Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Memorial Gymnasium 1201 Lions Path Rushville, IN 46173 Rushville High School website Memorial Gymnasium website Year Opened: 1926 Capacity: 2,600 A Century of High School Basketball in Rushville Memorial Gymnasium in Rushville, Indiana, has been a centerpiece of high school basketball for a century. Today, it serves as the home court for the Rushville Consolidated High School Lions. Despite being 100 years old , the 2,600-seat gym remains in excellent condition, having been carefully preserved over the decades.  The gymnasium’s origins date back to 1925, when community leaders formed the Rushville High School Athletic Corporation to raise funds for a dedicated basketball facility. Through the sale of special bonds, the group collected $27,000 toward the project.  The gym was completed the following year at a total cost of $80,000 and was fully paid off by 1944 using revenue from ticket sales. Originally designed to seat 5,000 spectators, the venue was renovated in 1988, reducing its capacity to about half that number. The first varsity game was held on February 5, 1926, in front of 4,000 spectators with a 32-21 victory over Greensburg. Memorial Gymnasium quickly became an important venue for tournament play, hosting sectional games from 1926 to 1971, regional contests from 1926 to 1958, and county tournaments from 1926 to 1968. Its presence elevated Rushville’s status as a basketball destination for many years. Both the boys’ basketball programs experienced tremendous success while calling the gym home. They captured 56 sectional titles, 19 regional championships, and one semi-state title. The boys’ team made its only state finals appearance in 1976, falling in a close 82–76 game to Marion High School.  Meanwhile, the ladies have won a state record 33 sectional championship titles, with 18 consecutive between 1980 and 1997. They reached the championship game four times, most recently in 2010, when the fell to Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran 59-48. In addition, the gym played an important role in student life, housing physical education classes when the original high school was located six blocks away. One of its most unusual features was a rifle range beneath the north bleachers, where participants would lie prone and shoot at targets—an uncommon but memorable use of the facility. Food & Beverage 3 There is a concession stand in the lobby that offers freshly popped popcorn. Fans can grab a bag from the machine while waiting in line, then grab a bottle of Pepsi products before heading to the main stand for more items. These food options include soft pretzels, hot dogs, candy, and Pizza King pizza by the slice. These food options include soft pretzels, hot dogs, candy, and Pizza King pizza by the slice. All food options are in the price range of $2 to $4, and they accept cash and credit cards. Atmosphere 3 What Memorial Gym lacks in size, it more than compensates for with charm and a sense of history. It stands as a classic example of gymnasiums from an earlier era, once common before the sprawling facilities of the 1950s and 1960s became the norm. The small-town atmosphere is unmistakable in the moments leading up to the varsity game. The band assembles on the stage while fans drift in from the main entrance, making their way to their seats. The anticipation builds steadily—soon, it will be time for tip-off. The varsity team charges onto the court, followed closely by cheerleaders waving flags. The crowd rises as one, clapping and cheering for the Lions. The band erupts with energy as players are introduced over the P.A. system. Home supporters fill much of the seating, visiting fans gather in their designated section, and the student section packs in behind the baskets opposite the stage. The bleachers, crafted from blonde wood and meticulously maintained, form a horseshoe that rises 15 rows from the floor. Though modest in size, the seating arrangement creates an ideal basketball environment. When the crowd comes alive, the intensity is palpable, giving the home team a formidable advantage. Near the entrance, a glass display case preserves memorabilia from the former Rush County schools, with items dating back to the 1930s. Gym shoes, varsity sweaters, belted shorts, photographs, and the Good Luck Horseshoe—once awarded to the Rush County Tournament champion—offer a tangible connection to the past. Above the entryway, the original gymnasium blueprint serves as a final reminder of the building’s enduring legacy. Neighborhood 3 The gymnasium is in a residential neighborhood one mile north of downtown; there are a few places to visit before the game. The revitalized area features 19th-century buildings and includes Fish Moon Brewing . The popular gathering places offer IPAs and pub food, and across the street is th e Princess Theatre (built in 1917), which shows movies and concerts. P izza King is one of my guilty pleasures; their pies are cracker-thin and can be served with crumbled sausage or pepperoni. Just north of the gymnasium are fast food chains and restaurants; however, there are a couple of local places worth visiting. Just Rite serves burgers, chicken sandwiches, tenderloins, and salads. Mezcal Bar & Gril l offers a full bar and generous servings of Mexican cuisine. Fans 4 The fans quickly fill their seats inside the gymnasium and stand and cheer for the team as they march onto the playing court. The game has been embedded in the community for over a century, and generations of fans have attended games in the facility since 1926. There are many stories to pass on to a younger audience, and the mix of people inside varies in age. Access 3 The town of Rushville is located 40 miles southwest of Indianapolis on SR-52, a very nice drive through a few small towns in the state. The city is also 17 miles from I-74 at the Shelbyville exit. Inside, the arena access is quite efficient, and bathrooms and concessions are located in the lobby. Return on Investment 3 The price of an adult ticket is $6, along the same lines as many other high school basketball gymnasiums, and well worth the price of admission. The concession prices are low, and whenever you can watch a game in a historic facility, it is always well worth the investment. Extras 4 The gymnasium is in magnificent condition; the seats are refurbished, the lighting is sharp, the floor was installed in 2025, and the sightlines are extra close. The exterior is in spotless condition as well after 90 years of high school basketball. The court is named after former women's coach Cinda Rice Brown . She coached the Lady Lions to a 448-109 record between 1969 and 2000. Her teams captured 33 sectional championships (a record 18 straight) and made three state finals appearances during her tenure. The court was named in her honor in 2016. It is among the oldest gymnasiums still being used for high school basketball in the state of Indiana, perhaps even the country. The intimacy and proximity of the stands to the court provide a time capsule to the old-fashioned design of gyms of yesteryear. The Lions offer free gameday programs. They are filled with local ads and players' stats, and provide a nice keepsake from the game. Final Thoughts Memorial Gymnasium is the second-oldest facility still in regular use for high school basketball in the state of Indiana. After 90 years of service, the place is in fantastic condition and a pleasant diversion for a comfortable night of basketball. Many of these facilities are no longer in use and lie vacant, only for us to imagine what it must have been like; fortunately, that is not the case here in Rushville.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Meridian Centre 1 David Hawes Way St. Catherines, ON L2R 0B3 Brock University website Meridian Centre website Year Opened : 2014 Capacity : 4,030 Seeing Red Several USports rivalry games have received plenty of recent attention. The opportunity to draw a larger crowd at an off-campus venue is attractive and can be very successful when run correctly. Ottawa’s Panda Game, Kingston’s Carr-Harris Cup , Guelph’s Frosty Mug , and Calgary’s Crowchild Classic are among the most elite. St. Catharines, Ontario, and Brock University have their own. In basketball, once a year, the Brock Badgers "Paint the Meridian Red." Established in 2015, Brock has hosted a handful of different teams at the Meridian Centre. After a brief hiatus, the 2025-26 season saw the Brock Badgers host the 8th Paint the Meridian Red event. The last three events have been against the McMaster Marauders. Paint the Meridian Red is hosted at Meridian Centre in St. Catharines, home of the Niagara IceDogs  of the OHL. Built in 2014 by the City of St. Catharines, the arena was necessary to keep the OHL team in the city. The capacity for basketball at Meridian Centre is 4,030, much higher than the capacity of 1,000 of Bob Davis Gymnasium on campus, making the Paint the Meridian Red event a highlight on the Brock athletic calendar. Food & Beverage 3 Meridian Centre has a decent selection of concession items.  However, since the attendance at the Paint the Meridian Red event is significantly below capacity, several stands in the main concourse were closed at the time of writing.  Simple concession selections, including pizza, popcorn, nachos, hot dogs, and burgers, are available.  Coca-Cola products are the soft drink of choice at the Meridian Centre.  There is a decent selection of alcoholic beverages available, including local Bench Brewing items, Landshark, Carlsberg, Kronenburg and Happy Dad seltzers.  There is also a bar and social area at the east end, on the floor.  At courtside and in the club sections, there is an expanded menu with items that are made fresh. Atmosphere 4 The exterior of Meridian Centre is fairly simple, with silver siding on the upper portion and brown brick on the lower portion, with blue Meridian Centre highlights.  Entry into Meridian Centre from St. Paul Street will take fans across the Rankin Gateway bridge and bring them into the fifth level of the building. Fans will descend a couple of staircases down to the third level for the main concourse.   The main concourse is typical of many OHL arenas with an open concept behind the main seating bowl.  The floor is west-east oriented with the best view of the centre logo from the south.  The basketball court is pushed to the west end, which makes end seating sightlines much better than a centre configuration.  In the east end, there is a bar and social area at floor level, along with the DJ booth.  Seating in Meridian Centre consists of a lower bowl, with the east end curtained off, and an upper bowl with club seating at the west end and suites along the north and south sides.  A simple, four-sided videoboard hangs above centre court with a simple scoreclock above it.  Old hockey banners from the championships of the St. Catharines Black Hawks and St. Catharines Teepees, as well as honoured members, hang in the west end.  IceDogs banners also hang at the west end.  The St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame is in the east concourse; however, it was unavailable for this event. The gameday production for Paint the Meridian Red is solid.  The event is a doubleheader with the Badgers women’s basketball team taking the court, followed by the men.  At halftime of both games, the Brock BLK Dance Team performed, and a minor team played a few minutes of a mini-game.  Ridley College, a local private school, provided a band that also played during halftime.  The Brock Cheer Team took part in the player introductions and performed stunts on the court during breaks in the play.  Boomer the Badger, the Brock mascot, also took part in pre-game festivities and roamed the sidelines, interacting with fans.  During breaks in play, Brock also recognized past coaches who will be inducted into the Brock Sports Hall of Fame and presented a cheque to Brock Student Union for the charity donation from the Paint the Meridian Red event. Neighbourhood 4 Meridian Centre is located in Downtown St. Catharines.  Although not the most photogenic area, there are a number of spots for pre- and post-game food and drink.  This is a selling point for the students to attend Paint the Meridian Red as they line up outside the bars after the game is over.  Some options include Merchant Ale House, Brass Monkey Local, The Office Tap and Grill, 194 Bourbon and Smoke, and Fiddler’s Pour House.  Meridian Centre is the regular home of the Niagara IceDogs  and the CEBL’s Niagara River Lions.  Other sporting options in the area include the St. Catharines Falcons of the GOHL, Niagara Ironbacks baseball, St. Catharines Athletics  , and Brock Badgers hockey .  The Badgers regularly play on campus at Bob Davis Gymnasium .  Other tourist options include the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, Welland Canal, Centennial Gardens, Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm, and the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame.  There are a ton of other options in nearby Niagara Falls and several wineries in the Niagara Region.  For fans wishing to stay in the area, the Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, and Best Western are all short drives away. Fans 4 Assessing fans in USports basketball is difficult as attendance figures are not published.  That being said, it is obvious that the attendance at the Paint the Meridian Red game is much higher than a regular Badgers game on campus.  At the 2026 event, which was reviewed, a quick estimate for attendance would be 1,500 to 2,000.  Many fans show up during or just after the women’s game.  Brock students have a reputation for being loud and boisterous; however, at the game that was reviewed, the fans were pretty timid.  This could be in part due to the big lead the Badgers took early in the men's game and held throughout.   Access 5 Meridian Centre is located in Downtown St. Catharines on David S. Hawes Way.  The Meridian Centre location is unique in that it is not at the same elevation as St. Paul Street.  The majority of fans will park downtown and take the Rankin Gateway bridge to the fifth level of the Meridian Centre.  It is not advised that fans attempt to park in the Meridian Centre parking lot, as it is mostly for staff and is difficult to get downtown.  Meridian Centre is immediately west of Highway 406, so it is not difficult to get to.  There are a few surface lots and parking garages downtown.  For fans who wish to take public transit, there are Niagara Transit buses that travel St. Paul Street.  Fans should consult the Niagara Transit  website for fares, maps, and schedules. Getting around Meridian Centre is not difficult, and the washroom facilities are good.  At the time of writing, patrons were required to walk through metal detectors as part of the security protocols.  Stadium Journey highly recommends consulting the Meridian Centre website for the most up-to-date security information, including bag policy and prohibited items, before heading out. Return on Investment 4 General Admission tickets for Paint the Meridian Red are $20.  Upper deck club seating is $30.  Concession prices are on par with other OHL venues.  Parking can be found for around $10 in the area.  Paint the Meridian Red is a more expensive ticket than a regular Brock basketball game; however, it is a unique event and provides a better atmosphere than a regular season game and is worth the extra money.  The ticket is a women’s and men’s doubleheader.  Overall, the return on investment for Paint the Meridian Red is very strong. Extras 3 An extra mark for the charity aspect of the Paint the Meridian Red event.  Portions of student tickets go to the BUSU Food First program. An extra mark for the higher profile venue for Paint the Meridian Red, making it an event for students and the community. An extra mark for the recent Paint the Meridian Red games, acting as a rivalry game.  As of 2026, the last three Paint the Meridian Red games have been against the McMaster Marauders, from just up the QEW in Hamilton. Final Thoughts Once a year, the Brock Badgers “Paint the Meridian Red” storm, downtown St. Catharines.  This basketball event is one of the elite USports basketball events and one of the few off-campus events.  Taking in the Badgers at Meridian Centre will definitely make fans See Red! Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  , and Instagram @profan9.

Sometimes, the best moments in sports come as a surprise. I arrived on campus expecting to attend an IU Indianapolis Jaguars basketball game at The Jungle . But the moment I stepped through the gymnasium doors, something felt different. There had been no cancellation, no last-minute opponent change, and no scheduling confusion. Instead, the players warming up on the court were wearing a name that hadn’t represented the school in nearly three decades. The Jaguars were gone. In their place, the Metros had returned. The Return of the Metros IU Indianapolis recently brought back its Metros identity as part of a throwback uniform night , marking the second time the team has worn the retro design and the first this season. The uniforms were faithful reproductions of those worn during the mid-1980s, complete with the distinctive gold coloring and vintage lettering that defined the program’s early years. For longtime fans and alumni, the Metros name represents the foundation of IU Indianapolis athletics. For newer fans, it offered a glimpse into a lesser-known chapter of the university’s basketball history. The reaction inside the gym was immediate. The gold uniforms stood out, offering a visual contrast to the familiar Jaguars branding that has defined the program since the late 1990s. Origins of the Metros Name When the university opened in 1969, it adopted the Metros nickname to reflect its identity as an urban campus located in downtown Indianapolis. The name symbolized the school’s connection to the city and its role as a metropolitan institution serving central Indiana. The basketball program began varsity competition in 1972 as an independent before joining the NAIA in 1978. By 1980, the team recorded its first winning season, and in 1993, the program advanced to NCAA Division II competition. The Metros brand featured unique visual elements. The school’s crimson and gold color scheme paid tribute to Indiana University and Purdue University, while logos often incorporated the Indianapolis skyline, reinforcing the university’s urban identity. Despite its creative origins, the nickname created confusion. “Students didn’t know if it was a bus or whether it was a city,” student Jacob Manaloor told The Indianapolis Star  in 1998. “It’s catchy. It’s eye appealing.” ​ The Transition to Jaguars The Metros name officially retired at the start of the 1998–99 academic year, coinciding with the university’s transition from Division II to Division I and its entry into the Mid-Continent Conference. University leadership believed the athletic program needed a stronger and more recognizable identity to compete at a higher level. A student panel helped evaluate potential nicknames, including Hawks and Riverhawks, before ultimately selecting Jaguars. University officials believed the jaguar symbolized strength, speed, and confidence—qualities they wanted associated with the growing institution. “Jaguars are powerful, swift, and confident, an appropriate symbol for a campus rapidly moving to the forefront of urban higher education,” said Chancellor Gerald L. Bepko at the time. While the Jaguars nickname aligned with traditional collegiate branding, it also placed the university among many schools nationwide using similar animal mascots. The Metros name, while unconventional, had been unique. A Legacy Rediscovered Today, nearly 30 years later, the university—now known as IU Indianapolis following its 2024 rebranding—has embraced elements of its past. With enrollment approaching 30,000 students, the school continues to grow its identity while acknowledging its history. Throwback Metros merchandise has become increasingly popular among students, alumni, and collectors. What was once viewed as vague or uninspiring has gained new appreciation as a distinctive and nostalgic brand. “They’ve been incredibly well received, both from the players and fans,” said Senior Associate Athletic Director Ed Holdaway. “Obviously, the yellow/gold really pops and provides a nostalgic look at one of the most successful teams in program history.” The university previously honored the Metros identity in 2010 with gold throwback uniforms featuring a script logo. The latest version more closely resembles the uniforms worn during the program’s formative years. Honoring the Past While Looking Ahead Holdaway indicated that throwback uniforms could return in future seasons, though no official plans have been announced. As IU Indianapolis continues building its athletic identity in Division I, honoring the Metros era provides a meaningful connection to the program’s origins. For one night, the Metros lived again—not just as a uniform, but as a reminder of where IU Indianapolis basketball began. For fans in attendance, it was more than a nostalgic gesture. It was a celebration of a forgotten identity that helped shape the program’s journey to where it stands today. The UI-Indianapolis teams have worn some interesting looks while known as the Metros ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter   @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 UNO Lakefront Arena 6801 Franklin Ave. New Orleans, LA 70122 New Orleans Privateers website UNO Lakefront Arena website Year Opened: 1983 Capacity: 8,900 Basketball on Lakeshore Set along the southern edge of Lake Pontchartrain, UNO Lakefront Arena has never enjoyed the spotlight of New Orleans’ better-known venues; it lacks the instant recognition of Caesars Superdome , the downtown location of Smoothie King Center , or the cultural legacy and history of some of the city’s most famous music halls. However, that anonymity hides a building with a remarkably deep list of some of the city most overlooked moments in sports and pop culture. Since opening in 1983, the octagon-shaped arena has hosted plenty of history making moments. In 1984 a young rookie named Michael Jordan scored 37 points here during his first NBA season, while Larry Bird followed with a legendary 60-point performance just months later. The arena also hosted the 1991 NCAA Women’s Final Four, where Pat Summitt won the third of her eight national championships. Add in professional wrestling, UFC, high-level tennis, major concerts, film shoots, as well as visits from presidents, Pope John Paul II, and the Dalai Lama, and UNO Lakefront Arena’s resume runs deep, including surviving Hurricane Katrina, which closed the building for more than three years. Through it all, the constant has been the University of New Orleans Privateers men’s and women’s basketball teams. Founded in 1958 as the city’s first public four-year university, UNO’s basketball program began in 1968, adopting the “Privateers” nickname as a nod to New Orleans’ maritime and pirate history, most notably Jean Lafitte. The program has made five NCAA Tournament appearances and won four conference titles, most recently in 2017. Ahead of the 2025–26 season, New Orleans native and rapper Master P joined the staff as general manager and assistant coach, injecting new life and hype into a program still rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina over 20 years ago, and once again placing UNO Lakefront Arena at the crossroads of New Orleans’ sports history.   Food & Beverage   3 Food options at UNO Lakefront Arena are simple and affordable. There is one fully operational concession stand located on the west side of the arena near the main entrance, and it handles all food and beverage needs on game days. The menu sticks to the basics: catfish baskets, chicken tenders, nachos, chicken sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage dogs, popcorn, and chips. Nothing on the menu is going to surprise you, and there are no signature New Orleans-style items that lean into the city’s culinary reputation. That said, the pricing is reasonable by modern arena standards; most food items fall between $4 and $10, making it easy to grab a meal. Beer drinkers can purchase domestic bottled beer for $9.50, while Coca-Cola is the official soft drink provider, with 20-ounce bottles priced at $4.75. What does stand out is the presentation and the way the concession stand is designed. The main concession stand is styled like a classic 1950s soda fountain, complete with vintage Dr Pepper branding and old-school counter design. It’s a cool visual touch that gives the concourse some personality and nostalgia, even if the menu itself remains straightforward. Walking the concourse you’ll see several additional concession stands scattered throughout the arena – those stands are decked out in sharp black-and-blue UNO branding, along with Bud Light and Michelob Ultra setups. Unfortunately these other stands remain closed for UNO basketball games due to limited attendance. It’s a shame, because the spaces themselves are attractive and clearly designed for a more vibrant environment.   Atmosphere   3 The first thing you notice when arriving at UNO Lakefront Arena is its unmistakable shape. Much like Southeastern Louisiana’s Pride Roofing University Center  up the road, this is not a typical looking arena. Instead, UNO Lakefront Arena stands out with its distinctive octagonal, almost spaceship-like design, which immediately gives it character before you even step inside. There is one main entrance on the west side of the building, reached by a winding concrete ramp that brings fans up to the doors. The exterior grounds are also well maintained, helped in part by the hundreds of palm trees that surround the facility. With Lake Pontchartrain visible in the distance, the setting provides a scenic backdrop. Once inside, the venue feels impressive for a building that has been standing for more than 40 years. The concourse wraps completely around under the seating bowl, allowing fans to circle the entire building with ease. Along the way, plenty of UNO signage, banners, and reminders of past tournament appearances help reinforce the program’s history. Even the closed concession stands blend neatly into the concourse, featuring blue-and-black exteriors that match the Privateers’ color scheme. In addition, another neat thing you’ll see if you look up at the ceiling along the concourse is a timeline of all the arena’s past events, built into the ceiling tiles – some of the tiles are even autographed by that particular performer or band. Once in the seating bowl, one feature that stands out is the facility’s low ceiling surrounding the seating bowl, with wide open space above center court. From the upper rows fans sit close enough to the roof that it almost feels within reach. This design gives the building a more intimate feel than you might expect in an 8,900-seat arena. Even with only a few hundred fans in attendance, the space avoids feeling cavernous because the seating remains tight to the floor. The interior acoustics also benefit from this layout, as sound travels extremely well throughout the building, creating a louder atmosphere than the crowd size might suggest. Every seat is also a blue chairback, and combined with the bright blue court, the entire arena is draped in UNO’s signature blue-and-black identity. Above the court banners celebrate accomplishments from both the men’s and women’s basketball programs, along with three retired numbers honoring former greats. In addition, a major new addition for the 2025-26 season is the installation of a brand-new 20-by-11-foot video board hanging above center court. The original scoreboard was damaged during Hurricane Katrina and removed, leaving the arena with only a small replay board on the side for nearly two decades. When Master P took over leadership of the program, however, he helped finance this impressive new LED videoboard, finally giving UNO Lakefront Arena a modern videoboard, complete with HD replays.   Neighborhood   4 UNO Lakefront Arena is located in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans, away from the many tourist areas like the French Quarter and Bourbon Street. However, you can still find plenty to do nearby if you want to experience a quieter side of the city, with less traffic and more locals. Less than 100 yards behind the venue you’ll find many people fishing, boating, walking and riding bikes along the over 6 miles of paved walking trails, nestled along the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Make sure to check out Mardi Gras Fountain along the way, which lights up in Mardi Gras colors at night, or you can check out the remains of old Fort St. John, an abandoned Spanish controlled fort located along the lake and Bayou St. John. The New Basin lighhouse also makes for a great spot to visit and take a tour.  While riding the trail you can also see some of the levees that failed New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina; getting an up-close look at these levees, which were the scene of so much destruction, is a surreal experience in itself. Another popular spot to check out in the area is City Park – if it’s a gorgeous day you can spend all day in one of the largest public parks in the U.S., and the 20th-most visited park in the country. There’s so much to do here: two regular golf courses, a disc golf course, multiple stadiums, and miles of trails that flow through the bayous and lagoons that make up City Park. Also, inside the park there’s the Museum of Art and the beautiful outdoor sculpture garden. If you have kids or are visiting family, you might want to check out Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and Storyland, a small amusement park with roller coasters and a few carnival rides. You can take a gondola ride or a duck boat ride through the lagoons, and there is also access to Bayou St. John, which is the main tributary through the city. The bayou is a popular spot for kayakers and people canoeing during the summer months. You can also hop on the streetcar in City Park and go to the French Quarter, Uptown, or anywhere else in the city. Another cool attraction to check out in Gentilly is Fairgrounds Race Course, the second-oldest horse racing track in the country. If you come to a game at UNO Lakefront Arena on the weekend, then there is a good chance that horse racing will be going on at the Fairgrounds. Or, for restaurants near UNO’s campus you’ll find plenty of local spots and dives that aren’t as well-known as some of the French Quarter institutions. Some of my favorites include Opelousas Seafood, The Original Fiorella’s Cafe, and Walker’s BBQ, famous for its BBQ po’boys, while closer to the horse track and City Park you’ll find plenty of other favorites like Parkway Tavern, Liuzza’s at the Track, Cafe Degas, and Seahorse Saloon. City Park also has a Cafe du Monde location, which is a lot quieter and less crowded than the chain’s more popular French Quarter location.   Fans   2 With Master P stepping into the program in 2025 as general manager and assistant coach, the Privateers have gained a level of exposure and energy that the once-struggling program had not seen in years. Attendance during the most recent season hovered just under 1,000 fans per game. While that number may seem low on paper, it represents a noticeable improvement compared to the post-Katrina years, when the program’s future was uncertain and there was even talk of dropping UNO athletics down to Division III. The fans who do show up, however, are fully invested. Because many UNO graduates remain in the New Orleans metro area after college, the crowd tends to lean heavily toward alumni rather than current students – even in smaller numbers, these fans bring real passion and familiarity with the program. The game presentation also helps keep the atmosphere lively. The Privateers cheerleading squad does a strong job engaging the audience, while Captain Bruno, the school’s pirate mascot, works the aisles to keep energy high throughout the night. Adding to the local flavor, UNO also embraces its New Orleans identity with a soundtrack that feels true to the city. Expect plenty of bounce music, along with artists like Lil Wayne, Big Tymers, and naturally, a steady dose of Master P echoing throughout the arena.   Access   3 UNO Lakefront Arena is located on the north side of the city, away from most of the tourist sites in New Orleans like the French Quarter. There are several ways to get here, but the best and safest way would be to take the Franklin Ave or Elysian Fields exits off Interstate 610, then travel north for about three miles and you’ll see UNO Lakefront Arena straight ahead. Your GPS may advise you to go through some of the rough areas in New Orleans East to get to campus, but I would not take that route, especially at night. Also do not take the Chef Blvd or Morrison Road exits off the Interstate, unless you are absolutely familiar with the vibes of the city. Once on the grounds you will find plenty of parking surrounding the arena; the only issue is most of the parking is in a large grass lot, which may get muddy after heavy rain. The best part, however, is that parking is free, and once inside the facility you can walk around the entire building and sit anywhere you want – as there won’t be a big crowd, there is plenty of room to spread out and walk around. The venue also has excellent sightlines, except for the upper rows, which may have views obstructed by the low ceilings.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets to UNO basketball games are usually easy to come by, since UNO Lakefront Arena rarely sells out. Honestly, the best option is to just buy them in person at the box office. General admission tickets are only $10 there, while on the secondary market you can sometimes end up paying $20 or more, especially for bigger conference matchups. One of the nicest surprises about attending a game here, though, is that parking is completely free. When you pull up to the arena, parking attendants are out directing cars into a huge open lot, so it’s simple to find a spot, and you don’t have to worry about getting boxed in. Also again, there is no charge for parking at all. Concessions here are solid, even if there aren’t any signature New Orleans-style menu items. The setup does have a cool old-school charm though, with a classic soda fountain feel that stands out compared to most modern arenas. For a lot of fans, a lower-level game with fewer than 1,000 people in the stands might not feel like a must-see event, but if you’re someone like me who enjoys visiting historic venues in a city as iconic as New Orleans, there’s still something memorable about the experience. It’s probably the most iconic building in the Southland Conference, when it comes to legendary figures who’ve played here and the iconic events the venue has hosted.   Extras   4 One extra for rapper Master P taking over the program as the general manager/assistant coach. Not only did he help finance the new videoboard ahead of the 2025–26 season, but he also remains an active presence on game nights, sitting courtside with the team. Before tip-off, Master P also often takes time to meet with fans and pose for photos. His involvement has made him a true ambassador for both New Orleans and UNO basketball. The New Orleans Privateers have had seven players selected in the NBA Draft, with eight former UNO players appearing in NBA games. The most recent draft pick was Michael McDonald, taken in the second round by the Golden State Warriors in 1995. The program’s most famous NBA alum, however, is Ervin Johnson, a 1993 first-round pick who played 13 seasons in the league and has his jersey retired at UNO Lakefront Arena. Another major bonus of UNO Lakefront Arena is the sheer variety of events it has hosted over the decades; as mentioned earlier, this venue carries a truly storied history. It served as a temporary home for the Atlanta Hawks during the 1984–85 season, welcoming NBA legends such as Michael Jordan, John Stockton, and Larry Bird, who famously scored 60 points on this very court. The arena has also played host to major championship moments, including the 1991 Women’s Final Four, won by Pat Summitt’s Tennessee Volunteers . The facility also hosted the Sun Belt Conference Basketball Tournament in 2002 and again from 2012 through 2019, along with UFC events, professional wrestling cards, and countless concerts from some of the biggest touring acts in the world. The venue was also the setting for the fictional Spinal Tap reunion concert in the 2025 Rob Reiner movie, This is Spinal Tap II. Beyond sports and entertainment, UNO Lakefront Arena has also been a gathering place for historic public events. The Dalai Lama has spoken here, and more than 100,000 people filled the grounds outside during a mass led by Pope John Paul II. Over the years, it has also welcomed numerous presidential candidates and political figures. To truly grasp the arena’s legacy, take a walk around the concourse and look up at the ceiling tiles, to see a unique timeline showcasing just how many iconic events have passed through this building. And of course, an extra point goes to the arena’s remarkable recovery after Hurricane Katrina devastated the facility in 2005, forcing it to remain closed for more than three years. More than $25 million was invested in renovations and repairs, ensuring UNO Lakefront Arena would return stronger than ever, and continue hosting UNO basketball and many other major events for decades to come.

Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey The Kansas City Chiefs are officially departing from their long-time home at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri to build a new, state-of-the-art $3 billion fixed-domed stadium in Wyandotte County, Kansas. This major decision was announced on December 22, 2025, after Kansas lawmakers approved a significant tax incentive package to facilitate the move. The new venue is expected to be ready by the 2031 NFL season. New details have emerged that start to lay a clearer picture of what is to come. Reasons Behind the Move The Chiefs' decision to relocate is largely driven by financial incentives. Kansas is prepared to contribute a substantial portion of funding through STAR bonds, which are intended to support economic development without burdening taxpayers directly. This funding model will cover approximately 70 percent of the stadium's construction costs. Missouri had attempted to keep the team by proposing funding options, but these efforts fell short after Jackson County voters rejected a sales tax extension meant to finance improvements at Arrowhead Stadium . This rejection played a crucial role in the Chiefs' decision to pursue opportunities in Kansas. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly expressed her excitement about the move, emphasizing that it signifies Kansas's readiness to play significant roles in national events, such as the Super Bowl and various major sporting competitions. New Developments and Community Impact The Chiefs plan to develop a mixed-use district alongside the stadium, which aims to generate an estimated $4 billion in overall economic impact and create more than 20,000 jobs in Kansas. This new facility is not just about the team; it’s envisioned as a community hub that will provide entertainment, retail, and other amenities. The Chiefs' new stadium will feature at least 65,000 seats, slightly fewer than Arrowhead Stadium , but equipped for modern amenities that enhance fan experiences, including luxury seating and multi-use facilities. A new training center is also planned to be situated in Olathe, Kansas, further solidifying the franchise's commitment to the region. The Olathe City Council will vote on a key piece   of the Kansas City Chiefs' plan to build a $300 million practice facility and corporate headquarters in the city at its meeting — but not before residents get a chance to weigh in. The training facility and headquarters will be located at College and Ridgeview, just off Kansas Highway 10 in western Olathe.  This site has been heavily speculated about for months. The project site sits just south of the Garmin Olathe Soccer Complex. The Olathe portion of the relocation, in total, is estimated to cost almost $1 billion.  Response to the Announcement While the move is seen as a victory for Kansas, it has left many in Missouri disappointed. Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas acknowledged the deep ties that Arrowhead Stadium has with the community. The stadium has been a central aspect of NFL culture in the region, known for its intense fan atmosphere and tailgating traditions. Missouri officials, including Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota, expressed their regrets about the loss, noting that they believed they had put together a compelling offer to keep the Chiefs in Missouri. Despite this disappointment, there is an acknowledgment that the financial realities of the situation guided the Chiefs towards Kansas. Looking Ahead As the design and construction processes begin, the Chiefs are expected to hire an architectural firm to oversee the stadium's creation. This planning phase could take up to 18 months, with construction anticipated to last roughly three years. The franchise's commitment to a future-focused facility mirrors the vision of its late founder, Lamar Hunt, who was known for pioneering new ideas in the NFL. Kansas's ambition to position itself as a legitimate competitor to other states in attracting sports franchises marks a notable shift in the area. This move redefines the landscape of professional football in the region and promises benefits that extend far beyond the sport. The Chiefs' transition to Kansas highlights a significant chapter in the franchise's history, bringing monumental changes that will influence its legacy and the local economy for years to come. The Chiefs organization acknowledges the enthusia sm surrounding the project and recognizes the collaborative spirit needed to ensure its success. Both the franchise and local governments seem determined to navigate the complexities ahead, striving for a constructive partnership that benefits the team and the community alike.

On February 5, 2026, the Tampa Bay Rays unveiled initial renderings of their proposed new ballpark at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus. This milestone comes soon after the Hillsborough County Commission voted unanimously, highlighting strong local support for the project. The proposed stadium will feature a 31,000-seat domed structure and span approximately 130 acres, along with a mixed-use district. The vision aims to not just house the Rays but also create a vibrant community space encompassing residential, commercial, and recreational facilities. Managing Partner Patrick Zalupski expressed gratitude for the community's support and commitment to keeping Major League Baseball in Tampa. He emphasized that the site will set the stage for future successes, benefiting fans and the surrounding neighborhoods alike. An independent economic analysis estimates the entire mixed-use development could generate an impressive $34 billion in total economic impact, creating 11,900 permanent jobs. Furthermore, the site is anticipated to attract around 10 million visitors per year, positioning it as a key attraction in the region. In the upcoming weeks, the Rays and Hillsborough College plan to hold community engagement sessions. These sessions will allow residents, fans, and local stakeholders to review the renderings, provide feedback, and partake in the design process, ensuring that the final product reflects community desires. The Rays intend to secure at least 50% of the ballpark's construction costs themselves, with the overall proposed budget estimated at approximately $2.3 billion. Funding discussions will include various revenue streams, such as a Tourist Development Tax and special charges associated with the stadium's use. The partnership with Hillsborough College will enhance campus facilities and expand workforce development opportunities for over 45,000 students enrolled at the college. This collaboration aims to boost both educational and economic growth in the region. For fans eager to be part of this venture, a $19.98 deposit allows for early access to seating in the new ballpark through the Rays' official website. The project represents a bold step towards revitalizing Tampa Bay, merging sports and community development in a way that promises long-lasting benefits.

Photo by Steven Kee, Stadium Journey While the Super Bowl halftime show is a highlight for many, not everyone finds themselves captivated by the NFL's choice of artists or style. This has led to the notion of alternative halftime shows. Over the years, there have been several instances of alternate performances, reflecting a range of genres and interpretations. Let's explore some of these unique alternatives, including the exciting scenario brewing for Super Bowl 60 with Bad Bunny and Kid Rock. Historical Alternatives to NFL Halftime Shows One of the most notable instances of an alternative halftime show occurred during Super Bowl XXIX in 1995. The game featured a memorable performance from "The 50th Super Bowl: A Celebration of Champions", a local production put together by San Diego. This unofficial event featured a mix of community performances and local band showcases, garnering attention for its grassroots feel. Another example can be seen with Super Bowl XL in 2006. While the official halftime show featured The Rolling Stones, many fans felt detached from the classic rock vibe. Some opted for online streaming of local DJs or independent artists on platforms like MySpace, showcasing a burgeoning movement of DIY entertainment during major events. Independent Halftime Shows The unofficial alternatives often include indie artists, local musicians, or even viral sensations. For instance, during Super Bowl LIII in 2019, many chose to watch performances by internet-famous musicians broadcasting from their homes rather than tuning into Maroon 5. The proliferation of these independent choices illustrates the unique, democratic spirit of music in the digital age. Alternative Programming Most famously, it was when FOX aired a special episode of the sketch show In Living Color during Super Bowl XXVI in 1992. The counter-programming drew 29 million viewers and caused a 10-point drop in the game's second-half ratings on CBS. Many fans switched channels and did not return to the game. The following year, the NFL revamped its halftime show, featuring major entertainers, with Michael Jackson headlining the show. The USA Network aired "Halftime Heat", a special WWE match featuring The Rock and Mankind during Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999. The network aired another special the following year featuring Royal Rumble highlights. The program returned twenty years later as a six-man tag team match on the WWE Network during the Super Bowl LIII halftime in 2019. NBC aired a special "Playboy Playmates" episode of Fear Factor during Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 to counteract the U2 performance. The following year, NBC countered the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show on AB with a live broadcast of Weekend Update. The Saturday Night Live sketch was hosted by Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey. This was followed by a 90-minute segment of Fear Factor. And who isn't aware of the annual Puppy Bowl contests that air on Animal Planet? Live News Coverage During previous Super Bowl broadcasts, news outlets have taken the opportunity to air live coverage or panels discussing major events occurring around the nation and the world. For example, during the Super Bowl in 2020, CNN aired a special segment reflecting on key political moments.  During Super Bowl XXV in 1991, the halftime show featuring New Kids on the Block was notably overshadowed by significant news events, specifically the ongoing Gulf War and Operation Desert Storm. Due to the heightened focus on the military conflict, CBS opted not to air the halftime performance live, choosing instead to provide viewers with critical updates and coverage of the war's impact. This decision highlighted the urgency of the situation and underscored the extraordinary circumstances surrounding that year's Super Bowl, making it a unique moment in sports history where the news took precedence over entertainment. This kind of programming engages viewers who prefer informed discussions and updates on pressing issues over the entertainment portion of the Super Bowl. Anticipation for Super Bowl 60: Bad Bunny vs. Kid Rock Looking ahead to Super Bowl 60, fans are abuzz with excitement over the alternative halftime showdown featuring Bad Bunny and Kid Rock. Each artist brings a distinctively different style to the table, reflecting the broader cultural divide in fan bases. Bad Bunny, representing the Latin trap scene, has gained massive popularity, not only in the United States but globally, pushing the boundaries of mainstream music. His vibrant performance style and cultural relevance could draw in a diverse audience. Conversely, Kid Rock appeals to fans of Southern rock and country, known for his energetic performances and raucous anthems. The contrast between Bad Bunny's modern vibes and Rock's traditional sound presents an interesting clash, and fans are already speculating about who will dominate the alternative show. This proposed battle could function almost like a musical duel, with each artist aiming to outdo the other by drawing on their unique strengths. Bad Bunny's potential incorporation of dancers and visuals against Kid Rock's high-energy rock and country flair will offer two vastly different experiences for viewers, accentuating just how diverse the concept of the halftime show has become. The idea of alternative Super Bowl halftime shows has evolved significantly over the years, demonstrating the ever-changing landscape of music and fan engagement. Whether through historical grassroots efforts or modern digital alternatives, fans have found creative ways to express their preferences beyond what the NFL presents.

The XXV Winter Olympic Games will be held February 6-22 ,2026 in the cities of Milan and Cortina, Italy. Nearly 3,000 athletes will take part in more than 116 events.  The 2026 Winter Olympics will be the most geographically spread out in the history of the Games. Milan will host most of the large arena events, while Cortina is in the Italian Alps and will host most of the mountain-based events. The two cities are more than 250 miles apart. A majority of the venues being used during these Games were already in existence, as the Milan and Cortina organizing committee along with the International Olympic Committee are making a concerted effort to reduce the construction expenses incurred in hosting the Olympic Games, and to reduce the carbon footprint of the games. We present a brief look at the venues hosting the various events of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The Games will be televised by NBC and its affiliated networks. Milano San Siro Olympic Stadium   The opening ceremonies of the XXV Olympics will take place in the 77,000 San Siro Olympic STADIUM. The Stadium has been in use for over 100 years and is known as the “Temple of Football”, as it hosts soccer matches for both AC Milan and Inter Milan . Milano Ice Skating Arena   This is another existing facility that has undergone recent upgrades. It will host both figure skating events and speed skating events. The arena has a capacity of 11,000. Milano Santagiula Ice Hockey Arena  This is one of the few newly constructed venues for this Olympic Games. It is being funded by a private entity as a future multipurpose facility for the city of Milan. The venue has a capacity of 14,000 for ice hockey games during the Olympics. Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium  This venue was previously used during the 1956 Olympic Games, when it was used to host both the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the figure skating competition. During the 2026 Games it will host the curling events. The venue has a capacity of 12,000. Cortina Sliding Centre   This is another new facility. It will host bobsled, skeleton and luge events. The facility was built on the bones of a similar bobsled track from the 1920’s. Olimpca delle Tofene   This downhill ski course was previously used for the 1956 Olympic Games. It has also hosted several World Cup skiing competitions over the years.    Stel vio     This downhill ski course is in the Italian Alps in Northern Italy. The facility opened in 1985 and hosted multiple World Championships and World Cup Finals. Predazzo Ski Jump Stadium    This venue opened in 1989. It will host both the ski jumping and Nordic Combined events. The stadium has previously hosted three World Ski Championships. Tessaro Cross Country Ski Stadium  This stadium serves as the cross-country ski event’s start and finish line. Verona Olympic Arena Our final Olympic venue has seen a lot of action in its time. It was built in 30 AD! It is a Roman amphitheater that has seen gladiators, jousts, visits from Napolean, operas and modern-day concerts. It will serve as the host to the closing ceremonies for the XXV Olympic Games. The historic structure has a capacity of 22,000. For more information on the XXV Winter Olympic Games, go to www.olympics.com  .

Picture by Eric Has, Stadium Journey The Northwest Indiana Oilmen of the summer collegiate Northern League have been evicted from their home ballpark in Whiting, Indiana. The team received a letter from the City of Whiting notifying them that they are no longer permitted to use Oil City Stadium . The decision was made on January 12 of this year. The Oilmen have called the ballpark in downtown Whiting home since being founded in 2011. The 1,100-seat stadium was built for $8.5 million on land donated by the Standard Oil Refinery. “I was surprised to find out that we weren’t playing at the stadium this year,” said team president Don Popravak. “I told the city that my crew of 30 staff members would take care of it except for the utilities.” Popravak offered to lease the stadium for $40,000-$60,000 a year, but the city rejected the offer. A couple of days before Christmas, Whiting Mayor Steve Spebar told him that the Oilmen were done at the stadium and that the city was considering proposals from other leagues. “We will have an expansion franchise in the Crestwood Collegiate League  that will play at the stadium,” said Spebar, who was concerned about the number of teams in the league. “We have been approached by other entities the past two years, but put it off in deference to the Oilmen .” According to the story in the NW Indiana Times , the Crestwood League has expanded to 20 teams all over the Chicagoland area after absorbing five teams from a league in Bolingbrook, Illinois. The clubs range from the northern suburbs to the Joliet area. The Whiting franchise will be the first in Northwest Indiana, AKA "The Region." Both the unnamed team and the White Sox Aces would play at Oil City Stadium Mondays through Wednesdays in June and July, with travel tournaments on weekends. Games are usually doubleheaders at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., or 7 p.m. if only one game is scheduled. The city and Calumet College of St. Joseph funded the installation of a new  FieldTurf  during the off-season. The project totaled over $1.4 million, which will be used by the college, high school, and other events. The mayor hopes the new turf will expand the stadium usage and attract travel tournaments throughout the year. He also sees it as an opportunity to attract visitors to support restaurants and businesses in downtown Whiting. The Northern League consisted of the Griffith Generals, Indiana Panthers, Southside Vikings, Minutemen, and the Elkhart County Miracle. The Oilmen have captured 5 league championships, have attracted 100,000 fans, and sent 40 players to organized baseball, according to the press release. They have also built a loyal fanbase at what both men have said is the "jewel of baseball stadiums in the area." The eviction of the Oilmen hinders their 2026 season, which is set to start in less than four months. There is no word on where the ball club will play, and Popravak said that he is “scrambling to find a place for his team for the summer”.  However, he remains optimistic about the future of his club, even pointing out that Jesse Cole was booted from the ballpark in Gastonia before founding the Savannah Bananas the next year. “We have a strong brand and will continue to impact the region. We will remain committed to building a thriving, economically vibrant community. The excursion from Oil City Stadium  will not deter us; it will only strengthen our resolve.” ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter   @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

What Drives Us? Patriots and Seahawks Fans Are You Ready to Ride That Roller Coaster On Super Bowl Sunday? Levi Stadium, Home of the San Francisco 49ers and host of Super Bowl LX Super Bowl XL will pit the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. In their previous meeting against each other during Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, the Seahawks were on the verge of back to back Super Bowl triumphs when on 2nd down and 1 yard from glory, with 20 seconds remaining, Malcolm Butler made the pick that enabled the Pats to win their 4th Super Bowl, casting a pall among sports fans throughout the Pacific Northwest. For Patriots fans throughout New England, it had to be absolute euphoria. Richard Sherman reacts to the Seahawks devastating Super Bowl XLIX loss to the Patriots. Photo courtesy USA Today The Thrill of Victory. The Agony of Defeat. The roller coaster of emotions the hard-core sports fans experience, especially during high-leverage games, is real. From healthcaretoday.com ,  “Whether you’re a fair-weather, “ride or die' or bandwagon fan (or your loved one is), we can all agree that sports have become somewhat of a religion in American culture. For many, it’s more than “just a game.” Some of you may have quipped about your blood pressure rising during some of your team’s high-intensity moments. During a blood pressure check not long ago, after a second check, the nurse at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, noticing all my Dodger Blue, also quipped that it may be the excitement of the pennant race that could have raised my BP. I also spoke with several other staff members and doctors, and almost everyone confirmed that it is common for rabid sports fans to have elevated blood pressure. Perhaps it was no coincidence that the day I had my blood pressure checked, patients waiting to be checked in urgent care were, you guessed it, dressed in Dodger Blue!  It would not even be a stretch to say that sports fans at times can put their hearts through the ultimate test, according to the American Heart Association . However, putting your heart through the test isn’t such a bad thing. “Life in general is stressful. There’s good stress and bad stress, and if you avoided everything in life that could give you a heart attack, you'd have a very boring life,” said Dr. Robert Kloner, chief science officer of the Huntington Medical Research Institutes in Pasadena, California, September 2018. Home of the San Francisco 49ers and host of Super Bowl LX Almost 40% of Americans say that they follow sports somewhat or very closely, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center poll. And about 7% of them are superfans who follow sports extremely closely and talk about sports every day. You might know some of those superfans, or maybe you’re one yourself. So, whether it’s college sports, the NFL, the WNBA, or Major League Baseball, what drives sports fans to become so passionately attached to their teams? Is being a fan good for your mental health, even when your team is losing? Why are some people fair-weather fans, while others love to root for the underdog? What about aggression among sports fans? Why do some fans behave badly? Can playing in front of a big, supportive crowd of fans actually affect a team’s performance? In other words, is there really a home-field advantage? Is the psychology of sports fans  more complicated than it needs be? It’s my personal belief that the topic of being a die-hard sports fan is simple yet complex. There’s no one simple reason why we became fans of said teams. Though the results of a high-impact game will have minimal to no impact on most of our lives, it does not stop us from displaying total elation or extreme dejection. I won’t lie. I still ride an emotional high when replaying Freddie Freeman's grand slam from Game 1 of the 2024 World Series . And what blue-blooded Dodger fan will ever forget that memorable 9th inning of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series ? Also, there’s nothing wrong if you mourn with an entire country the loss of a tightly played World Series, as evidenced by the display of somberness by Blue Jays fans. Super Bowl LX. For New England, it’s a chance to capture an unprecedented 7th Super Bowl trophy. For Seattle, it’s a chance for some redemption from Super Bowl XLIX. For Seattle, it’s a chance to reach that much needed high after witnessing the Mariners fall 8 outs short of their first World Series appearance.  Where will you be watching the Super Bowl? Will it be at the local sports bar with fellow diehard friends? Will it be at a Super Bowl party with a bunch of casuals and folks just wanting a reason to party. Honestly, if your team is playing this Sunday and you're a true diehard I would highly recommend avoiding the latter . The Super Bowl will bring out the best and worst emotions from everyone involved, be it the players, coaching staff, front office or fans from Puyallup, Washington to Burlington, Vermont. And if there’s ONE conclusion we can all agree it's the impact of sports bringing communities together . Communities that will come Sunday night into Monday are riding that sense of accomplished glory or the Monday morning withdrawals that will come with sports fan depression . Should Seattle fall short once again how will they cope with sports fan depression for the second time in 4 months?  Sports fan depression. In addition to being “rewarded” with 3 World Series triumphs this decade, as a 49ers fan that’s seen my team come up short in their last 3 Super Bowl appearances, I can tell you firsthand that sports fan depression is real. Emotions are so real regardless of the outcome I would request the following day off work. Wanting the day off after the Super Bowl has become a recurring theme for sports fans, particularly in places starved for a title-winning team such as Seattle. In 2022, school districts throughout Cincinnati cancelled classes the following Monday to give staff and students a day to recover.  From my experience, one day was sufficient enough for recovery. For some fans, 2 days max to heal the emotional psyche.  So, before you tune in to the big game, for possibly your sanity, you may want to check out more on why die hard sports fans, including yours truly and I’ll guess some of our fellow SJ writers and editors as well, invest so much emotionally in “our” teams, check out this read, The Psychology of Sports Fans, With Daniel Wann, PhD . You can also listen to the podcast as well. And remember Patriots and Seahawks fans, regardless of what happens Sunday, there’s 30 other fan bases that would like to be in your position. Embrace the moment. Use that well earned PTO come Monday ! And if your team comes up even 1 yard short, you can always take comfort that there’s always next year !

The 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles will feature soccer matches at several prominent stadiums across the United States. This will not only facilitate a wider audience but also celebrate the sport in venues that are well-equipped for such significant events. The 2028 Olympic soccer matches will be held in six U.S. cities: New York, Nashville, Columbus, St. Louis, San Jose, and San Diego; these cities have been selected to host both group stage and knockout matches. The gold medal matches will take place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Photo Courtesy of New York City FC Etihad Park, New York Capacity : 25,000 Details : Opening in 2027, just ahead of the Olympics, will be the new home of the New York City FC. Etihad Park will be the first fully electric stadium in Major League Soccer. Photo Courtesy of Scott Bultman, Stadium Journey Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California Capacity : 89,702 Details : The iconic Rose Bowl will host the men’s gold medal match on July 28, 2028, and the women’s final on July 29, 2028. It has a storied history and is a fitting venue for the Olympic finals. Photo Courtesy of Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California Capacity : 35,000 Details : As the 2nd largest venue, opened in 2022, among the additional stadiums, Snapdragon Stadium will host several crucial group games, providing a vibrant atmosphere for fans in Southern California. Photo Courtesy of Meg Minard, Stadium Journey PayPal Park, San Jose, California Capacity : 18,000 Details : Home to the San Jose Earthquakes, this stadium has been chosen for its modern amenities and proximity to the tech hub, making it an exciting location for international teams. Photo Courtesy of David Wech, Stadium Journey Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee Capacity : 30,109 Details : The home of Nashville SC, this venue's vibrant music scene complements its capacity for thrilling soccer events. It promises to engage fans with both sports and local culture. Photo Courtesy of Andrew Kulyk, Stadium Journey Energizer Park, St. Louis, Missouri Capacity : 22,423 Details : Newly built for St. Louis City SC, this stadium strives to support a burgeoning soccer community. It will serve as a critical host for initial matches and fan engagement activities. Photo Courtesy of Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, Columbus, Ohio Capacity : 20,371 Details : Home to the Columbus Crew, this stadium adds diversity to the tournament’s host cities. Its design is tailored for soccer, ensuring that fans enjoy a top-notch experience. These selected stadiums will help bring the Olympic soccer tournaments to life from July 12 to 29, 2028. The final stage matches -- including the gold-medal matches on July 28-29, 2028 -- will take place at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. The Olympic Match schedule, which will include specific dates and team matchups, will be announced before ticket sales begin in April 2026. The strategic distribution from coast to coast will not only minimize travel time for teams but also maximize fan engagement across different regions in the United States of America.

Arizona shares a long and deep history with the game of baseball. This history got its start well before Arizona became a state in 1912. A new museum, the Arizona Baseball Museum, will open on February 21, 2026 (just in time for Cactus League spring training!) in Mesa, Arizona to celebrate this long relationship between the state and the sport. The museum’s mission is to preserve and share the rich history of baseball from its territorial roots to the formation of the Cactus League. The Mesa Historical Society will manage the museum, which will be located next door to the Mesa Historical Museum. The new museum includes immersive exhibits, baseball memorabilia, fan stories, and interactive technology to bring this history to life. The museum’s first exhibit is Baseball in the Arizona Territory. The sport got its start when soldiers posted to the territorial forts brought baseball with them from the eastern portion of the country. It began as a regimental competition to keep the soldiers entertained as well as keep them in good physical condition. Soon, towns throughout the area began their own barnstorming teams, developing rivalries with neighboring towns. The next exhibit is called the Birth of the Cactus League. In the 1920’s and the 1930’s, baseball began to expand westward from its East Coast roots. Many of these new teams had owners who had seasonal homes in the Southwest to escape the harsh Midwestern winters. These owners included Bill Veeck of the Indians and Horace Stoneham of the Giants. During this period, the Tigers, Indians, Giants, and Cubs moved their preseason training camps to Arizona. This was the origin of the Cactus League. However, the beginning of World War II saw the new league come to a screeching halt, as no teams were allowed to play in the western United States due to security concerns. The next exhibit covers baseball in the area during the war years. After Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans were forced to move into internment camps in the western United States. The Japanese Internment Baseball exhibit includes photos and stories from families who lived in these camps. Baseball had become very popular at this point in Japan, so Japanese Americans used baseball to build community, preserve dignity, and create some sense of normalcy. Following the conclusion of World War II, baseball continued its westward expansion to cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. Owners were looking for ways to lower their costs for preseason baseball, and they saw the resurrection of the Cactus League as the best way to do that. Major League Baseball also saw several teams relocate from their original home cities. The 1960’s and 1970’s from the next section of the museum, Relocation and Expansion. During this period, the Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland, and the Seattle Pilots (who later became the Milwaukee Brewers) and the San Diego Padres were added to the major league ranks. The 1990’s would see the creation of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Soon, the Cactus League reached its present-day membership of 15 teams that is still in place today. The Arizona Baseball Museum also features a section called the Fan Experience. This area includes reminiscences from fans of the early years of the Cactus League to the present.  Many of the locals who began as fans now work at the various Cactus League parks, ensuring that today’s fans have an equally satisfying preseason experience. This section also contains fan memorabilia from over the years, including t-shirts, ticket stubs, and photos of fans at various ballparks. The museum also serves as the home for the Cactus League Hall of Fame. This HOF includes the key individuals in preseason baseball’s western home. They include several of the pioneering owners who brought the game to Arizona… Bill Veeck, Horace Stoneham, Gene Autrey and Hi Corbett.  Players in the Cactus League Hall of Fame include Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, Frank Robinson, Vida Blue, Tony Gwynn, Reggie Jackson, Ron Santo, Dusty Baker, and Ichiro Suzuki. There are several players/broadcasters inducted into the Hall of Fame as well. They include Bob Uecker, Vin Scully, Pat Hughes, Bob Brenly, Rick Monday, and Ron Santo. The Arizona Baseball Museum ( www.arizonabaseballmuseum.org )  is located at 2345 North Horne Road in Mesa. Parking is available along the street in front of the museum. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 am-4 pm.  Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors (age 60 and over) and military, and $4 for youth (ages 6-17).

Photos by Jude Hannahs, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Convocation Center 95 Richland Ave Athens, OH 45701 Ohio Bobcats website Convocation Center website Year Opened: 1968 Capacity: 13,080 “OU…OH YEAH!”  As someone who, at the time of writing this article, will eventually graduate from Ohio University in May 2026 and become a Bobcat for life, I am eternally grateful to have had the opportunity to watch OU athletics in the Convocation Center.  OU's athletic department is still listed as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. It has been a part of the division for nearly 80 years, dating back to 1946, when it also became a charter member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).  OU as a college and its placement in Athens, Ohio, is what makes the existence of the Convocation Center so special. Based on my experience and the experiences of others, “the Convo” evokes the same feeling and environment as a National Basketball Association (NBA) team of some kind.  To put it simply, it’s an awesome place to watch players battle on the court, and come commencement season, it's a perfect space to join hand-in-hand with classmates and receive a degree each graduate has worked hard for and finally earned.  The Convo is a staple of not only OU, but the city of Athens in general. It’s an arena that truly captures what makes watching sports—whether it be men’s or women’s basketball, volleyball, and wrestling—such a spectacular setting to be in at the moment.   Food & Beverage 4 Whether the Bobcats are going in the right or wrong direction, fans and visitors will likely need some type of food and/or beverage to quench their hunger and/or thirst. Thankfully, concession stands provided at the Convo offer a nice variety of options to choose.  For any average game, the food and drinks are what anyone would expect. However, there are occasions where local restaurants in Athens will have their own stand and give out food and beverages to paying customers.  In my experience, I remember coming across a stand that was selling food from Mr. Hibachi Japanese Grill and Sushi, and the best part is that it was free! Moments like that can elevate any customer’s mood, and it’s something worth considering when thinking about going to the Convo.  Atmosphere 5 Easily the best aspect in terms of this review is the atmosphere at the Convo. The Convo exhibits the same feeling as going to an NBA game would.  Whenever a MAC rival is in town, say the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks, the atmosphere becomes ten times better than what it already was. That’s when the Convo is at the peak of its power.  Specific athletic events, fall and winter commencement, Bobcat Student Orientation (BSO), etc., all are held at the Convo, and all are likely to be core memories for Bobcats of old, of now, and of the future.  Adding to the atmosphere is a center-hung videoboard above center court. The four-sided display measures 11'x21' along the sides, 9'x14' on the end lines. Neighborhood 5 Driving north alongside the Hocking River toward Athens on Richland Avenue, one eventually will see the Convo emerge from the trees on the left-hand side. Whether or not the overall climate is pleasant, the sight of the Convo and how large it is will get the attention of just about anyone.  Whoever decided to place it and Peden Stadium as close as they are to each other, and in the location they reside in, was a genius. These are two of the biggest facilities on OU’s campus, and for them to essentially greet whoever is coming into town is incredible, to say the least.  Fans 3 This is where things get a little tricky. The best fanbases are the ones that will stick with a team no matter if they’re performing well or not. Sadly, in my experience watching basketball games, volleyball matches, and wrestling dual meets, whenever the Bobcats aren’t at their peak, the fans tend not be invested.  Of course, this isn’t exclusive to just OU, but it is something worth pointing out. However, when the athletes on the court wearing Bobcat uniforms are in the zone, then that’s the cue for the fans to get in it as well.  For men’s basketball games, the Ohio University Marching 110 (also known as “The Most Exciting Band In The Land”) performs, and they bring the energy to a whole other level.  Access 4 One of the best aspects about OU is that most of the facilities are within walking distance of where students live in dormitories and off-campus housing. So, students can easily walk from wherever they are living to the Convo and attend whatever game they’re attending.  The Convo does provide many areas for parking around the building itself, and additional space in Peden Stadium lot can be used as a backup.  There are times when an overflow of fans and visitors may occur, so finding parking elsewhere is definitely a challenge, as finding an open spot is essentially finding buried treasure in Athens.  Return on Investment 5 Another perk about OU’s athletic department is that enrolled students get free access to watching any sporting event at the Convo. For non-students, ticket prices vary depending on the sport.  For men’s basketball, online prices range from $10 to $20. For women’s basketball, that price lowers to between $5 and $15. Volleyball and wrestling are typically between $5 and $10. Walk-in ticket prices can range between $15 and $25 for men’s basketball, $10 and $20 for women’s basketball, and around $10 for both volleyball and wrestling. The cost of tickets in some cases may seem high, but those are often for seats closer to the court.  Extras 5 One thing many people may be unaware of in terms of the Convo is that it is also a place where students can live during an academic year. It contains built-in dormitories, which house mainly student-athletes, ROTC students, and engineering students.  During its early existence, it was nicknamed “the big thermostat” for its distinctive round, domed shape. It was originally going to be named the “Fred Beasley Center” after a local benefactor pledged $1 million. But that pledge fell through, and it was named simply the Convocation Center.  Before it was primarily used for athletics, the Convo hosted musical legends of the late 1960s and 1970s, including performances by Led Zeppelin in 1969 and a sold-out showing of Simon and Garfunkel.  For surrounding high schools, the Convo also serves as a host for the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Regional Tournaments. It contains a sentimental value for younger athletes that goes beyond collegiate sports. Final Thoughts The Convocation Center is really something to behold. It may not be the absolute best of the best in terms of arenas, but it does hold a charm in Southeast Ohio, unlike most other facilities. I’m proud to have witnessed some fantastic games in it, and once my time comes to graduate, I’ll be glad to have walked on its floors one final time.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 SECU Arena Auburn Drive Towson, MD 21252 Baltimore Blast website SECU Arena website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 4,000 Having A Blast In Towson Most cities idolize their biggest sports stars. Baltimore has been fortunate that their biggest sports stars are also some of the biggest stars in their respective sports. The old Baltimore Colts had arguably the best quarterback in the history of the NFL in Johnny Unitas. The Baltimore Orioles have been blessed by being associated with Frank and Brooks Robinson. And they could shockingly almost pale in comparison to the Iron Man of baseball, local legend Cal Ripken Jr. The Baltimore Ravens counter by being the longtime home to a defense captained by middle linebacker and Hall of Fame player Ray Lewis. The Baltimore Blast is not as well-known nationally as those other Baltimore teams. Indoor soccer is much more of a niche sport. But they still have their own sports legend in Stan Stamenkovic. Stan, whose real first name was Srboljub, was known in indoor soccer circles as “The Magician.” The Serbian star played for the Baltimore Blast from 1983 until 1988, at a time when indoor soccer players made big money and were true star athletes. You will still find people around the Baltimore area who talk about Stan’s amazing ability. Besides his talent and creativity (check out this clip from the 1983 MISL All-Star Game below), Stamenkovic resonated with fans because he was the true “everyman.” His love of pizza, beer, and cigarettes often showed in his non-athletic-looking body, but it was the fact that he put on a show every night that he gained the fans' love. Unfortunately, Stan died at a very young 39 in 1996 from a fall in his home country. His Number 10 is retired by the Blast, and a banner flies in SECU Arena. The Baltimore Blast was a mainstay of the original Major Indoor Soccer League during the 1980s, up until that league’s demise in 1992. Immediately, a new team began in Baltimore, under the auspices of a new league, known as the Baltimore Spirit, which eventually changed its name to the Blast in 1998. Most people consider the two separate operations as one team. Leagues come and go, but the Baltimore Blast stays. Currently, they play in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). Food & Beverage 2 SECU Arena has extremely average food offerings. A few concession stands are offering a limited, basic variety. The concourse is open and has plenty of space for additional offerings if they so wish. Some non-food vendors were there at the game I attended, giving out pens and other tchotchkes. Prices are okay, but not great. Alcohol is sold for Blast games at the Arsenal Pub. Atmosphere 5 The lowered seating bowl of SECU Arena makes the sound seem to pop here. It can be pretty loud. This place can be a loud arena. The stands surround the field with an upper concourse along three of the four sides. Part of the basketball stands is pulled in to make way for the soccer field. The field is much smaller than at the Blast’s former home at the Royal Farms Arena (now CFG Bank Arena ). The Blast is still doing many of the same types of activities, as well as things such as player introductions, in the same general manner as they did 20 to 30 years ago. And that is not a bad thing. The crowd is fired up and ready for the explosive action of indoor soccer to begin. Change is not always good. The Blast really does it all right. The Blast seems to work well with local recreation soccer systems, as many of the fans come in groups, all the while supporting their own team, as well as the Blast. Neighborhood 3 Besides Johnny Unitas Stadium and the old Towson Center Arena, there is nothing right by the arena. Even though you may have to drive to other places, Towson is a semi-urban environment with a very large shopping mall and numerous restaurants in the area. Baltimore is also a quick drive away. Check out the Federal Hill neighborhood, south of the Inner Harbor. There are a few fun restaurants and bars here. Fans 4 Blast fans are truly knowledgeable about the game of indoor soccer. This sport takes the beauty and skill of soccer and marries it with the aggressiveness of hockey and basketball in an extremely fast-paced manner. The ricochets and quick bounces off the walls make me never want to be a goalie. The Blast’s current league, the MASL, is made up of many teams from across the country but expect to see mainly teams from the Eastern Division because travel in such a spread-out league can be expensive. The Blast also brings many local rec teams in for each game, so expect to see the stands filled with young ones in soccer gear. Access 4 Towson is located right off the Baltimore Beltway/I-695. The only negative is that Towson is a maze of roads getting to the Osler and Auburn locations of the sports complexes. Parking is free and plentiful, although the closest lots may be reserved. Follow the signs along Osler Drive to the proper parking spot. Return on Investment 3 General ticket prices begin at around $20. The most expensive tickets are nearly $50. Groups are also a big deal for the community-focused Blast, so you may want to see if a group you are associated with has any plans on attending. It may be a good idea to tag along with one of those groups. Extras 4 The Blast works with local soccer clubs, church groups, and other organizations to keep the community involved. The array of summer soccer camps throughout the city and region is quite extraordinary. It makes the players part of the community and engages the fans. This engagement is paid back on game days by getting players on the field for pregame introductions and halftime events. The old-style entertainment of the Blast games is refreshing. The unique seating system and the small field of play are features in themselves. Check out the many banners for Blast teams of the past, as well as many retired and honored players. Final Thoughts SECU Arena is a very nicely designed arena, but it is strange to see the shortened indoor soccer field placed inside it. The Blast still does a nice job of making the atmosphere theirs, and you WILL have a good time here.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Hetland Arena 310 Hathaway Blvd New Bedford, MA 02740 UMass Dartmouth Corsairs ice hockey website Hetland Arena website Year Opened: 1974 Capacity: 1,500 Stay the Course The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (better known as UMass Dartmouth) is one of five campuses in the University of Massachusetts system. It is located in the town of Dartmouth on the south coast of Massachusetts, between the cities of Fall River and New Bedford. The university has an enrollment of about 8,000 students, about half of whom live on campus. The school offers 123 undergraduate programs and 32 graduate programs.   Hetland Arena is a public skating facility located in New Bedford, MA. Operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, it has been the home of the UMass Dartmouth hockey team since the mid-70s beginnings of the program. The rink was dedicated in memory of Steven Hetland, a local youth who played peewee hockey there during the 1970s.   UMass Dartmouth is a member of Division III’s Little East Conference, which consists of schools from throughout New England. 2025-2026 marks the league’s inaugural ice hockey season. Hockey has been played at UMD since 1974, with the Corsairs appearing in four NCAA tournaments over their history, reaching the national quarterfinals in 2006 and 2007.   Food & Beverage 2   There is a concession stand in the main lobby. The menu pales in comparison to many other community rinks around New England. What you’ll find here is a decent selection of snacks, including muffins, cookies, and cinnamon rolls. Fans looking for something a bit more substantial will find hot dogs, pizza slices, nachos, and Cup o’ Noodles on the menu. Chicken tenders, fries, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks add to the offerings. Shushes and hot drinks are sold here. Unfortunately, this stand isn’t always open for Corsair games, nor is the full menu always available.   On nights when the concession stand isn’t open, there are vending machines in the lobby selling Pepsi products and snacks. Fans are welcome to bring in their own snacks at a Corsairs game, and in this chilly rink, hot beverages from the local Dunkin’ Donuts are a popular choice.   Atmosphere 2   At a small community rink, you wouldn’t expect an over-the-top game day presentation, and you won’t get one here at Hetland Arena. The UMass Dartmouth staff does do their best to put on a good show for the fans who do show up. Classic rock blares out of a pair of portable speakers set up on the far side of the rink during play stoppages.   A small scoreboard on the north end of the rink provides basic game information, and the PA announcer works to keep fans informed on the goings on down on the ice with a high-energy delivery. The team debuted a baby blue home jersey in the 2024-25 season, which has been a huge hit with fans.   Neighborhood 2     Hetland Arena is located next door to New Bedford High School, close to Paul Walsh Field , the former home of the New Bedford Bay Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.   Hetland Arena is located in a residential area, without a whole lot of businesses or attractions in the immediate area. Visiting fans can find a few eateries on nearby Route 6, but to get the best bang for your buck while visiting New Bedford, head downtown, a few short miles away from the rink.   New Bedford is another New England city that has suffered through some hard times and is struggling to rebuild both its infrastructure and its reputation. Thanks to a great deal of investment from civic leaders and local businesses, downtown New Bedford has a great National Historic Park, many museums, shops, galleries, restaurants, and bars. It’s a nice place to visit and is improving all the time.   Despite this, New Bedford isn’t really considered to be a destination city, especially with popular tourist spots such as Cape Cod, Newport, and Providence all close by. Still, New Bedford is not the dangerous wasteland it is sometimes made out to be. Check it out, you will be pleasantly surprised.   Fans 2   UMass Dartmouth draws between 100 and 200 fans per game at Hetland Arena. A Corsair crowd can accurately be described as a “friends and family” crowd, as most of the fans in attendance have a personal connection with the players competing on the ice. With UMass Dartmouth’s schedule made up almost entirely of local teams, it’s not unusual to find supporters of the visiting teams in the stands as well. Unfortunately, even though Hetland Arena is only four miles from the UMass Dartmouth campus, there’s not much of a turnout from the student body.   Access 4   Hetland Arena is located on the campus of New Bedford High School, four miles from the UMass Dartmouth campus, near the intersections of Interstate 195 and Route 140. It is easily accessible by car, which is the preferred method to arrive at a Corsairs game. There is ample parking both on the street and in a lot across the street from the rink.   Fans will enter Hetland Arena on the west (Hathaway Boulevard) side of the building. There is a small lobby that fans will pass through on their way to the rink. This is a popular spot for fans to hang out during intermissions as an escape from the chilly rink. Dress warm if you’re coming to a Corsairs hockey game, it is cold at Hetland.   Seating at Hetland Arena consists entirely of wooden bleachers on either side of the rink. Netting runs the length of the rink on both sides, obscuring views from all points. Restrooms are located on the north corners of the rink and are large enough to handle a typical Corsair crowd. Just time your trip to the men’s room carefully, as you’ll be sharing the room with the Corsair players.   Return on Investment 4   Admission to a UMass Dartmouth hockey game is sold as general admission for seven dollars, with students admitted for five dollars. Parking is free both on the street and in the lots near the rink. Should the concession stand be open, food is reasonably priced. An evening at a Corsairs hockey game is an affordable entertainment option for local sports fans.   Extras 1                                                                                                 There’s not a whole lot at a community rink like Hetland Arena that can be considered extra. UMass Dartmouth has some banners hanging in one corner of the rink commemorating past tournament appearances and conference championships.   Final Thoughts   While Hetland Arena is no more than a serviceable home for the Corsairs, UMass Dartmouth hockey fans are advised to keep their eyes on the horizon. There are whispers in the air of big things coming in the future for Corsair hockey.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

The upcoming 2026 season will mark the 50th season of the Seattle Mariners . From their MLB beginning in 1977, the Mariners have played their home games at the Kingdome (1977-1999) and currently at T-Mobile Park . Though established in 1977, the history of baseball in the Pacific Northwest dates back long before the birth of MLB baseball in the Emerald City. When attending a Mariners game at T-Mobile Park, fans can check out some of the region's rich baseball history at the Baseball Museum of the Pacific Northwest . Baseball Museum of the Pacific Northwest inside T-Mobile Park, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey If attending a Mariners Sunday home game in 2026, fans will notice another nod to Seattle’s baseball past as the team will be donning throwback 'Steelheads' Negro League uniforms . Seattle Steelheads throwback uniform. Photo Courtesy of Seattle Mariners The throwback threads will be replacing the cream colored Sunday home threads the Mariners have worn since 2015. Mariners Sunday home threads past and present. Courtesy of Seattle Mariners The transition makes the Mariners the first MLB team to feature a Negro Leagues uniform as part of its regular uniform rotation. It’s also paired with a significant community investment, as the club is launching the Steelheads Community Fund and committing $500,000 to support Black-led baseball and softball organizations and related community initiatives across the region. “We are proud to honor our game’s history and invest in the future of our community with Steelheads Sundays at T-Mobile Park,” Mariners president of business operations Kevin Martinez said in a statement. “Through the Steelheads Community Fund, we will celebrate the legacy of the Steelheads, while continuing our long-standing effort to advance access to baseball and softball and well-being for underserved communities in our region.”  (Daniel Kramer, MLB.COM ) Photo Courtesy of Seattle Mariners As the full scope of the fund’s programming is still being finalized, the focus will center on local Black-led baseball and softball organizations, along with broader community initiatives aligned with access, participation and well-being. The Mariners have emphasized that collaboration with community leaders is central to shaping how the fund is deployed, aiming to ensure that resources are directed where they can have the greatest impact.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 TD Garden 100 Legends Way Boston, MA 02114 Boston Bruins website TD Garden website Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 17,850 The Gahden   Going to a game in an Original Six city is a sacred pilgrimage for hockey fans, and the buildings these teams once called home were true shrines of the game. While the Boston Garden, Montreal Forum, Olympia, Joe Louis Arena, Maple Leafs Garden and Chicago Stadium have faded into history, Original Six teams continue to hold a special place in NHL lore.   The Boston Bruins are the third-oldest team in the NHL and were the first team based in the United States to join the league. 60 individuals associated with the team have been enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Bruins have won six Stanley Cups in their history, most recently in 2011.   The TD Garden is only the third venue that the Bruins have called home in over a century of competition, after the Boston Arena (now called Matthews Arena ) and the Boston Garden. Built just nine inches from its predecessor, it is named for its sponsor, TD Bank. In addition to serving as home to the Bruins and the NBA’s Boston Celtics , the Garden annually serves as host to the Beanpot Tournament  and Hockey East Tournament.   Food & Beverage 4   The concession experience at TD Garden has never been at the forefront of the Bruins game day routine. Over the years, the concessions have improved here in both variety and quality. But be warned that concession prices here are among the highest in the NHL.     Stands at the TD Garden are organized by their menus, so hungry fans may have to do some searching to find what they want. Vegetarian, vegan, kosher, and gluten-free items are available throughout TD Garden. Some of the most popular items are the oversized pizza slices from Sal’s Pizza. For some of the more unique items on the menu, head to the Test Kitchen on Level 4. A more in-depth description of the menu, including a map of all concessions, can be  found here.  Coca-Cola products are featured at TD Garden.   Fans looking for an adult beverage will have no problem finding what they want at TD Garden. Brews from local favorites Sam Adams and Harpoon Brewery are featured among the national brands. For a great selection of local brews, head to the Sam Adams Brewzone on Level 4 or the Craft Beer Garden on Level 7.   Sam Adams Brewzone at TD Garden. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Atmosphere 5   There just seems to be something special about seeing a game in the home of one of the Original Six teams. The Boston area features some of the most rabid fans in the league, and when the black and gold get on a roll, this is one of the loudest venues in the entire National Hockey League.   An evening at a Bruins game will feel very familiar to veteran NHL travelers, as the staff here in Boston doesn’t really break any new ground in terms of gameday presentation. But what they do, they do well. The giant “Hub Vision” video board is the centerpiece of the game day experience, and its high-resolution screen is used consistently with graphics, fan cams, replays, and games during play stoppages. The PA announcer and in-game emcee do a great job keeping things moving and energy up. The Bruins anthem singer, Todd Angily, has picked up the baton from the legendary Rene Rancourt and has become a Boston legend in his own right. There’s no downtime here at the Garden. The Bruins make nice use of AI-generated bear graphics to pump up the crowd throughout the game.   There’s not a lot of spare room in this tiny arena, and recent renovations have added some much-needed space to the place. Concourses were widened, and restrooms have been added. New social areas, such as the Rafters Club on Level 9 and the Back Row Bar at the top of the Balcony seating area, have become favorite spots to mingle with fans and grab a drink while watching the game.   Neighborhood 5   The TD Garden is located adjacent to Boston’s historic North End, the city’s version of “Little Italy.” While visiting, hockey fans flock to Bruin legend Ray Bourque’s restaurant, Tresca. Be sure to grab a couple of cannoli from Mike’s Pastry while here, or head to Regina’s Pizzeria, one of the top places to get a slice of pizza in the country. Many visiting fans enjoy walking down Hanover Street, taking in the sights and smells.     While many legendary restaurants around TD Garden have closed their doors in recent years, there are still plenty of dining and lodging options just steps from the venue. The Harp, Hurricane’s at the Garden, and of course, Halftime King of Pizza are just a few of the many options from which to choose. Fans looking for convenient lodging will find a Courtyard by Marriott, citizenM Downtown, and Onyx Boston all in the immediate vicinity.   Walk a few blocks further south, and you will arrive at Faneuil Hall, a collection of restaurants, shops, and clubs that is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Be sure to check out the Union Oyster House, Boston’s oldest restaurant and home of the city’s best clam chowder. Statues of Celtics legends Red Auerbach and Bill Russell and be found here among all the historic sites.   Fans looking to explore Boston’s rich history can follow the Freedom Trail, which passes a few blocks from the Garden. The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile-long brick-lined route that connects several of Boston’s most significant historic sites.  This walking tour winds throughout the city and is one of the best ways to explore Boston. TD Garden Entrance. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Fans 5   There is an adage in American hockey circles that the most knowledgeable, passionate fans in the United States live in the three “M’s” (Massachusetts, Minnesota,, and Michigan). Greater Boston is one of the most hockey-crazed areas you will find anywhere, with a dedicated fan base that can rival anything found in Canada. Even though the Bruins are going through a rebuilding period, you can expect the Garden to be packed and loud on game night.   The Garden becomes a sea of black and gold for every Bruins home game. Even the most casual Bruins’ fan seems to be louder than your typical fan. The Garden is filled with noise, particularly when the Bruins get on a roll.  It provides the team with a significant home-ice advantage and makes the Garden an intimidating arena for visitors. Visiting fans and families can still feel comfortable visiting Boston, though.   Access 3   Boston can be a difficult city to drive in, especially for a visitor who doesn’t know their way around. The best way to get to TD Garden is to take public transportation, known in Boston as the “T.” The arena is located directly on top of the North Station MBTA commuter rail station, bringing in fans from all parts of suburban Boston. For fans taking the subway, both the green and orange lines stop at North Station, right across the street from TD Garden. The $2.40 one-way fare makes the “T” Stadium Journey’s recommendation for avoiding the hassle of driving.   Although there are many options for parking in the area around the Garden it can be quite expensive to park here. The 5-level garage located directly underneath the Garden charges $65 for event parking. Several surface lots and garages in the immediate area charge $30-$50 on game night. Despite the Garden’s downtown location, there is little on-street parking around.   Over the years, the TD Garden has undergone a great deal of renovation designed to improve flow into and around the venue, as well as the creation of several new social gathering areas throughout the Garden. Some of these areas, such as the Rafters on Level 9, are among the most coveted tickets in the building.   All tickets for Boston Bruins games are now electronic. The arena’s bag policy prohibits all bags larger than 6” x 4” x 1.5”. The facility is cash-free and provides cash-to-card options for those without plastic. Complete details can be found here .   AI-Generated Bear Goal Graphic on the TD Garden Scoreboard. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Return on Investment 2   Going to a game at TD Garden is one of the most expensive in the National Hockey League. Even though the Bruins are going through a rebuilding period, tickets continue to be in high demand. So far this season, the least expensive tickets continue to be priced far north of $100 on the secondary market.   Adding to the high cost of attending a Bruins game is the cost of parking, which starts at $30 and has above-average concession prices. For example, purchasing a slice of pizza and a large soda will cost you close to twenty-five dollars.   Stadium Journey’s recommendation for significantly cutting the cost of attending a Bruins game: take the T and eat at one of the fine restaurants nearby before or after the game.   Extras 4                                                                                                 Statues  – A statue commemorating what is perhaps hockey’s most iconic photograph, Bobby Orr’s 1970 Stanley Cup-winning goal, stands at the entrance to TD Garden. The team also commissioned a giant roaring bear statue for their 100 th  season, which stands in a small park adjacent to the arena. Statues of Celtics legends Red Auerbach and Bill Russell are nearby in Faneuil Hall and City Hall Plaza, respectively.   Banners  – Banners honoring the Bruins Stanley Cup championships and other achievements hang from the Garden’s rafters. Twelve Bruins have had their numbers retired, with Zdeno Chara’s number 33 to join them in January. Also, there are banners commemorating the Beanpot Tournament and the Hockey East Tournament, both held here annually. Plus, there are also all those Celtics championship banners hanging around.   Museums  – Perhaps the greatest hidden sports gem in Boston is the Sports Museum. Located on levels 5 and 6 of the Garden, The Sports Museum features items celebrating the city of Boston’s long and storied sports history. Heritage Hall was opened to celebrate the Bruins’ 100 th anniversary, honoring the team’s history with memorabilia, technology, and interactive activities.   History  – As you may expect from one of the NHL’s Original Six teams, many sporting events of great importance have occurred here. Oversized murals depict iconic moments in the arena’s history on both concourses.   Bruins Centennial Legacy Monument next to TD Garden. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Final Thoughts   TD Garden is never mentioned among the elite venues of the National Hockey League. But a visit to Boston has to be considered on any hockey fan’s short list. The fans, the neighborhood, and the Garden will not disappoint any Stadium Journeyer. ------   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Bob Davis Gymnasium Walker Complex Brock University University Rd W St. Catharines, ON L2T 4C6 Brock Badgers basketball website Bob Davis Gymnasium website Year Opened: 1973 Capacity: 1,000 Brock is the Rock In 1964 Brock University opened its doors in St. Catharines, Ontario. Since then the university has blossomed into an institution of over 18,700 students and has a solid reputation as an academic institute. The school was named after Major General Sir Isaac Brock, a British General who led the defence of Upper Canada against the Americans in the War of 1812. Although victorious, Brock would die in the Battle of Queenston Heights, which was not far from the current location of the university. Some of the distinguished alumni from Brock in the world of sports include former NHL player Dennis Hull, North Bay Battalion head coach Stan Butler and current Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager and wunderkid Kyle Dubas. Athletics would take the field at Brock in the late sixties and the Brock Badgers basketball team would first take the court in 1967. In 1971, Brock would join the OUAA, the precursor for the OUA, their current conference. The Badgers would toil near the bottom of the standings for the bulk of their early existence, but the hiring of head coach Ken Murray would change the fortunes of the Badgers in 1986. The Badgers would become a consistently competitive team for the remainder of their existence up to the present and claim the Wilson Cup as conference champions in 1992 and 1995. Brock would shock the Canadian basketball world on two separate occasions claiming the National Championship in 1992 and 2008. Home for the Badgers is the Bob Davis Gymnasium. The gym is named after the Badgers’ number one fan and former Athletic Director for three decades, and first president of the OUA. The home of the Badgers is known as one of the more intimidating venues in the OUA for opposing teams. Brock has also earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the best travelling fan bases in the conference, often sending bus loads of fans into enemy territory. When in the Niagara area, checking out the Brock Badgers and Bob Davis Gymnasium is worth a look and a rock solid OUA basketball experience. Food & Beverage 2 The concessions options at the Bob Davis Gymnasium are pretty limited. Just outside the main entrance, popcorn and cans of soda are available. The prices are pretty cheap but the selection is obviously limited. For fans who are interested in something a little more substantial, walking through the Walker Sports Complex will bring fans to the Hungry Badger, which has many more options including Pizza Pizza. Atmosphere 3 The home for Brock Badgers basketball is the Bob Davis Gymnasium, located inside the Walker Sports Complex. The Walker Complex is a nice looking facility from the outside. First time fans will be surprised when they find out that the gymnasiums (which can be seen from University Avenue) and the huge glass windows are not where the varsity basketball teams play. Fans will need to enter the Walker Complex and meander through to the Bob Davis Gymnasium. The Badgers do a great job of advertising their famous sports alumni and currently have a few banners showing current Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Kyle Dubas. Other Brock memorabilia can be seen on the trip through the complex. When the Walker Sports Complex was originally built in 1973, it is clear that Gym One, which is now known as the Bob Davis Gymnasium, was built to mostly facilitate classes and recreation. Outside, there are some Brock Badger markings to build the atmosphere, but inside the gymnasium is very simple. The basketball court runs east to west with bleacher seating on both the north and south sides. A simple rectangular design, the Bob Davis Gymnasium is a throwback to high school facilities that so many fans are familiar with. The best descriptor of the gym is cozy. On the east and north walls hang a plethora of championship banners. Most of them are for wrestling and rowing, however the 1991-1992 CIAU Basketball National Championship and 2008 CIS Basketball National Championship banners hang proudly. Although the Badgers have retired four numbers for honoured members of the Badgers basketball teams, nowhere in the Bob Davis Gymnasium is that evident. A simple scoreboard with tracking for players hangs on the west wall. The most iconic image in the Bob Davis Gymnasium, however, is the massive, red Badgers logo on the south wall. The game day production for a Badgers game is simple. They don’t try too hard and successfully embellish the atmosphere. Music selection is what would be expected and Brock does not bother attempting fancy lights or anything like that. The Badger cheerleaders cheer from behind the baseline and perform a stunt or two during stoppages in play. Overall, the Badgers put together a game day package that is perfect for their venue. Neighbourhood 3 The Bob Davis Gymnasium is located in the Walker Complex on the campus of Brock University. The campus is in the Glenridge neighbourhood of St.Catharines on the southern border of the city, just west of Thorold. Many may not think of St.Catharines as a great tourist destination, but with close proximity to the tourist Mecca of Niagara Falls makes it worth the trip. There are a few spots for fans to get pre and post game food and drink near the Bob. Isaac’s Bar and Grill is the on-campus pub and may be worth a look. Cracker Jack’s, Cat’s Caboose and Johnny Rocco’s are other spots of interest. The Badgers hockey team plays at the Seymour-Hannah Sports Complex, which is off campus and may be able to provide a doubleheader opportunity with basketball. Also, the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League play in the relatively new Meridian Centre for other sporting options. Other entertainment options in the area include the Welland Canals Centre / St.Catharines Museum / Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Also, the Niagara winery scene is world famous and there are tons of vineyards in the area that are worth touring. Rockway Vineyards is close to campus. For fans that need a place to stay, the Stone Mill Inn and Four Points St.Catharines Niagara are good choices. Fans 4 Assessing fans for OUA basketball is difficult. In most cases, attendance at basketball games is not reported. That being said, Brock does a pretty good job bringing fans out to the game. There are plenty of students in the gym for Badgers games, which can be a real challenge for many OUA teams. The cozy nature of the Bob lends itself to the size of crowd that shows up. Brock also has a reputation for being one of the best travelling fan bases in the province. Bus loads of fans have been known to hit up a rival location or two. Access 4 Getting to Brock is not very difficult. The campus is located south of the Queen Elizabeth Way and west of highway 406 so getting to campus is very simple from out of town. The Bob Davis Gymnasium is located inside the Walker Sports Complex. The Walker Complex is located on the edge of campus on University Road West. There is plenty of parking on campus, however there is a charge depending on the lot. For fans who are interested in public transit, there are buses that go right on the Brock campus. Fans should check out the St.Catharines Transit website for fares, schedules and maps. With the vastness of the Walker Complex gives plenty of space to get around. The Bob Davis Gym itself is a little on the tight side and there is not a ton of room to move around. However, the moulded plastic bleachers are fine and decent once you are settled. The washroom facilities are adequate for the size of the crowd at Brock games. Return on Investment 4 OUA basketball continues to be a fabulous value for the sporting dollar. Tickets for Badgers basketball are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Brock University students are free of charge. Each ticket is a doubleheader with the women’s basketball team playing before the men. Parking on campus will have a charge and concession prices are not very expensive. For that small investment, fans get excellent basketball action, close to the game amongst some of the best fans in all university sports. Put it all together and the return more than makes up for the small investment. Extras 2 An extra mark for possibly the best travelling fans in the OUA. An extra mark for the success Brock has earned on the court, an accomplishment for a small school for sure. Final Thoughts Going to a Brock Badgers basketball game at the Bob Davis Gymnasium will not blow fans away with anything too fancy. The gym is simple and cozy and the production befits the venue. Brock provides great value for the dollar and have one of the best fan bases in the conference. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center 3501 Lapeer Rd. Flint, MI 48503 Flint Firebirds website Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center website Year Opened: 1969 Capacity: 4,021 #BelieveinFlint If you troll around the Flint Firebirds Twitter account you will be bombarded with the hashtag #BelieveInFlint. Let’s face it, right or wrong, the city of Flint, Michigan has a horrible reputation. Whether it is the reported high crime rate or the crash of the city following the closing of the auto manufacturing plants, getting people to come to Flint has been difficult at best. So when Peter Karmanos sold the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League to the IMS Hockey Corporation and Rolf Nilsen there were a number of 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 tennant. 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. The Whalers took up residence in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth for 18 seasons. Unfortunately, Plymouth would provide its own set of challenges and with the purchase of Compuware Arena by USA Hockey Foundation, it was clear that a new home was needed. Peter Karmanos was clear that Chatham, Ontario was the first choice, however with no suitable arena and no civic appetite to build one, Chatham was a short conversation. Flint swooped in and kept the Michigan quota of OHL teams at two. The newly minted Firebirds would have several challenges ahead of them. The ability to convince Canadian parents to send their sons to Flint for junior hockey would be significant. Educating the Flint community on OHL hockey would be another challenge, but the Firebirds would make news that would make all of their work even more difficult. In November 2015 the Firebirds would catch the attention of the entire hockey world when after a rash firing of their head coach, John Gruden, the entire Firebirds team quit. The issues were quickly resolved and Gruden and his staff were re-hired and hockey moved on, but it was not the right kind of publicity that the Firebirds received. The Firebirds have their work cut out for them, but are doing what they can and are trying their best to get hockey fans everywhere to Believe in Flint.. Food & Beverage 4 The Flint Firebirds offer a pretty good selection of fare for the Firebirds patron. The Dort features four main concession stands that are in the four corners of the arena concourse. Each features a pretty decent selection of hockey fare. Some items available include popcorn ($4), hot dogs ($4), polish sausage, pizza ($4), and pretzels ($4). Detroit staple, Cheli’s Chili, product of former Red Wings star Chris Chelios, is also available on its own or with a chili dog. There are also a few cheaper snack items available including cookies and chips for $2 each. A premium item that may catch your eye is the steak & cheese sandwich for $8. Concession stands offer Pepsi products for soft drinks in two sizes ($4/$3). Bottled water and Gatorade is also available. Hot beverages available include coffee, hot chocolate and vanilla cappuccino, each for $2. Alcoholic beverages are available at dedicated stands. The beers that are available include Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Lite, Labatt Blue and Blue Light. If you are looking for a bit more of a craft brew experience, then you may want to try Alaskan Breweries. Both the Alaskan Amber and Freeride APA are available. Other canned alcohol options are also available. Atmosphere 2 The Firebirds have some significant work to do when it comes to atmosphere. The age of the Dort immediately comes into play when talking about the atmosphere. With the building built in 1969, the Dort doesn’t offer too much in the way of aesthetics. A fairly non-descript building from the outside, the Dort has a brown brick exterior that has that seventies bomb-shelter kind of look to it. Upon entry the Dort does offer a fairly decent waiting area on the inside, which if nothing else, offers some shelter from the exterior elements before the gates into the arena open. The Firebirds have attempted to spruce up the waiting area with some orange and blue balloon-like balls decorating the waiting area ceiling. It does offer a bit of colour to what would otherwise be a fairly drab area. Access to the team store is available from the waiting area before the gates open. Once the gates open, the entrance to the store swaps to the door inside the arena. Inside the gates, patrons are welcomed to the main concourse, which like many other arenas in the OHL is behind the seating bowl in a open concept configuration where the ice is visible from the concourse. The ice is configured with the nets at the north and south ends of the arena. The ceiling is very low and the Firebirds have found a new videoboard that keeps the low ceilings in mind. There is not much in the way of markings for the Firebirds. There is nothing to show the franchise history from Plymouth and the Firebirds management is treating the team like it’s an expansion franchise. Promotions are a big part of the Firebirds experience. Check out the Firebirds website for a list of promotional dates. The date of this review featured ladies night, with all ladies entering the arena being offered a carnation. Pre-game music for the Firebirds is way too loud and obnoxious at times. The Firebirds mascot patrols the arena looking for kids and enthusiastic fans. As of this writing, the Firebirds “Name the Mascot” contest has not completed and a name for the mascot has not been announced. The Firebirds also have a cheer team complete with pom-poms, which is definitely unique for junior hockey. The rest of the in-game promotions are what are to be expected for hockey at this level. The seating in the Dort is unique to say the least. The seating bowl can be divided into two distinct areas. The upper half of the seating bowl features brand new, permanent plastic stadium seats with cup holders. The lower half of the seating bowl is on temporary risers and astonishingly features cushioned folding chairs. As with most junior hockey experiences, there is plenty of standing room behind the seating bowl which fans flock to. There does not seem to be much in the way of premium seating. The Blueline Club is in the pressbox level at the north end of the arena. The south end features a hot tub at ice level, which is a first for the OHL. If you want to see the centre-ice logo properly, you will want a seat on the west side of the arena. With the small capacity of the Dort, the best seats are in the upper half of the seating bowl. One or two rows from the top will give you a great view. Neighborhood 2 With the poor reputation that Flint has, it’s a pretty good idea to know where you are going and what you are doing. Around the Dort there are a couple of options. You may want to try the Firkin & Fox for an English style pub experience. Right on the other side of the building, Walli’s Family Restaurant may be a little more up your alley. Either way you will probably enjoy your experience. Both are located just south of Lapeer, to the east of the arena. With the vast automotive history in Flint, an option for other entertainment may be the Buick Gallery. Located northwest of the Dort, in the Flint Cultural Center, the Buick Gallery offers a small gallery of various Buick’s of the past. There may be other areas within the Cultural Center that you could also be interested in like the Longway Planetarium or the Sloan Museum. If you are making a weekend of your trip to Flint and looking for other sporting options, you are central to a number of different cities including Saginaw, East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Auburn Hills and Detroit. All have either junior hockey, college sports or professional sports to offer. If you are planning on staying in Flint, the Super 8 offers a close proximity to the arena as well as the Firkin & Fox and Walli’s. Fans 3 It is important to remember that at the time of this review the Flint market is still being introduced to the Ontario Hockey League brand of hockey. The Firebirds have drawn on average 3,000 fans per game. There is definitely room to grow, but that by no means puts them at the bottom of the league attendance wise. It does put the Firebirds in the lower echelon of the OHL however. As the league and product continues to grow on the local market, and the rivalry with the Saginaw Spirit continues to grow, hopefully the attendance will continue to grow. The fans that are in the stands are typical OHL-type fans. The are not over the top loud or supportive. They make noise when there is something to make noise about. However, there is little sense of attachment to this team yet, and the Flint market has had numerous teams come and go. Some staying power would go a long way to help the Firebirds. Access 3 Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center is not difficult to get to, but offers some challenges. The Dort is located just south of I-69 and east of I-475, a great location for getting to and from the arena from out of town. It is a little bit of a drive from downtown Flint proper, which is north of the interstate. Flint does have some public transportation, however it is centered around the downtown area. The transit does not go out as far as the Dort. Other transportation options must be explored if driving is not in the cards. There is plenty of parking in the parking lots surrounding the Dort. The cost for parking is $10, which is expensive for this league. That being said, there is paid security that patrols the parking lot, so there is some piece of mind for the money that you are paying to park. The ticketing windows are within the waiting area inside the arena. It is pretty spacious and there is enough room for those picking up tickets, buying tickets and those who are just waiting to get in. The concourses behind the seating bowl are fairly spacious and getting around the arena is not too difficult. The washroom facilities are a little outdated and pretty cramped. Some attention needs to be paid to this area of the arena. Return on Investment 4 OHL hockey is always a great investment. The brand of hockey is fast and exciting. Ticket prices for the Firebirds are in line with other programs in the league. With seating options at $19, $15 and $12, the opportunity for a great seat at a low cost is a distinct possibility. Try the bronze seating at $12. Concession prices are good and the parking cost is quite high. The end result is a very reasonable investment. The venue in Flint isn’t the greatest, but it is still a solid investment with ample return. Extras 2 An extra mark for the classic Pontiac Firebird parked in front of the arena with a strobe light. An extra mark for the hot tub at ice level. A unique feature for junior hockey. Final Thoughts The Firebirds want you to Believe in Flint. Considering the hurdles that the team has already been required to jump over have been quite significant. I would be prudent to give Flint a chance. At the very least, the team is making sufficient effort to make junior hockey work in Flint. In the meantime, keep an open mind, give the Firebirds a chance and maybe you will even #BelieveInFlint. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Goldfarb Gymnasium University Parkway Baltimore MD 21218 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays website Goldfarb Gymnasium website Year Opened: 1965 Capacity: 1,100 Gold for the Blue Jays Johns Hopkins University is often known for its successful lacrosse programs but it has many sports teams that are very successful. The university was named after its first benefactor, the American entrepreneur, abolitionist, and philanthropist Johns Hopkins. And yes, his name was “Johns”, not “John.” Don’t look like an outsider by pronouncing it wrong. The university is one of the most recognized colleges in America. Thirty-six Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with Johns Hopkins over the years. Famous departments in the university include the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Whiting School of Engineering, the Peabody Institute, the Applied Physics Laboratory, and the Bloomberg School of Public Health. There are also, of course, world-famous affiliated medical hospital campuses as well. The Johns Hopkins University’s sports teams are called the Blue Jays. Except for lacrosse, their teams are Division III and are members of the Centennial Conference. Goldfarb Gymnasium opened in 1965 and is home to the Blue Jay men's and women's basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and men's and women's fencing teams. Food & Beverage 1 There are no permanent food stands inside of Goldfarb Gymnasium. You should be able to find a vending machine for a quick drink or snack, but you should plan for anything more. Atmosphere 4 Goldfarb Gymnasium is part of the Newton H. White building. There is a nice videoboard, as well as a couple of other scoreboards. The gym is very small, smaller than many high school gyms. You will walk into the venue between the student seating sections. Because of its small size, the gym can get very loud. The student section is loud and boisterous. Neighborhood 4 The University is located in the Charles Village and Homewood neighborhoods of Baltimore. There are numerous bars and restaurants in the Charles Village area where Hopkins is located, such as THB Bagels, Gertrude’s at the BMA, and One World Café. The Baltimore Museum of Art, or BMA, is located right next door to campus. Try to stop by and see some of the great masters of the art. It is a real treasure of a museum. And it makes quite a unique pre-game ritual. Baltimore is a great metropolitan city, with many fun and exciting places to spend time both before and after a game. Relatively close to the university is the Mt. Washington neighborhood that straddles I-83 South (known as the Jones Falls Expressway, or the JFX, by locals). The Mt. Washington Tavern is an excellent restaurant with both fine food and a bar food type of menu. The place is large, and there always seems to be room for more. Parking is the biggest problem here, so it would be worth paying the nominal valet charges. There is a DoubleTree Hotel located across the street from the university. Right down the street is Miss Shirley’s Café on West Cold Spring Lane. Their fried green tomatoes are quite tasty. They are also quite well known for their breakfast offerings. Also close to Johns Hopkins is the Hampden neighborhood, with its variety of quirky shops and restaurants. Fans 4 The venue is small, but you cannot underestimate the fans and the atmosphere they bring to the game. Access 3 The university is not far from the Jones Falls Expressway (I-83). Take the Coldspring Lane exit east and go south on Roland Avenue, and it is a short drive to the university. There is paid parking around the campus. Return on Investment 4 There is no charge to attend regular-season games at Goldfarb Gymnasium. The biggest cost of attendance will be parking, which will vary greatly depending on the day or time. Extras 3 The JHU Hall of Fame in the lobby will show the storied history of the lacrosse program, as well as other teams on campus. The Baltimore Museum of Art is a great place. The highlight of the museum is the Cone Collection. That collection includes works by artists including Matisse, Picasso, Cézanne, Manet, Degas, Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Renoir. Check out the hallway behind the gym, and you will see even more history and successes of past Blue Jay teams, not just the ones in the Hall of Fame section. Final Thoughts Goldfarb Gymnasium is a small venue, but with the recent success of the basketball teams, as well as the low cost, you might want to stop in while in the Baltimore area.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 GSU Convocation Center 455 Capitol Ave SE Atlanta, GA 30312 Georgia State Panthers website GSU Convocation Center website Year Opened: 2022 Capacity: 7,300 Georgia State’s New Home for Pounce and Bounce The GSU Convocation Center is the newest addition to Georgia State University’s downtown athletics campus. It opened in 2022, replacing the Georgia State Sports Arena, its home for over 50 years. The Sports Arena had only 3,500 seats, while the new Convocation Center can handle twice as many fans. The Panthers belong to the Sun Belt Athletic Conference, which features several teams from the states adjoining Georgia. This means that the new facility will also better serve the needs of visiting fans who decide to make the short drive over to Atlanta for a game. Food & Beverage 3 The concessions program at the new Convocation Center is a dramatic improvement over the lone concessions table at the Panthers former home. There are four concession stands located around the main concourse at the Convocation Center. There are two Panther Grills and two Panther Pizza stands. While their concession offerings are somewhat limited, they do offer items at reasonable prices. The Panther Grill offers hamburgers with fries ($12), cheeseburgers with fries ($13), and hot dogs ($5). The Panther Pizza stand offers cheese pizza slices ($5) and pepperoni pizza slices ($6). Both stands offer Coca-Cola brand sodas ($6), candy ($4), chips ($3), popcorn ($5), and bottled water ($5). Alcohol is available at the arena at separate stands. The legal drinking age in Georgia is 21, and purchasers must show a legal ID. There is a two-drink limit per purchase. A 16-ounce beer is $8.00, and wine is $12.00. Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere has improved dramatically at Georgia State basketball games since the move from the old Sports Arena. The old arena was located on the fourth floor of the P.E. building and had pull-out wooden bleachers. It had two basic scoreboards that were basically high school digital relics. There was a single folding table that served as the concessions area. The new Convocation Center offers 7,300 GSU blue seatbacks. It features a state-of-the-art electronic package, including ribbon boards along the facing of the second level of seats and a pair of 18’X 32’ video screens to show replays, interviews, and other information during breaks in the action. GSU Convocation Center, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 3 The GSU Convocation Center is in Georgia State University’s new Athletics campus. This property was formerly used by the Atlanta Braves as their parking area for Turner Field. Georgia State University has taken over the former Turner Field as its football stadium, rechristening it as Center Parc Stadium. A new Georgia State University baseball stadium is now under construction on the property, and it will open in time for the 2027 college baseball season. The addition of the Convocation Center has been a major boost to the long -neglected Summerhill neighborhood located just south of the arena. The new building has provided much-needed jobs in the area and has created new interest from businesses to locate in the area. Since the Convocation Center opened in 2022, Chillz Restaurant and Bar, Wood’s Chapel BBQ, Southern National, BOCA, Poach Social, and Halfway Crooks Beer have all opened restaurants in the area. A Publix grocery store has also opened in the area, which was formerly a “food desert”. Visiting fans can stay at either the Country Inn and Suites or the Comfort Inn Downtown South, which are both just a few blocks from the venue. Fans 4 The new Convocation Center has greatly enhanced attendance at Panthers basketball games. The seating layout clearly defines the area for the band, and the student body (known as the “Blue Crew”) sits, and this allows the students, the cheer squads, and the GSU pep band to coordinate their efforts much more effectively than was possible in the program’s former home. The GSU mascot, Pounce the Panther, roams the arena, posing for selfies with students, alumni, and young children. The new arena has also brought GSU alumni back to the campus. There was very little incentive to come back to what many alums regarded as their “old P.E. building”. The new facility has meeting rooms available for alumni functions at the games, which have been very popular with this important segment of the fanbase. Access 4 The Convocation Center is easy to access, as it is located at the crossroads of I-75/I-85 (the Downtown Connector) and I-20. Georgia State University students and faculty can take a free shuttle from the campus to the Convocation Center and return to the campus after the game at no cost. The Convocation Center is four blocks from the Georgia State MARTA rapid rail station. Riders can reach the arena from the Atlanta suburbs via mass transit with just a short walk to the arena. Bike racks are also available at the arena for students who wish to travel the short distance from the campus dorms to the games by bike. There are three public entry gates at the Convocation Center. Gates 2-3 can be used by any fan. Gate 1 entry is restricted to fans with season tickets and courtside seats. Gates open 60 minutes before tipoff. Parking is available in the Blue Lot at 76 Fulton Street, which is across the street from the arena. Return on Investment 3 Ticket prices vary between basic games and premium games. The basic game prices are $15 for seats at midcourt seats and $10 for seats on the sides. Fans who want to miss the heavy downtown traffic and the hassle of finding a parking space at the arena can take the MARTA rapid rail line to the games for a very economical cost of $2.50 each way per person. The Georgia State station is just a few blocks from the Convocation Center. Extras 4 The Convocation Center has been used for a wide variety of audiences since it opened. It has hosted concerts, political rallies for both presidential candidates in the 2024 elections, graduation ceremonies for both Georgia State University and students from area high schools, and the inauguration ceremonies for both Atlanta’s mayor and Georgia’s governor. The Olympic cauldron from the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games is located directly in front of the arena. The basketball court at the Convocation Center is named for former GSU Coach and Naismith Hall of Fame member Charles “Lefty” Driesell. GSU has always been an urban university in the heart of downtown Atlanta. The new Convocation Center enforces that link with a dramatic “Window on the City” at the north end of the building that features a one-of-a-kind view of the downtown Atlanta skyline. Final Thoughts The new GSU Convocation Center has broken the cycle of the university using “borrowed” or “used” facilities to house its athletics programs. The shiny new “GSU Blue” facility is something that Panther athletes, GSU students, alumni, and community members are very proud of.

Photo: Courtesy of the city of Gary, Indiana. The Indiana State Legislature has passed significant legislation aimed at relocating the Chicago Bears to Indiana, a move that could reshape the landscape of professional football in the region. This legislative push comes amid ongoing negotiations and discussions about potential new stadium sites, offering a stark contrast to how other NFL teams are situated concerning their names and locations. Legislative Developments On January 28, 2026, the Indiana State Senate passed a bill enabling the creation of a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, designed to finance a new stadium for the Bears. The bill, which passed with a vote of 46-2, requires further approval from the Indiana House of Representatives before it can proceed to Governor Mike Braun for final approval. The legislation facilitates a long-term lease arrangement, potentially spanning 35 years, allowing the Bears to retain all operating revenues while also giving them the option to purchase the stadium for $1 after the lease period ends. Proposed sites for the new stadium include locations in Gary, with plans that highlight its economic significance as “Gary's Greatest Comeback Story.” Historically, the Bears have been in discussions for a new home, oscillating between various locations, including a previously proposed development at Arlington Heights, Illinois. State lawmakers, notably Governor JB Pritzker, have expressed opposition to public funding for any new stadium, complicating the Bears future in Illinois. Comparisons with Other NFL Teams The potential move of the Chicago Bears prompts an interesting discussion about NFL team names and their locations. Teams like the New York Giants and New York Jets are named after a city where they no longer play; both teams relocated to New Jersey while maintaining their New York monikers. This is a common trend in the league, where branding can sometimes take precedence over geographic accuracy. Philadelphia's Eagles and the Washington Commanders also reflect similar branding strategies, as both teams have deep-rooted connections to their respective cities despite the extensive movements and evolutions in their respective regions. This raises questions about how team identity relates to fan loyalty and economic considerations for municipalities vying for professional sports franchises. Photo: Courtesy of the city of Gary, Indiana. The Bears potential move to Indiana has reignited community and political interest in securing the NFL franchise, albeit with some contention surrounding labor aspects. The proposed bill includes provisions that have raised concerns among labor leaders in Indiana due to restrictions against project labor agreements, which are prevalent in Chicago. Gary's leadership has been actively promoting its proposal as part of a broader economic resurgence. The inclusion of labor-oriented stipulations in the legislation may further complicate negotiations as supporters argue for local union contracts, affecting both public opinion and political traction. The timeline for a stadium's construction and the Bears prospective move remains uncertain, but as the Indiana legislature expedites its process, both football fans and politicians are engaged in a high-stakes game. The Indiana legislative move to entice the Chicago Bears to Indiana signifies not just a logistical shift for the team, but also reflects complex intersections of sports, identity, and local economies across state lines. The outcomes will be closely monitored as both Indiana and Illinois stake their claims in this evolving saga of professional football.

Photos by Jeremy Pushkin and Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Maples Pavilion 655 Campus Dr Stanford, CA 94305 Stanford Cardinal website Roscoe Maples Pavilion website Year Opened: 1969 Capacity: 7,233 Electricity on The Farm? Maples Pavilion opened in 1969 and is named after its principal donor, Roscoe Maples . The venue has hosted Cardinal basketball for over five decades, and has been the home court for future NBA talent, including Dwight Powell, Brook and Robin Lopez, and Maxime Reynaud. However, Stanford’s men’s basketball program has not reached the levels of success of other Cardinal teams, as it has been 83 years and counting since Stanford’s men’s team last raised the national championship trophy. Food & Beverage 2 Maples Pavilion offers standard stadium fare at standard stadium prices. Food options include burgers, hot dogs, and popcorn, and vegan options are available. Beverages run from $6 for a bottle of water to $16 for premium beers (including Lagunitas IPA and Trumer Pilsners). Maples Pavilion is a Coke facility and operates as a cashless venue. Lines were lengthy at halftime for both food and restrooms, so plan to stock up prior to the game. Fans are permitted to bring in their own food and sealed non-alcoholic beverages, and with the variety of options in nearby Palo Alto, you should not plan to have a full meal here. Atmosphere 3 Maples Pavilion is a nondescript building within Stanford's athletics complex. There is no dramatic architecture or imposing facade to greet visitors. The building is functional rather than memorable. Inside, the 7,233-seat arena puts fans close to the action. The lower bowl features chairback seating while the upper sections have backless bleachers. When purchasing tickets, keep in mind that section numbers span both the lower and upper sections, with Row F being the first row of the upper section. The upper sections have tight legroom, making it difficult to pass through once your row fills in. Sections 9-13 face the court logo right-side up and are where in-arena presentations are aimed, making them the prime seats for first-time visitors. A high-quality video board displays the live broadcast and replays. The arena has solid acoustics and features an in-house DJ, who performs alongside the Stanford band. The building can run warm, so be sure to dress in layers. Neighborhood 4 Maples Pavilion sits on Stanford's campus (lovingly referred to as “The Farm”), one of the most beautiful college settings in the country. The Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, palm-lined pathways, and open quads make for a pleasant pre-game stroll. The venue is also within a 30 minute walk of downtown Palo Alto, offering plenty of options before and after the game. The closest off-campus shopping center is Town and Country Village, with several dining and shopping options. A popular pregame spot is Gott’s, a local burger chain with beer and wine available. For those looking for more unique options, Ramen Nagi is the local outpost of a Japanese ramen chain, though be aware there may be a line. If a classic sports bar is more your speed, the best option is the Patio, though rumor has it that Stanford legend Andrew Luck is working on reopening The Old Pro, which in its previous iteration was the Stanford Bar. Palo Alto has a wide array of options for hotels, ranging from basic inns like the Best Western to Nobu and the Clement, both five-star hotels. Fans 3 The announced sellout against Cal (marking the first back-to-back sellouts since 2008) brought energy to the building, though some bleacher seats in the baseline corners remained empty. When the action heated up, Maples got loud. The student section responded to big plays in bursts. However, fans lacked urgency getting to their seats for tipoff and the start of the second half, and when the game was decided, fans began to head out prior to the final buzzer. Cal fans traveled well and were vocal throughout, arguably bringing more consistent noise than the home crowd. There was no hostility toward visiting fans, creating a collegial environment that perhaps undercuts the rivalry edge. If the Cardinal were competing for a conference title or tournament spot, there would likely be a much different feel in Maples Pavilion. Access 4 Stanford’s campus is located a few miles from both 101 and 280, making travel to Maples Pavilion easy. Stanford has Silicon Valley congestion, but weekend games offer some relief from the traffic. Free parking is available on campus within a five-minute walk on Saturdays and Sundays. Weekday games require more planning as campus parking restrictions apply, and paid lots can fill up quickly. If you are relying on public transit, Caltrain stops at the Palo Alto station, about a 30-minute walk or short rideshare to campus, making it an easy trip from anywhere on the peninsula. Security lines moved steadily. Bag policy is standard with a clear bag policy, though free bag check is available for those with noncompliant bags. Once inside, the concourse is relatively bare but functional, though lines from concession stands and bathrooms can impede the flow of traffic. There is also one stand in Maples Pavilion from which to purchase Stanford merchandise, though campus fan shops and bookstores are not far from the arena. Return on Investment 4 Tickets on the secondary market can be found for as low as $15, even for prime opponents such as a rivalry game against Cal. While single-game tickets start at $30-$200, note that dynamic pricing can push ticket prices up depending on demand. For fans who have the ability to attend multiple games, Stanford offers multi-game or group ticket packages that bring prices down to around $10 per game. In the Bay Area, with one of the highest costs of living in the country, Maples Pavilion is a relatively low-cost experience that is much appreciated by basketball fans in the region. Extras 3 The Stanford Tree is frequently cited as one of the most bizarre and controversial college mascots. An anthropomorphic tree is made each year, so make sure to catch the current year’s version dancing during breaks in game action. The Stanford dance team signed the national anthem in ASL as it was being performed, a nice gesture for any hearing-impaired fans. In a world where digital tickets have replaced physical ones, it is great to see Stanford actually design their digital ticket, showing a high-quality graphic instead of the simple template tickets that have become ubiquitous. Final Thoughts Maples Pavilion offers an accessible, affordable, and intimate college basketball experience. The atmosphere is solid but not electric. For a rivalry sellout, more sustained intensity would be expected. What emerges is a polite, reactive crowd that shows up but doesn't impose its will. Based on recent performances from the Cardinal men’s team, electricity on The Farm remains more of a question than a statement.

Photo courtesy of the AP The College Football Playoff (CFP)  Board of Managers announced on February 20, 20204, that they have voted to unanimously revise the qualifying criteria for the 12-team playoff that is scheduled to begin with the 2024-2025 season. The updated playoff field will now include the five highest-ranked conference champions, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams as determined by the CFP Selection Committee.   “This is a very logical adjustment for the College Football Playoff based on the evolution of our conference structures since the board first adopted this new format in September 2022,” said Dr. Mark Keenum, President of Mississippi State University and Chair of the CFP Board of Managers. “I know this change will also be well received by student-athletes, coaches, and fans. We all will be pleased to see this new format come to life on the field this postseason.”   The updated format modifies the original plan, in which the six highest-ranked conference champions would be joined by the next six highest-ranked “at-large” teams. The new format replaces the existing “best four” playoff structure which has been in place since 2014. The reformatting to the 5+7 is in large part a response to the latest round of conference realignments, a byproduct of which saw the virtual dissolution of the PAC-12 Conference.   Under the new 12-team format, the four highest-ranking conference champions, seeded one through four, will receive first-round byes, with seeds five through eight hosting a first-round playoff game at their respective home fields. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played as part of the New Year’s Six rotation of bowl games: the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl , Capital One Orange Bowl , Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl , Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential , and the Allstate Sugar Bowl .   The quarterfinals for this season’s playoffs will take place on Dec. 31, 2024, and January 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be January 9-10, 2025. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be Monday, January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. ---- Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 . Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com .

We put the journey back in Stadium Journey. The gang is all here to talk about their most recent travels across the US and Canada! 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 Greg Venuto, Matt Fiedler, and Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 John J. Lee Amphitheater 70 Tower Parkway New Haven, CT 06511 Yale Bulldogs basketball website John J. Lee Amphitheater website Year Opened: 1932 Capacity: 2,532 An Ageless Wonder in New Haven A relic, a throwback, a mini Palestra are some of the thoughts that come to mind as you enter John Jay Lee Amphitheater on the campus of Yale University, founded in 1701. Payne Whitney Gymnasium is hardly your typical basketball structure. The gymnasium is housed in a 9.5-story tower building, which looks more like a cathedral and includes a third-floor swimming pool, fencing facilities, and a polo practice room. The building is home to many teams, including basketball, fencing, gymnastics, squash, swimming, and volleyball. It is the second-largest gym in the world by cubic feet and contains 12 acres of indoor space. The facility is the 8th-oldest Division One facility in the nation. Matthews Matthews Arena (Northeastern University) in Boston is the oldest, but it will be torn down in 2026, which will make Rose Hill Gymnasium at Fordham University in the Bronx the oldest (opened in 1925). The building, designed in Gothic Revival style, was donated to Yale by John Hay Whitney, class of 1926, in honor of his father, Payne Whitney. The exterior walls are made of brick faced with stone. Basketball has been played at Yale University since 1896. Payne Whitney Gymnasium, renamed John J. Lee Amphitheater in 1996, has been the home of the Lady Yale Bulldogs of the Ivy League since 1973. Yale named the venue in honor of alumnus John Lee ’58, who set a number of Yale records in basketball and helped lead the Bulldogs to the first official Ivy League Championship. Food & Beverage 2 There is a concession stand just outside the entrance to John J. Lee Amphitheater. It offers the stadium essentials. In terms of beverages, fans will find Coca-Cola products and no alcohol, as this is an on-campus venue. There are also two vending machines as you enter the lobby area, filled with snacks and drinks. Although the prices are reasonable ($5 for hot dogs or popcorn and $4 for soda or water), eating before or after the game in New Haven is the best decision. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere at JLA is unique. While the building is not a cathedral in the true sense, it is a cathedral of basketball. The arena is all about the sounds and sights of the game as fans are close to the action with mostly unobstructed views. The stuffed original Handsome Dan, the Bulldog mascot of Yale and the first college mascot in the United States, resides in a glass cabinet near the entrance to the building. The lobby features two cases which honor John J. Lee and Yale basketball, and a souvenir stand. Upon entering the facility, there is a tribute on the left wall to Yale athletes who reached the professional ranks in men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. There are twin video boards elevated above each baseline of the arena that display the relevant information. Statistical information is at a minimum, and no replays are shown. The ceiling does not contain any banners, and a track lighting system illuminates the court. There are four banners, one in each corner of the building, to commemorate the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams, gymnastics, and swimming. Neighborhood 5 New Haven, the third-largest city in the state, with a population of around 135,000, has branded itself as the Pizza Capital of the United States, but it has so much more. The city is also home to great entertainment and culture from the Shubert Theater (opened in 1914) to The Connecticut Children’s Museum, the Yale Peabody Museum (free admission), the Yale Art Gallery, and the The Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center can all be found in New Haven. The food scene is hardly limited to pizza, with some great establishments such as Geronimo for southwestern fare, Mecha Noodle Bar for Dumplings, Ramen, and Pho, Villa Lulu for Italian, Pacifico for Latin, and, of course, for burgers at Louis’ Lunch since 1895 and Prime 16 (also noted for its craft beers and specialty cocktails). Of course, a stop at a pizza shop is mandatory. Old school Frank Pepe’s or Sally’s Apizza on Wooster Street are the mainstays, but the newcomer to the scene, Zeneli, is making its mark on the same block. The only caveat is that New Haven can be a bit sketchy at night, so be vigilant. Fans 2 The women do not draw big crowds, with about 400 to 600 spectators in the building per game. The team has not been over .500 since 2021-2022 and has never made the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs have only won the Ivy League title once, in 1979. The good news is the arena can get loud with not many fans in the seats. The sound reverberates inside the old building and makes for a better atmosphere. Yale averaged only 538 spectators per game last season. Access 4 There are a lot of ways to get to New Haven. The city itself is located off the busy I-95 and I-91 interchange. There are several free parking lots in the area around the arena. There is also parking on the side streets that surround the arena. As you enter the lobby, make a right to find the entrance to the John J. Lee Amphitheater. Taking public transportation is another way to get to New Haven. Union Station in New Haven is only eight minutes away from the John J. Lee Amphitheater by car, but a 35-minute hike on foot. If coming from NYC or Boston, you can take the Amtrak to Union Station or Metro North if coming from local towns, and then Uber or Lyft to the arena. Once inside, the layout of the seats is unique. Fans enter the building in the upper portion of the arena and walk down to the lower seating area. There is also the option to stand and watch the game from above in the balcony, which affords a fabulous view of the action. There are steep stairwells, which give off the look of an old high school building, to access the club seating and upper balcony behind each basket. The club seats and lounge are on the opposite side as you enter. The only thing that detracts from the accessibility is that the bathrooms are located downstairs. The good news is that the bathrooms are spacious and clean. Return on Investment 5 Going to see a Yale women’s basketball game is an experience that will not punish the wallet. Tickets range from $8 for general admission to $15 for a court-side seat. The arena offers mostly wooden seats (not the most comfortable) with ample leg room. The original brown seats are a throwback to the past and actually have wires under each seat to stash your Stetson or top hat. There are benches down low for students and the band. There are several free parking lots (Lot 78 on Ashmon Street is a great option) around the arena, but there is also street parking. Be mindful of parking meters on the street, as most meters are in effect until 9 p.m. except on Sunday. Extras 2 One point is awarded for the experience of attending a game at the John J. Lee Amphitheater. It’s old in a good way. Fans are close to the action and can appreciate the sport without too much else getting in the way. Lee Amphitheater was selected as one of college basketball’s historic venues by ESPN The Magazine in 2011. Another point is given for the excellent food scene of New Haven. It’s almost a requirement to sample some pizza either before or after the game. But cuisine from almost any country is readily available. New Haven is one of the first planned cities in the US, founded by English Puritans in 1638 and established in 1640. Final Thoughts Lee Amphitheater has to reach bucket list status for all sports fans.  The uniqueness and no frills atmosphere give spectators a glimpse of the past, and the city of New Haven provides plenty of entertainment and educational opportunities to complement the experience. ---- Follow Greg Venuto’s stadium journeys on   Twitter  and   Facebook

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Warrior Ice Arena 90 Guest St. Boston, MA 02135 Boston Pride website Warrior Ice Arena website Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 700 The Pride of Women’s Hockey The Pride are one of the original four members of the Premier Hockey Federation, the only professional hockey league for women in North America. The team is the only franchise to have won multiple Isobel Cups, in 2016, 2021 and 2022. The Premier Hockey Federation began operations as the National Women’s Hockey League. Prior to the 2021 season the league rebranded to a new, more inclusive and independent title, the Premier Hockey Federation. The league continues to grow, adding a seventh team in Montreal for the 2022-23 season and signing a broadcasting contract with ESPN. The league has announced a doubling of their salary cap for the 2023-24 season, to $1.5 million per team. Warrior Ice Arena, located in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, has served as home to the Pride since their second season in 2016. The facility also serves as a community ice rink and is the practice facility of the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins. The rink is named for its sponsor, Warrior Ice, which is New Balance’s hockey brand. Food & Beverage 3 The one concession stand at Warrior Ice Arena sells a basic menu, highlighted by grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken tenders and pizza slices. An extensive selection of snacks are available, highlighted by Chipwiches, an ice cream sandwich brand which sponsors the PHF. Fans looking for a beverage will be interested to learn that the cola wars have skipped Warrior Ice Arena entirely. Instead of soda, a selection of water, juices, iced tea and lemonade are sold. Hot drinks including coffee, tea and hot chocolate are popular choices in this chilly rink. New for the 2023 season is a collaboration with Dorchester Brewing Company, which has produced two Pride-themed beverages, All In Golden Lager and Prickly Pear Hard Seltzer. A portion of proceeds from these drinks benefit the Pride Foundation. Other adult beverages available are draughts from Zero Gravity brewing, a selection of Nantucket Craft Cocktails and wine. Atmosphere 3 Over the course of their seven-year existence, the Pride have worked hard to carve out a niche in the local community. The attraction of local sponsors, the presence of youth hockey teams and LGBTQ+ organizations and even the occasional connection with the Boston Bruins show that their efforts have largely been successful. The Pride employ a PA announcer that really leans into his work. Warrior Ice Arena fills with music and noise from the youth groups which fill the facility during play stoppages. A new addition for the 2023 season is a mascot, named Roari (because lions roar, right?). Roari takes part in the between-period contests and games, roaming the crowd throughout the game. Youth teams take the ice during intermission, and the Shootout Challenge during the second intermission is a highlight for the young fans in attendance. Warrior Ice Arena’s status as a community rink means that fans will often have an opportunity to take the ice before or after a game, should the schedule permit. It’s a really entertaining game day atmosphere for such a basic facility. Neighborhood 4 Warrior Ice Arena is part of Boston Landing , a mixed-use development located in a former industrial area that once housed the city’s largest stockyard. Warrior Ice Arena serves primarily as the Boston Bruins’ practice facility and a public skating rink. Also located in Boston Landing are the Auerbach Center, the Boston Celtics’ practice facility, and the headquarters of New Balance. In addition to the office, residential and retail space in the area, a 175-room hotel is planned to open soon. Several local television and radio stations have their studios near Boston Landing. Visiting fans will find some excellent dining choices near Warrior Ice Arena. The Stockyard is one of Boston’s oldest steak houses. The Railstop, adjacent to the arena, offers craft beer and upscale pub dining. Flatbread Pizza offers specials to Pride fans and a variety of, you guessed it, pizzas. Mainely Burgers offers a variety of gourmet burgers and pub food. Downtown Boston is just a few miles from Boston Landing, and easily accessed by the MBTA’s Commuter Rail. While the nearby Allston neighborhood is not known as a destination location in a city full of them, there are many excellent restaurants, pubs and lodging options throughout the area. Fans 4 The Premier Hockey Federation does not release attendance figures, so we shall measure the fans at Boston Pride games by quality, not quantity. Still, you can expect a near-capacity crowd when you visit Warrior Ice Arena. The Pride have their share of dedicated fans, who show up decked out in the team’s black and gold jerseys. Given the fact that many of the players are local, there’s a significant number of fans in the stands who have a personal connection with the players on the ice. Also impressive in their numbers are the girls’ youth teams who often roam Warrior Ice Arena decked out in their uniforms and the visiting fans who travel following their favorite squads. Access 4 Boston traffic notwithstanding, Warrior Ice Arena is fairly simple to get to from most points in and around Boston. Located right off of the Mass Pike, the Boston Landing neighborhood offers both on-street and garage parking. A complete map of parking and transportation options in the area can be found here . As is the case with many Boston locations, public transportation is the recommended method to arrive at Boston Landing. The Framingham/Worcester branch of the Commuter Rail has a stop a block from Warrior Ice Arena. This line continues on to downtown Boston. In addition, several bus lines serve the area, including the #86 route, which provides access to the Red and Green MBTA lines. With shuttles available to Harvard and Kenmore and a Blue Bike rental station nearby, visiting fans have many options for getting to Warrior Ice Arena. Fans entering Warrior Ice Arena will find themselves in a small lobby, where you may bump into some of the players warming up before the game. The ice surface, locker rooms and skate rental are located on level 2, with the spectator area located on level 3. Stairs and elevators will help fans access the spectator level. Warrior Ice Arena is a modern, attractive facility. Fans will enter the arena (fair warning: it’s cold here, so dress appropriately) at the top of the seating area, which lines one side of the rink. Standing room (bar rails with some chairs), the snack bar and event room (where the merchandise stand is set up) are located along the concourse that runs the length of the rink. Fans will walk down to their seats, which consist entirely of bright yellow folding stadium seats. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for Boston Pride games are priced at $40 for Center Ice seats, $30 for other sections, and $20 for standing room access. Stadium Journey recommends the standing room seats which line the top of the seating area, including the decks on either end of the ice. Be warned that space is limited, so get here early. Parking for Pride games at the Warrior Ice Arena will cost you an additional fifteen dollars. There is ample on-street parking in the area, which is free of charge on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons when the Pride play. Extras 4 Since Warrior Ice Arena is owned and operated by the Boston Bruins, it’s expected that you will find the facility heavy on Bruins touches. Banners honoring the team’s Stanley Cup championships and retired numbers hang over the ice surface, and the 17.5-foot Bruins logo that overlooks the Mass Pike is the arena’s defining feature. Along with the many Bruins banners that hang at Warrior Ice Arena are four Pride banners. Pride championship teams from 2016, 2021 and 2022 are honored (the Pride are the PHF’s only squad to win multiple titles). Another banner honors former player Denna Laing, a member of the inaugural Pride squad. Laing suffered a spinal cord injury during the 2016 Outdoor Women’s Classic that ended her career. The Pride have a well-stocked team store just off the concourse. Purchasing a player’s jersey or shirsey will give 15% of the purchase price directly to the player. In addition to picking up some Pride gear, you can get a Chipwich or a beverage here, too. A final extra point is awarded for the most important influence that the Pride and PHF have had on countless female youth hockey players. The impact that the league has had on the many girls who come to Warrior Ice Arena cannot be overstated. The Pride work tirelessly with the local hockey community to raise awareness and funding for girls’ youth hockey in the Boston area. Final Thoughts There are no shortage of choices for hockey fans in hockey-mad Boston. The Pride fill an important niche for local hockey fans. Judging by the reaction of the youth groups who line the player’s tunnel as the Pride enter and exit the ice, it is clear that the pros are indeed role models to the young female hockey players who fill Warrior Ice Arena. As the marquee team of the Premier Hockey Federation, the Pride offer an affordable, entertaining option for local hockey fans, regardless of gender. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 GCU Arena 3300 West Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ 85017 Grand Canyon University website GCU Arena website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 7,000 Gee, See You at GCU at GCU Grand Canyon University is a large private Christian university located northwest of downtown Phoenix, with over 100,000 students enrolled, most of them online. It is considered a for-profit school, which leads to some controversy; fellow Phoenix school Arizona State refused to play GCU in any sport, reversing that decision in 2020. The school is trying to change its status, and the legal battles are still playing out, but that is beyond the scope of this review. The school has a thriving athletics program and recently moved to the Mountain West Conference after 12 successful years in the WAC.  The school's mascot is the Antelope, with the teams more commonly referred to as Lopes (the school's parent company trades on the NASDAQ with the symbol LOPE).  Basketball is where the school has enjoyed the most success, with four trips to the tournament, including an upset win over St. Mary's in 2022. The team plays at Global Credit Union Arena, with the GCU acronym matching that of the school in a nice coincidence. It was opened in 2011, and when the school jumped to Division I, the arena was closed for a massive remodel that saw the addition of 2,000 more seats.  These days, the arena is known for its lively student section, and we recently revisited to see how things are doing now that the school is in the Mountain West. Food & Beverage 4 There are five concession stands here, and each one has a specialty item. The first one you will encounter is on the lower level just inside the main entrance. It serves basic fare such as hot dogs ($4.50), brats ($5.50), pretzels ($6), hamburgers ($6/$7 with cheese), with nachos their specialty item (chicken for $9.50, carne asada is a buck more). Go upstairs to encounter four unique stands on the main concourse, with one at each corner.  At Purple Greens Bowls, for example, a California Roll with 10 pieces is only $6.49 while a spicy tuna roll is a dollar more. You can also build your own Poke bowls for $8.49, with chicken or steak as your protein choices. Another option is Loaded Lope Fries, where one pound of fries is topped with two chicken tenders, jalapenos and ranch, and purple cheese. It probably needs to be shared, but at $10, it is one of the best deals I have seen. Wetzel's Pretzels has Wetzel's Bitz (pretzel bites) for $6, and you can get a dipping sauce for $1.50. The other two concessions are Qdoba Burritos and Canyon Pizza Company. Snacks are available, with popcorn running $5, while theater candy is $3.50. It's hot in Phoenix, so you might want to grab an ice cream bar for $4 or a Dibs Cup for $5. Pepsi provides the soft drinks, with a bottle going for $4, the same as a small fountain soda; if you need more, the large version is $5. Bottled water is only $3, while Gatorade is $3.50. Alcohol is not served here. Atmosphere 5 Upon entering, you are at the northeast corner, and you can walk into the arena at floor level, from where you can enter the seating bowl from below. Most fans choose to take the stairs or escalators to reach the carpeted concourse. The arena is rectangular, with concessions at each corner. There are two levels of seating here, with the upper section having just five rows. But it sits right on top of the court, and I preferred being up here, as you get a much different angle. You can also stand here and move around as you wish. One sideline is filled with the student section, who are among the loudest and most active in the country. They were singing and dancing from well before tipoff, adding a lot to the atmosphere. The arena is very compact, so any noise they make reverberates around the entire gym.  The band takes up nearly an entire baseline section as well. This is a school that really turns out for its team, and the band and the students work together to put on a show.  Neighborhood 2 GCU is northwest of downtown Phoenix, mostly surrounded by residential areas. Few eateries off campus are within walking distance, and those are in strip malls. Better to drive back downtown or to another area to enjoy a more relaxing sit-down meal.  In terms of lodging, the Phoenix area has several quality hotels in its various neighborhoods, such as Scottsdale, Tempe, and Mesa. All of these are quite far from GCU (at least 30 minutes by car), but those are better than trying to stay near the venue. There's a lot to do in the city as well. Phoenix is the capital of Arizona, and the State Capitol is one tourist attraction worth visiting; outdoor enthusiasts can hike Camelback Mountain for sweeping views of the city. Of course, the Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns also play locally during the fall and winter. Fans 5 That student section, called the “Havoc”, deserves a place alongside all great student sections in the country. It may even be at the top of that list. They are loud and proud throughout the entire night. We also saw the students rush into the arena, run up the stairs, all in search of the best seat. It was quite a sight.  GCU Band, Photo by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey The students stand so there are more bodies than seats in that section, and attendance is regularly above the 7,000 capacity.  The other fans in the arena are nearly just as joyous and engaged as the students. They may not dance and sing as much, but they clearly know the game and enjoy the basketball experience.  Access 4 There are limited transit options here, which is not surprising, as Phoenix is definitely not a transit hub. The campus is located west of I-17 along Camelback Road. Parking is free in the 31st Avenue garage, from where the arena is a short walk away. Getting out is quite easy as you turn west onto Camelback and then perform a quick U-turn to get back to the Interstate. Inside, the concourse is very spacious, and you can get around easily. Concessions can be a bit busy before the game, but if you get there early, you will have no problem. Restrooms are plentiful, and I did not see any lines while I was there. Return on Investment 5 Tickets here are very reasonable, with some games starting at just $5 for general admission (that's during the holiday break, so the student section might be a bit less enthusiastic), while a non-conference game is just $10 for standing room. When the conference foes come to town, prices go up to $15-20. With that said, check the secondary market, which often has tickets for less than face value and a guaranteed seat. When you combine free parking, affordable food, and a unique, energetic atmosphere, this is a venue well worth your time and money. Extras 4 The Jerry Colangelo Museum is located next to the arena and showcases items from the businessman’s life and career in and outside of basketball.  A vault of Bibles is buried underneath center court. The Quad Lawn out front is filled with activities and seems to be a hub before the game itself. It's worth getting there a bit early to check it out. There are two WAC trophies on display on the lower level, a wistful reminder of the team's achievements before the move to the Mountain West. Final Thoughts Overall, GCU Arena is a fantastic basketball venue, with a great student section, excellent concessions, and easy navigation that makes moving around simple. Arizona State might overshadow Grand Canyon University, but if you are visiting Phoenix in the winter, consider a trip to Global Credit Union Arena. Perhaps we will see you at GCU (at GCU)!

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Mullett Arena 411 S Packard Drive Tempe, AZ 85281 Arizona State Sun Devils website Mullett Arena website Year Opened: 2022 Capacity: 5,000 A Desert Hockey Home Arizona State University, established in 1885 in the bustling desert oasis of Tempe, Arizona, has evolved from its humble beginnings as the Territorial Normal School into one of the nation’s largest and most innovative public research institutions. The Sun Devils compete in NCAA Division I, primarily as members of the Pac-12 Conference, but their burgeoning Ice Hockey program has blazed its own trail, carving out a respected niche in the sport. Stepping into this new era is the state-of-the-art Mullett Arena, which opened its doors in 2022. This venue is a game-changer, not just for ASU hockey but for the entire college hockey landscape in the Southwest. Designed with an intimate, modern sensibility, the 5,000-seat arena ensures every fan feels right on top of the action. It is a stunning, singular venue that immediately anchors the future of hockey in the Grand Canyon State, solidifying the team’s commitment to competing at the highest level while also serving as a central part of the campus's athletic architecture. The Arizona State Sun Devils men's ice hockey team is a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), having officially joined for the 2024-2025 season after competing as an NCAA Division I independent for several years. The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) includes the following schools, besides Arizona State University, Colorado College (Tigers), the University of Denver (Pioneers). Miami University (RedHawks), University of Minnesota Duluth (Bulldogs), University of Nebraska Omaha (Mavericks), University of North Dakota (Fighting Hawks), St. Cloud State University (Huskies), and Western Michigan University (Broncos). The conference is scheduled to expand to 10 teams with the addition of the University of St. Thomas (Tommies) beginning in the 2026-2027 season. Mullett Arena Interior, Photo by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Food & Beverage 4 The prices here trend toward the higher end of the college venue scale, yet there is a standout item that offers a surprisingly great value proposition. For the visiting fan, a slice of the arena's pizza stands as a must-try. This isn't your typical paper-thin piece; the $14 slice of pizza is truly enormous, essentially constituting multiple standard servings merged into one colossal meal. It’s a satisfying, hearty reward for the price, providing enough fuel to last through all three periods of action. Beyond this singular value star, the concession stands deliver the necessary variety of gameday staples, ensuring you never have to venture too far from the ice to grab a classic snack or beverage. The selection is modern and efficient, built to handle a quick rush between periods without sacrificing quality, providing a streamlined experience that enhances the overall gameday flow. Atmosphere 5 The moment the puck drops at a Sun Devils hockey game inside Mullett Arena, the atmosphere is electric, embodying the kind of intense, localized energy that only a 5,000-seat building can generate. The arena's modern, tight design works in perfect concert with the crowd's enthusiasm, trapping the sound and creating a deafening, unified roar that is genuinely intimidating for visiting teams. This intimate, bowl-like configuration, you are never more than a handful of rows away from the action, enhancing the sensory immersion. What elevates this college hockey experience further is the venue’s fascinating past: it also served as the temporary home for the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes from 2022-2024, imbuing it with a distinct professional polish that few college barns can claim. This combined pedigree of top-tier professional use and passionate student support for the college program creates a unique, high-octane environment you simply cannot replicate anywhere else in the Southwest. Neighborhood 4 The location of Mullett Arena is a major win for the traveling enthusiast, placing the venue right in the heart of the ASU campus, adjacent to the dynamic city of Tempe. This is a university town setting that is ripe for exploration before and after the game. Step out of the arena, and you are immediately positioned to explore Tempe's bustling Mill Avenue, a lively hub of restaurants, bars, and unique shops that caters perfectly to a gameday crowd. For those seeking authentic local flavors not found inside the arena, the surrounding area offers a vibrant tapestry of casual and upscale dining experiences that capture the Southwestern spirit. The arena is integrated into the larger ASU Athletics Village, next to the Desert Financial Arena, which provides a seamless, sports-centric district feel. This strategic placement makes the entire gameday pilgrimage easy, allowing visitors to park once and enjoy both the natural beauty of the Arizona landscape and the vibrant life of a major university town, all within an easy walk of the arena. Fans 5 Sun Devil fans bring a tangible passion to Mullett Arena, demonstrating why the program has become such a rapid success in a non-traditional hockey market. The crowds are a perfect blend of die-hard hockey aficionados and an energetic student body, all unified under the banner of the maroon and gold. They are vocal, knowledgeable, and ready to make noise for sixty minutes, turning the intimate confines of the arena into a formidable fortress. You will see dedicated supporters in the stands wearing everything from replica jerseys to the classic gold pitchfork, ready to unleash the famous "Fork 'em Devils!" cheer. This loyalty is clearly driven by the team’s rapid ascent in the college hockey ranks, giving the fans a real sense of pride and ownership over their program and making them incredibly invested in the outcome of every single game. The intensity and engagement of the Arizona State faithful is infectious, making you feel like a welcomed part of the Sun Devil community the moment you take your seat and adding a palpable sense of urgency to the competition. Access 4 Getting to Mullett Arena is refreshingly simple for a major metropolitan area, making the travel day much less stressful for the visiting fan. The arena is strategically positioned in Tempe with excellent connectivity to major interstate highways, particularly the Loop 202 and I-10, providing straightforward routes for those driving in from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) or other parts of the Valley. Once near the campus, parking is typically available in multiple adjacent university lots and structures, which are well-managed for gamedays. The layout of the arena itself is highly conducive to smooth entry and exit, further aided by its integration into the greater ASU Athletics Village. For those who prefer public transport, the Valley Metro Rail system offers stations nearby, providing a convenient, cost-effective, and traffic-free way to reach the heart of the action without having to worry about traffic or parking logistics. Regardless of your chosen mode of transportation, the arena’s location emphasizes accessibility, proving that thoughtful design can make a massive difference in the gameday experience. Return on Investment 3 Ticket prices vary depending on the opponent, and we have seen fairly high prices for most games. This is not the type of venue you can just walk up and get a last-minute ticket. Extras 3 The ASU Spirit Squad and the powerful sounds of the Sun Devil Marching Band’s drumline are frequently on hand, injecting constant energy into the stoppages of play and enhancing the sense of school pride. The true star of the show is the legendary mascot, Sparky the Sun Devil. This beloved figure is a constant, visible source of fun and school spirit, and his dedication to the team is quantified with a unique fan interaction: Sparky performs push-ups for every ASU goal scored, matching the total number of goals to date for that game, leading to some truly memorable displays. Adding to the venue's distinctive identity is the Mountain America Community Iceplex, a separate rink attached to the facility that is used for practice and community skating, highlighting the venue’s commitment to growing the sport in the region and ensuring its legacy extends beyond the team itself. Final Thoughts Mullett Arena is the rare venue that manages to feel both state-of-the-art and incredibly intimate, perfectly balancing a modern aesthetic with old-school college hockey passion. It is an essential pilgrimage for any NCAA hockey fan traveling through the desert, proving that the sport is truly thriving under the Arizona sun.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 McKale Memorial Center 1 National Championship Dr Tucson, AZ 85721 McKale Center website Arizona Wildcats website Year Opened: 1973 Capacity: 14,655 Bear Down at McKale The Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team is a nationally prominent program that calls the McKale Center home. Technically the McKale Memorial Center, the venue hosts men’s and women’s basketball for the University of Arizona, as well as volleyball and gymnastics. There are also many offices located throughout the venue for various Wildcats athletics. McKale Center opened in 1973 as a replacement for the Bear Down Gymnasium. Bear Down is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was the “Adams College” gym in the 1984 blockbuster film Revenge of the Nerds. McKale Center was named after J. F. “Pop” McKale, who was the Arizona athletic director from 1914 to 1957. The court itself at McKale Center bears the name “Lute and Bobbi Olson Court” after the legendary Arizona head coach and his late wife. There was a recent renovation to McKale that included the installation of the center-court scoreboard, two LED banners along each sideline, new seating and concessions areas, and relocation of bathrooms to the exterior concourse. McKale Center is the second-largest arena in the Pac-12 conference after Utah's Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. Arizona gets larger attendance than the Utah venue and has a long streak of leading its conference in attendance in conference history. Food & Beverage 4 The food and beverage score is higher than one would initially think. There are not much food stands in the renovated venue, but the ones that are there off a great variety of food options, including many alcoholic options. Owing to its southwest location, McKale Center has many options such as Burros and Sonoran Dogs. Prices are fairly good, especially for the high caliber of the venue. Atmosphere 5 The University of Arizona is serious about basketball. No matter the successes (or downfalls) of other sports, basketball is the king at this Tucson school. McKale Center is packed with students and local fans for all games. The ZonaZoo is the boisterous student section along the north baseline. Students line up before the game for a good spot in this section. There will be many chants and screams from this section during the game. There is also a good pep band and cheerleaders to enhance the noise. The fans do stand at the start of each half until a basket is made. Although the venue is not the newest one out there, the renovations have made sure that the McKale Center is a perfect, modern venue for high-end basketball. The scoreboard and other displays are what this level of play should have. The venue is pretty interesting in terms of accessing the seating bowl. There is not one main entrance but a series of tunnels and hallways, often through office areas, to get you inside the venue. Neighborhood 4 Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in Arizona as well as the county seat of Pima County. In the metro area over one million people live. McKale Center is located on the southeastern corner of the campus near Arizona Stadium, home of the university’s football team. There are many restaurant options near the venue. You can’t go wrong with places such as Frog & Firkin, No Anchovies, Gentle Ben’s Brewing, or Dirtbags. If you want to venture away from campus we also recommend Mercado San Agustin and the MSA Annex. In that area, Seis Kitchen is a great Mexican restaurant and Beaut Burger is a great Vegan burger restaurant. Burgers at Beaut are so good, you may not even realize it is not real meat. The Aloft Tucson University is a hotel very close to the McKale Center. We can also recommend the Loews Ventana Canyon resort if you want to go a bit higher end. Fans 4 McKale Center is filled for every game. Basketball is a big deal in Tucson. The student section will be loud and crazy, while the older fans will more likely cheer in a more orderly manner. Access 3 Being located on a crowded urban college campus, parking will be a bit difficult. There are many lots and garages, all at varying price levels. Please plan and either buy parking ahead of time or be very aware of your parking options before heading to the game. There is a good public transportation option in Tucson's Sun Link Streetcar system that stops very close to campus. A good option is to park at the Mercado San Agustin mentioned above and take that option to the game. Return on Investment 3 With the basketball team being such a big deal, prices will tend to be high. Dynamic pricing is used, so you will have to research carefully the particular game you wish to attend. . Extras 4 The unique and varied entrances to the seating bowl are an extra all on their own, but it also offers a fan a way to check out the various displays of past team successes for all the programs that play in the McKale Center. Try to check out Arizona’s Hall of Champions and the Lute Olson statue and display. The varied food offerings, especially southwestern items, are a nice touch. The external concourse, added during recent renovations, allows a nice meeting spot for fans. Final Thoughts The University of Arizona Wildcats is a well-known basketball program and the McKale Center is a great venue for a high level of play.