The Beaumont Oil Barons were introduced today as the newest member of the Mid America League. The organization revealed its new primary and secondary logos — a striking blend of modern design and classic Texas grit. The primary Oil Barons logo features a Great Dane with a bat on its shoulder dressed in a tuxedo set against the state of Texas. The dignified canine embodies the “Oil Barons” spirit—strong, intelligent, and refined—while symbolizing leadership and confidence both on and off the field. The team’s secondary logo features a towering metallic gold oil derrick and a stylized “Beaumont Oil Barons” wordmark accented in gold, black, and white, symbolizing the city’s enduring connection to energy and progress. “This is more than a baseball team — it’s a reflection of Beaumont’s story,” said General Manager Mike Marek. “The Oil Barons are here to celebrate our heritage, entertain our fans, and build something lasting for this community.” According to the team website, the name is “rich in swagger and tradition, This name conjures the larger-than-life personalities that defined an era of Texas oil wealth.” Beaumont is the site of the Spindletop gusher, discovered in 1901, and marked a major turning point for the U.S. oil industry. The area's economy is heavily focused on chemical and petroleum manufacturing. The name was chosen from five finalists after narrowing down hundreds of submissions entered by fans. The other entries that made the final round were Mudbugs, Bayou Cats, Black Gold, and Bay Hounds. However, it was a clear-cut choice with the Oil Barons moniker. “The oil industry names dominated the second round,” said General Manager Mike Marek. “The common thread was that it had to tie in with the city. The name checks it off and also builds community involvement through the voting process.”The Oil Barons will call Vincent-Beck Stadium on the campus of Lamar University home. The ballpark has a capacity of 3,500 and will feature a new indoor hitting facility that is currently under construction. It opened in 1969 and features synthetic turf. Beaumont is not the only new franchise in the league. There will be four expansion teams in Bryan and Nacogdoches, Texas, and Fort Scott, Kansas. The Fort Scott franchise announced it will be known as the Dragoons, while Bryan and Nacogdoches will announce names soon. It was an independent graphic designer who had worked on several logos in the league.  ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter   @ballparkhunter   and his   YouTube channel .   Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Frank Fear spent his formative years in Central and Western New York and worked for many years in East Lansing, Michigan. But his heart belongs to West Virginia football. Frank, the managing editor of The Sports Column, took a few moments to share his journey, discuss WVU football and some other fun stuff. STADIUM JOURNEY: How and when did your love affair with West Virginia football begin? FRANK FEAR: While it began formally when I enrolled as a graduate student at West Virginia University, the connection began long before — not with WV or WVU specifically, but with that part of the country. It is a long and emotional story, and the short version is that I was drawn there, best described by a colleague who once put it this way: "It (WVU) is a place we were meant to be." As an eight-year-old, I was with my father when he passed away suddenly, and my sense of place was disrupted because of his passing. We lived in Syracuse, New York, at the time, and I needed a new place to settle. Both of my parents grew up in the same town in Western Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney, and there was something about that place that felt comfortable. As I told a friend recently, U.S. 119 runs through Punxy, and part of my life has been a personal journey down U.S. 119 because Morgantown is on that route, too. Now that I look back, that migration was the beginning of the life I live now. It was not planned and never envisioned, but I now realize that it was meant to be. I recently told this story to a friend who was visiting. He looked at me and said, "My hometown is on U.S. 119!" After over 45 years of living and working elsewhere, I am back to the place where I lived and studied decades ago. WVU football was important then, and it is now. Back in the day, completely by luck, I got the chance to assist the head football coach, Bobby Bowden at the time, in talking to recruits about WVU's academic side. My spouse, who is also a WVU master's alum, and I went to all the games at Old Mountaineer Field when we were students there. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that about five decades later—especially after spending over 40 years of my life in university academic and administrative work hundreds of miles away—that I would meet many of those WVU players from back then and write a book about them and their teams,  Band of Brothers, Then and Now: The Inspiring Story of the 1966-70 WVU Football Mountaineers  (Palmetto Publishing, 2023)   One thing led to another after that, and today with colleagues, I co-host a weekly football podcast,  Mountaineer Locker Room, Then and Now . Each week, we chat with a former Mountaineer and discuss the current team, games, and seasons, including broadcasting pre- and post-game shows. I am also the show's executive producer. Today, I am finishing a second book about WVU athletics. This one is about a 1980s-era star whose journey from Washington, DC, to Morgantown is conceptually similar to my personal journey. It’s entitled True Prue: Darryl Prue, Unwavering  (Palmetto Publishing, 2026). Nobody could script what I have just described. It has taught me to trust emergence and take one step at a time. The road will take you to where you are meant to be.      STADIUM JOURNEY: What's unique about Milan Puskar Stadium? What can visitors expect?  FRANK FEAR: Milan Puskar Stadium reminds me a lot of Jack Trice Stadium at Iowa State University, where I did my doctoral work. There is a good reason, too: the Puskar design was based on the Trice design, which had been completed a few years earlier. Trice opened in 1975, and Puskar opened in 1980. The best thing about Puskar is the environment and fan engagement. What sets WVU football apart is the connection to John Denver's " Take Me Home Country Roads ," which he sang personally at the facility's opening in 1980.  Fans and players sing the song at game endings, and the rendition, along with the location, creates an emotional experience. That said, my student experiences were all with what is now called “Old” Mountaineer Field, which was located on the university's downtown campus across from the Monongahela River. Puskar is located on the old golf course land where I used to play, adjacent to WVU medical facilities on the Evanston campus. The old field sat only a bit over 30,000 fans, but it sounded like twice that many were there. My office overlooked the stadium, offering a breathtaking view from my window, especially at night or during the winter when the stadium was snow-covered. A photo of that scene hangs today in my home office. Unforgettable!   STADIUM JOURNEY: Very important. Must places to hit for a snack in Morgantown? Why? What is their specialty?    FRANK FEAR: I make pilgrimages to Morgantown about twice a year, and being a person of habit, I tend to return to the same places. First, the go-to sports bar-restaurant is Kegler's (735 Chestnut Ridge Road), which is located near the Evansdale campus. It is called "Kegler's" for a good reason; the bar and restaurant are connected to a bowling alley. WVU coaches' shows are held in a room called "The Clubhouse." We have done our podcasts there multiple times and had a ball each time with guests, former players who come back, and fans. Everything is good on the menu, and my favorite is named after a friend, a former WVU Mountaineer offensive lineman, Dale Wolfley. Called "The Wolfe Man," it is an 8-ounce burger smothered in cheese steak and covered with Kegler's "Gold and Blue" sauce. Kegler's did not exist when I went to school, and to reconnect with bygone days, the place I like best is Mario's Fishbowl, 704 Richwood Avenue, the original location. It is located near the downtown campus and not far from where we lived as grad students. The signature there is beer served in a large, frozen fish bowl mug, and any beer tastes better that way. The food is excellent, too. I recommend the Filet Tip Hoagie, Mario's Hot Dog, and the Breakfast Burger. Finally, I always like a good microbrew, and one of my recent haunts is Mountain State Brewing   at 3505 Monongahela Blvd, not far from the WVU basketball coliseum. With a standard and rotating array of beers, I always find things to my liking. There is easy parking, and the staff is excellent. For food, MSB has an extensive menu of starters, sandwiches, flatbread and pizzas. I always get either the Caprese sandwich or the "Shrummus" sandwich, which has c heesy garlic portabella mushrooms matched with red pepper hummus, smoked Gouda, and baby spinach on toasted Italian. It is out of this world .   STADIUM JOURNEY: You grew up in upstate New York. Which teams did you support growing up? Which sports venue did you attend? FRANK FEAR: Central and Western New York, where I lived as a kid, is a different environment compared to the places I have lived in since. First, college sports are not big there except for Syracuse University. Even then, I would consider the level of support modest, except for the surrounding Syracuse area. When I moved from Central to Western New York, SU fans seemed outnumbered by “subway alumni” who rooted for the Notre Dame Irish. The Bills are the big team these days, and hockey is also big. College basketball? Sadly, no. It was when I was growing up, but not now. Even then, few of my childhood friends were into college basketball or football, for that matter. So, it was mostly me and my radio back in those days. I absolutely loved Eastern football and followed the Orange closely, paying special attention to when SU played Pitt, Penn State, and West Virginia. I was lucky enough to attend one game at SU’s old Archbold Stadium when I was a kid, and that was a thrill. I also got to see St. Bonaventure play, the big basketball school in the area at the time. It was at the old Buffalo Aud in front of a packed house. I followed the Cincinnati Reds closely on clear-channel WLW, listening to Joe Nuxhall. From time to time, I would see them play the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Sports writing began in high school, where I wrote about my high school football and boys' basketball for the local paper. In college at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York, I served as an assistant to the sports info director and as sports editor of the college paper. There, I got to know and work with Bob Wanzer, a former Seton Hall and NBA star (Rochester Royals), who was the head men’s basketball coach at the time. Great guy. The work was fun, and I thought I might have made a career in sports writing, but I did not. The call of academics was stronger. Now I am back where I was fifty years ago, closing the loop, I suppose.   STADIUM JOURNEY: You spent 35 years as an administrator at Michigan State. How does the game day experience at MSU compare to West Virginia? Did those teams ever play one another? FRANK FEAR : First, no, WVU and MSU have not played each other in decades. MSU is 2-1 in basketball, and the teams have not played since 1941. The MSU football team is 4-0, and the teams have not played since 1945. Big 10 sports are enormous, and so it was a scale-up from WVU and ISU. That said, the gameday experiences are very much the same—great, but also regrettable because of conference realignment, WVU, and expansion, MSU. The best days at WVU were playing rivals at home — Pitt, Penn State, Syracuse, Maryland, Boston College, and Virginia Tech. It is just not the same when K-State, Texas Tech, and Baylor come to town. Same for MSU. Yes, there is still Michigan and Ohio State, but we do not play Notre Dame regularly anymore. I never get excited about playing teams like Rutgers and prefer playing teams like Nebraska, UCLA, and USC, either as non conference foes or in a bowl game. When I got to East Lansing, football was king, but the allure faded for a bit because the Spartans went through years in the 1970s and 1980s without having consistently good teams. Basketball took a leap forward when Magic played for the Spartans, and football and basketball became more equivalent, just as they are at WVU. When I became a college administrator, we had our own football suite, which provided an entirely different game-watching experience. This was especially true when football got better during the Mark Dantonio era, with multiple Big Ten championships, Cotton Bowl and Rose Bowl wins, and a College Football Playoff appearance. What I liked best about Dantonio is how he and his staff recruited underestimated guys and developed them, for example Kirk Cousins, Le'Veon Bell. The highlight for me, in conjunction with MSU football, was serving as a mentor to the football team when Nick Saban was the head coach in the 1990s. I look back on it now and wonder, "How in the world did WVU part ways with Bowden and MSU with Saban?" Each went on to collegiate greatness.    STADIUM JOURNEY: So, tell us about The Sports Column  and how you got involved. FRANK FEAR: That is another “You cannot make this up” story. Not long after I retired from MSU, my back pain got to the point that I had to have spinal stenosis surgery. The discomfort and pain medicines made it difficult for me to read for any length of time or to write anything longer than short pieces. So, I started looking for things to occupy my time. I learned about The Sports Column , started writing short pieces, and submitted them to the editor, Brett Dickinson, who was also a sports radio producer with a weekend show out of Baltimore, MD, at the time. After writing and submitting a few articles, he asked me if I would like to become a columnist. I said yes and submitted more articles. Well, not long after, Brett got a staff position at an NFL-connected foundation, and he didn’t have the time to continue editing TSC. I volunteered, and I have been serving as managing editor since 2014. I volunteered because I emphatically endorse Brett’s vision of a site that enables fans to write full-length articles. They submit, we edit, format, and post. I have gone through that cycle about 5000 articles as managing editor. We do not have assignments, so folks decide what they want to write about and when. We have only a few rules, such as article length, so the blog is easy to manage. The first thing I do every day is check the portal, download articles, edit, format, and post—typically two to four articles a day. Brett moved up the system to lead the foundation, so he can’t devote time to TSC these days, and I continue handling all day-to-day tasks.   STADIUM JOURNEY: What are some of your favorite TSC pieces? FRANK FEAR: Ordinarily, that would be a good question, but I think it is secondary to TSC because we are a writer-centered blog. So, for me at least, it is about who writes, not necessarily what they write. Our writers range from teenagers to octogenarians, and they come from around the globe. I am most impressed with folks you would not expect to write as persistently and as well as they do. We have had several autistic writers, high school grads or less, and people from all walks of life. Some have used TSC to build a resume and then move on to other writing roles. Several have written books or will write books later, and we’ve been a place where former beat writers and columnists have settled. Let me add that I learn a lot from them because we have writers who focus on sports and sports issues, which I am less familiar with such as cricket and field hockey. Many have strong feelings about players, teams, and leagues, and want to tell their side of the story. We get game articles, critiques of players and teams, a fair bit of what I would call sports commentary, and articles about sports history, my love. My job is not to critique their writing except when they ask or are serving an internship. Not giving constant feedback is difficult for someone who has overseen over 50 theses and dissertations over the years. I am especially proud that we are a place where a bus driver or a UPS worker can write and get a byline, as well as accomplished authors. I am also proud that very few people have tried to take advantage of our open space to engage in behaviors we cannot support such as writing a personal vendetta against a coach or fellow player. An interesting side story is that TSC got me back to West Virginia. I had written an article about Jim Braxton, my all-time favorite football player there. One of his teammates read the article and passed it on to fellow players. One of those players not only read it, but he also contacted me. We talked, and one thing led to another, including writing the book I mentioned earlier. Without that contact, I can’t imagine writing that book.   STADIUM JOURNEY: What's next for The Sports Column? FRANK FEAR: I answer that question in the  The Sports Column: Written By Fans, For Fans - The Sports Column | Sports Articles, Analysis, News and Media . I will quote it here: “ TSC will last as long as it’s meant to. Continuity depends on writers who write, readers who read, and staff who take the time to publish your work. Nevertheless, there is no tomorrow unless you do your thing. If you do, then we’ll do ours.” And we will. Jon Hart is @manversusball

As the 2025 season draws to a close, it's time to spotlight the ballparks that define Double-A minor league baseball across the Eastern, Texas, and Southern Leagues. Some stadiums are timeless classics, others are newly constructed or only a few years old, and several have recently undergone significant renovations. These rankings are based on Stadium Journey ’s patented FANFARE rating scale, which evaluates each venue across seven key categories: 🍔 Food & Beverage Options 🎉 Game Day Atmosphere 🏙️ Surrounding Neighborhood 🙌 Fan Support 🚗 Access (inside and outside the park) 💸 Return on Investment 🧩 Extras - Unique features that don’t fit neatly into the other categories When two or more ballparks earn the same score, the Stadium Journey Council of Elders  steps in to break the tie with their seasoned insight. To dive deeper into each stadium’s review, just click the link associated with the team’s name. Enjoy the rankings - and see where your favorite ballpark lands! 1) Riders Field, Frisco RoughRiders   (4.57) Terry McCutchen - Dr Pepper Ballpark offers one of the best minor league baseball experiences, with an intimate setting in a populated area. The Frisco area is becoming a sports fan’s destination paradise, and the area continues to grow. If you’re in the Dallas area, be sure to give Dr Pepper Ballpark, the Choctaw Lazy River, and the Frisco RoughRiders a visit – seeing this park is well worth it for the unique entertainment experience. 2) ONEOK Field, Tulsa Drillers  (4.57) Terry McCutchen - ONEOK Field sports and entertainment is very much geared towards families and children. In addition, it is still an enjoyable visit for those without youngsters. The downtown setting and current vibe create an ambiance for after the game. Tulsa, though not the ‘hotbed’ of tourist destinations, has plenty to see and visit.  3) Dunkin’ Park, Hartford Yard Goats   (4.43) Paul Baker - Fans have embraced the Yard Goats and have come out in solid numbers for the ball club. Dunkin’ Park has the feeling of a venue that has tried too hard to incorporate as many features as possible into one place. Baseball almost feels like an afterthought here. Time will tell if this ballpark will age gracefully, but for now, it appears to be a venue well worth the wait for Hartford baseball fans. 4) HODGETOWN, Amarillo Sod Poodles   (4.29) Sean MacDonald - HODGETOWN is a great new ballpark that seems to have something for everyone. The main entrance is one of the most alluring in all of the minors, and the unique stadium name shows creativity and a desire to be different. The Sod Poodles will be a mainstay in the area for years to come, and all minor league aficionados should schedule a visit at their earliest convenience. 5) Riverfront Stadium, Wichita Wind Surge (4.29) James Hilchen - In its first few seasons, Riverfront Stadium is already a great ballpark. With the plans that are in place, it will only get better in the coming seasons. Good food, great seats, and an aesthetically pleasing stadium allow for a fun time for fans. For baseball traveling fanatics, be sure to add this one to your list; it won’t disappoint. 6) FirstEnergy Stadium, Reading Fightin Phils   (4.29) Dave Cottenie - To describe the atmosphere at a Reading Fightin Phils game is somewhat difficult; it is a place that is best served with your own eyes, and I only hope I can do it justice in this review. There is no other minor league ballpark experience quite like FirstEnergy Stadium in Baseballtown, USA. 7) Hammonds Field, Springfield Cardinals (4.29) Meg Minard - It broadcasts baseball here. It’s about the game; a baseball purist's dream. At close to twenty years old, Hammons Field and the Springfield Cardinals continue to be a perfect place for baseball enthusiasts and other fans to spend their evenings. “This is the most wonderful place on earth right now.  I feel like I’m in heaven.”  8) Blue Wahoos Stadium, Pensacola Blue Wahoos   (4.14) Matt Colville - Before you even enter the stadium, you know you are in for a special experience, as it is surrounded by the beautiful Maritime Park, instead of a massive asphalt parking lot. If you arrive early enough, take a walk around the sidewalk outside the stadium to get some great views of the bay and check out the beautiful amphitheater just over the center field wall.  9) Hadlock Field, Portland Sea Dogs (4.14) David Welch - Portland Sea Dogs baseball is quietly one of the best minor league experiences in the country, whether you are a baseball purist or a family looking for a fun, affordable outing. The experience is refreshingly straightforward, focusing on the game without losing its sense of fun for fans of all ages. 10) Canal Park, Akron RubberDucks   (4.00) Eric Hasman - Canal Park is a comfortable, clean, and well-maintained ballpark and is definitely worth the trip based upon the food alone, but the people definitely make this park a must-see. It blends in beautifully with the surrounding buildings and neighborhood streets of Akron, Ohio.  11) People’s Natural Gas Field, Altoona Curve (4.00) Paul Baker - There are many fantastic ballparks scattered throughout the AA level of minor league baseball. People's Natural Gas Field in Altoona has to be considered among the best. It’s a fun place to catch a game, filled with energy, enthusiastic fans, and plenty of entertainment to distract you. Plus, it’s hard to beat the view. 12) Toyota Field, Rocket City Trash Pandas (4.00) David Welch - What has been created at Toyota Field and in the surrounding Town Madison development creates a minor league baseball experience that builds on the local support from the community, and gives visitors all they need to make a trip to see the Trash Pandas as convenient, affordable, and enjoyable as possible. 13) Dickey-Stephens Park, Arkansas Travelers (4.00) Dave Cottenie - A trip to Dickey-Stephens Park to see the Arkansas Travelers is a great way to spend a summer evening or weekend afternoon.  The Travs offer great value in a unique setting at a family-friendly price. A must for all baseball fans. 14) Regions Field, Birmingham Barons   (3.86) Lance Sutehall - Regions Field blends both the future and the past of modern minor league ballpark design and construction. It serves as a place not only for baseball but also for the community to enjoy themselves through the season. It has revived the local neighborhood and brought fans back to downtown Birmingham. 15) Covenant Health Park, Knoxville Smokies (3.86) David Welch - Baseball’s return to Knoxville has come with a great deal of excitement, and with good reason. The stadium experience in Kodak was enjoyable, but it pretty much started when you entered the gates and ended as soon as you left. Alternatively, what the Smokies have created in Knoxville is a minor league baseball team that seamlessly transitions from outside the stadium, in, and back out again once the ball game is over. 16) Riverwalk Stadium, Montgomery Biscuits (3.86) Lance Sutehall - Riverwalk Stadium is a beautiful ballpark to visit when stopping by Montgomery. It serves the Biscuits baseball team very well and is a fun place to spend a Summer evening or Saturday. Make sure you get a biscuit while you are watching the Biscuits! 17) Keesler Federal Park, Biloxi Shuckers   (3.71) Matt Colville - For ballpark travelers, a trip through Mississippi is natural, and a stop in Biloxi is a necessity.  However, Biloxi is a solid stop for average baseball fans who are looking for a bit of a different experience.  The Biloxi Shuckers offer a great baseball experience and an outstanding concession lineup.  A trip to MGM Park in Biloxi is definitely a Shuckin’ good time. 18) Whataburger Field, Corpus Christi Hooks (3.57) Eric Moreno - Whataburger Field shows its age a little, but it is still beautifully done and in a great location. Visiting Corpus Christi is also always a great respite, whether you’re taking in another game, visiting one of the many museums, or just heading to the beach and dining on first-class seafood; there is plenty for any visitor to do. 19) Delta Dental Stadium - New Hampshire Fisher Cats (3.57) Paul Baker - A Blue Jays farm team in the middle of Red Sox territory has to work harder to keep the fans coming, and the Fisher Cats staff does a great job filling Delta Dental Stadium year after year. While this may not be the most memorable ballpark out there, plenty is going on in Manchester to make a Stadium Journey to the Granite State worthwhile. 20) UPMC Park - Erie SeaWolves (3.57) Marc Viquez - UPMC Park was a fun night at the ballpark. The pre-game ceremonies, food options, merchandise variety, and vantage points place it in a category all of its own in the Eastern League. When you add the city of Erie to your travels, you have a pleasant weekend to spend along the lake with friends and family. 21) Synovus Park - Columbus Clingstones (3.57) David Welch - Renovating a historic stadium comes with the risk of it losing its original charm, but Synovus Park succeeds in both honoring its past and offering a comfortable, modern fan experience. While not flashy, its authenticity, character, and thoughtful updates create a great atmosphere for minor league baseball. 22) FNB Field - Harrisburg Senators (3.57) Dave Cottenie - Taking a trip to City Island for some Harrisburg Senators baseball is a great plan for some summer entertainment. FNB Field is truly a unique facility, and the team puts together a good experience. Sensylvania is the place to be. 23) Momentum Bank Ballpark - Midland Rockhounds (3.57) Midland Rockhound Baseball is the only professional baseball option within 250 miles. As such, the leadership and game presentation could easily become stale, with the staff here counting solely on their monopoly to sell tickets and bring in crowds. Instead, they have chosen to offer an experience that is fun for all ages and different levels of baseball acuity. 24) Prince George’s Stadium - Chesapeake Bay Sox (3.57) Richard Smith - Prince George's Stadium is showing some age in its 30-year frame, but it is still a quality minor league stadium that is presenting a nice level of baseball talent. A fresh new logo and branding, and a commitment to the fanbase will keep many coming back to games season after season. 25) TD Bank Ballpark - Somerset Patriots (3.57) Andrew Kulyk - The Somerset Patriots have been a fan favorite for more than 25 years. Conveniently located just off the highway and surrounded by shops and neighborhoods, the ballpark offers an ideal setting for affordable, family-friendly entertainment in New Jersey. Strong marketing and community engagement have long been hallmarks of the franchise, and the team’s transition from independent ball to an MLB affiliate only strengthened its already solid reputation. 26) AT&T Field - Chattanooga Lookouts (3.43) Lance Sutehall - AT&T Field provides a beautiful view of the Chattanooga hills. Its days are unfortunately numbered, but the memories that the ballpark provided will live on through those who witnessed a baseball game there. Coming next year is Erlanger Park, which will span over 140 acres in the heart of the South Broad District, just south of Downtown Chattanooga. We will make the trip to The Scenic City next year. 27) Mirabito Stadium - Binghamton Rumble Ponies (3.43) Dave Cottenie - A trip to Upstate New York and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies is a great way to take in some Minor League Baseball.  Mirabito Stadium offers a solid facility for baseball that was highlighted by a league championship for the Baby Mets. There is plenty of fun in Rumbletown. 28) Arvest Ballpark - Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3.29) Dave Cottenie - Taking in a baseball game at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale is a great idea for the whole family, and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals provide a great experience. It’s only natural for fans to want to make return trips. 29) Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium - San Antonio Missions (3.14) Eric Moreno - I currently do and probably always will have a warm place in my heart, and in my memories, for Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium. I’ve seen a lot of baseball here over the years, and for whichever reason comes first, I will miss it if/when it’s gone. With that being said, I have to admit it’s not a stadium that needs to be on anyone’s bucket list.  30) The Diamond - Richmond Flying Squirrels (2.86) Joseph Oakes - This was the final season for the Squirrels at The Diamond, a 40-year-old ballpark that was well past its prime. It was beloved by many, but the next year, the team will open CarMax Park in 2026 in the Diamond District development, bringing a new era of minor league baseball to Richmond, Virginia. We will surely see it make the list next year.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Knight-Newbrough Field @ University Stadium 81 Seagram Drive Waterloo, ON N2L 3B7 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks football website Knight-Newbrough Field @ University Stadium website Year Opened: 1958 Capacity: ~3,000 Seagram Revival In the post-COVID era, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks found themselves relatively homeless.  The grandstands at their home, University Stadium, had been condemned, and immediate planning for the future was required.  The Seagram Project  was born, reimagining the home for the USports football team.  University Stadium was originally known as Seagram Stadium when it was built in 1958 and named after the once local distillery.  The broader Seagram Project would see the replacement of the turf, installation of a new videoboard, rebuilding of the grandstand, including a set of stands on the south side, infrastructure for a winter dome over the field, and rebuilding of the gymnasium.  As of this writing in 2025, the north side grandstand has been completed along with the turf and videoboard, and the dome is expected to be in place for the winter of 2025-26.  From the 2021 season to 2025, the Golden Hawks have played at University Stadium in various configurations, a couple of years with temporary stands.  The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks began as Waterloo College before becoming Waterloo Lutheran University in 1960.  With the provincial funding of only secular post-secondary institutions, the name Wilfrid Laurier University was adopted in 1973.  The football team has been playing since 1924 and enjoyed a modicum of success for a small school, culminating in Vanier Cup victories as National Champions in 1991 and 2005.  University Stadium has been home to the Golden Hawks since 1958. Originally called Seagram Stadium and owned by the University of Waterloo, University Stadium was purchased by Wilfrid Laurier University from the City of Waterloo in 1992.  In 2007, the field was renamed Knight-Newbrough Field after Laurier coaching legends Dave “Tuffy” Knight and Rich Newbrough. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions at University Stadium are pretty good for an OUA football facility. The main concession stand under the grandstand offers regular stadium fare, including popcorn, cotton candy, nachos, chips, and Domino’s Pizza.  Coffee and Coca-Cola beverages are also available.  In the west endzone, there is normally a BBQ going on that offers sausage, hot dogs, and burgers.  Also, for those of age, alcoholic beverages are available in the east endzone from Sleeman Brewing. Atmosphere 3 The face of University Stadium has changed significantly in the 2025 season.  The exterior of the stadium is attractive enough from the north side, which includes a gymnasium used for various school recreation activities, as well as a nice ticketing office. The field is west-east oriented, with the main grandstand found on the north side.  The old, wooden grandstand was removed in 2023, and the 2025 season began with temporary bleachers on the south side, with north side bleachers having been used in the previous season.  The first game of the season saw no north side bleachers.  In preparation for Homecoming, the third home game of the season, the Golden Hawks played a home game at neighbouring Warrior Field on the campus of the University of Waterloo.  The unveiling of the new north side stands happened at Homecoming.  The new grandstand is quite a bit different from the old one.  Now made of aluminum, the grandstand stretches from goal line to goal line, longer than the previous one.  It also has around 12 rows of seating, far fewer than the previous grandstand.  Molded plastic purple or yellow stadium seats now make up the bulk of the seating, with bleacher benches at both ends of the north side seating.  The Homecoming game had temporary bleachers on the southside, but for the final home game of the season, the bleachers had been moved, and it was clear that permanent, southside bleachers were coming soon.  Temporary bleachers have been set up in the east and west endzones this season as well. The main structure, north of the grandstand, houses the gymnasium, ticketing office, concessions, washrooms, and locker rooms.  There are a few posters on the walls, and east of the concession is a pop-up swag shop.  The brand-new scoreboard with videoboard is found at the west end.  Underneath the scoreboard, there is a sign with the name of the field and a notation of the 1991 and 2005 National Championships. However, there are no banners or signs at the moment signifying the 9 Yates Cup Championships as Conference Champions.  Hopefully, after the infrastructure has been completed, there will be the opportunity for Laurier to display and honour the accomplishments of many of the teams over the years and significant player achievements, including the two Hec Crighton Trophy winners.  Traditionally, there has been more space beyond the endzones for a beer garden and kids club.  It remains to be seen if this is part of the plans once the infrastructure has been completed. The gameday atmosphere is about what one would expect from an OUA event.  The requisite promotions are part of the fun, and the host finds fans in the stands to take part in short competitions or to be Wilf's Fan of the Game.  The cheerleading team leads the fans in standard football cheers and performs many gymnastic stunts.  The Laurier mascot, Midas, can be found around the stadium interacting with fans and posing for pictures.  Midas starts the game entering on a motorized cart and firing up the fans with a siren reel.  The Laurier anthem, “Country Roads,” can still be heard at each game.  The 2024 and 2025 seasons have seen the introduction of the Hawkline, a drumline that has been a welcome addition to the Laurier family. Neighbourhood 4 Wilfrid Laurier is an urban university located just up the street from another urban university.  As a result there are a ton of great options for pre- and post-game meals. University and King streets are where one would find most of the options.  There are a ton of great spots to get something to eat before or after the game.  Some places one might consider checking out include Crabby Joe’s, Smoke’s Poutinerie, and Ethel’s Lounge. The on-campus pub is Wilf’s and offers a great atmosphere and food while being student-run and managed.  The place you probably should settle on, however, is Morty’s Pub.  Home of arguably the best chicken wings in the city, Morty’s always satisfies your post-game craving.  Their chicken wings are legendary in the city. As far as entertainment goes, there are a few options in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Fans planning on catching a Laurier game around Canadian Thanksgiving could be able to catch Oktoberfest.  This is the signature festival of Kitchener-Waterloo and the largest Bavarian festival outside of Germany.  There are a number of great events that take place over the 10-day festival at a variety of locations, including the numerous Fest Halls. Heading south on King Street toward Uptown Waterloo, fans will find a great spot for some evening entertainment in the Huether Hotel Jazz Room.  One of the top jazz venues in the province, The Jazz Room offers weekend performances at a great price.  There are also a number of pubs in Uptown Waterloo that feature live music. If fans are interested in enhancing their sporting weekend, then there are also a few other options.  Wilfrid Laurier also fields other athletic teams, specifically basketball at the WLU Athletic Complex  and hockey at the Sun Life Financial Arena .  Just up the road, the University of Waterloo also fields USports athletic programs. Fans will find football at Warrior Field , basketball at the Physical Activities Complex  , and hockey at the Columbia IceField .  If willing to drive across town, then fans can catch the phenomenal experience of the Kitchener Rangers  at the legendary Aud. For fans who are planning on staying the night, the Delta is just a short drive from the Laurier campus and is a pretty decent place to stay. Fans 3 Fan support for Golden Hawks football is a bit of a roller coaster affair.  Weather, time of year, and number of students on campus are all major factors for football attendance. The post-pandemic era, combined with stadium issues, has not made University Stadium the most popular place.  However, improvements to the facility, along with a 2024 run to the Vanier Cup and a strong 2025 season, have seen the attendance steadily increase. Annually, the Homecoming game previously packed well over 8,000 fans into University Stadium. Capacity for the last two Homecoming Games has been capped at 5,000 fans.  A late-season game against a weak opponent can bring in less than 1,000. As with most USports programs, Laurier needs to continue efforts to engage students and get them out to the games, regardless of the date. There is no true student section at USports football games like there are at their American counterparts. Building a better relationship with current students and finding a way to make Laurier football part of their lives after graduation will go a long way to improving fan attendance overall.   Access 4 Getting to University Stadium and around is not very difficult.  University Stadium is located on Seagram Drive, which runs between University and Albert Streets.  Fans who are coming from out of town will have a decent drive through the city, as the university campus is a fair trek southwest of Highway 85. Traffic on University Ave moves fairly quickly, so getting to the stadium should not be too much of an issue. There are a number of bus routes that travel along King St and University Ave. The Ion Light Rail also has a stop at Waterloo Park, a few steps from the stadium.  Check the Grand River Transit  website for fares, maps, and schedules. Parking can be for sale in the stadium lot, however, most spaces are reserved for season ticket holders and media.  There is some parking available west of the stadium in the Granite Club parking lot, but be mindful of the signs, as ticketing often happens for violators. Parking can also be found on campus or in some of the University of Waterloo lots that are close to Seagram Drive. The ticketing office is located in the permanent building under the grandstand. Other than that, there is no specific, grand entry gate.  Security is present at 2 or 3 gates for entry, which is more than ample for this facility, and entry into the stadium is very quick. Moving around University Stadium for the 2025 season has changed from game to game.  In the final regular-season home game, the south side was completely closed, which was better than the first game, where the north side was closed.  Permanent washrooms are decent; however, a large crowd necessitates the use of portable toilets, which are also on site. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for the Golden Hawks have come down in recent years.  Regular adult tickets are $12 if purchased in advance.  Staff, alumni, students, and seniors are all $9.50, and Laurier students are $5, while kids are $6.  Each ticket category is more expensive when walking up.  The concession prices are decent and parking can be found for free. The product on the field is significantly under-rated, and fans will no doubt enjoy their afternoon. Extras 4 An extra mark for the continued nod back to West Virginia. The heart of the Laurier athletics program came north from West Virginia. Over the years, the Hawks have embraced John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” as their anthem. When the Hawks won the Vanier Cup in 2005, it was John Denver who blasted over the PA.  The Laurier anthem has found a home during each game, an improvement from previous seasons when it was only played at Homecoming. An extra mark for Laurier announcer Chris Povey, who has done a fantastic job as the public address announcer for Laurier football and hockey for many years. Chris brings energy and enthusiasm to the game every time and does his best to entertain and inform the crowd, even if the game is not so interesting. An extra mark for the interesting history of the Golden Hawks mascot . An extra mark for the program that Tuffy Knight and Rich Newbrough put together, and the honor of having the field named after these Laurier Legends. Final Thoughts Knight-Newbrough Field @ University Stadium continues to be a work in progress.  Significant improvements have been made to the facility.  It looks like Laurier Golden Hawk fans will be rewarded with a great facility after enduring the growing pains of a number of years of construction.  It remains to be seen just how good the final product will be when the dust is cleared and the Seagram Project is finally complete. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  , and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by James Hilchen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Kansas Speedway 400 Speedway Boulevard Kansas City, KS 66111 Kansas Speedway website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 48,000 Speedin’ in Kansas Kansas Speedway broke ground in 1999 and officially opened on June 2, 2001, with an ARCA race won by Jason Jarrett. Since its beginnings, Kansas Speedway has grown and hosts 2 NASCAR Cup Series races annually, including a playoff race. With an initial cost of $287 million, the speedway is a 1.5-mile tri-oval track. While NASCAR is the primary tenant currently, the track has hosted both IMSA and IndyCar Series races in the past. The track once had a capacity of 82,000 at its peak, but the current setup is for 48,000. Hollywood Casino is located adjacent to the track and sponsors the playoff race in September. Food & Beverage 4 The Speedway certainly has a fan-friendly food and drink policy. Each attendee can bring one bag and a cooler (14x14x14 or smaller) in with them. The coolers can have drinks and prepackaged food in them. The only drinks you cannot bring in, understandably, are anything in a glass. If you do not bring in anything, the speedway has you covered. There is a solid selection of choices from the typical burgers and hot dogs to Philly cheesesteak, pizza, and some BBQ options. Another choice comes from Iowa. Chuckie’s famous Iowa pork tenderloin has a trailer and is highly recommended. Other typical sports fare, such as popcorn, candy, etc., is also available. The lines are generally reasonable, although ice cream does yield some wait since it is one item that is difficult to bring in. A unique soda choice limits your options to RC, 7 Up, and A&W Root Beer. There are plenty of adult beverages available, from numerous types of beer to wine to mixed drinks. All prices are in line with what you would pay at most sporting events. Atmosphere 4 The speedway experience begins before you even enter it. Prior to entering the gates are all the merchandise trucks where you can buy all sorts of items to represent your favorite team or driver. Once inside, the gates you will find all the concession areas and restrooms, which run under the seating area. There is a smattering of vendors that have displays, and NASCAR also has an area with some cars and trophies on display and hosts some Q&A sessions with drivers. Entering the seating area opens you up to seeing the entire track. There really are not any bad seats, although I would recommend sitting higher up, as it is easier to see the far side of the track, as well as having a better angle when the cars come by, as the wall does block some view of the cars as they pass, especially in the lowest seats. I’ve been to the playoff race five years in a row now. Despite being at roughly the same time of year (I attend the playoff race in September), the weather seems different every year. If you prefer shade, your best option is to purchase tickets up near the suites and press box area, as you will be in the shade most, if not all the race. Neighborhood 4 The racetrack is located just off I-70 and I-435. The area has some cool stuff above and beyond the track if you are a sports fan. Located right next to the track is Children’s Mercy Park , home of Sporting KC of Major League Soccer. Next to the soccer stadium is Legends Field , home of the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association. Plenty of retail stores dot the area around the track. The one thing missing from the area is places to eat or drink within walking distance. There is a Famous Dave’s BBQ, and Hollywood Casino is also quite close if you are a gambler. A few blocks north, there are numerous other eating options. There are plenty of lodging options in the area. The Hampton Inn is across State Ave and a good spot for the cost. A Best Western, along with the Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, is also in the same area. Fans 4 NASCAR fans are typically a passionate bunch, and the fans here are no different. They make it well known what drivers they do (or do not) like. A good percentage of fans are wearing some sort of NASCAR gear that represents their favorite team or driver. The fans are largely engaged from start to finish, save a couple of breaks between the stages for a quick run to the restroom or to grab some food or drinks. Access 4 The track is located just off I-435 near I-70. Getting into the parking lot generally yields a very small wait, although it obviously gets busier closer to race time. Once inside the track, getting around is easy. Getting food and using the restroom have their ebbs and flows. I would not recommend waiting to use the restroom until the ends of stages 1 and 2, as everyone else is doing the same. If you head to the concession area while the race is going on, the wait time is generally minimal. Like any large sporting event, getting out after the race will be clunky and have a wait time. Return on Investment 4 The Speedway offers a great value. You can get into the spring race for $79 and up to around $150. The fall (playoff) race runs from around $100 up to $180. With the policy of bringing in your own food and drinks, coupled with the fact that parking is free (you can pay $35 if you want to park up close, and I would recommend this option as it can be a long haul back to your vehicle), the track gives you a great bang for your buck. Extras 4 The Hollywood Casino sits right next to the track, and you can eat in an area overlooking the track. A very unique experience for sure. You can purchase a pre-race ticket and go down on the track. You can walk up to pit road for an up-close view of the cars, sign the start/finish line, and be up close for the driver introductions. It’s not something I’d recommend doing every time, but it is fun to experience at least once. The playoff race weekend in the fall has numerous races, so there is a lot crammed into a few days. Combine the races with other activities for fans of all ages over the weekend, and you have a jam-packed weekend of fun. An extra point for the ability to bring in free food and drinks. Wish this was done more often at other sporting venues. Final Thoughts NASCAR fans in the Midwest do not have many options. There’s Michigan Speedway, Iowa Speedway, and Kansas (Chicagoland will return in 2026). Kansas has a lot to offer racing fans. Most importantly, you can take in a great day or days of racing at a nice venue for a great price. -- Follow all of James' stadium journeys on X @ stadiumjwriter .  Email: james.hilchen@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Caesars Superdome 1500 Sugar Bowl Dr New Orleans, LA 70112 New Orleans Saints website Caesars Superdome website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 74,295 Who Dat Nation at Home in the Dome New Orleans is a city built on music, food, and centuries of culture, yet one building towers above them all – the golden crown of the Crescent City skyline. Since 1975, Caesars Superdome has stood as a global icon, hosting eight Super Bowls, five college football national championships, and six NCAA Final Fours. Approaching New Orleans, its distinctive gold silhouette glimmers in the Louisiana sun, a shimmering landmark visible for miles. More than just a stadium, the Dome has etched its place in American sports and pop culture, welcoming millions of fans, athletes, and entertainers to moments that have defined generations. From presidents to the Pope, from WrestleMania to The Rolling Stones, the Superdome’s stage has hosted the world’s most powerful figures and unforgettable performances. Michael Jordan and Tom Brady celebrated their first championships beneath its roof, while Muhammad Ali captured his final title in its ring. For a time, it was even home to ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich and the New Orleans Jazz, solidifying its legacy as a basketball cathedral. Now at 50 years old, Caesars Superdome stands as more than just a stadium – it is a symbol, a storyteller, and the beating heart of a city. The Superdome stands as the largest fixed-dome structure in the world and a rare survivor of the 1970s and ‘80s dome-building boom. The building just celebrated its 50th birthday, and has aged gracefully over the years, even after withstanding the brutal test of Hurricane Katrina. In fact, Katrina may have ultimately saved the Dome’s future; before the storm, there was talk of replacing it entirely, and the Saints temporary relocation to San Antonio and Baton Rouge seemed to spell the end of football under its massive roof. But New Orleans’ bond with its team proved too strong to break – in the years since Katrina, the Superdome has undergone extensive renovations, transforming it into a world-class sports and entertainment venue that rivals any modern arena. Nearly two decades later, it stands not only as a testament to architectural resilience but as a symbol of a city and a resilient fanbase that refused to give up and let their football team leave.   Food and Beverage   4 When you are in a building the size of Caesars Superdome, you can expect a massive lineup of food and beverage options. After all, this is New Orleans, the culinary capital of the South, where food is as much a part of the experience as the game itself. Inside the Dome, there are over 200 concession points spread over six concourse levels, ensuring fans can find just about anything to eat or drink. As of now, Legends Hospitality holds exclusive concession rights – every stand is either Legends-run or subcontracted.  Cash is also no longer accepted; everything is credit or debit only. For the most authentic taste of Louisiana, the Crescent City Cuisine stand is always a fan favorite. Its menu highlights New Orleans classics, from alligator sausage and fresh Gulf shrimp to jambalaya and Ponchatoula strawberries. Another local favorite is Bayou Kitchen and Market, where you can find fried gator po’ boys and alligator jambalaya, or grab something from the custom nacho stand, which serves up seafood and Cajun-style creations.  The 504 Eats stand also features a few local items, where you’ll find menu items ranging from alligator sausage po’ boys, burnt ends nachos, and pulled pork nachos, to Ultimate Braised Beef and Chicken Tinga nachos, plus more. Bayou Kitchen & Market is another go-to, offering fried shrimp plates, crawfish pie, redfish sandwiches, and alligator sausage po’ boys. Across various levels, you’ll also find Beau Coup BBQ with cochon de lait and brisket sandwiches, Little Caesars Pizza stands, Geaux Nuts, and classic stadium fare from King’s Table and Parish Grill. On top of that, the Provisions Markets scattered around the building allow you to shop like you're in a small grocery; grab deli items, sandwiches, or wood-fired pan pizza, and check out quickly. And with the $8 souvenir cup, you get free refills at drink stations all over the concourse levels. Inside the Superdome, the Crown Royal Tchoupitoulas Bar on Concourse 114 stands out as a full-service bar, part of the Dome’s new 40-yard bar concept stretching across each sideline – it’s the place for premium spirits and cocktails, offering more than the standard beer and seltzers. Or for local flavor, Abita Bar highlights Louisiana’s own craft brews, with fan favorites like Amber, Purple Haze, and seasonal pours. Beyond these marquee spots, beer, seltzers, and ready-to-drink cocktails are available at most concession stands, while fans can also grab a $7 souvenir cup with free refills throughout the concourse levels. Together, the Dome’s drink options mix big-stadium variety with New Orleans’ signature local flair.   Atmosphere   5 New Orleans is the ultimate party city, and Saints game days are no exception – the celebration starts long before kickoff. Outside the Dome, Champions Square comes alive as fans pour in, transforming the south side of the Dome into a sea of black and gold. Live jazz, zydeco, and swamp funk bands set the soundtrack, while costumed Saints devotees dance and revel in the pregame buzz. The Square is lined with bars, pop-up shops, and food trucks serving local favorites, all framed by sweeping views of the New Orleans skyline and massive murals commemorating iconic moments in Saints history. Don’t miss Club XLVI, a premium indoor club now open to the public, where fans can soak in the atmosphere in style before heading into the Dome. The first thing you’ll notice walking up to the Dome is just how massive the building is; resembling a UFO, there is no other building in the world like it. Its round, sloping walls rise like a gold spaceship, dwarfing streets, cars, and the crowds streaming toward it. From one angle, it looks like a spaceship, from another a giant mushroom cap, but always larger than you expect. Caesars Superdome just completed a 5-year $500 million renovation, which was completed in 2024 to coincide with the Dome hosting Super Bowl LIX, the building’s record 8th time hosting the Super Bowl. The facility features eight entrances, with the primary entry point at Champions Square through Gate C, where fans step directly into the lively plaza on the 200 level. In years past each entrance offered unique exhibits that celebrated Louisiana’s football culture: a Hurricane Katrina tribute at Gate A, the Saints Hall of Fame at Gate B, a Louisiana high school football helmet display at Gate E, and a Sugar Bowl showcase at Gate G. These exhibits were removed during recent renovations, but many fans hope to see them return in the future. The Dome has also added new touches to enhance the fan experience, including a massive pro shop that opened in 2023 near Gate A on the north side. At Gate B, WWL 870 AM – the official radio home of the Saints – hosts its live pregame show, with former quarterback Bobby Hebert often at the mic, as well as franchise legend Deuce McAllister occasionally joining in, giving fans an up-close look at the pregame show. For a venue that just turned 50 years old, Caesars Superdome feels remarkably modern. Its concourses are wide, bright, and meticulously maintained, offering an easy flow for the more than 70,000 fans who pass through its gates on game day. The Dome spans six levels, with public seating on the 100, 200, 500, and 600 levels, while the 300 and 400 levels house suites and premium clubs. The new renovations dramatically transformed the concourse, adding sleek new bars, premium club seating, and the eye-catching 40-Yard Bar stretching across the east side plaza. A towering escalator now whisks fans from the 200 level up to the 600 level in under a minute, giving those heading to the upper deck a thrill before they even reach their seats. At the very top, a standing-room-only party deck in each end zone offers a unique bird’s-eye view of the action. Inside the seating bowl, the scale of the Superdome is breathtaking. With 74,295 seats and 165 luxury suites spread across six levels, it remains one of the NFL’s most impressive venues. Three premium clubs anchor the ground level: Caesars Legacy Club on the east side, Crown Royal Signature Club on the west, and Mercedes-Benz End Zone Club in the north end zone, which features suites right on the field. Adding to the spectacle, two massive LED videoboards, installed in 2016, stretch 330 feet across each end zone, delivering crystal-clear replays and dynamic graphics to fans throughout the stadium.   Neighborhood   4 There’s truly no place in the world like New Orleans; while Bourbon Street and its year-round Mardi Gras beads might grab the headlines, the Crescent City’s heartbeat is far deeper than its party reputation. Visitors quickly discover a city steeped in history and alive with culture, where music spills into the streets, Creole and Cajun flavors tempt you at every corner, and attractions cater to all ages and interests. Caesars Superdome sits tucked among the gleaming skyscrapers of the Central Business District (CBD), a neighborhood dominated by mostly high-rises and government buildings.  But there are a few attractions in the CBD worth checking out, for example, just a mile south, the acclaimed National World War II Museum offers the nation’s most extensive collection of WWII artifacts in the country – a must-see for any visitor to the city. Also nearby, Caesars Casino brings gaming to the heart of downtown, historic Saenger Theatre and Southern Contemporary Arts Center showcase the city’s artistic flair, and the iconic Roosevelt Hotel dazzles visitors each holiday season with a breathtaking holiday light display. Compared to many major cities, New Orleans isn’t spread out; most major attractions are within just 5 to 8 miles of wherever you are. The legendary French Quarter, only a ten-minute walk from Caesars Superdome, is a must-see for any visitor. While Bourbon Street’s neon glow and rowdy nightlife often define the neighborhood’s reputation, the Quarter’s charm runs far deeper. Stroll through historic Jackson Square, explore art galleries along Royal Street, browse the bustling French Market, and step into the breathtaking St. Louis Cathedral. Shoppers can also head to the three-story Riverwalk Marketplace or the upscale Shoppes at Canal Place, while Magazine Street offers a local, boutique-filled experience that stretches for miles. In addition, a ride on the city’s iconic streetcars is the perfect way to explore. Head Uptown to admire the Garden District’s stately mansions and stop at Magazine Street’s bars and restaurants. For live music, Uptown boasts two iconic venues, Tipitina’s and Maple Leaf Bar, both institutions of the New Orleans sound. Or for an even more authentic music experience, make your way to Frenchmen Street in the Marigny, where more than 50 music clubs and bars line the block. Here you’ll find a vibrant, less touristy alternative to Bourbon Street, with jazz, funk, and jam bands spilling out into the streets late into the night. Dining in the French Quarter is also an adventure all its own.  There are too many restaurants to name, but Café du Monde is a must for powdered-sugar beignets, while Pat O’Brien’s is famous for its Hurricane cocktails. Personally, however, my favorite restaurants are the hole-in-the-wall spots, or simply grabbing a po’ boy from most gas station delis – the grungier and older the place looks, the better the food. But if you want a game day spot close to the Dome, Walk-On’s, a sports bar co-owned by Saints legend Drew Brees, is just a block from the Dome, and Dave & Buster’s across the street provides another lively hangout. New Orleans also offers plenty for families. The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas sits along the Mississippi River at the Quarter’s edge, while Audubon Zoo is just a streetcar or riverboat ride away. The Garden District invites visitors to tour historic homes and maybe spot a film set or celebrity. Lastly, City Park, with its lush gardens, walking trails, and sculpture garden, is a perfect spot for a scenic day outdoors. Whether you’re here for sports, culture, music, or food, New Orleans is a city that delivers a world-class experience in a small, walkable package.   Fans   5 Saints fans are widely regarded as one of the most passionate fan bases in the NFL. A 2020 Forbes article ranked Who Dat Nation as the third most passionate fanbase in all of sports, and even more impressively, the Saints earned the highest overall score for game day experience in that same report. Part of what fuels this devotion is geography: the Saints are the only NFL franchise in the entire region, making them the team of choice for fans across the Gulf Coast. From Lake Charles to the Florida Panhandle and north to Jackson, Mississippi, and Montgomery, Alabama, the Saints’ footprint is massive; an incredible three out of four Louisiana residents proudly call themselves Saints fans. Saints fans have endured more than their share of heartbreak over the years. From the infamous “Aints” era, when frustrated fans wore paper bags over their heads, to the darkest chapter in the city’s history, when 30,000 people sheltered inside the Superdome during Hurricane Katrina, this fanbase has stood by its team through countless losing seasons and unimaginable adversity. Yet through it all, Who Dat Nation has remained unwaveringly loyal, packing the Dome to full capacity every single home game since 2006. Inside Caesars Superdome, that loyalty transforms into pure electricity. When the Saints score, Mardi Gras tunes and “When the Saints Go Marching In” blast through the speakers as fans erupt into celebration. The Ying Yang Twins’ “Stand Up and Get Crunk!” – adopted as the team’s unofficial anthem after their Super Bowl victory – keeps the energy at a fever pitch, and the duo even performed live at halftime during the most recent game I attended. After a Saints victory, the celebration doesn’t stop at the final whistle; it spills into the streets of New Orleans, where second-line parades and brass bands often lead impromptu marches through the city. Few franchises can boast a fanbase as deeply devoted as Who Dat Nation. In addition, inside Caesars Superdome, every home game feels like Halloween, with fans decked out in elaborate costumes, dressed as iconic characters who have become part of the game day tradition. There’s Darth Saint, a black-and-gold–clad Darth Vader; Santa Saint; Elvis Saint; and Moses the Saint, complete with robes and staff. The Bless You Boys, three superfans dressed as popes and bishops, roam the stands, while the legendary Whistle Monsta – known for his oversized whistle hat and relentless shrill blasts – provides a soundtrack all his own. Access   3 Getting to Caesars Superdome is easy, no matter where you are coming from, as the Dome is one of the first things you’ll see when you get into the city, no matter which direction you come from. Interstate 10 is the main way you come into town – if coming from the west, use exit 234A onto Clairborne Street, while if coming from the east, use the Canal Street exit at 235B. Navigating the one-way streets and aggressive drivers to get to the Dome once in the city may pose some issues; however, New Orleans isn't exactly known for its nice streets, as many of the streets are congested and need lots of upkeep. There are several parking garages on site, but expect to pay around $50 to park if you want to park in the garage or at any of the public lots scattered around the Dome. There are tons of public lots and garages scattered throughout the Central Business District, though, with much cheaper parking than that closer to the Dome. NOPD has upped patrols in this area due to recent crimes and snatch-and-grabs, so you should have no problem in the daylight hours, as there are tens of thousands of people walking in the streets; just make sure you lock your car. Also, when walking up Poydras Street to the Dome on gameday, expect to see multiple jazz bands playing on street corners, and people celebrating in the street like it is Mardi Gras. Once inside the Superdome, you should have no problem getting around on the wide concourses, as the only backup occurs during halftime; I tested it out, and it only took 17 minutes for me to do a complete walkthrough from one side of the Caesars Superdome to the other.   Return on Investment   4 The Saints have been in rebuild mode since the Drew Brees/Sean Payton era ended a few years ago, which resulted in less-than-stellar gameplay on the field, as two new head coaches and multiple quarterbacks have rotated in and out. The good news is that even with dynamic flex ticket pricing, prices here remain fairly cheap and easy to come by compared to NFL standards, and the atmosphere inside and outside Caesars Superdome on game day is on par with some of the best in the NFL. Saints fans are very passionate, and Who Dat Nation will show up in full force regardless of whether the team is winning, though some fans may be wearing bags on their heads. The Saints also do an excellent job at capturing the spirit and culture of New Orleans, from the brass and funk bands playing in Champions Square to the brass bands and second line parades that roam the concourse. Coming to a Saints game is something I highly recommend for people visiting New Orleans. You can still find tickets on secondary sites, though; if the Saints are winning, expect to pay a decent price, between $50 and $70, to sit in the upper decks, while to sit in the 100 or 200 levels, expect to pay a couple of hundred dollars at least. During the most recent game I attended, the Saints weren't doing too hot, so you could find tickets in the upper deck for less than $20, which I consider a great return on investment. There are no other fans in the NFL like Saints fans, and the Superdome is one of the most iconic buildings in the NFL. Plus, you get to visit a city like no other in the world when you come to New Orleans.   Extras   5 One extra for the Superdome sitting next door to the Smoothie King Center, home of the NBA's Pelicans .  Though the Saints and Pelicans never play on the same day, there are instances where they play at home on the same weekend, so you may be able to catch an NBA and NFL game back-to-back. Another extra for all the events and historic moments this iconic building has hosted over the last 48 years. The Dome just hosted its record 8th Super Bowl, and besides the aforementioned events, the Dome is also the home of the annual Bayou Classic between Grambling State  and Southern . It also hosts the Sugar Bowl and New Orleans Bowl every year, as well as the Louisiana high school football State Championships; the Caesars Superdome was also home to Tulane football until 2014, as well as home to two arena football teams and the NBA's New Orleans Jazz. It's hosted MLB and college baseball games, as well as hosted a minor league baseball team in 1977, and in 1976, soccer star Pelé played an exhibition match here, as the New York Cosmos took on the Dallas Tornados. Multiple wrestling events have been held here as well, including WrestleMania 30 and 34, plus multiple WCW events. Caesars Superdome has also welcomed several big-time concerts over the years – basically any major music star from Garth Brooks to Taylor Swift has played under its roof. Another extra for Champions Square and the tailgate area outside the Superdome – Champions Square captures the spirit and culture of New Orleans, and shows just how much the city supports the Saints. The backdrop for the square consists of large banners of signature moments in Saints and Superdome history, including banners of ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich (a folk hero in Louisiana), Drew Brees holding up the Saints Super Bowl trophy, Muhammad Ali knocking out Leon Spinks, and a banner of the late great Saints owner Tom Benson. There is also a large statue of Tom Benson holding up the Vince Lombardi Trophy located in Champions Square, which makes for a great photo op. At Saints games, they also check your tickets at Champions Square, so you are free to walk in and out of the Superdome as many times as you want, as long as you stay on the grounds. And of course, you can't talk about the Saints without mentioning the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina and the rebirth of the Saints after the storm. When coming to a game here, it's hard to imagine what this place looked like in the days after the storm – with a few people even dying inside the Superdome, it's hard to believe this place didn't get condemned. Nevertheless, one of the most dramatic moments in sports history occurred here on September 25, 2006, the night of the Superdome's re-opening, when Saints safety Steve Gleason blocked a punt in the first quarter of a rivalry win against the Falcons . This would kickstart an improbable run for the team and the Drew Brees/Sean Payton era, culminating four years later in this team winning its first Super Bowl. That symbolic moment of hope and resilience is captured in a bronze statue of Steve Gleason blocking that punt, located on the southeast side outside Caesars Superdome – the large statue is titled "Rebirth". Before Katrina, the Saints had only been to the playoffs five times in 38 years, with only one playoff win, but since Katrina, the Saints have been to the playoffs nine times.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Paul E. Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell 300 Martin Luther King Way Lowell, MA 01852 UMass Lowell Hockey website Tsongas Center website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 6,500 Your Tsongas   The University of Massachusetts Lowell got its start in the 1890s as two separate institutions, the Lowell Normal School (later renamed Lowell State College) and the Lowell Textile School (later renamed Lowell Textile Institute). These two schools merged in 1975 to become the University of Lowell. In 1991, UL joined the University of Massachusetts system. Today, UMass Lowell is the second largest campus in Massachusetts, with an enrollment of over 18,000 students in almost 200 Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs. Total enrollment has increased 50 percent since 2007.   The Paul E. Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, named for the Lowell native and United States Senator, is located on the southeastern edge of the UMass Lowell campus on the banks of the Merrimack River. Senator Tsongas, who was instrumental in securing funding for the facility, died in 1997 just before the opening of the arena. Originally owned by the city of Lowell, the school purchased the building and assumed oversight of all operations in 2010.   In addition to serving as home to the Riverhawk hockey team (UMass Lowell does not sponsor varsity women’s hockey), the Tsongas Center formerly hosted a pair of American Hockey League teams, the Lock Monsters (1998-2006) and Devils (2006-2010). It also serves as the primary home of the PWHL’s Boston Fleet.   The University of Massachusetts-Lowell has sponsored hockey since 1965. Formerly known as the Terriers and the Chiefs, the team played at several local rinks, including playing outdoors at Cushing Field on campus. The team originally competed in Division II, where they won three national championships between 1979 and 1982. In 1983, UMass Lowell moved up to Division One. They have qualified for nine NCAA tournaments and made it to one Frozen Four in 2013. 24 River Hawk alumni have played in the National Hockey League.   Food & Beverage 5   The concession experience at Tsongas Center continues to evolve and improve year after year, to the point where this is no longer a weak point in the game day experience in Lowell. In fact, the opposite is now true. The majority of food is served from a pair of food courts on either side of the arena. Each stand has a slightly different menu, so you may want to explore a bit before making your final decision.   Along with traditional arena fare, fans can select BBQ items from the stand on the east side of the arena. Brisket and pulled pork can be ordered in sandwiches or placed on your fries or nachos. If you’re feeling particularly frisky, order the Power Play Dog, a foot-long hot dog loaded with brisket and pulled pork, and topped with nacho cheese and jalapeno peppers. ,A stand on the west side of the arena features chicken tenders with assorted dipping sauces. The Sal’s Pizza stand sells oversized cheese, sausage and pepperoni slices. A small stand at the north end of the arena, christened the Penalty Box, features walking tacos. Many items can be paired with chips and a drink to save a few dollars.   Pepsi products are featured at the Tsongas Center. The beer selection is strong, with a wide variety sold at all concession stands. Featured among the many excellent local craft brews is a UMass Lowell-branded beer from nearby Epicenter Brewing, Rowdy’s House Lager. UMass Lowell jersey display at Tsongas Center. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Atmosphere 5   Here at Stadium Journey, we often say that the student section is the engine that drives the atmosphere at any college sporting event. Hockey is the premier sport at UMass Lowell, and the student section turns out in good numbers to support their team. The school’s excellent pep band performs throughout the game, keeping the energy up and the building full of noise. Also present here are the cheerleaders and Rowdy the River Hawk, who roam the arena, interacting with fans and posing for pictures.   The game day staff at the Tsongas Center put on a good show for visiting fans. There’s a video board at center ice, which is put to good use with crowd shots, replays, and promos. Local youth hockey teams take the ice during intermission, and there are giveaways, 50/50 raffles, and more to keep the casual fan engaged, not that there are many casual fans in this section of the Merrimack Valley.   Neighborhood 3     The University of Massachusetts Lowell is located in the north-central part of the city of Lowell, right near the Dracut city line. The campus straddles the Merrimack River along the rapids, which made this area a magnet for industry back in the day.   Lowell is a working-class city. The Tsongas Center is located on the edge of downtown, with not a lot in the immediate vicinity to attract out-of-town fans. Visitors to the city may be interested in exploring the Lowell National Historic Park, which has preserved several old textile mills to tell the story of the Industrial Revolution. On the grounds of the park is a memorial to native son Jack Kerouac, who was one of the icons of the “Beat Generation.”   Most out-of-towners will likely make their way to nearby Boston, 25 miles to the southeast, but for those looking to stay in town, most lodging options are located out by Interstate 495. There isn’t much in the immediate vicinity of the Tsongas Center, but Cobblestone’s, located a couple of blocks away, is a Lowell institution. Also nearby is the Worthen House Café, which was supposedly frequented by Edgar Allen Poe while he was writing “The Raven.” Rowdy the River Hawk Poses with fans. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Fans 5   UMass Lowell ranks in the top 15 nationwide in terms of attendance every year, which is no small feat when you consider how crowded the Greater Boston hockey market is. The River Hawks draw between 4,500-5,000 fans per game, a figure that remains remarkably consistent every year.   There’s a good turnout by the UMass Lowell student body, who, along with the pep band, fill the arena with noise throughout the game and make the stands a sea of red, white,, and blue. Local fans, families, and youth hockey groups turn out in large numbers, proud to have a team to call their own in an area often overshadowed by the teams from Boston. Fans here know their hockey and make the Tsongas Center a fun place to watch a game.   Access 4     The Tsongas Center is located on the south bank of the Merrimack River a few blocks from the school’s baseball stadium, LeLacheur Park . The school’s other athletic facilities, including the Costello Athletic Center  and Cushing Field, are located on the other side of the river. Interstate 495 travels a few miles south of Lowell, meaning that to reach the UMass-Lowell campus, one has to drive through the city. Between the adjacent Ayotte Garage, several surface lots, and some on-street spaces, there is plenty of parking nearby.   Fans will pass through a security checkpoint into a large lobby, which houses ticket booths and the team store. A pair of staircases brings fans up to the concourse, which runs along the top of the seating bowl. It is not possible to completely circle the rink due to the presence of the Align Pavilion, and luxury boxes block views of the ice at some points. All seats at the Tsongas Center consist of plastic folding stadium seats and offer excellent views of the action.   Access around the facility is excellent, with only the typical lines forming during intermission. Restrooms at the Tsongas Center are numerous, clean, and large enough for a typical River Hawk crowd. Handicapped seating areas are plentiful. Fans should be aware that the stairs leading from the concourse to the seating bowl are not of uniform size. If one is not paying attention, there exists the very real possibility of tripping or worse, spilling your beverage. National Championship Display at Tsongas Center. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Return on Investment 3   Tickets to a River Hawk game are reasonably priced, at $25 for sideline seats and $18 for end zone seats. Parking will cost you either $15 or $20 in nearby surface lots or in the George Ayotte Garage next door. Concession prices are a bit on the high side, but are comparable to other venues in the area.   Extras 3   A pair of extra points is awarded for the displays of UMass Lowell athletic history that fill this arena. Fans can check out displays featuring Lowell’s various championship trophies, Lowell players to moved on to the NHL and Olympics, and photos of top moments in UML history, along with the River Hawk Athletic Hall of Fame. Banners along both ends of the arena commemorate the team’s success in both Division I and Division II. Fans can even view a display honoring the accomplishments of Paul Tsongas in the lobby.   If you visit Lowell on a day where the weather cooperates, do yourself a favor and take a walk behind the Tsongas Center and explore the Riverwalk. A stroll along the river to view the rapids and the historic mill buildings is highly recommended.   Final Thoughts   It’s easy to be overshadowed in the crowded Boston hockey scene, but the Tsongas Center is still one of the better hockey rinks in the area, even if it’s often overlooked by its more famous brethren in the area.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI. One of Lowell's famous canals runs beside Tsongas Center. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Mortgage Matchup Center 201 E Jefferson St Phoenix, AZ 85004 Map It Phoenix Mercury website Mortgage Matchup Center website Year Opened: 1992 Capacity: 18,422 Valley Together Editor's Note: On October 2, 2025, the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury announced that they were entering into a ten-year arena naming rights deal with United Wholesale Mortgage which also establishes the company as the official mortgage partner of the Suns, Mercury and Valley Suns. The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, AZ, playing in the Western Conference of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team is one of the eight original franchises of the 28-year-old league. The Mercury is a successful team with three WNBA Championships (2007, 2009, 2014). Attending a Mercury game is a refreshing sports experience; it is still about the sport played on the court and not the other extraneous activities at many other major league sports events. The team’s name, Mercury, parallels its brethren NBA team, the Phoenix Suns. The NBA team gets its name from the hot Arizona sun, while the WNBA team gets it from the planet nearest the sun. The same businessperson owns both teams. The Mercury play their home games at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. The venue also hosts the NBA Suns  and other entertainment choices like concerts, WWE, boxing, the Commissioner’s Cup, and more. The arena opened in 1992 as America West Arena and previously hosted the NHL Phoenix Coyotes  and ECHL Phoenix RoadRunners hockey, indoor football IFL Arizona Rattlers , and professional indoor soccer. It has had several other names and underwent renovations in 2003 and, most recently, in 2020. In July 2021, the teams’ organization partnered with Footprint, a plant-based fiber technology company based in Gilbert, AZ, whose mission is creating a healthier planet by reducing dependency on single and short-term-use plastics. Food & Beverage 4 Footprint Center provides abundant food choices at higher-than-average prices; the selection is much better than standard stadium food. Some of the food choices include: larder + the delta  (yes – small letters – a local farm-to-table restaurant) offers mouth-watering entrees (various chicken offerings, po’boy sandwiches $13 - $15 and snacks such as cauliflower, low country hurricane popcorn or fries ($8 – $13). Benihana  sells yummy hibachi and poke bowls ($18.50) or sushi rolls ($13.50). 480 Grill,   623 Grill, and 602 Grill (traditional stadium food) are named after AZ’s area codes. They sell nachos, chicken tenders, hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn, ice cream, and the like ($8 – $14.50). Spinatos Pizzeria  offers pizza, garlic bread, Caesar salad, etc. $9 – $15. Wetzel’s Pretzels  is a favorite and often has a long line. Big Chicken  sells its original sandwich and an Uncle Jerome’s Nashville Hot sandwich ($13.50 - $14.50) The concourse has several Grab &Go  stations if you just want an overpriced can of beer or soda. The concessions sell Coca-Cola sodas ($7.50 - $10) and an uninspiring choice of beers at extremely high prices ($16 - $17.50).   A bottle of water costs an outrageous $7.50.  The main entrance lobby has a hydration station, so bring an empty bottle and fill up there. If you plan on eating your dinner at Footprint Center, we recommend getting a bowl from Benihana or a tasty bite from larder + the delta. Atmosphere 4 The Phoenix Mercury provides a fan-friendly environment with excellent sportsmanship on the court. Fans can view the seating bowl from the entry area behind a huge lobby bar. The open concourse has two corner bar areas with drink rails and stools overlooking the court. Unfortunately, black drapes close off one of the corner bars for members of the Founder’s Club. The arena has two levels of seating with suites and a club level in between.  Most lower-level sections go up to row 28, with visitors entering on about row 19 and going up or down to their seat row. All seats have decent views, with sections 114 and 115 at center court, facing the logo. All four ribbon board corners display two lines of closed captioning, but there is none on the side or center-hung video boards. Footprint Center Closed Captioning, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey A high-quality video scoreboard is hung high above center court. Being so high is convenient for those on the first level as it allows the fans to watch the game, not the scoreboard. Other video scoreboards are above the baskets AND the sidelines, so there are plenty of places to look for the score, quarter, time, etc.  The team posts player stats on the side video boards throughout the game. The Mercury offers some in-game promotions. A pep squad / dance team, known as the Hip Hop Squad, cheers on the sidelines and performs on the court during some breaks.  The game day entertainment crew provides several t-shirt tosses, but mainly, the camera crew displays fans dancing and cheering on the video board.  The music volume is loud. The temperature is cool and comfortable (a good thing for hot Arizona summers). Bring a long-sleeved shirt or sweater if air conditioning generally gets too cold for you. Neighborhood 5 Downtown Phoenix has a plethora of places to eat, drink, visit, and sleep. Two relatively new dining restaurants nearby are Blanco Cocina + Cantina (Mexican) and The Ainsworth (upscale American restaurant and lounge). Old favorites like Majerle’s Sports Grill, The Arrogant Butcher, Crown Public House, and The Kettle Black Kitchen & Pub are still excellent selections. If you just want a beer pre or post-game, visit the Whining Pig. Craft beers in cans, bottles, or on draft, mead, wine, and cider are much more affordable here than in the arena. Other things to visit near the arena are the Arizona Science Center, the Phoenix Police Museum, Heritage & Science Park/Historic Heritage Square.  The Phoenix Convention Center is just two blocks from the Footprint Center. The MLB Arizona D-backs is another sports team to visit in downtown Phoenix during the WNBA season. Occasionally, you can attend a D-backs and Mercury doubleheader. Recommended places to stay within walking distance of the stadium include the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, Renaissance Phoenix Downtown, Courtyard by Marriott Phoenix Downtown, or Home2 Suites by Hilton Phoenix Downtown.  The Hampton Inn and Suites is about five blocks away and may be more affordable than the others. Fans 4 The Phoenix Mercury attendance generally ranks above the WNBA average with 8K – 10K fans per game this past decade. This number ranks them 1st – 5th in WNBA attendance over the last ten years. This 2024 season saw a surge in fan attendance and followers across all WNBA teams, with the Mercury reaching close to an 11K average per game.  Fans are approachable, friendly, and polite and cheer their team on well. Access 5 Getting to and in and around Footprint Center is relatively easy. The best way to arrive is to take the Valley Metro Light Rail (your Mercury ticket includes the light rail ride). Get off at Washington and 3rd if heading west; Jefferson and 3rd if heading east. The light rail also has a stop right at Sky Harbor Airport. If driving is more your preference, the venue is close to both I-10 and I-17 (less than two miles off either interstate). Plenty of parking garages are nearby; the closest to the Center charge $20. The Jefferson Street Garage is next door, at 3rd Street & Jefferson, and costs $15. Plenty of places are available to sit and wait for friends outside the arena's main entrance. More sports venues should do this. When entering the arena, expect x-ray machines like in the airport and metal detectors.  Security is pleasant but thorough.  The venue has the standard NBA bag size requirements of 14” x 14” x 6”. The concourse was wisely widened as part of the 2020 upgrade and is comfortable to stroll. The restrooms are ample and kept clean throughout the game. Return on Investment 3 Single-game tickets run from $23 and go up from there.  A $23 ticket will end up being over $40 with the Ticketmaster fees.  Use the Phoenix Mercury App to access mobile tickets; the team does not offer printed tickets. Included in the price is a ride on the light rail. The prices are a little higher than other WNBA teams, but you don’t have to pay for parking if you ride the light rail. Otherwise, parking runs from $15 – $20. The Mercury and sponsors offer ticket deals during the season, such as all-you-can-eat seats, student discounts, and military and first responder discounts. Fry’s (grocery store) usually offers free tickets for select games if you purchase over $50 in groceries on a specific day. Be sure to check the Mercury website for these deals. Concession prices are higher than other WNBA venues. Extras 3 Ease of access with light rail and partnering with Valley Metro deserves an extra mention. Three WNBA championship banners hang from the rafters (2007, 2009, 2014), always a sign of a prosperous team.  Four retired Mercury numbers hang from the rafters: 7 – Michele Timms, 13 – Penny Taylor, 22 – Jennifer Gillom, 32 – Bridge Pettis. Footprint Center - Mercury Banners from Rafters Final Thoughts Attending a Mercury basketball game is an enjoyable afternoon/evening out. If you haven’t been to the arena in a while, come check out some summer hoops at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Mortgage Matchup Center 201 E Jefferson St Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phoenix Suns website Mortgage Matchup Center website Year Opened: 1992 Capacity: 18,422 House Of The Rising Suns   Editor's Note: On October 2, 2025, the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury announced that they were entering into a ten-year arena naming rights deal with United Wholesale Mortgage which also establishes the company as the official mortgage partner of the Suns, Mercury and Valley Suns. The Phoenix Suns and the Footprint Center recently celebrated their 30th Anniversary as the outpost for NBA basketball in the Southwest. The facility opened in 1992 as the America West Arena and has gone through numerous name changes over the years. It became the Footprint Center in 2022. The arena holds 17,071 in its basketball setting. The Footprint Center hosts a wide variety of events in addition to the Sun's games. It serves as the host facility for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA and the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). It has also hosted boxing matches, rodeo competitions, UFC events, WWE events, and music concerts, featuring such stars as Rod Stewart, Billy Joel, and Elton John. Food & Beverage 4 The food and beverage program at the Footprint Center also benefitted from the recent renovations. Many have relocated to the Eatery food court area of the arena. The Footprint Center also has diversified the food selection available at Suns games. Grab and Go – Standard stadium favorites including hamburgers, hot dogs ($7.99) chicken tenders ($13.49), a popcorn bucket ($15.99), and sodas ($9.99) Gorilla Grill – Gorilla Burger w/fries ($17.49), Footprint Burger w/fries ($12.49), Suns Hot Chicken ($14.99) and Chicken Tenders w fries ($13.49). The Gorilla Grill was by far the most popular concession stand during our visit. It is in The Eatery food court at the arena. Tostitos Cantina - Doritos Nachos walking taco ($15.99), Frito scoops Walking Taco ($15.99). Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers – Full Court Hot Dog ($13.49), All Beef Suns Dog ($7.99), Beer Brats ($10.49) and a Popcorn Bucket ($15.99). Dos Equis Beer Garden - Craft beers ($14.99), draft beers ($14.99). The Beer Garden is located on an outdoor patio that can only be accessed from inside the arena. Beverages sold at the Footprint Center include Coca-Cola brand sodas including souvenir cup sodas ($9.99), fountain sodas ($7.49), lemonade ($7.49), and bottled water ($7.49). Adult beverages include Souvenir Cup drafts ($17.49), Premium drafts ($14.99), Domestic cans ($14.49), Premium cans ($15.99), and seltzers ($15.49). Atmosphere 4 The Footprint Center underwent a $245 million renovation in 2019-2020, which has greatly enhanced the atmosphere at Suns games. These upgrades touched nearly aspect of the fan experience. The lobby added new space to allow fans a more roomy experience when they arrived at games, and concourses were widened and made open to the court so that fans did not encounter any bottlenecks or miss any of the game while standing in a line at the concession stand. An 8,500-square-foot LED board was added to the lobby, and it provides fans with game statistics and information on upcoming events. The concourse features wall displays outlining the career highlights of Suns elite players Kevin Johnson, Paul Westphal, and Dan Majerle. The electronics package inside the seating bowl was enhanced with new ribbon boards and a larger video board ( six times larger than its predecessor) over the court. Theater-style lighting is used once the game gets underway. All seats within the seating bowl were updated to enhance fan comfort. Neighborhood 5 The Footprint Center is in the Legends Entertainment District in downtown Phoenix. The district includes the major sports and entertainment venues for the city, including the Footprint Center (Suns, Mercury, Rattlers), Chase Field (Diamondbacks), Cityscape, the Collier Center, Symphony Hall, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix and the Phoenix Convention Center. The District is also known for its great selection of restaurants, including Majerle’s, which is owned by a former Sun, Dan Majerle. The closest hotel to the Footprint Center is the Residence Inn Phoenix Downtown. Fans 4 In a city with multiple major league sports teams, the Suns have by far the most loyal and vocal fan base. The arena seating bowl is filled with fans wearing the purple and orange colors of the Suns. They arrive early and even cheer nice shots by the Suns during the warmups. Once the game starts, the fans act as the “sixth man”, creating as much noise as possible when the Suns are on defense or the visitors are at the foul line. They also coordinate their activity with the Sun's Gorilla, who has an array of signs that he displays, leading the fans in a variety of cheers. The Suns have been in the playoffs on a regular basis in recent seasons. Even though the Suns may not have the “star” power courtside of their neighbors in Los Angles, the locals provide the “Sun Power” to guide their team to victory. Access 4 The Footprint Center is easily reached by car or public transportation. It is located close to many of the main highways in the Phoenix area. It has a 700-car garage on South Fourth Street. There is also a garage on South Fourth Street. The rideshare area for pickup and delivery is located at the Footprint Center Plaza (corner of First Street and Jefferson Street.) Valley Metro , the Phoenix area transit provider, provides a very attractive and cost-efficient alternative for fans going to the Footprint Center. Your game ticket serves as your free ride passes on the light rail system (must be used on the day of the game). Take the train to either the Third Street/Washington or the Third Street/Jefferson Station. The Footprint Center doors open 90 minutes prior to tipoff, leaving you plenty of time to get to your seats. Both the lobby and the concourses are easy to navigate due to recent renovations. Return on Investment 3 Going to a Suns game can be a very expensive proposition for a family of four. Seats are available at several price points. The cheapest tickets are $27 (behind the basket in the upper level of the seating bowl). Tickets along the sides of the court are $32 on the upper level or $133 on the lower level. Center court seats on the upper level are $40, while lower-level midcourt seats are $299. These are standard ticket prices… not resale prices. The concession stand prices are also high, even by NBA standards. Parking is $25 prepaid at the garage on Fourth Street or $20 prepaid for the parking lot on Third Street. Extras 4 The Footprint Center hosted the NBA Finals in 1993, as well as the NBA All-Star game in 1995 and 2009. The Footprint Center and the resident teams are committed to making the facility as “green” as possible. Steps have included eliminating plastic wherever possible in its concession stands. This has been achieved through the use of paper where possible, and bamboo or fiber cutlery is now in use. The venue also encourages fans to use public transportation or bicycle to get to games. The Phoenix Suns Gorilla is a legend within the world of sports mascots. He was the first mascot inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame, and he has entertained Suns fans since 1980. He is especially known for his dunking ability. The rafters are filled with banners denoting championship seasons for the Suns, as well as the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) and the Arizona Rattlers (Arena Football League). Final Thoughts A trip to the newly renovated Footprint Center provides a much-improved fan experience for the Suns faithful. They can relax in the new seats that have been installed while keeping up with the game stats via the new video board and end zone displays. The one thing that remains the same is the antics of the Sun's Gorilla, one of the NBA’s top mascots.

With the MLB World Series just around the corner, it’s time for us at Stadium Journey to once again rank the game-day experience of the 30 Major League Ballparks in use for the 2025 season. Our correspondents visited 23 of the 30 MLB parks in 2025, including the 2 temporary homes of the Rays and Athletics. We ranked the game day experience according to our patented FANFARE rating system, which takes into account a ballpark's food and beverage, game day atmosphere, surrounding neighborhood, fan support, access, value, and more. When two or more facilities were tied, a Stadium Journey council of elders was consulted to break those ties. It's a different way of looking at a ballpark. This list will undoubtedly spark a great deal of debate and rage, and we welcome your input on our Facebook , X (Formerly Twitter) , and Bluesky  pages. We can also be found on Instagram  and YouTube .  How does your MLB Stadium ranking compare to ours? Let the discussions and debates begin. 30. Steinbrenner Field - Tampa Bay Rays 2.57   Richard Smith - Due to catastrophic damage from Hurricane Milton, the Tampa Bay Rays have relocated to Steinbrenner Field for the 2025 MLB season. This temporary move has created a unique atmosphere, with the team playing in an open-air, spring training-focused venue. For many fans, the game-day experience feels more like a logistical workaround than a celebration of the team, reinforcing the temporary and transitional nature of the Rays' situation as they await the completion of their new permanent stadium. 29. Sutter Health Park - Athletics 3.14 Sean MacDonald - The saga of the Athletics under owner John Fisher has reached its nadir as the team is playing in a minor league park. Overall, Sutter Health Park is ideal for AAA ball, but far too small to host a Major League Team.  It’s embarrassing for Fisher, and MLB should be ashamed for letting it happen. 28. loanDepot Park - Miami Marlins 3.57   Richard Smith - When the stadium opened, a large art installation in center field was certainly discussed by many people.  It included all sorts of elements that are suggestive of South Florida. The art installation has now been relocated to the exterior of the ballpark. loanDepot Park has a different look and feel from pretty much any other MLB stadium. It feels like a Miami stadium. and doesn't follow the trends of others. Some may not like that, but we find it sort of refreshing. 27. Nationals Park - Washington Nationals 3.71 Gregory Koch - Crowds have seemed to shrink significantly since the Nats championship in 2019, as the team has fallen on hard times – there will usually be many empty seats, and if they are playing an NL East rival, visiting fans will make up a significant portion of the crowd. This is disappointing to see, given how large the crowds were during the World Series run just a few years ago. That being said, Nationals Park is still a nice stadium for fans to take in a Major League Baseball game. 26. Globe Life Field - Texas Rangers 3.71   Michael Davis - Globe Life Field is a solid retractable roof stadium. Although the venue is an eyesore to some looking in from the outside, the constant 72 degrees indoors keeps fans and players from enduring the Texas summer heat. There is also no better moment leading up to the first pitch than when long-time public-address announcer Chuck Morgan makes his standard announcement, as the umpires and managers wrap up their pre-game meeting – “Ladies and Gentlemen, it is Baseball Time in Texas!” 25. Kauffman Stadium - Kansas City Royals 3.71 Marc Viquez - The K is 50-plus years old and regarded as one of the finest examples of a modern baseball stadium; that tradition continues with the 37,903-seat facility offering beautiful views of the outfield. There's a reason Kauffman Stadium is regarded as one of the class jewels of Major League Baseball for well over 45 years. It is a baseball facility that offers tantalizing views of waterfalls and great menu items for everyone who visits. 24. Angel Stadium - Los Angeles Angels 3.86   Andrei Ojeda - Opened for service in 1966, Angel Stadium is the 4th-oldest active yard. Though showing its age, Angel Stadium is still quite serviceable. While Angel Stadium lacks most of the present-day amenities beyond the on-field action, its size ensures that you’re never too far from the action. An outing at an Angel game will almost certainly be much more budget-friendly for your wallet than that of that other Anaheim attraction down the street. 23. Rate Field - Chicago White Sox 3.86   Marc Viquez - Often considered one of the least favorite venues in the major leagues, team management has worked their hearts off to ensure that fans will have an enjoyable experience through various renovations. The White Sox continue to provide great value and entertainment at Rate Field. The ball club's recent struggles on the field have hindered a few, but there is plenty to do when attending a Sox game on the Southside. 22. Rogers Centre - Toronto Blue Jays 3.86   Dave Cottenie - Opened in 1989, the SkyDome was an innovative marvel with the first ever retractable roof and the first large video screen dubbed the JumboTron. With increased checks in the win column in 2025, there have been plenty more fans going through the turnstiles at Rogers Centre. Jays fans are relatively quiet, as are most southern Ontario fans, but they can definitely get loud when the time is right.  With the colder months requiring the roof to be closed, the noise can get off the charts, with the noise staying in the building.   21. Wrigley Field - Chicago Cubs 3.86   Lloyd Brown - Very few major league ballparks can be described as “classic.” Wrigley Field certainly does fill that description. Attending a game at Wrigley Field is partially going to a sports event and partially visiting a history museum. While the Cubs do everything possible to keep Wrigley’s charm and historic elements, they have made some needed updates in recent years. One last tradition that is still present in the ballpark is the ivy-covered walls in the outfield. They were installed in 1937 to give a more parklike feel to the ballpark by Bill Veeck. 20. Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia Phillies 4.00 Dave Cottenie - Philly fans have a reputation for being some of the toughest and rowdiest in sports.  It is debatable whether that reputation has been earned or not; however, it may be safe to say that, of the four major sports, baseball fans are among the most welcoming and friendly. With a deep history as one of the oldest teams in Major League Baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies offer an excellent experience that all baseball fans should put on a must-do list. 19. Busch Stadium - St. Louis Cardinals 4.00   Marc Viquez - Whatever Busch Stadium lacks in design and aesthetics, it makes up for it in atmosphere. You might not find a more dedicated fanbase than in St Louis. The attendance ranks at the top of the major leagues and is well above the average for the past 20 seasons. The fans wear the “two birds on the bat logo” with pride on both shirts and jerseys. They support their team through both winning and lean years. Luckily for them, there have been a lot more winning seasons this century. 18. T-Mobile Park - Seattle Mariners 4.00   James Hilchen - The fans at T-Mobile celebrate their team. This is evident through all the Mariners gear they wear, the support they give the team, and the good-natured grief they give the other team. You can see some great views of the city and of Puget Sound. The best spots here are the Trident Deck and the Rooftop Boardwalk. Between the great views, fabulous food, and a great ballpark, every baseball fan should make the trip to Seattle and T-Mobile Park. 17. Chase Field - Arizona Diamondbacks 4.14   Meg Minard - The Diamondbacks provide an excellent gameday experience where, for the most part, the actual game still seems like the focus of attention. The stadium is a bit dark inside when the roof and panels are closed. It’s much brighter and cheerier when it’s open. That said, it is a relief to have a roof and air conditioning during the sweltering hot months of the summer. 16. Yankee Stadium - New York Yankees 4.14   David Welch - While the aura and mystique that came with the previous Yankee Stadium can never be duplicated, the current version does well to give fans a bit of a taste of the old, while providing modern comforts its predecessor could not. Yankee Stadium is also one of the few Major League Baseball experiences that allows the game to remain the focus of the day, with a minimum of distractions that have become the norm across baseball today. 15. Daikin Park - Houston Astros 4.14 Eric Moreno - The Astros and Daiken Park, formerly named Minute Maid Park, continue to find ways to make game days feel like big-time events each season. A lot of this is due to the massive amount of success the ball club has experienced in the last decade-plus. From the moment you walk up to the Juice Box, everything becomes a celebration of baseball and the Astros. 14. Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles Dodgers 4.14   Andrei Ojeda - Dodger Stadium is the third-oldest yard behind only  Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. Dodger Stadium, affectionately referred to by blue-clad locals as Blue Heaven On Earth,  is hardly referred to as a classic. Dodger Stadium maintains a truly unique identity as marked by its signature pastel-colored seating palette. Dodger Blue runs deep throughout many Angelenos’ hearts and throughout Southern California, as they are a loud and passionate bunch. 13. Truist Park - Atlanta Braves 4.14   David Welch - Truist Park and the surrounding Battery are a great pairing that offer fans convenience just steps from the stadium gates. Unlike Boston’s iconic Green Monster, Chicago’s ivy-covered walls, or Pittsburgh’s stunning skyline framed by its bridges, Truist Park does not have that signature element that leaves a lasting impression. Nevertheless, The Battery brings energy and convenience that help elevate the overall game day experience, even if the ballpark itself falls short of iconic status. 12. Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Baltimore Orioles 4.14 Richard Smith - Orioles games draw a very knowledgeable fan base. Booing is rare, though anything can happen when the Yankees are in town. Oriole Park at Camden Yards remains one of Major League Baseball's most beautiful and beloved stadiums. Its timeless design, which was revolutionary in 1992, has aged gracefully and continues to be a benchmark for modern ballparks. The stadium's architecture seamlessly blends classic baseball aesthetics with a contemporary, fan-friendly layout. 11. PNC Park - Pittsburgh Pirates 4.14   Lloyd Brown - The park is nestled along the banks of the Allegheny River, with picture postcard views of the Pittsburgh skyline and the many bridges that link the North Shore with the downtown area over the center and left field walls. The Pirates have not been deep into the playoffs in several years, and attendance drops quite a bit after Labor Day. The smaller crowds do not affect the enthusiasm level, as Pirate fans are quite loyal and always look forward to “next year.” 10. Great American Ballpark - Cincinnati Reds 4.29 Dave Cottenie - The Cincinnati Reds have grasped a hold of their history and celebrated it better and stronger than any other team in Major League Baseball.  Great American Ball Park captures that feeling and offers a fantastic baseball experience.  If the Reds are doing well, it is that much better and must be considered among the elite of MLB.  A Reds victory at GABP will have fans joining Reds legend Marty Brennaman proclaiming, “And This One Belongs to the Reds.” 9. American Family Field - Milwaukee Brewers 4.29   Marc Viquez - American Family Field is one of those major league ballparks that might not stand out to most, but after a visit, you might want to reconsider. It is known for its tailgating, loyal fans, great food, and racing sausages. Also, ticket prices are among the least expensive in the league, making it affordable for anyone looking to enjoy a game at a major league ballpark during the season. 8. Comerica Park - Detroit Tigers 4.29   James Hilchen - Attending a Tigers game at Comerica Park is an event. The combination of a great atmosphere, a ton of food options, and a nice neighborhood makes taking in a game here a must for the true baseball fan. Want to ride a carousel? Head to the Big Cat Court near Section 119. If you are looking for something a little bigger, head over to section 131, where you can ride a Ferris wheel. 7. Progressive Field - Cleveland Guardians 4.29   Lloyd Brown - Progressive Field has done a terrific job of uniting the ballpark with its hometown. Sections of the ballpark are known as “districts,” with an Infield District, Left Field District, and Right Field District. Even though Progressive Field is more than 30 years old, it has been updated to keep up with the new trends in ballparks. It has gone through renovations in 2014, 2016, and is wrapping up a $200 million renovation during the 2025 and 2026 seasons. The entire stadium will have new seats installed by the end of the 2026 season. 6. Coors Field - Colorado Rockies 4.29   Jack Quinn - Coors Field is one of the more aesthetic ballparks in MLB due to the Rocky Mountain weather, scenery, and feel. You’ll be watching the highest level of baseball in the world at a unique ballpark that is designed for comfort, aesthetics, and scenery. Rockies fans get excited when their team does well, but opposing fans can sometimes overpower the home crowd when the visiting team has a large following. Despite not having a historically successful franchise, Rockies fans still show up to games and are eager to see their squad succeed. 5. Target Field - Minnesota Twins 4.29   Gregory Koch - Target Field is a modern stadium that was built to create a unique atmosphere for fans. There are many unique visual aspects scattered throughout the stadium. There is a neon sign in right-centerfield featuring twins Minnie and Paul, in honor of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The sign lights up at night and flashes when the Twins make a big play. While the Twins previously played in one of the worst stadiums in Major League Baseball, they now play at one of the best. 4. Fenway Park - Boston Red Sox 4.29   Paul Baker - The Boston Red Sox bill Fenway Park as “America’s Most Beloved Ball Park.” Fenway Park’s mix of historical touches, quirky features, and modern comforts is unmatched anywhere. While other cities are building billion-dollar complexes to replace ballparks that are only 20 years old, in Boston, they are simply finding new ways to put modern touches on this classic diamond. Simply put, Fenway Park is the standard against which all other ballparks are measured. 3. Citi Field - New York Mets 4.43   Richard Smith - This is a Major League Baseball stadium in a Major League kind of town. The team displays its history throughout the facility in cool ways. The concourses and all the cool extras, such as the Shea Bridge, make for a great atmosphere for fans. Outside the stadium is the original Big Apple from Shea Stadium. That makes a great pre-game meeting spot. Entering behind home plate by way of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda sets a great tone for the stadium. 2. Oracle Park - San Francisco Giants 4.57   Andrei Ojeda - From the views beyond the bay to the nightly breeze, Oracle Park, with its gorgeous surroundings anchored by the bay, has done more than its share to bring baseball fans to its gem. As you walk along the concourse, you will not only be offered beautiful views of the Bay Bridge, but you will be a stone’s throw away from McCovey Cove, where you will see kayakers awaiting a Splash Hit. One visit to this beauty and you will see why Oracle Park consistently ranks among the top ballpark experiences among baseball fans. 1. Petco Park - San Diego Padres 4.86   Andrei Ojeda - The historic Western Metal Supply Co. building, Petco Park’s signature feature, is nicely incorporated into the yard, located by the left field corner, with rooftop viewing available. With a vibrant neighborhood and enthusiastic fans coming in droves, along with one of the more picturesque parks among the 30, it’s no wonder Petco Park continually  ranks high among ballpark experts   in America’s Finest City.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Matthews Arena 238 St. Botolph St Boston, MA 02115 Northeastern Huskies men's hockey website Matthews Arena website Year Opened: 1910 Capacity: 4,666 Last Call at the Doghouse   How many sporting venues can claim to be the original home of not one, not two, but three current major league franchises? Matthews Arena in Boston can. The arena was the original home of both the Boston Bruins in 1924 and the New England Whalers in 1972, as well as the site of the first home game for the Boston Celtics in 1946. Virtually every college hockey team in the area, including all four Beanpot schools, have called this arena home.   Originally named Boston Arena, Matthews Arena was renamed for George and Martha Matthews in 1982. Mr. Matthews, class of 1956, served as the Chairman of the Northeastern Board of Trustees for ten years.  He passed away on January 11, 2024 at the age of 93.   Muhammed Ali trained here, and many of boxing’s biggest names, such as Gene Tunney, Joe Louis, Marvin Hagler and Jack Dempsey fought here. The Frozen Four was held at Matthews Arena in 1960, as was the original Beanpot hockey tournament. More recently, the World Junior Hockey Championships were held here in 1995.   Matthews Arena has always been more than just a sporting venue. Every president from Theodore Roosevelt to John Kennedy visited the venue, as did Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. Charles Lindberg and Amelia Earhart hosted events here. Concerts by artists as diverse as The Doors, Jerry Lee Lewis, Marvin Gaye, Ludacris, Bob Dylan, The Roots, Chuck Berry and Phish were held at Matthews Arena.   Today, Matthews Arena serves as home to Northeastern men’s and women’s hockey teams, as well as the men’s basketball team. Several area high-school teams also call this old barn home.   The Northeastern men’s hockey team is the least decorated of the four “Beanpot” schools located within Boston city limits. Northeastern has won the prestigious Boston hockey tournament nine times, least among the four participating schools. The team has qualified for the NCAA tournament eight times, reaching the Frozen Four in 1982. 35 former Huskies have played in the National Hockey League.   Northeastern began sponsoring women’s hockey in 1980. The women’s team has qualified for six NCAA Tournaments, reaching the Frozen Four on three occasions. 29 Husky Alumni have played professionally in the CWHL, NWHL/PHF and the PWHL. Northeastern has won 20 Women’s Beanpot championships.   In May 2024 Northeastern filed a letter of intent  to the Boston Planning and Development Agency to construct a new multi-purpose athletics venue, which included plans for the demolition of Matthews Arena. These plans came as concerns surrounding the structural integrity of the facility increased: scaffolding had been erected to support the east end of the arena earlier in 2024, parts of the arena had been closed off, and the foundation, which was built on reclaimed land that was once part of a wharf, was found to be sinking. The Doghouse taunts the opposition at Matthews Arena. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Food & Beverage 3    There are a pair of concession stands in the lobby. A larger stand offers a full menu while a second, smaller stand in the back of the lobby serves only snacks. Hungry Husky fans can choose from hot dogs, veggie burgers, chicken fingers and grilled chicken sandwiches. Sides, including french fries, nachos, pretzels and popcorn are also available. Coca-Cola products are featured at Matthews Arena.   While the menu at Matthews Arena is not extensive, the prices are affordable, and the quality of food served is decent.   Atmosphere 5   We at Stadium Journey like to say the game day experience at any college hockey rink is driven by the student section and pep band. Northeastern does not disappoint in either of these areas. The student section, known as “The Doghouse,” dominates the atmosphere at Matthews Arena. Students fill the balcony sections at the west end of the arena, hanging over the ice and filling the old barn with noise throughout the action. Armed with a repertoire of chants, traditions and routines, the students are as much as part of the action as the players on the ice. They are supported by an excellent pep band, who perform during most play stoppages. Not content with letting the band play alone, the students will sing along, not stopping even as play continues.   Conspicuous by its overwhelming presence is the giant video board installed at Matthews Arena in 2019. Measuring 50 feet long by 13.5 feet high, the scoreboard is put to good use throughout the game with replays, game stats, promotions and social media shout outs. Fans with old-school sensibilities may not enjoy the intrusion of modern technology in the old barn, but Northeastern staff have done a nice job integrating modern technology in this historic location. The Northeastern Band plays Stacy's Mom. Video by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Neighborhood 4   Northeastern University is located on the edge of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, one of the city’s most popular tourist and shopping destinations. The Fens neighborhood and South End are also within walking distance of the University. Many of Boston’s major attractions are located close to Matthews Arena.   While there are many dining and lodging options near Matthews Arena, most of them will involve a short walk or drive from the facility, which may not be what you want to do on a chilly winter night in Boston. Fans visiting from out of town will want to check out the Prudential Center and Copley Place, located just a few blocks from Matthews Arena. Symphony Hall is just around the corner, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is a short walk away. In addition, most of Boston’s attractions are easily accessed by a short subway ride. Both the Green and Orange lines have stops less than a block from Matthews Arena.   Fans 4   Husky fans can be a fickle lot, avoiding less glamourous matchups while packing the old barn for marquee games. Average attendance in recent seasons numbers about 3,300 fans per game, placing Northeastern right in the middle of all Division One hockey schools in the country. Of course, as the days dwindle for Matthews Arena, this will become one of the tougher tickets in town.   Northeastern’s membership in Hockey East guarantees that many of the school’s local rivals will visit Matthews Arena every year. These games are well attended, with the proximity of the teams in the conference guaranteeing a solid turnout by visiting fans. When Matthews Arena is full, there is an incredible atmosphere in the old barn.   Hockey is the marquee sport at Northeastern, and a solid turnout from the student body can be expected on most nights. Led by the antics of the Doghouse, there’s a ton of energy and noise in the building. The Dog Pound Celebrates a Goal. Video by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Access 3   Matthews Arena is located on the eastern edge of Northeastern’s urban campus, near the intersection of Massachusetts and Huntington Avenues. Despite the fact that Matthews Arena is easy to find, that doesn’t make it easy to get to. The ever-present Boston traffic, never-ending construction projects and streets that date back to colonial days make Boston a tough city to drive in. If you must drive, it is best to bring a local along who is familiar with the city landscape. Directions to Matthews Arena can be found here .   Many local fans will choose to take public transportation to Matthews Arena. The MBTA, known locally as the “T”, drops fans off just a couple of blocks from the arena. The E-train of the Green Line has a station at Symphony Hall, and the Orange Line has a stop on Massachusetts Avenue. At just $2.75 for a fare, the T is an affordable alternative for visiting Husky fans.   Fans visiting Matthews Arena will pass under an ornate entry arch into the main lobby. The ticket office, concession stands, and restrooms are all located here. The arena will be located to your right, accessible by a pair of walkways. Seats at Matthews Arena are separated into loge and balcony sections. All seats have excellent views of the action, although some lower-level seats will have an obstructed view of the scoreboard and banners due to the overhang of the balcony.   Fans will have no problem navigating Matthews Arena during a typical game. Expect some long lines when accessing concessions or rest rooms during intermissions.   Return on Investment 2   Northeastern is capitalizing on the nostalgia of the closing of Matthews Arena and the demand for tickets by rising prices for the final dozen games. Tickets are priced at $40 for sideline seats and $30 for end zone seats.   Parking can be had for no charge (yes, you read that right, free parking in Boston) at the Columbus Street Lot located about a half mile away on the other side of the train tracks from the Arena. As you can imagine, this lot fills quickly. Prices in the lots adjacent to Matthews Arena cost $35 for gameday parking.   Many fans will opt to skip the congestion and cost of driving in Boston, and simply take the T to Matthews Arena. Both the Orange and Green Lines pass within a few blocks of Matthews Arena, and a one-way fare is just $2.75. The Number One bus also has a stop at the arena. Matthews Arena entrance, then and now.   Extras 5   They just don’t build them like this anymore, and that alone is worth an extra point. The exposed brick, the steel tresses, the entry arch that has greeted Boston sports fans for over a century all harken to an earlier time.   The history of Matthews Arena is worth another point. It bears repeating that this is the oldest indoor rink still in used anywhere in the world. The Boston Bruins started here. The Carolina Hurricanes played their first games here (as the New England Whalers of the WHA). The Boston Celtics played here frequently. Presidents, dignitaries, as well as athletes and musicians have visited this site. There is a history here that just can’t be duplicated elsewhere.   Some of this history is on display at Matthews Arena. In addition to banners honoring the success achieved by Northeastern’s basketball and hockey teams, there are banners reminding fans of where the Celtics and Bruins got their starts. Pictures of every varsity hockey team to represent the school are displayed in the lobby. There is also a banner honoring Reggie Lewis, the local basketball star who studied at Northeastern and went on to become an All-Star and captain with the Celtics before passing away of a heart condition while still playing for the team. His funeral was held at Matthews Arena.   A final extra point is awarded to the Doghouse, one of the most active and entertaining student sections in the country. While the Doghouse may not be completely filled every night, the students here never fail to deliver. They may be worth the price of admission all by themselves.   Final Thoughts   Northeastern has been very quiet about what the future holds for the Matthews Arena site, which has led to rumors that red tape has held up the project, or that a renovation is being considered rather than a total replacement. A visit to the Northeastern hockey websites only display the schedules through December, when Matthews is due to close. No matter what is happening next at Northeastern, hockey fans are running out of time to take one last look at this historic rink.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Warrior Ice Arena 90 Guest St. Boston, MA 02135 Stonehill Skyhawks men's hockey website Warrior Ice Arena website Year Opened : 2016 Capacity: 700 A Temporary Nest   Stonehill began playing varsity hockey in 1978, joining ECAC 3, the lowest division in college hockey at the time. Over their first 22 seasons, Stonehill had exactly 4 winning seasons and zero postseason appearances. The team joined Division Two in 1999, winning three conference championships at that level. Since joining Division One in 2022, the Skyhawks have competed as an independent, as their conference, the NEC, does not support hockey. In their three seasons at college hockey’s top level, Stonehill has gone 31-62-2.   For their first three seasons, the Skyhawks men’s team played their home games at the off-campus Bridgewater Ice Arena . This facility, located nine miles from campus, was the smallest D-I facility in the country. In need of an upgraded facility in order to attract recruits, Stonehill moved a portion of their schedule to Warrior Ice Arena in Boston. In 2025-2026 the Skyhawks will play 13 of their 14 home games at Warrior. In addition, the women’s team will play four of their home games at Warrior.   Warrior Ice Arena, located in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, is primarily the practice rink for the Boston Bruins. It was also the home of the Premier Hockey Federation’s Boston Pride  for seven seasons from 2016-2023. This busy community rink is named for its sponsor, Warrior Ice, which is the hockey brand of New Balance.   Stonehill, which used the nickname Chieftains for decades, changed its mascot to the Skyhawks in 2005 to honor the type of planes used by the Navy at the airfield located on the campus until 1955.   On May 28, 2025 Stonehill College announced that due to a record $15-million donation from Tom (class of ’72) and Kathleen Bogan, planning has begun on a new hockey and basketball arena on campus. In recognition of their philanthropy, the arena will be named the Tom and Kathleen Bogan Arena. There is currently no timeline for construction of the arena.   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. In keeping with Warrior’s status as a busy community rink open throughout the day, breakfast sandwiches are also sold here. There’s an impressive array of snacks sold at the stand, featuring arena standards such as nachos, pretzels and popcorn along with some healthier snacks you won’t usually find at a hockey arena.   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, seltzers and energy drinks are sold. Hot drinks including coffee, tea and hot chocolate are popular choices in this chilly rink. No alcohol is sold at Warrior Ice Arena. Warrior Ice Arena Concession Stand. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Atmosphere 2   Fans who visit Warrior Arena expecting the busy, loud and zany game day atmosphere from the days of the Pride are sure to be disappointed with the very basic presentation put on by the Stonehill staff. Perhaps this is due to the distance from campus, perhaps it’s because Stadium Journey happened to visit very early in the season, but there’s not a ton going on here besides the game on the ice. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.   Music is played at a very reasonable volume, and the playlist is heavy on classic rock, both positive points in this writer’s opinion. The PA announcer goes about his duties in a very unobtrusive manner, and there are no shenanigans, t-shirt tosses, giveaways or the like to be found during play stoppages or intermissions. Simple scoreboards on either end of the rink display time and score. It’s all very old school here at Warrior for a Skyhawk game.   Neighborhood 4   Warrior Ice Arena is part of Boston Landing , a mixed-use development located in an area that once housed the city’s largest stockyard. Besides Warrior Arena, the Auerbach Center (the Boston Celtics’ practice facility), and the headquarters of New Balance are located here. 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. National Anthem at Warrior Ice Arena. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Fans 2   It might be a bit early to accurately gauge the attendance at Stonehill hockey games, as Stadium Journey visited Warrior Arena for the second game of the 2025-2026 season. The first two games of the season, attracted announced crowds of 300 and 215 fans. These crowds are comparable to the announced attendance for the 2024-25 season of 220 fans per game.   The crowd at Warrior Ice Arena for Skyhawks hockey can accurately be described as a “friends and family” crowd, with the emphasis on family. Everyone in the stands appeared to be connected to someone on the ice. They were reserved and respectful while taking in the action. This was not a rowdy or loud crowd by any means. With Warrior Arena located 34 miles from the Stonehill campus on the far side of Boston, it’s likely that you won’t see much of a turnout from the student body here in Brighton.   Access 4     Boston traffic notwithstanding, Warrior 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 the 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 the 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 on level 3. Stairs and elevators access all levels.   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, the snack bar and event room 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. Faceoff at Warrior Ice Arena. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Return on Investment 4   Tickets for Skyhawk hockey games are sold as general admission seating. Seats are priced at $18 for men’s games and $15 for women’s games. Stadium Journey recommends the standing room spots 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 Skyhawk games in the garage at Warrior Arena will cost you an additional twenty dollars. There is ample on-street parking in the area, which is free of charge on weekends when the Skyhawks play.   Extras 2                                                                                                 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.   Additional Bruins touches that are worth a look are the giant bear in the lobby that is made out of old Bruins equipment (and if you look closely, you’ll see a microphone autographed by TD Garden anthemist Todd Angily in the bear’s mouth). There are life-sized paintings of Bruins legends Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron as well as Pride legend Jillian Dempsey in the lobby. And the old rod hockey Bruins vs. Canadians game on the concourse deserves a shout. Rod Hockey Game at Warrior Ice Arena. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Final Thoughts   After playing three seasons in the Bridgewater Ice Arena near campus, it was obvious that something needed to be done in order for Stonehill to compete for recruits in hockey-mad New England. While playing in an arena 30 miles from campus is far from ideal, having Warrior Ice Arena as a home nest has allowed Stonehill to schedule nationally ranked opponents while they await their shiny new on-campus home.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Beirne Stadium 1150 Douglas Pike Smithfield, RI 02917 Bryant Bulldogs football website Beirne Stadium website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 4,400 Feel the Beirne   Built in 1999 as Bulldog Stadium to coincide with the debut of the school’s football team, the David M. ’85 and Terry Beirne Stadium was dedicated in 2016 to honor the Bryant University trustee and his wife, who are among the largest benefactors of the University.  The facility serves as home to Bryant’s football and lacrosse teams. In 2024, Beirne Stadium served as home to Rhode Island FC of the USL Championship league as they awaited completion of their new home, Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket.   Football has been played at Bryant University since 1999. The school originally competed in Division II, making appearances in the D-II tournament in 2006 and 2007 before moving up to the FCS level of Division One for the 2008 season. Bryant has been nomadic during their time in D-1, playing in four conferences during their short stint in the FCS. They are currently members of CAA Football, the league operated by the Colonial Athletic Association. The Bulldogs have yet to qualify for the FCS postseason tournament. Three Bryant alumni, Tom Kennedy, Kenny Dyson, and Joe Andreessen, have played in the National Football League.   Over the years, Bryant has built up their football facilities on what was once a large empty field used by the New England Patriots as their training camp site. New for the 2025 season is the Navigant Credit Union Fieldhouse, built on the west side of Beirne Stadium opposite the main grandstand. The Fieldhouse offers enhanced locker rooms, an innovative media strategy room, and facilities for training, recovery and wellness. It also includes improved fan amenities, including the Black and Gold Club Lounge and 1,000 new seats to replace the old bleachers, as well as a new professional-level press box. Navigant Credit Union Fieldhouse at Beirne Stadium. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey.   Food & Beverage 3   There are a pair of concession stands on the second level of the new Navigant Credit Union Fieldhouse. A basic menu is served at these stands, featuring hot dogs and burgers, nachos and pretzels. For an extra charge, you can add chili and/or cheese to just about anything on the menu. A selection of snacks and candy rounds out the menu.   Coca-Cola products are featured at Beirne Stadium. Fans looking for an adult beverage can head to the Phantom Farms beer garden in the north end zone, where a selection of their excellent craft brews is sold.   Atmosphere 3   The folks at Bryant put on a pretty good show for such a little place. The parking lots open up four hours before kickoff, and Bulldog fans start showing up early. The tailgating scene is quite impressive, especially for a stadium that doesn’t even seat 5,000 fans.   Once inside Beirne Stadium you’ll experience your typical small-school football game day. The pep band plays, the cheerleaders and dance squad perform, and the fans do their thing, cheering on the home team. The PA announcer adds some energy to the proceedings, and the video board in the north end zone provides game info, graphics, and the occasional highlight. Tupper, the Bulldog mascot, roams the grounds interacting with fans. There’s a bouncy house in the north end zone if you’re visiting with some younger fans who need to burn some excess energy.   This is a laid-back, friendly place to take in some quality football. Visiting fans and those with children can feel comfortable here. There’s a good turnout by the student body, but there’s no rowdy student section to create a lot of noise.   The Bryant Band Performs outside Beirne Stadium. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Neighborhood 3   Suburban Smithfield is a very nice place to live, but it’s certainly not a destination location. However, the area around campus does have some solid dining and lodging options.   If you are looking for a place to eat before or after a Bulldogs game, Blackies and Laura’s Bar and Grill are a couple of the more popular options. Stadium Journey recommends J’s Deli for their impressive variety of grinders (that’s what we call sub sandwiches here in Rhode Island). Several national chain restaurants and shopping options are located about a 10-minute drive away on Route 44. Fans visiting from out of town may opt to take the 20-minute drive to Providence, which has no shortage of top-notch restaurants and lodging options.   If you are planning to stay near Bryant, you’ll find similar slim pickings in the immediate area. There is a Holiday Inn Express, a Hampton Inn and Suites, and a Home2Suites by Hilton near campus, but visitors may opt to stay in nearby Providence or even Boston, only an hour’s drive to the north. Twin Rivers Casino is in nearby Lincoln, just a few minutes from campus. If spending time in a casino is on your agenda, the twin resorts of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun are located an hour away, just over the Connecticut state line.   Fans 3   Beirne Stadium is a smaller facility, but it feels like it’s the right size for this program. The team generally draws between 2,000-3,000 fans for most games. The exception every season appears to be the annual Parents Weekend game. If you’re visiting Smithfield that weekend, plan to get here early, as that game draws 5,000 fans or more every year. You may find yourself parking in a distant overflow lot if you arrive late.   There is a good turnout by the student section for Bulldog football games. Unfortunately, many of them do not stick around for the entire game, and there is no organized student section to speak of.   The crowd at Beirne Stadium is a good mix of students, locals, diehard football fanatics, and families. It’s also not usual to see several four-legged fans present at a Bulldog game. Overall, the crowd here is laid-back, enjoying a nice fall afternoon at the game rather than making spectacles of themselves. Bryant Bulldog football game action at Bierne Stadium. Photo by Paul Baker.   Access 4   Bryant University is located in suburban Smithfield, Rhode Island, 13 miles from Providence. The campus is most easily accessed by car. Visitors to Bryant will simply take exit 15B off Interstate 295. The campus is just over a mile away from I-295 on Route 7. Fans using public transportation will find a Rhode Island Public Transportation (RIPTA) bus station on the Bryant campus, offering service every 40 minutes to downtown Providence.   For much of its early history, Bryant was a commuter school, so there is ample parking all around campus. Bulldog fans will arrive early to tailgate just steps from the stadium and enjoy a beautiful Rhode Island fall Saturday. Even though these lots are large, they can fill quickly, forcing latecomers to park in the more distant lots, which can be a good walk from the Stadium. The days of arriving 15 minutes before kickoff and getting a spot just steps from the front gate are long gone.   An interesting effect of the new fieldhouse is that the field has been flipped 180 degrees, so that it now faces west. The larger grandstand on the east side of the field is now the visitors' side, while the smaller, but fancier, fieldhouse side houses the home fans. Most seats at Beirne Stadium consist of metal bleachers, with bucket seats around the 50-yard line on both sides of the field.   There is plenty of standing room all around the facility, and fans are able to completely circumnavigate the field. Restrooms and concession stands are located in the new fieldhouse and the old grandstand. Be aware that lines do form at halftime, so plan your trips wisely. Bryant University practices a clear bag policy, which is posted on their website here .   Return on Investment 3   Seating in the main grandstand at Beirne Stadium is sold as general admission for $16.45. Should you wish to splurge for seats in the new Navigant Credit Union Fieldhouse, Bleacher Seating here will cost you $32.20, and Club Seating $42.70. Parking in the lots adjacent to Beirne Stadium costs an additional $20. Concessions are comparably priced with other venues in the area.   A bulldog statue guards the entrance to Beirne Stadium. Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Extras 2                                                                                                 New construction at Beirne Stadium means new bulldog statues at the new entrances!!!   Another extra point for the many improvements being made to the facility, both obvious and subtle. From the construction of the Beirne training complex and the Navigant Credit Union Fieldhouse to the installation of permanent lighting, Beirne Stadium now looks like a complete football stadium and less like a set of bleachers plopped into an open space where the Patriots used to hold their training camp.   Final Thoughts   Bryant football is a small school with big ambitions when it comes to intercollegiate sports. They continue to grow and improve the game day experience for visiting fans, to the point where Beirne Stadium may now be the premier football experience in all of Rhode Island.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

The Senator John Heinz History Center is Pennsylvania’s largest history museum. It is in the Strip District of downtown Pittsburgh. The History Center is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. Two floors of the History Center are devoted to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum . The western region of the Keystone State has a rich legacy of sports at the amateur, collegiate, and professional levels. The sports museum features in-depth exhibits on the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates, while also covering many Western Pennsylvania athletes who have made their mark on the sports world. The football section of the museum celebrates the Immaculate Reception by Franco Harris at its entrance. It also features salutes to Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, and Terry Bradshaw. The region has also produced several of football’s top professional quarterbacks, as they include Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, and Dan Marino, who are also recognized in the exhibit. At the college level, the museum salutes the achievements of the University of Pittsburgh’s Tony Dorsett, as well as the success of the Nittany Lions at Penn State. Ice hockey has also played a major role in the sports legacy of the western portion of the state. The Pittsburgh Penguins have won five Stanley Cups. This section of the museum celebrates the exploits of Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, and Marc-Andre Fleury. The hockey section also pays homage to the Pittsburgh Pennies, who played in the Mid-Atlantic Women’s Hockey League. Pittsburgh’s ties to baseball go back to the 1870s. There is a two-story mural depicting Forbes Field, the Pirates’ home field from 1909-1970. You’ll see an extensive display on Bill Mazeroski’s dramatic walk-off home run to win the 1960 World Series, along with salutes to Pirate superstars Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente, and Willie Stargell. Longtime Pirate broadcaster Bob Prince is also recognized in the exhibit. Pittsburgh played a dominant role in the Negro League era of baseball, as it was home to both the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. You’ll see Satchel Paige’s glove, as well as a video visit of Greenlee Field, the first black-built and black-owned baseball field in the U.S. The City of Champions exhibit pays homage pays tribute to some of the region’s lesser-known sports history. One section is devoted to Olympians from the area, while another is devoted to the 1968 Pittsburgh Pipers basketball team, which brought an ABA championship to the Steel City. Golf has a long legacy in the region, going back to the 1880s. The region’s Oakmont Country Club has been around since 1903 and has hosted many championship tournaments. Latrobe’s Arnold Palmer is truly one of golf’s legends. The other floors of the Heinz History Center are well worth a visit, as they are included in the admission fee. These floors feature exhibits about the region’s steel industry, the Heinz legacy in the food industry, and a salute to the children’s television pioneer Fred Rogers, or Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood fame. Rogers was from the Pittsburgh area. The Heinz History Center and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum are open from 10 am-5 pm daily. Senator John Heinz History Center/ Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum 1212 Smallman Street Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/visit/sports-museum/

Photos by Andrew Kulyk, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Toyota Stadium 9200 World Cup Way Frisco, TX 75034 FC Dallas website Toyota Stadium website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 20,500 A work in progress rises in Frisco The FC Dallas franchise was already a trendsetter back in the early 2000s, when they designed and built one of the first soccer-specific stadiums in Major League Soccer. The size, configuration, and intimate game day experience became an instant hit. The template has since been emulated across the entire swath of the league, with a building boom continuing in existing and expansion cities. FC Dallas took it one step further, adding the National Soccer Hall of Fame, which opened in 2018. This is a resplendent museum and interactive series of exhibits, adding a unique dimension to this complex and making it a true destination even on non-game days. Come 2025, and it will be an entire remake and reimagination of Toyota Stadium. Just about the entire stadium is being demolished and remodeled, side by side, and come 2028, a completely new venue will entertain fans and athletes alike, offering new comforts, amenities, and a canopied roof to shelter patrons from the summer sun and much, much more. Food and Beverage 5 The entire array of concession fare at Toyota Stadium does not disappoint. There is a broad selection of food items, with something for everyone. Concession stands ring the entire main concourse of the stadium. Some examples: The Takis, offering their signature Striker Burrito stuffed with the usual ingredients and tater tots ($18). Their Italian sausage sub is topped with giardiniera ($12). The usual stuff: hot dogs ($6), pretzels/popcorn ($6), souvenir soda ($9), available at most stands. The best bargain these days is a Wild Hero draft beer for only $5. Their Philly cheesesteak and a specialty item called Meatza Pizza Fries ($18). A Coca-Cola BBQ bacon burger goes for $14. Yeah, they do offer Buffalo Wings ($12). There is a local chain selling their feature Corny Dogs, but they're listed on the menu as “CornDog With No Name”. There’s got to be a story behind that flap! Atmosphere 4 There is an actual tailgate scene here at Toyota Stadium. In the parking lots off the west side of the stadium, fans participate in several pregame rituals. The supporters section? Meh. Tucked into one corner on the southwest side of the venue, we can assume the craziness has been muted for one major reason. In 2025, the entire east stand was closed off for reconstruction, and this construction phase renovation has somewhat dulled what would normally be a roaring stadium in a cozy setting. All this should change once the new stadium is completed. Nonetheless, these fans are serious about their sport, support the team in droves, and offers a pretty energetic game day atmosphere, even with the interim stadium configuration. Capacity Crowd at Toyota Stadium. Photo by Andrew Kulyk, Stadium Journey. Neighborhood 5 First-time visitors would normally come here with low expectations. How much joy can one expect from a stadium tucked away in the suburbs, far from the Dallas urban core, and most likely surrounded by acres of parking, soul-crushing suburban plazas, and wide roads of vehicles? Big mistake! The City of Frisco is an upscale bedroom community with plenty to offer. There are plenty of restaurants within easy walking distance, residential condominiums, and lofts in abundance. Frisco is also the home of an AA baseball team, as well as the practice facility for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. The streetscapes are attractive, the neighborhood is safe, and there is an actual vibe to the district. This really is a must-visit spot with plenty of other attractions and activities. Fans 3 The Dallas faithful do not break attendance records, but one has to say this: these people show up in some oppressive heat and support their team in a venue that currently has just scant comfort for the elements. There are flags everywhere, the supporters tailgate, chant, and cheer. It is probably not the premier MLS venue when it comes to fan energy and support, but a solid one nonetheless. Scarf Display at Toyota Stadium. Photo by Andrew Kulyk, Stadium Journey. Access 4 The Dallas North Tollway gets you here from pretty much anyplace in the Dallas Metroplex, and the network of highways handles stadium traffic with ease. There is a public transportation option via DART bus 308, which runs from downtown Dallas to just outside Toyota Stadium. Check online for schedules. Return on Investment 4 Parking used to be free, but now non-season ticket holders are charged $20 to park in the general Corolla Red, Highlander Green, Sienna Blue, and RAV4 White Lots. Be aware that there are parking ramps in the commercial district south of the stadium offering parking at better price points, and even free spaces on the street if you arrive early enough. As for ticket prices, the numbers vary widely, but use a baseline of $49 to get an average price seat at an average game. Secondary websites offer tickets as low as $13, and it pays to shop. The team also offer a pricier ticket with an “all you can eat” option. National Soccer Hall of Fame Entrance at Toyota Stadium. Photo by Andrew Kulyk, Stadium Journey. Extras 5 We have to give a massive score bump for this for one reason - the National Soccer Hall of Fame. This museum really should be visited without the distraction of an actual game in the stadium, as the facility is a superb look into the Beautiful Game and all the great history of the sport here in the United States. The façade and entry plaza on the south side of the venue are inviting, the exhibits are immersive, and display state of the art. Dallas can claim this attraction as its very own, and that alone propels it to the list of elite venues in MLS. Final Thoughts The “New Toyota Stadium” project is well underway, with construction disruptions and service/comfort compromises sure to affect the fan experience for the next two years. Once complete, the Dallas FC experience promises to be one of the superior ones in the United States. Make a trip here, plan to stay, and take in all that the City of Frisco has to offer.

Photo courtesy of the United Football League The United Football League (UFL)  announced the next evolution in its growth with the announcement of three new teams – which replaced the recently announced as departed San Antonio Brahmas, Memphis Showboats, and Michigan Panthers – to the league. The new/replacement teams are the Columbus Aviators, Louisville Kings, and Orlando Storm. The new Columbus team will play at Historic Crew Stadium , home of the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer (MLS). The Louisville team will play at Lynn Family Stadium , home of Louisville City FC of the United Soccer League (USL). Lastly, the new Orlando team will play home games at Inter&Co Stadium , home of Orlando City SC of the MLS and the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). “Today marks an important step forward for the United Football League,” said Mike Repole, co-owner of the UFL, in a news release. “Columbus, Louisville, and Orlando are true football cities with deep sports roots. We’re proud to bring professional football to these communities – in energetic, fan-driven stadiums built to create an authentic gameday experience and strengthen the foundation of this league for years to come.” In addition to the new/replacement teams, the UFL also announced updated team names and new venues for two of its legacy teams. The Arlington Renegades will now be the Dallas Renegades and play their home games at Toyota Stadium , home of FC Dallas of the MLS. The Houston Roughnecks, meanwhile, will be renamed the Houston Gamblers and move their home games to Shell Energy Stadium , home of the Houston Dynamo FC of the MLS and the Houston Dash of the NWSL. Repole joined the UFL ownership group in July 2025, becoming co-owner of the spring league along with FOX, RedBird Capital Partners, ESPN, and Dany Garcia and Dwayne Johnson. The goal in Repole’s joining was to oversee business strategy, brand development, and long-term growth. “We’re heading into this season with new teams, new markets, new venues, and a renewed energy that reflects the momentum building around this league,” said Repole, who leads league business operations through his private equity firm, Impact Capital. The goal in choosing the new teams and new venues was to try and mirror the fan attendance and engagement that has been found with two of the UFL’s most prominent existing teams, the St. Louis Battlehawks and the DC Defenders . ---- Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Wells Fargo Center 3601 S Broad St Philadelphia, PA 19148 Philadelphia 76ers website Wells Fargo Center website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 20,318 Trust The Process Editor's Note: On September 1, 2025, the home of the Flyers and 76ers was rebranded as the Xfinity Mobile Arena in an agreement lasting through the 2030-2031 season to coincide with the rebranding of Comcast Spectator to reflect the growth in their mobile business. Wells Fargo Center was built in 1996 and is part of the Philadelphia Sports Complex Special Services District that consists of Wells Fargo Center home of the 76ers NBA & Flyers NHL, Lincoln Financial Field home of the Eagles NFL & Temple Owls NCAA, Citizens Bank Park home of the Phillies MLB and Xfinity Live! (A mega hang-out spot for before, during, and after any game). Wells Fargo Center is the current home of the Philadelphia 76ers and houses the legacy of three past won NBA championships, nine past won Eastern Conference titles, five past won Atlantic Division titles, and the potential of future glory from trusting in a process. Wells Fargo Center is not the first home of the 76ers. Although the 76ers played in a few different arenas from 1964 -1967 the majority of their games were played in the Philadelphia Arena and the Civic Center-Convention Hall. Civic Center-Convention Hall is credited as being the first home of the 76ers in Philadelphia 1964 – 1967 and was the site of an NBA All-Star game in 1960. The 76er's next home was the Spectrum 1967 from 1996. The Spectrum concerning the NBA was distinguished with being the 1970 and 1976 NBA All-Star games host. The next home for the 76ers was their current arena in 1996. The arena held the name of Spectrum 2 in 1996 and changed its name due to naming rights four more times through the years. CoreStates Center from 1996 to 1998, First Union Center from 1998 to 2003, Wachovia Center from 2003 to 2010, and finally its current name Wells Fargo Center from 2010 to the present. The 76ers started their NBA journey known as the Syracuse Nationals in 1946 and didn’t take on the name of Philadelphia 76ers until an ownership change, a franchise move to Philadelphia, and a contest to name the team in 1964. Walter Stalberg basketball fan and contestant in naming the 76ers won the name the team contest for his submission of the Philadelphia 76ers. The name Philadelphia 76ers is a nod to the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 in Philadelphia. The 76ers have a history of cultivating some of the NBA’s most talented and/or exciting players and have many well-known NBA stars as 76er alumni. In no particular order – Darryl Dawkins, Andre Iguodala, Charles Barkley, Moses Malone, Allen Iverson, Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, and last but not least the new talent Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. The 76ers haven’t won an NBA Championship title in over thirty-five years. In recent history, the 76ers organization refocused itself and pushed a strategy to obtain as many high draft picks as possible to find young NBA stars and have assets to trade for high-quality established players. The strategy became known as “Trust The Process”. From 2013 – 2017 the 76er organization lost games purposely to get higher draft picks, traded for quality players, and promised future draft picks to build a winning team. In the 2016/2017 NBA season, the 76ers had a team with two rising stars Joel Embiid (aka The Process), and Ben Simmons, and a roster of talented role players that put the 76ers in a position to win it all. Trusting the Process just might work. Food & Beverage 4 The food quality at Wells Fargo Center is standard NBA arena excellence. The venue is clean, the staff is friendly and hardworking and the arena accepts cash, credit, and debit cards. Wells Fargo Center offers all your favorite arena foods like hot dogs, burgers, chicken fingers, popcorn, and all the other usual arena foods at reasonable arena pricing . Wells Fargo Center has a member’s only high-end chop-house-styled menu restaurant called Cadillac Grille. If you want it there’s a good chance that Wells Fargo Center has it. From The Coca-Cola products fountain sodas to a bevy of adult beverages. Souvenir cups will run you $8.75 while a 24oz can of domestic Beer will run you $13. It is recommended to try a giant slice of pizza from Lorenzo and Sons Pizza for $9 and a cup of fries from Chickie’s & Pete’s for $10. You won’t be sorry, as both foods are delicious. Atmosphere 4 Wells Fargo Center has a massive outside footprint with lots of parking surrounding the arena but the interior while very nice is a little underwhelming and not what you expect after viewing the exterior. Wells Fargo Center is more of a general arena than a bucket list venue. Wells Fargo Center provides comfortable padded seats with cup holders attached to the seat in front of you. The seat legroom and spacing are average for an NBA arena. The location of the lower Club Boxes gives those who can afford them a premium view being located within all the action but still private. The lower Club Boxes are located at the top of the lower sections. Many NBA arenas have Club Boxes located just under the highest level giving the Club Box viewers privacy but giving the viewers the same view as the first few rows of the cheapest seats, this is not the case at Wells Fargo Center. The scoreboard is the world’s first Kinetic 4K scoreboard. In layman’s terms, Kinetic 4K means that the scoreboard is big, bright, and detailed. The arena music was played loud (not overly loud) and frequently. The 76ers organization keeps the fans engaged throughout the NBA experience. Some of the latest pop music is played by a DJ on the Wells Fargo Center's incredible sound system. Franklin, the team mascot, can be found throughout the arena, taking pictures and playing with the fans. The Sixers Dancers, now integrated with male dancers, keep the spirits of the fans high with dance routines during time outs, and the Sixers Dunk Squad excites the fans with their acrobatic dunking. Most important to most fans, the members of the fan interaction team (mascot, cheerleaders, and dunk squad) all participate in the T-Shirt / Ball toss that occurs frequently at a 76ers game. The modern, spacious arena offers fabulous views from the seating bowl and access to various points of interest along the main concourse. It is spacious, offering great sightline views of the game from the seating bowl. There are a few open views of the court from the main concourse where the cannon and pre-game show. Some of the best seating is located in lower premium sections 112,113,114,102,101,124. The lower premium sections give you a wonderful center-court view. Sitting in section 124 will put you directly behind the visiting team’s bench and section 102 will put you directly behind the 76ers bench. Sitting right behind your favorite NBA stars is fun and you might end up on TV but be warned that T-Shirt and Balls will very rarely be tossed over the player benches. Sections 112,113,114 face the floor logo and are the absolute best sections to sit in for a view of the game and entertainment as well as the T-shirt / Ball tosses. Neighborhood 5 Philadelphia is a historic city with a few bucket list places to visit. Wells Fargo Center is not located within reasonable walking distance to any entertainment other than its fellow members of the Philadelphia Sports Complex Special Services District. The Philadelphia Sports Complex Special Services District consists of Wells Fargo Center (76ers NBA & Flyers NHL), Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles NFL & Temple Owls NCAA), Citizens Bank Park (Phillies MLB), and Xfinity Live! (A mega hang-out spot for before, during, and after any game). I suggest staying in or close to the city center where food and fun are close at hand and using rideshares to get to and from the sports venues. If the team scheduling aligns just right and you find yourself in Philadelphia a three-day weekend of fun could look like this: Get into town on Friday afternoon and see a 76ers game at Wells Fargo Center, get up early on Saturday morning, and get a Go Philadelphia Pass or a Big Bus Pass and tour some of the historic sites that Philadelphia has to offer until later that evening when you could go back to the Wells Fargo Center and take in a Flyers game, get up Sunday morning and tailgate before heading into Lincoln Financial Field for a Eagles game. I recommend doing the total tourist thing and comparing sandwiches from the overrated cheesesteak rivals Geno’s Steaks & Pat’s King of Steaks. Geno’s and Pats are 2.5 miles away from the arena and are within eyesight of each other. There are much better cheesesteaks to be had but you know you want to see what the fuss is all about for yourself. Philadelphia is a historic and modern city with many once-in-a-lifetime must-visit sites that are mostly not within walking distance or under 5 miles away from Wells Fargo Center. I recommend purchasing a Go Philadelphia Pass. The Go Philadelphia Pass gives you prepaid major discounts on most of Philadelphia’s tourist sites and gives you access to the hop-on / hop-off tour busses. I highly recommend getting at least a tour bus pass to enjoy the many attractions that Philadelphia has to offer. There are many hotels and Airbnb from expensive high-end to cheap sketchy mom-and-pop spots that can be found within five miles of Wells Fargo Center. Your choice of lodging is totally up to how much money you are willing to spend. There is only one hotel less than a mile from Wells Fargo Center. Courtyard Philadelphia South at The Navy Yard is the only major chain hotel less than a mile away from Wells Fargo Center. Fans 5 Philadelphia 76er fans are not your average fans. 76er fans are proud of their city and their team. The 76ers have a history of winning three NBA Championships (1955, 1967, and 1983) and being a one-time home to NBA legends Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Charles Barkley, and Allen Iverson. The 76ers past and having two young rising NBA stars in Joel Embiid & Ben Simmons gives the 76er fan base something to be loud and proud about. According to the Philadelphia 76ers 19/20 Media guide, there was an average of 20,453 fans in attendance at home games during the 18/19 season. ESPN ranked the 76ers #1 in home fan attendance for the 18/19 NBA season. 76ers fans are involved and stay involved the entire game. The 76er fans are up and down the whole game getting snacks and drinks but will stop no matter where they are to heckle the opposing team or a referee. 76er fans chant “SUCKS” at the introduction of each opposing team starting player's name. When a referee makes a questionable call the 76er fans chant “Ref you SUCK” as loud and passionately as they can. Access 4 In general, driving will be needed to get to the arena. Once inside the arena the walkways are open and all fans including those fans who need a little help or extra room will be able to navigate without any problems. Wells Fargo Center can be affordable and easy to come and go from. Please review Wells Fargo Centers Public Transportation Options to map out how you can get to and from a game using public transport. The 76er organization recommends using Park with SpotHero and parking at one of the 6,100 lots available on-site for $29. Traffic is heavy but moves along due to the multiple exits. There are multiple entrances and ticket handlers. Ticket handlers accept paper and digital tickets. Security is standard and quick. Please review the Wells Fargo Center Security Policy . Wells Fargo Center is a modern arena with a wide concourse and easy-flowing foot traffic. Most concession lines were long but moved very fast. Very clean bathrooms are located throughout the concourse. Fans needing assistance won’t have any problems making their way through Wells Fargo Center. There are friendly and helpful staff everywhere actively looking for that occasional fan who looks like they need a helping hand. Return on Investment 5 Going to a 76ers game vs an equally matched team like the Boston Celtics is well worth the cost. The 76ers organization puts on a show and the team competes at a high level. The 76ers ticket prices fluctuate depending on the game. Marquee matchups and holiday games will be much more than when one of the losing teams in the league comes into play. For more information concerning ticket cost, I recommend reviewing a past article on Stadium Journey, How to Get the Best Seats for Your Budget. Extras 4 One point for fan participation as Philadelphia fans have a reputation for being crazy about their teams and the fans truly are passionate about letting the other team know just how much they want them to be beaten by the 76ers. Super loud and fun fans. One point for all the giveaways. Many teams skimp on the T-shirt / Ball toss and fan games for prizes; this is not the case with the 76ers organization. One point for extra clean bathrooms. The men’s rooms visited were very well maintained and clean. One point for the Rage Room. The rage room is housed in the Wells Fargo Center and at this time is only used for fans at the NHL Flyers games but the possibility of the 76ers fans being able to pay $30 and smash things for fun in this first-of-its-kind pro sports room is amazing. Final Thoughts Wells Fargo Center is a well-maintained arena with plenty of overpriced arena snacks that are too good to pass up and a team that is a force to be reckoned with in the NBA. What makes the time you will spend at Wells Fargo Center amazing is the fans. The 76ers fans love to band together show the 76ers love just as much as they love to give the opposing team a hard time. Trust the Process and enjoy your time at Wells Fargo Center.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Wells Fargo Center 3601 South Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19148 Philadelphia Wings website Walls Fargo Center website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 20,306 Wings Lax Still Flying Editor's Note: On September 1, 2025, the home of the Flyers and 76ers was rebranded as the Xfinity Mobile Arena in an agreement lasting through the 2030-2031 season to coincide with the rebranding of Comcast Spectator to reflect the growth in their mobile business. For many years, the Philadelphia Wings were one of the cornerstone franchises in the National Lacrosse League. The original Wings played in the old National Lacrosse League for the two seasons that they took the floor in 1974 and 1975. When the league resurfaced as Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League in 1986 the Wings played in one of the original games on the first day. The league would go through changes, with a period as the Major Indoor Lacrosse League before settling in as the National Lacrosse League in 1998. The Wings were part of all of those iterations. When the announcement was made that the Wings were sold to the Mohegan Tribe and moving to Connecticut to be the New England Black Wolves, it is appropriate to say that the lacrosse community was shocked. It didn’t take long for the parent company of the Philadelphia Flyers, Comcast Spectacor, to dive right into the NLL and bring an expansion team back to Broad Street. The new Wings took the floor in 2018. The original home of the Wings was the venerable Spectrum. When the Wells Fargo Center opened and the Flyers and Philadelphia 76ers moved to the new venue, the Wings joined them. Opening in 1996 as the CoreStates Center, the building is now on its fourth moniker as a result of numerous bank mergers. A massive renovation in 2020 has brought the arena up to modern standards and is favorably comparable to any venue in the National Lacrosse League. The Wings are still attempting to capture the imagination of Philadelphia sports fans and the magic of previous Wings iterations. Food & Beverage 5 One of the major differences found at Wells Fargo Center as a result of the 2020 renovation is a commitment to improving the concession experience. Philly sports fans are now able to experience a premium concession experience. The regular arena favorites are all present, of course, however, they are now joined by many Philly favorites and higher quality items than were found previous to the renovation. Some unique items that can now be found at Wells Fargo Center include Federal Donuts, huge, thin-crust pizza slices at Cuz’s Pizza, Vodka Parm Sandwiches and Italian Pork Sandwiches at 9th Street Italian Sandwiches, Mac & Cheese Balls at Line Change, various Philly Cheesesteaks at First Line Steaks, burgers and milkshakes from Shake Shack and Crab Fries from Chickie’s and Pete’s. Coca-Cola products are the soft drinks of choice at Wells Fargo. Beer selections include Blue Moon, Yuengling, Stella Artois, Miller Lite, Labatt Blue, Bud Light, Coors Light, and Athletic Brewing Co. products. The concession scene deserves to be planned out a bit and a concessions map are available on the Wells Fargo Center website, or here . Atmosphere 4 The Wells Fargo Center is located in the South Philadelphia Wells Fargo Complex and is surrounded by parking. Although there is nothing overly exceptional about the exterior of the building, it is far from unattractive. There is not an overabundance of glass on the exterior of the building, but light-colored siding and brick are the main materials. A couple of photo ops that fans may want to check out on the exterior, aside from the view of downtown Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Field, or Citizens Bank Park, would include the statue of Wilt Chamberlain at the southeast corner of the building, or the statue of Ed Snider at the northwest corner. Fans entering the Wells Fargo Center will be welcomed by newly designed concourses. Concession stands are grouped in various areas that include some seating areas to visit with other fans and enjoy a drink or eat some food before heading into the bowl. The top sides of the concourse walls feature small murals and headings of numerous neighborhoods in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas which keep the local flavor of the building strong. Several Flyers and Sixers displays may interest fans as well. For Wings games, the smaller merchandise counters are where fans will find a variety of swag items. When fans enter the seating bowl, their attention will immediately be drawn to the massive, concave, four-sided videoboard. Crystal clear and state of the art, the videoboard features long, concave screens to match the long sides of the floor with smaller, more square boards on the ends. The ribbon board that goes with the screen uniquely can be raised or lowered and has flames that shoot out for pregame festivities. The floor runs from south to north with the perfect spot for the center logo picture to be taken, on the east side. A typical, two-level seating bowl separated by luxury boxes is found at the Wells Fargo Center. The seats in the Wells Fargo Center are new and spacious and much better than what was previously in the arena. In the southwest corner rafters hang banners for the Wings. Retired number banners for Dallas Eliuk, Tom Marechek, Jake Bergey, and Kevin Finneran are joined by a banner noting 1989, 1990, 1994, and 1995 North American Cup Championships and 1998 and 2001 Champions Cup Championships. All honors are for previous iterations of the Wings, but it is good that the current Wings have continued to memorialize them. The gameday atmosphere at a Wings game is not dissimilar to that of other NLL teams. The entrance for the players during pregame is highly produced with a hype video, followed by player entrances through a physical, illuminated version of the current Wings logo with plenty of loud music and flames. Music plays throughout the action on the floor and there are plenty of promotions. The Philadelphia Wings Dancers take part in the pregame and perform at points during the game. The Wings mascot, Wingston, can be found traversing the crowd and interacting with fans during the game. Neighborhood 3 The Wells Fargo Center is located in the South Philadelphia Wells Fargo Sports Complex in the South Philadelphia East neighborhood, just across the Delaware River on the other side of New Jersey. There is not much in the way of a neighborhood that would be within walking distance of the arena. Xfinity Live is part of the complex as is the Live Casino and Hotel Philadelphia. There are a couple of spots fans may want to check out for food or drink just south of the complex, including DiNic’s Pork and Beef and The Gatehouse. What the area lacks in pre and post-game food venues it more than makes up for access to other sports. The Wells Fargo Center is shared with the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia 76ers and periodically the Villanova Wildcats. Lincoln Financial Field is home to the Philadelphia Eagles and Temple Owls . The Army-Navy Game often resides at Lincoln Financial Field also. Citizens Bank Park is the home of the Philadelphia Phillies . The Philadelphia Union plays in nearby Chester. There are also several college basketball sports fans who could check out including the Temple Owls , Drexel Dragons , Villanova Wildcats , LaSalle Explorers , and St. Joseph’s Hawks . Checking out the Palestra, home of the Penn Quakers , is a must for college basketball and Philadelphia basketball fans. Fans wishing to stay close to the complex can either stay at the casino or the Courtyard Philadelphia South. Heading into downtown Philadelphia also offers a host of other tourist and food options fans should consider. Fans 3 Assessing the fan situation in the National Lacrosse League is becoming increasingly difficult as attendance figures are often not published. It is safe to say that the current Wings have not enjoyed the same following that earlier versions of the team did. That being said, it seems that attendance at Wings games is on the rise. The game that was attended for review had an odd, 11 am start time and still attracted over 7,000 fans. It is also safe to say that the Wings are not consistently breaking the 10,000 fan mark. Fans that are in attendance are knowledgeable and passionate. Hopefully, the word will spread and the average attendance for Wings games will continue to increase. Access 4 Getting to the Wells Fargo Center is not that difficult. The complex is located on Broad Street, immediately north of I-95 and south of I-76. Traffic can be a bit of a challenge, but it is not terrible. If multiple teams are playing in the complex at the same time, it could be more of a problem. There is plenty of parking in the area. Fans wishing to take public transit can catch the subway to the NRG Station on the west side of the complex. Fans should see the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority website for fares, maps, and schedules. Getting around the Wells Fargo Center is not an issue. With the renovations, all of the seats in the arena were replaced and the replacements are bigger and more comfortable than before. The washroom facilities are more than adequate for the crowd in attendance for Wings games. Stadium Journey recognizes that security protocols for major sports are in constant flux. Stadium Journey highly recommends consulting the Philadelphia Wings and/or Wells Fargo Center websites for the most up-to-date security protocols including bag policy and prohibited items. Return on Investment 4 The Philadelphia Wings put on a good show, with plenty of excitement, in a facility that is as good as any in the National Lacrosse League. The “fastest game on two feet” will engage fans and keep them on the edge of their seats and the Wings do a solid job of putting together a strong gameday package. Wings tickets are not expensive and good seats can be found for $25 with both more and less expensive options available. Concession prices are what one would expect, but the concession experience is excellent. Parking is a bit on the expensive side, but average for other Philadelphia sports experiences. More fans in the stands would provide an even better lacrosse experience and bump the ROI even higher. Extras 3 An extra mark for the recognition and embracing of the Philadelphia Wings past.An extra mark for the return of the NLL to a traditional lacrosse market. An extra mark for the significant renovation of the Wells Fargo Center Final Thoughts With the return of the Philadelphia Wings to the Philadelphia sports scene, thoughts back to the glory days of Philadelphia lacrosse are fresh in the minds of Philly fans. It seems rekindling those days is still a few years away, but with a renovation to Wells Fargo Center, the time is right to head to South Philly and take in some box lax. ----- Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and Instagram .

Photos by Greg Venuto, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Wells Fargo Center 3601 S Broad St Philadelphia, PA 19148 Philadelphia Flyers website Wells Fargo Center website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 19,173 A New Era Of Orange in Philadelphia Editor's Note: On September 1, 2025, the home of the Flyers and 76ers was rebranded as the Xfinity Mobile Arena in an agreement lasting through the 2030-2031 season to coincide with the rebranding of Comcast Spectator to reflect the growth in their mobile business. The Philadelphia Flyers, are in the second year of their A New Era of Orange campaign, and fortunes appear to be changing at Wells Fargo Center under veteran coach John Tortorella in his third season.  The Flyers fell just four points short of qualifying for the playoff last year for the first time since 2020 and their fortunes may be changing.  That’s not the only thing changing on Broad Street as the arena’s corporate sponsorship with Wells Fargo comes to an end in August.  The arena has been tied to Wells Fargo and its predecessors since it opened in 1996.  The arena was named Core States Center from 1996-1998, First Union from 1998-2003, Wachovia from 2003-2010, and Wells Fargo since. The team’s resurgence is being led by mainstays Travis Konecny and Sean Couturier. along with young Russian sensation Matvei Michkov and defenseman Travis Sandheim. The Philadelphia Flyers share the building with the NBA Philadelphia 76ers  and the National Lacrosse League Philadelphia Wings. The NBA franchise said it does not intend to stay at the arena beyond the end of its 2031 lease. The multi-purpose indoor arena is located at what is now known as the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, which includes other venues like Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia Phillies), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Eagles), and Xfinity Live! The building seats 19,173 for hockey games, making it the 4th largest in the NHL. The arena, which is owned by Comcast Spectacor, which also owns the Flyers, replaced the Flyer's former home The Spectrum which debuted with the team’s NHL entry in 1967. Fans know who the landlord is as they glance upward and on each side are illuminated letters reading “Welcome To Comcast Country”. Food & Beverage 4 Wells Fargo has stepped up its food and beverage game over the past few years. Chickie’s and Pete’s (South Entrance and East Food Hall and 204, 210, 216, and 222 on the upper level) and Shake Shake (Section 116) are among the signature places to eat in the arena. Other choices include AC Subs (Section 110), Buena Onda (Section 112) offers unique varieties of tacos (chicken ropa, pork al pastore, and jumbo pacific shrimp to name a few), bowls, and burritos, Cuz’s Pizza, Beach Treats (120) with staple items from the Jersey Shore including fresh funnel cakes with toppings, Dippin' Dots, cotton candy, corn dogs, roasted nuts, fudge, and assorted chocolate treats. 9th Street Italian Sandwiches (Sections 104 and 117) offers a range of sandwiches: Italian pork, meatballs, roast beef, and roasted turkey hoagies. Of course, the traditional stadium fare of hot dogs, chicken tender baskets, nachos, pretzels, soda, and beer is available too. Coca-Cola products are the beverage of choice. AC Subs and Chickie’s and Pete’s are two places for cheesesteaks (remember when you’re in Philly no need to call them Philadelphia cheesesteaks). But the best move is to hit one of the legendary places nearby. John’s Roast Pork, Tony Luke’s, and Jim’s South Street are three possible options not too far away. In the arena, sweet treats and desserts include Federal Donuts (Section 102 & 207), Insomnia Cookies (118 & 207), Rita’s Water Ice, and soft serve ice cream. Atmosphere 4 The crowd is enlivened by the Flyers hype video and the appearance of its mascot Gritty on the ice who plants the Flyers flag, then takes to center ice like a Rocky replica and knocks out a “player” wearing the opposing team’s jersey. The atmosphere is first-rate as the public address announcer blares “Are….. you ready for some hockey” leading up to puck drop. Gritty energizes the crowd throughout by banging on his drum to lead the “Let’s Go Flyers” chants. Wells Fargo Center underwent renovations in 2020 as part of a $265 million "Transformation 2020" initiative. It debuted a new kinetic 4K-resolution scoreboard in September 2019. Flames shoot out of the scoreboard during player introductions when the Flyers take the ice. The scoreboard flashes a wide array of stats. The only negative is it does not show who is on the ice for each team during live action. Music was played at an acceptable level. Wells Fargo does have an organ but unfortunately, it was rarely used. The upper bowl is separated from the lower by a club and suite level. The upper level seems high but the views are still adequate. The one drawback is drink holders are on the armrests not the seats in front. Neighborhood 4 The good news is there is plenty to do in Philadelphia. The bad news is within walking distance of the arena not so much. The main attraction is Xfinity Live with a host of restaurants and bars highlighted by sports bar NBC Sports Arena. The other attractions are a short drive away. The National Constitution Center ($19) is a 15-minute drive and sits half a mile away from the Liberty Bell (free admission) and Independence Hall (free until 10:30 and then $1 per ticket). The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia Art Museum, and Reading Terminal Market are a few other stops. Be sure to take a picture with the Rocky Statute and then race up the steps of the art museum to pay homage to the Italian Stallion. The Reading Terminal Market is known for the city's other iconic sandwich, the roast pork at DiNic’s, best topped with broccoli rabe and sharp provolone. The Market (which opened in 1893) also features Miller’s Twist Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels, Beiler’s Bakery and Donuts, and an array of other great choices for food, flowers, and specialty items. Fans 4 While Flyers fans often get a bad reputation, losing has tamed the fans to an extent. The enthusiasm seems to be coming back and maybe the bravado will follow. A playoff appearance will lead to more Flyers fans and fewer out-of-towners invading their building. Attendance is up 1.5% over last season, but the Flyers have gotten off to a mediocre start at home. The fans are knowledgeable and passionate, but it takes performance to win them over. This will be a huge year as Tortorella is no longer in the honeymoon period. While most media types did not predict the Flyers to make the playoffs, it might be necessary to qualify to keep the fans on board with Torterella’s rebuild, who is signed through 2025-26. Access 4 The arena is located at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex and is visible off I-95. Fans can park near the arena or choose public transit using the SEPTA bus or subway. The orange or Broad Street Line ends at NRG Station. The station’s naming rights were sold to NRG Energy in 2018. The fare is $2.50 one way and once fans arrive it is a quick jaunt across the parking lot into Wells Fargo. If driving, coming from the East, through New Jersey you can easily take the New Jersey Turnpike, I-295, and US-1. If in Pennsylvania you can take either Rt. 76 or Rt 95. There are four entrances and doors open 90 minutes prior to game time. The Will Call window at the Wells Fargo Center is located at the Box Office, located on the northwest corner of the building. Return on Investment 3 The Flyers were ranked just below the league average according to the Fan Cost Index ($408.40) which comprises the prices of four average-price tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-size hot dogs, parking for one hour, two game programs and two least-expensive, adult-size adjustable caps. Fans can purchase upper-level seats for less than $50 on the secondary market for many weeknight games. Weekends and games against rivals will cost much more and well over $100 if looking for lower bowl seats. Despite not making the playoffs since 2020, Flyer fans usually sell out the building and averaged 18,438 per game in 2023-24 (up 4.6%). The cost to park at the Wells Fargo Arena is as low as $20 at one of the eight lots that encircle the arena. Food prices are typical for NHL venues. Chicken tenders and fries is $13.85, a pizza slice is $11.09, Soft Pretzel $6.35, 24 oz premium beer is $16.55, and $8.25 for a soda. Crab fries (old bay seasoned) from Chickie’s and Pete’s were tasty but not worth it at $17.27. Extras 3 One point goes to the Flyer's fabulous duo of Lou Nolan on the Public Address and Lauren Hart with a rousing rendition of the national anthem. Nolan had been a mainstay since 1972. Hart is the daughter of legendary Flyers broadcaster Gene Hart, who called the Flyers games for 25 years. One point goes to the Flyers’ game-day production. Flyers do it right by introducing the starting lineups for both teams not just the home team. They do not announce the arrival of the Flyers for warmups and no goal horn blares when Philadelphia hits the ice. Old-school production value is welcomed. A third point is for the Bubble Hockey and Pop-a-Shot machines on the upper level. Hockey is $2 per game and basketball is $1. The only place in this cashless venue where cash is an option. Final Thoughts Taking in a game at Wells Fargo is worthy of a Stadium Journey. The excitement level and fan support will only get better if the Flyers continue their upward trajectory. Follow Greg Venuto’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and   Facebook .

Photos by Paul Baker & Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey XL Center FANFARE Score: 4.00 XL Center 1 Civic Center Plaza Hartford, CT 06103 Connecticut Huskies website XL Center website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 15,564 The Basketball Capital of the World Editor's Note: In June 2025 PeoplesBank announced they had entered into a 10-year naming rights agreement with the downtown Hartford arena at a cost of $20 million. During the pregame introductions for UConn basketball at the XL Center, the PA announcer calls Hartford “the basketball capital of the world.” Before you dismiss this statement as just hyperbole, consider that the UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams have combined for 15 national championships, 25 final four appearances and 64 NCAA tournament appearances. The birthplace of basketball, Springfield, Massachusetts, is located just a half hour to the north. The men’s and women’s basketball teams both play a portion of their home schedules here in downtown Hartford, 21 miles from the UConn campus. 18 Huskies have been named as All-Americans. 37 UConn alumni have made it to the NBA, and 30 have played in the WNBA. The XL Center, formerly known as the Hartford Civic Center, is the largest arena in the state of Connecticut. It was originally built in 1974 as part of a downtown project that included an adjacent mall, convention center, office space, hotel and parking garage. Some people still refer to the XL Center as “The Mall,” even though the mall portion of the complex was demolished in 2004 and replaced with a 36-story residential tower. In addition to UConn basketball, the American Hockey League’s Hartford Wolf Pack and UConn’s men’s hockey team call the XL Center home. Food & Beverage 5 The XL Center offers a menu that balances traditional arena fare with local flavor. Depending on your appetite, you can visit Chicken Fry Fry (featuring, you guessed it, chicken tenders and fries), Fresh Classics (sausage and pepper sandwiches and nachos), Grill Masters (burgers), or hot dog nation (yep, hot dogs). Chick-fil-A operates a cart selling their legendary sandwiches. Dunkin’ Donuts operates a pair of stands featuring their signature coffee and baked goods. Pepsi products are featured at the XL Center. Visiting fans looking for a bit of local flavor should seek out Ted’s Cheeseburgers, which features gourmet burgers cooked in a style unique to Central Connecticut: they are steamed. Steaming the burgers creates a very juicy burger with a taste you won’t find anywhere else. Also, local favorite Bear’s Barbeque operates a small stand selling brisket, pulled pork and their popular mac and cheese. Randy’s Wooster House of Pizza operates a stand serving up their legendary slices. Fans looking for an adult beverage will be pleased to find stands dedicated specifically to alcohol sales. In addition to national brands including Sam Adams, Budweiser, Coors Light and Blue Moon, several local craft brands are featured at the XL Center. Brews from City Steam, Two Roads and Thomas Hooker Brewery are sold throughout the arena. Atmosphere 4 UConn is undoubtedly the premier college basketball program in New England and the game day atmosphere at the XL Center gives local fans a rare taste of big-time college hoops. All the standard college game day elements can be found here, including the pep band, cheerleading squad and dance team. The school’s mascot, Jhonathan, can be found roaming the arena interacting with fans. There is a large video board hanging at center court that is put to good use with replays and game stats. It can be a little difficult to read with all the graphics on the screen. Shout outs to UConn alumni in the stands are guaranteed to whip the crowd into a frenzy. Fans at the XL Center are knowledgeable and passionate about the Huskies. They don’t need a whole lot of encouragement to fill the arena with noise. All the fans in the arena stand until the Huskies score their first basket of the game. There are contests and giveaways during play stoppages and t-shirt tosses, dance cams and the like to keep casual fans involved. Neighborhood 5 Hartford is rarely thought of as a destination city, but the XL Center’s location in downtown Hartford gives it an excellent rating. The area around the arena features numerous restaurants, shops and attractions. Pratt Street, located directly across the street from the XL Center, is lined with many excellent pubs and restaurants. City Steam Tap Room is located a block away from the XL Center on Main Street and features a legendary craft beer lineup. Black-Eyed Sally’s on Asylum Street features live music and excellent barbeque. Hartford suffers from a bad reputation, but the area around the XL Center is safe and walkable. For fans interested in exploring the downtown area, there are some attractions nearby worth mentioning. The Old State House is located a few blocks from the XL Center and contains exhibits on Hartford history. Tours are discounted for AAA members and will cost history buffs a mere $3. The State Capitol and Bushnell Park are popular attractions located nearby. The Mark Twain House and Museum and the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center are both located just a short drive from the downtown area. Fans 4 The Huskies draw impressive crowds to downtown Hartford. Crowds of over 10,000 are the norm. The school schedules their marquee matchups at the XL Center to take advantage of the building’s capacity, which is larger than the Gampel Pavilion . The crowd consists of a mix of locals and alumni. Despite the fact that there doesn’t seem to be an abundance of younger fans in attendance, parents can feel comfortable bringing the family to a Husky game. The student section is a bit smaller than expected, but with the campus located 21 miles from downtown Hartford, perhaps this isn’t a surprise after all. Despite their best efforts to inject some noise into the XL Center, in an arena of this size, their effect is negligible. Access 3 The XL Center is in downtown Hartford, easily reached via either Interstate 84 or 91. The arena is only a few blocks away from either highway. Traffic in the city is often difficult to navigate, particularly for weekday games. Be sure to give yourself extra time to arrive, as both highways back up regularly around rush hour and beyond. There are almost 50 parking lots and garages in the downtown area, all within walking distance of the XL Center. If you want to plan ahead, the XL Center website has a link to the downtown map here . In addition to these paid spots, on-street parking is readily available around the XL Center. Meters are not in operation on weekends. Once inside the XL Center, fans will enter a spacious lobby. This area was once part of the Civic Center Mall but is mostly empty space now. The ticket office is located here, as well as access to the attached parking garage and the Coliseum Club on the second level. After a brief security check, fans will enter the cramped concourses of the arena. All seats in the Veterans Memorial Coliseum consist of folding stadium chairs. The seating bowl at the XL Center is very steeply pitched, ensuring great sight lines no matter where you sit. Despite numerous renovations over the years, the Veterans Memorial Coliseum maintains its cramped and narrow concourses. There is only one concourse at the XL Center, and the restrooms are on the small side. Getting around can be very difficult, especially during halftime. Plan your trips to concession stands or restrooms wisely. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are very affordable for UConn games at the XL Center if you don’t mind sitting up high in the seating bowl. Select upper level seats are sold for only three dollars. The majority of the seats here range in price from $18-$38. Parking in the lots and garages surrounding the XL Center can be had for ten dollars with on-street parking available for fans wishing to search for it. On-street parking is free after 6 PM on weekdays and all day long on weekends. Concession prices are a bit on the high side, particularly for premium items, but are not out of line with other venues in the area. Extras 3 Banners-if you like banners, you will love the XL Center. Banners honoring the 15 University of Connecticut National basketball champions (women’s and men's combined) hang from the rafters on one end of the arena. On the other end of the arena are banners for the UConn Husky hockey team, the AHL’s Wolf Pack and the Whalers. Whalers-The XL Center doesn’t ignore its past as the home of the Hartford Whalers. Banners honoring Whalers division championships, retired numbers, and the Howe family, who all played together in Hartford, hang from the rafters. In addition, the lobby contains a large mural of some of the highlights of Hartford’s professional hockey history. Free programs are given out to all fans, lineup sheets are available for a dollar and there is an area of the lobby blocked of for the sale of UConn souvenirs. Final Thoughts The XL Center has its share of critics, particularly those who feel that Hartford deserves another NHL team. Countless studies and plans for a new downtown arena have circulated for decades, making this arena a political hot potato, but the XL Center continues on. With the school holding many of their marquee games downtown, the XL Center gives New England hoops fans a rare taste of big-time college basketball. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 XL Center 1 Civic Center Plaza Hartford, CT 06103 Connecticut Huskies hockey website XL Center website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 14,750 Husky Hockey in Hartford   Editor's Note: In June 2025 PeoplesBank announced they had entered into a 10-year naming rights agreement with the downtown Hartford arena at a cost of $20 million. The XL Center, formerly known as the Hartford Civic Center, is the largest arena in the state of Connecticut. It was originally built in 1974 as part of a downtown project that included an adjacent mall, convention center, office space, hotel, and parking garage. Some people still refer to the XL Center as “The Mall,” even though the mall portion of the complex was demolished in 2004 and replaced with a 36-story residential tower.   The University of Connecticut has sponsored varsity hockey programs since 1960. They initially competed at the Division Three level in the ECAC conference. The team played at an outdoor rink near Memorial Stadium until 1998 when the school made the decision to upgrade to Division One. The Freitas Ice Forum was built to house the team and served as the Husky's home until the team joined the Hockey East Conference in 2014. At that time, the Huskies moved to downtown Hartford and the XL Center.   Despite the XL Center’s history as an NHL arena, it was never meant to be more than a temporary home for Huskies hockey, while a plan was developed for an on-campus arena. In 2021, UConn announced plans to build a new arena adjacent to the Freitas Ice Forum . The Toscano Family Ice Forum hosted its first women’s hockey game on January 13, 2023, and its first men’s hockey game on January 14, 2023. The school now plays the majority of its games on campus, scheduling only four games a year in Hartford.   The Huskies have yet to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Seven UConn alumni have played in the National Hockey League.   Food & Beverage 5    The XL Center offers a menu that balances traditional arena fare with local flavor. Depending on your appetite, you can visit Chicken Fry Fry (featuring chicken tenders and fries), Fresh Classics (sausage and pepper sandwiches and nachos), Grill Masters (burgers), or Hot Dog Nation (yep, hot dogs). Dunkin’ Donuts operates a pair of stands featuring their signature coffee and baked goods. Pepsi products are featured at the XL Center. A complete concessions guide can be found here .   Visiting fans looking for a bit of local flavor should seek out Ted’s Cheeseburgers, which features gourmet burgers cooked in a style unique to Central Connecticut: they are steamed. Other notable stands include Randy’s Wooster St. Pizza (featured on Man vs. Food), the Portly Pig, Los Mariachis, and The Sausage Guy (the same one from Fenway Park). Chick-fil-A serves up their legendary chicken sandwiches. Portable carts serve up a variety of snacks, including Carvel ice cream.   Fans looking for an adult beverage will be pleased to find stands dedicated specifically to alcohol sales. Several national beer brands, including Sam Adams, Budweiser, Coors Light, and Blue Moon, can be found throughout the XL Center. Local brewery Two Roads sells a UConn-branded specialty brew, TwoConn Easy Ale.   A new option at the XL Center is the new Sports Bar and Fanatics Sportsbook, where fans can watch games on the 80 televisions hung on its 100-foot-long video wall while placing bets on the action. The Sportsbook Lounge also offers a full-service bar and restaurant featuring a menu of arena favorites. Atmosphere 3   Fans who have visited the XL Center over the years can testify that the sheer size of the XL Center works to spread out the fans and dampen any noise produced by the crowd. For Huskies crowds, however, some life is breathed into the old building. Driven by the student section and pep band, there’s an energy here that the old barn doesn’t often see. With the XL Center’s location 27 miles from campus, the turnout from students can be pretty impressive.   Arena staff put on a nice presentation, with the large video board put to use with hype videos, ads, replays, and crowd shots. There are t-shirt tosses and other contests to keep fans engaged, and the Husky mascot, Jonathan, participates on the ice and interacts with the crowd throughout the game.   Neighborhood 5   Hartford is rarely thought of as a destination city, but there is a lot to do in Connecticut’s capital city. The area around the arena features numerous restaurants and shops, and is filled with people, even on the weekends. Pratt Street, located directly across the street from the XL Center, is lined with many excellent pubs and restaurants, including Urban Lodge Brewery and Vaughan's Irish Public House. Black-Eyed Sally’s on Asylum Street features live music and excellent barbeque. Max Downtown, Sorella, Plan b Burger Bar and Bear's Barbeque highlight some of the diverse and popular options downtown. Hartford suffers from a bad reputation, but the area around the XL Center is safe and walkable. For fans interested in exploring the downtown area, there are some attractions nearby worth mentioning. The Old State House is located a few blocks from the XL Center, and contains exhibits on Hartford history. Tours are discounted for AAA members, and will cost history buffs a mere $3. The State Capitol and Bushnell Park are popular attractions located nearby. The Mark Twain House and Museum and the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center are both located just a short drive from the downtown area. Check out Hartford.com  for more information.   Fans looking for other sporting options in Hartford can pair a Huskies hockey game with a UConn men’s or women’s basketball game  here. The AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack  also calls the XL Center home, and the Hartford Yard Goats  play a couple of blocks away at Dunkin’ Park. Hartford Athletic FC  plays at Trinity Health Stadium on the Connecticut River waterfront. Of course, the Storrs campus is just over a half hour away.   Fans 3   Crowds for Huskies hockey can vary greatly depending on the time of year, opponent, and even the weather. Stadium Journey visited the XL Center on a beautiful October Saturday afternoon with an announced crowd of about 2,700 in attendance. While a decent crowd, the sheer size of the XL Center makes a decent crowd look tiny. Larger crowds can be expected later in the year after football season ends. UConn hockey generally lands in the middle of the pack in terms of national attendance, drawing around 3,000 fans per game.   Despite the XL Center’s location 21 miles from the UConn campus, a good turnout from the student body can be expected. Driven by the pep band, the students give the building some energy night after night. Locals, youth teams, and alumni help fill the XL Center.   Access 4   The XL Center is in downtown Hartford, easily reached via either Interstate 84 or 91. The arena is only a few blocks away from either highway. Traffic in the city is often difficult to navigate, particularly for weekday games. Be sure to give yourself extra time to arrive, as both highways back up regularly around rush hour and beyond.   There are almost 50 parking lots and garages in the downtown area, all within walking distance of the XL Center. If you want to plan, the XL Center website has a link to the downtown map here . In addition to these paid spots, on-street parking is readily available around the XL Center. Meters are not in operation on weekends.   Once inside the XL Center, fans will enter a spacious lobby. This area was once part of the Civic Center Mall but is mostly empty space now. The ticket office is located here, as well as access to the attached parking garage and the Coliseum Club on the second level. There is a nice display in this area featuring jerseys from every high school hockey program in Connecticut, as well as a display featuring photos from Hartford’s hockey history.   All seats in the Veterans Memorial Coliseum consist of folding stadium chairs. The seating bowl at the XL Center is very steeply pitched, ensuring great sight lines no matter where you sit. Upper-level seats are usually not sold. Since the typical Husky crowd only fills a fraction of the XL Center, getting around is usually not too difficult. The restrooms are clean and large enough for the typical Husky crowd.   Return on Investment 4   Tickets for Husky games at the XL Center are affordable. Center ice sections sell for $23, with end zone seating priced at $18.   Parking in the lots and garages surrounding the XL Center ranges in price from $10-20, with on-street parking available for fans wishing to search for it. On-street parking is free after 6 PM on weekdays and all day long on weekends.   Concession prices are a bit on the high side, particularly for premium items, but are not out of line with other venues in the area.   Extras 3                                                                                                 Banners honoring the 17 University of Connecticut National basketball champions (11 women’s, six men’s) hang from the rafters on one end of the arena. On the other end of the arena, the Huskies have hung their 2000 MAAC championship banner.   The XL Center doesn’t ignore its past as the home of the Hartford Whalers. Banners honoring Whalers division championships, retired numbers, and the Howe family, who all played together in Hartford, hang from the rafters. In addition, the lobby contains a large mural of some of the highlights of Hartford’s professional hockey history.   After every Husky goal, Brass Bonanza, the Whalers’ goal song, plays.     Final Thoughts   The XL Center has its share of critics, particularly those who feel that Hartford deserves another NHL team. While the XL Center is no longer an adequate facility for the NHL, it is an excellent venue for college hockey, even if it is a bit too large for the needs of UConn. With the building of the Toscano Family Ice Forum , the XL Center will host only a handful of games every year, handling those games deemed too big to be held on-campus.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 XL Center 1 Civic Center Plaza Hartford, CT 06103 Hartford Wolf Pack website XL Center website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 15,635 50 Years of Hockey in Hartford Editor's Note: In June 2025 PeoplesBank announced they had entered into a 10-year naming rights agreement with the downtown Hartford arena at a cost of $20 million. The XL Center, formerly known as the Hartford Civic Center, was built in 1974 as part of a downtown project that included an adjacent mall, convention center, office space, hotel and parking garage. Some people still refer to the XL Center as “The Mall,” even though the mall portion of the complex was demolished in 2004 and replaced with a 36-story residential tower. The original hockey tenants of the facility were the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association, who were re-christened as the Hartford Whalers when the franchise joined the National Hockey League in 1979. When the Whalers left town in 1997 to become the Carolina Hurricanes, the New York Rangers placed their top farm team in Hartford. The Wolf Pack have won a single Calder Cup, in 2000. In addition to serving as home to the Wolf Pack, the XL Center serves as the occasional home of the UConn Huskies men’s and women’s basketball and men’s hockey teams . The Hartford Wolf Pack franchise is the oldest continuously operating minor league hockey team in North America. The Wolf Pack began its existence as the Providence Reds in 1926 as one of the charter members of the Canadian-American Hockey League. The Reds played in Providence until the 1976 season, when they moved to Binghamton, New York, where they played as the Dusters, Whalers, and Rangers. Among all professional teams in North America, only the National Hockey League’s Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins have been in existence longer. Food & Beverage 5 The XL Center boasts an impressive variety of concession stands. In addition to traditional arena fare, fans can find several local favorites among the choices. Stadium Journey recommends Ted’s Cheeseburgers, which features gourmet burgers cooked in a style unique to Central Connecticut: they are steamed. Steaming the burgers creates a very juicy burger with a unique flavor. Other notable stands include Randy’s Wooster St. Pizza (featured on Man vs. Food), the Portly Pig, Los Mariachis, and The Sausage Guy (the same one from Fenway Park). Chick-fil-A serves up their legendary chicken sandwiches. Portable carts serve up a variety of snacks, including Carvel ice cream. The XL Center features a great variety of beers, both from national brands and local breweries. Among the brews available are TwoConn Easy Ale from Two Roads Brewing and Husky Hops IPA from Kinsman Brewery. The new Sports Bar and Sportsbook features 80 TVs and a 100-foot video wall to keep track of all your bets. The attached Bar features over 40 different beers on tap. On Friday and Saturday nights the Wolf Pack offer “Hockey Happy Hour”, where fans can hang out in the Heritage Club for two hours before face off. For a ten-dollar fee, fans can enjoy an appetizer buffet and two-dollar beers. A complete guide to the XL Center’s concessions can be found here . Concession stands are cashless, so remember to bring your debit card. Atmosphere 3 The Wolf Pack offer the standard minor league hockey experience. This includes a sound system turned way up during play stoppages, a large video board put to good use throughout the game with fan shots, game highlights and sponsor opportunities, an MC roaming the crowd conducting giveaways and pumping up the crowd, and a mascot posing for pictures and signing autographs. Minor league staples, including Chuck-a-Puck, t-shirt tosses and a 50/50 raffle, are present in Hartford. Neighborhood 5 Hartford is rarely thought of as a destination city, but there is a lot to do in Connecticut’s capital city. The area around the arena features numerous restaurants and shops, and is filled with people, even on the weekends. Pratt Street, located directly across the street from the XL Center, is lined with many excellent pubs and restaurants, including Urban Lodge Brewery and Vaughan's Irish Public House. Black-Eyed Sally’s on Asylum Street features live music and excellent barbeque. Max Downtown, Sorella, Plan b Burger Bar and Bear's Barbeque highlight some of the diverse and popular options downtown. Hartford suffers from a bad reputation, but the area around the XL Center is safe and walkable. For fans interested in exploring the downtown area, there are some attractions nearby worth mentioning. The Old State House is located a few blocks from the XL Center, and contains exhibits on Hartford history. Tours are discounted for AAA members, and will cost history buffs a mere $3. The State Capitol and Bushnell Park are popular attractions located nearby. The Mark Twain House and Museum and the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center are both located just a short drive from the downtown area. Check out Hartford.com for more information. Fans looking for other sporting options in Hartford can pair a WolfPack game with a UConn men’s or women’s basketball game  here. The Hartford Yard Goats  play a couple of blocks away at Dunkin’ Park. Hartford Athletic FC  plays at Trinity Health Stadium on the Connecticut River waterfront. Fans looking to venture outside the city a bit will find the UConn campus in Storrs just over a half hour away. Fans 3 The 2023-24 season was Hartford's most successful season at the turnstiles in well over a decade, with an average of almost 5,500 fans per game. However, the team still ranks below the AHL average in terms of attendance. The XL Center curtains off the upper levels of the arena to make the crowd look larger, but there are still large empty sections in the building. A Wolf Pack crowd will look very familiar to veteran minor league fans. It’s full of groups, families and youth hockey teams mixed in with the casual and hard core hockey fan. The state of Connecticut is a growing hockey market that has produced some noteworthy NHL stars. Fans here know their hockey, and Hartford’s proximity to New York ensures that the fans here follow the prospects closely. Access 3 The XL Center is located in downtown Hartford, and is easy to reach via either Interstate 84 or 91. The arena is only a few blocks away from either highway. Traffic in the city is often difficult to navigate, particularly for weekday games. Be sure to give yourself extra time to arrive, as both highways back up regularly around rush hour and beyond. There are close to 50 parking lots and garages in the downtown area, all within walking distance of the XL Center. If you want to plan ahead, the Wolf Pack’s website has a link to the downtown map here . In addition to these paid spots, on-street parking is readily available around the XL Center. Meters shut off at 6PM. Once inside the XL Center, fans will enter into a spacious lobby. This area was once part of Civic Center Mall, but is mostly empty space now. The Wolf Pack ticket office is located here, as well as access to the attached parking garage and the Coliseum Club on the second level. The Wolf Pack operate their main souvenir stand here. All seats in the Veterans Memorial Coliseum consist of folding stadium chairs. The seating bowl at the XL Center is very steeply pitched, ensuring great sight lines no matter where you sit. Tickets in the upper reaches of the 200 level are not sold, meaning that even when a big crowd is in attendance much of the arena is still empty. Despite numerous renovations over the years, the Veterans Memorial Coliseum retains its cramped and narrow concourses. Luckily, since the typical Wolf Pack crowd only fills a fraction of the XL Center, getting around is usually not too difficult. Restrooms are smallish, but are clean and adequate for the typical Wolf Pack crowd. Lines do form during intermission. Plan your trips wisely, particularly if there’s a big crowd in attendance. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Wolf Pack games are split into three levels. End Zone seats cost $25, attacking zone tickets cost $30 and center ice tickets $35. Youth tickets are discounted by ten dollars across the board. Premium seats right on the glass cost $55. The Wolf Pack offer several ticket packages to help defray costs. Parking in the garages around the XL Center ranges in price from $10-$20. Frugal fans can search the neighborhood for free on-street parking. Concessions, while on the high side, are in line with other venues in the area. Extras 3 If you like banners, you will love the XL Center. Banners honoring the University of Connecticut basketball champion teams, including the men’s 2023 and 2024 National titles, hang from rafters on one end of the arena. Not to be outdone, the Wolf Pack hang their 2000 Calder Cup and division title banners. Banners honoring basketball Hall of Famers Jim Calhoun and Gino Auriemma hang in the corners of the XL Center. The XL Center also celebrates its past as the home of the Hartford Whalers. Hanging from the rafters are Whaler retired number and division championship banners. The Howe family, who all played together in Hartford, are honored in banner form. The XL Center lobby contains a display of some of the highlights of Hartford’s professional hockey history and the Whalers Hall of Fame. Final Thoughts The XL Center has more than its share of critics, and opinions on the viability and future of the facility continue to spark much debate in Connecticut’s capital city. New plans for what to do with the facility seemingly pop up every few months. As a minor league hockey facility, the XL Center is a good place to catch a game, with excellent sight lines and plenty going on to satisfy both the casual and diehard fan. Unfortunately, the XL Center is just too big, too empty and too old for the Wolf Pack. Face it, Hartford, the Whalers aren’t coming back. Start running with the Pack! Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

With the changing of the leaves comes college football, and where is a better spot to get your college football fix than Stadium Journey's Obstructed Views. Dave and Paul welcome special guest Andrew Bauhs to discuss one of the most loved college football experiences, the Army West Point Black Knights. Grab a beer and kick back for the latest episode! You can find Stadium Journey's review of Blaik Field @ Michie Stadium and the Army West Point Black Knights football experience here.

The ongoing saga that is the takeover of Manchester United shows no signs of being resolved anytime soon, and with that, the future of United’s home, Old Trafford, is still up in the air. The stadium is regularly criticized for being in a state of disrepair and in desperate need of an upgrade in facilities. The team seems to be improving on the pitch, and the general consensus seems to be that progress also needs to be made off the pitch, or the club will get left behind. United contending on the pitch again Such is the progress made under Erik ten Hag this season, United are one of the betting favorites to win the league title next season. In the latest Premier League winner odds , United are 9/1 to win their first title since 2013. But such is the strength of their cross-town rivals, most punters making Premier League predictions won’t be putting the red half of Manchester down as their champions tip for next season. That said, a place in the top four is well within United’s capabilities. But with other clubs such as Arsenal, Spurs, and Chelsea, not to mention Manchester City, in the mix. The thorny issue of the quality of stadiums comes into the equation. Those other clubs mentioned above can all offer state-of-the-art facilities for the corporate sector, which generates huge sums of money for Premier League football clubs in the 21st century. Put simply, a football club's ambition on the pitch needs to be matched off it. And in the case of Manchester United, the quality of their stadium isn't keeping up with the team. To the average football fan, Old Trafford looks as good or bad as any other stadium in the country. There’s a seat to sit in, toilets, bars, and program sellers. But football fans rarely look beyond what is in front of them in their seats. They are only there to watch the football, after all. But even though Old Trafford might be okay in the eyes of football fans, it’s far from okay in the corporate world. The ground hasn’t been invested in since 2006, and if any indication of how far down the pecking order Old Trafford has fallen is needed, then look at the bid to host the European Championships in 2028. Old Trafford not shortlisted to be a Euro 2028 venue Old Trafford currently has a capacity of over 74,000, that’s far more than the five Premier League stadiums shortlisted to host matches at Euro 2028. So the question has to be asked, why has the City of Manchester Stadium (Man City’s Etihad), Everton’s not even yet built stadium, St James’ Park in Newcastle, Villa Park, and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium been selected ahead of Old Trafford? The locations of the stadiums do play a part. But with two stadiums selected in the northwest of England, and Old Trafford not one of them, questions need to be asked why? One conclusion that can be drawn is facilities. The facilities at Old Trafford are way behind those at the Etihad, and they will be behind those available at Everton’s new stadium at Bramley Moore. As things stand, there are no immediate plans to modernise Old Trafford. The bidding parties looking to purchase the club have pledged to invest in the ground. But until a takeover is completed, there can be no upgrades. And while all this carries on in the background, Old Trafford is simply falling further behind.

Tasmania to get New Stadium and AFL Team...maybe Earlier this month, outgoing league CEO, Gill McLachlan, confirmed that Tasmania would be granted the 19th AFL license. The decision was contingent upon the federal government agreeing to kick in the last $240m required to build a new 23,000-seat multi-purpose, enclosed stadium at Macquarie Point on Hobart’s waterfront. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese duly announced that the feds would come to the party and stump up the required amount. The total cost of the stadium is projected to be $715m. The new team, likely to be called the Tasmania Devils, is slated to join the league for the 2028 season, although the stadium may not be completed until 2029. In the interim, Blundstone Arena would be the most likely base for the club. Given the geography of Tasmania, upgrades to University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston will ensure home games are also played in the north of the state – even after the new venue in Hobart is opened. Australian rules football in Tasmania dates back to the 1860s. As the VFL began to expand into a national competition through the 1990s, the state was naturally a potential market for the league. Several AFL clubs, including North Melbourne, Hawthorn, and St Kilda, have taken home games to the “Apple Isle”, underwritten by the Tasmanian state government over the ensuing decades. While the AFL sought out non-traditional markets for expansion, momentum has gradually coalesced behind the island state finally being granted its team. However, government support, including for a new stadium, was set as a pre-requisites by the league. The additional federal government support was seemingly the last piece of the puzzle to fall into place. However, a political storm over the use of state government funds for the proposed stadium threatens to derail the project – and possibly the hope of Tassie’s AFL dream. A groundswell of public support against the stadium has seen two MPs resign from the ruling Liberals, which has plunged the party into a minority government. The state budget is due to be handed down this coming week, which is likely to include funding for the stadium. The parliament will also need to vote in support of designating the project to be one of state significance to kick-start the approval process. Publicly, Gill McLachlan remains confident that the binding agreement between the AFL and Tasmanian government would hold. Nevertheless, there appears to be real doubt as to whether the deal will move forward after all.

Professional sports have been a part of life in Detroit dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. The Lions, Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons have brought both joy and agony to fans and residents of the Motor City. City of Champions , a new book by Stefan Szymanski and Silke-Maria Weineck, makes the case that sports have played a major role in many aspects of daily life in Detroit. They argue that in many ways, the city’s history with the four main major league teams is closely linked to political power, housing policy, race relations, economic development and financial stability. Each chapter of City of Champions uses a major sports event in the city’s history and links it to how it impacted the city in some way. The chapters are arranged in reverse chronological order, starting with the opening of Little Caesar’s Arena in 2020, and working back to the city’s founding in 1763. This is done to show how past sports events have built the city of Detroit as we know it today. First and foremost, City of Champions is wonderful sports read. The title refers to 1935-1936, when the Lions, Tigers and Red Wings all won the championship in their respective leagues. The authors point to this signature achievement as a force in bringing the city out of the Great Depression, and as an event where Detroit citizens forgot their racial differences, even if it was for a short period of time. The book also looks at the impact of the various team owners have had on the city’s development. Henry Ford was a pioneer in the automobile industry and created the concept of the production line in the mass production of cars. He also was the first business owner to provide healthcare coverage to his workers and to build parks and recreation centers for the city. Unfortunately, he was also antisemitic and a violent union buster who believed in keeping the races separate. The Ford family still owns the Detroit Lions today. Mike Illich made his fortune as the creator of Little Caesars pizza. He was responsible for building many of the sports palaces including Little Caesar’s Arena, as well owning both the Red Wings and the Tigers. As a result, he had a huge influence on zoning issues around the city. Obviously, Detroit is now a very unionized city. It hasn’t always been that way. Henry Ford hired thugs to break up and discourage union formation within the auto industry. In 1952 the Detroit Red Wings powered their way to win the Stanley Cup. Ted Lindsay, a left winger on the team, worked on starting a player’s association in order to have more orderly contracts and to provide medical coverage for players who were permanently injured and could no longer play. He was traded to another team as a result of these efforts. It was many years before the NHL had a player’s association in the NHL. Joe Louis was a sports icon in Detroit, a hometown fighter who went on to win several boxing titles. He also served honorably in the armed forces during World Wat II. He was celebrated in public for these achievements, yet he was shut out of any management positions with the major automakers due to the color of his skin. The Tigers were one of the last teams in the MLB to integrate their lineup. Another chapter of City of Champions investigates the loss of the Lions and the Pistons to stadiums and arenas in the suburbs as a precursor of white flight from Detroit. Detroit’s population has gone down dramatically as a result of both the downturn in the auto industry, as well as white flight. This left the city with greatly reduced tax revenues, resulting in Detroit’s government declaring bankruptcy. The earliest link between sports and the city of Detroit actually dates to 1762. At the time the British maintained a fort in the area. As a sign of friendship, the Iroquois Indians led by Chief Pontiac offered to play a game of lacrosse as a form of entertainment on the Queen’s Birthday Celebration for the British troops garrisoned at the fort. The ball used in the game suddenly was hit out of bounds towards the fort. This was a signal for the Indians to charge on the fort with weapons they had hidden away. In time, the Iroquois turned the fort over to their allies the French. As a result, Detroit became a French settlement. Today, French names on streets, in neighborhoods, and on car brands (think Chevrolet and Pontiac). Today, the city of Detroit’s flag still includes the fleur- de -lis, the symbol of Royal France. These are just a few samples of the links between sports and the city of Detroit. Sports lovers and history buffs will discover many more interesting stories of how Detroit’s history was shaped by sports. We heartily recommend that you add City of Champions to your reading list.

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

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Gallaudet Softball Complex 800 Florida Ave NE Washington, DC 20002 Gallaudet Bison website Gallaudet Softball Complex website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 500 Lady Bisons of DC Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered private university for the education of the Deaf and hard of hearing located in Washington, D.C. The school is named for Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a pioneer in the education of the deaf. Founded in 1864, Gallaudet University was originally a grammar school for both deaf and blind children. In 1954 the school became Gallaudet College and in 1986 it was renamed Gallaudet University. The physical campus is on the National Register of Historic Places. The most popular majors at Gallaudet University are business, visual and performing arts, communication studies, physical education, and psychology. The Bison are a member of the North Eastern Athletic Conference (except for the football program which plays in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference) and play at the Division III level. The Gallaudet Softball Complex opened on March 18, 2011 against D.C. rival Catholic University. Dugouts were added in 2014 and permanent seating in 2017. Lights and a press box are planned future additions. Food & Beverage 1 There are no permanent food options at the softball complex. It looks like a potential concession stand is on design plans. Until any potential upgrade, there is a table setup and a grill for small food offerings. The table may only be there when a baseball game is going at the neighboring baseball field and/or on weekend games. The prices are reasonable. Atmosphere 2 This a pretty simple small college softball field. A small metal bleacher sits right behind the home plate and protective screen. There is a very simple scoreboard located in right center. There is not much else in terms of atmosphere. The university’s baseball field, Hoy Field , is located just a few feet away. If you are lucky, both teams will be in action so you can go from one game to another quickly. Neighborhood 3 The Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, a day school serving deaf and hard of hearing students from birth through grade 8, is located right behind the right center field fence of Hoy Field. The wonderful Union Market is located next to the university campus, although on the opposite end from Hoy Field. The market is worth a stop. The 1930s Union Terminal Market has been renovated into a gourmet food hall with numerous local vendors selling a variety of food products. Favorites of mine are Buffalo & Bergen, DC Empanadas, Peregrine Espresso and TaKorean’s Korean Tacos. Besides Union Market there is very little to do in the immediate neighborhood of Gallaudet University. Be careful driving around before or after the game as there are some dangerous neighborhoods in the area, although many are gentrifying quickly. Not too far away is a stellar cocktail bar, Smith Commons, located in the Atlas Arts District. The dizzying array of complicated drinks will amaze you. And did I mention you are right in the middle of Washington, DC? The amount of attractions, museums, restaurants and other sights are astounding. Spend some time pre or postgame seeing the many things around this great city. Fans 2 Many of the school’s fans are deaf. But this does not mean that they are quiet. Fans of the university can be boisterous and are proud of their school just like at any other university. Other fans at the Galluadet Softball Complex tend to primarily be family or friends of the players. You may see an inconsistent level of fan interaction. Access 3 For weekend games there should be plenty of parking near the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School. Weekday games will take a bit more planning as you will have to find spaces that are open to visitors. The closest Metro station is the NoMa-Gallaudet U New York Ave Station. A few years ago I would not have recommended walking the short distance between the station and campus, but the safety of the area has improved dramatically. One should still use a good amount of caution and use common sense. The biggest problem with using the Metro, is the system itself. The Metro is frustratingly overpriced compared to systems in other cities. But it really does get you to nearly all parts of the city, except for Georgetown. Just be careful on weekends when trains run less often or are in single track mode, as you may encounter some extended wait times. The system is having maintenance, mechanical and money issues so expect delays and other issues at all times. It is unfortunate, but way too true. Return on Investment 3 The price, free, is certainly reasonable. And you will probably not have to pay for parking. So, the value is certainly good. The Division III level of softball is not especially high, but the school’s conference has a nice variety of opponents. Extras 3 The grounds of the university are on the National Register of Historic Places. Take some time to check out the university facilities. Parts of the campus are also on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites and Historic American Buildings Survey. The Kendall Demonstration Elementary School has a very interesting statue located in front of their main building. Since it is next to the campus, one should check in and look at this large piece of art. The baseball and softball fields also share space with the school’s football and track stadium. The field is very nice and often hosts local recreating soccer games. Final Thoughts The Gallaudet Softball Complex is a pretty simple softball stadium. But the low cost of attendance means that this is a good value for the fan.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Trinity Forest Golf Club 5000 S Great Trinity Forest Way Dallas, TX 75217 Trinity Forest Golf Course website AT&T Byron Nelson Tournament website Year Opened: 2014 The AT&T Byron Nelson Returns Home to Dallas There are two PGA stops in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the only metropolitan area that host two events. The older of the two tournaments began in 1944 with the event’s namesake, Byron Nelson from Fort Worth, Texas, winning the inaugural event at Dallas’ Lakewood Country Club. The tournament has been played at various courses throughout the Dallas area. In 2018 the tournament celebrated its 50th Anniversary under the current name, with the opening of the tournament being played at Trinity Forest Golf Club in South Dallas – the move returned the tournament to Dallas after 35 years in Irving’s Las Colinas area. The Trinity Forest Golf Club is located nine miles south of downtown Dallas off interstate 45 in the heart of the largest urban forest in the United States. The course is links style and sits on an area of less than 150 acres. Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw with the intention to bring elite championship golf back to the City of Dallas, the new Trinity Forest Club course features dramatic green complexes and bunkering, with tall native grasses on a rolling meadow. The course is also the home course for the SMU men’s and women’s golf teams; the private course was an instant success, with club memberships owned by Tony Romo and Jordan Spieth. In addition to the golf course, the Trinity River Audubon Center and Trinity Forest Golf Club partnered to implement a Blackland Prairie Restoration Plan, restoring 75 acres of Blackland Prairie with native grasses and vegetation, to create additional habitat opportunities for native plants and animals. Food & Beverage 4 There are plenty of food and drinks throughout the course, either in the built-up suites or in the general-public concessions tents; most tents are operated by local groups as fundraisers. The concessions menu here has variety but lacks the overall wow that has been the staple at sports venues. The prices for various menu items are as follows: smoked chopped brisket sandwich or smoked link sausage sandwich $9, cheeseburgers $8, jumbo hot dogs $5.50, pulled pork sandwiches $8.50, deli hoagies, classic club subs, or chicken Caesar salad wraps $8, and jumbo hot dogs $5.50; a Bavarian Pretzel or peanuts cost $5. The one wow concessions stand would be the Korean BBQ stand called Bibigo – this concessions tent serves Shrimp Kimchi Bao, Sweet and Spicy Chicken Skewers, Jap-Chae (noodles with beef and vegetables), and Bibi-Cones (ice cream cones filled with Bulgogi or Kimchi rice). These items aren’t low in price either, ranging from $8 to $12 each. Coca-Cola is the beverage sponsor of the AT&T Byron Nelson, and sodas cost $5 for 16oz, with Smart Water at $7.50 and Dasani bottled water or Powerade for $4.50 if you want something besides soda. There are also plenty of alcoholic beverages throughout the course – Michelob Ultra is a proud sponsor of the event and is readily available, along with Estrella Jalisco, Texas’ own Ziegenbock, and Houston’s brewery Karbach Love Street. These beers are $8, while a glass of wine is $15. Grey Goose is another sponsor, and their Grey Goose 19th Hole is open to the public and is located at the corner of the 13th green and the 14th tee. This location serves Grey Goose cocktails and soft drinks, and has both an air-conditioned indoor patio and an outdoor patio. In addition, the Katy Trail Ice House Pavilion is another open-to-the-public pavilion that has a beer garden style layout and views of the 4th green and 5th tee. Atmosphere 4 The AT&T Byron Nelson has always been a go and be seen type of event for the DFW Metroplex, with most people’s idea of the event being to attend the golf tournament as a large social event. All ages and backgrounds from all over DFW can be seen walking the course throughout the weekend. From the moment patrons step off the shuttles on South Great Trinity Forest Way, the AT&T Byron Nelson atmosphere begins. The main entrances have photo ops for fans to start their day – for example, last year there was a big 50 sign for fans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Byron Nelson tournament, and this year (2019) had a Mother’s Day photo set-up, with pink hats given to all the moms in attendance. The tournament’s merchandise pavilion is also at the entrance, for fans to pick up items either before they go on the course or for when they are ready to leave on the shuttles. The box office, will call, and volunteer headquarters are also all near the shuttle drop-off. All patrons being shuttled in and walking thru the main entrance will arrive on the course at the 13th fairway, and there are anti-dust trail paths throughout the course. Fan’s options are to either find a golfer and be part of the gallery around the course, or set up in an area that not only has one green, but offers multiple greens and tees – this set up provides fans with more action, and allows them to get more involved in the golf action being played around the course. In addition, the course provides a kid zone, so parents can watch the golf action without distraction. There are also plenty of photo spots and course information signage creating more of an event than just the golf. Like Trinity Forest’s predecessor at Las Colinas, there are plenty of suites around the course creating a party type crowd around the course. The atmosphere has toned down compared to the course at the Four Seasons, however, a lot of this has to do with the wide-open course at Trinity Forest; Trinity Forest is a link style spreading more fans across the course, instead of the few holes that Las Colinas held for fans to collaborate. The atmosphere has the potential to become even better than it was at Las Colinas, though, as long as the AT&T Byron Nelson continues to improve and give the golf fans of the Metroplex the best place to enjoy the PGA in Dallas. Neighborhood 3 There really is no neighborhood around the Trinity Forest Golf Club located southeast from downtown Dallas. However, since patrons are shuttled nine miles to the course from Fair Park in Dallas, this section will focus on that area. Fair Park is part of the state fairgrounds, and like Trinity Forest Golf Club doesn’t offer much in the immediate neighborhood except The Old Mill Inn Restaurant. This eatery was built in 1936 and serves a variety of southern home cooking options. However, fans here are within a four-mile radius of several great Dallas neighborhoods, so there are plenty of wonderful places for sightseeing, eating, and enjoying yourself during the week of the AT&T Byron Nelson. Deep Ellum, The West End, Trinity Groves, and Uptown are all part of the downtown Dallas experience. Deep Ellum is a neighborhood filled with arts and entertainment venues, and has one of the best BBQ spots in the state of Texas, Pecan Lodge. The Angry Dog is another great little spot for travelers, especially those from Upstate New York, as Binghamton Spiedies are on the menu. Deep Ellum Brewery Company and Braindead Brewing are up-and-coming spots for people who enjoy craft beers. The West End Historic District is also a must for newcomers to Dallas, as this is the area where the Kennedy Assassination happened, near the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. This museum gives you the chance to relive the November 22nd day in 1963 or talk to people on Dealey Plaza about a conspiracy theory. There is so much at The West End to choose from; check out this site for more information: https://www.dallaswestend.org. If you are not searching for history, then visit Trinity Groves. Trinity Groves is a revitalized area with various restaurants and shopping. There are plenty of restaurants on the way thru Uptown on McKinney Avenue, but The Rustic on Howell Avenue is a good place because parking is much more accessible than on McKinney Ave. In addition, not many people think of Dallas as serving great pizza, but Campisi’s Restaurant on Mockingbird Lane will change your mind. If Trinity Forest Golf Club was located at the state fairgrounds, the rating for the neighborhood would max out. However, having to travel nine miles to a course that hasn’t been developed, and doesn’t have a safe neighborhood, means a modest average overall neighborhood rating at this time. Fans 4 The estimated attendance for this year’s tournament is about 200,000 for the four-day event. However, the negative reviews from fans that attended last year about the lack of shade and parking, along with this year’s inclement weather, makes the 200K number a modest hopeful reach. In general, though, the golf fans here are passionate – the calls of “Get in the hole!” on the greens are impressive, while the same calls as the players hit off the tee are just silly. But there are plenty of live moments on the course that television just can’t duplicate, such as the roar of a massive golf crowd when an athlete sinks a long putt or aces a hole-in-one during the tournament. In general golf fans have a kind demeanor, as there is no my team vs. your team attitude that other sports tend to engender; golf fans just like to enjoy the day on the course while watching some amazing professional golfers make some incredible shots. Access 3 The Trinity Forest Golf Club is located nine miles south of downtown Dallas, just off Interstate 45 at 5000 Great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas, TX. There are corporate parking lots near the course, but general parking is located at the Texas State Fairgrounds in Fair Park via Gate 15. The entrance to the parking lot is at the intersection of Haskell and Beeman; shuttles to and from the golf course are complimentary and take about 12 to 15 minutes each way. Both the parking lots at Fair Park and the golf course itself can be reached via public transportation by the DART system. The DART system connects DFW airport to points around the city of Dallas, and DART has stops at Fair Park where patrons can access the shuttles to the course. Otherwise, ride the Green Line rail south to Buckner Station, and from Buckner Station take the Route 466 West bus to the Pemberton Hill/AT&T Byron Nelson stop. Route 466 West shuttles will run every 15 minutes from 7 am to 7 pm. For Patrons wanting to use Uber/Lyft, spectators will be dropped off and picked up in a designated lot a short distance from Trinity Forest Golf Club’s main entrance. Then when you are ready to leave for the day, request your ride upon leaving the tournament, and your Uber or Lyft driver will let you know which spot they will be waiting in for pickup. Note that there are security checkpoints in the public parking lots, as well as at the main entrance for the tournament. Once at the gates to the tournament, access flows thru with little wait. Spectators can bring in items such as umbrellas (without sleeves), binoculars, and chairs (without bags). Bags larger than 6” x 6” x 6” will not be allowed in, and mobile devices must always be kept on silent, but there is a designated “Cell Phone Zone” where calls may be placed or answered. The link style course provides fans easy walking and the opportunity to quickly move around to different holes based on the action. Return on Investment 4 Daily Grounds tickets for the AT&T Byron Nelson begin at $45, and there are two single day hospitality (climate-controlled) tickets to choose from: $125 for Harwood District Club tickets (any day) showing views of the number 3 green, or $250 for tickets in the largest structure on the course, the Michelob Ultra Club (day specific), but the latter includes a complimentary buffet with beer, wine, and soft drinks. The 360-view tower has views of the number 5 green, number 6 tee, and the number 15 green. The tournament also offers free daily tickets to Military personnel, First Responders, and Youth (17 years and under). Public parking is free at the Texas State Fair Grounds at Gate 15. Patrons will be shuttled from the parking lots, and spectators will not need a ticket to ride the shuttle (admission tickets are available at the main entrance ticket booth). The concessions prices are typical of events like this, so there isn’t any savings when it comes to food and drinks. However, the new course is easy to navigate and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas will continue to improve the fan experience, to return the highest ROI that was a constant when the tournament was at the Four Seasons Las Colinas. Extras 3 One point for reutilizing a wasted and unusable landfill into the Trinity Forest Golf Club course. The course began as a wasted and unusable landfill while the City of Dallas sat in default on a state-mandated requirement to remediate the land, at an approximate cost of $12 million. By partnering with the golf course developers, the city reduced its remediation burden to roughly $4 million, and used the remaining funds to invest in community projects. In addition, there isn’t anyone that can do fundraising better than the Salesmanship Club of Dallas. The Salesmanship Club of Dallas is the chief fundraiser for the AT&T Byron Nelson, and has been the heart and soul of the tournament since 1968. Since that time the event has raised over $160 million and transformed more than 100,000 lives, making it the most successful charity event on the PGA Tour. And to continue the theme of how much the AT&T Byron Nelson reaches into the local community, the event supports the Bush Institute’s Warrior Open. This tournament began in 2011 for United States military personnel seriously wounded or injured since September 11, 2001 – since 2011, more than 140 warriors have participated in the Military Service Initiative’s Team 43 Sports, which includes the Warrior Open and the annual W100K bike ride. Former President George W. Bush is even a participant in the golf tournament. But the biggest extra from the new venue is being able to witness a different type of golf course. The course itself will continue to improve and become challenging for players, while the course infrastructure will only get better each year, improving the fan experience. For example, the tournament recently added shaded viewing areas with structures and decks to combat the first-year complaints of no shade. Final Thoughts Over the years the AT&T Byron Nelson Tournament, while being played at the Four Seasons Las Colinas, became a Dallas area block party combined with a PGA Tour event. The patrons would settle in a party mood on the first two holes, then finish the celebration at the last two holes. The Par-3 17th hole was the one fans enjoyed most and could change the tournament on a Sunday – the hole’s water hazard, in front of the green, was an easy way for a golfer to lose the tournament. The fans surrounded the fairway and that hole in suites and villas that were set up to party. The Trinity Forest Golf Club, however, gives a much different feel, with its wide-open field where fans can see more than one hole from one spot. The biggest fan complaint in the first year was the lack of shade around the course, so Byron Nelson Tournament officials have erected misting systems and increased shaded areas by bringing in some trees to alleviate this concern. While it is still too early to decide if moving the tournament from Las Colinas to South Dallas was the best decision, the Trinity Forest Golf Club course has the potential to become a great golf venue once the infrastructure develops, and golf patrons adapt to the change that has the PGA back home in Dallas.

At the Stadium Journey Convention, one of the stops was in Aberdeen, Maryland, home of the IronBirds. Grab a beer and join Paul and Dave as they delve deep into the Ripken experience. Is it too much Ripken? Is it not enough? Welcome to the beginning of the second fifty, on Stadium Journey's Obstructed Views! You can find Stadium Journey's review of Ripken Stadium and the Aberdeen Ironbirds game day experience here.