Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Mount Vernon Athletic Complex 2100 Foxhall Rd NW Washington, DC 20007 George Washington Revolutionaries website Mount Vernon Athletic Complex website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 500 Colonial Soccer Note: In June 2023, George Washington University changed its team name from the Colonials to the Revolutionaries. Located on George Washington University’s Mount Vernon Campus, three miles from the main campus in Foggy Bottom, the Mount Vernon Athletic Complex plays home to several of the Colonials’ athletic programs. The soccer program plays at the main athletic field in the complex, which is also home to the school’s women’s lacrosse program (GW does not have a men’s lacrosse team.) There are also tennis courts, a softball field, and a student gym in the complex. Although sometimes the field is known as GW Soccer Field when used for soccer, it is also referred to by the name of the whole complex given its other uses. Food & Beverage 0 No food and beverage is available for sale at GW soccer games. There is a cafeteria inside West Hall adjacent to the stadium which sells meals at mealtimes which can be taken into the stadium, and one does not need to be a student to buy from there, but it is only open during meal hours and you are at the mercy of whatever they happen to be serving that day. Atmosphere 3 The Mount Vernon Athletic Complex has a rather unique seating layout. Assuming you are coming from the parking garage or walking in from off-campus, you will find some random chairs strewn about on a lawn across the street from the stadium. Some fans like to watch from here, or you can walk around to three rows of bleachers on the far side by West Hall. These bleachers can get cramped and there is really no aisle to speak of going across, so expect to have to walk across fans and get walked across yourself. There is a scoreboard on one end of the field which shows only the most basic information. The Colonials have a mascot, who unsurprisingly is a costumed version of George Washington, who sometimes makes appearances at soccer games. Neighborhood 4 The Mount Vernon Athletic Complex is located in Northwest Washington off Foxhall Road. Although there are several scenic parks and trails in the vicinity, as well as the German Embassy, your best bet for dining is to head elsewhere in the District. A seafood place and an Italian restaurant are located west of the Mount Vernon campus near the Potomac River, and some other places up MacArthur Boulevard, but most of your options will be closer to Downtown, not further. The Tenleytown and Georgetown neighborhoods are a short drive or Uber ride away and offer numerous dining and entertainment options. You can also head downtown and visit the many historic sites. monuments, and memorials along the National Mall. Just keep in mind if you want to tour the Capitol or White House, you will need to book in advance. Fans 4 Although George Washington only draws a couple of hundred fans a game, it seems like more because the bleachers are so compact. Although many fans are family or friends of the players, there are some locals as well. They tend to be extremely knowledgeable about the team and the players and it can get quite loud despite the small crowd size. George Washington has a large international student body, and this is reflected in their student-athletes as well, so you will often see friends, family, and student compatriots of international players flying the flags of their countries and waving signs or cheering for them in their native language. Some fans like to sit in the chairs across the street, but the real crowd action is in the bleachers alongside the field. Access 4 Depending on how you are arriving, the Mount Vernon campus can either be significantly easier or significantly harder to get to than the main campus in Foggy Bottom. While it is not Metro-accessible, it is a lot easier to drive to this campus in outer Washington than it is to drive downtown to the main campus. There is a parking garage on campus right next to the stadium. Parking is free all day on weekends or for up to three hours on weekdays. It can get very pricey if staying for more than three hours on a weekday, starting at $16 for up to four hours and going up from there, so try to go on a weekend or time your visit accordingly. As noted above, the bleachers can be cramped and hard to get around. If this is a concern for you, you can sit in the chairs across the street and have a good view of the game, just arrive early so they aren’t all taken. Although there are no restrooms at the field itself, there are some in West Hall. Just take the stairs or elevator down a level and they are easy to get to. Return on Investment 4 Admission to Colonials’ soccer games is free. You won’t pay for concessions because there aren’t any. We suggest visiting on a weekend to maximize value without having to carefully time things to avoid paying a ridiculous amount for parking. Extras 1 One star for all the unique vantage points to watch a game here. Whether it’s sitting in the crowded bleachers, in chairs across the street, or standing along the fence, there are plenty of ways to take in a GW soccer game here. Final Thoughts Although the Mount Vernon Athletic Complex doesn’t seem like much, even compared to other college soccer venues in the area like Maryland and Georgetown, it is a unique stadium on the outskirts of D.C. where fans can take in a game for free on a crisp fall day. It is a perfect example of how sometimes, less is more. Although the stadium is far from imposing, the small, intimate setting creates a much louder and more entertaining environment than a larger, mostly empty stadium would.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 GW Softball Field 2100 Foxhall Rd NW Washington, DC 20007 Map It! George Washington Revolutionaries website GW Softball Field website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 500 Colonial Softball Note: In June 2023, George Washington University changed its team name from the Colonials to the Revolutionaries. Located on George Washington University’s Mount Vernon Campus, three miles from the main campus in Foggy Bottom, the GW Softball Field is part of the university’s Mount Vernon Athletics Complex. The Complex also includes GW’s soccer field and tennis courts, and the campus itself includes several academic buildings which serve as an auxiliary to the main campus. The Colonials’ softball program has enjoyed success in recent years, capped off by a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2021. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at the GW Softball Field. There is a coffee shop next door in Ames Hall that may or may not be open depending on when you visit, but it is not part of the stadium and keeps its own hours. Fans can bring in outside food or beverage, with the exception of alcohol. Atmosphere 3 The GW Softball Field has a quirky, unusual layout. Instead of the bleachers being located behind home plate, as they are in most venues of this size, they are located on a hill beyond the right field fence. To access them, you will need to walk around the front of Ames Hall, then up a staircase and finally back down the hill to the bleachers. Some fans like to bring chairs and sit at the top of the hill, or just stand along the bottom of the hill off to the side so as not to block the view of the fans in the bleachers. It all comes down to personal preference. A few fans may be able to stand along the deck in front of Ames Hall as well, but this is mostly reserved for video equipment and may not be possible. There is a digital scoreboard built into the fence in left-center field which shows the linescore and count, as well as a smaller scoreboard down the third baseline, although the latter was not working when Stadium Journey visited. Other than the game, there is not much going on here. The team plays soft music over the PA system between innings but not generally between batters. The field is on the flight path into Reagan National Airport, so jets will pass directly overhead throughout the game. The unplanned flyovers during the national anthem seem to be a running joke among GW fans. It’s not quite the same when it’s commercial aircraft instead of military jets, and it’s completely unplanned, but when the timing works out, it’s still impressive to watch. Neighborhood 4 GW Softball Field and the Mount Vernon Campus are located in Northwest Washington off Foxhall Road. Although there are several scenic parks and trails in the vicinity, as well as the German Embassy, your best bet for dining is to head elsewhere in the District. A seafood place and an Italian restaurant are located west of the campus near the Potomac River, and some other places up MacArthur Boulevard, but most of your options will be closer to downtown, not further. The Tenleytown and Georgetown neighborhoods are a short drive or Uber ride away and offer numerous dining and entertainment options. You can also head downtown and visit the many historic sites. monuments, and memorials along the National Mall. Just keep in mind if you want to tour the Capitol or White House, you will need to book in advance. Fans 2 Attendance at GW softball games is mostly limited to friends or family of the players. Most of them are regulars and attend just about every game and are incredibly knowledgeable about the players and team. They can get loud at big moments, but there will seldom be much more than a hundred of them in attendance at any given game. This is pretty typical for college softball in the northeast, where the sport isn’t as big as it is in some other parts of the country. Access 3 Depending on how you are arriving, the Mount Vernon campus can either be significantly easier or significantly harder to get to than the main campus in Foggy Bottom. While it is not Metro-accessible, it is a lot easier to drive to this campus in outer Washington than it is to drive downtown to the main campus. There is a parking garage on campus right across from the stadium. Parking is free all day on weekends or for up to three hours on weekdays. It can get very pricey if staying for more than three hours on a weekday, starting at $16 for up to four hours and going up from there, so try to go on a weekend or time your visit accordingly. Once you manage to park, accessing the stadium is trickier than it needs to be. After exiting the elevator lobby, fans will need to walk across the road towards the outfield fence, then up a staircase to the front of Ames Hall, up another staircase along the side of the building to the top of the hill, then back down the hill (either the hill itself or a staircase on the far side) and up the bleachers to sit down. If you bring your own chair and sit at the top of the hill, it’s slightly easier but your view may be blocked by trees. It’s less complicated than it sounds, but still more complicated than it needs to be. Return on Investment 4 Admission to Colonials games is free, and if you go on a weekend, parking is free as well. If going on a weekday, you will have to time things carefully to avoid paying a ridiculous amount for parking, so we would recommend going on a weekend if possible to maximize value. Extras 1 There are free programs available in a bin by the entrance to the stadium. Final Thoughts GW Softball Field is a typical northeastern college softball venue. The unfortunate reality is that the sport isn’t as popular here as in some parts of the country, and nothing George Washington does will change that. The stadium here has a quirky and unique layout and a small but loyal group of regular fans, but this is still a very basic experience.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Barcroft Park 4200 South Four Mile Run Dr Arlington, VA 22206 George Washington Revolutionaries website Barcroft Park website Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 500 Colonial Baseball At The Croft Note: In June 2023, George Washington University changed its team name from the Colonials to the Revolutionaries. Tucker Field at Barcroft Park is the home of the George Washington Colonials baseball team. It is not located on George Washington’s campus in downtown Washington, D.C. but rather is located across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, in the middle of a county park. The venue opened in 1993, and since then the Colonials have a winning percentage of close to .600 at home. The 500-seat stadium is quaint and a bit out of the way, but is well worth checking out. The ballpark received a multimillion-dollar renovation before the 2012 baseball season that included synthetic turf, a new bullpen, upgraded concession area, dugouts, and stadium seating. Two years later, school alumnus and a member of the GW Board of Trustees Avrum “Ave” Tucker donated $1 million towards the facility and it was officially renamed Tucker Field at Barcroft Park. Tucker played centerfield for the Colonials when the club played its home games on the Ellipse between the Washington Monument and the White House. GWU are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference have captured four conference titles along with four NCAA tournament appearances in 1979, 1989, 1992, and 2002. Food & Beverage 1 No concession stand was open when Stadium Journey visited Tucket Field at Barcroft Park. There is a window that has been used for concession stands in the past, so we are giving it a point here in case it is open sometimes. Atmosphere 3 Tucker Field at Barcroft Park is a quaint field that seats only 1,000. All seats are behind home plate or immediately adjacent, and are bleachers with backs. There are only a few rows, so every seat is close to the action. A scoreboard in right centerfield shows the linescore, and a newly installed board in left-centerfield is capable of showing lineups and other graphics. There is not much going on between innings other than music, so fans looking for the distractions you’d get at a professional game will be disappointed. However, baseball purists will find The Tuck an enjoyable place to take in a game. Neighborhood 3 Tucker Field at Barcroft Park is located in a residential neighborhood of Arlington County, so there is not much in the immediate vicinity. However, there are numerous restaurants and other stores a short drive away, either in the heart of Arlington or across the county line in Fairfax County or the City of Alexandria. The City Diner is located on Route 7 and is a local favorite, as is Bob & Edith’s Diner in Arlington. If you’re willing to drive a bit further into Arlington into neighborhoods like Ballston, Clarendon, or Rosslyn, you will find a much wider selection. Fans 3 Tucker Field at Barcroft Park is a small stadium, and gets the crowds of one or two hundred that are typical for mid majors in this part of the country. Many of those are fans of the away team, but GW fans do show up as well to cheer on the buff and blue. Unfortunately, because the stadium is located so far from campus, few if any students show up to games here. The intimate atmosphere helps mask the lack of attendance, but the Colonials still do not draw well. Access 4 Tucker Field at Barcroft Park is located off South Four Mile Run Drive in Arlington, just off Leesburg Pike (Route 7) and Columbia Pike (Route 244) in Arlington, Virginia. It is about a 15-minute drive from the GW campus. Free parking is available in a small lot next to the stadium, with overflow parking available if this fills up. Once inside, you should have no trouble finding your way around the stadium, and it is small enough that you shouldn’t have to do much walking. There are restrooms available behind home plate near the entrance, which are small but of a sufficient size to handle the crowd. Return on Investment 3 Tickets are $6 for adults or $5 for children, which is about standard for this area. Group tickets are available for $4 each if you’re buying 15 or more, and GW students get in for free. The concession prices are about average as well, and parking is free. While a visit to a Colonials baseball game won’t break the bank, its value isn’t anything special either. Extras 1 There are free programs available at the top of the bleachers with some basic information. That’s about the only extra, the rest of the experience is very barebones. Final Thoughts Although many residents of Northern Virginia don’t realize the George Washington baseball team plays so close by, GW does have its fans and they turn out for their games. A visit to a Colonials game can be an enjoyable way for baseball purists to spend an afternoon, but it is far from the carnival-type atmosphere you would get at a professional game or at some colleges which care more about college baseball.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Buck Bowman Park 2228 Clover Hill Road Dayton, VA 22821 Clover Hill Bucks website Buck Bowman Park website Year Opened: 1954 Capacity: 1,500 Small Town Baseball Beneath the Clover Dome Nestled in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, the Rockingham County Baseball League is one of the oldest amateur baseball leagues in the country. The league's eight teams consist of a mix of current and former college players with ties to the area. Some of the latter have been playing in the league for years. The Clover Hill Bucks play in the RCBL and call Buck Bowman Park home. Known as the Clover Dome to locals, it is one of the last remaining parks with a wooden grandstand. Since moving here in 1954, the Bucks have won 18 RCBL championships, the most of any team in the league. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand at Buck Bowman Park, although it has windows on both sides, one facing the field and one facing a grassy area behind the grandstand. Although the menu is limited, prices are some of the best you'll be able to find in baseball. Hot dogs are $2 (add 50 cents for chili), burgers are $3.50 (add 25 cents for cheese), fries are $2, popcorn and candy are $1.50, and lollipops and gum are just 25 cents each. Bottled water and assorted soft drinks are available for $2.50, while a cup of mint tea costs only $1.25. Although you may not want them on a warm summer night, hot chocolate and coffee are also $1.25. Keep in mind the stand only takes cash and it can take some time to get your food, although if you use the side facing the field, you will be able to watch the game while you wait. Atmosphere 5 Entering Buck Bowman Field feels like a step back in time to baseball as it used to be played. A covered wooden grandstand, one of the last of its kind, is behind home plate and while it may not be in the greatest condition, you can sense the history just by sitting there. More modern wooden bleachers are located further down the lines, and beyond those lies a seating area where fans can set up their chairs. This last one is the only area not behind a net, and in fact, there is not even a fence separating it from the field. Instead, there is a chalk line marking the boundary of the playing area that fans must sit behind (this should not be confused with the foul line.) If the ball crosses this line, it is considered out of play and will be treated as such under the ground rules. Although the wooden grandstand may be the least comfortable place to sit here, it does have the advantage of being extremely close to the action. Fans sitting in the front row are closer to home plate than they would be in almost any other ballpark, close enough to hear the conversations between catcher, batter, and umpire and see the drops of sweat dripping from the face of the person prepping the batters' box before the game. You will truly be up close and personal to the action if you sit here. A Clover Hill Bucks game is baseball at its purest. Although there are some advertisements on the fence and over the PA system, they are all for local businesses that support the team. There is no billion-dollar corporate influence here. Some music will be played over the PA system, but it does not get in the way of the game itself. This is baseball as it was meant to be played. One unusual quirk of Buck Bowman Park is that the sun sets in straightaway centerfield. Like at Waconah Park in Pittsfield, this means that games will sometimes feature sun delays and start 20 to 30 minutes after the scheduled time of 7:30 PM to wait for the sun to go behind the tree line. Neighborhood 1 The problem here isn't so much that the area around Buck Bowman Park is a bad neighborhood as much as that there is no neighborhood at all. The ballpark is surrounded by farms, and while there are a few local businesses that cater to those who live here, and they seem well-liked by the locals, nothing is likely to be of interest to out-of-towners attending a Bucks game except maybe a couple of fresh produce stands. If you want any place to eat, drink, or sleep, you will likely need to drive about 20 minutes into Harrisonburg, the nearest remote major population center. While Harrisonburg isn't a large city by any means, more of a small college town, it is at least a city. Macado's has some of the best sandwiches in the Shenandoah Valley, Kline's Dairy Bar is known for its ice cream, and there are other places to visit as well. That being said, you will have to do a bit of driving to get there. Fans 5 Despite Clover Hill's small size, it seems like almost the whole town turns out for a Bucks game. Many of the fans have been cheering on the team for decades, coming to almost every home game for a long time. This being farm country, some of the fans will ring cowbells after the Bucks score. The covered grandstand helps to trap in the sound and make it seem even louder than it otherwise would. Given the RCBL is spread out over such a small geographic footprint, many visiting fans will also make the short trek into Clover Hill. They are treated well enough by the home fans, but this still very much feels like a Bucks home game. The locals love their team and show up in droves to prove it. Access 2 As we mentioned earlier, Clover Hill is in the middle of the farm country. The nearest remote major town is Harrisonburg, about 20 minutes away via US Route 33. Once you get to the stadium, you will need to drive down a gravel path to a grass lot and park there. No marked spaces or attendants are directing you, other than to tell you to park anywhere that won't box anyone in. Despite this, cars park haphazardly, making it hard to figure out where you parked and get out when the game is over. Luckily everyone seemed to at least follow the instructions not to trap anyone in. There are restrooms on the grassy area down the right field line, near the concession stand, team store, and batting cages. They are small, but there is usually no wait to use one. The steps of the wooden grandstand behind the home plate have a long drop from one to another and may prove challenging for those with mobility issues. Even those who are physically capable of climbing them may get nervous stepping off the bottom step onto the ground because of the drop involved. The newer wooden bleachers down the lines are easier to climb but do not offer nearly as good a view. Return on Investment 5 Admission to most Bucks games is free of charge thanks to local business sponsors. For a few games, there may be a $5 admission charge. Check the Bucks' social media in advance to find out about specific games. Concession prices are incredibly affordable, and while you may spend a bit on gas to get here due to the park's remote location, a trip to a baseball game under the lights at the Clover Dome is still an outstanding value. . Extras 4 One bonus star for how close the home plate grandstand is to the action. Look for the team store on the grassy area down the first base line, and the deer skull above it. Both of these are worthy of an extra star. There are several places at Buck Bowman Park for kids to hang out and play baseball while their parents watch the game if they so choose. Before the game, the aforementioned grassy area will be full of kids playing catch with each other and their parents. Once the game starts, kids will hang out in the batting cage further down the right field line, playing their version of baseball with a toy bat and ball. Final Thoughts Buck Bowman Park is small-town baseball at its finest. The spirit of baseball is alive and well here in Clover Hill, at a ballpark steeped in rich history and a throwback to days of yore. An evening at the Clover Dome to check out a Bucks game should be on the bucket list of every baseball fan in Virginia.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Ottawa Stadium 300 Coventry Rd Ottawa, ON K1K 4P5 Ottawa Titans website Ottawa Stadium website Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 10,332 Ottawa Titans Baseball In 1991 then-Ottawa 67s owner Howard Darwin was awarded an expansion franchise in the AAA International League. Lynx Stadium was completed in under two years of $17 million Canadian. It soon became the hottest spot in the IL, as the Lynx averaged 9,772 fans per game in their inaugural 1993 season, setting a league record. Unfortunately, from there attendance started on a steady decline, to the point where the Lynx were last in the IL in attendance in 2006. After the 2007 season, the team moved to Allentown, PA, and became the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. Despite many plans over the years to redesign the facility for other purposes or to demolish the venue, Ottawa Stadium has persevered through many teams, many leagues, many names and many levels of organized baseball. After the Can-Am League’s Ottawa Champions were mysteriously left out of the league’s 2019 merger with the Frontier League, an expansion team was awarded to Canada’s capital city in the form of the Titans, who were to begin play in 2021. Unfortunately, due to the prolonged closure of the US-Canada border as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Titans did not compete in the 2021 season. The team qualified for the Frontier League playoffs in their inaugural 2022 season, advancing to the divisional round before losing to the Quebec Capitales. Food & Beverage 4 The stadium has a decent selection of concessions for a park that doesn’t usually attract large crowds. There are four permanent stands scattered along the concourse underneath the grandstand, each with a different theme and menu. Stands feature standard ballpark fare (Cappy’s Kitchen), Mexican food (Mr. Senor), Gabriel Pizza, and ice cream/donuts (Lois ‘n Frima’s)The prices and quality of the food served here are decent. Concession stands feature a specialty food item every homestand. Coca-Cola products are featured at the ballpark. A good selection of beer is also available, including craft brews from Beau’s and Stray Dog Breweries. For the best selection, head down to the Hop Yard at the top of the left field berm. For those looking for a food challenge during a Titans game, order the Titanic Sandwich, which consists of an entire loaf of garlic bread, four cheeseburger patties, two hot dogs, cheese crumbs, 4 chicken fingers, crispy onions, and spicy ketchup. Atmosphere 3 Many minor league teams feature a decidedly over-the-top game day atmosphere, with wacky shenanigans held throughout the game designed to attract casual fans and keep the younger fans in attendance occupied. While the shenanigans in Ottawa are a bit more laid-back than in other indy ballparks, there’s enough going on to keep everyone entertained and properly distracted. Assorted contests and promotions are going on throughout the game, including interns dancing on dugouts, an emcee who coordinates all activities, and a mascot who roams the ballpark interacting with fans and participating in the goings on. Kids roam the berm in left field to release any pent-up energy, and a bouncy castle on the concourse serves a similar purpose. PA announcements are made in both English and French, a fitting touch in Canada’s capital city. A small scoreboard in right field displays basic game information. With all this activity going on, you may expect a higher score. The sheer size of the stadium is a negative, as a 10,000-seat ballpark tends to swallow up any noise created by 1,500 or so fans. On the plus side, there’s plenty of room to roam and spread out throughout the game. Neighbourhood 3 There are a pair of hotels (a Hampton Inn and a Courtyard by Marriot) directly across the parking lot from the ballpark, but fans looking for places to go before or after a game will be disappointed with the lack of eateries near the ballpark. Fans visiting the area will, however, be more than happy to hear that downtown Ottawa’s attractions, including Parliament Hill’s government buildings and the popular ByWard District are a short ten-minute drive away. Ottawa boasts a great many locations that may be of interest to visitors to the city. Of course, the Parliament buildings are among the most popular destinations. In addition, Canada’s capital city boasts several museums, including the Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian War Museum, Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and Royal Canadian Mint. Rideau Canal is still worth checking out, even in the summer months. Visitors to Ottawa looking for other sporting options can check out the CFL’s RedBlacks at TD Place Stadium. Of course, the Senators play at Canadian Tire Centre and the 67’s play at TD Place Arena, but the hockey and baseball seasons do not overlap. Fans 3 For the 2023 season, the Titans are averaging just over 1,300 fans per game, a slight increase over their inaugural season. This places Ottawa 12th in the 15-team Frontier League. Stadium Journey visited Ottawa Stadium on a muggy Sunday afternoon with a crowd of about 1,500 in attendance. The crowd at a Titans game is pretty typical of what you’ll find across the continent in the minor leagues. It’s a family-friendly event, so you’ll be sure to find many children and families mixed in with the local die-hard baseball fans. Watching the younger fans race around the ballpark chasing foul balls is a highlight here. The crowd here is laid-back. This isn’t a place where you’ll find a rowdy game day atmosphere, although the crowd did seem to energize when the Quebec manager was tossed for arguing a call. Access 4 Situated about 10 minutes from downtown Ottawa, the ballpark is located right off Canadian Highway 417, known as the Queensway as it moves through Canada’s capital. The ballpark is easily accessed by exit 117. A couple of turns will put you in one of the two large lots adjacent to the ballpark. All transactions are paperless, so make sure you visit the kiosk to pay your fee. Ottawa Stadium has a standard late 80s-early 90s design with a single seating bowl that stretches from shallow left field around to shallow right field. There’s a berm at the end of left-field seats. All seats are faded blue metal stadium seats. There’s a walkway about halfway up the seating bowl, but since the upper seats are raised a bit, there’s no issue with obstruction. Speaking of obstructions, nets stretch from the end of one dugout around to the other. For a net-free view, pick a seat further down the seating bowl. The concourse is located underneath the grandstand, with all concessions and washrooms located here. With the smaller crowds at Titans games, getting around is no issue. The washrooms are a bit dated but clean and large enough for a typical Titans crowd. As mentioned elsewhere, there is plenty of room to move around. Return on Investment 4 All tickets are sold as reserved seats, priced at $15 for “Club” seats (sections behind home plate) and $11 for “On Deck” seating (sections further down the line). Purchasing tickets at the box office on game day increases all prices by three dollars. With the large capacity of Ottawa Stadium and the smallish crowds present, you can roam about the park as you wish. Parking is available in the large lots adjacent to the ballpark for seven dollars. Concession prices are reasonable, making a Titans game an affordable entertainment option for local baseball fans. Extras 2 All lineup announcements are made in English and French. That's worth an extra point. A second extra point is awarded for "The Switch Hitter," a sculpture located by the front entrance of the stadium. Visible from the highway, Russell Yuristy's sculpture stands six metres tall, reminding everyone that this is a hitter's ballpark. Final Thoughts While Ottawa Stadium's glory days may be behind it, the ballpark remains a functional facility that fits the Frontier League well. While it may be too large for the needs of the Titans, it’s great to see baseball continue in Canada’s capital after years of uncertainty. ---- Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 CHO Airport Field 1400 Melbourne Road Charlottesville, VA 22901 Charlottesville Tom Sox website Year Opened: 2015 Capacity: 3.256 Tom’s Sox in Charlottesville The Valley Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league with 12 teams up and down Virginia’s scenic Shenandoah Valley. The league is one of the oldest in the country and dates back to at least 1923. Baseball had been played in the Valley for decades before then, but at that point in history it is fuzzy what constitutes a distinct league and several different dates of founding are claimed by different sources. One Valley League team is the Charlottesville Tom Sox, who play at CHO Airport Field, located on the campus of Charlottesville High School. The Tom Sox began playing here in 2015, and financed some improvements to the field, in exchange for being allowed to use it over the summer when high school is not in session. The “Tom” in the team name is taken from Thomas Jefferson, who lived in the Charlottesville area and built the University of Virginia, which is located here. Despite playing in the Valley League, Charlottesville is not actually in the Shenandoah Valley, as it is on the other side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand located behind home plate, which sells a basic menu. Hot dogs are $2.50, which is a good deal, but burgers will cost $5.50 for a single or $8 for a double, plus an additional dollar for bacon, which is a bit pricey for this level. Nachos cost $3.50, as do fries, which is not super expensive, but you would not expect a basket of fries to cost more than a hot dog. Even the Gatorade and soda, at $3 and $3.50 respectively, cost more than the hot dog. Peanuts are $2.50, water is $1.50, and candy is $1.75. Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is also available, for $6 for a two scoop cup. Sprinkles in Tom Sox colors can be added to ice cream for free. Both credit cards and cash are accepted. Atmosphere 4 CHO Airport Field has a pretty basic layout, with a few sets of bleachers located behind home plate and to either side. A scoreboard in left-centerfield shows the linescore, count, and runs, but no other information, not even the hits and errors for each team. Despite this, the team manages to put on a good show here at Tom Sox games. There are plenty of between-innings contests where kids get to go onto the field, including the shoe race, where kids have to race to retrieve their own shoes, put them on, and run back. In addition to the bleachers, there are plenty of grassy areas surrounding the field where fans like to set up chairs and watch the game. Pretty much the entire third baseline beyond the bleachers is open grass, and there is plenty of space to watch from the top of a hill beyond the outfield fence as well. Some fans even set up chairs in the giant grass patch in the middle of the traffic circle in the parking lot and watch from there. There is less space available on the first base side, which abuts some train tracks, but fans sitting down the third-base line can watch freight and Amtrak trains pass throughout the game through a gap in the trees. The Tom Sox have a mascot, a prairie dog named Prairiewether Lewis, who can be seen roaming the stands and interacting with fans throughout the game. Prairiewether Lewis, Photo by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 4 Charlottesville is a beautiful college town known mostly for the University of Virginia. Once you head into town, you will find many options to choose from. Boylan Heights is a popular bar just off the UVA campus and serves up good food as well. It is just one of many places to eat, drink, or have fun along University Avenue ranging from bagel bakeries to bars to sushi restaurants. History buffs may also want to check out Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Keep in mind that many of the places near the University may offer limited hours during the summer when the Tom Sox play, as the UVA students are not on campus. Fans 5 The Tom Sox draw large crowds to every game, consistently finishing towards the top of the Valley League in attendance. Fans pack all three sets of bleachers in addition to lining the other areas surrounding the field in their own chairs. The fan base here skews younger than at most other Valley League venues, with small children showing up in droves with their parents to cheer on the Tom Sox. Fans are passionate, loud, and proud of their team. Although the Valley League in general is known for its loyal fans, the fan base here is larger than what you'd see at most other places. Access 4 CHO Airport Field and Charlottesville High School are located right off US 250 and are easily accessible via US 29 from the north and south. There are clear signs from 250 directing you to Charlottesville High School, and once you get there the stadium will be clearly visible. There is plenty of parking available for free in the lot near the stadium, and further down on the other side of the high school if that lot fills up. Keep in mind the spaces closest to the field are within foul ball territory, so park at your own risk if you choose to park there. Return on Investment 5 Admission to Tom Sox games is $5 for one individual or $10 for a carload, no matter how many people are in your vehicle. Concessions range from decently priced to very affordable depending on what you are getting. As such, a Tom Sox game is a great deal regardless, and can be an even better deal if going in a large group and all traveling in one car. Plan accordingly. Extras 3 There is a merchandise tent down the third baseline where fans can buy Tom Sox t-shirts and caps. Free roster sheets are also available. A third and final star for all the unique vantage points where fans can watch the game from. Final Thoughts The Valley Baseball League is a hidden gem for summer baseball in Virginia. Although fans in the Valley are certainly in on it, many fans from other parts of the state have never heard of the league and are missing out. While a college town like Charlottesville is not the most attractive destination in the summer, except for people checking out nearby Monticello, for those who find themselves in town, a Tom Sox game can be a great way to spend a beautiful summer evening taking in a baseball game.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Franklin Field 235 S 33rd St Philadelphia, PA 19104 Penn Quakers football website Franklin Field website Year Opened: 1895 Capacity: 52,593 Here's a Toast to Dear Old Penn Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Franklin Field is the oldest college football stadium in the country. The Penn Quakers have been playing here since way back in 1895. Many historical moments have taken place here – the first football game broadcast on the radio was played here in 1922 and it has hosted everything from political conventions to the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles to track and field’s historic Penn Relays. The stadium has undergone several renovations over the years, and the Ivy League has faded from the top college sports conference to one more known for its academics, but Penn football is still going strong. Food & Beverage 4 All the usual food and beverage is available for sale at Franklin Field, including burgers, pizza, chicken tenders, and, since this is Philadelphia, cheesesteaks. Local favorite Chickie’s and Pete’s also sell their famous Crab Fries, which are French fries with a white cheese dipping sauce topped with crab seasoning, but no actual crab despite the name. There is an area just inside the 33rd Street entrance which sells alcohol, but it is not for sale in the rest of the stadium. Although there are a few small stands on the concourse, most of the concessions can be purchased not at a window but in areas set back from the concourse in vestibules. This gives the feeling of walking into a shop to purchase your items, although the lines move slowly and frequently stretch out onto the concourse. Only credit cards are accepted so come prepared. Atmosphere 5 Just walking up to Franklin Field and gazing at the large brick exterior, you get the field that this is a historic stadium. Walking into the stadium will put you on an old, narrow concourse under the bleachers from which you can walk to your seat. There are a few reserved chairbacks at midfield, but other than that you can sit in any bleacher seat other than the areas reserved for students and the band. The stadium is large and imposing, much larger than the typical Penn football crowds, although most fans pack into the lower level on the Penn sideline (unless they are fans of the visiting team) which makes it seem closer to capacity than it actually is. A large scoreboard is located on one end of the field while a much smaller one is at the other. Penn being a school steeped in history, there are several notable traditions here. As at many schools, the marching band will come out and play a standard selection before the game, including the official alma mater, “Hail, Pennsylvania.” At halftime, the band comes back and plays more selections, concluding with the unofficial but more popular alma mater, “The Red and Blue,” which always draws the crowd to its feet to sing and wave along. At the end of the third quarter, the band will perform “Drink a Highball”, better known as “The Toast Song”, while the crowd sings along. Previously the fans would raise an actual toast, but after alcohol was banned in the stadium, they began a new tradition – throwing toast. Some fans will bring whole stacks of toast to throw, and it can be seen flying through the air for almost a minute. When they are done, the track surrounding the field will be littered with toast as some poor sap tries to remove it with a rake. In addition to the band, Penn has some cheerleaders and a mascot simply named Quaker, who as his name implies resembles the Penn logo and a traditional Quaker, although he is probably more muscular than the actual founders of Pennsylvania were. Quaker, Photo by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 5 Franklin Field is located on Penn’s campus in the University City Neighborhood of Philadelphia. Within a short walk, you can find numerous restaurants ranging from pizza to burgers to chicken to bars, and much more. Most of this can be found north of the stadium, as the university hospital is located directly to the south. The Schuylkill River is direct to the east, but there are plenty of options as you head west along the streets as well. The New Deck Tavern is one favorite, as are the White Dog Café and highly rated Mexican restaurant Cucina Zapata. Fans 4 Penn typically draws about 5,000 fans a game, although they will get more for big games such as Homecoming. Although the stadium seats about 50,000, they make it feel like it is more than 10% full. Most Penn fans will sit in the lower level behind the Penn bench on the south side, while most fans of the visiting team will sit on the north side behind the away bench. That being said, visiting fans sitting on the home side are not likely to face anything worse than a mild curiosity as to why they are sitting there. Penn fans are loud, passionate, and intimately familiar with the traditions of the school. Whether it’s cheering after a touchdown, singing along with “The Red and Blue” or throwing toast at the end of the third quarter, Penn fans make themselves heard here at Franklin Field. Although a crowd of a few thousand may not seem like a lot in a stadium that seats ten times that, you wouldn’t know that from the way it sounds here on gameday. Of course, the student section is boisterous as well, and are enthusiastic participants in the toast toss, the singing of the official and unofficial alma maters, and all the other traditions, but they’re not the only ones here who are. Access 3 There are several roads in Philadelphia including I-76 and I-95. However you get into town, there are several garages near the stadium. The closest one is at the Penn Museum across the street from the southeast gate, but parking is first come first served so if that fills up you will have to go elsewhere. The attendant should be able to direct you if that’s the case. Parking on gameday is $20 – you will be given a ticket as you enter and pay as you exit. You can either pay at the station as you return to the garage and hand the ticket to the attendant, or you can pay the attendant as you leave the garage. Either way, only credit cards are accepted. The concourses at Franklin Field are pretty narrow, but this is not normally a problem for the crowds the football team draws. Lines at concession stands and restrooms can get long at times so plan accordingly. The aisles in the stands are very narrow and fans often have to stand up on the seats to let other fans through. This also means that there is very little legroom. Franklin Field is an old stadium and dates back to a time when people were smaller, but the stadium was recently renovated and it is disappointing that this was not addressed. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are $15 for general admission seats or $25 for reserved chairbacks near midfield on the south side, though prices will be slightly higher for homecoming. Concessions are affordable as well. The $20 for parking is pretty expensive, but you are downtown in a major city and parking is limited so it is what it is. Given the low cost of tickets compared to many other places, the high parking cancels out. This is still a good value, but the usual costs of parking in a major city do bring this rating down a notch. Extras 4 Look for the banners along the brick walls on the north sideline (visible from the home sideline on the south side) honoring Penn football accomplishments. There is a team store on the concourse selling Penn football merchandise as well as game programs. A third star for the toast toss, a unique tradition here at Quakers games. A fourth and final star for all the history that’s taken place here – this is the oldest and arguably the most historic stadium in all of college football. Final Thoughts A stadium that opened almost 130 years ago, closer to the founding of this country than the present day, is obviously not going to have a lot of the modern amenities you’d see at a newer stadium. That much should be a given. However, Franklin Field is steeped in a rich history and the Penn football team has built up many traditions over the years. Fans here are loyal to the red and blue, the band is not as large as at many schools but is every bit as mighty, and you will find traditions here from the pregame to the final whistle. A visit to Franklin Field is a must for any college football fan in the Philadelphia area or anyone with an interest in the history of the game.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium 5101 Broadway New York, NY 10034 Columbia Lions football website Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium website Year Opened: 1984 Capacity: 17,000 Columbia Football in New York City Columbia football’s home field is special. Nestled on the northern tip of Manhattan in a hilly, residential neighborhood, it boasts a wonderful view of the Hudson River and a backdrop of fall foliage from nearby Inwood Hill Park. There’s not a bad seat in the house, whether you sit on one of the bench seats ($12 or $17) or pay a little extra for a chair back ($30). (There are no end zone seats at Wien). Lately, Columbia football has been good, even excellent. Last season (2017), Columbia was in the running for first place in its conference, the prestigious Ivy League. With head coach Al Bagnoli, who previously was very successful at conference rival the University of Pennsylvania, at the helm, Columbia should continue to be successful. Food & Beverage 3 You’re not coming for the food, as it’s typical stadium fare, everything from hot dogs to popcorn to nachos and candy. The nachos seem to be the big seller. The one outlier is churro, a sugary pastry. Just about everything costs $3. However, just outside the stadium prior to the game, there’s complimentary beer, soda and hot dogs. For pre or post-game, there are plenty of neighborhood options. Jake Novak, the team’s unofficial blogger, wrote up this extensive list of dining choices. Atmosphere 5 It’s awesome, very welcoming. Columbia football attracts an eclectic mix of students, alums, friends and family, neighborhood folks and tourists. Again, this is New York City. They take their football seriously but not too seriously. Again, Wien’s view is something to behold. Neighborhood 4 It’s a quiet, residential neighborhood. As Novak mentions in the above link, there are plenty of restaurants. Washington Heights is definitely not Times Square, which is refreshing. Fans 4 As would be expected, homecoming is crowded. Other games are calmer, and they attract an eclectic mix of students, friends and family, neighborhood folks and tourists. In general, it’s a homey atmosphere. Trash talking is almost unheard of. Access 4 Wien is near several major roadways and is accessible via public transportation. Again, Novak touches on just about every transportation possibility in the link above. If you’re not an adept parallel parker, or don't want to pay for parking in a lot, use public transportation, specifically the subway (#1), which has a stop nearby.Inside the stadium, the concourse behind the main seating bowl has enough room to maneuver as long as there isn't a huge crowd at the game. Bathrooms, though small, are sufficient as there are at least a few down the length of the concourse. Return on Investment 4 The football is strong. The stadium is comfortable and homey, and the view is just special. There're relatively cheap or even complimentary treats. Programs are on the house. In this mega town, where professional sports rule but aren't very good, at least these days, Columbia football is a bargain and definitely worth adding to your NYC itinerary. Extras 4 Columbia’s band isn’t your typical band. They’re more of a parody of a band, which is fun and different. When Columbia wins, the players sing their hearts out and the band seems to hit every note. Final Thoughts Columbia football is something to experience. It's the only college football in the borough of Manhattan, and it boasts the intimacy of a high school game, at least compared to what the Jets and Giants offer across the river at MetLife Stadium. Jon Hart is@ManVersusBall

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Oakes Training Center 4957 Old Hwy 11 Hattiesburg, MS 39402 Southern States Stars SC website Oakes Training Center website Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 1,500 Soccer Under the Oaks Southern States Soccer is a local soccer academy located in the Hattiesburg suburb of Oak Grove, Mississippi. The Academy was founded in 2016 and strives to provide well-organized soccer opportunities for youth players, in a positive environment that teaches life lessons through the sport of soccer. The academy currently offers four different classes for boys and girls. The beginner's group is the Little Kickers program for ages 3-6 designed for kids to learn the fundamentals of soccer. The Pre-Academy class is designed for kids ages 6-8 who want to advance their soccer skills, while the Academy2 class is the stepping stone of youth soccer in Hattiesburg, and designed for kids ages 8-19, who will eventually advance to the Main Academy program. All classes are held on the grounds of the state-of-the-art Oakes Training Center. The 6-acre site includes a lighted professional length field with bleacher seating, two smaller practice fields, and an indoor soccer training center called the futsal center. In 2021 the Academy began sponsoring a club that competes in the National Premiere Soccer League. The NPSL is a lower-level professional soccer league that has 99 teams as of the 2023 season, and SSSC competes in the Gulf Coast Division. The players from the main academy compete in the NPSL, while a second team made up of other academy players competes in the Gulf Coast Premier League, which is a semi-pro league with 10 teams throughout the Gulf Coast region. A full length professional sized stadium was built in 2021 as the home of Southern States Soccer FC matches. Food & Beverage 3 There is one main concession stand located on the east side of the complex overlooking the pitch, and they surprisingly have a lot of offerings here. The usual fare of hot dogs, hamburgers, and popcorn are sold, but they also sell corn dogs and funnel cake. They also have a nice selection of alcoholic beverages, including domestic and imported beers, as well as a few local beers from Southern Prohibition Brewing in Hattiesburg. The cool thing about the concession stand are the four picnic tables located near the stands, which have an excellent view of the match. The picnic benches also provide excellent shade from the Mississippi heat, and provide an excellent view of the sun going down to the west. Atmosphere 4 The Oakes Training Center is a beautiful soccer specific facility, the only one of its kind in the State of Mississippi. The main field is the one closest to the parking lot and faces north and south. Along the west sideline is the box-style metal bleacher seating that extends down the full length of the field; this is the general admission seating area. But what really makes this venue stand out is the setup on the east sideline – a large two-story brick building overlooks the field on this side. The indoor of this two-story facility houses the locker rooms, weight rooms, and indoor practice field, and the offices of the soccer academy. Outside along the patio there is chairback seating for a couple of hundred people, and you can also go upstairs to an A/C lounge area with couches and TVs that overlook the field – this is the VIP area seating. A concessions area makes up the south side of the brick building, which includes four wooden picnic benches. General admission ticket holders are welcome to sit at these picnic benches, although you will need a separate ticket to get to the chairbacks or the lounge area. Along the outside of the brick building are about 30 nationality's flags that you can see from the field – this entire complex and set up are really impressive for this lower level of soccer. Neighborhood 2 Oak Grove is a suburb of Hattiesburg with a population of about 2,000 people. It is mostly a quiet, residential community compared to its neighboring college town. There isn't much in the vicinity of the Oakes except Oak Grove High School and a library across the street. Venture about a mile or two north on the main highway and you'll find a few things to do; mostly chain stores and fast-food restaurants dominate this stretch of the highway, as well as Turtle Creek Mall, the largest mall in the Pine Belt. There are few local restaurants in Oak Grove though – Half Shell Oyster House is a popular seafood restaurant located on the highway, and another popular spot nearby is the Movie Star Restaurant, which is like Cracker Barrel. Movie Star has vintage memorabilia, old signs, movie props, and anything old you can think of adorning its walls. It remains a popular spot for brunch and is located about a mile from the Oakes. For stuff to do outdoors in Oak Grove there are two beautiful 18-hole golf courses, Canebrake Country Club and Shadow Ridge Golf Club. You will also especially want to drive through the Canebrake subdivision and check out all the huge mansions that overlook the lake. Another popular outdoors activity in Oak Grove is fishing or boating at Hennington Lakem also known as Lake Serene; it doesn't get its nickname for nothing, as the beautiful lake also has cabins and a campground where you can make a peaceful weekend out of your visit. The Long Leaf Trace, a popular paved 44-mile bike trail runs through Oak Grove as well. The Trace also has a few primitive campgrounds, as well as the famous Piney Leaf Resort, which has cabins. Those are just a few things you can do in the small community of Oak Grove. Of course, Hattiesburg is the next city over and you can find more restaurants and plenty of lodging available there as well. Fans 3 The Stars have a pretty big following in the Pine Belt, with each match averaging about 1,000 fans. This area is a surprising big soccer market, with tons of various youth leagues and rec leagues throughout the region – all around the practice fields you will find kids playing pick-up soccer. You will see a lot of the kids from the academy in attendance, many of them in soccer uniforms having just got done with practice. Before the match the Stars bring that professional soccer feel; as the Stars take the pitch they enter with a various local youth team, while opera style music plays over the PA system. The Stars also have their fair share of supporters who get into the matches. The general admission seating closest to the players' bench on the west side is where the group of fans called the Supernovas sit – this group tries their best to make it as rowdy an atmosphere as possible for this level of soccer. All throughout the game you'll hear various chants coming from this section, and when the Stars score they blow off smoke bombs and wave a giant flag. From the parking lot you can also see the field, so there is also a group of fans there that sit in their cars and watch the game and tailgate. Whenever there is a goal, those fans will honk their horns. Access 2 Getting to the Oakes can pose a problem if you are not familiar with the area. The Oakes is located off a back road in a residential area, off a busy highway. The best way to get here if coming from out of town is to take Interstate 59 to Exit 65, which is Hardy Street/Highway 98, the main drag into town. If you go east you'll get closer to Hattiesburg, so instead go west on Hardy Street towards Oak Grove, until you reach Oak Grove High School and Highway 11. Then, go south for about two miles until you get to the Public Library, and the Oakes is right across the street. The one drawback coming here is there is no signage directing you how to get to the facility – if you didn't know what you were looking for you would have no idea this place was back here. The entire stadium literally sits in the woods amongst a bunch of oak trees. In fact there is only a small sign at the main entrance, that you can miss if you don't look quick enough. Return on Investment 3 General Admission tickets are $10, and you can sit anywhere you want on the west bleachers, while for $20 you can sit on the padded chairs on the east side patio outside the training center. For $75 you can get the VIP experience, where you can sit in the lounge area upstairs from the Training Center on the east side. I consider seeing a match here a good return on investment; most of these guys won't be playing in the World Cup anytime soon, but you are getting to see professional soccer in South Mississippi. Extras 2 The Stars achieved some national success in just their second year of play in 2022, after advancing to play in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which is a knockout months-long tournament to determine the best soccer club in the US. The tournament began in 1913 and is the oldest ongoing soccer tournament in the United States. The tournament is not only open to all MLS teams, but also to every league on the American soccer pyramid, including NPSL, which usually invites each division winner to compete in the Cup; SSSC won the 2022 NPSL Gulf Coast Division to advance to the tournament. The Stars then won their first-round matchup over the Georgia Revolution (the match was hosted at the Oakes), but later ended up losing to the Birmingham Legion of the USL. Another plus for the local fan engagement and community involvement that the Southern States Stars bring to the area during the summer months, when there is not a lot going on in the Pine Belt. In a college town dominated by Southern Miss the Stars do a great job at filling the local sports void during the summer months, in between the college baseball and college football seasons. If looking for a sporting event in Hattiesburg to attend in the summer months, then I highly recommend attending a Southern States Stars SC match.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Whataburger Field 734 E Port Ave Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Corpus Christi Hooks website Whataburger Field website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 7,679 Corpus Christi Hooks – Whataburger Field Professional baseball landed on Texas’ Gulf Coast in time for the 2005 season, when Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and his group moved their Double-A team from Round Rock and rechristened them the Corpus Christi Hooks. Since day one, they have proven to be a hit with their hometown fans. Serving as an affiliate of the Houston Astros, the Hooks have seen just about every good homegrown talent that H-Town has utilized make a stop in the Sparking City. This has included All-Stars such as Hunter Pence, José Altuve, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, George Springer, and Yordan Alvarez. Having such a bumper crop of talent come through their roster has led to quite a bit of success for the Hooks in the Texas League. The have won a combined eight first and second-half titles, most recently in 2013, and one overall Division and League title, both in 2006. For the entirety of their history, the Hooks have called Whataburger Field their home. Located within the eyesight of Corpus Christi Bay, and with the outfield skyline filled by the historic Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge, the ballpark is in no way short on atmosphere or charm. Food & Beverage 4 The food and beverage scene at Whataburger Field is honestly pretty great. There are no less than a dozen stands and kiosks spread out across the main concourse. Some highlights include Nolan Ryan’s Seven-34 Smokehouse, which offers up jalapeno and cheese sausages, chopped brisket sandwiches, and BBQ nachos. There is also the Home Slice pizza stand selling Papa John’s Pizza by the slice. For something cool and sweet on those hot and humid summer day games, there is a Kona Ice truck and a Dippin’ Dots stand. For chicken fans, there is a Tenders, Love & Chicken stand behind the first base line, offering up chicken fingers and their signature funnel cake waffle fries. The Valero Champions Corner Bar behind the third base line and the Live Oak Bar behind left centerfield have you covered with full-service bars and plenty of beer on tap. The real highlight, however, is the ballpark’s namesake, Whataburger. I fully admit to being a huge fan of this native Texas burger chain, so my review will always be a little (orange-colored. However, I defy anyone sitting in the stands to catch a whiff of the made-from-scratch burgers and not crave one. Atmosphere 4 There is so much to love about Whataburger Field for fans. The building has a classic design that incorporates a lot of great details into the experience. Walking up to the main gate, your eyes are immediately drawn to a massive statue of a ballplayer. Entitled For the Love of the Game, the statue depicts a young ballplayer staring out at the game being played before him. It’s a powerful image and the centerpiece of the stadium. Inside, there is just as much to take in. There is berm seating in the outfield in left field and center field. There are also numerous hospitality areas for groups, including a pool deck in the right center field, rocking chairs in the left, and the Cotton Club behind third base. The Cotton Club takes its name from the former tenant of the ballpark, a cotton press. The remnants have been incorporated into Whataburger Field – two of the former buildings can be seen prominently in the outfield. There is a team store on the main concourse behind home plate called The Tackle Box, which sells tons of Hooks merchandise. This is especially fun as during multiple games during the summer, the Hooks take part in Minor League Baseball’s (MiLB) Copa de la Diversión. This ode to the Latino culture that permeates the game of baseball sees the Corpus Christi Hooks don the gear of the Corpus Christi Cumbias; it’s a lot of fun and something only MiLB can do. Neighborhood 4 The Sparkling City is honestly a very fun place to visit and has been a getaway destination for Texans for decades. With North Beach just up the road from the ballpark, there is no escaping that you are in a tropical climate. Palm trees dot the ballpark, as seagulls are frequent visitors to the actual playing field during games; it is just different on the Coast from anywhere else in Texas. Whataburger Field is the next-door neighbor to Hurricane Alley Waterpark; they share a fence line, and park visitors can be seen by Hooks fans, climbing the stairs to the massive waterslides over the right field wall. It’s a nice perk to have for fans…catch a game and go to a wave pool all in the same day. The aforementioned North Beach is also home to what is arguably the most picturesque spot of sand in the city, but also to some of the most-visited attractions in the area, such as the U.S.S. Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium. It is also home to the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders and the Corpus Christi IceRays. If you plan your visit to Corpus Christi correctly, you can probably double up on games, which is always fun. In terms of food and lodging, there are not too many options near the ballpark, as it was built right along the shipping channel. However, there are a few spots not too far away that will suit your needs. The one eating and drinking establishment which is within walking distance is a tried-and-true favorite: Brewster Street Ice House. Burgers, sandwiches, salads, and, of course, seafood are all offered up, along with a plethora of on-tap beers. For lodging, multiple options across the budgetary spectrum are within a 5 to 10-minute drive from the ballpark – these include the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel and the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Corpus Christi. Also, as you get closer to downtown and even across the bay, the options will grow exponentially. Fans 3 The Hooks average just under 4,000 fans per game at Whataburger Field, which has always placed them in the upper echelon of the Texas League. Attendance does tend to be higher in the early part of the season, traditionally; this is in large part due to the oppressive South Texas heat. However, the fans that do show up are all about the Hooks. They wear the gear (or they wear Astros stuff, which is fine), they cheer on the team, and they bring up the energy in the ballpark. All in all, this is a good minor-league fan base. Access 3 Whataburger Field is located right off state highway 181 near downtown Corpus Christi. The signage marking the way makes it easy to follow, and once you get there, partly due to the previously mentioned Hurricane Alley, there is plenty of parking available. The city of Corpus Christi is tucked away along the southeast border of Texas – it is a two-hour drive from San Antonio, a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Austin, and just over three hours from Houston. The Corpus Christi International Airport does have daily flights to and from Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston if you choose not to drive. However, while the city does have a public transportation option, the bus line does not make stops anywhere near the ballpark. So, if you choose not to drive to the game, a rideshare is going to be your best bet. Return on Investment 3 Single-game, general admission tickets for Hooks games start at $17 per person, which is not too shabby for Double-A baseball. Parking is also not too bad at $10 per vehicle. Concessions won’t bust your wallet either, as they in no way approach what the Big Leagues charge. All in all, if you’re heading to the game with the family, a buddy, or just solo, you are going to be able to check out some high-caliber baseball at a affordable price in a great venue. Extras 4 The Hooks have done a great job of making their games attractive for the whole family by adding a lot in terms of Extras. For example, the team boasts not one, but two costumed mascots that patrol the stands and interact with the fans – Rusty Hook and Sammy the Seagull. There is a Kids Club behind centerfield with a basketball court, tee ball field, playground, and rock-climbing wall. If you’re bringing young ones to the game, you will be spending some time out here at some point. Also, like most minor league clubs the Hooks are big on fan giveaways and do so regularly. Bobbleheads, t-shirts, autographs, etc. are offered up every Saturday during the season. They also have fireworks on Fridays and dollar days on Tuesdays; just check their schedule and plan accordingly. Final Thoughts Whataburger Field is one of my favorite ballparks to visit. The ballpark shows its age a little, but is still beautifully done and in a great location. Visiting Corpus Christi is also always a great respite for me. Whether you’re taking in another game, visiting one of the many museums, or just heading to the beach and dining on first-class seafood, there is plenty for any visitor to do. If you ever find yourself on the Texas Gulf Coast, visit Whataburger Field – but be mindful of the heat. ----- Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Brown Stadium 400 Elmgrove Ave Providence, RI 02906 Brown Bears football website Brown Stadium website Year Opened: 1925 Capacity: 20,000 Brown Bears Den Football has been played at Brown University since 1878. In the early years of the program, football games were played at Adelaide Park in the Elmwood neighborhood of Providence or on a makeshift field on campus. The squad eventually moved to Andrews Field, a combination football/baseball/track stadium across the street from present-day Brown Stadium. The Bears played there from 1899 to 1925. Brown Stadium is located on Elmgrove Avenue on Providence’s East Side about ¾ of a mile from the school’s other athletic facilities and over a mile from campus. The stadium was financed entirely through subscriptions and built to be expandable to a capacity of 32,000. The planned construction of a larger grandstand on the north side of the facility never occurred, and Brown Stadium’s capacity has remained at 20,000. For the 2021 season a new FieldTurf surface was installed and named for Richard I. Gouse, class of 1968, the field’s primary donor. The Bears have won or shared four Ivy League championships over their long history, most recently in 2008. Perhaps their most noteworthy team played in 1926, when the “Iron Men”, a team that consisted of eleven players who played both ways for two entire games, finished with a 9-0-1 record. In 1914 Brown played in the Rose Bowl, losing to Washington 14-0. Five persons affiliated with Brown football have been enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame, including John Heisman. Food and Beverage 4 There have been many changes in the concession offerings at Brown Stadium. In addition to the usual stadium fare sold in the stands underneath the concrete grandstand, there are a variety of food trucks ringing Brown Stadium. It’s a welcome improvement from the basic fare offered here for years. Behind the north grandstand fans will find a lineup of food trucks. Among the offerings here are gourmet empanadas, gyros and falafels, chili dogs and Brazilian food. Additional food trucks located in other parts of the stadium sell coffee and hot beverages as well as frozen lemonade. It’s an eclectic mix with something for everyone. Coca-Cola products are featured at Brown Stadium. Fans looking for an adult beverage can check out the Narragansett Beer Garden in the northeast corner of the stadium, where assorted brews from the local favorite are available. Atmosphere 3 Let’s face it. Brown Stadium is way, way bigger than the Brown Bears need it to be. With a capacity of 20,000 and an average attendance of 4,000, There’s usually a ton of empty space that just swallows up any noise or excitement generated by a crowd here. But when you hit it right, a game at Brown Stadium can be a lot of fun. During Stadium Journey’s most recent visit a crowd of 10,000 fans took in a game against Harvard on a beautiful fall afternoon. There was a buzz in the stands not normally seen here. The student body showed up in force and was loud throughout the first half, despite many of them arriving late and leaving early. Unfortunately, this experience is the exception and not the rule at Brown. Brown, like all the other Ivy League schools, try their best to be wacky and irreverent, but their efforts generally fall flat. All the familiar pieces are here, including a pep band that performs throughout the game, a cheerleading squad and a (sometimes) active student section. With rivalries that go back over a century, there’s a fun give-and-take between fans from the opposing sides. During play stoppages field goal contests, t-shirt tosses and even chocolate tosses keep the energy going. Neighborhood 5 Brown Stadium is located over a mile away from the main university campus in the affluent East Side neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island. The East Side is known for its old-school charm away from the bustle of the downtown area. While there aren’t any restaurants directly adjacent to Brown Stadium, there are several spots nearby worth a look. The East Side is known for its quaint spots and bohemian vibe, and you won’t be disappointed as you explore the area. Hope Street, Thayer Street, Wayland Square and Wickenden Street all boast excellent shops and eateries not far from Brown Stadium. Of course, downtown Providence, known as one of the top mid-sized cities in the country for foodies, is only two miles away at the bottom of College Hill. If looking for sporting options while visiting Providence, you have several options. Brown’s other sports facilities, including Meehan Auditorium, Pizzitola Sports Center and Murray Field are located about ¾ of a mile away near the main campus. The Amica Mutual Pavilion is located downtown, serving as home to the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins and Providence College basketball. Fans 2 There can be a great deal of fluctuation in attendance from game to game depending on who is in town, but over the years the average yearly attendance at Brown football games settles in at about 4,000 fans per game. You can imagine that in a facility the size of Brown Stadium that a smaller crowd can get swallowed up by the size of the place. Likewise, there’s not a significant turnout by the student body for Brown football games. Even when there is a big turnout, as there was during Stadium Journey’s 2022 visit, many of the students arrived late and left early. Most of the fans in attendance are locals who have been coming to the East Side for years. With the Ivy League’s compact footprint, it’s not unusual to see a good turnout from the visiting side. Access 4 Brown Stadium is located in Providence’s East Side neighborhood, about ¾ of a mile from the university’s other athletic facilities and about a mile from campus. Getting to the stadium requires navigating the crooked streets of the East Side no matter from which direction you are coming. The most straightforward way to get to Brown Stadium is to take the Gano Street exit (Exit 3) off of Interstate 195. Detailed directions can be found here. Traffic can slow down on these side streets, but it’s generally pretty simple for fans to navigate the area. For fans utilizing public transportation, RIPTA’s number 40 bus stops right at the stadium on Elmgrove Avenue. There’s a decent sized parking lot adjacent to Brown Stadium where fans are allowed to tailgate, but many fans will forego the $25 price tag and find free parking on the neighborhood streets surrounding the stadium. Spots can usually be found within a few blocks of the facility. Strangely enough, the main entrance at Brown Stadium is not located in the giant grandstand, but on the opposite (visiting) side of the stadium. The majority of the seating at Brown Stadium is contained in the large trapezoid-shaped concrete grandstand on the southwest side of the facility. At its apex there are 72 rows of aluminum bleachers, so there is plenty of room to spread out. Additional seating is located on the northeast side of the field, where a smaller structure consists of more aluminum bleachers. A paved walkway connects the Elmgrove Street entrance with seating areas on both sides of the field. Rest rooms are located underneath both grandstands. They are decidedly small and dated (you don’t see the old-school troughs in many places anymore), but are large enough to handle a typical Brown football crowd. Likewise, lines form at the concession stands at halftime, but are generally not an issue. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Brown football games are reasonably priced, with all seats priced at $15 for adults and $10 for youth and seniors. Ticket prices are the same whether purchasing reserved seats or general admission. Waiting until game day to buy your tickets will increase the price by five dollars. For visiting fans who wish to tailgate before the game, Lot 88 is located next to the main entrance on Elmgrove Ave. Parking in this lot will cost you $25. For those balking at that price, there is ample free parking on the streets surrounding the stadium. Since Brown doesn’t usually attract huge crowds for football, you should be able to find a spot a short walk from the game. All fans are given a free program upon entrance to Brown Stadium. Concessions are reasonably priced, making Brown an affordable entertainment option for Rhode Island sports fans. Extras 2 Brown Stadium’s unique seating area earns an extra point. You would be hard pressed to find another seating bowl like this trapezoidal structure. Consisting of a lung-splitting 72 rows at its apex (and nary an elevator in sight), this concrete behemoth contains the university seal, several ornate “B” logos and a pair of bear heads on its façade. Brown displays their long and illustrious history throughout Brown Stadium. Banners honoring championship teams, record setting accomplishments and noteworthy players are hung throughout the facility. Final Thoughts Brown Stadium is quickly approaching its 100th season of use. Despite its long history, Brown Stadium just doesn’t seem to get the love that some of the Ivy League’s other facilities get. Perhaps it’s due to Brown’s lack of consistent success on the gridiron, but Brown football seems to be little more than an afterthought, even in Providence. Still, college football fans could do a lot worse than taking in a game in a laid-back atmosphere on a gorgeous fall afternoon in Rhode Island’s capital city. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Jill Smith and Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium 21 Stadium Dr Frederick, MD 21703 Spire City Ghost Hounds website Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium website Year Opened: 1990 Capacity: 7,027 An Additional Key In Frederick Frederick, Maryland almost lost their baseball team, but instead, they now have two teams. The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball team began play in 2023. The franchise competes in the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. From the start of the season through June 23, 2023, the team's hats and jerseys feature question marks in place of a name. On the 24th the name was announced as the Spire City Ghost Hounds. The other finalists for the team names were the Bone Shakers, Rail Frogs, Sawbones, and Screaming Alpacas. Orioles Park at Camden Yards sits 49 miles east of Frederick’s Harry Grove Stadium. But the two stadiums are much closer in terms of the influence that they have played on how baseball fields are designed since the early 1990s. Even as late as when Harry Grove Stadium opened in 1990, most stadiums were built with an older design aesthetic in mind. Harry Grove Stadium was different, with a concourse where fans could watch the game while buying a hot dog or a beer. Family attractions such as game activities and a carousel were unheard of before the opening of this stadium. Now the design elements, as well as the varied attractions, are the norm for minor and major league baseball stadiums. It was not the first stadium to have this design, but because of its links and physical proximity to the Orioles’ stadium, it got much credit for a change in stadium design. The Atlantic League team shares the stadium with the Frederick Keys of the MLB Draft League. Food & Beverage 4 The choices are pretty sound here with food found at a variety of stands such as Bullpen BBQ, Hot Corner BBQ, and Dugout Dogs. Prices are reasonable at all stands in the stadium. Keys Creamery offers a good value helmet sundae. Kids will always love this treat that comes served in a take-home souvenir. There is a stand that has specialty beers as well as wine. Be warned though that if crowds are small, stands could start to close around the fifth inning so if there is anything specific you want maybe get it early in the game. Atmosphere 4 The design of the stadium is the norm now. The concourse is in full view of the field so that one can always stay engaged with the game action. This concourse is pretty small and would likely now be designed to be a bit bigger than what it is currently. It can be a tight squeeze moving around the concourse between and during innings. I-70 is in the outfield view, but you cannot see it much because of the huge amount of ads that adorn the outfield walls. This would usually be a bad thing but is a plus when compared to a view of a major interstate highway. The ads, though, can make it difficult to differentiate between a home run and a ball bouncing off of the lower wall. There is a decent scoreboard in right field and a small video board in left field. Between the two, they do a good job of detailing all the information one needs to follow the game's action. Sound from the PA system does not travel well to the lawn seating areas. Neighborhood 3 Nothing is close to the stadium except a cemetery, a park, and a Costco. You will need to drive to find anything else of interest. Luckily shopping, lodging, and restaurants are abundant at nearby Francis Scott Key Mall and its surrounding area. Downtown Frederick may offer the best choices. The surprising renaissance of downtown Frederick means that there is an ever-growing selection of restaurants and shopping in the area. The Roy Rogers fast food chain is slowly disappearing from the region when it used to be ubiquitous. But the chain is still thriving around Frederick. You must stop in and have a Double-R-Burger, Gold Rush Chicken sandwich, or Roast Beef sandwich. Just don't forget to use the Fixin's Bar and get a holster of fries. A location is nearby the stadium at 301 Ballenger Center Drive. Fans 2 The fans are probably pretty confused by the teams playing at Harry Grove Stadium. Do they support the Keys, now a college-level team, or the much higher level of the Atlantic League team? This gives the fans plenty of games to watch, but this also means it is spreading out the love a bit far. The Atlantic League team does seem to be drawing less than the more established Keys team name. The fans that sit right behind the plate are knowledgeable. Once you get out to the fringe parts of the park you may see the more casual fan. Harry Grove Stadium seems to make both types of fans feel right at home. There are numerous promotion nights so expect that a Fireworks night or a popular giveaway item will increase attendance. Promotion nights have included having a catch on the field or meeting players before the game so be on the lookout for a promotion night that meets your interests. Access 5 I-70 is right next door to the stadium. There have been improvements to the roads nearby the stadium so accessing the park is easy and quick. Directional signs can be found on the highway. Parking is free and plentiful, even if you may have to park on the grass outside the stadium. You will not have an issue. The lot behind the right wall is usually the best option. Return on Investment 3 The prices are good for this level of baseball. Tickets for field seating, reserved seating, and general admission can all be had for less than $15. The team offers many other packages, special dates, and group incentives that make attending a game an even greater value. Extras 3 Francis Scott Key is buried across the street. The lawyer and poet wrote the lyrics to the United States National Anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." The team name comes from this historical figure. Fun fact: the national anthem played before each game in the stadium can be heard from Key’s gravesite. This is one of the parks that started the concourse viewable trend that is now commonplace in Minor League Baseball. So it is historic in a manner of speaking. Newer parks may have bigger concourses with even more choices, but this is the original. If you have a family, Harry Grove Stadium offers many distractions for the children so that the baseball fan can stay involved in the game action. The Fanzone, past the right field seating area, is a nice place for families with children. There is even a carousel. The nearby lawn seating is also a nice addition that makes the game seem more leisurely. For those who like to have a lot of information about the game and team they are watching, the programs handed out to game day attendees are exceptional. Final Thoughts Both teams and their staff go out of their way to make Harry Grove Stadium a place where both casual and hardcore baseball fans can be entertained and enjoy a quality game experience.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Panther Stadium 1600 Stadium Dr Prairie View, TX 77445 Prairie View A&M Panthers website Panther Stadium website Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 15,000 Prairie View A&M Panthers – Panther Stadium The Panthers of Prairie View A&M University have a long and storied tradition on the gridiron that dates back to 1907. An HBCU, Prairie View A&M resides in the eponymous city of Prairie View in central East Texas. Over the years, the football program has had periods of tremendous success and long periods of disappointment – including an 80-game losing streak that ran from 1991-1998. During the periods of success on ‘The Hill’, as the campus is called, the Panthers have won 11 conference championships – all while members of the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) – and five Black College National Championships. Longtime head coach and college football hall of famer Billy Nicks guided the team to the national championships and helped mold the career of future pro football hall of famer Ken Houston. Since 2016 Prairie View A&M has called the state-of-the-art, on-campus Panther Stadium its home. Steeped in history and tradition, Prairie View A&M is an often-overlooked gem on the college football landscape. Read on to learn what makes Panther Stadium special. Food & Beverage 4 The concessions at Panther Stadium really do stand out due to their variety. Food trucks set up shop on the outside of the stadium on the home team’s side, allowing fans to take part in the gastronomic revelry before Panthers games. Inside the stadium there are multiple stands on both the home and visitor sides, and these stands offer some truly unique game day fare. In addition to your standard hot dogs, nachos, and popcorn, Panther Stadium offers up such fare as loaded baked potatoes, turkey legs, chicken wings, and boudin. Concessions costs for these higher end items range from $8-$15. There are also scattered standalone food kiosks throughout the main concourse level. These range from free-standing beer and alcohol carts to a funnel cake stand. All in all the variety is pretty great, and you won’t bust your wallet enjoying these offerings. Atmosphere 4 I was able to attend a game at Panther Stadium on the weekend of Prairie View A&M’s homecoming festivities. This may skew this ranking a bit due to the circumstances, but with that in mind I have to say the atmosphere was electric. The stadium was packed to the metaphorical gills, there were tailgaters filling up available parking lot, and the energy was palpable the entire time I was there. The stadium is located in Prairie View’s athletics complex with the backdrop of its picturesque campus never far from view. The stadium itself is laid out perfectly for fans to get great views from wherever they sit, and it feels fully integrated into the student life of the campus. Fans Enjoying the Game at Panther Stadium, Photo by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey When visiting an HBCU for a football game, this is one of the few instances where you won’t see fans making a mad dash for the restrooms or concession stands during halftime – every bit of the stadium that could have fans, had them as they stayed to watch Prairie View A&M’s band, the Marching Storm (more on them in the Extras section) do what they do best. Neighborhood 2 If there is one area where things are lacking in a visit to Prairie View, it is here. The city itself is only about a 45-minute drive from Houston. However, it is tucked away in a corner of the state that forces drivers to take the backroads to get there. Once you get there, your normal options in terms of attractions, dining, and lodging are extremely limited. For attractions the stadium is located near the William Nicks Center, home of the school’s basketball and volleyball teams, as well as Tankersley Field, home to the Panthers baseball squad. Beyond that, you will need to venture outside of Prairie View for things to do. The same can be said for dining. The only non-chain, fast food restaurant in the area is Moe B’s Mystery Kitchen. Specializing in Cajun comfort food, this is a popular spot in the city. Outside of that, you’re going to need to venture to either nearby Hempstead or Waller for dining and lodging options. As a bonus though, if you head to Waller you could stop at Buc-ee’s and see what it’s all about. Fans 4 I have to hand it to Prairie View A&M fans when it comes to this particular section; good or bad they show out for their team. While the official capacity of Panther Stadium is 15,000, games swell to well over that with standing-room only options available in both end zones. Big games against rivals have seen crowds of over 18,000 in attendance. As mentioned the tailgate scene is quite impressive, with some form of it going on in every available public lot. It’s pretty impressive to see and if at all possible, is something you should take part in. This is a passionate fan base and that makes attending games at Panther Stadium fun to see and be a part of. Access 2 This rating dovetails into what was mentioned in the Neighborhood section – the city of Prairie View and the campus of Prairie View A&M are, quite frankly, hard to get to. You really have to have a desire to go there in order to get there. The campus is about a 45-minute drive down State Highway 290 from the Houston metro area. That’s the good news, as both George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport are two of the busiest airports in the country, so you should have no problem getting to Houston from anywhere in the country. The bad news is that, once you get to H-Town you’re going to have to drive to Panther Stadium; there really is just no getting around it, as Prairie View doesn’t offer any public transportation. Once you get to campus, however, the other bit of good news is that parking for Panthers games is free. You may have to park somewhere in another part of the campus, but you will enjoy the walk. Return on Investment 3 Single-game tickets for Prairie View A&M games at Panther Stadium start at $19 for most games (this can go up for rivalry games). This is on the lower-end of the spectrum for Division I, FCS-level competition. The concession costs, which are on the affordable end of the cost spectrum, coupled with the free parking makes for a relatively inexpensive day in Prairie View. The school doesn’t often bring big time FBS-level teams to The Hill, but they do play a pretty solid FCS non-conference schedule. Plus, and I will touch on this more, I think everyone who’s a sports fan should experience an HBCU game at some point – a game at Panther Stadium is a great place to start, and it won’t bust your wallet to have the experience. Extras 4 This score almost reaches the full five out of five for one reason: The Marching Storm. Prairie View A&M’s band is a true spectacle to behold. They put on a show at halftime and in many fans’ minds, they are worth the price of admission alone. The band is accompanied onto the field by the Twirling Thunder twirl team and the Black Foxes dance squad; watching this group perform is something all fans should make a point of doing when they catch a game at Panther Stadium. Final Thoughts I personally think anyone who is a sports fan should take in a game at an HBCU. It is truly an experience you won’t forget. There is a time investment that you have to undertake in order to get to Prairie View, but once you get there, I think you’ll enjoy what The Hill has to offer. Make a trip when you can, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477. Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com.

For the third time, Stadium Journey presents its rankings of the stadium experience for the 20 clubs in the Premier League. There are several categories in the ground reviews: food & beverage in the arena, atmosphere, the local neighbourhood, fans, access (including parking, restrooms, and ability to move around on the grounds), overall return on investment, and a catchall category for all extras. We use the rating of our correspondents as our primary ranking, with the crowd reviews of our members as the secondary factor. In cases where there is still a tie, we have an internal discussion to determine which arena experience might be slightly better. Click on the stadium or team name to read each stadium review. As with any list of stadium rankings, there will be some disagreements and a few headscratchers. You are more than willing to let us know what you think in the comment section, and perhaps we could see a change next year, but until then, here is the 2023 Stadium Journey EPL Stadium Ranking. 1. Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium – Tottenham Hotspurs Photo by Karen Sullivan, Stadium Journey The Spurs finally opened their brand new stadium after many months of delay a few years back but was worth the wait. Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium is one of the grandest of its kind in football on the planet. The modern features, details of excellence, view of the pitch, and overall atmosphere put the grounds among the upper echelons of English Football. 2. Etihad Stadium – Manchester City Photo by Alessia Arpino. Etihad Stadium provides supporters with fantastic sightlines, a lively atmosphere, and an innovative toroidal-shaped roof supported by a tension system with blue lighting beacons. It holds 55,000 fans and supporters who expect a championship side year after year. The area becomes alive with a sea of light blue on match day. 3. Old Trafford – Manchester United Photo by Man United. Old Trafford oozes the atmosphere, with the large stands, unobstructed views, and closeness of the seats to the pitch and the singing of Glory Glory Man United (for example). It is still one of the iconic English grounds to visit and is a must-see venue in itself. The worldwide support of the Red Devils and the recent history of championships makes Old Trafford a top 3 spot on our list. 4. Villa Park – Aston Villa Photo Courtesy of Filipo Nicoli. Constructed in 1897, Villa Park is a true British traditional football ground where every stand is different, stands alone, and has its character. The Holte End still has its original brick facade. No other British stadium can top the authenticity of Aston Villa stadium. 5. St. James’ Park – Newcastle United File Photo Uniquely for such a prominent Premier League club, St. James’ Park is the centerpiece of the city with everything else revolving around it. This makes for an excellent atmosphere as both the city and its only football team merge wonderfully. The club’s famous black and white stripes are ubiquitous. This is a city that seems to be either watching football or talking about it seven days a week. 6. Falmer Stadium – Brighton & Hove Albion Photo by Gary Foxall, Stadium Journey Falmer Stadium, formerly known as the Amex Stadium or The Amex, has a layout helps retain the noise levels, and when full, the atmosphere is as good as any in the league. The club also does its best about pre-match entertainment to get the crowd singing. The West Stand is a three-tiered structure housing luxury boxes and the majority of the club’s facilities that include banqueting suites, conference rooms, and a nursery. 7. Craven Cottage – Fulham Craven Cottage Entrance, Photo Courtesy of Cardiff City FC Craven Cottage is one of the more historic grounds in English football and is rich with history. The Riverside Stand modernized the venue and maintained its vintage charm. With the club now in the top tier of English Football, there might not be a better time to make plans to attend a match. 8. St. Mary’s Stadium – Southampton FC Photo by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Southampton has a strong maritime history and you will find more than enough to keep you entertained if you visit for a weekend. On the football front, they have always been entertainers, except for a brief spell under Ian Branfoot who didn’t quite understand that tradition. The club’s best player, Matthew Le Tissier, is still a fan of this friendly club and often attends games. 9. King Power Stadium – Leicester City Photo by Ian Lawrence A club in the heart of the Midlands with easy transport links from local airports and London provides supporters and visitors from all over the country a fairly hassle-free trip to the city of Leicester and the King Power stadium. You’ll be treated to a modern stadium with modern facilities in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere with the opportunity to watch Premier League football. 10. Goodison Park – Everton Photo by Matin Minelez‎, Stadium Journey Goodison Park is worth a visit. It is one of the more historic venues in English Football, and the quality of play is excellent. The superb destination to watch football is recommended by the casual supporter or someone who wants to take in a football match while in town. 11. Elland Road – Leeds United Photo by Gerry Chow Elland Road is home to one of the most famous clubs in England, Leeds United. The Yorkshire side has fallen from grace in recent years, but in the past, they were considered one of the biggest names in football and were most successful under Don Revie in the 1960s and 1970s. The club’s motto and famous chant is Marching on Together, and the song can be heard reverberating around every corner of the stadium on match days before kick-off. 12. Stamford Bridge – Chelsea Photo by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stamford Bridge is one of the most storied stadiums in London and the United Kingdom. While Chelsea FC’s recent success has added to the history of the venue, there were times in the 1970s and 1980s when few would have guessed that it would eventually be home to London’s first European champion club after Chelsea won the 2012 Champions League. 13. Anfield – Liverpool Photo by Ross Jolly Walking under the iron gates where the words “You’ll Never Walk Alone” are inscribed is an inspiring experience. It is one of the largest stadiums in English Football and one of its oldest grounds, having first been built-in in 1884. Liverpool has called in their own since 1892, and visitors are welcomed to one of the most iconic grounds in English Football. 14. Vitality Stadium – AFC Bournemouth Photo by Tori Armenia. With under 12,000 seats, Vitality Stadium offers an atmosphere that is quite different in comparison with other grounds in the league. It is the smallest ground in English Football. However, the facility does have its ambiance and anesthetics that make it a curiosity for visitors and fans alike. The concourses and stands are tight and crowds can become dense when moving around the stadium. However, just because you are small in size you don’t pack a punch. 15. Brentford Community Stadium – Brentford FC Photo by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey. After 116 years at their much-loved Griffin Park home, Brentford FC finally has a brand-new stadium, fit for the Premier League. It is less than a mile from their former home, made famous for having a pub on each corner. The new campus, next to the River Thames in the west of London, includes a 17,500 stadium, 910 homes, and a new public square. 16. City Grounds – Nottingham Forest City Ground Corner, Photo by Andrew Martin. Luckily, this is a ground that still retains an intimately authentic hue and this created a fine atmosphere as the game progressed and the music died. Before the game, the ground – situated on the South Bank of the River Trent – made things relatively idyllic. A rip-roaring victory for Forest didn’t do any harm either. 17. London Stadium – West Ham United Photo by Stephan Hoogerwaard, Stadium Journey There are various clubs in the London area playing league football, and when visiting the city, it might be tough to decide, but they all should all have stands that are steep and close to the pitch. However, the home of the Hammers offers a great group of supporters that provide a great experience on matchday. 18. Emirates Stadium – Arsenal Photo by Stephan Hoogerwaard, Stadium Journey The design of the grounds creates a warm and cozy atmosphere for home games. The stands are close to the field, rounded out, and have no obstructed views. As for singing and intensity, consider visiting a game against a higher-ranked team. 19. Molineux Stadium – Wolves Photo by David Tyler A visit to Molineux makes for a great occasion, as it was special to see a packed house for a football match. The atmosphere and the quality of football are incredibly high. Ticket prices can be a tad on the high side and recent improvements have enlarged the stands to create a better atmosphere. 20. Selhurst Park Stadium – Crystal Palace Photo by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Selhurst Park is an enjoyable experience when staying in London. The cozy conditions of the smaller ground give both fans and supporters a chance to enjoy football in a darling of the venue. The fan is on top of the action at the game. The grounds are always packed with friendly revelers enjoying an afternoon of football.

On a recent episode of the Stadium Journey Podcast, our correspondent Dave Cottenie asked "how can you not be romantic about baseball?" Of all the sports, none come close to the feelings evoked by a visit to our favorite ballpark. Stadium Journey endeavors to visit every Major League Baseball ballpark annually to keep our reviews current for those of us who love to travel the country visiting these cathedrals to the sport. In 2022 we were able to visit 21 of the 30 parks nationwide. Not bad considering we're not back to normal. Here we are ranking the 30 ballparks according to our patented FANFARE rating scale. This scale takes into consideration a ballpark's concessions, game day atmosphere, neighborhood, fan support, access, value, and more. It's a bit of a different way to evaluate a ballpark, and historically our rankings have created much debate. That's OK, we can take it. Plus, isn't healthy debate the reason why we make lists like this? The fact that over two-thirds of the Major League ballparks scored a 4.00 rating or better is a testament to the quality of the ballparks and the game-day entertainment provided by the team staff around the leagues. To see the full review of each ballpark, just click the link underneath the photo. You'll notice that there have been some changes in our rankings as we move to this new site. There is no longer a place for readers to contribute their scores. After much consideration, the decision was made to discontinue crowd reviews, as the vast majority of them came from previous Stadium Journey reviews and simply were not being utilized as designed. Our rankings are now based solely on the reviewer's FANFARE score. Where two or more venues are tied, a counsel of Stadium Journey elders is consulted to break any ties. We encourage our readers to share your input on our social media channels. Stadium Journey can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We hope you are enjoying our new site. Without further ado, we present our ranking of the 2022 Major League Baseball stadiums. 1. Petco Park - San Diego Padres 4.86 Andrei Ojeda - Petco Park continues to play a huge role in the revitalization of the local area throughout the East Village. Despite last year’s late-season collapse, the excitement level and expectations remain high among the Friar Faithful. Now in its 18th year, Petco Park continues to bring high energy to the East Village and continually ranks among the top ballpark experiences year in and year out. 2. Progressive Field - Cleveland Guardians 4.71 Chris Green - The Guardians continue to showcase what makes their home one of the best home stadiums in the major leagues. Progressive Field has everything you would want in a perfect setting. Top food and beverage options mix here with a constantly improving stadium that remains one of the best in baseball. Affordability and easy access create a welcoming environment that makes for one of the best game-day experiences around. 3. Oracle Park - San Francisco Giants 4.57 Andrei Ojeda - One visit to this beauty and you will see why Oracle Park consistently ranks among the top ballpark experiences among baseball fans. As you walk away to the tune of Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” a piece of your heart will undoubtedly be left at 3rd and King. 4. Fenway Park - Boston Red Sox 4.43 Paul Baker - Fenway Park’s mix of historical touches, quirky features, and modern comforts are unmatched anywhere. Other cities try again and again to find the magic formula that has existed in Boston for 111 years. Simply put, Fenway Park is the standard against which all other ballparks are measured. 5. Wrigley Field - Chicago Cubs 4.43 Paul Baker - Fans who haven’t visited the North Side of Chicago in a while will be amazed by the transformation that has taken place in the home of the Cubbies. Modern features have been integrated into the ballpark in a way that does not detract from the historic aspects of the facility. Wrigley Field is truly a special place to take in a baseball game. 6. Citi Field - New York Mets 4.43 Dave Hanson - Citi’s unique location in Flushing, extensive food offerings, and rabid fanbase make visiting the park feel completely different from the experience across town at Yankee Stadium. Citi Field is a world of its own, both of the city and simultaneously removed from the dense urbanity of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Yankee Stadium is a tourist trap that happens to contain a baseball diamond. Citi Field is a proper ballpark. There’s a difference. 7. PNC Park - Pittsburgh Pirates 4.29 Patricia Beninato - PNC Park is a mecca for MLB fans two decades after its opening, and the recent right field plaza refurbishment combined with a ton of promotions and discounts make it a relatively cheap day or night out for locals and visitors alike. Pittsburgh hopes that one day the Pirates will field a team that’s worthy of the beautiful ballpark they call home. 8. Coors Field - Colorado Rockies 4.29 Andrei Ojeda - Coors Field was among several yards that opened during the so-called “retro parks” era. The recent enhancements to Coors Field, most notably the new video/scoreboard and The Rooftop, have only helped improve the game day atmosphere. Coors Field trails only Dodger Stadium and Wrigley Field in the National League senior circuit for years of service. 9. Target Field - Minnesota Twins 4.29 Gregory Koch - The difference between Target Field and the old Metrodome is like night and day. While the Twins previously played in one of the worst stadiums in Major League Baseball, they now play at one of the best. Just walking up and gaping at its gorgeous exterior, you get the sense that this place is different, and once you get inside, you will not be disappointed. From the Minnie and Paul sign to the unique concession items to all the other extras here, a trip to Target Field for a Twins game should be on every fan’s bucket list. 10. Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles Dodgers 4.29 Andrei Ojeda - The recent enhancements throughout the third oldest yard in the Majors have made the Dodger Stadium experience much more accessible for fans wanting to experience as much of the historic venue and have assured us that Dodger Stadium will be the home to Dodger Baseball for many more years to come. 11. Busch Stadium - St. Louis Cardinals 4.29 David Berger - Busch Stadium offers enough history, class, and views to make it an ideal baseball destination. The ballpark is a favorite among many ballpark enthusiasts and is considered home to many Cardinals fans during the season. Does it have to stand out among the copious “retro-classic” facilities built in the past 25 years? Perhaps, Busch doesn’t necessarily need to be anything more than what it is, a nice spot for baseball. 12. Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia Phillies 4.29 Richard Smith - Philadelphia fans often get a bad reputation and it can be well-deserved at times. The stadium itself can also get lost in the sea of new stadiums across the league, but the fact is that Citizens Bank Park is a modern ballpark that offers all of the best things that fans expect out of their stadium experience. It should not be forgotten. 13. Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Baltimore Orioles 4.14 Richard Smith - Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992 and has been considered one of the best Major League Baseball stadiums in the league. Before its opening, the landscape of professional baseball was littered with boring, multipurpose bowl stadiums. Now nearly every team has a great baseball stadium. Luckily Oriole Park has kept up with the experiences. Out were lackluster parks and in were fan-friendly stadiums that were designed for the optimum fan experience. 14. Kauffman Stadium - Kansas City Royals 4.14 Chuck Utech - Stadium journeys have to include a trip to Kansas City. This is an experience for an individual, couple, or group that can be done at a variety level of expenses. The level of entertainment, however, is high. 15. Minute Maid Park - Houston Astros 4.14 Eric Moreno - After moving out of the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Astrodome, the Astros moved into their new luxury downtown facilities at (the now-named) Minute Maid Park. From the friendly confines of their new home at the Juice Box, the Astros have made the playoffs nine times, claimed four pennants (one when they were still in the National League and three since joining the American League), and won one World Series championship in 2017. 16. T-Mobile Park - Seattle Mariners 4.00 Andrei Ojeda - From the baseball-themed artwork to the vast food selections and the majestic views of Puget Sound along the left field upper concourse, the cool Pacific Northwest summer nights with a welcoming fan base, and an exciting young team, a visit to T-Mobile Park will rank highly among your list of ballpark visits. 17. Comerica Park - Detroit Tigers 4.00 Richard Smith - The best feature of Comerica Park is the giant Tiger statues that guard the various entrances to the stadium. These are popular photo spots and/or meet-up locations before games. They are not only a great feature but show a team knowing how to double down on their mascot. 18. Nationals Park - Washington Nationals 4.00 Gregory Koch - In 2005, the Nationals came to town, and in 2008, they got a brand-new stadium. Since then, the excitement has worn off and the crowds have steadily declined, especially as the Nationals’ performance on the field has gone downhill. That being said, Nationals Park is still a nice stadium for fans to take in a Major League Baseball game. 19. Great American Ball Park - Cincinnati Reds 4.00 Marc Viquez - Great American Ballpark is one of the better values in all of Major League Baseball. It includes a modern Stadium with plenty of great views and concession options, affordable ticket pricing, a great location along the river, and multiple entertainment districts surrounding it. Cincinnati is a town that offers a lot of other things to do besides watching the baseball game; you may find yourself spending a lot longer going up and down the hills of Queen City. 20. Guaranteed Rate Field - Chicago White Sox 4.00 Marc Viquez - The Chicago White Sox has been working very hard to improve the amenities at the stadium. The past few seasons have seen renovations to the concourse regarding food and beverage service, social areas for fans, a brand new scoreboard, and fan-friendly pricing on game day tickets. If you haven’t been to a Sox game lately, perhaps you need to come back sometime soon for a game. 21. Chase Field - Arizona Diamondbacks 4.00 Meg Minard - Chase Field provides good game day enjoyment and it is easy to reach and traverse. The swimming pool and the retractable roof and panels offer unique elements to the ballpark. A recommendation is to visit early in the season (April) to enjoy a game with the roof open. Phoenix is a vacation destination in early spring and late fall so enjoy a D-Backs game when in town. 22. American Family Field - Milwaukee Brewers 3.86 Chris Green - Miller Park is a beautiful stadium, and it features a unique roof design mixed with appropriate architectural design. The food is plentiful and top quality and the fans are among the best in baseball. Almost every game is a packed house, so you get that exciting experience sports fans to yearn for. If you’re visiting Milwaukee, or even just passing through, a stop here is a must-consider, even for the casual sports fan. 23. Truist Park - Atlanta Braves 3.71 Lloyd Brown - A visit to Truist Park and the Battery provides a daylong set of options for baseball fans. Arrive early or stay late and enjoy a wide range of dining and entertainment options. In between, you can enjoy some great baseball featuring the defending World Champion Atlanta Braves. Chop on! 24. Angel Stadium - Los Angeles Angels 3.71 Andrei Ojeda - Angel Stadium is the 4th oldest yard in the bigs behind Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Dodger Stadium. It has gone through its share of changes. From being enclosed in 1979 to accommodate the Rams to its return to its current form as a baseball-only park, compared to other yards of the post-Camden era, Angel Stadium could use some updates. 25. Tropicana Field - Tampa Bay Rays 3.71 Chris Green - While many may regard Tropicana Field as one of the worst stadiums in baseball, the facility still has some life in it. Yes, the age and overall aesthetic of the place just feels “meh” worthy, but the Tampa Bay Rays have called it their home since their inception in 1998, and you can almost feel a bit of history when you walk through the ballpark doors. 26. Rogers Centre - Toronto Blue Jays 3.57 Dave Cottenie - With the renovations long overdue coming to Rogers Centre, it will be interesting to see if, as Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro hopes, the former SkyDome becomes a “ballpark” and not a “stadium.” What the future holds will be exciting, but for now, Rogers Centre remains one of the most influential stadiums in the league and one that needs the most TLC. 27. Yankee Stadium - New York Yankees 3.57 Greg Venuto - Yankee Stadium overall is impressive and a must-see for baseball enthusiasts. It can be a bit too much splash and often tries too hard to remove as much money as possible from your wallet. Some detractors also say it’s too much of a museum and not enough of a conventional ballpark. 28. Globe Life Field - Texas Rangers 3.29 Michael Davis - Globe Life Field is the newest ballpark in Major League Baseball, yet it fails compared to the old ballpark. Maybe my emotions have entered into this review, as I loved Globe Life Park. Somewhere the baseball fan was forgotten in leaving the old ballpark – overall attending a game at Globe Life Field is more expensive than its predecessor, yet the Rangers product on the field is less. 29. loanDepot Stadium - Miami Marlins 3.00 Matt Fiedler - loanDepot Park is a very interesting place. It has some unique features that make it stand out from the pack of bland ballparks. The park does a good job of showcasing Miami's culture and cuisine. The fans and atmosphere drag things down though. The laid-back vibe of Miami does show at the games. 30. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum - Oakland A's 2.57 Chris Green - Oakland baseball deserves better – most everyone agrees on this. The fans who do show up are passionate and proud of their team’s history. And while the Athletics have done the best they can with what they have in their current state, the shortcomings are so vast that it is hard to overlook one, if not most. The beauty of the weather and climate helps, but Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum could use a proper facelift to make it more enjoyable for the fan experience.

For the first time, Stadium Journey presents its rankings of the stadium experience for the 24 clubs in the EFL Sky Bet Championship. There are several categories in the ground reviews: food & beverage in the arena, atmosphere, the local neighborhood, fans, access (including parking, restrooms, and ability to move around on the grounds), overall return on investment, and a catchall category for all extras. We use the rating of our correspondents as our primary ranking, with the crowd reviews of our members as the secondary factor. In cases where there is still a tie, we have an internal discussion to determine which arena experience might be slightly better. Click on the stadium or team name to read each stadium review. As with any list of stadium rankings, there will be some disagreements and a few headscratchers. You are more than willing to let us know what you think in the comment section, and perhaps we could see a change next year, but until then, here is the 2023 Stadium Journey EFL Sky Bet Championship Stadium Ranking. 1. Bramall Lane - Sheffield United 4.14 Bramall Lane boasts so many different things, it’s quite fascinating. Firstly, the away stand is dedicated to Sheffield-born, Olympic hero, Jessica Ennis-Hill. As an away supporter, it gives your stadium experience just that little extra touch. The historical impact always plays in the back of your mind, as after all, it is the oldest major football stadium in the world. In addition to this, another key extra is that it’s just minutes away from the city centre, which is a must-see. 2. Kenilworth Road - Luton Town 4.00 Visiting Kenilworth Road was fulfilling a childhood ambition! I was fascinated with their artificial surface in the 80s and how they always defied the odds to survive in the top flight! This is a very old ground, compact with very little room to manoeuvre due to the surrounding houses and busy roads, and a venue that all enthusiasts should visit. 3. Loftus Road - QPR 3.71 Walking to the ground through the narrow streets and sitting near other fans is what gives the ground such character and will be hard to create once they move. That said, those characteristics are what has stopped the ground from being developed, which is both a blessing and a curse. 4. Stoke City - Bet365 Stadium 3.57 The stadium consists of four cantilever stands with the L-shaped Boothen and East stands being of a separate structure from the rest of the stadium. The main West stand, consisting of two tiers, houses the club's corporate and media facilities. The legendary Sir Stanley Mathews who officially opened the stadium had his ashes buried under the stadium’s centre circle following his death in 2000. Statues outside the stadium show his career at different stages. 5. Swansea City - Liberty Stadium 3.57 Swansea City fans have known what it has been like to suffer through lean years and also know what it’s like to revel in glory seasons. You can’t break the heart and souls of its fans and supporters. Liberty Stadium is providing a fitting symbol for their continuing rise. 6. Bristol City - Ashton Gate 3.57 It is certainly exciting times for Bristol City fans off the pitch as the club continues to invest and grow its profile and infrastructure. The stadium is now fit for big matches, the most recent being the Vanarama Promotion Cup Final between Torquay United and Hartlepool United which was switched from Wembley due to its Euro 2020 commitments. This demonstrates that this venue is on its way to becoming the first-class facility that chairman Stephen Lansdown has always dreamed of. 7. Coventry City - CBS Arena 3.43 CBS Arena is a very non-descript stadium but offers a few advantages for the atmosphere. While it's located outside the city for easy access by car or train, it doesn't stand out from other venues in the league in terms of aesthetics. Is it worth checking out of the match, Of course? However, it sort of falls in the middle-of-the-road category. 8. Reading - Select Car Leasing Stadium 3.43 Select Car Leasing Stadium is home to the English Football Championship club Reading and was formerly named Madejski Stadium after their Chairman Sir John Madejski. The stadium was built in 1998 following the club's departure from their Elm Park residence of over one hundred years. The stadium has an all-seated capacity of 24,161. 9. Sunderland - Stadium of Light 3.43 Visiting the Stadium of Light is something you should do. It’s a program ground, which at times can be very full of atmosphere. My only problem is that when you get there, you will be disappointed with the contest. However, overall I would recommend visiting this stadium, as it is reasonably priced to get in and has well-designed many-around all-around features that not many other stadiums have. 10. Blackpool - Bloomfield Road 3.29 Attending a Blackpool match is a fun experience in a great location in England for Championship football. It is an ideal destination if you are with the family, but great if you are ground-hopping alone or with a few friends. Bloomfield Road has plenty to see, along with the rest of Blackpool. 11. Millwall - The Den 3.29 The Den offers great views from almost every part of the grounds and is the perfect size for being close to the action. It is clean, comfortable, and a serviceable stadium that has shown its age in certain places but offers an array of food kiosks and social quarters. The Den and its supporters have their reputation but for the most part, makes for an ideal afternoon for football in London. 12. Norwich City - Carrow Road 3.29 When you are enjoying a stay in the English countryside (Anglia) and if you want something else then visit its beautiful villages, castles ruins, and cathedrals, then a visit to a match of Norwich City Football Club is a welcome break. You can experience the real football atmosphere created by passionate Canaries fans. The atmosphere you will experience at Carrow Road is probably better than you will find at some of the top teams in the league. 13. Watford - Vicarage Road 3.29 Watford fans are great and this is a nice stadium overall The grounds are at near capacity crowds that are up close and personal to the players on the pitch. The cheering echoes throughout the stands and the atmosphere is full of history at the facility that blends both modern and classic styles. 14. Wigan Athletic - DW Stadium 3.29 The DW Stadium was built in 1999 as a home for the Wigan Athletic soccer team. Wigan’s previous home was Springfield Park, where most of the success came towards the end of their 67-year stay. The DW has a capacity of 25,133 and also provides a home for the Wigan Warriors Rugby League Team. Like most newly built stadiums in England, The DW is situated in the middle of a vast retail park. 15. Cardiff City - Cardiff City Stadium 3.29 Cardiff City Stadium comes alive on match day with local pubs and restaurants near the grounds packed with fans. Once inside the stadium, the crowd becomes electric against bigger opponents but halftime takes for a fine day of footy on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. 16. Huddersfield Town - John Smith's Stadium 3.14 The John Smith Stadium is a modern, comfortable football stadium that is inexpensive, features a good range of concession items, and overall has a very good time. The home of the Terriers should not be overlooked when visiting English Football grounds, 17. Birmingham City - St. Andrew's Stadium 3.00 The stadium features four stands: Spion Kop Stand, The Main Stand, Gil Merrick Stand, and the Tilton Road Stand. Away supporters enter through the Gil Merrick Stand and The Main Stand offers both the Cookhouse and Family section. The best spot for the atmosphere is in the Tilton Road Stand but some seats feature an obstructed view. 18. Burnley - Turf Moor 3.00 Burnley has occupied its ground since 1883 and holds the record for the longest period in one place in England. When it first opened it was home to an 800-capacity grandstand and served as the home venue for Burnley Rovers FC. The plot of land was first occupied by Burnley’s cricket club in 1833. 19. Middlesbrough - Riverside Stadium 3.00 The Riverside Stadium has opened in 1995 following Middlesbrough's relocation from their historic but outdated Ayresome Park home a little over a mile away. The Riverside was one of the first newly built larger stadiums within Britain at that time and now has an all-seated capacity of 35,100. 20. Preston North End - Deepdale 3.00 Although the atmosphere of old Deepdale can never be replaced, the new version when full can become a close second. If North End can one day return to the top flight of English soccer where they were once one of the top dogs back in the 40s and 50s, then this will certainly be an outstanding venue to view English football. 21. Rotherham - New York Stadium 3.00 It would take very little to improve the atmosphere compared to the club’s temporary Don Valley experience. However Rotherham United has tried extremely hard to ensure the New York experience will bring supporters back to the club. Home supporters generate most of the noise from the KCM Recycling Stand. 22. West Bromich - The Hawthorns 3.00 In the stadium, there is plenty of noise from the home and away ends. Two big screens show replays as well. Leg space is slightly cramped especially if you are tall. Concourses are narrow so can be quite cramped at halftime or pregame. Views of the game are great from any seat and you are never far away from the action. There are electronic ticket scanners at the turnstiles when entering the ground resulting in quick queue times. 23. Hull City - MKM Stadium 2.86 The design of the stadium ensures that it retains its atmosphere and this remains the case when the stadium is not full which tends to be the case now that the club is back in the Championship League. 24. Blackburn - Ewood Park 2.29 There are a lot of things that need improving at the club. A good manager needs to be given time to work with his players, and the fans need to be more supportive of their team. Oh, and the Venky’s need to get a grip. Once this is all done, Blackburn may return to the Premier League and hopefully, the stadium experience will improve.

For the third time, Stadium Journey presents its rankings of the stadium experience for the 28 clubs in Major League Soccer. There are several categories in the ground reviews: food & beverage in the arena, atmosphere, the local neighborhood, fans, access (including parking, restrooms, and ability to move around on the grounds), overall return on investment, and a catchall category for all extras. We use the rating of our correspondents as our primary ranking, with the crowd reviews of our members as the secondary factor. In cases where there is still a tie, we have an internal discussion to determine which arena experience might be slightly better. Click on the stadium or team name to read each stadium review. As with any list of stadium rankings, there will be some disagreements and a few headscratchers. You are more than willing to let us know what you think in the comment section, and perhaps we could see a change next year, but until then, here is the 2023 Stadium Journey MLS Stadium Ranking. 1. Exploria Stadium - Orlando City 4.71 Chris Green - Orlando City SC is what soccer in the United States is trying to become, and it is a wonderful sight to see. The club has found the perfect formula for fan involvement, stadium location, and overall atmosphere to capitalize on the moment. Attending a game at Orlando City Stadium is less of an afternoon at a sporting event and more of a life experience. 2. Providence Park - Portland Timbers 4.57 Timbers games are what make the MLS shine. The Timbers have made their home one that is inviting for fans and electricians to experience. It is the model experience for soccer in the country, and anyone who visits will tell you it is on par with some of the best stadiums overseas. 3. BC Place - Vancouver Whitecaps 4.43 Dennis Morrell - Just as remarkable is the renovation work, which helps to infuse natural light into the building. It is best to enjoy a Whitecaps match during afternoon matches. Even when the roof is closed, the space between the top of the upper deck and the permanent roof has been changed from the building’s original brown glass to clear glazing with a subtle blue tint. 4. Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Atlanta United 4.29 Lloyd Brown - Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a one-of-a-kind facility that utilizes innovative technology, a fan-friendly food, and beverage program, and a quality team in Atlanta United to provide an excellent gameday experience for soccer fans. The stadium’s location in the downtown area offers several restaurants and attractions near the venue for the pre and post-game enjoyment of the fans. 5. Lower.com Field - Columbus Crew SC 4.29 Marc Viquez - The Columbus Crew has a fine-looking soccer facility that provides fantastic views of the pitch, quality food, a boisterous atmosphere, and a passionate fanbase. The neighborhood around the facility will blossom in the coming years, making it quite the experience for hometown fans and first-time visitors. 6. Bank of America Stadium -Charlotte FC 4.14 Stadium Journey - Charlotte FC debuted in 2022 to one of the largest crowds to attend a club soccer game in the United States The club finished second in the MLS in average attendance at 35,260. The club hopes to see those numbers again in 2023 and beyond. 7. Red Bull Arena - New York Red Bulls 4.14 Richard Smith - A trip to Red Bull Arena for the New York Red Bulls is a great way for a sports fan to see high-level teams at a decent value. The covered all-seater grandstand created a look for the rest of the league to follow soon after. 8. BMO Field - Toronto FC 4.14 Dave Cottenie - Toronto FC is one of the top experiences in Major League Soccer. They are consistently among the best-supported squads, and MLSE is continuing to make improvements on the pitch. Getting out to see a TFC game is a great way to enjoy summer in one of the best tourist cities in North America. 9. Lumen Field - Seattle Sounders 4.14 Lloyd Brown - There are very few sports venues in the MLS that match the pageantry and energy level created at Seattle Sounders FC games. The name of the stadium may change, but the fan experience remains the same. You might say it is il-lumen-rating. 10. Toyota Park - FC Dallas 4.00 Eric Moreno - Despite the often-oppressive heat, the game experience at Toyota Stadium is truly something special. For MLS fans, soccer fans, or even novices looking to dip their toes into the hullabaloo that is the “beautiful game,” the opportunity to attend an FC Dallas game at Toyota Stadium should not be passed up. You will enjoy yourself. 11. Dignity Health Sports Park - LA Galaxy 4.0 Andrei Ojeda - Though not one of the more popular teams in Los Angeles, a trip to an L.A. Galaxy game should still be on one’s list. The passion and enthusiasm displayed by the fans throughout the game are one of the main highlights of attending a Galaxy game. Like many who are slowly grasping Major League Soccer, you will get a true feel of the soccer subculture that is steadily growing in Southern California. 12. Allianz Field - Minnesota United FC 4.0 James Hitchen - This stadium was the author’s first foray into MLS soccer. While I didn’t expect much, I came away knowing I will return to future MLS games. Allianz Field is a great venue to watch a game. It’s very comfortable, easy to get around, and well worth a visit. 13. Soldier Field - Chicago Fire 3.86 Lloyd Brown - Soldier Field’s lakeside location and parklike surroundings are a favorite for fans from throughout the Chicagoland area. The future of this iconic stadium is in doubt, as a new stadium to house both the Fire and the Chicago Bears has been proposed for the Arlington area. 14. TQL Stadium - FC Cincinnati 3.86 Marc Viquez - A lot has changed since I lived in Cincinnati and worked for a professional soccer team in the USL. That was in 2003, and I never fathomed that within 20 years, the city would have an MLS club and a 26,000-seat venue for soccer. Cincinnati loves soccer and supports its club through the good times and bad times. It is one of the better experiences in the league and a must to visit when in town. 15. Audi Field - DC United 3.86 Gregory Koch - DC United fans had been waiting a long time for a true soccer stadium by the time Audi Field opened in 2018. The soccer-specific venue is vastly superior to its former grounds. A trip to Audi Field is a great experience for any soccer fans in the D.C. area, and it's nice to see the club finally play in a stadium worthy of such a team. 16. Q2 Stadium - Austin FC 3.86 Eric Moreno - I’ve been to quite a few soccer matches over the years, but I’ve never been to any that matched the level of excitement that I witnessed at Q2 Stadium. Austin FC has built a great fan base, so far. It is truly an unexpected experience for me and something I can only compare to as akin to a big-time college football atmosphere. If you’re a sports fan, this is one you should add to your sports bucket list. 17. Banc of California Stadium - Los Angeles FC 3.86 Eric Moreno - The LAFC fan base is a good variety of soccer diehards, as well as newcomers to the sport. The 3252s have played a huge role as well in making all fans feel welcomed. Their success on the field, along with the excitement of the franchise playing close to the heart of Los Angeles, can only help expand an already rabid fan base. 18. PayPal Park - San Jose Earthquakes 3.86 Meg Minard - Witnessing a match at PayPal Park is certainly unique. The seat pattern coloring, the Epi-Center Fan Zone and food trucks, the exceptional staff, easy access, and the intimate setting all help make attending a match here an enjoyable evening out. 19. Stade Saputo - CF Montreal 3.71 Stadium Journey - Whether you’re a fair-weather fan or a die-hard soccer supporter, Stade Saputo has activities and attractions above and beyond a typical soccer stadium. This review was written in the second year of the stadium’s five-year plan to improve the fan experience. It’s intriguing to know what further enhancements will be made when witnessing a match at Stade Saputo is already top tier. 20. Geodis Park - Nashville SC 3.86 Lloyd Brown - The addition of Geodis Park to the Nashville sports scene is yet another reason to visit the Music City for your next getaway trip. The new stadium is well-designed, and its cozy seating puts you right on top of the action. During breaks in the action, you can sample foods from some of Nashville’s top restaurants or listen to some of country music’s rising stars. Geodis Park certainly hits a high note. 21. Subaru Park - Philadelphia Union 3.86 Richard Smith - Subaru Park is a well-designed soccer stadium located in a beautiful setting along the Delaware River. The only bad thing is that the neighboring areas of the city of Chester are not as idyllic as the setting. 22. Dick’s Sporting Goods Park - Colorado Rapids 3.86 Matt Finnigan - A Colorado Rapids match serves as a microcosm of that success and illustrates the importance of a spirited, robust fan base. Quality food and drink options, exciting play, and a beautiful pitch combine to make a match at DSG Park a first-rate spectator experience. 23. America First Field - Real Salt Lake 3.86 Connor Comeau - America First Field is one of the best family-friendly stadiums in MLS, and the organization does a very good job keeping it that way. There are plenty of things to do before and during the game, and the fan base is as passionate as they come. This is a stadium you need to have in mind the next time you’re in Utah. 24. Children’s Mercy Park - Sporting Kansas City 3.57 Alex Mailes - Children’s Mercy Park earns its reputation as a top MLS organization. They offer plenty of unique concession options at average prices and provide a gameday experience that is a cut above most other American soccer teams. Children’s Mercy Park stands as one of the best and it is certainly worth a visit for any soccer fan. 25. PNC Stadium - Houston Dynamo 3.57 Eric Moreno - PNC Stadium is a beautiful venue for soccer. The sight lines are perfect, the energy is palpable, and the food and drink selections are top-notch. Houston is one of the great cities in the United States and offers a tremendous opportunity for visitors to take in the sights and flavors. 26. DRV PNK Stadium - Inter Miami FC 3.43 Lloyd Brown - Even though DRV PNK Stadium is an “interim” stadium as far as the MLS team, we felt that it surpassed many of the permanent stadium experiences we have had in the league. Once we learned the reasoning behind the shocking pink color scheme, we salute the team and Auto Nation for promoting a noble cause in this fashion. 27. Gillette Stadium - New England Revolution 3.43 Paul Baker - While being the little brother sharing a facility with a National Football League team is a less-than-ideal situation, Gillette Stadium provides the Revolution with a world-class home. Still, the calls for a new soccer-specific stadium continue in New England. 28. Yankee Stadium - New York City FC 2.71 Stadium Journey - New York City FC calls Yankee Stadium home, a ballpark that creates less-than-ideal field conditions for players. The team announced a new soccer-specific venue next to Citi Field that will end the saga of playing second fiddle to the New York Yankees in the Bronx.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey The National Hockey League struck marketing gold when they came up with the idea to hold an outdoor game on New Year's Day. Starting in 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, the game is now in its 14th iteration as it gets ready for the 2023 game, to be held at Fenway Park in Boston. With this game, Fenway will become the first repeat host and Boston will become the first city to host the Winter Classic three times. Since we love to make ranking lists here at Stadium Journey, we've come up with our great idea, to rank 12 of the 13 venues that have hosted the Winter Classic (sorry Cotton Bowl, we don't have an active review of you). Now please keep in mind, we're not ranking the Winter Classic games themselves, but the stadiums when hosting their primary tenant (usually an MLB or NFL team). As always, we rank the venues according to our patented FANFARE rating scale, which takes into account a facility's food, gameday atmosphere, neighborhood, fans, access, value, and more. Where two or more venues are tied, a council of Stadium Journey elders was consulted to break the tie. A testament to the quality of these stadia is the fact that 11 of the 12 venues scored a 4.00 or higher on our scale. Without further ado, we present our ranking of the Winter Classic venues. 1. Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI - 4.74 2014 - Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Detroit Red Wings 2 (shootout) Toronto was the first Canadian team to play in the Winter Classic and came out victorious before a crowd of 105,491, the largest in NHL history. Tyler Bozek netted the game-winner for the Leafs. 2. Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA - 4.57 2011 - Washington Capitals 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 1. The game was moved from its original 1:00 PM time to 8:00 due to weather issues. Eric Fehr netted two goals for the Caps. Semyon Varlamov made 32 saves in the win. 3. Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL - 4.43 2009 - Detroit Red Wings 6, Chicago Blackhawks 4 A run of five consecutive goals by Detroit, including two by Jiri Hudler, sealed this Original Six matchup as the Winter Classic moved to a baseball stadium for the first time. 4. Fenway Park, Boston, MA - 4.43 2010 - Boston Bruins 2, Philadelphia Flyers 1 (overtime) Marco Sturm's overtime goal made the Bruins the first home team to emerge victorious in the Winter Classic. This game also featured the first fight in game history, between Shawn Thornton and Daniel Carcillo. 5. Citi Field, Flushing, NY - 4.43 2018 - New York Rangers 3, Buffalo Sabres 2 (overtime) J.T. Miller scored an overtime goal to give the Rangers the win in an "away" game played in New York City. Robin Lehner made 39 saves to keep the game close. 6. Target Field - Minneapolis, MN - 4.29 2022 - St. Louis Blues 6, Minnesota Wild 4 Minnesota finally got a chance to host the Winter Classic after the 2021 game was postponed due to the Covid epidemic. With a game-time temperature of -5 degrees Fahrenheit, this was the coldest Winter Classic. The Blues scored five goals in the second period, with Jordan Kyrou tallying two goals and two assists. 7. Busch Stadium - St. Louis, MO - 4.29 2017 - St. Louis Blues 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1 Vladimir Tarasenko scored a pair of third-period goals to break a 1-1 tie and lead the Blues to victory in their first appearance in the Winter Classic. 8. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA - 4.29 2012 - New York Rangers 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2 This game was moved to January 2 so as not to conflict with the day's college bowl games. Michael Rupp scored two goals, with the Rangers scoring the game's final three goals to take the win. 9. Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA - 4.14 2016 - Montreal Canadiens 5, Boston Bruins 1 Montreal improved Canadian teams to 2-0 in the Winter Classic as they dominated the Bruins in a lackluster affair. Paul Byron scored two goals and Mike Condon made 26 saves for Montreal. 10. Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN - 4.00 2019 - Boston Bruins 4, Chicago Blackhawks 2 Tuukka Rask made 26 saves in the victory and David Pastrnak led a balanced Bruins attack with a goal and an assist in the shadow of "Goal Celly Jesus" at Notre Dame. 11. Nationals Park, Washington, DC - 4.00 2015 - Washington Capitals 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 Troy Brower's power-play goal with just thirteen seconds left in the game lifted the Capitals to victory. They became the first home team to win the Winter Classic in regulation. 12. Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY - 3.00 2008 - Pittsburgh Penguins 2, Buffalo Sabres 1 (shootout) The inaugural Winter Classic was a rousing success, with light snow adding to the visual magic of the event. Sidney Crosby scored the deciding goal in the third and final round of the shootout. Cotton Bowl - Dallas, TX - no score 2020 - Dallas Stars 4, Nashville Predators 2 Dallas spotted Nashville a two-goal lead before storming back with four straight scores to take the first game played in the south. Both goalies (Dallas' Ben Bishop and Nashville's Pekka Rinne) made 31 saves.

Legends have passed through the Ontario Hockey League on their way to hockey immortality in the NHL. Names like Bobby Smith, Larry Robinson, Scotty Bowman, Darryl Sittler, Bobby Orr, and Wayne Gretzky are all revered icons throughout the top junior hockey league in Canada, which makes up one-third of the three-pronged Canadian Hockey League. The face of the OHL has changed over the years. At one time dominated by musty barns that smelled like youth hockey, the OHL now features several shiny, new hockey palaces to give the league a keen balance of old a new. Stadium Journey has taken to rank the experiences of all 20 experiences in the Ontario Hockey League. The scores are all very close, however, in every case, high marks for Return on Investment are present in each experience. This makes the OHL a prime spot to invest some entertainment dollars and get the most out of that hard-earned money. 1. Kitchener Rangers - Dom Cardillo Arena @ Kitchener Memorial Auditorium - 4.43 Dave Cottenie - The Rangers are a cornerstone franchise in the Ontario Hockey League. The affiliation with the New York Rangers is long gone, but the moniker and colours have remained in Kitchener. The Rangers have enjoyed several league titles in the regular season, four OHL championships, and two times been crowned as Memorial Cup Champions, the top team in the entire Canadian Hockey League. Home for the Rangers since their inception has been the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Designed as a mini Maple Leaf Gardens, The Aud remains one of the most unique venues in a league where new venues are becoming increasingly homogeneous. The arena with the main ice is named after the former beloved mayor of Kitchener, Dom Cardillo, making the home of the Rangers the Dom Cardillo Arena at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The Rangers provide one of the best experiences in the entire Canadian Hockey League and are a must-see for all junior hockey fans. 2. Ottawa 67’s - TD Place Arena - 4.14 Dave Cottenie - There are plenty of uniforms from bygone eras that are so gaudy that it boggles the mind that they ever did the job. The “barber pole” version of multi-striped uniforms falls into this category. However, one team that has stuck with the barber pole is the Ottawa 67’s … and it works. The red, black, and white stripes of the 67’s jerseys have been a staple for the team since their inception in 1967. One of the cornerstone franchises of the Ontario Hockey League, the 67 derives their name from not only their inception but the founding of Canada as an independent country in 1867. The 67’s are one of the most successful franchises in the league, both on and off the ice and are owned by the Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group, who also claim the CFL’s Ottawa RedBlacks as part of their portfolio. 3. Guelph Storm - Sleeman Centre - 4.14 Dave Cottenie - In 1991, with plans to replace the Guelph Memorial Gardens underway, the Dukes of Hamilton, who were formerly the iconic Toronto Marlboros, would be moving to Guelph to become the Guelph Storm. Although not normally considered a cornerstone franchise of the OHL, the Storm have been among the most consistent both on the ice and at the turnstile. The Storm have participated in the Memorial Cup tournament on six occasions and won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions four times. There have also been several NHL players who have donned the Storm jersey over the years. 4. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds - GFL Memorial Gardens - 4.00 Dave Cottenie - If there is one thing above all that the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are known for, it is their connection to the greatest hockey player ever, Wayne Gretzky. In 1977, the Greyhounds selected the slender, sixteen-year-old with the third pick in the midget draft. Gretzky would not disappoint by scoring a Greyhound record 182 points in his only season in the Soo. It would be the Soo where the legend of 99 was born. Upon arriving in the Soo, Wayne was distraught to find his coveted number nine, which belonged to his hockey hero, Gordie Howe, was taken by Brian Gulalazzi. After a few games wearing fourteen, Greyhounds coach Muzz MacPherson suggest that Gretzky just double the nines and the most legendary number in sports was born. 5. London Knights - Budweiser Gardens - 4.00 Dave Cottenie - The London Knights were founded in 1965 as the London Nationals in the OHA. Their colour scheme and logo mimicked the Toronto Maple Leafs and their blue and white. In 1968 the Nationals would be reborn as the London Knights. The Hunters purchased the Knights at the perfect time as the City of London agreed to build a downtown arena to replace the London Ice House. The John Labatt Centre opened in 2002 and helped usher in a new era in the OHL of new or renovated facilities and quickly became the gold standard in arenas in the league. Since the opening of what was later renamed the Budweiser Gardens, success at the turnstile and on the ice coincided and the Knights, who were also-rans, in the OHL for years enjoyed their best seasons ever. Going from a nightmare to a dream come true has been an amazing ride for the fans in London and there are no signs of slowing down. 6. Kingston Frontenacs - Leon’s Centre - 3.86 Dave Cottenie - Junior hockey in Kingston dates back to the forties with the Kingston Victorias, who were eventually renamed the Frontenacs, after Louis de Buade de Frontenac, Governor General of New France in the 1600s. The current franchise would join the OHA as the Kingston Canadians. They would be renamed the Kingston Raiders for one season before being sold. After the sale of the team, the return of the Frontenacs would usher in a new era for the team. Current owner Doug Springer would purchase the team in 1998. Although the Fronts have not enjoyed a ton of success on the ice, with only two East Division Championships to show for their efforts, the Frontenacs experience has improved significantly and remains a great option for sports fans. 7. Oshawa Generals - Tribute Communities Centre - 3.86 Dave Cottenie - One of the cornerstone franchises of the Ontario Hockey League is the Oshawa Generals. For many years, Oshawa, Ontario was the Canadian incarnation of the Motor City, with General Motors having a massive presence in the city, including the Canadian headquarters. The Generals moniker, therefore, has no link to the military, but to the car manufacturer. The current home of the Generals was also originally named the General Motors Centre. With a lineage that goes back to Oshawa’s favourite adopted son, Bobby Orr, the Generals are one of the most successful teams to ever take the ice in Ontario. The Generals hold the record for most J. Ross Robertson Cups as OHL Champions, with 13. The Generals also boast an impressive five Memorial Cups, which is also more than any other current Canadian Hockey League franchise. The Generals were founded in 1937 and were forced to take a hiatus in the fifties when their home arena burned down. The Gens resurfaced in 1962 and are currently owned by Rocco Tullio. 8. Niagara IceDogs - Meridian Centre - 3.86 Robbie Raskin - Niagara Region, to the south of Toronto, offers a huge number of delights for visitors; the iconic Niagara Falls, sun-splashed wineries, the historic charm of Niagara-on-the-Lake, beaches, fine dining, and just about everything else needed for the perfect holiday. But for locals, the crowds of Niagara Falls and high prices in Wine Country are not what brings together the nearly half-million-strong region, especially in the depths of winter. In the midst of all these tourist draws lies the locals’ favourite activity – the Niagara IceDogs. 9. Hamilton Bulldogs - FirstOntario Centre - 3.86 Robbie Raskin - The American Hockey League eventually opened up in Hamilton, first with Vancouver’s farm team, then Montreal’s. Finally, the Bulldogs, as they were known, won the 2007 Calder Cup. However, the carousel continued as the club moved to Laval, Quebec, to be closer to their NHL parents. Instead, the storied Belleville Bulls OHL team moved to Hamilton (itself replaced by Ottawa’s new AHL farm team, the Belleville Senators). And once again, a championship banner will rise at the Coliseum (now named FirstOntario Centre). The Bulldogs – as an OHL club – are the 2018 Ontario champions. They now compete for the Memorial Cup and a shot at national glory but as the famous black-and-yellow colours associated with the city have achieved newfound success, the hopes for some stability rise, and the dream for the eventual return of NHL hockey continues. ** The Hamilton Bulldogs will be relocating to Brantford, Ontario for the 2023-2024 season ** 10. Sudbury Wolves - Sudbury Community Arena - 3.71 Dave Cottenie - The Sudbury Community Arena is in the twilight of its Ontario Hockey League life, and fans need to take advantage of the opportunity to see this facility host the Sudbury Wolves while they still can. The expected opening of the Kingsway Entertainment District, which will provide a new event centre home for the Wolves, is not far off, in 2025. There is understandable excitement for the new arena by the locals, but it will be sad to see the Sudbury Arena close its doors to junior hockey for the last time. Simply put, the Sudbury Arena is an old-school hockey barn. 11. Windsor Spitfires - WFCU Centre - 3.71 Dave Cottenie - Upon their establishment in the OHA in 1975, the home for the Spitfires was the venerable Windsor Arena. It was truly a Canadian hockey barn if ever there was one. The Windsor Arena was beloved by fans and players alike, but far from an acceptable venue for OHL hockey based on current expectations. In 2008, the City of Windsor opened the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre, the new home for the Spitfires, securing their existence in the border city for seasons to come. Hosting the Memorial Cup would have been impossible at the Windsor Arena. Led by the ownership group of former NHL players Bob Boughner and Warren Rychel, along with their partners Stephen Savage, John Savage, and Brian Schwab, the Spitfires are experiencing an era of prosperity on and off the ice. 12. Erie Otters - Erie Insurance Arena - 3.71 Patricia Beninato - If you’re a hockey fan, an Erie Otters game is fun and relatively inexpensive, even if you throw in a hot dog, a beer, and a t-shirt. It’s kind of sad, though, that more fans don’t seem to take advantage of the surrounding neighborhood, preferring to get their food and drinks inside the arena and not wanting to hang around before or after games. Maybe it’s not a destination arena, but if you’re in the area and want to see future NHL stars up close and hang out with some loyal hockey fans, you can do worse than Erie Insurance Arena. 13. Peterborough Petes - Peterborough Memorial Centre - 3.71 Robbie Raskin - The small city of Peterborough sits at the southern entrance to Ontario’s vast ‘Cottage Country’ where farmland gives way to countless lakes and forests. Since 1956, it has been home to the maroon-and-white Petes, and the hockey club has been deeply tied to the city’s sense of identity ever since. The Petes’ alumni roll is a laundry list of great players and managers over the decades, including seven Hall of Famers. They’re the oldest continuously-operating team in the OHL and have won the league nine times and the national Memorial Cup championship once. Frustrating to their fans is that the only team with greater success is their hated rivals, the Oshawa Generals. 14. Sarnia Sting - Progressive Auto Sales Arena - 3.57 Dave Cottenie - The Sting has been a consistent team in the West Division for the majority of their duration in Sarnia. In 2015 the Ciccarellis sold their stake in the Sting to a pair of former NHL players, Derian Hatcher and David Legwand. Both now have active roles in the team, with Hatcher also acting as head coach. Despite their consistent success on the ice, the Sting are still looking for their first J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions. Despite the lack of championships, the Sting have produced several 1st round draft picks for the NHL including Trevor Letowski, Nail Yakupov, Mike Van Ryn, Alex Galchenyuk, and their favorite son, Steven Stamkos. 15. North Bay Battalion - North Bay Memorial Gardens - 3.57 Dave Cottenie - In 2013 the Ontario Hockey League made a triumphant return to North Bay, Ontario. After the North Bay Centennials had their run from 1982 to 2002, they left for Saginaw, Michigan under a cloud of mistrust and bad feelings. The hockey light would shine again in the Gateway to the North after the local fans provided next-level support for the Nipissing Lakers, a newly formed university team. Brampton Battalion owner and Trivial Pursuit founder Scott Abbott would bring his OHL team from outside of Toronto north to the banks of Lake Nipissing in search of greater fan support. Moving the team to a military city like North Bay made the team name and moniker suddenly make a whole lot more sense. 16. Barrie Colts - Sadlon Arena - 3.43 Dave Cottenie - Sadlon Arena offers a solid junior hockey experience that is not uncommon in many other markets. From the exterior, Sadlon Arena has a bit of a barn-like appearance with a rounded, elongated roof, which can be seen from Highway 400. Oriented from west to east, the most eye-catching feature of the arena is the Horsepower Sports Bar, which offers a unique brick facade to the front of the building with awnings. 17. Owen Sound Attack - J.D. McArthur Arena @ Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre - 3.14 Dave Cottenie - On the banks of Georgian Bay sits the smallest market in the Ontario Hockey League. In 1989, the Guelph Platers, who had been in Guelph since 1968, made the move north to the Grey-Bruce area of Ontario. The Owen Sound Platers were to be sold to a businessman out of town which would require relocation. The “Super Six,” would come together to purchase the team and keep them in Owen Sound. Brian Johnson, Dr. Robert Severs, Fay Harshman, Frank Coulter, and Peter and Paul MacDermid, a group of local business owners, would keep that can-do attitude alive in Owen Sound and the Attack have remained viable and competitive in the Ontario Hockey League. The hard work culminated in the Attack’s 2011 J.Ross Robertson Cup as OHL Champions and a berth in the Memorial Cup. 18. Saginaw Spirit - Wendler Arena @ Dow Event Center - 3.00 Dave Cottenie - When owner Richard Garber brought the Centennials to Saginaw, it took them some time to get their feet under them as they did not make the playoffs their first three years in Michigan. Success for the Spirit would be challenging as they would boast one lowly division title in their 25 years in Saginaw. Garber would bring in additional ownership including Brandon Bordeaux, Jimmy Devellano, and former Red Wing, Chris Osgood. With a small city population of under 50,000, currently a poor team on the ice, and economic challenges in Central Michigan, the Spirit are having a bit of a rough go. That being said, there is still hope that Michigan’s hockey spirit can continue to thrive in the OHL. 19. Flint Firebirds - Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center - 2.86 Dave Cottenie - When Peter Karmanos sold the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League to the IMS Hockey Corporation and Rolf Nilsen there were several eyebrows raised. IMS also owns the local arena, which has negotiated a naming rights deal with Dort Federal Credit Union, and the newly crowned Firebirds would be an interesting tenant. There are more than enough doubters when it comes to the Firebirds viability in Flint, but IMS is chugging along and they want everyone to get behind and Believe in Flint. 20. Mississauga Steelheads - Paramount Fine Foods Centre - 2.71 Dave Cottenie - It was once the house that Don Cherry built. The bombastic, former centerpiece of the “Coach’s Corner” intermission segment of Hockey Night in Canada was bringing Junior Hockey to Mississauga and spearheading the opening of the Hershey Centre. A decade as the Steelheads has passed and hockey in Mississauga once again is at a tipping point. Owner Elliot Kerr has made public his frustrations with the lack of fan support and mused that maybe the Steelheads should be elsewhere. Home for the Steelheads is the now-renamed Paramount Fine Foods Centre. The arena is similar to other modern OHL facilities and offers plenty to be positive about. However, Junior Hockey in Mississauga is in trouble and the question as to the location of the Trout in five years is a mystery yet to be answered.

In February 2023 Major League Baseball’s Spring Training returned to a full schedule of games for the first time since 2020. The intervening years were wiped out by the pandemic in 2021 and the labor lockout in 2022. The Grapefruit League is the home for 15 MLB teams, playing games in 13 ballparks. Florida has hosted spring training in some fashion for more than 130 years. All but six of the current MLB teams have held their spring training in Florida at some time in their history. Three cities in Florida have hosted spring training for more than 70 years. Fans welcomed the return of spring training, with a 2023 attendance of more than 1.4 million fans attending a Grapefruit League game. The return of a full slate of games in 2023 has allowed us to do an updated ranking of the league’s home ballparks. To do this we employ our FANFARE rating system. This system evaluates each ballpark on its concessions programs, gameday atmosphere, neighborhood, fan support, accessibility, value, and other extras. Special note: The Tampa Bay Rays ballpark in Port Charlotte was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian. This left the ballpark unplayable for the 2023 Grapefruit League season. It forced the Rays to play their 2023 spring training games at Champions Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports and Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. We are not including these two stadiums in our rankings, as they are only being used temporarily for the 2023 season. Stadium Journey is proud to release our 2023 ranking of the ballparks of the Grapefruit League: 1. LECOM Park, Home of the Pittsburgh Pirates (4.43) Lloyd Brown - LECOM Park has been a Pirate’s treasure, as the ballpark celebrated its 100th birthday in 2023. The park has hosted more than 6 MLB teams during its existence. The dedication to preserving the stadium and maintaining an excellent gameday experience is something to be admired. We were also impressed by the all-volunteer efforts of the Pittsburgh Pirates booster club in Bradenton to staff each Pirates home game. This earns the top spot in our Grapefruit League ratings for 2023. Congratulations… and Happy 100th Birthday to LECOM Park! 2. Hammond Stadium, Home of the Minnesota Twins (4.43) Lloyd Brown – Hammond Stadium delivers a strong Midwestern vibe to fans attending a Twins game. The concessions menu offers items like cheese curds, corn dogs, and brats. After that, you can wash it all down with a Killebrew root beer. The team also holds a Minnesota Day game, where fans are encouraged to wear something repping their hometown in Minnesota. 3. Clover Park, Home of the New York Mets (4.29) Lloyd Brown-The Mets took advantage of the two suspended years of spring training to transform its home in Port St. Lucie, FL. Clover Park’s changes have been a big hit with Mets fans. The ballpark made big improvements in its exterior, adding a lot of the blue and orange Mets team colors into its outward appearance. Accessibility was also improved, as the concourses were widened and extended to the outfield. 4. Ed Smith Stadium, Home of the Baltimore Orioles (4.14) Lloyd Brown- If you close your eyes, you will swear you are at a game at Camden Yards when you attend a game at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. You are sitting in a seat that came from there. The concession stands offer familiar foods from the Bay State, including crab cakes and Boog’s BBQ. We also love the beautiful grand lobby at the park, as it includes an impressive chandelier that features the pennants earned by the Orioles over the years. 5. JetBlue Park, Home of the Boston Red Sox (4.00) Lloyd Brown- Fenway South has received rave reviews for its unique wing-like roof that helps to cool the fans on hot Florida afternoons. The park also replicates many of the quirky features of Fenway Park. This includes the Green Monster in left field, the Pesky Pole, and the singing of “Sweet Caroline” at each game. 6. TD Ballpark, Home of the Toronto Blue Jays (4.00) Lloyd Brown- Oh Canada! TD Ballpark should earn the Comeback Ballpark of the Year in the Grapefruit League this year. The stadium is almost unrecognizable from its previous look. The exterior has had a major makeover, with the blue and white colors of the team becoming much more pronounced. The interior features new seating options, a much larger video board, an outfield boardwalk, and an improved concessions menu (don’t worry…. poutine is still on it!) 7. BayCare Ballpark, Home of the Philadelphia Phillies (4.00) Lloyd Brown - BayCare Ballpark pioneered the use of several elements that are now found in nearly every spring training ballpark. It was the first to offer a 360-degree concourse around the field, the first to offer berm seating in the outfields and the first to offer an extended spring training a menu that included regional favorites. 8. Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, Home of the Detroit Tigers (3.86) Lloyd Brown- The Tigers have called Joker Marchant their home stadium since 1996. However, Tigertown has undergone several renovations over time to keep the stadium up to date. Capacity has increased to 9,000 seats, making it one of the Grapefruit League’s largest stadiums. All new seats are in the shade, keeping fans cool on hot Florida afternoons. Best of all, Joker Marchant offers the unusual concession item of strawberry shortcake. This is because Lakeland Florida is considered the Strawberry Capitol of the World. 9. Steinbrenner Field, Home of the New York Yankees (3.86) Lloyd Brown- The New York Yankees have been an iconic brand in baseball for many decades. Steinbrenner Field celebrates that status throughout the venue. Yankee legends are commemorated outside of the ballpark with the Monument Garden and a statue of “The Boss”. Inside the stadium, you will find concession items that you would expect to find in the Bronx. If you look toward the top of the stadium, you will notice the latticework that is suggestive of Yankee Stadium. 10. CoolToday Park, Home of the Atlanta Braves (3.57) Lloyd Brown - CoolToday Park is the newest park in the Grapefruit League. It features a stunning graphics package on the outside, with murals featuring Braves greats including Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Chipper Jones, John Smoltz, and Phil Niekro. Inside the ballpark, the concourses are extremely wide and open to the field. There are drinking rails that go 360 degrees around the park. Fans can enjoy the Tiki bar in left field 365 days of the year. The concession package includes fried and grilled chicken, fried fish, and other food items with a Florida twist. 11. Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Home of the St. Louis Cardinals (3.57) Mike Rusignuolo – Cardinal fans flock to Roger Dean Chevrolet in large numbers each spring, making this the toughest ticket on the Atlantic Coast of Florida. Even though this stadium is shared with the Miami Marlins, the Cardinals are the main tenant in this ballpark. Cardinal fans fill the park for every game, and Roger Dean is rocking in red. When the games are over, fans have plenty of attractions in Jupiter, including several lighthouses along the Atlantic coast. 12. Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Home of the Miami Marlins (3.57) Sean MacDonald - The Miami Marlins are one of two teams to call Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium their spring training home. Their spring training HQ in Jupiter, FL makes them the closest team to their regular season home stadium. This makes it easier for their fans to travel a short distance to their spring training games. The ticket prices for Marlins games at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium for Marlins games are the lowest in the Grapefruit League. 13. The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches Home of the Washington Nationals (3.29) Lloyd Brown - The Washington Nationals are one of two MLB teams to call The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches home. The park features unique sunshades at the top of each section of the stadium to provide a cooler environment for the fans. There are beach chairs atop the berm in right field to provide a unique spot to enjoy the game while sipping a cold drink. The park also features the iconic Presidential Race on the video board between the innings. 14. The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, Home of the Houston Astros (3.14) Lloyd Brown - The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches offers easy access from both I-95 and the Florida Turnpike. The complex also offers fans the easiest access to the training facilities and practice fields of any team in the Grapefruit League.

One-third of the Canadian Hockey League, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has historically had the reputation as the league that features the most high-flying, smaller, high-scoring forwards and the stand-on-their-heads goaltenders. Currently, the 18-team league features teams through the province of Quebec and a division of Maritime teams. Of the three CHL leagues, the QMJHL has the biggest variety of venues. From the brand new and shiny to the classic hockey barns, fans are treated to a whole different culture of hockey. The scores for the QMJHL experiences are all very close and every experience features a high Return on Investment. Any way you slice it, fans will be left pontificating “Vive La hockey" and gearing up to head back for more. 1. Québec Remparts - Centre Vidéotron - 4.43 Dave Cottenie - In 1997 the Québec Remparts returned to the Colisée Pepsi, moving from Beauport. With hockey returning to Québec, the next part of the plan was up to the fans. Fans came out to support the Remparts in droves providing attendance numbers unseen in the entire Canadian Hockey League, let alone the QMJHL. With the ownership of hometown hero Patrick Roy for several years, the Remparts flourished. The current iteration of the Remparts is the second to call Québec City home. The original run went from 1969 to 1985 and the original Remparts eventually moved to Longueuil and then Verdun before folding in 1994. Both versions of the team have seen success with each version winning a Memorial Cup. The 1971 and 2006 Memorial Cup championships continued the winning tradition in Québec City. The next part of the plan may be the most important. With the support of current Remparts owner, communications giant Québecor, the city and province of Québec built a brand new, NHL-ready facility in Centre Vidéotron. 2. Moncton Wildcats - Avenir Centre - 4.14 Greg Johnston - The sparkling new $113-million dollar Avenir Centre opened in 2018 as the home of the Wildcats and Moncton Magic of the National Basketball League of Canada. The Wildcats previously played their home games at the city-owned Moncton Coliseum, located in a mostly industrial area approximately four kilometers outside of downtown. The venue was dark and not aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but the citizens of Moncton made it an enjoyable fan experience. Moving to Avenir Centre provides locals with a modernized hockey experience with an improved downtown location, tantalizing concession options, and exceptional sightlines to view the game. 3. Halifax Mooseheads - Scotiabank Centre - 4.14 Dave Cottenie - Halifax is the biggest city in the Canadian Maritimes, and therefore is the cultural centre of the East. Even though Halifax is not an overly large city, events at the Metro Centre have that big event feel to them. Moose Country is front and centre in the Halifax sporting scene. The Scotiabank Centre, which is owned by the City of Halifax, and managed by Trade Centre Limited, offers a big event feel to it and attracts the largest indoor events in the area. 4. Sherbrooke Phoenix - Palais des Sports Leopold-Drolet - 4.00 Dave Cottenie - The group that brought hockey back to Sherbrooke was led by former NHL goaltender, and former Sherbrooke Faucon, Jocelyn Thibault. However, the new Phoenix would not be satisfied to play in the old Palais des Sports. The City of Sherbrooke and the Government of Quebec agreed to a huge renovation of the Palais des Sports Leopold-Drolet. This old arena, named after the founder of Sher-Wood, is now one of the model arenas in the QMJHL, and an example of what can be done to modernize an aging arena. New paint gave a fresh face to the arena, and new luxury boxes gave a fresh source of revenue. In the end, what is exciting to see is that, in what may be the final opportunity for junior hockey in Sherbrooke, the fans have realized what they have been missing, and embraced the Phoenix with open arms, showing their support. 5. Shawinigan Cataractes - Centre Gervais Auto - 3.86 Dave Cottenie - Known as the City of Energy for its production of hydro-electric power, the city of Shawinigan is also known as the home of Canada’s longest-serving prime Minister, Jean Chretien, and legendary Montreal goaltender, and first goalie ever to wear a mask, Jacques Plante. The Cataractes have a long-standing tradition with the city, formerly playing in the Arena Jacques-Plante. In English, Cataractes means “waterfalls,” which is also a reference to the Shawinigan Falls, which is used to produce energy. The Cataractes were a community-owned team, until 2007 when “Le Club de Hockey de Shawinigan Inc” was sold to a group of 15 investors. 6. Saint John Sea Dogs - TD Station - 3.86 Greg Johnston - Overall, the game experience is fun and comfortable. Fans were handed free clappers as they entered the arena to help cheer on the Sea Dogs. “Fleaburn,” the team mascot, entertains the crowd on the concourse. The public address (PA) announcer speaks in both English and French. The music during a break in the game is at an appropriate volume and is a good mix of music types. The hanging scoreboard is pretty simple and only shows shots-on-goal for stats. The picture is a comfortable size and clear. 7. Cape Breton Eagles - Centre 200 - 3.86 Greg Johnston - Centre 200 is named in honour of the 200th anniversary of the founding of Sydney. The arena opened in 1987, as the home of the Cape Breton Oilers of the American Hockey League (AHL). In their nine seasons in Sydney, the Oilers won the Calder Cup once (1993) before moving to Hamilton, Ontario; this was around the same time all AHL teams moved out of the Maritimes. That franchise is now the St. John’s IceCaps. Hockey returned to Sydney when the Granby Predateurs moved before the 1997-98 season. The Screaming Eagles have won their division once and have reached the conference finals twice, but have not advanced further. Marc-Andre Fleury is celebrated as one of the greatest former Eagles players. His #29 jersey hangs in the rafters. 8. Val-d'Or Foreurs - Centre Agnico Eagle - 3.86 Dave Cottenie - With a population of 31,000, the City of Val-d’Or is one of the smallest centres in the entire Canadian Hockey League. However, the Val-d’Or Foreurs of the QMJHL is a throwback experience and almost brings hockey back to a pure state. It took 16 long years for Junior Hockey at the highest level to be brought to the “Valley of Gold.” However, it was in 1993 when local builder Jean-Claude Babin secured a QMJHL franchise that would be owned by local shareholders, including G4 Drilling CEO Daniel Gamache. Earning President’s Cups as QMJHL Champions in 1998, 2001, and 2014, the Foreurs have had a fair amount of success. There have also been several NHL players who have worn the green and gold, including Anthony Martha, Antoine Bibeau, Kris Letang, Brad Marchand, J.P. Dumont, Steve Begin, and Roberto Luongo. 9. Acadie-Bathurst Titan - Centre Régional K.C. Irving - 3.71 Greg Johnston - In terms of the fan experience, hidden treasures are sometimes found in the smallest locations. Bathurst, New Brunswick is a little city of around 12,000 people located in the northeast quadrant of the province. This is where the Acadie-Bathurst Titan from the QMJHL calls home. Creative economics, along with government commitment and community loyalty, have all contributed to the Titan competing in Bathurst since arriving in 1998. The Titan franchise originated in 1969 as the Rosemont National before moving to Laval, Quebec in 1971. The team changed its name four times while in Laval (1971-1998), eventually settling on the Laval Titan Collège Français before moving to Bathurst. “Acadie” is in homage to the vast Acadian population in the area. Famous alumni include Roberto Luongo, Vincent Damphousse, Patrice Bergeron, and Hockey Hall-of-Famers Mike Bossy and Mario Lemieux. 10. Rimouski Océanic - Colisée Financière Sun Life - 3.71 Dave Cottenie - The Rimouski Océanic were originally the Sherbrooke Castors in 1969. In 1982 they moved to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. The move to Rimouski was facilitated by former owner and furniture magnate Maurice Tanguay. In 2016, Maurice would transfer his ownership stake to his grandson Alexandre at age 23. The younger Tanguay has a prominent role in the day-to-day operations of the team, which provides one of the best experiences in the entire QMJHL. Home for the Océanic is the Colisée Financière Sun Life, which was built in 1966 and formerly known as the Colisée de Rimouski. The city-owned Colisée, like many QMJHL venues, is a classic barn-like venue that has received significant upgrades to bring it up to Major Junior hockey standards. The Colisée is a pleasant surprise and the Océanic experience is one that will rival any other in the QMJHL. 11. Chicoutimi Saguenéens - Centre Georges-Vézina - 3.71 Dave Cottenie - At one point in time, each member league of the Canadian Hockey League had its own identity. The QMJHL was known for being faster-paced, with smaller players, more goal-scoring, and great goaltenders. No team can be identified with great goaltenders in junior more than the Chicoutimi Saguenéens (sag-nay-en). Chicoutimi would produce four goaltenders in a short period who would go on to play in the National Hockey League. Jimmy Waite, Eric Fichaud, Marc Denis, and Felix Potvin would have various degrees of NHL success, but it is unprecedented for one junior team to produce so many NHL goaltenders. Chicoutimi has been one of the most stable franchises in the Q, having been around since 1973, and the link to the community is undeniable. The translation of Saguenéens is literally “people from Saguenay.” Only the Gatineau (Hull) Olympiques and Shawinigan Cataractes have been in the same spot longer than the Saguenéens. 12. Gatineau Olympiques - Centre Slush Puppie - 3.57 Sean MacDonald - The Gatineau Olympiques played at the venerable Robert Guertin Centre for 45 years, an aging rink whose time had passed. The city of Gatineau awarded the non-profit organization Vision Multisports Outaouais (VMSO) the contract for the construction and management of a 4,000-seat arena, including three community ice rinks. The venue is now known as Centre Slush Puppie after naming rights were acquired by the maker of the “original non-carbonated frozen beverage treat enjoyed by millions of people worldwide.” 13. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies - Aréna Glencore - 3.57 Dave Cottenie - The horns, oh the horns! They may not be the horns of justice or the horns of victory. They may only be made of plastic and cardboard, but the horns are a staple of Aréna Glencore du Centre Dave-Keon. Home for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL, Aréna Iamgold was built in 1951 and formerly named after the favorite son of the area and former Toronto Maple Leaf's legend, Dave Keon. The building is as old school as they come and fits the Northern Québec area. However, if there is one thing that the hockey experience in this mining town of 41,000 should be known for, it is the horns the fans play throughout the game. 14. Drummondville Voltigeurs - Centre Marcel-Dionne - 3.14 Dave Cottenie - The Voltigeurs are the second incarnation of major junior hockey in Drummondville. An expansion team in 1982, the Voltigeurs are named after a Quebec-based regiment that fought the Americans in the War of 1812. They followed the original QMJHL team, the Drummondville Rangers, which played from 1969 to 1974. Currently owned by Jean-Guy Rene, Roger Dubois, and Michel Parizeau, the Voltigeurs have enjoyed moderate success, making it to the Memorial Cup 3 times, and winning the President’s Trophy as the top team in the QMJHL in 2009. Their most famous alumni include NHL greats Steve Duschene and Daniel Briere. 15. Victoriaville Tigres - Colisée Desjardins - 3.14 Dave Cottenie - The Victoriaville Tigres is one of those stalwart franchises of the QMJHL. They have been a part of the league since 1987 when they moved from the Montreal suburb of Longueuil to the city known for producing the famous Victoriaville hockey sticks. The Tigres have gone on to see some success in the QMJHL, winning the President’s Cup in 2002 and making an appearance in the Memorial Cup. The Tigres have also produced several solid NHL hockey players including Mathieu Garon, Stephane Fiset, and Matthew Barnaby. Perhaps the most famous Tigre is also one of the biggest busts in NHL history, Alexandre Daigle, who was drafted first overall by the Ottawa Senators. The Tigres play in the city-owned Colisee Desjardins, an older arena that has had a few upgrades over the years. The inner arena is named the Amphitheatre Gilbert-Perreault, after the legendary, Victoriaville native, captain of the Buffalo Sabres. The Quebec bank, Desjardins, purchased the naming rights to the entire building. 16. Charlottetown Islanders - Eastlink Centre - 3.14 Greg Johnston - The Islanders franchise started as the Montreal Rocket, named after legendary Montreal Canadien, Maurice “Rocket” Richard. In 2003, the QMJHL expanded outside Quebec, adding teams in several Maritime cities. With the Rockets experiencing financial woes, the team moved to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and became the PEI Rocket. Excitement for the new team was evident; the first two seasons saw an average attendance of well above 3,000 per game. However, the team struggled on and off the ice in the subsequent years. Attendance steadily decreased, managed only one playoff series win through the 2013 season, and was experiencing financial troubles once again. Charlottetown was in danger of losing its team until a local ownership group stepped in and bought the franchise in 2013. 17. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada - Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau - 3.14 Dave Cottenie - In 2005, the QMJHL expanded to St. John’s, Newfoundland. After a short tenure on the easternmost tip of Canada, the Fog Devils moved to Verdun for a short life as the Montreal Junior. Now Junior has found a new home in another Montreal suburb. For the 2011-12 season, QMJHL saw the birth of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. The Armada are now the only major junior team based in a Montreal suburb. Upon moving to the suburbs north of Montreal, they were renamed the Armada and moved into the new Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau. The arena is named after the Canadian hockey superstore named Pro Hockey Life in English and was built and jointly owned by the municipalities of Blainville and Boisbriand. The Armada may have finally found its niche for junior hockey in Montreal. What they present is simple, yet inviting. N/A Baie-Comeau Drakkar - Centre Henry-Leonard Unfortunately, Stadium Journey does not yet have a review for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. If you are interested in writing a review for Stadium Journey, please contact us.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Jayne Stadium 111 Playforth Place Morehead, KY 40351 Morehead State University website Jayne Stadium website Year Opened: 1964 Capacity: 10,000 Scenic Views and Simple Pleasures Jayne Stadium is home to the Morehead State University Eagles football team. Opened in 1964, the multi-purpose facility also serves as home to the school's women's soccer program. The stadium was named in honor of W.L. Jayne, former administrator, and faculty member. The facility resembles a high school football field, but when in attendance, its location near Poppy Mountain makes the stadium view stand out among voluminous facilities across the country. Food & Beverage 2 In regards to menu options, there is not a copious amount to choose from. However, with the size of the football stadium, you might already be aware of this. What it lacks in diversity, it greatly makes up for in pricing. All items, with the exception of the $8 bag of beef jerky, are priced between $1-$4. You may not even find these prices at a high school football game. The standards are all here: candy, chips, a tub of popcorn, hot dogs, pizza, and walking tacos. The higher premium of selections include brats, Angus works dogs, and barbecue sandwiches. All of the food is served underneath the grandstand at the lone concession stand by individuals who seem as if they are volunteering, just like your parents did when you played high school or little league sports. Atmosphere 4 You cannot blame Morehead State for its surroundings, nestled at the foot of Poppy Mountain. It is an outdoorsman's paradise and it is not hard to view in delight at the many hills that encircle the football stadium. The best time may be in late October or early November when the weather starts to cool off and the leaves are turning crisp yellow and rutilant. The size of the stadium also adds its own piquancy in that it feels like a minor league baseball stadium. Once you enter the stadium there is a small ticket window and souvenir stand that features an array of Morehead paraphernalia. The school's colors of blue and yellow are predominantly featured and former player's jerseys are honored in the rafters. A gentleman I grew up watching, Phil Simms, is one of those men. The seating in the main grandstand is metal bleachers that are painted yellow and blue. The visitors' section on the opposite side stands out sharply with a strong blue hue and larger-than-life yellow M painted in the stands. The team's official mascot does an admirable job of entertaining fans young and old during the game. Neighborhood 3 The Sawstone Brewing Company is less than half a mile from the ballpark and has a great selection of beer and outside, and patio seating. There are also food trucks and Pasquale’s Pizza & Pasta across the street. Customers can bring a pizza or sandwich into the bar and enjoy it with a Kentucky Common or Pale Ale. Eastern Kentucky has many opportunities for outdoor recreation that includes: tubing, skiing, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Daniel Boone National Forest, Cave Run Lake, and Amburgey Rock are worth exploring when in the area. There can be more found on the county’s official website. The school's baseball stadium Allen Field and basketball arena Johnson Arena are adjacent to Jayne Stadium. It is possible to see a football and basketball game during a visit to campus. Fans 3 The feeling of high school football is also evident in the crowd at the game. It is a crowd that is friendly and laid back. It is quite easy to strike up a conversation with a few friends and learn a little bit about the football program. Homecoming games bring out large numbers, but when rivals come into town like Eastern Kentucky, the Eagles see their largest numbers at Jayne Stadium. Access 3 Jayne Stadium is a few miles off I-64, but you get to drive through a few rolling hills and enjoy a little scenery on your way to the stadium. Parking is $5 at the stadium's lot, which may seem a tad on the high side in this neck of the woods. However, a short walk from campus, and there are a few places on campus to park for free. Return on Investment 3 Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $3 for ages 2-12 for every seat in the house. It is a very easy and practical way to sell your product and cheaper than a movie on a weekend night, plus the popcorn is half the price at an Eagles game. Extras 2 What makes a visit to Jayne Stadium are the vivid images that exist from the drive off the interstate and the foothills that envelop the stadium. I had a somewhat limited view before arriving in town, but attending a football game at Morehead State University is a pleasant experience to enjoy if you are in the neighborhood. Final Thoughts Jayne Stadium reminded me somewhat of a high school atmosphere from its single main grandstand to its gameday atmosphere. The highlight is the surrounding hills and the fall colors of the leaves that light up the blue skies with red, yellow, and brown. A nice way to enjoy college football during the season. ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Harbor Park 150 Park Ave Norfolk, VA 23510 Norfolk Tides website Harbor Park website Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 12,059 Ride the Tide to the Ballpark Located on the Elizabeth River in Downtown Norfolk, Virginia, Harbor Park is the home of the Norfolk Tides of the International League. The Tides were a long-running Mets affiliate between 1969 and 2006, but have been the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles since 2007. Originally known as the Tidewater Tides in the broader region, the team changed its name to the Norfolk Tides to honor its home city when the new ballpark opened in 1993. Harbor Park takes its name from Hampton Roads, the natural harbor that divides the region of the same name in two and is located just minutes from the stadium. Fans can see ships of all sizes going up and down the Elizabeth River beyond the outfield fence, from small craft to large ships. Food & Beverage 5 Harbor Park has a strong variety of concessions sold throughout the concourse. In addition to the usual items such as hot dogs, burgers, and chicken nuggets, fans can enjoy pizza slices from local vendor Ynot Pizza, as well as tacos, quesadillas, cheesesteaks, and more. Although soft pretzels are a ubiquitous concession item seen at most baseball stadiums across the country, the ones at Harbor Park are unique in that they are grilled rather than warmed in the usual manner. Fans can enjoy these pretzels topped with salt or cinnamon sugar. Alcohol is also available to those of age, while fans can also enjoy soda and bottled water. Atmosphere 3 Most of the seats at Harbor Park are located below the concourse, although there are a few seats above it further down the lines in addition to the luxury suites closer to home plate. Although the third base seats will be in the sun during the game and can get very hot during the summer, they also offer the best view of the Elizabeth River. Unfortunately, the view has been obstructed somewhat by a large new scoreboard the team constructed in right-centerfield, but it is still one of the best views of any baseball stadium in the nation. The team has the usual between-inning contests on the field, although they do not distract from the game itself. They have two mascots, Rip Tide and Triton, who roam the stands throughout the game interacting with fans. As a nod to Norfolk's nautical location and proximity to several naval bases (and the occasional naval ship passing beyond the outfield fence during the game), a submarine dive horn plays after Tides home runs. Neighborhood 4 Harbor Park is located less than a mile from Downtown Norfolk, where you will find many options to eat, drink, and stay. From bars to steakhouses to Italian eateries to local favorite Ynot Pizza (which also sells its food at the stadium), there is something for everyone here. There are also numerous hotels ranging from the Hilton to more budget options. The Virginia Beach Oceanfront is about 20 to 30 minutes away, although the exact travel time will depend on traffic. Fans 4 The Norfolk Tides draw good attendance to their games, especially on weekends. Firework nights are typically sellout with over 12,000 fans in a standing-room-only crowd. Sundays also draw large crowds, which isn't always the case in minor league baseball, while weekdays will of course draw less. The fans in attendance can be passionate when the Tides have big plays or home runs, but at other times they are more subdued. Of course, it is similar to most minor league parks in this respect. Access 3 Although Harbor Park is located just off I-264, driving here can still be challenging. The highway can have miles-long backups with beach traffic, especially if coming from the other side of the harbor, in which case you will need to cross the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel to get here. There are several large lots near the stadium where fans can park for $6. You may have to park far away if you do not get here early, but you should have a space somewhere. If coming from this side of the harbor, there are some public transit options, although driving access is far easier from this side than the other side. The Tide, that is to say, Norfolk's light rail system, not the baseball team who plays here, has a stop right outside the stadium. A ferry is also available from Portsmouth, across the Elizabeth River, although that does not start running until one hour before the game, the same time gates open, so this may be inconvenient for some fans who want to get here early. Depending on which entrance you use, you will either need to walk up a ramp or some stairs to get to the concourse, though in the case of the latter, an elevator is available for those who require it. Restrooms are available on both sides of the concourse, including a family restroom down the third base line. Like most of minor league baseball, the Tides have a clear bag policy. While this is frustrating, it is to be expected at this point. Return on Investment 3 Tickets are available for between $15 and $16 depending on where you sit. Given the small difference, we suggest paying the extra dollar for lower-level seats rather than sitting above the concourse way down the lines. Unfortunately, the team sells tickets through Ticketmaster, so expect to pay fees that bring this rating down. Parking is $6, which is a bit high but not outrageous given the park's location. Concessions are about average as well. Although there are minor league parks that offer better value, a trip to Harbor Park certainly won't break the bank. Extras 3 One star for the gorgeous view of the Elizabeth River and passing ships beyond the right field fence. A second star for the team store located behind home plate on the concourse. A third and final star for the Tidewater Baseball Hall of Fame just inside the home plate gate, before you go up the stairs to the concourse. Final Thoughts Although traffic can be a nightmare in the summer to get to Harbor Park, once you deal with beach traffic and make it in, you will find that it has all been worth it. A Norfolk Tides game is a family-friendly and affordable way to spend a summer afternoon or evening in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia.

Photos by Stephen Schmidt, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex 1015 E Grand St Springfield, MO 65897 Missouri State Bears website Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex website Year Opened: 1941 Capacity: 16,300 It Takes a Village When it comes to Missouri State University football, tailgating is a pretty big deal. This is a movement that begins and ends with BearFest Village, an area across Grand Street from the Plaster Sports Complex that blossoms in popularity every year, regardless of the team’s success. Some would point to the fact that the village’s growth came as a result from the fact that alcohol is allowed on the premises because technically it’s located off of school grounds (MSU is a dry campus). Others would say that the students and alumni just like to have a good time — and an MSU football game provides a perfect avenue, especially during Homecoming weekend. “I think they do a good job of making it a big event to come back to campus. Homecoming here is a big deal”, said Dave Rush, an MSU alumnus who had been informed that the largest amount of tents in school history had been set up hours before he spoke. The most recent game I attended was the 2013 Homecoming game in which the Bears surprised the nationally ranked South Dakota State Jackrabbits. Music blares. Students and alumni mingle around a collection of tents. Food and drink are consumed with the stadium’s tall western side on the horizon. “It’s more about a school thing than it is about a football thing”, said one MSU student; “We’re just here to support each other and we’re here to have fun.” Food & Beverage 3 The most popular options — and two of the most exotic items — are the barbecued nachos with pulled pork for $6 and the Polish sausage hot dogs for $5. Other selections include regular hot dogs for $4, foot-long hot dogs for $7, and jumbo soft pretzels for $3. The stands serve Pepsi products ranging from $2-$4.50. All five concession stands in the stadium are busy hubs of activity throughout the game. Those who want to grab some grub in the concession stands in the lower concourse have the rare task of climbing stairs up to a platform. No outside food or drink is allowed into the stadium. Atmosphere 3 The view from the top is nice for what it is — especially when the surrounding trees start to erupt into oranges, yellows and (fittingly) maroons. The stadium blends in without much effort to the surrounding academic buildings on its northern side. The playing field is a bit worn down, but the field is scheduled to be replaced following the 2013 season — among other renovations that include the removal of the track and the replacement of the creaky wooden bleachers on the eastern side that are inhabited by MSU students and the school’s band. One nice aspect of the stadium is a lack of advertising, which equates to a clean and simple look. The only permanent ads can be found on the scoreboard near the southern end zone. As far as mascots go, Boomer the Bear is around, but is not a very integral part of the game. Neighborhood 4 The Missouri State campus is located only a couple of blocks from downtown Springfield and all of its amenities — including a large number of bars and restaurants. The hub of activity can be found on South Avenue. One of the more popular sports bars in town, Bair’s All-American Sports Grill, is located a short walk from the stadium at 631 S. Kimbrough Avenue. Ebbets Field is another popular sports bar destination located just north of the MSU campus on East Walnut Street. Fans 3 As evidenced by the crowd at BearFest Village, Missouri State fans love their tailgating. That same passion does not seem to translate into the actual games. Yes, fans do a good a job of wearing the school colors of maroon and white, but they appear to be fairly muted overall. Case in point: At the game I attended, the team was greeted by a relatively modest applause heading into halftime — in spite of the fact that the one-win home team had a 20-0 lead over a nationally ranked South Dakota State squad. Visiting fans are treated well here by often sitting in the lower bleacher seats — as opposed to being put on the other side of the stadium with the band and student section. Access 3 The stadium has ample free parking nearby. The bathroom situation in the lower concourse on the main side is a bit bizarre. To use the restroom on the venue’s southern end you have to go upstairs. On the plus side, you can have a field view and do your business in one of several urinals. Who needs a TV set when you see the real thing? I’m not sure how a handicapped fan would access that bathroom. The stadium has a strange disconnect between the top section, the suite level, and bottom row. The entrance to the lower level nearly puts you on the field. These bleacher seats are very close and intimate seats — and cost the same amount as their counterparts in the upper level. They are definitely the best choice, given that the upper ones are considerably steeper, even if they do offer a great view of the surrounding (flat) landscape. Side note: The labeling of the sections could use some work. At the moment, it relies on the repetition of letters. For example, GGG sits on top of GG, which sits on top of G. That gets confusing. On the negative side, it is difficult to move from the lower level to the suite and upper concourse levels. It’s like an island encased in concrete. From the lower concourse, the only option to get back to the other two levels is to walk out of the gates on the side and go back into the stadium and ascend through a series of ramps. There needs to be a simpler way to go to and fro. Return on Investment 4 The most expensive single-game ticket is $20. Combine that with plenty of free parking and free programs and a Bears game is a very affordable form of family entertainment. BearFest Village is a great place to soak in the atmosphere beforehand. It, too, has no cover charge to enter the grounds. Extras 3 One point is given for signs of Bears history on the poles around the top concourse. It’s a nice touch that gives fans something to look at when roaming the upper grounds. One point is awarded for the ability of being able to see the southern end zone from the urinals in the men’s bathroom. A half point is given for having free programs. Another half point is awarded for having good signage in the lower concourse — even if the layout is less than ideal. Final Thoughts A Missouri State football game brings with it an affordable set of charms and quirks, some of which are more endearing than others. Although the venue is about to undergo a series of renovations, the one I’d like to see the most is the creation of series of passageways that connect the lower concourse, suite level and upper concourse in a clear and concise manner.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Aggie Memorial Stadium Stewart St & Payne St Las Cruces, NM 88003 New Mexico State Aggies website Aggie Memorial Stadium website Year Opened: 1978 Capacity: 30,343 The A is for Aggies Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico opened in 1978, and has a capacity of 30,343. The stadium is dedicated to New Mexico State alumni that served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and features curved banks of seats on the east and west sides, with an opening on the north that leads to the player locker rooms, and box seats and offices built behind the opening on the south. See a quick tour of the stadium here: Food & Beverage 4 Aggie Memorial Stadium has a wide variety of food and beverage options, including local Mexican fare and items featuring green chile, a New Mexico staple. The only challenge is the long lines, so you may want to eat during the first quarter or just before the game starts. The best options are the food trucks and smaller stands on the north side, which include La Ristra’s Mexican ($4-$6 per item), as well as burgers ($9), kettle corn ($6), and cinnamon glazed nuts ($6) – for the latter two, there are smaller stands dotted around the venue that sell only those. There are also main stands on each end of the east and west side, which offer typical fare such as hot dogs, nachos, Frito pies, popcorn, peanuts, and cotton candy for $4-$5 each. Coke products, bottled water and Powerade ($4-$6) are available from the main stands, along with three brands of beer ($7). These are also available from smaller stands that only sell drinks. Atmosphere 4 The on-field action may not always be the greatest, but the staff at Aggie Memorial Stadium puts on a great show with various activities, and the stadium has some unique features. The first thing you might notice is the giant “A” on the mountains overlooking the stadium, which is lit up at night. You will also see a giant banner above the main entrance displaying the Aggie Fight Song, so you never forget the words – if only it could be seen from inside the stadium! The north end zone is also unique, arranged to look like a rock garden with several tiers of desert vegetation, while the south end zone has sorority and fraternity logos displayed on the berm. Besides the unique aesthetics, the staff also plays lots of fun music during breaks in the action, and following every NMSU kickoff, Striking the Wonder Dog (a border collie) runs onto the field to retrieve the kickoff tee, which the fans really seem to enjoy. Fans also ring cowbells (which are sold at the team store) during opposing third downs (and at other times), and it is fun to listen to the announcer change it up by calling for the “third down cow bell”, “rivalry cow bell”, or “overtime cow bell” as occasion may require. Most of the seats are metal bleachers, but there is a very small section on the west side near midfield with grey chair back seats. The worst seats are the general admission section, in each end zone – these are just stone steps without bleachers. Neighborhood 3 Aggie Memorial Stadium is nestled at the intersection of I-10 and I-25 in Las Cruces, and there isn’t much in town besides the university, but there are several restaurants that would make a good pre or post-game hangout. The nearby mall (on University Ave) has plenty of fast food and Mexican options, but also features Dublin’s Street Pub, an upscale Irish restaurant. However, if you are looking for something a little less formal, you might try Whiskey Dicks, a fun country nightclub over on Union Ave. University Ave also has several hotels, such as Sleep Inn or Comfort Suites. If you are from far out of town, the best major airport is in El Paso, about 45 minutes south of NMSU down I-10 – ELP is a great airport to fly into, because the rental cars are on-site. Fans 3 The fans are loud, and most wear maroon. However, tickets are only $12, and students get in for free, so it is a little disappointing that they can’t get the stadium much more than half full even during their biggest game of the year. Access 3 Aggie Memorial Stadium is easy to get to, since it is near two major freeways, and the stadium is easy to get around, thanks to the bridge that now connects the east and west sides. However, some of the water fountains do not work, and the bathrooms are a bit dilapidated – there are regular bathrooms on the east and west sides, but only port-a-potties in the end zones and up top behind the press box. Also, there aren’t really any ramps for the handicapped, so these individuals are limited to a few small areas along the main aisle (between the upper and lower decks on each side). For those without a parking pass, parking is free in certain areas very close to the stadium; for example, at the Tennis Center on the south side. But there aren’t any signs letting you know where to park, so you may have to stop and ask for directions. Return on Investment 5 Aggie Memorial Stadium has some unique features and fun activities, so it is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. Students get in for free, and tickets start at only $12. The only downside is, that price is for the stone step seats, so if you want bleachers (or chair backs), you will have to pay more. But many stadiums charge a lot more than $12 just to sit on the grass, so the experience is hard to beat for the price. Also parking is free, and concessions are reasonable. Plus, the concessions stands on the east and west sides are run by a local charity, so your purchase could get you a partial tax write-off. Extras 3 One point for the A on the mountain, which can be seen for miles. A second point for the décor in the north end zone – the desert plants provide some nice local flair. A third point for the fight song displayed outside the north end zone – this is great for visitors who don’t know the song, and a gentle reminder for locals who should. Final Thoughts Aggie Memorial Stadium is a nice little stadium that provides a fun experience, but the venue could use some minor improvements, and a few more fans in attendance – addressing these two issues would make a good experience great.

Photos by Aaron S.Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Sun Bowl Stadium Sun Bowl Dr El Paso, TX 79968 UTEP Miners website Sun Bowl Stadium website Year Opened: 1963 Capacity: 51,500 The Sun Needs to Rise Sun Bowl Stadium opened in 1963, and has hosted the UTEP Miners football team, as well as the annual NCAA Sun Bowl (for which the venue was named), ever since. The Miners previously played at Kidd Field, which is next door and is now used for tailgating before games – Kidd Field only seats 15,000, however, so a new stadium was needed in order for El Paso to get the bowl game. Sun Bowl Stadium currently holds 51,500, but rarely fills up, given the Miners’ on-field performance. It does have some unique features, however, including being able to see Mexico from inside the stadium. Food & Beverage 5 The concessions are by far the best thing about Sun Bowl Stadium. There are plenty of food options, including several varieties of local cuisine, as well as hot drinks, cold drinks, and 5 brands of beer. The main stands offer a limited selection, including hot dogs and smoked sausage, but specialty stands all along the concourse offer additional fare such as burritos, gorditas, brats, burgers, pizza, loaded nachos, brisket, and pulled pork. Prices for these items range from $4 to $10.50. In addition to the main dishes, the generic stands also offer nachos and popcorn, while the specialty stands have churros, funnel cake, pretzels, Cracker Jack, peanuts, kettle corn, corn in a cup or chips in a cup, and cinnamon-glazed nuts; these items will cost between $3.50 and $7 per item. Unlike many college stadiums, Sun Bowl Stadium does sell alcohol (probably because it was built to host bowl games). The five varieties for sale are Bud, Bud Light, Tecate, Coors Light, and Miller Lite ($9 for a 24-ounce can). Non-alcoholic selections include Coke products, bottled water, coffee, cappuccino, and hot cocoa. The soda comes either in bottles or from the fountain, depending on which stand you purchase from. Soda and water will cost between $3.50 and $6.50, depending on size, and hot drinks will run $3 to $5, also depending on size. I am not sure I can recommend the burgers. At $10.50, including chips, they are certainly massive, but have a lot of bun and a disappointing amount of toppings – the burrito or gorditas may be a better choice. Atmosphere 3 Sun Bowl Stadium has several unique features, but is pretty empty during most games. Outside the stadium, there is a giant “M” on the mountain (for “Miners”), also a neat multi-colored light sculpture which can be seen best at night. The stadium itself was built into the mountain, and you can see how the rock was carved away to make room for the stands – this is most obvious on the east side. Check out the video for a quick tour of the facility: The band does some unique formations; for example, making the pick-axe the mascot is famous for. And like many venues, the staff shoots off fireworks after scores, and does a really impressive display after a win. Also, before the team enters the field, in addition to blowing smoke, they shoot off sparks – reminiscent of a welder, or maybe a pick-axe striking rock? The sparks are turned off just before the team comes on the field (which is nice, because we wouldn’t want the players to get burned). Sun Bowl Stadium is built in a bowl design with an open south end – instead of seats, there the team name is painted on the cement. The scoreboard is also on the south end, so all of the seats face it, which makes it easy to see replays. There is also a walkway around the top of the bowl, so you are free to walk around and watch the game from multiple vantage points, or look down on Mexico, which can be seen through the open south end. Neighborhood 3 Sun Bowl Stadium is a little isolated, but is near UTEP’s campus. It is also the closest FBS stadium to Mexico, in case you literally want to cross the border. Most of the restaurants near Sun Bowl Stadium are fast food places spread out along Mesa Street, but there are a couple of upscale places that would make a good hangout before or after the game. The Hoppy Monk is within walking distance of the stadium, and offers myriad craft beers, as well as cigars, wine, and multiple varieties of whiskey and scotch. Landry’s Seafood is further away (on Gateway Blvd West), but is a popular chain with multiple locations in the southwest. The most popular attractions near El Paso are outdoor activities such as the scenic overlooks or the Wyler Aerial Tramway, which offers breathtaking views of the local landscape. If you have time (and your passport), you may also want to visit Mexico, but pay attention to travel advisories. The small group tours are probably your safest bet – they last a couple of hours and allow plenty of opportunities for shopping and sightseeing. There are plenty of hotels in El Paso – Sun Bowl Stadium is a bowl game destination after all. And while there are none within sight of the stadium itself, there are plenty as you head east toward the airport, or west toward New Mexico. Fans 2 The fans who attend cheer loudly and wear team colors, but there aren’t very many of them. The stadium typically looks pretty empty, with an average attendance of well under half-full. At some games, the staff hands out promotional items, such as noisemakers from local sponsors, and it is rather embarrassing when there are way more giveaways than fans. Access 3 Getting around Sun Bowl Stadium is a little odd – parking is free in some areas, but is not very accessible, and some of the bathrooms are inconveniently located. There are several parking lots right next to Sun Bowl Stadium, but they are reserved for those with passes, and are very empty, which is sort of a waste. There is free parking beyond those lots, which is not too far from the stadium, but the entrances on the freeway side are blocked off for some odd reason, so you have to drive all the way around to Mesa Street to access them – it might help traffic flow if you could enter on both sides. If you don’t have a pass and don’t want to walk, there is a parking deck next to the stadium where you can park for $10, but I never recommend parking in decks because they are too hard to get out of. You can enter the stadium from either the north side or the south side, but the south side is probably closer to parking for most fans. There are plenty of bathrooms in the stadium to accommodate the crowd, but some of them are actually under the concourse, so you have to take the stairs to get to them – weird. But the concourse is plenty wide, and has some unique architecture you can look at while you walk around. Also there are plenty of tunnels that lead to the seats, so it is easy to get to and from the concessions. Return on Investment 2 Tickets to UTEP football games are dirt cheap, but unfortunately that does not help draw a crowd. Tickets can be had for less than $13, including Ticketmaster fees, and in fact, the fees are more than the tickets – $5 face value, with the rest going to fees, which means if you buy at the door you would save some money. That said, attendance is severely lacking, so for all the great concessions and unique features, the market isn’t supportive of even that low of a cost. Which is a shame, because the stadium is worth a visit, if not for the team than for its uniqueness. Extras 2 Being able to see Mexico is certainly a rarity, and the architecture is interesting, especially seeing the solid rock that was carved away to make room for the stands. Final Thoughts I do think Sun Bowl Stadium is worth a visit, so unless your favorite team is coming to town, I would recommend attending the bowl game here instead of a Miners home game – the atmosphere should be a lot better in December.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Johnny ‘Red’ Floyd Stadium 1500 Greenland Drive Murfreesboro, TN 37130 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders website Johnny ‘Red’ Floyd Stadium website Year Opened: 1933 Capacity: 30,788 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders – Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium The Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) first took to the gridiron way back in 1911. Current Head Coach Rick Stockstill is one of the longest-tenured head coaches in the FBS, taking the top spot in Murfreesboro in 2006. In that time the Blue Raiders won their most recent of their 13 conference championships, and have made 9 bowl game appearances. Since 1934 they have called the stalwart Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium their home. Named for two-time former head football (and one-time former head basketball) coach Johnny “Red” Floyd, the stadium is located right on the lush campus of Middle Tennessee State University. It has seen several renovations over the years, with the most recent taking place in 2019 with the addition of the Blue Raider Beer Garden in the South End Zone. The Blue Raiders have remained competitive since moving to Conference USA. Floyd Stadium definitely shows its age, but is still a respected stop among its conference peers – read to learn my thoughts. Food & Beverage 3 When it comes to concessions, for the most part it’s a straightforward affair at Floyd Stadium. Hot dogs, popcorn, soft pretzels, candy, fountain drinks, and bottled water are the standard offerings. All of these can be had for just $4, which is not too shabby. There are several kiosks featuring these offerings on both the home and visitor sides of the stadium. This is fine, but what keeps the score from being lower are the aforementioned Blue Raider Beer Garden, which serves unique craft beers from Steel Barrel Brewery (including a blue beer), and the Zaxby’s stands, which are also on both the home and visitor sides of the stadium. Ubiquitous in the south, Zaxby’s is known for its fried chicken, and the stands at Floyd Stadium offer box meals featuring either four of their chicken strips or one of their chicken sandwiches, chips, a cookie, a drink, and one of their signature dipping sauces for $12. If you want something beyond a hot dog during the game, this is your only option. Atmosphere 3 As mentioned (and honestly this will be a running theme), Floyd Stadium is an older facility. It’s a classical design with lots of open areas and lots of bleacher seating in most areas. I’ve already mentioned the Beer Garden, which is really a high point for the stadium. Fans in this section can not only eat and drink at field level, but they are right on top off the visiting team’s tunnel. Things can get pretty lively here, as you might imagine. In the north end of the stadium is the Family Fun Zone, a carnival-like area with face-painting, bounce houses, and games. It’s a great area for the whole family, but especially for younger fans. This is often an area that gets neglected in the college arena, so it’s nice to see MTSU taking this into consideration. Whenever MTSU scores, be it touchdown, field goal, or even extra point, the stadium lights dim off and on, which is a pretty neat effect. Another atmospheric point of interest is how MTSU has added signage to celebrate their conference championships to the exterior of the stadium, and signage for the bowl appearances inside. They also have the numbers of their retired players (I was fortunate to be there for the retirement ceremony of Kevin Byard’s number) on the exterior of the press box. These are just added reminders of how long and sustained the program’s success has been. Neighborhood 3 Murfreesboro is about a 40-minute drive south/southeast of Nashville. While a fairly large town, with a population over 150,000, Murfreesboro is still a college town with MTSU and the Blue Raiders at its core. If you’re heading in for a game at Floyd Stadium and are looking to do some activities in town (rather than heading into Music City), there are sites to see in Murfreesboro. For history buffs this area of the state has plenty to offer you. The area was a major theater during the Civil War and there are important sites across the region, including Stones River National Battlefield. Fought on the last day of 1862, it was one of the fiercest battles of the entire war and changed the complexion of the clash between the Union and the Confederacy. Families traveling in for the game will want to make time to stop by and visit the Earth Experience – Middle Tennessee Museum of Natural History. This is the first natural history museum in middle Tennessee, and it has some real treasures amongst its collections. Dinosaurs, rocks, gems, and other fossils collected from across the state are all on display for visitors. If you’re looking for a bite to eat before or after Blue Raiders games at Floyd Stadium, you really can’t go wrong with Tennessee barbecue; Slick Pig BBQ is one of the best restaurants in Murfreesboro. With specialties including barbecue pork, chopped chicken, and hickory smoked wings, you won’t go away hungry. One other spot I’d like to point out, for those that enjoy a good craft beer, is Mayday Brewery. Specializing in craft beer and craft pizza, Mayday Brewery is all about having a good time, enjoying a good bite and good beer, and making new friends. Fans 2 Middle Tennessee State has averaged just a hair under 16,000 fans per game at Floyd Stadium in recent years. This ranks them near the bottom of Conference USA, which is a shame considering how successful the program has been. I was honestly looking forward to seeing what the crowd had in store for my visit. With MTSU coming off a monumental win and taking on a big conference opponent, on paper this promised to be a big crowd. Alas, it was not, and I could not help but be a bit disappointed. The student section was fairly full and the Beer Garden was packed, but you could not help but notice how empty most of the rest of the stadium was. To be fair the game I attended was a Friday night game and not a traditional Saturday tilt, so that may have skewed attendance some. Access 2 Getting to Murfreesboro and Floyd Stadium, unless you’re a resident of the state, is not super easy. As mentioned it is about a 40-minute drive from Nashville. That’s the good part; Nashville International Airport is one of the busiest in the country, so you won’t have a problem flying in from wherever you happen to reside. The stadium is clearly visible once you get near the MTSU campus (which is clearly marked off MTSU Blvd), and there is ample parking in the lots surrounding the stadium. The city does have a public transportation option, but it stops running at 5pm on Fridays, so if you don’t want to drive a rideshare is your only option. Return on Investment 3 Single-game tickets for MTSU games at Floyd Stadium can be had for as little as $8 per person (depending on the game, of course). This is an incredible bargain for an FBS team that has a really strong track record of success. When it comes to parking, as just mentioned above there are ample spots in lots surrounding the stadium. Best of all, the vast majority of these lots are free to the public. If you combine this with the low-cost for the concessions (I didn’t even mind springing the extra for the Zaxby’s), you’re getting a fantastic bargain at Floyd Stadium. Extras 3 On gamedays MTSU brings out all of the regular accoutrements of college football to enhance the experience for their fans. It starts with MTSU’s Band of Blue, who lead the team out at the start of the game, play endlessly throughout, and entertain at halftime. The Blue Raider Cheerleaders and Dance Team are always on hand to interact with the fans and perform during breaks in the action. There is also the team’s mascot, the winged, blue horse Lightning. Always around for photo ops, Lightning is a fan favorite, especially among young MTSU fans. These are all in addition to the previously discussed Family Fun Zone and Blue Raider Beer Garden, which are also great additions for fans to check out. Final Thoughts While I was admittedly disappointed by the turnout, I was happy overall with my visit to Murfreesboro, MTSU, and Floyd Stadium. This is a beautiful part of the country and a great, old-school venue, the likes of which I’m personally a fan of. I would not say that anyone needs to add this venue to their bucket list, by any means. However, if you’re a fan of college football, you can’t beat the price you pay to attend Blue Raiders games at Floyd Stadium. Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477. Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 FIU Football Stadium 11200 SW 8th St Miami, FL 33199 Florida International Panthers website FIU Stadium website Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 20,000 Miami’s On-Campus Football Experience Nearly 10 years removed from their short glory days with Mario Cristobal at the helm, the FIU Panthers find themselves mired in mediocrity once again. Despite jumping from the lowly Sun Belt Conference to Conference USA, FIU’s college football experience still seems a little forced. Fans show up more because they may have friends who go to FIU and they want to hang out, instead of coming to see D-I football on the field. In the past, when the fans showed up, FIU football could be exciting and energetic. Unfortunately, as with most sports teams in South Florida, they don’t show up now, especially when the team only wins a handful of games each season, and isn’t bowl eligible most of the time. FIU Stadium opened in 1995 and was gradually renovated over the years, most recently in 2012 with the addition of new concessions stands, the enclosure of the north side of the bleachers, and the addition of an upper bowl of seats. It is a stadium that most lower-tier teams would be envious of having, especially on campus. Sadly, it sits empty most days, even when games are being played on national TV. Food & Beverage 4 FIU is in the middle of a flavorful area of Miami, with great food on every corner – the fare at FIU Stadium reflects that. Prices are average and affordable, and the food is varied. From the burgers and hot dogs that are standard in sports arenas to the arepas vendors that set up on the upper concourse of the stadium, there is no shortage of food choices. Add to this various beer tap vendors around the stadium that serve both nationally known and local favorites, and you can easily find yourself something to eat at the game without breaking your bank. Currently, part of the stadium is being expanded, with new food options coming soon behind the suite elevators on the lower level. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere at FIU Stadium isn’t exactly top notch, but it is improving. The fans, when they do show up, are not exactly hardcore. Many are seen arriving wearing Miami, Florida State, or Florida Gators colors. The fraternities are the biggest FIU supporters, but they only comprise so many fans. While tailgating may be decent outside, some people have been known to arrive at games to set up camp outside, and then stay down in the parking lot to watch a bigger game on their portable TVs while FIU is playing just steps away. With improved performance comes improved attendance and bigger teams to play, but ultimately FIU is a show that lacks at this time. When a high school rivalry game packs more fans into the stadium and leads to bigger roars to be heard than the college that plays there on a regular basis, it’s hard to take the team seriously as a contender for top entertainment when compared to bigger stadiums. The facility itself is nice though – a stadium enclosed on all sides with a fully walkable upper concourse and giant video scoreboard is what many teams out there would envy, particularly with it being located on campus. Also, all the seats have backs to them as well, a bonus other stadiums cannot boast. Neighborhood 3 FIU’s athletic fields are on campus, which makes it convenient. Unlike stadiums in the middle of a city, there is a sense of security on campus as you are seemingly separated from the rest of the neighborhood around it. However, there still remains the issue of how that surrounding neighborhood looks, and it isn’t exactly the best in Miami. Sweetwater is a town known for political corruption and severe street flooding during hurricanes, and not much else. Put a college campus in the middle of it, and you have FIU. For lodging, one option is Aloft Miami Doral just to the north. For those with a wanting for higher society, Trump National Doral is also located north of campus and within driving distance. For food there is a Five Guys across the street, while the Chili’s on campus offers an alternative to fast food. For something to do with the family when it isn’t game day, both Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve are due west on the same road that FIU’s campus is located on (SW 8th Street). In addition, the Miccosukee Casino is also west of campus, about 10 minutes away. Fans 2 Fans, when they show up, are energetic – it is college after all. However, getting them to show up is another big ask for a results-driven city fan base. FIU Stadium has seen very few packed-to-the-gills games since FIU began playing here. Perhaps that says something about the fan base, or lack of, at FIU games. Access 3 Getting to FIU Stadium isn’t too hard, but traffic can sometimes be problematic. As is typical in Miami, traffic backs up right around the exits nearest FIU’s campus on a daily basis. If you find yourself hoping to get to a game and rush hour happens to have lasted a little longer on that day, you may be in for a late arrival. But parking is plentiful right outside the stadium gates, thanks to the county fairgrounds right next-door. Parking here is usually $20 with multiple lots and garages around campus offering alternative options as well. Return on Investment 2 As far as FIU Stadium’s entertainment value goes, the team’s performance doesn’t help its case – the campus is growing and bustling, but the football games aren’t. Also, with a road-weary commuter school student body, getting students to games isn’t their strongest suit either. When you want to see college football, you want a rowdy student section and passionate fans. At FIU, you may get a free t-shirt for going and the ability to seeD-I football played, but that’s about it. Extras 3 For students, FIU has a program called Panther Points, rewarding students for attending athletic events throughout the year. At certain points, fans with the most points are rewarded with computers, scholarships, and other prizes. For fans, a t-shirt giveaway may be at random games. At some games, FIU has shot off fireworks that go along with various themed nights, such as Star Wars night. The team also shoots off a cannon every time FIU scores points. Another neat feature is the touchdown cannon; every time the team scores, the cannon goes off and the FIU ROTC does pushups for each point the Panthers have scored. Final Thoughts From their continued effort to force a rivalry with UM where none exists, to their lack of fans at home games, FIU is a team with some work to do. Despite this, there remains potential for growth, and if all goes well the Panthers at FIU Stadium have the ability to become a huge draw down south once again.

Tonight we are joined by Tim Parks, the founder of the Major League Baseball Ballpark Passport Program, a product which helps fans chronicle their ballpark travels. Audio versions of the Stadium Journey podcast can be found by searching HIAC Talk Radio wherever you look for your favorite podcasts. Video simulcasts of all the Stadium Journey podcasts can be found on Stadium Journey's YouTube page. Join us live as we record every other Tuesday night at 7PM eastern at danlaw.tv.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Meade Stadium Keaney Ave. Kingston, RI 02881 Rhode Island Rams football website Meade Stadium website Year Opened: 1928 Capacity: 6,555 Rhode Trip Meade Stadium, home of the University of Rhode Island Rams football team, is located on the URI campus in Kingston, Rhode Island. It is named after class of 1915 alum, booster, and local politician John E. “Jack” Meade, who was rumored to never have missed a home game from the time he attended URI until his death in 1972. Meade Stadium opened in 1928 and has gone through numerous renovations over its history. The most recent improvements have included the construction of the west grandstand and locker rooms as part of the Thomas J. Ryan Center in 2000, a massive renovation to the press box in 2003 and the installation of a new synthetic turf field and lighting in 2019. Football teams have represented URI since 1895. A longtime member of Division 1-AA/FCS, the Rams have qualified for the playoffs on three occasions, most recently in 1985. URI football now competes in the Colonial Athletic Association alongside other eastern universities. 20 Rams alumni have played in the National Football League. Food & Beverage 4 The concessions at Meade Stadium are a mix of permanent stands, pop-up tents and food trucks. The stands inside the Ryan Center directly behind the west grandstand are open for Ram football games. In addition to these stands, Rhody Eats (the URI dining service) operates some pop-up tents which sell specialty hot dogs and sausage sandwiches. Menu variety is achieved by the placement of several food trucks scattered around the south end zone. During Stadium Journey’s most recent visit, food trucks offering BBQ, tacos, mac and cheese and of course, this being Rhode Island, lobster rolls were on display. Pepsi products are sold at Meade Stadium. Certain stands have beer and wine available. In addition to national brands Bud Light and Michelob Ultra, local favorites from Narragansett and Whalers brewery are featured. Atmosphere 3 A football game at basic Meade Stadium in rural Kingston, Rhode Island isn’t the place to go for an extravagant game day experience. What you’ll get at a URI football game is exactly what feels right here. It’s a laid back, simple and enjoyable place to spend a fall afternoon. All the elements college football fans would expect to find at a small stadium can be found at Meade Stadium. The pep band performs throughout the afternoon, along with the cheerleaders and dance squad. There’s a decent turnout by the student body, but they don’t really add much to the gameday atmosphere. A Rams crowd is full of alumni and families rooting hard for the team down on the field. A simple scoreboard in the south end zone displays basic game information. Music plays over a solid sound system when the band isn’t playing. A unique feature about coming to Meade Stadium is that you’ll want to be in the shady west stands early in the season, but in the sunny east stands later in the year as the weather cools. Neighborhood 2 Given the University of Rhode Island’s rural location, there are not many dining or lodging options available adjacent to Meade Stadium. Those willing to travel a short distance will find many restaurants or places of interest nearby. The Mews Tavern in nearby Wakefield boasts 69 beers on taps and an extensive bar menu. It is a favorite of the student body. The Matunuck Oyster Bar is a favorite for locally sourced seafood. In addition, Narragansett, located 8 miles to the south, Newport, 16 miles to the east, and Providence, 29 miles to the north, offer a wide variety of dining, lodging, and tourist options for the adventurous football fan. There are no lodging options directly adjacent to the URI campus, so fans looking to stay near URI overnight will need to look elsewhere. There are some options in nearby South Kingstown (yes, Kingston and Kingstown are two different places) and beyond. Fans looking to make a weekend of their trip to URI would be advised to check out Newport or Providence, both short drives from campus. Fans 3 Attendance at Rhode Island football games has been on the rise in recent seasons along with the improvement of the Rams. Traditionally Rhode Island averages between 5,000-6,000 fans per game, which is a bit below the CAA average. There is a decent turnout from the student body, even if they don’t add a whole lot to the game day atmosphere. The majority of the crowd at Meade Stadium consists of locals and alumni who have been coming to Kingston for years. Rhode Island is a small state, after all, and it doesn’t take long to get to URI, no matter from what part of the state you are coming. Access 3 Meade Stadium is located on the western side of the URI campus in Kingston, Rhode Island. The small town of Kingston is located 29 miles south of Providence and 20 minutes south of T.F. Green Airport. Driving to Kingston from Providence will take you about 40 minutes on a normal Saturday. The campus is located on Route 138, approximately a 10-mile drive from I-95 as it passes through southern Rhode Island. The URI campus is well-served by public transportation, with several RIPTA bus routes serving the campus from Providence. In addition, the Kingstown train station is about two miles away from campus, with Amtrak making regular stops at the station. Parking around Meade Stadium is plentiful and inexpensive. Lots that permit tailgating are located next to the stadium. It will cost $15 for a tailgating permit. Parking lots further away from Meade Stadium are free of charge. The tailgating scene at URI is decidedly laid back. Fans will enter Meade Stadium via one of three entrances located around the facility. Seating at Meade Stadium consists of a large grandstand on the east side of the stadium and a smaller grandstand on the west side. Seating in the east grandstand consists of metal bleachers without backs. This is not the most accessible seating area you’ll come across. The old wooden grandstand features lots of stairs, high steps and unpaved walkways. The newer west grandstand is attached to the Ryan Center, with individual stadium seats in the center sections. The two sides of the facility are connected via a walkway on the south side of the stadium. There is plenty of standing room here, as well as tents available at field level. The amenities at Meade Stadium vary depending on which side of the stadium you are sitting. Concession stands and rest rooms on the west side of the stadium are older but will still meet your needs. On the east side of the stadium, the concession stands and rest rooms are located inside the Ryan Center. These are much more modern and plentiful. Return on Investment 4 Rhode Island football games are divided into two categories: Standard and Premium. Ticketing for Standard games is priced at $20 per ticket for general admission bleacher seating in the east grandstand, $30 for reserved bleacher seats in the west grandstand and $35 for reserved individual seats in the west grandstand. All ticket prices are increased by $10 for Premium games, which are generally the Alumni/Family weekends. Parking is available in the many lots on either side of Meade Stadium. Many lots are designated as free lots. If you wish to park in one of the tailgating lots closest to the stadium, permits for these lots cost $15. Extras 2 The cannon which is fired after all Rams scores has moved to a corner of the north end zone but is still a prominent feature at Meade Stadium. Fans of the nearby New England Patriots may think of the crew donning Revolutionary War-era garb as a scaled-down version of Gillette Stadium’s end zone militia. Banners hanging along the back of the north end zone honor Ram All-Americans, conference titles and tournament appearances. Final Thoughts Meade Stadium, originally constructed in 1928, is an interesting mix of old and new. Whether you sit in the shady new stands attached to the Ryan Center or the older grandstand basking in the sun, a fall afternoon in Kingston is guaranteed to be a laid-back, comfortable experience. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.