the stands entertaining fans. There is plenty to do and see at LeLacheur Park. Neighborhood 3 LeLacheur Park is located adjacent to several university buildings on the UMass Lowell campus in downtown Lowell, as is the Tsongas Center, home of the UMass Lowell hockey team. As is the case with many industrial cities of the north, the boon that brought prosperity to these cities faded, and with it went many jobs and a great deal of money. During this time, the city of Lowell obtained a reputation as a violent, crime-ridden city, best to be avoided. Recent decades have been kinder to Lowell, and there has been a growth in business, cultural, and educational development in the city. Statistically, Lowell is safer than many other New England cities of similar size but unfortunately, Lowell’s bad reputation lingers to this day. The city of Lowell was a major center for manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution. As a result of this rich history, Lowell contains many buildings of historical significance, several of which have been preserved by the National Park Service and remain in use today as the Lowell National Historical Park. Fans arriving early to LeLacheur Park can walk along the Riverwalk and observe some of the rapids that powered the old mills. Fans of American literature should be sure to check out the memorial for native son Jack Kerowac, located within the park. The area around LeLacheur Park has seen a great deal of development since the opening of the ballpark, but it hasn’t resulted in increased dining or lodging options for visiting fans. Fans looking for a place to gather before or after a game for a bite to eat or (more specifically) a drink will be pleased to find Beer Works located in one of the old mills about a block from LeLacheur Park. Beer Works is known for their impressive lineup of craft beers. It’s a must-try for those fans who enjoy sampling some local flavor along with their sporting journeys. Fans 4 For many seasons early on in the Spinners’ history, the team sold out LeLacheur Park for entire seasons. Unfortunately, attendance in Lowell has been in a steady decline over the past decade. Despite this, the team continues to rank in the top five of the New York-Penn League annually. LeLacheur Park’s proximity to Fenway Park (30 miles separate the two ballparks) guarantees that the fans in attendance will be very knowledgeable about the players on the team. The Red Sox fan base is one of the most dedicated you will find anywhere, and this passion trickles down all the way to the Spinners, the team’s Short Season Single A affiliate. Access 3 While hardly a destination city in its own right, Lowell’s proximity to Boston makes it an easy stop for baseball fans traveling in the area. Lowell is located 25 miles northwest of Boston, served by the Lowell Connector off of Interstate 495, a short drive from both Interstate 95 and Route 3. Parking is plentiful near the ballpark, with a few small surface lots and a decent sized parking garage located nearby. Fans willing to walk a few blocks can find plenty of on-street parking as well. While Lowell is served by both Amtrak and Greyhound, driving is the most efficient and most popular way to arrive at LeLacheur Park. There is a small entry plaza at LeLacheur Park where the ticket booths and team store are located. Fans will climb a set of stairs to arrive on the concourse, which stretches from the right field foul pole to medium left field. Except for an area behind home plate, the field is visible from all points on the concourse. The seating bowl consists mainly of individual green folding plastic stadium seats, except for some bleacher seating in the furthest sections from home which serve as general admission seating. There is a kids’ play area beyond the end of the stands in deep left field. To avoid watching the action through nets, select seats far down either baseline. As is the case with many ballparks in the northeast, crowds at LeLacheur Park move around quite a bit during the course of the game, and the small concourse can get very crowded at times. Two pairs of bathrooms are open for Spinners games, and they are adequate for a typical Lowell crowd. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for Lowell Spinners games are sold in three tiers: Premium Seats for ten dollars, Box Seats for nine dollars and Reserved Bleacher Seating for seven dollars. With the high demand for Spinners tickets, Standing Room seats are offered for six dollars. Waiting for game day to buy your tickets will add $2.50 to your total. Remember to ask for the AAA discount if you are a member. Parking in the garage adjacent to LeLacheur Park, as well as on the streets surrounding the ballpark, will cost you five dollars. Concession prices are comparable to other parks in the area, making a night at the ballpark in Lowell an affordable entertainment option for local sports fans. Extras 3 Extra points are awarded for the Spinners’ strong connection to the nearby parent club in Boston. Features from Fenway Park such as the old Hood Milk Jug in center field, the Red Sox retired numbers hanging on the right field fence and the display of former Spinners to make it to the Major Leagues just reinforce that relationship. Red Sox souvenirs are sold in the team store, and the majority of the fans in the stands wear Sox gear. Another extra point is awarded for the sense of fun and fan first attitude prevalent at LeLacheur Park. It appears as if the staff here really enjoy their jobs, and share their sense of fun with the fans. Final Thoughts The partnership between NY-Penn League teams and NCAA teams has been successful in many other cities (see Joseph Bruno Stadium in Troy, NY and Medlar Field in State College, PA). It’s a natural fit, as the seasons do not overlap, and it increases the amount of dates that a given stadium can be in use. With LeLacheur Field owned and operated by UMass Lowell, having the Spinners and River Hawks share a stadium is a natural fit. The Spinners’ proximity to Boston guarantees great support and a fun atmosphere, and has helped make LeLacheur Park a very popular destination for baseball fans traveling through the northeast. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.14 Doyle Field Priest St Leominster, MA 01435 Wachusett Dirt Dawgs website Doyle Field website Year Opened: 1931 Capacity: 500 Home of the Dirt Dawgs The Wachusett Dirt Dawgs play their home games at Doyle Field, the most utilized public park in the city of Leominster. The Doyle Field complex consists of a football/soccer field, a lighted baseball field, a running track, and a playground. The name “Wachusett” comes from the neighboring mountain, which is the highest point in Massachusetts east of the Connecticut River. The term “Dirt Dawg” refers to a scrappy, hard-nosed player, and came into use in the region in the early 2000’s to describe Red Sox players such as Trot Nixon and Dustin Pedroia. Food & Beverage 2 There is one temporary concession stand located on the first base side of the field. The menu offers the basics, with hot “dawgs” ($2), burgers ($4), pizza slices ($2), pretzels ($2.50), and fried dough ($4) among the offerings. Thirsty fans can purchase cans of soda or bottles of water for a dollar, and bottles of Powerade for $2. Fans looking for something a little different can try a corn dawg for $2.50. The burgers and dogs are grilled to order, and are definitely worth the price. New this year at Doyle Field is the beer garden, located beyond the center field fence. Cans of Coors Light ($3), Sam Adams, Yuengling, and Wachusett (naturally) can all be had for $3.50. Fans visiting the beer garden be warned, you will be 400 feet away from any other fans, and are confined to the beer garden area for the duration of your beverage. Atmosphere 2 The staff at Doyle Field try hard to create a fun environment for families and other fans, and the atmosphere at Dirt Dawg games has improved by light years over previous seasons. The typical between batter and between inning music can be heard, as well as occasional on-field promotions for the kids. Another new addition for 2014 is Baseball Bingo. Fans can win prizes by filling out a bingo card filled with random baseball plays. One problem with the setup: many of the squares require these events to happen in later innings, and winning cards must be handed in by the end of the sixth inning. It’s a minor hiccup that can be easily fixed. Neighborhood 2 Doyle Field is located in a residential neighborhood just off of North Main Street and close to Route 2. About a mile from Doyle Field on Route 2 is a shopping district with several shops, restaurants, and offices. There is not a large local dining scene here in Leominster, but there are several chain restaurants here to satisfy any hungry baseball fan. Leominster is hardly a destination city in its own right, but is near to Worcester and Boston. Fans visiting the area from out of town would be best served to spend their time in the larger cities. Fans 1 In a league full of teams playing in former minor league ballparks, the Dirt Dawgs struggle to attract large crowds to cozy Doyle Field. Even on big event nights such as Opening Night, the Dawgs only attract between 100-200 fans. Those fans who do show up generally have a connection to the players on the field, so they are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the game at hand. Access 3 Route 2 runs east-west across northern Massachusetts, and less than a mile from Doyle Field. Fans traveling from to Leominster from the north or east will arrive at Doyle Field by taking Interstate 495 to route 2, turning onto Main St. (from the east) or North Main St. (from the west), and then turning onto Priest Street. Fans traveling from the south or west will take Interstate 190 to route 2, and follow the directions listed above. Leominster is located about a half mile north of Worcester, and about an hour west of Boston. The ball field is located on the far side of the Doyle Field complex, behind a track. Fans can reach the ball field via a couple of cement walkways that line the complex. Once at the baseball field, the cement ends, but the area is still easily passable. There are bathrooms located in the field house here, but they could really use a little TLC. Return on Investment 4 Admission to a Dirt Dawg game is $4.50 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for youths. Free parking is available in a large lot across the street from the park, but be warned, it’s a decent walk to the ballpark. With reasonably priced food, a night at Doyle Field is an affordable night out for the family. Extras 1 While the Dawg’s staff have come a long way with their game night entertainment, this is still the bottom of the Futures League food chain. There is not too much going on at Doyle Field that can be considered extra. A free roster sheet is available, but that is about all. Final Thoughts One reviewer once called Doyle Field “one of the 10 worst facilities we have ever seen”. While I wouldn’t compare Doyle Field to Fenway Park, it’s certainly not that bad. Many improvements have been made here by the city and the team, both to the playing surface and to the overall ballpark experience. The results are apparent. Doyle Field is now a serviceable, if not overly remarkable, place to take in a ballgame. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 McKethan Field 2800 Citrus Road Gainesville, FL 32611 Florida Gators website McKethan Field website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 7,000 Gators Aided by Their New Stadium The Florida Gators baseball team moved into their brand new $65 million ballpark in time for the 2021 season. The Gators have a long tradition in the sport, as they have fielded a baseball program since 1912. The team has won 15 SEC Championships, 7 SEC Tournament Championships, and made 12 College World Series Appearances. They won the NCAA National Championship in 2017. Florida Ballpark was built to help the Gators compete in the very competitive SEC baseball wars. In recent years, the University of Alabama, Texas A&M, and Mississippi State University have either built new ballparks or undertaken major renovations to improve their baseball venues. The new home of the Gators seats 7,000 which includes 4,000 chairback seats, 700 club seats in its second level, and seating for 2,000 on the berms in the outfield. Florida Ballpark also offers a 360-degree open concourse to allow for easy navigation around the field. The stadium now has a permanent Sports Shop, replacing a pop-up version that was used at the former site. The stadium also has a state-of-the-art sound system and a giant LED scoreboard/videoboard in right field. The facility has a grass field. The dimensions of the field are 330’ to left field, 400’ to center, and 330’ to right field. Food & Beverage 5 One of the major improvements of Florida Ballpark over the former home of the Gators is the food and beverage selection for the fans. Each stand in the park offers a different set of food options. The 1st Base Line Grill offers brisket nachos ($16), smoked BBQ pork melts ($15), chicken tenders ($12), cheeseburgers ($12), chicken Caesar wraps ($12), and hot dogs ($5). Snacks include popcorn ($4), pretzels ($5), peanuts ($4), and candy ($4). This location includes a Watermelon Refresher ($9), which includes watermelon cubes, lime juice, and chili seasoning as a great way to cool off. Beverages include Pepsi brand sodas ($6), water ($4), coffee ($4), and of course, Gatorade ($4). The 3rd Base Line Grill offers shrimp po’boys ($12), a classic Cuban sandwich ($15), chicken tenders ($12), several choices of pizza ($7), and a Fried Key Lime pie ($11). The same beverages are sold at this location as the 1st Base Line Grill. The outfield berms and Dizney Grove are serviced by a rotating set of food trucks. These include B’z Gelati, The Chili Wagon, Kona Ice, Big Lee’s BBQ, Mayflower Cellars, and Hick’s Grill Shack. Food can be ordered via the Florida Gators app and picked up at the Express Line, saving fans from having to get in a long line between innings. Atmosphere 4 The athletic department wanted to ensure the comfort of fans attending the games in the hot and humid weather that Gainesville can experience in the late spring. They included ceiling fans along the concourses and included a canopy to cover all the fans in the club level and other shade-providing structures in other portions of the park. These were major improvements over the former home of the Gators. Sun Shade Structure at Florida Ballpark, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey The addition of the Dizney Grove and berm seating areas have created some non-traditional seating areas and have been very popular with the Gator fans. Neighborhood 3 The new home of Florida Gators baseball has been relocated across the university campus from its former home next to the McConnell Center. It now is located on the southwest corner of the campus. This was not the original plan, but designers felt the footprint of the old stadium location was not large enough to include all the features that the athletic department wanted as a part of the new facility. The new site enabled the facility to include several hundred parking spaces adjacent to the stadium, doing away with the shuttle bus system that was required in the congested area of the former ballpark. Another reason for choosing the new site was that the playing field could be reconfigured to have home plate relocated to face northeast so the sun would not be in the fan’s and players’ eyes. Fans 4 You can usually expect a full house at Gator baseball games. The fan base has lofty expectations every season, as the baseball program has been a regular in the NCAA baseball playoffs and the College World Series. The 200 level at Florida Ballpark is filled with the boosters and monied alumni of the school. They typically are decked out in the blue and orange colors of the team. The main seating bowl is a mix of the old guard and younger alumni with their families. They enjoy the games but can be pried away by visits with the Gators mascot Albert. This lower level gets excited when someone starts the Gator Chomp cheer, and it winds up going around the stadium like a wave. The berms and Dizney Grove areas behind the outfield fences are mostly populated by University of Florida students. These areas are great for spring sunbathing and other social activities. To serve these students’ dining needs, the stadium has lined up a rotating set of food trucks to be present at each game. Access 4 Florida Ballpark has greatly improved the accessibility compared to the former stadium site. McKethan Stadium was in a very congested area which included the McConnell Center and many other athletic structures with little or no parking adjacent to the park. The new site has parking for more than 400 vehicles. It is also located closer to another entrance to the University of Florida campus that is far less congested than when it was alone. The stadium has 4 major entrances, with one each along the third base, first base, and first baselines and one leading into the berm seating area in Dizney Grove. The concourses are much wider than before, and ticket entry is much faster as the site uses a touchless ticketing system. Return on Investment 4 An afternoon or an evening out at a Gators baseball game will not cost you a lot. Tickets start at $5 for berm seating in the outfield with other price points of $10 down the first and third baselines, $20 for seats behind home plate, and $30 for club seats on the second level of the stadium. Parking is free at Florida Ballpark. The food and beverage cost inside the stadium is average for any ballpark. If you are traveling to Gainesville from out of town, there is a wide range of accommodations near the ballpark that can meet any price point. Lodging is much cheaper in the spring than it is during the football season. Gainesville is serviced by its own airport, but it can be very pricey. It is much cheaper to fly into Jacksonville and then drive the 90 minutes to Gainesville. Extras 4 Florida Ballpark has several areas around the stadium that feature highlights of the Gators baseball programs, past championships earned by the programs, and Gator players who have gone on to major league baseball. Kudos go to the designers for including several features in the park that provide protection from the sun and hot and muggy weather. The food offerings at Florida Ballpark are much more diverse than most college baseball stadiums. Final Thoughts The University of Florida has made a major step forward in SEC baseball with the opening of McKethan Field at Florida Ballpark. It offers several amenities that improve the fan experience, including sunscreens to provide shade from the hot Florida sun, a diverse menu of concession items, and unique seating options in the Dizney Grove and berm areas. The new stadium will also serve as a major recruiting tool for future Gator ballplayers.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 McCoy Stadium 1 Ben Mondor Way Pawtucket, RI 02860 Year Opened: 1942 Capacity: 10,031 Home of The Longest Game A project of the Works Progress Administration, McCoy Stadium was built in 1942 on the site of Hammond Pond. It has hosted minor league baseball on and off since 1946, serving as the home of the Pawtucket Red Sox since 1970. The team, which was riddled with debt and in danger of moving and/or folding on several occasions, was purchased by Ben Mondor in 1977 and transformed into one of the premier franchises in all of minor league baseball under his watch. Mondor passed away in 2010, and the team was sold to a group of Rhode Island businessmen in 2015. Immediately upon purchasing the team, the new ownership announced their intention to leave McCoy Stadium for a new ballpark in downtown Providence. After lengthy and unsuccessful negotiations, the team abandoned this project and engaged in a search for a new location for their team. Eventually, two cities emerged in a competition for the franchise-Pawtucket and Worcester, Massachusetts. Negotiations with both cities progressed over the course of two years. On August 17, 2018 the team announced their intention to relocate to a new ballpark complex being built in Worcester, a city located about 40 miles northwest of McCoy Stadium. The new ballpark, being subsided almost entirely by public funds, will open in the spring of 2021. Food & Beverage 3 The Pawsox have taken strides in recent seasons to expand the food options at McCoy Stadium, but the menu here remains average at best. The majority of the concessions at McCoy Stadium are sold at two large stands located behind home plate. All your basic ballpark fare and snacks can be found here, but there is nothing out of the ordinary to be found on the menu. Healthy alternatives and gluten-free items are popular selections. Be warned to time your trip to these large stands carefully, as long lines form, particularly when a big crowd is present. Several smaller stands line the concourse and fill out the offerings with items such as Papa Gino’s pizza and Hershey’s ice cream. In addition, there are two stands at the top of the seating bowls which offer a scaled-down menu for those not wishing to fight the crowds on the main concourse. Stadium Journey’s recommendation is to head over to the food court located behind section 13. Located here is a grill which offers a similar menu to the main stands, but which is cooked over an open fire, featuring larger portions and shorter lines. Also located here are several portable carts offering items such as kosher hot dogs, chicken fingers, french fries, ice cream, and frozen lemonade. Several picnic tables are located in this area, but unfortunately they do not offer a view of the game. Thirsty baseball fans will be pleased to find several stands dedicated solely for the sale of adult beverages. McCoy Stadium features an impressive variety of beer and wine at reasonable prices for this level of baseball. Pepsi products are featured at McCoy Stadium. Atmosphere 3 In an effort to lure fans back to McCoy Stadium, Pawsox management has beefed up both the daily promotional schedule as well as the amount of in-game promotions. The results have been mixed at best, as long-time fans have been resistant to the changes, while younger fans appear to enjoy the enriched schedule. Every inning break features some sort of activity designed to keep the younger fans in attendance involved. From classic promotions such as Pawsox trivia and 50/50 raffles to newer features such as “Hurl the Pearl” and the video bus race, McCoy Stadium’s game day presentation is typical of minor league baseball parks. A recent addition to the game day experience at McCoy Stadium is “Mondor Way,” an area of the parking lot which is sectioned off and opens up two hours before the first pitch. Various family friendly activities such as face painting, live music, photo opportunities with mascots Paws and Sox, and the chance to watch batting practice from field level are available. Neighborhood 2 McCoy Stadium is located in the hardscrabble city of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, six miles from downtown Providence. Pawtucket is best known as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Slater Mill, the first fully mechanized mill in the United States, is located a couple of miles away in downtown Pawtucket. McCoy Stadium is located in an area that straddles an industrial park and a residential area. Fans looking for things to do in the immediate vicinity of McCoy will be disappointed. There is a small diner, a pub, a convenience store, and a Chinese restaurant next to the ballpark, but little else. Fans looking for a pre or postgame meal can drive to nearby Newport Ave., where there are several dining options. Likewise, lodging options for visiting fans are particularly slim. Out of town baseball fans should head to nearby Providence for their sightseeing and dining needs. Providence consistently ranks as one of the top dining cities in the country, and there is no shortage of excellent options here for eating and lodging. Fans 3 Fans of the Pawsox, once known as some of the most dedicated and knowledgeable in all of the minor leagues, have shown their displeasure with ownership by staying away from McCoy Stadium in droves, even before the team announced its intention to move. The Pawsox have seen their attendance drop from a high water mark of over 9,000 fans per game in 2008 to under 6,000 fans per game in 2018. The team, which would annually rank among the national leaders in attendance, is now hovering near the bottom of the International League rankings. Given Pawtucket’s proximity to the parent Boston Red Sox, it is easy to understand how passionate and knowledgeable these fans are. The Pawsox have always marketed themselves as a family-friendly venue, and in the crowd at McCoy Stadium you will find families, youth groups, company outings and casual fans mixed in with the hardcore, loyal baseball fan. Access 3 The city of Pawtucket is located on the Rhode Island/Massachusetts state line, six miles from Providence and 45 miles south of Boston. McCoy Stadium is located a short distance from the highway, requiring some travel through the city. Be warned that if driving around rush hour, traffic in and around Pawtucket can be hairy, particularly around the infamous S-curves. RIPTA offers bus service to McCoy Stadium for fans using public transportation. Route 79 has a stop right at the ballpark. If taking the bus from Providence, take the Route 51 bus from Kennedy Plaza to Main and Roosevelt, where you can pick up Route 79. The closest Amtrak train station is located in Providence, about a 10 minute drive away, while the MBTA train from Boston has a stop in nearby South Attleboro. Most fans will enter McCoy Stadium via the entry tower in left field. The old entry ramps still line the old ballpark, but are used only to move between the main and upper concourses. The seating bowl, which is raised about eight feet above the field, stretches from shallow left field to first base. Seating consists of green box seats, red reserved seats and blue general admission seats. A walkway is located about a third of the way up the seating bowl, and is full of traffic throughout the game. It is recommended that if purchasing reserved seats, you avoid the first few rows for this reason. Be advised that some general admission seats at McCoy Stadium feature obstructed views. Additional general admission seating is located on the left field berm and center field bleachers. Fans requiring handicapped access will be pleased to find several seating areas for their use. Be sure to time your trip to the concession stands wisely, as long lines can form at times. The wide concourse under the seating bowl is generally easy to navigate. Bathrooms at McCoy Stadium are plentiful. Unfortunately, in their efforts to prove that McCoy Stadium is no longer a viable home for the team, the Pawsox have let some maintenance issues slide, and the bathrooms are not the cleanest or most functional you will come across. Return on Investment 5 Ticket prices at McCoy Stadium, which have held steady for four years, are the lowest in all of Triple-A baseball. Ticket prices start at $9 for general admission seating, with red reserved seats priced at $13, and green box seats priced at $14. Children and seniors can purchase seats for a mere $6. Prices for all tickets increase by two dollars on game day. Parking is available at no charge in the lot adjacent to the ballpark or at Jencks Middle School across the street. These lots fill up fast, so get to the ballpark early. If you get shut out of the main lot, there are several surface lots near McCoy that charge $5 to park. On street parking is also available for fans willing to search for it. Extras 4 Fishing for autographs-McCoy Stadium’s physical setup is such that the first rows of stands are about eight feet above the playing field. The dugouts are located underneath the stands, and fans looking to get autographs from their favorite players have to “fish” for their autographs. Kids will dangle their items for signing on strings inside pails, milk cartons, or binders in hopes that a player will “bite” and sign their treasures. Resourceful autograph seekers will try to entice players with candy or gum left in their buckets. The longest game-In 1981 McCoy Stadium played host to the longest game ever in professional baseball, lasting 33 innings between Pawtucket and Rochester. There is a display on the concourse commemorating this game, with artifacts, photos, and even home plate from the game present for viewing. Pawsox murals-With their affiliation with the Boston Red Sox dating back to 1970, the Pawsox have seen more than their share of players move up to the major leagues. Dozens of alumni have been immortalized in murals that line the old entrance ramps to the stadium. Ben’s treasures-If you ever have the chance, take a tour underneath the stadium, where memorabilia from longtime owner Ben Mondor’s personal collection is displayed along the walls leading to the luxury boxes. Final Thoughts Even though the Pawsox have committed to move to Worcester, they will play the next two seasons at McCoy Stadium while they wait for their new home, Polar Park, to be built. So what will become of McCoy Stadium? Nothing is certain at this point, but rumors have floated that a lower level minor league team could move in (relocation rumors often swirl around several NY-Penn League teams). This would require approval by the Pawsox, as Worcester, Pawtucket and Providence share a single territory according to Minor League Baseball rules. There is a chance that an independent team from the Atlantic League could take up residence in Pawtucket. More radical plans, such as refitting McCoy for soccer, have also popped up recently. While the loss of the Pawsox has hit the area hard, it’s probable that losing the team has saved the stadium. Fans looking to visit McCoy to see the Pawsox have two years to come to Rhode Island, but we may not have heard the last from this majestic old barn. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

In a perfect world, the Jasper Wildcats would play all their home games at the Historic Cabby O’Neill Gymnasium and many in attendance felt fortunate to once again attend a game at the school’s former home due to a scheduling conflict at its current gym. The Art-Deco building was the Cats' home from 1939-1977 and once again during the 2011-13 season but games have been rare as of late making today’s high school hoops game a rare treat. The game was almost implausible a little over a decade ago when the building was nearly demolished. A group lobbied to make sure the gym was saved, and the Greater Jasper School Board ended up voting 3-1 in favor of keeping it intact. Public donations and dedicated grants helped save it from the wrecking ball ensuring future use by the community for many years. “My players enjoyed the experience,” said head coach John Goebel whose earliest memories are from wrestling tournaments when he was in elementary school. “It was a fun atmosphere and an overall very good environment to compete in. I believe playing there helped to give the players an appreciation for the history of our program and Indiana high school basketball.” The boys took warm-ups wearing wedding gold jerseys with old gold lettering trimmed in black; these could have fit in in almost any era of basketball sans the Nike logo. A thunderous crowd cheered on their home squad with applause that reverberated powerfully throughout the building. A student section on one side sang in harmony decked out in various NBA and collegiate jerseys, while a few visitors donned hammerhead shark costumes to play spoiler for the day. The gym was built for $100,000 in 1939 as a Work Projects Administration project and seated 3,200 fans. There is a lot to like from the main lobby which furnishes a plethora of memorabilia dating back more than eight decades including trophies, newspaper clippings, game day programs, team photographs, and other collections from the school’s history. The 1949 Jasper State Championship team photo is the main focal point of the compilation that allows fans to examine and learn about basketball here in town. The gym would be renamed after the O’Neil in November 1983 who coached the Wildcats to its lone state basketball title and would serve as both coach and administrator from 1939-1971 The Cats were 10-9 that championship season and were a small-town-underdog heading into the final game against the Madison Cubs. O’Neill would say in 1989 that “we were like (the movies) “Hoosiers” before anyone thought “Hoosiers” up. The Wildcats defeated the heavily favored Cubs 62-61 at the Butler–now Hinkle–Fieldhouse and a crowd of 35,000 welcomed the state champs when they returned to Jasper. The team was pretty good during the 1940s and won eight consecutive sectional championships and was nearly unbeatable from 1941-1949 where the team won 8 sectionals and produced a .881 winning percentage at home. O’Neill produced an impressive record of 247-76 during his 12-year tenure and his record was 148-32 at the gym which now bears his name. Basketball would come to an end when a new Jasper High School was built in 1978 that also included a much larger and modern gym. The last game at Cabby O’Neill Gym was played on February 25, 1977, and it would continue as a middle school facility. The building’s drop ceiling would be removed shortly after in 1978. The gym was put back into service for two seasons from 2011-2013 after heavy rainfall caused the new gym’s roof to collapse just a day after prom festivities were held in the building. The basketball program would produce a 15-5 record at its former home and would begin to play at a brand new 4,800 gym for the 2013-2015 academic year. There have only been a handful of games played at Cabby in the past seven seasons and Jasper’s Athletic Director Greg Lewis does not have any plans to play another game at the gym in the future since it is rather difficult for the athletic department to hold the game off-campus that results in a lot of extra hours of work setting up the event. Almost everything has to be transported to the gym from campus including the popcorn machine, the cheese sauce warmer for the nachos, multiple candy bars, soda pop, and setting up the concession area itself. That does not include setting up chairs, bleachers, electrical equipment for the sound system, and other media areas. Coach Goebel also sees a few more issues with staging a game at the historic venue. “The only negative would be the logistical issues with holding it there–parking, concessions, restrooms, and seating are just a few of the amenities that our new gym has to offer over the Cabby Gym. It was also difficult for our athletic department to hold the game off-campus, there’s a lot of extra work hours setting the entire thing up”. The hard work paid off, the freestanding building still looks stoic on the corner of 6th and Seymour and many who purchased a ticket today for $5 were able to either reminiscence about season’s past or finally take in a varsity game for the very first time. At halftime members of the 1971-1975 sectional championship teams were honored in front of a standing ovation. However, one fan sitting in the visitors’ section yelled out “Who cares?” much to the dismay of the close to 2,000 on hand who serenaded him with boos and jeers. It’s not certain why he displayed such a truculent tone those Wildcats teams brought back a level of success not seen in town since the 1940s. They also captured two regional championships in 1972 and 1973. The boys’ basketball program has won 8 sectionals since 1975 but never back to back and never five in a row. I believe that is a lot to care about. “We had a great atmosphere and I was happy to allow those 1970s teams to be honored where they played,” added Lewis. It is a small tragedy that current Indiana gymnasiums do not look similar in design or aesthetics to Cabby; sure there is the need to bring these buildings up to certain codes and widen particular areas, but for one special day the gym was alive with a near-capacity crowd to enjoy a Jasper Wildcats basketball game. Hopefully, there will be a few more sometime shortly. ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunterand his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Sanford Stadium N Sanford Dr and Field St Athens, GA 30602 Georgia Bulldogs website Sanford Stadium website Year Opened: 1929 Capacity: 92,746 Vince Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium - University of Georgia Bulldogs It is hard to beat the experience of football down south and “between the hedges” – for over 90 years, football on the University of Georgia campus has been played at the same location as the stadium has grown around it. Football in the South takes on a whole different importance that makes the whole experience seem more of an event than just a Saturday football game. Food & Beverage 4 Each weekend the Athens campus is transformed from an institution of higher learning to a campuswide tailgate party. Throughout the University of Georgia campus fans set up tailgating spreads from the basics to elaborate grill stations and mobile bars. With most tailgating, fans are more than eager to share their spread, or with the bigger tailgating set-ups a nominal donation to help offset the cost can easily get you a plate and a couple of drinks. If tailgating is not what you’re looking for, pre-game dining options at the neighboring Tate Student Center are plentiful and provide fans with many options before the stadium opening. When moving to the food inside of the stadium, it is a bit of a letdown; concession stands have many of the traditional burgers, hot dogs, sausages, BBQ sandwiches, and fries – they are fine but are just your run-of-the-mill concessions, with several grab-and-go stations scattered around the concourse to help the lines move quicker. With the addition of a handful of specialty options in the stadium, it has helped to improve the overall food choices. Popular local Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q is an upgrade from the regional chain used previously, or for a bit of lighter fare, Chicken Salad Chick offers fans various styles of chicken salad by the scoop, in a sandwich, or the Stadium Chick combo that includes the previous choices plus a side item. Of course, with it being Georgia, there is also Chick-fil-A. As expected, Coke products are Sanford Stadium’s beverage of choice – it almost feels as if there might be laws that would make it illegal to sell anything else. When it comes to alcoholic beverages, though, these are available in the suite but are not around the rest of the stadium. Atmosphere 5 Saturdays between the hedges have a completely different feel than any typical college football experience; upon walking through the gates fans are met with a sea of red and black at every turn, from fan apparel to murals, to the stack of pom-poms piled on the hedges. Right away it is obvious, that red and black will be the theme of the day. Sanford Stadium resembles a rather wide horseshoe that towers three levels above the field. The west end of the stadium remains open to the outside. Until the recent renovations, fans would line Gillis Bridge outside the stadium for a chance to catch a glimpse of the action at the far end of the field. The excitement of the game day experience begins as the Red Coats, Georgia’s marching band, take the field for all the pregame festivities. Georgia fans are downright obsessive with the traditions of the school’s fight songs and heritage – the production team knows exactly how to get the Bulldog fans into game mode. Clips of beloved play-by-play announcer Larry Munson are used as part of a pregame montage to prime the fans for excitement. Munson’s calls of “Run Lindsay Run”, his plea for the Georgia defense to “hunker down” for a pivotal stop, and the call of Georgia’s 2002 win over Tennessee when Larry exclaimed, “We just stepped on their face with a hob-nailed boot! We crushed their face!” are just a few of his famed calls included. Georgia’s Red Coats do a great job throughout the game keeping the fans involved. The Red Coats along with the cheer squad lead the call and response pieces, chants, and fight songs. Everything comes together perfectly to beautifully complement the game; it is a near-perfect atmosphere of college football. Sanford Stadium is one of the largest football stadiums in the country. Despite its size, there is not the feeling you are completely removed from the action. The atmosphere of the game, along with the large video board in the west end zone, helps keep those in the uppermost reaches of the stadium feeling as if they are part of the complete experience. When choosing where to sit, as with many football stadiums there is not a lot of shade to be found. The enclosed end of the stadium, though, can have some difficult sun fields to contend with when it comes to late afternoon games. If possible, the southern bleachers will provide the most relief from the sun. Neighborhood 5 Athens, Georgia is everything one would expect in a college town – close enough to a major city in Atlanta, yet far enough away that the town itself provides enough for fans to fill their visit. The Athens entertainment district, to the north of Sanford Stadium off Broad Street, is a manageable walk from the tailgating areas on the north side of campus. Downtown Athens provides fans with many restaurants and bars to catch games and grab a bite to eat for later Bulldog kick-offs or to make for a late night following an afternoon game. Fans looking for craft breweries will not be disappointed; Creature Comforts, one of Georgia’s top breweries, is in the downtown area, while Terrapin Beer Company, one of the other top breweries in the state, has a taproom just on the outskirts of the city. It is not only that there are many options to complement a visit to Sanford Stadium, but the pre -and post-game vibes on the streets of Athens let fans know that this is THE event to be at in town. For those looking to stay the weekend in Athens, plan well in advance because hotel rooms go quickly. The prime location will be anything in the downtown area, in proximity to Broad or Clayton Streets – this will put you in the heart of the entertainment district and within a reasonable walk to Sanford Stadium. With the number of shops, restaurants, and nightlife stops just steps from the Georgia campus, Athens is the quintessential college town and helps in creating a top-notch game day atmosphere. Fans 5 College football season might kick off in September and run through early January, but in the state of Georgia, football season never ends. The bowl season is followed by signing season, spring football season, and the season there is not any football. Football is the undisputed king of Georgia, and this passion for the sport is definitely on display, with its statewide love of the University of Georgia football. You would be hard-pressed to go anywhere in the state and not get a “Go Dawgs” from someone for simply wearing red. It is not just the passion for the current crop of “Damn Good Dawgs,” but an admiration for the history of Georgia football that endears the program to its fans. It is this near obsession with the state of the Georgia football program that feeds the passion within Sanford Stadium each weekend. The ups-and-downs of every big play and every dropped pass can be felt with jubilation or disappointment no matter the situation; 3rd-and-5 needing a defensive stop against the Week 1 MAC opponent feels just as important as converting 3rd-and-15 in the 4th quarter against Tennessee. The product on the field in recent years has been something to get excited about, but the ongoing and never waning passion of the Georgia fanbase does so much in creating one of the most spectacular college football experiences in the nation. Access 3 For most, a trip to Athens will be taken via State Highway 316, which is where much of the difficulty begins. A two-lane highway ushering close to 100,000 fans to the midsize city can get a bit congested, as it is probably the most direct route to Athens. UGA does suggest using US-129, US-29, US-441, SR15, or US-78 instead – though they might add a bit of distance to the trip, these approaches should save time in the long run. Once in Athens, parking is spread around campus, but fans are at the mercy of game day traffic in Athens getting to parking areas. The best bet is to plan to arrive either the night before or almost ridiculously earlier than kickoff. Fans start filing into Sanford Stadium following the team’s Dawgwalk, outside of the Tate Student Building. After stadium renovations for the 2023 season, the Gillis Bridge, on the western side of the stadium, is now one of the main entry points; renovations to the south side of the stadium have greatly improved the flow of fans. The concourse has also been divided into inner and outer pathways – the inner pathway has several restrooms and allows fans to easily get to their seats, while still providing a view of the field, while the outer pathway has more concession stands and some portlets. As fans begin making their way around to the eastern side of the stadium, travel patterns and concessions lines start to intersect and make navigating the concourse more of a challenge; this is a common drawback around Sanford Stadium. The upper-level concourses are also rather narrow, and paired with the location of concession stands there, makes passage difficult. Though it does not look as such, Sanford Stadium is a rather old football stadium, and older stadium walkways do tend to be crowded. The athletic department has started to remedy some of these issues, but there are still many areas that can be a challenge to get through. Return on Investment 4 Determining the return on investment for the Georgia football experience can get a bit tricky. With Georgia football having the success they have had in recent years, coupled with the state’s undying passion for college football, tickets can get expensive. Even non-conference games run close to $100 when purchasing tickets off the secondary market, with tickets for the 2022 matchup between #1 Georgia and #2 Tennessee starting at just over $600 before fees. Needless to say, Georgia football tickets can get expensive quickly – given the Dawgs popularity most are left to the mercy of the secondary ticket market. Despite the high prices on the secondary market, there are several opportunities to save. For example, campus parking starts at $20 but can quickly get expensive, so those looking to save on parking can park at the intramural field parking lot. This is a bit of a walk if you want to get to the stadium early, but a shuttle runs from that lot to Sanford Stadium starting 3.5 hours before the game, although it does not run during the game. Another surprisingly affordable area is the concessions; prices are kept reasonable and will not feel like another fee piled upon an already expensive day. Despite expensive tickets, the overall experience does well to make you feel as if you’re getting what you paid for. Extras 5 A tribute to “The First Five” is on display in the northern plaza area – monuments to Richard Appleby, Chuck Kinnebrew, Horace King, Clarence Pope, and Larry West recognize the first five Black scholarship football players in UGA history, circa 1971. UGA might be the most beloved mascot in all of college football; now in the 11th generation, the white English Bulldog has been a staple on the Georgia sidelines since 1956. The Fourth Quarter Light Show is downright impressive. To start the fourth quarter of night games, the stadium lights dim as 90,000+ fans turn on the flashlight in their phones and bob them up and down to the ‘Krypton Fanfare’, followed by ‘Hail Georgia’. As the music ends, it gives way to a hype video as the LED lights turn the whole stadium red. Fans who might not have a ticket to the game, or just want to watch the game from the comforts of an air-conditioned environment, can watch from a pair of locations around Athens – the theater of the Tate Student Center and the iconic Georgia Theater both simulcast the game. Much of the seating at Sanford Stadium is aluminum bleachers, so an afternoon on them can get a bit uncomfortable. There are padded seat backs that can be rented for the game, however, to make the afternoon a bit more comfortable. Final Thoughts The amount of tradition connected to University of Georgia football goes such a long way in making the game experience one of the best in the county; from the historic echoes of famed Bulldog play-by-play announcer Larry Munson used in the pregame montage to the traditions of the Red Coat Band, to the frenzied noise level created by fans, a Saturday at Sanford Stadium and throughout Athens is a bucket list event for any college football enthusiast.