Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Citizens Bank Park One Citizens Bank Way Philadelphia, PA 19148 Philadelphia Phillies website Citizens Bank Park website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 42,901 Ring The Bell A staple in the City of Brotherly Love are the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.  The Phillies were founded in 1883, one of the oldest teams in Major League Baseball.  They have the distinction of being the oldest, continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional sports.  The Phillies were first coined in the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1883 in the coverage of an early exhibition game.  Relatively unsuccessful on the field, the Phillies would wait until 1980 to earn their first of two World Series titles, after appearing twice previously.  The Phillies would earn their second in 2008.  The current owner, John Middleton, gained full control of the team in 2016. The Phillies call Citizens Bank Park home.  Part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, Citizens Bank Park replaced the venerable Veterans Stadium, one of the infamous multipurpose donuts, in 2004.  Philadelphia is one of the premier sports destinations in the country, offering a population of over 1.6 million, 6th largest in the USA.  Citizens Bank Park offers a solid baseball experience for fans, especially if the Phillies can ring the bell after a victory. Food & Beverage 5 Philadelphia is famous for its distinct cuisine with a number of famous restaurants, many of which can be found inside Citizens Bank Park.  Philly staples like Chickie’s and Pete’s, Tony Luke’s, Campo’s, Manco & Manco’s Pizza, Shake Shack, Uncle Charlie’s Steaks and Colbie’s Southern Kissed Chicken are all found in the ballpark.  Former Phillies first baseman, Greg Luzinski, has the increasingly popular celebrity athlete concession, with Bull’s BBQ.  It is a little surprising that the famous Philadelphia Cheesesteak is offered by at least three different organizations in the ballpark.  All of the other expected ballpark favorites are found as well including hot dogs, popcorn, and pretzels.  Coca-Cola products are the soft drink of choice in Citizens Bank Park.  There is also a decent beer selection featuring products from Yuengling, Stella Artois, and Blue Moon. Atmosphere 5 The exterior of Citizens Bank Park is an attractive mix of brown brick with green accents and brown support beams.  Before entering the park, a trip around the perimeter is worth it and there are plenty of photo opportunities with the numerous bronze statues including Robin Roberts, Steve Carleton, Connie Mack, and Robin Roberts.  Entering the third base gate by the aptly located Mike Schmidt logo may be the best idea.  The first base gate is where Carleton’s statue is as well as the retired numbers.  Also, the Liberty Bell from Veterans Stadium is by third base and offers a terrific photo op.  If entering through the rightfield gate, fans are welcomed by two giant replica World Series trophies representing the 2008 and 1980 championships. This is also where the fans will find the display of the Phillies Hall of Fame, which is worth a look to get a sense of Phillies history.  The concourses are full of banners and accents that let everyone know that this is the home of the Phillies.  Heading past centerfield, fans will be met by the bronze statue of Richie Ashburn and Ashburn Alley.  Bricks for All-Star starters can be found on the ground, but fans should be careful as this is a very busy area and some of the most popular concessions like Tony Luke’s are found out here.  It may not be the best idea to stop and look at the ground for too long.  As fans head to the leftfield corner from Ashburn Alley they are met with The Yard, the interactive and kids area of the park.  Unlike any other in pro sports, The Yard offers a mini wiffleball stadium complete with a real videoboard, other baseball activities, and a Phanatic-themed rock climbing wall. Inside the seating area, the ballpark is divided into three main seating levels, with a lower level and split upper deck.  The angles of the seating area are very much squared off giving Citizens Bank Park a sharp-angled look.  Blue stadium seats are found throughout the park, a refreshing change from the seemingly requisite green.  One of the best views is from behind the plate in the upper deck where fans can see the skyline of Downtown Philadelphia in the distance.  Above Ashburn Alley in centerfield, the retired numbers of Richie Ashburn, Jim Bunning, Dick Allen, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carleton, Roy Halladay, Robin Roberts, Grover Cleveland Alexander and Chuck Klein are painted on the brick.  Championship flags also fly from the Alley.  Behind leftfield is a massive, neon Liberty Bell which swings and rings on Phillies home runs and victories.  Beyond rightfield is the videoboard, which is state of the art. The gameday production is not overly unique for Major League Baseball, however, special notice must be given to the Philly Phanatic, who is one of the most iconic mascots in professional sports.  Before the first pitch the Phantic comes flying out of the outfield gates on a four-wheeler, riling up the crowd. Neighborhood 4 Citizens Bank Park is located in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex in the South Philadelphia East neighborhood.  It is not the most spectacular neighborhood in the city as it is well removed from downtown, however, there are a number of spots for nearby food and drink.  Chickie’s and Pete’s and DiNics are not too far from the park.  However, the best bet for food in Philly is to head downtown to the Reading Terminal Market, which provides a plethora of different food options and cuisines.  An absolute MUST stop when in the city. Philadelphia is one of the best sports cities in the country with a ton of other options.  The Philadelphia Eagles , Flyers , 76ers  and Wings  all share spots in the sports complex.  Philly is also one of the best spots for college sports.  Football is played by the Temple Owls , Villanova Wildcats  and Penn Quakers  but it really is basketball that makes Philadelphia tick.  Temple , LaSalle , St. Joseph’s , Villanova  and Penn  make up the “Big 5” and Drexel  is also an option.  There are also a ton of tourist options in the city including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Museum of American Revolution and the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the famous “Rocky” steps, complete with statue.  There are a few hotels near the ballpark including the Courtyard Philadelphia South at the Navy Yard. Fans 4 The Phillies are generally well-supported and their current success on the field is reflected at the turnstile.  The Phillies have averaged more than 41,000 fans per game in the 2024 season which ranks 2nd in MLB.  The previous season they averaged over 37,000 fans per game and ranked 6th.  Philly fans have a reputation for being some of the toughest and rowdiest in sports.  It is debatable whether or not that reputation has been earned or not, however, it may be safe to say that of the four major sports, the baseball fans are among the most welcoming and friendly.  Attendance in Philly also correlates to the number of victories that the team puts up.   Access 3 Citizens Bank Park is located in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex in the neighborhood of South Philadelphia East.  The complex encompasses the ballpark as well as Lincoln Financial Field and Wells Fargo Center along with Xfinity Live.  The venues all share parking, which is convenient, yet can provide some transportation issues.  The complex is north of I-95 and south of I-76 so there are major arteries that lead to the park.  However, traffic can be an issue.  Getting out of the parking lot can be an even bigger issue.  For fans wishing to take public transit, there is a SEPTA Metro stop at Broad Street and Pattison.  Fans should consult the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority  website for fares, maps, and schedules.  Inside the ballpark, it can definitely get crowded in Ashburn Alley and slow to get around.  The washroom facilities are adequate for the facility. Stadium Journey recognizes that security at major events is constantly in a state of flux.  It is encouraged for fans to consult the Phillies or Citizens Bank Park  website before heading to the game and have a full understanding of the security protocols including bag policies and prohibited items. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for the Phillies begin at $25 and can go up to $104 for the Home Run Club.  The upper deck behind the plate can be purchased for around $35.  However, the Phillies are a major sport, and ticket prices can fluctuate based on the success of the team, promotion, or day of the week. Concession prices are what one would expect and parking is on the expensive side at $35.  The experience at a Phillies game is excellent and the ballpark offers plenty to see as well.  In the end, the Phillies is a great experience and may not be as expensive as an Eagles game, but is not cheap either. Extras 3 An extra mark for the history of the Phillies and how well it is displayed at Citizens Bank Park An extra mark for the Philly Phanatic, one of the most iconic mascots in sport. An extra mark for the Liberty Bell as a symbol of Philadelphia, fully embraced by the Phillies. Final Thoughts 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 as a must-do.  Citizens Bank Park is an attractive and fun facility, especially if the Phillies are winning and at the end of the game they ring the bell! Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos Courtesy of the Nashua Silver Knights The Nashua Silver Knights are the latest team to introduce new branding for the upcoming season. The new imagery embraces the City of Nashua and pays homage to the deep history of baseball at Historic Holman Stadium. The primary logo features the iron gates, a distinct symbol for the city nicknamed the ‘Gate City” and featured at Holman Stadium. The top of the logo is an arched wrought iron gate in the same style as the concourse tunnels of Holman Stadium that lead into the seating bowl and out to the ballfield. Beneath the starry night sky is a familiar backdrop of towering pine trees similar to the tree line viewable beyond Holman Stadium’s outfield fence. The Knights update the fierce eye logo that has been in use since 2011. Centered in the wrought iron gate is a baseball. Below the stylized team wordmark is a night sky in a playful acknowledgment of the team’s name. The six stars in the sky represent each of the team’s six league championships. “The logo is representative of Nashua’s Holman Stadium being southern New Hampshire’s destination for elite baseball players, generations of families, and countless fans for over 85 years since 1937,” explained team General Manager Can Cook in a press release. The logo was designed by Brian Bednarski, who also created the Futures League rebranding last season, as well as other teams in the loop. The team will also wear new uniforms that will be released at a later date. The newly unveiled cap logo features a metallic silver “N” flanked by open, black wrought iron gates. The new identity updates the old team’s identity honors the city, and the stadium’s presence in baseball history. Cook added. “As we prepare this May to celebrate Holman Stadium’s status along the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, it is fitting that our design’s open gates are also welcoming and inclusive in a nod to our home’s iconic heritage as the site of the first racially integrated team in baseball. We are so proud of the fact that Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella courageously broke baseball’s color barrier on these hallowed and beloved grounds as members of the Nashua Dodgers in 1946.” ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Courtesy of Eastern Illinois University Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.56 Lantz Arena 1900 4th St Charleston, IL 61920 Eastern Illinois Panthers website Lantz Arena website Year Opened: 1967 Capacity: 5,400 Lantz Arena Eastern Illinois University has developed quite a reputation for churning out high-quality NFL players and coaches. O’Brien Field has played home to Super Bowl-winning long-time, coaches Sean Payton and Mike Shanahan, and All-Pro quarterback Tony Romo. Next door is the Lantz Arena Complex, which serves as home to the EIU Athletic Department. Named after long-time coach and teacher Charles Lantz, the facility is home to Lantz Arena, Lantz Indoor Fieldhouse, and Ray Padovan Pool. The building also houses the Panther Athletic Academic Center, a student recreation center, and offices for coaching, staff, and instructors. Eastern’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, along with the volleyball squad, play in Lantz Arena. Completed in 1967, the venue has a capacity of 5,400. The Panthers are members of the Ohio Valley Conference. Food & Beverage 2 The concourse features only one concession stand, with the game day staples at affordable prices. Guests can try a hot dog, nachos, or a pretzel for $2.50. The most exotic food item on the menu is Bosco sticks (breadsticks filled with cheese and served with a dipping sauce), which sell for $3.50. Pepsi products are available for $2 and $3 depending on the size. One of the more popular items is slushies, served in a souvenir cup ($2.50). The south balcony features the Panther Patio, open to fans over 21 years old and sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings. The patio includes seating behind a giant, blue curtain where you cannot see the game or a handful of tables where fans can eat and watch the game. Atmosphere 3 The lower level of Lantz Arena has eight rows of blue plastic bleachers across the court from the benches and scorer’s table. These bleachers hold the subdued “Blue Crew” cheering section and a very lively pep band. The band does quite a bit to entertain the fans and cheer on the home team. The lower level also features chair back seats directly behind the benches and scorer’s table. These seats are mostly reserved for donors. Most of the crowd sits in the balcony on blue plastic bleachers. Balcony seating is general admission and above a walkway that wraps around the court. The seats are comfortable and provide a good viewpoint. The north end of the balcony features wooden bleacher seating, exceptionally often hidden behind a big gray curtain. The end zone seating is only used in exceptional circumstances for large crowds. One of the best things about attending an EIU game is the number of contests held by the sports marketing team. There are several different shooting games including participation by students and fans. The cheerleaders even throw out samples of Jimmy John’s sandwiches. Neighborhood 3 Lantz Arena, along with the rest of the Eastern Illinois athletic facilities, is located on the west side of campus between 4th Street and Grant Avenue. The building is just a couple blocks away from Charleston’s main road, Lincoln Avenue. The closest watering hole is Marty’s, just across 4th Street from Lantz Arena. Marty’s might be more of the college scene than you want if you are not a former student looking to relive your glory days. The bar is named after Eastern Illinois alum, and former MLB pitcher, Marty Pattin. Dirty’s Bar and Grill is right off of Lincoln Avenue and features an extensive food and drink menu. Dirty’s promotes its six homemade sauces (Buffalo, Apple Q, Kansas City Style Q, Yum Yum, Sweet Chili, and Honey Mustard) and its 20 specialty martinis. An order of ten chicken wings (tossed in one of the homemade sauces) is $8 and the specialty martinis start at $6. If you are in a hurry and need something fast and reliable, why not get a sandwich in the town where the Jimmy John’s sandwich chain started in 1983? The Charleston store is no longer in the original building, but the sign identifies the location as “Store #00001.” Make sure you take the time to walk through the small, but pretty campus before the game. The highlight is the Old Main Building, a castle-like structure dedicated in 1899. In front, you’ll also find a flagpole, and memorials dedicated to veterans and Eastern Illinois students who fought and died in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. If I’m in Charleston, though, I’d consider heading a few miles out of the way to nearby Mattoon, Illinois, and visiting Burger King. Mattoon Burger King is not related to the fast food chain and has been in operation since 1957. The family-owned restaurant features a variety of sandwiches and ice cream treats but is best known for its burgers. A double cheeseburger, small fries, and an extra-large drink costs less than $7 and are delicious. Fans 2 The student section on the lower level seems to be at the game because they have nothing else to do. The team fills up, but most of the cheering is done by the band one section over. Groups of students sitting among the fans area on the balcony are more into the game than the Blue Crew. Access 3 Parking is free, with plenty of spots in a lot right next to the building. The lot is used by students and faculty during the week before 5 PM, but basketball fans are free to use the lot for weeknight and weekend games. Patrons enter Lantz Arena on the balcony level and use stairs to reach the lower-level seats. Restrooms are not the most spacious, but can more than handle the crowds at Panther games. The facilities are clean and well-kept. Return on Investment 3 All seats on the balcony are a steal at only $7. Chairback seating on the floor is $12. You will have a clearer, unobstructed view in the cheaper seats. The factor is that in with free parking and affordable concessions and you have an inexpensive night out. This is an especially good deal when Ohio Valley Conference heavyweights Murray State or Belmont are in Charleston. Extras 2 Before finding a seat in Lantz Arena, it is highly recommended to walk through the Baker/Warmoth Hall of Champions. Located in the lobby of the Lantz Arena Complex, the history of EIU sports come alive through interactive displays and displayed jerseys. While the displays cover the football greats mentioned above, they also touch on long-time professionals like Kevin Duckworth (NBA) and Kevin Seitzer (MLB). Inside Lantz Arena, banners hang from the rafters honoring players who have had their jerseys retired and members of the school’s all-century team. Banners are also displayed for conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently in 2001. Final Thoughts Eastern Illinois University’s pride in its athletic accomplishments is evident as you walk into the Lantz Arena Complex. Once you are in the arena, you will find a comfortable venue for college basketball.

Photos by James Hilchen, Stadium Journey CHI Health Center Omaha FANFARE Score: 4.29 CHI Health Center Omaha 455 N 10th St Omaha, NE 68102 Creighton Bluejays website CHI Health Center Omaha website Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 17,390 Bluejay Basketball at CenturyLink Center CHI Health Center Omaha (previously CenturyLink Center and Qwest Center) opened in 2003. It is a multi-purpose arena hosting various concerts, pro wrestling events, and sporting events. The arena is home to University of Nebraska-Omaha hockey and Creighton basketball. Creighton moved to the arena in 2003 from the Omaha Civic Auditorium. The move provided an upgrade in the quality of arena along with a large increase in capacity for the Bluejays. Creighton made the switch from the Missouri Valley Conference to the Big East beginning with the 2013-2014 basketball season, bringing more prestigious teams to Omaha. Despite not being built specifically for basketball, the arena provides a great venue for the team and the fans. Food & Beverage 4 If you can't find something to eat here, you aren't looking very hard. The prices are a little on the high side, but CenturyLink Center offers a wide range of food options. Among the highlights are the hand-carved beef sandwich ($12), grilled macaroni and cheese sandwich ($8.50), and traditional, chicken, and vegetable gyros ($8). Philly cheesesteak ($8), along with the traditional burgers, hot dogs, etc are also available. Many of the options are provided by outside vendors. If you are a barbecue fan, I highly recommend the BBQ nachos ($8) available from Famous Dave's. For those that would like Gluten-free choices, you have your own stand with options such as hot dogs, burgers, nachos, etc. Pepsi products are the soda of choice here. As an off-campus arena, a litany of different choices of alcoholic beverages is also available. Bud and Bud Light cans ($7.50), Goose Island ($7), wine, and other non-beer options can be had. A nice touch here is a "build your own Bloody Mary" stand. Someone from concessions pours the liquor for you but you make the rest as you like it. Atmosphere 4 The CHI Health Center Omaha is a multi-purpose building and it is all about entertainment. There are a few items to see in the concourse. The clear highlight is the band that plays jazz tunes near the Creighton fan store. For the kids, there is also a Mutual of Omaha display with various animals to look at. Another thing worth noting is the number of televisions hanging from the inner walls of the concourse. They are everywhere and allow fans to watch the game while standing in line for food and drinks, walking to the restrooms, or anything else. A huge scoreboard adorns the ceiling directly over the center of the court, and it is easily viewable from all seating areas. Separating the upper and lower seating bowls are the skyboxes. There are a few ancillary scoreboards and a ribbon board clearly visible as well. The excitement ramps up for the fans when the Bluejays take the court. The dance squad, cheerleaders, and band are all quite active before the game. A nice touch here is the heavy curtains that close off the concourse once play begins. It is still easy to get in and out of the seating area but the curtains keep a lot of unnecessary light out. Neighborhood 5 The arena is located near downtown Omaha. Be sure to go by TD Ameritrade Park, home of the Bluejays baseball team and the College World Series. It is visible from the arena and a quick walk across a couple parking lots to get there. There is no shortage of options when looking for places to eat and/or drink before or after the game. On 12th Street is Blatt Beer & Table. During the spring and summer, Blatt's has a rooftop beer garden worth seeing. The extensive beer list is impressive and they have good food, so it is still a great stop during the basketball season too. On Mike Fahey St. is Goodnights Pizza. The barbecue chicken pizza is quite tasty. Another place to have a drink or meal before or after the game is The Old Mattress Factory Bar & Grill. "The Matt" is very popular with the locals and more than one fan suggested that it is "the" place to go. On Capitol Ave is DJ's Dugout Sports Bar. They offer various daily specials and have a decent choice of food options for almost anyone. The arena is also mere blocks away from the riverfront. If the temperature is agreeable, be sure to go have a look, there are some great views. Fans 5 Creighton ranked fifth in attendance in all of college basketball in 2014. The fans are a knowledgeable bunch, very into their team, and good at sensing when their team needs some extra help. They are loud when the occasion dictates and nearly everyone that attends a game (and is rooting for the Bluejays) is dressed in Creighton's colors. An added bonus of this fanbase is that they are a friendly group, and conscious of not taking away from the enjoyment of those around them. Access 5 It doesn't get much easier than getting to CenturyLink Center. The arena is easily accessible from I-480. There are plenty of signs once you exit the freeway and the building is so large, you won't miss it. Once inside, you can move between floors using escalators, elevators, or stairs. The concourses are wide, making it easy to get around. The different seating sections are clearly marked so it is simple to find your seat. There are plenty of clean restrooms on all levels, as well as plenty of good seating for fans in wheelchairs or those needing special help. Return on Investment 4 The only seats readily available to the public are in the upper bowl. The going rate for a ticket is $33, not a bad value to see Big East basketball. Parking is available around the arena for $8-$12, but you can find free parking a few blocks away if you are willing to walk. Couple the tickets and parking with average food prices and you get a fun time for a reasonable amount of money. Extras 3 An extra point goes to the fans. They really are a super-nice bunch and more helpful than most, even to fans of the visiting team. Another point goes to the banners that celebrate Creighton athletics. Final point goes to live music in the concourse before the game. The band was playing various jazz tunes prior to the game and it was quite an enjoyable experience. Final Thoughts Many of the Creighton athletes and fans are spoiled, in a good way. They get to watch their baseball team play at TD Ameritrade Park, a fabulous venue. The basketball team is also privileged to play in a great arena. CHI Health Center Omaha has great food, a fabulous atmosphere, and the fans are tremendous. It is rarely thought of among the elite arenas in college basketball, but the arena combined with a fabulous downtown Omaha makes any effort to attend a game here well worth the trip.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Ed Smith Stadium 12th St and Tuttle Ave Sarasota, FL 34237 Baltimore Orioles Spring Training website Ed Smith Stadium website Year Opened: 1989 Capacity: 8,500 Orioles Sport the Best Nest Ed Smith Stadium opened in 1989 and has served as the spring training home for the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. It was a basic ballpark that had begun to age. In 2010, that all changed when the Baltimore Orioles arrived in Sarasota. Before the team played its first game in the stadium, a more than $31 million renovation was underway to make the ugly duckling into the well-feathered nest of the Baltimore Orioles. As the work got underway, refurbished seats from Camden Yards were installed to replace the worn, weather-beaten seats used by the Reds. The seats were also moved closer to the field. The concourses of the stadium were more than doubled in width to allow a better flow of fans during the game. Fan comfort was improved with the addition of three air-conditioned suites and the installation of a fabric sunshade to keep fans in the top ten rows out of the sun so they could enjoy the games in much more comfortable conditions. Other amenities added to the stadium included increasing the number of concession outlets, addition of a gift shop, and a deli where people could enjoy their sandwiches in the comfort of air-conditioning. A new pavilion was added in left field, fitted out with tables and drink rails, and a bar for fans who liked to socialize during the game. The overall seating capacity was increased to 8,500. The Orioles did not stop with the interior. The exterior of the stadium was redone with a Spanish Mediterranean finish that was much more inviting than the previous entrance to the park. Fans now enter the home plate gate through a grand hallway, complete with a chandelier made of balls, bats, and pennants the Orioles have won. To top everything off, ceramic oriole weathervanes were added to the top of the press box and the outfield’s HD scoreboard. Ed Smith Stadium had become one of the nicest stadiums in the Grapefruit League. Food & Beverage 5 A nice-looking nest is fine, but it is equally important that your guests are well-fed. The Orioles added several outlets of their Birdland concession stands to keep the lines from backing up. The stands offer typical baseball fare, including hot dogs ($4.25), hamburgers ($7.25) pork sandwiches ($8), nachos ($5), popcorn ($4.75), sodas ($5.50), and domestic beers ($7.25) They also offer foods native to the Baltimore area, including seafood, chowders and crab cake sandwiches. Boog’s BBQ joined the food stands in 2019, with the Oriole's former first baseman offering his famous fare. The Orioles also offer a deli-like concession area near the front gate called Café 54, which offers deli sandwiches, rollups, and vegan fare. The Orioles Fit Grill offers several healthy food options. Ed Smith Stadium Boogs BBQ, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Atmosphere 5 If you close your eyes at an Orioles game, it is hard to believe you are not at Camden Yards when you attend a game at Ed Smith Stadium. You are sitting in a seat that once served in that iconic venue. The Orioles do a great job of branding, whether it is the Oriole weathervanes or the baseball chandelier you entered under before the game. The Baltimore fans get fired up even before the games start, as they shout “O” at the beginning of the national anthem (after all … the battle the song about happens literally in their backyard!) They continue their cheering through the announcement of the starting lineups. Typically, the stadium announcer gives the Baltimore weather report, which is usually much colder than Sarasota, which elicits yet another cheer from the crowd. Neighborhood 3 You will need your car after the game is over as there are not much entertainment or eating options nearby. The stadium itself is surrounded by the Orioles training complex which is off-limits to fans. You will need to travel south on Tuttle to visit the many attractions and great restaurants downtown Sarasota has to offer. If you are lured to the coastal beaches, head west on 12th street. For those who are baseball fanatics, both Bradenton and Tampa have spring training complexes less than an hour away… you can catch a day/night doubleheader! Fans 4 Despite their poor record in the last few years, the Orioles have a very loyal fanbase. You will see many Baltimore natives make the trip down from Maryland. They know the team well and are happy to talk baseball with visitors. Another contingent will be locals from Sarasota. They are very proud of the investment they made in the stadium, especially when major league baseball was threatening to leave town due to its poor condition. Sarasota is less than 50 miles from several other spring training facilities, and it is not unusual to see people in the stands wearing colors other than the competing teams. Many people without a specific loyalty to a team come to Florida on vacation to escape the cold weather and have an opportunity to see MLB when they may live hours away from a major league team when they are at home. The best thing about spring training crowds is that they do not take the games too seriously. They understand games will feature youngsters trying to make the team and that veterans are not likely to start or play in games early in camp. Access 4 Ed Smith Stadium is easily accessible via I-75. Coming from the north: take exit #213 (University Parkway. Go west on University to Tuttle Avenue. Turn left on Tuttle and the stadium will be on your right at the corner of Tuttle and 12th Street. Coming from the south: Take I-75 to exit #210 (Fruitville Road) Go west on Fruitville and turn right on Tuttle. The stadium will be on your left. Parking in a stadium lot is $12. Stadium lots can accommodate up to 1,800 cars. Return on Investment 3 Let’s face it…. going to Florida in late winter/early spring means you are going to pay high season prices. Spring training fans book their hotels months in advance as they know they sell out way in advance. If you are from the Northeast, it may be cheaper to fly rather than to spend days on the road to get there. Flights to Tampa are easy to get and, in some cases, you can even fly into airports in smaller cities like Bradenton or Sarasota. Your expected cost for an Orioles game can run between $20-$40. Parking is going to be another $12 and a family of four can easily eat $60 worth of food at the concession stand. If you did not drive down in your car expect premium prices for that rental car. However, these costs may be worth it, as going to as many spring training games and sites are often a bucket list item for many people. Enjoy… the bill won’t come for another month and your friends will be so jealous about your great trip. Extras 4 One big extra to the Orioles for the massive transformation they made in Ed Smith Stadium. A second extra for being in Sarasota…a city filled with beaches and interesting museums to visit before or after the game. Another extra goes to having the regional favorites (a taste of home) at the stadium’s concession stands. A fourth extra is fans can once again go out and see live baseball! Final Thoughts If you close your eyes at an Orioles game, it is hard to believe you are not at Camden Yards when you attend a game at Ed Smith Stadium.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 AT&T Center 1 AT&T Center Pkwy San Antonio, TX 78219 AT&T Center website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 16,151 Rampage Rock at AT&T Center Editors Note: In 2020, the Rampage was sold to the Vegas Golden Knights and relocated as the Henderson Silver Knights . --- The 2019-20 season marks the 25th anniversary of the debut of professional ice hockey in the city of San Antonio. Though the San Antonio Iguanas, the city’s original franchise, are long gone, their spiritual successor is thriving in their place. Owned and operated by Spurs Sports & Entertainment, the San Antonio Rampage moved into their shared home at A&T Center the season it opened (2002). In that time the Rampage has been the farm team of multiple NHL franchises, and are currently affiliated with the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues . While the Rampage have yet to compete for a Calder Cup in the AHL, they have taken home a Division title in 2014-15. And while it may not appear on paper as a hockey town because of all of the transplants, San Antonio has built a rep as one of the best places to catch a game in the AHL. Food & Beverage 4 In 2015 AT&T Center underwent a face lift, of sorts. One of the areas in which upgrades were done was the concessions scene in the arena. One of the highlights of this renovation was the addition of the Rock & Brews pub on the main concourse. Created by KISS legends Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, this has proved to be one of the most popular spots in the arena. With a bevy of beer options and unique sandwich and burger choices ensconced in a myriad of TVs playing 80s music videos, Rock & Brews is hopping before and during Rampage games. While many of the standalone kiosks are closed during Rampage games, there are still tons of options throughout the arena. There is a full-service Whataburger and Taco Bell on the main level, as well as Pizza Hut locations that offer their signature personal-pan pizzas. There are also numerous stands offering traditional stadium fare and Texas-centric fare (e.g. street tacos, brisket sandwiches, and Frito pie). Throughout the season the Rampage have $1 beer and soft drink nights on Fridays. They also have special food and drink discount nights throughout the year; make sure you check their promotional calendar for these special nights. Atmosphere 4 AT&T Center might have equally as good a setup to watch hockey as it does for basketball – the sight lines are perfectly suited for the action on a hockey rink. Also, during Rampage games much of the upper bowl is blocked off, adding even more intimacy, crowd noise, and energy to the festivities. A lot of work was put into the overall arena itself to make it fan-friendly. Before games, upwards of two to three hours before, in fact, the Bud Light Courtyard on the patio of Rock & Brews is hopping with live music, games, and often live radio broadcasts. Make sure to hit the game early and check this area out. Throughout AT&T Center, in addition to tons of reminders of the success of the buildings main tenants , there is a ton of unique art sprinkled on the walls of each concourse level. Also, make sure to hit up the main apparel store; they offer a lot of unique Rampage paraphernalia to get you geared up for games at A&T Center. Neighborhood 3 San Antonio is one of the premier tourist destinations in the country; it has temperate weather for much of the year (it honestly does get unbearably hot from June through much of September though) and there are lots of family friendly entertainment options. That being said, you won’t find much to do in the area immediately surrounding AT&T Center. The venue is in a more industrial section of the city, however, thanks to the miracle of the interstate highway system, you can be anywhere in the city within 10-15 minutes after Rampage games. The two main arteries that run parallel to AT&T Center, I-10 and 1-35, will both take visitors to San Antonio’s famed downtown area. Here you will find many of the great tourist attractions the city has become famous for. A couple of attractions that aren’t at the immediate top of every visitor’s to-do list that should be are Historic Market Square and the Briscoe Western Art Museum . Market Square offers visitors a chance to do some shopping in a historic area of the city – there’s probably no better place to pick up that unique San Antonio souvenir than this place; hundreds of artisans and vendors fill the area and offer bespoke items at reasonable prices. Market Square is also home to one of the best Tex-Mex spots in town, La Margarita , and the aforementioned Briscoe is exactly what its name implies: a premiere Western art museum with a collection of items in the hundreds. Make sure to visit and walk off some of that great Mexican food you just downed at La Margarita. Fans 3 It has taken awhile, which is understandable given the lack of a foundation in the sport, but San Antonio has become a pretty good hockey town. The team has averaged just about 7,000 fans per game since their existence began, which is pretty good for minor league sports in a city as large as San Antonio. Because so many people move to the Alamo City from outside of the state, there is an automatically built in audience for hockey which has helped the native fans learn and grow accustomed to Canada’s national sport. You will see a ton of Rampage sweaters in the stands. and those who cheer on the Rampage cheer on vociferously. Access 3 Two major highways parallel AT&T Center, and they can get you from any point in the city. If you’re coming from San Antonio International Airport it’s about a 20-minute drive, based on traffic, while from downtown you can expect about 15 minutes. Once on site, parking is plentiful for Rampage games. It will cost you $8 to park in the lots on site, but there are often parking options at the neighboring houses and businesses during the season, and there is also a public transportation option ( VIA Metropolitan Transit ) if you choose not to drive. Return on Investment 3 Individual game tickets for the Rampage cost $20 per person, which is a pretty good bargain, and they also frequently offer specials for games during the week which have discounted ticket prices. The concessions costs don’t really come down from what they are during Spurs games, but you can still get a pretty good deal at vendors like Whataburger, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. And as a plus, the parking costs are quite a bargain from what they are when the NBA is in town. The AHL is the direct minor league to the NHL so you will often see high draft picks, journeyman veterans, and players rehabbing. What this means is you’ll often get a chance to see some top talent at Rampage games for bargain-level prices. Plus, hockey in person is a blast and has to be experienced at least once in your sports viewing life – Rampage games would give you a great entry into the sport at a top notch facility. Extras 2 There isn’t much in the way of extras at Rampage games, but they do frequently have promotional nights; Pink the Rink night is always a popular one. Rampage fans can also count on the team’s mascot, T-Bone, to lead them in cheers, pound the glass, and roam the stands during contests or for photo ops. During the 2018-19 season, the Rampage unveiled a unique new marketing campaign; on select nights the team embraces the Hispanic roots of their home town and become Los Chimuelos de San Antonio. Liberally translated as “toothless ones” (totally befitting of a hockey team), the promotion proved to be a big hit with fans, so the staff will be bringing it back again this year. Final Thoughts Hockey is a great sport to watch in person. I can’t say I’ve been to a ton of other hockey venues, but I have found few to match what AT&T Center has to offer in terms of in-game experience for fans. Going to Rampage games is a great way to introduce new fans, young and old, to the sport of hockey, and it is also a great way for hockey junkies to more than satisfy their cravings. AT&T Center continues to be head and shoulders the best venue for sports in South Texas, and I think anyone who catches a Rampage game will agree. Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 . Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com .

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Sullivan Arena 1600 Gambell St Anchorage, AK 99501 Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves website Sullivan Arena website Year Opened: 1983 Capacity: 6,406 The Sully Alaska is a land known for its wonders of the world: the 800-mile Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the 20,320-foot Mount McKinley (Denali), the 1,390-mile Alaska Highway, the 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and the 5-foot-5 Sarah Palin. But if there’s one place the Last Frontier is certainly not famous for, it is the big block of concrete in the center of Anchorage: the George M. Sullivan Arena. Opened in 1983 and named after a former Anchorage mayor, “The Sully” is Alaska’s largest entertainment venue but also quite possibly one of the least aesthetically pleasing venues for professional sports in the United States. However, the winters here in Alaska are long, cold and dark, which means creative architecture doesn’t matter much to Alaskans. What counts the most is what happens inside, The Sully. In the Last Frontier, hockey is king, and these days Alaskans have gladly perched the Alaska Aces of the ECHL on the throne. The Boys in Blue have raised two Kelly Cup championship banners at Sullivan Arena since 2006, and own the second-most postseason victories (76) among the 23 teams in the league. The Aces share the facilities with the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves of the WCHA. In addition to sports entertainment, the Sullivan Arena is also home to annual trade shows, the state high school basketball tournament, concerts, high school, and university graduations, and the occasional World Wresting Entertainment spectacle. According to SMG, the company that manages Sullivan Arena, the arena averages more than 500,000 in attendance every year. Food & Beverage 3 Nothing screams Alaska about the food served at Sullivan Arena’s concession stands. You won’t find any reindeer dogs, moose stew, or Alaska salmon here. Expect the typical array of stadium items, such as cheeseburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, popcorn, nachos, French fries, and pizza slices. Prices range from $3.25 to $5. Bottled sodas are $3.50 and fountain sodas start at $4. The Sullivan Arena also has a variety of third-party vendors: Big Burrito, Carolyn’s Caramel Apples, Gilligan’s Shaved Ice, Cafe D’Arte Coffee, Urban Bamboo, Corn Fritters, and Candied Nuts. As far as adult beverages, fans at Alaska Aces games thirsty for beer, wine coolers, or wine, sit on the south side of the arena, otherwise known as the “wet side.” Beers include Budweiser, Bud Light, Rolling Rock, Kokane, Alaskan Amber, Miller, Miller Lite, Coors Light, Molson, Blue Moon, and Mirror Pond ESB. Domestic 12-oz. beers cost $6.25, while microbrews cost $7. Wine coolers are $6.75 while wine is $6.75. Atmosphere 3 The Sullivan Arena promises fans that just about every seat in the house provides a good view for watching sporting events. I’ve sat way up high in the upper nose bleeds and thought it was a great vantage point. I’ve experienced concerts at Sullivan Arena, and like many arenas the acoustics are lousy. But the intimate atmosphere makes up for it. Perhaps my favorite part of Sullivan Arena is the mezzanine level, which provides fans tired of sitting with an option to walk around the arena and stretch their legs. Just make sure you’re carrying identification before you start your stroll – Sullivan Arena employees are sticklers for checking IDs to get into the wet section. The Sullivan Arena is designed to be a multi-use facility complete with an Olympic size ice rink, and an insulated floor covering for basketball, concerts, and trade shows. The total square footage with all telescoping seats retracted is approximately 32,000 square feet. The seating is designed to give versatility to the spectator. For reserved concert seating, the maximum capacity is approximately 8,700; for basketball, approximately 7,800; and 6,500 for hockey. Neighborhood 2 With downtown Anchorage to the north and Midtown to the south, Sullivan Arena is nestled in a shallow valley otherwise known as the Chester Creek Greenbelt. To many hockey fans, Sullivan Arena’s locale is often considered no-man’s land. The only option for a pre-game drink and bite to eat is within walking distance. The total arena is the Crossroads Lounge. Located on the northern side of the valley, the Crossroads is a neighborhood bar that offers one of the best Alaskan atmospheres within the city limits. Its log cabin-like structure, big rectangular bar, and a plethora of flat-screen televisions give ticket holders the kind of comfort they need on those bitterly cold winter evenings before they head down the hill toward the arena. The beer is cheap (one of the few Anchorage bars that still has PBR on tap) and the service is generally great. The best part about the place: hot dogs are free and so is the Wi-Fi. Oh, and there’s almost always a crockpot full of soup, chili, or burger patties that are also free to customers. The Crossroads is also a go-to place for,post-Sullivan Arena events. There’s a pool table, dartboards, and late-night fried munchies that can cost anywhere between $4 and $10. Fans 3 Not long before the Alaska Aces won their first Kelly Cup in 2006, the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves were the hottest ticket in town. Back in the day, when the Aces were treading water as a professional organization, UAA was the only credible hockey team in town worth watching. But year after year of the Seawolves finishing at or near the bottom of the WCHA, combined with the Aces’ winning ways and the creation of the Cowbell Crew, the tide has slowly turned in the Aces’ favor, making them the current darlings of Anchorage hockey. Losing seasons aren’t the only problem for the Seawolves – they also have trouble drawing more students than old-timers to watch their games. Many have said the problem stems from the fact that the team plays three miles off campus. The Seawolves ranked among the bottom in WCHA attendance, averaging 2,729 fans during the 2012-13 season. The Aces, meanwhile, drew 4,247 per game to rank second in ECHL attendance during the 2012-13 campaign. Access 4 Located on 16th Avenue between the one-way streets of Gambell Street and A Street, Sullivan Arena and its available parking ($6) always depends on the event. Going to a Seawolves game? Expect plenty of open spots. Going to watch the Aces or a concert? Get there early, especially during the spring and fall when multiple venues in the Chester Creek Sports Complex are being utilized. The giant parking lot that makes up the Chester Creek Sports Complex serves not only Sullivan Arena but also four other sporting venues: Ben Boeke Arena (high school/adult hockey); Mulcahy Stadium (high school baseball, Alaska Baseball League); Anchorage Football Stadium (high school sports); and Kosinski Fields (high school/adult baseball). There are two ways to enter Sullivan Arena’s parking lot: 1) Drive north on A Street and turn right onto East 16th Avenue; 2) Drive south on Gambell Street and veer to the right toward Sullivan Arena after crossing the intersection of Gambell and East 15th Avenue. Return on Investment 3 The University of Alaska-Anchorage charges between $13.25 and $18.50 for single-game tickets. The cheapest way to see a game is to attend in a group of 10 or more ($6 general admission, $12 reserved). Taking six credits or more at UAA gives those students free admission and parking to all home games. UAA students are also eligible to buy a companion ticket for $5, which is arguably the best deal in town considering this is Division I hockey. Extras 2 One point extra goes to sitting high in the top row of the balcony section. There is something spectacular about taking in the venue from every possible angle. Another point goes to NHL lockouts, which have been known to temporarily boost the Aces’ roster with Anchorage NHLers such as Joey Crabb of the Washington Capitals, Nate Thompson of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Scott Gomez of the Montreal Canadians. Final Thoughts There’s no getting around the fact that Sullivan Arena is old and in need of upgrades. But living in a state that supports just one professional sports franchise – the Aces – we know that beggars can’t be choosers. Whether it’s an eyesore or not, Sullivan Arena is an ideal place to break cabin fever or get some relief when it’s just too cold to play outside.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Trustmark Park 1 Braves Way Pearl, MS 39208 Mississippi Braves website Trustmark Park website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 8,480 The Road to Atlanta runs through Mississippi If you grew up watching baseball in the Deep South during the 80s and 90s, more than likely you were watching the Braves on TBS Superstation. Millions of people, myself included, were introduced to professional baseball through the voices of Don Sutton and Skip Carey being welcomed into our homes every night. Because of this, and not having another MLB team in the region for so many years, it is safe to say that the Atlanta Braves are the South baseball team. The Braves also keep their minor league teams close to home as well, ensuring that all of ' Braves Country' will be able to watch and keep up with their top prospects on their way to The Show. In 2005 the organization moved the Double-A Greenville Braves to the Jackson, MS suburb of Pearl with the opening of Trustmark Park. It would mark the return of affiliated baseball to the Jackson area since the Double-A Jackson Generals were moved to Corpus Christi for the 2000 season. Before that Jackson was home to the Jackson Mets (1975-1990), with both teams playing at Smith-Wills Stadium about 5 miles away. The Braves Double A franchise is a historic franchise that has played in Austin (66-67), Shreveport (68-70), Savannah (71-83), and Greenville (84-04). Food & Beverage 3 Trustmark Park features multiple concession stands lining the concourses, although some are only open for select games. The M-Braves also renamed most of their concession stands before the 2023 season – down the first base line there is now Big Dawg which sells the usual ballpark fare. Prices here range from $3 to $8, with combo meals including fries costing $13. Also down the first baseline is the Southern Comfort fried food stand selling fried shrimp, chicken tenders, and fried pickles. Next to that is the Hickory Pit, which sells BBQ sandwiches and BBQ nachos, while behind home plate is the Nacho Mama stand that was not open during my most recent visit, but you can find a different variety of nachos and tacos at this stand. Down the third base line, they have a stand called Hammer's Home Plate Grill which pretty much sells the same items that Big Dawg sells; however, you can also get gyros, fried bologna sandwiches, and grilled chicken sandwiches at Hammer's Home Plate Grill. They also have an Ice Cream Parlor stand down the third base line where you can get the M-Braves ice cream or Dippin’ Dots helmet for $6. The highlight of the food and beverages at Trustmark Park can be found in the right field – a full-service restaurant called the State Farm Bureau Grill sits out there. The Grill is a functioning sit-down restaurant with a menu modeled after The Chophouse restaurant that sits in right field at Truist Park in Atlanta. The Grill has a bar that overlooks the right field, with an outdoor party deck so you can eat your food and drink your drinks while feeling the warm summer breeze. For the alcohol selection here you can buy any of the beers at any of the concession stands, or get a cold one on tap at the Grill bar. You can also find an extensive selection of liquor and more beers available at the Liquor Cabinet, also located on the third base side. You can find a wide selection of craft beers on taps, as well as a few local beers – Mr. Sippi and Mississippi Queen are brewed at Key City Brewing, located right on the Mississippi River in Vicksburg about 40 minutes away. Atmosphere 4 It's hard to believe Trustmark Park is entering its 19th season hosting baseball in 2023. Upon entering the venue it becomes evident that the ballpark has aged well over the years. Trustmark Park was built at a time when ballparks were just beginning to utilize the open-air concourses found at many ballparks today. The wraparound concourse extends from the main entrance at right field to left field, and you can see the whole field no matter where you are on the concourse, even from the concessions lines. Trustmark Park is also the second-largest ballpark in the Southern League, holding 8,480 seats, but because of the way the ballpark was built, all the seats are located below the concourse at street level. So even though there are a lot of seats, you will be able to see everything on the field from any of them, as there is not a bad seat in the house. Mississippi is also the heart of Braves country, so if you are a fan of the Atlanta Braves you will fit right in here. As soon as you pull into the parking lot you will start to see the Braves logo everywhere, and as you enter the main gate you'll walk past the giant mural of Braves All-Star Ronald Acuna, who played a year in Mississippi in 2017. In the team store, you will be also able to buy various Mississippi and Atlanta Braves merch, such as jerseys, cards, hats, shirts, etc. Lastly, on the third base concourse, you will see the Braves Wall of Fame, a large mural that highlights past players and achievements of the M-Braves since the opening of Trustmark Park in 2005. The ballpark features three entrances – the main entrance in the right field, the season ticket entrance behind the home plate, and a less frequented entrance in the far-left field. Upon entering the main entrance, you'll come to a wide-open concourse with the State Farm Grill in front of you, some inflatables and bump n' jump to your right, and the huge Braves team store to your left. The Grill makes for a great air-conditioned area to hang out to escape the heat, and you can't beat the views overlooking the right field from the bar. The team store is also a great place to stop to get some Braves gear. Another thing that makes Trustmark Park so great is the concourse and half the seats in the seating bowl are covered by the press box and the 24 suites that make up the second level above you – you'll get plenty of shade and stay dry from the frequent Mississippi summer storms. The concourse is also wide enough that you'll have plenty of room to get around. Down the far-left field line is the Yuengling Pavilion with picnic tables and a beer garden that is only open during select games. Along the outfield there isn't much of a view besides The Grill in right field and the berm seating in left field, with a large video board looming over left-center field; the video board measures 28 feet by 68 feet and is the largest video board in the Southern League. Another cool thing about Trustmark Park is the bullpens are hidden behind the wall pads like you would see in the big leagues – most ballparks in the Southern League have the bullpens down the field on the first and third base lines. Neighborhood 3 Trustmark Park is located in the Jackson suburb of Pearl, about 3 miles east of downtown Jackson. The opening of the ballpark in 2005 was meant to revitalize the area that was once all woods right off Interstate 20 – the opening of Trustmark Park has created many businesses that have popped up over the last 10 years. Just across the street from the ballpark you can get plenty of shopping done at The Outlets of Mississippi; with over 75 stores including brands like Nike, Under Armour, Forever 21, Coach, and Marshalls you are bound to find something to buy at Mississippi's largest outdoor shopping center. In addition, right next door to the Outlets you can get the latest hunting and fishing gear at Bass Pro Shop, then hop on over to Cavender’s Outfitters next door and buy your gear to hunt and fish in; Chipper Jones has also been known to stop off at this Bass Pro when he is in town scouting players. You can take a service road from the stadium that crosses over to the next exit at Bierdeman Road, which would be Exit 48 off I-20. Here you'll find mostly chain and fast-food restaurants such as Cracker Barrell and Waffle House, but a couple of places worth checking out are Frisco Deli, a family-owned deli-style restaurant, and Moss Creek Fish House, the only place in Pearl to get seafood. There is also a hibachi place and a movie theatre several blocks over from the ballpark as well. For nightlife, Pearl is in a dry county, but alcohol can be sold in certain restaurants. The Mississippi-based sports bar Mugshots just opened on Bierdeman Road, where you can get a good selection of drinks or a burger before or after the game. The Holiday Inn next to the Bass Pro also has a cool bar called the Alumni House, and of course, the Bass Pro Shop has a pretty unique restaurant/bar surrounded by giant fish tanks. Other than that, your best bet for nightlife would be to venture into Jackson's Fondren District, about 15 minutes away. Jackson is also the State Capital and has several historical attractions worth checking out, such as the new and old Capitol buildings and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Fans 2 The M-Braves average about 2,500 fans per game, which places them 7th in the 8-team Southern League in terms of attendance. This is quite disappointing, considering Mississippi's love affair with baseball. Nonetheless, you'll encounter a wide range of fans from the families to the diehard Braves fans coming out to Trustmark Park. In 2023 the M-Braves featured a wide range of promotions such as Bark in the Park on Tuesdays, First Responder Wednesdays, Thirsty Thursdays, giveaways and fireworks for weekend games, and kids running the bases on Sundays. There may not be a lot of fans who come out, but the ones that do are usually in their Braves shirts, as almost everyone in Mississippi has at least one old Braves shirt; you will also see a lot of fans in Braves jerseys, with everything from current Braves stars like Ronald Acuna and Austin Riley to Chipper Jones and Tom Glavine. There's also plenty to do for the kids, from the inflatables in right field to the three mascots Pearl, Diddly, and Trusty, who are a constant presence on the concourse. Diddly is the newest mascot for 2023, and the name pays homage to Mississippi's blues music history. Access 4 Getting to Trustmark Park is pretty easy. If coming from out of town I-20 or Highway 49 would be your best bet – the park is located right off the I-20 and Highway 49 interchange at Exit 48. As you are driving on the Interstate you can see the park next to the Bass Pro Shop and the Outlets, right before you get to the Jackson exit at I-55. Once you get off Exit 48 travel north on Highway 49 about a half mile, then get on Highway 80 and take the first right onto Bass Pro Drive, and you'll see the park up ahead. Trustmark Park has a large footprint and is located in a huge parking lot, so you should have no problem finding a parking spot. If you don't want to pay the $5 parking, you can also park across the street at the mall and walk over. Once inside you'll have a wide and spacious concourse with plenty of room to roam around. The Braves front office also does a great job at keeping a clean concourse, and you’ll be able to stand at the drink rails or anywhere on the concourse without blocking the view of other fans. Even with the lack of open concessions stands the lines run smoothly, and despite the lack of fans, everything is smoothly run at Trustmark Park. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are easy to come by as M-Braves games rarely ever sell out. Tickets can be found for as low as $8 to sit on the outfield berm, and up to $30 to sit at the BCI Club directly behind home plate at field level. General admission seating down the first and third base lines goes for $10, while the diamond club tickets behind home plate go for $20. There are also 3 pavilions available to rent – the first and third base party decks and the picnic pavilion down the third base line. Double-A baseball teams often have the best prospects in baseball, and that is true in 2023 with the Atlanta Braves having 23 players on their 40-man rosters having come through Mississippi. That said, there is a good chance you'll be watching the next big player for the Atlanta Braves playing on the field. Extras 3 If you want to experience a part of Jackson's professional baseball history, I suggest taking a trip to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, about 5 miles up the road. The Hall of Fame is a must-visit for all sports fans, and makes for a great stop before a Mississippi Braves game. Inside there is a minor league baseball in Mississippi exhibit, as well as the front office desk and chair from J. Con Maloney, the owner of the Jackson Mets from 1975 to 1990. You can also find all kinds of old jerseys and trophies on display from not just the J Mets and Jackson Generals, but also the M-Braves and all the rest of the teams that have called the Jackson area home. Across the street you can visit Smith-Wills Stadium, which used to host minor league baseball in Jackson; the stadium has recently been redone to include the Hank Aaron Sports Academy, a year-long baseball training center. In addition, all kinds of murals of famous Braves players line the walls now at Smith-Wills Stadium, just like they do at Trustmark Park. Trustmark Park also hosts several college games throughout the year, including the Famous Governor's Game between Ole Miss and Mississippi State . Southern Miss also usually plays one game here as well, and tickets are expensive and hard to come by for these games. Trustmark Park also serves as the home of the Belhaven Blazers baseball program, with their first year hosted in 2022. Belhaven is a small D3 university located in downtown Jackson, and they previously played at Smith-Wills Stadium from 2016 to 2021. Every year since 2006 Trustmark Park has also hosted the Mississippi High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) Baseball State Championships, and Braves third baseman Austin Riley even played here in 2015 as part of the MHSAA State Championships – he would suit up for the M-Braves during the 2017 and 2018 seasons as well. And of course, another extra for all the Braves legends who have come through Mississippi on the way to The Show; Freddie Freeman, Brian McCann, Jeff Francouer, Jason Heyward, Dansby Swanson, Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuna, Austin Riley, Max Fried, Mike Soroka, and Spencer Strider are just some of the current All-Stars who came through here. In addition, Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz all played here in their careers doing rehab stints – Braves skipper Brian Snitker was even the M-Braves first manager as well. Final Thoughts Trustmark Park may not be as flashy as some of the more modern ballparks, but after 19 years it still holds up well as a great place to catch a ballgame. The M-Braves may not pack out the house every night, but they take great pride in being affiliated with their big-league club, something you don't see at many minor-league ballparks. Hopefully, it'll be many more years of Braves players coming through Mississippi.

Photos by Lloyd Brown and James Hilchen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Memorial Stadium 600 Stadium Dr Lincoln, NE 68508 Nebraska Cornhuskers website Memorial Stadium website Year Opened: 1923 Capacity: 87,091 The Sea of Red On several weekends each fall, the third largest city in Nebraska forms within the confines of Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Nicknamed “the Sea of Red” for the predominate color worn by their fans, the stadium has a capacity of 85,458. It holds the collegiate record for consecutive sellouts as the last game where there was an empty seat was in 1961. This is a testament to the dominant history of football at Nebraska, with 5 National Championships, 43 Conference Championships and 53 Bowl appearances. The Cornhuskers own a .754 home winning percentage since play began at the stadium back in 1923. Food & Beverage 4 There are more than 100 concession stands or carts spread throughout the stadium on football Saturdays. These stands are designed with speed and efficiency in mind. The quality of the food is excellent, as you are in the center of farm country, but the variety of foods offered is limited due to the space available and the number of fans to feed. Cornhusker concessions include brats ($6), brisket sandwiches ($8), hamburgers ($6), hot dogs ($3), pizza ($5), nachos ($3-$6, depending on type), popcorn ($3), pretzels ($3), candy ($3) and cookies ($3). Memorial Stadium carries Pepsi brand products (24 ounce for $3), bottled water ($3), coffee ($3) and hot chocolate ($3). Alcohol can not be sold on university property. The concessions workers do a great job at keeping the lines moving and you should be back in your seat very quickly. Atmosphere 5 The University of Nebraska has cultivated a great atmosphere at its home games back to the days of legendary coaches Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne. Statues of both Devaney and Osborne are found outside two of the main gates into the stadium. Another major contributor to the game day atmosphere is the Hall of Fame Plaza, which is a central gathering point before each contest. Tradition plays a big role in creating a great atmosphere at a Cornhuskers game. The day gets underway with one of the biggest traditions in America’s Heartland, a parade. This activity includes the team’s Unity Walk into the stadium, as well as a pregame concert by the University of Nebraska marching band. Another tradition is the chanting of “Corn!” by one side of the stands, followed by “Huskers!” by the opposite side of the stadium just before the team takes the field. The team charges out of a tunnel as “Sirius” by the Alan Parsons Project is played and the stadium simply erupts. Memorial Stadium is very well designed from the aspect of sight lines. Even though it is large, the pitch of the steps and seating is at a comfortable level. Speaking of comfort… bring along a seat cushion as almost all of the seating is of the aluminum bench variety. Another nice design factor are the large HuskerVision boards for the replays and information on other games. Nebraska pioneered the use of video boards in college stadiums back in the 1990”s. Neighborhood 5 The University of Nebraska campus and Memorial Stadium are both located in downtown Lincoln. Lincoln has two sides to it, as it is the state capital and it is a major college town. We’re going to give you a short overview to the two sides of Lincoln. First, as the state capital of Nebraska, the city has many cultural activities going on and there are also some very interesting government buildings to check out for the architecture alone. We suggest you visit the State Capitol Building first, as it is the easiest to find. It is a 400-foot tall building that towers over the rest of the city. Inside you will find beautiful murals depicting the history of the state. Another cultural site to visit is the Sheldon Museum of Art, which brings in spectacular pieces from every part of the art world. As a college town, entertainment venues, sports and dining choices are a necessity. In Lincoln these are found in the Haymarket Historic District. Located just a few blocks from campus, this area is developing into the retail, dining, sports and shopping center of Lincoln. It is home to the Pinnacle Arena , the home court for the basketball Huskers. Within two blocks of the arena is Railyard, an entertainment venue with more than 20 restaurants, bars and shopping options. It is a short walk from Memorial Stadium and is a great place to go after the game while letting the traffic thin out. Fans 5 The Cornhusker fan base spans many generations. It is not unusual to see three generations of a family attending a game together. What ties these folks together is a love of Cornhusker football….and a seriously red sense of fashion. Expect to see business suits, bib jeans, baby clothes and t-shirts… all in Husker red and sporting either the block “N” lettering or the image of mascot Herbie the Husker. Also expect to see plenty ear of corn headgear. You will find the Nebraska fans to be very vocal in their support of the team, but in a polite way. This is the Heartland, where trash talking is frowned on. You don’t have to worry about wearing the opposition’s colors with this crowd. Unless… you are in the student section, known as the Boneyard. They are in no way out of control… they are just a bit rowdier than the other 72,000 fans in the stands. The Osborne Athletic Building offers fans a great look at the history of Nebraska football in its lobby. This includes kiosks featuring great plays in Cornhusker history, a collection of all the National Championship and Bowl trophies won over the years by Nebraska and a section devoted to the team’s three Heisman Trophy winners (Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier and Eric Crouch). The Husker Nation Pavilion is a very popular gathering point for fans prior to the games. It is set up on the practice field next to Memorial Stadium. It opens three hours before the kickoff and offers food, games, a team store, autograph sessions with former Husker greats and plenty of large screen TV’s tuned in to other games from around the country. Access 3 Nebraska is a large state geographically, with very few large population centers. The major road into Lincoln is I-80, which can be crowded on game days. Lincoln does have an airport (LNK), but flights are prohibitively expensive on game weekends. A second option is to fly into Omaha, which is 58 miles from Lincoln, then rent a car. It is much less expensive and will offer you quite a bit more flight options. Amtrak service is also an option to get to Lincoln. Once you are in Lincoln, parking becomes an issue, as lots next to the stadium are reserved for boosters and season ticket holders. We strongly urge you to use the Big Red Express shuttle service offered by StarTran on game days. They offer shuttle service from the mall, the airport and many other parking lots that are not in use on Saturdays. The service costs $10 round trip (call 402-476-1234 for detailed information.) Once inside Memorial Stadium you will find wide concourses and aisles, which help the fan movement to flow very smoothly. The stadium also offers enough concession areas and restroom facilities to handle the capacity crowds. Return on Investment 3 Tickets (if they are even available) start at $75 for standing room only. Secondary market sellers get hundreds of dollars for a single game ticket. Parking at the stadium is strictly for large donors and season ticket holders. Downtown Lincoln parking areas are nearly all spoken for on game days. The most cost-effective way to get to the stadium is via the Big Red Express Shuttles at a cost of $10 . Concessions at Memorial Stadium are quite reasonably priced. Lincoln’s inventory of available hotel rooms on game weekends is extremely limited. You may want to stay in Omaha, and commute to the game on Saturday morning. Extras 4 Memorial Stadium salutes Nebraskans who lost their lives in wars dating back to the Civil and Spanish American Wars, in addition to the wars of the 20th and 21st centuries. The University of Nebraska Athletic Department is one of the few self-supporting college programs in the country. It receives no state funding and charges no student athletic fees. It typically runs at a surplus and donates 5% of the surplus back to the university for use in academic programs. Fans and players alike love to make the ‘throwing the bone” sign after a great tackle or a successful defensive series. This sign is made by crossing your arms in a skull and crossbones movement. Another extra must go to the Nebraska fans. They are competitive during the game, but always make visitors feel welcome. They are a class act and represent Lincoln and the university well. Final Thoughts The University of Nebraska and Memorial Stadium represent the best in college football. On the field, the team has been quite successful, winning five National Championships. In the stands, the fans have filled the nearly 90,000 seat stadium to capacity for every game since 1961. More importantly, the athletic department is self-sufficient and does not drain funds from the university. A trip to the Sea of Red helps to restore your confidence in college football done the right way.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 William R. Johnson Coliseum 700 E College St Nacogdoches, TX 75964 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks website William R. Johnson Coliseum website Year Opened: 1974 Capacity: 7,203 Lumberjacks Aim for the Top at William R. Johnson Coliseum Located in the oldest city in the State of Texas, Nacogdoches, and nestled deep in the Piney Woods region are the Stephen F. Austin University Lumberjacks. The school and its basketball program have seen tremendous success over the course of their history, especially since moving into their current home, William R. Johnson Coliseum – the Jacks have made the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) once (in 2017), the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) three times (1987, 2008, & 2013), and the Big Dance itself, the NCAA Tournament, four times (2009, 2014, 2015, & 2016). ABA and NBA legend James “Captain Late” Silas starred for the Lumberjacks from 1968-1972, and is probably the school’s best home-grown talent. William R. Johnson Coliseum itself has also proven to be a great home-court advantage for the Lumberjacks, and is a unique facility on the college basketball landscape. Food & Beverage 3 Often times, I’ve found that concessions at smaller schools can be a mixed bag. However, you can take heart in the fact that what you find at Lumberjacks games is above the standard, and better than the norm. There are two concessions stands open during most games at William R. Johnson Coliseum, and both accept cash and credit cards, which is always welcome in this day and age. The stands offer your traditional assortment of sporting event fare, such as hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, bottled soda, water, sports drinks, and candy; these items all range from $2-$6, so are great bargains, and are sure to satisfy your needs. However, there are also some other non-traditional items that are worth checking out – these include grilled chicken or pulled pork sandwiches ($6 and $7 respectively) and pulled pork nachos ($8). As an added attraction, one of the stands has an adjacent counter selling Marble Slab ice cream and Great American Cookie cookie cake slices. Sweets are often undervalued at sporting events; not at William R. Johnson Coliseum, though – here they are a top priority. Atmosphere 3 William R. Johnson Coliseum is deceptively cavernous – the court descends downward from the main entrance, and this effect offers great acoustics for the game. It amplifies the home crowd noise exponentially, and while it is hard to fill the over 7,000 seats for games that are not against conference rivals or big-name programs, the set up greatly enhances the atmosphere. Everywhere you look, from the multitude of banners that hang from the rafters touting the numerous successes the program has had, to the timelines of the men’s and women’s basketball programs near the main entrance, you get the feeling that you are entering a basketball cathedral in Nacogdoches. Something else every visitor should make a point to check out is the SFA Hall of Fame, which can be found inside William R. Johnson Coliseum. Neighborhood 3 Nacogdoches is the oldest city in the state of Texas, one of its proudest claims to fame. As such, there is history to be found on nearly every corner, especially in its historic downtown. Statues, plaques, and markers abound, which are sure to keep any history buff entertained. For shopping, the city is also one of the antique capitals of the state, and there are numerous shops to be found throughout the city. For outdoor enthusiasts, there is Lake Nacogdoches, which offers camping, hiking, swimming, boating, and fishing options. Also, in nearby Lufkin, the Ellen Trout Zoo has been touted as one of the best mid-sized zoos in the state. When it comes to dining options, your best bet is to hit up some local favorites before the game; being a smallish-sized town many venues close early, especially during the week. Some highlights to check out include Dolli’s Diner for classic American cuisine and Auntie Pasta’s, called one of the best Italian restaurants in East Texas. In terms of lodging, all the chains can be found in Nacogdoches. However, in keeping with the historical theme, there are some great options to choose from, including the legendary Hotel Fredonia and the Victorian Inn & Suites. Fans 4 There is something to be said for being the proverbial “only game in town” the way Stephen F. Austin athletics are in Nacogdoches. On game nights, it is an event to watch the Lumberjacks play at the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The stands are filled with purple and white attire, and there are multiple generations of fans in attendance. When the stands are filled with screaming, enthusiastic fans of all ages, this makes for an experience that is truly special. Be prepared to get wrapped up in the excitement these fans bring to every game when you visit William R. Johnson Coliseum. Access 2 Stephen F. Austin University is located as far east in Texas as you can get without crossing into Louisiana – the nearest big city that you can fly into is Houston, and even that is still a good two-and-a-half-hour drive from Nacogdoches. Once in town though, signs point you toward campus, and the big LED sign for William R. Johnson Coliseum can easily be viewed for several miles up the street. Parking for Lumberjack games is also ample and free. Return on Investment 3 General admission tickets for SFA basketball games start at $10 per person/seat. SFA has regularly gone to the NCAA Tournament this past decade – on several occasions, they have even gone to the round of 32. When you factor in their competitiveness against the cost for game tickets, the affordable cost for concessions, and the free parking, you are getting quite a bargain at William R. Johnson Coliseum in Nacogdoches. Extras 1 There is not much to speak of in terms of “Extras” at games at William R. Johnson Coliseum. What there is though are the traditional staples of college basketball – a rowdy basketball band can always be found piping in music that is amplified by the acoustics of the arena, and waving banners and signs behind the opposing team’s basket during free throws. The Pom Squad is also on hand to perform at timeouts, and there are also contests throughout the game during breaks in the action, as well as special events during halftime. Final Thoughts East Texas is unlike any other region of the state – the scenery, topography, and terrain all make it unlike anywhere else in Texas. Nacogdoches also prides itself on being different, yet Texan at the same time. Making a visit to the city alone is well worth the trip; when you add in the chance to see a great basketball program in a special venue, it is one that should not be missed. Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 . Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com .

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Tucson Arena 260 S Church Ave Tucson, AZ 85701 Map It Tucson Roadrunners website Tucson Arena website Year Opened: 1971 Capacity: 6,521 ¡Bip! ¡Bip! Los Tucson Roadrunners están disfrutando de su octava temporada (2023-2024) en la AHL (American Hockey League) como afiliado de la NHL (National Hockey League) Arizona Coyotes. El equipo se originó como el equipo Springfield (MA) Falcons AHL y se mudó a Tucson, AZ, antes de la temporada 2016-2017. Juegan sus partidos en el Tucson Arena, de 52 años de antigüedad. Construido en 1971, Tucson Arena es parte del Centro de Convenciones de Tucson (TCC), que se agregó al Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos en 2015. Recibió una renovación de $22 millones en 2014, que incluyó nuevos baños, iluminación, asientos, una sistema de sonido, una cocina nueva y un marcador de vídeo. Los Roadrunners comparten Tucson Arena con el equipo de hockey Arizona Wildcats (Universidad de Arizona) y los Tucson Sugar Skulls (IFL – Indoor Football League). El Tucson Arena alberga otros eventos de entretenimiento, como Monster Jam y Cirque de Soliel. Uno de los mayores atractivos del Centro de Convenciones de Tucson es la Exposición de Minerales y Gemas, que suele realizarse durante las dos primeras semanas de febrero. Food & Beverage / Bebida alimenticia 4 Tucson Arena ofrece una tentadora oferta de opciones de comida durante los juegos de los Roadrunners. Dos puestos de comida permanentes están a la izquierda y a la derecha después de ingresar a la pista. Varios carritos de comida independientes se alinean en el borde superior del vestíbulo. Las concesiones permanentes ofrecen wrap de pollo BLTA (tocino, lechuga, tomate y aguacate), hamburguesa doble gigante con queso, nacho macho, deliciosa quesadilla de birria, hot dogs al estilo Sonoran y panini de pavo ($9 - $14). Se venden comidas y refrigerios tradicionales del estadio, como hot dogs, palomitas de maíz, algodón de azúcar, pretzels suaves y similares ($7). Los especiales del primer viernes incluyen una cerveza de barril nacional por $5 y un hot dog por $5. Los carritos de comida independientes a lo largo de la explanada incluyen DJ's Filling Station (los famosos hot dogs, hamburguesas y salchichas de Sonora de Tucson: $ 8 - $ 9), Tucson Tamales ($ 6 - $ 12), el carrito de pretzels y churros y mini donas con cuatro ingredientes diferentes ( $6/solamente efectivo). Chick-fil-A vende sus famosos sándwiches de pollo, otros wraps y ensaladas en juegos selectos. Un carrito de Maui Wowi ofrece batidos. Los productos Pepsi son el refresco preferido ($5/$6/$8), y se ofrecen cerveza y bebidas alcohólicas ($10 - $18). Barrio Brewing Co. y Dragoon Brewing (cervecerías locales de Tucson) tienen carritos de cerveza a cada lado de la explanada que venden varias de sus propias cervezas de barril. Entre las dos puertas de entrada hay un carrito que ofrece cerveza y cócteles. Es una selección bastante buena con varios platos locales de Tucson. Recomendamos la quesadilla de birria (que los fanáticos pueden pedir al estilo vegano) y una cerveza local. Atmosphere / Atmósfera 3 Los asientos tienen forma de U con filas de asientos en tres lados; la explanada está encima del área de asientos y el juego está a la vista todo el tiempo mientras está caminando por la explanada. Los mejores asientos están al margen. Recomiendo el segundo nivel para tener una mejor vista de toda la superficie del hielo. Los asientos son estrechos, tienen portavasos a los lados y hay suficiente espacio para las piernas. Las secciones están claramente marcadas y hay ujieres útiles en la parte superior de cada área para sentarse.   En los años recientes, la ciudad instaló asientos en la parte superior de la U junto al escenario del locutor, agregó palcos de hospitalidad de aspecto cómodo en la parte superior de varias secciones (solo $40 por persona/$160 en total) y agregó una nueva cubierta de fiesta sobre la portería sur.   La arena no tiene un marcador colgado en el centro. En cambio, hay un marcador de video en el extremo superior de la U, mientras que un tablero de estadísticas estándar está en la pared sobre la parte inferior de la U. Tableros de cinta cortos (uno a cada lado del marcador de video) muestran a los patrocinadores. Se instalaron paneles de video en la parte posterior de las cabinas de cámara que muestran un bucle de los próximos eventos en el TCC.   La temperatura está bien; traiga una chaqueta o sudadera adicional, guantes y gorro si tiende a tener frío. El responsable de la música la toca entre cada parada del juego (bastante común en el hockey). La música está incómodamente alta. Lleve tapones para los oídos si es sensible a la música alta.   Las promociones del día del juego incluyen chuck-a-puck, una rifa 50/50, concursos de fanáticos como sillas musicales, hockey sobre pipí y lanzamiento de camisetas. Los Roadrunners tienen una variedad de eventos a lo largo de la temporada, incluidos muchos obsequios y noches como Noche de comedia, Noche de anime, Noche universitaria de $ 10, Noches para niños gratis, Harry Potter, Lanzamiento de oso de peluche y más.   Tome una hoja de lista en la mesa de servicio al cliente frente a la sección 214 en el vestíbulo interior. También muestra la clasificación de AHL. Una delicia sorprendente es que las luces se mantienen encendidas entre períodos, aunque se bajan un poco antes del juego.   Dos Zambonis limpian el hielo; uno parece un ratón (patrocinado por una empresa de control de bichos).  Neighborhood / Barrio 4 Visitar Tucson es un placer. No está tan comercializada como el área de Phoenix y mantiene gran parte de su belleza natural al no construir ni destruir su tierra, su entorno natural y su paisaje. El estadio está en el centro, cerca del parque El Presidio, el antiguo palacio de justicia del condado y el palacio de justicia del condado de Pima. Hay varios museos a poca distancia, incluido el Museo de los Niños y el Museo de Arte Contemporáneo. O, si es un agradable día de otoño, recorra el Turquoise Trail, un recorrido histórico a pie por el centro de Tucson. Un buen lugar para una cena previa al juego a poca distancia (1/2 milla) de la arena es El Charro Café. Otros lugares incluyen The HUB (helados, comida y bebidas), Miss Saigon Downtown (vietnamita) o Empire Pizza & Pub (pizza al estilo de Nueva York). Tucson ofrece varias cervecerías cerca del estadio. Barrio Brewing, Pueblo Vida Brewing Company y Iron John's merecen una visita si lo tuyo son las cervecerías artesanales. No a poca distancia, pero vale la pena visitar cuando se encuentre en el área de Tucson, se encuentran la Misión San Xavier del Bac (fundada en 1692), el Parque Nacional Saguaro (hogar de los cactus más grandes y abundantes del país) y conducir hasta la cima de ‘A Mountain’ (Sentinel Peak) para una vista hermosa. El evento más importante en Tucson es la exposición de gemas y minerales que se celebra a finales de enero y principios de febrero de cada año. Un hotel, el Double Tree by Hilton Tucson Downtown Convention Center, está justo al lado del hotel, pero es caro. Recomendamos el Hotel McCoy a unas 2,5 millas del estadio. Es un hotel a un precio razonable y tiene todo tipo de artículos interesantes. Otros deportes para ver durante la temporada de hockey incluyen los equipos de fútbol , ​​hockey , baloncesto y béisbol de los Arizona Wildcats (Universidad de Arizona). Fans / Fanáticos 3 Los visitantes ven muchas camisetas de Tucson y Coyotes. Muchos fanáticos traen sus cencerros y los tocan en el momento apropiado (aunque no rivalizan con los campaneros de los AHL Colorado Eagles). Los Roadrunners tienen una base sólida de fanáticos acérrimos, y ayuda que el club matriz esté a solo 130 millas al noroeste. Los Roadrunners han promediado entre 3500 y 3750 por juego desde la pandemia, lo que los coloca al final de las cifras de asistencia de la AHL. Access / Acceso 4 Actualmente, se están realizando bastantes obras en la zona. Hay estacionamiento disponible justo al lado del estadio por $10. Otros lotes y garajes un poco más lejos cuestan entre $3 y $5. Hay estacionamiento en la calle disponible a pocas cuadras de forma gratuita. Haga clic aquí para ver un mapa de estacionamiento. Tucson tiene un servicio de tranvía Sun Link (un tren ligero) que deja a los fanáticos a solo unas cuadras del estadio, lo cual es una opción alternativa para llegar al Tucson Arena para ver un partido.   El aeropuerto más cercano es el Aeropuerto Internacional de Tucson, a unas 8 millas al sur del estadio.   Y Tucson está a unas dos horas en coche de Phoenix. Al ingresar a la arena, los fanáticos deben pasar por un detector de metales y un control de seguridad. No se permiten mochilas ni bolsos grandes. Se permite una bolsa deportiva transparente estándar (14” x 16”). Las puertas se abren 60 minutos antes de que caiga el disco. Los fanáticos ingresan primero a un amplio vestíbulo exterior que contiene la mesa de mercancías. Luego, ingresan al vestíbulo interior a través de puertas de vidrio adicionales. Un visitante ingresa por la parte superior del vestíbulo y se dirige a la zona de asientos. Las zonas de asientos cuentan con pasamanos en medio de los escalones. En la parte superior de la zona de asientos hay suficientes asientos accesibles para sillas de ruedas con buenas vistas de la acción sobre el hielo. Una vez dentro, caminar por la explanada puede estar abarrotado entre períodos. Hay baños limpios y bien cuidados en cada extremo de la U y abajo, en el extremo inferior de la U. Return on Investment / Retorno de la inversion 4 Los boletos para juegos individuales cuestan entre $17 y $79. $39 te llevarán más o menos al centro del hielo, en el segundo nivel, y proporciona el mejor valor para el juego. Los Roadrunners cobran unos dólares extra cuando se compran los boletos el día del juego. Verifique las secciones 203 y 205 (que dan al área de penalización) o las secciones 221 y 223 (que dan a los banquillos de jugadores). No consigas asientos en las filas A o B.   Las ofertas especiales incluyen muchos paquetes de boletos para grupos, planes flexibles y 12 juegos que permiten una tarifa reducida. Recuerde buscar noches de "niños gratis" durante toda la temporada. Los fanáticos pueden encontrar estacionamiento gratuito en el centro y los precios de las concesiones son bastante razonables en comparación con otros lugares de AHL. Aunque los precios han aumentado desde su primer año en la AHL, sigue siendo una buena inversión del dólar en entretenimiento deportivo de un aficionado. Extras 4 Mención aparte merece la zona de mercancías en el vestíbulo exterior. Hay mucho espacio para caminar y comprar. Gira la rueda en la mesa de promociones y gana chucherías como pegatinas, gafas de sol, llaveros, etc. La TCC Plaza fuera del estadio fue recientemente renovada con nuevas fuentes, árboles, flores y un jardín. Una característica única y no tan común en las pistas de hockey es que los bancos de los jugadores no son lo suficientemente largos para que quepa el portero suplente. Se sientan en un taburete detrás del cristal por donde los jugadores entran a la pista. Un aplauso adicional para la ciudad de Tucson por continuar manteniendo y actualizando el Centro de Convenciones de Tucson y el Tucson Arena. Final Thoughts / Pensamientos Finales Visitar Tucson, AZ y ver un partido de los AHL Roadrunners es una experiencia agradable y vale la pena echarle un vistazo. Es una instalación bastante agradable para ver un partido de hockey. Muchas gracias a Jim Minard por su ayuda con la traducción.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Mike D. Lane Field 615 N Pine St Florence, AL 35630 North Alabama Lions website Mike D. Lane Stadium website Year Opened: 1984 Capacity: 1,500 Roar Lions! One of the newer additions to the NCAA’s Division I, the University of North Alabama Lions made the jump to D1 in 2018, becoming a full member as part of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) in 2022. North Alabama comes to the NCAA’s highest level with an impressive resume at the Division II level, having won five Gulf South Conference titles, qualifying for 12 NCAA tournaments, and advancing to D2 College World Series in 1999, making it to the quarter finals. The year 1984 would prove to be one of new beginnings for the Lions – not only would they christen their newly built baseball field, but would also welcome Mike Lane to the helm, who went on to lead North Alabama baseball for the next 25 seasons, accumulating 908 wins while never suffering a losing season. Lane would be honored with the field being named for him in March of the 2008 season.   Food & Beverage   3 A lone concession stand is built into the bottom of the press box structure, behind home plate in the entry plaza of the stadium.  Concessions are a bit limited with hot dogs, soft pretzels, and nacho chips with cheese being the featured items; the menu runs heavy on snacks such as popcorn, peanuts, and candy. Beverages include options from the Coca-Cola family of soft drinks, PowerAde, and Monster energy drinks. Alcoholic beverages are not sold at UNA campus athletic events.   Atmosphere   3 Mike D. Lane Field is a rather basic baseball facility consisting of three rows of individual chair back seats in the section behind home plate, backed by the press box and flanked with aluminum bleachers on either side (two sections up the first baseline and one on the home plate side of third base). The stadium dimensions are a bit unique in that right and left center field are deeper (410’) than dead center (385’). The wall plays a touch short with power alleys of 365’ and right field at 320’. The stadium scoreboard just beyond the right field wall is fairly straightforward, displaying inning-by-inning line score with ball-strike-out counts as well. The game presentation is as simple as it gets, and it is wonderful! Other than mid-inning ad reads and reminders of in-game promotions for fans to collect on after the game, the game is kept as the center of attention throughout. There really is not a bad seat at Mike D. Land Field, since everything is pretty close to the action, but the upper rows on the third base side of the field do use the North Alabama campus as a backdrop. For those sitting in the bleachers behind the visiting team dugout on the first base side of the field, take caution, as there is no protective netting beyond the start of the dugout, protection that fans have become accustomed to. Neighborhood   4 The North Alabama campus is just a short walk from downtown Florence’s restaurant and entertainment district. On weekends the streets are busy with visitors ducking in and out of shops, or waiting to grab a bite from any of the several restaurants, cafes, and even sidewalk stands set up around town. The city of Florence and the surrounding area takes great pride in the history of the area. Historical markers can be found all around the city noting important dates, buildings, and events. North Court Street itself has a vibe of late 19th century main street, as many of the buildings have retained their 1800s charm. A bit further from campus, along the Tennessee River that separates Florence from Muscle Shoals (home of the Swampers), is McFarland Park – McFarland Park is home to a riverside beach, miles of walking trails, an 18-hole golf course, and grassy areas with picnic tables where visitors can enjoy views of the O’Neal Bridge that crosses the river.   Fans   2 The Lions have a bit of a modest following but a supportive one, nonetheless. Averaging just over 250 fans per game, this does put UNA in the lower half of the ASUN in attendance. What Lion fans lack in numbers, however, they make up for in enthusiasm and support. Fans are frequently calling out points of encouragement to make the opposing pitcher work, or willing a lefty to just put the ball on the ground to move a runner on second over to third. Fans of the Lions do come with a good amount of knowledge of the game and about what constitutes “good baseball”.   Access   2 There is no putting it lightly – there really is not an easy way to get to Florence. The closest major city, Huntsville, is still an hour and a half away. Interstate-65 is the closest major freeway that runs through the area, but Florence is still a minimum of 50-minutes of US-highways away from it. Once on campus there is a relatively small parking lot just outside the main entrance to Mike D. Lane Field, which wraps around the football  practice field and along the access road to Bill Jones Athletic Complex. Street parking is available along Stewart Avenue, which also has a larger parking lot. The baseball stadium sits high above the street and is accessible via a stairway that joins the aforementioned lot and entry point. The main gates enter into a small plaza just to the first base side of home plate. The pair of bleacher seating sections are directly to the right, but accessing the seating on the home side of the field is a bit challenging, in that there is only about three feet of space between the press box structure and the fence that sets the perimeter of Mike D. Lane Field. There is a walkway that runs in front of the seating behind home plate, but that has even less space and does seem a bit disruptive to the pitcher, so is even less inviting as a way to access the opposite side of the field.   Return on Investment   3 In a conference where several programs offer free admission to baseball games, the $10 starting point for general admission tickets here does seem a bit high. Granted there are no parking fees at Mike D. Lane Field, so slightly higher ticket prices might be expected, but the get-in-the-stadium coste does seem a touch high. Concession prices are as would be expected at most stadiums, so the slightly higher prices than what would be found outside the stadium should not come as much of a surprise.   Extras   4 As fans enter Mike D. Lane Field they are greeted with billboards listing the accolades of Lions who have earned All-American and Academic All-American honors, or have gone on to careers in professional baseball. The most notable name on the list would be that of 15-year MLB veteran closer Sergio Romo who pitched for the University of North Alabama in 2004. A large billboard just beyond the left field wall reflects on past UNA baseball accomplishments, from conference titles, NCAA Regionals, and the Lions’ 1999 Division II College World Series appearance, from their days as an NCAA D2 program. In addition, the wall fencing just below the billboard displays the retired numbers of the field’s former head coach and field’s namesake Mike Lane (1) as well as Mike Keehn (6), who was on staff at UNA for 33 years and headed the Lions for 13 season following Lane; former Major Leaguer Josh Willingham (15) is also featured. North Alabama might be the only campus in America with a live lion mascot visitors can get a glimpse of as they walk around the school – the George H. Carroll Lion Habitat in the center of campus is home to Leo III. A live lion mascot has been part of the University of North Alabama since 1974 when then President Dr. Robert M. Guillot first brought a lion cub to live on campus.   Final Thoughts Following the 2024 season, Mike D. Lane Field will be torn down and the field reoriented, due to the new on-campus football stadium , Independent Bank Stadium, taking shape beyond the center and right field fence; the baseball stadium’s home plate will swing around to the northwest corner of the same parcel of land it currently sits on as part of the baseball facility’s rebuild. Rendering courtesy of UNA Athletics The entertainment value of baseball is not always tied up in mid-inning games, strobing stadium lights, and all the technology in the world that can make for a highly entertaining baseball experience; sometimes highlighting the simplicity of the game is all that is needed. The beautiful thing about baseball is that the experience comes in so many forms – baseball proves that the game does not need to feel like a three-ring circus to be entertaining. Baseball at North Alabama is refreshingly simple where the entertainment value comes from the game itself.

Photos by Lloyd Rothwell, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 ANZ Stadium Edwin Flack Ave Sydney Olympic Park, NSW 2127 Australia South Sydney Rabbitohs website ANZ Stadium website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 83,500 Glory, Glory to South Sydney If you know anything about the geography of the Sydney metropolitan area, the first thing you will notice about this review is that it is of a stadium in Western Sydney, for a team that represents an area just south of the city Central Business District. Indeed the spiritual home of the Rabbitohs is the highly urbanised suburb of Redfern, a mere 3km from the city centre. However, ANZ Stadium is located at Sydney Olympic Park which is at least a 30 minute drive west. The decision to go west was made for several reasons. Firstly, from 1988 Souths were sharing Allianz Stadium with the Sydney Roosters. While Allianz was a newer and larger venue than the small and undoubtedly outdated Redfern Oval, it was never a great fit for the Bunnies. Financially it also made sense to shift to ANZ, and as a club that is known as “the pride of the league,” the reality is that in modern times many fans live outside the original South Sydney district meaning Olympic Park is more accessible. South Sydney are one of the most historic and storied teams in the history of rugby league in Australia. They are very well supported both within celebrity circles and the general community all over the country. Despite this, the 1990s and early 2000s were not a happy time for Souths. A lack of on field success and financial instability led to the club being excluded from the NRL for a period of two years under a rationalisation process. They were reinstated after a high profile legal battle and in subsequent years began to rebuild, which included actor Russell Crowe buying into the club. The Rabbitohs finally broke through for a premiership victory in 2014, their first since 1971. ANZ Stadium was the main stadium of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics and remains the largest venue in the harbour city. Several NRL clubs currently use ANZ Stadium for the regular season, either in full or in part; Canterbury , Wests Tigers, St George Illawarra Dragons and South Sydney. The majority of major finals and international games for both rugby league and rugby union are played at ANZ. Food & Beverage 3 This category can be easily summed up as follows; respectable quality and variety but very expensive. The most basic combo of a hot dog (or pie or sausage roll), hot chips and a drink will set you back over $16, a hefty price tag by any measure. Individual hot items include the aforementioned hot dogs ($6.20), sausage rolls ($5.20), meat pies ($5.60), and hot chips ($6.20), as well as pizza ($10.20), burritos ($10) and chicken burgers ($9.20). Also available are sushi ($14.50), sandwiches, baguettes, and salads. Beers aren’t cheap either, at $7.90 for a Hahn Super Dry, with wine available at a similar price. Pre mixed spirits are priced at $10.50. Atmosphere 4 ANZ Stadium is good venue for sport but probably suffers from being designed as multi-purpose. The gradient of ground level seating and the stands is quite gentle leading to the common complaint from fans that they are a long way from the playing field. It is also quite difficult to personalise the stadium for each team, however Souths have red and green in as many places as possible – along with posters of past and current greats. For all intents and purposes, it actually looks like the stadium is permanently there for the Rabbitohs. Lastly, the other downside is that with a capacity of in excess of 80,000, the stadium is unlikely to ever be filled for a regular season game. Neighborhood 4 Sydney Olympic Park is quite a large area that includes many other venues in addition to hotels, restaurants and bars. There’s plenty of food options before or after the game. As well as fast food there are options covering Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Italian and modern Australian. While that is the case, the precinct doesn’t tend to be buzzing except during major events. You should also check the schedule for the Greater Western Sydney Giants (AFL) for the possibility of a doubleheader. Fans 5 Souths fans are great. They are very knowledgeable, show up in good numbers (average crowds of around 20,000), are passionate and add to the experience. “The Burrow” group have flags, banners and sing numerous witty chants. One of the other things that was impressive on this recent visit was the number of fans on site to support the feeder teams in the curtain raiser. Most of the crowd arrives early or on time at worst, which is fairly unusual for Sydney teams. The atmosphere is also very family friendly, with people of all ages coming together to barrack for their Bunnies. Access 4 Sydney Olympic Park is located close to the geographic centre of Sydney, with good transport options. There is normally plenty of parking (P1 is probably the closest), although it is expensive. Also be mindful that if there is a large event(s) on, traffic into the precinct will be an issue. Best to check beforehand, otherwise strongly consider public transport. The train station is a short walk from the stadium. As a large stadium the venue handles crowds well and access inside is fairly smooth. Ushers are polite and helpful, and also realistic in not being too zealous when enforcing seating allocations. Concourses are wide and bathrooms are plentiful. It is a big stadium so it can be quite a walk if your entry point is on the far side! Return on Investment 4 A ticket to see the Bunnies at ANZ Stadium is priced comparatively to other clubs that utilise the same venue. Buy online to save some money, and also select your seat. Additional discounts apply for concessions and families. General admission (unreserved) is about $25 for an adult. The GA seats at ANZ are at either end, which is actually quite good quality when judged against most other venues. Just remember that parking and food will not be cheap if you choose to utilise those services. Extras 3 There was little happening outside the stadium when we attended which was a bit disappointing, but once inside the club used a number of smart initiatives to highlight the home team. Free Wi-Fi is always a bonus, plus the ushers are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Final Thoughts In coming years ANZ Stadium will receive a $780m transformation. Commencing in 2018, the stadium will likely become permanently rectangular which will definitely improve the experience – especially for club level football. In the meantime, a Bunnies game at ANZ Stadium offers a great day out.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Fitch Park 651 N Center Mesa, AZ 85211 Map It ACL Athletics website Fitch Park website Year Opened: 1997 Year Renovated: 2014 Capacity: 125 (estimate) Rookie A's In the sports world, Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ, is mostly known as the workout and practice facility as the Oakland Athletics’ spring training site.  It is a city-owned and operated park.  The park has four ball fields on the west side and traditional city park amenities like a playground, ramadas, and picnic tables on the east side.  The ACL Athletics (Arizona Complex League) play their home games there (Fiel d 3) from mid-spring to mid-summer.  The 2024 ACL season runs from early May till the end of July.  It is an earlier start than previous seasons.   This is nice because it’s not quite as hot in early May. The Arizona Complex League (formerly known as the Arizona League) is one of two rookie-level baseball leagues of MLB, the lowest level of the organizatio n.  The games are nine innings and use only two umpires.  If you look at the rosters, most players were born after 9/11.  For many of the players and the umpires, the ACL is their first professional engagement. The ACL Athletics began playing at Fitch Field in 2015.  The team has won the most ACL championships since the league started in 1988.  Food & Beverage 0 The stadium does not sell concessions.  Fans can and should bring in their own snacks and beverages.  We recommend bringing in at least two bottles of water as it gets unbelievably hot at these games, brutally hot, especially later in the season. Atmosphere 2 The park has a good-looking, plush green field (at least at the beginning of the season).  Palm trees line the center field walls.  Two sets of bleachers are on each side of the infield.  They are five rows high and sit maybe ten across.  Thankfully, canopies cover them, so they are shaded.  The seating is very close to the field; you’re up close to the action.  A thick chain link fence protects not only the bleachers but also the dugouts.   It impedes the view of the game. The field has a basic scoreboard in left field showing strikes, balls, outs, the inning, and runs per team.  It is best seen from the first base bleachers during day games, as the chain link fence blocks the view from the third base set. The team has an announcer, who calls the game extremely well, though his voice volume is low, and sometimes you need to strain to hear it. Game day operations play music between innings at a perfect volume level. Neighborhood 4 The stadium is in a residential area, and while there’s not a whole lot to do in the immediate area, the stadium is a little over a mile from downtown Mesa, which has developed significantly over the last several years.   Downtown Mesa has four breweries:  12 West Brewing  – which serves tasty food, Beer Research Institute  – which has a classic arcade in it, Oro Brewing Company , and the newest Phantom Fox Beer Co – which partners with Goat and Ram (pizza).   A cidery ( Cider Corps ) and Chupacabra Taproom  are also downtown and offer cider, beer, and wine and a place to hang out before or after the ballgames.  Diamond’s Sports Grille, a classic sports bar, has traditional sports bar food and is just a mile from the park.   For local restaurants, we recommend the delicious New Mexican fare Blue Adobe Grille ,  which is only a four or five-minute drive from the ballpark, and the Que Chevere  (Venezuelan cuisine) on Main St. downtown.   Tourist things to see and do in Mesa are the Arizona Museum of Natural History , the engaging i.d.e.a Museum (excellent for kids), or the popular cultural Mesa Arts Center . The Mesa Historical Museum has an exhibit on the Arizona Cactus League and Arizona Spring Training, as well as Mesa-specific historical exhibits. Though a little distance from Fitch Park (about 5 miles), fans may want to visit Organ Stop Pizza  with its Wurlitzer Theater organ, which some say is the world’s largest pipe organ.   The Delta Hotels by Marriott Phoenix Mesa is one mile away. A few lower-priced hotels, like Quality Inn or Baymont Inn, are three to five miles from the stadium.   Other sports near Fitch Park during the rookie season include the WAC baseball tournament played at Hohokam Stadium at the end of May or the Pac-12 baseball tournament at Scottsdale Stadium. And, depending on schedules, fans can visit Chase Field and see an MLB Arizona Diamondbacks  game or the Footprint Center and watch the WNBA Phoenix Mercury . Fans 2 The fans in the stands are players not playing that day, some local A’s fans, and others who like the game of baseball.  Some fans bring bags of baseballs to get autographs of possible up-and-coming Athletics.  It’s easy to strike up a conversation with the other fans.  You can hear discussions about the type of pitch thrown and good plays on the diamond; visitors know the game.   Probably the biggest fans are the teammates in the dugouts.  Access 3 Getting to and from Fitch Park is easy and hassle-free.  It is a little over a mile north of downtown Mesa, half a mile south of Hohokam Stadium, and about two miles south of the 202.   A DBUZ bus stop is outside the stadium.  The bus service ends at 8pm during the week and 9pm on Saturdays. This may not be an option if you want to stay for the whole game, as evening games start at 6pm. Sky Harbor Airport is 11 miles to the west; Mesa Gateway Airport is 22 miles to the southeast.  Uber and Lyft are readily available in Mesa. When arriving by vehicle, drive past the ball fields and park in the area at the end of the road.  Then follow the sign to the field entrance.  It’s a short hike to the playing field. Return on Investment 5 It costs nothing except your transportation to Fitch Field and the snacks and drinks you bring.  The city doesn’t charge for parking; the team doesn’t charge admittance.   You can’t do much better than that for a few hours of baseball. Extras 2 Extras go to the city for renovating the complex and the field ten years ago.  Beginning the season earlier is favorable just because of the heat in the later parts of summer. Final Thoughts If you like baseball for baseball and can manage the heat, watching an ACL Athletics game is a worthwhile few hours out.  Be sure to check out the lively downtown Mesa area after (or before) the game.

Photo Courtesy of Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.14 Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center 1234 Grambling Rd. Grambling, LA 71245 Grambling State Tigers website Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center website Year Opened: 2007 Capacity: 7,600 The Tigers, A Little Offbeat Nestled away in North Louisiana between Shreveport and Monroe on I-20, you will find the town of Grambling, home of the Grambling State Tigers. Grambling State is an all black school known more for its impressive drumline and old school Eddie Robinson football than for its basketball program. The Grambling State Tigers call the 7,500 seat, newly named Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center home. Opened in 2007 the new arena has many of the perks of a great arena, but it may be just a little too much for Grambling State basketball. Food & Beverage 1 I can’t really rate this since the game I attended the concession stands were not open because the campus was closed due to inclement weather. I was told by a member of the stadium staff that they do offer affordable snacks at reasonable prices so I’ll award one point. Atmosphere 2 With a lower concourse filled with backed seats and an upper concourse of bleacher seats, I never could seem to find a comfortable place to sit. The bleacher seats are a little too uncomfortable and the backed seats are a tad too close to enjoy any kind of leg room. The atmosphere definitely wasn’t one of the rowdiest, but the loyal fans still made sure you knew they were there. The PA system and the announcer were great. The announcer made sure to get the fans going and on their feet at the most important times. Unfortunately, there was no pep band which was highly disappointing, especially with the high reputation the band has. I did expect a more rowdy atmosphere since SWAC sports are known for great rivalries, and the Tigers were playing Alcorn State but in this game the atmosphere definitely fell short of my expectations. Neighborhood 1 Grambling is a pretty small college town (population of 4,700), which means you won’t find a whole lot to do in the area. While on campus I would definitely make sure to check out the Eddie G. Robinson Museum, a must see for any college sports fan. Other than the Eddie Robinson Museum you won’t find a whole lot to do on campus or in the town of Grambling. The closest entertainment I found was in Monroe, 35 miles down the road. There in Monroe there is a mall and a convention center that holds concerts from time to time. Also in Ruston just down the road from Grambling you can find the University of Louisiana Tech which also has college athletics and a usually highly ranked women’s basketball team. Overall though I think that’s a little too far to travel to find something to do, which is the downfall to a small college town. Fans 2 The fans weren’t in abundance due to the cold icy weather, but the fans that were there made sure you knew they were in the building. With chants of “Let’s Go Tigers” the fans were loud at the most opportune times. I was disappointed by the lack of a student section as there were only 25 or so students in the student section. The fans ranged from youngsters barely able to walk, to the older crowd there to enjoy a good game and root on their Tigers. Both teams were definitely having seasons to forget with a combined win total of 3 games won after playing 35, but that didn’t stop them from playing their hearts out. The lack of a pep band at the game I do think takes away from some of the aura of the game especially since that’s what SWAC schools are so well known for. Hopefully this will be something the Athletic Department addresses in the future. Overall though, I thought the fans did a decent job in making thier presence known. Access 4 Access to the college and stadium is as easy as it gets. Located just off the I-20, you can’t miss the university. The arena is nestled away in the corner of the campus along with the lady’s softball field and Eddie Robinson Stadium. Parking is free and a short walk from the stadium which is always a plus in my book. Since the arena is newly built bathrooms are in abundance and about as clean as you will find anywhere. Due to the smaller crowd at the game entrance and exit from the arena was a breeze. Return on Investment 3 With ticket prices ranging from $8-12 and free parking, you will not find a much cheaper basketball experience. Like I said earlier, I can’t say much for what you will pay for concessions or the quality of what they offer, but I think it would be hard pressed to ruin the trip. If you’re looking for the best of college basketball this definitely isn’t the place, but if you’re looking for a cheap game to attend and in the area, you can’t go wrong with attending a Grambling State basketball game. Extras 2 A definite plus for the beautiful new arena. It might be too much right now for the Tigers, but hopefully they will grow into it. Another plus goes out to the beautiful Eddie Robinson Museum and how this school has truly embraced and carried on the spirit of one of the greatest football coaches of all time. I do hope that one day Grambling State will include a pep band at their basketball games with the history and credibility that their band holds, it’s a shame to not see them involved.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Rio Rancho Events Center 3001 Civic Center Cir NE Rio Rancho, NM 87144 Duke City Gladiators website Rio Rancho Events Center website Year Opened: 2006 Capacity: 6,000 Duke City Football Named after the 10th Duke of Albuquerque, the city in New Mexico has long been known as the Duke City – the Gladiators of the Indoor Football League (IFL) took their name from this moniker. The team was founded in 2015 as part of Champions Indoor Football (CIF), and previously played at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque. That facility was used as a vaccine clinic during the pandemic, however, forcing the team to move to Rio Rancho Events Center in nearby Rio Rancho, where they remain today. Rio Rancho Events Center opened in 2006 and is also home to the New Mexico Runners of indoor soccer. Food & Beverage 3 Most of the concession stands at Rio Rancho Events Center, though not all, are open during Duke City Gladiator games. There is a good range of menu items, including a couple of full bars, but prices tend to be a little on the high side (for example $7 for a basic hot dog). Food vendors here include Black Angus Grill, which offers their New Mexico-themed signature green chili bacon burger, Hot Dog Nation, which offers Chicago-style and other dogs, and Chicken Fry Fry for tenders and chicken sandwiches. These stands also offer all the traditional menu items such as nachos, cookies, soft pretzels, packaged candy, popcorn, cotton candy, and kettle corn – except for the main dishes the same items are sold at all three stands. For drinks, there is City Club, which offers mixed drinks, beer, and wine, while Rio Refrescas offers tropical fruit drinks and canned beer, sodas, and other beverages. The main stands mentioned above also have soda, bottled water, Gatorade, energy drinks, fruit juice, and canned beer. Atmosphere 4 The Gladiators pull out all the stops for indoor football here – though the crowd is pretty small during most games, the staff does a lot to make the event as entertaining as possible. Of particular note is the MC, who stands on top of a table in a teal sports coat behind one end zone the whole game, dancing along with the crowd and firing up the fans by drumming on his forearm with a drumstick, as well as announcing major happenings on the field (“That pass was…in…com…plete!”); he is a lot of fun to watch. The PA announcer also plays a lot of great dance music, including old hits like Macarena and We Will Rock You, as well as new favorites like Baby Alligator (Red Pens), and the dance team tosses free mini footballs and t-shirts to the crowd multiple times each quarter. During pregame the strobe and spotlights are turned on as the starters are introduced, accompanied by representatives from a local motorcycle club, and at the most recent game I attended, there was even a local SWAT team that repelled from the ceiling. Rio Rancho Events Center doesn’t have one of the 4-sided scoreboards hung over midfield – instead, there is a small videoboard on one sideline to watch replays, and basic scoreboards above each end zone – and there is no mascot, but they do have a great dance team, all the chairs have seat backs, and the turf looks clean and brand new. They also have one of their players give the prayer before the game, and one of the members of the dance team sings the National Anthem, which is a nice way to focus on the team. Neighborhood 3 Rio Rancho is about half an hour north of Albuquerque, and the venue is a bit off the main drag so there aren’t any restaurants or hotels within sight of it, but you will find plenty along Highway 528, both chains and local favorites. In terms of attractions, there are plenty of parks within a short distance of Rio Rancho Events Center, but not much else unless you head back to Albuquerque, where you can find cool roadside spots like the Turquoise Museum or the Tumbleweed Snowman (but the snowman may be gone by indoor football season, as it is more of a Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday thing). Fans 1 Very few fans show up for Duke City Gladiator games, perhaps in part because the venue is not in Albuquerque proper, making it more of a drive for most – at a typical game you might only see about 200 fans in attendance, which unfortunately makes the venue look pretty empty. Access 4 Getting to Rio Rancho Events Center is pretty easy, as there is very little traffic in the area, and you can park for free. There is plenty of room to move around the concourse, short concessions lines, and more than enough bathrooms to accommodate everyone; there are also elevators inside if needed. The only thing really to pay attention to is that on the main level, you cannot go all the way around (the concourse is blocked off behind one end zone), so if you happen to need to get to the other side, you may have to walk all the way around. Return on Investment 4 Despite the very small crowd, it is worthwhile to see a game here – the staff does so many great things to entertain fans, and tickets start at only $13. In addition, since the venue will not be full you can buy the cheap seats and sit as close as you want. Extras 4 A lot of the game sponsors are local unions, which is a nice nod to the local trades. There are also a ton of vendors who come in each game with giveaways, such as Dave and Buster’s or the local corrections center (recruiting for new hires), and cool events during halftime, such as having the State Champion lacrosse team strut their stuff on the field. The Gladiators also have a team store inside if you want to pick up any Duke City swag, and all fans are invited to an afterparty at a local restaurant, for example, Buffalo Wild Wings.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Melbourne Cricket Ground Brunton Ave Richmond, VIC 3002 Australia Melbourne Stars website Melbourne Cricket Ground website Year Opened: 1853 Capacity: 100,024 The Stars of Melbourne The Stars are one of two Melbourne franchises established when Cricket Australia launched the Big Bash League Twenty20 cricket tournament in 2011. The BBL represented a move away from the traditional state-based model of domestic cricket up until that point, and was a deliberate marketing ploy to create new fans with more modern and exciting team identities. The Stars are owned by Cricket Victoria and have consistently achieved strong results, having qualified for the semi-finals every season bar one. Unfortunately a penchant for losing finals matches at the pointy end of the season means they’re yet to taste glory. The Stars play their home games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one of the great sporting cathedrals in the world. With a capacity of 100,024, the ‘G is the largest stadium in the southern hemisphere and the largest cricket ground in the world. The stadium opened in 1853 and has hosted international cricket, rugby union, and rugby league, in addition to having served as the main stadium for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games and 2006 Commonwealth Games. The MCG has been the venue of two ICC cricket World Cup Finals (1992 and 2015), and hosts an annual test match each summer beginning on Boxing Day (December 26th). The MCG has also hosted AFL football since the 19th century. Under the AFL’s policy of centralised stadia, numerous clubs play some or all of their home games here including Melbourne, Richmond , Collingwood, and Hawthorn. Close to capacity crowds are regularly achieved each year for the AFL Grand Final and the traditional Anzac Day Clash between Essendon and Collingwood. Food & Beverage 3 The food options are largely just the basics for Stars games, as only limited outlets are open. The MCG has proven to be one of the more price conscious major venues in Australia over recent years. While any reduction in the cost of attending live sport should be applauded, stadium food is always an expensive proposition, and this proves to be the case at the ‘G too. By way of example, a single staple item such as hot chips costs around $5, however anything more substantial (like a burger), will be approximately $12. The drink selection is not huge, with beer priced around $10, spirits $11.50, and wine $10.40. Soft drinks from Coke cost $4.70, with bottled water slightly cheaper. The quality is ok without being outstanding. Atmosphere 4 The MCG has been substantially renovated over the years and is a modern stadium the equal of any other around the world. The ground is broken up into four broad seating areas; the Great Southern Stand (Gates 4, 5, 6), Ponsford Stand (Gate 1), Olympic Stand (Gate 3), and the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) Members Pavilion. The MCC is off-limits to the general public, with the remaining areas available for general admission. Keep in mind that given the size of crowds relative to the overall capacity, the upper decks will likely be closed off. As it is utilised by so many teams and sports, there are not many features unique to the Melbourne Stars. On the plus side, as a stadium of national significance there are many cool features to explore at the ‘G. It’s worthwhile arriving a little early to explore the surroundings and enjoy the pre-match entertainment. If you have time you should definitely visit the Australian Sports Museum and consider arranging for a tour of the ground. The museum received a $17m redevelopment in 2019/20 and is housed in the Olympic Stand. Check for opening times but museum entry has previously been included in the price of your game ticket. There are numerous statues placed throughout the precinct featuring some of the all-time great superstars of cricket, AFL, and athletics. Additionally, keep an eye out for historical plaques and honour boards dotted around and throughout the venue – such as the XVI Olympiad plaque at the entrance to the Olympic Stand and the boards listing all players who have represented Victoria in first class cricket (men and women) downstairs in the Ponsford Stand. Lillee Statue at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Photo by Lloyd Rothwell, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 5 The MCG is found within the Melbourne sports and entertainment precinct east of the city centre. The immediate area includes the Melbourne Park Tennis Centre (featuring Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne / John Cain Arena, and Margaret Court Arena – home of the Australian Open Tennis Tournament, as well as netball and basketball), and AAMI Park (rugby league, rugby union, and soccer), in addition to several community and elite training centres. Sports history buffs should take note that Punt Road Oval, now a training venue, was the original home ground of the Richmond Tigers AFL Club. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants in the nearby suburbs of Richmond and East Melbourne. Further back are Flinders Street and Southbank, both of which offer quite trendy establishments which should cater to most tastes. The Crown Casino is about a 20-minute walk away. The southern capital has a thriving laneway culture of bars, coffee, and restaurants. Craft beer is popular too, with Slowbeer a must for aficionados, despite having recently moved slightly further away to a larger premises in Fitzroy (351 Smith St). Richmond is historically a working-class neighborhood and features lots of old pubs. The Corner Hotel (57 Swan St) is well known as a live music venue but also garners lots of game day traffic. First-timers to Melbourne should be sure to see some of the more popular tourist attractions. Head up Eureka Tower (7 Riverside Quay, Southbank) for a bird’s eye view of the city, take a tram out to the beachside suburb of St Kilda, and checkout the Queen Victoria Market (Queen St, Melbourne). Fans 3 Expect the biggest crowds when the Stars host their crosstown rivals, the Melbourne Renegades , however attendances of 20,000 or more are common for most other games. Keep in mind that for the most part, the BBL is run around the long summer school holiday period. There are occasional games on either side of the holidays, and these will draw a smaller crowd. The fans are well decked out in the team colour of green and are big adopters of the KFC sponsored “buckets.” Access 4 Getting to the precinct is relatively easy, although public transport is probably the best method. The stadium is close to trains (Richmond and Jolimont), trams, and busses. Visitors who are staying in the CBD will find a well-defined and easily walkable path along the Yarra River and up to the MCG. If driving, car parking is available in Yarra Park. It’s best to check for live updates via the MCG app or Twitter account as there is limited parking. Despite the appearance of a coliseum, like most cricket grounds, the MCG is made up of several separate grandstands, meaning access is generally limited to the stand in which you are seated. Expect the usual security and bag checks prior to entry. Return on Investment 4 The cost of attending a Melbourne Stars BBL match at the MCG is fairly standard. An adult ticket will set you back around $30. As with most venues there are discounts for pre-purchase, children, and family passes. BBL is a great family-friendly experience, and offers decent value for money. Extras 5 The MCG has a wonderful history and occupies a unique place in Australian sport, and indeed, culture. Take the time to enjoy the precinct and soak in the history, and be sure to visit the newly renamed and renovated Australian Sports Museum. Expect some form of pre-game entertainment, or watch the players warm up. During the game there are cheerleaders, mascots, and typical crowd engagement activities such as dance-cam. Final Thoughts Consider this remarkable coincidence. The very first international cricket test match was played at the MCG in 1877 between Australia and England with the locals winning by a margin of 45 runs. Unbelievably, in a Centenary Test played to mark 100 years since the first match, also at the MCG, resulted in an Australian victory by exactly the same margin!

In Comedy Samurai, Larry Charles pulls down the curtain on perhaps the most controversial national anthem rendition of all time. In Borat, which is almost twenty years old, Sacha Baron Cohen caused an uproar at a rodeo when he took the mic and sang, well, incendiary gibberish. It's just one of the many off-the-wall scenes that Charles provides insight on.  Who's Larry Charles?  Some of Charles’ resume highlights over the last four decades: he was one of the top writers on Seinfeld before becoming a showrunner for Mad About You, and he went on to direct episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Sacha's trifecta: Borat, Bruno and The Dictator. With Comedy Samurai, Charles delivers a ginormous window into the high stakes world of television and film. No, it’s not all sunshine and laughter. Charles doesn’t pull punches, particularly towards Larry David and Sacha. However, Charles saves many knives for himself. In general, I had a sense of foreboding, somewhat like Sunset Boulevard. Like Sunset’s protagonist screenwriter, Charles often seems lost. Over the course of the book, which is just under 400 pages, Charles reveals his myriad frailties. Comedy Samurai is a book about comedy, but it has a lot of serious. Charles grew up in Brooklyn, Trump Village, to be exact, not far from Larry David’s beginnings. Charles, Larry (and Michael Richards) wound up working together on Fridays, the sketch show modeled after Saturday Night Live. After two seasons, Fridays was cancelled, and Charles got a job for Arsenio Hall’s late night talk show. However, Charles’ darkish comedic leanings (Nazis, rude disabled individuals) didn’t jibe with the show’s soft tenor. Not surprisingly, Charles was soon let go. Fortunately, Seinfeld was just getting its legs, and Larry brought Charles in. Larry’s motto for Seinfeld:  “No hugging, No learning.” Alas, Charles’ darkish tone had a home. In this portion of the book, Larry's quirky behavior stands out, specifically regarding writing credits. At one point, Charles mentions that Larry resented Jerry Seinfeld, however, he doesn’t elaborate. If you’re interested in going deep on Seinfeld, I also recommend Michael Richards’ memoir. Moving on. Props to Charles. He could’ve probably ridden the Seinfeld train into the sunset, but he spread his wings and became a showrunner (Mad About You). The best portion of the book are the pages about working with Sacha. Charles took over Borat directing duties from Todd Phillips (The Joker), who was fired and supposedly made Sacha cry. How many people did Borat make cry? Anyway, Borat was the honeymoon period for Charles and Sacha. After that mega hit, everything went downhill. Charles provides ample insight on working with Sacha. However, as far as how much was staged and/or rehearsed, it’s confusing. I recently rewatched Borat and my favorite scenes were the Pentecostal meeting and the driving instruction ones. In both, for a quick moment, all appear to be in the joke. I was less enthralled with the naked fight scene. Bruno and The Dictator are less accessible, which is for the best. Some of the book’s best episodes are about Charles’ lesser-known work. Masked and Anonymous, which he collaborated on with Bob Dylan, and Army of One, which starred Nicolas Cage, are fascinating read. Charles’ cut of Army of One is available on his YouTube channel. Ultimately, everything comes full circle when Charles interviews his mentor, Larry David, for his YouTube channel. Ultimately, HBO winds up being interested in showing it to the world and what follows is fodder for a Curb episode. I won’t give too much away, but there’s no hugging. Jon Hart is @manversusball

Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 DATCU Stadium 1251 S Bonnie Brae St Denton, TX 76205 North Texas Mean Green website DATCU Stadium website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 30,100 Mean and Green Since 1890, the   University of North Texas  has been the largest state-supported college in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the third-largest university in Texas. In its 134-year history, it has grown to become a Tier 1 research university offering 114 bachelor's, 97 master's, and 39 doctoral degree programs. North Texas State Normal College played its first game against TCU  at Eagle Field in 1913. In the 111 years since that first loss, the football program, much like the university itself, has seen great growth. The university changed its name to North Texas State Teachers College in 1923, North Texas State College in 1949, North Texas State University in 1961, and eventually the University of North Texas in 1988. To mirror these name changes, the football program has grown from its humble beginnings, enjoyed membership in various conferences through the years, including a short stint in Division 1-AA in the late 1980s, and is now a strong member of the American Athletic Conference. UNT has had the Eagle mascot since early in its history. The “Mean Green” name was credited to the Sports Information Director’s wife in 1966, who would yell, “Go Mean Greene,” either in support of sophomore “Mean Joe” Greene, the program’s most famous alum, or in support of the team’s strong defense at the time. Built-in 2011, at the convergence of Interstates 35 East and West, DATCU Stadium’s signature winged end zone section towers above the highway and surrounding landscape – the winged shape pays homage to the school's flying eagle logo. The unique end zone seating is not the only signature feature of the stadium; however, DATCU Stadium also has the designation of being the first collegiate football stadium to be awarded a LEED Platinum Certification, the highest level of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design status. Many renewable resources are used in this venue, including three large wind turbines providing approximately half a million-kilowatt hours of electricity, along with decreasing CO2 and water usage. Easily accessible from any direction, the stadium is the center of the university’s expansive athletic complex, with ample parking within walking distance of the gate. The game day experience begins outside the stadium on The Hill, which is covered in more detail later. Mean Green football games are engaging and present a budget-friendly option for football fans of all ages.   Food & Beverage   3 There are ample food and beverage options at DATCU Stadium, with over 20 separate concession areas. The sides of the stadium host identical main stands, with options such as burgers, barbecues, hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, pretzels, and Coca-Cola soft drinks. Coors Light, Miller, and Dos Equis beers can be purchased at most concession stands as well. In addition to the traditional ballgame fare, there are also a few areas for specialty food and drinks. Salvata Salad Kitchen serves healthy wraps, including a veggie option; Beth Marie’s Ice Cream offers several flavors of specialty ice cream in a cone or cup, and 1521 Crafthouse offers many craft beer options. The Wing Pub, a full-service bar, is located in the northeast corner of the stadium, where fans 21 and over can purchase wine and liquor in addition to beer. To circumvent waiting in line, fans can also utilize the FanFood app and select one of three concession stands from which to order and pick up their food; menus for each mobile concession stand are posted online.   Atmosphere   4 The game day atmosphere starts on The Hill well before kickoff. As the name implies, this area is a large hill just east of DATCU Stadium, behind the visitor stands. On The Hill, fans will find party tents sponsored by fraternities, sororities, businesses, and fans, as well as a DJ, children’s play area, and a live music stage. In addition to the many sponsored areas, there are multiple food trucks offering plenty of choices to satisfy most anyone’s palate, and at the game I attended most recently, there was a pregame concert by a local band followed by plenty of upbeat music to set the mood for the early evening kickoff. Just outside the gate on the home side stands a statue of Mean Joe Greene, NFL Hall of Famer and possibly UNT’s most famous alum. Inside the stadium, fans will find merchandise stores on both sides of the stadium and a children’s play area underneath the winged end zone, which includes bounce houses and children’s games. Other items of interest include “Boomer,” the Civil War replica cannon fired after UNT scores, as well as The Mean Green Machine, a 1929 UNT-themed Model A on display during games. North Texas is known for its music department, so the Green Brigade Marching Band is understandably large and very entertaining. UNT also boasts a championship-level cheer squad and dance team to entertain fans. Scrappy, the mascot, is a fan favorite who stops for every request to pose for pictures and give a fist bump. The atmosphere is enhanced with many in-game promotions, special recognitions, and crowd participation games. During most TV timeouts, including quarter changes, there is either something taking place on the field or attention being drawn to the large scoreboard for announcements or a contest. For example, at the last game, I attended, two of UNT’s best football teams of the past, and later UNT’s national champion polo team, were recognized on the field, and there were also three different games on the field, including participants chosen from the crowd, similar to the on-field games played during a minor league baseball game. There were also student winners randomly named on the scoreboard throughout the game, the grand prize of which was a free semester’s tuition.   Neighborhood   3 The University of North Texas is in the city of Denton, 40 minutes north of both Fort Worth and Dallas. With a population of around 140,000, Denton is considered a college town, with many businesses and restaurants catering to two local universities (UNT and Texas Women’s University), their students, and visitors. Due to the size and location of the DATCU stadium, hotels and restaurants are just a short drive up or down I-35 (2-5 miles from the venue) – that drive can take anywhere from 3-20 minutes depending on the time of day and traffic. The nearest hotel is Hampton Inn & Suites Denton-Rayzor Ranch , with a couple of other choices being Holiday Inn Express , Embassy Suites , and SpringHill Suites . Within a short drive of campus, there are also dining options that will satisfy any palate and budget – some local favorites include Frosty’s Drive N , Rusty Taco , LSA Burger Company , New York Sub Hub , and Crooked Crust Pizza , but another must stop destination is Buc-ee’s – if you‘ve never experienced Buc-ee’s before, you’ll want to stop and peruse this Texas-sized convenience store, restaurant, dry goods store, and gas station that features immaculate restrooms. Take my advice and grab a bag of Beaver Nuggets and a pulled pork or chopped brisket sandwich for the road, then grab souvenir t-shirts for your family and friends back home. If you are into the nightlife or beer culture, Denton is long known for its bars, pubs, and craft breweries. You can check out the numerous bars on Fry Street, including Lucky Lou’s and Cool Beans Bar and Grill , across from the UNT campus. Craft Beers can be found in downtown Denton’s Craft Beer District, with many pubs and brewhouses within walking distance – a couple of these are The Bearded Monk  and Oak Street Draft House and Cocktail Parlor .   Fans   2 If there is an area that is lackluster about the game day experience, it is the lack of attendance here. With an announced attendance of a little over 27,000 at the game I last attended, the stands told another story – even in the midst of a winning season and the game falling on Family Weekend, the venue appeared to only be at approximately 60% capacity. Despite this, the students' section located behind the visitor bench was involved in the game.   Access   4 Getting into the stadium, parking is straightforward and well-marked, with plenty of signage, traffic control officers, and cones directing the flow. With parking prices as low as $20 if purchased early, fans can find a parking lot in the location of their choice on the DATCU parking website . There is also a specific, well-marked rideshare pick-up/drop-off lot just east of the stadium off Interstate 35 East. ADA parking and ADA-equipped shuttle service are also available for guests requiring such services. Inside the stadium, fans have access to both sides via a wide concourse that also encircles the winged north end zone. There are also at least three gender-specific restrooms per side, as well as family facilities available. All restrooms come equipped with diaper changing stations, and wheelchair ramps and wide entrances allow for the smooth flow of fans at all times.   Return On Investment   4 Fans attending Mean Green home football games should find that their time and money were well spent. Tailgating on The Hill kicks the day off at little to no cost, with the only investment involving bringing your food and drink or purchasing fare from a local food vendor. Many party groups will even share their tailgate with passersby after simply starting up a conversation. Once inside the stadium, concessions are reasonably priced, with entree items ranging from $7-$10 on average and drinks $3-$8. One nice amenity is FREE water filling stations; if you choose to bring in an empty 20-ounce water bottle, you can drink all the water desired without spending a dime.   Extras   3 The free water filling stations are worthy of special recognition, especially when many of the games during August and September are in 90+ degrees heat. College football games, wrought with TV timeouts, can drag on if you don’t have proper game day staff getting the crowd involved – fans here never realize there is a break in the action with all the activities that go on here. The Hill and children’s play areas are worthy of another point; along with the affordability of the games, Mean Green games are value-filled outings for families with children, especially in a market like the DFW metroplex with so many alternative entertainment options.   Final Thoughts UNT football presents a fun and engaging game day atmosphere – the lively tailgating scene, quality opponents, and affordable prices create an environment where Mean Green football games can be a destination for many fans. With a student enrollment of over 40,000, it’s puzzling how the general admission sections are not filled, but the absentee students are the ones missing out. North Texas has the practices and procedures of game day well-oiled and smooth. Despite the most recent game I attended lasting nearly 4 hours due to television breaks, this was hardly noticed because of the on-field games and action on the large scoreboard. I consider DATCU Stadium one of the most accessible and budget-friendly Division I football experiences I’ve attended, and I encourage you to add it to your travel itinerary if you haven’t already been.

Photo Courtesy of Wright State University Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Nutter Center 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway Dayton, OH 45435 Wright State Raiders website Nutter Center website Year Opened: 1990 Capacity: 11,000 Welcome to the Nutt House The Nutter Center, affectionately known to Wright State Raider fans as the “Nutt House” a term first coined by former radio color commentator Ron Coleman, opened in the fall of 1990 with a concert by the Boston Pops Orchestra, but soon became better known as the rocking home of the late coach Ralph Underhill’s running Raiders. That year they ran and pressed their way to 19 wins and averaged over 8,000 fans per game in just their fourth year in Division I. These days the Raiders are members of the Horizon League and usually only draw 8,000 or more for their big games like Butler, as they averaged around 5,500 fans per game over the last several years. But more often than not, when it counts, the fans come out and the Nutter Center is a loud, fun place to watch some good college basketball. Food & Beverage 4 The Nutter Center features a pretty good selection of tasty treats that include local vendors and common goodies that should please most fans who enter the building. The arena is a major concert venue in the Dayton area and you should expect to see many great items for sale at the many concession stands in the building. La Rosa’s pizza is a popular local option in the area and personal pizzas are available for purchase. Another popular local spot is Frickers and they have a full bar that overlooks the playing court with an excellent view. Fricker’s Above the Rim is known for its wings and various sauces. There is the Speedway Stand sponsored by Speedway Convenience stores and they feature typical arena food. By my count, there are seven different beers sold at the Nutter Center and if you are a beer drinker, there is probably one that you will like. Throughout the arena, fans will find Dip N Dots, and the traditional arena food like pretzels, hot dogs, nachos and popcorn along with Pepsi products. I think the variety is great, the quality is good and the prices just a tad on the high side, but not crazy high. If I could give it a 3.7 rating I would, but since I can’t it gets a four-star rating. This is not an arena where fans have to eat before arriving, there is plenty of food choices at the Nutter Center to keep most fans happy. Hot dogs: $3, A jumbo dog, that tastes good with a slight blend of sweet and salty spices that is made by Ball Park Franks and a warm, soft bun. Large popcorn: $2.50, Salty, warm, with a strong buttery taste. Nachos w/ cheese: $3, Great cheese, not too spicy. The chips are just average. Pepsi: 32 oz cup $4 Atmosphere 3 The Nutter Center is a pit design similar to what you would find at New Mexico, San Diego State , Iowa , and Utah State. Fans enter the venue on the concourse level and then walk down into the seating bowl. There are 18 corporate boxes also on the concourse level above the seating bowl. One unique feature of the Nutter Center that none of the other pit design arenas have, is on all four corners of the court on the concourse level there are over-looks where a fan can stand or grab a chair and watch the game, while their food and drink fit nicely on the ledge or table. One of the over-looks is Fricker’s Above The Rim. The scoreboard is huge and it is a state-of-the-art board with over-sized video screens and all the stats any fan would need to follow the action. The concourses are plenty wide and at the west end there is a Raider Athletic Hall of Fame and it features some pro athletes most sports fans will recognize. Throw in the band, the dance team, cheerleaders and a good sized student section dressed and painted appropriately and this is certainly a good college atmosphere. The ceiling of the Nutter Center is built well above the concourse level. There are huge exposed walls that Wright State has cleverly covered with huge banners/murals of past Raider greats and teams. Other than the two women players they stuck up on the banners that few fans remember, they did a great job of highlighting the history and past successes of the Raiders. Neighborhood 4 There is about every kind of kind of fast food and casual dining experience anyone could ask for within one mile of the Nutter Center. There are also plenty of hotels across the street for fans that wish to stay the night. Right across the street, within walking distance, there is One Eyed Jacks, a bar that features decent bar food and at night some live music. Just next door is Flying Pizza (in case you didn’t fill up on LaRosa’s Pizza) and it is good college pizza. Going west almost a mile down Colonial Glenn Highway, which means turning right from the top lot of the Nutter Center is W. O Wrights, a bar with some great food and a pretty good atmosphere. I am partial to the cheese fries. You can eat there for around $10. Going back across I-675 fans can find Cadillac Jack’s, a top-notch sports bar with good food and every game you would want to watch on TV. Most burgers and sandwiches are around $8-$10. There is also a rack of ribs coming in at just under $20. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of my all-time fav restaurants, Frisch’s Big Boy on Colonel Glenn across from Wright State’s main entrance. A Big Boy sandwich, onion rings, a hot fudge sundae, and a cherry Coke, all for about $11. Fans 3 The game I attended, there were 6,000 people in the Nutter Center and it was a pretty good atmosphere. There were over 1,000 students and they were making noise all game. The band, the dance team, and cheerleaders are exactly what you would expect from a good college program. Wright State just needs more fans for every game. They have this nice arena and most nights it is only half-full at best. Access 4 The Nutter Center is about as easy to get to as an arena. It is right off of I-675 at the Fairfield Road exit. Once fans turn north on Fairfield Road, in two blocks it runs right into the Nutter Center. Fans roll right in because parking is included in the price of the ticket, so no stopping to pay an attendant. There is no fast way to get out when the game is over, so hanging out in the arena for a few minutes would save some aggravation.There are plenty of large, clean restrooms on the concourse level, with a smaller restroom on the court level just outside the open end of the seating bowl. Return on Investment 5 Tickets range between $8-$28. For most games tickets are $8 and $18. They use flex pricing, so for several games, they charge more. Don’t go through Ticketmaster, they will crack you for another $7.25. Buy them in person at the Nutter Center Box Office or from someone trying to unload a ticket at less than face value on game day.The ticket prices are average, as previously mentioned there is no charge for parking and the food costs are not too bad. So you could get a ticket and eat well for under $30 for most games. Extras 3 I will award a star for the great design of the seating bowl in the Nutter Center. Another for the corner over-looks and finally a star for Fricker’s Above the Rim. Final Thoughts As a comfortable venue to watch college basketball, one that has good sightlines, competitive play on the court and most of the amenities of a very good college arena, Wright State is first class. They just need another 2,000-3,000 fans at each game to make it really come alive. The hardest part, the physical structure is certainly there, now they just need to win big, pack the arena and the Nutt House could be one of the top college basketball venues and fan destinations in the country similar to Xavier and Dayton.

Photos by Robbie Raskin, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 KeyBank Center One Seymour H Knox III Plaza Buffalo, NY 14203 Buffalo Sabres Website KeyBank Center Website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 18,690 Building Back in Buffalo It has been a tough couple years for the Buffalo Sabres. Mediocrity on the ice, a very public squabble with their captain, border closures that alienated the vital Canadian fans and wreaked havoc on attendance, follwed up with bust-after-bust signings of players in futile attempts to right the ship. At last, it seems the bottom has been reached and the Sabres are building back with some optimism. A new cadre of young players are coming of age with promise, the players in blue and gold appear happy to be there, the border is reopened, and attendance is slowly but surely ticking back up. Cautious optimism, but signs of a club back on track. KeyBank Center has been home to the Sabres since it opened in 1996, and though it is not an outstanding arena today, it's a comfortable arena with solid amenities and a welcoming fan experience. Even if the Sabres have a way to go before they return to any kind of glory days, KeyBank Center is a great place to catch some hockey and Buffalo is one of the best places in America to do so. Food & Beverage 4 KeyBank Center does an excellent job of showcasing the Buffalo cuisine with a variety of local franchises and generic concessions featuring local items. When in Buffalo, the thing to try is surely Buffalo Wings, which can be had at Fryer or La Nova. Fryer also serves the Buffalo staple sandwich ‘Beef on Weck.’ Rachel’s Mediterranean Grill offers fresh wraps on both the 100 and 300-levels. Another neat spot is the Perry Market, on the 100-level concourse, featuring a rotating menu of fusion cuisine. On a given night, the items on offer might include Hawaiian Beef Dogs or Korean Chicken Quesadillas. An affordable option is Red Hots, where Sahlen’s hot dogs go for $6. Another neat concept is the grab-and-go market style vendors in the 100-level atrium, where you can grab a beer and snack item off the shelf and take it to go. Another neat item is Perry’s Ice Cream, with special Sabres-themed ice creams on offer starting at $6.25 There are also ‘Walking Taco’ stands for the trendy item now seen throughout American venues. From over the much-closer border comes Tim Hortons, the ubiquitous Canadian café chain. The eponymous Tim Horton, an NHL legend, spent time on the Sabres and has his number 2 retired and hanging from the rafters at KeyBank Center. Offerings from over the northern border are highlights of the beer selection as well. Labatt Blue is the showcase beer offering here, with a marquee Blue Zone bar area overlooking the atrium on the 100-level, and with Blue, Blue Light, and Blue Seltzer widely available throughout the arena. Something that Canadian fans will find a pleasant surprise is the availability of Molson Canadian as well; you always get one or the other of these arch rivals in Canadian venues. Big American brands are available too; Bud, Coors, Miller, and the rest. There is also a large variety of craft beer, including next-door brewery Southern Tier. Regional brand Genesee rounds out the offerings. Atmosphere 3 The Sabres do a great job of enlivening what might be an unremarkable ‘90s building with a focused and friendly presentation that keeps it about the hockey. Entering the arena through the main doors brings fans through the Alumni Plaza, with its statue of the famed ‘French Connection’ line of the 1970s. Check out the statue of the three Québecois players who brought a decade of excitement to Buffalo. Inside is the expansive atrium with the Blue Zone above. Rising up escalators past the team store brings you into the largely nondescript concourse and seating bowl decked out in Sabres blue. Arriving before the game, fans are treated to a live concert held in the seating bowl. Many NHL clubs in the US have employed this practice, though it is all but nonexistent in Canada where such a tradition could be seen as gimmickry. Here, it creates a welcoming atmosphere as you kick back in the wide seats before puckdrop. Once the game begins, there are blissfully few distractions on the crisp and modern videoboard; the Sabres resist the temptation to employ gimmicks and keep their presentation to the hockey. At one end, an LED ribbon displays out-of-town scores in the NHL and other sports like NFL and NBA. Another good use of the LED ribbons is closed captioning of announcements, which is considerate. Hanging above the ice is a pair of crossed sabres which drop to the ice as the players emerge and shoot smoke after goals. Interestingly, the Sabres use a different goal song after each horn, as opposed to sticking with one track each time. Music-wise, there is a good mix of traditional organ and various genres. Neighborhood 4 KeyBank Center is very near the heart of Buffalo, on the edge of the downtown district. The area has seen a good deal of revitalization in recent years and has grown as a destination for entertainment. Immediately surrounding the arena is the Historic Cobblestone District, with a number of bars and restaurants catering to event goers at the arena and nearby Sahlen Field. The craft beer trend that has taken over many American downtowns is in full force here, with popular Southern Tier Brewery and The Draft Room popular craft sports bars steps from the entrances. The Draft Room, just across from the arena’s main parking garage on Illinois Street, is within the Labatt Brew House. Labatt, though a Canadian beer brand, enjoys immense popularity in Buffalo and has become something of a cultural touchstone for Western New York. A couple blocks further east are Lockhouse Distillery and the Seneca Casino, with all the entertainment options that entails. Nearby there is the Hofbrauhaus, for German cuisine and of course beer. A word to the wise – the neighborhood deteriorates quickly beyond the casino and can be dangerous at night, but you should be fine up until the casino. Heading toward downtown, there is Sahlen Field, home to the Buffalo Bisons baseball team. Though the walk is short, it can be somewhat desolate and windswept (past parking lots, under a freeway, and the like). In warm weather, nearby Niagara Square is home to the art deco landmark City Hall and further north up Main Road, you come to a more vibrant neighborhood. Between Huron and Tupper Streets are a number of dining and nightlife options. Especially in winter, the short cab ride or $4 Metro Rail ride are great options. And when in this part of Buffalo, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is worth a visit. Or go slightly further up Main Road (you’ll want a cab) to visit the iconic Anchor Bar, home of the Buffalo Wing. Buffalo’s downtown is moving in the right direction and with a little preparation and a good map, visitors will find it a very welcoming place indeed. Fans 3 There’s no denying that Buffalo is one of the best hockey cities in the United States. This is one of those rare regions where hockey ranks a close second to football, without baseball or basketball in between. That said, Buffalo fans have put up with a lot in recent years. Unfortunately, Sabres attendance this season is second-last in the league, ahead of only the perennially last Arizona Coyotes. Those who’ve been around the NHL long enough know that despite the attendance woes, Sabres support is deep in Buffalo. Noticeably friendly, the Sabres fans can be roused into noise by strong performance on the ice. And those fans who do come out in these lean years are there to support their club through thick and (very) thin times, leading to a small but mighty crowd most nights. For what it's worth, the Sabres have long relied on Canadian fans crossing the border from nearby Niagara Region and though the border is now reopened, the number of Canadians visiting the US remains far below pre-pandemic numbers. This is surely one part of the Sabres attendance story, and not really a mark against the culture of the fanbase. The fans in Buffalo are reliably friendly and welcoming to out-of-towners, and they make for a fun atmosphere. Still, it would be very difficult to give full marks for fan support to the worst-attended team in a proper NHL arena this season. Things will no doubt turn around for Buffalo when things get better on the ice. Access 5 Getting to and around KeyBank Center is a piece of cake. The most popular mode of transportation is arriving by car, and it is easy to drive and park. There are ample surface and covered lots near the arena, and the abundance of parking means it doesn’t cost as much as it might otherwise. Lots adjacent to the arena tend to cost $25 on hockey nights, with a going rate of $12 if you’re willing to walk 8-10 minutes away. Vehicle access is helped by the immediate proximity of Interstate 190, which passes a block from the arena. For the many fans coming from Canada, it shouldn’t take more than fifteen minutes to reach the arena from the Peace Bridge border crossing; simply follow I-190 into the downtown. Crossing the border for just the evening is usually quite easy but remember your passport! For those wishing to arrive by public transit, the NFTA Metro Rail system runs up Main Road and has a ‘Special Events Station’ open during Sabres games. It makes for a good option for getting from the arena to the busier parts of Downtown, a couple stops up the line. Return on Investment 4 Sabres tickets are among the best deals in the league, starting in the high $40 range. Parking and concessions are similarly reasonably affordable. Prices are dynamic; meaning basically that they rise dramatically when the Maple Leafs come to town and return to normal the rest of the year. Aside from those Leafs dates, taking a family to a Sabres game can cost well under $200 altogether. That is a good deal these days, and the experience is sure to be an enjoyable one. A handy note – KeyBank Center does accept Canadian currency at concessions and the team store. Though the exchange rate may not always be in Canadian fans’ favour, there’s no need to change money before coming to KeyBank Center. Extras 4 Extra point for the use of closed captioning on all arena announcements. This is not just vital for hearing impaired people, but handy if you’ve missed a call on the ice. Extra point for the frequent use of the organ, a hockey tradition that is no longer found at many NHL arenas. The Sabres in-game presentation is excellent and hockey-focused. During the second intermission, a video interview with a Rochester Americans player highlights the connection between parent club and AHL affiliate. This is useful especially when the Americans play just up the highway. An extra point to the Sabres who embrace their Canadian fans with extras like taking Canadian Dollars at concessions and playing the Canadian anthem alongside the American one before each game. Final Thoughts KeyBank Center is a solid place to catch a hockey game in one of the best American hockey markets. Sabres fans are welcoming and friendly, the arena is comfortable and has been updated pretty well over the years. Unfortunately, the attendance has followed the Sabres’ on-ice performance after being pummelled by border closures. The experience at KeyBank Center will surely rise a couple notches when the fans come back to a winning team. In the meantime, Sabres hockey is affordable, enjoyable, and focused on the hockey as it should be. Visiting Buffalo around a hockey game is a solid choice, and any fan will go home happy for having done so.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 The Hangar Dome 1751 N State St Jackson, MS 39202 Millsaps College Majors website The Hangar Dome website Year Opened: 1950s Capacity: 1,000 Basketball in an Airplane Hangar Millsaps College is small private Methodist college located north of downtown Jackson in the Historic Belhaven Neighborhood. The college is small by most standards with an enrollment of just over 900 students. Millsaps opened its doors in 1890 when Confederate veteran Major Reuben Webster Millsaps donated $550,000 and the land for the university. Named after Millsaps, the Majors compete at the Division III level in the Southern Athletic Association, and with their enrollment of 900 are currently the smallest school in the conference. In the 1940s Millsaps College was selected as one of 131 sites in the United States to offer the V-12 Naval Officer Program. The purpose of the program was to generate large numbers of officers for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, to meet the demands of WWII. The program lasted from 1943 to 1946, and students took classes and trained in case they were called to fight for their country. TV personality Johnny Carson was enrolled in the program at the time. So what do you do when the war is over and you have a giant airplane hangar on campus that is no longer in use? In the case of the Millsaps Majors, converting it into a basketball court was the only logical answer. The affectionately named Hangar Dome opened its door in the 1950s and seats close to 1,000 people. You can tell just by looking around that the gym has not been renovated in recent years, and in this case, it’s a good thing – with its wooden frame on the inside, classic wooden bleachers, and dimmed lights it reminded me of watching a throwback basketball game from the 70s. The only recent renovation happened in 2000 when the Maurice H. Hall Activities Center, which houses the university’s fitness program, opened on the side of the Hangar Dome. Food & Beverage 1 There is one small concession stand located right before the entrance to the main floor of the gym. The basic fare can be found here, including large fountain drinks ($3), hot dogs ($3), nachos ($3), popcorn ($2), small fountain drinks, and bottled water ($2). I bought a small fountain drink and found my cup to be reasonably sized, but it would be best to eat at one of Jackson’s many restaurants located in the area before or after the game – anybody coming to The Hangar Dome looking for a culinary experience will walk away disappointed. Atmosphere 4 I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere inside the gym. There are two main entrances into the arena, with the main entrance also being the best way to get into the Activities Center. Once inside you will be greeted by hallways lined with trophy cases that rival any Division I school’s trophy display. From one end of the hallway to the other there are displays built into the walls that show literally every accomplishment and trophy won in every single sport the university competes in. Not only that but there is everything from old jerseys to signed game balls representing every athletic feat the school has achieved. For such a small school it was nice to see them honoring the athletic accomplishments of the university. Also, at the front entrance is the school’s fitness center, along with a running track that circles three different indoor basketball courts. After getting acquainted with the Majors athletic program you walk downstairs to get to the actual basketball court. Once you get downstairs there is the one concessions stand to the right, bathrooms, and the building’s other entrance. Electric is the wrong word for it but there was something about walking into the gym for the first time – when walking out onto the gym floor you get a sense and feel for the history. I’m not sure if it’s the fact that not very many venues these days have wooden ceilings and the lights were dimly lit on the court, but I got a real Jackie Moon Flint Tropics vibe from sitting in the stands. I felt like I was transported back to the 1970s; the only thing missing was the short shorts. The arena is set up with the court facing east and west, with two sets of makeshift bleachers on the south side – these sets only have 15 rows, while the bleachers on the north side are wooden and are the original bleachers built into the arena. The wooden seats rise and form sort of a crescent shape at the top, and there’s just something old school about walking up the stairs and seeing the dust on the bleachers. There are two basic scoreboards in each end zone and the acoustics in the building are incredible. I’m not sure if the wooden ceilings played a factor in the noise level, but the speakers seemed up to date and the noise volume echoed nicely inside the gym. Also, at each end of the court are the banners of all the tournament appearances of the Major basketball teams. One interesting side note is that if you sit in the north side set of bleachers there is no way to get to the concessions stands or bathrooms without having to walk across the back end of the basketball court – It was very interesting to walk past the other team’s bench or risk getting hit with a ball as you walked to and fro during the action. That said, if you choose to sit on that side of the gym I recommend getting concessions and taking a bathroom break before you sit down. Neighborhood 3 The campus is located in a mostly residential area north of the downtown area. While there is nothing within walking distance of the college, just a short drive north will take you to the Fondren District. Located near the Ole Miss Med School, this is Jackson’s nightlife area and you will find numerous restaurants and bars on this one block strip, my favorite being Fondren Public. Bocce ball, corn hole, shuffleboard, oversized Jenga, and multiple board games can be played inside and outside the bar, and it has a really cool feel to it. There are also numerous other bars and restaurants located in Fondren, such as Pig & Pint (known for its BBQ), Walker’s Drive-In, Babalu Tapas & Tacos, and Sal & Mookie’s Pizza, but another bar in the area I recommend checking out is Brent’s Drugs. From the outside, it looks like a regular pharmacy, but with its soda fountain inside it’s very reminiscent of a 50s style diner. However, in the back there is also a speakeasy-style bar that was used during prohibition; Brent’s is a very interesting bar and gets pretty packed at night. There are also numerous bars in the downtown area, a couple of miles south of campus, such as Hal and Mal’s, Fenians, and Old Tavern on George Street. There is also Underground 119, which is a cool underground blues bar located in downtown, but this area is not exactly the safest, so use caution when walking around here after dark. In addition, Lakeland Drive is located about a mile east of the Millsaps campus, and you can find all the usual chain restaurants and lodging in this area. For attractions nearby I recommend checking out the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, which is a very nice interactive museum that doesn’t get too packed during the week; you could spend hours just walking through all the different exhibits located in this museum. The Hall of Fame is located on Lakeland Drive right next to historic Smith-Wills Stadium, former home of the Jackson Mets and current home of the Belhaven baseball team. Fans 3 Millsaps is a really small school of only 900 students, and for this level of college basketball, you are only going to get about a hundred fans in attendance. However, because the campus is so small and the majority of students live on campus, Millsaps students to show up at The Hangar Dome on game night. The students sit on the two sets of lower level bleachers on the south side of the court, with other fans scattered throughout the taller wooden bleachers on the north side. Many students stood for the entire game, and I even saw a group of students with their shirts offs. Though it’s not Division I basketball, the students make the best of it by treating it as such. In such a unique arena the student section definitely creates a raucous atmosphere. Access 3 Millsaps College’s campus is located north of downtown Jackson, just west of I-55 in the Belhaven neighborhood of Jackson. The college is located in a mostly residential area of town, a couple of blocks east of another school, Belhaven University . The Blazers are D3 as well and share a fierce rivalry with the Majors. When coming to The Hangar Dome, the Woodrow Wilson Drive exit off I-55 is your best bet; just take rush hour traffic into account, as the interstate tends to back up especially on the north side of downtown, so plan accordingly. The campus can be easy to miss as it is pretty small, but just follow Woodrow Wilson Drive until you get to the State Street intersection. Millsaps College’s campus is pretty small, so finding a parking spot can be difficult. There is a small parking lot located right outside the arena but it fills up quickly, especially on weeknights, so instead you can park across the street in the stadium parking lot, or you can park in the campus parking garage on the south side of campus – just take State Street until you get to the Park Street intersection, and the parking garage is on the right. Return on Investment 4 Tickets are free, parking is free, and concessions are average. The return on investment is good, but anyone showing up expecting a big fancy basketball arena will be disappointed. But you will get to see a college basketball arena at an arena, where little has changed in the past 60 years. Extras 4 If in town when Millsaps and Belhaven are playing each other I recommend seeing the game, as the atmosphere goes up to an extra point when these two are playing each other. Though the two teams are not in the same conference, they share a heated rivalry that has stretched for decades. Many notable celebrities have spoken inside this building – in 1953 Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis judged a homecoming beauty contest here, while in the 1960s Johnny Carson and Robert Kennedy both spoke here at commencement ceremonies, and in the 1970s Bob Hope and Jimmy Carter made appearances in The Hangar Dome. Right next to The Hangar Dome is Harper-Davis Field, home of the Majors football team. From 2006 to 2008 the New Orleans Saints used this field, and the surrounding fields to the north, as their Training Camp location. In fact, some could argue that the Drew Brees era officially began right here at Millsaps, considering the fact that both he and Sean Payton joined the team in 2006. Another extra goes to the campus itself and its scenic beauty. The campus classrooms are located in beautiful white marble, Greek-columned buildings, and there are also several cannons located on campus that were used during the Civil War. I also recommend climbing the clock tower on the south side of campus; if you climb to the top you can get a really good view of the whole campus; the founder of Millsaps College himself is also buried on the south side of campus. Final Thoughts The Hangar Dome is a throwback to days gone by, back before the days of elaborate arenas and stadiums. The Hangar Dome is gritty, old, rustic, and beginning to show its age, but in this case, it only adds to the charm. If in the Jackson area, especially when the Millsaps plays rival Belhaven , make it a point to come out to The Hangar Dome – you’ll get to see a true hidden gem of an arena on a beautiful and historic campus in Mississippi.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Prince William Ice Center 5180 Dale Boulevard Woodbridge, VA 22193 George Mason Patriots hockey website Prince William Ice Center website Year Opened: 2011 Mason on the Ice The George Mason Patriots ice hockey team competes in Division I of the ACHA, the top level of intercollegiate club ice hockey in the United States. Play at this level is roughly comparable to Division III of the NCAA, but predominately features teams like Mason which do not sponsor the sport at a varsity level. The Patriots play their hockey at the Prince William Ice Center in Dale City Virginia, about a half hour drive from their campus in Fairfax. The original Prince William Ice Center opened in 1996 but collapsed in 2010 due to heavy snow. Thankfully, nobody was injured as they were able to get everyone out in time, but the building was completely destroyed. The current version opened in November 2011. In addition to Mason, several youth and adult teams of various levels play at the Prince William Ice Center, and many figure skaters and speed skaters train here as well. There are two rinks at the PWIC, an Olympic-sized one and an NHL-sized one. Mason always plays on the NHL-sized one. Food & Beverage 4 There is a snack bar located in the lobby of the Prince William Ice Center, to the left of the front doors to the building and directly across from the doors to the NHL-sized rink. There are some tables you can eat at and warm up during intermission, or you can bring in your food and eat it in the bleachers while watching the game. There is a good range of offerings here, including several all-day breakfast options, plus food like pizza, burgers, chicken tenders, and hot dogs which are more conducive to the time of day Mason usually plays. bottled water and a wide range of soft drinks and energy drinks are available, as are ice cream floats. Alcohol (beer, wine, and hard seltzer) is available to fans of legal drinking age, which is surprising for a municipal rink. Pries are reasonable - other than alcohol, everything is $7 or less, and most of it is much less. Atmosphere 3 Walking into the Prince William Ice Center will put you in a spacious lobby with display cases, banners, and trophies dedicated to the various teams who play here. The NHL rink is to the left of the entrance while the Olympic-sized rink is to the right. Mason always plays on the NHL rink, but if you want to confirm, you can ask at the front desk. Once inside the rink area, there are a few rows of bleachers on one side of the ice. Netting extends from the top of the glass to the ceiling, so you will be watching the game through it no matter how high you sit. That being said, all seats are pretty close to the action so you should have a good view. There is not much going on here besides the game itself. Music is played during breaks in the action, though it is not so loud as to become annoying. The PA announcer announces the starting lineups and will typically announce goal scorers, but often does not announce penalties. They do put the time remaining on the penalty up on the scoreboard, so you can at least see who it was called on and whether it was a major or a minor. Like most of the ACHA, this is a pretty basic experience in a standard municipal rink. Neighborhood 3 There is not much in the immediate vicinity of the Prince William Ice Center. There are a few fast food restaurants, gas stations, and the like, but this is a standard suburban area with not much going on. There are some shopping centers closer to I-95 which have some dining and other options, but nothing beyond the ordinary. The Dale City/Woodbridge area is a typical suburb of Washington, DC. Fans 3 By our estimation, there were between 100 and 200 fans in attendance when Stadium Journey visited the George Mason game, most of whom had some connection to the players on the ice. The crowd could be loud at times, while at other times it was quiet enough to hear the live stream commentator if you were sitting close by. This is a pretty standard crowd for ACHA, more than some people might expect for a team few know exists, but a far cry from what you'd see at an NCAA level. Since the Prince William ice Center is half an hour from Mason's campus with no transportation available, you will find few if any of their students in attendance. Access 2 The Prince William ice Center is located a few miles off I-95, and it is easy to get to, though we suggest using a GPS as it isn't clearly signed. Once you get in the lot, the ice arena is located behind the Boys' and Girls' club. Follow the road past that building to the Ice Center lot. Once you get there, you may have trouble finding a space as the lot is relatively small. Even if you get there early, you may struggle to find a space. This is a municipal rink, so other groups are usually using the ice before Mason's game. You may need to circle the lot a few times waiting for someone to leave. As mentioned, other groups often have the ice before George Mason does, so if you arrive early, you may have to wait for them to clear out before you go in the rink. This could be as late as 20-30 minutes before the game starts. That being said, you can eat something at the tables in the snack bar while you wait, or watch the TV which is often showing a hockey game or some other sporting event. Getting in and out of the stands can be difficult, as there is a small space between the bleachers and the entrance that may have a lot of people trying to crowd into it at once. It can get bad during intermission, but iis even worse before and after the game, as people will be coming for one event at the same time people are leaving the other. You shouldn't have too many issues, but it can be claustrophobic for a minute or two before you manage to get where you need to go. Restrooms are located in a walkway between the NHL and Olympic rinks, and you should have no issues here. There was water on the floor of the men's room when we went, but this is to be expected when people are trekking ice from the rink in there, and there is no reason to suspect it was anything but water. Return on Investment 3 Tickets to George Mason hockey games are $10 for students and $15 for adults (i.e. non-students.) This is on the high-end for ACHA hockey but certainly will not break the bank. Concessions are reasonably priced as well. Extras 3 Look for the banners in the rink and displays in the lobby honoring the myriad of teams and individual athletes that call or have called the Prince William Ice Center home. There is a large George Mason logo on one set of doors to the building, plus the team logo on center ice. Even though this is a municipal rink, it feels like the team's home, not just some rented place they play at. There is a merchandise table just inside the entrance to the link that sells GMU hockey gear. Final Thoughts While Prince William Ice Center is a municipal rink, don't let that fool you. A George Mason ACHA hockey game here is definitely a fun experience for college hockey fans in Northern Virginia. With no NCAA teams calling this area home, club hockey is basically the only way to check out the college level of the game. George Mason fans and college hockey fans in general will definitely want to make the trek down to Dale City to check out a Patriots game.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Allen County War Memorial Coliseum 4000 Parnell Ave Fort Wayne, IN 46805 Fort Wayne Komets website Allen County War Memorial Coliseum website Year Opened: 1952 Capacity: 10,500 It’s Always Hockey Night in Fort Wayne The Ft. Wayne Komets are the 2nd oldest minor league hockey operation in the country after the Hershey Bears. The team was founded in 1952 and has been called the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum – it’s home for close to 70 years; not too many other hockey teams can say that. The team had been members of the International Hockey League, before bouncing around numerous leagues after the 1998/99 season and settling in the ECHL in 2012. Despite the different leagues, the Komets have been constant playoff contenders capturing nine championships, including four cups in five seasons between 2008-2012. In 2002, the Coliseum underwent a much-needed renovation that raised the 1,200-ton roof 41 feet and 10 inches to modernized the building and create greater accessibility for guests with disabilities. The final cost of the project was $34.5 million and increased capacity size from 10,500 to 13,000. In 2013, a $3.96 million renovation modernized all the restrooms on the 200 Level and added two large food courts and retail space. These renovations have been beneficial to the facility in attracting concerts and other events, but it has not taken away from the charm of the old-school building. Today, a Fort Wayne Komets game is one of your best values in one of the better hockey buildings in the country. The moment you step into the coliseum doors, it’s going to be a good time from before the first puck drops. You are surrounded by some of the best fans in the sport. Food & Beverage 5 There is quite a bit of everything at the coliseum at game night. There are two food court areas in the 200 Level where fans can feast on pizza slices from Slice’d, take-out style Asian cuisine from Wok this Wayne, grilled burgers from Appleseed Burger Company, and jumbo dogs from Dog House Cart. Fans can choose from slices or a whole pie, plus steak hoagies and submarinos and fried ravioli. The slices are just about the right size and are on display for customers to pick and choose. Adjacent to Slice’d are teriyaki bowls that come in two sizes. Patrons can pick their protein, vegetables, toppings, and sauces and watch while they are created right in front of them. Other take-out options include sesame beef, General Tso chicken, and vegetable lo mein. If there couldn’t be more at the arena, Banditos whips up burritos and nachos right in front of you along with hard or soft tacos. BBQ 58 serves mouthwatering items such as pulled pork, pulled chicken, and brisket nachos, and Piggy Back Tina Tots that are covered with jalapeno, cheese, sour cream, barbecue sauce, and scallions. There is still more variety from individual kiosks offering Yuengling variety, jerk chicken, roasted nuts, soft pretzels, and Tim Horton’s coffee. However, fans looking for your basics of nachos, hot dogs, peanuts, and chicken tenders won’t be disappointed since the arena has you covered. Tables and bar stools are provided for fans to enjoy their meal before the game or during intermission. Atmosphere 5 Ft. Wayne is one of the better cities to watch a minor league hockey game, and the club routinely finishes atop the ECHL in standings as well as in the top 5 in all of minor league hockey. No matter what league the Komets are playing in, the fans create an atmosphere that is truly something amazing in a state where basketball is king. An hour before the game, fans march to the arena decked out in the teams’ colors of black and orange. They make their way up the escalator to the atrium where the excitement begins with mascot appearances, chuck-a-puck sign-ups, program sales, and a large merchandise stand with just about every kind of team merchandise one could want to own. The seating bowl is packed full of vivacious fans who wave flags and bang mini drums to get the rest of their supporters excited. Staff members are not only there to help you get to your seat but provide friendly service and don’t seem to bother you if you happen to move around the concourse trying to get the best view of the action on the ice. Icy D. Eagle is the club’s official mascot, and he does a lot of climbing around the seating bowl, introducing himself to people, and creating a lot of noise with a drum kid himself. His activity throughout the game is somewhat impressive, but that is just part of the atmosphere one will find at the coliseum during the hockey game. A large video screen provides additional entertainment for fans throughout the breaks in the action, promotions take place on the sponsor-covered ice, and the building erupts with a raucous cheer when the Komets score a goal, or a fight takes place on the ice. Neighborhood 4 The coliseum is located near an abundance of chain restaurants, retail outlets, and berries lodging options. There is almost everything you could want within a couple of miles from the building including coney dogs, barbecue, craft beer, and coffee shops. Mister Coney has been a mainstay for over 50 years and offers their take on the coney dog that is a bit meatier in texture than what you would find downtown. Mission BBQ is a Maryland-based chain but provides an array of smoked meats and 8 varieties of barbecue with portions of their proceeds going back to first responders. 2Tom’s Brewing Company brews a nice range of beer and offers a laid-back atmosphere perfect for games of all ages. Glenbrooke Square Mall is one of the largest in the area and is surrounded by familiar chain restaurants and shops. Tim Horton’s has a location here featuring its coffee that is widely consumed up north in Canada. There is also the practice rink for the Ft. Wayne Komets and if you happen to be in town for a doubleheader between hockey and a basketball game, you should be able to find enough to keep you busy in between games at the coliseum. Fans 5 The Komets lead the ECHL attendance ever since joining the league for the 2012/2013 season and at one time were the number 2 attendant team in all of minor league hockey. The fans pack the building regularly, and 9,000 plus were on hand for our latest visit. You can spot many wearing Komets jerseys and gear while others enjoy a night out at the old rink. While the rest of the country is catching up to minor league hockey, it’s been king in Ft. Wayne since 1952. Access 4 The coliseum has gone through a couple of renovations that have modernized the building to create better access for all patrons. Areas are well marked, and escalators and elevators are available to transport fans to multiple areas. There is parking for 5,000 cars, and it’s only a 1.5 half-mile drive from the I-69 exit or a 4-mile drive to downtown Ft. Wayne. Return on Investment 5 Tickets prices start at $12 for the 600 Level, economical for the conscious traveler. If you are looking for watching the game with a rowdier, more cutthroat type of fan-not to say that they don’t exist in the 600 Level-purchase a $28 ticket for the lower bowl. Here, the fans yell at the goalie and chant various unpleasantries to the opposing team. The Komets have a few nearby rivals, most notably the Toledo Walleye, who also have a dedicated group of fans and are located two hours to the east of town. These games are usually the highest in numbers, but other great rival games include match-ups with the Indy Fuel and the Kalamazoo Wings. Parking is $6 a car, aligned with other ECHL venues, and menu options are reasonable and plentiful. However, it is wise to arrive early due to increased traffic and long lines heading into the lot. Food pricing is average–not too cheap and not too expensive–but there are a few game-day deals at certain concession stands worth taking advantage of that won’t hurt the wallet. The atmosphere and passion from the fans is also a major selling point for the return of investment. There are not too many other minor league towns that offer these sorts of credentials. Everywhere you look around, you feel you are somewhere much more than minor league games; you feel like you are at a major event in town. Extras 4 Did you ever wonder why the team spells its name with a K? When original owner Ernie Berg decided upon a nickname for his new hockey team, he wanted a name that suggested speed, flash, and excitement. He spelled it with a “K” instead of a “C” after his wife Kathryn, who went by Kay. The Rooftop Lounge offers full menu options, plus outdoor seating where smoking cigarettes is allowed. The lounge offers a vast selection of drinks and its food menu and is open to the 21 and over crowd. The two food courts are spacious, creative, and bright for an older facility that features tight concourses in certain areas. The prices are reasonable, and the selections are varied in these two hot spots on the 200 Level. Ft. Wayne should be considered ‘Hockey City, Indiana’ since the popularity of the sport wanes almost everywhere else in the state. There are minor league clubs in Indianapolis and Evansville, but here minor league hockey is the king of the Hoosier State. Final Thoughts A Fort Wayne Komets game is indeed a marvelous time for everyone who enters the coliseum doors. The 9,000-plus on hand for the game creates an atmosphere, and then I’ll be on suits that could easily make a fan of the sport and let everyone know that this is truly one of the great minor league hockey towns in the country. It is nothing new as fans have been coming to games for nearly 70 years, and something tells me they’ll be doing it for another seventy years. It’s always a good night for hockey in Ft. Wayne. Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and Instagram .

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Protective Stadium 1020 24th St N Birmingham, AL 35203 Birmingham Stallions website Protective Stadium website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 47,100 Giddy Up Birmingham Tuscaloosa is not the only city celebrating recent championship victories in Alabama – B irmingham has also enjoyed success with the Birmingham Stallions, who won the United States Football League (USFL) titles in 2022 and 2023, the first two seasons after the league's revival. The 2024 season would see a merger of competing spring football leagues, the USFL and the XFL, to create the United Football League (UFL). Both leagues had vied for spring football supremacy, but rather than compete for viewership, it made more sense for the two leagues to join forces as one. While the UFL game at its core remains consistent with NFL and college football, the league has introduced rules that look to boost opportunities for explosive plays and for teams to score points. Notably, the extra points after touchdowns here do not involve a point-after-kick; instead teams can choose to go for 1 point from the 2-yard line, 2 points from the 5-yard line, or 3 points from the 10-yard line. In addition, instead of onside kick opportunities, the team attempting to retain possession following a score can attempt a 4th-and-12 play from their own 28-yard line. Another unique rule allows the offense to throw two forward passes on a single play, provided the first pass does not cross the line of scrimmage. Though the USFL and XFL disappeared as independent leagues when the merger happened, both leagues live on as conferences within the UFL – each conference is comprised of four surviving teams from their old league, and the teams still play for their old league’s championship trophy, but with the 2 winners facing off in the UFL Championship Game.   Food & Beverage   3 Stadium concessions often feel repetitive from one stadium to another – burgers, dogs, chicken fingers, and nachos . At Protective Stadium for Birmingham Stallions games, however, fans can find these standard options but with a bit more variety. Hot dogs are available in several variations, and nachos come with a range of different toppings. But while there's a decent variety of options, nothing really stands out as a must-have concession item that you can't find elsewhere. Soft drinks are from the Coca-Cola family of beverages and alcohol choices are plentiful. Beers from Yuengling, Miller Light, Coors Light, Michelob Ultra, and Modelo are available, along with 2 local craft brews, Cahaba Brewing Company Blonde and Trim Trab Pale Ale. White Claw seltzers, Simply Spiked Lemonade, and several pre-mixed, canned, and hand-mixed cocktails can also be found.   Atmosphere   3 Protective Stadium was built above ground level, with the south end open to prominently display the Birmingham skyline. Even though the main scoreboard fills the openness of this end of the stadium, it does not impact the view of downtown. The multi-story press box, featuring two levels of suites and a lower level with premium food and drink access, rises high above the western side of the stadium. Breaks in the action are filled with typical stadium promotions like ad reads, t-shirt tosses, on-field competitions, and various scoreboard features such as dance cams and air guitar contests. Fans seem to be engaged with these interactive promotions and features. An unfortunate part of the game atmosphere is that, during UFL games here, fans are confined to one side of the stadium. While this helps concentrate the energy into one area, it creates a massive void throughout the rest of the stadium, and makes for some uncertainty about where fans can sit and which sections are off limits. Although fans are passionate and can get loud, much of the excitement is lost in the stadium's emptiness – even with an announced attendance of 10,000, for example, it is not enough to compensate for the closed-off east side. In contrast, the D.C. Defenders benefit from using Audi Stadium, home of MLS's D.C. United , which has a capacity of 20,000 and is nearly 70% full each game. Each market must work with the venues available, but smaller venues closer to capacity can significantly enhance the overall game atmosphere.   Neighborhood   4 Protective Stadium is part of the larger "eat-stay-play" development called Uptown Birmingham. The development provides all a fan might need without having to leave the area. Uptown consists of 6 to 8 restaurants, the Westin Hotel, a dog park, and pickleball courts; much of this is located under the interstate bridges that pass just feet from the surrounding parking decks. For fans looking for pre or postgame activities, a visit to Top Golf (directly across the street from the northeast gates of the stadium) may be of interest. Or for early kickoffs, an evening visit across town to Regions Field, home of the Birmingham Barons  of the AA - Southern League, could be an option. Fans who have a passion for sports history, especially that of Negro League baseball, will want to make two locations a high priority on any visit to Birmingham: Rickwood Field , the oldest professional baseball park and one-time home of the Birmingham Black Barons, and the Negro Southern League Museum , which is housed in one of the buildings beyond the left field confines of Regions Field. Admission to both is free.   Fans   3 Since the return of the Stallions, originally members of the USFL in the 1980s, attendance in Birmingham has generally been in the top half of the league, though that is still somewhat relative. Nevertheless, the fan support in Birmingham led to Protective Stadium being used as one of the two hub cities for the USFL 2023 season. The most supportive of the fans come from the fan group, “The Horsemen”. This group of fans are stationed behind Birmingham’s bench, leading chants of “DEFENSE” and imploring others to make noise to help encourage the Stallions throughout the game. As the game progresses, fans begin to populate the lower section of the northern end zone, often taking off their shirts and twirling them overhead as rallying rags. What starts as a modest gathering often becomes a sizable crowd by the final minute of the game. During the 2024 season, attendance was somewhat inconsistent. The Stallions ranked fourth in the league for attendance, with over 12,000 fans attending the opening game, and more than 14,000 showing up for the matchup versus the St. Louis Battlehawks, featuring the return of the University of Alabama’s national championship quarterback, A.J. McCarron. For other home games though, attendance fluctuated between 7,000 and just over 10,000 fans.   Access   4 Given Protective Stadium’s location in Birmingham, getting there is rather easy. Those driving to town will see Protective Stadium directly off Interstate 20-59. Parking is available around the stadium with garages to the west and south, and lots to the east and north. Limited free street parking is available since games are played on weekends, but securing one of those spots requires arriving very early. Primary access points to Protective Stadium are located at the northeast and south ends of the stadium, with two lesser used entries on the west side of the stadium, in addition to the club entry. Since most parking is concentrated on the southern and western sides, the southern entry point near the Uptown district is most popular. Those coming through the southern entrance across from the Uptown district are funneled onto the multi-tiered switchback ramp to access the main level concourse, which runs above the seating. Seating is limited to the press box side of the stadium only, so this does limit fans’ ability to traverse the entire stadium.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets start at $10, with an additional $1 fee, even when purchased directly from the box office. Considering the cost of attending NFL games, the low cost of tickets makes heading to a Stallions game appealing. Where things can get a bit pricy, though, are with parking fees and concessions. These costs are avoidable if you are willing to make a couple of sacrifices: arrive well before the gates open to find the free parking spots, and choose not to purchase food or drinks inside the stadium.   Extras   3 A large banner covers one of the upper-level seating areas marking Birmingham’s 2022 and 2023 USFL titles. Also commemorating the Stallions’ championship seasons is a piece of metal work that resembles the USFL trophy, located outside Protective Stadium’s southern entrance. Following pre-game warmups, children ages 5-13 are invited onto the field to high-five the players as they head to the locker room. The transparency of the replay system is a great way to give fans insight into the process of upholding or reversing calls – when a play is challenged, the replay official is shown on the stadium scoreboard, talking though the call in real time, until he renders a decision.   Final Thoughts The UFL points to the late merger  of the XFL and USFL as a significant challenge for attendance. The uncertainty of which markets would have teams affected their ability to fully promote their product. For those needing their football fix before NFL training camps, the UFL is a decent alternative. The league has potential from a production standpoint to build upon, and for the NFL to take note of, especially with the replay system the UFL has in place. The UFL is also entertaining from a competition standpoint; more than half of the 40 regular-season games in 2024 were decided by one score or less, ensuring competitive and compelling matchups. In all, there is potential for the UFL to continue to grow in Birmingham, as long as the league continues to be a viable product where multiple markets can be successful.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey and Scott Olmstead Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 O’ Shaughnessy Stadium 2115 Summit Avenue St. Paul, MN 55105 St. Thomas Tommies website O'Shaughnessy Stadium website Year Opened: 1948 Capacity: 5,025 Tell Them the Tommie Boys are Here…. St. Thomas University is a private Catholic liberal arts university in St. Paul, MN. It was founded in 1885 and is located along the east bank of the Mississippi River, just across the river from Minneapolis, MN. It is the largest private university in Minnesota, with a student body of 9,878 students. The school offers more than 150 areas of study at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels. Football has been played at St. Thomas since 1904. The school’s athletic teams are known as the Tommies. Until 2020, the Tommies played at the Division III level of sports in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). St. Thomas University athletes dominated almost every sport the MIAC offered, to the point they were voted out of the league due to “an inequitable level of performance when compared with other teams in the conference.” There were no allegations of cheating, and schools at the Division III level do not offer athletic scholarships. The Tommies then became the first Division III level team to ever skip the NCAA Division II level of play and go directly to the Division I level of competition. Since 2021, the Tommies football program has been a member of the Pioneer Conference at the FCS level of competition. The Tommies have handled this transition very well, as they are 17-4 after their first two seasons of Division I play and won the Pioneer League Championship in only their second season in the league. The Tommies call the on-campus O’Shaughnessy Stadium their home field. The stadium opened in 1948. It is located on the eastern edge of the St. Thomas University campus at the corner of Cretin Avenue and Summit Avenue in St. Paul. The stadium is named for Ignatius O’Shaughnessy, a St. Thomas alumni and philanthropist who donated millions of dollars toward the stadium’s construction. Due to its location on a corner, the grandstand is located on the western side of the field. The stadium seats 5,205, with 4,237 bleacher seats and 788 seat back chairs (550 in the main grandstand and 238 major donors to the program in the Fowler Veranda on the eastern side of the field.) The field was covered with Field Turf after a renovation in 2017 and it is known as Palmer Field. In addition to football, the stadium also serves as the home for the men’s and women’s track and field programs. A rubberized surface multi-lane track encircles the field. Food & Beverage 3 O’Shaughnessy Stadium has one main concession stand located on the concourse beneath the grandstand. It offers hot dogs ($4), hamburgers ($5), cheeseburgers ($6), brats ($6), popcorn ($4), candy ($4), chips ($2) and a ½ cookie the size of a pizza ($5). The stadium serves Pepsi brand sodas ($4), Gatorade ($4), and bottled water ($4). No alcohol is sold at O’Shaughnessy Stadium. A rotating set of food trucks supplement the offerings of the main concession stand. They set up in a plaza at the southern end of the grandstand. Atmosphere 5 O’Shaughnessy Stadium was built in an era when college stadiums were built in the middle of the campus. You’ll enjoy that return to a bygone era, as you will see great football played on the field, while you have campus buildings just outside of the stone walls of the stadium. St. Thomas has both beautiful architecture and grounds, and even members of the opposition’s fan base come away marveling at the setting of the stadium. It would be a shame to block the view. The stadium at St. Thomas is at the right scale for the campus, as it does not soar above the campus. There is not a bad seat in the house as there is no upper deck to this venue. Even the size of the bands, fan bases, and the crowd are scaled at an appropriate level at this stadium. So far, we have not mentioned the color purple. St. Thomas’ team's colors are purple… and there is lots of it in this stadium. The bleachers are purple, the press box is purple, and the end zones are purple. However, it is a regal purple that fits in with the cathedral types of buildings surrounding it. Even the track that encircles the field is purple. The one necessary piece of modern equipment in O’Shaughnessy Stadium is found behind the north end zone. This is of course a videoboard. The one at St. Thomas is brand new, as it was installed just before the 2023 season. It provides replays, but they stick to only showing the major ones that impact the game. They keep the ads to a minimum and are fair in showing big plays for both the home and the visiting teams, which I feel shows great sportsmanship. Finally, even the base that holds up the videoboard mimics the stone architecture of the campus… well done! Neighborhood 3 St. Thomas University and O’Shaughnessy Stadium are in an urban neighborhood on the eastern banks of the Mississippi River. The river forms one border of the campus, and several nature trails in the area offer spectacular views of both the river and downtown Minneapolis. Another street bordering the campus is Summit Avenue, which is known for its lovely residential area in St. Paul. There are some small businesses and restaurants across Grand Avenue from the campus, Gus Gus is a neighborhood bistro that is popular with both St. Thomas grads and current students. My Burger offers a reasonably priced menu for families attending the game. One other establishment we recommend is Tiffany Sports Lounge, which always has multiple football games on its TVs each Saturday. Honestly, the closest recommendations we have for hotels near St. Thomas University are along University Avenue as it passes through the University of Minnesota. This is about 3 miles north of St. Thomas but on the same side of the Mississippi River. Fans 4 St. Thomas offers a Purple on the Plaza fan event before each home game. This activity includes performances by the school’s dance and cheer teams, appearances by Tommie the Tom Cat school mascot, and musical performances by the school pep band. The celebration also offers kids games, spirit gear giveaways, and food trucks. The Tommies team does a walk-through around one hour before the game. The alumni and present student body members enjoy this event. St. Thomas has a unique set of supporters known as Caruso’s Crew. (The Tommies are led by head coach Glen Caruso). The crew are all seminarians (studying for the priesthood) who dress up as hunky construction workers. They loosen their collars and lead the student body in cheers throughout the game. Homecoming is especially popular with alumni, as most of them still live in the Twin Cities after graduation. Events include a Friday night pep rally and festival, a Saturday morning parade, and a Taste of St. Thomas dining event to close out the weekend on Sundays. The great success of the St. Thomas football program also attracts fans who did not attend St. Thomas or even go to college. Many of these fans come from the residential areas of St. Paul that live near the school and they can walk to the games. Access 3 O’Shaughnessy Stadium is easily reached via I-94. From I-94 West: Head east on I-94 to the Cretin Avenue exit. Turn right onto Cretin Avenue and travel one mile to Grand Avenue. Take a right at the Grand Avenue traffic light. Stay on Grand Avenue until you reach the Anderson Parking Deck on your left. Turn into the Anderson Parking structure. Parking is free on gamedays at this lot only. From I-94 East: Head west on I-94 to the Cretin/Vandalia exit. Go left on Cretin Avenue for one mile to Grand Avenue. Turn right at the Grand Avenue light. The Anderson Parking Deck will be on your left. Turn left into the parking deck. Parking is free in this parking deck only on game days. There is a local public bus stop at the corner of Summit Avenue and Cretin Avenue. This is only a block from the stadium. What hurts the Access score for the stadium is the area underneath the stands. It is extremely narrow with a very low ceiling. The lines for concessions and to use the restroom are so long it may cause you to miss up to a full quarter of the game. Return on Investment 4 Ticket pricing at St. Thomas home games is very simple. Seatback seats along the 50-yard line are $33. All other seats feature bench seating and cost $18. Parking is free at the Anderson Parking deck on Grand Avenue on gamedays. It is located only a block from the stadium. The concession items available at Tommie’s games are reasonably priced. Extras 5 Our first extra goes to the St. Thomas athletic department for successfully making the jump from Division III to Division I status. That is a first in NCAA history. In just their second season after moving from Division III to Division I, the Tommies won the Pioneer Conference Football Championship, and Head Coach Glen Caruso was named the 2022 Coach of the Year for the Pioneer Conference. The team is not yet eligible for the FCS Playoffs due to NCAA rules concerning teams moving from one level of competition to another. To cut down on the use of paper and trash to pick up after games, the school offers a free digital program for each game. It is available on the school app. St. Thomas University installed a new video board at O’Shaughnessy Stadium before the 2023 season. The new screen is double the resolution and has quadrupled the number of pixels as its predecessor, delivering a crystal-clear image to fans. Another extra goes to the lovely view of the campus no matter where you sit in the stands. Final Thoughts The St. Thomas Tommies and O’Shaughnessy Stadium are the little teams that could, as they successfully moved from Division III to Division I level of competition. They are the first team to ever do that. O’Shaughnessy Stadium may not have all the bells and whistles of a modern stadium, but it is a great place to watch a game on a fall Saturday afternoon. Having a backdrop of the lovely St. Thomas campus that wraps around the stadium is simply the icing on the cake.

Photo Courtesy of Austin Peay University Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Winfield Dunn Center Marion Street & Drane St Clarksville, TN 37040 Austin Peay Governors website Winfield Dunn Center website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 7,257 Nicely Dunn Austin Peay State University, named for former Tennessee Governor Austin Peay, who served from 1923-1927, was founded in 1927 and has a current undergraduate enrollment of nearly 10,000 students, with close to another 1,000 in post-graduate programs. APSU basketball has a history and tradition that’s rich enough to justify relatively high expectations. Legendary head coach Dave Loos has been in that position since 1990 and has led the Governors to three NCAA Tournament bids. The program has a total of six trips to the Big Dance. Dave Loos has been at Austin Peay so long that his signature is literally scribbled in large letters on the Dunn Center floor. The basketball court was named Dave Loos Court in the fall of 2007. The Governors won their 350th game at Dunn Center in a 93-57 victory over Dalton State College on December 30th, 2013. Three of the OVC’s all-time greatest players wore Austin Peay colors. James ‘Fly’ Williams (1972-73), Charles ‘Bubba’ Wells (1993-1997) and Trenton Hassell (1997-2001) help put this school in the national conscience, but no one player did more to make Austin Peay a nationally recognized school than Fly Williams. Williams’ immense success in two years in Clarksville is the reason behind the Dunn Center — The House That Fly Built. Austin Peay broke ground in 1973 and opened The House That Fly Built in 1975. The Dunn Center is a multi-purpose arena and seats 7,257. Most sports fans know it as the home of Governors basketball, but the Harlem Globetrotters have also played at Dunn Arena, visiting in early 2014. In 1976, Lynyrd Skynyrd brought their immensely popular Southern Rock show to Dunn Arena. Musical acts of all genres have played the Dunn Center since its 1975 opening, proving it’s a great concert venue, as well. Food & Beverage 3 Other than the option to purchase some of MC’s Sweet Roasted Nuts when you first enter the main atrium area of Dunn Arena, you will find the standard menu board of concession sustenance. I give a bonus star for the ability to buy two hot dogs and two sodas for well under $20. Atmosphere 4 The game presentation is traditional without being boring. It’s also creative, while at the same time paying homage to small-college basketball. Intimate, yet grand enough to be intimidating if the building is full. Sprawled across a white wall are big, block red letters spelling “HALL OF FAME,” and under those letters are plaques alongside glass cases containing jerseys and relics of ‘Peay legends James “Fly” Williams, Charles “Bubba” Wells and Trenton Hassell, who appear to motion you over to greet them upon entering the glass doors to the small front atrium of the Dunn Center. In this same small area you can order freshly roasted nuts from MC’s Sweet Roasted Nuts or stop off at the concessions for a hot dog and soda (or Coke, as us Southerners universally refer to any drink with a concoction of carbonation, caramel color and corn syrup) before entering a second set of glass doors to the lower level of the Dunn Center arena. Actually, if you have your head turned in conversation, you may walk right into the pep band and trip right onto the court under the basket within ten steps of walking inside the arena, so pay attention, will ya? If you are paying attention, a quick left once entering the Dunn Center will lead you to a set of stairs that will wind its way to the second level of the arena, providing great sight lines to enjoy the action. There are doors on either side of the Hall of Fame wall that lead to the arena, so if you choose the right side, heed the above advice, only take a right to hit the stairs to enjoy the second level views. The pep band is fun and entertaining. They slap the bass, pound the drums and blow the horns in perfectly loud harmony to remind you that you are at a college basketball game. There’s no sound quite like that of the pep band’s music and loud snare drum ricocheting off the walls of a basketball arena/gym. The creative side of the game presentation shows off for the first time when the visiting team’s lineup is announced and The Who’s “Who Are You” blares from the speakers. The pep band gets involved and yells sweet nothings at the innocent players dressed in the wrong color jerseys as each name is announced. The home team is announced with the house lights down and a number of spotlights shining brightly and dancing with the thumping beats of bass as the overhead scoreboard shows highlights of high-flying and rim-rattling jams from previous games. The student section really does a good job at filling its seating in the lower level bleachers on the left side of the arena (direction based on the description of entering from the Hall of Fame atrium). The students are noisy, but not offensive. That’s more than can be said for some boisterous student sections across the country. During the course of the game, the more veteran fans encourage each player by his first name like a parent, aunt or uncle that comes to every game to support their family member. The Dunn Center’s atmosphere has enough creativity to keep you entertained, but the entertainment of the non-game portions of the evening does not overwhelm the simplicity and tradition of the game, such as the thump of each dribble hitting the floor or the squeak of each player’s sneakers as they run up and down the floor. Oh, and the unofficial official cheer is “Let’s Go Peay!” So yes, this is the greatest cheer of all time and the makers of Flomax could really do some damage with a little creative product placement. Neighborhood 5 Clarksville, Tennessee has many faces. There’s the mall section of town right off Interstate 24’s Exit 4 on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard. There’s the car dealership portion of town at the end of Wilma Rudolph Boulevard and portions of Madison Street. There’s the more neighborhood-centric section of Clarksville arteries like 101st Airborne Division Highway. Clarksville is only a 15-minute drive to the northwest from the Fort Campbell military post, hence the road named for the 101st Airborne. There’s even a Riverside Drive which – you guessed it – rides parallel to the Cumberland River. My favorite part of Clarksville, however, is nestled in the heart of the city. This portion of town is shared by downtown Clarksville and Austin Peay University’s campus. You’d be hard-pressed to find a chain or franchise restaurant in this area. Two local treats you must absolutely taste when visiting are Blackhorse Pub & Brewery and Looking Glass Restaurant and Bakery. Blackhorse is in the downtown district, while Looking Glass is actually off of 101st Airborne Division Highway on Warfield. Both are relatively easy to find now that most folks have smart phones with navigation or a navigation system in their vehicles. Fans 3 Nothing stands out about the fans, but that’s okay. What I enjoyed most was the look and sound of disgust with the first half performance of the team. I walked back to the main atrium to take a closer look at the concessions and Hall of Fame when I heard fans complaining. “What are they doing out there?,” one guy asked his friend in frustration as they waited in line for something to eat. The first-half performance from the home team was not great and the fans were grumbling. They didn’t boo the players. They grumbled amongst themselves. Complaining fans indicate high expectations and high expectations indicate past success. The Govs have been to a total of six NCAA Tournaments, with three of those coming under head coach Dave Loos. The product on the floor is not great for the time being, so the excitement level is not high, and I give the fans that were in attendance credit for doing their part to affect the outcome of the game and cheer the Govs to victory. Unfortunately, in order to get a higher ranking, the energy of your fan base has to make it difficult to decipher if the team on the floor has a 15-0 or 0-15 record. Access 4 Clarksville is very easy to access off Exit 11 of Interstate 24 if you’re driving in from Nashville or Exit 4 if you’re coming in from the northwest. Once in Clarksville, you can follow the signs to campus with relative ease. Restrooms and concessions inside of Dunn Arena can be reached without much fuss, but you will have to walk down near the court to get to a restroom if you sit on the lower level. In other words, you feel like you’re in high school again when you would walk the entire length of the court to get to the restroom and it never failed that a thumping hip hop jam would be bumping from the P.A. which made you feel even dorkier, because you ended up walking to the beat and you were scared everyone was pointing at you saying, “Look at the dude headed to restroom. He’s really into this tune.” Maybe I was a little anxiety-ridden and was the only one that felt that, but if I’m not the only one, then you will want to sit on the side closest to the glass doors to the atrium, because you know the APSU game-presentation team would decide to crank out Nuthin’ But A Gangsta Party just to see how the crowd likes it. Return on Investment 5 The price of admission ($10 for adults, $8 for youths) versus the product on the court still makes for a great ROI, even with the team not reminding anyone of the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers. Extras 2 Blackhorse Pub & Brewery Per LocalEats.com review — Blackhorse Pub & Brewery, a welcoming restaurant and brewpub in historic downtown Clarksville, has weathered it all since opening in 1992, including a devastating 1999 tornado. Craft beer and gourmet pizzas are the calling cards, although the Blackhorse has a surprisingly diverse menu. Try the beer sampler on your first visit … or go straight for their signature Barnstormer Red Ale. ADDITIONAL DETAILS Full bar Serving lunch and dinner daily Open late on Friday and Saturday night Personal Endorsement and Recommendation – Any pizza on the menu. Pick one. It’s hard to mess it up. Looking Glass Restaurant and Gourmet Bakery Per LocalEats.com review — At the Looking Glass Restaurant and Gourmet Bakery, everything behind the doors belies its modern retail-center exterior. It’s whimsical, artsy and eclectic in atmosphere, complete with a Zen garden dining patio. It’s the only place in Clarksville where you can have lavishly prepared waffles and omelets for breakfast … and a romantic dinner at night. The dessert selection is nothing short of incredible, including Oh-My-Gosh Chocolate with Ganache icing. ADDITIONAL DETAILS Kids’ menu Beer and wine available Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday – Saturday Closed on Sunday Personal endorsement and recommendation — The cafe is as good as the food. They have a hot drink that somehow has the flavor of a Snickers bar without having to chew. It’s magical. It’s more of a dining experience than it is just a place to sit down and eat. Looking Glass is great for those who love an upscale and elegant dining experience without the intimidation and stuffiness of a white table cloth establishment. It’s where upscale and elegant meet warm and casual.

Stadium Journey Special Correspondent Meg Minard talks to Gary Noll, an avid sports fan in the New Jersey / New York metropolitan area and a supporter of Stadium Journey. We interviewed Gary back in June, 2016 and learned about his efforts in advocating closed captioning at sports arenas for fans who are deaf or hard of hearing. Today, we are following up with Gary on his sports journeys and efforts. [Stadium Journey] Gary, you’ve been busy since we last talked in 2016! Since then, what new venues have installed or agreed to install closed captioning? [Gary Noll] When we last talked, Rutgers Athletic Center, Prudential Center, and SHI football stadium had already installed closed captioning (CC). After that, I’ve helped influence Madison Square Garden, Red Bull Arena, and US Tennis Open Stadium – Louis Armstrong Stadium (and the Grandstand Stadium – mobile captioning only) to include closed captioning. I always ask for four closed captioning boards but sometimes only get two. MSG is awesome because they may be the only sports venue to provide CC for all sports: NCAA, NIT, NY Rangers, NY Knicks, Big East Conference, Big Ten Super Saturday events and countless other events including wrestling; it could be over 200 sports events a year. Madison Square Garden - Big 10 Super Saturday, Photo by Gary Noll [Stadium Journey] What do you do as part of your advocacy efforts? [Gary Noll] My advocacy efforts include talking to, writing to stadium and arena management, guest services, fan experience department and fan clubs to get public address announcer closed captioning (CC) for my Tri-State stadium and arenas. My goal is to have me and my fellow deaf fans have the full experience like everyone, have a high quality of public closed captioning CC on scoreboards to include plays by plays, referee details, safety information, etc. and make sure people employed in the guest service department have the ability to solve issues if there should be any technical difficulties. And if deaf fans can’t see CC on boards, he or she should be allowed to change seats or view mobile captioning. [Stadium Journey] What else? [Gary Noll] Having an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter is always an excellent communication method for deaf sports fans. Those interpreters often have to be requested at least 10 days in advance of a game day. For victory parades and opening remarks (like Billie Jean King and her leadership team at the US Open Tennis) I ask for ASL interpreter AND CC on TV or big screens, and PIP (picture in picture); ideally ASL interpreter on PIP, and captioning on TV. Louis Armstrong Stadium, Photo by Gary Noll All sports teams and venues who have mobile captioning for men’s sports should at least have mobile captioning for WOMEN’s sports too. The CC needs to be BIG so fans can read it easily. And, it doesn’t always have to be white text on a black board. Colors can be used too, so long as it is readable! If an event or venue has an ASL interpreter and/or CC and there are special seats reserved for fans needing those services, share that information when purchasing a ticket or pass for the game or occasion. I’m also promoting closed captioning for videos on my teams’ social media sites and their websites. [Stadium Journey] Nice job! Speaking of your teams, who are your favorites? [Gary Noll] In hockey, I love both Devils and Rangers equally, maybe a slight fan edge to the Devils because I’m a Jersey guy. But I live closer to NYC. I advocate public address announcer CC for both venues, thanks to my NJ Devils Fan Club and NY Rangers Blue Shirt Bulletin support. Knicks over Nets is a no brainer as Knicks play at MSG and I advocate CC at MSG. In baseball, huge Mets fan. That’s an easy choice over the Yankees. I like the Yankees, though, but big Mets fan. I love both Seton Hall and Rutgers basketball. Hard to pick one. Love both. Prudential Center - New Jersey Devils Closed Captioning, Photo by Gary Noll [Stadium Journey] What other sports do you get to in your area? [Gary Noll] MLS (Major League Soccer): Red Bull NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League): Sky Blue FC USSF (United States Soccer Federation): USWNT and USMNT when they play at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ NCAA: Big East and Big Ten conference. Also, the annual NCAA Garden State Hardwood Classic men’s basketball game. That draws Seton Hall and Rutgers for state and NJ Turnpike bragging rights. Those games are my favorite to watch because of well event attendance, rivalry and worth your money and time. Both venues have CC through my advocacy efforts. Tennis: US open tennis NASCAR: Pocono, PA Blue Sky FC, Photo by Gary Noll [Stadium Journey] Wow, that’s certainly a diverse selection! What are some of your most recent memorable games? [Gary Noll] Rutgers men basketball won their 18th home court record in school history by beating ranked 5 Maryland on March 3, 2020 and happy fans stormed to the home court for witnessing historical celebration moments. Myles Powell, Seton Hall AP first team All American men basketball player scored 2000 points when Seton Hall won over St. John’s in a thriller at Madison Square Garden, NYC on January 18, 2020. Also had a memorable Big Ten Super Saturday doubleheader at Madison Square Garden when Rutgers played Michigan in wrestling and basketball. It was very rare to see the Red Sea of Rutgers fans at MSG last February 1, 2020. My true inspiration and memorable games are when Red Bull Arena in Harrison NJ hosts SheBelieves Cup, March 8, 2020 this year, and USWNT women soccer where every USWNT women soccer played there. It’s always sellout and that is NJ’s number one favorite sport. I love women soccer the best because they play with such highly skilled performance – no wonder why fans fill up the stadium so fast. Red Bull Arena - SheBelieves Cup, Photo by Gary Noll [Stadium Journey] Based on your visiting many of the sports venues in the NY/NJ area, which ones stand out the most for you as a sports fan who is deaf? [Gary Noll] Red Bull Arena , Harrison NJ – BIG captions on two scoreboards, also captions on two video screen boards and color boards Prudential Center, Newark NJ – They have FOUR corner scoreboards with CAPTIONS [home of both the NJ Devils hockey team and Seton Hall men’s basketball] Madison Square Garden (MSG) – They provide captioning service for ALL sporting events including NY Knicks , NY Rangers , Big East conference, Big Ten conference, NCAA, NIT, WNBA and other games. Probably 200+ sporting events a year. Rutgers Athletic Center [Rutgers basketball], Rutgers SHI Football Stadium – High quality of captioning service, they include campus info, athletic and alumni and professor/student achievement announcements, celebration recognition, university information and many more with CAPTIONS. Billie Jean King US National Tennis Center, Queens – NY – Provides high quality of captioning service for all US open men and women tennis matches for entire tournament. [Gary Noll] Meg, we are all winners here. The help of guest services at the arenas, the fan and booster clubs, the venue management and the talented staff and employees who will do anything for you and find ways of communication when attending sports at these arenas is phenomenal. I’ll include VITAC (formerly Caption Colorado) and Coast 2 Coast Captioning as the best caption vendor providers as part of my efforts. It’s a great team with collaboration, communication, and corroboration efforts to make all this happen. [Stadium Journey] What plans, if any, do you have on expanding your closed captioning solicitation outside of the New Jersey/NYC area? [Gary Noll] My focus is on NJ and NY metro sports venues – that’s where I live close by in a few minutes’ drive, or take bus and subway to see my beloved local teams. I have already reached out to Belmont Park Arena [new home for the NHL New York Islanders] expected to open for the 2021-2022 season. [Stadium Journey] Thanks, Gary, for our conversations and your continued effort at advocating features that will enhance deaf fans’ sports entertainment enjoyment and appreciation. May we all have sports soon throughout the world!

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 The Arena at Northwest Florida State College 100 E College Blvd Niceville, FL 32578 NWF Raiders website The Arena at Northwest Florida State College website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 2,442 Basketball on the Emerald Coast Northwest Florida State College is a large public state college located in Niceville, FL about 10 miles north of the beach resort town of Destin. The college originally opened in 1963 as Okaloosa-Walton Community College, and a temporary campus was constructed on the base of nearby Eglin Air Force Base, until the permanent location opened in its present site in 1969. The college began offering four-year degrees in 2003, and became an official state college in 2008, changing its name to Northwest Florida State College in the process. NWF currently has an enrollment of about 15,000 students, which makes it the largest college between Pensacola and Tallahassee. NWF is unique in that even though they offer four-year degrees they still compete on the JUCO level as members of NJCAA Panhandle Conference. The conference includes 5 schools, all in the panhandle area of Florida – Pensacola State College , Gulf Coast State College, Chipola College, and Tallahassee Community College are the four other schools that compete in the conference. Since the Panhandle Conference was formed in the 1991-92 season, the Raiders have been one of the better teams in the league, winning 9 conference titles and 4 FCSAA Florida state championships. They have made the NJCAA Tournament 11 times, and made the NJCAA national championship game four times (1995, 2012, 2013 & 2015), winning two national championships in the process (1994-95 and 2014-15). In addition, over the past two seasons NWF has had 17 players sign with D1 teams, including every sophomore from the 2018-19 team, which was ranked number 1 in the country for most of the year. Notable alumni include former Boston Celtics forward and 2001 number 11 NBA draft pick Kedrick Brown, former Washington Wizards point guard Donnell Taylor, former Phillies outfielder Jason Michaels, and former Nationals and Astros reliever Tony Sipp. Food & Beverage 2 Even though The Arena at Northwest Florida State College is one of the nicest JUCO basketball facilities I have ever seen, the concessions could definitely use an upgrade – only the basics are sold here such as hamburgers and nachos ($4), hot dogs ($3), and popcorn and chips ($2). Coca-Cola is the soft drink provider with 20oz bottles selling for $2. If coming to a game here I recommend getting something to eat at one of the many seafood restaurants in Destin, as you won’t find much here, since Niceville doesn’t have too many places to eat. Atmosphere 4 Since 2011 NWF has played at the beautiful, state-of-the-art Arena at Northwest Florida State College, which is located on the north side of town. The sleek, modern complex rivals some Division 1 programs in terms of its atmosphere, and currently has a seating capacity of 2,442. The court faces east and west with the main entrance being located on the east side of the building. As soon as you enter there is an impressive World War II display located on the east side dedicated to former Air Force General Jimmy Doolittle, who was stationed at nearby Eglin AFB. You also get to find out how NWF got its nickname as the Raiders as well (more on that in the Extras section). The first thing that struck me when entering the venue is I couldn’t believe this was a local JUCO arena. The facility is really nice and definitely still has that new feel to it despite being 8 years old. The venue has one wraparound concourse that wraps around the entire building. When the basketball team isn’t playing the concourse doubles as a jogging track as well. The basketball court itself has ten rows of comfortable, cushioned, chair back seats with cup holders, and they are designed with enough space so that you don’t disturb other people on the aisle when you get up to move around. Also, the concourse was designed to make sure you’ll never miss a second of the action, as you can walk the entire concourse and get a great view of the court at all times. The venue features two concessions stands and two sets of restrooms, one each located on the north and south sides. In addition, there are various displays spread out on the concourse as well, such as pictures of past Raider teams, scholar athletes, and a large Wall of Fame that takes up the entire north side of the concourse. The rafters of the building are lined with a ton of different banners signifying feats and championships from all the school’s athletic programs. The two big national championship murals on the west side of the building stand out, as well as the huge HD scoreboard on the east side. The 11×29 foot scoreboard is very impressive for this level of basketball, and not only shows replay, but they also utilize the scoreboard for various promotions, and show cool graphics and hype videos that other schools at the JUCO level perhaps wouldn’t have the proper staff or budget to feature. I’ve been to several JUCO and smaller level D2 and D3 basketball facilities before, and The Arena at NWF College definitely has them all beat. Neighborhood 4 Niceville is a small military town home to Eglin Air Force Base and not much else. The campus itself is kind of in a secluded area to the north of the base; the only notable thing to visit in the immediate area is the U.S. Air Force Armament Museum, the largest collection of military weapons in the country. The museum also houses a large collection of World War II era planes. Other than that, however, there is not a lot to do on the north side of Choctawhatchee Bay. However, a short ten-minute drive across the Mid-Bay Bridge will take you into one of the most popular beach resort towns in the country. Nicknamed the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village, Destin has become one of the fastest growing beach towns in the country. Forty years ago Destin was a sleepy fishing town, void of any commercialism or tourism. 40 years later, though, the city attracts 3.7 million visitors a year. Driving over the bridge into Destin, the many high-rise buildings and the view of Crab Island to the north present some of the most spectacular and stunning views you’ll ever see. Crab Island is just one big sandbar filled with boats, floating bars, and blow up water slides, and is popular for its Billy Bowlegs Festival held every June. Destin has become a tourist trap in recent years, and it’s estimated that 80% of the visitors to the Emerald Coast visit this town. Because of this, many of the Destin restaurants and gas stations will have much higher prices than other towns north of the bay. Destin is split up into two sections: Miramar Beach to the east and Holiday Isle to the west. The two areas are separated by Henderson Beach State Park, a popular spot for its bike trails and bird nesting grounds. Destin is home to many franchise and chain restaurants found in similar-sized cities such as Hooter’s, Joe’s Crab Shack, Bubba Gump Shrimp, and Miller’s Ale House, but there are also many local seafood restaurants as well. On the Holiday Isle side Back Porch is a popular restaurant with a bar located right on the beach, with picnic tables in the sand, while Harbor Docks is another popular place located right on the harbor – Hog’s Breath Saloon, Coyote Ugly, and Boshamps Oyster House are nearby as well. The Destin Harbor Boardwalk is a popular spot for tourists and includes a multitude of different shops lined along a boardwalk overlooking the water; Margaritaville, AJ’s Oyster Bar, and Brotula’s Seafood House are just some of the restaurants located on the boardwalk, while across the street is the popular McGuire’s Irish Pub as well as Dewey Destin’s. The Miramar Beach side is where the locals hang out and tends to be less crowded. Popular restaurants on this stretch of beach include Club 790, Crab Trap, Capt. Dave’s on the Gulf, Pompano Joe’s, Whale Tail Beach Bar, and Lulu’s, another popular Jimmy Buffett-owned bar located on the north side overlooking the bay. For things to do besides water-related activities, there is Big Kahuna’s Water Park and The Track, which includes miniature golf, an arcade, kids’ rides, and bungee jumping. For shopping, the Destin Commons is a popular outdoor shopping center that includes Bass Pro Shops, Belk, World of Beer, Uncle Buck’s Fish & Bowl, a 14-screen movie theatre, and a bunch of other shops and restaurants. Lastly, Silver Sands Premium Outlets includes over 50 different outlet stores such as Nike, Columbia, Under Armour, and Polo. In addition, Destin has the highest concentration of golf courses in the panhandle area with over 15 different resort-style 18-hole courses in the area. If staying the night on a budget, your best bet might be to make the 30-minute drive to Crestview up by the interstate, as Niceville is not home to many hotels, and staying the night in Destin will cost an arm and a leg. Fans 3 The NWF Raiders have had a lot of success on the court in recent years, and the attendance shows that here. With the baseball opening weekend occurring during my most recent visit, many fans were treating this as doubleheader, watching the baseball team play and then walking next door to the Arena to watch the men’s and women’s teams play. With so much to do in the area for the locals it’s nice to see that they show up in numbers here. The Arena holds about 2,400 fans and I would say the building was 80% full for both the men’s and women’s games. Panhandle Conference schools are all located within 2-3 hours from each other, so each opposing team brings a strong fan base as well. The athletic department at NWF does an astounding job at their overall presentation of the game. They had a small 30-person band sitting on the east side of the building – even though the membership is small they still had an intimidating presence, and you couldn’t tell the band was so small just by listening to them play. In between timeouts there are also a bunch of promotional contests, plus basketball bingo and 50/50 raffles going on throughout the building to keep the fans engaged. All along the concourse there are tables set-up, and there was also a local girl scout troop selling cookies, an alumni table, and a small stand selling various Raiders and NWF apparel. There is also the Raider Club located on the north side of the building; this is a sectioned off lounge area for alumni and boosters with all the food and drink you could want. To say that I was impressed is an understatement; they definitely go all out here and present a top-notch experience. I was not expecting to see this level of commitment and fan engagement while attending a JUCO basketball game. Access 3 The campus itself is kind of hard to find if you are not familiar with the area. There are two ways to get here from the north and south – most people coming from out of town will come to Niceville from the north, in which case they would take Interstate 10 to Crestview, then drive about 20 minutes south on Highway 85. This highway is a rural two-lane back road with not a lot of scenery, but the college is conveniently located on the corner of College Blvd and Highway 85, with the basketball arena located at the front of campus right next to the baseball stadium. If coming from Destin or Fort Walton Beach, the campus is about 10 miles from the actual beach, but of course traffic will be a nightmare so it could take longer. The Mid-Bay Bridge is a two-lane bridge as well, and is constantly having work being done on it, so the three-mile bridge could take upwards of twenty minutes to cross. Return on Investment 4 General admission tickets cost $7 and you are free to sit wherever you like. During most every game the women’s team plays before the men’s team, so sometimes the second game starts later than scheduled; because of this sometimes the ticket office closes early. For example, during my most recent visit the men’s game was scheduled to tip off at 7:30, so I arrived at about 6 pm to catch the end of the women’s game. That game actually went to OT, delaying the start of the men’s game until about 8:30. So by the time the men’s game actually tipped off the ticket office had closed, and fans were free to come and go without paying. I’m not sure if the ticket office closes early for every game, but most every men’s game starts at 7:30 and is preceded by the women’s game, so there is a good chance to get in free. I consider visiting The Arena at Northwest Florida State College a good return on investment; even though the fact that this is still JUCO basketball, the majority of the players will sign with D1 teams, so you never know which next big time player you may be watching. Extras 3 Since 2014 the college has hosted the Emerald Coast Classic, one of the premier college basketball tournaments. The 8-team, single elimination tournament is usually held during Thanksgiving week, and has become one of the more popular college basketball tournaments in the country. The first and second round games take place at their respective college campuses, while the third and championship rounds are scheduled to take place here, and are televised nationally on CBS Sports Network. The Emerald Coast Classic attracts some pretty big name basketball programs as well – the 2019 tournament featured Florida State , Purdue , Tennessee , and VCU , while the 2020 tourney will feature Florida , Illinois , Iowa State , and Oregon . Past tournament participants include basketball powerhouses Baylor , Memphis , St. Bonaventure , and New Mexico , while past tournament winners include Florida State (2019), Cincinnati (2018), TCU (2017), Virginia (2016), Iowa State (2015), and Ole Miss (2014). I urge all college basketball fans in the panhandle region to experience the Emerald Coast Classic; the prices are the same as they would be at an NWF game. A lot of the teams playing will make the NCAA Tournament, so you are getting to see some pretty big basketball schools for such a low price. If you were wondering how NWF got its nickname the Raiders, then you are in luck – at the arena’s main entrance is a mini museum documenting artifacts, memorabilia, and interactive displays honoring former Air Force General Lt. Jimmy Doolittle and his crew, who were responsible for the Tokyo Air Raid. The raid served as retaliation for Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor four months prior. Training began on the secret mission in 1942 at a tiny airfield at Eglin Air Force Base. Eglin was selected due to its vast remoteness and number of fields available for training. The planes would only have 450 feet of runway space to take off from the aircraft carrier, so they practiced on smaller airfields and runways at Eglin. On April 18, 1942 sixteen B-25s, dubbed “Doolittle’s Raiders,” took off from the deck of the U.S.S. Hornet in the Pacific Ocean, en route to bomb Japan. Due to detection by the Japanese, the planes had to take off sooner than expected, so they ended up running out of fuel and most were forced to crash land. Some crashed into the China Sea, while others were able to make it to China before crashing inland – despite this only two crew members lost their lives, even though fifteen of the sixteen planes were lost. The significance of this mission would mark a major turning point in the war, and Doolittle received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his efforts, and was promoted to Brigadier General of the U.S. Air Force. When Okaloosa-Walton Community College opened in 1963, they were nicknamed the Raiders, in honor of Jimmy Doolittle and his crew, and for years the surviving members of Doolittle’s Raiders would hold their annual reunion at the campus and base until their final member died in 2013. NWF’s mascot even looks like a World War II era pilot, and is named Jimmy as well. Final Thoughts Whether you are here for the Emerald Coast Classic or are here watching NWF play, The Arena at Northwest Florida State College remains an excellent place to watch a basketball game. Ticket prices are cheap, concessions are cheap, and the atmosphere here is unlike any other JUCO level facility in the country. Visiting the Emerald Coast makes also for a great weekend – you can check out a basketball game and then visit the beach.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Oxford-University Stadium at Swayze Field 500-542 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655 Mississippi Rebels website Oxford-University Stadium / Swayze Field website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 10,323 Hotty Toddy…. A Baseball Party! Oxford -University Stadium / Swayze Field has been the home of the Ole Miss Rebels baseball program since 1989. It has gone through numerous renovations over the years, bringing its present capacity to 10,715. The field is named for Tom Swayze, who led the baseball program for more than 20 years and remains the most successful Ole Miss baseball coach in history. The school has a long history with baseball, as it first fielded a team in 1893. The Rebels have won seven SEC Season Championships, three SEC Tournament Championships, gone to twenty-one NCAA Tournaments and have appeared in five trips to the College World Series. The school has sent forty-six players on to play in major league baseball. Some of the more famous players include Don Kessinger and Jake Gibbs. Food & Beverage 4 Swayze Field has multiple concession stands offering a wide variety of items. A sampling of the menu includes cheeseburger basket ($12), polish sausage basket ($12), chicken tender basket ($10), corn dogs ($6), hot dogs ($4), nachos ($4), pretzels ($5), BBQ basket ($10), grilled chicken Caesar wrap ($9), vegetable and hummus wrap ($9). Dessert items include popcorn ($3), cracker jacks ($4), peanuts ($4), candy ($4) and cotton candy ($4). Coca-Cola beverages are $4 and bottled water is $3. Ole Miss also has two well stocked Fanatics team stores at Swayze Field. Atmosphere 5 Ole Miss has had some very successful teams in recent years, which has led to a need for increased seating and other improvements to the nearly 30 year old stadium. Improvements have included extending the lower level down both baselines to the foul poles, adding a club level of seating and the installation of a new video/scoreboard and ribbon boards around the front façade of the club level of the stadium. The left field terrace area features a family friendly area, which includes picnic tables, grills and a play area for the children. A rooftop plaza area for M Club members is currently under construction and should be complete in the near future. Neighborhood 5 The home of the University of Mississippi / Ole Miss is a town that almost always winds up on a “Top 10,” “Best of” or “Top” list, no matter what the category. Oxford, Mississippi is truly one of the top college towns in the country. It is probably best-known as the hometown of author William Faulkner, but authors John Grisham, Willie Morris and Barry Hannah have also lived here. Oxford is also home to the Lyric Theatre, one of the oldest performing arts facilities in the South, further cementing Oxford’s reputation as the “Cultural Mecca of the South.” Like to eat?… James Beard Award-winning chef John Currence has four restaurants in town. If your tastes are a little simpler, try the Oxford Canteen, a restaurant located in an old gas station… and highly recommended by both USA Today and Southern Living. The Square serves as the heartbeat of Oxford, as the county courthouse is surrounded by buildings built in the late 1800’s. It is here that you will find shops, boutiques and the South’s oldest department store (Neilson’s in 1839). You will most likely find your favorite book at Square Books, one of top independent bookstores in the country. Restaurants in the area serve everything from BBQ to seafood and soul food. Music lovers flock to Oxford as one of the largest stops along the Mississippi Blues Trail. The Square is just east of the Ole Miss campus. Fans 5 Ole Miss has a very rabid baseball fan base as the sport has had the most success of any sport in the Rebels athletic program. The program has ranked in the top three schools in Division I for the last five years and tickets typically sell out the first day they go on sale in February. The fans interact with the team very closely, as the players often lead cheers, songs and even dance between innings. One segment of the Ole Miss fan base does not even have seats within the stadium technically. They reside in what is called the right field terrace, which is actually outside the stadium. This area is for Ole Miss students attending the game. They are definitely the rowdiest fans in the SEC, erupting into beer showers after a Rebel home run or win. Basically, a beer shower is caused by 1000 Dixie Cups full of beer being thrown into the air, and raining down on the students, who could care less. The thousand or so students who sit in this area are not counted in the stadium attendance. We will discuss some other Ole Miss traditions involving this group in the Extra’s section. Access 5 Oxford is most easily reached through the Memphis International Airport (MEM). It is approximately 90 miles southeast of Memphis via I-55 South and Hwy 278 East. Parking is available along the roads leading to the stadium at no charge. Once in the stadium access is excellent. There is a wide concourse running through the middle of the seating bowl. Aisles are wide enough to provide horizontal as well as vertical movement. The concession stands have multiple windows to facilitate quick service. Oxford University Transit (OUT) offers frequent shuttles between the downtown area and the stadium. Return on Investment 4 The face value of baseball tickets to an Ole Miss baseball game are $15 – $20 for a reserved seat and $10 for a General Admission / Standing Room Only seat. It is very doubtful that you will be able to find a reserved seat without going through a secondary ticket provider and paying a hefty premium. You do have a fair chance of scoring a Standing Room Only spot depending on the opponent and the weather. Parking adjacent to Oxford-University Stadium are reserved for season ticket holders. Parking downtown and taking the OUT shuttle or walking the short distance to the stadium are the most economical ways to reach the game. Extras 3 Baseball legend Casey Stengel once served as a baseball coach at Ole Miss. In addition to the beer showers, another Ole Miss baseball tradition is for an Ole Miss outfielder to hand a baseball to the student section before an inning starts. The students then write encouraging messages to the team on the ball, which is then returned to the player at the end of the inning. This is repeated before each inning of the game. In between innings, Ole Miss features racing SOLO cups. Final Thoughts University – Oxford Stadium / Swayze Field is home to one of the most successful baseball programs in the SEC. Ole Miss is proud of its traditions, and the stadium has some traditions of its own. These include the beer showers in the student section after a Rebels home run, the Ole Miss team performing a synchronized dance routine in the dugout in the middle of the fifth inning and Hotty Toddy cheer being done by the fans. There is truly a close bond between the Ole Miss team and their fans, and the end of a game, win or lose, the players tip their caps to those in attendance.