Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Oregon Trail Park Stadium 17th Trail Ct Gering, NE 69341 Western Nebraska Pioneers website Oregon Trail Park Stadium website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 1,200 Summer Baseball in Nebraska's Panhandle Collegiate summer wood-bat baseball is the fastest growing segment of the sports entertainment industry, with more than 450 teams in more than 40 leagues throughout North America. The Expedition League is the newest of these leagues beginning operation in 2018. The Expedition League cleverly consists of two divisions: the Lewis Division and the Clark Division with teams in ND, SD, WY, and NE. The Western Nebraska Pioneers (Clark Division) play at the beautiful, newly-constructed Oregon Trail Park Stadium in Gering, NE. The game day experience is the perfect way to wind down the day, spend a few hours watching America’s past time, and easily forget about the worries of life for those few hours. Food & Beverage 3 Oregon Trail Park Stadium provides a decent variety of refreshments during a Pioneers game with one concession stand upon entering the venue and a separate Duncan’s BBQ tent just off to the left side of the entrance. At the concession stand, six varieties of burgers, five choices of hot dogs, and a ¼ pound beef brat are available ranging from $4.50 – $12. For an additional $4 order a meal which also includes a bag of chips and a 24 ounce Coca-Cola soda. Snacks include the usual chips, candy, popcorn, peanuts, pretzels, whole pickle, etc and range from $2 – $4. Nachos are priced at $4 – $9, and pizza (Dominos) is $2 a slice or $14 for a pie. Lines at the concession stand can get long. Duncan’s BBQ, a local Scottsbluff family catering business, offers delicious, huge portions of fresh beef and pork sandwiches, tacos, dogs and other tantalizing scented treats. Domestic beers of the Bud Light, Miller, Coors, Michelob variety cost $4; unfortunately no craft beers are for sale. A local Scottsbluff brewery is expected to open later in 2018 so hopefully the Pioneers organization can partner with them in future seasons at the ball yard. A merchandise area behind the first base stands sells mostly t-shirts, sweatshirts, and caps. My recommendation is to do the local thing and get some of that yummy BBQ from Duncan’s. Atmosphere 4 Attending a Western Nebraska Pioneers wood-bat summer collegiate ballgame is the perfect way to spend an evening for both the baseball purist and those who just want to spend an evening out and leave the worries of day behind for three hours. Green stadium fold down chairs with cup holders are available behind the home base area in sections 103 (third base), 102 (behind home), 101 (first base). The seats are so comfortably wide with plenty of leg room; it’s like the organization knew how to put fan comfort first when constructing the ballpark. Very, very nicely done. These sections are in the shade for the most part; the third base side gets the shade first. The upper three rows of these sections (E – G) have cover in the event of rain. Get seats in row C or above as there’s a walkway and fans pass by throughout the game obstructing views of the playing field if sitting in rows A or B. General admission bleachers (with backs) are beyond the first and third base sides. Party decks are available in these sections with tables and chairs. The home dugout is on third base side which conveniently gets the shade first while the visiting team’s dugout on the first base side gets the direct sunlight for the first several innings. The music volume is perfect at a Western Nebraska Pioneers game and 98% of the time is not played over the PA announcer. Nice! Walk up songs for the home team are broadcast; the volume is not too loud and one can still have a conversation with a new-found friend at a Pioneers game. In between inning gimmicks and contests are not overwhelming and are still enjoyable. No over excited screeching male or female and loud music for the contests. Sweet! All are sponsored by local businesses and include running the bases with the mascot, Nebraska history questions, the dizzy bat race, strike out batter of the game, and more. A funny part of the dizzy bat race is the baseball players watching… the pitcher stops warming up and looks, the infielders huddle together to watch the contest and then the players attempt to help when a participant clumsily falls over on the field trying to reach the intended finish line. Neighborhood 3 For now, there’s not much to the neighborhood. Building this ballpark is the first step to revitalizing the Gering/Scottsbluff area. It is located next to Nebraska National Guard so fans can feel quite safe. The Oregon Trail Park (where the stadium is located) contains a pool, softball fields, a playground, tennis courts, picnic tables and other public park amenities. Attractions within five miles include Scottsbluff National Monument, Legacy of the Plains Museum, Riverside Discovery Center (a zoo in Scottsbluff), and several golf courses. Chimney Rock National Historic Site and Visitors Center is 19 miles from Gering and may be worth the trip. Two hotels within a few blocks from the stadium are Monument Inn & Suites (a four or five block walk to ballfield) and Cobblestone Hotel & Suites Gering – Scottsbluff (a block closer to the field). I stayed at the Monument Inn and it is quite suitable. Some bars and restaurants in Gering include Union Bar (no craft beer), Goonies, and Steel Grill Restaurant & Bar. Of the three, I’d recommend Steel Grill. A craft brewery is expected to open in Scottsbluff (Flyover Brewing Company) at some point in 2018. Fans 5 Nebraska sports fans are known to be passionate, vocal, and supportive; Western Nebraska Pioneers fans fit that reputation accurately. Fans start a rally without any prompts from PA announcer. They have cowbells. Lots of Pioneers shirts are seen in the stands. Everybody seems to know everybody. Most gladly strike up conversations with visitors. The flooring of the seating area is metal – good for stomping feet and letting the visiting team hear “Western Nebraska thunder.” The Pioneers have the highest attendance in the Expedition League this first inaugural season. Access 5 Once in the panhandle of Nebraska, Oregon Trail Park Stadium is quite easy to get to via automobile and moving around the stadium is convenient. A bus system is available in Scottsbluff, Terrytown, and Gering but for now, it only operates Monday through Friday from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, so getting to/from the stadium is limited via public transportation. Western Nebraska Regional Airport is the closest airport; keep in mind it is regional with limited commercial service mostly by United Airlines and affiliates. Plenty of free parking is available on the street and in lots just a block away from the park. It’s not a huge ballpark so auto traffic flow is painless pre and postgame. The ticket line takes some time and the booth opens just as or after the gates to the venue open; this may be an area to improve on for future seasons. Bathrooms are air conditioned on those hot Nebraska days and heated when necessary for those cooler evenings. In the seating areas, hand banisters are available in the middle and both sides of each seating area. Wheelchair ramps are provided to the bleacher sections and handicapped seats are readily available in the ‘reserved’ area behind home. Concessions, restrooms, and the merchandise stand are all on the outer promenade of the venue. Return on Investment 5 Attending a Pioneers game is well worth your sports and family entertainment dollar. General admission seats are $7, reserved seating is $9. No extra charge is added for a game day purchase. Ten-ticket flex packs save $1 a ticket; group events are available. Parking is free. Concession prices are as expected; domestic beer is $4. And, most importantly, attending a game is just the perfect evening out for Nebraska sports fans, the western Nebraska community, and visitors to the area. Extras 4 It is apparent the fans are quite proud having their own team and a brand new, comfortable, enjoyable stadium in Gering, NE. Sitting in section 102, row G, seats 14 – 18 will place you right underneath the radio broadcast (KNEB 960AM; 100.3FM) and allow you to hear Miles Klotz broadcast an engaging play-by-play of the game. Kudo’s to Trevor (PA Announcer) who not only calls the starting line ups and batters but keeps the fans informed of player switches and other pertinent information throughout the nine innings, he also seems to orchestrate and be the ringmaster for all the between inning events. The mascot (Hiram) is named for a historical fur trader – Hiram Scott. Hiram Scott was a Mountain Man, trapper, and trader, who was passing by the nearby bluff on his way to St. Louis, MO when he died in 1828. The story of how he died has several versions and has a bit of a mystery to it. Regardless, Scottsbluff (neighboring city of Gering) is named after Hiram Scott and the Pioneers pay homage to him. Final Thoughts It is so, so comfortable here. The seats are wide, there’s plenty of leg room, the fans are energized, and the Pioneers staff is ready to assist, if needed. It’s still more about the game than the extra stuff but there’s enough of that to keep non-purists entertained. Live in the panhandle and need a refreshing break from life’s affairs? Head to a Pioneer’s games for some fun, innocent sports entertainment.

Photos by Gregory Koch , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Bridgeforth Stadium 250 Champions Dr Harrisonburg, VA 22801 James Madison Dukes website Bridgeforth Stadium website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 24,877 Wear Purple for Me The James Madison Dukes football program has consistently been among the top in FCS, winning two national championships and making the FCS Championship Game another two times. They have won eight Colonial Athletic Association titles. The Dukes call Bridgeforth Stadium home, as they have since 1975. Nestled in the scenic Shenandoah Valley in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Bridgeforth Stadium seats about 25,000 fans and is one of the top venues in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Dukes recently announced that they will be moving up to the FBS level and competing in the Sun Belt Conference beginning in 2022. This review was written in 2021 when the Dukes were still an FCS member, but the stadium seems more than capable of handling FBS football. Food & Beverage 4 There are several concession stands scattered throughout the many concourses at Bridgeforth Stadium. Options include all the classics like cheeseburgers, fries, pretzels, and hot dogs, as well as soft drinks served in a souvenir cup and bottles of water, which come in aluminum rather than plastic cans to reduce waste. Beer is also available for sale to those of age through the end of the third quarter. There is a table on the lower level which sells kettle corn and cupcakes, the latter being a unique option for a football game more common at bake sales. Prices are reasonable, with nothing except beer costing more than $5 or so. Atmosphere 5 The fun gets started early at a JMU football game, as the band takes the field for a pregame performance. They will play songs familiar to any Dukes fan such as the school fight song and “Start Wearing Purple”, a song encouraging fans to wear the team color. They also play “America the Beautiful” and the national anthem while unfurling red, white, and blue streamers on the field in the design of the American flag. The band returns at halftime for another spectacular performance. During the game, there are contests on the field at almost every media timeout, ranging from punt, pass, and kick to a spouse-carrying competition. Dukes fans have a tradition of throwing streamers in JMU colors into the air after every Dukes touchdown, and sometimes you will see them fly after a big non-scoring play as well. As for the stadium itself, each side of the stadium is in a different layout. The lower bowl makes a sort of L-shape along the north and west sides, with the north side home to the band and student section and the west side home to some reserved seats and some premium ones closer to midfield. There is an upper deck above the lower deck on the west side. The east side is all bleachers without backs and only one level of them. There are no seats in the south end zone, as that is where the team’s training facilities are. There is a large videoboard behind the south end zone. The Dukes have a mascot, a dog named Duke Dog, as well as cheerleaders and a dance team who make appearances throughout the game. Neighborhood 4 Harrisonburg is a quaint town in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Although this doesn’t have the excitement of the big city, there is plenty to do here, including the Virginia Quilt Museum. For meals, there are plenty of options depending on your budget. The famous southern chain Cook Out has a location five minutes from campus, which serves up burgers, chicken sandwiches, and other options. Try one of their trays for a great value, as it comes with two sides and a drink for around $8. If you’re looking for something more upscale, or at least something with table service, the Magpie Diner on West Gay Street is open for breakfast and lunch and is a local favorite. There are a number of hotels to stay at in Harrisonburg ranging from budget hotels to a Doubletree. Note that at the time of writing, many dining options in Harrisonburg are limited to takeout or unavailable entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this article is written to reflect the “normal” state of things. Fans 5 The Dukes routinely draw near-sellout crowds, with the fans in attendance being some of the most passionate in the country. Whether it’s tossing the streamers after touchdowns, banging the bleachers on third downs, or booing the refs after a perceived bad call goes against JMU, these fans are loud, they are proud of their Dukes, and they are not afraid to show it. When visiting Bridgeforth Stadium expect the crowd noise to be consistently loud and intimidating to opposing teams. Be warned that the fans, particularly the student section, are not always clean in their language. Access 4 Bridgeforth Stadium and the James Madison campus are located right off Interstate 81 via Exit 245. The lots closest to the stadium are reserved for season ticket holders and big donors, but ample free parking is available virtually anywhere else on campus. There are shuttles available to the stadium from some of the more distant lots, but other lots such as the Warsaw Avenue Parking Deck are within a ten-minute walk and do not offer shuttles. There are large digital signs outside most lots and garages showing the number of available spaces, which is a nice touch. It will generally designate the spaces as faculty/staff, commuter, or whatever they are normally used for during the week, but you can ignore this. Once inside the stadium, the concourse can get crowded at times. Concession and restroom lines can get long but move quickly. Still, it is best to get your food before the game if possible to avoid the wait. Just be sure to be back in your seat in time for the band. Return on Investment 5 Tickets start at $20 for general admission seating on the east side. Upper-level seats on the west side will go for $25, while 200-level level seats will go for $35 unless you are getting the premium seats near midfield which will cost significantly more. 100-level seats at field level go for a big premium as well. Ultimately, we recommend the 200-level seats as they are the best value. Concessions are also affordable and parking is free. Considering this is one of the top venues in FCS, this is a very good deal. Extras 5 One star for the unique tradition of the streamers that JMU fans throw after touchdowns. Look for murals on the concourse displaying information on the history of the Dukes’ football program. A third star for the tremendous energy and passion brought by the fans, who are among the best in the country. A fourth star for the band and the other ways the team contributes to the atmosphere here. Finally, look for the banners in the south-end zone honoring JMU postseason appearances. Final thoughts James Madison has one of the top venues in all of FCS, and it is definitely ready to make the move up to the next level next year. This has always been an FBS-quality stadium, and next year it will get the chance to show why. For now, this is an elite stadium for its level. The Dukes have one of the best atmospheres in the country and some of the best fans. It will likely get even better next year with the move up.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 UWF Field House 2344 Campus Dr Pensacola, FL 32514 West Florida Argonauts website UWF Field House website Year Opened: 1971 Capacity: 1,180 Basketball in the City of Five Flags Nestled amongst the Florida wetlands of north Pensacola lies the beautiful campus of the University of West Florida. The medium-sized, public university a little shy of 13,000 students is fairly new. Ground was broken in 1965, and in 1968 58 students received degrees during the first commencement ceremony. The team’s nickname, the Argonauts, reflects Pensacola’s Naval history, as the city is home to one of the largest naval bases in the country. The school’s first basketball team started in 1967 and originally was an NAIA independent. Because the Argos did not have an on-campus arena to play in at that time, they played their first four seasons on the road and in various high school gyms in the Pensacola area, before moving into their on-campus home, UWF Field House, in 1971. The Argos had some success during their early years, even reaching the NAIA national championship game during the 1975-76 season, but when the team arrived back in Pensacola after that game, they learned that UWF was suspending their athletic department and downgrading their sports to the club and intramural levels. UWF would reinstate the athletic department in 1980, but it wouldn’t be until the 1993-94 season that basketball would return full-time. The following year the Argos would make the transition to NCAA Division II, and begin playing in the Gulf South Conference, where they remain to this day. Since joining the NCAA the Argos have made 13 GSC conference tournaments, with their most successful season being the 2017-18 season, when the Argos won the tournament and subsequently made their first D2 NCAA tournament, with a regular season record of 28-4.   Food & Beverage   2 As soon as you walk into the UWF Field House there is one concession stand located in the east side lobby. They sell the basics here you would find at other arenas; nothing stands out on the menu, but the prices are fairly cheap and the food is quite good.   Atmosphere   3 UWF Field House originally opened in 1971 and currently has a capacity of 1,180 seats. The building is a one-story brick structure with a white metal exterior roof – the older style building, reminiscent of most buildings built in the 70s, ties in well with the surrounding architecture, so if you didn’t know where you were going you would think the field house was just another building on campus. The grounds around the facility are quite pretty, and it has a well-lit walkway lined with palm trees that provide an impressive backdrop for the building. UWF Field House is located amongst a sports complex that includes tennis courts, a health & leisure center, and football facilities, and a practice field . Attached to the field house is the state-of-the-art, beautiful UWF Aquatic Center, home to UWF’s swimming and dive team. The court at UWF Field House faces north and south, with the main entrance on the east side of the building. The east side entrance features a large lobby with ticket offices, a concessions stand, trophy cases, and an interactive display showing off the UWF Athletics Hall of Fame. There’s also an entrance to the Argo Club located here as well, which is a lounge area with food and drinks for alumni and members of the club. UWF Field House also houses the athletic department, coaches’ offices, several classrooms, weight rooms, a training room, and another full-sized basketball court used for practice. When basketball returned to UWF in 1993 the field house installed seating on both the east and west sides, bringing the capacity to 4,500 bleacher-style seats. This number proved to be kind of large for a school of this level, so in 2001 the west side seating was removed, and cushioned chairback seats were installed on the east side, reducing the capacity to about 1,100 seats; at present there is just seating on the east side with a curtain draped over the west side blocking the view of the court. Renovations over the years include new scoreboards being installed in 1997, a new sound system in 2000, and new floors in 2009. Both ends of the court are lined with banners from all the Argos accomplishments, and there is an impressive LED ribbon board on the scorer’s table on the west side, which is lit up with sponsor names and various graphics during the game. This is quite cool, and something you don’t see a lot of at D2 basketball games.   Neighborhood   3 UWF’s campus is located in kind of a secluded area in the northern part of the city – the campus was built on wetlands in former Indian territory but is now part of a nature preserve, and is located on a bluff above the Escambia River.  Nature lovers will love the campus, as it has several nature trails and boardwalks where you can walk back into the woods and through the swamps. The school also has an area where you can rent kayaks and go out on the river and view the Florida wildlife – everything from cranes, pelicans, osprey, alligators, and even manatees can be found on the Escambia River and in the swamps on campus. You can also take a trip across the river to the small town of Milton; this picturesque town lines the Blackwater River, where many people can be found kayaking, canoeing, and swimming along the sand bars during the summer. Milton has been nicknamed the ‘canoe capital’ of Florida. Besides spending time on the water there is not much else to do in the area, but just south of campus is 9 Mile Road where there are a few restaurants, including Chick-fil-A as well as a Target store. Another restaurant in the area worth checking out is Foosackly’s, right across the street from campus, which is known for its cheap prices and fried chicken. There are hotels closer to the interstate, and you are about 15 miles north of the nightlife of Seville Quarter and Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola. Pensacola Beach is about 20 miles south of campus as well, so it is possible to go to the beach before the game. A visit to the National Naval Aviation Museum, located at Pensacola Naval Station, is also a must-visit if in the area for more than a day – this is probably Pensacola's most popular attraction.   Fans   2 The Argos only average about 300-400 fans per game, which is pretty normal for D2 basketball. Many of the fans are scattered around the stands, and I didn’t see a whole lot of students at the most recent game I was at. For UWF football games  the student support and turnout is a little better than at the basketball games, which is unfortunate because the Argos athletic department does a fantastic job in presenting the game day experience. During basketball games, Argie the mascot does a great job of getting fans into the game, and the staff also does some promotional contests during timeouts, so it’s a shame more students don’t come out. The athletic department also does various promotional nights such as an outside tailgate, Faith & Family Day, Christmas in the Field House, Boy Scout Day, and the Mardi Gras Game; they also have giveaways such as UWF player cards and t-shirts given out at select games. UWF’s alumni base is largely from the panhandle area of Florida, so it seems like the majority of fans are alums. The fans here seem very into the game, and there is a lot of blue (the school’s color) being worn in the stands.   Access   2 One drawback in getting to UWF’s campus is the location itself, as well as Pensacola’s horrendous traffic. The campus is located in the northern part of the city, far away from the beach and downtown, so if coming from the east and west I-10 will be your best bet – just take the Davis Highway exit and follow the signs until you reach the University Parkway split, and you can take that road right into campus. Or, if coming from the beach or downtown you can take I-110 to Davis Highway and follow that. Alternatively you can take the beautiful Scenic Highway, a winding road that travels north and south and has spectacular views of Escambia Bay. All along this highway, you can pull off into the different areas and look out over the water; this highway is noted for its lavish mansions as well. The arena is located at the front of campus, so just take University Parkway toward the school, and UWF Field House will be the first thing you see.   Return on Investment   3 All general admission tickets are $7 and allow you to sit wherever you like. On most nights the women’s team plays before the men’s team, so the men’s tipoff never starts as scheduled. Because of this the ticket office often closes early, so you might be able to come to the game for free depending on how long the women’s game lasts. Tickets for a night out watching the Argos play basketball will not break the bank, and the level of talent is quite good for D2 basketball. Factor this in with the cheap concession prices, and I consider this a good return on investment.   Extras   4 Pensacola is a supportive sports town, with Blue Wahoos  minor league baseball in the spring and summer, and Ice Flyers hockey  in the fall and winter, so no matter when you come to Pensacola there should be plenty of sporting options for you to see. Because there is not a big-time college in the area, the closest being Florida State three hours away, the Argos are Pensacola’s college team. Everywhere you look in town you’ll see UWF signs and banners, and you’ll see people out and about wearing UWF gear. Pensacolians treat UWF as their big-time college program – the local ESPN radio station has UWF coach’s shows and call-ins throughout the week, and they show highlights of UWF sports on the nightly news. Most D2 programs do not get this kind of press and access, but in Pensacola, they treat UWF as their own D1 program; for such a small town UWF gets constant press and coverage, more so than a regular D2 program. The UWF athletic program has captured nine national championships in 15 sports, even though neither the men’s nor women’s basketball programs have won a championship yet. Perhaps the most famous and well-known sports program at UWF is the football team ; the Argos 2019 Division II national championship banner hangs high above the court at UWF Field House for all to see. UWF has had one player make it to the NBA – journeyman point guard Moochie Norris played for the Argos during their 1995-96 season and was drafted as the 33rd overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. Most famous for his enormous afro, Norris played eight seasons for the Rockets , Knicks ,  and Pelicans . UWF Field House has also been used as a concert venue and has hosted university-related events. Some of the notable concerts here over the years include Bob Dylan, Charlie Daniels Band, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Buffett, and BB King. Pensacola native and World Heavyweight Champion boxer Roy Jones Jr. also fought here a few times in the early 90s back when he was a promising young fighter.   Final Thoughts Coming to a game at UWF Field House remains a great experience for this level of basketball. You will not experience a lot of bells and whistles, but a game here involves visiting a beautiful campus in a wonderful city, and I highly recommend it.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Sharp Gymnasium 7502 Fondren Rd Houston, TX 77074 Houston Baptist Huskies website Sharp Gymnasium website Year Opened: 1964 Capacity: 1,000 Welcome to the Dawg Pound Houston Baptist University opened as a private non-secular university in 1960; their athletics program started the same year, and from then until 1990 the Huskies were members of the NCAA, and their basketball team made the Big Dance in 1984. After 1990 the school moved to the NAIA and were a perennial powerhouse; HBU made the NAIA Tournament 10 years in a row from 1998-2007. HBU ultimately moved back to the NCAA, and now compete as members of the Southland Conference, where they have made the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and CollegeInsider.com Postseason tournaments. For the majority of the school’s history, the Huskies have played within the friendly confines of the Frank and Lucille Sharp Gymnasium. While small in size, Sharp Gymnasium should not be overlooked! Food & Beverage 2 “Bare bones” is the best way to describe your concessions options at Sharp Gymnasium – there are none of the bells and whistles that you might find at a larger Division I college basketball arena. What you will find are the basics: hot dogs ($3), sausage wraps ($5), popcorn, candy, chips, and canned sodas, as well as bottled water and sports drinks (everything is $2 except the hot dogs and sausage wraps). There is only one concessions stand at Sharp Gymnasium, and it is located near the arena’s main entrance. This is important to note, as there tends to be a bottleneck in the area during breaks and at halftime when many fans traditionally make their concessions stand run. Also important to note is that credit cards can only be used with a $5 minimum purchase. While there is not much of a selection or variety, what is offered should get you through games just fine at Sharp Gymnasium. Atmosphere 3 Capacity at Sharp Gymnasium is 1,000 people; as this might infer, the facility is not cavernous in the slightest. However, this does not detract from the overall atmosphere at all. Because of its size, fans and game attendees are virtually right on top of the on-court action, and the close proximity amplifies the energy and sound of the crowd exponentially. The banners lining the walls and rafters of Sharp Gymnasium speak to the proud history and tradition that the Huskies have forged. This is felt by the fans in the stands; they cheer, bark, and do a “Paws Up” sign during free throw attempts – it is an infectious energy that permeates the arena. One caveat to be aware of though – again because of the size, a small visiting team crowd will also have their energy and noise amplified, so even a relatively miniscule group of visitors will come off as extremely vocal. Neighborhood 5 Space City – aka Houston – is flat out one of the country’s great cities. There is so much to do, see, eat, and experience in Houston that you are going to need far more than one day – or even one weekend – to experience a fraction of what there is to offer. Houston Baptist University and Sharp Gymnasium are located in the Sharpstown section of the city. The gym is located directly on campus; as such, there is not much to see and do in the immediate vicinity. However, within a 30-minute drive you can pretty much do and see everything – just southwest of downtown Houston lies the Museum District , which is home to 19 different cultural institutions, including the world-famous Houston Museum of Natural Science . The massive Houston Zoo is also within walking distance of this area. In terms of food, again, there is anything and everything you could possibly want in Houston. One of the iconic meals that Texas does so well is barbecue – in Houston, they are pretty proud of their ‘cue, and spots like Gatlin’s BBQ will give you a good idea of why. Brisket, ribs, chicken, sausage – Gatlin’s has won awards for all of them. In addition, Houston also has a thriving Chinatown; if you are in the mood for some outstanding Asian cuisine, make sure to visit the popular Fung’s Kitchen . When it comes to lodging you can run the complete spectrum in Houston. You can stay at five-star establishments such as the Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa , or you can stay at any of the lesser-level (i.e. budget friendly) ones – it really is all a matter of your budget. Fans 2 There really isn’t much of an opportunity for there to be a large turnout for Houston Baptist basketball games, however, the stands are generally filled and the fans come decked out in orange and blue to support the home team. There is also a great multi-generational mixture, as students are in the stands alongside older alums and their young children. The facilities at Sharp Gymnasium don’t lend themselves to much in the way of any type of tailgating activities, and there really isn’t much room for a large student section. However, the fans that do turn out prove to be engaged – they are constantly doing the Paws Up, barking, and making the small gym reverberate with their cheering. With a larger facility, there would be even more room for fan interaction. Access 3 Houston Baptist University and Sharp Gymnasium are fairly centrally located in the city, and are easily accessible off of Interstate 69 from any part of Houston. As a major airline hub, flights in and out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport are frequent, and this is arguably the busiest airport in the state. Parking is free and plentiful at Sharp Gymnasium, and since the gym is on campus, there is plenty of signage marking the way to it once you turn onto the main drag. When it comes to attending a college game in H-Town, it really doesn’t get any easier than games at HBU. Return on Investment 4 Huskies home basketball games are honestly a great bargain, as single-game tickets cost $10 for adults during men’s basketball games, and are $5 for women’s games (children 12 and under get in for free either way). In addition, HBU is a Division I school, and they play some pretty quality opponents during the season. You also have an opportunity to see a quality game in a unique facility for a very reasonable price. When you couple in the free parking and the very inexpensive concessions, you are getting a virtual steal at Sharp Gymnasium. If you’re a college basketball junkie or you’ve got younger children you want to introduce to the game, this is a great place to start. Extras 3 All of the traditional bells and whistles of college basketball are on display at Sharp Gymnasium – the Huskies Basketball Band can be found near the student section, and there are also the Huskies cheerleaders, the HBU Elite Dance Team, and the school mascot Mingo, all on display for the entirety of the game. Like most basketball games at this level, there are student contests during timeouts, as well as stoppages in play which are always fun. In the chairback seating area is the Husky Hype Squad; this two-man group of yell leaders is often called upon to pump up the crowd throughout the game. Decked head-to-toe in orange and blue, this duo is armed with megaphones and boundless energy. Final Thoughts Though the basketball facilities are small in stature at Houston Baptist University, they are big on excitement, energy, and charm. There is something to be said for watching basketball in a gymnasium the size of the Huskies’ home court – it becomes all about the game at that point, and what HBU puts on out there is a great product. If you are looking for an inexpensive way to catch some big-time college hoops, you can’t go wrong with catching a game at Sharp Gymnasium. Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 . Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com .

Photos by Lloyd Rothwell, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Adelaide Oval War Memorial Dr North Adelaide SA 5006, Australia Adelaide Strikers website Adelaide Oval website Year Opened: 1871 Capacity: 53,698 Strikers Winning in Adelaide First established in 1871, the Adelaide Oval has long been known as one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world. Pleasantly placed on the banks of the River Torrens and in the parklands just north of the CBD, the stadium features stunning vistas including of the iconic St Peters Cathedral, located immediately north of the oval. Most regularly used for cricket during its long history, Adelaide Oval also has a strong connection with Australian Rules football. The venue has also hosted lop level rugby union, having previously been the home of the Australian leg of the World Sevens Series as well as hosting two matches of the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Despite growing demand for tickets to popular events such as Ashes test matches, increasing capacity and redeveloping the ground took many years. In 2003 the Chappell Stands were added to the eastern side of the ground in front of the Victor Richardson Gates, grandfather of the three Chappell brothers – all of whom played cricket for Australia. It took until 2009 before plans for a major redevelopment were announced. The redevelopment was completed in 2014 at a cost of over $500m, and increased capacity to 53,583. The final design maintains the charm of the original ground by incorporating the famous old scoreboard, hill area, Moreton Bay Fig and cathedral views, while also quickly building a reputation as a modern gem. Interestingly the playing surface was also slightly modified; as a cricket ground Adelaide was known for its long straight, boundaries and short boundaries square of the wicket. These changes made the surface more suitable for AFL, and along with the modern amenities and larger capacity, saw football returning to the stadium fulltime, with both the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Power now calling Adelaide Oval home. The Adelaide Strikers, like all the other Big Bash League Twenty20 cricket franchises, was formed in 2011 as a new identity separate from existing state teams. They have since experienced moderate success on the field, and are extremely well supported in their home state of South Australia. Food & Beverage 4 The design of the new stadium means that no seat is located more than 40m from a food outlet. There’s a wide range of food available with all the usual fare supplemented by healthy options and specialty items. Interestingly, as of the end of 2016, the stadium management authority has worked to lower prices of many of the most commonly bought items including meat pies, beer and bottled water. One of the biggest reductions was a $0.30 drop in the price of local beer, West End Draught. While this may be a step in the right direction, it is worth noting that this “reduced price” is still $8.90 which makes it one of the most expensive beer prices in all of Australia. Similarly, even the most basic hot food such as hot chips are $5.50, as are meat pies. Anything more such as a burger or pizza is around the $10 mark. Admittedly the serving sizes are quite good (as is the quality), but the indisputable fact is that prices here are even more expensive than what you will experience at most sporting stadiums around the world. Any queues move relatively quickly, except for the Norgen Vaas ice cream stand which can have wait times of over 5 minutes between placing an order and receiving your ice cream. Also, keep an eye out for concession stands that are “card only” – helpful for some but not for others! Atmosphere 4 The Adelaide Oval is the greatest success story of modern stadium building in Australia. It’s a beautiful and well-designed building that captures all the charm and character of the original ground and the stunning surrounds, and adds an advanced, modern viewing experience. The combination is simply stunning. Over 75% of all seats are covered, providing protection from the elements. The old scoreboard combines with three video screens to keep spectators informed. The spacious atriums within the stadium concourses add to the sense of space and atmosphere. Neighborhood 5 Adelaide is a cosmopolitan city characterised by its grid-like set up featuring straight wide streets and abundant parklands. In contrast to most other capital cities around the country, it was established as a colony of free settlers rather than a penal settlement. Adelaide is regularly cited as one of the most livable cities in Australia and is well known for its many festivals and close proximity to the wine growing region of Barossa Valley. The northern area of the CBD is the heart of the city. Major venues such as the Convention Centre and Casino are on North Terrace, while Hindley St and Rundle Mall serve as an entertainment and shopping precinct. Further afield, a tram ride down to the beach at Glenelg is a popular tourist activity. Fans 4 The Adelaide Strikers are the highest drawing of all the BBL teams, most recently averaging a remarkable 42,000 fans per game. The crowd is a sea of blue, with the locals wholeheartedly embracing their team. The fans are well-informed and engaged in the brand and the action. Access 4 Along with the redevelopment of the stadium, the new Riverbank Footbridge provides an easy connection across the river from the CBD. That being the case, the best method of transport is bus, train or tram and then soak in the atmosphere and enjoy the view as you stroll towards the stadium. Alternatively, drive into the CBD and utilise a paid parking station for around $25. The plaza surrounding the stadium is easy to navigate with several interactive fan experience opportunities. Once inside, access to upper levels is made easier by a number of escalators and elevators while concourses are spacious and clean. Another quirk of the stadium is the abundance of restrooms, with Australian design standards exceeded by more than 30%. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices offer value for money with Adult General Admission from as low as $20. The usual discounts for children and families also apply, making entry for most very affordable. While refreshments are amongst the most expensive you will ever encounter, the Strikers and the Adelaide Oval is undeniably a fantastic experience worthy of your hard-earned cash. Extras 4 In the Riverbank Stand you will find a museum showcasing Sir Donald Bradman (1908-2001). To the uninitiated, Bradman is without question, the greatest cricketer of all time. Indeed, statisticians have calculated that the dominance asserted by Bradman with his test batting average of 99.94, is more significant than any other comparative sportsperson across all sports. One of the more unique experiences at Adelaide Oval is the Roof Climb, a two hour guided climb across the roof of the stadium, even during games! While not available on event days, general guided tours of the stadium are available at other times and are well worth the effort, but be sure to book in advance. Given the BBL occurs across the Christmas / New Year period, it is natural that a number of games will take place on key dates. The Strikers host the New Year’s Eve game at Adelaide Oval, after which you can celebrate by watching the fireworks on the banks of the river before heading back into the city to party on. Final Thoughts The Adelaide Oval is simply a must-visit stadium. Do yourself a favour and visit the City of Churches!

Photos by Lance Sutehall, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Alabama Soccer Stadium 500 Peter Bryce Blvd Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Alabama Crimson Tide website Alabama Soccer Stadium website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 1,500 Rolling With The Tide At The Soccer Stadium Women’s soccer has been a varsity sport at the University of Alabama since 1986. As of the writing of this article, the Crimson Tide have made six NCAA tournament appearances, including an appearance in the Final Four of the College Cup in 2022. The Tide has six alumni in the NWSL and another in Liga MX Femenil. The Alabama Soccer Stadium has been the home of the Tide’s Women’s soccer program since 2004.   Food & Beverage   3 The lone concession stand sells basics such as a slice of pizza ($8), hot dogs ($6), chips ($3), popcorn ($7), and candy ($3). Rita’s Italian Ice ($8.50), milkshakes ($9), frozen drinks ($9), and custard cookie sandwiches ($9) are also offered. Bottled beverages on sale include water ($6), Coca-Cola branded sodas ($6), and Powerade ($5). Finally, beer is sold at the concession stand ($11). The stand is cashless. Atmosphere   4 There is a giant red Tube Man at the entrance of the stadium. After entering the stadium gate, the concession stand and merchandise table are to the left. Walking towards the seating area you pass a table with Gameday info and Alabama Women’s soccer posters. The seating area consists of 15 rows of metal bleachers with the middle of the seating area only having three rows to make room for the camera. The team locker rooms are located behind the bleachers The stadium features a giant video board in the right corner, and the team benches are located across the field from the seating area. When the tide takes the field, smoke machines behind the goals go off. Those smoke machines are also activated whenever Bama scores, and when Bama has won. After the starting lineups are announced, the players throw t-shirts into the crowd and they give the fans high fives after the game. Alabama offers various promotions to encourage attendance including team poster signings on Sunday evening games and other themes throughout the season. Students earn “Tide Loyalty” points for attending soccer matches which helps with priority access to football season tickets. The involvement of the students makes an Alabama soccer game an intense women’s soccer environment.   Neighborhood   5 The Alabama Soccer Stadium is located in the northeast of campus next to the Student Recreation Center and near Rhoads Stadium, home of Alabama softball. This part of campus is the furthest from Tuscaloosa’s entertainment district “The Strip” but less than 2 miles away. Newk’s Restaurant is nearby on University Boulevard while Baumhower’s Victory Grille is across McFarland Boulevard. Next to Baumhower’s is PopStroke, a mini golf course that is also a restaurant. Shopping options nearby include Midtown Village and University Mall, both of which are across the street from each other. For Lodging, Hampton Inn is located between Baumhower’s and PopStroke while Hotel Capstone is on campus, next to Sewell Thomas Stadium. I would recommend staying near downtown Tuscaloosa as there are more lodging options and plenty of restaurants. Plus the strip is more accessible, the River Walk is beautiful, and Capitol Park shows the remains of the old Alabama State Capitol building.   Fans   4 The fans fill up the Alabama Soccer Stadium with families and students packing the stands. The fence was lined with flags representing the nationalities of the players on the field. The students were bringing energy throughout the match. One of the students was banging on a drum throughout the night which added to the atmosphere.   Access   4 From I-20-59, turn off Exit 73 and make a right on Highway 82. Turn off on the ramp to University Boulevard and make a right. Make another right on Peter Bryce Boulevard and the soccer stadium will be on the left beside some tennis courts and the Student Recreation Center. There are two free parking lots near the stadium, one by the aforementioned facilities and another on the other side of the field by the Greek houses. The Alabama Soccer Stadium Has one main entrance where the concession stand and restrooms are located. The seating area is straightforward and the aisles are wide enough to move freely.   Return on Investment   5 In terms of a return on investment, I do not think you can do better than free. Parking and admission to Alabama soccer matches are free to attend while concession prices are what’s expected. There is also a chance to catch a t-shirt and High Five the Tide after a win. Alabama soccer is an underrated way to spend an evening in Tuscaloosa.   Extras   2 Several practice soccer fields surround the soccer stadium with games going on around the Alabama soccer game. The soccer stadium shares a parking lot with the nearby Student Recreation Center, which includes Stran-Hardin Arena, home to Alabama’s wheelchair basketball teams. The women’s team has won ten national championships while the men’s have won three. Final Thoughts The student body and the community have embraced the Alabama Crimson Tide’s women’s soccer team over the years. The program has been on the rise over the years and their 2022 run to the final four proves the Alabama women’s soccer team is a force to be reckoned with. The fans and students believe that the Tide will roll when they are on the pitch. They have reason to.

Photos by Jeremy Inson , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 San Siro Via Piccolomini 5 Milan, Lombardy 20151 Italy Inter Milan website San Siro website Year Opened: 1926 Capacity: 80,018 Inside Inter With a capacity of just over 80,000 the Stadio San Siro is Italy’s largest and most well known soccer arena and home to two giants of Calcio, Associazione Calcio di Milan, the red and black shirted Milan and the blue and black striped Internazionale di Milano, or more commonly Inter. The stadium was built in 13 months and at a modern day cost of $4.5 million. The first match to take place there was a friendly between Inter and Milan on 19 September 1926 and it was the blue and black shirted hordes that left the happier after a 6-3 win. Initially the capacity was 35,000 but over the 20th century there were a number of extensions that eventually took the stadium’s capacity to its current total of 80,018 in preparation for Italy’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 1990. In 1980 the city of Milan decided to name the stadium after Giuseppe Meazza, a former hot-shot striker for both Milan and Inter, who had died in 1979. Despite this, the vast majority of the fans making their way to the stadium refer to it as the San Siro, after the area of the city in which it is located. Over the years both sets of supporters have made a strong case for their team to be top dogs. The 1960’s was certainly the heyday for the city, a decade in which Inter and Milan both won the European Cup twice. For most of the 1990’s Inter had to look on in envy and content themselves with three UEFA Cup wins, while their owner Massimo Moratti threw millions of dollars at the team in the hope of finally breaking Inter’s title drought. Their break came in 2006 when Juventus were stripped of the Serie A title in a match fixing sting and second placed Inter were handed the title. It set them up for five consecutive title wins, the most recent two in 2009 and 2010 under the guidance of Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese made few friends in Italy, but he brought an end to Inter’s 43-year wait to be crowned European Champions when two goals from Argentine striker Diego Milito secured a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in 2010. For Inter the alumni is impressive. Striker Sandro Mazzola was at the heart of the 1960’s success, while Giacinto Facchetti and Tarcisio Burgnich embodied coach Helenio Herera’s catenaccio defensive system. While AC Milan had the trio of Dutchmen, Inter had a trio of World Cup winning Germans – Lothar Matthaus, Andreas Brehme and Jurgen Klinsmann. Then under Mourinho it was the arrival of Dutch playmaker Wesley Sniejder to complement the likes of Milito, Samuel Eto’o, Maicon and captain Javier Zanetti that finally gave Inter the class to win the Champions League. More recently Milan’s title victory in 2011, six months after Inter had won the 2010 World Club Championship, means that those Inter and Milan fans making their way towards the San Siro will be able to continue their debate about which team is the bigger for many more years to come. Food & Beverage 4 This being Italy, good food goes without saying. But a word of warning; eat before you get into the stadium as the options once you get through the turnstiles are few and far between, except for poorly supplied and jam-packed cafes. Outside though, the range of concession stands is remarkable. The majority of them serve tasty warm sandwiches, usually ham or roast pork, with either beer or a soft-drink to wash it down with. While basic is the word, they go down very well and the aroma from the roasting pork or sizzling sausages means you need a strong will to refuse a second one. If you have more of a sweet tooth keep an eye out for Il Padrino, a stand serving a vast array of Sicilian desserts, candies and sweets, such as canoli and ciambelle, a type of doughnut covered in chocolate. Atmosphere 5 With 80,000 seats to fill, the San Siro is rarely full, with the exception of city derbies or the visit of fellow northern Italians, Juventus. Even so the curva nord (north stand), which is home to the Inter masses, makes a fair amount of noise whomever the opponents. Come derby time though, the stadium becomes a frothing cauldron of love for your team and contempt for the opponents. Fan groups spend weeks designing banners to display, songs to sing and crowd choreography. Sometimes the emotions spill over, such as the time a scooter was thrown from one tribune onto fans below, miraculously without anyone being seriously injured, but most of the time it produces an atmosphere the players feed off and which infects everyone in the stadium. Neighborhood 2 The San Siro neighbourhood is in a fairly suburban, non-descript part of town, north-west of the city centre. There may be some very minor trouble around the end of an evening match, but most fans are far more concerned about getting back to the warmth of home, especially in winter when the mercury in the thermometer plunges ever lower and the wind whips in off the mountains north of the city. In truth there is little to see around the stadium and if you have time before or after a game, then there is plenty to see in the city centre once you are back there. Fans 4 Traditionally Milan fans came from the city’s working class, while Inter’s came from the bourgeois ranks. Nowadays, though, they come from a cross section of the city and boast numerous supporter groups from around the country. Milan was originally known as Milan Cricket Club, in recognition of its founding by the English community in the city in 1899. Inter by contrast, were formed in 1908 by disgruntled members who had grown exasperated by the snobbish attitude of the founders of Milan CC and so struck out with a more ‘international’ club, that featured players and members from across Europe. Nowadays the majority of the noise comes from disgruntled young men, who have similar grievances against their opponents, the government and their lack of opportunities in society. Access 3 Lotto is the nearest metro stop and is about a 15 minute walk to the stadium, just follow the crowds. Alternatively there are free buses lined up outside the station to whisk you to the stadium in about 5 minutes and more importantly take you back after the final whistle. The station is on the red line that passes through the heart of the city and has a stop at its most famous sight, Il Duomo, the cathedral outside which Inter and Milan celebrate their triumphs. Be warned though on match day the station and trains get packed very quickly. If you are coming in by car, the stadium is on the north-west of the city and well-signposted throughout. There are a few car parks near the stadium that charge around €10 ($13). There is free parking in some of the residential streets nearby, but these get snapped up quickly. Return on Investment 4 As one of the most successful teams in European soccer, tickets for Inter are in hot demand for city derbies and Champions League matches in particular. Prices begin around €30 ($40) and rise to about €80 ($105). There are a number of places to buy them around the city. The easiest place to buy tickets is either at branches of the Intesa San Paolo bank or from one of the numerous tobacconists around the city. In both cases, fans need to have a passport or some sort of ID on them when they buy them and it is advisable to have it on you at the game because spot checks, whilst rare, are rigorously enforced. While the size of the stadium means that it is rarely full, it does mean visiting supporters can watch some of the biggest Italia clubs when they come to town. Extras 4 The stadium holds tours three or four times a day, both in Italian and English and it allows fans to go through the administrative and media areas and visit the dressing rooms. As part of the tour, visitors receive access to the calcio museum that is on site. It contains copies of all Inter and Milan’s trophies, shirts from players from around the world and many interesting and unknown pieces of the clubs’ histories. In the city centre there is plenty to see. The cathedral and nearby Galleria are at the hub of city and for Dan Brown fans there is the chance to see the Last Supper at the Santa Maria delle Grazie church, but you must book beforehand. Final Thoughts There continues to be talk from Inter that they will eventually leave the San Siro and find a new purpose-built home further out of the city. However, with money tight and the stadium a big draw for Italian and foreign players that is unlikely to happen any time soon. Furthermore the stadium appears to be intrinsically linked to the success of the team. Like many teams in Italy both Inter and Milan want to own the stadium. With the exception of Juventus and Cesena the majority of stadiums are council-owned and as such clubs miss out on match day revenue, as well as pay to rent an increasingly outdated venue. Until then though, the stadium will continue to be a huge draw for supporters from around the world and while it may be some time before the Champions League final returns, there will still be plenty of drama and magic to come at the old stadium for many more years.

The wait is over. The New England Knockouts have released their team branding and it packs a punch. The Brockton, Massachusetts, ball club will play its first season in the Frontier League at Campanelli Stadium. The primary logo features a bulldog wearing boxing gloves and holding two baseball bats. He has a backward cap and is looking forward. The team name is above him and dotted with rivets, an homage to the south shore’s industrial history. The bulldog resembles the bruiser personality of every boxing champion; the gloves he is wearing are a tribute to Brockton’s infamous tie to the sport: Rocky Marciano and “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler. The secondary marks feature the bulldog again and have him wearing a crown and ready to box.  The next mark spells out “KO”, short for “knockout”, and uses a ring bell for the letter O. The final mark reads “City of Champions” in cursive font. The official colors are titled “Jab” (navy blue), “Hook” (sky blue), “Overhand” (red), “Bell" (yellow), and “Canvas” (cream). The team was originally going to be called the Chowdaheads, a name chosen by fans in an online contest. The name received 3,100 votes, but team officials overruled it after it received a lukewarm reception. On December 15, the organization announced that the new name would be Knockouts to honor the city’s boxing history. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter  and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex 402 E College St Bridgewater, VA 22812 Bridgewater Eagles website The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex website Year Opened: 1924 Capacity: 6,500 D3 Football in the Shenandoah The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex is home to the Bridgewater Eagles football program, as well as the school’s field hockey, lacrosse, and track and field teams. The facility seats 3,500 and received major upgrades most recently in 2013 and 2024. The Eagles compete in the NCAA’s Division III, as members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Bridgewater most recently won the conference back in 2019, and prior to that won the conference title five straight times from 2001 to 2005.   Food & Beverage   3 The Stadium has concessions only on the home side, although since the venue isn’t that big, it isn’t really that far of a walk around the field if you are sitting on the visiting side. Food choices include burgers, hot dogs, nachos, chips, candy, popcorn, and soft pretzels – prices range from $3 to $7, with the cheeseburger being the most expensive item. The food tastes good and is served up rather quickly, as it is pre-made and pre-wrapped, all ready to go. Drinks include bottled water, bottled soda (Pepsi products), and Gatorade – drink prices are $4, except for the Gatorade, which is $5.   Atmosphere   3 Bridgewater has a nice little football stadium that seems pretty modern. The venue has real bathrooms next to the concession stand, including a family restroom if needed. The scoreboard is a mix of a regular digital stats tracker on one side, with video capability on the other side for replays. I did not see a mascot, but the Eagles have a band and cheerleaders, and a pretty decent tailgating scene on two sides of the stadium – the home tailgating can be seen from the field (to the southeast), while the visitor tailgating is a bit further down the street (to the northwest).   Neighborhood   2 Bridgewater, Virginia is a small town with a few restaurants along Main Street, mostly of the fast food and quick service type, including Chinese, pizza, and Barbecue. There is one small hotel in town, near the athletic complex, but all the typical hotel chains are about 5 miles away along I-81.   Fans   2 Bridgewater doesn’t have a ton of fans at the typical game at The Stadium, but you will see some folks wearing team gear, and the fans do cheer at the right times during the game. Like many football teams at this level, you might see more visiting fans at certain games than home fans, as the teams in D2/D3 conferences tend to be more closely clustered together geographically than you will see in FBS and FCS, especially after the recent/ongoing FBS conference realignment.   Access   4 As mentioned above, The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex is only about 5 miles away from I-81, so getting here is pretty easy, depending on where you are coming from, of course; I-81 may not work as well if you coming from the east or west, rather than from the north or south. There is only one entrance into The Stadium, and you can buy tickets as you enter (their website says they don’t take cash, but that wasn’t true the last time I attended). Once inside the stadium there is plenty of room on the concourse, and you can sit wherever you want, either on the home or visiting side (the home side does have a few chairback seats near the center, while the visiting side is all bleachers without backs), or you can stand along the fence and watch from there.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets are only $10, and you can purchase them online before the game, or pay cash or use a card on the day of. Tailgate parking costs $25, and all passengers will be ID checked and given a wristband, if applicable, showing they are 21 or older. Non-tailgate parking is free, in one of the campus lots a couple of blocks to the southwest of The Stadium, on E College Ave. While not offering a ton of excitement compared to some football venues you may have been to, for the money this is a perfectly nice way to spend an evening, and enjoy some gridiron action in a pleasant, low-key setting.   Extras   1 The Eagles do have an eagle statue near the main entrance to The Stadium at the Jopson Athletic Complex. One negative is the lack of bathrooms and concessions on the visiting side, although you don’t have to sit over there, either.   Final Thoughts If you are used to D2 or D3 college football, you can imagine the kind of experience you will find here – I will say the football venue here is better than many of the D3 facilities I have been to, but you won’t have the large crowds, and high energy/noise, that you may be used to at FCS, FBS, or pro football venues, which for this sportswriter and fan, is perfectly fine. It is nice to not have to fight any crowds for a change, and to have plenty of space around you in your seat.

Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 3911 S Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90037 Los Angeles Rams website Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum website Year Opened:  1923 Capacity:  93,000 Whose House? Rams House Opened in 1923, The Los Angeles Coliseum has been the host to countless historic events, including the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics, Super Bowls I and VII, and the 1959 World Series. The Dodgers would play their first four seasons at the Coliseum before moving into their permanent fixture at Chavez Ravine. UCLA Football and the Raiders would also call the Coliseum home at one time, while the USC Trojans continue their gridiron home inside the old lady’s hallowed walls. Prior to returning to Los Angeles in 2016, the Rams would call the Coliseum home from 1946 to 1979. The Grand Old Lady has been given both California and U.S. National Historic Landmark status. The historic peristyle end of the stadium is where its signature Olympic Cauldron resides. Food & Beverage 5 For such an old venue, the Coliseum does an outstanding job of creating space to allow for a diverse dining experience. The food options are abundant, ranging from gourmet hot dogs from Daug Haus, Aussie Pies, Tamales, Kalua Pork Bowls to other offerings extending from Mexican to Asian. Just outside the peristyle end is the Taste of Los Angeles where you will find an assortment of food trucks that vary throughout the season such as the lobstatruck or the Korean Belly Bomb. The Fields LA is the newest addition in Exposition Park located next to nearby Banc of California Stadium . The Fields, open before and after the game and offers an array of pre and postgame dining options ranging from Soul Food, Seafood, Mediterranean, and organic greens. Atmosphere 4 In spite of a current capacity of over 70,000, even with a full house at its loudest the noise tends to dissipate due to its vast size. The massive oval playing surface is very large for a conventional football field, which is placed closer to the west end zone and a great distance from the east peristyle. In spite of the old yard’s deficiencies, this does not deter the fans from displaying their enthusiasm for the home team. While you won’t have the most up to date amenities found in most any modern day venue, there is still plenty of history steeped into the Coliseum. With the Rams scheduled to move to Inglewood in 2020, if you want an old-school experience, you owe it to yourself to take in at least one game before the Rams make way to more upscale quarters. Neighborhood 4 On the grounds of the Coliseum is Exposition Park. If you are looking for other activities prior to the game, the Natural History Museum, the California African American Museum, as well as the Natural History Museum and the California ScienCenter are located inside the park. To be able to visit all the museums and fully take in the experience, you would probably need two days. If you’re limited on time, you may want to visit the California ScienCenter, home to the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Not far from the Coliseum is the L.A. Live entertainment complex directly across the street from Staples Center, easily accessible from the Coliseum through L.A. Metro Expo Line. Fans 4 After over 20 years without an NFL team, after a slow start during their inaugural return, fans have embraced the Rams with open arms and have been rewarded greatly with a Super Bowl appearance in just its third year back. It was once wondered if the fans could continually fill the stands at the Coliseum. The Coliseum, once at a capacity of over 80,000, was deemed too big for such a diverse market. With the team reaching the postseason the last couple of seasons, the fans have returned to full form, truly making the Coliseum on game day, the Rams House. Access 3 The Coliseum is about three miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles and adjacent to the USC campus. The stadium is most easily reached from the 10 or the 110, both of which unfortunately have some of the most congested traffic in the area.  There are multiple satellite lots as well as parking on the USC campus that are typically priced based on proximity to the stadium. If you should be so fortunate, you may find pricing as low as $75. Should you decide to use public transit rather than drive, the MTA’s Metro Expo Line has a station conveniently located across the street from campus, a short walk away as you walk through Exposition Park. A day pass, along with a TAP card is a great bargain at $9. The Expo Line also offers convenient connections with other MTA rail and bus lines should you want to explore what L.A. has to offer. Once inside the stadium you will find a concourse the encircles the entire stadium. If your seats are on the upper level, expect some rather intimidating inclines. Fortunately, for those do not wish to navigate up the stairs, three escalators, two of them on the south stands, are on site. Return on Investment 4 Ticket prices run from $70 for seats in the corners of the peristyle end and are quite a distance from the field. If you are just looking to take in the action at a bargain (for NFL standards) regardless of your seating location this is your best bet. Otherwise, expect to pay in the triple digits for seats along the sidelines. With the success the Rams have had this year (2018-19), do not expect the prices to dwindle anytime soon. The experience you get while watching one of the top teams in action could well be worth it. Extras 3 During your visit to the stadium, be sure to walk by the arches and check out the “Court of Honor.” This memorial has many plaques to recognize the events or achievements that have occurred at the stadium. Notable names such as Daniel Reeves, Jesse Owens, Pope John Paul II, Jackie Robinson, John Wooden, and Jerry West all hold a place in the Court. If the Olympic rings and arches weren’t enough, check out the “Olympic Gateway” in front of the Coliseum. Created in 1984 by Robert Graham, this structure rises 25 feet above ground and has headless male and female bodies made of bronze. Final Thoughts The Coliseum is going through a face lift. When completed, The Grand Old Lady is expected to have a seating capacity of over 75,000. After a slow start upon their return to L.A., the Rams have had plenty of success, climaxed by a trip to Super Bowl LIII. With the Rams due to play in their gleaming new digs in 2020, the USC Trojans football program will continue to call the Coliseum their home. The anticipation and excitement for 2019 should be high and the Rams will look to finish their second go ‘round at the Coliseum a memorable one.

Photos Courtesy of Delaware State University Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Memorial Hall 1200 North DuPont Highway Dover, DE 19901 Delaware State Hornets website Memorial Hall website Year Opened: 1982 Capacity: 3,000 Step Into the Hornet’s Nest Delaware State has been a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) since its founding in 1970. The MEAC is made up of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) located between Florida and Delaware. Delaware State is the smallest of the MEAC schools with a little over 3,600 students and was ranked 9th among all HBCUs by U.S. News & World Report in 2014. It opened in 1891, eventually to be named Delaware State College and later changed to a university in 1993. One of their most unique programs is the university-based flight school, and it also has a fine business school. The Hornets basketball team plays at 3,000-seat Memorial Hall, a fairly nondescript building near the front of their Dover campus. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament one time in 2005 and twice in the National Invitation Tournament. In 2015 they played in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) Tournament. Food & Beverage 1 There are no permanent food stands in Memorial Hall. and no outside food is allowed into the facility. The recommendation is to eat before or after a Delaware State game. Near the back of the arena, tucked away in one of the corners, is a table set up selling some very basic food options. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, popcorn, pretzels, soda, water, and Gatorade is about all you get. Local favorite Grotto Pizza will also be at some games selling their slices. Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere at a Delaware State basketball game is pretty great. Memorial Hall is basically a large high school gym type of design. There is no concourse as once you get past the box office lobby you enter directly into one corner of the arena. Simple bench type stands surround the court on four sides. The arena may be simple in design, but the place is very loud. The students, fans, cheerleaders, band and music DJ keep the fun going. Expect to also see the step squad from opposing teams, as well as the home squad, to provide even more of a fun environment. Many of the games will also be a men’s and women’s doubleheader, so check the schedule and come early, if possible, as you will certainly enjoy it. Look out for the cool Hornet mascot wandering the sidelines. Neighborhood 3 There is no real neighborhood around Memorial Hall. The arena sits off the very busy DuPont Highway. You can see the Dover Mall and Dover International Speedway from the entrance. You can have even heard stock cars screaming around the speedway at times as you walk towards the game. A closed big box store is located right next to the north stand, with another still opened store nearby as well. So if you need pet supplies you will be good to go. The area is good if you need food and sustenance before or after the game. Legendary local chain Grotto Pizza has a sports bar located across the street at 1159 N DuPont Highway. They have never been a favorite of mine but fans of them will flock there. Other great choices include Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop on Gateway S Blvd, Restaurant 55 at 2461 S State St, La Tolteca Restaurant at 859 N Dupont Hwy and 33 West Ale House & Grill at 33 W Loockerman Street. The Fire and Ice Bar at Dover Downs Casino is another choice for a drink after the game. Fans 4 The gym is small and fills up quickly. Even students have often turned away because of the facility being at capacity. The fans are loud and proud of their Hornets. When a big rival is in town, such as their Delmarva peninsula neighbor University of Maryland Eastern Shore, expect to see the intensity upped to another level. Access 4 The university is right off of a major road in DuPont Highway. A toll road, Route 1, which takes you most of the way north to Wilmington, is also nearby. Dover is about a one and a half hour trip from Philadelphia or Baltimore, and at least two hours from Washington DC. It seems close by on a map but is isolated at the center of the Delmarva Peninsula. If venturing to a shore destination such as Ocean City, Maryland or Rehoboth, Delaware, then Dover may make a quick, enjoyable stop, but as a destination, it is not the easiest location to travel to. Watch out for NASCAR weekends when traveling in the area; those weekends are not recommended unless you have no other options, as traffic can pile up, so leave yourself additional time in those cases. There may also be tolls unless you are already on the eastern shore or the Delmarva region. If traveling from the DC and Annapolis area you will have to pay tolls across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. If going around the top of the bay from Baltimore you will have to pay very hefty tolls on either Route 40 or I-95. And coming from Norfolk you will need to pay for the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Parking is easy as you will be directed by university police to various lots around the campus. There is no cost to park, but expect a midday evening game to be more difficult to park because of classes. Return on Investment 4 Tickets run from $10 for general admission up to $25 for courtside reserved seats. Since the arena is so small the best bet is to just stick with the general admission level. Just make sure to plan ahead since the arena is small. You do not want to be turned away at the door. Even students are encouraged to go online and claim their tickets ahead of time. Extras 2 There is a Delaware State University Athletic Hall of Fame display in the entrance lobby. Although Delaware State is not super well known in terms of sports, the listing of the greats of numerous sports from here on campus is a nice stop on the way in and out of the game. If you have never witnessed a step squad, make sure to sit down and enjoy their act/competition. It will blow you away. Final Thoughts There is really not much to Delaware State’s Memorial Hall. A simple, small gym located in a pretty boring looking building. But the small, intimate size allows for a loud and fun environment for basketball.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Blue Cross Arena 1 War Memorial Square Rochester, NY 14614 Rochester Knighthawks website Blue Cross Arena website Year Opened: 1955 Capacity: 10,662 Knighthawks Lax The Rochester Knighthawks are a member of the NLL (National Lacrosse League), an action-packed game of box lacrosse. This is the second Knighthawk franchise to call the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial in Rochester, NY its home. The first was a very successful franchise that operated from 1995 to 2019. Its owner relocated the team to Nova Scotia and rebranded them as the Thunderbirds after the 2019 season. The NLL granted an expansion franchise to Pegula Sports and Entertainment (owners of four other professional sports teams in Western New York) to begin playing the 2019-2020 season. Pegula Sports purchased the Knighthawks name to keep that name and lacrosse in Rochester. The organization hired new players and staff and designed new logos and colors for the new team. All championship records of the former team moved with them to Nova Scotia. The Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial opened in 1956 and received a significant facelift in 1996. Old-time Rochester residents still simply call the venue the War Memorial, while newer Rochesterians call it Blue Cross Arena. It is also home to the AHL (American Hockey League) Rochester Americans , and hosts concerts, Disney on Ice, and other forms of entertainment. Food & Beverage 4 Plenty of food and lots of beer are available for purchase. Main concession stands are in alcoves off of main concourses. These alcoves do a nice job of minimizing the already crowded, narrow concourses. Expect lines at concessions between periods. Offerings include The Market Grab & Go where you can get cans of beer and chips. Caraglio’s Pizza sells pizza slices for $6.50 - $7. The alcoves have Fingers & Fries – chicken baskets and buckets and sandwiches ranging from $10.50 - $20 and Burgers & Dogs burgers, veggie burgers, red and white hot dogs, and baskets with fries for $6 - $13.75. Roc City Dips ice cream (floats, sundaes, cones, or dishes) is very popular , with various servings and flavors from $5 - $8. Other snacks at concession stands include peanuts, candy, funnel cake, and pretzels ($5 - $9). Soft drinks are Pepsi products, water, and Gatorade ($4 - $5.50). Beers run $11 for a large domestic draft and $12 for a large craft draft. The local Rohrbach Brewery sells five of its brews at the arena. If you like IPAs, A Different Animal is a good choice at $12/$12.75 in a can. Genesee Brewing and Labatt each have counters on the concourse. Atmosphere 4 Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial provides a superb game day experience while also honoring our military veterans. Banners of all the military branches hang in the huge, bright entrance lobby, which is surrounded by two-story glass windows. The box office is inside the lobby. The centerpiece of the atrium has remained from the previous iteration of the Knighthawks, that being the large bronze statue of a traditional Indigenous lacrosse player entitled “For the Love of the Game.” It is a wonderful reminder of the roots of lacrosse. Lacrosse Statue at Blue Cross Arena, Photo by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey The arena’s seating sections are two levels of blue cushioned seats with a walkway between the two levels. The seats are average width and have average legroom. Suites are above the second level; a few are over the goal at one end. The first level rows go up to letter Q. Two corners have spots with a few high-top tables and chairs where fans can perch and watch the game. A perfect-sized crisp, clear video board shows time, goals, shots, penalties, and game action. No closed captioning. Oddly, the video board is not over the center line. It turns out that it needs to rise into the ceiling for concerts, and that section of the ceiling is the only structurally sound place to store it. The game day operations pump smoke out of the video board after a Knighthawks goal. Box lacrosse is a very fast-paced, high-energy game. Music is played the entire game but not so loud that you need to wear earplugs. During the introductions, players run out between neon green poles through a billow of smoke. An emcee successfully encourages fans to get involved and cheer on the team throughout the game. It’s usually a high-scoring game which seems funny to me with the teams having a huge goaltender protecting the little itty bitty goal. Rochester Knighthawks Goaltender, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The game day staff facilitate silly, harmless games during breaks, like a hot dog race. The players circle the court after the game to show their appreciation to the fans. The arena is the perfect size for box lacrosse; it’s not too big. Neighborhood 4 Blue Cross Arena is in downtown Rochester, NY along the Genesee River. As of this writing, the city of Rochester is looking to rejuvenate the downtown area by adding a riverwalk along the river that will include green space and benches, and an enhanced walkway. I expect it to be lovely when complete. For now, though, it is a bunch of annoying construction. Recommended restaurants in the area are The Distillery (sports bar), Dinosaur B-B-Q, and The Exchange (sports bar and nightlife). Plenty of others are nearby and within walking distance. Rochester has over 20 breweries. The closest to the arena are Fifth Frame Brewery and Swiftwater Brewing. You can’t go wrong with Rohrbach Brewing or Genesee Brewing either. If you’re spending a few days around the holidays, check out Roc Holiday Village (a winter wonderland). Other notable indoor things to see are the Susan B . Anthony House and Museum, Rochester Museum and Science Center, and the Strong National Museum of Play (good for kids). Several hotels are within walking distance. The Holiday Inn is just two blocks away. Across the river are the Hyatt and the Hilton Garden Inn (both less than .5 miles from the arena). When in town, check to see if the AHL Rochester Americans are playing. Check the RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) athletics page to see if their hockey team or other sports teams are playing. If you can drive for an hour or an hour and a half, the NHL Buffalo Sabres are a 75-mile drive away. Canisius or Niagara Universities (85+ mile drive) have some D1 sports. And heading east, the AHL Syracuse Crunch is an 87-mile drive, and Syracuse University has some D1 sports, too. Fans 4 Knighthawks fans are glad they still have lacrosse in their city. The arena generally draws 5K – 6K for each lacrosse match. You’ll see plenty of fans decked out in their new Knighthawks jerseys and gear. Several fans wave flags after each Knighthawks goal. They’re loud and proud and on their feet for each goal! Access 3 During the 2022-2023 season, plenty of road construction is nearby the arena. Rochester’s finest police officers direct traffic before and after games, helping with the vehicle and pedestrian flow. The Civic Center Parking Garage at 55 S Fitzhugh St . is .1 miles from the arena and costs $15. The website states you can get to the arena via an underground tunnel which is helpful for those chilly upper NY State winters. Outdoor parking is available at Court Street Municipal Lot 10 (corner of Court St and Exchange St). Rochester has a bus service, even from the airport. For fares and schedules, check RTS . The airport is 5 – 6 miles from Blue Cross Arena. Uber and Lyft are easily available. Once inside, fans walk through a security check (clear plastic sports bags 12” x 6” x 12” are allowed) and walk up a flight of stairs to get to the main concourse. The entrance provides an escalator as well. Return on Investment 5 Single game tickets are $15 - $35 (including Ticketmaster fees). The $15 seats are not in a great location, but it gets you in the door. The team offers Holiday Packs promotions (two tickets, two vouchers for another game, and a scarf for $55). That’s a great deal. Check their website for details. The refreshment prices are lower than major league prices. The game day experience is so enjoyable and stimulating it’s worth attending a match here. . Extras 4 Several additional features are worth noting. Game day staff hand out programs upon entry. It contains mostly ads for sponsors but has the schedule and highlights a specific player. Plan a visit to the museum and veterans memorial. A full merchandise shop is off the lobby with shirts, jerseys, hat pins, banners, pucks, stuffed animals, and trinkets. I bet if you want it, they have it. Finally, the Knighthawks players, team, and organization are highly involved in local youth lacrosse outlets and programs. Final Thoughts With the war memorial, the honoring of all military branches, the return of the Rochester Knighthawks, and the thrilling game of lacrosse, it’s worth a visit! We encourage you to see a game if you haven’t been yet.

Photos by Ryan Norris, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 UC Davis Health Stadium La Rue & Hutchison Davis, CA 95618 UC Davis Aggies website UC Davis Health Stadium website Year Opened: 2007 Capacity: 10,743 Football in Aggie Land Note: The stadium name changed from Aggie Stadium to UC Davis Health Stadium in 2019. After a string of Division II success, which included national championships in softball, men’s basketball, and men’s and women’s tennis, UC Davis began play as a Division I school in 2007. Corresponding with the move up the division ladder, Aggie Stadium opened up that same year with a capacity of 10,743. The UC system is very academically focused so the movement for a new stadium for the Aggies came as a bit of a surprise. As it is, only 3 of the 10 UC schools field a football team. I’d imagine the reason is two fold; one, the expensive nature of a football program and two, the lack of college football passion compared to schools in the Midwest or the South. While the other UC schools (Cal and UCLA) compete in the FBS’ PAC-12, the Aggies compete in the FCS subdivision. UC Davis competes in the Big Sky Conference with Causeway Classic rivals Sacramento State for football only. For most other sports they compete in the Big West Conference. The field is named after former head coach and College Football Hall of Famer Jim Sochor. Their current coach Bob Biggs will retire at the end of the 2012 season, his 20th as the head football coach. Food & Beverage 4 Aggie Stadium has two main concession stands, one above each sideline grandstand. At these stands you have a decent selection that includes: hot dogs ($4.50), Polish dogs ($5.50), hot links ($5.50), pretzel w/cheese ($4.75), nachos ($4.50), and burritos ($5.50) w/meat ($6.50). Snacks include churro, popcorn, and boxed candy ($3). Bottled water is $3 and a souvenir soda is $6, refills just $3. I ate at Star Ginger, a Vietnamese food truck, parked inside Aggie Stadium. They have a variety of rice bowls for $7 and Banh Mi, traditional Vietnamese sandwiches, for $6. I don’t know if Star Ginger is there every week or if others come and go in their stead but it’s clear that food trucks are wildly popular in California. There are food festivals dedicated solely to food trucks and I’ve seen them pop-up at sporting events, including San Jose Earthquakes and Stanford Cardinal games. Atmosphere 4 Aggie Stadium has simple, stream-lined seating for football games, each side a mirror image of the other. There are two bleacher sections on the sidelines. One side hosts the Aggie Band, the Aggie Pack, and the visiting fans. The other side consists of some general admission seats alongside the premium seats. All seating is accessible by going down to either your seat or a grassy area. Eventually the plan is to expand Aggie Stadium to 30,000 seats by filling in the grassy knolls and to add to upper deck seating. Personally, I love the look of the small, aesthetically pleasing stadium and wonder if they can really triple the size without having too many empty seats. Since there isn’t a grandstand to block your view, you can see the surrounding agriculture, as well as the UC Davis water tower. Neighborhood 4 The UC Davis campus butts up against the downtown Davis neighborhood. This area is a vibrant mix of students and families and visitors should take advantage of the atmosphere that the neighborhood provides. Popular restaurants downtown are Froggy’s Grill, Woodstock’s Pizza, and Burgers and Brew. The best place for a pregame beer is The Grad. It’s your typical college-town sports bar with plenty of TVs, 50 plus beers on tap, and a full kitchen. All this within staggering distance to the front gates. Microbrew enthusiasts take note that there is indeed a brewery in Davis serving up some suds. Sudwerk is a brewery that creates their own versions of traditional German-style beers while still providing some of the California staples like pale ales and IPAs. A farmer’s market is held year-round, rain or shine, on Saturdays at Central Park. Davis is a well-known bicycle paradise; heck, a bicycle is even in their town logo. Davis is also the home to the US Bicycling Hall of Fame and has plenty of bike lanes. There were over 1,000 bike parking spots outside Aggie Stadium, all of them in use. Fans 3 The Aggie faithful were certainly into the game throughout, albeit laid back. In my eyes, there were two strange things about the seating. First, and funny to me, was the huge crowds that chose to pass on their seats and sit in the shadow of the scoreboard on the hot day. The shadow was completely covered by fans. Second, was the empty seating section between the band and the student section, near midfield. These were the two most boisterous sections in the stadium and it was odd that they were separated from each other by an empty section. Kids are certainly welcome at Aggie Stadium as it was a very family-friendly feel. Many of the kids chose to roll down the hills over and over again, at either end of the stadium. There was no notable drinking or swearing and that would make any family feel welcome. Still, at 80 percent capacity, I wonder if their expansion plans make any sense. Granted, I’d imagine they would draw better against Cal Poly or Sacramento State than the Portland State Vikings, whom I saw. Access 5 The UC Davis campus is located conveniently off of highway 80, 15 miles west of Sacramento and 75 miles east of San Francisco. Getting there isn’t difficult but you should certainly expect significant traffic during peak hours after work. Downtown Davis is easy to get around for first-timers as many of the streets progress numerically and alphabetically, so you never feel like you’re unsure of your location. There is a local bus service, UniTrans, operated by UC Davis that services much of the city and all of the campus. Buses are driven by university students and cater to the inevitably odd schedules of college students. Beyond the local buses, there is also an Amtrak stop that stops downtown. This train goes through Sacramento with bus connections that can take passengers as far as Tahoe and Reno. Going the other direction, the “Capitol Corridor” train passes through Berkeley, Oakland, and San Jose, with connections to San Francisco. There’s one designated parking lot on a grass field outside the stadium but you can park at most of the UC Davis parking lots (don’t park in residential lots!) for free on weekends. Make sure to check for signs in case there is a dual event at the Mondavi Center. I parked at the UC Davis Health and Wellness Center for free (you must pay during the week) and walked the ten minutes to Aggie Stadium. Getting around once inside Aggie Stadium is a breeze. There are plenty of restrooms and the concession and merchandise stands are well staffed and lines move quickly. Getting to your seat is easy since the sections are a bit narrow, thus plenty of staircases to access. I appreciate that since you don’t have to walk over a bunch of people to get to your seat. They seem to be well set up to expand, whenever that may be. Return on Investment 3 General admission tickets start at $15 and jump to $25 for premium general admission, closer to midfield. Concessions aren’t unreasonable and you can park for free if you look. Unfortunately, the UC Davis football team has been pretty poor during the 2012 season and the product on the field isn’t the best. That being said, a day game at Aggie Stadium is delightful. I’d love to make it back for a Causeway Classic matchup. Extras 1 The Tavernetti Bell is outside of the main gate to Aggie Stadium. It is named after Thomas Tavernetti and is rung after every Davis victory. Due to the newness of Aggie Stadium there isn’t much in the way of historical significance but they do have a wall listing all the top athletic donors and a UC Davis Fire Department fire truck in stadium, belonging to the Aggie Pack. A couple firefighters were atop the truck, checking out the game. Final Thoughts I have to believe that Aggie Stadium is one of the finer venues in the FCS and is certainly worth checking out.

Black College Football: The Game that Time Forgot is an appreciation of HBCU football and all that makes it special. Carlos Lock, the author of the book, grew up in Jackson, Mississippi as a devoted fan of the Jackson State University Tigers. He attended his first Tigers game at the age of eight and fondly remembers watching Jerry Rice, Lewis Tillman, and Steve McNair coming to play at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. He hardly ever missed a game in his youth, as he sold football programs to the fans every weekend to earn his way into the stadium. Lock shares his early appreciation of music by listening to the Sonic Boom of the South, one of the top school bands at the HBCU level. One of his first “away” games was a trip to Grambling with his dad. He recounts his amazement at being at a game where the legendary Eddie Robinson was coaching him. He heard his name for his whole life, but seeing Robinson on the sidelines in person was a magical moment. Later in his life, Locke was serving in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Hood. One weekend he and a young lady attended a Cotton Bowl Classic game featuring Prairie View A&M and Southern University, his fourth and fifth HBCU teams he has seen play. It was love at first sight, as the couple fell in love with the two teams on the playing field, as well as with each other. They got married the next year… thanks to HBCU football.  The author then attended college at Hampton University in Virginia. He never missed a home game during that time, as the Pirates moved from the CIAA to the MEAC. This introduced him to two new HBCU-affiliated conferences and many more HBCU teams. After his time in the service ended, Locke began to expand on his visits to HBCU campus-based football games. He recalls watching Steve “Air” McNair during his days at Alcorn State University and Jerry Rice when he played for Mississippi Valley State University. In more recent years, the author has attended numerous Classics games. Classics games are typically a one-time meeting between two HBCU schools that have never played each other, as they typically play in different leagues. These classics are often put together by promoters in larger cities that are anxious to pair up two “name” schools for a game. It also brings awareness and notoriety to the two competing schools. Lock remembers the Whitney Young Classic in 1971 vividly, not because it matched up Morgan State University against Grambling, but because it was played in Yankee Stadium, one of the most famous sports venues in the country. He recounts numerous other classics he has attended, and as more of them are scheduled, he begins to see that they often match up with very unevenly matched squads. He feels that this expansion of the concept has watered down the contests from “unforgettable” to very mundane affairs. This later chapter leads us to the title of Lock’s book. We’ve talked about the excitement, the great matchups, the iconic players and coaches… so why “ The Game that Time   Forgot ”? The author sees that many of the things that made Black College football unique and special have been lost over time. We’ve already discussed the overuse of the word “Classic”. A second issue, ironically, is the integration of colleges and universities following desegregation during the Civil Rights era. Great African American players in the 1950s and 1960s had no choice but to attend HBCU schools, so the quality of football played at the HBCUs was top-notch. Once state schools started to integrate, they lost these star players to the bigger NCAA schools. Another point made is that the general exposure and awareness of HBCU schools went down, as black professional football players of the 1950s-1960s would always have their alma mater’s listed in their bio. Suddenly, players were attending larger integrated schools where their football skills would be recognized by pro scouts and professional football fans much quicker. The lack of a major television contract has had a major negative impact on football teams at HBCU schools. The TV networks each have large TV contracts with each of the major football conferences, bringing millions of dollars in revenue to member schools. However, outside of the Celebration Bowl, there are very few national telecasts of HBCU games. This heavily impacts the HBCU’s financial revenues, which are already tight to begin with. Obviously, with less exposure on TV, and less revenue from sports, it is difficult for HBCU schools to offer as many scholarships as possible to promising players. The facilities, such as the stadiums, training rooms, and locker rooms don’t have all the bells and whistles the major colleges can offer due to the limited financial resources. The author offers several suggestions on how Black College Football can return to its glory years. One of his first suggestions is to redevelop a Black National Championship competition or playoff. Right now, most HBCUs play at the FCS level of Division I NCAA Football. The FCS level of competition offers a 24-team playoff series at the end of the season. However, the MEAC and the SWAC choose to link their conference champions to the Celebration Bowl, a single game that is seen as the Black College Championship Game. This results in no HBCU schools getting the exposure and recognition offered by the FCA Championship Playoffs. This also leaves both the SIAC and CIAA teams totally out of consideration as the Black College National Football Champion. He suggests how a playoff system for HBCU football programs would work and names cities that have a large media presence that could serve as a permanent host for the title game. Another suggestion is to elevate the level of coaching at the HBCU level to create stronger teams. It has always been difficult for qualified black assistant coaches to get head coaching jobs in the NFL. Lock suggests that making college head coaching jobs at HBCUs more attractive is one way for promising assistant coaches to move to the head coaching position at HBCU member schools. Finally, former pro football players from HBCUs could become much more involved in recruiting players to attend and play football at their alma mater’s. Carlos Lock has written a very thought-provoking book that celebrates the great heritage black college football has brought to HBCUs in the past while suggesting some changes that will bring back some of the prestige the games have lost over the past few years.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.71 Mercedes-Benz Stadium 1 AMB Dr Atlanta, GA 30313 Peach Bowl website Mercedes-Benz Stadium website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 75,000 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl – Mercedes-Benz Stadium Originally played at Georgia Tech’s Historic Grant Field, today more commonly known as Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field , the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl has upgraded its home as Atlanta has built newer venues – the game was previously played at Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium and in the Georgia Dome, but has now moved to its current residence, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Chick-fil-A and the Peach Bowl appear to be the perfect marriage of bowl and corporate sponsorship. Having sponsored the bowl since 1997, the two have the longest corporate partnership of any bowl game. The stability of the chicken sandwich magnate’s backing has helped the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl establish itself as one of the premier bowl games in the New Year’s Six rotation.   Food & Beverage   5 When Mercedes-Benz Stadium initially opened, a priority was put on providing fans with a wide variety of concessions at the lowest prices possible. $20 can get fans all the following: a chicken tender basket with fries, a hot dog, a slice of pizza, pretzel, bag of popcorn, nachos with cheese, and a refillable Coca-Cola product. Wanting a bit more? Beer and a hot dog will set you back just $7. Mercedes-Benz Stadium also gives fans what seems like an endless selection of high-end food options. There are nearly 35 different concession stands and more than 25 bars throughout; choices run the gamut from Asian, BBQ, Jamaican, specialty burgers, pizza, and even vegan options, just to name a few. In addition, fans have the chance to experience several local and regional eateries all in one place – this includes Southern-Korean-Mexican infusion dishes at SO:KO:ME, Williamson Brothers BBQ, burgers from the legendary Holman & Finch and Farm Burger, and Papi’s Cuban Grill. It would be difficult to ask for more when it comes to stadium concessions; Mercedes-Benz Stadium delivers on both by providing a wide variety of options at extremely reasonable prices. Atmosphere   5 Starting in 2024, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will be contractually tied to the College Football Playoff for at least the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Beyond that it is impossible to fathom the bowl not being part of the playoff at some level. The Southeast has an obsessive nature about itself when it comes to college football, and the region without a bowl game of the magnitude of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl just does not seem right. As host of a neutral site matchup, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl does an outstanding job at working both fanbases up into a near craze leading up to kickoff. Big plays on both sides of the ball are followed with scoreboard graphics to excite fans, as well as neutral calls for fans to “Get Loud” during pivotal plays. Going forward, the bowl’s importance in crowning a national champion will only magnify an already electric atmosphere, with both sets of fans fervently hoping to advance to the next round.   Neighborhood   5 Atlanta has become the self-proclaimed “Capital of College Football”, and with good reason. From the Aflac Kickoff, the College Football Playoff, having twice been awarded the College Football National Championship Game, and being the home of the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame, college football has definitely found a home in Atlanta. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in the heart of downtown Atlanta, sits behind both State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks , and the Georgia World Congress Center, which hosts the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Fan Fest. The area is also full of bars, restaurants, hotels, and other points of interest to help fans pass the time. Besides the College Football Hall of Fame, just across the street is Centennial Olympic Park, which hosted many events during the 1996 Olympics, and the immediate area boasts many other attractions as well – the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and Atlanta Children’s Museum are all within walking distance of the stadium. The area definitely gives fans a slew of options to check out as part of their Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl experience.   Fans   5 The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl has been one of the most popular bowl games in recent history, selling out 24 of the last 27 games, and at one point having a streak of 17 consecutive sellouts. Only the “Grand Daddy of them All”, the Rose Bowl , surpasses this success at the box office (the Rose Bowl  has contractually sold out every game since 1947). Not that it needs help to increase fan interest, but the role the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will play in crowning college football’s National Champion will only increase the frenzied level fans will play in the game; both sets of fans show up in droves, and are loud in response to big plays from their teams. The excitement from fans of the victorious team permeates downtown Atlanta, as their celebratory chants echo throughout the hotels, bars, and streets well into the night. For fans without a rooting interest in the game, it is difficult not to get caught up in the passion created by the fanbases – it truly creates a special experience.   Access   4 Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s location in downtown Atlanta can create some hurdles getting to the area. In a city of this size, a bowl game can be one of several events happening around Atlanta that day, which just adds to the traffic issues that already plague the highways and surface streets in the area. Also, adding to the challenge is that there is only so much parking available at the stadium, and it can get expensive. Given these challenges, using Atlanta’s subway system, MARTA, might make the most sense. The availability of MARTA at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport gives fans flying to Atlanta the flexibility of not needing a vehicle to enjoy the attractions and bowl festivities in town. On game day, expect MARTA to be crowded, so the earlier the better if trying to avoid the largest of crowds. The stadium itself is rather easy to navigate during the game, but concourses are a bit narrow throughout, so they do become rather difficult to traverse during breaks between quarters, and especially during halftime. If concessions or a bathroom break is a must, sacrificing some game time can make it a much quicker trip. Bottom line is when bringing so many people to one location, inevitably it will create some headaches that require a bit of patience to deal with. That said, there are ways to help alleviate that impact and make the experience as easy as possible.   Return on Investment   4 When talking about ticket prices for New Year’s Six bowl games, premium games come with premium prices. However, given the role the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl plays in crowning a college football National Champion, there should not be a ton of sticker shock at these prices. Going forward, the starting point of ticket pricing will largely depend on where the game falls in the playoff rotation – expect tickets to start in excess of $100 to get in the door for a quarterfinal, and even higher when the bowl hosts a semi-final match up. The bottom line is, if a fan of college football simply wants to attend a game of such importance, buy tickets early because they will only increase in price once they hit the secondary market. Despite what is likely to be a triple digit price tag, the opportunity to be part of a team winning a national championship might be priceless. Judging the cost of a ticket strictly by face value might be skewed a bit given the magnitude of this game. Extras   5 In partnership with the Georgia Aquarium , discounted tickets are offered as pigskin meets aquatic life for a football-themed aquarium pep rally, which takes place the day before the game. Gameday kicks off with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Parade presented by Lions Club International. The parade route starts at the intersection of Baker and Centennial Olympic Park Drive, and ends at the front doors of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Fan Fest at the Georgia World Congress Center gives fans an opportunity to take part in promotions, games, pep rallies for each team, and start their pregame festivities before the gates of Mercedes-Benz Stadium open. As college football moves to a 12-team tournament format starting in 2024, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will play a significant role annually in crowning college football’s National Champion. At minimum the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will host a quarterfinal match up each season; 2024 will be one of the quarterfinal games, while 2025 will see the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl play host to one of the two semi-final games. Alumni groups of participating teams commonly host their own events in the days leading up to the game. From pep rallies to bar meetups and tailgate parties the day of the game, fans of each team are sure to find events specific to their program. Final Thoughts The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl is as nearly a perfect bowl experience as you are going to find.  Beyond the game holding National Championship implications, everything leading up to the game makes the experience both memorable and as easy on fans as possible. College football in the south is held in a certain regard that is difficult to match in any other part of the country. The marriage of college football in Atlanta and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl gives fans all they could want in a bowl game – a game with National Championship implications in a first-class stadium, in a location that gives fans from out of town the ability to access hotels, attractions, and the game easily, makes the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl one of the top bowl experiences out there.

Photos by Greg Johnston, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Raymond Field 550 Main St. Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6 Acadia Axemen football website Raymond Field website Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 3,000 Home of the Axemen Nestled between various vineyards and the Bay of Fundy in the scenic Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia is the town of Wolfville and Acadia University. With an enrollment of around 3,500 students, Acadia is one of the smaller schools in USports football. However, the football program fields a competitive team almost every season. Their greatest success came in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the Axeman made four Vanier Cup appearances, winning two of them in 1979 & 1981. Since 2005, Acadia has reached the semi-finals five times, losing each match. Food & Beverage 2 There’s not much to get excited about with the food options at Raymond Field. Two concession stands are located underneath the main grandstand. Depending on what you’re craving, you may have to visit both stations. Follow your nose to the grill behind section 4, as scents of hamburgers and hotdogs draw you to the makeshift concession stand. The permanent concession stand has more traditional snack foods including popcorn, candy, and an array of soft drinks, juices, hot chocolate, and coffee, all under $4. For a frosty beverage, a beer garden is set up just beside the grandstand. The garden consists of picnic tables and standing room areas with full view of the game. Beer options are limited to cans of Budweiser, Bud Light, Alexander Keith’s and Okanagan Cider for around $6. Instead of settling for some of these traditional choices, enjoy the farmer’s market next door prior to kickoff. The market offers a variety of food options including breakfast feasts, ethnic favorites, and desserts. In addition, a number of eating and drinking establishments are located within walking distance of the stadium. Atmosphere 2 Raymond Field would be a great place to film a football movie based in the 1960s. The main grandstand is an “old-timer” concrete structure and wood bench seating, with an angled heavy-looking canopy cantilevering over all ten seating rows. The grandstand is only on the west side of the field and is not centered to the field markers. Despite the running track surrounding the field of play, you will be close to the action sitting in the grandstand, as row one is within arms reach of the first runners lane. Additional aluminum stands are located at the corners of the field, but feel isolated from the main atmosphere. No matter where you sit, you’ll have a view of the lone scoreboard. Try not to miss any of the action, no video boards can replay any great play call. Entertainment during lulls in game action is minimal, but still catches your eye. The public announcer has a great voice for the job, with exuberant excitement after a big play; the fight song also blares over the loudspeakers after an Acadia score. Cheerleaders and the mascot, named “Axeman,” attempt to increase the crowd’s energy throughout the game by chanting and throwing out t-shirts. Neighborhood 5 One of the best aspects of an Acadia University game day experience is exploring the town of Wolfville. Raymond Field is located on Main Street on the west side of town with plenty of restaurants and attractions nearby. The stadium is directly across the street from the picturesque campus, and literally next door to a charming downtown. Be sure to set time to stroll down Main Street and visit the many local shops and restaurants. The downtown is only a few blocks long and is easily walkable. Walk down to the visitor center at the east end of town and swing back along the “Rails to Trails” nature trail to learn about the history of the railroad in the valley. Enroute you’ll see an interesting example of adaptive reuse historic preservation, as the old train station now functions as the town’s library. Be sure to check out the delightful farmers market and the many historic homes throughout the town. Couple your stay with “Devour!” a food film festival in late October celebrating cinema, food, and wine culture. Wolfville is the place to be if you are a wine aficionado. Vineyards line Highway 1 offering wine tasting and tours. A wine bus may be the most effective (and safe) way to experience as many wines as you can handle. Annapolis Valley is also known for its apple and pumpkin farms. If attending a game in late October, be sure to check out the Pumpkin Regatta. This annual event is located in Windsor, a half-hour away, and features a parade of gigantic pumpkins decorated and hollowed out to be raced across Lake Pesaquid. Fans 3 Acadia may have small enrollment and is located far from a major city, but the hundreds of local fans have taken an obvious sense of pride in Acadia football. Section 4 is reserved seating for season ticket holders, which is nearly full for every game. Here, you’ll find the most knowledgeable and boisterous Axeman supporters who can be clearly heard all over the field making up chants or hollering at the referees. Crowd sizes range from 1,200 – 2,000 per regular season game. Homecoming can expect a crowd between 2,000-2,500. Access 4 Admire a gorgeous drive through the Annapolis Valley if you’re arriving from Halifax. Make the hour-and-a-half trip in mid October, when the leaves are vibrant in colour with reds, greens, and oranges covering the landscape like a painting. Be sure to keep eyes on the road and depart Highway 101 at the Grand Pre exit. Follow Highway 1 past a number of wineries and B&B’s and you will roll right into downtown. Just past the few blocks of local businesses you’ll clearly see Raymond Field’s goal post and grandstands on your right. Turn into the large free parking lot just past the grandstand. Transit is an option if you’re arriving from as far as Greenwood. Kings Transit provides a bus every two hours for $3.50. Navigating your way to your seats from the parking lot should be straight forward. Sidewalks lead uphill to the main entrance of the multi-functional Acadia Athletic Complex. This facility consists of the school’s fitness centre and hosts a number of Acadia sporting events, including basketball, hockey, track & field, and swimming. The box office greets you as you enter through the building’s atrium. After receiving your ticket, follow the crowd to the only patron entrance into Raymond Field. On the way you’ll pass a campus store and the Acadia Sports Hall-of-Fame before security checks bags and tickets are scanned. You likely have a general admission (GA) ticket, unless you’re a season ticket holder. A GA ticket allows you a seat in sections 1-3 in the permanent grandstand (close to concessions and the washrooms) or any of the temporary metal bleachers set up near the end zone. A barrier free ramp leads to the grandstand’s accessible seating row located on the first row behind the visitor’s bench. Early-bird fans gravitated to the last row of the grandstand which provides the best overview of the field, back support from the canopy structure, and wind protection. Return on Investment 3 Acadia keeps their fan experience very simple. You won’t find pyrotechnics or a live marching band here. But you will experience a comfortable place to watch a college football game. Single game tickets can be purchased at Raymond Field’s box office, by phone, or on-line. Season tickets are available for $35. Acadia football provides a good experience for an afternoon family outing. Since young, future Acadia football stars can sometimes lose focus on the game, a bouncing castle is set up at the corner of the endzone to expel excess energy while you continue to enjoy the action. Extras 2 An extra point for grilling their hot dogs and hamburgers on site. The smell of barbecued meat draws you in for a tasty bite! An extra point for Acadia Hall-of-Fame open to all ticket holders. The old photographs and trophies tell a rich history of Axeman Sports. Final Thoughts Spending a full day or weekend in Wolfville is well worth your time during late summer or early fall. A wide range of sights, sounds, and activities fulfill all the senses for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Implementing a football game at Raymond Field to your agenda will satisfy any sports fan knowing how consistently competitive the team is. Overall, the fan experience is simple, welcoming, enjoyable, and not at all overwhelming…just like the town of Wolfville.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Grand Park Events Center 19000 Grand Park Blvd Westfield, IN 46074 Indy AlleyCats website Grand Park Events Center website Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 1,000 An Ultimate Indoor Experience The Indy AlleyCats are members of the United Frisbee Association, formerly the American Ultimate Disc League, and play home games out of the Grand Park Events Center in Westfield, Indiana. The building is the centerpiece of the Grand Park Sports Complex. It features 26 baseball and softball diamonds and 31 multipurpose fields for soccer, football, and lacrosse spread out over 400 acres 20 miles north of downtown Indianapolis. What makes the GPEC unique is that it is the only indoor facility in the 24-team UFA and offers plenty of benefits that include protection from cold and rainy days,  an indoor control climate, a full-service restaurant, and alcoholic beverages to sip during the game. The AlleyCats have been mainstays in the league since 2013 and have posted only two losing seasons in its history. To the discerning eye, the sport of ultimate disc should be easy to follow, understandable, and enjoyable to watch, and to its burgeoning fan base of supporters, the next big step in spreading the game to further regions of North America. The sport has a little bit of everything: high scores, quick and short passes, turnovers, close plays, and extraordinary leaps toward the heavens to pull down a disc for a score. During the spring and summer time, it may be a nice distraction from the usual sporting events taking place in town. Food & Beverage 3 The GPEC offers two areas for food and drink. A full-service restaurant is located on the top level and overlooks one end of the field offering 12 taps of craft and domestic beers, plus plenty more in cans. While the concession stand downstairs offers an array of snacks. Grand Parks Event Center Restaurant, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey The beers range from local varieties from Grand Junction, Sun King, People’s, and Three Floyd’s. The beer prices are $9 a pint. There is also a list of cider, hard lemonade, wine, and spirits available. Downstairs is a small concession stand that offers nachos, hot dogs, pretzels, candy, chips,  and sodas. Pepsi products are also served at the concession stand. The prices range between $3.50 to $5; a nice price to grab a snack during the game and save an appetite for dinner somewhere else afterward. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere of the game is connected heavily to the action on the field. The majority of the fans are part of the ultimate community and will shout out to specific players on the field who are most likely friends or family members. GPEC includes three soccer fields and the Cats use the middle field where there is bleacher seating on one side, up above the field of play. There are 8 rows of aluminum bleacher seats that put fans up close to the action and offer a nice view of the field except the first few rows that are obstructed by the wire guard rails. The team’s merchandise is located at the corner of the concourse and displays a wide variety of merchandise that includes caps, t-shirts, hoodies, gloves, discs, and scarves. The shirts are displayed on mannequins and there are about 5 to 6 different styles of caps. The team's MC gets the crowd hyped during the game engaging with fans, offering prizes to young fans, and reminding them to cheer during pivotal times of the games. After each score, two young fans march up and down the sidelines waving team flags colored in green and white. Neighborhood 4 Grand Park is located 20 miles north of downtown Indianapolis in the suburb of Westfield, a sprawling community that has grown quite gradually in recent years. Grand Park is located near a collection of chain restaurants, hotels, and local restaurants and establishments. Just outside the complex are Portillo's and Noble Roman’s, two local establishments with numerous locations throughout the state. Visitors can enjoy craft beers, pizza, and pub food. A little further down the road are smaller places that are noteworthy: Chiba Indy (sushi), Rail (farm to table), and Grand Junction Brewing Company. Two personal favorites include Wine & Vine and The Mash House & West Fork Whiskey Company offers bourbon, and farm-fresh ingredients in an aesthetically pleasing setting. Wine & Vine is a combo winery and brewery with outdoor seating and pleasant views. The best for entertainment may still be downtown Indianapolis, a short 30-minute drive south. Options include the Indiana State Museum, Children’s Museum, Canal Walk  Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, and the neighborhoods of Mass Ave, Broad Ripple, and Fountain Square. Fans 3 Most fans are very knowledgeable about the sport and most likely are connected with the team or the sport itself. It makes for an interesting visit as one can gather a lot of information from the mouths of many in their seats. The crowd is fixed to the game and the only objective that matters is a win by the Cats. Access 4 Grand Park Events Center is 20 miles north of Indianapolis but access is super simple via automobile. The highways leading up the complex are designed with roundabouts and underpasses to keep traffic flowing towards the facility. Once inside, there are two sets of staircases in the lobby that lead visitors to the seating area. Return on Investment 3 A single ticket is $11 and concession options are around $5, a very reasonable price to take in a game of Ultimate under climate control conditions. The restaurant has affordable dinner options and 12 draft options are available for $9. There is also a beer of the month available for $5. There is no fee for parking. Extras 2 The Alley Cats have some of the best merchandise in the league. It is of high quality and some of the shirts and caps feature some great designs for fashionable fans. The Grand Park Events Center receives another point for being the only indoor venue in the league. It might affect the game for the players in some regards, but fans are comfortable and do not have to second guess attending a scheduled contest under gloomy, wet, or cold conditions. A final point is awarded for the team's MC who hypes and engages the crowd during games. The action on the field is enough for many of the fans, but he adds a little flare to the proceedings. There is also a DJ who plays familiar songs with a different beat. Final Thoughts The Grand Park Events Center is the only indoor venue in the league. However, the place could use a little more logo placement to give the venue a true home feeling. Also, being indoors ensures that all games can be attended by fans under comfortable conditions. The UFA is an exciting sport to watch and from my standpoint after watching multiple games, didn’t seem too different underneath the roof. ---- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter   @ballparkhunter   and his   YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Richard Smith Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Wilmington University Athletics Complex 1365 Pulaski Highway Newark, DE 19702 Wilmington Wildcats website Wilmington University Athletics Complex website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 1,000 Wildcats In Delaware Wilmington University was founded in 1968 as Wilmington College. It became a university in 2007. Their main campus is located in New Castle, DE but classes are also held in Brandywine, Middletown, Dover, Dover Air Force Base, and Georgetown, DE, as well as one Maryland location and five New Jersey locations. Plans are also underway for a new large campus just north of Wilmington. Wilmington University’s athletic teams are known as the Wildcats and compete in NCAA Division II within the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference for all sports. The university’s men’s baseball team was named NCAA Division II East Regional champions in 2015 while the men’s golf team earned an NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Super Regional title in both 2012 and 2015. The university’s cheerleading team was named the Universal Cheerleading Association’s national champions for five consecutive years between 2012 and 2016. Some of the school’s sports teams play here at the Wilmington University Athletic Complex in Bear, Delaware. It was opened in 2013 and is home to the men’s and women’s basketball and soccer teams as well as the women’s lacrosse and volleyball teams. Food & Beverage 1 There is no concession stand here at the complex. But I am awarding a point since there are times when other Wilmington sports teams sell hot dogs and other items at halftime in the lobby to raise money. Hot dogs for a dollar is never a bad idea. There is also a well-priced soda and snack machine in the small north lobby. Atmosphere 3 This is a small gym that is very reminiscent of a high school gym. Because of the small size, it can get loud pretty quickly depending on the game's action. There is a small simple grandstand on the main side of the court, with a smaller student section behind the benches. Wilmington has a very strong cheerleading program, as well as a decent dance squad that entertains the small crowd. Neighborhood 3 Bear is a suburban location along a stretch of US Route 40 in Delaware. There is no real town that can be found. That means it will not be an exciting area to visit, but there will be many options for food and drink pre and post-game. The sports complex is not close to the main part of campus. Stewarts Brewing Company is a very good local brewpub located a mile or so away at the Governor’s Square Shopping Center. There are a few other options in this area. Longhorn Steakhouse may be the closest actual option to the sports complex. Fans 2 As with most small college gyms, the bulk of the fans tends to be family or friends of both teams. There will be some local fans who just happen to stop by for the game as well. The fans are very knowledgeable and can be quite loud. Student attendance at games will always be an issue as the university has so many scattered locations and is often thought of as a commuter school. Access 4 The sports complex is easy to reach and is only a couple miles off of Interstate 95. You may have to pay some tolls, although locals will know how to avoid them as much as possible. There is a decent size parking lot for the complex. There are two entrances to the arena. The one to the left is the best as it has a small room with the school’s All-Americans on display. Return on Investment 4 You are not going to be watching the highest level of basketball competition, but the cost is about the best you can find. That’s right, there is no admission cost. Combine that with free parking, and you have a pretty great night out. Extras 2 The All-American display is nice and is worth a few minutes of your time. Depending on the time of year and season, one should also see if any games are going on at the outdoor soccer and lacrosse complex. There is a small grandstand and the field looks quite nicely designed. Final Thoughts Wilmington University has a very nice sports complex with a small but nicely designed gym. The level of competition is fairly low, but with no cost of admission, a sports fan will want to make some time to visit if in the area.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Value City Arena at Jerome Schottenstein Center 555 Borror Dr Columbus, OH 43210 Ohio State Buckeyes men’s hockey website Value City Arena at Jerome Schottenstein Center website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 17,500 Buckeyes on Ice Taking the ice for the first time in 1963, the Ohio State Buckeyes began a long, yet not illustrious tenure in College Hockey.  Not a part of the three M’s of College hockey (Michigan, Massachusetts and Minnesota), Ohio State has seen various degrees of success which have culminated in appearances in the Frozen Four in 1998 and 2018.  The Buckeyes have enjoyed conference championships in 1972 and 2019 and tournament championships in 1972 and 2004 while participating in the NCAA tournament ten times.  The Buckeyes were a charter member of the original CCHA conference in 1971 and the Big Ten hockey conference in 2013.  The most accomplished hockey alumnus of Ohio State is Ryan Kesler, who went on to play over 1,000 games in the NHL. The Ohio State hockey team shares its home, Value City Arena @ Jerome Schottenstein Center, with the school's basketball team.  Opened in 1998 and with a capacity of 17,500, Value City Arena is not the most ideal home for Buckeye hockey, but does give the team more of a major league feel playing in a large arena.  The Schott, as it is sometimes referred, is named after Columbus businessman and philanthropist, the late Jerome Schottenstein who helped make the arena possible with a $12.5 million gift.  Schottenstein is known for founding Schottenstein Stores Inc, which operated a number of Value City furniture and department stores.  Ohio State University was founded in 1870 and currently boasts over 60,000 students in Columbus, Ohio. Food & Beverage 4 The Schott does offer a good variety of concession options for fans.  All of the expected arena items can be found along with a number of more unique and upscale items.  Fowl At Play offers a variety of grilled and fried chicken options along with funnel cake fries; Sear and Stack offers gourmet burgers and texas tenderloin; Brutus’ Best offers chimichurri veggie subs, club sandwiches and jalapeno sausage; Ooey Gooey Grilled Cheese offers grilled cheese concoctions; Donato’s Pizza has pizza and sub offerings; and Scarlett Grill has fries and chicken tenders.  The soft drink of choice at Value City Arena is in the Coca-Cola family.  Many stands offer self-serve fountain drink stations, which is fairly unique.  Beer offerings are fairly limited with Coors Light, Michelob Ultra and Modelo being the brands available. Atmosphere 3 The Jerome Schottenstein Center has a large, hulking exterior that makes it look like a major league venue.  The exterior has a mix of brown brick and windows on the entry points with turret-like points on the corners, and a central structure that is covered in grey siding.  The exterior is well kept and attractive. After fans enter the building, they are brought into the main concourse.  The concourse gives fans a bit of a Joe Louis Arena  feel.  The councourses are dominated by painted block walls and bright colours.  There is not much in the way of natural light that enters the councourses and unlike Joe Louis Arena, the concourses are neat and dominated by scarlett, grey and white colors, including on the floors.  Inside the seating bowl, the ice runs from west to east with the perfect spot for the picture of the center ice logo, from the north side.  The seating bowl is two-tiered with a separated lower bowl.  The upper deck is curtained off to give a bit more of an intimate feel to the venue.  The seats in the east end are also covered with a large “Buckeye Hockey”sign. The videoboard at centre ice is decent, but not overly huge and the upper deck fascia features LED ribbon boards and there are videoboards in the upper corners.  The east side of the arena also features the Ohio State hockey banners.  Grouped banners hang for the NCAA Tournament appearances, Frozen Four appearances, CCHA season and tournament championships, and Big Ten Championships.  Individual banners hang for the 2019 Big Ten season championship, 1998 and 2018 Frozen Four and the honoured number of Paul Pooley.  Pooley played 15 games in the NHL and is the Buckeyes leading scorer.  The gameday atmosphere is what one would expect for a college hockey game.  The game that was reviewed was during the winter break and the campus was quiet.  Normally the student section would have a presence and the band would also be a part of the experience.  Clearly the worst part of an Ohio State hockey game is the seating area.  The seats in Value City Arena are cushioned, but low to the ground and very narrow.  For fans who may be above average in height or stature, it is not a comfortable experience at all.  Finding seats that are in a less populated area may be the best idea to be able to spread out. Neighborhood 5 Jerome Schottenstein Center is located on the campus of Ohio State University, in the Olentangy West neighborhood of Columbus.  Columbus is an excellent city to spend some time in and taking in an Ohio State game should be part of it.  There are a number of spots that are not too far from the arena for pre or post game food and drink.  Some options include Brassica in Upper Arlington, The O on Lane, Varsity Club, Bravo, and Mirror Lake Eatery as well as a plethora of national chain restaurants. Columbus is a fantastic place for the sports fan.  Ohio State fields a full complement of college teams including basketball , baseball , and the pride of the state, football at Ohio Stadium .  Other sports options include the Columbus Blue Jackets  of the NHL, Columbus Crew  of MLS and Columbus Clippers  of MiLB.  Other tourist options include the Jack Nicklaus Museum, Arnold Swartzenegger bronze statue, Franklin Park Conservatory, COSI, Ohio State Capital and the German Village.  For fans who wish to stay near The Schott, the SpringHill Suites and Blackwell Inn are close options. Fans 3 Support for Ohio State hockey is decent.  In the 2023 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes averaged 4,500 fans per game, which ranked them 6th in the Big Ten Conference and 16th in the NCAA.  As of this writing, in the 2024 season, the Buckeyes have averaged 5,000 fans per game, which ranks 5th in the Big Ten and 15th in the NCAA.  There is definitely room for improvement, especially since Ohio State boasts one of the largest buildings in the country.  The game that was reviewed was during the winter break and it is assumed that when the students are on campus, their presence is felt and provides for a better ambience.   Access 4 Value City Arena is located on the campus of Ohio State University in the Olentangy West neighbourhood of Columbus.  It is just west of the Olentangy River, north of I-670 and west of I-71.  Highway 315 essentially bisects the campus, so getting to Ohio State is not that difficult.  There is plenty of space available for parking, at a cost, close to the arena.  For fans who desire to take public transit, there are bus stops that run along Olentangy River Road and Lane Ave.  Fans should consult the Central Ohio Transit Authority  website for fares, maps and schedules.  Getting around Schottenstein Center is not too difficult based on the average attendance and the washroom facilities are adequate. Stadium Journey recognizes that security protocols for major sporting events are constantly changing.  Currently, Ohio State uses a “No Bag” Policy.  Stadium Journey encourages all fans to consult the Schottenstein Center  website for the most up to date security procedures and protocols including bag policy and prohibited items. Return on Investment 4 College hockey offers great value for the sporting dollar and Ohio State is no different.  Non-conference game tickets for adults begin at $12 and go up to $20 for adults.  Discounts can be found for students, seniors and children.  Conference and premier games, including Michigan games, top out at $25 and $30 respectively.  Concession prices are about what one would expect.  Parking comes at a price, but it is not exorbitant.  The product on the ice is solid.  The biggest drawback comes down to the lack of comfort in the seats. Extras 3 An extra mark for the rivalry that Ohio State shares with that team up north, even in hockey. An extra mark for the helmets for the Buckeyes, which mimic the helmets of the football team, the same grey with scarlet stripe down the middle. An extra mark for the unique branding of the Buckeyes.  Many outside of Ohio are unaware that a buckeye is actually a chestnut. Final Thoughts Columbus, Ohio is a significantly underrated city to visit.  There is no doubt that one of the centerpieces of Columbus is Ohio State.  Fans should not sleep on Ohio State Buckeyes hockey at Value City Arena @ Schottenstein Center.  It’s a great experience and one that college hockey fans need to consider. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Feyenoord Stadium Vam Zandvlietplein 1, Ijsselmonde Rotterdam 3077 AA, Netherlands Feyenoord Rotterdam website Feyenoord Stadium (De Kuip) website Year Opened: 1937 Capacity: 51,177 Feyenoord Stadium (AKA De Kuip) The Feyenoord Stadion in Rotterdam is one of the most iconic footballing arenas in the whole of Europe. That it is in danger of being demolished should be of concern to all who value such structures over the new and often soulless stadia we’ve seen in recent times. Inaugurated in 1937, the ground is known to all as De Kuip (The bowl) due simply to its attractive curving footprint. It is home to the Dutch footballing giant Feyenoord Rotterdam. Such is the De Kuip’s prestige it has also hosted Dutch national team matches, a European Championship final and many European club finals too. Feyenoord Rotterdam began life as ‘Wilhelina’ became SC Feyenoord before settling on the current name in 1978. They’ve won their domestic league on no fewer than 15 occasions and the KNVB Cup 13 times. In Europe they have also had success, winning the European Cup in 1970 and two UEFA Cup trophies in 1974 and 2002. Whilst plans have been mooted to move away from the De Kuip before, the current iteration, a new 63,000 sports hub on the nearby river bank seems to have traction and could open by 2023. Most Feyenoord fans do not want to leave their current ground, whether they can stop the move seems unlikely. Rotterdam itself is the gritter and tougher sibling of the country’s capital city Amsterdam. Whilst Amsterdam attracts tourists and acclaim from across the world, Rotterdam quietly gets on with its shipping and its finance industries with a stoic outlook, far removed from their ‘flashy’ compatriots up the road. Think Glasgow to Edinburgh or Belfast to Dublin and you get the picture. Food & Beverage 3 The stadium boasts its own restaurant called the Brasserie. Open for drinks or lunches this is an option more if you are visiting on a non-match day as the restaurant closes at 2pm on the day of a game. On match day, on the Olympiatribune side of the ground there are mobile food kiosks selling the usual fayre just outside the stadium itself. Inside, you will need to first purchase your Feyenoord tokens (munts) as the bars do not take cash. These can be bought from a shed within the confines of the stadium, 10 tokens cost 14.50 Euros. A Pepsi will then set you back one token. Heineken Light is served for 1.5 tokens as well as 7-Up, iced tea and Red Bull to name but a few – an impressive array of drink choices! Food wise a small burger cost 2.5 tokens and Kroket (Croquet in a bun) is 2 tokens. Food and Drink Kiosk, Photo by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Atmosphere 4 Raucous and intimidating are two words often used to describe the atmosphere in the De Kuip when it is full. Before kick-off, Feyenoord fans will often reveal tifo style displays and belt out their club anthem. To a certain extent the atmosphere will depend on the competition and opposition. For this visit, a pre-season friendly v Southampton, only 2/3rds full, it was the away fans who made most of the noise. The home fans not particularly pleased with their team’s performance on the day. The ‘bowl’ layout of the stadium and low roof contribute to the noise staying in the ground. The locals normally play their part vocally, no prawn sandwiches and half-time flasks here, Feyenoord fans come to support their team. Due to its shape there are additional ‘temporary’ stands at pitch level on all 4 sides. These ensure supporters are close to the pitch with the main stands themselves a little further back. These stands however are more open to the elements, so you may choose to sit back in the main stands to avoid a soaking. Seats in the main stands are generally tightly packed together with not a lot of leg room. There are scoreboards behind both goals that are not particularly large but display the time and remind you of the latest score line! Neighborhood 3 There is very little of note in the immediate vicinity of the ground. A few restaurants and fast food outlets however have popped up to the north of the stadium such as Hollywood’s, just across the dual carriageway from the ground. This or drinking inside the ground is your main choice locally. For all main amenities therefore, you will need to start and finish your visit in the city centre. The ‘in place’ to eat in Rotterdam is the Market Hall (Markthal). The building itself is a masterpiece of architecture, an arched ‘upside-down’ horseshoe shape with a myriad of market stalls selling foods from across the world. Just wander in and see what takes your fancy! If not head to the Fenix Food Factory if you like your beer, cider and food. You can then jump on a water taxi to the stadium! The central area itself has all the usual museums, cinemas and theatres you’d expect in a modern city. For history lovers, the Pilgrims Fathers Church can be visited, where the intrepid explorers worshipped before setting off on the Speedwell to the USA in July 1620. For stadium enthusiasts you may wish to fit another game in to your trip at the other local clubs Sparta Rotterdam or Excelsior. Tickets are easy to get for either unless it’s a derby match. Excelsior’s ground is to the east of the city and Sparta to the west. Accommodation wise, if you are using the car then the 4* Delta Hotel in Vlaardingen on the north bank of the river has fantastic views and can be booked at a reasonable cost. If not, then any hotel around the central train station would suit. For example, the Grand Hotel Central a 3* hotel is just a few minutes’ walk away. There isn’t a great deal of hotel options near to the stadium, one possibility is the Art Hotel Rotterdam, a 4* which is still a half hour walk away. Fans 4 In the Dutch Eredivisie, Feyenoord’s average attendances are second only to fierce rivals Ajax. Average attendances have fallen in the last few years (16/17 47,500, 17/18 45,588, 18/19 41,771) but the hard core remains as loyal as ever. The main fan group affiliated to the club is ‘The Legioen’ with over 40k members, the equivalent for the young fans ‘Kameraadjes’ has over 25,000 signed up. The club also has a large following from countries across the world. The club anthem is ‘Hand in Hand’ and the fans vocal support comes from all four sides of the ground instead of just one main end that is often the case. Access 4 If you are flying in for a match, use Schiphol (Amsterdam) airport. You can then take a train direct to Rotterdam in just 30 mins. Alternatively, you could fly into Eindhoven. From here you’d need to get a bus (401) to Eindhoven train station then it’s an hour train journey into Rotterdam. Another alternative from France and the UK is to take the Eurostar to Brussels then use a local train from Brussels to Rotterdam which takes around 2 hours. Although the stadium is ‘out of town,’ links from central Rotterdam are good. From Rotterdam Centraal station there are trains to the Rotterdam Stadion which is right opposite the ground. On non-match days, alight at Rotterdam Zuid which is a 20 minute walk to the ground. A cheaper option is to use your match day ticket for free travel on the tram. Jump on the number 23 from right outside Centraal station and be dropped opposite the De Kuip, a stone’s throw from the above-mentioned Hollywood bar. Alternatively, you can use the metro service, bus or even water taxi to get around. The metro was built in 1968 with 5 lines A-E. Take the dark blue ‘E’ line from Centraal station toward the stadium and alight at either Rijnhaven or Maashaven, both are still around a half hour walk from the ground. If you are driving, you can book a parking space at the same time you book your ticket. Car parks around the ground can be expensive…25 Euros being quoted for parking on a piece of waste land just to the northeast of the stadium. Access wise. there is plenty of space around the perimeter of the ground with fans visiting the club shops or grabbing some food from the various food stalls. Signs showing the layout of the whole stadium are on show outside to help you get your bearings. Entry into the stadium is using a bar-coded ticket and like most stadiums these days be prepared to be searched upon entry. Once inside be prepared for lots of stairs! Wheelchair users are given a section behind the dugouts and assistance is available. Return on Investment 3 The Feyenoord online ticket shop should be your first call for obtaining match day tickets. As ever these days, you will need to create an account first. The advice is to book your ticket before travelling, however if the game hasn’t sold out, there will be tickets on sale at the box office on the day of the match. Tickets can obviously also be purchased via third party websites but expect to pay the usual premium. Home match day tickets cost from 38 Euros, the away fans paying as little as 19 Euros (for a friendly). All the usual merchandise is available in the club shops at slightly inflated prices, i.e. a scarf will cost 20 Euros and a cap 15 Euros. For accommodation and food Rotterdam prices are not cheap but the ‘cost of living’ is far lower here than the tourist trap of Amsterdam. A tourist day ticket which allows travel on all the main transport offerings cost €13.50. Alternatively, a Rotterdam Welcome card can be purchased which does the same thing but also offers discounts. Extras 3 The Feyenoord App can be downloaded which provides up to date news and access to tickets and the fan shop. Could only find a version in Dutch however so if it’s not your first language it may not be so helpful! The Feyenoord Museum is only available as part of the Stadium tours , which can be booked in the fan store next to the ground or book in advance over the phone. Prices are from 9.50 Euros with a 1 Euro reduction if purchased online. The match day programme cost just 1.50 Euros and was good value. Two fan shops are located at the corner of the Maastribune and the Willem Van Hanegem Tribunes. Final Thoughts Stadium Journey wholeheartedly recommends a visit to the De Kuip, as soon as you can!

Photos by Meg Minard,, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Laney College Football Field 900 Fallon St Oakland, CA 94607 Map It Oakland Roots SC website Laney College Football Field website Año Abierto: 1962 Capacidad: 5,500 Oakland Roots ¿Crees que los Athletics son el único equipo deportivo en Oakland, CA? Piensa otra vez. Con solo unos pocos años de existencia, Oakland Roots SC atrae grandes multitudes durante la temporada de fútbol. El club es miembro de la USL-C, el segundo nivel de fútbol en los Estados Unidos. Comenzó su notable aventura en 2019 como miembro de NISA (Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Independiente) y se mudó a la USL-C en 2021. Los empresarios de Oakland que se enorgullecen de pertenecer a la comunidad de Oakland son dueños de The Roots. Los camiones de comida son todos locales; los artistas de Oakland realizan entretenimiento previo al partido. Los socios de los pubs de los partidos fuera de casa son los bares comunitarios y las tabernas. Todo es bastante impresionante. Los propietarios y la comunidad deben estar orgullosos de su equipo y organización. Oakland Roots SC juega sus partidos de local en el campo de fútbol de Laney College. El colegio es un colegio comunitario público cerca de Lake Merritt y tiene una reputación de diversidad y capacitación técnica de alta calidad. Food & Beverage / Bebida y Alimenticia 4 Las opciones de comida son increíbles. Los camiones locale de comida deliciosa cierran la calle 10th Street. Algunas de las tarifas que se ofrecen son: Mediterránea (giros, arroces y ensaladas) Pupusas, Nachos, Tacos (Guatemaltecas y Mexicanas) Coolinaria (mexicano contemporáneo con ingredientes de origen local) Munchiez (comida reconfortante y dulces) Southern Comfort Kitchen (muchas opciones de pescado frito) Empanadas Argentinas También se instala a lo largo de la calle una carpa que ofrece cerveza enlatada, agua mineral, sidra y vino. No noté ningunas mesas ni sillas para sentarse y comer. Los fanáticos disfrutan de sus comidas poniéndose de pie o llevándolos a sus asientos. Es fantástico ver la variedad de cocinas que se ofrecen y aún mejor que son negocios locales de Oakland. Atmosphere / Atmósfera 4 La mayor parte del área de asientos está en el lado este (más cercano al campus). Consta de 10 a 12 filas de gradas orientadas al oeste. Las gradas no tienen pasamanos instalados; para aquellos que se sienten incómodos, quédense en la sección para discapacitados o en las filas superiores. El club marca algúnas secciones apartadas. Los asientos de “Mosaic” son las tres secciones al centro del campo. Los asientos centrales de las primeras cinco filas, acolchados con cojines multicolores brillantes, se conocen como asientos Mosaic+. Oakland Roots Colorful Mosaic+ Seating, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey La sección de Deep Roots Supporters son las dos últimas secciones en el extremo sur de las gradas. Los graderios están al lado oeste y se usan para el desbordamiento y las familias de los jugadores. El club coloca asientos individuales alrededor del campo, detrás de las vallas laterales, para los fanáticos que desean una experiencia cercana a la acción. Los aficionados no pueden recorrer todo el perímetro del terreno de juego. La sección de la familia de los jugadores está vigilada y bloquea el circuito. El Oakland Roots SC utiliza el marcador del estadio de fútbol que se destaca detrás de la portería sur y muestra el tiempo, la mitad y el marcador. La organización despliega un césped modular específico para fútbol sobre el campo de fútbol para la temporada de fútbol. Siguiendo con el tema basado en la comunidad, los residentes y las organizaciones de Oakland brindan el entretenimiento. En el partido de esta revisión, la Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil de Oakland desempeñó antes del juego, al igual que G-Eazy, un destacado rapero y productor nacido en Oakland. Los clubes de fútbol juvenil patearon la pelota en el medio tiempo. Neighborhood / Barrio 3 El estadio se encuentra en el campus urbano de 60 acres de Laney College, a menos de una milla del Lake Merritt. Para lugares para comer, varios restaurantes vietnamitas y tailandeses están cerca. Más cerca del lago se encuentran Portal (restaurante de brunch) y Tacos Mi Rancho (mexicano). Varias cervecerías están a una milla de distancia: Buck Wild Brewing & Taproom, Oakland United Beerworks, Original Pattern Brewing y Federation Brewery. Jack London Square, un área histórica frente al mar y puerto deportivo con restaurantes, bares, tiendas y entretenimiento, está a solo 1,5 millas del campo de fútbol de Laney College. Un excelente museo para visitar es el Oakland Museum of California, a solo media milla del campo. La mayoría de los hoteles están en el centro de Oakland, a una milla de distancia. Estos incluyen un Hampton Inn Oakland Downtown, Ramada by Wyndham, un Marriott y un Courtyard Marriott. Otros deportes para visitar en el área durante la temporada de fútbol incluyen los Oakland Athletics y los San Francisco Giants . Fans / Fanáticos 4 Con solo dos años en la USL-C, la comunidad de Oakland ha adoptado Oakland Roots de todo corazón. Es un placer ver una variedad de grupos étnicos, familias, niños y adultos jóvenes reunidos en torno a este club de fútbol. Todos los fanáticos se ponen de pie y vitorean (o gimen) ante la acción en el campo. ¡Sin duda son una multitud alegre y bulliciosa! Deep Roots, el grupo de aficionados, crea una atmósfera eléctrica en los partidos con tambores, ondear banderas, vítores y saltos. Una línea de tambores anima a los fanáticos antes del juego con un desfile espectacular a lo largo de 10th St antes del partido. Tambores, bailarines y una persona sobre zancos caminan por la cuadra para que todos disfruten. Durante el concurso, Ryan, un artista local y avido fanatico, se para detrás de la meta y pinta un paisaje del estadio y el partido de futbol. Oakland Roots Local Artist, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey La asistencia promedio es de 4.600, lo que les brinda una multitud sólida para la mayoría de los partidos durante la temporada. Access / Acceso 3 Llegar al campo de fútbol americano de Laney College es relativamente fácil, ya que está justo al lado de la I-880 y a media milla de la estación BART de Lake Merritt . El estacionamiento está en el estacionamiento para estudiantes de Laney College en E 7th St, frente al campus (solo busque todos los autos), y es gratis. La entrada principal al estadio está en E 10th St y 2nd Ave, y los fanáticos pasan por detectores de metales para su control de seguridad. Se permiten bolsas transparentes de hasta 14” x 6” x 14”. La seguridad se toma en serio. Las puertas abren una hora antes del inicio. 10th St entre 2nd y 4th Avenue está cerrada para los camiones de comida y el entretenimiento previo al juego. Los baños están debajo de la cabina de prensa y las gradas; otro conjunto está en un edificio en el extremo noroeste de la cancha. Espere líneas durante los partidos con entradas agotadas. El área de asientos puede llenarse, especialmente durante los juegos que se agotan. Return on Investment / Retorno de la inversion 5 El precio de un boleto para un solo juego para un partido de Oakland Roots es el siguiente: Generalidades – $20 Mosaic – $25 Mosaic Plus – $35 Línea final de asiento de campo – $65 Línea lateral del asiento de campo – $75 Los boletos de temporada y los paquetes grupales reducen ese precio. Los fanáticos no pagan por el estacionamiento. Los precios de los alimentos son lo que se espera en California. Los fanáticos y el ambiente del día del juego son fenomenales. Obtendrá el valor de su dinero de entretenimiento deportivo en un partido aquí. Extras 4 Oakland Roots SC se unió al movimiento Common Goal cuya misión es crear un cambio social positivo. Los participantes contribuyen con un mínimo del 1% de sus salarios para luchar contra la desigualdad social. “El club fue fundado con un propósito; aprovechar la magia de Oakland y el poder del deporte como una fuerza para el bien social”. – tomado del sitio web Oakland Roots La organización está promocionando a su contraparte del equipo femenino, Oakland Soul, que comenzará a jugar en 2023 en la liga USL-W. Estar involucrado en la ciudad e incorporar empresas y organizaciones comunitarias en aspectos del día del partido es profundamente evidente. Final Thoughts / Pensamientos Finales Los fanáticos de los deportes de Oakland definitivamente han abrazado su nuevo club de fútbol, Oakland Roots SC. Encontrarás una casa repleta a menudo durante la temporada con fanáticos apasionados y acogedores. Muchas gracias a Jim Minard por su ayuda con la traducción.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 New Holland Arena 23 North Cameron St Harrisburg, PA 17110 Harrisburg Heat website New Holland Arena website Year Opened: 1939 Capacity: 6,700 Heating things up in Harrisburg The Freedmont Mortgage Field at Farm Show Arena is on one six different buildings that make up the Pennsylvania Farm Show and Expo Center in Harrisburg. It is also home to the Harrisburg Heat of Major Arena Soccer League. In 1917 the first state-wide farm show took place attracting 5,000 visitors and as it grew in popularity a new centralized place was needed to house the event. On January 31, 1929, construction for the $1.4 million farm show complex in Harrisburg broke ground and opened in time for the 1931 Farm Show. By the end of the decade, the Large Show Arena would be built in 1939. Today the Farm Show is the largest indoor agricultural event in the world attracting 585,000 visitors to 24 acres of animals, educational encounters, displays, and food. The original Heat were members of the old National Professional Soccer League that began operations in 1991 becoming a popular draw during the decade playing front of crowds that averaged between 5,000-6,000 people to the 7,300 seat arena. However, the team would cease operations in 2003 until being rebooted 9 years later. The current version of the Heat began in 2012 and new ownership plans to restore the club to its glory days in central Pennsylvania. Carl Delmont, CEO of Maryland-based Freedmont Mortgage looks to improve the team by signing international talent in hopes of producing success on and off the artificial turf. Food & Beverage 3 There are multiple concession stands throughout the inner-main concourse with only a handful open, but still, manage to supply customers with food and drink. There is also a beer garden that offers a multitude of beer, ciders, and alcoholic beverages. The prices and selection are reasonable and include chicken tender basket ($6), hot dogs ($3), cheeseburgers ($6), grilled chicken sandwich ($7.25), nachos ($3), pizza ($3.50) and fries ($3.25). There also two types of sausages for $6: Italian and hot varieties. To wash all of these items down, the facility offers Coca-Cola products at $3.25-$4.25 respectively. The beer garden houses 26 different bottled beers ranging from local favorites Tröegs, Yuengling, and Yards to national brands of Bud, Coors, and PBR. There also Jack’s Ciders and Not Your Father’s alcoholic beverages. The prices range from $6.50-$8 a bottle in the beer garden. The concession stands also sell premium and domestic beers for $6 and $7 respectively. Atmosphere 3 The Harrisburg Heat provide a nice way to spend a cold winter’s evening indoors. The facility itself is in surprising sound condition for its age and features a wide concourse to house activities and easy access to the building and seating concourse. The merchandise tent offers t-shirts, hoodies, zip-ups, flags, replica jerseys, and other paraphernalia at reasonable prices-a jersey is a steal at $50. Adjacent to the tent is the official fan club that looks to boost up its membership. There is even an area where kids can get balloon sculptures made for free. The night we visited the arena the Heat were hosting local businesses who were offering free samples of products and information around the curved concourse area. The arena floor is mostly covered in dirt for the Farm Show and the field itself rests on top of it for home games. The dirt creates a track around the boards and field, but also provides a cushy balance for the artificial surface for players. The sightlines are pretty good for games and there is not a bad seat anywhere in the house, even way up on top the view of the field is unobstructed. A simple scoreboard hovers over centerfield that seems somewhat out of date in terms of graphics; however, ownership is looking to install video boards in the future for replays. Neighborhood 4 The Farm Show Complex is a few miles away from downtown Harrisburg by car. The state capital of Pennsylvania offers plenty to do if in town for the weekend along the Susquehanna River. Top tourist spots include the National Civil War Museum, State Capitol, Ft. Hunter Mansion and Park, and Riverfront Park. For nightlife, downtown offers the Susquehanna Ale House, Sawyers, Bourbon Street Saloon, and Appalachian Brewing Company. However, Mr. G’s Sports Bar, the official after game destination, might be a fun way to start or end your night after the game. It’s a simple gather spot a few minutes from the arena offering pub food and music. The players and fans meet up after the game for witty banter and owner Georgio Giannaris might even buy you a drink and talk soccer at your table. I would suggest the Stadium Journey special of Cajun, Garlic, Honey wings Chicago-style (served on top of fries) and a pint of Yuengling. Also, say hi to Sammy for me and tip her well. Fans 2 The game itself is fast paced, easy to follow, and highly entertaining. The collection of fans who gather for Heat games provide a knowledgeable content to the game and a few can be seen sporting the purple and orange colors of the team. There is even a collection of people who are wearing jerseys from the original club from the 1990s. They are a great group to talk to, pick their brains for memories, and share a few laughs; however, there just needs to be a lot more of them inside the building. I am sure that time will come. Access 4 The arena is 80-years-old but very easy to navigate around once inside the building. The bathrooms and concession areas are well labeled and parking is plentiful. The main concourse is where all the bathrooms, concessions, ticket windows, and merchandise booths can be found. Return on Investment 4 There are four price points for single-game tickets for games: $14, $17, $20, and $22. Parking is $10 per car at the complex, merchandise is reasonably low, and food options are fairly priced. A single person can enjoy a game under $50 easily. Extras 2 One point for the team setting up events at each home game. They include Boy Scouts, Girls Got Game, Faith, Heat Give Back Fundraiser, and Bikes, Brews, and Bands Nights. Two points for the 26 different variety of beers at the Beer Garden. You would expect the basics at most venues this size, but 26 is definitely very impressive.

Photos by Gary Butterworth, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 St. George’s Cricket Club 56 Wellington Slip Rd St. George’s GE 02, GE 02 Bermuda Bermuda Cricket Cup Match website St. George’s Cricket Club website Year Opened: 1892 Capacity: 15,000 Happy Cup Match! If only Bermuda were located 1,200 miles (1,931 km) or so to the southwest, cricket would probably look a lot different here. Instead of being isolated in the middle of the Atlantic, our hypothetical geography would place Bermuda smack in the middle of the Caribbean. It would put Bermuda inside the home turf of the multi-national, international West Indies Cricket Board. And, in our imaginary world, Bermudian cricket would be on the world cricket radar. But it’s not to be. So, instead of being one of the small islands permitted to join forces to compete as a single national team, tiny Bermuda must compete alone in international cricket. And Bermuda’s tiny population means that it just can’t muster the manpower to take on an India or an Australia. Bermuda is doomed to be a minnow in international cricket. For two days every summer, though, it doesn’t matter. With Bermuda relegated to the sidelines of international cricket, it looks inward and nurtures a thriving domestic scene. Every summer, the island’s two biggest clubs, St. George’s and Somerset, face off for Cup Match, a two-day event that is a legal holiday with its own holiday greeting: “Happy Cup Match!” For these two days, the island shuts down for a celebration of all things cricket and all things Bermuda. We attended the 2015 event and came away extremely impressed with St. George’s biannual hosting effort. Food & Beverage 5 Many Bermudian friends and families rent out space for “camps” at Cup Match. These are box seats in the truest sense: fans rent out a box and do with it what they like–including self-catering. Bermudian fans know the drill, and it wouldn’t be unheard of for visitors to the island to score an invite into a camp, but most outsiders will hit the concession stands. Food choices are nearly unlimited, as many families self-cater their own camps. Concession stands are temporary pop-ups along the lines of what you might find at a carnival. Fish dishes are by far the most popular here in the middle of the North Atlantic. As in any one-off annual event, vendors and quality can change from year to year, but overall quality is high. Prices are similar to what one would find at major events on the US mainland. Just as food options are limited only by what people bring in, so are the drinks. Given that Cup Match is just as much of a celebration of Bermuda as it is a sporting event, Bermuda’s trademark cocktails, the Dark and Stormy and the Rum Swizzle are popular beverage choices. Of course, plenty of soft drinks are also available. Fans visiting from off the island should keep their eyes peeled for the Visitors Camp run by the Bermuda Tourism Authority. Although not as large as in previous years, the BTA treated visiting fans to free drinks of their choice. Atmosphere 5 Cup Match is simply one of the most unique events a fan will come across on his or her stadium journey. While Bermuda is a rich territory by all definitions, the stadium at St. George doesn’t hint at this. In fact, the ramshackle semi-temporary structure has a distinct developing-world feel. But that’s part of the fun. Bermuda is a small island with a small population, and a stadium like this is only needed two days per year. So that’s what the stadium is built for. Don’t come here looking for luxury; come here for a chance to experience cricket’s Burning Man. It’s here until it disappears, only to reappear again. And take the opportunity to wander around, because everything about the place changes from one area to the next. The fans brings their own excitement here. The main draw is socializing and simply experiencing Cup Match. Cricket plays second fiddle to many, and perhaps most Cup Match attendees. Mascots, music, and promotions are not even on the radar here. Fans looking for something a bit different can head to one of the Crown and Anchor tents, where Bermuda’s national dice game is played legally and for real money during the only days when it’s legal. Neighborhood 2 St. George’s Cricket Club sits in a quiet residential neighborhood a little over a kilometer (or a little under a mile) southwest of downtown St. George, Bermuda’s second city. Cup Match is a national holiday, and it is no exaggeration to say that the island virtually shuts down for the event. In fact, tourism authorities and even hotels actively discourage visits to the island during Cup Match for those not planning to make cricket a centerpiece of their trip. There is simply nothing else going on. Generally, St. George’s is a high point on the tourist route. But during Cup Match, the neighborhood dies down as everyone and everything moves into the stadium. Fans 4 Cup Match is filled with Bermudians, Brits, Americans, and a handful of other nationalities all at the cricket ground to have a good time. Sports diehards might bristle at the fact that cricket is clearly an afterthought to a significant portion of the crowd here, but this can be a selling point to those who are always up for a party before a game. Cup Match is the sporting and social event of the year in Bermuda. Expect a big crowd and difficulty finding a seat if arriving late in the day. But don’t expect to be turned away. On our 2015 visit, fans were still patiently lining up to enter the venue even after the event ended! Hey, some care more about the party than the game. And frankly, considering that this is a significant step below international cricket in quality, the five-figure attendance numbers are even more impressive. Access 1 Sold on Cup Match? Good, you should be! Sadly, getting here is a hurdle. Even once you make it to this small, expensive, and isolated island, getting to the ground will be a challenge. Cup Match attendees may be best served by a taxi, since public transportation to St. George’s Cricket Club is limited to city bus service. Sadly and frustratingly, buses run on a Sunday schedule, due to Cup Match’s status as a holiday. Even worse, passengers can be left stranded if the bus fills up (and the buses do fill up.) If you are relying on the bus, consider going to the downtown Hamilton bus station to be among the first on as the bus starts its journey to St. George. After the match, physically fit fans might want to consider making the 25-minute walk to the downtown St. George bus stop to get on the bus before the stadium crowd boards a few stops later. For many Bermudians, a parking ticket is simply the price of parking at Cup Match. A small parking lot is available, but it fills up early in the day. Since non-residents of Bermuda are legally prohibited from driving a car on Bermuda, this isn’t a concern for tourists. Many tourists do choose to rent Vespa-style scooters. Parking these can also be a headache during Cup Match, but most riders will eventually find a spot. Made it to the stadium? Congratulations! Things get easier now. Not easy, but easier. Tickets are simply paper wrist bands that are purchased in cash (US or Bermudian dollars) at the entrance on the day of the event. Fans line up to buy a ticket, then proceed immediately to a security check. The line can be long and slow, but it does move–especially early in the day. Cricket is a game that requires patience, and relatively few fans want to get up early and endure the marathon of an eight-hour long session. But once lunchtime rolls around the crowd gets thicker and moving through a few choke points can get tricky for even the most physically-abled fan. Fans with limited mobility will struggle throughout the day. The concourse area is largely unpaved. Many surfaces are uneven. A complete lap of the ground requires moving through some narrow passageways, and entrance to the upper-level camps requires climbing steps that are somewhere between ordinary stairs and a construction ladder. For some, this is part of the charm. For others, these quirks make Cup Match an impossibility. And finally, remember that St. George’s Cricket Club only hosts Cup Match in odd-numbered years. If it’s an even-numbered year, you will have to head to Somerset and learn the unique quirks of that venue. Return on Investment 4 There is no getting around the fact that Bermuda is an expensive destination. In fact, its tourism industry has suffered from declining crowds, as more and more tourists opt for similar vacation experiences in lower-cost locales like Mexico and the Caribbean. But by Bermudian standards, or even by US or European standards, Cup Match isn’t a particularly expensive event. A full day at the cricket ground for Cup Match will cost an amount roughly equivalent to an afternoon at a high-level match in the US or Europe. Admittedly, Cup Match is not the pinnacle of cricket skill. But the quality is good, and this is the best that this territory has to offer. Extras 1 Cup Match in Bermuda is one of the most unique events in sports. Getting to Bermuda, getting to the ground, and getting around the stadium pose significant challenges to significant numbers of people. Many sports travel enthusiasts will find that the reward is absolutely worth the effort. Others will not. But attending Cup Match absolutely warrants consideration.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 J. W. Babb Stadium 1816 Cokesbury Rd Greenwood, SC 29649 Erskine Flying Fleet website J. W. Babb Stadium website Year Opened: 1933 Capacity: 5,000 Erskine Football is Back!!! Erskine’s football program originally began in 1896 but went on a long hiatus starting in 1951. The team was due to begin playing again starting in 2020, but due to the pandemic their first season was delayed until the spring, and the Fleet was only able to play a handful of games that the first season due to cancellations and other restrictions. Now in the Fall of 2021, football at Erskine is back in earnest, much to the delight of fans. Originally known as the Seceders, the Flying Fleet picked up their new name during a game in 1929, thanks to a Greenville reporter who was awed by their passing game. The program currently competes as a D2 Independent but will join the D2 South Atlantic Conference starting in 2022. Erskine is in the process of planning and garnering funding for an all-sports complex on campus in Due West, SC, which will serve as the new home of Erskine football. In the interim, however, the team plays its home games at J. W. Babb Stadium, a high school football stadium in nearby Greenwood, SC. Food & Beverage 3 J. W. Babb Stadium has a decent selection of food and beverages at its concessions stand behind the north end zone, near the main entrance and ticket booths. Hot dogs, bratwurst, nachos, pulled pork sandwiches, pretzels, popcorn, peanuts (boiled or regular), chips, cotton candy, and boxed candy are all available with nothing over $5. You can also find bottled water and Coke products. Atmosphere 2 J. W. Babb Stadium is a fine facility and includes a running track around the field, as well as a large video board for replays behind the south end zone. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of Erskine décor around the facility due to it being a shared stadium – the team does hang a few banners and signs to bring in some of the maroon and gold of the Flying Fleet, but thanks to the ubiquitous Greenwood High School signage and logos, you can’t help but be reminded this is a borrowed stadium. In addition, given the program’s recent re-birth, there hasn’t been time yet for Erskine to build up its football fan base to a high level – hopefully, the new stadium and a few more years to build a following will increase the draw at games. Erskine Football, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 3 J. W. Babb Stadium has a good number of restaurants in the immediate vicinity if you are looking for a place to hang out before or after the game. Closest to the stadium you can find Lowcountry Grill, known for big portions and reasonable prices, or Mig’s Pizza, whose name is a little misleading given that besides pizza they serve a wide variety of calabash seafood entrees, as well as sub sandwiches and several classic Italian dishes such as different types of pasta and chicken parmesan. There are also plenty of hotels in that same area of town, including local options like Inn on the Square, plus well-known chains such as Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn. If you plan to be in town for the day or weekend, there are several options to keep you entertained during your stay in Greenwood. Besides several parks, there is a Fun Factory complete with rides and arcade-type games for kids, while for history or railroad buffs there is the Railroad Historical Center, which consists of numerous restored, full-size train cars and a locomotive, which you can walk through and/or take a tour of. Fans 2 J. W. Babb Stadium doesn’t draw much of a crowd yet during Erskine football games – the main stands are pretty empty, and the visitor’s side (depending on the game) may not be much better. There is some pretty good crowd noise following large plays though, given the small size of the stadium and the acoustics, and you are close enough to the field to hear the sounds of the game very well. Given time, I expect the crowd size to only grow as Erskine football builds more of a following. Access 4 J. W. Babb Stadium is easy to get to – it is a little off the beaten path given it is not located in a big city, but this also means there is not much traffic to contend with. There are plenty of parking lots around the stadium (Maroon, White, and Gold) so there is more than enough room to accommodate the fans. The Gold lot is the closest to the field, and as such, it costs more to park there ($20 instead of $10 for the Maroon or White lots). The most convenient way to pay for parking is online when you purchase your tickets, but be aware if you go that route you will have to pay a few extra dollars in fees. The only downside concerning access at J. W. Babb Stadium is that the lone concessions stand is behind the north end zone, which is fine if you pick up snacks as you enter, but if you want to pick up anything during the game you have to walk down – not a long walk by any means since the stadium is not that big, but you won’t find anything to purchase underneath the grandstands like at other venues. Concessions at Babb Stadium, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Erskine football games cost $10 plus about $4 in fees for adult general admission (bleacher seats), or you can spend about $10 more for chair backs on the main side; kids’ seats are $5 plus fees. Be aware that all ticket sales at J. W. Babb are online; even if you go to the ticket booth on game day all you will find is a QR code to scan which takes you to the website, so you may as well purchase your tickets beforehand. Parking and concessions are reasonable though, so you won’t have to break the bank to enjoy a nice day of college football watching the Flying Fleet. Extras 2 Erskine does have band performances during halftime, and ROTCs from local high schools act as the color guard during the playing of the National Anthem. Erskine also has a very small band, but not much else in the way of entertainment during breaks in the action. Final Thoughts Erskine fans are certainly thrilled to have football back after almost a 70-year hiatus and are working hard to get their new stadium built. In time I think the Flying Fleet’s football experience will improve a great deal, but for now expect a basic no-frills experience – perfect for those who just love the game and are looking for a relaxed experience, but may not suit those looking for something more over the top.

Photos by Daniel Armstrong, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Sam M. Vadalabene Center Strasen Road & Pin Oak Rd Edwardsville, IL 62025 SIU-Edwardsville Cougars men's basketball website Sam M. Vadalabene Center website Year Opened: 1984 Capacity: 4,200 The Road to Edwardsville Moving along I-55 towards Saint Louis you will see the sign for the ramp to Edwardsville. Most people won’t give that sign a second look. That may just be their mistake, because in the heart of that city lies the campus of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and more importantly for me the Vadalabene Center. The arena has been the home of Cougar basketball since 1982. Food & Beverage 3 The food is certainly not overpriced. It is one of the most reasonably priced venues I have ever visited. It’s just that there is nothing out of the ordinary, possibly even less than would be expected. The only thing that was worth mentioning is a personal pizza from Domino’s, which was slightly overpriced at $5. The other menu items are a 20 oz. drink for $2, hot dog ($2.50), popcorn ($1.50), and candy ($1). Access to the concession stands is also less than ideal. They are all located in the east lobby, so if your seats are on the other side, you have to walk all the way around. There are three windows, but during my visit, only one was open so the line circled the entire lobby making navigation difficult. They did open a second window, but there still was a line until around the ten-minute mark of the second half. If you ask me it is not worth the wait. Atmosphere 4 The atmosphere was the high point of the visit. The arena is smaller than many Division I basketball arenas, and that can be a good thing. It resembles a large high school gym and one thing about high school basketball is the atmosphere is far more intimate than seeing a game at a bigger venue. Even with the renovation of the building before the move to Division I, this is more of a gym, rather than an arena. The atmosphere wasn’t what I would call electric, but it was cozy and you can’t say that about many basketball experiences these days. One high point would be that the building has a nice echo so it can get very loud and exciting after a big play. Neighborhood 2 This was another low point of the visit, being stuffed in the middle of the campus there are not many surrounding restaurants close by. I did notice a few places just out of walking distance but they all appeared closed by the time the game was over. My recommendation would be to go to the center of town where there are a lot of places to grab something to eat. Fans 2 The fans filled two-thirds of the 4,000-seat arena, and probably half of them were the opposing team's fans who were more into the game. I was almost mystified by the fan situation. They were there and all seemed to be paying attention to the game, but they rarely clapped or cheered except for about 25 die-hard fans. After a big play or when the other team called a time they would get up and cheer and clap, but the rest of the time it was like they were in a trance watching the players run up and down the court. One high point would be the previously mentioned echo, as it made those die-hard fans a lot louder and added to the atmosphere. It also worked the other way though making the SEMO fans almost sound like the home crowd. Access 3 The arena itself is easy to find, but hard to get to. It is tucked away in the center of campus surrounded by a maze of one-way streets. For a local, I am sure it would be far easier and I need to factor in my malfunctioning GPS, but it took me 10 minutes to get to the lot. The parking situation is excellent as there are two large lots directly across from the arena both with free parking. Once inside you may have some trouble finding bathrooms. When you do find them, they are large and you shouldn’t expect a wait, but they are in the lobbies on the East and West sides of the arena so you may have to go around. There are also bathrooms in the season ticket club which would be my recommendation for fans in the upper bleachers. Return on Investment 3 The ticket prices are a little high, but still well within reason with 100-level seats for $15 and 200-level general admission bleachers for $9. The sight lines are good throughout and the bleachers are comfortable. I think they are the best value. The concessions are cheap – so with free parking, a hot dog and a drink, and the price of the ticket – the total comes to about $15 which is about perfect for the experience you will find. Extras 3 I liked the overall feel of the place, it was just something that you seldom find anymore. Eddie the mascot did an excellent job of going around and greeting the kids all around the arena. The cheerleaders and band did a good job of keeping the energy up even with the Cougars being down by quite a bit in the game.

LAST DANCE! The New York Jets have been in the desert for over half a century. They won their one and only Super Bowl in 1968 and haven’t been back since. But back in the 80s, they were legitimate contenders. The centerpiece of those teams was its fierce defensive line. While Mark Gastineau, Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam wreaked havoc on opposing offenses, they bickered amongst themselves like Axl and Slash. Now, ESPN has documented their contentious history in its latest 30 for 30 documentary, “The New York Sack Exchange,” which is the foursome’s nickname. At just under an hour, it’s a quick, compelling watch, especially if you’re a football fan. Back then, the Jets’ home was a dated baseball stadium, Shea Stadium. It was football in an incinerator. Because of the dirt infield, the playing surface was usually a dust bowl or a mosh pit. The portable end zone seats felt on the verge of collapse when fans jumped up and down. Fireman Ed didn’t exist. However, there was a lunatic in the end zone upper deck who mooned the faithful after he led them in the J-E-T-S chant. Concussion protocol? Take two Tylenol. After the Jets drafted Gastineau and Lyons in 1979, the Sack Exchange had its motley line-up. If it weren’t for football, Klecko, a pit bull of a man, says he would’ve been a truck driver. Lyons, the only Sack Exchanger out of a blue blood football power, Alabama, became the philanthropist, raising millions for kids in need. And then there was Gastineau, who came out of nowhere - East Central Oklahoma State. Gastineau was the showman. After sacks, Gastineau would break out into a raucous war dance as Shea played “The Safety Dance” to the delight of the Shea rowdies, many of whom were inebriated on terrible tap beer. Klecko and Lyons wanted Gastineau to stop, deeming the dance poor sportsmanship. But Gastineau persisted, arguing that he just wanted to be himself. With neither side budging, Abdul Salaam, which means soldier of peace, kept the factions at bay. The Sack Exchange couldn’t live together, but they could play together, and their friction made them bring out the best in one another. However, Rams offensive tackle Jackie Slater refused to endure Gastineau’s theatrics. As Gastineau danced, Slater shoved him, inciting a massive brawl. Gastineau seemed to take on half the Rams team. It’s wonderful footage. Meanwhile, the Jets flirted with greatness. However, they always came up short in devastating fashion. First, there was the wildcard loss to Buffalo in the Shea slime, and then they lost “The Mud Bowl,” an AFC championship game, to the Dolphins at the Orange Bowl. In controversial fashion, Miami coach Don Shula didn’t cover the field with a tarp,  negating the Jets’ supposed speed advantage. Following this fiasco, Jets coach Walt Michaels stepped down, Salaam was traded and the Jets wound up in another swamp, this time in Jersey: Giants Stadium. Mooning was no more, however, MetLife did host the infamous butt fumble years later. The Jets did manage one more run, but they collapsed in Cleveland. During this catastrophe, Gastineau was tagged as the goat for a pivotal late quarterback hit. Soon after, the Sack Exchange was history. Klecko, who had battled injuries for years, was released and wound up in Indianapolis. Abruptly, Gastineau, who was injury free, quit. At the time, he cited his girlfriend’s ovarian cancer. Gastineau was dating Sylvester’s Stallone’s ex, actress Brigitte Nielsen. In the doc, Gastineau offers additional reasons for his exit, and he also discusses his turbulent childhood, including his experiences as a rape victim. It's painful viewing. The Sack Exchange were reunited, however briefly, for the doc. It’s the fourth quarter now for these old gladiators. Forgiveness is discussed, and tears are shed. However, old rivalries die hard. For one, Klecko was inducted into the Hall of Fame, but Gastineau hasn’t, something that distresses him. It’s understandable, but considering the recent, too-soon passing of Adbul Salaam, it seems relatively petty. The doc’s ending is funeral somber, but it left me wanting at least one more dance. Jon Hart is  @manversusball

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Rock Rink @ Pyramid Recreation Centre 317 James St S St. Marys, ON N4X 1B6 St. Marys Lincolns website Pyramid Recreation Centre website Year Opened: 1977 Capacity: 1,400 The Town Worth Living In St. Marys, Ontario is probably best known for being the home of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, however, the hockey tradition in St. Marys is solid as well.  The Junior B, St. Marys Lincolns were founded in 1956 and currently play in the GOJHL.  The Lincolns team name does not come from an assassinated President of the United States famous for wearing a stovepipe hat, but from the automobile.  To finance the entry fee into the Western Junior B Hockey League, a  Lincoln Continental was raffled off.  The Lincolns have enjoyed five league titles and two Sutherland Cups as the top Junior B team in Ontario.  Some of the Lincolns alumni include J.P. Parise, Terry Crisp, Don Luce, Bob Boughner, Dan Bylsma and Steve Shields. Home for the Lincolns is Rock Rink @ Pyramid Recreation Centre.  The Rock Rink has a capacity of 1,400, was originally built in 1977 as St. Marys Arena and a larger community centre was eventually built around it.  Rock Rink is named after the St. Marys Rock, who are the local minor hockey teams.  The Pyramid Recreation Centre offers a second ice surface, meeting rooms and aquatics centre. Food & Beverage 3 The main concession is found in the lobby of the Pyramid Recreation Centre.  Popcorn, caramel corn, candy, chocolat, chips, pizza, hot dogs, pretzels and nachos are on the menu.  Water, soda, iced tea, Powerade, slushies, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and cappuccino are the soft drinks available.  The Blueline Club is located above the lobby at the east end and beer and other alcoholic beverages are available. Atmosphere 3 The St. Marys Arena was built in 1977 while the Pyramid Recreation Centre was built around the arena in 2008 creating a dichotomy that is not totally uncommon in lower level junior hockey in Ontario.  There are multiple entry points into the Rec Centre but the main one is probably on the east side of the building.  Light coloured brick gives the exterior a modern look to it.  Entry into the centre brings fans to temporary tables selling tickets in a large lobby.  The St. Marys Sports Wall of Fame is right there to greet fans and features former NHL player, Mark Bell.  Wooden plaques listing Lincoln players who have played in the NHL and Coaches and Management. Upstairs is the entry to the seating area in the arena.  The arena is definitely a throwback to seventies era arenas.  The ice is oriented from west to east and the main seating area is on the north side.  Eight rows of wooden benches comprise the seating with the middle sections featuring arena seas as well as three rows on the south side.  The north side seating area is elevated with the bottom row basically the same height as the glass.  Dark brown brick outlining the top perimeter of the arena drives the seventies vibe.  The rectangular arena has orange truss supports across the ice and a flat, silver insulated roof.  The south side wall is littered with minor hockey banners.  Lincolns banners, including the 1965 and 1976 Sutherland Cups, listed as Ontario Champions, hang to the left of the scoreclock on the west wall.  The Lincolns have further embraced their history with a number of retired number banners for Gerry Seguin, Paul Vanderspank, Glen Coghlin, John Rowland, Jeff Shipley, Tyler Bryson, Brett Petrie and Dan Schiedel.  The Blueline Club is found in a room looking out to the ice above the lobby on the east side of the arena. The gameday production at a Lincs game is fairly simple and not that different from other teams in the GOJHL.  The presentation is classic with a traditional announcer.  The team mascot, Linc, spends time at ice level greeting the players as they take the ice and interacting with ice level fans.  Promotions include a 50/50 draw and chuck-a-puck.  One unique aspect of the Lincolns experience is the use of car horns to celebrate everything.  There is one that is part of the official productions and probably a couple brought by fans. Neighbourhood 3 St. Marys is a small town of just over 7,200 people.  The Pyramid Recreation Centre is located just south of city centre.  There are a few places fans can go to get pre and post game food and drink.  Sunset Diner, Grilly’s Public House and Social 31 are good options.  Fans should be aware that places like Tim Hortons and McDonald’s, which in most cities are open 24 hours, do close nightly in St. Marys.  The Lincolns are pretty much the only team in town, however they do have close rivalries with the Stratford Warriors  and London Nationals.  Taking a tour of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame  is a good idea.  Make sure to check when it is open, as regular hours are generally reserved for the summer. Other tourist options include the St. Marys Museum.  For fans wishing to stay in the area, the Westover Inn and Stone Willow Inn are options. Fans 5 The St. Marys Lincolns enjoy fan support that is near the top of the GOJHL.  For the 2023-2024 season the Lincolns averaged over 700 fans per game, which was the second best in the league.  At the time of writing, in the 2024-2025 season, the Lincs were averaging over 850 fans per game, again ranking second in the league.  The fans in attendance are loud and supportive of the Lincs, louder than many other fanbases in the league.   Access 4 The Pyramid Recreation Centre is located in St. Marys, south of city centre.  It is close to the intersection of Highway 7 and 119.  Getting to the arena from out of town will involve plenty of rural driving through Ontario’s snow belt, so caution on game night is a good plan.  There is plenty of parking on site.  For fans interested in public transit, there is a Perth County Connect route that joins Kitchener-Waterloo, Stratford and St. Marys, however, it may not help on gameday.  Fans should consult the Perth County Connect  website for fares, schedules and maps.  Getting around Pyramid Recreation Centre is not difficult and the washroom facilities are adequate. Return on Investment 5 GOJHL hockey is amongst the most affordable sports experiences in Ontario.  Tickets for the Lincolns are $12 with $10 for students, seniors and children.  Cash, credit and debit are available and tickets are only sold at the door.  There is plenty of free parking on site and concession prices are decent.  The product on the ice is solid and the Lincolns are normally a competitive team.  The environment for hockey is excellent in a unique facility with a very strong fanbase.  A great return for the investment. Extras 4 An extra mark for the unique penalty boxes in St. Marys, which are just at the end of the bench, with a low divider wall for separation. An extra mark for the unique and historic Lincolns name. An extra mark for the Pyramid Recreation Centre as a community hub. An extra mark for the longevity of the Lincolns franchise. Final Thoughts The St. Marys Lincolns are amongst the best supported teams in the GOJHL and the Rock Rink is a unique throwback venue to the 1970s.  The Lincolns lean into their history and St. Marys celebrates their roots in the Pyramid Recreation Centre.  Taking in a Lincs game in “The Town Worth Living In” is a great plan. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by James Clotfelter, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Dan Magill Tennis Complex 518 D W Brooks Athens, GA 30605 Georgia Bulldogs website Dan Magill Tennis Complex website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 5,000 Tennis In The Classic City Many outside the college tennis world do not know that the University of Georgia has a rich tennis history. The university consistently produces ATP and WTA talent and has accumulated two women's and six men's national championships. The Dan Magill Tennis Complex itself has hosted a total of 24 men’s championships and three women’s championships. This 12-court outdoor court and 6-court indoor court facility is the crown jewel of the collegiate tennis landscape. Food & Beverage   3 One cashless concession stand serves the main outdoor court and one serves the indoor courts. Expect the basics of small stadium foods like hot dogs, burgers, chips, and candy. In terms of drinks, water and Coca-Cola products, including PowerAde, are all provided and bottled. Domestic beer and imports can also be purchased at the concession stand. They are also served with a UGA-branded souvenir cup.   Atmosphere   4 The outdoor complex hosts six courts: courts 1–3 are covered by the main stand, and courts 4–6 run along a grass terrace. The main stand is split into two levels: the lower level has chairbacks, and the upper level has bleacher seating. Every ticket to the main stand is general admission, so it is first come, first served for the chairbacks. Across from the main stand appears to be a terrace with shaded, high-top seating, presumably reserved for team dinners. To the left of the main stand, parallel to court one is the player clubhouse with more exclusive shaded seating. The concourse in the main stand splits the two levels and holds the concession stand along with restrooms. Outside the concourse, little gardens and flowers are sprinkled throughout the complex, creating a pleasant atmosphere.   There is a scoreboard slightly past court 3 that gives the scores on all six courts as well as the total team scores. Those unfamiliar with the college game will be surprised to learn that fans can make noise during the game. While the umpires may tell the fans to relax if it gets excessive, the students like to get into the action, occasionally engaging in some banter with the opposing team and some instigation from the Georgia players. This intimate environment also allows fans to hear back and forth between players and their opponents, players and the umpire, and players talking to themselves.  The entrance to the indoor facility sits right across the street from the Carlton Street Parking Deck adjacent to the outdoor courts. These courts will only be used if weather forces the event to be moved inside. It consists of a much smaller capacity than its outdoor companion, with three humble rows of supported bleachers running along all six of its courts. Each court contains its scoreboard located on the wall across from the bleachers, and a master scoreboard sits at the head of the building.  Neighborhood   4 The tennis complex is located in the same lot as Stegman Coliseum (men's and women's basketball and gymnastics) and Foley Field (basketball). It is an on-campus facility, so if it is your first time visiting UGA, be sure to take a stroll around a campus that is regarded as one of the most beautiful ones in the country. Popular on-campus attractions include the athletic facilities, Tate Student Center, the UGA bookstore, and North Campus, which holds the oldest buildings of the first public university in the country.   Athens is regarded as one of the best college towns in America. With downtown being adjacent to the north campus, students and visitors are steps away from local shops, restaurants, and bar options. The best time to stroll downtown Athens for the first time would be during the day before the nightlife crowd hits downtown. The Five Points neighborhood holds some great, quitter food options like Sakura Hibachi and Sushi Bar, Pine Bar, and Loaded Pizza, and is also within a walkable distance from the tennis complex. There is one hotel on the UGA campus in the convention center, but there are loads of options outside of campus that you may want to investigate. Many visitors also prefer to book an Airbnb, as Athens is home to many affordable ones.     Fans   3 The University of Georgia tennis fans are very knowledgeable of both their men’s and women’s tennis teams. Attendance can vary greatly, as marquee night and conference matches will have much better attendance numbers than the random noon midweek nonconference match. When the SEC championship is hosted, many of the non-UGA matches will have only a handful of patrons and family in attendance. Student turnout also varies depending on the stakes of the match, the quality of the promotion or giveaway, and the time. If it is a good opponent on the weekend, student turnout is very good by college tennis standards, and they give the atmosphere as well as the usual student section banter to opposing players, occasionally sneaking under the skin of the opposing team. It is a usual occurrence for the umpires to calm the crowd when the student turnout is in full force. As for the rest of the crowd, it tends to be the families of the athletes and local families getting out of the house on a nice day. Access   3 Getting to Athens is not always the easiest experience. There is not a direct highway to Athens, but the most common way to get to Athens from Atlanta is I-85 to Exit 106, which will put you on GA 316, otherwise known as University Parkway, and it runs directly to Athens. There is also a world where it ends up being faster to take I-20 from Atlanta. This will take you to Conyers, GA, and put you on a combination of countryside highways to Athens. If coming from Lake Hartwell or South Carolina, it is best to take I-85 to Commerce, Georgia. From Commerce, you can take GA 15 south directly into Athens.   Once in Athens, the tennis complex is located directly behind the Stegman Coliseum on the campus of the University of Georgia. The Carlton Street parking deck is free to park on event days, and it is situated right across the street from the indoor complex and approximately a mere 200 feet from the outdoor entrance. The outdoor concourse is simple and easy to navigate, but there is only one set of restrooms, which may get crowded at highly attended matches. The indoor concourse is impossible to get lost in, and it is simply a hallway with a concession stand that takes you straight to the main courts.    Return on Investment   5 Admission to UGA Regular season matches is free, and every event is general admission, so it is hard to complain about that. On top of free admission, parking on the Carlton Street Deck is free as well. For non-UGA events, like the 2024 SEC Women’s Tennis Championships, the price per day was $5, and an all-sessions pass was $15. Concessions are on par with every UGA athletic event, which is a more than reasonable price. $2.50 for hot dogs, $5 for hamburgers, $7-$8 for beer, $5 for a pretzel, and $2 for water.   Extras   4 The Dan Magill Tennis Complex offers a sense of natural beauty with the garden-like features it incorporates into the complex. Inside the main stand is a long timeline and tribute to the Georgia tennis greats. The grass terrace along courts 4-6 also gives a very green feel to the complex. Outside the outdoor courts is also the ITA Tennis Hall of Fame, which was unfortunately closed for our visits, but when it opens, it will add some more character to this historic complex.   Final Thoughts The Dan Magill Tennis Complex provides a quality atmosphere with quality tennis for a non-existent dollar amount. No matter what you are in Athens for, it is more than worth checking out both the men’s and women’s tennis schedules.

Photo Courtesy of Northwestern State Demons Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Brown-Stroud Field Central Ave Natchitoches, LA 71457 Northwestern State Demons website Brown-Stroud Field website Year Opened: 1939 Capacity: 1,200 Brown-Stroud Field, Home of the Northwestern State Demons Attending a Northwestern State baseball game in Brown-Stroud Stadium affords baseball purists an opportunity to take in a traditional baseball atmosphere in a historic ballpark hosted in one of Louisiana’s most charming cities, Natchitoches. Located on the campus of the Northwestern State University, Brown-Stroud Stadium (nicknamed the BStro ) has served as home to Demon baseball since 1939 and features a seating capacity of 1,200. Highlights of the stadium experience include grassy berm seating, shaded grandstand seating under an overhead awning, and a competitive Southland Conference baseball on-field product. Food & Beverage 2 The concessions experience at Brown-Stroud Stadium covers the basics and provides the expected ballpark staples for an affordable price. There is a single concession stand located on the hill behind the press box and main grandstand. Quality and Variety of Food Options . The concessions at the BStro offers up ballpark favorite entrees including hot dogs ($2), nachos ($3), and Frito pie ($3). Snacks include sunflower seeds ($1), peanuts ($2), and cracker jacks ($2), among other items. While there isn’t a popcorn machine, you can get a full bag of popcorn for $2 if you’ve got 3 minutes to spare for it to be popped in the microwave. The BStro features specials on various game days where you can get an off-menu item such as the Southern Slaw Dog (premium hot dog covered in coleslaw). While these specials help improve the concessions experience, it would be nice to see a BBQ pit fired up and serving some freshly grilled items like sausages and hamburgers. This could probably be done without much of a financial investment. Variety of Drink Options . The BStro concessions serve bottled Coca-Cola products. Soft drinks and water are just $1.50 and Powerade is $2.50. Coffee and hot chocolate are available for cold weather games. Recommendation . When there’s a game day special at the concessions stand, it might be worth checking out. Otherwise, I recommend a tray of nachos and a pack of sunflower seeds to hold you over until you get to one of the restaurants mentioned in the neighborhood section below. Atmosphere 2 Brown-Stroud Stadium provides an historic home for Northwestern State baseball in a traditional baseball atmosphere. If you love minor league antics, the BStro isn’t for you. If you are a college baseball purist that loves older venues, the Demon baseball atmosphere will be the perfect fit. Stadium Aesthetics . The BStro might not come with the bells and whistles of many newly constructed stadiums, but it does provide a traditional baseball setting with the major benefit of covered seating (which comes in handy on hot Louisiana days). Having served as home to Demon baseball for over 60 years, the ballpark honestly has aged well considering the many years of usage. There is a single grandstand which consists of both bleacher and chair back seating. There are two rows of chair back seating located just behind the backstop. The remaining seating under the awning is bleacher style. Grassy berm seating is available down both the first and third baselines. Be sure to throw a blanket at the top of the berm so the dugouts don’t block your view of the field. The playing surface provides a synthetic turf infield combined with a natural grass outfield. The scoreboard is located beyond the right field wall and features a small video panel that is utilized to display the name and number of the player at-bat. While the awning providing shade to the grandstand is certainly a plus, there are many additional features which could be added in to improve the overall experience. In-Game Promotions and Entertainment . In keeping with the traditional baseball atmosphere, there’s not much going on at the BStro outside of the on-field action. At the conclusion of the game, fans are allowed to run the bases (young and old). The music selection between innings ranges from country to oldies and sports stadium classics. The Northwestern State mascot, Vic the Demon, is typically not in attendance at baseball games nor any other student spirit groups. Seat Location Recommendations . It’s hard to beat shaded seating behind home plate, especially when general admission is only $8. If you prefer to soak in the sun, throw a blanket or bring a tailgate chair to the top of the grassy berm seating down third baseline. Neighborhood 4 Brown-Stroud Stadium is located on the campus of Northwestern State University in charming Natchitoches, Louisiana. While there isn’t an endless supply of attractions in the immediate area, you’ll fall in love with Louisiana’s oldest city and Bread & Breakfast Capital. Where to Eat . The unique regional dish of Natchitoches is the meat pie. While in town, you definitely have to try one. Your best bet for a great meat pie is Lasyone’s (622 2nd). However, like many things in Natchitoches, Lasyone’s has limited operating hours and is closed on Sunday, so be sure to plan ahead. The Pioneer Pub (812 Washington St) is a nice place to grab a local brew and pub fare. Try a glass of the Shreveport-based Great Raft while you’re there. And then there’s the unique pairing of Mama’s and Papa’s. The two restaurants are located next to each other on Front Street but have two separate menus and atmospheres. Check-out Mama’s for some good fried seafood. The French Market Express (5109 University) is a gas station and food market located on the route out of town that’s a nice last stop for meat pies as before you make the trek home. Attractions & Entertainment . I’m not usually one to talk about the beauty of a place, especially in a sports review, but the historic downtown area in Natchitoches is truly beautiful. Bring a blanket to picnic in the grassy area between Front Street and the Cane River. Take a stroll along the bricked walkway on Front Street which is lined with pots of tulips and assorted flowers, as well as ironed chair seating. If you are looking for a place to kick back and relax, Natchitoches is it. You can also enjoy your stay by taking a tour of one of the many historic plantation homes in the area. Other attractions in the area include the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (500 Front) and the Bayou Pierre Alligator Park (380 Old Bayou Pierre). Where to Stay . Known as the Bed and Breakfast Capital of Louisiana, skip the traditional hotel experience and book a stay at the Steel Magnolia House Bed and Breakfast (320 Jefferson). This is the actual location where the famous Steel Magnolia’s movie was filmed. For a stay in the downtown strip, book a room in the historic Church Street Inn (120 Church St). Also, check-out the Best Western Natchitoches Inn on University near I-49. Fans 2 Demon baseball fans range from long-time supporters to families and friends of the ballplayers. Typical crowds are small and loyal. The overall Demon baseball experience at the BStro could certainly use a shot of energy from larger and more active crowds. Typical Attendance . Expect an average crowd of about 250 – 400 for the usual Southland Conference weekend series. While the Demons still regularly feature competitive teams, some luster has certainly worn off since the championship years of the 90’s and early 2000’s. Crowd Noise & Engagement . The regulars are engaged during the game and knowledgeable about the sport of baseball. Don’t expect much in terms of crowd noise or excitement. Outside of big plays and closing out the game in the ninth inning, the noise level is fairly low throughout the game. Traditions and Chants . Despite being in a historic city and ballpark, there’s not much in regards to fan traditions or chants. The fight song is played after the Demons score a run and the fans typically clap along. Access 4 One of the highlights of the Bstro experience is access to and from the stadium as well as inside the ballpark. Transit to and from Stadium . Located a few miles off I-49, you’ll quickly make your way to the Northwestern State University campus via University Parkway (unless you’re heading in from the east). There isn’t a specific address listed for Brown-Stroud Field, so you’ll want to aim to get behind the east side of Turpin Stadium (home to Demon football). From University Parkway, take Central Avenue onto the Northwestern State campus. Veer to the left to cross over Sam Sibley Drive and follow until you reach Prudhomme Hall and the Turpin / Brown-Stroud Stadium area. Parking . Parking is free around the stadium. Though there isn’t an obviously dedicated lot for baseball parking, you’ll notice a couple of spots you can park in nearby. There is a small lot between the east side of Turpin Stadium and Prudhomme Hall that’s a short walk down to the ballpark. A little further down, there’s also parking down the road to the right leading to the fieldhouse. Ticketing & Gate Entry . From Central Avenue, there is a main entrance and ticket booth located on the exterior of the ballpark. Look for a pair of bricked columns with a black iron cast sign overhead featuring the Northwestern State logo in the center. You shouldn’t run into any lines here and the stadium staff are both friendly and helpful on your way in. Moving Around the Stadium . There is plenty of room to get around the BStro. Walkways and aisles are wide. The main issue you’ll notice, however, is the extremely small restrooms. Both men’s and women’s restrooms can only fit two people max, which can certainly be an inconvenience between innings. Return on Investment 3 The cost of attending a Northwestern State baseball at Brown-Stroud Stadium is very affordable and similar to what you’ll find at other Southland Conference venues. Tickets start as low as $8 for general admission. Chair backs are available for $10. Knowing that you won’t have to pay for parking and that concessions will be reasonably priced is a plus as well. Northwestern State offers several ticket packages that can help make the experience even more affordable with Family Saturdays which provides 4 tickets, hot dogs and drinks for $26 and Vic’s Kids’ Club Sundays where children 12 and under can get in for $4 (a $2 discount). While the price is right, there are several upgrades needed to make the overall game day experience worth the investment. Extras 2 Each venue typically has a few “extras” which contribute to the overall game day experience. One such extra at Brown-Stroud Stadium is memorializing past accomplishments by listing conference championships and regional tournament appearances along the outfield wall. The Demons enjoyed a decade of impressive success through the 90’s and early 2000’s which is featured in the stadium. Another unique feature for the BStro is the grassy berm seating on both the first and third baselines. Whether you throw out a blanket and enjoying some family time or soak up the sun, the berm seating is definitely a plus.

Photos by Patricia Beninato, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Petersen Events Center 3719 Terrace Street Pittsburgh, PA 15261 Pittsburgh Panthers website Petersen Events Center website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 12,508 Pitt Loves the Pete The University of Pittsburgh’s athletic program gets most of its attention for football, but basketball is also a marquee attraction. Unlike the football team who shares their home venue, Heinz Field, with the Steelers, Pitt basketball has its own venue, Petersen Events Center. Named after its main contributor, former Erie Insurance executive John Petersen, the Pete, as it’s nicknamed, has been home to Panthers basketball since 2002. While not quite as successful as their gridiron counterparts, the Panthers under head coach Jeff Capel are a force in the ACC, led by stars like Ithiel Horton and Femi Odukale, and the Pete’s a pretty fun place to watch them. Food & Beverage 4 An advantage of an on-campus venue such as Petersen Events Center is that it keeps relatively poor college students in mind. To wit, the arena has a food court that’s open every day. Not all the stands will be available for a Pitt basketball game, but Chick-fil-A is the exception. Better yet, this isn’t a situation where the prices are jacked up to Big Sports level; they’re the same as in a regular CFA. Three more traditional concession stands offer hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, and sandwiches. The arena began serving beer at games this year (2022) in another unusual move, which is not often seen on college campus venues. Beers like Coors will run you ten bucks, while premium stuff like White Claw is a dollar more. You’ll pay $17 at most for a dog and beer. The concession stands also have QR banners–scan, order, and pay on your smartphone, and you’ll be notified when everything’s ready, a boon to those who hate long lines. Atmosphere 4 Petersen Events Center has a 12,508-seat capacity for basketball on three levels, with club seating on the second level. It’s also the only Division 1 venue with luxury courtside suites. Seats are comfortable with excellent sightlines. The center court console has four substantial LCD screens, topped with a gold-colored bridge (remember, this is Pittsburgh) and a crawl screen around the second level. Two giant screens above the student seating show stats for each team, as well as a stylized figure of the Cathedral of Learning, Pitt’s most prominent landmark. Student seating, aka the Oakland Zoo (Pitt’s located in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood), curves around the right side of the venue, with the pep band right next to them and Pitt’s mascot Roc the Panther and various cheerleaders roaming around. The Zoo is very involved in the game, from pretending to read newspapers while the opposing team is announced, lowering them to yell “SUCKS!” after each name, to throwing blue-and-gold confetti when Pitt scores for the first time in the game. Also, when singing the Star-Spangled Banner, make sure you yell HAIL because #Hail2Pitt, after all. The pep band’s pretty good, playing everything from Ed Sheeran to Skid Row to Led Zeppelin. They’re all having fun, which spreads to the crowd. The PA announcer is relatively low-key, and when the band’s not playing, you can hear some interesting remixes of current and classic pop hits. Neighborhood 4 Petersen Events Center is in the heart of Pitt’s campus, with two of the city’s main drags, Fifth Avenue and Forbes Avenue, only a couple of blocks away. Because Pittsburgh’s main hospital campus is here as well, there are hotels such as Residence Inn by Marriott and Hilton Garden Inn. Restaurant chains like Five Guys and Panera Bread abound, but those in the know hit up Las Palmas two blocks off Forbes for the best tacos in Pittsburgh or Hunan Bar for great Chinese food. As for bars, you better believe there are some good ones around here, including an outpost of local Irish favorite Fuel and Fuddle, Thirsty Scholar, and Hemingway’s Pub, all featuring excellent bar munchies and tons of beers both mainstream and craft. Of course, it’s an urban neighborhood, so it’s always a good idea to pay attention to your surroundings here. Still, it’s not an unsafe area by any means, being patrolled by both city and university police. Fans 4 Right now, Pitt’s not that good, so attendance is on the low side; the game I attended was roughly 60% capacity. However, the crowd was attentive and involved outside the Zoo, particularly as Pitt pulled away from its opponent in the second half. It should be noted that the loudest cheers during the game were reserved for the Pitt football team, who were on the court receiving some national individual awards during a media break. They did win the ACC, so maybe that’s understandable. ESPN the Magazine once rated Petersen Events Center as the sixth loudest venue in college basketball. Judging by the volume at this game, it’s a well-earned reputation, even with a relatively small crowd. The Pete may also be the only sports venue in Pittsburgh where most of the crowd isn’t dressed in black and gold, favoring Pitt’s royal blue and gold. Access 4 Interstate 376, aka the Parkway, is the easiest way to get to Petersen Events Center if you’re driving; from either direction, follow the signs for Forbes Avenue, which in turn will have signs for the arena. Numerous parking garages surround the area, with an average price of $10, and there are several Port Authority bus lines that run from downtown to campus. Pitt has its own intra-campus bus system, but it’s not available to the public unless you’re a Pitt student or with one. If you need wheelchair access or just don’t want to go up and down stairs–the arena is, for lack of a better term, located in a valley–make sure you utilize the lobby entrance and the adjacent parking lot. Once inside, you’ll find broad concourses and easily visible direction signs. The Pete offers wheelchair seating. Restrooms are large and clean, with wheelchair-accessible stalls. Return on Investment 4 Pitt’s a big-time Division 1 school no matter its record, and tickets are priced according to who it’s playing. You could get $13 upper-level seats for the Georgia Tech game at the time of writing, but when Pitt plays Duke, that same ticket will start at $49. If you don’t have a preference about seeing a particular Pitt opponent, tickets, along with concessions and parking, can be pretty reasonable. Since Pittsburgh doesn’t have an NBA team, Panthers basketball is about as close as you can get, and taking in a game can be a fun and not hugely expensive part of a Pittsburgh visit. And let’s be honest–it’s a rarity for most Pittsburgh visitors not to see some type of sporting event during their stay. Extras 4 Those looking for souvenirs will love the Pitt store at Petersen Events Center, aka the Pitt Shop at the Pete, which has a wide array of clothing for men, women, and kids, as well as some cool novelties–at the time of my visit, there was even Pitt football stuff. The arena also acts as a student center of sorts, with a comfortable lounge near the food court and an absolutely massive fitness center (sorry, only for the students). The McCarl Hall of Champions is a small, well-designed museum dedicated to Pitt basketball and Pitt’s broadcast studios are here too. Tours of the venue are available. Final Thoughts Pittsburgh as a whole has excellent sports venues and Petersen Events Center, home of the University of Pittsburgh basketball programs, is no exception to that rule. Its location on Pitt’s campus in the heart of Pittsburgh makes it a great place to see a game, and the lively neighborhood is a draw for locals and visitors alike. Pitt loves the Pete!