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

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

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

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

The city of Pittsburgh has always been regarded as a great baseball town, despite being one of the smallest markets in MLB, based on population. Baseball’s beginnings in the Steel City can be traced back to 1857. A new book, Pittsburgh’s Historic Ballparks , takes a look back at the many homes of baseball that have graced the city. With the exception of Forbes Field, all of these stadiums have been located in the Northside district of the city, across the Allegheny River from Downtown Pittsburgh. The book is filled with photos of the various homes of the Pirates through the years, as well as news clippings about each of the ballparks. The book is published by Arcadia Press as a part of their Images of Baseball series. The first ballpark in Pittsburgh actually began its life as a skating rink. The owner was looking for a way to make money during the warmer months of the year and thought the new game of baseball might be an answer. This began in 1876, with fans standing along the side of the field or sitting on the grass of a nearby hill. Later on, wooden grandstands and an exterior fence were added to the park. This venue was known as Union Park in the beginning, becoming Recreation Park in 1885, as a nod to its multiple recreational activities. This served as the first home of the Allegheny, Pittsburgh’s first professional baseball team. In 1891 the team moved to its second home at Exposition Park. This park served as Pittsburgh's baseball home from 1891-1909. This structure was also on the Northside, located in what we would call a fairground, along the shores of the Allegheny River. Soon other competing teams were forming in the area. Baseball at this point was the hot new game, and many business people saw it as a way to make money. Team loyalty went to the highest bidder, and teams were known to “pirate” players away from other teams overnight. This is the origin of the Pittsburgh Pirate’s moniker. The newly christened Pirates were purchased in 1900 by businessman Barney Dreyfuss. He would own the team for the next 32 years, and be responsible for building a stadium that would serve the team’s home for 61 years. The Pirates and Exposition Park would be involved in the first modern World Series in 1890. Overflow crowds stood in the outfield behind ropes, which determined if a ball was in play or not. As a result, larger grandstands were added from year to year. Soon an upper-level seating was added, with stairwells covered by a steepled roof providing access for the fans. Another feature of the park was a view of the growing Pittsburgh skyline across the river, something that would come full circle to the Pirate’s present home at PNC Park. One other unique feature was that fans exited the park by crossing the playing field, as there were no exits in the outfield stands. Unfortunately, Exposition Park was a little too close to the river, resulting in frequent flooding of the park. A 1907 flood destroyed the Union Bridge, which connected Downtown Pittsburgh to the Northside. Fans on the downtown side of the bridge no longer had a way to cross the river to the ballpark. Barney Dreyfuss knew a change was needed. The old park had suffered both floods and fires, a common event in the wooden ballparks of yesteryear. After the Pirates left Exposition Park, it stayed busy with minor league teams, independent leagues, and Negro League teams. During these same years, Negro baseball leagues were developing in the Pittsburgh area. In 1887 the first Negro League team, the Pittsburgh Keystones used Recreation Park as their home base. Many of these teams would be boom-to-bust adventures, due to poor financing options. There was such a demand for ballparks that another ballpark began construction. In 1920, Central Park opened for business. It was the home ballpark for a new version of the Keystones. The team only lasted for two years. Central Park then served as the home field for a variety of Negro leagues and teams. Only five years after it was built, Central Park was torn down. Ammon Field was another Northside ballpark serving the Negro Leagues. It served as the home base for the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. It was a municipal stadium so it could not charge admission. Despite this restriction, the ballpark survived for nineteen years. Probably the most interesting ballpark was owned by a black bookie. His name was Greenlee, and he named the stadium after himself. He also owned the Pittsburgh Crawfords, one of the most successful Negro League teams. The stadium was built of brick with arched entrances. Greenlee kept the stadium busy throughout the year with a variety of sports. Eventually, business slowed and Greenlee Stadium was torn down in 1938. Following the flood of 1907, Barney Dreyfuss was determined to build a stadium that would not be prone to fire or floods. He moved across the Allegheny River to the Oakland area of Pittsburgh, far from any river. He also decided this stadium would be built of concrete and steel, which was plentiful in the area. The new stadium was christened as Forbes Field. It pioneered the use of these construction materials, but it also featured more entrances, ticket offices, and seating than any competitors. It also featured the first mechanized tarp, which is very important, as it dramatically cut down the number of rainouts the Pirates would have. Dreyfuss was always looking for ways to improve the ballpark, which often meant more seats. He also had the first electronic scoreboard in the major leagues. The Pirates had a great team during Forbes Field’s early days, as they won two World Series. These wins help pay for even more expansion of the seating. In 1932 Barney Dreyfuss died, after leading the team for more than 35 years, and leading baseball parks into a new era. A monument was built in his honor at Forbes Field. This monument has traveled to each ballpark the Pirates have played in since then. After a long drought of good teams, the Pirates' fortunes began to turn with the arrival of Roberto Clemente and Bill Mazeroski in the mid-1950s. In 1960 the Pirates made the World Series, with Mazeroski hitting the winning home run in the 7th game to take the pennant. Even with this success, Forbes Field’s days were numbered. In 1958 the University of Pittsburgh was expanding its campus and had bought the stadium. They allowed the Pirates to lease the park each season until their new park was completed. The 1969 season was to be the last season in Forbes Field. However, it received a short reprieve, as construction on Three Rivers was behind schedule. The Pirates moved into their new home midway through the 1970 season. Forbes Field was then torn down after serving as the Bucs home for 61 years. The Pirates then recrossed the Allegheny to the Northside neighborhood. Three Rivers Stadium came in an era of round cookie-cutter multi-purpose stadiums. Ironically the original design for the ballpark had the river side of the venue left open to provide a view of downtown Pittsburgh and the river, just like Exposition Park of the past and PNC Park of the future. This was vetoed, as the owners wanted as much income-producing space and seats as possible. The Steelers were also tenants and had the same concerns. The fancy dining areas did provide a salute to its predecessor, as parts of Forbes Field were incorporated into the Allegheny Room, including a portion of the Bill Mazeroski home run wall. By the 1990’s the round cookie-cutter stadiums were no longer popular, and retro stadiums were “in”. This was led by the building of Camden Yards in Baltimore. The Steelers moved to new digs right down the shoreline to Heinz Field (now Acrisure Stadium). After only 31 years after its opening, Three Rivers Stadium closed. Willie Stargell attended the last game at Three Rivers Stadium. He would pass away just hours before the PNC Park opening day game. Pittsburgh’s Historic Ballparks closes with the opening of PNC Park in 2001. In many ways, Pittsburgh’s stadiums have come full circle. The ballpark has gotten rave reviews for its retro looks, which resemble a park of yesteryear. It also sits on the same ground as Exhibition Park from many years ago. Best of all, the players who created the greatest memories in the various ballparks of Pittsburgh past are honored with statues in the plazas that surround the stadium. Oh, by the way… the Pirates spring training stadium in Bradenton, Florida turned 100 years old in 2023. Barney Dreyfuss would be pleased.

Photo Courtesy of Marists Athletics Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 McCann Baseball Field 3399 North Rd Poughkeepsie, NY 13601 Marist Red Foxes' website McCann Baseball Field website Year Opened: 1992 Capacity: 300 Outfoxing the Opposition Marist College is an independent liberal arts college perched on the east bank of the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, New York. It was founded in 1929 as a training school for Marist Brothers and has become an academic powerhouse with a student population of more than 6,000. Marist offers more than 44 bachelor's programs, 12 Masters' programs, and 21 certificate programs. One of its most unique degrees is in the area of Sports Communications. This program is designed to produce graduates who will go into the fields of sports journalism, sports information, and sports branding and marketing. The athletic teams at Marist are known as the Red Foxes and they compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with schools such as Iona, Canisius, Niagara, Rider, Siena, Fairfield, Quinnipiac, and St. Peters. McCann Baseball Field serves as the home to the baseball program and is hard to miss as it is the first thing you see on your left as you enter the campus through the main gate. Built in 1992, the stadium seats 350 on wooden bleachers located on berms lining both the first and third base sides of the field. Unlike many of the surrounding schools, Marist has a natural turf field with a sand base, which allows it to drain quickly. Dimensions of the field are 390 feet to center and 317 feet down the first and third base lines. Over the years the Red Foxes have won five MAAC championships and made six NCAA tournament appearances. Food & Beverage 1 There is no onsite concession stand at McCann Field, but vending machines are available in the McCann Recreation Center immediately next door to the field. The restrooms servicing the ballpark are also located in this building. Atmosphere 2 A baseball game at McCann Field is a pretty basic experience. The bleachers surrounding the field are wood and they are very weathered, so make sure you bring a seat cushion. Along the third baseline, you will also want to make sure you do not have an obstructed view of the action as the bleachers are set amongst some trees, some of which are in front of the bleachers. For these reasons many people decide to bring lawn chairs, camping chairs, or a towel to sit on as they watch the game from the berms lining the field. A tent is set up behind the backstop for the PA system and scoreboard controls, and the announcer does a good job of updating you on the game. The Red Foxes do have a competitive team so if you just focus on baseball you can have a good time at Marist. Neighborhood 3 Marist College has a beautifully landscaped campus to tour before a ball game, with some terrific views of the Hudson River from anywhere on the college property. Downtown Poughkeepsie is just a few blocks south of Marist, with a wide variety of dining options. These include the Bluestone Bistro, River Station, Mahoney’s Irish Pub, and the Ice House on the Hudson. Many of these restaurants are owned by or utilize graduates of the Culinary Institute of America, which is located in nearby Hyde Park. Nightlife in town seems to center on the Blue Collar Brewery, just a few blocks from campus. Almost any hotel chain you can think of at any budget level will be available to you in Poughkeepsie. Fans 2 A majority of the fans you will see at the games will be students. Attendance at a game will fluctuate greatly depending on who the opposing team is, and the weather, which can be raw in the early spring. A majority of the MAAC teams are either New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut-based so the visitors travel well. Often Marist fans will know players or fans from the opposing team. The students who do come out to the games are very knowledgeable, as many are enrolled in the Sports Communication major at the school. Access 3 Marist is very easy to get to as it is located just off Highway 9 in Poughkeepsie. It is located 75 miles north of New York City and 75 miles south of Albany. Marist is approximately 15 miles north of I-84 via Highway 9. It has frequent commuter rail service, with direct connections to the campus on a regular basis. Once on campus, parking is available immediately adjacent to the baseball field in the McCann Center lot. Dutchess County Transit offers several in town routes that service the university. Return on Investment 3 Going to a baseball game at McCann Field is not going to empty your wallet. There is no charge to park your car or to attend the game. The concessions available are at a vending machine cost, and you are welcome to bring in food from any of the many fast food locations along Hwy 9 that runs right in front of the school. Add to that the easy access and you can have an enjoyable day trip in Poughkeepsie at a reasonable cost. Extras 3 Marist and the surrounding area offer several extras, many of which relate to its location immediately adjacent to the mighty Hudson River. An extra that is hard to miss as it towers above both the campus and the town is the 1.28-mile-long Walkway over the Hudson. This former railroad bridge has now been converted to a pedestrian walkway/bikeway and it offers stunning views of the Hudson River Valley below while providing a unique exercise opportunity for both residents and visitors alike. Another “must do” while at Marist is to visit the museum, home, and library of FDR located just 4 miles from the campus in Hyde Park, NY. Managed by the National Park Service, the Roosevelt complex is accessible via shuttle bus from the downtown railroad station in Poughkeepsie. Those enjoying the great outdoors may want to try one of the many cruises on the Hudson options available along the waterfront.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Ford Center 5600 Division St. Evansville, IN 47715 Ford Center website Evansville Thunderbolts website Year Opened: 2011 Capacity: 9,000 A Bolt of Thunder in Evansville It was officially announced in March 2016 that the ECHL Evansville Icemen would relocate their operations to Owensboro, Kentucky after the conclusion of the season. The team also announced that it would be on hiatus and resume play for the 2017-2018 season at the renovated Owensboro Sportscenter in hopes of building a new facility somewhere down the road. However, those plans fell through and the club wound up moving to Jacksonville, Florida. Enter the Southern Professional Hockey League and placed an expansion franchise in town for the 2016-2017 season. The club was nicknamed the Thunderbolts after the WWII Fighter plane that was manufactured in the town. The Evansville plant produced 6,000 P-47 Thunderbolt planes and helped save the town during the war. The Ford Center is beautiful, modern, and perfect for minor league hockey with a seating capacity of 9,000 people. The $127.5 million indoor facility opened in 2009 and has been home to hockey since 2010. The cutting-edge design featuring a gorgeous interior and exterior design does not try to represent buildings of the past but set the tone for the future. The design should look as sharp now as it will 30 years from now. Food & Beverage 3 There are various concession areas throughout the main concourse that offer hot dogs, bratwurst, chicken tenders, pizza, mini corn dogs, French fries, popcorn, pretzels, and nachos. The prices are reasonable, and there is something for everyone. The more unique options are highlighted by chipotle cheddar burgers, loaded nachos with chicken or beef, pork tenderloin sandwiches, and grilled chicken sandwiches. The nachos are big enough to share for two and are a bargain at $8. If you are with the kids, they will enjoy chicken tender baskets and Dippin’ Dots ice cream. There is also a kiosk that serves falafel and baklava. Bud and Bud Light cans sell for $7.25 a can and local Carson’s Red Dawn and Tin Man Rivet are on tap for $8. Wine and well drinks are also available costing between $7.25-$8. Atmosphere 3 The game-time atmosphere at the Ford Center is somewhat peculiar. There is a lot of action taking place in the main lobby where fans enter and are greeted by staff personnel, the official team mascot, and Iceman cheerleaders. There is usually something that is given away for free and I can’t think of a better way to start your evening of hockey. Fans then hop on the escalator and move up to the main concourse toward their seats. This is where they will find the official team merchandise table, ticket information, and the Chuck-a-Puck table. It is also where they would find the majority of the concession menu items of the arena. There is a lot of synergy taking place on these two levels and one feels very energized before the game. Ford Center Escalators, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Once fans enter the seating area and get a view of the ice, which was decorated in pink graffiti for Breast Cancer Awareness Night, they might take a look around the venue to see where everyone is at. They must be patient since fans arrive at the game right before the faceoff. However, looking around one might get the feeling that hockey takes a back seat to the Evansville Purple Aces basketball program; a collection of championship banners, retired jerseys, a memorial, and memorabilia in the front lobby adorn the building. Deservingly, the Aces have been the main sporting event in town for many years. Neighborhood 3 The Ford Center is in a nice part of downtown that appears to be up and coming. Fans walking the streets before and after the game are within a stone’s throw away from the Backstage Bar and Grill, Milano Italian Cuisine, and the Children’s Museum. Less than two miles away is Franklin Street which offers a few additional great restaurants including Lamasco Bar, Gerst Haus, and Bru Burger in a renovated Greyhound bus terminal. Carson’s Brewery is an ideal spot for craft beer, especially Carson’s where one can sample 25 different beers including Vanilla Cow, Sweet Leaf, and Red Hot Harlot, a cinnamon-infused honey blonde ale. Tami will serve you quite well in the room. Tip her well. There are plenty of lodging options in Evansville. They include the Fairfield Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Suites, and Baymont Inn & Suites. The only decision is price and location, but you’re sure to find a nice price somewhere in town. Fans 4 The team has averaged between 2,000 to 2,300 fans during its time in the SPHL. The Evansville hockey supporter has been through a lot during the last decade. They welcomed the Icemen into ECHL in 2010, only to lose them to Owensboro in a public fiasco with its owner, and then quickly welcomed in an SPHL team. This could be quite irksome to any fanbase, but they have shown respectable support for minor league hockey in the River City. Another interesting note is the copious amounts of different jerseys worn by the fans during the game. There must have been at least 12 different styles during my final visit to see the Icemen in Evansville. Access 4 Being a downtown location you would think it would be difficult to find a parking spot. However, that is not the case for the Ford Center. There is free parking a couple of blocks away from the arena in vast lots. Many locals complain about the distance, but the walk does not seem to be that much of a problem. Inside the arena, there are plenty of restrooms that serve men, women, and families. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for Bolts games start at $13 for upper deck seats and top out at $32 for glass seats. This is common with the other teams in the league and affordable with other minor league operations. You have your choice of ticket prices and the arena has more than enough tickets on most occasions. The parking is free and concession prices are varied and reasonable. Extras 3 The Ford Center provides great views of the ice from your seats and there is not a bad seat in the house. It is a great size for a minor league hockey arena and features a wraparound concourse for easy access. One final point for the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) for finally connecting Evansville to Indianapolis with the nearing completion of I-69. Instead of a 3-plus hour drive through multiple state roads and downtown squares, a motorist can drive a two-lane highway in much less time. Final Thoughts The Thunderbolts have created a new piece of history for the sport in the River City. Evansville’s history in minor league hockey is much younger compared with other teams in the league but they might just play in the best arena in the SPHL. The Ford Center is a fabulous state-of-the-art indoor venue for minor league hockey. The fanbase is strong, supportive, and knowledgeable; just give them a good product, and they will be back.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Paladin Stadium 1300 Duncan Chapel Rd Greenville, SC 29613 Furman Paladins website Paladin Stadium website Year Opened: 1981 Capacity: 16,000 One Team, One Family, One Furman Across the scope of college’s Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the Furman Paladins have been one of the preeminent programs, having qualified for 20 FCS (or I-AA) playoffs, tied for fifth most at that level. The Paladins have also made six trips to the semi-finals, with two championship game appearances, claiming the FCS National Championship in 1988. Paladin Stadium opened in 1981 when Furman moved on campus from Sirrine Stadium near downtown Greenville, just off the original site of Furman’s campus; this had been Furman’s football home from 1936 until 1980, as well. Prior to Sirrine Stadium, the Paladins played at Manly Field  on the old campus, and initially at the athletic grounds of Augusta Road. Furman would play South Carolina’s first intercollegiate football game in December of 1889 against in-state rival Wofford.   Food & Beverage   4 Concessions here go a bit beyond typical stadium offerings. As expected, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and soft pretzels are on the menu, but the addition of burgers, brats, and pizza help make the menu a bit more appealing. A handful of food trucks serving mostly sweet treats also help support the in-stadium offerings – food trucks sell frozen treats, handmade confections, Hawaiian donuts, and shaved ice. Alcoholic beverages run the gambit from Natural Light and Budweiser products to multiple selection from Asheville’s Wicked Weed. Individual servings of both red and white wine are also available.   Atmosphere   4 As is tradition with most college football experiences, tailgating is a major part of the game day experience. Starting 2 1/2 hours before kickoff, the fields around the northern end of the stadium start to come alive. Clad in Furman’s purple and white, tailgating encampments sprout up just steps from the stadium. The area directly outside of Champions Gate is home to the Furman Fan Zone, with pregame concerts, food trucks, and inflatables. Paladin Stadium, which houses Stone Field, is nestled into the Furman campus forestry, backdropped by the spire of the Daniel Chapel, with Paris Mountain in the distance. Like many stadiums throughout the south, such as Georgia , Auburn , and South Carolina  to name a few, Stone Field is also bordered by shrubbery on each side – this goes a long way in creating a classic stadium feel. The home side of the field is quick to receive shade for afternoon kickoffs, and also provides a comfortable experience. The space between the 40-yard lines is individual chairback seats, while bleacher seats with back support extend to the 35-yard lines. It certainly is a treat to have so much comfort built into the home side seating area; the visiting side is not as punchy, as their seating is just aluminum bleachers. Throughout the 1st half of the game, the focus of entertainment during stoppages in play is focused on the Paladin Regiment, Furman’s marching band, as they fill most of the downtime with short performances. The second half of the game sees dead ball entertainment move more toward on-field games and scoreboard ads, until the band fully reorganizes after their halftime performance. Both ends of the stadium have entertainment options for fans of all ages – the grassy area of Champions Walk Grove has a handful of inflatables to help keep kids occupied, while the southern turfed area has a Wicked Weed biergarten, lawn games, and a carnival-themed food truck. This end of the stadium is also home to a lot of organic fun for Furman’s younger fans, for example children using disassembled cardboard boxes to slide down the steep hillside, or wrestle over footballs from field goals and extra points that sail into the area.   Neighborhood   3 Located on the northern reaches of Greenville, South Carolina, Furman is roughly where the city turns into suburban neighborhoods, before becoming more rural as the suburbs give way to the mountains of South Carolina. Furman’s campus covers a sprawling 750 acres. Beyond the academic, residential, and athletic facilities, Swan Lake, a walking trail around it, and even a golf course open to the public are all within the campus’ confines. Miles of biking trails also run adjacent to campus. If approaching Furman from the back side, Highway 25 has several food trucks serving various types of Latino food, while the approach from Highway 276 has chain restaurants. Greenville is regularly recognized as one of America’s best small cities. Downtown is just over six miles from Furman’s campus, and is full of breweries, high quality restaurants, and hotels. Greenville is also well known for its public art installations and the popular Falls Park. Early season games could also be paired with a Greenville Drive baseball game at Flour Field , while for games later in the season, checking out the Greenville Swamp Rabbits  schedule might also be option.   Fans   4 Approximately an hour prior to kickoff, fans with cowbells in hand line Champions Walk as each unit makes their way towards the field for final game preparations. The walkway is crowded and definitely supportive of the Paladins, as they make their way to the gridiron. There is no denying the support the Paladins enjoy – over the last few seasons, Furman has averaged roughly 10,000 fans per game, which is one of the top 25 draws in FCS, ranking just behind The Citadel  in the Southern Conference.   Access   3 Furman is north of downtown Greenville; it can be a bit of a challenge to get to, as there is no direct interstate access to the facility. Two major thoroughfares, US Highways 25 and 276, run along either side of campus – the challenge is that even after exiting I-185, there are still 10 miles of surface streets and traffic lights to contend with. GPS directions for Paladin Stadium commonly take you through the rear entrance to campus, along Duncan Chapel Road. This entrance is designated for permit holders, however, so if you need to pay for parking it is better to enter through the campus’ main gate on Poinsette Highway (US 276) – this entrance provides the easiest access for day-of-game parking. These lots are also just a short walk from the stadium, for both home and visiting fans. There are three main points of entry to Paladin Stadium, each easily accessible from any of the parking lots. Visitors will likely want to park in the lot adjacent to Daniel Chapel, which leaves a short walk to the visitor entrance to the stadium. The permit lots to the east are a short walk to either of the two entrances at each corner of the home side of the field. For the most part, the interior of the stadium is as straightforward as can be to navigate, but the most direct way to access the attractions of the south end zone is walking down the rather steep hillside – that area is also accessible via the service road that runs just outside the facility.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets can be purchased online starting as low as $25 with no additional fees added, which is always appreciated. While a handful of programs throughout the Southern Conference offer free parking, Furman does charge $15. It is always nice to be able to save a few dollars by not having to pay for parking, but considering parking at other venues can run $20 or more, $15 doesn’t seem all that unreasonable. Concessions prices run as expected here, compared to similar facilities.   Extras   4 The walls of the home side concourse recognize Furman football legends Jerome Felton, Stanford Jennings, Jeff Blankenship, and Louis Ivory, along with coaches Bobby Johnson, Jimmy Satterfield, and Dick Sheridan. In keeping with the traditions that make college athletics a special experience, the Furman pregame festivities leading to kickoff include the singing of Furman’s alma mater – it is always nice to see appreciation of the university the team represents. The Paladins are led on to the field by a knight/dame on horseback across the field. Throughout the first half of the game, the pair greets visitors under the scoreboard. As the season stretches into the end of October and early November, the changing of the leaves provides a beautiful backdrop for college football in the fall.   Final Thoughts Football at Furman gives fans a high-quality college football experience, from well before gates open through the end of the game, all in a beautiful setting. All of this enhances the contest on the field, typically involving two highly ranked Southern Conference teams. The spirited atmosphere paired with everything that surrounds the game definitely adds up to a classic, college football experience.

Photos by Martin McNelis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Markets Field 22-, 34 Garryowen Road Limerick, Munster Ireland Limerick FC website Markets Field website Year Opened: 1886 Capacity: 5,000 Home of the Super Blues Football in the Irish county of Limerick has an interesting and chequered past, with name changes, boardroom fall outs, success, relegations, European football and the standard financial torments throughout their 79-year history. Formed in 1937, the club were challengers in the FAI Cup when they were twice-beaten semi finalists and also runners up in the league during the 1940s. The club won their first league title in 1960 and only replicated this once more, winning it again in 1980. Despite being in the province of Munster, a very sporting county overall, Limerick is very much a rugby city. As much as it is popular with local interest, football wrestles with this and the gaelic games. The club’s initial colours were red and white, changed in the 80s to green and yellow, but they are regularly recognised in Ireland as wearing blue, white and occasionally black. The club have gone by various names including Limerick City, United, and even Limerick 37 for the start of the 2007 season, after the FAI would not provide them with a licence to play in the league due to them not meeting their standard requirements. The current title of Limerick FC returned in 2009 and remains so to the present day. The club are a full-time entity, something which is rare in Ireland’s second football tier, and this is due to fresh financial investment which coincided with the return to their spiritual home of Markets Field in 2015. Limerick have always claimed that this is their natural home and returned here having left in 1984 after massive renovation works and an outright purchase by a local consortium. Originally built in the late 1800s it was mainly used for gaelic games and rugby. Limerick played football here when they were formed and played at a number of venues including the impressive Thomond Stadium, the home of Munster rugby, and amateur football grounds Jackman Park, Hogan Park and Pike Rovers’ Crossagalla. With a new Main Stand built on and around the original structure, it boasts new corporate, media and player facilities. There was also significant money spent on the pitch and the club were awarded the best playing surface in the League of Ireland for 2016. Food & Beverage 4 There are a few food and drink options available at Markets Field, served from an ice cream van, a small hut and a burger van. The ice cream van sells what you would expect; confectionary, crisps, juice and also some hot drink options of tea, coffee and hot chocolate. The hut sells sweets only at shop prices and is good value. The burger van also has a wide variety of options. All burgers (cheese, plain/regular, chicken) are priced between 3 – 4.50 euros, hot dogs and breakfast rolls are 4 euros, chicken goujons and nuggets are between 3-4 euros, chips come in large and regular portions priced 3-4 euros and you can have them with a curry, garlic or cheese dip for 3.50. All hot and cold drinks are excellently priced between 1.50 and 2 euros. Atmosphere 3 The atmosphere at Markets Field is mainly generated by the club’s unofficial ultras group, ‘The Blue Army Loyalty Club.’ After a successful season on the pitch, the club have been lucky to have quite a vibrant crowd, mainly due to more local people attending home matches. They have had a couple of tifo displays, occasional pyro and numerous chants and songs in support of the team. Markets Field can be accessed at three turnstile entry points, two of them on Garryowen Road for home fans, the corner of this road and Markets Field Terrace being for both home and away fans. The Main Stand is relatively small, containing seating for around 1,400 spectators and doesn’t run the length of the pitch. It has corporate and media facilities on one side and standing area for fans on the other. It has modern toilet facilities underneath and disabled toilet access next to it. Across from this is what’s known as the ‘Popular Terrace End’ and has a distinctive large wall on the back with housing on the other side. It is also where the dugouts are situated and has a single perimeter barrier behind them for fans to stand round and watch the game. There is a grass embankment here too which runs the length of the pitch and is popular with supporters on match days when it is dry. There is also a small television gantry perched in the centre. The Rossa Avenue/West Terrace home end is where you will find a large walk way for fans going between ends, buying food and using the facilities. The food bars are situated here as is a portacabin which acts as the club shop. This end is busy, but with it being almost at pitch level you won’t see much of the play from here, more so with people regularly passing through. Opposite this and behind the other goal, the Marketsfield Terrace was similarly an open end terrace, but a small temporary stand containing seating for around three hundred fans has been erected in the last year. In front of this and on either side of it there are also designated standing areas. The half-time entertainment comes from local junior teams playing 4 a side games. There are also announcements about upcoming fixtures, travel and pick up times for supporters. There are pros and cons to the best area to watch the action on the pitch. As the Main Stand is elevated it provides shelter and a good angle, but there are seven thin supporting pillars which will partially obscure the view. Opposite here standing on the grass embankment also provides a very good view, but there is no cover and in poorer weather this would be thoroughly miserable. Neighborhood 4 From Colbert train station you are ten minutes walk from Markets Field stadium, and along the way there are various shops and bars. Limerick is distinctive for the amount of churches and cathedrals which can be seen from some distance, none more so than St John’s which is over the back of Garryowen Road and features heavily in photographs of Markets Field, professional or otherwise. Hospitality is warm, with Tait’s Bar & Grill, part of Pery’s Hotel, a comfortable, welcoming and homely option offering a wide selection of food and drink options. Fans 3 The Limerick fans have supported a very successful team on the pitch and can have no complaints with the season, so it is hard to establish what they are really like. As a result of their dominance of the First Division all comments and chanting are positive. The majority of the noise and atmosphere generated stems from the small group of ultras who congregate in a corner of the Main Stand. Access 4 The train station is ten minutes walk away while local buses pass regularly with the Dublin direct bus also stopping off a couple of times a day. There is no specifically designated car parking, but there are plenty of street parking options around the ground. Tickets can be bought outside the ground right up to kick off and there are a couple of designated shops in the city centre which sell them too. Once purchased they are barcoded by stewards to enter. Once inside you have the freedom of three ends, but the only area you can’t access is where the away fans are allocated. The majority of the facilities are in the West Terrace end behind the home goal and getting around poses no problems. Return on Investment 4 The ticket structure at Limerick is very fair, with Adults at 15 euros for the Main Stand and 12 for the Terraces. It is 10 euros for students and OAPs, and 5 euros for under 12s. The club offer individual match packages for families, ranging from 15 euros for one adult and one child under 12, up to two adults and two children under 12 at 35 euros. Extras 1 The family package deserves a point mainly because it helps entice more local fans and families to come out and support the team. Final Thoughts Markets Field is a decent venue to watch football and one a lot of ground hoppers may wish to visit as it only re-opened in June 2015 after the club spent more than three decades away from it. It is very laid back and I found the staff and stewards both friendly and helpful.

Dave and Paul head to the plains for a look at the Omaha Storm Chasers. This MiLB team used to share a venue with the College World Series, until each went their separate ways. Has this been a good move? Grab your favorite beer and take a settle in for the latest episode of Stadium Journey's Obstructed Views. ⚾🏟️ You can find Stadium Journey's review of Werner Park and the Omaha Storm Chasers game day experience here.

Photos by Lance Sutehall, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Cajundome 444 Cajundome Blvd Lafayette, LA 70506 UL-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns website Cajundome website Year Opened: 1985 Capacity: 12,362 A Dome To Hold All The Ragin' Cajuns The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is the second largest university by enrollment in the state of Louisiana, with over 19,000 students. It opened in 1898 and has gone through several name changes, with its present name in place since 1999. The university is the largest in the University of Louisiana system. Therefore, the athletic teams are called the “Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.” The Ragin’ Cajuns play their basketball games at the Cajundome, which is a couple of miles west of the core of the campus. Louisiana has won seven conference regular season titles and eight conference tournament championships since becoming a Division One program in 1972. Their last NCAA tournament appearance was in 2023, after they won the Sun Belt Tournament. Food & Beverage 3 There are a couple of concession stands open, including the “Salty Cajun Catina” that sells popcorn ($6), fries ($6), nachos ($8), candy ($3.75), pickles ($2), pretzels ($5), mozzarella sticks ($8), churros ($5), and hot dogs ($5). Coca-Cola is the soft drink provider with sodas ($5), bottled water ($4.75), and Powerade ($5) on offer. The “Crispy Cajun Grille” sells the same snacks and hot dogs but sells burgers ($8) and chicken tenders ($10). Finally, the “Beverage Express” stand has alcoholic beverages with wine ($10.25), 24 oz ($12) and 32 oz ($16) draft beers, and various cocktails ($5-$14) for sale. Atmosphere 3 The Cajundome is shaped like a dome, not unlike the Superdome in New Orleans. The lobby has a “Welcome to the Cajundome” sign with pictures of historic Ragin’ Cajun basketball moments on both sides. On the left side of the lobby is a walkway with banners commemorating former Ragin’ Cajun basketball players. On the right side, the “Ragin’ Cajuns in the Pros” display shows the Ragin Cajuns that have played professionally. Walking through the doors takes you to the concourse, where the walls have a timeline of the history of Ragin’ Cajun basketball. Stairs take you to the seating bowl, where you see an arena that is much bigger than the Ragin’ Cajuns need. The left side has a banner commemorating the university’s status as a “R1 Top-Tier Research University”. A four-sided scoreboard and videoboard hang over center court, while the right side of the arena has banners honoring the successes of the Ragin’ Cajuns basketball program over the years. All of the seats in the Cajundome are black chairbacks. The right side has the “First Horizon Bank Courtside Club” stocked with finger foods and televisions. The Center Court has the Ragin’ Cajuns logo, and an outline of the state of Louisiana shaded. The players come out to the court for the final shootaround with smoke machines going off. During the introduction video, a disco ball is activated, and the lights turn red during the starting lineups. Most games will have cheerleaders, but the game I attended did not as it was during football season. Neighborhood 3 The Cajundome is located a couple of miles west of the core of the campus. The other athletic facilities, including Cajun Field, are near the Cajundome. Downtown Lafayette is two miles East of the Cajundome and includes attractions such as the Lafayette Science Museum, the Acadiana Center for the Arts, and The Lafayette Museum. Dining options include the Spoonbill Watering Hole and Restaurant for seafood, Sarrica’s Italian Pizza, and Pat’s Downtown for Cajun cuisine. There is a Hilton Garden Inn near the Cajundome, while The Juliet Hotel is located downtown. Fans 3 The fans seem to be knowledgeable about the Ragin’ Cajuns basketball team. They have a great time attending games and participating in the various fan activities on the video board during breaks in the action. Access 3 From I-10 Westbound, turn off Exit 100 and onto Highway 167 before making a left on Highway 90. Make a right turn on Cajundome Boulevard, and the Cajundome will be on the left. There is free parking across the street at Cajun Field. Getting to the venue is pretty straightforward, but the arena is a little tricky as there is a lobby and a separate concourse to navigate before entering the seating bowl. Assume you are entering a large arena, not a small college gym, and you should be fine. Return on Investment 4 Seats in the north corners go for $10, while sideline seats are $25. Parking is free, and concessions are affordable, so it’s possible to have a great night at the Cajundome for $20. Extras 3 The Cajundome hosted the Sun Belt Conference basketball tournament three times, last doing so in 2007. The Table Room is a pregame space for events at the Cajundome with bar service that opened in January 2020. Final Thoughts The Ragin’ Cajuns have made the Cajundome their home over the years. It may not be filled to the brim every game, but the fans have a great time. A night at the Cajundome is fun and will not break the bank.

Photos by Conrad Klank, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Atlantic Station 1380 Atlantic Dr NW Atlanta, GA 30363 Atlanta Open website Atlantic Station website Year Opened: 2012 Capacity: 3,728 Tennis in Atlanta The Atlanta Open is one of 41 ATP World Tour Level 250 Men’s Professional Tennis Tournaments. Held in mid-July, it is the first stop on the American hard court swing for the men’s ATP Tour. It’s also the first event on the Emirates Airlines US Open Series (EAUSOS) calendar leading up to the US Open in New York City in September. Other events superseding the Atlanta Open on the EAUSOS calendar include the Western & Southern Open , and the Winston-Salem Open . Though the tournament has long roots in the city of Atlanta, it’s only been played in its current condition since 2010 when the tournament was purchased by the USTA Southern from Indianapolis, where the failing RCA Championships tournament was held for a number of years. Since the start of the Atlanta Open in 2010, the tournament has been held at three different locations including The Racquet Club of the South, The Atlanta Athletic Club, and now, where the tournament is guaranteed to be held at least until 2016, Atlantic Station. Atlantic Station is an outdoor entertainment district chock-full of great shopping, bars, restaurants, and activities for all ages. The tournament facilities have been uniquely nestled right above the parking garages next to the shopping areas. The facility includes a total of six Deco-Turf hard courts, three of which are official match courts, and the other three are used for practice. Stadium Court is the largest and typically features the highest ranked players; it holds a total of 3,728, including 10 hospitality suites. The other two match courts: The AJC Grandstand Court, and Court 1, have a nice bank of bleacher seating and have a much cozier, up-close feel. Tickets purchased for the tournament ensure a seat in Stadium Court, and all other areas of the tournament, which are general admission, first come, and first served. Food & Beverage 4 One of the unique things about going to tennis tournaments is the food court that is created. Instead of being forced to risk getting food all over your shirt in the seats, you have the option at tennis tournaments to enjoy your food without missing any of the action on the big video board provided. This option is no different in Atlanta as there is a wonderful little food court available with some great culinary options. Let's start with the drinks, as with all of the tournament stops on the ATP World Tour calendar, it's ensured that you will have the choice to enjoy a Corona or Modelo product, as they are the official beer partners of the ATP Tour. The beauty of it though, is the amount of perks that come with it: the delightful signature Corona beach house bar, the number of Corona beer carts and stands, the Corona Adirondack chairs and misting stations, and the Corona corn hole and table tennis areas. Corona surely goes all out to make it a great overall experience. A refreshing can of Corona or Modelo with lime is $5, Clos du Bois wine by the glass for $7.50, Coke products and water are available for $3, and if you're really looking to have fun, the Svedka bar serves vodka drinks that come in small buckets (see pictures) for $12 and come with a spin on their prize wheel. This is my recommendation, but pace yourself as it gets hot and one or two can catch up to you quickly. Cheers! Once you've found a drink that tickles your fancy, make your way over to the concession stand, which offers a great variety for most any taste or diet. Warning: This is not your typical stadium concession. Options include a shrimp po-boy basket, chicken Caésar salad wrap, smoked chicken salad wrap, smoked turkey club sandwich, BBQ pulled pork/chicken sandwich, chicken tender basket, BBQ pork nachos, and of course what would a concession stand be without a hot dog, cheeseburger, and French fries? Each of the dishes mentioned come as a combo including a side of fries or chips, and a signature southern sweet tea ranging from $10-$12. Additionally, the concession stand offers a very unique dessert, the homemade chocolate peanut butter trifle ($5) which is to die for. While there may only be a handful of bars and one concession stand on site, there are plenty of quality options to keep you satisfied even if you attend the tournament on numerous days. Atmosphere 4 The Atlanta Open may be a young tournament at a fairly new location, but they have done a fantastic job creating a fun and exciting tennis atmosphere. The buildings all around Atlantic Station have banners, signs, and images of players to really create that excitement when approaching the tournament site, as well as once you are inside the grounds. Additionally, the sponsors have done a fantastic job in aiding to the overall atmosphere, namely Corona, Lexus, and the USTA Southern with their displays and activities including miniature court tennis for kids and "big" kids, video games, photo booth, and prize giveaways. No matter what your age, you'll surely leave with a few goodies to add to your collection. Generally, when considering where to sit within a tennis stadium, I always recommend corner seating, if it fits in your budget of course. There's nothing worse than a long day of moving your head back and forth tracking the ball if you're seated at center court. I also think that for pure tennis fans and critics, that seating behind the baseline, also considered end zone seating, is one of the best places to really see points develop and learn about the movement of players and shot placement. My recommendation is to sit in one of the sections between 108-112 as those sections are in the northeast corner, and not only have the best view of the court, but also of the Atlanta skyline in the background. Keep in mind that your ticket to Stadium Court also entitles you to access all other courts of the tournament including the practice courts which are on the other side of Atlantic Station. Generally, the seats are comfortable, until the finals weekend approaches and the stands become more crowded which make the seats feel tighter. The majority of the stadium seats are bleachers with built in seat backs, which do provide some amount of reserved real estate, but they still get a little squished when the crowds pack in. The first two rows from the court are the Lexus Inner Circle seats, which are padded and are the most expensive seats besides the suites. These seats also entitle you access to the exclusive Lexus VIP lounge which is a great amenity, especially on hot or rainy days or when you just need to get away from the action for a few minutes. Neighborhood 5 One of the fantastic things about the tournament being located in an outdoor restaurant and shopping district is the proximity to entertainment outside of the sporting event itself. Fans, players, and tournament and tour representatives all seem to agree that time spent outside of the tournament is well spent around Atlantic Station. Be sure to visit either Yard House or Rosa Mexicano for dinner and drinks after the matches. The best place to stay is the Twelve Hotel located within walking distance of Atlantic Station. All walking around Atlantic Station is very safe and secure. Within a short drive or MARTA train ride you can visit the World of Coca-Cola or visit the beautiful Centennial Olympic Park , the site of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games. Fans 5 While the general sports fans of Atlanta get a lot of criticism for not being as loyal or diehard as other large market sports cities, it couldn't be more opposite when it comes to tennis. The tennis community in Atlanta loves this sport and it shows with the fan turnout. The United States Tennis Association has reported that over a quarter of all of their membership is based in the USTA Southern region. That stat makes it very clear why the tournament is able to receive the amount of support that it does. International players beware, as it can be very hard to play against one of the many Americans in the tournament each year with the amount of fan following that they receive. Just look at who's won the championship in each of the first four years, all Americans! Atlanta tennis fans are a very knowledgeable, friendly, and welcoming group of people who unconditionally love tennis. I was even lucky enough to be a part of the wave during my visit in 2013! Access 4 Overall, The Atlanta Open tournament has pretty good access, but not without a few abstract speed bumps along the way. The first being traffic, as at any time of the day it seems to be an issue around downtown Atlanta. It is smart to factor in some extra time when traveling to the tournament by car. The tournament is located right off of I-75/I-85, and parking is just a couple of blocks off of the exit. Signs will direct you to your designated lot, but it may be wise to familiarize yourself with the tournament directions and parking ahead of time. If traveling to Atlanta by air, you will want to plan your trip through Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, which is one of the largest in the world. Another great mode of transportation option to get to the tournament is MARTA, the public transit system of Atlanta. Depending on where you are coming from, transfer to either the Red or Yellow line, exit at the "Arts Center" stop, and board the tournament shuttle which takes you directly to Atlantic Station. While there is a cost to MARTA and the shuttle, it may be well worth it when compared to gas prices and the traffic situation. Be sure to consult the MARTA Map . Once you have arrived at Atlantic Station you will find the grounds to be very pleasant and easily accessible. Restrooms are located on the west side of Stadium Court in temporary buildings and as expected get very crowded between matches, so it is recommended to visit them on changeovers before the matches are over if your bladder permits. The tournament is handicap accessible, with the designated elevator and seating located at the top of the west stands. Return on Investment 5 When taking everything into consideration, this tournament ensures fans a great bang for their buck. Bearing in mind that the tournament annually plays host to multiple top 30 players in the world, and that the prices for this experience are relatively low in all categories (tickets, concessions, souvenirs, and parking). While tickets do have a very wide range in pricing, it is possible to get in the gates for under $10 during certain sessions. As with all tournaments, the prices gradually increase as the tournament continues on towards the championships. Tickets can be purchased online ahead of time, or on the day of at the box office. Extras 3 The Atlanta Open definitely deserves a few extra credit points. Certainly the most important extra point is given due to the fantastic location at Atlantic Station. Not enough praise can be given for the great setting that the area provides for the tournament. Other extraordinary aspects of the tournament include outstanding customer service by representatives located around the grounds, tremendous sightlines, and the wonderful stadium, as most tournaments at this level aren't nearly as nice. Final Thoughts While the Atlanta Open may not be an international tennis destination such as the Grand Slams, it's without a doubt a wonderful little tennis getaway with brilliant on-court action, tasty food and drinks, a relaxed but exciting atmosphere, with a ton of friendly and welcoming people. Top 5 things to make sure you do while at the Atlanta Open at Atlantic Station: • Visit the exhibits around Atlantic Station including the USTA Family Zone • Go to the top of the stands to get the best views of the stadium court and the city in the backdrop • Get autographs after the matches and at the practice courts • Watch a match in each stadium court for a different atmosphere Things to keep in mind when attending the Atlanta Open: • Be sure to pack a small bag to take into the tournament to store your extra-long sleeves, sunscreen (aerosol sunscreen cans are prohibited), and hat since the weather varies (small bags are allowed in the tournament after a brief inspection, of course) • Bring a camera and autograph pen (necessities when your favorite player is on the practice courts)

Photos by Michael Davis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Horner Ballpark 3000 Mountain Creek Pkwy Dallas, TX 75211 Dallas Baptist Patriots website Horner Ballpark website Year Opened: 2013 Capacity: 3,492 Horner Ballpark - A Baseball Gem in DFW Located in Dallas, TX, Joan & Andy Horner Ballpark is home to the Dallas Baptist University Patriots baseball team. The ballpark was designed by well-known architecture firm HKS using the architectural theme of the campus, a Georgian-style facade of dark red brick. The facility has a capacity of 3,492 (including 4 guest boxes) – opened on February 15, 2013, the venue was ranked 20th best stadium in college baseball by D1Baseball.com . Dallas Baptist University recently became a member of Conference USA, with previous membership in the Missouri Valley Conference and the Western Athletic Conference. Horner Ballpark played host to the 2015 Dallas Regional; a record crowd of 3,242 was announced during the regional, as the Patriots defeated the University of Texas 8-1. Horner Ballpark also hosts Dallas area high school playoff games in May.   Food & Beverage   3 There are two concession stands inside Horner Ballpark, one on each of the baselines, which provide basic food and beverages. During my most recent visit, though, only one concession stand was open, so the line was very long. The concessions are limited in selection, but prices are on par with other sporting venues. The highest cost food item is the Patriot nachos, loaded with chili or chopped beef, for $12. Besides the chopped beef sandwich at $9, other items range from $4 to $7 for hot dogs, chili cheese dogs, nachos, candy and pretzels. Beverages at Horner Ballpark consist of Coca-Cola fountain products – a 20oz soda costs $5, while the 32oz souvenir cup is the more economic choice at the same $5, but offers refills for $2. Dasani bottled water is the lowest priced beverage at $3; alcohol is not sold inside the ballpark.   Atmosphere   3 Dallas Baptist University sponsors 15 intercollegiate athletic teams, but baseball is the only sport that competes on the Division 1 level. The majority of baseball games during the season are held on the weekends, with a single game during the week. The ballpark contains four guest suites available for rent (each one has audio broadcast available), a pavilion down the left field line for large groups, and party plazas on both sides of the concourse for medium sized gatherings. Horner Ballpark has an Astroturf infield with only the pitcher's mound having real dirt. The dimensions of the playing field are 330 feet down the lines and 390 feet to straightaway center. The home team's bullpen is behind the left center field fence, which you can see through, while the visitor bullpen is located in the corner of right field, since the visitors use the first base side dugout. The scoreboard in right field is basic with no video replay, and has the old name of Patriot Field across the top. There is a small apparel shop called the Patriot Locker next to the main entrance. The 7th inning stretch is the always "Take Me Out to The Ballgame" with the additional playing of a Texas favorite, Cotton Eyed Joe. The most interesting item at Horner Ballpark is the cannon on top of the hill behind the DBU bullpen – the cannon is fired after each home team home run.  The Regiment, a group of 5 Cannoneers, are in charge of protecting and executing the Order of the Cannon; this shows the spirit of the university namesake and legacy of the American Patriot.   Neighborhood   3 Dallas Baptist University is located 12 miles southwest of downtown Dallas, near the DFW National Cemetery and overlooking Mountain Creek Lake. The campus is within the City of Dallas limits, but the closest activities for food and lodging are in the cities of Grand Prairie and Duncanville – Grand Prairie is located just across Mountain Creek Lake via the toll bridge, while Duncanville is situated just south of campus off Interstate 20. Horner Ballpark is located on campus, so there isn't much nearby if you are looking for food or lodging. Outlaw's BBQ is about 4 miles across the lake in Grand Prairie, just to the right off Beltline, and there are additional fast food restaurants if you continue west on Pioneer Parkway. Although there isn't much around campus, the school is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, which opens up an unlimited number of restaurants, lodging options, and attractions; some of the attractions are the John F. Kennedy Sixth Floor Museum, Dallas World Aquarium, and Perot Museum, to name a few.   Fans   3 Dallas Baptist University is a Christian liberal arts university with 3,400 undergraduates, so the majority of baseball fans are students and relatives. The fans typically wear DBU sporting apparel, and their support is genuine. The schedule is competitive, so you might see fans from TCU , Oklahoma State , and Oklahoma , for example, filling the stands on the visitor side, so the ballpark doesn't feel empty.   Access   3 Horner Ballpark is located on the Dallas Baptist University campus, in a secluded area on the back side behind the student housing. There are two interstates that can be used to reach the school - from the south use Interstate 20 and take Mountain Creek Parkway, while from the north take Interstate 30 to Loop 12 and then onto Mountain Creek Parkway. The main entrance to the university is on Mountain Creek Parkway, but the easiest access to the ballpark is off W. Kiest Blvd / Spur 303, as this way you will avoid having to drive through the hilly campus – for this route use Mountain Creek Parkway or Loop 12 and Spur 408 (from Interstate 20) to the W. Kiest Blvd exit. The first road on the right after The Potter House will lead to the ballpark. Once on campus parking is free; space is limited within the athletics area but you should be able to find a spot. Horner Ballpark does have more than one entrance, but the main entrance is guaranteed to be open and is next to the ticket office. As you walk through the main entrance, the walls on each side show DBU players that went on to a professional career, and the ceiling has the DBU logo with a baseball stitching imprint. The concourses and section portals are narrow but acceptable given the crowd size. There is only one concourse, and all of the seating is below it. At the end of the concourse there are also stairs that take you to left field, the general admission area, or the Patriot Yard in right field.   Return on Investment   5 Single game ticket prices for reserved seating are $12; this represent a high return on investment to see a baseball program that has been one of the top programs in the country over the last five years, along with free parking and reasonably low concessions. I recommend seeing a game at Horner Ballpark if you love baseball or just want a fun-filled day.   Extras   4 Several Dallas Baptist baseball players have gone on to the pro levels of competition, and the school honors them at the entrance of Horner Ballpark. There are also military statues near the entrance, and a cannon on top of the hill that is used for the home team’s home runs, behind the DBU bullpens. During the most recent game I attended there was even a stoppage of play while Taps was being played at nearby Dallas National Cemetery. Horner Ballpark doesn’t have all the amenities of another ballpark; it is just pure baseball.   Final Thoughts Overall the ballpark is a diamond in the rough for the local DFW area baseball fan. The experience provides top notch Division 1 baseball in a quiet setting without large crowds, expensive tickets, nor high-priced concessions. There is so much to do in the DFW area that an out-of-town sports traveler may not have time to pick up a game at Horner Ballpark, but if you make the time you'll find baseball being played at its purest.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey The next time you are on your way to New Castle to watch a basketball game or visit the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, go south off of I-70 and venture a few miles to the town of Spiceland. A place that provides a glimpse of the past and houses one of the state’s classic old-time basketball gymnasiums. The town consists of around 900 people and has a downtown that features a barbershop, library, post office, and city park. A few residences get around town via golf carts, and background noises of kids playing in the distance and dogs barking, along with the delightful aroma of a nearby barbecue, complete the imagery of this small town. I parked in front of the former Wilson’s Market that had been in operation since the start of the last century; they would hand slice their meat and had almost everything the town needed. Spiceland is unique as no other town, city, or township in the country has the same name. The name comes from the abundance of shrubbery that grew in the area known as the spicebush. The first people to settle in town were so taken by the rich land, natural springs, and the fragrant smell of the spicebush. The bushes were spicy and could be chewed or boiled for tea. The name became official in 1838. The plot where the Spiceland Gymnasium used to be adjacent to the Spiceland High School. The school was constructed in 1922 and would graduate its last class in 1969. The school would consolidate with Straughn and Lewisville to form Tri High School the next academic year. However, the three schools would operate as Tri High for the 1968-1969 season and lay at the Church Street Gym in New Castle until construction was completed on its new gym. Basketball dates back to 1903 when Henry County hosted the first game on the second floor of Hoover Hall. The building still exists, and the bottom floor windows hold a cornucopia of school memorabilia from photos, varsity jackets, and senior chords. The room is still open upstairs, but its days of housing basketball games ended a century ago. When a new gymnasium opened in 1919, it contained a boiler to heat the building that was in play. One could only imagine taking a headshot into the hot piece of metal during a game. Thankfully, 1937 plans called for the construction of a modern gymnasium on the same site that could hold anywhere from 1,000 to 1,200 fans. The Public Works Administration awarded contracts to the Stiencamp Construction Company in Batesville for $39,000, Industrial Piping & Heating in Fort Wayne for $5,943, and Sanford Electric Company in Indianapolis for $971 for wiring. A total amount of $27,000 in bonds was placed on sale by the Township Advisory Board as the final step to finance construction. The building was constructed out of brick with a playing floor of 74 by 50 feet. The court had two half-court lines and sparse out-of-bound areas underneath both nets. At one end is a stage that stands a few feet away from the line. Showers and locker rooms were underneath the stands, a small concession stand was at one end, and large windows provided natural lighting on top of each seating section. The gym was built in 8 months and dedicated on November 2, 1937, with a capacity crowd of 900 to watch Spiceland defeat Kennard 30-28. In the preliminary J.V. (or seconds as it read in the newspaper article) game, Kennard toppled the Yellow Jackets 27-16. Almost 84 years later, I was able to walk inside the gymnasium that I had only witnessed from the outside the last few years. The tour was created by Wesley Hammond, South Henry School Corporation Superintendent. He invited Spiceland alum and historian Richard Radcliff to share stories and information about the gymnasium.  The gym had the smell of my grandmother’s attic, still full of belongings that date back to before World War II. Ratcliff believes the red curtain is the original and that the lights used to hang a little lower from the ceiling. He remembers fondly of Friday night games. “It was always full. I don’t care who you were playing; it was always full. The place was hot with so many people in the stands. The kids would go around selling popcorn for five cents. They would move around the building with trays of popcorn; and sodas offered at the concession area. It wasn’t anything fancy back in those days.” Hammond added a few memories of his own as a young child attending games in the building, “What was so cool about games in that kind of gym is that it would be so hot and you would open those windows, and the windows would steam up. If you were playing a day game or in a tournament, the sun glaring off the floor like it would at Hinkle.” The gym would be home to much more than basketball games. Professional wrestling, school plays, dinners, and other civic events would be held at the gym. Even looking at its exterior, it reads both gymnasium and community center. That was the case for similar gyms of this nature scattered throughout the state. “The band played on the stage, all the class plays were up on the stage,” stated Ratcliff. “I go to Tri High games, and I have a grandson who played this year, but I just can’t get convinced to root for the school. I will go to the games, but it’s not the same. My heart belongs to Spiceland, and it always has. I am a diehard, and there are not many people like me left.” The stage is empty and filled with storage behind its thick curtain, the barrel roof has a few water spots, the old concession area is full of equipment, and one has to navigate their way through the visitors’ locker rooms below the stands. The windows have all been boarded up with white panels, and the wooden floor has a distinct creak when walking on it. Despite those flaws, the building is still a treat for the eyes. It doesn’t look like it has changed that much since its opening over eight decades ago. The center court logo still features an S in the old school colors of black and gold, but the padding and seating now have a maroon and grey (Tri Middle School colors). The brickwork from its exterior is visible on the interior walls to provide the WPA look that harkens back vivid memories for some while conjuring up images for fans who never had a chance to watch a game in the old cracker box. The historic Spiceland High School building was razed in 1973 but the gym remained standing for junior high activities, physical education classes, and girl’s sports. A new heating system was added sometime in 1974. The junior high athletic teams would continue to use the gym for many years, even indoor softball hitting and fielding drills. The high school teams would mostly use the old cathedral for practice from time to time. “This gym was the home court of the Tri Titans junior high teams for about 30 years,” added Hammond. The elementary schools would have played games here until the 1990s. A new gym was built on the back of the elementary school with a full-size court and five rows of bleachers. All of the junior games went over there, but the practices have been here off and off since then.” The three of us sat down in the old wooden bleachers and talked for quite some time about the gym. We also discussed everything from old gyms in the state, the pros and cons of consolidation, personal memories from high school games, and even the old-school nickname change. Spiceland sports teams were initially called the Quakers but began using Yellow Jackets after New Year’s in 1925 based on newspaper articles. There was also an amateur basketball team called the Quakers around this time that represented the city. Sometime in the early 1940s, the name Stingers caught on to refer to the basketball team and by the next decade became the popular choice by fans and media. Ratcliff blames the name change on a local sportswriter at the time.  “He didn’t want to write the name Yellow Jackets in print. Morristown High School was also called the Yellow Jackets, and when I walked into that gym last season, it almost made me sad. There was our name, school colors of black and gold, and yellow jacket logo. They are still capitalizing on that name, and we changed it because of that sports writer.” Ratcliff has a collection of material on the gym that he hopes to donate to the Indiana Historical Society. He more than likely has plenty more memories of the gym from its heyday. There are similar kinds of buildings in the state, and reassuring to know that one of them in Spiceland is still being taken care of long after it hosted its last varsity game. They don’t make them like this anymore, but we have them still standing for many of us to visit and explore. “It looks pretty much like it always did, except for the windows and the paint colors, but it looks very good for its age.” ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Richard Smith Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Joseph West Jones College Center 4701 Limestone Rd Wilmington, DE 19808 Goldey-Beacom Lightning website Joseph West Jones College Center website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 1,000 Delaware Lightning Goldey–Beacom College is a private college located in a suburb of Wilmington, Delaware. The college was founded in 1886 as Wilmington Commercial College. A few years later one of the college’s instructors, W.H. Beacom, left to open his school only blocks away. In 1951, the two institutions merged, and in 1974, the college relocated from its downtown Wilmington location to the present suburban Pike Creek campus. Goldey–Beacom offers undergraduate degrees in criminal justice, English, and various areas of business, as well as an MBA and Master in Taxation degrees. The college competes at the NCAA Division II level in all sports as a member of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. Fellow conference teams are located in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Goldey-Beacom’s sports team is named the Lightning. The gym is located inside the Joseph West Jones College Center, which also houses the college’s library, fitness center, cafe, chapel, and bookstore. Food & Beverage 2 There is no specific concession area for Lightning games. The venue does get credit for being in the middle of the college’s student center. Depending on the time and day you attend there may be opportunities to get food from the college cafe. There was also a temporary table set up in the lobby where the softball team was selling hot dogs, sodas, and chips for cheap prices, as a fundraiser for their upcoming Florida trip. I am not sure how often the softball team does this, or if other teams fill in for games. If they are there it is a good place for a cheap snack and the money goes to a worthy cause. Atmosphere 3 This is a medium size gym that is very reminiscent of a high school gym. Because of the small size, it can get loud pretty quickly depending on the game's action. There is a small simple grandstand on the main side of the court. There are no seats on the other side of the court, behind the benches. On that side, there is a small stage that must be used for other activities. Some press seating is using the stage for basketball games. Neighborhood 2 Goldey-Beacom College is in a suburban location and not near any major highways. There is no real town that can be found. That means it will not be an exciting area to visit. Across the street from the campus is the Pike Creek Shopping Center. Inside the shopping center are a grocery store, many stores, and a couple of restaurants. The Ruby Tuesday chain, Valle Cucina Italiana, Tierra Mexi-Cali Grill, and Soybean Asian Grille are some options here. The best local food option is Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza at Pike Creek. They are a local food chain serving charred-crust pies, plus wings, subs & Italian plates in a modern setting. They also have a good tap beer selection. Fans 3 As with most small college gyms, the bulk of the fans tends to be family or friends of both teams. There will be some local fans who just happen to stop by for the game as well. The fans are very knowledgeable and can be quite loud. Student attendance at games will always be an issue as the college has so many commuter students. The campus is very busy with students, even on weekends, so luckily many stop in and out of the games. Access 2 The college suffers from the fact that they are located far from major highways. Delaware State Route 7 runs in front of the campus and goes south towards I-95 and north towards Pennsylvania. The campus itself is small and even though it is a commuter campus, has very few parking spaces. Even on a weekend game parking can get tight. The gym is located as part of the Joseph West Jones College Center and is not a gym from the outside. Return on Investment 4 You are not going to be watching the highest level of basketball competition, but the cost is about the best you can find. That’s right, there is no admission cost. Combine that with free parking, and you have a pretty great night out. Extras 1 It is pretty cool to have a gym in the heart of the student center. Make sure to spend some time checking out the Joseph West Jones College Center and get a feel for this campus. Final Thoughts Goldey-Beacom College has a very nicely designed gym in the Joseph West Jones College Center. The level of competition is fairly low, but with no cost of admission, a sports fan will want to make some time to visit if in the area.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Parade Stadium 400 Kenwood Parkway Minneapolis, MN 55403 Minneapolis Blue Sox website Parade Stadium website Year Opened: 1990 Capacity: 500 A Ballpark with A View Parade Stadium is the home to the Minneapolis Blue Sox baseball club and perhaps offers one of the best views not only in the Twin Cities but in all of Minnesota. The ballpark is located in the Kenwood neighborhood of Minneapolis and adjacent to the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Minneapolis Blue Sox are a townball league and members of the Section 5B Park National division with several other teams from within the city. The ballpark is also used by Augsburg University since 1955. The diamond sits on the grounds of the original Parade Stadium, a 16,560-capacity football stadium that was built with $600,000 in bonds over two years and opened in 1951. It was Minneapolis’s first public football stadium and hosted high school, amateur, collegiate, and professional football games. The NFL preseason games were an annual event that netted huge profits for the stadium from 1951 to 1955, including 20,000 that witnessed Green Bay v. San Francisco during the stadium’s first season. The stadium hosted around 50 games a year and would also be the home during the summertime Aquatennial festivals, midget car racing, circuses, and major concerts that came through the Twin Cities. However, due to complaints of noise and traffic by nearby residents and the cost of maintaining the structure, it needed $250,000 in repairs at one point, the stadium was down to only five events in 1986. With the sculpture park debuting in 1988 and a need to expand it, the decision was made to tear down Parade Stadium in 1990. The price tag was one million dollars for the demolition of the stadium and relocation of the softball field. Today, a simple baseball stadium remains with a million-dollar view of the Minneapolis skyline. Food & Beverage 0 The ballpark does not offer food or drinks during baseball games. Fans are recommended to bring in their concession items. On a nice day with the clear blue skies above and the city skyline in the distance, something from home or a restaurant should suffice. Atmosphere 3 Depending on the weather, the atmosphere is pleasantly charming with gorgeous views of the city skyline and plenty of room to stretch your feet. The majority of home games are played during the summer months at Parade Stadium with around 12 dates per season. The ballpark is very basic and can be classified as a glorified high school stadium, but the views and the adjacent sculpture park are worth the price of admission. The stadium’s structure is quite meager and is slightly higher than a glorified high school field, but its location and views beyond the outfield walls give the place distinction not found in too many other stadiums in the country. Sure, there are skyline views, but based on the ballpark’s structure, it gets swallowed up by the tall skyscrapers and sculpture gardens next door. The layout of the stadium is a simple press box and aluminum bleachers behind the backstop with two sections of aluminum bleachers down the first and third baselines. There is no cover protection. There is nothing fancy about Parade Stadium, but it is an interesting experience given its proximity to the sculpture gardens and the views of the Minneapolis skyline. Neighborhood 5 Parade Stadium is adjacent to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden , one of the must-see destinations in town. Numerous sculptures include Spoonbridge and Cherry, Hahn/Cock, and Love. The park also includes the Walker Art Center and Parade Ice Garden. A few restaurants nearby include Cafe & Bar Lurcat (American cuisine), 4 Bells (Lowcountry-inspired), and Sisyphus Brewing. Downtown Minneapolis is a collection of funky streets, numerous skyways above the streets, and up-and-coming neighborhoods that all seem to converge at Target Center and the neighboring Target Field . A popular place across the street before games is Kieran Irish Pub, the outside patio is a great place to grab a drink if you arrive a tad early before the game. The Depot Tavern is an old bus station turned into a place for cocktails and beers, and Seven Steakhouse Sushi offers rooftop seating and views before or after the game. The funky Hennepin Avenue has a collection of local establishments after the game for drinks and music, but the up-and-coming Warehouse District is just a few blocks away featuring casual seafood restaurant Smack Shack and craft breweries Fulton Brewing Taproom and Inbound BrewCo. Fans 3 The crowd attendance is typical for Midwestern Division III baseball from around 100 to 200. Many of the people in attendance are friends and family of the players out on the field. The focus is on the game on the field and many of the sounds are from the players on the diamond. When it comes to a pure baseball atmosphere, Parade Stadium has what you’re looking for. Access 3 Parade Stadium is easily accessible by car and once inside the simple layout is perfect for an afternoon or an evening of baseball. There is also mass transit that offers bus stops within a 3 to 5-minute walk from the stadium. There is also a parking lot that is shared with the sculpture gardens that costs $4. Return on Investment 4 There is no admission charge for baseball games, but it does cost $4 to park in the adjacent lot via parking meters. A small price to pay for beautiful views and beautiful sculptures to view before or after the game. Extras 3 Parade Stadium offers a stunning view of the Minneapolis skyline, perhaps the best views in the city–or a close second behind Target Field. The Minneapolis Sculpture Gardens are one of the city’s must-see destinations that is adjacent to the baseball stadium. Free admission to the games is a bonus. Final Thoughts Parade Stadium is by no means a perfect stadium and is quite simple in design and atmosphere. However, its location and skyline views of the city make it a hidden gem when visiting the Twin Cities. ------- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel .

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 CBU Events Center 8431 Diana Ave Riverside, CA 92504 California Baptist University men’s basketball website CBU Events Center website Year Opened: 2017 Capacity: 5,050 Lance Up! California Baptist University, one of the largest private Christian schools in southern California, was founded in 1950 in El Monte, California with an enrollment of 42 students. In 1955 the school relocated to its present location in what was then rural Riverside. Today CBU has a total enrollment of over 11,000 students at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels participating in over 80 major programs. Basketball has been played at CBU since 1969, when the Lancers began play at the NAIA level. The school moved up to Division Two in 2010, competing in the Pacific West Conference. They qualified for the NCAA Tournament in five consecutive seasons from 2014-2018, reaching the Elite Eight in 2018. At the conclusion of that season CBU joined Division One and the Western Athletic Conference in all sports. The Lancers will be eligible for postseason tournaments in the 2022-2023 season. The on-campus CBU Events Center opened in 2017 with a construction cost of $73 million. The facility serves as home to the men’s and women’s basketball teams as well as select volleyball and wrestling games. The facility also hosts CBU’s chapel program, orientation activities and commencement ceremonies. Food & Beverage 3 There are three concession stands at CBU Event Center, one at the top of each staircase leading from the lobby and one on the far side of the arena. The menu hits all the expected notes at a smaller facility, with a few surprises thrown in. In addition to arena standards hot dogs, chicken fingers and sausage sandwiches, fans can select a smoked brisket sandwich. Chick-fil-A sells their signature chicken sandwich which can be paired with their waffle fries. The portions of all items are large and the prices reasonable. In addition, every game features a “golden ticket” item which is priced at a discount. Snacks include pretzels, popcorn, nachos and cotton candy. You can load your nachos with beef, cilantro, sour cream, onions and pico de gallo for an additional three dollars. Churros, roasted nuts and caramel corn are also available for fans looking for a snack. Pepsi products are featured at the CBU Events Center. There is no alcohol sold at this on-campus facility. Atmosphere 4 Fans at the CBU Events Center are into the action down on the court and while loud, are very polite and respectful. “Lance Up!” cheers, where fans hold up two fingers with their thumb extended (imagine you are making a gun with your hand and pointing it straight up into the air) happen whenever a Lancers player is at the free throw line. Giveaways, kiss cams, t-shirt tosses and other extracurricular activities keep even the most casual fan involved. A large video board hangs at center court and is put to good use with game action, replays and stats. Ribbon boards that encircle the arena enhance the experience with more stats and sponsor ads. Interestingly, the student section is not located beyond the end lines as in so many other venues, but along the sideline. The student body fills up the three sections along the far side of the arena along with the cheerleaders, dance squad and pep band. The students are active, standing throughout the game to cheer on their team. Neighborhood 3 California Baptist University is located in Riverside, California in the heart of the Inland Empire metropolitan area. Located 55 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Riverside has a population of almost 304,000, making it the twelfth largest city in California. It gets its name from its location on the banks of the Santa Ana River. The CBU campus is located in the Casa Blanca neighborhood just off of route 91. Visiting fans will find many dining and shopping options near the university, including the Galleria at Tyler and the Regal Riverside Plaza. Downtown Riverside contains many options for lodging and dining. The city is the birthplace of the California citrus industry and is home of the Mission Inn, the largest Mission Revival Style building in the United States. For fans looking for other sporting options in the Inland Empire, the UC Riverside Highlanders play just up the road at the Student Recreation Center . The Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League and the Agua Caliente Clippers of the NBA G League both play at the Toyota Arena in nearby Ontario. Of course, greater Los Angeles has no shortage of options, both entertainment and sports related, located just an hour away. Fans 4 Cal Baptist averaged almost 3,100 fans per game in 2018-19 as they continue to transition to Division One. This figure represents over a thirty percent increase over the previous season. The announced crowd for Stadium Journey’s visit was over 4,000. This is clearly a growing program. Anchoring the crowd is a strong student section which fills an entire side of the arena. The rest of the crowd consists of locals, with a strong family presence and lots of younger fans in attendance. Access 4 Cal Baptist is located right off the Riverside Freeway (Route 91) a short drive from Interstate 15 in Riverside, California. Los Angeles is located about 55 miles to the west. Riverside is far enough away from LA that you won’t have to deal with its legendary traffic, but still, give yourself some extra time to arrive, especially on a weekday. Fans using public transportation can take the Riverside Transit Agency’s Route One bus, which has several stops at CBU along Magnolia Street. The Events Center is located on the eastern edge of campus. Visitors will be directed to the parking garage beside the main entrance to the facility. In front of this entrance is a large plaza, complete with a patio and a large statue of Lance astride his steed. After a quick security check, fans enter a nice lobby, where the pro shop is located. Staircases and escalators on either side of the lobby lead up to the main concourse, which encircles the entire seating bowl. This open concourse allows for views of the action from all points. Standing room areas as well as several bar-style seating sections complete with high-top seats and bar rails are located atop the seating bowl. Fans walk down to their seats. All seats are folding, padded stadium seats with excellent views of the court. There is plenty of accessible seating available, as well as four sets of large, clean rest rooms. Return on Investment 5 Tickets for Lancer games start at ten dollars for end zone seats, with sideline tickets costing $15 or $20. Children’s tickets cost $7, while seniors and members of the military are admitted for $5. There is free parking in the garage adjacent to the arena. With inexpensive food options, attending a Lancer game is a most affordable entertainment option for Inland Empire sports fans. Extras 4 An extra point for the lancer statue in the entry plaza. As Nuke LaLoosh would say, it announces its presence with authority. An extra point for the nice drawstring bag that the pro shop gives out with each purchase. An extra point for the banners honoring conference championships and tournament appearances for both the men’s and women’s teams. A final extra point for this attractive campus with the Pueblo Revival-style buildings. The CBU Events Center fits in with its surroundings seamlessly. Final Thoughts At Stadium Journey we often talk about teams playing in a “right sized” facility. Cal Baptist has done their basketball team right by building a 5,000-seat venue right on campus. Featuring a simple design with plenty of modern touches, this hidden gem is an outstanding, affordable place to catch some quality college basketball. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Google Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Coventry Building Society Arena Phoenix Way, Rowleys Green Coventry, England CV6 6GE Coventry City website Coventry Building Society Arena website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 32,753 You won't Sing the Blues at CBS Arena Coventry Building Society Arena, also known as CBS Arena or Coventry City Arena, is a 32,609-seater that includes an exhibition Hall, a hotel, and a casino. The Arena Park Shopping Center contains one of the largest Tesco Extra hypermarkets in the country. The complex has every bit of something for the sports traveler. The stadium opened in 2005 and replaced Highfield Field, which Coventry City called home for over a century from 1889-2006. The new, modern facility is owned and operated by the Wasps Rugby Football Club, which charges rent to City. It makes for an unusual agreement and has resulted in the club playing matches at St. Andrew’s in Birmingham f or the past two years. Sky Blues has been the club's nickname since 1898 but gained popularity in 1962 when manager Jimmy Hill reintroduced it after a 40-year hiatus. The colour has become synonymous with Coventry City, which includes the same seat hue inside the stadium. Food & Beverage 4 The food options are very good at home matches: pies, pasties, hot dogs, hot chocolate, coffee, and tea. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available inside the stadiums, with pies ranging from £2 to £4. The steak and ale pie is filling. Atmosphere 3 The CBS Arena is one of the modern venues in the league, offering four stands that wrap around the field. The West Stand is two-tiered that offers corporate and hospitality suites, a police control box in the corner, and access to the hotel that has a pitch of the views. The South Stand is for away supporters and features a video board. Outside the stadium are spots to check out, including the team shop, the Wall of Fame, and the Jimmy Hill statue. Certain blocks within the stadium stand out from another. It will depend on where you are seated. However, the views are great from the majority of the stadium. Neighborhood 2 There is a large parking lot and a shopping complex outside the facility. There are places nearby to enjoy a pint before the match: The Longford Engine, Parkston Working Men’s Club, The Coach & Tavern, The Foleshill Gas Club, The Bird in Hand, Dhillon’s Brewing, Riley, and The Cherry Tree. The Arches is an English and Indian fusion restaurant/pub worth having a meal at. Nashaa has traditional Indian cuisine, while chain restaurant Nando’s has peri peri chicken and other items. The Anecdote is located at the stadium and is a worthwhile place for Sky Blues fans to get together for something to eat before the game. The DoubleTree by Hilton has 121 rooms and 50 rooms that overlook the pitch at the stadium. Fans 4 The Sky Blues fans have seen a lot in the last few years having the play at home away from home do the contract disputes with the Wasps. It would pressure most fan bases, but they have welcomed the club back to the CBS Arena with open arms. The fans provide an atmosphere that might be among the best in the Championship. Access 5 The stadium is located outside the town center and features various parking lots for easy access by car. The venue is also accessible by train, which has a station nearby. There are copious bus routes that drop fans off near the arena: routes 3 and 5 at the shopping centre and routes 20, 20A, 20B, and 20C. Inside the venue, the concourses are wide and provide services, bathrooms, concession stands, and other information spots within the facility. The fanbase is dedicated to specific areas, while away supporters are safe and sound in the South Stand in sections 6 to 9. Return on Investment 4 The price of a ticket comes in three categories depending on the opponent. The cheapest adult ticket is £20, £25, and £33. Under 18 prices are as follows: £10, £15, and £20. The price of a pie is £3, hot chocolate £2.50, a pint of beer £4, and a programme is £3. The parking lot is £13 and is prepaid. Extras 2 The Jimmy Hill statue and the Wall of Fame are worth posing for photos at the game. The taste of the pies is rather good. Final Thoughts CBS Arena is a very non-descript stadium but offers a few advantages for the atmosphere. While it's located outside the city for easy access by car or train, it doesn't stand out from other venues in the league in terms of aesthetics. Is it worth checking out of the match, Of course? However, it sort of falls in the middle-of-the-road category.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Tempe Diablo Stadium 2200 W Alameda Dr Tempe, AZ 85282 Map It Los Angeles Angels Spring Training website Tempe Diablo Stadium website Year Opened: 1968 Capacity: 9,785 Angels in Tempe Tempe Diablo Stadium is the spring training facility for the Los Angeles Angels, a part of the Cactus League.  The stadium opened in 1969 as the spring training facility for the Seattle Pilots.  It served as the spring training site of the Milwaukee Brewers for a few years and the Seattle Mariners from 1977 – 1992.  It is t he oldest spring training facility in the Cactus League.  The city renovated and expanded the stadium in 1992, just before the Los Angeles Angels residency in the spring of 1993.   Another major expansion occurred in 2006, which focused on increasing the number of practice fields and upgrading the seating.  In 2021, the Angels agreed to play in Tempe through 2035, with options to play there through 2045.  More renovations are in process and expected over the next few years. The stadium is built near the mountain formation known as the Twin Buttes, which makes for an admirable backdrop beyond the left-field corner. Food & Beverage 4 Tempe Diablo Stadium offers plenty of refreshment choices, with the best options down the third base concourse, where carnival-like kiosks sell their fare.  The venue is cashless; all sales are debit/credit card. The infield concourse has what is becoming more standard (but boring) at sports stadiums:  Grab and Go Markets, where fans pick up their beverage cans or bottles and packaged food and pay at a register. The venue has a Right Field Patio down the first baseline concourse.  It has bratwurst, hot dogs, and canned soda and beer for sale.  It also has a cocktail stand. The third base/left field concourse has 8+ concession tents (helmet nachos, freshly squeezed lemonade, margaritas, rice and noodle bowls, grilled teriyaki ($14.50), Chick-fil-A, Karen’s Creamery (ice cream), chicken tenders, cheeseburgers, fries and garlic fries, chicken and veggie wraps ($12.50), wood-fired pizza ($16 - $20), corn dogs ($7 - $13), and mor e.  This is the area to visit for refres hments at Tempe Diablo. Temple Diablo Stadium Third Base Patio, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Vendors selling snacks like lemonade, popcorn, beer, and water roam the seating area, and many sell their fare along the concourse.  Beer choices include Budweiser, Corona, Modelo, 805, Coors Light, and the like, and run $13 - $15.50 plus tax.  Unfortunately, the stadium does not serve local AZ or specialty craft brews anymore.  The left and right field concourse and patio areas have picnic tables for consuming purchased food and drink.  Hot dogs still seem to be the fan favorite. Fans can brin g in a bottle of water and small snacks placed in a clear quart-sized bag. Atmosphere 3 Spring training at Tempe Diablo Stadium provides a few hours of baseball entertainment. Seating consists of one level of green stadium fold-down seats and green bleachers with backs . All seating offers minimal legroom.  The bleachers start just after  first and third base s ections 1 – 4 and 18 – 24.  A grassy berm seating area extend s from the third base and beyond the left field wall.  Fans walk in onto the concourse and go down to their seats.  The rows run A – W, with W the furthest from the field.  Handrails are not available for going up and down the steps.  Thin-thickness nets extend to the end of the dugouts.  Sit in sections 1 – 4 and 18 – 24 to be net-free. Remember to bring sunscreen and a hat.  For afternoon games, the third base side gets the full sun.  Shade is on the first base side and behind home pl ate in the hig h rows (R - W).  One main team store is on-site with an ancillary booth down the third base concourse.  The spring training games offer small sponsor-related promotions and a 50/50 raffle.  Those fit well for these events. A basic dot matrix scoreboard sits in right-center field with the Angels A halo on top.  It displays the line score, the at-bat player’s name, and the Angels player’s previous year’s stats.  The music level and selection are acceptable, though the game-day music person feels the need to blast ‘noise’ between some pitche s, which is annoying.  The PA announcer does a fantastic job of calling the starting lineups (not too fast) and announcing the multiple-player changes that occur during a spring training game.  The music person plays tunes when the PA announces the Angels starting lineup and sponsor-related ads, making it a bit difficult to hear.    Tempe Diablo Stadium Scoreboard, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey My perception is there are a lot of rules and security when attending a spring training game at this stadium.  How to exit the souvenir shop, where to park, and where to stand (or not stand) are al l understandable for t raffic and safety issues, but these rules seem abundant at Tempe Diablo Stadium. A surprising number of armored police with dogs guard the inside and the outside of the venue.  I didn’t think Tempe was a hotbed of criminal activity, but perhaps that has changed.  Neighborhood 3 Tempe Diablo Stadium is located between “The Buttes,” an industrial business park, I-10, and practice fields.  Except for the restaurant on top of the butte (inside the Marriott), restaurants are not really within walking distance.  For places to stay, the Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes is adjacent to the ballpark.  Other lodging nearby not quite as costly (though still exorbitant during spring training) are the H2Suite by Hilton or the Fairfield Inn & Suites across Highway I-10.    Downtown Tempe is just under five miles from the stadium and offers a plethora of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping, nightlife, hotels, cultural events, the ASU campus, and more, and is well worth visiting when in town.  Legoland Discovery Center is two miles away.   Boulders On Broadway is about a 3-mile drive from the stadium and may be worth checking out for craft beer, sandwiches, or burgers before or after a game.   Other sports to see in the area during spring training include Arizona State University (ASU) baseball at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, ASU basketball at Desert Financial Arena , the NBA Phoenix Suns , or any of the other spring training facilities in the area with Sloan Park (Cubs) being the closest.  Fans 3 Many Angels fans travel down from California: Long Beach, Bakersfield, and the like.   Fans vary from families with children to retirees, school groups, or middle-aged buddies who drink too much (maybe that’s why there’s all the security). They cheer on their team and the players well but somehow seem less relaxed and more intense, not as pleased to be there than as fans are at other Cactus League stadiums.   Access 3 Getting to and from Tempe Diablo Stadium isn’t too bad as it is located right off I-10, approximately ten minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.  Check Valley Metro for possible bus routes to the venue. The city has some road construction occurring nearby, so be cognizant of that when driving to the stadium. Two parking lots are on either end of the stadium, costing $10.  Traffic leaving the park can be brutal on well-attended games, so hold on to your patience.  A grand stairway leads up to the park’s main entrance by home plate with two ramps on each side.  A few benches are outside for fans to wait for friends, and the steps provide places to sit.  Gates open 1 ½ hours before the first pitch.  Once inside, the concourse on top of the seating bowl is extremely narrow and crowds easily.  Down each end of the concourse, space opens up a bit.  Fans cannot walk the circumference of the stadium.  Several clean restrooms with diaper-changing tables line the inner concourse. Return on Investment 3 Spring training ticket prices are rising; it’s not the affordable outing it once was.  T icket prices for an Angels spring training game run from $24 (lawn seating) to $67.  Parking is $10, and concessions are on the high end (but similar to other spring training parks in the Cactus League).   Extras 3 Tempe Diablo Stadium has historical posters and plaques posted on the infield concourse columns for intriguing information on Cactus League history and baseball in Tempe, AZ.  The carnivalesque-like third base concession area is worth an extra mention.  The view of the Twin Buttes is eye-catching. Final Thoughts Built in 1968, Tempe Diablo Stadium is the oldest in the Cactus League.  Join the Angels fans and see a game if visiting Arizona in the spring.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Garrison Stadium Hawks Dr Murfreesboro, NC 27855 Chowan Hawks website Garrison Stadium website Capacity: 5,000 D2 Football in Eastern NC Chowan University, pronounced Cha-wan, is located in Murfreesboro, North Carolina – their football team plays at the D2 level of NCAA football, and their sports teams are known as the Hawks. The football team is a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Garrison Stadium was conceived in the 1960s when the athletic department and college administrators teamed up to launch a campaign for a home venue for the football team. The university dedicated the stadium circa 1965 with seating on both sides and a furnished press box. Improvements to the stadium took place in July 2007 which included new lights, perimeter fencing, and upgrades to the Bermuda grass field. The financing was made through donors. The stadium would be renamed to Garrison in December 1987 after long-time athletic director and head football coach, Jim Garrison. He won 150 games during his 27 years as head coach of the Hawks. Food & Beverage 2 Garrison Stadium has 2 concession stands, one a fixed stand underneath the home side, and the other 2 small tents next to the visiting side. The menu is small, but has burgers, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and packaged candy; drinks include water, soda, and Gatorade. There are fewer items sold on the visiting side, but some of the prices are lower on that side (for example, $2 for a hot dog on the visiting side versus $3 on the home side). Atmosphere 2 The atmosphere at Chowan Stadium is okay, but the grass field does lack the sharpness of turf – for example, the logo at midfield and in the end zones are a little scuffed. There are not a ton of fans in the stands, and for some games, there might be more visiting fans than home fans. Also, there is not much going on besides the game itself in terms of entertainment, fan contests, etc., although the PA announcer does have a lot of charisma. Chowan’s band is also very small and sits on the visiting side. Neighborhood 2 Garrison Stadium is located on Chowan’s campus, and there are some fast food restaurants about a mile away along Highway 158. The Jefcoat Museum is the closest tourist attraction and showcases early American history. There is only one hotel near the stadium, but you can find others in the closest town over, Ahoskie. The closest major town, Norfolk, is an hour away. Fans 2 Garrison Stadium doesn’t have a lot of fans, and some games have more visiting fans than home fans. There is a small tailgating scene on what is interestingly called The Grassy Knoll, next to the visiting stands. Chowan’s win-loss record is up and down from year to year, however, so the stadium should have more fans in better years. Access 4 There is free parking right next to the stadium (take Union St to Hawks Dr), and a walking path along the lake that connects the home side and visiting side. You are free to walk around during the game if you want to switch sides or visit the other concessions stand. The major downside in terms of access is simply how far off the beaten path Chowan is, but on the plus side, there is almost no traffic to contend with. Return on Investment 2 Tickets to football games at Garrison Stadium are $11, which is pretty cheap as far as college football goes, and the concessions are inexpensive as well. However, given how few amenities the stadium offers, and the slightly outdated facilities, you may prefer to visit a different stadium for your sports dollar, unless your favorite team is playing here that day. Extras 3 There is a football center behind one end zone which some fans watch from, and a big tent for the boosters behind one corner of the stadium. Even though there may not be many fans in the stands, it is nice to see a good group of financial and alumni supporters. There are also fountains and a bridge across the lake, along with ducks and geese if you would like to do some bird-watching/nature walking while at the game.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Acrisure Arena 75702 Varner Rd Palm Desert, CA 92211 Coachella Valley Firebirds website Acrisure Arena website Year Opened: 2022 Capacity: 9,918 Fire & Ice The Coachella Valley Firebirds are a brand-new member of the AHL (American Hockey League), beginning play in the fall of 2022. They are an affiliate of the NHL team, the Seattle Kraken. Coachella Valley, also known as Greater Palm Springs, is in the gorgeous south central part of California. The Firebirds organization broke ground on a new arena, Acrisure Arena, on June 2, 2021, with the first hockey game played on Dec 14, 2022. As with any new stadium, some things still need to be worked out. Overall, a good time is had at a hockey game here. There’s no history yet except the development of the team and the arena, but that will come in time. Acrisure Arena is used for concerts and other forms of entertainment. The Firebirds practice facility, the Berger Foundation Iceplex, is adjacent to the ice rink. The Iceplex also serves the community with public skating, tournaments, and junior leagues. Food & Beverage 5 Acrisure Arena provides an admirable selection of eats and drinks both outside and inside the venue. Yes, outside. The arena has an outdoor food plaza with an extensive variety of concessions. All food and drink purchased at the outdoor plaza can be brought inside the arena. It has its own security entrance. The outdoor food plaza is quite impressive. The foods are prepackaged and beverages are in cans or boxes. This is a different service model: customers select their prepackaged foods or canned drinks, self-checkout, and then leave. Concession choices include: Big Chicken with three different chicken sandwiches at $16 Pronto Pizza by Giada sells sausage & pepper pizza, Margherita pizza ($14), and Caesar’s pasta salad for $14 Tanner’s Prime Burgers with several varieties of smashburgers ($14 - $18). Their beef tallow fries are $7.50. Koko’s Bavarian offers hot dogs, sausages, and kielbasas ($9 - $14) Valley Yucca Bar El Cristiano Tequila Buzzbox (a local company) sells cocktails in a box And more… The only thing missing is countertops or rails to place your food while eating. The arena has several bars and marketplaces inside as well, including Milagro Tequila Bar, Garrison Bourbon Bar, Buzzbox Bar, Michelob Ultra Bar, Fisherman’s Market and Grill (poutine to fish n’ chips range $9.95 - $17.95), and Grab and Go Market. Some concession carts line the concourse selling snacks like lemonade, pretzels, and kettle corn. Only the upstairs VIP section serves fresh food and dinners. Fans with second level tickets have access to this area. Atmosphere 4 Acrisure Arena is a good-sized venue for AHL hockey. It is one of only a few that has its separate practice rink built adjacent to the one used on game day. It has two levels of seating with sufficient legroom. The second level has the VIP section and suites. If you’re there to watch the game, we don’t recommend sitting in DR (drink rail) seats as they have limited views. The head of the person sitting in the row in front of you blocks the view of the ice. If you’re there more for the social aspect, these are fine. Sections 111-112 and 116-117 at the scoreboard end of the ice face other seating sections, not the ice, and are not recommended. An impressive video scoreboard hangs on one end of the rink. It is crisp and clear and is easy to see and read. It is not center hung which fits the arena perfectly allowing a much-welcomed open view of the interior. Unfortunately, the scoreboard doesn’t post the penalty player's name and infraction and fans can’t hear those announcements well. Closed captioning is not provided. Ribbon boards show the scoring results and advertisements. Acrisure Arena Scoreboard, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The concourses are narrower than I expected in a new arena. The team, still new, draws a full house crowd so it can get congested. The music volume is fine; a little bit on the loud side. The announcer is hard to understand at times. It can get chilly. We recommend wearing layers. Neighborhood 3 The arena is off I-10 with no restaurants, hotels, or shops within walking distance. It is next to the Classic Club Golf Course. Several places to eat, drink, and stay are within two miles of Acrisure Arena. LaQuinta Brewery (74717 Technology Dr) is a good place for a bite to eat and a local brew pregame. A Fairfield Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and a Hampton Inn are just down and across the highway. The Greater Palm Springs area is a golf haven, is known for its music festivals, and has fantastic weather year-round. Be sure to visit The Living Desert Zoo (an educational and intriguing day out) or Joshua Tree National Park. The park is about an hour’s drive away and well worth it. The closest other sport is about an hour’s drive to UC Riverside – the Highlanders basketball, baseball, or volleyball teams may be playing when in town. The Honda Center, where the NHL Anaheim Ducks play, is 100 miles from Coachella Valley. Fans 3 Sports fans in Greater Palm Springs are so thrilled to have a sports team in their neighborhood. A majority are already sporting the Firebirds jerseys, caps, and shirts. The team has only played a few games at home so far yet attendance records have the arena packed. Access 3 The arena is right off I-10 between the Cook St and Washington St exits. Three thousand parking spots are available at a hefty price ($20 - $30+). The organization suggests purchasing your parking beforehand via ParkWhiz (to save a few bucks); otherwise, you have to scan a QR code on a light pole and purchase it on site. This, too, is different. Acrisure Arena QR Code Parking, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The arena provides a helpful separate ride share drop off/pick up area. The closest airport is Palm Springs International (PSP) a little over 12 miles away. From the airport, it takes about two hours via public transportation to get to the arena, which includes a 2-mile walk from the closest bus stop in Desert Palms to the arena. So, public transportation is doable but not practical. The main entrance to the arena is on the northeast side. The box office is there and that area has a lovely wide open space with plenty of benches to sit and wait for the gates to open or for late-arriving friends to show up. Going through security is slow but uneventful. Clear 12” x 6” x 12” stadium bags are allowed. Once inside, the concourse is a tad on the narrow side. Only one elevator is available to get up to the second level (unless you’re VIP). Signage for elevators is non-existent. This is one of the kinks that needs to be addressed. Return on Investment 2 Ticket prices are too high for an AHL team. They range from $19 to $125 (and then some for the VIP level). The $19 seats are at the end and face another seating section; not the ice. These are not recommended if you want to watch the game, but to just get into the arena. And, tack on Ticketmaster fees to these prices. Center ice tickets are about $85 - j ust way too high for AHL hockey. The team does offer 6 or 12 pack flex plan tickets which are a little more affordable if you plan on attending several games a season. Parking is $26 - $30. A gain, much too expensive for an AHL game. Prepay for your parking to save a few dollars. The team has plenty of promos and giveaways throughout the season, so be on the lookout for those. . Extras 4 A few things are worth noting again. The massive video scoreboard in the end zone is remarkable. The outdoor plaza and outdoor food court are worth another mention. Having plenty of benches outside the arena is a well thought out design. The owners and organization did a fantastic job at marketing and sharing information with the residents about the arena and team. Final Thoughts The Firebirds organization promoted the team and arena for several years in Coachella Valley. The team already has 4,000 season ticket holders (full or partial). The results are in and local sports fans are happy to have an arena and a team in their back yard. As with any new stadium, kinks and quirks need to be worked out but it’s a fun time. Just expect to spend a pretty penny when visiting a Firebirds game.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Centre Air Creebec 810 Avenue 6E Val-d’Or, Québec J9P 1B4 Val D’Or Foreurs website Centre Air Creebec website Year Opened: 1949 Capacity: 2,140 Le pot d’or au nord du Québec With a population of 31,000, the City of Val-d’Or is one of the smallest centres in the entire Canadian Hockey League. However, the Val-d’Or Foreurs of the QMJHL are a throwback experience and almost bring hockey back to a pure state. It took 16 long years for Junior Hockey at the highest level to be brought to the “Valley of Gold.” However, it was in 1993 when local builder Jean-Claude Babin secured a QMJHL franchise that would be owned by local shareholders, including G4 Drilling CEO Daniel Gamache. Earning President’s Cups as QMJHL Champions in 1998, 2001 and 2014, the Foreurs have had a fair amount of success. There have also been a number of NHL players who have worn the green and gold, including Anthony Martha, Antoine Bibeau, Kris Letang, Brad Marchand, J.P. Dumont, Steve Begin and Roberto Luongo. Home for the Foreurs is the city owned Centre Air Creebec. Formerly the Palais des Sports, Centre Air Creebec has been around since 1949 and boasts the smallest capacity in the Q with a mere 2,140. However, what is lost in modern amenities and a large capacity is made up for with what is definitely a small town, old school hockey barn which just oozes charisma. Food & Beverage 4 After first entering Centre Air Creebec, fans will get a certain impression of the venue. Upon venturing into one of the concession areas just off of the concourse fans will be pleasantly surprised by the concession options. Immediately looking at the menu, with a little translation from French, it is clear that Centre Air Creebec is a busy arena and used by more than just the Foreurs. All of the expected arena items can be found including popcorn ($3.25), nachos, hot dogs ($3), pizza ($4.75), and fries. There is also a full breakfast menu which is clearly for those early morning minor hockey practices. Easily the most popular food item on the menu is the Québécois staple, poutine. Beverages available include a wide variety of juices, water, coffee, tea and cappuccino. Soda options are Pepsi products ($2.75). Practically a full bar is also available including rum, wine, vodka and other mixes. Beer options include Budweiser, Molson Export and Molson Canadian ($7.50). Overall a very surprising array of concessions are available. Atmosphere 4 For fans looking for a modern hockey experience, Centre Air Creebec is not that. It is most definitely a small town, throwback hockey barn. Built in 1949, at one time Centre Air Creebec was slightly modernized with a few additions. The main building is the typical rectangular building with the peaked roof. The front of the building, which is on the south side, has a more modern addition with glass. The addition houses some of the expanded seating at the south side as well as giving the arena a clear and attractive entrance. It is probably the only part of the building not covered with what seems to be the Northern Quebec staple building material, aluminum siding. After entering and heading up the stairs to the main entry to the arena, fans are immediately struck with sensory overload. Centre Air Creebec is an old school throwback, which with a paltry capacity of 2,140, probably should not be used for Major Junior hockey. The long, barn-like structure complete with the peaked ceiling is obvious. The ceiling is covered with the old school, silver insulation found in local hockey arenas all over the place. The main concourses are behind the seating area and offer a 360 degree path around the arena in full view of the ice. The concourse features Foreurs team photos from each year back to their inception in 1993 as well as some trivia pages to keep fans interested. A huge mural for the 2014 Foreurs who lost in the Memorial Cup Semi-Final in triple overtime to the eventual champion Edmonton Oil Kings is a spot to see and features Anthony Mantha and Antoine Bibeau. Above the ice level there are a number of banners. The retired numbers of former Foreurs Stephane Roy, Steve Begin, J.P. Dumont, Simon Gamache and Roberto Luongo are joined by the number 93 representing builder Jean-Claude Babin. Also, seven banners hang together commemorating three Coupe du Président as well as Conference and Division championships. Minor hockey banners also hang from the rafters helping with the real community feel of Centre Air Creebec. Capacity is made up of six rows of plastic arena seats. The south end of the arena has more rows, no doubt to raise capacity. The video board has seen better days. The six sided board has three decent, yet outdated video boards and three traditional scoreboards. A horseshoe of hanging corporate boxes dot the perimeter of the arena yet still feature aluminum siding. The game day experience in Val-d’Or is fairly simple. The traditional video packages and music drive the production. However, there are no modern pyrotechnics, lighting, lasers or projections on the ice. Truthfully, any of these things would just not fit as part of Centre Air Creebec. The Foreurs mascot, Dynamit, travels through the arena interacting with fans. Neighbourhood 4 Not being a huge city, the neighbourhood surrounding Centre Air Creebec is a little suspect. However, Val-d’Or does offer a cute downtown which is a few blocks from the arena and although there are not an overwhelming number of food and entertainment options, there are enough to keep fans satisfied. Centre Air Creebec is located south of the main highways 117 and 397 on Avenue 6e (6th Ave). Pre and post game fare is best found on Avenue 3e. Pacini, Habaneros Grill Mexicain and Tim Hortons are all close. Mikes and Valentine are solid options. Valentine specializes in Québécois staples like Montreal Smoked Meat and Poutine. There are not a ton of other entertainment options in Val-d’Or due to its small size. However, it offers a ton of winter outdoor activity options. Snowmobiling and ice fishing are very popular in the area. Being the mining town that Val-d’Or is, a trip to La Cite de l’Or for the mine tour may be something to do. For fans looking to stay over in Val-d’Or, the Hotel Continental and Quality Inn and Suites are solid options that are close to Centre Air Creebec. Fans 3 It is difficult to assess fans of the Foreurs. The sheer numbers don’t flatter the locals. Attendance has been shrinking. The Foreurs averaged over 2,000 fans for the 2016 season but then fell to 1,700 in 2017 and 1,600 in 2018. The Foreurs were ranked 16th in 2016 and last (18th) in 2017 and 2018. Capacity at Centre Air Creebec is small, but the locals are not filling the place and are a little more fair weather than expected. The fans in attendance, however, are solidly into the action that is on the ice. Foreurs fans are more than happy to get on the referee’s case when a call is missed and are loud when the Foreurs put one in the net. However, when the visitors score, it is nearly silent. Access 3 Getting to Centre Air Creebec is not difficult at all. Located south of the main highways, 397 and the Trans-Canada Highway, highway 117, Centre Air Creebec is situated north of downtown Val-d’Or. There are free municipal parking lots around the arena. For fans who want public transit, there are buses available that stop near Centre Air Creebec. Check out the Taxibus website for fares, maps and schedules. The main ticketing windows are in the main entry on the south side of the arena on the right. The entry is not huge and can easily get congested. As to be expected with an arena built in 1949, there is not a ton of space and getting around can be a bit of a challenge. Washroom facilities are also on the cramped side. Return on Investment 5 QMJHL hockey is an absolutely fantastic value. Most spots are more economical than even their sister league in Ontario, the OHL. Foreurs tickets are $19.75 for adults and there are significant discounts for students, children and seniors. Parking is free and concession prices are good also. The product on the ice is top notch as well. The Q tends to feature smaller players than the OHL which tends to lead to a faster, more high scoring game. Combine the on ice product with a throwback, classic barn experience and it can’t get much better than the Valley of Gold Extras 4 An extra mark for the early birds who can catch the players doing their dry land warm ups in the concourse before the game. An extra mark for fan appreciation day with balloons, prizes, games, celebrations and the best attended game of the year. Great time to review the Foreurs. An extra mark for that community feel with minor hockey banners all over Centre Air Creebec. An extra mark for the heated rivalry between the Foreurs and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Those games are the ones to see if possible. Final Thoughts When travelling to Northern Québec, fans should want to get the true feel of the Québécois culture in the north. A trip to see Les Foreurs de Val-d’Or is an absolute must. An old school hockey experience in a gem of a building, the Foreurs will provide a great evening’s entertainment at a cost that will shock fans with how affordable it is. It is truly the pot of gold in Northern Québec! Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Colisee Financiere Sun Life 111 2e Rue Ouest Rimouski, QC G5L 4X3 Rimouski Oceanic website Colisee Financiere Sun Life website Year Opened: 1966 Capacity: 5,062 Le plus jeune propriétaire dans les sports For those people who feel that they have done a lot in their young lives, the example of the Rimouski Océanic is presented here. The Océanic are one of the rock solid franchises in the Québec Major Junior Hockey League. They have won the President’s Cup as league champions in 2000, 2005 and 2015 and even won the penultimate Memorial Cup, as Canadian Hockey League Champions in 2000. Rimouski has been home to such NHL stars as Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier and some guy named Sidney Crosby. In 2009, Rimouski hosted the Memorial Cup tournament. All of this since they moved near the Gaspé region of Québec in 1995 and they are currently owned by Alexandre Tanguay … who is in his twenties. The Rimouski Océanic were originally the Sherbrooke Castors in 1969. In 1982 they moved to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. The move to Rimouski was facilitated by former owner and furniture magnate Maurice Tanguay. In 2016, Maurice would transfer his ownership stake to his grandson Alexandre at age 23. The younger Tanguay has a prominent role in the day to day operations of the team, which provides one of the best experiences in the entire QMJHL. Home for the Océanic is the Colisée Financière Sun Life, which was built in 1966 and formerly known as the Colisée de Rimouski. The city owned Colisée, like many QMJHL venues, is a classic barn-like venue which has received significant upgrades to bring it up to Major Junior hockey standards. The Colisée is a pleasant surprise and the Océanic experience is one that will rival any other in the QMJHL. Food & Beverage 3 Concessions at Colisée Financière Sun Life are fairly average. There is not a ton of space in the arena. There are three small concessions in the corners on the ice level. There are also three main concessions in the concourses. All of the expected items are available, including pogos, chicken fingers, chicken wings, hot dogs ($3), burgers, fries, cotton candy, chocolate and popcorn ($4.50). Of course, it just wouldn’t be Québec without poutine. A variety of different poutines are for sale in the concourse concessions. Coca-Cola products are the soft drink of choice. Atmosphere 4 Built in 1966 with a capacity of over 5,000, Colisée Financière Sun Life is a perfect venue for a QMJHL team in a community like Rimouski. The barn-like structure is common throughout the league and is slightly modified in Rimouski. The roof is a little flatter and the original capacity is a little larger than some of the smaller rinks that required modification. However, the exterior shows that the Colisée was modified to add a main entrance, which is on the north side of the building. The front exterior is sharp, with lots of glass and a huge Océanic logo. The First Nations artwork in front of the arena gives it a very unique feel, with some local flavour. Inside the main atrium, the Océanic honour their tradition of producing some of the best NHL players with pictures on the doors of Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards and of course, Sidney Crosby. The seating bowl is a healthy mix of old and new. The rafters are classic hardwood and give the arena that old-school feel to it. Sight lines around the rink are fantastic. Three sections around centre ice are for club seating, while the rest of the arena features comfortable, modern seats. The rink runs from north to south and the perfect spot for the centre ice picture is from the east side of the building. In the rafters a number of banners hang, showcasing the great tradition of Océanic hockey. Banners for the on ice success for Rimouski hang proudly, including three Trophée Jean-Rougeau and three Coupe du Président banners join the ultimate honour, the 2000 Memorial Cup Champions banner. There is also a banner that honours the 28 game undefeated streak to begin the 2004 season. Two different types of banners hang in the rafters to honour players. The Océanic have retired the numbers of Jonathan Beaulieu, Michel Oulette, Allan Sirois, Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier. They join the banner for former owner Maurice Tanguay who has won it all with the Océanic. On the other side of the arena there are banners honouring Alain Côté, Louis Sleigher, Serge Bernier and Donald Dufresne. All are products of the Gaspé area and the Rimouski minor hockey system. It is just a matter of time until Sidney Crosby’s number 87 is also retired in Rimouski. The game day production is about what you would expect from a QMJHL experience. The Océanic use modern lighting on the ice and LED lights to modernize the production a bit. The PA system is quite good and clear and the video board is perfect for the size of the arena. Everything in the arena is loud, especially the ship horn which signifies an Océanic goal. The Océanic mascot, a seal named Loucky, participates on the ice, in the pregame festivities and makes his way through the stands, interacting with fans during the game. Neighbourhood 3 Rimouski is located right on the south shore on the St. Lawrence River. The city is quite picturesque at the waterfront. The arena is not located in a downtown area and there are only a couple of spots available for a pre or post game meal. St. Hubert is a Québec staple and probably a spot that needs trying when in the province. Another spot worth trying is Rétro 50, an old school, fifties style diner. For fans looking for other things to do in Rimouski, any of the traditional Québec outdoor winter activities are prevalent in the Gaspé area. These would include skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Spots in the city that are interesting include a tour of the HMCS Onondaga or the Point-au-Père Lighthouse. As far as sporting options, there are not too many others in the area. There are some athletic teams that play at the UQAR, but that is about it. Fans wishing to stay in the Rimouski area will probably want to head towards the waterfront. Hôtel Le Navigateur and Hôtels Gouverneur Rimouski are decent options for accommodations. Fans 4 The fan situation in Rimouski is curious. On first glance of the numbers, it seems that there is significant room for improvement. In the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seasons, the Océanic have averaged approximately 3,300 fans per game. This is well below capacity and places them 5th or 6th in the QMJHL. This is just above the mid-point for the small league. However, the game that was reviewed was a different story. A near capacity crowd was loud and proud throughout the game and noisemakers were definitely part of the equation. Perhaps with the playoffs around the corner and the Océanic poised for a decent run, the fans had made a surge and bumped their mark up. Access 3 The Colisée is located in the middle of Rimouski, south of highway 132, east of highway 232 and north of Autoroute 20. Getting to the arena is not difficult at all, given the relatively small size of the city. Parking is free in the Colisée parking lot. There are some public transit options that will require more research. Fans should check out the Ville de Rimouski website for more details on Taxibus and Citébus. The ticketing and main gate area are located in the north side atrium. There is plenty of space available and fans will not have to worry too much about lineups. That being said, getting around the arena can be very difficult. Concourses are extremely narrow and the concessions that are at ice level make getting around almost impossible during an intermission. Return on Investment 5 QMJHL hockey provides a return on investment that is second to none and Rimouski is a shining example. Tickets for the Océanic are extremely affordable with adult tickets going for $16.50 and club seats priced at $19. There are also discounts for students, seniors and children. Parking is free and concession prices are decent. The product on the ice is very strong. With such a small investment, bringing the entire family out to the game is a real possibility without having to drop a mortgage payment on the affair. Extras 4 An extra mark for the Océanic’s ability to groom some of the NHL’s best ever. Crosby, Richards and Lecavalier headline the list of former Rimouski players and all have won a Stanley Cup. An extra mark for the Océanic’s rivalry with the Québec Remparts. An extra mark for the brilliant job of blending the old with the new in the Colisée. An extra mark for breaking the mold and having the youngest owner going. Final Thoughts Having passed off the Rimouski Océanic to his grandson Alexandre Tanguay, Maurice Tanguay must be proud of how his team has continued. The Océanic continue to be a solid franchise in the QMJHL and have continued to enjoy success on and off the ice. They are truly one of the best experiences in the league and worth the trip to the south shore area. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on Twitter @profan9 and on Instagram .

Photos by Stephan Hoogerwaard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.57 Signal Iduna Park Strobelallee 50, 44139 Dortmund, Germany Borussia Dortmund website Signal Iduna Park website Year Opened: 1974 Capacity: 81,360 Germany’s Big House The Signal Iduna Park is the largest soccer (football) stadium in Germany which seats 81,360 spectators. Opened in 1974 as Westfalen Stadium it is the home of the football club Borussia Dortmund. Before that time Borussia Dortmund played their home matches in the Stadion Rote Erde (which means ‘red soil’). This outdated stadium became quickly too small for the growing number of spectators of the club in the sixties (fortunately the old stadium is still there and lies next to the east stand of the Signal Iduna Park). Initially, there was not enough money for a new stadium, but because the city of Dortmund was designated as one of the host cities for the World Cup in 1974, the funding did come around. The stadium was completed in 1974 and was named Westfalen Stadium (named after the state of North Rhine-Westphalia). On the 2nd of April of that year, the stadium opened with a friendly match between Borussia Dortmund and their big rivals FC Schalke’04. At the time of the opening, it could hold 54,000 spectators (17,000 seats and 37,000 standing). During the 1974 World Cup, the Westfalen Stadion hosted three first-round group matches and the second-round group match Holland vs. Brazil 2-0. Several years later the north stand was converted into an all-seater stand leaving only 42,800 places remaining inside the stadium. In the mid 90’s there was the beginning of several conversions of existing stands; by adding extra tiers to these stands there were more places created. In 1997 the capacity of the Westfalen Stadion was 68,800. The most recent renovation began in 2002 when the four corners of the stadium were closed for the approaching World Cup in 2006. At that time the stadium held just over 82,000 places. On the 1st of December 2005, the Westfalen Stadium was renamed Signal Iduna Park. The insurance company Signal Iduna connected its name to the stadium in return for providing financial support to Borussia Dortmund. In 2006, Signal Iduna Park was one of the playing venues of the World Cup 2006 which was held in Germany. During the tournament, the stadium was converted to an all-seater stadium, which temporarily brought back the capacity to 67,000 seats. During the tournament, the stadium hosted four group matches, one round-of-16 match and the semi-final between Germany and Italy. After some small adjustments in the 2010-2011 season, the current stadium capacity is 81,360 spectators. We visited the Supercup 2017 match between German giants Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München (2-2). Bayern lifted the trophy after a penalty shoot-out. Food & Beverage 4 Besides a large variety of bratwurst, hamburgers, and pizza slices at one of the many counters inside the stadium, there is also a large choice of drinks. Lucky us, because at the match of this review, it was over 30 degrees Celsius this day. A cup of 0,3 litre tea or coffee cost € 2,70 and half a litre of still water is sold for € 3,20. All sodas are sold in one size (0,5 litre), for a Fanta or Coca-Cola you pay € 3,50. One plus and one minus about the drinks, usually in German stadiums you have to pay a deposit for the cup in which your drink is served. But at this special match, there was no deposit needed. Unfortunately, there was no beer available inside the ground, we could only buy half a litre of Brinkhoff’s light beer for € 3,70. That was a bummer. Atmosphere 5 Well, what can I say, the atmosphere during this big match was great. The stadium was packed to the rafters. The Dortmund supporters were very vocal on this day. Maybe they were fired up by their early lead as US-star player Christian Pulisic scored the first goal of the match for Dortmund. The Süd-tribune (known as ‘Gelbe Wand’ or Yellow Wall) is impressive; it has room for 25,000 standing places…the largest of its kind in Europe. Neighborhood 4 The stadium is located 4 kilometres south of the city of Dortmund next to the Westfalenhalle (a large indoor arena and conference centre). Just a short 100 metres behind the north stand there is a pedestrian overpass across the motorway E40 which brings you to a good residential area (Kreuzviertel). Here you can find a lot of pubs and good restaurants. We can recommend restaurant Mongo’s in the Lindemannstrasse, which is less than a 10-minute walk from the stadium. Fans 5 Bayern München brought over 5,500 supporters to this first match of the season. Before the match, both home and away fans mingled and met in the various ‘beirgartens’ around the stadium. Inside the stadium, the away fans are housed in the northeast corner of the stadium (seated) and on the lower tier of the north stand (standing). The most fanatic home supporters are located in the Süd-tribune (south stand). Access 5 The Signal Iduna Park is located 4 kilometres from Dortmund’s city centre. Arrive by car at the stadium early to park at the Wittekindstrasse (following Motorway E40 from the west). From here it is a 10-minute walk to the stadium. In the suburbs surrounding the stadium, there is street parking everywhere. When you decide to travel from the city centre to the stadium, you can go to Signal Iduna Park by train or by U-Bahn (metro). There is a U-Bahn stop called Westfallenhalle which is closest to the stadium. Return on Investment 4 We paid € 43, each for tickets which is in my opinion quite expensive for 90 minutes of soccer. The tickets for this big fixture varied from € 15,60 for a standing place at the Süd-tribune to € 69, for a seat on the halfway line at the West stand. For this match, one could also buy business-seat tickets, but they were sold for € 350, each; this was way beyond our budget. Extras 5 The tickets for the football match can be used as public transport tickets as well, up to three hours before and after the match you can travel for free by tram, bus or metro to the stadium. There is a brand new fan shop on the corner of the North and East Stand where you can buy almost everything you can imagine in the club colours. The Süd-tribune is unique. During match days the Borussia fans are all dressed in yellow shirts (the club colours of Borussia Dortmund, yellow shirt, black jersey). That is an impressive sight! Final Thoughts Borussia Dortmund has the largest stadium in Germany and is always sold out. If you want to experience the true German football culture then the Signal Iduna Park is the place to be, you can find it all here!

Photos by Adam Pate, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 NSC Olympiyskiy Velyka Vasylkivska St, 55 Kyiv, 02000, Ukraine FC Dynamo Kyiv website NSC Olympiyskiy website Year Opened: 1923 Capacity: 70,050 NSC Olympiyskiy The NSC Olympiyskiy, located in the heart of downtown Kyiv, is Ukraine’s pinnacle of stadium experiences. Excellent facilities allow over 70,000 fans to pack in to enjoy their match days. Since the reopening in 2012, the stadium has held both the final of the Champions League in 2018 and the Euro Champs of 2012, placing it at the forefront of European football. Food & Beverage 4 The food and beverage options at the Olympiyskiy varies vastly depending on which match day you are attending. Sitting in the VIP section for a big final, offerings are abundant. A quiet league in the main stand and bringing your snacks is preferable. When sitting in the VIP area, there is a hot buffet with various sausages and potatoes available and a popcorn seller for the children. Lines move quickly there but slow down when in the main stands. Depending on the attendance, there will be several food outlets around the main concourse, with similar food. Credit cards can be used as well as cash. Alcohol is available in the VIP section only at Olympiyskiy for visitors. There is a full bar, with spirits and a wine list, so it is advantageous to arrive early. In the main areas, there are several soft drink options as well as alcohol-free beer. It is worth paying the extra money to visit the VIP section; tasty sausages await those who dare. Otherwise, many restaurants around the ground offer other eating options pre-game. Atmosphere 4 With a full crowd, the NSC Olympiyskiy will provide an experience on a par with all the other great stadia of Europe. It is a testament to the building prowess of the 21st century. Sadly, Ukrainian football fails to fill even half the ground for even the biggest match. The two-tier bowl is reminiscent of many other stadiums around Europe, with the primary side of the ground reserved for VIP visitors and journalists. The speaker system is pumped full volume before the game, with the Dynamo anthem played and the National anthem sung. The concourse runs around the ground, with the visiting section fenced off for protection. Nevertheless, it is feasible to mix with many supporters during the game. The second tier is accessible via escalator and staircase, while extensive toilet facilities are available underground. The modern scoreboard keeps fans engaged with the game while offering highlights of key action moments. The PA announcer is quite happy to share positive news throughout a Dynamo Kyiv game at the stadium. He likes to get the crowd involved at all times. There is a quite professional-looking organization for the pre-game flag-waving. Sadly, though, the club goes a little further than that at the moment. The main Ultra groups sit behind the goal, so best to head there for the atmosphere. They prefer the goal nearer to the city centre. Each section has its own price range, but there are few checks to view the game from many locations. The VIP seats have additional padding and a beer cup holder – a bonus. All places have a great view of the pitch despite the running track getting in the way. Neighborhood 5 The NSC Olympiyskyi is the beating heart of downtown Kyiv. Located within a five-minute walk from the main thoroughfare, it is served by all the amenities of a global city. Arena City, just a few hundred metres from the ground, is host to many restaurants and a popular meeting place for tourists. Closer to the ground, Dogs and Tails provides tasty hot dogs while Pervak can give a more traditional experience. The Just Beer Bar and BelleVue offer delicious drinks to get ready for the game. Milk Bar is a trendy breakfast hangout for those needing a next day cure for their hangovers. With Kolos Kovlivka and Olimpik Donetsk using Kyiv as its base this year (2020), you will not be short of teams to visit in the city during football season. In warmer weather, enjoy strolling down the main street or take a trip to the city’s beaches. Around the stadium, there are endless coffee shops to pass the time in. For cultural vultures, the city hosts numerous museums and art galleries, all walkable from the complex. Hotel’s Rus, President, and Aloft are all within a few hundred metres of the ground and offer international level facilities. They are worth considering for a visit. On the other hand, there are numerous apartments to rent in central locations for a weekend via Air BnB. Being the capital city of Ukraine, the choice is endless. Fans 4 NSC Olympiyskyi is home to Dynamo Kyiv, followed by some of the most loyal fans in European football. The Ultra section will sing throughout the game, with other fans joining in intermittently. Dynamo’s home average of over 14,000 people is the highest in the league despite supporters being banned for the first game of the year. Sadly though, this number does get lost in a stadium as large as NSC Olympiyskyi. For bigger games against Shakhtar or European nights, the stadium can reach over 50% capacity and gets incredibly noisy. Avoid Sectors 41-45 if you are not a fan of loud noises, plenty of fireworks are set off in that part of the ground. Pre-game, the Dynamo song is played to get fans in the mood for the game, and the Ultra sectors start preparing their banners for the fan entrance. Throughout the match, there is a cacophony of noise from these Sectors, with the leaders responsible for keeping the sound going throughout the game. It is noticeably more engaging than other stadiums around the country. Access 5 NSC Olympiyskyi is one of the easiest grounds to visit in Europe. Numerous access points and ease makes it a delightful experience. Being at the crosspoint of Palats Sportu and Olympiyskyi metro stations, public transport is easy for games. On more significant matches, they close these stations straight after the game, but the next stops are ten minutes’ walk away. The underground system makes bus and car transport unnecessary as traffic is quite unpleasant in central Kyiv. Nearest airports are Borispol and Zhuliany, both on the edge of this great city. Being located in the heart of the city, the traffic is quite fierce at all times. However, there is a parking option under the stadium if you really desire. All gates enter into the main compound where you can walk freely to all parts of the stadium. Every entrance has electronic ticket readers and security checks. The security will also check bags if you need to take one in with you. Being an international standard stadium, the accessibility is world-class, there are escalators and lifts to go between the floors. Wide concourses allow for a smooth flow of people. Visitors, who need more support, will find plenty of seating options at ground level where the pitch is underneath them. Return on Investment 5 Being located in the heart of Ukraine’s capital, a trip to NSC Olympiyskyi will set you back a bit more than elsewhere. Nevertheless, the facilities, which this international stadium has on offer, will make it worth your while. Tickets can cost between 1 and 15 USD, depending on where you choose to sit in the ground. I recommend the top end as it provides you with access to the VIP lounge before the game. Public transport to the stadium can cost as little as 0.25USD. However, eating out in Kyiv is slightly more expensive, with prices more akin to central Europe. You should remember that if you wish to avoid the VIP area, the cheapest ticket will grant you access to all areas. More often than not, seats are available. There are affordable food options around the stadium, but it is worth doing your research ahead. Extras 2 The Club Shop and museum are exceptional extras at NSC Olympiyskyi. They are undoubtedly worth dropping in to visit. Final Thoughts A trip to NSC Olympiyskyi is a highlight of any Ukraine visit. The standout facilities are equal to any other experience around Europe. Sit back and enjoy your day.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Rebel Park Dixie Lane New Market, VA 22844 New Market Rebels website Rebel Park website Year Opened: 1923 Capacity: 550 Dixie Lane Delight in New Market Located in Virginia’s scenic Shenandoah Valley, the New Market Rebels have been playing baseball on the site of Rebel Park since 1923. The Rebels play in the Valley Baseball League, a collegiate summer wood-bat league with 11 teams up and down the Valley. Rebel Park is located in the shadow of Massanutten Mountain, which is visible beyond the outfield fence. Once a season, the full moon will rise above the mountain during the game and the team will stage Full Moon Night, with moon-themed promotions throughout the game. Food & Beverage 5 There is one concession stand located next to the souvenir stand behind home plate, serving a wide range of food at affordable prices. Options include traditional items like hot dogs ($2, add cheese or homemade chili for another 50 cents), hamburgers ($4, another 50 cents for cheese), pizza ($3 for a personal size), and popcorn ($1.50), among others. However, there are also more unique options such as a homemade pulled pork sandwich with chips for $7, the FrankenDog topped with grilled onion, mustard, and sauerkraut for $4, angel food cake with fresh strawberries for $3.50, watermelon for a dollar, and the Rebel Burger, which consists of two patties, nacho cheese, grilled onions, and homemade chili for $6. There are other options available as well like French fries, popcorn, and candy bars. Fresh squeezed lemonade is available to drink for $4, while soda and water cost $2 and Gatorade costs $1.50. This is an impressive selection for this level. Atmosphere 4 While nobody would mistake Rebel Park for a major league or even minor league stadium, it does have its charm. There are “reserved” chairback seats located directly behind home plate (although this is a misnomer as holding a single-game ticket here just gets you a chairback, not any particular one) with metal bleachers without backs on either side. All seats offer a great view of the action, though the seats behind home plate and down the third base line offer the best view of the mountain beyond the outfield fence. A scoreboard in left-centerfield shows the linescore and other basic information. Private homes run down the first base line and fans are not permitted to enter the backyards to retrieve foul balls. For foul balls that remain within the confines of the stadium, fans may or may not be permitted to keep them depending on the night. As in much of the Valley League, the typical process is that the balls remain with the team but fans can return them to the concession stand for a small item such as an ice pop. However, for select home games, a local business will sponsor the foul balls, allowing fans to keep them instead. As in many Valley League venues, your admission ticket doubles as your raffle ticket for a chance to win various prizes from sponsors during the game as well as participate in on-field contests such as the Dash for Cash, where one fan gets the opportunity to shovel as much cash as possible in 30 seconds from one bucket into another. Music, mostly country, is played over the PA system during breaks in the action. All in all, the Rebels manage to put on a good show here in what is a gorgeous, intimate venue. Neighborhood 3 New Market is a small town in the middle of the Shenandoah Valley, and while it doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of a major city or even a medium-sized suburb, it certainly has that small-town charm. Pack’s Frozen Custard is located just down the street from the ballpark and offers some of the best ice cream in the Valley. The New Market Flea Market is located on North Congress Street and is open every day except Tuesday, while Southern Kitchen is a southern-style diner known for their fried chicken. History buffs may want to check out the various Civil War sites in and around town, including the New Market Battlefield Museum. Fans 5 The Rebels regularly draw 300 fans a game, often more. While this may not seem like much, remember that the entire population of New Market is only about 1,600. A Rebel game is truly an affair the whole town comes out to see. Fans range from local business owners who sponsor the team to young families to senior citizens who have been following the team for decades, many of whom host players at their homes over the summer and treat them like their own sons. Whatever their background, the fans are knowledgeable about the Rebels and passionate about their team. As the Valley League teams are based over a relatively small area, there will usually be a good number of visiting fans as well. They tend to sit in the first base bleachers next to their dugout, while the Rebel fans will tend to congregate on the third base side where the home dugout is. Access 3 Rebel Park is located just off I-81 via Exit 264. Coming off the highway, you will almost immediately see a small sign in the median advertising the Rebels game that night. The stadium is a short distance away from there. Parking is in a lot down the third base line. The part closest to the entrance is gravel while the rest is grass. In any case, parking is free. The men’s restroom is located behind the souvenir stand while the women’s restroom is located behind the concession stand. They are small but of a sufficient size for the crowd. Return on Investment 5 Admission to Rebel Park is only $5 for a general admission seat. Discounts are available for youth and seniors. If you want a “reserved” seat, you can head to the souvenir stand to purchase an upgrade for another $5. As mentioned above, this only gets you a chairback, not any particular one. Some chairbacks are reserved for season-ticket holders and are marked with their name, but you can sit in any seat that does not have a name on it. However, unless having a chairback is important to you, there is no reason to pay the extra money as all seats have an excellent view of the action. Throw in the affordable concessions and free parking, and a Rebels game is a great value. Extras 4 There is a souvenir stand next to the concession stand where fans can buy Rebels gear. Free roster cards are available outside the souvenir stand. A third star for the gorgeous view of Massanutten Mountain beyond the outfield fence, one of the best views in baseball. Finally, be sure to check out the Valley League Hall of Fame to the left of the concession stand, honoring legendary players, coaches, and executives of Valley League history. Final Thoughts For baseball fans in Virginia, the Valley Baseball League is a hidden gem and the New Market Rebels are no exception. Those in New Market certainly know about the team and passionately follow it, but a trip to Rebel Park is well worth it for those who don’t live here as well. The only downside is you may have to drive a bit to get here. While Rebel Park will never be mistaken for something at a higher level, it is a gorgeous ballpark with some small-town charm.

Photos by Gregory Koch Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center 1188 Ralph Shockey Drive Winchester, VA 22602 Shenandoah Hornets website James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 1,737 Oh, Shenandoah! Located in Winchester, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley, Shenandoah University's athletic teams are known as the Hornets and compete in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). The Hornets' basketball team competes at the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center on the SU campus. The Wilkins Center opened in 2018 and is also home to the Hornets' volleyball team as well as indoor track. Said indoor running track surrounds the arena floor, and fans will walk across it to get into the arena on gameday. Food & Beverage 2 There is one concession stand at the Wilkins Center, located at a small window next to the entrance. Options to eat are pretty basic. Hot dogs are $5. as are popcorn, nachos, and a soft pretzel with cheese. Strangely, there is no option to pay less for the pretzel and not get the cheese - you're getting it, or at least paying for it, whether you want it or not. Assorted chips and candy sell for $2. A wide variety of drinks sell for between $2 and $3, including bottled water, assorted sodas, Gatorade, tea (hot and iced), coffee, and hot chocolate. Alcohol is not for sale, however. Keep in mind the concession stand only opens about 20 minutes before tip-off, well after doors open to the arena. Atmosphere 4 Walking into the Wilkins Center will put you in a small lobby, featuring murals and plaques honoring Shenandoah athletics. From there, you will walk through a set of doors into the arena proper. Plastic bleachers line both sides of the court, with a couple of metal bleachers behind the basket closest to the entrance. There are a few chairbacks at center court on one side. Most seats are general admission, so fans can sit where they want. We were given conflicting information as to whether the first five rows of chairbacks are all reserved for donors, or only the ones specifically marked reserved. Either way, you should have no problem sitting above the first five rows of chairbacks if you want one, as long as you get there early enough. During pregame introductions, the lights go out in the Wilkins Center and a spotlight shines on the Hornets' players as they are introduced. During day games, light streams in from outside through the windows at the back of the gym, which reduces the effect of this a bit. Nonetheless, it is impressive for the Division III level. The Hornets also have cheerleaders, who are generally located behind the far basket (opposite side from the entrance) and perform during breaks in the action. There was a sign behind one set of bleachers advertising Shenandoah's Buzzin' Dozen Pep Band, but they were not in attendance when Stadium Journey visited. Neighborhood 3 Winchester is a small city located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. There are several restaurants located near the stadium, ranging from sports bars to barbecues to homemade ice cream. Since Shenandoah's campus is located near the highway, pretty much everything in Winchester is right there. While Winchester certainly isn’t a bustling city, it does have that small-town charm. History buffs may also want to visit the many Civil War sites in and around Winchester, which played a major role in the conflict. The city changed hands 72 times during the war and was known as the Shuttlecock of the Confederacy. Fans 4 Shenandoah draws reasonably well for the Division III level, and their gym will be mostly full for the typical home game. The side with the chairbacks will typically be more full than the other side. Some passionate fans, mostly but not entirely students, opt for behind the basket closest to the entrance where the metal bleachers are. They either sit in the bleachers themselves, or stand in front of them along the rope that separates the seating area from the court. After big plays at that end of the court (huge defensive plays in the first half or big baskets in the second), the fans in this area will run up to the ropes, shout, and cheer on the Hornets to celebrate the big play. Fans in other areas can get loud as well - you can certainly feel the buzz in the building after big plays. While it certainly doesn't match the crowd at most Division III arenas, Shenandoah fans are remarkably loud, loyal, and passionate for the Division III level. Access 4 The nearest highway to Shenandoah's campus is Interstate 81, and it is easily accessible via Exit 313B. Fans coming from the east or west will need to take State Route 7 or U.S. Route 50 at least part of the way, and while these are not full-blown highways, you can usually make good time. Once you get on the Shenandoah campus, there is a large lot next to the Wilkins Center that fans can park in. The lobby is small, but once you are in the arena proper, it is easy to move around thanks to the spacious track providing ample space. Restrooms are available inside the arena on the side where the entrance is. Women's rooms are in the corners while the men's room is in the center. They are modern, clean, and of a sufficient size for most crowds. There is also a family restroom next to the men's room. Return on Investment 5 According to the Shenandoah website, admission to Hornets games is just $6 with youth getting in for $4, and tickets must be purchased in advance through the Ticket Spicket app. However, when Stadium Journey visited, nobody was checking tickets at the entrance and we were able to walk in without scanning ours. It is unclear if this is always the case, but we have experienced similar things before at other Shenandoah athletic events. Even if tickets do cost $6, that certainly won't break the bank. When combined with affordable concession prices, a trip to a Shenandoah basketball game is an excellent value. Extras 3 One star for the loud crowd behind the basket, including fans right up against the ropes that surround the court. A second star for the plaques and displays in the lobby honoring Shenandoah athletics. A third and final star for the pregame introductions, featuring spotlights on the Shenandoah players. You rarely see such an impressive display at the Division III level. Final Thoughts Although Division III is the lowest level of the NCAA, you wouldn't know it from a trip to the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center. It is a modern arena with all the amenities you would expect, a great crowd, and an excellent atmosphere. For basketball fans in the Winchester area, a Shenandoah University basketball game is well worth the trip.

Photos by Stephen Schmidt, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Gary Hogan Field 2400 South Harrison St Little Rock, AR 72204 Little Rock Trojans website Gary Hogan Field website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 2,550 The House that Hogan Built Upon asking about the history of Gary Hogan Field, Hogan himself leads you to a large photo. It is a picture of the stadium that would become his namesake, taken on the July day in 1985 when he began his 11-season tenure as the head coach of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock baseball team. It rests on one of the walls of the venue’s Legends Room as a reminder of the team’s humble — and dusty — roots. Back then, the field had no infield grass and looked no better than a sandlot encased by rickety chain-link fencing. “I have that same picture, the original picture, in my office. When I have a bad day, I look at that picture and go – Nothing can ever be as bad that,” said Hogan, who currently serves as the school’s associate athletic director. He still attends a majority of the Trojans’ home games, helping out with various tasks in the press box. The exact date of the field’s construction is unknown, but the Trojans first started playing on it in 1978. Its infamous playing conditions forced the Trojans in the early ’80s to play some of their games at Ray Winder Field and Fort Roots Field in North Little Rock. Under Hogan’s guidance and fundraising ability, the park has steadily made an assortment of improvements — including most recently the addition of polyurethane turf in the infield in place of standard AstroTurf in the field in 2011 — to allow UALR to stay competitive in the Sun Belt Conference. In 2004, the school received an offer for its biggest donation to date for $1.6 million — provided that Curran Conway Field got a name change. “Does it feel strange to see my name out there?” Hogan said of looking out to see the scoreboard with his name on it. “Yes… Always strange.” Food & Beverage 3 There is only one concession stand that sells the standard fare. The most popular items are hot dogs for $2. Fans can also get a combo meal with chips and drink (Pepsi products) for $4 with a hamburger or $5 with a cheeseburger. Other items include nachos for $2 and an assortment of candy for $1.25. In addition, team wristbands are also available next to the candy for $3 each. Fans are allowed to bring in coolers, something that caters to the crowd taking advantage of the wide concourses by lining the top of the stands with collapsible chairs. Beer is permitted, too, as long as it’s in a cup. Atmosphere 3 The backdrop certainly puts the park in ballpark as the outfield wall butts up against a thick range of towering trees that create quite the scenic view, interspersed with rooftops from the surrounding Oak Forest neighborhood. The stadium is located inside Curran Conway Park and this is evident as soon as you drive into the parking lot that is almost entirely shaded due to the massive trees. The stadium’s overhang covers at least half of the venues seating area. There is only one gate to enter. Instead of a ticket booth, fans will find someone sitting at a table selling general admission tickets for $5 each that resemble those given out for a raffle at a church picnic. The grandstand features approximately 500 green chair back seats that are surrounded by rows of bleacher seats. Four large poles hold it up, but none are overly distracting. Still, it is best to avoid the perimeter of the chair backs if you want a clear view of the first and third base paths. Grandstand at Gary Hogan Field, Photo by Stephen Schmidt, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 1 Although the stadium and park have a certain rustic beauty about them, they are in a less-than-ideal locale. There are no surrounding bars, restaurants or places of interests, besides the UALR campus itself, within an easy walk or drive from the stadium. The area is highly residential — in an area that has a bad reputation for crime. There have been documented instances of cars getting broken into in the parking lot in the past. One off-duty police officer, who has patrolled a majority of the UALR games, said he only had one occurrence happen on his watch this season. There is not a nearby traditional UALR sports bar loaded with Trojan gear, but members of the college community love to flock to Senior Tequila at 2000 S. University Ave. for good fajitas and margaritas — and mariachi band music on Sunday night. For nightlife, most everyone in town heads to the River Market area in downtown Little Rock, which is a 10-minute drive away with no traffic. Fans 3 The fans are knowledgeable. In spite of their small numbers, they could certainly generate a lot of noise whenever the Trojans made a noteworthy play. Many used giveaway plastic rattlers to create noise at opportune times. It should be noted that the game I attended was taking place during the school’s finals, so it’s hard to fault a low student turnout. Access 2 There are plenty of places to park and it’s free. Curran Conway Park and the stadium are not very well marked, noted only by a couple of small brown signs. An out-of-towner might find it a little difficult to navigate there. There is only one set of restrooms. The men’s facilities are small (one toilet, two urinals) and could use a fresh coat of paint — among other enhancements. That being said, there is never a line to get inside. The stadium does have a wheelchair ramp to allow easy access to disabled visitors and plenty of space for them to perch at the top of the concourse and enjoy the game. Return on Investment 4 In spite of the surrounding neighborhood, a game at Gary Hogan Field remains a high value — especially for baseball purists who are mainly interested in watching Division I baseball for $5 a ticket to sit anywhere. It would be hard to imagine a more idyllic scene at other college baseball venues in Arkansas than watching the sun setting for an evening game amidst the lush trees. The fact that anyone can bring in coolers and outside food adds to the overall value. Extras 3 One point is awarded for the wooden deck in left field that offers great views on the third base side and great opportunity for fans to eat and drink next to a table surface. One point is given for the wide concourses that allow for good views all the way around. In addition the top of the grandstands feature fans to help cool down visitors when the weather heats up. One final point is awarded for the surrounding greenery in the outfield — especially if you saw how the backdrop looked in the early 80s before Hogan took over the ship.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry and Joseph Oakes, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum 200 Ficklen Dr Greenville, NC 27858 East Carolina Pirates website Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum website Year Opened: 1967 Capacity: 8,000 Pirates of the Coliseum Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum is the home of the ECU Pirates out of the American Athletic Conference. It opened on January 27, 1968, when ECU last to West Virginia 77-60. The arena seats just over 7,000 and is the home to ECU men’s and women’s basketball, as well as volleyball. It was originally constructed for a cost of just $2 million and then underwent a $12 million renovation before the 1994-95 season. Food & Beverage 3 Minges Coliseum offers typical concessions, but there is not a lot of variety. Personal Pan Pizza from Pizza Hut is $8, and hot dogs are $4. Other offerings include nachos ($4), soft pretzels ($5), popcorn ($4-7), and candy ($4). There is also ice cream from local creamery Simply Natural available for $8. The Minges name of the Coliseum is from the large donor and local Pepsi bottler Minges Bottling Group, so naturally, ECU is a Pepsi school. 22 oz fountain drinks are $4 and 32 oz souvenir fountain drinks are $5. Aquafina bottled water is also available for $3. One thing to note is that on the upper concourse where we were seated many of the concession stands were either out of certain food items are were closed completely. Our suggestion is to eat before you arrive. Atmosphere 3 Minges Coliseum is a bit of an odd and quirky arena with three seating levels. The lower level seating is eight rows of what looks to be fairly uncomfortable bleacher seating. This seating is accessed from the floor level through the same tunnels where the players enter. The upper concourse offers access to a mini “club level”, which are three rows of cushioned purple seats right above the bleachers. Right above cushioned purple seats is the large upper level where the majority of the seating is located. There is little upper-level seating in the corners of the arena as this is where the video boards and scoreboards are located. There are two scoreboards and two videoboards located in opposite corners of each other above the seating. Minges Coliseum has a very low roof and is also a dark arena. Keep this in mind as the upper seating rows are very dark. PeeDee is the Pirate mascot and is very visible around the seating areas for photos and hi-fives. When we attended over the Christmas holiday break, there was only a handful of cheerleaders and no pep band. It was disappointing that a program at the D1 level has games without a pep band. Our suggestion for seating is to resist the urge to sit in the lower level as it is only bleachers. We suggest sitting in the upper level. Neighborhood 3 Minges Coliseum is located on the southern edge of ECU’s campus, in the vicinity of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and Clark-LeClair Stadium . Eastern North Carolina is famous for its barbecue. There are several great barbecue restaurants in Greenville, but be sure that you try one of the following: Parker’s , B’s , or Sam Jones . If barbecue is not your thing, check out Sup Dogs , a hot dog joint near campus that has won the Barstool Best Bar title for three out of the last four years. The Greenville Mall is less than a mile from the coliseum. In its vicinity are restaurants such as Mellow Mushroom and McAlister’s Deli. If you are looking for a place to spend the night, check out hotels near the Greenville Convention Center (Hilton, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn). Fans 2 Minges Coliseum is a small and intimate venue seating only 7,100. Therefore, it does not take many fans for the building to get loud. That being said, the Pirates have never really drawn well for basketball. Expect only 3-4K fans in attendance for a typical ECU game. While the half-capacity can definitely get loud at times, it does not really offer the home-court advantage that a near-capacity crowd would. Access 5 Free parking is readily available adjacent to Minges Coliseum along the north side of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. If you have never been to Minges, you may get lost trying to enter as there does not seem to be a main entrance, and the entrances are not signed well. The box office is on the Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium side of the arena and seemed to be the entrance that most fans used when we attended. Tickets can be bought at the box office pre-game, but it was backed up quite a bit even for a small crowd. We recommend purchasing tickets online, where you can select your seat, and use your mobile wallet for entry. While security was in place for entry, they did a very little checking. Keep in mind that ECU does have a clear bag policy. Once inside the arena, the concourses and seating sections are well-signed. Concessions and restrooms are located on both the upper and lower concourses. Handicapped seating is located on the upper lever right above the purple cushioned seats. Return on Investment 3 Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for youth, regardless of where you choose to sit (upper or lower level). This may seem a tad bit high but is not over the top. ECU does occasionally have ticket specials for $10. Parking is free and concessions are not outrageous either, so ECU is an affordable option to see some quality AAC basketball. Extras 0 There are no extras worth noting at Minges Coliseum. Final Thoughts ECU is often overlooked among the tradition-rich basketball programs in North Carolina, and rightfully so due to their lack of historical success on the court. That being said, the arena has a great little atmosphere even at half capacity and is a great environment when the crowd is into it.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Panther Stadium 1600 Stadium Dr Prairie View, TX 77445 Prairie View A&M Panthers website Panther Stadium website Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 15,000 Prairie View A&M Panthers – Panther Stadium The Panthers of Prairie View A&M University have a long and storied tradition on the gridiron that dates back to 1907. An HBCU, Prairie View A&M resides in the eponymous city of Prairie View in central East Texas. Over the years, the football program has had periods of tremendous success and long periods of disappointment – including an 80-game losing streak that ran from 1991-1998. During the periods of success on ‘The Hill’, as the campus is called, the Panthers have won 11 conference championships – all while members of the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) – and five Black College National Championships. Longtime head coach and college football hall of famer Billy Nicks guided the team to the national championships and helped mold the career of future pro football hall of famer Ken Houston . Since 2016 Prairie View A&M has called the state-of-the-art, on-campus Panther Stadium its home. Steeped in history and tradition, Prairie View A&M is an often-overlooked gem on the college football landscape. Read on to learn what makes Panther Stadium special. Food & Beverage 4 The concessions at Panther Stadium really do stand out due to their variety. Food trucks set up shop on the outside of the stadium on the home team’s side, allowing fans to take part in the gastronomic revelry before Panthers games. Inside the stadium there are multiple stands on both the home and visitor sides, and these stands offer some truly unique game day fare. In addition to your standard hot dogs, nachos, and popcorn, Panther Stadium offers up such fare as loaded baked potatoes, turkey legs, chicken wings, and boudin. Concessions costs for these higher end items range from $8-$15. There are also scattered standalone food kiosks throughout the main concourse level. These range from free-standing beer and alcohol carts to a funnel cake stand. All in all the variety is pretty great, and you won’t bust your wallet enjoying these offerings. Atmosphere 4 I was able to attend a game at Panther Stadium on the weekend of Prairie View A&M’s homecoming festivities. This may skew this ranking a bit due to the circumstances, but with that in mind I have to say the atmosphere was electric. The stadium was packed to the metaphorical gills, there were tailgaters filling up available parking lot, and the energy was palpable the entire time I was there. The stadium is located in Prairie View’s athletics complex with the backdrop of its picturesque campus never far from view. The stadium itself is laid out perfectly for fans to get great views from wherever they sit, and it feels fully integrated into the student life of the campus. Fans Enjoying the Game at Panther Stadium, Photo by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey When visiting an HBCU for a football game, this is one of the few instances where you won’t see fans making a mad dash for the restrooms or concession stands during halftime – every bit of the stadium that could have fans, had them as they stayed to watch Prairie View A&M’s band, the Marching Storm (more on them in the Extras section) do what they do best. Neighborhood 2 If there is one area where things are lacking in a visit to Prairie View, it is here. The city itself is only about a 45-minute drive from Houston. However, it is tucked away in a corner of the state that forces drivers to take the backroads to get there. Once you get there, your normal options in terms of attractions, dining, and lodging are extremely limited. For attractions the stadium is located near the William Nicks Center , home of the school’s basketball and volleyball teams, as well as Tankersley Field , home to the Panthers baseball squad. Beyond that, you will need to venture outside of Prairie View for things to do. The same can be said for dining. The only non-chain, fast food restaurant in the area is Moe B’s Mystery Kitchen . Specializing in Cajun comfort food, this is a popular spot in the city. Outside of that, you’re going to need to venture to either nearby Hempstead or Waller for dining and lodging options. As a bonus though, if you head to Waller you could stop at Buc-ee’s and see what it’s all about. Fans 4 I have to hand it to Prairie View A&M fans when it comes to this particular section; good or bad they show out for their team. While the official capacity of Panther Stadium is 15,000, games swell to well over that with standing-room only options available in both end zones. Big games against rivals have seen crowds of over 18,000 in attendance. As mentioned the tailgate scene is quite impressive, with some form of it going on in every available public lot. It’s pretty impressive to see and if at all possible, is something you should take part in. This is a passionate fan base and that makes attending games at Panther Stadium fun to see and be a part of. Access 2 This rating dovetails into what was mentioned in the Neighborhood section – the city of Prairie View and the campus of Prairie View A&M are, quite frankly, hard to get to. You really have to have a desire to go there in order to get there. The campus is about a 45-minute drive down State Highway 290 from the Houston metro area. That’s the good news, as both George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport are two of the busiest airports in the country, so you should have no problem getting to Houston from anywhere in the country. The bad news is that, once you get to H-Town you’re going to have to drive to Panther Stadium; there really is just no getting around it, as Prairie View doesn’t offer any public transportation. Once you get to campus, however, the other bit of good news is that parking for Panthers games is free. You may have to park somewhere in another part of the campus, but you will enjoy the walk. Return on Investment 3 Single-game tickets for Prairie View A&M games at Panther Stadium start at $19 for most games (this can go up for rivalry games). This is on the lower-end of the spectrum for Division I, FCS-level competition. The concession costs, which are on the affordable end of the cost spectrum, coupled with the free parking makes for a relatively inexpensive day in Prairie View. The school doesn’t often bring big time FBS-level teams to The Hill, but they do play a pretty solid FCS non-conference schedule. Plus, and I will touch on this more, I think everyone who’s a sports fan should experience an HBCU game at some point – a game at Panther Stadium is a great place to start, and it won’t bust your wallet to have the experience. Extras 4 This score almost reaches the full five out of five for one reason: The Marching Storm . Prairie View A&M’s band is a true spectacle to behold. They put on a show at halftime and in many fans’ minds, they are worth the price of admission alone. The band is accompanied onto the field by the Twirling Thunder twirl team and the Black Foxes dance squad; watching this group perform is something all fans should make a point of doing when they catch a game at Panther Stadium. Final Thoughts I personally think anyone who is a sports fan should take in a game at an HBCU. It is truly an experience you won’t forget. There is a time investment that you have to undertake in order to get to Prairie View, but once you get there, I think you’ll enjoy what The Hill has to offer. Make a trip when you can, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 . Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com .