Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 A. W. Mumford Stadium 1 Robert Smith Blvd Baton Rouge, LA 70807 Southern Jaguars website A. W. Mumford Stadium website Year Opened: 1928 Capacity: 28,000 The Jaguars Home Since 1938 Southern University was founded in 1890. It was one of the earliest HCBUs in the country and has a student body of 8,200. As a land grant university, the largest major is in the field of agriculture. Other prominent majors are in the fields of Business, Social Sciences, and Nursing. Southern is the only HBCU in the country to offer an engineering major. Southern has had a football program since 1916. The school is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Jaguars football program has a storied history, as they have won nine black college national championships, as well as nineteen SWAC Conference Championships. Two former Southern coaches, Mario Carsem and Ace Mumford, are in the College Football Hall of Fame. More than seventy Jaguar players have gone on to play in the NFL, including Pro Football Hall of Famers Mel Blount, Aeneas Williams, and Harold Carmichael. The home field for the Jaguars is the on-campus Ace W. Mumford Stadium. It opened in 1938 and is named for Southern’s winningest football coach, who served the school for 18 years. The stadium has gone through several renovations over the years, bringing the capacity of the venue to 28,000. The stadium is also unique in that it has a track encircling the football field that is used by Southern’s track and field team. Food & Beverage 2 It is a good thing that Jaguar fans are legendary for their pregame spreads at the tailgates, as the concessions offerings at Mumford Stadium are basic. You can expect the usual (i.e., hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, sodas, and bottled water) stadium standards at the concession stands. The stands also tend to have long lines at the half. Our advice is to eat heartily before the game, then stop off at a stand for bottled water or soda to tide you over in case of a hot and humid night. After the game is head over to Mid-City Beer Garden for a few cold ones. Atmosphere 4 The seating bowl is rather unique at Mumford Stadium. The sideline seating is composed of box seating, while the General Admission seats are on the lower level behind one of the end zones. Suites in the stadium are found at field level down the sidelines and in the upper level behind the end zone at one end. There is a fieldhouse located behind the opposite end zone. The most recent set of renovations at the stadium addressed double decking the press box, the addition of seven more suites, and updating of the home and visitor locker rooms. Every game at Mumford Stadium has a big game atmosphere. The fanbase is very dialed into the game from the opening kickoff to the last whistle. It is Southern (or Southern) football at its finest! Neighborhood 3 Southern University and Ace Mumford Stadium are in a northwest suburb of Baton Rouge known simply as “the Bluff”. This is because the campus sits along Scott’s Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. It is a beautiful setting, with a very green campus. No matter where your parking space/tailgating area is, you’ll be treated to wonderful natural surroundings. There are several great restaurants nearby that can either prepare a tailgate meal for you or welcome you for a sit-down dinner. These include Empire Wingz and Scenic Seafood. If you are coming in from out of town, the closest lodging is adjacent to the Baton Rouge Airport (BTR), which is less than 4 miles from the campus. Lodging options include The Comfort Inn and Suites Baton Rouge Airport and Springhill Suites by Marriott Baton Rouge Airport. The Southern University campus is eight miles north of downtown Baton Rouge. It is well worth the short drive, Baton Rouge is the Louisiana state capitol, and it has several great museums, shopping, and dining options. The ornate Old State Capitol Building is now a museum, with a wide range of art and historical objects to view. Fans 4 Food plays a major role in the gamedays at Southern University. Jaguar fans are big believers in tailgating, as they never enter Mumford Stadium on an empty stomach. The official tailgating area is behind the east side of the stadium, but you are likely to fans munching something almost everywhere on the Southern campus. Once at their seats, the Jaguar fans are completely focused on the game. They create a din that is comparable to the noise level of that other stadium on the other side of Baton Rouge…. otherwise known as Tiger Stadium. As with most HBCU football team fans, we can’t separate them from their institution’s marching bands. This is especially true, when fans move, sway, and cheer with the sounds provided by the Human Jukebox band and the Dancing Dolls dance team. The stands are at a high level of energy thanks to the beats of the band. The Human Jukebox has performed at the Rose Parade, the Presidential Inauguration Parade, and Six Super Bowls. Access 2 Southern athletic officials advise the public to arrive early for Jaguars games. This is partially because only two routes are taking you in or out of the Southern University campus. Harding Boulevard and Swan Avenue can become parking lots before and after games. Mumford Stadium also is one of the largest stadiums at the FCS level of play. Having a capacity of 28,000 fans also means there is a need to disperse the parking around the very large campus, as one lot cannot carry the load on its own. You should pre-pay for your parking to save time, then check out the www.gojagsports.com website to locate the best route to arrive at your designated parking area. Once in Mumford Stadium, you may want to get your concessions purchases taken care of before the game. The layout of the stadium has the concourses located at the bottom of the seating bowl. During halftime or other breaks in the action, the aisles and the concourses get very congested, and you will find long lines for both the concession stands and the restrooms. Plus, you do not want to miss the terrific halftime shows put on by the Human Jukebox band. Fortunately, fans don’t have a problem with getting on campus early, as it allows them to get their tailgating activities underway sooner. The gates at Mumford Stadium open 2 ½ hours before kickoff, allowing you plenty of time to find your seats, use the restroom, or get something to eat. Directions from Baton Rouge Airport to Mumford Stadium: Depart the airport on Jackie Cochran Drive heading north. Cochran Drive soon became C.E. Woolman Drive. Go straight onto Sally Ride Avenue. Turn left onto Veteran’s Memorial Boulevard. Turn right onto LA -408 (Harding Boulevard) Harding Boulevard will bring you into the Southern University campus. Consult your parking map and prepaid parking pass for directions to your parking area on the campus. Return on Investment 3 Southern University uses a variable pricing formula. That treats each game separately. Marquee games will be higher priced than a game against a non-SWAC opponent. The Southern athletic website will break down which games are considered “marquee”, and which are not. The highest-priced tickets are $40, and the lowest ticket prices in the stadium are $20. Parking is available on campus for $20. Extras 5 The Jaguars play two rivalry games each season. The Boombox Classic against Jackson State University is played on a home-and-home basis, while the Bayou Classic game against Grambling University is played in the Superdome in New Orleans. A highlight of the Bayou Classic is the halftime Battle of the Bands between Grambling’s World-Famous Tiger Marching Band and Southern’s Human Jukebox. Southern University had a live jaguar mascot named Lacumba until it died in 2004. Lacumba’s habitat is still in place at the school as a memorial to its late top cat. The school’s costumed human mascot is also known as Lacumba. Southern University recently received a $1.3 million grant to make Mumford Stadium more energy efficient. This will allow Southern to replace its seriously out-of-date lighting grid. Each season Southern plays a whiteout game, with fans and the team wearing white from head to toe. It is quite an impressive sight. Our last extra must go to the terrific performances of the Human Jukebox. They play nonstop throughout the game, and the halftime shows are always terrific. Final Thoughts Southern University is always in the thick of the race for the SWAC conference title. It is also home to the terrific sounds of the Human Jukebox. Mumford Stadium is also the largest on-campus stadium in the SWAC. This all makes a trip to Baton Rouge for a fall weekend a must-do for any true football fan.

Photos by Joseph Oakes, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Founders Park 431 Williams St Columbia, SC 29201 South Carolina Gamecocks website Founders Park website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 8,242 Sandstorm In Summer Founders Park (formerly known as Carolina Stadium) opened in 2009 at a price of $35 million as South Carolina beat Duquesne 13-0 in front of 8,153 fans. Country music singer Darius Rucker sang the national anthem. Founders has a seated capacity of 6,600 and a total capacity of 8,242 including grassy berm areas. Food & Beverage 5 Founder’s Park offers a wide range of concession offerings all around the ballpark. These range from grilled chicken to hotdogs, nachos, corn dogs, popcorn, peanuts, soft pretzels, sunflower seeds, and cracker jacks. There are two sizes of Coca-Cola fountain products, with the larger size being a souvenir cup. Dasani bottled water is also offered. Both premium and domestic beer are also offered. There are also several independent stands and tents around the ballpark that offer hamburgers, sausage dogs, cheese steaks, and ice cream. You may also see a couple of food trucks parked in the outfield depending on which game you attend. Atmosphere 5 Upon approaching Founder’s Park, you realize immediately that you are in a “big-time” SEC atmosphere. The outfield exterior gates are donned with the famous South Carolina palm trees. Just beyond the outfield entrance, you will national championship trophies from the 2010 and 2011 seasons when the Gamecocks won the College World Series in Omaha. Seating at Founder’s Park runs from foul pole to foul pole. All seats are chairback and are angled toward home plate for better sightlines. There is a small tiered picnic area around the left field foul pole that offers a great view of the field. Around the right field foul pole is a large grassy berm, which extends into the outfield. Beyond the left field wall is a large set of bleachers. While these are in the outfield, they are bench-back and offer a great view of the ballpark. However, you will be sitting in the direct sun during day games. A large upper level with suites and a press box sits above the concourse and can be a great source of shade on hot South Carolina days. A large video board rises above left field. There is also a ribbon scoreboard on the façade of the suite overhang for folks sitting in the outfield. Founder’s Park has a large 360-degree concourse with many areas to stand, socialize, and watch the game. When you are walking the concourse, be sure to check out the live chicken – Gamecock mascot. Neighborhood 4 Founder’s Park sits on the banks of the Congaree River in South Carolina’s capital city. While there are few dining or lodging within (reasonable) walking distance, there are several choices about a mile or so away within the vicinity of Columbia Convention Center/ Colonial Life Arena and South Carolina State House. There is a Hampton Inn and Hyatt in this area, as well as several restaurants and breweries including Jimmy John’s, Longhorn, Marks Burgers and Shakes, Palmetto Pig BBQ, and Columbia Craft Brewing Company just to name a few. If you are looking for other sporting events while in town, South Carolina baseball season overlaps with Gamecock softball and part of the basketball season as well. The Columbia Fireflies single A team also plays across town at Segra Park. The state capitol building and several museums are all within a mile or so of Founder’s Park. Fans 5 The Gamecock baseball program has a proud tradition and a large following. The official capacity of Founder’s Park is 8,242 and you can expect a near-capacity crowd of 7,000-8,000 for a weekend SEC series. Even for midweek games, the Gamecocks average 5,000-6,000 fans. Access 4 Columbia, SC is accessible from three major interstates: I-20, I-26, and I-77. Founder’s Park is located near downtown Columbia about a block from the intersections of US 321 and US 76. Parking is available in the lots between US 321 and the ballpark and on the opposite side of US 321. Several of the businesses between Huger St. and Williams St. also sell parking for baseball games. Unfortunately, South Carolina enforces a clear bag policy. Otherwise, the security at entrances is pretty painless. There is a wide 360-degree concourse all the way around the ballpark and handicap-accessible seating and restrooms are all readily available. Return on Investment 5 Ticket prices start at $25 which is not bad for this level of competition. Expect to pay around $10 to park near the stadium. Concessions are about on par with most athletic facilities. All in all, not a bad deal for top-notch SEC baseball in a beautiful ballpark. Extras 4 Extra points for the following: - Large playground for kids - National Championship trophies and retired numbers - Live “Sir Big Spur” mascot - City skyline view from behind home plate Final Thoughts Founder’s Park is one of the nicest and most beautiful college ballparks that you will visit. Gamecock fans support their program like few in the country and it is a college baseball bucket list experience to take in a game here.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium 700 Pelham Rd N Jacksonville, AL 36265 Jacksonville State Gamecocks website Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium website Year Opened: 1947 Capacity: 24,000 Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium Over the better part of the last decade, Jacksonville State has proven itself as one of the more dangerous teams of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Not only have the Gamecocks been headaches for Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams such as Georgia Tech, LSU, and Arkansas, they have pulled upsets on the home fields of the Ole Miss Rebels and Florida State Seminoles in recent years. Jacksonville State has made the steady climb from a NCAA Division-II power, playing in four NCAA D-II championship games and winning it all in 1992. The Gamecocks continued their gridiron success when they moved from Division II into the FCS for the 1996 season – it took Jax State ten seasons to reach the pinnacle of the FCS, facing off against nine-time FCS champion, North Dakota State. Jacksonville State now joins the FBS member conference, Conference USA, as one of the handful of new members in college football’s highest division. In preparation for the jump to college football’s top division, Jacksonville State has invested $80 million in upgrades to their football facilities that offer both their student-athletes and fans an improved football experience. Food & Beverage 4 Fans here have a choice of traditional concessions stand items including hot dogs, chili dogs, cheeseburgers, nachos, fountain Coke products, and all the typical concessions stand popcorn, peanuts, and candy options. Fans can order concessions to pick up and go using the Everyday App; QR codes are posted around the concourse to make downloading the app easier. Those wanting a bit of a break from the norm will want to visit the Food Truck Rally behind the east end zone bleachers – this area features a mix of Brix ‘n Stix Wood Fired Pizza, TJ’s Crawfish Shack, RNB Finz and Chicks LLC, Kona Ice, Main Squeeze Lemonade, and WOW American Eats. Beer is sold at JSU Stadium, but options are a bit limited. Bud Lite, Busch Lite, and Michelob Ultra round out the macrobrews, while Wicked Weed Pernicious, Back Forty Truck Stop Honey, and Bud Seltzer provide a break from the run-of-the-mill beers. All payment options are cashless – payment methods fans can use for concessions and food trucks include credit/debit cards or Apple, Google, or Samsung Pay. The Food Truck Rally is definitely the way to go if looking for a break from the typical concessions stand items; with soul food, wings and fried foods, and Cajun delights, there is a wonderful spread for fans to choose from. Atmosphere 3 The campus game day atmosphere comes to life in the pre-dawn hours. As early as 7 am, fans start staking their claim to tailgating plots along the grassy area at the front of campus. As game time approaches, “The Roost” starts bustling with more excitement which builds in anticipation of the Gamecock Walk where school mascot Cocky, along with band members, cheerleaders, members of the dance squad, coaches, and staff walk from the team buses at Angel Hall to the current football facility. Later, while the Gamecocks make final game preparations, fans start making their way to Burgess-Snow Field. As JSU Stadium continues to undergo upgrades, fans do have a handful of minor inconveniences to navigate. In its second phase of improvements, the Loring and Debbie White Football Complex player development center is starting to take shape behind the stadium's west end zone. At the moment, the visiting team stands lacks seating, but is open for fans to sit in if they so choose. Outside of the club level seats, any of the seating options get fans right on top of the action and give great views of the game. Given the orientation of the field, however, there is not a lot of relief from the sun – the best bet to limit the impact the sun will have on the enjoyment of the game is sitting on the home side of the field, toward the eastern end of the stadium. Fans on the visiting, north side of the stadium will have the sun in their face for much of the game. Throughout the game, there is a nice balance of music piped through the stadium speakers, as well as performances by the Marching Southerners. No matter which form of music is used, the Marching Southerners do a great job setting the tone for a fun football atmosphere. The overall coziness of Burgess-Snow Field will only be improved as progress continues to be made on the player development center and the north side stands. Neighborhood 3 Backdropped by the mountains of northeastern Alabama, JSU Stadium sits on the southern portion of the Jacksonville State campus. Jacksonville, a relatively small town by FBS standards, is just over 12,000 and has every bit of the cozy, small town feel. JSU Stadium stands out amongst the campus dormitories. The stadium’s main seating area also doubles as a dorm, with its first four floors providing student housing. In the immediate area around the stadium there are a handful of pre-gaming options. Struts of Jacksonville, more of a traditional sports bar, and Mason’s BBQ, both on Mountain Street NW, are the most conveniently located spots to grab a pre-game bite to eat. About a mile south of campus is Jacksonville’s town center; this has a handful of restaurants and the Apothecary Draft House, which fans can visit. Jacksonville’s rural setting does provide fans making a multi-day visit to Jacksonville with miles of hiking trails to explore through the northern reaches of the Talladega National Forest, which runs just east of Jacksonville. Pre-game entertainment might be a bit limited, but there is enough between tailgating and local restaurants for fans to keep themselves entertained until the gates open. Fans 3 JSU Stadium is one of the smaller FBS stadiums in the country. Despite its capacity of 24,000, it can be a raucous home field. Much like their JSU basketball pep band counterparts, the Marching Southerners are the pulse of the stadium’s liveliness. It is not just the spirit of the fight song they play or the musical interludes they drop during timeouts – band members are also commonly leading chants throughout the game and lead the enthusiasm of the stadium in anticipation of the game’s biggest moments. There is also a Sweet Caroline style sing-along, with a cue from the band as they hold their instruments in the air as they sway back and forth to Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA. As the song ends, fans breakout in a chant of “U.S.A!...U.S.A!” The home fans do a lot to stay into the game, but much of the credit for the fan involvement in the action on the field has to go to the Marching Southerners. Their intensity in supporting the Gamecocks is contagious and goes a long way toward creating a fun college football environment. Access 3 Jacksonville, Alabama is a bit off the beaten path. Fans coming from the west through Birmingham or from Atlanta to the east most likely will use I-20. This will leave just under a thirty-minute drive through Oxford and Anniston, Alabama. State Road 21 leads from I-20 right to the JSU campus. Northern and southern approaches come mostly via state roads and highways. Parking is available for $10 at nearby Stephenson, Dixon, and Curtiss Halls, but lots at the Theron Montgomery Building, Bibb Graves Hall, Ayers Hall, Crow Hall, Daugette Hall, and around Trustee Circle are free. A shuttle bus brings fans from the parking lot behind the library to campus. While the walk is not all that long, the shuttle is a nice amenity. The stadium is accessible from all directions, though the southwestern entrance point is a bit obscured due to the construction of the Loring and Debbie White Football Building. Most fans will enter through the southeast entrance, and fans watching the game from the suites can enter the VIP entrance through the lobby of Meehan Hall. Visiting fans have entry points along the north side of the stadium. Return on Investment 5 College football tickets can be some of the more expensive tickets on campuses, but Jacksonville State makes the experience one that is far from being finically prohibitive for fans to attend. With tickets starting at just $12 (including a $2 service fee), college football fans will be hard pressed to find a more affordable ticket. QR codes are posted around the outside of the stadium where tickets can purchased the day of the game for $15. Fans looking for a bit more comfortable game experience will need to pony up $130 for club level seats ($5 service fee included), but those do include a pre-game meal, fountain beverages, and snacks throughout the game. Jacksonville State wisely invests in their future fans by allowing children 5 and under into games free. This helps grab the attention of younger fans and instills early memories of going to a Gamecocks game. Extras 3 Banners of Jacksonville State’s alumni who have played professionally in football and baseball are displayed throughout the concourse below the main bleacher area. Former JSU golfer, 2016 Masters Champion Danny Willett, is also featured. Fans can watch the live, pre-game radio show broadcasting from outside the southeast entrance before entering the stadium. The original press box on the north side of the stadium gives fans a look at the long history of success the Gamecocks have enjoyed, from the years of conference championships to NCAA playoff appearances and the 1982 Division II National Championship. Final Thoughts Jacksonville State is doing everything it can to make the jump from FCS to FBS as seamless as possible. The investments they have made in facilities, player amenities, and coaching are a good first step in making that move a successful one. Time will tell if the move will be as successful as the Gamecocks performance has been at the Division II and I-AA/FCS levels. One of the challenges is, as members of Conference USA, more than half the conference rivals are more than 700 miles away, which will definitely impact the size of the visiting crowds – nearby Kennesaw State University joining the conference in 2024 will help add a nearby rival to the schedule, and also help bolster visiting crowd sizes. Overall, an afternoon in Jacksonville, Alabama provides a fun game day atmosphere many would not expect. Despite not having the same level of pomp-and-circumstance many of the major college football programs might have, the small town feel of the Jacksonville community helps bolster the overall experience of a day of football with the Gamecocks.

Back in 2021, Major League Baseball decided to streamline and standardize its minor league systems. While these moves sent seismic shocks throughout baseball, at no level were the changes more drastic than in the A-level leagues. After three seasons with the present alignment, things have started to become more familiar and comfortable. The 30 teams at the High-A level compete in three leagues, the Midwest, South Atlantic, and Northwest. There are many amazing parks at this level, so we at Stadium Journey decided to do what we do best, rank them all! The ballparks are rated according to Stadium Journey's patented FANFARE scoring metric, which takes into account a ballpark's food and beverage options, gameday atmosphere, surrounding neighborhood, access, return on investment, and more. When two or more facilities are tied, a Stadium Journey Council of Elders is consulted to break the tie. It's been a long season, so we won't waste any more time talking. Stadium Journey is proud to present our High-A ballpark rankings for the 2023 season. 1. Parkview Field – Fort Wayne Tincaps 4.71 Marc Viquez - Parkview Field is one of my favorite places in the minor leagues, and before its construction, I never looked forward to a visit to Ft. Wayne. It has opened my eyes, and many others, to the downtown area that has changed dramatically since the ballpark’s opening. Redevelopment is still taking place around the stadium, and it has also attracted a few other sports teams to town. 2. Nat Bailey Stadium – Vancouver Canadians 4.57 Brian Helberg - Nat Bailey Stadium offers a first-class experience for fans of all ages. It is an enjoyable and affordable way to spend an evening in Vancouver. The people who work at the stadium are very polite and helpful. The fun factor cannot be beaten, and wandering around the stadium gives spectators a sense of childlike joy. 3. Modern Woodman Park – Quad City Bandits 4.29 James Hilchen - Anyone who is a baseball fan simply must come to Modern Woodmen Park. The views can’t be beat, the staff is super friendly, and the prices are very reasonable. Plan a trip to Modern Woodmen Park and enjoy! 4. Day Air Ballpark – Dayton Dragons 4.29 Marc Viquez - Day Air Ballpark has been a mainstay in Dayton since the turn of the century; the enthusiasm by its fans has been clear since day one and as each home game is played, the Dragons establish a record of consecutive sellouts. The surrounding neighborhood is a hub of activity before and after the game, and downtown Dayton is once again full of life. 5. Covaleski Stadium – South Bend Cubs 4.14 Marc Viquez - The transformation of Four Winds Field and Coveleski Stadium can be likened to a butterfly emerging from a cocoon or Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. The design was ahead of its time and made it possible to make the necessary renovations. 6. Dow Diamond – Great Lakes Loons 4.14 Michael Rusigluono - From the green-conscious facility on up, the Dow Diamond is a great place to watch a game, and its park and amenities would be right at home in much higher categories of the minor leagues. You won’t go wrong seeing a game at the Dow Diamond, and you’ll do it for a reasonable price all-around. 7. Daniel S. Frawley Stadium – Wilmington Blue Rocks 4.14 Richard Smith - The actual playing surface at the stadium is named Judy Johnson Field. after the Negro League third baseman. Johnson played for the Hilldale Club, Homestead Grays, and Pittsburgh Crawfords from 1921 to 1936 and was considered one of the greatest third basemen of his time. He was a resident of the Wilmington area. 8. Truist Stadium - Winston-Salem Dash 4.00 Paul Baker - North Carolina is a state that contains no shortage of minor league ballparks, some of which are undoubtedly among the best in the country. While Truist Stadium is not as new and shiny as some of the other ballparks in the state, it remains a fantastic place to take in a ballgame and should be on your to-do list should you find yourself in the Tar Heel State. 9. Avista Stadium – Spokane Indians 4.00 Meg Minard - There is tons of history at Avista Stadium. There is a wall of history for the Spokane Indian tribe who originally inhabited this area of the Pacific Northwest. There is the Rim of Honor that pays tribute to individuals who have influenced the Spokane Indians, as well as a Hall of Fame Plaza at the entryway that recognizes former Spokane Indians players, managers, and owners with plaques in their honor. 10. First National Bank Field – Greensboro Grasshoppers 4.00 Paul Baker - While First National Bank Field doesn’t break the mold in terms of design, it’s a nice downtown ballpark with enthusiastic fans and a great atmosphere. In a state filled with some of the best minor league parks in the country, a trip to Greensboro is a worthy Stadium Journey. 11. McCormick Field – Asheville Tourists 4.00 James Hilchen - There is a certain charm that older ballparks tend to have. Asheville is no different. From the scenic beauty beyond the outfield fence to the uniqueness of the right field wall, there is a lot to like about attending a game at McCormick Field. I’ll certainly be back when I can. 12. Jackson Field – Lansing Lugnuts 4.00 Steve Ohnsmann - The major improvements to Jackson Field have improved the 22-year-old ballpark immensely. The facility has more seating angles, a wraparound concourse, an improved kids area, and has opened up the ballpark for possible further ideas. The Outfield apartment complex has added color and a focal point to the ballpark and gives the place a bit of a distinction. 13. Fox Cities Stadium – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4.00 Sean MacDonald - Overall, Fox Cities Stadium is an excellent minor league destination that has aged well since its opening in 1995. I enjoyed my time here, with the food and fans among the best that the minor leagues have to offer. Appleton is not on many tourist itineraries, but if you are a ballpark chaser, this is one that you should not miss. 14. Maimonides Park – Brooklyn Cyclones 3.86 David Welch - The passion Brooklyn has for baseball creates a fun and knowledgeable baseball community. Partnered with the work the Cyclones do in meshing fans with fun, and the carnival atmosphere from neighboring Luna Park midway and the Coney Island boardwalk, baseball at Maimonides Park is one of the true gems in minor league baseball. 15. Fluor Field – Greenville Drive 3.86 Lloyd Brown - Fans visiting Fluor Field for the first time will be amazed at the amenities offered at this Class A level ballpark. The architecture, the large number of seating options, in-game entertainment, and a wide assortment of concession offerings are more typically found at AAA-level ballparks. 16. ShoreTown Ballpark – Jersey Shore BlueClaws 3.86 Matthew Collins - Bruce Springsteen once said, “Down the Shore Everything’s Alright,” and the same can be said about the experience at a Jersey Shore Blue Claws game. If you’re visiting the shore for a week, a day, or the summer, be sure to catch a game in Lakewood. 17. LMCU Ballpark – West Michigan Whitecaps 3.71 Marc Viquez - LMCU Ballpark is designed for a festive night of baseball. It has an assortment of food and drinks available, a passionate fan base, and plenty of areas to enjoy the game. Future renovations will transform the ballpark and make it an even better place to catch a game. 18. Veterans Memorial Stadium – Cedar Rapids Kernels 3.71 James Hilchen - Veterans Memorial Stadium isn’t anything fancy, but it provides everything you need to enjoy a fun baseball experience. If you are a ballpark fanatic, don’t sleep on this one. 19. Classic Park – Lake County Captains 3.57 Marc Viquez - A nice little ballpark outside the Cleveland metro area and close enough to attract fans from around the surrounding neighborhoods, The prices are affordable, the views are great, and there are plenty of activities for the kids. Classic Park is worth checking out when in the Cleveland area. 20. ABC Supply Stadium – Beloit Sky Carp 3.43 Eric Hasman – ABC Supply Stadium is constructed of brick and has an old-time feel from the outside. The stadium is adjacent to the Rock River on the third base side. Foul balls can go into the river and some kids will leave the stadium and go into the river to retrieve them. The stadium sits on Shirland Avenue on the border between Wisconsin and Illinois. 21. Bowling Green Ballpark – Bowling Green Hot Rods 3.43 Marc Viquez - Bowling Green Ballpark is a very modern and comfortable place to watch Single-A baseball. The recent renovations to the stadium and the value for your dollar make it an affordable destination for fans in the area. It also makes for an ideal visit when in the area, or on your way to a couple of ballpark heavyweights in Louisville or Nashville. 22. AdventHealth Stadium – Rome Braves 3.43 Lloyd Brown - The Rome Braves are the longest-affiliated team in the Atlanta Braves farm system. The club is a launching point for many of the World Champion Atlanta Braves key players. AdventHealth Stadium has been the home of the Rome Braves since 2003, and it offers a fantastic fan experience in the lovely northwestern section of the state of Georgia. 23. Dozer Park – Peoria Chiefs 3.43 Steven Burke - Dozer Park is still a very nice facility but is beginning to show its age slightly. Although to be fair, the visible issues may be more of a lack of maintenance and upkeep. The facade of the press box has countless amounts of dings and dents from foul balls, it appears no attempt has been made to repair or mask this damage. 24. Ron Tonkin Field – Hillsboro Hops 3.43 Matt Finnigan - The Hops have created an environment that highlights everything that makes minor league baseball so enjoyable: inexpensive tickets and food, involved fans, and a beautiful stadium. The team’s thoughtful celebration of Oregon’s place as a craft beer mecca blends well with the action on the field, yet even non-beer drinkers will enjoy themselves. A game at Tonkin Field is well worth the “hop” from anywhere in Oregon. 25. Dutchess Stadium – Hudson Valley Renegades 3.29 Greg Venuto - Dutchess Stadium is a nice venue to take in a game and with the new improvement planned, it will be even more attractive next season. It is an hour’s drive from White Plains, only 40 minutes from Danbury, Connecticut, and 60 miles from Yankee Stadium. 26. Ripken Stadium – Aberdeen Ironbirds 3.29 Richard Smith - Ripken Stadium is a very nicely designed stadium. It was designed while looking at what went right and what went wrong in baseball design in the late 1990s. The result has often been that the stadium has felt a bit impersonal. But it is still a strong baseball facility. 27. PK Park – Eugene Emeralds 3.14 Sean Rowland - While the most authentic experience at PK Park may be an Oregon Ducks baseball game, the Eugene Emeralds have done their best to set up shop at their relatively new home. With one of the best mascots in baseball and a terrific modern field, the Ems continue to produce a good experience for fans during the summer. 28. L.P. Frans Stadium – Hickory Crawdads 3.14 David Welch - The stadium architecture and the surrounding area are not all that awe-inspiring, but the game experience itself is well worth a trip to L.P. Fran Stadium. The atmosphere created by the fans and the work the game entertainment staff does with keeping younger fans part of the game partnered with the game on the field, create an all-around memorable baseball experience. 29. Gesa Stadium – Tri-City Dust Devils 3.00 Matt Finnigan - With great views and reasonable costs, a game at Gesa Stadium enables fans to enjoy baseball in a unique setting that does not break anyone’s bank. The ballpark is clean, well-maintained, and well worth a visit. 30. Everett Memorial Field – Everett Aquasox 3.00 Lloyd Rothwell - Several renovations over recent decades have updated both the playing surface and spectator facilities. There’s a charming manual scoreboard beyond right field, and a video board reportedly amongst the newest in the league in center field. The atmosphere is fun and family friendly, with a very active game-day host always willing to liven things up in between innings.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Hard Rock Stadium 347 Don Shula Dr, Suite 102 Miami Gardens, FL 33056 Miami (FL) Hurricanes website Hard Rock Stadium website Year Opened: 1987 Capacity: 65,326 Rockin’ in the Miami World Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL is best known as the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins for over 35 years and has gone through several name changes in that time. Besides hosting “the fish”, the facility has also hosted six Super Bowls and two different college bowl games (one of which, the Orange Bowl, is still held here), currently hosts a tennis tournament, and was once the temporary home of the Florida Atlantic Owls, as well as the then Florida Marlins. However, on a few Saturdays in the fall, Hard Rock Stadium welcomes the hard-rocking fans from the nearby University of Miami, becoming a literal sea of orange for a few hours. The Miami (FL) Hurricanes have called the venue home since 2008, when they moved here from the old Orange Bowl Stadium, which was subsequently demolished and replaced by LoanDepot Park, home of the MLB’s Miami Marlins. Food & Beverage 5 Being mainly an NFL stadium, it won’t surprise you that there is a huge selection of food and beverage options here – they sell practically anything you can think of. Hard Rock Stadium boasts almost 100 concessions stands across its three levels of seating, and all the basics can be found here as well as plenty of more specialty items. First, you can find burgers, chicken tenders, pizza, nachos, hot dogs, etc., but they will all be gussied up a little with extra or more gourmet ingredients; no plain Jane menu items here. Then, moving on to the more unique items, you can certainly find a taste of Florida here such as arepas, but there are also all kinds of other options such as seafood, deli sandwiches, and sushi – yes sushi; there is a Benihana stand offering that dish as well as hibachi, fried rice, and poke bowls. Click here to see all the other options Hard Rock Stadium has. For drinks, the facility boasts multiple full bars, as well as numerous stands selling canned beer and seltzers, and you will also see individual vendors all over the place, hawking beer from plastic tubs filled with ice – they are located in convenient locations, near the ramp for example, so you don’t have to go hunting to quench your thirst. Note that the concession prices here are higher than you will see at other college venues, and also the venue is 100% cashless, but if cash is all you have, you can redeem it for pre-paid Visa gift cards at any of the team stores on site. Atmosphere 5 The Miami (FL) Hurricanes put on a great show at Hard Rock Stadium – the band marches down and around the stadium during pregame, there are plenty of band formations done on the field, and you will see the cheerleaders, dance team, and mascot front and center, strutting their stuff as well as any other pep squad you can find. The mascot’s antics are particularly fun to watch, especially seeing him give it to the refs after a particularly egregious call on the field. The best thing about Hard Rock Stadium, however, is that 90%+ of the seats are covered – due to recent renovations there is now a white roof covering most of the venue, almost everything except the field itself if you were looking down from above. That said, if you sit anywhere except the first few rows closest to the field, you will find yourself safe and protected from the elements, and The heat and sun are extremely intense this far south in the Sunshine State, so the shade is much appreciated. There are also 4 enormous video boards here, one in each corner, so you are easily able to watch replays, and all the seats are bucket-style chairbacks, so you should be able to enjoy the game in comfort. Neighborhood 4 There is certainly very little entertainment within walking distance of Hard Rock Stadium, given the enormous footprint the stadium and its accompanying parking lots take up, not to mention the freeways and highways all around it, but there are plenty of great restaurants within a short drive. Being in Miami Cuban food is a great option, and you will see plenty of those eateries in the area, as well as numerous great seafood places. There is also a wonderful Mexican restaurant closer to the airport (about 20 minutes from the stadium) called Chevys Fresh Mex, which is worth a look if you are headed that way. In addition to the restaurants there are plenty of hotels in the area, most of them closer to the beach, and if you are looking for something to do before or after the game, have you ever seen live horse racing? Miami boasts two tracks within a short drive of Hard Rock Stadium, Gulfstream Park, and Hialeah Park – both have attached casinos if you prefer that type of thrill. Gulfstream Park offers live racing from July to October and again from December to May, so that is the one you will likely have to hit up during football season, as Hialeah only has live racing from November to February. Fans 5 The fans here are stellar – while they don’t typically sell the place out, when you go to a game here you will find yourself literally in a sea of orange, as almost everyone is sporting Hurricanes gear, or at least wearing the team colors. The fans are also very loud, especially the ones behind the northwest end zone, and I was surprised by how few visiting fans there were, even for games versus a ranked opponent. The tailgating scene is also crazy; the Orange lots are filled with tents and fans eating, drinking, playing games, and enjoying the day – it seemed like the stands were even a little slow to fill up after kickoff, as so many people were still out partying, but the attendance maxed out by the of the first quarter. Access 3 The big knock for Miami football is simply the traffic – it takes a very long time to get to Hard Rock Stadium, and it is even worse getting out of the parking lots after. The staff tries to do a good job managing the flow, but there are just too many folks packed into too small a space, and this was for a college game not even a pro game. Pay attention to where you parked, by the way; there are signs up above for each section/color, as well as giant numbers marked into the pavement for each row, so I would make a note, or snap a photo, as all the parking areas will pretty much look alike once the game is over. Once you get to the stadium itself, there are metal detectors/scanners for security, and it will take a while to walk around – there are lots of gates, so if you need to get to a certain gate for your seat it will take time to get there, as the venue is so large (Will Call for example is at the Southwest gate, which is quite a haul from the Orange parking). Some of the egress inside is also overcomplicated – there are winding ramps up to the higher levels, which are again quite a long walk to get around, so you may prefer the escalators, but these have fencing around them to direct traffic, so you must walk in a big circle to get onto them; I found this a little unnecessary. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are a little on the high side for Miami (FL) football if you buy from the school itself, but you can find them cheaper on third-party sites. Note that all the tickets are mobile, though you will still see scalpers trying to sell them as you walk up to the entrances. Nevertheless, the Miami (FL) fans alone make attending a Hurricanes game worth it – you get all the crowd noise and energy here that you might expect from a much bigger program. Extras 4 There are seating areas all over the place both inside Hard Rock Stadium and outside, making it easy to sit and eat or spend time with friends at the game. There is also a Dan Marino statue outside if you want a selfie, and who could object to the scenery of palm trees swaying in the breeze? Final Thoughts Hard Rock Stadium for a Miami (FL) Hurricanes football game is a trip worth the time and expense – you will be treated to lots of great food in the stadium, a wonderful crowd, and a high-quality venue with shade from the elements. Plan a little in terms of where to park and how to buy your tickets, and you should have an awesome time.

Back in 2021, Major League Baseball decided to streamline and standardize its minor league systems. While these moves sent seismic shocks throughout baseball, at no level were the changes more drastic than in the A-level leagues. After three seasons with the present alignment, things have started to become more familiar and comfortable. The 30 teams at the Low-A level compete in three leagues: California, Carolina, and Florida State. Even here at the lowest level of organized baseball, there are many amazing parks to be seen, so we at Stadium Journey decided to do what we do best, rank them all! The ballparks are rated according to Stadium Journey's patented FANFARE scoring metric, which takes into account a ballpark's food and beverage options, gameday atmosphere, surrounding neighborhood, access, return on investment, and more. When two or more facilities are tied, a Stadium Journey Council of Elders is consulted to break the tie. It's been a long season, so without further ado, Stadium Journey is proud to present our Low-A ballpark rankings for the 2023 season. 1. Pelicans Ballpark – Myrtle Beach Pelicans 4.71 Steve Ohnsmann - Great food; excellent choice of craft beers; free parking; nearby Broadway at the Beach; Splash and Slider; friendly welcoming staff; and Myrtle Beach combine to make TicketReturn.com Field an easy choice for your visit. It is one of the best in the minors. 2. Segra Park – Columbia Fireflies 4.14 David Welch - The Columbia Fireflies have done a wonderful job building an experience that offers fans what they want from a stadium; those wanting a more traditional baseball game have plenty of seats to choose from in the grandstand, whereas fans wanting to use the game as more of a social backdrop to their evening have both a considerable number of field level table boxes or the Bowtie Bar in center field. 3. Joseph P. Riley Park – Charlestown RiverDogs 4.14 Lloyd Brown - Baseball and the city of Charleston have shared a love affair for more than 100 years. Today their rendezvous spot is the Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Ballpark on the banks of the Ashley River. The Joe combines up-close seating with a huge concession menu and a history of sending players to the majors as its recipe for keeping this relationship alive and strong. 4. LoanMart Field – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4.14 Andrei Ojeda - The Quakes continues to be a leader in the California League circuit. Being located an hour from Downtown Los Angeles and its affiliation with the Dodgers benefits the Quakes greatly as evidenced by all the blue and white in the stands. 5. LECOM Park - Bradenton Marauders 4.14 Lloyd Brown - LECOM Park offers you a unique opportunity to check out a ballpark that has seen players like Willie Stargell, Babe Ruth, Henry Aaron, Bill Mazeroski, and Ted Williams play on its field. Its Spanish Colonial architecture, and the roof-protected shade over much of the grandstands all bring you back to baseball as it used to be. 6. Virginia Credit Union Stadium – Fredericksburg Nationals 4.00 Joseph Oakes - After enduring several years of playing in a “dump” in Woodbridge, the FredNats organization now has a beautiful, brand-new ballpark it can call its own and be proud of. A night out at the new Virginia Credit Union Ballpark Ballpark will be a great experience for many years to come! 7. Excite Ballpark – San Jose Giants 4.00 Chris Green - While many still call it Municipal Stadium, this ballpark continues to impress regardless of the name. A must-see for any Giants MLB fan, or baseball diehards in general, the San Jose Giants have cultivated an atmosphere that is among the best in baseball. Quaint, cozy, historic, and full of character, a visit to this home of Bay Area baseball will not go unrewarded. 8. SRP Park – Augusta Greenjackets 3.86 Lloyd Brown - SRP Park and the GreenJackets continue to generate buzz in the minor-league baseball community. The facility offers amenities that are not usually found in Low-Class A-level stadiums. These amenities include theatre-style seating, a 360-degree concourse, a top-of-the-line video board in the outfield, and terrific views of both the field and the Savannah River thanks to the TaxSlayer Terrace in right field. 9. BayCare Ballpark – Clearwater Threshers 3.86 Chris Green - While many may scoff at the Florida State League’s lack of general excitement among the team’s respective fan bases, the Clearwater Threshers stand to change that feeling. It is no mistake that this team is one of the most popular years in and year out, regardless of their record, in the league. 10. Atrium Health Ballpark – Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 3.71 David Berger - Coming soon will be loft apartments at the ballpark, which are sure to draw new residents to the downtown area who want a hip new place, with a view of the park and its off-day amenities. My guess is this area will be almost unrecognizable in five years, as growth and development draw more inhabitants who want the small town charm and a still very convenient pathway to the Charlotte Metro area. 11. Grainger Stadium – Down East Wood Ducks 3.71 Michael Rusignuolo - While in a small town and just delivering the basics on food, Grainger Stadium stands out in most other ways, especially delivering a family-friendly, cheap night of entertainment in a historic ballpark. 12. Lake Elsinore Diamond – Lake Elsinore Storm 3.71 Andrei Ojeda - One of the biggest draws to The Diamond is the ballpark’s aesthetic appeal along with its natural surroundings. Over the last several years seating capacity has decreased to create a more intimate and sociable ballpark experience. 13. Arthur W. Perdue Stadium – Delmarva Shorebirds 3.71 Richard Smith - Arthur W. Perdue Stadium is a great stadium and the Delmarva Shorebirds go out of their way to make the stadium a place where both the casual and hardcore baseball fans can be entertained and enjoy a quality game experience. 14. Banner Island Ballpark – Stockton Ports 3.71 Meg Minard - Banner Island Ballpark is an extremely fun ballpark. It provides a perfect minor league game day experience. Fans and staff are friendly and welcoming, it’s affordable, and it’s not overdone with extras as the ballgame takes center stage with clever, non-intrusive games and contests offered between innings. This is a pretty impressive place to watch a game. 15. Joker Merchant Stadium – Lakeland Flying Tigers 3.57 Chris Green - Publix Field at Joker Merchant Stadium is a beautiful facility thanks to its latest renovation, and the Flying Tigers are a team that tends to get lost in the shuffle of Florida’s bustling sports world, but is no less deserving of a visit. Easily one of the best facilities in the Florida State League, things are looking up for the Flying Tigers. 16. Clover Park – Port St. Lucie Mets 3.57 Meg Minard - Clover Park opened in 1988 and has gone by various names based on sponsorship, but it has always been the Met's home. The stadium holds 7,160 for spring training, but that number is greatly reduced for the Single-A St. Lucie Mets games as portions of the seating area are closed off in the summer. 17. Jackie Robinson Ballpark – Daytona Tortugas 3.43 Chris Green - The idea of a baseball team playing in a beach city in Florida seems about as idyllic as one can imagine, and the stadium surely lives up to the image. With great views from the seats, fans in Daytona are treated to a great experience on game day. 18. Hammond Stadium – Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 3.43 Chris Green - Talking about minor league baseball stadiums, purists look for the old and historic stadiums, while others look for the newest and shiniest facilities. Hammond Stadium may not initially fit either of these categories, having been built in 1991. However, a closer look reveals that the renovations in 2014-15 have completely transformed this once hum-drum facility into a beautiful, tropical oasis in southwest Florida. 19. Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium – Jupiter Hammerheads 3.43 Meg Minard - Roger Dean Stadium and the Jupiter Hammerheads provide an enjoyable game day experience at a reasonable price. With all the promotions and game day activities, families and fans of all ages should enjoy their time at a game. 20. Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium – Palm Beach Cardinals 3.43 Meg Minard - Taking in a game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium is a great option for families, large groups, and individual fans alike. If you want somewhere to get out and enjoy the beautiful Florida weather while watching some quality baseball, consider taking in a Palm Beach Cardinals game. 21. Salem Memorial Ballpark – Salem Red Sox 3.14 David Welch - Baseball stadiums are different than those of other sports, in that the natural surroundings play an important role in how memorable an experience a visit can be. The views at Carilion Clinic Field provided by the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains provide possibly the most impressive backdrop in all of the Carolina League. 22. TD Ballpark – Dunedin Blue Jays 3.14 Eric Hasman - TD Ballpark opened in 1990. It is the home of the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays and the spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays since 1977. The ballpark is built on the site of Grant Field, which was the original home of the Jays. The city of Dunedin and this location are the only home that the Blue Jays have ever had since their inception as a franchise in 1977. 23. Segra Stadium – Fayetteville Woodpeckers 3.00 Jared Goodman - While Segra Stadium is unique in some areas, overall it’s a pretty plain vanilla ballpark. The team does a good job of drawing fans and entertaining them on game day, but the high prices and distant parking options are bound to turn some folks away. Hopefully, the revitalization of downtown Fayetteville will keep fans engaged, and it will be exciting to see what the final product will be. 24. Chukchansi Park – Fresno Grizzlies 3.00 Meg Minard - Chukchansi is a Native American Indian tribe in central California, known for their beliefs in and advocating early learning and giving students the tools they need to succeed. This also includes continuing education of their historic culture. The tribe owns and operates the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino. That casino owns the naming rights to downtown Fresno’s Chukchansi Park. 25. San Manuel Stadium – Inland Empire 66ers 3.00 Meg Minard - Nothing special stands out about San Manuel Stadium. It does provide fabulous customer service and a decent game day experience. Go with family and friends on a Friday and get an inexpensive, enjoyable evening out. 26. The Bank of the James Stadium – Lynchburg Hillcats 3.00 Aaron Terry - The atmosphere can be somewhat laid back and down-home at the ballpark. A Hillcats game is comfortable and relaxing but not over the top in excitement or exuberance. That said, there are other parks nearby you could visit with bigger crowds and better amenities. But if you do find yourself at The Bank of the James Stadium for a game, you will certainly have a decent time. 27. John Thurman Field – Modesto Nuts 2.86 Meg Minard - The Modesto Nuts at John Thurman Field provides a traditional minor league baseball experience and families should take advantage. It’s pretty bare bones but the fans that attend do have a pleasant summer evening out. Here’s hoping more fans will stop by and enjoy a game in the future. 28. Five County Stadium – Carolina Mudcats 2.86 Gregory Koch - It seems like in North Carolina, there is a baseball stadium just about everywhere you look. Compared to many of those stadiums, Five County Stadium disappoints. Although it isn’t a terrible stadium by any means, it’s nowhere near as good as many other stadiums in the area, including in nearby Durham. 29. George M. Steinbrenner Stadium – Tampa Tarpons 2.71 Dennis Morrell - The stadium is a fortress – it exudes Yankees power, money, and status. Steinbrenner Field befits a team like the New York Yankees, yet the presence of their Single-A team in this cavernous building is almost an embarrassment. 30. Valley Strong Ballpark – Visalia Rawhide 2.57 Meg Minard - Valley Strong Ballpark is a stadium one will like because of its quirkiness and affordable prices or not like because of its accessibility and an unsafe neighborhood. It is in the ‘Gateway of Sequoia’ so if in town during the summer, consider checking out a game and let us know your thoughts.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium Stadium Dr Princeton, NJ 08540 Princeton Tigers website Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium website Year Opened: 2022 Capacity: 2,100 Dread Tiger Roberts Located on the campus of Princeton University, Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium is home to the Tigers' men's and women's soccer teams. Although a previous field also called Roberts Stadium had hosted Princeton soccer since 2008, the current iteration opened in 2022. The stadium's name honors two Princeton soccer alumni, former goalkeeper Thomas S. Roberts, who was the lead donor for the new stadium, and Robert H. Myslik, who died in 2003. Food & Beverage 4 There is one concession stand at Roberts Stadium, located on the east sideline. Options include usual items such as hot pretzels, hot dogs, popcorn, and pizza, as well as food you wouldn't expect to find at a stadium such as salads, grapes, and vegetarian sushi. Fountain soda (Coke products) is available, as is water in aluminum cans. Prices are affordable - most items are under $5 and everything is under $8. Atmosphere 4 Roberts Stadium provides the opportunity to watch a soccer game up close and personal. Bleachers surround the field on all four sides, but there are only a few rows, meaning everyone is close to the action. When the crowd is quiet (which isn't often), you will be able to hear all the shouting among players, coaches, and referees. As at most soccer games, the true atmosphere is created by fans, not the team, and Princeton fans can make it quite loud in here at times. Celebration music is played over the PA system after goals to get the crowd fired up, and it seems to do so effectively. Depending on the game, there may be various activities on the concourse before the match, whether for students, kids, or the general public. Princeton knows fans and atmosphere go hand in hand and does everything it can to get people to turn out. 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 4 Princeton does a good job drawing fans out to games at Roberts Stadium, with crowds ranging from several hundred to over a thousand fans. Considering the place only sits about 2.000, it can get fairly full. Although some of the fans are friends or family of the players, most of the crowd is locals or other Princeton fans with no personal connection to the team. This is not always the case in college soccer, so it is good to see the turnout. Princeton students typically sit on ledges behind the north goal, and while they can get rowdy, many of them leave early, which is disappointing. The remaining fans are also passionate about the Tigers, with many of them decked out in orange and black. It can get quite loud at times, particularly after goals, big saves, or other major moments in the game. Access 4 Free parking is available in the Stadium Drive Garage across 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, a women's restroom is located on the east side, and a men's room is on the west side. There is also a single-person gender-neutral bathroom on each side. The concourses are more than wide enough to accommodate the crowds as well. 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 2 Look for the plaques along the concourse honoring the history of Princeton soccer and the signs along the fence showing their NCAA Tournament appearances. Each of those is worthy of an extra star. Final Thoughts While most wouldn't consider Princeton to be a soccer school, the Tigers have a gorgeous new stadium and put a great deal of effort into the matchday experience. As a result, college soccer fans in the Northeast will want to check out Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 SECU Stadium 90 Stadium Dr. College Park, MD 20742 Maryland Terrapins football website SECU Stadium website Year Opened: 1950 Capacity: 51,802 Fear The Turtle The Maryland Terrapins play at SECU Stadium, formerly called Byrd Stadium; the name was changed by the Board of Regents in December 2015 to Maryland Stadium, as former coach and university president Harry Clifton “Curley” Byrd was a proponent of racial segregation. It was expected that the stadium’s name would be sold eventually, and most believed that Under Armour, founded by Maryland alumni Kevin Plank, would eventually have their name on the field. The sportswear manufacturer is already the main provider of athletic gear at the university. Instead, in 2022, the credit union known as SECU, signed a 10-year deal. The stadium opened in 1950 as a horseshoe-shaped bowl with a capacity of 34,680. In 1991, the five-story Tyser Tower added luxury suites and a larger press box. In 1995 an upper deck on the north side of the stadium was added. Various changes since have topped the seating capacity at 51,802. The University of Maryland has traditionally been known as a basketball school. The university has seen a great deal of basketball success under coaches such as Lefty Driesell and Gary Williams, even winning a national championship in 2002. The university has been playing football with some success since 1892 and received one official national championship in 1953. The 1951 team is generally seen as even better than the 1953 squad and has retroactively been considered the national champions by various systems such as the Sagarain Ranking System. Maryland has also been the home of many well-known coaches and players. Coaches include Jim Tatum, Lou Saban, Jerry Claiborne, Bobby Ross, Ralph Friedgen, Randy Edsall, and the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant. Famous players include Erin & E.J. Henderson, Stan Jones, Randy White, Dick Modzelewski, Torrey Smith, Vernon Davis, Stefon Diggs, and Boomer Esiason. Primarily the home to Terps football and lacrosse, Maryland Stadium has been the scene of a few other events. In 1957 Queen Elizabeth II was on hand to watch the team upset North Carolina while the USFL Baltimore Stars called the stadium home during their 1985 championship season. Seen from the upper deck of Maryland Stadium are the Washington Monument, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Old Post Office Pavilion, the Washington National Cathedral, and the United States Capitol. Food & Beverage 4 There are many concession stands found around all parts of the complex. Concession prices are in the normal range and are reasonable for such a large venue. Crab fries found behind sections 14 and 205 are the best nod to local culture, although the addition of the “The Chessie,” a large 24-ounce hot soft pretzel smothered in backfin crab dip and melted cheddar cheese, then topped with a dusting of Old Bay, is a pretty unique offering. It is designed to be shared between four people. This stand also features some other cool local novelties. Chick-fil-A offerings can be found behind the Tyser Tower, while Ledo's Pizza can be found behind sections 13, 20, and 205. Otherwise, traditional food offerings of hot dogs, fries, hamburgers, and pit beef are generally seen around the stadium. The best food option at Maryland Stadium is the Maryland Dairy Ice Cream behind sections 3, 20, and 208. The ice cream is made on campus. There is a stand under the main videoboard offering healthier options as well. Atmosphere 4 The stadium is very much an old-school football stadium. This can be bad in terms of the aging infrastructure, but it also provides a nice platform for fan interaction. The stadium is still at its heart the horseshoe-shaped stadium that opened in 1950. The large press and luxury suite tower looks tacked on awkwardly, as does the massive upper decks on the north side of the stadium. The closed-end part of the horseshoe is where the band and students sit. Unfortunately, they are not closer to the field action as they both provide a great deal of sound and excitement. The large open-air concourse is a great meeting spot pre- and postgame. There are nice videoboards at both ends of the stadium. Maryland’s marching band is called The Mighty Sound of Maryland and is one of the most entertaining marching bands in college football. Neighborhood 3 The neighborhood is a mixed bag. Maryland Stadium is in the middle of the campus so no businesses are directly nearby. The Terp Town area to the west of the stadium gives the fans entertainment and festivities to enjoy pregame. Also located nearby is the Stamp Union, where you will see many a fan enjoying a pregame meal or buying shirts at the campus bookstore. The Maryland Dairy Ice Cream store here is a nice place to go ahead of the game. The town of College Park is located directly south of the campus along U.S. Route 1. RJ Bentley’s Filling Station, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Jimmy John’s, Ledo’s Pizza, and Five Guys are all good options in this “downtown” area. Looney’s Pub is another great option and is located in The Varsity building (8150 Baltimore Ave) north of the downtown area and maybe even closer to the stadium if walking. The Hotel (yes, that is its name) is the best lodging choice and is within walking distance of the campus. You will always have the dizzying array of Washington DC options to choose from. The College Park Station of the Washington Metro is close by and is your best bet for getting to DC as the traffic and parking situation is not ideal. Fans 3 The student section at Maryland is noted for being loud and fairly rude. Expect to hear a few curse words during their chants. The students do enjoy the game and offers a festive atmosphere, although expect them to roll out in the second half. Other fans throughout the stadium do not always go to the same level as the students do. Fans in and near the Tyser Tower are pretty quiet. Overall the fans are passionate but may tend to be more the clap politely types. Access 2 The University of Maryland is not far from the Washington Beltway, but it is just far enough away that getting to the stadium is not too easy. U.S. 1 and University Boulevard are full of traffic lights and will be very full of traffic, even on non-game days. On-campus traffic is also a bit of a mess as a new Washington, DC light rail system is being constructed directly on the campus. The best bet is to pre-pay for a parking space through the university. The price tag seems way too high but at least you will know where you are going ahead of time. Pricing will range from $20 to $30, depending on the game and availability. A map of your space will be provided when you pre-purchase. The Terrapin Trail Garage is a personal favorite as it is relatively close to Maryland Stadium but still allows a quick way out of the area. The public garage in downtown College Park is always an option, as well. It is pretty well-priced, but a bit of a hike to the stadium. It will put you in a prime spot for postgame food and beverages. You will see some fans park for free on the sides of nearby University Boulevard, but this is not recommended. To do this you would need to get there very early and frankly, the road is too busy and dangerous to park there. If traveling to the game via the Washington Metro, get off at the College Park Station and take the shuttle directly to the stadium. Return on Investment 4 Tickets can be had for a good value, depending on the opponent. Expect to pay more for the larger well-known opponents of the Big Ten. Parking prices weigh down the rating as they are far too high for the location. Extras 4 One should go to the Maryland Dairy Ice Cream, whether inside the stadium or at the Stamp Union, during your visit. Look for their special offerings as they rotate and change frequently. As noted above, there is a location within the stadium offering a simplified menu. The main video board that sits behind the closed end of the horseshoe is pretty interesting. It is the standard scoreboard seen in many places, but since it sits in an open area it is a good meeting spot. The Terps enter the stadium under a large turtle shell. There is plenty of history of past Maryland teams scattered in various sections of the stadium. Final Thoughts SECU Stadium is a pretty basic college football stadium. The long-standing horseshoe seating bowl doesn’t always mesh with the rest of the stadium, but a fan will still find a game enjoyable.

On September 3, the city of Pawtucket held “The Final Inning” at McCoy Stadium, an event to give fans one last chance to visit the old ballpark before it is knocked down to make way for a new high school. The event featured food trucks, live music, and family activities throughout the day. As part of the Pawtucket Arts Festival, the day concluded with fireworks, which were a Labor Day tradition at the ballpark. About 3,000 people attended the party, reminiscing, sharing stories, and snapping photos. Sounds like a great way to say goodbye to a local institution, doesn’t it? But wait, there’s a twist in this tale. Billionaire real estate scion Stefan Soloviev has come forward to express his interest in buying and fixing McCoy Stadium. Soloviev is the chairman of the Soloviev Group and is worth $2.3 billion, per Forbes. He is the son of real estate tycoon Sheldon Solov, who passed away in 2020. Soloviev, who attended the University of Rhode Island, became interested in the property through his son Quentin. “I’m hopefully optimistic that I can pull this off,” he said. “It’s up to the people of Rhode Island at the end of the day, but on my end, I think I can take care of it.” Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien has publicly stated that saving McCoy Stadium is “off the table” because city voters overwhelmingly approved a $300 million bond measure to demolish the stadium to make way for a new high school. Pawtucket’s two high schools, William E. Tolman and Charles E. Shea were built in 1926 and 1938, respectively. In this writer’s opinion, Mr. Soloviev would be better served spending his money elsewhere. This may be a surprising opinion from someone who wrote “I Never Got To Say Goodbye.” However, times change, attitudes change, and opinions change. McCoy Stadium has been sitting idle, with little to no maintenance or upkeep, since 2019. A study done while it was still a functional ballpark estimated it would take upwards of $68 million to modernize and renovate the facility. That price has only gone up since then. In addition, affiliated minor league baseball will not be coming back to Pawtucket. Under MiLB’s territorial rules, Pawtucket (and neighboring Providence) fall under the territory of the Worcester Red Sox, since Worcester County and Providence County abut. No new team could relocate to McCoy Stadium without WooSox’ approval. That’s just not going to happen. That leaves independent ball or summer college ball as the only viable options. The New England League and Futures League both operate in the area, but neither of them could adequately fill a 10,000-seat ballpark. Two Indy Leagues, the Atlantic and Frontier Leagues, have footprints that could easily reach Rhode Island, but again, a 10,000-seat dinosaur of a park is just too big for those circuits. Soloviev believes he could get an independent team to move to McCoy. Soloviev has reportedly offered the city $1 million more than the appraised value of McCoy Stadium. Local baseball fans, including the grandniece of former Pawtucket Mayor Thomas P. McCoy (the stadium’s namesake), have launched online petitions, one of which is approaching 3,000 signatures. McCoy made her latest plea before the city council on September 6. In this author’s opinion, if Mr. Soloviev wants to sink millions of dollars into a Rhode Island ballpark, he’d be better served to build a new 5,000-seat park in Providence with all the modern amenities teams ask for today. The price tag would be similar. Also, the city of Pawtucket could use a modern High School to replace its two century-old buildings. Renovating McCoy Stadium is unlikely to attract a new team, and even less likely to host one that is successful. As much as McCoy is beloved in Rhode Island, it’s time to let go.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Warner Park 1625 Northport Dr Madison, WI 53704 Madison Mallards website Warner Park website Year Opened: 1982 Capacity: 6,750 Welcome to the Duck Pond The Madison Mallards have been providing their brand of baseball fun since 2001. The club has continuously led all summer collegiate baseball in average attendance figures and has upgraded its home ballpark Warner Field to improve the game day atmosphere. The venue, dubbed The Duck Pond, has become a destination for fans in Madison. Warner Park was built in 1982 for the Oakland A’s Class-A affiliate Madison Muskies. The team never averaged more than 2,000 fans a game but began to slide from 1987-1993. The following year Madison Hatters debuted by relocating after the season. The independent Madison Black Wolf came to call the park home from 1996-2000. The Mallards began operations in 2001 and have never looked back, with attendance records hovering over 6,000 fans per game. The team has also added various renovations that have included The Duck Blind in right field, The Backyard seating behind the left field, a souvenir shop, new concession stands, seating from Baltimore’s Camden Yards, and a VIP deck behind home plate. Food & Beverage 5 The Duck Pond has plenty of food and beverages to wet any fan’s whistle at the game. The main concession stands are located beyond the home plate grandstand and with a specialty price ticket in The Duck Blind. The Festival Food Grill stands are directly behind the grandstand and feature hot dogs, burgers, brats, cheese curds, and specialty brats. The Stellar burger is served on a cheese bun with blue cheese crumbles, bacon, charred jalapenos, and Carolina barbecue sauce. The specialty brat during our visit was a Jamaican jerk brat. There is also a black bean veggie burger offered at the concession stand. A few feet away are three unique stands built out of truck containers: Let’s Get Fried, Dinger Donuts, and I’d Smoke That. The three concession stands are identifiable by their colorful neon signs. Dinger Donuts offers powdered mini donuts served in a novelty helmet with a choice of toppings. Let’s Get Fried serves boneless chicken wings, cheese curds, fried chicken sandwiches, and fries. I’d Smoked That offers pulled pork and beef brisket sandwiches, half-rack of ribs, sides of mac and cheese, cornbread, cole slaw, and corn on the cob. The beer selection includes 21 varieties of both macro and micro brews and can be found behind the main grandstand and in The Duck Blind. The macro beers include Michelob Ultra, Bud Light, Labatt Blue, Blue Moon, and Busch Light. The micro beers are from Potosi, One Barrel Brewing Company, O’so, Vintage, Elysian, Bell’s, and Blake Hard Cider. Fans can order them by the pint, 32-ounce, or a 67-ounce Duck Foot Boot. Fans also enjoy BOGO on beers for an inning if the beer batter on the opposing team strikes out. Pepsi products are available for those who do not drink. Atmosphere 5 A Mallards game is advertised as a nine-inning vacation, and that begins in the left-field corner. Fans wait in line before the gates open and are greeted by the players and team mascot. They continue their walk towards the grandstand, passing by a kids’ play zone, concession stands, and local business table and tents. The main grandstand is decked out with a covered press box, VIP seating area, table-top seating from Camden Yards, and protective netting from foul pole to foul pole. A little further down the left-field corner is the Duck Blind, where specially-priced tickets allow fans inclusive food and beverage options. The triple deck area also features private suites, rooftop seating, and a field-level area directly behind right field where fans enjoy the game from repurposed seating. Behind the press box is an area where fans purchase food from the main concession areas with three new eateries: Dinger Donuts, I’d Smoked That, and Let’s Get Fried. You can purchase 21 drafts of beer from Short Hops next door. Fans looking to take it a little bit easy on game night can enjoy the game from the expanded grass seating area called The Backyard. The seats are near the scoreboard, lit up in green, and offer access to the ballpark for food and drink. Neighborhood 3 Warner Park is on the northeast side of town near Lake Mendota. It is inside a community park and across the street from a strip mall and Beef Butter BBQ. There are a few regional and national chain restaurants within a few miles of the ballpark. Downtown Madison is 5 miles south. Visitors can walk up and down State Street, a pedestrian-only sidewalk, and enjoy a few local college hangouts and small restaurants. State Street Brats is a popular location, and at certain times of the day, you can flip a coin to determine the price of your beer. Just a block away is the Memorial Union sightseers sit along Lake Mendota and watch the sunset along benches, colorful chairs, and from the various piers. There are small food stands selling food and drink to enjoy the sunset in the distance across the lake. It is recommended to relish this summertime tradition in Madison. Visitors can bike and enjoy walking trails around the lake or hop on a kayak or boat during the warm summer months. The Capitol Observation Deck offers fantastic views of the lake and the city. The Madison Night Market showcases handmade products, gifts, and live music. Maxwell Street Days is a street festival in July offering sidewalk sales. Madison Forward FC plays their home matches at Breese-Stevens Field just north of downtown to frenzy crowds in the historic venue. The USL League One season overlaps the Mallards season from June through August. Fans 5 The Mallards fans are among the best in all of baseball. They continue to pack the Duck Pond with 6,000-plus or more fans each game. The fan's dedication is observed, with many tailgating in the parking lot before the game and several more waiting in line to be the first to walk through the gates. Access 4 Warner Park was constructed when there was nothing much but the metal grandstand. The Mallards have built around it and have freed up much-needed space behind the main concession area. There are two entrances at both ends of right and left field, a middle concourse in the seating bowl, and plenty of signage to direct fans to their seats and other sections of the ballpark. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices to Mallards games are very affordable. The lowest price tickets in section 608, or only $6.08. Ticket prices increase to $10 for seating in the backyard, $13 for terrace seating, $15 for dugout seats, and $18 for scout seats. Duck Blind tickets are $26 or $38 from Sunday to Wednesday and $38 and $45 from Thursday to Saturday, depending on whether you're drinking beer or soda. There is no charge for parking, concession prices are somewhat affordable, and souvenir prices are in line with minor league clubs across the country. The team offers promotional nights from Bark on the Park Wednesdays to Mark in the Park, where anyone named Mark can participate in a pre-game parade. Click the link for more information. Extras 4 The Duck Blind might have been the first all-you-can-eat-and-drink section in baseball. It is now common throughout the game, but the party section in the right field corner is still impressive with its brat of the game and selection of local craft beer. Players greet fans at the main entrance in the left-field corner of the ballpark. Fans then enjoy a stroll down a carnival-like trail filled with mascots, tents, a kids' play area, and local businesses hocking prizes. This is how you should greet your fans. The Mallards have taken an old erector set of a ballpark discarded by the minor and independent leagues and turned it into the place to be for the summertime in Madison. The Ducks have added many touches: neon signs for concession stands, a refurbished souvenir shop, and various spots to enjoy the game. The staff is welcoming, friendly, and accommodating. If there are questions, a Mallards representative is not far away. Also, they will be on the lookout for anyone who has trouble finding a seat or looking for a specific spot. Final Thoughts The Madison Mallards might be the OG's of packing in exciting crowds in summer collegiate baseball. Before the Savannah Bananas brought record numbers to their ballpark, the Mallards were among the leaders in baseball in average attendance numbers at Warner Park. This last trip did not disappoint, and The Pond is still one of the best experiences a fan can have in not just the Northwoods League but all of baseball during the summer months. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 SHI Stadium 1 Scarlet Knight Way Piscataway, NJ 08854 Rutgers Scarlet Knights website SHI Stadium website Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 52,454 The Birthplace of College Football Rutgers University has a long and storied history of college football. The first college football game in history was played at what was then called Rutgers College on November 6, 1869, as Rutgers defeated Princeton 6-4 in a game that more closely resembled soccer than modern-day football. Today, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights call SHI Stadium home. The stadium opened in 1994 and replaced the previous stadium on the same spot. Food & Beverage 5 There is a wide range of concession options available at SHI Stadium. You will find classic options such as hot dogs, burgers, and pizza (the latter disappointingly being from Pizza Hut despite being in a state known for its pizza), as well as more unusual options such as tacos, cookies, and of course, New Jersey's famous pork roll sandwich. For those not in the know, pork roll is a processed meat that is then grilled or fried before being served on the sandwich. Some in North Jersey call it "Taylor ham" instead. Alcohol is also available for sale at SHI Stadium. When Stadium Journey visited, alcohol sales did not begin until an hour after the gates opened. However, none of the staff seemed to know if it was a permanent thing or just a quirk of New Jersey's infamous blue laws clashing with a rare Sunday game before the NFL season started. If the options in the stadium were all there was, this category would still score highly, but would perhaps not earn the top score. However, there are more options outside the stadium before the gates open, which we will discuss in the next section. Atmosphere 4 The fun at a Rutgers football game starts before the gates even open. Four hours before kickoff, and two hours before gates open, the Rutgers Boardwalk opens along Scarlet Knight Way. This boardwalk has all the fun of one down the Jersey Shore, except that there is no beach to speak of. Local food trucks are parked along the side of the boardwalk, offering everything from brownies and ice cream to chicken wings, tornado potatoes (essentially a crispy potato kebab), and much, much more. The band and cheerleaders provide live music and entertainment, and there are also bounce houses, carnival rides, and pony rides for the kids. All of the attractions are free of charge except for the food. Once you get in the stadium, the fun continues, even before kickoff. Airplanes fly overhead before the game carrying behind them banners supporting the Scarlet Knights. The marching band performs a lengthy pregame show, and the knight mascot rides out onto the field on his horse. The band plays at halftime as well as during other breaks in the action. Rutgers will also take time during media timeouts to honor football alumni or others in the athletic department. When we visited, basketball coach Steve Pikiell gave away a big-screen TV to one lucky fan during a timeout, although of course, the specific promotions will vary by game. After each Rutgers score, the team fires off a cannon in celebration. Neighborhood 5 Piscataway is a sleepy college town in northern New Jersey and you will find a few options here such as Henry’s Diner near the basketball arena and some of the best pizza places in the country. No reason to get Pizza Hut or Papa John’s here (unless you're stuck in the stadium and have the former forced upon you), it’s far better to pick up a real Jersey slice. Fans may also be interested in grabbing a Fat Sandwich from R U Hungry at the corner of Hamilton Street and College Avenue in New Brunswick. While the grease trucks serving these legendary sandwiches once dotted Rutgers’ College Avenue campus and they were thought of as the school’s quintessential food, most of these trucks have been shut down as the university constructed new buildings, relocated the trucks, and ultimately declined to renew their permits. R U Hungry, which was the original fat sandwich vendor, now serves them out of a more traditional storefront location. Fat sandwiches consist of sub rolls topped with seemingly random combinations of toppings. The original Fat Cat has a double cheeseburger, lettuce, tomato, French fries, mayo, and ketchup, and the combinations just get weirder from there. For example, the Fat Elvis comes with gyro meat, mozzarella sticks, lettuce, tomato, French fries, and white sauce, certainly a bizarre combination. There are many others with fun names such as the Fat Darrell, the Fat Koko, and at least one whose name violates the editorial standards of this website. As you can probably guess by the name, these sandwiches are loaded with calories and are not for the faint of heart (figuratively or literally.) Fans 4 Rutgers may not sell out the stadium every home game, but they usually at least come close. Rutgers fans come decked out in scarlet and cheer on the team to victory. They are a loud and boisterous bunch who know their football. Rutgers is proud to be the birthplace of the game, and the fans carry on that legacy to this day. While the stands may not be full, the team averages almost 50,000 fans in a stadium that seats close to 53,000. Rutgers fans have several chants and traditions that are worth mentioning here. The rationale for the "R-U" chant should be obvious - it is the school's initials. Before every third down by the opposing offense, fans will hold three fingers in the air and make as much noise as possible, urging the defense to get a stop. Access 3 Just getting to the Rutgers campus can be confusing. For starters, “the” Rutgers campus is misleading as Rutgers University has five separate campuses in Piscataway and New Brunswick – College Avenue, Busch, Livingston, Cook, and Douglass. (These should not be confused with the two regional campuses in Camden and Newark, which are completely separate institutions.) SHI Stadium is located on the Busch campus, but that may not be where you end up driving. The lots closest to the stadium are reserved for season ticket holders, donors, and anyone who picks up a parking pass on the secondary market. Everyone else can buy a parking pass for $25 to park in the lots adjacent to Jersey Mike's Arena, home of Rutgers basketball, on the Livingston campus. A free shuttle bus takes fans to the stadium from there. Once inside the stadium, the concourses are extremely narrow and congested, which would not be out of place at an older stadium, but SHI Stadium is less than 30 years old so this seems like a major architectural flaw. Restrooms are larger and should be sufficient for even the largest crowds. Return on Investment 4 Like many teams, Rutgers utilizes a dynamic pricing model, so how much you will pay depends on who the Scarlet Knights are playing that day. For a non-conference game against a weak opponent, tickets will start at around $24 and even the most expensive seat is only about $45. For a game against a major Big Ten school like Ohio State, tickets could be two to three times that. Concessions are reasonably affordable, and while parking is pricey, it is on par with what you will pay at many other schools. Considering the experience here at Rutgers, this is a pretty good value. Extras 3 One star for the history here at Rutgers. Being the birthplace of college football is an extra, and the team will constantly remind you of that. A second star for the cannon that goes off whenever Rutgers scores. It is quite loud. A third and final star for the pregame Rutgers Boardwalk. It is a fantastic pregame experience. Final Thoughts While some may not think of Piscataway as a college football town, it is and has been since literally the very beginning of the game. Fans can arrive early and enjoy the Rutgers Boardwalk for two hours before gates even open, and have a full day of football and fun at SHI Stadium.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 McAlister Field House 171 Moultrie St Charleston, SC 29409 The Citadel Bulldogs website McAlister Field House website Year Opened: 1939 Capacity: 6,000 Bulldogs Shooting Baskets The Citadel is the Military College of South Carolina, and it was established in 1842. It has a student body of 3,400 men and women. The campus is in the Hampton Park neighborhood on the western side of Charleston. The Citadel has a beautiful campus setting along the shores of the Ashley River. Tours of the campus are well worth your time. McAlister Field House serves as the base for Bulldogs basketball. It was originally named the Citadel Armory but was renamed in honor of Colonel David McAlister, Class of 1924. Colonel McAlister served the school in several posts spanning several decades. The Field House was built in 1939 and can hold 6,000 fans in its basketball configuration. Basketball has been played at the school since 1901. The facility has gone through several renovations over the years. Among the improvements made to the arena are the installation of a new scoreboard in 2014 and the addition of chairback seating for outside ticket holders in 2020. Food & Beverage 2 Charleston is known as a foodie paradise, and the Citadel does not try to compete with the fine dining spots found downtown. There is a lone concession stand located in the front lobby, and it offers a barebones menu of snacks and beverages. Pepsi brand sodas are $3, water is $1, hot dogs cost $3, popcorn is $5, and the candy is $2. Atmosphere 3 The setting for Citadel’s basketball games is rather spartan. Three sides of the seating bowl are pull-out bleachers, with the remaining side featuring very nice stadium seating. This section serves the alumni, public ticket purchases, and major donors. Cadets sit at each end of the court where they love to hassle the opponents with good-natured barbs and cheer loudly for their fellow unit and platoon members. The Citadel mascot Spike the Bulldog is there to lead the cheers and a regimental band plays tunes during breaks in the action. The Citadel has a wonderful video/scoreboard over midcourt, as it has carved bulldog heads on each corner at the base of the board. There is no team store in the arena. The Citadel Bookstore is nearby and stays open later when there is a basketball game. It carries a full line of Bulldogs spirit items. One of the nice elements of attending a game at a service academy is the respect for school and country by the student body and the general fanbase. This is certainly true at The Citadel. During the National Anthem, both the cadet corps and most of the alumni stand ramrod straight and salute the flag. At the conclusion of a game, win or lose, no one leaves a game until the school alma mater is played. The team, the Corp of the cadets, and the fans all stand together and sing along. It is a moving tradition. Neighborhood 5 Charleston has been one of the top tourist destinations in the US for many years. It is known for its beautiful homes, numerous historical sites, and its fine cuisine. People flock to the city each spring to take in the beautiful gardens that fill the backyards of many homes in the city. History buffs can travel to Fort Sumter in Charleston’s harbor or learn about the importance of the city as a key supply port for the Confederate Army. The cannons which fired on the Union forces in the fort were manned by Citadel students, as they had artillery training. A large percentage of visitors come to Charleston to sample the work of the many famous chefs who have set up shop in one of the many old homes in the city. Nearly every week is marked by a festival or a special event that is open to the public. Fans 4 The fanbase at Citadel home games is made up of the Corp of cadets at the school and Citadel alumni. The cadets fill each of the end lines along the court, which places them in a prime location to disrupt the opposition’s free throw attempts and scoring opportunities. The proximity of the cadets to the court also allows the home team to feed off the energy created by their fellow soldiers. The cadets also use their competitive nature in the many contests that are held at halftime and during breaks in the action. The Citadel alumni play an active role in the school long after they graduate. As a military school, The Citadel offers a lifetime bond between those who have graduated from the school and those who are presently enrolled at the institution. Alumni often serve as mentors for current cadets and are incredibly involved in the everyday workings of the school. Many of Charleston’s civic leaders are graduates of The Citadel. Alumni of the school are easy to identify at games, as they tend to sport polo or Oxford shirts in the school colors and with The Citadel crest prominently displayed. Access 4 There is plenty of parking on campus, so no one walks more than the equivalent of a block to get inside the Field House. Return on Investment 4 Attending a game at the McAlister Field House will not burn a hole in your pocket. Tickets run from $8-$12 based on your location in the stands. All of the seats are chairbacks if you are sitting in sections 1-6. The concession offerings at the Field House are sparse but inexpensive. Fans can park free anywhere on The Citadel campus that is not marked as reserved. Your main expense would be for lodging, and it would be wise to book your room as early as possible as many conventions and shows are held in the city each year, and can book the local hotels solid. If you fly in, the only time you will need a car is when you depart the airport for downtown Charleston or you want to travel the River Road that takes you to the many plantations that line the Ashley River. We suggest you utilize a ride share service and save the expense of a rental car and parking fees at the hotel. Charleston is a very walkable town, and there are various trolleys and busses available if you get tired. Extras 4 McAlister Field House is also used by the wrestling and volleyball programs. The biggest game of the year is the contest with VMI. They are The Citadel’s biggest rival. The game is always a sellout, and there is an elaborate military ceremony before the game. Pat Conroy, author of such bestsellers as The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline, and The Prince of Tides, played basketball at The Citadel in the 1960s. He is honored at McAlister Field House with a banner. Many of his novels were based on his time at the school. One extra goes to the respect shown for the country, the school, and your opponent at each Citadel Bulldogs game. Final Thoughts Attending an athletic contest at any service-related school is always a memorable experience and attending a basketball game at The Citadel is no different. The cadets who play in this program qualify as sharpshooters both on and off the court, as the Bulldogs have one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the country each season. Games at The Citadel also offer a great deal of pageantry and tradition, both before and after each contest.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.14 Ellen Vagelos C'90 Field 3331 River Fields Dr Philadelphia, PA 08105 Penn Quakers website Ellen Vagelos C'90 Field website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 500 The Might of the Penn Tucked into the River Fields Complex between I-76 and the railroad tracks, you can find Ellen Vagelos C'90 Field, home of the University of Pennsylvania's field hockey team. The complex is located on the bank of the Schuylkill River and also includes Meiklejohn Stadium, home of the Quakers' baseball team, and Rhodes Field, home of the soccer program. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at Vagelos Field. Fans are free to bring in their own, except for alcohol. Atmosphere 2 Vagelos Field is located in an unusual urban setting. The Philadelphia skyline is visible behind the goal and cars zoom by on I-76 behind the bleachers. Inside the stadium, there are six rows of bleacher seating, all of which are extremely close to the action, so close that when they water the field before the game, fans will get wet if they do not move. Some do so, while others, especially kids, seem to enjoy the mist. All the seats are under the shade of some trees, which is nice early in the season when it's hot out, but can be less so later on, particularly as the leaves start falling. As is typically the case at college field hockey, there is not much going on other than the game itself. The PA announcer will announce substitutions, goals, and cards, but that is about it. There is a scoreboard in the far corner of the stadium that shows shots, saves, and penalty corners in addition to the score and clock. It also shows a short hype video before the game. Neighborhood 5 Vagelos Field is located in a park next to several other Penn athletic venues in the University City Neighborhood of Philadelphia. Within a short walk, you can find numerous restaurants ranging from pizza to burgers to chicken to bars, and much more. Most of this can be found north of the stadium, as the university hospital is located directly to the south. The Schuylkill River is directly to the east, but there are plenty of options as you head west along the streets as well. The New Deck Tavern is one favorite, as are the White Dog Café and highly rated Mexican restaurant Cucina Zapata. Fans 2 The crowd at Penn Field hockey games consists mostly of friends and family of the players, although a few other Quaker fans sometimes make it out. When Stadium Journey visited, there were several hundred fans in attendance, but most of them were there to support the other team. Those fans who are there to support Penn are fairly passionate, but there simply aren't that many of them. Access 2 Vagelos Field is located in the River Fields Complex and finding it can be tricky if you are not using a GPS. Even if you are using one, it can be unclear where to park. On weekends or weekdays after 2:30, the lots in the River Fields Complex are open to the public. It will cost $4 per hour, up to $13 for the whole day. For weekday games where you will be arriving before 2:30, those lots are permitted only. Some fans seemed to be able to park there without issue, while others were told they couldn't. To be safe, we suggest parking in the Penn Museum Garage, about a ten-minute walk if you head down South Street and walk down a lengthy staircase behind the Hollenback Center (and back up the multiple flights after the game), or a 20-minute walk if you take the long way around to avoid the steps. Parking here will cost $18 for the whole day. The Penn Medicine Station on SEPTA commuter rail is also an option, as the station entrance is across from the Museum Garage. There are restrooms located in a trailer by the entrance, but they are single person and there is only one men's room and two women's rooms, so the lines can get long at times. Return on Investment 2 Admission to Penn field hockey games is free, but you will have to pay quite a bit of money for parking. It is the latter aspect that brings this score down significantly. It is the middle of a major city, so it is understandable why they have to charge so much but to pay up to $18 for a pretty basic experience is not the best value. Extras 2 Free programs are available in a box by the entrance to the bleachers. A second star for the unique setting, with views of the Philadelphia skyline, cars whizzing by on the freeway behind the stands, and freight trains coming by on the elevated tracks beyond the far sideline. Final Thoughts College field hockey is usually a pretty simple experience, and that seems to be even more true at Penn than in most other places. The home crowds are often outdrawn by visiting fans and parking is expensive, but Vagelos Field may still be worth checking out, if only for the unusual location.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Alerus Center 1200 42nd St S Grand Forks, ND 58201 North Dakota Football website Alerus Center website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 13,500 Fighting Hawks Fly North The University of North Dakota was founded in 1883. Today it has a student body of 24,000 students and offers more than 250 degree programs. It is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The University of North Dakota has been playing football on the Great Plains since 1894. Over those years, it has won 26 conference championships, played in the NCAA postseason playoffs 18 times, and won the Division II National Championship in 2001. Its highest national ranking at the end of a season in Division I has been #12. In recent years, the team played in the Big Sky Conference, moving to the Missouri Valley Conference in 2018. The two rivalry games for the team are the in-state rivalry with the powerhouse North Dakota State Bison and the in-conference rivalry with South Dakota State University. The University of North Dakota teams were known as the Fighting Sioux through 2012. At that time, the NCAA mandated that the Sioux name be dropped, as they felt it was insulting to the Indian tribe. In 2015 the team adopted the moniker of the Fighting Hawks. The home of the Fighting Hawks is the indoor arena at the Alerus Center. The facility holds 12,283 for football, including 19 suites, 8 concession stands, and 4 merchandise stands. The Center opened in 2001, and recently replaced the artificial turf and upgraded its two 15’ x 30’ Hi-Def video boards. It is located just off the University of North Dakota campus, with excellent access to both US HWY 12 and I-29. Food & Beverage 4 Eight concession stands are serving the food and beverage needs of the crowd. They are positioned equally around the concourse surrounding the field. Four of these stands serve the stadium standards of hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, candy, and sodas. The other stands feature more specialized menus. La Taqueria serves south-of-the-border fare, including tacos, nachos, and burritos. The 42nd Street grill serves sandwiches and several deli foods. Local favorite Deek’s Pizza offers a variety of pizzas, wings, and their wonderful cinnamon donuts. Pub 42 is known for its delicious prime rib sandwiches, wings, and burgers. All stands operate on a cashless basis. The Alerus Center features Coca-Cola brand sodas. Beer is sold through the end of the third quarter of the game. There is a limit of two beers per person and you must show your ID. Atmosphere 3 University of North Dakota home games are festive occasions in Grand Forks. The party begins hours before the game, as the tailgate lots open five hours before kickoff, and tailgates can get underway more than 2 ½ hours before the game. Fighting Hawks fans are known for their lavish tailgate spreads and welcome visitors to join them. In addition to the food, the Michelob Ultra Tailgate Village is full of entertainment options and activities for the kids. The North Dakota team walk goes through the tailgate area as the players make their way into the Alerus Center. Upon entering the Alerus Center, many fans head to one of the four merchandise stands to get the latest in Fighting Hawks gear. The seating bowl area is a testament to the great history of North Dakota football, as banners above it salute the 26 championship seasons the team has enjoyed. During the pregame ceremonies, the Pride of the North Marching Band plays, and the UND dance and cheer teams fire up the crowd. The seating bowl at the Alerus Center is close to the action, as space is a premium in an indoor facility. The stadium features extremely comfortable seatbacks and aisles that are easy to negotiate. Neighborhood 3 The city of Grand Forks, ND is located 72 miles north of Fargo, ND, and 145 miles south of Winnipeg, MB via I-29. Once in the city, you will find it quite easy to navigate, with plenty of attractions, hotels, and restaurants to choose from. It is the second-largest city in North Dakota. There are two hotels within walking distance of the Alerus Center. The Canad Inn Destination Centre is a resort, complete with an indoor waterpark. It is located adjacent to the arena. The Staybridge Suites Grand Forks is located across South 42nd Street from the Alerus Center. Red Pepper has been a dining favorite in the city for more than 40 years. It offers grinder sandwiches and a wide variety of Mexican dishes. The Granite City Grill offers a wide selection of craft beers. Fans 4 The fan base at Fighting Hawks games is made up of townspeople, alumni, and members of the UND student body. Townspeople see UND home games as the biggest special event and the biggest show in town. Even if they never went to college, they are intense fans of the team in green. The alumni are also incredibly supportive of the program. They typically are the major donors to the program, and typically they serve as officers in the booster club for the athletic programs. The student section at Fighting Hawks games is known as the NoDak Nation. They are easy to identify by their bright green attire and their volume in the indoor environment of the Alerus. The noise level generated inside the facility can be ear-splitting. The students are assisted in creating the higher decibel level by the Pride of the North Marching Band. The Fighting Hawk mascot also does its part to confuse the visiting team. The Alerus Center is a tough place to play for visiting teams. The Fighting Hawks own a record of 104-29 in games played in the Alerus Center. Much of this has to do with the volume of noise from the fans disrupting their communications. Access 3 The Alerus Center is easily accessible from the north and the south on I-29 and the east and the west on US HWY 2. Visitors from outside the area may choose to fly in through Grand Forks International Airport (GFK). Several airlines provide service to Grand Forks through the MSP Airport in the Twin Cities. There are 4,000 parking spaces at the Alerus Center. The parking lot opens two hours before kickoff. The lot offers reserved parking for season ticket holders and is first come/first served after that. The doors to the Alerus Center open one hour before kickoff. There are seven entrances to the venue. Return on Investment 3 Attending a North Dakota Fighting Hawks game will not cause your money to fly away in large amounts. Tickets start at $25 adult/$12 youth for seats in the end sections and run up to $30 adult/$12 Youth for seats in the end sections. Students at the university attend the games free of charge, as it is built into the activity fee. Parking is $15, and the concession prices are quite reasonable. The lodging costs are much less than you would find in a larger city, as Grand Forks simply is not a convention town. Extras 4 Free digital programs for each game are found on the Fighting Hawks app. The Ralph Englestad Arena is a few blocks from the Alerus Center. It is the home of the University of North Dakota ice hockey program and is widely recognized as the finest college hockey arena in the country. The Sioux Tradition Museum is also located at the arena. It is well worth a visit, even if there is not a hockey game scheduled for that day. Guided tours are available. The Alerus Center is the main concert venue in Grand Forks. It has hosted concerts for the Backstreet Boys, Fleetwood Mac, Kenny Chesney, Hank Williams, Jr., Alice Cooper, the Eagles, Luke Bryan, and many more. Over the years, the winner of the two rivalry games on the Fighting Hawks schedule took home some unique trophies. The Buffalo Nickel Trophy goes to the winner of the UND- NDSU game. In the past, the winner of the UND-USD game took home the Sitting Bull Trophy. This trophy presentation was discontinued as it was seen as being insulting to the tribes of the Great Plains. Five additional suites were added at the Alerus Center just before the 2023 season, bringing the total to 19. All the suites at the venue have been renovated during the off-season. Final Thoughts The Fighting Hawks of the University of North Dakota are one breed of bird that does not fly south for the winter. They prefer to nest with their fans in the warmth of the Alerus Center. The facility offers great football on the field, while also servicing the food and beverage needs of the fans. It may be cold and wintry outside, but inside of this building green is the predominant color on the field and in the stands.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Goodman Stadium 124 Goodman Dr Bethlehem, PA 18015 Lehigh Mountain Hawks website Goodman Stadium website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 16,000 Football Stars in Bethlehem Nestled in the town of Bethlehem in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, Goodman Stadium is home to the Lehigh Mountain Hawks football team. The Mountain Hawks compete in the Patriot League in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as Division I-AA. Lehigh's biggest rival is Lafayette, who plays 17 miles away in Easton. The game, known simply as The Rivalry, has been played 158 times going back to 1884 and has been played every season since 1897. It is both the most played and longest uninterrupted rivalry in college football. Food & Beverage 5 While there are a couple of concession windows at Goodman Stadium that sell the basics - hot dogs, beverages, and little else, the real attraction here is the food trucks and tents set up on the concourse by local vendors. You will find numerous options here, including quesadillas, cheesesteaks, barbecue, pizza, and much more. Prices are a bit on the high end but you get what you pay for, as the food is quite good. Soft drinks and bottled water are also available at pretty much any stand. Keep in mind that although gates will open 90 minutes before the game, most concession stands do not start selling until an hour before. Plan accordingly. Atmosphere 3 There is seating along both sidelines at Goodman Stadium, as well as a hill behind the south end zone that some fans like to sit on. The inner concourse runs down the middle of the seating area, and fans can walk up or down depending on where they are sitting. There are a few chairbacks on the west side, but most seats are standard bleachers. Given how small the stadium is, anywhere you sit will have a decent view of the action. Lehigh has a marching band called the Marching '97, about the number of members. They perform before the game and at halftime, concluding the latter show with the playing of the Lehigh alma mater, which fans are invited to sing along with. They also play sometimes during breaks in the action, although often recorded music will be played instead, or the team will honor alumni and members of the community during extended breaks in the action. Neighborhood 3 Bethlehem is not the largest town, but there is still plenty to do here. If you head north from campus, you will find many restaurants and other attractions along both sides of the Lehigh River. Seven Sirens and Bonn Place are two popular breweries on the south side of the river, and there are other options to choose from as well, ranging from Peruvian to Italian to typical American food. Bethlehem has the feel of a small college town, so while there is plenty to do here, it's far from the excitement of a major city. Fans 2 Although Goodman Stadium seats 16,000, they will not come close to selling out most games, typically drawing only a few thousand fans. Even those who show up rarely get loud, to the point where you can hear the players shouting on the field from many rows back. Not only that, they take their time at their tailgates before heading in, so the stadium does not reach its eventual capacity until near the end of the first quarter. The one exception to this is The Rivalry against Lafayette, where boisterous, sellout crowds are a given. Lehigh fans are passionate about the game against Lafayette, but less so about the other games on the calendar. Access 3 Getting to the Lehigh campus will require some driving on back roads no matter where you are coming from, but at least you can enjoy the scenery as you drive through the country. Once on campus, parking is at the lots surrounding Stabler Arena, home to Lehigh basketball. From there, fans will walk across a grass field to get to the stadium - this will take about five to ten minutes depending on where precisely you parked. The stadium may not be visible from all spaces but just follow the crowd. As mentioned above, Lehigh fans often don't make their way to the stadium until close to kickoff, so there can be long lines to get in at this time. If you want to be in your seat for the start of the game, don't wait until the last minute to head in. Getting around the stadium can be a challenge, as the concourses are narrow and crowded, particularly the inner one used to access the seating bowl itself. Return on Investment 4 For most home games, tickets range from $10 to $19, depending on how close to midfield you want to sit. For the Lafayette game, all tickets are $28.50 due to significantly increased demand. Concessions from local vendors are fairly expensive, but worth the cost. Parking in the lots is free as well. In the end, a Lehigh football game is a pretty good value, and getting tickets to the Lafayette game may be worth the extra cost in years when Lehigh hosts. Extras 3 There is a bell on the Lehigh sideline which is rung after every Mountain Hawks score, once for every point they have scored. There is a team store by the entrance selling Lehigh merchandise. A third and final star for the wide selection of food from local vendors, which is a nice touch. Final Thoughts The history of the Lehigh-Lafayette rivalry is unmatched, and the passion of Mountain Hawk fans for that one game is nearly so. Unfortunately, the team failed to get nearly as much support the rest of the season. If you have a chance to check out The Rivalry, definitely do so, but if the schedule doesn't work for you, a Lehigh football game can still be a decent experience in a scenic setting.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Clarence T. Ching Athletics Complex 1105 Lower Campus Rd Honolulu, HI 96822 Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors website Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex website Year Opened: 2015 Capacity: 15,000 Ohana Means Football Family A decade and a half removed from their magical undefeated 2007 regular season, Hawaii Football often goes unnoticed on the national stage during the weekly college football landscape. Falling into the same trap as a traveling sports fan would be an incredible mistake. Perhaps no other game day experience captures the true feeling of family, the connection to the local culture, and the enthusiasm that college sports can create than that you’ll experience at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. Located on the campus of the University of Hawaii Manoa, this growing facility has quickly morphed from a track-and-field facility to a respectable football facility in short order. Food & Beverage 5 If you’re looking for a local flavor instead of stadium basics, Hawaii football is going to be your promised land. A myriad of local vendors and food trucks pack into the east end zone and offer nearly every type of food possible. Local grilled meats, snow cones, grilled seafood, fresh fruit and veggies, Asian fusion, sushi, and so much more are available for fans to choose from on game day. Beer and drink concessions are also located around the stadium, ranging from $9 to $12 for a beer; even snack and soda vending machines are available outside of the Ewa end zone entrances. If you leave this stadium hungry, that is simply a problem of your creation. Atmosphere 5 There is so much more to the game day experience at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex than meets the eye. An expanded seating capacity for 2023 has grown the seating here to accommodate 15,000 fans, an increase that will only grow as time progresses with the school’s continued investment in the facility. In a perfect mix of old and new, the former video scoreboard from the team’s former home, Aloha Stadium, has been relocated to the stadium, paying homage to the Rainbow Warriors’ past. Additionally, new green-backed seating along the sidelines adds to the green color palate seen in the team’s aesthetic. While pre-game tailgating is not allowed at the nearby parking lots and garages, the Hawaii athletics department has an impressively solid alternative. Hours before the game starts, the team opens up access to nearby Les Murakami Stadium (the Warriors’ baseball stadium), complete with open concessions stands, a team store, kids bounce houses, and various sponsor activations. Live music from local artists is performed on a stage set up on the baseball field for fans to enjoy until the football stadium gates open up. For Hawaii, cultural traditions run deep within the game day experience. Did you feel a light rain on your face while walking into the stadium? That is a good omen! Hawaii fans welcome the periodic light mist that wafts off the nearby Koolau Mountain range as a sacred good omen that washes away bad luck and cleans the air. When the team runs onto the field, they’re led by tribal drummers and torch-carrying warriors chanting to lead the players to glory. At various locations around the field, sacred ti leaf leis have been placed to bless the field, players, and fans for the coming season. These leis are not to be touched out of respect for what they represent. You also will hear the “Chee hoo!” yell over the PA system whenever the ‘Bows get a first down, a yell that is called back by the fans. Finally, at the start of the game, both the National Anthem and the Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī are performed on the field, honoring Hawaii’s heritage, in addition to its history as a US territory. Neighborhood 4 The stadium itself is located on the University of Hawaii campus, located just north of the popular Waikiki Beach area of Honolulu. Just a few miles from campus are the world-famous sandy beaches that have attracted visitors for hundreds of years. You’re also not far from local restaurants, as well as chain favorites and hotels. To the east is Diamond Head State Monument, a popular hiking site, and beyond that are iconic shorelines of rocky cliffs. Fans 5 The fans pack into Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex for each Hawaii home game, and with them, they bring a fervor and loyalty for their ‘Bows that many would believe was reserved for teams in much larger conferences on the mainland. Hawaii fans are hardcore, knowing all the players as well as the team’s long history. On game day, many can be seen holding gathered ti leaves, sometimes waving or shaking them in the air. This is meant to ward off evil spirits and enemies. If you wish to join them, local flower shops often sell ti leaves, as taking them off of plants not at your own house is frowned upon in Hawaiian culture. Many fans have been coming to games since they were kids, and now bring their kids. And speaking of which, Hawaii games are the perfect family affair – fans of all ages can be spotted in the stadium. The student section located in the Diamond Head end zone is also alive with loud cheering fans all game long. And don’t let the small capacity for its crowd fool you; this stadium gets loud during big-time plays. Access 3 The parking at Hawaii football games is arguably the biggest struggle for game day experiences. The nearby Kalele Road Garage and UH Guest Parking Garage offer the best and closest options. Entry off nearby Dole Street or Kalele Road makes for easy in-and-out access. Both of these are located right off of the H1 Highway, making for easy driving if you’re staying nearby, or farther away. Once at the stadium, fans can easily access the entire perimeter of the stadium via walkways and pathways both around and under the grandstands. Return on Investment 5 Tickets start at $20 for end zone seats and go up to $95 for 50-yard line seats. Coupling this with several free parking lots in the area, as well as the affordability of various food options, makes this a stellar value for the price paid. You also get some of the best views in all of college football. Hawaii’s iconic sunsets show off when the sun drops below the iconic dome of the Stan Sheriff Center. Off to the east, the stunning peak of Diamond Head rises in the distance above the palm trees swaying in the breeze. To the north, stark mountains filled with tropical misty forests serve as a verdant backdrop. Extras 3 The stadium features stunning views from practically every seat, including views of the video screens. Two different screens are in place, including the recently installed scoreboard from Aloha Stadium. The facility is also close to the rest of Hawaii’s sports facilities, including the baseball, softball, tennis, and basketball stadiums. Finally, thanks to the frequent mist that falls from the nearby mountain ranges, rainbows frequently appear over the stadium during games, a fitting sight for the home of the Rainbow Warriors. Final Thoughts Though nearly every stadium in the FBS division of college football features a larger capacity for its home crowds, this is by far one of the best stadium experiences in the NCAA. Perhaps no stadium features 360-degree views that are all stunning in their way. The fan base is among the most loyal in sports, showing their ability to cheer on their athletes regardless of record or score on the field. The concessions showcase the best local cuisine available. Without a doubt, no team is as connected and active in respecting the traditions of the local culture as Hawaii football. This is the biggest Ohana you don’t realize you’re a member of until you arrive through the gates.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Dunkin’ Park 1214 Main St. Hartford, CT 06103 Hartford Yard Goats website Dunkin’ Park website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 6,121 The GOAT of Minor League Ballparks? Dunkin' Park is sporting a new, streamlined name to reflect the change in branding of their corporate naming rights sponsor for the 2023 season. The saga of the building of Dunkin’ Park is an interesting one that has been told in detail on this website. In short, when the franchise announced it was leaving New Britain for Hartford, a contractor was hired who had much local experience, but who had never built a sports facility before. Design plans changed and changed again, construction lagged , and a battle between the city and the contractor ensued. Eventually, construction was stopped, the contractor was fired, and a new company was hired to finish the job. While all this was happening, the Yard Goats were forced to play their entire 2016 season on the road. The new ballpark opened in the 2017 to rave reviews and hasn’t looked back. You may be asking yourself, “What exactly is a Yard Goat?” Well, a yard goat is a railroad term for the switch engines or terminal tractors that move railroad cars between different locomotives. This name was chosen from among over 6,000 Name the Team submissions. Since Dunkin’ Park is located adjacent to the Hartford Rail Yards, this nickname makes sense. It also easily lends itself to the use of animal imagery, which the team uses masterfully in its logo, merchandise, and presentation. The team’s primary blue and green colors are a nod to the Hartford Whalers, which called the XL Center, located just a few blocks from the ballpark, home. 2023 will be the sixth season in Hartford for the franchise, which dates back to 1965. Over the years, the franchise has called Waconah Park in Pittsfield, MA, McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, RI, Muzzy Field in Bristol, CT, and Beehive Field and New Britain Stadium in New Britain, CT home. That doesn’t even count the 2016 season, which was spent entirely on the road due to construction delays at Dunkin’ Park. During the franchise’s long history in the Eastern League, it has won five championships, most recently in 2001. Food & Beverage 5 As is the case with most new ballparks built today, concessions are a major focus here at Dunkin’ Donuts Park. All the ballpark standards can be found at the various concession stands and portable carts. Fans looking for something a bit different may want to try the chicken and waffle bites or burgers featuring goat cheese. Many items can be combined with chips and a soda to create a combo meal and save a few dollars. Coca-Cola products are featured at Dunkin’ Donuts Park. The longest concession lines at Dunkin’ Donuts Park are at Bear’s BBQ, which has been moved from its traditional left field spot to a new location behind the batter's eye. Lines are as long as ever for their popular brisket and pulled pork sandwiches. Chowder from local favorite the U.S.S. Chowder Pot is sold at the Dark Blues Diner concession stand. Of course, Dunkin’ Donuts runs a concession stand here, where fans can purchase various pastries and Dunkin’s famous iced coffees. Bacon-wrapped Munchkins are sold at the Screaming Goat concession stand and fried chicken sandwiches featuring donuts as buns are sold at the Dark Blue Diner. The craft beer game is strong at Dunkin’ Donuts Park. In addition to your standard national brews, local favorites City Steam Brewery and Thomas Hooker are sold throughout the ballpark. City Steam’s Naughty Nurse is a favorite of Stadium Journey. The Alvarium Beer Hive in the right field features beers brewed in nearby New Britain. In addition, beers from Kona Brewing (HI) and Lawson Brewery (VT) are among the many craft beers featured throughout the ballpark. Atmosphere 5 The best way to describe the game day experience at a Yard Goats game is “organized chaos.” Activities are going on in virtually every nook and cranny of the ballpark, and the compact footprint here ensures that you’ll be able to take in every single one of them. Greeting fans as they enter the ballpark is an oversized photo of the original Hartford Eastern League entry, the 1946 Hartford Chiefs. Underneath, the day’s Yard Goat lineup is well, lined up with giant player photos. The video board in left field, complete with an extra-extra large Dunkin' coffee cup on top, dominates the presentation and is put to good use throughout the game with stats, videos, and other promotions. The Goat Pen, which features live goats, is a popular destination for not only the younger fans in attendance but all fans. The Yard Goats employ a pair of mascots, Chompers and Chew Chew, who roam the park interacting with fans and participating in promotions. Neighborhood 4 Hartford is dissected by a pair of interstates, I-84 and I-91, which meet right at the banks of the Connecticut River a long fly ball’s distance from the ballpark. Downtown Hartford, the state capital, the XL Center, and virtually all of Hartford’s skyscrapers, restaurants, and tourist attractions are located to the southwest of this intersection. Dunkin’ Park is located on the other side of I-84 in an underdeveloped parcel of land in a long-neglected neighborhood. The ballpark is to be the centerpiece of a larger development plan called Downtown North (DoNo). Housing, retail space, restaurants, a brewery, and a supermarket are all part of the master plan for the site. The area is starting to develop, as an apartment complex has been completed across Trumbull Street from the park. While the restaurants and hotels of downtown Hartford are only a few blocks from Dunkin’ Park, Interstate 84 serves as a physical and psychological barrier separating the ballpark from the downtown region. Downtown Hartford has long suffered from a poor reputation, which keeps many fans from exploring the area. This is unfortunate, as downtown Hartford is a safe area that features a great many restaurants and points of interest worth checking out before or after a Yard Goats game. A detailed map of downtown Hartford’s dining and lodging options can be found here. Fans 5 Yard Goat fans have made this one of the toughest tickets in the area. It is recommended that you purchase tickets in advance if heading to Hartford, particularly for weekend games. Even with an affiliation with the distant Colorado Rockies, many dedicated Goat fans are knowledgeable about their team. The Yard Goats annually rank at or near the top of the Eastern League attendance listings. As is the case at most minor league games, a Yard Goats crowd is a mix of serious baseball fans, casual fans out for a night on the town, and families. There’s a serious buzz all around Dunkin’ Park. Access 4 Dunkin’ Park is located at the intersections of Interstates 91 and 84 a stone’s throw from downtown Hartford. Traffic in the area can be heavy, so give yourself adequate time to arrive at the ballpark. Most fans will drive to Dunkin’ Park, where parking is available in several surface lots and parking garages within a short walk of the ballpark. For fans wishing to search for it, on-street parking is available on the streets of downtown, but the convenience of the lots trumps these spots. Fans using public transportation will arrive at Union Station, a half mile from the ballpark. Detailed parking and transit information can be found here. The main entrance to Dunkin’ Park is located in the right field. Fans will enter into a narrow 360-degree concourse that can be quite cramped when there is a big crowd in attendance (this is most nights, BTW). The concourse contains views of the field from most spots, but it does dive in and out of sight in the outfield. Unfortunately, there is precious little standing room available, as reserved bar stools take up residence atop much of the seating bowl. The seating bowl in this bandbox of a ballpark is small and features fantastic sight lines no matter where you sit. Stadium Journey recommends the upper-level seats in right field, where you are a mere 305 feet from home plate. It’s a rare combination of outfield seats that feel right on top of the action and distant from the crush of the crowd. Be warned, the ball comes at you out here in a hurry. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Yard Goats games range in price from $23 for swivel top bar seats to $11 for left field grandstand seats. Purchasing tickets in advance will save you three dollars. Active members of the military receive an additional two-dollar discount. Tickets in the Hartford Terrace sections cost $23 and include access to the club level. Parking in the lots and garages near Dunkin’ Park costs five dollars. There is some on-street parking downtown but pay attention to when meters are in operation. Be prepared for a bit of sticker shock when purchasing concessions, particularly at the craft beer stands. A large beer will cost you $14.25. Overall, ballpark standards are priced in line with other venues in the area, but specialty items can get a bit pricey. Extras 4 A pair of extra points are awarded for the awesome tongue in cheek way the team has used its unique name to promote itself, through varied merchandise and outstanding social media channels. The goat theme runs throughout the ballpark, too, with goat-themed menu items, concession stands (i.e. The Screaming Goat), and even live goats in attendance on Sunday afternoons. Historic banners located throughout Dunkin’ Park earn an extra point. A giant team photo of the Hartford Chiefs greets fans as they enter the ballpark in right field. Plaques detailing Hartford’s baseball history along with other notable Hartford sports teams line the concourse. Concession stands such as The Dark Blues Diner and Huck’s Hot Corner give a nod to Hartford’s baseball past. While it has become a cliché in Connecticut to tie a sports team in with the long-departed Hartford Whalers, the Yard Goats deserve an extra point for their efforts. From the blue and green color scheme to the hockey-style jerseys and alternate logos used for “Whalers Weekend,” the baseball team pays homage to the city’s last Major League franchise. A great tidbit of trivia: Dunkin’ Park opened twenty years to the day of the Whalers’ final game. Final Thoughts It feels like a lot of new ballparks attract big crowds for a few years until interest fades and attendance settles in at a lower baseline. Dunkin’ Park seems to be bucking that trend as they play their sixth season in downtown Hartford, with crowds that continue to increase every year. Complaints about the long road to building the ballpark have disappeared as Connecticut baseball fans enjoy one of the best ballparks in all of the minor leagues. ----- Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI

Photos by Lloyd Rothwell, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Funko Field at Everett Memorial Stadium 3900 Broadway Everett, WA 98201 Everett AquaSox website Funko Field website Year Opened: 1984 Capacity: 3,682 Fun at Funko The Everett AquaSox are the High-A minor league affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The club had its genesis as a Giants farm team but became the AquaSox in 1995 when they joined up with the Mariners. They currently compete in the Northwest League. Everett Memorial Stadium opened in 1947, with the ballpark renamed Funko Field in 2019 following a naming rights deal with the well-known local pop culture collectable company headquartered in the city. The stadium is owned by the Everett School District and has a capacity of 3,682. In recent years there has been talk of a new ballpark in Everett, however funding and plans have not yet been confirmed. Everett is located 25 miles north of Seattle in Snohomish County. The city is also home to the Silvertips junior hockey team who play out of Angel of the Winds Arena, which is also likely to host the rumored Arena Football League franchise should it eventuate. Everett has a long history as a centre of aviation. While Boeing moved their corporate HQ from the Pacific Northwest to Chicago in 2018, they maintain a strong presence in the Seattle metro area. The Boeing Everett Factory, the largest building in the world by volume, is located at Paine Field which currently produces the 777 and 737 commercial airliners. Food & Beverage 3 The concessions can be found on the concourse behind home plate. There’s a good selection of ballpark staples and specialty items including hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, chowder bowls, pizza, ice cream, and snacks. Expect queues during well-attended games, but otherwise the food is reasonably priced and of good quality. We enjoyed the pulled pork during our visit. There’s a solid selection of alcoholic beverages covering both mass-produced domestic and local craft breweries. Atmosphere 4 The ballpark is in a largely residential area, but the view from the ballpark is of mountain ranges to the east. Several renovations over recent decades have updated both the playing surface and spectator facilities. There’s a charming manual scoreboard beyond right field, and a video board reportedly amongst the newest in the league in center field. The atmosphere is fun and family friendly, with a very active game-day host always willing to liven things up in between innings. The main grandstand offers reserved seating behind home plate and along the first and third baselines. There are also general admission areas further down the baselines and a grassed home run porch in right field. Kids will love the play zone behind first. The team mascot is known as Webby. Neighborhood 3 The ballpark is about a mile from downtown Everett. The neighborhood immediately adjacent to the stadium is largely residential. There are some chain restaurants nearby. Closer to downtown check out Scuttlebutt Brewing Co while recommendations further afield include Anthony’s HomePort, Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and Irish Pub, Middleton Brewing, The Irishmen, and Blazing Onion Burgers. While, sadly, Boeing no longer conducts factory tours, aviation enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy the Future of Flight Aviation Center. Paine Field also features a Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum. Hours are limited to be sure to check before you visit. Families should also consider the Imagine Children’s Museum which has a large range of interactive exhibits relevant to the local area along with some great play areas. Hotels close by include Courtyard by Marriott, Hampton Inn, Travelodge, and Best Western. Of course, Seattle is easily within reach by car and offers a huge range of accommodation, restaurants, and tourist attractions – and of course the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Fans 3 The AquaSox are a solid draw, with average crowds estimated by various sources as around 2,000. The locals support their team well and have a great time doing so. There’s lots of families in attendance. Access 4 Funko Field is easily accessible by car. The I-5 is less than a mile from the ballpark. Take exit 192 toward Broadway. The South Parking lot is free of charge, but if you miss out there, there is additional parking for a small fee at the office lot (3802 Broadway). Try the King Country Metro if you prefer public transit. However, if you are visiting Seattle, it’s quite a lengthy and time-consuming trip north. The nearest Amtrak station is about 1 mile away downtown. Moving around the ballpark is as you would expect for a small stadium. Bathrooms are satisfactory. Return on Investment 5 With single game general admission tickets starting at $10 and Diamond Club at $22, the AquaSox represent an excellent value. There are great promotions throughout the season, and with reasonably priced food and beverage, and cheap parking, there’s no reason not to attend Funko Field if the opportunity arises. Extras 4 The AquaSox have a fun range of merch, players are happy to sign autographs after the game, and there’s a plaque beyond left field marking the spot where Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr’s first professional home run landed on June 17th, 1987. Final Thoughts Fun and affordable, entertaining baseball. Visitors to the Pacific Northwest should definitely add this ballpark to their travel itinerary.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium 1396 Stadium Road Brookings, SD 57006 South Dakota State Jackrabbits website Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium website Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 19,340 The Jackrabbits’ Burrow on the Great Plains South Dakota State University (SDSU) is a land grant university founded in 1881. It is located in Brookings, SD. The school offers more than 220 majors and is most famous for its work in the agricultural field. More than 11,000 students attend SDSU. The athletic teams at SDSU are known as the Jackrabbits. The football program at SDSU got underway in 1889 and has played in every season since, except for the war years of 1918 and 1943. The current team plays at the FCS level of competition as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The team has been a powerhouse in the FCS under Coach John Stiegelmeier, as it has gone to the FCS playoffs 12 times and has gone to the playoffs for eleven consecutive seasons as of 2023. In 2022 the Jackrabbits won the FCS National Championship with a victory over North Dakota State University. Coach Steigelmeier retired after the 2022 season. The home of the Jackrabbits is the 19,340-seat Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. Dana J. Dykhouse is a former player for SDSU who made a major donation towards the stadium’s construction. The stadium replaced Coughlin-Alumni Stadium, which served the Jackrabbits for more than 50 years. The on-campus stadium opened in time for the 2016 season. Since moving into Dykhouse Stadium the Jackrabbits have a record of 71-22. Food & Beverage 3 The opening of Dykhouse Stadium has enhanced the food and beverage program at SDSU. There are now 56 points of sale in the six concession stands spread equally around the stadium. The concession stands are staffed by volunteers from local community organizations who get a portion of the stand’s proceeds to fund their missions. The stands offer your typical stadium standards of hot dogs, hamburgers, tacos, popcorn, and sodas. Beer can be sold inside the stadium. All persons wishing to purchase beer must show proof of age and receive a wristband upon entering the stadium before they will be served. Sales of beer are cut off at the end of the third quarter. Atmosphere 4 Jackrabbit fans and visitors alike are raving about the sightlines and amenities at Dykhouse Stadium. Most of the seats in the venue are seatback seating. The exception to this is the bleacher seating found at the south end of the stadium. This section is used for the SDSU student section, as well as The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band. Special amenities at Dykhouse Stadium include 150 loge seats that are protected from the elements, as well as 27 suites that can hold 15-20 people each. Other improvements include a soy-based turf field, a greatly expanded press box, and the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex behind the north end zone. This facility houses locker rooms, coach's offices, training facilities, and an indoor practice facility. By far the most obvious improvement in the fan experience is the 3,100 square-foot LED video board atop the south stands. The video board was built by Daktronics, whose world headquarters is just down the street from SDSU. The stadium also utilizes the yellow and blue school colors of SDSU throughout the venue, creating even more school spirit than a plain steel structure. Neighborhood 3 The immediate neighborhood surrounding Dykhouse Stadium is the SDSU campus. If the weather is nice, it is a beautiful campus with stunning architecture and lots of trees. One on-campus spot we heartily recommend is the SDSU Dairy Bar. It offers more than 100 ice cream flavors. The cookies and cream flavor was invented by the SDSU dairy program! The campus is in Brookings, SD, which is located 55 miles north of Sioux Falls, SD (which is the closest airport with commercial air traffic). It is just west of I-29 in the eastern portion of the state. It is a small town with lots of mom-and-pop stores. Most of the lodging in the Brookings area is concentrated at the I-29 interchange. However, the Comfort Suites University is located adjacent to the campus. We have several recommendations as far as restaurants and bars in the area. If you are on a budget or have kids with you, head to Nick’s Hamburgers in downtown Brookings. They’ve been in business since 1929 and offer a tasty burger with their special seasoning. After you’ve finished your burger, try one of their thick shakes or a slice of their delicious pies. For a more sophisticated meal, head to the Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge, which has been around since 1949. There are also two brewhouses in Brookings. Eponymous Brewing Company and Wooden Legs Brewing Company offer a variety of craft beers. There are several interesting attractions in Brookings. McCrory Gardens is adjacent to the SDSU campus and offers 25 acres of gardens and a 45-acre arboretum. The Agricultural Heritage Museum features the history of farming in South Dakota and has some great displays of farm equipment from past eras. Fans 4 The Jackrabbits have one of the most “rabbit” fanbases in the Missouri Valley Conference. The spirit groups at the school do a great job of getting the fans fired up for the game. The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band plays a great selection of music along with the fight song that is played after each Jackrabbit score. The student body is seated to the left and the right of the band and is known as the Rabbit Den. Many choose to wear a uniform of striped bib jeans featuring the school colors. They can get very creative with their cheers. Another aspect of the fan base at SDSU is the tailgaters. They arrive as early as five hours before kickoff to set up some impressive spreads of food. They also do a masterful job of decorating their tailgate in the school colors. One of the most cherished traditions for the tailgates is the Jackrabbit Team Walk before the game. This procession includes the cheerleaders and The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band. Access 4 It is relatively easy to get to Dykhouse Stadium from I-29. Take the US 29 exit off I-29 and head west on Sixth Street (US 29). Turn right onto Jackrabbit Avenue. Parking is available at the roundabout located at the intersection of Jackrabbit Avenue and University Boulevard. These are general public parking spaces, and they charge $10 in cash to park. The other lots are used by the season ticket holders or for the RV’s that travel to SDSU games. Once you head over to the stadium from your car, there are five large gates to the venue. Gates open 90 minutes before the kickoff, leaving you plenty of time to get to your seats. You will find the concourses to be much wider than they have been in the past, and signage to get you to your seats is excellent. Return on Investment 5 Attending a Jackrabbits game at Dykhouse Stadium will not burn a hole in your pocket. Tickets, food purchases, and parking are all quite reasonably priced when compared with other stadiums at the same level of competition. Single-game tickets for Jackrabbit games are surprisingly low priced considering SDSU’s success in the FCS playoffs in recent years. Ticket prices begin at $17 (seats along the goal line and in the 200 level of the stadium), then go up to $22 (seats along the 20's) and top out at $32 (seats along the 50-yard line. The concessions at Dykhouse Stadium are also very reasonably priced, as they compare favorably to the prices you would find at a grocery store. Parking at SDSU games is $10 cash. Extras 3 The Jackrabbits have sent more than 50 players on to play in professional football. Among the more familiar names are NFL Hall of Famer Jim Langer, Pete Retzlaff, Steve Heiden, Dallas Goedert and Adam Vinatieri. The Jackrabbits have several rivalry games each season against some of their regional opponents. The game against the University of South Dakota is part of the Showdown Series in which the schools compete in all sports, with the school with the most athletic wins in meetings between the schools winning the trophy for the next year. The Beef Bowl recognizes the Beef Industry as a major contributor to the South Dakota economy. There is a BBQ before the game, and a live steer is auctioned off during the halftime activities. The game against North Dakota State is the Dakota Marker game, with the winner taking home the Marker trophy for the next year. The Homecoming game is known as Hobo Day. It has been an SDSU tradition since 1912. Male students are encouraged not to shave in the week before the game so that they have a scruffy appearance and women are urged to let their hair go wild. At halftime, a Hobo King and Queen are chosen. Final Thoughts Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium at South Dakota State University provides a very enjoyable environment in which to enjoy a Jackrabbits football game. The stadium is relatively new compared with many of the other Missouri Valley Conference schools. The pregame experience gets you off to a great start, with some awesome tailgating. Once inside you’ll be able to keep up with the game with the assistance of the massive videoboard atop the end zone. Best of all, it will not cost you an arm and a leg to enjoy the game….so hop to it.

Photos by Lloyd Brown & Marc Viquez Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Climate Pledge Arena 334 1st Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109 Seattle Kraken website Climate Pledge Arena website Year Opened: 1962 / 2021 Capacity: 17,100 Seattle’s New “Green House” When the NHL expansion Seattle Kraken takes to the ice their uniforms are multiple shades of blue. However, their new Seattle home is decidedly “ green.” The Climate Pledge Arena stands in the footprint of the former Key Arena, with the roof being the only portion of the former arena being preserved. The Climate Pledge portion of the new arena’s name does not represent a corporate sponsor purchasing naming rights to the facility, though Amazon did purchase the rights, choosing to make a statement rather than publicize itself. It does represent a commitment by the privately funded arena’s owners to create the first carbon net-zero certified arena in the world. Virtually every aspect of the arena’s operation will play a part in reaching this environmental goal. One of the first ways the arena approached the reconstruction of the former Key Arena (built in 1962) structure was to retain its roof. This reduced the need to produce new steel for the structure. Secondly, the roof will play a major part in capturing the frequent rain in Seattle and transferring it to underground cisterns. In turn that captured water is converted into the playing surface for the Kraken. The secondary reason for the retention of the original roof is that it qualifies the building as a National Register of Historic Places site, as the roof was the same one used for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. The preservation of the roof and its sharply pitched eaves presents one major drawback for this venue. Seats in the 200 level on the Puget Sound or western side of the building are faced with an obstructed view. This is due to the press box being designed as a bridge-like structure that hangs down into the viewing field for fans in the 200 level for the length of the rink on that side of the venue. The playing surface is visible, but only the base of the two video boards can be seen from the upper deck. Climate Pledge Arena holds 17,100 in its NHL capacity. Energy to power the arena comes from a nearby solar farm…. Even the Zamboni operates on electricity. No fossil fuels are used in the generation of any of the energy. The arena is “green” in more ways than one. Real plants such as ferns line the walls while nearby portals will have images featuring nature scenes such as waterways, mountains, and woodlands projected onto the walls. This brings nature inside creating a much nicer and less sterile environment than is found in most sports venues. Food & Beverage 5 The food and beverage offerings at Climate Pledge Arena also play a significant role in reducing waste and the carbon imprint of the venue. Seventy-five percent of the ingredients are sourced from within a 300-mile radius of the arena. This reduces the carbon produced by long-haul trucking. The craft beers and wines are also sourced from local farms and wineries. The seafood used in the kitchen meets Sustainable Seafood Watch Ratings. Coffee is purchased through the Rainforest Alliance and is Fair Trade certified by the USDA. Excess food is donated to area homeless shelters or is sent to be composted and the concession stands have done away with individual use plastic containers Seattle has long been known as a “foodie” city, drawing offerings from diverse cultures. As a port city, it draws much of its food from the sea. Among the restaurants and concession stands that service the arena are local favorites Ballard’s Pizza, Din Tai Fung, the Metropolitan Grill, Elliott’s Oyster House, Lil Woody’s Burgers, and Shakes and Just Poke. Four concessions utilize scanning technology that allows customers to shop and pay for their items without dealing with a line. When an item is removed from a shelf sets off a sensor. The fan will then go to a checkout area at the front of the store to have their palmprint scanned. Their palmprint will have a credit card identified to it, as users will have pre-registered this information into the system. Stores utilizing this system include Starbucks, Lil’ Woody’s Burgers, Big Chicken, and 14 Islands from Saint Michelle. The cost of food is quite high at Climate Pledge Arena due to its policy of ordering all ingredients within a three-hundred-mile radius of the arena. This, in turn, drives the price of food beyond a regular sports facility’s normal price range. A sampling of locally sourced food offerings includes Bristol Bay Alaskan Pride which offers Wild Alaska Cod Fish and chips ($16), Grilled sockeye Street Tacos ($15), and clamor Bering Sea Wild Alaska Cod chowder for $9. Seattle’s Mercer Street offers bacon mac and cheese ($16.50), regular mac and cheese ($14), and pulled pork sandwiches ($14). The Pacific Northwest is known for its large number of craft breweries and they are well represented at the PNW Crafts stand. Brews include Manny’s Pale Ale, Mac and Jack’s Amber, Tropic Haze IPA, Lush IPA, Kraken Hazy Pale Ale, Squeezy Rider IPA, and West Coast IPA, all of which cost $15. Beverages run from coffee ($10), bottled water ($7), tea ($8) and Pepsi brand sodas are $8. Snacks include peanuts, popcorn, and candy, which all sell for $6. Most national beers run $12 for domestic beers and $13 for premium beers. Atmosphere 5 The population of Seattle played a key role in the choice of Seattle as an expansion franchise. More than 32,000 people bought either partial season packages or season tickets before the announcement of the team’s arrival was confirmed. The expansion draft enthused the population as much as an NFL Draft. The naming of the franchise also created great interest throughout the city, as more than 100,000 people voted for the eventual winner, the Kraken. The Kraken fits right in with the lore of a city with a long maritime heritage. The Kraken is a mythical giant octopus who lives in Puget Sound and has magic powers. The team has incorporated the octopus into a stylized blue S logo with a single red eye staring out for you. Sales of Kraken merchandise are flying off the shelves at NHL arenas across the country just because it is such a cool logo. The full hockey uniforms are many shades of blue with the chest plate area featuring the stylized “S”. Neighborhood 5 Climate Pledge Arena is located within the Seattle Center, home of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Its neighbors include the iconic Space Needle, which has a revolving rooftop restaurant, as well as the glass artistry found at the Chihuly Garden and Glass, or the musical artistry found at the futuristic Museum of Pop Culture (also known as the Experience Music Project). The monorail system comes through the museum on its way to its final stop at the Space Needle. The area around the Seattle Center offers hotels and motels at a wide variety of rates. Any of these lodgings would be within walking distance of the Climate Pledge Arena. One place you will want to check out either before or after the game is The Angry Beaver Pub. It is the only pub in Seattle that is strictly devoted to hockey. The Angry Beaver has been in business since 2012 and has a large following amongst Kraken fans. They have some terrific hockey memorabilia on the walls. Fans 5 In many expansion cities, it takes fans a while to learn the game and the players. Seattle has a very educated fan base, as the city has had the Seattle Thunderbirds team playing in Kent, a Seattle suburb, and the Vancouver Canucks are located just up I-5 about two hours from Seattle, and Seattle fans have been making weekend trips to Vancouver to catch a game or two for years. Another example of Kraken fever is the fact that the team was able to sell more than 25,000 ticket packages in 10 minutes. This occurred before the NHL had even granted an expansion team to the city. Aside from hockey, fans in the Pacific Northwest are traditionally great environmentalists. They treasure the clean waters, the clear views of the surrounding mountains, and the fresh air they breathe. They are more than buying into a new NHL franchise, they also wholeheartedly buy into what the Climate Pledge Arena is trying to do. Access 4 To be honest, Seattle has some of the worst car traffic in the country. Part of this is geographical, as the city is bordered by a body of water to both its east and west, with I-5 running through the middle of town. The good side of this is that Seattle and its citizens use public transportation every day and see no stigma about using it. Sound Transit offers an excellent light rail service that runs from the SeaTac Airport to the University of Washington campus. Riders going to a Kraken game would simply exit at the Seattle Center Station and cross the street to the monorail system. The monorail runs directly to the Seattle Center, where it is a leisurely walk over to the Climate Pledge Arena. Your game ticket allows you free rides to and from the game on the public transportation system. Bikers can also make their way to the new arena where the management has bike valets to check in and watch your bike while you enjoy the game. For those who still want to drive, there are three main parking garages nearby. They are located on 5th Avenue, Mercer Street, and First Avenue North. Each garage has electric vehicle charging stations. Return on Investment 3 Kraken games, especially in their first season, are not pocketbook-friendly. For instance, when the team was seeking pre-orders for tickets as an indication of the city’s interest in having a franchise, it received more than 32,000 season applications on part-season deposits from more than 32,000 fans. With a rink that holds just over 17,000, demand exceeded supply, resulting in higher-priced tickets for a visiting fan trying to purchase a single-game ticket. On the secondary ticket market, the prices for a Kraken game often exceed $140 for a fifth-level seat. Seattle’s emphasis on farm-to-table food at its concession stands also drives up the concession prices. Extras 4 Seattle won a Stanley Cup before the inception of the Kraken. In 1917 the Seattle Metropolitans defeated the Montreal Canadians to win the Stanley Cup. Ironically, Seattle was competing for a second Stanley Cup in 1919, when the series was canceled…. due to the breakout of the Spanish Flu pandemic. The Kraken has one of the most diverse front offices in the NHL, as Everett Fitzhugh is the first African American to serve as the team’s main TV/radio announcer. The team has also hired the first female head of scouting in the league. The Kraken will share the Climate Pledge Arena with the WNBA Seattle Storm, which has won several championships. City leaders are hopeful that the NBA will once again award the city with another NBA franchise to replace the Seattle Supersonics, who left town over a decade ago, to become the Oklahoma City Thunder. Final Thoughts The Climate Pledge Arena is much more than just the newest rink in the NHL. It is an experiment in using the most current “smart” technologies to minimize (hopefully to zero) the carbon footprint the facility leaves after each event it hosts. Minimizing the carbon footprint can also serve to minimize operating costs, leaving more money to be invested in the team. Hopefully, Climate Pledge Arena will usher in a new generation of sports facilities built not just to create a wow factor, but also one where the environment receives major consideration. Then our entire planet becomes a winner.

Photos by Joseph Oakes, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Dail Soccer Field 2495 Cates Avenue Raleigh, NC 27606 North Carolina State Wolfpack website Dail Soccer Field website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 3,000 Home of Wolfpack Soccer Dail Soccer Field has a capacity of 3,000 and is the home of the NC State men’s and women’s soccer teams. The stadium was built in 2008 in the heart of NC State’s campus. In 2011, Dail Soccer Field received several upgrades including seat back chairs in certain sections and bleachers behind the goals. A new brick façade was also added, as well as a press box, a new fan entrance, and a free-standing locker room and team meeting building in the southeast corner of the stadium. Food & Beverage 4 Dail Soccer Stadium offers a good, not great, concession variety to get you by if you are hungry. Choices include hot dogs, soft pretzels, popcorn, peanuts, cracker jacks, sunflower seeds, and candy. Howling Cow ice cream, which is produced at the NC State dairy is also offered. NC State is a Coke school. Bottled Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Coke Zero, Powerade, and water are available. Atmosphere 3 The majority of the seating at Dail Soccer Field is in a bricked-in grandstand along the sidelines where you enter the gate. There is a concourse that runs above the seating. The four sections of seats around mid-field are chairback, and the remaining are bench seats. There are also two sections of bleacher seating behind each goal, which is where a lot of students sit. The pitch is an all-grass surface. When you are sitting in the main grandstand, the team benches are on the opposite sideline. There is a small scoreboard in one corner of the facility opposite of the main grandstand. It provides basic score info but could use an update. Paul Derr Track, which is utilized by the track and field programs at NC State surrounds the soccer field, so it pushes the seating back a bit from the field. Neighborhood 3 Since Dail Soccer Field is located on campus, there are no eateries within walking distance of the ballpark. However, there are a couple of places within a mile of Dail Soccer Field. If you are looking for something quick before or after the game, Cook-Out is the place for you. It is located down the street from campus on Western Boulevard and is famous for its “trays” which feature a burger (or chicken sandwich), two sides, and a drink for less than $8. Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant is also located on Western Boulevard across the street from campus and was started by a former Wolfpack football player. There is a large variety of NC State memorabilia located throughout the restaurant, and their Italian food is some of the best in the area. Being located in Raleigh, there is no shortage of other activities to participate in when visiting the city. A good activity before or after a game would be to take the short drive to downtown Raleigh and take a stroll around the state Capitol. The North Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina Museum of Science are both located within a block of the state Capitol. The closest hotel to campus is Aloft Raleigh on Hillsborough Street directly across the street from the NC State Bell Tower. Fans 3 NC State averages 1,000-2,000 for most home games. With the stadium being on campus, you get a large student turnout which obviously adds to the atmosphere. The students seated behind the goals make the most noise and blow canisters of red smoke after a goal is scored. Access 5 Aside from rush hour traffic, Dail Soccer Field is easily accessible from both I-40 and I-440. If coming to a game on a work night, it is wise to add a few minutes to work your way through Raleigh traffic. Raleigh-Durham International serves the Triangle and is about a 20-minute drive from NC State. Parking for soccer games is free in the Coliseum Deck on Cates Drive, just off of Western Boulevard, near Reynolds Coliseum. Dail Soccer Field is directly across the street from the Coliseum. The entrance to Dail Soccer Field is located along Cates Avenue between the soccer field and softball stadium. Tickets are not required, but security does check bags. There is no clear bag policy here! Concessions and restrooms are located near the entrance, and wheelchair seating areas are also available on the concourse. Return on Investment 5 Soccer games at Dail Soccer Stadium are non-ticketed events that are free of charge. Depending on where you park, there may be a small charge for parking on campus. However, most lots are free after hours and on weekends. Concessions are a tad pricy, but free admission still gives a score of 5/5. Extras 1 Dail Soccer Field gets an extra point for the single-match promotions for each game. These include several giveaways and contests. Final Thoughts Dail Soccer Field is a great place to catch some high-quality ACC soccer competition. Free attendance makes it an affordable family outing for anyone looking for a cost-efficient night out enjoying some great quality soccer.

Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey One of the great ways to get up for the 2023 college football season is to visit the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, GA. The Hall of Fame relocated to Atlanta from South Bend, IN in 2014. This is not your typical museum-type of Hall of Fame filled with busts of college football's greatest players. While college football’s immortals are saluted in the Hall of Fame Rotunda, this venue also offers 52 exhibits and interactive experiences that celebrate, educate, and simulate the experiences college football brings to the country every Saturday. Your interactive experience starts as soon as you buy your tickets, as you will enter the Hall of Fame through the player's tunnel to the roar of the crowd. The tunnel brings you to the Quad, which includes a three-story wall of more than 770 football helmets from every college football team in the country. A separate wall features a canvas depicting 36 of college football’s greatest plays, players, and coaches. The Quad also includes a registration station where you can register the lanyard you have been provided with your favorite college football team. This will be your key to opening many of the interactive exhibits in the HOF with info on your preferred team. Next, it is time to check out your football skills at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Field. This is a 45-yard indoor football field set up with stations to test your kicking, running, and passing skills. After you complete your abilities at these stations, you can check out your efforts on the 36-foot-high video boards. The first floor also includes a media wall filled with more than 50,000 pieces of digital content on college football’s greatest players, coaches, and teams. The second floor contains many interactive exhibits, as well as some of the most valuable trophies associated with college football, including the Heisman Trophy and the College Football Playoffs Championship Trophy. The Fan’s Game Day exhibits take visitors through the many experiences a fan enjoys on a typical Saturday afternoon, including tailgating, pep rallies, and getting hyped up for the game. Interactive activities include Fight Song Karaoke, where you use your lanyard to pull up your school’s fight song, or you can have your face virtually painted in your team’s colors. Two popular interactive activities are sitting behind the ESPN Gameday desk to pick your team as the winner of that day’s game, and calling a play featuring your team from a virtual press box. The last virtual reality experience on this floor allows you to enter the field of 14 of the top college stadiums in the country. You will also find several educational exhibits on the second floor. These include the evolution of football equipment, football’s greatest rivalries, and salutes to the football programs at America’s service academies and the HCBUs located around the country. The top floor contains the Hall of Fame Rotunda. The rotunda features glass walls with the names of all the inductees to the College Football Hall of Fame by the year they were inducted. There are several kiosks in this area where you can pull up a full bio on a HOF member, and even see videos of their greatest plays. The kiosks also allow you to pull up inductees by a school, which in some cases will be several players. After paying respects to the college’s greatest players and coaches, make sure to check out the great gift shop on the first floor. You will also want to make sure to hold on to that lanyard you were issued upon entering the College Football Hall of Fame. When you get home you can access and relive all the fun experiences you had with family and friends. College Football Hall of Fame 250 Marietta Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30313 CFBHall.com (404) 880-4800

Andrew Bauhs of College Football Tour joins us again this week as we talk about the changes in college football and his never ending quest to see every stadium in the country! Audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast can be found by searching HIAC Talk Radio wherever you look for your favorite podcasts. Video simulcasts of all the Stadium Journey podcasts can be found on Stadium Journey's YouTube page. Join us live as we record every other Tuesday at 7 PM Eastern at danlaw.tv.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Memorial Gymnasium 210 Emmett Street S Charlottesville, VA 22904 Virginia Cavaliers website Memorial Gymnasium website Capacity: 1,500 Year Opened: 1924 Volleyball at Historic Memorial Gym Memorial Gymnasium first opened on the campus of the University of Virginia in 1924 as the home of the Cavaliers' basketball program. The team played here for 42 years before moving into University Hall, and later, John Paul Jones Arena. Today, Mem Gym, as it is known to students, is home to UVA's volleyball program. It also hosts the wrestling team and intramural sports, and there is a small workout facility on the lower level. Food & Beverage 2 One concession stand at Memorial Gym is located to the right of the main entrance. Hot dogs, soft pretzels, and candy are the main food options, with water and soda also available. As is the case at all public universities in Virginia, the water is sold in aluminum cans rather than plastic bottles to be more environmentally friendly. Prices are affordable, with nothing costing more than a few dollars, although this is not posted anywhere so you will have to ask. . Atmosphere 4 Walking through the front doors of Memorial Gym will put you in the main lobby, with the arena straight ahead through another set of doors. There are plastic bleachers on each side of the court as well as behind the baselines. The bleachers on one side have wooden backs, the others do not. There are only a few rows so any seat will put you very close to the action. There is a scoreboard on each sideline that also shows detailed player and team stats, as well as a hype video before the game. One thing to note is that the small number listed next to "score" is the number of sets each team has won, while the larger number indicates how many points a team has won in the current set. It can be confusing at first, but will soon become obvious once the game has started. The atmosphere at a Virginia volleyball game is extremely lively. The PA announcer shouts "Point, Hoos!" after every UVA point about the school's unofficial nickname. Occasionally he will mix it up, shouting "It's a Block Party" after a block by a Cavaliers player. Before the match, the Cavaliers' players will toss miniature volleyballs into the stands. If the match goes to a fifth set, staff will toss t-shirts into the stands after every Cavaliers point. Between the low ceilings, frenzied crowds, and bold PA announcer, it can get extremely loud in here at times. It is a great atmosphere for a volleyball game, even if the setup feels more like a high school gym. Neighborhood 4 Memorial Gymnasium is located on the campus of the University of Virginia, which is one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. Once you get off campus and into the city of Charlottesville, there is plenty else to do. Boylan Heights is a popular bar just off campus and serves up good food as well. It is just one of many places to eat, drink, or have fun along University Avenue ranging from bagel bakeries to bars to sushi restaurants. History buffs may also want to check out Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Fans 4 Although the Cavaliers only average about 500 fans a game according to the official attendance numbers, this is a small gym so it feels like a lot more. As mentioned above, the fans are raucous, and the low ceilings and tightly packed bleachers make it even louder. Many of the fans come dressed in Virginia colors, and it is clear this is not just a friends and family crowd like you would see in some places at more "minor" sports. Everyone from young families to lifelong UVA fans turns out to cheer on their team. Even if the match goes the full five sets, most fans will stay until the end, shouting and cheering on the Cavaliers. While the numbers may not be as high as in some other places, the passion of the fans at Memorial Gymnasium is a large part of why the experience is so great. Access 2 If you come to Charlottesville from the east or west, you will likely take Interstate 64. If coming from the north or south, you will take U.S. Route 29. Although both are major roads, Route 29 has a few traffic lights along the way, so you won’t have as good a time as you would on the highway. Still, you should be able to make reasonably good time if you head that way – the lights are for the most part few and far between. Once you get on campus, you have several options to park. The Central Grounds Garage is right next to Memorial Gym, but you will have to pay to park there. This will cost you between $1.50 and $3 per hour, depending on the time of day, except on Sundays when it is free. You can also park in the Culbreth Garage about a five-minute walk away. This is free all day on weekends and after five on weekdays, which should cover all home volleyball games except an early season tournament or two if you want to catch the first game of the doubleheader as well. The restrooms in Memorial Gym are on the lower level, downstairs from the volleyball arena, and are awkwardly located inside the locker rooms (the main ones for students working out - the players have their own.) There is a single-person gender-neutral restroom downstairs if you do not want to deal with that. Return on Investment 5 Admission to all Virginia volleyball games is free, with the possible exception of ACC and NCAA Tournament events. Concessions are affordable, and there are options for free parking for most games if you are willing to walk a few minutes. Given the electrifying atmosphere in Mem Gym, that makes this an outstanding value. Extras 2 Look for the trophy case in the lobby with Virginia's volleyball accomplishments—a second star for the marketing table by the entrance with free posters and roster cards. Final Thoughts Although many people don't pay much attention to college volleyball, Memorial Gymnasium proves the naysayers wrong. With raucous, passionate crowds in a historic venue, a trip to a University of Virginia volleyball game can be an exciting experience for any sports fan.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium 100 Ballock St Grambling, LA 71245 Grambling State Tigers website Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium website Year Opened: 1983 Capacity: 19,600 Where Robinson Roamed Grambling State University was founded in 1901. It originally was known as the Colored Industrial and Agricultural School. It was founded by African American farmers in the area who wanted a school for African Americans in their region of the state. The early years of the institution were focused on trades involving industrial and agricultural activities. Grambling achieved university status in 1974. Today it has a strong focus on rural education and teaching. The school offers nearly 70 degree programs and has an enrollment of 5,500 students. The Grambling State football program dates to 1926.During its’ history, Grambling State has won 26 SWAC Championships. Its overall football record is 586-286-19 (as of the 2023 season). It is especially hard for visiting teams to come to Robinson Memorial Stadium, as the Tigers are 99-36-1 in home games played at the school. The stadium is named for legendary Grambling State Coach Eddie G Robinson, the third winningest coach in NCAA college football history with 408 victories during his career. Coach Robinson had 41 winning seasons at GSU, winning 18 SWAC Championships and 9 Black College National Championships during his 57 years at the school. Robinson Memorial Stadium opened in 1983, and currently has a seating capacity of 19,600. It underwent upgrades during a renovation in 2017. This renovation included the installation of artificial turf and a new 22.5’ high X 47.18’ wide videoboard behind the north end zone. Food & Beverage 3 Robinson Memorial Stadium offers a combination of general stands and stands operated by local vendors that serve specialty items like pizza, BBQ and wings. They are sold at stands located beneath the grandstands on both sides of the field. The general stands offer the standard stadium fare, including popcorn, hot dogs, nachos, snacks, turkey legs and Coca Cola brand sodas. The specialty stands offer pizza, chicken wings, chicken fingers and ribs. No alcohol is served at Robinson Memorial Stadium. Atmosphere 4 Robinson Memorial Stadium is nicknamed “The Hole” by fans who have attended games. This is because the venue is dug down from ground level. It has stands on both sides of the field, with berms at each end of the playing surface. This construction allows music and crowd noise to be amplified throughout the game. This gives a distinct home field advantage to the Tigers. Most of the home fans, the Tigers Marching Band and the student section are in the west stands, with visitors seated in the east stands. Make sure to get to the stadium before the seats fill up, as the east stands feature a terrific tiger stripe graphic that makes a great backdrop for a selfie. A videoboard at the north end of the stadium provides replays of key plays in the game, as well as updated statistics throughout the game. Neighborhood 2 The immediate neighborhood surrounding Robinson Memorial Stadium is the campus of Grambling State University. Outside of the campus are the towns of Grambling and Ruston, LA. There are three hotels in Ruston, which is adjacent to Grambling. They include a Holiday Inn and Suites, a Country Inn and Suites and a Fairfield Inn. Two restaurants we recommend in town are Brister’s Smokehouse BBQ and Ponchatoula’s. While Grambling is a very small community, there is one attraction you must check out while you are in town. The Eddie G Robinson Museum is on the Grambling State campus. The museum features a timeline of Coach Robinson’s more than 57 years on the Tigers sidelines. It also includes displays about Tigers practices and a mockup of the Tigers locker room. A very colorful feature is the professional jerseys of each of the Tigers who went on to play in the NFL. Make sure to take a selfie of yourself with the statue of Coach Robinson before you leave. Admission to the museum is free. Fans 4 The Tiger Nation is very loud in its support of the home team. The GSU fan base turns out crowds of over 10,000 when games are at Robinson Memorial Stadium. The Tigers have very few games on campus, as they play two games each year at a neutral site, in addition to their away games. The high energy level in the stands is maintained by Eddie, the Tigers mascot and the Tiger Marching Band, aka “The Best Band in the Land”. The band was chosen to play at the inaugural Super Bowl game, and has taken part in Coca Cola commercial’s, Presidential Inaugural parades, BET shows and the movie “Drumline”. We must admit that many folks who attend are simply “band fans” i.e., they are there simply to cheer on the band both before the game and at half time. After the halftime show these fans typically leave the stadium. Access 2 Grambling State University is quite isolated as far as nearby large cities. It is more than 150 miles from either Jackson, MS or Baton Rouge, LA. Shreveport is about an hour west of GSU via I-20. Directions once at the campus: Continue on RWE Jones Street, past the Stewart Building and the Tiger Village clubhouse. Turn right at Central Avenue and continue past Adams Hall. Merge left at a small intersection just past the basketball courts and continue into the General parking lot. There are six entry gates at Robinson Memorial Stadium. Students enter through Gate 4. Once inside the stadium, the concourses are underneath both grandstands. Most of the time the concourses have a good flow of fans, however it gets crowded shortly before the kickoff and during the halftime break. Return on Investment 3 Tickets are available at the following price points. General admission seats are $30 in advance or $40 the day of the game. Reserved seats are $40 in advance and $45 the day of the game. GSU students are admitted free of charge by showing their GSU ID card. General parking at Robinson Memorial Stadium is $25 cash on Tiger gamedays. Extras 4 Grambling State has sent more than 200 players on to play in the NFL. Four players (Buck Buchanon, Charlie Joiner, Willie Brown, and Willie Davis) are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. GSU also sent the first black player (Tank Younger) to the NFL, as well as the first black QB in the NFL (James Harris). The Tigers play two rivalry games each season, with both games taking place off campus. They play Southern University in the Bayou Classic at the Superdome in New Orleans and Prairie View A&M in the State Fair Classic in Dallas. The area in the east grandstand between the 40’s features a dramatic graphic with the letters “GSU”, and tiger stripes emblazoned on it. Get there early before the stands fill to get a shot of this piece of Tiger art. Final Thoughts Every HBCU fan should make a pilgrimage to the “House that Eddie built”. Even though he died several years ago, the aura of his presence is still felt at Grambling home games. Tiger games are full of tradition, excitement, reverence, and great food. Make sure you include the Eddie Robinson Museum on your itinerary.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.14 Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field 1500 Johnston Dr Farmville, VA 23901 Longwood Lancers website Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 350 Field Hockey in Farmville Opened in 2006, Elizabeth Burger Jackson is home to Longwood University's field hockey team and is part of the Longwood Athletics Complex which also includes Longwood Soccer Field. The stadium, which opened in 2006, seats approximately 350 fans and is also home to the Lancers' women's lacrosse team. Although Longwood normally competes in the Big South Conference, its field hockey program competes in the Mid-American Conference (better known as the MAC) as the Big South does not sponsor the sport. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field, but fans are free to bring their own, except for alcohol. Some fans set up outside with tents and food before the game, but this is for particular groups who know each other. Atmosphere 2 When walking into the Longwood Athletics Complex through the main gate, you will have the option of walking to your right to the soccer field or your left to the field hockey stadium. Both fields are visible throughout most of the complex, so if games are going on in both places, you can easily watch them both at the same time. Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field has a few rows of bleachers beneath the concourse. Smaller fans can lean against the press box in the back row, but these bleachers have less depth than the rest so it will only be possible for kids and small teens as attractive an option as it may seem. Many fans also choose to bring their chairs and sit alongside the concourse or bring their blankets and sit on the hill that runs down from the concourse to the right of the bleachers. Wherever you sit, you will be up close to the action and able to hear the players, referees, and coaches chattering. Other than the game itself, there is not much of anything going on here. This is typical of college field hockey, particularly outside a few elite programs. You will come here to watch the game and there is not much else to the experience. The PA announcer will announce the starting lineup before the match as well as the goal scorers, but for some reason will not announce penalty cards although that information would be useful for fans to know. Neighborhood 3 Farmville is a quaint, small town, and while it’s in the middle of nowhere, there is still plenty to do here. Although there are typical chain places, your best bet is to check out the local color at places such as Walker’s Diner or Riverside Café, both of which are very close to the stadium. Everything in Farmville is very close to the stadium because it’s a very small town. Just head off campus and turn onto Main Street and just about everything will be right there. Fans 3 Longwood draws a couple hundred fans a game for field hockey, spread out between the bleachers and the hill. Keep in mind the capacity is only about 350, so it can get fairly full. Most of the fans are friends or family of the players (including some coming to watch the visiting team) although you do get a few local Lancer fans as well, plus some Longwood students who make the short walk over from campus. By tradition, the first home game at the Longwood Athletics Complex during each fall semester is designated as the Greatest Athletics March Ever, or G.A.M.E. for short, and Longwood students will march in droves from campus to the complex. Depending on how the schedules fall, this could be a field hockey match but might also be a men's or women's soccer match. These games have drawn crowds of over 2,000 fans to whatever sport it happens to be. However, the excitement among students does not seem to carry over into later games, as few of them turn up beyond that one match. Access 2 There are a few roads into Farmville, but regardless of how you get into town, you are going to have to drive quite a bit. Most likely you will end up taking either State Route 45 or U.S. Route 460, but if you’re coming from any sort of populated area, Farmville probably isn’t close to you. Lynchburg is the closest remotely large city, and it’s a full hour away. Richmond is about an hour and 15 minutes, while Washington, D.C. is about three hours. The Longwood Athletics Complex, of which Elizabeth Burger Jackson Field is a part, is not located on the Longwood campus but rather a short drive from it. Although students will often make the walk over, if you’re driving in you will be able to park right there at the stadium. There is a small lot adjacent to it, and if it fills up, which it will if you don’t get there early, you can park on the grass behind the lot. If parking on the pavement is important to you, make sure to get there at least 45 minutes to an hour before the first game of the day, or you will be parking on grass most likely. Restrooms are available in the back of the concourse, with additional ones in the adjacent soccer stadium that are usually open during games. However, barring unexpected plumbing problems, you have no problems using the ones in the field hockey stadium as there are never any lines. Return on Investment 4 Admission to Lancers field hockey games is free, and you won’t pay for concessions or parking either. That being said, there isn't enough here to earn the top score. Extras 1 Look for the plaque on the concourse honoring Elizabeth Burger Jackson herself, the stadium's namesake. Jackson was a former Longwood professor as well as a field hockey player herself. Final Thoughts Field hockey is not a big deal at most colleges, and Longwood is no different. While they have a small but loyal fan base and have attracted much more massive crowds for The G.A.M.E. if it happens to be a field hockey match that year, this excitement does not seem to carry over into the remainder of the season. Longwood does well to market that one game at the beginning of the season in whatever sport it happens to be in that year, and if they can somehow manage to continue even a portion of that excitement for the remainder of the season, they can significantly improve the experience here. For now, though, it is a pretty basic matchday experience.

The 2026 World Cup may seem like a long way off now, but the ultimate soccer event will be here in no time. The venues will be spread across North America, with the USA, Mexico, and Canada all due to host games. There are set to be two stadiums in use in the Great White North, with the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver and the BMO Field in Toronto both set to act as the stages for some of the biggest games in world football. Can Canada Build on Their Last World Cup Appearance? As one of the host nations in the next World Cup, Canada will get an automatic entry without having to qualify. This will mark their third appearance in the ultimate competition, after having appeared at the last edition in Qatar in 2022. They didn’t make it out of the group stages that time but will be eager to better that performance on home soil. At the time of writing, Canada is listed around the middle of all teams in the football betting to win the World Cup. They're not favorites, but they aren't ranked as complete outsiders either. This suggests that sportsbooks are aware that they may represent an additional threat on home turf. They also have a few players who are likely to be global superstars by that time, which could be why some people believe they can build on their last appearance. Football culture in Canada and the rest of North America is growing, and this has been helped by many of the top talents forging careers across the pond in the top leagues. This support will be essential to pushing the country forward and helping them get to the knockout stages of the next competition. Canada Will Have Host Stadiums in Vancouver and Toronto Most of the stadiums for the next World Cup are in the USA, but Canada will have two key locations to attract swathes of supporters from around the world. Organizers opted to use spots on opposite sides of the country that have easy access to the USA, with Vancouver and Toronto set to host games. The Vancouver spot is the BC Place Stadium, which is a double bowl arena with a total capacity of 54,405. It’s a multipurpose ground that acts as the home for BC Lions in the Canadian Football League and Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer. It is well-prepared for massive games, as it has already hosted the 2010 Winter Paralympics and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship match. The BMO Field in Toronto is slightly smaller than the Vancouver site, with a capacity of 30,991. However, an expansion to 45,736 is planned of the World Cup. The stadium is currently the home of Toronto FC in the MLS and the Canada men’s national soccer team. The World Cup is always a great opportunity for people to see some of the most impressive stadiums from around the world. Canada has the chance to spruce up two of its best locations before the paramount football event, and they are likely to attract thousands of fans.

Photos by Chirs Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Joker Marchant Stadium 2301 Lakeland Hills Blvd Lakeland, FL 33805 Lakeland Flying Tigers website Joker Marchant Stadium website Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 8,500 Tigertown USA Nestled on the shores of Lake Parker and almost perfectly halfway between Orlando and Tampa sits perhaps the most beautiful stadium of Florida’s wide array of MiLB homes. Easily driven past while en route to one of the two aforementioned major Florida cities while on I-4, the idyllic Central Florida city of Lakeland is the perfect location to feature minor league baseball without the hassles of Florida’s other distractions. The Flying Tigers team plays in an aesthetically pleasing stadium, features a unique logo and color scheme that pays homage to Florida’s WWII aviation history, and is also close enough to both cities to not be too far of a drive. While Detroit Tigers faithful may flock here to watch the stars of tomorrow, locals also show their support, making this one of the best MiLB visits in the area. Food & Beverage 4 The food options in Lakeland are plentiful, and feature both your standard ballpark classics as well as twists on your everyday sports favorites; hot dogs and burgers ($4-$6 and $7.50 respectively) are on the list, as is pizza from Little Caesar’s ($5 for a slice or $15 for a whole pizza). Drinks range from $4 for a Mike’s Hard Lemonade to $7 for premium drafts, while bottomless popcorn ($10) comes served in a batting helmet at Publix Field, as do Chili Cheese Fries ($7). Additionally, several games during the year offer all you can eat food packages. Atmosphere 4 Joker Marchant Stadium is a stunning facility, thanks in part to its latest renovation in 2017. A beautifully manicured outside parking area welcomes visitors, and the interior of the stadium is equally as clean. Once inside, the concourse is easy to navigate with signage all over the facility to direct you where you want to go. In addition, safety is of top concern here, with protective netting covering the entirety of the left and right field lines to the end of the seating – this means fans can enjoy the game without worrying about leaving the game with a concussion from a fly ball. However, the lack of crowds during day games in the middle of the summer is a drag on that vaunted stadium feel one looks for when visiting minor league baseball venues. With that said, a clean venue, modern touches, and a comfortable feel make up for what is lost. The outfield also features a massive HD video scoreboard, and below it, a green patch of grass that makes up the outfield viewing berm. The name Flying Tigers is a reference to Lakeland's roots as a World War II training site for American and British pilots; from 1940-1945, the Lakeland School of Aeronautics graduated more than 8,000 airmen. Neighborhood 4 Lakeland isn’t a sprawling metropolis. That said, it features everything you need for your visit to be enjoyable. First off, Orlando and Tampa are almost equidistant from Lakeland, about 30 minutes away in either direction along I-4. For lodging options nearby, your closest options are right off I-4, a few miles from the stadium; here you can find Motel 6, La Quinta, and Ramada. For food, locals flock to Mojo Federal for local BBQ, as well as Harry’s Seafood or Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub. Lastly, for things to see and do, the Fantasy of Flight Air Museum is just a 15-minute drive east on I-4, and Dinosaur World is almost the same distance traveling west. Downtown Lakeland itself has experienced a revitalization in recent years, with historic shops and restaurants finding new life. You can easily find a great drink at some local bars like Revival Lakeland. Fans 3 As with any Florida League team, the weather is a big deterrent for the average fan attending a game – it’s either going to be hot or rainy on any given day. That said, the fans in Lakeland do turn out on weekends and for evening games, and a loyal contingent of locals have embraced the team. In addition, the design of Joker Marchant Stadium helps amplify the crowd noise, making it seem a lot more packed than it might be. Games usually also feature a large contingent of families, with young fans and youth baseball and softball players making up a big part of the crowd on many game days. Access 4 To get to the home of the Flying Tigers, I-4 is the best bet; exit 33 on I-4 will drop you off just a few miles north of the stadium. From here, drive south on Lakeland Hills Blvd and Joker Marchant Stadium will be right outside your car window. On-site parking is plentiful, and signage on the highway helps direct you to the right exit when driving by. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices for Flying Tigers games begin at $10 and go up to $14, which is pretty standard for ticket pricing in the Florida State League. For the price of admission, however, you get to see MiLB in a beautiful facility in a beautiful location. With concessions prices relatively inexpensive as well, the Flying Tigers provide the perfect opportunity for a family to visit a minor league ballpark that isn’t a nightmare to get to and is relatively close to two of Florida’s biggest cities. But perhaps the biggest saver in Lakeland is the free parking, available to all fans for all games during the season. Extras 3 The stadium features a statue outside the main entrance of Publix founder George Jenkins and Joker Marchant, the city of Lakeland’s longtime parks and recreation director, for whom the stadium is named. You can also find both the starting lineups and a painted map of all of Florida’s Spring Training and MiLB teams on the walls of the main concourse. The facility also features player autograph sessions before some games, meaning fans get to meet some of tomorrow’s stars today. Final Thoughts Publix Field at Joker Merchant Stadium is a beautiful facility thanks to its latest renovation, and the Flying Tigers are a team that tends to get lost in the shuffle of Florida’s bustling sports world but is no less deserving of a visit. Located perfectly between Orlando and Tampa, this facility is close enough to both metropolises to be a short drive, while also being a nice break from city life. Easily one of the best facilities in the Florida State League, things are looking up for the Flying Tigers.

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Ochsner Sports Performance Center 5800 Airline Dr Metairie, LA 70003 New Orleans Saints website Ochsner Sports Performance Center website Year Opened: 1996 The Saints Home Away from The Dome Every late July/early August you can feel it in the air. School is just getting ready to get back in session, and summer is winding down, which can only mean one thing – we just have to get through this unbearably hot month of August and then football season will be here. For the NFL's 32 teams they are getting ready to go to battle for the upcoming season, as all 32 teams report to training camp around the last week of July, and the beginning of the dog days of summer. Some teams stay close to home and use their own practice facilities for camp, while others practice in other sites away from home. For the New Orleans Saints, in 2017 they moved their training camp back to their official practice facility, Ochsner Sports Performance Center. The Saints have moved their training camp a lot in their 57-year history; 10 different locations all over the country have hosted Saints Training Camp over the years. San Diego (CA), Hattiesburg (MS), Vero Beach (FL), La Crosse (WI), Thibodaux (LA), and Jackson (MS) have served as some of the hosts over the years, and from 2014 to 2016 the Saints even practiced at Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, before moving back closer to home. The Performance Center originally opened in 1996 in the New Orleans' suburb of Metairie, as the home to the Saints throughout the year; the Saints have held training camp here from 2003-2005, 2010-2013, and now continuously since 2017. In 2013 the New Orleans Pelicans moved their official training center here as well, and the facility was renamed the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, after the New Orleans-based hospital. For the 2023 season the Saints announced that six outdoor training camp practices would be open to the public. In years past practices would be two hours long, but due to excessive heat they would later trim the outdoor practices to one hour (10-11 am). Food and Beverages 3 There is one tent set up selling concessions as soon as you enter the grounds; prices are surprisingly cheap for an NFL venue, with everything ranging from $2 to $6. Hamburgers, hot dogs, jumbo pretzels, and chips are just some of the main options on the menu, while for local fare they do offer jambalaya for $6, something you must eat if you visit Louisiana. For 2023 the training camp gates open at 9 am, so if you come hungry you can also grab breakfast – bacon, sausage, and chicken biscuits sell for $5, and you can grab a muffin for $3. For drink options, Coke is the official soft drink provider of the New Orleans Saints, so you will find bottled Coke products for sale for $2, which is cheaper than you will find in a gas station. For alcohol, Bud Light and Miller Lite are sold, and they even have your morning coffee fix for $3. Dasani bottled water and Gatorade products are sold for $3 – make sure you stay hydrated as it will be extremely hot in the Louisiana sun. Raising Cane's is also on hand as well, providing fans with free lemonade. However, if you come to a Saints practice, you won't be here long as practices only last an hour. So even though this is New Orleans, the practice facility isn't a place where you necessarily need to splurge on food. Atmosphere 4 The Ochsner Sports Performance Center is the official headquarters of the Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans. The first phase of the facility opened in 1996 when the Saints moved their administrative offices here, and opened a practice field where they would practice throughout the year. Today the facility has been expanded to include a 19-acre campus with a 77,504-square-foot multi-purpose center that includes locker rooms, physical therapy and treatment area, doctor’s office, media studio, museum, and the operations & administrative offices. The centerpiece of the facility is the 75,000-sqaure-foot indoor practice facility that rises 78 feet in the air. The indoor facility is home to a full-length football field, full-service cafeteria, and gym, but is not open to the public. Outside the indoor facility are two football fields, and this is where the outdoor portions of training camp practices happen. The two fields face east and west, with the huge indoor practice facility to the south providing the backdrop to the bleachers on the north sidelines. There is also bleacher seating behind the end zone on the west side. As mentioned the players spend the first hour (9-10 am) practicing indoors because of the excessive heat; the gates open at 9 so you have the first hour to walk around and check out everything. Next to the concessions area they have a merchandise tent selling Saints gear cheaper than you would find at a game, and the Pelicans and Saints both even have booths set up with ticket execs, out in full force trying to sell ticket flex plans. Seats are first come first serve, so the front rows fill up quickly. At 10 am the players come out one by one and begin doing various stretches, before moving onto their drills. It can be kind of confusing to watch, as the players break up into their positions and do positional drills on different sides of the two fields. The sightlines aren't the best, so if you came to the see the quarterbacks there is a chance they could be on the far side of the field. There is only so much they can do in an hour, but the cool thing is no matter where you sit you are guaranteed to be right up close to at least some of the players. The offensive line, running backs, and special teams players were practicing on my side the last time I came, roughly 15 feet in front of me, and after practice the players come right up to the bleachers and sign autographs – not all the players are there, but most of them will come up and sign. The only problem is it’s completely random which players you will get to meet. Neighborhood 3 The Ochsner Performance Center is about a 15–20-minute drive from the Caesars Superdome in the large suburb of Metairie. The facility is located out near the Airport, and unfortunately there is not a lot to do in the immediate area. However, there is plenty to do in Metairie itself – the town of about 150,000 is typical of large city suburbs, with a lot of shopping and chain restaurants. Metairie also has a lot of the wealthier neighborhoods of the metro area, and is where many of the Saints and Pelicans players live. A few miles over the railroad tracks to the south is the Elmwood Shopping Center, a large outdoor shopping mall with over 50 stores. Also, a few miles closer to Lake Pontchartrain to the north is the Lakeside Shopping Mall, the largest shopping center in the metro area with over 150 stores. The Rivertown neighborhood in Kenner is about 5 miles away as well, and makes for a great place to visit, known for its local shops and restaurants right on the Mississippi River. For outdoor lovers Metairie also has over 40 parks, the largest being Lafreniere Park, which makes for a great morning stroll before heading to watch practice. There is also a pretty cool bike trail that runs from the airport along Lake Pontchartrain, and into the French Quarter and along the Mississippi River – it'll take a couple hours to complete this trail though. Most of the restaurants in Metairie are chain and fast food, however, there is a cool local spot near Airline Drive called Dennis' Seafood – inside you can find all the famous Cajun food Louisiana is known for, and then out back you can feed 'Neuty', the giant pet nutria rat the owner rescued a few years ago. Neuty was almost removed by the state health department, until the citizens gathered over 20,000 petitions to keep him. Nutria rats gain a bad reputation as swamp rats and pests, but they are more closely aligned and look more like beavers and otters than rats. And of course, while at practice you are only about 20 minutes from one of the most famous cities in world in New Orleans. I could go on for days about all the things to do in the Crescent City – you can go to the morning practice and then venture into the city and walk around. July and August are not a very busy time for the city, as it is often extremely hot, so there are not a lot of visitors; you will find not as many tourists, shorter lines at restaurants, and cheaper parking and hotel rooms during this time. I highly recommend a visit to the city if you have never visited New Orleans before. Fans 4 The Saints fan base is one of the rowdiest and most dedicated fan bases in the NFL; the Saints have a dedicated group of supporters who have supported this team through thick and thin. This fan base has seen is it all, from the days of wearing paper bags on their heads during the ‘ain’ts’ period, to when Mike Ditka traded away all their draft picks to get Ricky Williams. And the fans certainly remember Aug 29, 2005, when they were left without a home stadium to play in after Hurricane Katrina. But through it all this diehard fan base has continued to support the black and gold, with no signs of slowing down. There is a wait list for season tickets backed up for years, and single game tickets are hard to come by or extremely expensive. For years there was talk of relocation for the team, but that kind of talk hasn't been heard since the Sean Payton/Drew Brees era began. Tickets are free for practices, but people will snatch the tickets up, and training camp tickets often sell out the day they go on sale – that is how much in demand it is just to watch the Saints practice. Fans are into practice and are very knowledgeable about the players, so when a big player makes a big catch the crowd will cheer. People on the Gulf Coast love their Saints, and I would say 95% of the people there were in some sort of Saints gear. Access 3 The Performance Center is located on Airline Drive, the main highway that connects downtown New Orleans to the airport. If traveling from the city it may take a while with red lights, so I recommend taking I-10 and getting off at Clearview Pkwy, at Exit 226, then travel south for about 2 miles and you'll reach Airline Drive; go west another mile and the facility is on the left. Airline Drive is a busy highway, but you can’t see the field from the highway, as it is surrounded by trees. The only thing you can see is the huge indoor practice facility with ‘Saints’ written on it. Most of the practices are on weekend mornings, though, so you won't be fighting much of the metro traffic on the interstate. There is no official parking at the complex, so you must park at the Shrine on Airline parking lot at the next intersection – the Shrine on Airline is now called the Gold Mine, and is home to Major League Rugby's Nola Gold; from 1997-2019 it was called Zephyr Field, and was home of the Triple A New Orleans Zephyrs/Baby Cakes. There are enough spaces to offer plenty of parking at this stadium, and there are also about 15 shuttle buses transporting people to the practice field, with the buses dropping fans off right at the main entrance to the field. Return on Investment 4 As mentioned tickets are free, parking is free, and you get to be up close with some of the best players in the NFL, so I consider this a good return on investment. At most major sporting events you have to fight traffic and parking to get there, but coming here is not like that, and you don't have to give up your whole day to come here either, as practice is only an hour, so it is possible to be home by noon. So if you are a fan of football and live on the Gulf Coast, I recommend coming out to watch the Saints practice for at least one of the practices each year. Extras 3 Perhaps the greatest achievement in Saints history occurred on Feb 7, 2010, when the Saints won their first and only Super Bowl. To honor that achievement, the Saints installed a giant LED 'Super Bowl XLIV Champions' sign on the side of the indoor practice facility, which you can see from the road. As you drive down Airline Drive the only thing you see from the road is the giant indoor facility saying, 'Home of the New Orleans Saints', and right under that the Super Bowl XLIV Champs logo. Also right under the Super Bowl sign is a small sign of a black umbrella with the letter TB under it – this is dedicated to longtime owner Tom Benson, who passed away in 2018. Benson was famous for celebrating Saints wins by dancing around with his umbrella, while a jazz band played 'When the Saints Go Marching In'. Benson's legacy will always be a part of the New Orleans Saints history. The Ochsner Sports Performance Center is also the only training facility in the country which is home to both an NFL and an NBA team. In 2012 Tom Benson purchased the New Orleans Hornets, and as part of the new branding the team changed its name to the Pelicans – he would later move the team's operations to the Saints’ home base. Therefore, in 2013 the Sports Performance Center added a $10 million addition which included a 45,000-square-foot building to house two practice courts and the Pelicans' administrative offices; it's also common to see Pelicans players come out to Saints’ practices. Another extra just for the fact that training camp is the one place where you can get up close and personal with your favorite NFL players – at games you are not going to meet players, but at training camp you can. The Saints organization does an excellent job with their fan engagement and letting fans attend several training camp practices; perhaps this is why Saints tickets are so hard to come by.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.71 Road America N7390 WI-67 Elkhart Lake, WI 53073 IndyCar Series website Road America website Year Opened: 1955 Capacity: 150,000 Summer Racing in Wisconsin Road America is often regarded as one of the greatest race tracks in the world, let alone the US. While the track’s annual schedule features Trans-Am, IMSA, and others, IndyCar can always be guaranteed to see fans from all over the Midwest flock to this track to witness some of North America’s best sports action. Racing in a beautiful setting that proves to be both fan friendly and easy to navigate, this summer event is a must-see on the IndyCar slate. Food & Beverage 5 There are a lot of places to eat at Road America, and the ones that exist are an absolute treat for the pallet. With over 20 concessions stands located around the course, Road America is led by The Gearbox, a hillside concession stand and bar that features some of the best views on the property, as well as the best food around. Being in Wisconsin, you can get the best cheese and sausage foods there, as well as a brilliantly tasty breakfast food called eggers. The addition of the IndyCar Series to the Road America schedule means even more food options are now available around the race course. Of course the beer is also cold and tasty, perfect for sitting under a tree feeling the cool breeze as the cars go speeding past. Atmosphere 5 The atmosphere around Road America during race weekend is very family friendly and relaxed. The best in the sport are taking part in some of the most exciting racing around, and despite the tension of the competition, everyone – including the teams and drivers – is in a relaxed and fun-loving mood. There is just something about the beauty of the countryside and the forests around the premises that put everyone in a “let’s go race and enjoy every moment of it” state of mind. In addition, the quality of the on-track action is enough to make any fan excited to see what happens around the next corner. The excitement fills the air every time a car takes to the track, be it for practice, qualifying, or for a race. Road America also features some of the cleanest racetrack bathrooms anywhere. Add that to the incredible track store and the free fan shuttle that can take you around the various viewing areas, and you have a solid basis for calling this one of the best tracks around. In 2023, the track also debuted a new walking and golf cart path around the outside of the carousel, which leads to the new beach viewing area just before the famous Kink turn. Here, beach lounging chairs and faux palm trees offer a tropical vibe to watch motorsports in Wisconsin. Neighborhood 4 The area around Road America is exactly what you would expect to find in rural Wisconsin – rolling hills, farmland, forests, and small towns. The town of Elkhart Lake is quaint and small, but is seething with racing history and lore. Famed racing announcer David Hobbs calls this small town home, and the fans here are all die-hards who watch everything that happens on the track. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay near Road America, there is a wide variety of small bed-and-breakfasts to pick from in and around Elkhart Lake, as well as some cabins that can make you feel like you’re roughing it…sort of. In addition, the town of Sheboygan is only 20-30 minutes away by car, providing fans a chance to stay in a hotel chain of their choice – Holiday Inn, La Quinta, etc. are all located in Sheboygan. If you’re looking for something to eat, Sheboygan has a wide variety of restaurants, from Applebee’s to McDonald’s. But by far the most must-see eatery near Road American is the Stop-Inn Tavern at Siebkens Resort in Elkhart Lake, a local bar that all of racing royalty has passed through at some time or another. And, for those looking for something to see and do, the Kettle-Moraine State Forest is not far from the track, providing some great hiking options. In addition, the Kohler factory is in nearby Sheboygan, and Road America’s location is just a 30-minute drive from the Great Lakes. Fans 5 Fans at Road America are much like those in the rest of the Midwest – die-hard and series-knowledgeable. They’re also absurdly kind and sweet, willing to help in any way possible when you need assistance with anything. They also pack the camping areas around the speedway, making for one brilliant fan block party. Over 100,000 fans have been known to pack the speedway during IndyCar weekend, making them races unlike any other on the schedule. Access 4 Getting to Road America isn’t as difficult as getting to some sports facilities. That said, it is off the beaten path – at least 10 minutes’ drive from the nearest highway, Road America requires you to drive down some single-lane roads through the hilly countryside. However, with the addition of IndyCar to the schedule, the facility has greatly increased its signage nearby. The entrance is so sudden and not easily marked that in the past one would be liable to drive right past it, were there not a major race going on that weekend. Now, however, with the new signs it is much easier to get on the right path to the entrances. Once you’re at Road America you will also discover that there are several other entrances to the track that you didn’t know about, which can be frustrating if you had to wait in line for hours; check the fan map of the venue to identify these alternate gates and entrances. The biggest plus at Road America is that the main entrance had a complete makeover in 2016, adding more entrance booths for faster processing of fans and campers. Return on Investment 5 Road America is one of the best tracks at which you can watch a race. The facility is huge, but you are given plenty of options to watch the race from without having to move from place to place. Watching from the right location can give you up to six corners of the track to see all at once, and you also get access to the grandstands all around the track, as well as access to the paddock, with your admission ticket to most races. Extras 5 Where once a zip line ended now stands a high vantage point for fans to watch the action at the track inside the final turn. The former zip line landing platform is now a giant viewing zone, and while you may have to climb a lot of stairs to get there, the view is well worth it. Additionally, if you have ever wanted to try your hand at racing, you can sign up for racing school at the track. You can also take a trip to Elkhart Lake, and follow the original track layouts through historic markers along the roadside. Before it had its current layout, Road America was once a true street course, running through Elkhart Lake itself and over the hills on the various roadways in the nearby area. If you can’t peel your eyes away from your mobile device, you can also engage with the race on social media, and see your photos and tweets on the various big screens around Road America by using specific hashtags and handles on Twitter and Instagram. However, if treetop views or social media aren’t your thing, you can also take a wandering hike through the forest on several pathways that meander through the mountains above Kettle Bottoms and Canada Corner. These trails lead from the top of the peak to the bottom of a newly-cleared pathway along the infamous straightaway. Finally, several autograph sessions happen during the weekend in the fan zone, offering fans a chance to see some of their favorite drivers. Final Thoughts If you want to see racing history meet modern-day sports stars, take a trip to Road America – you will not be disappointed in what you find. In addition, if you want to take a step above that, go camping on the property during race weekend. The fans are nice, the action is top quality, and the weather is almost always beautiful. It’s hard to find a better place to see racing in North America than Road America.