Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 FirstBank Stadium Jess Neely Dr Nashville, TN 37240 Vanderbilt Commodores website FirstBank Stadium website Year Opened: 1922 Capacity: 35,000  Damn the Torpedo’s…. Full Speed Ahead! Vanderbilt University is a private university located in the West End neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee. It opened in 1873 through the generosity of millionaire Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. The school offers more than 70 academic majors and includes 7 Nobel Laureates, 27 Rhodes Scholars, and 1 Grammy winner amongst its alumni. Vanderbilt University is a charter member of the Southeastern Conference, which was formed in 1933. The school first established a football program in 1890. It is the only private school in the conference and is also the smallest member, with a student population of just 7,000. The private school status and its small student body have made it challenging to compete in the Southeastern Conference, which is dominated by much larger schools that receive substantial public support. However, the team has become much more competitive in recent years, with victories over the University of Alabama, the University of Kentucky, Auburn University, and Georgia Tech. The home of the Commodores was first located on its present site in 1922 as Dudley Field. It was the first stadium in the South to be built specifically for football. It was named for Vanderbilt Dean William Dudley, who spearheaded the setting up of the football program at the school, as well as playing a major role in creating many of the rules of football still in use today. He was also heavily involved in the creation of the Southeastern Conference to serve this area of the country. In 1981, Vanderbilt Stadium opened on the site of Dudley Field. It was built in just nine months. The new stadium featured aluminum bleachers and an astroturf field. The new stadium had a capacity of 41,000, with seven concession stands, ten restrooms, and a 17,000 square foot press box. The Vanderbilt University leadership used the centennial of its 1922 stadium and the improved performance of the football team on the field to launch the Vandy United fundraising campaign to raise $300 million. The purpose of this campaign was to raise funds to improve the athletic programs at the school. Additionally, it wanted to improve the fan experience, as it has a rich alumni base. As a part of this campaign, the university signed a naming rights agreement with FirstBank, a major financial institution in the Nashville area. The field itself retains the Dudley name. The project also included improvements for the specific needs of the football program. These included new training facilities, weight rooms, a sports science lab, and several classrooms. These improvements are part of an enhanced football recruiting process. Food & Beverage 4 The concessions program at FirstBank Stadium has seen massive improvement because of the Vandy United campaign. In addition to the generic concession stands of the past, the school has recruited local food favorites as Daddy’s Dogs, Five Points Pizza, Ajax Turner, Jackalope Brewing, Mission BBQ, and Kernels Nashville Corn, to sponsor stands in the stadium. Additionally, alcoholic beverages are now served at FirstBank Stadium. These include cocktails ($15), Modelo ($12), Coors Light ($11), Conquer and Prevail Pale Ale ($13), and White Claw Hard Seltzer ($13). The generic stands are known as “Fan Favorites” and sell water ($6), hot dogs ($6), popcorn ($8), nachos ($6), candy ($5), and Pepsi brand soft drinks ($10). All concession stands operate on a cashless basis. Atmosphere 4 Vanderbilt and other visiting fans had to endure games on a virtual construction site during the 2023-2024 seasons. The improvements made during that period can now be enjoyed by the Commodore faithful and fans from the opposition. The stadium was previously painted battleship grey as a salute to the naval theme the school has long embraced. This has changed to a more vibrant set of black, gold, and white color scheme. Vanderbilt has retained some longtime nautical traditions from the past. Before each game, Vanderbilt ROTC members “Drop Anchor” at midfield, i.e., they bring an anchor to the 50-yard line and plant it in the turf, symbolizing that the Commodores will hang tough and not yield yardage. The “Admiral” is a ship’s horn that sounds after each Vanderbilt score or victory. Finally, a Victory flag is flown from the mast after the Commodores put another game in the win column. The biggest set of changes to the stadium resulted in the total rebuild of the areas at each end of the field. The North end zone features several new enhancements, including premium clubs and other hospitality areas, loge boxes, a new concourse giving 360-degree access to both the East and West stands, and two new videoboards. The South end of the field now features a vast array of seating choices for its premium-level fans. This includes living room boxes, loge boxes, club seating, and field-level seats. This end of the stadium also features a new concourse linking to all sections of the stadium, a designated entry gate, as well as a new videoboard. Neighborhood 5 Vanderbilt University and it on-campus stadium are in the West End neighborhood. This is an affluent neighborhood located about five miles west of the main tourist attractions in downtown Nashville (i.e., the Country Music Hall of Fame, Bridgestone Arena, Broadway clubs and restaurants, and the Tennessee River). The stadium is across the street from Centennial Park and the Parthenon. This is a replica of the famous Greek temple. There are several accommodations within easy walking distance of the stadium, including the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt, the Homewood Suites, the Holiday Inn Nashville – Vanderbilt, and the Hampton Inn and Suites-Nashville/Vanderbilt. There are also several restaurants near the stadium. These include Maggiano’s Little Italy, J. Alexander’s, and Bricktops. A longtime favorite for breakfast, the Pancake Pantry is located just a few blocks from the campus on 21st Avenue. For those interested in the main tourist attractions in Music City, simply head five miles east on West End Avenue and Broadway. The major tourist attractions are within a few blocks of each other, so you would only need to park once or take one rideshare ride to take them all in. Fans 4 Gamedays at Vanderbilt home games have always been festive, even in the lean years. The school is embraced as Nashville’s “home team” in college football by residents. It is not unusual to see many locals take part in the home games. Gamedays get underway with the opening of Vandyville, a pregame area on the campus that offers games, music, food trucks, and other entertainment beginning two hours before kickoff. It is located on campus on Natchez Trace between Jess Neely Drive and Children’s Way. The Vanderbilt team makes its pregame StarWalk to FirstBank Stadium 45 minutes before kickoff. The team is escorted by the Spirit of Gold marching band and dance team, as well as the Vanderbilt spirit squad, known as the Commodore Nation. This signals the Vanderbilt faithful that it is time to head to the seats in the stands. Vanderbilt Mascot Marches to FirstBank Stadium, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey While most of their SEC opponents have state support and large alumni bases, Vanderbilt has the benefit of a very affluent alumni base filled with local movers and shakers in the Nashville area. It is no surprise that most of the improvements at FirstBank Stadium are aimed at improving the fan experience. Access 3 Parking in and around FirstBank Stadium typically opens four hours before kickoff. Single-game parking is available at the 25th Avenue Garage (25th Avenue at Highland Avenue) and the West Garage (25th Avenue at Children’s Way). Rideshares will pick up and deliver fans from two locations: Vanderbilt Place at 28th Avenue and at the Engineering Building located at 24th Avenue and Pierce Avenue. FirstBank Stadium is a 20-minute drive west of Nashville International Airport via I-40 or I-440. Return on Investment 3 The recent success of the football program and the upgrades to the stadium have increased the cost of attending a Commodore’s game. Ticketing for all Vanderbilt athletic activities is done digitally, as are purchases from the concession stands or team stores. Tickets can be purchased on the athletic department website in advance of the game, at the Memorial Gym ticket office, or at the ticket office located at the Frist Family Gate at the stadium on gamedays. The recent success of the football program has resulted in several sellouts, so we advise that you purchase tickets to games you are interested in well in advance. Concession prices are higher than average; expect to pay more for typical purchases such as sodas ($10), hot dogs ($6), pizza slices ($12), and water ($6). Parking at one of the two parking decks on campus ranges from $20 to $40, depending on the opponent. Extras 4 Vanderbilt is very innovative with its halftime entertainment, as it has added drone shows to the musical performances by the school band. FirstBank Stadium will host the FCS National Championship football game in both 2026 and 2027. Dudley Field has hosted concerts by Luke Bryan, the Rolling Stones, U2, and Pink Floyd. It has also hosted several Billy Graham Crusades. The stadium was the site of the first NFL stadium in the South when it hosted an exhibition game between the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles in 1944. It also served as the home of the Tennessee Titans for their first season after moving from Houston. Final Thoughts Football fans in the Music City are raving about the new enhancements at FirstBank Stadium. The Commodores no longer must play “second fiddle’ to the other SEC schools in terms of its facilities for its teams or its fans.

Photo by Marcus Traxler, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Huntington Bank Stadium 2009 University Ave S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455 Minnesota Golden Gophers website Huntington Bank Stadium website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 50,805 TCF Bank Stadium Delivers a College Game Day Editor's Note: TCF Bank Stadium was renamed Huntington Bank Stadium on March 24, 2021. When TCF Bank Stadium opened in 2009, the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers finally had their own venue for the gridiron. Beforehand, they’d shared a space with the NFL’s Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. At a cost of just over $303 million, TCF Bank Stadium was designed to provide a real college football game day experience, despite the frigid cold of the Minnesota winters that can sometimes set in as early as October. Nonetheless, TCF Bank Stadium has achieved its purpose. It’s college football at its best…even during the times of year when it serves as a frozen tundra of sorts. Upon visiting, former Golden Gophers quarterback Tony Dungy labeled it “unbelievable.” He wasn’t kidding. Food & Beverage 5 TCF Bank Stadium is without a doubt, not short on food options. From well known food vendors such as Domino’s Pizza and Subway, all the way to Midwestern favorite BBQ joint Famous Dave’s, there’s something for everyone. Some of the more interesting food options include Dino’s (gyro) and tamales from La Loma Tamales. Otherwise, you have your expected options: cheese curds ($6), hot dogs ($7), chicken tenders ($6.75), and walleye fingers & fries from Goldy’s Grill. And not to be outdone by Famous Dave’s, another BBQ joint known as Jax BBQ offers unique options such as prime rib chili, clam chowder and Philly cheesesteak. If you’re looking for beer at TCF Bank Stadium, here’s what you’ll find: Grain Belt Nordeast, Grain Belt Premium, Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Lite, Redd’s, and Leinenkugel’s. Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere is great. I was never able to attend a Gophers game at the old Metrodome, but surely it’s an entirely different experience. College football just never feels right under a ceiling. Outside is better …even if it’s played during the extremely cold Minnesota winters. Set on the University of Minnesota campus, there’s plenty of room around the stadium to tailgate and hang outside before you head into the venue. The corridors are spacious, although can get crowded just before the start of the game. Another benefit, meanwhile, is being able to see the Minneapolis skyline if you sit behind one of the end zones. Neighborhood 5 TCF Bank Stadium is situated on the University of Minnesota campus in an area known as Stadium Village. Nearby there’s student housing, along with numerous eating options such as Buffalo Wild Wings (directly across from the stadium’s main gate), the Big Ten Restaurant and Bar, and the very popular Stub and Herb’s, a pub grub that offers burgers. Just a bit further from Stadium Village, you’ll find Dinkytown, which of course, has even more options for food. Dinkytown can be a great choice to find good eats, especially if the restaurants near Stadium Village are packed before kickoff…something that happens quite often. Fans 5 Since taking over last season, head coach Tracy Claeys has done a good job keeping the team on the up and up. The fans are passionate, knowledgeable, and for the large part, focused on the gameplay. That’s not to say the mood is too serious, however. TCF Bank Stadium features somewhat of a laid back atmosphere as well. Games are pretty well attended, with vacant seats here and there, but overall, the fans provide a positively energetic vibe. Access 3 Access by car can be tricky. Traffic is sometimes bad and parking can be pricey. While the stadium’s surrounding space fails to provide adequate parking, Stadium Village does excel at something else: Providing easy access via the Metro Transit Green Line…a system that also connects to Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium. Also available is the option of parking further away and taking the Metro Transit bus or Campus Connector. You can park at the State Fairgrounds in St. Paul for just around $10 and bus your way in from there. Not only is this a good way to avoid traffic around Stadium Village, there’s also somewhat of a tailgate scene in the parking lot. Return on Investment 4 You can find tickets on StubHub for as cheap as $21, or as expensive as $130 (the latter usually tends to be on the lower sideline). Whatever option you go with, it’s hard to go wrong here. No matter where you are, the view is pretty good. Most of the seating is on bleachers, so if you come during the cold weather, you’ll want to bring along a seat cushion to keep yourself from freezing. Overall, it’s a great game day experience for a relatively affordable price. Not only are you paying for what’s going on down on the field, you’re also paying to receive a great stadium atmosphere that really helps you get into the college game day mood. Extras 3 For one thing, TCF Bank Stadium spotlights Goldy’s Locker Room, a 2-story fan shop featuring all the University of Minnesota gear you could ever hope for. It’s an impressive store, so much so that it’s one you’d imagine could serve the NFL. The inside of the stadium, meanwhile, is decorated with banners featuring images of players from the Golden Gophers’ heyday, and there’s no shortage of tables selling even more Gophers gear. Also make sure to catch a glimpse of the team’s famed mascot, Goldy the Gopher, who likes to ride a scooter around the field during the pre-game. Meanwhile, the Pride of Minnesota Marching Band without a doubt, puts on an impressive halftime show. Final Thoughts TCF Bank Stadium is the perfect college game day experience. Sure, it’s not as wild as you’d experience in the large stadiums of the Southeastern Conference, but for the Midwest, it’s one of the best times you’ll have. If you’re able, attend a game here when the Gophers play their largest rivals, such as the Wisconsin Badgers or the Iowa Hawkeyes and you’ll come away impressed with the enthusiasm, the architecture, the stadium amenities, and so much more.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Flagler Credit Union Stadium 777 Glades Rd Boca Raton, FL 33431 Florida Atlantic Owls website Flagler Credit Union Stadium website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 29,419 Flying High in Boca Raton While Florida Atlantic University may be overlooked among FBS football schools, the stadium in which they play certainly doesn’t mirror the program’s easy to miss appearance. While most people pass FAU football off as an also-played program, the team has three conference titles and two bowl wins over the past five seasons. Do not let the second-tier status deter you from venturing to Palm Beach County for a quality afternoon of college football. Flagler Credit Union Stadium (formerly FAU Stadium) is beautiful, clean, impressive, comfortable, and family friendly in all respects, while remaining easy to access from major highways. Food & Beverage 4 The food options at Flagler Credit Union Stadium are actually quite impressive, and the prices are not that high compared to most major sporting events. A burger, soda, and fries will cost less than $15, which in stadium terms is a steal, especially at a televised bowl game. What sets Flagler Credit Union Stadium apart is the wonderful bar that is on the main concourse that makes up the Delray Hyundai Deck. This full-service bar features TV screens, a nice aesthetic, and other smaller food vendors next to it that make it easy to grab a beer, an arepa, and some fries, all in one area. Another plus is the convenience of the concessions locations on the lower levels – you never have to walk too far to find somewhere to grab food, which can be an issue at other locations. The other side of Flagler Credit Union Stadium, opposite the party deck, features a full-service Subway location, complete with restaurant-style seating inside an air-conditioned storefront. In addition, last year saw the addition of a Chick-fil-A stand on the main concourse of the sun deck, as well as another Subway stand. Atmosphere 4 This stadium is one that many college programs wish they had on their own campus – it boasts a solid seating capacity, good sightlines from various seats, a multi-level tower for suites and VIP boxes, and a great on-campus location. The games, while popular of late, aren’t always 100% full on game day, however. That doesn’t take away from the beauty of the stadium though. The Atlantic Ocean is visible from the upper levels and suite boxes on the west side of the stadium. The warm ocean breeze is also there to greet fans all game long, and swaying palm trees make for one great backdrop in the southern end zone. Neighborhood 4 Boca Raton is a beautiful part of Palm Beach County. In addition, FAU’s campus is clean, South Florida-esque in appearance, and overall visually appealing. Not far from campus is a beautiful strip mall that plays host to a PF Chang’s, J. Alexander’s, Shake Shack, Whole Foods, Barnes & Noble, and more. Equidistant to the east of campus is the Atlantic Ocean. There, you can find a beautiful beach, as well as the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, where visitors can get a look at some of coastal Florida’s natural habitats and inhabitants, thanks to boardwalks through the mangroves and natural butterfly gardens. Near the beach hotels are easy to find; the official hotel of the most recent game was the Wyndham Boca Raton, just on the other side of I-95 from Florida Atlantic University’s campus. Another close place to stay is Renaissance Boca Raton right next door. What Boca Raton lacks in nightlife more commonly found in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, the area more than makes up for in relaxation. In addition, Palm Beach International Airport isn’t far from Boca Raton, with airports in Fort Lauderdale and Miami less than an hour away as well. Fans 3 The fans have begun to show up in numbers to FAU games in the last few years. Success brings attendance in South Florida, and the Owls are enjoying a run of bowl-eligible seasons with bright local talent on the field. Among the most family-friendly college fans in Florida, FAU features probably what is quietly becoming a great fan base in Florida. While some may still show up late to the game itself, the students nonetheless show up to support their Owls. Tailgating is also growing in the various parking lots around the stadium, making for a better college game day experience. Access 5 Getting to Flagler Credit Union Stadium is easy to do – unlike several sports teams and colleges where the campus stadiums are miles away from the highway exits, Flagler Credit Union Stadium is quite literally bordered by I-95 in Boca Raton. Also, just a few miles west is the Florida Turnpike. Once off the exit from I-95, the FAU campus is immediately visible. Parking is quite plentiful, and even if you get stuck in a lot or garage that is a little further from Flagler Credit Union Stadium, the walk is not very far and is through a beautiful campus. Parking on site is $20 per car. Return on Investment 4 FAU tickets aren’t generally massively expensive, ranging from $15 to $100. Food prices won’t burn your wallet into ash either. With that said, a trip to an FAU game provides a great return on investment, especially when considering you are getting to see Conference USA college football at a fraction of the price of other teams in the country. With the increased fan presence and the pre-game tailgating that has grown, you really do get the full college experience at Flagler Credit Union Stadium when you purchase a ticket for the Owls. Extras 5 FAU football features plenty of in-game entertainment such as t-shirt tosses and game hosts playing trivia with fans. Another neat aspect is the fan experience outside – multiple booths are set up on the outside concourse, as well as the concert stage that gets set up on the field between the stadium and the parking garage, making for a wonderful family-oriented fan experience before the game. The fan zones outside are chock-full of freebies. From giveaways to concerts, fans can get tons of swag from the various booths outside Flagler Credit Union Stadium. Another bonus is the addition of charging stations – Flagler Credit Union Stadium recently added mobile charging stations to recharge your phone or tablet at the game, making it very convenient to get a power boost for your device. Fans can also relax under the shade of the palm trees on beach lounge chairs before, during, or after the games. Finally, the fans can get a chance to meet one of the most distinct mascots in college football, Owlsley the Owl. A giant owl that roams the sidelines, fans always look to get a photo with FAU’s signature mascot. Final Thoughts FAU football delivers a quality stadium experience for FBS college football at an affordable price in one of the nicest neighborhoods South Florida has to offer. The view is second to none, the fans are kind, and the pre-game atmosphere is surprisingly pleasant. For sure, FAU is as good of an experience as its bigger neighbors to the south, and it can only continue to go up from here.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Skate Frederick 1288 Riverbend Way Frederick, MD 21701 Hood Blazers website Skate Frederick website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 300 (estimated) Ice Blazers in Frederick The Hood Blazers are one of the newest college ice hockey programs, representing Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. The Blazers compete at the Division III level, and only have a women's hockey team, not a men's one. Since there is no ice rink on the Hood campus, the Blazers compete about three miles away at Skate Frederick, a local ice rink. There are two rinks at Skate Frederick, and the Blazers compete on Rink 2. Hood's first season was 2024-25, and was complicated by ice issues at Skate Frederick, forcing them to play most of their home games at Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex, about 25 miles away, with a handful in Rockville, Maryland, which is even further. Those issues have been resolved, and the Blazers played most of their home games in Frederick this season, although a few were still played in Hagerstown due to conflicts with other events at the rink. Food & Beverage 3 There is a snack bar located in the lobby of Skate Frederick, right across from the other rink (the one Hood doesn't play on). It has a good selection of items, including the usual snack bar favorites such as pizza, popcorn, pretzels, and nachos, as well as all-day breakfast options such as Belgian waffles, Danish pastries, and muffins. Water and soft drinks are also available. This is an above-average selection, especially for this level, but two factors bring this score down a notch. First, if there is a public skating event on the other rink, as is often the case, you will encounter extremely long lines of small children and families if you try to get food. Second, you are unable to exit from the ice rink the Blazers play on directly to the lobby, as this is the door the players and referees use to get on and off the ice. Instead, you have to exit the building and re-enter through the front doors, then walk through the lobby to get some food, then do the whole thing in reverse. This, combined with the lack of media timeouts at this level, means you may miss almost an entire period of action getting your food. Atmosphere 2 Skate Frederick has a few rows of plastic bleachers set about ten feet back from the boards. Since the bleachers are not elevated above board level, you will have a partially obstructed view of that side of the ice. Additionally, some of the glass is chipped or dirty, making it difficult to see the action through it. None of the seats is above the glass, so you will be looking through it. Heating lamps are located overhead, angled towards the stands, but they do not keep off the chill from the ice. This somehow manages to make it warm and cold simultaneously, and makes it hard to dress in temperature-appropriate clothing. The net above the glass runs almost to the ceiling, meaning no pucks head into the seating area. A small scoreboard is located over the goal to the right of the bleachers, showing only the most basic information - score, time, period, and penalties. Other than music played during breaks in the action, there is not much going on here. It is a basic experience in a basic arena. Neighborhood 4 Skate Frederick is located in a commercial area of Frederick, surrounded by businesses of all sorts. Multiple shopping centers are located along Monocacy Boulevard and Liberty Road near the arena, although most of the options there are chain restaurants. If you're looking for a local option, head down Monocacy Boulevard about a mile to Pasquale's Pizza, which serves up fresh, delicious pizza, by the slice or whole pies. It is a local business and is of no relation to the infamous Chuck E. Cheese ghost kitchen of the same name. Fans 3 Hood College will typically draw a few dozen fans to a hockey game - maybe a hundred if they're lucky. The fans are mostly friends and family of the players, although you do get some locals checking out the team as well. Since most of Hood's opponents play close by, a significant portion of the fans will be cheering for the visiting team. Division III hockey doesn't usually draw a lot of fans, and Hood is no exception. However, those fans who do show up are deeply passionate. Many of them can be seen wearing Hood hockey jerseys themselves, a rarity at this level. Although this is a new team, the fans it has care deeply about them. Access 2 Skate Frederick is located just off US Route 15, just north of where it intersects I-70 and I-270. However, once you get there, that's when the access issues begin. Skate Frederick is a dual rink facility, and if there is another event, such as a public skate, going on on the other rink, you will run into extreme difficulty finding a space to park. Once you park, you can't enter through the main lobby. You will need to enter the rink directly through a sign-in door. There is a sign outside the door with the Hood logo saying to enter there for the game. This makes it easy to find. However, there is also a sign on the door saying not to enter through the door, nor exit through it, except in case of emergency, lest you degrade the ice quality. Ignore that sign - this is the only entrance or exit you will be able to use. There is a door leading directly from the rink to the main lobby, but you are unable to reach it for Hood games, as there is a chain blocking your way. This is because referees and players use this door to get from the locker rooms to the ice and back, and the chain prevents your path from blocking theirs. As a result, you will need to exit the building entirely (through the supposedly forbidden door) and re-enter through the main lobby to get to the snack bar or restrooms. Speaking of restrooms, they are sufficient for the crowds Hood draws, but if there is a public skate on the other rink, they will get crowded. Return on Investment 4 When Stadium Journey attended a Hood Blazers hockey game, nobody was charging for admission. The worker in the lobby who directed us to the right entrance said that he thought Hood charged for admission, but nobody was doing that when we arrived. There was a table near the entrance that someone might sit at and sell tickets, but it was empty. It is possible we just got lucky, and the ticket sellers hadn't arrived yet, but the table was still vacant when we checked again about 20 minutes before the opening face-off. Even if it is free, there isn't enough here to earn the top score, and if tickets cost money normally, the value is even less. Extras 0 There are no extras here. Skate Frederick is a very basic arena. Final Thoughts A Hood Blazers hockey game at Skate Frederick is a basic experience at a basic arena. In fact, to call this an arena is overselling it. That being said, if you're looking to watch a college hockey game in this part of the country, your options are rather limited. Fans in the Frederick area may want to check out a Hood game, but there is little reason to travel from outside the area unless you have a connection to one of the schools or are trying to visit as many hockey arenas as possible.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Hooper Eblen Center 1100 McGee Blvd Cookeville, TN 38501 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles website Hooper Eblen Center website Year Opened: 1977 Capacity: 7,500 Wings Up Tennessee Tech men’s basketball first took to the court in 1922, making it one of the older collegiate programs in the Southeast. The school adopted the Golden Eagles nickname in 1925, and the sport quickly became a staple of the Cookeville community. Hooper Eblen Center, named for former Tennessee governor E. B. “Hooper” Eblen, and known affectionately as “The Hoop,” opened in 1977. The arena seats just over 7,500 fans and ranks among the larger venues in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Golden Eagles captured several regular-season conference titles, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s, and again in the early 2000s. Beginning with the 2026–27 season, the program will move to the Southern Conference, marking a significant shift and starting a new chapter against a fresh set of regional opponents.   Food & Beverage   3 The Eblen Center features one main concession stand on the outer concourse, as well as a smaller snack stand along the inner concourse. The menu goes slightly beyond typical arena fare, offering barbecue sandwiches, nachos, burgers, pizza slices, and hot dogs with optional cheese or chili, along with standard stadium nachos. Parmesan garlic knots also appear on the menu. Snacks include the usual candy selection plus frozen chocolate-dipped bananas, cheesecake, and the ever-popular stadium pickle. Beverages come from the Pepsi line of soft drinks; beer and other alcoholic drinks are not sold at the arena. The interior snack stand also carries candy, popcorn, soft drinks, and Southern ice (a.k.a. Italian ice).   Atmosphere   3 The Eblen Center’s exterior has a subtle coliseum feel, with brick construction and large glass entrances. Inside, however, the court area feels more modern, featuring a seating bowl made entirely of padded black seats that complement the school’s purple-and-gold color scheme. A large, four-sided scoreboard hangs over center court and displays live game video, while corner panels track player points, rebounds, and fouls. Smaller digital boards mounted along both ends and on the sides above the interior concourse show basic time and score information. Breaks in play feature performances from the cheer, spirit, and dance squads; on-court recognitions; youth-focused games led by an in-game host; and selections from the pep band. Speaker placement can make the announcer difficult to hear from the far end of the seating bowl, so seats from mid-court toward the home end of the floor provide for the best, least obstructed sound.   Neighborhood   3 Hooper Eblen Center sits in the northwestern corner of campus between Bush Stadium (baseball) and Tucker Stadium (football and track). This area is just over a mile from one of Cookeville’s main clusters of restaurants, shops, and attractions. Nearby spots include Red Silo Brewing, Father Tom’s Pub, Crawdaddy’s Cajun-inspired menu, and Cream City Ice Cream and Coffee House, recognizable by its rooftop sign showcasing the city’s former Consumer City dairy brand. Across the street stands the Cookeville Depot Museum, which highlights local railroad history. Closer to the east side of campus, Spankie’s, Vinny T’s Pub, and Cookeville Pizza & Pub are popular options due to their proximity to campus. A second downtown cluster around the city square lies a bit farther away but offers additional dining and shopping options, as well.   Fans   2 Golden Eagles men’s basketball typically ranks in the lower half of the Ohio Valley Conference in attendance, drawing roughly 1,100 fans per game. Those who attend are engaged and supportive, but smaller crowds can limit home-court advantage. Despite a sizable student section known as “The Nest,” overall fan turnout is often minimal. Credit should be given, however, to the pep band, which consistently brings energy and enthusiasm to the atmosphere.   Access   4 Tennessee Tech’s campus sits about three miles north of I-40, which runs between Knoxville and Nashville. Fans traveling along that corridor will find the trip straightforward, while those coming from the Chattanooga area typically use TN-111, a scenic highway through eastern Tennessee. Parking is conveniently located within a short walk of the arena’s east entrance. Ticket purchases are handled at the entrance on the Tucker Stadium side, while another general entry point along Wilson Avenue is less commonly used due to the parking layout. With lower attendance levels here, entry is usually quick, though the smaller lobby could create longer lines during well-attended games. Inside, both the exterior and interior concourses circle the lower seating bowl, making navigation simple.   Return on Investment   5 Tickets start at $10 for any seat in the arena, and parking is free, making this one of the best values in Division I college basketball. Concession prices are in line with typical rates at comparable venues. Overall, attending a Tennessee Tech game offers excellent affordability.   Extras   3 Hooper Eblen Center’s concourse doubles as a museum of Tennessee Tech athletics, lined with trophy cases and displays from the school’s Hall of Fame. One notable honoree is former Tech football player Barry “Butch” Wilmore, who later served as captain of the space shuttle Atlantis. Inside the arena, banners recognize men’s and women’s basketball conference championships, along with retired numbers from both programs. The Golden Eagles mascot, Awesome Eagle, is an active part of the game presentation, energizing the crowd and posing for photos with fans.   Final Thoughts Tennessee Tech may not draw huge crowds, but Hooper Eblen Center proves that a packed house isn’t necessary for an enjoyable college basketball experience. Affordable tickets, easy access, and a strong sense of local pride give Golden Eagles games a relaxed, welcoming feel that reflects Cookeville well. It’s a game-day atmosphere built to be fan friendly – and it rewards those who make the trip.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Moody Coliseum 3009 Binkley Ave Dallas, TX 75205 SMU Mustangs website Moody Coliseum website Year Opened: 1956 Capacity: 7,000 SMU Moody Coliseum Southern Methodist University’s basketball team, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, plays on campus in Moody Coliseum, located just north of downtown Dallas. Moody Coliseum originally opened on December 3, 1956 – the multi-purpose coliseum is a large part of SMU’s University Park neighborhood, housing not only SMU athletics, but also concerts and academic ceremonies, as well as basketball and volleyball camps. However, Moody Coliseum’s most famous moment could be when the coliseum served as the temporary home for the Dallas Mavericks  in 1984; that game was titled “Moody Madness”, as the Mavericks came away with an upset playoff win versus the Seattle Supersonics. Over the years, Moody Coliseum has had minor renovations, keeping the gym current with the times. However, in 2013 it was time for Moody Coliseum to undergo a major renovation project – that renovation would update the main lobby, bring in new concessions and wider concourses, improve the lighting and seating, provide luxury boxes, give the building wi-fi capability and new locker rooms, and would also bring in an LED scoreboard, LED signage around the arena, and a new floor scheme. This renovation, at a cost of $40 million, transformed the old-school gym into an updated arena for SMU basketball. Following the renovation, Moody Coliseum re-opened on January 4, 2014, to a sellout crowd, with an upset win over the then # 4-ranked and eventual National Champion Connecticut Huskies . The following year vs Connecticut, the current post-renovation attendance record was set at 7,395.   Food & Beverage   3 Moody Coliseum’s concessions have been updated to having areas to pick up your items before moving to the cashier. There are plenty of these locations on both sides of the arena, but this leaves the concession menu to the basics. The menu at these stands is the typical fare of pepperoni or cheese pizza, nachos, hot dogs, and pretzels. You may notice that the concession prices include cents instead of rounding to the nearest dollar, which was an interesting sight. Other stadium fare, such as peanuts, bagged popcorn, potato chips, large cookies, and Minute Maid Italian ice cost a little less than the main dishes mentioned above. SMU’s basketball concessions also offer Antone’s Famous Po’Boy sandwiches. The lone concession stand that offers anything outside the basics is a local Tex-Mex eatery called Mi Cocina, which offers loaded nachos or a taco salad for $17, or quesadillas and tacos available for $14, while chips and salsa are $10. SMU Athletics serves Coca-Cola products on campus, so for a $7 in a 32oz souvenir cup you have a choice of Coke, Coke Zero, Diet Coke, Mr. Pibb, or Sprite. Along with the soda offerings, there is also Powerade ($6) and Dasani bottled water ($5). The concessions also offer combo items, to make it easier to know the cost. Beer and wine are also sold inside Moody Coliseum; the selection of domestic beer is limited to three choices, namely Miller Lite, Coors Light, and Michelob Ultra for $10. There’s a local craft pilsner available as well, and in addition to beer, wine and Truly seltzer are also served.   Atmosphere   3 Moody Coliseum has all the modern accessories that fans enjoy, but what really makes Moody Coliseum special is the intimate feel of its basketball gymnasium. The arena’s 7,000 seats and great sightlines are a big part of an atmosphere that larger venues just can’t capture – the biggest asset of this type of atmosphere is that the fans can easily get involved with the game. The coliseum has three levels of seating: the 100 level, the 200 level, and the suite level. The suite level is above the 200 level and runs along the sideline across from the team benches. In the lower 100 level, however, the seating is dominated by SMU students, leaving only the seats across from the team benches as premium seating. The students, known as “The Stampede”, surround the baseline and bench sidelines inside the facility. They are continuously loud and energetic and provide such an intimidating atmosphere that it contributes to Moody Coliseum having a home-court advantage for the Mustangs. The wonderful playing of college band music is alive and well inside Moody Coliseum, as one of the best bands in college sports, the Mustang Band, is positioned in section 100 behind the baseline. In addition, the SMU cheerleaders and pom squad are positioned along the baseline on opposite sides; each group works tirelessly throughout the game to entertain the crowd. The Mustangs mascot, Peruna, also not only entertains but engages the crowd, and gets the already loud and festive student section to become even more involved throughout the game. The atmosphere inside Moody Coliseum can become electric for games, but this hasn’t been a constant. However, SMU being in a new conference could be just what they need to bring back the Moody Magic, which once made this venue one of the most exciting atmospheres in college basketball.   Neighborhood   4 Moody Coliseum is on the beautiful campus of Southern Methodist University – the campus itself covers 243 acres with an enrollment of about 11,000 students. The neighborhood surrounding campus is called University Park, located just north of downtown Dallas off I-75. Within a short distance is Mockingbird Station, a development of shops, dining, and apartment complexes that were built around the Mockingbird DART light rail stop. Mockingbird Station has about 11 different restaurants and 18 shops – the most popular spot is the Londoner Pub. The complex also includes the Angelika Film Center, which provides an 8-screen theater (complete with stadium seating) devoted to independent and specialty films. In addition, just a short walk from Mockingbird Station is Campisi’s Restaurant, a Dallas staple since 1946. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in Mockingbird Station, just walk a few blocks north on SMU Boulevard and you’ll find Torchy’s Tacos, Milo Butterfingers, and the Barley House. The Barley House is the perfect college bar, especially if you plan to take part in alcoholic beverages, with its large list of beers on tap from breweries around the state. Of course, the DART light rail can easily get you to plenty of other pre or postgame activities, with downtown Dallas being just a short commute south. There is plenty of lodging around the SMU campus, with downtown Dallas being a short distance away and accessible via the DART light rail. However, if you want to stay in the area there is the Beeman Hotel on North Central Expressway, a short walk from campus near SMU Boulevard, located just across the highway from the main local attraction here, the George W. Bush Presidential Library. Besides the library there is also the Meadows Museum, just off the main boulevard on SMU’s campus, which is well worth your time to visit. The public transit and location near Dallas provide plenty of tourist attractions and a wide range of restaurants and lodging for any fan attending a game at SMU.   Fans   3 There are various levels of fandom when it comes to college sports; the fans that grew up rooting for a certain school, the alumni of the school, and of course the current students. The SMU fans and alumni combine to form a wonderful fan base, but it is the current students that are the heart and soul of Moody Coliseum, who continue to bring the arena to life game after game. The students, known as “The Stampede”, provide the support that has helped give Moody Coliseum such a home court advantage. They sit courtside between the two team benches, and the bigger the game, the more those seats are full and loud. As for the rest of the fans, it depends on the visiting team and the day of the game – for Saturday games, the capacity is much higher than during weekday games. In the first year of being in the ACC, the attendance showed a 62% increase in revenue. This should continue as the Ponies start getting more familiar with the conference, and create new rivalries. Overall, the fans are what you would expect from a school that is just putting on their basketball shoes in a historically known basketball conference.   Access   4 Southern Methodist University is in University Park, just north of downtown Dallas. Moody Coliseum is located on the SMU campus and is accessible from I-75 near the George W. Bush Presidential Library. SMU’s campus doesn’t provide the most ideal parking situation for sporting events, but the campus is accessible via public transportation. General parking will be available in Binkley Parking Center ($30) or Meadows Parking Center ($25), as well as in parking lots Q, R, and U ($25); note that parking is cashless, taking card payments only, and you may save $5 by paying in advance. The two garages are both close and accessible to Moody Coliseum. If you would rather not pay, there is also free parking at Expressway Tower, or at Mockingbird Station (mentioned above). The DART light rail is a great option for fans not familiar with the Dallas traffic; Mockingbird Station is a major stop on the red, orange, and blue lines, so you can reach the station from most of the DFW area, including DFW airport. Once you get to Moody Coliseum there is only one main entrance for the public. After walking thru metal detectors, fans walk into the Nancy and Richard Rogers Lobby – this lobby houses the ticket office, the Mustangs Pro Shop, and other items, such as free programs and other giveaways. The concourse is well lit and there is plenty of signage to help you navigate the arena. The concourse can become crowded at high-traffic points during the game, such as before the game, at halftime, and after the game. Overall, however, access here is very accessible to all fans.   Return on Investment   4 Although football is still king in Texas, entering a traditionally strong basketball conference can only improve the SMU basketball program. The Ponies have already shown they can be competitive in their new conference. SMU uses a flex system for single game ACC conference games – if you are not familiar with this, flex pricing means there are ticket price increases or decreases depending on demand. ACC conference game tickets start the season with typical ACC prices, ranging from $25 to $40 per game, except for the Duke  and North Carolina  games, which are $165. By the end of the season, however, conference games are down to $17 to $23. It is not that SMU is a bad team; it is just that the current SMU basketball demand isn’t there. You can always expect the Duke and North Carolina games to have premier ticket prices, but always check third party websites to compare with prices on SMU’s website – there are some great deals for tickets during the season, and free parking can also be found nearby. Concessions at Moody Coliseum also have average prices compared to most sports venues. Overall, a visit to the SMU campus, along with a game inside Moody Coliseum, is well worth the price and trip for sports enthusiasts.   Extras   3 Moody Coliseum itself has been around since 1956, and continues to keep SMU athletics engaged with other college basketball teams around the country, via serving as the home court for SMU’s men’s and women’s basketball, as well as volleyball. Moody Coliseum offers excitement for college basketball in a football-driven state, and provides an atmosphere rivaling other basketball powerhouses. Former President George W. Bush is a constant presence at SMU basketball games, along with players from the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Cowboys . Moody Coliseum is one of the smallest arenas in the ACC – this means a great view and close proximity to the game that other arenas in the conference can’t offer.   Final Thoughts Their first year in the Atlantic Coast Conference saw SMU reach the post-season with an NIT bid. According to my sources, SMU attendance revenue was up 62% over prior seasons, and this season SMU has a strong chance to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017. A trip to Moody Coliseum is a wonderful experience. The venue is perfect to watch top- level college basketball, with the possibilities of things becoming electric if there is a magical run by SMU basketball. A return of the true Moody Magic could make Moody Coliseum one of the toughest home court advantages in college basketball.

Photo: Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Rugby League is making a grand return to Allegiant Stadium  in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 28, 2026, marking a significant milestone for the sport in the United States. This high-profile event is poised to bring international excitement to the heart of the entertainment capital. The Rugby League Las Vegas festival will officially kick off the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership season on American soil. The matches featured popular teams such as the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs facing off against the St. George Illawarra Dragons, along with the Newcastle Knights competing against the North Queensland Cowboys. Additionally, UK’s Super League will be represented by a thrilling matchup between the Hull Kingston Rovers and the Leeds Rhinos. The event is set to attract rugby fans globally, making it a must-attend for sports enthusiasts. Event Week Schedule Leading up to the main event, a week filled with engaging activities is planned: February 25 : A Clark County School Gala Day will take place, featuring clinics and games for local schools, promoting youth engagement in sports. Later, the Fan Hub & Media Launch at Resorts World Las Vegas will include player appearances, entertainment, and live broadcasting. February 26-27 : The OzFest Trade Fair will showcase Australian culture, food, and technology, offering interactive exhibits and discussions. Concurrently, the NRL Vegas 9s tournament will occur, featuring various divisions with teams from the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. February 28 : Game day at Allegiant Stadium will feature a doubleheader of NRL matches, culminating in a celebration of sportsmanship and rugby culture, complete with specialty Australian and UK cuisine available at the venue. Photo: Courtesy of AllegiantStadium.com Unique Experiences for Fans Allegiant Stadium, known for its state-of-the-art facilities, will transform to enhance the rugby experience. Attendees can expect to savor traditional Australian dishes like meat pies and lamb burgers, along with engaging activities both on and off the field. Special performances featuring local talent and NRL legends will further enrich the atmosphere. A Global Celebration of Rugby NRL CEO Andrew Abdo expressed excitement about the expanded festival, stating it will offer the biggest and most immersive experience yet. The event aims to strengthen connections among fans, athletes, and communities from around the globe, celebrating the sport's growth in North America. Tickets for this historic event are currently on sale and can be purchased online. Prices start at $29, making it accessible for fans of all ages. Attending this festival promises not only thrilling rugby action but also a rich cultural experience, making it a standout occasion on the 2026 sports calendar. Rugby League's return to Allegiant Stadium signals an exciting era for the sport in the United States. With an immersive festival atmosphere, thrilling matches, and cultural celebrations, this event is not to be missed…making rugby a staple in Las Vegas's sporting scene.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Thomas M. Ryan Center 1 Lincoln Almond Plaza Kingston, RI 02881 Rhode Island Rams website Thomas M. Ryan Center website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 8,000 Raising a Ruckus   The Thomas M. Ryan Center, named for the University of Rhode Island class of 1975 alumnus and primary benefactor of the arena, was built in 2002 to replace the aging and undersized Keaney Gymnasium. The building is located adjacent to Meade Stadium on the western edge of campus, with the football stadium’s visiting side bleachers built directly into the side of the basketball arena.   The Rams have made the NCAA tournament ten times in their history, advancing as far as the Elite Eight in 1998. In addition, URI has played in the National Invitational Tournament 15 times, making the semi-finals on three occasions. 17 URI alumni have gone on to play in the NBA. The URI women’s basketball team has played in one NCAA tournament, in 1996. Approaching The Ryan Center. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey   Food & Beverage 3   Five concession stands line the concourse of the Ryan Center. The menu doesn’t stray very far from arena basics, but all the bases are covered. Sadly, some of the premium and more unique items that once highlighted the menus are no longer offered.   Hot dogs, burgers, chicken tenders, grilled chicken sandwiches, and personal pizzas anchor the menus. Of course, fans will find sides including nachos, fries, pretzels, and popcorn at all the stands. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the pickle fries.   Pepsi products are featured at the Ryan Center. Among the adult beverages sold here are brews from local favorites Narragansett, Shaidzon, Tower Hill, and Whalers Breweries. The URI-branded “Rhody Ruckus” Lager and IPA from Newport Craft Brewing are popular choices.   Atmosphere 4   Stadium Journey’s most recent visit to Kingston occurred on the Rams’ annual “Pink Out” night, so an overflowing student section added a ton of noise on this evening. The cheerleading squad, dance team, and mascot, Ruckus the Ram, are fixtures at the Ryan Center, as are the dedicated Rams fans. As you would expect, the sound system is excellent, and the PA announcer is energetic and professional. It’s a consistent, high-quality presentation that would give the Rams a great home-court advantage if they had a full building every night.   Play stoppages are filled with contests, giveaways, and more to keep the energy level up and the fans engaged. If you’re a fan of t-shirt tosses, dance cams, and the like, you’re sure to have a good time at the Ryan Center. A large video board in one corner of the arena shows game stats, replays, and other information. The Ryan Center staff blends big-time production with small-town atmosphere here in Kingston, and it works well. Ruckus the Ram is the Centerpiece of a Time Out Break. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Neighborhood 2   One area where the Ryan Center comes up short when compared to peer facilities is its location. Even though URI boasts an enrollment of over 18,000 students, there’s just not much to do in the area around campus. URI is a self-contained, rural campus, and outside of a cluster of shops near campus, there is nothing much in the immediate area.   That’s not to say visitors to Rhode Island will have nothing to do. Providence is about 30 miles to the north. During the summer, the nearby coastal towns of Narragansett and Newport are popular destinations, but not so much during basketball season.   Visiting fans looking for somewhere to eat during their visit to Kingston will find some excellent options if they explore the town a bit. Mews Tavern, featuring 69 beers on tap and an excellent pub menu, is a favorite of locals. Tavern on Main is another popular spot, and the Matunuck Oyster House is legendary for its home-grown bivalves. Aside from a Holiday Inn on Route One, there are not many lodging options near campus. History buffs may want to visit the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum, located in nearby Saunderstown. Otherwise, head to Providence or to the coast to find more options.   Fans 3   Attendance at the Ryan Center has long been a sore spot in Kingston. As of the writing of this review in mid-February, the Rams were averaging just under 3,600 fans per game for men’s games. This represents a 20 percent decrease from the previous season and places URI below the conference average. Recently, the administration has even gone public with pleas to the student body to show up in better numbers for games, particularly for the successful women’s team.   A typical URI crowd is made up of locals, alumni, and families enjoying a night of entertainment in southern Rhode Island. While the lion’s share of the local media attention in the area goes to Providence College, the University of Rhode Island has its share of ardent supporters. Parents can absolutely feel comfortable bringing their children to a Rams game.   The night of Stadium Journey’s most recent visit was the men’s basketball team’s annual “Pink Out” game to raise awareness for breast cancer. An impressive crowd was present, especially considering it was a chilly Tuesday, February night. The student section, decked out in free pink t-shirts, was packed to the brim in their lower bowl sections, spilling over into the upper bowl. This has not been the norm lately. Fans Storm the Court After a Big Upset Win. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Access 4   The Ryan Center is located on the western edge of the URI campus in rural Kingston, Rhode Island, adjacent to Meade Stadium and Bill Beck Field . Driving here from Providence will take about 40 minutes on a typical day. Getting to the T.F. Green Airport is a 20-minute drive, and the Kingston Amtrak station is just a mile and a half away.  Complete directions to the Ryan Center can be found here .   Parking lots are located on the north and south sides of the Ryan Center. Parking is free in these lots, but it can be a long walk to your car on a frigid Rhode Island night. Fans requiring handicapped parking or VIP treatment can inquire about parking in the Rhody Lot directly in front of the arena. There is a charge for this VIP parking. The Ryan Center practices a clear bag policy, with no other bags except for small clutches permitted, so make sure you leave everything else in your car. It might be a long walk back. Also, don’t be in a rush to leave the parking lots after the game. They take a while to empty afterwards.   There are entrances on either end of the arena. Fans will enter at ground level, with stairs leading up to the main concourse. The concourse, which is carpeted, encircles the entire arena and is open on one corner, where the video board is located. The concourse overlooks Meade Stadium on one side, as the football bleachers are built into the side of the Ryan Center. Concession stands and restrooms are plentiful enough for a typical Rams crowd, and lines are not an issue.   All seats are individual Rhody blue folding stadium seats. The upper level features a very steep pitch, which ensures excellent views of the action on the court from all points inside the Ryan Center. The furthest seat is only 74 feet from the basketball court. The intimate design of the Ryan Center means that the building can get very loud when the Rams are on a roll.   Return on Investment 5   Tickets to Rams games are quite affordable, beginning at $19 for end seats in the upper deck. The majority of seats in the Ryan Center can be had for under $40.  Even courtside tickets are relatively affordable. Complete pricing information can be found here .   Parking is free in the lots adjacent to the Ryan Center. Concession prices, while not inexpensive, are in line with other venues in the area. Game Action at The Ryan Center. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Extras 4                                                                                                 URI’s Athletic Hall of Fame is located in the Ryan Center. Plaques honoring the enshrined line the walls throughout the facility.   Banners honoring URI championship and tournament teams hang from the rafters of the Ryan Center, along with five honored numbers from distinguished alumni.   Check out the trophy case displaying the Rams’ collection of hardware won over their history. It may seem like a meager haul for a team that’s as storied as the Rams, but it’s a nice display.   Another extra point is awarded for the design of the Ryan Center, which is meant to evoke visions of nearby beaches. The stair towers are designed to resemble lighthouses, and the carpets on the concourse contain wave patterns, as well as shades of blue and tan found on the beach. It is a very pleasing venue to the eye.   Final Thoughts   The Ryan Center is an excellent venue that suffers in comparison to its peers primarily due to its location. Place this outstanding arena in a more populated area, and the rave reviews would roll in. Still, it’s a great place to catch a basketball game. If you’re planning a Stadium Journey through New England, the Ryan Center should absolutely be on your list.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photo by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Carilion Clinic Court at the Dedmon Center 101 University Dr Radford, VA 24141 Radford Highlanders website Dedmon Center website Year Opened: 1981 Capacity: 3,200 Under the Radford Tent Radford University is located in the small town of Radford, Virginia, in the southwestern portion of the state. Originally a teacher's college, and later known as Virginia Polytechnic Institute (not to be confused with the nearby Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, better known as Virginia Tech), the school adopted the name Radford College in 1964 and Radford University in 1979. In the 1970s, Radford adopted the nickname "Highlanders" for its athletic programs, in homage to the Scottish heritage of this portion of the state. The Highlanders compete in the Big South Conference of the NCAA. Their basketball team calls the Donald N. Dedmon Center home. Opened in 1981, this 3,200-seat arena sits in the heart of the Radford campus. It is known for its fabric roof that, until 2008, was air-supported like the one at the Metrodome in Minnesota. Nowadays, it is supported by steel trusses to prevent collapse, but it still gives the feeling of playing basketball in a great tent. Food & Beverage 3 There are two concession stands at the Dedmon Center, one on either side of the lobby as you come in, although it is possible only one will be open depending on the crowds the Highlanders are drawing. Hot dogs, nachos, pizza, candy, chips, and popcorn are all available at the stands, as are healthy options such as Kind bars, hummus, trail mix, and yogurt. Bottled water and Pepsi products are available to drink. Prices are reasonable, with most items in the $3-$4 range. A separate stand sells alcohol to fans of age, including beer and hard seltzer, for $6-$7 a can. You cannot buy alcohol at the main stand in order to avoid tying up the lines. Atmosphere 3 Walking through the front doors of the Dedmon Center will put you in a sort of outer lobby where you will go through the metal detector and bag check, then head through another set of doors to enter the inner lobby and scan your tickets. Directly ahead of you will be a giant inflatable highlander, and we do mean giant - it goes up nearly to the ceiling of the gym. A large black curtain separates this area from the court, and you can walk around it to your left to get to the reserved section or to your right to get to the general admission section. You will also find concession stands and restrooms in this inner lobby area, plus occasional giveaways of merchandise. The reserved section consists of blue plastic chairback seats, while the general admission section is wooden bleachers. There are also some bleachers behind the basket, which are reserved for students and the pep band, the latter of which consists of about half a dozen members and seems to be exclusively drums. A VIP area is located behind the other basket. Scoreboards are located at both ends of the court and show points and fouls for players currently on the floor in addition to more basic information. There are also videoboards above each sideline, and you should be able to see one of them no matter where you sit. Before the game, the main lights in the arena go out, and red lights come on in reference to Radford's school colors. The Highlanders' starting lineup is then introduced as pillars of smoke shoot out from the court. With such an impressive start, you would expect the rest of the experience to be equally impressive. Unfortunately, it is not. The pep band, such as it is, drums occasionally, and there is a small cheerleading squad, but other than the impressive introductions, this is a basic gameday experience. T-shirts are thrown into the crowd after Highlanders three-point baskets, and there are the usual contests at halftime and occasionally during media timeouts, but this is just not that impressive beyond the pregame intros. The architectural uniqueness of the arena, with its tentlike feel, giant highlander, and black curtains on the baselines, is worth noting here. However, the atmosphere as a whole is just about average. Neighborhood 2 Radford is a small town of about 16,000 people located in rural southwestern Virginia. Technically, it is a city, but unless you are deeply into regulations on Virginia municipalities, this will mean nothing to you. For all practical purposes, this is a small town with not much else around. The good news is that since it's so small, everything is close to campus. Most businesses are located along Main Street, so head over there for your best options. There are some places worth checking out. Sharkey's Wing and Rib Joint serves up the two products in its name and is very popular locally. BT's Restaurant serves up American comfort food and is open late into the night. That being said, this isn't the most exciting town to spend time in. Fans 2 Attendance is not great at Radford basketball games. The Highlanders average a little over a thousand fans in a 3,200-seat arena. Even that is generous, as many season ticket holders do not show up to every game but are still counted in the paid attendance. For a typical home game, the chairbacks will be pretty empty, and the wooden bleachers even more so. The fans who do show up don't bring much energy. Many of them come decked out in Radford red, with a few wearing the plaid tartan colors of the Highlander mascot, though nobody seemed brave enough to wear a kilt. But despite being dressed for the occasion, they fail to bring much energy, unsurprisingly given their small numbers. There is a student section along the baseline and in the adjacent GA sections, but it is as empty and quiet as the rest of the stands. Access 4 Due to Radford's rural location in Southwest Virginia, driving here is really your only option. The campus is located a few miles off I-81, with parking available in Lot Z behind the arena. From here, you simply need to walk up a short staircase to the front doors. Signs will direct you as you get close if you are unsure where to go. There are other lots nearby, but they are reserved for donors to the Radford athletic program. Restrooms are available on the sides of the inner lobby, near where you would enter the seating area. They are large and clean, and the stall doors offer an unusually good amount of privacy, at least by American standards, though Europeans would likely disagree. Getting into and out of the stands requires walking through a narrow area between the press area or scorers' table and the front of the stands. If the Highlanders drew larger crowds, this might be a problem, but they don't, so it isn't an issue. Return on Investment 4 Reserved seating for Radford basketball games is about $16 for adults and $11 for youth 12 and under. General admission seating will run about $9 for adults and $6 for youth. If you buy a GA seat, you should have no problem sitting anywhere you want on that side, so unless having a chairback is important to you, there is little reason to splurge for reserved seats. Concessions are very affordable, and parking is free. The main cost will be the gas to get here, as due to Radford's remote location, you may have to drive quite a distance. Overall, a Radford basketball game is a great value. Extras 3 One bonus star for the giant inflatable highlander as you come in. Again, this guy is huge, and it is hard to fully appreciate the scale of it until you see it in person. Be sure to check out the banners hanging from the rafters honoring Radford's greatest players and team accomplishments. A third and final star for the impressive player introductions, with red lights and pillars of smoke. Final Thoughts The Dedmon Center is an architecturally unique arena. Attending a Radford basketball game feels like watching basketball in a giant tent, with a fabric roof overhead and giant curtains on the sides. The unusual setup ensures this doesn't just feel like some generic arena, as many other places do, and the pregame introductions try to set the stage, but there is so much more potential here if Radford would draw better crowds.

Photos by Jude Hannahs, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Bird Ice Arena 102 Oxbow Trail Athens, OH 45701 Ohio Bobcats website Bird Ice Arena website Year Opened: 1957 Capacity: 2,000 “Hey, you suck!”  Coming from a background where the National Hockey League wasn’t religiously watched by either me or anyone in my family or friend group, I originally thought of hockey as a sport exclusive to Canada. In fact, just a few months ago, I discovered that the state of Ohio had its own team in the NHL.  No joke, I was completely unaware that the Columbus Blue Jackets were a team that actually existed. Given their location, it makes sense that they were so irrelevant to me. Everybody knows that Columbus is the city for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Recently, I’ve started to follow the Blue Jackets as well as one of their division opponents, the Pittsburgh Penguins.  I’m still in the learning process on the history of the sport and who the main faces are for making it so popular to watch in not only Canada, but the United States of America, too. My eventual alma mater, Ohio University, has a strong fan base for its hockey team. As a senior, now one of my regrets in college is not going to more games at the iconic Bird Ice Arena.  It may not be as flashy or big as other athletic facilities provided by the university, such as Peden Stadium and the Convocation Center , but it does hold a tight place in the hearts of those who love hockey. Once I officially become an alum of OU, coming back to campus and going to a game will be at the top of my bucket list.  Food & Beverage 3 The food and drinks provided by the arena’s only concession stand offer nothing that isn’t to be expected of other snack shacks. Bird Ice Arena provides willing customers with the usual suspects: hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, and an assortment of fountain drinks.  Due to the chilly interior, hot chocolate is an option too, for fans to enjoy. In my mind, snacks aren’t something that I usually think of in a hockey setting. Then again, I haven’t exposed myself to a lot of hockey games.  Atmosphere 4 Incredible. Simply incredible. I am so glad to have gone to OU’s game versus Liberty because this particular contest was sold out, and the crowd was loving the high intensity. Compared to watching the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Major League Baseball (MLB), I like how much more physical hockey is.  In the case of the Bobcats, collegiate hockey is by no means different. The players are there to win no matter what. Whenever fights occur, it’s almost as if the crowd is joining in at a distance. There’s no other experience quite like it that I can put my finger on.  Neighborhood 4 If you’re a hockey-loving student at OU and are perhaps living on West Green in one of its dormitories, then Bird Ice Arena is an extremely convenient spot for you. It’s only about a five to ten-minute walk from any of the dorms located on West Green.  However, students who live on either North, South, or East Green will have more of a walk to the facility. One aspect of its location is that Bird Ice Arena is placed just across the street from Emeriti Park—one of the beautiful sites on campus. The arena may not be in the best spot for all parties to access it promptly, but it does rest in a peaceful and stunning area.  Fans 5 I touched on this in my briefing when I talked about the atmosphere at Bird Ice Arena. I’ve only been to a handful of hockey games during my time at OU, and the game I went to proved to me just how special the fanbase is for this team. Ohio’s hockey team has a fandom that is really do-or-die all the way. I don’t have a sense that large numbers of people will just leave whenever the Bobcats are down. They are there to support and cheer on their squad and, at the same time, try to get under the skin of the opposing teams with “Hey, you suck!” chants and other phrases of that nature.  Access 3 In terms of the sections of this review on Bird Ice Arena, this is where the facility is probably at its weakest. The game I went to was sold out, and while seeing such a large number of students, locals, and OU alums was awesome, it made trying to navigate through the arena a bit harder.  Plus, one other thing to point out is how limited the parking options are for fans. Sometimes folks will luck out and find parking in the lot right behind the facility, but other times that lot could be blocked off for another separate event. Fans then have to rely on trying to find another spot that likely will take them farther away from Bird Ice Arena. Return on Investment 5 Interesting fact about OU’s hockey team: they are the only team associated with the school where enrolled students have to pay money to purchase tickets. Obviously, the hockey team is a club sport, not a varsity sport like football, basketball, or baseball.  Because they aren’t labeled as a varsity sport, they do not get any funding from OU’s athletic department. This may seem like a downside for students; however, the prices for all wanting to watch hockey are quite affordable. For single-game tickets, adults are charged $10, OU students $5, children under the age of 17 $5, and toddlers (ages 3 and below) get in for free.  Compared to a school like The Ohio State University, where students have to pay for football tickets at an average rate of $34 per home game to watch the Buckeyes play, the prices here at Bird Ice Arena are reasonable for students willing to pay money.  Extras 5 Bird Ice Arena was initially commissioned in 1956 as a field house for sports like football and track, but the building was later adapted to include an ice rink. It hosted its first hockey game in late December 1958, where OU defeated Ohio Northern University 22-0.  In 1960, the arena was officially named in honor of Ossian C. Bird, a former athletic director for OU. The facility also offers everything from public “Rec Skate” sessions to intramural broomball tournaments. A perk for students is that they are given the privilege of free admission to said skating sessions.  As expected, Bird Ice Arena does provide affordable on-site skate rentals and professional blade sharpening in a 24-hour turnaround.  Final Thoughts  If there is anything else I’d like to say about the arena is this: even if you aren’t a huge fan of hockey, go at least once to a game at Bird Ice Arena. It is a staple of the Athens community and makes for an entertaining experience on any given night of the week.

The Chicago Bears are advancing their plans for a new stadium, with significant momentum shifting towards Hammond, Indiana. Recent developments include the unanimous approval from the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee for a critical amendment to Senate Bill 27, which would facilitate the formation of a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority. This authority would have the power to issue bonds, acquire land, and finance the stadium's construction. Key Support and Statements Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott expressed strong enthusiasm for the project, emphasizing the partnership between the Bears and Indiana as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity." He highlighted that the proposed stadium site near Wolf Lake would attract sporting fans from both Chicago and the surrounding areas. The Bears also released a statement declaring their commitment to developing a world-class stadium in Hammond. They acknowledged the state and local leaders' efforts in creating the framework for this significant project. Indiana Governor Mike Braun remarked on Indiana's openness for business and the partnership's potential to benefit all parties involved. Photo Courtesy of MANICA Legislative Developments and Competition The legislative moves come as a pivotal Illinois hearing on potential tax breaks for a stadium in Arlington Heights was canceled. This hearing involved legislation that would offer the Bears property tax certainty for future developments, which proponents argued was crucial for the team to make substantial investments. Illinois lawmakers face pressure to finalize proposals before the Bears decide to move out of the state, with the current lease on Soldier Field running through 2033. The competition from Indiana appears to be intensifying, with local leaders in Arlington Heights advocating for urgent legislative action. Historical Context and Future Outlook The Bears' interest in Hammond is not entirely new. In the 1990s, the team briefly considered a stadium plan in nearby Gary, Indiana, which ultimately fell through due to local funding disagreements. The current proposal at Wolf Lake has sparked excitement due to its proximity to Chicago—just 19 miles from downtown—and accessible public transport through the South Shore Line. While the Bears aim for a new era in their franchise location, concerns have emerged about the impact on local recreational spaces around Wolf Lake. However, the unfolding developments signal a serious commitment from all involved to transform the area into a prime destination for fans and visitors alike. As negotiations and planning progress, the spotlight remains on Hammond, with both the Bears and Indiana clearly expressing their intent to make this partnership a reality.. For further background please visit: Indiana Legislature Moves to Bring the Chicago Bears to the Hoosier State  a .

Photo Courtesy of the UFL Striking, modernized, sleek, inaugural, and revamped are just a few words that describe the UFL’s (United Football Leagues’) uniforms for the 2026 Spring season. An explosive display video for each team at theUFL.com  shows their uniforms in moving glory. Birmingham Stallions The three-time spring football champions, the Stallions, are unveiling a sleek, modernized uniform for the upcoming season. The home uniform will feature a striking gold design with "Stallions" boldly displayed on the front. For away games, the team will don a white jersey accented with gold and garnet, showcasing "Birmingham" across the chest. Additionally, the helmet has been upgraded to a rich cardinal red. Columbus Aviators The Columbus Aviators are showcasing their home uniforms that feature deep navy blue, symbolizing Ohio’s air and space innovators, while the road uniforms are crisp white for a fresh and clean appearance. In their design elements, they offer two editions, the side pant striping is inspired by the club's logo and propeller motifs. Completing the ensemble is a blue helmet, reflecting the vastness of the open skies. DC Defenders The defending UFL champions are ushering in a bold new era with their revamped uniforms, reflecting confidence, unity, and strength. Both the home and away outfits feature stripes inspired by the Washington, D.C. flag, and stars are integrated into the overall design. The Defenders aimed to maintain continuity with their previous designs while celebrating their heritage, honoring a legacy that dates back to the league's inception in 2024. Dallas Renegades This season, the Renegades are embracing a new era characterized by resilience, determination, empowerment, and independence. The 2026 uniforms merge iconic elements from past seasons with a modern twist. Both home and away uniforms showcase striking accents of red through updated shoulder and pant striping. The home jerseys prominently display the team name, while the away jerseys highlight the name of the city. The helmet features a sleek all-black design, enhancing the overall aesthetic. Houston Gamblers The Gamblers' revamped 2026 uniforms mark the start of a new chapter, infused with fresh energy and unwavering resilience. They capture the essence of Houston’s swagger, strength, and tenacity with home uniforms in black and road uniforms in white. Previously known as the Gamblers during the original USFL (2022-23), the team transitioned to the Roughnecks upon joining the UFL (2024-25). For the upcoming 2026 season, they are returning to their roots with the Gamblers name. The updated design showcases sleek black helmets, a refreshed logo, an eye-catching spade motif along the pants, and a sleeve patch that honors the vibrant spirit of Houston. Louisville Kings The Kings are dedicated to honoring Louisville's rich legacy with their 2026 uniform designs. The home uniforms feature a striking dark green and lime combination, while the road uniforms showcase silver with vibrant lime accents. Prominent fleur-de-lis and diamond motifs, timeless symbols of the city, are proudly emblazoned on the shoulders and running along the pants. Orlando Storm Uniforms The Orlando Storm's debut uniforms capture the essence of power, intensity, and controlled chaos, representing the calm before the storm. Each uniform version, home in black & road in white, showcases dynamic shoulder designs inspired by storms, accompanied by lightning-themed piping on the pants. The dark gray helmets, featuring a minimalist logo, harmonize beautifully with the striking palette of gray, purple, and electric orange. St. Louis Battlehawks Overview This season, the Battlehawks are unveiling a revamped design that accentuates the franchise’s most iconic features. The Gateway Arch, a symbol of St. Louis, takes center stage in this year’s uniforms. The team’s logo is prominently displayed on the sleeves. Home jerseys, in blue, prominently feature "Battlehawks" across the chest, while the away jerseys, in silver, showcase "STL" in bold. Additionally, the helmet has been refined with a darker finish, enhancing its depth and toughness.

Photos Courtesy of Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey DePauw University is preparing for a major transformation to replace its 84-year-old Blackstock Stadium. The university in Greencastle, Indiana, announced an $80 million gift from an anonymous graduate, which will fund the construction of a state-of-the-art stadium and athletics complex. The new facility aims to enhance the gameday atmosphere for both football and track and field fans by offering upgraded seating and modern amenities. The stadium will also include improved locker rooms, enhanced concession stands, and accessible facilities to ensure all fans can enjoy the events comfortably. Opened in 1941, Blackstock Stadium has been the cornerstone for DePauw’s athletic programs and has witnessed countless moments over the decades. The stadium co-hosts the Monon Bell Classic with nearby rival Wabash College. The annual football game was first held in 1890.  Monon Bell Classic at Blackstock Stadium The Tigers have played on the same site since 1923, when Mr. and Mrs. Ira Blackstock gifted $25,000 for an athletic field for football and track and field. That stadium was known as Blackstock Athletic Field when it first opened, and it was not until 1941 that Mrs. Blackstock gifted $80,000 towards the construction of grandstands in memory of her late husband, who graduated from DePauw in 1886. Before the construction of Blackstock Stadium, the football program played at McKeen Field from 1895 to 1922. The anticipated completion of the new stadium is set for 2028, establishing a vibrant space for community gatherings and sporting events. This investment reflects DePauw University’s commitment to providing its student-athletes and fans with the best possible environment to thrive both on and off the field. Demolition of the Blackstock Stadium is scheduled to begin in August 2026, making way for a new era for DePauw athletics. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter   @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Converse Family Field House 2807 N Glebe Rd Arlington, VA 22207 Marymount Saints website Converse Family Field House website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 1,000 D3 Hoops in Northern Virginia Located in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., Marymount University is a Catholic college, whose sports teams, known as the Saints, compete at the Division III level of the NCAA in the Atlantic East Conference. The Saints basketball team plays on Marymount's main campus at Converse Family Field House. The arena is located within the Rose Bente Lee Center, which also contains several other student recreational facilities. It is named not after the athletic shoe brand but after the Converse family, who donated a significant sum of money to the Marymount Athletic Department to build the facility. Food & Beverage 3 Although there is no concession stand exclusively serving the Converse Family Field House, Bernie's Cafe is in the Rose Bente Lee Center lobby and is open during Marymount basketball games. Fans can go there and bring the food into the arena, about a 30-second walk away. Bernie's is also open on non-gamedays to serve the Marymount student community, and you will find many students there during the game as well. Every food item on the menu costs $10.50 and comes with fries. You can choose between two hot dogs, six chicken tenders, six wings (BBQ, plain, or hot honey), or a double cheeseburger that comes with very thin patties that are quite seasoned. Fans can buy Coors beer for $5 or soft drinks for about $2. Keep in mind that all food is made to order, so you're best off ordering before the game or at halftime so you don't miss much of the action. Although not many fans will be there, you may have to wait in line behind students as well. Atmosphere 3 Walking into the Rose Bente Lee Center will put you in a spacious lobby. Bernie's will be on your right, and the arena entrance will be straight ahead, past displays for the Hall of Fame and Marymount All-Americans. You will walk through a set of double glass doors, after which you will find blue plastic bleachers on either side of the court. The court itself is a unique gray color reminiscent of blacktops that many grew up playing basketball on. Marymount has cheerleaders, a dance team, and a small pep band that plays during breaks in the action. The band is situated in the corner of the arena and is hard to see, but they certainly make themselves heard. Marymount is a small school, so these groups are not large in size, but they manage to keep the fans engaged and entertained. Neighborhood 4 Marymount's main campus is in a residential neighborhood in Arlington, although there are several lively neighborhoods close by. The Metro 29 Diner is a favorite place to get a bite to eat in North Arlington, as is Cowboy Cafe. You will find many other locations along Langston Boulevard (Route 29), a short drive away via Glebe Road. The Ballston neighborhood (which also houses a separate Marymount campus) is a couple of miles away and has even more options - it is one of the liveliest parts of Arlington. Fans 3 Marymount typically draws a couple of hundred fans a game, which is about average for Division III. This is your typical crowd - mostly friends and family, with a few students and locals thrown in. They are moderately engaged, but are usually pretty quiet. You may get one or two fans who just like to yell and complain about everything, but for the most part, the crowd is pretty respectful. This is Division III, so don't expect a loud and raucous crowd, but the Saints do have their regulars. Access 4 Marymount's campus is located a couple of miles off I-66 via US 29 and Glebe Road. Locals can also take Route 50 or several other major arterials to get here, depending on where they are coming from. Many roads lead here, but you will likely encounter traffic, especially for weeknight games that correspond with rush hour, so be sure to allot an appropriate amount of time. When you get to campus, tell the guard at the security gate that you are there for the game, and they will direct you either to a nearby surface lot or a garage, depending on what else is happening on campus that day. Both of these are a short walk from the arena. There is no Metro station near the campus. The Ballston-Marymount University station on the Orange and Silver Lines serves Marymount's campus in the Ballston neighborhood, not the main one where the Converse Family Field House is located. and is about two miles away. Restrooms are available inside Bernie's as well as on the ground floor, one level down from the Field House. Stairs and an elevator can take you there, although there is no reason to use them, as the ones in Bernie's are more convenient. Return on Investment 5 Admission to Marymount basketball games is free. Concessions are affordable, too. Overall, a game at the Converse Family Field House is an excellent value. Extras 3 Check out the championship banners above the bleachers and the Marymount Athletics Hall of Fame in the lobby. Each of these is worthy of a star on its own. A third star for the unique gray color of the court, a throwback to the blacktops of players' youth. Final Thoughts The Converse Family Field House isn't the flashiest venue or the largest, but it still is a nice atmosphere to watch a basketball game in. The men's and women's teams often play doubleheaders, meaning you can spend an entire afternoon watching college basketball for no cost whatsoever. It's hard to complain about that.

Minor league baseball teams have created numerous promotions to attract a larger audience to their ballparks recently. However, one promotion that took place well over a century ago has been lost in time. It was a radical idea that would be an advertising stunt and attract visitors to the town. That idea was free baseball for the Decatur Commodores in 1915. It was an ideal conceived by team management of the Three-Eye League that gained enough attention that other teams thought about themselves, and a few others contemplated that it might just be what the minor leagues were looking for. Newspapers from Salt Lake City to Boston claimed that the “millennium had arrived in Decatur, Illinois.” The Commodores, or Commies, as they were called by the local populace, had been in town since 1900 but had been operating at a loss since a second version of the club arrived in town in 1910. Attendance peaked at 52,104 in 1907 before dropping to 38,597 in 1909. The ball club’s treasurer, Mont Peniwell, proposed a plan that would have local businesses, fans, and residents donate enough money before the season to allow for all fans to watch games for free at the ballpark for the 1915 season. A goal of $12,000 was established, and Peniwell began looking for subscribers. Subscriptions would be sent to the local newspaper by fans It would be a boost to the community, and the thought process was that larger attendance numbers would spill over to the local merchants of Decatur. Archie Davis, a local druggist, was the first fan who sent $10 in with his coupon from the newspaper and said the following. “A good crowd will be at every game, and my only trouble will be in securing a box seat so that I can get as close to the players as possible.” The idea was not original and was suggested by the Wichita Wolves of the Western League in February. Team president A. M. Ebright set a goal of selling $75,000 worth of tickets at 50 cents apiece to local businesses and residents to open the gates to Island Park for free. He envisioned free advertising from across the nation, increased trade with local merchants, and fans of all income levels being able to attend a game. However, it does not appear that the ball club met the goal and abandoned the free baseball concept. A receipt from a fan who donate $2 towards a subscription for free baseball for Decatur A subscription ballot was printed in the Decatur  Daily Herald,  where fans or businesses would fill in how much they would like to donate. Subscriptions came in from the Decatur Hotel, Decatur Railway & Light Company, and the Decatur National Bank. Sydney Bacharach, owner of Cheap Charley Clothing Store, was more than willing to back the campaign. “Free baseball looks like a great thing for businessmen. We want to get the people here, and then when they see what Decatur is offering them, they will do their business here.” The news caught the attention of many outside of Decatur. New York Giants scout, Dick Kinsella, said that the city got more advertisement out of free baseball than any other town this size ever had.  Folks in Montana referred to Decatur as where they have free baseball. Three-Eye president Al Tearny stated that he wouldn’t be surprised that several years, the majority of minor leagues operated with free baseball within several years. League members in Peoria, Bloomington, Quincy, and Dubuque contemplated adopting the practice in 1916. A comic from Toledo, Ohio, with a satirical look at the free baseball promo However, Peniwell soon discovered that the club couldn't meet the $12,000 objective. It was downsized to $8,000, but the club had met its goal and played the season with free baseball. The free seats were only for the bleacher sections, and fans wanting to sit in the grandstand would have to pay 15 cents. Buttons were created for fans to wear to the game to show their pledge. On April 30, the Commodores opened at home at the local racetrack that was fitted with a new grandstand roof, wire fencing in front of the grandstand, and a steel outfield wall. The bleachers were packed with fans, and many sat behind the wired fencing in front of the grandstand. Others watched the game from their automobiles in right field. However, attendance was 770, with only 178 people paying for seats in the grandstand. The second game drew a larger crowd of over 2,000 people. There were 300 people in the grandstand, 15 rows of people stood beyond the bleachers and down right field, and the bleachers were packed. The third game on Sunday was expected to attract 4,000, but wet weather doomed the game, and only 500 were in attendance. The headline says it all about the Commies promotion One caveat about the promotion was the number of school children who attended games. It became so concerning that the local truancy officer showed up to see who was playing hooky at school. The team then established that all school children would not be allowed to play games until after 3:30 pm, after class let out. Crowds of around 1,000 would be at hand for select games, but it was soon evident that the Commies were nowhere near the $8,000 mark for their goal. By May 16, the club only collected $3,469. Donation boxes were set up at the entrance of the stadium, and the club began charging 15 cents per person who watched the game from their automobiles. Penniwell announced that the club received $6,200 in subscriptions at the beginning of the season, with two sources pitching in an additional $1,500 to push the total close to $8,000, but when it came time to collect, most did not pay up. The club collected only $3,469 of actual money (43 percent short of the goal). Imagine putting yourself down for 4-boxes of Girl Scout Cookies from your next-door neighbor's kid and then a month later refusing to pay when your order of Peanut Butter Patties, Thanks-A-Lot, and Thin Mints arrived. You might wake up with a slashed tire, but that's what took place with the subscriptions in Decatur. Many said they would pay anywhere from $2 to $150, but never did. Since most fans sat in the bleachers, sales from seating in the grandstand were down. It also led to fewer fans patronizing the area during games. I am not sure if this meant that fans did not purchase food or beverages at the game, since that did not appear to be mentioned in any of the newspaper articles of the time, but the team underestimated its goal of reaching the $8,000 goal. The team also had to make additional payments towards police, laundry services, coal for the clubhouse, new uniforms, and player salaries. The team was in the red for $3,231 when it was all said and done. Then, adding insult to injury, Mother Nature had the final word on the Commodores campaign on July 15 when a tornado ripped apart the grandstand’s roof before a ballgame. Insurance officials then razed and condemned the grandstand. Photos of the racetrack grandstand after the tornado struck it before a game. The Commies would continue to play with fans now being charged 15 cents to sit in the bleachers, but the team was close to folding or relocating to Galesburg, Illinois, to close out the season. On August 11, the team played its final game, and a few days later, a benefit game was set up with a semi-pro team that attracted only 350 fans.  The failure of the free baseball campaign wiped out baseball in Decatur until a new version was created for the 1922 Three-Eye season. The team would play at Staley Field, which had recently become available after the Decatur Staleys football team relocated to Chicago and is now known as the Bears. The Commies attracted a record 64,024 fans in the year that signaled a triumphant return of baseball to town. In 1927, Fans Field would be built and serve as home to the Commies for the next 50 years.  Just as quickly as it was launched, the free baseball campaign lost momentum. While the idea was noble and appeared solid on paper with all the finances considered, it initially put Decatur on the national radar and instilled a sense of pride among residents and businesses. However, trouble arose when it was time to collect payments. What could have marked a transformative era for minor league baseball pricing ultimately faded away. At that year’s winter meetings in Chicago, the Three-Eye League made it clear that there would be no such talk of free baseball with any of its club members, setting a price of 25 cents a ticket for games. Rock Island would take Decatur’s place in the loop’s schedule for 1916. There was a lot of promise at the start of the season for the Commies and Decatur. Today, one would have to look 110 miles north to Peru, Illinois. The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp of the summer collegiate Prospect League does charge admission to Schweickert Stadium . The team has built the stadium from the ground up and does not have plans to charge a dime for games anytime soon. Other small-town summer collegiate teams in the Cape Cod League, Florida Collegiate Summer League, and the New York Summer Collegiate League also admit fans for free. Fortunately, we would never see a promotion like this ever again for a minor league team. The loss of revenue from a $10-$12 bleacher seat would be ludicrous, regardless of the publicity it would receive nationally. An interesting tidbit, the Commies franchise continues today as the Kane County Cougars in the Midwest League. They offer $5 lawn seats for games, available for purchase up to a week before the event. While not free, it’s pretty close! ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Phoenix Municipal Stadium 5999 E. Van Buren St Phoenix, AZ 85008 Map It Arizona State Sun Devils website Phoenix Municipal Stadium website Year Opened: 1964 Capacity: 8,775 Phoenix Muni The Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team has a long and storied history, with only four losing seasons since its founding in 1959.   The Sun Devils moved to the Big 12 conference beginning the 2024-25 season after successfully playing in the Pac-12 since 1978.   The team is first in the number of alumni who have played in MLB.  The stadium’s outfield walls proudly display nineteen retired numbers, many College World Series (CWS) appearances, and five national championship years. After playing four decades at on-campus Packard Stadium (1974 – 2014) in Tempe, AZ, the Sun Devils moved to Phoenix Municipal Stadium (Phoenix Muni) in 2015.  Phoenix Muni was built as the spring training home for the San Francisco Giants (1964 – 1981) and later the Oakland Athletics (1982 – 2014).  Since taking residence, the Sun Devils have made significant renovations to the 60+ year-old facility.   Fans can admire a statue for Bobby Winkles, the first Sun Devil baseball coach (1959 – 1971) upon entering the venue. It's an enjoyable, historic park in which to watch some spring baseball. Food & Beverage 3 Phoenix Muni sticks to a classic ballpark menu, with the strongest variety found along the third base concourse. Lines can build at peak times, so plan accordingly. Hot dogs, chicken tenders with fries, and nachos run $7–$14, while snacks like popcorn, pretzels, peanuts, and candy range from $5–$13.50 depending on size. Just inside the main entrance, a Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers outpost (an Arizona sports‑bar chain) offers hot dog, cheeseburger, and chicken‑tender baskets for $14–$16. One of the best values is the sausage cart down the third‑baseline, serving Italian sausages and bratwursts. Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers at Phoenix Muni, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Coke products are the stadium’s soda option, priced $6 -$8 for fountain drinks. Bottled water is $5, though fans may bring in sealed bottles, making it an easy place to save a few dollars. Beer and wine generally fall in the $14–$15 range. Tempe‑based Huss Brewing features its ASU‑themed ‘Devil’s Halo’ amber ale on tap. A Chick‑fil‑A stand and an Ice kiosk sit along the third base concourse as well, with a standard chicken sandwich coming in at a steep $11.18.  Atmosphere 3 Attending a game at Phoenix Muni is a decent outing for any baseball fan.  Green fold-down stadium seats (with cup holders) line the seating behind home plate and the infield while bleachers with backs (general admission) extend down the baselines.   The bleacher area provides net-free seating, though those sections lack handrails and cup holders, and the seating is quite uncomfortable and cramped.  A deck down the first baseline offers tables with stools, views of the field, and the indoor batting area. Fans seeking shade should get tickets behind the home plate and infield area (sections 1 – 7 on the first level or in A to M on the second level).  Sections 1 (and F and G) are directly behind home plate. A fantastic amount of Sun Devil baseball fame and history surrounds the park.  Plaques line the exterior of the park as well as the outfield walls.  These include the number of players in MLB or made the MLB draft, All Americans, CWS appearances, number of conference championships and national championships, a plaque honoring Packard Stadium, and plaques acknowledging former team managers.  The left field line is 333 ft, honoring former coach Jim Brock #33; the right field line is 334 ft, acknowledging former player Cory Hahn #34.  Nineteen ASU retired numbers are visible on the outfield wall.   The light poles at the park are the ones from the old Polo Grounds, though the lights were updated before the 2025 season.  Two ‘Chairs of Honor’  pay tribute to prisoners of war and those missing in action. The scoreboard provides excellent gameday stats (including previous at-bat results) and player information, with some video tossed in when needed. The announcer does a superb job calling the starting lineup and player changes (for both the home and away teams).  Music can get loud between innings, so you’re forced to stop talking with friends around you while it lasts.  Unfortunately, the music person has gotten on the ‘play loud noise snip its between every pitch’ band-wagon so watching a game isn’t quite as enjoyable as it used to be. Located on the outer concourse to the right of the main entrance, the team shop is spacious and well‑organized, offering a wide selection of Sun Devil shirts, caps, and other merchandise. Neighborhood 4 The stadium is adjacent to Papago Park , which also includes the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden . If you’re an outdoorsy person on top of being a baseball fan, this area is the perfect place to spend the day. It is convenient to take your family to the zo o (which normally closes at 5 pm ) and then head to the ballpark for a night game. The zoo is so close you can hear fans cheering in the stadium from inside almost the entire zoo. Also, next door is the Hall of Flame Fire Museum which provides a history of firefighting exhibits.  While no places to eat or drink are within walking distance, a short drive (about 3 miles) down Mill Ave will bring fans to downtown Tempe, which has plenty of places to imbibe and dine.  Pedal Haus Brewery (brewery with a full menu), Zipps Sports Grill , Daily Jam - Breakfast & Brunch Restaurant, and Postino Annex (wine café and light fare) are just a few recommended places.  My favorite, Hundred Mile Brewing , is just two and a half miles away. In the same area, Canopy by Hilton Downtown, Sonesta Select Downtown Tempe, and AC Hotel are some hotels for travelling fans.  Many more hotels are just two or so miles from the ballpark nearer the airport like Residence Inn, Radisson, Marriott, and Holiday Inn. For other sports to see when in town, check out ASU basketball at Desert Financial Center or several spring training facilities.  Tempe Diablo Stadium (Angels), Sloan Park (Cubs), or Scottsdale Stadium (Giants) are the closest ones; Chase Field , where the Diamondbacks play, is about eight miles west of Phoenix Muni. Fans 3 Since the baseball program is so storied, a large season ticket holder base across multiple generations is in attendance for games. You’ll see current students, families with kids, middle-aged and retired alumni, and other fans.   All cheer and applaud loudly when the Sun Devils make  a good play and yell at the umps when a call is made against the Sun Devils.  Many adorn ASU shirts and caps.  Attendance is always strong, with a 70% - 80% capacity at most games, more on weekend games, or when the Sun Devils battle their archrival U of A (University of Arizona) Wildcats .  Access 4 Fans get to the ballpark relatively easily by car, bike, light rail, or bus.  It is about three miles from the ASU campus and a little over three miles from Sky Harbor Airport.  If arriving by car, fans must walk over a bridge to get to the stadium.  For those who can’t make the walk, a complimentary shuttle runs between the lot and the entrance, with tipping encouraged. Parking is $7, and in a frustrating change this season, payment is now QR‑code only. Pedestrian Bridge at Phoenix Muni, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey For visitors taking the light rail get off the stop at Priest Dr/Washington St, then walk .6 miles to the stadium. Clear sports stadium bags are allowed; knapsacks are not.  The security individuals are welcoming; walking through the scanner and getting your bag checked is a breeze.  Re-entry into the stadium is not allowed.  Select and order tickets at kiosks outside the ticket window.  Buying a ticket is all cashless and ticketless; one must have a credit card and a working mobile phone to receive their ticket via a text.  The WiFi isn’t strong, so often attendants must accept the text for you and their own phone and then walk you into the stadium.  While it’s a nice idea, all parties must be present and enter together.  I find it easier just ordering the tickets and parking before heading to the game.  The venue has benches near the main entrance for fans to sit and wait for friends. Newly painted, functional restrooms are on the concourse down both baselines. Return on Investment 3 Aside from the constant noise between pitches, the overall game day experience is strong enough that the ticket prices feel like a worthwhile investment. General admission seats start around $12, while lower-level seats behind home plate run up to $35 before Ticketmaster fees. Prices rise to $14–$50 for higher‑profile opponents, especially the University of Arizona. If comfort and shade matter, spending a few extra dollars for infield seating is well worth it. The program offers military discounts for all veterans, and season tickets are a smart option for anyone planning to attend multiple games. The Sun Devils even sell an eight‑game Sunday package. Concessions trend expensive, so eating beforehand and bringing your own water is a good strategy. Parking is $7. Extras 3 Both the history of the Sun Devils baseball team and the venue deserve additional accolades.  For those with a fear of heights, shuttling fans from the parking lot to the entrance is a first-rate feature.  Finally, having a welcoming and painless security entry makes all the difference in the world, and the parking and security folks do that well.   Final Thoughts The background of Papago Park sets the overall ambience of visiting Phoenix Muni.  It is a truly unique setting for college baseball and one that all baseball fans should try and experience.  ASU Sun Devil baseball program is a premier one.  I recommend all sports fans visit the legacy and history of the team and venue during the spring.

Photos Courtesy of Gensler. In a significant move for fans of women’s volleyball, the University of Texas has taken the initial steps toward building a state-of-the-art arena tailored specifically for its Longhorns women’s volleyball team. They have issued a request for proposals, inviting private developers to join in a project that promises to elevate the game-day experience while minimizing financial burden on the university. Spanning nearly 4 acres within the bustling Athletics and Entertainment District on campus, the proposed arena aims to be a focal point for volleyball fans. With a seating capacity nearing 6,000, the venue will afford the Longhorns a dedicated space that can also be expanded for concerts and larger events, setting the stage for unforgettable experiences. The facility will be adjacent to the Moody Center , home to the Longhorns basketball program, and the new arena will complement the university's commitment to athletics and community engagement. Currently, the volleyball team plays at Gregory Gym , which has a seating capacity of about 4,000. Built in 1930, it was originally constructed as the home for the university's men’s basketball team. It served as home to volleyball matches from 1974 to 1989, but when central air conditioning was added in 1997, the team returned as tenants in 1998. As demand for tickets has surged following a string of successful seasons that included back-to-back national championships in 2022 and 2023, as well as a Sweet 16 appearance last season, ticket demand for volleyball tickets on the Austin campus has skyrocketed. The Longhorns averaged 4,867 fans for 9 matches this past season, and sell-outs are normal. The Longhorns volleyball team has recently witnessed a remarkable surge in attendance. On September 7, 2025, they set a new regular-season attendance record, drawing 10,899 fans at the Moody Center for a match against Stanford. This growing fanbase only adds pressure for the university to expedite the development of a new arena that can accommodate the increasing number of supporters. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter   @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photo: Courtesy of the city of Macon, Georgia The Macon-Bibb County has officially selected Barton Malow, in association with Sheridan Construction, to manage the construction of the new arena. This facility will replace the current Macon Coliseum and is set to cater to a variety of events, including minor league hockey, basketball games, concerts, and trade shows. The arena will feature a modern design, aiming to provide a top-tier experience for guests with amenities including luxury suites, club seating, and extensive modern fan amenities. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, with a planned completion date of 2028. Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller has emphasized the arena's potential to be a significant economic engine, attracting visitors and supporting the city's competitiveness against other areas in Georgia. Photo: Courtesy of the City of Macon, Georgia ia The new arena aims to be more than a venue; it is envisioned as a destination that will enhance the region’s reputation for tourism. Officials believe the facility will generate business opportunities and help maintain low taxes for citizens by bringing in revenue. The arena’s location near Interstate 16 is designed to capture the attention of passing motorists, enticing them to make a stop in Mac Local leaders are optimistic that this project will foster an environment ripe for cultural and entertainment growth, with connections to nearby venues like the Atrium Health Amphitheater and the renovated Macon City Auditorium. The success of these venues could provide a model for what the new arena can achieve. While the total cost for the arena is still to be finalized, estimates suggest that initial budgeting will rely on the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) approved by voters. Currently, $5.7 million has been earmarked from the total projected budget of $450 million.

Photo by Steven Kee, Stadium Journey As of February 2026, the ambitious renovation of White Stadium  i n Franklin Park has reached a total projected cost of $325 million. This redevelopment is a public-private partnership between the City of Boston and Boston Legacy FC, a new professional women's soccer team in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The Taxpayers Bill While the project was initially framed as a modest $30 million renovation in 2023, the cost to taxpayers has nearly tripled from early 2024 estimates. Current Public Share: Taxpayers are now on the hook for $135 million, up from an initial estimate of $50 million and a late-2024 projection of $91 million. Reasons for the Increase: Mayor Michelle Wu attributed the ballooning costs to inflation, rising material prices (such as steel), new tariffs, and extensive design changes requested by the community. Budget Lock: The Mayor stated this $135 million figure is the "absolute maximum," protected by a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract to prevent further overruns. Boston Legacy FC Role The private partner, Boston Legacy FC , will contribute $190 million toward construction, primarily for the stadium's west side. Under a 10-year lease agreement, the team will also provide over $252 million in community benefits over 15 years, including stadium maintenance, rent, and a new Boston Public Schools (BPS) athletics fund. Local Controversy The project remains highly contentious. Groups like the Franklin Park Defenders  and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy have sued to halt the project, arguing it privatizes public land and is irresponsible given a concurrent $53 million budget gap and staff cuts within Boston Public Schools. Critics advocate for a more affordable, fully public stadium that would cost roughly $65 million. Vertical construction is scheduled to begin at the end of March 2026, with the stadium expected to be ready for the 2027 NWSL season.

Photos Courtesy of Northwestern University A new era of Northwestern Wildcats football will begin this year, as construction of the state-of-the-art Ryan Field is underway on campus. The $850 million project is funded through private donations, most notably from the Ryan family, and is designed to enhance the fan experience, including modern amenities, improved sightlines, and sustainability. The capacity at the state-of-the-art college facility will be reduced from 47,500 to 35,000, making it the Big Ten’s smallest institution and one of the crown jewels of college football. However, it will provide better viewing from all areas of the seating bowl for fans and students. Ryan Field will have the best sightlines in college football. The new stadium will feature 12,500 fewer seats and a more vertical design, with padded seating and purple coloring. Fans in the highest seat in the upper deck will be 136 feet from the field, much closer than similar seating areas at Michigan , Notre Dame , and the nearby United Center. Photos Courtesy of Northwestern University Canopies will cover all 35,000 seats, including the student section in the end zone, which will have a capacity of 2,000. There will be club suites, living room boxes, and club seating at the 50-yard line to enhance the experience for the most die-hard Wildcat fan. There will be 13 to 16 sideline suites with a mix of 22-inch padded theater-style seats and bar stools. There will be much more green space, including new plazas. The hope is that these areas will host summer and holiday festivals featuring street carts and food from area restaurants and businesses. The venue is designed to achieve LEED Gold Certification and exceed ADA requirements by 194%. Photos Courtesy of Northwestern University Northwestern plans to market the stadium for corporate events and conventions and hopes Ryan Field could attract NCAA championships in soccer and lacrosse. Evanston Township High School will also play football games there. The original Ryan Field debuted as Dyche Stadium in 1926 for $2.6 million and was well-maintained for the next century. The football plant had a capacity of 45,000 and increased to 55,000 by 1961. Further renovations in 1996 and 1997 reduced capacity while providing extensive renovations.  Further renovations in 1996 and 1997 reduced capacity while providing extensive renovations. The Wildcats have been playing home games at the nearby lakefront Martin Stadium and  Wrigley Field  the past two seasons. They will play their first two home games at the lakefront stadium before moving into their new palace on October 2, on the 100th anniversary of its predecessor's first game. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter   @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Mortgage Matchup Center 201 E Jefferson St Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phoenix Suns website Mortgage Matchup Center website Year Opened: 1992 Capacity: 17,071 Original Suns At one point, the Phoenix Suns were the only pro game in Arizona. That has since, of course, changed with Major League Baseball expanding to Phoenix, the National Football League moving from St. Louis and even the National Hockey League  coming and going. However, the NBA still has the staying power and a commanding presence in the desert. Founded as an expansion team in 1968, the Suns are still working on that elusive first championship after three appearances in the finals in 1976, 1993 and 2021. Home for the Suns is Mortgage Matchup Center.  Built in 1992 as America West Arena, it was one of the first basketball specific arenas in the NBA.  Although the Phoenix Coyotes did call the arena home from 1996 to 2003, it was never ideal and there were plenty of obstructed views.  The most recent renovations have underlined that Mortgage Matchup Center is a basketball centric facility, which definitely has advantages for the Suns game experience. Food & Beverage 4 The concession options at Mortgage Matchup Center are solid.  There are a number of options on both the main and upper concourse levels along with some other dining options.  Local favourites that can be found in the arena include Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers, Shaq’s Big Chicken, Benthana Sushi, Los Soles Taqueria and Spinatos Pizza.  Concession locations and options are well documented on the Mortgage Matchup Center website for those who like to plan ahead for their dining experience.  The beer selection is solid as well as other alcoholic beverage options.  One spot of note is the Dos Equis Beergarden, which takes advantage of the excellent fall and winter weather in Phoenix. Atmosphere 4 Mortgage Matchup Center has an attractive main entry on the northwest corner of the building.  A large, glass, concave entry point is welcoming.  The northwest corner also has a large square to go along with the main LED sign, which is the perfect meeting place for fans before the game.  Entering the main entry point brings fans into a large atrium which has a huge bar and is a great pregame social area. Mortgage Matchup Center is unique in that the upper concourse is far more interesting than the lower concourse.  The lower concourse does have more concession options and a food court style eating area, however there are plenty of items to explore on the upper concourse.  There are portraits for all of the members of the Suns with retired numbers or banners.  There are also other artifacts found in glass cases for both the Suns and Phoenix Mercury.  Inside the seating bowl, the floor is north-south oriented with the best spot for a center court logo from the west.  In the rafters on the west side hang the banners honoring Phoenix Suns players and personnel including Dick Van Arsdale, Kevin Johnson, Walter Davis, Dan Majerle, Steve Nash, Tom Chambers, Shawn Marion, Amar’e Stoudemire, Alvan Adams, Charles Barkley, Connie Hawkins, Al McCoy, Cotton Fitzsimmons, John MacLeod, Joe Proski and Jerry Colangelo.  At the northwest corner hang the Suns conference championship banners.  Phoenix Mercury banners also hang.  Above center court is a state-of-the-art four-sided videoboard, which is of ample size, but does not totally dominate the arena.  There are also narrow LED boards at the top of all four ends which provide statistics and other information.  Being a basketball-centric facility, the sightlines in Mortgage Matchup Center are fantastic with two seating decks in an octagonal shape with suite levels in between. The gameday atmosphere at a Suns game is typical of an NBA game.  There is constant activity and near sensory overload.  The Sun Dancers perform a few times during stoppages and the Suns mascot, The Gorilla, takes part in pre-game ceremonies and promotions. Neighborhood 5 Mortgage Matchup Center is located in Downtown Phoenix.  There are a ton of options for pre and postgame food and drink just steps from the arena.  Some options include The Whining Pig, Humble Bistro, Rosso Italian, Blue Hound, Phoenix Bourbon Room and The Arrogant Butcher.  There are a few other sporting options in the area.  Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks , is just steps from the Mortgage Matchup Center.  Mortgage Matchup Center is shared with the Phoenix Mercury  of the WNBA.  The college basketball experience of the Grand Canyon Antelopes  is also worth checking out.  There are other options, including the Arizona Cardinals  and the teams at Arizona State University, that are not in Phoenix proper, but a short drive away.  There are plenty of other tourist options while in Arizona.  These can include the Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Heritage & Scenic Park, Arizona Science Center, Desert Botanical Garden Arizona Financial Theatre and Symphony Hall.  For fans wishing to stay near the arena, Homes2Suites, Courtyard and Residence Inn are all options. Fans 5 The Phoenix Suns enjoy some of the most consistent support in the NBA.  For the past number of years, they have averaged a capacity crowd.  Due to the comparatively small capacity of the Mortgage Matchup Center to other NBA facilities, this ranks the Suns in the bottom third of the NBA in attendance.  However, the team can only work with what it has and to have better turnouts at Suns games is not possible.  The fans in attendance are loud and supportive and definitely give off the vibe that the Suns are Phoenix’s first team.   Access 4 Mortgage Matchup Center is located in Downtown Phoenix on the south side of East Jefferson, between 1st and 3rd.  It is just 1.1 miles south of I-10 and 2 miles west of another portion of I-10.  It is 1.2 miles north of I-17, so getting to the arena from out of town is not too difficult.  There are a number of parking garages in the downtown area, so parking should not be terribly difficult, however, it is recommended to plan for parking using a prepaid parking app.  For fans who wish to take public transit, the Valley Metro light rail travels right past Mortgage Matchup Center.  Fans should consult the Valley Metro website for schedules, maps and fares.  The concourses in Mortgage Matchup Center can get a bit congested and the washroom facilities are adequate. Security protocols for the NBA and major sporting events are in constant flux.  Stadium Journey strongly recommends consulting the Mortgage Matchup Center and Phoenix Suns websites for the most up to date security information, including prohibited items and bag policies. Return on Investment 3 Phoenix Suns tickets begin at $30 for upper deck ends.  Dynamic pricing and the secondary market can definitely skew the cost of tickets.  They go up to $550 and over $2400 for courtside seats.  The 2016 Fan Cost Index for the NBA had the Suns just above league average as the 10th most expensive experience.  The reality is that the NBA, and all professional, major sports are increasingly expensive.  Extras 3 An extra mark for the longevity of the Suns franchise; at one point, the only professional game in town. An extra mark for the iconic and unique Gorilla mascot. An extra mark for Jerry Colangelo, a basketball legend and the first General Manager of the Suns at only age 28. Final Thoughts Since the Phoenix Suns have welcomed professional sports competition in the desert, they have continued to prosper.  Mortgage Matchup Center is one of the top basketball-centric venues in the NBA and provides the Suns with the opportunity for an excellent gameday experience. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Cressy Field 285 Old Westport Rd Dartmouth, MA 02747 UMass Dartmouth Corsairs football website Cressy Field website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 1.850 Corsair Football at Cressy Field The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (better known as UMass Dartmouth) is one of five campuses in the University of Massachusetts system. It is located in the town of Dartmouth on the South Coast of Massachusetts, in between the cities of Fall River and New Bedford. The university has an enrollment of about 8,000 students, about half of whom live on campus. The school offers 123 undergraduate programs and 32 graduate programs. Cressy Field, Umass Dartmouth's multi-purpose outdoor stadium, is named in honor of Peter H. Cressy, Chancellor of UMass Dartmouth from 1993 to 1999. In addition to the football team, Cressy Field serves as home to the men’s and women’s soccer teams, field hockey, and lacrosse teams. Football was first played at Southeastern Massachusetts University as a club sport in 1985 (the school changed their name to the UMass Dartmouth when it was merged into the UMass system in 1991). The team originally played at Sargent Field (now named Paul Walsh Field ) in New Bedford. In 1988 football was upgraded to a varsity sport to coincide with the opening of Cressy Field on campus. The Corsairs have qualified for the NCAA Division Three tournament three times in their history, most recently in 2024. UMass Dartmouth has also played in five postseason bowl games Food & Beverage 3 A huge upgrade in the concessions experience was undertaken late in the 2025 season, as food trucks were brought in to replace longtime concessionaire Chartwells. Chartwells handles the campus' catering, and traditionally served up a menu of basic, traditional stadium fare. A pair of local food trucks offered up a diverse, high-quality menu for hungry Corsair fans. Boston Trolley Dogs served up giant gourmet hot dogs topped with pulled pork, chili and more, along with chicken fingers, fries and other snack items. Supa Dupa served up BBQ sandwiches and nachos with a variety of meat toppings. If you visit Cressy Field during their annual Blue and Gold Game, in addition to the usual concessions, a beer tent is located adjacent to the football field. At this time, it's not clear if the food trucks are a permanent addition to the UMass Dartmouth game day experience or just a temporary change for the last couple of games on the 2025 schedule, but judging by the lines at the food trucks, this was a big hit with the fans. Lines at Food Truck at Cressy Field. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Atmosphere 3 You wouldn’t expect an elaborate gameday presentation at a small venue like Cressy Field, and you won’t get one here. Still, all the elements you would expect to see at a college football game are found here. The school's cheerleaders and pep band perform throughout the game. Music plays over an excellent sound system during play stoppages, adding noise and energy to the festivities. A scoreboard in the south end zone provides basic game information, and the PA announcer adds a lot of energy to the proceedings without being too over the top. There’s a pretty good turnout from the student body and a really good turnout from the players’ families. As you might expect, they are really into the game. For a D-3 game, this can be a pretty loud place. As the Corsairs program has enjoyed success over the past few years, the game day experience and fan support has grown along with it. The squad currently enjoys one of the longest home winning streaks in all of college football, having won 26 consecutive games as of the end of the 2025 season. They have not lost a home game since 2019, before the pandemic. Neighborhood 3 UMass Dartmouth is a self-contained campus located in the suburban town of Dartmouth, MA, in between the cities of Fall River and New Bedford on the state’s south coast. Route 6, which is lined with businesses, eateries, and lodging options, is a mile from campus. Visiting fans looking for a bit of local flavor may be disappointed with the endless suburban sprawl of big box stores and restaurant chains, but if you are good with these options, there’s plenty to be found. A complete visitor’s guide to the area around campus can be found here . Stadium Journey’s favorite spot to visit after a Corsairs football game is Buzzards Bay Brewery, located about a ten-minute drive from Cressy Field in neighboring Westport. Buzzards Bay offers up a variety of excellent craft beers, and on most weekends the brewery features live music and food trucks at their site on a converted farm. Max's Burgers and Cask 'N Pig BBQ are other excellent options nearby. Visiting fans coming to the area may not wish to spend a whole lot of time in either Fall River or New Bedford, two cities struggling with some of the issues facing many poor cities in the northeast. Still, there are places of interest in both cities. Fall River is home to Battleship Cove, the largest collection of World War II naval vessels in the world. Also nearby is the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast/Museum, located in the same house where the infamous murders took place in 1892. The museum is open for tours and fans of the macabre can even spend the night at the house. The New Bedford Whaling Museum focuses on the history of the Whaling industry and features a walkable downtown with cobblestone streets near its working waterfront. There are plenty of attractions in the area for visiting fans. Boston is located about an hour away to the north. Cape Cod is located a half-hour to the east. Providence is a half-hour away to the west, and Newport, with its Gilded Age mansions, is 45 minutes away. The Jolly Roger Flies at Cressy Field. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Fans 3 The crowd at a UMass Dartmouth football game can vary greatly depending on the day of the week, weather and opponent, but a typical crowd numbers between 1,000-2,000 fans per game. For the 2025 season the Corsairs averaged 1,400 fans per game. There's a good turnout from the student body at football games, and a lot of support at the school between all the different Corsair teams. One of the great things about going to games at smaller schools is the connection that so many in the stands have with the players down on the field. With many of the players in the game coming from local towns, a great percentage of the fans in the stands consist of families and friends. The fans here create a lot of noise and energy as they support their team. Access 3 Cressy Field is located on the southern end of the UMass Dartmouth campus, alongside the University’s other athletic facilities, including the Tripp Athletic Center . The town of Dartmouth is located in southeastern Massachusetts, in between the cities of Fall River and New Bedford. Located about an hour’s drive south of Boston, the campus is easily accessed by car, as it is located just a few miles from Interstate 195. Fans utilizing public transportation will take SRTA’s number 14 bus that runs hourly between Fall River and New Bedford. Schedules can be found here . UMass Dartmouth has a unique layout, with the majority of the buildings on campus located within a single ringed road that circles the campus. Visitors to UMD will enter on the north side of campus and drive around to the athletic complex on the south side of campus. Parking is available in one of the many lots that ring the campus. To help fans access the Cressy Field more easily, the school has instituted shuttle service from the parking lots to the football field. Several manicured paths will guide fans through a grove of trees to the football field. Seating is comprised of metal bleachers on either side of the field. There is plenty of room around the field for fans who wish to stand and take in the action. Portable restrooms are located on the north end of the field as well as in the nearby Tripp Athletic Center . UMass Dartmouth Corsairs during the National Anthem. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Return on Investment 4 All ticketing at UMass Dartmouth is done electronically through the HomeTown Ticking app. Cash is not accepted at Cressy Field. Tickets are sold as general admission for ten dollars. Seniors and youth receive a two-dollar discount. With free parking and inexpensive concessions, a visit to Cressy Field is an affordable entertainment option for southeastern Massachusetts football fans. Extras 1 An extra point is awarded for the unique setup and architecture of the UMass Dartmouth campus. The school was named in 2013 by Travel and Leisure as one of the ugliest campuses in the nation. The campus was designed by famed architect Paul Rudolph in the early 1960s in the Brutalist style. To contrast the school’s buildings from the outside world in an attempt to create a social utopian environment, most of the buildings on campus are made entirely of concrete (béton brut) and feature irregular features which attempt to create a more communal atmosphere. Many visitors to campus describe it as resembling a prison. It may be better described as a bunch of gray concrete spaceships parked in a giant open field. Either way, it's a most unique campus. Final Thoughts One of the more entertaining Division Three football experiences in New England can be found at UMass Dartmouth. After the game, take a tour of one of the more interesting campuses in the nation. In a region dominated by Gothic architecture, this Brutalist campus in the middle of the southeastern Massachusetts woods certainly stands out. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Tripp Athletic Center Ring Road Dartmouth, MA 02747 UMass Dartmouth Corsairs basketball website Tripp Athletic Center website Year Opened: 1972 Capacity: 2,500 Worth the Tripp   The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (better known as UMass Dartmouth) is one of five campuses in the University of Massachusetts system. It is located in the town of Dartmouth on the south coast of Massachusetts, in between the cities of Fall River and New Bedford. The university has an enrollment of about 8,000 students, about half of whom live on campus. The school offers 123 undergraduate programs and 32 graduate programs.   The Tripp Athletic Center, named in honor of former coach, athletic director, moderator of athletics and Textile Science professor Frances Tripp, features a fitness center, aquatics center and indoor track in addition to several basketball courts. It was built in 1972 at a cost of $2.7 million.   UMass Dartmouth has sponsored varsity basketball programs at the school since its founding in 1966. They currently compete at the Division Three level in the Little East Conference, which is made up of nine schools located throughout New England. The Corsairs have qualified for 14 NCAA Tournaments, reaching the Sweet Sixteen three times (1993, 1994 and 2001) and the Final Four once (1993). The women’s basketball team has qualified for three NCAA tournaments, reaching the Elite Eight in 2017. Corsairs Celebrate a Tournament Victory. Photo courtesy of UMass Dartmouth Athletics.   Food & Beverage 1   There is a concession stand in the main lobby of the Tripp Athletic Center. Unfortunately, this stand has rarely been open since the pandemic. When operational, visiting fans can get a variety of snacks and drinks here. Pepsi products are featured here at UMass Dartmouth. No alcoholic beverages are sold here at this on-campus facility.   If you visit UMass Dartmouth for a game when the concession stand is closed, there are some vending machines in the lobby. Fans are also able to bring in their own drinks and snacks. This being New England, it’s not uncommon to see Dunkin’ Donuts coffees here on a cold Massachusetts winter night.   Atmosphere 3   The staff at UMass Dartmouth put on a much more involved show than many of their counterparts at the D-3 level. There is a lot going on here, especially when you compare a Corsair game to many of their local counterparts. When the Corsairs are competing for a conference title, which is often, fans pack the Tripp Center, and the gym is full of noise and activity. Even on a slow night, there’s quite a bit going on here.   The centerpiece of the gameday atmosphere at the Tripp Center is the new video board, which is put to use with graphics and ties in with the promos the PA announcer reads throughout the game. Speaking of the PA announcer here, he’s quite busy, and really leans into his job, filling the gym with energy and leading the promos that go on throughout the game. T-shirts are tossed into the crowd, and it’s not unusual to see youth groups taking the court at halftime, cheerleaders doing their thing, a pep band playing during stoppages, and some of the other Corsair teams lending their support to the hoop squads on a given night. The school’s mascot, Arnie the Pirate (get it? Arrrrnie?) roams the gym interacting with fans and joining in the promos.   Even when all this activity is going on, the Tripp Center is an intimate enough setting that you can hear sneakers squeaking on the court and coaches barking instructions to their players. It’s the best of both worlds.   Game Action at Tripp Athletic Center. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Neighborhood 3     While the UMass Dartmouth campus is fairly secluded with a great deal of green, open space and wooded areas, it is close to a very busy commercial area. Visitors will find many places to eat, shop and stay on Route 6, a short drive from campus. A complete visitor’s guide to the area around campus can be found here.   Fans coming to the area may not wish to spend a whole lot of time in either Fall River or New Bedford, two cities struggling with many of the issues facing many poor cities in the northeast. Still, there are places of interest in both cities. Fall River is home to Battleship Cove, the largest collection of World War II naval vessels in the world. Also nearby is the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast/Museum , located in the same house where the infamous murders took place in 1892. The museum is open for tours and fans of the macabre can actually spend the night at the house. The New Bedford Whaling Museum focuses on the history of the Whaling industry.   There are plenty of attractions in the area for visiting fans. Boston is located about an hour away to the north. Cape Cod is located a half hour to the east. Providence is a half hour away to the west, and Newport, with its Gilded Age mansions, is 45 minutes away.   Fans 2   UMass Dartmouth averages between 200-300 fans per game at Tripp Athletic Center. As is typical of other small schools in the northeast, the crowd here can be described as a “friends and family” crowd. Many of the fans in the stands have a personal connection with the athletes on the court. There are lots of proud parents and classmates mixed in with a few die-hard local hoops fans. UMass Dartmouth’s membership in the Little East Conference means the bulk of their schedule consists of other local schools. It’s not unusual to see visiting fans taking in the action as well.   Access 3     UMass Dartmouth is located in suburban Dartmouth, Massachusetts, in between the cities of Fall River and New Bedford. The school is easily accessed by Interstate 195. Route 6, the main commercial thoroughfare in this area, passes near the campus. Given the suburban location of the campus, driving is the primary method for getting to UMass Dartmouth. The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA)  operates buses to both Fall River and New Bedford that arrive on campus roughly every half hour.   Tripp Athletic Center is located on the south side of campus, adjacent to several other athletic facilities, including Cressy Field. UMass Dartmouth has a rather unique setup in that most campus buildings are located within a single ringed road. Tripp Athletic Center is on the outer edge of this road, a bit of a distance from any parking lots. Signs direct fans to Lot 7, a decent distance away from the gym. If possible, your best bet is to park in lot 10, right across the street from the Tripp Center. It’s not the most convenient setup you’ll come across.   You would be hard pressed to find a more nondescript building than the Tripp Athletic Center. Marked with only a small sign and hidden away from the road, it is an easy building to miss. An entrance ramp leads fans into the gym lobby on the second floor. The Corsair Hall of Fame is located here, as well as the concession stand, restrooms and vending machines.   All seating is on one side of the basketball court, consisting of wooden bleachers. Fans enter at the top of the seating area and walk down to their seats. All seats offer great views of the action. Restrooms are more than adequate for a typical Corsair crowd. Opening Tap at Tripp Athletic Center. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Return on Investment 5   Tickets to Corsair basketball games cost five dollars for adults and three dollars for children aged 13-17. Children aged 12 and under are admitted at no charge. All tickets must be purchased through the Hometown Ticketing fan app. Parking is free in the lots across Ring Road. It adds up to an affordable night of entertainment for southeastern Massachusetts sports fans.   Extras 3                                                                                                 The Corsair Athletic Hall of Fame is located in the lobby just outside the basketball court. The display features memorabilia from throughout UMass Dartmouth’s athletic history.   UMass Dartmouth displays its basketball success proudly on the walls of the Tripp Athletic Center. Tournament teams and conference champions in both basketball and volleyball, as well as members of the school’s 1,000-point club are honored here.   A final extra point is awarded for the design of the UMass Dartmouth campus itself. The university was “honored” in 2013 as one of the ugliest campuses in the United States. Travel and Leisure magazine likened its buildings to “concrete spaceships,” which is a fairly accurate description. Designed by internationally renowned Modernist architect Paul Rudolph. Campus buildings were built in the Brutalist style popular in the 1960s. The exterior and interior of the buildings are made from rough concrete (beton brut). The campus features large windows, meant to blur the distinction between inside and outside, and short, irregular stairs, meant to slow people down and allow them to appreciate the campus more fully. Newer campus buildings, have been built to complement, but not to copy, Rudolph’s aesthetic and soften the unusual vibe given off by his design.   Final Thoughts   UMass Dartmouth offers an entertaining night of basketball at an affordable price. Fans who like their hoops with a side of architecture may wish to visit UMass Dartmouth for another reason entirely. A tour of the Paul Rudolph-designed campus can be just as interesting as the action on the court.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Jeremy Pushkin, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 War Memorial Gymnasium 2335 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA 94118 San Francisco Dons website War Memorial Gymnasium website Year Opened: 1958 Capacity: 5,300 Welcome to the Hilltop War Memorial at the Sobrato Center has been home to Dons basketball since 1958, built as a tribute to USF alumni killed in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The Dons are three-time national champions, winning back-to-back titles in 1955 and 1956 behind the legendary Bill Russell and a third in 1977. Despite that rich history, USF has made just one NCAA Tournament appearance since 2000, so it is the intimate on-campus game day experience rather than postseason hype that draws fans to the Hilltop. A $15 million renovation added a club level, remodeled restrooms, and a video board in each corner, giving this gym a modern edge without losing its old-school charm. Food & Beverage 2 War Memorial offers limited concessions with basic stadium fare: hot dogs on sourdough buns ($7), bratwurst ($8), nachos ($7), popcorn, pretzels, and frozen treats. Both cash and card are accepted, though $50 and $100 bills are not. The venue is a Coke facility with beer and wine available at $12. The standout is the Hilltop Pilsner, a collaboration with local brewery Magnolia brewed specifically for the Dons, a nice local touch that elevates an otherwise ordinary selection. No outside food is permitted, though sealed water bottles are allowed in. Grab the Hilltop Pilsner and a hot dog on sourdough for a San Francisco twist on the stadium classic. Atmosphere 4 The "Welcome to the Hilltop" branding sets the tone as soon as you walk in. The lower level, with its sections named after Dons legends, features individual seats, with the center two sections on each side offering padded chairbacks — the most comfortable option in the building. The remaining lower level seats are unpadded, while the upper level is entirely general admission bleachers. For premium options, the Sobrato Club level ($100–$300) includes complimentary food and drinks. The lower level padded center sections are the best seats in the house, but a packed War Memorial with a rowdy crowd is electric from anywhere. Four high-quality corner screens show a live game feed with player stats, complemented by a dot-matrix scoreboard on one side of the gym. Championship banners celebrating men's and women's basketball and volleyball hang from the rafters. WiFi is available throughout. Game day entertainment leans on a live band in the student section supplemented by some piped-in music, giving War Memorial a more organic college basketball feel than many major D-1 arenas. The Dons run several promotional games throughout the season, notably including the Bill Russell Impact Game, a tribute to the USF and NBA legend.  Neighborhood 4 The campus sits in a largely residential neighborhood, but the surrounding area is rich with independent businesses and some of San Francisco's most iconic attractions. For a quick pre-game bite, Arguello Market offers solid grab-and-go sandwiches just a short walk from campus. If a sports bar is more your speed, Kezar Pub is a popular local option across from the San Francisco 49ers original stadium. The broader area includes excellent dining along Clement Street or Divisadero Street The historic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood is just a half mile from campus, and nearby Golden Gate Park borders the area with the de Young Museum, California Academy of Sciences, and Japanese Tea Garden all within reach. Chase Center (Golden State Warriors) and Oracle Park (San Francisco Giants) are about five miles away for fans looking to catch additional sports, and the Dons themselves play select games at Chase Center. Hotels in the immediate area are limited though the Hotel Kabuki in Japantown, about a mile away, is a good option. Fans 3 War Memorial draws a mix of alumni and local basketball fans rather than a heavily student-driven crowd. The student section was roughly half full, though the rest of the arena had respectable attendance. Consistent sellouts are rare outside of rivalry games, but WCC matchups against Saint Mary's and Santa Clara bring the best energy and the biggest crowds. What the crowd lacks in size, it makes up for in spirit. Even with a half-empty gym, fans were starting chants, making noise, and staying engaged throughout, even in the midst of a blowout. The student band adds to the energy. In a packed War Memorial for a rivalry game, the atmosphere can be genuinely intimidating, as evidenced by the 2024-25 season in which the Dons went undefeated at the Hilltop for the first time in over 40 years. Access 3 Several Muni bus lines serve the campus, with the 5-Fulton and 31-Balboa providing the most direct access. Uber, Lyft and Waymo are widely available. Street parking is competitive in this more residential neighborhood.  The main entrance is located across from the campus bookstore. Gates open one hour before tip-off and entry is quick, with a bag check but light security. Paper tickets are still available at the box office for those buying last minute tickets, a nice option in an increasingly mobile-only landscape. The entire concourse overlooks the court, so you never miss a play while stretching your legs. However, all concessions and restrooms are on the lower level, and the main food stand does not have a view of the court, so plan your concession runs accordingly. Restrooms are serviceable with no major lines or issues. Return on Investment 2 Tickets purchased directly from USF start at $25–$35 for upper level general admission, with lower level seats around $50. Senior and youth tickets are a few dollars cheaper. USF also offers a Family Pack of five tickets at $10 off per ticket, which is the best deal available. Secondary market tickets are scarce and often more expensive than the box office, so buying direct is the way to go. The Sobrato Club ($100–$300 depending on matchup, including all-inclusive food and drinks) can represent solid value for fans who plan to eat and drink at the game. For a mid-major program, prices feel a bit steep, though it is significantly more affordable than the Warriors, the other basketball option within city limits. Extras 3 The Hall of Fame area is the crown jewel. On display is a signed Chuck Taylor shoe from Bill Russell, jerseys of Russell and Bill Cartwright, and the program's national championship trophies. For college basketball history fans, it is a must-see stop. The Hall of Fame also includes artifacts from the now-defunct Dons football teams, which counts NFL Hall of Famers Pete Rozelle, Ollie Matson and Gino Marchetti among its notable alumni. Former Dons great Bill Cartwright is often in attendance, so keep your eyes open for a living legend. Championship banners celebrating the program's three national titles hang alongside those from women's basketball and volleyball, giving the building a real sense of tradition. Final Thoughts War Memorial at the Sobrato Center is a hidden gem for college basketball fans. The intimate setting, rich history, and passionate core fanbase create an experience that feels authentic in a way that bigger arenas struggle to replicate. Come for a rivalry night against Saint Mary's or Santa Clara, and this 5,300-seat gym on the Hilltop will remind you why college basketball in a small venue can be something special.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Frost Bank Center 1 Frost Bank Center Drive San Antonio, TX 78219 San Antonio Spurs website Frost Bank Center website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 18,418 San Antonio Spurs – Frost Bank Center Since 2002, the San Antonio Spurs   have called Frost Bank Center on the east side of town in the Alamo City their home. The Spurs won four of their five NBA Championships as tenants of Frost Bank Center, and the ABA transplant franchise grew many of their great Hall of Fame players while residing here; this includes Tim Duncan , David Robinson , Tony Parker , and Manu Ginóbili , while head coach Gregg Popovich  also saw the vast majority of his wins at the “Barn”. While the arena has undergone numerous upgrades and renovations over the years, including a massive renovation in 2015, its days are officially numbered in terms of it being home of the Spurs. The team is building a new facility in downtown San Antonio, closer to the River Walk, the Alamodome , and all the energy, history, and entertainment that has become associated with the Alamo City. For the next few years, however, Frost Bank Center will still be the home of the Silver and Black. This looks like a great time to be a fan, as well. Thanks to the Spurs hitting the NBA Draft Lottery, they have had a score of top 10 picks that look to all be coming together at once. It’s good times again in the Alamo City, as well as at Frost Bank Center. Read on to learn more.   Food & Beverage   5 The concession offerings at Frost Bank Center have always been first rate. The culinary scene is always evolving, but you can still find some old reliable options. Whataburger, Pluckers Wing Bar, Pizza Hut, and this season’s new tenant, Taco Palenque,are some of the more well-known brands. There are also stands for barbecue, tacos, burgers, chicken fingers, and fruit cups scattered throughout the three main levels of the arena. On the plaza level you’ll also find SA Central, a culinary experience curated by a host of SA’s local celebrity chefs. Burgers, tacos, and sandwiches with just the right amount of San Antonio flare can be ordered up. The Spurs also feature a culinary residency program, in which they offer concession space to small, minority-owned businesses in the community – the rotating group this season includes Sari-Sari Filipino Restaurant , which offers up their signature hand-rolled lumpia, barbecue pork skewers, and pancit bihon, a dish of noodles, carrots, beans, and onion. It is delicious. Other offerings include Peach Cobbler Factory  and Beignet Stand . If you’ve got a sweet tooth like me, these spots are sure not to be missed. Their names say it all. The arena also now boasts more self-service kiosks, where you can get a hot dog, popcorn, nachos, or bottled drinks while avoiding large crowds. These are great to take advantage of if you want something in the middle of the game.   Atmosphere   4 I’ve been coming to see the Spurs at Frost Bank Center since day one. What they have always done and still do well is make the games feel like big events. This is not always easy to do during the long NBA season. The Spurs hold numerous theme nights and giveaways throughout the season. The various jerseys and court stylings throughout the year (like what is done for the Emirates Cup) keep things fresh for fans. You can also find spots in Frost Bank Center, like the Michelob Ultra Club and Patio that give fans an almost sports bar-like experience during games. The patio features a stage for live musical performances before and after Spurs games on most evenings. There is also a massive team store on the main level of the arena, which was expanded in time for the most recent season, giving fans even more merchandise while removing some of the bottleneck that used to occur during games. Also, the Spurs have decorated Frost Bank Center with a ton of art, most of which has been done by SA artists and offers great photo opportunities. Be sure not to miss the life-size statue of the Coyote (more on him later) on the main concourse level. Lastly, like most teams the Spurs proudly display representations of the team’s glory years. This includes hanging their championship banners from the rafters, along with the retired jersey numbers of past team greats. You can also take a picture with the team’s five NBA trophies near the Michelob Ultra Club.   Neighborhood   3 I have written about this extensively in past reviews, so there is not much need to rehash it. This section has, by far, the lowest score to be had in this review. San Antonio is a dynamic city with a ton of things to offer for visiting fans. Entertainment, history, culture abound, especially in the downtown area, where the new arena is under construction. Scores of dining, lodging, shopping, and points of interest can be found for anyone and everyone, with the only limit being your budget. Make sure to make a visit downtown , see the Alamo , go to the top of the Tower of the Americas , have a picnic in Hemisfair Park , stroll the River Walk , shop and eat at the Historic Pearl  or Shops at River Center , and rest your head at the Grand Hyatt River Walk or Hotel Emma , then head further out to Six Flags Fiesta Texas or SeaWorld San Antonio . These are the types of experiences you want in your visit to the Alamo City, and they’re all a relatively short drive from Frost Bank Center, but they’re not right by it. The east side of town, where the arena is located, is growing, but the area immediately surrounding the facility has not kept up with that. Quite frankly, there is very little to see and do before or after Spurs games in the vicinity. You can find a few fast-food options and motel-type facilities in the immediate area, and directly across the street from the venue is Willow Springs Golf Course , one of the San Antonio’s municipal offerings. That’s about it though.   Fans   5 So far this season, the Spurs are averaging well over 18,000 fans per home game at Frost Bank Center. This means it’s been a virtual sellout for nearly every game. In addition, thanks to standing room only areas, the team has reached nearly 19,000 fans for three games already this season – these are numbers the team hasn’t seen since the championship era. Good times are indeed back in the Alamo City. The fans have always come out and supported the team, mainly because the Spurs are the city’s only major professional club. However, the relationship runs deep; the Spurs are part of San Antonio and vice-versa. The two are almost inextricably entwined now. New this year is a special supports group: the Jackals . Modeled after European futbol fan groups, the Jackals are an exclusive group where those wishing to join have to try out beforehand. This is a truly innovative addition to the team, and they have been a boon to games. They are LOUD.   Access   4 Even though it lies within a virtual island unto itself, Frost Bank Center is surprisingly easy to get to. Situated between Interstates 10 and 35, the exits are clearly marked and once you get there, there are plenty of spots in the nearby parking lots – many of the industrial buildings in the area will also open up their lots, as well. It really just depends on how far you want to walk and how much you want to pay. If you do drive in, the routes from both highways tend to get backed up with traffic before and after games. If you’re flying in from out of town, Frost Bank Center is just under a 20-minute drive from San Antonio International Airport .   Return on Investment   4 It used to be a bargain to get into Spurs games, especially the past five-plus years, as the club has been rebuilding. These days though, the prices are a little higher. Single-game tickets purchased through the team start at $44, while on the secondary market, the lowest I could find was $35 each. The concessions, souvenirs, and parking are pretty much on par with what you will find throughout the rest of the NBA. For parking, as mentioned earlier, it depends on how far you’re willing to walk and how much you’re willing to pay. I did see some lots charging $25. In the past, paying these prices would’ve really hurt while the team was rebuilding. These days, however, fans seem glad to pay them while they watch the Spurs rise again. In the big picture though, these costs still pale in comparison to those fans pay in bigger markets.   Extras   4 I have mentioned in past reviews my deep and abiding love for the Spurs mascot, Coyote . Growing up in in the Alamo City, the Coyote has been indoctrinated into the life of every young person for the past 40-ish years. He’s been the best in the business for years, and he’s still going strong. I almost gave this section a score of “5” on the strength of him alone. In the mid-2010s the Spurs were one of the first teams to abandon having a traditional female-only dance team (RIP to the Silver Dancers). In lieu of them, they introduced a co-ed Spurs Hype Squad  that performs stunts, dance, tumbling, and acrobatic routines throughout each game. They’re pretty fun to watch. Coupling them with the in-arena DJ really enhances the atmosphere in Frost Bank Center, and makes it a place unlike any other in the NBA.   Final Thoughts I’ve seen the Spurs at Frost Bank Center more than any other pro sports team. The experience is still a fantastic one and they have done everything and anything to make it better over the years. Sports fans really need to add it to their bucket list while they can. In the meantime, Go Spurs Go! Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photo Courtesy of Marc Viquez Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14, is known for love and romance, but throughout history, it has also seen dramatic, memorable, and sometimes surprising events in the world of sports venues. From remarkable achievements to unforgettable moments, sports venues have provided a unique backdrop for expressions of camaraderie and valiant efforts. #5.  The Milwaukee Bucks' Valentine's Day Recovery (1981) On February 14, 1981, at the Richfield Coliseum,  the Milwaukee Bucks  faced the Cleveland Cavaliers  in an NBA game. After trailing significantly, the Bucks managed a historic comeback in the final quarter. They secured a 104-102  victory, showcasing the resilience of the team. The game celebrated not just athletic prowess but also the spirit of togetherness, with players dedicating the win to their loved ones. #4.  St. Valentine's Day Massacre - WWF (1999) The WWF (now WWE)  hosted a dramatic pay-per-view event, "St. Valentine's Day Massacre," on February 14, 1999, at the Memphis Pyramid . This event featured major superstars, including the debut of Paul Wight (later known as The Big Show). It remains a notable milestone in professional wrestling history. #3.  The Valentine’s Day Massacre in the NHL (1976) One of the most notorious events in hockey history took place on February 14, 1976, at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum when   the New York Islanders faced off against the New York Rangers. The game became famously known as the "Valentine’s Day Massacre." The Islanders triumphed with an astonishing score of 11-0 , marking one of the most lopsided losses in NHL history. Fans were divided, with Islanders supporters celebrating love for their team while Rangers fans were left devastated. #2.  Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Jake LaMotta (1951) The legendary boxing match known as the "St. Valentine’s Day Massacre" took place on February 14, 1951, at Chicago Stadium (i.e., arena). Sugar Ray Robinson claimed the Middleweight Title from Jake LaMotta in a showcase of skill and heart. #1. Super Bowl LXI (2027)  On   February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium  in Inglewood, California, Super Bowl LXI  will take place.. After efforts to designate it as a national holiday—given that it is the day most frequently called out by U.S. workers—the Super Bowl will now take place on the Sunday before Presidents' Day. This timing allows U.S. citizens to have the day off or take off, as Presidents' Day is widely recognized as a national holiday. Chronological Honorable Mentions On February 14th 1896 : George Lohmann records a hat-trick for England against South Africa in a cricket match, achieving a remarkable 8-7 innings. 1936 : Maribel Vinson wins the U.S. female Figure Skating Championship, highlighting her prowess in competitive figure skating. 1951 : Sugar Ray Robinson defeats Jake LaMotta to reclaim the middleweight title in a legendary boxing match known as the "St. Valentine’s Day Massacre." 1971 : In the 13th   Daytona 500 , Richard Petty wins his third Great American Race and goes on to win the inaugural Winston Cup title, further establishing his legacy in NASCAR. 1976 : The NHL's Valentine's Day Massacre occurs, where the New York Islanders defeat the New York Rangers 11-0, marking one of the most lopsided games in NHL history. 1981 : The Milwaukee Buck s  stage a remarkable comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning 104-102 and showcasing their resilience. 1982 :  Bobby Allison  wins the 24th   Daytona 500  with a margin of victory over Cale Yarborough, solidifying his reputation in the racing world. 1984 : During the Sarajevo  Winter Olympics ,  the romance of the event is highlighted as byJayne Torvill and Christopher Dean winning the gold medal with an iconic, revolutionary performance to Maurice Ravel's Boléro. 1993: In the 35th Daytona 500 , Dale Jarrett, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, wins from Dale Earnhardt and Geoff Bodine. 1999 : The WWE hosts the St. Valentine's Day Massacre  pay-per-view event featuring the debut of The Big Show. 1999: In the 41st Daytona 500, Jeff Gordon wins, and it's the first Daytona 500 pole sitter to win the race since Bill Elliott in 1987. 2008 : The Los Angeles Lakers face the Boston Celtics in a fiercely competitive Valentine’s Day game, where fans enthusiastically embrace the spirit of the day. 2009 : National Signing Day for college football recruits takes place, marking a day when many athletes publicly commit to their colleges. 2010 : The 59th NBA All-Star Game occurs at Cowboys Stadium (now AT&T Stadium) ,  setting a record with 108,713 fans in attendance. The Eastern Conference narrowly defeats the West 141-139. 2016 : The 66th NBA All-Star Gam e  takes place at the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Centre)   in Toronto, where the West beats the East 196-173, with Russell Westbrook named MVP. 2017 : At the Laureus World Sports Awards, Usain Bolt and Simone   Biles are honored as the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, respectively. 2027: Super Bowl LXI on   February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Throughout history, Valentine's Day has woven itself into the fabric of sports culture. This day has marked moments where love and sports intersect in unique and engaging ways. As much as it's about romantic gestures, it’s also a day that reflects the spirit and camaraderie of sports, making it a special occasion for both fans and players alike.

Photo by St. Louis CITY SC It’s what you didn’t know you wanted until it presented itself, The Tina Turner Kit from the St. Louis CITY Soccer Club . This dazzling golden kit marks Adidas's inaugural collaboration with a female music artist for a soccer uniform. CITY SC observes that the Tina Turner Kit reflects the Queen of Rock’n’Roll’s glamorous style and the vibrant spirit of her live performances. With a two-year commitment, this will be CITY SC’s secondary (away game) kit for both 2026 and 2027.  Accented in black are Founding Partner and front-of-jersey sponsor Purina, Founding Partner BJC Healthcare on one sleeve, and an MLS and Apple TV patch lockup on the other. The Tina Turner Kit sparkles in gold, reflecting the flow of her glamorous outfits and the vibrancy of her live performances. Her silhouette is depicted in metallic gold on the kit’s authentication tag, while her signature, showcased in CITY Red, pays tribute to her legendary lipstick and nails. Tina Turner’s rise to global stardom was ignited in St. Louis, where she first stepped into the spotlight. In recognition of this lasting bond, the St. Louis CITY Soccer Club is excited to commemorate her legacy with a series of celebrations in the city that she once cherished as home.  As Erwin Bach expressed, “St. Louis is a homecoming for Tina; it’s where she first felt the thrill of the stage and the joy of performing.” Carolyn Kindle, CEO, St. Louis CITY SC, said, “Not only did Tina Turner change music, but she also impacted culture over decades and continues to permeate it today…It is a profound honor to celebrate her influence and legacy. St. Louis has long been home to so many artists who have shaped music history, and Tina stands at the top of that list.” The Homecoming Celebration includes: The Tina Turner Kit:  A historic collaboration with Adidas, this shimmering gold jersey is a tribute to Tina’s electrifying stage presence. It features her signature and her silhouette. Take a look at the kit in the official launch film: YouTube video courtesy of St. Louis CITY FC The Tribute Concert:  The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents Eternal on February 15—a symphonic journey through the songs that defined Tina’s career at Powell Hall . The Pop-up Shop:  Visit the Tina store at City Foundry  (until Feb 20) to buy the official kit and Adidas Originals range, plus view a selection of Tina’s personal artifacts, including clothes and Grammy awards. Tina Turner Night at Energizer Park : Tina Turner night will be on Saturday, Aug. 22, when CITY SC faces the Houston Dynamo. Her hit, Simply the Best, will be incorporated into the events that CITY SC is presenting to honor her legacy. Tina Turner Music Curriculum:   The Center of Creative Arts and CITY SC are partnering to develop a music curriculum for kids and teens that focuses on Tina Turner. Students will explore her enduring influence while learning to perform some of her iconic songs. The Tina Turner Kit launched by St. Louis CITY SC marks a significant cultural celebration, merging soccer with the legacy of one of music's most iconic figures. This shimmering gold jersey not only reflects Turner's vibrant presence but also pays homage to her roots in St. Louis, where she first found her voice.  This kit aims to inspire and connect generations through music and sport. As fans don this unique jersey, they actively participate in honoring Turner's enduring influence and the spirit of resilience she embodied. The Tina Turner Kit and its associated events serve as a reminder of how art can intertwine with community and heritage, celebrating a legacy that continues to resonate deeply within and beyond St. Louis.

Photo Courtesy of Denver NWSL The Denver Summit is about to break the all-time single-game attendance record for a women's soccer game in the country. The game is scheduled at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on March 28. T he NWSL franchise is less than 100 tickets away from breaking the mark set in August by Bay FC when they played at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Despite the record-breaking news, the expansion club's temporary stadium hopes to be completed by the time it takes the field in July. This season alone, the team will play at three different temporary fixtures, while its permanent stadium is set for completuon for the 2028 season. The team hopes to have its 12,000-seat temporary stadium in the Denver suburb of Centennial ready for its June 12 match against Houston. A ccording to the NBC affiliate in Denver’s website , the structure is being shipped from China and is in different locations. Rob Cohen, Summit FC controlling owner, told the affiliate that one-third of the structure is in a Colorado warehouse, a third is on trucks, and the final third of it is at the Port of Los Angeles. He added that tariffs were not in their budget but are now part of it. Photo Courtesy of Denver NWSL In the meantime, the club will play two home games at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park , the home of the MLS Colorado Rapids, and the home opener at Mile High Stadium . Centennial Field served as the Summit's home for the rest of 2006 and 2007 and was downsized to a 4,000-seat venue dedicated to high school sports and part of the Cherry Creek School District’s athletic program. That stadium, located at the Santa Fe Yards in Denver's Baker neighborhood, will be completed in 2028. The 14,500 soccer-specific venue will be the second of its kind dedicated to women’s soccer in the United States after CPKC Stadium  in Kansas City, Missouri.  The unnamed permanent 3-sided stadium will cost $150 million and will be designed by Populous. It will be the third all-electric stadium in the United States after the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle and the future Etihad Park in Queens, New York. The permanent stadium will also serve as home for the Summit Academy program and will be the first all-electric women’s stadium.  ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey In an innovative collaboration with RedPocket Mobile, the Pioneer Baseball League has unveiled The RedPocket Mobiles. The team will compete in the league as a road team in the 2026 season, marking the first time in over a century that an American professional baseball team has been named after a corporate partner. “I am thrilled to announce the extension of our partnership with RedPocket Mobile,” said PBL President Mike Shapiro in a statement.  “As a key element of our agreement, RedPocket will own the naming rights to our travel team, now called the 'Mobiles.' This innovative approach underscores the PBL's commitment to forging meaningful partnerships with pioneering sponsors like RedPocket Mobile.” According to the press release, the last baseball team to be sponsored in this manner in the United States was the Brooklyn Tip-Tops of the Federal League in 1915. The baseball team was named after owner Robert Ward’s  Ward Baking Company  that produced Tip Top Bread.  RedPocket Mobile  is a prepaid Mobile Virtual Network Operator that provides no-contract cell phone plans using all three major US networks. The company was founded in 2026 and offers flexible, budget-friendly monthly and annual plans. The travel club was added to replace the Grand Junction Jackalopes , who ceased operations in September 2025. The Mobiles have not released a logo or uniforms and will open the PBL season at Modesto on May 19. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter   @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photo: Courtesy of International Polo Tour The International Polo Tour (IPT) has unveiled ambitious plans to construct a $300 million, high-tech stadium in Palm Beach County, Florida. Set to be the first of its kind in the United States, this modern arena is poised to redefine the landscape of polo and enhance community engagement. Stadium Features and Technology Construction is projected to begin soon, with a grand opening planned for the end of 2030. The stadium is designed to accommodate between 8,000 and 15,000 spectators and will incorporate cutting-edge technology. Features include artificial intelligence-powered kiosks and robotic bartenders that will work alongside human staff, creating a unique spectator experience. Chairman Tareq Salahi highlighted that the stadium aims to elevate polo on a global scale while serving as a local community hub. Beyond polo events, the facility will host various community programs, charity matches, and cultural events, ensuring it is accessible to everyone. He hopes they will have a New Year’s Eve kickoff celebration at the end of 2030 to roll out the start of the 2031 Winter Season from January to April season for the equine world at Palm Beach County. Photo: Courtesy of International Polo Tour Economic Impact The stadium is expected to significantly boost local tourism and create new jobs within the Palm Beach area. As the IPT Chairman noted, this initiative will be beneficial for nearby restaurants and businesses, contributing positively to the local economy. Additionally, the project emphasizes ecological and community wellness, incorporating green spaces and educational programs related to equestrian arts. Community Engagement The IPT plans to utilize the stadium for a variety of activities. Along with professional polo matches, there will be educational workshops and equine programs aimed at engaging individuals of all ages. This commitment to community involvement ensures that the stadium's impact extends beyond the sport itself. The International Polo Tour's new stadium in Palm Beach County represents a forward-thinking approach to sports and community integration, promising to be a landmark destination in Florida’s cultural and economic landscape.