Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Hammond Stadium 14100 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy Fort Myers, FL 33912 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels website Hammond Stadium website Year Opened: 1991 Capacity: 7,500 Tropical Comfort Note: In Dec 2019, the team name changed from Fort Myers Miracle to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. Talking about minor league baseball stadiums, purists look for the old and historic stadiums, while others look for the newest and shiniest facilities. Hammond Stadium may not initially fit either of these categories, having been built in 1991, and looking quite similar to the abandoned Homestead Baseball Complex constructed for the Cleveland Indians around that time. However, a closer look reveals that the renovations in 2014-15 have completely transformed this once hum-drum facility into a beautiful, tropical oasis in southwest Florida. Food & Beverage 4 The concessions at Hammond Stadium are affordable and offer the traditional options fans would expect to see on the menu – hot dogs, burgers, peanuts, Cracker Jacks, etc. In addition, the stadium also features various game-day specials, like grilled ham and cheese sandwiches ($5.75), churro bites ($2), and meatball subs ($6.75). There are also several bars on site, including one in left field and another in right field for fans to pick from. At either location you can get a beer for as low as $4.50, wine for $6, and cocktails starting at $7.50, as well as purchase other food items like nachos ($5.50), sunflower seeds ($1.75), chips ($1.50), and more. Atmosphere 4 Hammond Stadium is beautiful, and the entire main concourse level is walkable around the whole field, allowing fans to wander and watch the action from various vantage points during contests. The outfield boardwalk offers up close views too, as well as alternate seating and standing-room only areas for fans to watch the Miracle take the field. The team store at Hammond Stadium is two stories, meaning you shouldn’t have a hard time finding your favorite gear for your favorite team. The main entrance is also stunning, with the fountain plaza area presenting the perfect introduction to the stadium. In addition, the field faces northeast, meaning fans will never have to sit through a game with the sun in their eyes; it also means you will always have comfortable shade to cool you off on those hot summer days in Florida. Neighborhood 3 Hammond Stadium itself is in a more suburban area of Fort Myers, Florida, meaning you will see more houses than stores and restaurants. However, while there may not be anything right across the street, you can drive less than a mile down the road to where I-75 crosses Daniels Parkway – here you can find plenty of dining and lodging options: Stevie Tomato’s Sports Page and Cracker Barrel are both popular stops, while Baymont Inn & Suites Fort Myers Airport and Hampton Inn Fort Myers Airport are the two closest hotels to the stadium. For sightseers, Sanibel Island is a short drive west – home to beautiful beaches, the Sanibel Lighthouse, and the J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Fans 3 While fans may not pack the stands like they would for Twins spring training games, they are no less supportive of the Miracle. The crowds can easily swell depending on what visiting team is there, and which players from the big leagues are on assignment, or shrink if the famously unpredictable Florida weather looks like rain. Access 4 Getting to Hammond Stadium is easy, despite it not being right off the main roads. I-75 is just a few minutes away, and getting off the highway and heading west on Daniels Parkway is the best option. Once you get to 6 Mile Cypress Parkway, head south and the stadium will be on your right; parking is plentiful on site, and is only $5. Once inside the stadium, making your way around the facility is easy, as signage is plentiful, and the open concept of the stadium helps make finding your way a breeze. Return on Investment 4 Taking the family, or even just a few friends, to the game is a great option, as the price of tickets is affordable. Hammond Stadium also features low cost concessions and parking, meaning you won’t break the bank before you get to your seat. The beauty of the stadium is also hard to miss, and the options you have for seating around the field are among the best in Florida. Extras 2 The team features various themed nights, such as Star Wars Night, to help get fans out to games. There are also various giveaways for fans throughout the season, both from the team and from local vendors. Final Thoughts Looking for affordable and comfortable baseball options in Florida can be hard at times, but Hammond Stadium achieves both with ease. It may be easy to overlook the Miracle when looking at MiLB games to attend when in Florida, but make no mistake…the Miracle has a comfortable, modern facility that is welcoming, enjoyable, and affordable, which isn’t something other teams can lay claim to.

The city of Brockton, Massachusetts refers to itself as “The City of Champions.” This moniker comes from its history of producing boxing champions, most notably Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. On Thursday the city unveiled a statue of Hagler in the shadows of the site of legendary Petronelli Gym, where Hagler famously trained during his fighting days.   The statue, commissioned at a price of $150,000, is located in the new Hagler Park at the corner of Petronelli Way and Hagler Way. Hagler passed away in 2021 at the age of 66. He finished his career with a record of 62-3-2 with 53 knockouts. He was the undisputed Middleweight champion from 1980-87, making 12 title defenses during that time. Hagler was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993. Boxing Illustrated named him the 1980s Fighter of the Decade, and he was named Boxer of the Year twice.   Dozens of people were in attendance at the unveiling, including family members, former opponent Vito Antuofermo and city leaders. “I will say one thing about Marvelous Marvin, he never forgot where he came from,” Mayor Robert Sullivan told the crowd. “So today he is not here physically, but he is here in spirit.”     The statue, which stands about six feet tall, depicts Hagler throwing one of his legendary left jabs. At the base of the statue are replicas of his three championship belts. A dogwood sapling, which should grow to about 12 feet tall, is planted at the park to honor Hagler’s mother, Ida Mae Lang.   Hagler’s statue is the second erected in the city honoring a local boxing champion. In 2012, the World Boxing Council gifted a $250,000, 22 foot-tall statue of Rocky Marciano. This statue, the largest statue of a sporting figure in the world, is located at Rocky Marciano Stadium on the campus of Brockton High School, behind Campanelli Stadium, home of the New England Knockouts and Brockton Rox .

Photos by Chris Patton, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Rent One Park 1000 Miners Dr. Marion, IL 62959 Rent One Park website Year Opened: 2007 Capacity: 7,000 Fun for Everyone at Rent One Park Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois is home to the Southern Illinois Miners of the independent Frontier League. The stadium opened on May 29, 2007, as the Miners defeated the Evansville Otters with over 6,300 fans in attendance. In their inaugural season, the Miners set Frontier League attendance records and continue to draw good crowds to the ballpark near the intersection of I-57 and Illinois Route 13. Rent One Park has 3,200 chair seats (with cup holders) and lawn seating for over 2,000. Additional seating is available in two picnic gardens. The Budweiser Bullpen Bar-n-Grille has picnic table seating for 300, while the Rent One Picnic Garden beyond the outfield walls seats another 500 fans. The park also has 14 suites and a banquet facility. EDITOR'S Note: The Southern Illinois Miners folded at the end of the 2021 season. Food & Beverage 4 There are four concession stands in Rent One Park. The stands offer all the ballpark staples, but they take it to the next level by offering them several different ways. For example, Nathan’s hot dog is $3.50, but for $0.50 more, you can get a chili cheese dog, salsa dog, or cheese dog. French fries are $3, while garlic or chili cheese fries are $3.50. The garlic fries aren’t the same quality as those at a San Francisco Giants game but are enjoyable. The variety continues with five different versions of nachos, ranging in price from $3.25 to $6. At the main concession stands, regular soda is $2.75, while a large is $4. Bottles of Pepsi products sell for $3.25. Draft beers are $3.75 and bottled beers are $4.75. The Budweiser Bullpen Bar-n-Grille down the right-field line also offers a wide variety of food and drink. In this location, you can dine on several different burgers or chicken sandwiches, chicken wings, and sausages. Draft beers listed are Bud, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, and 312. For a $0.75 savings, Natural Light drafts are also available. At freestanding carts along the concourse, three different types of cheesesteaks and Italian sausage with peppers are grilled up and sold for $6. Leinenkugel’s and Redd’s drafts are listed, as well. For dessert, one item that is recommended is the funnel cake fries. The $4 treat might seem more at home at the county fair than a ballpark but is worth trying. Atmosphere 4 Rent One Park is still a new facility at just a few years old and remains in great shape. As we walked into the stadium, the team staff handed us a free replica jersey and game program. The program is a small magazine or newspaper but is very informative. There had been some rain in the area before the game, but ushers walked with fans to their seats and wiped them down with a towel before anybody sat down. The concourse is wide open and covered in most areas, in case of rain. At the end of the concourse down the left-field line is a kids’ play area with six inflatables. This is right near the lawn seating, so parents can keep one eye on the game and one eye on their kids playing in a bounce house. The team’s name is a tribute to the history of coal mining in southern Illinois. The concourse walls feature black and white photos of local coal miners from years past. Along with the miner mascot, Big John is a canary mascot that celebrates runs by dancing on the dugout with one of the team’s Diamond Girls, who helped out with promotional contests. Rent One Park’s playing surface is Sportexe Turf. While this takes away from the charm for baseball, it allows several other events such as football, concerts, and pro-wrestling to take place throughout the year. The bullpens are behind the right-field fence. Behind and above the bullpens are the scoreboard, video screen, and several advertising panels. One of the advertisements is for Pitt Lite, the official mining light of the ball club. Their advertisement includes a large mining helmet light that is turned on during the game. Neighborhood 3 A new exit off of Interstate 57 essentially leads you right to the Rent One Park parking lot. The stadium is set back from IL Route 13, the main thoroughfare in Marion that leads to Carbondale, home of Southern Illinois University. Route 13 has been developed significantly since the early 1990s. The road now features a mall, numerous big box stores, chain restaurants, and hotels. 17th Street BBQ is one of the closest restaurants to Rent One Park. The restaurant has been featured on the Food Network and Travel Channel. The menu features a wide variety of appetizers, sandwiches, and platters. The pulled pork sandwich is big and filling and hushpuppies are a welcome sight as a side item. The bar features several local selections from Big Muddy Brewing out of Murphysboro, Illinois. Fans 4 Along with Southern Illinois Salukis sports, Miners baseball has become a source of pride for the folks in and around Marion. The success and stability of the team have endeared the Miners to the community. While fans aren’t coming out in the record numbers of the opening season anymore, there are still plenty of excited and knowledgeable folks attending games in team gear. That is not always the case with independent baseball. Access 4 Parking is available for $3 in a spacious lot just outside the main stadium gates. You should have no trouble getting in and out of the lot. Keep an eye peeled for fans that are staying at one of the nearby hotels and walking back after the game. Rent One Park features plenty of clean, large restrooms with no waiting in line. Return on Investment 4 General Admission tickets sell for $7, Box Seats sell for $10 in advance ($2 extra on the day of game), and Club Seats sell for $14 in advance ($1 extra on game day. Tickets and parking are comparable with other independent sports franchises. My meal of Polish sausage, garlic fries, and a regular soda was a fair deal at $10.75. Extras 3 On the outfield wall is a sign honoring former Miner, Joey Metropolous. The ninth-round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2004 became a fan favorite in Marion for his home run power and had his jersey retired in 2014. Nearly every Miners game has some sort of promotion or special theme. The game I attended was on the first Saturday of the college football season. Much of the night featured players using college fight songs as their walk-up music. Some players represented their alma maters, but others just had a school and fight song assigned to them. It was a nice tie-in to what was going on in the sports world that day. Final Thoughts Baseball remains king in southern Illinois. While the Miners will never replace the St. Louis Cardinals in the hearts of area residents, Rent One Park has become a destination for local sports fans.

Photos by Marc Viquez Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Vandivier Gymnasium 625 Grizzly Cub Dr. Franklin, IN 46131 Franklin Community HS Grizzly Cubs Franklin Community Gym website Year Opened: 1961 Capacity: 4,112 The Vandy is Still Dandy in Franklin The Vandivier Gym opened with Franklin Community High School for the 1961-1962 academic year. The gym would host its first game on November 14 in front of a near-capacity crowd at the 4,112 building. The gym would be home to Franklin Grizzly Cubs basketball until the 2005-2006 school year when modern facilities were constructed less than 2.5 miles away. The Vandy Gym and campus is now the middle school, but at least one high school home game a season sometime in late January. The idea stems from the school’s AD, who was a 1990 graduate and wants the old gym to provide a few more memories to the town of Franklin. The night of our visit was to honor the 50th-anniversary state championship finalists of 1973-1974. The venue gets its name from Robert Polk “Fuzzy” Vandivier, a legendary player on the Franklin Wonder Five. They captured three state high school championships from 1920-1922 with a combined record of 89-9, and then all five men moved a few blocks away to Franklin College and won two more state college championships in 1923 and 1924. After college, Vandivier was the head coach of the Cubs and later the athletic director from 1923-1964. Food & Beverage 3 A small concession stand offers hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, and soda. There is a limited menu selection due to it handling a middle school crowd regularly. There is also an upstairs concession window that might be used for the larger high school crowds. The school offers Pepsi products, good-sized hot dogs with a proper meat-to-bun ratio, and additional toppings of chili and cheese. The stand does not take credit cards but does accept Venmo through an app on the phone. The first of its kind was witnessed at an Indiana high school gym. Atmosphere 3 The Vandy Gym appears frozen in time since the Grizzly Cubs last played inside its walls. The old court still has the hand-painted school logo, the words Grizzly Cubs are arched over the 3-point line, and the school colors of light blue and white adorn the walls.  However, the main focal points are its walls and lighting. The walls hang low with a set of lights that reflect off the basketball court below. It is similar in design to the Glen Ray Gym  just up the road at Whiteland High School. The Vandy Gym also features an upper concourse that wraps around the seating bowl for easy access and a play area for younger students. There are two sets of stands, the upper permanent bleachers and the lower pull-out bleachers that are adorned in plastic. Fans are close to the action all around the lower seating, and metal fencing separates the upper rows of seats for safety and access. Neighborhood 4 Downtown Franklin is known for its quaint restaurants and locally-owned shops since featured in the December 2, 1940 edition of Life magazine. That spirit remains intact 80-plus years later, where visitors can find everything from bars, casual and chef-driven restaurants, shops, bakeries, cafes, and breweries. Downtown is less than 2 miles from the Vandy Gym. Many buildings were constructed in the 1800s and now feature local places for food and drink. Blue Cactus Tacos & Tequila Bar and Shale Creek Brewery are two such establishments that are ideal spots before or after the game. The Artcraft Theater was built in 1922 and has been restored to its original look, offering second-run movies. Next door is The Willard, built in 1860. Today, it is a bar and restaurant. There are more places to choose from from its official website. North of the gym on US-31 is an array of fast-food restaurants and regional chain eateries. There are also retail, supermarkets, and several other places of interest. It is ideal for a quick bite on the run or with the family. Fans 4 Franklin fans are a vocal bunch who make it well-known what they think of a call or play on the court. Many have been coming to games for decades and enjoy watching high school hoops in the old building. The student cheer block was present, and the small group did their best to help out their classmates on the floor. Access 4 The Vandivier Gym is located at the middle school and easily accessible off of US-31 on the northbound side of the highway. A large parking lot on the south side provides plenty of parking before the game. Once inside, a wraparound concourse above the upper seating bowl allows fans to enjoy the game from a different perspective, and external staircases provide easy exits after the game. Return on Investment 3 The cost of a ticket to a game is $7, concession prices are $3 for a hot dog and nachos, and a table sells used basketball gear and older t-shirts for $1 or $3. Venmo is an acceptable form of payment without cash. Extra 2 The Vandy Gym earns a point for its wrap-around concourse, low ceiling and lighting, and its name for one of the best players who ever laced his sneakers up, Robert “Fuzzy” Vandivier. Final Thoughts A visit to the Vandivier Gym is a rare opportunity for fans of high school basketball. The gym only hosts one game a year in January, and plans are to make it more of an event to create a unique tradition in the state. The stands are filled with former players, alumni, and other fans who make a Grizzly Cub game at the venerable gym a rare treat. ------  Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter   @ballparkhunter  and his   YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 McGuirk Arena East Broomfield Road and South Mission Mt Pleasant, MI 48859 Central Michigan Chippewas website McGuirk Arena website Year Opened: 1973 Capacity: 5,300 Go Chips In 2010, Central Michigan University’s Rose Center became McGuirk Arena after the completion of a renovation which included a new exterior, redesigned seating, a practice facility, and a student fitness center. McGuirk Arena is named for the McGuirk family who own real estate properties in Mt Pleasant and made a $2.5 million donation to help fund the project. The facility seats 5,300 fans with the majority of the seating being maroon plastic chairs, but the top 10 rows are plastic bleachers. The most unique feature of McGuirk Arena is that there is no center court overhang scoreboard, which makes for a very clean view of the action of the court. Food & Beverage 3 There are a few somewhat interesting items on the menu, but after ordering they left a bit to be desired. I tried the pizza calzone ($4), which was sort of a doughy disaster. I also tried the Embers pork sandwich ($6.50). Embers is a name I am familiar with for the area, and I was also a bit disappointed in this pulled pork sandwich offering. My suggestion with the food is to stick to the basics, since they’re cheaper. Better yet, eat before or after the game. They also offer pretzel bites ($4), which are similar to a hot pretzel that you would find in most arenas, just in a more manageable form. Pepsi is the soda of choice and you can purchase one in a souvenir sized cup ($6), or 32-ounce size ($3). Hot beverages are also available including coffee, cocoa, and cappuccino ($3). Overall, the food isn’t bad. Sometimes when interesting items are offered, it raises expectations, and in this case everything is just so-so. Atmosphere 2 You’ll walk in to the spacious entrance at the CMU Events Center and be greeted by a bust of CMU alum Dick Enberg. It is a great way to start, and you are hopeful that you’ll get that “Oh my!” feeling. The arena feels intimate, and you have a good view of everything going on from anywhere in the arena. The student section is mostly full, and students are on their feet, but no one seems overly into the game. The students sit under the basket nearest the home team’s bench. On the opposite side, in the corner behind the other basket is the pep band. Unfortunately, they are away from the opponent’s bench and, while decent, have little impact on the general atmosphere. I would have loved to see the band and the students more closely aligned and nearer the opposition’s bench so that they could be a more critical component to the home court advantage. The first 16 rows of seats are chairback with average leg room and no cupholder. As you climb beyond that, the seats are a fairly comfortable plastic bleacher. Ushers seemed to be checking to ensure that fans seated in the chairback seats had the appropriate ticket, but fans in the bleachers could easily choose where they want to see the game. I really like having no center court scoreboard, especially in an arena with a fairly low ceiling. It is interesting though that the main scoreboard does not display a game clock. The only places to see the clock are on the shot clocks atop each basket or at the scorers’ table. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does take some getting used to. Neighborhood 3 McGuirk Arena is located near the home of CMU football, Kelly/Shorts Stadium not far from the main thoroughfare into Mt Pleasant, Mission Street. The nearest place to find something to eat or drink would be O’Kelly’s. O’Kelly’s is sort of your typical sports bar with plenty of TVs, cheap drinks, and typical bar food. I chose to drive about 2 miles from the arena to Mt Pleasant Brewing Company. I am always a fan of the opportunity to try a new local beer when visiting a new sporting arena. Mt Pleasant Brewing Company has a small bar area, serving up 8 beers on tap, and a small menu of very good sandwiches. I tried the Brewben (like Rueben), and thought it was delicious. All sandwiches are $8, and all beers are only $3.50. This is definitely the spot that I would recommend. Fans 2 I was pretty disappointed by the fans in general. There are even some amongst the student section who are dressed up in clever outfits, so from the looks of it, you would think that they may be a rowdy crew. They seemed to enjoy themselves most after the referee made a bad call (or more accurately, a call that went against the Chips), and launched into a chant of “BULL-SH!*, BULL-SH!*”. It felt a little bit juvenile. The rest of the crowd was present, but seemed no more interested in the contest than someone in the park watching the squirrels. In fairness though, the game I witnessed was never really close and the Chippewas seemed out of it by halftime, so that may have sapped some of the energy out of the place. Access 3 Parking is free, but you’re still in for a bit of a walk from your car to the arena. Make sure you have your warm clothes if it is cold (it’s winter after all) as the trek across the parking lot is probably a 10 minute hike. That said, free parking is hard to beat. Inside the arena, everything is new and dressed in maroon and gold. The concourses are wide enough to deal with the crowd, and the bathrooms are clean and modern. Return on Investment 3 Reserved seating (chairback) will cost you $18, or you can go with the bleacher seats ($12). I would recommend the latter to save some money unless you need the back support. Seniors and children can get in for only $8. As of the time of this visit (January 2012), online tickets were not available through the team’s official website. Hopefully that will change soon. In the interim, you should feel comfortable getting your tickets the day of the game. The overall cost is very reasonable, even if you are not getting anything that would be considered life altering. If you’re in Mid-Michigan and want to check out some MAC basketball, then you won’t go broke seeing the Central Michigan Chippewas at McGuirk Arena. Extras 2 One extra point for the cool interactive Chippewas Hall of Fame located in the concourse. Rather than the standard plaques that you might find at many arenas, CMU has an interactive touchscreen that allows you to peruse the members of their Hall of Fame and get information as you like. It is rather innovative, and I would suspect more and more schools may move to something similar in the future. Another extra point, and this is just straight hometown bias, for the #44 hanging along the wall for former NBA All-Star, Olympian, MAC Player of the Year, and Traverse City Trojan Dan Majerle one of my personal idols growing up. Final Thoughts While far from a must-see venue, McGuirk Arena does manage to provide a comfortable and modern feeling experience, and a chance to see Division I basketball at a good price. If you are in or near Mt Pleasant, Michigan, then stop over at the Mt Pleasant Brewing Company for an IPA, and stop over to McGuirk Arena for a little round ball action.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Pittsburgh International Race Complex 201 Penndale Road Wampum, PA 16157 SpeedTour website Pittsburgh International Race Complex website Year Opened: 2002 Motorsports Outside the Steel City Taking over and renovating an old racetrack into a modern facility is no easy task, yet the folks at Pitt Race have done exactly that. Formerly known as Beaver Run, Pittsburgh International Race Complex is a well-manicured racetrack just under 45 minutes northwest of Pittsburgh proper. The layout is challenging, featuring lots of elevation changes and technical corners. However, for all the positives for the updated facility, there is a general lack of access for fans, as well as a very inconspicuous location. Nevertheless, the Trans Am and SVRA SpeedTour weekend is by far the biggest pro event on the track’s calendar, meaning fans flock to this track for a taste of top-level motorsports.   Food & Beverage   2 There isn’t a permanent concession stand anywhere at the track, so food trucks are brought in for fans. On top of the fan viewing hill is an ice cream/shaved ice truck that offers drinks and cold snacks, while down in the main paddock a local BBQ food truck is stationed, featuring both breakfast and lunch menus for fans and crews. Selections for food can change from race event to race event, which means prices are unpredictable. Other than the food trucks, a few vending machines for drinks are located around the facility. To make matters worse, the only real food options immediately outside the track itself is a local Subway shop that gets quite busy.   Atmosphere   3 This track is beautiful – verdant vistas greet you in all directions, and well-manicured grounds make for a welcoming sight. There is also a go-kart track on site, as well as a fan shop and an event center for rent. Victory lane is located in the paddock, allowing easy fan access to watch the winner get their trophy at the end of the race. Unfortunately there are also some major downsides to the track; fan viewing options are limited, and there aren’t a lot of shade trees to help you beat the summer heat. Overall, while aesthetically pleasing, there is still much work to be done for the circuit to challenge others in the Northeast region for fan attention.   Neighborhood   2 There isn’t too much nearby for fans to find at Pitt Race – the track is located down a small road that turns off seemingly into a neighborhood. Outside the circuit, few hotels and restaurants exist aside from a Subway and some old-fashioned motels. The nearest highway exit with proper restaurants and hotel chains is about 20-25 minutes south of the track.   Fans   3 The fans at Pittsburgh International Race Complex are casual enjoyers of motorsports; this region of the country doesn’t have a long history for sportscar racing, meaning that most fans in attendance aren’t in the diehard category. On top of that there aren’t a lot of attendees on hand, even on Sunday for the main event. This means that palpable feeling of excitement you get at other tracks is hard to find at Pitt Race.   Access   3 The track is located only a few miles from a major highway, which makes getting to the circuit rather easy. However, its location is very well hidden, and signage is at an absolute minimum. The road up to the track’s entry gate is small and unkempt, making you doubt whether you made the right turn. In addition, once inside fans can only access just under half of the circuit trackside – the entirety of the far side of the track, as well as all the infield areas, are off limits, even to media due to a lack of walls or barriers. Where crossover bridges and infield viewing areas would be a welcome addition for fans to take in more of the track, they’re forced to settle for viewing from the top of the fan hill only, or from the event center balcony.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets to SpeedTour weekend here start at $20 for a Friday ticket, while Saturday or Sunday access runs $30. A weekend pass is available for $65, while family four packs ($175) and two-packs ($125) that include general parking are also available. This means watching professional racing at Pitt Race won’t break the bank to get in the front door.   Extras   3 The flag poles near the event center feature memorial plaques for several members of Corvettes of Pennsylvania, who were friends of the track. Also, as is tradition at SpeedTour events, a fan walk takes place before the main Trans Am races, giving fans the chance to see the cars and stars of the races on track up close and personal. Finally, the circuit features a go-kart track on site, allowing anyone who has the need for speed to get a sample of what it’s like to race.   Final Thoughts Pittsburgh International Race Complex features so much potential to be a great facility – a challenging track that looks pretty to the eye, it unfortunately lacks the finer touches fans crave in terms of both creature comforts and overall access around the circuit. While tickets are inexpensive to come watch Trans Am and vintage SVRA racing here, there isn’t too much to truly draw fans to this track over others in the region.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.71 Williams Stadium 1971 University Blvd Lynchburg, VA 24502 Liberty Flames website Williams Stadium website Year Opened: 1989 Capacity: 25,000 Taking Names in Lynchburg Arthur L. Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, VA is home to the Liberty Flames football team, and was built in 1989; its current capacity is 25,000. The facility started off with only 12,000 seats, but underwent a major renovation a few years back when Liberty made the move from FCS to FBS. The facility now includes two-story stands on both the east and west sides, a five-story press box complete with 18 suites, and seating around the horseshoe of the south end zone, which boasts both box seats as well as berm seating, capped off by brick arches built into the wall surrounding the venue. The current attendance record at Williams Stadium (24,012) was set on October 22, 2022 in a game against the BYU Cougars (a game which Liberty won handily). Since joining FBS the Flames have competed in and won three consecutive bowl games (and based on their current record will most likely be invited back after this season); the Flames currently compete as an FBS Independent, but will join Conference USA next year. Food & Beverage 5 Williams Stadium has an amazing selection of food and beverage options at its concessions stands – there are the main stands which offer your basic stadium fare, but also a host of additional stands from local restaurants which offer more unique items, including Bacon St. Bagels which offers grilled bagel melts with options ranging from Grown Up Grilled Cheeses to Roast Beef & Swiss, or Rookie’s which offers ice cream sandwiches, ice cream sundaes, lemonade, and warm chocolate chip cookies. Food options available from the main stands include burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, nachos, popcorn, candy, and chips, and they also sell combos with football-themed names like Safety (hot dog, chips, and a drink) or Third Down (chicken, fries, and a drink). The prices are pretty reasonable with a hamburger coming in at $4, chicken tender for $5, candy for $2, and chips for $1 as an example. Drink options at Williams Stadium include Coke products from the fountain or in bottles, bottled water, coffee, and hot cocoa – drinks cost $3 except for the souvenir soda cup which is $8. Note however that there is no alcohol sold at Williams Stadium, as Liberty is a Christian university (founded by none other than Jerry Falwell). Atmosphere 5 Williams Stadium is a great venue for college football, and it is no wonder the football program decided to make the move to FBS. The facility itself is a great venue with lots of great amenities, and the fans (particularly the student section) are very supportive of their team and their school. The action on game day starts with the band marching in, and as with many teams there are fireworks when the home team scores (and after a win), as well as the spirit squad with flags waving, plus spurts of smoke and fire (remember the team is called the “Flames”) when the team comes onto the field. The mascot is also really great, and you might even spot him playing rock-paper-scissors with the opposing team’s mascot in-between bouts of t-shirt tossing and otherwise revving up the fans in the stadium. The Liberty Band may be the highlight of the day, however – before the game they do a ton of great formations on the field, for example the “L-U” (for Liberty University) which they actually do twice, spectacularly rotating themselves around so both sets of stands can see the formation right-side up. The band also spells out “U-S-A” during the National Anthem, as well as spelling out the word “Liberty”. Liberty Flames Band Formation on Scoreboard, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey There is also a large jumbotron behind the north end zone atop the new athletics center, and you can even see fans watching the game from the second and third stories of that building – that is the same end of the field the team comes in from. Behind the south end zone there is a giant Liberty logo in the center, surrounded by fenced-off sections of berm seating with a few sections of box seats along the top. You can also see the main entrance beyond that with beautiful brickwork and nice arches, providing a very pleasing aesthetic all around. Neighborhood 4 Bordered on one side by a freeway and by campus building, athletic fields, and parking lots on the other three sides, there aren’t any restaurants within sight of Williams Stadiums, but you can find plenty to eat within a short walk. Along Route 29 to the north of the stadium are plenty of fast food places, but there are some more upscale options like Red Lobster and Olive Garden. However, if you want to take in some local flavor I would recommend either Vinny’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria (your classic campus pizza place) or Macado’s (a pop culture-themed local favorite offering great sandwiches) – Macado’s is within walking distance of the stadium, right across the street from the Pink Lot parking. The 2 closest hotels to Williams Stadium are Super 8 and Extended Stay America (both within walking distance of the venue), but these are a little on the low end, so you might want to look for something farther out like the nearby Residence Inn or Fairfield Inn & Suites. And if you plan to be in town for the weekend, there are a couple of great historical sites to visit near Lynchburg, such as the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, or the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum in Staunton. Fans 5 Williams Stadium boasts a great crowd, especially in the student section. The fans are very loud, and deservedly so given how successful the Flames have been on the gridiron over the last few years. Since moving to FBS, Williams Stadium can easily pull in over 20K fans at an average game. You will also see plenty of team gear being worn, which is sold at the stadium in case you didn’t bring your own. But by far the most impressive (and vocal) set of fans at Liberty football games is the student section – the students sit on the “visitors” side, are very loud, and really get into the game – you will see them making the first down signal en masse whenever the announcer gives that call, and all of them are decked out head to toe in Liberty red, most with boom sticks at the ready. And of course in the front row you will see that ubiquitous diehard group going shirtless with painted chests, which is always a great boost to the atmosphere at any sports venue. Liberty Flames Student Section, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Access 4 Getting to Williams Stadium is fairly easy, given that there is a major freeway literally within sight of the venue (Highway 460 is just to the east). However, parking can be a bit of challenge – the cost is not unreasonable, but the lots (especially the pass ones) can take a while to get out of after the game, which is surprising given the relatively small size of the crowd compared to many other FBS stadiums. Also, most of the parking seems to be near the northwest corner of the facility, and that entrance is a little hard to use given the uphill climb to get there. However, on the plus side once you get into Williams Stadium moving around is very easy – there is a walking path that connects the two grandstands, and it is raised above the field so you never have to miss any of the action while you are walking to and fro. Also, there are plenty of bathrooms and concessions stands, so you shouldn’t have to spend much time in line during your visit. Return on Investment 5 General admission tickets to Liberty Flames games at Williams Stadium range from $30 to $60 depending on the opponent, but they charge the same price for the chair backs as the bench backs, with the berm seats coming in a little lower. Also the concessions are on the low end, and parking is very reasonable, making your trip to Lynchburg a stellar value for your sports dollar. You could easily get by here for around $50 to $75 per person for a ticket, a snack, and a beverage (again depending on the game – the Va Tech game being the most expensive and the FCS games being the cheapest). Extras 5 The Liberty band is a great plus at Williams Stadium for all the different formations they do, and the mascot is a lot of fun as well. But most impressive are the fireworks and the spurts of flame before the team comes onto the field (if you are close enough you can really feel the heat from them). I know several venues that use spurts of flame as part of their intro (including some NFL teams), but there is something to be said for it here with a team known as the Flames. Liberty Flames Taking the Field Between Fire and Smoke, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Final Thoughts The renovations to Williams Stadium are long since complete, and the team has really proven itself since moving to FBS with three consecutive bowl wins in the past three seasons, so the experience here is pretty close to top notch and should only get better with time. That said, Williams Stadium is definitely worth a look, so make time to take in a Flames game this season; you won’t regret it.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 GCC Baseball Field 6000 W. Olive Ave Glendale, AZ 85302 Map It Glendale Gauchos website GCC Baseball Field website Year Opened: 1965 Capacity: 350 (approx) Gaucho Pride Glendale Gauchos are NJCAA – Arizona Community College Athletics Conference (ACCAC) members. The Gauchos baseball team began in 1967 and plays  on its on-campus baseball field in Glendale, AZ.   GCC Baseball Field, built when the college opened in 1965, has artificial turf around the home plate area and Bermuda grass and annual winter rye on the remainder of the field .   The baselines from home plate to first and third are grass, not dirt, which is common in other  ACCAC baseball fields I’ve visited. The Gauchos won the 1968 NJCAA Div 2 National Championship and made NJCAA World Series appearances in 2023, 2003, and 1991.  The team is starting the 2024 season strong.  Let’s see if they make it back to Enid, OK this summer! Note: The NJCAA Div 2 (National Junior College Athletic Association) has played their baseball championship series at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, OK since 2009. Food & Beverage 0 The baseball stadium does not have refreshments for sale.  Fans can (and should) bring their own beverages and snacks.  The facility has several picnic tables spread out near and behind the stands. Atmosphere 3 Watching a baseball game at GCC is a no-frills affair.  It’s all about the game and the players from both teams.  If you’re one who enjoys the game for the game, this is for you. The ballpark has three sets of bleachers behind home plate.  For safety, a thick chain link fence surrounds the infield.  It is difficult to see some of the plays through it.  Many fans bring portable chairs and park right behind the chain link fence.  The stadium has an easy-to-read dot matrix scoreboard in right field showing the basic line score.  Whoever updates the scoreboard does a fantastic job at being accurate and timely.  Two retired numbers, 11 Boetto and 5 Grant, are displayed to the left of the scoreboard. Herb Boetto was the first Head Baseball Coach at GCC and brought the team to the NJCAA National Championship in 1968.  Dave Grant was Head Baseball Coach from Fall 1979 - Spring 2017 with over 1000 career wins.  He is a Hall of Fame Coach in these organizations: American Baseball Coaches Association NJCAA Hall of Fame Arizona Baseball Coaches Association ACCAC Hall of Fame GCC Hall of Fame The team does not play music during the game.  The players have a portable radio from the home dugout turned on pre-game, but it is shut off once the game starts.  This makes watching the game here a blessed relief from the noise that’s pummeled into fans at major and minor league games.  Currently, there is no announcer, so print a copy of the roster if that’s something you’re interested in knowing or recording.  Note:   Speakers are used for announcers and music when the sound system works.  The school is currently looking to replace the PA system. The stadium does not have lights, so only day games are played.  The team plays quite a few double headers during the season – seven innings each, with the first game starting at noon.  I recommend bringing drinks and snacks if staying for both games. A grassy area with some trees is behind the bleachers.  Kids can run around and blow off steam, or fans can place their chairs in  the shade if it gets too warm. Neighborhood 3 Glendale Community College is in a residential area in the northwest suburbs of Phoenix, AZ.   Houses and apartments border the baseball field.  A few shopping centers and fast food  places are nearby.  Parson’s Family Restaurant, a mom-and-pop family restaurant, is a wonderful place for breakfast or brunch and is a mile and a half south.  Sahuaro Ranch Park , a park with historic buildings, farm animals, and recreation areas, is just up the road and is worth visiting on a nice Arizona afternoon.     Other sports in the area include: Brazell Field ,  home of the GCU Antelopes (7 miles away);   American Family Fields of Phoenix , the Milwaukee Brewers spring training facility (6 miles away); and the Peoria Sports Complex, spring training home of the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres .   Most of the lodging is near the I-17 exits, about 4 miles from the college.  Fans 3 The Glendale Gaucho’s fanbase falls under the ‘family and friends’ category.  Most seem to know each other.   Since many of the teams the Gauchos play are close, fans of opposing teams are often in the stands.  The ACCAC does not keep attendance records.  There were about 100 fans (off and on) during the doubleheader I visited. The fans cheer all good plays (regardless of team) and respectfully utter dismay at the umpire’s calls and strikes.  Access 3 Getting to GCC Baseball Field is relatively easy.  It is located between I-17 and US 60.  The field is four miles west of I-17 (off the Dunlap Ave exit).  Dunlap Ave changes to Olive Ave as you drive west.  Fans can park along 63rd Ave and walk through a gate to the field.  The ballpark is not wheelchair accessible as some steps exist, and the pathway is grass and gravel.  Handrails are available in the middle bleacher set. Valley Metro bus route 90 (Olive and 63rd) stop drops you off right at the field.  Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is about 18 miles from the ballpark.  Public transportation is available from the airport; travel time is 1 hour 30 min (rail and bus). Most importantly, the facility has functioning restrooms, especially needed for those doubleheaders. Return on Investment 5 Like all ACCAC baseball teams, the Gauchos do not charge to watch a baseball game.  The only expense you’ll have is the snacks and drinks you bring and the cost of getting to the park. . Extras 2 The retired numbers of Herb Boetto and Dave Grant are worth an additional mention.  Over 245 Glendale Gauchos baseball student-athletes have moved on from this 2-year college to ninety different 4-year colleges and universities.  Thirty-seven players have signed professional baseball contracts; 7 have reached the major league level. Final Thoughts Pack your sunscreen, water, snacks, and a cushion (for your bum), and enjoy a quiet, lovely Gauchos baseball afternoon in Glendale, AZ.  It’s a fantastic way to decompress from life’s challenges and see our future generation playing America’s pastime.

Photos by Marc Viquez and Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park 360 Fishburne St Charleston, SC 29403 Charleston RiverDogs website Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park website Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 6,000 Charleston’s Coastal Canines Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park has served as the home field for the Charleston RiverDogs since 1997. It is located along the banks of the Ashley River. The 6,000-seat stadium (known locally as The Joe) is named for longtime mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Riley served as mayor for 10 terms, serving from 1975-2016, and was best known for guiding the city through the recovery from Hurricane Hugo. Charleston has a long history in professional baseball dating back to 1886. Past teams have gone under names including the Seagulls, the Palmettos, the Rebels, the Pirates, the Royals, the Rainbows and finally in 1994, the RiverDogs. Today, the RiverDogs serve as the Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees and are members of the South Atlantic League (SAL). The RiverDogs served as the professional starting point for many of baseball’s most familiar names. Two former Charleston players, Kiki Cuyler and Roberto Alomar, are in baseball’s Hall of Fame. Other players who have seen playing time at The Joe include David Cone, W.S. “Bull” Durham, Willie Randolph, Gorman Thomas, Sandy Alomar, Ryan Dempster, Josh Hamilton, Pedro Martinez, Alex Rodriguez, Aaron Judge and B.J. Upton. Several players are remembered in murals around the park. Food & Beverage 5 Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park offers one of the widest variety of foods in minor league baseball. Amongst its vendors are the Peanut and Pretzel Café, Dave’s Sausage World, Grab-N- Go, Smokin’ Joe’s, Scoops, Pie House, Dog House and Dog World. The concessions menu does contain several uniquely Charleston items. The RiverDog is a beef hot dog with cole slaw, Carolina BBQ mustard sauce and pickled okra. The stadium also is known for its Coastal Shrimp Burger. Another popular item is the Homewrecker, which is a hot dog with slaw, pimento cheese, pickles, okra and BBQ sauce. Here’s an overview of what’s available at The Joe: hot dogs (Carrot Dog, Vegan Dog, River Dog…all at $4.50 … and the Homewrecker at $10), salads (chicken, spinach and strawberry and summer harvest..all at $4.50), grilled cheese sandwiches ($4.50), nachos ($4), corn dogs ($6), burgers ($8.50), chicken tenders ($8), popcorn ($3), peanuts ($4), cotton candy ($4), gelato ($4) and ice cream ($4). Beverages include Pepsi brand sodas ($4.50), bottled water ($3), coffee ($3), smoothies ($5) and milkshakes (key lime, dreamsicle and caramel expresso… all at $5). A wide assortment of beers is available at $6. Atmosphere 4 The Joe is a terrific venue to enjoy a baseball game. It offers scenic views of the Ashley River and The Citadel, which is located just across a marsh from the stadium’s right field stands. Its architecture is in keeping with the surrounding area, including brick exterior walls and iron gates. The seating bowl is close to the field and primarily around the infield. There is no seating beyond the outfield walls. The main entry into the park is along the third baseline, as the first base side of the park lies along the banks of the Ashley River. It’s no wonder that Riley Park has been chosen as the host for four South Atlantic League All Star Games (1998, 2000, 2004, 2012). There are some seats at the higher levels of the stadium that are covered by a hanging roof. This can make a huge difference in fan comfort during the hot and humid spring and summer afternoons at The Joe. Neighborhood 5 Joseph P. Riley Park is located just north and west of the Charleston Downtown Historic District. It has a very picturesque setting along the Ashley River. It is located just a few blocks from the Charleston Historic District. Tours of the Historic District are offered daily, with horse drawn carriage, van and walking options available. After your tour is over and you have worked up an appetite, head over to Rodney Scott’s BBQ. The James Beard Award winner serves up a unique form of Low Country BBQ. Also in the area is the Palmetto Brewery, which bills itself as “South Carolina’s Oldest Brewery Since Prohibition.” Hotels convenient to Riley Park include the Courtyard Marriott Historic District and the Comfort Inn Downtown Charleston. Fans 4 Due to baseball’s long history in the Charleston area, the fan base for the RiverDogs is quite large and loyal. Even though the team has never claimed a league title, the fans know that there is a good chance that they will be watching several future major league ballplayers at their first stop on the way to The Show. There are a wide range of ages in the stands for each game. The RiverDogs are very active in the youth community, visiting schools and youth centers, so they draw many younger fans from the youth baseball programs. Charleston is also a haven for retirees from all over the country, who bring their love for the game to their new homes. Despite the closing of the Charleston Naval Yards a few years back, there is still a large military presence and the team holds numerous Military Appreciation Nights. It also offers $5 tickets throughout the season to active military personnel, no matter what the seat location in the stadium. Access 3 Riley Park is easily accessed from any number of directions: From Downtown Charleston: Take Broad Street west until it becomes Lockwood Drive. Continue to follow Lockwood for ½ mile and the ballpark will be on your left From North Charleston: Take I-26 East to Highway 17 South. Turn right on Lockwood Drive and stadium will be on your left. From: Mount Pleasant: Take Highway 17 across the Ravenel Bridge into Charleston. Turn right on Lockwood and follow it until you reach the stadium, which will be on your left. Once at the stadium you will find the access to be excellent. The concourse is very wide, and both concessions and restrooms are frequent enough that you should not encounter any long lines. Return on Investment 4 Fans attending a RiverDogs baseball game will receive an excellent return on investment. All home games are played at one of the top-rated stadiums in the minor leagues, with amenities not typically found in a Class A level stadium. Tickets are priced between $8 – $20, with a $2 discount if purchased prior to the day of the game . Military seats are always $5, no matter the location in the park. Concessions at Joseph P. Riley, Jr Park are above average in quality, so expect the prices to be higher than usual for a minor league venue. Parking in privately owned parking lots adjacent to the stadium is $5. Extras 4 Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park also serves as the home field for The Citadel baseball team as the facility is built on land formerly owned by the Citadel. The school donated the property to the city of Charleston. The RiverDogs have set many attendance records at The Joe. They also hold the record for the lowest attendance at a game. In 2002 the team held a Nobody Night, where no one was admitted into the park until the game was official in the middle of the fifth inning. This resulted in the official attendance figure being zero. The grounds keeping staff has been recognized five times nationally for its turf management excellence. Numerous events are held in the off-season at The Joe. These include the Ballpark Festival of Beers, youth baseball clinics and camps, as well as the Shrimp and Grits Festival. Final Thoughts Baseball and the city of Charleston have shared a love affair for more than 100 years. Today their rendezvous spot is the Joseph P Riley, Jr. Ballpark on the banks of the Ashley River. The Joe combines up close seating with a huge concession menu and a history of sending players to the majors as its recipe for keeping this relationship alive and strong.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Bon Secours Wellness Arena 650 N Academy St Greenville, SC 29601 Greenville Swamp Rabbits website Bon Secours Wellness Arena website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 13,951 "The Well" Turns 25 The Greenville Swamp Rabbits moved to Greenville, South Carolina, from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 2010. The team was known as the Road Warriors until 2015. They were rechristened as the Swamp Rabbits. The name is local, as it refers to a defunct rail line that had run through the city of Greenville. The team plays in the ECHL’s Southern Division of the Eastern Conference. The Swamp Rabbits are an affiliate of the NHL Los Angeles Kings. They have gone to the ECHL playoffs several times, but have yet to win a league title. The team has fierce rivalries with the South Carolina Stingrays and the Atlanta Gladiators in the ECHL. The Bon Secours Wellness Arena in downtown Greenville serves as the home of the Swamp Rabbits. It was built in 1998 and was formerly known as the Bi-Lo Center. The arena changed names in 2013 as a part of a naming rights agreement with the local hospital system. These days it is known as simply “The Well.” The arena seats 15,951 in its hockey configuration. It is the largest arena in the Upstate portion of South Carolina, and the second-largest arena in the state overall. There are 30 luxury suites and 840 club seats in the venue. Food & Beverage 4 Bon Secours Wellness Arena offers a wider selection of concession items than most minor league hockey arenas. All concessions at Bon Secours are located at the concourse level. Stands include Mac Attack, Swamp Dog, Carolina Smoke BBQ, the Piedmont Grill, The Reedy River Roost, and Moe’s Southwestern Grill. Pepsi brand products are offered at all stands. For the most part, the concessions are your typical stadium/arena fare. However, we did enjoy The Fried Green Tomato and Pimento Cheese Burger at the Piedmont Grill and the chicken and waffles at The Reedy River Roost. The arena offers two bars with sightlines to the action on the ice. They are Harley’s Motor Lounge and the Wicked Weed Green Room. The Craft Beer Station offers a selection of more than two dozen craft beers. All concession stands operate on a cashless basis. Atmosphere 3 Bon Secours Wellness Arena is an above-average facility for this level of hockey. It offers multiple entrances, a wide and well-lit concourse, excellent signage and well-staffed concession stands with a wide variety of menu items. The seating bowl offers excellent views of the action on the ice, and the center-hung videoboard constantly provides updated game stats and replays of the action on the ice. Seating is very comfortable. What brings down our score in this category is the attendance at Swamp Rabbits games. The average attendance for Swamp Rabbit games is 3,786. In an arena that seats 15,591, that means only 23% of the seats are filled regularly. While that means that you will have plenty of room to move around, it takes away the energy from the game, especially when the Swamp Rabbits are on a power play or score a goal. For most games, the Swamp Rabbits do not even open the upper level of seats. Since there is only one price for tickets, it does not matter where you sit. Neighborhood 4 Bon Secours Wellness Arena is located in Downtown Greenville. It is surrounded by the best the city has to offer as far as accommodations, restaurants, and local attractions. Hotels within walking distance of the arena include the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Greenville Downtown and the Courtyard Marriott Downtown Greenville. There are two drinking establishments close to the arena. Fireforge Crafted Beer and Yee-haw Brewing are just a few blocks from the Bon Secours Arena. The arena is also located near the Children’s Museum of the Upstate, the Greenville Zoo, and the very popular Falls Park on the Reedy. Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen is a very popular restaurant near the arena. Fans 3 Greenville mascot Stomper circulates through the stands throughout the game, firing up the fans and celebrating each Swamp Rabbit goal or a successful killing of a power play when the Swamp Rabbits are shorthanded. The team also offers a Party on the Plaza on weekends during the warmer weather months. This event includes beer/wine, food, music, and games for the kids. The low attendance levels at “The Well” for Swamp Rabbits games really does bring down the energy level in the building. This is a shame, as the fans who do attend are very dedicated and knowledgeable about the team. Access 4 The home of the Swamp Rabbits is easily accessed no matter what direction you are coming from. From the North: Take I-85 South to I-385 North (Downtown Greenville). Follow I-385 for 6.5 miles and the arena will be on your right. From the South: Take I-85 North to I-185 North (Downtown Greenville). I-185 becomes Mills Avenue and Church Street. Go three miles and the arena will be on your right. From the East: Take I-26 North to I-385 North (Downtown Greenville). Follow I-385 for 6.5 miles and the arena will be on your right. The official Bon Secours Wellness Arena lot is restricted for use by season ticket holders. Several parking decks are located within a few blocks of the arena. They include the Liberty Square Garage, the Common Garage on Beattie Place , and the North Lauren Street Parking Deck. The Downtown Greenville Trolley runs an Arena Events Route beginning 60 minutes before the puck drop. Go to the Swamp Rabbits website for a list of the trolley stops on this route. Once at the arena, there are three main entrance portals. Doors open one hour before the puck drop. Swamp Rabbits merchandise stands are located adjacent to each entrance. There are eight restrooms located on the concourse level of the arena. Return on Investment 3 Tickets to Swamp Rabbit games are $26, no matter where you sit in the arena. Many games will have the upper level closed if projected attendance is low. Parking lots in and around Bon Secours charge a $10 special event parking fee on gameday. For the most part, the concessions prices are quite reasonable compared to most sports venues. Extras 5 The Swamp Rabbits have a dance team known as the Rabbetts. They perform between periods and during other breaks in the action. The Bon Secours Wellness Arena is the primary entertainment venue in Greenville. Among the stars who have played at “the Well” are Blake Shelton, Garth Brooks, Paul McCartney, Eric Church, James Taylor, and Alan Jackson. The arena has also hosted the Women’s SEC Basketball Tournament, rodeos, Cirque Du Soleil, Dancing with the Stars, Monster Jams, WWE wrestling competitions, and the Harlem Globetrotters. The Bon Secours Wellness Center is well-equipped for fans with special needs. There are plenty of areas along the concourse designated for wheelchair fans. The arena also offers sensory safety kits and a Sensory Suite for fans who are on the spectrum. The Swamp Rabbits are the second hockey franchise to play at Bon Secours. They were preceded by the Greenville Grrrowl. Numerous events are being held throughout the 2023-2024 season to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena opening, Final Thoughts The Bon Secours Wellness Arena offers a better-than-average experience for almost every type of sports event or concert. Unfortunately, the lack of attendance for Swamp Rabbits games affects the energy level in the building.

Photos by Patricia Beninato and Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse 1304 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Duquesne Dukes website UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 3,500 A Storied History in an Updated Space When it comes to Pittsburgh collegiate athletics, the University of Pittsburgh tends to overshadow the other schools in the area. Southwest of Pitt, though, Duquesne University (pronounced du-CANE) has been a longtime presence in the Atlantic 10, producing more high scorers in the division than any other school. It also made history in 1950 when one of its star players, Chuck Cooper, was the first Black player to be drafted by the NBA, going to the Boston Celtics. Duquesne’s recently renovated fieldhouse was named for the Pittsburgh native. While it’s not big, its prime location near downtown and updated amenities make it fun for college basketball fans, who can watch young stars like Amir “Primo” Spears and Kevin Easley Jr. under the direction of head coach Keith Dambrot. Food & Beverage 3 You’ll don’t come to UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse to eat, but if you’re hungry, food and drink here are decent and reasonably priced. Along with the usual hot dogs, popcorn and nachos, you can get a Pig and Pickles sandwich, with pulled pork, onions, pickles (of course) and a local brewery’s mustard. For seven bucks, it’s a good deal. It’s also seven bucks for beer and hard seltzer. There’s a small bar on court level in front of the Dukes’ locker room that offers various cocktails for around ten dollars for mixed drinks. Atmosphere 4 UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse holds roughly 3500 people for basketball, with two levels of seating around the court with six club suites on the right facing the windows, framing a stunning view of downtown Pittsburgh. Most seats are typical fieldhouse seats, with a bleacher section reserved for students. The displays are top-notch with the recent renovation, with big LED screens above each basket and semi-circular screens showing scores and stats in each corner. The PA announcer completely leans into his job, and a DJ provides some interesting mixes–at very loud levels.When he’s got the turntables going, a conversation is next to impossible, even with the person next to you. With its intimate seating and the ponytailed pom pom-waving cheerleaders on the sidelines, it’s very reminiscent of a high school gym, albeit with excellent high tech. There are currently no restrictions due to the COVID pandemic at the fieldhouse. Neighborhood 3 UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse is located on the Duquesne campus, but it’s happy to piggyback on its across-the-block neighbor, PPG Paints Arena when it comes to places for fans to hang out at before and after the game. That being said, there’s not that many, and add in major campus construction–at this writing, an osteopathic medical school is being built across the street from the fieldhouse–makes walking around a bit tricky. However, people always manage to find the Souper Bowl on Fifth Avenue, about two blocks from the fieldhouse, which despite its name offers burgers, sandwiches, and other pub food and not soup. Don’t miss the cheese-and-bacon-loaded Souper Fries, and the honey mustard chicken sandwich is top-notch. Its hours are dependent on what’s going on at the arena, so be aware of that if you’re planning a visit. Fans 4 I was warned beforehand that two things would affect the crowd at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse at the game I attended. First, it was the end of a holiday weekend, so there weren’t going to be a lot of students around. Second, and more importantly for a Pittsburgh school, the Steelers were playing at the same time, and in this town, Steelers über alles. So the crowd was sparse, but they were very enthusiastic. There was plenty of Duquesne scarlet and navy to be seen, drum rolls on seats during Duke free throws, lots of cheering and chants, and the occasional heckling of the refs. Nicely, though, since Duquesne’s a Catholic school after all. I imagine this place rocks when it’s full because it was rocking pretty hard at about 40% capacity. Access 4 UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse’s parking garage is located next to the fieldhouse with a cost of $10. If you find it, street parking is available through the Pittsburgh Parking Authority; you can pay at kiosks or on the Go Mobile PGH app. Bonus: it’s free if you get street parking for a Sunday game. The fieldhouse is an easy 5-10 minute walk from downtown, and if you’re taking the T (light rail), Steel Plaza will be the closest stop, roughly eight minutes away on foot. The fieldhouse itself has wide concourses and multiple points of entry. At this time, only mobile tickets are available. Restrooms are clean and have all-new fixtures, although be warned that the aforementioned super-loud DJ is super loud here. I emerged from a halftime restroom break with ringing ears and a renewed hatred of Pitbull. Return on Investment 3 If you sit on the first level behind the baskets, expect to pay $15 for seats. After that, the prices go up to $45 for club seats or seats in the Fan Corners above the scoreboards for in-conference games, five dollars less expensive for non-conference games. $30 for a cheap seat, sandwich, and beer for a lower-echelon Division I basketball game can be a deal for a big college basketball fan, but for families looking for something to do, the price tag at a Duquesne game can add up quickly. . Extras 2 There is a small kiosk on the main concourse by the concessions stand where you can buy some Duquesne apparel, but that’s about it for buying Dukes’ stuff inside UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. A much more extensive selection is available at the Barnes and Noble bookstore down the block from the fieldhouse, so head there for your Dukes souvenirs. The staff, which seems to be a mix of students and employees, are friendly and pleasant, and the Pittsburgh skyline view is a nice touch. Final Thoughts The game experience at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse is pretty basic. You won’t get the frills of a big Division I school like Pitt, but if you like college basketball in a fun atmosphere, it’s worth your consideration. Duquesne has gone to some expense to create a good space for its students and alumni to cheer on the Dukes, and while I’d hesitate to call it a must-see destination for Pittsburgh visitors, it can be a nice addition to a Steel City sports tour.

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

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Regis Baseball Field 3333 Regis Blvd Denver, CO 80221 Regis Rangers website Regis Baseball Field website Year Opened: 1969 Capacity: 1,000 Regis Rangers Baseball Regis University is Colorado’s only Jesuit Catholic University. It has an enrollment of close to 15,000 students amongst all its schools and offers educational programs in liberal arts, sciences, business, education, computer and information sciences and health care. For athletics, the Regis Rangers are more known for its basketball achievements than its baseball success. Even so, the baseball game day event is a delightful afternoon experience. The baseball program began in 1969 and has been a part of the Div II RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) since then. Food & Beverage 2 The concessions at Regis Field are minimal yet enough to satisfy the fans in attendance. One concession stand is under the press box and offers soda (Pepsi), water, Gatorade ($2), nachos, pretzels, popcorn, hot dogs, peanuts, seeds, and candy ($1 – $3). The hot dog looks quite tasty. Alcohol is not sold at Regis Field. Atmosphere 4 Watching a baseball game at Regis Field on a warm spring day in Colorado provides a fabulous, stress-free afternoon. It’s an excellent venue for a relaxing game of baseball just five miles from downtown Denver. The field is a beautiful natural green grass and there’s real dirt between the bases, at home plate, and on the pitcher’s mound. None of that fake turf here. The backstop is a handsomely designed brick wall which blends in well with the press box and the home plate area. Seating is the perfect size for the attendance. Four rows of blue fold-down stadium seats are on each side of the press box then a section of aluminum bleachers with handrails ending at the beginning of the dugouts rounds out the seating. There is a separate set of bleachers down the third baseline. A net extends from dugout to dugout. Yet there’s still an area where one can stand next to the dugout and watch the game net free. Many fans sit on a hill on the first base side behind the dugout. This area is also net free. Unlike several other RMAC venues, one does have to watch out for foul balls at this venue. There are no lights – only day games are played here. For music during a game, a mix of country, Christian, patriotic, and top pop songs are played and it’s not too loud. In fact, it is the perfect volume, enough to enjoy yet still hear and talk with friends in the stands. Trees adorn the left and center fields. A new LED scoreboard was installed in 2011 and sits above the left field wall. It provides the basic information needed for score keeping: batter number, ball, strike, hit / error, and runs per inning. It can sometimes be difficult to read between the net and the sun. Neighborhood 3 Regis University sits just five or so miles from downtown Denver and all that city has to offer. Several places for food and beverage are just a block or two from the university. Fast food options include Wendy’s, Taco Bell, McDonald’s and the like. Good Times (a regional ‘Burgers and Frozen Custard’ fast food chain) is a block away. Also within walking distance are some non-chain food and drink establishments. A spot to visit for a beer (between those double headers or after the game) is Goldspot Brewing Company, a local craft brewery which has a friendly and welcoming environment. Next door to Goldspot is Dubbel Dutch (European sandwiches, salads, and coffee). The one hotel within walking distance is a Motel 6 (it is a safe neighborhood to stroll). Plenty of other hotel chains are just a few miles away in or near downtown Denver including Quality Inn, LaQuinta Inn, Residence Inn, etc. For a fancy hotel, try the Crawford Hotel at Union Station (it’s quite pricey). Most of the tourist attractions are in downtown Denver. Check Visit Denver for points of interest. Fans 4 A good crowd is on hand. Lots of families, particularly dad’s with sons. The dads/granddads take the kids and play catch or Frisbee on the hill and park area adjacent to the field. It’s very much a joyful family environment. Plenty of visitors from the opposing team are in the stands as a handful of the RMAC schools are within an hour or so drive. Many cheer on players as they know them personally. All are friendly, polite, and welcome to conversation. Access 3 While getting to Regis University is relatively easy, parking and finding the ball field is a chore. The university is off of I-70 exit 272 (Federal Ave / US 287) then north a few blocks to 50th Ave. Once arriving onto the campus, no signage of the ball field is visible. Parking is difficult to figure out; I ended up parking in a small visitors lot (Entrance #1 off Regis Blvd) near the David M Clark, SJ Hall building. Walk around that building and the Field House and you’ll find the baseball field. RTD Bus 52 is the available public transportation. Get off at W 50th St and Irving Ave or Regis Blvd and Irving Ave to get to the Regis University. Wheelchair access is limited. No tickets are handed out; just pay at the folding table (cash only). Seating is on the honor system; bleachers are general admission; the fold-down blue seats are the reserved seats. Return on Investment 5 Attending a warm, sunny Saturday/Sunday afternoon game is well worth the ticket price. Prices are: General admission (bleachers/grass) $6, Reserved seats (chair back) $9, Non-Regis students $3, Regis students and faculty free, under-7/over-65 free. A season ticket package is $50. Doubleheaders are common at Regis Baseball Field. Two seven-inning games for the price of one. Can’t beat that. Concession items are no more than $3 and as far as I could tell, parking is free. It’s a splendid game day experience on a warm spring day. Extras 2 An excellent game day program with a sharp-looking glossy photo cover is available upon entry. It includes rosters for both teams, game notes, Regis baseball schedule and results so far in the season. A ball player recites the RMAC sportsmanship code of conduct before the game. Final Thoughts A refreshing afternoon of baseball can be witnessed at Regis University. If needing a baseball fix and the weather cooperates, check out a game at Regis Field. It’s a good overall relaxing, entertaining afternoon of baseball. Note: Snow outs and cancellations do occur because of the versatile weather conditions in the Rocky Mountains. If you’re in town visiting a Rockies game in the early part of the season, check and see if the Rangers are at home and extend your vacation activities.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Younts Stadium 7801 N Tigerville Rd Tigerville, SC 29688 North Greenville Crusaders website Younts Stadium website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 5,000 On a Crusade in Tigerville Younts Stadium has a modern, clean look with beautiful brickwork and plenty of NGU signage – the logo includes the signature classic broadsword, instantly symbolic of the Medieval crusaders from which the team takes its name. The facility was built in 2005 and currently seats 5,000. The Crusaders football program began in 1994, and the team now participates as a member of the Gulf South Conference in NCAA Division II. Food & Beverage 4 Younts Stadium has concessions stands on both sides of the field, something which is lacking at many similarly-sized stadiums. In addition, while the selection is slightly limited, this is made up for by the very low prices, making for an affordable outing even if you are bringing a large group. Nachos, hot dogs, Papa John’s pizza, popcorn, chips, and candy bars are all available with nothing priced over $4. You can also find bottled water, canned soda, and Gatorade. Younts Stadium Concessions, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Atmosphere 4 If the above doesn’t sound like enough variety, however, there is another great option at Younts Stadium – unique across college and pro football, North Greenville now offers tailgating inside the stadium itself (yes you read that correctly). On the hill above the north end zone, and wrapping around part of the west stands, there are tents sent up which can be rented out for the season. With these seats, fans can drive their trucks and cars into the stadium, and bring their grills and lawn chairs out to watch the game in style. Now, plenty of venues have tailgating outside the stadium, and some even have it set up close enough you can peek in and see the game a little. But this is the first time I have seen people grilling out right around the gridiron itself. Besides the tailgating on the hill, Younts Stadium has two grandstands – the larger one is on the east side and includes the press and president’s box, while the smaller one is on the west side and is mainly used by visitors. The stands on the east side all have the chairback rails, which is a much more comfortable option than you will usually see at a college football game, and since all seats are general admission, you are welcome to sit there instead of on the west side if you choose. You can also bring a lawn chair or blanket and sit and watch from the top of the hill on the west side if you prefer a slightly more elevated view of the action. The only real downside is that there is no video board for instant replays – just a regular static scoreboard – so you won’t be able to re-watch the highlights (unless of course, you brought along your Smartphone). Neighborhood 2 Younts Stadium is located on North Greenville University’s campus, which is in a very rural area of northwest South Carolina not far from the NC border (about half an hour north of Greenville, SC). Surrounded by golf courses, picturesque wedding venues, wilderness areas, and even a covered bridge, there isn’t anything in terms of restaurants and hotels in the immediate vicinity – the closest hotels (Best Western, Hampton, and Swamp Rabbit Inn) are about 15 minutes southwest of campus, toward Greenville. There is a Papa John’s and a Chick-fil-A on campus (the Chick-fil-A in inside the student dining center, however), as well as a restaurant at nearby Cherokee Valley golf course called Core 450 (reservations required), but not much else unless you head closer to Greenville or Spartanburg. Fans 4 Younts Stadium draws a pretty solid crowd, and while it may not be enough to fill every seat, there is a large enough crowd that it will not obvious when some of the seats are empty. This is equally true of both the east and west grandstands, but incidentally, good crowds on the visitor’s side is fairly common at this level of college football – since the conferences in D2 tend to be much tighter geographically than you will see in the FBS, for example, it is not as difficult for fans to travel and see their team on the road. You can also tell that most of the fans are local – while you will see plenty of red or black Crusaders gear (there is an NGU fan shop on the east side as you enter if you need to pick up some swag), you will also see many fans supporting other local college teams, which provides a tight-knit feel and sense of community while you are at the stadium. Access 5 Younts Stadium is easy to get to (right alongside Highway 414), with plenty of space around the facility for parking and to hang out throwing a football or taking in the beautiful mountain scenery. There is a parking lot right next to the venue, in fact (which costs nothing to park in), so you can get in and out of the stadium with ease. Walking around the concourse is also easy, as there is plenty of room, and you are welcome to watch from anywhere once you enter. There are concessions and bathrooms on both sides of the field as well, so you don’t have to walk all the way around like at some facilities if you happen to be sitting on the wrong side. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to North Greenville Crusaders games at Younts Stadium are only $20 for adults and $5 for kids, which is about as low as you will ever see for college football. Add in the free parking and the low-cost concessions, and this makes taking in a football game here about as friendly to your wallet as you could probably hope for. Given how close you are to the action and the fact that you can watch from wherever you want, including from the hill above the field, you can’t find a better bang for your sports buck than this. Extras 3 The Crusaders don’t have a live mascot this year, but their band puts on a pretty good show during games, and they have a DJ in the student section pumping up the jam to get fans moving. You will also see cheerleaders, players coming onto the field through the tunnel, and most of the usual amenities you are used to at football games, including all the classic songs being played over the loudspeaker (Don’t Stop Believing, etc.). But probably the most unique feature here is the fireworks played after the game – I have seen this a lot at minor league baseball games on some nights, but rarely at a college football game. Fireworks after the Game at Younts Stadium, Photo by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Final Thoughts Most football fans probably haven’t taken in a D2 football game, since football at this level is perceived to lack some of the pageantries of some of the elite programs. At Younts Stadium this could not be further from the truth – here at North Greenville you will get a great football experience without the high cost and huge crowds of other programs, making it easy to enjoy yourself for a pleasant day or evening out.

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 SoFi Stadium 1001 Stadium Dr Inglewood, CA 90301 Los Angeles Chargers website SoFi Stadium website Year Opened: 2020 Capacity: 70,240 The NFL’s newest Jewel SoFi Stadium, home of both the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers and the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams , reportedly cost $5.5 billion to build, almost three times what the previous NFL record holder, Allegiant Stadium , cost.  The stadium has a unique design in being sort of an open-air stadium with a roof, and even has a water feature, but given how much it cost to build, unfortunately disappoints in some areas, namely in terms of its access and pricing.   Food & Beverage   4 SoFi Stadium has a host of concessions options, ranging from pizza and Italian sandwiches to burgers, hot dogs, chicken strips and sandwiches, burritos, nachos, and tacos, as well as snacks and desserts such as cheesecake, churro bites, Italian custard, cookies, and brownies. There are also several full bar areas and plenty of beer, wine, soda, and bottled water, but nothing in the way of a wow factor, such as a unique item you can’t find at any other stadium. The concession stands also look overly uniform – all share the same color scheme, font, and design – making it difficult to find what you are looking for without walking around and reaching each stands’ menu.  The different levels all appear to have the same options. Concessions prices are on the high side, as you might expect from a pro stadium (think $9 for a hot dog with no sides or $6 for a bottle of water). The food is actually quite tasty, however – I recommend the cheeseburger, and the souvenir soda is a good deal at $8, coming in a cool reflective cup you can take home (but no free refills). Note that there are also plenty of street vendors on the grounds around the facility, selling hot dogs, beer, and soda as you walk up to the entrance – I saw plenty of fans partaking of these even after the game was over.   Atmosphere   4 The stadium looks really cool from the outside, but despite how it looks, is actually open a little to the elements, meaning during night games it gets a little cool inside, and I was told it can get hot inside during day games. I also heard that if you sit up in the 400 or 500 level, be careful where you sit, as the sun can get in your eyes if you sit on the wrong side – not something I expected from what looks like an indoor stadium. Unlike the atmosphere during Rams  games, the Chargers offer their fans a slightly more silly atmosphere, as illustrated by such amenities as smiley face logos with lightning bolt eyes, and having a drumline instead of cheerleaders, providing a more fun, bring-the-kids kind of vibe than you’ll find during the other team’s  games. The drumline plays outside from the parking lots before the game, and when you go inside you’ll experience the typical fans contests and giveaways. The Chargers also have sound effects in the form of a Thunder Siren (think hurricane warning or air raid) that goes off before the game and before the second half begins, as well as a cannon which fires before the game and after Chargers scores – but perhaps only after touchdowns, as I don’t recall hearing it after Bolts field goals. The team takes the field amid a haze of smoke and with flags flying, and the huge circular videoboard around the ceiling gives every fan the ability to easily see replays, stats, and the action on the field – the videoboard is close to eye level for those in the 300s, but may prove a distraction for those in the 400s and 500s.   Neighborhood   3 SoFi Stadium is a few miles east of LAX airport, and thus in close proximity to myriad hotels at all different price levels, if you are planning to stay the weekend. However, being mostly surrounded by parking areas, there are not a lot of attractions or restaurants in the area, although there are a few mostly fast-food places a few blocks south of the venue; In-N-Out Burger and Pollo Loco (chicken) are popular chains in California. Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood are about 10 miles north-northeast of the stadium, where you can find most of the amenities the area is best-known for.   Fans   2 The Chargers don’t have as strong a fanbase as do the Los Angeles Rams , perhaps understandable given the latter had a team here decades before, while the Bolts are kind of the new kid in town. That said, you will see a lot of empty seats, and perhaps too many opposing fans during Chargers games. You will see some Bolts jerseys and other team gear being worn, but not as much as at other NFL stadiums for their teams.   Access   4 Getting around the inside of SoFi Stadium is problematic, but getting TO the venue is not that bad; the staff and local police do a great job directing traffic and blocking off roads to make getting in quick and easy, but more importantly, to sweep fans away from the stadium quickly after the contest is over. There is a little traffic in the area, but the location is far enough away from LA city center that there isn’t too much. There are plenty of parking lots nearby; I recommend the Green A lot – it is pricey, but as close to the stadium as you can probably get, and is small enough you can get out after the game really fast. There are cheaper lots a little further away. Getting around the stadium once inside is more of a challenge – SoFi Stadium has 9 different levels, but there aren’t enough ways to move between them. Most fans use the escalators, but there aren’t enough of these and they aren’t together – for example, to get from the “main” 300 level where you enter the stadium to the 100 level, you have to walk partway around the stadium, take one escalator down to the 200 level, and then walk partway around the stadium AGAIN to find another escalator to take you down to the 100 level. You can’t take the stairs, either, as they only have exits on the 300 level – if you walk down them to the 100 or 200 level the door will be locked. There are also not enough elevators, so the wait for them is very long. The seats themselves are all chairbacks, but on some levels are too narrow for the average person – the ones on the 300 level seem a little larger than the ones on the 100 level.   Return on Investment   3 Attending a Chargers game can be pricey – even though many seats will be empty the game will still be sold out, so you’ll likely have to buy tickets on the secondary market anyway. Tickets will get cheaper the closer to the game it gets, as well parking passes, so you might score a deal if you are willing to risk waiting. As mentioned the concessions are on the high side ($25 to $30 per person for a main dish, side, and drink), while parking starts at $60 in the lots furthest from the stadium.   Extras   4 The Chargers do offer some amenities for fans, for example some DJs out in the concourse, tons of logos for fans to take selfies with, the aforementioned drumline and sound effects, and plenty of team gear stands if you want to pick up some Bolts swag – there are so many places selling team gear stands on every level you shouldn’t have to wait in line.   Final Thoughts The NFL’s newest stadium represents a pricey proposition, but certainly comes with a lot of bells and whistles for fans to enjoy. If you plan ahead in terms of seating, parking, and perhaps eat before the game, you can save yourself a little hassle, and perhaps a little green as well.

Photo Courtesy of UW-Green Bay Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Resch Center 1901 S Oneida St Green Bay, WI 54304 Green Bay Phoenix website Resch Center website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 9,729 Phoenix Rising in Green Bay In 1994, head coach Dick Bennett and his son Tony led the UW-Green Bay Phoenix in an upset of Jason Kidd and the 5th-seeded California Golden Bears in the first round of the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. Any Phoenix fan will tell you that this victory was UW-Green Bay “One Shining Moment”. At that time, the Phoenix played in the 5,000-seat Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena. By 2002, the Brown County Arena was severely outdated. Enter the Resch Center next door, a 10,000-seat, multi-purpose facility that UWGB has called home ever since. Dick Bennett is a coaching legend in Wisconsin, Tony Bennett’s #25 is the only retired number in Phoenix history, and Green Bay basketball continues its struggle to rise up to a position of significance in a football-crazed town. The Resch Center sits approximately nine miles from the UW-Green Bay campus, which appears to affect student attendance, as Green Bay lacks efficient public transportation to get young fans to and from campus Food & Beverage 2 One of the benefits of UW-Green Bay playing basketball off campus at the Resch Center is that a fan can enjoy a beer (or multiple beers) during the game. The Resch Center offers a modest choice of draft beers at its concession stands, but a “Bud Light Night” makes 24-ounce $2.00 Bud Lights the most popular choice among fans. Soft drinks are provided by 7-Up, RC Cola, Dr. Pepper, and Sun Drop and can be purchased in bottles or from the fountain. The food menu at the Resch Center is not spectacular. If you’re in town for the game, plan to take advantage of one of the numerous establishments that surround the Resch Center and Lambeau Field. Relying on what the Resch Center provides (pizza, brats, pretzels, and hot dogs) may leave you unsatisfied. DiGiorno personal pizzas are the signature items and will set you back $7.00. Atmosphere 3 Likely the best atmosphere in the Phoenix season will be a match-up against Wisconsin, Marquette, or UW. Games against conference rivals from the Horizon League are also typically well attended. For marquee games, expect nearly 5,000 to turn out. For weekend games with an 8:00PM tip-off and a promotion like “Bud Light Night,”, locals are encouraged to get out and support their team. The UWGB basketball game has a minor league feel to it. Home games often come along with advertised giveaways such as winter hats, sunglasses, youth jerseys, and trading cards. In addition, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay offers Festival Foods Family Games on a limited schedule where tickets are discounted, parking is free, and sodas and hot dogs are only $1.00. Breaks in the action are typically filled with promotional dance-offs, full court dashes to collect pizza boxes, and slinging rubber chickens into shopping carts. The ability to enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two at the off-campus Resch Center is a nice perk and even on “Bud Light Night,” Phoenix fans appear to enjoy themselves responsibly. Even when the Phoenix host a season-high crowd, the Resch Center sits half full and often sits three-quarters empty, as the official capacity for basketball is listed as 9,729. The student section and the band are deserving of a lot of credit as a spirited group, but even their section will look half full. A few Phoenix alums confided that it’s difficult for students to get to the game, especially since shuttle services from campus were discontinued a few years ago. The Resch Center was obviously built for hockey. As a result, Sections 201, 202, and 203 keep you the furthest distance from the action despite providing the most affordable experience ($11.00 per ticket). $20.00 will provide the best viewing experience in Sections 207-210 and 220-223, alongside the court. The Resch Center website provides a helpful seating chart to illustrate premier seating locations. Neighborhood 4 The Resch Center literally sits in the shadow of Lambeau Field and is in the heart of the Stadium District in Green Bay. Consequently, there is no shortage of pre or postgame options for food and spirits. The D2 Sports Pub (attached to the Midway Best Western Hotel) is the closest establishment (maybe 20 feet) to the Resch Center. Other staples of the Stadium District within walking distance include The Stadium View Bar & Grille, Anduzzi’s Sports Club, The Bar, The Green Bay Distillery, Burkel’s One Block Over, and Badger State Brewing. Parking is abundant and the fee to do so is minimal, as the Lambeau Field parking lot serves as the official lot for the Resch and charges only $5.00. If interested in saving a few bucks, seek out the bars and restaurants around the Resch Center that offer free parking. Fans 3 Phoenix fans are knowledgeable and know when to get loud. During a well attended back-and-forth game against a conference rival, expect the Resch Center to get plenty loud during key defensive moments. UWGB alumni, casual basketball fans, and families enjoying an affordable night out are typically well represented. Students can be hit or miss, especially during the winter break when class is not in session. Regardless of when the game is played, UWGB needs to figure out a way to get more of its student body involved in order for Phoenix games to have that true college basketball atmosphere. Access 4 5,000 basketball fans descending upon the Resch Center compared to 70,000 Packers fans flocking to Lambeau Field are night and day comparisons. Parking near the Resch Center is abundant. The Lambeau Field parking lot is the official lot for Resch Center events and the charge is minimal. Parking at nearby establishments is free; they only hope that you’ll stop in for a beer and burger before or after the game. Fans enter the Resch Center through a lobby on the south side of the arena. Many people purchase tickets on site, which can overcrowd the lobby in a hurry. If you wish to avoid any crowds, purchase tickets ahead of time and head either left or right through the gates upon your arrival. Fans can access their 100 level courtside seats via the arena floor tunnels but most spectators head up a flight of stairs to the main concourse and 200 level sections. The second floor concourse provides adequate space, concession stands, and restrooms. The north end of the concourse is typically not accessible, as Sections 212 through 218 tend to be closed off for basketball games. Return on Investment 3 For local Northeast Wisconsin sports fans, a Green Bay Phoenix basketball game is a solid entertainment choice. The program has been near the top of the Horizon League standings in recent years and the product appeals to all demographics. In the world of mid-major college basketball, UW-Green Bay suffers from not being a destination for many Wisconsin college basketball fans. The Wisconsin Badgers have the state’s attention and affection during most winters, but anyone willing to make the trek to Titletown will have a positive experience. If specifically planning a trip to the Resch Center, look for Wisconsin, Marquette, and/or UW-Milwaukee on the schedule, as these opponents draw the largest crowds. Extras 3 If UW-Green Bay basketball brings you in town for a weekend, it might be worth looking into a women’s basketball game at the on-campus Kress Events Center. Over the past five years, UWGB women’s basketball has the third highest winning percentage in the NCAA. The women play at the 4,018-seat Kress Events Center, which is a seven year-old venue in the middle of the campus. The women average 2,000 fans a game, which fits better in the more intimate Kress Center. Considering its proximity to the Resch Center, Lambeau Field and everything that it offers (food, tours, shopping) is also a great way to spend a day prior to an evening Phoenix tip-off.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Kia Center 400 W Church St Orlando, FL 32801 Orlando Predators website Kia Center website Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 20,00 Indoor Football in Magic Country Editor's Note: The Amway Center changed its name to the Kia Center on December 20, 2023. Since this review was written before the name change, it will be referred to as the Amway Center throughout this review. Amway Center in Orlando, Florida is most well-known as the home of the Orlando Magic of the NBA, but is also used as the home of indoor football’s Orlando Predators – as a professional sports venue, the facility offers a wide range of concessions options, spacious concourses, and lots of bells and whistles. The Predators benefit from a lot of these amenities, but not all of them are used during indoor football games. Food & Beverage 4 There are plenty of food and beverage items at Orlando Predators games, and they come with the slightly inflated prices you would expect from an NBA venue (e.g. $5.50 for bottled water, $6 for packaged candy, and $7.50 for a hot dog, which are the lowest priced items available here). Other items include nachos, popcorn, pretzels, glazed nuts (the sweet kind sold in the cones), chicken sandwiches and tenders, burgers with ‘Predator’ sauce (these are mislabeled – the menu board says they have 2 half-pound patties, but in reality, they are much smaller), Papa John’s personal-sized pizzas (oddly the Papa John’s stand also sells the same hot dogs available at other stands), Dippin’ Dots, a Cuban stand with empanadas and Cuban sandwiches, and a Mexican stand offering chips with salsa, guac, or queso, as well as nachos and tacos, including double decker tacos (hard shell wrapped in soft shell). Drinks include bottled water, soda, and draft beer, including several bars with seating you can see the field from, plus a couple of the new convenience-store-type stands that have a wide selection of different canned beer. Atmosphere 4 There are hardly any fans at Amway Center during Predators games (at least for a Friday night game, which is when I last attended), but that is a good thing in certain ways, as it allows you to take better advantage of some of the venue’s great amenities. For example, there is a rooftop bar and grill called The Ultra Club, where you can sit and enjoy a drink or meal. There is also comfy seating in the concourse complete with USB charging (tiers of wooden seats with rows of charging outlets embedded on the seat fronts). In addition, there is also a four or five-story lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows so you can see the view, complete with Disney-themed panels for décor, as well as the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame and fan experience displays – I have never been to a Magic game here, so I can’t say how crowded it is for basketball, but with hardly anyone here during Preds games, fans are easily able to explore the Hall and lobby, and use the charging stations, comfy seating, and Ultra Club with no waiting, and no pushing and shoving to get to them. For the game itself, the action begins with pyrotechnics and motorcycles on the field, as you might see at many indoor football venues, and the staff has the typical contests (football tosses, etc.) and fan cams (in this case a bongo drum cam and a kiss cam). There are also TVs in the lobby so you can keep track of the action while walking around, as well as the Predators dance team. Neighborhood 5 What can I tell you about Orlando that you don’t already know? The attractions here are seemingly endless – Disney World, SeaWorld, Kennedy Space Center, Manatee Tours, LEGOLAND, etc. – more than enough for a weekend, or even a week or more, to surround your Orlando Predators visit. There are also plenty of hotels at all price ranges to choose from near the arena, as well as numerous restaurants. Amway Center is located in downtown Orlando, not far from Lake Eola Park and Exploria Stadium, the latter of which is home to Orlando City SC , the Orlando Pride , and also the Cure Bowl . Fans 1 Amway Center has hardly any fans show up for Predators games, so there is not much in the way of fan noise – there are also curtains blocking much of the seating, without which the facility would seem even more empty. There is a team gear stand inside the venue, but the prices are rather high for items, for example, an autographed official-sized football costs $100. Access 4 Getting to Amway Center is pretty simple, as several major freeways go right by it (I-4, Highway 408, etc.). There is also plenty of parking within a block or two of the venue; on the plus side, the low attendance at Orlando Predators makes it easier to get in and out of the facility. I never recommend parking in parking decks, as they can sometimes take a while to get out of after the game, but there are several surface lots nearby where you can park instead for about $10. Orlando International Airport (MCO), about 20 miles from Amway Center, has flights from pretty much any destination you can imagine, thanks to all the tourist attractions in town. The airport is a little confusing as there are multiple “terminals” all inside the same building, making it hard to know where you are supposed to go. Return on Investment 4 Including Ticketmaster fees, tickets to Orlando Predators games start at around $20 or $25 – the facility is great and worth a look, and coming here for a Predators game, as I mentioned earlier, is an easier way to take advantage of the amenities, given the much smaller crowds during indoor football games compared to basketball games. Parking is reasonable, and although the concessions prices are generally pretty high, you can find some better values if you look around at different stands. Extras 3 There is a Kia SUV displayed on the suite level inside the venue; you can’t get that close to it, but you can certainly see it from inside the venue. The Predators logo itself is also pretty cool. Final Thoughts I think Amway Center is worth a visit, either for a Predators game or a Magic game, although the former might be a little easier on the wallet in terms of the hassle/traffic factor.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Fieldhouse at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex 1921 West Gate City Blvd Greensboro, NC 27403 Greensboro Swarm website Fieldhouse at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex website Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 2,100 Basketball Swarms the Gate City The state of North Carolina is known for many things: delicious BBQ, beautiful mountains and beaches, and basketball. The Tar Heel State is home to eighteen Division 1 college programs, including big ACC programs like Duke , North Carolina , NC State , and Wake Forest , and smaller mid-major programs like Davidson , High Point , UNC-Charlotte , and UNC-Greensboro . The state also boasts the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets who in May 2015 decided to own its own NBA Development League team that would play close to the team’s home base in the Queen City. Seven cities were considered in both North and South Carolina before it was officially announced in October that Greensboro was the city selected, and two months later the name Swarm was announced as a homage to the Hornets’ parent brand. Greensboro is a natural fit to house minor league basketball given its history of hosting the ACC Tournament several times over the last few decades at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Fieldhouse, located just steps away and formerly known as The Pavilion, hosted many events over the years, from exhibitions of the annual Central Carolina Fair to many ACC Fan Fests for the Men’s and Women tournaments. In 2016 it was converted to host the Purple and Teal. With locker rooms, a field house-type roof, and permanent seating the building was truly transformed. The team is still in its infancy playing in the NBA Gatorade League, but there is a buzz about the future greats of the NBA playing in a basketball-rich city. Food & Beverage 3 There is nothing spectacular about the cuisine at the Fieldhouse but the prices aren’t outrageous. Bottled water and Pepsi products go for four dollars a bottle. Chips, candy, and popcorn are two, three and four dollars respectively, while french fries, and pretzels, and a jumbo hot dog are four dollars a pop. If you’re feeling hungrier, you can get a chicken tender, or tender sandwich basket (with fries) for eight dollars each, or fifty cents more for a cheeseburger basket. A domestic or specialty beer will set you back eight and nine dollars. Although the food is solid, it might be worth trying one of Greensboro’s great eateries to get the most out of your experience when visiting the Gate City. Atmosphere 4 The NBA Gatorade League started in 2001 with eight teams in just the Southeastern United States, and nearly two decades later currently hosts twenty-eight teams. The League has an eye on future expansion. It is hoped that all 30 NBA teams will own and operate their own affiliate much like the Hornets do with the Swarm. The League has seen a boost in credibility over recent years with the introduction of two-way contracts and it’s becoming a premier place for young players to compete for a coveted NBA roster spot. The Fieldhouse is the perfect place to watch the best of the up and comers. The arena houses 2,118 chair back and bleacher seating on three sides of the court, and since you are no more than twelve rows or so from the hardwood, there is not a single bad seat anywhere in the Fieldhouse. The venue’s concourse is behind the basket closest to the entrance. It features an arcade-style basketball hoop set up for young ones to practice their jump shots, concession stands to grab something to eat or drink, and a table selling a nice selection of Swarm merchandise The buzzer that indicates the end of a period, shot clock, or substitution is very loud, so those with sensitive ears should be aware There’s an appealing simplicity about the Fieldhouse: two electronic scoreboards are found on the walls behind both baskets, but there is no video board or any other bells and whistles at the Fieldhouse. While there are some fun promotions led by Sergeant Swarm, the team’s mascot and the Buzz Brigade promotions squad, the focus is on fast-paced, high-intensity professional basketball. Neighborhood 4 The Fieldhouse is part of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex and sits adjacent to the Coliseum on Gate City Boulevard, one of Greensboro’s main drags. There are many places to grab some delicious food. For example, right across the street sits Stamey’s, home to delicious slow-cooked Lexington-Style BBQ for the last eighty years. It’s a wonderful place to get that old-fashioned pork or chicken goodness on a plate or as a sandwich. There is a plethora of delicious side items, including Brunswick Stew, hush puppies, slaw, and collard greens. Drive one street over to Spring Garden, and take in some of the best burgers not just in Greensboro but throughout North Carolina. There are ten different gourmet options including The North Carolinian which is topped with a fried egg, bacon, pimento cheese, lettuce, and a fried green tomato, The Brooklyn and Cuban Cow are also worth trying. They’re modeled after the classic Reuben Sandwich and Cuban Sandwich respectively. There are also numerous starters including my favorites, fried goat cheese and fried crab cake balls. Don’t forget the Wall of Fries, where you can get more than a dozen styles of fries and potato chips including Sweet Thai Chili, Cordon Bleu, or Poutine. Finally, no trip to Greensboro would be complete without a trip to Yum Yum about a mile up Spring Garden Street on the campus of UNC-Greensboro, where you can grab a tasty hot dog and some sweet and creamy house-made ice cream, at a more than a century-old institution. I’d recommend getting your hot dog “all the way” for a North Carolina style that includes mustard, onions, their in-house chili, and slaw, along with a glass bottle of North Carolina’s very own Cheerwine, before treating yourself to a scoop or two of their “better ice cream.” The prices are surprisingly very low, and even with large crowds, there is never a long wait time. The main brewery that locals and visitors both love is Natty Greenes which has locations across the street from the complex as well as downtown. There is always a lot going on in the Gate City. When you’re in North Carolina’s third-largest city and the biggest city in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad Region, you don’t have to go too far to find something to keep you busy for a day or weekend. If shopping is on the top of your list, then the three-story Four Seasons Mall and the outdoor Friendly Center are five and ten minutes away. Those with children should check out the Greensboro Science Center, and the Greensboro Children’s Museum. Both offer hours of entertainment for young ones, with the former boasting a zoo and an aquarium, and the latter offering large climbing structures. History buffs should check out The International Civil Rights Center and Museum in the site of the old Woolworths Department Store, where sixty years ago four North Carolina A&T students sat at a segregated lunch counter to help bring about integration. It is considered one of the most important events of the Civil Rights Movement. Nearly two hundred years earlier one of the most important battles of the American Revolution took place and you can stroll around the more than 200 acres where American and British soldiers fought in what is widely considered the turning point of The Revolutionary War. All of these attractions are located just a fifteen-minute drive from the Fieldhouse, but if you’re wanting something to check out in the complex itself, a few hundred yards away from the home of the Swarm is the ACC Hall of Champions, a shrine to the fifteen Atlantic Coast Conference members, where you can learn about the history of some of the greatest moments in each of these school’s athletic histories and maybe get your picture with your favorite ACC school’s life-size mascot statue. There are many hotels to stay near the complex including a Holiday Inn, Red Roof Inn, Drury Inn & Suites, and a Comfort Suites, all within a five-minute drive, as well as plenty of hotels downtown three miles east if you’re wanting to be more centrally located. Fans 3 The Swarm is only playing in its fourth season, so the team is still trying to define itself. On weekends and other big nights, like its home opener, and the school day game, the Swarm can sell out the Fieldhouse, however on this mid-week affair even against a regional opponent the stands only looked about a third full which for a venue of its size, does mean less than a thousand people are in the seats. That being said, the fans who were present were engaged and knowledgeable and were focused on the game and not just on socializing or looking at their cell phones. The crowd would get loud for big plays, and it still made for an exciting atmosphere to watch some pro hoops. Fan attendance could consistently increase as both the Hornets improve and the Swarm sign some local talent from any of NC’s many great college programs, but the trend of G-League franchises playing in small venues of a few thousand in most cases seems to be an advantage as the league continues to establish itself as basketball’s premier minor league. Take a look at the inside of the Fieldhouse during a game here: Access 4 The Fieldhouse shares a parking lot with the far more massive Greensboro Coliseum and there is an ample amount of parking. Parking is five dollars, but you can often find spots really close to the Fieldhouse’s entrance. For those who are taking public transportation, the number 11 GTA will get you from the Coliseum to the Greensboro Depot downtown for $1.50 one way and can connect you to Greyhound and Amtrak service as well if you’re coming from beyond the Triad. Lines are very short (sometimes nonexistent), and walking around the concourse behind the basket is never too problematic. Return on Investment 5 Going to see the Greensboro Swarm is an incredibly good deal: tickets start at twelve dollars, and with concessions not too unreasonable, and parking very low, watching some potential future NBA stars in an intimate fast-paced setting will only set a person back $25-$30, which is often less than the cost of just a ticket at an NBA game. The quality may not be as high, but these are still some very skilled players, and for those who follow the Hornets it allows an opportunity to see players on the rise in the organization up close. To stretch your dollar further Fieldhouse Fridays offers dollar hot dogs, and two-dollar soda and beer. That, combined with a chance to shoot postgame on the Fieldhouse hardwood, would be the ideal time to catch the Swarm in action. Extras 3 The first point goes to the unique Fieldhouse design and layout. They could have easily made a plain standard gym or arena but instead it has the feel of an airplane hangar. The next point goes to the map on display in the concourse of all of the G-League franchises and where they are located, which not only provides a reference to those who aren’t familiar with the circuit but also helps to showcase the league itself, showing how it has grown nationwide. Finally, a third point for the incredibly friendly staff at the Fieldhouse. Final Thoughts North Carolina has an extremely rich basketball tradition stretching from the mountains to the coast and right in the middle is Greensboro. The Greensboro Coliseum’s Fieldhouse is a unique compact space that hosts high energy, up-tempo basketball one rung down from the NBA. The Swarm is still relatively new on the block, but with the strong partnership of the Hornets, and the Greensboro Coliseum known for hosting some basketball classics next door, the Swarm has found a nest in the Gate City, and as the Hornets improve the buzz around the Swarm will only increase.

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Ferrell Center 1900 S University Parks Dr Baylor, TX 76706 Baylor Bears website Ferrell Center website Year Opened: 1988 Capacity: 10,284 Baylor Bears Basketball’s Ferrell Center Editors Note: Baylor Bears Basketball moved to Foster Pavilion in Jan, 2024. Located in Waco, Texas, Ferrell Center is home to the Baylor Bears basketball and volleyball teams. The first-ever event held in Ferrell Center was a political rally by former President Ronald Reagan on September 22, 1988. The first sporting event here (a Baylor Bears women’s basketball game) took place a couple of months after that, on November 25, followed a few days later by the men’s basketball team versus San Diego State. Ferrell Center, a building with a golden-domed roof, has a seating capacity of 10,284 for basketball and 6,000 for volleyball. The arena is named in memory of Charles Robert Ferrell, who died in 1967 during his sophomore year at Baylor. The actual basketball court is named after Paul J. Meyer Sr., in recognition of his contributions to Baylor University. The height of the facility is 111 feet, and the dome covers 3 acres. Ferrell Center continues to undergo improvements, keeping the arena updated while providing the best possible facility for students and fans. The university recently upgraded the floor and video boards, but the biggest improvement came in 2006 – the construction of the Lieutenant Jack Whetsel Jr. practice facility; this 42,990 square-foot facility includes practice courts, coaching staff offices, and a VIP receiving area. Some of the notable events that have taken place at Ferrell Center include NBA exhibition games and training camps, as well as women’s and men’s postseason NIT games. The highest attendance record in Ferrell Center history is currently at 10,627, with the most recent mark being set on January 7, 2017 versus Oklahoma State. Baylor University announced in May 2019 that a new Baylor Bears basketball pavilion will be built to replace the university’s oldest intercollegiate athletic facility on campus; while it will no longer host basketball, Ferrell Center will undergo a $30 million renovation and become the exclusive home of Baylor’s volleyball and national champion acrobatic and tumbling teams. Food & Beverage 3 Ferrell Center has plenty of concessions stands inside the arena, which means short food lines and little congestion inside the concourse. The food is comprised of basic sports stadium fare with prices typical of other venues. The smokehouse loaded nachos ($9) are at the top of the list as far as pricing, and give you beef fajita meat, shredded lettuce, sour cream, onions, and jalapenos on top of nacho chips. For basic stadium fare at a cost of $5, you can choose between the arena dog, garlic sausage dog, basic nachos, and cotton candy, while other typical selections such as peanuts, popcorn, pretzels, and assorted candy are sold for $4. There are a couple of money saving combos at the concession stands, for example the Bear Pack, which gives you a hot dog, kettle chips, and a small fountain drink for $10, or get two of each for $18, leading to a little more savings. Also, in addition to the basic fare there is Frito pie, which is a mixture of Fritos, chili, cheese, onions, and jalapenos. You can also find two types of chicken wraps, either chicken Caesar or blackened chicken; all three of the latter cost $7. Or, there is also a State Fair concessions stand selling foot-long corn dogs, funnel cakes, or sausage on a stick for $6. Besides the main stands, Ferrell Center also brings in outside vendors such as Pizza Hut and Chick-fil-A. Pizza Hut sells a 9” cheese or pepperoni pizza for $8 a slice, while Chick-fil-A’s prices are higher here than at their regular stores. However, they do offer a chicken basket for $9, which saves you a dollar compared to buying a chicken sandwich and waffle fries separately; you can also add a chocolate chunk cookie for $2. An interesting thing about the concessions here at Ferrell Center is that the calories of all items are shown on the menu boards. If you are looking for a beverage, the soda selection at Ferrell Center includes Dr Pepper, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew; these options come in a small size for $3 or the souvenir 32oz size for $6. Besides soda, you can also find Gatorade, Aquafina bottled water, and coffee priced at $3 each, while fresh-squeezed lemonade and iced tea cost a dollar more. Note that Ferrell Center doesn’t offer any alcohol. Ferrell Center’s food and beverage options will satisfy any hunger during the event, however, Waco has enough to offer in terms of restaurants that eating before or after the game is more strongly recommended. Atmosphere 4 The success of Baylor’s basketball program, coupled with playing in a competitive Big 12 Conference, elevates the atmosphere inside Ferrell Center to a wonderful environment that anyone would enjoy. The atmosphere becomes even louder and more serious when nationally ranked opponents, such as Kansas or their hated Big 12 rivals, the TCU Horned Frogs or Texas Longhorns , invade Waco. The students sit along the baseline in an area nicknamed the “Bear Pit,” which continues all the way back to the upper level; this section is next to the Baylor band. The band, spirit squads, and mascot Bruiser keep the energetic crowd entertained throughout the game. In addition, during timeouts there are fan contests as well as the typical spirit squad entertainment. The video boards above the court and in the upper corners allow for replays to be shown, as well as other graphics that enhance the experience inside the arena. Overall, it is a wonderful college basketball atmosphere. Neighborhood 4 Ferrell Center is located on the Baylor University campus in Waco, Texas, at the corner of University Parks Drive and LaSalle Avenue, next to Baylor Ballpark and the softball facility, Getterman Stadium. Being on the northeast corner of campus, about 1 ½ miles from I-35 and the City of Waco, there isn’t much here but the sports facilities. However, Waco has numerous restaurants and lodging opportunities you can take advantage of while attending a Baylor event. There are several places in Waco that offer Texas BBQ; Rudy’s Country Store and BBQ is a chain throughout Texas and can be found just off I-35 at the Circle Road exit. Rudy’s serves brisket, ribs, and sides in a cafeteria-style setting with indoor picnic tables. Another good option is Coach’s Smoke, located just west of the Baylor campus, in downtown Waco on Austin Avenue. Coach’s Smoke serves excellent BBQ, burgers, and a good selection of draft beer. If you want the best, however, my suggestion is Vitek’s BBQ – this local landmark is on the south side of Baylor’s campus on Speight Avenue. Vitek’s is the home of the Gut Pack, which includes brisket, sausage, Frito chips, and beans. If you decide on this dish you won’t need to eat for the rest of the day, as it is heavy and filling, but delicious. You should plan on being there early, however; Vitek’s serves outside as well as inside, but the wait can be long no matter which one you choose. If you are looking for something besides BBQ, the Tex-Mex scene in Waco is just as popular. Trujillo’s is a great Tex-Mex option, located at the traffic circle on LaSalle Avenue. Trujillo’s is a family-owned restaurant that will surely give you the authentic taste of Mexico. However, if Trujillo’s is crowded, or the game is on a Sunday, then try Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant on South 3rd Street in downtown Waco. George’s Restaurant is also a popular place to meet before, during, or after the game. This restaurant has been serving Waco since 1930, and the crowds are large, so make sure you get there early. Another popular Waco landmark since 1948 is Health Camp on Circle Road; this restaurant is a classic roadside pit stop from the past, serving burgers, hot dogs, and a large selection of shakes, malts, and frozen custard. Although many of these restaurants aren’t exactly close to the arena, they are close enough to enjoy before or after the game. There are plenty of attractions and things to do while in Waco, such as visiting the Dr Pepper Museum. Waco is the home of this popular Texas soft drink, and inside the museum you can see how the soft drink is made, learn the history behind it, and get free Dr Pepper to drink. Or, the latest trending attraction in Waco is Baylor’s very own Chip and Joanna Gaines Magnolia sites, from their Silos Baking Company to their Magnolia Café. Waco’s other attractions include Cameron Park Zoo, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame, all of which are worth a visit. If none of these seem interesting, however, then take a stroll through the beautiful Baylor campus, where you can visit the Bear Habitat, home to Joy and Lady, Baylor’s two live black bear mascots, and learn more about these creatures. Along with numerous choices of restaurants and attractions, lodging in Waco is plentiful. Most of the hotels are located along I-35, where you’ll have choices such as Courtyard by Marriott, Comfort Suites, La Quinta, Holiday Inn, Homewood Suites, Hilton, and Hotel Indigo. Fans 3 No matter the sport, Baylor Nation has a great following across the board. They are energetic, fun, polite, respectful, knowledgeable, and supportive of all Baylor athletics. While attending a basketball game at Ferrell Center, you’ll see lots of Baylor green and gold being worn, hear loud cheers for anything the Baylor team does, and of course, hear jeering at the referees when calls are incorrectly officiated. Access 4 Ferrell Center is located on the far northeastern corner of campus, away from I-35 and the normal Waco traffic. There is free parking for Ferrell Center events near the arena, and the flow of traffic seems to move well before as well as after the event. There are two main entrances into Ferrell Center on the parking lot side, and getting into the arena is easy and fast. Baylor University enforces a clear bag policy at all sport venues including Ferrell Center. As you enter through the main doors, you’ll walk into a spacious circular concourse. The seating areas, restrooms, and concessions are well marked throughout the concourse, and you’ll also see banners supporting both the men’s and women’s basketball teams. As you walk around the venue, Ferrell Center’s unique domed roof and banners hanging from the rafters will grab your attention. The seating consists of green plastic chair backs, but there is plenty of room, and there isn’t a bad view of the court anywhere in the arena. Return on Investment 4 Ferrell Center has free parking, terrific seating, and a wonderful atmosphere to watch a high level of college basketball. There are two levels of seating prices; reserved and general admission. Baylor’s reserved ticket have been sold out for the season thru the Baylor Ticket Office. However, there are plenty of general admission tickets available ranging from $15 (non-conference games) and $20 (Big 12 games) to $45. The Kansas tickets lead to the highest price for a single game ticket, but the third-party market is a good place to check even you want a cheaper GA or reserved seat at Baylor basketball games. The Baylor Bears men’s basketball program continues to be one of the tops in the country. The reasonable price to watch top caliber college basketball, to have an entertaining and fun filled evening, along with free parking, makes it well worth the investment to visit Ferrell Center. Extras 3 Ferrell Center is a well-maintained venue that is over a quarter of a century old, yet continues to provide a friendly environment during Baylor Bears athletic events. The Bear Pit student section and Baylor band bring excitement on the baselines, which provides a homecourt advantage that contributes to Baylor’s recent success. When thinking about Ferrell Center, it is easy to think of the men’s basketball team, however, the women’s program has also been dominant over the last decade. The Lady Bears Final Four appearances, conference championships, and three national championships are celebrated throughout Ferrell Center. Final Thoughts The basketball program under Coach Scott Drew has found success in the last decade. The Baylor Bears men’s team has made the NCAA tournament in seven of the last nine years. Also, in 2013 when the Bears didn’t make the tournament, the team won the NIT, and on January 20, 2020, the Baylor Bears earned their second-ever number one ranking in the AP poll, putting the program in position, not only to return to the NCAA tournament, but possibly to earn a spot in the Final Four. Baylor basketball will be getting a new arena soon, however, until then the program continues to develop future NBA players, which makes Ferrell Center a great place to visit for any sports fan.

Photos by Jason Bartel, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Sun Bowl Stadium Sun Bowl Dr El Paso, TX 79968 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl website Sun Bowl Stadium website Year Opened: 1963 Capacity: 51,500 Sun Bowl The Sun Bowl opened in 1963 with an original capacity of 30,000, but was expanded in 1982 to 52,000. It currently seats 51,500. The 2010 Sun Bowl between Notre Dame and Miami (FL) set the game’s attendance record when 54,021 people came to see the two storied programs. Food & Beverage 3 The Sun Bowl has concession stands all throughout the concourse, which have a very limited selection. As is the case with the basketball arena, Don Haskins Center, they only offer hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, soda and beer. All the food and soda are right around $4-$5, and the beer is $7-$10. UTEP offers Coca-Cola and Budweiser products at their sports facilities. Along the main concourse of the stadium, there are two areas where a variety of vendors have set up tents. There is Mexican food, turkey legs, Chick-fil-A, barbecue and a couple other things. One of the areas is behind the east stands, and the other is in the northwest corner of the stadium. Atmosphere 4 El Paso is definitely very cold on Sun Bowl day, but that doesn’t take away from any of the pregame festivities or the great visuals the Sun Bowl provides for fans. Walking towards the stadium from the parking lots, you pass by all sorts of tailgating. El Paso football fans have definitely figured out ways how to keep warm for the Sun Bowl, and the participating teams’ fans picked up pretty quickly on some of the tricks. The landscape around the Sun Bowl is absolutely incredible. If you look too far to the west and south, you do see Ciudad Juarez, which kind of takes away from everything else around. The stadium itself is built on a hill, with part of the hill butting right up against the stands. The surrounding area on campus also has some extremely nice buildings, adding to the rustic, southwestern feel to the stadium. The field itself is artificial, and obviously gets all the UTEP logos taken off and replaced with the corporate sponsor of the Sun Bowl, as the well as the TV network logos and the logos of the participating teams. All of the logos on the field face the west press box side. The stadium has one main concourse that goes completely around the perimeter, and two upper concourses, one running along each sideline. On the south end, the playing field is easily visible, so fans can choose to stand and watch the game from the south concourse if they so desire. Both scoreboards and the video board are located at the south end, which is good for about 90% of the fans because almost all of the seats face that direction. The unlucky couple of sections towards the south end must rely on a tiny little scoreboard behind the north goal post. The seating is definitely not optimized for fans though. There are no chair backs anywhere in the stadium. It is all benches. They do rent seat cushions that have chair backs at all of the stadium entrances though, and it may be a worthwhile purchase for most people. The bands were not really all that great – not too impressive on the field, anyway, but they were good in the stands, and each band definitely got their faithful pumped up. Neighborhood 4 As long as you stay on the Texas side of the border, you’re good to go. El Paso actually has a pretty good amount of options that are very close to the stadium. Before the game, there is plenty of tailgating going on in the parking lots surrounding the stadium, and on the lawns in front of UTEP buildings. Just a short drive south from the Sun Bowl takes you to downtown El Paso, which offers many museums, theatres, and restaurants, all within walking distance of each other. If you drive northeast on Sun Bowl Drive, it will take you to Mesa St., which has many bars and restaurants to choose from as well. Fans 4 PAC-12 fans generally travel well, plain and simple. In some years ACC fans are up to the challenge though, even though their schools tend to be much further away. Lots of fans show up in jerseys, especially of former players from their respective schools, such as Ronnie Lott, Troy Polamalu, Junior Seau, and Marcus Allen, just to name a few. Last year, the ACC fans were way more into the game than the PAC-12 fans. At the beginning of the year, the PAC-12 participant probably never dreamed that their postseason would be in El Paso, but the lack of their starting QB, and the cold weather, may have led to them not really caring about the game. The ACC team’s band got the wave started before the game, and in the second half, and their fans were definitely all into this game. The players gave them a lot of credit in the postgame press conferences for keeping up with the other team’s fans throughout the game and making their presence felt, especially in the second half. Access 3 The stadium itself is just east of I-10 near the Schuster Avenue exit. Since it is in between a whole bunch of hills, the walk to the stadium is not easy for everyone. There are a lot of steps and/or steep hills no matter which direction you are coming from. None of the general public parking areas are on the same elevation as the stadium. The best parking is the Sun Bowl Parking Garage, which was the permit number PG-1. The general parking was the Glory Road Parking Garage. All the other parking lots are specific tailgating and UTEP permits. The concourse isn’t very wide, so during halftime it was painful to try and get around the bathroom and concession lines. It also makes it inconvenient for people in the stands because there are lines of people that go into the aisles of the seating area. Return on Investment 2 Tickets for the Sun Bowl range anywhere from $20-$60. The less than ideal weather conditions not only affected fan comfort, but the quality of football was not very high either. If you are an ACC or a PAC-12 fan, it may have been better to sit this one out and watch it on TV. However, if you are into the history of college football or bowl games, the Sun Bowl is on the short list of games to go to. It is one of the longest-running bowl games right now, and the stadium is so different from most college football stadiums. Extras 2 The scenery surrounding the stadium makes up the extra points. The UTEP campus looks like an old Spanish Mission, and the hills surrounding the stadium add to the experience, and the noise level. Also, what other stadium can you look out and see another country? Final Thoughts Knowledgeable college football fans probably know the Sun Bowl as the home of a historic bowl game. All in all, El Paso is a nice place to see a college football game.

Photos by Chris Tuck, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Merkur Spiel Arena Arena-Straße 1 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany Fortuna Dusseldorf website Merkur Spiel Arena website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 54,600 Alles aus Liebe Fashion, finance, and Fortuna are just three reasons people visit Dusseldorf. Add the renowned local Altbier, the picturesque Aldstadt, and some amazing avant-garde architecture, and your 1970s stereotype of Dusseldorf as an industrial relic quickly vanishes. The Esprit-Arena, home of the mighty Fortuna since 2004, encapsulates the transformation. All proper football fans mourn the passing of old grounds; Fortuna supporters will remember the magnificently named Flinger Broich with a smile. It’s now completely redeveloped and still used for second X1 and occasional cup matches. Another old home was the cavernous RheinStadion, which hosted five matches in the 1974 World Cup. However, just as this beautiful city in the North Rhine-Westphalia area of western Germany now sparkles with renewed self-confidence, the city’s beloved football team also has a new ultra-modern, multi-purpose stadium to be proud of. Built between 2002-2004, its capacity of 54,600 makes it one of Germany’s largest stadiums. The design came from JSK Architekten who was also involved in the impressive Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw, Poland. From the outside, the Esprit-Arena is distinct due to its square/boxed ‘wrap-around’ which suggests a cinema complex or shopping centre rather than a football stadium. “Concerts, shows, football, and hockey - The Merkur Spiel-Arena is proud to host to a broad range of events” boasts the stadium website, suggesting it is “Dusseldorf’s prime address for large-scale events.” Stadium Journey arrived with eyes only for the football and to glimpse a club whose fans profess ‘Alles aus Liebe’ for their famous team. Food & Beverage 3 It is good to see a different approach to serving refreshments inside the stadium. Firstly, there are numerous kiosks ensuring plenty of options. Secondly, they are ‘free standing’ with curved serving counters. This approach spreads the queues in a far more efficient way than the traditional ‘hole in the wall’ layouts that often cause frustrating blockages in the concourse area. Chips, bratwurst, pretzels, and currywurst are all on the menu as you’d expect. Soft drinks are available, but most will go for the local Altbier. It’s darker than the pilsner beer you often find in Germany with a more distinctive taste. Prices are reasonable, or maybe we’ve all just got used to 4 Euros for a beer and 6-8 Euros for a sausage and chips. My recommendation is always the currywurst, a local favourite which is a sausage covered in curry sauce. Not the easiest to eat standing up if you are on the terrace. It’s also quite spicy so keep that Altbier to hand too. Atmosphere 4 Fortuna topped the second tier of the Bundesliga on the day of our visit in early 2018, which had a positive influence on the atmosphere. It is striking just how joyful Fortuna supporters are, not just inside but also on their way to and from the stadium. The lack of away fans in attendance on the day (just 100 had made their way north from SV Sandhausen) also contributed to an atmosphere that was more ‘party-like’ than cagey or tense. Inside, the retractable roof provides cover from inclement weather, as does a unique heating system installed to ensure a variety of events can be held here. When empty, the speckled, different coloured seats with no discernible pattern differentiate it from the branded colourings most stadiums now have. The match day atmosphere comes in the first instance from the home terrace, but the rest of the ground certainly does its bit too. The scoreboard provides all the usual updates and the tannoy system provides all the key information and encourages the crowd to support their team. The view from the seated areas is excellent as you’d expect; the civilised way to watch football these days. For the less civilised (as I very much count myself) it’s all about the terraces, where it’s less about seeing every moment of the action and more about being part of the action. On our visit the terrace swayed, bounced, cheered, and groaned in unison; a good old-fashioned raucous atmosphere ensued. Neighborhood 4 The Merkur Spiel-Arena is a classic ‘out of town’ stadium. There’s very little to see or do in the immediate vicinity. Most visitors will have some time to explore as well as watch a game so some time in central Dusseldorf is a must. If it’s the fashion you’re after, head to Konigsallee; Gucci, Burberry, Chanel, and all the ‘must-have’ labels are all open for your business. For people watchers, look out for visitors from Saudi with seriously deep pockets who can often be found perusing the upmarket shopping arcades. The Financial area can be found in the Stademitte area of the city. The city leads in the telecommunications sector with many of the big mobile phone companies setting up home here. Business visitors may also be in town to visit one of the numerous trade shows that base themselves in Dusseldorf. For the architecturally minded fans, take a stroll around the MedienHafen district in the south of the city. The harbour area retains its old wharfs and cranes that served the city so well now standing strong and proud in retirement. A tour around the MedienHafen area is available for 12 Euros. The ‘Evangel. G Johanneskirche’ is also a wonderfully bright and striking building nestled in amongst a sea of bars just off the Bolkerstrasse. Dusseldorf sits on the confluence of two rivers, the Dussel and the Rhine, Dussel giving the town its name and ‘Old Father Rhine’ of course one of the longest and most famous rivers in Europe. Areas of the waterfront have been opened up in recent years. This allows locals and visitors to stroll or have a lazy latte as the fast-flowing Rhine heads north and west towards its North Sea end. To see the local Altbier up close and personal there is a special tour available which takes you to five microbreweries across the city. For just 27.50 Euros you can become an expert and of course, try a sample or three along the way . For nightlife you do not need to leave the Aldstadt area of the city; we counted at least 5 Irish bars within a square mile and there are over 200 bars, restaurants, breweries, and cafes in this buzzing district of the city. Of course, Dusseldorf is famous for its ‘longest bar in the world,’ due to the wall-to-wall bars that creep up the Bolkerstrasse. Alternatively, for a slightly more sophisticated evening, the architecturally impressive MedienHafen also boasts a growing number of bars and restaurants. There is a small alley called Schneider-Wibbel-Gasse just off of the Bolkerstraße with some excellent steak houses, tapas, and pizzerias. We went for the ‘Da Primo,’ the food was good and the service was fast and friendly. For even faster food try ‘What’s Beef’ on Immermannstr. 24, 40210 Dusseldorf, it will certainly fill you up. There are accommodation options in good proximity to the stadium; in fact, the Tulip Inn is built into the stadium complex. It’s probably more for business travellers than sporting aficionados but if you want a short commute this one is for you! We’d recommend an apartment as close to the Altstadt as possible giving you access to the river, the shops, the restaurants, and the bars and only a 20-minute ride to the stadium. One recommendation is Tolstov-Aparthotels (Old Town Burgplatz) which is clean, roomy, and just right for the needs of a stadium traveler. The best Twitter account for tourism tips would be the @VisitDusseldorf account and their accompanying tourism website. We will leave the last words of this section to local poet Heinrich Heine, who described his hometown simply as “Very beautiful.” Fans 4 Fortuna (or F95) fans liken themselves to the UK’s Newcastle United, a ‘big’ club often underachieving, a city emerging from its industrial past and famous for a distinctive local dark brew (although the Geordie’s Newcastle Brown is now made in Holland…). The main rivalry for Fortuna fans comes from FC Koln in the south and Duisburg in the north. In the top flight expect Dusseldorf matches to sell out, in Bundesliga 2 the ground will often be less than half full. Average attendance in the past few years has hovered around 25,000. As recent as 2013/14 the average was 33,982 and for derby games and cup matches expect games to be close to sellouts. We stood in the Sudtribune end of the ground right in amongst the Fortuna ultras. Welcomed by the locals we joined in with the best array of songs I’ve heard for a long time. The word Fortuna fits into so many tunes that despite not having great German we could sing along for most of the match. The best songs are simple and our favourite is; “For, for for for for for fooooor… Tu, tu tu tu tu tu Tuuuuu, Na Na Na Na Na Na Naaaa…..Foooortuuuunaaaa” Closely followed by the same words set to an old English Hymn. On occasions, we were also encouraged to stoop down (not easy on a packed terrace) as we whispered a song before rising to our feet as one as the volume rose and again Fortuna! was the loud refrain. The fans sang from beginning to end with both corners also joining in. Despite only 20k in attendance at the game, we saw the noise was still stirring. A great fan Twitter account to touch base with if you heading to Dusseldorf would be @UKFortuna who will happily suggest where to drink and how to get tickets etc. Access 3 At least three airports (Flughafen) serve this industrial corridor in the west of Germany, often described as the ‘engine room’ of Europe. Bundesliga football clubs are abundant in the area and so scheduling more than one match during your stay is a must. Dusseldorf airport should be your plan A; it is one of Germany’s largest. Located just 8 km north of the city, the S-Bahn will whisk you into the centre of Dusseldorf in just 16 minutes. We chose Koln/Bonn airport transferring via the S-Bahn which took just 46 minutes into Dusseldorf Hauptbahnhof. However, it is worth stopping off, as we did, in Koln just to see the magnificent cathedral which was once the tallest building in the world. You can view this splendid structure which took 632 years to build, from the comfort of your seat on the train just after you cross the Rhine. We’d recommend hopping off the train and spending an hour exploring this incredible monolith whilst grabbing a local pastry or a franchise Starbucks for sustenance. The third option is the Dortmund airport, also within range if you are comparing prices. It's only an hour’s train ride south to Dusseldorf (once you have transferred from the airport to the city centre). If you are arriving by car from the south use the A57 / A59. If you arrive from the north use the A 52 / A3 and the arena is well signposted. Parking options are provided on the Merkur Spiel-Arena website. From the centre of Dusseldorf, the Esprit-Arena is located 5 km to the north. Take the U-Bahn (Rheinbahn) line U78. The stadium has a dedicated stop all of its own and is located at the end of the line. The station is called "Merkur Spiel-Arena / Messe-Nord." It’s just a 20-minute ride from either the main Hauptbahnhof or Altstadt. Your match day ticket covers the cost of the transport so you don’t pay for the journey. As there is very little to do near the stadium, you will be joined on your way in and out of the town centre by locals carrying their beer bottles and singing their songs, making for an entertaining if a little squashed journey. Despite the box-style facia of the stadium, the concourse area layout is the same as most bowl-shaped arenas, allowing access to your block from entrances around the perimeter of the pitch. If you have specific accessibility requirements, you can apply for free parking at the stadium. The Esprit-Arena is also barrier-free and lifts are available. Contact the club before you travel if you require more information. Tickets can be purchased from outlets across the city; a map is available on the Fortuna website. Alternatively, there is a ticket hotline you can call or of course buy online, again via the website. Prices for adults start at just 13 Euros, an excellent value for the money. Prices rise to 46 Euros, but there are plenty of mid-point tickets for less than 30 Euros. Return on Investment 4 A visit to the Esprit-Arena is cheaper than its English equivalents. As with many modern stadiums though, expect merchandise and food to be a euro or 2 more than it's worth. For a stadium and city as impressive as Dusseldorf I’d suggest you don’t let cost prevent a visit. With cheap flights into the region, sometimes as low as 20 Euros, trains that allow you to use your football ticket to travel plus a cheap match day programme and you’ll understand the attraction of visiting this area for a match or two. Match day tickets in Bundesliga 2 start from 13 Euros, which is admirable, but expect to pay more for top-flight matches. Buying your beer en route to the stadium rather than paying stadium prices is another way locals save money on the experience. Extras 2 To get a more detailed history of the stadium and see some of the ‘behind-the-scenes areas you can book a tour. Public tours start at noon every Sunday unless there is a match on. You will need to pre-register for the tour via the Merkur Spiel-Arena website. Visit the club shop at the ground or online for an array of F95 products. There’s an LED logo for 20 Euros, a Fortuna Dusseldorf Monopoly set for 30 Euros or a Fortuna seat cushion for just 4.95 Euros. Final Thoughts The impressive cuboid façade, the purpose-built train station beneath one of the stands, the plethora of refreshment stalls, and the ultra-modern retractable roof mark this stadium out as one to add to your list. Upon arrival though, it’s hard to shake the feeling that you could just as well be attending a concert or a show. This isn’t how football is supposed to be. The real transformation is revealed when the supporters arrive. Add flags and choreographed chanting, add the energy of a pulsating, packed terrace, add the on-field action and perhaps an Albier or two, and only then does the stadium come alive. With the bright lights of Dusseldorf calling you back after the game and the possibility of a visit to another nearby cathedral of football like the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen or the RheinenergieStadion in Koln, you will not regret your visit one bit.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Joe Wolfe Stadium 310 State St. North Adams, MA 01247 North Adams Steeplecats website Joe Wolfe Field website Year Opened: 1986 Capacity: 1,800 In the Valley of the Steeples Joe Wolfe Field, built in 1986 and named after North Adams native, semi-pro baseball player, local sports promoter and Little League coach Joe Wolfe, has hosted the North Adams SteepleCats since their inception in 2002. Mr. Wolfe was a driving force behind the repair and renovations of old Noel Field, and passed away shortly before the project’s completion. The field was renamed posthumously in his honor. The team’s name is a reference to the numerous steeples located throughout town, several of which are visible from the ballpark. Joe Wolfe Field holds the record for the largest crowd at an NECBL game, with 6,714 in attendance on July 4, 2006. Food & Beverage 2 There is a large, new concession building on the third base side of the ballpark. There are four windows in this building, one for an ice cream stand, two for concessions, and one for a souvenir stand. The concession stand offers the basics, such as hamburgers ($3.00), hot dogs ($2.00), pizza slices ($2.50), and nachos ($3.00). Assorted snacks are available here, including popcorn ($1.50), cracker jacks, candy bars, sunflower seeds, and potato chips, all for a dollar. Coca-Cola products are sold for $2.50. Ice cream from local business Lickety Splits is sold here as well in several flavors. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere at Joe Wolfe Field is exactly what you would expect from a baseball team located in a sleepy mountain town like North Adams. The fans are laid-back and friendly, and everyone seems to know everyone. The Steeplecats staff provide some entertainment to fill in the gaps between innings with some games and contests for the kids. There is also a mascot here, a furry orange cat named Slider, who roams the concourse shaking hands and posing for pictures. As is the case with most smaller parks, watching kids chase foul balls around is part of the fun. The kids in North Adams don’t disappoint, and are pretty entertaining to watch themselves. Neighborhood 2 North Adams, with its population of just over 13,000, is the smallest incorporated city in Massachusetts. Named in honor of former president and Massachusetts native John Adams, North Adams was a mill city for much of its history. When the mills closed, local leaders converted the old mill spaces to museums, as they could display large items that would not fit in traditional museums in the large, empty buildings. Today, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) is the largest such museum in the nation. North Adams has become in recent years a center for tourism, culture, and recreation. Joe Wolfe Field is located just a couple of miles from downtown North Adams. The downtown area can be described as a typical small-town Main Street. There are several small businesses and a few hotels. Despite the influx of summer tourists, this downtown area cannot be described as “bustling”. Many visitors to the area come for the fantastic nature trails and scenery, and will not usually be found wandering around town. Still, it’s a pleasant, laid-back place to spend a nice summer day. Fans 3 North Adams has averaged between 700-900 fans per game over the past several years, finishing in the upper half of the NECBL in attendance. It seems like everyone here at Joe Wolfe Field knows each other, and the atmosphere is a very friendly and laid back one. Even an out of towner can feel welcome and like one of the locals while taking in a Steeplecats game. Access 2 Joe Wolfe Field is located on Route 8, which is the major north-south artery through town. Just a few minutes from downtown, the ballpark is about a half mile from Route 2, which is the major route to the northwestern corner of the state. Route 2 is also known as the Mohawk Trail, considered one of the most scenic drives in Massachusetts. Located along this road are several gift shops, roadside attractions, and scenic viewpoints. The famous hairpin turn on Route 2 is located in North Adams, about 5 miles from Joe Wolfe Field. There are two free parking lots adjacent to Joe Wolfe Field. Be wary of taking advantage of the closest of spots here, as this is prime foul ball territory. Do yourself a favor and park a little farther away. You will get some exercise, and save your windshield at the same time. The ballpark itself consists of a small covered grandstand made up of aluminum bleachers without seat backs. Some of the seats offer unobstructed views of the action on the field and the incredible mountain scenery beyond. The grandstand is fairly new, and was built to current ADA specifications, and is easily navigated. There is plenty of room on both sides of the field to spread out if you decide that the grandstand is not for you. The first base line features shade trees, benches, and a nicely manicured area to spread out with lawn chairs or blankets. The concession stands are located on the third base line, and there is plenty of room for fans to spread out here as well. There are restrooms located behind the grandstand, which are clean and large enough for a SteepleCats crowd. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for SteepleCats game cost $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students, $1 for youths 6-12, and admission is free for children under 6. Family tickets can be purchased for $12, which allow for admission for 2 adults and up to 3 children. It’s a great deal if you are taking the whole family to Wolfe Field. Parking is free in either of two lots adjacent to the ball field. Be warned, these lots are really close to the field, and are in prime foul ball territory. If you choose to park close to the field, you are in real danger of going home with a shattered windshield. Concessions at Joe Wolfe Field are also quite affordable, making a night at a SteepleCats game an affordable night out for the entire family. Extras 2 Like most summer collegiate teams, the SteepleCats hold a 50/50 raffle at every game. For those who have never participated, the winner of a 50/50 raffle takes home half of all the money collected that night. The other half goes towards operating costs. At this level, these funds are crucial for covering costs such as travel to away games and stipends for host families. A surprise find at Joe Wolfe Field is the memorial for baseball Hall of Famer John Chesbro, a native of North Adams. Chesbro played with Pittsburgh, New York, and Boston around the turn of the 20th century, and led both leagues in winning percentage. There is a small granite marker behind the grandstand in his honor. Final Thoughts North Adams is one of the last spots you would expect to find a nice little ballpark like Joe Wolfe Field, but it fits in seamlessly with the rustic surroundings. The ballpark itself may not be the fanciest you will ever come across, but the setting alone is worth a look. Former Major League Commissioner Faye Vincent once commented after witnessing a sunset over the mountains in left field during a SteepleCats game, “it doesn’t get any better than this”. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Meg Minard , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Broadmoor World Arena 3185 Venetucci Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Colorado College Tigers hockey website Broadmoor World Arena website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 7,750 The World Arena Editors Note: The Colorado College Tigers hockey team moved into the brand new Ed Robson Arena in 2021. --- The Colorado College men’s hockey team has a long standing winning tradition which is evident when stepping inside the World Arena. Yes, this arena is called the World Arena. When walking up to the main entrance, the design and logo makes you feel as if you are walking to an arena in a science fiction movie. The Tigers hockey team has won two national titles. They have ten Frozen Four appearances as well as 20 NCAA Tournament appearances. They have produced two Hobey Baker winners as well as a bunch of NHL players. Colorado College plays in the newly formed National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The Colorado College Tigers played their first game in 1938 at the Broadmoor Ice Palace (later called the Broadmoor World Arena). In 1951, Colorado College became one of the original members of the Mid-West Collegiate Hockey League, now known as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association – WCHA, an NCAA Division 1 conference. In 1998, the Tigers moved into the brand new World Arena in Colorado Springs, CO. The Colorado Springs World Arena is a premier sports and entertainment venue in the Pikes Peak region. It holds 7,343 permanent seats for ice hockey. In addition to being the home of the Tigers, it also provides a venue for concerts, musicals, Harlem Globe Trotters, Disney on Ice, and the like. Food & Beverage 5 Although the World Arena counts Colorado College as a main tenant, you can tell that it is a regional arena. One major piece of evidence supporting this is the amount of food and beverage selections here. The arena has two bars: The Arena Bar and the Ice House. It has three separate Food Action Stations’ appropriately numbered 1, 2, and 3. One serves Asian, the second Italian, and the third BBQ (prices range from $5 – $10 depending on whether kid sizes are ordered or if one doubles-up the size). The favorite seems to be #3 BBQ the Smokehouse. Besides that there is the Top Dog (burgers, brats), Habanero’s (southwestern), Bella Forno’s (wood paddle pizza and sandwiches) lining the concourse ranging from $4 to $10, depending on what you order. On this night I had the Broadmoor World Arena brunch burger. This massive burger includes an egg, bacon, avocado, cheddar cheese and sauce for $8 dollars. It was well worth it. Not all burgers come with fries however. There is a grilled cheese station that is a unique touch that isn’t seen at many stadiums. A basic grilled cheese cost five dollars or for two dollars more, fans can have a premium sandwich with toppings. Top it off with a three dollar cup of tomato soup and you leave feeling like you came in from a cold day to warm up. I was surprised to see beer and alcohol offered here but that seems to be the theme for most Colorado venues. There is a big number of different micro brews found along the concourse (many local to Colorado): Bristol Brewing Company (the brewery is just 2 miles from arena), Laughing Dog (Ponderay, ID), New Belgium (Ft Collins, CO) and others. Mainstays such as Bud and Bud Light can be found as well. Atmosphere 4 On the outside of the arena, there are many benches in which to sit and wait for friends or for the gates to open. The unique quality of these benches is they are pieces of art with the artists name displayed on a post next to the bench. They include a Zamboni, hockey pucks, a goaltender, a mountain range, etc. All are built with a different medium (tiles, wood, metal, tubes, etc.). The Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame is located on the concourse. It contains close to 100 plaques honoring individuals and teams who have been from or associated with Colorado who have demonstrated strong community presence and/or outstanding athleticism or coaching. Plaques include the 1980 US Olympic Ice Hockey team, Alan Cockrell (Colorado Springs Sky Sox), Judy Bell (Women’s golf), Pete Susemihl (lead in the effort of getting World Arena built), and many, many more. There are also showcases of the Colorado College Tigers trophies, team photos, and programs from throughout its existence. This is a must see for college hockey fans. I like the programs and trophies dating from the 40’s and 50’s. Once inside the seating area, you will see a bunch of yellow championship banners. The amount of banners hanging is a good nod to the long standing Tiger hockey history. I am impressed by the out of town scoreboards and how fast they update the games. I was following my favorite team online that night and the scoreboard was keeping up. Neighborhood 4 There is a Hampton Inn & Suites across the parking lot, a LaQuinta, Fairfield Inn and Suites, and a Residence Inn all within walking distance (less than 1/2 mile) from the arena. There are plenty of chain restaurants within walking distance of the arena including Chili’s, Fazoli’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Outback, Carrabba’s, etc. There are lots of options for pre or postgame meals. I have learned that you can get a parking pass, leave, and come back and they won’t double charge you. While this may not be convenient, I did it on this night due to the amount of restaurants nearby. Getting a good parking spot and walking to a restaurant is ideal although the lot is fenced in so you have to be paying attention to where the pedestrian exits are. The Bristol Brewing Company is located 2 miles north on I-25 and is a local micro brewery in Colorado Springs. Their facility does not serve food. It has a table-shuffleboard, a bar, several counters with stools for conversing with friends and a few TV’s w/sports events displayed. It was quite crowded two hours before the game I attended at World Arena. The website does state it closes at 9pm so it may be a place to visit pre game. And, there is nothing like driving down and around Colorado Springs and seeing the Rocky Mountains. There is a superb view of Cheyenne Mountain from the stadium entrance. Fans 3 Colorado College is among the college hockey leaders in attendance most years and has averaged over 6,000 fans for the past few seasons. The fans seem into the game and knowledgeable. Lots of standing up and cheering when the team is announced; a certain choreographed display of clapping and pointing the arm celebration after each goal; one section would yell ‘Go’ – across the ice the other section would yell ‘Tigers’ with no prompting from the video board or PA announcer. For the most part, fans are into the game and only leave and return to their seats during stoppage of play (a pleasant surprise). I did find the fans to be somewhat quiet on this night. Maybe it was due to a weak opponent but it didn’t seem like a college hockey atmosphere that I am used to in the Midwest. I would rather see a pep band here playing more so than piped-in music. Loud arena music seemed to hurt any momentum that the fans would have from chanting or cheering. Seemed more like a minor league hockey crowd then a college hockey crowd. Access 5 World Arena is right off the I-25 interstate. There is plenty of parking at the arena itself ($5). Traffic flows nicely and directions to the parking lot are well marked. The arena is located just off of a busy commercial strip but traffic is rarely a problem before or after a game. There are some buses that go to this area as well if you are a fan of mass transit. Return on Investment 4 The food prices here are fair as are the ticket prices. Tickets range from $15-$40 dollars. There doesn’t seem to be many obstructed or bad seats in the building. On this night, I had a first row seat in a corner on the lower level. The view was great and there was plenty of leg room. I sat in the upper deck for half a period and it was a decent view. The seating pitch is high enough where you won’t have any issues seeing over people in front of you. Extras 4 The history displayed inside the arena as well as on the concourses deserves extra points. The amount of places to eat or stay within a block or so of the arena is worth another bonus point. Roster sheets are plentiful and there are plenty of games and entertainment during stoppages. My favorite game is the chuck a puck. For $1, fans could buy a numbered foam puck to throw on the ice. Whoever is closest to the center wins a prize. Final Thoughts Going to the World Arena seems more like a minor league hockey experience rather than a collegiate hockey game. There is nothing wrong with this however as the building, food options, and other attributes here make it a worthy visit.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 GW Softball Field 2100 Foxhall Rd NW Washington, DC 20007 Map It! George Washington Revolutionaries website GW Softball Field website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity : 500 Colonial Softball Note: In June 2023, George Washington University changed its team name from the Colonials to the Revolutionaries. Located on George Washington University’s Mount Vernon Campus, three miles from the main campus in Foggy Bottom, the GW Softball Field is part of the university’s Mount Vernon Athletics Complex. The Complex also includes GW’s soccer field and tennis courts, and the campus itself includes several academic buildings which serve as an auxiliary to the main campus. The Colonials’ softball program has enjoyed success in recent years, capped off by a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2021. Food & Beverage 0 There is no food or drink for sale at the GW Softball Field. There is a coffee shop next door in Ames Hall that may or may not be open depending on when you visit, but it is not part of the stadium and keeps its own hours. Fans can bring in outside food or beverage, with the exception of alcohol. Atmosphere 3 The GW Softball Field has a quirky, unusual layout. Instead of the bleachers being located behind home plate, as they are in most venues of this size, they are located on a hill beyond the right field fence. To access them, you will need to walk around the front of Ames Hall, then up a staircase and finally back down the hill to the bleachers. Some fans like to bring chairs and sit at the top of the hill, or just stand along the bottom of the hill off to the side so as not to block the view of the fans in the bleachers. It all comes down to personal preference. A few fans may be able to stand along the deck in front of Ames Hall as well, but this is mostly reserved for video equipment and may not be possible. There is a digital scoreboard built into the fence in left-center field which shows the linescore and count, as well as a smaller scoreboard down the third baseline, although the latter was not working when Stadium Journey visited. Other than the game, there is not much going on here. The team plays soft music over the PA system between innings but not generally between batters. The field is on the flight path into Reagan National Airport, so jets will pass directly overhead throughout the game. The unplanned flyovers during the national anthem seem to be a running joke among GW fans. It’s not quite the same when it’s commercial aircraft instead of military jets, and it’s completely unplanned, but when the timing works out, it’s still impressive to watch. Neighborhood 4 GW Softball Field and the Mount Vernon Campus are located in Northwest Washington off Foxhall Road. Although there are several scenic parks and trails in the vicinity, as well as the German Embassy, your best bet for dining is to head elsewhere in the District. A seafood place and an Italian restaurant are located west of the campus near the Potomac River, and some other places up MacArthur Boulevard, but most of your options will be closer to downtown, not further. The Tenleytown and Georgetown neighborhoods are a short drive or Uber ride away and offer numerous dining and entertainment options. You can also head downtown and visit the many historic sites. monuments, and memorials along the National Mall. Just keep in mind if you want to tour the Capitol or White House, you will need to book in advance. Fans 2 Attendance at GW softball games is mostly limited to friends or family of the players. Most of them are regulars and attend just about every game and are incredibly knowledgeable about the players and team. They can get loud at big moments, but there will seldom be much more than a hundred of them in attendance at any given game. This is pretty typical for college softball in the northeast, where the sport isn’t as big as it is in some other parts of the country. Access 3 Depending on how you are arriving, the Mount Vernon campus can either be significantly easier or significantly harder to get to than the main campus in Foggy Bottom. While it is not Metro-accessible, it is a lot easier to drive to this campus in outer Washington than it is to drive downtown to the main campus. There is a parking garage on campus right across from the stadium. Parking is free all day on weekends or for up to three hours on weekdays. It can get very pricey if staying for more than three hours on a weekday, starting at $16 for up to four hours and going up from there, so try to go on a weekend or time your visit accordingly. Once you manage to park, accessing the stadium is trickier than it needs to be. After exiting the elevator lobby, fans will need to walk across the road towards the outfield fence, then up a staircase to the front of Ames Hall, up another staircase along the side of the building to the top of the hill, then back down the hill (either the hill itself or a staircase on the far side) and up the bleachers to sit down. If you bring your own chair and sit at the top of the hill, it’s slightly easier but your view may be blocked by trees. It’s less complicated than it sounds, but still more complicated than it needs to be. Return on Investment 4 Admission to Colonials games is free, and if you go on a weekend, parking is free as well. If going on a weekday, you will have to time things carefully to avoid paying a ridiculous amount for parking, so we would recommend going on a weekend if possible to maximize value. Extras 1 There are free programs available in a bin by the entrance to the stadium. Final Thoughts GW Softball Field is a typical northeastern college softball venue. The unfortunate reality is that the sport isn’t as popular here as in some parts of the country, and nothing George Washington does will change that. The stadium here has a quirky and unique layout and a small but loyal group of regular fans, but this is still a very basic experience.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Camelback Ranch 10712 W. Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ 85037 Map It Glendale Desert Dogs website Camelback Ranch website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 13,583 Desert Dogs The Glendale Desert Dogs are members of the Arizona Fall League, a yearly instructional league that features baseball’s top prospects every October and November. The Desert Dogs play their games at Camelback Ranch, built as the spring training home for the LA Dodgers and Chicago White Sox in 2009. During the summer, the rookie league ACL Dodgers and White Sox play at the facility. Camelback is a good-looking ballpark with a 5-acre lake and river system, fantastic landscaping, and easy-to-walk trails to take you around the area. Major league prospects from the White Sox, Dodgers, Cardinals, Phillies, and Reds round out the Desert Dogs roster this 2024 season. The major league affiliates change throughout the years. The Desert Dogs have won six league championships in the past but haven ’t captured one s ince 2008.  Will 2024 be the year? Food & Beverage 2 One concession stand is open, and that’s enough for attendance at a Desert Dog game.  Fans can bring bottled water and small snacks or sandwiches into the stadium. The food choices are limited: A hot dog ($6.75), sausage dog ($9.99), and cheese and pepperoni pizza slices ($7).  Snacks include nachos ( $ 6.25), soft pretzels ($5.75), popcorn ($4.75), candy ($4), chips ($4), and Dippin’ Dots ($8.49). Soft drinks are 20 oz bottled Pepsi products ($5.75), 20 oz bottled water ($4.75), and coffee ($3). Alcohol choices are 16 oz cans of domestic and premium beers of Bud, Bud Light, Michelob, Michelob Ultra, Coors Light, Modelo Chelada, and Hop Knot IPA ($10.25 - $11.25).  Trul y Seltzer is $11.25, and wine costs $9.25.  Atmosphere 4 Seating at Camelback Ranch extends down the baselines. For day games, shade covers the first base side first, while the third base side is in the sun most of the game. The seats are a golden color, which blends in well with the copper-colored support structures and earthtone stonework. They’re comfortably wide and are mostly staggered, so you’re not sitting directly behind another fan’s head. That’s generally not a problem for Desert Dog games because of low attendance. The seating area does not have cup holders. Fans enter at the top of the concourse and then walk down to the seating areas. Plenty of accessible seating is available on the top row of the concourse.  Bring a small towel, in case you need to wipe off the seat. The batter’s eye is pleasantly landscaped with trees surrounding the area. Fans can easily read the scoreboard which shows the line score, the time, and th e batter’s nam e and photo. Balls, strikes, and outs indicators are yellow dots, while the runs per inning are blue. Those colors are a striking and refreshing contrast. The music volume between innings is too loud to converse with your neighbor.  The music person shuts it off during play , with an occasional blast when a Desert Dog executes a good play. Sundays are Fundays this 2024 season at all Fall League venues.  This promotion is geared towards kids, where staff hand o ut baseball cards (to kids) and toss a few t-shirts into the crowd.  Kids get to run the bases after the game. Neighborhood 3 Camelback Ranch is in an expanding residential area. No choices for lunch, dinner, and other entertainment are available within walking distance. Three miles away is the Westgate Entertainment District. It has many restaurants, all of which are very different from each other in price and menu. Numerous shops and boutiques, a movie theater, a pottery painting studio, arcades, and breweries are part of the amenities in the district. Places in the district for a pre-game meal or drink include Yard House, State 48 Funk House Brewery, and Fat Tuesdays. Be sure to check Westgate’s   website  for happy hour specials; some restaurants do not include a happy hour on event days or weekends. First Watch (breakfast/lunch), Manna Korean BBQ, Opa Life (Greek), and Salt Tacos y Tequila are a few other worthwhile places to eat. I always enjoy Yard House , which has a fabulous beer selection and good food; this one has outdoor seating for those comfortable fall Arizona days and evenings. Many chain hotels are in and around the Westgate Entertainment District. The two closest hotels to the ballpark are a Comfort Inn & Suites  and a Holiday Inn . Other nearby sports during the Fall League season include the Arizona Cardinals  (next door to the Westgate Entertainment District). The two other Fall League teams in the West Valley are the Peoria Javelinas  and the Surprise Saguaros . And, if looking to go downtown Phoenix, sports fans can usually catch a Suns  game when in town. Fans 3 Numerous scouts attend Desert Dog games, filling much of the seating area behind home plate.  Other fans in attendance are what one would consider baseball purists  – fans who attend for the game itself and not all the extras that occur in minor and major league parks throughout North America.    However, as the pop ularity of the Arizona Fall League increases, more casual fans (the ones who don’t know baseball etiquette) attend games now. The Desert Dogs average around 300 – 400 fans per game, with weekend and later season games getting higher attendance numbers. This is comparable to other West Valley Fall League teams. Access 3 Getting to the stadium is most conveniently done by vehicle (unless you’re a nearby neighbor and can walk). Valley Metro  does provide bus service. The closest sto p is 1.1 miles from the stadium, so there’s still some walking involved if taking public transportation. The stadium is 2 ½ miles west of the Loop 101 Agua Fria Fwy on Camelback Rd. Only the gate behind home plate is open for Fall League games. Plenty of free parking is available close to that entrance. The stadium of fers benches to sit on and wait for the gates to open or for late-arriving friends. It has a huge, clean, artfully landscaped plaza area outside the home plate entrance where fans can gather. Getting through security is easy.  Clear sports stadium bags (12” x 6” x 12”) are allowed.  A smaller purse or bag is permitted; security will ask you to open it for inspection if it is not clear.    The restrooms are clean and have an extraordinary number of stalls (at least the ladies’ room). Walking around the stadium and concourse is wide open, making it quite an enjoyable place to stroll. Return on Investment 3 As with everything else, ticket and food prices have increased.  Single-game tickets are $13 (seniors 55+ and teens 11 - 17 are $11). Kids 10 and under get in free. If you live in the area or plan on attending 12 or more games, a season pass is a less expensive way to go.  A single admission season pass is $155; a double admission pass is $185 (both are less if you are 55+). Concession prices are at the expected higher stadium amounts.  There’s no charge for parking (none of the Arizona Fall League stadiums charge for parking). Attending a baseball game on a warm fall day or evening for the game is worth the price. Extras 3 A small merchandise stand is just to the right when entering the stadium. Printed starting lineups, rosters, and game notes are available there too. The Arizona Fall League is testing a ‘pitch challenge’ at some of its ballparks, including Camelback Ranch.    The batter, catcher, or pitcher can challenge a ball or a strike (usually by tapping the top of their helmet or cap) immediately after the umpire’s call.  Each team is allowed/permitted three challenges per game, and if the player wins their challenge and the call is overturned, the team maintains their number of challenges. A graphic replay of the pitch is shown on the video board to determine the call.  It all happens within 15 seconds or so and does not delay the game. Pitch Challenge, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The landscaping and exterior features are beautiful.  The structure is made of natural stone and resembles a desert landscape perfectly.   The architects painted the support structures to look rusty and aged.  Though unusual, even the golden-colored seats fit the natural desert design. Final Thoughts Camelback Ranch is the prettiest Fall League stadium in the West Valley.  If you’ve got a few extra hours in the fall and want to see a ballgame, head to Glendale, AZ, catch a Desert Dog game, and enjoy!

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Mercedes-Benz Stadium 1 AMB Dr Atlanta, GA 30313 Celebration Bowl website Mercedes-Benz Stadium website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 71,000 A Celebration of HCBU Football The Celebration Bowl features a contest pitting the conference champion from the MEAC against the conference champion from the SWAC. It is known informally as the Black Colleges National Championship Game, as it pits the two champions from the HBCU school conferences against each other. The Bowl started in 2015 and is held in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. The mission of the game is to provide each of the participating school’s alumni, fans, and students with a first-class bowl experience while continuing to celebrate the heritage, legacy, pageantry, and traditions of the HBCUs. The 2022 game featured the SWAC Champion Jackson State University Tigers vs the MEAC Champion North Carolina Central Eagles. The contest served as the finale for Jackson State Coach Deion Sanders, as he takes over the reins for the University of Colorado Buffaloes in 2023. The game was a thriller, as it went into overtime, and the NC Central Eagles won in an upset. This ended Jackson State’s quest for an undefeated season. Food & Beverage 4 Fans attending the Celebration Bowl were thrilled with the variety of foods to choose from, and the low prices for these items This is due to Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s Fan First Food Experience. The principles of this experience are 1) to provide food at prices a family can afford 2) to provide the best selection of foods Atlanta has to offer, and 3) to experience it as hassle-free as possible. Atlanta pioneered the cashless purchases policy to speed up the order process. In addition, there is no limit on free refills for soft drinks. A sampling of prices includes Coca-Cola beverages ($2), water, hot dogs, pretzels, and popcorn are also $2, pizza, nachos, and waffle fries are priced at $3, The most expensive item on the Fan Friendly menu is $5 for a 12-ounce domestic beer. In addition to the Fan Friendly menu, more than 60 concession stands were serving a wide variety of foods that Atlanta the South is known for. BTW, Mercedes-Benz Stadium has more than 673 concession points located throughout the stadium. This kept the concession lines moving quickly! Atmosphere 4 The Celebration Bowl offered one of the most festive bowl week celebrations in the country. It was a class reunion/family reunion and holiday party all rolled into one. For many alumni, the game offered an opportunity to get together at a site that is convenient for everyone location-wise. It also offered families from the two participating schools a chance to meet in a good-natured rivalry that may never occur in the regular season. Celebration Week offered numerous opportunities to attend the social events attached to the bowl game. ESPN’s sponsorship and telecast of the game offered both the participating schools a priceless opportunity for exposure that money simply can’t buy. Finally, everyone who watched the Battle of the Bands at halftime was thoroughly entertained. Mercedes-Benz Stadium added to the atmosphere through its one-of-a-kind technology, an NFL best concessions program, and a temperature-controlled environment that is hard to beat in late December. Neighborhood 5 Mercedes-Benz Stadium has located just two blocks from Atlanta’s most popular tourist destinations. In Centennial Olympic Park alone, visitors could choose from the World of Coca-Cola, the Georgia Aquarium, and the Center for Civil and Human Rights. Celebration Bowl fans also visited many of the sites associated with the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr in his hometown. Finally, the College Football Hall of Fame offered a terrific exhibit on the HBCU’s involvement in college football. Fans could also visit and eat at the historic Paschal’s Restaurant, which is within walking distance of the Stadium. In addition to serving great food for more than 70 years, Paschal played a key role in the Civil Rights movement, as it regularly hosted planning sessions for Dr. King and the members of the SCLC staff. Fans 4 Fans from both schools made the trek to Atlanta for the Celebration Bowl. The metro area also has a large alumni base from HCBU schools which also attend the game. The Celebration Bowl and Coca-Cola provided an opportunity for fans from both schools to meet in a social setting the morning of the game. NC Central Sound, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey The Coca-Cola Fan Experience got underway at 8:30 am on the day of the game and did not close until 30 minutes before the kickoff. Activities took place on the Georgia World Congress Center International Plaza, which is adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Fan Experience included food and musical entertainment from both the concert stage and through music provided by the marching bands from each of the schools participating in the game. There were also appearances by elite HBCU players of the past at autograph booths. Fans also had the opportunity to stock up on game-related merchandise at the Celebration Bowl team store. Once inside the fans were protected from the cold weather, while enjoying a great football game. They could also see the key plays on Mercedes Benz’s unique halo video board which provides a 360-degree view of the action. Unlike most football games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, nobody left their seats at halftime. This is because nobody wanted to miss the halftime performances by Jackson State’s Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band and North Carolina Central’s Sound Machine Marching Band. Access 5 Mercedes-Benz Stadium offered many cost and time-efficient ways to get to the game. Attendees didn’t need to rent a car for the week or find an inexpensive parking space! Fans traveling from Jackson or Durham could fly to the game via either Delta or Southwest into Atlanta Hartfield-Jackson International Airport, the world’s busiest airport. Downtown is less than a ten-minute ride via taxi or rideshare, and MARTA operated frequent rapid rail service between the airport and downtown. The doors to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened 90 minutes before kickoff, providing plenty of time for fans to find their seats and get a bite to eat. MARTA provided rapid rail service to both the Ashby Street Station and the CNN Center/State Farm Arena/Mercedes-Benz Stadium Stations, which are adjacent to the bowl site. Return on Investment 4 The Celebration Bowl offered tickets at a wide variety of price points. Tickets ranged from $100- $210 for a stadium club-level seat, which comes with a variety of food and beverage options. These are all located in the 100 level of the stadium. For $40 you can choose seats anywhere in the 200 level of the stadium, or at the lower level behind the bands (huh, what did you say?) or behind the end zones (with the students!) The Celebration Bowl used only two levels of Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s seating bowl. Parking rates on gamedays near the stadium ran around $70 (the stadium does not run these lots) MARTA offered rapid rail service for $9 unlimited rides in a day, and they have two stations adjacent to the stadium. Fans with game tickets could attend the Coca-Cola Fan Experience on the Stadium Plaza for free. . Extras 5 Atlanta was chosen to host the Celebration Bowl due to its location between the two participating conferences, its excellent athletic facilities, and its large presence as the home of several HBCU institutions through the Atlanta University Center. Twenty-seven players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame played their college careers at either a MEAC or SWAC member school. The Celebration Bowl is the only bowl to feature two teams from the FCS level of NCAA competition. The Battle of the Bands at halftime of the game is often as competitive as the game itself. The winner of the Celebration Bowl is usually seen as the winner of the Black Colleges National Football Championship. This is because the MEAC and the SWAC are the two largest HCBU football conferences in the country. Final Thoughts The tradition of the HBCU teams and the wonderful venue make for a great fan experience.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Rickwood Field 1137 2nd Ave W Birmingham, AL 35204 Birmingham Barons website Rickwood Field website Year Opened: 1910 Capacity: 10,800 A Historic Palace for Baseball in Birmingham The Rickwood Classic is played annually in late May at the world’s oldest ballpark Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. It was constructed by owner Rick Woodward for his Barons baseball club in 1910. The team would play until 1961 before returning as a Southern League member in 1964. In 1987 the Barons would play the final season at the historic ballpark and relocate 18 miles south to the suburb of Hoover to a $14 million sleek new ballpark. The $75,000 stadium was modeled after Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field and designed by Southeastern Engineering Company of Birmingham. There were more than 10,000 fans in attendance when it played its first game on August 18, 1910 many businesses were allowed to close early to allow workers to watch the game. When it played its last season in 1987, it was the second oldest ballpark, only six weeks newer than Chicago’s Comiskey Park. The stadium was home to the Black Barons (1925-1930, 1937, 1940-1960) of the Negro Leagues, Alabama Crimson Tide football (1912-1927), and was the spring training site for the Philadelphia Phillies (1911 and 1920) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1919). The major motion pictures Cobb , Soul of the Game , and 42 were filmed here at Rickwood. The majority of why Rickwood Field is still standing is due to the work of the Friends of Rickwood, the volunteer group of baseball purists and historic preservationists who have worked profusely on restoring the stadium to its former glory. At the time of the Barons departure, the stadium required much-needed repairs. The electrical system was on its last legs, water pipes underneath the field were broken, lights would go out during games, and a two-by-four plank held up the ceiling in the cramped manager’s office. Steadily, improvements were made to the grandstands, press box, locker rooms, light, roof, and main entrance. They are responsible for the overall revitalization of the ballpark, including the scheduling, marketing, fundraising, and implementation of the restoration project itself. There are over 200 events held per year at Rickwood, and it’s the home to high school, semi-pro, police, and travel baseball. Miles College plays its home games at the historic stadium. One of these events is the Rickwood Classic which began in 1996. The Barons play annually against another league member, don period uniforms, and play underneath the sun in the afternoon. The proceeds from the game help with the maintenance of the facility. Rickwood Field is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Food & Beverage 3 There is a main concession area underneath the grandstand on the main concourse, and two portable areas are set up down the first and third base lines. The basic ballpark food is here: hot dogs, soda, peanuts, and nachos. The grill down the third base side offers Italian and Polish sausage, chicken fingers and fries, and cold Miller Lite and Yuengling. A Papa John’s pizza cart on the third baseline sells personal pizzas, and a giant grill serves hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats on the first baseline. However, bring cash, since Rickwood Field does not accept credit cards. In case you are light on dollar bills, there are several portable ATMs located outside the stadium on the first base side. Atmosphere 5 Rickwood Classic is a nostalgic trip back to a time when the game was played differently. All the modern comforts at nearby Regions Field are replaced with vintage ads on the outfield walls, a hand-operated scoreboard, large foul territory, and narrow concourses and walkways. They don’t build them like this anymore, and thankfully there is the chance to experience this living museum once a year. “The place looks the same as it did when I played here, but it sure was a lot of fun to play at this stadium, said former Negro League player Russell “Crazy Legs” Patterson, one of the many former players who make the trip annually to take in the game. The players are dressed in retro uniforms, along with umpires, staff members, and fans in attendance who also dress their part for the game. This particular afternoon game harkens back to the mid-1950s when the club was a farm team to the New York Yankees, but other games may have featured the mod styles of the late 1960s or formal designs of the Roaring Twenties. Just in case you wanted to know, you can’t smoke cigarettes or cigars in the stadium. The players seem to relish their time at the old ballpark, many sit on top of the dugout, take practice on opposite ends of the outfield before the game, and pull up their socks to their knees. The game begins with a former major league player throwing out the first pitch; today’s pitch was former All-Star and World Series MVP Bucky Dent. The atmosphere might remind many of the minor league experience during their childhood a few decades past. The concessions are limited, and not varied by today’s standards, and only a small booth sells paraphernalia that includes t-shirts, caps, posters, and balls. There are no promotions on the field between innings, no zealous announcer yelling his head off, and the score is kept by hand by a small staff up above the right-field fence. The seats are covered and wrap around the right field wall, which at one time was segregated seating for Barons games. The main entrance has been restored to its 1940’s era design, and those are the original light towers from 1936 on the roof. Still, watching a game is comfortable from your seat, even though the home plate is much further out from current ballparks. Neighborhood 2 Rickwood is in an old residential neighborhood west of downtown and not within walking distance of restaurants, bars, or retail. You will need to have a car to get to and from the ballpark. The Baron's current home Regions Field is 3.1 miles. The city offers a few places to visit including the Civil Rights Museum, Vulcan Park & Museum, Birmingham Zoo, and Birmingham Museum of Art. Saw’s Barbecue and Eugene Hot Chicken are two local restaurants that are favorites among locals. Dreamland Barbecue is also a popular destination and features numerous locations. El Barrio and Carrigan’s Public House are two other great establishments in town for dining. Good People Brewery, TrimTab Brewing Company, and Ghost Train Brewing Company are three well-established places for craft beer, and each offers an eclectic setting for beers and good times. Good People benefits being located across the street from Regions Field. Fans 3 The annual game draws average crowds between 5,000-7,000 at the stadium. The facility is filled with local Barons faithful and many visitors who are here just for the game itself. Today’s game was threatened with inclement weather, but that did not stop many from waiting in line for the skies to clear. Access 3 Rickwood Field is almost 120 years old and features elements of its days and many that we don’t miss at today’s ballparks. The main concourse is narrow and features a chain link fence separating the lower box seats from the upper box seats; maneuvering them can be tricky since the entrances are limited. The steps to the upper seating area are wide and take some stretching of the feet. The main concourse offers a terrain that features concrete, gravel, grass, and some uphill walking. However, it’s spacious enough to ease through traffic, except if you are at the main concession stand in line for food or a souvenir hat or cap. This section of the ballpark is congested, at times, and wait times can be longer. Return on Investment 5 The price of a ticket to the Rickwood Classic is $10, one heck of a bargain to be able to travel back in time to enjoy a baseball game. Public parking is $5 and is available on a first-come, first-served basis adjacent to the stadium. Space is limited, and fans tend to arrive early. If you want to save money, there is street parking in the neighborhood surrounding the field. Extras 4 One star for the Friends of Rickwood, who through hours of dedication and service, have made the Rickwood Classic possible. There have been over $2 million worth of renovations at the stadium in the past 26 years that have included improvements to the press box, seats, roof, field, and many other areas. A second star is for the hand-operated scoreboard in left field. It is a replica of a version that once stood in the stadium during the 1940s. A third star is for the vintage ads that are painted and weatherproofed on the outfield walls. They include real and past businesses in town and were designed with a 1920s look and feel. There is also hand-painted signage for both the Barons and Black Barons pennants, during their existence at Rickwood Field. A fourth star to the Negro League players who make the annual trip and are accessible to talk to about their experience and Rickwood. These men are accessible, pose for photos, and offer plenty of stories to tell about their days here in Birmingham and beyond. Final Thoughts The word unique gets used a lot in writing, but attending the Rickwood Classic is a one-of-a-kind event that attracts ballpark hunters like myself and legions of fans who appreciate that a minor league game is still held in such a palace. The world’s oldest ballpark looks good and hosts up to 200 events each year. It is a ballpark, a museum, a history lesson, and a trip back in time. Rick Woodard is probably smiling somewhere, knowing his ballpark is still being used for its intended purpose-baseball. ------ 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: 4.00 The Flair Airlines Hangar at the Edmonton Expo Centre 7515 118 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB T5B 4M9 Canada Edmonton Stingers website The Flair Airlines Hangar at the Edmonton Expo Centre website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 4,000 Stinging In Edmonton The Edmonton Stingers are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They compete in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) and play their home games at the Flair Airlines Hangar at the Edmonton Expo Centre. The Stingers' mascot is Buzz, a hornet, inspired by the CF-18 based in Cold Lake. The team logo has a CF-18 going through a capital E to make the body of the hornet. The Stingers played their first game in 2019 and won league championships in 2020 and 2021. The CEBL began play in 2019. and currently consists of 10 teams from six provinces, with four from Ontario, two from Alberta, and one each from British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Quebec, making the CEBL the largest professional sports league based entirely in Canada. CEBL teams play 20 regular-season games from May to August. The league has stated that they would emphasize offering a "party wrapped around a basketball game" with "a ton of value for the fans" to attract spectators, including outdoor pre-game events, in-arena entertainment, autograph sessions, and other features. In 2020 they started using the Elam Ending under which the game clock is turned off near the end of the fourth quarter, and teams play to a target score to determine the winner. The Edmonton Expo Centre was formerly known as the Northlands AgriCom and is officially the Edmonton Exposition and Conference Centre. It originally opened in 1984 and was expanded and remodeled in 2009. The venue is it is located in Edmonton's Montrose neighborhood, across the street from the now-closed Northlands Coliseum, the former home of the Edmonton Oilers. The center's operations are now operated by the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation Food & Beverage 4 There is a very good amount of food options both in the arena itself and in the food court of the Expo Center. This is one of those venues where you can probably skip a pre-game meal as you know there will be some good options at the venue. It seems like most all options are $7 or less. There are game day specials listed around the venue. The game we attended had $3 hot dogs, $4 pizza slices, and $2 popcorn. Atmosphere 5 The league mentioned that they wanted to make a CEBL game a party. The Stingers have done a good job in this regard. The entrance hall outside the arena itself is filled with activities for kids and adults, with numerous things to do before and during intermissions. Once inside the arena, the game is more lively and more fun than a typical basketball game. The arena itself is a simple affair with a lower bowl and an upper section along each sideline. There is not a bad seat in the medium size arena. The Elam Ending makes the atmosphere at the ending game much more electric than a typical game. Neighborhood 2 The neighborhood near the Edmonton Expo Centre is not that exciting. The hulking shell of the old Northlands Coliseum offers a unique view but offers nothing more for fans attending the Stingers games. There are also many old and abandoned businesses in the area. The closed Northlands Park horse track is also nearby. if you’re looking for some pre- or post-game entertainment or dining, you’ll be much better off heading elsewhere. We would recommend Edmonton’s Little Italy as a good option if you choose to eat before or after the game. Fans 4 The Canadian Elite Basketball League has been a success in Edmonton. The fans pack the venue, arrive early, and stay engaged in the game. As mentioned before, the Elam Ending keeps the fans excited until the end of the game. Access 4 The Edmonton Expo Centre is easy to get to off of Wayne Gretzky Drive NW. It should be easy to get there from different directions such as Yellowhead Highway, Anthony Henday Drive, and Manning Drive NW. There is plenty of parking for Stingers games as the center has plenty of parking. Return on Investment 4 Parking is free, at least at the game we attended near the end of the regular season. We did see it listed as $10 in other publications. Single-game tickets range from $25 to $89, which is a good value for any level of professional basketball. Extras 5 The games and attractions in the entrance hall are a great extra for all fans. One should arrive early and enjoy the experience. Team mascot, Buzz, and the Swarm Hype Team will be on the concourse all game. The team offers free courtside haircuts and shoe shines during the game. After each game, the Stingers players have a 15-minute post-game autograph session. There is a well-stocked team store in the entrance hall, along with smaller, temp stands around d the arena. Final Thoughts The Stingers games offer one of the most fun and fan-friendly atmospheres we have seen in a long time. It might not be for the most serious basketball fan, but it should be experienced if you are in the area.

Photo Courtesy of Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey The Chicago White Sox will no longer play at Guaranteed Rate Field but at the newly named Rate Field. The name change was made to coincide with the mortgage company Guaranteed Rate changing its name to Rate Field this past year. The team announced the name change on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday evening. The Southside ballpark had been called Guaranteed Rate Field since November 1, 2016, when the company purchased a 13-year naming deal. The ballpark was known as U.S. Cellular Field (AKA “The Cell”)  from January 2003 until November 2016 and Comiskey Park from 1991 until 2003, like its predecessor that stood across the street from 1910-1990. Meanwhile, the ball club is contemplating a relocation to a proposed new stadium in “The 78” development on the South Loop, a 62-acre parcel of land that offers stunning views of the city skyline and what hopes to be the 78th official community area of Chicago. Stadium Journey has visited the stadium on multiple occasions in the past few years and has provided favorable reviews of the home of the White Sox. The ballpark experience includes a wide selection of regional foods, over 100 craft beers, social areas, and tailgating space before the game. Read more about it here . ------- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter   and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Capital One Park 1600 Scotts Crossing Road McLean, VA 22102 Capital One Park website Georgetown Hoyas website Year Opened: 2023 Capacity: 300 Hoyas Baseball in Northern Virginia Located in Tysons, Virginia, bounded by elevated metro tracks and a highway interchange, Capital One Park is Northern Virginia's newest baseball stadium. Opened in 2023, the ballpark is located in Capital One Center, a mixed use development adjacent to Capital One Headquarters that also includes a hotel, a concert hall, shops, and restaurants. During the spring months, Capital One Park is the home of the Georgetown University Hoyas baseball team. The Hoyas have played in several different venues over the past few years, but in 2024, they will play most of their home games at Capital One Park. A few will be played in DC at the Washington Nationals Youth Academy . Food & Beverage 3 Concessions are sold out of a window near the entrance to Capital One Park. Meal options include nachos ($6), soft pretzels ($7), chili ($8), hot dogs ($6), bratwurst ($7), cheeseburgers ($8), and a pulled pork sandwich ($7). Chips, candy, peanuts, soda, bottled water, and Gatorade are also available. Atmosphere 3 Capital One Park is a small, intimate ballpark, with 300 chairback seats located behind home plate. Some of the upper rows are in the shade. On a hot day late in the season, this will seem nice, but not so much on a chilly day in February or March. There are also some picnic tables located down the lines for groups. No matter where you sit, you will have a great view of the action. That being said, there is not much going on here other than the game itself. Music is played during breaks in the action, but that's about it. You'll have a good view of the action no matter where you sit, which is certainly a plus, but watching the game is about all you'll be doing. Neighborhood 5 Although Capital One Park has a McLean address, the area surrounding the stadium is more properly classified as Tysons, one of the fastest growing business districts in the country in the heart of Fairfax County.. Tysons is regarded as a classic example of an edge city - an area of the suburbs that feels more comparable to the downtown area of a city. In fact, due to severe restrictions on heights of buildings in the District of Columbia, this feels more like a classic downtown than Downtown DC does. As mentioned above, the park is part of Capital One Center, which also contains a concert hall, several shops and restaurants, the Watermark Hotel, and Capital One headquarters itself. The Perch is located on the roof of Capital One Hall and features food trucks, a beer garden, a putt-putt course, a pizza place, a taqueria, and more open space to hang out. There are plenty of other places to hang out in Tysons as well. The area is famous for not one but two giant shopping malls, Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria, which offer a wide variety of shopping and dining including the original Apple Store. Founding Farmers is a popular American restaurant, and Fogo de Chao is a Brazilian steakhouse famous for its large salad bar. Whatever you want to do, you will probably find it in Tysons. Fans 2 Most of the fans are friends or family of the players on the Hoyas or their opponents, although there are some others who come to check out the team as well. The fans who do show up are knowledgeable about the team, as many of them come to most or all of the games. Access 4 How easy it is to get to Capital One Park depends on what time of day you are coming. Rush hour traffic in Northern Virginia is some of the worst in the country, and it is especially bad in Tysons, where numerous highways converge with not enough space to accommodate all movement between them. If you are coming any other time, traffic should probably be lighter, and you can take your choice of the Capital Beltway, State Route 267, or State Route 123, among others. We suggest using a GPS app such as Waze to take you around traffic and on the best possible route. Once you arrive, free parking is available in a lot next to the stadium, and if that fills up, you can park in the garage across the street near Wegman's. Parking is $5 if you're staying for under four hours or $10 if you're staying for longer. You can pay on your phone by scanning the QR code in the lot. The Silver Line of the Washington Metro runs right by the stadium, with the McLean station a short walk away. On a weekday, the lot may be used for parking by commuters using the Metro to head into DC, so plan accordingly. Restrooms are available, including a family restroom, and are of a sufficient size for the crowd, although the metal toilets and sinks are an odd touch that seems out of place here. Return on Investment 3 Tickets are just $5, with kids 12 and under and seniors 65 and over getting in for free. However, the cost of parking, which could be twice the cost of the ticket, does bring this score down a bit. . Extras 2 Look on the concourse for the statue of Bruno the Bear, the official mascot of Capital One Park. Bruno is based on a real bear who made headlines in October 2022 after he was spotted roaming the streets of Tysons and the surrounding area. Also look for the giant statue of a melting blue popsicle. It is certainly an interesting choice architecturally, but a unique one as well. Final Thoughts Georgetown baseball has had many homes over recent years, playing in Maryland, DC, and now, in Virginia. Capital One Park is a gorgeous new stadium, and one hopes the Hoyas can gain a permanent presence here, but that remains to be seen.