Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Marsh Field 1800 Peck St. Muskegon, MI 49441 Muskegon Clippers website Marsh Field website Year Opened: 1916 Capacity: 600 Muskegon's Century Old Ballpark Marsh Field in Muskegon, Michigan, has been the home to all levels of baseball, from high school, minor league, and women’s professional teams since May 4, 1916. It has been the home of the Muskegon Clippers of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate team since 2015, and they continue the tradition left by many others in the past. Charles W. Marsh, a prominent industrialist, civic leader, and president of minor league clubs in Muskegon, spearheaded construction. He purchased four square blocks of property in the center of town and built a modern facility to attract a new team to town after one of the city’s ballparks was dismantled and replaced with homes. The new stadium would eventually seat 6,000 people. It would be home to various minor league teams, including the Muskegon Red and the original Clippers, which served as parent clubs for the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees, respectively. The Tigers sponsored the 1940 team and provided funds to upgrade Marsh Field, including additional open bleacher seating. Marsh Field was home to the Muskegon Lassies of the All-American Girls Baseball League from 1946-1950. The Lassies averaged close to 2,500 people per game. The large crowds might have been attributed to the light towers installed for the first time. In 1953, the Muskegon Belles of the AAGPBL would call the stadium home before folding, concluding an era of professional baseball at Marsh Field and in Muskegon. The field was in squalid conditions when current Clippers management took over the field in 2015. Every dime collected by the team has been put back into the stadium and has included a new infield, scoreboard, party deck seating, paint job, stadium seating, and improved lighting and sound system. Food & Beverage 3 A small concession stand at the front of the seating bowl ramp offers hot dogs, brats, and nachos between $3 and $4. Fans order by the bun and take it to the grill, where a sizzling brat or dog is served to them directly. Other items include candy, chips, popcorn, and peanuts. Coca-Cola products sell for $2.50 a bottle. An alcohol kiosk in the seating bowl includes cans of Bud, Bud Light, and Michelob Ultra. Nutrl Hard Seltzers and local Unruly Brewing Company cans are available between $4-$5, but a dollar off when the beer batter strikes out. Atmosphere 3 The Clippers provided a pleasant atmosphere for home games at Marsh Field. The venue offers food, beverages, merchandise, plenty of fans, and baseball. The 600-seat stadium is separated into bleacher seats and stadium seats, along with small party decks and suites at each end of the concourse. A merchandise kiosk is down the ramp from the seating bowl. An impressive collection of t-shirts and caps are available and nicely displayed. The small concession stand and grill move fans quickly during the game. A small decorative scoreboard is behind right-center field. A historical plaque is at the entrance, detailing the field’s history in Muskegon. The atmosphere is similar to other ballparks in the league from Lima, Royal Oak, and Grand Lake. It is intimate, affordable, and pleasant during a summer's evening. Neighborhood 4 Marsh Field is located 1.5 miles from downtown Muskegon where there are more than a few options for food and drink before or after the ball game. Trinity Health Area is the home to indoor soccer, junior hockey, and indoor football, but it also anchors two eating establishments: Rad Dad’s Taco & Tequila and Carlise’s Restaurant. Visitors can eat inside while watching a sporting event at the arena, or take a walk around the concourse to get a personal tour of the sports venue. Rad Dad’s offers $1 tacos on Tuesdays, and Carlise’s has a happy hour menu between 2 pm-6 pm. Across the street is Dr. Rolf’s Barbecue, and next to the arena is Topshelf Pizza Liquor & Bar. All four establishments provide patio seating for customers in a lively downtown atmosphere. The Muskegon Museum of History & Science at the Lakeshore Museum Center is around the corner from these restaurants. A few miles outside downtown are the white-sand beaches of Pere Marquette Park. Visitors can stroll through the sands, take a dip in Lake Michigan, or hang out at The Deck, where barbecue and music take center stage at the double-decker restaurant. Fans 4 The Clippers have a great fan base that supports the club throughout the season. The fan support is similar in a few other Great Lakes Leagues of similar size. Fans wear Clippers t-shirts and caps, and local groups provide ample support on most nights. Access 3 Marsh Field is small and easy to get around. A small concourse separates the bleacher seats from the box seats. Concessions, bathrooms, and a merchandise kiosk are outside the seating bowl area. A large parking lot provides enough space for cars. Return on Investment 3 An adult ticket is $5, seniors 65 and older are $3, students are $3, and kids under 5 years old are free. Parking is free of charge, t-shirts are $20, while caps are $30. Concession prices range from $3-$4 for a hot dog or nachos, and beer prices are $4-$5 a can. Extras 3 Marsh Field earns a point for hosting baseball since 1916. A second point for the Clipper's array of t-shirts and caps at reasonable prices. A final point for the beer batter that takes a $1 off beer when the batter strikes out. Final Thoughts Marsh Field has seen plenty of baseball played since 1916, and the Clippers continue that tradition in the Great Lakes League. The cozy, intimate conditions of the ballpark and proximity to downtown Muskegon and nearby beaches are ideal travel sports for the baseball traveler during the summer months of June and July. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field 2302 Phil George Drive San Angelo, TX 76909 Angelo State Rams website LeGrand Stadium website Year Opened: 2014 Capacity: 5,670 Angelo State Rams – LeGrand Stadium Nestled on the banks of the flowing Concho River lies the West Texas city of San Angelo. The city, originally founded as a military town when the U.S. Army founded Fort Concho in the 1860s, is also home to Angelo State University and its athletics team, the Rams . Angelo State first fielded a football team in time for the 1964 season and competed for several years at the NAIA level before gradually moving up to their current level of Division II. Throughout their history, the Rams have found quite a bit of success, claiming the NAIA National Championship in 1978 as well as three conference titles. Since 2014 the Rams have called LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field their home. Built right on campus with the field sunk low below the bleachers, the stadium is state-of-the-art, with new field turf, a new press box, and new visitor bleachers. As the proverbial only game in town, the Rams have cultivated a pretty rabid fan base that shows out at LeGrand Stadium. Read on to learn what makes the stadium special. Food & Beverage 3 There are two main concession stands for fans at LeGrand Stadium. Both offer a sampling of your traditional game day fare including hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, bottled soft drinks, water, and energy drinks. What makes these true Texas concessions – and raises them above-average in my opinion – is the selling of Frito pies and hot links. I can think of nothing better to chow down on during a football game on a Saturday than either one, or both, of these favorites. You might need a helping of antacids afterward depending on your gastrointestinal fortitude, but I would recommend trying these for yourself if you’ve never partaken. Other offerings include a Bahama Buck’s shaved ice and snow-cones truck parked near the home team stands. These hit the spot during those early Saturdays on the schedule, where temps hover near triple digits. They are also perennial favorites for younger fans, while for older fans there are also two beer tents, one on each side of the stadium. Atmosphere 4 I’m a fan of the style of the stadium they have at Angelo State – there is something special to me about walking down into a stadium. Fans can watch the West Texas sunset and the moon rise from their seats. It’s a great environment and I think a great setting for football. Other areas of interest to take in include the statue of Dominic the Ram, the school’s first live mascot, which sits behind the end zone near the Angelo State athletics center. It is a mighty impressive sight to take in and, quite frankly, a great photo op for fans/visitors to the stadium. The ram seems to stand watch over the other special atmospheric feature, a battery of Civil War-era re-enactors from the nearby Fort Concho National Historic Landmark and their era-appropriate cannon. This massive beast fires off after every Rams score and it is a sight to behold – and to hear. Another spot to be on the lookout for is the team merchandise tent, adjacent to the home-side concessions stand. It offers all manner of Angelo State Rams memorabilia and apparel for fans. I will touch more on the fans in that section, but their involvement the entire time made the most recent game I attended a real treat. Neighborhood 3 The city of San Angelo is, as mentioned, one rich in history. As such there are quite a few points of interest for fans of Texas/Western/American/Military history. With that in mind, for history buffs, the remnants of the previously mentioned Fort Concho, Fort McKavett , and Fort Chadbourne are all within driving distance of downtown San Angelo. Other points of interest nearby include the International Waterlily Collection , which is the top tourist spot in the city. This vast collection of every known variety of waterlily is housed in a beautiful setting and is a great way to spend an afternoon walking, taking photos, or just learning about this exotic flora. Also, not to be missed is the San Angelo Riverwalk ; this beautiful stretch along the banks of the Concho River is a place where residents come to exercise, listen to concerts, fish, and even play golf at the nine-hole Santa Fe Golf Course. For dining and hotel options there are quite a few to choose from, with many within a short drive of the Angelo State campus. In terms of grub, I cannot recommend the Western Sky Steakhouse enough – it quickly became my favorite restaurant in San Angelo. Serving up steaks (naturally), salads, and Tex-Mex, it is a go-to spot for locals and I completely get why. Alternatively, closer to campus is the Cork & Pig Tavern , a gastropub serving craft beer and wood-fired oven pizzas. For hotels, there are plenty of mid-level chain options to choose from, as well as quite a few vacation rental options. Near the stadium is the Wingate by Wyndham San Angelo and the Staybridge Suites San Angelo, an IHG Hotel ; both are a 12- to 13-minute walk or five-minute car ride to LeGrand Stadium. Fans 4 The Angelo State Rams averaged over 3,500 fans per home game in 2022. With a facility the size of LeGrand Stadium, that is virtually full, I would hazard a guess that the home team stands are generally always full. I was fortunate to attend Angelo State’s most recent homecoming game, and anecdotally this looked like a sellout to me. The stands were packed and there were also a lot of fans standing for the entire game along the railing behind the south end zone. From my perspective, the vast majority of fans on that night came decked out in Rams gear and were vocal and engaged the entire time. In short, it was pretty much the perfect atmosphere for a college football game. Access 3 As mentioned, San Angelo is tucked out in West Texas, which is arguably the most remote part of the state. Getting there is going to be a bit of a chore. Driving-wise, the closest big city to try and tackle it from is San Antonio, which is three hours away. The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is four hours, Austin is three and a half hours away, and Houston and El Paso are both six hours from San Angelo. The one shorter way to get there is via the San Angelo Regional Airport. American Airlines runs a daily flight to and from San Angelo from DFW International Airport; this would considerably cut down on your travel time if you go this route. Once on-site, there isn’t much in the way of public transportation to speak of, but ridesharing is available. If you are driving, parking is plentiful and – best of all – free in and around unmarked spots on the Angelo State campus. Return on Investment 4 Single-game tickets for Angelo State Rams games at LeGrand Stadium start at $12 per for general admission seating and $15 for reserved seats; the difference between bleachers and individual seat backs. I can also say from experience that the cost of concessions is remarkably affordable. I have been to many college – and even high school – games where the cost for the same items on sale is exponentially higher in cost. You’ll get a good bargain here, especially when you consider the free parking and the caliber of opponents that Angelo State regularly plays. Extras 4 Angelo State brings out all the pageantry of college football to their games, big time. First off the Ram Band , which is one of the largest small-school marching bands I’ve ever seen, performs before games, at halftime, and, to their credit, plays throughout the game and at the right times (e.g., when the opposing team is on offense). Also on hand are the Angelo State Cheerleaders and the Angelettes , the school’s dance team. The cheerleaders do their bit throughout the game on the sidelines, while the dance team performs during intermissions and at halftime. Last are the mascots, which I have to admit is my favorite tradition in all of sports. As mentioned above, Angelo State has a live ram as its mascot. Dominic the Ram is a pretty impressive sight to behold on the sidelines during Angelo State games – I am a fan of any team that has a live mascot, and a Ram is always a pretty awesome sight to see. On the other end of the spectrum are the Angelo State costumed mascots, Roscoe D. Ram and Bella D. Ram . Both man the sidelines during games and are around for photo ops. Final Thoughts I wasn’t sure what to expect on my visit to Angelo State, but I came away mighty impressed with the whole operation. The stadium looked good, the atmosphere was electric, and the costs were shockingly low. I’ve been to far bigger stadiums that were far less fun. I wouldn’t put LeGrand Stadium on any bucket list (unless you’ve got one like mine), but I think you could do a whole lot worse on a Saturday in West Texas than taking in an Angelo State Rams game. --- Follow Eric Moreno's Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 .

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Harlen Hunter Stadium 209 South Kingshighway St. Charles, MO 63301 Lindenwood Lions website Harlen Hunter Stadium website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 6,000 The Mane Attraction 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 including the University of Missouri-Little Rock, Eastern Illinois, Morehead State, Southeastern Missouri, Southern Illinois, Tennessee State and Tennessee-Martin. The Lions football program is relatively young, as it first fielded a team in 1990.It was very successful at the NAIA level, making the playoffs four times (2004, 2008, 2009 and 2010). Lindenwood played in the 2009 NAIA National Championship game, which it lost. The home of Lindenwood Lions football is the on-campus Harlen Hunter Stadium. It opened in 1975 as the preseason training facility for the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL, and has a capacity of 6,000 seats, including three sections of club seats. It is named for Dr Harlen C. Hunter, a prominent physician, and the founder of the St. Louis Orthopedic Medicine Clinic. The facility stays busy throughout the year, as it hosts football, men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, men’s and women’s lacrosse and rugby. Food & Beverage 4 Hunter Stadium has one main concession stand, with 5 single item stands located along the concourse areas of the stadium. These stands include Chick-fil-A, Pepsi, Kona Ice and Shamrock Brewing Company. The main stand offers pretzel bites ($3), popcorn ($2), nachos ($3), hot dogs ($3), grilled brats ($4), Italian beef sandwiches ($5), potato chips ($2) and frozen custard ($3). Drinks offered at the central concession stand include Pepsi brand sodas ($3), Gatorade ($3), bottled water ($3), coffee ($3), and hot chocolate ($3). Beer is available at the Shamrock Brewing stand only. The number of concessions stands at Harlen Stadium has been increased in anticipation of larger crowds at the FCS level of NCAA football. Atmosphere 4 Harlen Hunter Stadium offers a very enjoyable experience in which to watch football. The seats are predominately bleacher seating and are close to the action on three sides of the field. The stadium offers a striking graphics package, with a huge lion logo at the 50-yard line and a gold and black color scheme in the two end zones. A large videoboard is located behind the south end zone, while a more basic scoreboard that provides the time left, the score and the location of the line of scrimmage is hung above the student section in the north end zone. Due to multiple sports being played in the stadium, the field features an artificial turf surface, which prevents the game from becoming a mud bath. The field also features a state-of-the-art lighting system, as well as a two-level press box. Neighborhood 4 Lindenwood University is 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 sites 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, you’ll want to visit the many shops and restaurants in the Historic District. Both the Fairfield Inn and the Comfort Inn offer reasonable rates are close to both the Lindenwood campus and the St. Charles Historic District. Fans 5 Lindenwood parents and students are thrilled to be playing at the Division I level. They are very welcoming to visitors, as the school has a strict code of conduct. They will be happy to answer any questions you might have once you arrive at the campus. Fans arrive early for games, as tailgating begins three hours before kickoff. A Lion Pride Tailgate offers Lion fans an opportunity to meet, eat and drink before the games. The tailgate is held in front of the Fieldhouse. There are several vendor tents, including Royal Liquors, Bougie Bites, Luxury Bash Services, the St. Louis Ambush, and Pepsi. Shortly before the gates open, the tailgating crowd is fired up by appearances by the Lions Cheerleaders, the Lion mascot Leo, and a performance by the Lion Pride Marching Band. 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 zones 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 football 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 into the Lindenwood campus. Volunteers will direct you to the appropriate parking lot. Gates open 60 minutes before kickoff, leaving you plenty of time to get to your seats. Return on Investment 5 Going to a game at Harlen Hunter Stadium will not break your budget. All single game tickets are considered general admission seats. The tickets cost $15 a game. There are three sections (104,105 and 106) that feature chairbacks and are considered season ticket holder/ box seats. The general admission seats are bench seating. The concession stand prices are very reasonable. There is no charge for parking on the Lindenwood campus on gamedays. Extras 4 In addition to Lindenwood University athletic events, Hunter Stadium has hosted the Women’s NAIA National Championship Game in soccer in 2001 and 2002 and hosted the National Championship Game for Women’s Lacrosse as well. The venue was also the site of a soccer friendly between St. Louis FC and the Chicago Fire of the MLS. A student -athletic center was recently added to the area behind the south end zone. This facility provides locker rooms, training areas and meeting space for all the sports teams at Lindenwood. Five players from Lindenwood have gone on to play in the NFL. Lindenwood will soon begin a tradition of rivalry games, as they will be playing two opponents (Eastern Illinois and Southern Illinois) from the nearby state of Illinois, as well as an in-state rival in the form of Southeast Missouri State University. Final Thoughts Division I football has returned to the St. Louis metropolitan area for the first time since 1949 in the form of the Lindenwood Lions. The school is thrilled to be in Division I, and they look forward to creating an uproar in the Ohio Valley Conference. Harlen Hunter Stadium is a wonderful place to watch the Lions games.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Pelham Civic Complex 500 Amphitheater Road Pelham, AL 35124 Birmingham Bulls website Pelham Civic Complex website Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 4,100 Pelham Civic Complex – Birmingham Bulls Approximately 20 miles south of Birmingham, Alabama is the suburban city of Pelham, home of Pelham Civic Complex and the Birmingham Bulls. There has been some form of hockey under the name Birmingham Bulls off and on since 1976, with teams playing in the World Hockey Association (1976-79), the Central Hockey League (1979-81), the ECHL (1997–2001). These versions of the Bulls would play at the now Legacy Arena . Hockey would make just a one-year return to the Birmingham area for the 2003-04 season, this time in Pelham with the Alabama Slammers of the World Hockey Association 2. Following a thirteen-year hockey hiatus the current incarnation of the Birmingham Bulls would come to fruition in the Southern Professional Hockey League at Pelham Civic Complex in 2017. Food & Beverage 5 The food available at Pelham Civic Complex might be the deepest in all minor league sports, and quite possibly could stand up against just about any major league franchise. From burgers to dogs and sausages, to wings and pizza, entrée options are almost endless. Snacks include the usual chips and candy, but dive deep into fried pickles, fried okra, hush puppies, and even mini corn dogs. Combo meals including catfish nuggets, BBQ sandwiches, or a Cuban sandwich. Beer and liquor are plentiful as well, but beer options are more centered around domestic brands, with not much of a craft beer selection. Also, having three primary concession stands and four bars spaced around the arena helps keep lines and wait times down. Atmosphere 3 With its low roof line, it’s hard to picture a four thousand seat hockey arena inside Pelham Civic Complex. Within the playing area black seats encircle the rink, but do not make the playing area feel too small, but rather give it more of a cozy feel. The size of the arena is just about the perfect size for the Bulls and their fans. A four-sided scoreboard hangs above center ice, but given the low roof, the panels on each side are shorter than most scoreboards, even those in smaller arenas. During play the scoreboard shows a live feed of the action on the ice, and gives time, score, and shots-on-goal totals, along with any time remaining on power plays. During breaks in the action it is also used for hype videos and advertisements. There is plenty to keep fans entertained throughout the game, including fan cams, on-ice contests, and engaging music to keep fans entertained during stoppages in play. Also the team mascot, Toro, makes appearances around the arena and on ice. There is not a bad seat in the house – when choosing a seat, sitting at the top of the sections help eliminate a semi-distorted view created by a portion of the ice having glass in front of it, as the rest is unobstructed. Fans with accessibility needs have a section dedicated to providing them with a full-length view of the ice, rather than sitting mostly below the sideboards. Neighborhood 3 Pelham Civic Complex is tucked behind a row of gas stations, hotels, and regional and national chain restaurants that connect I-65 and Pelham Parkway. However, the arena has such a wide variety of choices on its concessions menu that a pre-game meal might not be necessary. If you are still looking to grab a bite before or after the game, though, nearby Creekside BBQ would be a good choice. Beer enthusiasts might also enjoy a visit to The Beer Hog with its two-hundred craft beers and sixty-five taps. Nature lovers might enjoy exploring the nearby Oak Mountain State Park with its various outdoor activities. The arena is also neighbored by Oak Mountain Amphitheater, and sits across the street from a still in-progress, mixed-use development that will feature restaurants, retail shops, and apartments. Fans 4 Fans start piling up at the arena’s metal detectors about an hour before the doors open. The inadvertent clatter of cowbells also rattles up and down the line in anticipation of being allowed in. A group of rather rambunctious fans pick the seats at the far end of the rink, right behind the visiting goalie. They have dubbed themselves the “10H8 Rowdy Bunch” – this bunch is quick to heckle anyone on the ice who is not in a Bulls sweater, by comparing their performance to that of a vacuum. Fans work themselves into a frenzy at the announcement of a power play. This is when the previously clattered cowbells are now paired with the sound of a vuvuzela, as the fans stomp and clap in hopes the Bulls are able to muster a power play goal. Access 3 Pelham Civic Complex is located less than a mile off Interstate-65 heading into Birmingham. With Birmingham being the junction of four major interstate highways (I-20, I-22, I-59, and I-65), the area is accessible from several of the metropolitan areas in the southeast. Once at the arena, most parking is to the right side of the building, and is just a short walk to the front entrance, which is the only entry point for non-season ticket holders. Season ticket holders have a VIP entrance on the main parking lot side of the building. The main lobby fills quickly as fans file in to purchase apparel, Chuck-a-Puck opportunities, jersey raffles, and 50/50 tickets. It can take a bit of work to get through the lobby at first, but as fans start moving toward their seats the lobby empties out. There are four main entry points into the rink – two doorways enter directly to a small area of seats on either side of the near end of the arena, while two other entry points are used to access seats on each side of the ice. To the left of the main entrance, fans will walk upstairs to an inner walkway that wraps two-thirds around the rink, and make their way down to their seats from there. To the right fans, walk below the stands and come through tunnels to get to the seating area; either side of the rink is easily accessible. Return on Investment 3 Prices for tickets are not substantially expensive, but they might be a tick higher than expected for minor league hockey. Typical general admission tickets run $15 plus another $5 for parking, so fans are $20 in before walking through the doors. Inside the arena, well-priced concessions do a good job balancing out the ticket and parking rates. Most snacks of substance are $6-$7, while baskets, such as entrées with fries, are $10. Extras 2 The Birmingham Bulls app allows fans to take part in interactive in-game contests, as well as check game stats in real time. In the SPHL, almost every night seemingly has a theme, gate giveaway, or jersey auction – there always seems to be something special going on at each game. Final Thoughts When you move away from the bright lights and thousands upon thousands of seats at the highest levels of professional hockey, you tend to find some of the most passionate fan bases in all sports. These levels allow fans to make personal connections with players and vice versa. Fans in these arenas care deeply about their teams, and that feeling bleeds through to the enjoyment of attending a Bulls hockey game.

Photos by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Sutter Health Park 400 Ballpark Dr West Sacramento, CA 95691 Athletics website Sutter Health Park website Year Opened: 2000 Capacity: 14,014 The Athletics Temporary Home in Sacramento The saga of the Oakland Athletics under owner John Fisher has reached its nadir as the team is playing out of a minor league park in Sacramento for three seasons while their new ballpark in Las Vegas is being constructed. It's embarrassing for Fisher, and MLB should be ashamed for letting it happen. Unfortunately, the Oakland Coliseum proved to be only a temporary solution, as the allure of Las Vegas ultimately drew the team away from the Bay Area.  Still, baseball politics are not in the scope of stadium reviews, and we want to have every stadium covered, so we made a trip to California's capital city to see how the no-name Athletics (their team isn't even using Sacramento) are faring at Sutter Health Park. Food & Beverage 4 There are several large fixed concession stands at the back of the concourse with a wide variety of choices. Most intriguing was Coop and Kennel Pub, where a Pastrami Fry will set you back $16, while a Pastrami Dog is $14. The Golden Spike Chophouse has more traditional offerings, such as Chicken Tenders & Fries ($15), Cheeseburger & Fries ($16), and a Crispy Fried Chicken Sub ($13).  Oso's Mexican Cantina has you covered if you prefer a bit of a kick, with loaded nachos going for $18, a walking taco for $15, a $13 burrito, and a Fiesta Salad for $15. Pizza and Pints is your spot, with a Grandma cheese slice at $12 - another buck will get you pepperoni on top of that. They also have garlic knots with marinara sauce for $14. Bridges Grille has paintings of the Golden Gate Bridge and nearby Tower Bridge (over which fans coming from downtown will walk), and its specialty items are Loaded Mac 'n' Cheese ($15) and a Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog ($15). All fixed stands offer the same standard fare, including hot dogs ($7, a jumbo is $13 while a veggie version is $9), jumbo soft pretzels ($7, $10 with cheese), popcorn ($9), and Cracker Jack ($7). There are also several portable stands, including Ciders and Sliders, that offer pulled pork or brisket sliders for $16. The Sweet Spot offers desserts, including milkshakes and a root beer float option, for $9, the same price as soft serve ice cream in a helmet. Pepsi products are available, with a souvenir cup priced at $9 and refills costing $3 — a worthwhile deal if you're attending multiple games. A regular fountain soda costs $7, and bottled beverages are available for $6. Beer is widely available starting at $15 for American lager, while the premium pour will set you back an extra couple of dollars. There is a beer garden in the left field corner that is open to the public, and you can enjoy your brews there in the shade before the game.   Atmosphere 3 Sutter Health Park Right Field Gate, Photo by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey It is a minor league ballpark and a good one, but it doesn't meet the standards of an MLB stadium. After walking over the iconic bright yellow bridge, you enter via the Right Field Gate (above), with no waiting as there are so few fans (the team has yet to sell out at the time of this writing, averaging about 9,800). Upon entering, you will find yourself next to the lawn, which is in the sun for the early part of the game. About the third inning during night games, the sun will have disappeared behind a large advertisement atop the roof. As you stroll through the open concourse, you’ll notice poles adorned with artwork created by children when the stadium first opened in 2000. Today, many of those young artists likely have children of their own, making it a special experience to return and share their early creations with the next generation. The seating bowl is typical for AAA parks, with 30 rows of sunbeaten green seats in each section. Around home plate, there are only a few seats in each row, but as you move up and towards the outfield, the rows get longer. The seating capacity is 10,624, with room for 3,390 more on the lawn and standing. The team has yet to sell out and is averaging 9,781, about 71 fans less than Tampa in their minor league stadium.  A rarity at a major league ballpark: the starting lineup written in marker. Retired numbers can be found along the concourse past third base, near the beer garden, while a banner celebrating the ball club's nine World Series titles is on a wall behind the outfield fence. Broadcasters throw plush baseballs to the crowd behind home plate during the 7th-inning stretch, which certainly gets people on their feet. It should be noted that the A’s renovated the park to meet MLB standards, adding new baseball-themed lights and a clubhouse behind the left field wall (it's fun to watch an ejected manager trundle out there), as well as an impressive scoreboard. Neighborhood 4 Sutter Health Park is located in West Sacramento, just across the river from Old Sacramento, a cool little tourist area with several bars and eateries. My recommendation is Fanny Ann's Saloon, where you get 20 percent off food and drink if you show your game ticket. Their kitchen closes at 10 pm, so this is better for pregaming if attending a night game. The staff and regulars are very friendly if you can get a seat at the bar.  If you are looking for something afterwards, Honey and the Trapcat has a kitchen open until 2 a.m. as well as a good beer selection. If you prefer chain restaurants, you will appreciate the weekday happy hour (half-priced appetizers and discounts on beer) at Yard House, part of the Downtown Commons (DoCo) area just a couple of minutes away. If you're looking for something filling that won't break the bank, try Bistro Bravado's breakfast burrito, a meal and a half for just $10. There are dozens of other choices throughout downtown, so there should be something for everyone. In terms of attractions, the State Capitol is the most obvious; see if you can find the painting of Arnie, who once governed here. The California State Capitol Museum is on site. Meanwhile, in Old Sacramento, you will find the California State Railroad Museum, while the Museum of Science and Curiosity is a few minutes north. Art aficionados will enjoy the Crocker Art Museum just south of Old Sacramento. If you are flying in, you do not need a car here as the bus to and from the airport is quick. I generally recommend staying downtown as there is enough to see and do, and you can walk to the stadium. The Holiday Inn Downtown is one option, while the Embassy Suites is right at the foot of the Tower Bridge. There is also a light rail system that will take you to the suburbs, such as Rancho Cordova, though not too many tourists will need to use it. One thing to note is that homelessness has become quite a problem in Sacramento, and you will see it on every block as you make your way around downtown.  Fans 3 The team is averaging about 70 percent of capacity, with many of them seeing the visiting team. It makes sense, as why would you invest time as a resident if the team is going to leave in a couple of years? There's already minor league ball for a lot less. Still, the fans who attend are cheering for the Athletics and are friendly to visiting fans, which is all you can ask for. Access 4 The stadium sits right alongside I-5. If you're driving, it's best to take the downtown exit and park in one of the garages at DoCo or Old Sacramento, then walk across the Tower Bridge to the stadium. While there is parking available near the stadium, rates are as high as $80, which is pretty outrageous. If you're staying downtown, walking is the way to go, and it seems like about half the fans choose that option. Inside, the concourse does get crowded at times, but there are no issues with concession lines or restrooms.  Return on Investment 2 Tickets start at $25 for lawn "seats", but you have to sign up for a text service, and every morning, these seats are released via a link sent by SMS to your phone. The remaining normal seats are also sold at a significant discount via this link, so this is worth doing. The regular ticket prices are absurd ($60 for lawn seats, $150+ for those in the infield), and you should be able to find better and cheaper options on the secondary market. For example, I found a seat four rows behind the visiting dugout for just $34, something that would cost much more at every other ballpark. There is a small club with seats on the second level above first base. Known as the Solon Club after the minor league teams that played here for most of the 20th century, a regular ticket is $220, making it the biggest rip-off in baseball, as the seats are in the sun for the first few innings, and the food offerings are limited to hot dogs, brats, links, iceberg lettuce wedges, and fresh fruit. Beer and wine are free, but you'd have to have 15 of them to get your money's worth. If attending multiple games and you are able to get in here for $30 on the secondary market, it is worth the experience, but not for much more. Extras 2 The club area can be reached by two staircases, with the one near third base featuring a small exhibit on the region’s baseball history. The display highlights the legacy of the Sacramento Solons — a name carried by several minor league teams over the past century. If you ask politely, you should be allowed to have a look; there is also a bobblehead collection on the top shelf. Final Thoughts Overall, Sutter Health Park is ideal for AAA ball, but far too small to host a major league team. Still, that does give you a chance to see the big club in cozy conditions for far less than at a major league stadium (assuming you luck out on the secondary market), so there is some upside, as long as you were not a fan of the Oakland Athletics.

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Soldier Field 1410 Museum Campus Dr Chicago, IL 60605 Chicago Bears website Soldier Field website Year Opened: 1924 Capacity: 61,500 Bears Soldier ON Soldier Field is known as the oldest stadium in the NFL, as its construction and opening date back to 1924. The first issue with that is that it was originally called Grant Park Municipal Stadium. The name was changed to Soldier Field in 1925 at the request of the Gold Star Mothers. The second issue with this honor is that it did not become an NFL stadium until 1971 when the Bears moved over from Wrigley Field. It also was built in stages running from 1922-1939 during its original construction. At the conclusion of this period, the stadium could hold more than 100,000 fans. Soldier Field lives up to its name as there are numerous salutes to the armed forces both inside and outside of the venue. A statue of a World War I “doughboy” is in the southern end of the stadium, while a veteran’s memorial water wall is in the northern end of the facility. There have been numerous renovations since the 1930s, with the most massive taking place in 2002. This renovation demolished the interior of the stadium, leaving only the exterior façade of the stadium intact. These include the iconic columns that one thinks of when you think of the classic Soldier Field. The renovations so altered the stadium that it had its Historic Landmark status removed. The changes were ridiculed as the seating bowl inserted inside the exterior walls was much higher than the exterior, leaving the impression of a flying saucer landing on top of Soldier Field. Many locals referred to it as the “Eyesore on the Lakeshore”. However, there were good intentions to this remodel, as the purpose was to bring the stands closer to the field to provide a better view for the fans. They were successful in this accomplishment as only MetLife Stadium in New Jersey has seats closer to the action. Today’s version of Soldier Field offers seating for 61,500 and more than 115 luxury suites. Food & Beverage 4 Chicago is a foodie town, and the concessions available at Soldier Field tend to provide the best the city has to offer. South Marche offers Chicago dogs as well as Chicago-style pizza. Second City Pizza offers cheese, sausage, and Buona Italian beef pizzas. Gastro Pub 1410 carries hoagies and a great set of chicken wings. If you are in the mood for brats, the Stockyard Grill will fill the bill. Portage Park is known for its terrific Polish sausages. Buona Beef offers a delicious Italian beef sandwich. BBQ lovers can choose from either County BBQ or Bronzeville BBQ for chicken, pork or great ribs. Burger lovers should head over to DMK where they will have a choice of several delicious burgers. Atmosphere 4 Architectural concerns aside, Soldier Field is a great place to watch an NFL game. The seating bowl does provide excellent sightlines to the field. The videoboards in the stadium measure 128 ft X 40 ft and provide a crystal-clear picture. The Bears have a long tradition going back to the creation of the NFL and the long coaching career of Coach George Halas. The field here is grass, as artificial turf simply does not belong on a football field in the city of Chicago. Even though some of the Bear greats like Sayers and Ditka did not play in this stadium they belong to the same heritage of later heroes such as Mike Singletary, Walter Payton, and William “The Fridge” Perry, who did play at Soldier Field and teamed up to bring the city of Chicago its most recent Super Bowl victory. The Bears have a great deal of pride in their gameday experience for the fans. They offer four different areas of pregame entertainment and the areas around the stadium open 4 hours prior to the game, giving fans plenty of time to enjoy tailgating with their friends and getting fired up for the game. The stadium gates also open two hours prior to the kickoff, allowing fans more time to enjoy themselves with their seatmates. The NFC North is almost like the “Original Six” in the NHL. Each of the teams in the conference has ties back to the beginning of the NFL. It is one of the most competitive conferences in the NFL, with every in-conference game close no matter what the team records are. All of this adds up to a great atmosphere to enjoy a fall afternoon at Soldier Field. Neighborhood 3 Soldier Field is located off Lakeshore Drive, Chicago’s front door to Lake Michigan. Its immediate neighbors on the Museum Campus include the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. Between the deepness of the parkland and the vast wideness of Lakeshore Drive, the bus lanes and CTA tracks it is nearly a mile before you would find the small neighborhood taverns and other gathering places that typically surround stadiums. If you head north on Lakeshore and you will find all sorts of restaurants and several forms of entertainment along the famous Navy Pier. One of the most popular destinations along Lakeshore Drive for a selfie is the Bean sculpture, which provides a reflection of you in a very distorted way. The Chicago Lakefront District also is a great place to get some exercise. There are running trails that go on for miles or you can rent a bike and cruise safely along the lakefront in designated bike lanes. We advise you to take part in one of the many fan entertainment areas surrounding Soldier Field. They range from family-friendly entertainment to areas where hardcore fans can get their pregame football fix. When game time grows near, you don’t want to find yourself a great distance from the stadium as the lines get very long just before kickoff. Fans 5 Unlike, baseball, where the allegiances are split between the northside/southside, Chicagoans are all Bears fans. This has been true for generations of families due to the team’s long history. Bears fans are amongst the most loyal fans in the NFL. They are easy to spot, as the dress code on gameday is wearing the classic jersey of your favorite Bears player. They also know all the words to “Bear Down” and sing it with great gusto after every Chicago score or victory. Chicago fans never let the often harsh winter storms that come off the lakefront deter them from being at Soldier Field on gamedays. Even in their zeal for the home team, Bears fans show the Midwestern characteristic of friendliness to visitors. You may show up in an archrival Packers jersey, but the worst you can expect is a little good-natured ribbing from the fans around you. In fact, Bears fans have even been parodied on Saturday Night Live for their love and support for Da’ Bears over the years. Access 4 Getting to anything in Chicago by driving can be a real “bear”, so we recommend you take one of the many modes of public transportation available in the Greater Chicago area. The CTA offers train access to Soldier Field on its Red, Green, and Orange lines via the Roosevelt Station. The #128 Soldier Field Express busses will run from both Chicago Union Station and the Ogilvie Transportation Center directly to Soldier Field for the very reasonable price of $5 roundtrip. The METRA rail system runs “Bear Extra” trains up from the southside of Chicago. If you insist on driving, please understand that the parking in the North, South, and Waldron Lots nearest the stadium are reserved for season ticket holders. Most lots require prepaid parking coupons. There is very little cash parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Adler Planetarium or Burnham Harbor Lots near the stadium. Offsite parking is located at McCormick Place Lot B or the Millennium Park Garage for $45. Shuttles will then ferry fans to the game. Lots open 4 hours prior to kickoff and close 2 hours after the game ends. Once in the stadium, you may find the concourses to be somewhat congested. They tend to bend in several directions and then suddenly become ramps due to the odd fitting of the seating bowl into the original footprint of the stadium exterior. This is one of the things that make Soldier Field so unique. Return on Investment 3 The Bears utilize a variable pricing system on their tickets, Preseason game tickets run from $41-$131, non-division opponents run from $69-$217. Divisional games go at varied prices as Packer games are $132-$254, Lions tickets cost $76-$218, and Vikings games go for $98-$227. We’ve mentioned the transportation fees in the Access section. There are several different price points found in the rates of nearby hotels, so sometimes it is wiser to stay further away from the stadium and take one of the many public transportation options to Soldier Field. Extras 3 The Bears date back to an era where there was a team song. In the case of Chicago, that ditty is “Bear Down” Among the events Soldier Field has hosted over the years are the Jack Dempsey-Gene Tunney “long-count” boxing match in the 1930s, the opening ceremonies for the soccer World Cup in 1994, and the final concert by the Grateful Dead in 2015. The Midway is a climate-controlled hospitality space on the West side of the Verizon Mezzanine Concourse which includes seating, four full-service bars, specialty food stations, and plenty of monitors so you can keep updated on the game. Single-game passes can be purchased on the Chicago Bears app. Sounds like a great place to be on those late December games! Final Thoughts The Bears and Soldier Field both have a legendary history for Chicago natives. The fact that they never got together until the mid-1970s is somewhat symbolized by the present design of the stadium…. a modern-day seating bowl stuffed into a classic exterior dating back to the 1920s. Its’ setting on the shoreline of Lake Michigan is both a blessing and a curse. It is very scenic in the early fall, but brutal when the icy winds blow off the lake during the late-season games.

Photos by Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Binghamton University Events Center 4400 Vestal Parkway East Vestal, NY 13902 Binghamton Bearcats website Binghamton University Events Center website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 5,142 Binghamton Bearcats Basketball When you notice that the name of the arena is something very generic like “Events Center” you fear the worst, a non-descript building with little charm. Fortunately, that feeling largely disappears when you step foot into Binghamton’s Events Center for a Bearcats basketball game. Get over the name and you actually have a pretty good facility to see college basketball. Opened in 2004, the Binghamton University Events Center hosts the basketball program which has only been a Division I program since 2001. The program played in its lone NCAA basketball tournament in 2009. It’s an attractive facility both inside and out, and despite being a multi-use facility, in really pulls off the basketball game experience well. Food & Beverage 3 Food and beverage selections are pretty standard, with one notable exception. First, the basics include hot dogs ($2.25), candy ($2.50), popcorn ($2.75-$3.50), nachos ($3.50), and soft pretzels ($3). Drinks include bottled water ($2.75), coffee, and hot chocolate ($2). Soft drinks are provided by Coke. The one unique and locally-inspired item is a “spiedie”. A spiedie is a sandwich of marinated cubes of meat (in this case chicken, but it could be pork, beef, venison, or lamb). The sandwich is served on a garlic roll, and topped with ranch sauce. It’s very good and well worth the $4.50 price tag. It’s always nice to have something local when you go to a game. Atmosphere 3 The amount of cheerleaders and dance teams is rather overwhelming. I counted 52 during my visit. When the cheerleaders outnumber the players and the pep band combined, then you may have too many. They do a good job and stay involved at all junctures, but how many cheerleaders do you really need? There’s also a Bearcat mascot, named Baxter. Baxter makes his rounds both in the stands and under the opponent's basket where he’ll try to distract the opponents during their free throws. All of the seating within the Events Center is retractable. Sideline seats are all green plastic chairbacks, which are somewhat flimsy, but comfortable and provide better-than-average legroom. There are no cupholders in these seats. Each baseline features green plastic bleacher seats. The student section and pep band are on the end of the floor nearest the opponent's bench. Speaking of the pep band, it is a small, but talented ensemble. The 12 members belt out current hits whenever they have the opportunity. There is one lone scoreboard, which is four-sided and center-hung. The scoreboard has no video capabilities, instead cycling three ads throughout the entire game. The score, time, time outs left, team fouls, and period are on display. During my visit, one fan had an opportunity to win a car by sinking a half-court shot, and he failed dismally, but it was still fun to see the high-stakes contest. Neighborhood 3 Binghamton’s athletic facilities, including the Events Center, are located just off of Vestal Parkway, and there are plenty of chain restaurants that line this busy thoroughfare. Just name your favorite chain, and you’ll likely find it here. If you are a beer lover, then the Ale House is probably the place that you’ll want to visit before or after the game. The good news is that they have 36 beers on tap, and all of them are interesting. They also have excellent pizza. The bad news is that the service, at least during my visit, leaves a lot to be desired. I was ignored before finally receiving service, mostly because the bartender and another staff member were busy flirting with each other. It’s too bad because this is a nice little bar. Don’t let the hole in the wall look fool you. If you are more patient than I am, then you’ll likely enjoy this spot. Fans 3 My visit coincided with senior night, which is always a special event, regardless of what school or sport you visit. The fans gave standing ovations to the four seniors who were honored, most notably Jimmy Gray, the team’s leading scorer and a local product from Binghamton. The student section, located behind the basket nearest the opponent's bench, was as lifeless as a corpse, unfortunately. The school has an enrollment of about 12,000 undergrads, so the student turnout was really disappointing. What’s worse is that at halftime, the students banded together to do a little dance number, showing that they clearly have the energy to be a force during the game, but simply choose not to. To their credit, the fans came alive in the last portion of the second half, which helped the overall atmosphere, but once again made their inability to make their presence known earlier in the game that much more frustrating. Other fans are in the game, but unfortunately, it’s not enough to make up for the lackluster students, an essential element of truly great college basketball. Access 4 Parking is free and the campus can be found just off of Route 17 which is just a couple of miles from I-81. When you enter the campus, there is a sign asking visitors to stop by the information booth. I did, and the person working there seemed perplexed why I would stop, so my advice is to skip this and just proceed into the campus, keeping to the right for the Events Center. The main concourse in the arena is above the seating sections with only one concession stand open during my visit. The restrooms are clean and modern, although not too large. You may expect lines if it is a full house. Also, be careful when washing your hands as the sinks spray excessively hard. Depending on your height, you may be left with a wet middle section. Return on Investment 4 Chairback seats will cost you $12, and all other seats are only $8. This is a fantastic bargain, but when you factor in free parking along with a spiedie and drink, you’re under $20 per person. This is well worth it to get to see some Division I basketball, even if the America East Conference is not the highest level of competition. If the students would turn out in greater numbers, then the return would be even greater. Extras 3 One extra point for the pep band, which has a greater presence than their numbers would indicate. I have seen plenty of other programs with small pep bands that are nowhere close to the talent of this group. Also, an extra point for making this multi-purpose arena feel like a basketball arena. This is not always an easy feat, but Binghamton is successful in this endeavor, making for a much better fan experience than I originally expected. The dance team is also very good and does a good job of performing synchronized dance routines during the breaks. Final Thoughts I understand that not everyone is as big of a college basketball junkie as I am, so Binghamton is not going to be a sought after destination for many travelers. However, if you love the game and are anywhere in central New York, it is well worth your time to check the Bearcats schedule and see if you can’t go see a basketball game at the Events Center.

Photos by Steve Ohnsman, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Waldo Stadium 1903 W Michigan Ave Kalamazoo, MI 49008 Western Michigan Broncos website Waldo Stadium website Year Opened: 1939 Capacity: 30,200 The Ship Has Sailed Waldo Stadium opened its doors in 1939 for $250,000 with a 6-0 victory over Miami (Ohio) University. The home of the Western Michigan Broncos was named for the school's first President Dwight D. Waldo and over the years has been renovated and expanded to its current 30,200-seat capacity. The Broncos play in the Mid-Atlantic Conference and Eastern Michigan is their arch rivals. The football program began in 1906 and has captured MAC championships in 1966, 1988, and 2016; western division championships in 1999, 2000, 2015, and 2016; and have made seven bowl appearances. The school boasts 41 alumni who went on to play professionally in the NFL. A popular WMU slogan created by head coach P. J. Fleck during the 2013-16 football season was “Row the Boat.” Fleck took the phrase with him when he accepted the head coach position at the University of Minnesota. They now have two new phrases: “Let It Reign” and “Let's Ride” which relate to the team name Broncos and their popular tradition where a student rides a horse charging onto the field at the beginning of each home game. The crowds at the stadium never reach their capacity but do get a bump in attendance when nearby rivals pay a visit to town. There have been a few changes since our last visit a few years ago, but as Waldo enters its ninth decade it’s still a pleasurable facility to enjoy a college football game during the fall months. Food & Beverage 4 The traditional sandwiches cost $4 to $7 and snacks are offered at Waldo, along with pulled chicken sandwiches and nachos. Pepsi products along with water, coffee, Gatorade, and hot chocolate go for $3 to $4. Credit cards are accepted at the main concession stands. There are no alcoholic beverages available in the stadium. Atmosphere 3 Waldo Stadium has seating on all four sides, with gaps in each corner. There are three scoreboards, two above the northeast end zone and one above the southwest end zone, so fans sitting anywhere in the stadium can see them easily. The big one is on the southwest side, the other two are smaller. The staff does a lot of fun things to enhance the experience, the most memorable of which is having someone ride a horse onto the field before the team comes on. They also shoot off a howitzer after every score, which is located above the east corner if you want to snap a pic. Broncos-themed signage such as 'Welcome to Kalamazoo' is spelled out in front of the northwest stands. The WMU band is probably one of the most active I have ever seen, with constant motion and dancing; before the game, they spell out W-M-U facing both directions, so fans on either sideline can see it right-side up. This is cool because most college bands will only do formations one way, so half the fans see it upside down. And the activity doesn't stop there either; throughout the game, the band will dance and jump up and down in their seats, and will also do additional formations after a win. One notable tradition is their performing “I Got A Gal from Kalamazoo.” A majority of the seating is aluminum bleachers with a few plastic seats below the press box. Seat cushions are rented for additional comfort. Suites sit atop three of the seating sections. WMU mascot Buster the Bronco is a tall horse character. Neighborhood 4 Waldo Stadium is just south of the WMU main campus with many restaurants, breweries, and bars nearby. This is a great destination city to spend the weekend before or after the game. The cities of Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids appear to be battling each other for the title “Craft Beer Capital of Michigan.” Local options include One Well Brewing, Bell's Eccentric Cafe, Final Gravity, Latitude 42, and Arcadia Brewing. University Roadhouse and Waldo's Tavern are great choices, both of which are within walking distance of the stadium. University Roadhouse offers burgers, pasta, seafood, and sandwiches, as well as drink specials every day of the week. Waldo's Tavern, on the other hand, has typical bar food such as wings, burgers, and pizza, but also boasts cheap drinks. Ray Ray's Italian Beef and Sausage is located on Miller Road for great food at low prices. If the college student scene isn't your bent, a little further from the stadium you can find Eccentric Cafe and Kalamazoo Beer Exchange. Eccentric Cafe has local beers from Bell's Brewery, located right here in Kalamazoo, while Kalamazoo Beer Exchange offers darts, pinballs, and pools. Fans 3 Over the years, WMU fans have ramped up their tailgating game with large tents, grills, and tables arriving early in the nearby parking lots. This is a bit of a challenge for night games as the university staff need their parking and the fans like to start early; many lots are not available until 5 pm so the 7 pm kickoff causes a short interval for fun. Considering the student population on campus, the number of students who attend WMU football games is relatively low. The band makes up for that fact with lively, entertaining shows. A unique tradition takes place when an Amtrak train stops in Kalamazoo (on its run between Detroit and Chicago) and passes by on the north side. WMU fans wave at the train, the engineer blows the train's horn and the passengers are advised in advance when games are scheduled. Access 4 The southeast side of Waldo Stadium is built into the side of a hill and the majority of the parking is located atop that hill which means many fans must be ready for several stairs going down to the stadium and (more challenging) going up after the game. Fans with special needs are best served by entering the north side gates at the street level. There are plenty of parking lots all around Waldo Stadium, some of which are reserved for pass holders; these tend to be on the front side along Michigan Avenue. The back side is where you want to be if you are paying cash, and you can park for just $10 within a few blocks of the stadium. There are gates all around the outside, so you can enter wherever you want, but note that will call is at Gate 1, next to the southwest end zone. Once you get inside, moving around is fairly easy. There are plenty of functional bathrooms and are kept clean. There is also a walkway that connects the four sets of stands, so if your side is too crowded, or too loud, you can move around. There are no ramps into the stands that I saw, but those with special needs can sit in front of the walkway on any side, on little cutouts built for that purpose. Return on Investment 4 Tickets may be purchased online in advance, prices run $18-$30. The concession prices are quite reasonable for college events and parking is around $10. All of these prices make for a good bargain at the stadium. Extras 4 One point for the railroad track on the north side, you can sometimes see Amtrak trains going by during the game. The great tailgating, the quality of breweries and restaurants in the area, and the official band bring three more additional points. Final Thoughts Waldo Stadium is a fine stadium to visit on the weekends. The Broncos staff provide a fun experience and the game day staff makes everyone in attendance feel right at home.

Photos by Steve Ohnsman, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 DeVos Fieldhouse 222 Fairbanks Ave. Holland, MI 49423 Hope College Flying Dutchmen website DeVos Fieldhouse website Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 3,009 A Jewel of Small College Arenas Hope College has a storied men’s basketball history which was enhanced in 2005 when the DeVos Fieldhouse opened. The Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation contributed an anchor gift of $7,500,000 for the project which ended up totaling $22,000,000. It holds 3,009 fans and also serves the women’s basketball and men’s/women’s volleyball programs. In 1990 and 2006, the women’s basketball team and the 2014 women’s volleyball team won the D3 national title. Hope is an NCAA Division III college and a long-standing member of the MIAA Conference. While it is clearly impossible to compare all of the D3 schools’ facilities, this might be one of the best in the country. Hope College has led the USA D3 men’s basketball attendance for the last 15 consecutive years and the women’s hoops attendance the last 9 seasons. The facility is also used by the citizens of Holland, Michigan for various events throughout the year. One-half mile to the west is downtown Holland and the Hope College campus, while the school’s baseball, softball, football, and soccer stadiums are less than a mile east of the fieldhouse. A seven-mile drive takes fans to the shores of Lake Michigan, enjoying views of Lake Macatawa along the way. Food & Beverage 4 Two identical concession stands flank the courtyard entry and they offer a nice variety of items including a personal pizza ($4.25), pulled pork sandwich ($5.25), hot dog ($3.50), and the highly recommended “Michigander” ($5.25). The sandwich is a Founders beer bratwurst on an oatmeal stout bun with house pickled peppers and onions; all sandwich combos include chips and a soda. Healthy alternatives include chicken Caesar wrap and fruit cups. Pepsi products come fountain style $2.50 for 20-ounces, along with coffee, bottled water, and Gatorade. Other traditional snacks are also available. No alcohol is sold in the arena. Each stand has an “Extra Point Card” to help regular fans to save some money. For every $4 purchase at “any” Hope Athletic Concession Booth, the card is punched; after 10 punches, the cardholder gets $4 off a future purchase. Atmosphere 5 The main entrance is on the east side of the arena. Fans enter the building at ground level and walk down to their seats. The first five rows of the upper bowl have very comfortable padded seats, the next five rows are plastic and the bottom six rows are bleacher-style. Ten rows of bleacher seats are behind one basket. Concession stands and restrooms are near the entrance doors. The seats do not have cup holders, but they are quite comfortable and provide excellent sight lines to the floor. Additional bleacher seats are behind the basket on the west side. The sound system is excellent with great music. Along the north and south side, the history of all Hope’s athletic teams is displayed in an impressive manner. There are windows along one wall allowing a view into the training facilities, a trophy case is near the entrance, and the scoreboard over center court provides team statistics. Hope’s Mascot is named Dutch; he is a tall bearded character who greets fans before the game and hangs with the student section during the game. The staff is very friendly and welcoming and an excellent, free game day program is available at the entrance. Neighborhood 3 The fieldhouse is located in a residential neighborhood less than half a mile from a great small town center offering plenty of things to do before and after the game in terms of eating and drinking. Recommended restaurants are a short drive away and include DeBoer Bakkerij for breakfast and lunch plus great bakery items, Daddio’s Carry Out’s for excellent Southern food, Salt and Pepper Savory Grill for lunch and dinner, and Seventy-Six Restaurant for creative American fare. Western Michigan is really “hopping” when it comes to craft breweries and Holland has several spots to check out, including Brewery 4 Two 4, Our Brewing Company, Big Lake Brewing, and New Holland Brewing. While visiting the area, the Holland State Park Beach on Lake Michigan is very popular, along with Windmill Island Gardens and the Felt Estate. Holland is the home of the annual Tulip Festival. The Downtown Courtyard Hotel and City Flats Hotel are the best nearby lodging facilities. Many others can be found along highway US 31. Fans 5 The long tradition of athletic success has translated into a very loyal, loud, supportive and knowledgeable fan base. If you are looking for that unique small college experience, this is the place. Hope leads the country for D3 basketball attendance with crowds well over the 2,000 plateau. Section 10 is reserved for Hope students and they pack it full. They are called the “Dew Crew” and are sponsored by Mountain Dew. Stadium Journey was fortunate to attend a Calvin – Hope game, a rivalry rated number 4 in the country by ESPN (the only D3 to be honored with such a recognition). The game has been televised for 50 years; even better, was the fact that this was the 200th game for this historic and friendly competition. What an atmosphere. Access 4 Even though DeVos Fieldhouse is in a residential area, it is an easy drive or walk from downtown. Free parking lots surround the facility; check the small lot on the north side for a few spots open to the public. The entrance is through the east side. The MAX Transit has bus stops at the arena with the nearest airport in Grand Rapids. Once inside, we suggest walking around both concourses to see the historic displays of Hope’s athletics and the trophy cases. The court is readily visible from the concourse above. Restrooms are located at the east and west ends of the arena. They are very clean and designed properly for typical crowds. Handicap parking and seating are very good for those needing assistance. Return on Investment 5 As they say: “Such a Deal” Tickets cost $10 for very comfortable padded seats, $7 for adult bleacher seats and $5 bleacher seats for children 18 and under. Free parking is great and the concession prices are a bargain. Regular fans can save a few bucks using the Extra Point Card. Extras 5 Extra points go for an overall great atmosphere, professional high-quality game day production, free parking, low concession prices, sports history kiosks along the concourse, many championship banners overhead and the delightful downtown nearby.

Rendering of Monroe Park complete with Roller Coaster, Outdoor Theater, and Pier, Photo Courtesy of University of South Alabama As the home of five Baseball Hall of Famers, Mobile’s baseball history stretches almost as far back as the sports’ beginnings. As far back as the 1860s baseball was played at ‘The Pit,’ now known as Stan Galle Field, on the campus of Spring Hill College – Stan Galle Field is also the oldest continuously used baseball park that is still standing. As the city evolved and grew at the turn of the 20th century, so did the game of baseball in the city. In 1901 a baseball park was constructed at Monroe Park, right on the bay in Downtown Mobile. The field was located in a popular city park that had a carousel, roller coasters, a golf course, pavilion, pier, boardwalk, and a fancy street car system that made a stop in the park. The Mobile Sea Gulls, later the Bears, called the park home and played in the short lived Southern Interstate League that later turned into the Southern Association. The Sea Gulls drew very well and would lead the league in attendance in 1913, bringing in over 100,000 fans for the season. One of the only known photos of an Actual Game Played at Monroe Park, Photo Courtesy of the Mobile Press-Register By the 1920s, Mobile’s Monroe Park was a popular place hosting baseball games, concerts, movie premieres, and political rallies, and was nicknamed the “Coney Island of the South.” The park was also the spring training destination for the Orioles (then the St. Louis Browns), Indians (then known as the Naps) and White Sox . Cy Young played here as a pitcher during the Naps 1909 spring training, and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson would play on the field as a player for the Naps in 1912. Baseball was so popular in Mobile at the time that when the Alabama legislature outlawed the playing of baseball on Sundays, people went on strike and opposed the ban, so much so that Mayor Harry Hartwell successfully lobbied to get the ban overturned. Shoeless Joe Jackson played at Monroe Park as a member of the Cleveland Naps in 1912, Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Sadly in 1926 a hurricane would hit Mobile and completely devastate the grounds around Monroe Park; the park would never be rebuilt. Instead a stadium was built about a mile west that opened in 1927 and was named Hartwell Field , after the mayor who contributed so much to baseball in Mobile. Hartwell Field would host professional baseball through the 1966 season before being torn down in the early 1980s. Today only a shadow of the former baseball stadium and amusement park is left; Brookley Field Air Force Base opened in the 1940s and currently occupies the site where the park was once located, while the I-10 overpass runs right over the premises. However, there is one area of Monroe Park that is still left – at Arlington Point there is a small park that features a pavilion, walking trails, and a pier. If you go to the pier and look closely at the live oaks lining the waterfront you can imagine a baseball field on this site 100 years ago, and you will be standing on the former grounds of the one of the busiest and most popular parks in the 1920s south. Walking path at Arlington Park, located on the Waterfront of the once thriving Monroe Park, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Once the main road though the park, these beautiful hundred-year-old oak trees are the only remains of Monroe Park, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Hangars from Brookley AFB and Mobile Downtown Airport now occupy the former site of Monroe Park, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey View of Monroe Park as it looks today, looking towards the water, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Based on old photos I concluded Monroe Park would have been located near this building, the Whiting Reception Hall, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.14 Chase Family Arena at Reich Family Pavilion 200 Bloomfield Ave. West Hartford, CT 06117 Hartford Hawks basketball website Chase Family Arena at Reich Family Pavilion website Year Opened: 1990 Capacity: 4,017 Empty Nest Syndrome In March of 2021 the University of Hartford Hawks were the talk of the NCAA, qualifying for the first basketball tournament in the school’s history. Less than two months later, the entire athletic department was thrown into turmoil as the school announced they were downgrading their program to Division Three. A feasibility study conducted by a local consulting firm estimated that the financially struggling university would save $9.2 million annually by moving to the lower division. The transition to Division Three will be completed by September 2025. The University of Hartford was founded in 1957 when Hillyer College merged with Hartford Art School and the Hartt School. They took their athletic team names from Hillyer College, whose teams were known as the Flying Hawks, due to the presence of their basketball court on the fourth floor of their gymnasium. The Hawks play their home basketball games at the Chase Family Arena at Reich Family Pavilion, named in honor of the Chase and Reich Families for their history of gifts and contributions to the University. In addition to the basketball arena, the facility is home to the school’s volleyball gym, swimming pool, locker rooms, training facilities and administrative offices. Basketball has been played at the University of Hartford and its predecessors since 1949. Originally a member of Division Two, the Hawks qualified for four straight D-II tournaments from 1972-75. The 2021 Tournament appearance was the school’s only while in Division One. The Hawks now compete as an independent, having left the America East Conference as part of its transition. Vin Baker is the school’s only alumnus to play in the National Basketball Association. Food & Beverage 1 There is a concession stand in the lobby of the Reich Pavilion, but it was not open during Stadium Journey’s visit on a Sunday afternoon. It has been open during previous visits and still looks operational. In the past, this stand has offered a basic menu, including hot dogs, pizza slices and chicken tenders in addition to assorted snacks. A single point is awarded in this category due to the presence of a vending machine selling bottles of Coca-Cola products, water and energy drinks. It appears that fans are able to bring in their own snacks to Hartford basketball games. If the snack bar is open, you can add a couple of points to this score. Atmosphere 2 As you may imagine, interest and excitement around the basketball program has plummeted since the announcement that the program would be downgrading to Division Three. Still, the Hartford athletic department does their best to put on a good show for the fans that do show up. From any seat in the gym you can hear sneakers squeak, coaches shouting instructions to their players and fans yelling encouragement to the players. The “small school” experience is only amplified with the tiny crowds in attendance these days. The cheerleaders and spirit squad are present but add little to the overall atmosphere. The few students who do show up are there to watch the game, not get rowdy. Scoreboards on either end of the gym display basic game information while pixilated video screens show graphics and the occasional video. Neighborhood 2 The University of Hartford is located in West Hartford, surrounded by an affluent residential neighborhood, including the Hartford Golf Club. There aren’t any restaurants located within walking distance of the campus, meaning fans will have to travel a little to find entertainment, dining and lodging options. Downtown Hartford, which contains a great many restaurants and places of interest, is just a ten-minute drive away. Stadium Journey recommends City Steam Brewery and Black-Eyed Sally’s Southern Kitchen and Bar, among others. Fans looking for local attractions will want to check out the Mark Twain House or Harriet Beecher Stowe House while in Hartford. The state capitol building is also worth a look while in the area. There is no shortage of lodging options in downtown Hartford. Fans 1 For several years in the late teens, Hartford was averaging around 1,400 fans per game. As you may imagine, attendance has plummeted since the Division Three announcement. Stadium Journey attended a game against a local opponent on a Sunday afternoon with a reported attendance of around 300. Looking at other box scores from the 2022-23 season, this crowd appears to be right around the team’s average. The crowd at Chace Family Arena is a mix of die-hard fans, family members and a smattering of students. Most of the fans in attendance have a personal connection with the players on the court. Fans are enthusiastic and supportive. With the bulk of Hartford’s schedule consisting of local teams, you may find supporters of the visiting squad in attendance. Access 3 The Reich Family Pavilion is located on the north end of the University of Hartford campus alongside the school’s other athletic facilities. The campus is located where the towns of West Hartford and Bloomfield meet the city of Hartford. Downtown Hartford, including the XL Center and Dunkin’ Donuts Park , is located just a few miles away. Most fans traveling to the University of Hartford will arrive via Interstate 91 which runs north-south through Hartford, and then will arrive at campus via either Route 44 or 218, which run adjacent to the campus. Detailed directions to campus can be found here . Parking is available in lots that surround the Reich Family Pavilion. There are more than enough spots here to handle a typical crowd. While the vast majority of visitors to the University of Hartford arrive by car, those utilizing public transportation can take the 56 or 58 bus to campus. Check out the CT Transit website for more information. Fans enter the arena into a small lobby, which contains entrances to the pool and volleyball court, as well as the snack bar, ticket booth, and stairs to the upper deck. The bathrooms, which are more than adequate for the average Hawk crowd, are also located here. Seating at the Chase Family Arena consists of individual red folding seats along both sidelines, with wooden bleachers along each baseline. Each sideline has an upper section, which is set aside on the south side as the Gordon McCullough VIP Section. This section has its own bar and dining area attached, but it has been closed since the demotion announcement. All seats in this small gym have excellent views of the action. Return on Investment 4 Seats for Hartford Hawks cost $15 for reserved seating on either sideline, or $12 for pavilion seats in the upper deck. Parking is free in the lots surrounding the Chase Family Arena. Drinks in the vending machine cost $2.25. A night at a Hartford Hawks basketball game will certainly not break the bank. Extras 2 Extra points are awarded for the displays in the lobby that honor the Hawks two most distinguished athletic alumni, Baseball Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell and NBA first round pick Vin Baker. The University’s Athletic Hall of Fame has a display in the lobby. Baker’s retired jersey also hangs in the Chase Family Arena. Banners honoring conference titles and tournament appearances by both the men’s and women’s basketball programs hang from the rafters and on the walls of the facility. Final Thoughts Chase Family Arena served as a fine home to the Hawks when they were a mid-major Division One program. Now that the squad will be moving to Division Three, interest and enthusiasm in the program has plummeted, with the game day experience in Hartford now just a shell of what it used to be. This cozy gym now is in the unique circumstance of being too large for the school’s needs. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 RGCU Field at Isotopes Park 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE Albuquerque, NM 87106 New Mexico United website RGCU Field at Isotopes Park website Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 13,279 Somos Unitos Para leer esta resena en espanol, haga clic en este enace . Attending a New Mexico United soccer match is a blast! The fans are certainly into it, there’s a fantastic supporters’ group and the organization does a tremendous job ensuring all fans are welcome, accepted, and free from derogatory name-calling. Strong reminders of the code of conduct are announced before the start of the game (both English and Spanish)! The New Mexico United play in the USL Championship League (one step down from MLS – Major League Soccer). The club began operations in 2019 with only one ‘home’ game played in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic. The club plays its home matches at Isotopes Park (Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park), home of the Albuquerque Isotopes baseball team. Though it is common enough, I find it odd watching soccer on a baseball diamond. New Mexico United manages it well and hats off to the grounds crew and staff for maintaining the field and integrating a lively soccer atmosphere. Food & Beverage 5 The park offers an excellent variety of food with several local restaurants providing the fare. Permanent concession stands and carts line the inner concourse. Almost all concession stands are open for United matches. Fans can carry sealed bottled water into the stadium. Concession stands include Batter Up! (burgers, chicken baskets, fries, nachos, sopapillas, etc.), Pecos River Café (sandwiches, burritos, etc.), and Sante Fe Trail (BBQ hot dogs, sandwiches, green chile cheddar brat from $5 – $10). Dion’s Pizza is always a fan favorite ($5 – $6 / slice and fans can get green chile on top, salads cost $7). The Sweet Spot and More, down the third base side, offers various nacho choices, burritos, green chile dog, tortilla burgers from $7 – $12. A Hebrew National cart sells their famous hot dog ($5) and a sausage cart is on the third base concourse ($9). Other carts offer funnel cakes, kettle corn, Dippin’ Dots, and there’s a unique lemonade cart offering its various flavors brewed in jugs. A craft beer cart along the first baseline sells draft beers from New Mexico breweries Santa Fe Brewing and Bosque Brewing as well as canned beer such as Dogfish Head ($10 – $12). Other carts offering adult beverages and snacks dot the concourse. Most stands offer domestic beers and Pepsi brand sodas (beer $10 – $12, soda $6 – $8). There’s certainly plenty available for hungry soccer fans. Atmosphere 5 The organization provides an amazing match day experience. First, the field alignment: One goalpost is just about on the first base side; the other is in left field under the video scoreboard. The right-center field holds the player benches; the dugouts are not used. The grounds crew remove and flatten out the pitcher’s mound and put artificial turf on the infield. It looks awful on that area of the field. Second, the seating: One nice thing about using a baseball field is the seats are standard stadium fold-down seats; not bleachers. Sit in section 177 for the center of the pitch. The same berm seating is available in the ‘outfield’ as it is during a baseball game. Except for the infield sections behind home plate, the nets are gone. Fans sitting in the second level, third base side (sections 201, 203, 205) see the beautiful Sandia Mountains in the distance. Alcohol is not allowed in a designated family section (section 126). Announcements (safety and rules) are broadcast in both English and Spanish. During the starting lineup notice, the announcer states the player’s number and first name, the crowd yells the last name. Same with goals except that’s done three times in a row. Fun! A video scoreboard behind one of the goalposts shows a live visual broadcast of the game as well as the time played and goals per team. The second scoreboard is not used. Half-time includes contests and local youth teams kick a ball around. Beach balls get tossed around in the stands. The exterior of the stadium gives no indication soccer is played there but the fans know! New Mexico United Scoreboard, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Neighborhood 4 The ballpark sits adjacent to Central New Mexico College and the University of New Mexico (UNM), and is across the street from The Pit and other UNM Lobo sports venues. It is a mile from the Nob Hill neighborhood, a vibrant area full of brewpubs, eateries, taquerias, pizzerias, local boutiques, and small art galleries. Sounds from music bars fill the late-night air in this neighborhood. For breakfast, try Frontier. A hidden gem for Korean food is Soo Bak Seoul Bowl. For authentic, tasty New Mexico fare visit Cocina Azul – even the rice and beans are yummy. Unbeknownst to the rest of the country, Albuquerque is a hopping local brewery town. Recommended breweries close (though not necessarily walking distance) to Isotopes Park are The 377 Brewing, Gravity Bound Brewing, and Marble Brewery. But there are plenty more to visit. Things to see and do while in Albuquerque include Sandia Peak Tramway, Old Town Albuquerque, Petroglyph National Monument, and of course, take a ride in a hot air balloon. For places to stay when in town, plenty of hotels are available at the intersection of Gibson Blvd and Yale Blvd (about a mile from the park) ranging from La Quinta to Marriott brands to Holiday Inns, many with shuttles to and from the airport. Fans 5 New Mexico United fans are loud and proud. A supporter’s group, called The Curse , make quite an impression at home matches. The most ardent assemble pregame, march into the venue on the first base side, then walk the entire concourse chanting, waving flags, banging on drums. One leader with a New Mexico flag cape orchestrates the group. It’s extremely impressive. Two sections behind the first base goal (sections 116 and 118) are full of these supporters who cheer, clap, yell, wave flags and create a brouhaha throughout the entire match. NM United - The Curse Supporter's Group Circles the Concourse, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey By no means are they the only ones who chant, cheer, and yell. Many followers wave flags throughout the game and on the concourse. A good portion of the crowd wears New Mexico United, Meow Wolf, and Somos Unidos attire. And, of course, all fans have a second job of being a referee. The club led the USL Championship their first season with an average attendance in 2019 of 12,693 a match. Access 4 Approaching and traversing Isotopes Park is relatively easy. It is just a block off of I-25 with plenty of nearby parking ($10) across the intersection. Visitors or residents of Albuquerque may find it just as easy to get to via side streets vs getting on the interstate. Two bus stops are across the street but figuring out the ABQ bus schedule is difficult. An Amtrak station is about two miles from Isotopes Park. The closest airport is Albuquerque Sunport Airport, about a 5-min drive to the ballpark. Three entrances are available with the one behind home used only for those with club or VIP tickets. Fans are required to use clear plastic tote bags; no backpacks. The concourse gets quite crowded, especially at halftime. Patrons can walk the entire concourse circumference. Fans must cross a small bridge to complete the circle (fans afraid of heights and such things may find this difficult). Re-entry is not permitted. Local law officials do a fantastic job moving cars out of the parking lots after the game. Return on Investment 4 Single-game tickets run $20 – $55 and are comparable to other USL Championship club ticket prices. Parking increases to $10 vs. $5 for an Isotopes game. Food and beverage costs are comparable to other sports parks, albeit higher than restaurants and bars outside the stadium. The game is fun, the fans are a hoot, and the organization does a splendid job at making the evening one of enjoyable, safe sports entertainment. Extras 3 Stadium Journey cannot say enough about The Curse supporters’ group and how they’ve created an identity just for New Mexicans. In March 2020, the club launched the Somos Unidos Foundation, a charitable nonprofit arm of the New Mexico United organization. Both the club and the supporters’ group do a great job at bolstering the team spirit as well as strengthening the communities of New Mexico. The team markets themselves quite well on social media. Final Thoughts The community certainly supports New Mexico United. The results of a feasibility study to see if and where a soccer-specific stadium could go and what it should look like are expected in summer 2021. Time will tell. Until then, if in the area, take the time to see a match. It’s worth a sports fans entertainment dollar.

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey. Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 RGCU Field at Isotopes Park 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE Albuquerque, NM 87106 New Mexico United website RGCU Field at Isotopes Park website Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 13,279 Somos Unitos To read this review in English, please click this link. ¡Asistir a un partido de fútbol del New Mexico United es una maravilla! Los fanáticos ciertamente están interesados, hay un grupo de fanáticos fantástico y la organización hace un trabajo tremendo para garantizar que todos los fanáticos sean bienvenidos, aceptados y libres de insultos despectivos. ¡Se anuncian fuertes recordatorios del código de conducta antes del inicio del juego (tanto en inglés como en español)! El New Mexico United juega en la USL Championship League (un paso por debajo de MLS – Major League Soccer). El club comenzó a jugar en 2019 con solo un juego “en casa” jugado en 2020 debido a la pandemia de COVID. El club juega sus partidos en casa en Isotopes Park (Rio Grande Credit Union Field en Isotopes Park), hogar del equipo de béisbol Albuquerque Isotopes. Aunque es bastante común, me parece extraño ver fútbol en un campo de béisbol. New Mexico United lo maneja bien y felicitaciones al equipo de campo y al personal por mantener el campo e integrar un ambiente de fútbol animado. Food & Beverage / Bebida alimenticia 5 El estadio ofrece una excelente variedad de comida con varios restaurantes locales que ofrecen el alimento. Los puestos de concesión permanentes y los carros se alinean en el vestíbulo interior. Casi todos los puestos de concesión están abiertos para partidos del United. Los aficionados pueden llevar agua embotellada sellada al estadio. Los puestos de concesión incluyen Batter Up! (hamburguesas, canastas de pollo, papas fritas, nachos, sopapillas, etc.), Pecos River Café (sándwiches, burritos, etc.), y Sante Fe Trail (salchichas BBQ, sándwiches, brat con chile verde y cheddar desde $ 5 – $ 10). Dions Pizza es siempre una de las favoritas de los fanáticos ($ 5 – $ 6 / porción y los fanáticos pueden obtener chile verde encima, las ensaladas cuestan $ 7). The Sweet Spot and More en el lado de la tercera base ofrece varias opciones de nachos, burritos, perro con chile verde, hamburguesas de tortilla de $ 7 a $ 12. Un carrito de Hebrew National vende su famoso hot dog ($ 5) y un carrito de salchichas está en el vestíbulo de la tercera base ($ 9). Otros carritos ofrecen pasteles de embudo, maíz hervido, Dippin ‘Dots, y hay un carrito de limonada único que ofrece sus diversos sabores elaborados en jarras. Un carrito de cerveza artesanal a lo largo de la línea de la primera base vende cervezas de barril de las cervecerías Santa Fe Brewing y Bosque Brewing de Nuevo México, así como cerveza enlatada como Dogfish Head ($ 10 – $ 12). Otros carritos que ofrecen bocadillos y bebidas para adultos salpican el vestíbulo. La mayoría de los puestos ofrecen cervezas nacionales y refrescos de la marca Pepsi (cerveza $ 10 – $ 12, refrescos $ 6 – $ 8). Ciertamente, hay mucho disponible para los fanáticos del fútbol hambrientos. El equipo de béisbol Isotopes cierra la tienda de mercancías, pero una mesa larga fuera de la tienda en el vestíbulo ofrece muchos artículos de New Mexico United a la venta. Una carpa de mercadería también está al lado de los asientos de la berma en el jardín central. Atmosphere / Atmósfera 5 La organización ofrece una experiencia increíble el día del partido. Primero, la alineación del campo: una portería está casi en primera base; el otro está en el campo izquierdo debajo del marcador de video. El campo central derecho contiene los bancos de los jugadores; los banquillos no se utilizan. El equipo de campo quita y aplana el montículo del lanzador y coloca a Astro Turf en el infield. Se ve horrible en esa área del campo. Próximo, los asientos: una cosa buena de usar un campo de béisbol es que los asientos son asientos plegables estándar del estadio; no hay gradas. Siéntese en la sección 177 para el centro del campo. Los mismos asientos de berma están disponibles en los “jardines” que durante un partido de béisbol. A excepción de las secciones del infield detrás del plato de home, las redes se han ido. Los fanáticos sentados en el segundo nivel, lado de la tercera base (secciones 201, 203, 205) ven las hermosas montañas Sandia en la distancia. No se permite el alcohol en una sección familiar designada (sección 126). Los anuncios (seguridad y reglas) se transmiten tanto en inglés como en español. Durante el aviso de formación inicial, el locutor indica el número y el nombre del jugador, la multitud grita el apellido. Lo mismo ocurre con los goles, excepto que se hace tres veces seguidas. ¡Divertida! Un marcador de video detrás de uno de los postes de la portería muestra una transmisión visual en vivo del juego, así como el tiempo jugado y los goles por equipo. El segundo marcador no se utiliza. El medio tiempo incluye concursos y equipos juveniles locales patean la pelota. Las pelotas de playa se lanzan en las gradas. El exterior del estadio no da indicios de que se juegue fútbol allí, pero los fanáticos lo saben. Neighborhood / Barrio 4 El estadio se encuentra junto al Central New Mexico College y la Universidad de Nuevo México (UNM), y está al otro lado de la calle de The Pit y otros estadios deportivos de UNM Lobo. Está a una milla del vecindario de Nob Hill, una zona vibrante llena de cervecerías, restaurantes, taquerías, pizzerías, boutiques locales y pequeñas galerías de arte. Los sonidos de los bares musicales llenan el aire nocturno de este vecindario. Para el desayuno, pruebe Frontier. Una joya escondida de la comida coreana es Soo Bak Seoul Bowl. Para una comida auténtica y sabrosa de Nuevo México, visite Cocina Azul, incluso el arroz y los frijoles son deliciosos. Sin que el resto del país lo sepa, Albuquerque es una ciudad cervecera local llena de vida. Las cervecerías recomendadas cerca (aunque no necesariamente a una distancia a pie) del Isotopes Park son The 377 Brewing, Gravity Bound Brewery y Marble Brewery. Pero hay mucho más para visitar. Las cosas para ver y hacer en Albuquerque incluyen Sandia Peak Tramway, Old Town Albuquerque, Petroglyph National Monument y, por supuesto, dar un paseo en globo aerostático. Para lugares donde alojarse cuando esté en la ciudad, hay muchos hoteles disponibles en la intersección de Gibson Blvd y Yale Blvd (aproximadamente a una milla del parque) que van desde La Quinta hasta las marcas Marriott y Holiday Inns, muchos con transporte desde y hacia el aeropuerto. Fans / Fanáticos 5 Los fanáticos del New Mexico United son ruidosos y orgullosos. Un grupo de aficionados, llamado The Curse , causa una gran impresión en los partidos en casa. Los más entusiastas se reúnen antes del juego, marchan hacia el lugar en el lado de la primera base, luego caminan por toda la explanada antes del juego cantando, agitando banderas, golpeando los tambores. Un líder con una capa con la bandera de Nuevo México organiza el grupo. Es muy impresionante. Dos secciones detrás de la portería de la primera base (secciones 116 y 118) están llenas de estos seguidores que vitorean, aplauden, gritan, ondean banderas y crean una barahunda durante todo el partido. De ninguna manera son ellos los únicos que cantan, animan y gritan. Muchos seguidores ondean banderas a lo largo del juego y en la explanada. Una buena parte de la multitud lleva el atuendo de New Mexico United, Meow Wolf y Somos Unidos. Y, por supuesto, todos los aficionados tienen un segundo trabajo como árbitro. El club lideró el Campeonato de la USL en su primera temporada con una asistencia promedio en 2019 de 12.693 por partido. Access / Acceso 4 Acercarse y atravesar Isotopes Park es relativamente fácil. Está a solo una cuadra de la I-25 con mucho estacionamiento cercano ($ 10) al otro lado de la intersección. A los visitantes o residentes de Albuquerque les puede resultar tan fácil llegar por las calles laterales que por la interestatal. Hay dos paradas de autobús al otro lado de la calle, pero es difícil averiguar el horario de los autobuses de ABQ. La estación de Amtrak está a unos 3,2 km del Isotopes Park. El aeropuerto más cercano es el aeropuerto de Albuquerque Sunport, a unos 5 minutos en coche del estadio de béisbol. Hay tres entradas disponibles y la que está detrás de la base de la bateador se usa solo para aquellos con boletos para el club o VIP. Se requiere que los fanáticos usen bolsas de plástico transparentes; sin mochilas. La explanada se llena bastante, especialmente en el medio tiempo. Los clientes pueden recorrer toda la circunferencia de la explanada. Los fanáticos deben cruzar un pequeño puente para completar el círculo (los fanáticos que tienen miedo a las alturas y esas cosas pueden encontrar esto difícil). No se permite el reingreso. Los funcionarios de la ley locales hacen un trabajo fantástico al sacar los autos de los estacionamientos después del juego. Return on Investment / Retorno de la inversion 4 Los boletos para un partido cuestan entre $ 20 y $ 55 y son comparables a los precios de los boletos de otros clubes de campeonato de la USL. El estacionamiento aumentó a $ 10, frente a $ 5 para un juego de Isotopes. Los costos de alimentos y bebidas son comparables a otros parques deportivos, aunque más altos que los de los restaurantes y bares fuera del estadio. El juego es divertido, los fanáticos son un disfrute y la organización hace un trabajo espléndido al hacer de la velada un entretenimiento deportivo agradable y seguro. Extras 3 Stadium Journey no puede decir lo suficiente sobre el grupo de seguidores de The Curse y cómo han creado una identidad solo para los nuevos mexicanos. En marzo de 2020, el club lanzó la Somos Unidos Foundation, una rama benéfica sin fines de lucro de la organización New Mexico United. Tanto el club como el grupo de aficionados hacen un gran trabajo reforzando el espíritu de equipo y fortaleciendo las comunidades de Nuevo México. El equipo se comercializa bastante bien en las redes sociales. Final Thoughts / Pensamientos Finales La comunidad ciertamente apoya al New Mexico United. Los resultados de un estudio de viabilidad para ver si y dónde podría ir un estadio específico de fútbol y cómo debería verse se espera para el verano de 2021. El tiempo lo dirá. Hasta entonces, si estás en la zona, tómate el tiempo para ver un partido. Vale el dólar de entretenimiento para los fanáticos del deporte. Muchas gracias a Jim Minard por su ayuda con la traducción.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Don Brandon Field Graceland Ave. Anderson, IN 46012 Anderson University website Don Brandon Field website Year Opened: 1978 Capacity: 500 The Boys of Spring in Anderson Dan Brandon Field is the home of the Anderson University Ravens baseball team. The field features a natural grass outfield and a synthetic turf infield. The grandstand offers seating for 500, along with a grass berm area down the left-field foul line, 80-foot dugouts, a brick press box, and a concession stand. The field received a new synthetic infield and foul turf for the 2024 season. The new playing field was installed by Maumee Bay Turf and paid for by numerous donations from baseball alumni and other supporters, including lead gifts from two estates. The outfield remains natural grass. The turf hopes to reduce weather delays and cancellations along with less maintenance. The ballpark was renamed in 2010 after former coach Don Brandon. Three years later, a new brick press box was installed before the start of the 2013 season that also included a brick backstop and dugouts. The old press box was relocated a few yards away to the softball field. Brandon coached the ball club from 1972-2010. During his 38 seasons, the Ravens amassed 1,110 victories, 13 conference titles, 12 NAIA District titles, 5 NAIA World Series, and one NCAA National Championship in 1991. The Ravens are members of the Division III Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Brandon also played for Anderson under another famous coach, hometown hero Carl Erskine. Erskine, who passed away less than a week after our visit, was one of the last Boys of Summers of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers World Series championship team. He coached the Ravens for 12 seasons and won the 1965 NAIA World Series. Erskine managed the Ravens when they played a t Memorial Stadium , 3 miles from campus. Food & Beverage 3 Brandon Field has a concession stand. The volunteer staff grills all-beef hot dogs and cook a batch of Spanish sauce (think of a Manwich sauce) in a crock pot for hot dogs and sloppy joes. The sloppy dog is a popular choice among visitors and is spooned over a hot dog. Cans of Coke products, water, chips, and candy are also available. Atmosphere 3 Don Brandon Field is a simple brick stadium with three sets of wooden bleachers. The grandstand is 10-rows high and separated into three sections with a lower concourse for easy access. The design is ideal for the Ravens and offers everything a fan would need for this level of baseball. The baseball banter can be heard from the respective dugouts. Fans are close to the action on the field and line up the left and right field foul lines with lawn chairs, blankets, and dogs on leashes. It is a simple atmosphere but reminiscent of other levels of college baseball throughout the Midwest and Northeast. The outfield fence is lined up with pine trees to provide a pleasant backdrop for the game. Banners hang from the back of the grandstand with images, team history, and mottos. The concession stand sits below the press box. The only complaint might be the scoreboard, which makes it hard to read the score and strikes and outs from the grandstand. Neighborhood 2 There are no restaurants or retail stores within walking distance of campus, but less than a mile from the ballpark is Gene’s Root Beer Stand. It has been an intuition since 1964 and serves Spanish dogs, burgers, sandwiches, and homemade root beer. A few miles down the main road towards the interstate are chain restaurants and fast food joints. However, visit The Lemon Drop, a hot spot since 1953 known for its onionburgers, homemade onion rings, chocolate Cokes, and old-fashioned milkshakes. Fans 3 The fan base consists of family members, friends, and curiosity seekers checking out the game. Parents call out their kids by name when they are at bat, fans clap when there is a hit, and the crowd roars when a run crosses home plate.  Access 3 The ballpark is a simple structure with easy access to the grandstand by a small staircase and a concession stand in front of the main grandstand. There are port-a-potties located a few yards away from the main entrance and some of the freshest-smelling ones I have used. Parking can be confusing for the first-time visitor as the only way to access the parking lot is to drive behind the football field grandstand when the gates are open. If that is not available, fans park in front of the football stadium and walk around the perimeter. Return on Investment 4 All games are free of charge, hot dogs are $2 to $3, chips are $1, and cans of sodas are $2. A weekend game brings a warm crowd into the game, and the dugouts create a lot of noise. The backdrop of pine trees and warm spring days creates an ideal way to spend an afternoon at the ballpark. Extras 3 The ballpark earns an extra point for its sloppy dogs, which are $3 and well worth the price. The second point is for the fan who hands out free Blow Pops to everyone in the grandstand. The final point is for the synthetic infield that creates fewer rainouts during the spring season. Final Thoughts There are some great Division 3 ballparks in Indiana, and Anderson University has one of them. It's a very inexpensive way to spend a spring afternoon watching baseball and perhaps a chance to appreciate the game at a different level than the minor leagues or Division I. ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on YouTube @ballparkhunter, Twitter @ballparkhunter , and Instagram .

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Buck Bowman Park 2228 Clover Hill Road Dayton, VA 22821 Clover Hill Bucks website Buck Bowman Park website Year Opened: 1954 Capacity: 1,500 Small Town Baseball Beneath the Clover Dome Nestled in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, the Rockingham County Baseball League is one of the oldest amateur baseball leagues in the country. The league's eight teams consist of a mix of current and former college players with ties to the area. Some of the latter have been playing in the league for years. The Clover Hill Bucks play in the RCBL and call Buck Bowman Park home. Known as the Clover Dome to locals, it is one of the last remaining parks with a wooden grandstand. Since moving here in 1954, the Bucks have won 18 RCBL championships, the most of any team in the league. Food & Beverage 3 There is one concession stand at Buck Bowman Park, although it has windows on both sides, one facing the field and one facing a grassy area behind the grandstand. Although the menu is limited, prices are some of the best you'll be able to find in baseball. Hot dogs are $2 (add 50 cents for chili), burgers are $3.50 (add 25 cents for cheese), fries are $2, popcorn and candy are $1.50, and lollipops and gum are just 25 cents each. Bottled water and assorted soft drinks are available for $2.50, while a cup of mint tea costs only $1.25. Although you may not want them on a warm summer night, hot chocolate and coffee are also $1.25. Keep in mind the stand only takes cash and it can take some time to get your food, although if you use the side facing the field, you will be able to watch the game while you wait. Atmosphere 5 Entering Buck Bowman Field feels like a step back in time to baseball as it used to be played. A covered wooden grandstand, one of the last of its kind, is behind home plate and while it may not be in the greatest condition, you can sense the history just by sitting there. More modern wooden bleachers are located further down the lines, and beyond those lies a seating area where fans can set up their chairs. This last one is the only area not behind a net, and in fact, there is not even a fence separating it from the field. Instead, there is a chalk line marking the boundary of the playing area that fans must sit behind (this should not be confused with the foul line.) If the ball crosses this line, it is considered out of play and will be treated as such under the ground rules. Although the wooden grandstand may be the least comfortable place to sit here, it does have the advantage of being extremely close to the action. Fans sitting in the front row are closer to home plate than they would be in almost any other ballpark, close enough to hear the conversations between catcher, batter, and umpire and see the drops of sweat dripping from the face of the person prepping the batters' box before the game. You will truly be up close and personal to the action if you sit here. A Clover Hill Bucks game is baseball at its purest. Although there are some advertisements on the fence and over the PA system, they are all for local businesses that support the team. There is no billion-dollar corporate influence here. Some music will be played over the PA system, but it does not get in the way of the game itself. This is baseball as it was meant to be played. One unusual quirk of Buck Bowman Park is that the sun sets in straightaway centerfield. Like at Waconah Park in Pittsfield, this means that games will sometimes feature sun delays and start 20 to 30 minutes after the scheduled time of 7:30 PM to wait for the sun to go behind the tree line. Neighborhood 1 The problem here isn't so much that the area around Buck Bowman Park is a bad neighborhood as much as that there is no neighborhood at all. The ballpark is surrounded by farms, and while there are a few local businesses that cater to those who live here, and they seem well-liked by the locals, nothing is likely to be of interest to out-of-towners attending a Bucks game except maybe a couple of fresh produce stands. If you want any place to eat, drink, or sleep, you will likely need to drive about 20 minutes into Harrisonburg, the nearest remote major population center. While Harrisonburg isn't a large city by any means, more of a small college town, it is at least a city. Macado's has some of the best sandwiches in the Shenandoah Valley, Kline's Dairy Bar is known for its ice cream, and there are other places to visit as well. That being said, you will have to do a bit of driving to get there. Fans 5 Despite Clover Hill's small size, it seems like almost the whole town turns out for a Bucks game. Many of the fans have been cheering on the team for decades, coming to almost every home game for a long time. This being farm country, some of the fans will ring cowbells after the Bucks score. The covered grandstand helps to trap in the sound and make it seem even louder than it otherwise would. Given the RCBL is spread out over such a small geographic footprint, many visiting fans will also make the short trek into Clover Hill. They are treated well enough by the home fans, but this still very much feels like a Bucks home game. The locals love their team and show up in droves to prove it. Access 2 As we mentioned earlier, Clover Hill is in the middle of the farm country. The nearest remote major town is Harrisonburg, about 20 minutes away via US Route 33. Once you get to the stadium, you will need to drive down a gravel path to a grass lot and park there. No marked spaces or attendants are directing you, other than to tell you to park anywhere that won't box anyone in. Despite this, cars park haphazardly, making it hard to figure out where you parked and get out when the game is over. Luckily everyone seemed to at least follow the instructions not to trap anyone in. There are restrooms on the grassy area down the right field line, near the concession stand, team store, and batting cages. They are small, but there is usually no wait to use one. The steps of the wooden grandstand behind the home plate have a long drop from one to another and may prove challenging for those with mobility issues. Even those who are physically capable of climbing them may get nervous stepping off the bottom step onto the ground because of the drop involved. The newer wooden bleachers down the lines are easier to climb but do not offer nearly as good a view. Return on Investment 5 Admission to most Bucks games is free of charge thanks to local business sponsors. For a few games, there may be a $5 admission charge. Check the Bucks' social media in advance to find out about specific games. Concession prices are incredibly affordable, and while you may spend a bit on gas to get here due to the park's remote location, a trip to a baseball game under the lights at the Clover Dome is still an outstanding value. . Extras 4 One bonus star for how close the home plate grandstand is to the action. Look for the team store on the grassy area down the first base line, and the deer skull above it. Both of these are worthy of an extra star. There are several places at Buck Bowman Park for kids to hang out and play baseball while their parents watch the game if they so choose. Before the game, the aforementioned grassy area will be full of kids playing catch with each other and their parents. Once the game starts, kids will hang out in the batting cage further down the right field line, playing their version of baseball with a toy bat and ball. Final Thoughts Buck Bowman Park is small-town baseball at its finest. The spirit of baseball is alive and well here in Clover Hill, at a ballpark steeped in rich history and a throwback to days of yore. An evening at the Clover Dome to check out a Bucks game should be on the bucket list of every baseball fan in Virginia.

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Mobile International Speedway 7800 Park Blvd Irvington, AL 36544 Mobile International Speedway website Year Opened: 1965 Capacity: 9,000 The Fastest Half-Mile in Alabama For over 50 years Mobile International Speedway has been South Alabama's premiere speedway. Nicknamed the fastest half-mile in Alabama, the oval-shaped track has welcomed some of the top drivers in the history of stock car racing. From Donnie Allison, Rusty Wallace, and Kyle Petty in their early years to Michael Waltrip and Kerry Earnhardt – all have come through Mobile on their way to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track even launched the careers of local drivers Cale Gale and Grant Enfinger, who would later compete in ARCA and the Craftsman Trucks series. Mobile International Speedway has seen it all since opening in 1965, hosting some of the top drivers and local races. In addition, MIS has been a Hollywood filming location, a popular Christmas light destination, and was even once owned and promoted by a popular professional wrestler. Recently Mobile International Speedway went through some changes, which included new ownership – the search for new owners resulted in the speedway closing for about a year, but when the track re-opened in July 2023, the new ownership included former local driver Eddie Shoemaker, who also operates Mobile Dragway, which is located next door to MIS. Now twice a month from March through September, expect to see action-packed, fast-paced racing on Alabama's Fastest half-mile track.      Food & Beverage   2 There is one stand located under the grandstand about halfway down; the usual fare can be found with hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, corn dogs, sausage dogs, and popcorn rounding out the menu, with prices ranging from $3 to $6, while for $10 you can purchase the chicken tender or chicken wing baskets. Coca-Cola is the soft drink provider here, with fountain drinks going between $2 and $4. In addition, right next to the concession stand is the beer garden, with prices running $5 for a Tall Boy canned beer. Also, make sure to check out the boiled peanut stand on the north side of the concourse under Turn 4 – for $5 you can purchase some of the best tasting boiled peanuts I've ever tasted in my life.      Atmosphere   3 Part of the charm of attending Saturday night races here is that not much has changed since the 1960s. From the moment you arrive and pass under the brick archway welcoming you to the speedway, it is almost like going back in time 50 years. Racing is held usually every other Saturday from March until September, and while most of the drivers are local, occasionally you will get a big-name driver coming through the area. Mobile International Speedway is located right next to Mobile Dragway with a huge grass field providing the parking. To get to the concourse you must walk up about 30 metal steps, entering the area which provides concessions under the grandstand. The grandstand itself is quite simple – made up of 15 rows of wooden boards held up by metal awnings, which hold 9,000 people. A small press box made of tin sits at the top of the rows. The track is a half mile oval with the grandstand in between Turns 1 and 4. A unique thing about the track is there are no walls or barriers around the track, except in front of the grandstands. The track was built on farmland, so without any walls or barriers you can see a good way out into the fields, meaning if you go off the track there is nothing keeping you from walking onto the surrounding farmlands. An old barn sits beyond Turn 2, providing a nice added touch to the view. The pits also have wall pads filled with various local sponsors, adding to a small-town feel.             Neighborhood   2 Irvington is a small community of about 800 people located in rural Mobile County. There's not much to do here after dark, with racing at MIS the only thing happening on the weekends here. On some Saturdays Mobile Dragway next door will be hosting drag racing, but that wasn’t happening during my most recent visit. If you want to take a day trip before the races you are 15 minutes away from Bellingrath Gardens, which is one of the most beautiful gardens in the south, and a must visit if in south Alabama. Another day trip worth checking out nearby is Dauphin Island, about 20 minutes south of Mobile International Speedway – not very many people know about Dauphin Island, so you'll have miles and miles of beautiful beaches all to yourself. Once on the Island make sure to stop at Historic Fort Gaines, a Civil War-era fort believed to be haunted. There is also a ferry that takes you across Mobile Bay and to Gulf Shores if you want to explore that side of Alabama. Dauphin Island also has a small aquarium, an Indian mound, a golf course, and several miles of nature trails, and is less developed than the nearby beach towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, so you will find less people there, which may be appreciated by some. Make sure to stop off in Bayou La Batre right before you get on the island – this tiny community is known as the shrimping capital of the country and was the setting for Bubba Gump's Shrimp Company in the novel and movie Forrest Gump. While there make sure to grab a bite to eat at Lighthouse Restaurant, voted one of the best seafood restaurants in the South, and if you come in May, you may even get to see the Blessing of the Fleet, the Catholic ceremony where ships are blessed for a safe and successful fishing season. It's a festive event because, before the shrimpers embark into the Gulf, the small town has a huge celebration for the shrimp boats, an event which attracts thousands of people.   Fans   3 MIS has been South Alabama's premiere racetrack for over 50 years now – it may not be close to Talladega, but this area of Alabama is also a hotbed for stock car racing, and it shows here. The 9,000-seat grandstand is usually about three-quarters of the way full on race night. A lot of the drivers are local, so you'll see many fans who come out every weekend. There's nothing else to do in Irvington on Saturday nights, so that helps as well with attendance at the track. You'll also encounter a good mix of families who come out to the races. There are usually five or six different races each night, and each race features a different style car and is very fast, with each race only lasting 20 to 30 laps, which is pretty quick for a half-mile oval. Spectators are definitely engaged from the start to the checkered flag – during my most recent visit they raced pro trucks (30 laps), pure stocks (20 laps), pro late models (40 laps), sportsman (25 laps), and crown stocks (20 laps).   Access   3 Mobile International Speedway is located about 20 miles south of downtown Mobile on Highway 90, a rural two lane back road that runs from Pascagoula to Mobile. Getting to the track is fairly simple despite being located on a back road – the track is conveniently located a few miles south of Exit 10 on Interstate 10. You can't miss the track, as it sits to the left about 2 miles south of the Interstate. There is plenty of parking in the huge grass lot on the property. The only issue I ran into at the track is the access if you are in a wheelchair or have a disability; because of the steep stairs at the entrance, and because there are no wall or barriers around the track, the only wheelchair access is between Turns 3 and 4, where you can be wheeled onto the track and into the stands. To access the pits there is an access point from the grandstand, but you must walk on the track to get to it.   Return on Investment   3 Tickets to sit in the grandstand are $15, while tickets in the pits are $30. I consider this a good return on investment, as concession prices are fairly cheap and you can't beat the free parking. My recommendation to get the full experience is to go on a Saturday when they are drag racing at nearby Mobile Dragway – you can catch drag racing in the afternoon, then go to MIS in the evening. The races at Mobile International Speedway usually start around 8 pm and last until around 11 pm. It is fairly quick, fast-paced action, and you are right up on the track less than 50 feet away from the cars as they line up.   Extras   5 One extra for the track being used as a filming location for the 2009 film The Final Destination; the opening race scenes were filmed at the track during the summer of 2008. Another extra for all the big races and big names that have been here over the years, as mentioned earlier. Some of the races MIS has hosted include the ARCA Mobile 200 from 2012 to 2015, as well as regular stops in the 1990s of Mobile 150 (NASCAR K&N Series East) and the Hooter’s Pro Cup Series. A ton of NASCAR regional races and ASA races have been held here as well. There is a billboard in the pits reading "Welcome to Mobile, Home of Lee Fields", who was a longtime owner and promoter of the speedway from 1972 until his death in 2000. Fields was also a notable wrestler in the Gulf Coast during the old territory days of pro wrestling – Lee held numerous titles in the 1970s including Gulf Coast Heavyweight Championship. Fields would have become a bigger star had he signed with another promoter, but he didn't want to move away from Mobile. Another wrestler with an affiliation to Mobile International Speedway is former WWE wrestler Bob "Hardcore" Holly – this popular attitude-era star from Mobile actually began his career as a stock car driver here in 1992. Holly would later sign with Vince McMahon in 1994, embarking on a 14-year career in the WWF, beginning with a race car inspired gimmick wresting under the name of Thurman "Spark Plug" Holly. MIS also hosted the annual Alabama Racing & Wrestling Hall of Fame for a number of years, honoring some of the greatest drivers and wrestlers from the area. Former wrestling manager legend William "Paul Bearer" Moody was the emcee at the Hall of Fame ceremony. Another extra for Mobile Dragway sitting next door if you want to catch some drag racing before you go into MIS – as mentioned they do drag racing there on most Saturdays. There is also another smaller track about 10 miles down the road in Grand Bay called Sunny South Speedway. One final extra for the Christmas lights on display here during the holiday season – in 2023 Mobile International Speedway began hosting Mobile's Annual Christmas Nights in Lights. The Gulf Coast's # 1 Christmas lights display was originally set up at Hank Aaron Stadium, but moved here after that stadium's closing. During December lights are set up all around the track, and cars are welcome to drive on the track through the interactive Christmas display. They also do a pretty elaborate Halloween lights spectacle here called Thriller Lights.

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43 Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium 782 HIgh Road, Tottenham London, UK N17 0BX Tottenham Hotspur FC website Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium website Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 62,062 A Brand New Home for the Spurs After months of delays, the £1 billion Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium opened in May of 2019 and the grand project might have been worth the wait as it is in a class all by itself among the football stadiums in England. The 62,062 all-seater replaced the Spurs former home of White Hart Lane and brought the club back to the neighborhood after playing the past two seasons as Wembley Stadium . The stadium has been met with almost universal approval including 95 percent of Spurs supporters being satisfied with the new stadium. The design retains the feel of the old White Hart Lane and although much larger, still provides a “feeling of intimacy due to the closeness of the stands to the pitch.” The new grounds are designed to be an all-year destination for visitors offering events from concerts, rugby, and is the official home for NFL games that are played in London. Underneath the grass pitch is a synthetic surface that can be used for NFL games and other events held at the stadium. The complex also houses its own microbrewery, the largest club shop in England, and eventually a Sky Walk and Hotspurs Museum. Food & Beverage 5 When it comes to food options there may not be a better football stadium in England. There are 60 food and drink options that are inspired from London’s vibrant street and market scene. Fans can enjoy options that are standard and international from around the globe, plus its very own microbrewery that is the first of its kind in any stadium in the world. It should also be noted that the stands open 2.5 hours before and after the game. Beer and drinks cannot be brought back to your seats during the match The Market Place is a gathering spot where fans can enjoy food and drink and choose from numerous vendors for a variety of cuisine from The Chicken House (fried chicken), N17 Grill (fish and chips), Naan Noodle (Asian street food), Linesman (burgers), and Smashed Olive (pizza). The Touchdown Grill offers hot dogs, burgers, nachos, and spicy bean burgers. The Tap Inn offers traditional meat pies and sausage rolls that are common among football grounds across the country. Fans can enjoy steak, minced beef,chicken tikka masala, spicy bean, and steak and blue cheese pies. The beer selection includes varieties from Heineken, Amstel, Strongbow, and Old Mout Cider. A few more highlights to visit include the Goal Line Bar (south stand) that runs the length of the entire goal line. The 65 meter bar is the longest in Europe. The Beavertown Brewery is located in The Market Place on Level 1 brewing fresh beer on site and is the first of its kind in any football grounds in the world. The brewery serves Beavo Lager (Czech Lager), Neck Oil (IPA), Gamma Ray (Pale Ale), 8 Ball (Rye IPA), and Smog Rocket (Smoked Porter) among its varieties. There are three other featured bars in the East Stand that include The White Hart, The Shelf, and The Dispensary. The Shelf incorporates bricks that have been salvaged from the East Stand of White Hart Lane and The Dispensary takes its name and design influence from the old Tottenham & Edmonton Dispensary that once graced the High Road Atmosphere 5 The roads surrounding the stadium close two to three hours before the start of the match and the concession areas inside the facility open up around the same time; fans line up the streets as they walk towards the facility from multiple mass transit entry points creating a buzz in environment well ahead of the opening kickoff. The stadium itself is aesthetically pleasing from the outside and features a 4.5 meter near double-sided fiberglass cockerel that sits on top of the roof structure above the South Stand which is a replica of the one first introduced in 1909 at the former ground. According to the Spurs fan guide, the generous and open concourses are bathed in natural light from extensive glazed areas with contemporary polished concrete floors made using aggregate from White Hart Lane. You will see an unrivaled standard of finish using materials such as brushed steel, copper, European oak and quartz. The seating bowl is designed to place everyone closer to the pitch than any other comparable sized stadium in the United Kingdom. The distances from the front row to the touchline range from 4.9 meters to 7.9 meters with stands set up at a 35-degree angle. The 17,500 single-tier South Stand is more than 34 meters in height. The design of the bowl ensures that the Spurs maintain a long tradition of having one of the most engaging and atmospheric homes in English Football. There are four giant HD screens and a state-of-the-art sound system providing pre and post-game entertainment, highlights and replays to the fans in the seating bowl. The individual seats are designed with a modern and comfortable style offering plenty of legroom in uninterrupted views of the game on the pitch. The concourse walls are decorated with an array of murals celebrating the club’s history and its neighborhood. The murals include homages to the old White Hart Lane, match day programmes, neighborhood street signs, and former players. The Gallery is located on the Level 1 Concourse in the West Stand and showcases work by four local artists. There are other areas that are designed to resemble sections of the old stadium as well. The attention to every little detail is impressive to visitors to the facility. The Tottenham experience is located on High Road and is the largest of its kind in all of football featuring a 100-seat auditorium area to host both pre-match in post-match events. Fans have plenty of room to choose from kits, t-shirts, jackets, key chains, and any other thing with the Spurs logo emblazoned on it. Coming soon will be the Tottenham Spurs Archive offering a vast collection of artifacts and past records, telling the story of the club’s founding and history. The Sky Walk will be a 40 meter glass walkway above the pitch offering breathtaking views of London and shooting a spike of adrenaline to each person’s nerve who dares to take this walk. The Club Museum is designed to tell the team’s history, display Spurs artifacts and educate the visitors about the club’s lengthy history. Neighborhood 4 The stadium is on the High Road in Tottenham and a collection of retail outlets, restaurants, and businesses line up the streets. There is quite a bit of revelry on game day and the Spurs are currently making it a neighborhood destination 365 days a year. There are various pubs located near the stadium that include home pubs: The Bricklayers, Bell and Hare (largest beer garden in Tottenham), Antwerp Arms, and No. 8 Tottenham Pub. The Banana African Restaurant & Bar offers traditional Nigerian, West African, and Caribbean cuisine. San Marco is a family-run restaurant for classic Italian dishes including hand-stretched pizzas from a brick oven. Brothers Cafe & Restaurant specializes in East African dishes. The Beehive Pub is an ideal spot for vegan options. Fans 5 The fan support is spirited and among the best in the city. The supporters section make beautiful noise throughout the game and cheer every time a goal is scored or a penalty is called against the opposing side. The size of the stadium has drowned out some of the energy from its previous home, but to anyone enjoying a good match, these fans are right on point. Access 4 It is advised to head out to the stadium well ahead of game time as the streets surrounding the stadium close. The best option is public transportation. The stadium is accessible via a number of London Overground, London Underground and National Rail stations: Seven Sisters, Tottenham Hale, Northumberland Park, and White Hart Lane stations. The four train stations each feature signage adorned in the club colors. Once near the stadium Fan Ambassadors have been recruited from the local area to assist with visitors. There are also 1,600 wireless access points to assist anyone looking for more information on their smartphones. No cash is accepted for any purchase made within the stadium and its surrounding campus that the club hopes will increase the speed of service and shorter wait times. Options include bank cards, mobile payment, prepaid cards, and gift cards. If you have purchased a general admission ticket you are only allowed access to levels 1, 2, 4, and 5 once inside the stadium. You also may not have the opportunity to check out certain sections of the stadium since you are not either a season ticket holder or a Spurs one member. Return on Investment 3 Single game ticket prices fall into three categories of A, B, and C, with A being the higher price point. An adult ticket for A games range from £52-£98, while those prices decrease greatly for B games, £30-£43, and followed by category C where ticket prices are £30-£80. There are also separate ticket prices for seniors, young adults, and juniors. These prices are lower than the standard adult ticket. Concession prices are on the norm with many other new EFL stadiums. Extras 4 The Spurs earn a point for the Beavertown Brewery that brews beers on site and is the first of its kind in the world. It earns a second point for the amount of great food that has been inspired from the city’s street food scene. The Spurs earn a third point for its dedication to minimising the environmental impacts of all our activities. Fans empty rubbish in dry mixed recycling or general waste bins. The Market Place is an ideal destination to meet up with friends for a post-match drink or bite. The area also features a dedicated stage that will play host to live music or DJ sets and is open 2 hours after the final whistle. Final Thoughts The Spurs finally opened their brand new stadium after many months of delay, but appears that the wait has been well worth it. Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium is one of the grandest of its kind in football on the planet. The modern features, details to excellence, view of the pitch, and overall atmosphere puts the grounds among the upper echelons of English Football.

Photos by Marc Viquez Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.42 Welsh-Ryan Arena 2705 Ashland Ave Evanston, IL 60208 Northwestern Wildcats website Welsh-Ryan Arena website Year Opened: 1952 Capacity: 7,039 New to the Old at the Welsh-Ryan Arena The Welsh-Ryan Arena has been the home to the Northwestern Wildcats basketball team since 1952 and went through a $110 million renovation during the 2017-2018 academic year that resulted in a complete transformation of the interior of the building. However, much of its charm is still intact, which should keep things familiar to long-time fans. The building is a basketball field house, first and foremost. It creates an intimate feeling in the 7,039-seat gymnasium, the smallest in the Big Ten. The gym has seen many renovations, most notably in 1983 when it gained its new name Welsh-Ryan Arena in honor of the principal donor's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Welsh. However, the current renovations ripped out the foldable bleacher seating in favor of individual purple chair backs, suites, and massive spacing on the concourses. Basketball was introduced to Northwestern in 1901, and the school hosted the first NCAA Tournament in 1939 at its former gymnasium. Surprisingly, the Wildcats have only made one tournament appearance in 2017 but have appeared 7-times in the NIT. Food & Beverage 4 Numerous concession stands offer a limited selection of items but are rather upscale to the world of college basketball. The Wildcat Burger is a double smash burger with provolone cheese, fried onions, slaw, and barbecue sauce and served on a pretzel bun. There is also a single smash burger served with traditional toppings of pickles, onions, and Wildcat sauce. Fans can also select two regional favorites: pizza puffs and Italian beef with hot giardiniera. The chicken tenders are served with barbecue, ranch, and honey mustard sauce, the spicy chicken sandwich is topped with ranch coleslaw, and there are also waffle fries. Photo by Marc Viquez Stadium Journey The traditional items include pretzels, nachos, popcorn, chips, candy, and hot dogs. Pepsi products are available by bottle or fountain. Northwestern also serves beer and wine at the Welsh-Ryan Arena, just the tenth school in the conference to do so, beginning in January 2023. Keep in mind that all purchases are cashless, and menu prices don’t include sales tax. The prices are $4.99 for a hot dog and top at $13.99 for a Wildcat Burger. There are 36 points of sale inside the building. Atmosphere 4 As I said earlier in this review, the building is a basketball gymnasium, and that is evident as you walk around the court with great views from almost anywhere in the building. There is still the charm of the old venue that has been incorporated into areas of chic modernism. It can be seen throughout the building from the main lobby entrance to the concourse walls. The school colors of purple and white are dominant, with artistic murals adorning the walls, alongside the former student-athletes photos and information. The lobby has a digital presentation of Northwestern Hall of Famers. The center video scoreboard adds new touches to the gym. The original roof was left intact and refurbished. The steel trusses at the corners and the far end of the top concourse are a splendid reminder of the building’s history, along with the new balcony seating hanging over both ends of the baskets. Natural light fills the concourse with windows with automatic translucent blackout shades. Photo by Marc Viquez Stadium Journey There's plenty of room to move around the concourses, which are wide and ADA-accessible. There are five elevators and staircases at each corner of the building. The perimeter of the lower concourse offers table ledges to keep your food and drink. It is a modern-looking facility that was missing a few amenities, such as a cheer and dance team, banners, and a mascot. Perhaps it was due to our visit in between semesters of the school year. However, the seating behind each basket puts the fans within fingertips of the play on the court. Neighborhood 4 Welsh-Ryan Arena is located between the football stadium Ryan Field and the baseball stadium Miller Park. Downtown Evanston is worth a visit, situated 2 miles from the arena. The trendy district has plenty of small shops, local and chain restaurants, and bars. Casual places for food include Koco Table, Giordano’s, Prairie Moon Restaurant, and Smylie Brothers Brewing Company. Photo by Marc Viquez Stadium Journey However, just across the street from the sports complex is Mustards Last Stand, a little joint with Northwestern memorabilia, offering Chicago-style hot dogs and other items. Ten Mile House is next door and serves American fare, while Hewn is a local bakery known for sandwiches and pastries. Downtown Evanston is most easily accessible to the CTA Purple Line via the Davis stop. Welsh-Ryan Arena is a quick walk from the Central Purple Line stop. Walking through Evanston is safe and can be somewhat scenic, especially if you take the lakefront path through campus. The Ryan Fieldhouse has picturesque views of Lake Michigan from inside the complex. Fans 3 You can count on a good number of people at home games due to the number of alumni living in the Chicago area. Capacity crowds can be expected for Big 10 match-ups against rivals Illinois, Purdue, and Wisconsin. The student section was not available during our visit due to the time of year, but the game felt more like a professional environment. Access 3 Evanston is located north of Chicago and has a scenic drive along Lakeshore Boulevard from the south along Lake Michigan. The campus is a fair distance from I-94 and Highway 41, so be prepared to travel through town if you arrive by car. You will hit the city, suburban, and highway traffic within a few minutes of your journey. Public transit is also an option, taking the Purple line train and getting off at the Central stop. From there, your walk is a little less than a mile. There is sufficient parking around the arena for a price, and you can look for parking on the street. The parking lot is shared with the football stadium and a short walk to the arena. Inside the arena, fans are welcome to spacious staircases, wide-open concourses, and large bathrooms (up 270 percent before renovations). The concourses are accessible via five different elevators, and space is available for guests in wheelchairs and their parties. Return on Investment 3 Ticket prices on the secondary market can go as low as $8 against early season matchups against non-rival opponents. Those prices will increase against conference opponents; expect prices to rise to $30-$50 for games against Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. They could go higher for games with Purdue and Illinois. However, prices will dip against the Big 10 teams from the east coast: Penn State, Rutgers, and Maryland. The parking price is $20, but there are also street parking options depending on what day of the week you attend the game. The food prices are reasonable, but some items seem a tad high. However, Welsh-Ryan Arena is worth the visit when in Chicago. Extras 3 The Welsh-Ryan Arena earns a point for its classic college basketball ambiance, which includes the restored roof and balcony seating. The second point is for the wide-open concourses that provide open views of the seating and court. A final point is the natural lighting that opens up the building, providing great views of the football stadium. ------ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Long before major leagues had a team and stadiums in the southern United States, there were the Atlanta Crackers and Ponce de Leon Ballpark. The Crackers were the most powerful team in minor league baseball throughout their 64-year existence, paving the way for the Atlanta Braves to become the first major league franchise in the southeastern portion of the country. The Crackers: Early Days of Atlanta Baseball by Tim Darnell provides an in-depth look at the team and its accomplishments between 1901 and 1965. During that period, the Crackers had the best record of any baseball team other than the New York Yankees. They took home 17 Southern Association championships in less than 65 years. First…. Why the name Crackers? Some suggest it relates to the definition of a “southern cracker” a derogatory term for a poor white southerner. However, it is much more likely to be a shortened form of the word Firecrackers, the name of a baseball team that preceded it in the Atlanta area. Baseball had been extremely popular in Atlanta ever since the Civil War ended, as it took resident’s minds off the massive destruction the area had experienced during the war. Teams sponsored by schools and local businesses came and went during the 1865- 1900 period. The Crackers benefitted from having a wealthy owner from being a member of an established league in the Southern Association, and strong leadership in the front office, as John Heisman served as the team president. Heisman is more widely known as one of the most successful innovators in college football, and at the time was the head football coach at Georgia Tech. By its tenth season, the team had already won four Southern Association pennants. The Cracker's home during those years was in Ponce de Leon Ballpark in downtown Atlanta. It was built on land the team owner already owned and took its name from a natural spring located nearby that promised a long life and other healthy benefits from its waters. The stadium was constructed in a natural bowl with a steep hillside forming its outfield limits. A railroad track was atop the hill just beyond right field. There was also a pair of magnolia trees in deep right-center field. The ballpark opened in 1906, and it was built out of wood, for $60,000.  The Cracker's success on the field, meant success at the ticket office, as they led the league in attendance nearly every season. Pullen Library Digital Collection, Georgia State University. Unfortunately, the ballpark burned to the ground in 1923. This forced the team to relocate to Georgia Tech’s Grant Field for the remainder of the 1923 season. A local businessman financed a new concrete and steel stadium for $250,000. The field was named R. J Spiller Field in his honor. The stadium was state of the art for its times, as it featured individual seats bolted into the concrete base, replacing the benches of the previous stadium. The grandstand seated 9,800, while the outfield bleachers held 5,000 more fans. One set of bleachers was for white fans, while the other was for black fans. The scoreboard in center field was changed by hand, and the starting lineups were announced by megaphone to the grandstand. The Magnolia trees and the railroad tracks atop the hill form two unique stories about Ponce de Leon Park. The Magnolia trees were considered in play and outfielders had to watch where they were going to field a fly ball. Only two players, Babe Ruth, and Eddie Mathews, hit official home runs into the tree and had the ball stay up in its branches. The second story involves a train headed north on the tracks at the exact moment a home run was hit by the Cracker's Bob Montag. A few days later a railroad engineer came to the park with a coal dust-covered ball. The home run had landed in the coal compartment of the train and traveled to Nashville and back… more than five hundred miles. It was duly listed as the longest home run ever hit in the Southern Association history. In 1932 the Crackers were purchased by the Coca-Cola Company, which is based in Atlanta. This gave the team deep pockets for operations, as teams were not affiliated with the major leagues then. They also placed Earl Mann as the team’s general manager, a title he would hold until 1959. He was an excellent judge of playing ability, and he also had the funds that would allow the team to pay higher salaries than the other Southern League teams. From 1935 through 1965 the Crackers would win eleven league championships. You might wonder how the Crackers were so successful. Here is a list of just some players and managers who wore a Crackers uniform at some time in their careers… Leo Durocher, Luke Appling, Paul Richards, Ralph “Country” Brown, Eddie Mathews, Tim McCarver, Jack McKeon, Gene Mauch and Chuck Tanner. Their radio announcer, Ernie Harwell, was traded to major league baseball for a catcher. Harwell went on to the Baseball Hall of Fame as the radio announcer for the Detroit Tigers. There is no word as to what happened to the catcher. Baseball was a very segregated sport for most of the Crackers’ existence. Ponce de Leon Park always allowed blacks in a segregated set of bleachers in the outfield. There was also a team known as the Black Atlanta Crackers. They played in both the Negro National League and the Black Southern League. To make ends meet, they would barnstorm through the South, playing local teams. They played most of their home games at Morehouse College and Morris Brown, two HBCU colleges in Atlanta. The team also played at Ponce de Leon Park when the Atlanta Crackers were playing out of town. A breakthrough occurred in 1948 when the Crackers hosted the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson in a three-game exhibition series. This would be the first integrated baseball team in the Deep South. Even though trouble was anticipated, Robinson was warmly welcomed by both the black and white record crowds that turned out for the series. No racial incidents occurred, and the Crackers added Nat Peeples, their first black player, in 1954. Minor league baseball faced some tough years in the 1940s, as many of the top players served in the armed forces during World War II. After the war, the minor league teams started becoming affiliates of the major league teams for financial reasons. This took some of the local ownership nature of the clubs out of the equation. Baseball began to be televised in the mid-fifties and early 1960’s, which also drove down live attendance at games. The Southern Association closed in 1961, resulting in the Crackers moving to the International League for its last four seasons. Major league baseball was on its way to the Deep South, as Atlanta lobbied both the Kansas City Athletics and the Milwaukee Braves. The Braves would move to Atlanta in time for the 1966 season. Ironically, the Crackers would not play their final season in their longtime home at Ponce de Leon Ballpark, instead playing at the brand-new Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, the future home of the Atlanta Braves. In 1965 Ponce de Leon Ballpark was torn down and replaced by a retail center. The railroad tracks atop the hill have been replaced by the Atlanta Beltline, a recreational trail. All that remains of the ballpark is the lone magnolia tree that stands in center field. When longtime Crackers General Manager Earl Mann died, his ashes were spread at the base of the tree. The Crackers: Early Days of Atlanta Baseball is a terrific read for anyone who loves baseball history or for any native Atlantan.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.58 Bison Dome 4241 E 300 S. Oxford, IN 47971 Benton Central HS Bison Bison Dome website Year Opened: 1969 Capacity: 3,538 Benton Central; A Sneaky Good Basketball Dome Benton Central Jr-Sr High School opened for the 1968-1969 academic school year as a result of the consolidation of Ambia, Boswell, Earl Park, Fowler, Freeland Park, Montmorenci, Pine Township, Oxford, Otterbein, and Wadena Schools. However, its dome basketball gymnasium wouldn’t be ready until the 1969-1970 season. The Arena Dome, or what I like to call the Bison Dome, held a capacity of 4,000 plus when it opened for the Bison but renovations have reduced the number to 3,538 — good enough for the 90th largest gymnasium in the state of Indiana and large enough to top many other facilities of its kind in the 49 other states in the country. The dome roof and ceiling are the gym’s main focal point and its design is similar to the Raider Dome at Southern Wells High School. Something is interesting about the dome basketball gymnasium and this arena stands out in the small town of Oxford, Indiana, just 30 miles west of Lafayette on SR-52. The gym is what some of us say as being “sneaky good” and there has been a lot of good basketball played here as the boys have captured 15 sectional and 4 regional championships while the girls’ program has won 21 sectional, 11 regional, and 4 semi-state championships along with three appearances in the title game. Food & Beverage 5 There is a lot to enjoy at the concession stand during the game and the selection is so abundant that the Bison became the first high school venue to receive a perfect score. Perhaps it is due to not many restaurants near the school but fans get more than the usual snack foods of hot dogs and popcorn when taking in a game underneath the dome. The gym offers tenderloin sandwiches, coney dogs from Dog and Suds, spicy chicken sandwiches, barbecue sandwiches, chicken strips, and a Bison dog (cheese and barbecue). There are French fries that are covered with chili, barbecue, or cheese. The same adheres to nachos that are also topped with barbecue. For dessert, there is a concession stand on the upper level that sells freshly baked cookies that are two for a dollar. All of these items are offered in $5 combos complete with fries and a 32-ounce Coca-Cola fountain product. There were even a few more items that were blocked off the menu list. Atmosphere 3 The Bison Dome is a visual treat the moment you walk inside its spacious confines and are treated to the classical style gym of its era complete with fresh green and gold paint all over the building. It is a wonder why this gym is not talked about more by the legions of high school fans here in Indiana. The building features one side slightly larger than the other. There is seating on all four sides of the court on both levels and banners from the various school championship teams hang from the rafters. The bottom-level seating features photographs of a few championship-winning sides. The highlight and focal point is the large dome roof that begins its second century of use in 2020. It looks as sharp as it did when it first opened and a touch of fresh paint in 2018 accented the gym’s aesthetics. A framed picture of a bison is hung on the upper-level wall along with a few old-school-looking logos along with the top level. The atrium features trophy cases, a concession stand, ticket booths, and a selection of tables where fans can enjoy their meal before the game or during halftime. The area is modern and was constructed in the late 1970s but features nice stone walls with shades of gray and black. Neighborhood 2 South Benton is located in Oxford, Indiana, near the town of Fowler which is exactly 100 miles between Chicago and Indianapolis. To say that the school is in the middle of nowhere is an understatement, the school is located next to a series of solar power windmills that stretch well past I-65 several miles east of campus. The area is home to a few local places that are recommended before a game. The local establishments include 100 Mile Rib & Chop House and Local Bar in Fowler and Dan Patch Cafe just south in Oxford. The 100 Mile Rib & Chop House features a full-service bar and a separate restaurant offering Angus steaks, ribs, and bone-in pork chops. There is also a home-style menu option for $8.95, weeknight dinner specials, and burgers and sandwiches. RDM Shrimp Farm offers tours of its sustainable shrimp that are raised on-site. Visitors can visit the premise which includes a gift shop and store to purchase shrimp and other products. The Fowler Theater is a 1940s movie theater that shows $6 films in its Art-Deco interior that takes visitors back in time. Lafayette and Purdue University are about 30 miles southeast of the school providing a wealth of restaurants, breweries, and other sights when taking in a game. Fans 3 To be honest, many of the Bison faithful were planning on heading to see the ladies in the semi-state game the next night in LaPorte, Indiana (a few hours north of town). However, the ones who were at their game showed school spirit with various t-shirt designs in the school colors. The light crowd was spirited throughout tonight’s contest and cheered on their hometown boys. Access 4 The gym is located 30 miles away from Lafayette, Indiana along State Road 52. It’s somewhat off the beaten path but not that far enough that one cannot make a simple trip to enjoy basketball at a truly interesting little gymnasium. Once inside the building, the design of the facility makes it easy to circumnavigate the seating bowl to get to your seat and access the bathroom and concession stands. The crowds are never near or at capacity so you have plenty of access to and about during your game. Return on Investment 4 The price of a ticket is $5 for a basketball game and is on par with other gymnasiums in the state. Concession items are also fairly affordable with no menu item being more than $3. There is plenty of parking that is free for the game and the small-town atmosphere makes it highly enjoyable to attend the game at a sneaky good basketball facility here in Hoosier State. Extras 4 The Dome earns a point for its dome architect ceiling and roof–the focal point during a basketball game. There is quite the collegiate feel when watching a game here that is reminiscent of a smaller version of the Mackey Arena at nearby Purdue University. The Dome earns another point for its wide variety of concession items from spicy chicken sandwiches, to Coney, and two freshly baked cookies. They go above and beyond with their food selection. Fans can even enjoy fountain beverages in 16 and 32-ounce cups. The third point is the look of the gym itself from its interior. The colors of green and gold are everywhere from photographs, paintings, and wall art. The curved glass banister also adds a nice little touch to the gymnasium that has a look all its own. The Dome gets a fourth point for the solar windmills that dot the landscape and provide a distinctive backdrop to the school and campus. There are 414 of them located on the Meadow Lake Wind Farm. Final Thoughts The arena gym is not as celebrated as other facilities in the state but one should never overlook this charming and distinctive building set aside the farmlands and solar power mills of Benton County. It is somewhat off the beaten path but not too far to enjoy high school basketball in the state of Indiana. It is a gorgeous facility with plenty of nice touches and concession items. Sometimes, the best places take a bit of drive to get to but are definitely worth the effort. ____ Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel . Email at marc@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Hancock Whitney Stadium 500 Stadium Dr Mobile, AL 36608 South Alabama Jaguars website Hancock Whitney Stadium website Year Opened: 2020 Capacity: 25,450 USA! – USA! – USA! The University of South Alabama is a medium-sized school of 15,000 students located in Mobile that opened in 1963. The Jaguars football team was officially born in December 2007 when the school voted to allow football to be played beginning in 2009. After 12 years the final touches of a program that was literally started from the ground up are on display with the opening of Hancock Whitney Stadium, which opened in 2020. Named after a Mississippi-based bank, the state-of-the-art, $80 million, 25,450-seat stadium replaced the aging Ladd-Peebles Stadium, which is located about 8 miles off-campus. The outdated facility, which opened in 1950, hosted the Jags during the first 11 years of their existence. Despite having a few successful first seasons, since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2012 the Jags have not had a lot of winning seasons, never winning more than six games. However, they have had two bowl appearances and one NFL draft pick who played in a Super Bowl, Rams Tight End Gerald Everett. Because the stadium opened during the 2020 season, capacity was limited to only 25%. As that seating was taken up mostly by students, boosters, and season ticket holders, not a lot of people could get the full experience during its first season. Now, Hancock Whitney Stadium is operating at full capacity, and the atmosphere is way more exciting during its second season. Jags fans haven't had a lot to cheer for since joining the FBS, but maybe the opening of their first on-campus home stadium will change that. Food and Beverage 4 There is no shortage of concessions stands with ten permanent stands throughout the facility. The usual fare of hamburgers ($5), corn dogs ($4), hot dogs ($3), nachos ($3), pretzels ($3), and popcorn ($2) can be found, but they also sell chicken sandwiches ($7), Conecuh Sausage ($6), and pork nachos ($6). They also have a chicken tenders and fries combo ($7) and a Philly cheesesteak combo ($8). Coke is the soft drink provider with 32 oz. drinks in a souvenir cup ($4), or you can get a 20 oz. Dasani bottled water ($3). There is also a large Sonny’s BBQ built into a permanent stand in the south end zone that sells its own menu items as well. There are several beer stands located throughout the stadium which sell 16 oz. Michelob Ultra and White Claw ($7), or Bud Light, Miller, and Coors ($6). The concessions here sell mixed drinks as well, and you can also get beer from the permanent concessions stands. One thing that is new for the 2021 season is the huge outdoor bar located on the south concourse in the end zone, near the Michelob Ultra Terrace, and in front of the team store. The large center bar is open on all sides with actual seating, and all the beers listed above and more with great views of the playing field. This is definitely a popular feature added on for the season. This bar is one area of the stadium where the lines back up though, while for the most part traffic ran smoothly for all the concessions. If you’re lucky enough to have a club-level ticket to the Hargrove Club, there is a full-service buffet style platter up there, as well as a bar that sells a more extensive collection of alcoholic drinks and an executive chef who cooks all the food. The Hargrove Club is located on the west side of the stadium under the press box. Atmosphere 4 The Jaguars finally have an on-campus stadium to call their own, so this automatically makes the atmosphere much better than at their previous home. The biggest problem with Ladd-Peebles Stadium is that it is old and beginning to show its age. The whole experience was kind of bland with no signs anywhere signifying that South Alabama even played there, as it was basically an oversized high school stadium. All that has changed now and with the stadium decked out in red, white, and blue, there’s no denying that you are in Jags Country. From the outside the stadium is much smaller than what fans would be used to. The field faces north and south, with a design shaped like an octagon, almost reminiscent of a soccer stadium. There are three entrances into the stadium, with the main entrance and ticket office being behind the south end zone, but once inside the stadium you can see it’s not so small after all. The first level along with the field are built below the ground, meaning you walk in and look down at the field from the concourse. The playing field is named after Abraham Mitchell, a donor who donated $5 million for the construction of the stadium. The Mitchell Family also gives their name to the school’s Business School, and to the Jags’ basketball arena Mitchell Center . The new feel is quite evident here walking the beautiful and spacious concourse. There is plenty of room walking around, and that's because the concourse is open in such a way that allows the stadium to expand when they increase the seating capacity. The stadium will increase the capacity from 25,000 to 32,000 in a few years and then eventually to 40,000. In the south end zone make sure you take time to walk around the Jaguar Team Store, the Locker Room, which is quite large and makes up most of the area in the south end zone. There is a decent selection of USA gear in here, and prices are reasonable; there was even a 50% off sale on certain items. Much like how minor league baseball team stores are built into their stadiums, you literally walk out the doors and you are in the concourse with a perfect view of the field. In addition, outside the team store is a giant South Alabama logo that makes for a perfect photo; I saw many fans getting their pictures taken with the field in the background. Above the team store is the giant beautiful state-of-the-art videoboard, which is one of the largest video boards in the state. I couldn’t find an official list of scoreboards by size in Alabama, so I looked up pictures of other stadiums in Alabama, and the one here looks like the second-largest in the state next to Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium . Also in the south end zone is the Michelob Ultra Terrace, which extends from the concourse to the field; this is the stadium’s party deck area and features several rows with drink rails that offer field-level views of the field. The party deck also has the ability to turn into a stage for concerts and other events. As mentioned there is a nice open bar right in front of the entrance to Michelob Ultra Terrace, so you can grab your food and drinks and go sit down at a table, or stand up and rest your drink on the rails. In 2020 because of the pandemic the Terrace was closed off and only the band had access to the area, but now this area is fully packed with fans and is definitely the party atmosphere of the stadium. The four-story Mobile County Commission for Student Athlete Success building overlooks the north side of the stadium; this building houses classrooms, the athletic department offices, and the locker rooms. Neighborhood 3 As Alabama’s third largest city, Mobile has plenty to offer and remains a great town known for its southern charm and hospitality. Mobile remains a very underrated city with plenty to do, and you can find plenty of attractions around the city without dealing with large crowds of tourists. The college is mostly located in a residential area away from all the attractions, but there are a few restaurants in the area. Within walking distance of campus you will find numerous places to eat such as Fuzzy Tacos, Mellow Mushroom, Ollie’s Mediterranean Grill, and Heroes Sports Bar. Foosackly’s is a chicken joint a few blocks from the stadium and has cheap food, while right next door Cookout has cheap hamburgers and hot dogs for sale. Or if you want BBQ, Dreamland (an Alabama staple) has several locations in Mobile and I highly recommend a visit. To experience Mobile at its best I recommend taking the 15-minute drive east to downtown where all the attractions and nightlife are located. If you take Government Street or Dauphin Street into downtown pay attention to the many historic buildings located on this stretch. Mobile is a very historic city, and this is shown by its many beautiful antebellum houses and buildings that date back to the 1800s. Dauphin Street looks just like Bourbon Street except with fewer tourists; in fact the whole downtown area retains that French Quarter feel as well. Some of the bars and restaurants I recommend include Alchemy Tavern, Hayley’s Bar, FIVE Mobile, Loda Biergarten, Haberdashier, and Dumbwaiter, which are all good bars located on Dauphin Street. Or if you are looking for seafood, Wintzell’s Oyster House and Chuck’s Fish have you covered. If you are looking for a nice sit-down restaurant try Dauphin’s, located on the 34th floor of Mobile’s tallest building. For attractions in Mobile, the main tourist attraction is the USS Alabama battleship – the ship is a World War II-era ship that fought in the war. It is located under the I-10 causeway when coming out from the tunnel. The ship is available for touring and I highly recommend visiting. Other things to do in Mobile include Fort Conde, a replica of an old 1700s era fort, which is a cool place to visit if you are interested in history. For kids and families the Exploreum and IMAX Theatre are nearby as well. Also, if you want to make a beach trip, the beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange are about an hour away. If staying in the area you will find numerous hotels along Airport Rd and Old Shell Road, as well as several high-rise hotels located in downtown Mobile to stay in as well. Fans 4 A few problems South Alabama dealt with in the past is that Ladd-Peebles Stadium was about a 15 to 20-minute drive away from the school, so not a lot of students would make the trek over for games. Also, as the program has been exceptionally bad in recent years support for the football program was not very good, and with a capacity of 40,000 Ladd-Peebles Stadium was also too big a stadium for a school the size of USA. Now that the Jags are playing on campus, fan support is at an all-time high. Unfortunately Hancock Whitney Stadium opened in 2020 and fan capacity was limited to 25%, but fortunately the year was also used as a test run for the Jags operations department to fix the kinks and work on things to do better when the stadium operated at full capacity. Now that the stadium is operating at 100%, many fans took advantage to get the full experience they could not get last year. The University of South Alabama is located in the south where tailgating is almost a religion – that is no exception here as throughout the campus are thousands of tents with people tailgating. All over campus you'll find tents set up full of families, alumni, students, and others enjoying a cold beverage, watching football on the big screen, and playing various games, something that was not evident in 2020. Once inside the stadium the whole place is a sea of red, white, and blue – the complete opposite of how it used to be. Many of the fans seemed into the game and stayed through the end. Because the Jags compete in the Sun Belt Conference many of the schools are within a few hours driving distance of Mobile, so expect a lot of visiting fans in attendance as well; that was the case here at the most recent game I attended, as I would say it was 60% South Alabama fans and 40% visiting fans. Access 2 When the Jags played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium it was very easy to get to as the stadium was located right off the interstate. Because no fans would attend games back then, getting in and out wasn't a problem. Unfortunately with the opening of Hancock Whitney Stadium there is no easy way to get to campus; USA’s campus is located in northwest Mobile on the corner of Old Shell Road and University Blvd. No matter which direction you are coming from you will encounter numerous red lights en route to campus. Mobile can also have horrendous traffic, so it is best to plan for traffic delays when attending a game. Fortunately, with games being on Saturdays you don’t have to worry about rush hour traffic. The main drawback is just how far the interstate is from campus – Interstate 10 travels east and west and is about 10 miles south, while I-65 runs about 5 miles to the east of campus; these are the main roads you would come in on if coming to campus. There are several different ways to get here if coming from out of town; I-10 runs right into I-65 and from there you can take the Spring Hill Road exit, then go about 5 miles until you get to campus. Or, if you want to go the back way you could take the Schillinger Road exit off I-10 and go about 8 miles to campus. Mobile Regional Airport is located about 10 minutes west of campus and is the main airport in the area with flights to anywhere in the southeast. Once on campus the stadium and facilities are toward the back side. The stadium is kind of hard to find if you are not familiar with the campus, but it’s on the northwest side. The campus is huge but there are plenty of lots on campus to park in, with most lots costing $20 to park but some of the back lots costing $10. There are also some lots on the back side that did not charge for parking, but you would be making a hike to get to the stadium. The campus also offers a free shuttle that runs continuously from the north side of campus to the stadium. Once in the stadium though, everything is perfect – there is plenty of room to walk around and no lines at the concession stands. In the seating bowl everything is designed in such a way that there are perfect field views from all vantage points in the stadium. There’s ample room to move around the stadium and that newness feel is evident here, as everything from the restrooms to the concourse is spotless. Return on Investment 3 Many of the tickets are already taken up by season ticket holders and students; the entire first level of the east and west sides were already sold prior to the season, so the only single game tickets available are along the upper decks and the first level in the end zones. The upper deck prices remain $25 and the lower deck prices in the end zones remain $36. Some fans may not be used to the high prices compared to how they were in the past, however, you are getting to see one of the premiere mid-major venues in the country. Counting the cost of parking and concessions, one could attend a game at Hancock Whitney Stadium for $50 to $70. Extras 3 Beginning in 2021 Hancock Whitney Stadium became the new home of the Senior Bowl. The annual postseason college football had been played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium since 1951. The Senior Bowl has become a tradition in Mobile and is definitely the city's biggest sporting event of the year. One extra for the overall history of the game itself as old school players like Joe Namath, Terry Bradshaw, Walter Payton, Mean Joe Greene, Brett Favre, Bo Jackson, and Michael Strahan who have all played in the game over the years, while the newer generation of football players like Dak Prescott, Tim Tebow, Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield, and Justin Herbert have all made a stop in Mobile on their way to the NFL. Now the next crop of future NFL stars will get to come through Hancock Whitney Stadium on their way to the NFL. With the opening of Hancock Whitney Stadium there was much uncertainty and controversy regarding the future of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, with some groups preferring the game stay put. Ultimately the game ended up being moved – though Hancock Whitney Stadium has a smaller seating capacity, it provides a much more intimate setting. Another extra for the facilities that surround the stadium – on the west side is the 49,000-square foot football field house, which opened in 2009 and houses the weight rooms and film rooms. The field house has a nice metal statue of a football player diving in the endzone while being tackled. To the side of the field house lie the football practice fields, which include the beautiful Jaguar Training Center, which opened in 2018. This facility is a football field that is open on all sides but has a roof over the playing field so the Jags can practice during the frequent Mobile thunderstorms. At 96,000-square feet and 60-foot high, the center is the largest indoor practice facility in the State of Alabama. In years past only one day of the Senior Bowl practices has been moved into this facility, but now all the Senior Bowl practices take place at the Training Center. Another extra just for the beauty of Hancock Whitney Stadium. Not a lot of college football stadiums open every year, so being able to attend a game during its first or second season is obviously a plus. I don't really count the game I attended in 2020 as obviously there were certain factors that inhibited me from giving it a good review, but after attending a game here in 2021 I can say Hancock Whitney Stadium and the facilities surrounding it are some of the most underrated in the country, and easily the best in the Sun Belt Conference. The Jags program is definitely on the rise thanks in part to the great addition that is Hancock Whitney Stadium. Final Thoughts Before the opening of Hancock Whitney Stadium the South Alabama Football program did not offer much in terms of history, tradition, or fan support. It literally changed overnight, and now thanks in part to their first on-campus home fan support is at an all-time high, and it'll be interesting watching this program only get better in the coming years. I highly recommend a visit to Hancock Whitney Stadium for a South Alabama football game or for the Senior Bowl.

Photo by Matt Fiedler, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Trinity Health Stadium 250 Huyshope Ave Hartford, CT 06106 Hartford Athletic website Trinity Health Stadium website Year Opened: 1935 Capacity: 5,500 Soccer in the Nutmeg State The Hartford Athletic has been around since 2018 and in that short span of time the USL Championship league has seen a lot of change. New teams have been added and there’s a greater buzz for soccer as a whole in the U.S.A. in anticipation of the 2026 World Cup. The Hartford Athletic call Trinity Health Stadium home and it definitely provides a solid atmosphere to take in a soccer match. At 5,500 seats, the capacity isn’t gigantic but it isn’t tiny either. It provides an intimate venue where you won’t find a bad seat to take in the action. Trinity Health Stadium was initially known as Dillon Stadium and was built in 1935. In 2018, in anticipation of the Hartford Athletic coming into existence, the city of Hartford undertook a $10 million renovation to bring Trinity Health Stadium into the modern era. The result was a stadium that is perfect for minor league soccer and a place fans should definitely check out if they find themselves in central CT. Food & Beverage 5 Trinity Health Stadium has a great assortment of food and beverage to fit nearly every taste and craving. They have a unique mix of stationary concessions and food trucks. Fans can find plenty of the usual stadium fare like popcorn, hot dogs, pretzels, peanuts, and chips. There are also tasty items like southwest chicken wraps and ultimate nachos which can be found at the Fresh Classics Stand. Another great option for fans is the Wooster Street Pizza location near the entrance to the stadium. Fans call also find some specialty cocktails, wine, and an assortment of beer at the Jim Beam Cross Bar. The prices at these locations are fairly in line with the prices you’d expect to see at your typical stadium/arena but there are certainly bargains to be had. While the stationary concessions are tasty, the real crown jewel of food and beverage at Trinity Health Stadium is the food trucks. Food trucks that offer cuisine from sausage + peppers, steamed cheeseburgers, hot wings, gyros, apple cider donuts, and even Chick-fil-A can be found at Trinity Health Stadium. This is a great way to provide concessions as it allows for more options and also has the flexibility to rotate different food trucks in. So whether you’re looking for something sweet or something savory, there’s something for you at Trinity Health Stadium. Atmosphere 3 Trinity Health Stadium provides a solid atmosphere for a soccer match. The bells and whistles that you get from a soccer match are out in force. The supporters section is rowdy and gives the constant drum beat of energy that you expect from a soccer match There are also some great activities for kids at Trinity Health Stadium. At halftime you’ll see youth soccer teams on the field and a crossbar challenge where a fan tries to hit the crossbar on 3 tries. There’s also a great family fun zone area with activities like cornhole, face painting, and more! This is definitely a family friendly atmosphere where people of all ages can have a great time. If you’re expecting an intense English Premier League atmosphere you’ll be disappointed. But if you expect to see quality soccer in a family friendly atmosphere then you’ll have a great time at a Hartford Athletic match. Fans 4 The fans of the Hartford Athletic really know their stuff. They’re a smart group of fans who get loud at the right moments. While attending a game against North Carolina FC I saw a few opposing fans and none of them were being given a hard time by the Hartford Athletic supporters. So, if you’re a visiting fan you can be assured that you won’t be hassled. As is the case with soccer crowds there is a dedicated section for supporters who are loud throughout the match. If you’d like to sit near the very passionate supporters this writer would recommend grabbing a seat near them. Trinity Health Stadium has a capacity of 5,500 fans. During the 2024 season they’ve averaged 4,496 fans per contest. That comes out to an average capacity of 90% which shows the support they have in the Hartford community. As professional soccer leagues have become more popular so has the support for Hartford Athletic. Fans have also become more acquainted with the sport of soccer over the years and even more so with the ramp up to the 2026 World Cup which will be held in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Neighborhood 3 Trinity Health Stadium is located south of the center of Hartford along the Connecticut River. The neighborhood is close to a variety of restaurants and entertainment options downtown. In the summer you could easily double dip and take in a Hartford Yard Goats game at Dunkin' Park before or after the Hartford Athletic Match. During the early and late portion of the season you could also take a trip to the XL Center to check out the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL. There are also a number of great restaurants to try while in Hartford including Salute, Trumbull Kitchen, and Black Eyed Sally’s. The area around the stadium is also home to a few great parks like Colt Park which are a great spot to take children before the match. If you’re driving to the match I would suggest trying to park in the lots immediately adjacent to the stadium. There are several lots around the stadium but some of them require a decent walk to and from the match. Access 4 Trinity Health Stadium is very easy to access. While it’s not in the middle of downtown Hartford, it’s a short drive from the center of the city. It is also located directly off of route 91 and also located near route 84. Trinity Health Stadium is an hour and 40 minutes from Providence, an hour and 45 minutes from Boston, and two hours and 20 minutes from NYC by car. The concourses at Trinity Health Stadium are fairly spacious and easy to maneuver. The only caveat is that the concession/food truck area can get crowded, particularly at halftime, so if you’re going to get food be sure to grab some before the lines get long at the half. There are restrooms located at each end of the stadium, 2 are near the concession area and 2 are near the family fun zone. If attending in the spring or later in the fall be advised that it gets chilly at night so bring a jacket to stay warm. Return on Investment 4 Taking in a Hartford Athletic game isn’t something that will break the bank by any means. Tickets can mostly be found for under $40 and there are also some free lots to park in if you’re willing to walk a little farther. If you park closer to the stadium parking is $18 on the day of the match of $15 if you purchase in advance. Fans can also score deals like $2 beer and $1 hot dogs on Saturdays and also $5 drafts before each match an hour before kickoff at the Jim Beam Crossbar. The concessions are also quite affordable and not out of the ordinary for a sporting event. For example, a southwest chicken wrap is $6, a bag of chips is $3, and a bottle of water is $5. So you’re looking at $14 for a filling meal. Fans also are getting a solid return on investment because they get to see a high level of skill on the pitch. This soccer is just a notch below MLS and there’s a lot of talent at each and every match. Throw in the fact that the Hartford Athletic has several activities to keep young kids occupied and you have the recipe for a great night that won’t hurt your wallet too much. Extras 3 One extra star goes to the the excellent Brass Bonanza goal song. It is a beautiful homage to the Hartford Whalers who used that as their goal song. A second star goes to the local flair around the stadium. From the aforementioned Brass Bonanza to the local food, there’s certainly a distinctly Hartford atmosphere. This writer recommends grabbing a steamed cheeseburger or a slice from Wooster Street Pizza. A final extra star goes to the supporters section which remained rowdy and loud for the entire match. They had the proper amount of enthusiasm without getting too wild. Final Thoughts Trinity Health Stadium has been around a long time but has been completely refreshed in the last few years and now has a vibrant and exciting occupant. The Hartford Athletic provide a great match experience to take in. From the excellent on field product, to the local food, to the activities for kids, it’s a great experience attending a Hartford Athletic match. It is definitely something to check out during the summer or early fall.

Photos by Stefano Romagnoli Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Stadio Silvio Piola Via Massaua 1 Vercelli, Italy 13100 Italy Pro Vercelli website Stadio Silvio Piola website Year Opened: 1932 Capacity: 5,500 Pro Vercelli Stadio Silvio Piola is the main facility for football in Vercelli, a small town in Piedmont, Italy. The town is located about 65 km away from Turin and about 60 km from Milan. The stadium is dedicated to a player who was a world champion in 1938 and holder of numerous records in Italy including number of goals scored in Serie A (274), number of goals scored in a single match of Serie A (6), and the top scorer in Serie A with the jerseys of Lazio, Novara and Pro Vercelli. Silvio Piola began his career in the main Italian football league in the white jersey of Pro Vercelli. Therefore the system built in 1932 and originally named after the aviation hero, Leonida Robbiano was re-dedicated to Silvio Piola in December 1997 “in memory of his sporting achievements in national and international field,” as explained by a plaque next to the grandstand. The FC Pro Vercelli can be counted among those teams that have promoted the spread of football in Italy. In the early twentieth century the club was one of the more famous. The club was able to win the title of Italian championship seven times in 15 years. The first came in 1908, and the last in 1922. Currently FC Pro Vercelli plays in Serie C, the third tier of Italian football. Food & Beverage 3 Inside the Piola are four dining options, three are reserved for the local fans, and one is at the disposal of guest supporters. The menu of sandwiches, bottled water, and coffee costs 5 euro. Fans can also buy sweets or salty snacks, as well as other hot and cold drinks. Outside the facility, there are the classic peddlers and some cafes. The stadium is located in the center of Vercelli and it is easy to reach pizzerias, restaurants, and a market within a few minutes walk. Best to wait until after the game to fill your belly. Atmosphere 3 The stadium was built in 1932, and was recently renovated in the months before the football seasons in 2011-2012, 2012-2013, and finally in the summer of 2015. The work has affected all sectors of the Piola and the playing field (the natural grass was replaced by a synthetic grass). In Tribuna Coperta, the seats are white, black and red, and form the word and logo “FC Pro Vercelli.” In this area of the stadium there is also the Press Tribune dedicated to sports journalist Francesco Leale. Under the covered grandstand is the Gradinata Sud. On the other long side of the field there is the Gradinata Nord where seats of black and white spell out the year 1892, the date when the club was founded. Behind the Curva Ovest, occupied by the warmest fans, there is a billboard reminding fans of the seven league titles won by FC Pro Vercelli, Silvio Piola and other excellent players of the city. The Curva Est, the least roomy sector of the stadium, is reserved for the guest supporters. In total the Stadio Silvio Piola seats 5,500. There is excellent visibility from every sector of the stadium with a playing field at a maximum of about ten meters away. On either side of the doors, between the advertising signs, there are two electronic timers to indicate the playing time. Neighborhood 4 The Stadio Silvio Piola is located in the city center of Vercelli. Around the stadium grounds there are low buildings and numerous activities within easy walking distance including cafes, clothing shops, markets, pizzerias, ice cream parlors and so on. Also behind the Gradinata Nord there is the Park Pietro Camana. It is a nice place to relax if you have time before or after the match. Fans 3 The strongest supporters of FC Pro Vercelli follow the games from Curva Ovest. The colors that dominate this stadium segment are white and black jerseys, flags, and scarves. The main rivalry is with the fans and the team of the nearby Novara, and competition between the two clubs take the nickname of the “derby of rice” because this area of Piedmont is considered the European capital for rice. Also noteworthy is the “derby del Piemonte orientale” between Pro Vercelli and Casale. Access 4 Reaching the Stadio Silvio Piola once you are in Vercelli is really simple. If you arrive by car, my advice is to park near the central station and walk along Viale Garibaldi. If you arrive in Vercelli by train, although the town is in Piemonte, you should use the high speed trains up to Milan and from the capital of Lombardy to take a local train to Vercelli. Return on Investment 4 You can buy tickets to attend home games of the FC Pro Vercelli through some retailers in the city, and online from the official website of the club. Prices vary according to the sectors of the stadium. A place in the Curva Est costs 12 euro, while in the Tribuna Coperta Centrale can rise in price up to 72 euro. On the club’s website you will be able to find any discounts and/or initiatives. Extras 3 The Basilica of Sant’Andrea, the Church of San Cristoforo, the Borgogna Museum are just some of the great places to visit while you are in Vercelli. Vercelli is within easy reach from Turin (famous for the Mole Antonelliana and the Egyptian Museum) and Milan (with its streets dedicated to high fashion). The local cuisine that you should be sure to try is called “panissa,” a risotto that is cooked only in this corner of Piedmont. Food enthusiasts should also look for the “tartufata,” a cake made of chocolate and cream. Finally, the don’t miss the chance to have “bicciolani,” biscuits with spices.

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Ross E. Templeton Center 105 Ashland Ave Clinton, SC 29325 Presbyterian Blue Hose website Ross E. Templeton Center website Year Opened: 1975 Capacity: 2,000 Goooooo Blue! Let’s Go P.C.! The term “ Blue Hose ” is said to have been born from the blue socks worn by the football team after then head coach, Walter Johnson, incorporated blue socks into the team uniform. Local sports writers picked up on and began referring to Presbyterian as the Blue Stockings, which over the years morphed to Blue Hose. With the roots of the Presbyterian Church going back to Scotland in the late 1600s, the college has incorporated a Scottish warrior as the face of its mascot, to pair with the Blue Hose. Since their jump to the NCAA’s Division I in 2007, Presbyterian College has played as members of the Big South Conference. Prior to moving to D1 the Blue Hose spent eighteen seasons in the Southern Athletic Conference of Division II, where they made four NCAA D2 tournament appearances. Before their time in the NCAA, Presbyterian was a long-time member of the NAIA. While the Blue Hose have yet to qualify for the NCAA tournament at the Division I level, they did make a run in the 2019 CollegeInsider.com Post Season Tournament (CIT) to the quarterfinals, where they fell to the eventual tournament champion Marshall Thundering Herd . Presbyterian, a relatively new Division I NCAA member with just one winning season (2018-19) at this level, seemingly is still in the process of building the foundation for their men's basketball program.   Food & Beverage   3 As soon as fans walk through the doors of Templeton Center, the concessions are front and center. Options are typical of what would be found at most basic concession stands – hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, chips, and an assortment of candy. Cheese sauce and chili are also available as add-ons. For beverages, Presbyterian provides both bottled and fountain soft drinks from the Pepsi line of products.  Alcoholic beverages are not available for purchase at Presbyterian basketball games. The concession stand does seem to close up shop rather early, so make sure to grab what you might want before the halfway point of the second half.   Atmosphere   3 Ross E. Templeton Center uses a classically designed portico, with large support columns that welcome fans inside. The facility itself though does not have a lot of extras. Bleachers across from the team benches have a center section with seat backs, while the rest of the seats are backless benches. Behind the team benches the first few rows of seating have been removed, but seat back chairs are five rows deep at center court, while the truncated sections behind the team benches run three rows deep – all these chairbacks are designated as reserved seating. Basic scoreboards are affixed to the walls at opposite ends of the floor, which provide fans with time, score, and team foul information. Similarly sized videoboards are also at each end of the floor, one showing a live feed of the game while the other rotates between advertisements and Blue Hose graphics. The scoreboards and videoboards unfortunately do not display a running total of in-game statistics or player fouls for fans to keep up with. Stoppages in play are often filled by either performances from the cheer squad, on court recognitions, or contests run by the two in-game hosts. The games and contests that are conducted seem to be a fan favorite in filling the downtime before the ball is put back in play. Though played in a small venue with attendance that can be sparse, the Blue Hose faithful who are there do bring a great deal of passion and excitement to the environment.   Neighborhood   3 Ross Templeton Center sits at the end of Presbyterian’s long, oak-lined quad toward the back of campus, neighbored by the soccer field, Martin Stadium, baseball’s Elton Pollack Field , and football’s  Bailey Memorial Stadium . Presbyterian's campus is about a mile from Clinton's town center with a handful of shops and restaurants. The town center features a replica of the brick, arched train depot that serves as a tribute to Clinton's railroad history. Additionally, there are 15 bronze historical markers scattered around the town as part of a walking tour. Those interested in the town's history can access an accompanying narration of the tour through the distrx app, available on Apple's App Store or Google Play.   Fans   2 The Blue Hose typically draw 200-300 fans per game to Templeton Center. According to US News & World Report , Presbyterian College’s enrollment of just under 1,000 students makes them the smallest member of NCAA’s Division I. Naturally this impacts both the size of the student body and the size of their alumni base, but it doesn’t take away from the enthusiasm at games. The stands appear to be comprised mostly of alumni and residents of Clinton, with student representation seemingly being predominantly athletes from other sports. Despite the smaller crowd size, those in attendance remain actively engaged in cheering/jeering at appropriate times throughout the game.   Access   3 The easiest access to Clinton from nearby cities comes via I-26, which runs between Spartanburg and Columbia and on to Charleston on the South Carolina coast. From Greenville, I-385 provides direct access to Clinton before joining up with I-26 just north of town. Parking does seem to be a bit of a free for all – with a small lot behind the gym, many cars line Ashland Street, which runs in front of Ross Templeton Center. Larger lots closer to the football  and baseball  stadiums are a bit of a walk. The main entry point is on the right side of the front of Ross Templeton Center. Fans are directed into a somewhat snug lobby area leading directly to the ticket table, either for ticket purchases or to have pre-purchased tickets scanned. Once inside the Gregg Hibbert Gymnasium, the name of the Blue Hose's home court itself, seating can be accessed from the court floor behind the team benches or along the sidelines opposite the benches. The easiest way to move between sides of the floor is back through the main lobby.   Return on Investment   4 Tickets start at $10 for general admission seats, which seems consistent with prices of similar levels of college basketball. Free parking and reasonably priced concessions make the experience affordable all around.   Extras   2 Each of Presbyterian’s athletic facilities features sculptures of the sports that the building hosts; the entry plaza of Ross E. Templeton Center displays bronze statues representing men’s and women’s basketball along with volleyball. The wall at the end of the team bench displays plaques recognizing Everett Booe for initiating the Presbyterian Men’s basketball program in 1914. A second plaque honors the 2007-08 team that was the first to transition to NCAA Division I.   Final Thoughts Basketball at Presbyterian College has a nice balance of keeping the game as the feature of the experience, while also getting fans involved during breaks in the action. Sometimes less can be more when it comes to the overall basketball experience at Presbyterian. There definitely are limitations that can impact the overall game presentation, but the in-game entertainment crew does a good job with what they have, to give fans an entertaining experience that nicely complements the game between the lines.

Photos by Martin Mc Nelis, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29 Mazuma Stadium Christie Way, Westgate Morecambe, England LA4 4TB Morecambe FC website Mazuma Stadium website Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 6,476 Turn Up the Feelgood Note: The venue name changed from Globe Arena to Mazuma Stadium in 2020. The Globe Arena is the home of Morecambe FC, located in a seaside town in Lancashire, England. They played non league football throughout their history until they gained promotion to League 2, the fourth tier in the English Football League in 2007, after defeating Exeter City in the Play off Final at Wembley Stadium . Their nickname is ‘the Shrimps’ due to their association to the fishing and shrimp industry in Morecambe Bay. The club moved to this purpose-built facility in 2010 after spending 89 years at their old ground, Christie Park. The Globe Arena has a very modern, welcoming entrance and facade and is named after the builders, Globe Construction. It comprises a large and impressive Main stand, covered terrace behind each goal and an open terrace where spectators can stand and watch the match. The Main, Peter McGuigan Stand is named after the current club chairman and is the main hub of the club’s activities, containing corporate hospitality facilities for both match day and external functions. It is also where the main entrance and reception is located for both sets of players, officials and directors. The dressing room, gymnasium and public bar and a busy club shop are also housed within here too. Across from the Main Stand is the open North terrace, which has four narrow steps with a safety barrier at the front. The view of the pitch from here is decent and is especially nice when the weather is good, otherwise you are exposed to all the UK elements. The entrance is located in the centre, with a small television gantry perched above it. Either side of this there are toilet and refreshments, though no alcohol is sold in this particular area of the ground. In the right hand corner there is a police control box which is discrete and outside it, there is a very basic scoreboard providing information like substitutions, messages and other scores from the division. The covered East terrace is to the right of the Main Stand and is for away fans, though this will depend on the opposition and the number of supporters they bring. Opposite this, the similarly structured West Terrace is also covered, and it is for the home supporters and where the majority of the atmosphere is generated. Food & Beverage 3 This part of northern England is associated with a variety of pies. It would be unfair to be overly critical as I was only able to access the refreshments in this particular area of the ground. With only one person serving, it isn’t overly busy and sells only basic hot and cold drinks with pies. Alcohol is sold within the Main Stand and like every other ground in England, it can only be consumed on the concourses and not in your seat. Atmosphere 4 The away fans are vocal throughout and the home fans behind the goal in the West terrace respond in turn, though they can be subdued in parts when the team is losing. The Omega Holidays Stand is your best bet for atmosphere at Globe Arena. The stand accommodates 2,234 standing spectators near the left end of the goal. The stand also features a bar and concession stands. The Shrimps have been in League Two for the past decade and crowd support has risen to above 2,000 fans per game the past season for the first time in seven seasons. There is plenty of cheering, chanting, and singing that makes a visit to the grounds an interesting day at the football grounds. Neighborhood 3 The stadium is located near the coastline, a couple of miles from the town centre and train station, which in itself is approximately a twenty minute walk away. Outside it, the houses on the main road are modern and lavish. This is a good place to park as it is literally just a couple of minutes walk away from the stadium. There is also a holiday park with up to date looking chalets along the road which is popular with tourists. Within a one mile radius of either side of the stadium, there are a couple of fast food establishments, a couple of pubs and restaurants to give you some options depending on your preferences. There are a variety of hotels, travel lodges and bed and breakfasts located at either end of the town. The most prestigious establishment being the renovated Midland Hotel. Fans 3 The fans are both passionate and yet quiet at various times during the match. The club mascot ‘Christie’ goes round the perimeter of the home end doing high fives with fans and posing for pictures. Fans are courteous without being overly friendly. Morecambe’s average attendance is just under 2,000 a match. The home supporters retort with chants of their own when the away fans go through their own renditions and repertoires. When there isn’t a huge crowd on hand, it has a negative impact on the overall atmosphere of the stadium experience. Access 3 The stadium is set just off a busy main road and has a walkway in which you can see the ground ahead. It is spacious around every side of the stadium and you should expect to encounter no difficulty or restrictions walking round it, with both sets of supporters mingling freely and hassle free. The number 6 bus, which goes to and from town, is very regular along the main road, and the train station is located approximately 20-25 minutes walk from the stadium. Approaching Morecambe by car from the motorway you have two options. Taking the junction 34 exit will take you through the main part of town where the traffic is very slow and tedious due to the volume of cars passing through. Coming from the north, junction 35 takes you through Carnforth and along the more coastal part of Morecambe. I used this on the way out and found the traffic moved a lot quicker. There is limited parking at the stadium and a couple of areas charge £10 to leave your car there. On either side of the stadium there is adequate street parking and only a few minutes walk to the stadium entrance. You are very restricted to each individual end and I encountered a very officious steward when I asked to go into the West Terrace to take a photo! If there is no flexibility to move under cover when the rain comes on, you could be in for a very wet and uncomfortable 90 minutes. Return on Investment 4 The cost for admission, food, programme and items in the club shop is on a parallel with other clubs in the division. The uncovered North terrace end is the cheapest option for tickets at £16 and the other ends are a couple of pounds more, with the West Terrace behind the goal £17 and the Main Stand £21 for the family section or up to £26. The club have an impressive pricing system for other groups like concessions at £14 or £17, under 18s are £5 and anyone aged under 14 is admitted free, so it would be financially beneficial to bring the family with you! You could potentially buy a match ticket or cash for the premium seats in the Main Stand at £26 and bring say two children under the age of fourteen and still pay the same price. Alternatively if you are looking for maximum value, you could do the same and stand in the uncovered North terrace for £16. Extras 3 The Morecambe match programme is an impressive 68-page full colour publication, priced at £3. There are a number of features including current team stats for the season, past meetings between the clubs, upcoming local events, interviews with current and former players, the Academy players and in depth details on the opposition. Final Thoughts Given the club’s location and depending on weekend or midweek fixtures, not to mention the television schedule, you could potentially stay a couple of nights locally and take in a number of games with clubs located close by like Blackpool, Fleetwood and Preston North End .

Photos by Richard Smith , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57 Kris’s Meadow Chambersburg, PA 17201 Wilson Phoenix website Kris’s Meadow website Year Opened: unknown Capacity: 500 Phoenix Rising Wilson College is a private liberal arts college located in Chambersburg, PA. that almost closed in 1979 but ended up staying open. Until 2014, Wilson was an all women’s college but became coed that year. The college is known for its Single Parent Scholars program, which allows single parents to bring their children to live with them on campus. A little over 1,000 total students attend Wilson. Their sports teams are the Phoenix and the soccer team plays at idyllic Kris’ Meadow. They are a member of the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC). Wilson has six women’s sports teams and five men’s sports teams. The sign at the field also refers to it as the Rhonda Brake Shreiner Soccer Field but we could find very little other references to that title. A few health care resources in the area are also named after Rhonda Brake Shreiner who lost her battle with cancer in 1999. She must have had a connection to Wilson College sports. Food & Beverage 0 There is no permanent food stand open for soccer games. There may be stands open for certain games as there is a concession stand located at the softball field right next door. Atmosphere 2 To get to Kris’ Meadow you will need to drive down a very small rural road that goes through a farm. Once it looks like you have gone too far and are on private property there is a good bet that you are actually there. There is a small parking lot right by the field. The field is down a slight hill from the parking lot. Many people will watch from the end lines at the top of that hill. The only other seating area is an extremely small metal grandstand along the sideline. Best bet is to bring your own chair to watch the game. You will not get much else in atmosphere at Kris’ Meadow, but the pretty farm setting is pretty okay on its own. Neighborhood 3 Chambersburg is a nice little town located just to the north of the Maryland and Pennsylvania border. There are a few food and drink options in the immediate vicinity. You can’t go wrong with the Roy Pitz Brewing Company or the Copper Kettle. There are other options as it is a fairly busy area with quite a few variety of places to go. Nearby Shippensburg or Hagerstown in Maryland, also each have many options. Fans 3 As with most small college fields, the bulk of the fans tend to be family or friends of both teams. There will be some local fans who just happen to stop by for the game as well. Access 4 Chambersburg is located right off Interstate 81, a major route from the south through to the northeast. Accessing the campus is easy as you get off that main road as it is marked well. The college is located about a half an hour to the state capital Harrisburg. It is also about an hour and a half to Baltimore, and the same distance to Philadelphia. Parking is fairly plentiful near the field and it is free. Return on Investment 5 Tickets and parking are free. Extras 1 The field is literally in a farm. If that is not an extra I am not sure what is. Final Thoughts There is not too much to see at a Wilson soccer game, but the field and its farm setting is still a pleasant place to see some intercollegiate action.

Photos by Richard Smith , Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Nelson Gymnasium 1015 Philadelphia Ave Chambersburg, PA 17201 Wilson Phoenix website Nelson Gymnasium website Year Opened: unknown Capacity: 250 Phoenix Rising Wilson College is a private liberal arts college located in Chambersburg, PA. that almost closed in 1979 but ended up staying open. Until 2014, Wilson was an all-women’s college but became coed that year. The college is known for its Single Parent Scholars program, which allows single parents to bring their children to live with them on campus. A little over 1,000 total students attend Wilson. Their sports teams are the Phoenix and the basketball team plays at Nelson Gymnasium. They are a member of the United East Conference. Wilson has six women’s sports teams and five men’s sports teams. Food & Beverage 0 There is no permanent food stand open for basketball games. Atmosphere 3 Nelson Gymnasium is one of the smallest gyms we have seen for NCAA action. This does make it a pretty loud experience for even games with very few fans. There is a small set of bleachers, a simple set of scoreboards, and a simple PA system. It is a fun place to see a game but the atmosphere won't wow someone expecting more traditional NCAA action. Neighborhood 3 Chambersburg is a nice little town located just to the north of the Maryland and Pennsylvania border. There are a few food and drink options in the immediate vicinity. You can’t go wrong with Mario's Italian Restaurant or the Copper Kettle. There are other options as it is a fairly busy area with quite a variety of places to go. Nearby Shippensburg or Hagerstown in Maryland, also each have many options. Fans 3 As with most small college gyms, the bulk of the fans tend to be family or friends of both teams. There will be some local fans who just happen to stop by for the game as well. Access 4 Chambersburg is located right off Interstate 81, a major route from the south through to the northeast. Accessing the campus is easy as you get off that main road as it is marked well. The college is located about half an hour from the state capital Harrisburg. It is also about an hour and a half to Baltimore and the same distance to Philadelphia. Parking is fairly plentiful near the gym and it is free. Return on Investment 5 Tickets and parking are free. Extras 1 The quaint gym is an extra on its own. Final Thoughts There is not too much to see at a Wilson basketball game, but the setting is still a pleasant place to see some intercollegiate action.

Photos by Dave Mortimer, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Smith’s Ballpark 77 West 1300 South Salt Lake City, UT 84115 Utah Utes website Smith’s Ballpark website Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 15,411 Smith’s Ballpark-Utes Style The Pac-12’s newest baseball program also boasts the conference’s largest baseball venue, though it isn’t the primary tenant. The Utah Utes play at Smith’s Ballpark, also home to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees . Though it’s probably unfair to compare the game day experiences of these two clubs, certain elements make it just about unavoidable. Food & Beverage 3 Only one food stand is open for Utah games: the Grand Slam Grill. The featured items here are what you’d expect from somewhere with “Grill” in the name: chicken tender or cheeseburger baskets ($7.25), corn dog baskets ($6), chicken tender sandwiches ($6.25) burgers ($5.75), hot dogs ($3.25 regular, $4.25 jumbo), corn dogs ($3.50), garlic or cheese fries ($4.25, $3.75 for plain fries), chips ($2) and peanuts ($4.25). Drinks include Coke products (regular $3.25, large $4) and various bottled drinks ($3.75-$4.25). Atmosphere 2 For as much fun as Bees games are in this park, Utah games are alarmingly sedate by comparison. I went to two Utah baseball games in a month, both against in-state rivals: BYU and Southern Utah. During the BYU game, the video board on the scoreboard was turned off, outfield fence advertising was non-existent, and entry to the grass berm beyond the outfield was blocked (somewhat unsuccessfully) by caution tape. The Southern Utah game, meanwhile, was the opposite. The video board was used for player bios, the Bees standard outfield ads were present, and the berm was open. While this helped make the game less drab, the tiny crowd did not. Even ball and t-shirt tosses were done with minimal enthusiasm by those who tossed and received. Both games featured something else lacking: the Ute logo. Signs on the stadium’s exterior tout Spring Mobile as “Home of Utah Baseball.” Inside, however, only a couple of promotion tables and a handful of Utah/Pac-12 flags tied to steel gratings display the traditional drum and feather. There is only so much branding the school can do because they’re sharing the park. Even so, there’s no debating the pride instilled by fans and alumni seeing logos and wordmarks in as many spots as possible. Otherwise, it just feels plain. Neighborhood 3 New developments nearby have helped spruce up this section of Salt Lake City, but it’s still somewhat warehouse-heavy. Going a couple of blocks east to State Street gives you plenty of eating options. On the way to State Street, you’ll run into Big Kahuna Pizza. Its website touts itself as the “Best Pan Pizza In Town.” That’s obviously up for debate, but the uniqueness of many of their pies is not. Two specialty pies worth a try are the “Kanaka” (Kalua pork with BBQ sauce) and the “Pake” (sweet and sour stir-fried chicken). If a pub’s more your style, Piper Down is the place for you. “Utah’s Premier Irish Pub” prides itself on being not just a great place to eat and drink, but to make new friends. There are plenty of choices on the menu. If you’re feeling Irish, you may like the Irish Nachos, which replace corn chips with fried potatoes and have corned beef as the protein. You can build your cheesesteak for just $7. For info on other nearby food choices, including the great dive bar Lucky 13, check out the Salt Lake Bees review . Fans 2 Heading into the game against BYU, I figured there would be a heightened atmosphere, even on a Tuesday night. The crowd, announced as 900, was decent for a college game here, but was about one-third to one-half pro-BYU. Overall, the crowd seemed smaller given the inescapably large number of empty seats around them. My second visit, pitting the Utes against Southern Utah, was even smaller. The box score says 425 fans showed up, a figure I would call more than generous. Many of the fans wore Ute red and were somewhat engaged, but were often matched or exceeded in enthusiasm by fans of each visiting team, particularly during the BYU game. College baseball has long been a hard sell in Utah. A season that starts in February prevents local teams from playing at home for at least a month, stifling crowd momentum. A look at UtahUtes.com shows a concerted effort to get fans out to the games. Most notable are coupons for up to six free tickets in exchange for basic contact information. Some are tied to specific events (Youth Day, Father/Son Day, etc.) but others appear to be valid for any game. This helped bring my family to the park, but also lessened the sting of having to leave early when my son got the sniffles. Access 5 Normally $6 for Bees games, the official lot across the street from the park is free when the Utes play. You won’t find parking attendants in this lot during college games but it’s still the best, safest spot around by a wide margin. The TRAX light-rail system also has a stop nearby, if you’re OK with public transportation. While perhaps diminishing the park’s atmosphere, the smaller crowds make restrooms and concourses even more serviceable than they already are. Return on Investment 4 Simply put, you can’t beat free. Easily accessible free admission and parking, not to mention plenty of free souvenirs (schedule posters, etc.) make for a thrifty family outing. The lack of additional frills and a merely moderate energy level keep me from giving a full 5. But if a more mellow baseball experience is your thing, you’ll love it here. Extras 1 One point of view. No matter what is (or isn’t) going on inside the park, the view beyond the outfield is stupendous, highlighted by Mount Olympus beyond the dead center. Utah fans also get a glimpse of the Block U on Mount Van Cott beyond left field. Final Thoughts Even with a massive fundraising effort underway by the Utah athletic department, it appears baseball is far down the priority list for the school with the smallest athletic budget in the Pac-12. Having been blessed with a more-than-adequate option in Smith’s Ballpark, the onus is on the school to make the in-game experience more compelling. Being consistent in the use of the video board, keeping the berm open regularly, and doing all they can to apply the school brand within the park are small tweaks that can help.

Photo Courtesy of CSU Bakersfield Athletics Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.14 Icardo Center 1500 Roadrunner Dr Bakersfield, CA 93311 CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners website Icardo Center website Year Opened: 1989 Capacity: 3,800 Route 99 Roadrunners Cal State University-Bakersfield is a California public university founded in 1965 in Bakersfield, CA. The Roadrunners athletics program was originally an NCAA Division II program, and had a very successful run at that level in basketball during the 90’s which included three National Championships. In 2006, the Roadrunners began their transition to Division 1. In July of 2013, the program joined the once prestigious Western Athletic Conference for most sports, including basketball. The Icardo Center is a 3,800 seat arena opened in 1989 that is used for several UCSB sports. Named for prominent UCSB Boosters Jimmie and Marjorie Icardo, the 44,000 square foot arena is best known for its unique blue floor. The new court went in with much fanfare during a major renovation in the fall of 2011. If nothing else, the blue court at the Icardo Center is what makes a Roadrunners game worth seeing. Food & Beverage 1 Basically, be sure you eat before you arrive. The concessions window is on your left when you enter the arena, and consists of only snack items. Candy bars, popcorn and soft drinks at vending machine prices make up your concession options inside the Icardo Center. On the occasion of my visit, there was barbeque being cooked outside the front doors for purchase, but by the second half they had packed up shop and left. So if you’re counting on catching dinner and a game, you’ll be disappointed. Atmosphere 2 The Icardo Center is in the heart of campus, so there is a turnout that’s not awful like some small D1 venues. You’ll have the option to choose from General Admission which consists of bleacher seats on either side of the court or Premium Seating which is assigned seat back seating at midcourt on the east side. There are Icardo Center employees monitoring very closely to ensure you don’t take a Premium Seat that’s not yours, so this is not a venue that you can buy General Admission and expect to get the “wanderer’s upgrade” to midcourt seats. As you enter, there are two doors that will take you into the court. Immediately on your left will be the student section that consists of a small but relatively mighty group of students including a small pep band. A decent number of supporters fill up the first ten to twenty rows of the arena, but the highlight for any traveler is the blue court. The floor is a very royal blue with a giant Roadrunner logo in the center, giving a very nice and new (if not slippery) view of the game. Scoreboards are on either end, but don’t expect to find a video board for those all important instant replays. Neighborhood 2 There’s not a lot to speak of in terms of the area. The Icardo Center is in the heart of a pretty average-in-every-way campus. You won’t find tree lined streets and old style architecture at CSUB, instead it’s a wide open campus of buildings that resemble an office park. It’s wholly distinguishable as a college campus only by the green areas and athletic fields in the surrounding area. CSUB is located about 20 minutes from downtown Bakersfield across Rte. 99, so it’s in strip mall suburbia. Chain restaurants like Tahoe Joe’s and the Elephant Bar are popular eateries in the immediate vicinity. Downtown Bakersfield is a bit of a drive, but offers some more options. The Padre Hotel is particularly popular as an upscale restaurant and bar scene. The Wool Growers Restaurant is another unique option in the area with some interesting cuisine. Overall, Bakersfield is a fairly large city (although it doesn’t really seem it), so there are plenty of options around town. Fans 2 There’s not a whole lot to talk about here. The presence of an organized student section with the pep band instantly makes this slightly better than a lot of small conference venues around the country. They even sport the Roadrunner logo (who wouldn’t?) pretty regularly. But if there was any organization or traditions from the Division II championship days they’ve long since gone. They’ll cheer for their team at the right times, but anything more than that is non-existent. Access 4 Bakersfield is off the beaten path in California just a bit, but Rte. 99 cuts right through the area. Campus is about a 10 minute drive along the Kern River away from 99. Be prepared in advance, because GPS does not seem to know where the Icardo Center is in campus and will just take you to the heart of CSUB. You’ll want to enter campus from the south on Roadrunner Drive, as all roads from the north won’t cut through. There is a large covered lot just south of the Icardo Center that is free for parking on game day, so it’s easy from there on out. Once you enter, the court is dead ahead through two doors. Restrooms are on your right and, while small, offer more than enough room for the small number of fans. Traffic is essentially non-existent, so there is no need to worry about getting in and out. Return on Investment 2 General Admission tickets for a Roadrunners game start at $12, which struck me as a bit pricey for such a not-in-demand sports experience. Reserved seats start at $16 with floor seats going for $50 (really? $50?). The good news is all kids get tickets for $5. Parking is free, but that’s to be expected at this level. And food, well, there isn’t really any food unless you call a Snickers bar dinner. Overall, other than paying to see a blue basketball court, prices aren’t in alignment with the product you’re getting. Extras 2 Some credit can be awarded here strictly for the blue court. It’s really the only thing that distinguishes CSUB basketball from hundreds of programs across the country. While the Roadrunner is cool, I couldn’t even get a T-shirt because there is no onsite store or item sales. Overall, it feels sort of like the Roadrunners expect people to come and pay ticket prices, but aren’t offering a whole lot of amenities back to the visiting fan.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Georgia Dome 1 Georgia Dome Drive NW Atlanta, GA 30313 Atlanta Falcons website Year Opened:  1992 Capacity:  71,228 The Dome is Home The Georgia Dome has been home to the Atlanta Falcons since 1992. But once the 2017 season begins, the Georgia Dome will be no more as a new stadium will open just south of the dome’s current location. Over the last 20-plus years, the Georgia Dome has not seen a lot of big games because the Falcons have not achieved consistent success. However, in recent seasons, the Falcons have been in the playoffs four times and as hosted three playoff games including the 2012 NFC Championship Game. While Atlanta fans are criticized for not supporting their sports teams, more fans have come to support the Falcons over the last few years because of their recent success. And while they have still have a lot of work to do in becoming the best fans in the NFL, there is nothing quite like seeing the Georgia Dome filled with over 70,000 fans cheering the Falcons to victory. Food & Beverage   4 The food prices at the Georgia Dome are on the expensive side, but the quality is worth the cost. From hot dogs, wings, burgers, popcorn, and fries, there is a wide variety of food to choose from. I had the chicken tenders and fries the last time I was at the Georgia Dome. It cost me $13 dollars, but they gave me a lot of food so I was not complaining. The one thing that does stand out is they have a couple a Taco Mac concession stands as well as an actual Taco Mac restaurant inside the dome. So if you want to go to the Brewniversity while watching the Falcons game, you are more than welcome to do so. Just like any professional football stadium, there are plenty of alcoholic beverages to choose from. And if you want a soda, then Coca-Cola is the beverage of choice because the main headquarters is a few blocks away. Atmosphere   4 The Georgia Dome is the largest cable supported dome in the world. When you walk into the stadium, it looks a lot bigger than looking at it from the outside. Over the years, the Falcons have improved to make the dome feel like the home of the Falcons by painting the seats red and black and doing the same thing with the outside walls. Then there is Falcons Landing which is located right in front of the C Gate of the dome. Fans can play games, get autographs and listen to some of the local sports talk radio host preview the Falcons game. And once you’re inside the dome, the drumline and the pregame videos and the cheerleaders do a good job getting you ready for kickoff. Because the team has had some success over the last few years, the dome has more of a big-time NFL feel than in the past. And while they have a ways to go to be a premiere NFL atmosphere, they are on their way. Neighborhood   5 The Georgia Dome is located in the heart of Atlanta, and there is a ton to do other than just taking in the Falcons game. Right next to the Georgia Dome is  Philips Arena  where you can see an Atlanta Hawks game as well as a concert. There is also the CNN Center where you can take a tour of CNN studios and shop at the Atlanta Braves Clubhouse store. Right around the corner is the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium. Both are great places to take kids and are very informative. But the one thing that will catch the eye of many patrons is the College Football Hall of Fame, which will open in the fall of 2014. This is good place to learn all about the game and its legendary players and coaches. Fans   4 The fans in Atlanta have been ridiculed over the years because they are not as passionate as some of the other NFL fan bases in bigger markets. But because of the recent success of the team, the fans have been more actively supportive of the Falcons. The biggest issue is that the fans do show up late, so when the game starts, the dome may look a little emptier than it should be. But that has do with traffic and tailgating, and the fans eventually file in. There are normally 65,000-70,000 fans per game and they are smart and loud when they need to be. As much as Atlanta loves the Braves and the Georgia Bulldogs, the Falcons have captured their hearts because this team has a chance to do some big things in the next few years. Access   4 With the Georgia Dome located right off the downtown connector, it’s really easy to get to. And because there are plenty of parking options, getting out of stadium is not a problem either. And when it comes to moving around the Georgia Dome, that’s a piece of cake as well. However, one of the new things they have done is if you have a 100-level ticket, only those fans can walk around that level. As far as the restrooms go, they are as clean as you will find in an NFL stadium. But because there are 65,000 fans that attend a game, they can get crowded, so make sure to choose your time to go to the restroom wisely. Return on Investment   4 Tickets for a game can range from $60-$160 depending on where you want to sit. And parking will range from $20-$60, which is on the high side. But overall, it’s a good investment to make because there are only eight games per season, the food prices are not out of this world, and the product on the field has been solid over the last few years. So it’s worth spending the money to go to the dome on a Sunday afternoon. Extras   3 The entrance video is as good as it gets. Samuel L. Jackson telling fans to rise up is never old and he’s been doing it for years. The Falcons Ring of Honor is a great way to remember the best players in Falcons history. One of the most interesting things the Georgia Dome has is every helmet of every high school team in the state. Even my school was up on the wall which is a very cool thing to see for the many fans visiting from all over the state of Georgia. Final Thoughts The Georgia Dome is a good place to take in an NFL game. The officials have made improvements to the stadium to enhance the fan experience, and it has worked because whenever the Falcons are in town, the Atlanta area is always a busy place. But time is running out on the dome because the new Falcons stadium will open in the next few years. So make sure to you get the Georgia Dome before it’s too late.