Photos by Aaron S. Terry, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29 Irwin Belk Stadium N Camden Rd Wingate, NC 28174 Wingate Bulldogs website Irwin Belk Stadium website Year Opened: 1998 Capacity: 3,500 #Onedog Like many sports stadiums in the Carolinas, Irwin Belk Stadium is named after Irwin Belk, who donated large sums of money to many universities in the area – it is sometimes hard to keep track of which facility is which given the similar names, but in this case the stadium is home to the Wingate Bulldogs football team of the NCAA’s Division II. The modern venue has a capacity of 3,500 and includes a large grandstand (complete with press box) for home fans, with a smaller grandstand on the other side of the field for visitors. There is also a fieldhouse behind one end zone, with berm seating along a small hill behind the other end zone, which kids can be seen sliding down on flattened, and sometimes decorated, cardboard boxes. Food & Beverage 4 Irwin Belk Stadium has all kinds of food options, enough to satisfy any fan. The main stands on the home side offer hot dogs, nachos, BBQ sandwiches, popcorn, chips, candy, and Chick-fil-A grilled chicken sandwiches, which I haven’t seen before; all the other Chick-fil-A stands at stadiums I have been to only have the breaded ones. The home stands also have bottled soda, bottled water, Gatorade, and energy drinks, but in addition to the main stands, there are pop-up stands which sell Italian ice, slushies, and beer from Southern Range, including a Bulldog-themed one named ‘Onedog’, which is a well-known hashtag/saying for the team (that word is even lettered on top of the player tunnel). The concessions are slightly on the high side for this level, but the selection is great. The Chick-fil-A sandwiches are amazing, still moist even halfway into the game, but I wouldn’t recommend the BBQ sandwich (the meat is too dry with not enough sauce). Atmosphere 5 As mentioned above, kids have a lot of fun at Irwin Belk Stadium, sliding down the grass hill on cardboard boxes, or tossing a football on the berm. It is also really cool you can get so close to the field – you can literally walk right down and stand two feet from the turf if you want. The facility is also very modern, with nice-looking brickwork and splashes of color in the form of Wingate logos on and around the field. The only potential downside is that the videoboard only shows team logos and not any game replays. However, they play great music during breaks in the action, including fun music that gets people up and dancing (songs the staff calls ‘bangers’), and the entertainment includes Wingate’s 2022 NCAA National Champion cheerleading squad. Neighborhood 3 Wingate, NC is a small town of less than four thousand located about 45 minutes southeast of Charlotte. There isn’t much in town – a few fast food places, a sushi restaurant named Wild Blue, and the awesomely named coffee shop Java the Cup – but there is plenty to do in Charlotte if you plan to be in the area for the day or weekend. There are also some interesting attractions outside of Charlotte, for example Carowinds on the South Carolina border, or a petting zoo called Why Not an American Ark nearer Wingate. Fans 5 The fans at Irwin Belk Stadium are phenomenal – the stands are literally overflowing. In fact, at the last game I attended the PA announcer actually had to ask fans to move down to the middle of their rows (a.k.a. stop spreading out so much), so that more people could fit in the bleachers. Even after that there were plenty of fans standing around, and plenty of attendees sitting on the grass berm. The fans are also really into the game, and really seem to love their team. There is also a great tailgating scene outside the stadium. Access 4 Irwin Belk Stadium is easy to get to, and easy to get into and out of. The small town location helps, as this means there is not too much traffic, but there is also plenty of free parking right outside the main entrance. The facility is located right off Highway 74, and the concourse has plenty of room to move around. The only potential downside is the concessions lines tend to be a little long, but this is more than made up for by the free and close parking, and the ease of moving around the facility – as mentioned above you are even allowed to walk down the stairs to field level to get to the grass berm, or walk around to the visitors side, so you can literally watch from wherever you want. Return on Investment 5 Tickets to Wingate football games are only $12, which is a steal for football at almost any level – rarely have I seen tickets cheaper than this. This represents a great return on investment for your sports dollar, as you get to experience a great, modern facility, a rabid fan base, and a pretty solid win record over the past five years under head coach Joe Reich (his brother Frank played quarterback for the Buffalo Bills back in the day behind Jim Kelly, leading the team to victory in that legendary playoff game against the Houston Oilers, and currently serves as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts ). Extras 4 A big plus for the great fan base, leading to standing room only for some fans at recent games. Another plus for the Bulldog cheerleaders winning the national championship, a squad you get to see in action during every home football game. Another plus for the popular hashtag #Onedog, which even has a beer named after it, and a final plus for the great fun all the kids had cardboard-sledding down the hill at Irwin Belk Stadium.

Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Denny Faith Field at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium 49 N Main St Albany, TX 76430 Albany Lions website Danny Faith Field at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium website Year Opened: 1937 Capacity: 2,906 Albany HS Albany, Texas is a small bedroom community in Shackelford County, approximately 30 miles northeast of Abilene. Established in 1873 in the shadows of Fort Griffin, Albany became an important support community and valued stop on the Western Cattle Drive Trail. Blazed by Captain John T. Lytle, the trail allowed Southern ranchers to drive an estimated six million head of cattle north, to provide stock cattle for growing northern ranches and supply reservations on the northern Great Plains. In Albany today, like most small Texas towns, on fall Friday nights the focus of most citizens shifts to the local high school football field. The field in this historic community is fittingly draped in its own bit of lore, as it was built into the hill where the original Albany public school was built in 1884. Interestingly, the stadium’s namesake Robert Nail was not known for his athletic prowess, but for being a playwright, most notably writing Fort Griffin Fandangle, the oldest outdoor musical in Texas. Coach Denny Faith, whom the field was dedicated to in 2019, is still the Head Coach and Athletic Director here, with over 40 years of service to the community.   Food & Beverage   4 Concessions at Albany games benefit the Albany Athletic Booster club. While there are no specialty food items available, stereotypical fare is served. If large items are to your liking, burgers, hot dogs, Frito pie, and nachos are available for $6 or less. Snack items include candy bars, pretzels, chips, pickles, and popcorn for $1 to $4 each. 20-ounce Coca-Cola products, water, and Powerade are all available for $2. There are also hamburger, hot dog, and Frito pie meal deals that include a drink, chips, and candy for a discounted price – at the most recent game I attended, I purchased a burger meal deal which included a cheeseburger, chips, Coke Zero, and Snickers for $10.   Atmosphere   3 Walking up to the main gate, you are welcomed by two regal, statuesque lions guarding an imposing large stone archway. The iconic image is impressive and sets the tone for a memorable experience. When you realize that the stones utilized to form the entrance were from the original school, which dates back to the early 1920s, the nod to history is evident. Add in unusual features such as stair-step home stands made of native stone, and a corner of the southeast end zone that is mere feet from the surrounding trees and perimeter fence, and fans are welcomed to a one-of-a-kind encounter. The home side lower section also has several rows of natural tiered seating built into the hill – these tiers are lined with stone and are wide enough for folding chairs, which prove popular with knowledgeable fans. When the teams run onto the field here, each respective school’s band plays, and the crowd cheers. Albany has a loud air horn that blows on big plays to excite the fans as well; the game is exciting and the air is filled with energy all night.   Neighborhood   4 Even though it is the county seat of Shackelford County, Albany is basically a bedroom community due to its location just 30 miles northeast of Abilene. Surrounded by numerous large working ranches and with a rich history steeped in western lore, it is no surprise that Albany has a strong agricultural background. Along with oil production and wildlife hunting, industry tied to the land is a major factor in the area. There is one hotel in Albany, a few blocks from Robert Nail Memorial Stadium. The Albany Inn is within walking distance, but several more options are about 28 miles southwest, in Abilene – just a couple of suggestions out of many include Comfort Suites  and Holiday Inn Express And Suites . If you have extra time, the Old Jail Art Center , Fort Griffin State Park , the historic downtown area, and Webb Memorial Park and Swimming Pool are all interesting places to visit. If visiting Abilene, family entertainment options to consider include the Abilene Zoo , Frontier Texas , the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature , Grace Museum , and the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame . There are a few restaurant choices just a few blocks from the stadium – these include Goodnight Steakhouse and Saloon, Ice House, Los Cazadores Mexican Restaurant, and Dairy Queen. I would suggest Goodnight Steakhouse if you have the time for a well-cooked steak. There are also numerous choices at the Interstate 20/Highway 351 intersection if you are coming from Abilene. Or, if you are traveling from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, budget an extra hour or so into your travels and stop in Strawn at Mary’s for a chicken fried steak!   Fans   4 Like most high school football games in Texas, the crowd is large and highly involved. There is a saying used here – “The whole town shuts down on Friday nights for the football game”, which might very well apply in Albany. It seems that most of the hillside lower seating is packed, and much of the metal stands above the walkway are filled as well. During my most recent visit, the visitor side was packed tightly, and overflow fans were lined up on both sides of the fence from end zone to end zone.   Access   4 Albany is located 30 miles northeast of Abilene, Texas on US Highway 180, via Texas Highway 351. Nail Stadium is easily visible, one block off Main Street (US-180) behind the First Baptist Church. There are entry gates on either the home (north) or visitor (south) side of the facility. There is a large parking lot between the church and Nail Stadium, with handicap parking and full ADA access available on the home side of the venue. Parking on the visitor side will be along South First Street, but that gate is only accessible via large steps.   Return on Investment   5 Ticket prices to attend games in Albany are $5 for adults and $3 for school aged students. There is no charge for parking. Figure in the ability to purchase a tasty meal deal from the concession stand and you get an excellent return on investment here. Extras   4 The aforementioned two lions in front of the stone archway give a majestic feel to the entrance. Despite the east-west orientation of the field, which can cause issues for the players, you’ll get a nice sunset – west Texas sunsets are always worth extra points, no matter your location. The merchandise booth housed in the historic rock building, plus the tiered step seating, bridge generations of Lions history and continue to carry the legacy of Robert Nail into the future.   Final Thoughts Texas high school football is popular, as evidenced by the famous book and subsequent movie and TV show, all with the same name, Friday Night Lights . While many communities across the Lone Star State have built new, shiny, state of the art multipurpose facilities, Albany has gone against the counterculture and continues to play football on the same field where the game was played over a century ago. Denny Faith Field has some unique features which are memorable; considering the history of the Lions athletic program since Coach Faith has been its leader, a trip to historic Nail Stadium should be on every casual high school football fan’s bucket list.

Photos by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 BMO Stadium 3939 South Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90037 Los Angeles FC website BMO website Year Opened: 2018 Capacity: 22,000 LAFC Soccer From L.A. to The O.C. (Los Angeles to Orange County), southland sports fans will never suffer from a shortage of teams to cheer for. With fans having a choice of two teams to cheer for in each major sport, as of this season, Major League Soccer fans throughout the southland will also have their choice of two teams to cheer for with the addition of the Los Angeles Football Club. The first MLS game to take place in Southern California would take place at storied Rose Bowl in 1996. The L.A. Galaxy would call The Rose Bowl home until 2003 when they would move to more intimate settings at the Stubhub Center in the city of Carson. Throughout the early stages of the MLS, most teams often found themselves playing home games in front of sparse crowds at NFL venues. Banc of California Stadium, located on the spot formerly occupied by the Los Angeles Sports Arena, kicks off its inaugural season with a seating capacity of 22,000, all but securing a packed house for every contest. Banc of California Stadium is the first open-air professional sports venue to open in Los Angeles since Dodger Stadium in 1962. Note: In early 2023, the name of the stadium changed to BMO Stadium. Food & Beverage 4 Much of the dining options offer a local flair. Some of the items featured are The Srirach Beast Burger from the Beer Belly stand, Kalbi Pork from Seoul Sausage, Pita Nachos from The Roost, and a Brisket Sandwich from Bludso’s BBQ, a favorite among locals. Domestic and premium adult beverages are available throughout several stands as well as Coca-Cola brand sodas. Atmosphere 5 One word…LOUD. From the moment you step inside L.A.’s newest outdoor sports venue, the atmosphere is at a fevered pitch as throughout the stadium fans are chanting and yelling long before the match begins. The crowd is a great mix of diehards and fans new to the sport, led by the 3252’s, LAFC’s Independent Supporters Union. From the pregame tailgates to the ninetieth minute, the passion runs non-stop as the fans show their never-ending passion throughout the match. Neighborhood 4 Located on the grounds of Exposition Park, in addition to pregame tailgating that is permitted along Christmas Tree Lane, the Natural History Museum, California African American Museum and the California ScienCenter are all located inside the grounds of Exposition Park. If you do plan to arrive early, it is possible to take in two of the three museums prior to taking in the match. Should you choose to visit two museums in the same day I would recommend visiting the California African American Museum first before visiting either of the other two museums. Not far from the venue is a stretch along Figueroa Street known as The Figueroa Corridor. This stretch has revitalized a piece of Figueroa Street leading to Downtown L.A., lining the street with townhouses mostly geared to the students at nearby USC as well as various chain eateries. Should you desire more than just your typical fast food selection, L.A. Live is only a 10-minute drive from Banc of California Stadium where you will find more variety ranging from casual to upscale dining. Fans 5 If you should get the opportunity, sit, ahem, stand among The 3252 in the venue’s North End . The 3252 is comprised of a number of supporter groups that contribute greatly to the highly charged atmosphere throughout the venue. Though the 3252 are self-monitored, this passionate group of fans, perhaps the most passionate of all L.A. teams, makes no bones about their passion, encouraging flags, banners, drums and singing of the various groups rally songs. It is a party zone that while passionate and encouraging diversity while welcoming all types of fans, from the casual to the soccer novice and even kids, this party zone is not for the faint of heart. It is undoubtedly the loudest section in the venue and some of its traditions, particularly the 3252 Splash Zone, where beer and water throws are a proud tradition provided that cups, bottles, cans or other debris aren’t thrown. The level of enthusiasm is felt throughout the venue as fans have quickly warmed to the LAFC, regularly filling the stands through each contest. Access 4 Banc of California Stadium is about three miles southwest of Downtown L.A. and can be easily reached by the 110 Freeway. The 110 can have some of the most daunting traffic throughout the week, however, the Metro has a light rail, the Exposition Line, that has a stop a short walk from the venue. The Expo Line can be accessed from points serving Santa Monica, L.A’s west side to Downtown. Metro also offers several bus lines that run through the surrounding area. Unlike Rams or USC football games, because of the venue’s small capacity, parking for LAFC games is plentiful albeit pricey at $30. Pregame tailgating is limited to the area along Christmas Tree Lane. Inside, the concourse runs throughout the entire venue allowing fans to walk around and explore the stadium’s vast dining options prior to the matchup or during breaks in the action. Return on Investment 3 Like most organizations today the price to see a game at BOC Stadium is based on various factors, night of week, opponent. For a game against the L.A. Galaxy expect to pay a hefty price. Otherwise, ticket prices start at $20 for General Admission to as much as $147 for seats along the sideline. When factoring in the cost of parking if opting to drive ($30) an LAFC outing can be on the steep side. With the first year success of the LAFC Soccer Club, the organization is wasting no time raising the season-seat prices for the 2019 season . Extras 2 For a first year organization don’t expect too many extras such as a Wall of Fame of LAFC greats and other great moments. LAFC will develop its history inside BOC Stadium in due time. BOC Stadium offers its share of premium club seating for the elite but the ultimate experience is really in the stands where all the energy is. If you have a chance, sit, or in this case stand, in the North End, and be a part of the atmosphere, regardless if you belong to any of the support groups. Final Thoughts As with any first year organization there’s a special connection among the fans and the team. Even with the premium areas offered to the high rollers, and in L.A., there are plenty of them, the excitement in the stands and particularly among the support groups is nothing short of electric. After an unfortunate incident in the stands earlier this season, the LAFC organization along with MLS has made it a point of emphasis to provide all fans the ultimate game day experience. The 3252’s have played a huge role as well in making all fans feel welcomed. The LAFC fan base is a good variety of soccer diehards as well as newcomers to the sport. The LAFC Soccer Club has had a successful first season. Their success on the field, along with the excitement of a new franchise playing close to the heart of Los Angeles, can only help expand an already rabid fan base.

Photos by Eric Moreno Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 American Bank Center 1901 North Shoreline Blvd Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Corpus Christi IceRays website American Bank Center website Year Opened: 1978 Capacity: 8,500 Corpus Christi IceRays The franchise that would eventually become known as the Corpus Christi IceRays came into existence in 2001, first as the Pittsburgh Forge, before moving to the Texas Gulf Coast and their current home at American Bank Center in 2010. The IceRays are members of the National American Hockey League (NAHL) , one of the top junior hockey leagues in the country. A previous incarnation of the IceRays existed from 1998 to 2010 as members of the Central Hockey League and Western Professional Hockey League before the current team’s owners decided to venture into junior hockey with the current club. The new version of the IceRays has seen some success, making the playoffs five times. The team has also brought another layer of professional sports to this often-underserved region of Texas, and the fans have responded in kind. The IceRays are one of the highest-attended teams in the NAHL and play in one of the nicest facilities in minor league hockey. Food & Beverage 4 There are two levels of seating at the American Bank Center, and that means there are two levels of concessions as well. On the first floor, there are two main concession stands near the entrance areas that specialize in your traditional stadium fare – your hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, etc. There is also a similar stand on the second floor that carries the same items. The stand on the second floor also sells cheese and pepperoni pizza by the slice, which is always nice to have at a game. American Bank Center DogFather Concessions, Photo by Erice Moreno, Stadium Journey In terms of specialty dining, American Bank Center has a Chick-fil-A kiosk on the first floor that sells its signature sandwiches and chips. There is also a gourmet popcorn stand that sells slices of local Corpus Christi dessert favorite The Ultimate Cheesecake Bakery . Also, on the first floor is The Dogfather , a specialty hot dog and sausage stand; this is a good alternative to your standard variety of hot dogs. A personal recommendation would be to hit up the Hurb’s Burgers stand on the second floor. This is another local joint that offers a $10 double cheeseburger and chips combo; it’s dang tasty and I recommend getting it with their special sauce. It also happens to be right next to the arena’s full-service bar, which if that’s what you’re into is a great spot to be. Atmosphere 3 American Bank Center is truly a top-notch facility and is home to numerous events throughout the year for Corpus Christi. In addition to being the home of the IceRays, it is also home to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s basketball teams and plays host to pretty much every big entertainment act that comes through the region as well. As such, it has the look of a big-time entertainment venue. The hockey setup for IceRays games at American Bank Center is a basic horseshoe with one end of the arena closed off and without seating; it’s draped off with black curtains and is where the Zamboni enters from at the end of each period. That being said it doesn’t detract from the sightlines or acoustics. The black of the seats and curtains couples with the exposed piping in the ceiling, which has been painted an almost neon-lime green to create an interesting effect. The other point of interest in terms of atmosphere would be the team store, which is located on the first floor near the main entrance. The glass windows on the second floor look right out onto Corpus Christi harbor and, from some exits, you can go out onto balconies and sit outside. It’s one of the best views in the city, and you’d be hard-pressed to find another one like it in all of minor league hockey. Neighborhood 4 Corpus Christi has long been a destination retreat for many South Texas residents. Less than a two-hour drive from San Antonio, it is the closest beach for most Texans, and it is the first destination most head to during the summer months. The prime spot to head to is North Beach , which is across the Harbor Bridge from American Bank Center. With 1.5 miles of beachfront, that is open year-round during the day and at night for camping and anchored by fishing jetties, North Beach is the prime spot for visitors to Corpus Christi. In addition to its beachfront restaurants and hotels (more on those momentarily), North Beach is also home to two of the city’s main tourist attractions, the USS Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium . Commissioned in 1943, the USS Lexington is a retired naval aircraft carrier that saw service during World War II and the Korean War before being retired. It now serves as a fully interactive museum of military history. The Texas State Aquarium is home to numerous species and is one of the top facilities of its kind in the country. Both are great spots to visit when checking out an IceRays game. In terms of dining options, there are quite a few to choose from in the downtown area of Corpus Christi near the arena. One popular option is Brewster Street Icehouse – serving up a line of signature burgers, like their Hello Sunshine and Brewster Bucket List, as well as sandwiches like their Seafood Po’Boy and their South Texas Philly, Brewster Street is a popular sport in the Concrete Street entertainment area. For something a little more “of the place,” since you’re on the Gulf Coast, why not seafood? The Railroad Seafood & Brewing Co. is a relatively new sport and combines locally sourced seafood with craft beer brewed onsite; it is a real taste of what the Gulf is all about. In terms of lodging, numerous spots up and down the shore are sure to fit within anyone’s budget. Some of the closest options include the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel and the Holiday Inn Corpus Christi Downtown Marina . Just be forewarned, depending on the day and time of year that you head down, hotels in this part of the city tend to be very popular, and thus tend to fill up fast. Fans 3 In my experience, minor league sports fans tend to fall into two categories: very casual or very loyal. The IceRays have traditionally been at or near the top of the NAHL in average attendance every year since they joined the league; for the current season, they are averaging just under 2,100 fans per game and sit at third in the league. The crowd, from what I experienced, is a good mix of the casual and the diehard fans. There is also an apocryphal story, which I can’t find confirmation of but you need to see, about how passionate this fanbase can be ( scroll down to item #6 when you click this link ). You will see plenty of IceRays fans kitted out in their sweaters, and they will be loud and cheering throughout the night, but you will also see a ton of college-age fans out for an inexpensive night of fun (the team frequently runs college nights where students with a college ID get a free ticket). All in all, it’s a great crowd and a fun atmosphere with good energy, especially at weekend games. Access 3 American Bank Center is located right along the shore (on Shoreline Drive, in fact) before you cross over Harbor Bridge in downtown Corpus Christi. The city itself is located about a two-hour drive from San Antonio, which also puts it at close to three hours from Austin and three-and-a-half hours from Houston. Corpus Christi International Airport does feature daily flights to and from Houston and Dallas if that’s the route you want to go. Once on site, parking is ample in the lots and will run you $10 per car. There is free parking in certain spots on the street at certain times; just be mindful of those areas and those times or you will find yourself with an unwanted souvenir parking ticket, courtesy of the Corpus Christi Police Department. The Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (CCRTA) , the city’s public transportation option, does offer a line that makes a stop at American Bank Center. If you choose not to drive, you can plan your route from their website. Return on Investment 4 The great benefit of minor league sports is that they offer the chance to see the pro game at an affordable rate; this holds for the Corpus Christi IceRays, where general admission tickets start at $10 per person. When you factor this in with the relatively inexpensive concessions ($10 for a double cheeseburger combo at Hurb’s y’all!) and the parking costs, you’re getting a good bargain. For young fans, this is a great way to introduce them to the sport. Extras 3 The IceRays, like a lot of minor league teams, do a lot of hustling to get fans into the building. They have a Pucks and Paws night, Thirsty Thursdays, family skate nights after games, and much more. There are also games and contests during intermission periods, including a chuck-a-puck contest for a year’s worth of Whataburger. The IceRays also have their mascot, Stinger Ray , who patrols the stands, skates the ice, and tosses t-shirts from the back of a pickup truck during one of the aforementioned intermissions. Like most mascots, Stinger Ray is around quite a bit for photo ops throughout the game. Stinger Ray, Photo by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey Final Thoughts I have always enjoyed my visits both to Corpus Christi and to American Bank Center. As a lifelong resident of this region of Texas, I am pretty nostalgic about trips to the coast and what they signify. I imagine that’s the way folks on the East Coast feel about going to the Jersey Shore each summer. Regardless, Corpus Christi is a special place, with a lot of things to do and see. The IceRays and American Bank Center both do a great job of making the games feel big. The fans also have a passion for their club; the venue is great, the view is great, and the city is great. I wouldn’t mark it down on your bucket list, necessarily, but make a stop in and catch an IceRays game if you’re down on the Texas Gulf Coast during the season. I think you’ll have a great time. Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter at @EricMoreno6477 . Visit Eric Moreno’s writer’s portfolio site at ericmoreno.contently.com .

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Phoenix College Softball Stadium 3201 N 15th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85013 Phoenix College website Phoenix College Softball Stadium website Year Opened: n/a Capacity: n/a Bears In Phoenix Phoenix College is a community college in Phoenix, Arizona. It is the flagship of the Maricopa County Community College District and was founded in 1920, making it one of the oldest community colleges in the nation. The Phoenix College Softball Stadium is the home to this successful team. The Phoenix College Bears compete in the NJCAA as part of the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Conference. Famous alumni of Phoenix College include Nick Nolte, CeCe Peniston, and A Christmas Story’s Peter Billingsley. The softball team has been one of the most successful teams on the Phoenix campus. The team has won the NJCAA National Women's Softball Championships eleven times, and ten of those were in the 2000s (the other being in 1979). The 2022 Spring season ended with them winning the Division II championship. Food & Beverage 1 There is a very nice snack bar located right at the softball stadium. The game we attended had the stand not open, but we are assuming that it is open for some games. We are giving a courtesy of one star for food and beverage. Atmosphere 3 The Phoenix College Softball Stadium is a very simple field with a small set of bleachers behind the field. There is a decent amount of room to stand and watch the games, as well as picnic tables that family and team supporters seem to claim fairly early. The fans make this a pretty good place to watch a game, as the atmosphere seems excited to be watching softball and their Bears teams. Neighborhood 4 Phoenix College is located in the Encanto Village, near downtown Phoenix. Encanto is also home to the Arizona State Fair, which includes the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the original home of the Phoenix Suns. The Phoenix Art Museum is also nearby. Encanto Village has a fairly eclectic restaurant scene with many good options nearby. Durant’s is a high-end steakhouse with the look and feel of a dive bar. George & Dragon English Pub may be a more reasonable option for a post-game bite. Fans 3 Although many of the fans are family and friends of players, this does not seem to lower the enthusiasm for the game and their team. It is a knowledgeable crowd who are eager to get into the game action. Access 4 Phoenix College is located northwest of downtown Phoenix. It is not far from I-10, along a fairly major road, Thomas Road. The Softball Stadium is located far northwest of the Phoenix College campus. There are a decent number of parking lots right near the field, so parking should not be an issue. One should check local parking regulations, especially for games that occur on regular college operating days. Return on Investment 4 It was free to attend the game we attended. There is a gate to the stadium, so a small admission charge is certainly possible. We are assuming it would be a good value, even if an admission fee is charged. . Extras 2 The softball team has been very successful, so spend some time checking out the signage and awards for past Bears teams. There are not a lot of extras at Phoenix College, but one should look out for the feral cat colony on campus. It is a Trap, Neuter, and Return program that is working with the Animal Defense League of Arizona to manage the cats. You will need to refrain from feeding the cats, as their care is under that program. Final Thoughts Phoenix College Softball Stadium is a simple affair but has been home to many champions. If you enjoy the game of softball, this would be an ideal stop for a fan who is in the Phoenix area.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00 Maryland Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex 8483 Paint Branch Drive College Park, MD 20742 Maryland Terrapins website Maryland Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex website Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 1,400 Turtle Lax The Maryland Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex is exactly what it sounds like – a stadium which is home to the University of Maryland’s field hockey and women’s lacrosse programs. It opened in 2003 across from the Xfinity Center , and was renovated several times, most recently in 2023. The Terrapins' women's lacrosse program is one of the most successful in the history of the sport, having won a whopping 14 NCAA Championships, plus one in 1981 which predates NCAA sponsorship of the sport. The men's lacrosse program does not play here, but rather plays at the far larger SECU Stadium , which is also home to the football team. Food & Beverage 2 There is a food truck called Feed the Turtle just inside the entrance of the stadium, which offers a basic menu. Hot dogs are the only option that can be a meal, although several snacks are available, including candy, chips, fries, cracker jack, peanuts, and popcorn. Bottled water and fountain soda are also available. Hot chocolate can be purchased on cold days as well. Prices are reasonable, with nothing costing more than $5. Atmosphere 3 There is one set of bleachers at the Maryland Field Hockey & Women's Lacrosse Complex, consisting of about five rows of seats all along one sideline. The other sideline contains the press box and team benches. Every seat will put you right up and close to the action. A large scoreboard and videoboard is located to the left of the bleachers, in the corner. There is not much going on here besides the game itself, although there is a marketing table and the occasional promotion to get fans involved. The pep band has appeared at some games in the past, but was not there during Stadium Journey's most recent visit. The team relies on the crowd to create some of the atmosphere here. As mentioned below, expect a large but not necessarily raucous crowd here to help improve the fan experience somewhat. Neighborhood 3 College Park is a small college town with enough in the immediate area to get by but is nothing special. There is a bowling alley a couple of miles away, and a bunch of chain restaurants within walking distance. If you’re looking for some local color, College Park Diner  is a favorite with residents and students alike and serves up comfort food 24 hours a day. Looney’s Pub  on Route 1 is a sports bar with dozens of big-screen TVs for your viewing pleasure. A couple of hotels are located nearby, including a Marriott  just off campus, and The Hotel  on campus. (Yes, the on-campus hotel is called The Hotel. Not a very creative name). That being said, if you’re looking to do more than eat and sleep, your best bet is to head down to the Metro station and take the Green Line into D.C. It’s about a 30-minute ride to downtown. Once you’re there, there’s so much to do and most of it is free. Whether it’s visiting one of the historic monuments and memorials, visiting one of the numerous museums, or simply walking outside on the National Mall, there’s something for everyone. All government-run attractions are free to the public, though some privately-run ones are not. Just keep in mind if you want to tour the Capitol or White House, you will need to reserve that ahead of time. Fans 4 The Terrapins draw pretty good crowds to women's lacrosse games, and the stands will be mostly full on a typical matchday. That being said, despite being large in number, the fans struggle to get loud at times. Although they will cheer Terrapins' goals, they are for the most part quite subdued. Occasionally you will hear some people cheering the team or yelling at the refs, but this crowd is not nearly as raucous as its numbers would indicate. Access 4 There are parking lots located both across the street from and next to the Complex. The one next to the field is completely free to park at after 4 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends, which should cover the vast majority of matches between them. The one across the street is split between free parking during those hours and paid parking, the latter of which is available to visitors 24/7 and should be utilized if visiting for a weekday afternoon game. The numbered spaces are paid and can be parked in 24/7 for $3/hour, while the unnumbered ones are free but cannot be parked in on weekdays before 4 PM. The other thing to keep in mind is that if the Terrapins have a home basketball game the same day as the lacrosse match, the parking situation can be completely different, so check the Terrapins’ website for additional information if that is the case.   Return on Investment 4 General admission tickets are just $10 per game. Concessions are reasonably affordable, and parking will be free for most games. As a result, a Maryland women's lacrosse game has good value for fans. Extras 1 Free programs are available at the marketing table. That's about the only extra here for most games, although there may be the occasional promotion or band appearance. Final Thoughts The Maryland women's lacrosse program is one of the most storied programs in the sport. Despite this, they play in the small confines of the Maryland Field Hockey & Women's Lacrosse Complex, while the men play in the big stadium across campus. The crowds here are large, and can get loud at times, but this stadium seems out of place and disappointing for such an elite program.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Budds' Chevrolet Rink @ Sixteen Mile Sports Complex 3070 Neyagawa Boulevard Oakville, ON L6M 4L6 Oakville Blades website Sixteen Mile Sports Complex website Year Opened : 2010 Capacity :1,500 The Blades are Sharp The Oakville Blades have been a successful franchise in the current OJHL since its inception and have been one of the longest-running Junior hockey teams in Ontario.  The founding of the Blades dates back to 1966 when the Blades were founded as a Junior C team.  They made one Schmalz Cup appearance and eventually graduated to Junior B in 1970.  The Blade would make two Sutherland Cup appearances and would graduate to Junior A with the rest of the league in 1993.  It was in the OJHL where the Blades would achieve their greatest successes as Buckland Cup Champions in 2008, 2010, and 2019.  The Blades are currently owned by Wayne Purboo and former NHL goaltender Jamie Storr. Home for the Blades is Budds’ Chevrolet Rink @ Sixteen Mile Sports Complex.  The Sixteen Mile Sports Complex is named after the Sixteen Mile Creek, where the City of Oakville was founded and is a true community hub.  The complex features 79 hectares of space with baseball, soccer, and cricket fields and outdoor courts, along with four indoor ice rinks indoors.  It is receiving a massive addition which will include gymnasiums, a seniors centre, an aquatic centre, and a library branch. Food & Beverage 4 The culinary options are surprisingly strong for a venue such as the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex.  The main atrium has a cafe that serves a variety of coffees, Gatorade, popcorn, pizza, hot dogs, cookies, muffins, and ice cream.  Between the Budds’ Chevrolet Rink and the adjacent rink is Puckz Pub, a full-service bar and restaurant that looks out to both rinks.  Inside Budds’ Chevrolet Rink is a Puckz Pub stand that serves soft drinks, chips, popcorn, cotton candy, pizza, and hot dogs.  The stand is in a licensed corner of the arena and also serves products from Cameron’s Brewing and Vice Vodka cocktails.  Pepsi products are the soft drink of choice in the Sixteen Mile Sports complex. Atmosphere 4 At the time of writing, the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex was a bit of a construction zone.  However, the construction mess was relegated to the parking lot area and in no way impacted the atmosphere at the complex.  The complex has a sleek and modern look from the outside, which is accessed from the parking lot, away from the street.  Light brick, along with blue-tinted glass, completes that look. Entering the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex leads fans into a massive atrium that joins all four ice rinks, which line up parallel to each other.  The furthest to the north, or the right-hand side when entering, is Budds’ Chevrolet Rink, home of the Blades.  A nod to the history of hockey at all levels in Oakville can be found in the atrium, with many displays, including photos and some artifacts.  There is a specific display that focuses solely on the history of the Blades.  These displays are professionally compiled and are not cluttered as many trophy case displays in other arenas tend to be.  The displays are more akin to what one would find in a museum.  Above the large panes of glass that look into the ice rinks are pieces of art that can be lost as they are well above the traditional eyeliner.  On game days, the shades are drawn over the windows that look into Budds’ Chevrolet Rink.  Fans are met just outside the rink by temporary tables for ticket sales as well as merchandise, 50/50, and chuck-a-puck sales.  Entering Budds’ Chevrolet Rink, fans are immediately struck with how bright, clean, and modern the arena is.  Immediately to the left upon entry, at the northwest corner of the arena, are banners for conference championships as well as a Humboldt Broncos memorial banner and banners honouring the retired numbers of former Blades greats, John Duff and Jack Ricketts.  The Buckland Cup Championship banners hang above centre ice along either side of the octagonal scoreboard with four panels of video board.  The video board is low profile as the arena does not have a very high ceiling.  It is not huge, but appropriate for the size of the arena and the OJHL.  The ice is oriented from northwest to southeast.  The seating bowl features eight rows of modern, plastic arena seats.  The first row is elevated above ice level, improving the sightlines.  A sense of the importance of the Blades to the community is seen at the southwest side, behind the seating, where a permanent television booth is found for broadcasting Blades games on local TV as well as FloHockey, where all OJHL games can be found. The gameday production in Oakville is pretty simple.  Promotions are limited to a 50/50 draw and chuck-a-puck contest.  The PA system is good, and the announcer is good, but it gets a little over-excited for the home side, creating a bit of a buzzing sound in the sound system. Neighbourhood 4 Sixteen Mile Sports Complex is located in the Glenorchy neighbourhood of Oakville.  There are a number of chain and fast food restaurants that are right across the street from the complex.  Other, more original food and drink options in the area include Oakville Pump and Patio, House of Wings and Spoon and Fork Plus. There are a few other sporting options in Oakville.  The Oakville Buzz  of the OJLL play at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre.  Other lacrosse teams also play at the TRAC, including the senior Oakville Rock of MSL.  The Toronto Rock also play their preseason games there.  Oakville is very close to Toronto and Hamilton and all of their sporting options.  The Blades also enjoy a healthy rivalry with the nearby Burlington Cougars.  Other tourist options in the area include Glen Abbey Golf Course, which has hosted the Canadian Open a number of times, and Rattlesnake Point Golf Club.  There are also a number of parks and the waterfront may be of interest.  For fans wishing to stay near the area, the Holiday Inn is a good option. Fans 3 The Oakville Blades have enjoyed decent support for the OJHL.  In the 2022-23 season, the Blades averaged over 350 fans per game, which ranked them 7th in the league.  The game that was reviewed saw only 125 fans in attendance, pretty much a friends and family crowd.  The 2024-25 season is looking like a bit of a down year for the Blades, and it is assumed that stronger crowds show up for seasons in which the Blades are more competitive.   Access 4 Getting to the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex is not difficult. Keep in mind that at the time of writing, there was plenty of construction on the site that may limit parking a bit. The Sixteen Mile Sports Complex is located in the Glenorchy neighbourhood of Oakville at the northwest end of the city.  It is located just south of toll Highway 407 and north and west of Highway 403.  Being on the edge of Oakville, it is a little easier to get to the arena and fans should not have to drive through the heart of the city.  There is plenty of parking on site, although parking can fill up depending on the number of activities happening at the complex.  For fans wishing to take public transit, there are Oakville Transit stops on Dundas Road and Neyagawa Blvd.  Fans should consult the Oakville Transit  website for fares, maps and schedules.  Getting around the complex is not difficult at all and the washroom facilities are more than adequate for the facility.  Budds’ Chevrolet Rink is probably one of the most comfortable arenas in the entire OJHL. Return on Investment 4 Tickets for the Oakville Blades run for $12 for adults, $6 for youth and seniors.  Seating is general admission and there is an additional $3 or $4 for purchasing tickets at the door.  The Blades are one of the minority of teams that sell tickets electronically in advance and fans should take advantage of that.  Parking at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex is free and the concession prices are decent.  The product on the ice is solid and fans should have a good time at a Blades game.  More fans in the stands would result in a better return. Extras 2 An extra mark for the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex as a community hub for the city of Oakville. An extra mark for the longevity of the Oakville Blades franchise. Final Thoughts The Oakville Blades have been around a long time and have enjoyed success at all three levels that they have played at over the years.  Taking in a Blades game will bring fans to a bright, clean, modern arena in Budds’ Chevrolet Rink @ Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, one of the best in the entire OJHL. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads  and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Western Alumni Stadium 100 Philip Aziz Ave London, ON N6A 5P9 Western Mustangs football website Western Alumni Stadium website Opened: 2000 Capacity: 8,000 Purple Ponies There is no Canadian University football program in Ontario more decorated than the Western Mustangs. Western, along with the Laval Rouge et Or, is one of the most dominant football programs in all of Canada and consistently finds themselves in the National Championship picture. The Mustangs are the owners of a staggering 35 Yates Cup Championships as Ontario (OUA) conference champions. That is nine more than the closest rival. The Mustangs have also brought home the Vanier Cup as National Champions eight times. Western has also produced six Hec Crighton Trophy winners as the top university football player in Canada, including Tim Tindale, who would go on to a solid career in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills. The phrase “Everybody Hates Western” which is common to hear around the other programs in the OUA is a direct result of their domination and performance on the field. Home for the Purple Ponies is Haylor-Semotiuk Memorial Field at Western Alumni Stadium. Replacing the venerable J.W. Little Memorial Stadium and originally known as TD Waterhouse Stadium and then TD Stadium, Western Alumni Stadium opened in 2000 and boasts a bulbous capacity of 8,000 to make it one of the largest facilities in the OUA. The field is named after legendary OUA coach Larry Haylor, who retired as the winningest coach in Canadian University Football, and longtime coach and Athletic Director Darwin Semotiuk. Western goes beyond excellence on the football field and also puts together a strong football experience for fans. Food & Beverage 3 Concession options at Western Alumni Stadium are what one would expect for an OUA football venue. There is a main concession stand with basic offerings including hot dogs, burgers, sausages, popcorn, nachos and candy. Coffee, both hot and cold, water, Powerade and Coca-Cola products are the soft drink options in the stadium. There is a beer garden for those who are able and wish an alcoholic beverage. For the game that was reviewed, there were a number of food trucks on site which helped ease the concession congestion. Atmosphere 3 Western Alumni Stadium is a solid OUA football venue, but there are a few spots where some improvement could be made. The main entrance is at the north side of the stadium. The J.W. Little Memorial Building is an attractive grey brick building which welcomes fans to Western Alumni Stadium. It houses the locker rooms, concession areas and press entrance. The trophy cases with Western awards can also be found here. Upon entering the stadium grounds on either side of the J.W. Little Building, fans are welcomed by a massive purple Muskoka chair and a view of the field. On the side of the J.W. Little Building is a mural dedicating the field to Larry Haylor and Darwin Semotiuk. The stadium consists of two grandstands on either side of the field-turf field, surrounded by a running track. The main grandstand is to the west and often it is the only grandstand that is open. It is also the place to be for that perfect center logo picture and is home to the press box. The grandstand consists mostly of benches with backs but some regular bleachers are found at either end and reserved stadium seats are in the middle. The PA system is solid and seems to have been upgraded as well as the lighting system has been improved to LED lights. Where Western Alumni Stadium could benefit from some improvements is in recognition of Western’s vast football accomplishments. With 35 Yates Cups and 8 Vanier Cups at the time of writing, some sort of recognition is a must. At one point there were team pictures of championship teams on the exterior of the stadium, but those seem to have been removed. Also, the scoreboard on top of the J.W. Little Building is definitely dated, even boasting the outdated moniker “University of Western Ontario.” When it comes to gameday production, the Mustangs attempt to put together a production similar to a program in the NCAA. The Mustangs have two live horses that take a lap on the track after a Western touchdown as well as the running of the massive flag. Western also features a marching band, that although not nearly as large as most NCAA bands, is unique in the OUA and a Western tradition. The Western Cheerleaders perform gymnastic stunts for fans and JW, the Mustangs mascot is found around the field, helping build spirit. Neighbourhood 4 Western Alumni Stadium is located at the southeastern corner of the Western University campus, northwest of Downtown London. There are a few spots that fans can go for a pre or post game meal or drink. Some options include The Wave, Mother Hubbards, Richies Family Restaurant, Westside Family Restaurant, Grad Club and the Barking Frog. Hopping in the car to get away from the stadium is probably the best bet. For fans looking for other sporting options in London, checking out Western Mustangs hockey or basketball at Thompson Arena or Alumni Hall , respectively may be an option. Otherwise, heading downtown to see the London Knights of the OHL or London Lightning of the BSL are options. The London Majors of the Intercounty Baseball League may also be in town. As far as other entertainment options, taking in the tour of Labatt Park, the oldest, continually used ballpark could be fun or Storybook Gardens, Fanshawe Pioneer Village or Jet Aircraft Museum are all good ideas. For fans wishing to stay in London, heading downtown to the Hilton is a good plan. Fans 4 The Western Mustangs enjoy the highest attendance in the OUA. In the 2023 season, the Mustangs averaged 7,100 fans per game, an increase from the 2022 season. A lack of competition in general has made Western fans spoiled, but overall they do well to support their team. Access 4 Getting to Western Alumni Stadium is not terrible. Western Alumni Stadium is located at the southeast corner of campus, northwest of Downtown London. It is in a valley among other athletic fields, surrounded by Western Rd, Philip Aziz Ave and the Thames River. It is a significant distance north of Highway 401, so traversing the city when coming from out of town is a necessity. There is plenty of parking off of Philip Aziz Ave, north of the stadium. Some reserved parking is at a cost, but there may be some available for free. For fans wishing to take public transit, there are London Transit stops all along Western Road. Fans should check out the London Transit website for maps, fares and schedules. Getting around inside the stadium is not difficult at all and washroom facilities are adequate. With the simplistic nature of the grandstands, there are plenty of stairs and could be an issue for those with mobility issues. Return on Investment 4 OUA football offers great value for the sporting dollar. The Mustangs offer a number of price points for tickets with General Admission going for $15. Reserved seats range from $20 to $45 depending on the type of seat that patrons want. Concession prices are what one would expect and parking can be found at a cost or for free. The product on the field is solid, however, the dominance that Western has shown over the years makes the possibility of getting a blowout game a real possibility. Extras 3 An extra mark for the nearly unprecedented success the Western Mustangs have enjoyed. An extra mark for Western alumnus Tim Tindale who is one of the few skill position players to graduate from Canadian university football and make a solid career in the NFL. An extra mark for the Western Mustangs creating a gameday atmosphere that screams big event, and attempts to produce an NCAA atmosphere. Final Thoughts Catching a Western Mustangs game is a great way to spend a fall weekend afternoon. There is a ton that the Mustangs do right and with a couple of adjustments, the experience could be even better. Other programs should consider taking some pointers from the Purple Ponies to make their experience as “Big Time” as possible. Follow all of Dave’s sporting adventures on YouTube , Twitter , Threads and Instagram @profan9.

Photos by Meg Miinard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.71 Clint Lightner Field 706 E Maple St Garden City, KS 67846 Garden City Wind website Clint Lightner Field website Year Opened: 1920 Capacity: 1,000 Southwestern Kansas Baseball The Garden City Wind, a team in the Pecos League (an Independent baseball league), began play in 2015 at the historic Clint Lightner Field in Garden City, KS. Clint Lightner Field is part of Frederick Finnup Park, a community park that also houses a zoo, a historical museum, picnic tables and grills, softball diamonds, a pool with water slides, and more. Recent renovations to the stadium include new turf on the field and updated bullpens and batting cages. The organization asphalted the dirt parking lot in front of the entrance. And, they added ten VIP bucket seats directly behind home plate. The park is shared with the Garden City High School team – The Buffaloes – who play their games from March to May. Garden City hosted the successful Pecos League All Star Game in 2022. The name Wind comes from the blusterous breeze that can blow through the stands. Locals tell me the wind is often the ‘blow you over type.’ If it’s a windy one on the evening of your visit, hold on to your hat! Food & Beverage 2 Basic food items are for sale; enough to squelch a hunger craving. The team offers juicy hot off the grill hot dogs, chips, peanuts and seeds, candy, other snacks, and Pepsi products ($1 – $4). Flavored shaved ice is a popular snack. Beer (Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra) is offered at the Windy Saloon concession stand underneath the grandstand for $3. Thirsty Thursday home games are $1 beer night ($2 for seltzers). Can’t beat the prices! Atmosphere 3 The seating consists of three sections of ten rows of aluminum bleachers without backs or handrails. We recommended bringing a cushion to sit on the benches as they get quite uncomfortable after nine innings of play. If you want the shade, sit on the first base and the home side. A medium-thickness net protects the entire seating area for the fans’ safety from foul balls. The third base side gets the sun if that’s what you prefer. The sun sets behind home plate and the grandstand so it won’t be blinding your eyes when watching an evening Wind game. A play area is behind the first base bullpens for kids to run around or play catch. Music is played mostly between batters and not each pitch (a good thing in this author’s opinion). The starting lineup is not posted and it is called way too fast to record on a scoresheet. The scoreboard is basic with balls, strikes, and outs identified with a dot. There’s a passing of the hat after a pitcher reaches 7 strikeouts. And, kids get to run the bases after the end of the third innings. It’s an entertaining evening out and, depending on the evening and wind, you may get an occasional whiff of cattle. Neighborhood 3 Garden City is an agricultural town. Less than five miles outside the town are the farms and ranches that produce the crops and raise the cattle needed for food, drink or fuel in this country. Besides the farms, its number one employer is Tyson Foods. Plenty of hotels are within two or three miles of the park and include: Sleep Inn, Hampton Inn, Best Western, Clarion Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Americinn, and more. Places to eat include Old Chicago and Baron’s Steakhouse + Bar. A plethora of Mexican and Asian restaurants are in the area as well as many fast food chains. The city hosts two breweries: Mountain Brewhouse in downtown (offers food) and Hidden Trail Brewery. For other things to do, I’d recommend visiting the Lee Richardson Zoo and the history museum. Fans 3 The fans are vocal and they are friendly acknowledging and greeting unfamiliar faces with a smile and a hello. They can give the umpires a hard time when a questionable call is made. Families, parents of players and local Garden City residents attend the games. Kids get to run the bases after the third inning which is quite a delight to the young ones. The grandstand isn’t packed (except for Thursdays) yet there is a decent showing of fans for the Wind games There’s even a booster club that sells popcorn and other items where all proceeds go to the players. Access 2 The ballpark is in a quaint residential area just south of the railroad tracks off of US 50 going east and west or US 83 going north or south in southwest Kansas. It is not close to any interstates. Once in town, it is easily accessible with plenty of parking in a newly paved lot or on side streets. The closest airport is Garden City Regional Airport, eight miles from the downtown area. It is more of a regional airport with the only commercial flights coming from/to Dallas, Texas. There is a small Amtrak station just a few blocks from Clint Lightner Field so that, too, might be an arrival choice. I did not notice any public transportation so taking the car, bike, or walking are your best options to a Wind game. Walking in and around the stadium area is easy and there are restrooms at the venue. I’m sure it meets ADA requirements, but it certainly appears not handicapped or wheelchair friendly. Return on Investment 3 Thursdays are a popular day for the Wind as it is $1 beer night. Admission to a game is $7 a ticket. If in the area, season tickets are just $185 (for 32 home games). The team offers free parking at the ballpark. Though limited, the food prices are very reasonable. The seating is near the field so you get to see up-close action, hear chatter between the players, and just get to enjoy a few hours of baseball. All kinds of promotions are provided by sponsors, including Get in Free to a game. Extras 3 The Wind has quite an active Facebook page posting photos after each game. A unique and thoughtful feature at Clint Lightner Field is the cups offered to dispose of peanut and sunflower shells vs throwing them on the floor. I wish other stadiums across North America would provide this and that fans would pay more attention and not leave trash behind. Finally, it’s encouraging to see a Booster Club for the team. Final Thoughts Garden City, Kansas is not a vacation destination. It is however a nice little town with a new mall, several dining options and Finnup Park seems the place to be on a weekend. The Wind provide an entertaining and affordable evening out so if you live in the area or happen to be visiting nearby, do check out a game.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Stan Ogrodnick Court at Ray Oosting Gymnasium 300 Summit St. Hartford, CT 06106 Trinity Bantams men's basketball website Ray Oosting Gymnasium website Year Opened: 1969 Capacity: 2,200 The Bantams R. Oosting Place   Trinity College was founded in 1823 as Washington College. It is the second oldest college in the state of Connecticut. With an enrollment of 2,200 students, Trinity offers majors in 41 fields of study. The college, with an all-male enrollment until 1969, was ranked as the 12th best liberal arts college in the country by Forbes magazine in 2022. Trinity is known as an early example of Collegiate Gothic architecture in the United States.   Basketball was first played at Trinity College in Hartford, CT in 1894. Players from the college would play other teams at the local YMCA. In 1897 Trinity upgraded to games against other colleges (Yale and Wesleyan). Official intercollegiate play began in 1905.   Today the Bantams compete in Division III’s New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Over the years Trinity has qualified for ten NCAA D-3 Tournaments, reaching the Final Four in 1995. The women’s basketball team has played in three tournaments, reaching the Elite 8 in 2023.   The Bantams basketball teams play at the Stan Ogrodnick Court at the Ray Oosting Gymnasium. Oosting coached the Bantams from 1924-1957, and Ogrodnick from 1981-2008. Ogrodnick boasted a record of 469-186 during his time at Trinity, holding the school’s all-time win record.   Food & Beverage 0   There were no concessions available during Stadium Journey’s visit, despite it occurring at Trinity’s Holiday Tournament. We’re not sure if this is typical at a Bantams game, but no concession area space was noticed in the facility during our visit. Fans were welcome to bring in their refreshments during the game.   Atmosphere 2   Trinity College is well-known for its architecture and beautiful campus. The Ferris Athletic Center, which houses Oosting Gymnasium and other athletic facilities, does not share this aesthetic. The building is a fascinating mashup of old and new. To reach the gym, one passes through the older exterior to a newly renovated student lounge to a small lobby filled with mementos of over a century of competition. Then, you pass through the gym doors into the 1970s. Almost everything inside the gym is colored in Trinity’s blue and yellow, with the school’s rooster mascot adorning the floors and walls throughout.   Unfortunately, much of what you find in the Oosting Gym feels like it’s from the 70s. Music and PA announcements are made over a substandard sound system. The PA announcer strangely only announces baskets. When you notice that her perch is located 15 feet above the court, you quickly understand why she isn’t able to pick up all the game calls consistently.   Stadium Journey attended a game during the semester break, which understandably held down representation from the student body and overall attendance, even though we visited during their annual holiday tournament and the team was ranked in the top 10 nationally. It’s quite possible that the atmosphere and crowd kicks up a notch or two when school is in session. During our visit, the crowd was very quiet and reserved. There were no cheerleaders, pep band, or mascot to help liven up the proceedings.   Neighborhood 2   Trinity College is an urban campus, located in the Barry Square neighborhood of Hartford. Much is made about the dangerousness of the area surrounding the campus. While the area shares many of the same problems as other urban neighborhoods, the campus is very self-contained and safe. And being only a mile or two from downtown Hartford and its attractions is a plus.   People may not think of Hartford as a destination location, but there is much to see and do in Connecticut’s capital city. Among the attractions located a short distance from Trinity College is The Old State House, which contains exhibits on Hartford's history. Tours are discounted for AAA members and will cost history buffs a mere $3. The State Capitol and Bushnell Park are popular attractions located nearby (Trinity College trivial fact: this was the original site of the college before they moved to make way for the capitol building in 1872). The Mark Twain House and Museum and the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center are both located just a short drive from the downtown area. Check out Hartford.com  for more information. Of course, you can always catch a game at the XL Center  or Dunkin’ Park  should schedules line up.   Fans 3   As mentioned earlier, Stadium Journey visited the Oosting Gymnasium during the semester break. While there was a decent crowd in attendance, the absence of the student body was noticeable. Looking at box scores over the season, the Bantams draw crowds that are comparable to other small schools in the area. Here at Stadium Journey we like to call these smallish crowds “friends and family” crowds, as most of the fans in attendance seem to have a personal connection with the athletes on the court. Fans are generally knowledgeable and passionate, without being rowdy. Since the NESCAC’s geographic footprint is small, it’s not unusual to see a good turnout by visiting fans in the building.   Access 3   Oosting Gymnasium is located in the Ferris Athletic Center at the center of the Trinity College campus. In addition to the gymnasium, the Ferris Center contains the school’s field house, squash center, natatorium, fitness center, and varsity weight rooms. The school’s outdoor athletic facilities are located in the immediate area.   Trinity College is one of the few liberal arts colleges located in an urban setting in the nation. With downtown located two miles away from campus and Interstate 84 just a mile away, the campus is fairly easy to get to if driving. If utilizing public transportation, CT Transit’s  61, 39, and 41 buses all have stops near the Ferris Center.   There is not a lot of parking right around the Ferris Center. If visiting during the day, this isn’t a bad thing, as this beautiful campus is a great place for a stroll. Upon entering the facility, fans will pass through a remodeled student lounge before entering the gymnasium’s lobby and passing through the blue and yellow doors into the gym.   All seating is on one side of the court and consists of molded plastic bleachers. Lower rows have some uncomfortable-looking plastic seats. In this cozy gym, you’ll have a good view no matter where you sit. Return on Investment 5   There was no charge for admission to a Bantams basketball game. Again, Stadium Journey attended Trinity’s Holiday Tournament during the semester break, so we’re not sure if this is standard procedure. With free parking on site and no concessions, you won’t reach for your wallet once during a Bantam basketball game.   Extras 5   In a gym as old as Oosting at a school as old as Trinity, there’s going to be some history. And Trinity College displays its history proudly. Take some time to check out the trophy cases in the lobby, where a century-plus of hardware is displayed with pride. You’ll be amazed at how many rooster-shaped trophies they have!   Hanging from the rafters above Ogrodnick Court are banners honoring Bantam tournament appearances, conference championships, and milestone achievements in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and volleyball.   Right at the entrance to the Ferris Center are a cluster of bricks and a cornerstone, which were taken from Alumni Hall, the school’s first gymnasium, built in 1887. The Bantams played there until a fire destroyed the building in 1967. The Trinity mascot, the Bantam, deserves at least one extra point. There’s a display in the lobby honoring its creator, the Honorable Joseph Buffington. Once you enter the gym, the Bantam logo is everywhere, including a pair of giant representations on the gym walls. Final Thoughts   The Ray Oosting Gymnasium is a fascinating mix of old and new, while appearing in many ways to have frozen in time in the 1970s. Despite the gaudy décor, this is a great place to visit, take in some small-college basketball history, and catch some quality hoops at the most affordable price.   Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter  and Instagram  @PuckmanRI.

Hartwell Field - Former Home of the Mobile Bay Bears, Photo Courtesy of DigitalBallparks.com After a Hurricane destroyed Mobile’s Monroe Park in 1926, the Mobile Bears of the Southern Association were left without a home to play in. Monroe Park, which also featured an amusement park and was nicknamed “Coney Island of the South,” had been such a tourist attraction for Mobile, but sadly would be one no more. In the 1940s Brookley Field Air Force Base opened on the site, and any remnants that were once there are now long gone, except for the many live oaks that still line the waterfront. With Mayor Harry Hartwell instrumental in the process, the ground was broken on a new baseball stadium that was more inland, on the corner of Tennessee and Ann Streets. The stadium would be named Hartwell Field, after the Mayor who had made the ballpark a reality. Hartwell Field would open just in time for the 1927 season, and over 9,300 fans packed the stands for the Bears’ first game. The ballpark lined the railroad, and its most notable feature was the huge freight warehouse that ran along the train tracks along the outfield wall. View of Hartwell Field’s Grandstand in the 1950s, Photo Courtesy of Mobile’s Baseball Connection Facebook Page During this time the Bears would welcome Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and the Yankees in 1929 and 1930, to play in exhibition games against the Bears, with Babe Ruth once crushing a home run to center, and hitting the roof of the freight warehouse. The Bears would also play in exhibition contests against the Red Sox , Dodgers , and Pirates in the 1930s as well. Babe Ruth and the Yankees played at Hartwell Field Twice, in 1929 and 1930, Photo Courtesy of Mobile’s Baseball Connection Facebook Page When the Bears played, stands at Hartwell Field were usually packed with over 6,000 fans. Sadly the Bears did not win many games during the early years and would relocate to Knoxville after the 1931 season. The Class B Southeastern League would place a team here in 1932 called the Red Warriors, but the team folded midway through the season. In 1937 baseball would return with the Mobile Shippers, also of the Southeastern League – the Shippers, who were affiliated with the Cardinals , would win three League Championships before the league was suspended at the onset of World War II in 1942. Aerial View of Hartwell Field, Photo Courtesy of Mobile Baseball Connection Facebook Page Luckily Hartwell Field wouldn’t go dark for long, as the Knoxville Smokies moved back to Mobile in 1944, bringing back the Bears name. It was during this time that a young Hank Aaron and his brothers would often climb the trees above the outfield to get glimpses of the game he would become the biggest star in many years later. Hank would also play for the Mobile Black Bears Negro League team that played at Hartwell Field in 1951 while he was still in high school; Hank only played weekend games and home games as a result of still being a minor. In addition, before becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the 50s and 60s, movie star Chuck Connors played outfield for the 1947 Bears and led the team in Batting Average en route to the 1947 Southern Association Championship. Hank Aaron leaving Mobile to join the Indianapolis Clowns Negro League team in 1952, Photo Courtesy of Black History Postcards Before becoming a big-name Actor, Chuck Conners led the 1947 Mobile Bears in Batting Average,Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Throughout the 1950s Hartwell Field was used as the site of the Greater Gulf State Fair every year – in 1955 a young and relatively unknown Elvis Presley even played on a stage in the parking lot. In 1952 the city of Mobile would spend $50,000 on renovations to build a new grandstand and roof. Just seven years later that grandstand would be condemned, as its design was similar to the bleachers that collapsed at nearby Ladd-Peebles Stadium . The city then built a new steel grandstand at $1 million heading into the 1959 season. Mobile Bears in the 1950s, Photo Courtesy of Mobile Baseball Connection Facebook Page Bears Memorabilia on Display at Hank Aaron’s Childhood Home and Museum at Hank Aaron Stadium, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey The Bears would win league titles in 1955 and 1959, and play in front of sellout crowds at Hartwell Field while being affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Indians , and Mets . However the League faced issues for refusing to integrate; only one black player ever played in the Southern Association, Nat Peebles, of the 1954 Atlanta Crackers, who played in two road games with the Crackers against the Bears at Hartwell Field. Peebles would be demoted to Single-A Jacksonville after his second game here. The Bears would then play in a racially segregated league through the 1961 season, which eventually led to the Bears and the whole Southern Association league folding after the 1961 season, as more and more parent MLB teams became integrated. After the Bears folded, Hartwell Field stayed busy hosting other local baseball games, high school football games, and the annual fair. The 1964 Cincinnati Reds led by Pete Rose played the White Sox here in an exhibition game. In addition, Mobile was a stop on the territory wrestling circuit, with Hartwell Field serving as Mobile’s site during the regional Gulf Coast wrestling championship. 1966 Mobile A’s Game Day Program, Photo Courtesy of FunWhileItLasted.net After the Southern Association folded, the brand new Southern League took its place in 1964, and Hartwell Field was the home of two Southern League teams, which each lasted one year, the Mobile A’s (1966) and the Mobile White Sox (1970). Both teams would be plagued by attendance issues, but the Mobile A’s were led by future Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa, who played infield for the A’s. Hartwell Field would also host one more big league exhibition game in 1970 when the St. Louis Cardinals played the South Alabama Jaguars. In the lineup, that day for the Cardinals was two future Hall of Famers as well, Joe Torre and Lou Brock. After the 1970 season, the White Sox would move their team from Mobile to Birmingham, where they would eventually become the Barons, and that would be the end of professional baseball at Hartwell Field. The Last Big Game at Hartwell Field was in 1970, when the Cardinals faced the South Alabama Jaguars, Photo courtesy of Mobile Baseball Connection Facebook Page Over the next several years the park would continue to host high school baseball and football games, and even hosted a motorcycle jump in 1971 when daredevil Snake Blackwell jumped 10 cars on the infield. The park would continue to host the fair until 1974 when it was moved to a more permanent location. Sadly in 1979 Hurricane Frederic would make a direct hit in Mobile and, like its predecessor Monroe Park , Hartwell Field was susceptible to the forces of Mother Nature; the hurricane would cause enough damage to close the stadium for good. Hartwell Field would be left to rot and nature would take its toll on the property until the city tore down the remnants in 1983. Today over 40 years after being condemned by Hurricane Frederic there is nothing left of the former ballpark that once welcomed American icons Elvis Presley, Chuck Connors, Lou Gehrig, and Babe Ruth. The property was purchased by the Mobile Police Department in the 1990s, who constructed a branch of their offices where the stadium’s parking lot was located, while the location of the field itself is fenced in as part of the Police Department’s impound lot. I could not get into the impound lot, but from what I noticed, old rusty cars now occupy the place where the infield would have been located, while overgrown weeds and tall grass have grown in the outfield. Train tracks run along the outfield wall and a large warehouse, used for storage, stretches from where right field to center field was. The only remains of the old ballpark in the warehouse that sat along the outfield fence, so you can judge where the ballpark would have been. The site is located west of downtown in a not-so-safe area of Mobile, so use caution if visiting. Hartwell Field’s Outfield Wall ran along the Fence Line; the Rusted Volkswagon sits where the Outfield was, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Hartwell Field’s infield is now part of Mobile’s Police Impound Lot, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Overgrown Weeds and Tall Grass occupy Hartwell Field’s Infield now, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey Babe Ruth once hit a Home Run at Hartwell Field that smashed the Roof of this Warehouse, Photo by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey

Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Copeland Park 1130 Copeland Park Dr La Crosse, WI 54603 Map It La Crosse Loggers website Copeland Park website Year Opened: 2003 Capacity: 3,550 The Lumber Yard The Lacrosse Loggers celebrated their 20th season in 2022. They play in the prominent summer collegiate baseball league, the Northwoods League. The team plays their home games at Copeland Park, a city-owned park on the Black River, which runs into the Mississippi River, just north of downtown on the Minnesota border. The team won the Northwoods League Championship in 2012. Notable Loggers alumni include Mike Trout, Jordan Pacheco, Eric Thames, Chris Sale, and Matt Scherzer. The Loggers offer a fun, affordable evening out with the focus still mainly baseball with enough other entertainment for non-baseball fans to enjoy themselves. The UW-La Crosse Eagles (NCAA D3) also play their games at Copeland Park in the spring. Food & Beverage 4 Most concessions are behind the first base seating area in a covered courtyard called the Festival Food Court. Food is on one side; adult beverages are on the other. Tables and chairs are between the two. The food is tasty and priced affordably. Copeland Park Festival Food Court, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey Snacks include chips, peanuts, Cracker Jack, and candy ($2 – $2.75). Fried offerings are cheese curds, tater tots, onion rings, and corn dogs, and range from $3 – $6.50. Sandwiches consist of Klement’s hot dogs, burgers, bratwurst, and crispy and grilled chicken, and cost $4.25 – $6. Tuesdays are $2 hot dogs, corn dogs, fries, soda, water, and popcorn. Across from the courtyard is a Grab and Go shop selling bottled soda, other soft drinks, packaged snacks, and ice cream ($2.50 – $4). A Snack Shack is to the left of that, selling Dippin Dots, pretzels, nachos, cotton candy, and other treats. Domestic beers on tap are Miller Lite, Bud Light, and Coors; draft craft beers are Leinenkugel, New Glarus, Hillsboro, and Golden Road. A plethora of canned beer and hard seltzers are for sale. Domestic beers are $4 while craft beers cost $4.50. All the food looks scrumptious. The ice cream cones are very popular in summer evenings. Note: The concession lines can get long. Atmosphere 4 The Loggers provide an excellent game-day experience for fans visiting the stadium. The music is not played between every pitch and is at a pleasant volume. You can talk with those sitting next to you without yelling to be heard. And the music is not played over the announcer speaking as is done in most Northwoods League stadiums. Harmless fan participative games and contests include a ketchup and mustard race, a beer batter, name the player positions and name as many MLB teams as you can. For seating, the grandstand consists of sections A – E with four rows of stadium fold-down seats closest to the field, then a walkway. The next four rows are stadium fold-down seats and the remaining five or six rows are bleachers with backs. The ten ‘upper’ rows in section C, behind home plate in front of the press box, are stadium seats. The seats are average width and there is average legroom. A net extends in front of the grandstand and covers the top of it. There’s no fear of getting struck by a foul ball there. Some sections behind the dugouts are net-free for your viewing pleasure. Party decks are down both the first and third baselines. Some seats are in the right field above the outfield wall. The field is artificial turf and dirt. A video scoreboard in the left field shows the player at bat’s stats. A line score is provided beneath the video board. The sun sets behind the press box so the grandstand seats get the shade. It does get dark in the grandstand seats when the sun sets. As the evening progresses, you may want to sit somewhere else or move to see your scorecard if you keep score. Be aware of bugs that sting right through your clothes. Spray yourself with insect repellant before attending a game to help prevent that. You’ll get the bug heebie-jeebies most of the night if you don’t. Neighborhood 3 Copeland Park is just north of the city of La Crosse on the Black River (which flows into the Mississippi River). It is a city park that hosts the Loggers, an Oktoberfest, and has a playground, fishing, basketball courts, a wading pool, and other park amenities. The ballpark is a little less than two miles from the active downtown neighborhood of La Crosse. Plenty of restaurants are within a mile or two of the ballpark. We recommend Bodega Brew Pub downtown, Crooked Pint Ale House, Rosie’s Café (breakfast and lunch), or Fayze’s. For craft brews check out the 608 Brewery, Pearl Street Brewery, or Turtle Stack Brewery. Lodging choices are within one to two miles of Copeland Park; none are within walking distance. The ones south are closer to downtown and are about two miles. Several Hilton, Marriott, and Holiday Inn brands line Copeland Ave and the river. For other things to do while in town, visit the World’s Largest 6-Pack or stroll through Riverside Friendship Gardens. Enjoy a boat ride on the Mississippi River via La Crosse Queen Cruises . Or drive up the Grandad Bluff for scenic views of the town. World’s Largest Six-Pack, Photo by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey The two closest Northwoods League teams are the Eau Claire Express and the Rochester Honkers (87 and 72 miles, respectively). Fans 3 Loggers’ fans enjoy singing “Roll out the Barrell” in the 7th inning, which fans sing in baseball stadiums throughout Wisconsin. Many fans seem to know one another. Families and kids make up most of the clientele, but you’ll see retirees, grandparents, young adults, and couples in the stands, as well. The 2022 average attendance was 2,180 fans per game, placing the Loggers in the top five attendance-wise in the Northwoods League. Access 3 Copeland Park is just a mile off Interstate 90. The town has a small regional airport with flights to and from Minneapolis/St Paul or Chicago. Bus service to a Loggers game is available from downtown and other parts; Route 6 looks like the best one. However, service after a Saturday or Sunday evening game will be an issue as service ends around 6 pm. Parking is the biggest concern, with only street parking and just a few noticeable spots for handicapped parking. Plan on hunting for a spot and hoofing it if you don’t get there early. The team thankfully does not have bag and bag size rules. The stadium has a ramp on the first base side to get to the seating area. Clean and decent-sized restrooms are next to the merchandise shop before the food court. Return on Investment 4 Although ticket prices are a buck or two higher than other Northwoods League stadiums attending a game here is still a worthwhile sports entertainment investment. Single-game tickets cost $8 – $15. All-You-Can–Eat-Seats (plus three alcoholic drinks) run $25 – $28. Military men and women with ID get in free. Food and beer prices are below other Northwoods League venues, especially if you go on a Tuesday. Extras 3 The merchandise shop sells an informative program (including a scoresheet) for $1. It has a recap of the previous game, league standings, fun facts, the Loggers schedule, team rosters, and player stats. Showing appreciation to military members by letting them in free is of special note. Having the music volume at a level where fans can hear their conversations and the music stopped when the announcer is talking is something that should be common at ballgames, but it’s not anymore. It’s a bonus at a Loggers game. Final Thoughts The Loggers organization delivers a remarkable evening out of baseball. Copeland Park is on the Black River, which flows into the Mississippi River just north of vibrant downtown La Crosse WI. It’s worth checking out if in town or traveling across the Midwest.

Photos by Lance Sutehall and Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86 Riverwalk Stadium 200 Coosa St Montgomery, AL 36104 Montgomery Biscuits website Riverwalk Stadium website Year Opened: 2004 Capacity: 7,000 It’s Biscuit Ball Y’all! Next to the Alabama River lies Riverwalk Stadium, the home of the Montgomery Biscuits minor league baseball team since 2004. The Biscuits originally played in Orlando, Florida for the first three decades of the team’s existence. In 2003, the then-Orlando Rays announced they were relocating to a new ballpark in Montgomery, Alabama. That ballpark would become Riverwalk Stadium, Montgomery’s replacement for Patterson Field which had last hosted Minor League Baseball in 1980. The Montgomery Biscuits are the Tampa Bay Rays AA affiliate and they compete in the Southern League. The Montgomery Biscuits won back-to-back Southern League championships in 2006 and 2007 as well as winning eleven half-season titles, recently winning the first half title in 2024. Food & Beverage 4 There are a variety of concession stands throughout the concourse with the two main ones being “The Railyard” along the first base side and ”The Train Station” by third base. The Train Station offers standard fare such as hot dogs ($5), cheeseburgers ($8.25), chicken sandwiches ($8.25), chicken tenders ($9), pizza ($6), and nachos ($6). The Railyard offers super nachos ($13) with beef, chicken, or pork, Philly cheesesteaks ($12), and wings ($10). The Biscuit Stand, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Smaller concession stands include a half-pound burger stand ($12.50), a Conecuh sausage stand that sells sausage dogs ($7.50), and fittingly a biscuit stand ($6-$10). Coca-Cola products are sold throughout the venue with options including water ($4), Powerade ($5.50), 24oz sodas ($4.50), and 32oz souvenir cups ($8). Alcohol is sold throughout the stadium in the form of 16oz ($7) or 32oz ($13.50) drafts. The venue is cashless. Atmosphere 4 Riverwalk Stadium was built into the side of an abandoned train shed. The concession stands and other parts of the stadium pay homage to the history of the train depot. There is an active railroad by the third base foul pole and trains passing by often sound their horns. There are specialty nights throughout the season including “Taco & Tallboy Tuesdays” where $4 tacos and $4 beers are sold, Military Wednesdays where military personnel get discounts on admission and concessions, and “Thirsty Thursdays” where beers and souvenir cups are half off. The Biscuits have postgame firework displays after games on Saturday nights. Neighborhood 4 Montgomery is the capital city of Alabama and is therefore home to the Alabama State Capitol building. It is located about a mile away from Riverwalk Stadium but the Rosa Parks, Freedom Rides, and Hank Williams museums are within walking distance. For dining options include Bibb Street Pizza Company, Wintzell’s Oyster House, and Dreamland BBQ. There are several hotel chains nearby Riverwalk Stadium including SpringHill Suites, Embassy Suites, and DoubleTree. Fans 3 The fans that come out to Biscuits games have a great time when they come to games. The Biscuits do a great job with promotions to get fans of all ages invested in the baseball games. Big Mo, the Biscuits mascot also plays a large part in getting the fans energized. When the Birmingham Barons come to town, the fans get particularly excited for state baseball bragging rights. Access 4 From I-65, turn off at exit 172 and onto Herron Street before making a right on Bibb Street. Make a left on Coosa Street and Riverwalk Stadium will be on the right. From I-85, take exit 1 turn right on Union Street, and make a left on Madison Avenue before turning right on Coosa. From Highway 82, turn right on Highway 31. Act like you are driving to Maxwell Air Force Base by driving on Birmingham Highway which becomes Maxwell Boulevard. Drive straight on Tallapoosa Street until Riverwalk Stadium is on the left. Once inside the stadium, the Concourse is wide enough for the crowd, the concession stands do not have long lines, and there are enough restrooms throughout the venue. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Biscuits games start at $9 for general admission lawn seats if purchased in advance. “Box” seats along the first and third baselines cost $11, “Super Box” tickets behind home play run $13, and “Executive Club” seats immediately behind home plate cost $15. If you decide to purchase tickets the day of, there will be a $2 surcharge added. If bringing a family with at least 4 people, the Family Pack offers box seats, combo meals, and admission into the “fun zone”. That costs $80 for 4 people (you can add people for $20/person). Parking costs in public lots near the stadium (on weekends, street parking is free). You are looking at paying about $25 solo if you purchase a general admission ticket, pay $5 for parking, and drop $10 on concessions while a date night runs $45. Extras 4 Riverwalk Stadium has been the host of the Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament since 2021. It was also home to the Alabama high school baseball championship until 2021 when it moved to Jacksonville State’s Jim Case Stadium. The venue hosted the NCAA Division 2 national championship from 2004-2007. During the game one of the giveaways involved tossing biscuits in the stands. Final Thoughts Riverwalk Stadium is a beautiful ballpark to come visit when stopping by Montgomery. It serves the Biscuits baseball team very well and is a fun place to spend a Summer evening or Saturday. Make sure you get a biscuit while you are watching the Biscuits!

Photo Courtesy of Texas State University Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Strahan Coliseum 700 Aquarena Springs Dr San Marcos, TX 78666 Texas State Bobcats website Strahan Arena website Year Opened: 1982 Capacity: 7,200 The Bobcats Come Out to Play The Texas State Bobcats basketball team has enjoyed a remarkable amount of success since the program began in 1934, winning nine conference titles since 1950; that winning mentality also culminated in an NAIA National Championship in 1960. In recent years, the team has not been able to match the success of their early teams. However, San Marcos is an ideal college town, and the fans of the Bobcats are devoted. Construction has recently begun on an upgrade to Strahan Coliseum, which will eventually add 2,000 seats to the stadium, as well as new coaching offices, locker rooms, and weight room facilities for the athletics department. The upgrades won’t be completed until the fall of 2018, so until then, Bobcats fans can still root on their team in old-school comfort. Food & Beverage 2 One of the charms of Strahan Coliseum is that it feels like an old-school (that is truly the best description for it) high school gymnasium. While this is a great plus in terms of atmosphere and energy from the fans, it does have its drawbacks. For avid sports fans on the lookout for unique dining experiences, the concessions options at Strahan Coliseum are very basic; hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, and candy are the main stadium food offerings. These items are available from several stations on the main level, but there is also a cash-only concessions cart offering lemonade, funnel cake, and cotton candy. There has been one recent addition to the arena in terms of food and drink options; domestic beer is now sold at some of the food stands. Atmosphere 3 While Strahan Coliseum cannot match the intensity of larger more storied basketball programs, anyone attending a game will enjoy themselves. Period. The intimate seating arrangement allows for good acoustics in the arena, and quite frankly makes it louder than it has any reason to be. The basketball band and the student section, a.k.a. the “Loud Crowd,” do a nice job of keeping things lively both during play and during lulls in the action. A pared-down version of the legendary Texas Strutters dance team is also fun to watch. Since many games take place on weeknights, and college students are often engrossed in studies, finding a seat in Strahan Coliseum won’t be a problem. Neighborhood 3 Quite frankly, San Marcos is the best college town in the state of Texas, and probably one of the best in the country. In places near campus, it has that classic Norman Rockwell look of what your mind’s eye envisions in a college town. While Strahan Coliseum is literally on campus, and there are not many attractions near the arena, you can get to a Bobcats game from anywhere in the city in about 15 minutes. In town, there are so many restaurant and hotel choices to choose from that you are sure to find something that will suit your tastes, and San Marcos also has you covered if you are looking for entertainment options. During warm weather months, which in Central/South Texas can literally be any month of the year, you need to take a trip down to the Guadalupe River for some fun on the water. Alternatively, if you are looking for cultural activities, plan a visit to the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, where you can ride a turn of the century glass-bottom boat on the fabled Aquarena Springs. This unique experience gives you a close-up look at an ecosystem that is unique to this part of the world. For a little more entertainment that will get your “motor running,” head over to Dick’s Classic Garage Museum. Dozens of antique and collectible cars, ranging from the dawn of the motor age to the 1950s, are gathered under one roof. Or, if you would rather while away your afternoon doing some shopping, the San Marcos Premium Outlets shopping mall has anything and everything you could want. Lastly, San Marcos itself is the halfway point between San Antonio and Austin; you can be in either city in under 45 minutes, along I-35. Fans 4 Bobcat fans are loyal, Bobcat fans are passionate, and Bobcat fans love their team. While they may not show up in numbers the way larger programs do, the ones that do show up (and this is a generational thing; you will see fans and alumni of all ages in the stands at Strahan Coliseum) are vocal and add a distinct energy to the atmosphere. Depending on the night you attend, the numbers might not be near the point of filling the arena for capacity. However, you cannot debate that the fans care about their program. Access 3 You can get to Strahan Coliseum fairly easily off of I-35; there is some navigating through the campus area of the city, but it is not difficult at all. Note however that as renovations are currently underway, parking is somewhat limited, and there are some street closures to be aware of. Despite all of this, with a little forethought and planning you should have no trouble getting to the game, finding a parking spot, and getting to your seat in time for the opening tip off. Return on Investment 3 It does not cost much to attend games at Strahan Coliseum; single-game tickets range from $5 to $25. Playing in the Sun Belt Conference, you won’t typically see any of the “major” men’s college basketball powerhouses come through town, but during non-conference season you will see some Power Five conference teams from time to time. With concessions as limited as they are, you can eat rather affordably, and with no cost for parking, you can take a group of friends or family to a Division I NCAA game without paying a king’s ransom. In addition, you will more than likely see some exciting, competitive basketball. Extras 2 There are not many bells and whistles yet at Strahan Coliseum, but with the upcoming renovations, you are pretty much guaranteed to see some new additions to the stadium in terms of entertainment and in-game experience. Like most venues, there are fun contests during game stoppages. The Texas State Strutters, even in a scaled down version, are always fun to watch. Also, in the arena itself there is a Wall of Honor highlighting some of the best players from every sport to come through Texas State. There is also a nice display case showing off some of the most important moments in men’s basketball history; again, this place is old-school, and it is all about the action on the court. Final Thoughts Strahan Coliseum is one of the last of an old breed of arenas, designed such that you focus solely on the athletes on the court. If you are fan of pure hoops, you will appreciate its look and feel, and the atmosphere it conveys. However, if you’re looking for a lot of extra “sizzle” to go along with your “steak” of a game, you frankly aren’t going to find that here. Still, you can’t beat a night at Strahan Coliseum, especially for the cost you will pay. Follow Eric Moreno’s Stadium Journey on Twitter @EricMoreno6477.

Photo Courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Robin Baggett Stadium Sports Complex Rd San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 Cal Poly Mustangs website Robin Baggett Stadium website Year Opened: 2001 Capacity: 1,734 The Wizard's School San Luis Obispo is in a region that has a lot going for it. Wine, craft beer, beautiful beaches and wonderful restaurants are just a few of the things that make this city on the central coast special. But what doesn't come to mind when you think of the central coast is baseball. California is loaded with both major and minor league baseball teams, as well as some great college programs. Does that mean Cal Poly doesn't have a lot to offer in terms of baseball? Absolutely not. The program is still relatively new to the top level of college baseball. Prior to jumping to D1 in 1995 they won the DII World Series in 1989. In 2001, Baggett Stadium opened to the team knocking off #1 Stanford in 12 innings. Baggett Stadium has an official capacity of 1,734, but can be expanded to a capacity of 3,042. Average capacity has increased gradually to over 1,505, making it into the top 40 in the country at the end of 2014. All of that together means there is life in the baseball scene on California's central coast. Food & Beverage 3 For such a generally unknown venue, Robin Baggett stadium has a pretty strong offering of food options at great prices. Short of a $7 tri-tip sandwich, almost everything on the menu is under $5. Burgers, dogs, garlic fries, sweet potato fries, tacos, burritos and more are available for $3-$5 across the board. Wash it down with Coke products, hot coffee or cocoa or some local Jamba Juice again for under $4. The variety and the value make this a pretty solid selection, despite the small setting. Atmosphere 4 Eliminate the setting and measure the ballpark alone, and this is a pretty average college venue. Drop it in the middle of the mountains and add a loyal and knowledgeable fan base, and now you have Baggett Stadium. Surrounded by the Santa Lucia mountain range on the backside of the Cal Poly campus, focusing on the game here might be difficult. The San Luis Obispo community embraces the Mustangs in all sports and baseball is no exception. Attendance ranks particularly high at this park, and the fans know and love their team. Yet just across the street, you'll find cow pastures and green space. You'll even get to drive through the beautiful Cal Poly campus to arrive onsite. It's all a relaxing aura of grassroots west coast baseball. Adding to the atmosphere are two monuments to Cal Poly baseball history. The first is a marble paneled wall recognizing Cal Poly baseball greats and the history of the stadium and program. The second may take you a minute to recognize. A statue of a bearded legend stands just inside the main gate with the inscription "Osbourne Earl Smith." If you're a casual baseball fan, you may have to look at the face and back to the inscription a few times before you recognize Ozzie Smith. The baseball legend was a star at Cal Poly long before he was performing his wizardry at shortstop for the Padres and Cardinals. Neighborhood 4 If you've never been to the San Luis Obispo area, it's more than worth the visit. While other California cities get all the credit, the corridor from Pismo Beach through San Luis Obispo up to Paso Robles is an area rich in culture and scenery. Beaches to the south and wineries and rolling mountains to the north, all surrounded by wonderful restaurants, you can't really go wrong in this area. Downtown San Luis Obispo is an artsy college town full of food and drink options. High Street Market & Deli, Ciopinot, Novo, Big Sky Cafe and a smorgasbord of other options line the streets of San Luis Obispo. Central Coast Brewery, SLO Brewing Company, The Library, Black Sheep and Mother's Tavern serve up delicious local beverages to quench your thirst. Really, you can't go wrong by parking on the streets of San Luis Obispo and exploring the many options there. Fans 3 The fans may not be anywhere near that of elite college baseball programs around the country, but they are a pleasant surprise for such an off the beaten path venue. Constantly ranked in the top 50 in attendance, Baggett Stadium provides a surefire home field advantage for the Mustangs. The fans are knowledgeable, engaged and pleasant to visitors. Down the third base line there is an exclusive membership based clubhouse known as Krukow's Klubhouse. A large portion of the most loyal fans hang out here and call the players by first name. If you're looking to purchase local beer, you have to be a member of this prestigious club to have the option to buy it. But fans will be well distributed everywhere else in the bleachers as well. Overall, the fan base is a loyal and knowledgeable one. Access 3 Unless you live along the central coast, there's no quick way to get to San Luis Obispo. San Francisco, Los Angeles and Fresno lie hours away in all directions. Fortunately, any way you travel to San Luis Obispo is scenic. From San Francisco or Los Angeles you'll travel the beautiful California Route 101 or the famed Pacific Coast Highway. From Fresno you'll shoot straight down 41 to 101 through miles of farmland and mountains. The campus is located off of 101 and the ballpark is at the back of campus. You'll get a brief scenic drive through campus to the stadium lot. Parking is $6 and there aren't really any other non-campus lots to take advantage of. From the lot it's just a short walk to the stadium entrance. Once inside, the concourse is wide and comfortable. There won't be any congested areas anywhere in the park. One downside is that there is only one indoor bathroom at the end of the 3rd base line, but there are several portable toilets located in the club area. Overall, it's a pretty easy stadium to get around with just enough amenities to work. Return on Investment 4 Tickets fall at a very reasonable $8-$10 with seniors and children discounted down to $5. Prices can vary slightly based on the opponent, so plan accordingly. Parking is locked in at $6, but food is almost all under $5. Overall, this means $20-$25 covers everything you'll need for the day. For a D1 baseball program in such a wonderful setting, this is absolutely worth the price. Extras 3 The most memorable part of a trip to Robin Baggett Stadium is without a doubt the setting. Not many parks can claim to be surrounded by beautiful green mountains, and the Santa Lucias provide just that touch. It's hard to not be enthralled by the natural beauty around you while taking in a ballgame. The statue and tributes to 1974 through 1977 superstar Ozzie Smith add just the touch of history to the park. Not many programs can claim such a recognizable face as their own, and it adds quite a bit of legitimacy to the Mustangs brand. Couple that with the monument to the history of the program and large imagery on the back of the grandstand featuring Smith and other Cal Poly stars, and you get a sense of tradition when entering the park. Final Thoughts While Baggett Stadium certainly won't stand up to big time college baseball parks on a straight comparison, it's full of its own central coast charm. A summertime trip to the wine country of Paso Robles or to Pismo Beach could easily due with a detour to Robin Baggett Stadium to take in a Mustangs game.

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14 Finley Stadium Davenport Field 1826 Carter St Chattanooga, TN 37408 Chattanooga Mocs website Finley Stadium Davenport Field website Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 20,668 The Killer Mockingbirds The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has a long history of playing football, as they have been fielding a team since 1904. The current version of the team is known as the Mocs, and they play at the FCS level of NCAA football. The Mocs play in the Southern Conference, where they have won seven league titles over the years. They also have gone on to play in the FCS playoffs in 1984, 2014,2015 and 2016. Their main rivals are the nearby East Tennessee Pirates and the Mercer Bears. Finley Stadium has served as the home field for the Mocs since 1997. It seats more than 20,000 fans, which includes 1,600 chairback seats and 32 luxury suites. Recent improvements to the stadium have included a new sports turf field, the installation of a new scoreboard/videoboard with a LED screen and upgraded food concessions. The stadium is not physically on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus but is within walking distance of the school. Finley Stadium has an adjoining facility in the First Tennessee Pavilion. The pavilion is an open sided, metal roofed structure that plays a key role on gamedays. It offers a sheltered facility that hosts the school’s tailgating activities and Scrappy’s Kids Zone, which offers games, inflatables, and other entertainment for the youngsters The building also hosts the pregame Mocs Walk by the team on their way into the stadium. A Spirit Walk featuring the Marching Mocs band, the Mocs cheerleading squad, the Ladies of Gold majorettes and the Sugar Mocs dance team starts in the building 45 minutes before kickoff. The UT-C students have a separate tailgate area known as the Moc Block. It features live music and competitions between the various Greek organizations on campus. Chattanooga Mocs Spirit Walk, Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Food & Beverage 4 The food and beverage concessions at Finley Stadium are a combination of permanent outlets and food trucks. If you enter the stadium through the stadium’s North gate you will encounter Food Truck Alley. There are a revolving set of trucks that participate in the home games, and the Mocs gameday staff will try to offer a wide variety of food categories at games. The food trucks at the game we attended sold pizzas, funnel cakes and sno cones. If you enter through the South gate into the stadium, you will encounter a mix of permanently fixed stands along with some food carts featuring a single item. The main concessions stands are known as Finley Eats. They carry a wide variety of stadium standards including hamburgers ($8), hot dogs ($7), nachos ($6), personal pan pizzas ($8), candy ($3), chips ($2), cotton candy ($3) and popcorn ($3). They sell Coca-Cola brand beverages including water ($3), sodas ($4) and Powerade ($4). There is a secondary stand known as Windy City Eatz. It offers Chicago Style hot dogs ($12), Chicago Deep Dish Pizza ($12), Italian Beef sandwiches ($14), chicken tenders ($14), Impossible Burgers ($14) and grilled chicken salads ($14). The Get Yer Beer Here stand sells only adult beverages. Its beer offerings include Bud Light, Blue Moon, Coors Light, Michelob Ultra, Michelob Lite, Sweetwater 420, Terrapin IPA and Wise Acre Tiny Bomb. All beers are $8. Wines are $13 and they include Crafters Union Brut Rose and Crafters Union Pinot Grigio. Canned Cocktails cost $9. They include the High Noon Vodka Sodas, Tanqueray Gin and Tonic, Jack Daniels Whiskey and Cola and Cazadores Margarita. Atmosphere 4 Finley Stadium offers a terrific gameday experience. You can enjoy the tailgating at the First Tennessee Pavilion, with food, drinks, and constant entertainment for hours prior to the kickoff. The Spirit Parade into the stadium 45 minutes prior to the kickoff gets you fired up before the game. Once inside you will be able to enjoy the game, as the sightlines of the field are great. At just over 20,000 seats, Finley Stadium provides you with an intimate feeling to watch the game in. You will want to visit the Wall of Champions, where all of the Mocs Championships over the years are detailed. The Marching Mocs will fill in any breaks in the game with music and the scoreboard does a great job of providing you with game stats and scores from throughout the country. The on the field action should be very entertaining, as Southern Conference teams are geographically close together, and you can expect to see lots of visiting team fans at any conference games. Your gameday experience does not end after the final whistle. You have easy access to the many fine restaurants and other attractions Chattanooga has to offer, as the downtown area around the stadium is very compact. Neighborhood 5 The Greater Chattanooga area has become a moderately priced tourist mecca over the last 20 years. Geographically, it is located halfway between Atlanta and Nashville, with excellent access via I-75 and I-24. Finley Stadium is in Downtown Chattanooga, where most of the main tourist attractions, hotels and restaurants are located. You will find Chattanooga to be a very walkable city, which allows you to park at one location for the day, as you can either walk to the major attractions or take the free electric shuttle bus that circulates the area on Broad and Streets. One of the main attractions in the downtown area is the Chattanooga Choo Choo. It includes a hotel, the famed Choo Choo railroad engine, gardens, shops, and restaurants. It is located just a few blocks from Finley Stadium. The Chattanooga riverfront also offers multiple attractions. This includes the Tennessee Aquarium, the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge that crosses the Tennessee River, and the Bluff View Art District. For a complete list of Chattanooga attractions, lodging options and restaurants, go to www.chattanoogafun.com . Fans 4 The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has a very strong fanbase, as many of the school’s graduates choose to stay in the Chattanooga area after they complete their studies. Many of the school’s leaders have gone on to become civic leaders for the city, and this played an integral part in the funding of the construction of both Finley Stadium and the First Tennessee Pavilion. The student section at Finley Stadium is known as the NoogaNation. They sit next to the school band, the Marching Mocs, along the south side of Finley Stadium and create a great deal of noise and encouragement to the team throughout the home games. UTC also has a Fan Council that suggests ways that the fan experience can be improved at Finley Stadium. The Council consists of student leaders, faculty, alumni of the school and parents of students at the school. Access 4 Getting to Finley Stadium on gamedays is easy, due to its proximity to I-75, I-24, I-59, and Highway 27 North. It is less than a two-hour drive from Atlanta, Nashville or Birmingham. Parking lots serving the stadium open six hours prior to the kickoff. There are four lots that specifically serve the stadium. Go to www.finleystadium.com for a map of where these lots are located. Parking runs $10. You can also utilize lots elsewhere in the downtown area or simply walk over from your hotel as downtown Chattanooga is very compact and walkable. Gates at Finley Stadium open 90 minutes prior to the kickoff. The adjacent First Tennessee Pavilion opens several hours before that, and it will have ongoing fan activities underway throughout the day. Return on Investment 3 When you factor in coming to a Chattanooga Mocs game, think about an entire weekend, not just the game itself. Chattanooga has so much to offer for visitors, and it would be a shame to miss it by rushing in and out of town. Hotels in the downtown area offer rooms right at the $100 a night level and parking around the city usually will cost you are $10 a day. You can stroll around the Chattanooga Choo Choo without paying an admissions fee. The riverfront area offers great views of the Tennessee River, and you can stroll along the 20-mile-long paved Riverwalk. OK, back to game specific expenses. Gameday parking is $10, Tickets run from $15 to $35 (tickets are $2 more if purchased on gamedays). If you stick to the stadium standards for food, you can expect to pay $12-$15 per person. There will be several free items distributed by vendors and sponsors at the pregame tailgates in the First Tennessee Pavilion. Extras 5 Finley Stadium hosted the NCAA FCS National Championship Game from 1997-2009. The stadium is also used by the Chattanooga FC soccer team, as the start/finish line for the annual Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon and as the main concert venue for the Chattanooga area. Finley Stadium and the adjoining First Tennessee Pavilion together host more than two hundred events a year. The Mocs moniker is short for Mockingbird. A mockingbird is fierce in defending its territory, as they protect their home with a combination of courage, skill, and determination. It is also the State Bird for the state of Tennessee. The mascot for UTC is a mockingbird named Scrappy. Scrappy was the last name for one of the most successful football coaches in the school’s history. The school also uses railroad-oriented icons on its marketing platforms in recognition of the importance of railroads in the early development of the city of Chattanooga. A railroad horn goes off after each Mocs score. Finley Stadium has played a major role in the revitalization of the Southside area of downtown Chattanooga. The Chattanooga Lookouts minor league baseball team hopes to build a new stadium on the Southside in the near future. The school welcomes their freshman class each year with the Mocs Flock Freshman Run. Members of the incoming Freshman class are allowed to run onto the field just prior to the Mocs team’s entry at the first home game of the season. This is a treasured tradition at the school. Final Thoughts Finley Stadium has been one of our highest rated FCS level venues for many years. It is no wonder that our most recent visit has only solidified our rating. The gameday experience offers not only the in the stadium experience, but also the terrific pregame experience at the adjoining First Tennessee Pavilion. Take our advice, make your visit to a Chattanooga Mocs game into a full weekend, as Chattanooga has so much to offer at very reasonable prices. You will not be sorry!

Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 McKenzie Arena 720 East 4th Street Chattanooga, TN 37403 Chattanooga Mocs website McKenzie Arena website Year Opened: 1982 Capacity: 10,995 McKenzie Arena – University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Mocs Just off the banks of the Tennessee River sits the campus of the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga. Since 1982, UTC’s McKenzie Arena has proved to provide Mocs basketball with a definitive home court advantage, winning more than three-fourths of their home games. Nicknamed “The Roundhouse,” a building that services locomotives, the moniker is not just in recognition of the outward appearance of McKenzie Arena, but also pays homage to the rich railroad history of Chattanooga. Food & Beverage 3 Food at McKenzie Arena is pretty much what you would expect to get at most basketball games. There is not a ton of variety; pizza, hot dogs and nachos are the highlights on the menu. Each of the three can be paired with chips and a drink for $10 or less. Concessions also offer several snacks familiar to concession stands – popcorn, candy and pretzels. Soft drinks include Coca-Cola products. Beer is the only alcohol option. Regardless of the size or type of brew, beer will set you back $12. Selections include 25 oz cans from the Budweiser family of beers and seltzers, Bold Rock cider, and a selection from the local craft Hutton & Smith Brewing Company. While beer prices seem to be a tic on the expensive side, it is not overly egregious when it comes to the overall experience at McKenzie Arena. Note that the concessions stands are cashless, so be prepared to pay with a debit or credit card. Atmosphere 4 In the name of complete transparency, McKenzie Arena is in the midst of a $34 million facility upgrade. From the outside things may seem to be in a bit of disarray, but it is all in the name of progress. Fans enter the arena between court level seating and the upper level. While the arena undergoes enhancements, just the court level seats are available. An initial thought might be closing part of the seating would negatively impact the experience, but in actuality it brings fans closer to the action and concentrates their energy. Since McKenzie Arena does host concerts and other large events, the upper level does make sense, but for basketball the court level seating is just fine. A large four-piece scoreboard is suspended above center court and provides fans with live action feeds of the game, and is also used for on-court contests and advertisements during stoppages in play. More traditional scoreboards hang above two of the court level tunnels which provide fans with the typical time-score-fouls information, as well as running player foul and scoring totals. The Mocs do a lot to keep fans engaged throughout the game. Including the aforementioned on-court games, the school’s pep-band is highly active in not just bringing a touch of the traditional college atmosphere, but the band members also do a lot to lead the student/fan involvement of chants, cheers, and good-natured ribbing of the visiting team players. Neighborhood 5 When thinking of the destination locations in Tennessee, Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Gatlinburg quickly come to mind. Often overlooked is Chattanooga, which might be one of the best kept secrets in the country. Just blocks from downtown Chattanooga and a short walk across the pedestrian bridge from the Northshore area is Chattanooga North, the area around McKenzie Arena which provides a full weekend’s worth of activities, all within a mile to perfectly complement a basketball game. The Riverfront district that neighbors UTC’s campus has all a visitor could ask for – bars, restaurants, museums, and miles of trails. Some of the most popular attractions in the downtown area are the Tennessee Aquarium and the Creative Discovery Museum, both of which are a mile from McKenzie Arena. Given the relatively mild winters of the south, taking advantage of Chattanooga’s riverwalk could also be an option. Chattanooga is home to an endless number of quality restaurants. One plan of attack might be to start the morning with breakfast at Bluegrass Grill , take the pedestrian bridge across the river to pick up lunch at the River Street Deli, and finish up with a late-night meal at Aretha Frankensteins in the nearby Hill City neighborhood. With its proximity to downtown Chattanooga, hotel options are plentiful. Fans 3 While the construction currently going on at McKenzie Arena creates some inconveniences when it comes to parking and entry points, it does help with the role fans play in the game. The closing of the upper level of seating concentrates fans more around the court, in turn making the court much louder. Attendance for Mocs games typically sits around 3,000 to 4,000, which given the current seating capacity is about three-fourths full. The interest of the fans seems to ebb and flow throughout the game. At times, the Mocs fans fill the role of a 6th man, but often seem to be more reactionary instead – there never seemed to be much involvement in getting loud to help create the next defensive stop. The student section, along with the pep-band, situated behind the basket at the home end of the court, does a good job at bringing a degree of controlled rowdiness, that is always good to see at college sporting events. Access 4 The University of Tennessee – Chattanooga is easily accessible from Interstate-24 to Tennessee Highway 27, which feeds into downtown Chattanooga. AT&T Field , home of the Chattanooga Lookouts is visible at the 4th Street exit, welcoming you to the downtown area. 4th Street leads directly to McKenzie Arena and the surrounding parking lots. Three lots are located across from McKenzie arena. At $10, the proximity does make the convenience well worth the price. With one of the three entrances into the arena currently closed due to the ongoing construction, lines tend to get a bit backed up entering the building. Once in the stadium, fans will have to navigate a bit of a narrow concourse to their seats. Return on Investment 4 Tickets to Mocs basketball can be purchased for as low as $10 for seats behind the basket, and up to $20 for padded seats along the sidelines. Ticket prices increase the day of the game by $2, so purchasing tickets ahead of time can save a couple dollars. With all the seating at court level, there really is not a bad seat in McKenzie Arena. Sitting behind the hoop will always create obstructions because of the basket, unless you are close to the floor, but any other seats would be just fine. Extras 3 While the current McKenzie Arena renovation won’t add a lot to the typical fan experience, it will improve the outside ascetics of the arena. McKenzie Arena’s open concourse allows fans to make their way to concessions, restrooms, or any other features away from the court while staying connected to the game. While the action on the court is not visible from the concessions stands, fans can see the floor as they walk to and from their seats. A small, but very useful feature, are the phone charging stations around the concourse. Fans can get a quick charge of their device while still keeping the court in view. Final Thoughts It’s hard to go wrong with a game at McKenzie Arena. While the structure itself has not undergone significant upgrades since it opened in the early 1980s, enough has been done to maintain the arena so it doesn’t feel like an archaic relic. The Mocs take the traditions of college basketball, and couple them well with fan entertainment. Pair the work the gameday staff does with the exciting, high scoring brand of basketball the Mocs play, and it all comes together for an entertaining college basketball experience.

Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau 3600 Boulevard Grande-Allee Boisbriand, QC J7H 1M9 Blainville-Boisbrand Armada website Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau website Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 3,100 A Simple Invasion by the Armada Hockey in Montreal has a long history. Of course, everyone knows of the legendary status of the Montreal Canadiens . Their history of over 100 years and 24 Stanley Cups remain part of the greatest dynasty in all of sport. What most do not know, is that Montreal has a long, but checkered, history in junior hockey. Since its inception in 1969, the QMJHL has seen numerous incarnations of junior hockey around Montreal. In some cases, they were found within Montreal. In many others they were found in Montreal suburbs like Laval, Longeuil, and Verdun. In 2005, the QMJHL expanded to St. John’s, Newfoundland. After a short tenure on the eastern-most tip of Canada, the Fog Devils moved to Verdun for a short life as the Montreal Junior. Now the Junior have found a new home in another Montreal suburb. For the 2011-12 season, QMJHL saw the birth of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. The Armada are now the only major junior team based in a Montreal suburb. The Junior were purchased by a group of investors led by French-language sports channel RDS analyist, and former NHL player, Joel Bouchard. Bouchard’s group includes media company Quebecor, which owns 70% of the team, and NHL players Jean-Sebastian Giguere, Ian Laperriere, and Daniel Briere. Upon moving to the suburbs north of Montreal, they were renamed the Armada and moved into the new Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau. The arena is named after Canadian hockey superstore named Pro Hockey Life in English, and was built and jointly owned by the municipalities of Blainville and Boisbriand. The Armada may have finally found their niche for junior hockey in Montreal. What they present is simple, yet inviting. Food & Beverage 2 The food selection is very simple here. There are only a few concession stands and they offer the same items across the board. The staple items that you would expect to find in any arena are here. Hot dogs can be found for a bargain at $2, and burgers are only $3.50. You can also find the French-Canadian staple, poutine, for $5.75. Coke products are available, and the beer is either Molson Export or Coors Light. Beer runs $5.50. The prices are very good, but the quality and selection is definitely not over the top. Atmosphere 3 Upon arriving at the Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau you will immediately notice how new it looks. The exterior, although not overly impressive, is nice looking, and is a step above many of the older buildings in junior hockey. Entering the building you will find that this building is more minor league than major league. In fact, it doesn’t seem to be completed yet. The entry is pretty cramped, and there is only one ticket window. At the south end of the arena is a concession area, and standing bar which seems pretty nice, however the entrance to the seating bowl is also in here. On the west side of the arena, under the stands is a Sports Rousseau store, which is possibly the biggest store focusing only on hockey equipment around. The seating bowl is very simple. The bowl has a horseshoe design with the concourse above the seating bowl. The west side has a balcony which currently houses the press, and looks like one day will house suites. The east side has no such balcony, and as a result, this small arena has a larger feel to it. The sight-lines are pretty good, and the interior of the arena is very bright. Since the Armada have no history whatsoever, the arena is pretty bland, with only advertising, a simple score-clock, and a couple of flags for Canada, Quebec, and the city. Being north of Montreal, you are more immersed in French culture, and you will hear a lot more French and have a harder time finding English speaking people. The public address announcer has a pretty good voice, and is definitely excitable. The Armada have taken to the military theme a bit. Joel Bouchard welcomed members of the Canadian military at centre ice, and there was a military band that sits in the south end of the stands and plays during breaks. This is most definitely unique for junior hockey. Neighborhood 3 The Armada play at the intersection of industrial, residential, and commercial. This area of the city of Boisbriand is going through a series of large construction projects, so it is difficult to say what it will look like in the future. There are not great opportunities for pre and post game dining in the immediate walking area, but there is a shopping district about a minute away that offers numerous North American chain restaurants to choose from. Although they may not be unique, if you are a little squeamish about the French-language, then one of these may be the best choice. Old favorites like Jack Astor’s and Baton Rouge are available, but if you are looking for something a little more unique, try the Aqua Restaurant Bar or Vinnie Gambini’s. Fans 4 The Armada are drawing just under 3,000 fans per game, which is 7th best in the QMJHL, and a few hundred above what they were drawing last year in Verdun, as the Montreal Junior. Their attendance has been growing throughout the year, and they are nearly averaging capacity crowds which is very positive. A combination of the aluminum roof and Quebecois fans leads to a very loud environment. The acoustics aren’t great for the P.A. announcer, but any goal for the Armada makes you remember that this is a French-Canadian, and therefore very boisterous, crowd. Fans are EXTREMELY knowledgeable about hockey and make themselves heard throughout the game. Access 2 The Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau is located in Boisbriand in a growing area. It is practically at the junction of the Trans Canada Highway and Highway 640. It is not too hard to get to. The parking there is free, but a gravel parking lot is what you will find. The mild weather produces one heck of a muddy mess! Once inside, maneuvering is a challenge due to the design and cramped quarters. The bathrooms are not too bad, but get really plugged up during intermissions. Return on Investment 4 Armada tickets go for $15 for adults and $11 for children, which is pretty good. Concession prices are good and parking is free. If you do the math, then you get a great night of entertainment for the whole family, in a great hockey culture, and a simple, yet inviting, environment. Great value, and a great idea. Extras 4 An extra point for the mini ice rink that can be found under the stands on the east side. Players use this to work on their shot during and before the warm-ups. An extra point for honouring the Canadian military, which has a strong presence in Quebec and a station at CFB Montreal. The military band was also a great touch. An extra point for the DEEP hockey culture found in Montreal and Quebec in general. An extra point for the RCMP Colour Guard in full dress uniforms presenting the Canadian and Quebec flag for the national anthem. Final Thoughts You will not find a whole lot of bells and whistles at an Armada game. Simple. However, the product that they put on the ice is pretty good, and the atmosphere there is good as well. Don’t feel that Montreal is only about Les Habitants. Check out the Armada in the suburbs the next time you are there!

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Cajun Field 201 Reinhardt Dr Lafayette, LA 70506 UL-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns website Cajun Field website Year Opened: 1971 Capacity: 31,000 Geaux Cajuns! The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette, for brevity's sake) is the second largest public university in the state of Louisiana, trailing only LSU. It was founded in 1901, but has only gone by the name of UL Lafayette since 1999. The 19,000 students attend school in the heart of Acadiana, a 22-parish area of the state whose ancestry can be linked back to the exile of the French-speaking Acadians from Nova Scotia. Lafayette is seen as the official cultural capital of Cajun Country, with its own language, music, customs and foods. The university's athletic teams have been known as the Ragin' Cajuns since 1962. The home field for the football program is Cajun Field, which opened in 1971. The 41,426-seat stadium is more popularly known as "The Swamp," a name usually associated with the University of Florida’s football stadium. For many reasons, UL Lafayette has a more legitimate claim, as 1) it is located two feet below sea level, 2) the geography of the area around Lafayette is dominated by bayous, wetlands and swamps, and 3) it is located less than 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Due to an often wet climate, the school installed Pro Grass synthetic turf to avoid the field becoming a quagmire. The Ragin' Cajuns are members of the Sun Belt Conference, and also have a history of scheduling top-20 teams for their non-conference games. Food & Beverage 5 If the team name did not give it away, the concessions menu at Cajun Field will make it clear you are in Cajun country. Of course, typical stadium food is available, but here it is with a decidedly Cajun twist. Among the items on the menu at Cajun Field are jambalaya ($8), Cajun crab patty burgers ($10), Cajun dogs and po'boy sandwiches ($9). Be sure to try the "Swamp Thing," a double po'boy with shrimp, boudin balls, fried green tomatoes and topped with crawfish cheese sauce! ($12). These delicacies can be found along Restaurant Row at Cajun Field in booths such as the Ragin' Cajun Kitchen, Minus 40 (ice cream and other frozen treats) and The Diner. Non Cajun-twist foods include pretzels ($4), popcorn ($3), nachos ($4), sodas ($4) and bottled water ($3). Because Cajun Field is not physically located on the university campus, you are able to enjoy adult beverages on the bayou. Beer ($7), red and white wines ($9) are available, as are margaritas ($8). Daiquiris include such flavors as Ragin' Cajun Strawberry Lemonade, Cajun Colada, and the Swamprita. The area's obsession for foods that are hot and spicy even carries over the to the school mascot, a hot pepper known as Cayenne. Atmosphere 3 After experiencing Cajun tailgating and the Ragin' March Parade, it's time to make your way into Cajun Field. The stadium is built as a seating bowl, so entry is at the top of the seating area. (There is an upper deck on the west side of the stadium.) For the most part, there is bleacher seating, but there are 2,577 chair back seats at the base of the west stands, At the south end of the field, you will find the very popular Restaurant Row food concessions, while the north end is open and features a grassy embankment which provides general admission seating (seating meaning a beach towel or blanket to sit on). This area also features a huge matrix board featuring HD graphics and a continuing stream of game-related information. Cajun Field played a major role in Louisiana football after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. With the Superdome out of commission, UL Lafayette hosted some Tulane games and the New Orleans Bowl. The Saints also used it as a practice facility during their season on the road. Neighborhood 4 The city of Lafayette revels in its title as the Capital City of Acadiana. It is apparent in the diversity of the population, which includes persons of Cajun, Creole and French heritage. The city also holds the title of "Happiest City" (Wall Street Journal Market Watch) and "Tastiest Town" (Southern Living magazine). These are in recognition of the Cajun creed of joie de vivre (joy in life) and the wonderful Cajun and seafood cuisine available in local restaurants. Among the restaurants you will want to check out are the Bon Temps Grill, Pop's Poboys, Broaddus Burgers, and for a sugar fix, Cajun Market Donut Company. Lafayette also has some great nightlife. The famous Blue Dog Café originated here, and other local favorites include the Jefferson Street Pub and Don's Seafood. The nearest hotels to Cajun Field are the Hilton Garden Inn (across the street), the Best Western and the Days Inn Lafayette-University A visit to Lafayette would not be complete without learning about the Acadian way of life. Two "must-sees" on the cultural front are the Acadian Memorial and the Acadian Village, a re-creation of Acadian life in the 1880s. The city also has murals on many of its downtown buildings depicting Cajun lore. If your football trip to Lafayette falls on the second weekend in October, you can take part in the citywide Festivals Acadians et Creoles. The merchants of Lafayette love to share their way of life with visitors - just beware, you'll often see a sign in local stores where you will be encouraged to "Bayou some stuff" while you are in town. Fans 4 Fans in Cajun Country see football games as a fall highlight, a family reunion and a reason to party all rolled up into one. Cajun Field is a five-time leader in the Sun Belt Conference in football game attendance. The fan experience starts long before the kickoff, as the Ragin' Cajuns have been recognized by ESPN.com as one of the top tailgate experiences. The fans are extremely friendly, and they will probably invite you to join them for a drink, some gumbo, jambalaya or grilled rabbit or gator. Once the game gets underway, they are all business, and show their support through standing much of the game, cheering very loudly and boisterously singing the fight song and ringing the Victory Bell after each Cajun touchdown. These fans are used to seeing well-played football in "The Swamp," as the team has a .600 winning percentage for home games. A stunning 48 players have gone on from this relatively small school to play in the NFL. Some of the more notable football alums are Jake Delhomme, Rafael Septien, Charles Tillman and Brian Stokley. Access 3 One of the ways Lafayette has been able to maintain its strong Cajun culture is its relatively isolated location in southwestern Louisiana. Getting there requires traveling some distance. It is located 137 miles from New Orleans, and 215 miles from both Houston and Shreveport. There is an airport in Lafayette, but fares are extremely expensive. It is much more economical to fly in through New Orleans and make the two-hour drive. Once you arrive in Lafayette, parking can be an issue, as the stadium is located 1.5 miles from the campus in UL Lafayette's Athletic complex, which requires football pass parking.. Your best bet is to park in one of the designated lots on campus and take one of the free shuttles over to the game. Return on Investment 3 Tickets are $26 for reserved seating or $21 for General Admission, which includes the embankment in the northern end of Cajun Field. These prices reflect purchases made before the day of the game. The concession prices are quite reasonable, and lodging in the Lafayette area can run from $90 to $200 on a home game weekend. Extras 2 Residents of Louisiana are well known for their ability to put on a parade (think Mardi Gras). UL Lafayette is no different, as they hold a Ragin' March Parade one hour prior to the game, featuring the Pride of Acadiana band. The UL Lafayette campus actually has an on-campus swamp, complete with alligators and other animals native to a wetlands habitat.

Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43 Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium 14 Stott Ave. Norwich, CT 06360 Mystic Schooners website Dodd Stadium website Year Opened: 1995 Capacity: 6,720 A Future for Dodd Stadium Senator Thomas J. Dodd Stadium is named for the Norwich native who served two terms in both the House of Representatives and the Senate between 1952 and 1964. Dodd may be best known as part of the prosecution at the Nuremburg Trials. Originally built as home to the AA Eastern League’s Norwich Navigators in 1995, several teams have called Dodd Stadium home over its nearly 30-year history. After the reorganization of the minor leagues in 2021 effectively ended professional baseball in Norwich, the collegiate wood-bat Futures League came calling, adding the Norwich Sea Unicorns to the circuit in 2021. Looking to utilize their ballpark for more dates during the summer, the city offered a lease to the Mystic Schooners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League the following summer. The Mystic Schooners are the only remaining original franchise in the wood-bat NECBL. Debuting in 1994 in the Connecticut city of Willimantic as the Eastern Tides, the team has played in Hinsdale and Pittsfield, Massachusetts and Bristol, Connecticut before moving to the coastal city of Mystic, Connecticut in 2011. The team played eleven seasons at Fitch High School Field in neighboring Groton before moving to nearby Norwich for the 2022 season. The Schooners franchise has won two NECBL championships, one in 1994 as the Eastern Tides and one in 2016 as the Mystic Schooners. 48 former players have gone on to play professionally, with three alumni (Joe Hudson, Jason Foley and Jake Myers) reaching the Major Leagues. Food & Beverage 3 Only a fraction of the concession stands are opened at Dodd Stadium for Schooners games, but the options here still manage to cover all the bases. Only one of the big stands is open during Schooner games, offering a menu of hot dogs, sausage and pepper sandwiches and chicken tenders with french fries. You can spice up your options with some buffalo sauce for your tenders or some cheese for your fries for a dollar upcharge. A decent collection of snacks are also sold here, including popcorn, pretzels and cotton candy. Fans looking to satisfy a sweet tooth can head to the ice cream stand, where several flavors of hard ice cream are available, as well as a selection of candy. Bottles of Coca-Cola products are sold at Dodd Stadium concession stands. Fans looking for an adult beverage can find Budweiser and Bud Light on draft at the main stand. Atmosphere 2 With only a few hundred people in a 6,700-seat ballpark, the atmosphere is going to suffer. While Schooner staff provide many typical minor league baseball elements, there’s not a whole lot of energy you can bring to a big, empty stadium. Between inning games such as a tug-of-war contest, dizzy bat, name that tune and trivia contests keep fans involved during the game. A bouncy castle is set up in a deep corner of the left field concourse. Music plays between innings and an overly chatty PA announcer keeps the stadium full of noise throughout the game. Longtime visitors to Dodd Stadium will undoubtedly notice that a few traditional Norwich touches are missing. The Tator the Gator statue that long stood guard at the front entrance has been moved to a hidden corner of the facility. Also, it’s strange to not see the dual major/minor league logos on the stadium façade. Younger fans will bemoan the fact that the arcade has been closed. It does look like the scoreboard has been repaired and updated, though. All the signage at Dodd Stadium reflects the team’s primary tenant, the Sea Unicorns. The only mention of the Schooners in the ballpark is a single banner on the left field fence. It’s tough being the secondary tenant in a facility. Neighborhood 2 Dodd Stadium is located in an industrial park, and there is nothing of note within a few miles of the ballpark. Fans looking for places to stay in the area or places to eat will find a few options on Town Street on the way to the ballpark. Downtown Norwich is a few miles away. Most fans visiting the area will not choose to stay in Norwich, opting instead to proceed to the two large casinos located nearby. Mohegan Sun is located a 15-minute drive from the ballpark, and Foxwoods is located a half hour drive from Dodd Stadium. Both casinos are renowned for their variety of shops, entertainment, and dining options, and of course, gaming choices. Families looking for a more family-friendly environment will surely enjoy a visit to Mystic Seaport, located a 20-minute drive away on the Connecticut coastline. This summer attraction contains more than 60 historic buildings, museums, historic vessels, shops, and an aquarium. Fans 1 Stadium Journey attended a Schooners game on a beautiful June Saturday afternoon early in the 2023 season. We estimated the crowd at about 100 fans. Since the Schooners are the secondary tenant at Dodd Stadium, their schedule is dotted with unusual noon weekday starts and other less desirable dates. Fans at Schooner games are typical of most summer league games in the area, with die-hard fans mixed in with families. With small crowds present in such a big facility, there is a ton of room for everyone to spread out and for the kids in attendance to chase down foul balls. Baseball purists will enjoy that you are able to hear all the chatter on the field. Access 3 Dodd Stadium’s location in the Norwich Industrial Park ensures that it is easy to get to via car, but also that driving is the only method to arrive at the ballpark. Visitors to Norwich will simply take exit 14 off Interstate 395 and follow the signs to the ballpark. Dodd Stadium is located about three miles from the highway through the industrial park. Parking is in a large gravel lot adjacent to the ballpark. Seating at Dodd Stadium is available in three forms: gray folding plastic stadium chairs, red molded bucket seats and metal bleachers with backs. A wide concourse runs atop the seating bowl and offers views of the field from all points except for directly behind home plate. Berms cap the end of the concourse on both sides, with a party deck located in left field and a gazebo in right field. Fans arriving early can stake a claim to the Adirondack chairs atop the right field berm. The rest rooms are clean and more than adequate for the typical Schooners crowd. Return on Investment 5 Tickets are sold as general admission for ten dollars. Parking is free in the large lot adjacent to the stadium. Concession prices are reasonable, with no item costing more than ten dollars. The Schooners have a merchandise table set up near the entrance to the ballpark, where in addition to your typical hats and t-shirts, fans can purchase a growler of one of the team’s signature beverages. Extras 1 An extra point is awarded for the Schooners Beverage Company , an out-of-the-box idea to help support the team that has become quite a success in its own right, with several flavors of beverages that can be found at retailers throughout the area. With flavors ranging from lemonade and iced tea to raspberry and coffee cola, there’s something for everyone and definitely worth a try while you’re in the area. Final Thoughts It’s tough being a secondary tenant in any facility, just ask the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s even tougher when you are a team who struggles to attract fans. While Dodd Stadium is a massive step-up facility-wise for the Schooners, the improvement in home field hasn’t translated to an improvement in attendance or game day atmosphere. Yet. Follow Paul Baker’s stadium journeys on Twitter and Instagram @PuckmanRI.

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14 PNC Field 235 Montage Mountain Rd Moosic, PA 18507 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders website PNC Field website Year Opened: 1989 Capacity: 10,000 PNC Field, Home of the Railriders Minor League Baseball has been played in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania metropolitan area since 1989, when a team then known as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons arrived from Maine, playing in the International League. The team plays its home games at PNC Field in Moosic, rather than in Scranton or Wilkes-Barre. Originally a Phillies affiliate, the team became a Yankees affiliate in 2007 and renamed themselves after the parent club. In 2012, PNC Field was almost completely rebuilt, with only the seating bowl and ticket office remaining in place. For that season, the Yankees were forced to play all their “home” games in other stadiums across New York state. For the 2013 season, the team unveiled a new identity, the RailRiders, to go along with their “new” stadium. Food & Beverage 5 PNC Field offers a wide range of concession items, with the traditional options including burgers, pizza, hot dogs, and more. Local Chickie’s & Pete’s also sells their signature crab fries, which are fries covered in crab seasoning and served with a white cheese sauce, but no actual crab. Fans will certainly not go hungry here, but the RailRiders seem to be taking a page from their parent club as prices are pretty high. Please keep in mind the entire stadium is cashless, so bring a credit or debit card. Atmosphere 4 PNC Field has a 360-degree concourse, with all areas offering a view of the field except for when it passes behind the press box and batter’s eye at diametrically opposite areas of the field. The seating bowl is mostly chairbacks but offers several seating areas in the outfield which are different, some bleachers and some group seating areas. All seats offer a good view of the field, although some seats in the outfield may not be able to see the videoboard in left-centerfield. The RailRiders have a mascot named Champ, who is a blue creature of some sort. Additionally, in the middle of the fifth inning, costumed versions of Yankees legends Thurman Munson, Mickey Mantle, Billy Martin, and Joe DiMaggio will race along the warning track, getting into the usual antics you will see in any mascot race. The team has other between-innings contests to involve the fans as well, but not to the point where it detracts from the actual game. As with the parent club in the Bronx, the RailRiders play “New York, New York” following every home game. Neighborhood 2 The decision to build PNC Field in Moosic rather than the much larger cities of Scranton or Wilkes-Barre is unfortunate, as there is not really much in town. If you go around the stadium and drive up a steep hill beyond the outfield fence, you will find a small shopping center and a couple hotels. There are a few more options across I-81 but Scranton is only a ten minute drive away and Wilkes-Barre 20 minutes, and those provide much better options. Fans 3 PNC Field has historically ranked towards the bottom half of their league in attendance, first the International League and now its successor the Triple-A East League. However, despite being relatively few in number, those fans in attendance are passionate about the RailRiders, and in many cases the New York Yankees as well. You can expect to see many fans wearing the gear of both clubs here, despite the team not being in what you would think of as Yankees territory. The fans may be towards the bottom of Triple-A by the numbers, but in terms of the energy and passion each of them brings, they rank up towards the top. Although the crowds are smaller than most places, you wouldn’t know it based on how it can sound here. Access 3 How easy you will find getting to PNC Field depends on where you are coming from. Fans who live in Scranton or Wilkes-Barre will be disappointed the stadium is not in town, but as it is located between the two, it is relatively convenient for both. Everyone else can access the stadium via Interstate 81. Take the exit for Montage Mountain Road and arrive at the stadium shortly thereafter. Parking is available in a large gravel lot for $5, although season ticket holders and other VIPs can park in a closer lot. Staff do a good job at directing fans to parking. As with the concession stands, parking is credit/debit card only. No cash is accepted. Once in the stadium, the concourses can get a bit crowded at times but you should still be able to move around freely. Restrooms are of a sufficient size for the crowd. Return on Investment 3 Tickets start at $10 for lawn seating in the outfield ($2 on Tuesdays) and the most expensive non-club seats are only $14. However, if buying online, you will need to buy through Ticketmaster and pay according fees, which takes the price up significantly. Parking is about average at $5, and concessions are a bit high but not too outrageous. A RailRiders game can still be a good value, but this score would be a lot higher if they would ditch Ticketmaster so fans aren’t paying 50% more for tickets because of the outrageous fees. Extras 2 The Legends Race is worthy of a star here for being a unique spin on the mascot race. A second and final star for the 360-degree concourse offering many unique vantage points to watch the action. Final Thoughts The renovation PNC Field underwent in 2012 has really done it a lot of good. Architecturally, the stadium has seen massive improvements. That being said, the RailRiders seem to be leaning heavily on their affiliation with the Yankees rather than trying to attract fans by creating their own identity. Many promotions honor former Yankees greats who have no relation to the RailRiders whatsoever, and this may turn off fans who cheer for the local Phillies or other teams. As the Yankees own 50% of the club, this is likely intentional, and whether that has a positive or negative impact on the atmosphere will depend on whether or not you are a Yankees fan.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 Carver Arena 201 SW Jefferson St Peoria, IL 61602 Bradley Braves men's basketball website Carver Arena website Year Opened: 1982 Capacity: 11,442 A Brave New World for Bradley The Carver Arena is part of the Peoria Civic Center which is also home to a theater, meeting halls, and an exhibit hall in downtown Peoria, Illinois. The idea for a civic center in Peoria goes back to the 1930s but it was not until the early 1970s that the concept picked up steam. City leaders envisioned a building that would serve as “the economic development for downtown revitalization.” Construction began in 1979 and on September 11, 1982, Kenny Rogers opened up the arena with a concert. The Bradley Braves basketball program would soon follow The Gambler with its first game a little over two months later and have made the 11,442 capacity arena its home in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Braves have called three other buildings home since its first college hoops team took the court in 1902 and the university has made eight appearances in the NCAA Tournament with two runner-up finishes in 1950 and 1954. In 2006, the team reached the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in school history making national headlines along the way. Food & Beverage 4 There are two large concession stands on both ends of the Carver Arena that offer an impressive amount of tasty options. Fans can expect the regular items of hot dogs, nachos, and popcorn, but tenderloin sandwiches, pork sandwiches, and pulled pork barbecue nachos are also available. Beverages include Coca-Cola products and fans can also purchase beer, wine, and spirits at multiple stands throughout the building. A pint of domestic draft beer is $7 and that includes Alaskan Amber, a rare find at most buildings in the Midwest. The Spotted Cow stand offers freshly made ice cream sundaes and waffle cones in 12 different varieties. Atmosphere 4 The Carver Arena is an older facility that features a narrow main concourse, darkened sections of the seating bowl, and jammed concourses during halftime. However, there is plenty of college game day action that includes a small student section, a larger college band, cheerleaders, and player introductions. Once the tip off is over, all the atmosphere that fans need from their seat is on the basketball court. The arena’s design makes for some impressive acoustics from the Bradley faithful who pack the place in large numbers. In fact, the old place still holds up pretty well as a college basketball venue. One section of the building displays Bradley banners that include conference and NCAA Tournament banners, while the other side is distinguished by the Rivermen banners. A giant video board hangs above the center court and one side offers the Braves Club for members to enjoy courtside tabletop seating and beverages from underneath the basket. One side of the arena offers giant Bradley Braves signage that includes champion banners from the Final Four Finalist teams of 1950 and 1954. The Braves also have a mascot named Kaboom! that is modeled after one of the four gargoyles sitting atop the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center and watching over campus The interesting looking mascot rides onto the court on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle at the start of the game and excites the crowd with the cheerleaders at breaks in the action. The lower seating bowl provides nice views of the game that put fans almost within touching distance of the players. There is even courtside seating that is within inches of the action. The band and student section are situated behind one end of the court–the band is rather larger with the student section a bit smaller than expected. The arena is also a bit darkened for Braves games compared to hockey games, perhaps this adds to the ambiance of the building and dampens out the seats on the top rows of the arena. However, the fan base is loud enough and creates an impressive atmosphere that a lack of lighting could ever dissipate. Neighborhood 4 The Carver Arena is located a few blocks north of the Peoria Warehouse Historic District; the district is home to 68 buildings that were built from the 1880s to the 1920s and are home to many restaurants and bars. The location is also situated along the Peoria Lake. A few options include Thyme Kitchen & Craft Beer, The Blue Duck Barbecue Tavern, and Kelleher’s Irish Pub & Eatery. These places are usually packed with fans after weekend games and anyone of them would be worth the time to have dinner and drinks. The Rhodell Brewery and Bearded Owl Brewery are two local craft beer spots in the district and Sugar Wood-Fire Bistro has some of the best pizzas in town. A few miles north of downtown is Knuckles Pizza that specializes in Quad City-style pizza that is slightly different than your typical pizza. Fans 4 There is a passionate group of fans that make a Bradley’s Braves game declare home court advantage for any visitor. The day of our game there was close to 8,000 people in the arena and it felt like it could have been a lot more, since the applause and cheering echo vibrantly throughout the game. These are die-hard people that enjoy winning and are focused on what’s going on on the court. Access 3 The Carver Arena is located inside of the Peoria Civic Center and is just a few miles south of I-74. The downtown setting can get a bit busy close to the game. It is recommended to arrive slightly early to avoid downtown congestion, but even that runs much smoother compared to larger metropolises. Once fans enter the Great Hall of the Peoria Civic Center, fans have to go through a somewhat elaborate security screening that can be somewhat congested. However, once inside the wraparound concourse provides everything a fan needs and getting to and from your seats is rather simple with clearly marked signs throughout the seating bowl. Return on Investment 4 The price of a ticket for Braves games begin at $8, a very reasonable price to enjoy a mid-major college program. The prices then move up to $17, $25, and $60. The Bradley program has a faithful audience that enjoys a winning team and will come out in droves for big games, especially its main rival down the road on I-74 at Illinois State University. Concession prices are reasonable and fall in line with other facilities in the conference, but it’s one of a few where you can buy alcoholic beverages. The price to park is $10 in the main lot, but other lots across the street can be found for as low as $5 a car. Extras 3 The Carver Arena receives a point for its downtown location near the baseball stadium and the riverfront district that offers a few nice places to eat and drink before and after the game. The Carver Arena fans do a fantastic job providing a great game day atmosphere, especially when the Braves are winning and challenging for a top spot in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Carver Arena’s walls are decorated with tons of history concerning the Bradley basketball program from historical beginnings, former players, team highlights by the decade, and retired jersey numbers that include Hersey Hawkins who went on to a 13 year NBA career. Also, did you know that Kirby Puckett played college baseball at Bradley? Yes, his picture is also on the mural. Final Thoughts A pleasant surprise can be found at a Bradley Braves game at the Carver Arena. The fans make it an enjoyable experience that has all the fixings of a college hoops venue. The prices are low, the neighborhood enjoyable, and the fans are knowledgeable. What more can you ask for?

Photo by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Frank Mann Field 3700 Commonwealth Ave Alexandria, VA 22305 Alexandria Aces website Frank Mann Field website Year Opened: 1978 Capacity: Acing It In Alexandria Frank Mann Field is home to the Alexandria Aces of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. The CRCBL is a summer collegiate wood bat league featuring six teams in the Washington, D.C. area. It formerly contained as many as 12 teams, but has decreased in size in recent years. Three of the teams are based in Maryland, two in Virginia, and one in the District of Columbia itself. The stadium was built in 1978 and hosts the Bishop Ireton High School team as well as several youth teams in addition to the Aces. It is named after former Alexandria mayor Frank Mann. Prior to hosting the Aces, it was the home of the Alexandria Dukes of the Carolina League from 1978 to 1983. The Dukes later relocated down I-95 to Woodbridge, and after adopting several other names, became known as the Potomac Nationals . Following the 2019 season, the P-Nats moved again and became the Fredericksburg Nationals . In addition to the subpar facilities, the Dukes were reportedly concerned about the prohibition on alcohol sales due to the stadium being located next to a school. Food & Beverage 2 The food selection at Frank Mann Field is nothing special, but you will certainly not go hungry here either Concessions are sold out of a tent behind home plate, and the only meal options are freshly grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. There are also a wide variety of snacks, plus soft drinks and bottled water. As Frank Mann Field is located on school grounds, alcohol is not available for sale. Prices are reasonable, with nothing costing more than a few dollars, and payment can be made with cash, PayPal, or Venmo. Atmosphere 2 This is truly baseball at its basics. There are only a handful of metal bleachers seating maybe a few hundred fans. All seats are separated from the field not by netting but by a chain link fence that can make it difficult to see the action. There is a scoreboard in left-center field that shows the line score and count and the team plays music in between innings, but there really isn’t that much else here. A 50-50 raffle offers fans the chance to win a cash prize while raising money for the team, but that is about it. For baseball purists, this will be a fun experience, but those who enjoy the between inning distractions will be out of luck. Neighborhood 5 Frank Mann Field is located in Alexandria, just across the Potomac River from the District of Columbia. Although there is not much within walking distance of the stadium, those willing to drive around Alexandria will find quite a bit. The Old Town neighborhood a couple miles south is one of the nicest parts of the entire metropolitan area. Visitors will find riverfront views and streets lined with restaurants, shops, and more. As Alexandria is a very diverse area, you will find ethnic food of just about every nationality, whether it’s Bolivian, Salvadoran, or Italian. Il Porto Ristorante has fantastic Italian food and is conveniently located just up King Street from Pop’s Old Fashion Ice Cream, where you can finish off your meal with homemade ice cream. Hotels are ample in supply as well – check out the Old Town or Crystal City areas. Fans 3 The Aces draw a decent crowd of a couple hundred fans per game. While the bleachers won't be full, the crowd here is about what you see at most venues in the league, maybe a little bit higher. The crowd is a mix of longer-time fans and young families, and kids can be seen scurrying around the seating area during the game. You'll hear some cheering after big plays, but this crowd generally doesn't get too involved. Access 4 Frank Mann Field is located just off Commonwealth Avenue in the City of Alexandria. Parking is free in a lot adjacent to the stadium, with additional spaces being available beyond the outfield fence. Do not park on the street or you will be towed. Be careful about parking too close to the entrance, as you will be in foul ball territory. All Aces games start at 6:30 PM, which means you will likely be dealing with rush hour traffic to get to a game if you come on a weeknight. D.C. traffic is some of the worst in the country, so be sure to allow a lot of extra time. It’s not quite as bad in the summer as during the rest of the year, but that isn’t saying much. The recently opened Potomac Yard station on Metro's Blue and Yellow Lines is about a 20 minute walk from the stadium. Return on Investment 5 Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children. Concessions are incredibly affordable as well. This makes an Aces game a great value. Extras 3 There is a tent near the entrance selling team merchandise. There is a table near the entrance offering not just free roster cards (for the Aces only, not their opponent) but free copies of a local newspaper's special edition about the Aces' season. A dubiously named dunk tank down the right field line provides fans with the opportunity to throw balls at a bucket of water to make it dump its contents on the person below. This is quite popular with kids and others looking to cool off during the game. Final Thoughts Although not well-known in the Alexandria area, an Aces game can be an enjoyable way to spend a summer night watching baseball. It is affordable fun in a great city, and it is a shame that more people don't know about the team.

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey It has been 30 years since Paramount Pictures turned an Indiana high school gymnasium into a movie set. The movie ‘Blue Chips’ was filmed over 4 days at Frankfort’s Case Arena, and a few weekends ago, the high school honored the film set with a 30th-anniversary game complete with throwback uniforms and signage. The movie starred Nick Nolte, Shaquille O’Neil, and Penny Hardaway and featured basketball legends Bobby Knight, Bob Cousy, Dick Vitale, and many others. Nolte and O’Neil could not attend, but Shaq donated a pair of Reebok Above the Rim Pumps to the Frankfort team, a replica of the shoes worn in the movie. The Case Arena transformed into the Dolphin Dome with signage, a court design with a dolphin logo in the center, signage in the lobby and concourse level, and names of the fictional teams on the lower scoreboard. The hometown Frankfort Hot Dogs became the fictional Western University Dolphins, while their opponent, the Rossville Hornets, became Team Indiana, just like in the movie. The gym was packed, which hadn’t been the norm for a boy’s basketball game in quite some time. The Case Arena holds 5,200 - 22nd in the world in size. That number was met as fans poured into the building, donning the blue and gold of the fictional Western University team.  Anthony C. Hall appeared at the game and signed an autograph after his half-time appearance. He played Tony the Point-Shaver in the film. A few more extras appeared, and they all shared their experiences from the movie set 30 summers ago. The fete to pull off the throwback game was a monumental task as 50-plus volunteers and support staff helped sell and scan tickets in the lobby, worked the score table, handled media information, sold merchandise and game day programs, and handled security. Even the concession stands needed more assistance with popcorn popping throughout the night in bunches. Western, I mean the Hot Dogs, pulled off a 54-39 victory over Indiana, aka Rossville, in front of a delightful fanbase that has not seen the place rocking like this in quite some time. Case Arena is one of the state's bigger gyms with a design that would make a college program envy.  The environment for the special occasion brought back memories for those who were there 30-years-ago and produced a night for those who were not there, a chance to take a trip back in time to when Frankfort was part of movie magic.  ----- Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter , Instagram , and his YouTube channel .  Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com

Photos by James Hilchen, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Xtream Arena 200 E 9th St., Suite 100 Coralville, IA 52241 Iowa Heartlanders website Xtream Arena website Year Opened: 2021 Capacity: 5,100 Deer Crossing Xtream Arena is a brand-new arena, having opened on October 22, 2021 when the Iowa Heartlanders defeated the Kansas City Mavericks, 7-4. The arena was built at a cost of $50 million. The arena sits in Coralville, Iowa, right next to Iowa City, which is home to the University of Iowa. In addition to the ECHL’s Heartlanders, Xtream Arena also hosts Iowa Hawkeyes women’s volleyball along with music and other events. Food & Beverage 3 The arena offers up a decent choice of food options ranging from $4-$9. Choices include pizza from Pizza Ranch (regional chain), Caesar salads, hot dogs, polish, and turkey wraps. Snacks include pretzels, nachos, candy, and popcorn. Coke is the soda of choice with $5 for regular size and $7 for a souvenir cup. Powerade, water, Monster Energy, and sweet tea are also available. Domestic and premium beer along with wine and White Claw can be had for $8-$10 depending on size. Atmosphere 4 There is a clear bag policy here, so adjust accordingly before entering the arena. Hockey fan or non-hockey fan, it would be hard to not enjoy the experience here. Everything that goes with hockey is here, from loud music to an active mascot to junior hockey between periods. There are no bad seat views throughout the arena. Two video boards are on opposite sides of the arena behind the nets. Ribbon board goes all the way around the arena and is utilized nicely throughout the game. Concession areas and restrooms are spaced nicely throughout the arena. Being a new arena, it’s hard not to notice how clean everything is. There are also plenty of in-game entertainment and giveaways, including chuck-a-puck, 50/50 raffles, Zamboni rides, etc. Neighborhood 4 The arena sits amongst a retail area. As such, you have a few food and drink options well within walking distance. Right across the roundabout from the arena is 30Hop. 30Hop provides a good variety of menu items, along with a litany of drink options (90 draft beers) and a rooftop patio. Another good option is Vesta, just across Quarry Road. Vesta is a Mediterranean themed restaurant that also serves pizza and has a wide variety of drink options. If you are in the mood for pizza, Mexican, or Japanese, you are covered as well. If staying in the area, the Hyatt Regency – Coralville is next to the arena. There are many more lodging options around the area due largely to Hawkeye sports venues being right down the road. Attached to the arena is the Antique Car Museum of Iowa. If old cars are your thing, this is a great place to check out. While in Iowa City, another good spot to visit is the Old Capitol Museum. It was once the main building for the Iowa government, prior to the state moving its capitol to Des Moines. Fans 3 For a new franchise, the Heartlanders have already built a good following. Heartlanders gear is well represented throughout the arena. The fans are well into the experience as soon as the team takes the ice. They know their players and are engaged throughout the game. Access 4 Located just south of I-80, the arena is very easy to get to. Most parking is behind the arena, but you can find some on the streets leading you into the area. Once inside, the concourse is very wide, and it is easy to get around. There are restrooms sufficient for the crowds and they are located on both ends of the arena behind the goal sides. Handicap accessible seating is located behind sections 101, 105,108, 113, and 117. The only drawback is getting out of the area after the game. There are only two roads, so the traffic moves very slow. Don’t plan on getting out without a bit of a wait. Return on Investment 3 There is ample parking around the arena and parking is free, which is always a plus. Tickets vary in price from $16 (economy seats, which are the back of sections 101-102 and 116-117) all the way up to $40, which are the seats near the ice. Note for those considering the economy seats; there is nothing wrong with the view, every seat in the arena has a great view. The economy seats have much less leg room and if you are over 6 feet tall, prepare to have your legs wedged up against the seats in the next row. You are much better off going with the $23 ticket. With average concession prices, and tickets running a bit on the high side, you do get a decent bang for your buck with the niceness of the arena and a great hockey atmosphere. Extras 3 The Heartlanders have a really great team store. If you want to support the team, be sure and check it out. An extra point goes to the staff at the arena. They were pleasantly assisting fans with whatever they needed. The Heartlanders are doing a good job with community engagement and involvement in many different local programs and seem committed to the area. Final Thoughts The franchise is off to a good start in Coralville. Xtream Arena is a great place to watch a hockey game and the team is still in process of getting their feet situated on their new building. There is still room to grow, but in their first season, the Heartlanders already provide a quality fan experience. Follow my sports journeys on Twitter and Instagram : @stadiumjwriter

Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86 Hillsboro Stadium 4450 NE Century Boulevard Hillsboro, OR 97124 Portland State Vikings website Hillsboro Stadium website Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 7,600 Hillsboro Vikings The Portland State University 50-acre campus is located in the southwestern portion of downtown Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 1947 to serve the educational needs of veterans returning from World War II. Over the years it has developed into a major educational institution, as it now offers more than 200 degree programs. It is especially known for its programs in the fields of business, social sciences, and computer sciences. It attained university status in 1969. Portland State has a student body of more than 26,000 students. The athletic teams at Portland State are known as the Vikings. The football program also got its start in 1947. At first, the Vikings played industrial league teams, eventually transitioning to teams from the greater Portland area. Over the years Portland State football has been known for high-scoring games thanks to the run and gun offenses installed by former coaches “Mouse” Davis and June Jones. Today the Vikings play in the Big Sky Conference at the FCS level of NCAA play. The Vikings have played their home games at Hillsboro Stadium since 2019. The stadium is located about 16 miles west of PSU’s campus in downtown Portland. The school’s urban location prevents it from having an on-campus venue. Its former home at Providence Park in Portland was much closer to the campus but was no longer available due to game commitments to the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns soccer teams. Hillsboro Stadium is located within the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex, which is managed by the City of Hillsboro’s Parks and Recreation Department. The stadium opened in 1999 and has seating for 7,600 fans. Like many Pacific Northwest sports venues, Hillsboro Stadium has a roof protecting most of the fans from the cold and wet elements the area experiences in late fall. The roof protects about 4,000 of the fans, with the remaining 3,000 left out in the elements. The FieldTurf playing surface is updated regularly, as it gets very heavy use throughout the year. Food & Beverage 1 The concession stands at Hillsboro Stadium serve the stadium basics of hot dogs, snacks, and sodas. Atmosphere 3 Hillsboro Stadium received several architectural awards for its design when it opened in 1999. Much of its acclaim was due to the roof canopy over the largest portion of stadium seating. While no longer unique in that respect, it is important for the comfort of the fans, as rain is always a possibility in the Pacific Northwest. The seating in the main grandstand is primarily bench seating, except for the upper middle section of the structure, which consists of seatbacks. Additional bench seating behind one of the end zones accounts for the other 3,000 seats in the venue. The opposite end zone has tents behind it, which function as “luxury suites.” These are typically used by the alumni association, major donors, or corporate sponsors with ties to Portland State. Neighborhood 2 The immediate area in and around Hillsboro Stadium is the 90-acre Gordon Faber Recreational Complex. It includes six natural turf baseball/softball fields, two artificial turf softball/baseball fields, a dog park, and a jogging trail. The area outside of the recreational complex mainly consists of fast-food restaurants, except for McMenamins Cornelius Roadhouse. There are numerous hotels/motels located along Highway 26, a short distance from Hillsboro Stadium. As far as attractions are concerned, the Hillsboro Classic Aviation Museum is located nearby at Hillsboro Airport. At present Tonkin Stadium, home of the Hillsboro Hops minor league team is located adjacent to Hillsboro Stadium. However, the Hops are currently building a new stadium elsewhere and will move into it in time for the 2024 season. Fans 3 Portland State fans get fired up for the Vikings home games through pep rallies held the Friday before the games. Oktoberfest is another addition to the October event schedule. It includes a carnival, inflatables, caricatures, and photos with Victor E. Viking, the team mascot. The school also has VikFest for early-arriving fans, which includes food, drink, and entertainment. Despite these additional attempts to build school spirit and enthusiasm for the football program, the distance from the campus is a major drawback in attracting more fans to Hillsboro. Other sports at PSU can be played either on campus or at venues much closer to downtown Portland than Hillsboro Stadium. Access 3 There are several ways to get from Portland State’s downtown campus to Hillsboro Stadium. You can take the MAX public transportation light rail system to Orenco Station. You would then transfer to the #47 bus, which will take you to the stadium. Students also can take a free shuttle bus to the stadium and back by showing their student ID. The shuttle will bring students back to the campus at halftime or immediately after the game. The third option is to drive your car to the stadium. The driving directions are very straightforward. Take Highway 26 west towards Hillsboro. Go 12 miles on Highway 26 West. Take exit # 62A onto NE Cornelius Pass. Go ½ mile on Cornelius Pass Road to Evergreen Parkway. Turn right on Evergreen and go ½ mile to Century Boulevard. Turn right on Century Boulevard and enter the park. The stadium concourses are the area underneath the grandstand on the backside of the structure. The restrooms and concession areas are in this area. Return on Investment 3 Tickets for Vikings home games come at several different price points. Most of the ticket’s price relates to where you are sitting in the roofed structure, which is on the southwestern side of the playing field. Students can attend games for free if they show their student ID at the gate. The student section is located at the base of the roofed grandstand facing the goal line. Seating at the upper section of the grandstand along the 50-yard line goes for $35. These seats feature seatback seats, while all other seats are bench seats. Seats between the 20-yard lines go for $25. All other seats in the stadium are general admission, and they cost $15. Groups of 10 or more get a flat rate of $10, no matter where their seats are in the stadium. All seats in the stands behind the goal line are considered general admission. There are tents set up behind the other end zone to service the major donors to the program. These tents are considered luxury suites, and they provide full food and beverage service throughout the game. Parking is available adjacent to Hillsboro Stadium at $10 cash only on gamedays. Season ticket holders have the option to prepay their parking fee for $60 for the entire season. RV parking is also available at the Gordon Faber Recreational Complex at $25 per day. Extras 5 In 2023 Portland State University opened the brand-new Viking Pavilion on campus. This facility will serve as the home court for the basketball and volleyball teams at the school. In addition to the playing court, the Pavilion will service the locker room, training room, and classroom needs of all the school teams. “Barneyball” luncheons are held on Fridays before each home game. Head Coach Bruce Barnum shows tape from the last game and discusses the keys to winning the game the next day. Portland-based Nike designs the Vikings uniforms for free each year. In addition to Vikings football games, Hillsboro Stadium stays busy throughout the year. It hosts several high school games weekly. It also hosts the state playoffs in football late in the season. The stadium has also hosted marching band competitions, and Major League Soccer matches. The rivalry game for Portland State each year is the Eastern Washington game. The winner takes home the Dam Cup. Final Thoughts Portland State University’s urban campus location rules out a downtown stadium location as impractical. While shuttles and light rail make getting to Hillsboro Stadium easier than you think, it simply does not have the feel or the character of an on-campus venue. This hurts the Vikings in both attendance and enthusiasm for the football program at the school.

Photos by Steven Burke, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43 Dozer Park 730 SW Jefferson St Peoria, IL 61605 Peoria Chiefs website Dozer Park website Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 7,500 Baseball in the River City Dozer Park has been the home of the Peoria Chiefs since opening in 2002 as a replacement for their previous home Meinen Field. The stadium contains many of the amenities seen in modern day ballparks. The Converse Club, for instance, is located on the suite level and is equipped with flat screen televisions featuring live sporting events as well as an in-park video feed of the action taking place on the field. The Converse Club is open to all suite level ticket holders as well as full and half season ticket holders, featuring table service with full dining and bar menus providing a luxurious environment to experience game day. Dozer Park also features one of the largest high definition video boards in MiLB, measuring 30 feet by 42 feet. In addition to hosting the Chiefs, Dozer Park also serves as the home of the Bradley University baseball team. The name Dozer Park is reference to the Caterpillar company which is headquartered in Peoria and purchased the naming rights in 2013. Food & Beverage 3 Dozer Park has a good variety of the ballpark staple foods. Two of the best choices are the pork chop sandwich and the foot-long corndog. For something outside of the box, try the pulled pork nachos from the Mexican-inspired concession stand. They come with all of the expected nacho toppings with the added delicious bonus of pulled pork. The Chiefs make sure their ballpark is a place to enjoy a ballgame with quality ballpark food and great craft beer. As is the case in many ballparks in recent years Dozer Park does a good job emphasizing craft beer, the most notable location being the Good Hops stand. Good Hops is located on the concourse behind home plate and serves a wide variety of drafts, bottles, and cans of beer. All draft beers run will run you $7, while bottles and cans sell for $6 or $7. Atmosphere 3 Dozer Park is still a very nice facility, but is beginning to show its age slightly. Although to be fair, the issues that are visible may be more of a lack of maintenance and upkeep. The facade of the press box has countless amounts of dings and dents from foul balls, it appears no attempt has been made to repair or mask this damage. The Firehouse Team Store located on the concourse just to the left of home plate contains all the Chiefs merchandise you could ever need. The store is just to the left of the main gate as you enter the park. The Chiefs’ HD video board at Dozer Park is one of the largest in Minor League Baseball. The board measures 30’x42′ and displays promotions, replays, stats, and pitch speed. Neighborhood 4 One of the best options for a pregame meal within walking distance of Dozer Park is Sugar Wood Fired Bistro. Located in the warehouse district of Peoria, Sugar Wood Fired Bistro provides a comfortable atmosphere with an open kitchen and delicious food. One of the most unique and delicious pizza choices is the Smokey Pork Chipotle which features braised pork, smoked gouda, peaches, bacon, pineapple, and chipotle barbecue sauce. The warehouse district of Peoria appears to be an area ripe for gentrification, signs on buildings around Dozer Park indicate that more businesses will be opening in the near future. Fans 4 Fans at Dozer Park tend to consist of families from the local community. It is not unusual while walking the concourse to see people interacting with acquaintances they just happen to run into at the ballpark. The Chiefs do a great job of being an integral part of the community and a meeting place during the summer months in central Illinois. Access 4 Plenty of street parking is available in the warehouse district surrounding Dozer Park and free parking can easily be obtained. There are also plenty of small lots on the streets surrounding the ballpark where parking can be found for $5-$10. Dozer Park is located close to main roads and interstates so arriving and leaving traffic flows well. Return on Investment 4 The seating bowl at Dozer Park consists of folding plastic seats and are broken into Dugout Box and Field Box sections. Dugout Box seats cost $11 and range between the sections from dugout to dugout. Field Box seats cost $10 and are located past the dugouts down each foul line. Lawn seats are also available for $8. Dozer Park features party decks at the end of the concourse on both the first and third base side of the field. Additional group spaces are available in right field as well as left field. The entire seating bowl is close to the field providing a great view of the action from any seat in the house. As with many MiLB teams, the Chiefs offer promotional food specials throughout the week depending on which night you attend a game at Dozer Park. Wednesday home games are known as “Wins-Days” for the Chiefs with hot dogs, sodas, and ice cream sandwiches all priced at $1 and as an added bonus all fans in attendance receive a ticket to a future Monday-Wednesday home game if the Chiefs win. Dozer Park hosts “Thirsty Thursday” as well as “Taco Bell Live Mas Thursdays” during each Thursday home game. “Thirsty Thursday” features 16-ounce domestic draft beers as well as fountain drinks for $2; while “Taco Bell Live Mas Thursdays” provides buy one get one free ticket with the presentation of a Taco Bell receipt showing a purchase in the last 7 calendar days. Sunday home games feature specials for the rookie and veteran fans with “PNC Kids Sundays” as well as “Senior Sundays” as kids 12 and under and seniors 55 and over receive tickets for just $5 in addition to $1 ice cream sandwiches. Extras 2 Being located geographically between Chicago and St. Louis it is expected to have a split of Cubs and Cardinals fans and the Chiefs seem to do their best to retain the interest of both fan bases. Since 1985 the Chiefs have changed major league affiliates four times and that includes two stints each with the Cardinals and Cubs. From 1985-1994 and 2005-2012 the Chiefs were affiliated with the Cubs and 1995-2004 and 2013 until now the Cardinals have called Peoria the home of their Midwest League affiliate. Also worth note is that just inside the front gate of Dozer Park there is a statue of long-time Chiefs owner, Pete Vonachen. The late executive was known as “Peoria’s Mr. Baseball” and is credited with much of the organization’s success. Final Thoughts While Peoria is situated between Chicago and St. Louis geographically a visit to Dozer Park to see the Chiefs play is a great addition to a trip to either MLB destination city.

Photos by Google Photos Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00 Kenilworth Road 1 Maple Rd E. Luton, England LU4 8AW United Kingdom Luton Town FC website Kenilworth Road website Year Opened: 1905 Capacity: 10,356 Hatter For a Day Despite nearly three decades of plans and suggestions of a new stadium, Luton Town is still playing football at their spiritual home of Kenilworth Road. Situated not far from London, in densely populated housing, the ground is a place of fascination and intrigue for any interested ‘ground hopper’ or enthusiast. Known as the ‘Hatters’ due to the local hat-making industry of many years ago, both the club and the team are synonymous with a variety of notable incidents and achievements throughout their history. The club has fluctuated up and down the English leagues throughout its history, culminating in the ultimate low of being relegated from the football league to the (non-league) Conference in 2009. This compounded a period of severe instability on and off the pitch that saw the club in administration, docked points by the Football Association before some seasons had even got underway, which conspired to successive relegations down the leagues. You will see the fans’ flag which has ‘betrayed by the F.A’ emblazoned on it at most Luton matches. When you think of Luton Town in the 1980s, memories of their artificial Astro pitch, one of the first in England to install it, spring to mind along with household names of Sealy, Donaghy, Foster, Wilson, Hill, Preece, Harford, and Stein. There was crowd trouble in a cup tie versus Millwall which resulted in a ban of away supporters for many years and beating Arsenal at Wembley in the 1989 League Cup Final. The club had flirted with relegation from the top flight for many years, and as the club reinstated a grass pitch, they went down on the last day of the season after a defeat by Notts County, meaning they missed out on the finance generated by the newly formed Premier League. Food & Beverage 4 The club offers a variety of standard hot food (burgers, hot dogs, pies) and drinks from tea, and coffee to a variety of soft drinks. Alcohol is also available in certain parts of the ground but must be consumed in the concourses. Atmosphere 4 Since returning to the Football League, Luton has flirted with promotion to play-off places. The fans have shown patience and resilience with the team, offering encouragement throughout the 90 minutes. Kenilworth Road doesn’t have much room for further adaptation, hence the requirement to move to a purpose-built venue. The Main Stand is an older wooden two-tiered structure, with little leg room to manoeuvre. There are also several supporting pillars and roof supports which will slightly hinder your view depending on your seat location. In one corner, newer seating has been installed and has become the dedicated ‘family section.’ The opposite is a row of executive boxes, known locally as the ‘Bobbers Stand,’ which runs the length of the pitch and with it being for business class rather than the ordinary fan, it maybe reduces the atmosphere of this small venue. As long as you are not low down behind either goal, the view of the pitch will be decent from everywhere else. Behind the left-hand goal is the Oak Stand and this is predominantly for away supporters. Incredibly, as you enter through the turnstiles you cross over people’s back gardens before taking your seat! Across from that is a similar-sized stand that houses the home fans. This was an old terrace that saw a roof added to it in the 1980s, and then seats installed. Neighborhood 3 The ground is situated within two miles of the town centre, along Dunstable Road, which is a decent walk in good weather. There are many bars to visit, though the closer to the ground you get, the fewer options you have. There are some hotels in the town centre. One of the best value offerings is the Easy Hotel, which is part of the Easyjet franchise. Fans 4 Kenilworth Road is a relatively friendly place to visit, with passionate and dedicated supporters. The average home gate is between 8,000-9,500. The fans are very vociferous and get behind the team through the entire match. The chant of “Come on Luton” ad nauseam regularly reverberates around the ground during play. Access 5 Kenilworth Road is within walking distance from the town centre and is well served by both buses and trains situated en route to the ground. Once inside there is a limited movement within each stand as your match ticket will be for a designated area only. There are regular buses and trains which drop you off between two and five minutes walk from Kenilworth Road respectively. There is limited street and official car parking, which is due to a lot of the area being for permit holders for residents only. The disabled access is situated on the front stand concourse, with a handful of places in the Oak Stand for away fans. Return on Investment 4 The club runs three categories for home matches, and this is based on the popularity of the opposition and the demand from the opponents. For example, teams like Wycombe, Stevenage, Leyton Orient, Dagenham & Redbridge, AFC Wimbledon, and Crawley are all close by and will likely fall into a ‘category A’ match. The club also offers very competitive prices for students, the elderly, and kids, with the latter being as low as £3 a ticket, which is excellent value. Adults priced £18-£22 Young adults (ages 17-21) £13-£17 Seniors (over 65) £10-£17 Youths (ages 10-17) £6-10 Junior (under 10s) £3-£7 Extras 4 The club shop is next to the Main Stand in a large porta-cabin and stocks all the current home, away and goalkeeper kits. It also has a wide selection of training wear, books, and DVDs, all of which are very competitively priced. Similarly, there is a large club shop in Luton’s large shopping mall. Final Thoughts Visiting Kenilworth Road was fulfilling a childhood ambition! I was fascinated with their artificial surface in the 80s and how they always defied the odds to survive in the top flight! This is a very old ground, compact with very little room to manoeuvre due to the surrounding houses and busy roads, and a venue that all enthusiasts should visit.

Photos by James Clotfelter, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57 Ďolíček Vrshovicka 1489/31 Praha 10 101 00 Prague Bohemians 1905 website Ďolíček website Year Opened: 1932 Capacity: 6,300 What Soccer Should Be The Ďolíček, home of Bohemians 1905 since 1932. It originally opened with a capacity of around 18,000, but a turbulent history has cut it to 6,300 today. Throughout its lifetime the Ďolíček has seen the highs and lows that come with sports and the community it resides in. The resounding history that is represented on its walls represents what soccer can mean to a neighborhood, and just why we love it so much.  Food & Beverage 3 The food and beverage at the stadium are surprisingly good for a simple ground like the Ďolíček. Each matchday the Bohieman's Instagram account posts the night's menu and what concessions are to be offered at the main stand. Most concession stands are food trucks that inhabit the concourse on the other side of the primary gate. As expected with most European stadiums sausage is a common item, in addition to the anticipated, Bohemians offered higher grade items like pulled pork, meatloaf, and other meaty dinner items. Our recommendation to you would be the pulled pork and the fried cheese as your side, and it will run you less than $7 in total. Beer is available on tap at every concession spot and comes in a nice plastic souvenir cup with a handle. You can expect basic stadium sodas like Coca-Cola and Sprite at every spot you visit. The prices for all concession items are very cheap when compared to stadiums in the United States, and credit cards are accepted. Just be sure to check out the Instagram before the match to see if anything new is being offered during your attended match. Atmosphere 3 The Ďolíček is a classic soccer ground, it's small, has history, and is the heartbeat of its community. The stadium is divided into four different stands, the main stand on the west side of the stadium, the ultras terrance resides to the north of the stadium, and finally section C along with the away end shares the sideline opposite the main stand. The exterior of the stadium and its interior are covered by murals depicting the team's history and triumphs. Section C runs from the goal line to midfield and is only three rows high, it does not have a concourse, so the fans that occupy this section are the ones that do not wish for anything else but to watch the match. As a nonlocal, I do not recommend sitting here as sightlines can be obstructed and there is one small concession stand that is cash only. We originally had tickets at the midfield part of this section, and one of our seats was under the stand for the broadcast camera, more on that later. I urge you to cough up the extra $5 and sit in the main stand. This comes with unobstructed sightlines, an overhead canopy, folding seats, the team store, full restrooms, and a concourse with many food options. As I said before, we were originally sitting with an inaccessible seat in section C, but thanks to the extremely generous and helpful Bohemians staff, we were able to pick up two unused tickets to the VIP Silver in the main stand, which is one of two hospitality sections. This area comes with a private room under the stands with free food and drink, with seats on the brink of the attacking third. The other hospitality offered is VIP gold, which comes with a private room underneath the main concourse and tickets in the main stand.  The stadium features two scoreboards, on large TV screen in the corner opposite of the ultras, and an ancient scoreboard behind the ultras. Nothing gets exhibited on the TV screen as it serves as a second clock and score display. But you are not coming here for fancy stadium amenities, the Ďolíček provides the traditional soccer atmosphere that makes this sport great. It is not monopolized by greedy ownership or bandwagon fans, it is about the people and the neighborhood it resides in, and it feels pure. No matter what is happening on the pitch, the ultras are loud and passionate, the fans in the main stand are welcoming and happy, and the Ďolíček is a classic ground.  Neighborhood 4 Prague is a city that has something for everyone, after all, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Prague is numbered into different districts, Prague 1, 2… and so on. The city center is considered Prague 1, and the districts expand from there. The most popular districts in terms of tourism will be Prague 1, 2, 3, and 7. These districts are where popular attractions such as Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Town Square, Welshness Square, the National Museum, and many others can be found. I would find a hostel or hotel close to the city center for the best experience. Hotel Zlata Vaha is a great hotel option that is priced at about $70 a night. Generally speaking, hotels will cost between $50-$90 depending on when you are visiting. If you are riding solo numerous hostels can be found for $10-$25 a night.  The Ďolíček is in a residential neighborhood, but it is a short 15-minute tram ride to the city center which is where all of the pre and post-game options are. Prague is also extremely walkable if you prefer that option rather than public transport. Food options before the game are limitless, so you should do a little research on where to eat to find something that suits your liking, but if I had to point you in a specific direction, I would recommend Johnny’s Pizza Bar for arguably the best pizza in Prague, Lokal Doluhaaa as a great local joint for meat and drinks, or Den Noc as a breakfast bistro. Prague hosts four other soccer clubs (Sparta, Slavia, Dulka, and Viktoria Zernov) multiple hockey teams (the most notable being Sparta HC), and the O2 arena is a popular concert venue. Fans 4 On the outside looking in, Bohemians 1905 fans might seem like an average fanbase. They are overshadowed by the big clubs they share the city with (Sparta and Slavia), their stadium is tiny and aged, and they are just not who you think of when you think about teams in Prague. However, the history of this fanbase encapsulates what a team can mean to a community. As their name suggests, the club was founded in 1905, and it has played an integral part in the neighborhood community since then. The best run of history was in 1982 when the club made it to the UEFA Cup semi-final after winning the Czech first division. Then a string of mediocracy left the club stuck in terms of success, but they stayed afloat in the first division, for the most part. However, in 2005 disaster struck. The club faced financial insolvency and was forced to be relegated to the third division of Czech soccer. On the brink of the club being shut down for good, the supporters got together to pay off the club’s debts and in doing so, they saved their community's club, and are the reason the Bohemians find themselves in the first division today.  Nowadays, the fans continue to show up for their team. The Ďolíček is constantly around its small capacity, but around capacity, nonetheless. The fans were welcoming and were fun to talk to as a foreigner visiting their club. They are passionate but are cognizant that they are not a top club in the league. The ultras are loud and sing the club's songs throughout the match. During the second half, they fired off an impressive green pyro display. At the end of the day, no matter what happens, this fanbase is proud to be represented by their club.  Access 3 The Ďolíček is an easy ground to get to. Two different tram lines run to the stadium, and the line to the Old Town takes about 15 minutes. The stop is even labeled “Bohemians”, so there is no chance you miss your stop. As mentioned before, I highly recommend, maybe even demand you sit on the main stand. The main stand gate is next to the train stop so it is a short crosswalk away. With that being said, make sure you are entering the right gate. The gate name and location can be found on your ticket if you purchase them through Ticketportal. The concourse here is small and easy to maneuver, note that the concourse for the main stand runs only along the main stand. Once you get through the turnstiles, the “concourse”, better described as a lot, is what lies beyond the turnstiles. Here can be found the concession stands, picnic tables, restrooms, and restrooms. From here you walk up to a catwalk that spans across the main stand. This is how you get access to your seat and where you can find the quaint team store. Card is accepted throughout the concourse and English is widely spoken by the staff. The ultras section is just for ultras, and section “c” does not have a concourse and possesses a cash-only concession stand. The main stand is where every Bohemians 1905 newcomer should sit for the best experience. Return on Investment 4 Being on par with much of the Czech Republic, not including tourist traps, the return on investment is very high. Tickets to the main stand start at 300czk which equates to about $13. In terms of hospitality, VIP Silver tickets are 800czk ($36) and VIP Gold tickets are 2000czk ($90). Food is priced anywhere between $2-$5 depending on what suits your fancy. Sausage stands as the cheapest meal, and items like pulled pork are a little more expensive. Beer is around $2.50. Public transportation for Prague is very cheap and starts from just under $2 for a 30-minute ticket. Other public transport tickets offered are 90 minutes, 24 hours, and 72 hours. Extras 4 The stadium itself does not offer any outstanding extras aside from the beautiful murals on its walls, but I must give credit where credit is due to the staff. Being the ill-informed foreigner I was, I bought tickets to section c. This is where the TV broadcast camera is set up. And because there is not a high advantage point on this side of the field, they built a stand for the camera. This stand happened to be right above the seat that I purchased. With not being able to access my seat because of the camera platform, I was ready to purchase completely different tickets for the main stand at the box office, but I didn’t know if the game was sold out yet. I was able to talk to a ticket staff member at the gate we entered about my situation. In great English, he was more than happy to help and informed me that I didn’t have to buy a completely new ticket, but I could ask to trade in the ticket for a new one and pay the difference. I did not know that was an option, so this was great news to me. As I exited to walk around to the main stand to trade my ticket, I walked to the wrong ticket booth. However, at this tent were two staffers, who also spoke English, and as I tried to describe my situation and what I was told about trading in a ticket, instead, they offered me an unused VIP Silver ticket that was reserved for a friend who couldn’t make it. I tried to pay for the ticket but they refused and apologized for the inconvenience. So again, I would like to give a huge thank you to the staff of Bohemians who were very helpful as I was a Ďolíček rookie making rookie mistakes, mistakes that will not be made by you the reader.   Final Thoughts This stadium is what soccer really should be. It is worth a visit while in Prague.

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71 William G. Tierney Field 2 Loveton Cir Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152 US Lacrosse website William G. Tierney Field website Year Opened: 2016 Capacity: 2,000 The Home Of Lacrosse US Lacrosse is the national governing body of men;s and women’s lacrosse in the United States and was founded in 1998. The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum used to be located in Baltimore, Maryland, on the campus of Johns Hopkins University and first inducted members back in 1957. In 2016 both the organization and the hall of fame were moved to a new facility in Sparks, Maryland, a northern suburb of Baltimore. The facility includes a field as well as a headquarters building. The IWLCA Building at US Lacrosse National Headquarters is the centerpiece of the campus. The three-level structure hosts office and meeting space for the US Lacrosse staff, the Crum Family Education and Training Center, locker rooms, and that new National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum. The field next to the building is William G. Tierney Field and is the training home for the U.S. National Teams Program. It is also used for more than 60 college and high school lacrosse games per season. The game we attended was a women’s game between two Division III teams. Seating is first-come, first-served, and fans may bring collapsible camping/tailgating chairs and blankets for hillside/grass areas. There is an overall 2,000 via bleacher and grass seating, although around 500 is permanent. Admission is free for the majority of games at Tierney Field. There may be an occasional larger game where admission is charged but the bulk of the game atmospheres will be identical as in our review. Food & Beverage 1 There is not a permanent food stand located at US Lacrosse. The game we attended parents of one of the teams had set up a small stand with limited options. The best you can probably hope for is some coffee or hot chocolate on a cold day or a candy bar. Plan ahead and bring your own food. Atmosphere 4 There is a nice grandstand along the building side of the field. The field is also surrounded by a walkway and grass areas that you can watch the action as well. The facility is designed well and is a perfect place to watch some lacrosse. Neighborhood 4 Sparks is a northern Baltimore County area that is highly suburban. The Hunt Valley Towne Centre is just a couple miles south and has many food and drink options for your pre- or post-game. A few good recommendations there would be Iron Rooster – Hunt Valley, The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille or Barrett’s Grill. Andy Nelson’s Barbecue Restaurant is also not far in that direction and offers some tasty options. Another option is to venture towards the much more rural, northern direction where the Milton Inn, The Filling Station, and Casa Mia’s Restaurant are good options. Happy hour specials at Casa Mia’s are a personal favorite. Fans 5 This region is one of the hearts of lacrosse and fans are knowledgeable and usually quite into the game action. The crowd tends to be made up of family members and local alumni of the teams involved. Access 4 Tierney Field and US Lacrosse are located off a well known north/south road, York Road, and is located not far from the I-83, Harrisburg Expressway. It should not be difficult to find the facility. There is a small parking lot at the main entrance to the facility and a larger lot behind the complex. I would imagine that the parking could get tighter for a bigger game. The facility is located in a business complex so you should still be able to find parking, but please do not block business access routes. Return on Investment 5 The games are generally free so the return on investment is strong. Extras 3 The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum is located right off from the stands so it is worth a quick visit there before or even during games. It is nice to see a field dedicated to a single sport, so you will not see too many extra line markings for the lacrosse action. There are some differences between the men’s and women’s games so those are the differences you will see in terms of markings. There are some interesting areas dedicated to explaining certain college lacrosse teams and the traditions of excellence of each of those programs. Plan on spending some time reading about the great programs of the sport. Final Thoughts If you enjoy lacrosse and will be in the Baltimore area you should check out the Tierney Field schedule and stop by this fine little facility.