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Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.86 PETCO Park 100 Park Blvd San Diego, CA 92101 Map It San Diego Padres website PETCO Park website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 42,445 America's Finest Park From 1969-2003 the San Diego Padres MLB franchise called Mission Valley their home. From San Diego to Jack Murphy to Qualcomm, the Friars had their share of memorable moments from Steve Garvey’s 2-run walk-off in Game 4 of the 1984 NLCS to the hitting prowess provided by Mr. Padre Tony Gwynn. The Padres would make two World Series appearances during their days in Mission Valley in 1984 and 1998.  Now in its 21st year of operation, Petco Park has hosted five post season appearances and is primed for another exciting playoff chase. Food & Beverage 5 There is no shortage of dining options   at Petco Park ranging from the traditional hot dogs to an array of fare.   There are your usual ballpark options such as the Friar Frank, the half-pound Big Slugger Dog and bratwurst and local favorites Randy Jones BBQ and Hodad’s. A single bacon cheeseburger from Hodads with all the fixings piled high is big enough to satisfy even the biggest appetites. Cardiff’s Seaside Market has a cart located in the both lower and upper concourse on the third base side  serving up some tasty Burgundy BBQ tri-tip sandwiches as well as a generous helping of Burgundy Pepper tri-tip nachos, affectionately known to locals as Cardiff Crack.   Also available at Cardiff Seaside’s main marketplace in the lower concourse, and another fan favorite, is the banana bread pudding . Served in a souvenir replica of the Western Metal Supply Co. building , this collectible container adds to the appeal of the dessert which fans greatly enjoy. If craving this sought-out dessert, you will want to get to the marketplace early as it tends to sell out rather quickly.   A popular addition to the lineup is the Lob Dog .   It's a grilled chorizo sausage topped with grilled lobster tail, served on a brioche bun with charred lemon garlic aioli, chives, and a lemon slice for garnish. The dish is cooked on a special Santa Maria grill and presented in a boat-shaped box at just under $40! Petco Park offers a wide variety of local craft beers and microbrews. Among the options are Ballast Point, Karl Strauss, Mission Brewery, as well as your typical ballpark variety of Anheuser Busch/Budweiser products. If there’s one brew that you must try at Petco if only to soak in the local brew experience, it’s the San Diego Pale Ale .394. The brew is a simple Pale Ale that pays tribute to Mr. Padre, Tony Gwynn, and his highest season batting average, .394, accomplished in 1994. Coke products provide non-alcoholic options with fountain stations located throughout the yard for free refills. Atmosphere 5 Coming off their exciting 2024 campaign, expectations for this season’s team remain high and the enthusiasm throughout the stands has been evident. The recently renovated Gallagher Square , located beyond the outfield seating area is a good way for the casual fan to spend a day at Petco Park. The recent $20 million renovations to Gallagher Square present fans with more room to maneuver, as  well as an updated video board along the Sycuan concert stage, leveled tiered lawn seating and a vastly improved kids play area that features the world’s largest climbable bat and an off-leash dog park. Gallagher Square, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Another addition fans will notice to Gallagher Square is the leveled terrace named after Mr. Padre himself, Tony Gwynn. Fans will also notice the relocation of the Tony Gwynn Statue in the upper deck of the terrace. The terrace has a pedestrian tunnel leading to the staging area of Gallagher Square. The tunnel features tributes to Mr. Padre including a six-minute video highlighting some of his accomplishments.  Tony Gwinn Tunnel, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey San Diego has long been known for its military presence. Military exhibits are on display behind the lower right field stands should you choose to arrive early to view them. A statue of former legendary broadcaster, Jerry Coleman, a former Marine Veteran, is located inside the right field entrance gates. Sunday afternoon games bring out a strong military presence as one of the four branches of uniformed military personnel make their presence at the yard with the Padres donning their military themed uniforms. Neighborhood 5 Petco Park Exterior, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Since Petco Park’s opening in 2004, the vibe around the surrounding neighborhood has continually increased as more residency, as well as pre- and post-game entertainment and dining options continue to develop. The Gaslamp is the place many fans venture to with its wide variety of bars and restaurants. Bub’s at the Ballpark and The Blind Burro are some of the nearby favorites. Bar Basic, with its brick warehouse vibe as well as its signature Mashed White Pie, is also another neighborhood favorite a stone’s throw away from the yard. Fans 5 Coming off the excitement of last season’s playoff run, the level of enthusiasm continues to rise. Capacity crowds are the norm, and with another team ready for another exciting playoff chase, Petco Park could once again set another yearly attendance record. The enthusiasm among the Friar Faithful is at a fever pitch, especially when their World Champion rivals up I-5 are in town. Access 5 The downtown location of Petco Park allows for easy access, with parking lots scattered throughout the area. If you park in one of the further lots toward Broadway St to save some dough, the walk to the ballpark is approximately only 15 minutes. If you and your buddies want to do a little pre-game tailgate, Tailgate Park provides fans a small lot to grill, socialize and consume beverages before heading inside the yard. The experience at Tailgate Park is a bit scaled-down. Among the restrictions from your usual tailgate, the use of charcoal is not allowed on the premises as only gas cooking grills are allowed on the lot.  The SDMTS Trolley  is another great for Padres fans who wish to avoid the hassles of driving to the game with park and ride lots available throughout various spots throughout the city. If traveling from points north of San Diego toward Oceanside, the Coaster   provides rail service throughout the season to the Santa Fe Depot station where fans can connect free with their Coaster ticket on the SDMTS Trolley to Petco Park and back. Return service on the Coaster departs one hour after the last out or the conclusion of post-game fireworks. The latest Coaster departure is midnight. Gallagher Square Space, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Return on Investment 4 On most nights, you can get a “Park Pass” starting at $25. The pass allows fans to roam throughout the park without any restrictions. For games that aren’t filled, you should have no trouble finding a seat at the upper level. Otherwise, for games where attendance is expected to reach full capacity the “Park Pass,” while still allowing fans to roam the yard, permits fans access to Gallagher Square. Tickets inside the seating bowl for most games also start at $25, with a significant bump when certain teams, such as the Dodgers or Yankees, are in town. With crowds mostly reaching capacity status, it would be worth the few extra bucks for a seat inside the actual seating areas. Extras 5 Located behind the batter’s backdrop at the Gallagher Square, the Sycuan Stage is the first outdoor concert venue of its kind to be included inside an MLB park. Before ballgames, a local DJ spins beats from the stage. Two of Petco Park’s celebrated landmarks are statues of Hall of Famers Trevor Hoffman and Tony Gwynn. The statue of Tony Gwynn has been a very popular meeting spot for years and the Trevor Hoffman statue makes for another popular pregame meeting spot as well. The Padres Hall of Fame features a timeline of Padres and other baseball history in San Diego, as well as other photos and artifacts and an interactive video display that allows fans to view a profile of a past Padres legend. Outside the Hall of Fame at the Plaza are plaques displaying players in Cooperstown who donned the Padre uniform at some point in their career. The Breitbard Hall of Fame is located on the field concourse inside the Western Metal Supply Co. The building has a display of 153 plaques honoring athletes that left an impact on San Diego, both native San Diegans and those who played for a San Diego organization. A bronze bust of Johnny Ritchey can be viewed at the Breitbard Hall of Fame. A native of San Diego, Ritchey would be the first black ballplayer to break the color barrier in the AAA Pacific Coast League one year after Jackie Robinson would break the MLB color barrier during a time when MLB’s furthest team west was in St. Louis. The historic Western Metal Supply Co. building, Petco Park’s signature feature, is nicely incorporated into the yard, located by the left field corner, with rooftop viewing available throughout most games. The building also houses the main team store as well as several suites and The Loft, a sports bar on the building’s 4th floor that offers your standard ballpark brews and bites with several screens and pool and foosball tables. The Loft is open to all game-day patrons. Bringing the little ones to the yard? A miniature playground and a whiffle ball field are there for your little ones to enjoy. Gallagher Square also operates as a public park during the day as well as non-game days. If you should find yourself at an afternoon game, the playground remains open after the game for you and your young ones to work off some of that extra energy from the few innings worth of cotton candy and ice cream consumed. A plaza of retired numbers that once stood atop the batter’s backdrop can be viewed at the plaza inside the gate located at the corner of Tony Gwynn Drive and Trevor Hoffman Way. In section 114, San Diego’s high school baseball and softball make their presence known. The “San Diego Section” features hats from San Diego County high school teams that compete in CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) play. The display is also accompanied by two interactive screens where fans can search schools and professional players from those schools. Climbable Bat, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Final Thoughts Petco Park continues to play a huge role in the revitalization of the local area throughout the East Village. With a vibrant neighborhood and enthusiastic fans coming in droves along with one of the more picturesque parks among the 30, it’s no wonder Petco Park continually  ranks high among ballpark experts in America’s Finest City. ----- Follow and view all of Andrei’s journeys on Instagram   @thestadiumjourneyman and   @dreiinla .

File Photo Schenectady Stadium was somewhat ahead of its time when it opened in 1946; the modern structure had many innovations, from its field lights to its very own restaurant. However, only eleven years later, the stadium hosted its last baseball game. Owners Pete and Jim McNearney built their steel and concrete structure from their own pockets to attract an existing ball club during the Golden Age of baseball after World War II. The brothers had the foresight to understand that it might be more than just baseball that attracted fans through the gates. The home of the Schenectady Blue Jays of the latter Eastern League offered the first panoramic stadium restaurant in the country. The restaurant was open every day except Mondays, from 5 PM to 1 AM, regardless of a baseball game. Patrons had the opportunity to enjoy dinner while watching the game from the clean and modern eatery. Tables were pressed against the large windows overlooking the diamond, and a few lounge chairs provided extra comfort for those wanting to enjoy the elusive after-dinner cigarette. The house special was the stadium club steak for $2. Today, you can find many restaurants located inside or adjacent to minor league ballparks. Frickers in Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio,  offers eight rows of seating overlooking the ballpark in the right-field corner of the stadium for Mud Hens fans. Against the Grain sits inside Louisville Slugger Field , serves award-winning barbecue, and brews its beer to fans before and after Louisville Bats games. It’s normal to take such comforts for granted since the stadium restaurant in Schenectady–sans the cigarette smoke–describes most suite-level bars and restaurants that are the norm at all modern ballparks. However, this was not always the case more than 70 years ago when Schenectady Stadium opened for business. The ballpark featured a few more innovations, including the same GE floodlights that were used at Yankee Stadium, coined-operated turnstiles, and a modern electric scoreboard. The 278,000-watt system made the stadium the best-illuminated field in the league. There was also a screen around the stadium’s grandstand, but as ex-Blue Jay Wally Habel would later say, it wasn’t to protect the fans; it was to save on baseballs. Pete McNerney even set up a cop outside the parking lot to make sure any balls hit outside the venue were promptly returned from the various kids looking for the elusive baseball souvenir. The Jays incorporated special nights to attract large audiences to the gate, like Booster Night, which included fireworks, prizes, and appearances by local politicians. There was also the chance for a lucky fan to be awarded $25 for the first home run, $15 for the first triple, and $10 for the first single of the night. . Unfortunately, attendance would be a problem during the last half of the team’s existence. Ads in the local newspaper pleaded with its readers to “Keep Class A Baseball in Schenectady” by sending $4 to the stadium for four tickets that could be used at any game during the 1954 season. The Booster Club set an objective of selling 100,000 tickets and offering prizes for a new automobile, toaster, and portable radio. There were nights when the crowds were large and fireworks were set off, but the future looked dimmed by the club’s 12th season. The Blue Jays folded after the 1957 season when attendance dipped heavily from the year before. A campaign to sell 2,000 season tickets for $25 a pop fell short by 58%, and the team pulled the plug on operations, despite local interest in keeping the club in town. In the end, there were only 835 season tickets sold during the drive. The disdained McNearney handed over a letter of withdrawal to the league. To him, the times were changing, and it was a different era for minor-league baseball. “During the past three to four years, minor league baseball has been on the decline. The fact has been attributed to many causes, such as television, radio, and the like. To elaborate, at this point, would be needless.” Author and local baseball historian Frank Keetz wrote two books on the Blue Jays during their days in town; he expressed his opinion in an interview with the Schenectady Daily Gazette in 2012. “Eventually, things just fizzled out . Some people faithfully supported the team right to the end, but there weren’t enough of them. They were very popular for the first three or four years, and then attendance started to decline for several reasons, and the same thing was happening in Albany and other minor league towns around the country.” McNerney would convert the ballpark into Stadium Golf Club and turn it into a 9-hole golf course before selling it in 1965. It would later be turned into an 18-hole course. The grandstand would remain as part of the clubhouse and maintenance entrance until 2002, when it was finally knocked down, 45 years after it last hosted minor league baseball. Today, minor league baseball is played at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in nearby Troy, New York. The Tri-City Valleycats have been members of the New York-Penn League since 2002. Its name, Tri-City, incorporates the cities of Troy, Schenectady, and Albany. There is even a Mayor’s Race that features mascots represented by the likeness of each city’s three mayors at every game. The golf course is still in service today, and its logo crest features a blue jay in the middle with two golf clubs, a nice little nod to the city’s baseball minor league past, and a stadium that was somewhat ahead of its time but should not be forgotten. --- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photo Courtesy of Google Some ballparks don’t die; many are just distant memory. Many have been torn down and replaced with other structures that bear little connection to the former baseball home. However, there is one ballpark still standing and posing a striking resemblance to its past glory. That former ballpark is Coble Grimes Stadium in Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania. The site is now home to the D.E. Richard Garage. It is also home to the Speedway Mart gas station, a car wash, and a truck bay on its premises. It also provides 24-hour towing and PA safety and emission testing. If you need a new tire, this is the place to be; if you are looking for a baseball game down the road to either Harrisburg or Reading. A walk around its premises, and you can see the outfield walls, the old covered grandstand, the backstop, and the general shape of the ballpark. The right field is gone, and a sea of cars now occupies the outfield, but to a trained ballpark hunter, this was once home to a baseball team. It is one that had a meteoric rise and fall right after World War II. Charlie and Coble Grimes were founders of College Hill Poultry; they were baseball fans, most notably Coble, who supplied the financial backing for the semi-professional College Hill Chix baseball club. They operated at the Lebanon High School baseball field for their first season in 1945, attracting an impressive audience.  A crowd of 3,000 witnessed the first game, File Photo, Lebanon Daily News The Chix averaged around 500 fans per game and revived interest in semi-professional baseball in Lebanon County. It was important enough that the two brothers decided to build their ballpark the following year. One that would be big enough to satisfy the baseball-hungry crowds preceding the war. They found a parcel of land at the intersection of the recently constructed Route 22 and Main Street, 10 miles north of town in Fredericksburg.  The new highway merged with the old Rt. 22, creating a natural triangle. Foul balls could land on the new route and home runs over the center field, or left-field walls could land on the old Route. 22.  The privately financed stadium housed 3,500 fans and would be ready by June of 1946. The grandstand itself would be able to accommodate close to 2,000 fans. It included a press box, an announcer's booth, light towers, and concession stands underneath, selling refreshments.  The local newspapers called it the “finest in the east” upon its completion. A crowd of 3,000 packed the stadium to witness a 2-0 12-inning loss to Cornwall. “Coble was a real ball nut, and he could afford it,” former site owner Dale Richard, Sr., told the Lebanon Daily News in 1990. “He built the baseball diamond out of his pocket. The Chix got players from all over the area, Lebanon, Fredericksburg, and Meckville. I’d say maybe 100 guys played here over the years.” The stadium hosted various ball games from semi-pro games to exhibition games against the House of David clubs, local area high school and college teams, and Negro League teams passing through the area to delighted fans. The first-ever Keystone Semi-State Baseball tournament was held, in which the Chix won. Opening night for the Chix in 1949. In 1949, the Chix joined the Class D Mid-Atlantic League and were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Grimes added box seating closer to the field level, along with infield grass for the first time. The newly named Lebanon Chix featured an 18-year-old Ken Boyer beginning his professional career. He would win the NL MVP with the Cards in 1964. The first-ever game produced a crowd of 1,800, and the following year, they were champions of the league. Unfortunately, the Chix would never play again after its championship series victory. The club announced it was withdrawing from the league in January 1951 due to military involvement in Korea and disappointing attendance during the season. The death of Coble in October was a devastating hit to the ball club, due to his financial backing of the team. Without his support, College Hill Poultry got out of the baseball business, but would still allow local clubs to play free of charge from time to time. The ballpark would become home to the Fredericksburg High School baseball team, along with a series of events that included another semi-state baseball tournament, local twilight games, Little League baseball, Lebanon Valley College baseball, and Negro League games. Wrestling, boxing, and donkey baseball would find an audience at Grimes Stadium. After the high school built a new campus and athletic field in 1958, it moved off the premises. By this time, the ballpark was renamed Norelco Stadium and was still housing local baseball leagues. That changed in 1965 when Dale E. Richards, Sr., purchased the 10-acre site and converted the baseball facility into a race track. It resulted in a few cosmetic changes that would alter the baseball pattern. The right-field wall was demolished to extend the track into the area once used as the parking lot for baseball games. The oval featured two turns, one of them where home plate once stood in front of the grandstand. Additional bleacher seating was added where the left field once stood to increase the venue’s capacity to 3,800. The ballpark, when it was the Fredericksburg Speedway, File Photo, Lebanon Daily News. “I guess you got to be a little bit crazy to buy something like this,” said Richard to the Lebanon Daily-News in 1990. “But the main reason I bought it is that I had property adjacent to it. I was thinking I’m going to have to live next to it the rest of my life anyways.”  Richards operated the now-named Fredericksburg Speedway until 1972, before closing it down due to the track not making any money for him, despite his time and effort into renovating the building. It reopened in 1975 under new promoters but closed for good after the following racing season. The D.E. Richard Garage opened its doors in 1977, but the old grandstand would remain standing, but no longer a home for racing, but a haven for used cars and spare automobile parts. In the 1990s, a 4-bay truck and car wash and Speedy Mart grocery store opened on the site. Richards passed away in 2010, and his son Richard, Jr. would take over the business, which he continues to operate today. “I’ve got people stopping quite a bit, people who went to the races, people who like baseball,” said Richard to the Lebanon Sports Buzz in 2013 . “But when the younger people drive by, they have no idea what it was. I’d bet money on that.” The grandstand seats are visible, and old cars line the infield. Photo from Lebanon Daily Buzz. If you visit the site, you can see the 70-plus-year grandstand with new siding, but still with its concession and ticket windows intact. The first and third base sides of the building have had garage doors installed, but a look inside its interiors tells a much different story. A birdseye view of what the former ballpark looks like today. The grandstand is warped with splintered pieces of wood that are filled with used auto parts, most notably car rims. There is now tall grass and trees sprouting up through parts of the concourse, and the original protective screen is tattered, but still hanging from the ceiling of the structure. A look towards the old playing field will result in a strewn of used automobiles rusting in the sun. A new building was constructed in left field, and the old track is visible where motorcycles and stock cars once zipped at fast speeds. What is left of the outfield wall has been painted white with blue and red striping, a nice look for the old baseball palace. The lights were removed a long time ago, and only memories of baseball and racing remain at the site, but the station does offer a collection of photos from its days as a speedway. The exterior of the grandstand. Note the original concession windows, Google Docs Image The site is an anomaly since most former minor league stadiums from this era were knocked down decades ago. The Schenectady, New York, grandstand stood until 2002 as the golf course storage unit, but that might be the only other structure of its kind that existed after being used for baseball. It is an example of baseball fever that took place soon after the war in Europe and Japan ended. Many cities and towns across the country built new stadiums or renovated existing ones for the minor leagues.  The College Hill Chix lasted six seasons and only used the stadium for five years; built at a unique time in the country where almost every town, large and small, built or renovated a stadium for a baseball club. Many have faded into history, but the former Grimes Stadium is a quiet history lesson to ballpark fans in the 21st century. I wish I had known about this place a little bit earlier; I definitely would have visited. Then again, what fun would that be? Harrisburg isn’t far off the beaten path, and it is just another reason to hop in the car to make a future ballpark trip. --- 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: 3.43 St. Michael’s College School Arena 1515 Bathurst St York, ON M5P 3H4 St. Michael's Buzzers website St. Michael's College School Arena website Year Opened: 1956 Capacity: 1,600 A Buzzing Hockey Cathedral The oldest franchise in the Junior A level Ontario Junior Hockey League is the St. Michael’s Buzzers.  Established in 1917, the Buzzers are affiliated and owned by the prestigious Toronto private Catholic school, St. Michael’s College.  The Buzzers began at the Junior B level, side by side with the highly decorated St. Michael’s Majors, who were once the affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  As a Junior B team, the Buzzers won the first-ever Sutherland Cup in 1934 and followed that up with five more.  In 1962, St. Michael’s College shut down the Majors, with only the Buzzers continuing to ice a team at the Junior level.  In 1995, the Buzzers moved up to the Junior A level and the OPJHL.  However, two years later, the Buzzers suspended operations with the return of the Majors to the OHL.  In 1999, the Buzzers returned and remained in the OJHL at the Junior A level, long after the move of the Majors to Mississauga  and eventually to Brampton as the current Brampton Steelheads .  The Buzzers have enjoyed success on the ice in the OJHL, culminating in the 2005, 2006, and 2013 Buckland Cups.  Buzzers alumni is a who’s who of hockey royalty, including Sean Burk, Andrew Cogliano, Kevin Dineen, Peter Mahovlich, Mitch Marner, Tony Tanti, Rich Tocchet and Kevin Weekes.  St. Michael’s also boasts fifteen members of the Hockey Hall of Fame as Alumni, including Frank Mahovlich, Dave Keon, Bobby Bauer, Father David Bauer, Gerry Cheevers, Dick Duff, Murray Costello, Ted Lindsay, Red Kelly, Tim Horton, Reg Noble, Frank Rankin, Joe Primeau, Eric Lindros, and Jim Gregory. The home of the Buzzers is an absolute hockey cathedral.  Located on St. Michael’s Campus, St. Michael’s College School Arena was built in 1956 and also served as a home for the most recent iteration of the Majors after the closing of Maple Leaf Gardens in 2000.  St. Michael’s College School Arena has a capacity of 1,600, but also acts as a museum to hockey history at St. Michael’s. Food & Beverage 2 St. Michael’s Arena has a small snack bar at ice level for concessions.  Hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, popcorn, chocolate bars, and chips are all available.  Coca-Cola products, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, juice, water and slushies are the beverage options.  Cash and cards are accepted for payment. Atmosphere 5 St. Michael’s College School Arena is a hockey cathedral. Built in 1956, it shows its age but not its wrinkles. The exterior is tastefully painted with the school colours of double blue and white. There is no surprise as to what is binding inside, as the half-barrel domed roof is obvious from the exterior, with an added lobby to the south side, which is the main entry. The box office is in the vestibule upon entry, and the trip through history begins right away. There are a number of photos of NHL players, all of who attended St. Michael’s College, on the walls. The photos encircle a large directory with engraved plates of every NHL player to play for St. Mike’s in one way or another. The Hockey Hall of Fame emblem is on the plates of the appropriate members. Entering the main arena, fans quickly discover that the NHL portraits are really the overflow of the St. Michael’s and NHL Wall of Fame, which begins on the south wall with classy wood paneling. To the right of the beginning of the Wall of Fame is a glass enshrinement for the members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame-like sketches are framed and posted on wood paneling behind floor-to-ceiling glass panes. The ice is south-north oriented, with the best spot for a centre ice logo picture on the east side. St. Michael’s College School Arena has a rounded, half-barrel ceiling made of wood, a design that has been lost to time. Unfortunately, but understandably functional, the hardwood ceiling is covered by silver insulation. A simple hockey score clock, still with Majors markings, hangs over centre ice. The majority of seating is found on the east and west sides, with seven rows of covered benches on each side.  Both the north and south ends have a row or two of traditional, plastic arena seats.  The absolute legends of St. Michael’s have banners that hang from south to north over the ice. These include Frank Rankin, Red Noble, Joe Primeau, Ted Lindsay, Red Kelly, Tim Horton, Gerry Cheevers, Dave Keon, Father David Bauer, Bobby Bauer, Murray Costello, and Dick Duff. On the east side, above the seating area, are the modern championship banners, including the 2005, 2006, and 2013 Buckland Cups as OJHL Champions.  Classic championship banners hang above the west seating and include both Majors and Buzzers Championships.  The Majors won the Memorial Cup in 1934, 1945, 1947, and 1961.  The Buzzers won the Sutherland Cup as Junior B Champions in 1934, 1936, 1945, 1948, 1961, 1982, and 1989.  The gameday production at a Buzzers game is very simple.  There are no promotions, mascots, or anything like that.  The speaker system in St. Michael’s Arena is pretty good, and the PA announcer does a decent job, making announcements easy to understand. Neighbourhood 4 St. Michael’s College School Arena is located in the Forest Hill South neighbourhood of Toronto.  It is a fairly residential area, but there are some spots for pre- and post-game food and drink in the immediate area.  JABS, Sea Witch Fish & Chips, Pura Vida Restaurant, Camsine and Kiryo.  There are a number of international options with some chains.  There are a ton of other sports options in the area.  The campus is just 3 km from the University of Toronto, which fields a full complement of athletic programs, including football , hockey , and basketball .  Toronto Metropolitan University has taken over the iconic Maple Leaf Gardens, where Bold hockey  and basketball  are found.  Of course, fans will also find the Maple Leafs , Raptors , Blue Jays , Argonauts , Toronto FC , Marlies , and Sceptres not too far away.  As for the nearly uncountable other tourist options, St. Michael’s is only 1 km from Casa Loma.  Toronto’s Harbourfront and CN Tower also headline a plethora of other options.  Fans wishing to stay in the area will head out of the neighbourhood, where there are a ton of other options to either the south or north. Fans 2 Assessing fans in the OJHL can be difficult, and the St. Michael’s Buzzers are part of that category.  The Buzzers have sporadic attendance reporting throughout the season.  They tend to average less than 100 fans per game.  The game that was attended had only 63 fans in attendance, so a friends and family crowd.  With so many sports options in Toronto, the challenges in getting to the arena and the normal Tuesday evening games, it is difficult to see a surge in fan attendance at St. Michael’s   Access 3 St. Michael’s College School Arena is located in the Forest Hill South neighbourhood of Toronto.  It is at the northeast corner of St. Clair and Bathurst, 5 ½ km south of Highway 401 and north of the Gardiner Expressway.  This is the heart of Toronto, and driving to the arena will take a while, especially just before the game, during rush hour.  There is limited parking at the arena, and construction in 2025 in the surrounding area has limited parking even more.  For fans wishing to take public transit to the game, there are streetcars that run along St. Clair and buses that run along Bathurst.  The St. Clair West subway station is close by and may be the best method of getting to the arena.  Fans should consult the TTC  website for fares, schedules, and maps.  Getting around the arena is a bit tight and it does show its age in this regard.  The majority of seating is benches with no back support, which is not the most comfortable.  The washrooms are adequate for the number of fans in attendance. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for the St. Michael’s Buzzers are available at the door with cash.  Adults can get in for $18 with discounts for students and seniors.  Kids 11 and under are free.  This is a bit on the high side for this league; however, the opportunity to explore a hockey cathedral like this offsets the cost.  Concession prices are good and parking is free.  The level of hockey on the ice is very good, and fans will no doubt enjoy their time at the game. Extras 3 An extra two marks for the over 100 years of history of the St. Michael’s programs and the displays at St. Michael’s College School Arena. An extra mark for the quirkiness of the affiliate situation between St. Michael’s and the Toronto Maple Leafs.  During Conn Smythe’s ownership of the Leafs, in the Original Six era, he believed that Catholics and Protestants should be separated.  Therefore, Catholic prospects played for St. Michael’s while the Protestant prospects played for the Toronto Marlies. Final Thoughts St. Michael’s College School Arena is a trip back through time, a journey in hockey history.  They just don’t build them like this anymore.  Taking in a St. Michael’s Buzzers game will allow fans to see a solid hockey product on the ice, in a true hidden gem of a hockey cathedral. ----- Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  , and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Fifth Third Bank Stadium 3200 George Busby Pkwy Kennesaw, GA 30144 Atlanta United 2 website Fifth Third Bank Stadium website Year Opened: 2015 Capacity: 10,200 The Deuce is Loose When professional soccer was officially announced for Atlanta back in 2014, anticipation built quickly for the debut of Atlanta United, which finally took the field in 2017. Like many top-tier clubs around the world, the flagship squad was just one piece of a much larger operation. Behind the scenes, the organization began building out a full developmental structure, from academy levels to a women’s program, all designed to feed into the club’s growing identity. The club’s reserve squad debuted in 2018 and is known as the Two Spikes, a nod to Atlanta’s original name, Terminus, where the final spike of the Western & Atlantic Railroad was located. The Two Spikes’ inaugural season was spent sharing Coolray Field in Lawrenceville with the Braves’ AAA affiliate; the setup worked, but only to a point, as baseball diamonds are rarely ideal for soccer. So a year later, the club shifted across the metro area to a more natural fit at Kennesaw State University’s Fifth Third Bank Stadium, which has served as their home ever since. Originally part of the USL Championship league, the Two Spikes made the move to MLS Next Pro in 2023, joining the league’s growing collection of reserve and developmental squads aligned with MLS franchises.   Food & Beverage   3 Concessions at Fifth Third Stadium stick mostly to the basics – hot dogs, pizza slices, nachos with cheese and salsa, soft pretzels, and popcorn make up the core offerings, with candy and chips rounding things out. Beverages include Coca-Cola products, while alcohol is not sold during Atlanta United 2 matches, which keeps the experience more family-oriented, but also tones down the typical matchday buzz found elsewhere in the league.   Atmosphere   2 More than most college football stadiums, Fifth Third Bank Stadium has the feel of a venue built for soccer. The exterior’s black-and-yellow aluminum panels and sharply angled rooflines give it an industrial-modern vibe, while the home side features a press box constructed from repurposed shipping containers. The container design adds an industrial character to the stadium, but does blocks parts of the field view from the concourse. Seating is limited to the nearside stand and consists of a mix of individual fold-down and molded seats. The main scoreboard at the north end provides a clean live feed of the match with a running ribbon for score and time. The atmosphere leans heavily on the parent club; scoreboard hype videos borrow directly from Mercedes-Benz Stadium , but the buzz that fills the Five Stripes’ home does not quite carry over to Atlanta United 2. A small yet committed supporters’ group does its best to inject life into the match day, though with crowds in the low hundreds, sustaining energy remains a challenge.   Neighborhood   4 Fifth Third Stadium is wedged between Interstates 75 and 575 to the east and west, and is sandwiched between Barrett Parkway and Chastain Road to the north and south. These are a collection of the area’s most traveled thoroughfares in the northwestern Atlanta suburb of Kennesaw, which is just under a mile from the heart of the Kennesaw State campus. Within a mile of the facility is a dense mix of shopping centers, restaurants, and hotels, giving visitors everything they might need for a game match. One of the most popular stops is Taco Mac, a regional favorite offering a refined pub-style menu and more than 100 beers on tap. Beyond the modern bustle, Kennesaw has deep Civil War roots; Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield and the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History (home to the famous Big Shanty Train Chase) both offer great ways to explore the area’s past, or fill the day before kickoff.   Fans   2 Atlanta United 2 draws some of the smaller crowds in the league, often just a few hundred fans per match. A small but vocal supporters’ group brings an extra spark, doing their best to replicate the parent club’s energy with familiar chants. Still, with their limited numbers, it is tough to build on that momentum. Even with Atlanta United leading the MLS in attendance, that level of enthusiasm has not extended to the reserve side.   Access   4 A fair number of Atlanta United 2’s matches are played on weekday evenings, which can make reaching Fifth Third Bank Stadium a challenge thanks to suburban Atlanta traffic. The I-75 Peach Pass Lane can help ease the drive, and using the Big Shanty exit provides the most direct route to the stadium. Parking is available in the main lot directly across the street, though crossing in front of the stadium can be tricky before the road is closed. A safer option is to walk down Busbee Parkway to Big Shanty Road and use the crosswalk at the intersection, which leads straight to the southwest gate. The only other open entrance is the main gate near the front of the facility. Only the west side of the stadium is open on match days, which makes sense given the smaller crowd, but the look of an empty east stand is not exactly flattering. The main concourse, however, offers plenty of space for fans to move around comfortably.   Return on Investment   5 Tickets for Atlanta United 2 matches are affordable, with general admission seats $11 and reserved midfield spots at $13. Children under eight can get in for $5.50, while students with a valid ID pay just under $8. Parking in the lot across the street is free, which adds value to the overall outing. Concessions here see the usual stadium markup, but the prices are not unreasonable for this level of soccer. Overall, attending a Two Spikes match offers a budget-friendly way to experience live soccer in the Atlanta area.   Extras   1 There are not many extras at Atlanta United 2 matches, but after the final whistle, players often make their way to the stands to thank the fans for coming out and showing support. It is a small gesture, but one that helps strengthen the bond between the team and its community.   Final Thoughts A cross MLS Next Pro, many reserve sides under the umbrella of their parent club struggle to draw consistent crowds, and that lack of attendance inevitably affects the matchday atmosphere; Atlanta United 2 fits that mold. For fans who come primarily for the excitement of the game, that is perfectly fine, but for those looking for a more immersive experience, the presentation may feel subdued. Still, attending a Two Spikes match offers a chance to see the next generation of Atlanta United talent, players who could soon be stepping onto the pitch at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the Five Stripes.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Spero Financial Field at Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium 341 Williamston Rd Anderson, SC 29621 Anderson Trojans website Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 5,000 New Football Team in SC Anderson University started its football program in 2024, currently competing in the NCAA’s Division II. As D2 programs go, Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium in Anderson, SC offers a great gameday experience for college football. The venue is also used for lacrosse and soccer, was built in 2005, and holds 5,000 fans, most of whom sit on the home side.   Food & Beverage   4 Spero Financial Field at Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium provides a ton of food and beverage options during home football games, highlighted by a bunch of different food trucks. There are food trucks spread out all along the southwest side of the field, from coffee and smoothies on the east side, near the main entrance, to myriad other options on the west side concourse, next to the Soccer/Lacrosse Fieldhouse (the field is oriented southeast to northwest instead of the typical East-West layout). There is also a Chick-fil-A table under the main stands, as well as a couple of school-run stands selling pizza, chips, candy, and drinks. Prices are decent at Trojan football games, with bottled drinks running only $3, a slice of pizza costing $4, and most snacks priced at $3. Food truck items will run more, as you might expect, and a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich will cost $7. Nevertheless, the fact that there are numerous low-cost options available is a major plus, allowing you to eat a little without spending a lot. Note that Anderson is a Christian University, so no alcohol is sold inside the facility.   Atmosphere   4 Compared to similarly-sized venues, Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium offers a great atmosphere on gameday. The fans are really into it, there is plenty of Trojans team gear to be seen, and there is a giant videoboard that is easily visible to those sitting on the home side. The two fieldhouses bracketing the field look stately and brand new, and the staff plays Money for Nothing every time the home team scores, which is a fun and unique song you won’t hear at many other sports facilities. The football squad also has a team tunnel, which they run onto the field through, which many D2 stadiums can’t boast. The band is on the small side, but they have plenty of cheerleaders. I don’t remember seeing a mascot, but there is a giant (presumably plastic) sword on hand behind the team bench, which is held aloft by a player who makes a great play on defense, such as an interception or fumble recovery – a great tradition which is a nod to the Trojans team name.   Neighborhood   3 Anderson is a small town about 45 minutes south of Greenville, SC. There aren’t a ton of restaurants and hotels in the area, but a few good hangout options for before or after the game include Common House, Doolittle’s, and Carolina Bauernhaus Brewery & Winery. In terms of attractions, most of the tourist attractions you will find in the area are parks and local museums.   Fans   4 Anderson Trojan fans are really excited to finally have football at their school, and you can tell from the crowd noise. The stadium may not be packed quite to the gills, but the home side is almost full, and there are plenty of fans who watch from one of two small hills (berm seating) on either side of the home stands. You can also see fans watching from the balconies of the two field houses behind the end zones. The most notable fans are the five or six wearing banana costumes, in the front row around the 10 or 15-yard line. This is apparently a tradition at Anderson, among the students.   Access   4 Once you are inside the facility, moving around is easy; there is plenty of room. There are also plenty of nice bathrooms – real toilets in trailers, no port-a-johns here, which is a real plus; this writer can tell you that for sure. There also isn’t really an issue with access once you get near the stadium – there are plenty of parking lots around the stadium, some closer than others. Parking costs $11, but be sure to purchase online before the game, so you can get in more quickly; you can also park on nearby streets for free if you are willing to walk a bit. There isn’t that much traffic, per se, but because this is such a small town, a few extra cars can mean a line waiting to pull into the parking lot, meaning a wait of 5 to 10 minutes, at times. There are local cops directing traffic, however, which helps ease the flow. The only real drawback to access is the fact that Anderson, SC, is a bit away from the freeway – you’ll have to take local roads, or smaller highways for a good many miles once you get off I-85, to get to the football stadium.   Return on Investment   5 Coming to a game at Spero Financial Field at Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium is well worth it for the gameday atmosphere and wonderful scenery – you will be surrounded by greenery as far as the eye can see. Tickets to conference games start at $16, while tickets to non-conference games may only run $8, with $5 pricing for children. Tickets are available online only, and sometimes sold on EventBrite, which I hadn’t seen before at a football game.   Extras   4 They have a free hydration station (water in paper cups) next to the main entrance, which is a great way to keep fans hydrated at no cost. There is also a Trojan head statue next to the fieldhouse near the main entrance, which might be a great photo op for some. There are also benches dotted around the concourse where you can sit. There isn’t necessarily much shade on hot days, but there are a few places, such as standing under/behind the scoreboard, or sitting in the top-most rows on the home side in front of the press box.   Final Thoughts Attending a Trojans football game at Melvin and Dollie Younts Stadium is definitely worth the trip – a great D2 football stadium, where you can have a relaxing day, get some low-cost concessions, and get out quickly once the game ends.

Triple-A Baseball is comprised of the International League and the Pacific Coast League.  Representing affiliates for all 30 Major League Baseball teams, the leagues offer a myriad of high-quality baseball experiences all across the United States.  It is the highest level of Minor League Baseball and has teams that date back to the late 1800s.   In 2025, Jose Rojas of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders led the International League in Home Runs with 32, and Justin Crawford of Lehigh Valley had the top batting average with .334.  In the PCL, Ryan Ward of Oklahoma City led in Home Runs with 36, and Cody Freeman of Round Rock had the top batting average with .336. Logan Workman of Durham led the IL with 152 strikeouts, and Trevor McDonald of Sacramento led the PCL with 144.  Memphis’ Curtis Taylor had the top ERA in the IL, and Jhonathan Diaz of Tacoma had the best ERA in the PCL.  The IL’s Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp had the best record in the first half, followed by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in the second half.  The two squared off in the playoffs, with the Jumbo Shrimp coming out victorious.  Over in the PCL, the Las Vegas Aviators took the first half, with the Tacoma Rainiers winning the second half.  In the end, the Aviators moved on to face the Jumbo Shrimp in the Triple-A World Series, with Jacksonville crowned champions after an epic, walk-off home run. The 2025 season saw a few changes with the Salt Lake Bees moving to a new ballpark in South Jordan, Utah, and the Sacramento RiverCats sharing their stadium with the Athletics of MLB. Stadium Journey was right there through it all with 9 updated reviews and a brand-new review for Salt Lake.  The Triple-A Baseball rankings at Stadium Journey are based on the FANFARE metric used on the website, where writers assess the baseball experience based on the categories of Food, Atmosphere, Neighborhood, Fans, Access, Return on Investment, and any extras that the writers experienced.  The stakes are high, with a sizzling average grading of 3.94 being earned out of a possible perfect 5.0. This list is just an amalgamation of a number of opinions, and may not agree with all.  Please let Stadium Journey know your opinions on our various Social Media outlets.  How is your list different from ours?  What do we have right?  What do we have wrong? Without further ado, Stadium Journey is proud to present the 2025 Rankings of the Triple-A Baseball Experiences. 1. CHS Field - Saint Paul Saints - 4.71 James Hilchen - (IL - Minnesota Twins) - Opened on May 21, 2015, CHS Field is home to the Saint Paul Saints. The Saints were born in 2003 and were a member of the Northern League until 2005, when they became members of the American Association. 2021 marked a new beginning of sorts for the team as the Saints left the independent baseball world and became the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Between the beautiful ballpark, great food, unique promotions, and a very creative staff, CHS Field is one of the true gems in all of baseball.  CHS Field replaced Midway Stadium as the home of the Saints. Midway Stadium, which had hosted the Saints since 2003, simply became outdated and too small to hold the fans of a franchise that has proven to be extremely successful over the years.  Located in the Lowertown District of St. Paul, the $89 million ballpark played host to both the 2016 and 2019 American Association All-Star Games. 2. Truist Park - Charlotte Knights - 4.57 Gregory Koch - (IL - Chicago White Sox) - Located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, Truist Field is home to the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The gorgeous ballpark opened in 2014 and offers sweeping views of the Charlotte skyline beyond the outfield fence. Truist Field is a gorgeous baseball stadium, and a Charlotte Knights game is a fun atmosphere from the moment you walk into the ballpark. The stadium has a 360-degree concourse, and the field is visible from everywhere on it except when it passes behind the home plate club and the batter's eye in centerfield. 3. Coca-Cola Park - Lehigh Valley IronPigs - 4.57 Steven Kee - (IL - Philadelphia Phillies) - When you think about Triple-A ballparks in some parts of the country, the Leigh Valley IronPigs come to mind. They have entertained the folks of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton since 2008, when the Philadelphia Phillies placed their top farm club less than 90 minutes away from Citizens Bank Park. The fanbase responded positively, leading all minor league baseball in attendance the last two seasons.  Coca-Cola Park cost $50.75 million and has seating for 10,178 people, including a grass berm, 19 suites, numerous VIP sections, and one of the first standing-room-only social areas in baseball. The attention to these areas has made it the hub of excitement in an area without affiliated baseball since 1956.  The IronPig name comes from a nickname derived from the term “pig iron” used in manufacturing steel in the Lehigh Valley. There are also nods to the history of baseball on the concourse, with photos and art of past teams and players. All of it adds to a Triple-A ballpark known for its “Hog Wild” fan base. 4. Durham Bulls Athletic Park - Durham Bulls - 4.57 James Hilchen - (IL - Tampa Bay Rays) - Opened on April 6, 1995, Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP) is home to the Durham Bulls of the Triple-A East – Southeast Division. The current ballpark replaced the iconic Durham Athletic Park, which was the primary setting for the movie “Bull Durham.” The designers of the stadium also designed Camden Yards in Baltimore, Jacobs Field in Cleveland, and Coors Field in Denver.  The Bulls moved from Single-A to Triple-A in 1998, which made it necessary for the ballpark to add more seating. This seat expansion set the current capacity, which is 10,000. Numerous other renovations have occurred since the opening.  5. Victory Field - Indianapolis Indians - 4.43 Marc Viquez - (IL - Pittsburgh Pirates) - Victory Field in downtown Indianapolis remains one of the premier spots to enjoy a minor league baseball game in the country; its design, setting, minor improvements, and simplicity keep attracting fans repeatedly during the season. The team has been an institution in town since 1902 and has a stadium that is synonymous with baseball in Indianapolis.  The Tribe has been the top draw the past two seasons in all of minor league baseball and has averaged numbers well over 9,000 fans a game. The secret to the team’s success might be the spacious ballpark that ages like fine wine and affordable tickets, or its location downtown near the zoo, WhiteWater Amphitheater concert venue, restaurants, bars, bike paths, museums, and Lucas Oil Stadium. Then again, it may be just the perfect ballpark for the size of the city. 6. First Horizon Park - Nashville Sounds - 4.43 Paul Baker - (IL - Milwaukee Brewers) - Professional baseball has been played in the city of Nashville since 1884. Numerous teams played at historic Sulpher Dell, located just north of Tennessee’s state capital building, from 1885 to 1963. Most notable among these teams were the Southern Association’s Nashville Vols, who called Sulpher Dell home from 1901 to 1963. When the Vols disbanded after the 1963 season, Nashville was left without pro baseball for 14 years.  The Sounds franchise began life as an expansion team in the AA Southern League. In 1983, Sounds ownership looked to establish Nashville as a viable Major League market. They purchased the AAA Evansville Triplets and moved them to Nashville, joining the American Association. When that league dissolved in 1998, the Sounds joined the Pacific Coast League. When MLB reorganized the minor leagues in 2021, the Sounds were assigned to the International League. The Sounds are the oldest professional sports team in the city of Nashville. In their time at the AAA level, Nashville won one championship in 2005. 7. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark - Oklahoma City Comets - 4.43 Terry McCutchen - (PCL - Los Angeles Dodgers) -  Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, even though it’s the second-oldest ballpark in the Pacific League, presents a great setting for Triple-A baseball. Free parking and reasonably priced concessions allow families to attend games without busting the monthly budget. In addition to high-level minor league baseball, Oklahoma’s capital city provides plenty of entertainment and dining options for fans of all ages. OKC, sitting in the center of the country and home to a little over 700,000 residents, is underrated by most travel experts. As a hidden gem, planning a visit to Bricktown Ballpark should be on all baseball fans’ bucket lists. 8. Innovative Field - Rochester Red Wings - 4.29 Dave Cottenie - (IL - Washington Nationals) - Rochester, New York, is the quintessential minor league city.  Few places around the country offer a full complement of minor league sports like Rochester does, with little competition from the big leagues or big-time colleges.  At the center of Rochester’s sports identity is the Rochester Red Wings of Minor League Baseball’s International League.  The Red Wings are currently the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals and have been around since 1899.  The Red Wings were saved in 1957 after their affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals ended, and it looked like baseball in Rochester was for naught.  Morrie Silver led the 72 Day Miracle, which sold over 8,000 shares to over 200 shareholders to purchase the team and stadium and keep Rochester baseball strong.  Members of the Silver family still work for the Red Wings, and the street outside Frontier Field is named Morrie Silver Way.  Since 1989, the home for the Red Wings has been Innovative Field. Replacing venerable Silver Stadium, Frontier Field has also been home to soccer and lacrosse. The Red Wings experience offers plenty to the baseball fan and is a must-do for baseball fans. 9. AutoZone Park - Memphis Redbirds - 4.14 Lance Sutehall - (IL - St. Louis Cardinals) - Downtown Memphis is home to the Memphis Redbirds, the AAA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals since the team’s inception in 1998. After playing their first two seasons in Tim McCarver Stadium, the Redbirds moved to their current home, AutoZone Park. The stadium cost $80.5 million to build, which was the most expensive minor league stadium to be built at the time. It was built in a way that it could be expanded if Memphis received a major league team.  The Redbirds moved to the International League in 2021 after playing in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) since their inception. The Redbirds won four titles in the PCL, last winning the league in 2018. Memphis also won the AAA national championship game that same season. The Redbirds have a rivalry with the Nashville Sounds, even having an official “I-40 Cup Series” from 2012 to 2015. 10. Huntington Park - Columbus Clippers - 4.14 Paul Baker - (IL - Cleveland Guardians) - Huntington Park was built in 2009 to replace the aging and obsolete Cooper Stadium, which had been the home of Columbus baseball teams since 1931. The facility is part of the Arena district in the capital city of Ohio, adjacent to Nationwide Arena and Lower.com Field. The mixed-use development also contains several businesses, bars, restaurants, clubs, and residential areas. It is located on the site of the former Ohio Penitentiary, which housed over 5,000 prisoners at its height before closing in 1984. 11. Sahlen Field - Buffalo Bisons - 4.00 Dave Cottenie - (IL - Toronto Blue Jays) - he Herd has been very popular in Buffalo during their latest tenure in part due to the opening of Pilot Field in 1988.  The first “retro classic” ballpark was designed by HOK Sport and was built to be expandable for Major League Baseball.  The stadium would inspire the design of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, a stadium that heavily influenced the ballpark design and aesthetics at the Major League level.  Naming rights for the stadium passed through several companies, eventually settling on Sahlen Field, a meat-packing company based in town, in 2019.  Major League Baseball would temporarily call Buffalo home with the Toronto Blue Jays taking residence beside Lake Erie for parts of two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. 12. RGCU Field @ Isotopes Park - Albuquerque Isotopes - 4.00 Meg Minard - (PCL - Colorado Rockies) - In May 2001, city voters approved a $25 million renovation of the existing stadium.  Construction crews razed and completely rebuilt Albuquerque Sports Stadium on the same site.  Business individuals purchased the floundering Calgary Cannons and moved that team to Albuquerque for the 2003 season as the Albuquerque Isotopes (affiliates of the Miami Marlins).  The owners named the new venue Isotopes Park. The Isotopes again became affiliates of the Dodgers from 2009 to 2014.  In 2015, the team became the AAA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies when that team moved from Colorado Springs, CO. They are a member of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). Isotopes Park, officially known as Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park (RGCU Field), is nicknamed ‘The Lab,’ as an isotope is a science-related term.  It is a top-notch stadium to watch minor league baseball. 13. Louisville Slugger Field - Louisville Bats - 4.00 Marc Viquez - (IL - Cincinnati Reds) - The city of Louisville has a rich baseball history since the 19th century. Its first major league club, the Eclipse, was a member of the American Association from 1882 to 1891 before changing its name to the Colonels after the 1884 season. The Colonels would join the National League in 1882 and remain in the league for the rest of the decade before owner Barney Dreyfuss acquired a controlling interest in the Pittsburgh Pirates and allocated 14 members to the Bucs in 1900. One of those players was Hall of Famer Honus Wagner.  The Redbirds rebranded as the RiverBats in 1998 and then shortened the name to the Bats a few years later. In 2000. The 13,131-seat Louisville Slugger Field debuted along the Ohio River. It would be one of the top drawing facilities in minor league baseball for the next decade. A key design feature of the $40 million ballpark is the integration of a historic rail freight depot at the main entrance. The restoration of the late 19th-century depot station is a vital component that houses everything from weddings, meetings, and a children’s play area. 14. Las Vegas Ballpark - Las Vegas Aviators - 4.00 Lloyd Brown - (PCL - Athletics) - Las Vegas Ballpark opened in 2019, as the new home of the rechristened Las Vegas Aviators. The team is the AAA affiliate of the Oakland A’s, and they play in the Pacific Coast League. The stadium has two levels: a concourse level with the main seating bowl, and a club level, which includes 22 suites as well as a lounge and the press box. The capacity of the ballpark is 10,000, including 8,500 fixed seats, 500-600 spots on the berm, and 1,000 in the suites, club seats, and party decks.  The team, the ballpark, and even the surrounding community are owned and developed by the Howard Hughes Corporation. This is important to remember, as nearly all aspects of the club and stadium relate in some way to the late billionaire Howard Hughes, who was heavily involved in the aviation industry. He was a designer of planes, raced planes as a hobby, and owned several airlines at some point in his lifetime. His company is also the largest developer in the Las Vegas Valley. 15. Polar Park - Worcester Red Sox - 4.00 Paul Baker - (IL - Boston Red Sox) - In February 2015, a group of investors, including former Boston Red Sox President Larry Lucchino, purchased the Pawtucket Red Sox from the family of the late Ben Mondor. The ownership group immediately began a search for a new ballpark, as the Pawsox’s longtime home, McCoy Stadium, was deemed unfit without major reconstruction. After several proposed plans in Pawtucket and Providence fell through, it was soon announced that the team would relocate to Worcester (pronounced “Woo-stah”), MA, for the 2021 season.  The new facility would be a part of a proposed live-work-play development. Cost for the ballpark alone would reach $159.5 million, making this the most expensive minor league stadium ever built. Polar Beverages purchased naming rights for the ballpark. The Red Sox, colloquially called the “WooSox,” played their first game on May 11, 2021. 16. Principal Park - Iowa Cubs - 4.00 James Hilchen - (IL - Chicago Cubs) - Located at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, Principal Park, then Sec Taylor Stadium, opened in 1992. Principal Park replaced the outdated Sec Taylor Stadium. The new stadium was also named Sec Taylor Stadium until 2004, when the Principal Financial Group bought the rights to the name, and Principal Park was born.  Through the years, upgrades have been made to the stadium, including adding sky boxes in left field. In 2006, new seats and a new video board were installed along with a fountain beyond right field. Before the 2013 season, the locker rooms were upgraded, along with a small patio area beyond left field that now plays host to musical acts before and after selected games. In 2015, a brand new video board replaced the dated video board. The new Daktronics video board measures 64x24 feet and allows for far more statistical information to be displayed for fans.  17. Southwest University Park - El Paso Chihuahuas - 3.86 Meg Minard - (PCL - San Diego Padres) - The El Paso Chihuahuas (the San Diego Padres' AAA affiliate) moved to El Paso, TX, in 2014. Before that, they played their baseball games as the Tucson Padres at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson, AZ. Southwest University Park sits on the site of the former El Paso City Hall, which the city demolished in 2013 in preparation for the ballpark construction.  Its architecture has a brick facade similar to the style of El Paso’s Union Depot. The Chihuahuas won the Pacific Coast League championship in 2016 and have won two conference titles and five division titles.  Current MLB players Josh Naylor (Cleveland Guardians) and Andres Munoz (Seattle Mariners) were with the El Paso Chihuahuas. 18. Fifth Third Field - Toledo Mud Hens - 3.86 Marc Viquez - (IL - Detroit Tigers) - The Toledo Mud Hens are members of the International League. The Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers began to play in 1965 at Ned Skeldon Stadium before relocating to Fifth Third Field in 2003. The downtown ballpark revamped the neighborhood that is now called HensVille.  Just like many ballparks of its kind, it stands out among others in the league.  The MudHens name dates back to 1896 and has been used for a majority of minor league clubs in Toledo until 1953, when new management went with the Glass Sox, later shortened to Sox, the name for three years. When baseball returned in 1965, the Mud Hens' name was properly brought back. In the 1970s, native Jamie Farr commonly wore Mud Hens gear on the TV show M*A*S*H that was provided by the team. Having your team showcased on one of the biggest shows of all time increased awareness among millions of people. Perhaps that is the reason behind The Swamp Shop, which offers a cavalcade of team merchandise from old-school t-shirts and caps to current team gear. 19. VyStar Ballpark - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp - 3.86 David Welch - (IL - Miami Marlins) - Following the reorganization of Minor League Baseball coming into the 2021 season, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp saw themselves receive a promotion from their parent club, the Miami Marlins. The Jumbo Shrimp would move from the Double-A Southern League to the Triple-A International League.  At a capacity of 11,000 fans, what is now VyStar Ballpark was the largest AA ballpark, and it seemed to be too large of a stadium for the level, so a move from Double-A to Triple-A only made sense.No matter the classification, the Jumbo Shrimp have long been known as one of the most innovative organizations in Minor League Baseball, providing an entertaining evening at the ballpark. 20. Dell Diamond - Round Rock Express - 3.86 Eric Moreno - (PCL - Texas Rangers) - At the start of the 21st century, baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and his business partners purchased the Jackson Generals and moved them to the north central Texas city of Round Rock – in time for the 2000 season, the Round Rock Express, named for their famed owner, was born. As the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, the Express has experienced lengthy periods of success while sending crop after crop of talented ballplayers to the big leagues.  Round Rock has taken home seven division titles, three conference titles, and one league title as a member of the Texas League (the latter in 2000). Former MLB All-Stars such as Yordan Alvarez, Chris Davis, Joey Gallo, and Josh Jung are just some of the ballplayers who have donned the unis of the Express. 21. Cheney Stadium - Tacoma Rainiers - 3.86 James Hilchen - (PCL - Seattle Mariners) - Opened in 1960, Cheney Stadium plays host to the AAA Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. The stadium has a unique history. Cheney Stadium needed to be built in short order in order for Tacoma to obtain the AAA team that was based in Phoenix. The mission succeeded with the stadium being built in a mere three and a half months to meet the Opening Day deadline.  In 2011, Cheney underwent a comprehensive $30 million renovation that included luxury suites, a kids' play area, more restrooms, concessions, and shoring up the main seating area. In addition to the Rainiers, Cheney Stadium hosted the Tacoma Defiance and OL Reign soccer teams, in addition to hosting the AAA All-Star Game in 2017. 22. Sutter Health Park - Sacramento RiverCats - 3.57 David Hegler - (PCL - San Francisco Giants) - The Sacramento River Cats have played on the banks of the Sacramento River in Sutter Health Park since 2000 and have been developing talent for Bay Area teams ever since. They were the Oakland A’s minor league affiliate from 2000 to 2014 and have been the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants ever since 2015. Along the way, the River Cats have won 12 division titles, seven conference titles, and five league titles, the latest of each being in 2019.  Sutter Health Park has rarely strayed from its original capacity of just over 14,000, with more than 10,600 seats and large sections of grass to sit on by the outfield as mainstays in the ballpark's configuration. Seeking a brighter future in Las Vegas, the A’s have moved into Sutter Health Park for the next couple of years and share the facility with the River Cats.  Due to their move, the A’s renovated the quarter-century-old park in the 2025 offseason, adding new baseball-themed lights and a clubhouse behind the left field wall, as well as a video board that should be the envy of the minor leagues. 23. Coolray Field - Gwinnett Stripers - 3.57 David Welch - (IL - Atlanta Braves) - After spending four decades in Richmond, the AAA Braves played their final season at "The Diamond", where they had been for 23 years. With an aging stadium and little hope for the upgrades needed for a minor league baseball team, the AAA Braves relocated to Lawrenceville in Gwinnett County, Georgia, a suburb less than an hour from downtown Atlanta, in 2009.  The new ballpark in Gwinnett was billed as a mixed-use development, to include apartments, shopping, and dining. However, the development took longer than expected to materialize – Coolray Field stood alone in an open field for its first five years, while plans to build around it were still being finalized. Apartment complexes now surround the stadium, and have changed the feel of the ballpark as they were completed; the first apartment building was finished in 2015, with a second completed in 2021. 24. Werner Park - Omaha Storm Chasers - 3.57 James Hilchen - (IL - Kansas City Royals) - Opened on April 11, 2011, Werner Park is home to the Omaha Storm Chasers, a Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. At an initial cost of $36 million, the ballpark replaced Rosenblatt Stadium as the home of the then-Omaha Royals. With a capacity of 9,023, it offers plenty of seating for fans to enjoy a game.  The ballpark is located in unincorporated Sarpy County, southeast of Omaha. In 2015, Werner Park hosted the Triple-A All-Star Game. Slight renovations have occurred since its opening, largely to host other sports. Among the renovations are a retractable pitching mound and a new building in left field to house equipment and staff. 25. Greater Nevada Field - Reno Aces - 3.43 Andrew Maurins - (PCL - Arizona Diamondbacks) - With names like the Silver Sox, Oilers, Padres, Chukars, Blackjacks, Astros, and back to Silver Sox, professional baseball has a long, colorful history in the Truckee Meadows across multiple leagues and levels of play. Most of those teams played at the 4,000-seat Moana Stadium, built in 1947 as part of a city-owned sports park a few miles south of downtown. When the Pacific Coast League’s Tucson Sidewinders announced their intention to move to Reno in late 2007, city leaders knew the site would be wholly inadequate to host a Triple-A baseball team.  On a site next to the Truckee River and just east of downtown at the corner of 2nd Street and Evans Avenue, triple-A baseball finally came to Reno in 2009. A naming rights deal with a local credit union rechristened the stadium Greater Nevada Field in 2016, and now the ballpark enters its ninth season with a very noticeable enhancement in left field. 26. NBT Bank Stadium - Syracuse Mets - 3.43 Michael Rusignuolo - (IL - New York Mets) - Professional baseball goes back a long way in Syracuse, beginning when the Jersey City Skeeters moved north in 1934 to start playing in the brand-new Municipal Stadium as the “Chiefs.” Outside of the renaming of the stadium for WWII hero Douglas MacArthur in 1942 and a three-year break in the late 50s, not much has changed in Syracuse minor league baseball except for their MLB affiliation.   During their longest affiliation with the Blue Jays, the team moved to the new P&C Stadium in 1997 from the venerable MacArthur Park (unceremoniously demolished for the new stadium’s parking lot) and changed their names to the “Sky Chiefs.”  That 11,071-seat stadium has undergone several name changes, renovations, and affiliate changes since then. And 2019 finds a new big-league club sponsoring the team, with the New York Mets taking over from the Nationals and renaming the team in their likeness. The former P&C Stadium is still their home, but since 2014, the naming rights have gone to NBT Bank. 27. Daybreak Field @ America First Square - Salt Lake Bees - 3.29 Sean MacDonald - (PCL - Los Angeles Angels) - The Salt Lake Bees had one of baseball's best stadiums in Smith's Ballpark, but there were some problems with the surrounding area and other concerns that prompted the Larry H. Miller Company, owner of the franchise, to move the club. In a rather unique choice for a minor league franchise, they built their community in South Jordan, about 20 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. This sports-anchored, mixed-use development is known as Daybreak, and the 200-acre site will eventually include apartment buildings, restaurants, and shops, making it similar to The Battery in Atlanta. However, at this time, only the ballpark is ready, with the surrounding area in various stages of construction. When complete, it promises to be a summer sports destination for those visiting the Beehive State, but at this point, much work remains to be done. Stadium Journey paid a visit to The Ballpark at America First Square for their second-ever game and were impressed with some aspects, but look forward to when the full dream is realized. 28. Harbor Park - Norfolk Tides - 3.29 Gregory Koch - (IL - Baltimore Orioles) - Located on the Elizabeth River in Downtown Norfolk, Virginia, Harbor Park is the home of the Norfolk Tides of the International League. The Tides were a long-running Mets affiliate between 1969 and 2006, but have been the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles since 2007. Originally known as the Tidewater Tides in the broader region, the team changed its name to the Norfolk Tides to honor its home city when the new ballpark opened in 1993.  Harbor Park takes its name from Hampton Roads, the natural harbor that divides the region of the same name into two and is located just minutes from the stadium. Fans can see ships of all sizes going up and down the Elizabeth River beyond the outfield fence, from small craft to large ships. 29. Constellation Field - Sugar Land Space Cowboys - 3.29 Eric Moreno - (PCL - Houston Astros) - In 2008, the city of Sugar Land, Texas (which was founded to be a company town for the Imperial Sugar Company in the early 1900s), approved a plan to build a new ballpark in the hopes of luring a minor league franchise to the city. After several years of negotiations, the route to bring an independent league squad was born, in the form of the then Sugar Land Skeeters, in 2012.  As members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, the Skeeters made headlines by bringing in baseball greats like Roger Clemens and Rafael Palmeiro, as well as NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady, to serve as members of their ever-rotating roster. The team would win league championships in 2016 and 2018.  After the Covid-19 pandemic, the Skeeters reached an agreement with the Houston Astros to become their Triple-A affiliate, rebranding as the Sugar Land Space Cowboys in 2021. As members of the Pacific Coast League, they would add another championship to their trophy case in 2024. 30. PNC Field - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders - 3.14 Gregory Koch - (IL - New York Yankees) - Minor League Baseball has been played in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania metropolitan area since 1989, when a team then known as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons arrived from Maine, playing in the International League. The team plays its home games at PNC Field in Moosic, rather than in Scranton or Wilkes-Barre.  Originally a Phillies affiliate, the team became a Yankees affiliate in 2007 and renamed itself after the parent club. In 2012, PNC Field was almost completely rebuilt, with only the seating bowl and ticket office remaining in place. For that season, the Yankees were forced to play all their “home” games in other stadiums across New York state. For the 2013 season, the team unveiled a new identity, the RailRiders, to go along with their “new” stadium.

Photos by Richard Smith Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd. Towson, MD 21286 Goucher Gophers website Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena website Year Opened: 1991 Capacity: 1,200 Home Of The Gophers Goucher College is a former all-women’s college located in Towson, Maryland, a northern suburb of Baltimore. The college opened in 1885 as the Women’s College of Baltimore City, changed its name to its current name in 1910, and went coed in 1986. Goucher moved to its present suburban location northeast of the county seat of Towson in Baltimore County in 1953. The college is named in honor of its founding member, John Goucher, and his wife, Mary Fisher Goucher. Goucher College is a private co-educational liberal arts college. It was originally affiliated with the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but currently has no real church affiliation. The college has approximately 1,480 undergraduate students studying in 33 majors and 1,200 students studying in graduate programs. Notable alumni include Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps Margaret G. Kibben, Maryland State Delegate John A. Olszewski, Jr., and frequent John Waters actress Mary Vivian Pearce. Goucher athletic teams are known as the Gophers. The college competes in NCAA Division III as part of the Landmark Conference. The Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena opened in 1991. The 1,200-seat arena was built as part of the expansion of the original Lillian Welsh Hall. Food & Beverage 0 There is no permanent food stand at the Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena. Atmosphere 2 The arena is very nice, but it is basically a high school-type setup. As you enter the arena, you will find wooden grandstands sitting along two sides of the court. The only thing I found interesting is how far away the grandstands sit from the actual basketball floor. Maybe they are expecting a huge need for floor-side seats at some point. Neighborhood 4 The Goucher College campus has been used for a few scenes in the Netflix series House of Cards, so expect to recognize the stone buildings from a few scenes there. Towson is a semi-urban environment with a very large shopping mall and numerous restaurants in the area. Downtown Towson has many options for good food and drinks. Baltimore is also a quick drive away. Check out the Federal Hill neighborhood, south of the Inner Harbor. There are a few fun restaurants and bars here. Fans 2 The only real fans who attend the games are friends and family of the players. A few scattered students attend, but it is not a big event on campus. Access 4 Goucher is located right off the Baltimore Beltway/I-695. The only negative is that Towson is a busy area, and traffic can be bad at times. The college itself is pretty and quite suburban. You will find plenty of parking close to the arena, although a night game may mean that parking could get tight at times. Return on Investment 5 The games are free to attend. So, although the level of play is quite low, the free parking and admission make this a great value for sports fans. Extras 1 Goucher College has a nice little athletics hall of fame located in the Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena lobby. Final Thoughts The Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena is a pretty basic, low-level arena located in a nice suburban setting in Baltimore. It is not worth making a trip just for a Goucher Gophers game, but if you are in the area, you will enjoy the game for its low level of investment.

If you think that Banana Bal l and Cosmic Baseball have been spectacular at the ballpark this year, then you should see what was being offered to fans in 1950. Instead of watching soccer, football, and auto racing, why not combine all three and turn it into a new sport? The sport was moto-polo, and it was described as the world’s most daring and thrill-packed game ever presented on the racetrack. Others called in 2 hours or rolling suicide, and the home of a thousand spills and hundreds of roll-overs. It was a sport designed for early TV sets in the Los Angeles area, to present an idea crazy enough that people would pay to see at their local racetrack and speedway.  ​ On April 16, 1950, at the Kern County Fairgrounds, fans witnessed the first contest featuring moto-polo. Here, two teams of three specialty-built cars faced off, each trying to push a 200-pound ball—measuring 5 to 7 feet in height—down 100 yards to score a goal. These cars, capable of reaching speeds of 50 miles per hour, were equipped with large cages to protect drivers from injury during rollovers. ​ Adding to the spectacle, a specialized, smaller referee vehicle with a siren was used. Like the other cars, it was encased in steel hoops enabling it to flip and right itself. The referee signaled penalties by firing a gun into the air, and for major infractions, a third car with a giant hook removed offending vehicles from the field. ​ “You can hear the emotion surge through the crowd when an unusually spectacular accident occurs,” said California Polo League secretary Gene Gach. “They love it! They gasp when parts fall off the cars! Once in a while, a petrol tank bursts and fuel catches fire. The crowd goes wild!” ​ That year also saw the formation of the California State Moto Polo League, which included four teams: the Los Angeles Red Devils, Hollywood Wolves, San Francisco Shamrocks, and Oakland Pirates. With games televised, 10,000 fans attended the inaugural contest at Washington Boulevard Stadium in Venice, California. A year later, new teams called the Sacramento Speedbusters, Stockton Skyrockets, and Oakland Thunderbirds entered the ring. ​The majority of the vehicles were stripped down to 1935 and 1946 Ford V8 passenger cars that were covered by a framework of steel tubing to prevent them from rolling over or tipping end-to-end without injuring the driver, who was strapped to his seat belt. The drivers did not have harness belts at the time, and each car cost around $2,500 to build for the league. ​The game would begin when a ball was put into play by a “smash off,” when a car struck the giant inflatable ball into the air and then back into play. An out-of-bounds ball would be put back into play by a “twist off” between two cars speeding towards one another in opposite directions. There were also three-minute fouls in a penalty box, removal of players, and their version of a penalty kick called a free “smash” on the goal at mid stripe. There were bumps and bruises inside the car, but the spectators were more at risk for serious injuries from the stands. Spectators had to keep their eyes on the action or suffer being hit by a flying tire, a ripped railing, or other car parts flying near or through the fencing. A bystander in Bakersfield was injured sitting on a rail near what officials deemed the “danger area.” The next year, the show went on the road throughout the West Coast and other parts of the country. Games were held in Oregon, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Illinois. The majority were held at speedways, racetracks, county fairs, and minor league ballparks. “Once in a while, we would get two (cars) on a side, ram him, pick him up, and drive him around the place,” former driver Jack Phillips said. “He’d scream at us to put him down, and he’d blow his whistle, but we just laughed. So would the fans.” The events were advertised as a riot on wheels and mechanized mayhem. The events were held within a 2-hour time frame and featured half-time motorcycle stunt performers. Drivers signed autographs to a legion of fans after each game, and some were paid close to $250 a week. However, by 1955, the once promising new sport had lost steam. Digging through the newspaper archives, there are more than plenty of black and white photos of the cars and rubber ball, some grainy and others very clear. The height was between 1950 and 1952, and with Hollywood stars such as Bob Hope and Bing Crosby painting the new sport, it seemed destined for coast-to-coast popularity. According to former driver, Jack Phillips, the end was the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. A car accidentally bumped into a TV tower, causing it to sway back and forth. Other drivers raced over and rammed their vehicles into the tower as a joke. The stunt backfired, causing thousands of dollars' worth of damage to the equipment. The TV station sued the drivers, and their cars were impounded, leading to the quick end of moto polo. A ticket to see it live was around $1, and it appeared to be a fun-filled 2 hours of back flips, crashes, speed, and stunts. The sport enjoyed brief fame and made it into many newspapers across most of the country. Sadly, its fast rise ended just as quickly and is nearly forgotten 75 years after its debut. However, it might be time for a revival. Check out a clip from the KTLA archives! ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter  and his YouTube channel . Email at marc@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Clark Companies Rink @ Haldimand County Caledonia Centre 100 Haddington St Caledonia, ON N3W 2N4 Caledonia Calvaires website Haldimand County Caledonia Centre website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 1,500 All for Caledonia Caledonia, Ontario is located on the edge of the Six Nations Reserve, split by the Grand River and southeast of Brantford.  It is home to the Caledonia Corvairs of the Junior B level Greater Ontario Hockey League.  The First Nations influence is found in the team with the logo, one of the best in the league.  The current iteration of the Corvairs were founded in 1970 as the Brantford Jets.  They also spent time as the Gunners, Penguins, Alexander B’s and Classics.  In 1992 the team moved to Ohsweken, right on the Six Nations Reserve to become the Golden Eagles.  Their time in Ohsweken was short and they moved to Brant County in 1998 before returning to Brantford in 2012.  A decade later, the team moved to Caledonia and became the Corvairs, where they currently reside.  This was not Caledonia’s first crack at junior hockey.  The original Caledonia Corvairs were founded in 1961 and played at the Junior D level in the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League winning the OHA Cup as provincial champions in 1969.  In 1972, the Corvairs made the jump to the Junior C level and proceeded to win the Schmalz Cup in their first season.  They immediately jumped to Junior B the following season where they played seven seasons before returning to the Junior C ranks.  The team went on permanent hiatus in 2012 with the Junior B Corvairs moving to Caledonia. The Corvairs are currently owned by Pro-Fit Health and Performance and are often referred to as the Pro-Fit Corvairs due to their sponsor’s name.  Home for the Corvairs is the Haldimand County Caledonia Centre.  A community hub, the Caledonia Centre has two ice pads, library, community centre and athletic fields.  The main ice pad, where the Corvairs play, is the Clark Companies Rink, named after a local agricultural firm. Food & Beverage 3 There is a main concession in the lobby of Haldimand County Caledonia Centre. There is a decent variety of typical arena snack bar foods. Hot dogs, burgers, fries and popcorn are all available. Pepsi products, Slush Puppies, coffee, tea, water and energy drinks are the soft drinks available. At the north end of the arena is the Blueline Club, which sells alcoholic beverages. Patrons must stay in the north end to consume their beverages.  The Blueline Club is normally inside at other arenas, however it is out in the arena at Clark Companies Rink allowing for fans to continue to hear the sounds of the game with their beer. Atmosphere 3 The exterior of the Haldimand County Caledonia Centre is fairly non-descript. It is a low profile building with light brick and a green overhang at the main entrance. The HCCC houses two NHL sized ice rinks as well as community rooms and the public library. Outdoor sports fields are also on the grounds. Inside the HCCC fans enter a small lobby. There are a couple of interesting items in the lobby. A number of trophy cases in the lobby house trophies and artifacts from a variety of leagues and organizations. There is one case dedicated to the Corvairs with old pictures and other items. Scrapbooks from historic teams are in the case and can be viewed with permission from the office.  Two main items of note are near the Clark Companies Rink entrance.  The Haldimand County Wall of Fame as plaques for inductees.  Right across from the Wall of Fame are two framed hockey jerseys that make it clear who the favourite sons of Caledonia are.  Ray and Don Edwards have framed NHL jerseys on the wall.  Ray is from the Caledonia area and his nephew, Don, played for the Junior C Corvairs.  Both ended up making it as goaltenders in the National Hockey League.  After passing the ticket desk in front of the entry (the best time to explore the Wall of Fame is after the second period, when the ticket desk has been put away) fans enter the Clark Companies Rink to find a south to north oriented ice rink.  There is seating on both the east and west sides with the east side having the best view of the centre ice logo and being more comfortable.  The east side features three sections of seven rows of plastic arena seats.  A section of benches is found on either side of the seat sections and all of the west side seating is benches.  The Corvairs have enjoyed a decent run of success, winning their conference since the amalgamation of Junior B hockey in 2007 and a run of three straight Sutherland Cups as Junior B Champions from 2014-16.  This does not include a few accolades earned as the Brantford Eagles.  All of the championship banners flank the scoreboard at the north end of the arena.  Caledonia hockey history is not lost as classic Corvair banners hang in the northeast corner for the 1969 Junior D Championship and 1973 Junior C Championship.  Finally, at the north end hang the retired numbers of NHL player, Oshweken native and former Corvair Brandon Montour, and former Waterloo Warrior  Tyler Norrie who tragically died in 2014. The gameday production at a Corvairs game is a typically simple ordeal.  The promotions include a 50/50 draw.  The sound system at the Clark Companies Rink is decent and the PA announcer is okay, but at times he yells into the mic making it more difficult to understand announcements due to the subsequent buzzing. Neighbourhood 3 The Haldimand County Caledonia Centre is located in central Caledonia.  It is less than a km south of the Grand River.  As part of Haldimand County, Caledonia is not huge with a population of just 12,000.  Caledonia has a cute downtown that is worth looking into.  Within walking distance of the HCCC are a few chain restaurants.  Other options include Tony’s Corner Xpress, Argyle Street Grill, Oasis Drive In, Ye Olde Squire and The Real Hammer Hogs BBQ.  Although the Corvairs are the only game in town, there are plenty of other sporting options a short drive away.  The Junior C Hagersville Hawks  are close as are the Six Nations Arrows  and Six Nations Chiefs  lacrosse teams.  Bigger events are found at nearby Hamilton and Brantford.  Some tourist options that are close to Caledonia include the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and Caledonia Mill Heritage Site.  Staying in Hamilton or Brantford is the best plan for fans wishing to stay in the area. Fans 3 For the 2024-25 season, the Caledonia Corvairs averaged 427 fans per game.  Caledonia ranked 11th in the GOHL, right in the middle.  The game that was reviewed was an odd Sunday evening game and only saw 240 fans in attendance.  Fans in attendance are fairly reserved and quiet.   Access 4 Haldimand County Caledonia Centre is located in central Caledonia in Haldimand County.  It is southeast of Brantford and southwest of Hamilton, less than a km south of the Grand River.  It is south of Highway 54 and east of Highway 6, which are not large, multi-lane highways.  It is not difficult to get to Caledonia from out of town most of the time, however, it could be a bit of a challenge during snowy times.  There is plenty of parking on site at HCCC.  For fans wishing to take public transit, there is a SOT bus stop on Haddington Street, the southern border of the HCCC.  Fans should consult the Southern Ontario Transit  website for fares, schedules and maps. Return on Investment 5 GOHL hockey provides great value for the sporting dollar and the Caledonia Corvairs are no different.  Tickets are purchased at the door and go for $12, cash or card.  There is free parking on site and concession prices are what one would expect at a venue in the GOHL.  The product on the ice is solid and fans will definitely enjoy the experience. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Haldimand County Caledonia Centre as a community hub. An extra mark for the First Nations inspiration in the current Corvairs logo. An extra mark for the success the Corvairs have enjoyed in their short time at the Junior B level in Caledonia. Final Thoughts Taking in a Caledonia Corvairs game is a great way to take in some Junior B hockey.  The Haldimand County Caledonia Centre offers a good mix of hockey history with modern comfort that will have fans satisfied at the end of the game.  Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Bruno-Plache Stadion Connewitzer Straße 21 04289 Leipzig - Lößnig, Germany Map It 1. Lokomotive Leipzip website Bruno-Plache Stadion website Year Opened: 1922 Capacity: 15,600 (currently capped at 7,000) Lokomotive Leipzig From victory over Napoleon to the peaceful overthrow of the oppressive DDR regime, Leipzig has earned its nickname, the city of heroes. The number one football team in the city, Lokomotive Leipzig, has several heroes of their own. Whether it’s their fans who in perilous times would never let their club die, or Uwe Zötzsche, 3 three-time GDR cup winner whose bloodied head injury didn’t stop him scoring a penalty that booked Lok a place in the 1986/87 UEFA Cup Winners Cup Final. Whilst the semi-final v Bordeaux that season was played at the main centraalstadion in Leipzig (100,000 said to be in attendance), home for Lok is ‘Das Bruno’ four miles south east of the city centre. On a damp evening, alongside over 5000 die-hard fans, stadium journey witnessed a feisty 1-0 win over Babelsburg in the Regionalliga Nordost (4th tier) to keep Lok at the top of the table. The stadium, built in 1920, has seen far better days; no ultra-modern facilities like the ‘new club’ in Zentrum-West Leipzig here. The main stand, however, is a thing of beauty, and who needs prawn sandwiches when you can stand in the rain for 90 minutes, singing praise to your footballing heroes? Food & Beverage 4 Numerous food stalls can be found as soon as you enter the main turnstiles on Connewitzer Strasse. Ur-Krostitzer is the local beer, costing €4. Currywurst is €5 (€7 with pommes) and bratwurst is €3.50. You can also buy crepe sweets and soft drinks. Atmosphere 5 The police vans and chanting fans offer a jolting juxtaposition to the large, wealthy homesteads and open fields in the immediate vicinity of the ground. As is often the case, the first thing you will spot is four floodlight poles reaching high into the night sky. Once through the main block of turnstiles, the Fankurve, reserved for ultras, is the first entrance you see; it’s the northernmost section, behind one of the goals. To the right is the family area, to the left, the Nordostkurve sweeps round to the halfway line, a popular spot for supporters. Away fans are placed far from the action in the Gasteblock, reachable via Zum Förderturm. The classic old scoreboard and clock dominate the south end of the ground. Bruno-Plache Stadion - Old Scoreboard and Clock at the South End, Photo by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Finally, the wooden main stand with facilities for VIP customers runs the length of the western touch line. The stand offers fine views of the action and is even carpeted! Fans sitting in the main stand are as passionate and vociferous as the ultras in the Fankurve. The entire perimeter of the playing surface has high fences with large concrete terraces, uncovered from the elements. Neighborhood 4 Leipzig is a fascinating city where you can easily lose a couple of days. The ornate narrow passageways, the churches that rose to prominence before and during the peace protests, and the museums telling stories of times past. An audio tour called ‘On the trail of Leipzig’s communist past’ is downloadable onto your phone and talks through the story of the DDR and those peaceful revolutions which began here. The city has a confident, young, and trendy vibe with many exhibitions, bars, and outdoor music offerings. With Bach and Wagner as previous residents in the city, its musical pedigree is high. The Leipzig fascination with books is well known; a little less known is its links to the fur trade in times past. In the winter in Leipzig, you may wish to bring one. The local suburb for Das Bruno is Probstheida, it is adjacent to the ground, so handy to pick up a bottle of beer or kebab. There isn’t a great deal else to see, but the Napoleon Brauhaus is an option for fans who like to drink in a pub rather than a street corner. Fans 4 Attendances have grown over the last few years. After five games of the 2025/26 season, the average was just over 5000. The biggest rivals are Chemie Leipzig , BFC Dynamo, and Dynamo Dresden. The yellow and blue of Lok can be found in street art, stickers, and on our visit, the pyrotechnics launched from the Fankurve. Previous players, heroes who’ve been idolised over the years, include Henning Frenzel, Wolfram Löwe (60s and 70s), René Müller, Matthias Liebers, and Olaf Marschall (80s). In 2005, German International Lothar Matthäus played for the club in an official local Cup semi-final. Shout out also to Uwe Rosler, a Lok player who went on to play for Man City and Southampton . Access 3 After WWII, East German sports clubs were reorganized under the socialist system, and many were placed under the sponsorship of major state industries (like police, army, railways, etc.). For Lok, the clue is in the title! The appropriate way, therefore, to arrive in Leipzig for a Lokomotive match is, of course, via train. In doing so, you will inhabit the largest train station in Europe (by sq. ft), a cavernous station with two identical entrances, one originally built for the Prussian State Railway, the other the Royal Saxon State Railway. If you are feeling brave, download the e-scooter app VOI and scoot south along Prager Strabe to the stadium. A more conventional route is to leave Leipzig Hauptbahnhof and take the S-Bahn S1, S2, or S3. Disembark at Leipzig Völkerschlachtdenkmal. Adjacent to the Wilhelm-Kurtz-Park, you will see the 300ft high (Europe’s biggest) monument to the Battle of the Nations. An imposing memorial that commemorates the defeat of Napoleon's French army at Leipzig. There’s a small bistro at the monument serving coffee, ice cream, and beer. If you are travelling by car, the Bruno-Plache-Stadion can be reached via the B2 and Prager-Str. Return on Investment 5 Tickets can be purchased on the Lok website, priced from €12. Beer is cheap, a club scarf is €17, and travel from the centre of Leipzig will cost less than €10. Overall, for an old-school football experience such as Das Bruno, this is well worth your money. Extras 4 Three fans/historians have written some fantastic books about the club. One about Lok’s 130-year history, with over 500 pages, was awarded German Football Book of the Year 2019 in Germany. There is also one on the 1973/74 UEFA Cup run and the most recent publication, ‘A Dream’ covers the 2024/25 season when dreams of promotion were cruelly denied in a play-off match v TSV Havelse. Until 1949, the ground was called the Probstheidaer Stadion. The stadium was then named after Bruno Plache, an activist who in 1945 became sports director of the Leipzig city council. Uwe Zötzsche stickers are available from the ultras stall behind the Fankurve. This Leipzig hero looks out from lampposts across the city, buy yours for just a couple of Euros! Look out for the club podcast on your Spotify account. It’s called LokCast! Final Thoughts What would be your motivation to visit Das Bruno to see Lok? If it’s ‘customer experience’ and comfort, there are many better options for you. However, if you like muddy puddles, high fences, crumbling terraces, police sirens, beer, bratwurst, and good football, then we recommend you come and see the Lok heroes in action.

Shane Barclay from JapanBall.com joins us to talk about the ballparks of Japan, the differences between experiencing a game in North America and Japan, as well as a little bit of Japanese baseball history. We even discuss some of the incredible tours offered by his global baseball tours website . Audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast can be found by searching HIAC Talk Radio wherever you look for your favorite podcasts. Video simulcasts of all the Stadium Journey podcasts can be found on Stadium Journey's YouTube page . Join us live as we record every other Tuesday night at 7PM eastern at danlaw.tv .

Image courtesy of Quince Imaging At a recent hockey game at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, fans were able to participate in an interactive Frogger-style game on the ice between intermissions. The entire ice was lit up like the classic arcade game in what was called Frog Dash.  The game is the latest creation from Quince Imaging, a company that’s been pushing the boundaries of arena entertainment for more than a decade. Fans strap on helmets fitted with infrared trackers, step onto the ice, and control their digital frogs in real time. Built with Unreal Engine and Pixera, and powered by Stage Precision, the setup makes for a true one-on-one competition that feels like a classic arcade game come to life. “It's controlled by the person from the ice, but it is real-time tracking and playing like you have a controller,” VP of Innovation Eric Gazzillo said. “You get out there and control it yourself. It is 1 vs. 1, and there are different ways to control the game.” The Ducks quietly rolled out the feature two seasons ago, taking advantage of what’s considered the brightest projection system in the NHL. The move is part of Anaheim’s effort to carve out a unique identity, build an Orange County vibe, and stand apart from the L.A. sports scene. Image courtesy of Quince Imaging Quince Imaging has been designing interactive projection games since 2013, with previous titles including a Dunkin Coffee Run, a Pong-inspired challenge, a coin collection game, and even Pac-Man-style chases. Over the years, the company has worked with teams across the NHL and NBA — from the Devils and Hurricanes to the Utah Jazz. But Frog Dash  is just one piece of what the technology can do. The same system allows teams to display player shot charts, stats, and instant replays directly on the ice. “We've been installing these systems for over 10 years,” Gazzillo added. “To have 200 feet of clean projection mapping at an NHL game is hard to pass up.” The NHL has embraced projection tech more than any other league, thanks to the size of the rink and the spectacle it creates for fans. Gazzillo says nearly every NHL arena now features some version of the system. The games aren’t just a gimmick. They’re designed to keep fans engaged and give them something to cheer for, even when the scoreboard isn’t going their way. “Fans want to cheer each other on,”   Marketing Director Bill Arseneau said. “They want to see a win, no matter how the home team is doing.” This summer, at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the company’s projection mapping honored Hank Aaron’s 715th home run. Quince used 16 Christie 50K RGB laser   projectors across three double-stacked outfield rasters to turn the stadium into an impressive   visual tribute—celebrating one of baseball's most iconic milestones. Looking ahead, Quince plans to add more features to Frog Dash  and continue building its library of interactive titles — with sponsorships playing a key role in how quickly that happens. For now, Ducks fans can enjoy hopping across the ice like it’s 1981 all over again. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

The Richmond Flying Mummies were announced tonight as the newest members of the Northwoods League. The unveiling included the introduction of the club’s home uniforms and on-field caps. The team is set to play at Historic Don McBride Stadium in Richmond, Ind.; and returns baseball to town after a two-year absence. The name is a nod to the city's two Egyptian mummies that are on display and the Wright Brothers' aviation history in Richmond (they lived in town between 1881 and 1884), which blends ancient mystique and the thrill of flight. The two mummies were acquired in 1889 and 1929 from Cairo and are displayed at the Wayne County Historical Museum and the Joseph Moore Museum of Natural History. The home uniform features gold and black horizontal stripes to mimic bandages, photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey "The Flying Mummies represent resilience, surprise, and that unbeatable rush of a comeback win,” said President/Managing Partner Matt Bomberg. “Richmond is ready to unwrap something truly special.” The logo, designed by John Worthen of Worthen Design, showcases a dynamic mummy character framed by the wings of a Wright Brothers-inspired plane. The mummy dons an old-fashioned leather helmet, aviator goggles, and a red scarf. The custom typography pairs a sleek script for “Flying” with a playful, wrapped-style font for “Mummies,” creating a look that stands out on both jerseys and caps. The official team colors are linen gray, mummy gold, nightfall black, and Richmond red (a nod to the Richmond High School Red Devils athletic teams). The mummy image has a meaner look that is not typical for minor or summer collegiate logos. The newly unveiled home uniform features vertical striping reminiscent of mummy bandages, paired with the team name in white, accented by bold brown and black outlines. Bomberg noted that the black top alternate will showcase the city name across the chest and the mummy head logo, where the TV number is, and will be matched with gray pants. While the red jersey top highlights the mummy head logo on the left chest, a TV number is opposite it. It will be paired with white pants and a red cap. Team merchandise fills a table at the introduction, photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey The club introduced three on-field caps in black and gray (there will be a red version as well). They feature the mummy head by itself and the letter “R” with a wrap-style font, scarf, and aviator glasses, which took a little extra work to design, according to Bomberg. “We had the scarf coming across the letter R in red, but it looked more like the letter “P” instead of an “R”, so we had to get creative." Jacob Sparks submitted the first entry for Mummies, and Bobbie Williams submitted that the name should have a flying or aviation theme. The other finalists in the name the team balloting were the Groove, Wampus Cats, Starlight, and Plastic Dinos. The Groove came in second place in the fan voting. A secondary logo features two crossed bats wrapped in bandages, photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey The city last fielded a summer collegiate team in the Richmond Jazz, who competed in the Great Lakes League from 2016 to 2023. Before that, the Richmond River Rats represented the city in the Prospect League from 2009 to 2015. Professional baseball also has roots here, dating back to various teams that played between 1946 and 1952, followed by the Richmond Roosters of the Frontier League, who took the field from 1995 to 2005. ——— Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter   @ballparkhunter   and his   YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld Roland-Ducke-Weg 1 07745 Jena, Germany Map It FC Carl Zeiss Jena website Ernst-Abbe-Sportfield website Year Opened: 1924/2024 Capacity: ~15,000 Carl Zeiss Jena Few names evoke DDR football ostalgie more than Carl Zeiss Jena. When spoken aloud, “Carl Zeiss Jena” carries a mellifluence that belies its industrial origins. The iconic club badge, in use since 1976, with its vivid blue, yellow, and white colours, is recognisable to football fans across Europe. The city of Jena is located in Thuringia, in central Germany. It was part of the old DDR until reunification in 1990. This growing city, famous for its optical industries, sits in a valley through which the River Saale flows, overlooked by rugged, rocky mountains. The original Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld opened in 1924, complete with a running track. In 2020, the rebuild began, and the striking new stadium was officially opened in July 2024. Mercifully, the famous old Jena stadium clock tower was saved, an iconic reminder of footballing times past. The new Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld (aka, Ad Hoc Arena) was recently voted the best stadium in the world in a poll by Stadium DB, ahead of Real Madrid’s Berna b è u Stadium . The Jena men’s team currently plays in the 4th tier of German football (Nordost). They were DDR-Oberliga champions, three-time cup winners, and in 1981, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup finalists, narrowly losing to Dinamo Tbilisi. As for many former East German giants, those halcyon days are now a distant memory. Their Frauen side competes in the Women’s Bundesliga. Stadium Journey’s visit coincided with a match against Union Berlin Frauen in front of 1384 spectators. Food & Beverage 3 The city centre has a variety of food outlets to use before or after your stadium journey. The L’Osteria sits under the Jena Tower on Johannisstraße, and although not a ‘local’ option, the spaghetti bolognese offers an alternative to ‘another’ bratwurst. Inside the stadium, water is €3.50, cola is €4, and Köstritzer Pils 0.5L costs €5. Nachos and a dip €5. Bratwurst €4 oder Rostbrötchen €5. All available from various kiosks on the outer concourses of the stadium. Atmosphere 3 The highest attendance was reported to be around 27,000 for a Champions League match v Atletico Madrid. Another claim to fame is the world javelin record fell at the old ground by Czech athlete, Jan Železný. The new stadium, designed by Lau Dirsat Architekten, was built at a cost of around €60 million and has a capacity of just over 15,000. Three stands are completely new, and one was incorporated from the previous iteration. Home ultra fans are at the North end of the stadium, which is standing only. Neighborhood 3 As the club and stadium names demonstrate, the optical industries are intrinsically linked with the city of Jena. Carl Zeiss (1816–1888) was a German industrialist and scientific instrument maker. Carl founded the Zeiss company in 1846. Ernst Karl Abbe (1840 -1905) was a social reformer and optical engineer who was co owner at Carl Zeiss AG. Their statues can be found in the city and cultural references are everywhere. For €6, take a lift to the 29th floor of the Jena Tower for spectacular views, including Zeiss' current HQ and the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld. Ernst-Abbe-Sportfield View from the Top of Jena Tower, Photo by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey There aren’t too many must-see tourist destinations in the city. You could probably find enough to do in Jena for a day, although longer if you’d enjoy hiking in the surrounding forests. Fans 4 “We are Jena, we are Jena…” to the tune ‘we are sailing’ is sung loudly and gets in your head for days to come! Home fans have a bitter rivalry with Erfurt, a city around thirty miles west of Jena. Union fans brought the noise for this fixture; nearly half the crowd had travelled south from Berlin. German international Bernd Schneider is one of many famous footballers to have played for Jena. Two new scoreboards are visible to fans from all parts of the stadium. At the old version of the ground, in 1978, Jena had the first ever electronic scoreboard in the GDR! Access 5 A river walk towards the match always feels very civilised. Fulham has the Thames, Bremen has the Weser. Whilst smaller in scale, the walk or cycle south from the centre of Jena along the River Saale is a charming route to the ground. The walk, through leafy parkland, takes just 15 minutes. Most fans stop along the way to drink their bottles of beer and discuss the upcoming fixture. If it’s a rainy day, trams 1,4, or 5 from Paradiesbanhof to Sportforum take just ten minutes. To get to Jena itself, there are train services and Flix Bus options from Leipzig or Frankfurt. Access into the stadium is through electronic turnstiles. Once inside, there are steps up into the stands with the usual additional amenities available. Return on Investment 3 A trip to the fan shop in the centre of town or outside the ground could be an expensive one. Scarves are €19 and home shirts are more than €60. They have a wide range of branded goods available. FC Carl Zeiss Jena Club Shop, Photo by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Tickets are available in the fan shop/ticket centre at the stadium or the fan store in Jena city centre, as well as online or by telephone hotline. Ticket prices range from €10 to €20. Extras 3 The club still produces an informative printed programme for all home matches. An excellent way to commemorate your visit. Club name changes were almost a historical imperative across East German football. SG Stadion Jena, SG Carl Zeiss Jena, BSG Mechanik Jena, BSG Motor Jena, and SC Motor Jena are just a few iterations from days gone by. As with many modern stadia, the venue seeks to serve the wider community seven days a week. Corporate events, conferences, congresses, sports events, stadium tours, Christmas parties, and catering are all available in three exclusive, individually customisable event areas. Final Thoughts The city of Jena is certainly off the beaten track in European ground-hopping terms, which means you need a good reason to visit. This famous old East German football team, soaked in history, and its brand new award-winning stadium will give you all the reasons you need!

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29 Bridgewater Ice Arena 20 Bedford Park Bridgewater, MA 02324 Stonehill Skyhawks women's hockey website Bridgewater Ice Arena website Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 500 Stonehill Hockey Editor's Note: For the 2025-2026 season, Stonehill moved the majority of their men's hockey games to Warrior Ice Arena in Boston. The men's team will play only one game at their former home at the Bridgewater Ice Arena this season. The women's team will continue to use the BIA as their primary home. Although they will play a portion of their home schedule in Boston at Warrior, they will play 12 of their 16 home games in Bridgewater. This review was written during Stonehill's first season at the BIA in 2022, and is from a men's game. On April 5, 2022, tiny Stonehill College, a private Catholic school located in Easton, Massachusetts with an enrollment of 2,500 undergraduate students, announced it was moving all of its athletic teams to the NCAA Division I level, effective in the fall of 2022. Prior to 2022, Stonehill was a member of the Northeast-10 Conference in NCAA Division II. The hockey team would begin life in Division I as an independent, as Stonehill’s new home, the Northeast Conference, does not support hockey. While in D-II, Stonehill won three NE-10 conference championships Both the men’s and women’s hockey teams play their home games at the off-campus Bridgewater Ice Arena. This public rink, located 12 miles from the Stonehill campus, features two NHL-sized rinks, a full-service café and seating for 500. The complex also plays host to numerous high school teams as well as the Bridgewater Bandits of the USPHL. Stonehill’s athletic teams competed for years as the Chieftains. In 2002 the school decided to change its nickname. After considering several options, Stonehill officially changed its nickname to the Skyhawks in 2005. This name has no connection to a bird or animal but does have a connection to the school’s history. After the school’s property was purchased by the Congregation of Holy Cross, an airfield on site was leased to the Navy during World War II and to private companies afterwards. The airfield was closed in 1955 as the college grew, but the Navy continued to use the land for training exercises and would employ the Skyhawk aircraft between 1954–1995. Food & Beverage 3 There is a snack bar located at the back end of the lobby. The menu here isn’t as extensive as other snack bars you’ll find in community rinks, but there are enough choices here to keep all fans satisfied. A combination of breakfast and lunch foods are available here. Breakfast sandwiches, burgers, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese sandwiches and meatball subs can be purchased here. If you’re just looking for a snack, an assortment of muffins, candy, popcorn and pop tarts are available. Pepsi products are featured, with hot chocolate and coffee popular choices in this chilly rink. Many fans bring their own beverages in, with lots of Dunkin’ coffee observed in the stands. There are also vending machines in the lobby should the snack bar not be open during your visit. Atmosphere 1 The game day atmosphere at a Stonehill hockey game is a bare bones one to be sure. With the facility’s physical limitations, you wouldn’t really expect anything more. A simple scoreboard at the far end displays basic game information, while a surprisingly good sound system plays music during play stoppages. The PA announcer goes about his business in an understated manner. There are no promos or contests during the game to distract and there is little to no noise from the sparse crowd in attendance. There is little evidence at Bridgewater Ice Arena that a Division One hockey team even plays here. The USPHL’s Bridgewater Bandits are the primary tenant, with a sign advertising their presence on Bedford Street along with a large banner hanging at center ice. The pro shop here sells Bandits gear, but no Stonehill swag. The only mention that the Skyhawks even play here are a pair of banners hung in a far corner of the rink. Neighborhood 2 Given Bridgewater Ice Arena’s location in an industrial park, you wouldn’t expect any attractions or lodging options in the immediate vicinity of the rink. However, there are places to be found a short drive away. Downtown Bridgewater is about two and a half miles away to the north, with Route 44, a local route connecting Providence and Plymouth, passing by three and a half miles to the south. Numerous dining and lodging options can be found in either direction. Barrett’s Alehouse and Fireside Grille are local favorites located close to Bridgewater Ice Arena. Visitors to Stonehill looking to explore more than just the immediate neighborhood may gravitate to Boston, a 45-minute ride north or Cape Cod, a 30-minute ride to the southeast. A half-hour drive can also bring you to the historic seaside towns of Plymouth or New Bedford. Visitors to the area will find plenty to do in any of these locations, even during the winter months of the hockey season. Fans 1 It’s early on in Stonehill’s Division One tenure (Stadium Journey attended the Skyhawks’ third ever home game at BIA). An individual associated with the team stated that crowds so far have numbered between 75-100 fans. These numbers appear to be accurate, which places the Skyhawks firmly at the bottom of the NCAA attendance rankings. Hopefully the team will be able to create a following as the program continues to grow. Most of the fans in attendance appear to have a connection with the players on the ice. With the BIA located a dozen miles from campus, there is little to no representation from the student body at games. The women’s team, which began play this season, has been enjoying slightly larger crowds in their inaugural season. Access 4 Bridgewater Ice Arena is located 12 miles from the Stonehill campus in suburban Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Situated in a small industrial park just off Route 18, it is very easy to get to from any direction. Interstate 495 passes just a few miles to the south of the rink. Directions to the rink can be found here . There is plenty of free parking in the lot adjacent to the facility. The Skyhawks play in the east rink, one of two rinks in the facility, which will be on your right as you enter the lobby. Seating consists of metal bleachers that run along the length of one side of the rink. There is some standing room at the near end of the ice. Nets are hung at both offensive zones, but the center sections are free from obstruction. Rest rooms are located just off the lobby and are more than large enough for a typical Stonehill hockey crowd. Be warned that the rink is very chilly, so dress appropriately. Return on Investment 5 There is no charge to watch a Skyhawks hockey game. Parking is also free in the arena parking lot. It’s entirely possible to go to a Division One hockey game without spending a cent. Even if you decide to get a snack while at the game, you certainly won’t be breaking the bank. Extras 0 There isn’t a whole lot going on at a Skyhawks hockey game that can be considered extra. This experience is about as bare bones as it gets. Final Thoughts The trend in Division One hockey in recent years has been for the smaller schools to move out of community rinks and into new rinks built on campus. As tiny Stonehill College begins competition at the sport’s top level, they find themselves at one of these community rinks. It’s proving to be an inauspicious beginning for the Skyhawks. Here’s a guess that the Bridgewater Ice Arena won’t be a long-term home for Stonehill. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Before Jacob Slichter was in the rock band Semisonic, and before he penned his book about his experiences, So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star:How I Machine-Gunned a Roomful Of Record Executives and Other True Tales from a Drummer's Life ( You can buy Jake's book here ) , he was a Chicago Bears fan. Jake took a moment to discuss his favorite team and some other fun stuff. STADIUM JOURNEY: Let's start with the glory. What was it like to play at RFK Stadium? What do you remember? Did you check out the crowd when you were playing, or did you stay completely focused on the skins? Who'd you hang with backstage? JACOB SLICHTER:   We played RFK Stadium for a radio festival right as “Closing Time” reached the top of the alternative radio charts.  I will never forget how unprepared I was for the moment when 40,000 people joined us on the first chorus.  It almost knocked me off my drummer’s throne. Closing Time... STADIUM JOURNEY: Stuck on the glory. Did you meet any super famous people who surprised you and were genuinely down to earth? JACOB SLICHTER:   We met a lot of famous people: Aimee Mann and Sheryl Crow, both of whom we toured with and both of whom were astonishingly down to earth (and amazingly talented).  I’ll never forget meeting Beatles producer George Martin, to whom we were introduced as he was having dinner after a very long day.  He had woken that morning in London, flown to Toronto, done a bunch of promotion for a new album of his, and then here he was, being introduced to some band of whom he’d never heard.  Yet he was so gracious.  He spoke to us, standing, for twenty or so minutes before we finally let him go.  I had a similar experience with Lionel Richie at a Grammy after-party.  All of these interactions were immensely instructive. STADIUM JOURNEY: What comes first: Your love for music or the Bears? JACOB SLICHTER:  Music, lol. STADIUM JOURNEY: What are your fondest Bears memories? Who were your favorite players? Was Soldier Field your home away from home? JACOB SLICHTER:  I’ve never attended a Bears game in person.  I became a sentient Bears fan just after Gale Sayers suffered his career ending injury.  There wasn’t much offense to root for, so I’d watch the television and wait for Dick Butkus and the defense to take the field.  My greatest memory was watching them win the Super Bowl with a few friends and other Bears fans crowded into a Pizzeria Uno somewhere in San Francisco’s Marina district.   STADIUM JOURNEY: You went to Harvard. Did you attend any football games? Is the Harvard/Yale rivalry the real deal, or is it more of a syllabus requirement? JACOB SLICHTER:  I went to two Harvard/Yale games and never felt any passion for it. STADIUM JOURNEY: How was the music scene at Harvard? Were you in a band there? JACOB SLICHTER:  I was in a few cover bands before pairing up with current bandmate, Dan Wilson, and another friend, Hal Movius.  I wouldn’t say the music scene at Harvard was anything special.  The Boston scene, however, was and remains very special. STADIUM JOURNEY: When you were touring, were you able to fit the Bears in? In general, what's life like on the road? JACOB SLICHTER:  Fitting the Bears into one’s schedule is like fitting in coffee with the ex who broke your heart and still treats you horribly.   STADIUM JOURNEY: How'd the book come about? Were you keeping a journal all along? What was the process? JACOB SLICHTER:  I only started keeping an actual journal about halfway through, but the first half of the journey was seared into my memory. STADIUM JOURNEY: I know you're working on a sequel. How's that going? JACOB SLICHTER:  It’s not a sequel but something else entirely.  It’s coming along very slowly. STADIUM JOURNEY: If you could play any position on the football field, which would you choose and why? JACOB SLICHTER:  I used to imagine myself playing safety, which is kind of like being the drummer in a pop band.  It’s the thing no one notices until things go terribly wrong.  But in the end, I think there’s a reason I avoided playing sports.  I’m not someone who wants to defeat someone else.   Jon Hart is @manversusball

The United Football League is adding teams in Louisville, Ky.; Columbus, Ohio; and Orlando, Fla.; for the 2026 season. They will all play in smaller, soccer-specific venues, aiming to create a more vibrant atmosphere with 10,000 to 15,000 fans per game. ​ The Columbus Aviators will play at Historic Crew Stadium, the Louisville Kings will play at Lynn Family Stadium , and the Orlando Storm will play at Inter&Co Stadium . Each venue has a seating capacity of under 25,000. ​ Louisville will share its field with the USL Louisville City FC in the 15,304-capacity Lynn Family Stadium, starting in the 2026 season. The market had been discussed for several months, and it will be the first time the city will host a spring football team. “Columbus, Louisville, and Orlando are true football cities with deep sports roots. We’re proud to bring professional football to these communities – in energetic, fan-driven stadiums built to create an authentic gameday experience and strengthen the foundation of this league for years to come,"   said Mike Repole, co-owner of the United Football League. ​ ​The Aviators will relocate to the former home of the Columbus Crew and utilize it as a stadium for gridiron football. Crew Stadium has a seating capacity of 19,968.  The Storm returns spring football to the city, having previously been home to the Orlando Guardians, which played at Camping World Stadium in 2023. Beginning in the 2026 season, the Houston Roughnecks will be renamed the Houston Gamblers (the name the city used in the USFL in 1984 and 1985 when Jim Kelly was their quarterback) and will play at the home of the MLS Houston Dynamo, Shell Energy Stadium . Simultaneously, the Arlington Renegades will relocate to the home of MLS FC Dallas, Toyota Stadium,  and be known as the Dallas Renegades. ​ Team uniform designs will be released at a future date. The regular season begins on February 27, 2026. ---- 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 Jamie L. Roberts Stadium 47777 Mattapany Road St. Marys City, MD 20686 St. Mary’s (MD) Seahawks website Jamie L. Roberts Stadium website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 800 The Other St. Mary's When sports fans think of St. Mary’s College, they usually think of the school in Moraga, California that produces the occasional basketball upset of Gonzaga. However, there is another school of that name as well, St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Unlike other schools of that name, this St. Mary’s is a public university that gets its name not from a Catholic saint but from St. Mary’s City, Maryland, where it is located. St. Mary’s City was the first colonial settlement in the State of Maryland, and the fourth-oldest permanent English settlement in what was then the Thirteen Colonies. Today, half of the city is a state-run historical preservation and reconstruction area similar to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia and Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts, also known as Historic St. Mary’s City, while the other half is occupied by the modern-day SMCM campus. Although the original St. Mary’s City was once a thriving port town, its population had dropped to just 100 by 1644. Today, almost 400 years later, the population is just 733, almost all of them associated with either the college or the historic site. SMCM’s athletic teams are known as the Seahawks, and they compete at the NCAA’s Division III level in the United East Conference. Jamie L. Roberts Stadium is home to several of the Seahawks' outdoor sports teams, including track and field, lacrosse, field hockey , and soccer. The stadium is actually two fields with a common concourse running in between - one turf and one grass. This review will cover the experience at a St. Mary's soccer game, which will be played on the grass field The stadium is named after Jamie L. Roberts, a multi-sport athlete at St. Mary's who was tragically killed in a collision during a cross-country bike ride to raise money for cancer research. Food & Beverage 4 There is a concession stand at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium, but it was closed when we visited. A Kona Ice truck was parked outside the stadium selling its usual wares. A food truck was also present selling a more extensive menu. Cheeseburgers were $12, wagyu burgers or bison burgers $16. and hot dogs are $4. Several baskets with fries are available as well- chicken tenders for $16, and chicken nuggets or corn dog nuggets for $12. If you just want fries, that will cost you $5. while mozzarella sticks and pork lumpia (a Filipino spring roll) are $10. Soda and water are available to drink for $2 each. Fans can also bring in their own food and beverage, except for alcohol. One downside is that there was no announcement of the food trucks in the stadium so you would just have to notice them from the concourse and go down to get some. Atmosphere 3 Walking through the gates at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium will put you in a small area with a promotions table and some other signage such as a plaque honoring Jamie L. Roberts. From there, you will take steps or an elevator up to a concourse running between the turf and grass fields. Soccer plays on the grass field, which will be on your left as you come in. There are some chairbacks seats at midfield, with the remainder being metal bleachers without backs. It is general admission, but the chairbacks never fill up so you should have no trouble getting one. Unlike the turf field, the grass field does not have a track, so you will be up very close to the action and be able to hear a lot of the chatter. A scoreboard shows only the most basic information like the score and clock. Neighborhood 3 St. Mary’s City contains precisely two things – the St. Mary’s College campus and Historic St. Mary’s City , which is a historical reconstruction park similar to Colonial Williamsburg and Plymouth Plantation. It is a popular field trip site for Maryland schoolchildren, and tens of thousands of others visit the site every year as well. It is well worth a visit for the colonial history buff, but for just about anything else, you’re going to have to go into a neighboring town like Lexington Park. There are some places to eat up and down Three Notch Road (Route 235) and Point Lookout Road (Route 5), and some hotels that are mainly used by people visiting the historic site, but you’re going to have to drive at least 10-15 minutes to get there. Fans 4 While friends and family do show up to St. Mary's soccer games, there are also locals and some St. Mary's students. The crowds here are pretty good for the Division III level, and in fact there are some low-level Division I teams where the crowds would be smaller and less rowdy than they are here. The fans are loud at times, but at other moments are almost completely silent. There is no designated student section, so the students sit scattered throughout the crowd. Access 3 Unless you’re already in town to visit the historical site, getting to the St. Mary’s campus will take some driving. Maryland Route 5 and Maryland Route 235 both serve the area, but it’s a long drive from any major city along mostly local roads. It is two hours from Baltimore and an hour and 45 minutes from Washington, DC. Keep in mind that if you are planning to travel here from areas across the Potomac River or the Chesapeake Bay, particularly the Northern Neck of Virginia or Maryland’s Eastern Shore, places that look close on a map may actually be a long drive away as there are no bridges across either body of water at this location. A map may show that the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore is only about 40 miles away as the crow flies. Still, it would be difficult if not impossible to see both the Hawks and the Seahawks on the same day as getting from St. Mary’s to Princess Anne requires a three and a half hour drive up to Annapolis, across the Bay Bridge, and back down. Likewise, parts of Virginia’s Northern Neck are only about ten miles away as the crow flies, but require almost a two-hour drive as the nearest bridge is many miles away. Once you make it onto the campus, there is a small lot next to the stadium, which is across Mattapany Road from the main part of campus. If that lot fills up (which it will - it is a very small lot), there is another, much larger lot directly across the street. This lot is known as the Guam Lot, likely due to its remote location relative to most of campus, but it is very convenient for attending games at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium. There are several restrooms on the upper concourse, with gender neutral single-person ones on one end by the stairs and elevator, and conventional men's and women's ones on the other end. Return on Investment 4 Attendance at St. Mary's field soccer games is free of charge. So is parking. The only cost will be Kona Ice or food from the food truck if you want any, or whatever food options may be available. That being said, there isn't enough here to earn the top core. Extras 3 ‘Look for the plaque honoring Jamie Roberts. Roberts was a former St. Mary's women's basketball, soccer, and lacrosse player for the Seahawks. Sadly, she was killed in 2014 during a cross-country bike ride to raise money to fight cancer. A second star for the historical markers on the path to the stadium. They recognize the history of the St. Mary's campus and St. Mary's City and its transformation from a historic city to the present time. A third star for the fact that Jamie L. Roberts Stadium is actually two stadiums in one, and if you time your visit right, you can experience both of them in one day. Final Thoughts Jamie L. Roberts is a nice soccer stadium for the Division III level, with modern facilities and good crowds. College soccer fans in Southern Maryland may want to make the trip down here to take in a St. Mary's game.

Photo by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Guinness World Records  and Major League Eating  recently partnered with San Antonio, Texas-based Tex-Mex chain Taco Cabana  for a unique event that pitted the best professional eaters in a one-of-a-kind contest. Eaters from all over the world descended upon the Alamo City on Saturday, September 20 in an effort to set a new world record and claim the title of world taco eating champion. In an eight-minute span, Geoffrey Esper of Oxford, MA downed an astounding 51 of Taco Cabana’s world-famous bean and cheese tacos. Esper’s record just edged out Australia’s James Webb, who put down 48.5 to finish in second. At the event, 11-time hot dog eating champion Miki Sudo finished in fourth place with 31.5 tacos downed. “Today, Geoff Esper rewrote the laws of human possibility by downing 51 tacos in eight minutes,” said Major League Eating Chair George Shea at the event. “At the same time, San Antonio witnessed an unparalleled demonstration of exceptionalism as James Webb and Miki Sudo, locked in unison, devoured nine tacos in a single minute to set a Guinness World Record.” The winners split a $10,000 total prize purse. ------ Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens 60 Carlton St. Toronto, ON M5B 1J2 TMU Bold hockey website Mattamy Athletic Centre website Year Opened: 1931 Capacity: 2,538 The Bold Cathedral There is not much remaining of the famed Original Six hockey arenas from the National Hockey League.  Only one remains in use by the NHL team, but one other remains in use in a brilliant rebranding.  Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens was built in 1931 and can only be described as a hockey cathedral.  Countless major events took place at the “Cashbox on Carlton.”  In 1999, the Maple Leafs moved into the brand new Air Canada Centre.  The final event at the old gardens was a Toronto Rock, National Lacrosse League Champions Cup Final.  Unfortunately, what to do with MLG took quite a while to figure out.  Eventually, Ryerson University would purchase the building, along with Loblaws to transform the Gardens into a multipurpose facility including the athletic facilities for the university and a grocery store on the ground level.  Rebranded Mattamy Athletic Centre at The Gardens, the facility fully opened in 2012 which included a gym and small arena at the top level.  Mattamy Home Ice now features a capacity of over 2,500 and has been the location of a number of events. Ryerson Institute of Technology was established in 1948 and iced its first hockey team, the Ryerson Rams, the same year.  In 2001 the university completed its final rebrand under the Ryerson name as Ryerson University.  Amid public pressure, the university rebranded fully as Toronto Metropolitan University in 2022 to move away from Egerton Ryerson and his connections to the Canadian Residential School System.  Today, the athletic teams at Toronto Metropolitan are known as the TMU Bold.  The hockey team has earned seven conference championships, with the most recent being in 1963 and has appeared in the University Cup National Championship tournament in 2022 and 2024.  The Bold claim the late John Saunders of ESPN as one of their hockey alumni. Food & Beverage 3 The concession options at Mattamy Home Ice are not overly unique and the typical arena options are what one would find at a TMU Bold game.  Pizza, hot dogs, pretzels and nachos are all available along with popcorn, chips and other light snacks. Coca-cola products are the soft drink of choice at the arena.  A surprisingly decent beer selection is also available at Mattamy Home Ice including Molson Canadian, Coors, Blue Moon, Creemore Lager and Heineken.  Seltzers are also available. Atmosphere 5 As part of the heritage site designation, the original front façade of Maple Leaf Gardens on Carlton remains intact. The cream brick has a classic look and the marquee remains almost like it did in the forties, fifties and sixties. The ground level has a Loblaws grocery store on the east side. The west side of the Carlton Street entrance sends fans into the Loblaw Atrium. Smart looking and properly lit, the atrium is welcoming and houses the ticketing windows for the MAC. With tickets in hand, fans will ascend the escalator to the second level where the recreation facilities and Varsity Court can be found. Two more escalator trips will bring fans to the fourth floor and the entry to Mattamy Home Ice. Throughout the trip to the fourth floor fans can’t help but notice the row of original MLG red seats fastened to the outer wall, high above the atrium. There are also a ton of old pictures illustrating the vast history of the venue. It could take quite a while to get to the seats if stopping to take all of the history in. The hallway at ice level also features some displays that are more TMU centric, displaying some of their own team history and trophies. Entering the seating bowl will no doubt give fans pause. Immediately the iconic roof of Maple Leaf Gardens commands attention and makes fans feel good that it is still Maple Leaf Gardens. The capacity is just over 2,700 which is perfect for the venue. The ice runs from north to south with the perfect picture coming from the west side. The scoreboards and video boards are at each end of the arena and the decor is bright with blue and gold markings making it truly feel like TMU’s home. Contrary to most other OUA hockey venues there are a few alternate seating options. With the concourses behind the seating bowl, there is plenty of space for standing room. Mattamy Home Ice also offers a few corner suites and the north end of the area features the Alumni Lounge. With a strong media program at TMU, the game day production is about as professional as it can get. The Bold do a great job of utilizing cameras and the video boards to enhance the experience. The Bold even utilize the logos of the youth hockey teams that play during the intermissions. The music selections and promotions are what would be expected. The Bold’s mascot, Frankie B. Bold, can be found interacting with the crowd for some games. Neighbourhood 5 Mattamy Athletic Centre at The Gardens is located in the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood of Downtown Toronto.  One of the top tourist cities in the world, Toronto offers more than one person can take in for one visit.  There are a ton of places to eat and drink within steps of Mattamy Athletic Centre.  Some include Fran’s, Druxy’s, Pogue Mahone Pub, Golden Diner, and The Bistro.  Toronto is a sports fan’s dream with a ton of other sports options.  Mattamy Athletic Centre also hosts TMU Bold basketball .  The University of Toronto offers Varsity Blues football , basketball  and hockey  just a short walk away and York University offers Lions football , basketball  and hockey  at the north end of the city.  There are a plethora of professional sports options as well including the Maple Leafs , Raptors , Toronto FC , Toronto Argonauts , Toronto Marlies  and Toronto Sceptres.  Other tourist options in Toronto include Habourfront, CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, Casa Loma, the Theatre District and Eaton Centre.  For fans that wish to stay near Mattamy Athletic Centre, the Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown is right beside the arena. Fans 3 It is difficult to assess USports hockey fans as attendance statistics are infrequently reported and the websites do not gather the information.  That being said, TMU Bold have modest support akin to many other schools in the OUA.  At the time of writing, TMU averaged 200 fans per game, ranking them 13th in the conference.  The previous season, 2023-24, the Bold averaged over 220 fans per game, which ranked them 12th in the conference.  Below the top few programs, most schools average between 100 and 300 fans per game.  There is plenty of opportunity to grow for TMU with a large facility.   Access 4 Mattamy Athletic Centre is located in the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood of Downtown Toronto.  It is approximately two km north of the Gardiner Expressway and two km west of Don Valley Parkway.  However, traffic in Toronto is significant and getting to the arena by car can be a challenge.  There are a number of parking facilities around Mattamy Athletic Centre.  Pre-planning and purchasing parking is highly recommended using an app such as ParkWhiz or SpotHero.  Do not plan on parking in the garage at Mattamy Athletic Centre as it is reserved for Loblaws patrons.  Toronto has a very strong transit system and taking public transit could be the best bet to make the trip to Mattamy Athletic Centre smooth.  The College subway station is west of the Gardens and there are street cars that travel Carlton Street.  Fans should consult the Toronto Transit Commission  website for fares, maps and schedules. Return on Investment 5 The return on investment for TMU Bold hockey is very strong.  Ticket prices for the Bold are $13 each with discounts for alumni and youth.  Tickets are all general admission and TMU students are free.  The product on the ice is solid and the Bold have been very competitive since moving to Mattamy Home Ice.  What puts the return over the top is the opportunity for fans to take in hockey in a legendary hockey venue with plenty of things to peak the historians interest. Extras 4 An extra mark for TMU hosting the 2024 University Cup National Championship. An extra mark for the excellent restoration that TMU and Loblaws undertook to maintain and upgrade Maple Leaf Gardens. An extra mark for the iconic MLG ceiling which has been maintained at Mattamy Athletic Centre. An extra mark for the rivalry that Toronto Metro shares with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. Final Thoughts Taking in a TMU Bold hockey game is so much more than just a typical university hockey game.  The opportunity to see a game at Mattamy Home Ice @ Mattamy Athletic Centre at The Gardens is the opportunity to see the remnants of one of the last great venues of the NHL that is still standing.  The former Maple Leaf Gardens is not what it once was, but it has been brilliantly restored to a fully functional facility more appropriate for USports hockey. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Coca-Cola Court @ Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens 60 Carlton St Toronto, ON M5B 1J2 TMU Bold basketball website Mattamy Athletic Centre website Year Opened: 1949 Capacity: 1,000 Basketball in a Hockey Holy Grail Editor's Note: Ryerson University changed its name to Toronto Metropolitan University. This review was written before the rebranding, and will reflect the team's previous name as the Ryerson Rams. Former Toronto Maple Leafs director, the legendary Conn Smythe, pushed for a new arena and for the opportunity for the Leafs to get out of the smallish Arena Gardens on Mutual Street. In 1931, Smythe was rewarded with the opening of the now legendary Maple Leaf Gardens. For more than 60 years, the Gardens was the pre-eminent entertainment venue in all of Canada. The Maple Leafs shared the ice with major concerts including The Beatles and Elvis Presley, Maple Leaf Wrestling, junior hockey’s Toronto Marlboros and a host of other sports teams. The Maple Leafs would play their final game at the Gardens in 1999 before heading to the Air Canada Centre to join the Toronto Raptors. The final sporting event at Maple Leaf Gardens would be the National Lacrosse League championship game in 2000 where the Toronto Rock were victorious. Then the Gardens went dark for a decade. The future of Maple Leaf Gardens would be questioned for years. Not surprisingly, Ontario declared it a Heritage Site in 1991 and Canada would do the same in 2007. Options for the property were limited. Eventually, the Gardens would be sold to the Loblaw Company, parent company of a huge chain of grocery stores, and they would partner with Ryerson University. It was the financial aid of Mattamy Homes Ltd founder, Peter Gilgan, that would help transform the former Maple Leaf Gardens into what it is today, the Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens. The main floor on Carlton Street is a Loblaw’s grocery store. The top level retains much of the design of the old Maple Leaf Gardens and houses Mattamy Home Ice, the home of Ryerson Rams hockey. The middle floor serves as the recreation facilities of Ryerson along with Coca-Cola Court, the home for Ryerson basketball and volleyball. Ryerson University was established in Toronto in 1948. Today, Ryerson has grown to a university with over 40,000 students and has produced many members of the Canadian media. Participating in the OUA, the Ontario conference of USports, Canada’s university sport governing body, the Ryerson Rams have been fielding a basketball team since 1949. Usually considered an “also-ran” in the OUA, Ryerson’s move to the MAC has coincided with its best showings on the court. It is no coincidence that Ryerson has taken home the Wilson Cup as OUA champions in both 2016 and 2017. Food & Beverage 3 A variety of concessions are available on the second floor of the Mattamy Athletic Centre. The Rams Café services fans attending Rams basketball games as well as students using the recreation facilities. The selection of food at Rams Café is decent but not spectacular. Pizza, sandwiches, popcorn, protein bars, chips, chocolate bars and candy are all available. Coke is obviously the soda selection to be had. Vitamin water and other soft drinks are also available. Coffee, a selection of teas, cappuccino, slushies and smoothies round out the soft drinks available. Beer is also available at Rams Café for those who are of legal age. There is a decent seating area in Rams Café which also serves as a great place to meet friends and relax before the game begins. Atmosphere 5 Mattamy Athletic Centre is possibly the best example of repurposing a classic sporting venue that there is on the planet. The Heritage designation required Ryerson and Loblaw to maintain much of the exterior. Carlton Street boasts the main entrance and the cream coloured brick, iconic domed roof and traditional Maple Leaf Gardens marquee remain. The building still fits the neighbourhood perfectly. Upon entering the MAC at the main level, fans are struck with the sleek, modern, Loblaw Atrium. Smartly lit and promoting a variety of Ryerson athletes, the Atrium welcomes fans and nicely transitions to the historic aspects of the MAC. Throughout the entire building fans can see a ton of old pictures from some of the biggest events ever held at Maple Leaf Gardens. The row of red seats along the south wall on the second level might just be the ones that Conn Smythe had put in when he infamously replaced the portrait of the Queen. Up the escalator to the second level is where fans will find Ryerson’s recreation facilities, a small team shop and Coca-Cola Court. The court is located at the west side of the building. Coca-Cola Court is a small, intimate basketball facility, perfect for OUA basketball. The court runs from north to south with two sets of eight row, moulded plastic bleachers on the east and west sides. Fans who wish for the perfect picture of the centre court logo should head for the west side. The court is full of white, blue and yellow with huge painted logos on the north and south walls. The north side proudly proclaims for all to see that “This Is Our House Now.” The north and south walls each have simple scoreboards with the north featuring individual player scores as well. There is also a simple scoreboard on the floor on the east side of the court. To the left of the north scoreboard are the OUA and USports championship banners, including the 2015-16 and 2016-17 Wilson Cup banners as conference champions. The game day production at a Rams basketball game is about what you expect from an OUA basketball venue. There is an in house DJ who plays music during down times and adds sound effects to made free-throws. The PA announcer does a solid job and does not blow away the fans in attendance with too much show or too much volume. Sometimes the Ryerson mascot Eggy the Ram can be found in attendance. Neighbourhood 5 The Mattamy Athletic Centre is located in the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood of downtown Toronto. It is very close to Queen’s Park and the Ontario Legislature as Toronto is also the capital city of the province. There is an abundance of opportunities for fans around the MAC and although it is not Harbourfront, fans will not be left wanting. There are a plethora of restaurants and bars within walking distance of the MAC. Some spots that may be of interest would include Mick E Fynn’s, Fran’s Restaurant and Carlton Restaurant. Toronto is a city where a weekend will not cut it, a whole week is probably necessary to get what may be close to the full experience. For fans hoping for other sporting experiences to pair with a Ryerson Rams basketball game there are a number available. A good place to start would be by going upstairs to Mattamy Home Ice to catch the Ryerson Rams play hockey. A twenty minute walk will bring fans to Ryerson’s main rival, the University of Toronto. The Varsity Blues play football at Varsity Stadium, hockey at Varsity Arena and basketball at the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport. As far as the professional ranks go, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Toronto Rock all call Scotiabank Arena home. The Rogers Centre is home for the Toronto Blue Jays and BMO Field is home for the Toronto Argonauts and Toronto FC. Across the parking lot from BMO is the Coca-Cola Coliseum, home of the Toronto Marlies. Finally, at the north side of Toronto is York University, home of the Lions. Football is played at York Stadium, basketball is played at the Tait McKenzie Centre and hockey is played at Canlan Ice Sports York. There are also a plethora of other tourist options near the MAC. Casa Loma is to the north and offers a unique experience in the city. The CF Eaton Centre is probably the most recognizable shopping experience in Toronto and is also close by. The theatre district in Toronto is probably second only to New York and that doesn’t even cover the CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame and other tourist spots closer to Harbourfront. For fans needing to stay close by, the Holiday Inn is right next door to the MAC. The Courtyard by Marriott is also close by. Fans 2 It is so difficult to assess OUA basketball fans. In many cases the attendance is not reported with the official score. It is reported that fan support for Rams basketball games hovers between 300 and 800 fans, which is pretty good, but probably on the high side. Ryerson is also pretty much a commuter school, with students coming from all across Toronto, rather than just the Ryerson campus. The fans that are in attendance can be pretty laid back as most OUA basketball fans are. The game that was reviewed was a significant mismatch which could account for the small and quiet crowd. Access 4 There are a couple of different ways to get to the Gardens. It is located in the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood of downtown Toronto. It is north of the Gardiner Expressway and west of the Don Valley Parkway. It is also significantly south of highway 401. For fans coming to the Gardens by car, be prepared to do some significant driving through the city. There are a number of paid surface lots around the Gardens. There is also parking beneath which is controlled by Loblaws. The parking around the neighbourhood usually goes for around $10-$15, but the Loblaws parking is quite significant and can go to $40. The best way to get to the Mattamy Athletic Centre may be the subway. The College Station for the TTC is less than a block away. There are also buses and streetcars in the neighbourhood. Fans can check out the Toronto Transit Commission website for fares, schedules and maps. The ticketing window is immediately on the left when entering the MAC off of Carleton Street on the main floor. There are usually not much in the way of lineups. Fans should be aware that at least one window will be a cash only affair. Getting around the MAC is not too difficult at all. Fans must travel to the second level by escalator to reach the Coca-Cola Court. There are elevators for those who are unable to take escalators. The washrooms on the second level are clean and new. There is more than enough space to accommodate the number of fans that are normally in attendance for Ryerson Rams games. Return on Investment 5 As with most USports experiences there is tremendous value in Ryerson Rams basketball games. USports basketball is a hidden gem and the Rams program is currently one of the strongest in the country. Tickets for Ryerson games are $13 for adults, $9 for alumni and Ryerson students and children under 12 are free. The level of basketball is great and it is easy to have a great time on a very small investment. Concession prices are not too bad either. There will be a bit of a cost getting to the MAC but that is offset by the ability to check out a truly iconic venue. Extras 4 Two extra marks for Ryerson maintaining the history of Maple Leaf Gardens. The exterior façade sets the tone and fans of the Maple Leafs and Toronto sports history can spend hours perusing old photos and artifacts. An extra mark for the budding rivalry with the Toronto Varsity Blues. Games against Varsity are now becoming popular and very well attended. Something that USports desperately needs. An extra mark for the unique flexibility that Ryerson has. Coca-Cola Court is a small, intimate venue for basketball. For games that will draw a larger crowd, it is not that difficult to set up a basketball court on Mattamy Home Ice. Final Thoughts Ryerson Rams basketball offers sports fans the opportunity to see a great sports property and a significantly low price in a truly iconic venue. Even Leafs fans who are not into OUA sports need to take the pilgrimage to the Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens to see how well Ryerson has done in preserving this heritage site. Coca-Cola Court screams, go for the Gardens, stay for the Rams. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Jamie L. Roberts Stadium 47777 Mattapany Road St. Marys City, MD 20686 St. Mary’s (MD) Seahawks website Jamie L. Roberts Stadium website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 800 The Other St. Mary's When sports fans think of St. Mary’s College, they usually think of the school in Moraga, California, that produces the occasional basketball upset of Gonzaga. However, there is another school of that name as well, St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Unlike other schools of that name, this St. Mary’s is a public university that gets its name not from a Catholic saint but from St. Mary’s City, Maryland, where it is located. St. Mary’s City was the first colonial settlement in the State of Maryland, and the fourth-oldest permanent English settlement in what was then the Thirteen Colonies. Today, half of the city is a state-run historical preservation and reconstruction area similar to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia and Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts, also known as Historic St. Mary’s City, while the other half is occupied by the modern-day SMCM campus. Although the original St. Mary’s City was once a thriving port town, its population had dropped to just 100 by 1644. Today, almost 400 years later, the population is just 733, almost all of them associated with either the college or the historic site. SMCM’s athletic teams are known as the Seahawks, and they compete at the NCAA’s Division III level in the United East Conference. Jamie L. Roberts Stadium is home to several of the Seahawks' outdoor sports teams, including lacrosse, track & field, soccer , and field hockey. The stadium is actually two fields with a common concourse running in between - one turf and one grass. This review will cover the experience at a field hockey game, which is played on the turf field. The stadium is named after Jamie L. Roberts, a multi-sport athlete at St. Mary's who was tragically killed in a collision during a cross-country bike ride to raise money for cancer research. Food & Beverage 1 There is a concession stand at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium, but it was closed when we visited. A Kona Ice truck was parked outside the stadium, selling its usual wares, but there was no announcement of this in the stadium, so you would just have to notice it from the concourse and go down to get some. A food truck may sometimes show up with a more extensive menu. When we visited, it was not present for the field hockey game, but did show up for a soccer match at the stadium later in the day. Atmosphere 3 Walking through the gates at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium will put you in a small area with a promotions table and some other signage, such as a plaque honoring Jamie L. Roberts. From there, you will take steps or an elevator up to a concourse running between the turf and grass fields. Field hockey plays on the turf field, which will be on your right as you come up. There are some chairback seats at midfield, with the remainder being metal bleachers without backs. It is general admission, but the chairbacks never fill up, so you should have no trouble getting one. One downside of the field here is that it is surrounded by a running track, so you are further from the action than you might otherwise be. However, with only a few rows of seats, you will still not be too far away. A scoreboard in the far left corner shows time, score, and time left on penalty cards. The last bit of information is not always seen on field hockey scoreboards at this level, so it is good to have. Neighborhood 3 St. Mary’s City contains precisely two things: the St. Mary’s College campus and Historic St. Mary’s City , which is a historical reconstruction park similar to Colonial Williamsburg and Plymouth Plantation. It is a popular field trip site for Maryland schoolchildren, and tens of thousands of others visit the site every year as well. It is well worth a visit for the colonial history buff, but for just about anything else, you’re going to have to go into a neighboring town like Lexington Park. There are some places to eat up and down Three Notch Road (Route 235) and Point Lookout Road (Route 5), and some hotels that are mainly used by people visiting the historic site, but you’re going to have to drive at least 10-15 minutes to get there. Fans 3 Most of the crowd at a St. Mary's field hockey game will be friends and family of the players on the field. Many of them come to every or almost every home game. A few locals occasionally show up, and of course, the visiting team will be represented as well with their own fans. The crowds here are pretty small, as is to be expected for this level, but they can get loud at times, after St. Mary's goals or big plays. Access 3 Unless you’re already in town to visit the historical site, getting to the St. Mary’s campus will take some driving. Maryland Route 5 and Maryland Route 235 both serve the area, but it’s a long drive from any major city along mostly local roads. It is two hours from Baltimore and an hour and 45 minutes from Washington, DC. Keep in mind that if you are planning to travel here from areas across the Potomac River or the Chesapeake Bay, particularly the Northern Neck of Virginia or Maryland’s Eastern Shore, places that look close on a map may actually be a long drive away, as there are no bridges across either body of water at this location. A map may show that the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore is only about 40 miles away as the crow flies. Still, it would be difficult if not impossible to see both the Hawks and the Seahawks on the same day as getting from St. Mary’s to Princess Anne requires a three and a half hour drive up to Annapolis, across the Bay Bridge, and back down. Likewise, parts of Virginia’s Northern Neck are only about ten miles away as the crow flies, but require almost a two-hour drive as the nearest bridge is many miles away. Once you make it onto the campus, there is a small lot next to the stadium, which is across Mattapany Road from the main part of campus. If that lot fills up (which it will - it is a very small lot), there is another, much larger lot directly across the street. This lot is known as the Guam Lot, likely due to its remote location relative to most of campus, but it is very convenient for attending games at Jamie L. Roberts Stadium. There are several restrooms on the upper concourse, with gender neutral single-person ones on one end by the stairs and elevator, and conventional men's and women's ones on the other. Return on Investment 4 Attendance at St. Mary's field hockey games is free of charge. So is parking. The only cost will be Kona Ice if you want any, or whatever food options may be available. That being said, there isn't enough here to earn the top core. Extras 3 ‘Look for the plaque honoring Jamie Roberts. Roberts was a former St. Mary's women's basketball, soccer, and lacrosse player for the Seahawks. Sadly, she was killed in 2014 during a cross-country bike ride to raise money to fight cancer. A second star for the historical markers on the path to the stadium. They recognize the history of the St. Mary's campus and St. Mary's City and its transformation from a historic city to the present time. A third star for the fact that Jamie L. Roberts Stadium is actually two stadiums in one, and if you time your visit right, you can experience both of them in one day. Final Thoughts While a St. Mary's Seahawks field hockey game is a pretty basic experience, Jamie L. Roberts Stadium is a nice venue for the Division III level. Fans of the sport in the Southern Maryland area will want to make the trip here to check out a game.

Photo by Matt Finnigan, Stadium Journey The Grand Junction Jackalopes are relocating from the Grand Valley. League president Mike Shapiro said efforts were made throughout this year to keep the team in Grand Junction, but plans fell through recently. The franchise began as the Butte Copper Kings in 1978, then played in Casper, relocating to Grand Junction as the Rockies in 2011. The club’s new destination has not been revealed at this time. The team played home games at Suplizio Field and rebranded as the Jackalopes in 2023 when the Pioneer League shifted to an MLB Partner League. The move might come as a shock to many outside the area, but Shapiro shared his thoughts with  local ABC affiliate KJCT. “I think it was a little bit of everything that contributed to this unfortunate situation. “And the overarching issue is the financial performance of the club... One metric is that the league’s attendance average is about 2,100 a game. Regularly, Grand Junction has been at 1,200 a game. And you can see that disparity on an average-out basis. It just doesn’t pencil out for financial profitability, which, again, unfortunately, the team has been losing money every year ... and attendance drives financial performance in this baseball business.” Shapiro added other concerns, including a lack of seating and fireworks nights, the stadium lease, the relationship with the city, and insufficient shading at Suplizio Field. The city only allowed three fireworks during the 2025 season; one night was a rainout and could not be rescheduled. There were also conflicts with scheduling with the JUCO World Series. The JUCO World Series dates forced the Jackalopes to play all 48 home games between June and August, putting the team on the road for the last two weeks of the season. Grand Junction officials are already exploring replacement options and have received interest from potential new tenants. City Parks and Recreation Director Ken Sherbenou  told Yahoo Sports  that having the Jackalopes play at the ballpark was “something sustainable.” “We’re going to be interacting with possible replacement teams as well as possible users to come in and fill that gap,” said Sherbenou. “We have already been contacted by a couple of potential users. So there’s definitely interest out there.” The Jackalopes looked at playing all or some home games at The Diamond at Hamilton Ballpark, home to the Colorado Mesa University baseball team. Talks broke down due to scheduling and facility conflicts between the two sides. The league is expanding to Modesto, California, and is in discussions with the city of Long Beach, California, to field a team for next season. In July, the Northern Colorado Owlz relocated to Colorado Springs and rebranded as the Sky Sox. ------ 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: 3.43 Vale Health & Wellness Centre 550 Elizabeth St Port Colborne, ON L3K 5W3 Port Colborne website Vale Health & Wellness Centre website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 1,000 Teeder is Sailing into Niagara The Niagara Region of Ontario has a rich hockey history.  There are currently 5 teams in the Junior B Greater Ontario Hockey League that make up the Niagara Region GOHL triangle.  In the southwest corner is the city of Port Colborne, Ontario.  No stranger to hockey, the current Port Colborne Sailors are relatively new to the scene.  The current Sailors were established in 1963 as the Thorold Jaycees.  The Jaycess began in the Niagara District Junior B Hockey League.  In 1975, they became the Paper Bees and in 1979, to coincide with a drop to Junior C, they became the Paper C’s.  In 1982, they returned to Junior B and became the Golden Eagles for 4 years before settling on the Blackhawks.  In 2007, the Ontario Hockey Association reorganized the Junior B level, and Thorold, and with their entire league, joined the GOJHL.  Facing significant renovations for the 2022 season, the Blackhawks moved south to Port Colborne, a move that became permanent the following season.  The rebranded Port Colborne Sailors are currently owned by Scott Barnes. The home for the Sailors is the Vale Health & Wellness Centre.  A community hub, Vale boasts a pair of ice rinks and a swimming pool, and a YMCA Fitness Centre.  It is one of the cleanest venues a fan could find.  Toronto Maple Leafs legendary captain, Ted “Teeder” Kennedy is a Port Colborne native, and his presence is felt throughout the facility as the city’s favourite son. Food & Beverage 3 The main concession is found on the main level and appropriately named the Kennedy Club after Teeder Kennedy.  There is a typical snack bar type menu including fries, poutine, chicken fingers, chicken burgers, and hot dogs.  Other snacks include ice cream, chocolate, candy, chips, and muffins.  Pepsi products, as well as hot chocolate, coffee, tea, protein, and energy drinks, are the beverages available.  There did not appear to be a Blueline Club selling alcoholic beverages in Vale Centre. Atmosphere 3 The Vale Health and Wellness Centre offers an attractive, modern exterior with light siding and a unique protruding overhang.  The Community Celebration of 2013, no doubt linked to the opening of the Vale Centre is commemorated with a large autographed brick sitting on a pedestal to the right of the main entrance. After entering the Vale Centre, the trophy case in the vestibule immediately catches the attention of patrons and, at the very least, warrants a turn of the corner upon entry to the lobby to check out all of the artifacts.  Pictures of Port Colborne teams, Teeder Kennedy, other Port Colborne NHL players, and artifacts can be found in the case.  Other items of note include framed jerseys down the hall of Nick Dobrin and Tyler Crooks.  Both Port Colborne minor hockey players passed too soon, with Crooks actually passing in the line of duty with the Canadian military.  The jacket of local Port Colborne coaching legend Muir McGowan is also framed.  Framed pictures and a jersey of Teeder Kennedy are found right beside the concession window.  Also of note, possibly better viewed from upstairs are massive text art portraits of Port Colborne NHL legends Donald Gallinger, Teeder Kennedy, Harry Dick, Don Simmons, and Bronco Horvath.  Each portrait is made of letters that spell Port Colborne. The best entry to the arena is upstairs, which brings fans to the top of the west seating.  A small merchandise table is found in the lobby just before entering.  Inside the arena, the ice is north-south oriented, and the best spot to get a picture of the centre ice logo is from the west.  Vale Centre has two sets of seating options with seven rows of elevated seating on the west side and 3 rows at ice level on the east side. All seats are typical plastic arena seats, and there is plenty of space on the west side for those who wish to stand.   Vale Centre is possibly the cleanest arena out there. The boards have no advertisements on them, and the ads that are on the wall are neat. There isn’t much in the way of banners other than the Toronto Maple Leafs Teeder Kennedy banner from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Protective netting is found on the north and south ends, leaving a clear view on the sides. During the flooding of the ice, the lights are dimmed, and blue lights are used as trim on the upper level.  This gives the pregame a bit of a unique feel.  On the north wall, fans will find the Port Colborne Sports Wall of Fame. An enshrined member of note is the play-by-play voice of the Calgary Flames, Derek Wills. A curiosity is that none of the NHL players in the text art portraits, including Teeder Kennedy, have plaques on the Wall of Fame. The game day production at a Sailors game is fairly simple. Promotions include the 50/50 draw and the frisbee toss, a safer, possibly more challenging version of the chuck-a-puck. The speaker system is decent in Port Colborne; however, the play-by-play voice on the broadcast also seems to double as the public address announcer, which is not ideal. Neighbourhood 3 The Vale Centre is located in the northeast corner of Port Colborne. It is a bit out of the main tourist areas, but there are a number of places available for pre or post-game food and drinks. Some options include Melina’s Family Restaurant, Moe’s Tap and Wings, and The Lock Wood Fried Pizza. The Niagara corridor has a number of other GOHL teams, including the Welland Jr. Canadians, Pelham Panthers, St. Catharines Falcons, and Fort Erie Meteors. All are very close to each other. Other tourist options in Port Colborne include the Welland Canal, Canal Lock #8, and Nickel Beach. For fans who wish to stay in Port Colborne, there are a few independent hotels in the area. Fans 3 Port Colborne had decent fan support. For the 2024-25 season, the Sailors averaged just over 400 fans per game. This ranks them 13th in the GOHL. There were far fewer fans in attendance for the game that was reviewed, an abnormal Sunday evening.   The fans in attendance were fairly quiet and reserved.   Access 4 Vale Centre is located in the northeast corner of Port Colborne, which is one of the easier spots to get to, considering its distance from the waterfront.  It is essentially at the intersection of highways 3 and 140.  It is 10 km south of Welland, which is where the main highway, 406, ends.  There is plenty of parking on site.  For fans interested in public transit, Niagara Transit does have some stops in Port Colborne; however, they are on the west side of the Welland Canal, a significant walk from Vale Centre.  Fans should consult the Niagara Transit website for maps, schedules, and fares.  Getting around Vale Centre is not difficult.  It is a very comfortable arena, and the washroom facilities are adequate. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for the Port Colborne Sailors are $12 for adults, with discounts for students and seniors.  Kids 10 years old and under are free.  Parking is free, and concession prices are decent.  The on-ice product is good, and the Vale Centre is one of the cleanest, most comfortable facilities around.  This all adds up to a solid return on investment, with fans not needing to blow the bank to have some great sports entertainment. Extras 3 An extra mark for the Vale Centre being a community hub for Port Colborne. An extra mark for the numerous ways Teeder Kennedy is honoured at the Vale Centre. An extra mark for Vale Centre as one of the cleanest, well-maintained venues out there. Final Thoughts When heading to the Niagara Region, a stop in Port Colborne is a great idea.  Catching a Port Colborne Sailors game at the Vale Health and Wellness Centre is a great way to watch some solid hockey and not spend much money.  Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  , and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Alamodome 100 Montana St San Antonio, TX 78203 UTSA Roadrunners website Alamodome website Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 64,000 UTSA Roadrunners – Alamodome The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) was founded in 1969. As the university has grown, so too has the athletics department. In 2011, the UTSA Roadrunners  took the gridiron for their inaugural season under the guidance of future Hall of Fame Head Coach Larry Coker . UTSA as a university and as a football program has grown by leaps and bounds in the ensuing decade – they would reach their first bowl game in 2016 under the guidance of former Head Coach Frank Wilson . Under his watch, the team would send multiple players to the NFL, including tight end David Morgan II and first round draft pick Marcus Davenport . A member of Wilson’s last signing class, Riq Woolen , would also find stardom in the NFL, and become UTSA’s first-ever Pro Bowler. Under Head Coach Jeff Traylor , the Roadrunners have reached unprecedented heights, earning back-to-back conference championships in 2021 and 2022, as well as four consecutive bowl game berths. The team moved to the American Athletic Conference in 2023. The team has played every home game at the venerable Alamodome in downtown San Antonio. Under Traylor’s tenure, the Dome has given a significant homefield advantage to UTSA. While it’s definitely showing its age, it is still one of the most unique venues in college football.   Food & Beverage   4 Over the years, the Alamodome has undergone significant renovations and changes in an effort to keep up with the times (more on that in the next section). One area where they have continually tried to improve is in concessions. Over the past few seasons, the Alamodome has made a concerted effort to bring a number of local vendors and restaurants to fill the stands and kiosks throughout the facility. The newest options range from Tex-Mex to fried chicken to barbecue options – with Los Barrios Mexican Restaurant , Earl Abel’s , and The Big Bib BBQ , respectively – as well as national options like Johnny Rockets for burgers and Urban Bricks and Papa Johns  for pizza. In addition, local beverage distributors such as SipIT  and Te Amo Micheladas  offer up frozen mixed drinks and Mexican-style beer cocktails for fans up until the fourth quarter. Another great innovation for this season has been the installation of grab-and-go stands on each side of the field on the main concourse. You can get your traditional stadium fare, your hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, pretzels, bottled sodas, water, and beer, etc. at these stands, which has greatly improved the efficiency at the Dome. My one caveat that keeps this section from having a higher score – and I’ve heard this from numerous fans over the past few seasons – is the cost of some items. Prices are a little higher at the Alamodome than what you would expect to find at a program the size of UTSA. However, there are bargains to be had, so just keep on the lookout.   Atmosphere   4 Prefacing this now, I’ve been a UTSA Roadrunners season ticketholder since day one, and I’ve seen virtually every home game at the Alamodome in the last 14 years. The one area that I have seen the most improvement has been in the Atmosphere section. The parking lots surrounding the Dome have always been home to some of the best tailgating in the State of Texas, and this is said without an ounce of hyperbole. San Antonians love a party, and if you can throw a football game in – especially a winning one – they’re going to show up and show out hours and hours before gametime. If you’ve got time on your visit, spend some time in the lots before kickoff. In the nascent years of the program, you would be hard-pressed to find anything letting fans know that the Dome was UTSA’s home field. In the last few seasons, however, the stadium has put up a lot of signage in and around the outside of the facility, which is a good start. They will also light up the exterior of the Alamodome orange and blue for night games, and inside, the 2021 and 2022 Conference USA Championship banners proudly hang from the rafters all season. The lighting, scoreboards, and LED ribbons have all been upgraded in the last five seasons. The pre-game festivities at UTSA, with the band marching on the field while a hype video plays, followed by the football team’s entrance (which I will put up there with the best of any Group of 5 program in the country) is all top-notch. I freely admit to having a love/hate relationship with the in-stadium DJ, who performs throughout games. When you attend a Roadrunners game at the Alamodome, you might find them to be you’re your new favorite, so to each his own. The Alamodome provides a unique home field that no other program in the nation can offer; its acoustics make even small to medium-sized crowds sound like you’re standing next to a jet engine warming up for takeoff. Perhaps more important, as a football fan who has seen countless games across the state of Texas in my time, I can’t tell you how much the 72 degrees in the Dome in August, September, and October are appreciated. Aside from its age, the one thing that keeps this section’s score from being even higher is the lack of a true team store – merchandise tables are available during games, but that feels pretty bush league for a Division I program.   Neighborhood   5 In numerous past reviews I have extoled the virtues of my city and its downtown area, which is where the Alamodome is located. A walkway under State Highway 281 connects the Dome to the area of San Antonio that is home to the Alamo, Tower of the Americas, the River Walk, Hemisfair Park, the Shops at Rivercenter (which, in itself, is home to an IMAX Theater, a Legoland Discovery Center, and a SeaLife Aquarium), and an abundance of some of San Antonio’s best shopping, dining, and lodging options. For dining options, there are a few in the immediate, walkable area of the Alamodome. Nearby options include Tony G’s Soul Food (of which I’m a big fan), which serves up scratch-made Southern classics like fried chicken, meatloaf, and fried catfish, and The Cherrity Bar , which in addition to serving up award-winning cocktails also offers a legit menu of Japanese food including yakitori, soba noodles, and ramen. There are a few hotels within walking distance of the Alamodome, including a couple that you don’t need to cross the highway for – these are Staybridge Suites San Antonio Downtown Convention Center  and City View Inn & Suites . Both are less than a 10-minute stroll from the Dome’s front door. Again, downtown SA has options aplenty for food and shelter, with your only limitation being your budget.   Fans   3 For the majority of the seasons in the Jeff Traylor era, the UTSA Roadrunners have managed to average a robust and healthy attendance of 28,000-29,000 fans per game. This was rarely if ever the case before his tenure. Their inaugural game in the Alamodome featured a record-breaking 56,000-plus fans for that magical night, and the team has been chasing that vibe ever since. When the team starts to dip and/or the competition is not a recognized brand to casual fans, turnout is pretty light. Such has been the case at the start of this current season, as a combination of a history-making and graduating senior class and a “when it rains, it pours” spate of injuries has seen attendance dip to 20,000-22,000 per game averages. The good thing is that the student section continues to be packed and has, in recent years, been expanded to allow room for the most vocal and passionate fans of the team. And as mentioned, the tailgating in the lots is an experience unto itself thanks to the fanbase here. Regardless, this is a loud group of fans, most of which come to games decked out on in UTSA orange and blue. Their vociferousness can be counted on to cause problems for opposing teams, which has been a boon to UTSA. Sustaining growth in attendance will bump this section’s score higher.   Access   4 As mentioned, the Alamodome is located off a major state highway, and is sandwiched between two major US highways in Interstates 10 and 35. The stadium is a short nine-minute drive from San Antonio International Airport. San Antonio’s mass transit option, VIA Metropolitan Transit, has routes all over the city that end up at the Dome. There are even park and ride locations in other parts of the city, which is often a great option. On site, the Dome has two parking lots open to fans who pre-purchase a parking spot; you cannot purchase a pass in these lots on the day of. However, the Alamodome is situated adjacent to a residential neighborhood, and for blocks and blocks, industrious residents and business owners rent out spaces in driveways and parking lots on game days. Spots in these can be had for as little as $10, depending on how far you’re willing to walk. What keeps the Access score from being higher is the egress situation – there is only one main road out of the Alamodome, and this will bottleneck especially on dates with larger crowds.   Return on Investment   4 Single-game tickets for UTSA games can be found for as little as $6 on the secondary market. This is an incredible bargain for a team that has seen the success the Roadrunners have had. Typical seasons will feature one or two big name out-of-conference opponents at the Dome, and the American Athletic Conference also has some of the more recognizable Group of Five teams anyway. The low-ticket costs are what gives this section the score it has. Parking costs are on the average compared to programs the size of UTSA, but as mentioned in the Access section, bargains can be found if you’re willing to walk a bit. What brings this section’s score down is the aforementioned concession costs.   Extras   3 UTSA brings out pretty much all the traditional pageantry that can be found at most Division I football programs. The award-winning Spirit of San Antonio (SoSA) marching band performs throughout the game and at halftime, while the UTSA Pom Squad and Cheerleaders , as well as the beloved mascot Rowdy , can all be found on the sidelines interacting with fans both before and during games. The student section also raises a giant flag with UTSA’s “Let’s Go 210” (which is the area code for the Alamo City) at the start of the fourth quarter. It’s all fun, but beyond that, there isn’t much else in the way of Extras. The program has started and abandoned quite a few traditions over the years – I think getting the right one started in the coming years will only make this section’s score higher.   Final Thoughts I’ve been to more games at the Alamodome than any other venue – I’ve seen virtually every home game for the UTSA Roadrunners here since 2011, which is all to say I’m very familiar with this facility. I still find a great deal to enjoy about this stadium, however, even with its sometimes glaringly obvious wear and tear. There is no other venue like the Alamodome in college sports, and I do think it belongs on bucket lists. I’m pretty confident that if you come in for a UTSA game, you’ll see what I see and will come away with an appreciation for the program, the venue, and the city. Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos by Aaron S. Terry , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium 100 Ficklen Dr Greenville, NC 27858 East Carolina Pirates website Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium website Year Opened: 1963 Capacity: 51,000 No Quarter in Greenville Everybody loves Pirates, especially East Carolina football fans, and that love translates into a great game day experience at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, NC. The festivities now include fireworks during pre-game and whenever the Pirates score, as well as the mascot riding in on a John Deere gator. But the highlight of the day might just be the start of the fourth quarter, when the black pirate flag in the northwest end zone is replaced with the red “No Quarter” flag – more on that later. Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium opened in 1963 and currently holds 51,000 rowdy ECU Pirates fans – their tagline is Rowdy at Dowdy. The stadium has been renovated multiple times since its construction, most recently in 2019 when a brand new, massive five-story press box replaced the outdated structure that had been there before, among other enhancements.  Earlier renovations included adding an enormous video board to the southeast end zone, as well as replacing some of the bleacher seating with purple chairbacks in the center sections on the north and south sides. View from Section 12 - Photo courtesy of Abe Carlile   Food & Beverage   3 There are all manner of food and beverage options available at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, including a few food trucks; the problem is that some of the prices are high, and the lines are very long. The venue does have a couple of grab-and-go lines, which are supposed to speed things along, but they don’t help very much. Main dishes include stadium basics like hot dogs, burgers, brats, chicken tenders, and pizza, but since this is North Carolina, you can also find pulled pork nachos or Buffalo chicken nachos if you prefer. Hot dogs are pretty reasonably priced (by sports stadium standards, anyway) at $4.69, while a slice of Pizza Hut pizza is $8.99, and the aforementioned “fancy” nachos are $11.99 – all fair, relatively speaking. Pretzels, however, are $7.49, burgers start at $9.49, and chicken tenders with waffle fries come in at a whopping $13.79. It is also hard to find what you want here, as everything seems to be sold by different stands. Burgers, for example, are only available from certain Black Sail grill stands, while pizza/chicken tenders are only available from specific stands that sell only that item. We ended up settling for brats because all the other lines were way too long. Besides main dishes, there are smaller/snack items, such as basic nachos (i.e., just tortilla chips and cheese sauce), popcorn, and packaged candy at the bargain price (again, relatively speaking) of $3.99.  You can also find peanuts for a little more, as well as drinks such as bottled water, bottled or fountain soda in a souvenir cup (Pepsi products), and beer, mostly domestics but also including Bold Rock Berry, which I hadn’t seen before at a stadium.  I didn’t see anything in the way of dessert-type items, even though I walked around the concourse more than once.   Atmosphere   5 A Pirates game at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium is absolutely rockin’ – for certain games, the fun starts with a flyover by jets from nearby Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and the inclusion of fireworks before kickoff only adds to the fun. The team comes onto the field accompanied by cones of fire in front of their team tunnel, and the dance team joins the action by twirling flaming batons of their own. The pirate theme, of course, is ever-present, and definitely leaned into by the staff – there is a great statue of a pirate captain with his cannon outside/above Gate 4, which you can get a picture of, and even the scoreboard things like a skeleton doing the wave during certain big moments during the game. A pirate flag flies at full mast behind the northwest end zone, replaced by the red “No Quarter” flag at the beginning of the fourth quarter – they call this a Red Warning, and the red flag’s hoisting is accompanied by eerie music, special lighting effects, and graphics on the video board; they also add purple and gold banners to the mast as an accoutrement to the red flag. There is also a person dressed in a full pirate costume, with their own cannon, situated behind the northwest end zone, as well as the costumed version patrolling the other sidelines. The highlight of my visit, however, was visiting the video room on the ground floor of the south concourse – located midway along that side, you can walk past a bank of windows showing a bunch of TV screens with different games on them, and you can literally look in and watch the production staff doing their work during the game. Better yet, if you get there early, you can actually GO INSIDE, meet the staff, and check out the equipment, including seeing the servers, the joysticks used to control all the different cameras, etc. – nowhere else have I seen regular fans be able to get such a behind-the-scenes look. Totally amazing, absolutely the best part of a visit to Dowdy-Ficklen.   Neighborhood   3 If you are looking for a place to hang out before or after a Pirates game in Greenville, I would highly recommend Kickback Jack’s; they have a seafood platter that is to die for. Mellow Mushroom is also a popular semi-local choice, as are Nashville Hot Chicken and Red Robin. There are plenty of hotels in town, although none are within 2 miles of the stadium; most of them are located along Highway 13 to the west of Dowdy-Ficklen, or along the Highway 264 loop that circles the city.   Fans   4 During my most recent visit, the Pirate faithful enjoyed a near sellout, with wall-to-wall gold filling almost the entire stadium (except for the visitors in section 12 and part of section 13). They were loud and rowdy well into the third quarter, until the game unfortunately started getting away from the home team. The student section is behind the southeast end zone, on both sides of the band. The students have a lot of spirit and caused the visiting team to commit several false start penalties, thanks to the noise they generated.   Access    3 Getting to the vicinity of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium is not bad – the major freeways end before you get to Greenville, but will get you pretty close, with I-95 to the west and I-40 to the south/west of the city. In the future, it should get even easier, however, as Highway 264, which runs through the center of town, appears to be turning into I-87. Parking, however, gets pretty hairy – there are, of course, pass lots right next to the stadium itself; the rest of us should look for cash lots to the south or west of the stadium, where you can park for $20 to $25, any of which will mean at least a half-mile walk to the venue, however. Surprisingly, there is some street parking, though, so you may actually be able to park for free – I ended up parking on Cotanche Street, which dead ends at a railroad track. There is a strip mall right next to that, the Charles Boulevard Shopping Center, which had a sign offering $25 parking, but I saw no one actually taking money, so you may be able to park there for free. There are plenty of other streets in this area where you can park as well, and I actually recommend parking near there – this area is about half a mile directly to the northwest of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, and will take you right past Minges Coliseum to the open end of the seating bowl (Gate 5 for Sections 12 thru 22 and Gate 4 for Sections 1 thru 11), allowing you to easily access either side. Moving around the concourse is not ideal – for some reason, they decided to number the sections from 12 to 31 and then started over with 1 to 11, meaning sections 11 and 12 are on opposite sides of the stadium. You also are not allowed to walk across the open end, meaning you have to walk all the way around to get to the other side. All that said, pay attention to where you are sitting so you can enter at the right gate, since the numbering is not obvious.   Return on Investment   5 I would absolutely recommend attending an East Carolina Pirates game at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium; despite the challenges with access and some of the concession pricing, it is well worth a visit. The fireworks and opening pyrotechnics are a great touch, the different flags are a plus, and the multiple mascots/pirate theme really make for a fun day. Tickets should run about $45 each if you buy directly from the school, or a little more if you buy from a third-party site. If you can park for free, all the better.   Extras   5 Continuing the pirate theme, a cannon is shot off when the home team scores, and the ECU logo is superb – a skull overlaid on top of a purple and gold rendering of the state of North Carolina. The gold and purple coloration also really pops on the field, and there are multiple team gear stands on both sides of the concourse, so you can get your pirate on. There are also hydration stations dotted around the concourse to help fans make sure they can stay safe during the game.   Final Thoughts It is totally worth the trip to Greenville to see Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and the ECU Pirates, even if you are not from the area. While there are more well-known teams from a “better” conference nearby, I am not sure you will have as much fun at them – after all, to Err is Human, but to Arr is Pirate.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Bank of America Stadium 800 S Mint St. Charlotte, NC 28202 Charlotte FC website Bank of America Stadium website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 75,412 For the Crown Charlotte’s first professional soccer team, the Carolina Lightnin’, burst onto the scene in 1981, winning the American Soccer League title in their inaugural season. After the league folded in 1983 and a short-lived follow-up called the Charlotte Gold faded in 1984, the city went without a pro team until the Charlotte Eagles arrived in 1991, establishing a steady presence in the lower divisions. Momentum returned in 2015 with the Charlotte Independence , who competed in the United Soccer League Championship before self-demoting to USL League One in 2022 with the arrival of Charlotte FC. The city’s long-awaited MLS club debuted at Bank of America Stadium to some of MLS’s largest crowds, quickly becoming one of the league’s top draws, and cementing Charlotte’s place on the national soccer stage.   Food & Beverage   4 Bank of America Stadium stays true to its representation of both North and South Carolina, and that identity shows up in its food options. A nacho stand dedicated to Greenville, South Carolina–based Duke’s BBQ sauces serves nachos and mac and cheese, while Charlotte’s own fried chicken chain, Bojangles, has a presence inside the stadium. Carolina barbecue is also featured, with pork sandwiches and wings slathered in the vinegar-based Carolina style. Fans have several self-service choices, from grab-and-go markets to self-pour mixed drink and craft beer stations. The beer program features nearly 25 varieties, with a strong emphasis on local breweries. Grab-and-go markets are located only on the 100 level, while mobile ordering via QR codes posted around the stadium adds another layer of convenience. One fun twist on in-seat concessions is the vendors walking the aisles with frozen margaritas in the team’s blue-and-white colors. Bank of America Stadium does an excellent job showcasing the flavors of the Carolinas. While there are plenty of original options, some of the standard offerings feel a bit underwhelming. The standout choices are found at the grill stations in Uptown Market, Mint Street Market, and Queen City Eatery just inside the main entry on Mint Street.   Atmosphere   4 The match day atmosphere begins long before the gates open; at 703 McNinch Street, Charlotte’s supporter groups host a pre-match tailgate that culminates in a march to the stadium about an hour before kickoff. Though led by supporter groups, all fans are welcome to join. The march starts approximately an hour before kickoff and stops outside of Clutch Kitchen & Pour House to rally fans in the final push to the stadium gates. Much like their MLS rival in the region, Atlanta United , Charlotte FC fans are greeted with what is already part of their stadium’s football culture, but with a soccer twist to it. As Atlanta drapes a scarf around the wings of its large Falcon sculpture outside the main entrance, Charlotte does the same around the necks of the Panthers that guard the points of entry around the stadium. Pre-match festivities are laden with fun traditions, so being in the stadium at least fifteen to twenty minutes before kickoff ensures the full experience. It begins with a coronation, of sorts, of a local celebrity or personality taking the throne in front of the supporters section, to rally the crowd in the moments leading up to kickoff. Soon after, in keeping with the noble identity of the club, a knight emerges from under the stands to light a cauldron, followed by the singing of the National Anthem. Also, in what has become a tradition in itself, during the club’s very first match, a microphone failure prompted the 74,000 in attendance to finish the song together – since then, the featured singer begins the anthem, and the crowd carries it to the end. Finally, just before kickoff, the stadium comes alive as fans turn back to the pitch, link arms, and bounce to the Puerto Rican beats of Farruko’s Pepas.  It truly is a fun way to get the match started. If sitting in the supporters section, do not plan on hearing much from the stadium speakers; between the chants of the supporters and the beats of drums, everything else gets drowned out. Staying dry is also a 50/50 proposition – Charlotte goals are celebrated by tossing water into the air, and while most stick to the rules, a few get carried away and throw cups as well. Signage and announcements make it clear that only water is allowed, and the section does a good job of policing itself; supporters are quick to confront those throwing anything other than water and having them removed. Since Bank of America Stadium was not built for soccer, it lacks proper safe standing in the supporters section. For fans who spend nearly two hours on their feet, the absence of rails to lean on can make things tough. Only the lower bowl is used during matches, which helps concentrate the crowd but still leaves the stadium feeling cavernous. Even with more than 30,000 fans in attendance, the excitement can get swallowed up in a venue built for 75,000. There are a handful of matches each year that call for the upper level to be opened, but for the most part, it is just the lower bowl that is used.   Neighborhood   5 Bank of America Stadium sits at the heart of Uptown Charlotte, framed by the city’s skyline and just steps from Truist Field, home of the AAA Charlotte Knights . The Spectrum Center, home of the Hornets , is also within walking distance, and a short ride takes fans to Bojangles Coliseum, home of the Charlotte Checkers , and Veterans Memorial Stadium, the home pitch of USL League One’s Charlotte Independence . The NASCAR Hall of Fame is less than a mile away. Uptown Charlotte itself is compact and walkable, with a strong mix of art and culture. Murals and installations like Luminous Lane and Sonic Runway add energy to the streets, while museums such as Mint Museum Uptown, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center, and Levine Museum of the New South anchor the neighborhood. Even everyday spaces get a creative twist, with touches like the Musical Parking Garage giving the district personality and character. Several hotels nearby also make staying downtown easy for visiting fans, allowing them to explore Uptown without worrying about transportation. For dining and local flavor, fans have plenty of options. Rhino Market & Deli, a short walk from Bank of America Stadium, and Mellow Mushroom, known throughout the Southeast for its pizza, are nearby, while Green’s Lunch has been a neighborhood staple since 1926. Charlotte also has a growing craft beer scene, with Wooden Robot close by and larger taprooms at NoDa and Old Mecklenburg a bit further out.   Fans   4 Charlotte is second in the league in attendance, drawing more than 33,000 fans per match. The impact of that crowd, however, often gets lost in the cavernous emptiness of the venue. Much like other clubs throughout MLS, Charlotte FC has several supporters groups rallying behind the team. The Carolina Hooliganz, Mint City Collective, Norcas CLT, South Charlotte, and Southbound and Crown, collectively known as The Royal Family, set the tone for a passionate and engaged fan base. Together, fans and supporter groups create a festive, engaging match day atmosphere, rooted in international soccer traditions. Their chants may be familiar to those who have experienced other supporter sections, but the energy they bring makes being part of it unique to soccer.   Access   3 Bank of America Stadium is conveniently located just off the junction of I-277 and I-77, making it easy to reach by car. Charlotte’s light rail system provides an equally smooth option, with the City LYNX Blue Line stopping at the Carson, Stonewall, and Convention Center stations, all less than a five-minute walk from the facility’s gates. Entry into the stadium is quick and easy, with fans moving quickly through security and ticket scanning before reaching the main concourse, which runs beneath the upper level of the field-level seating bowl. The field-level concourse, however, can be a bit narrow and can be a bit congested in the moments leading to kickoff. After the matches, the streets immediately outside the stadium are closed to vehicles, allowing fans to spill into the roadway and continue the celebration. Surrounding streets do get clogged with departing cars, but traffic usually clears at a steady pace, and with the interstates only minutes away, escaping downtown requires just a bit of patience.   Return on Investment   3 A 2024 study by Lucky Gambler examined the all-in costs of accommodations, souvenirs, tickets, and a basic meal; Charlotte ranked as the third-most expensive MLS experience for a family of four. Ticket prices start at $50 for general admission seats, but when the upper level is open, there does seem to be value to be had, with $15 seats available. Parking adds another layer to the cost – lots near the stadium typically start around $20, but can climb to $40 to $50 for premium spots right outside the gates. For savvy fans, however, a small garage at the corner of Church Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, about a 10-minute walk away, offers an all-day rate of just $10.   Extras   3 The tailgating scene and supporters' march to Bank of America Stadium set the tone for a top-notch match day, creating excitement that carries into the evening. Charlotte’s pre-match traditions add plenty of flavor; the lighting of the cauldron, the coronation ceremony, and thousands of fans dancing to Pepas all build an electric atmosphere. Even Sir Minty, the club’s playful mascot, gets in on the act, mingling with fans before and after the match. The stadium’s downtown location makes the experience even more convenient. On game days, it is not unusual for multiple events to overlap in Charlotte, making it easy to pair an afternoon with the Knights, a museum visit, or dinner nearby before heading to the match, all within walking distance.   Final Thoughts Charlotte FC has created a match-day atmosphere that is festive, energetic, and reminiscent of traditional European soccer experiences. The passion of the supporters brings it to life, creating an environment any fanbase would be proud of. The one major drawback is the venue itself. Even with crowds topping 30,000, the sheer scale of Bank of America Stadium can dilute the energy and leave the experience feeling less intimate. The supporters and their traditions do plenty to bridge that gap, but the stadium still feels like a borrowed stage rather than a true home. Still, the ingredients are there: a devoted fan base, the vibrant Uptown setting, and traditions that connect fans to the club’s identity. With those elements in place, Charlotte FC has the right foundation to be one of MLS’s most exciting match-day experiences.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Tomlinson-Fillippo Field at Farrell Stadium 855 S New St West Chester, PA 19383 West Chester Golden Rams website Tomlinson-Fillippo Field at Farrell Stadium website Year Opened: 1970 Capacity: 7,500 A Purple and Golden Stadium Farrell Stadium is an American stadium on the campus of West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Built in 1970, it serves as the home field for the West Chester Golden Rams football and track and field teams. The field was recently renamed in 2024 to honor two distinguished alumni, Robert “Tommy” Tomlinson and Tom Fillippo, cementing the legacy of two standout players and supporters of the university. The stadium has a seating capacity of 7,500 and features a FieldTurf playing surface. The stadium's recent upgrades, including a new state-of-the-art video scoreboard and a reimagined game-day experience, are breathing new life into the West Chester football program. West Chester is the largest of the 10 state-owned universities belonging to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and the sixth largest university in Pennsylvania West Chester competes as a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Food & Beverage 3 The food and beverage options at Farrell Stadium are what you would expect at a Division II football game. A concession stand is located under the main grandstand, offering standard stadium fare like hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, and drinks. While the offerings are not particularly unique, they are sufficient to satisfy basic cravings. The line is usually pretty long, but from our experience, it moves quickly and efficiently. The recent "reimagined" game-day experience for students includes a dedicated "Purple Pit" with food trucks, which is a great addition that adds some variety to the food scene for that section of the crowd. Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere at Farrell Stadium is on the rise. With the recent naming ceremony for Tomlinson-Fillippo Field and the unveiling of a new video scoreboard, the university is making a clear effort to enhance the game-day experience. The reimagined football experience aims to create a family-friendly, high-energy environment for everyone, from students to alumni and the local community. The stadium is made up of two simple grandstands. One is the larger home stand and the other a slightly smaller visiting team stand. There were so many Golden Rams in attendance, many of the home fans ended up sitting in the visitor stands. The "Ram Walk" pre-game festivities and a dedicated "Kids' Zone" contribute to a festive and welcoming vibe. The stadium feels well-maintained and has a picturesque backdrop during the fall, which adds to the overall experience. There is a really good marching band, cheerleaders, and a fun mascot (Rammy) who gives a little more flair to Golden Rams games. Neighborhood 4 West Chester University is located in the borough of West Chester, Pennsylvania, a charming and historic college town. The stadium is located on the university's south campus, which is an easy walk or drive from the main campus and the bustling downtown area. The town itself is full of restaurants, bars, and shops, offering plenty of options for pre- or post-game activities. The classic college town feel adds a great dimension to the game-day experience, making it more of an event than just a game. Fans 4 The Golden Rams have a passionate and loyal fan base. The recent changes have been embraced by the community, and game attendance is growing. The fans are engaged and loud, especially in the student section, and are knowledgeable about the team. They are supportive of both the players and the new initiatives from the university, making for a positive and friendly environment. Access 3 Getting to Farrell Stadium is fairly straightforward. It's located just off South New Street in West Chester. Parking is available in designated lots and is cashless, with a flat fee of $10 per car. General admission seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The stadium has a strict bag policy, so be sure to check the regulations before you go to avoid any issues. While there are a lot of cars on game day, the university has a good system in place to handle the traffic flow. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to a West Chester Golden Rams football game are a great value. With tickets costing only around $5 to $10, you get to experience a high-quality Division II football game in a stadium that is actively investing in improving the fan experience. The combination of a strong football program, a solid game-day atmosphere, and a great location makes this an excellent value for your money. Extras 4 A statue of former Golden Rams quarterback Michael Horrocks, who was a co-pilot on United Airlines Flight 175 and died in the September 11 attacks, stands at the north endzone of the field. This is a powerful and touching tribute that adds to the stadium's character. The ability to walk around the whole stadium is a nice little extra. There is also a nice hill where one can sit and watch the game. Some fans even found some other lawn areas around the stadium to sit and watch the game. The West Chester Marching Band is an extremely good band and provides a good show. All of the fan enhancements really show and provide a great atmosphere for fans. Final Thoughts Tomlinson-Fillippo Field at Farrell Stadium is a great example of a school taking steps to enhance its game-day experience. The recent renovations and the "reimagined" football experience demonstrate a commitment to both the team and the community. While the concessions may be fairly standard, the atmosphere, neighborhood, and overall value make this a worthwhile visit for any fan of college football. It's clear that the West Chester Golden Rams are building something special, and it's exciting to see what the future holds for this historic program and its home stadium.