Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Burlington Athletic Stadium 1450 Graham St Burlington, NC 27217 Burlington Sock Puppets website Burlington Athletic Stadium website Year Opened: 1948/1960 Capacity: 3,500 The Show Goes on in Sockville Minor League and Independent Baseball have transformed thanks in large part to COVID. Burlington, North Carolina was one of forty-two cities and towns across the country to recently be cut out of affiliated Minor League Baseball. There was however a silver lining for baseball fans in Alamance County – competitive baseball would not entirely vanish from Burlington Athletic Stadium, and 2021 would lead to a resurrection for both the team and the league they played in. The team originally known as the Burlington Indians played in the Carolina League from 1958-1964; for the first two seasons of that stint, the team played in nearby Graham before opening their Burlington venue in 1960, which was moved from its old home 40 miles north in Danville, Virginia, and reassembled in Burlington. Burlington Athletic Stadium was originally called Fairchild Park and made a cameo in the film “Bull Durham.” The stadium sat empty for twenty-two years, but in 1986 the rookie-level Appalachian League brought baseball back to Burlington – for the next two decades they were known once again as the Burlington Indians, but in 2007 with the affiliation switch from the Cleveland Indians to the Kansas City Royals, the team took on the parent club’s identity and up until 2020 were known as the Burlington Royals. Then 2021 saw Burlington and the nine other Appy League teams moved from affiliated minor league baseball to the summer collegiate league, giving the team and the city a chance to start over; on February 1, 2021, the team changed its name to the Burlington Sock Puppets, joining other league rivals who also adopted funny and original identities. And while there is some controversy among some baseball purists that the new names don’t adequately reflect the imposing names that many are used to in baseball and throughout sports, there can be no doubt that things are “sockingly” fun and different in Burlington. Food & Beverage 4 It is often hard to know what to expect when eating out at a baseball game at this level, but Burlington Athletic Stadium does not disappoint. The stadium has one main food stand but offers a variety of options for reasonable prices – you can get your basic hot dog, hamburger, or cheeseburger for three, four, or five dollars respectively (or four dollars more each for a combo with chips and a drink) or a slice of Domino’s pizza, a BBQ sandwich from local joint Tickle My Ribs, or a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich will only run you three, five, or six dollars respectively. You can also get some unique items such as pulled pork nachos, a hot dog topped with mac and cheese, or the stadium's special “laundry basket,” which is loaded nachos with mac and cheese, pulled pork, and jalapenos, which will only set you back eight bucks. The stadium also offers your typical snacks including popcorn, candy, peanuts, and pretzels, and offers two places to grab dessert, with Pelican’s Sno-Balls and Dippin’ Dots offered. NC-based Pepsi is the soft drink of choice, with a bottle only costing three dollars. Alcohol costs between three and six bucks depending on size and selection, and nearby Durham-based Tobacco Road Brewing Company partnered with the team to produce a Sock Puppets-themed beer, with a team design on the can, but not the flavor of socks. Atmosphere 3 Burlington Athletic Stadium seats 3,500, with the vast majority being bleacher seats. There are a few reserved chair-back seats behind home plate. Most of the seats are also covered, but there are bleacher seats on the first and third base side that are not protected from the elements. Sightlines are great no matter where you sit, which is often an advantage at an intimate park. The PA Announcer is very energetic, as is the band that greets fans with energetic jams before the first pitch. They also have mascot night for certain games, so alongside the long-tenured mascot Bingo the team kept along for the rebranding ride, and the new mascot Socksquatch, you can see the Demon Deacon from Wake Forest University or Homer from the in-state Charlotte Knights, joining in on the fun to entertain fans young and old. Neighborhood 3 Unlike their counterparts in affiliated baseball, a lot of summer league baseball stadiums are not located right in the heart of their respective cities or towns, and Burlington Athletic Stadium is no different. But while the venue is not within walking distance and doesn’t offer any public transit to the center of town, a six-minute drive will get you to all that downtown Burlington has to offer. A town of about 50,000 separating the state’s Triangle and Triad regions, and halfway between North Carolina’s famous beaches and mountains, Burlington offers a variety of restaurants including Burlington Beer Works, a local brewery that offers delicious small plates, brunch, dinner, and a large selection of local craft beer. Not far from BBW is Zach’s Hot Dogs, a near-century-old establishment serving up delicious dogs, burgers, and breakfast. Finally, if you’re looking for authentic NC-style BBQ, then look no further than Hursey’s. Just five minutes from the stadium in the opposite direction from downtown, Hursey’s has arguably some of the best BBQ in the state and serves it Piedmont style, which is a blend between Eastern NC’s vinegar-based and Lexington (Western) NC’s tomato-based sauce; Hursey’s is also home to some of the best hush puppies you’ll find anywhere. Downtown Burlington has a lot of local shops including Persnickety Books and Wayne’s Attic, an antique store, as well as Burlington City Park, which is a great place to take young ones before a night game or after a matinee – the park includes a playground, train, carousel, and boats. There is also more shopping ten minutes west at Alamance Crossing, a giant shopping center including Barnes and Noble, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Kohl’s (among many others) plus numerous chain restaurants. There aren’t any hotels near the stadium, but there are several chain options less than ten minutes away on I-40, including Microtel, Hampton, and Quality Inn. Fans 3 The Sock Puppets are in the first year of a new, original identity, and that is no doubt going to help with attendance. Despite the threat of thunderstorms and some rain, there were still a solid number of fans during my most recent visit. Those who were in attendance seemed engaged and cheered on their team; it will be interesting to see how the team ranks in attendance in the rebranded league’s inaugural year – according to the team there was a 30% increase in attendance this year as compared to 2019. Access 3 Getting to the stadium is easy and traffic is not an issue; there is a sizable parking lot outside the stadium which leads to the main entrance and the separate VIP entrance. There is no public transit to the stadium, and Ubers are very hit-and-miss in a town of Burlington’s size. The concourses are wide enough and don’t usually get congested, which makes walking around the stadium not a real issue. Return on Investment 4 A Sock Puppets game is a great way to watch some top college prospects at a very affordable price with free parking, concession prices averaging under ten dollars for a meal, and tickets starting at just six bucks, so you can catch a game at Burlington Athletic Stadium for less than twenty dollars. . Extras 5 One point for the variety of inflatables set up beyond the first baseline is that give kids a great place to get their energy out during the game. A second point for the team store selling various Sock Puppets merchandise, and a third point to the sock puppet station where fans young and old can create their very own sock puppet to take home. A fourth point for the person throwing out the first sock instead of the first pitch at the start of the game, and finally a point for one of the most unique team names in all of the sports, as well as the signage declaring Burlington “Sockville”. Final Thoughts The Sock Puppets are in their inaugural year of Summer Collegiate Baseball and have already taken baseball by storm with one of the most compelling and controversial names in baseball. But for better or worse the team has run with it and doesn’t need shoes to attract baseball fans in North Carolina to the city of Burlington to see what all the hype is about. Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Eric Hasman and Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 U.S. Steel Yard One Stadium Plaza Gary, IN 46402 Map It Gary SouthShore RailCats website U.S. Steel Yard website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 6,139 Hitting the Right Notes in Gary The building of U.S. Steel Yard caused quite a bit of stir because of where it was being built (apparently Gary doesn't have a great reputation) and the high price tag (over $40 million). The baseball park itself is a quite nice. The exterior is a red brick facade that extends all the way down both streets it is built on (Stadium Plaza and Route 12). The design of the ballpark has an open concourse overlooking the field with luxury boxes stacked above. The concourse is almost a full 360-degrees which allows fans plenty of places to wander. They are currently doing construction on a bridge which doesn’t allow fans to crossover. So fans have to walk around right field to get to the left field side of the ballpark. The ballpark is plays big. The dimensions are 320’ to left, 380’ to left center, 400’ to center and 335’ to right and the wall is at least 14’ high.  Home runs are hard to come by here. The RailCats play in the American Association Baseball League. Food & Beverage 4 The food and beverage have changed a bit over the years, but the variety of options is pretty good and reasonably priced. The 3 main concession stands are behind home plate (the Region) and the down the left and right field lines. The “Region” stand serves up hamburgers ($6) and hot dogs ($5). 18th Street Brewery has a smoked pulled chicken sandwich ($9), a pork sandwich ($10) and Italian sausage ($8). The “Broadway” stand serves a Chicken Tender basket for $10, Bratwursts ($6) and Beggars pizza for $7. “Herbkoe” Fun Foods, down the right field line, is for desserts. Here you can get ice cream cones ($6-$10), ice cream nachos ($12), an ice sandwich $10 or cheesecake on stick for $9 and a chocolate covered banana $5. Next to the Herbkoe's is a pierogi stand which has sells 3 or 5-potato and cheese pierogis served with onions and sour cream for $6 or $8 (on Wednesdays, pierogis sell for $1. If soft pretzels are your thing this is the place for you. The best soft pretzel in any ballpark I have had is here, it is the “Ben’s Pretzel.” The pretzels are made on site and are delicious. They sell for $7 and come as a whole pretzel or pretzel bites. Domestic drafts are $7 for a 20-ounce and premium drafts are $9 for a 20-ounce.  The Leinie Lounge Bar serves Leinenkugel drafts, Barefoot wine, White Claw, Yuengling, Modelo, Twisted Tea, Oberon, local brewery IPAs and mixed drinks between $7 and $11.  Pepsi products and water range from $5-$6. Atmosphere 3 In 2021, the RailCats completed some updates to the park. The bullpens were moved from the first and third base warning tracks into right field, where new outfield fencing and wall pads were installed. This made hitting home runs to right field a lot easier. In addition, three seating sections down the right field line were removed to create a family-friendly berm area where visitors can enjoy the games from their blankets. There is also protective netting extending from dugout to dugout. The team gift shop, McShane’s South Shore Depot, is huge.  A great selection of jerseys, caps, and t-shirts and other swag are available to purchase. Behind the batter’s eye in center field is a small children’s playground area. In addition, there is a small deck with lounge chairs and a water fountain that is shaped like home plate. The right field concourse area has a building which is vacant and used to be various restaurants. Hopefully, the RailCats can do something with this building. It is not a good look to have a vacant building at a ballpark. Rusty the RailCat, the mascot, dances on the team dugout, poses for pictures and is available for pictures and hugs by fans of all ages. The ballpark borders on E. 4th Avenue and I-90 to the point where extensive netting is in place to keep balls from smashing into cars on the adjoining street. Neighborhood 1 The ballpark suffers from being in a less than desirable neighborhood and there is not much do around the park before or after the game. The stadium is near the exit and entrance ramp to I-90 and many will look in neighboring cities for options after the game. About a 10-minute drive from the park is Michael Jackson’s boyhood home, located on 2300 Jackson Street. Fans of the King of Pop can take photos of the old home and venture to Broadway to the closed Palace Theater that displays the Jackson Five are playing “tonite.” Gary is home to the 18th Street Brewery and Taproom that is regarded among the state’s acclaimed craft beers. Enjoy beers such as Candi Crushable Pale Ale and Best Patio Pils (my favorites) at the taproom. And, just a few miles down the road in Munster, Indiana, is the state’s most recognizable craft brewery, Three Floyds Brewpub.  Their restaurant has closed, but you can still buy their year-round brews...Zombie Dust, Jinx Pproof, Gumballhead and Turbo Reaper. Of course, they have seasonal beers too. Gary is nearby the Indiana Dunes National Park that provides trails for hiking and sandy beaches for cooling off during the summer. Michigan City Outlet Mall offers a few hours to search for deals, and Chicago is less than a half hour away by car. In addition, the Majestic Star Casino and Hard Rock Casinos are about a 15-minute drive from the ballpark. Both casinos have plenty of restaurants and gambling with sports books (but they don’t take bets on the RailCats), if that is your thing. Fans 3 The fans are pretty much there for the game. Of course, some are there just to hang out and have a good time. The fans do get in involved with the on-field promotions, which is nice. The main on-field guy is Jason who has been there a long time. He has a lot of energy and gets people involved. The people like their baseball are used to the winning ways of the team. The RailCats have six (6) appearances in the Championship and with three (3) Championships. Though, the past nine (9) years have been rough with only 2 (two) playoff appearances. Access 4 Getting to the park is very easy since it is near the highway which provides easy in and out. In addition, free parking can be found in numerous small lots that are a short distance from the park. While the park is located in a rundown area, there is plenty of police presence, so fans should not be concerned for their safety. The wide-open concourse wraps around the entire field and allows visitors access to bathrooms, concession areas, and exits/entrances. Return on Investment 4 The ticket pricing options are among the better values in the area and in independent baseball. Terrace seating tickets start at $10 and reserved seating is $14. Suite bar seating is $25. There is a dollar surcharge when purchased on the day of the game and for “Fireworks” Friday nights, the tickets are a $1 more. The RailCats have daily deals such as All You Can Eats Monday: $18-All you can eat hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts; Taco Tuesday offer $3 beef tacos and $5 margaritas; Pierogi Wednesday – $1 pierogis and $5 12oz Craft Beer; Thirsty Thursday nights feature $3 domestic beer. Friday are fireworks and Saturdays are a giveaway night. Extras 2 The staff is very friendly and personable. They do a great job making you feel valued and at home. Banners of past RailCat players adorn the concourse. It is always nice to see a team recognize their history. In addition, the RailCats have 4 retired numbers: #42 for Jackie Robinson, #23 for Wille Glen (RailCats career leader in nearly every measurable pitching category and is an amazing 43-11 with a 3.03 ERA in 88 career RailCats games), #27 Greg Tagert (former longtime manager who won 3 Championships) and #45 for Joe Gates (a former coach of the RailCats). Final Thoughts U.S. Steel Yard is a really nice ballpark and one of my favorites because it plays big (lots of triples). Even though it is not located in the best of neighborhoods, it is safe and a place any ballpark enthusiast should see.

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Ted Hamilton Field College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA 92260 College of the Desert Roadrunners website Ted Hamilton Field website A Diamond in the Desert Tucked away in the beauty of the Palm Springs area lies College of the Desert. Here, baseball is played in a picturesque setting. Situated in the city of Palm Desert, just south of Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley, College of the Desert is a small yet beautiful campus with various sports programs that participate in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference. While the sports options in the greater Palm Springs area are limited, this small diamond may well be worth a stop.   Food & Beverage   1 There are no concessions stands at Ted Hamilton Field, but outside food and drinks are allowed for fans. Nearby on campus fans can also find a few vending machines.   Atmosphere   4 The facility at Ted Hamilton Field is simple enough. Once you enter the main gate, right field features a big lawn for fans to set up chairs with a view of the field, as well as of the pitching warmup mounds. Behind home plate is a small grandstand. Just to the left of home plate is a small bench between two large shade trees. The seating areas are almost always in the shade, providing welcome relief from the sun’s hot rays. A large scoreboard is also featured in the outfield, as well as the team’s championship banners. The vista beyond the fence is idyllic for the area; countless palm trees framed by desert mountains. Behind home plate and beyond left field, snow-capped mountains loom. Indeed, this small corner of the campus is a beautiful and relaxing site, simple in construction and purpose.   Neighborhood   4 The area around campus is a mix of neighborhoods and retail. Palm Springs airport is but a short 15-minute drive north. To the immediate south, a National Parks visitor center and twisting road into the mountains awaits visitors seeking the nature and tranquility of the mountains above. Less than a mile southwest of campus lie countless restaurants and shops, including the high end El Paseo district. The nearest highway is I-10 to the northeast, while hotels are plentiful in the general area. Hiking is of course a major draw to the area, as are the Palm Springs Air Museum and the Tramway.   Fans   3 The fans who attend Roadrunner games are a mix of locals, students, and friends and family of the players. Even for mid-week early afternoon games, fans still fill in along the fence line and the shaded sections of grandstands.   Access   4 To get to College of the Desert, take either I-10 or Highway 111. Free parking is plentiful in Lot 24 across the street from the main entrance. Fans are warned, however, that foul balls may be an issue when parking here.   Return on Investment   5 Tickets to College of the Desert baseball games are $5. At the main entrance, signs are set up with QR codes to scan to purchase tickets on your phone. Combined with free parking, this makes Roadrunner games extremely affordable for the whole family. College baseball is always filled with excitement for diehard sports fans, and the possibility of seeing one of tomorrow’s stars on the field is certainly a draw as well.   Extras   2 The stadium is located near the college’s tennis and softball fields, as well as adjacent to the school’s football field, making visiting multiple other sports an easy thing to do. The stadium’s ability for fans to walk over and see the bullpens up close is also a unique feature, as some baseball facilities have those separated from fan areas, especially in lower-league colleges.   Final Thoughts While Coachella Valley and the greater Palm Springs area may not be a haven for sports, College of the Desert has done a good job of providing something for the baseball-starved fans nearby. A beautiful backdrop provides a perfect setting to watch tomorrow’s stars take the field – coupled with incredibly affordable pricing, this is a no-brainer for sports fans visiting California’s desert paradise.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Emmitt Smith Field 1310 N 65th Ave Pensacola, FL 32506 Escambia Gators website Year Opened: 1958 Welcome to the Swamp Escambia High School is one of the Pensacola area’s largest high school with an enrollment of 1,800 students, and currently serves the west side of Pensacola and the Perdido Key area of the Gulf Coast. Since opening in 1958 EHS has been one of the more successful programs in the area. Currently competing in the Class 6A District 1 of the FHSAA, the Gators have made the state playoffs over 20 times and have made four state championship games in their history (1984,1985, 2009, & 2019), winning titles in ‘84 and ‘85. Much like the Florida Gators’ colors, the Escambia Gators’ colors are also blue and orange. The Gators play at Historic Emmitt Smith Field, named after the Pro Football Hall of Famer and the NFL’s all-time leading rusher who played here in the mid 80’s. The field, which originally opened when the school opened, was renamed after the school’s most famous alum in 2003. Besides Emmitt Smith the school has a pretty distinguished list of alumni that includes WWE stars Roman Reigns and the Usos, former Alabama running back and All-American Trent Richardson, golfer Joe Durant who’s won four PGA tournaments, and four MLB players – All-Star Jim Presley, former Braves pitcher Preston Hanna, Kevin Saucier, and Ken Wright. Food & Beverage 2 The basics are sold here with one concessions stand on each side. Prices are pretty cheap as well with hamburgers ($4), hot dogs ($3), nachos ($3), popcorn ($2), canned drinks and bottled water ($2), and chips ($1) all on offer. On the home side of the stadium they have a grill outside where they cook burgers and hot dogs fresh, which is obviously a plus; they also sell Chick-fil-A sandwiches for $6 and have a hot box with Domino’s pizza slices selling for $2 each. Atmosphere 3 Emmitt Smith Field is an older stadium that was built in 1958, but is unique in that because of the way it is built you cannot really tell how old it is. It is not the typical high school stadium with a concrete structure that rises above the field level – instead, the stadium here was built in between two grassy hills, in such a way that both grandstands are below ground level, so from the street you can’t even really tell there is a stadium here. The field faces north and south with the home side on the east and the visiting side on the west. Both end zones are open, with the high school and gymnasium providing the backdrop for the north end zone, while the school’s softball and baseball fields provide the backdrop on the south side. There is no concourse to speak of; on both sides you enter on ground level and have to walk down the hill to get to your seat. Because of this there is no cover if it is raining, and without the ability to go under the concourse you are just out of luck if a frequent Florida thunderstorm pops up – the press box, concessions stands, and bathrooms are the only areas not exposed to the elements. The stadium features about 20 rows of metal bleachers on each side, but the home side features a couple hundred chairback seats near the 50-yard line (this is the seating for season ticket holders and teachers). It can get heated sometimes when a rival Pensacola school plays here; because of frequent fights that have broken out in the stands in years past between opposing schools they did not build a way to walk between the home and visiting sides of the stadium. Neighborhood 3 There is not really much of a neighborhood here to speak of – the high school is located in a residential area on the west side of Pensacola in the Myrtle Grove and Brownsville communities. This is not exactly the safest area of the city, though you should be fine as long as you don’t venture too far off school grounds. Just use caution and be aware of your surroundings, and always keep your doors locked in the parking lot. The good thing about coming to a game at Escambia High is that you are in Pensacola, where there is plenty to do if you are here for the weekend. Escambia High is located about 20 minutes north of Pensacola Beach and about 20 minutes east of the beaches in the Gulf Shores-Orange Beach-Perdido area. The waters are warm enough to swim well into November, so if you come to an early fall game here there is a chance you could go swimming on the beach and then go watch a high school football game. Also, from EHS you are only about 15 minutes from downtown Pensacola. The nightlife scene here is very nice as Palafox Street is lined with over 50+ bars and local restaurants, and the Seville Quarter in downtown looks like a mini Bourbon Street with a packed crowd on a nightly basis. As Pensacola is the oldest settlement in the US one could also stroll the downtown area for hours viewing the different historic houses and museums. Fans 3 Obviously the home side of the stadium is rocking with students, alumni, boosters, and teachers. The Gator program stretches back for years so there is a large number of people who can remember the days of watching Emmitt Smith break national records here, and then over 20 years later they remember coming with their kids to watch Trent Richardson break other records. Escambia is also one of those schools that because of its success and its size it will often play larger schools from other areas around the southeast – it is not uncommon for the Gators to play schools from Miami, New Orleans, Jacksonville, or Atlanta. In the most recent game I attended, the Gators played a school from Mississippi, while the next week the Gators traveled to Georgia for a game. Because of this the visiting side can be a different story from game to game, with almost no one sitting on that side when the visiting team is from far away, which is often the case when the Gators play an out of area school. When a Pensacola area school plays here, however, expect the place to be packed and the atmosphere to go up. It can almost get too rowdy sometimes when other area schools show up here, and there have been fights between the two fanbases in years past. Access 2 EHS is located on the west side of Pensacola, so if coming from out of town your best bet is to take I-10 Exit 7A at Pine Forest Road, then travel south about 8 miles to the Fairfield Street intersection. Take Fairfield about 2 miles west until you reach 65th Street, and the high school is located about a half mile south down 65th Street on the left. It is really easy to take a wrong turn and end up in a rough neighborhood, so I advise using caution, especially when leaving the game. Pensacola can also have horrendous traffic, especially on Friday afternoon, so take that into consideration as it could take 30 minutes just to get from the school to I-10. Once in the stadium it isn’t very big, and everything is spread out so you are free to walk around, as long as you stay on your side. They even have school security here making sure nobody will sneak over; this has been a major issue in the past according to a police officer I talked to. There is plenty of room for everybody but you will be out of luck if it starts raining as there is no cover whatsoever. Return on Investment 3 Tickets are $8 and like all the high school football games in the area, can only be purchased on the GoFan app. I consider this a great return on investment; though the stadium is really nothing special it is still a historic place being named after a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Plus with being in such a high level of high school football, the level of talent is great with some of the players on the field eventually signing with D1 programs, so who knows you could be watching the next Emmitt Smith or Trent Richardson play. Extras 3 One extra for the field being named after perhaps the greatest running back to ever play football – during his four years at Escambia (1983-1986) the Gators won two State Championships and were ranked the top high school football program in the State of Florida, and one of the top ranked programs in the country. Emmitt broke numerous records in high school including rushing for 106 touchdowns and 8,804 career yards, which ranks in the top 10 for most yardage in the history of high school football. He also rushed for over 100 yard games in every game his junior and senior year, including rushing for at least 100 yards in 45 of the 49 games he played. Emmitt Smith would follow up his standout high school career with a standout career at the University of Florida , becoming a two-time first team All-American, a Heisman finalist, an induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, and would be recognized as number 3 on the list of the Top 50 players to ever play for the Florida Gators. Smith would later become the first junior to ever get drafted straight from college into the NFL in 1990 when the Dallas Cowboys selected him in the first round. Over the next 15 years Emmitt would become one of the best players in the NFL, winning 3 Super Bowls and being elected to 8 Pro Bowls. His 18,355 career rushing yards rank number 1 for the most rushing yards ever by an NFL player, and his 164 rushing touchdowns rank number 1 for most touchdowns ever scored by a running back. For his stats and accomplishments he would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010, and was named the greatest running back to ever play in the NFL by the NFL Network. The school also pays homage to another one of its most distinguished alums, WWE star Roman Reigns. Before he was main eventing WrestleManias and acting in movies with his cousin “The Rock”, the multi-time WWE Champion was known by his real name Joe Anoai, and was a standout defensive lineman during his senior year here after transferring from Pensacola Catholic High School. He would later be an All-ACC selection at Georgia Tech and have a brief stint in the CFL before trying his hand at wrestling. His twin cousins Jimmy and Jey Uso would later become WWE stars as well, and they also played linebacker at Escambia. During pregame Roman’s wrestling theme plays over the loudspeakers, as the team comes from the locker rooms in the gymnasium, comes down the hill in the north end zone, and then runs out onto the field. This was a nice tribute to how Roman used to make his entrance when he would enter the ring from the crowd – this is something not a lot of people would notice, but as a huge wrestling fan I thought this was a nice added touch.

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 William Nicks Center T.R. Soloman at O.J. Thomas Street Prairie View, TX 77446 Prairie View A&M Panthers website William Nicks Center website Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 6,500 Panther Pride Alive in Prairie View Located just over an hour northwest of Houston is the city of Prairie View, and the campus of Prairie View A&M University – the school was opened in 1876, and has been putting athletics teams on the field and on the court for nearly 100 years. The Panthers basketball program has called William Nicks Building (named for the school’s legendary head football coach ) home since the early 1960s. Over the years, the Prairie View A&M basketball program has experienced a great deal of success – the Panthers were conference champions in 1962, 1963, 1998 (earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament), and 2013, and former Panthers center Zelmo “Big Z” Beatty was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 as well. The “Baby Dome”, as William Nicks Building is called on campus, is one of the most raucous playing environments in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), and continually is one of the best small-school venues in college basketball. Food & Beverage 3 The food selection at Williams Nicks Building is pretty standard for college athletics, with one notable exception, that being boudin balls – the tasty Cajun sausages can be purchased for $5 per order. That being said, the concessions prices are a little on the steep side; hot dogs are $5, nachos $7, popcorn $4, and soda and beer $5 apiece. There is also a BBQ sandwich ($5) on the menu that many in the crowd seem to enjoy, and chips, candy, sports drinks, and bottled water are also on the menu. There are two concessions areas in the main concourse level of the Baby Dome. At the stand near the main entrance there is a Bahama Buck’s offering a pared down menu, with large and small sizes at $6 and $7 each. Despite the cost, there is enough of a selection at William Nicks Building for fans to find what they need. Atmosphere 5 The atmosphere at William Nicks Building is personally one of the best I have ever experienced. This may have been due to playing a rivalry game on my last visit, as it was nearly a sellout crowd (the Panthers averaged just under 800 fans per game last season). Regardless, the atmosphere was electric – on the sidelines, a DJ mixes songs during timeouts and fan contests. The student section at William Nicks Building, especially the fraternities and sororities, dance with every song the band – the Marching Storm – plays, and the acoustics of the dome amplify the sound exponentially. If you attend a game I think you’ll be blown away. Neighborhood 2 As mentioned, Prairie View is just a little over an hour away from the Houston metroplex area, and Prairie View city proper is the epitome of a college town. The campus is the metaphorical heart and soul of the community, and much of the entertainment that can be found has to do with Prairie View A&M. Beyond that, there are some attractions in the communities surrounding Prairie View – the Texas Oil Ranch in nearby Hockley is a prime example of such an attraction. This working ranch was also home to a gusher in the previous century, and visitors can get a glimpse of a bygone era when they visit. Hockley is also home to the Lone Star Pinball Museum , which is exactly what it sounds like – a shrine to the shiny silver balls that have enthralled players for years. This museum is a great attraction if you’re looking for some quick fun before Panthers games. For food, Waller County Line BBQ has become a staple in the area; known for its sausage, brisket, and ribs, it is as close to a true Texas barbecue joint as you will find in the area. But if you’re looking for something a little more traditional (though this being Texas, barbecue is really as traditional as it gets), Bistro 1876 is located right on the campus of Prairie View A&M, and offers traditional American comfort food. When it comes to hotels, your options near campus are pretty limited. Both America’s Best Value Inn & Suites and Holiday Inn Express have locations nearby, but if you are looking for other options, you might have to venture out farther away from Prairie View. Fans 4 The crowd at William Nicks Building is really tremendous and was the highlight of my visit to Prairie View – they were loud, engaged, and active for the entire game. The student sections in particular was boisterous, and really enhanced the game experience. In the stands, the fans are decked out in the purple and white of the home team. Even though Prairie View A&M is not what you think of as a traditional basketball powerhouse program, it is clear the passion for the team and the student athletes is there. You also see a lot of alumni for home games, which gives a great generational feel to the crowd. Access 2 Prairie View is easily accessible by driving from either Houston or San Antonio, the two biggest cities nearby. Once on campus though, there is very little signage directing you to William Nicks Building – a hint; look for Panther Stadium, where the football team plays, and head for that. Parking is also not plentiful for Prairie View A&M basketball games – while it is free, most of the spots close to the basketball gym fill up fast. The adjacent lot is near the physical fitness center and student center, but also tends to fill up pretty quickly – lack of parking is the sole reason for the low score in this category. There are other parking areas on Prairie View A&M’s campus that are free for spectators, but they are not nearly as close to the arena. On the plus side, it is a beautiful campus, so if you have to walk you can at least enjoy the scenery. Return on Investment 2 General admission tickets for Panthers games are a little on the high side – each ticket will cost you $20 per person (and it is cash only at the box office, but there is an ATM nearby). This is a little pricey in my opinion, and when you couple the concessions costs (also cash only, by the way) with the ticket fees, this could turn into a high-dollar evening for games at William Nicks Building. Extras 4 You surprisingly get a lot of extras during Prairie View A&M basketball games. For my money, the basketball version of the Marching Storm is an experience you should not miss – their sound is incredible and (again) is magnificently amplified by the acoustics of the arena’s construction. There are times when the band ramps up the atmosphere to such an extent that you will not even be able to speak to the person you are sitting next to! The Panther cheerleaders and the dance team, the Panther Dolls, are also part of the overall experience; they dance during intermissions and cheer throughout the game. The team’s mascots – Pete and Vickie, respectively – patrol the stands and interact with fans the entire game. For younger fans, this will be an especially great treat. Final Thoughts Going into this visit, I had no preconceived expectations of what it might be like. However, I was truthfully blown away by the incredible energy at William Nicks Building. While I have never been to any of the major palaces of college hoops, I have been to a quite a few games, and this arena was unlike anything I have ever experienced before. I don’t think my words can fully do it justice – it is something you should see for yourself if you’re a fan of college basketball. One final caveat; William Nicks Building is scheduled to undergo some renovations and remodeling during the spring of 2018, so you might want to plan your visit for after that. Either way, add Prairie View A&M’s William Nicks Building to your bucket list of college basketball arenas! Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 . Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com .

Photo by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey A recent report in the San Antonio Express-News has revealed that the ownership group of the Double-A San Antonio Missions is zeroing in on a new stadium for the club. The current ownership group purchased the team in 2022 and has always eyed a move into the Alamo City’s vibrant downtown area. According to the newspaper’s reporting, the Missions  ownership group has been buying up parcels of land in the downtown area since taking over the team. It is unclear exactly how much a new ballpark will cost, or where the funding will come from. The Missions, who have resided at their current home Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium  since 1994, are under a deadline from Major League Baseball (MLB) that is fast approaching. Minor league clubs were put on notice when MLB put new facility standards in place in 2020; the deadline for the Missions to either make significant improvements to Wolff Stadium or make plans to build a new ballpark is Opening Day of 2025. The guidelines released by MLB include upgrading to larger clubhouses, improving training facilities and lighting, and upgrading facilities for female staffers. If a team fails to make the changes by the 2025 deadline, they could lose their affiliation with MLB. The Missions , members of the Texas League, are currently affiliates of the San Diego Padres . ----- Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 . Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com .

Mygameballs.com gave ball hawking – which is snagging baseballs at the ballpark – an online clubhouse. Hundreds of hawks from around the country reported their snags and all the details to the site. On February 12, 2021, MGB founder Alan Schuster - the man who snagged Big Papi's 500th dinger - sold the site to TrueRank, a Toronto-based list-making and ranking app. StadiumJourney.com caught up with Chris Hughes, TrueRank’s social media coordinator, who’s also an enthusiastic ballhawk, for a quick Q&A. STADIUM JOURNEY: So how and when did the purchase of MGB come about? Why did you purchase the site? CHRIS HUGHES: The purchase of www.mygameballs.com came about after telling my dad (TrueRank's co-founder Bob Hughes) that it was for sale. I felt that MGB dovetailed nicely with everything that TrueRank was doing. With MGB’s impressive community of passionate hawks, I felt that we could find ways to integrate this energy with that of TrueRank, and vice versa. The main goal of the purchase was to grow the ball-hawking community and create a more efficient way to log baseballs. STADIUM JOURNEY: How and when did you personally get into ballhawking? What about it gets your adrenaline going? CHRIS HUGHES: I got into ball-hawking in late 2016. While watching YouTube, I stumbled upon a documentary about Zack Hample and was instantly drawn to his passion. I thought it would be something fun to try since I already enjoyed baseball a lot. What gets my adrenaline going about it is the unpredictability, not knowing when a home run ball might come your way. When I caught a home run on the fly at Dodger Stadium, I was filled with an inexplicable amount of adrenaline immediately after. Since 2016, I have snagged 90 baseballs and look forward to going for 100 this season. STADIUM JOURNEY: What's your most exciting ballhawking adventure? CHRIS HUGHES: My dad and I went on a road trip from Toronto to Cincinnati, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit. Before the game in Milwaukee, we went to Friday's in left field. The restaurant’s patio gave us access to batting practice before the gates opened. I snagged three baseballs, including one from Curtis Granderson. After getting a ball in front of the bullpen before the game, I caught a third-out ball when Garrett Cooper lined out to Mike Moustakas to end the top of the 8th. Catching five balls in that game, along with watching 11 runs scored during the top of 5th, made this an exceptional experience. STADIUM JOURNEY: What's the ballhawking scene like in Toronto? Are there a lot of hawks? How stringent is security? Does Toronto have its version of Zack Hample? CHRIS HUGHES: The ballhawking scene is strong in Toronto. With a group of eight to ten regulars, you are bound to run into other members of the community at a game. Security is not that stringent, and I’ve had no issues. As for who is the Hample of Toronto, the current leaders from the area are Justin Swartz @JustinSwartz63 with 362 balls snagged and William Launderville @Threejag with 360. We’re especially excited here in Toronto, as we get to experience the long-awaited outfield renovations to the Rogers Centre. The fan experience and the ability to snag more balls, because of some changes to the dimensions of the field, promises to elevate Toronto ballhawking. Ballhawkers meet at the first Game at Rogers Centre after the COVID pandemic, July 30, 2021. Pictured: Chris Hughes, Arsen Nikolic & Michael Farkouh STADIUM JOURNEY: What's your favorite stadium to hawk in? And what's your favorite stadium to just watch a game? CHRIS HUGHES: My favorite stadium to ballhawk has to be Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. If you buy a ticket to the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum, you can get into the ballpark for early batting practice. I snagged four BP balls doing this. Oracle Park in San Francisco stands out the most for just watching a game. With the gorgeous view of the bay, a game there is a very memorable experience. STADIUM JOURNEY: Best stadium or two to eat in? CHRIS HUGHES: The best stadium I've eaten at was Citi Field. The lobster rolls in right field are amazing and a must-have if you are ever at a game in New York. Another must-have is California Pizza Kitchen at Dodger Stadium. The BBQ chicken pizza is amazing, and I would have it again! STADIUM JOURNEY: What's next for www.mygameballs.com ? CHRIS HUGHES: We’re excited to announce that we have been coding a mobile version of the MGB website, which is scheduled to launch this season. It will allow users to easily and quickly log the baseballs they snag, using their mobile device. We’re also bringing back our Survivor Pool, which is starting on June 2nd. This is a weekly competition whereby participants select one MLB game to predict from a list of 10 being played from Friday through Sunday. Making an incorrect pick results in a strike. When competitors get three strikes, they’re eliminated from the competition, which will continue until one person remains. The winner gets a $100 Amazon gift card. We’re also excited to bring back Ballhawk Fest, the annual in-person ballhawk convention, which we’ll be taking applications for soon. Follow us on @myGameBalls for the latest. ----- Jon Hart is @manversusball

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Memorial Gym 210 25th Ave S Nashville, TN 37240 Vanderbilt Commodores website Memorial Gym website Year Opened: 1952 Capacity: 14,316 Historical Memorial Gymnasium - Vanderbilt Commodores In the Music City, it only seems appropriate that the gymnasium of the largest university in Nashville was originally built as a basketball arena and concert hall. Vanderbilt University’s Memorial Gymnasium has a long history of being one of the most challenging venues for visiting teams to play in. Food & Beverage 4 Concessions stands are abundant throughout Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium. Each of the four main lobbies has two concession stands and a beer cart. Most food choices are found on the main level – fans can choose from Chick-fil-a sandwiches, hot dogs, pizza, and nachos. There is also a wide variety of BBQ choices including nachos, mac-and-cheese, and pulled pork sandwiches. Soft drinks come from the Pepsi family of products, while alcoholic options include Budweiser beers, Bud Lite Seltzers, craft beers from Tennessee Brew Works, and wine. In addition to the concessions at the main lobby level, the mezzanine and balcony levels have smaller concessions stands. Vanderbilt also offers in seat ordering where fans can skip the line, order from their seats, and pick up their food at one of the main level concessions stands. Atmosphere 5 If making a list of quirky arenas in college basketball, Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium would be right near the top of that list. Given the building’s dual needs, it requires a unique layout. Memorial Gymnasium is one of the few raised floors in the NCAA; the raised floor allows for a more gradual slope to the main level of seating – the slope of the seating is similar to that of movie theaters. With the gradual slope and raised floor, the team benches have been moved to the ends of the court. If benches were to be in the traditional location, fans in the first few rows would be looking at the back of the bench all game. Each of the four sides of the building is comprised of three tiers of seating: court level, mezzanine, and upper balcony. Given the overhang of the decks above, seats in the back of the first two levels have some rather obstructed views of the full arena and center court scoreboard. However, Vanderbilt has tried to minimize the impact of this with large video and scoreboards on the corner abutments around the gymnasium. When buying tickets, try to stay toward the front of the sections of the A-E levels – these areas have fold down seats, rather than the bench seating that is in much of the arena. Also, the further to the front, the more of the full arena you will be able to see. Fans of the visiting team typically sit in any of the F levels of seating. Neighborhood 5 One of the big draws of Nashville is its vibrant nightlife; the epicenter of the excitement has been dubbed the “Honky Tonk Highway”, and is within 2 miles of Vanderbilt’s campus. Here visitors can take in Nashville’s famed juke-joints and bar scene. The historic Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry, is the centerpiece of this downtown neighborhood. If looking to pair a visit to Vanderbilt with other local sporting events, the Nashville Predators are less than 2 miles away at Bridgestone Arena . The home of the Tennessee Titans of the NFL, Nissan Stadium , is just across the Cumberland River from downtown. While Nashville’s most popular tourist attractions are a quick rideshare away, Centennial Park and the Greek Parthenon replica are immediately across the street from Vanderbilt’s campus. The Hillsboro neighborhood directly bordering Vanderbilt also has many shops and quality restaurants. Fans 5 If the one-of-a-kind nature of Memorial Gymnasium is not enough to create a special experience, Vandy fans add to the aura of basketball here. Whether it is the acoustics of the building, the passion of the fanbase, or a combination of both, the energy throughout Memorial Gymnasium shoots through you as if you’ve been struck by lightning. A great deal of the credit for this energy goes to the student section – students show up in large numbers and make themselves part of the game atmosphere from the moment the Commodores take the floor. Basketball at Vanderbilt is a special experience, and much of that can be attributed to the students due to the school spirit and enthusiasm they display. Access 4 Getting to the Vanderbilt campus, as with most metropolitan areas, is dependent on the traffic. While not much more than a mile off Interstate-65, weekday games can be impacted by the headaches of gridlock in major cities. Parking is available at several decks around Memorial Gymnasium, the most convenient being the 25th Street garage. Prices fluctuate depending on whether it is a conference or non-conference game, and if parking is purchased in advance or not. Non-conference parking runs $5, while for conference games it is $10 if bought ahead of time; buying the day of adds $5 to the cost. There are 10 entry points around Memorial Gymnasium. For first time visitors, there might be a bit of importance to entering through the gate associated with the section of the seat – the entry level of the arena contains a maze of hallways, so it is easy to get turned around in the wrong direction if you don’t enter too close to your assigned seat. Return on Investment 3 When talking Power 5 schools, you are typically going to pay a premium when it comes to ticket prices. Ticket costs are going to be higher in a conference like the SEC, but it doesn’t have to be a deterrent to attending a game. Non-conference games typically have lower priced tickets while providing a similar experience. Vanderbilt utilizes flex pricing when it comes to their tickets. For example, tickets against rivals Kentucky or Tennessee are three times the rate as the get-in-the-door price for Alabama. While the overall experience can be worth the expense, it can be a bit cost prohibitive, so scout the schedule ahead of time to find the most reasonable ticket prices. Extras 4 There are many points of interest that just add to the experience of Memorial Gymnasium. First, the practice gym is home to Vandyville, a carnival of photo ops, face painting, and inflatables to help keep the younger fans entertained during pre-game, or if sitting down for the entirety of the game becomes too much. The lobby areas also provide fans with live action game statistics, so while fans may not directly be able to see the action while getting some food, they can keep up with the score and any statistics they might be missing. Vanderbilt features the history of its men’s and women’s programs around the arena; the most impressive among past Vanderbilt basketball players, who have also won conference awards and played professionally, is their 1984 Olympian, Jeff Turner. Final Thoughts Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium is definitely an arena that is a must-stop for stadium enthusiasts. Beyond the rarity of the raised court and the quirks of the building itself, the whole experience of a basketball game at Vanderbilt is extremely fan friendly and a great college basketball atmosphere.

Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Resch Center 820 Armed Forces Dr Green Bay, WI 54304 Green Bay Blizzard website Resch Center website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 9,877 In the Shadow of Lambeau The Green Bay Packers are the most well-known football team in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and perhaps the most well-known in the NFL as well. But you may not know about the other professional football team in Green Bay, which plays its home games right next door to Lambeau Field at Resch Center – the Green Bay Blizzard began playing indoor football in 2003 as members of Arena Football 2, and moved to the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 2010. The Blizzard have played at Resch Center for their entire existence. Food & Beverage 5 Resch Center has a ridiculous number of concessions options available from its main stands, including everything from hot dogs, brats, and burgers to chicken sandwiches and boneless wings, and sides ranging from popcorn and kettle corn to packaged candy, hot pretzels, and of course cheese curds. The most expensive food item rings in at only $6, and you can get $2 hot dogs at every game. Drink selections include soda, bottled water, Gatorade, Bubblr, draft beer, and Bud Light and vodka seltzers – non-alcoholic drinks range from $2 to $4.50, while the seltzers and beer run $8 to $10.50. Besides the main stands there is also a Mexican cantina offering mixed drinks and additional beer options, as well as nachos, walking tacos, and churros. There is also a smoothie stand, as well as a convenience store-type stand which offers a wider selection of canned beer, bottled water, and soda, plus Dippin’ Dots ice cream. Atmosphere 4 The Green Bay Blizzard offer a wonderful atmosphere for fans – besides the action of the field they have a great mascot (think the Abominable Snowman), fan contests during breaks in the action, such as fans having to catch footballs in shopping carts, local youth teams coming in to play rugby on the field during halftime, promotions where fans can win prizes by throwing footballs onto the middle of the field, TVs in the hallways so you don’t miss the action while at the concession stands, and best of all, special events like Micah Tyler in concert after the game during Faith & Fellowship Night – there was a stage set up behind one of the end zones. There are also premiere seating options like the Bud Light Cave, great music played throughout the game that fans can dance to, and a fabulous (and hilarious) PA announcer. Neighborhood 4 Being right next to Lambeau Field , it is not surprising there are plenty of restaurants and hotels within walking distance of Resch Center – popular spots include Stadium View Bar, Restaurant, & Banquet Hall (a Packers -themed sports bar); Badger State Brewing Company; and Anduzzi’s Sports Club on Holmgren Way. There is also a Buffalo Wild Wings nearby, and for hotels there is a Hilton Garden Inn right next to the arena. If you plan to be in town for the weekend, of course any true football fan should make a visit to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame (attached to Lambeau Field ), and you can also take the Oneida Walk of Legends, a 1-mile walking tour exploring 24 statues honoring the Packers . Fans 2 The fans at Blizzard games are passionate, they really seem to enjoy themselves and cheer at all the right times, but the facility is pretty empty. Even on a special events night with a free concert following the game, and all the fun activities the staff brings in to enhance the experience, there is just not much of a draw. This is a little disappointing for a team that has been in the area for almost 20 years. Access 3 Once you get inside Resch Center it is very easy to move around – the concessions lines are pretty short and there are plenty of bathrooms. The concourse is also absolutely massive so it is easy to move around, and there are stairs, escalators, and elevators all over the place tucked into various corners and hallways, so getting where you need to go is a breeze. The main drawback in regard to access is the parking – there is a lot right across the street from Resch Center ($10 per car), but this road backs up pretty badly; you could easily wait 15 minutes to half an hour just to get into the lot. Granted, once you get into the lot it is a super short walk to the venue, but you may be better off parking further away if you want to save some time and stress. Return on Investment 5 Attending a Green Bay Blizzard game is absolutely worth it – there is a trend nowadays with small venues across the country trying to avoid Ticketmaster and its fees (in order to reduce ticket prices and get more fans), and the Blizzard are all in on this. They instead use a site called Ticket Star, which charges much less in fees, or you can just buy at the door starting at $12 and avoid the fees altogether. $12 is a steal for this level of football – given all the great amenities, such as the free concert and getting to see kids play rugby during halftime, you really can’t beat this price point. Add in only $10 for parking, plus the ultra-cheap concessions, and you really are getting your money’s worth at Resch Center, even if you bring a large crowd. Extras 5 The Blizzard offer several great bonuses for fans who attend games at Resch Center – first off they have special promotions for most of their games, like Superheroes Night when kids are invited to dress up as their favorite superhero, or Faith & Fellowship Night when they have a free post-game concert by popular faith singer Micah Tyler. They also create special game balls, each with different graphics to match that day’s theme, for each of these games. They also throw out some really cool classic sound effects, for example when something good happens for the Blizzard they play the power up sound from Super Mario (the sound it makes when Mario grows bigger), and when something bad happens for the home team they play the sound of Pac-Man being eaten by the ghosts. They also have a team gear stand on the upper level if you want to grab your Blizzard swag, and the mascot is really top notch. Final Thoughts Indoor football is a lot of fun – with its shorter field and unique rules you are guaranteed to see a lot of scoring, and here at Resch Center you can get really close to the action, and even hear the smack of the pads coming together, or the sounds of the players trash-talking each other. The Blizzard take the sport to a whole new level with all the extras they throw in, so I definitely recommend seeing a game here – you won’t regret it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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