Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Stevenson-Pincince Field 235 Hope St. Providence, RI 02906 Brown Bears men's soccer website Stevenson-Pincince Field website Year Opened: 1979 Capacity: 3,500 Brown Bear Soccer Stevenson-Pincince Field was named in honor of longtime Brown men’s soccer and lacrosse coach Cliff Stevenson, who was instrumental in establishing the soccer program at Brown in the 1960s as well as giving the sport a foothold in many schools around Rhode Island at this time. In 2015 the facility was rechristened to also honor longtime women’s soccer coach Phil Pincince. In 2020 the old bleachers and press box that made up the stadium were torn down and replaced with a new three-story, 22,500 square foot facility complete with dedicated team locker rooms, training facilities, coaches offices, public restrooms, and concessions. The “Center for Lacrosse and Soccer” opened in time for the 2020 lacrosse season. Brown's men’s soccer teams have been quite successful over their history, qualifying for 27 NCAA Tournaments, most recently in 2012. The Bears have won 20 Ivy League championships since 1963. Brown reached the national semifinals four times in their history, most recently in 1977. The Brown's women’s soccer teams have also experienced their share of success, winning 15 Ivy League titles and appearing in 9 NCAA Tournaments. Food & Beverage 2 There is a concession stand on the concourse of the grandstand. If you need a snack, they've got you covered, with hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, chips, and candy available. Coca-Cola products are featured at Stevenson-Pincince Field. No alcoholic beverages are allowed inside the facility. Atmosphere 3 Soccer games, at least in this part of the country, don’t feature the rowdy atmosphere that many other college sports enjoy. Most of the energy experienced at a Brown soccer game comes from the younger fans in attendance. Since local youth soccer players can be a significant presence on certain days, you may actually experience an energetic game-day atmosphere here. But generally, a Brown soccer game is a laid-back affair. Stevenson-Pincince Field features a video board in the southwest corner of the field that is put to good use with replays, highlights, graphics, and game information. Another, smaller scoreboard is located in the northeast corner of the field. It displays basic game information. Music plays over a quality sound system before the game and during halftime, while the PA announcer adds some energy to the proceedings. There’s not a lot of downtime at a soccer game for shenanigans, but the team does run a contest at halftime where one fan attempts a kick from midfield at one of the goals. If they make it, everyone in attendance wins a free large drink from a local sponsor. Keep your eyes peeled for Bruno, the school’s mascot, who may be participating in a favorite giveaway at Brown, the chocolate bar toss. Digital programs are available for all fans. Neighborhood 5 Stevenson-Pincince Field is located in Providence’s affluent East Side, adjacent to many of the school’s other athletic facilities in the Erickson Athletic Complex. Also located in the complex are Meehan Auditorium, the Paul Bailey Pizzitola Sports Center, and Murray Stadium, among others. Brown Stadium is located about a mile away. Just a couple of blocks from the Athletic Complex is Thayer Street, the East Side’s main commercial drag. Numerous cafes, restaurants, and shops can be found here, including Brown’s bookstore and the Avon Cinema, which dates back to the early 20th century. Other notable areas in the East Side a short walk or drive from Brown University are Hope Street, Wayland Square, and Wickenden Street. All have their own bohemian vibe and feature great local restaurants, shops, and bars. Of course, downtown Providence is located at the bottom of College Hill about a mile away from the Brown campus. If you’re visiting Providence from elsewhere, this is likely where you will find lodging options in addition to numerous additional dining choices. Providence has a well-deserved reputation as one of the finest small cities in the country for foodies. Visitors to the area will find more than enough choices to satisfy even the most adventurous of palates. If staying in Providence isn’t appealing enough, Boston is an hour’s drive to the north, with the mansions and beaches of Newport about 45 minutes south. Fans 3 Brown soccer enjoys decent support. Crowds can vary in size depending on the weather, day of week, and opponent, but crowds generally number between 500-1,000 fans. With Brown’s schedule featuring many other New England teams, it’s not unusual to see a good turnout by visiting fans. The fans that fill the grandstand at Stevenson-Pincince Field vary from hardcore soccer fans to students to family members of the players. While many in the grandstand seem to have a personal connection with the players on the field, the presence of youth soccer players in their uniforms and others shows that this is not always the case. Fans are friendly and you can certainly feel comfortable bringing the whole family to a Brown soccer game. Access 3 The Erikson Athletic Complex is located on the eastern edge of Brown University’s urban campus. While Interstates 95 and 195 both run close to Brown, there is no direct way to access Brown from the highway. One must navigate the East Side’s crooked, crowded streets to arrive at the complex. Luckily, parking is plentiful around Brown’s athletic facilities. There are a pair of smallish lots within the complex adjacent to Stevenson-Pincince Field. Unfortunately, since there is generally a lot of activity in the complex on the weekends, you may not be able to find a spot here. There is abundant on-street parking in the area, which is free on the weekends. Seating at Stevenson-Pincince Field consists of metal bleachers without backs in a grandstand that runs the length of the field. This grandstand is built into the Lacrosse and Soccer Center, with a concourse at the top of the seating area. Handicapped seating and standing room are located on this concourse. Also located on the concourse are the concession stand and restrooms, which are new, clean, and large enough for a typical Bears soccer crowd. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for Brown soccer games vary in price depending on the opponent. Most games are priced at $7 per ticket for adults and $5 for children. Some games feature general admission seating for $2. Cash and cards are accepted at Stevenson-Pincince Field. Parking is free in the lots adjacent to Stevenson-Pincince Field, as well as on-street should these lots be full. Be sure to check signage if parking on-street for neighborhood and/or time restrictions. Concessions are reasonably priced, making an afternoon at a Brown soccer game a most affordable entertainment option for Rhode Island sports fans. Extras 1 On the south end zone fence are displayed Brown Ivy League titles, tournament appearances, and Final Four berths for both the men’s and women’s teams. Final Thoughts Renovations to Stevenson-Pincince Field have turned what was formerly just a set of bleachers surrounding a grass field to one of the more outstanding facilities in the area. Brown typically fields a competitive Ivy League team and the fan support they receive is outstanding. It all adds up to a great place to spend a fall evening in Providence. ---- Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Koskinen Stadium 106 Whitford Dr Durham, NC 27705 Duke Blue Devils website Koskinen Stadium website Capacity: 4,500 College Soccer in Durham Though the city may be more known for its basketball and football programs, the Duke University men’s soccer program is no less impressive a team to watch. A consistent contender year after year, the team has numerous NCAA tournament appearances and conference titles to its name. Their home stadium boasts an impressive 4,500-seat capacity, with multiple grandstands and a viewing patio that make it an impressive facility to watch from. Food & Beverage 3 The concessions stand at Koskinen Stadium is impressive for a smaller college sports facility – the food variety isn’t wide, but what they have is solid. Hot dogs ($5), cheeseburgers ($8), and Bojangles Chicken Supremes and fries ($11) make up the main menu items, while popcorn ($5-$10), peanuts ($4.50), pretzels, cotton candy, and nachos (all $5) make up the rest. Drinks are limited to water ($4) or sodas ($4.50 to $5.50); a hot dog combo with a drink runs $10.50. Atmosphere 4 Koskinen Stadium features a standard main grandstand setup. Seating is not shaded, though, so prepare for warm temperatures during hot afternoon games. The opposite side of the field from the bench features a small grandstand as well, with benches that have no backs to them, and the right side end zone is where you can find the elevated and covered patio area. During game days this offers a unique angle to watch the soccer matches from, and also features info plaques about various people important to Duke soccer’s history. Underneath the main grandstand is where you can find the best shade during halftime, and post-game autograph sessions are held here during various games throughout the season. Neighborhood 4 Durham and the area around Duke’s main campus are experiencing a revitalization, especially in downtown Durham. The campus itself is beautiful and easy to navigate, with Koskinen Stadium sitting next to the school’s football stadium and track & field facility. Hotels are plentiful nearby, as are shopping and dining. Raleigh-Durham Airport is also only a 15-minute drive away, meaning that a weekend trip to catch some college sports in town doesn’t involve a lengthy drive out to somewhere far away. Fans 3 The fans of Duke soccer are loyal and loud but usually consist of family and friends of players on the field. The stadium can at times fill in with bigger crowds, but most games feature a modest attendance. Nonetheless, the ones who occupy the grandstand seats are often loud and proud, sport-knowledgeable, and eager to cheer every goal scored on the field. Access 3 The parking at Koskinen Stadium is at times less than ideal – free parking is available but is located near the football stadium, requiring a long uphill hike back to Koskinen Stadium itself. Metered spaces are available next to the stadium’s main entrance, but those are few and fill up quickly on even the quietest of game days. Thankfully there are two entrances on either end of the stadium, meaning you can get in and out easier depending on where you park. To get to the stadium, you just need to follow the signs locally for the college itself. Located near I-85 and perfectly framed by the 501 and 147 Highways, Duke University is just west of Durham proper. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Duke soccer run just $7. Couple this with the affordability of the concessions at the stadium, as well as the option for free parking, and you have a solid price for watching a quality college soccer program. Weather in North Carolina is usually nice in the fall as well, meaning you’re likely to have a rather enjoyable game-day experience at Koskinen Stadium. Extras 3 The team offers free giveaways at the promotion tables by the entrances on most game days, be they posters cowbells, etc. Various games also include post-game autograph sessions with the players, which is a hit for the young fans in attendance. Finally, if you wish to learn some of the history of Duke soccer, the patio viewing area features numerous plaques, with historical info on them about important figures in Duke’s past. Final Thoughts Koskinen Stadium is impressive for a college soccer facility, offering a variety of viewing options and affordability for fans. Free parking, solid concessions pricing, and a variety of giveaways make this a great option if you want to see some of soccer’s bright young stars in person.

Photos by Dave Cottenie and Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Arvest Ballpark 3000 Gene George Blvd Springdale, AR 72762 Northwest Arkansas Naturals website Arvest Ballpark website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 7,305 It's Only Natural Although they are not a Minor League Baseball team with a vast history, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals have already won two league titles. Making their debut in 2008 after relocating from Wichita, Kansas, the Naturals have spent their existence as the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and earned the 2010 Texas League Championship and the 2021 (and only) Double-A Central Championship. The Naturals are named after the moniker of Arkansas, known as the Natural State, and the famous baseball movie, The Natural . The Naturals are also owned by Rich Products Corporation, who also own the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons . Located in Springdale, Arkansas, a stone’s throw from college town, Fayetteville, the home of the Naturals is Arvest Ballpark. Also opening in 2008, Arvest Ballpark is city owned and the central hub of a rapidly developing area in the southwest corner of Springdale. Arvest is a unique park that has strayed from the retro classic, red-brick/green-seat ballpark to provide baseball fans with a refreshing change. Food & Beverage 3 Concession options at Arvest Ballpark are about what one would expect for a Minor League Baseball park. Spring Creek Treats is the main concession stand and offers typical ballpark food including hot dogs, burgers, nachos, and fries. The variety is upped with a variety of fry and nacho options including Chili Cheese Fries, BBQ Cheese fries and Garlic Fries. Other concession stands offer familiar favorites including lemonade, sno-cones and Dippin’ Dots. Coca-Cola products are the soft drink of choice at Arvest Ballpark and there is a fairly pedestrian selection of beer including Corona, Heinekin, Miller and Yuengling. Atmosphere 4 Arvest Ballpark provides a refreshing change in its design. The exterior is not overbearing and feels quaint. The light brick with varied sizes gives it a unique look. The Natural theme can be felt as the exterior is beautifully manicured with grass flowers and trees. Outside of the main, home plate entrance, there is a large Naturals water feature, which matches the exterior brick and design. A portable display outside of the wrought iron gates trumpets the history and accomplishments of the Naturals. Inside the ballpark, fans are immediately greeted with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Hall of Fame which has an impressive list of members considering the short lifespan of the team. Clint Robinson, Brian Poldberg, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Salvadore Perez, Kila Ka’athue, Whit Merrifield and Wil Myers are all members as well as the Season 10 Team. Plaques for the 2010 and 2021 Championship teams as well as a plaque for the 2015 Kansas City Royals World Series Championship are also right there with the Hall of Fame. The concourses are wide open in Arvest Ballpark and views of the field are all over the park. The 360 degree walk takes fans right around the park, past the varied seating areas including berm, picnic and traditional areas. Past the batter's eye in centerfield there is a permanent playground and a large grassy area perfect for large gatherings. There are inflatables and kids games beyond left field as well as a mini ball field. Left field also features the Home Run Porch picnic area. The majority of seating is single level with the concourse behind, and luxury boxes above the concourse. There are large, light sunshades which offer shade for the fans in the stands. Beyond rightfield is a large videoboard, which the Naturals use very well. Kids and families may be interested in taking a trip on the train which drive around the concourse. Unfortunately, the game that was reviewed saw field conditions in the outfield to be noticeably not up to appropriate levels for professional baseball. The gameday production at a Naturals game is what fans would expect in Minor League Baseball. It is fairly simple and does not offer anything overly unique or over the top. The Naturals do have mascots in Strike and Sinker, however the temperature on the date of this review was very high and probably prohibitive for employees working in mascot suits. Neighborhood 3 The neighborhood around Arvest Ballpark continues to be developed. In the previous Stadium Journey review, it was mentioned that the ballpark was surrounded by farmland, however, much has changed since that review. Visible from the ballpark is the Children’s Hospital and although there is not much in the way of options within walking distance, there are a few options within a five minute drive. North of the ballpark at Sunset Ave. will provide fans with a plethora of chain restaurant options. A couple of more local options include Jose’s Bar & Grille and Las Palmas. There are not any other sporting options within Springdale, however a very short drive will bring fans to the University of Arkansas in Fayatteville. The Razorbacks offer football, basketball and baseball options as well as other varsity sports. The Razorbacks are definitely the top tickets in the area. Another tourist option in Springdale would be the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. For fans that want to stay in the area, there are a number of hotels near Sunset Ave including the Wyndham. Fans 3 The Northwest Arkansas Naturals enjoy decent fan support. In the 2022 season, the Naturals averaged over 3,500 fans per game, which was good for 64th in Minor League Baseball and 8th in the Texas League. The 2023 season saw a more than 500 fan increase per game. The fans in attendance offer decent support. Access 3 Getting to Arvest Ballpark is not difficult. The park is located just west of I-49 and very easy to get to. There is plenty of on-site parking available. Unfortunately, there is not much in the way of public transit in the area. The nearest bus stop is a 25 minute walk from the ballpark. With continued development in the area, hopefully the public transit situation improves in the future. Moving around the ballpark is very easy as the concourses are amongst the widest in Minor League Baseball. The washroom facilities are good for the number of fans in attendance. With security protocols constantly changing in professional sports, Stadium Journey highly recommends consulting the Northwest Arkansas Naturals website for the most up to date security protocols, bag policies and prohibited items. Return on Investment 5 The return on investment for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals is excellent. Great seats can be had at Arvest Ballpark for $15 and parking is only $5. Concession prices are good as well. The product on the field is solid and fans get to enjoy baseball from an excellently designed ballpark. In the end, the return is excellent for an investment that is not too high. Extras 2 An extra mark for the unique and clean look that Arvest Ballpark offers, straying from the overdone retro classic ballpark design. An extra mark for the unique Naturals moniker that fits the area in Arkansas and the Ozarks region. Final Thoughts Taking in a baseball game at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale is a great idea for the whole family and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals provide a great experience. It’s only natural for fans to want to make return trips! Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads and Instagram @profan9.

One of the most controversial ballparks ever can be found in Worcester. Replacing the venerable McCoy Stadium and moving the Triple-A affiliate for the Red Sox out of Rhode Island to go along with the high price tag has the new WooSox facing an uphill battle. Was it worth it? Grab a brew and join Dave and Paul for the latest episode of Stadium Journey's Obstructed Views! ⚾⚾🏟️ You can find Stadium Journey's review of Polar Park and the Worcester Red Sox game day experience here.

The WNBA playoffs are now underway, which means it’s time to release our ratings for the WNBA arenas in use for the 2023 season. Our rankings are based on our FANFARE rating scale, which considers a venue’s Food, Atmosphere, Neighborhood, Fan support, Access, Return on Investment, and Extras offered by the facility. In cases where two or more facilities have the same score, the tiebreaker is determined by our Council of Elders. The competition was fierce, as many arenas upped their game this year. We hope you enjoy our “Hoop Homes” journey through the WNBA. 1) Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle Storm (4.29) Marc Viquez – Climate Pledge Arena is a building that stands out amongst the rest of the WNBA and the nation. The interaction with fans and the team provides an ideal atmosphere for a first-time visitor. 2) Target Center – Minnesota Lynx (4.14) Lloyd Brown – The Lynx are the top cats in the Twin Cities. The Target Center provides a worthy home for the Lynx’s lair. 3) Gainbridge Fieldhouse – Indiana Fever (4.14) Lloyd Brown – No basketball league can exist without a team from Indiana. The Gainbridge Fieldhouse serves as the home “hot spot” for the Indiana Fever. 4) Footprint Center – Phoenix Mercury (4.00) Meg Minard – Attending a Mercury basketball game is an enjoyable afternoon/evening out. The Footprint Center renovations are impressive, and the entertainment focuses on the game. The team and event staff make you glad you came. 5) Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles Sparks (4.00) Andrei Ojeda – Though the Sparks may not get the type of attention as the other Crypto.com (formerly the Staples Center) tenants, they still provide quite an entertaining basketball experience. Plus… you never know who may be sitting courtside. 6) Mohegan Sun Arena – Connecticut Sun (4.00) Paul Baker – While a casino in the woods of eastern Connecticut may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of a great basketball experience, the Mohegan Sun Arena will convince you that you’ve hit the jackpot. 7) Michelob Ultra Arena – Las Vegas Aces (3.86) Lloyd Brown – Terrific basketball, Vegas-style entertainment, and easy access to food, drink, and gambling add up to an entertaining evening along the Las Vegas strip. 8) Barclays Center - New York Liberty (3.57) Lloyd Brown- After a mostly nomadic existence over its first 25 seasons, the New York Liberty has finally found a permanent home in the basketball-crazy borough of Brooklyn. 9) Wintrust Arena – Chicago Sky (3.57) Lloyd Brown – The Sky won the WNBA title in 2021 for the city of Chicago, a city starved for a sports championship in the last few years. The Wintrust Arena is a worthy home court for a championship team. 10) Gateway Center Arena – Atlanta Dream (3.29) Lloyd Brown – The Atlanta Dream finally has a home of its own in the busy Atlanta sports market. It is working closely with its neighbors to make pro sports more accessible to the communities on the south side of Atlanta. It seems to be working based on several sellout crowds recently. 11) Entertainment and Sports Arena- Washington Mystics (3.29) Richard Smith – The Entertainment and Sports Arena is a unique urban arena that seems like it is assisting and transforming an entire section of the city. The games are a fun way to experience this transformation. 12) College Park Center – Dallas Wings (3.29) Lloyd Brown – The Wings home at the College Park Center is easy to get to from almost anywhere in the Metroplex.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Jake Nevin Field House 800 E. Lancaster Avenue Villanova, PA 19085 Villanova Wildcats website Jake Nevin Field House website Year Opened: 1932 Capacity: 1,500 Volleyball at the Jake Jake Nevin Field House opened on the campus of Villanova University in 1932. Despite seating only 1,500 fans, the arena was home to Villanova basketball until 1986, including their national championship-winning season in 1985. Today, the field house is home to Villanova's volleyball team, which, like all its athletic programs, competes in the Big East Conference. Food & Beverage 1 Concessions are sold at a table in the lobby of Jake Nevin Field House. Only snacks such as candy and chips are available to eat here, as are soft drinks and bottled water, although they ran out of the latter by the third set when we visited. Surprisingly, beer is available for sale here as well. Nothing costs more than a couple of dollars except the beer, which is about $10. Atmosphere 3 Jake Nevin Field House is an old building, almost a century old, and lacks many of the amenities of modern venues. Fans enter through a lobby that has been recently renovated and will then need to walk through a door, behind the team benches, and up a couple flights of steps to get to a concourse that surrounds the seating area on three sides. The area behind the baseline is used for cameras, while fans sit in bleacher seats along the two sidelines. It is a weird angle since you are so close to the action yet pretty high up. There is also a stage with a curtain behind the baseline that doesn't have the concourse above it. This serves no role at volleyball games other than gameday staff occasionally coming out from behind the curtain, but it is a very weird place to have one. The PA announcer loudly announces "Point, Wildcats!" every time Villanova scores, and music is played occasionally as well. This seems like the standard college volleyball experience, albeit in a venue older than most. Neighborhood 4 Jake Nevin Field House is located on Lancaster Avenue on the Villanova campus in suburban Philadelphia. There are a few options along that street within walking distance or a short drive away depending on your tolerance for walking. The Refectory is a popular restaurant within easy walking distance, Campus Corner is a popular pizza place with local students, and there are numerous other options a short drive away including Minella’s Diner. There is no need to deal with traffic and city parking to head into Philadelphia. Fans 4 Villanova draws surprisingly well to volleyball matches, with the field house typically being a third to half full. While some of those in attendance are friends and family of the players, there are many other Villanova fans as well. Even students attend in decent numbers, filling almost a whole section of the stands. Everyone is loud, especially the students, and with the tightly packed crowds and low ceiling, it can get quite loud in here after Nova points. Access 2 Jake Nevin Field House is located just off of I-476. Parking is available at an hourly rate in the I-1 garage across the street from the stadium. It will probably cost between $2 and $5 depending on how long the match goes and how early you get there, but when Stadium Journey visited on a Sunday evening, the gates were up and parking was free. If you are not so lucky, take a ticket as you come in and pay as you leave. If paying with cash, you will need to pay at the station. If paying by credit card, pay the attendant as you go. When arriving, exit the garage on the second level and cross the street to the field house. Finding the main entrance to the field house can be tricky, as several exterior doors along Lancaster Avenue are kept locked. Instead, you will need to walk along the side of the building through the parking lot (which is reserved for permit holders 24/7, so you can't actually park there) and then you will see a ramp leading to the main entrance. Once in the building, you will need to walk up and down a lot of steps to get where you are going, including some that seem completely unnecessary. This can prove to be a challenge, especially for those with accessibility needs. Return on Investment 5 Admission to Villanova volleyball games is free. Your only costs will be parking and concessions, and neither of those should cost you much. That can make a Villanova volleyball game an excellent value. Extras 1 Look for the photos of historical Villanova teams on the concourse behind the seating area. Final Thoughts While Jake Nevin Field House certainly isn't the most modern or glamorous arena, Villanova volleyball has made it their home. The team has a steady fan base, including both students and others, and manages to create an exciting atmosphere here. It has its quirks and isn't the easiest venue to get around, but Jake Nevin Field House is a unique and exciting place to take in a volleyball game.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Subaru Park 1 Stadium Dr Chester, PA 19013 Philadelphia Union II website Subaru Park website Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 18,500 Another Philadelphia Union Philadelphia Union II is a professional soccer team based in Chester, Pennsylvania competing in MLS Next Pro. Founded in 2015 as Bethlehem Steel FC, the team is the official affiliate of the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. The team competed for five seasons in the USL Championship (the first three as Bethlehem Steel FC) before joining MLS Next Pro. Subaru Park opened in 2010 in Chester, PA, and has also been called PPL Park and Talen Energy Stadium. Chester is a small city located southwest of Philadelphia towards Wilmington, Delaware, and is directly on the Delaware River. Besides soccer, there have been “Battle of the Blue” football games played here between the University of Delaware and Villanova. The stadium has also hosted the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship, the Major League Lacrosse’s Championship known as the Steinfeld Cup, the ACC Lacrosse Championship, and the NCAA Division I and Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship, as well as numerous rugby matches and concerts. Food & Beverage 2 During Union II matches there is a single concession stand open, that sells a small variety of food. There is not much here so eat before or after the game and use the concession stand for small items only. There may be a Kona Ice truck in the concessions area for certain games as well. There is only one main scoreboard, located in the north end. Atmosphere 2 There are limited seating sections open for Union II matches within the west stands. On sunny days that is a good thing as the sun will start to set behind the stands and keep you in the shade. On rainy days the covered stand should keep most fans dry. The stadium has a U-shaped set of three grandstands, with an additional smaller stand at the riverside. This is called the “River End” and is where the team’s supporter groups sit during regular Union matches. It is not open for Union II matches. Neighborhood 1 The neighborhood is terrible. Chester is a downtrodden community that is not showing much life. The area around the stadium is safe on game days but you will not want to venture too far away. And, frankly, there is no reason to do so as there are limited local establishments worth going to. Keep to the local parking lots and areas where there are fans. The one exception at this time is The Larimer Beer Company, a short walk away from the Union’s training complex. It appears to be mainly open on regular Union game days (as well as some weekend days) and offers some nice drink options. No food is offered there although they may have an occasional food truck outside. Please check to see if they are open on Union II match days. Harrah’s Casino is right down Delaware Avenue from the stadium. If you are the gambling type this may be worth a visit. They offer casino gaming, as well as off-track-betting and live harness racing. The harness track was built over a top part of the river, so it is worth checking out. Fans 2 There is a small number of fans who attend Union II matches and no visible supporter section. The fans in attendance were very knowledgeable about the action and offered good cheer. Access 3 The stadium can be pretty easy to get to. It is not far from I-95 via Route 322 towards New Jersey. If you cross the Commodore Barry Bridge from Pennsylvania you have gone too far. Delaware Avenue is the main street right by the stadium and runs north to the Philadelphia International Airport. Parking is free for Union II match days and is very plentiful. There is construction going on for an expanded training facility, so plan on potential changes as the season goes on. If coming from the south we recommend getting off I-495 in Claymont, DE, and driving through Marcus Hook, PA, and the south part of Chester, PA along US Route 13. Return on Investment 5 The parking is free and game tickets are $12. This is a great value for this type of sports event. Extras 2 The dramatic view of the Commodore Barry Bridge makes this stadium stand out. It provides a cool atmosphere for watching the matches. You should also wander around the parts of the concourse that you can and look at the various soccer memorabilia presented. Unfortunately, you cannot tour all parts of the stadium for Union II matches. Final Thoughts Subaru Park is a well-designed soccer stadium located in a beautiful setting along the Delaware River. Union II might not get a lot of fans but the experience is still worth it for a sports fan desiring a cheap and enjoyable sports experience.

The Centennial Authority, which owns PNC Arena (the home of the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State Men’s Basketball) announced a $300 million commitment to renovate the Arena. A 20-year lease extension between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Arena was also announced, along with a deal that would give the Hurricanes the rights to develop the land around PNC Arena into an entertainment district to include a small indoor music venue, housing, hotel rooms, and parking decks. Details of the agreement include: - A 20-year lease extension between the Hurricanes and PNC Arena. After the 2038-39 season, the team and Arena will negotiate the future of the arena or a replacement one. - $300 million in Arena renovations. Both NC State and the Hurricanes will get a say in the renovations. The Hurricanes will provide $10 million to furnish a sports betting lounge, team office space, and premium seating areas. - 3,000 to 5,000-seat indoor music venue adjacent to PNC Arena - NHL will host the All-Star Game at PNC within three years of the completed renovation and an NHL Stadium Series game within five years of the lease extension. - At least 95% of the parking lot in the development will be replaced, with 50% being surface parking, and the remaining parking decks. - 20 acres of development within five years including retail, office space, housing, and a hotel. - Tailgating: The development will affect Carter-Finley Stadium, home of NC State football and there are concerns about how tailgating for NC State football will be affected. Five acres of land adjacent to Carter-Finley will be dedicated to tailgating for NC State football games and will not be displaced with vertical development.

Photo courtesy of Spurs Sports & Entertainment On Thursday, August 3 the five-time NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs announced a new naming rights partner in Frost Bank. Starting with the 2023-24 season, the formerly named AT&T Center will be known as the Frost Bank Center. “We believe in San Antonio – it’s our hometown,” said Frost Chairman and CEO Phil Green in a news release. “We want this relationship with the Spurs to demonstrate our unwavering sense of pride for San Antonio’s rich history and its bright future.” The change comes after the former naming rights partner, AT&T, sold their minority stake in the Spurs in 2021. They agreed to a one-year naming rights extension for the 2022-23 season while the ball club sought out a new partner. Frost Bank is the Spurs oldest business partner, with a relationship dating back 50 years. “The longevity and success of both the Spurs and Frost Bank are rooted in our shared values of integrity, caring, and excellence,” Green said. “These values ultimately help strengthen and shape our entire community. For 50 years, we have been proud to be a sponsor and a partner with the Spurs. Por Vida. Go Spurs Go!” The Spurs and Frost Bank first began their partnership in 1973 when the bank provided the necessary financing to move the then-Dallas Chaparrals of the ABA to the Alamo City. The unique partnership helped pave the way for the Spurs unprecedented run of success in San Antonio. Frost Bank has been a continued major corporate partner over the years, including being the Spurs first jersey patch partner from 2018-19 through the 2021-22 season (the Austin-based financial institution Self is the current partner) and serving as an integral component to Rock at La Cantera, the Spurs new state-of-the-art performance center and entertainment district. “We’re so excited to bring together two of San Antonio’s most treasured brands in a new and meaningful way to represent our community,” said R.C. Buford, Spurs Sports & Entertainment CEO. “Fifty years ago, our two organizations envisioned the potential of what a professional sports team could mean for our community, and it is only fitting that we’re joining efforts to welcome fans into the home of the San Antonio Spurs.” Photo courtesy of Spurs Sports & Entertainment The 2023-24 season promises to be one of renewed excitement for the Spurs – having landed the first overall pick in the NBA Draft in French phenom Victor Wembanyama, the team saw a surge in season-ticket purchases. The newly christened Frost Bank Center will add to the excitement with several new features in time for the new season, including the Frost Club complete with a “Puro Meter” corridor mural, as well as a game-day interactive light show that changes with the volume of fan noise inside the arena. “Aligning the Frost and Spurs names in such a major way celebrates both our enduring presence in Texas and our shared commitment to communities we have the privilege of serving,” said Buford.

After months of speculation, Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) has announced a double-header at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, will kick off the 2024 season. CEO of the NRL, Andrew Abdo, confirmed four clubs will make the trip to the US: Brisbane Broncos, Manly Sea Eagles, South Sydney Rabbitohs, and Sydney Roosters, with the games scheduled to kick off on March 2, which coincides with a Sunday afternoon broadcast into Australia. The matches will be the first ever regular season games staged outside of Australia and New Zealand. Abdo stated that the 2024 Las Vegas season opener would form the centrepiece of an “Australia Week” showcasing Australia to the US. Allegiant Stadium, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey He went on to say: “We are now working collaboratively with the four clubs to finalise arrangements for the proposed matches in Las Vegas and make this a blockbuster event for fans by maximising travel, attendance, and enjoyment of a unique rugby league experience. Rugby league will be on a stage which the sport has simply never been on before and we look forward to giving all clubs the opportunity in coming years.” Reports suggest the Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs were strategic inclusions given their high-profile supporters include the likes of Hugh Jackman (Manly) and Russell Crowe (South Sydney), which will assist in marketing the event. However, cynics are well aware that the NRL’s enthusiasm for Vegas is a bid to cash in on the explosion of legalised sports betting in America rather than to grow the sport of rugby league. Australians are among the biggest gamblers in the world, but recently there have been calls for the federal government to implement tougher regulations, particularly around advertising during live sport broadcasts. The last big-time rugby league match to be staged in North America was an international between New Zealand and England, held in 2018 at Mile High Stadium in Denver. However, the event was a financial disaster which resulted in the national bodies of NZ and England eventually writing off debts worth more than $300,000 each. Rugby league is a similar but separate sport to its better-known cousin, rugby union – however its popularity is largely limited to Australia, New Zealand, England, and the Pacific Islands.

Photos by Gary Butterworth, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Church Street Park 5800 Cricket Pitch Way Morrisville, NC 27560 Major League Cricket website Church Street Park website Year Opened: 2015 Capacity: 3,500 If You Come, They Will Build It Fans following Major League Cricket’s social media accounts in the run-up to the inaugural tournament in July 2023 were treated to update after update on the reconfiguration of the league's primary stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas. Some, then, were surprised when MLC announced that its debut season would be co-hosted at Church Street Park near North Carolina’s Raleigh–Durham International Airport. To close followers of American cricket, though, the logic was clear. In event after event, the Morrisville, NC, community has turned out to support cricketers at the local, Minor League, and international levels. Morrisville had earned its place to host some of the world’s top cricketers and their new professional T20 franchise teams. And Morrisville delivered by selling out all seven of the MLC matches hosted at Church Street Park. That fan support, combined with high-quality cricket in an intimate setting, made for a first-rate experience at MLC's secondary venue. Food & Beverage 3 The Morrisville venue falls short in terms of its food options. Church Street Park truly is a public park, and there are no permanent refreshment facilities. A handful of food trucks were present in the somewhat spartan Fan Zone that MLC established in the older of the venue’s two small parking areas. However, many fans took advantage of the event’s generous entry policies to carry in their snacks and beverages (glass bottles and alcohol were prohibited from being brought in, though alcohol was offered to VIP ticket holders). At times, the line to refill water bottles at the two water fountains near the permanent restrooms was nearly as long as the line at the food trucks. The cultural diversity of the cricketing world was on full display on the field and in the stands, but its culinary diversity was less represented. While there was no traditional food available from many traditional cricket-playing countries, the Curry in a Hurry Truck provided vegetarian and non-veg options for those who wanted a menu to match MLC’s Indian Premier League-backed teams. The Oink and Moo BBQ truck has previously been spotted in Philadelphia, one of the ancestral homes of American cricket. Lemonade and snow cone trucks had standard offerings, while Bruster’s ice cream scooped out traditional American flavors as well as South Asian favorites like chikoo and paan. Atmosphere 4 Fans new to cricket – especially those coming from a baseball background – can find a wealth of information online about the sport. (Many cricket-for-baseball-fans explainers are poorly done, but good ones exist and don't worry; the nuances are deep, but the gameplay is far simpler than many believe. This is especially true of the 3.5-hour T20 format that MLC plays.) One of the first nuances that new fans should be aware of is the importance of the pitch. Cultivating a high-quality 22-yard-long strip in the center of the field is something between a dark art and a science. Almost all cricket fields in the United States use some type of artificial pitch, which any cricketer will tell you is less than ideal. But Church Street Park offers a natural turf pitch. Thanks largely to the turf pitch, Morrisville had hosted a few noteworthy cricket events before MLC's arrival, leading local officials to invest in additional facilities at the park, like permanent grandstands (albeit with backless aluminum bleachers). Major League Cricket supplemented that further by bringing in temporary infrastructure, including a video board, for its weeklong stay during its inaugural season. Overall, the venue works – though not without some hiccups. The turf pitch – normally fairly good – did not play its best during the 2023 Major League Cricket season. Without proper clubhouse facilities, the players had to change into tents. The video board was too small to be useful to the majority of spectators. The floodlights were below what one would expect for such a high standard of cricket. Still, few fans seemed to mind. Not only was every match in Morrisville sold out, but small groups of fans could be seen watching some matches through the chain link fence outside the venue (a vantage point with a surprisingly serviceable view). Tickets were available in a tented VIP area, in general admission within grandstands, and general admission without grandstand access (for which fans could bring their chairs or stake out a spot on smaller bleachers). Each of these ticketing options offered good vantage points close to the action. Neighborhood 3 Outside of special event days, Church Street Park is indeed a public park for the 31-thousand residents of Morrisville and neighboring communities in North Carolina’s Research Triangle. The venue's most immediate neighbors are suburban townhomes. The nearby cities of Raleigh and Durham, and the college town of Chapel Hill, offer plenty of activity, but Morrisville and its better-known neighbor, Cary, are mostly suburbia. There are no major amenities immediately surrounding the park – but that’s part of the charm. Even before Major League Cricket came to town, Church Street Park had found a soft spot in many American cricket fans’ hearts largely because of the community vibe. Despite the big dollars –and big names– flowing through Major League Cricket, Church Street Park has managed to retain a community feel. As such, the suburban setting works. Though not much of note is within a quick walk of Church Street Park, a handful of establishments are within walking distance of the off-site parking area. Fans 5 The previously discussed pitch brought international cricket to Morrisville in 2018, but matches between the U.S. and Canada brought out the fans. With a substantial expat population from cricket-playing countries studying and working at the region's universities and research institutions, fans (many of them recreational players in the region's Triangle Cricket League) came out to watch the world's oldest international sports rivalry. The high-quality venue and supply of local cricketers made Morrisville a natural fit for a team in Minor League Cricket's inaugural season in 2021 (the Morrisville Cardinals) and second season in 2022 (the Morrisville Raptors). But the fan support was largely behind the decision to award the venue the league's finals weekend both years. A crowd of more than 3,000 (according to USA Cricket) made the MiLC finals a true event. Major League Cricket was an even bigger event with truly global appeal. Fans turned out in jerseys of national and franchise teams from around the world. Some wore a national dress: a group of men wore traditional shalwar kameez to cheer on Afghanistan star Rashid Khan. Punjabi bhangra music is played over the PA system. TV commentators spoke with Australian and Caribbean accents, while American- and English-accented fans conversed under the flag of North Carolina. Fans traded stories of where they traveled from Texas, California, Maryland, Wisconsin, and New Jersey. The Texas Super Kings, seemingly unaware of how divisive vuvuzelas were at the soccer World Cup in South Africa, distributed boxes of plastic whistles and encouraged fans to "whistle for Texas." A member of the San Francisco Unicorns' "Sparkle Army'' sang songs for his favorite players. US national team and Washington Freedom bowler Saurabh Natravalker received a standing ovation from an entire grandstand section after a spectacular bowling spell. The three MLC teams backed by Indian Premier League juggernauts seemed to be fan favorites, though no small number of fans were actively cheering against the IPL offshoots. But everyone was cheering for American cricket. One group of fans was presumably present but not visible or catered to new fans. Ice hockey teams in non-traditional U.S. markets often make a special effort to explain less-obvious rules like icing to fans who are still learning the sport. Major League Cricket made no noticeable attempt to do this in Morrisville. Perhaps this was unnecessary, both since the series sold out and since the fluency with which even American-accented fans and the American-accented PA announcer discussed the game did not indicate any real confusion. But if cricket is to grow in the United States, additional outreach may be necessary. Access 3 For Major League Cricket and other big events, like Minor League Cricket finals weekend, there is no parking at Church Street Park. Instead, fans are directed to park at free off-site lots; shuttle buses provide a quick five-minute ride to the ground. Somehow, perhaps because fans tend to stagger their arrivals, the system works quite well with manageable wait times both before and after matches – even with many fans dragging along coolers and lawn chairs. Ironically, Minor League Cricket has used luxury shuttle vans, while Major League Cricket relied mostly on yellow school buses to drop off fans in the venue’s newly built second parking lot. This area also includes a drop-off and rideshare pick-up area. For smaller events, like regular season Minor League Cricket matches, fans may be able to snag a spot here. Regardless of the event, resist the temptation to park in one of the nearby residential developments, as vehicles can be towed. Entry to the venue was smooth. Metal detectors were not in use, but personnel did manually check bags. Given the permissive rules for bringing outside food, beverages, and folding chairs, there wasn't much to turn away, so entry lines moved quickly. Once inside, it’s relatively easy to move around even a sold-out Church Street Park. A paved walkway surrounds most of the playing oval. About a quarter of the perimeter is reserved for the teams, but fans are otherwise free to circulate. Prime viewing areas along the walkway get snatched up by fans holding general admission tickets that do not provide access to the grandstand bleachers, but the walkways remain passable and should present little difficulty, even for those who need mobility assistance. One potential challenge: shade. Outside of the $200 VIP tents, the only substantial shade available was under the picnic enclosure. Though enough space was available for fans to find refuge, finding a place to sit in this area was unlikely for those who did not arrive early. Return on Investment 5 When Major League Cricket launched in earnest in 2021, cricket fans in nearly two dozen U.S. cities –including Morrisville– could watch high-quality cricket in person without getting on a plane, and they could do so for free. With the 2023 launch of MiLC's big brother, fans in two U.S. cities can enjoy an even higher level of cricket for a very fair price: Morrisville tickets started at just $12 for general admission to a weekday evening match. An unreserved seat for Saturday night in the new grandstand bleacher section was $32.20 after fees, though discounts were available early in the sale period. The setting is intimate, high-quality giveaways are plentiful, and the quality of cricket is very high. Though India’s stars were notably absent, this is due to the policies of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and not the fault of Major League Cricket. Stars from other test-playing countries and the US national team were out in numbers, and many signed generous amounts of autographs. Such access is only possible at smaller venues like Church Street Park. . Extras 4 In cricket, bonus runs are known as "extras." Bowlers avoid them; batters take 'em. For big events at Church Street Park, organizers provide plenty of extras for fans who line up for them. The 2023 Major League Cricket season was easily Church Street Park's highest-profile event, but it wasn't its first time hosting a notable event. Due to the venue's high-quality playing surface and ability to draw spectators, Minor League Cricket hosted its semifinals and finals there in 2021 and 2022. For those events, a nicely decorated fan zone offered games, autograph booths, and kiosks that one tends to find at mid-sized sporting events. For MLC, the fan zone wasn't as polished, but what it lacked in snazzy, it more than made up for in quality. Teams gave away such substantial quantities of high-quality swag that the merchandise tent did slow business. Flags and whistles were among the most prominent giveaways, but team t-shirts and caps weren't far behind, and a lucky more-than-a-few even snagged replica jerseys. The accessibility of the players also stands out. Not only did players sign autographs and pose for selfies before and after games, but many even scribbled a few between overs. And the eagle-eyed fan could even spot the odd player anonymously enjoying an off day in the crowd. Finally, comradery within the diverse crowd merits special mention. Virtually everyone in attendance shared a common interest in a sport that, while niche in the United States, seems intent on establishing a foothold. The eagerness for strangers to connect in the crowd was both noteworthy and special. Final Thoughts From international matches featuring Team USA through two seasons of Minor League Cricket and the inaugural season of Major League Cricket, Morrisville has established itself as the current spiritual home of American cricket. For this, it can thank its playing surface and its ability to attract a friendly and diverse crowd to its intimate confines. America's cricketing history is deeper than many might think, and the sport is clearly in a growth phase. With the opening of the new stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas, and additional cricket-specific stadiums in Pearland, Texas, and Lauderhill, Florida, Morrisville has competition for big events. Those other venues offer more in the way of amenities, and it would not be hard to imagine MLC outgrowing Church Street Park. But Morrisville offers a big heart and open arms. Those traits, coupled with sell-out crowds and a 2023 renovation should secure Church Street Park's continued role in the broader U.S. cricket ecosystem.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 TowneBank Stadium 700 41st St Newport News, VA 23607 Christopher Newport Captains website TowneBank Stadium website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 4,200 Captain, my Captain! TowneBank Stadium in Newport News, VA is a wonderful enclave with old-school charm, surrounded by trees and beautiful brick campus buildings. The buildings are even adorned in the classic style, complete with gold-domed caps and Gothic columns. The Christopher Newport University Captains take their name from the shipbuilding history of the city, home to Newport News Shipbuilding, which has been building US Navy ships for the past 135 years and is currently working on the Gerald R. Ford class of aircraft carriers, including 10 next generation carriers in total. CNU’s football team competes in the NCAA’s Division III as a football-only member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference, but the school sponsors many other sports as well; Christopher Newport (VA) and Salisbury (MD) are the only two non-New Jersey schools in the NJAC. Food & Beverage 3 TowneBank Stadium offers a small selection of concessions items from two stands below the main concourse, and a third stand in the building near the visitor seating, but the prices are very reasonable – the costliest item is only $6 (nachos with chili and cheese), but you can get a slice of pizza for $3.25, a hot dog for $4, popcorn/candy/chips for around $3, and beverages for around $3. The low prices make up for the lack of choices, and you will find plenty to get you through the two to three-hour game. Atmosphere 4 As mentioned above, TowneBank Stadium is a great facility – the surrounding campus buildings with their beautiful architecture, the greenery, and the brick-paved walkways leading to the facility create a wonderful backdrop for a football game. The giant scoreboard behind the north end zone includes a huge video screen to watch replays, and the scoreboard itself is large enough to easily be seen from even the furthest seats away (the Bojangles/Lexus hospitality deck behind the south end zone). The Captains have a mascot and a huge band, as well as a large cheerleading squad, which give you all the pomp and ceremony you would expect from a college football game. The field itself is surrounded by a light blue (CNU colors) running track, and many of the seats on the home side are bucket-style chairbacks, so you can watch the game in comfort. Neighborhood 4 TowneBank Stadium is located in the nicer part of Newport News, about five miles north of downtown along Highway 60/Warwick Blvd. One great attraction nearby is the Virginia War Museum, which is well worth a visit if you plan to be in town for the day or weekend – I didn’t go inside, but I had a fabulous time driving around the property looking at all the tanks, self-propelled guns, cannons, navy Big-Guns, anti-aircraft guns, etc. dotted around the park. There are plenty of nice restaurants around, as well as several fast-food joints – Schooner’s Grill is a popular local establishment that has a wide selection of beer, wine, and mixed drinks, so could be a great choice to hang out before or after the game, but note they only sell food to go. There are also an almost endless number of hotels nearby, across all price ranges, most of which are along I-64 to the northeast of the university. Fans 3 The Captains have a fabulous student section – they are very into the game and very loud, and cram their side of the main stands so full it is hard to get by; the students are seated right behind and next to the CNU band. The rest of the fans are also very into the game, and you will see a lot of CNU gear being worn – unfortunately, they shut down the merch stand during halftime, so you will need to go early if you want to grab any Captain's swag. Access 3 Getting to TowneBank Stadium is easy enough – Newport News is on the water, so you may have to fight some traffic on the bridges and in the tunnels depending on which direction you are coming from, but there are several major highways near the venue, such as I-64 and Highway 60, making the university easy to get to. Once you get to the facility, the general parking is a little bit of a walk from the stadium, but they do have shuttle buses from the tailgating areas that drop you off right next to the main stands. The grandstands and concessions here are a bit spread out, though, so you may have to do some walking if you need to use the restrooms, get some grub, or meet up with friends in another section. Return on Investment 5 General admission tickets are only $10 each, and you can buy them at the gate (you aren’t forced to buy them online like at many sports venues nowadays). With the low-cost concessions, this represents a great return on investment for a sporting event, given how nice the facility is and the wonderful scenery. Note that the ticket office closes at halftime (just like the merch stand), so you can get in free if you wait until then. Extras 3 TowneBank Stadium is surrounded by some of CNU’s other athletic facilities, so you may be able to see the soccer team, for example, practicing in the distance while you take in the football game. The facility also has several different seating options to choose from, including the Bojangles/Lexus hospitality deck or the dark blue chairbacks, if you are willing to pay a little more for your ticket. Final Thoughts I would recommend a visit to Newport News for Captains football – the stadium is superb and modern, the crowd is great, and you won’t have to pay a fortune to experience it all. If you can make it happen, a visit to TowneBank Stadium is well worth the time.

Photos by NAU Athletics and Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Walkup Skydome 1701 S San Francisco St Flagstaff, AZ 86001 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks website Walkup Skydome website Year Opened: 1977 Capacity: 10,000 Swing Your Axe, You Lumberjacks! Northern Arizona University (NAU) was founded in 1899. It offers more than 180 different degree programs at the undergraduate level. The student body at NAU has just over 28,000 students. The school’s campus is located just south of downtown Flagstaff, AZ. The athletic teams at NAU are known as the Lumberjacks. The football program at the university got its start in 1915. For most of those years, the school was a member of the Frontier Conference, which was made up of schools in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. That all changed when the program joined the Big Sky Conference in 1978 at the FCS level of college football. Over the years, the Lumberjacks have made the FCS playoffs six times (1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2013, and 2017). The football home of the Lumberjacks since 1977 has been the on-campus J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome. It is named for a former NAU school president who led the school from 1957- 1979. The stadium is the third domed stadium in the Big Sky Conference and only one of eleven universities in the country with a domed football venue. At one time it was the largest wood-span structure in the country at a roof span of 500 feet and a height of 142 feet above the field. Now it only trails the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, WA. One built-in advantage to the Walkup Skydome is its location. It is built at the highest altitude (7,000 feet) of any stadium in the FCS and the second highest altitude of any stadium in the NCAA (the University of Wyoming basketball stadium in Laramie is the highest). This takes any visiting team a while to catch their breath! The stadium formerly had a capacity of 16,000, which was downsized to 10,000 during a 2011 renovation. This downsizing was due to the installation of 21-inch wide seats… and we all know how big lumberjacks are! The Skydome also hosts the Lumberjacks basketball program and NAU’s track and field program. Food & Beverage 2 The concession stands at the Walkup Skydome provide a very limited menu of stadium standards. This includes hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, BBQ sandwiches, popcorn and candy. Pepsi brand sodas are sold at the concession stands. Atmosphere 4 The seating bowl at the Walkup Skydome is very compact, as the dome design can span only so far. This means that any of those 21-inch seats will give you a view of the action. Unlike most stadiums, the NAU student section (aka The Lumberyard) gets the seats in between the 40’s on the west side of the field. Some alums may be irritated about that, but hey…. they were in those same seats when they were students. Having the students at midfield is very strategic due to the amount of noise they can make to support the Lumberjacks, while making communications much more difficult for the visiting team. Having a dome helps concentrate all that noise as well. The REALGRASS ™ playing surface features the NAU logo at the fifty-yard line, with the end zones featuring the blue and yellow colors of the school. The Walkup Skydome features an excellent electronics package to keep the fans updated on the game developments. There is a 42’ x 24’ videoboard that constantly shows replays and closeups of game related activities. It is flanked on both sides by a pair of 24’x13’ axe-shaped statistics boards that are updated after each play. Another feature that is hard to miss in the Walkup Skydome are the many banners that hang over the stands on both sides of the field. They salute the various sports championships won by any team or individual at NAU. Speaking of atmosphere …… the Walkup Skydome maintains a constant and comfortable 72 degrees…. No matter how cold it is outside! Neighborhood 4 The NAU campus is located just south of downtown Flagstaff, AZ. The area immediately around the Walkup Skydome is the NAU campus, so a short drive is needed to get to restaurants, hotels and other attractions. It is important to know that Flagstaff has been ranked as the #3 Best College Town in the USA by the American Institute of Economic Research. We can understand why, as the Flagstaff area averages 287 sunny days a year. It also has the backdrop of the San Francisco Peaks in the distance. The city also offers some great breweries, including Lumberyard Brewing, Mother Road Brewing and B66 Brunch, Brew and Barbeque. Flagstaff also has a stretch of the iconic Route 66 running through it. Flagstaff is also a great jumping off point for the Grand Canyon (75 miles away), Sedona (30 miles away) or Phoenix (150 miles away). In 30 minutes, you can be at the Snowbowl Ski resort as well. Fans 4 Lumberjack fans get the gameday started early as the fan tailgate lots open six hours prior to the kickoff. There are some terrific spreads of food and wonderful entertainment in this area. The students have their own tailgate area in a different section of the campus. The team comes through the tailgate area 2 hours prior to kickoff, with the Lumberjack band and the cheerleaders helping to cheer them on. Once inside the dome, there are several unique spirit activities to enjoy. Shortly before the game, a member of the spirit squad takes an axe to a stump at the 50-yard line. This really gets the noise up and fires up the team. Louie the Lumberjack is the team mascot, and he makes his appearance at this point. Another tradition that fans love is the sawing of “tree cookies” by a member of the NAU Forestry Club on the home sidelines after a NAU touchdown or field goal. A tree cookie is a narrow round cut of a tree trunk. This gets the fans’ attention, as the sound of the chainsaw is deafening. Access 3 It is very easy to get to the Lumberjack games from the I-40/ I-17 interchange. Directions from the I-40/ I-17 interchange: Take exit 341 (McConnell DRIVE. Turn right onto West McConnell Drive. Turn right onto East Pine Knoll Drive. In 121 feet turn left, then a short right into the gameday parking lot. Shuttles will transport you to the dome and bring you back after the game. There are separate concourses for each side of the field. They do not encircle the field, so make sure when you enter the Skydome to head to the appropriate concourse for your ticket location. The concourses mirror each other as far as services such as concessions, team stores, restrooms, etc. Return on Investment 3 You do not have to be a lumber baron to afford a Lumberjack game. Tickets are sold as either reserved seats ($20) or general admission seats ($13). Reserved seats are between the 40’s on the east side of the field, while general admission seats go from the goal lines to the 40’s. NAU students attend for free as part of their student activity fee. For the most part the parking nearest the dome is reserved for the season ticket holders. Free parking is located down the hill from the stadium. However, the school has shuttles from the free parking lot to the stadium throughout the gamedays. Extras 5 Since opening in 1977 the Walkup Skydome has hosted one Division II playoff game, three FCS playoff games, two NIT basketball games, four Big Sky Conference Basketball Tournaments, and ten Big Sky Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship Meets. For many years the Walkup Dome was used as the preseason home for the Phoenix Cardinals. It still is used as the preseason training site for the Phoenix Suns. The first home game of the season includes the Running of the Freshmen event. The entire freshman class at NAU takes part in this. They run the length of the field before heading to their seats in the student section. Many freshmen say this is their fondest memory of their first year at NAU. The rivalry game each season is the NAU vs Southern Utah game. The winner takes home the Grand Canyon Trophy. The large lumberjack statue next to the ticket office makes a great photo op. Final Thoughts The Walkup Skydome provides a very comfortable environment to enjoy NAU football. The dome helps to amplify the crowd noise, making it difficult for the visiting teams to communicate and call plays. But to paraphrase Monty Python… they’re the Lumberjacks, and that’s okay!

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Trustmark Park 1 Braves Way Pearl, MS 39208 Mississippi Braves website Trustmark Park website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 8,480 The Road to Atlanta runs through Mississippi If you grew up watching baseball in the Deep South during the 80s and 90s, more than likely you were watching the Braves on TBS Superstation. Millions of people, myself included, were introduced to professional baseball through the voices of Don Sutton and Skip Carey being welcomed into our homes every night. Because of this, and not having another MLB team in the region for so many years, it is safe to say that the Atlanta Braves are the South baseball team. The Braves also keep their minor league teams close to home as well, ensuring that all of 'Braves Country' will be able to watch and keep up with their top prospects on their way to The Show. In 2005 the organization moved the Double-A Greenville Braves to the Jackson, MS suburb of Pearl with the opening of Trustmark Park. It would mark the return of affiliated baseball to the Jackson area since the Double-A Jackson Generals were moved to Corpus Christi for the 2000 season. Before that Jackson was home to the Jackson Mets (1975-1990), with both teams playing at Smith-Wills Stadium about 5 miles away. The Braves Double A franchise is a historic franchise that has played in Austin (66-67), Shreveport (68-70), Savannah (71-83), and Greenville (84-04). Food & Beverage 3 Trustmark Park features multiple concession stands lining the concourses, although some are only open for select games. The M-Braves also renamed most of their concession stands before the 2023 season – down the first base line there is now Big Dawg which sells the usual ballpark fare. Prices here range from $3 to $8, with combo meals including fries costing $13. Also down the first baseline is the Southern Comfort fried food stand selling fried shrimp, chicken tenders, and fried pickles. Next to that is the Hickory Pit, which sells BBQ sandwiches and BBQ nachos, while behind home plate is the Nacho Mama stand that was not open during my most recent visit, but you can find a different variety of nachos and tacos at this stand. Down the third base line, they have a stand called Hammer's Home Plate Grill which pretty much sells the same items that Big Dawg sells; however, you can also get gyros, fried bologna sandwiches, and grilled chicken sandwiches at Hammer's Home Plate Grill. They also have an Ice Cream Parlor stand down the third base line where you can get the M-Braves ice cream or Dippin’ Dots helmet for $6. The highlight of the food and beverages at Trustmark Park can be found in the right field – a full-service restaurant called the State Farm Bureau Grill sits out there. The Grill is a functioning sit-down restaurant with a menu modeled after The Chophouse restaurant that sits in right field at Truist Park in Atlanta. The Grill has a bar that overlooks the right field, with an outdoor party deck so you can eat your food and drink your drinks while feeling the warm summer breeze. For the alcohol selection here you can buy any of the beers at any of the concession stands, or get a cold one on tap at the Grill bar. You can also find an extensive selection of liquor and more beers available at the Liquor Cabinet, also located on the third base side. You can find a wide selection of craft beers on taps, as well as a few local beers – Mr. Sippi and Mississippi Queen are brewed at Key City Brewing, located right on the Mississippi River in Vicksburg about 40 minutes away. Atmosphere 4 It's hard to believe Trustmark Park is entering its 19th season hosting baseball in 2023. Upon entering the venue it becomes evident that the ballpark has aged well over the years. Trustmark Park was built at a time when ballparks were just beginning to utilize the open-air concourses found at many ballparks today. The wraparound concourse extends from the main entrance at right field to left field, and you can see the whole field no matter where you are on the concourse, even from the concessions lines. Trustmark Park is also the second-largest ballpark in the Southern League, holding 8,480 seats, but because of the way the ballpark was built, all the seats are located below the concourse at street level. So even though there are a lot of seats, you will be able to see everything on the field from any of them, as there is not a bad seat in the house. Mississippi is also the heart of Braves country, so if you are a fan of the Atlanta Braves you will fit right in here. As soon as you pull into the parking lot you will start to see the Braves logo everywhere, and as you enter the main gate you'll walk past the giant mural of Braves All-Star Ronald Acuna, who played a year in Mississippi in 2017. In the team store, you will be also able to buy various Mississippi and Atlanta Braves merch, such as jerseys, cards, hats, shirts, etc. Lastly, on the third base concourse, you will see the Braves Wall of Fame, a large mural that highlights past players and achievements of the M-Braves since the opening of Trustmark Park in 2005. The ballpark features three entrances – the main entrance in the right field, the season ticket entrance behind the home plate, and a less frequented entrance in the far-left field. Upon entering the main entrance, you'll come to a wide-open concourse with the State Farm Grill in front of you, some inflatables and bump n' jump to your right, and the huge Braves team store to your left. The Grill makes for a great air-conditioned area to hang out to escape the heat, and you can't beat the views overlooking the right field from the bar. The team store is also a great place to stop to get some Braves gear. Another thing that makes Trustmark Park so great is the concourse and half the seats in the seating bowl are covered by the press box and the 24 suites that make up the second level above you – you'll get plenty of shade and stay dry from the frequent Mississippi summer storms. The concourse is also wide enough that you'll have plenty of room to get around. Down the far-left field line is the Yuengling Pavilion with picnic tables and a beer garden that is only open during select games. Along the outfield there isn't much of a view besides The Grill in right field and the berm seating in left field, with a large video board looming over left-center field; the video board measures 28 feet by 68 feet and is the largest video board in the Southern League. Another cool thing about Trustmark Park is the bullpens are hidden behind the wall pads like you would see in the big leagues – most ballparks in the Southern League have the bullpens down the field on the first and third base lines. Neighborhood 3 Trustmark Park is located in the Jackson suburb of Pearl, about 3 miles east of downtown Jackson. The opening of the ballpark in 2005 was meant to revitalize the area that was once all woods right off Interstate 20 – the opening of Trustmark Park has created many businesses that have popped up over the last 10 years. Just across the street from the ballpark you can get plenty of shopping done at The Outlets of Mississippi; with over 75 stores including brands like Nike, Under Armour, Forever 21, Coach, and Marshalls you are bound to find something to buy at Mississippi's largest outdoor shopping center. In addition, right next door to the Outlets you can get the latest hunting and fishing gear at Bass Pro Shop, then hop on over to Cavender’s Outfitters next door and buy your gear to hunt and fish in; Chipper Jones has also been known to stop off at this Bass Pro when he is in town scouting players. You can take a service road from the stadium that crosses over to the next exit at Bierdeman Road, which would be Exit 48 off I-20. Here you'll find mostly chain and fast-food restaurants such as Cracker Barrell and Waffle House, but a couple of places worth checking out are Frisco Deli, a family-owned deli-style restaurant, and Moss Creek Fish House, the only place in Pearl to get seafood. There is also a hibachi place and a movie theatre several blocks over from the ballpark as well. For nightlife, Pearl is in a dry county, but alcohol can be sold in certain restaurants. The Mississippi-based sports bar Mugshots just opened on Bierdeman Road, where you can get a good selection of drinks or a burger before or after the game. The Holiday Inn next to the Bass Pro also has a cool bar called the Alumni House, and of course, the Bass Pro Shop has a pretty unique restaurant/bar surrounded by giant fish tanks. Other than that, your best bet for nightlife would be to venture into Jackson's Fondren District, about 15 minutes away. Jackson is also the State Capital and has several historical attractions worth checking out, such as the new and old Capitol buildings and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Fans 2 The M-Braves average about 2,500 fans per game, which places them 7th in the 8-team Southern League in terms of attendance. This is quite disappointing, considering Mississippi's love affair with baseball. Nonetheless, you'll encounter a wide range of fans from the families to the diehard Braves fans coming out to Trustmark Park. In 2023 the M-Braves featured a wide range of promotions such as Bark in the Park on Tuesdays, First Responder Wednesdays, Thirsty Thursdays, giveaways and fireworks for weekend games, and kids running the bases on Sundays. There may not be a lot of fans who come out, but the ones that do are usually in their Braves shirts, as almost everyone in Mississippi has at least one old Braves shirt; you will also see a lot of fans in Braves jerseys, with everything from current Braves stars like Ronald Acuna and Austin Riley to Chipper Jones and Tom Glavine. There's also plenty to do for the kids, from the inflatables in right field to the three mascots Pearl, Diddly, and Trusty, who are a constant presence on the concourse. Diddly is the newest mascot for 2023, and the name pays homage to Mississippi's blues music history. Access 4 Getting to Trustmark Park is pretty easy. If coming from out of town I-20 or Highway 49 would be your best bet – the park is located right off the I-20 and Highway 49 interchange at Exit 48. As you are driving on the Interstate you can see the park next to the Bass Pro Shop and the Outlets, right before you get to the Jackson exit at I-55. Once you get off Exit 48 travel north on Highway 49 about a half mile, then get on Highway 80 and take the first right onto Bass Pro Drive, and you'll see the park up ahead. Trustmark Park has a large footprint and is located in a huge parking lot, so you should have no problem finding a parking spot. If you don't want to pay the $5 parking, you can also park across the street at the mall and walk over. Once inside you'll have a wide and spacious concourse with plenty of room to roam around. The Braves front office also does a great job at keeping a clean concourse, and you’ll be able to stand at the drink rails or anywhere on the concourse without blocking the view of other fans. Even with the lack of open concessions stands the lines run smoothly, and despite the lack of fans, everything is smoothly run at Trustmark Park. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are easy to come by as M-Braves games rarely ever sell out. Tickets can be found for as low as $8 to sit on the outfield berm, and up to $30 to sit at the BCI Club directly behind home plate at field level. General admission seating down the first and third base lines goes for $10, while the diamond club tickets behind home plate go for $20. There are also 3 pavilions available to rent – the first and third base party decks and the picnic pavilion down the third base line. Double-A baseball teams often have the best prospects in baseball, and that is true in 2023 with the Atlanta Braves having 23 players on their 40-man rosters having come through Mississippi. That said, there is a good chance you'll be watching the next big player for the Atlanta Braves playing on the field. Extras 3 If you want to experience a part of Jackson's professional baseball history, I suggest taking a trip to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, about 5 miles up the road. The Hall of Fame is a must-visit for all sports fans, and makes for a great stop before a Mississippi Braves game. Inside there is a minor league baseball in Mississippi exhibit, as well as the front office desk and chair from J. Con Maloney, the owner of the Jackson Mets from 1975 to 1990. You can also find all kinds of old jerseys and trophies on display from not just the J Mets and Jackson Generals, but also the M-Braves and all the rest of the teams that have called the Jackson area home. Across the street you can visit Smith-Wills Stadium, which used to host minor league baseball in Jackson; the stadium has recently been redone to include the Hank Aaron Sports Academy, a year-long baseball training center. In addition, all kinds of murals of famous Braves players line the walls now at Smith-Wills Stadium, just like they do at Trustmark Park. Trustmark Park also hosts several college games throughout the year, including the Famous Governor's Game between Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Southern Miss also usually plays one game here as well, and tickets are expensive and hard to come by for these games. Trustmark Park also serves as the home of the Belhaven Blazers baseball program, with their first year hosted in 2022. Belhaven is a small D3 university located in downtown Jackson, and they previously played at Smith-Wills Stadium from 2016 to 2021. Every year since 2006 Trustmark Park has also hosted the Mississippi High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) Baseball State Championships, and Braves third baseman Austin Riley even played here in 2015 as part of the MHSAA State Championships – he would suit up for the M-Braves during the 2017 and 2018 seasons as well. And of course, another extra for all the Braves legends who have come through Mississippi on the way to The Show; Freddie Freeman, Brian McCann, Jeff Francouer, Jason Heyward, Dansby Swanson, Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuna, Austin Riley, Max Fried, Mike Soroka, and Spencer Strider are just some of the current All-Stars who came through here. In addition, Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz all played here in their careers doing rehab stints – Braves skipper Brian Snitker was even the M-Braves first manager as well. Final Thoughts Trustmark Park may not be as flashy as some of the more modern ballparks, but after 19 years it still holds up well as a great place to catch a ballgame. The M-Braves may not pack out the house every night, but they take great pride in being affiliated with their big-league club, something you don't see at many minor-league ballparks. Hopefully, it'll be many more years of Braves players coming through Mississippi.

Photos by Andy Pregler and Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 UPMC Park 110 E 10th St Erie, PA 16501 Erie SeaWolves website UPMC Park website Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 6,000 Squeezing it In In 1995 the Erie SeaWolves were established, eventually settling in the Eastern League and a Double-A affiliation with the Detroit Tigers. The SeaWolves were purchased by former Procter & Gamble and Chiquita executive Fernando Aguirre in 2015. The SeaWolves call UPMC Park home. The ballpark is part of the Louis Tullio Plaza along with the Erie Insurance Arena and was formerly named after Jerry Uht. Jerry was a professional ball player with the Cleveland Indians and is intertwined with Erie baseball. He established an endowment that would help support the park. A marker sits outside the park and continues to memorize Jerry Uht even after the naming rights for the ballpark were sold to the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. What is unique about this city-owned ballpark is that it seems to be situated on a footprint that is smaller than one would expect for a ballpark. It has created a unique landscape for baseball, one that is not easily forgotten. Food & Beverage 4 The SeaWolves garnered a bit of infamy in 2018 when it came to concessions with their unique Cotton Candy Dog. Upon visiting UPMC Park in 2019 the item was nowhere to be found. What remains on the concession scene, however, is a good selection of ballpark favorites and premium items. All of the required ballpark items like hot dogs, peanuts, pizza, and nachos are available at UPMC Park. Some spots in the park should garner a second look. The Smith’s Sausage Shop is a good place to start. A ton of different hot dogs and sausages are on the menu including a Cuban Dog, Cajun Sausage and Ox Roast Sandwich are interesting options. The Mojo & AC Rocket Dog may be the choice with mac & cheese and pulled pork on it. Other interesting items at other spots in UPMC Park include pepperoni balls, Greek fries, mac n cheese bites, and loaded French fries. Soft drink options are focused on Pepsi products. For those who are beer connoisseurs, Labatt Blue and Yuengling are mainstays, with Southern Tier, Founders, and Lakeshore products filling the craft contingent. Smirnoff Ice and Twisted Tea are also available for those who wish for an alcoholic beverage while staying away from the beer. Atmosphere 3 UPMC Park is shoehorned into a small footprint. The exterior of UPMC is unspectacular but not terrible. Reddish-brown and tan brick with a tower in the southwest corner are the key traits of the exterior. The southwest corner has a bit of a gathering area, really the only one, with the monument for Jerry Uht right there to remind fans of his importance. A bit of curiosity is the baseball frog in the southwest area known as “One-Hopper.” Both the monument and One-Hopper are outside of the ballpark right by the ticket office. The interior of UPMC Park is where its uniqueness stands out. The corridors are not unlike most minor league facilities. Plaques honoring key members of the Erie baseball family are found around the concourse. Life-size, player posters also honor those SeaWolves who have made it to the big leagues. Chief among those players are Curtis Granderson and Justin Verlander. Getting out to the grandstands is quite telling. The lower seating area is quite traditional, wrapping around the infield, however, with only five rows of seats. The first base side upper deck is quite close to the action and basically on stilts. The party deck in the right field is also on stilts. On the third base side, there is a more traditional grandstand on the other side of the exterior concourse. A picnic area is behind the lower grandstand on the left field side and behind it is the kid's zone with some inflatable fun. UPMC has a distinct lack of symmetry to it, which takes some getting used to. The video board is in right-center field and UPMC has possibly the most unique left field in baseball. The left field wall is the neighboring Erie Insurance Arena. The game day atmosphere is what is to be expected at a Minor League Baseball game. Filled with promotions and special dates, the SeaWolves game day staff do what they can to keep the turnstiles turning. The SeaWolves mascot, C. Wolf, makes his way around the ballpark, interacting with fans and participating in promotions. The date that was reviewed was a doubleheader and in between the two games the SeaWolves hosted the Kid Stampede. Kids are welcomed in the left field corner and are encouraged to sprint to the right field corner as fast as they can. Neighborhood 3 UPMC Park is located between French, 10th, and Holland Streets in what is essentially downtown Erie. There are a few spots within walking distance of the ballpark for pre or post-game fare. Some spots that may be of interest include Cloud 9 Wine Bar, Franco’s Cafe, Docksider Tavern, Jekyll & Hyde’s Gastropub, and Bolero. There are also a couple of chains in the vicinity like Subway and Taco Bell for those who are looking for something familiar. Located right behind UPMC Park is Erie Insurance Arena which is home to the Erie Otters of the OHL and the Erie BayHawks of the G League. There is also NCAA Division I hockey in Erie at Mercyhurst Ice Center, home of the Mercyhurst Lakers . Presque Isle Downs & Casino offers thoroughbred racing on the other side of the interstate. For other entertainment options, fans may consider checking out the Erie Zoo. or heading to the waterfront to Presque Isle State Park. The Warner Theatre is also in the neighborhood. Fans 3 The Erie SeaWolves draw between 3,000 and 3,300 fans per game in a year. From the 2017 to 2019 seasons, the attendance at UPMC Park has been trending down. The SeaWolves are traditionally at the bottom end of the league in attendance either the eleventh or twelfth out of twelve teams. UPMC Park has a capacity of 6,000, so there is plenty of space for more fans. The fans that are in attendance are pretty knowledgeable and remain interested in the game. However, a better mark for fans will come with simply a higher attendance. Access 3 UPMC Park is located in downtown Erie, north of Highway 20 further north of I-90, and east of I-79. Getting to the park by car will require plenty of maneuvering the city streets into downtown. There are a few parking options with a large parking garage to the southwest of the ballpark and a parking lot on the other side of 10th Street. For fans interested in taking public transit to the ballpark, some buses run along 10th Street. Fans should check the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority website for fares, maps, and schedules. Security at the ballpark is what you would expect for a Minor League game. Checking the SeaWolves website before leaving home to confirm prohibited items and security procedures, is still a good idea. The ticket window is at the southwest corner at 10th and French and lineups are not a big issue. Getting around the ballpark given the number of fans in attendance is not an issue and the washrooms are adequate for the facility. The high number of seats that are above the inner concourse will require many fans to maneuver the stairs. Return on Investment 4 As with most Minor League Baseball experiences, the Erie SeaWolves offer a solid return on investment. Tickets for the SeaWolves can be found for $15, $13 or $10. Concession prices are not exorbitant and parking can be found for $5. The SeaWolves do a decent job of putting together a good experience and fans will not be disappointed. Finding a single-ticket doubleheader, usually possible due to early-season weather issues, adds to that value. Extras 3 An extra mark for continuing improvements to UPMC Park. The 2019 season features a new video board and a new playing surface. The 2020 season expects a new team store and new entrance upgrades to suites, picnic areas, and party deck among other items. An extra mark for the unique asymmetry of UPMC Park. An extra mark for the honoring of Sam “The Jet” Jethroe. The Jet was a Negro League Hall of Famer who settled in Erie after his professional career ended. To go with his plaque in the concourse, Jethroe’s number 5 is retired and stands above Jackie Robinson’s 42 on the left field wall. Final Thoughts The experience at UPMC Park for the Erie SeaWolves is a decent Minor League experience. The uniqueness of the park, even among minor league facilities, offers something a little different. The small footprint makes UPMC distinct, however, better, more consistent attendance would make the experience better. ------ Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and Instagram .

Photos by Aaron S. Terry , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Builders Field 700 41st St Newport News, VA 23607 Apprentice School Builders website Builders Field website Year Opened: 1980s Capacity: 1500 USCAA Football Virginia Builders Field in Newport News, VA is the home of the Apprentice School Builders football team. Built in the mid-1980s and seating 1500 fans, the stadium sits next to one of Newport News Shipbuilding’s facilities, located not far from the pier. Newport News Shipbuilding has been building US Navy ships for the past 135 years, and is currently working on the Gerald R. Ford class of aircraft carriers, including 10 next generation carriers in total. The Apprentice School Builders take their name from the city’s ship building history, and in fact their athletic teams use the same motto as Newport News Shipbuilding – Always Good Ships. Food & Beverage 2 There are two concession stands at Builders Field, one a fixed stand called Glo’s Eat & Go and the other a food truck call Georgia’s – Glo’s offers wings, chicken tenders, chopped BBQ, hot dogs, burgers, and fries, along with bottled water, soda, candy, and chips, while Georgia’s sells ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, fish sandwiches and fried fish pieces, polish sausage, wings, nachos, hot dogs, and fries, as well as soda, canned iced tea, and bottled water. Prices at both stands range from $5 to $14 for the larger items, and $1 to $2 for drinks and small snacks. While there are plenty of options at Builders Field, one of the stands ran out of food by halftime, so I ended up running down the street to a nearby fast food place called Chick-A-Sea (specializing in fried chicken and fried fish), which is very good and was swamped with people. Atmosphere 3 Builders Field is a nice facility with hedges bordering the field on each side, with plenty of Builders signage and shipbuilding artifacts on display, for example a propeller statue and an anchor statue behind one end zone. There are also chairback benches along the whole length of the main stands, as well as a tent with tables and chairs where you can sit if you prefer more shade, and some attendees even park outside the fence and watch from their cars while tailgating. There is not much entertainment here besides the game itself, however, as there is no mascot, no band, and no cheerleaders to be seen. I also did not hear much in the way of set cheers or catchphrases yelled at certain points in the game by the home crowd. Neighborhood 2 Builders Field appears to be located in a rough part of town – the stadium is surrounded on three sides by government housing, and there is a major freeway right behind the main stands, which you can hear the traffic from all game long. One of Newport News Shipbuilding’s facilities is also visible behind the visitor stands, as well as a school bus parking lot. There are a few fast-food restaurants within a short drive, like the aforementioned Chick-A-Sea and others such as Popeye’s or Church’s Chicken. The Virginia War Museum is also nearby, which is well worth a visit if you plan to be in town for the day or weekend – I didn’t go inside, but I had a fabulous time driving around the property looking at all the tanks, self-propelled guns, cannons, navy Big-Guns, anti-aircraft guns, etc. dotted around the park. Fans 3 The Builders draw a pretty good crowd – the stadium is not full by any means, but you will see many fans wearing Apprentice School gear, and the fans are very passionate when they cheer. The visiting stands are much smaller than the main stands, so during some games, especially for nearby opponents, you will definitely see the visitor section filled to capacity. Note that on the home side, the middle sections of the three to four rows closest to the press box offer some great shade, so you may want to try and sit in those rows if you can. Access 4 Getting to Builders Field is a piece of cake – Newport News is on the water, so you may have to fight some traffic on the bridges and in the tunnels depending on which direction you are coming from, but as I mentioned above, a major highway (I-664) goes right by the stadium, so you practically can’t miss it. There is also free parking right next to the field, close enough that you can watch the game from your car if you want. The bathrooms here are a mixed lot – the Apprentice School athletics building behind one end zone houses the only “regular” bathrooms; behind the opposite end zone you will instead find port-a-johns (behind the scoreboard) or a trailer (next to the main stands) with restrooms that are kind of in the middle (a step up from a port-a-potty, but not quite a full bathroom either). Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Apprentice School football games only cost about $8 each, including fees, but you must purchase them online – you can print the tickets out and bring them with you, though, if you don’t want to worry about having them on your phone. Alternatively, you can watch the game for free from just outside the fence, but with tickets this cheap I would recommend sitting in the stands (if you can find some shade) or under the aforementioned tent. Extras 2 Builders Field is pleasant to walk around, the hedges are great, and you may enjoy taking a photo of the anchor and propeller. Final Thoughts Apprentice School football offers a pleasant, low-key way to enjoy the fall weather. You won’t hear the over-the-top crowd noise that some college football stadiums are famous for, but if you are looking for a family-friendly experience that won’t cost a fortune, this is the perfect choice.

Photos by Richard Smith Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Beldon Field 1021 Dulaney Valley Rd. Towson, MD 21286 Goucher Gophers website Beldon Field website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 1,000 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 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. Beldon Field opened in 2009. It is the home of men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and field hockey. This review is for the field hockey team. Food & Beverage 0 There is no permanent food stand at Beldon Field. Fans should make certain to eat before or after the game as this arena is not a good place for food concessions. Atmosphere 4 There is a pleasant, simple grandstand at Beldon Field. Additional seating is along the hills surrounding the venue. You will find a variety of seating options. The field is in a little bowl or meadow, and sound travels extremely well within the area. This creates a lovely little atmosphere so that even small crowds sound rather lively. 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 large shopping mall and numerous restaurants in the area. Try the Charles Village Pub in the heart of downtown Towson for good food and drinks. Some other great options are The Crease, Glory Days Grill, Sushi Hana, and Zia’s. 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. Abbey Burger Bistro is one great choice. The beer selection is good, and they offer a dizzying array of burger choices, which are all likely to satisfy. Fans 3 Most of the fans are friends and family of the players with a few scattered students attending. 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 some 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 fantastic value for sports fans. Extras 2 Goucher College has a little athletics hall of fame located in the Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena lobby. The pretty little campus is a nice extra in itself. Final Thoughts Beldon Field is a pretty basic, low-level sports field located in a nice suburban setting near 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.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Karen Shelton Stadium 327 Ridge Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27514 North Carolina Tar Heels website Karen Shelton Stadium website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 1,000 UNC’s Hidden Sports Gem To many, UNC is known for its basketball and football programs. However, Olympic sports have long held a history of success in the school’s history. The field hockey program is no different, capturing its 10th NCAA National Championship in 2022. The home of UNC Field Hockey, Karen Shelton Stadium, is indeed a hidden gem of this stunning campus. Nestled in the hillside across the street from UNC’s Baseball stadium and next door to the football practice field, this beautiful and impressive facility is fitting for the dominant program that UNC fields every year. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand at the stadium, located at the end of the grandstands. Here you can find hot dogs ($5.75), candy or chips ($4.25), peanuts ($5.25), jumbo salted pretzels ($7.25), and popcorn or nachos ($6.25). For drinks, water ($4.75), large souvenir cup sodas ($6.75), and alcohol ($11.25-$16) are also available. The majority of the food items are hot grab-and-go and frequently replenished, making the line move a lot faster than one would expect. Atmosphere 5 To call this stadium beautiful is an understatement. The grandstands face a verdant background of tall trees shading the field. To your left is a large HD video scoreboard. The seats, except for a few individual rows, are all individual folding stadium seats. Tickets for games are all general admission as well, meaning your ticket gets you a seat along the field level or in the upper sections. The topmost level of the grandstand is a walkway offering standing room for fans as well. The UNC band occupies the far lower right sections of the grandstands below the concessions stand, providing an unexpected addition to the college experience at what would otherwise be considered a lower-tier sport compared to the program’s larger teams. Indeed, nothing about Karen Shelton Stadium suggests that UNC Field Hockey is anything but elite, showcasing that stunning facilities can be utilized for all sports, regardless of their national prominence. Neighborhood 4 The area surrounding UNC is stunning – from quaint neighborhoods to the beautiful campus itself, it is hard to argue with how great this area of North Carolina is. Located less than 30 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, UNC’s campus features plenty of parking for fans in the immediate area. Just outside of campus, copious amounts of shopping and dining are available, as well as numerous hotels. Fans 5 This year, record-breaking crowds have filed into Karen Shelton Stadium to watch UNC defend its 2022 National Championship. The stadium’s stands are almost always packed with fans, be they locals and UNC grads or current students and fellow UNC athletes. Pre-game tailgates happen in the adjacent parking lot to the stadium, and the UNC band even performs at them before leading a fan march into the stadium. You’d be hard-pressed to say the fans here aren’t loyal or sport-knowledgeable, so if you’re new to the sport, don’t be shy about asking your neighbor for some guidance on what is happening on the field of play. Access 4 Parking is plentiful near Karen Shelton Stadium; many fans use the Ram’s Head parking deck across the street. This multi-level parking garage offers a large number of parking spaces for easy in and out access. At the other end of the stadium is another small parking lot, used by most hardcore fans for pre-game tailgating. Once inside the stadium grounds, it is easy to get around thanks to copious signage for fans. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to UNC Field Hockey are free, a steal for the entertainment value you receive. With standard concession prices and a family-friendly atmosphere, you can be sure to expect a lot of fun for a low price when you arrive. Perhaps the best value on campus, UNC fans have long known this is a great value, and with a solid stadium to back up the hype the team currently enjoys, it is easy to see why. Extras 3 The stadium itself features signage and plaques along the main concourse honoring the team’s ACC Conference titles and NCAA National Championships, as well as important figures from UNC’s past like Karen Shelton. Fans can also expect a giveaway table at the entrance to each game, often filled with kids' club information or free posters for fans. The stadium also features a small grass berm on the far right side of the stadium seating area that is tiered and usually has tents erected with cooling fans on hot days. Final Thoughts This may be the best-kept secret of UNC athletics. While they may not enjoy national TV coverage like football or basketball, the field hockey program has a stunning facility they call home. Fan-friendly, inexpensive to attend, and easy access to parking are all positive points when considering this team during your next visit. If you’re in the area, fans can expect to look at this facility as a potential site of interest. And thanks to a beautiful backdrop and the great weather North Carolina enjoys in the fall, this may be the most beautiful field hockey facility in America.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 APG Federal Credit Union Arena 401 Thomas Run Rd Bel Air, MD 21015 Harford Fighting Owls website APG Federal Credit Union Arena website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 2,552 Home Of The Fighting Owl Harford Community College is located in Bel Air, MD, roughly in between Baltimore and the Delaware state line. It was founded in September 1957 as the “Harford Junior College.” In 1971 the name was changed to its current college designation. The Harford Fighting Owls play in NJCAA Division I, the highest athletic level for 2-year colleges, and are a part of the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference. Having played in the antiquated Susquehanna Center gym since its 1968 opening, Harford wanted to update its facilities. So in 2011, the college began an extensive remodel of the facility. As part of the remodel was the addition of this 2,552-seat arena. Aberdeen Proving Grounds Federal Credit Union provided sponsorship in another surprising turn for this community college building. While sponsorships are the norm nowadays in the stadium world, a sponsor program for a small 2-year college building is pretty new on the landscape. The name is often shortened to the equally hard-to-say APGFCU Arena. The arena opened in late 2012 for the men’s and women’s basketball season, as well as a performance of the Harlem Globetrotters. Food & Beverage 1 There is a basic concession stand offering a small array of foods at a decent price. The stand was not open for the game we attended, but we are giving some credit for the soda machines around the arena. If the concession stand is open, you will find the usual variety of arena food offerings. Atmosphere 2 To be honest, the fan atmosphere is not very impressive. A community college audience gets a lot of family members and a few interested community members, but very few students. The game we attended was a bit louder than the usual game as it was a pep rally attended by athletes from other Harford sports teams. The arena staff may try to engage the fans with interactive games and giveaways. It is a basic atmosphere but fair for this level of play. Neighborhood 4 Harford Community College is in a suburban location and has plenty of free parking. The area is safe and has many restaurants nearby. Naughty Dogs is within walking distance and has a fun, cheap bar for pre and post-game refreshments, along with food such as pit beef. JD’s Smokehouse located across the street provides another option for food and drinks and some pretty good barbecue. If you are in the mood for Mexican, La Tolteca is located just a brief distance away and is a consistently good food place. Travel into Bel Air and there are multiple chain and local options. There are numerous options, such as MaGerks Pub & Grill, around the area. A quick drive in the other direction is Aberdeen. Olive Tree is a better version of a well-known Italian chain, while Mamie’s Cafe with Love is an old-school Baltimore-style restaurant that offers free desserts with all meals. Super Chicken Rico is another choice with which you can’t go wrong. Venture into nearby Havre de Grace, and the options expand dramatically. Try the Tidewater Grille and Vineyard Wines. Washington Street Books and Bahoukas Beer MuZeum are all interesting shopping options in this quaint waterfront town. If you do go to Havre de Grace, make sure to stop at the very pretty Concord Point Lighthouse. Fans 1 The team mascot, Screech The Owl, may also be in attendance and try to get the crowd fired up. A community college audience gets a lot of family members and a few interested community members, but very few students. Access 4 Harford is located just a few miles off of I-95, one of the largest highways in the northeast. But State Route 22 can be very crowded with commuters traveling between Aberdeen Proving Grounds (APG) and central Harford County. APG has become a very large Army base after the last round of federal base realignment and closure activities. So leave some extra time getting to APGFCU Arena. Towson University in Northeastern Maryland is an extension campus of the well-established state university that is located across from the Harford campus. Return on Investment 4 APGFCU Arena is noted as being the largest arena in northeast Maryland. That is a somewhat silly pronouncement with Maryland being a relatively small state. But the arena is already seeing its schedule filled with various events and concerts. Basketball and volleyball crowds will not be its bread and butter alone. All seats are general admissions seats are a good value at $5. which is priced fairly. Extras 3 The arena staff does do a good job of promotions. They treat your experience here as if you are at a major college. It would be very easy to not do this with the small crowd, but they never give up. The Chesapeake Center is the name for the rest of the building that the APG Federal Credit Union Arena is connected to. Check out the rest of this facility, as the 2011-2012 renovation changed the look and feel of this building dramatically. The rest of the Harford Community College campus is worth taking a look at. The college has added buildings and facilities numerous times over the past 15 years. A small rural college is now a major suburban educational institution. Final Thoughts This is a pretty impressive facility for a community college. It will be interesting to see if other colleges of this size try to follow suit. Otherwise this may just be a quick trip for fans.

Photos by Gary Butterworth, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Grand Prarie Stadium 1600 Lone Star Pkwy Grand Prairie, TX 75050 Major League Cricket website Year Opened: 2008 (Reconfigured for cricket 2023) Capacity: 7,200 The Next Chapter For American Cricket? When American fast bowler Ali Khan delivered Major League Cricket's first-ever ball in July 2023, he did so in a venue that had just been transformed from a baseball stadium into a venue that aims to transform cricket in the United States. It just may be successful. Food & Beverage 4 Cricket may have its roots in England, but it can thank South Asia for its status as the world's second most popular sport. The subcontinent's influence on cricket around the world is indelible. On the field, three of Major League Cricket's original six franchises bear the branding of their Indian Premier League backers. The desi flavor is also present in the stands – literally. Foodistan, a small local chain, stocks Grand Prairie Stadium's concession stands with biryani (chicken or vegetarian), samosas, and a handful of other South Asian dishes, as well as traditional American ballpark fare like burgers, nachos and popcorn. Beverage offerings were similarly varied and unique: Arka beer, an "Indian style premium lager," was available, along with a selection of wine and spirits. On the non-alcoholic side, India's Thums Up cola and mango lassi were among the choices that aren't commonly seen in U.S. stadiums. Though many menu items were uncommon, policies on outside food and beverage were not unusual. Unlike Major League Cricket's secondary venue of Church Street Park in Morrisville, NC, where fans could bring in just about any outside food and many outside beverages, entry policies in Grand Prairie were far more strict: fans were limited to a single factory-sealed water bottle (the maximum allowable size differed depending upon what set of rules one read). Atmosphere 4 Without question, Grand Prairie Stadium offers the most well-rounded cricket experience in the United States on the field and in the stands. Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, has its pluses: As the United States' first modern cricket-specific stadium, it is to thank for first bringing high-level international cricket to the United States in the 21st century. Its relatively steep, shade-covered grandstands offer a vantage point that some might prefer to those offered by Grand Prairie. But Broward County's ability to draw crowds is inconsistent at best. There is a reason why it was not selected to host Major League Cricket matches. MLC's secondary venue Church Street Park in Morrisville, NC, draws crowds and has some spectator infrastructure, but its understated charm is in its park-like, community-centered vibe. Few would perceive the venue as "major league." Moosa Stadium in Pearland, Texas, has hosted a handful of international matches and has bigger aspirations but largely flies under the radar. And few would consider as "stadiums" the grounds hosting Minor League Cricket teams around the U.S. (Don't confuse Grand Prairie with Prairie View 225 miles to the southeast. Prairie View hosts a large cricket complex but provides little in the way of spectator infrastructure.) Grand Prairie Stadium is not a large stadium like one might find in the UK, Australia, or South Asia. After all, prior to its renovation, it hosted the Texas Air Hogs of the American Association of Independent Baseball. Approximately the equivalent of the fourth tier in professional baseball's official hierarchy, the American Association is a quality league, but it is relatively small-scale. The conversion of the former AirHogs Stadium to a cricket-specific venue upped the seating capacity from 5,445 to more than 7,000. That's big enough to feel vaguely big-time, but small enough to maintain the intimacy that one won't find in major cricketing countries. The reconfiguration also added a lot of polish. This feels like a new venue. Look hard enough, though, and a handful of signs of the venue's original purpose remain visible. Why do the upper-level luxury suites have such a strange arc rather than following the natural curve of the playing field? Because they still follow the original baseball foul lines. The playing surface, lighting system, and players' facilities received good reviews. Similarly, the spectator facilities were pleasant, though not entirely without fault. Texas is hot, and the lack of shade is unfortunate. Air-conditioned areas exist to beat the heat, but they are only available to premium ticket holders. The seating bowl itself is quite shallow in slope, which is unfortunate for those stuck behind someone tall. The video board is only readily visible to fans sitting in the stands that were once the baseball infield. These quirks are worth keeping in mind when purchasing tickets. The game presentation is top-notch. The passionate young American public address announcer performed well in both Grand Prairie and at the North Carolina venue, providing continuity between both of MLC's host sites. For the final, a team of parachutists delivered an American flag before the match, and a truly spectacular lighted drone show kept fans glued to their seats during the innings break. Details like these show that Major League Cricket truly is dedicated –and funded– to make an impression on the sports world. Grand Prairie Stadium is up to the challenge as host. Neighborhood 3 The Dallas-Forth Worth Metroplex is sprawling and car-centric, and the parking lots surrounding Grand Prairie Stadium can obscure the fact that there is actually quite a bit to do relatively close by, even though most of that is well outside of walking distance. Without traffic, the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers stadiums are only a 12-minute drive away; Six Flags Over Texas is about the same. But Grand Prairie Stadium has some immediate neighbors, too: it shares a parking lot with Lone Star Park, a horse racing track. Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie, a concert venue, sits just next door and is visible from much of the stadium. A branch of the Texas-based fast food chain Whataburger is nearby and is convenient for out-of-state visitors looking to try a local staple. Fans 4 There were numerous questions in the run-up to Major League Cricket's inaugural season, but key among them was whether fans would actually turn out to the matches. Fan support was far from a given: when the United States national cricket team hosted its first home One Day International match in 2019, ESPN CricInfo reported a total attendance of just 19 fans at Broward County Stadium in Florida. But MLC had reason to hope: the 3.5-hour T20 format is a different animal, and Major League Cricket offers more star power –and a bigger advertising budget– than the US team. Geography also matters: the Dallas area is home to a large population of expats and immigrants from South Asia's cricketing nations. But initially slow ticket sales, despite discounts on already-reasonable prices, fueled worry that the inaugural season could fizzle. Those worries proved largely unfounded, as many MLC matches in Grand Prairie ultimately sold out, even after late releases of standing-room-only tickets that were priced higher than some seated options. TV broadcasts did reveal empty seats for daytime matches under the hot Texas sun. But once night rolled in, Grand Prairie Stadium filled up with engaged fans who were eager to wave flags and cheer for their newly adopted teams. The appearance of high-profile Indian-American and Indian business leaders, like Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and IPL franchise owner Nita Ambani, further animated the crowd by reminding them that, yes, this is indeed a major league with big-time backers. Access 4 Grand Prairie Stadium is located between Dallas and Fort Worth and just south of DFW International Airport. This part of the country is not particularly convenient to navigate using public transportation, but fans should have little difficulty driving to the stadium. Parking ($20, cash preferred) is convenient, though fans should note that there are two entrances to the main lot in case one entrance backs up. Compared to MLC's secondary venue of Church Street Park in Morrisville, NC, the overall experience at Grand Prairie Stadium feels noticeably more Major League. This starts at arrival, as security checks are more thorough and the list of prohibited items is significantly longer. Though not at all out of step with entry policies that have become standard at U.S. sports venues, the checks can lead to lines for entry. Once inside, a wide concourse rings the entire playing field. Fans with premium tickets can circulate around the full perimeter of the oval, though standard ticket holders will be turned away from exclusive areas of the concourse. Return on Investment 3 When Minor League Cricket launched in earnest in 2021, cricket fans in nearly two dozen U.S. cities could watch high-quality cricket in person without getting on a plane, and they could do so for free. With the 2023 launch of MiLC's big brother, fans in two U.S. cities can enjoy an even higher level of cricket for a very fair price: for MLC's inaugural season in Grand Prairie, the least expensive tickets ranged from $15 to $40 depending on the match, and discounts were available early in the sale period. Fans familiar with baseball might liken the renovated, cricket-specific incarnation of Grand Prairie Stadium to that of a high-end AA or perhaps AAA ballpark. However, AA or even AAA baseball stadiums rarely see the star power that Major League Cricket brought in 2023. Considering that such a high standard of cricket would have previously required U.S.-based fans to travel to at least the Caribbean, there is significant value in having this experience available domestically. . Extras 2 In cricket, bonus runs are known as "extras." Bowlers avoid them; batters'll take 'em. For the first season of Major League Cricket at Grand Prairie Stadium, organizers provided plenty of extras for fans who lined up for them. Eager to attract attention to the league, teams gave away high-quality swag in quantities large enough to drive down the business at the merchandise tables. Why buy a jersey when you were virtually guaranteed a free flag and when you had a high probability of snagging a free cap and t-shirt? As is also the case in MLC's other inaugural-season venue, the comradery within the diverse crowd merits special mention. Virtually everyone in attendance shared a common interest in a sport that, while niche in the United States, seems intent on establishing a foothold. The eagerness for strangers to connect in the crowd was both noteworthy and special Final Thoughts With the completion of Grand Prairie Stadium's transformation, the United States now boasts four cricket-specific stadiums. Though one might not expect a fourth sport-specific stadium to be transformative, Grand Prairie Stadium may very well have that effect on American cricket. Between the quality of the facilities, fan support, and positive media attention, MLC's second season appears secure. Grand Prairie Stadium also appears to be a lock to host matches in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. There is genuine excitement around American cricket in Grand Prairie, and fittingly, it was an American, Ali Khan, who delivered the first ball here.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 LU Athletics Stadium 1675 Baltimore Pike Lincoln University, PA 19352 Lincoln Lions website LU Athletics Stadium website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 2,600 Lions of PA Lincoln University is a public state-related HBCU near Oxford, Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, Temple, Pitt, Penn State, and Lincoln have this state-related designation. Legally, the universities remain separate and private entities, operating under their charters, governed by independent boards of trustees, and with assets under their ownership and control, thereby retaining much of the freedom and individuality of private institutions. The nearby University of Delaware also has a similar structure. Lincoln was founded as the private Ashmun Institute in 1854, it has been a public institution since 1972. It is the United States' first degree-granting HBCU. Lincoln has an impressive list of famous alumni including US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, poet Langston Hughes, and jazz artist Gil Scott-Heron. LU Athletics Stadium opened in 2012. The football program only began in 2008, as a club program, and in 2009 as a Division II team. The Lincoln Lions play in NCAA Division II as a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The Track and Field program has been the university's most successful program. The basketball team set many records in 2006 by winning 201-78 over Ohio State Marion. Food & Beverage 3 There is a simple food stand at the stadium. The offerings list is very short with Chicken Tenders, Nachos, and drinks being the only things sold. The prices are all pretty much around or under $5 so the value is pretty great. Atmosphere 5 The stadium is a simple facility with a very nice home section and a very small visitor stand across the field. There is a walkway around the entire field. You will be close to the action, no matter where you choose to sit. There is a great cheer squad that dances and cheers loudly and effectively throughout the game. There is also a very good band. Neighborhood 3 Lincoln University is located outside of the town of Oxford, which is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania The Oxford Historic District and Oxford Hotel are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are a few interesting restaurants in the small town and we can recommend Hollow Earth Brewing, Margherita's Italian Restaurant, and Bellybusters Sub Shoppe. You can also stock up on food at the Landhope Farms convenience store or the Wawa in nearby Nottingham. Nottingham is also home to Herr Foods, which offers tours on weekdays. Check on the hours of their gift and outlet shop if in the area. Herrs also has a very good, and free, Christmas light display from December to January. Fans 5 The fans are very engaged in the game and create a great atmosphere for games. The crowd is not super large but the atmosphere is still great. The fans are knowledgeable and loud. Access 3 Lincoln is located off a section of US Route 1 which is a divided highway so access is fairly decent. The only issue is that even though it is in the Mid-Atlantic region, this area of Chester County is much more isolated than you would expect. If you are traveling through this area you may know it as between Herr's Factory and Longwood Gardens. The university has guards at the entrance to their lots but if you let them know you are attending a sports event they will wave you through. There is plenty of parking near the gym. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to the game cost $20 for general admission. With it being Division II and the cheap cost of attending a game, the return on investment is quite good. Parking is $10. Extras 3 The cheer squad is pretty amazing and is a great enhancer of the atmosphere. The band is a delight to watch. We enjoyed the ability to walk around the entire field. Final Thoughts Lincoln University is a great sports stop if you are looking for an event between Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Photos by Matt Colville , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Larry Doleac Baseball Complex at Tatum Park 101 Parkway Blvd Hattiesburg, MS 39401 Dixie Youth Baseball website Larry Doleac Baseball Complex at Tatum Park website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 5,000 Welcome to Baseburg The drive from the Mississippi Gulf Coast to Hattiesburg is about an hour and a half north on rural Highway 49. As soon as you get to the 'Burg and take the turn onto Hardy Street, the city's major east-west highway, you will see the Southern Miss campus on the right with a giant banner that says, "Welcome to Baseburg" – by 2023 the Hub City nickname was unofficially replaced by Baseburg thanks in part to the city's recent success in the sport. Southern Miss recently finished 2023 with a second consecutive trip to the Super Regionals, with Hattiesburg hosting both tournaments. Though the Golden Eagles came up short both years, the contests brought over 50,000 people to Hattiesburg and did wonders for the city in terms of revenue. Not to be outdone, just down the road William Carey University also hosted the NAIA Super Regionals and advanced to the NAIA World Series, where they finished third in the country in 2023. Another part of Hattiesburg's baseball success is their Dixie Youth Baseball program, which dates back to 1955. The Dixie Youth World Series is the South's version of the Little League World Series, as Dixie Youth Baseball is played in 12 southeastern states. Hattiesburg Dixie Youth Baseball has won six Major World Series championships, which is more than other Dixie Youth league. DYB is separated into five different age divisions: T-Ball (4-6), Coach Pitch (7-8), Minors (9-10), O-Zone (11-12), and Majors (13-14). In 2023 Hattiesburg hosted the 8U-Coach Pitch Division World Series, which would mark The Burg's third time hosting the World Series (1989, 1998, and 2023), with the 1989 and 1998 series being Majors. The 2023 Series was set up in two divisions; Division I-A is the larger cities in the state while Division I-AA is the smaller cities in each state. The Series was played at the beautiful Larry Doleac Youth Baseball Complex, which opened in 2008. Located inside Tatum Park, the park includes 23 soccer fields, tennis courts, a disc golf course, four softball fields, and the baseball complex sitting in the southeast corner of the park – Larry Doleac owns a local electrical engineering company. Food & Beverage 3 The complex features four main fields set up in a quad, with a press box and concession stand located in the middle of the quad; it is the typical layout found at a local rec league complex. There is one main stand open for the tournament called Gateman Grill. The usual selection can be found here, and prices are extremely cheap – sausage dogs, hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, peanuts, and popcorn round out the menu, with the most expensive item being the sausage dog at $3 (hamburgers only cost $2.50). The drinks are where they get you, with all drinks (bottled water included) costing $3; I thought they could have made the bottled water prices a little cheaper since this was the middle of July, and there is no water fountain on property. They did have two misting tents set up, however, in between fields #2 and #4 to keep fans cool – this is also the only place on the property to get decent shade. They also have a few food trucks set up in between fields #2 and #3; the 24/8 Grill & Catering truck serves fried chicken tenders and catfish baskets, while Nannie Mac's, a popular Hattiesburg eatery, sells tacos, nachos, burgers, and hot dogs. There are also several more food options set up out in Tatum Park by the soccer fields, including a full indoor concession area called The Grill at Tatum on this particular weekend, and they also had a street taco food truck set up on the property. Atmosphere 4 The Dixie Youth World Series is a four or five-day event that officially kicks off on Thursday with the opening ceremonies – the opening ceremonies are held at Southern Miss baseball’s Pete Taylor Park. All 12 states in the league were represented, with a parade of teams that entered the field Olympic style. The famous Pride of Mississippi marching band was on hand, as well as Southern Miss mascot Seymour. Former MLB All-Star and Southern Miss baseball star Brian Dozier threw out the ceremonial first pitch, while comedian Steve Max entertained the crowd with a unique game of 'Simon Says' with the audience and kids. The event is run by Hattiesburg Parks and Recreation and Visit Hburg, and they do a great job running the operations of the Tournament. As soon as you arrive you will see the Visit Hburg tent set up with various brochures on the city; Hattiesburg Zoo even had a tent set up with several animals you could touch. You can also tell that Hattiesburg loves capitalizing on the Baseburg nickname – there were several merch tents set up on the grounds selling Baseburg and Dixie Youth shirts. Another cool vendor stand I saw set up was a company called D-Bat selling baseball apparel such as gloves, bats, cleats, etc.; D-Bat is a popular indoor batting cage facility in Hattiesburg, and makes for a fun place to visit. There is something special about attending an event like this – the look of joy on the boys' faces as they entered the opening ceremonies is something that can't be replaced. The parents and family, many of whom traveled hundreds of miles to get here, are just as excited as the boys are. Though these boys are quite young, they are still the best 8-year-old ballplayers in their respective state, so you won't see the kid sitting in the grass in the outfield, or the kid picking his nose when he comes up to bat. Even at 8 years old the kids playing understand the importance of playing in this Tournament; it may be the Dixie Youth World Series, but to these kids and to some of their parents, it may as well be the MLB World Series. The first games begin at 10 am Friday morning, with 6-inning long games taking place every hour and a half. Division I-A games take place on Fields #1 and #2, while Division I-AA games take place on Fields #3 and #4, with games usually lasting until around 6 or 7 pm each night. The field dimensions of each field are normally 200 feet to dead center, but for the World Series a temporary fence is installed in the outfield to trim the field to 180 feet. Neighborhood 3 Tatum Park is located on the south side of the city, in an industrial area where there is not a lot to do. Most of the out-of-towners will likely come for the games and then leave to go 10 minutes north into the city. Hattiesburg is a typical college town of about 50,000 people, and you will find many options to keep you busy if in town for the week and you are looking for a break from the games. Historic downtown Hattiesburg has been seen a revitalization over the years, with many of the abandoned buildings being turned into local businesses – download the Visit Hburg app to view the different walking tours they have here, including an art trail, a HattiesBurger trail featuring popular restaurants in the city, and a historic downtown walking tour. Hattiesburg also has many family-friendly options as well; make sure you check out the Pocket Museum if in downtown. Its location is purposely hidden, as you are supposed to find it by walking around looking for clues; it's hard to explain, but the Pocket Museum is considered Mississippi's tiniest museum and is located in alley near the Saenger Theatre. Down the alley are hundreds of tiny figurines and displays set to a particular theme that changes each month. The Pocket Museum has become a big attraction for all ages, and is not hard to find anymore as you can just look for the line of people coming out of an alley. Another popular place to visit downtown is The Lucky Rabbit, a huge two building vintage antique store. It’s also hard to explain what this place is, but trust me – it's well worth a visit as it is no ordinary antique store. On your way back to Tatum Park for more games, or if headed to your hotel room for the night, you'll pass the Hattiesburg Zoo, which also makes a great visit for the family. The Zoo is affordable for the whole family and quite big for a city like Hattiesburg; you can't miss the zoo as you will see the giraffes from the side of the road. The Zoo is also opening a water park scheduled to open in Spring 2024. You can find plenty of restaurants in Hattiesburg, as well as plenty of shopping, while for hotels there are many chains lining the I-59 exit near Hardy Street. Fans 4 The cool thing about an event like this is all the different people from out of state it attracts. The 2023 World Series pumped $4 million into the local economy, mostly from players' families who made the trip down. Because this is the best of the best at this level of youth baseball, the baseball parents are into the game from start to finish, so much so you almost forget you are at a kids baseball game. It can even get a bit heated between some of the hardcore parents, as you would expect – most of these more extreme parents sat in the metal bleachers. The fields are 200 feet but have temporary fencing at 180; a lot of the more relaxed parents were sitting out there in the 20-foot gap between the warning track and temporary fence. All along the outfield fence you will see various tents set up of people mingling and hanging out, almost like a college baseball game. In fact, it was as close to an SEC baseball atmosphere as you can find, and if people could drink beer then they would be drinking out there. You will see 30-40 people from a small town in Alabama standing under Crimson Tide tents in left field, and in right field you would have 30-40 people from a small town in Louisiana mingling under LSU tents. Then you can walk one field over and see Virginia playing Texas and the same thing would be going on in that field; it was cool seeing all the different fanbases all on one site – you could even go up to an outfield tent and strike up a conversation with almost anyone. Access 3 Getting to Larry Doleac Youth Baseball Complex at Tatum Park can be kind of difficult if you are not familiar with the area. The Complex is located on Highway 11 just off Highway 49, on the south side of the city away from all the main attractions. If coming from out of town, more than likely your hotel will be closer to Hardy Street/Highway 98 at Exit 65. Your best option would be to get on I-59 from Hardy Street, then travel south about five miles on the interstate, until you get to Highway 11 at Exit 60. Take this and the park will be right there on the right – Larry Doleac Baseball Complex sits at the very southeast end of the park, so you will have to drive a good bit past the soccer fields until you get to the baseball fields. Once on property you are free to move from field to field, and you can also come and go all day. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are $10 for the daily pass, which allows you to come and go as you please. You can also purchase the Series Pass for $30, which allows entrance to all the games of the World Series. Counting the opening ceremonies, the tournament could last a total of six days, so you'll be saving $30 by purchasing the Series Pass, and you also get a cool Baseburg lanyard with your purchase. I enjoyed coming out every day to watch the games; the atmosphere is pretty fun with all different fans from each state bringing their own customs and cultures to Hattiesburg. These are also the best 8-year-old baseball players in their states – these kids have a long way to go, but I guarantee at least a couple of them will make it to the big leagues one day. Extras 3 Another cool thing they do here is have the state flags of all 12 teams lined up along the outfield fence – the flags of the two states currently playing are in center field next to the American flag, while the other state flags are around it. The complex and park are also named after some of Hattiesburg's most successful families. Larry Doleac, along with his brother, own an electric engineering company that has been a family-run business here for over 50 years. Larry is also the President of the Hattiesburg Dixie Youth Baseball League, and the uncle of country singer and former Southern Miss baseball star Adam Doleac. Willie Tatum was a former mayor and lumber mill operator, and is the namesake of Hattiesburg's largest park, where the Larry Doleac Baseball Complex is located. Field #1 at the complex is also named Bobby Myrick Field after the former New York Met outfielder, and former Hattiesburg High outfielder. Another plus for the Hattiesburg Dixie Youth League holding the record for the most Dixie Youth World Series wins; in the 1960s and 70's Hattiesburg also had an intense little league scene, as well as a Dixie Youth League. The only team from Mississippi to ever advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA was the 1977 Hattiesburg little league team – at that time only 8 teams in the world played in the Little League World Series, and the Hub City little league team was one of three teams from the U.S. who played in the tournament, which was won by Taiwan. That team was led by a 12-year-old third baseman named Charlie Hayes, who 19 years later would be playing in the World Series for the Yankees as they beat the Braves in six games to win the 1996 World Series; Charlie is also the father of former Houston Astro and current Pittsburgh Pirate Ke'Bryan Hayes.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Musselman Stadium 300 N. Washington St. Gettysburg, PA 17325 Gettysburg Bullets website Musselman Stadium website Year Opened: 1965 Capacity: 6,176 Gettysburg’s Football Address Gettysburg College is a private, four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832. From its founding until 1921 it was known as Pennsylvania College. Author Jerry Spinelli, Carson Kressley from Bravo TV’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” and former Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul are graduates of the college. The area is more known for the July 1st through 3rd 1863 military engagements, as well as Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. The area is very busy nearly all times of the year as tourists flock to the battlefields, as well as the commercial endeavors that surround the area. Sports teams at the college are known as the Bullets and there are 24 NCAA Division III men’s and women’s teams. The Gettysburg College women’s lacrosse team won the Division III National Championship in 2011. The Bullets play in the Centennial Conference. The 1964 football team won the University Division of the Middle Atlantic Conference championship with a 7–2 record for the first and only time in school history. The 1966 football team also played in the MAC University Division and captured the coveted Lambert Cup, emblematic of northeastern collegiate supremacy, again for the first and only time in school history. Both teams have been inducted into the Gettysburg College Hall of Athletic Honor as Teams of Distinction. Their stadium, Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium, is also home to the school’s field hockey, lacrosse, and men’s and women’s outdoor track & field. It was dedicated in September 1965 with a ceremony attended by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Food & Beverage 2 There is no permanent food stand at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium. That is a bit shocking because of the relatively large-sized facility. There is a temporary stand at the north end selling cheap food and drinks and it is usually manned by another of the college’s sports teams. Atmosphere 3 The stadium is quite large. That can make the atmosphere seem a bit more subdued than needed, except when a large crowd is in attendance. The field is also surrounded by a track which means fans will be a bit further from the action. There are two grandstands, but the east side one is temporarily looking for construction. The west stands are permanent. They are pretty simple concrete stands, with simple metal bleachers attached to them. The west stands are also quite large with a good number of seats. Neighborhood 5 Gettysburg is a great small town. There is almost always traffic in the town as tourists flock to the area all of the year. In the summer months it can be almost unbearable to drive through the area, so make note of that. Because so many people travel in the area expect to see numerous food options. But not all of them are good so make sure to check reviews so that you do not waste time in tourist dumps. My favorite restaurant choices are Hunt’s Battlefield Fries, Tommy’s Pizza, and The Garryowen Irish Pub. The fresh-cut fries at Hunt’s are a must. A couple of home-style options are Hoss’s Steaks and the Lincoln Diner. You can’t go wrong with their simple, but tasty offerings There is also a very good outlet mall right outside of town called The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg. With no taxes on clothing in Pennsylvania, it is a popular attraction on its own. Fans 3 The football program is not always the best lately, but the fans still turn out fairly heavily for home games. The fans are decent and seem to be involved in the game action. Access 3 Gettysburg is close to many things. Washington, DC is 75 miles away and Baltimore is 55 miles away. The main east-west road through Gettysburg is U.S. Route 30, and U.S. Route 15 runs south towards Frederick, MD, and Washington DC, as well as north to Harrisburg, PA. The only real problem is the traffic in the area. The college is located in a small neighborhood north of downtown and it won’t be very hard to get to the college, but expect to venture on many small roads to get there. Parking is usually pretty OK, but the larger the event more likely it is that parking will be at a premium. You can always park downtown and walk to campus. Return on Investment 5 Football games are generally free, although they could charge for some larger games. Parking is also free unless you have to park downtown. Either way, the value and return on investment are very good here at Gettysburg College. Extras 5 There is a nice veteran’s memorial just outside of Musselman Stadium. Stop in and think of those who gave all to this nation before seeing a game here. It will be well worth the visit. The architecture of the college is worth noting. Make sure to wander around and see the marvelous buildings on campus. The John F. Jaeger Center for Athletics, Recreation, and Fitness is a pretty spectacular architectural building with its unique glass tower. There is a nice hall of fame and historical exhibits of the Gettysburg College athletic program located here. The Gettysburg Battlefield and all that surrounds it are worth a couple of stars themselves. Yes, it is a tourist attraction, but one must stop in and see it. There is a multitude of historical markings, statues, and attractions in the area. Besides being on hand upon this stadium’s opening, Dwight D. Eisenhower is a popular name on the campus and the region. He retired to his working farm adjacent to the local battlefield. The Eisenhower Institute is also a part of the college and develops and sponsors civic discourse on significant issues of domestic and international public policy. Final Thoughts Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium is quite a nice facility. It is much larger than one would expect from a Division III program, but it is a great place to see high-quality sports teams.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Denunzio Pool Stadium Dr Princeton, NJ 08540 Princeton Tigers website Denunzio Pool website Year Opened: 1990 Capacity: 1,700 Tigers in the Pool Denunzio Pool is home to Princeton University's water polo programs as well as their swimming & diving teams. This review will focus on the water polo experience at Princeton. Although water polo is primarily thought of as a west coast sport, the Tigers have been an exception to the rule, making the NCAA Tournament eight times on the men's side. Denunzio Pool opened in 1990 and hosted the 2009 NCAA Water Polo Tournament. It is located next door to Jadwin Gymnasium, home to Princeton's basketball teams. Food & Beverage 1 There is no concession stand at Denunzio Pool. However, there is a machine just inside the entrance that sells soda and water. Fans are also free to bring their own food and drink as long as they do not get anything on the pool deck, but as a typical water polo match lasts only around an hour of real time, there is little reason to bring anything more than a drink and maybe a light snack. Atmosphere 2 Before each match, a hype video will play on a video board as the overhead lights roll. However, that is about the only excitement you will see at Denunzio Pool besides the water polo match itself. The same board that shows the hype video doubles as a scoreboard, showing the score, game clock, and ejections. (In water polo, an "ejection" does not refer to a player being permanently removed from the game, like it would in other sports. Rather, they have to leave the game for 20 seconds for a foul while their team plays shorthanded, similar to a penalty and ensuing power play in ice hockey.) Seating is on uncomfortable concrete risers, but the games are usually short enough that it won't be too much of an issue. Neighborhood 4 Princeton has that feel of a small college town. but there is certainly plenty going on here. The Dinky Bar & Kitchen, named for the NJ Transit line that connects the Princeton campus with Princeton Junction, is located in a former train station near campus. There are many more options in downtown Princeton, ranging from hoagies to seafood to pizza and more. Parking may be a challenge downtown, but there is much to do there even if you have to walk a bit from your car. Fans 2 Most of the crowd at a Princeton water polo match will be the friends and family of the players involved, although a few others will show up as well. They will cheer after Princeton goals, but beyond that it is mostly quiet in here. Given how short a typical water polo match is, almost everyone stays for the whole thing. Access 4 Free parking is available in the Stadium Drive a short walk the street from the stadium. The procedure may be slightly different on weekday afternoons, so check the Princeton website if this applies to you. The Princeton Branch of NJ Transit, more commonly known as the Dinky, is a short commuter rail line (the shortest in the country in fact) connecting Princeton's campus with Princeton Junction on the Northeast Corridor. From the station, the stadium is about a 20-25 minute walk. Once inside, restrooms are located at the top of the seating area. Given the small crowds, they are of a more than sufficient size. Return on Investment 5 Admission to all Princeton soccer games is free. Parking is free too, and concessions are affordable. As a result, a game at Roberts Stadium can be an excellent value. Extras 1 There are banners and displays all over Denunzio Pool dedicated to the history and accomplishments of Princeton swimming & diving and water polo. Final Thoughts Water polo is not the most popular college sport, especially on the east coast, and as a result, Princeton water polo is a pretty basic matchday experience. However, if you are a fan of the sport or just wanting to check out something new, you may want to head down to Denunzio Pool.

Photo by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Bevilacqua Stadium 191 Stevens Ave Lancaster, PA 17602 Thaddeus Stevens Collese of Technology Battlin' Bulldogs website Bevilacqua Stadium website Year Opened: 1935 Capacity: 1,000 Small College At Work Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a two-year technical college located in Lancaster, PA. It was named for Thaddeus Stevens, a nineteenth-century politician, who was a fierce opponent of slavery and discrimination against African-Americans. The college is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Stevens offers associate degree programs in fields such as Cabinetmaking & Wood Technology, Computer Aided Drafting, Collision Repair, and Machine Tool and Computer Aided Manufacturing. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology was named one of 150 two-year colleges eligible to compete for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance in America’s two-year colleges. Stevens athletic teams are known as the Battlin’ Bulldogs. They compete with other two-year programs under the NJCAA banner and against the junior varsity programs of some four-year colleges. Bevilacqua Stadium is named for Richard V. Bevilacqua, a former coach and teacher at the school. Food & Beverage 3 There is a very simple concession stand located under the press box on the home side of the field. Although it is simple the food choices were good and the product of good quality. Hot dogs start at $2 and you can add choli as an option. Burgers were also available. Drinks were available for $2 as well. The concession stand had one of the better stocked condiments area I have seen for awhile. Atmosphere 2 There is not much to the stadium. Located at the rear of the Stevens campus the field looks like a typical small town high school football stadium. It may actually be smaller than many Pennsylvania high school stadiums. When you enter the stadium you need to walk down steps to the track level of the home side of the field. Weirdly enough there is no seating on the home side. You need to walk around either direction of the track to find the only seating structure. You are also free to stand and watch the game at any other location. The field itself was basic grass, but had a huge area that was just dirt. There are some picnic tables located near to the press box on the home side of the stadium. There are no other scheduled activities at the games. A local youth cheerleader program added some excitement. Neighborhood 3 The stadium is located just east of downtown. There are some rough areas in the area, but overall the city has been making great strides. So make sure to walk around downtown before the game. You may not find too much right near the stadium worth walking around though. Besides downtown, the main commercial areas of the Lancaster area are the outlets area east on Route 30 and surrounding the Park City Center Shopping Mall north of downtown. Fans 2 Fans seemed to be mainly friends and family of the students. There were quite a few obvious alumni at the game. It was pretty obvious by their alumni shirts. Access 4 Lancaster is an easy area to navigate. Routes 30 and 222 are well known, large roads that any tourist visitor to the area will be more than familiar with. Even though the stadium is located in a busy town, you will seldom find traffic to be too bad. Lancaster is located about a half an hour to the state capital Harrisburg. It is also about an hour and a half to Baltimore, and the same distance to Philadelphia. There are many parking spaces around the college. Return on Investment 4 The cost of the game is a mere $5 and the food prices were also very fair. It may not be highest level of college football but the return on investment is quite good. . Extras 1 Walk around the unique college campus before the game so you can get a sense of the unique programs offered at this college. Final Thoughts Bevilacqua Stadium at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is one of the lowest levels of college football one may find. But the games presented here are fun and it is certainly an experience that a true football fan should experience if in the area.

Photos by Lloyd Brown and Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Daytona Stadium 3917 LPGA Blvd Daytona Beach, FL 32124 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats website Daytona Stadium website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 10,000 The Wildcats Lair Bethune-Cookman University is in Daytona Beach, Florida. It was founded in 1904 as the Daytona Educational Industrial Training School for Negro Girls. In 1923 it merged with the Cookman Institute. In 1941 it became a four-year college, changing its name to Bethune-Cookman College. It finally achieved university status in 2007. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Bethune-Cookman University is renowned for its work in the field of education. It now offers 39 bachelor’s degree programs and six master’s degree programs. The school has a student body of just over 3,700 students. The athletic teams at Bethune-Cookman are known as the Wildcats. The school has had a football program since 1925. They are members of the SWAC Conference, playing at the FCS level of competition in NCAA football. Over the years the Wildcats have won two Black College National Championships (2010, 2013), as well as seven conference titles. They have participated in five FCS playoffs but have yet to win a game. More than thirty Wildcats have gone on to play in the NFL. They include Boobie Clark, Larry Little, and Eric Weems. Larry Little is also in the NFL Hall of Fame. The Wildcats play their home schedule at the off-campus Daytona Stadium. The stadium is located seven miles from the Bethune-Cookman campus. The city-owned stadium was built in 1988 and has a capacity of 10,000. The field at Daytona Stadium is known as Larry Kelly Field, in honor of the late Daytona mayor who spearheaded the building of the stadium. Food & Beverage 2 After enjoying the pregame feasts among the tailgaters in the parking lot, the food and beverage offerings sold inside the stadium seem like an afterthought. The concession stands are located along the concourse beneath the stands. They offer the stadium standards, including burgers, hot dogs, fries, popcorn, chips, and Pepsi brand sodas. If you fill yourself up in the tailgate lot, you probably can get by with some bottled water or a soft drink during the game to quench your thirst on the often-balmy days and nights. Atmosphere 4 Bethune-Cookman football games are a sporting event, a family reunion, and a concert all rolled into one. Fans, family, alumni, students, Greeks, and locals arrive early to set up their tailgates in the grass parking lots outside of Daytona Stadium. It is a sea of maroon-clad fans and maroon tents to protect against the hot Florida sun. After the food, fun and good conversations are over it is time to head into the stadium. Daytona Stadium is a traditional stadium, with stands on both sides of the field. The home side is on the eastern side of the stadium. This side is populated by the parents, the student body, and the Marching Wildcats. It features seating for most of the crowd, with a very small suite at the top of the stands near the press box. There are three concession stands located underneath the stands at ground level. The visitors’ stands are on the west side of the stadium, with a much smaller set of bleachers. The playing surface is artificial turf, as there are multiple games played on it every weekend. This is because both Mainland High School and Seabreeze High School also call Daytona Stadium home. There is a 33’ X 16’ videoboard behind the end zone. It features replays of major plays during the game, as well as statistics at the end of each quarter. Anytime we talk about the atmosphere at a SWAC football game we must highlight the school’s band. They play a major role in how the game feels, whether you are 20 points ahead or 20 behind. Bethune-Cookman’s band is known as The Marching Wildcats. The band has over 300 members, making it the largest student organization on campus. The band also includes the Sophisticats Flag Corp and the 14-Karat Gold Dancers. The band plays nonstop throughout the game and is known for its halftime shows. Many fans come just for the band alone, leaving after the halftime program. In addition to Wildcat football games the band has performed at several NFL halftime shows, the Orange Bowl Parade, the Walt Disney World Holiday Parade, and the Honda Battle of the Bands Showcase. Neighborhood 2 Daytona Stadium is located several miles from the school campus. Daytona Stadium is owned by the city of Daytona Beach, and most of the neighborhood surrounding the stadium is part of the civic complex for the city. This includes office buildings, as well as the city’s water treatment plant. There are no restaurants, hotels, or shops along LPGA Boulevard. The stadium is just west of I-95, and there is very little in the way of shops and restaurants. However, just east of I-95, there are a great deal of restaurants, shops, and attractions to choose from. We found BJ’s Restaurant to be an excellent choice for a pregame or postgame meal or drink. This corridor also includes the world-famous Daytona International Speedway. It offers a wonderful tour and has a great gift shop. You can’t visit Daytona without stopping at the track! The closest hotels to Daytona Stadium are just east of I-95. They include the Homewood Suites and the Courtyard Marriott, which are both located along International Speedway Boulevard (Highway 92). Our low score for this section reflects the fact that the Wildcats play more than 12 miles from the Bethune-Cookman campus. Football games always suffer when they are played away from the campus of the school. Fans 3 Bethune-Cookman fans make a full day out of a Wildcats game. They arrive very early, as BBQs in the stadium parking lot are a cherished tradition. Many of the fans will decorate their tailgate in the maroon and gold colors of the Wildcats. Many of the fraternities and sororities will have tents set up for their members. You can’t be a Wildcats fan on an empty stomach! One of the traditions at Bethune-Cookman games is the Legacy Walk. This begins 90 minutes prior to kickoff. The Wildcats team bus parks outside the stadium, and team members walk through the crowds to their locker room. A team captain leads the Legacy Walk, and he holds a portrait of Mary McLeod Bethune, the school’s founder. Once inside the stadium, the fans create a sea of maroon and gold. They are energized by the combined efforts of the Wildcat cheerleaders and the Marching Wildcats. The school fight song is sung after each Wildcat score and the crowd also cheers for any major defensive stops or takeaways. The fans are also entertained by the antics of Dr. Wyld D Catt, the school mascot. They also wildly applaud the Marching Wildcats after each fabulous halftime show. We found the crowds to be very welcoming of any visiting team fans. Access 2 It is very easy to get to Daytona Stadium from either I-95 or I-4: From I-95: Take the exit for International Speedway Boulevard (Highway 92). Go west on I-92 for two miles. Turn right at LPGA Boulevard and go two miles. The stadium will be on your right. From I-4: Take Highway 92 exit on go east on Highway 92. Turn left at LPGA Boulevard and go two miles. The stadium will be on your right. If you are flying in, the Daytona International Airport is less than 6 miles from the stadium. You would just head out the airport exit to International Speedway Boulevard (Highway 92) and head west until you hit LPGA Boulevard. There are more than 2,100 parking spaces at Daytona Stadium. These are located on a grass lot just outside of the stadium. Tailgating is very popular at Wildcat games, so parking opens two hours prior to kickoff. You pay for parking on site. The main drawback in the accessibility of Daytona Stadium is getting in and out of the venue before and after the games. This is because there is only one way in and out of the stadium complex via LPGA Boulevard. Return on Investment 3 Attending a Wildcat game at Daytona Stadium will not break the bank, as the ticket prices are in line with what most college football games cost. A basic General Admission ticket costs $40. Tickets along the 50-yard line cost $60. The most expensive seats sold are in the VIP section atop the stands along the 50-yard line at a cost of $70. The VIP section receives special perks, including free food and beverage service and more comfortable seats. Parking at Daytona Stadium is $10. Probably the biggest cost of attending a Bethune-Cookman is related to how big a tailgate feast you want to have before the game. Many families split these costs with other members of the family. Extras 5 Daytona Stadium hosted the NAIA Football National Championship Game from 2014 through 2016. Another extra must go to the Marching Wildcats, as they play a major role in creating a high energy level in the stands at each game. The 2023 season marked the 100th year of Bethune-Cookman football. Numerous observances of the centennial were held before and at halftime of each Wildcat home game. Former UNLV and NBA basketball star Reggie Theus is the Bethune-Cookman Athletic Director and head basketball coach. Daytona Stadium is less than 6 miles from Daytona International Speedway. Even if you aren’t a race fan, it is well worth a visit. Final Thoughts Bethune – Cookman home football games are always an event to circle on your calendar. They begin with a food fest and a family reunion outside the stadium. The party continues inside Daytona Stadium with great Wildcat football on the field and a second party in the stands as the Marching Wildcats play nonstop tunes.

Photos by Erhan Stone, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Smokies Stadium 3540 Line Dr Kodak, TN 37764 Tennessee Smokies website Smokies Stadium website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 6,412 America’s Friendliest Ballpark The Chicago Cubs’ Double-A affiliate Tennessee Smokies will play at Smokies Stadium through at least the next four seasons, until 2025. It was officially announced after being rumored that the Smokies would be moving closer to Knoxville, with their current living situation residing in Kodak, Tennessee – about a 30-minute drive from the scruffy city. It’s a bittersweet reality for Smokies fans. Knoxville promised a state-of-the-art facility in the downtown area for the Smokies, but it's hard to pack up and leave what has been positioned as “America’s Friendliest Ballpark.” Smokies Stadium opened in 2000 and was last renovated in 2015. It sits among the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee and is a popular visit for all baseball lovers in the area. Food & Beverage 5 Smokies Stadium does a good job of using its space to its advantage. The main concourse level is packed with vendor carts, concession queues, and even a sit-down area beyond the left outfield. Most importantly, each of these food areas are different, offering unique options not often found at a double-a ballpark. The concourse features a “Chicago Corner” with Windy City grub, a Papa Johns down the first base lines, and a pair of Dippin Dots carts on either side of the park. The two main concession areas are cheap and offer a good variety of Nachos, popcorn, hot dogs and more of the usual ballpark snacks. The popcorn is excellent and every concession area serves Pepsi products as well as Cheerwine, both bottled and fountain. Unfortunately, the hot dogs, the staple food of America’s pastime, are below average. Truly, it was difficult to find many negatives apart from slightly, below-average hot dogs. The stadium sells alcohol, both beer and liquor with a few stands throughout the stadium for different drinks that are themed towards Sevier County’s Moonshine production, as well as Ole Smoky Moonshine Company. Atmosphere 5 Within the park, quality is an understatement. There’s truly not a bad seat in the house, with those behind the infield being in green stadium seating and bleachers the further out you go down either baseline. Cupholders in front of you are a plus so you don’t have to put your drink on the ground. There is also outfield seating and a slight hill leading up to a walkway that outlines the park. The field has relatively small dimensions for a Double-A park, with centerfield being just 400 feet from home plate. Because of this, that outfield hill is the perfect place to camp out for a home run ball. Smokies Stadium offers box suites that include fully furnished rooms, indoor and outdoor seating, and a buffet. While there isn’t a bad seat in the house, the view from the top of the Stadium is certainly the best. Neighborhood 4 “Smokies” is an appropriate name. The park’s outfield backdrops on a hill with well-kept trees, and to the South of the stadium is its namesake – the Smoky Mountains. Kodak is about 30 minutes outside of Knoxville and an excellent appetizer for what is the beauty of East Tennessee. The Stadium is located just off the 1-40 exit and has plenty of restaurants such as Cracker Barrel, Flapjacks, and Checkers. Just about five miles down the road is Pigeon Forge with a strip of tourist destinations, as well as The Island, which is similar to a boardwalk at a beach. There are three hotels within walking distance, including one directly next to the main parking area. Fans 4 Stadium Journey’s visit was an early season Sunday afternoon and the stands were still half full. Smokies baseball is a staple for many around the Knoxville area – ask anyone in the park and it isn’t their first time at Smokies Stadium. It’s a fair assessment to say around 2,000 to 3,000 fans regularly attend each game, with Friday and Saturday nights seeing upper 4,000-5,000. Access 3 While Smokies Stadium is right off the interstate, busy gamedays are often a headache to navigate. The stretch from the off-ramp to the parking area is often backed up because there are only a few entrance points. However, on normal game days, it is a surprisingly easy and painless process. Parking is only $5 and the employees keep up the “America’s Friendliest Ballpark” theme as well. The drive from the nearest airport is a long one, too. The nearest major airport is located in Alcoa, which is a 45-minute commute through a sometimes congested Knoxville area. Return on Investment 5 Best available seats often sell for 20 dollars or less on mainstream sites, concessions are cheap and there’s often a good product on the field. With Sevierville and other tourist attractions nearby, it’s easily one of the better investments any baseball fan could make. Cheap tickets go for as low as $8. All in all, a family of four could walk away from Smokies Stadium having spent less than $75-100 dollars on the afternoon. Extras 4 Near the front entrance is a sign pointing to the rest of the stadiums of the Chicago Cubs’ minor league affiliates. There are also plaques throughout the park commemorating the player who made it to The Show that passed through Kodak on the way. There is a very nice fan shop with a good selection of Smokies and Cubs gear as well. Final Thoughts It’s been said before, but the “America’s Friendliest Ballpark” is a fitting slogan. Everybody, from the fans to the event staff, is friendly, helpful, and passionate about the game. Go, while you can, see a game at Smokies Stadium if ever you’re around Knoxville.

Photos by James Hilchen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Riverfront Stadium 275 S McLean Blvd Wichita, KS 67213 The Wichita Wind Surge website Riverfront Stadium website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 10,000 A New Team Blows Into Town Riverfront Stadium in Wichita, Kansas, opened in 2021 and is home to the Wichita Wind Surge of the Texas League. To say the team has had a unique start would be an understatement. The franchise relocated from New Orleans and was ready to start the 2020 season in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. That would not happen as the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the season. Then, before the 2021 season, minor league realignment saw the team move from Triple-A to Double-A. With the 2021 professional season delayed by a month, Riverfront Stadium opened on April 10, 2021, when the Wichita State Shockers defeated the University of Houston, 10-1. The Wind Surge made their debut at home on May 11, 2021, in a 3-2 loss to Amarillo. The Wind Surge takes its name, in part, from the fact that there always seems to be a breeze in Wichita. The Wind Surge is the city’s first affiliated baseball team (Minnesota Twins) since the Wichita Wranglers. The Wranglers played from 1987-2007 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The Wichita Wingnuts of the American Association would debut the following year and operate at the stadium until 2018 when the city decided to raze the ballpark to make room for Riverfront Stadium. Food & Beverage 4 The large choice of food is much more than would be expected. The basics are certainly covered between hot dogs and jumbos, chili cheese dogs, cheeseburgers, loaded fries, grilled cheese, etc. The prices range from $3.75 for the regular dog to $7.75 for the chili cheese dog. Tacos (chicken or steak) are a good option for $9.75 for 3 tacos. For the lighter eaters, a nice garden salad can be had for $8.50 or a veggie burger is $9.75. One of your options behind home plate is Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. Freddy’s has locations throughout much of the states. In addition to their signature double steak burgers ($10.50), their custard, particularly their concretes (custard mixed with your choice of a litany of toppings) is a great choice ($7.50). The snack options are also completely covered with everything from pretzels to peanuts and cotton candy to cookies. Most snacks run from about $3 to $5. Coke products are your soda choice along with water, sports drinks, energy drinks, lemonade, and coffee. The ballpark offers 16-ounce cans of Bud Light, Coors Light, and Modelo. Pseudo Sue Pale Ale is available for $8. Wine and other drinks are available throughout the park. Be sure to check out the left field bar for some microbrew options. Atmosphere 5 There are three entrances to the ballpark; the left field corner, the center field, and near the right field corner. Grass berms encompass the left field corner and most of the left field, with the only break being the home bullpen. Over the right field wall are the visiting bullpen and some nice rail seating, which allows a great view of the field. A very nice feature at the ballpark is the seats. The seats are wider and there is a lot more legroom than your typical stadium. As someone 6’4” rarely, my legs aren’t wedged against the seat in front of me, but that wasn’t the case here and it was tremendous! Stadium seating surrounds the playing surface from foul pole to foul pole except for the grass berm down the left field line. Concessions stretch throughout the open concourse which allows you to not miss a pitch if you are standing in line for something to eat or drink. Restrooms are spaced nicely throughout the ballpark and there is a mother’s lounge behind section 10, near home plate. You can walk around the interior of the ballpark. In the outfield concourse, there is a bar in the left field, a kid's play area sits behind the batter’s eye in the center field, and the team store and team officials are beyond the right field area. The second deck includes the press box, suites, and two-party areas. The Fidelity Club (second deck down the third baseline) is a nice indoor area where you can watch the game. Numerous folks have bought season tickets there, but there are also tickets available for individual games. If you have a suite or have tickets in the Homerun Deck, the seats are made of mesh rather than a traditional stadium seat. As such, the seats tend to stay up to as much as 20 degrees cooler, which is a huge perk on, particularly warm days. Neighborhood 3 The ballpark sits in a part of town that is a mix of commercial and residential and also sits next to the Arkansas River. There is nothing as far as restaurants that are next to the ballpark but there are some very good options within a mile. The Delano Barbeque Company offers up some tasty BBQ and is located a few blocks away on W Douglas Ave. Down the street from Delano is Ruben’s Mexican Grill. You also have your regular mix of chain restaurants in the area. If you are looking for a place to have a drink before or after the game, try the Vagabond Café on W Douglas. Some nice places to visit within about a mile of the ballpark include Exploration Place, which is a big science education center that kids will love. In the same area are the Wichita Art Museum and the Old Cowtown Museum. Fans 4 The team is drawing well in its first year. Not having an established identity in town yet, there isn’t an abundance of established hardcore fans as there hasn’t been time for that to occur organically. But, the fans that are there are largely engaged in the game, appear to know the players, and spend more time watching the game than playing on their phones. Access 4 Getting to the ballpark is easy from Route 400. Once inside, one thing that is pleasant and noticeable is the concourses are very wide. Even with some beer carts and other concession carts in the concourse, there isn’t any congestion during the game. There are plenty of restrooms and there were no lines. For concessions, there were some lines on occasion, but with the plans in the works to add more (some with a more local flavor) vendors, this problem should be minimized in the coming years. Riverfront Stadium is cashless. Cards are needed to purchase concessions and in the team store. If you only have cash, you can convert it to a debit card through what can be described as a reverse ATM. The good thing about it is the money doesn’t have to be spent at the park. If you have any leftovers, they can be spent anywhere credit/debit cards are accepted. Return on Investment 5 There are three main seating sections. Seats on the grass berm are $10 for adults and $8 for kids aged 3-12. Field box seating (sections 1-21) is $15 and Boot Barn Homerun Deck (right field) tickets are $20. There is some free parking across Arkansas River, or you can pay $5 to park next to the ballpark. Between that and average concession prices, you can have a good time at a great park for a very reasonable price. Extras 5 One point goes to something that hasn’t happened yet. The team offices sit behind the right field concourse. There is a large area of the building that is currently empty, but the plan is to add a Kansas baseball museum that will hopefully be ready by Opening Day, 2022. An extra point goes to the wider and more spaced-out seats. Being comfortable makes it far easier to enjoy the game. The ballpark celebrates the city and its huge aerospace industry through art. Throughout the park, you will see little reminders including lights in the form of jet engines as you enter the park, riveted bars that look similar to a plane wing, and much more. Above home plate on the second deck is a nice tribute to Lou Schwechheimer, the former owner of the Wind Surge. Schwechheimer never got to see his team take the field in Wichita as he passed away from COVID-19 in July of 2020. A nice feature that will be utilized more in the future is a podcasting area that can also be used for live newscasts and other features. The area faces the road (which is closed during games) in front of the team store and offices, which opens up all sorts of fun possibilities. Final Thoughts In its first few seasons, Riverfront Stadium is already a great ballpark. With the plans that are in place, it will only get better in the coming seasons. Good food, great seats, and an aesthetically pleasing stadium allow for a fun time for fans. For baseball-traveling fanatics, be sure to add this one to your list; it won’t disappoint.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 HODGETOWN 701 South Buchanan Street Amarillo, TX 79101 Amarillo Sod Poodles website HODGETOWN website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 6,631 A Sodding Good Time The city of Amarillo lost its minor league baseball team back in 1982, when the Gold Sox moved to Beaumont, Texas. That franchise later became the Wichita Wranglers and is now the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, but in the meantime, Amarillo had to make do with independent and college wood-bat teams. Until 2019 that is, when the San Antonio Missions moved here as part of a rearrangement orchestrated by the Elmore Sports group. San Antonio now has a AAA team; Colorado Springs has a club in the Rookie Pioneer League, while the poor fans of Helena, MT no longer have minor league baseball. The new team had to have a new name, and they did a great job in finding something appealing and unique, choosing Sod Poodles, after the prairie dogs that can be found around the area. The marketing has been perfectly handled and Sod Poodles merchandise was flying off the shelves before the team even took the field. But what matters to us is the stadium experience. The Sod Poodles built a new venue in downtown Amarillo and named it HODGETOWN, after Jerry Hodge, the 26th mayor of the city, who was instrumental in bringing the team to the city. According to the team’s website, 'TOWN’, defined in the Prairie Dog culture as ‘multiple colonies forming one large community,’ reflects the concept of the ballpark being a gathering place for everyone in the Panhandle to enjoy professional baseball and other events as one large community.” It is a unique moniker in the minor leagues, lacking any sort of Field, Ballpark, or Stadium in the name, and also missing any corporate affiliation, which is always appreciated. So how does attending the game rate? For a ballpark nearing the end of its first season, very well indeed. Food & Beverage 4 There are four main concession stands, each with a different name (Feed & Seed, Panhandle Pizza, and the Route 66 Grill, with Barnyard being closed on the day I attended). Each had the same main menu, with hot dogs at $4.25, a jumbo dog for $6, and nachos for $6. A Frito Pie is the local specialty and costs $5.50, while snacks such as pretzels ($3.75), peanuts ($4.50), and Cracker Jack ($4.50) are available. Panhandle Pizza offers regular and pepperoni pizza ($9), chicken wings ($10), chicken tenders and fries ($9.50), and funnel cake fries ($6.50). Route 66 Grill serves black Angus bacon cheeseburgers ($12), German bratwursts ($6), chicken Philly cheesesteaks ($10.50), and Texas foot-long coney dogs ($6). The Barnyard offers two special items: Super Soddies Nachos is a mound of tortilla chips with toppings ($9) and the Piggly Wiggly covered with pulled pork and cheese ($9). Feed & Seed has more regional treats: corn in a cup ($7) and pulled pork sliders ($10). Each also has a few specialty items, for example at Feed & Seed, you could get a massive Dessert Mound for $9.50. The Sugar Cone with Rocky Road is well-satisfied for $3.75. There is a great variety of beer available, with a small draft going for $6.50, a large for $9, and a premium for $10. Pepsi products are the choice for those not imbibing, with a small soda at $4.50 and a large at $6. Overall, there is a good variety, but it can be hard to find as each concession has the same basic menu up front. Also, prices are quite high for AA balls. Atmosphere 5 Start with the incredible façade at the main entrance, which could have been designed back in the 1920s. This is a highlight of the venue and all visitors will doubtless start here with a few pictures. Take the time to walk down Buchanan Street to fully appreciate all the Midwest Art Deco touches, such as the ticket signs at the main box office. The ticket office incorporates the classic Midwest Art Deco look of the neighborhood, Photo Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Inside, a single seating bowl contains grey plastic seats that are quite a bit lighter than the usual Kelly green seats that decorate most ballparks. There are drink rails behind some sections, including one right behind home plate that is ideal if you like a bit of space, or to have somewhere to rest your scorebook. The entire concourse is open so you can watch the game while standing in line for food or drinks. As you make your way around the spacious concourse, you will notice several different areas that cater to groups. Picnic areas in both corners are most obvious, but there is a suite level as well, with a lounge right behind home plate. Only those with suite tickets can get into the lounge, and those are generally not available to the public as they are held by season ticket holders, but if you ask nicely, you might get a chance to take a picture. Other group areas are generally reserved, but there are table areas behind the left field fence that are first come, first serve. There is also a full-service bar behind the left field fence dubbed Bar 352, as that is how many feet it is from home plate. The large scoreboard is next to the bar and is quite nice, with a line score, batting lineup, and player stats, as well as replays. The berm is behind the right field fence and is limited to those with lawn tickets. In other words, an SRO ticket does not allow access to the lawn, though I can’t imagine they can police this very efficiently, nor do I imagine that fans without a lawn ticket would prefer to sit there than in their seat. A large kids' area is located well away from the concourse, which should make it safe from stray foul balls. The third base side is shaded during afternoon games, which can make a big difference when the temperature is nearing triple digits. There is no doubt that all new ballparks have the advantage of picking the best elements of their predecessors, and the folks who built HODGETOWN did their research and put together a park that has something for everyone. Neighborhood 3 The stadium is located right downtown, but there isn’t a lot in the immediate vicinity. The Amarillo Civic Center Complex is directly north, the Embassy Suites with its 1887 Social House is across the street from this, and a Performing Arts Center is just north of this. There is a nightlife area a few blocks west, but as I attended on a Sunday afternoon, nothing here was open so I did not get a chance to explore. If you are looking to tour, the Cadillac Ranch (an art installation with 10 Cadillacs buried in the sand) is a few miles west of downtown; remember to bring your spray paint to add your decorations. Also, the second largest canyon in the country, Palo Duro, is south of the city and worth a trip if you are staying more than a day. If you are looking for a challenge, the Big Texan Steak Ranch east of the city offers a 72-oz steak (plus a salad, roll, shrimp cocktail, and baked potato) that is free if eaten within an hour. If not, you will be out $72. Fans 5 The locals have taken to their new team with abandon and the game I attended was the 23rd consecutive sellout. It was good to hear fans talk knowledgeably about players acquired in recent trades and about the state of the Padres farm system in general. Fans were polite and well behaved throughout the stadium and everyone had a great time from what I could tell. Access 5 Located on Buchanan Street just north of I-40, you should have no problem getting there or finding a free parking spot on the street within a few blocks, at least for night and weekend games, when street parking is free. There are team-operated lots for $5 but if you arrive early, you shouldn’t have to bother with them. There is no problem moving around the concourse, and there don’t appear to be long lines at the concession stands or restrooms during the game. HODGETOWN Entrance, Photo by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey. Return on Investment 4 Tickets range from $18 for the best seats down to $6 for SRO or lawn seats. It can be tough to find more than a pair of seats on game day as season ticket holders have bought up most of the supply, but you might get lucky. For me, though, an SRO ticket and a spot on the drink rail are good enough to start, and eventually you can find a seat down the lines once things settle down. Parking is free, but food can be a bit pricey here, and that is why this section loses a point. Extras 4 For a new ballpark, there is a lot here that is worth checking out. The design of the ballpark alone stands out among other minor-league facilities. It blends in well with the existing buildings in town and features a main entrance that is well-designed and will soon be an iconic symbol of Amarillo. RUCKUS is possibly the most energetic mascot I have ever seen in the minors, particularly impressive given the heat and the heavy costume. There was a stadium replica giveaway for the game I attended, one of many Sunday afternoon freebies during the season, which merits an extra point. Another point for the brilliant marketing campaign that took place before the team had thrown a pitch. The Sod Poodles name was ridiculed by many when it was first announced, but that did not stop the team from selling merchandise to every state in the country, and from making their team a destination in the Texas Panhandle. Final Thoughts HODGETOWN is a great new ballpark that seems to have something for everyone. The main entrance is one of the most alluring in all of the minors and the unique stadium name shows creativity and a desire to be different. Of course, there is no history or “Road to the Show” display yet, but I am sure that will be added as the seasons pass. I think the Sod Poodles will be a mainstay in the area for years to come and all minor league aficionados should schedule a visit at their earliest convenience.

Photos by Matt Colville Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Admiral Fetterman Field at Blue Wahoos Stadium 351 W Cedar St Pensacola, FL 32502 Pensacola Blue Wahoos website Admiral Fetterman Field at Blue Wahoos Stadium website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 5,038 Welcome to Hoosville In 2012 affiliated professional baseball returned to Pensacola when the beautiful Blue Wahoos Stadium opened its doors for the first time. It had been exactly 50 years since the last affiliated pro ball team, the Class D Pensacola Senators, took the field in 1962. Even though Pensacola was already home to the independent league Pelicans, it was because of this little indy league team that the Blue Wahoos are here today. The Pelicans began play in 2002 in the tiny, now-defunct Southeastern League, playing their games at local junior college Pensacola State College’s Pirate Field. Midway through the 2002 season, the Pelicans were purchased by local healthcare consultant Quint Studer, and for the 2003 season, Studer would move the team to a bigger ballpark at the University of West Florida’s Jim Spooner Field. They would play the next 8 seasons there, in 3 different leagues and front of many sellout crowds. The Pelicans were a huge draw for the region and proof that Pensacolians were starved for professional baseball again. With the Pelicans fan base continuing to grow, it only became fitting that the team needed to build a bigger ballpark. So, in 2010 construction began in downtown Pensacola for a 5,038-seat stadium that would be located on the site of a former toxic waste dump, right next to the Port of Pensacola. The stadium was slated to open in time for the 2012 season and would be the return of professional baseball to the downtown area since the Senators folded in 1962. The ballpark was originally supposed to be home of the independent Pelicans, but after the Double-A Southern League began to take notice of the plans, they became interested in placing a team here, and thus one of the most complex and complicated minor league team relocations of all-time began. First Studer sold the Pelicans to Amarillo, TX where they became the Amarillo Sox. Studer then had to buy an existing Southern League franchise, which he did with the purchase of the Carolina Mudcats. To seal this purchase he then had to relocate the Kinston Indians, of the Class A Carolina League, to the Raleigh metro area where they would resume the Mudcats name and branding. And finally, because Pensacola is located about 40 miles east of Mobile, AL Studer would have to buy the territorial rights of the Mobile BayBears. This series of moves cost a total of $2 million before the franchise was even born. Originally the team was going to resume using the Pelicans name, but decided to change the idea and let fans name the team, and so the Pensacola Blue Wahoos were born. There were several problems associated with an affiliated Southern League team moving into town, for one the stadium only held about 5,000 seats, a thousand seats below the league minimum. But after seeing the final renderings and the gorgeous view the stadium had to offer the league decided to wave that rule. Since their inception, the Blue Wahoos have always been affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds, but before the 2019 season, the Wahoos swapped with the Chattanooga Lookouts and became Minnesota Twins affiliates. Food & Beverage 5 The Wahoos completely revamped their concessions the last few seasons – gone are the old basic concessions stands, and in their place are four completely new storefront-type stands, each with its theme and brand. In addition to the normal foods sold at all ballparks, each stand features a restaurant-style menu that caters to its particular theme. For instance, down the first base side, Casa De Kazoo features a Mexican-inspired food menu including tacos (fish, chicken, and pork) and margaritas. Also down the first baseline is the Wheelhouse Diner, a 50s-themed concessions stand that sells various specialty hot dogs, burgers, and milkshakes. Its signature item is the Deep Fried Elvis, which is a deep-fried banana dipped in peanut butter and honey, then topped with powdered sugar and served in a hot dog bun; down the third baseline is the Hook, Line, and Sinker stand which serves seafood. Some items on this menu include calamari burgers, shrimp po-boys, crab mac, and cheese, blackened mullet, and ceviche tacos, which have mahi mahi, octopus, shrimp cocktail, pico de gallo, onions, and salsa. A new item that won Ballpark Digest’s Best Concession for 2019 is the Crabzilla – for a whopping 25 dollars you get crab remoulade, pork belly, soft shell crab, crab mac and cheese, and fried shrimp, with lettuce and tomato served on a bun with two hush puppies on top. If you’re really hungry you can do the Crabzilla challenge, in which if you eat the Crabzilla in 5 minutes or less you get it for free. Also on the third baseline is the English and Irish-themed Fish and Hits stand; this pub-style setting includes fish and chips, chicken tenders, beer brats, Irish potato nachos, specialty fries, and whiskey shakes. There is also a small bar behind home plate called Bubba’s Sand Trap. Named for team owner Bubba Watson, you can go inside and sit down and watch TV, or order a drink at the bar. You can order pizza and salads here as well, on top of frozen cocktails and craft beers. Also on the concourse, there are multiple stands such as Dippin’ Dots, Kona Ice, a wine stand, a gourmet nut stand, and a BBQ stand. There’s a stand-in left field at the far end that sells Philly cheesesteaks, Italian Sausage, and Lo Mein stir fry. There are three party decks at Blue Wahoo Stadium, including the Winn-Dixie party deck the Coors Light Zone in the right field, and the Blue Chair deck in left field. There’s plenty of food to be found in the party decks, and for $33 on weeknights or $35 on weekends you get a pre-game buffet and unlimited drinks, and for $5 more you can get catering with either Sonny’s BBQ or Moe’s. In addition, on Tuesday the Wahoos run a promotion called Taste of Pensacola, for which $24 gets you a ticket to Winn-Dixie’s party deck and a 90-minute buffet with spreads from local restaurants. Needless to say, Blue Wahoos Stadium has something for everyone and is one stadium where you won’t go home hungry. Atmosphere 5 You know you are in a special place as soon as you walk in the gates. You’ll be greeted by many friendly ushers and the front office staff, who provide an excellent atmosphere and plenty of on-field excitement. Almost every night there is a different theme, and every night there is some sort of promotion or giveaway. Expect plenty of entertainment between innings, with emcees Downtown Dave and Sunshine Sammy providing a multitude of giveaways and games to keep the fans engaged. Also, the mascot Kazoo, which is a Blue sea creature, is one of the better mascots in all of minor league baseball – expect to see him interacting with fans on the concourse and the field. You will also see plenty of between-innings action on the field to keep fans of all ages entertained; everything from the Roach Run for the kids, when somebody dresses up as a roach and runs out from right field while kids try to catch him, to the Grounds Crew Drag and Dance in the bottom of the 7th, in which the grounds crew does a synchronized dance to a song while doing the between-innings dragging of the infield. There is also a strong military presence in Pensacola, so they have a military mascot run which includes a Navy goat, Army mule, Marine bulldog, and Coast Guard bear. The Wahoos also do a promotion called Home Run for Life, which is a once-a-month tribute to a child who has overcome a medical hardship – both teams come out and line up along the first and third baselines as the child runs the bases and high fives the players as they come around the bases. The looks on the faces of some of these kids are priceless, as they round the bases headed home as the players cheer them on. Some of the other promotions include Military Family Sunday, in which active and retired military personnel receive discounted tickets, and Money Monday, in which a minimum of $1,000 is given away. In addition, there are Taste of Pensacola Tuesdays, Wine & Sign Wednesdays where you can get autographs of several players in the team store during pregame, and enjoy half-price glasses of wine throughout the game, as well as $2 draft beer on Thirsty Thursdays and Giveaway Fridays where the first 2,000 fans receive a gift, plus fireworks on Saturdays. Those are just some of the traditional promotions they do on a nightly basis. But every night is also a different themed night, so the other between-innings entertainment is tied into whatever theme that night is. The Wahoos creative service team goes above and beyond with its many different themed nights; for instance, on Field of Dreams Night, the outside of the stadium’s main gates were covered with corn stalks similar to the movie. When it was Anchorman Night many of the employees dressed as Ron Burgundy and characters from the news team, and the stadium played the soundtrack from the movie. On Five Flags Fiesta Night, which was the night that honored Pensacola’s founding, the team wore special throwback jerseys where they honored the old Pensacola Dons franchise, which was named after Don Tristan de Luna, who founded the nation’s first settlement in the 1600s – the staff and employees were decked out in colonial settler attire similar to pilgrims. Some of the planned themed nights for the upcoming season include Legalize Marinara night on April 20th, a Wahoos Stadium bar crawl, Bark in the Park, Mardi Gras Night, Star Wars Night, Festival of Crabzilla, and Negro Leagues Night, in which the Wahoos will honor the former Negro League team as they become the Pensacola Seagulls for the evening. The stadium itself is located within Community Maritime Park, a 27.5-acre park that includes Blue Wahoos Stadium, an amphitheater for concerts, a boardwalk/walking trail that lines the water, a playground, and an outdoor fitness center that resembles a smaller Muscle Beach in California. The location on the water gives the stadium that Florida-beachy feel, as throughout the outside the stadium is lined with palm trees, and on any given day you can find tons of people jogging the boardwalk or fishing. Even the exterior of the stadium ties into the surrounding area, with that sandy color and brick facade found on numerous condos near the beach. Also, just behind left field is the Port of Pensacola and the marina, which houses many expensive high-priced yachts, and you can view all the boats from the concourse. There are three main entrances to the stadium, with the main gate located on the west side. Blue Wahoos Stadium faces southeast with beautiful and spectacular views of Pensacola Bay, and throughout the game, it’s very common to see a ton of different boats and sailboats out on the water. The seating behind home plate in Sections 100 and 101 has been voted the best view in baseball multiple years in a row. As soon as you enter the main gate you go up two sets of stairs to the seating area. Because of its location on the water in a prime hurricane area, the concourse is built pretty high up. Also, the concourse is built like most minor league parks nowadays where you can walk around the stadium and never miss a pitch. The venue is lit up nicely with the HD LED ribbon board around the concourse, providing fans with plenty of light; the seating bowl has a typical setup, and because of its size, there is not a bad view in the house no matter where you sit. Behind home plate is the Bait & Tackle Team Store which is open on non-game days as well, and right next to that is the Cox Clubhouse which includes kids’ games, a blown-up bouncy house, three televisions, and a virtual reality room that has multiple different sports games. Blue Wahoos Stadium does not have any suites, but the Hancock Whitney Club located on the third floor over the third baseline is an open area seating space that can hold all types of different functions. In addition, there is a full spread here of all different types of food for fans to enjoy, not to mention you can’t beat the views out over Pensacola Bay on a summer night. Neighborhood 5 With its downtown and waterfront setting, Blue Wahoos Stadium is located in a prime location. The main road through downtown Pensacola, Palafox Street, is located about two blocks away from the stadium and you should be able to find any kind of restaurant or bar imaginable there. Popular bars and restaurants on this strip of Palafox include Jackson’s Steakhouse, Bodacious Shops, O’Riley’s, Intermission, Graffiti Pizza, World of Beer, Taco Agave, Old Hickory Whiskey Bar, Blend Lounge, Tin Cow, Wild Greg’s Saloon, and Play Pensacola, an arcade-style bar. But no stop in Pensacola would be complete without a trip to the famed Seville Quarter, which is modeled after New Orleans’ French Quarter. It features seven saloons, including the oldest and most famous, Rosie O’Grady’s. Famous for its Hurricane cocktails and dueling pianos, this two-story bar has been serving patrons since the 1920s. The Seville Quarter is filled with options whether you want to hang out with the local military presence at Marlene’s Aviators pub, or dance to club-type music at Apple Annie’s and Rosie’s; if you’re in the mood for seafood the Palace Oyster Bar and District Steak have you covered as well. Just east of Blue Wahoos Stadium is the famous McGuire’s Irish Pub, one of Pensacola’s favorite restaurants. Over 100,000 one-dollar bills line the ceiling at this restaurant, but prices are reasonable unless you want to try McGuire’s famous $100 burger. Across the street from McGuire’s are the famed Fish House and Atlas Oyster House, two popular seafood restaurants overlooking the bay. Other popular restaurants downtown include Union Public House, Jaco’s Bayfront Bar & Grille, Nick’s Boathouse, Joe Patti Seafood, Shoreline Foods, Five Sisters Blue Café, Dwarf Chicken Stand, and Chizuko. There are also three breweries located downtown as well – Gulf Coast Brewery, Emerald Republic, and Pensacola Bay Brewery. Perhaps the most visited Pensacola attraction is the Naval Aviation Museum, a fascinating tribute to aviation history on the grounds of the world’s largest naval air station. The only museum in the world devoted exclusively to Naval Aviation, this museum has something for everyone. You can ride in a motion simulator try the controls of a jet trainer, or wander among hundreds of full-sized aircraft. Admission to the museum is free and you can’t beat it. Or, if in town when the famous Blue Angels flight squadron is practicing, I recommend viewing one of their shows. Sometimes the Blue Angels practice right out over the water of the bay, and you can get a clear shot of the planes from the right field party deck. Right across the street from the Naval Aviation Museum is the Pensacola Lighthouse – the old lighthouse is open for tours and you can climb the 171 steps to the top for sweeping and breathtaking views of the beach and the surrounding area. Be careful though, as the steps are steep and the lighthouse is rumored to be the most haunted lighthouse in the country, having even been featured on Ghost Hunters and numerous other shows. In addition, Fort Barrancas, an old Civil War fort controlled by the Union, is located on the grounds of the Naval Air Station as well, and Fort Pickens is located just across the bay as well for history buffs to explore. Some people do not know that Pensacola was the first official settlement in the US – it was founded in 1559 and predates St. Augustine by 6 years, However, a hurricane destroyed the colony two years after its founding and the city would be abandoned for over 150 years. Pensacola has been ruled by five nations, hence its nickname the City of Five Flags. As such, Pensacola has a lot of historic buildings and interesting structures in the downtown area, so history buffs will have a good time taking a stroll around downtown. The Historic Pensacola Villages features over 10 historic homes and museums that are available for touring as well; you can purchase a ticket for $8 and have a week to visit the many historic buildings in the area. If you want to make a beach trip, the beaches of Pensacola Beach are located on Santa Rosa Island just across the bay – there are also tons of attractions and restaurants located on the Island as well. The resort town of Destin is about 45 miles to the east, while the towns of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are each about 30 miles to the west. If staying the night there are tons of different hotels in Pensacola; just remember the closer you get to the water, the more expensive the hotel rooms. Fans 4 Last season the Blue Wahoos averaged about 4,300 fans a game, which places them third in the Southern League. However, the Wahoos have the largest number of season ticket holders of any team in the league, despite having the smallest seating capacity of 5,038. The Blue Wahoos consistently sell out almost every game, so despite the capacity being small it looks really good with so many seats packed on a nightly basis. There are multiple different types of fans who the Blue Wahoos appeal to in the area. Pensacola is a big military town so there’s a constant military presence at games, but the panhandle area of Florida also attracts a lot of snowbirds and retirees who move south to escape the harsh conditions in the north. Throughout the game, you’ll catch people wearing jerseys from their respective hometowns, and you’ll see teams represented from all over the country including minor league teams and major league teams. One of the great reasons for the Wahoos to be affiliated with the Twins is that there are a lot of transplanted Minnesotans in the area. The final group of fans you’ll find at Blue Wahoos Stadium are the family vacationers from out of town who are vacationing at one of the many area beaches. Working in the front office last season I met so many different people from all over the country and the world, from as far away as New Zealand and Japan – you’ll catch a full melting pot of different cultures from all walks of life, people of all ages, and families at a Blue Wahoos game. Access 3 The one drawback to attending a game at Blue Wahoos Stadium is the access, as there are several different routes headed into the stadium, but depending on the time of day traffic in downtown Pensacola can be a nightmare. The stadium is located in downtown Pensacola right on Pensacola Bay, a couple of blocks west of the main road through downtown Palafox Street. If coming from out of town from the north just take I-10 to the I-110 interchange, which empties into downtown after about four miles. Blue Wahoos Stadium can be kind of difficult to find if you are not familiar with the area, so my suggestion would be to turn on your GPS. Also, the roads downtown can be confusing since some of them are only one-way as well. Parking can be kind of difficult at Blue Wahoos Stadium; there is a small lot outside the stadium that costs $7 to park in but it fills up quickly, so my suggestion would be to park at the season ticket holder’s grass lot on the corner of Devillers and Main Streets. This lot is well-lit and monitored and despite games often being sellouts, the lot never fills up because it’s so huge. There is also a van and shuttle that runs fans from this parking lot to the stadium. There are several parking lots downtown a couple of blocks away from the stadium as well; these lots cost $5. Once inside the facility the concourses can get pretty jammed, and concessions back up especially during weekend games. But overall the concourses are easy to navigate, and you should have no problem finding your seat. Return on Investment 4 Last season (2019), minor league baseball released the average cost for a family of four to attend a baseball game at 160 minor league stadiums, factoring in the price of four tickets, four hot dogs, four drinks, and parking – the Blue Wahoos ranked as the 12th-least expensive with an average price of $51. They also finished as the second most affordable team in the Southern League behind the Chattanooga Lookouts. The prices of Blue Wahoos tickets vary depending on the day of the week. Weekend games obviously cost more, and tickets purchased ahead of time are going to be cheaper than tickets purchased the day of, but typical prices are as follows: Regions Club seats behind home plate are $17 on weekends and $12 on weekdays, while General Admission seats are $10 on weekends and $7 on weekdays. This is an absolute steal for this level of baseball at one of the prettiest stadiums in the entire country – you are paying not just to watch a baseball game, but you are paying to experience a top-notch atmosphere, easily one of the best in Double-A baseball. Extras 4 Since 2015 the Blue Wahoos have been partly owned by two-time Masters Winner and Pensacola native Bubba Watson, who, when not on tour is a constant presence at Blue Wahoos games. He’s down to earth and when in town can often be found sitting behind home plate with his wife and kids. Some teams have celebrity owners who don’t even attend the games, but Watson not only attends as many as he can, but can also be seen mingling, interacting, and sitting with the fans. Another co-owner is Pensacola native, NFL Hall of Famer, and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and Florida State linebacker Derrick Brooks, who co-owns it with Watson, while Quint Studer owns the other half. Bubba Watson also owns an ice cream shop a couple of blocks away from the stadium called Bubba’s Sweet Spot. Since opening in 2012 Blue Wahoos Stadium has also picked up countless awards over the years, including Groundskeeper of the Year for five straight years (2013-2017), Best Minor League Experience (2013-2015), Ballpark of the Year (2012, 2016), Broadcaster of the Year (2015), Organization of the Year (2012, 2015-2016, 2018), Executive of the Year (2015), and countless other community service awards. The seats in the top row of section 101 have also been selected as The Best View in Baseball; the sweeping views of Pensacola Bay remain unmatched by any other venue in all of baseball. In addition, behind left field, the water comes within about 15 to 20 feet of the left field fence, so like McCovey’s Cove at San Francisco’s Oracle Park, it’s very common for batters to hit home runs into the water beyond left field. The Blue Wahoos have been voted top Fan Experience in Baseball multiple years in a row now, and they are constantly putting their fans first above all else. One key feature that makes the Wahoos stand out above other teams is their constant use of fan engagement surveys and their implementation of net promoter score (the likelihood that people are recommending the Wahoos to others) – In fact, last season the Blue Wahoos NPS was 85 out of 100, which places it higher than Walt Disney Company. Fan engagement surveys are sent out via e-mail to every person who purchased a ticket, ask fans what they enjoyed most and didn’t enjoy, and also ask them to give a brief overview of the overall fan experience. Blue Wahoos Stadium is truly a multi-purpose facility that hosts up to 200 events every year. For example, in addition to Blue Wahoos baseball, every fall the stadium is transformed into a football field as the home field for the West Florida Argonauts; the UWF football team recently won the D2 National Championship. Blue Wahoos Stadium also hosts football and baseball games at all levels, from the Soul Bowl, which showcases area youth football teams, to the Cox Diamond Invitational, which is a 3-day college baseball tournament featuring four D1 teams. The Wahoos also have a fully functioning in-house catering staff led by Executive Chef Travis Wilson, and the views from the Hancock Whitney Club provide the perfect backdrop for numerous dinners, banquets, and parties throughout the year. Community Maritime Park, where the stadium is located, also hosts a plethora of different events such as concerts, runs, and festivals throughout the year. It’s safe to say that Community Maritime Park and Blue Wahoos Stadium have been a huge success for the City of Pensacola, and will continue to serve the community well for years to come.