Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Denunzio Pool Stadium Dr Princeton, NJ 08540 Princeton Tigers website Denunzio Pool website Year Opened: 1990 Capacity: 1,700 Tigers in the Pool Denunzio Pool is home to Princeton University's water polo programs as well as their swimming & diving teams. This review will focus on the water polo experience at Princeton. Although water polo is primarily thought of as a west coast sport, the Tigers have been an exception to the rule, making the NCAA Tournament eight times on the men's side. Denunzio Pool opened in 1990 and hosted the 2009 NCAA Water Polo Tournament. It is located next door to Jadwin Gymnasium , home to Princeton's basketball teams. Food & Beverage 1 There is no concession stand at Denunzio Pool. However, there is a machine just inside the entrance that sells soda and water. Fans are also free to bring their own food and drink as long as they do not get anything on the pool deck, but as a typical water polo match lasts only around an hour of real time, there is little reason to bring anything more than a drink and maybe a light snack. Atmosphere 2 Before each match, a hype video will play on a video board as the overhead lights roll. However, that is about the only excitement you will see at Denunzio Pool besides the water polo match itself. The same board that shows the hype video doubles as a scoreboard, showing the score, game clock, and ejections. (In water polo, an "ejection" does not refer to a player being permanently removed from the game, like it would in other sports. Rather, they have to leave the game for 20 seconds for a foul while their team plays shorthanded, similar to a penalty and ensuing power play in ice hockey.) Seating is on uncomfortable concrete risers, but the games are usually short enough that it won't be too much of an issue. Neighborhood 4 Princeton has that feel of a small college town. but there is certainly plenty going on here. The Dinky Bar & Kitchen, named for the NJ Transit line that connects the Princeton campus with Princeton Junction, is located in a former train station near campus. There are many more options in downtown Princeton, ranging from hoagies to seafood to pizza and more. Parking may be a challenge downtown, but there is much to do there even if you have to walk a bit from your car. Fans 2 Most of the crowd at a Princeton water polo match will be the friends and family of the players involved, although a few others will show up as well. They will cheer after Princeton goals, but beyond that it is mostly quiet in here. Given how short a typical water polo match is, almost everyone stays for the whole thing. Access 4 Free parking is available in the Stadium Drive a short walk the street from the stadium. The procedure may be slightly different on weekday afternoons, so check the Princeton website if this applies to you. The Princeton Branch of NJ Transit, more commonly known as the Dinky, is a short commuter rail line (the shortest in the country in fact) connecting Princeton's campus with Princeton Junction on the Northeast Corridor. From the station, the stadium is about a 20-25 minute walk. Once inside, restrooms are located at the top of the seating area. Given the small crowds, they are of a more than sufficient size. Return on Investment 5 Admission to all Princeton soccer games is free. Parking is free too, and concessions are affordable. As a result, a game at Roberts Stadium can be an excellent value. Extras 1 There are banners and displays all over Denunzio Pool dedicated to the history and accomplishments of Princeton swimming & diving and water polo. Final Thoughts Water polo is not the most popular college sport, especially on the east coast, and as a result, Princeton water polo is a pretty basic matchday experience. However, if you are a fan of the sport or just wanting to check out something new, you may want to head down to Denunzio Pool.

Photos by Brian Wilmer Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Corbett Sports Center John W. Mitchell Dr & N. Benbow Dr. Greensboro, NC 27411 North Carolina A&T Aggies website Corbett Sports Center website Year Opened: 1978 Capacity: 6,700 The Key to The Lock There are many well-known college basketball venues around the nation, with a lot of them residing in North Carolina. You have the Cameron Crazies at Duke , the blue heaven of North Carolina , and many others. These facilities are loaded with storied atmospheres and unrivaled basketball history. For as great as those places are if you consider yourself a true basketball fan, there is nothing like a basketball game on an HBCU campus. One such campus resides in Greensboro, North Carolina at North Carolina A&T. There are so many things of which to take note of in this place. The Blue and Gold Marching Machine. The Greensboro Four. The Lock. The Dawg Pound. Ten-plus NCAA appearances. A visit to the Corbett Sports Center — as with many Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) schools — is not just a visit to see a game. It’s a party, a history lesson and so much more. Food & Beverage 3 There is not an abundance of food and drink at the Corbett Sports Center, but what is around will more than suffice. The vending signs at the three stands (two by the staircases that lead downstairs to the reserved seating, and another near the women’s restroom on the reserved level) are divided into three categories. The entrees consist of barbecue sandwiches, nachos, and jumbo beef hot dogs. Each entry on this portion of the menu is priced at $4. There are also three snack-related items listed on the menu board. Popcorn ($3), candy ($2), and king-size candy ($3) are all listed. Chips hang from a rack behind the counter at some of the stands, though no price was listed on the board when I visited. Bottled Pepsi products ($3) and water ($2) are available to wash down your food purchases. There is also a soda machine available in the lobby, with drinks priced at $1.50. However, you will need to get your drink and go through it as fast as humanly possible before entering the arena or waiting until the game is over. Atmosphere 4 There is a distinct difference between a conference game at A&T and a non-conference game. There are several great rivalries across the MEAC for the Aggies, including North Carolina Central , South Carolina State , and Howard , among others. The magic of these rivalries may be enough to convince you to attend a game with one of these schools in Greensboro. Two separate gates will allow you to gain entry into the gym area. The gates enter on the concourse level, with bleacher seating above the concourse and reserved seating downstairs. The staircases to access the reserved level are opposite the entry doors. The concourse completely rings the seating area, allowing an open view of the game from almost anywhere within the gym itself. Also opposite the entry doors is a bleacher section that almost entirely contains the Blue & Gold Marching Machine. The A&T band is the highlight of the game for many, and it is easy to understand why when listening to them. The band plays an extended set as the teams are warming up before the game, as well as during the halftime break. If anything, though, the band could be featured even more. Some of the breaks in the action are a bit calmer than some of A&T’s conference brethren, and the extremely loud (and fun) band or the musical selection over the PA could stand to be amped up all the more to keep the crowd involved during stoppages in play. The school features an Aggie mascot that wanders through the crowd and occasionally performs dance routines on the floor. He also participates in the musical chairs competition that is held at halftime, usually involving several A&T students. The cheerleading team performs the standard routines, but with a slight twist. The cheerleaders travel to the different seating sections to perform their routines for each section. This is an unusual touch that helps keep the fans involved from the floor to the ceiling. There are no extravagant video boards to be found in the facility. A simple center-hung scoreboard can be seen above the floor from every angle of the gym. There are also wall-hung scoreboards above the floor in two corners. These scoreboards are easy to read but do not offer more than just basic statistical information. It is also impossible to write this piece without mentioning public address announcer John Allen. Allen’s booming voice can be heard throughout the game, and his frequent calls to “Aggie Nation” to make noise or honor their team are a standard at any A&T event. Neighborhood 1 North Carolina A&T’s location along US 29 away from downtown means that pre and post-game activities within a walking distance of the university are extremely limited. As mentioned in the reviews of the other Aggie athletic facilities, most of the opportunities for nightlife and dining areas in the downtown district of the city. Should you want a quick meal near the university, there are several fast food choices available nearby on the Cone Boulevard exits, along with other surrounding areas. Fans 5 North Carolina A&T does not have bandwagon fans. Keep this in mind for any visit you may ever make to Corbett Sports Center. Fans of all ages make their way to Aggie contests, and they are loud from beginning to end. The night I attended featured an attendance that was nowhere near capacity, but it was tough to know that fact without looking around. Whether the team is winning or losing, Aggie fans will show up in their blue and gold and yell from the opening tip to the final buzzer. I also have to commend the Aggie fans on their knowledge of their team and those of the conference. I was approached by a fan as I left the arena, and he and I carried on a 15-minute conversation about A&T basketball and their chances in the conference schedule. That rarely — if ever — happens, even at the larger basketball schools. Access 4 Travel to an A&T game is rather easy by air, car, or mass transit. If you are flying to Greensboro, the Piedmont Triad International Airport is within 15-20 minutes of the university. There are two major interstates (85 and 40) within a few minutes of the university, with Interstates 73 and 74 just miles away. US 29, 70, and 220 are also within five minutes of your parking space. There are several free parking spaces available in the university run lots off Benbow Drive near the facility. Be careful when parking for weeknight games, as some of the lots are restricted by permits. The available parking spaces are within a short walk of the arena, so there is no need to pack your hiking gear before leaving your car. The concourse around the gym is suitably wide and offers plenty of room to maneuver. The restrooms are in somewhat unusual locations, as they can be found under the bleacher seats at the bottom of the staircases. The facilities are clean and suitable for the crowds that attend Aggie games. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices at A&T vary based on where you choose to sit. The reserved chairback seats at the floor level are nice, though it is up to the purchaser whether they are worth the investment. The reserved seats are $25 per game, with the general admission bleacher seats priced at $15. Children (ages 12 and under) are $10. Should you choose the bleacher seats, be advised that even the highest-pitched seats at this price point still provide a reasonable view of the game. With small game programs provided free at the entry gates, the cost for a general admission seat, parking, hot dog, and bottled soda totals $22. This is a reasonable investment for basketball at this level, but the reserved seat pricing cannot enjoy the same claim. Extras 3 One of the more interesting extras about the Corbett Sports Center is immediately apparent when walking into the building. Three trophy cases to the left of the ticket booth illustrate much of the history of A&T sports. All three cases are full, and they provide a fun and educational few minutes of review on your way into or out of the arena. Along with the previously mentioned free programs, there is also a table of free Aggie promotional items between the ticket booth and the gates. Posters, schedules, and other A&T paraphernalia are stacked on the table and are ready for the taking. The history component of the trophy cases has already been mentioned, but there is one more inside the arena. If you look above the gym floor, the banners honoring the numerous championships and NCAA tournament appearances for the men and women ring the rafters. It is always a joy to see a school that honors its history, and A&T certainly has more than its share to put on display. Final Thoughts Though the Corbett Sports Center will never feature groups of students waiting in tents in a camping area named after their coach or anything of the sort, there is much value to be found in a trip to Greensboro. From the interlocking “AT” logo on the floor (known as “The Lock”) to the occasional “Aggie Pride” call-and-response, your location — and level of enjoyment — will never be in doubt.

Compadre Stadium Postcard Our second of several features on former Cactus League spring training facilities, some of which still exist and some do not. Compadre Stadium, Chandler, AZ, built in 1985, served as the spring training home of the Milwaukee Brewers from 1986 – 1997. State-of-the-art when it opened, the complex included several batting cages, on-site practice fields, and six practice pitching mounds. Compadre Stadium was the first in the Cactus League to have a lawn-seating area in the outfield. It had its very own little artificial lake. And, for the first time, the Brewers had their own clubhouse in their own spring facility. Compadre Stadium Lawn Seating, Photo Courtesy of Chandler Historical Society “Oh, what a great place to watch a Cactus League game. Fans and players mingled on the concourse before the game as there seemed to be no barrier separating them. The view from anywhere was awesome. The game was right in front of you (think 3D). And the tailgating on the huge grass parking lot was fantastic. That was before Spring Training became the $$$$-producing industry it is today…” reminisces one fan. “Game days were simpler.” It cost two dollars to park when it first opened with the lot located behind the outfield, and the entrance to the park located behind home plate, so it was a decent car-to-bleacher hike for the time. Plenty of fans came down from Wisconsin annually, and yes, tailgating was big back then too. It was, however, the only Cactus League stadium where players had to walk through the bleachers to get from the clubhouse to the dugout, which can be a good thing or not depending on if you were a player or a fan. The press box was open air and private boxes were not part of the design in 1985. The stadium experienced a boiler explosion within the first four days of opening which injured nine players and coaches. Many residents and visitors considered Chandler “too far” back then. At the time, the stadium was built in the middle of farm land when Chandler was not the vibrant town it is today. It was as though the stadium was plopped in a field with only planned residences and subdivisions making up the neighborhood. And, of course, roads and highways were not as developed back then either. The Brewers moved to Maryvale Baseball Park on the west side of Phoenix in 1998. Compadre Stadium remained unused, sat vacant, and was used for livestock grazing until its demolition in 2014. Compadre Stadium – Sheep Grazing, Photo Courtesy of East Valley Tribune Today, restaurants, take out food, a shopping center, and a gated subdivision makes up what was once the ballpark. A Holiday Inn and a golf course sit across the street. In fact, the address where the stadium was located – 1425 W Ocotillo Rd – doesn’t exist anymore. The closest is 1401 W Ocotillo Rd which is a small shopping center with a gated subdivision beyond that. Could this have been the artificial lake? Probably not; shrubbery is too small for being from 1986. Compadre Stadium is a small shopping center now Some greenery in front of the shopping center. No plaques or indication there ever was a ball field here. I find that sad.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Multipurpose Stadium 240 S 31st St Philadelphia, PA 19104 Penn Quakers website Multipurpose website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 450 Penn Softball Note: The stadium name changed from Multidimensional Amphitheater to Multipurpose Stadium since Stadium Journey last visited. The University of Pennsylvania, also known as Penn or UPenn, is a private Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Penn is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Benjamin Franklin is Penn’s founder. The university has also produced many alumni, which include 14 heads of state (including two U.S. Presidents) and 25 billionaires. Penn allows undergraduates access to courses at all of Penn’s undergraduate and graduate schools, except the medical, veterinary and dental schools. Undergraduates at Penn may also take courses at Bryn Mawr, Haverford and Swarthmore, under a reciprocal agreement known as the Quaker Consortium. Penn’s sports teams are nicknamed the Quakers. Built as part of Penn Park the Multidimensional Amphitheater is the home of the Penn softball program. It opened in 2011. It is located next door to the Hamlin Tennis Center, Penn’s tennis center. Food & Beverage 0 There is no permanent food stand at the Multidimensional Amphitheater or in any other place within the Penn Park athletic field. Plan on bringing your own food. Atmosphere 3 Penn Park and the athletic facilities located within, have a nice distinct, almost futuristic look and feel. The architecture is pretty stunning. The softball stadium is a basic affair otherwise, running behind home plate between the bases. The seats themselves are nice, but remind me of what you would experience at a state or national park campfire auditorium, as the floors are basic gravel. The view towards some of the tall buildings of Philadelphia is worth a trip to the stadium alone. Neighborhood 5 There is no real neighborhood to the stadium as it is inside of Penn Park, a set of athletic fields for the university. You will find plenty of shops and restaurants to satisfy almost any appetite. The best bet is to find a food truck, as they will be plentiful around the campus. I was lucky to find the Insomnia Cookies truck on 33rd St between Market And Chestnut just as they had some fresh cookies coming out of the oven. There are a lot less food trucks on weekend games, unfortunately. Also located nearby at Drexel University is a location of Landmark Americana (3333 Market St), which is a great option for post game eating. This restaurant offers a nice choice of meals and has a large bar, as well. For Saturday games, look out for the $10 all-you-can-eat wings special. They also offer numerous drink specials at the bar. Also nearby is Wahoo’s Fish Tacos (3180 Chestnut St.), which is primarily a west coast chain, so finding them here is pretty special. If driving, consider Philip’s Steaks at 2234 West Passyunk Avenue for traditional Philly cheesesteaks. This is not one of the more touristy spots, but is still in a safe neighborhood and offers free parking. Philip’s also has a surprisingly good cheeseburger for a cheesesteak joint. Just remember you have to buy the drinks and fries at a different window than your main entree, which is a strange and unique Philly tradition. Fans 2 The majority of the fans are friends and family of the athletes. The ones in attendance all seem quite knowledgeable of the game. Access 2 There is not a lot of parking in the area. Parking will not be cheap, as this is Philadelphia and no parking is cheap. Plan on paying at least $15. You can enter the Penn Park lots at River Fields Drive and may be able to find some cheaper parking. Interstate 76, the Schuylkill Expressway, is right behind the university and is very busy. But it would make a convenient way to get to the game. Public transportation is easy to find and use. SEPTA mass-transit system is right off campus, and Amtrak’s 30th Street train station is a short walk away. Return on Investment 4 Aside, from parking, there is no charge to attend a UPenn softball game. Extras 3 The view of Philadelphia is worth the trip by itself. Stop on your way to see the amazing Franklin Field just off to the side of the softball field and Penn Park. The stadium has been open since 1895 and is an amazing venue. Franklin Field is also the site of the annual Penn Relays track and field meet. This event gets the biggest crowds yearly for the stadium. Also check out the Mondschein Throwing Complex, located on the old softball field, as it is also nearby and offers a great facility for field events. Final Thoughts There is no cost to attend this unique facility, other than parking. If in Philadelphia, you should look to see if you can fit a game into your schedule.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Pioneer Park 135 Shiloh Rd Greeneville, TN 37743 Greeneville FlyBoys website Pioneer Park website Year Opened: 1962 Capacity: 56,000 Flying High in Greeneville The Appalachian League celebrated its 100th anniversary in Greeneville, Tennessee in 2021. The first team was the Burley Cubs who operated on and off until 1942, and it wasn’t until 2004 when baseball came back that the Houston Astros, followed by the Cincinnati Reds, placed a club at the new ballpark. The construction of Pioneer Park was a philanthropic endeavor from Tusculum alumni Scott Niswonger. The local businessman donated $5 million for the construction of the baseball stadium for the college and then the minor league ball club. It returned professional baseball to town for the first time since 1942. In 2021, a new era of summer collegiate baseball began at Pioneer Park with the introduction of the Greeneville Flyboys. The name pays homage to the historic airfield that once existed on the site of the ballpark at Tusculum University. They were both built on an airfield that was used for World War II and closed two years after the fighting ended in 1947. Food & Beverage 3 There is the main concession stand on the concourse that offers items from hot dogs, brats, burgers, barbecue sandwiches, nachos, pizza, and barbecue nachos for anywhere from $3 to $7. Coca-Cola products are available for purchase at $3 to $5. Beer is sold in 16 and 24-ounce cups at $5 and $6. There are various points of sale throughout the ballpark as well, offering similar items. Atmosphere 3 The ballpark was built to double a standard that includes awning-covered seats from the foul line to the foul line that is enveloped by a brick interior and exterior. All of the 2,572 seats are theater-style and painted in dark green. The look is similar to many higher-level ballparks from the last 25 years but stands out quite well in the Appy League. There is usually a nice crowd of around 1,000 or so folks at the game, but the ballpark feels much larger than it should. The concourses are wide and spacious, grass seating is available down the third baseline, and a team store called The Flight Deck offers a selection of new gear from caps to t-shirts. The two things that stand out at Pioneer Park are its ornate entrance that features large baseball sculptures, a baseball-shaped garden, a brick tower, and beautifully landscaped trees and bushes. The second area is the Greeneville Baseball Museum which is inside the team offices that also features a baseball-shaped ceiling, plus a glass-encased exhibit of both professional and collegiate baseball in the city. Neighborhood 3 The ballpark is located on the campus of Tusculum College and it blends in quite nicely with surrounding buildings on the 140-acre campus. Head into town and visit the Andrew Johnson Historic Site on Monument Ave. The 17th president of the United States is from Greeneville and is honored throughout the city. You can visit the City Garage Car Museum if you are not feeling presidential. There are quite a bit of restaurants nearby to choose from that including Brumley’s, Butcher’s Block, Smoking Pig BBQ, Aunt Bea’s, FATZ, and Gondolier Italian Restaurant. As with a few other cities in the Appy League, Pioneer Park is close to two other clubs in the league. TVA Credit Union Ballpark in Johnson City and Riverside Park in Elizabethon are both within less than an hour’s drive. It is more than possible to squeeze in three games during a two-day stay, or perhaps a multiple-city doubleheader when in town. Fans 3 The Flyboys have a nice selection of fans who come out to the ballpark and cheer on the home team. They take notice of the action on the field, applaud when the team scores, and comment when they do not agree with the umpire. A few enjoy just being at the game with friends and family. Access 4 Once inside the ballpark, the seating bowl allows fans to walk down to their seat. A large concourse wraps from the foul line to the foul line providing ample room to move around during the game. Concessions, the team shop, restrooms, and an information booth are located on the wide concourse. Return on Investment 4 The price of a ticket is $7 and $8, concession prices are affordable, and parking is free for all games. It is a beautifully constructed ballpark that is in a class all by itself in the Appy League. The setting around the ballpark is also quite nice. Extras 3 The ballpark earns a point for the Greeneville Baseball Museum, the baseball-shaped garden at the main entrance, and the stadium-style seats throughout the seating bowl. Final Thoughts A nice, little ballpark in the Appy League. It should be included on your next visit to the area where multiple stadiums in the league are available for a long weekend of baseball and fun.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Capital One Park 1600 Scotts Crossing Road McLean, VA 22102 Capital One Park website Potomac League website Year Opened: 2023 Capacity: 300 Northern Virginia's Hidden Baseball Gem Located in Tysons, Virginia, bounded by elevated metro tracks and a highway interchange, Capital One Park is Northern Virginia's newest baseball stadium. Opened in 2023, the ballpark is located in Capital One Center, a mixed use development adjacent to Capital One Headquarters that also includes a hotel, a concert hall, shops, and restaurants. During the summer, Capital One Park is home to the Potomac League, a summer collegiate baseball league consisting mostly of players with ties to the area. Similar to the United Shore and Mavericks Leagues, the Potomac League consists of seven teams all playing at one centralized location. Two or three games are played per day, creating an opportunity for a day full of baseball. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions are sold out of the Plates Loaded food truck behind the grandstand. Although it has a limited menu, the food is high-quality. Burgers are $5 (add $1 for cheese) and are big and juicy, hot dogs are $4, pretzels are $4, chips are $2, and water and soft drinks are $. The service here is very quick, our food was ready and waiting for us at the next window before we even finished paying. Atmosphere 4 Capital One Park is a small, intimate ballpark, with 300 chairback seats located behind home plate. Some of the upper rows are in the shade, which will come in handy on a hot summer day. There are also some picnic tables located down the lines for groups. No matter where you sit, you will have a great view of the action. The league organizers do a great job getting fans involved. There are between-inning contests for kids every two innings or so, and with so many contests and so few fans, and with so many contests and so few fans, if your kid wants to participate in one, they will probably be able to. There are also giveaways such as t-shirt and sunglass tosses, and given how small the ballpark is, your chances of getting one are better than they'd be almost anywhere else. Elevated Metro tracks run beyond the first base line, making this one of a handful of ballparks around the country where you can see trains pass during the game. Trains will pass by frequently throughout the game. Neighborhood 5 Although Capital One Park has a McLean address, the area surrounding the stadium is more properly classified as Tysons, one of the fastest growing business districts in the country in the heart of Fairfax County.. Tysons is regarded as a classic example of an edge city - an area of the suburbs that feels more comparable to the downtown area of a city. In fact, due to severe restrictions on heights of buildings in the District of Columbia, this feels more like a classic downtown than Downtown DC does. As mentioned above, the park is part of Capital One Center, which also contains a concert hall, several shops and restaurants, the Watermark Hotel, and Capital One headquarters itself. The Perch is located on the roof of Capital One Hall and features food trucks, a beer garden, a putt-putt course, and more open space to hang out. Several other restaurants will be opening soon in Capital One Center but are not open as of time of writing, including a pizza place and a taqueria. There are plenty of other places to hang out in Tysons as well. The area is famous for not one but two giant shopping malls, Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria, which offer a wide variety of shopping and dining including the original Apple Store. Founding Farmers is a popular American restaurant, and Fogo de Chao is a Brazilian steakhouse famous for its large salad bar. Whatever you want to do, you will probably find it in Tysons. Fans 2 Most of the fans are friends or family of the players on the teams, although there are some families with young children as well. As most of these players played high school ball locally and have family in the area, the crowds can decently fill the 300-seat stands, although it does tend to empty out between games before the new fans come in. That being said, based on the overall numbers, this is not a large crowd at all and it seems most locals don't even realize this place exists. Access 4 How easy it is to get to Capital One Park depends on what time of day you are coming. Rush hour traffic in Northern Virginia is some of the worst in the country, and it is especially bad in Tysons, where numerous highways converge with not enough space to accommodate all movement between them. If you are coming any other time, traffic should probably be lighter, and you can take your choice of the Capital Beltway, State Route 267, or State Route 123, among others. We suggest using a GPS app such as Waze to take you around traffic and on the best possible route. Once you arrive, parking is available in a lot next to the stadium for $5 for one game or $10 for the whole day. A garage near Wegman's is available if that lot fills up. The Silver Line of the Washington Metro runs right by the stadium, with the McLean station a short walk away. Unfortunately this does mean people will use the lot for Metro parking even though they are not supposed to, and if coming on a weekday, you may find the it full even if you arrive well in advance. Restrooms are available, including a family restroom, and are of a sufficient size for the crowd, although the metal toilets and sinks are an odd touch that seems out of place here. Return on Investment 5 Tickets are just $5 and get you into all games played that day, making this an excellent value. The ticket booth only takes cash, so be prepared, although the food truck accepts credit cards. . Extras 1 Look on the concourse for the statue of Bruno the Bear, the official mascot of Capital One Park. Bruno is based on a real bear who made headlines in October 2022 after he was spotted roaming the streets of Tysons and the surrounding area. Final Thoughts Capital One Park is situated in an odd location, surrounded by highway interchanges, elevated train tracks, and numerous mixed-use buildings. Few Northern Virginia residents know it exists, and even those who work in Tysons and drive by it every day may not give it much thought. However, the Potomac League has found a way to create a great atmosphere her. With two or even three games played back-to-back, you can take in a whole day of baseball here and have a great time.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 #The Lucky Corner-Memorial Park 31050 Woodward Ave. Royal Oak, MI 48073 Royal Oak Leprechauns website Memorial Park website Year Opened: 1939 Capacity: 600 Leprechauns Feeling Lucky in Royal Oak The Royal Oak Leprechauns are members of the Northwoods League and call Memorial Park home. The team has made many renovations to the field that they dub “The Lucky Corner”, which only a few years ago was nothing more than a worn-out dirt infield that was showing its age. The improvements began with a generous donation from Major League All-Star and two-time batting champion D.J. LeMahieu, who went to high school in nearby Brother Rice and knows team owner Mark Sackett, resulting in a brand new playing surface. His donations helped improve the ballfield, which includes an artificial turf infield and a natural grass outfield. More changes included new plastic seating for lumbar support in the bleacher-style seating grandstand, a new scoreboard, fencing, updated dugouts, a press box, and asphalt surfacing around the field. The little ballpark not only looks much different but feels much like a place for summer collegiate baseball in Metro Detroit. The Leprechauns joined the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League in 2016 and were based out of Adrian, Michigan, at Siena Heights University. They couldn’t draw crowds for games with what Sackett believed was “people heading to the lakes instead of the ballfield in the summer.” The club looked at other areas outside of Detroit and announced plans to open the 2020 season in Royal Oak in the fall of 2019. In October of 2023, the ball club announced it was moving into the Northwoods League for the 2024 season. However, financing more than COVID-19 quelled relocation plans, and the Leprechauns might have moved to Grand Rapids if it wasn’t for LeMahieu’s generosity. The improvements to Memorial Park cost $400,000 and were privately funded, costing taxpayers not one penny. The team signed an agreement with the city for 10 years and hopes for a little luck on the field and in the standings. Food & Beverage 3 The food and beverage tables are located on the 3rd base side of the ballpark. The choices include grilled burgers, peanuts, hot dogs, and brats. There are also homemade cookies and, from what I have been told, fried Lucky Charms. The pizza is from Tania’s Pizza which offers a stuffed crust pizza with cheese or pepperoni. It is unusual, but very popular at the ballpark. Ice cream is served in a cone or a cup and topped with sprinkles. Beverages include a variety of beer, canned cocktails, and hard seltzers, and fans can purchase a beer bat to enjoy their favorite drink. They include Miller Lite, Leinenkugel Summer Shandy, Simply Hard Lemonade, White Claw, Modelo, and High Noon. On certain nights, the alcohol is discounted, but they will cost you no more than $5 on most game nights. Atmosphere 4 Team management turns the city park into an inviting place for baseball with team banners on the exterior fencing, food tents with team colors and logos, and a game-day staff of around 14 assisting with on-field promotions, in between inning contests, and PA announcements. There is a strong minor-league baseball atmosphere demonstrated during the night that should appeal to many fans. However, there are enough areas to keep score and watch the game. The ballpark has a capacity of 600, and its grandstand is made up of aluminum bleachers fitted with yellow and green plastic chairbacks. They add a colorful aesthetic to the scenery, as do the multiple trees surrounding the ballpark from the inside and outside fencing. A large fence with netting makes up the backstop, and the synthetic infield features the city’s official logo. Fans can purchase t-shirts and caps at the souvenir table behind home plate fans can stroll down the 3rd baseline for more views of the game, grab a bite at the food trucks when available, or mingle with friends and family in the stands. The team mascot Paddy O’Dingers makes his rounds during the game, and kids run the bases and high-five players after the game. Neighborhood 3 Royal Oak has a population of 57,000 plus and is known as The City of Trees. It has over 50 parks, and a downtown offering options for dining, nightlife, and shopping, and is home to the Detroit Zoo. There is enough to do to keep you busy after the game in the city, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Detroit. There are plenty of places to eat that include variety in town. Pronto Royal Oak is a cafe offering sandwiches and homemade soups with giant cookies for dessert. Bigalora Wood-Fired Cucina serves Neapolitan, wood-fired pizzas, and gelato. The Morrie Royal Oak features barbecue plates, pub fare, and cocktails in a music-themed roadhouse with live entertainment. KouZina Greek Street Food is a relaxed counter-service restaurant for Greek food. The Royal Oak Brewery offers a beer garden and homemade entrees. Fans 3 There has been a huge support for the Leprechauns since they arrived in Royal Oak. The fanbase packs the stadium throughout multiple promotional and weekend nights. It is a cheaper alternative than heading downtown to watch the Tigers at Comerica Park . There appear to be repeat customers who enjoy the baseball, the atmosphere, the pricing, and the easy commute from their homes. Access 3 Memorial Park is small but easy to get around the main concourse behind the backstop. The grandstand seating can be a little tight for some of us; there is plenty of room to spread out when needed. There is still more room behind the left field corner of the ballpark where trees, grass areas, and picnic tables are. The bathrooms are located a little bit and conveniently behind the left field sense. There is a large parking lot in front of the main entrance for easy access from your car. Return on Investment 5 The price of a ticket is $7, merchandise is between $20-$25 for caps or shirts, and a beer will cost you no more than $5. It does not get much better than this at any summer collegiate ballpark, and when you add the promotions and team gusto, it’s even better. It makes for a fun night of baseball with friends and family. Extras 3 Memorial Park earns a lot of extra points for this review. They include the green and yellow seating in the grandstand, various in-game promotions, and structural improvements to the ballfield and stadium. The vibe is alive at the Lucky Corner Ballpark. Final Thoughts You should check out a Leprechauns game if you are in Detroit. The affordable tickets and concessions make it an ideal spot for any ballpark traveler or anyone living within a reasonable distance from the stadium. You see a lot of different atmospheres in the Northwoods League, but they have something happening in Royal Oak. —— Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel .

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Shuford Stadium 2295 Yost St Salisbury, NC 28144 Catawba Indians website Shuford Stadium website Year Opened: 1925 Capacity: 4,000 Football Enclave in NC As you drive into Salisbury, North Carolina you might not be able to tell that Catawba College exists except for the signage pointing you there. But nestled among the trees and beautiful old brick buildings you will find Shuford Stadium, home of the Catawba College Indians. Here you will find a venerable stadium that offers a lot more than you might expect from a D2 college football venue. Food & Beverage 3 While Shuford Stadium does not boast a ton of food and beverage options, there is more than enough to keep you from going hungry during the game. There are three identical concession stands, one behind the visitors’ side and two under the home stands, that offer chicken sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, popcorn and caramel corn, chips, and packaged candy. Nothing is over $5, and you can even get snow cones from a food truck near the visitor stands if you need something to help you beat the North Carolina temperatures. Beverage options at Shuford Stadium include bottled Coke products or PowerAde for $2.50, and bottled water for $2 all of the concessions prices here are very reasonable and cheaper than you will find at most college sports venues. Atmosphere 4 Like many football stadiums at smaller colleges and universities, the multi-purpose venue at Catawba College has a track around the outside, and the field itself is also used for lacrosse. The stands on the home side look very modern and include a press box and suites, while the stands on the visitor’s side are accented with brickwork. The stadium is also partially surrounded by trees, giving a pleasing aesthetic, and there is berm seating behind one of the end zones – you might have to bring your lawn chair if you don’t want to sit on the grass, but the berm seating is very popular with fans, as it lets you sit in the shade under the trees as you watch the action. Sitting in the Shade at Shuford Stadium, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Shuford Stadium does not have a video board yet, but there is a fairly large scoreboard behind one end zone that is easily visible from even the furthest seats to help fans keep up with the stats during the contest. The staff also provides some entertainment at halftime, in the form of the Catawba Indians band and dance team, to keep fans entertained during the break. Except for the ones right in front of the press box, all of the seats here are benches without chair backs, but given the size of Shuford Stadium, you are close to the action no matter where you sit. Neighborhood 3 Salisbury, NC is your quintessential rural small town, with a population of under 34K living in an area of about 18 square miles. Despite its small size the town boasts a theological seminary and three colleges, including Catawba and Livingstone, and offers several options for fans in town for the day or weekend. A few restaurants close to Shuford Stadium include College Barbecue, Romano’s Italian Cuisine, and DJ’s Restaurant, a lounge-style bar that offers live music. For fans of the outdoors, nearby Hurley Park offers gardens and trails for walking or quiet reflection, or those with an interest in history can check out the NC Transportation Museum a few miles to the west. And, if you plan to be in town overnight there are plenty of hotels near the stadium (at the I-85 exit), including a Comfort Suites and a Courtyard by Marriott. Fans 2 Shuford Stadium boasts a really solid fan base for a D2 football school, with plenty of fans showing up to support the Indians during games (though by no means a sellout). The home stands are a lot more crowded than the visitors’ side as you might expect, and you will also see numerous fans sitting on the hill in the berm seating; a few who want an even closer view will even set up chairs almost immediately behind the end zones, which is permitted at this venue. Access 5 Getting to Shuford Stadium could not be much easier – located in Salisbury, NC along with crosstown D2 football rival Livingstone, the venue is only a few miles off I-85 and offers free parking in a large lot right behind the stadium. There is no traffic to worry about as you approach, even if you are arriving within a few minutes of kickoff, and event staff are friendly and courteous in helping you find parking and the entrances. Once you get to the venue, getting in and out is super easy thanks to the numerous entrances and the short lines. The concessions stands are also easy to get to, with plenty of space in front of them so fans trying to find their seats are not blocked by those waiting in line; there are also plenty of napkin and condiment stations, and more than enough bathrooms to accommodate the size of the crowd. Also, while there are a lot of fans in attendance the stands are by no means full, which means you have the option to spread out if you want to. Return on Investment 5 Attending a Catawba Indians game at Shuford Stadium is highly recommended if you can make the trip – tickets start at just $10 for general admission seats (or you can pay $5 more for the chair backs), and concessions here are cheaper than at most of the sports venues you may have visited in the past. Throw in the free parking, ease of access, and beautiful setting, and you could bring your whole crew here for a pleasant day watching football without even getting close to breaking the bank. Extras 3 The beautiful brickwork is a plus, and the Indians have plenty of signage around the stadium promoting the college and its numerous sports programs, including a wall of championship banners behind one of the end zones. The trees surrounding the venue are also a nice touch, giving Shuford Stadium that idyllic setting that should always accompany the best sport there is. Final Thoughts If you have a chance to see a game at Shuford Stadium I would highly recommend it – though it may be overlooked in a state with several other big-time football programs, the atmosphere and setting at Catawba make it well worth the trip.

Photos by Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 1.86 Scott Park Field Nebraska Ave and Parkside Blvd Toledo, OH 43607 Toledo Rockets website Scott Park Field website Year Opened: 1992 Capacity: 1,000 (Not So) Great Scott The Toledo Rockets baseball team plays at Scott Park Field. Located on Scott Park campus, and named for Jesup W. Scott who donated the land in 1872, the Rockets have played here since 1992. Like many small college baseball programs, there is little to capture your attention or imagination other than the game itself. The Rockets are a part of the Mid-American Conference. The program has never made an appearance in the College World Series, and they have never won a MAC championship. In a town with a strong baseball tradition, it is a shame that the Rockets haven’t been able to become a part of that fabric. The Toledo Mud Hens have a fantastic ballpark in Fifth Third Field , but you’ll find that Scott Park Field is just the basics. Food & Beverage 1 There is one small concession stand which services both the baseball field and nearby softball field. The options are very limited. Hot dogs ($3), cracker jack ($3), candy ($3), and chips ($1.50) make up the whole of your food selections. Pepsi products are available ($3), as is coffee and hot chocolate ($2) for those colder April days. Atmosphere 2 Find a spot on the cold metal bleachers that make up the seating area which stretches from dugout to dugout. There are no nets here, but instead, a large metal backstop to prevent foul balls from traveling into the seating area. Programs for the day are available in the bleachers behind home plate along the fence, so you can find your stats and player names. The playing field itself has a symmetrical outfield with dimensions of 330-370-400-370-300 from left to right. You’ll hear pop music played between innings and the occasional announcement from the PA announcer. By and large, though, this is baseball in its simplest form, with little to distinguish the experience. Neighborhood 1 There is nothing within walking distance from the field and little within an immediate drive. I would recommend heading to downtown Toledo if you are spending some time in town and need something to eat. The Toledo Zoo is a short drive away and could be a good place to spend a few hours, but I was surprised to find a $14 entrance fee. I drove in quite a while trying to find something to eat before the game. Passing by fast food chains like Wendy’s and Church’s Chicken, I ended up visiting South End Pizza. There I found a slice for 99 cents to get me through the game. Fans 2 Few fans other than family braved the elements for a game with temperatures in the 30’s and the occasional snow flurry, and it was hard to blame them. The cold bleachers made the experience that much more frigid, so this may be a good place to bring a seat cushion or blanket to help keep warm during an April game. The location away from the other man athletic facilities of the Glass Bowl and Savage Arena make this a less than ideal setting for students to help bolster attendance. Access 4 Parking is free just outside the Findlay building. It is a lot that has signs indicating that a pass is necessary, but that did not seem to be the case during my visit as there are plenty of spaces available. The restrooms are small, clean, and best of all, warm. I made two trips to the restroom just to get a break from the cold winds that swept through the complex. Return on Investment 2 It is difficult to complain about free parking and a $5 admission fee, but for what you’re getting, it really should be free to enter. Kids can get in for just $1, and I was glad to see that discount, but once you get down to $1 admission, what’s the point? I would like to see the Toledo Rockets change this to free admission, and try to earn some revenue through an improved concession selection and perhaps some merchandise within the complex. For now, this is an experience that is not even worth the small cost associated with it. Extras 1 I appreciated that there were programs available so you could have the names of the players on both sides as well as updated stats. Otherwise, there was nothing unique or particularly exciting about the experience of attending a Toledo Rockets baseball game at Scott Park Field.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Milton Memorial Arena 77 Thompson Road Milton, ON L9T 6H7 Milton Menace website Milton Memorial Arena website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 500 A Junior Hockey Menace The Milton Merchants were founded in 1966 and began as a Junior C team.  Eventually, they moved up to Junior A and were very successful, winning championships in 1997 and 1998.  The Merchants franchise continues today in the OJHL as the King Rebellion, however, the Merchants carved out a niche for Junior hockey in Milton.  Jason Tryfon purchased the Newmarket Hurricanes franchise in 2019 and moved them to the Milton Memorial Arena to become the Milton Menace. Located between Guelph and Toronto, Milton has been traditionally viewed as a commuter town.  Today, the city boasts a population of over 132,000.  The Menace calls the Milton Memorial Arena home.  A classic hockey barn, the Memorial Arena opened in 1974 and has seating for 500, with more for those who want to stand.  Although limited by some old bones, the Milton Menace has done just about everything possible to make it the best OJHL experience that the arena can provide. Food & Beverage 3 The Milton Memorial Arena has a simple snack bar-style concession area.  On the menu, fans can find hot dogs, nachos, pizza, chips, chicken wraps and popcorn.  Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, Gatorade, water, and soda are the beverage options.  Coca-Cola products are the featured soda.  Concession prices are very reasonable.  A limited selection of beer is also available.  On the day of the game that was reviewed, tallboys were available for $5. Atmosphere 3 The Milton Memorial Arena has a very non-descript exterior.  Fans should know where they are heading, as it would not be difficult to pass the arena and not know.  The exterior features light brown brick and tan siding, and there is no sign on the building itself.  A sign can be seen from the street and shared with the Lions Club Hall and Lions Sports Park, with four lines of manually changeable messages. Inside the arena, fans are met with a small lobby on the southwest side of the arena.  Temporary tables welcome fans with sales for tickets and the 50/50 draw.  A small trophy case in the lobby is filled with Milton Menace merchandise and acts as a display.  Past the lobby and into the arena area, it is immediately obvious that this is the home of the Milton Menace.   The outer side of the boards and the entire southwest end are painted black and gold with Menace markings.  The ice is oriented from northeast to southwest, with the seating on the northwest side.  The seating is made of eleven rows of wooden benches that are painted black.  The arena interior has low profile support beams, painted a light colour, with silver insulation on the ceiling.  Banners from the Milton Merchants championships, including Junior B titles from 1992 and Junior A championships from 1997 and 1998, hang at the northeast end of the rink.  A memorial banner from the Humboldt Broncos from 2018 also hangs on the northeast side.  The Broncos played in a Junior A league that is a part of the CJHL, of which the OJHL is also a part.  Although Humboldt, Saskatchewan, is far from Milton, the banner is a reminder of the kinship that binds Junior hockey franchises.  A modern division banner from 2022 hangs above the Menace bench.  A simple digital score clock also hangs at the northeast end. The Menace offers a solid gameday experience.  The experience starts with the Menace flag being skated around the ice by a local minor hockey player.  There are plenty of on-ice promotions, probably more than other OJHL teams.  A favourite promotion is Mr. Glizzy’s Hot Dog Toss.  It’s just like it sounds.  The PA system at the Milton Memorial Arena is very good, and the Menace takes advantage of it with a variety of music being used during stoppages.  The Menace also has a strong social media presence and makes use of electronic programs and gameday emails.  They are a step ahead of other OJHL franchises. Neighbourhood 3 Milton Memorial Arena is located in the Clarke neighbourhood of Milton.  Right across the road is a large outdoor mall with a number of spots for food or drink.  Most are national chains including East Side Mario’s, Hero Certified Burgers, Mary Brown’s and Shoeless Joes.  Some more original options include Main Street Donuts, Milton Fish and Chips and Emma’s Kitchen.  As far as other sporting options, the Menace are pretty much the only game in town.  However, it is central to other OJHL teams including the Georgetown Raiders, Mississauga Chargers, Oakville Blades and Burlington Cougars.  Other tourist options include the FirstOntario Arts Centre, which is right across the parking lot from the arena, and Lions Park.  For fans wishing to stay near the arena, the Holiday Inn is not too far away. Fans 4 For the 2023 and 2024 seasons the Menace averaged around 370 fans per game.  In 2023 that ranked them 6th in the OJHL, easily in the top third.  Considering a small capacity of 500 at the Milton Memorial Arena, this is a pretty solid show of support.  The fans in attendance are knowledgeable and supportive.  At the game that was reviewed, it appeared that a Menace game is a bit of a teen hangout, which is not necessarily a positive.  They definitely were notches on the turnstile, however, they were definitely not into the game and at times were disruptive to other fans.   Access 4 Milton Memorial Arena is located in the Clarke neighbourhood of Milton south of Highway 401.  Along with Lions Park, the arena is found between Thompson Road South and Main Street East.  It is less than 2 km from Highway 401, the main artery through Southern Ontario.  Traffic on the 401 can be an issue, so extra time should be given when coming from out of town.  Parking on site is free.  For those wishing to take public transit, there are Milton Transit buses that travel Thompson Road.  Fans should consult the Milton Transit  website for fares, schedules and maps.  The Milton Memorial Arena is an older building so traversing it for people with mobility issues may be a bit of a challenge.  The washroom facilities are also on the small side. Return on Investment 5 Taking in a Menace game offers a terrific return on investment.  Tickets for the Menace are $10 and can be purchased online or at the door.  Seniors and children can get a ticket for $5 each and children seven and under are free.  The Menace offer pretty much the cheapest ticket prices in the OJHL.  Parking is free and concession prices are very good.  In the end, the Menace is one of the most economical sporting options that fans could find and the product on the ice and gameday atmosphere are both solid. Extras 3 An extra mark for the strong social media presence that the Menace have. An extra mark for the Milton Menace making the most of their home rink, despite the limitations it offers. An extra mark for the Menace branding with a cool logo and excellent black and gold colour scheme. Final Thoughts There is a lot that the Milton Menace are doing right.  The Menace offer the best possible experience with the limitations of their older arena.  A trip to the Milton Memorial Arena for some OJHL hockey will satisfy the sports fan while not denting the pocketbook. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Aloha Stadium 99-500 Salt Lake Blvd. Honolulu, HI 96818 Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors website Aloha Stadium website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 50,000 Football in the Pacific Aloha Stadium opened in 1975, and is located in Honolulu, Hawai’i. The stadium is home to the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors Football team, who currently compete in the Mountain West Conference. With a capacity of 50,000, Aloha Stadium is the largest venue in the state, and besides the Rainbow Warriors, the facility is home to the NCAA’s Hawai’i Bowl, and also hosts a swap meet every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday (except on football game days). Aloha Stadium was also home to the NFL’s Pro Bowl for many years, until the game was moved to Orlando. Food & Beverage   5 Aloha Stadium’s concessions offer a great mix of traditional stadium fare, such as hot dogs, pizza, and burgers, as well as a large complement of local favorites, including kalua pork, saimin, and malasadas. Before you decide what to get, however, be sure to walk around a bit first, as each stand features different items. Main dishes available at Aloha Stadium include plate lunches, a traditional meal in Hawai’i which includes rice and some type of meat, in this case beef stew, as well as saimin (a noodle soup dish), kalua pork (a traditional favorite at Hawaiian luaus, where the whole pig is cooked in an underground sand pit), gyros, salads, chicken wraps, cheesesteak, pizza, hot dogs (with or without chili), burgers, and chicken strips. Other items include roasted ears of corn, nachos, pretzels, boiled peanuts, French fries (regular or garlic), onion rings, churros, baklava, and two types of donuts (traditional and the aforementioned Hawaiian-style malasadas). Main dishes range from $4 to $12, while side and dessert items run $3.50 to about $6. There are not a ton of drink options available at Aloha Stadium, but alcohol is served, and there is even a beer garden on the upper level. Non-alcoholic selections include bottled water, coffee, and soda (from the fountain or in bottles), while alcohol selections include both domestic and premium beer on tap. Coffee is $2.75, bottled water is $3.50, soda starts at $4.75, and beer starts at $9. Atmosphere   3 The parking lots around Aloha Stadium make the venue appear deceptively full – even if you arrive two hours before kickoff, the parking lots seem packed, and there are seemingly thousands of fans outside tailgating and having a grand old time – members of the Rainbow Warriors marching band can even be spotted walking amongst the fans, banging their drums and cymbals in order to rev up the crowd. However, by the time the game begins, there are very few fans inside, so the venue is not able to generate much energy. On the plus side, Aloha Stadium has live bands performing during tailgating – you can find local bands set up on top of the entrance gates – and the marching band at Aloha Stadium is fun to watch during pregame (and again during halftime), particularly the flag bearers waving their brightly colored UH banners. Before kickoff you can see them spell out U-H, similar to pregame formations seen at other college football venues. However, be sure to arrive early, because there are two things you will NOT see elsewhere – first off, at Aloha Stadium you will hear two songs sung before kickoff: the US National Anthem, followed by the state song of Hawai’i, Hawaiʻi Ponoʻi. In addition, you will also witness the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors football team perform the Haka, a traditional Maori war dance. The Rainbow Warriors have been known to perform the Haka on the road as well, though in the past they have been penalized 15 yards for it. Neighborhood   5 Aloha Stadium is located within one mile of the Pearl Harbor historic sites, and is only a couple of miles from the Honolulu Airport. There are plenty of restaurants and attractions in the area, but you will likely need to drive to them, as the stadium is bordered by several freeways, and thus is not really pedestrian friendly. No visit to Oahu is complete without visiting the Arizona Memorial, located at Pearl Harbor, which commemorates the Japanese attack on December 7th, 1941, which led to the United States’ entry into World War II. Admission to the memorial is free, however, only 1300 walk-up tickets are available per day, so unless you book weeks or months in advance, you should plan on getting there at 7 am (when they open) to guarantee yourself a seat. Once there you can also purchase tickets to other sites, such as the Battleship Missouri Memorial (the site of Japan’s surrender, which ended World War II), the Pacific Aviation Museum (which houses one of the planes flown by former president George H. W. Bush), and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum. If you are looking for something to eat before or after the game, chop suey and sushi restaurants abound on the island, and there are also myriad small bakeries around, where you can purchase all manner of Hawaiian pastries and sweet breads – feel free to stop in at one as you pass by. However, two restaurants I would recommend are Lisa’s House on Dillingham Boulevard, and Restaurant 604. Lisa’s House is about 7 miles away from Aloha Stadium, towards Waikki, and while not much to look at from the outside, features great happy hour specials, and a fabulous kimchi Teri burger. Alternatively, Restaurant 604 offers both American and classic Hawaiian fare, and is not far from the stadium. There are plenty of hotels near Aloha Stadium, but the “best” ones are all out at Waikki (near the beach) – this is the resort area of the island, and the hotels there are priced accordingly, but cheaper options can be found closer to the airport. Fans   2 As mentioned previously, the parking lot may appear full, but there are very few fans in Aloha Stadium come game time. A few more fans will trickle in after kickoff, as a lot of fans stay outside partying until the first or second quarter, but even by halftime the stadium will be almost empty, and the Warriors’ ticket pricing doesn’t really take this into account – unlike some venues, Hawai’i does not close off certain sections due to lack of demand, so fans looking to save money will still purchase tickets in the upper deck, despite the fact there is plenty of room closer to the action. Access   3 Getting to and from Aloha Stadium can be tricky. For starters, the stadium is at least a 6-hour flight from the US mainland, and even if you live elsewhere in the islands, it will still take a boat ride or a plane trip to get to Oahu. If you are flying in, Honolulu Airport is the most convenient, as it will get you within a few miles of Aloha Stadium; H-1 is the main freeway to get you to the stadium itself, from either the east or the west. There is plenty of parking in the huge lots right outside Aloha Stadium for $7 per car, but you may want to arrive early, as they seem to fill up. Also, despite the very small crowd, getting out after the game takes a long time because there are only a couple of exits, so you may want to park close to those, rather than trying to get as close to the stadium as possible; this will mean a further walk, but will ultimately save you time. Once you get inside Aloha Stadium, there are plenty of restrooms and concessions stands to accommodate the small crowd, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any long lines. There are also escalators which you can use to get to the upper levels, which is a plus – these change direction about halfway through the game, so you can use them on your way out as well. Note that driving around Honolulu is difficult, even during the tourist “off-season”, as traffic is heavy, and there are a lot of one-way streets. Also, there is not enough parking on the island, so during certain hours of the day people are allowed to park in one of the traffic lanes, which restricts traffic even more. Also, note that some of the lanes on the main drags switch direction, so even though they are painted to go a certain way, cones will be set up to switch them to the opposite directions during certain hours. Return on Investment   3 Single-game tickets to Rainbow Warriors football games start at $25 for upper level seats, but you can’t really move down to the lower levels (even though there is room), as there are staff members on hand guarding the entrances to each section. Parking is cheap, though, and concessions are reasonable – there are plenty of good options for fans on a budget. The biggest downside to attending a game at Aloha Stadium is simply the lackluster attendance. Extras   3 Hawai’i is a fabulous place to visit, so sports fans should take any excuse they can find to make the trip. Also, music is a huge part of the culture in Hawai’i, so having the chance to hear the state song sung in the native language, and witness the Maori war dance, are both great reasons to visit Aloha Stadium when you come to the islands. Final Thoughts While Aloha Stadium may lack the energy of many big-time college football programs, Hawai’i is an obvious destination for anyone, let alone college football fans, so consider a trip to the islands, perhaps the next time your favorite team plays the Rainbow Warriors on the road.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Hyland Performance Arena 209 South Kingshighway St. Charles, MO 63301 Lindenwood Lions website Hyland Performance Arena website Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 3,270 The Home of Lion's Basketball Lindenwood University is a private university located in St. Charles, Missouri. It is the second oldest higher education institution west of the Missouri River, as it was founded in 1827. The university has an enrollment of 6,900 and offers degree programs in more than 80 areas of study. Lindenwood’s athletic teams are known as the Lions. The school has steadily progressed through various competition levels to Division I status in 2022. They began at the NAIA level (1999-2011), moved up to Division II level (2012-2021), then up to Division I status in 2022. The teams are not eligible for NCAA Championship tournaments until 2025. Lion athletic teams compete in the Ohio Valley Conference, which includes teams such as the University of Missouri-Little Rock, Eastern Illinois, Morehead State, Southeastern Missouri, Southern Illinois, Tennessee State, and Tennessee-Martin. The home of Lindenwood Lions basketball is the on-campus Hyland Performance Arena. It opened in 1997 and has a capacity of 3,270 seats, including 270 luxury seats. It is named for Robert Hyland, a former chairman of the board for Lindenwood University. The facility stays very busy throughout the year, as it also hosts women’s basketball, women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s wrestling, and student intermural games. Food & Beverage 2 There is one concession stand servicing the arena. As a result, the lines are long throughout the game. Food offerings can only be described as meager, as they consist of popcorn, candy, and Pepsi brand sodas. Atmosphere 4 Hyland Performance Arena offers a very enjoyable experience in which to watch basketball. The seats are predominately bleacher seating and are very close to the court on three sides. The arena offers a striking graphics package, with a huge lion’s head at the center court and a gold and black color scheme along the side and end lines of the court. A large center-hung scoreboard provides the time, score, and statistical information on the game, while a videoboard is mounted on the wall at one end of the court. The walls along the concourse are decorated with the mascot logos for each of the member OVC institutions. Neighborhood 4 Lindenwood University and Hyland Performance Arena are in St. Charles, MO, a town of 65,000 located on the west bank of the Missouri River. It is located 24 miles west of St. Louis via I-70. St. Charles was one of the first settlements west of the Missouri River, as it was settled in 1769. It served as the starting point for the Lewis and Clark expeditions and was the home of Daniel Boone before he moved to Kentucky. As you can imagine, St. Charles has a large and active historic district, with many attractions. Among the attractions you will want to visit while you are in town are the Lewis and Clark Boathouse and Museum and the Frenchtown District. The Schlafly Bankside Brewpub is in the Historic District as well. It is designed to look like a pub of the 1700’s vintage. While in town, walk very carefully, as the streets are still constructed of the original cobblestones from the colonial era. Both the Fairfield Inn and the Comfort Inn offer reasonable rates and are close to both the Lindenwood campus and the St. Charles Historic District. MOD Pizza is across the street from Lindenwood University and offers a wide variety of pizzas and beers for your pre- or post-game enjoyment. The Show-Me Sports Bar and Grill on Veteran’s Memorial Parkway features a wall of TV’s tuned to a variety of games while you enjoy your meal and a beer. Fans 3 Lindenwood parents and students are very welcoming to visitors, as the school has a very strict code of conduct. They will be happy to answer any questions you might have once you arrive at the campus. Once the games get underway, the Lions fans show that even if they are new to Division I, they’re not newbies when showing their support for the team. The parents and the alums are very vocal, as are the students at the school. The student section (known as the Uproar section) is set behind one of the end lines and is sponsored by the Raising Cane restaurant. We think this name is very appropriate in describing what the students do throughout the game. Access 4 Getting to and from a Lindenwood basketball game is quite easy. The school is easily accessed from either I-70 or I-64, the two major interstates in the area. From I-70 (St. Louis area): Take I-70 W across the Blanchette Bridge over the Missouri River. Take exit 228 and turn right onto First Capitol Drive. Go ¾ mile to the intersection with Kingshighway. Turn left onto Kingshighway and enter the Lindenwood campus. Volunteers will direct you to the appropriate parking lot. From I-64 (Chesterfield, MO area): From Chesterfield take I-64 and travel west across the Daniel Boone Bridge over the Missouri River. Take exit 10 and turn right on Highway 94. Head north and cross over I-70. Highway 94 becomes First Capitol Drive. Proceed to the intersection with Kingshighway and turn left. This will bring you to the Lindenwood campus. Volunteers will direct you to the appropriate parking lot. Doors open 60 minutes before tipoff, leaving you plenty of time to get to your seats. Return on Investment 5 Going to a game at Hyland Performance Arena will not break your budget. All tickets are considered general admission seats. The tickets cost $5 a game. Season tickets to Lions games are an even better deal, as they cost $40, with seniors and students paying $20 for a season ticket. There is no charge for parking on the Lindenwood campus on gameday. Hotels in the St. Charles area typically charge $125/night. Extras 2 Hyland Performance Arena has hosted NCAA Division II Wrestling Super Regionals, political rallies, graduation ceremonies, and local youth sports tournaments. The Lindenwood Sports Hall of Fame is located adjacent to the basketball arena. Final Thoughts Lindenwood University is the newest member of the Ohio Valley Conference. Hyland Performance Arena is one of the nicer basketball facilities in the conference. The Lion’s lair is a welcome addition, as it provides a comfortable and well laid out place to enjoy a college basketball contest.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 1.57 Highland Stadium 9135 Erie Street Highland, IN 46322 Indiana Panthers website Highland Stadium website Year Opened: 1967 Capacity: 500 Making a Home at Highland High The Indiana Panthers are new to the Northern League for 2023. The ball club had called Crestwood, Illinois, home for over a decade before crossing the border into Indiana. The club was renamed Indiana to act as a mobile team that can be placed anywhere in The Region or when league membership is uneven. The Panthers last-minute move landed them at Highland High School in Highland, Indiana. The 500-seat stadium is your typical high school venue with two sets of aluminum bleachers and a press/concession stand in the middle. The layout is ideal for baseball in the league that operates in similar-style facilities. Food & Beverage 0 Unfortunately, the concession stand is closed during the game, and no food and beverages are available. It is a shame since a simple cool pop or a bag of chips would be all you need to pass your time watching baseball. Fans can bring food to the game but maybe not alcoholic beverages. Fortunately, there are plenty of nearby local and chain restaurants, but skip down to the neighborhood section of this review for more information. Atmosphere 1 If you like baseball and baseball only, this might be the place for 9- innings. There is not much else taking place than the game on the field. Be prepared to sit back in the aluminum bleachers and enjoy the ballgame. Unlike other members of the league, the Panthers do not provide much of a game-day atmosphere. You will not hear music, a PA announcer, witness one-field promotions, or even keep track of the game on the scoreboard (it was turned off). The few fans in attendance are a mix of family members, fans of the opposing team, and curious onlookers from the neighborhood. The atmosphere does include hearing players’ banter in the dugout, the crack of the bat, and the sounds of cheers and jeers on the field. An interesting sight is the foul balls that land on residential lawns retrieved by the players. Neighborhood 4 The high school is in a residential area of Highland, Indiana, but a few miles away from the busy US-41, where a myriad of shops, retail chains, and malls exist. The average fan will find almost everything they want in these various spots. Sophia's Pancake House, Kui Korean BBQ, Theo's Steak & Seafood, and Highland Gyros are on US-41, AKA Indianapolis Blvd. The Blue Top Drive-In is a throwback to the early 1960s that features burgers, fries, shakes, and a few muscle cars. It is a great spot for families. The Highland Grove Shopping Plaza offers a variety of regional chains that include Chipotle, Panda Express, Dave's Hot Chicken, Noodles & Company, Tomato Bar Pizza Bakery, and Naf Naf Grill. Lou Malnati's is home to Chicago-style deep-dish and thin-crust pizza. Fans 1 There is little fanfare at Panthers games. It is dominated by family members supporting their sons out on the field. You might gain a little interest from the opposing team's fans, but the fan support is light during games. Access 3 The stadium is located a mile or two from the busy US-41 corridor, and the small size makes it easy to move around during ball games. There are bathrooms and plenty of parking outside the stadium. Return on Investment 1 There is no charge for games or parking. However, the atmosphere is not anywhere close to what you would find at nearby league games in Crown Point, Griffin, and Whiting. Attending a game should be for the curiosity seeker during the summer months. . Extras 1 The stadium earns a point for being in an area where fans get a chance to watch players fetch balls out of neighborhood lawns and driveways. It is something to don't see any other ballparks. Final Thoughts Highland High School might be a temporary fix for the Northern League and worth checking out due to its proximity to nearby Griffin High School, less than 2 miles away. However, there are better ballpark experiences in the league and The Region. ------- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Michael Rusignuolo, and Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Steinbrenner Field One Steinbrenner Road Tampa, FL 33614 New York Yankees Spring Training website Steinbrenner Field website Year Opened: 1996 Capacity: 10,386 The Pride of the Yankees George M Steinbrenner Field has been the home of the New York Yankees spring training since 1996. It was originally known as Legends Field, but the name of the stadium was changed in 2008, as the late Yankees owner had become very ill, and the team wanted to honor him while he was still alive so he would know about it. The stadium has a capacity of 11,026 and is the largest stadium in the Grapefruit League. Steinbrenner Field is also the only spring training facility in the city of Tampa. The stadium underwent a $40 million renovation in 2017. Food & Beverage 5 The food and beverage program at Steinbrenner Field has improved tremendously in recent years. This includes more food selection, types of dining options, and the number of concession locations in the stadium. The expansion of the concourses at Steinbrenner Field has allowed for many more concession stands to open. This consists of both static concession stands, as well as carts devoted to a specific product. The increase in the number of stands/carts has resulted in a decrease in congestion in the concourses and faster service. The types of dining options a fan is looking for have also greatly improved. First, a majority of fans just want a specific item as quickly as possible so they can get back to their seat and not miss much of the action. The traditional concession stands service this segment just fine. Other fans with a larger budget may want to consider dining in at Steinbrenner Field. The 2017 renovations included a pair of bars/restaurants with dine-in service. The Bullpen Club is open to all fans and is located above the right field foul line. The décor features the many great pitchers the Yankees have had over the years. The Third Base Club is on the left field side of the stadium. Its décor features the many sluggers that have worn the pinstripe uniforms of the Yankees. There are also sections where rounded tables and stools are located in right and left-center field that provide service on demand. Drinking rails and eating rails are also available in the outfield sections at Steinbrenner Field. Most importantly, the food selection and food quality have improved. You can order the stadium standards, but you also can order many non-traditional items as well. New York is a melting pot of people who have come to this country to better their lives. There are many stands or carts that feature distinct ethnic favorites to serve these fans. The concession stands tend to carry the more generic items like hot dogs and hamburgers, while carts often are representative of a certain brand or product like a Boar’s Head sandwich or a specific brewery’s beer. Atmosphere 5 Steinbrenner Field serves as a mini version of the Yankees home in the Bronx. This is readily apparent even before you enter through the stadium gates. There is a smaller version of Monument Park that honors 18 Yankee icons just outside of the stadium. You will also see a memorial to the victims of the 911 attacks and first responders nearby. This memorial includes a steel beam that was rescued from the debris of the Twin Towers. A short distance from these two areas is a statue of “The Boss” himself. It was dedicated after the death of Mr. Steinbrenner in 2010. Once inside the gates, you will see additional elements in the stadium that make you feel you are in the Bronx. The decorative elements atop the roof of the stadium replicate the latticework found at the top of Yankee Stadium. The stadium also features a large number of pennants that fly above the stadium. These flags represent each of the years that the Yankees were the World Series Champions. If that is not enough to remind you are in a facility used by today’s Bronx Bombers, Y-A-N-K-E-E-S is spelled out on the windscreens of the ballpark. In keeping with a Yankees tradition, the Frank Sinatra version of “New York, New York” is played on the sound system after each hometown win. Steinbrenner Field has the same dimensions as Yankee Stadium (318L, 399LC, 385RC, 314R). This is done so that players will be used to the field dimensions once the regular season gets underway. The stadium went through a $40 million renovation in 2017 which greatly enhanced the fan experience. These changes included replacing the stadium seats with wider room to sit, as well as cup holders for the drinks. The concourses were extended to 360 degrees around the stadium, making it much easier for fans to check out other areas of the stadium. Several bars, restaurants, and clubs were added to the facility for fan enjoyment during games. A huge video board with very sharp graphics was also added during the renovations. Neighborhood 2 Steinbrenner Field is different from the other Grapefruit League stadiums in that it is in a major Florida city, rather than a quaint small-town feel. This may make it easier to access, but also has its drawbacks, including traffic, very limited parking at the stadium, and the safety of walking in the areas surrounding the park. Unfortunately, Steinbrenner Field receives its lowest score in this area. Traffic in Tampa is always heavy, whether there is a game occurring that day or not. The parking outside of the football stadium is not convenient, as it requires a long walk over a pedestrian bridge to get to the stadium. The neighborhood surrounding the Yankees complex is rather seedy, as it includes seedy hotels and strip joints. We would not recommend any of the hotels that line Dale Mabry Highway, even if they are close to the Yankees complex. We do have some recommendations of places to stay, nice restaurants, and attractions located in Tampa. Busch Gardens is a beautiful place to visit, both for its gardens and the amusement park attached to it. It is only seven miles from Steinbrenner Field. Fans 4 There is a huge fan base for the Yankees in the Tampa area. First, you have the locals and the snowbirds. Tampa only has one outpost for Grapefruit League action in its city limits. The Yankees are the hometown favorites. George Steinbrenner had a home in the area, as do many former residents of the Big Apple. These transplants have an allegiance to the team that carries over to attending the games at Steinbrenner Field. Secondarily, you have the snowbirds who come to Florida to escape seasonally to avoid the tough winters in the northeastern U.S. Another portion of the fan base is much more transitory. These are true baseball fans who are interested in games at Steinbrenner Field due to the mystique of the Yankees brand. They relish going to games to check out the many salutes to Yankee history that are found in and around the Yankees spring training complex. Finally, you have the corporate leadership in the Tampa area. Most of the seats behind home plate or in seats with added amenities are owned not by an individual, but by a corporate entity. They see Yankee games as a way to treat their most important clients to an experience they will remember. Access 3 Getting to Steinbrenner Field is relatively easy, but there is a bit of a walk after you park your car. Take I-275 to Dale Mabry Highway and head north for three miles. Steinbrenner Field is on your right. Parking for Yankee games is on the large grass field adjoining the football stadium on your left. After parking your car, cross over Dale Mabry Highway via the pedestrian bridge to Steinbrenner Field. Persons with mobility issues can be dropped off at the stadium, but drivers must still park in the grass lot across the street. Steinbrenner Field is only three miles from Tampa International Airport. The stadium lot opens four hours before the first pitch. The stadium gates open two hours before the first pitch. It is a good idea to arrive early when traffic is lighter. This will also allow you time to visit the many Yankee salutes outside the stadium gates, as well as time to visit the Yankees training camp that adjoins the stadium. Return on Investment 4 The renovations in 2017 created many new choices of seating for fans to consider. These include group areas, areas that include special food and drink options, as well as seat selections based on the view of the field. This has resulted in more than twelve different price points for tickets to Yankees games. Game selection may also differ by who the opposing team is. Games involving the Mets, Phillies, and Red Sox are always sellouts, driving the cost up accordingly. One thing all fans need to know is that moving from your ticket location to a better seat located in another section which is “empty” is strictly forbidden. Ushers at Steinbrenner Field are legendary for sending folks back to their ticketed location with strict admonishment. Parking is $15 in the grass lot adjoining the football stadium. Extras 4 During the regular season, Steinbrenner Field serves as the home field for the Class A Tampa Tarpons in the Florida State League, which is one of the minor league affiliates of the Yankees. There are several great selfie locations at Steinbrenner Field. Outside of the stadium, the Monument Park salute to the Yankee icons, the Steinbrenner statue, and the 911 Memorial form great backdrops. Inside the stadium is a statue featuring the iconic “NY” found on the Yankees’ ballcap. There are also two numbers of retired Yankees located along the outfield concourse. Derek Jeter (#2) and Thurman Munson (#15) are featured in this area. The spring training homes of the Toronto Blue Jays , the Pittsburgh Pirates , and the Philadelphia Phillies are located close to Steinbrenner Field. This allows you to visit two Grapefruit League stadiums in a day if they line up in a day/night combination. Each of the entry tunnels along the concourses of Steinbrenner Field feature graphics about Yankees history and the many World Series that the team has won. Each tunnel highlights a different decade in the timeline of the history of the Yankees. Final Thoughts The Yankees are truly an iconic brand in Major League Baseball. Steinbrenner Field certainly realizes that in the many ways it salutes the many players who have worn the pinstripes over the years, while also preparing new players for the upcoming season. The ballpark is still one of the most popular stadiums to visit in the Grapefruit League, as it is very convenient for travelers to the Tampa area to catch a game due to its close proximity to the Tampa International Airport.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Target Center 600 North 1st Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55403 Minnesota Lynx website Target Center website Year Opened: 1990 Capacity: 19,356 The Top Cats In The Twin Cities The Target Center has been the major indoor sports center for basketball since it opened in 1990. It is home to both the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA and the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. It has also hosted basketball tournaments at the college level as well as the state basketball championships at the high school level. The Lynx are by far the most successful basketball program at the Target Center. Since beginning play in 1999, the team has won WNBA titles four times (2011,2013,2015, and 2017) and has won Western Division titles four times (2011,2012,2013, 2015). The team has made the WNBA playoffs for ten straight seasons. Coach Cheryl Reeves has been with the Lynx since 2010 and is a three-time WNBA Coach of the Year. She is a four-time coach of the WNBA Championship team. She has also served as the coach for the West Division of the WNBA’s All-Star team on three occasions. Food & Beverage 3 The Lynx food and beverage options at the Target Center offer a diverse set of menu options. Fans can pull up the menus for each of these concession stands and order their choices on the Lynx app. It will then notify them when their items are ready, which keeps the lines at the stands short and minimizes the fan’s time away from the game. All concession stands operate on a cashless basis. Concession stands that operate at Lynx games include: The Wicked Kitchen- This stand offers items based on a plant-based menu. Its’ menu includes vegan burgers, salads, gluten-free foods, and even gluten-free ice cream. Fhima’s features Wagyu Sliders as well as Spicy Chicken Lollipops. Parlour features double burgers with Swiss American cheese on a brioche bun. Mini Donuts offers donuts either by the bucket full or the bag full. Bibigo features sweet and spicy chicken, chicken wontons, and beef mandu. Soul Bowl features a Caribbean line of food bowls featuring different spices and ingredients. Stilly offers a line of premium distilled cocktails in a can. Flavors include Cranberry/Lime, Grapefruit, and Peach. All stands offer Coca-Cola brand soft drinks and bottled water. The end zone area of the Target Center is devoted to the Budweiser Beer Garden, which sells both Bud and Bud Lite options, as well as some craft beers. Prices of the concessions at the Target Center are the same as those charged at the individual stores outside of the arena. The Warehouse District offers a wider variety of restaurants within easy walking distance of the arena. You might want to enjoy a pre- or post-game meal at one of these restaurants, and just enjoy a drink or snack inside the Target Center. Atmosphere 5 Even though the Lynx utilizes only the lower level of the Target Center seating bowl, there is an electric level of energy in the building. The team is welcomed like the sport's royalty they are as they enter the court for warmups. The introduction of players before the game rivals any level of sports, for men or women. The lights are out, but the players are in the spotlight during this phase of the pregame show. Once the game begins, each stop at the opponent’s end of the court receives a tremendous round of applause. Three-pointers by the home team receive a similar response from the crowds. The Target Center has gone through numerous renovations in its thirty years of operation, with the latest occurring in 2016. This renovation included every area of the gameday experience. It totally replaced every seat in the venue, and updated all electronics packages in the venue, covering everything from the sound system to the videoboard. The building also went through an extensive renovation of its interior, working its way up from the street-level entrance lobby to the skybridges that connect the building to most of downtown Minneapolis. Neighborhood 4 The Target Center is one of the landmark anchors in the Warehouse District just north of the downtown area. The district also includes Target Field, the home of the Minnesota Twins of the MLB. The Warehouse District is also a hub for galleries, shops, boutiques, restaurants, and nightlife in Minneapolis. Many of these stores took over the spaces formerly used by warehouses in the old days. Among the favorite spots in the district are the Loon Café, the Fulton Brewing Company, and Cowboy Jack’s Saloon. Lodging in the district is provided by the Hampton Inn and Suites Minneapolis Downtown, which is connected by skybridge to the Target Center. Fans 5 It should come as no surprise considering the team’s history of success over the years that it has a very loyal, and loud fanbase. The Lynx's average attendance is 7,168 fans per game, putting them second in the WNBA attendance, trailing only the Seattle Storm. Lynx Fanbase, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey The stands fill as quickly as the Target Center doors open, as fans do not even want to miss the warmups Be sure to look up at all the various championship banners the Lynx have earned at the Target Center over the years. It is a great way to get fired up before the game even starts. Access 4 The Target Center access is unique in that most of the fans enter the building via a network of skywalks that connect the major building in downtown Minneapolis. The skyways are very important in the Twin Cities, as they protect the natives and visitors from the sub-zero temperatures that winter brings. Fans can enter the seating bowl at the Target Center 60 minutes prior to tipoff, but fans can access the building earlier than that via these skybridges. Fans can also enter through the lobby at street level earlier than one hour for seating bowl entry. Remember the temperatures during the WNBA season are warmer than the winter months, so walking outside may be easier depending on where you are coming from. The Target Center has three parking garages labeled A, B, and C. It is important that you remember which letter your garage was, as all three are connected to the Center via separate skybridges. Parking is also available in the Mayo Clinic Square Parking deck located across the street from the Target Center. There are more than 12,000 parking spaces in the Target Center area. The Metrorail light rail system brings you very close to the Target Center. Take the Blue Line train north towards Target Field. You will exit the train at the Warehouse District Rail Center. From the Rail Center head southwest for .10 of a mile to the Target Center and enter through the street-level lobby. A 24-hour fare on Metrorail costs $5 and is good for 24 hours after purchase. Return on Investment 3 Seats in the Target Center come at three price points. Seats on the sides at midcourt go for $36. The remainder of the seats along the side of the court go for $31, and the corners at the end of the court are priced at $26. There is no seating behind the goals at Lynx games, as the space is taken up by the Budweiser Beer Garden at one end and the North End Bar at the opposite end. If you are coming via Metrorail and have a 24-hour pass, the cost will be $5. Parking at lots A, B, or C will cost you an average of $15. Concessions are priced at the same price you would see in their neighborhood operations. Extras 5 The Lynx play an active role in their community. They are very involved in the area of breast cancer. Each year the team sponsors a fund-raising walk at the Mall of America. They also salute the members of the military community with a Salute to a Homegrown Hero at each game. The team’s charitable foundation known as the Pack Gives Back supports more than 200 community organizations through both charitable donations and donating tickets to the communities they serve. The roof of the Target Center is “green”. The 2.5-acre roof is covered with plants that are typically found on the prairies of Minnesota and that are hearty enough to withstand the state’s harsh winters. The plants extend the life expectancy of the roof by over five years and conserve water by lessening the amount of rainwater that runs off into the Mississippi River. The Target Center is at the forefront of women’s sports. It hosted the 2022 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Finals in 2022 and will host the Big 10 Women’s Basketball Tournament in 2024. The Target Center is the leading concert venue in the Twin Cities area. Thirty-five members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have given concerts at the venue. Bullseye, the Target company’s mascot dog, is well represented at the Target Center. He has a statue in the street-level lobby as well as his likeness dominating the exterior of the building. There is also a live mascot Bullseye present at many games. Final Thoughts The Lynx are the top cats of the Twin Cities, as they have won multiple WNBA championships over the years. The Target Center provides a worthy home for the Lynx’s lair.

Photo by Eric Hasman and Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Legacy Fields 851 Center Ross Rd Crown Point, IN 46307 Map It Lake County Corndogs website Legacy Fields website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 600 Have a Corndog & a Smile In 2022, its inaugural season, the Lake County Corndogs baseball team captured the Northern League crown. They lost the championship in 2023 in their second season. In 2024, the Corndogs left the Northern League and are playing independently. Their opponents during the 2024 season mostly seem to be teams from the CSBL (Chicago Suburban Baseball League) and the Crestwood Collegiate League (wood-bat, semi-pro leagues). Hopefully, they are back in a league next season. Playing as an independent team seems like a college pickup game. The club is privately owned and is looking to make an impact with fans outside the city of Chicago in The Region. The team calls Legacy Fields in Crown Point, Indiana, its home. The ballpark holds approximately 600 and opened in 2009. The Corndog's name was chosen from a fan contest. The name combines two area staples: corn stalks growing in the area and the local high school Bulldogs nickname. The logo is catchy and fits in well in minor league baseball. Food & Beverage 3 The ballpark has a concession stand and a beer garden with a surprising choice of reasonably priced food and drinks. The concessions are geared more towards kids. The food options include cheeseburgers ($3.50), chili dogs, hamburgers, walking tacos ($3), nachos / pretzels ($2.50), and popcorn ($1). Of course, there are corn dogs for $2. Some surprising items are string cheese, Slim Jims, freeze pops and cow tales ($0.50). Soda, Gatorade, lemonade or iced tea are $2. The beer garden is sponsored by the local Off the Square Brewery. They provide an ale made especially for the ball club, Batter Up Ale, which is tasty. In addition, there are a couple of other domestic beers, such as Coors. They are $6 for a 20-ounce can, and a souvenir cup is an extra $2. If you are not a beer fan, you can choose a variety of White Claws. Atmosphere 2 The complex has two fields and also serves as home to the local Babe Ruth League and it looks like it. No netting protects the fans. Instead, there is black chain link fencing with many poles. This makes it difficult to see the action on the field. With that said, this field is a good fit for low-level summer collegiate league baseball. A double-decker press box offers more than enough space for radio and staff purposes and features aluminum bleachers behind the home plate and bleachers on each side of the press box. Another section of aluminum bleachers extends down the right field line. At the bottom of the press box, a concession area faces the main entrance. Cornelius the Corndog, a corn dog with mustard, is the mascot. He dances on the field and runs with the kids in between innings. He did not make an appearance at the game I attended. I am not sure why. A kid's zone is in the large grassy area down the right field line. The sound system is clear and loud enough for the various in-between gimmicks that include on-field contests like a hula hoop competition and the after-7th inning stretch for kids. Kids also chase foul balls and turn them into the concession stand for an ice pop, or they can keep them. The team encourages kids to turn them in. Sponsored by Off The Square Brewing, a shelter serves as the Beer Garden between the two fields. Fans entering the area need a wristband to enjoy a beer, and it is packed for weekend games. A small table offering concessions is next door, selling t-shirts, adult and youth caps, and other collectibles, from stuffed animals to mini baseball bats. Neighborhood 2 Legacy Fields is surrounded by a residential neighborhood and a wastewater treatment plant. However, downtown Crown Point is 1.5 miles from the downtown square of Crown Point. Multiple restaurants in that area include Station 21 American Grill, Ricochet Tacos, Tavern on Main, True BBQ and Whiskey Bar, and Twelve Islands. Crown Point Brewing and Off the Square Brewing are two local options for craft beer. Of course, chain fast food places like McDonald’s, Starbucks, Pop’s Italian Beef & Sausage inhabit the downtown region. Crown Point is close to two other ballparks: Oil City Field and US Steel Yard in Gary. Oil City Stadium is home to the rival NW Indiana Oilmen and is worth a visit in downtown Whiting, while the Railcats play in Gary, bringing in large crowds on weekends. Fans 3 I am told the Corndogs have created a nice fan base. However, on the day I went, approximately 100 people were in attendance, many of whom were parents of the players and a few other traditional fans. The atmosphere is similar to other summer collegiate leagues at this level. Kids chase foul balls, friends and family have a few laughs, and properly cheer for home runs and runs scored. Access 2 Legacy Fields is located a few miles west of I-65 and accessible by GPS on your phone. The closest exit is the 109th Street exit. The field itself is easy to move around, with three sets of bleachers surrounding the ball field. There is no public transportation in the area of the ballpark. Return on Investment 3 The price of a ticket is $6 - $8, concession prices are no more than $4, beer is $6, and parking is free. The crowd is usually festive, and kids’ activities take place in between innings. If you have the time, the downtown square in Crown Point is visiting. . Extras 2 The Corndogs earn points for having affordable concessions and a beer garden with local and affordable beer. They get an extra point for encouraging kids to turn in foul balls for ice pops. The field gets a point taken away for the chain link fencing blocking the view. I hope this can be changed to netting. Final Thoughts The Corndogs management knows how to build a good team. Hopefully, they will be able to add some new items to the experience in the future. The stadium offers a small-town feel with plenty of affordable options at the concession stand and beer garden.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Armfield Athletic Center 5800 West Friendly Ave. Greensboro, NC 27410 Guilford Quakers Armfield Athletic Center Capacity: 2,200 D3 Football in Greensboro Armfield Athletic Center, home of the Guilford Quakers, is a great venue for what it is. The 2,200-seat facility doesn’t hold many fans, and doesn’t have a video scoreboard, but does provide an idyllic setting surrounded by trees, with lots of nice brickwork, and is a hassle-free way to take in an evening or afternoon of football. Armfield Athletic Center is named after members of the Armfield family, one of whom played on Guilford’s first football back in the late 1800s. The facility has been renovated several times in the last decades, including adding stadium lights and new visitor bleachers in 2007, and a new Field Turf surface in 2009. The Guilford Quakers currently compete in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference of D3 college football. Food & Beverage 2 Armfield Athletic Center has one concessions stand behind the north end zone (down a short walking path from the field, you can actually see the flames from the grills from your seat). Only 7 items are offered, namely burgers, hot dogs, popcorn, and chips, as well as Gatorade, bottled Pepsi products, and bottled water. Burgers are the most expensive item at $5, with most of the other items coming in at $2 or $1. Atmosphere 3 Armfield Athletic Center is pretty basic, with the home stands and press box on the west side, and a much smaller set of visitor stands on the east side. There is a digital scoreboard (non-video) behind the south end zone, but no seating in either end zone. There are no cheerleaders or mascots, but you are very close to the action – almost too close in fact, your best bet is to sit in the last row of the bleachers so you can see the action better. But you can definitely hear the sound of pads smacking together, and you are close enough to easily read the names on the jerseys. Neighborhood 4 There are a couple of fast food restaurants within a half mile of Armfield Athletic Center such as McDonald’s or Chick-fil-A, but one of the most popular destinations in Greensboro is Natty Greene’s Pub & Brewing Co. on Elm Street downtown; this popular stop is named after Revolutionary War Hero Nathaniel Green. If you plan to be in town for the day, Greensboro, NC is not a huge city by any stretch, but there are plenty of historic sites and other attractions in the area. One of most well-known is the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, which commemorates the sit-ins that occurred in Greensboro during the 1960s – those sit-ins were actually some of the most influential and significant protests of the entire Civil Rights movement. You can also visit the Greensboro Science Center, which includes an aquarium, zoo, and hands-on activities for the kids. Or, if you are a military history buff (or aspire to be), you can visit Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, and learn about Nathaniel Greene’s actions during the Revolutionary War. Fans 2 Very few fans show up for Guilford football games, but the ones who are there are very supportive of the team, and many of them wear team gear. For such a small crowd you actually get a surprising amount of crowd noise, but the stands do look pretty empty. Access 4 Parking should be free at Armfield Athletic Center, and moving around is a cinch due to the small size. There is a very small parking lot right next to the venue, but you need a pass to park there, so most people park a few hundred feet away in other lots on campus. Once you get inside the venue, however, it is very easy to move around – there is a ticket tent next to the front entrance, and there is plenty of room. There is a walking path that connects the two grandstands (and also leads to the concessions stand), and since the venue likely will not be full, you should be able to move around and sit wherever you want. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Guilford Quakers football games start at only $7, which is a great deal for college football. The concessions are also very cheap, so even if you have a large group, this would be a great way to entertain yourself and support a local team without spending a fortune. Extras 1 Armfield Athletic Center is in a nice setting with lots of trees around it, and you are very close to the action. But this is really a no-frills sort of experience, so if you are just coming for the football, you should like it just fine.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 The Reservation 149 Twin Lake Rd Gaffney, SC 29341 Limestone Saints website The Reservation website Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 10,000 Football’s Marching Saints Now in their 7th season, the Limestone College Saints began playing football in 2014, and play their home games at The Reservation, a nearby high school stadium which is mainly home to the Gaffney Indians. The Saints currently compete in the South Atlantic Conference in college football’s Division II. The Reservation was built in 2008 at a cost of over $8MM but has been renovated since, and now features a turf field, seats for about 10K in grandstands along both sidelines, a small set of bleachers for the band behind one end zone, as well as a large video board behind one end zone and a digital scoreboard behind the other. The facility also features a four-story press box plus two locker rooms, one on each side of the field. Food & Beverage 3 The Reservation offers typical concessions sold from fixed stands beneath both grandstands, including standards such as hot dogs, pizza, nachos, packaged candy, soda, and bottled water. Like many conferences throughout different levels of college football, the Saints offered an abbreviated spring season in 2021 following the cancellation of football activities in 2020 – concessions are not available during the spring season due to social distancing requirements, but will be available again during games in the fall. Atmosphere 4 The Reservation is an amazing facility for this level of college football, especially given that it is actually a high school stadium. With clean, modern lines, the grandstands along the sidelines are pulled back slightly from the field, allowing for better visibility for the fans. The small size also provides an intimate atmosphere where you can easily see the action and hear the sounds from the field. The turf is also a great feature, allowing fans to see the graphics in the end zone and the yard markers clearly, without them getting messed up partway through the game by the action on the field, as with many natural grass fields. The trees surrounding the stadium also add to the pleasant atmosphere. The only reason this section does not earn a higher score is due to the lack of décor for the Saints – most of the graphics in the stadium are for the high school team instead, with only a couple of banners showing support for Limestone College’s club; it would also be nice if the video board showed instant replays instead of only Limestone graphics. Nevertheless, these two items can easily be overlooked by the otherwise great facility in which to watch college football. Neighborhood 4 If you are looking for something to do before or after the game, Gaffney is a large enough town to offer numerous attractions, and like many college towns there is plenty of fast food available. But for a little better food experience, Harold’s Restaurant (featured on the TV show Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives for its world-famous chili burgers and hotdogs – yes, that’s how they spell it) is less than 3 miles from The Reservation, or you can also try Fatz Café, a South Carolina local favorite featuring Southern cuisine. Or if you are in the mood for barbecue, which is always something to try when visiting the Carolinas, check out Daddy Joe’s Beach House BBQ & Grill – looks a bit like a dive, and perhaps a little seedy, but always seems to be packed. If you plan to be in town for the day or for the weekend, there are plenty of attractions to be seen in the local area, such as the Cowpens Civil War battlefield site or Shunkawauken Falls. But no visit to Gaffney could be called complete without a visit to The Peachoid, the 135-foot tall water tower painted to resemble a giant peach. This famous landmark can be seen from the freeway, but you can also get closer if you would like a selfie. And like any town this size, Gaffney has plenty of hotel choices depending on how close you want to be to the college and depending on how much you want to spend. Fans 3 For its biggest games, Limestone can draw as many as five thousand fans to The Reservation, which is about half full, but even when there is a much smaller crowd in the stands, the Saints faithful get pretty loud and rowdy. You will see plenty of Limestone gear in the stands, including lots of blue slickers during foul weather, and if you need Limestone gear you can even purchase your own from a mobile cart on the concourse. A lot of fun music is also played during breaks in the action, which really gets the crowd moving, so that adds to the enjoyment as well. Faithful Limestone Saints Fans, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Access 5 Getting to The Reservation is as simple as can be – the stadium is only about 2 miles off the freeway using either Exit 90 or 92 from I-85, and the lights on the field can easily be seen as you approach Gaffney High School along Twin Lake Road. Remember though that the facility is not actually on the college’s campus, so make sure you head toward Gaffney High School instead of Limestone College as you get close. Once you get to The Reservation, there is a plenty of parking in a huge lot right next to the north end zone, so you won’t have much of a walk to get inside (the Gold lot offers even closer parking if you happen to be a donor or other VIP). As you enter the stadium, be sure to pay attention to whether you are sitting on the main or visitor side, however, as the two grandstands don’t connect, so you can’t move between them during the game – The Reservation has a no re-entry policy, so if you leave your side during the game you will have to pay to get back in. However, since the stadium likely won’t be quite full you may be able to sit on whichever side you want; note that this is not the case during high school football games here, which have a much larger attendance than do Limestone games. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to Limestone Saints games are only $15 each (cash only), which is a great deal for college football, and concessions prices are reasonable. Extras 5 Limestone College has many great traditions, many of which relate to the game of football we all know and love. For example, every Friday students and staff members are encouraged to wear blue, as part of Limestone College’s “Be Bold. Be Blue.” initiative to show school pride and support for the school’s athletic teams. The team’s costumed mascot, a Saint Bernard named Bernie, shows up at most athletic events, and the Victory Bell on campus is rung after every Limestone athletic victory. The alma mater and fight song are sung during every football game, and if you take a visit to Limestone’s campus, you can find the fountain topped with a seven-branched candelabrum, representing the seven branches of learning offered at the college; the candelabrum is part of Limestone’s official seal. And if you happen to be in the area around Christmas, the campus is alight with over 10,000 luminaries, most of which are prepared and lit by student athletes. One final note regarding the team’s logo – known as the “Fast Fleur”, the symbol is reminiscent of the traditional fleur sports fan are probably familiar with from teams like the New Orleans Saints . However, at Limestone the fleur is angled slightly forward with racing lines coming off the back, evocative of the fleur being in motion, hence the moniker “Fast Fleur”. Final Thoughts Many sports fans may not consider attending college football games in the D2 set, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the football stadium at Limestone. The Reservation is definitely worth making a visit to you if you are in the Gaffney or wider Charlotte area.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 4790 W 16th St Indianapolis, IN 46222 Indianapolis Motor Speedway website SpeedTour Series website Year Opened: 1909 Capacity: 257,325 A Vintage Weekend at Indy Indianapolis is synonymous with racing in America – the likes of IndyCar, NASCAR, and IMSA all compete here. While events like the SRO Indy 8 Hours and the SCCA Runoffs have been held here in recent years, none of these offer the uniqueness of watching vintage racing on track. SpeedTour Weekend at Indiapolis Motor Speedway is chock full of unique run groups, but also lacks some of the touches of other events on the track’s road course.   Food & Beverage   3 The standard fare is available throughout the infield thanks to various concession stands. The basics like burgers ($13.50), chicken fingers ($12), pork tenderloin baskets ($16.50) etc. are all available, as well as soda ($8), water ($5), and beer ($9.25). Fans can also expect a variety of food trucks and independent vendors in the infield Pagoda Plaza.   Atmosphere   4 Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the literal definition of a motorsports mecca in the United States. Every inch of the track oozes with history – this in itself should be enough to elevate the track’s profile. However, thanks to the recent purchase of the facility by Roger Penske, some ups and downs can be noticed during SVRA weekend. Various upgrades and renovations have made the track even better than it was before, such as a new LED display behind the Pagoda and other smaller displays around the track, which offer fans a chance to see the action no matter where they are. Renovated bathrooms and common areas are also featured in the latest upgrades as well. Nevertheless, there is no access for fans to watch the action from the main grandstands on the outside of the circuit, and certain run groups like the pre-war era cars are no longer permitted to run exhibition laps on the track’s 2.5-mile oval.   Neighborhood   3 Speedway, Indiana is a unique setting, as you will see both the past and future of the area in a few blocks. Located literally in the middle of a neighborhood, the IMS facility is massive, rising above the rooftops of nearby homes. Across the street from the southwest corner of the track is Main Street; here various restaurants and shopping destinations mix with newly constructed apartments and several IndyCar race team HQs. Thursday night before race weekend begins, a fan festival is held here with various race cars on display, driver autographs and Q&A sessions, and live music taking place. In addition, a mile west of the track along Crawfordsville Road are more shopping and dining options. Hotels are plentiful and nearby as well, with downtown Indy just a short drive east, and multiple hotels just west of I-465 and the track.   Fans   2 The fans at Indy are among the most sport-knowledgeable in racing; you would be hard-pressed to find any others in the US who can top this. Many fans have been going to Indy for various races for decades. However, the attendance here for SpeedTour Weekend is significantly lower than that for other races at the circuit’s road course, such as IMSA and SRO.   Access   4 To get to the track you can just follow the signs, literally – there is no shortage of signage on the way to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The nearest highway is I-465, with I-74 meeting up with it just north of the track’s exit. Parking on-site is plentiful both inside and outside the facility, though many of these lots require pre-purchased parking passes. With that said, various homes in the area also offer up their driveways for paid parking, as do some of the businesses nearby.   Return on Investment   5 Tickets to SpeedTour Weekend at IMS are relatively well priced; access for Saturday costs $30, while Sunday tickets are just $20. Free infield parking is included with each ticket, and access to the paddock area is also included.   Extras   3 Though still under construction, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is located onsite in the infield, and should usually be open during race days once the renovations are completed. Fans of the sport will no doubt enjoy looking into the past, and enjoying the history of the sport of racing. The Formula Regional race on Saturday also features a pre-race grid walk for fans to get up close with the cars and stars of tomorrow. Finally, the Ragtime Racers group of pre-WWI era cars are a big draw, offering a view into the past with cars that have stood the test of time.   Final Thoughts Fans still flock to Indianapolis Motor Speedway no matter what is racing here, and SpeedTour Weekend is incredibly affordable compared to other events. Couple that with the nostalgia factor that Indy injects directly into your soul, and it is hard to skip this now annual stop on the SVRA calendar. Sportscar fans will have plenty to watch throughout the weekend, with no less than four racing series taking to the speedway during the event thanks to International GT, SVRA, Formula Regional, and BMW USA all visiting the circuit for this event.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Lewis and Clark Park 3400 Line Dr Sioux City, IA 51106 Sioux City Explorers website Lewis and Clark Park website Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 3,631 Baseball Sioux City Style The Sioux City Explorers were founded in 1993 as members of the Northern League. From their inception, they have called Lewis and Clark Park home. The ballpark was the first one built specifically for an independent baseball team. The Explorers have experienced some success, both in their Northern League days and in the American Association. While they have yet to win a league championship, they reached the Northern League finals in 1994 and the American Association championship in 2015, losing both times. To help fund renovations to the facility, naming rights were sold to Mercy Medical Center in 2016. The facility is now properly named Mercy Field at Lewis and Clark Park. Improvements that were made at the time included a new scoreboard (replacing the old scoreboard, which had been struck by lightning), renovations to the press box, outfield fencing, clubhouses and suites. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand at Lewis and Clark Park, which offers typical ballpark fare. Hot dogs, bratwurst, burgers, chicken fingers and pork tenderloin sandwiches are sold at this stand. A variety of ballpark snacks, including nachos, fries, popcorn and peanuts are also available here. Fans looking for something a bit out of the ordinary can order jumbo pickles or cheese balls. Pepsi products are featured at Lewis and Clark Park. Adding a bit of variety to the menu is a portable cart on the third base side of the stadium, dubbed the "South of the Border" cart. Here fans can find a specialty item, the "Expedition Nachos." Traditional Nacho chips are covered with pulled pork, tomatillo salsa and white queso sauce. Draft beers are also sold here from Bud Light, Coors Light, Blue Moon and local brand 712 Brewery. An interesting twist in the menu is the nightly "Eat Your Opponent" promotion, where one menu item is selected as the nightly special. For example, on the night of Stadium Journey's visit the opponent was the Winnipeg Goldeyes. The Eat Your Opponent menu item was chicken tenderloins smothered in BBQ sauce served with a side of french fries. OK, it's not a perfect correlation, but that's as close to fish and chips as the Explorers could get. Atmosphere 3 The gameday atmosphere at a small ballpark such as Lewis and Clark Park is fairly simple and laid-back, as you may expect. A bare bones presentation fits in perfectly with a bare bones ballpark. Still, there is plenty of fun to be had at an explorers game. The Explorers utilize a mascot, a black dog named Slider, who interacts with fans and participates in between inning promotions. The ballpark has a new videoboard in left-center field that is put to good use with player stats, videos and game information. Country music blares over the speakers between innings, which is not surprising in this part of the country. Veteran minor league baseball travelers will find a lot that's familiar and comfortable here in Sioux City. Neighborhood 3 Lewis and Clark Park is located about five miles south of downtown Sioux City at the junction of Interstate 29 and Route 75. The area around the ballpark is a mixed use business and industrial area. Visiting fans will find many options for dining and lodging in the immediate area. Among the favorite spots to eat right near the ballpark are Four Brothers Grill & Bar and Clyde's Grill & Pub. The Southern Hills Mall is located on the far side of Route 75. Other fans visiting Sioux City may wish to head downtown, where the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino anchors the area. Also located in the downtown area is the Tyson Events Center, which hosts events ranging from concerts to hockey games to indoor football. History buffs may seek out the Sargent Floyd Memorial, located a short drive from the ballpark. Sargent Floyd was a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition who passed away during the voyage near the present-day site of Sioux City. Fans 2 The Explorers generally rank near the bottom of the American Association attendance rankings, averaging between 1,200-1,500 fans per game. Despite their small size, the fans that do attend Explorers games are knowledgable about their team and enthusiastic about the action going on down on the field. A crowd at Lewis and Clark Park is a mix of locals, families and groups, just as you will find at minor league ballparks across the country. Sioux City boasts friendly fans befitting this small midwestern city. Even if you are from out of town, chances are you'll have some new friends by the time an Explorers game is over. Access 4 Driving is the only way to arrive at Lewis and Clark Park, and the ballpark is easy to find. It is located just off of Interstate 29 and Route 75 a few miles south of downtown Sioux City. Exit 143 (Singing Hills Rd.) drops fans off about a half mile from the ballpark. Simply take a left onto Stadium Drive, and Lewis and Clark Park is at the end of the road. There is a large parking lot right next to the ballpark. Some spots are very close to the field, so beware of stray foul balls finding your windshield. You may wish to fnd a spot a little farther from the entrance. The ballpark is a simple structure with a grandstand that wraps around from first base to third base. The seating bowl is separated into upper and lower sections by a walkway located about a third of the way up. All seats are individual folding stadium seats. Lower seats are red, and upper sections are blue. There are bleachers located down either foul line that are sold as general admission. Concession Stands and a small merchandise stand are located underneath the seating area. There is a party deck far down the left field line, with views of the field from its large porch. Lewis and Clark Stadium has newly renovated bathrooms that are large enough to handle a typical Explorers crowd. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for Explorers games are sold in three levels; Box Seats (red) for $13, Reserved Seats (blue) for $11 and General Admission (red) for $8. Purchasing ticket on game day increases prices by two dollars, and by three dollars on Friday and Saturday nights. Parking in the lot adjacent to the ballpark will cost you two dollars. Concessions are affordable, making going to an Explorers game an affordable entertainment option. The team offers a couple of unique in-game promotions. If the opponent's "K-Man" strikes out during an at-bat, draft beers are available for just a dollar for the rest of that inning. If the Explorers' "Hit Man" gets a hit during his at-bat, all soft drinks are sold for one dollar for the rest of the inning. The resulting rush to the concession stands is fun to watch. Extras 2 The concession specials are worth an extra point. Lewis and Clark Park is the first ballpark in the country built specifically for independent baseball. Final Thoughts Lewis and Clark Park is a small-town ballpark that is in danger of being passed by, even by the independent American Association. As the league continues to move into newer ballparks in larger cities, small cities like Sioux City are in danger of losing their teams. This is hardly an indictment on ballparks like Lewis and Clark Park, which are quickly becoming obsolete as the stadium arms race escalates. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 WLU Athletic Complex 75 University Ave W Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks basketball website WLU Athletic Complex website Year Opened: 1973 Capacity: 2,197 __________________________________________________________________________________ Golden Hoops Wilfrid Laurier University is normally viewed as a football school in USports and the OUA. However, the Golden Hawks can trace their basketball history quite deeply and boast some national accolades as well. The Hawks basketball squad was established in 1961 and have led a roller coaster existence on the court over the past six decades. The Golden Hawks were quite strong in the sixties and seventies which coincided with seven provincial conference championships in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, and 1971. These were all earned when the Hawks were members of the OUA’s predecessor the OIAA. Basketball glory culminated for the Golden Hawks in 1968 with Laurier earning the W.P. McGee Trophy as Canadian National Champions. All basketball championships were won before Laurier changed its name from Waterloo Lutheran University. Lean times were found on the court throughout the eighties and nineties and a bit of a renaissance was found with the Hawks in the new millennium. However, with the Carleton Ravens dominating OUA and USports basketball in the last twenty years, there has not been much hardware for the Hawks, let alone the rest of the OUA. Wilfrid Laurier University was established in 1911 as a Lutheran Seminary and would morph into a full-fledged university as Laurier in 1973. The final name change which would coincide with Canada’s seventh Prime Minister, who had no local connections, would be filled with controversy and panned as just an easy way to keep the WLU initials, which belonged to Waterloo Lutheran University. This public university features over 15,000 students with the main campus located in Waterloo, Ontario on a small campus in an urban area. Waterloo features a population of over 121,000 and is a twin-city with neighbouring Kitchener. Not close to the same scale as basketball schools in the NCAA, the Golden Hawks put together a simple, entertaining product in a decent facility for a great price. In the end, is there anything else that a paying customer can ask for? Food & Beverage 2 Concession options at the Athletic Complex are very limited. The Hawk Shop on the north side of the gym offers soda and water, hot dogs, popcorn, chips, chocolate bars and sometimes pizza. It is clear that the Hawk Shop is being reimagined and fairly unfinished in the post-Covid era. What that looks like going forward and how it affects concession options remains a bit of a mystery. Atmosphere 3 As with many OUA basketball venues, the Athletic Complex serves the greater university and is not just an arena for basketball on gameday. Located on the edge of campus, right at the corner of King Street and University Ave, the exterior of the Athletic Complex has been renovated numerous times. When entering through the main entrance, which is on the opposite side of the building from King Street, fans are greeted with plenty of glass and an attractive view of the fairly pedestrian building. The student fitness facilities can be seen from the outside. Entering the Athletic Complex has fans greeted by the main ticketing desk which doubles as the recreation help desk. There is a huge collage above the desk featuring pictures of great moments in Golden Hawks athletics including their Vanier Cup wins in football and National Championship in Women’s hockey. Past the entryway and around the corner and up a couple of stairs is the main entry to the gym. Just outside of that is the former Hawk Shop which serves as concession and used to have team merchandise. A large trophy case is across from the entrance and kitty corner is the Hawk Lounge, which houses the Laurier Athletics Hall of Fame. The gym is fairly simple with two entries on the east and west sides of the court. The court runs from north to south and the perfect spot for that centre court logo photo is in the west bleachers. The gym is used for more than just basketball games and the seating is two sets of retractable plastic bleachers and folding chairs. There is nothing overly exciting about the interior of the gym. Championship banners for all sports used to hang on the south side of the gym, but those have been removed as a part of some renovation. A large team photo of the 1968 National Championship basketball team was temporarily in the Hawk Shop, but it is unclear where that went. Although there is plenty of purple and gold in the gym, there is plenty that could be done to bump up the atmosphere at the AC. The gameday production of a Laurier Golden Hawks game is fairly simple. Pregame warmups are dominated with rap music no doubt chosen by the players. Once the game begins there are a few student run promotions and simple halftime games like the beanbag toss. Neighbourhood 4 Wilfrid Laurier is an urban university located just up the street from another urban university. As a result there are a ton of great options for pre and post game meals. University and King streets are where fans would find most options. There are a ton of great spots to get something to eat before or after the game. Some places worth considering include Pin Up Arcade Bar, Philthy Philly’s, Williams Fresh Cafe and Smoke’s Poutinerie. The on-campus pub is Wilf’s and offers a great atmosphere and food while being student run and managed. The place fans probably should settle on, however, is Morty’s Pub. Home of arguably the best chicken wings in the city, Morty’s always satisfies the post game craving. As far as entertainment goes, there are a few options in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. When planning on catching a Laurier game around Canadian Thanksgiving, there is the possibility of catching Oktoberfest. This is the signature festival of Kitchener-Waterloo and the largest Bavarian festival outside of Germany. There are a number of great events that take place over the 10 day festival at a variety of locations including the numerous Fest Halls. Head south on King Street toward Uptown Waterloo to find a great spot for some evening entertainment in the Huether Hotel Jazz Room. One of the top jazz venues in the province, The Jazz Room offers weekend performances at a great price. There are also a number of pubs in Uptown Waterloo that feature live music. If interested in enhancing the sporting weekend then there are also a few other options. Wilfrid Laurier also fields other athletic teams, specifically football at Knight-Newbrough Field and hockey at the Sun Life Financial Arena. Just up the road, the University of Waterloo also fields USports athletic programs. Football is found at Warrior Field, basketball at the Physical Activities Complex and hockey at the Columbia IceField. Driving across town to Kitchener brings the opportunity to catch the phenomenal experience of the Kitchener Rangers at the legendary Aud. For fans planning on staying the night, the Inn of Waterloo or the Delta are short drives from the Laurier campus. Fans 3 Evaluating fans in the OUA is very challenging. All games are doubleheaders with the women’s team and attendance figures are not published. The Golden Hawks usually top out at a couple hundred fans. Big games against Western or the rival down the street, Waterloo, will provide a better fan atmosphere. When members of the football team are in attendance there is always a bigger buzz in the building. Periodically a group of students will sit behind the visitors bench and cause a ruckus, however the fans in attendance are not over the top or obnoxious. Like most other Canadian universities, connecting current students with athletics remains a big challenge and more students in attendance would go a long way to making Laurier basketball a better experience. Access 4 Getting to the Athletic Complex and around is not very difficult. The Athletic Complex is located right on the corner of University and King. Normally, the entry for parking would be at the main entrance at University and Hazel. However, due to construction in 2023, fans will have to enter campus off of King Street for parking near the AC. Fans coming from out of town, will have a decent drive through the city as the university campus is a fair trek southwest of Highway 85. Traffic on University Ave moves fairly quickly, so getting to the gym should not be too much of an issue. Parking is available in the main lot on the other side of Alumni Field, by the Science Building. Parking is free, but fans should be conscious of parking in a permit spot during the wrong time. For fans wishing to take public transit to the game, the ION Light Rail stops at Waterloo Park and Seagram Drive, a short walk to the AC. Otherwise, there are buses that travel along King Street and University Ave. Fans should check the Grand River Transit website for maps and schedules. Ticketing is located at the main entry of the Athletic Complex at the fitness desk. Credit and debit cards are accepted for those not pre-purchasing tickets. Finding a spot in the general admission grandstands is not too difficult. However, washroom facilities and access to the northwest grandstand requires fans to go around the Hawk Shop and down the breezeway, alongside the pool to the other side. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for Laurier Golden Hawks basketball are $9.50 when purchased in advance. There are discounts for alumni, students, seniors, children, faculty and staff. In most cases there is a $2 surcharge when purchasing at the ticket desk right before the game. Parking can be found for free and concession prices are good. OUA basketball is very underrated and the product on the court will surprise sports fans. Being able to get to a game for under $10 is nearly impossible now. The investment is small and the return is strong so the value is excellent. Extras 2 An extra mark for Wilfrid Laurier University and their simple, traditional approach to presenting basketball. An extra mark for the unique Golden Hawk mascot , which has an interesting history. Final Thoughts The experience of Laurier Golden Hawks basketball may not blow fans away like a professional or big-time NCAA game would. However, a Laurier basketball game is a nice afternoon or evening’s entertainment and for the price that fans are expected to shell out, there isn’t too much more that fans can ask for. A few more people in the stands would make the Laurier basketball experience even better. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 George C. Page Stadium 1 LMU Drive Los Angeles, CA 90045 Loyola Marymount Lions website George C. Page Stadium website Year Opened: 1983 Capacity: 1,200 Behold The Blue Monster in The Lions Den There is certainly no shortage of college baseball in Southern California. From L.A. to Orange County eight major collegiate programs take to the diamond. Southern California certainly is not lacking when it comes to young baseball talent. LMU has produced its share of baseball talent, amassing six conference championships along with eight appearances to the NCAA Regionals with one College World Series appearance in 1986. Food & Beverage 2 As you would expect of a small venue the concession options are limited to your basic fare. Options include a 1/4 lb Lion Dog ($3, $7 Value Combo includes bottled water/soda and chips), bacon wrapped dogs ($4.99), hamburger ($4.29, + .99 with cheese, + $1.49 with bacon), bbq pulled beef on ciabatta ($4.29). Fries, nachos, and your basic snacks (popcorn, pretzel, peanuts, churros, sunflower seeds, chips, and candy) and Coke products are also available. Atmosphere 3 Because of Page Stadium’s small seating capacity, chances are you will be within earshot of everyone inside the yard. The crowd here doesn’t seem to be so overbearing that visiting teams should feel intimidated. That does not stop the home fans from making their feelings known to the umpires should they feel a call does not go their way. The page also offers a nice neighborhood feel. Though located close to several major thoroughfares, the only thing in sight beyond the outfield walls are trees and housing. Neighborhood 4 LMU is located nearby L.A. International airport so lodging should not be a problem. There are several dining spots nearby Lincoln Blvd. Tower Pizza is a popular spot among students. If you want to hit up a nearby tourist spot, drive 5-10 minutes east of campus along Manchester Blvd toward Randy’s Donuts. You really can’t miss the familiar 23-foot donut that’s made appearances in a few productions, as well as Randy Newman’s music video I Love L.A. If you’re not looking to spend too much on dining, there’s always that SoCal favorite nearby LAX on Sepulveda Blvd, In N Out, where many a local has gone to see what a hamburger is all about. Venice Beach and Santa Monica are also a short drive from LMU. Fans 3 Though you should not expect large droves of fans, the fans that do show up are a supportive bunch. College baseball is pretty much an afterthought for fans in Southern California due largely in part to the vast entertainment options. Having three major league teams located from L.A. to San Diego could also be a factor. Don’t expect the loud, rabid feel that you might get from other college baseball venues throughout other parts of the country. Access 4 There are two main entrances to the campus. One entrance is located just off of Lincoln Blvd while the other entrance goes through a residential neighborhood via Loyola Blvd. If arriving from LAX or points south, you will want to drive along Manchester Blvd and head north on Loyola. Not only will this street lead you directly inside the campus, but this entrance will also lead you closer to the yard rather than driving around a long windy road from the Lincoln Blvd entrance. LMU charges for parking on campus, Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (except University Holidays). All fans attending games during those hours will be required to register and pay for parking. There is no charge on Saturday and Sunday. There is one entrance to Page Stadium. In front of the entrance is Pride Park. Pride Park features a scaled-down baseball infield, recognizing alumni and friends of LMU as well as a concrete bench surrounding the infield paying tribute to memorable players and moments in LMU baseball. Return on Investment 3 The price of admission is about what you would pay for most collegiate baseball games. However, there is a $2 purchase charge per ticket regardless of whether you buy them online or at the box office. Ticket prices are $10/$12 for reserved adult seats behind home plate and $8/$9 for reserved child/senior. General admission adults behind the dugouts are $8/$10, GA child/senior $6/$7. Extras 3 To be honest, the extras here aren’t much at all. There isn’t a video board that gives fans replays or in game stats. However, you will find along the right field wall tributes noted in blue to the years LMU teams that made NCAA playoff appearances, with the 1986 College World Series highlighted in red. Along the left field wall are three retired uniform numbers. The numbers honor #44 Billy Beane, #54 Tim Layana, a member of the 1986 CWS team who played parts of three seasons with the Reds (1990-91) and Giants (1993), and #10 Jerry Stone. Where the score gets a bump is the sight of The Mikos Blue Monster. Yes, folks, The Blue Monster is a replica of that famous Green Monster, or MON-STAH, in Boston’s Fenway Park. The Monster is a gift from LMU alum Paul Mikos, complete with a manual scoreboard and an out-of-town scoreboard, just like its Green cousin in Boston. Final Thoughts As you descend upon your journey to hit up as many ballparks on your ballpark bucket list, when passing through L.A., you will want to make it a point to visit Page Stadium and catch an LMU game. Its proximity to LAX makes it easy to access. With the many baseball options in the L.A. and Southern California region, chances are great you will be able to knock out a few other collegiate (and perhaps MLB action, depending on the time of visit) venues from your bucket list of baseball yards, all in one trip and maybe the same day. Oh yeah, in case I forgot to mention, if you are a true baseball fan, you will want to say hi to The Blue Monster.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 William H. Greene Stadium 2400 6th St NW Washington, DC 20059 Howard Bison website William H. Greene Stadium website Year Opened: 1926 Capacity: 10,000 Northwest D. C. The Howard Bison are one of two FCS football teams that play in Washington, D. C., the other being the Georgetown Hoyas . Howard plays its home football games at Greene Stadium, which opened in 1926 and is also used for Bison lacrosse and soccer matches. The facility seats 10,000 for football in bleacher seating on three sides of the field – there is also field-level seating behind the north end zone, under a large white tent, for special guests. Greene Stadium is named after a local physician and benefactor of Howard University. The staff does try to put on a good show for football games here, but there aren’t very many fans who show up.   Food & Beverage   2 Greene Stadium doesn’t have any fixed concession stands, but they do bring in food trucks on the west side of the field. The different food trucks offer such items as burgers, hibachi, funnel cake, fried Oreos, fried fish, fried shrimp, ribs, and wings, along with French fries and a few drink selections, such as lemonade, bottled water, and Gatorade. The prices are on the high side, and unfortunately, the food trucks are located behind the visitor stands – the venue is not large by any means, so it is not a long walk, but your best bet is to get your food and drinks as you enter (all the entrances area on the west side), before walking around to the home side to find your seats (assuming you are not here to cheer on the opposing team, of course).   Atmosphere   3 Greene Stadium has a lively atmosphere, with lots of fun music piped in – the kind people like to dance to with heavy, loud beats. The band also does a great job entertaining fans, as do the cheerleaders; the performance at halftime is especially superb, accompanied by strutting drum majors, the dance team, and colorful banners lofted high. During my most recent visit, an October game included a tribute to cancer survivors. There is a large video board behind the north end zone, which works fine for replays, as most of the seats are on the other three sides of the field. The home stands (east side) are next to the reservoir and do offer chairback seats in the middle section – all of the other seating in Greene Stadium are metal bleachers without backs. The turf field boasts some very sharp Howard logos in dark blue with red trim, and the PA announcer is very passionate – when he announces first downs, his exuberance is accompanied by laser tag-esque electronic sounds. There is not a lot of shade, however, except in the last few rows on the home side, directly in front of the press box (although the sun sets facing the home side since the home seating is on the east, so you may have the sun in your eyes toward the end of the game.   Neighborhood   4 Howard itself is located in a run-down part of Washington, D. C., where you might not necessarily feel safe walking around at night. During the football game, there are plenty of police officers around, however, so there shouldn’t be any issues around game time. That said, there isn’t much to see and do in the immediate area, with no hotels to speak of and only a few quick-service restaurants. However, there is, of course, plenty to see and do nearer the Capitol, about 2-3 miles away, with all the monuments, museums, and other attractions, including the Wizards , Capitals , and Nationals  if you can swing a sports doubleheader while in town. There are also hundreds, perhaps thousands, of hotels and restaurants in and around Washington, D. C. – your choice there solely depends on how close you want to be to the action and how much money you want to spend, as the two are closely related.   Fans   3 Not many fans attend Howard football games at Greene Stadium, so the stands can look pretty empty, depending, of course, on how the Bison are playing at that point in the season. In fact, for many games, you might see more visiting fans on the west side than there are home fans on the east. The band and student section sits on the south end of the field – the student section at times is practically non-existent over there, with only 2-3 dozen fans visible next to the band.   Access   3 There is no real parking at Greene Stadium – you can park along the nearby streets, although the signs are confusing. In certain places where you can park on a normal day, it is blocked off, and some of the signs say you can park for four hours, but the meter only allows you to pay for two. A pay lot would be welcome, but I wasn’t able to find any after twenty minutes of driving around. The lack of parking also means a potentially long walk up to the stadium, and the entry once you get there is confusing as well. Tickets and will call are located in the gymnasium on 6th and Girard, but some of the streets are blocked off, so you may have to walk around if you are coming from the south. There are two entrances into the venue, one on the north and one on the south, which, as mentioned, are next to the visiting stands and food trucks.   Return on Investment    3 General admission tickets are $35 if you buy beforehand, but they add $10 to the price if you buy on the day of. That makes for a pretty pricey ticket to get into the game, not to mention the high food truck concession prices. On the plus side, you may be able to park for free, but that is a little risky, given the signage. All of that said, I am not sure it is worthwhile to come to see a game here – the stadium itself is decent and seems modern enough, and there are some fun elements, but they do come at a price.   Extras   2 Greene Stadium does have a small team gear stand next to the entrance on the southwest side. You also can get close to the action here, as you have to walk around right next to the field to get to your seats if you are sitting on the south or east (home) side. The Bison also boasts a fully-costumed mascot wearing a buffalo head, jersey, and camouflage pants.   Final Thoughts Greene Stadium is perfectly fine as smaller football stadiums go, but it is a little challenging in terms of access and maybe also in terms of the concession options. If you really love football, this is an okay way to spend an afternoon – just mind the lack of shade if you are coming for a day game. Otherwise, this might be one you save for when your favorite team is coming to play in D.C.

Photo courtesy of La Tech Sports Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park 1100 W Alabama Ave Ruston, LA 71270 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs website J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park website Year Opened: 1971 Capacity: 3,000 The Love Shack, That's Where It's At Beautiful J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park is located on the campus of Louisiana Tech University in the northern section of Louisiana in the city of Ruston. Affectionately coined 'The Love Shack,' the ballpark is a little ole place where Bulldog fans can get together in support of their LA Tech Bulldog baseball team. Love Field at Patterson Park opened in 1971 and features a seating capacity of 3000. Louisiana Tech baseball might not be known as a perennial baseball powerhouse, but their home field ballpark provides a great atmosphere that's sure to please both college baseball fans and their families. Food & Beverage 3 Love Field provides the classic ballpark staples at a reasonable cost. The stand is located in the courtyard behind the main grandstand, build into the stadium. Quality and Variety of Food Options. The Love Shack food items are somewhat limited, but do provide enough to keep you satisfied during the game. Your classic items include hot dogs ($3, $4 with chili and/or cheese) and nachos ($4). Gourmet dogs are available including Cajun links and smoked sausage links ($4). Additional snack items include popcorn ($2), pretzels ($3), peanuts ($3), and sunflower seeds ($1), among others. Variety of Drink Options. The ballpark serves 20oz Pepsi products for $3. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed at Love Field. Recommendation. While your options are anything but endless, the Cajun link is pretty tasty and pairs well with a Pepsi. Atmosphere 4 The Love Shack provides an outstanding atmosphere for college baseball. Whether it's the overhead awning casting shade on a hot day, the view of college dorms in left field or a train passing by beyond the right field wall, the overall atmosphere is a strength of the experience. Stadium Aesthetics. If you've never been to The Love Shack, you'll likely be surprised with how quickly you fall in love with the ballpark. The awning allows for a comfortable viewing experience in the shade. The natural grass field is well maintained and the views beyond the outfield are pretty neat. You'll notice a few students watching the game from their dorms in left field and some tailgaters on the berm in right field in front of the train track. Expect a couple of trains to pass by throughout the game. There is a fenced-in courtyard around the back of the stadium which offers green space, a couple of picnic tables, and a playground. The playground is a big bonus for families (unless you are the lucky parent assigned to miss the game and watch your kid run wild). In-Game Promotions and Entertainment. The promotions crew does an excellent job of ensuring there's no down-time between innings without going overboard. Expect to see a few entertaining on-field competitions. The music selection is appropriate for the crowd with primarily country and classic rock genres. Seat Location Recommendations. The main grandstand offers both chair back and bleacher seating. The lower half of the seats on the right and left sides are chair back while the upper seats are bleacher. The area directly behind home plate is entirely chair back. There really isn't a bad seat in the main grandstand under the awning, but the best seat will obviously be the chair backs directly behind home plate. If you are traveling with the visiting team, look for the dugout seats above the opponent dugout down first baseline. Neighborhood 3 Louisiana Tech University is located in the city of Ruston in north Louisiana. Love Field is situated on the northwest corner of the campus across from Joe Aillet Stadium. The neighborhood immediately around the ballpark is filled with dorms and college buildings. Ruston thrives around the university and is most decidedly a college town. You'll find enough to keep you busy for a weekend series, with additional options within driving range in both Monroe and Shreveport. Where to Eat. While there are a few good eats in Ruston, nothing screams Louisiana Tech like the Dawg House Sports Grill. With a great pub-style atmosphere, the venue is filled with pictures, memorabilia, and pride for the Bulldogs. Other recommended stops include the Log Cabin Mesquite Grill and Ponchatoulas. Attractions & Entertainment. The heartbeat of the city is based primarily around restaurants and LA Tech related events. There's not a plethora of options outside of that. Be sure to check-out the Louisiana Military Museum while in town. Grab a brew and enjoy a college bar atmosphere at 3 Docs Brewhouse. If you're traveling with little ones, the Idea Place is a good break from the sports scene. Where to Stay. The Hampton Inn on North Trenton Street is near the university and provides a comfortable stay. Fans 3 Louisiana Tech fans are loyal and supportive. Crowds vary in size, but Ruston loves their Bulldogs, regardless of sport. Typical Attendance. The typical crowd for Louisiana Tech baseball games averages around 500-650. For some special promotion games, such as Greek Day, you can expect crowds which are more robust, between 1,000 and at-capacity. Despite a great game day atmosphere, the crowd levels are a bit inconsistent, which can be attributed, in-part, to an inconsistent on-field product. Were the Bulldogs to put a solid post-season run together, the experience at The Love Shack has great potential to become an elite baseball atmosphere. Crowd Noise & Engagement. Louisiana Tech fans are engaged throughout the game. Expect to hear a clap-down late in the game in support of the Bulldog closer. Fans will cheer during big plays and jeer the umpire when calls don't go their way. The fan produced noise level varies throughout the game. Access 3 To quote a catchy B-52's song, "If you see a faded sign at the side of the road that says "15 miles to the Love Shack,", [You're] headin' down the [Louisiana] highway, Lookin' for the love getaway." One-hit wonders aside, access to the Love Shack has both ups and downs. While the ballpark is quickly accessible near the interstate, the ticket and concession lines can be a bit of a headache and the main concourse is a bit of a squeeze. Transit to and from Stadium. Ruston is accessible off I-20 if you're coming in from the east or west. Exit onto Cooktown Road (Hwy 544) and head south towards the Louisiana Tech campus. Cooktown turns into Tech Drive. The ballpark will be on your left, across from the softball field, track and field complex, and Joe Aillet Stadium. Parking. There are two primary lots which can fill quickly for well attended games. Across Tech Drive is a lot next to the Lady Techster softball field. There is also a lot adjacent to third baseline. Be sure to arrive a few minutes early so you can grab a spot in one of these free lots near the stadium. Ticketing & Gate Entry. The ticket booth and main entrance gate are located on the third baseline side of the stadium. You'll actually walk through the entrance gate and then take a slight right to the ticket window. The pathway between the fencing and ticket window is extremely small and lines can block your path. If possible, get your tickets ahead of time so you can avoid a headache (there's a small entrance behind home plate you can utilize). Moving around the Stadium. In addition to the tight walk-way by the ticket booth, the main concourse at the bottom of the grandstand allows two people, at most, in width. The concessions line moves well for typical crowd sizes, but can be a little long for well attended games. The restrooms are adequate for average crowds. Return on Investment 4 The overall return on investment for a Louisiana Tech game is especially strong. General admission runs $8 with the dugout seats selling for $12 each. Children admissions is $4 for ages 4-17. Concessions are reasonably priced and parking is free. The only thing holding back the ROI for now is a quality on-field product. If prices remain intact and the Bulldogs near a 40 win season, the investment will be well worth it for the overall experience. Extras 4 The Love Shack comes through with a few "extra" items that help to enhance the overall experience. Be on the look-out for the plaque and display which memorializes J.C. Love, the ballpark namesake, and the dedication of the stadium. The dugout seats are a neat idea for visiting team fans. You'll get to sit on-top of your favorite team's dugout. The playground area is a great benefit to families attending the game with little ones. The train passing by beyond right field and the dorms in view just beyond left field add a unique flavor to the overall experience.

Photo Courtesy of Jose Carlos Fajardo, Contra Costa Times Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 University Credit Union Pavilion 1928 Saint Mary’s Rd. Moraga, CA 94556 Saint Mary’s Gaels website University Credit Union Pavilion website Year Opened: 1978 Capacity: 3,500 Moraga Hoops McKeon Pavilion (pronounced mc-CUE-in) is the home gym for the Saint Mary’s Gaels men and women basketball teams. The men’s team has been a top “mid-major” team over the last decade and has made some noise in the NCAA Tournament. Overall, Saint Mary’s has appeared in eight NCAA Tournaments after winning three conference tournaments and six conference regular seasons. Their best showing was making the Elite Eight in 1959. Additionally, they made the Sweet Sixteen in 2010. McKeon Pavilion has served as the home court for the Gaels since 1978 and has a capacity of 3,500 fans. Saint Mary’s has plans to renovate the aging facility to accommodate 500 additional fans, luxury suites and video boards as well as an athletic training facility. In the meantime, the Gaels still enjoy a great home court advantage. A game at McKeon Pavilion is one of the best college basketball experiences in Northern California thanks to quality of play and the intimate setting for a game. Note: The venue's name changed from McKeon Pavilion to University Credit Union Pavilion in Dec 2019. Food & Beverage 2 There is one main concession stand on the entry level concourse. Here you will find hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and other staples. Upstairs, you’ll find snacks like chips and candy. Both concession areas serve bottled water and soft drinks. In short, eat prior to getting to McKeon Pavilion and just supplement it with a snack or a soda. Atmosphere 4 There is not a better college basketball atmosphere in Northern California going right now than a Saint Mary’s home game. If California or Stanford have a good year it’s possible either of them could supplant the Gaels in this category. However, year in and year out, my money’s on McKeon. The seating is the one downside. Everything in the upper level is bleacher seating in hard, plastic form. One side of the gym has no seat pads, while the other side does ($10 more). There is very little leg room between benches which can make for an uncomfortable experience at times, but certainly serves to pack 3,500 spectators as close to the court as possible. You cannot access the lower level at anytime without a ticket for that area. Being almost 40 years old, McKeon Pavilion feels its age. There is no video screen showing replays or advertisements but that furthers the gym-like vibe. There is one small scoreboard at one end of the court and a larger one, complete with stats, at the other. “Gael Force,” the Saint Mary’s student section, stands on the bleachers opposite the team benches. Clad in all red, they keep the energy level high throughout. Though the students are raucous, it’s just as likely to see older couples and families with small children at McKeon. McKeon Pavilion is split into two main sections; lower and upper levels to your right and lower and upper levels to your left upon entry. The one exception to the mirror image is the Hall of Fame Lounge with its seats hanging over one end of the court, giving a unique perspective. Since Randy Bennett arrived in Moraga there has been an influx of Australian talent (e.g., Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova amongst others) and they now display an Australian flag in the gym. This, and the “Aussie-Aussie-Aussie” chants are sure to make these players right at home. Neighborhood 3 McKeon Pavilion is located on the Saint Mary’s campus in the town of Moraga, just 15 miles from Oakland. However, as most games are on weeknights during rush hour, it can take up to an hour to get to Moraga from the more urban areas of the Bay Area. Moraga has a population of less than 20,000 and is a quiet, but beautiful place. Rolling hills and tall redwoods allow for beautiful day hikes in the area. Being located on campus, though scenic, is not conducive to grabbing food or drink prior to or after a Gaels basketball game. Your best options are in downtown Moraga or Rheem Valley. Here you can find Lamorinda Pizza, Italian restaurant Amaroma, and Asia Palace (mostly Chinese). Regardless of where you eat prior to the game, you will be getting back into your car to get to McKeon. Since you’re driving, maybe check out nearby Orinda for La Piazza or Hanazen for sushi. Moraga is a mostly sleepy community where you can enjoy being outside or catching a movie. This portion is one of the more affluent of the Bay Area so you’re options for dining reflect that. You won’t find a row of sports bars where you can catch a game on a big screen. Fans 4 Like many students sections in college basketball, Gael Force remains standing for the duration of the game. They lead chants that the whole gym gets involved with and are the catalysts for big runs by the hometown team. The Gaels seem to benefit from playing in a small town, somewhat secluded from the otherwise busy and bustling Bay Area. They are not only the hot ticket in town, but the only. The community seems to embrace them as their own, with many members of the community alumnus of SMC. There is a perception about the fans being a little uppity at SMC. This may be true but I didn’t find it to negatively affect my experience. Access 2 Moraga is somewhat secluded from the rest of the Bay Area. The nearest freeways (13 and 24) are more than 5 miles away, accessible only by winding roads, with one lane going each direction. That doesn’t begin to tell the story of getting to McKeon. Though it’s only 20 miles away from San Francisco, it can take well over an hour to get to Moraga during rush hour. This is not unique to the Moraga/Lafayette area but certainly affects a trip to see the game. It’s not only an issue of getting out of the city as it backs up on the other side of the bay on 580 and 24. Keep traffic in mind as most college basketball games are held on weeknights. For many Bay Area residents avoiding traffic can be solved by taking a BART train. Unfortunately the nearest station is 5 miles away, so it is not walkable. Riding a bicycle is an option from the train station and would be a nice ride through the rolling hills, but isn’t advisable as there aren’t many street lights from the station into town. It’s not much easier when you get inside the venue. The bleacher seating in the general admission area leaves literally no room for people to pass in front of seated spectators. Even standing up to let fans by is tricky as there really is only room for one person to stand at a time. Other seating looks to be more accessible. Even the parking lots, though inexpensive at $5, are a good walk away from the venue. Return on Investment 3 Tickets have increased in recent years. A general admission ticket is now $15, with an identical seat across the court with seat cushion going for $25. These are starting points and go up depending on the opponent. Largely, single game seats in the lower level are unavailable as they are swooped up by season ticket holders. It would be nice to see them lower the price for sparsely attended non-conference games like when I saw the Gaels take on Morgan State. Concessions, though limited, and parking at a great value bump up the overall return a point. Extras 3 There aren’t many state-of-the-art extras at McKeon Pavilion. Rather, the extras consist of the historical value, the nostalgic nature of the gym and the atmosphere of this elite mid-major squad. The elevated area behind one backboard for some season ticket holders is cool, albeit strange, aesthetic. This area has risers filled with comfy folding chairs and plenty of legroom. They have typical contests throughout the game including a 3-point shooting contest which, on the night I attended, was won by a young man with use of only one of his arms. Very impressive. Lastly, the Gaels proudly display their retired numbers and championship banners for men’s and women’s hoops as well as the full trophy case in the main entrance concourse.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Bridgeforth Field 1001 East Cork Street Winchester, VA 22601 Winchester Royals website Year Opened: 1979 Capacity: 1,500 A Winning Night in Winchester The Winchester Royals play in the Valley Baseball League, a collegiate summer wood bat league based in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The league includes 11 teams split into a northern and southern division. The Royals have been in the league since 1979 and play their home games at Bridgeforth Field. This field is located within Jim Barnett Park, which is owned by the City of Winchester and also includes several other fields, a disc golf course, and a skate pavilion. It is also home to the baseball team of Shenandoah University. Following the 2021 season, the stadium was extensively renovated, including a new turf playing surface, better lighting, and a new scoreboard. Food & Beverage 4 For such a small venue, Bridgeforth Field has a great selection at the concession stand, and the prices are extremely affordable. Hot dogs are $3, hamburgers are $4, cheeseburgers are $4.50, and you can make any option a combo with chips and a drink by adding $1.50. Snacks include locally made Route 11 potato chips, nachos, Pirate’s Booty, popcorn, sunflower seeds, peanuts, and candy. Water and soda are available to drink, as are iced tea (sweet or unsweet), lemonade, Gatorade, and Honest Juice. For the sweet tooth, freezie pops and ice cream bars are available. Atmosphere 4 Bridgeforth Field has five seats of bleachers, two on each side of the field and one directly behind home plate. The one behind home plate consists of bleachers with backs, while the other four are a weird hodgepodge of chairbacks bolted onto bleachers and bleachers without backs. As the entire stadium is general admission, make sure to arrive early to get the seat you want. Winchester fans tend to sit down the third base line where their teams’ dugout is, while visiting fans tend to sit down the first base line. The seats behind home plate are more mixed. There is a scoreboard in left centerfield which shows the line score, count, and current batter. Like in most of the Valley League, fans are not permitted to keep foul balls, but can return them to the team store for a free freezie pop. You will often see kids chasing after the balls in the hope of getting one. Unlike many summer league teams, the Royals do a great job of keeping fans engaged. Most half-inning breaks feature either contests on the field or raffle drawings using the number on your game ticket (so be sure to hold onto that!) and there are other ways to keep the fans engaged like trivia and Name that Tune contests. Instead of playing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch, the team plays its own theme song about enjoying the team and the game. Neighborhood 3 Winchester is a small city located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. There are a number of restaurants located near the stadium, ranging from sports bars to barbecue to homemade ice cream. Since Bridgeforth Field is located near the highway, pretty much everything in Winchester is right there. While Winchester certainly isn’t a bustling city, it does have that small-town charm. History buffs may also want to visit the many Civil War sites in and around Winchester, which played a major role in the conflict. The city changed hands 72 times during the war and was known as the Shuttlecock of the Confederacy. Fans 4 While some teams in the Valley Baseball League don’t have many fans, the Winchester Royals do draw a good crowd. They fill up most of the bleachers and cheer on their team throughout the game. They also seem to be quite familiar with the players despite the fact that none of them stick around for more than one summer. The fans range from young families with kids to older people who have watched this team every summer for decades. Many people can be seen wearing Winchester Royals colors and hats as well. This team has been around for a while, and it is good to see the fan base continues to be loyal to their team. Access 4 The nearest highway to Bridgeforth Field is Interstate 81, and it is easily accessible via Exit 313A. Fans coming from the east or west will need to take State Route 7 or U.S. Route 50 at least part of the way, and while these are not highways, you can usually make good time. Once you get to the stadium, there is parking available in a lot right next to it. If this fills up, there is parking available elsewhere in Jim Barnett Park as well. All parking is free. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Winchester, like most of the teams in this league, is located far from any major city. Washington, D.C. is about an hour and a half away, and no other major city is anywhere near Winchester. There’s probably a VBL team close to any fan in the Shenandoah Valley, but to fans from outside it, getting there can be a challenge. Return on Investment 5 When admission is charged, tickets cost $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens, $2 for children six to 12 years, and free for children under six. However, thanks to sponsorship deals, many games have free admission. Be sure to check the schedule online first. Free games do still require a ticket, because this doubles as your raffle ticket for a chance to win one of several prizes throughout the game. Even if you have to pay admission, it’s not that much, and when you throw in the free parking and affordable concessions, it can be an excellent deal for the entire family. Extras 3 There are free programs located by the entrance, though there is a donation box next to it to raise money for team meals. Some fans stick a dollar or so in, some don’t. Either way, it’s a great deal. There is a souvenir shop in the stadium as well which sells Winchester Royals merchandise. You don’t always see such an extensive selection at this level. One final star for the extremely affordable prices and the possibility to see free baseball on certain nights. Final Thoughts Although collegiate summer league baseball doesn’t really get that much attention, the Valley Baseball League has been achieving success for many years. For fans who live in the area, a visit to Bridgeforth Stadium can be an enjoyable and affordable experience throughout the summer. Fans outside the Valley may still want to consider making a trip here as it is a nice way to take in a baseball game on a summer night.

It’s the dead of winter, spring training is over a month away, and even the baseball discussion groups on Facebook and X are dead quiet. What’s a baseball fan to do? The winter months are a great time to plan your baseball journeys for the spring and summer. 101 Baseball Places to See Before You Strike Out , by Josh Pahigian, is a wonderful resource for anyone who loves baseball. It doesn’t cover the current major and minor league stadiums, as that information is readily available on the internet. The book’s focus is on the hundreds of baseball shrines across the country that you might pass by on your baseball trips, simply because you were not aware of their existence. Obviously, Cooperstown is included in the book, but it also includes the Canadian Hall of Fame and Museum, the National College Baseball Hall of Fame and the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. There are also individual Hall of Fames dedicated to such baseball elites such as Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, Ty Cobb, Bob Feller and Dizzy Dean. Film fans will be interested in the many sites around the country that were used in the production of baseball themed movies. These include the Field of Dreams cornfield and home in Dyersville, Iowa, the Durham, NC stadium used in Bull Durham . Other baseball pop culture sites featured in the book include the Simpsons statues at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, NM and the Bob Uecker Seats at American Family Field in Milwaukee. Another section of the book focuses on some behind the scenes baseball sites that make baseball games possible. The Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory in Louisville, KY and the Baseball Mud Site in New Jersey are covered in one of the chapters. While you are out on your baseball road trip, it’s easy to work up an appetite for something other than a fast-food stop. 101 Baseball Places provides you with detailed information on restaurants with a baseball connection. Among the sites covered in this chapter are the Yankee Tavern in the Bronx, McCovey’s Restaurant on Walnut Creek, CA, Bobby Valentine’s Sports Gallery Café in Stamford, CT and Chappell’s Restaurant and Sports Museum in Kansas City, MO. There is also a chapter covering the Negro Leagues and the eventual integration of major league baseball. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is a must see for baseball travelers in the Kansas City area. There are Jackie Robinson Trails in both Pasadena, CA and New York City. The Jackie Robinson Ballpark and Museum in Daytona, FL is located at the actual stadium made his major league debut with the Dodgers. We’ve only scratched the surface on the many baseball-related attractions and restaurants waiting for you this spring and summer. 101 Baseball Places to See Before You Strike Out is an indispensable resource for any baseball traveler. See you out on the road!

Photos by Connor Comeau, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Marriott Center 701 East University Parkway Provo, UT 84604 BYU Cougars website Marriott Center website Year Opened: 1964 Capacity: 63,470 Rise And Shout Since 1971, the BYU Cougars have played their home basketball games at the Marriott Center. Since the team moved into the facility, it has undergone many renovations, with the most recent in 2015. After those renovations, the school added the brand new Marriott Center annex in February 2017, complete with a practice court, a strength and conditioning center and team lounge just to name a few things. The Cougars have been part of the West Coast Conference since 2011 and have had great success since joining the conference, making either the NCAA or NIT tournament in each of the seven seasons they have been in the conference. Ever since then, the basketball program has enjoyed great success and the level of fan excitement continues to grow. The upgrades that were made to the arena have had a big impact. Food & Beverage 4 Prices for food and drinks at the Marriott Center are right around the price you would pay for stadium food. But what the food lacks in price more than makes up for in quality. One of the concessions stands you will see while traveling around the concourse is for BYU Signature Concessions. Some of the items you will find here include BYU Creamery ice cream, with flavors such as Cookies & Cream, Graham Canyon, Roasted Almond Fudge and Rose’s Snickerdoodle, with all flavors costing $4. Other items include the BYU Brownie ($2) and Cougar Crunch ($6). The signature item here is a giant gourmet sandwich ($9), with your choice of either Turkey on Wheat or Ham on Rye. BYU recently made the switch to Pepsi, so it will be all Pepsi products if you’re ever attending a game, with a bottled soda costing $4. An important note: BYU is an LDS campus, so that means there is no alcohol served on school grounds, including at sporting events. Atmosphere 4 With BYU on the rise in the West Coast Conference, game day on campus has become an even bigger deal. On the outside, the Marriott Center looks like a typical arena built in the 1970’s. But once you get past the concourse and into the arena itself, it’s a completely different experience. The renovations in 2012 and 2015 added prime chair seating to the lower bowl, a new sound system and new video boards, which makes the fan experience that much more enjoyable. At a capacity of 19,000, BYU has the largest arena in terms of capacity in the West Conference Conference. Attendance varies from game to game, but for the most part the arena is either full or close to full on game day. Neighborhood 4 The arena itself is on the northern fringe of campus, just about kitty-corner from LaVell Edwards Stadium. And while it is located on the campus itself, it sits along University Parkway, a major road that leads from the arena, through downtown Provo, all the way to Interstate 15. If you are coming from out of town, be advised that there are few, if any, bars located in the city. BYU is an LDS campus, and alcohol is not served and is not allowed on campus. If it is food you’re looking for, then there are no shortage of options in town. About two miles from the arena is one of my favorite places to eat: Pizza Pie Cafe. They do have a few locations outside of the state, but PPC is mainly a Utah chain. Prices vary depending if you arrive for lunch or dinner. The restaurant is all-you-can-eat, which includes 13 regular pizzas, five dessert pizzas, pasta and a salad bar. It is a local favorite and I highly recommend coming here if you ever visit. For those looking to a place to stay, there are hotels less than a mile from the arena. For those of you that like to stay in budget hotels, the Super 8 University hotel across from the stadium is a good option. If you prefer something that is a little more upscale, there is a Courtyard by Marriott just a little further away. Fans 4 Even with the move to the West Coast Conference, the Marriott Center is as a formidable place to play as any, especially when it comes time for conference play. One of the most noticeable things when it comes to the fans is BYU’s student section, known as The Roc. Even with late 9PM tip-offs being the norm during conference play, the student section makes itself known, especially in big games when Saint Mary’s or Gonzaga come to town. With the recent success of the BYU basketball program, it seems the student section has become more formidable over time. With the energy The Roc brings, that really isn’t a surprise. During the game, the rest of the fans seem to feed off the energy the student section brings. The arena sees a good crowd during BYU home games, even though some games don’t tip-off until 9PM. Access 4 Some of the parking in front of and close to the Marriott Center are reserved for permit holders, but there is plenty of public parking to be found two or three blocks away from the arena. When I was there, the most expensive price I saw for parking was $10, so you won’t be paying a whole lot in terms of parking. Getting to the stadium is very easy. If you are coming from either direction on Interstate 15, you will take the exit for University Parkway (exit 269). Once you are on University Parkway, it is a straight, 4-mile drive to the arena. Return on Investment 4 For those looking for single game tickets, you are getting a good deal. The range on tickets is between $15 and $80, but that may go up a little bit if a more high profile opponent visits town. For students, they have to purchase what is called a ROC Pass, which gives them access to all home events for the academy. Prices will vary depending on whether the pass includes access to football games or all other events except football. Extras 2 Located next to the arena is the Marriott Center Annex, which was completed as part of the arena’s renovations in 2017. The annex includes two practice courts, athletic offices, a strength and conditioning center and a BYU Basketball Hall of Honor, just to name a few. Another extra for the Cougars’ energetic mascot, Cosmo the Cougar. He is one of the more energetic mascots that I’ve seen, and it looks like both the players and the fans love him. He is definitely a big presence during home games. Final Thoughts While not a bucket list arena, the Marriott Center is definitely an arena you should visit if you are ever in Provo for a game. With the renovations complete, the interior has more of a modern look, which you will be hard-pressed to miss. With its recent success, don’t expect BYU to fade anytime soon.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Powers Field at Princeton Stadium 500 Ivy Lane Princeton, NJ 08540 Princeton Tigers football website Powers Field at Princeton Stadium website Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 27,800 Tiger Football at Princeton Stadium The Princeton Tigers football team plays their home games at Powers Field at Princeton Stadium in Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton is a member of the Ivy League in all sports and competes at the Division 1 FCS level for football. The Ivy League is made up of 8 prestigious colleges located in the Northeast. The term Ivy League comes from 1930s sportswriter Caswell Adams, who complained that he had to cover a Columbia-UPenn game instead of a game at his alma mater Fordham. Adams called the two schools “Ivy-covered” because of how old they were and the name stuck. Adams was correct in saying that the Ivy League schools are old. Princeton University was founded so long ago, America was still ruled by a king. Princeton came about as The College of New Jersey in 1746 and was originally located in Elizabeth and Newark before moving to Princeton in 1756, long before football was even played. But since football came about Princeton has always been competitive, claiming 28 national titles (all pre-1951) and winning 12 Ivy League championships since the conference officially formed in 1954. Their most recent Ivy League title was captured in 2018. Food & Beverage 3 There are four concession kiosks at Princeton Stadium, two on the home sideline and two on the road team sideline. The concession stands offer a variety of food and drink options. The stand menus are divided into three sections: Hot Plays for entrees, Grab and Go for snacks, and beverages. Hot Plays include bratwurst for $6.50, a hot dog for $5, a crafted burger for $6, and a crafted cheeseburger and grilled chicken sandwich for $6.50. Both crafted burgers were made with grass fed beef and a mushroom blend. The grab and go menu featured cotton candy for $4, chips for $2.50, and candy and a jumbo pretzel for $3. Beverages included small sodas for $3 and large sodas for $4.50. There is no official soda brand at Princeton but sodas offered included Sprite, Coke Zero, Coke, and Diet Coke. No alcohol is served at the stadium and other beverage offerings include Powerade, Vitamin Water, Bottled Water, Coffee, Tea, and Hot Chocolate, all for $3. Princeton also offers a souvenir mug bearing the athletics department logo for $5. Attendees who buy the cup are entitled to $1 refills on any beverage they bought. All concession stands at Princeton Stadium close after halftime, so get your food and drinks early. This writer tried the crafted cheeseburger and it wasn’t very good. It tasted more like a veggie burger than a cheeseburger and seemed like a classic attempt to be health conscious with food while eschewing taste and flavor in the process. Atmosphere 4 Princeton Stadium is cavernous. Seating wraps around the entire stadium, with two-tiered seating on both sidelines and in one end zone. The other end zone had only one tier seating and was roped off for some reason and no one was sitting there. Princeton’s sideline was to the right after entering the stadium and the opposing sideline was to the left. The Princeton band sits at the far side of the home sideline and the Tigers’ student section (The Jungle) was relatively indistinguishable from other fans because almost everyone was clad in orange. Almost no seats at Princeton have chair backs or cushions of some sort so it is necessary for fans to stand up and stretch every once in a while for the sake of comfort. The press box at Princeton is located above the home sideline and offers sweeping views of not only the action on the field but buildings on Princeton’s campus and historic Jadwin Gymnasium in the distance behind the end zone. Princeton’s scoreboard is diminutive in comparison to mammoth video boards popping up in stadiums nationwide, but still features the score, school names, down/to go, timeouts left, ball on, quarter, and replays of the action taking place on the field. The P.A. announcer had a clear, deep voice and made no crucial errors in mispronunciation. He also wasn’t overly showy like some in his line of work, adroitly playing the role of purveyor of information without falling into the realm of boisterous hype man. Free WiFi was available at the stadium and fans who accessed the PU visitor network got free WiFi for a month in the event they returned to Princeton for any event, sporting or otherwise. Music was played throughout the game, both from the public address system and from the Princeton marching band. The Princeton marching band is small and goofy in the same vein as Stanford’s. That doesn’t mean they aren’t quality musicians; they just don’t carry themselves with the same seriousness as most collegiate marching bands do. Case in point, a postgame concert knee deep in a fountain on campus. The band upholds the tradition of playing the school fight song after touchdowns and the alma mater postgame but also includes rock and pop songs like Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire” and “The Time Warp” from Rocky Horror Picture Show. Their aquatic postgame concert featured Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al,” The B52’s “Rock Lobster” and Green Day’s “Basket Case,” all songs that most straight-laced marching bands wouldn’t dare to attempt. The P.A. system blared the usual mix of songs to get people hype at a football game, including “YMCA”, the ubiquitous “Seven Nation Army” and Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud.” A cheerleading squad performed at the end of the 1st quarter and the school mascot, a tiger wearing jersey number 42, roamed the sidelines hyping up the crowd throughout the game. Neighborhood 4 Few stadiums can boast a more unique surrounding area than Princeton. Princeton has it all, a stunning campus of an elite school that has produced luminaries in numerous fields, colonial history, and both the quaint feel of a small town and the vibrancy of a college town. Walking through Princeton’s campus is jarring, each building carries the panache of an Ivy League school built in the 1700s, carrying the history of all those who walked its halls. You can’t help thinking as you walk around Princeton’s campus that this is where Michelle Obama walked, where Jeff Bezos walked, where F. Scott Fitzgerald walked, and the list goes on and on. Imposing gilded age mansions line Prospect Avenue and carry weighty names like the Colonial Club and the Charter Club. These clubs date back over a hundred years and are Princeton’s versions of fraternities and sororities. A short walk from campus is a thriving and trendy downtown with a diverse array of restaurants, including PJ’s Pancake House, Mamoun’s Falafel, and Hoagie Haven (yes Princeton isn’t immune to Philly slang due to its Central Jersey location). A five minute trip to nearby Route 1 features big name hotels like Courtyard by Marriott but the Nassau Inn in town is a more historic, yet pricier option. Princeton also brings unique attractions like the McCarter Theatre on campus and the stately New Jersey Governor’s Mansion, Drumthwacket, which lies a few minutes down Route 206. Fans 4 Someone who has never attended a Princeton football game would surmise that the crowd there would be typical of a gathering of the bourgeoisie, featuring little rowdiness and talk of academic journals and sailing trips off Martha’s Vineyard. But a Princeton crowd is packed, loud, and engaged on every play. Fans stayed in their seats throughout the game and stayed the entire game but that may change if a game was a blowout. The game Stadium Journey attended was close and tense throughout however. Traditions include the playing of the fight song after a touchdown, the singing of the alma mater after the game with players and students locked arm in arm, and the fifth quarter, which provides fans with the opportunity to hang out on the field after the game. Chants were germane to football games, with fans yelling “defense” and “let’s go Tigers.” Access 3 Princeton Stadium is accessible by numerous modes of transportation. It is located near the major thoroughfares of Route 1 and the New Jersey Turnpike and is almost equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia. The stadium is about an hour and a half train ride from Manhattan and North Jersey and the Princeton Junction stop on the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor line from Penn Station is five minutes from campus. Visitors can then take the oddly named Dinky shuttle from the Princeton Junction station to campus. The dinky drops passengers near Hobey Baker Rink, the school’s hockey arena, about a five minute walk across campus from Princeton Stadium. Four major airports are less than an hour and a half drive/train ride from Princeton’s campus: Philadelphia International Airport, Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia. Parking at Princeton costs $10 unless you have a parking pass that allows for free parking. If you don’t have one of the passes and don’t arrive in town early on gameday, finding parking is an arduous task. Lots close to campus fill up quickly and late arriving visitors have to park in a field a few blocks away or on the street where parking is available. Princeton accepts both hard copy and printed tickets. Tickets could be ordered online and either printed out, scanned from a phone, or picked up at will call on gameday. Superiority of one gate versus another depended on where your tickets are within the stadium. If you’re on the Princeton side it’s better to enter at the gate closest to there but if you’re a fan of a visiting team it’s better to enter at the gate closest to that sideline. There was no bag check at Princeton Stadium and concourse traffic flowed well despite the large crowd, even at the concession stands where lines formed due to their early closing at halftime but the lines moved quickly. Bathrooms at Princeton Stadium were clean, odor free and featured paper towels for hand drying as opposed to newfangled machines with names like turbo dryer or xlerator. Return on Investment 4 A train ride from New York City to Princeton costs $38 round trip ($32 to get from Penn Station to Princeton Junction, and $6 more to use the dinky to get to campus). A trip down or up the New Jersey Turnpike can cost anywhere from $3 to $15, depending on where you’re traveling from. The low end would cover travelers from Central Jersey but $15 is a possibility if you’re coming from Bergen and Hudson county because turnpike tolls increase the closer you live to New York City. The recommended entree of a crafted cheeseburger cost $6.50 and with a drink for $3 and chips for $2.50 a whole meal barely exceeds $10. Parking costs $10, which is about the average for any sporting event and programs weren’t sold at the stadium and could be accessed online for free. Tickets bought in advance cost $15 for adults and $12 for children and tickets bought on gameday cost $20 for adults and $15 for children, so definitely buy tickets in advance if you are planning to attend a Princeton football game, because you can save at least $8 and every little bit of saved money counts. Special ticket packages include group tickets and a birthday package. Group tickets can be purchased for $8 each if the group is between 20 and 49 people (60% savings) and for $6 each if the group exceeds 50 (70% savings). A $120 birthday package includes 12 game day tickets for $10, video board recognition, a P.A. announcement, a picture with the Tiger mascot, and a gift bag/team poster, so fans with birthdays can save money and additionally make special memories at a Princeton game. Extras 5 -Nassau Hall, located on Princeton’s campus, was built in 1756 and served as the U.S. Capitol building for four months in 1783 -Albert Einstein’s house at 112 Mercer Street. Einstein lived in Princeton from 1935 to 1955 while he worked at the Institute for Advanced Study in town. -A merchandise tent at the stadium selling hats, shirts, and Princeton Tiger plushes. -Friendly and helpful concessions staff -Notable Princeton alumni include basketball legend Bill Bradley, former First Lady Michelle Obama, former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Final Thoughts Anyone looking for a fun fall Saturday in New Jersey can look no further than a Princeton Tigers football game at Princeton Stadium.

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