Photos by Daryn Skjefte, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Ralph Engelstad Arena One Ralph Engelstad Arena Drive Grand Forks, ND 58203 North Dakota Fighting Hawks men’s hockey website Ralph Englestad Arena website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 11,643 UND Hockey at Ralph Engelstad Arena Driving in Grand Forks, ND does not usually entail traffic. That is unless it’s a Friday or Saturday night during hockey season. The streets are busy and full of traffic, every single restaurant is packed, and the excitement buzz can be felt all around town. The Ralph Engelstad Arena was built in 2001 and opened its doors for the 2001-2002 season. The 400,000-square-foot facility is stunning and continues to wow hockey fans year after year. The outside of the building is lit up with “Home of North Dakota Hockey,” the school’s past logo, and loud music. The entire north end of town becomes a hub of excitement. Food & Beverage 4 The Ralph offers a large variety of food items including your standard hot dog ($4.50), popcorn ($4.00), and soft pretzel ($4.00), all the way up to cheese steak sandwiches ($7.50). The arena carries Pepsi products and guests can pick between bottled soda ($4.00) and fountain ($3.00). While the arena carries all of the usual staples, there are also a few different items that are not offered at other arenas. Red Pepper, a Grand Forks classic, has multiple stands spread throughout the concourse. The popular Mexican restaurant allows guests to truly experience the Grand Forks culture. Other vendors include Subway, TCBY, Tim Hortons, and Little Caesars. Atmosphere 5 The Ralph, as it is referred to by locals, has a capacity of 11,643 and has sold out games throughout each season. Music gets the crowd going before they even enter the building. All of the concourses are wide and open with large windows, offering plenty of room for all of the fans. The floors throughout the building are constructed of granite and enriched with the beloved past mascot, the Fighting Sioux. Every individual seat is constructed of leather and cherry wood. As if that was not enough, there are 48 full luxury suites, two mini-suites, and two enormous club rooms featuring the longest freestanding bars in the state of North Dakota. The extreme attention to detail completes the feel of the arena; making every guest feel thrilled before the excitement of the game even begins. Neighborhood 3 While The Ralph does not have the best location in the history of hockey arenas, it is situated right off of the University of North Dakota campus. Located just over a mile off of interstate I-29, the arena location makes itself clear with the line of traffic. While the close-to-campus location is convenient for students, faculty, and staff, it can make for a challenge for other spectators. The Ralph is not within walking distance of any restaurants, bars, or hotels. Even though there are not any food or hotel options directly next to The Ralph, the city of Grand Forks offers plenty of eatery/hotel options all within a four-mile radius of the arena. The majority of fan-frequented restaurants and bars do offer shuttles to and from the game. This is a unique option that gives fans the chance to get out and explore the town before the games, without having to worry about driving and parking. My recommendations for pre-game food would be Brick & Barley bar and restaurant, JL Beers, and Rhombus Guys Brewing Company. Fans 5 The University of North Dakota hockey fans are on a whole different level. While the student section is filled for every home game, it’s the vast amount of other seats that are filled that simply takes your breath away. The arena seats 11,364, and there are not many nights where that number is not met or even exceeded. The word passionate does not do the fans justice. The number of cohesive cheers/songs that almost every fan takes part in is simply incomparable. Following their most recent season in which the University of North Dakota brought home the NCAA title, The Ralph feels more excitement and adrenaline than ever. People travel from near and far just to take a look inside the beautiful arena. While the fans play an important role throughout the entire experience, they truly show their best when the home team scores. Fireworks erupt above the goal and Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis is blasted. All fans are up on their feet, dancing and cheering with one another. The sheer compassion and bond that these fans share are unlike anything I have witnessed. Access 4 The Ralph is just over a mile off of I-29, with four big parking lots and street parking. There are three different entrances that fans can enter through so that no one has to spend too much time out in the cold. Getting in and out of the parking lots can be a little time-consuming, but no worse than a normal athletic event. The parking lots that surround the building all offer $10 parking, which is pretty standard for college hockey games. While there is close parking offered, there is a lot of street parking available and busses that bring fans from restaurants and bars from all over Grand Forks. Once you are inside the arena, the concourses are large and easy to pass through. There are four different bathrooms on both the main and upper levels, so guests rarely have to endure lines. All entry gates provide great access to seating, food, etc. but the absolute best gate to enter is the main door. The lobby itself is draped in history, tradition, and excitement. From there, you can see the open suite level, the Sioux Fan Shop, and a large number of fans pouring into the venue. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for adults can run anywhere from $40-$100, but do not waiver depending on the game. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office inside The Ralph, by phone, or online. While it is clear that tickets for games at The Ralph do run a little high, you do truly get what you pay for. The environment and excitement make you feel like you are at a professional hockey game. Even if hockey isn’t something the entire family enjoys, the games are a great form of entertainment that has a very high return on investment. Extras 5 The concourses offer a lot of history and past successes. Ranging in past player’s jerseys, Olympic team memorabilia, NCAA championship trophies, and much, much more. Some other fun fan favorites include the kid’s fun area that has an inflatable structure, coloring, and photo ops; a live band; craft beer and specialty liquor stands; the Sioux Fan Shop; custom jerseys; and the two different full-service club lounges that are open to the public. In between periods, there are interactive on-ice fan games, youth hockey matches, and on-ice laser shows. There is truly something for everyone at this incredible arena. Final Thoughts The Ralph Engelstad Arena is unlike anything else in college hockey. The extreme detail that goes into every aspect is vibrant and outstanding. The excitement can quite literally be felt from a mile away, and regardless of the turn-out of the game, you will have a good time. The arena is truly the best in college hockey for several reasons. This should be a spot to see on everyone’s bucket list.

Photos by Stephan Hoogerwaard , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 BayArena Bismarckstraße 122-124 51373 Leverkusen, Germany Bayer 04 Leverku sen website BayArena website Year Opened: 1958 Capacity: 30,210 The BayArena, A Pharmaceutical Story The BayArena is a football stadium in Leverkusen, Germany. Since the 23rd of April 1958, it’s been the home of Bundesliga club Bayer ’04 Leverkusen. The original name of the stadium was ‘Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion’ (named after a former president of Bayer AG, a pharmaceutical company and founder of the club). The capacity was originally 20,000 seats. In 1986 the stadium was renovated and converted into a modern sports facility. The renovation process went on very slowly as a small part of the stadium was discussed (a terrace behind one of the goals). Due to this discussion, the renovation took more than a decade to complete. In 1998 the stadium was renamed BayArena. In 1999 a hotel was built partly inside the complex. Some rooms and the restaurant of the hotel overlook the field. At last, the renovation was completed. At that time the capacity was 22,500. In 2009 the stadium expanded with a second tier and a brand new roof. The old green seats were replaced by red seats. The capacity today is 30,210. The municipality Leverkusen offered itself as the host city for the World Cup 2006. At this stage, the stadium was too small, but there were plans to expand the BayArena to 40,000 seats. However, this proved not to be practical. It would mean that on normal match days, the stadium would be half full, so the municipality withdrew. No bid for the EC 2024 has been made. Food & Beverage 3 The price of food and beverages inside the BayArena is slightly overpriced. If you want to drink and eat on your day out, then I would suggest one of the ‘Beergartens’ outside the ground. When you buy your drinks inside the BayArena, you need to buy a BayArena Card. This card is free but you have to deposit Euro 10,- first. After that, you have to charge your BayArena Card before going to the beverage and food stands. As in most of the new German stadiums, there is a large variety of beers, sodas, hot dogs, hamburgers, and bratwurst. After the match, you can return the card and get your deposit and balance back. Atmosphere 4 Although Bayer Leverkusen is a rather small club in German football (soccer) and has a small supporter group, the atmosphere during matches is quite good. The acoustic is boosted by a very impressive roof overhanging all stands of the stadium. The fanatic Leverkusen supporters are housed in a large standing area behind one of the goals. Neighborhood 4 The BayArena is situated in central Leverkusen, near where the A1 and A3 motorways intersect. The stadium lies between the Leverkusen Stadtpark and a large Sportpark in a rather green area. The river Rhine is less than 2 kilometers away from the ground. In the city centre of Leverkusen, there is not much to do, but you can take a train from Leverkusen Schlebusch station and get off at Cologne’s main railway station. This is just a 15-minute ride. The historic Cologne city centre and Dom are worth a visit. Fans 4 The atmosphere before the match is very friendly. Supporters from both clubs mingle around the ground and meet in the Biergarten to discuss the forthcoming match. Leverkusen has one of the smallest supporter groups in the Ruhr area. Most of the clubs in the Ruhr area are living in the shadow of German giants Borussia Mönchengladbach , FC Schalke’04, and Borussia Dortmund , which have the largest supporters groups and larger stadiums in the Ruhr area. Access 3 The BayArena lies adjacent to the A1 but doesn’t have an exit. The stadium is best reached from the A3; take exit ‘Opladen’ but then you have a problem finding yourself a parking space. In the few streets in the area, there are only private parking spaces for residents. Therefore Bayer offers free parking on Kurtekotten two hours before the start of the game, this parking place lies directly on the overground metro station ‘Bayerwerk’ (S-Bahn). Get off at stop ‘Leverkusen Mitte,’ the BayArena is a 10-minute walk from this point. You just have to cross the Stadtpark. Return on Investment 5 Tickets are priced in three categories which depend on the opponent. We have paid Euro 35,- for our ticket on the long side of the pitch (Block B1, 1st tier). For top matches, these places will cost you Euro 60-, but for less attractive opponents you will pay € 24,- for a ticket. We bought our tickets online via the Bayer Leverkusen club site. As my father went along with us, I was able to buy concession tickets (over 65’s) for him. This ticket was Euro 11,- cheaper than my ticket. The BayArena is a very modern football arena with all the facilities you should expect from a modern football ground. From every seat in the stadium, you have a good view of the pitch. A visit to the BayArena is a worthwhile sports Euro investment. Extras 3 As with most of the Bundesliga clubs, Bayer Leverkusen also offers stadium tours. A mentionable fact is that Bayer offers five kinds of different tours. You can book a classic tour, a kids tour, a barrier-free tour, a classic-plus tour, or a special tour. The classic tour which is the most common and can be booked for Euro 10,- (adults), a legends tour will cost you Euro 15. Final Thoughts When you visit a match of Bayer Leverkusen and you have a couple of hours spare time, then please do go to the neighboring city of Cologne. This city has so much more to offer than the Leverkusen city centre. Combining a match in the BayArena and a visit to the Cologne city centre is a very good combination, but keep in mind that there are a lot bigger clubs that can be visited in the Ruhr area.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 W.B. Mason Stadium Blessed Basil Moreau Dr North Easton, MA 02356 Stonehill Skyhawks football website W.B. Mason Stadium website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 2,400 The Sky’s The Limit Many who follow college sports in New England were surprised when tiny Stonehill College, a school with an undergraduate enrollment of 2,500 students, announced in April 2022 that they were elevating their athletic programs to the Division One level and becoming a member of the Northeast Conference. The private Catholic school is located in North Easton, Massachusetts, on the original estate of Frederick Lathrop Ames Jr. It was founded in 1948 by the Congregation of Holy Cross. W.B. Mason Stadium, located on campus, was built in 2005. W.B. Mason, a business supply company headquartered in neighboring Brockton, purchased the naming rights for the facility. The company, led by CEO and Stonehill alumnus Leo Meehan, pitched in $1.5 million of the $4 million construction cost of the stadium. The playing field is dedicated in honor of Tim “Cogs” Coughlin, a class of 1980 alumnus and member of the Stonehill football team, who lost his life in the attacks on the World Trade Center. In addition to serving as home to the Skyhawks football team, W.B. Mason also serves as home to Stonehill’s field hockey, lacrosse, and track and field teams. Stonehill has sponsored football teams since 1988, using the nickname “Chieftains” until 2005. Stonehill football competed in Division Three until 1996, when they moved up to Division Two, staying there until 2021. The Skyhawks joined the Football Championship Subdivision’s Northeast Conference for the 2022 season. During their first two seasons in FCS, Stonehill has posted a respectable 10-11 record. Food & Beverage 2 New Stonehill food service concessionaire Bon Appetite operates food tents located in the open area on the north side of the grandstand. A menu of standard stadium fare is offered here. Coca-Cola products are the featured beverage at W.B. Mason Stadium. In addition, Shovel Townbrewery operates a beer garden in the northwest corner of the facility. A good selection of their craft brews are featured here. Atmosphere 2 The fine folks at Stonehill College are still kind of new to this Division One thing, so you wouldn’t expect an over-the-top game day presentation at a small facility such as W.B. Mason Stadium. Now, that doesn’t mean that it’s a boring time at Stonehill. There are plenty of touches here that make a fall afternoon in North Easton a good time. One of the more surprising aspects of the game day experience at Stonehill is the very active tailgating scene. Fans arrive as early as 7 am in the lot adjacent to the McPhaidin Library and other open fields around the stadium to set up shop for the afternoon. Fans who regularly attend college football games will find plenty that is familiar here. Music and PA announcements play over a quality sound system throughout the game. The Stonehill cheerleading and dance squads set up on the sideline, performing for the fans. The Skyhawk mascot, Ace, roams the stands, posing for photos and interacting with fans. A simple scoreboard in the north end zone provides basic game information. Stonehill Cheerleaders, Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 3 Stonehill College’s sprawling, contained campus belies its location in a bustling area with many dining and lodging options for visiting fans. State routes 123 and 138 intersect at the southwest corner of campus. Both routes are pretty busy local roads, lined with strip malls filled with the usual national chains alongside a few local eateries in both directions. Stadium Journey recommends checking out Stoneforge Grill, Shovel Town Brewery, or Brach’s Grill and Tap for your pre- or postgame meal. While you may not find many attractions near Stonehill, Boston is located just a half hour’s drive to the north. Visiting fans will find no shortage of things to do there. Fans looking for lodging options closer to school should check out the Residence Inn by Marriott right by Route 24. Fans looking for other sporting options in the immediate area may be able to pair a Skyhawks game with a New England Knockouts game at nearby Campanelli Stadium or may wish to return to campus and visit Merkert Gymnasium for a basketball game. The baseball team plays next door to W.B. Mason Stadium at Lou Gorman Field . Stonehill's hockey teams play off-campus at the nearby Bridgewater Ice Arena . More information about local accommodations, restaurants, and attractions can be found here . Fans 3 Even with W.B. Mason Stadium’s rather small capacity, the facility could fit the entire undergraduate enrollment inside. Looking through that lens makes Stonehill's average 2023 attendance of just over 1,800 fans per game pretty impressive. Every Saturday, W.B. Mason Stadium is filled to 75 percent of capacity. Stadium Journey's most recent visit to Stonehill occurred on a rainy September Saturday. Two thousand four hundred fans braved some lousy weather to witness the Seahawks' 2023 home opener. There’s a decent, if not overwhelming, turnout by the student body. The majority of the fans in attendance appear to be locals, many of whom have a connection to the players down on the field. With the Northeast Conference’s compact geographic footprint, you’ll be sure to see a good number of visiting fans in the stands. An interesting characteristic of a Stonehill crowd is that they are late arriving. Tailgating is allowed in the parking lot right across the street from the stadium right up until kickoff, and it seems that a good percentage of the fans in attendance keep the party going until the last possible minute. It’s pretty interesting to see the foot traffic increase along Blessed Basil Moreau Drive as kickoff time nears. Access 4 Stonehill College is located in suburban North Easton, MA, directly to the west of the city of Brockton and 25 miles south of Boston. The campus is easily accessible, as both Interstates 495 and 93 lead to Route 24, which runs north-south just a mile from W.B. Mason Stadium. The stadium is located on the western edge of campus, adjacent to some of Stonehill’s other athletic facilities, including Lou Gorman Field and the Sally Blair Ames Athletic Complex. Fans will find ample parking in the lot in front of the McPhaidin Library, located a short walk from the stadium. The entrance to W.B. Mason Stadium is located on the southeast corner of the facility, with the grandstand on the opposite west side of the stadium. Seating consists of a single grandstand that runs the length of the field. The center sections contain individual molded plastic seats, with the rest of the seating consisting of metal bleachers without backs. This new grandstand is fully ADA-compliant and easily accessible for all fans. Fans looking for an alternate viewpoint can take advantage of the standing room along the southern edge of the field. Unfortunately, the presence of a track surrounding the football field pushes the seats a bit further from the action. This is a common feature of the multi-purpose fields that are found at smaller schools. Restrooms are located in the Sally Blair Ames Athletic Complex, with additional port-a-johns available behind the grandstand. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to Skyhawks games are sold as general admission, with tickets priced at $12. Seniors 65+ and students can purchase tickets for $7. Children 12 and under are admitted at no charge. Waiting until game day to buy your tickets increases the price by three dollars. Parking is free in the lot near the stadium. With inexpensive concessions, an afternoon at a Stonehill football game is a very affordable entertainment option for southeastern Massachusetts sports fans. Extras 1 As the Stonehill program continues to adjust to life in Division One, the Athletic Department continues to upgrade the game day experience for fans. Some examples of upgrades to the football experience include a new sound system at W.B. Mason Stadium, new concessions, and the Shovel Town beer garden. More improvements are in the works. Final Thoughts W.B. Mason Stadium is a nice, smaller facility that compares well to its peer facilities in the Northeast Conference. While the fans and staff at Stonehill are adjusting to life in the FCS, they promise that bigger and better things are on the horizon, both on and off the field. The addition of Division One sports is a welcome addition to the southeastern Massachusetts athletic scene and a Stadium Journey well worth taking. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Case Arena 1 S Maish Rd Frankfort, IN 46041 Frankfort Hot Dogs website Case Arena website Year Opened: 1961 Capacity: 4,500 A Basketball Gem and Home of the Hot Dogs Frankfort, Indiana is a small town of 18,000 residents located roughly 50 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Like most small towns in Indiana, Frankfort has a downtown square complete with a town hall and a passion for the game of basketball. The history of the game in Frankfort can be traced back to the earliest part of the 20th century, and like with so many other communities in the state, a magnificent arena was constructed to house the hysteria that is on display in the Hoosier state during the fall and winter months of basketball season. Everett N. Case Arena is the 23rd-largest high school gymnasium in the world. Known throughout the state of Indiana for its architectural design and dome roof, there is not a bad view from any of the 5,000-plus seats in the home of the Frankfort High School Hot Dogs, a rather curious, but fun team nickname. Opened in November of 1963, the arena was built to attract the regional tournament back to town after a neighboring high school built a larger arena a few years earlier. Frankfort built a luxurious gymnasium that would rival no other in the state. It was named in honor of Everett Case who coached the men’s basketball team for 17 seasons between 1922-1942 compiling a record of 385-99-1. Case won 14 Regional Tournaments and four state championships (1925, 1929, 1936, and 1939). The legendary coach put Frankfort on the national map with innovations to the game that included the 10-second rule, cutting down of nets after tournament wins, playing of music before games, inviting the pep band to play at games, placing numbers on players' jerseys, and introducing the time clock. Case would leave Frankfort in 1942 and coached North Carolina State for the next 18 seasons. He would bring his fevered passion for basketball from Indiana and inject it into North Carolina by leading the Wolfpack to 10 conference championships and one Final Four appearance in 1950. Case also become a legend in North Carolina and is regarded as the Father of the ACC. Food & Beverage 3 Surprisingly, concession choices are not that much different than some of the major Indiana universities. The food is inexpensive, all items are $1.50-$2 and are served efficiently in the main lobby. Hot dogs are topped with chili or cheese for no additional charge, and nachos, pretzels, candy, and cookies round out the munchies at the arena. Pepsi products are served in 20-ounce bottles and cost $2. Atmosphere 3 It is a spectacle walking into one of the larger gymnasiums in the state of Indiana, and Case Arena does not disappoint. The facility could easily serve as a college facility or home to minor league basketball. The highlights include the main lobby, wooden seats, and the banners that hang in the rafters above the court. The arena is separated into two sections. The court is on the ground floor with the lobby entrance that houses the concession stand, trophy case, and entrance to the auxiliary gym. The accolades on display in the lobby include the school’s four state championship plaques that are elegantly designed, commemorative plaques dedicated to Case and various other trophies and photographs from years gone by. The original center court is on display as a mural near the staircases to the second level; it served as the floor until 1991. The second level features the original wooden grandstand at both ends of the court, while in the middle, there are modern blue plastic and aluminum bleachers. The wooden seats display two sets of numbers, one for regular season games and the other for tournament games. The facility could easily serve as a college facility or a home to a G-League basketball team. Various banners hang commemorating past high school glory, including the four state titles. There are also the names of the schools that compete within the Sagamore Conference painted on the walls in school colors and a standard electric scoreboard that is centered with the school's iconic Hot Dog logo. It should be noted that Hollywood once ventured to the arena to shoot Blue Chips starring Nick Nolte and Shaquille O’Neal during the summer of 1993. Sadly, there is not one iota of evidence on display that would remind or teach someone that a motion picture had been filmed here more than 20 years ago. Unlike down the road in Evansville which still displays 1940’s era ads from the film A League of Their Own, there are no longer banners, photos, or any visuals from Blue Chips on display inside Case Arena. Neighborhood 3 There are various national chain restaurants within walking distance of the arena; they have become popular meeting grounds for after-game chatter by students and fans. These establishments include Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald's, Wendy's, and the local place to congregate after the game, Applebee's. A little less than a mile down the road is the town square featuring more places to enjoy a meal or a drink after the game. Main Street Pub, Arni’s, and Pepe's Mexican restaurant are three nice choices set in a small-town American atmosphere. Hoops Sports Bar is yet another local establishment worth visiting if you have some time after the game. Fans 3 There are many fans during the game who remind visitors what a basketball game used to be like not so long ago. You would be squashed against your fellow Frankfort supporter as you rooted and cheered for the home team to win. Except for local rivals and regionals, the crowds are not as frenzied during the regular season as they once were at the arena. Some blame it on the introduction of class basketball to the state after the 1997 season. The state now divides schools into separate classes based on population size leaving many smaller schools that were once historical rivals of the Frankfort High School basketball schedule. Access 4 The arena is located on the grounds of the high school and offers free parking to all visitors during home games. The location of the school is on the main drag in a town near many retail and chain restaurants. It is not hard to find, since the arena stands out predominantly for the passersby. The two levels of the concourse wrap around the building, allowing fans easy access to their seats, concessions, and restrooms. It should be noted that the two seating sections cannot be accessed unless you exit and use the staircase in the main lobby. Return on Investment 4 All tickets to Frankfort High School basketball games are only $5. The parking is also free outside of the gymnasium, making this a highly affordable night with family and friends watching great basketball in a fabulous arena. The concessions are also inexpensive and can satisfy little ones who are in attendance craving a little sustenance. Extras 4 One extra point for the impressive hardware that is on display in the trophy cases and the banners that hang from the rafters. The school’s championship plaques are elegantly handcrafted and are worth studying for aesthetics. There is plenty of memorabilia to keep you busy while at the arena. Another extra point for the friendly conversations that can be had during a visit to the game. Frankfort High School staff and parents can fill you in on many memories that have been created underneath the dome roof. A third extra point for playing a prominent role as the home arena in the movie Blue Chips. During the summer of 1993, the arena was transformed into the “Dolphin Dome” named after the fictitious Western University Dolphins. 5,000 extras packed the building during the four-game shoot. Up until recently, there are memorabilia in a small trophy case in the main lobby One final extra point for the overall design of the arena. The domed ceiling provides an ideal canvas to allow visitors unobstructed views from almost anywhere in the gymnasium. Case Arena feels more like a college basketball arena than a high school gymnasium. Final Thoughts Case Arena would be the largest high school gymnasium in all but four states in the country. There are 18 larger gyms in Indiana and each of them has its sense of pride and nostalgia. In Frankfort, the arena has the historical significance of being named after Everett Case, who helped put the school and later NC State basketball on the map. His efforts would result in enshrinement into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. ______ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at marc@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Meg Minard , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark 3300 W Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ 85017 Grand Canyon Antelopes website Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 4,000 Grand Canyon Baseball Upgrades and renovations often make a remarkable impact on a sports venue, and this is certainly true of GCU Ballpark in Phoenix, AZ. The Gr and Canyon University Antelopes ( ‘Lopes for short )  play their baseball games in the D1 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) at the recently upgraded Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark.   GCU baseball began in 1953.   The existing stadium first opened at its current site in 1962. Grand Canyon University started transitioning from DII to DI in 2013. As part of this, the university upgraded all its athletic facilities, including the ballpark. Gone are the metal bleachers, and in their place are purple chair back seats around the entire diamond, a roof, a turf berm, and a right field patio. Other amenities include a multi-room press box, wireless internet access, and an upper-level concourse.   The university installed a new video board in 2022. It looks like the school upgraded the traditional, inning-by-inning scoreboard in the left-center field wall too.    The ballpark is nestled near the other sports facilities on campus: softball, soccer, track, etc. It fits in quite well on t he good-looking campus.   The team has done remarkably well in the WAC and has won seven WAC regular-season titles and reached the NCAA Regionals in 2021 and 2022.  Food & Beverage 3 Two food concession stand counters are just inside the main hom e plate en trance, offering affordable snacks and beverages. Choices include hamburger, cheeseburger, bratwurst, hot dog, and three kinds of nachos: regular, thunder, and brisket ($5 – $9.50). Snacks for sale are pretzels, popcorn, Cracker Jack, candy, big purple churro, and ice cream ($3.50 – $6). Sodas run $4 – $5. The school does not serve alcohol at this on-campus facility.   Sadly, the concessions no longer sell a ‘Monthly Special.’  Those were yummy specialty items or sandwiches offered a few years back.  Atmosphere 3 Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark is a fine-looking sports venue, as is the rest of the school’s campus. A distinguishing white awning covers purple, fold-down stadium seats. The seats are quite wide (22”) and comfortable, with average legroom between the rows. Some seats are angled quirkily, and maneuvering through some of the stands is different. Fans must walk up and down and around to get to some seats. Handrails are available. Interestingly, a row of seats extends out ov er the dugouts.  The first base side gets the sun first for afternoon games. Brazell Field Odd Angle Seats, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The nets (medium to wide thickness) extend down both baselines. The school set up nets behind the outfield fence , like at a driving range, to keep balls from going on the street or into the neighborhood. A picnic area is down the right field line with open space, tables and chairs, and a ledge to sit on.  It’s a good place to get some sun.  It is net-free, so be on the lookout for long foul balls if sitting there. The home dugout sits on the third base side.   The team installed a new video board and a new traditional line scoreboard along the outfield.  The video board shows both team’s players’ names, photos, and statistics.  Intro videos are also broadcast.   Whoever operates the video board does an excellent job at updating the board with player changes promptly. A student shares a short prayer before the start of the game. If attending an evening game, fans can witness some beautiful sunsets.   The game day operations have done a fantastic job lowering the music volume so you can enjoy it and still have conversations with your neighbors without yelling.  They offer promotions like a t-shirt toss or a ‘find the ball under the moving hats’ game on the video board.  The announcer’s voice is cle ar, strong, and  easy to understand. Neighborhood 3 The ballpark is located in the northwest portion of Phoenix in what once was known as a not-so-safe neighborho od. However, sa fety has improved over time with the assistance of Grand Canyon University. Sever al fast-food re staurants like Qdoba, Chick-fil-A, Pita Jungle, and Subway are within walking distance. The Great Wall Cuisine (Mexican) and Angie & Jimmies Italian Pizza are next door. A Habit Burger Grill is at the Student Union.   Downtown Phoen ix, just seven miles away, has a vast variety of eating establishments. S ome recommendations are Pizzeria Bianco (Italian), Breakfast Club, and Angels Trumpet Ale House (gastropub). The SunUp Brewing and the Huss Brewing Taphouse are within a few miles of the ballpark.     Hotels are not close to the stadium.  We recommend driving four or five miles to mid-town where a Hilton Garden Inn Midtown  or a Hampton Inn  are affordable places to stay.   Other sports to see in the springtime nearby are GCU basketball   (men's), GCU basketball  (women's), and several of the Cactus League spring training ballparks, like American Family Fields (Brewers) or Peoria Sports Complex  ( Mariners and Padres ). The Arizona Diamondbacks – Chase Field  (MLB) is seven – eight miles southeast.   For golfers, the GCU golf course is nearby. Fans 3 Attendance for    ‘Lopes baseba ll games is not as strong as at its basketball games.  The more popular games are those against in-state rivals ASU Sun Devils and U of A Wildcats .  Depending on the opponent, you may see and hear as many visiting fans as ‘Lopes fans.    Fans run the gamut from old folks to parents to students to those wanting a bit more affordable game of baseball than the surrounding spring training venues.  The biggest fans are those in the dugouts.   All are respectful of the other fans and players and cheer good plays, regardless of team.  Access 4 Getting to the ballpark is relatively easy as it is a mile west of I-17 on Camelback Road. It’s very easy to get to from all parts of the valley as it’s just a couple of exits north of the I-10/I-17 interchange. Several buses stop at Grand Canyon University. Check Valley Metro  for fares, schedules, and routes. Sky Harbor International Airport is 12 – 13 miles from the field. A five-story garage is right next door on 35th A ve and is fr ee of charge. Stop at the security booth and just let them know you’re going to the game.   They'll direct you to the parking garage.  The ticket booth is way past the field and away from the parking lot in a separate building. Brazell Field Parking Garage, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Entrances into the seating bowl are on either end of the concourse, with an elevator and steps behind the home plate area. A ramp is down the right field concourse. The concourse (under the seating bowl) is spacious and does not get crowded during a ‘Lopes baseball game.   The stadium has clean restrooms on each baseline under the seating bowl.   Clear bags are required for stadium entry . Return on Investment 5 Tickets are $5.  The team does not charge an additional transaction fee if you purchase your tickets online.  All seats are general admission.  GCU students get in for free.  You can’t beat that in Feb/March in AZ, especially compared to spring training prices. Parking is free, and concessions are reasonable. All-in-all, it’s an inexpensive way to spend a few hours on a spring afternoon or evening. Extras 3 An alcove on the concourse provides an admirable display of GCU baseball history. ‘Lopes  in the Pros (arranged by MLB team), Dr David Braze ll:  Honoring a Legend, and more are available to enjoy and appreciate. Brazell Field Murals, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The new video board and scoreboard are worth mentioning again.    Lastly, turning down the music volume makes this a much more enjoyable venue to visit. Final Thoughts For a more affordable baseball experience than spring training in Arizona, check out a game at GCU Ballpark.  The talent on the field is decent; the stadium looks and feels pleasant.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Alumni Memorial Stadium 420 Institute St Salisbury, NC 28144 Livingstone Blue Bears website Alumni Memorial Stadium website Capacity: 6,000 Blue Bears of the Gridiron Founded in 1879, Livingstone College first fielded a college football team in 1892. The Blue Bears play their home games at Alumni Memorial Stadium in Salisbury, NC, and currently compete in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the NCAA’s Division II. The stadium holds 6,000 fans in grandstands on either side of the field and has a running track around the outside – like many college athletics tracks in the state of North Carolina, the track itself is named after philanthropist Irwin Belk, founder of the department store chain. Livingstone College is a Historically Black College (HBCU). Food & Beverage 4 Alumni Memorial Stadium has multiple food and beverage options available from its concessions stands, and the prices are very reasonable. Outside the stadium proper there is a stand run by a local church which offers chicken tenders, Polish sausage, hot dogs, and fries, as well as bottled soda and bottled water – the combos of chicken tenders with fries or Polish sausage with fries are a great deal at $5. In addition to the stand outside, inside the facility you can find an Italian ice stand, which is a great choice on those hot days early in the season, as well as a traditional stand that sells fish sandwiches, burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken wings, hot dogs, sausage links, popcorn, nachos, fries, chips, cookies, and packaged candy, as well as 12 or 20 oz sodas. Nothing is over $5, and they also have a combo option which will save fans $1. Note that no alcohol is permitted inside Alumni Memorial Stadium. Atmosphere 4 At HBCUs one of the biggest draws at a football game is the band and the cheerleaders, and at Livingstone these do not disappoint. The Blue Bears’ Blue Thunder Marching Band takes the field with authority and passion to perform during pregame, and following that actually takes quite a long time to get to their seats at the far end of the home stands, moving and swaying in unison as one by one small groups march across from the field to the stands, until finally all of the band members are together again. Blue Thunder Band Taking Their Seats, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey This process continues to entertain and delight fans even after the game has already started, and the band members are joined by a dance team garbed in glitter, as well as by the cheerleaders performing on the track in front of the Blue Bears bench – even if the action on the field is not enough to make the experience enjoyable for you, the entertainment provided by the band and dance team surely will. The visiting team’s band also performs during halftime, so you will have the chance to see not one but two great bands during your visit. On the home side at Alumni Memorial Stadium, most of the seating is on stone steps (painted blue for the Bears) with only a single row or two of chair backs in the top row, which are usually the first to be taken, while on the visitors side you will find more traditional metal bleachers – for my money the stone steps are actually more comfortable, but be aware of the multiple seating options in case you have a preference. In addition, the stadium has a scoreboard behind one of the end zones, which does not include a video board for replays, so make sure to pay attention if you want to catch the action. On the plus side, however, the walking path at the top of the stands is open to the field, so you can keep an eye on the game while you get up to get a snack. Neighborhood 3 Salisbury, NC is your quintessential rural small town, with a population of under 34K living in an area of about 18 square miles. Despite its small size the town boasts a theological seminary and three colleges, including Livingstone and crosstown D2 rival Catawba , and offers several attractions for fans in town for the day or weekend. A few restaurants close to Alumni Memorial Stadium include Hap’s Grill (a tiny but popular burger joint) and the very unique La Cava, which is an Italian restaurant set up inside a former church. For fans of the outdoors, nearby Kelsey Scott Park offers slides and swings for the little ones, while those with an interest in history can check out the NC Transportation Museum a few miles to the east. And, if you plan to be in town overnight there are plenty of hotels near the stadium (at the I-85 exit), including a Comfort Suites and a Courtyard by Marriott. Fans 2 Livingstone College does not currently pull in a ton of fans for football games, but as the team keeps winning and the band keeps playing that should improve over time. As a result, however, at present the stands seem a little empty, but the fans who are there are very vocal in support of the Bears (or against certain calls by the refs). You will see a lot of fans in team gear, and if you didn’t bring any of your own you can buy it from a stand at the stadium, or pick up a Blue Bears towel or noise maker (i.e. thunder sticks) as you enter the venue. Access 4 Getting to Alumni Memorial Stadium could not be much easier – located in Salisbury, NC, the venue is only a few miles off I-85 and offers parking for $5 right next to the facility. There is no traffic to worry about as you approach, even if you arrive within a few minutes of kickoff, and unlike some venues there are plenty of signs pointing the way to parking; the event staff are also friendly and courteous if you do end up needing some assistance finding your way. Once you get to the stadium you will use the main entrance on one end of the home stands (near the parking), and if you are sitting in the visitor stands you will then walk down the stairs and across the field to that side. The concession stands are only located on the home side, but they are easy to get to and the lines are short. There are also more than enough bathrooms to accommodate the size of the crowd, and since the venue is not full you will have plenty of room to spread out if you want to. Return on Investment 4 If you are in the area I would definitely recommend a visit to Alumni Memorial Stadium – the band is worth seeing and the action on the field is generally competitive; despite a losing season in their last campaign the Bears are starting out this year (2019) on a high note. Tickets to games here are slightly higher than other venues in the area at $15 ($10 for faculty/staff and $5 for children), but the parking and concessions are on the low side so that should make up for it, even if you are bringing a large group. Extras 2 The Bears do have some signage around the field and logos on the field itself, and the stands are painted in the team’s colors which is always a plus. The track around the field does mean fans are a little further from the action than they might like, but the venue is small enough that you are still plenty close enough to hear the crack of the pads against each other; in fact I would recommend sitting at the top of either grandstand to get a better view of the action, as the nearest seats to the field might even be too close.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Fair Grounds Race Course 1751 Gentilly Blvd New Orleans, LA 70119 Fair Grounds Race Course website Year Opened: 1837 Capacity: 10,000 Road to Kentucky Derby runs through Louisiana Every year since 1894, with a few breaks in between, the road to the Kentucky Derby has run through New Orleans via the annual Louisiana Derby. Run every year in late March, the Grade II sanctioned race with a purse of $1,000,000 is one of the last major prep races ran before the Kentucky Derby. The self-proclaimed 'Road to the Kentucky Derby' is a series of prep races that begin every year in September, using a points-based system scheduled over 36 races. The series has 14 major races which are part of the Championship Series, run from February through April every year. The horses must gain points to qualify, with the Championship Series races worth more points and having bigger purses – there are important stakes on the line during the Louisiana Derby, as the race garners 100 points and automatically qualifies the horse for the Kentucky Derby, the annual Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs the first Saturday in May. The Louisiana Derby is one of the more prestigious races that is not part of horse racing's Triple Crown, and is also one of the oldest stake races, with the 2024 running marking the 110th anniversary of the Louisiana Derby. This annual race takes place at historic Fair Grounds Race Course, where racing began on the site in 1837, making it the second-oldest site for horse racing in the country. Like the city itself, historic Fair Grounds Race Course has had its share of historic moments, like in 1924 when Black Gold won the Louisiana Derby six weeks before also winning the Kentucky Derby, or in 1988 when the son of Secretariat, Risen Star, took home the Louisiana Derby trophy en route to winning that years’ Belmont and Preakness stakes. Horse racing was held here during the Civil War, and after the war welcomed such names as General Custer, Ulysses S. Grant, and Jesse James, who all owned horses or visited the track. The grounds also hosted boxing matches, and the track hosted a car race here in the 1920s. But despite the track's good days, there have also been some dark days, such as on Dec 18, 1993, when a 7-alarm fire completely destroyed the grandstand, or in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage to the facility, shutting down racing for over a year. However, after over 150 years, Fair Grounds Race Course still stands strong today, and is nicknamed "Horse Racing's Winter Capital" due to the number of races run here from November to March.   Food & Beverage   4 Part of what makes Louisiana Derby day so special is the expansive food and beverage options – the indoor grandstand on the second level has several stands, while the street level has the majority of the options here. Twin Spires Casino is also located on the property, and houses two restaurants as well as several bars; Gentilly Grill and P.J.'s Coffeehouse are the two restaurants located in the casino, near the main entrance to the track. The paddocks are the first area you come to when you enter the facility – this is the showcase area for horses before they race, and the area features several food options. Star Guitar Bar is located here, and is named after Louisiana's winningest thoroughbred, Star Guitar; the outdoor bar features several of his saddles, as well as a horse-themed custom guitar on the wall. Another popular stand near the main entrance to the paddocks is Tailgate Tigers, a non-profit competitive cooking team from LSU that raises funds for childhood cancer illnesses. Louisiana Derby day is their biggest fundraiser of the year, raising over $20,000 annually on this day alone – you'll often find the Tailgate Tigers staff smoking a pig or alligator while a big ol' pot of gumbo cooks nearby. Upstairs you'll find several more concession stands, such as Italian Stallion offering different kinds of Italian sausage, as well as deep dish pizzas. Another popular stand is Gourmet Shack, offering Creole menu items such as Cajun chicken alfredo, crawfish spinach dip, and crab de la creme. Oaks Grill is also up here offering a full menu of different burgers, with views overlooking the paddocks, but if you want to keep things simple and just order nachos, popcorn, or a hot dog there are five basic concession stands located on the property, while for drinks, Pepsi is the official provider at Fair Grounds Race Course. Another part that makes the Louisiana Derby so special is the broad selection of alcohol on site – you can find a multitude of different bars set up offering everything from domestic to premium beer. There are also two daiquiri stands set up on the property, as well as a craft beer stand selling beers from local Port Orleans Brewery. But to get the full Louisiana Derby experience you have to try a mint julep; outside on the concourse is High Horse Bar, offering the Derby tradition mint julep. High Horse also serves bloody Mary's and their famous Southern Oaks drink, which is vodka mixed with lemon and cranberry juice. There are also several food trucks lined up along the final stretch on the outdoor concourse, including Daddy Hot Bird for New Orleans style chicken, Tasty Treat serving soft serve ice cream, and Knee Deep Seafood Company offering their favorite dishes of alligator sausage and Cajun hibachi. It's tempting to get full on food and drinks here; just make sure you save some room for dinner so you can hit up the French Quarter for some of New Orleans' finer restaurants.   Atmosphere   5 Even if you know nothing about horse racing, all the prestige and grandeur you would expect at the Kentucky Derby is on display in New Orleans, along with many of the traditions of the Run for the Roses. Mint Juleps, big ornate hats worn by women, a garland of roses awarded to the winner; it's all on display here. The only thing missing is the playing of "My Old Kentucky Home" before the race, but you may hear an old school New Orleans brass band playing instead. You have three main entrances into Fair Grounds Race Course – you can enter through the casino on the grounds, through the main entrance near the paddocks, or you can enter at street level near the first turn and be right up on the action. The paddocks are where you can get one last look at the horses before placing a bet; it can get kind of cramped in the paddocks, however, as it is also the main gathering area where the horses are presented for display, including a three-story overlook for viewing. I recommend entering at the paddocks, as you can find a ticket office there as well as a Derby store there, where you can find plenty of memorabilia. You are also free to walk down the jockey quarters hallway to view plaques and photos on the wall showing the history of the track; the simulcast booth is also set up in the paddocks, with pregame coverage and expert picks for the day's races. Fair Grounds Race Course features an enormous four-story grandstand that extends down the final stretch into the first turn. The track itself is a mile long oval facing east and west with a dirt and turf track, approximately 7 furlongs; you are not allowed on the infield during race days. The Louisiana Derby is one of 12 races run on Derby day, run at 1 and 3/16th miles. There is a small grandstand outdoors at street level which features metal bleachers, as well as a concourse separating the track from the grandstand – the concourse can get quite crammed with patrons wanting to be right up on the action as the horses approach the final stretch. The walkway at the far west end of the track features all the pop-up bars and food trucks, as well as a tent hosting a private party sponsored by the New Orleans Pelicans . The first floor of the indoor grandstand and the outside concourse is general admission, while the third and fourth floors of the grandstand are the club access points.   Neighborhood   4 Fair Grounds Race Course is located about 3 miles north of the French Quarter in the Fairgrounds neighborhood of the mid-city area. This area is mostly residential, and is not where most of the tourists would venture to if coming to visit, so more than likely you'll come to the track for the day and stay overnight elsewhere in the city, as the area around the track isn't exactly the safest after dark. However, there are a few local spots worth checking out if in town on Derby day – the great thing about Fair Grounds Race Course is you can come and go all day, so you are free to walk around the neighborhoods and then come back and watch the races. Liuzza's at the Track is about two blocks south of the course. Famous for its BBQ shrimp po’ boys, and voted the best gumbo in New Orleans, it is almost impossible to get a table at Liuzza's during the Louisiana Derby, as it is always packed. However, another popular local spot is Parkway Tavern about a mile south of the track – this local dive bar has been open for over 100 years, and is famous for its “Good Food, Poor Boys” sign above the main entrance. Other popular spots near the course include the French bistro Cafe Degas, which makes a great brunch spot, while across the street to the east on Gentilly Blvd is Seahorse Salon, which makes for a popular spot to grab a cold beer in between races. Across the street to the south is Santa Fe Restaurant, which makes a great spot to grab a margarita, and is a popular post-race hangout for the jockeys and horse owners. Another popular place to visit nearby is City Park; the 20th most visited public park in the U.S. is located a stone's throw away from Fair Grounds Race Course, over the scenic Bayou St. John. City Park makes for a great stroll and includes countless museums and walking trails. Also make sure to visit Cafe du Monde in City Park, which is always less packed than the more famous French Quarter location. And of course, the French Quarter is where you can find plenty of additional attractions that New Orleans is known for. The French Quarter also has plenty of hotels to choose from including historic Hotel Monteleone, built in 1886, which remains the official host hotel of the Louisiana Derby. This hotel is famous for its rotating carousel bar, which I recommend checking out if in the city.   Fans   5 Derby Day at Fair Grounds Race Course attracts a wide range of different patrons – the grandstands have seating for about 10,000 people, and you'll find another 5,000 or so patrons just walking the outdoor concourse or standing in the paddocks. You'll also find the regulars who come to the track almost every weekend to bet on horses, so they usually know their stuff. The facility has over 200 available kiosks for you to place bets, but the lines back up substantially the closer to post time of the Louisiana Derby itself, around 5:30 pm. The track has electronic kiosks, or you can place your bet with a bookie who will help explain the process if you are not familiar with wagering on horse races. Fair Grounds Race Course runs 12 races on Derby Day, with races every hour beginning at noon. A lot of the horses running in the earlier races are local horses, so the regulars may be familiar with some of them. Former NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme owns some of the horses racing earlier in the day, so Saints  fans at the track may want to watch his horses. The Tom Benson Stakes, named after the late Saints owner, is also a popular race run earlier in the afternoon, and his wife Gayle is usually on hand to deliver the trophy to the winning jockey. You'll also get a lot of the preppy college aged folks dressed in different suits – picture a college fraternity party and that's the kind of preppy vibe you can get here. I did see a few kids, but for the most part this is not an event that caters to families. As mentioned earlier the theme at the Louisiana Derby is to dress nice and go over the top, and you'll find a lot of that here with the fancy hats and dresses worn by the ladies, while a lot of the men are decked out in flashy and outlandish suits with bow ties and fedoras. Cigar smoking is about as common here as people drinking, and they even have cigars for sale at the front desk at the main entrance, should you forget to bring yours. But the great thing about attending the Louisiana Derby is that even if you know nothing about horse racing, you are bound to have a good time. Track announcer John G. Dooley does an excellent job giving the play-by-play of the action on the track; he has been the track announcer here for 20 years. When the horses go onto the backstretch after turn 2 you can no longer can see the action from the grandstands, so it is up to you to visualize the horses based on John Dooley providing the play-by-play, until the horses get to the final stretch. When the horses come back into view on that final stretch, however, it can get quite exciting, with Dooley providing his thrilling play-by-play over the PA system – you’ll get to see why this is called the fastest 3 minutes in sports.   Access   3 Getting to Fair Grounds Race Course shouldn't be bad depending on which direction you are coming from; if coming from out of town the track is conveniently located near the I-10 and I-610 interchange, the two main interstates into town. From I-610 take Exit 2C onto Paris Ave, then take the first right onto Gentilly Blvd, and you can't miss the facility about a mile south after exiting the interstate. If you are coming from the French Quarter or the Central Business District, it might be a little more difficult if you are not familiar with the rhythm of the city. New Orleans doesn't exactly have the nicest roads, and you'll be navigating side roads that can go from pleasant to scary really quick, so the best way to get here from the Quarter is by Uber or Lyft. There is gated and secured parking for over 10,000 cars on property on the south and east sides of the track. On a regular race day this shouldn't be a problem, but on Derby Day the parking lot fills up quick, so I recommend getting here as early as possible – the gates open at 11 am and the first post time is at noon.  Unfortunately, there are no public lots around the grounds, so if you don't get here early your only option is parking on the street. You may get lucky and find some street parking on Ponce De Leon Street, a couple of blocks south of Fair Grounds Race Course, and you may also find people who live on the streets offering paid parking in their yards. Once inside the venue, the earlier you arrive the better chance you'll have of getting a good view right up at the finish line. The Louisiana Derby is run every year around 5:30 pm, so around 3 or 4 it starts to get pretty crammed, with people flooding the paddocks and attendees walking shoulder to shoulder on the outdoor walkway. The betting lines and kiosks also back up around late afternoon as well – the earlier races are a little more laid back, however, making a great time to get a bookie to help you place a wager on a horse if you are unfamiliar with the process.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets start at $10 for general admission, which includes access to the outdoor concourse and indoor grandstand on the second level, while $25 gets you access to the club level on the third and fourth floors of the covered grandstand. The club levels feature more betting areas, slot machines, and several sit-down dining options. You cannot find a better return on investment than attending the Louisiana Derby, as you are guaranteed to see at least several horses that will race in the Kentucky Derby. I also recommend just coming for the experience of attending a major horse race – though it's the fastest three minutes in sports, the events and festivities, combined with the spirit and atmosphere of New Orleans, make this an all-day affair.   Extras   4 One extra for all the historical figures who visited this track, which is almost as old as the city itself. From General Custer, who owned a stable of horses here shortly before he was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn, to Ulysses S. Grant, who was a frequent attendee during the spring races of 1880, as well as the outlaw Jesse James, a frequent bettor at the track when his brother Frank was Commissioner of Gambling here. The Track has changed substantially over the last 150 years, but if you want to see a part of the track that hasn’t changed, check out the two twin spires, which were built in 1860, flanking the Gentilly Street entrance. This entrance is just north of the main entrance, and though it is currently closed, it is only about a five-minute walk around the track to get to the gate. Another extra for the three horses buried in the infield at Fair Grounds Race Course – perhaps the most famous horse to race here was Black Gold, who won the 1924 Louisiana Derby en route to winning the 50th running of the Kentucky Derby a couple of weeks later. Black Gold collapsed on this track in 1928, and was euthanized and buried here; Black Gold had a fitting name for a city synonymous with the Saints , and the horse also had a movie based on his life, as well as a book. The horse buried next to Black Gold is Pan Zareta; nicknamed Queen of the Turf, she won 76 races throughout her career, but contracted pneumonia and died in her stall on Christmas Day 1918. The Pan Zareta Stakes is run at Fair Grounds Race Course every year on Thanksgiving weekend, and the winner of the Stakes places a wreath on Pan Zareta’s grave. The third horse buried here is the local horse Tenacious, a popular fixture at the track in the 1960s. Another extra for the events the facility hosts throughout the year – as the sports’ Winter Capital you can expect to find horse racing at the track every weekend here, starting with the Thanksgiving Day Classic up until the Louisiana Derby. The Gun Runner Stakes are held Christmas weekend, the Lecomte Stakes in January, and the Risen Star Stakes in February, all of which are prep races with qualifying points towards the Kentucky Derby. Fair Grounds Race Course also holds the Exotic Animal Races twice a year, where you can bet on camel, zebra, and ostrich races; the Weiner dog races are also a hot ticket each year as well. And of course, an extra for Fair Grounds Race Course’s biggest event every year, and it has nothing to do with horse racing. Every year since 1970, as soon as racing season ends, the grounds are transformed into the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, better known as JazzFest, which takes place for two weekends every year at the end of April. One of the most famous music festivals in the world, the event attracts over 450,000 attendees and has attracted some of the biggest name in music – The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Christ Stapleton, and Widespread Panic are just some of the names playing at this year’s festival.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Dakota Dome 414 E Clark St Vermillion, SD 57010 South Dakota Coyotes website Dakota Dome website Year Opened: 1979 Capacity: 10,000 At Home in the Black Hills The Dakota Dome (officially spelled as one word with no space) in Vermillion, South Dakota is home to the South Dakota Coyotes football team of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, a part of college football’s Division 1-AA, also known as FCS. The football field is in the same building as the Coyotes’ basketball arena, which you can walk over and see during the football game – the dome was built in 1979, and the football portion holds 10K fans. One thing to remember when you visit the Dakota Dome is that at the University of South Dakota, Coyote is actually pronounced kai-yoat (2 syllables) rather than the more common pronunciation kai-yo-tay (3 syllables). You should also remember to wear red (and howl intermittently) to support the home team. Food & Beverage 3 The Dakota Dome won’t give you everything you want in terms of food and beverage options at a football venue, but there are plenty of choices and the prices are very reasonable (read inexpensive). Also, there are a bunch of tables and chairs set up in the concourse between the football field and the basketball court, as well as lots of free-standing plush chairs, so you can eat out there if you want instead of in your regular seat. Food options include nachos, walking tacos, hot dogs, brats, burgers, Philly cheesesteak, pizza, pretzels, popcorn, caramel corn, packaged candy, and chips; drink selections include soda, bottled water, and Gatorade. All individual items cost between $1.50 and $5.50, with combos coming in at $7 to $8. No alcohol is sold inside the Dakota Dome (except in the club area), but you are welcome to BYOB and drink outside in the tailgate zone, which is crowded and raucous all game long. Atmosphere 5 Besides the really great tailgating, the Dakota Dome also has the benefit of being an indoor venue, which is a major plus on frigid days up north, especially in October and November after the temperatures have started to drop. The football portion of the Dakota Dome has about three-quarters of its seats on the home side beneath the press box, with the ones in the front and down the middle being bucket-style with chair backs, and the remainder being plastic-capped metal bleachers. The much smaller student section/seating for the band is on the opposite side of the field, and also consists of capped seats, which are much more comfortable than metal bleachers. All of the seats around the field are Coyote red, which creates a great look, and there is also plenty of other school décor around the field and in the concourse – the most prominent and intimidating being the mural-sized photo behind one end zone of a hungry-looking Coyote looking right into your eyes (note that there is no end zone seating here). The other really great feature about the Dakota Dome is that re-entry is allowed, so fans can practically come and go as they please. In fact, on my most recent visit I don’t remember a single staff member even looking at, much less scanning, my ticket, and all game long I saw fans traipsing outside and back in again, or walking down the hall to sit on the student side instead, with absolutely no interference nor comment from any staff member. Neighborhood 3 Vermillion, South Dakota has about as many residents as the Dakota Dome holds (about 10K), so there isn’t a ton to do in the area if you come for the day or weekend. However, there is a nice little downtown area just off campus that has a couple of restaurants, and it is easy enough to find a hotel nearby if you plan to spend the night. Fans 3 Given Vermillion’s small population, South Dakota Coyote fans deserve credit for coming out in force to support their team. At a typical game the Dakota Dome will be close to sold out, although note that about 25% of the fans seem to be supporting the visiting team. But the home fans that do show up are pretty loud, and they wear their own team gear to successfully outshine the large contingent of visitors. One interesting thing to note though is that even though the stadium will be close to sold out, you will see a lot of empty seats, and that is mainly because so many fans are outside tailgating. In fact, if the game goes south and USD is down big at the half, many of the home fans will simply go outside to drown their sorrows at the tailgates, but they won’t necessarily go home, so if the Coyotes manage to stage a comeback you could very well see a lot of home fans come back inside. Access 4 Getting to the Dakota Dome is very easy; the only downside is it might be pretty far away depending on where you’re coming from. But there is very little traffic in town, which is a huge plus, and if you don’t have a parking pass there is free parking on Alumni Drive to the west of the venue – this is a grass lot but has more than enough room for everyone. Once you get inside the Dakota Dome moving around is fairly easy, but the concessions and women’s restrooms may back up a little, because there are just not enough of them to accommodate even the modest capacity of 10K. Note that there are additional concessions and restrooms in another part of the building, but they are a little difficult to find and obviously not as convenient as the regular ones – part of the access issue here is there are no concessions nor restrooms on the student side, so all those fans have to come over and use the amenities on the home side. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to South Dakota Coyotes games at the Dakota Dome cost $40 no matter which seats you purchase, which is a little odd, and the venue is often nearly sold out, so if you buy from the box office only the “worst” section is available. However, you can buy from third-party resellers and save a little money, and if you happen to be a student you can get in for free. While these ticket prices are a bit on the high end for FCS, this is outweighed a little by the free parking and the cheap concessions, so if you are able to find tickets for a good price this can still be a fun outing that is kind on the wallet. Extras 5 Being able to come and go as you please is awesome, but being able to watch football indoors is even better. The Coyotes also have a great mascot who interacts with fans throughout the game, and the concourse has TVs all around the inside, including by the concessions, so you can still keep an eye on the game while you are moving to and fro. Final Thoughts While the South Dakota Coyotes may never be thought of as a hotbed for college football, especially given that they are FCS, a visit to the Dakota Dome in Vermillion, South Dakota is a great way to see college football. You can take in some great scenery, while also enjoying a game in comfort and style without having to brave the elements – that alone makes this a stadium worth journeying

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center 112 Harding St. Worcester, MA 01604 Assumption Greyhounds men's ice hockey website Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 250 Greyhound Hockey   Assumption University is a private, Roman Catholic university founded in 1904 by the Augustinians of the Assumption. Its enrollment of approximately 2,000 undergraduate students study in 35 programs within five academic divisions.   The Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center is a state of the art dual-rink facility built by the ECHL Worcester Railers’ owner Cliff Rucker. It features two rinks, the Railers offices and pro shop, restaurants, a gym and rehabilitation center. The $18 million dollar complex is home to several college, high school and youth organizations, including the Assumption Greyhounds, Worcester State Lancers and Worcester Polytechnic Institute Engineers. The facility boasts that over 600,000 people pass through its front doors annually.   Assumption’s athletic teams are called the Greyhounds and compete in Division II’s Northeast-10 Conference. Since this Conference is the only D-2 conference in the NCAA that plays hockey, there is no national postseason tournament for the six teams in the Northeast-10.  The Greyhounds have won three NE-10 titles. The women’s team competes in the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance, which is recognized as a Division One conference. They have yet to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.   Food & Beverage 3   Ordinarily, a hockey rink with only a couple of vending machines available would score very poorly on this metric. If you’re only planning to hit the machines, your standard snack foods will have to do. Now, since this is Worcester, the cola wars are not fought here. The vending machines in the Ice Center lobby feature local Polar beverages. Stadium Journey’s recommendation: try an Orange Dry.   What brings this score up a couple of notches is the presence of Bay State Brewing on the first floor.  Featuring a menu of small-batch craft beers in a wide range of styles (the blood orange lager is their most popular brew) and a menu of pizzas, sharables and sandwiches, it’s a great place to hang out before or after the game. Plus, you can grab one of their craft beers and bring it upstairs to enjoy while you watch the game. That’s worth a couple of extra points in my book.   Atmosphere 2   There’s nothing fancy going on at a Greyhounds hockey game. This is as basic as a game day presentation gets. That should be apparent to everyone as soon as they see the tiny dot matrix scoreboard hanging at center ice. The sound system is decent and plays music during play stoppages. The PA announcer goes about his work in an unobtrusive manner, keeping fans informed of the goings on without adding a lot of energy to the proceedings.   Most of the energy generated in the gray rink is generated by the fans in the stands. With the small crowds in attendance, you can hear the sounds of skates cutting through the ice, coaches barking instructions at their teams, and players chirping each other (and the referees). It’s an old-school, laid-back experience here at the Worcester Ice Center.   Neighborhood 4   While Assumption University is located in residential Forest Grove neighborhood in western Worcester, the Worcester Ice Center is about four miles away from campus in Worcester's Canal District. This neighborhood has received a lot of attention in recent years. The construction of nearby Polar Park  and the arrival of the Worcester Red Sox, the top affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, has been a boon for the neighborhood. New developments have popped up all over the area, bringing business and money to what was once one of Worcester’s rougher areas.   In addition to Bay State Brewery located at the facility, El Patron Mexican Restaurant and the Worcester Public Market are located just a short walk down Harding Street. Visiting fans looking to explore some of the best the city has to offer should head to Shrewsbury Street, the home of Worcester’s famous “Restaurant Row.” Along this drag’s 1.5 miles are located some of the city’s finest dining establishments, salons and shops.   There are not many lodging options available in the immediate vicinity of the Worcester Ice Center, but there are options throughout the city, including a Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton in the nearby downtown neighborhood, less than a mile away near the DCU Center , home of the ECHL’s Worcester Railers.   Fans 2   The crowd at an Assumption hockey game is certainly a “friends and family” type of crowd. Pretty much everyone in attendance has a personal connection with the players on the ice, and as a result, are knowledgeable and enthusiastic in their support of the Greyhounds. Since Assumption's schedule is made up mainly of local teams, you can expect to find a good number of visiting fans here as well. With Assumption’s campus located about four miles away, there’s not much of a turnout from the student body. Surprisingly, you’ll find a bunch of four-legged friends in attendance watching the game in this chilly rink alongside about 50-100 human fans. Sadly, no Greyhounds were seen during Stadium Journey’s visit.   Access 4   The Worcester Ice Center is located right off of Interstate 290, and easy to get to via the Grafton Street exit. The facility is located just a quarter mile from the highway and ten minutes from downtown. Hopefully your GPS will take you here via Grafton Street rather than Kelly Square, a quasi-rotary where several of Worcester’s busiest streets all come together in the most random fashion possible. It is notorious for its delays, backups and accidents. As part of the construction of Polar Park, it received a much-needed overhaul, which has greatly increased the intersection’s safety and wait times, but those unfamiliar with the area would be well-advised to avoid this intersection.   There is free parking available in the lot adjacent to the facility in addition to on-street parking in the area. The neighborhood is generally safe should you stay on the busier streets.   The Worcester Ice Center features two rinks, named the blue and the gray rinks, after the Railers’ colors. Fans enter into the facility’s lobby, with Bay State Brewing to your right. With the facility in constant use, this lobby is full of activity. Fans will climb a set of stairs to access the seating area of the two rinks, with standing room on the first level straight ahead. The Greyhounds play at the Gray rink, located on the left.   Seating is located about ten feet above the ice surface, and consists of metal bleachers without backs that run from one offensive zone to the other. There are raised platforms at both ends of the rink for people wanting to stand for a bit. Netting runs the length of the ice, obstructing the view from all seats. There is also standing room along the boards at ice level. Access to the blue rink next door is easy, and many fans will wander back and forth between the rinks.   Return on Investment 4   There is no charge to attend a Greyhounds hockey game. Parking is available at no charge in the small lot in front of the Ice Center. Additional parking is available on-street around the facility and in a parking lot across the street. There is a charge to park on-street (except on Saturday nights, where the city waives parking fees) and in the lot. Be prepared to pay $15 if you’re parking in the public lot.   If you’re planning to eat at Bay State Brewing downstairs, or even grab a beer to bring upstairs, expect to pay usual restaurant prices. A pint of one of their brews will run $8, a much more affordable price than you’ll pay at most arenas.   Extras 2   Flags hang at the end of the rink representing all the teams that use the Worcester Ice Center. Along the far side of the rink are flags commemorating the championships won by these teams.   In the lobby is a display honoring the “Worcester Six,” a group of firefighters who died fighting a warehouse fire in 1999.   Final Thoughts   The Worcester Ice Center is a community rink that offers your typical small college experience. The facility offers some impressive extras and an up-and-coming neighborhood that boosts its score significantly. Plus, if schedules line up, you’ll get to watch two games for the price of one!   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Gregory Koch and Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Wesley Brown Field House Cooper Road Annapolis, MD 21402 Navy Midshipmen website Wesley Brown Field House website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 420 Navy Blue and Gold Wesley Brown Field House is a 140,000 square foot facility on the campus of the United States Naval Academy that is home to several of the Midshipmen's athletic programs, as well as intramural sports, physical education, and several athletic department offices. The Navy volleyball team calls the gym at the back of the Field House home. With seating for about 400 fans on three sides, this is a small arena within a much larger facility. The Field House is named for Wesley Brown, the first African American to graduate from the Academy. Brown, who graduated in 1949, went on to become a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. Food & Beverage 1 There is a small table just inside the entrance to the gym selling a very limited menu. Candy, chips, and popcorn are your only options to eat, while bottled Pepsi products (soda and water) are available to drink. Prices are affordable, with the chips only costing a dollar, candy $3, and popcorn and drinks $4. However, the selection is extremely limited so we suggest eating before or after the game. Atmosphere 3 There are a few rows of plastic bleachers on three sides of the court at Wesley Brown Field House, and they do tend to fill up. However, the space is actually much larger than the court itself, as there is also a 200 meter track just behind it as well as other open space on the ground floor of the Field House. They put up nets, but those are more to protect those on the track from errant balls than to keep the sound in. This does tamper the noise somewhat, although it still gets loud. The team offers several promotions during the game, including t-shirt tosses and giveaways to a randomly selected fan. There is a small scoreboard in one of the corners, but this is frequently obstructed by fans. There is a small display on the scorers' table which also shows the score, but the referee will often stand in front of it. There is a large videoboard on one baseline which shows a pregame hype video, but instead of being used as a scoreboard at other times, it is blank. This seems like it could be put to better use. Neighborhood 5 Annapolis is a small-sized city of about 40,000 people, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. There’s a shopping center located across from the football stadium where you will likely park (more on that later.) It has a few basic restaurants, but you can find far better food a short drive away. Annapolis being located on the Chesapeake Bay, there are plenty of great seafood restaurants nearby, including Buddy’s Crabs & Ribs, The Boatyard Bar & Grill, and the Sailor Oyster Bar, all located within a couple miles of the stadium. If you want an authentic sweet treat after your meal, The Boatyard sells the official state dessert of Maryland, Smith Island Cake, which is made fresh on Smith Island daily and brought up by ferry. The real attraction, though, is the U.S. Naval Academy itself. The grounds are beautiful, and there’s so much history, so be sure to take a tour while you’re in town. Keep in mind the stringent access requirements that will be discussed in that section, however. Fans 4 As mentioned above, the Wesley Brown Field House gets close to full for most volleyball games. You will have friends and family of the players, alumni, locals coming to cheer on the team, and a few members of the Brigade of Midshipmen who show up to cheer on their classmates. The crowd can get quite loud at times despite the cavernous space. Access 2 Getting to Wesley Brown Field House is quite complicated. Although Annapolis is conveniently located off US 50/US 301, getting onto the Academy grounds is another story. Vehicular access is prohibited to anyone without the appropriate DOD permit. Instead, you have two options. The most convenient one is to park at the football stadium (punch 550 Taylor Avenue into your GPS) and take the shuttle bus to the arena. Parking here will cost $10 via the Parkmobile app, although there is no cost to ride the shuttle itself. Note that on days Navy has a home football game, parking is instead at the Navy Health Clinic. Check the Navy athletic website to confirm. There is no charge to park here on days when this is the location. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes or so, so be sure to allot extra time. Alternatively, fans can park in downtown Annapolis in one of multiple garages (some of which are free on weekends) and walk onto Academy grounds and to the Field House. Regardless of how you access the Academy, anyone over the age of 18 will need to show a photo ID and anyone under 18 will need to either have one or be accompanied by someone who does. Once you get to the Field House, you will walk through the front doors, past the track, and to the back of the facility and enter the gym. Look for the giant nets. You may be able to see flying volleyballs through them, which will tell you you are in the right place. Return on Investment 4 Admission to Navy volleyball matches is free and concessions are affordable if limited. However, the $10 to park takes this down a bit. Extras 4 Check out the area dedicated to Lt. Cmdr. Wesley A. Brown by the entrance. As mentioned above, Brown was the first African American to graduate from the Academy, and attended the groundbreaking of the Field House in 2006. Look for the marketing table by the entrance, with free roster cards and other giveaways. A third star for all the rich history of the Naval Academy. A fourth and final star for the gorgeous views of the Severn River and the Academy grounds that you will get to take in on the shuttle ride to and from the stadium. On the way in, sit on the left for the best view of the water or the right for the best view of the Academy. On the way back to the stadium, it's the reverse. Final Thoughts Wesley Brown Field House is a simple but unique gym to watch a volleyball game in. It's a small facility but feels like it's much larger due to being within the larger field house. A sporting event at any service academy is always something special, and Navy volleyball is no exception.

Photo Courtesy of SJSU Spartans Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.14 Excite Ballpark 588 East Alma Ave San Jose, CA 95112 San Jose State Spartans website Excite Ballpark website Year Opened: 1942 Capacity: 4,200 Somewhat Home of the Spartans San Jose Municipal Stadium is one of the relics of the minor leagues. It’s been open since 1942 (a WPA project) and seats a solid 4,200. The stadium feels old, perhaps even older than its 1942 opening. The narrow concourse and painted walls depicting classic baseball scenes and quotes about baseball by celebrities embrace the historical feel of the park. Unfortunately, this park is home to San Jose State by schedule only and has absolutely no inkling of embracing the college program. Decorated almost completely for the California League San Jose Giants , this is simply a borrowed home for the Spartans. San Jose State baseball plays the majority of their baseball at Municipal Stadium, but occasionally plays home games at smaller Blethen Field on campus. The Spartans don’t exactly have a sparkling history to go along with their borrowed stadium either, although they did make the College World Series in 2000. The good news is San Jose State plans to build a new on campus stadium to replace Blethen Field at some point in the future, presumably moving their home games out of Municipal Stadium. Note: The stadium name changed from San Jose Municipal Stadium to Excite Ballpark in 2019. Food & Beverage 2 Municipal Stadium features a modicum of food selection from one open concession stand behind the first base line. The menu is pretty plain including things like hot dogs ($4.75), polish sausage ($5.50), nachos ($4.75), corn dogs ($4.75) and mac & cheese ($4.50). Perhaps the most interesting thing on the menu is a batting helmet full of nachos for $9.75. None of the food is particularly bad, there’s just not much of a variety. Soda is available for $4, but there’s a variety of drink options to choose from. Bottled water ($3.50), apple juice ($3.50), coffee ($2.50), hot chocolate ($3), Gatorade ($4) and pure leaf tea ($4.50) are all available. There is beer available for $7, but it’s limited to Bud Light. Sutter Home Wines are also available for $7. Picking out any one item is tough because nothing really stands out. But to me, a simple hot dog and a Bud Light sums up what this stadium is all about. Atmosphere 2 There’s not much atmosphere to speak of, and the atmosphere here seems to be stolen from the San Jose Giants. When entering the park you’ll quickly notice all of the painting on the walls, although it’s mostly representing the Giants and the teams of the California League. There’s a grandstand wrapping from first base to third base that holds the majority of fans. There are bleachers in right field and pavilion with tables in left, but they are basically all closed for San Jose State games. This actually hurts the atmosphere by pointing out how much just isn’t available at a Spartans game. There’s not really any in-game promotion to speak of at Municipal Stadium. The PA announcer is pretty bland and the video board in right field never actually plays any videos. Seating is more or less limited to the grandstand area all with basically the same view. There’s no covered seating, so it’s pretty much at your discretion where you choose to take in the game from. Neighborhood 2 The neighborhood is pretty tough to peg. It seems relatively industrial and bland, but there are some hidden gems in the area that make it tolerable. And the larger area of San Jose has a lot to offer. There’s not a whole lot of food options in the immediate area, mostly Mexican and Asian food places. Stanley’s Sports Bar is less than 2 blocks away and easily walkable as well. If you’re looking for breweries, there are 4 in the immediate area and two worth checking out. Strike Brewing and Hermitage Brewery are both within a few blocks and offer excellent craft beer options. San Jose itself is home to multiple attractions, both sports and otherwise. The San Jose Sharks and San Jose Earthquakes are both in the area and offer up some great sports experiences. Not far away you can check out the famous Winchester Mystery House for a spooky and interesting guided tour of the remarkably unique mansion. There are plenty of hotels in downtown San Jose, but those can be a bit pricey. Just south of the stadium are a Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn for slightly better prices while still getting a decent upscale hotel. Fans 2 Again, there’s not much to speak of in terms of fans. The shared venue is a bit too big for what San Jose State draws. The number of fans at a game rarely exceeds three digits. A couple hundred fans, a few of them students, are around the park, but it seems like there’s just as many visiting fans as home fans. Even with half the stadium closed off, there are far more open seats than taken ones. Overall this means fan engagement is at a minimum. There are a few fans that will call out the players by name, but there’s not much in terms of true fan support. Access 3 It’s pretty easy to get to the park, but this also is a function of the lack of attendance and overall traffic in the area. Access could easily become an issue if there was a bigger draw. Public transit is basically non-existent, even in the Bay area known for public transit options. Municipal Stadium is a few miles from any easy transit station and only a bus line comes into the general vicinity. If you’re flying in, the San Jose airport is right up the road and is a pretty big hub for traffic from a lot of locations. Parking is free and easy to find. There’s a parking lot over the right field fence, but you can park on the street incredibly easily. Be careful to not park in the ice skating rink lot next door, as signs make it clear that towing can be enforced. There’s really only one gate into the stadium and there’re three ticket booths in front of it. Generally, no one will really be there and getting in and out is pretty simple. The concourse is narrow, but the lack of attendance makes it easy to navigate. Restrooms aren’t particularly nice and seem like they are from 1942, but access is quick and easy. Return on Investment 2 Even at a cheap price, I’m not sure this is worth adding to the travel list. $5 for a ticket that allows you to sit anywhere you want to is pretty easy. Add food and drinks in and you’re looking at about $15 for a game. Realistically though, you’re better off checking out the stadium for a San Jose Giants game. You’ll get the same historical feel but more aligned with the team and with access to the whole park. Extras 2 I know they are generally for the minor league club and not for San Jose State, but I spent as much time looking at and reading the murals and paintings all over the walls here as I did watching the game. Baseball quotes, California League history and general random baseball drawings are everywhere in the concourse and make for an interesting walk. Final Thoughts While I’d tell you to check out Municipal Stadium for its history, I’d recommend skipping the San Jose State experience and showing up for a minor league game. With any luck, the San Jose State baseball program will have their own on campus stadium that feels more like home than their current setup.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 McNair Field 214 McNair Dr. Forest City, NC 28043 Forest City Owls website McNair Field website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 2,000 Give a Hoot The Forest City Owls began their existence in 2003 as the Spartanburg Stingers. After five seasons in South Carolina, the team moved north to the small town of Forest City, where a brand-new ballpark, McNair Field, was being built. The ballpark is named in honor of Forest City native Robert McNair. McNair is best known as the former owner of the Houston Texans. Through the Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, the McNairs have donated millions of dollars in scholarships to local students. A donation from the McNair Foundation helped to fund the construction of this ballpark. The Owls have won two Petit Cups as Coastal Plain League Champions. Four Owl alumni have reached the major leagues (Josh Edgin, Heath Hembree, Vince Belnome, Spencer Patton). With several players selected each year in the draft, that number should increase soon. Food & Beverage 4 There is a concession stand on the first base side of the ballpark which offers a good selection of food for a ballpark of this size. Your typical ballpark fare can be found here (hot dogs, burgers, chicken tenders, pizza slices and cheesesteaks) along with french fries and corn dogs. Chili, cheese and cole slaw are available to add to any item as you see fit. Fans looking to save a few dollars can combine a burger or dog with fries and a soda to make a combo meal or you can buy 2, 3 or 4 of each in a family package. Bojangles chicken and biscuits also operate a small stand when large crowds are in attendance. Pepsi products are featured at McNair Field. In addition, several brands of beer are sold here, including Miller Lite, Coors Light, Yeungling, Michelob Ultra, Bud Light, Natural Light and Busch. If your taste runs toward the craft brews, a few brands from Highland Brewing are sold here, too. It’s an impressive selection from such a small concession stand. Atmosphere 3 When attending a game in Forest City, you can expect a small-town, laid-back atmosphere. The staff are friendly and helpful, and eager to engage in conversation about the team or McNair Field, as are the locals. This community is certainly proud of its ball club. The interns are highly visible all over the ballpark and work hard to make this a fun experience for visiting fans. There is a large video board in right-center field, which unfortunately did not work during Stadium Journey’s visit. All your standard summer college game day staples can be found here, from the 50/50 raffle to the occasional between-inning contest. There are a pair of owl mascots roaming the ballpark, Hoot and Annie. Some of the interns may try a bit too hard (i.e. the crowd hype guy who often screamed at the top of his lungs over the PA system), but it’s a fun place to watch a game. Neighborhood 3 As you may expect, the small town of Forest City is not known as a destination location. Main Street is a short drive from the ballpark, and it certainly has that Hallmark Channel-movie vibe to it. The downtown looks like a great place for walking around and window shopping. At Christmastime Forest City is known for their light display, with a million twinkling lights decorating the downtown area. Of course, you can’t check it out during baseball season, but it may be worth another visit during the winter months. If you’re looking for a place to eat while in Forest City, you’ll find a few spots in the downtown area a short distance from McNair Field. The Copper Penny Grill, Twisted Pear Taproom and Louis Café come highly recommended. You’ll find some chain restaurants out close to Route 74. There are also several lodging options along the Route 74 Business Loop. Fans 2 Forest City generally ranks near the bottom of the Coastal Plain League in attendance. According to league stats, attendance at Owls games has been in a free fall over the past few seasons, from an average of about 500 in 2018 to just over 100 in 2021. Stadium Journey attended McNair Stadium on a rainy Monday night and attendance appeared to be about 150 fans, so take these figures for what they’re worth. Fans at McNair Field are very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the Owls. Many appear to have a personal connection with the team. In addition, they are friendly to visitors and are willing to strike up a conversation with strangers without a second thought. This is certainly small-town baseball at its best. Access 3 McNair Field is located a short distance from downtown Forest City just off of East Main Street. Forest City is a small town of about 7,500 residents located about an hour west of Charlotte and about an hour southeast of Asheville. Accessible by Route 74, driving is the primary method for arriving at McNair Field. Seating at McNair Stadium is available in many forms, from individual stadium seats to metal bleachers with backs. Fans looking to sit outside of the grandstand can take advantage of high-top tables with stools, a party deck or tables scattered around the patio on both sides of the field. With the small crowds at McNair Field, moving around the facility is not an issue. Parking is available at no charge in the large lot across the street from the ballpark. The wide concourse is easy to navigate, and lines at the concession stand, merchandise stand, and rest rooms are nonexistent. One complaint is that the rest rooms, which are large and clean, are located around the back of the concession buildings and could use some better lighting. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to an Owls game are very affordable, ranging in price from $6.53 for general admission seats to $9.63 for box seats (the odd prices are due to the inclusion of taxes). With the small grandstand, all seats offer excellent views of the action. The Owls also hold promotional nights. Some games are “$1.50 Nights,” where all tickets and several concession items (including beer) are sold at the aforementioned $1.50 price point. You can purchase seats on the first base party deck, otherwise known as “The Perch,” for five dollars. In addition to wait service throughout the game, a ticket on The Perch gets you one-dollar hot dogs, popcorn, soda, water and beer throughout the game. Parking is free in the lot across the street from the ballpark. Concessions, which are affordably priced to begin with, can be purchased in combo meals or family packs to further increase their value. Extras 3 The merchandise stand, with a great selection of affordably priced Owls gear, merits an extra point. Championship banners and retired number banners line the façade of the concessions building. Coastal Plain League standings are posted on the side of the merchandise building. A final extra point is awarded for the friendly and welcoming staff and fans here in Forest City. As mentioned before, they are why we travel the country looking for hidden gems like McNair Field. There’s a feel to an Owls game that just can’t be replicated in the big cities. And, I have never seen a grounds crew work so hard to make sure a game was played on a rainy night as I witnessed here in Forest City. Final Thoughts Forest City isn’t a place you’re going to stumble across accidentally. If you do find yourself in the area, do yourself a favor and take in an Owls game. This hidden gem of a ballpark is well worth the trip off the beaten path. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Pegula Ice Arena 250 University Dr University Park, PA 16802 Penn State Nittany Lions men’s hockey website Pegula Ice Arena website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 6,014 Welcome to Hockey Valley While Penn State has iced hockey teams on and off since 1909, the current program traces its roots to 1971. As a member of ACHA, the team played a mix of non-NCAA club teams, NAIA, and Division Three teams. Playing at the 1.350-seat Greenberg Ice Pavilion, Penn State won seven ACHA national Championships, were runners-up 9 times and appeared in 29 ACHA postseason tournaments. They played in the ACHA championship game an astounding ten consecutive times in the 1990s and 2000s. Over the summer of 2010 rumors began to circulate that Terry Pegula, Penn State alumnus and billionaire hockey fan, was visiting various midwestern hockey facilities. Along with his wife Kim, the Pegulas, who would later purchase the Buffalo Sabres, donated $102 million to the university for the specific purpose of building a hockey arena. In September it was officially announced that the Penn State men’s and women’s teams would compete in Division One. The Big Ten Conference announced that the conference would begin sponsoring men’s ice hockey. The Nittany Lions have qualified for the NCAA tournament once in their five years competing in Division One. Several Penn State alumni have played professionally after graduation, and one Nittany Lion, Casey Bailey, has played in the National Hockey League. Food & Beverage 4 Concession stands at Pegula Ice Arena have hockey-themed names like “Icing,” “Power Play,” “Grinders,” “Top Shelf,” “Zamboni” and “Hat Trick.” A wide variety of items, including pulled pork sandwiches, pizza slices, burgers, chicken fingers, sausages, chicken sandwiches, and hot dogs are found at these stands. Assorted snacks, including nachos, pretzels, popcorn, candies, and applesauce are also available. Menus vary a little depending on which stand you visit, so you may need to do a little searching to find your desired items. Pepsi products are featured at Pegula Ice Arena. No alcohol is sold at this on-campus facility. At the far end of Pegula Ice Arena behind Section 121 is a lounge complete with a fireplace, televisions, and national chains Subway and Auntie Annie’s Pretzels. Club and loge ticket holders can gain access to the Pegula Club for an all-you-can-eat buffet. The buffet, which varies from game to game, can be purchased for $18.50. Atmosphere 5 The game day atmosphere at Pegula Ice Arena is led by the student section, known here as the “Roar Zone.” Packed to the brim with crazed Penn State students, a large pep band smacks dab in the middle, and a cheerleading platform, this section leads the cheers and creates a lot of noise. The students come dressed in Nittany Lion blue and white and stand throughout the action. The rest of the crowd, full of locals and alums, pack the building to capacity every night, giving the Nittany Lions a significant home ice advantage. Trophy cases containing memorabilia from the squad’s history line the walls of the concourse alongside interactive displays fans can use to see information about the current squad, coaches, and past Nittany Lion teams. In a modern twist on the college hockey tradition of lining arena walls with team photos, every player to ever suit up for Penn State is immortalized on the arena walls, sorted by uniform number. There is a large video board hung at the center ice and the Nittany Lion mascot skates during intermissions pumping up the crowd. Traditional hockey staples, including the 50/50 raffle and t-shirt tosses are present to keep the fans involved, not that these fans need a whole lot of help. Neighborhood 4 All of Penn State’s sports venues, including Beaver Stadium , Medlar Field at Lubrano Park , and the Bryce Jordan Center, are located together at the northern edge of campus. Downtown State College is not really within walking distance but is a short five-minute drive away. Countless shops, bars, restaurants, and lodging options are located here. The area has a great college-town vibe to it. Be sure to check out Fraser Street Deli, which has a huge list of sandwiches named for Penn State stars and memorabilia covering the walls. Happy Valley Brewing Company is a favorite destination for craft beer fans. Legendary Primanti Brothers sandwich shop has a franchise here, offering their iconic sandwiches served with fries and cole slaw inside. If heading down after a game on a Friday or Saturday night, be prepared to share the streets with hordes of Penn State students out for the evening. Fans 5 There’s a reason they call this place “Hockey Valley.” Penn State averages over 100% capacity for home games at Pegula Ice Arena. Anchored by the Roar Zone, there’s a ton of energy in the building, and is a fun place to catch a game. It’s not unusual to see fans lined up five deep or more in the standing-room sections as the facility fills beyond capacity. Access 4 The Penn State campus is located just about smack dab in the middle of the state of Pennsylvania. Located just off Interstate 99, the school’s athletic facilities are easily accessed by car. Most fans who visit Pegula Ice Arena will park on the far side of the Bryce Jordan Center. It’s a bit of a walk, especially on a cold February night. There is no lobby at Pegula Ice Arena, so fans enter directly onto the concourse. Except for three corners of the rink, which also double as a standing room, the ice surface is not visible from the concourse. Fans enter the seating bowl at the top and make their way down to their seats. All seats at Pegula Ice arena are plastic folding stadium seats with excellent views of the ice. Loge seating lines the top of the seating bowl, and club seating, along with several luxury boxes, ring the arena at the upper level. Located at the far end of Pegula Ice Arena is the team’s practice rink, which has seating for 300 fans and is also used by local youth teams and skating programs. It is available for use by the public. Return on Investment 2 In addition to being quite expensive, tickets to Nittany Lions hockey games can be tough to get, so plan. Tickets for Big Ten games go especially quickly. There is an active secondary market for Penn State tickets, but be prepared to pay a premium depending on the game you are attending. Ticket prices start at $30, with premium tickets on the glass or in loge or club sections priced at $60. Standing room tickets can be purchased for $15. Be warned if buying standing room tickets, there are only about 75 standing room spots, and the team will make more than 75 SRO tickets available. You may be paying to stare at the back of someone’s head all night. Parking in the lots next to the Bryce Jordan Center costs five dollars. Concession prices, while not inexpensive, are in line with other facilities in the area. Extras 3 An extra point is awarded for the interactive displays located throughout the arena. Fans can use these displays to get information about the team, Penn State’s hockey history, or the Ice Arena. An extra point for the rapid ascent the hockey team has had in such a short time. Even though the team has been competing at the Division One level only since 2012, the Nittany Lions can already boast a conference championship, NCAA tournament appearance, capacity crowds night after night, and a rabid following many teams only dream of. A final extra point is awarded for the Roar Zone. Be sure to stick around after the game for the three stars of the game and the singing of the Penn State Alma Mater. Final Thoughts The Pegula Ice Arena is already mentioned as one of the marquee collegiate hockey venues in the nation. Penn State hockey has likewise enjoyed a meteoric rise to be considered one of the premier programs in the nation. When you step into Pegula Ice Arena for a Nittany Lion game, be ready for one of the best game day experiences in the nation. ----- Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter @PuckmanRI.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Jack Turner Softball Stadium 2330 S Milledge Avenue Athens, GA 30605 Georgia Bulldogs websit e Jack Turner Softball Stadium website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 2,000 How ‘Bout Them Dawgs The University of Georgia athletics has always been known as one of the powers of college football, and with good reason, as the recent successes of Georgia football  has moved them from an annual contender in the SEC and nationally to the odds-on favorite each season. As Georgia football has all the makings of the next football dynasty, many other of the University of Georgia’s athletic programs have experienced their own high level of success on the national level as well. Lu Harris-Champer has been referred to as the  architect of Georgia softball , but credit for the groundwork upon which the foundation was built upon needs to go the Bulldogs’ original leader, Alleen Hawkins . It would be Hawkins, who in 1997 when the Southeastern Conference (SEC) began sponsoring softball as a varsity sport, would lead the early years of Georgia softball. It would be under Harris-Champer, however, when UGA softball would take off – she would lead the Dawgs to over 950 wins in her 21-seasons in Athens, including two regular-season championships, one SEC tournament title, and five trips to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series. Georgia softball rose out of modest beginnings, starting play at the UGA intramural fields for their first two seasons. The Dawgs would find a home at the site of their current stadium in 1998, but it wouldn’t be until the 2004 season that Jack Turner Stadium was built. Food & Beverage   3 At first impression, concessions seem to be rather lacking here, with the stand under the bleachers serving mainly beverages and snacks. A second concession stand, under the bleachers of the neighboring soccer stadium, sits behind the third base side of the grandstand – this stand provides a bit more of the stadium staples, with choices including hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, nachos, and soft pretzels. The sleeper of the menu is probably the uniquely southern treat of boiled peanuts. Soft drink selections include offerings from the Coca-Cola family, along with Powerade and Dasani bottled water. For those seeking alcoholic beverages, common domestic beers, Twisted Tea, High Noon hard seltzer, and craft beer from Athens brewery Creature Comforts are also available. While concessions are as expected, the options are a bit less than inspiring. There is an ice cream stand that does help in expanding the choices, but it can only be so enticing during cold weather.   Atmosphere   4 Jack Turner Softball Stadium is mostly an open, aluminum structure that rises high above the field of play.  Aluminum bleacher seating is concentrated between first and third base, with the section of seating directly behind home plate made up of 12 rows of individual folding seats, while the rest of the seating runs from first base around to third. Temporary bleachers and standing room sections flank the bullpen areas on each side of the field. The nature of a fully aluminum grandstand is that stomping is amplified throughout the stadium, and the in-game presentation makes full use of this, playing sound drops throughout the game that encourage fans to stomp and make noise. The main scoreboard in right field gives fans a plethora of information; typical inning-by-inning line score, ball-strikeouts, lineup, and pitcher and batter stats, along with pitch speed.  The future of player development for UGA softball is also taking shape over the left field wall, as a new team facility is currently being built, which will house meeting rooms, training spaces, locker rooms, and a weight room. Although lacking an in-game host, Jack Turner Softball Stadium's PA announcer introduces mid-inning fan interaction activities and inflatable character races around the outfield warning track. In addition, throughout breaks in the game the heavy use of the Georgia cheers, fight song, and other traditions goes a long way in setting the tone of college athletics. When it comes to seating options, there is a short reaching roofline that extends over the upper most rows of seating, providing a bit of relief from the elements. The sun sets beyond the corner of left field, so there can be a challenging sun field for those along the first base side, however.   Neighborhood   4 Jack Turner Softball Stadium is just under 2 miles from the southernmost reaches of the University of Georgia campus in Athens, where the city starts to transition from college town to rural Georgia countryside. Not only is the complex home to Georgia softball, but the Bulldogs soccer stadium is also directly behind the third base stands, just around the corner from University Golf Course, home to Georgia golf (which is open to the public). The immediate area is a bit lacking when it comes to food choices, with a Waffle House, Athens Pizza, and Butt Hurt BBQ being the primary options. Broad Street, the epicenter of UGA’s entertainment district, is roughly a 15-minute drive away, but virtually has something for everyone, at nearly any hour of the day.   Fans   4 Averaging over 1,000 fans a game, University of Georgia softball ranks in the top 25 nationally  in attendance; fans will frequently line up at the stadium an hour before they are allowed to access the seating area. Compared to most of Georgia’s other athletic programs, the fan base at softball games tends to be more centered around families with younger children. There are a smattering of students who sit in the section behind the Dawgs dugout, but they tend to be rather reserved for what might be expected from students. Even if the students might not be the core of the fan experience, families and their young children are the biggest backers of Georgia Bulldog softball and create much of the spirit in the stands. If there is one thing that can be said about Georgia fans, it is that they love and hold dear the traditions of the university, ready to burst into song at the drop of the first note of any of the popular spirit songs. Access   3 Getting to Athens can present some challenges, especially for any weekday contests. Located roughly 70 miles from Atlanta, the route to Athens uses some of metro Atlanta’s most traveled interstates and highways. The most direct route is via Interstate-85 to Georgia 316, which leads directly to Athens. Those coming from the north on I-85 may encounter slightly less traffic passing through Jefferson, while accessing Athens from the east is most convenient via I-20 to US-441N. Jack Turner Softball Stadium is less than a mile from US-78, which encircles Athens. There is a good amount of parking around the stadium, which continues to an adjacent grassy area. With the complex being off the main concentration of campus, it is nice that there is a campus shuttle that services the athletics complex. Fans are held at the entry drive to the stadium until an hour prior to the first pitch. Once allowed into the stadium, most fans use the stairs up the first base line to enter the seating area.  Bleacher seating runs right down behind the dugouts to an awkward row of seating that has enough space for fans to try to pass by, but there really is not enough space where this pathway is advisable. There are four staircases that lead to the upper level of the seating bowl, as well as an elevator for those with mobility challenges.   Return on Investment   5 With free parking and free admission, it would be hard to ask for much more when it comes to the cost of attending Georgia softball games. The only true cost at the stadium is from the concessions, which are reasonably priced when considering the typical price of stadium food and drinks. Even so, making concessions prices more affordable  has been a focus of the university in recent years.   Extras   3 Georgia athletics is a carefully crafted brand, in that there is consistency throughout the athletics programs in their use of the school’s fight songs, as well as the use of other traditions to get fans on their feet and cheering – from the first pitch thru the visiting team getting the “Calling of the Dawgs,” with a “Goooooooo Dawgs, Sic’ ‘em…*woof* woof woof ”, as is tradition for Georgia football kickoffs, to the “ Krypton Fanfare”  as the game heads into the final inning, and finally the use of “ Glory, Glory to Old Georgia ” for highlight-worthy plays. Following the game the Georgia players gather in front of the home bleachers to recognize and thank the fans for their support. In addition, placards lining the facade of the press box recognize the Bulldogs five appearances in the College Softball World Series.    Final Thoughts Softball at the University of Georgia might be one of the most family friendly experiences on campus; it would be difficult to find an outing around Athens where a whole family can attend an event for free that has the same air of excitement UGA softball. The experience at Jack Turner Softball Stadium wonderfully highlights the traditions and school spirit that college athletics was built on. Surrounded by passionate Georgia fans and their willingness to “Commit to the G” running so deep, it is hard not to get caught up in the excitement that drives so much of the experience of University of Georgia softball.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Maryland SoccerPlex 18031 Central Park Circle Boyds, MD 20841 Old Glory DC website Maryland SoccerPlex website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 4,000 Old Glory Rugby Old Glory DC joined Major League Rugby in 2020, playing its home games at Cardinal Stadium on the campus of the Catholic University of America. Unfortunately, that inaugural season was cancelled after only a few games due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March. Old Glory returned the next year, but moved to the suburb of Leesburg in Northern Virginia, about an hour outside the District. In 2024, Old Glory moved again, to the Maryland suburbs, at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Georgetown. Old Glory attempts to rebrand the SoccerPlex as the Maryland RugbyPlex for rugby matches, but this name is by no means official, so this review will use the correct name. Food & Beverage 4 There are several different food options available at the Maryland SoccerPlex for Old Glory DC matches. A Paisano's pizza stand is located behind one end line and offers pizza as well as other related options. Along one sideline is a food truck selling empanadas. Next to it, fans can buy many food options out of a tent, including burgers, hot dogs, bratwurst, pulled BBQ chicken, and assorted snacks. Alcohol is also available to fans of age. Prices are reasonable, with grill items costing $5 each. Food truck items are slightly more expensive. Atmosphere 4 The SoccerPlex is an intimate 4,000-seat arena with seats on both sides of the field, consisting of plastic or metal bench seats, and only the top row located right at the top of the concourse has backs. All seats provide an up-close view of the action, and there is a scoreboard located in one corner of the field. Old Glory DC makes a decent effort to promote the game here, and there will often be a match involving local amateur teams before or after Old Glory plays. The fans also create a significant amount of energy which contributes to the atmosphere, which will be discussed in that section. Neighborhood 2 The SoccerPlex is located in Gaithersburg, about half an hour outside Washington, D.C. It is located in a sprawling complex in a residential area, and there is absolutely nothing within walking distance. Fans will have to drive several miles back towards I-270 before they will find anything useful. There are a number of shopping centers located on Maryland Route 118 once you get close to the interstate that contains mostly chain restaurants, but these are several miles away. If you’re looking for a more natural setting, Hoyles Mill Conservation Park is located just north of the Plex and offers scenic hiking trails and beautiful green space. Fans 3 The SoccerPlex will be about half full for a typical game, maybe a little bit more. However, that does not mean the fans are quiet. Chants of "O-G-D-C" can be heard throughout the game, and after Old Glory scores a try, the place will erupt in cheers. Old Glory almost never sold out their previous venues, and it doesn't look like that will change despite the move, but those who do show up know the game, know the team, and are passionate about Old Glory. Many of them are season ticket holders who go to almost every game, but there are plenty who only go to a game or two a season as well. Access 2 Getting to the stadium is relatively easy – take exit 15B off of I-270 and proceed for several miles to the stadium. That’s where the good news ends. Although there are a large number of lots throughout the SoccerPlex, only a couple are right next to the stadium. Although the stadium crowd alone may or may not be enough to fill them up, there are often other sporting events going on in the complex on the same day. If that is the case, the lots may already be full when you arrive even if you get there sometime before gates open. Seeing as you don’t really want to arrive at 9 in the morning for a night game just to be able to park close by, you may have to walk a bit to get to the stadium. There is a small set of restrooms located in one corner of the concourse, but it is nowhere near large enough for the crowds, so numerous port-a-potties are scattered throughout the concourse as well. Between these, there should be no wait to use one of them if you need to. Getting out of the parking lot after the game can be a challenge, especially if other events in the SoccerPlex are letting out at the same time. The roads in the complex are small and narrow and not designed to accommodate large crowds. Most of the lots only have one exit. If you have someplace to be after the game, plan accordingly. Return on Investment 4 Admission to OGDC games is $20 for general admission seats. Concessions are reasonably affordable and parking is free. As a result, a rugby match for Old Glory DC can be a decent value. Extras 2 Look for the team store on the concourse selling OGDC merchandise. Just outside the stadium, there is an exhibit from the United States Department of Agriculture on the history of turfgrass. There’s probably some fan out there who would be interested in that. Final Thoughts Rugby is a small but growing sport in the United States, and Old Glory DC is no exception. Their fan base is passionate and loyal, if small, and the team's popularity is growing in the DC area. There are ongoing discussions for the team to build a new venue closer to DC, and when that happens, the popularity may rise further. Until then, hopefully they can at least develop some stability at the SoccerPlex.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Fifth Third Field 406 Washington St Toledo, OH 43604 Toledo Mud Hens website Fifth Third Field website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 10,025 Toledo’s All in With the Mud Hens The Toledo Mud Hens are members of the International League. The Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers began to play in 1965 at Ned Skeldon Stadium before relocating to Fifth Third Field in 2003. The downtown ballpark revamped the neighborhood that is now called HensVille. Just like many ballparks of its kind, it stands out among others in the league. The MudHens name dates back to 1896 and has been used for a majority of minor league clubs in Toledo until 1953 when new management went with the Glass Sox, later shortened to Sox, the name for three years. When baseball returned in 1965, the Mud Hens name was properly brought back. In the 1970s, native Jamie Farr commonly wore Mud hens gear on the TV show M*A*S*H that was provided by the team. Having your team showcased on one of the biggest shows of all-time increased awareness among millions of people. Perhaps that is the reason behind The Swamp Shop which offers a cavalcade of team merchandise from old-school t-shirts and caps to current team gear. FifthThird Field also offers a wraparound concourse, several rooftop suite areas, and various restaurants and bars available before the game to create a minor league baseball experience that few can rival. Food & Beverage 4 Fifth Third Field offers an array of typical ballpark food, frozen treats, and adult beverages. It may not be as outrageous as other AAA ballparks, but there is more than enough to satisfy the palate during a Mud Hens game. Gilhooley Sports Bar and Grill is named after former Hens broadcaster Frank Gilhooley who broadcast games from 1953-2010. There are photos of his career plastered on the walls in a spot that resembles a restaurant. Burgers are grilled in front of the customers and have names such as the “BacHen” Burger and the Bloomin’ Onion Burger. You can also order an all-beef hot dog or grilled chicken sandwich. A few other areas include a few more areas for traditional and non-traditional ballpark cuisine. Suds & Wieners offers beer and hot dogs but is home to the mac and cheese dog, Polish sausages, and the Sudzie Weiner (brat cooked in beer with grilled onions). The Hen & Hound offers chicken tender baskets, grilled chicken sandwiches, and the Muddy Dog The latter has chicken tender baskets, spicy chicken sandwiches, mac and cheese hot dogs, brats, corn dogs, Polish sausages, and the Muddy Dog with cheese, chili, and onions. Where the ballpark goes above and beyond is in the dessert category. Far Out Funnels is a psychedelic area that offers funnel cake sundaes, cookie and cream funnel cakes, and the more traditional kind. Frozen usually has long lines serving ice cream in various styles and flavors served in a cone, bowl, or mini-helmet. They also have frozen cocktails mixed with vodka with flavors ranging from blue raspberry, lemon, and margarita. Budweiser and Pepsi products are the drinks of choice at the ballpark. However, various kiosks service craft beer from regional breweries: Warped Wing, Maumee Bay, Platform, Saugatuck, Columbus Brewing, and a little bit further in Atlanta, SweetWater. The Holy Toledo patio is an ideal spot for having a beer or frozen drink at the game. Atmosphere 4 The construction of Fifth Third Field looks like a typical Triple-A ballpark with red brick and gray stone. It blends in well with the surrounding buildings, which have been converted into party decks and team store. It might just be the place to have a quintessential minor league experience. Toledo’s ballpark does not stand out from the unique interior concourse, but it does provide all the essentials fans would want at the ballgame. The concession stands are properly spaced-out, there are various kiosks for quick purchases, and there are plenty of nods for over three centuries of baseball. Mudonna is the club’s official mascot and offers plenty of joy for fans of all ages; she even has a giant bobblehead in the right-field corner of the ballpark. The Roost is a popular seating area incorporated into a century-old brick building with open floor space for groups. The searing provides fans a corner view of the diamond from a few feet above the concourse, similar to the porch seating at old Tiger Stadium. Another nice angle is down the right field wall where bar stools and stadium seating are available. The concourse offers patio suite seating with old-school Astroturf seating, a rustic wooden bar sponsored by local breweries, and a children’s play area behind the batter’s eye. Outside the concourse gates are bronze statues entitled “Who’s Up?” which features three kids peering through a knothole, and “I Got It” which features three kids going for a fly ball. The ballpark and the surrounding HensVille establish it from many others in their league. A destination that begins well before the game and perhaps after that offers a variety of activities for families, late-night revelers, and the random ballpark hunter passing through town. This includes the small square behind the home plate, Moses Fleetwood Walker Square, which has also been named for Walker was the first African-American Major League player and played for the Toledo Blue Stockings in 1884. Neighborhood 4 Fifth Third Field is located in what is dubbed HenVille and it’s splattered all over the exterior walls of the ballpark. There are various places within a few steps and blocks to grab dinner or a drink before or after the ball game. Poco Piatti is a Mediterranean restaurant that offers small and large plates. It includes seafood, vegetarian, and meat dishes, along with pizza and salads. Fleetwood’s Tap Room is a social hall that carries 48 craft beers and smoked items that include chicken, ribs, and brisket. There is a rooftop bar for large groups. There are more than enough other areas within walking distance of the ballpark including Home Slice Pizza, Fricker’s, The Alleyway, Earnest Brew Work, Ye Olde Durty Bird, and Tony Packo’s at the Ballpark, where one can enjoy a Hungarian-style hot dog and bring home a can of chili at the gift shop. Perhaps the most exciting part of the neighborhood is Maumee River which offers a riverwalk, sculptures, a kid’s splash zone, and an outdoor amphitheater. HensVille Park, adjacent to Fleetwood’s at times, has children’s inflatable rides and concerts as well before the game. Fans 4 Mud Hens fans are among the best in the minor leagues. They are focused on the game and cheer when their club scores a run, makes a great play, or gets out of a jam. Yes, there are many there for the social aspect, but crowds are in their seats as well watching the action on the field. Access 4 The ballpark is downtown and sandwiched between I-75 and the Maumee River. There is plenty of signage directing visitors to the ballpark and it’s advisable to arrive early to enjoy pre-game activities in HensVille and the surrounding district. Once inside, Fifth Third is easily accessible as it offers a wraparound concourse and easy access to concession stands and exits. Return of Investment 4 A ticket for most games is between $13 and $15, but the prices go up $3 on Friday and Saturday night games. The downtown stadium is surrounded by individual lots and parking garages that cost $10 per car, but there are meter parking spots available as well for much less. It is the case on Sundays when all meters are free of charge. The merchandise is abundant and offers various designs for all ages. The food is not as varied, but proper for an afternoon or evening at the ballpark. Extras 3 The Mud Hens earn a point for the downtown setting that has become HensVille. The district offers restaurants, bars, a riverview park for kids, and much more for fans to enjoy before and after the game. The second point is for The Roost, a little nook in the right-field corner that provides upper views of the game behind the foul pole. A third point is awarded to The Swamp Shop, which offers one of the largest selections of team merchandise in baseball. Final Thoughts Fifth Third Field is a wonderful example of a Triple-A ballpark. The history of the club, the HensVille setting, and the atmosphere make it a great visit when in town or while on a ballpark trip. You would be remiss not to walk away with team gear from the store. ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at marc@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Roebuck Stadium Herrington Rd Elizabeth City, NC 27909 Elizabeth City State Vikings website Roebuck Stadium website Year Opened: 1983 Capacity: 5,000 Aging Field at ECSU Roebuck Stadium is a multi-purpose venue that opened in 1983 and seats about 5,000 fans. The field is used mainly by Elizabeth City State University’s football team, but also by the school’s track and field teams and by local soccer teams. The facilities at Roebuck Stadium overall are in good condition for their age, but the field itself is beginning to show some wear, as illustrated by the condition of the field’s surface as well as by the faded ECSU lettering in both end zones. The Vikings currently compete in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Food & Beverage 3 There is only one concessions stand at Roebuck Stadium (underneath the main grandstand), although it can be easy to miss as it is very small and tucked well in beneath the stands, and without any obvious signage to mark it. It offers Chick-fil-A items only, but has a range including chicken sandwiches, nuggets, subs, salads, warm cookies, and beverages. Prices are reasonable with a chicken sandwich or 8-piece nuggets, for example, coming in at $5. Atmosphere 2 There is not much of an atmosphere at ECSU football games – there are cheerleaders performing during the game and some decent music from the PA system, but no mascot that I saw and no entertainment such as fan contests during breaks in the action. However, Elizabeth City State is a very small school so that may explain it. There is a band which is pretty typical for an HBCU, but they were not present at the game I most recently attended due to the rain. The grandstands on both sides just have simple metal bleachers with no backs, although there is a small suites “building” on the home side of the field. The field itself is surrounded by a running track like football stadiums at many smaller schools, and there is an athletics building behind one end zone. The scoreboard is a simple affair without video capabilities. Track Around Field, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 3 Elizabeth City is a town of around 18,000 at the head of the Pasquotank River near North Carolina’s outer banks – the river feeds into Pamlico Sound, which is on the inside of the barrier islands that separate most of the state from the Atlantic Ocean. As such there are plenty of attractions near Roebuck Stadium, such as Kitty Hawk (site of the Wright Brothers’ test flight), multiple lighthouses, and a couple of wildlife preserves, but during the fall a lot of the beachy activities folks might enjoy in the outer banks are no longer on offer. Being near the water, however, there are some great seafood restaurants nearby, such as Groupers Waterfront Restaurant, or, if you are looking for something with more of a local vibe, Tony’s Pizza or Happy Taco near the stadium are also great options. There are also plenty of hotels within a couple miles of the venue. Fans 2 Very few fans attend football games at ECSU, probably no more than 1,000 fans even at the best of times, and fewer than a hundred at other times. There are a handful of pretty loud fans in attendance, however, and the venue is small enough that you can clearly hear the shouts, catcalls, and cheers from those fans and players on the sidelines, so fans here can definitely get at least a small sampling of school spirit. Access 4 Access at Roebuck Stadium could not be easier – there is parking right next to the venue and few enough fans here that getting in and out is easy. There are also plenty of bathrooms (which are a little dated, however), but you can sit wherever you want and see the action easily from anywhere inside the facility. The only real drawback is that your GPS may not find it using the official address, so just head to Elizabeth City State University and look for the stadium lights. Return on Investment 3 Attendance and parking were both free at the most recent game I attended here; I am not sure if that is always the case. But if the only thing you have to pay for is food, that could make for the lowest cost college football game you will ever attend. The facilities are a little dated and the team is not performing the greatest of late, but at least you can get your football fix. Extras 2 There isn’t much on offer here at Roebuck Stadium except for the football itself, although at most games you should get to see the band perform, which is a plus. The music played by the PA announcer is also fairly lively, and it is actually a lot of fun to listen to the handful of hyper-active Vikings fans in attendance.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Parque Zaragoza 2608 Gonzales St. Austin, TX 78702 Austin Weirdos website Parque Zaragoza website Year Opened: 1948 Capacity: 500 Weirdos Bring Baseball to Austin The Austin Weirdos began operations in the Pecos League in 2022 and called Parque Zaragosa its home field. The club was to have played elsewhere for its inaugural season but was unable to secure a location. Perhaps that is why Zaragosa feels a bit different compared to several other ballparks in the league. However, Weirdos management wants to make Austin it's home for the foreseeable future and perhaps add a little flare to the proceedings that could include pre-game concerts, a grill, and a mascot for all games. If you are a fan of bare-bones baseball, then this will be your cup of tears for now. Food & Beverage 1 It is BYOB for all home games, but the team offers cans of beer for a small donation. The beer, along with small bags of chips, is situated on the bed of a pickup truck. However, there is nowhere else where food or drinks are available inside the stadium. An ice cream truck made an appearance in the parking lot, much to the delight of the fans. Management would like to include a grill down the 1st base side for future games, but bring food or eat before attending a Weirdos game. Atmosphere 2 The ballpark consists of one small wooden grandstand that is covered but does not wrap around like a traditional baseball structure. It is said that it was erected over 70 years but feels somewhat older than a 1940’s era edifice. There is an old wooden sign that reads the name of the stadium that appears to be rotting away. The rest of the ballpark feels more like a city field that consists of large trees behind the visitors’ dugout and an incomplete fence down the right field line. The home team will set up lawn chairs to view the game, while the away team will prop themselves up on the thick tree trunks protected by its shade of leaves. There are also a lot of open spaces down the right field side where a few fans bring their lawn chairs to enjoy the contest, much like a collegiate game during the school year. The team sells a sharp-looking and very well-made cap that is both trippy and spacey. However, no other merchandise is available at the game. Neighborhood 4 The ballpark is located in East Austin which is known for its various outdoor patio restaurants that are all located on Cesar Chavez Street. Visitors can choose from Mexican, barbecue, Peruvian, microbreweries, and even pizza. De Nada Cantina offers tacos wrapped in homemade blue corn tortillas, some of the town’s best Margaritas, and plenty of cool mists to cool you off. Across the street, is Central Machine Works, a microbrewery beer hall that serves New York-style pizza that’s located in a converted machine works factory with a massive outdoor patio. The lager and pilsner are ideal for a hot summer evening. Tillery Kitchen & Bar (Mediterranean) and Jacoby’s (American) are two other outdoor patio options. One of the city’s best places for brisket and smoked sausage is La Barbecue which does not run out by the early afternoon. Llama Kid has a lively outdoor eating section with delicious Peruvian cuisine. The Weirdos play during June and July, and that provides the opportunity for a chance to check out Austin FC at Q2 Stadium or the Round Rock Express a few miles north at the Dell Diamond . If you’re lucky, the Texas Longhorns could be hosting a regional game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in the early part of June. Fans 2 The Weirdos are a brand new team at the time of our review and the fanbase is not quite there at the moment. The ones who do come out enjoy the game from underneath the covered grandstand, but the team knows it will need a little more marketing to attract a few more fans to home games. Access 4 There is a small parking lot directly in front of the stadium, along with parking behind the outfield wall along the street. The outfield parking is protected by a massive net. Once inside the venue, the small grandstand is easy to access along with port-a-johns down the 1st base side. Return on Investment 2 The price of a ticket is $10, standard in the Pecos League from what we have seen in our travels to other venues (it’s the same in Weimar for a Hormigas game). The team does offer donations in return for a can of beer outside the entrance of the stadium. The only merchandise the club sells are ball caps that are $30, but they are very stylish and represent the city quite well. Extras 3 The Weirdos earn points for their stylish uniforms and caps, beer donations that help out the players, and the ice cream truck that pays a visit to the parking lot to offer some sweet treats. Final Thoughts Parque Zaragoza was not the intended place to call home for the ball club. Management acknowledged that adding a grill for food, pre-game concerts, and a mascot would improve the experience. However, the team’s branding is on point with the city’s slogan, “Keep Austin Weird.” If they can find a way to make the ball games a bit weirder in the future, perhaps they will tap into that market.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 The Monument 444 N Mt Rushmore Rd Rapid City, SD 57701 Rapid City Rush website The Monument website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 5,132 Welcome to Rush Nation The Rapid City Rush are a minor league hockey team currently playing in the ECHL. The ECHL used to be the East Coast Hockey League but they rebranded to just the initials ECHL after the league expanded across North America. The Rapid City Rush originated in 2008 as part of the now defunct CHL (Central Hockey League). When that league folded in 2014, the Rush transitioned to the ECHL. While in the CHL, the Rush won the Ray Miron President’s Cup in the 2009-2010 season, and the division championship in 2010-2011 but they have not seen any championships yet since moving to the ECHL. Their time is due. The Rush are currently affiliated with the NHL Calgary Flames. They play their home games at the massive Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The Civic Center is a hubbub of activity in Rapid City and it includes a banquet hall, large meeting rooms, basketball court, ice arena (which can be set up as a concert hall), and theatre. Stock shows, rodeos, concerts, plays, truck monster jams, auctions and a variety of other entertainment and activities are provided at the Civic Center. The ice arena in the Civic Center is a splendid venue in which to watch a minor league hockey game and one worth visiting if in the Black Hills area of the country. Editor’s Note: The venue was remodeled in 2021 after this review. The name changed from Rushmore Plaza Civic Center to The Monument after a naming rights agreement with Monument Health Rapid City Hospital. Food & Beverage 4 A good variety of food choices are available at standard prices for Rush games at the Civic Center. Several permanent stands are installed and a wide variety of portable carts line the concourse. Entree combos (choices of pretzels, hot dogs, cheeseburgers, chicken strips, fries, soda, beer, popcorn) range from $6 – $18. Tacos and chips and guacamole are on hand ($3.50 – $9) as well as pizza from Pizza Ranch ($3.50/slice). Snacks include shaved ice, caramel apples, frozen bananas, and funnel cakes. Other goodies include popcorn, soft pretzels w/cheese, homemade chips, pickles, and candy ($3 – $6). There’s an interesting mini-donut concession stand where you can watch the donuts being formed, then dipped for frying, and watch as they travel through the frying process to an output tray where they are flipped and ready to be packaged for a fan’s purchase. Subway make its presence with 6″ sandwiches for $5.75 and a foot long for an additional $3.50. The best or recommended dinner choice comes from The Carvery. This stand offers hand carved sandwiches on a variety of breads along with a side of homemade chips and runs $8 – $10. Beverages include Coca-Cola fountain drinks ($3.25/$4/$4.75), bottled water ($3), and coffee, hot chocolate, lemonade, iced tea ($2.50 – $3.50). Domestic beers are available for $6 and include brands like PBR, Bud, Coors, Michelob, and associated light varieties. Mixed in are Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Henry’s Hard Soda and Redd’s Apple Ale. Angry Orchard cocktails are also available. An alcohol special at a Rush game is a Miller Lite or Henry’s Hard Soda for $4 from when the gate opens to the first puck drop. Beers from two local Rapid City breweries (Lost Cabin Beer Co and Firehouse Brewing) are on sale providing an unexpected, nice surprise for craft beer lovers. One thing that is different (not bad; just different) is in front of every concession stand selling alcoholic beverages, several individuals in blue shirts request IDs and place a wristband after ID has been examined. I’m used to venues where fans go to a centralized table on the concourse to get a wristband to purchase alcoholic drinks. Atmosphere 4 The ice arena at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center is a fine facility in which to watch a minor league hockey game. The seating area is U-shaped. There is no center hung scoreboard allowing the passionate Rush fans the ability to see each other throughout the arena. A large, flat-screen video scoreboard is posted on the wall on the top end of the U and provides basic scoring stats and a visual broadcast of the game along with replays. There is one level of seating. Depending on section, rows go up to 14 or 16 with entry beginning at the bottom from rows 3 or 4. Hand rails are available when walking up/down the steps. Suites are above sections R through M on the player’s bench side of the rink. The Bankwest Club Level is above sections K – L behind one of the goals. To sit center ice facing the benches, section C, row 16 is the best bet. I’d recommend sitting high in this arena as people’s heads often get in the way when sitting in lower rows. The sound system is average; fortunately the volume is not excruciatingly loud making it easy to converse with neighbors. It is hard to understand the announcements as they are muffled. The temperature in the rink is surprisingly warm; a long sleeve t-shirt or hockey jersey would do the trick. NOTE: I was told this is not always the case as it is hit or miss with the temperature and to come prepared with warmer clothing. Lots of promotions are implemented at Rush games: Pink at the Rink (including paint the ice pink the night before the game) (fight against cancer), Zombie night, Military appreciation, Star Wars, and more. The night I attended was Slap Shot night and the Rush players all wore the Johnstown Chiefs jerseys as depicted in that famous hockey movie. Neighborhood 5 The Rushmore Plaza Civic Center is only two blocks north of downtown Rapid City and is well within walking distance of the downtown area and all that has to offer. In addition, Rapid City is close (25 – 50 miles) to many national monuments. For places to spend the night, a Holiday Inn is adjacent (a couple hundred yards) from the entrance to the ice arena. A Howard Johnson’s is right across the street from the Civic Center and offers Rush packages that include tickets, shuttle to arena and pre-game tailgating at the hotel. The shuttle is available to all hotel guests. But honest, the HJ is so close a shuttle isn’t really needed on most but the brutally cold evenings. Two hotel choices directly in the downtown area are Hotel Alex Johnson (a historic hotel) and the Rushmore Hotel (a bit pricier than the others). I’ve stayed at both the Howard Johnson’s and the Alex Johnson’s and both are comfortable, safe hotels. Life size US President statues dot the downtown Rapid City intersections and are well worth checking out. All 43 presidents are represented with President Obama’s (#44) statue location and sculptor to be determined (the weekend of this Rapid City Rush review was the first weekend of the transition of presidency from President Obama to President Trump, so a 45th will eventually need to be placed, as well.) Places to eat within walking distance before a hockey game include Historic Freight House (Cajun), and Murphy’s Pub and Grill. Three breweries take residence in Rapid City: Lost Cabin (marvelous brews with a food truck outside to get a bite to eat), Firehouse Brewing Company (brews and food), and Hay Camp (they were in the process of relocating closer to downtown – so I didn’t get to taste their hops on this visit). When visiting the mid-western border of South Dakota (besides a Rush game) be sure to include these remarkable parks and monuments as places to see during your visit: Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Badlands National Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. And for something local in Rapid City, the Journey Museum is a worthwhile visit exploring the heritage of the Black Hills region. Fans 5 Fans are genuinely passionate and loyal. And, they are welcoming and easy to converse with. And, they love their cowbells. When the Rush played in the CHL, average attendance was 4,600 – 4,900 and they were generally in the top third of attendance ranking in that league. That has dropped a bit since moving into the ECHL as the average attendance in 2015 and 2016 ranges from 3,700 – 3,900 per home game. Except for a few more empty seats, it’s hard to tell as the noise and compassion are still very evident. About every third fan has a cowbell and every fan uses it well. That means… they ring it at appropriate moments but for not too long. Yes, it can cause a slight headache but this is part of the architecture, beauty, and character of minor league hockey and the Rapids fans do it so well. And there’s a non-offensive ribbing remark shouted after each goal scored by the opposing team is announced: “We don’t care!” The Rapid City Rush fans are just classy. I rank them up there with the St Louis Cardinals fans. They love the game, love their team and even appreciate stellar performances from opposing teams. They root for their team to win and not so much for the opposing team to lose as is noticeable at some ECHL venues. Access 3 Getting to Rushmore Plaza Civic Center is relatively easy. Moving around inside the ice arena concourse can be a tad difficult as the single concourse is narrow and lots of Rush fans congregate there pregame and between periods. There is a Rapid Ride bus service in Rapid City but the schedule times are not conducive to hockey game start and ending times so car is the best bet. Of course, if staying downtown or near the facility, walking is the recommended choice. Plenty of free parking is available on the Civic Center property (from Mt Rushmore Rd and 5th Ave). The parking lot of Central High School just across 8th Ave (Mt Rushmore Rd) is available as well (approximately 1,000 ft from entrance). The nearest airport is Rapid City Regional Airport, approximately a 15-min drive to the Civic Center. Since it’s a regional airport, flight choices may be limited. It does not appear Lyft or Uber are available in Rapid City. There are several taxi companies that can be used if desired or needed. Multiple entrances are handy to get into the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The closest to the ice arena is the 5th Ave entrance. Return on Investment 4 Parking is free, food and drink prices are reasonable, tickets range from $7.50 – $37.50 depending are where the seat is located. Nearby hotels are affordable. Combine all of that with a good hockey atmosphere, seeing a Rush game is a great value. Extras 3 A couple of other things are worth mentioning or reiterating. A piece of the Berlin Wall is located on the grounds of the Civic Center. When visiting a Rush game be sure to visit this monument just outside the venue. Be sure to check out the Booster Club table on the concourse. These folks sell some items and trinkets to help with their goal to make the Rush players comfortable in a new town and team. They’ll gladly discuss the efforts they perform and provide for the players and events they try to coordinate for players and fans alike. I can’t say enough about the fans and their use of cowbells to cheer good plays, blocks, saves and goals. Final Thoughts People give me a puzzled look when I say I’m going to Rapid City to see a hockey game. Most haven’t been to Rapid City or witnessed a hockey game there. If travels bring you to western South Dakota, check out a Rush game and all the other attractions in this part of the country.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park 201 Barlow Rd Dahlonega, GA 30597 North Georgia Nighthawks website Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 500 There’s a Baseball Park in Them Thar Hills! The University of North Georgia (UNG) opened in 1873. It is located in Dahlonega, GA, and has a student body of 18,046. Its’ largest areas of study are biology, psychology, and business. The University of North Georgia is one of only six senior military colleges in the U.S. Students are not required to be in the military programs at UNG, but a sizable percentage of the student body does enroll in the military sciences area of study. The athletic teams at UNG are known as the Nighthawks. They participate in sports at the Division II level of the NCAA as a member of the Peach Belt Conference. This conference includes smaller schools from the states of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. The home of Nighthawks baseball is the on-campus Bob Stein Stadium. It is in Lynn Cottrell Park, UNG’s Outdoor Athletic Complex. It opened in time for the 2009 season and has a seating capacity of 500. The baseball team has seen great success at Stein Stadium, as it was the regular season champion in 2015, 2017, and 2019. It firmly believes that the stadium and its ongoing improvements have been a boon to its recruiting efforts. Food and Beverage 4 There is one concession stand located at Coleman Field House. The stand is well-staffed, and the lines move quickly. The stand serves a very basic ballpark standards menu. However, the prices at the concession stand are much lower than we find at most college venues. The menu includes hot dogs ($3.75), nachos ($3.75), pretzels ($3.50), candy ($2.25), and chips ($1.25). The stand carries Coca-Cola brand beverages ($2.00) and bottled water ($2.00). Beer is not sold on the University of North Georgia campus. Atmosphere 4 Bob Stein Stadium is a great place to enjoy a Nighthawks baseball game. It is a very modern facility, as it opened in only 2009. The ballpark features the blue, gold, and white team colors of UNG. The ballpark is in a valley, between several forested hills, which form a backdrop beyond the outfield walls. The grandstand is located behind home plate, and it features some very comfortable chairback seats. Fans have a great view of the action no matter where they are in the bleachers. The entire field, including the infield base paths, is made of a synthetic surface. This is due to the harsh weather conditions in February when the baseball season gets underway. The Nighthawks have very few rainouts during the season. The ballpark also features a state-of-the-art electronics package. There is a large videoboard in left-center field behind the outfield wall. It was installed in 2020. The videoboard features each batter’s name and background information as they come to the plate, in addition, it also provides information on the upcoming games. The sound system at Bob Stein Stadium is extremely clear. Neighborhood 4 UNG is located in Dahlonega, GA. Dahlonega was the site of the first Gold Rush in the U.S. in 1828. Gold in very small amounts can still be found in the area. The city of Dahlonega is located 66 miles north of Atlanta in the North Georgia mountains. The heart of Dahlonega is Courthouse Square, which is just two blocks east of the UNG campus. The square is filled with unique shops, great restaurants, and services that fill the everyday needs of both the year-round population and the UNG student body. The old courthouse in the square is now home to the Dahlonega Gold Rush State Historic Site Museum. Among the more popular businesses located on the square are the Dahlonega Brewing Company, and the iconic Smith House Inn and Restaurant. The Smith House Inn opened in 1899 and is still an active lodging site. Its’ restaurant is famous for its family-style dining, and it is packed on a regular basis with both locals and tourists. Dahlonega hosts several festivals each year, with the biggest being Gold Rush Days in October. This festival celebrates both the town’s heritage with gold and the fall leaf colors in the North Georgia mountains. The area is also a hub for the wine industry in Georgia. There are more than 15 wineries amongst the hills surrounding the town. The surrounding mountains also draw many outdoor enthusiasts to the area for hiking, white water rafting, and mountain biking. For more information on things to do during your stay in the area, go to www.dahlonega.org . Fans 4 The fan base at Nighthawk games consists of students, parents, and family members of the players as well as the townspeople of Dahlonega. UNG and the townspeople of Dahlonega share a great town/gown relationship. UNG literally is the only sports game in town, other than the lone high school in the county. Fans proudly wear the UNG colors, even if they have no official link to the school. Access 4 The UNG campus and the Convocation Center are located 66 miles North of Atlanta. They are easily reached via Highway 400 and US Highway 19. Once in Dahlonega, turn left at Morrison Parkway. Go 1.5 miles and turn left on Road. Parking and the ballpark will be on your left. Directions from Atlanta: Take Highway 400/US 19 North for 32 miles. When Highway 400 ends, continue on Highway 19 North for 8 miles. Turn left at the red light for South Chestatee Street (US 19) This will bring you up and over a steep hill that overlooks the city of Dahlonega. After you have passed the hospital, go down the hill to the next traffic light. Turn left onto Morrison Moore Parkway. Turn left on Barlow Road. The parking lot and Bob Stein Stadium will be on your left. You can park in any space in the lot. Gates to the ballpark open 1 hour before the first pitch, leaving you plenty of time to watch batting practice or visit the concession stand in Coleman Field House. Return on Investment 5 You will not break the bank when you attend a baseball game at Bob Stein Stadium. Parking is free anywhere within the Lynn Cottrell Athletics Park. Ticket prices are $10.00 for General Admission seats and $7.00 for Seniors/Students/Military. The items at the concession stand are priced well below the typical costs charged at most college venues. Programs for the baseball games are free, as they are digital, and are available by snapping a photo of the QR code at the entrance to the ballpark. Lodging in the area can be found for less than $100 during the baseball season. Extras 4 The University of North Georgia turns 150 years old in 2023. Several special observances will be held throughout the season, highlighting the athletic achievements of various Nighthawk teams over the years. Dahlonega gold covers the steeple of the Price Memorial Hall on the UNG campus and the Georgia State Capitol Dome in Atlanta. As an active Senior Military College, UNG still has military observances of Reveille, Retreat, and Taps. While only students in the military studies programs observe Reveille and Taps, all students, faculty, and staff stop when Retreat is sounded at 5 pm. They stop whatever they are doing and put their hands over their hearts and face the Drill Field while the Colors are taken down and the cannon on the field is fired. Zac Brown of the Zac Brown Band is a native of Dahlonega and he took classes at UNG. Final Thoughts Bob Stein Stadium provides a better-than-average experience for small college baseball fans. Its’ state-of-the-art facility offers a beautiful setting amongst the North Georgia mountains, with an electronics package that you would expect to have at a much larger school. The fan base is a model of town/gown cooperation, with everyone wearing the school colors. Finally, the town of Dahlonega offers visitors plenty of things to do before or after the game.

Photos by Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Berry Events Center 1401 Presque Isle Ave Marquette, MI 49855 Northern Michigan Wildcats men’s hockey website Berry Events Center website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 4,200 Marq Your Calendar There is little doubt that Marquette, Michigan is a hockey town. Sure, this is the place where you can see football in the largest wooden dome in the world , and it’s also the home of the United States Olympic Education Center, where athletes train for boxing, speed skating, weightlifting, and wrestling. However, if you want the best sports that the town can offer, then you will want to go to the Berry Events Center, home of Northern Michigan Wildcats hockey. The arena stands on the former site of Memorial Field, the home of NMU football from 1946-1991. Berry Events Center opened in 1999. Besides being the home of the men’s hockey team, it is also the home of the Wildcats men’s and women’s basketball teams. Numerous banners hang in the arena, with the most prominent being the women’s basketball semi-finals appearance from 1998. The ice is Olympic-sized (200×98 feet) as opposed to the North American standard of 200×85 feet. This creates a more wide-open game, which often produces a better fan experience and higher scoring. This arena was also the site of the United States Olympics speed skating time trials for the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics. Although hockey has only been a varsity sport since 1976 at Northern Michigan University, the program has a National Championship (1991) to its credit giving the team a more historic sense of credibility. To add to that, you’ll find back-to-back Frozen Four appearances commemorated on a banner for 1980-1981. The Berry Events Center is a great venue to see college hockey, reminiscent of Michigan State’s Munn Ice Arena with its upper concourse surrounding the seating area. Food & Beverage 4 There are four main concession areas at Berry Events Center, each with a different focus. The arena is small, so you can easily take a lap around the concourse to find what you want the most. One stand offers “Sweet and Eats,” with some of the highlights including Jilbert’s Dairy Ice Cream ($4), hot brownie bites with hot chocolate sauce ($4.50), and banana foster cheesecake bites with caramel sauce ($4.50) on the sweet side. On the east side, you’ll find savory options including Mama Russo’s black rocks yooper brat on a pretzel bun ($3.50), an Italian beef sandwich ($3.50), or a cudighi sandwich on ciabatta (spicy Italian sausage, $4.50). Another stand offers Mexican options such as burritos ($5-$7.75), quesadillas ($5-$6.50), and house-fried chips with various toppings ($2-$5.50). A third and fourth stand offers some of the stadium classics like hot dogs ($3) and brats ($3.50), offered by Vollwerth’s. Pretzel bites are also a good choice ($2.50), with a cheese cup costing $1 more. Pepsi is the soft drink provider with a cup going for just $2. Warm beverages include coffee ($1.50), tea ($1.50), and hot chocolate ($2) on hand. Beer is also available for sale at Berry Events Center with a wide variety. Twelve-ounce craft beers cost $4, and $3 macro brews in 16-ounce pours can also be found. Options include local beer like Ore Dock, and the usual macros such as Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, Labatt, and Miller Lite. Atmosphere 4 Walking through the parking lot and finding tailgaters on a cold autumn or winter night begins to set the tone for the visit, and that enthusiasm for the Wildcats continues once inside the Berry Events Center. The pep band, a vital part of any good college hockey experience, is set up behind one of the goals at the top of the seating area. They do a wonderful job of creating that energy, playing early and often throughout the pre-game and game. Regardless of your ticket, you can expect to be sitting in a green plastic seat with average legroom, and no cup holder. You may be just as happy to find a spot along the rail, watching the game from the concourse, and you wouldn’t be alone. If the Wildcats are playing an in-state opponent, both the seating areas and standing areas will be full, so if you find a good perspective on the concourse, you may not want to abandon it. Be sure to take one lap around the concourse to see plaques on the wall to honor former players, a poster commemorating the 1991 championship, and just to generally get a feel for the arena. Neighborhood 4 Downtown Marquette is a place that’s easy to fall in love with. It’s a pretty little town, the largest in the Upper Peninsula, although the 89th largest in the state according to the 2010 census with a population of about 22,000. The main downtown area is only about a mile from the Berry Events Center. If the weather is nice (and this is relative), then be sure to wander around and experience the town. If you are in town in the morning, then I would suggest making a stop at Dead River Coffee for a cup of Joe. The baked goods at their next-door neighbor, Marquette Baking Company, are worth a stop as well. If you are looking for a pint of local beer, then stop into the Ore Dock Brewing Company. They have several locally made beers on tap, and also have several board games, a few TVs, and a foosball table. It is certainly a fun and relaxing place to spend a couple of hours. The Steinhaus offers a German and European-inspired menu, with plenty of tasty treats including a selection of sausages and wursts. This is a good place to go with a group to share several appetizers. Further down the road is the Vierling Restaurant, offering local beers, sandwiches, burgers, appetizers, and salads. The smoked whitefish appetizer and a beer sampler and is a good ways to end up very happy. Sit by the window and look out at the cold harbor and enjoy something local. If you want even more smoked whitefish, then a walk down to the harbor to Thill’s Fish House, a little shanty of a place that offers delicious locally smoked whitefish. Fans 4 The tailgaters in the parking lot on the way in are certainly a good sign. They are friendly, dressed in their construction clothes, with reflectors glowing in the night. Inside, you’ll find more of these “Puckheads” in the student section which stretches from sections 13-16. If you want the most energetic place to sit this is it, with the band directly behind you in section 16. After a penalty is killed by NMU, you’ll hear the PA announcer called “Wildcats at full strength” and the crowd answer back, “They always were!” The crowd in general loves this team, and you are likely to hear intelligent hockey discussions happening wherever you choose to sit (or stand). The team ranked 40th in attendance in 2015 in the NCAA (out of 59), averaging 2,188 fans per game, which is just over 58% of the arena’s capacity. Clearly, the fans could be better, but those in attendance love their Wildcats. Access 4 Parking costs you only $2, and there is plenty of it to accommodate even a sell-out crowd. There is some free street parking that you can find on the surrounding streets, but for $2 it is worth it to have a space right next to the arena. The concourse can get a little crowded between periods, especially near the corners where the concession stands are located, but it doesn’t give fans that claustrophobic feeling. Restrooms are adequate for the size of the facility, and you shouldn’t expect to encounter any unreasonable lines even at peak times. They are clean and smell good. Return on Investment 5 Tickets begin at $15 for standing room, and only go up to $16 for reserved seating. This just comes down to your personal preference. For an extra dollar, it is worth it to pay to have a seat, but you can watch some of the game from a standing position on the concourse. In any case, it is well worth the cost. Even when you add in the cost of parking, a drink, and a hot dog, the price tag comes in under $25 per person. Seniors get a $2 discount on each ticket, and NMU students or any fan under age 18 can gain admittance for just $10. The NMU athletics website does make it a little bit difficult to find tickets as it took me several clicks to find where you can find online ticket sales. You may end up having to make a phone call to secure your tickets. Given the average attendance though, you should be able to just show up at the arena to make your purchase the day of the game, although for in-state rivalries I would recommend getting your tickets in advance. Extras 3 One extra point for the 1991 National Championship banner and poster. It’s always special when you can see a game in a venue where they have a championship tradition. Another extra point for the Wildcats pep band, who add to the experience. Finally, an extra point for the town of Marquette. You will enjoy your visit to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and if you are a fan of college hockey you will feel like you made a worthwhile journey should you invest the time to visit as well. Final Thoughts There is no doubt that college hockey fans should include a trip to Northern Michigan University as a spot to see great hockey. Whether you are following your team on the road or just looking for a new venue, you won’t be disappointed by what you find at the Berry Events Center.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Tokyo Dome Koraku 1-3-61 Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0004, Japan Yomiuri Giants website Tokyo Dome website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 55,000 The Big Fried Egg Built in 1988 to replace the outdoor Korakuen stadium, the Tokyo Dome was the first covered baseball venue in Japan. Nicknamed the Big Egg for its egg-like appearance from the air, it has become an icon in the city. It hosts the nation’s most popular pro team, the Yomiuri Giants, as well as dozens of college and industrial league games throughout the year. It also acts as a football stadium, race track, exhibition hall, and Japan’s largest concert venue. Much like the Metrodome in Minneapolis, the roof is a flexible membrane that is supported by slightly pressurizing the inside of the stadium. From outside, the dome is bright and shiny, but the cover belies a rather drab interior that makes it one of the least enjoyable places to watch a game. Food & Beverage 3 The offerings inside the park are fairly typical, with hot dogs seeming to be the most common choice. I saw one stand with 32 different types of bento boxes, so you certainly have your options on that front. The recommended local dish inside is the Big Egg ice cream sandwich, which consists of vanilla ice cream surrounded by a light crust shaped like the dome itself. It is sold by vendors walking around the stadium and is worth the 260 yen simply for the unique design rather than the taste. The best food in my mind though comes from the restaurants that are built into the outer walls of the stadium. There are at least 5 decent eateries here, with my favorite being The Burgers Tokyo. It offers premium burger sets from 880 yen which provide a good pre-game meal and are much better than the pre-cooked patties available inside. The other restaurants are more traditional Japanese fare such as noodles or rice bowls, but I’ve never tried them because I enjoy the burgers so much. As usual, you can bring food and drink into the ballpark and there are a number of shops near Korakuen station, as well as a McDonalds if you are desperate. Atmosphere 2 The dome is fairly lifeless during a Giants game. It’s too big for the fans to really get together and make a lot of noise, even when it’s nearly sold out. The worst thing is the lack of decent air conditioning, which makes walking around the crowded concourse on a hot day a sweaty endeavor. Plastic fans are handed out at the entry and you better take one to keep cool during the game. There are some mascots and a dance team, but they add little to the proceedings. I found the Sunday afternoon that I spent there to be a ho-hum affair and see no reason to return. Neighborhood 4 The dome is part of a larger complex that includes the Tokyo Dome Hotel and Korakuen, an aging amusement park. The hotel has elevators that provide views that can be quite stunning as you race up 43 floors, but otherwise the whole place is fairly bland. It is all located in Bunkyo-ku, a rather non-descript area just north of the Imperial Palace. Suidobashi is the nearest big station, but it doesn’t have a lot of post-game entertainment choices. If I were to suggest one bar, it would be Doma Doma, a cheap but tasty izakaya just a couple of minutes away from the JR Suidobashi station. It’s a chain with dozens of branches throughout Tokyo that offer a wide variety of Japanese food with pictures and English explanations in the menu. Quite affordable for the quality. Kanda is only a couple of stops away and this area definitely has more flavor and is typically Japanese, with some great bars and restaurants. I would advise that you get here and wander the streets, you are sure to find something of interest. Fans 1 Disclosure: I hate the Giants and their fans, who are the worst of the lot here. They are front-runners, rooting for the most popular and richest team. But their cheering section is dull and has no interesting or catchy tunes. Worse, they chanted for a shutout when the other team was batting in the ninth inning, which I consider to be bad form. They also sit on the third base side when the first base seats are sold out, which is downright wrong. Suffice to say I was not impressed with them whatsoever. Access 3 There are four lines that serve the area: Suidobashi has a JR station as well as the Toei Mita subway line while the Korakuen subway station has the Marunouchi and Namboku metro lines. I find the Mita line the best way to come and go as it is the least crowded, but most likely you’ll have to choose based on your starting point. One thing to be aware of is that the Dome is built on some restricted space and the pathways around it get very narrow in some places, particularly near the Korakuen station. After a game, be prepared to move very slowly as thousands of people are forced into a narrow passage. You must enter the stadium at the correct gate. There are 6 gates at ground level (which is actually the second floor, so the gates number from 20-25), 4 gates for the next level (30-33), and 2 gates for the top level (40 and 41). Once inside the stadium, you can walk freely around before the game. However, during the game, you must show a ticket to enter the seating bowl on the lower level. The concourse fills up as game time approaches, so if you want to tour, get there early (doors open 2 hours before the game). You can take the stairs to the top level and back, but again you may be asked for a ticket when you reach the lower bowl. Return on Investment 2 Tickets here are not cheap, going as high as 5,900 yen for the S seats behind the plate, which are slightly more padded than the typical seat. My recommendation is the 2,300 yen C seat, which can be anywhere in the upper deck. These seem to have a bit more room and provide a nice view of the stadium as well as a less crowded concourse. There are also Excite Seats that are on the field down the lines but these were not available at the box office on game day. The outfield seats have no backs but are generally reserved for the cheering sections. There are also standing room tickets for just 1,000 yen but you need to arrive early and save your space with a newspaper or something similar, at least for a popular game. At the game I saw, I was able to find a standing space near home plate in the 6th inning and held that for the rest of the match. As is common in Japan, there is protective netting down the entire baseline, which ruins the view for me and is another reason to sit upstairs. The field itself is turf with dirt around the bases. The scoreboard is fairly standard and there are no interesting between-inning promotions. Essentially the Tokyo Dome is function over form but still costs a bit too much for what you get. Extras 4 The Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame is located here and is the highlight of the entire experience. A bargain at only 500 yen (with a 100 yen discount if you show that day’s game ticket), the HOF boasts an impressive display of awards and memorabilia. The two WBC trophies greet you as you reach the bottom of the stairs, and from there you wander around checking out some excellent displays and a surprising amount of material from the major leagues. There are English explanations for each of the enshrined players, but not for the artifacts such as Jackie Robinson’s bat, so it helps to be accompanied by someone who can understand basic Japanese if you want to get the most out of the visit. An absolute must-see. Within the Dome, the Giants have their own museum on the Fan’s Fun Plaza, a concourse beneath the main concourse. The museum is nothing more than a wall display that contains a few items celebrating the Giants’ successes. It isn’t very compelling unless you happen to be a fan, although it was interesting in that the game I saw had the winning ball from the previous day’s game, which was a rookie pitcher’s first complete game. The Fan’s Fun Plaza also boasts the Star Memorial Plate area, which are plaques along the wall commemorating the past stars of the Giants as well as famous musicians and bands that have played there. Final Thoughts The Tokyo Dome is really not a pleasant place on a hot and humid afternoon, when it should be called the Big Fried Egg. It is still worth visiting if only for the Hall of Fame, but if you do go in the summer, I’d suggest an evening game.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Delta Dental Stadium One Line Drive Manchester, NH 03101 New Hampshire Fisher Cats website Delta Dental Stadium website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 6,000 20 Years at the Tooth   Some ballparks have names that just roll off the tongue. Others have monikers that easily translate into catchy nicknames. Alas, the ballpark in Manchester, New Hampshire has never enjoyed either of these luxuries. Born in 2005 as Fisher Cats Ballpark, the ballpark was re-christened as MerchantsAuto.com Stadium in 2006. In 2011 Northeast Delta Dental insurance entered into a naming rights deal, shortening the park’s name to “Delta Dental Stadium” in 2022. Sometimes referred to as “The Tooth” (but thankfully usually not), the home of the Fisher Cats enters its 20th season in 2025. The Fisher Cats have won three Eastern League championships since moving to New Hampshire from New Haven, CT.   The ballpark was built on the site of the former Singer Park in the Manchester Millyard, a soccer stadium that was also used for circuses, carnivals, and summer concerts. The grounds are notable for being the site where bricks from the Arms Textile Mill are buried. The Arms Textile Mill was the site of the deadliest outbreak of anthrax in United States history.   You may be asking yourself, what exactly is a fisher cat? A fisher cat, or Pekania Pennanti, is a carnivorous mammal native to forests of Canada and northern United States. It is not actually a cat, and is more closely related to the American or Pacific marten. Despite its name, a fisher cat rarely eats fish, choosing to hunt small animals and forage for fruits and mushrooms. A fisher cat is one of the few animals that can successfully prey on porcupines.   While Delta Dental Stadium sits on the banks of the Merrimack River, the river factors very little into the stadium design. The ballpark faces away from the river and it is not visible from much of the facility. The dominating feature of this ballpark is the Hilton Garden Inn, which towers over the field in deep left-center field. Many rooms feature views of the ballpark, and there is a patio from which hotel guests can sit and take in the action.   Food & Beverage 4   The concessions experience at Delta Dental Stadium seems to change annually, expanding and contracting at a whim. During Stadium Journey’s 2025 visit, it appeared that a return to basics was in order.   There are three main stands scattered throughout the ballpark which offer mostly standard ballpark fare, not straying far from your typical hot dog/burger/chicken tender menu. Pizza slices are sold at the big stands, with value meals offered for fans looking to save a few dollars. Smaller carts scattered throughout the concourse augment these stands with specialty items such as Dippin' dots, Mac and Cheese, and gourmet hot dogs.   Bottled Coca Cola products are featured at Delta Dental Stadium alongside a good selection of beer. National brands are featured, as well as local craft favorites from Moat Mountain, and a special brew for the Fisher Cats, Line Drive Lager from Great North Aleworks.   The centerpiece of the dining experience here is the Sam Adams Brewhouse, located at the top of the stairs as you enter the ballpark. Open to all ticket holders two hours before and after the game, the Brewhouse features a seating area that overlooks the field, several high-definition televisions, an 85-foot-long Mahogany bar, and live music on the Tiki bar stage every Thursday-Saturday. The Brewhouse can also be reserved for private functions.   Atmosphere 4   The Fisher Cats offer the typical minor league gameday presentation, starting with a couple dozen first pitches and continuing with distractions aplenty throughout the game. All your typical in-game hijinks can be found here, from grass angels to mascot races. Younger fans in attendance will gravitate towards the Planet Fitness play area at the far end of the concourse, while the adults in attendance will likely head to the social area outside of the Sam Adams Brewhouse, where live music is played before weekend games.   The Fisher Cat staff work hard to provide entertainment for New Hampshire baseball fans. There are tables operated by local vendors scattered throughout the concourse, fast-pitch booths and midway games for younger fans, coloring stations, live music, free programs and more every night of the season.   Neighborhood 3   Manchester is New Hampshire’s largest city, located about an hour’s drive northwest of Boston via Interstate 93. Delta Dental Stadium is located on the banks of the Merrimack River on the opposite side of the river from the highway, just a short walk from downtown Manchester.   Aside from the Hilton Garden Inn and the Sam Adams Brewhouse, which are basically part of the ballpark, there is not much in the immediate vicinity of Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.   Visiting fans looking for places to eat or drink will find no shortage of places in downtown Manchester about a mile from the ballpark. The Red Arrow Diner is perhaps Manchester’s most famous eatery, having been open for close to a century. It’s a favorite stop for politicians campaigning in the area and locals alike. Open 24 hours, it’s known for its enormous portions of comfort food and all-day breakfast.   Less than an hour north of Manchester are the White Mountains, which contain some excellent ski resorts. In the summer many mountain areas convert into summer vacation destinations. Favorite attractions such as Lake Winnipesaukee and the numerous touristy spots along the Kancamangus Highway are just a short drive away.   Fans 3   The Fisher Cats annually finish in the bottom half of the Eastern League attendance rankings, averaging around 4,000 fans per game. Being affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays while located in the middle of Red Sox country is hardly a recipe for success, but the Fisher Cats have a dedicated, enthusiastic fan base.   As is typical in minor league parks throughout the country, crowds in Manchester are a mixture of die-hard baseball fans and families. With the constant on-field shenanigans and things to do for young and old fans alike, there’s solid energy coming from the stands.   Access 4   While Northeast Delta Dental’s location right off Interstate 293 in downtown Manchester would seem most convenient, getting in and out of the area can be difficult. The ballpark is located on a dead-end street with only one way in and out, meaning you shouldn’t be in a hurry, especially when leaving after the game. In fact, many Fisher Cats fans choose to park in the lots further from the ballpark because these lots are much easier to get out of.   After the standard security screen and bag check, fans enter the ballpark via a staircase that deposits them onto the concourse in deep left field.  Located here is the Sam Adams Brewhouse, tiki bar, pavilion, rock waterfall and stage. It’s a great introduction to the park on a busy Friday or Saturday night.   The concourse wraps around the field to deep right field. The open concourse, located at the top of the seating bowl, allows for views of the field from all spots. All the seats here are green plastic stadium chairs, except for the furthest sections in right field, which are made up of metal bleachers. Unfortunately, the seating bowl is not angled towards home plate, meaning seats further down the lines face centerfield. In addition, netting runs the entire length of the seating bowl, obstructing views from all seats. The children’s play area is located at the end of the concourse in right field.   The concourse is somewhat narrow and crammed with tables, booths and carts. It can be difficult to navigate when there is a large crowd in attendance. Restrooms are clean, and large enough for the typical Fisher Cat crowd.   Return on Investment 4   Tickets to Fisher Cats games start at $12 for seats furthest down the lines, topping out at $18 behind home plate. Seats in the Bullpen Patio and Pavilion by the Sam Adams Brewhouse can be found for $24. Check the Fisher Cats website for more deals, including free food when you buy four or more tickets.   Parking in the Fisher Cats lot and SNHU Millyard Garage closest to the ballpark will cost $10. There are cheaper alternatives further from the ballpark across Granite Street, but these lots involve a decent walk. There is some on-street parking near the ballpark and in the downtown area, but these spots are snatched up quickly. Pay attention to the times meters are in effect, as these spots may cost you depending on the time of the game.   Concession prices are generally in line with other venues in the area. Access to the Kids Zone is $5. Delta Dental Stadium is a cashless facility.   Extras 3                                                                                                 An extra point is awarded for the Hilton Garden Inn that towers over the field and the Sam Adams Brewhouse two very unique features in an otherwise plain ballpark.   Three retired numbers hang on the right field fence honoring individuals who never suited up for the Fisher Cats; 42 (Jackie Robinson), 83 (in honor of Manchester police officer Michael Briggs, who was killed in the line of duty) and 29 (local resident and major leaguer Chris Carpenter).   A final extra point is awarded for the superb array of alternate realities trotted out by the franchise. In addition to the Primaries, the original name of the ball club (and in this writer’s opinion, what this team should have always been called), the team also boasts the chicken tenders (Manchester is the birthplace of the classic food favorite) and the space potatoes, which combine the state’s official vegetable with the lore of New Hampshire’s claim to being the site of the first widely reported alien abduction.   Final Thoughts   A Blue Jays farm team in the middle of Red Sox territory has to work harder to keep the fans coming, and the Fisher Cats staff do a great job filling Delta Dental Stadium year after year. While this may not be the most memorable ballpark out there, there’s plenty going on in Manchester to make a Stadium Journey to the Granite State worthwhile.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Shirley Povich Field 10600 Westlake Dr Rockville, MD 20852 Georgetown Hoyas website Shirley Povich Field website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 1,500 Shirley It Must Be Baseball Time Georgetown University’s baseball team is the school’s oldest athletic program, beginning play informally in 1866 and officially founded in 1870. For their first 130 years, the Hoyas played on campus in various different venues. However, in 2000, the GU Baseball Diamond was demolished to make way for a new athletic building, and the team was forced to find a new home. Since the 2001 season, the Hoyas have played their home games off campus at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda, Maryland, at a stadium that is also the home to a collegiate summer league team, the Bethesda Big Train. The stadium is named after longtime local sports columnist Shirley Povich, who covered baseball for over 50 years and was one of the last living reporters to have covered Babe Ruth. He began his career with the Washington Post in 1923, and although he officially retired in 1973, he never stopped covering the game. His last column was published in 1998, one day after his death. Food & Beverage 0 There is a concession stand at Shirley Povich Field, but it is only used for Big Train games. There are vending machines that sell soda, water, and Powerade just outside the stadium if you’re really desperate, and there is a café in the Ice Rink at the other side of the parking lot if you’re willing to walk all the way down there, but it may not even be open depending on the public skating schedule. Your best bet is to eat before the game or bring your own food. Atmosphere 2 The atmosphere at a Hoyas baseball game is not particularly impressive. The team does little to add to it other than play music in between innings, and the fact that the stadium is located in a county park surrounded by rec fields makes this feel more like you’re watching a Sunday beer league game than a college baseball game. In fact, other than the “We are Georgetown” banner hung across the outfield fence, there is little here to indicate you are even at a Georgetown game. All of the other signage in and around the stadium is for the Bethesda Big Train. The good news is that every seat in the stadium is a chair back, and they all have a great view of the field. All seats are behind netting, which is unfortunate but necessary given how close they are to the action. There is a scoreboard in left-center field which shows a line score as well as the count, current batter, and the time and temperature. Neighborhood 4 Shirley Povich Field is located in Cabin John Park, which is operated by Montgomery County. There is an ice rink and some recreational fields located in the immediate vicinity of the stadium, all part of the park. A shopping center is located across the street which includes a Five Guys, a taco place, and a number of other shops. Bobby’s Burger Palace is located just down the road and is a local favorite as well. There are several hotels on Democracy Boulevard a couple miles from the stadium, and Cabin John Park also has a campground for those visitors to the area looking to stay in a more natural environment. Washington, D.C. is a short Metro ride away and features various museums, monuments, and other sites. Whether it’s visiting the Smithsonian or talking a walk along the National Mall, there is something to do for everyone in the nation’s capital, and most of it is free. Just keep in mind if you want to visit the Capitol or White House, you will need to book those tours in advance. Fans 2 The fans at Hoyas games are mostly family and friends of the players, and there are often as many fans of the opposing teams as there are rooting for the Hoyas. With the stadium located so far from campus, there are few, if any, students here. The fans who do show up can get loud at times, but there are so few of them it hardly makes a difference. College baseball is just not that big in this part of the country, and it shows. Access 4 Shirley Povich Field is located just off I-270 and I-495. Take the exit for Democracy Boulevard, follow it to Westlake Drive, and the entrance to Cabin John Park will be up ahead on your left. From there, head past the ice rink and the stadium will be up ahead. There are several other baseball fields in the complex used for recreational purposes, but Shirley Povich Field will be very clearly signed. Due to the large complex, there is more than enough parking available. However, the parking lot can be a tight fit and make exiting after the game difficult, especially if people are trying to enter the lot as well to go elsewhere in the park. Unfortunately, Shirley Povich Field is not easily accessible via the D.C. Metro. Restrooms are small but sufficient for the crowd. The men’s restroom can be hard to find as it is hidden off in the corner and not, as one would expect, across from the women’s restroom. Return on Investment 5 Parking and admission are both free, and it’s not like you’ll be spending anything on concessions since there aren’t any available. It’s hard to argue with that. . Extras 0 There are free programs available behind home plate, placed under a brick behind the backstop so they don’t blow away. There are murals behind home plate dedicated to Shirley Povich and longtime Washington Senator Walter Johnson. Johnson was nicknamed “Big Train” and is the namesake of the summer league club that plays here. One final star for the bucolic setting in Cabin John Park. There is so much else to do here, including ice skating, tennis courts, and miles of hiking and biking trails that you could easily turn a visit to a game into a full day in the park. Final Thoughts College baseball is not that big in this part of the country, and the fact that the Hoyas play in an out of the way location miles from campus doesn’t help. However, it is hard to argue with free baseball, whatever the setting, and Georgetown does deserve credit for that. Shirley Povich Field is a nice stadium, and it is a shame that the Hoyas do not use it to its full potential.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Knight-Newbrough Field @ University Stadium 81 Seagram Drive Waterloo, ON N2L 3B7 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks football website Knight-Newbrough Field @ University Stadium website Year Opened: 1958 Capacity: 6,000 Striving To Be (Once Again) Golden To say that University Stadium is in the midst of a facelift would be a vast underestimation of the time honored metaphor. The former Seagram Stadium, built in 1958, finally succumbed to time and the elements with the grandstands being condemned. After playing a few seasons with the majority of the grandstands being roped off as unsafe, the off-season between the 2022 and 2023 campaigns saw the wooden grandstands officially removed in preparation for a massive, multi-part renovation known as the Seagram Project . In the off-season after the 2023 season, the field turf will be replaced and the running track removed. Of course a significant fundraising campaign has begun at Wilfrid Laurier University to fund the other parts of the project, which do not have a specified timetable, and include a new grandstand, videoboard, locker rooms, concessions and an off-season bubble to facilitate winter use. In the meantime, the Golden Hawks will continue to make use of the facility with hopes that the university will be able to generate sufficient funds to make their dreams come to fruition. The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks began as Waterloo College before becoming Waterloo Lutheran University in 1960. With the provincial funding of only secular post-secondary institutions, the name Wilfrid Laurier University was adopted in 1973. The football team has been playing since 1924 and enjoyed a modicum of success for a small school culminating in Vanier Cup victories as National Champions in 1991 and 2003. University Stadium has been home to the Golden Hawks since 1958. Originally called Seagram Stadium and owned by the University of Waterloo, University Stadium was purchased by Wilfrid Laurier University from the City of Waterloo in 1992. In 2007 the field was renamed Knight-Newbrough Field after Laurier coaching legends Dave “Tuffy” Knight and Rich Newbrough. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions at University Stadium are pretty good for an OUA football facility. The main concession stand under the grandstand offers regular stadium fare including popcorn, cotton candy, nachos, chips and Domino’s Pizza. Coffee and Coca-Cola beverages are also available. In the west endzone there is normally a BBQ going that offers sausage, hot dogs and burgers. Also, for those of age, alcoholic beverages are available in the west endzone from Waterloo Brewing. Atmosphere 2 Once, University Stadium was among the best football facilities in the OUA. Today, there remains much to be desired. The exterior of the stadium is attractive enough from the north side which includes a gymnasium used for various school recreation activities as well as a nice ticketing office. Entering the stadium, returning fans will be shocked at the removal of the main grandstand. The area behind the locker rooms and concessions is much more wide open and bright, however it feels like a significant decline in facility. Temporary bleachers have been placed to replace the grandstand with an elevated press and coaches box at the 55 yard line on the north side of the field. Bleachers on the south side, traditionally vacant, have been placed but are smaller than the north side bleachers. The capacity at University Stadium has been reduced to around 4,000 seats. The stadium grounds are surrounded by mature trees to give the experience a unique feel to it. The west endzone features a simple, football scoreboard. Underneath the scoreboard there is a sign to commemorate the 1991 and 2005 Vanier Cup Championships. Unfortunately, there are no acknowledgements of the eight Yates Cup Championships as Conference Champions or other memorable Laurier football personnel other than Knight and Newbrough. The gameday atmosphere is about what one would expect from an OUA event. The requisite promotions are part of the fun and the host finds fans in the stands to take part in short competitions or to be Wilf's Fan of the Game. The cheerleading team leads the fans in standard football cheers and performs a number of gymnastic stunts. The Laurier mascot, Midas, can be found around the stadium interacting with fans and posing for pictures. A Laurier survey this season has changed the music selection for spots in between plays a bit and it is now a little more wide ranging. However, the Laurier anthem, “Country Roads” can still be heard at each game. Neighbourhood 4 Wilfrid Laurier is an urban university located just up the street from another urban university. As a result there are a ton of great options for pre and post game meals. University and King streets are where one would find most of the options. There are a ton of great spots to get something to eat before or after the game. Some places one might consider checking out include Crabby Joe’s, Smoke’s Poutinerie and Ethel’s Lounge. The on-campus pub is Wilf’s and offers a great atmosphere and food while being student run and managed. The place you probably should settle on, however, is Morty’s Pub. Home of arguably the best chicken wings in the city, Morty’s always satisfies your post game craving. Their chicken wings are legendary in the city. As far as entertainment goes, there are a few options in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Fans planning on catching a Laurier game around Canadian Thanksgiving, could be able to catch Oktoberfest. This is the signature festival of Kitchener-Waterloo and the largest Bavarian festival outside of Germany. There are a number of great events that take place over the 10 day festival at a variety of locations including the numerous Fest Halls. Heading south on King Street toward Uptown Waterloo, fans will find a great spot for some evening entertainment in the Huether Hotel Jazz Room. One of the top jazz venues in the province, The Jazz Room offers weekend performances at a great price. There are also a number of pubs in Uptown Waterloo that feature live music. If fans are interested in enhancing their sporting weekend then there are also a few other options. Wilfrid Laurier also fields other athletic teams, specifically basketball at the WLU Athletic Complex and hockey at the Sun Life Financial Arena . Just up the road, the University of Waterloo also fields USports athletic programs. Fans will find football at Warrior Field , basketball at the Physical Activities Complex and hockey at the Columbia IceField . If willing to drive across town, then fans can catch the phenomenal experience of the Kitchener Rangers at the legendary Aud. For fans who are planning on staying the night, the Inn of Waterloo is just a short drive from the Laurier campus and is a pretty decent place to stay. Fans 3 Fan support for Golden Hawks football is a bit of a roller coaster affair. Weather, time of year, number of students on campus are all major factors for football attendance. The post-pandemic era combined with stadium issues has not made University Stadium the most popular place. Annually, the Homecoming game previously packed well over 6,000 fans into University Stadium. This has declined with both the pandemic and changes to the grandstands. A late season game against a weak opponent can bring in less than 1,000. As with most USports programs, Laurier needs to continue efforts to engage students and get them out to the games, regardless of the date. There is no true student section at USports football games like there are at their American counterparts. Building a better relationship with current students and finding a way to make Laurier football part of their lives after graduation will go a long way to improving fan attendance overall. Access 4 Getting to University Stadium and around is not very difficult. University Stadium is located on Seagram Drive which runs between University and Albert Streets. Fans who are coming from out of town will have a decent drive through the city as the university campus is a fair trek southwest of Highway 85. Traffic on University Ave moves fairly quickly, so getting to the stadium should not be too much of an issue. There are a number of bus routes that travel along King St and University Ave. The Ion Light Rail also has a stop at Waterloo Park, a few steps from the stadium. Check the Grand River Transit website for fares, maps and schedules. Parking can be for sale in the stadium lot, however most spaces are reserved for season ticket holders and media. There is some parking available west of the stadium in the Granite Club parking lot, but be mindful of the signs as ticketing often happens for violators. Parking can also be found on campus or in some of the University of Waterloo lots that are close to Seagram Drive. The ticketing office is located in the permanent building under the grandstand. Other than that, there is no specific, grand entry gate. Security is present at 3 gates for entry which is more than ample for this facility and entry into the stadium is very quick. With the grandstand gone, it is very open and easy to move around. There is ample room underneath for moving from end to end or going to concessions. As expected, the grandstand does have a lot of stairs, however the general admission nature of seating offers the opportunity for patrons to minimize stair climbing. The washrooms in the permanent building are fairly small, but decent. Portable toilets are also brought into the end zones by the BBQs to help with high volume games. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for the Golden Hawks have come down in recent years. Regular adult tickets are $12 if purchased in advance. Staff, alumni, students and seniors are all $9.50 and Laurier students are $5 while kids are $6. Each ticket category is more expensive when walking up. The concession prices are decent and parking can be found for free. The product on the field is significantly under-rated and fans will no doubt enjoy their afternoon. Extras 4 An extra mark for the continued nod back to West Virginia. The heart of the Laurier athletics program came north from West Virginia. Over the years, the Hawks have embraced John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” as their anthem. Although the use of the song has diminished over recent years, when the Hawks won the Vanier Cup in 2005, it was John Denver that blasted over the PA. An extra mark for Laurier announcer Chris Povey, who has done a fantastic job as the public address announcer for Laurier football and hockey for a number of years. Chris brings energy and enthusiasm to the game every time and does his best to entertain and inform the crowd, even if the game is not so interesting. An extra mark for the interesting history of the Golden Hawks mascot . An extra mark for the program that Tuffy Knight and Rich Newbrough put together and the honor of having the field named after these Laurier Legends. Final Thoughts University Stadium is definitely in transition and hopefully it will not take too long for the entirety of the Seagram Project to come to fruition. Until that point, however, the full potential of Laurier Golden Hawks football experience will not be realized. It is still worth checking out and fun for a weekend afternoon. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Robbie Raskin, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Lamport Stadium 1151 King St W Toronto, ON M6K 1E9 Toronto Arrows website Lamport Stadium website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 9,600 Canada's Squad in North America's Rugby Capital Since the Toronto Wolfpack brought the English rugby system to Canada in 2017, becoming the first Transatlantic professional team, spectators wholeheartedly embraced the sport. Now building on that success, a second rugby club joined a professional league, this time in the rugby union code. Rugby, while new as a spectator sport, is hardly new to Toronto. Indeed, rugby union is a major participation sport amongst youth all across Canada. While Canada does have a premier-level domestic league (in British Columbia – perhaps the most important hotbed of rugby in North America), promising Canadian rugby players had been forced to play overseas or switch codes to Canadian football. Now, however, top tier clubs in both rugby league and ruby union mean the game is played at the highest level in Canada’s biggest city. With the addition of the Arrows, Toronto now has a team in the US-based MLR (Major League Rugby). The current team can trace its origins to the interprovincial Ontario Blues squad, who compete on a domestic regional level. With the aim of creating a professional team, the provincial rugby body acquired the rights to participate in MLR, and this represents a huge step for the league, looking to avoid a repeat of the last unsuccessful attempt to establish a rugby competition in the United States. By expanding to Canada, the league has moved to a place with an ingrained culture of rugby, not unlike the transformative decision of Major League Soccer to expand to Toronto a decade ago. Among the corporate partners who own the club, former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke is a minority owner. The Arrows began their inaugural season at suburban York University but promptly switched to the larger Lamport Stadium, also home to the Wolfpack. They have had quickly-rising attendance numbers and achieved success on the field, having just qualified at the time of writing for a playoff spot after a 7-0 finish to their season. Featuring an almost-entirely Canadian roster, the Arrows now represent the pinnacle of rugby union for the tens of thousands of players across Canada, and an exciting new sporting environment for springtime in Toronto. Food & Beverage 4 Like other aspects of Lamport Stadium, the food offerings are fairly simplistic and straightforward, but there are good options and terrific beer choices. For food, there is a concession window under the eastern grandstand serving various options from $7 and up. Some choices include sausages, burgers, and handheld meat pies and Jamaican patties. This menu is repeated at another outdoor grill in the north end, next to the real standout of offerings here; the beer garden. Like in the Wolfpack setup, the north end of the stadium features a beer garden behind the end zone, which is the most popular place to enjoy the game. Open to all fans and operating on a token system, a variety of craft brewers sell beer, cider, and spirits from tents. Roaming vendors also sell these craft drinks for $9 per tall can. Some of the options on offer at the reviewed match included Big Rock brewery, Saulter Street brewery, and Lost Craft brewery. Atmosphere 2 Lamport Stadium is, for now, what it is; a 1970’s-era community venue that has hosted fairly small-scale events throughout its history. That all changed with the Wolfpack, who vaulted the ground into Toronto’s sporting scene, and began a regime of renovations after the 2018 season. Those renovations are expected to resume after this summer’s rugby finishes. In the meantime, the stadium consists of two grandstands set in a leafy neighbourhood park, with the beer garden at the north end and a VIP tented section of bars and a buffet are at the south end. The stadium is located along bustling King Street West with a small car park at the south end. The seats are concrete benches, the scoreboard is simple, and washrooms are mostly in the form of outhouses. However, the atmosphere is created by the boisterous fans, sunny weather, and the enjoyable beer garden areas. Additionally, historic and modern architecture surrounding the tight confines of the stadium create the feel of integration with the surrounding city. Approaching the ground through the park, tents indicate the will call and entrance. A quick pass through the concourse puts fans into the eastern grandstand. Early on, only this grandstand was open to the public, but as attendances continue to increase, it is likely the west grandstand will also open up. The beer garden is accessible to all fans, while the south VIP area is wristband-controlled. This area is akin to suites in a more permanent stadium, and individual tents are rented by corporate groups and some local rugby clubs. A surprisingly well-stocked team store is in the beer garden area, and is very popular. The presentation is straightforward, with music and announcements, but no gimmicks. A halftime game was played by the junior girls of the Toronto Reds side. Neighborhood 5 Lamport Stadium is located in the buzzy central Liberty Village neighbourhood, along lively King Street West. This is not far from any downtown attractions and on a nice day, can make a pleasant walk from downtown. Immediately surrounding the stadium are trendy shops and a host of bars. The neighbourhood has long been a hotbed of support for Toronto FC, who play just south at BMO Field . That stadium is also home to the Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Next door is the Coca-Cola Coliseum , home to hockey’s Toronto Marlies. There is a strong neighbourhood feel here, driven by support of the local teams in various sports, primarily TFC and the Wolfpack. Some of the best pubs around include the Brazen Head and Toronto’s reputed oldest bar The Wheat Sheaf. There are plenty of transport links, and all the diversions of Toronto are a quick hop away. Fans 4 When MLR expanded to Toronto, they quickly opened up to legions of fans who know and play the game of rugby. That has proven true, as dozens of local rugby clubs are represented on the shirts, scarves, and hats of fans. In the first season, attendance has reached new heights with each game, and it seems inevitable the stadium will be nearly sold-out within a season or two. So far, the American-based MLR does not have the local prestige of the English rugby league system, home to the Wolfpack, but the union code is the popular participation sport here, so it seems likely that difference will be erased in time. At the game reviewed for Stadium Journey, announced attendance was 3 200, about 1000 more than the league average. Those fans in attendance were very loud, with constant chants and noise, as well as knowledgeable of the intricacies of the game. Access 5 It could not be easier to get to Lamport Stadium by public transportation, by bike, or on foot. Coming from the central area, the King Streetcar passes by every couple minutes, with the Jefferson Avenue stop right out front. A block to the south is Exhibition Station, which is served by frequent suburban trains. The central Union Station is just one stop east along the Lakeshore West line, with trains up to every fifteen minutes. Driving is less easy, as is the case throughout Toronto. Parking is very limited and driving can be an enormous hassle. King Street, to the east of the stadium, is also virtually car-free and cannot be used as a thoroughfare unless you’re riding the streetcar. It’s best to use the easy transport links locally or with suburban GO train services. Return on Investment 4 For a sporting event in downtown Toronto, or just any activity on a nice day, Arrows tickets are reasonably priced. Advanced tickets go for $29 ($19 for youth) and walk-up for $35. All tickets are general admission. Season memberships are where the real deals are found; $200 is the price for a season of tickets, and that drops to $160/season if you purchase a three-year plan. Food averaging $7-$11 and craft beer for $9 are reasonable, if not incredible prices. In all, $50 will buy a great afternoon, which is quite decent for the area. Extras 4 Fans here have unprecedented access to the squad, sharing drinks and congratulations after each match. Players linger after the final whistle to converse with fans on the field itself. Following the game reviewed, in which the Arrows clinched a playoff berth, thousands of fans stormed the field, drinks in hand, and mobbed their beloved Arrows players. The scene culminated with both players and fans singing on the field and an impromptu game of touch rugby breaking out amongst younger fans. An extra point for the role the Arrows play as the pinnacle of achievement for Canadian rugby union players. While a couple other clubs in MLR feature Canadian captains, coaches, and star players, the chance to represent Toronto is massive. An extra point for the immediate success enjoyed by the Arrows in their first season. They will surely be a threat to win the championship this year, and continually successful based on the strength of local talent to draw from. A final extra point for the renovations and certain future upgrades to Lamport Stadium, which is transitioning quickly from neighbourhood venue to nationally-important home of rugby. It won’t be long before the stadium morphs into a newer and larger version of itself, but the park-like setting gives it character. Final Thoughts Toronto is certainly the spectator capital of rugby in North America now, and between the Wolfpack and the Arrows, there are two fantastic experiences to be had. The Arrows are a very quickly growing force on and off the field, and should achieve immediate and lasting success in both regards. For sporting fans in town during spring and early summer, a trip to the Arrows is sure to be worthwhile, and like the common cheer heard at Lamport Stadium, its ‘Arrows Up’ from here into the future.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Jim Scoggins Stadium 500 W Maxwell St Pensacola, FL 32501 Pensacola High School Fighting Tigers website Year Opened: 1950s Capacity: 10,000 James ‘Jim’ Scoggins Stadium For over 100 years Pensacola High School has served the community of south central Pensacola as its main public high school. Originally opened in 1870 as the Pensacola School for Boys, the school went through several name changes and changed locations several times before officially being recognized as Pensacola High School, and becoming permanently settled in downtown Pensacola in 1905. In 1952 a fire gutted the buildings, forcing PHS to relocate once again, this time to its current home on Maxwell Street about a mile north of the old locale. Currently Pensacola High School is the oldest secondary public school in the panhandle region of Florida; with a current enrollment of 1400, PHS is the third largest high school in the city. Notable alumni include former Buffalo Bills Head Coach Kay Stephenson, former WNBA all-star and Tennessee standout Michelle Snow, former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Aldron Chambers, and current Cleveland Browns defensive back Demarious Randall. The Tigers currently compete in Class 5A District 1, which consists of West Florida HS, Choctawhatchee HS, Arnold HS, and Pine Forest HS. The Tigers first fielded a football team in 1905, which makes Pensacola High the oldest football program in the state of Florida (high school, college, or pro). The Tigers can also lay claim to being the oldest FHSAA State Champion as they won the first title in 1905, which they followed up by winning 4 other state championships (1908, 1953, 1958, and 2009). Since the 1950s the Tigers have played at Jim Scoggins Stadium, named after the winningest coach in PHS history, Jim Scoggins. Scroggins also held the record for being the all-time winningest coach in the state of Florida until being surpassed in 2007; Scoggins guided the Tigers to an undefeated record and state championships in 1958 and 1959. Food & Beverage 3 There are two main concession stands, one on each side of the field at the south end of the stadium. Anybody coming to Jim Scoggins Stadium should not be looking for a culinary experience, but the basics can be found and the prices are reasonable. Food prices are as follows: cheeseburgers ($4), hamburgers and nachos ($3), fries, hot dogs, and boiled peanuts ($2). An extra point goes to the fact that combo meals can be purchased, which includes fries and a drink. Combo prices are as follows: cheeseburger combo ($7), hamburger combo ($6), and hot dog combo ($5). Also, the fact that Pensacola High adds some variety and deals to their menu increases the score by one star. There’s also no denying that the hamburgers and hot dog will be fresh as they are cooked to your choosing in a grill set up outside the concessions stand. Coke is the soft drink provider with regular 20 oz bottles selling for $2, with bottled water also $2, Powerade for $3, and Monster energy drinks for $4. Atmosphere 3 The stadium is set up like a normal high school stadium with the home stands on one side and the visitor stands on the other; the field faces north and south with the home side on the west end and the visitor side on the east side. The first thing you notice when entering Jim Scoggins Stadium is just how big the home grandstands are; they are just regular bleacher seating but extend about 30 rows up and extend from about the 10-yard line on each end, which sets the scene for an impressive and quite large configuration. There is also a basic scoreboard in the south end zone, with the Jimmy Haynes Fieldhouse in the north end zone, which houses the team’s weight room and locker rooms. The concession stands are located in a separate building along with the restrooms, on the south end of each side. There is a rather large band that takes up the entire section of the bleachers at the north end. The band plays a little too much though, as there are a lot of plays on the field when the band will play through the whole play and into the next one. The band was into the game though, and they tried their hardest to cheer up and bring school spirit to the rather empty home side. It also didn’t help that the Tigers came into their most recent game 0-4 and got blown out during the game. The visitor side was not as impressive as the home side but did contribute more fans. These stands are basic concrete steps with no seats, meaning you sit on the concrete throughout the game; the stands on this side extend from the 20-yard line on each end and go up about 15 rows. If you go to the top you can get a good view of the newly renovated and beautiful Pensacola High School. Neighborhood 3 There is not much to see or do within walking distance of Pensacola High School. The only notable landmark is the Crystal Ice House located a couple of blocks away on the corner of Maxwell Street and Davis Highway. The 1930s era landmark was a first of its kind, as it was at one time a drive through where they would sell ice to travelers. The building resembles a block of ice with a polar bear attached to the roof. There is nothing notable about the place, and it is fenced off, but it makes for a photo op as it has been named one of the 7 wonders of Pensacola. The area around the high school may look a little run down as the few noticeable convenience stores and liquor stores on the street have bars on the windows. There shouldn’t be anything to worry about, however, if you are minding your own business. Downtown Pensacola is located about 1.5 miles south of the high school. The downtown area is also very unique as there are no high-rise buildings, but the area resembles a smaller version of New Orleans with its French Quarter-inspired buildings. There is plenty to see and do downtown, and that area also has every single type of restaurant and bar you can imagine; the main bars and restaurants are located on Palafox Street and Seville Quarter. If in town on a Friday night in the fall when Gallery Night is going on I highly recommend attending. Held usually the third Friday of every month, Gallery Night is like a night arts & craft festival for adults. Many of the local bars and art galleries have tents set up displaying local artists; other cities do this but Pensacola is so far the only city on the Gulf Coast that has a Gallery Night. Each night usually attracts about 10 to 15 thousand people, so if in town on this night be sure to stop off; the event takes place on Palafox Street in downtown. Fans 2 As mentioned there is a low turnout for some games on the Tigers side. The Tigers played their crosstown rival the Pensacola Catholic Crusaders on my most recent visit, so there was a good turnout on the visitor side. Unfortunately the Tiger football program is not the best this season, and it showed not only on the field but in the stands as well. The students sit around the 50-yard line while many of the fans were spread out throughout the stands, and the few fans that were there left after the homecoming festivities at halftime. However, with its close proximity to downtown there is always something going on in Pensacola for people of all ages, so the PHS football team has a lot to compete with on Friday nights. Access 2 Pensacola High School can be kind of a difficult place to find if you do not where you are going or you are not familiar with the area. The school is located on Maxwell in the North Hill subdivision about 1.5 miles north of downtown, just a couple blocks west of the I-110 interchange. All of the streets in the neighborhood are one-way, and it’s easy to get them confused since the streets are not always visibly marked with one-way signs. If coming from the west side of Pensacola Jordan Street will be your best bet, as it is one-way and heads east, with the high school one block north. Maxwell Street is the main street if coming in from the east, Maxwell is one block north of Jordan Street. However, if coming from out of town then I-10 to I-110 will be your best bet; just take the Maxwell Street exit and go west about 4 blocks and you will see the school. Jim Scoggins Stadium is different than most stadiums as there is no concourse underneath the stadium; on the home side there is one accessible part under the stands, but other than one restroom there isn’t much there. On the visitor side you cannot go under the stands at all, but need to walk around them. Return on Investment 4 General admission tickets are the only seats you can purchase here, but you are free to walk from one side to the other and sit anywhere you want which is what I did; these tickets are $7 which is about average for high school football games. Concessions remain fairly cheap, and they have combo meals at Jim Scroggins Stadium which is something that other high schools do not. I felt this was a good return on investment, as the Tigers compete at FHSAA 5A, which is the highest level of high school football in Florida. Many of the players on both teams later sign with D1 teams, so you could be watching the next Florida State or Florida great in action. Extras 2 In 2004 Hurricane Ivan devastated the city of Pensacola. Even though the high school is located far enough inland away from the storm surge, a tornado still ripped through the campus, flattening the middle portion including the gymnasium. The school was basically rebuilt in 2005, and when it opened it was one of the biggest looking high schools I have ever been too. The gymnasium that they rebuilt is a mammoth 37,000-square foot facility that is truly state of the art. The top of the arch-shaped building can be viewed from the home side overlooking the visitor stands. For the best views of the high school, go to the top of the visitor stands on the 50-yard line; the whole school can be viewed from here as well. Final Thoughts Pensacola High School remains a fine place to watch football on a Friday night. Though the overall atmosphere is nothing special, the high school is one of the nicest looking high schools in the state from an architectural standpoint. The view of the school from the top of the stadium alone is worth the price of admission and who knows, you might be watching the next great future Pensacola NFL player.

Photo Courtesy of McNeese State Athletics Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Cowboy Stadium 700 E. McNeese Street Lake Charles, LA 70607 McNeese State Cowboys website Cowboy Stadium website Year Opened: 1965 Capacity: 17,610 Geaux Pokes! Cowboy Stadium is one of the premier venues in all of NCAA DI-FCS college football. While other stadiums may be bigger and feature more cutting edge amenities, “The Hole” offers a great family friendly atmosphere and regularly features a dominant on-field product. Located in Lake Charles, Louisiana and on the campus of McNeese State University, Cowboy Stadium serves as home field for McNeese State Cowboys football, a member of the Southland Conference. Constructed in 1965, Cowboy Stadium has received several major upgrades over the years, including the installation of the Sky Ranch, the three level suite and press box on the west side, and the Jack V. Doland Field House constructed in the north end zone. Cowboy Stadium is nicknamed The Hole because the playing field being built below the surface and surrounded on all sides. The stadium features a GeoMax2 artificial playing surface, a seating capacity of 17,410, and a video replay scoreboard. If you’re a fan of FCS level football or looking for family friendly sports entertainment, Cowboy Stadium is the place to be in Southwest Louisiana. Food & Beverage 3 Cowboy Stadium offers the expected stadium fare plus a few specialty items. For the typical stadium grub, Cowboy Stadium offers hot dogs ($3.50), hot links ($4.50), hamburgers ($4.50), and nachos ($3.50/$4.50). An assortment of snacks is offered as well including Cajun peanuts. Drink options are headlined by Coca-Cola products in a yellow souvenir style cup with the blue McNeese logo on it. Large drinks are $4.50 and small $2.50. Bottled Dasani water is $2.50. Be on the look out for the small red trailer inside both the west and east side concourses. This is where you’ll find our recommended concession item, a bowl of jambalaya for $4.50. They also offer a pulled pork sandwich. Other specialty stands feature fresh lemonade, Gatti’s pizza, and Kona Ice snow cones. Alcoholic beverages are not sold inside Cowboy Stadium and it is against stadium policy to bring in outside food or drinks. Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere at Cowboy Stadium is a true strength of the overall experience. The stadium is known as “The Hole” because of its unique design where the field is built below the surface and bowled in with grandstands on the east and west, and grassy berm on the north and south sides. The addition of the Doland Field House in the north end zone has really made Cowboy Stadium a striking presence for fans once you settle into your seat. There’s no denying The Hole is one of the elite atmospheres in all of NCAA DI-FCS. The spirit squads and band add to the overall atmosphere. The Cowgirl Kickers, cheer team, and The Pride of McNeese band really help contribute to the overall college feel and do a great job with keeping fans engaged. Rowdy is very interactive, roaming the sidelines and mingling with fans along the grandstand wall. The student section, along with the home team sidelines, are located on the east side of the stadium. McNeese has several great game day traditions which make the overall atmosphere something really special for fans. Just before each game, the horse and rider statue in front of the Doland Field House ‘comes to life’ as a Mystery Rider, and his horse Moon Dancer, make the walk down Common Street and into Cowboy Stadium. The Lake Charles Buccaneers man the canon in the north end zone, which is fired after each score. The Mystery Rider makes a presence onto the field just before kick-off to rile Cowboy fans up. A few other traditions include the Parapokes, the strong tailgating tradition, and the cowbell. Neighborhood 3 Cowboy Stadium is situated on the south side of the McNeese State University campus adjacent to the Cowboy Diamond and Track & Field Complex. McNeese State is located in the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana in the southwestern corner of the state, near the border with Texas. Lake Charles is a mid-sized city which thrives on the oil and gas industry, the gambling scene, and wildlife & fishery. While some restaurants are within walking distance of Cowboy Stadium, be sure to venture out and take in all of what this region has to offer. There are several restaurants to recommend while in town. Located just north of Cowboy Stadium is Mr. Bill’s Seafood Express. Don’t be alarmed on approach, the exterior doesn’t do the place justice. Stop in for some amazing fried seafood (definitely try the shrimp). Keeping in theme with Cajun cuisine, Darrell’s is further north of the campus near I-210 and is a great stop for drinks and poboys. The Darrell’s Special is a must and includes ham, turkey, and roast beef smothered in a roast beef gravy. If you don’t get your fill of seafood at Mr. Bill’s, be sure to check out Steamboat Bill’s. There are two locations in the area, but I prefer the one on the lake. This is a bit more of a sit-down and dine restaurant as compared to Bill’s and there’s some great boiled seafood on the menu. The Frosty Factory is a great place for a drink before or after the game. It’s centrally located off Common Street across from the stadium. You’ll find plenty to do in the Lake Charles area, depending on your preferences. The casino scene is a big draw with the L’Auberge du lac, Isle of Capri and Golden Nugget. Just outside of town you’ll find the Delta Downs horse racetrack. If you are looking for a chance to get outdoors, you’re definitely in the right place. The Adventure Trail just west of town over in the Sulphur area provides plenty of real estate for hunting, fishing, crabbing, sight seeing, hiking, and swimming at the beach. Stop by their office for a fun indoor walk through some of the sights you can expect to see while on the trail…the kids will enjoy it. There’s also seven area golf courses to enjoy. Both the L’Auberge and Isle of Capri casinos are also a great place to stay while in town as each also offers hotel services. Fans 4 Though it may pale in comparison to the size of FBS giants, the McNeese State fan base is strong, loyal, and proud, especially for an FCS program. The Cowboys have established a winning tradition in Lake Charles, and though they’ve traversed through a handful of down years recently, the McNeese faithful still show up in blue and gold for Saturday nights in The Hole. While attendance can vary depending on record and weekend opponent, expect to see between 12,000 -16,000 on hand at Cowboy Stadium. Average attendance typically has Cowboy Stadium around the top ten, which is good overall in the FCS, and by far the tops when compared to other in-state FCS programs. Speaking of rivals, there’s no doubt next door neighbor UL-Lafayette (located an hour east of town) is the team Lake Charles most loves to hate, however, their FBS status makes a trip to Cowboy Stadium unlikely in the current scheduling climate. Just across the state border is another regional rival in the Lamar Cardinals . Having recently reinstated football, the Cardinals and Cowboys have picked back up the rivalry in full force. Games with Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana are the next best attended. Fans are knowledgeable and engaged throughout the game. One of my favorite college football traditions is the playing of Joli Blon after Cowboy scores. Fans clap and sway together to this Cajun classic. *Note: Video courtesy of McNeese Athletics And opponents learn to “Fear the Cowbell” as McNeese fans love to let their cowbells ring after scores or on big defensive stands. Access 4 Cowboy Stadium is easily accessible off I-210 via I-10. There are several streets you can take to get from I-210 down to the stadium. The most commonly taken route is to exit I-210 onto Ryan Street, then take a left onto E. McNeese Street towards Common Street and the stadium area. If you view the parking map provided on the website, keep in mind that these spots are reserved for season passes. You’ll find game day parking east of the Lot C in a grass lot. Plenty of fans also park on the McNeese State campus and make the half mile or so walk over to the stadium. If you arrive early enough, you may also find side street parking down Common Street next to the baseball field. To pick up or purchase tickets, head to the north side of the stadium to the Doland Field House. Will call tickets are available just inside the door and tickets can be purchased to the left of the doors at the ticket windows. Expect a quickly moving line in both areas. There are three primary entry points to Cowboy Stadium, the northwest gate, northeast gate and multiple smaller eastside gates centrally located under the east grandstand. Traffic moves smoothly regardless of which gate you choose, so grab the one closest to you. The concourses under both grandstands are wide enough to get around easily. You’ll notice a concourse inside the stadium that crosses each grandstand allowing fans to get up and down to their seats. The east and west sides are connected by a pathway in front of the Doland Field House. Restrooms are a little cramped, but you shouldn’t run into any major problems. Return on Investment 4 Tickets start at $20 for general admission to Cowboy Stadium, with $30 for reserved seats. Personally, I recommend the general admission seats since all seats are regular bleacher style. However, keep in mind that will place you in the corners of both grandstands. Kids 4-12 get $5 admission and 13-17 are $10. Concession prices are reasonable and free parking is available if you don’t mind a short walk. Overall, the McNeese State football experience at Cowboy Stadium offers great value for the cost. Extras 5 There are several “extra” items which really help to push the Cowboy experience over the top: – First and foremost, Cowboy football has an amazing tailgating scene for the size of the program and fan base. The RV lots on the west side are always jam-packed and there’s plenty of tailgating on the east side as well. Everywhere you look, you’ll see blue and gold McNeese tents and BBQ pits going. Cowboy fans are friendly and quick to invite visitors for a bite to eat. – One of the really neat traditions, among others, is the parachuting “McNeese Parapokes” during pregame. Since 2004, these rabid McNeese fans parachute onto the playing surface simply out of love for McNeese. It’s a great sight to see for the little ones in attendance, but really, fans of all ages enjoy watching the Parapokes descend onto the field. – The Buccaneers of Lake Charles are a local group which man the touchdown canon in the north end zone. While there seems to be somewhat of a mixed review on whether fans love or hate the canon, it is definitely one of those extra items that make the overall experience unique. The canon is loud (the video below doesn’t do the sound justice), so be sure to prepare yourself, and your kids, that it will be fired after every score, including extra points and field goals. – McNeese does a great job of memorializing past gridiron greats and championships. The concourse under both the east and west side are filled with pictures of former great Cowboy players. On the Doland Field House, you’ll notice a listing of McNeese’s many conference championships. – There’s plenty more to add here which has already been mentioned within the review. From the fans ringing their cowbells, to the Mystery Rider, and the playing of Joli Blon, the experience at Cowboy Stadium is much more than your typical FCS college football experience.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.87 Campbell’s Field 401 Delaware Ave Camden, NJ 08102 Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 6,700 From a View to a Kill, Campbell’s Field Campbell’s Field debuted in 2001 and served as the home of the Camden Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League. It was the last new ballpark built in the state that began in 1994 with Trenton’s ARM & HAMMER Ballpark. Ironically, it bears a striking resemblance in design and color to Trenton but differs in its spectacular views of the Delaware River, Ben Franklin Bridge and the Philadelphia skyline. The ballpark’s construction was designed to spark urban renewal in the city of Camden and along with the aquarium and amphitheater that shares the stadium’s parking lot, this is a pleasant destination to visit. Unfortunately, after the 2015 season the Riversharks ceased operations due to the inability to reach an agreement on lease terms with the owner of Campbell’s Field, the Camden County Improvement Authority. The ballpark would remain vacant of professional baseball for the next four years but was used for the Rutgers-Camden baseball program until the 2018 season. In December 2018 demolition started and the site will be home to a new $15 million athletic complex that will include a baseball and softball field, a turf field for soccer and lacrosse, and an 8-lane track that will be ready in 2021. The demolition of the 6,700-seat ballpark and surface preparations for the new complex was funded by the City of Camden and Rutgers-Camden. Campbell’s Field was the second ballpark built in New Jersey, along with Riverfront Stadium, in Newark that was razed. Both facilities were constructed to spark renewal interest in an urban area but both stadiums failed to draw large enough crowds to spark such interest and Campbell’s (15 years) and Newark (16 years) saw limited time as professional ballparks. Food & Beverage 4 The Riversharks provide a lot of local flavors at the ballpark. The Philadelphia Pretzel Factory offers their famous Philly style pretzels. Chickie & Pete’s, a Jersey Shore tradition, offers a bucket of french fries with Old Bay seasoning for only $7-perfect for families and is the number one selling item during games. Turkey Hill ice cream, which is becoming available in parts of the country at Kroger supermarkets, is served along with another area delicacy, the cheesesteak. It should be mentioned that the cheesesteaks in Philadelphia and South Jersey differ from other locales across the nation. More options include burritos, churros, chicken tenders, hot dogs, burgers and a Budweiser bar that features $1 beers on Tuesday nights. Atmosphere 3 If you are not enjoying your day at the ballpark, do not blame the Riversharks. They have made sure that your stay during the game is fun, friendly and safe. First, and foremost, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in the outfield is the star of the ballpark. Its presence is looming, magnificent and one of a kind in professional baseball. It is hard to not stare at this massive bridge that stretches across the Delaware River or take a photo at the ballpark without a portion of it being in the background. It is one of the best outfield views in minor league baseball. The children’s area is another star attraction and if your kids do not enjoy baseball, perhaps they will enjoy the wall climb, bouncy slide, and jungle gym. The carousel on the third baseline and next to the funnel cake stand is another area for your kids to pass the time during the game. Also, when tickets to Monday games for kids are only $3, this might be the best way for your kid to release some energy. Adding to the ambiance is the official team store that features replica jerseys ranging from $20-$30, ball caps varieties and products for the kids. The ballpark features many attributes of ones built in its era with brick exterior and interior, green canopy and seating, and concourse layout. Visitors have to walk up stairs from the entrance to the main concourse, and there is one area that stands out among many other ballparks: South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame. The small spot is packed with baseball nostalgia from jerseys, seats, photos and buckets of baseball rubbing mud that is harvested nearby in Palmyra, New Jersey. And with Major League All-Star Mike Trout being from the area, the hall of fame could grow in stature in the foreseeable future. Neighborhood 2 Camden, along with other cities such as Newark and Gary, are known as dangerous places to visit. However, one should never disdain traveling to a game at Campbell’s Field, since the ballpark is right off the highway and Philadelphia is located a few miles away. It is not recommended that you walk around the area to find places to eat or drink. However, the ballpark is located along the riverfront and shares a parking lot with the Adventure Aquarium and the outdoor amphitheater Susquehanna Bank Center. These two locations attract large audiences and have brought life back to the city. Also, located outside the ballpark is Victor’s Pub, which is a fast and easy way to enjoy a drink or bite to eat before the game. Philadelphia is only a quick drive over the bridge and once in the city, visit a few places I grew up visiting that include Yard’s Brewing Company, Philadelphia Brewing Company, Tony Luke’s, the best cheesesteaks in town, and Marabella’s Meatball Company. These are just a few of my favorite places, but the city offers endless possibilities of historical venues, museums and other places to wine and dine. Fans 2 There were not a lot of fans at the game that I attended and it was a head scratcher. The game night featured $1 hot dogs, churros, popcorn, sodas and beer and this should have been a slam dunk of night to get the locals out. Do not blame the Riversharks, they have created a great template for fans to venture out for a night of baseball Access 3 The ballpark shares a massive lot with the aquarium and amphitheatre and costs $5 – about $2-$3 more compared to other ballparks in the state. However, since the area outside of the ballpark is somewhat blithe, the price of parking is well worth the peace of mind when heading back out after the game. The ballpark is off of I-676 and easily accessible from the 1-295 and the turnpike in New Jersey. If coming from Philadelphia, cross the Ben Franklin Bridge off of I-95 and the ballpark is visible from the bridge. There is plenty of signage to aid the motorist, but if coming from Jersey, beware of your GPS. It has told motorists to cross the bridge into Philadelphia and that could provide headaches and cost you $5 in tolls. Return on Investment 3 Ticket prices on game day are $13 and $14 for the two levels of grandstand seating between the third and first baselines. The family section tickets are a much better bargain at $5. Tickets for seniors and children in the 200 level are $9 and peanut free zone prices are $13. These prices are aligned reasonably with the rest of the Atlantic League, but I would have liked to have seen a $10 price point for at least one section in the ballpark. Extras 3 Campbell’s Field provides one of my favorite views in minor league baseball. The Ben Franklin Bridge is gorgeous to stare at and without, the ballpark would lose a lot of its aesthetics. The variety of food deserves an extra star and so does the kid’s zone, it is one of the best that I have seen in my travels. Final Thoughts It is still shocking that Campbell’s Field was knocked down after only 15 years of being home to professional baseball. The views of the Franklin Bridge were stunning and perhaps possessed one of the best views in baseball but it is a lesson to any municipality looking at spending millions of dollars into funding a ballpark. It has worked in other markets with similar inspirations but those inspirations never materialized and even though baseball will still be played on the same site, it is still sullen to think that a 6,000 plus modern ballpark once stood along the Delaware River.

Photos by Paul Swaney Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Appleton Arena Miner Street Rd Canton, NY 13617 St. Lawrence Saints men’s hockey website Appleton Arena website Year Opened: 1951 Capacity: 3,100 The Ski Lodge There’s so much wood surrounding you that you feel like you’re in a forest. Or perhaps the benches will make you think of church pews. For me, it feels more like a hockey arena was built inside a ski lodge. Whatever the image that the pine seating conjures, you surely can agree that this is some of the most unique seating in all of the sports, and those benches give Appleton Arena its character. Opened in 1951, the 3,000-seat arena is home to the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams for the St Lawrence University Saints. The school is located in Canton, New York, a little more than two hours north of Syracuse. The Saints have a long hockey history. They have been members of the ECAC since the conference was founded in 1961. The program has made nine appearances in the Frozen Four, including four consecutive appearances from 1959-1962. Their last Frozen Four appearance came in 2000, and they have not made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2007, which is also their last conference championship. Appleton Arena is unparalleled when it comes to beauty and uniqueness, but there is just something missing when you see a Saints hockey game here. Food & Beverage 3 There is poutine here. Is it good poutine? Not really, but I’ll take bad poutine over the typical arena nachos or pizza any day. Plus, it’s only $3, and well worth that. Outside of the poutine (Canton is only about an hour from Quebec after all), there aren’t any special or regional items, but the prices are less than most college hockey arenas. You’ll find hot dogs, hamburgers, and nachos along with the usual assortment of arena snacks. Pepsi products are available and you can refill that large size later in the game. Hot beverages include coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and cappuccino. This may be something you may need as this arena is colder than most hockey venues. As is the case with most on-campus venues, no alcohol is served at Appleton Arena. Atmosphere 4 The acoustics are fantastic inside Appleton Arena due to the bending wood that makes up the ceiling, and the wooden bench seating surrounding the ice. The thing is, as beautiful as the arena is, it isn’t that intimidating because it just doesn’t have that collegiate feel that you hope to find with ECAC hockey. While it may not give you goosebumps, it certainly is a really good venue to watch the game. The student section is ill-defined with no real unity in cheers or the wearing of team colors, although they do pick up steam as the game goes on. The pep band consists of two students who have bass drums with them at the game. The students stand the entire game, but there just isn’t that magic that you see at other venues (see Clarkson and Cheel Arena ). There are two scoreboards in the arena. Both are located at either end behind the nets and the concourse. They are very basic with only the score, time, period, and power play information shown, There is a silver lining here though. With no center-hung scoreboard, the game presentation is very clean and focuses the attention of the fan on the on-ice action. The arena is small enough that any seat should provide you with a good view. The ushers don’t do a very good job of holding people out of the seating area while the puck is in play, so this may be a good arena to try and sit as close to the glass as possible, so you don’t have to endure knuckleheads getting up and down while you’re trying to enjoy the game. You’ll see banners hanging from the rafters commemorating the Frozen Four appearances, NCAA Tournament appearances, and conference championships. One final note, this arena is colder than most hockey arenas, so dress appropriately. Neighborhood 3 St Lawrence is located in Canton, New York. It’s a town of about 11,000 residents according to the most recent United States Census. There’s no doubt that it is a small town, but from the arena, you’re just a short drive away from some bars and restaurants that are certainly worthwhile to visit as part of your experience. St. Lawrence Brewing Company has four beers on tap year-round with a couple of rotating seasonal varieties. They serve food only on Fridays, so if you’re hungry you may want to look elsewhere, but breweries tend to be a great spot to strike up a conversation and get to know the area a little better. They also do tours of their operation on Friday nights from year-round-9 pm. There is a foosball table, darts, and checkerboard tables. They offer half a 7 pm9 pm of light and dark beers along with 24 shot glasses, in case you want to have a go at a game of beer checkers. The Blackbird Cafe is located in downtown Canton and focuses on local, organic, and pitcher24-shot ingredients. They have a quality beer selection, sandwiches, and dinner entrees, as well as serving Sunday brunch. If you’re in town for the weekend, then you’ll want to make a stop in here at some point. The American Theatre is across the street from the Blackbird Cafe and has five screens of current movies playing, including weekend matinee shows. Some of the theatres are very small, making for an intimate movie-going experience. If you’re willing to travel just a little further, then I would highly recommend 1844 House for dinner before the hockey game. They are located about halfway between Canton and Potsdam on US-11 (about a 10-12 minute drive from Appleton Arena). If you are seated between 4:30-5:30, then you can choose from the “Early Dining” menu and get an appetizer, entree, and dessert for only $20. The food is fantastic, and it is one of my favorite restaurants that I have encountered on my travels. Fans 3 The student section is rather hit or miss. I was surprised that this was the case as I saw a great turnout for the women’s basketball Liberty League championship game, which was held in Burkman Gymnasium earlier that afternoon. In general, the fans at a St Lawrence hockey game seem to be more casual about hockey, and it is disappointing to see how many of them don’t respect the hockey fan etiquette of not moving around while the puck is in play. It is not uncommon to see attendance in the triple digits in this arena with a capacity of 3,200. For the 2013-2014 season, the average attendance at Appleton Arena was just over 50% of capacity at 1,688 per game. Access 2 There is a parking lot right across the street from Appleton Arena, and it’s free of charge, so that’s the good news. The bad news is that if it is a big crowd, then there is not enough parking in that lot, and you’ll find cars parked down the street. This is not a huge inconvenience, however, and in the end, you’re not paying for parking which is certainly a good thing. The takeaway here is to make sure you arrive at the game at least 30 minutes before the puck drops to ensure you get a spot in the lot. Inside the arena, things get a little cramped, especially along the sides of the arena as the concourse devolves into a narrow hallway. It certainly can get a little crowded, especially in between periods. If you have ever been camping, you’ll recognize the smell of the men’s restroom at Appleton Arena, as it smells a lot like the latrine that you might find at a campsite. This is certainly an area where the school can make improvements to the overall experience. Return on Investment 5 It is an absolute bargain to see a game at Appleton Arena. Reserve seats are only $11, or you can get general admission for just $7. There are further discounts for seniors, and children aged 5-17 ($5). Children under five are free, as are all St Lawrence students and faculty with their ID cards. Even with an enrollment of only 2,100, this venue should be sold out every night. Add in the very reasonable concession prices and free parking, and this is one experience that is worth every penny you spend. Extras 3 The wood bench seating throughout the arena is unique and is worth an extra point. The St Lawrence women’s hockey team has been very successful in recent years, including four consecutive Frozen Four appearances from 2004-2007. Tickets for women’s hockey are an even better deal, with $4 being the most expensive seat. The women tend to be playing at home when the men are on the road, so there is almost always one of the two teams playing should you find yourself in Canton on a winter weekend. Finally, an extra point for the food and drink experiences in and around Canton. Whether it’s the poutine at Appleton Arena, a fantastic dinner at 1844 House before the game, or a growler of Skinny Dip IPA from St Lawrence Brewing Company, you’ll be sure to find many culinary delights as part of your experience of traveling to St Lawrence for a hockey game. Final Thoughts College hockey is growing in popularity but is still well out of the mainstream. This means that you can still get in on this growing sport and claim to be cutting-edge. A trip to the northern reaches of the state of New York to see St Lawrence and Clarkson hockey over a weekend is a great idea for sports fans. These may not be the best experiences in all of college hockey, but they are well worth your time and money.